BY H. J. CARTER. 405 



Head finely punctate, with transverse impression clearly 

 separating front from episterna, without any erect horn to dis- 

 tinguish the sexes. Prothorax transverse, moderately convex, 

 twice as broad hs long, slightly narrower at apex than at base; 

 anterior and posterior angles acute, sides very little rounded; 

 base strongly bisinuate and closely fitting elytra, with median 

 lobe slightly produced backwards; distinctly and closely punctate. 

 Scutellum bronzy and triangular. Elytra a little wider and more 

 convex than prothorax, elongate-elliptic, with greatest width 

 behind middle; about once and one-half as long as wide; disc 

 strongly striate-punctate, with intervals rather flat and very 

 minutely punctate. Metasternum smooth and shining, abdomen 

 with the four apical segments longitudinally strigoseat their junc- 

 tions; intercoxal process acutely rounded. Dimensions — Length 

 4 mm.; width 2(vix)mm. 



Hob. — Sydney (found commonly in old fences by the author). 



I cannot find that the above common insect has yet been 

 described. It differs from all its Australian congeners, except 

 P. novicum Motsch., in its metallic blue colour; whilst P. novicum 

 is described as being twice the size of P. metallicum, and having 

 its head and pronotum black. With nine specimens before me, I 

 am unable to distinguish any sexual differences. 



Heterocheira nitida, n.sp. 



Black, very shiny, body beneath piceous-red, legs, antennae 

 and palpi rufo-castaneous. 



Head and prothorax almost smooth and very nitid, the latter 

 much wider at base than at apex. Elytra striate-punctate, the 

 striae very distinct on disc, less clear towards the sides; punctures 

 in striae regular and well defined. Pro- and metasternum smooth 

 and shining, abdominal segments faintly longitudinally strigose; 

 legs smooth and shining. Dimensions — 6 x 28 mm. 



Hah. — Cairns, N.Q. (sent by Mr. Anderson; also taken by Mr. 

 H. Hacker). 



I have three specimens, probably correctly identified by Mr. 

 Blackburn, of H. australis Boisd., which are superficially like the 



