BY WALTER W. FROGGATT. 
333 
M. iridescens is given in Masters' Catalogue as a variety of M. 
cupriceps, but it is very distinct both in form and habits from the 
beetles determined by Mr. Blackburn as the latter. 
M. cupriceps is nearly a third longer, of a more delicate pale 
green colour, with decided golden tints upon the shoulders, and it 
is more boat-shaped upon the back, with the serrate edges of the 
elytra very deep and slender. The abdominal striae are very fine 
and regular, and sparingly punctured, while the spaces between 
them are perfectly smooth. 
This beetle is rather common about Sydney, feeding upon the 
foliage of Viminaria denudata early in the year; but I have 
never taken M. cupriceps on an Acacia. 
Melobasis splendida, Donov. 
I have not been able to identify the larva of this beautiful 
little Buprestid; but in chopping the dead stems of Acacia longi- 
folia I have come upon several fully developed in an irregular 
chamber at the end of a tunnel leading from under the bark into 
the sapwood; and have bred as many more from infested wood 
kept in boxes. 
The beetle is 4 lines in length, bright metallic-green, with two 
parallel bands of dark purple across the thorax; and a brilliant 
fiery coppery-red pattern formed by two bands commencing behind 
the thoracic bands, leaving a bright green patch round the 
pronotum and joining just below, occupying all the centre of the 
back, and after projecting out on either side into two sharp 
angles, runs round the tip of the wing covers, and forms a narrow 
stripe along the apical part of the margins not quite up to the 
hind legs; all the underside is bright green. 
Hab.— Rose Bay, N.S.W. 
ClSSEIS MACULATA, L. & G. 
A score of specimens of this beetle have been bred, in October, 
from dead branches of Acacia longifolia collected at Rose Bay, 
and kept in closed boxes; others were obtained in November and 
December, feeding on the leaves of the same Acacia at Manly. 
