THE
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
LirinEHN Society
OF
New South Wales
FOR THE YEAR
1914
Vol. XXXIX.
WITH NINETY-FOUR PLATES.
SYDNEV: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED FOR THE SOCIETY
BY
W. A. PEPPERDAY «k CO., 119a PITT STREET
AND
SOLD BY THE SOCIETY
1915.
0 ,p-70 '^
\\. A. PEPPERDAY AND CO.,
GENERAL PRINTERS, 119a PITT STREET, SYDNEY.
CONTENTS OF PROCEEDINGS, 1914.
PART I. (No. 153). (Issued 17th July, 19 U.J
PAGES
Presidential Address delivered at the Thirty ninth Annual General Meeting, March 25th, 1914, by W. S. Dun. (First Part) 1-15
On the Study of Zoogeographical Regions by means of Specific Contours : with an application to the Odonata of Australia, By R. J. TiLLYARD, M.A., F.E.S., Science Research Scholar in Biology in the University of Sydney. (Plate i., and Trans- parencies 1-3) 21-43
Revision of the Subfamily Tenebrioniiuv, Famil}' TenehrionidcE : Australian Species; with Descriptions of new Species of Tent- briouinre and Cyphahhui;. By H. J. Carter, B.A., F.E.S. (with six Text-figures) ... ... ... ... ... ... 44-86
The Venom of the Fish, Notesthes robusta. By Leighton
Kesteven, M.R.C.S. {Communicated by A. R. McCulloch) 91-92
Contribution to a Knowledge of the Biology of the Richmond River, N.S. VV. By G. I. Playfair, Research Scholar of the University of Sydney in Hydrobiology and Plankton. (Plates ii.-viii.) 93-151
The Xerophilous Characters of Hakea dactyloides Cav. [N.O.
pROTEACK.*;]. By A. G. Hamilton. (Plates ix,-x.) 152-156
On some Problems concerning the Development of the Wing- venation of Odonata. By R. J. Tilly'ard, MA,, F.E.S., Science Research Scholar in the University of Sydney. (Plates xi.-xiii,, and twenty Text-figures) ... ... ... ... 163-216
Hon. Treasurer's Financial Statement, Balance Sheet, etc. ... 15-19
Elections and Announcements ... ... ... ... ... 87,157
Notes and Exhibits 20,87-90,158-162
27797
CONTENTS.
PART II. (No. 154). {Issued 25th September, 1914).
PAGES
Revision of the Ami/cttrides. Part iii. Notonophes, Macrainyc- terus, and genera allied to Talauri7ius [Colkofteua]. By E. W. Ferguson, M.B., Ch.M. (Plate xi v.) 217-252
Additional Notes on the Ferns of Lord Howe Island. By the
Rev. W. W. Watts x^. 257-262
A Revision of the Monaxonid Sponges described as new in Len- deufeld's "Catalogue of the Sponges in the Australian Museum." Parti. By E. F. Kallmann, B.Sc, Linnean Macleay Fellow of the Society in Zoology. (Plates xv.-xxiv. ) 263-315
The Bondi Anticline. By C. Hedley, F.L.S. (Plates xxv.-xxvii.) 316-321
A Revision of the Monaxonid Sponges described as new in Len- denfeld's " Catalogue of the Sponges in the Australian Museum." Part ii. By K. F. Kallmann, B.Sc, Linnean Macleay Fellow of the Society in Zoology. (Plates xv.-xxiv.) 327-376
Further Notes on the Botany of Lord Howe Island. [Fifth Paper].
By J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., etc. (Plate xxviii.) 377-384
A Study of the Leaf-anatomy of some native Species of the Genus Andi-ojiogon \1^. 0. GuAMiiiEJE]. By E. Breakwell, B.A., B.Sc. (Plates xxix.-xxxiii.) 385 394
A Revision of the Monaxonid Sponges described as new in Len- denfeld's " Catalogue of the Sponges in the Australian Museum." Part iii. By E. F. Hallmann, B.Sc, Linnean Maclea}' Fellow of the Society in Zoology. (Plates xv.-xxiv.) 398-446
Petrological Notes on various New South Wales Rocks. By W. N. Benson, B.A., B.Sc, F.G.S., Linnean Macleay Fellow of the Society in Geology. [To be contimied in (he next Part) .. 447-448 Elections and Announcements ... ... ... ... 253, 322, 395
Notes and Exhibits ... 253-256,322-326,395-397
PART IIL (No. 155). (Issued 24th November, 1914).
Petrological Notes on various New South Wales Rocks. By W. N. Benson, B. A., B.Sc, F.G.S., Linnean Macleay Fellow of the Society in (ieology. (Continued.) ... .. .. ... 449-453
CONTENTS. V.
PART III. (Continued J. pages
Contributions to a Knowledge of Australian CtdicidcB. No.i. By
Fhank H. Taylor, F.E. 8. (Plates xxxiv.-xxxvii.) 454-468
The Evolution of the Eucalypts in relation to the Cotyledons and Seedlings. By Cuthbert Hall, M.D., Ch.M. (Plates xxxviii.-lxix.) 473-532
Note on the Bacteriotoxic Action of Water. By R. Greig-
Smith, D.Sc, Macleay Bacteriologist to the Society 533-537
Note on the Destruction of Paraflfin by Bacillus prodigiosus and Soil-Organisms. By R. Greig-Smith, D.Sc, Macleay Bac- teriologist to the Society 538-541
The Lepidoptera of Ebor Scrub, N.S.W. By A. Jefferis
Turner, M.D., F.E.S 546-564
Description of a new Tiger-beetle from North- Western Australia.
By Thomas G. Sloane 565-567
Re visional Notes on Australian Carahidce. Part v. By Thomas
G. Sloane 568-614
On some Pauropoda from New Soutli Wales. By Launcelot
Harrison, B.Sc. (Plates Ixx.-lxxi.) 615-634
Australian Neuroptera. Part i. By Esben Petersen. (Plates
Ixxii.-lxxv.). ( To be continued in next Part }... ... ... 635-640
Elections and Announcements ... ... ... .. ... 469, 542
Notes and Exhibits 469-472,542-545
PART IV. (No. 156).
(Issued 26th February, 1915).
pages Australian Neuioptera. Part i. By Esben Petersen. (Plates
Ixxii.-lxxv.). [Continued from Part 3^ 641-645
Descriptions of new Species of Australian Coleoptera. Part x.
By Arthur M. Lea, F.E.S, (Plate Ixxvi.) 650-694
Studies on Australian Mollusca. Part xii. By C. Hedley,
F.L.S. (Plates Ixxvii.-lxxxv.) 695-755
Some Notes on the Ferns of North Queensland. By the Rev. W.
Walter Watts. (Plates Ixxxvi.-lxxxix.) ... ... ... 756-802
The Diamond- Deposits of Copeton, New South Wales. Bj' L. A.
Cotton, B.A., B.Sc, formerly Linnean Macleay Fellow of
the Society in Geology. (Plates xc.-xcii.) .. ... ... 803-838
CONTENTS.
PART IV. ( continued). Contributions to our Knowledge of Soil-Fertility. No. xii. 'J"h( Action of Toluene upon the Soil- Protozoa. By R. Greig
Smith, D.Sc, Macleay Bacteriologist to the Society
The Pollination of Goodenia cyclopUra R.Br. [N.O. Goodeni aceje]. By Archdeacon F. E. Haviland. (Plate xciii.) .. On a Collection of fossil Polyplacoplwra from North- VVestern Tiismania, with Descriptions of three new Species. By A
F. Basset Hull. (Plate xciv.)
Announcements
Donations and Exchanges, 1913-14
Notes and Exhibits ...
Title-page
Contents
Coirigenda
List of new Generic Names ...
List of Plates
Index ... ... ... ••• ••• ••• • •• • •• i
839 850 851-854
855-857
645
858-878
646-649
i.
iii.-vi.
vi.
vii.
viii.
•xxxviii.
CORRIGENDA.
Page 47, line 7 — for H. J'ovealus, read H. foveata.
Page 52, line 27— for cyanipennis, read ryaneipennis.
Page 97, line 5— for var. cylindkica, read var. cylindracea.
Page 148, line 3 — for var. vialU, read var. sialis.
Pa^e 267, lines 22, 24, 26 — for Echinonema anchoroAum, read fEchinonema
anchoratum. Page 267, lines 35, 43— for Thalassodendron, read iThalassodendron, Page 267, line 45— for Plectispa, read \Plectispa. Page 268, lines 1, 2 — for Plectispa, read \ Plectispa. Page 284, line 26 — for 2\ ingalli, read D. ingalli.
Page 334, line 25— after Enmastia, insert ^.<f<romm?(5(29), S pong o sorites. Page 360, line 16— ;/b?- canals, which, rtad canals which. Page 400, line 25— for P. innidin, read P. isidis. Page 423, line 17— ;/"or conically, read conical. Page 425, line 37^br spicules, (oxea), read spicules (oxea). Page 434, line 12 (legend) — for b, read b, c. Page 579, line 3 — for cyanipennt, read cyanipennis. Page 584, line 18 — for Heliuosoina, read ^Enigma.
Page 651, line 26 —/or MALOCODERMID^, read M ALACODERMID^. Page 749, line 18— for Piirpurea grisea, read Purpura grisea. Plate xviii, — Fig.2 should be Fig.3, and vice versa. Plate xci. is incorrectly numbered cxi.
CONTENTS.
LIST OF NEW GENERIC NAMES PROPOSED IN THIS V0LU]V]E(19U).
Aboethfta [Lepidoptera]
Ametroglomus [Coleoptera] A iistronymphes [Neuroptera] ^xiawio?* [Porifera] ^ xmo-5ia [Porifera] Chariothes [Coleoptera] Charisma [Mollusca] Ckrysophoracis [Coleoptera] Crat is [ M ol I u sea] Dasycerca [Lepidoptera] Enchoptila [Lepidoptera] Epimicodema [Coleoptera] ^pi/Aywiewa [Lepidoptera] Eumoiitruuziera [ M ollusca] Eutoreuma [Coleoptera] G^asi;?-oci.s [Coleoptera] ... Helluapterus [Coleopteia] Helluarchus [Coleoptera]
|
PAGE |
PAGE |
|
|
... 551 |
Henii(/07)iphus [Odonata : rede |
|
|
... 612 |
fined and restored] |
188 |
|
.. 636 |
Hemitedania [ Porif era] . . |
431 |
|
... 440 |
Macramycterus [Coleoptera] . . |
232 |
|
... 349 |
Meripherinus [Coleoptera] |
683 |
|
... 78 |
Mitrothorax [Coleoptera] |
78 |
|
... 7J1 |
i\reoAe^^?fo [Coleoptera] |
608 |
|
... 663 |
aVodo/)e^a(/m [Molluscal |
731 |
|
... 698 |
Oligochrysa [Neuroptera] |
639 |
|
... 555 |
Philoiochma [Lepidoptera] |
550 |
|
... 554 |
Pneudonotonophes \Co\eo\itevA\ |
227 |
|
... 588 |
Pstudotrachya [Porifera] |
269 |
|
... 562 |
^'^y/i.ssa [Porifera] |
269 |
|
. 703 |
T6re7ne?ies [Coleoptera] .. |
54 |
|
... 78 |
7Vme7ieca [Coleoptera] |
78 |
|
... 661 |
7^nVso6?-ocAa [Lepidoptera] |
548 |
|
... 590 |
t/ro/e/ops [Coleoptera] |
657 |
|
.. 59-2 |
C/'fa[Protococcoideie] |
108 |
LIST OF PLATES.
PROCEEDINGS, 1914.
Transparency 1.— Part of Specific Contour (approximate) for the Genus
Rhy othemU (Ectogenic). Transparency 2.— Approximate Specific Contour for the Group Synthemina
(Entogenic). Transparency 3.- Part of Specific Contour for the Subfamily Petalurince
(Palaeogenic). Plate i.— Map of the Australian Region showing average Annual Rainfall. Plate n. — Volvocaceo' of the Richmond River, Plate in.— Chlorophyceie of the Richmond River. Plates iv.-v. — Bacillarierh of the Richmond River. Plate wi.—Myxophycece of the Richmond River.
Plate vii. — Chytridiacece^ Schizomycetes, and Fauna of the Richmond River. Plate viii.— Microscopic Fauna of the Richmond River. Plates ix.-x. — Xerophilous characters of Hakea dactyloides Cav. Plates xi.-xiii.— Wing-venation of Odonata. Plate xiv. — Macramycterus spp. Plates xv.-xxiv. — Australian Sponges. Plate XXV.— Scheme of the Bondi Anticline. Plate xxvi.— Example of a crumpled sheet of Shale. Plate xxvii. — A series of coils of Sandstone. Plate xxviii. — Plantago hedltyi, n.sp. Plates xxix.-xxxiii. — Leaf-anatomy of Andropogon spp. Plates xxxiv.-xxxvii. — Australian Gidicidce. Plates xxxviii.-lxix.— Seedlings and Cotyledons of Eucalypts. Plate Ixx.- Pmiropiis amicus, n.sp.
Plate \xx\. — Pauropus spp.. and Eurypauropus speciosiifi, n.sp. Plates Ixxii.-lxxv. — Australian Neuroptera. Plate Ixxvi.— Australian Goleoptera. Plates Ixxvii.-lxxxv. — Australian Mollusca. Plates Ixxxvi.-lxxxix.— Ferns of North Queensland. Plate xc.—l. Inclusion in Oakey Creek Granite. 'i.Copeton from Soldier
Hill, looking east. Plate xci. — l. Tunnel, Oakey Creek. 2.Cope's Creek. 3. Oakey Creek
dolerite. Plate xcii. — (ieological Map showins; the Tertiary Leads of the Copeton
Diamond-field. Plate xciii. — Pollination of Goodenia cycloptera R.Br. Plate xciv. — Tasmanian fossil Polyplacophora.
4- .^^.v
PROCEEDINGS V> *»,.as. (^
OF THE ^*^ '^ '^
LINNEAN SOCIETY
OF
NEW SOUTH ^Sr ^T.J^S.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25th, 1914. The Thirty-ninth Annual General Meeting, and the Ordinary Monthly Meeting, were held in the Linnean Hall, Ithaca Road, Elizabeth Bay, on Wednesday evening, March 25tli, 1914.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
Mr. W. S. Dim, President, in the Chair.
The Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting (March 26th, 1913) were read and confirmed.
The President lelivered the Annual Address.
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
In one respect— the improved status of the Linnean Macleay Fellowships Endowment on 31st December, 1913, and the favourable correlated reaction on the Society's finances— the past year has been rather a notable one in the Society's history. The sum of £33,250 (being a bequest of £35,000 from the late Sir William Macleay for the endowment of four Fellowships, less £1,750 deducted for probate duty) was paid over to the Society in October, 1903; and invested at 4 per cent., the best investment offering at the time. As the income there- from was insufficient to enable the Council to carry out the terms of the bequest — and would have been so, even if the Executors had not been called upon to deduct the amount of the probate duty— the question of the administration of the trust, under unexpected conditions, was referred to the Equity Court for guidance. In reply to the Society's petition for advice, His
2 PRESIDENT S ADDRESS.
Honor, the Chief Judge in Equity, on 26th August, 1904, directed, among other matters, that -(a) "The Council of the said Linnean Society of New South Wales will be justified in appointing three Fellows only wdth a salary of four hundred pounds per annum until the income from the fund in the said petition mentioned is sufficient to pay the four Fellows the full salary of four hundred pounds per annum." And (6): " The income from unawarded Fellowships should be accumulated until the said fund was sufficient to produce an income of one thousand six hundred pounds per annum."
The Council forthwith proceeded to carry out these directions. In October, 1904, and in the same month of every succeeding year up to 1912, the Council offered three Fellowships. The balance of the income, after providing for the salaries of the Fellows, except for small incidental expenses, has been capitalised annually. In this way, on 31st December, 1913, the original capital of £33,250 had been raised to £41,350, while, for the first time, the income for the year (£1,759 15s. 8d., as compared with £1,562 4s. 5d. for 1912) was sufficient to provide for the salaries of the maximum number of Fellows, and also to yield a surplus of £159 15s. 8d., which, at the discretion of the Council, may be taken for the " general use " of the Society : that is, in part, for defraying the cost of printing the papers of Fellows and of the Society's Bacteriologist, as well as the expense of the general administration of the Endowment Funds. Hitherto, this unexpected and unforeseen expenditure has been a charge on the Society's General Fund; and to meet it, and yet avoid a reduc- tion in size of the annual volume of Proceedings (except in so far as the increased cost of printing has affected it), it has been necessary to exercise economy in other directions to a correspond- ing extent. The prospect of being relieved of this rather burden- some responsibility, and of seeing the realisation of Sir William Macleay's benevolent intentions as he wished them to be realised, is, therefore, very gratifying.
The arrears in the printing have been overtaken, and the Pro- ceedings for the year have been completed. Twenty-six papers were read at the Monthly M eetings, but their average length was
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 3
greater than usual; and, though one was withdrawn for some supplementary additions, the remaining twenty-five take up an additional space of about 40 pages, as compared with thirty-seven papers of the year before.
Mr. Hedley's important paper embodying the results of his patient examination of the types of Australian Mollusca in European and American Museums, illustrated with excellent figures of many of them, will be of great service to Australian conchologists. It is the kind of paper, of which Australian naturalists need many more, in other branches of knowledge.
When the suggestive papers of Mr. Andrews and Mr. Benson were read, it was proposed that detailed discussion thereon should be postponed until the papers were in print, and Mr. Benson had returned from England. We may look forward, therefore, to interesting discussions on the development of the Myrtacece, and on the geology and petrology of the Serpentine- Belt of New South Wales during the current Session, on dates to be announced.
The discussion on "The Study of Zoogeographical Distribution by means of Specific Contours," introduced by Mr. R.J. Tillyard at the Meeting in May, aroused much interest; but it seemed evident that the existing lack of a sufficiently detailed knowledge of the geographical distribution and range of many common groups, both of animals and plants, placed Members who are interested in these^ at a disadvantage in applying Mr. Tillyard's views.
The names of nine new Members were added to the Roll during the year. Two Members resigned; two Ordinary Mem- bers, Mr. E. Betche, and Mr. T. Stephens, M.A., F.G.S., of Hobart, and one Honorary Member, Dr. Albert C. L. G. Giinther, C.M.G., F.R.S., have been removed by death.
M r. Ernst Betche, Senior Botanical Assistant at the Botanical Gardens, Sydney, who died on 29th June, was born at Potsdam, about sixty one years ago. He was interested in horticulture in his early days, having first studied at the Horticultural College of his native city ; subsequently gaining experience at the Municipal Gardens in Berlin, and at the horticultural establish-
4 PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
ment of Van Hoote. Afterwards, in the interest of his health, he went to Italy, but without satisfactory results; and he then decided to try the milder climate of the South Seas. He spent some time in collecting plants in Samoa, Tonga, and the Caroline Islands; and finally came to Sydney, in 1881, where he spent the rest of his days. His connection with the Sydney Botanic Gardens dates from the year mentioned. During the next fifteen years he collected extensively in New South Wales, for the Botanic Gardens; and subsequently became Botanical Assistant. Mr. Betche was naturally of a retiring disposition, and this characteristic was intensified by the fact that he was almost a life-long sufferer from a troublesome asthmatic complaint. But his interest in botany never flagged, and he accomplished, in his own unostentatious way, a considerable amount of useful and valuable work in connection with the Gardens and the State Herbarium, the importance of which is not to be estimated by what has been published. He collaborated with the late Mr. Charles Moore, in the production of a " Handbook of the Flora of New South Wales," published in 1893, now out of print, and much in demand; and with Mr. J. H. Maiden, in a long series of contributions, particularly "Notes from the Botanic Gardens, Sydney," in the Society's Proceedings covering the period from 1896-1913.
Mr. Thomas Stephens, the younger brother of the late Pro- fessor W. J. Stephens, was born in 1830, and died in Hobart in the latter part of last year. It would be diflicult to find another case of two brothers who served, so eminently, and for so long a time concurrently, the cause of education and science, in slightly difi'erent ways, in two of the States of the Australian Common- wealth. After taking his degree at Oxford, Thomas Stephens came out to Victoria in 1855, but migrated to Tasmania in the following year, where he spent the remainder of his life. From 1857, he was identified with the Department of Education, first as Inspector of Schools, and finally as Director of Education. He joined the Royal Society of Tasmania in 1858, and from the time of his residence in Hobart, he was an ofiice bearer. He was no less keenly interested in the establishment of the Uni-
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 5
versity of Tasmania, and of its forerunner, Christ's College. His official duties provided opportunities for visiting all the settled parts of Tasmania, and led to the acquisition of a considerable knowledge of the geographical and geological features of the country, branches of knowledge in which his interest was of long- standing, and maintained to the last. Mr. Stephens joined this Society in 1904 ; and, in 1908, he contributed an important paper entitled " Notes on the Geology of the North- West Coast of Tasmania, from the River Tamar to Circular Head," which appeared in the Proceedings for the year mentioned. Other papers are to be found in the Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, or in the Report of the Meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science held in Hobart in 1 902.
Dr. Albert Giinther was elected an Honorary Member of the Society in 1883, in appreciation of his valuable contributions to a knowledge of Australian Fishes, Amphibia, and Reptilia. His paper on Ceratodus, in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society for 1871, is well known to students. His lengthy and honourable association with the British Museum, as Keeper of the Zoological Department, terminated on his retirement in 1 895. He was the author of a monumental series of British Museum Catalogues, Monographs, and papers contributed to the Transactions of numerous Scientific Societies; also the founder and first editor of the Zoological Record. His services to science, both in connection with the British Museum, and in other ways, have been of the highest order; and his death in London, on February 1st, in his eighty-fourth year, closed a distinguished and fruitful career.
Dr. Greig-Smith, Macleay Bacteriologist to the Society, has continued his investigations into the reason for the beneficial action of heat and of the volatile disinfectants, such as chloroform and toluene, upon soils. It has been claimed by the Rothamsted investigators, that the enhanced fertility, that follows the treat. ment, is due to the destruction of the phagocytic protozoa. If this were so, it would be immaterial whether the one method were employed or the other, and in the case of a double treatment
6 PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
by both methods, whether heat were applied first or last. It has been found that, while the results are similar in field-soils? they are different in garden-soils. As one of the differences between the two classes of soils is the fatty material removable by disinfectants, it is not improbable that it plays a part in the restriction of the natural fertility. The presence of bacterio- toxins in soils has been denied by the Rothamsted investigators, but there are many reasons why their presence may have been overlooked. They are soluble in water, and are washed out of the soil by rain. They are unstable, and are slowly destroyed during dry weather. Although always present in varying amount, the nutrients may so overshadow them, that their presence may be unnoticed, until they are destroyed by some aerent, such as heat, when an enhanced nutritive effect is obtained from the soil-extracts. Furthermore, an appropiiate dilution, generally equal parts of soil and water, is requisite to show an optimum toxic effect. Toxic extracts can be obtained from soils by noting these conditions, and a soil, originally with a pre- ponderating amount of nutritive substances, may be made to become toxic by simple incubation in the laboratory. While the soil-toxins are destroyed by heat, those of the subsoil are not. There are thus two classes of toxins in soils, a thermolabile in the soil, and a thermostable in the subsoil. One would imagine that the saturation of an organic manure, such as dried blood, with paraffin or vaseline, would reduce the rate of decay. Labo- ratory-tests have not borne this out, and the matter is under investigation. The action of naphthalene upon soils was also examined. This substance has recently been recommended for increasing the fertility of horticultural soils. It was found that while it increased the growth of bacteria, they were of a kind which did not bring about the formation of ammonia from dried blood.
Dr. J. M. Petrie, Linnean Macleay Fellow in Biochemistry, contributed two papers during the year, " Hydrocyanic Acid in Plants. Part ii. Its Occurrence in the Grasses of New South Wales," and " Note on the Occurrence of Strychnicine," which will be found in the last Part of the Proceedings. In the
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 7
first of these, it is shown that a considerable number of our grasses contain cyanogenetic compounds, but that very few contain free hydrocyanic acid. There are indications that only the latter is a poisoning factor in these grasses. The investiga- tion is, accordingly, being continued in the direction of ascertain- ing what substances are capable of decomposing the glucoside, and what conditions are necessary to bring about poisonous results. The examination of the alkaloids of certain solanaceous and other plants is being carried on.
Mr. E. F. Kallmann, B.Sc, Linnean Macleay Fellow in Zoology, has almost completed his first paper entitled "Revision of the Monaxonid Species described as new in Lendenfeld's Catalogue of the Sponges in the Australian Museum," which will be read at the Meeting in May. Mr. Kallmann's progress in the study of the Monaxonida has been greatly retarded not only by the inherent difficulties in the way of a satisfactory classification of this group, a subject which one of the most experienced workers at sponges has characterised as "actually repulsive from its difficulties"; but he has been greatly hampered by the grossly inaccurate and misleading character of njany of the descriptions given in the Catalogue; and also because the specimens of types, in two different Collections, do not agree either with each other, or with the descriptions; while each of them includes cases of similarly labelled specimens belonging to dissimilar species.
In consequence of the increased income from the Fellowships Fund for last year, for the first time the Council was able to off'er four Fellowships. Three applications were received in response. I have now the pleasure of making the first public announcement of the re-appointment of Dr. J. M. Petrie and Mr. E. F. Kail- man, to Linnean Macleay Fellowships in Biochemistry and Zoology, and of the appointment of Mr. W. Noel Benson, B.A., B.Sc, to a Fellowship in Geology, for one year, from 1st proximo. Mr. Benson, in joining the research-staff of the Society, comes with the highest qualifications. He completed the course for the B.Sc. degree in the University of Sydney, in 1907, with First Class Konours in Geology and Mineralogy. For some time he was
8 PRESIDENT S ADDRESS,
Demonstrator in Geology; subsequently Acting Lecturer in Minera- logy and Petrology at the University of Adelaide during the absence of Dr. Mawsou with the British Antarctic Expedition under Lieutenant Shackleton ; and, afterwards, again Demons- trator in Geology in tlie University of Sydney, up to the time of his a]i|)ointment, in 1911, to a Science Scholarship of the Koyal Connnissioners for the Exiiibition of 18.')!, tenable for two years, but later on extended for a third year. In this way, Mr. Benson was enabled to proceed to Cambridge, and hold a Research Studentship at Emmanuel College. On the acceptance of his thesis on " The GeoU)gy and Petrology of the Great Serpentine- Belt of New South Wales," Mr. Benson was admitted to tiie degree of B.A., last year. Three portions of his thesis have been published in our Proceedings for 1913, and the rest of it will form the subject of future communications. Mr. Benson has now had some considerable experience in research work under very fa\'our- able conditions. He has contri})uted a number of Papers to the Proceedings of this Society, to the Journals of the Royal Society of New Soutli AVales and South Australia, or to other publications. While at Cambridge, he took the complete course of study given to senior students; and he comes to us witli high credentials, from his Australian teachers as well as from Professor Bonney and Mr. Harker, of Cambridge. This instructional work has been supple- mented l)y visits to the laboratories of Universities in Germany and Switzerland. Mr- Benson has also had s]i)ecial opportunities of seeing for himself, and learning as much as possible of the geology of certain areas in England, Scotland, and the Hartz Mountains, under very advantageous circumstances, a knowledge of which has an important bearing on the work he has done in connection with the Serpentine Belt, or proposes to continue, on his return to tlie State. On taking up the work of his Fellowship next month, I\Jr. Benson will continue the line of work upon which he has made a beginning, so as to complete, in detail, a study of the geology of the country from Tamworth to Warialda, with a general account of the physiography, special attention being given to the Attunga and Moonbi districts, where the intrusion of the granite has pro-
president's address. 9
duced some reinarkaljle contact-effects on the tuffs, lavas, and oilier meiiil)ers oi' the Devonian Series, analogous to those ol the Hartz Mountains. The Serpentine Belt also needs further investi- gation southward from Nundle towards the Myall Lakes, through an area at present little known geologically.
At the Meeting of the Society in September, Mr. K. H. Cambage called attention to a laudable legislative effort then about to be made in England, to check the destruction of bird-life in distant countries; and, on his motion, it was resolved — That the Linnean Society of New South Wales considers it to he highly desirable that the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Bill, now before the British Parliament, should become law, and desires that a letter be written to the Premier of this State for transmission to the Sec- retary of State for the Colonies, urging the passing of the Bill. By the courtesy of the Premier, the terms of the Resolution were carried out ; and on February Ttli a letter was received from the Under-Secretai-y, Chiei" Secretary's Office, Sydney, notifying ^'that a Despatch has been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies by the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, requesting that your Society be informed that the Bill was introduced into Parliament by His Majesty's Government, and will be re-intro- duced next Session.'' From the newspapers, we have since learned that the second reading of the Bill was moved in the House of Connnons by the Postmaster-General, Mr. C. E. Hobhouse, on 9th March, and agreed to by 28-1 votes to 27. The mover expressed the hope that an international conference on the subject would be lield without delay, for, as he said, ^'Britain was really acting towards the Colonies as the receiver of stolen goods." Naturally, we should like to know how the Bill is viewed by naturalists and scientific bodies in Europe; but at this distance, it is difficult to find out and follow the trend of scientific opinion. A lengthy criti- cism of the Bill, by Sir Harry Johnston, will be found in "Nature'' for December 11th, 1913 (p. 428). This writer contends that the Bill "is a very mildly worded measure, which will not satisfy root- and-branch reformers, for it exempts from supervision personal clothing \\'orn or imported by individuals entering this country
10
from abroad." But he adds, further, that any legislation rather than none, as the thin end of the wedge, is to be welcomed. In reply to Sir Harry, Mr. H. 0. Forbes, as a British ornithologist interested in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, agrees that the Bill does not go far enough, but he considers that the weakness in the Bill pointed out by Sir Harry, can be eliminated by making the wearing of wild birds' feathers in England by Bri- tish subjects, as illegal as the importation of feathers ("Nature," December 25th, p. 476). Mr. Forbes continues: "The real object desired by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is the prevention of the great cruelty for which the plumage trade is responsible, of the extermination, and of the reduction, towards that point, of the beautiful and beneficient fauna of the world." The international attitude towards the principle of the Bill is thus referred to in "Nature" for January 29th, 1914 (p. 617) : "The United States Government has made the importation of birds' plumage penal, as well as prohibited the wearing of feathers. Austria and Germany are in accord with England as to the neces- sity of putting a stop to this nefarious traffic by similar laws. France and Belgium stand on the other side, for the plumassiers are so influential that it is hopeless for the Government of either of these countries even to propose such a protective Bill." Lastly, in "Nature" for February 5th (p. 639) will be found a very grati- fying message, cabled to the Zoological Society of London, by the Zoological Society of New York, on the occasion of the Annual Meeting. The hope is expressed that unanimous support will be given to the Hobhouse Bill, which is designed to reinforce the pro- tective measures passed by Congress. The message continues — "The effect of the American Bill has been instantaneous and wide- spread, and is now receiving unanimous support all over the United States. The very passage and enforcement of the Bill has created a sentiment for wild-life protection in many quarters where it did not exist before. The millinery trade has adapted itself to the new conditions, and the law is acknowledged to be most beneficial in its results.'' In conclusion, we have still to remember that the Hobhouse Bill provides for only one phase of the complex
11
problem of the preservation of the world's bird-life, namely, the checking of the destruction of birds for trade purposes. Another phase needing consideration, which is not in evidence in Europe or the United States, but which manifests itself in Australia in con- nection with the destruction of rabbits by poison, is the preserva- tion of useful birds, many of them not having ornamental plum- age of value to the trade, whose welfare is not provided for by the Hobhouse Bill.
I have pleasure in making known to Members, that the Society is in receipt of a very cordial invitation from Mr. J. A. Barr, Manager of the Panama-Pacific Exposition, to be held in San Francisco from February to December, 1915, supported by Mr. J. P. Bray, American Consul-General in Sydney, to hold a Meeting during the Exposition. In thanking these gentlemen for their kind- ness and courtesy, they have been informed that the invitation would be communicated to the Members at the Annual Meeting; and that, thereafter, if a sufficient number are able to visit the Exposition, the Council will inquire as to the possibility of arrang- ing for the acceptance of the invitation. It may be presumed that the object of holding such a Meeting will be to provide an oppor- tunity of discussing the Australian aspect of problems of general interest ; or matters arising out of scientific exhibits or the assemb- ling of scientific men from all parts of the world in connection with the Exposition. Members who contemplate visiting the Exposition are requested to give in their names to the Secretary in good time. Perhaps if the number of representatives of any one Society is not very large, it might be possible to arrange for a joint Meeting of visitors from Australia.
An event entitled to notice is the return of the second contingent of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, which left our shores in 1912, under the leadership of Dr. Douglas Mawson. It is not intended to touch on the tragic losses, nor the fortitude of the leader — which have already been fully brought to the attention of members and the public. But the actual, and potential scientific results are such, that they are well worthy of the attention of those interested in Australian science. The outstanding feature of the
12 president's address.
work carried out by this Expedition, is that investigations in all the leading lines, occupying the attention of previous ventures, have been prosecuted in an entirely new region, or practically new, for Uumont D'Urville did not land on the mainland, and brought back no information concerning it, except the main fact, that there w^as land. Wilkes bad taken a few soundings. Sixty of the 90° of the Australian Quadrant were new ground, and it was there, that operations were carried out in relation to physiography, meteor- ology, and other branches of science. The result is that the coast has been mapped through 33* of longitude, and the extension of the continent has been shown for the remainder by means of soundings indicating continental slopes or a shelf.
Large areas of the land were sledged over, and rough topogra- phical maps prepared. A study of the great Ice Sheet, both on the plateau, and along its coastal face, has been illuminating, and adds new data for the study of glaciation. Marginal shelf-ice on a large scale, floating glacier-tongues, a booming glacier, and an avalanche- cascade were special features studied. The occurrence of extraordi- narily large bergs, up to 40 miles in length by 20 miles broad, and observations upon their annual rate of travel, form a matter of interest.
The territory of Adelie Land was extended to reach the area of the Main Base. King George F^and is considerably to the east of the Main Hut, Queen Mary Land at our western base, Wilkes'Land is south of Duniont D'Urville's Clare Land, which was proved to be non-existent.
From these terse facts it will he seen that though all the details of the geography of the Australian Quadrant are not yet known, it is assured that the salient features are covered.
Important dredging work was carried out; unfortunately, owing to weather conditions, it was only on the last cruise that really satisfactory results were obtained, and on this venture every dredge was successful. Dredgings at all depths between 50 fathoms and two miles Avere made along the region of the Antarctic Circle (in the Australian Quadrant). These dredgings are in the charge of Mr. Hunter, and it is understood that the distribution is to be
president's address. 13
carried out by the Australian Museum and the University. The results of the detailed examination are bound to be of the highest importance. The earlier cruises were accompanied by Mr. Waite and Professor Flynn, of the University of Tasmania, but weatlier conditions militated against successful results.
A very large number of soundings have been taken, including two lines of soundings between Australia and the Antarctic Conti- nent— one from Tasmania to Adelie Land, the other from Queen Mary Land to Adelaide. A well-marked submarine elevation was discovered to the south of Tasmania, another to the north of Queen Mary Land — the relics of old land-connections. A very large series of oozes was obtained during the dredgings.
In Antarctic waters, besides the usual cherts, gneisses, red sand- stones, etc., wood and coaly matter were dredged up on several occasions, and once scoriaceous lava, this to tlie north of wliere North's Highland appears on Wilkes' maps. Dr. Mawson is of the opinion that this comes from a local volcanic centre.
The severe weather conditions at both bases, especially at Adelie Land, where almost unimaginable and frequent blizzards were found to prevail, are most astonishing. It is now known that the average wind velocity, on the Antarctic Continent, is greater as one decreases the distances to the Geographical Pole; localities on the same latitude may, however, vary through wide limits, the two extremes being Amundsen's base and Mawson's.
The snowfall is phenomenal in the northern portion of the continent— probably up to 2 or 3 feet in the day. Magnetic observations were regularly taken, and when published, hourly values will be given for the whole period.
Observations on the Aurora were continued in connection with the state of the aether, and as to its capacity of transmitting wire- less waves. It is of interest to note that an accurate longitude was established in Adelie Land, by the use of the wireless installation. Antarctic bacteriology was studied by Dr. McLean, and cultures were prepared.
Another station was Macquarie Island, which has been mapped and contoured by Mr. H, Blake; the sea-elephants and the ahun-
14 president's address.
dant life were studied by ^Ir, Hamilton; the meteorology by Mr. Ainsworth; and the geology by Mr. Blake. All the older rocks are igneous, gabbros predominating; glacial tills and glacial lakes occur.
The results of the examination of the collections, and the study of the observations are now being taken in hand, and I feel sure that, when published, they will be such as not only to confer credit on the work, but to prove of the greatest interest to the scientific world.
In a few months we shall be taking part in the. most important scientific gathering ever held in Australia, for, in August next, the representatives of the British Association for the Advancement of Science will assemble in the various capitals. These will com prise about 400 members, although a greater number applied for inclusion. Amongst those who are coming, are many of the lead- ing men of science of the world, for besides the main British party, invitations issued to many leaders in science of foreign countries have also been accepted. Sir Oliver Lodge and Sir Edward Schafer, the last two past-Presidents, are included.
It has been decided that an advance section, consisting of about 70 members will call at Western Australia, while the main party will visit Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney, and arrangements have been made for some of the members to visit Brisbane and New Zealand, while the question of some going to Tasmania is now under consideration.
Sectional Presidential addresses will be delivered at Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane ; and papers in the various sec- tions will be read at Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.
The President of the Association will deliver the first half of his address in Melbourne, and the remainder in Sydney.
The popularity of the visit will be increased by the discourses and lectures of prominent members. Two discourses will be de- livered to members, and two citizens' lectures to the public, and of these, the latter will be largely under the control of the Workers' Educational Association. For the discourses in Sydney, two emi- nent lecturers, Sir James Rutherford and Professor Grafton Elliott
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 15
Smith, have been selected ; while several have offered their services for the citizens' lectures, but a final choice has not yet been made.
From a scientific standpoint, the gathering will be the most brilliant ever assembled in Australia; and, as many of our visitors will be engaged in lecturing on their return, it will be seen that the assistance, which has been granted to this Association by the vari- ous Australian Governments, must meet with ample reward.
The remainder of the Address was devoted to a consideration of the relations of the Permo-Carboniferous fauna of Australia to those of other parts of the world; and will appear later in separate form.
Mr, G. A. Waterhouse, on behalf of Mr. J. H. Campbell, Hon. Treasurer, who was indisposed, presented the balance sheet for the year 1913, duly signed by the Auditor, Mr. F. H. Rayment, F.C.P.A., Incorporated Accountant; and he moved that it be received and adopted, which was carried unanimously. Abstract: General Account, Balance from 1913, £207 lis. 4d.; income, £1,111 16s. 7d.; expenditure, £1,039 18s. lid.; transfer to Bookbinding account, £11 lis. Od.; balance to 191 4, £279 9s. Od. Bacteriology Account, Balance from 1912, £39 5s. 9d.; income, £543 7s. lOd.; expenditure, £588 5s. 6d.; Dr. balance to 1914, £5 lis. lid. Linnean Macleay Fellowships Account, Income, £1,759 16s. 8d.; expenditure, £868 8s. 4d.; transfer to Capital account, £891 7s. 4d.
No nominations of other Candidates having been received, the President declared the following elections for the Current Session to be duly made : —
President : Mr. W. S. Dun.
Members of Council (to fill six vacancies) : Professor David, C.M.G., D.Sc, F.R.S., Messrs. W. S. Dun, J. R. Garland, M.A., Professor W. A. Haswell, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S., A. H. Lucas, M.A., B.Sc, J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., &c.
Auditor : Mr. F. H. Rayment, F.C.P.A.
A very cordial vote of thanks was accorded, by acclamation, to the President, on the motion of Dr. Kesteven, seconded by Mr. A. F. B. Hull.
16
|
TSOO |
o |
|
OQOO |
|
|
^i§ |
00 CO |
CO
6 pl, Q
CQ
Q
o
it
+3
0)
a
S tt
^1 'tt^B
V. 2 = = ^
.2; S^ i - ^ o
o o
o o
o o
O l^
^•5
S-2
i-O
,0 03 CO
.-j^ ;^ -^ :g ctj
o TO
5 ?
3 p
3 ^
<p r CO -t!
;h ii I— I
?! ^
O ^ i-H
S S rt s • ^
1=^1
o
Q -p
CQ
iH
CO
«
a
®
!z;
o o o <
|
fO^ |
00 -0(M 0 |
1—1 |
||||
|
I— t |
||||||
|
OQi— 1 CO I— 1 00:1 O |
t^ |
|||||
|
r-l .— 1 I— 1 r-l I— 1 |
||||||
|
Cijt^ CO 1—100 oo?o ^0 00 I— t eo lOr-t |
05 |
|||||
|
1— 1 |
||||||
|
G^ f-H 00 |
1— 1 |
|||||
|
rO °0° |
<4i |
|||||
|
cooi'* |
||||||
|
0° I— 1 I-H |
||||||
|
I— 1 |
• M -^v |
|||||
|
: : : : : -p : cj |
||||||
|
i : - :i :^ |
||||||
|
: 2 : : :| :g |
||||||
|
ci • ■ > _2 |
||||||
|
i -^ 1 . : ; «, c •'0 |
||||||
|
! P 0 : : S P^ c :-p |
||||||
|
1 «-!.)=( . S 0 • <^ |
||||||
|
^-M on 05 ^^ Ci |
||||||
|
®.£^ : t; > 0^ ;pQ |
||||||
|
0 T! ■ ?^^ - a: .C- |
||||||
|
1 §^2?^ S §«=->- |
||||||
|
! moQ E^^CCP^ |
||||||
|
>J " ^ ^ ^ - |
||||||
|
ffl " ^ ^ . - 1 |
||||||
|
i T3 0 CO C t-OO |
r— 1 |
|||||
|
r-l |
||||||
|
1 ooO »^ C<l C55rH05 |
l>- |
|||||
|
!; r-(r-l |
||||||
|
<^g? § 5;5 ^;:i^ |
I— 1 |
|||||
|
-^ -* |
(M |
r-T |
||||
|
ns ^^ |
<M00 |
0 0 0 o^- 00 |
Crt |
|||
|
<« =^^ |
O5c0 |
00 r-l 0 10050CO |
||||
|
r— 1 |
>-l i-l rH rHrH |
|||||
|
crt S3 |
CCl^ |
CO i-l rH rH'^rHO |
||||
|
G^ |
'^ .—1 |
|||||
|
COr-H |
||||||
|
'■^ • • : |
^ ;^ i.^g fl : ; ; ; |
: : |
||||
|
1 ..I : ; ; ^.|| ;«^g| : ; : . |
. |
|||||
|
w te " ' ■ ari3>-rt ' ^^ 0 ■ ■ |
||||||
|
s and Wage ig (Public itions nee e, Telegram ng and Pe ig (sun nerj^, etc . . . snance Fee Macleay's Fee (prop ane s Charges . . . |
0 '• cr. |
1 |
||||
|
.*^.« ^ d bC'S-^ c 4^ :^ ^ |
'^ S^ |
|||||
|
S ^ |
||||||
|
c c: P2p: |
||||||
|
0-- -- - " " „ ^^^ |
^ , |
1 |
||||
|
t- - " |
' |
■" |
II |
18
OrH
O
z s
O CO o a
M
c^ -^
&H ^ O CQ
a a
"oS
CO (D
rH O
-P Cm
5^1 =
CD r-) gTJO
o
^i^ £ p o ^
m
|
o |
oo |
OrH |
1—1 |
|
o |
oo |
OrH |
r— 1 |
|
8 |
CO C5 |
o^ |
1 |
|
i-H |
I-H |
CO |
CO |
|
r— 1 |
rH |
^: |
1^5 OiO
I-H
<^
05C0
CO CM
LO
crt
ci S^
a ^^
!i O o
i z
tt! c ^5-^.2 3
O M = o ^
t>5 -. -. ^
^ ^ . ^
r;3rH005^COOOO.-lO
oQ OCOLO(MOiOOOO
CJ-^COt^rHt^COi— i(MCOO
^^ ^ 1-H >— 100
:c^
O
CO '^
O 03
19
|
&H |
|
|
!zi |
|
|
ti |
|
|
o |
|
|
p |
CO |
|
o |
r-l |
|
< |
0) 1-H |
|
w |
;i |
|
04 |
® |
|
l-l |
^ |
|
» |
fi |
|
CQ |
o |
|
& |
C3 0) |
|
o |
Q |
|
^ |
4^ |
|
hI |
OQ |
2;
crt
|
o |
Ci |
|
o |
Ci |
|
g |
CO |
S 8
• «2 c O
a.- — r '^
«"^ b » ?i
"^ O ^
- ^ S
3^
Q
Qc/^
q^
o
GDiJ
-P CO
Is'
: c« o • &(-p
■ ci w
, • -+i cr o CO 00
*< ::; -^'^
|
o |
r |
^ |
||||
|
o |
||||||
|
c« |
t; |
^ |
CT! |
^ |
CO |
|
|
^ |
^ |
'^ |
+3 |
|||
|
1— 1 |
c |
ojtj |
^ |
■- |
-ri |
|
|
> |
CJ |
^ |
> |
■xJ) J'^ ^ I ~ t« -^
<4^
OS 0)
sz; 13 o o o
o o
13
<4i
^
M
r;3 rf*o^
OQ CO »0 t^ >— Ir-H
Cti 00 CO
o
'o -„ -
rt : CO
^ • s3
o
& ^
<4i i
Hi
EQ
a,
c
T3 O t.
^^ C
I OQ ^
■+= tv, '-'
^ . !*^
-^ ffi ^
s 4
h
20
ORDIXAPvY MONTHLY MEETING. March 25th, 1914. Mr. W. S. Dun, President, in the Chair
The Donations and Exchanges received since the previous Monthly Meeting (26th November, 1 9 1 3 ), amounting to 49 Vols., 258 Parts or Nos., 48 Bulletins, 1 1 Reports, and 1 1 Pamphlets, received from 107 Societies, etc., and three individuals, were laid upon the table.
NOTES AND EXHIBITS.
Mr. David G. Stead exhibited a number of very large nema- tode worms from the ovaries of a Jew^fish, Scicena antarctica Castelnau. On the 3rd December, 1913, two sets of ovaries of Jewfish were being examined in connection with an investigation into the spawning period of the species. One of these was quite normal, but the other was seen to be infested w^ith a peculiar nematode worm, previously found under similar conditions. Upon opening these ovaries, a great number of the round worms were found. One of the worms proved to be no less than 84 inches in length, while others were nearly as long. They were of a wonderful translucent ruby colour, and from about 2 mm. to 2-5 mm. in diameter. Another nematode worm (an immature Ascaris), but of small size, was also present on the outside of the ovaries: but this is seen in nearly all cases. The long nematodes were tied up into many knots, individually, and with each other, and may have grown so. Nine of them, that were isolated from one another, measured respectively 30, 36, 60, 60, 72, 72, 78, 78, and 84 inches; while there were seven other sections aggregating 97 inches, and two complete worms hope- lessly tied in knots with each other —altogether about 65 feet of this large nematode worm in one ovary alone. The Jew^fish, from which the parasitised ovaries were taken, was from Port Kembla. It measured 42 inches, and weighed 29 lbs.
Mr. E. Cheel showed a small Skink Lizard with an anomalous tail.
21
ON THE STUDY OF ZOOGEOGRAPHTCAL llEGTOXS BY MEANS OF SPECIFIC CONTOURS.
With an application to the Odoxata of Australia.
By R. J. TiLLYAHD, M.A., F.E.S.
(Nkw South Wales Government Research Student in
BlOLOfa' AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SVDNEY.)
(Plate i., and Transparencies 1-3.)
It can scarcely be denied that the science of Zoogeography is in a somewhat unsatisfactory condition, and that great difhcnlties exist both in the following out of lines of research and in the drawing of general conclusions. 'J'his is not to be wondered at, when we realize that the present distribution of the fauna and Hora of the earth has been brought about by the acting together of so many conflicting conditions, continually cliangiiig through- out immense!}" long geological periods; and that the task of re-picturing or re-constructing these conditions is in itself a most baffling one, owing to the very fragmentary evidence still pro- served to us.
Under these circumstances, any method which may promise to yield good results, and to give us a clearer view of the problem in hand, is worthy of a trial. The author, therefore, offers the method explained in this paper, with the intention neither of ousting any of the already approved methods of study, nor of proclaiming the discovery of a panacea for the difficulties known to exist; but rather with the purpose of presenting the subject in a new light, in which, it is hoped, certain facts may be made to stand out in bolder relief than they have hitherto done.
It is now generally admitted that the six main zoogeographical regions, as originally proposed by Sclater, and modified by Wallace, are valid subdivisions of the land-surface of the earth, as far as its fauna and flora are concerned. But though these 3
22 ON THE STUDY OP ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS,
regions may be marked ojff very definitely in the case of certain groups— as, for instance, in the case of the Mammalia and the Passerine Birds, for which they were originally instituted — yet in other cases the boundaries between them may be more or less transgressed, or may even be non-existent for certain groups. This is, of course, due to the fact that the barriers which mark off the different regions may not always have been barriers in time past, nor may they be complete barriers in time present. It can be easily seen, for instance, that Wallace's line need not prove a bar to the migration of strong-flying insects, nor need the arid tract that somewhat vaguely separates the Nearctic from the Neotropical Region be any bar to the progress of eremian forms of animals or plants.
It is no wonder, therefore, that much less agreement should be found amongst the opinions of students when we come to con- sider the question of subregions. Many schemes have been pro- posed for the subdivision of the six main regions into subregions of approximately co-ordinate value. Possibly the desire for uni- formity and symmetry has been one of the underlying forces in some of these attempts. One scheme, with a good deal to recom mend it,* divides each main region into four subregions. Such divisions cannot, however, be regarded as of co-ordinate value. To take an example, the Australian region is subdivided into the Australian proper (Australia and Tasmania), the Papuan, the Polynesian, and New Zealand (with its allied islands). Of these. New Zealand stands in a higher rank than the others, and is claimed by many scientists to form actually a separate region. On the other hand, the division does not recognise the claims of the South-Western corner of Australia, which, to botanists at any rate, will appear to be as distinct a subregion as could pos- sibly be found; while, on the other hand, the so-called Polynesian subregion is founded purely on negative characters, and is only doubtfully to be included in the Australian region at all.
The present paper is an attempt to approach the subject from a different view-point. The desire to draw hard-and-fast divi- sions exaggerates the actual boundaries reared by Nature at * Text-Book of Zoogeography, F. E. Beddard.
BY R. J, TILLYARD. 23
various times and in various manners, and we are apt to lose sight of the great fact of the underlying unity of descent con- necting together the various groups of animals or plants upon the earth. In the method proposed, no attempt will be made to indicate land-area divisions or subdivisions; but the attempt at subdivision or classification will be devoted to the actual contours of groups. The construction of these contours is, however, a matter of great difficulty. As the author is convinced of the futility of attempting such a task, except under the guidance of very strict and definite rules, the following scheme is here pre- sented as an explanation of the method, for which the name ^^ Method of Specific Contours" is proposed : —
i. Selection of the Land- Area. Any land-area, either continuous or discontinuous, may be selected which may he considered to have claims to he regarded as a zoogeographical unit. Without doubt the best results will be obtained by the drawing of contours over the complete area of one of the six main zoogeographical regions. For the study of circumpolar or circumtropic distributions, it would be advisable to take the total land area of the earth into discussion. Parts of a region (such as Madagascar, New Zealand, or Australia with Tasmania), may be studied separately with good results, provided the unity of the prevailing flora or fauna of a region is not destroyed by the selection of an area that has no claims to be considered as a unit.
ii. Selection of the Group. The group of animals or plants selected for study by contours, whether it be a single genus, group of genera, subfamily, or division of higher order, must he a natural group clearly marked off from its nearest allies. Genera or other groupings merely based on taxonomic expediency cannot be used. For if we fail to take into account any portion of a complete natural group, we cannot expect to obtain a completely natural result. In particular, known convergences of type must be carefully avoided; but, on the other hand, when convergence is not yet proved, the resulting contour may give valuable evidence as to its existence,
24 ON THE STUDY OF ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS,
iii. Collection of Records.
It is essential that the records used ha fairly complete. Pro- bably in very few cases can the complete records of distribution of even a single species be obtainable But this is not necessary, because the object of the method is not to produce contours of impeccable accuracy (such, indeed, are practically an impossi- bility), but to study the type of contour produced. The altera- tion of a contour line a few miles (or even perhaps a few hundred miles) usually will not aftect our ability to recognise it as belong- ino^ to a particular type. As an example of the kind of contour aimed at, one may offer any of the well-known meteorological contour maps drawn over a large area In these, the general distribution of isobars, isohyets, or isothermals, is very clearly shown; but these lines are drawn as free curves, and ignore many small local variations. To give a good example, the average annual rainfall map of Australia (Plate i.) is produced from about seven hundred records. Doubtless, if we could have access to seven thousand records, a much closer approximation to the truth could be obtained. Yet nobody would seriously main- tain that the contour as now produced is not accurate enough for all practical purposes, especially for study as a coinplete ivhole, in which too much attention to detailed curvings of contour-lines would mar the clear effect now obtained.
Under this heading, it is hoped that the method of Specific Contours will, if adopted, lead to a closer recognition of the value of every single record that can be obtained of every single species^ however common it may he.
iv. The validity of Species.
No attempt can here be made to answer the question " What is a species T To each student who desires to use the method, sufficient common sense may be attributed not to mar the result by an insistence on the recognition, as species, of units of lower than specific value. In this connection, it should, how^ever, be clearly noted that, on the whole, both " splitter " and "lumper" will produce approximately the same contours for a given group. For, if a recognised species, A, be subdivided into any number of
BY R. J. TILLYARD. 25
Species, Aj, Ag, A^, the contour will not be aifected unless trvo or more of the forms occur in a single locality. But as nearly all the argument between " splitters " and " lumpers" occurs about " geographical races," it follows that in such cases no alteration of the contour is effected by a change of opinion, since the species in question can only score " one " in each locality in which it occurs.
Local varieties, known to be produced as the offspring of a definite species, should on no account be included as "species."
V. Application of the Method.
On the map of the area to be studied, each locality from which records are obtainable should be marked down. Against each, the number of species (of the group in question) occurring in that locality should be written. Contour lines are then to be drawn as free curves enclosing in tnrn all those localities possess- ing the same number of sjjecies. In the simplest cases (where no lacunae or breaks occur), the result will be as follows : —
Between the outermost contour-line (1) and the next (2) will lie all those localities in which only one species occurs. (N.B. — It is important to notice that this is not necessarily the same species for all these localities).
Between contour-lines 2 and 3 will lie all those localities pos- sessing ttvo species (again, not necessarily the same two species). And so on. Finally, the nth or highest contour-line will be either a closed oval, or possibly a series of closed ovals, of com- paratively small extent, enclosing those few localities in which the highest total of n species occurs (again, be it noted, not necessarily the same n species in every locality within an oval).
Where the records are not sufficient, continuity or discon- tinuity may be assumed provisionally according to the evidence available. To give an example : — A species may be recorded from Sydney, Newcastle, Richmond River, Tweed Heads, Bris- bane, Rockhampton. In such a case, it may reasonably be assumed that it occurs along the whole coast-line from Sydney to Rockhampton, because the conditions known to exist between these points naturally suggest its occurrence throughout. But,
26 ON THE STUDY OF ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS,
suppose a species is recorded from Perth, Bunbury, Busselton, Albany, Adelaide, Port Elliott, Murray River. In this case, we might be justified in refusing to include the very barren coastal region along the Great Bight within the contour, until we had definite evidence of the occurrence there of the species in question.
Suppose, then, that the contour of the group, planned on the lines laid down, has been obtained. Of what value is it to usl
i. It is a densiti/-contour for the group, but not an actual species-contour. It takes account only of the number of species occurring at a given point, not of the actual species comprising that number.
ii. It is not accurate in detail, but only in broad outline.
If these two facts be continually borne in mind, the contour may be used with very real value. The objects to be aimed at in using such a contour are as follows : —
1. To obtain on a single map a fairly accurate graphical repre- sentation of the present distribution of a group.
The author claims that the single " contour-map " will give to the mind a clear and sufficiently accurate representation of the distribution of the group, which cannot be attained by the perusal of many separate maps, on each of which the area of distribution of a single species of the group is mapped separately.
2. By comparison of the Specific Contours of many groups over the same region, these groups may be arranged into separate sets^ each set possessing a contour referable to a single type, but not, of course, similar in details.
3. By a study of the different types obtained, the sum total of the fauna or flora of the region may be clearly visualised, and its different components clearly distinguished.
4. In many cases, valuable phylogenetic evidence may be deducible from a study of the contour.
Before dealing more fully with these points, it is necessary to consider (a) the general structure of a contour, (6) the general theory of contour-types.
BY R. J. TILLYARD. 27
A. 7%e general structure of a contour.
It is evident that, in general, the lowest contour-lines will enclose the largest areas, while, as the number-value of the contour-line increases, the area it encloses will become smaller and smaller. Finally, the nth, or highest, contour-line will enclose a small area or series of areas surrounded by all the other contour-lines. Such an area, representing a " summit " of the contours, may be spoken of as a Zoocentre ; it being clearly understood that in using this term no definite claim is put forward that the area is also a centre of origin for the group. The Zoocentre may be defined as the centre of present greatest density for the group. It may be also a centre of origin, but in most cases it is possible that such a claim cannot be maintained for it. Sometimes the area of the zoocentre is elongated very much in comparison with its breadth; it may then be termed the Zoocentric Axis of the group. In the case where the contour exhibits more than one separate zoocentre, that which contains the highest number of species may be called the primary zoo- centre, while those of lower value may be called secondary zoocentres.
It sometimes happens that the order of the contours is reversed, so that the higher contours enclose the lower, until in the middle may be found a small area in which perhaps only 2, 1, or even no species occur. (Such a case, for example, is furnished by the failure of a subtropical group to ascend a central mountain range, though it may be spread abundantly all round it. As one reaches a higher elevation, the number of species found will diminish; until, perhaps, above a certain level no species of the group will occur). In such a case, the area of lowest contour may be called a Lacuna. The mapping of lacunse may be of the very greatest importance in the study of a group.
In constructing a contour, it is very important to leave out of account purely local discoritinuity. To give an exaggerated example : — Certain species of rush occur throughout Central Aus- tralia, wherever there is a waterhole. The waterholes may be fifty or a hundred miles apart. Nevertheless, the correct contour
28 ON THE STUDY OF ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS,
needed for general study of this group of rushes should be drawn completely around the whole region in which they occur, and not as a number of small circles around the various waterholes. So, also, in mapping contours for groups of Odotiata, we do not draw our contours along the boundaries of rivers and lakes* though the species are actually confined to them; rather, we include the whole area in which, given, the necessary ivater^ the particular species can be shown to occur.
B. llie gene7'al theory of Specific Contours.
Let us select for study a region, Z, separated by a definite barrier from another region, Y. A group of species occurring in Z may either have originated in Z, or they may have immigrated into it from some other region. Suppose a group of species. A, to have been inhabitants of the region Y at some past time before the barrier between Y and Z was effective, and let A be a domi- nant or increasing group. As it extends its boundaries, first one and then another species may reach Z and penetrate further and further into the new region. As these new arrivals encounter new conditions of life, such as altered temperature, rainfall, geological or vegetational conditions, their progress may be gradually stopped. Some forms may penetrate further than others, or may take different paths. As long as the barrier between Y and Z is not a complete one, so long will this immi- gration stream flourish and be clearly recognisable as such.
The contour of such an immigration gi-oup over the area Z is easily recognisable (Transparency 1 ) by the fact that its zoocentre either lies entirely outside or only partly inside the region Z, while the lower contour-lines extend farther and farther into the region.
For such a contour, the name EGtoye7iic Contour is proposed.
Suppose, next, that the barrier between Y and Z becomes complete, so that the immigrant-stream is cut off" from the parent group. If it does not die out, it will gradually assimilate itself to the new conditions, forminy new zoocentres in those areas where co7iditions are most favourable to it. After a suflicient interval of time, it will have evolved a group very distinct from
BY R. J. TILLYARD. 29
the parent group in Y, and the dilFerences may be accentuated by the evolution of the two groups along divergent lines. Thus tlie group in Z gradually takes on a distinct or regional form, and becomes part of the native or autochthonous fauna of tlie region. We thus obtain a group whose (jroup-charactei's, as nofv recognised, ivere actually evolved within the recjion Z. Such (jroujjs form the characteristic fauna or Jiora of a. given region, and it is on the evidence of such groups that regional distinc- tions are based. Their contours are recognisable by the fact that their zoocentres he ivithin the region, while the lower con- tour-lines spread out farther and farther around, and may even overlap into surrounding regions (Transparency 2).
For a contour of this type, the name Entugenic Contour is proposed.
We can now go one stage further, and assume that a particular entogenic group in Z is faced with newer and stronger invasions of ectogenic groups from other regions, due, perhaps, to the removal of old barriers. In the struggle for existence, the older group will go under, and, if it is preserved at all, will appear as a remnant in one or more areas of the region Z. These areas may be the original zoocentres of its former entogenic contour; for it is reasonable to suppose that the group would be able to hold out longest in those areas where its density is greatest. They may, however, be simply "refuge" areas into which the remnants have been driven, and, in such cases, will not afford any eAidence of the position of the original entogenic zoocenti-es. The contour of the group will now appear as a f-eries of discontinuous ovals with no contour-lines of high value.
Such a contour may be termed a Palceogenic CoiUour. These are the contours of archaic groups. They may be sufficiently numerous to furnish part of the distinctive character of the fauna or flora of the region, but are usually of less importance, though not necessarily of less interest, than the entogenic and ectogenic groups of the region. Owing to the great changes in land dis. tribution throughout long geological epochs, true paheogenic con- tours may very often be, and indeed usually are, discontinuous over more than one region. Hence their contours should be
30 ON THE STUDY OF ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS,
mapped out on a complete map of the world, and then studied in relation to all the regions in which they occur. In those cases in which they occur in only one region, they may be very similar to entogenic contours, but will exhibit less density and extent.
We may now define the three main types of contour as follows : —
i. Ectoyenic Contours. — The contours exhibited by groups which evolved their present group-centres outside the region Z, but have since invaded Z and form a definite part of its fauna and flora. The zoocentres will be either completely outside Z, or only slightly projecting into it, while the lower contour-lines will extend farther and farther into Z.
Generally, it will be found that the species forming the immi- grant group are quite distinct from the main body of the group still located in Y. Very often they are also generically distinct, but the closer connection between the parent genus and its ojffshoots will still be evident, and will necessitate the two being taken together as a natural group, according to the rule already laid down.
li. Entogenic Contours. — The contours exhibited by groups which evolved their present group-characters within the region Z. The zoocentres will lie entirely within Z, while the lines of lower contour will spread out more and more over the region, and one or more of them may possibly pass outside the region (forming the beginning of a new ectogenic contour for some other region).
Groups with entogenic contours are essentially those that give the distinctive character to a region, and on them the main zoo- geographical regions of the earth are based.
iii. Palceogenic Contours. The contours exhibited by groups which are remnants of what were once far more widely spread groups. Such contours may consist of one or more isolated areas of low value, and usually exhibit discontinuity over more than one region. These isolated areas may be regarded as the "sunken peaks" (probably the zoocentres) of a once large and continuous contour (just as an archipelago shows only the sunken peaks of what once formed a continuous land-mass).
It should be clearly recognised that these three types of contour are definitely connected, and that intermediate forms
BY R. J. TILLYARD. 31
may occur; for instance, an ectogenic group may have spread nearly all over a region, forming one or more secondary zoocentres in it, and still exhibit connection with the parent group, entoyenic in a neiglibouring region. As soon as that connection is definitely broken, and the offshoot assumes its own distinguishing charac- teristics, it becomes entogenic in the region of which it has taken possession. Again, an entogenic group may gradually die out, and so reach a stage at which it exhibits a contour intermediate between an entogenic and a palseogenic one. Such a contour w^ould not, perhaps, show any discontinuity, but the paucity of contour-lines would indicate how very little more reduction was needed to produce a typical palseogenic contour.
It may be seen, also, how every group, in the course of time, from its rise to its final extinction, may go through the three stages of ectogenic, entogenic, and finally palseogenic contour in any given region.
Contours may exhibit flatness (in the case of groups with few species) or steepness (in the case of groups with many species in a small area). Several contour-lines may lie together in one single line, as, for example, along the coast-line of a region, or, in the case of several plant-feeding species which extend all together to the utmost boundary of distribution of a single food-plant. In such cases, it is probably best to exhibit the contours as a set of close parallel curves arranged in the order in which they would naturally come if the species did not end off quite coterminously. In the case of a coast-line, these parallel lines may be drawn on the map, actually over that part representing the sea, following the coast-line in general direction, but not its irregularities. (See the ectogenic contour in Transparency 1). Where the same species occurs in a number of islands, a single contour-line may be drawn round all the islands.
When the contours of different groups have to be studied in relation to the rainfall, temperature, or geological conditions of the region, they should be drawn on transparent paper, so that they can be placed over a map of the isohyets, isothermal s, or geology of the region, as the case may be. This has been done in the Plate given with this paper, the printed map showing isohyets.
32 ox THE STUDY OF ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS,
Application of tlie Method to a Selected Region.
Let us now take the Australian region and apply the method of specific contours to it, as far as our records will allow us. Probably no region has been so little worked: so that, if we are able to obtain satisfactory results from somewhat meagre records, we should be encouraged to expect even better results in regions where the records are more complete.
'Ihe groups will be selected from the Odonata, in which the author has collected fairly complete records during the past nine years. Our objects will be (l)to recognise which groups of Odonata present ectogenic, entogenic, or palseogenic contours respectively; (2) to try to discover whether distinct subtypes exist within any of these three types.
By reference to the map in the Plate, it will be seen that some of the Papuan portion, and much of the Polynesian portion, has been omitted from the Australian region. The records of the Papuan portion are not complete enough, while the contours exhibited do not in any case extend into that part of the Poly- nesian subregion omitted. Owing to the small size of the map, the inland continental limits of the various contour-lines have been somewhat extended, otherwise they would appear too closely crowded along the coast-line to be distinguishable on so small a scale.
A. Ectogenic Contours. — Transparency I exhibits the approxi- mate specific contour of the genus Rhyothemis. This is a genus of dragon flies with coloured wings, belonging to the subfamily LibeUu/ina', and very distinct from its nearest allies. It is ento- genic in the Oriental region, but has spread eastwards across Wallaces line, appearing as a strong immigration stream into the Papuan subregion and along the northern and north-eastern coasts of Australia. One species (E. graphiptera) has spread as far south as the Clarence River, in New South Wales, and reaches also inland up to the 3,000 feet level in North Queensland. Another (/i. phyllis chlo'e) reaches just into New South Wales at Murwillumbah, and does not extend as far inland as R. graphip- tera. A third {E. chaJcoptilon) has not been recorded south of Gayndah. Two other species [R. resplendens and R. braganza) are
BY R. J. TILLYARD. 33
only found very much further north, the former extending from Papua to Cairns, the latter from Cape York to Townsville. The resulting contour exhibits a typical fctoyenic arrangement, the zoocentre containing five species and lying so as just to intrude into the northern part of Australia.
Other genera of Odonata exhibiting a contour similar to this in general form (not, of course, similar in actual detail or density) are : —
Agrionoptei'a, Macromia, Ictinuii, Anax, Gynacantha, the group comprising the closely allied Australian genera of the legion Frotoneura, Pse'udagrioii, Argioc7iemis, Ayriocnemh. Austro- lesies, as an offshoot of the cosmopolitan Lestes, still very little differentiated from the parent stock, exhibits, in Australia, a very interesting contour intermediate between typical ectogenic and entogenic form. It is, in fact, just in process of being " budded " or separated off from the parent stock.
A certain amount of evidence goes to show that small invasions from the Oriental region have reached Australia by way of Timor. My records are not, however, complete enough to present a con- tour of this type for any group of Odo7iata, though I have little doubt that such could be established as a result of careful collect- ing in the North- West.
We see, therefore, the probability of two distinct kinds of ectogenic contour in Australia. For these I propose the names Torresian and Timorean respectively, indicating the respective paths by which the stream of immigration reached Australia.
B. Eritogenic Contours. —Transparency 2 exhibits the contour of the group Syjithemina, comprising the closely allied genera Synthemia, MetatJiemis, and Choristhemis. This group belongs to the subfamily Corduliimv, and has no near allies. The contour shown is typical of the greater portion of the essentially Australian fauna. It consists of two separate portions in which the species are more or less differentiated from one another. A large area is occupied on the east, extending from New Guinea to Tasmania, while on the west the genus reappears in the south-western corner of Australia. The separation of the two
34 ON THE STUDY OF ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS,
areas has clearly been brought about by the destruction of the group in the dry area of country along and north of the Great Bight — the Desert Barrier between East and West Australia. The species of Synthemina found in Western Australia are all specifically distinct from those in the East, except *S'. macrostigma, which is only differentiated into the two closely allied subspecific forms occidentalis and orientalis. This species also occurs, some- what remarkably, in Fiji.
The primary zoocentre of this contour is along the highlands of South-eastern Australia, while a secondary zoocentre is de- veloped around Cape Leeuwin.
In many genera of animals not so dependent on the rainfall as are the Odonata, this same form of contour is exhibited, but the lower contour-lines of the eastern portion will lie veiy much farther inland to the west, and in many cases one or more species may occur across the Desert Barrier, thus linking up the two portions of the contour into one complete whole.
Other genera of Odonata exhibitins^ this contour are : — Austro- gomphus, Austroceschna, Bemicor^dulia (in which the western species also occur in the east, and may be linked up with them when sufficient records are available).
To a contour of this type I propose to give the name Holono- tian, further distinguishing the two portions as the Eonotian on the east, and the Hesperonotian on the west. The genus Diphlehia exhibits an Eonotian contour only, being completely absent from the South- West. Many genera in other groups of animals can be shown to exhibit Eonotian contours; but, so far, the only purely Hesperonotian contours known are exhibited by certain genera of plants peculiar to the South- West.
The commonest form of Holonotian contour is one in which the primary zoocentre tends to be located most strongly in the south-east of the continent, though it may run northwards for a considerable distance as a narrow zoocentric axis. Sometimes two distinct zoocentres may occur, one in the south-east, and one near the border-line between New South Wales and Queensland. In nearly all those cases where the zoocentre tends to be in the south-east, one or more of the contour-lines will extend over
BY R. J. TILLYARD. 35
Tasmania; but it is rather the exception than the rule for any of these contour-lines to reach into New Guinea. In the Odonata^ the group Synthemina is the only one known to me whose contour embraces both Tasmania and New Guinea.
Another variation of the Ilolonotian contour has a zoocentre tending to be located more northwards, usually in Northern New South Wales, or in South Queensland. In such cases, (e.g., Diphlehia) the contour may reach to New Guinea, but not into Tasmania, and generally does not exhibit any Hesperonotian portion.
Besides the Holonotian contour, representative of so many Australian groups, we find other types of entogenic contours. Unfortunately, the records available are not sufficient for the actual construction of these contours, but only sufficient to indicate broadly their existence. ' One of these may be termed the Fapuan contour, and has its primary zoocentre located in Papua. The lower contour-lines spread out over the surrounding islands, and also down into Queensland, that portion of the contour appearing very similar to the ectogenic Torresiau contour already defined — in fact, a group with Papuan contour may rightly be considered as entogenic in Papua, but ectogenic in Queensland, if it is desired to contrast the fauna of Papua wath that of Australia proper. Again, in the case of strong-flying insects, one or more of the outermost contour-lines may reach beyond Wallace's line into the Oriental Region proper, and especially into Celebes, which appears to be a kind of link between the two regions, receiving both Oriental and Australian forms.
In the Odonata, the genus Argiolestes has a Papuan contour. There are a large number of species in Papua, and probably many more to be discovered. One species, at least, reaches to the Celebes. This group has, however, extended down into Australia itself far more vigorously than would be usually expected in the case of a tropical group, and is actually in pro- cess of budding off a distinct Holonotian contour, having a secondary zoocentre in Northern New South Wales with five species; and also a single species occurring in Western Australia.
36 ON THE STUDY OF ZOOGEOGRAPHICAT REGIONS,
A more typical Papuan contour is exhibited by the well-known Ornithoptera-group of the Papilionidce. The species of this group spread out from Papua as a centre, and a comparatively small branch extends into Australia itself, one species reaching as far south as the Richmond River in New South AVales.
Another form of entogenic contour, not, so far, found amongst the Odo7iata, appears to be shown by the distribution of the Australian fresh-water Crayfish, in which zoocentres of low numerical value occur in the North, South-East, and South- West of the continent respectively. With sufficient records, it seems that tliis contour would appear as the clear result of radial dis- tribution in three separate directions from the large central lake known to have existed in Australia in Cretaceous time. It might, therefore, be suitably called a Radial Contour.
The study of entogenic Australian groups occurring in Tas- mania, and the careful contouring of their .separate distributions, may be expected to throw some light on the question of Antarctic connections. The evidence afforded by the Odonata, so far, is not very strong, but the very close alliance between the species of the isolated group Pefalini, found only in Chili and on the Blue Mountains, will be regarded by some students as one link in the chain of evidence for a former connection between Aus- tralia and America via Antarctica. If the Blue Mountain species exists also in Tasmania, the argument will be much strengthened. The fact that it has not yet been recorded is of little value, when we consider how many years it has taken to secure only four specimens in a well collected locality close to Sydney.
C. PaJceogenic Contours. —Transparency 3 exhibits part of the contour of the subfamily Petaluriiuf, a small group of Odonata with no near allies. In the Australian region, it is represented by the genus Petalura in Australia, and by Uropetala in New Zealand. Petalura gigantea occurs in the Blue Mountains and their southern spurs, and also on Stradbroke Island, South Queensland. P. ingentissima is confined to Kuranda and Her- berton, North Queensland, while P. pulcherrima extends from Kuranda to Cooktown, Uropetala carovei is common in the
BY R. J. TILLYARD.
37
North Island of New Zealand. In Chili, the group is repre- sented by Phenes raptor, and in North America by Tachopteryx thoreyi in the State of New York, and by T. hageni in Nebraska.
This contour, therefore, is seen to be discontinuous over three separate regions, the Australian, Neotropical, and Nearctic. Such a contour, as is well known, can only be exhibited by archaic groups, and is only explicable on the supposition that it represents the remains of a once much more complete and wide- spread contour over several regions. One of the best known examples is that of the Dipnoi.
In Odonata, a further example of a palseogenic contour is exhibited by the group Petalini of the jEschnince, mentioned above, with one species on the Blue Mountains, and six in Chili.
Contours exhibiting the passage from the entogenic type to the disconti'iuous palseogenic type are not infrequent. Such, for instance, amongst the Odonata, are probably those of the genera Rannophya and Nannophlehia; while the Monotremata furnish an excellent example that will be more clearly appreciated.
We may now exhibit the various types of contour for the Australian region as follows, bracketing those that are not fully established.
|
Type. |
Subtype. |
Examples. |
|
A. ECTOGENIC... |
Ai TORRESIAN [A2 Timorean] |
Rhyothemis, Agrionoptera, Gyna- cantha, &c. |
|
(Transference from A to B : — Austrolestes.) |
||
|
B. Entogenic. |
Bj Holonotian ( h^ Eonotian C 62 Hesperouotian B2 Papuan [Bj Radial] |
Synthemina, Aristroceschna, &c. Diphlehia. Argiolestes. |
|
(Transference from B to C i—Nannophya, Nannophlebia.) |
||
|
C. Palseogenic |
Petalu7-ince, Petalini. |
38 ON THE STUDY OF ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS,
The composition of a Regional Fauna.
One of the great advantages of the method of Specific Contours is that it clearly separates out the different types or "layers," as it were, which make up the fauna of any given region. The attempts to subdivide regions into definite subregions do not give sufficient prominence to this, but tend rather to give an idea of essential differences between the divisions, separated by hard and fast lines. The method of Specific Contours may be called a three-colour process, in which the true " colour " or appearance of any given fauna is obtained by the superposition of separate plates on which the three different distributions, ectogenic, ento- genic, and palseogenic, are drawn. Only by such an analytical process can we obtain a clear idea of the changes in the faunal character of different parts of a region.
To take a good example of this :— The North Queensland coast- line does not strike the visitor as typically Australian in either its fauna or flora. Yet if these be analysed, the very strong entogenic element very soon becomes apparent, and the overlying ectogenic element which marks it can be differentiated out as of Oriental origin. As soon as one gets inland, the effect of the ectogenic element becomes much less marked, and the entogenic fauna and flora show up very distinctly. As one travels south- wards, the effect of the ectogenic element diminishes.
Again, on the Blue Mountains, there is at once apparent a very strongly marked entogenic fauna and flora. Almost lost in this, but still present — and, by its presence, adding to the variety and interest of the fauna — we distinguish the remains of palseo- genic groups whose value to the phylogenist can scarcely be over- estimated.
The factors oj zoogeoy raphical distribution.
Different students of zoogeography have given prominence to various factors which have brought about the present distribu- tion of the fauna and flora of the earth. It is necessary, how- ever, to distinguish clearly between the two classes of factors which contribute to the result. They may be classed as follows :
i. Primary Factors. — Those which determine the presence or absence of groups in the fauna or flora of a region. These factors
BY R. J. TILLYARD. 39
are : —{ct) the position and extent of the region with reference to the centres of origin of the various groups; {h) barriers.
ii. Secondary Factors. — Those which determine the form of contour exhibited in a region by a group whose presence has been brought about by the action of i. These are '.~{a) climate (rainfall, temperature); (6) the geology of the region; (c) the strength of the tendency to vary or mutate exhibited by the group in question; (<i) further alteration in the position of barriers, after the arrival of the group within the region.
In determining the distribution of the Australian Odooiata, the primary causes have been — (a) The proximity of the Austra- lian region to the Oriental, (b) The inefficiency of Wallace's line as a barrier to strong-flying species, (c) The "bridges" across Torres Straits and Timor, allowing of definite streams of immi- gration, (d) Possible lost connections with Antarctica and thence with South America.
The secondary causes, which have restricted the spread of the group within the Australian continent, have been— (a) The re- striction of the rainfall mainly to the coastal districts, (b) The Desert Barrier between South-East and South-West Australia.
(c) The Bassian Barrier between Tasmania and the mainland.
(d) The changes in mean temperature as we pass from north to south.
Of these, the distribution of the rainfall is, no doubt, the con- trolling factor in determining the narrow form of the Holonotian contours exhibited by Australian Odonate-groups. Entogenic groups of insects of other orders, less dependent upon the rain- fall, exhibit Holonotian contours of very much greater width.
The subdivision of Holonotian contours into Eonotian and Hesperonotian portions has been brought about by the Desert Barrier.
The absence of certain forms from Tasmania which occur com- monly on the mainland at the points nearest to the island, can only be explained by the supposition that these forms arrived at their south-eastern limit after the Bassian Istiniius had sunk beneath the sea. This affords valuable evidence of the relative
40 ON THE STUDY OF ZOOOEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS,
archaism of (a) Austrotheynis and Nannophya (present in Tas- mania) as compared with Diplacodes (absent). (6) Procordulia (present) compared with Hemicordulia (absent except for new colonisation by H. tau, a species with strong migratory tenden- cies), (c) uEschna (present) compared with A7iax (absent).
The lowering of the mean temperature as w^e pass southwards down the eastern coast-line is the chief factor in restricting the ectogenic invasion of groups of Oriental origin. As far as the northern rivei's of Xew South Wales, the mean temperatures are very high, the influence of Antarctic depressions and southerly winds being very little felt. To this limit many essentially tropical groups, sucli as BhT/othemis, have penetrated. Some few reach to Sydney and beyond; but, as we go south, the number diminishes very rapidly, and the ectogenic element soon dis- appears. A similar process, no doubt, affects the composition of the Odonate fauna of the western coast-line, about which very little is known. Around Perth, only Tramea and Pmitala have been noticed as of ectogenic origin.
In the Plate, the isohyets or lines of equal rainfall are given as supplied by the Federal Meteorological Bureau. In the northern portion of the continent, this rainfall is almost wholly of monsoonal origin, and falls mainly during summer (December to March). In the South- West and South-East, and in Tas- mania, the rainfall is mostly of Antarctic origin, and falls mainly in the winter (May to September). In New South Wales, both monsoonal and Antarctic influences are at work, with the result that both summer and winter may be dry or wet according to the intensities of the two operating factors. It will readily be seen from the map and transparencies that — {a) Ectogenic groups exhibit contours broadly similar to the contours of the monsoonal isohyets. (6) Entogenic groups (Holonotian) exhibit contours more dependent upon the distribution of Antarctic rainfall.
This correlation between specific contour and rainfall is in no way a complete one. Above a certain amount, rainfall may tend to retard the spread of a group. The west coast of Tasmania, with a rainfall up to 100 inches a year, appears to be very poor in Odonata; doubtless owing to its sunless and cold summer.
BY R. J. TILLYARD. 41
The excessively wet portion of tropical coast -line centred around Innisfail, North Queensland, with a rainfall up to 130 inches a year (nearly all summer rain) is not so rich in species as the sur- rounding districts with from 50 to 70 inches.
Other Applications of the Method.
The Method of Specific Contours may be profitably used in studying the density distribution of Zonal Groups — ^.e., groups which are not confined to one zoogeographical region, but are distributed along a zone of the earth's surface. On the map of the world (Mercator's projection) contours ma}^ be shown of Boreal, Holarctic, Bipolar, or Circumtropical groups which will present at a glance the salient features of distribution in a graphic manner. The author has worked out on these lines the contour of the holarctic genus Ser}iatochlora with a very satisfactory result, though the number of detailed records available was scarcely sufficient to give a very accurate contour. Leaving out of account three species usually included in the genus (two from New Zealand and one from Chili) about whose inclusion in the genus there is ground for doubt, we obtain a contour of the zonal type ranging round the northern temperate zone. It is interrupted by the Atlantic — as might be expected — but not by the Pacific, since two species, at least, occur on both sides of Behring's Straits, and extend far westwards into Siberia and eastwards into Canada. The primary zoocentre seemed to be located in the vicinity of the State of Maine, U.S.A., with a density of six species, while a secondary zoocentre of large extent but of less density (three) runs across the northern part of Europe and Asia. The boundary line of the contour southward throws out two well-defined projections into lower latitudes, one down along the eastern coast of U.S.A. as far as Florida, another into Japan, while a somewhat indefinite bulging takes place to include records of a single species extending into Arizona.
This contour is not published here, because the inequality of the records available scarcely admits of its consideration in any- thing but the broadest of aspects. More collecting has been done in the one State of Maine than in the whole of Siberia.
42 ON THE STUDY OF ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS,
The apparent zoocentre in Maine may be, therefore, only due to the completeness of the local records, and the genus may possibly attain as great, or even greater, density in some part of Siberia . Generally speaking, the number of records necessary for drawing an approximate contour in the case of a zonal group will be much higher than in the case of a regional group, since the former will extend into at least two regions.
Other examples of zonal distribution in Odonata whose dis- tribution might be advantageously studied by this method are : —
Holarctic — Lihellula, SympetruTn, Leucorrhinia, Gomphus^ Boyeria, Calopteryx.
Circumtropic — Macromia, IVamea, Gynacantha, Teinobasis.
In the study of zonal groups, the contour itself will decide in what region or regions a given zonal group may be considered to be entogenic; viz., those regions in which that group can be seen to have established definite zoocentres. For example, the genus Somatochlora may be rightly considered entogenic in the Nearctic Region, and also (though apparently not so definitely) in the Palsearctic Region. Other zonal groups are quite clearly ento- genic in one region but ectogenic in another. Traviea, for instance, appears to be entogenic in the Neotropic Region, with an ectogenic outgrowth into the Nearctic Region and another into the Australian Region.
Cosmopolitan groups, such as Aiiax. jEschiia, Lestes^ may also be studied by this method; but, of course, the number of records necessary for the complete contouring of such a group will be even greater than in the case of a zonal group.
The method may also be applied to the study of a harrier, in the following manner : — A map should be taken showing the barrier, with parts of the surrounding regions, and over this map the partial contours of various groups, drawn on transparencies, may be placed in turn. The efficacy of the barrier may be gauged by considering the percentage of contours showing total discon- tinuity across the barrier. In so far as group contours are com- pletely delimited or cut off by the barrier {i.e., the group is pre- vented from passing across the barrier at all), the barrier may be considered a Primary Barrier; but, in so far as group contours
BY R. J. TILLYARD. 43
are only severed by it, (i.e., the group is divided into two distinct portions) the barrier is only a Secondary Barrier. It is clear that a barrier can only be a Primary Barrier to those groups whose arrival in its neighbourhood is of later date than the uprising of tlie barrier; while, even to such groups, if they possess special facilities for passing the barrier, it may only play the part of a Secondary Barrier, or even be no barrier at all. On the other hand, if the date of the uprising of the barrier be later than that of the arrival of the group, it cannot rank higher than as a Secondary Barrier. A recognised barrier, such as Wallace's line, might be carefully treated in this manner for a large number of groups with very valuable results.
A further suggestion as to a valuable use of this contour method is offered by the author for the case of migrating groups of birds. With sufficient records, two separate contour maps might be drawn up for, say, one of the genera of the Fjnngillidce, showing (a) the contour of the group during the nesting season; {b) its contour during the winter. These two contours, drawn on large maps and exhibited side by side, would bring home to us, more clearly than pages of records, the movements of the group during the changing seasons of the year. Probably the records available in Europe and America for such a contour will be found to be quite sufficient.
In conclusion, the author contends that the study of zoogeo- graphical distribution will be advanced by the method outlined in this paper, and that contours of groups are a more natural unit for study than theoretical subdivisions of regions into separate portions.
44
REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONINjE, FAMILY TENEBRIONID^.
(Australian Species : with Descriptions of new Spkcies OF Tenebrionin^^ and Cvphalein^).
By H. J. Carter, B.A., F.E.S.
(With six text-figures.) Revision of the Subfamily l^enehrionince.
This subfamily is in more need of revision than any of the Tenehrio7iidce, through the extraordinary complications that have arisen through the imperfect descriptions of early writers, notably of Boisduval ; and this has been aggravated by the diversity of determinations made by later authors. As these complications apply to some of the commonest of Australian insects, it is hoped that the author's attempt at reaching a stage nearer finality will assist other entomologists by clearing our catalogues of names that are either synonyms, or belong to lost types, and are valueless. This task has been facilitated by the aid of Mr. K. G Blair, of the British Museum, who has sent me a collection of specimens, some of which have been compared with the types of Pascoe and Hope, while others have some historic value from their labels.
The subfamily is now held to include the Coelometopides, Tenebrionides vrais, and Toxicides of Lacordaire.
Distribution. — In the new Catalogue of Junk, in which the Tenehrionidce are so ably edited by Gebien, there are 97 genera of the subfamily, excluding Microphyes, Chileone, and Ephidonius, and including Teremenes (vide infra). Of these, only 16 are represented in Australia, of which 10 are exclusively so (endemic). These 10 are distributed as follows : —
Exclusively Australian.
Brises — Central Australia (including Northern Territory).
Asphalus — New South Wales, Queensland (coastal districts).
BY H. J. CARTER. 45
Hypaulax — AW States; widely distributed.
Ilydissus — New South Wales, Queensland, Lord Howe Island.
Oec^os-is — Victoria, South Australia.
Meneristes —l^ew South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Queens- land, South Australi-B.
Teremenes — New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Queens- land, South Australia.
Si/nercticus —New South Wales, Queensland.
Tanylypa —Tasmania.
Paratoxicum — Tasmania, and Victorian Alf)S.
Not exclusively Australian.
The remaining six genera are distributed as follows : —
Pediris — Cape York, Austro-Malay Islands.
Encyalesthus India, E. Asia and Japan, Austro-Malay Islds., E. Australia.
Promethis -'^\\ik\m, Lord Howe Island, Australia (all States).
Menephihis — Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia (all States).
7'ewe6r2o— Cosmopolitan ; two species universally distributed as flour- and grain-pests; other species world-wide.
Toxicum — Africa, America, Asia, Australia (all States).
Brises and Ephidonius.
In Junk's Catalogue, Herr Gebien places Bynses with the Tenehrionince, and Ephidonius with the CyphaleiiuB', but what- ever classification be adopted, it seems quite undesirable to separate them. In the trapezifotm shape of the head, with the eyes widely separated, both are much nearer the Tenehrionince, as further indicated in the continuous epipleurse; while in the form of the antennae, the more widened emargination of the thorax, and especially in the carinate prosternum, they show a strong relationship with the Cyphaleince. Both, however, have marked characters in which they differ very much from each of these groups. (1) In the palpi, where the last joint of the max- illary palpi is at most rather narrowly triangular; in B. trachy- notoides Fasc, this joint is so narrow as to be considered subulate; whereas in both Tenehrionince and Cyphaleince it is strongly
5
46 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONIN^:,
securiform. (2) 'J'lie posterior intorcoxal process in botli is narrow, triangular, or very little rounded at apex; whereas in Tenebrio- nincE and Cyphalevufn, this process is generally widely rounded. (3) The legs and tarsi form the greatest barrier to the inclusion of these genera in either group — widely differing from the Tene- hrioninrjR in their more elongate form, clothed as to their tibiae and tarsi with long hairs; while equally distinguished from the Cyp}tahi7i(n by their unusually long tibial spurs and tarsal claws. The author suggests (1) that Brises = Ephidonius; (2) that Brises, at present, be considered as a single subgroup of the Tenebrionin(n. I cannot find any satisfactory character, beyond sculpture, to separate the two genera; and in the case of the new species, B. Blairi, the sculpture is intermediate between that of B. trachy- notoideH Pasc, and E. Duhoulayi Tiates. The name Epkidoni'ns should, therefore, be surjk, and the species may be tabulated as follows, all of them being before me.
BttiSES Pasc. (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1869).
Ephidonius Pasc. (loc. cit.). 1(3) Elytra Viieostate.
2. Upper surface nlLid Jilairi, n.H\).
3. Upper surface opaque irachynoloideti Pasc.
4(6)KlyLra l>ico8lale, upper surface nitid.
5. (Jost* Huhobsolete acuticornxH Pa.sc.
6.Co8tai strongly raised Duhoulayi Bates.
7. Elytra with 5 slightly raised costse, surface o\)'M{\x*i. ...parvicoUia Blackb.
The two following genera, A.sphalus and J/ypaulax, may be grouped as Cf/ilorrtetopnnai, only distinguished from "Tenebrionides vrais" of Lacordaire, by their short metasterruim arid apterous body.
AspiiALUs Pasc.
l.Elytral surface shallow, surface very nitid ebeninn.t Paac.
2.Elytral striie deep, surface less nitid Htrialun (Ja,rt.
Hypaulax Bates. Chileone liates. Chileofte is not (as P>lackburn also suggested) sufficiently differ- entiated from J/ypaulax to deserve generic distinction. The
BY H. J. CARTER. 47
only marked distinctions given by tlie author (Trans. Ent. 8oc. Lond , 18G8, p. 264) are the hisinuate thorax, with the angles prominent, and the alveolate si-ulpture of the elytra; the other distinctions are either slight or elusive. Of the marked distinc- ticms, the first two are certainly found in //. intmlaritt Hope ( = //. tW(/t>'cr><N Blackb.), and the last (the alveolate elytra) is closely approacheil in the species described below {I /. /o renins). I believe I have seen specimens of all the described species. If I have identified //. i)ife)'ioris Blackb., correctly, in a specimen from N.W. Australia, it is further distinguished by its strongly punctate abdomen— a character shared to a less, and very variable, degree by that widely distributed and most variable species, //. orcus Pasc. Bates evidently did not sutticiently con- sider the great variability in size, sculpture, shape of prothorax, and convexity of form, that is to be noticed in examining long series; so that, as he himself admitted in the synonymy of //. oralis and H. ol)/o)iya, varieties have been described as species; while Macleay described two species in a few lines, without having seen the descriptions of Bates' H. sinuafleol lis* and H. tarda (Trans. Ent. 8oc. New South AVales, p.285),
The following are almost certainly synonyms : -
//. gai/ndahensis Macl. = //. ob/o)ii/a Bates = //. oralis Bates = (1 Up is crenata Boisd. ).
H. opacicollis Macl. = //. sinuaticollis Bates = //. maryinata Bates.
//. iridfscens Blackb. = //. (Plati/notus) i)isularis Hope.
The last has already been suggested by Champion.
The descriptions of three new species will be found below.
Table of Hypaulax.
l(3)Klytra suleate, its lateral intervals sharply elevated.
2. rronotuin opaque, lateral border little raised or thickened
insulay-is Hope ; iridescens Blackb.
S.Pronotuin nitid, lateral border strongly raised <ind thickened
Spfuceri, n.sp.
4(6)Elytra striate, intervals convex.
5 First two stria^ deep, punctures obvious oralis Bates; ob^onga Bates;
gayndaheiisis Macl.; {'i)crenata Boisd.
48 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONINJE,
6. First two striae shallow, punctures ver}^ small or obsolete
tenuialriata Bates.
7(n)Elytra more or less striate, intervals flat.
S.Pronotum and elytral intervals clearly punctate.. pimcticollis, n.sp.
9(ll)Pronotuin and elytral intervals scarcely visibly punctate.
10. J'rothorax arcuate in front, anterior angles advanced orcus Pasc.
ll.Prothorax truncate in front, anterior angles not advanced
ampliala Bates.
12(22)Elytra seriate-punctate. 13(15)Elytral punctures alveolate.
14. Apex of prothorax bisinuate, lateral borders thick and crenulate
Deyrollti Bates.
15. Apex of prothorax truncate, lateral borders less thick and scarcely
crenulate /oveata, n.sp.
16(22) Elytral punctures much smaller. 17(19)Size large (17-2;^ mm. long).
18. Colour subopaque black, seriate punctures smaller interioris Blackb.
IQ.Colour nitidblack, seriate punctures larger.. .. marginata Bates;
sinnaticollis Bates; e^mcicoUis Macl. 20(22)Size small (12-15 nmi. long).
21. Prothorax with lateral channel tarda Bates.
22. Prothorax without lateral channel opacula Bates.
Nyctohates and Setenis are not represented in the Australian fauna, the former being limited to America. It is possible that Promethis [Nyctohates) sterrha OIL, from Lord Howe Island, is a Setenis, but I am not able to state this definitely, through lack of knowledge of the genus. Under Setenis, Herr Gebien has included two of Boisduval's mysteries, Upis crenata Boisd., and U. Lottinii Boisd. These will be discussed below. Having examined the types of Meneristes curtulus Oil., and M. vulgaris OIL, from Lord Howe Island, I should unhesitatingly place them under Hydissus, the larger species {M. vulgaris) being extremely close to H, ferouioides Pasc. The species may be distinguished as follows : —
Hydissus Pasc.
l.Pronotum smooth, elytral intervals strongl}' convex, seriate punctures evident .fe7-onioidesFa.sc.
2. Pronotum finely punctate, elytral intervals little raised, seriate punc-
tures very small, almost hidden in striae vidgaris Oil.
3. Pronotum more strongly punctate, elytral intervals flat, seriate punctures
larger than in 2 (also shorter and wider) curtidus Oil.
• BY H. J. CARTER. 4&
Under Encyalesthus, two species have been described, to which a third is now added. These may be tabulated as follows : —
Encyalesthus Motsch. l(3)Colour ])lack.
2.Subnitid, hind tibije of 6 with margins entire pnnctipennU Pasc.
S.Ver}' uitid, hind tibiae of S with excised margin excisipe<i, n.sp.
*4. Elytra green or bronze, posterior tibiae of i angniate... atj-o-viridis Mac).
Promethis.
Before attempting to tabulate the species of this genus, it is necessary to clear the ground by a discussion of Boisduval's species, the inadequate descriptions of which contain neither dimensions nor figures (with one exception), and the types are mostly lost. To take these in turn, Pediris (Upis) sulcigera is the one member of the Subfamily figured in the " Voyage de r Astrolabe," and is well known in European museums. Origin- ally described from Amboyna, I have specimens from New Guinea and Cape York, the latter taken by Mr. H. Hacker, as recorded by me (These Proceedings, 1909, p 125).
Upis Lottinii Boisd., placed by Gebien under Seteriis. — There is a specimen in the British Museum consignment, labelled New South Wales (F. Bates' Coll.), with a second label bearing the name " Upis Lottinii Boisd., Schaufuss." This specimen is undoubtedly a F7'omethis, and is probably a small F. nigra Bless. A second specimen, bearing similar labels, has been further labelled by Mr. Blair as P. lethalis Pasc. This specimen, I should consider as the typical P. tiigra Bless. The original habitat of U. Lottinii was stated to be New Guinea. Having little doubt as to the synonymy of /'. lethalis Pasc, with /'. nigra J^less., (from specimens of the former sent by Mr. Blair, compared with
* Macleay omitted any reference to sex in his description, or to the fact that tlie elytra are often a brilliant brassy-bronze colour; the females have the posterior tibiae without this angubir swelling. I have examined many specimens.
Oectosis. — The single species, 0. cylindrica Pasc, is not common in collections. I have a specimen from the Mallee district of Victoria.
50 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TiJSEBRIONlNJ^, •
the excellent description and figure by Blessig) I should place U. Lottinii Boisd., as a probable synonym; this doubt rendering it undesirable to preserve the name.
Upis cretiata Boisd. — There has again been much disagreement as to the insect described under this name. The Macleay Museum has, under this name, what is undoubtedly P. nigra Bless., probably so identified by Macleay. The British Museum has a specimen of Hypaulax oblonga Bates, labelled as U. crenata Boisd.; while another specimen bearing this name, in the British Museum, is certainly Hyjyaulax temiistriatw, and Herr Gebien writes that he has an Hypaulax under BoisduvaFs name. The ten words of BoisduvaFs description, without dimensions, apply more aptly to Hypaulax than to Promethis, especially "thorace Isevigato, subconvexo, lateribus rotundato," since the species of Promethis, in no case, have a Isevigate thorax, nor are the sides notably rounded. Although the name has reappeared in Junk's Catalogue under Setenis, it should be consigned to oblivion, as a probable synonym of the common Hypaulax oblonga Bates. Jt is scarcely possible that Boisduval should have failed to collect this in the Sydney district.
Baryscelis laticollis Boisd. - It would be tedious and useless to follow up the various attempts to determine this species. In 1869, Pascoe described Meneristes laticollis, which is possibly the same thing, though Champion expresses a contrary opinion (Trans. Ent. Soc. 1894, p. 392), without giving any reason. There seems little cause to doubt that Pascoe's species is the same as that described by Blessig as Tenehrio australis, by Motschulsky as Asiris angulicollis, and by Blanchard as T. iiigerrimus. Mr. Blair writes that in the Bates Coll., he has "one series over laticollis Pasc, and another over australis Macl.; but I cannot distinguish between them." The Rev. T. Blackburn proposed, as his solution of the tangle, the identity of T. australis Boisd., and B. laticollis Boisd., but even Boisduval could scarcely describe the same insect under two genera in two successive pages. Moreover, the words " antice emarginato " applied to B. laticollis, are not contained in the ten words that describe T. australis; and this being a marked character in Pascoe's
BY H. J. CARTER. 51
species, it is likely enough that Pascoe's suggestion is the true one.
Baryscelis politiis Boisd., seems to have been left unnoticed by writers, so that not even a conjecture, so far, has been made as to its identity; nor have I seen any insect so identified. From the short note by Boisduval, "II est un tiers plus petit que le precedent, et le corselet est moins retreci posterieurement," it would seem to be identical with M. iiitermedius Pasc, a smaller (and female) variety of M. laticollis Pasc. It seems possible to me that T. australis Boisd., is identical with Promethis quadri- collis Pasc; and that 2\ nigerrimus Boisd., = J/, servulus Pasc, which, again, is certainly (from compared types) identical with Meriephilus convexiusculus Hope.
Having examined a very large number of Promethis, both from our museums and from numerous collections, the following synonymy is almost certain : —
P. lethalis Pasc, = P. [Iphthimus) nigra Bless._
P. Pascoei MacL, = P. quadricollis Pasc
P. lethalis Pasc, at furthest, can only be considered as a variety of P. nigra. 1'he Queensland specimens show a great deal of variation, inter se; a long series taken by Mr. Lea, at Cairns, have the hinder part of the prothorax more sinuate, with the elytral punctures more hidden, than is the case with the typical P. nigra of the Southern States. Moreover, specimens that have been for some time in spirits, show a much clearer and coarser puncturation that is apt to mislead. A similar variation is to be noticed in P. quadricollis Pasc, but having examined the type of P. Pascoei Macl., and compared it with specimens sent by Mr. Blair as P. quadricollis Pasc, I have no doubt of their identity. Most probably, Pascoe's locality, Swan River, for his species, is a mistake. I have seen only P. angidata Erichs., from West Australia; while hundreds of specimens of the other species have been examined from the Eastern States. The known species of Australian Promethis may be tabulated as follows, three new species being added and described below, P, Harmandl Oil., from Sikkim, being omitted, as unknown to me.
52 REVISlOif OP THE SUBFAMILY TENEBBtONIN^,
Promefhis Pasc.
l(9)Posterior angles of prothorax scarceh", or not, produced.
2.El3'tra very convex, much widened beliind, intervals little raised
eterrha Oil.
3i8)Elytra moderately convex, intervals strongly ridged.
4(6)Size large (22-29 mm. long), prothorax widest in front, elytra obovate
5. Seriate punctures partly hidden in striae, abdomen moderately punctate
nigra Bless.
(Prothorax more sinuately narrowed behind).... var. lethalis Pasc. 6.Seriate punctures larger than in 5, not at all concealed, abdomen verj'
coarsely punctate major, n.sp.
7. Size smaller (15-20 mm. loi)g), form flatter and more parallel, prothorax
little or not widened in front, sides nearl}' straight
quadricollis Pasc; Pa.'<coei Macl.
8, Elytra parallel, sides of prothorax angulately creueite . . .aiigulata ICrichs.
9.14 mm. long, subcylindric, sides of prothorax rounded, its angles wide
and declinate, elj^tral intervals moderately convex . ...mmor, n.sp.
10. Posterior angles of prothorax lobate in S , elytral intervals costate
lobicoUis, n.sp.
Augolesthus australasicB Motsch. — From the description, it would appear that this is identical with Chariotheca {Thesilea) planicollis Fairm., = C. cupripennis Pasc. This genus should, therefore, be omitted from tlie subfamily Tenehrionince
Menephilus Muls.
l(3)Upper surface blue.
2.Sides of prothorax sinuate, hind angles acute corvinus Erichs. ;
cyanipennis Hope.
S.Sides of prothorax not sinuate, hind angles obtuse Icehts, n.sp.
4.Pronotum black, anterior angles round, elytra obscure blue, legs and
antennae black cmrulescens Haag-Rut.
5 Head ferruginous, pronotum piceous, elytra violaceous, seneous or blue,
legs and antennae red rujicornis Champ.;
var. (zneus Carter; var. azuriptnnis, n.var. 6. Head and pronotum purple-bronze or blue, elytra variegated, legs red.
brevis, n.sp.
7(10)Upper surface black or piecous, subnitid, pronotum strongly punctate.
8. Length 12 mm., prosternum fulvo-pubescent, its episterna punctate
humilis Erichs.
9.Length 8-9 mm., prosternum glabrous, its episterna pustulose
colydioidts Erichs.
6Y tt. J. CARTfiR. 53
lO.Length 6-7 nim., form flatter than 9, anterior angles more produced,
elytral intervals less raised, seriate punctures smaller
parvuhis Macl.
ll(]3)Upper surface nitid black, pronotum finely punctate, anterior angles strongl}' produced.
1 2. Ptjsterior angles produced backwards Sydntyanus Blkb.
13. Posterior angles not produced rectibasis, n.sp.
M. corvinus occurs in Tasmania, South Australia, and New South Wales.
M. coerulescens Haag, is widely distributed in New South Wales and Queensland.
M. rujicornis Champ., occurs from Tasmania to North Queens- land. M. (t'neiis is only a small bronze variety of it. Mr. Lea has taken several specimens at Cairns, with the elytra dark blue, which seem worthy of a name, for which I propose M. azuri- peiuiis.
M. humllis Erichs. — The only specimen of this I have seen, is one in the British Museum consignment; larger, wider, the front angles less advanced ; with the differences of underside noted above, it can be easily distinguished from the more common M. colydioides Erichs.
It is open to question whether M. parvulus Macl., is only a variety of M. colydioides Erichs. I have specimens of the former, compared with type, from New South Wales and Queensland; and of the latter, from Tasmania, and New South Wales. Speci- mens of both are from the Blue Mountains, but the distinctions given above, seem to warrant their separation at present.
M. Sydney anus Blkb., is very common in New South Wales and Queensland. I have specimens from Eden to Tamljourine M ountain.
Meneristes Pasc.
1. Moderately nitid black, tibire of i unarmed, elytra subparallel
laticoUis Pasc, angxdicoUis Motsch., {t) laticoUis Boisd., T. australis Bless., T. nigerrimn,>i Blanch., var. inter vie.diusVd.s>c., (l)poliius Boisd.
2(5)Polished ebony-black.
S.Tibise of S unarmed, angles of prothorax more strongly produced than 1. Elytra ovate, little wider than prothorax at base latior, n.sp.
64 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRtONIN jE^
4-Hind tibiae of <J with triangular tooth, its apex greatly enlarged and
curved tibialis, n.sp.
var. Hind tibije without this tooth proximus, n.var.
5.A11 tibiae of i bidentate, form subcylindric denlipea, n.sp.
There is little doubt that M. intermedius Pasc, is only a smaller form of the common M. laticollis. Mr. Blair has sent me specimens compared with types, and has expressed his own agreement with this. The type of M. intermedius Pasc, is a female, and is of the form very common in New South Wales, the larger form being more often found in Tasmania and Victoria. Meneristes is a variable and 'difficult genus to separate into definite species, and probably more species will be found. The new species, described below, are all very distinct, two of them from their male tibial characters as shown by the outlines figured below— traced with a camera. Mr. Lea has taken a number of Meneristes at Cairns and Atherton, which are very nitid, and have larger elytral punctures than the typical M. laticollis Pasc. For the present I can only treat this species as a variety.
M. servulus Viisc, = Menephilus convexiusculus Hope, = (1)il/. nigerrimus Boisd. — JVlr. Blair sends specimens compared with Pascoe's and Hopes types, which show this. I had already noted it on my visit to the Hope Museum in 1907. There is also a specimen in the British Museum box identical with M. servulus labelled M. nigerrimus Laf., but the doubt that must always exist in Boisduval's species renders it undesirable to retain the name. At any rate this species requires another generic title? dijffering markedly from Meneristes in (1) the structure of the prothorax, wdth the rounded unproduced front angles; (2) the very short apical spines of the tibiae; (3) the quite different onychium. As regards (3), Herr Gebien has been kind enough to point out to me the very unusual onychium of M. laticollis Pasc, with its several spines besides the two usual setae, and he further adds, " I do not know another genus, except Phrenapetes of South America, in which that onychium occurs. ' I therefore propose the name 7'eremenes for M. convexiusculus Hope, and M. longipenjiis Hope, the latter of which has also been clearly identified by specimens sent from the British Museum, and which
BY H. J. CARTRU. 55
is probal)ly only an elongate and larger variety of J/, convexius- culus Hope, but which, for tlie present, I would retain as separ- able from that species. To these I would add a third species from North Queensland, received from various collectors; and tabulate them as follows : —
Teremenes, n.gen.
1. 17-18 mm, long, pronotum and elytral intervals finely punctate . ...
longipennis Hope.
2. 13-15 mm. long, pronotum, elj'tral iuLeivals, and underside smooth or
only microscopically punctate
couL-exiuscnlus Hope, seri'ulus Pasc, {1)uifjerrinms Boisd.
3. 13-15 mm. long, pronotum, elytral intervals, and underside strongly
punctate socius, n.sp.
7'. longipennis Hope, is recorded from Tasmania and South Australia. I have specimens also from Victoria and New South Wales. _
2\ convexiusculus Hope, is widely distributed in all the Southern States.
T. socius, n.sp., seems to be confined to North Queensland. Its distinction of sculpture is very marked, while it also has sharper hind angles to the prothorax, and a narrower lateral border, with the front angles less depressed and more evident.
Microphyes riijipes Macl. — I have examined the type of this, and identified it in my own Coll., from Queensland and West Australia (H. Brown). It should be transferred to another sub- family, the Ulomince, 1 think, but it is certainly out of place in the Tenehrionince.
Synercticns piceus Pasc, = aS'. heteromerus Newra. - A most variable insect in size. My specimens vary from 8 to 13 mm. in length.
Synercticus and Tanylipa are aberrant members of the 7'ene- h'ionincB in having their anterior coxal cavities open behind. For the present, they must be held as anomalous forms of the subfamily, with a doubtful relationship.
56 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENSBRIONI^uE^
ToxicuM Latr.
Eight names have been published as belonging to the Austra- lian species of this genus. In my opinion, these should be reduced to three, with a synonymy as follows : —
(1)7'. curvicorne Blkb., = 7'. spretum Blkb., = T'. parvicorne Macl., = 2\ hrevicorne Pasc.
(2) T. addendum Blkb., = T. distinctum Macl., = T. punctipenne Pasc.
(3) T. gracile Pasc.
Of these, I have examined the types of T. spretum, T. parvi- corne, and T. distinctum', and specimens compared with types by Mr. Blair of T. curvicorne, T. punctipenne, and T. gracile\ while T. hrevicorne is the commonest species in Victoria and New Ho^ith Wales, and is, no doubt, correctly named in the Macleay Museum. Mr. Blair, moreover, writes that he has placed T. curvicorne in the British Museum Collection as a synonym of T. hrevicorne, an opinion with which I concur, after seeing the specimens sent by him.
All the species I have seen in a fresh condition, except T. gracile, have an opaque velvety indumentum which can be removed by friction. The type of T. spretum Blkb., in the South Australian Museum, is, I consider, an abraded specimen of T. hy^evicorne Pasc, the elytral intervals and punctures being a little more clearly defined and its surface more nitid than in the fresh specimens. In a long series, the male presents variations in the length of the horns, as shown in other horned insects (e.g., Ontho- phagus, Bolhoceras, etc.); thus the type of T. parvicorne Macl., is, I consider, a specimen of I', brevico'ue Pasc, with unusually stunted horns. Mr. Champion has published the synonymy of T. addendum Blkb., with T. punctipenne Pasc; while T. dis- tinctum Macl., is undoubtedly the same species. As pointed out by Champion, Blackburn (and I would add Pascoe and Macleay) failed to notice the angular enlargement — or blunt tooth - on the inside edge of the anterior femora of the male; a pronounced character in T. punctipe7ine Pasc. In 7\ hrevicorne Pasc, this tooth is smaller but evident, while in T. gracile Pasc, it is even less obvious, though present.
BY H. J. CARTER. 57
With regard to tlie antennae, Blackburn overlooked the con- tradiction contained in Pascoe's description of 2\ brevicorne (Journ, of Ent. 1866, p. 454). In the Latin part, this reads " antennarum clava triarticulata," while in the longer English notes below, he writes " club of the antennte four-jointed." From my examination of the five species tabulated below, I find the club to be as follows : —
T. punctipenne'^di&c. — CXwh of 3 joints, easily differentiated from the preceding joints.
2\ brevicorne Pasc. — Club of 4 joints, the 8th transverse, but more triangular than the 9th joint.
T. gracile Pasc. — The slender club may be considered as having three or four joints, the 8th being intermediate in size between the 7th and 9th, but so much smaller than 9, and in shape like 7, that I should consider the club as rather 3-jointed than four.
T. insigne, n.sp. — Club of 4 joints, easily differentiated from the preceding joints.
T. quinque-coriiutum, n.sp.— Club of 4 joints, easily differen- tiated.
The five species can be readily tabulated by the character of the horns of the male as follov/s : —
{l.)Clypeal hoi^ns sep-ATixte, starting from near the corners of the clypeus, and nearly vertical. Frontal horns gently incurved, pointing upwards, with semicircular fringe of red hair from near the apex on the outside to about |
way down the inside punclipenne Pasc.
{2.)Glypeal horns shorter than in (1), separated, but not starting from opposite corners of the clypeus, and diverging. Frontal horns semicircularly incurved, pointing inwards, with smaller
fringe of red hair round the apex, above and below ...
brevicorne Pasc.
{3.)Clypeal horns connected at base, starting from the middle of the clypeus, forming the letter Y, with the conmion base wide. Frontal horns moderately incurved, pointing upwards, nearly as in (1), with fringe of yellow hair starting from near the apex on the
outside and continued half way or more on the inside
gracile Pasc.
{i.)Clypeal horns abbreviated into wide conical tubercles at the corners of the clypeus.
58 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONTNuE,
Frontal horns strongly incurved at base, the extreme apex again in- curved, widened, and deflexed, with a wide apical surface nearly meeting, with a fringe of red hair on the outside only, extending,
but narrowly, to half way down insigiie, n.sp.
{5.)Clypeal horiis three, the middle one largest and widely tiiangular, the two lateral ones short, also triangular, forming the extension of the canthi.
Frontal horna flattened, widest seen laterally, sharply incurved at base, twisted backwards at apex, with verj' small tuft of yellow tomentum on outside of apex quinque-cornutum, n.sp.
Paratoxicum iridescens Champ. — I have taken a specimen of this at Mt. Buffalo, Victoria.
Brises Blairi, n.sp.
Ovate, depressed, glabrous, nitid-black, oral organs, joints 1-2, and 8-11 of antennae, and tarsi, red.
Head closely and distinctly punctate, mandibles bifid at apex, labrum emarginate and rounded, epistoma arcuate in front, rounded at sides, making an obtuse angle with the can thus, the latter raised and angulate (subcornute) and lightly impinging on the eyes, epistomal suture sulcate and arcuate, the forehead on a higher plane than the epistoma, eyes large, transverse, widely separated and free of the prothorax, last joint of maxillary palpi triangular; antennae not reaching the base of prothorax, rather slender at base, moderately enlarged at apex, joint 3 about as long as 4-5 combined, 4-7 obconic, 8-11 rather shortly ovate. Prothorax 3-5 x 6 mm., widest at middle and base, arcuate at apex, the anterior angles round and little advanced, sides strongly widened to the middle, then widely sinuate to the acutely pro- duced and dentate posterior angles, without any defined border, lateral margins widely explanate and reflexed, concave anteriorly, convex posteriorly, separated from disc by a groove; disc with medial line faintly indicated, and two basal foveate depressions; minutely punctate. Scutellum transversely triangular. Elytra wider than prothorax at base and nearly thrice as long, ovate and rather flat, shoulders rather square, epipleural fold slightly reflexed, horizontal margins wide on basal half, narrowing towards apex, with a separating sulcus containing an irregular row of
BY H. J. CARTER. 59
punctures becoming obsolete beliind, with two rcaised costas on each elytron, the first originating abruptly at some distance from the base, and obsolescent about half-way, the second starting considerably behind the first and continued a little further back- ward, the intervals with indistinct rows of shallow punctures, the apical declivity a little rugose and finely pustulose, also a row of indistinct pustules on each side of suture on apical half. Prosternum punctate, its flanks ridged on the inside, its process narrowly carinate and produced, mesosternal cavity wide, with raised margins, posterior intercoxal process rounded, abdomen minutely punctate, epipleurae smooth, tibiae pustulose, the front tibiae slightly bent, tibial spurs and tarsal claws very long, the tarsi clothed with long red hair. Dimensions, 16x8 mm.
Hab. Killalpanima, 100 miles east of Lake Eyre (H. J. Hillier).
A single specimen (gl) sent by Mr. K. G. Blair for examina- tion, and in whose honour I name it, is easily distinguished from the only other bicostate Brises by its nitid surface, wider form, and very different sculpture.
In the structure of the head, with the epistoma on a lower plane than the forehead, and the eyes quite free of the prothorax, it is more like B. Duhoulayi Bates, and is interesting as showing a connecting link between two aberrant forms. Type in the British Museum.
A second specimen has been lately sent for determination from the National Museum, Melbourne, labelled " Finke R.; N. Aus- tralia," taken by Professor Baldwin Spencer.
Hypaulax foveata, n.sp.
Elongate-ovate, nitid black; antennae, tibiae, and tarsi dark castaneous, inside of tibiae and tarsi beneath clothed with pale golden pubescence.
Head very wide, truncate in front, narrowed behind the eyes, smooth on forehead, finely punctate on epistoma and labrum, the last prominent and ciliate, suture semicircular, mandibles slightly notched at apex, antennae stout, joint 3 scarcely longer than 4, 7-11 enlarged, 8-10 subquadrate, 11 longer than 10. Prothorax
60 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONINJE,
wider than long (about 6x7 mm.), truncate at apex, the angle feebly advanced, wider at apex than at base, anterior angles rather squarely rounded, lateral rounding very slight on the anterior part, a little sinuate posteriorly, its angle prominent and acute, pointing obliquely outwards, margins fairly wide in front, narrowly chajmelled within, margin and channel narrowed (some- times with a slight crenulation) before the sinuation; base slightly bisinuate and thickly margined; disc with faint median line, and, under a strong lens, seen to be finely punctate. Scutellum trans- verse. Elytra slightly wider than prothorax at base, gradually widening to beyond the middle, sinuately and strongly narrowed at apex, with moderate declivity; thickly margined at base, humeral angle very obtuse but prominent, lateral margin and channel narrow; substriate, with nine lines of large fovese, the last on margin, sometimes confluent but smaller and punctiform on the first row and near apex; an extra scutellary row consist- ing of about three elongate punctures. Abdomen faintly strio- late, intercoxal process widely rounded, its margin interrupted at apex ; prosternum with three wide carinse, the two outside irregularly thickened and crenulate within, the deep sulci between the carinse produced in front of coxae, prosternal process rounded behind; front tibiae strongly curved at apex. Dimen- sions^ 22-25 X 7J-9 mm.
^a5._Dalveen (H. J. Carter), Stanthorpe (H. Cox) Queens- land; Tenterfield, New South Wales (Dr. Clark).
Six specimens examined, the males generally larger, wider, and less convex than the females. The species differs from all de- scribed species by the large foveate punctures of the elytra, very little smaller than in H. (Chileone) Deyrollei Bates, from which it differs in its narrower, longer, and less depressed form, the much less produced and wider anterior angles of prothorax, with its less thick and crenulate border. (In only one specimen of H.foveata is this crenulation marked). Though not strictly striate, the intervals are raised, and, viewed from behind, the rows appear to be in linear depressions. It is noteworthy that H. Deyrollei Bates, occurs within the same geographical area, and has been captured by the author at Guyra and Tenterfield,
BY H. J. CARTKR. 61
while four specimens of H. foveata were taken at Dalveen. Types in the author's Coll.
Hypaulax puncticollis, n.sp.
Elongate-obovate, dull black above, nitid beneath, antennse reddish, tarsi with golden tomentum.
Head: mandibles bifid, epistoma truncate at apex, oblique at sides and continuous with the canthus, limiting suture arcuate and fine, forehead evenly convex, the whole closely and not very finely punctate. Prothorax 4 x 5J mm., subtruncate at apex and base, anterior angles obtuse and scarcely advanced, sides feebly arcuate, abruptly incurving behind, posterior angles obtuse, deflexed and not at all produced or dentate, base and sides with narrow, raised margin, that of the latter with a subangular twist at the point of incurving; disc without foveas or central line, densely and regularly punctate, like the head. Scutellum very small. Elytra : basal border thickened and raised, shoulders obtuse, sides scarcely sinuate at apex; striate-punctate, the striae shallow and unevenly defined, the seriate punctures small, fairly even in size and position (much smaller and closer than in H, orcus or H. ampliatus Bates; about three punctures would go to the width of an interval), interstices almost flat throughout, and distinctly punctured. Abdomen striolate and finely punctate, prosternum coarsely punctate, its process sulcate at the sides, the sulci produced behind the pro-coxae, its apex rounded. Protibiae rather strongly bent and incurved at apex. Bifnensions, 18 x 7mm.
Hab. — Onslow, West Australia.
A single specimen in the Melbourne Museum differs from H. interioris Blkb., in (l)its distinctly punctate head and thorax (a character Blackburn could scarcely have left unnoticed had it existed in his species); (2) the unproduced obtuse posterior angles of prothorax, which with H. interioris are " parvis acutis ex- trorsum retrorsumque inclinatis." Moreover, if I have identified H. interioris correctly in a much larger species from La Grange Bay, the abdomen is coarsely and deeply punctate, while the prosternum is finely punctate - the reverse being the case with H. puncticollis. The species differs widely from the other two
6
62 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONINJE,
western forms in the very different elytral sculpture. The three apical joints of antennae are wanting. Type in the National Museum, Melbourne.
A second specimen, labelled W.A., measuring 21 J x 9 mm., is in the consignment of insects sent by Mr. Blair from the British Museum; both are, I think, males.
Hypaulax Spenceri, n.sp.
Oblong-ovate, nitid black above and beneath, antennse piceous (reddish towards apex), tarsi clothed beneath with red hair.
Head distinctly punctate, epistoma and canthus coarctate, the canthus shorter and more knobbed than in //. insularis Hope, forehead very convex, ridged at the sides, with a horseshoe-im- pression ; antennse moderately enlarged at apex. Prothorax 5x6-5 mm., slightly wider behind than in front, apex sub- truncate, the widely rounded anterior angles scarcely advanced, widest behind middle, sides widely diverging to the widest part, then rather abruptly but not angularly converging (subsinuately) to the obtuse undentate posterior angles; base truncate; lateral border rounded, thick, raised and nitid, forming a sulcate channel within, its extreme outline faintly crenulated, basal border thin and accentuated by a transverse sulcus meeting the lateral sulcus at the angles; disc more convex than in H. insularis, with a faintly impressed medial line, a fovea on each side of this, and a larger depression between the foveae and the sides at their widest; minutely and closely punctate. Scutellum very transverse and thin. Elytra slightly wider than the prothorax at base, obovate, with nine rows of large, elongate fovese placed in deep sulci, the ninth on the lateral sulcus only distinctly punctate anteriorly, the intervals narrower and more convex than in H. insularis; minutely punctate; suhmentum finely transversely rugose, gular furrow well marked; prosternum coarsely rugose-punctate ante- riorly, its process very convex, and not raised at apex; meso- sternum and abdomen coarsely punctate and longitudinally rugose; mandibles bifid at apex. Dimensions, 16x7 mm.
^rt6. — Flora River, Northern Territory (Professor Baldwin Spencer).
BY H. J. CARTER. 63
A single male specimen, sent by the Melbourne Museum, taken by Professor Spencer, in whose honour I name it, is a close ally of //. insuJaris }iope( ^ h'idescens Blkb.), from which it may be distinguished by (l)its entirely nitid upper surface; (2) the much thicker margin of prothorax, with wider anterior and un- produced posterior angles; (3) the longer and more deeply placed fovese of the elytra; and (4) the coarsely rugose-punctate under- surface, (the same in H. insularis being finely and sparsely punc- tate) besides other minor differences. Type in the National Museum, Melbourne.
Encyalesthus excisipes, n.sp.
Elongate, convex, nitid black, oral organs, antennce, and tarsi red.
Head closely and clearly punctate, epistomal suture distinct and straight, continued obliquely outwards to the margins, canthus little raised, space between eyes flat and not much wider than the width of one eye, very convex behind; antennae extend- ing a little beyond the base of prothorax, joint 3 longer than 1-2 combined, 7-11 considerably and successively widened. Pro- thorax 3-5 x 4 mm., convex, truncate at apex, anterior angles widely rounded, depressed, not emarginate, widest about the middle, sides slightly rounded, not at all sinuate, posterior angles obtuse, not at all produced, base biarcuate, subangulate in the middle, lateral and basal border narrow (as in B. punctipennis Pasc), disc closely and evidently punctate, without foveae or middle line. Scutellum triangular. Elytra considerably Avider than prothorax at base, twice and two-thirds as long, very convex and slightly widened behind the middle, lightly striate- punctate, with eight rows of punctures, besides a lateral and a short scutellary row placed in irregular striae, these more deeply impressed at sides and apex, the punctures of about the same size but generally more closely placed than in E. punctipennis Pasc, the intervals minutely but evidently punctate; underside finely punctate, the abdomen longitudinally rugose ; femora swollen towards apex, tibiae without apical spines, the male with front tibiae slightly bent at apex, the posterior tibiae hollowed on
■/
64 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TE XEBRIOSINjE,
the inside, giving an appearance of an excision. Dimensions, 11-5-13-5 X 4-5-5'5 mm.
Bab. — Kuranda, North Queensland (F. Dodd and A. M. Lea).
Four specimens, two of each sex, examined, one sent to me some time ago by Mr. Dodd, the other three, taken by Mr. Lea, evidently difter from the well-known E. punctipennis Pasc, in the following characters : (l)form wider and more robust, (2) colour more nitid, (3) antennae stouter, and especially more enlarged apically, (4)elytral striae more distinct, seriate punctures closer, (5) stouter femora, and the posterior tibial excision of the male. Type in the author's Coll.
Promethis major, n.sp.
Elongate-obovate, nitid black, antennae piceous, tarsi and apex of tibiae clothed with red tomentum.
Head as in P. nigra Bless., but with stronger punctuation, the antennae also stouter and more evidently punctured. Prothora.r 6 X 7*2m.m., subquadrate, widest in front, the apex nearly straight, anterior angles widely rounded, reflexed and projecting outwards, lateral border thickened in front, narrowed and slightly sinuate behind, without any twist or erenulation, base bisinuate, posterior angles obtuse, but less so and more prominent than in P. tiigra; disc closely punctate, the medial line deeply sulcate, but not quite extending to apical border. Scutelhmi punctate, curvilinear-tri- angular. Elytra obovate, much wider than and more than three times as long as the prothorax, striate-punctate, each elytron with nine rows (besides a short scutellary row) of large round punc- tures, the punctures close but not contiguous, nor at all hidden in the striae; the first two rows continuous to apex, the third and fourth connected, the fifth and sixth connected in front of the former^ the seventh and eighth connected behind the preceding, the ninth on the sides containing less defined punctures; the intervals rather sharply convex and very minutely punctate. Abdomen closely but irregularly covered with large round punctures, these larger, deeper and more numerous than in P. nigra Bless., meso- and metasternum rugose, their sides only punctate, prosternum transverselv rug-ose.
6Y H. J. CARTER. 66
^. With front tibiae strongly bent inward at apex, and clothed with a tuft of tomentum.
5. With front tibiae slightly arcuate, but not l)ent inwards.
Dimensions : ^J, 29 x 11 mm.; 9, 25 x 10 mm.
7/a6.— Gympie, Queensland (R. Illidge).
I have seen three specimens of this, amongst the large number of Fromethis examined, two from the British Museum, one much damaged and ancient; the other, the female type, labelled "Aus- tralia." The male type was taken by Mr. Illidge at Gympie, and given to me, with many other generous gifts. The species evidently differs from the many varieties of P. nigra Bless., in (1) the un- usually widened apex of prothorax, the angles of which, in the 9 type, form distinct lobes; (2) the much coarser punctures of the elytral series, not at all concealed in the striae; (3) the even more markedly coarser punctuation of the abdomen; (4) the much more sharply convex intervals of the elytra. While a few examples of P. nigra Bless., approach P. major in size, the latter is larger and wider than the general average size of P. nigra Bless.
Fromethis lobicollis, n.sp.
Elongate, parallel, subnitid-black, antennee piceous-red, tarsi (and apex of tibiae in ^) clothed with red hairs.
Head densely and strongly punctate, the mentum of $ not bearded; mandibles bifid at apex, last joint of palpi securiform, mentum subcordate, carinate in the middle, submentum coarsely rugose-punctate, gula transversely wrinkled; labrum emarginate, straight and ciliate ; epistoma straight in front, obliquely rounded at sides, meeting the canthus at a sinuate angle, limited behind l)y a straight depression becoming more defined and sulcate at the sides; antennae with joint 3 not longer than 1-2 combined, and similar to that in P. angulata Erichs. Prothorax 4-5x5 mm., sub- quadrate, a little advanced and raised in the middle at apex, base truncate, except at the angles; anterior angles depressed and rounded, not advanced, sides feebly arcuate (in one example sliglitly wider in front, and straight in the middle two-thirds), abruptly incurved near base, the posterior angles, in (J, produced behind
66
REVISION OF THK SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONI S jfl.
Fig.l. P. lohkollis i
into a small, swollen, lobate process (somewhat as in Cardiothorax egerius Pasc); in the 9 specimen, the lobe is reduced to a small sub- rectangular tooth, pointing outwards rather tha n behind; lateral and basal border entire, except for a single crenulation near the base in (J, narrowly reflexed, sulcate within; this border narrowed and terminated on the apex; disc closely and definitely punctate, with a faint suggestion of a smooth middle line. Scutellutn triangular with rounded sides, clearly punctate. Elytra wider than pro- thorax at base and thrice as long, sides nearly parallel throughout, shoulders rather squarely rounded, disc with eight fine crenulate costse, the crenulation formed by rows of large punctures on the outside of each, the punctures rather smaller than the seriate punctures in P. angulata Erichs., the second and third, fourth and fifth, sixth and seventh meeting in pairs near apex; a short scutellary and an extreme lateral row of punctures, the latter continuous to apex, the intervals between costse wrinkled and closely punctate. Abdomen and mesosternum densely and very definitely punctate, prosternum less deeply so. Femora coarsely punctate, ^ with a small tooth on inner margin of fore and middle femora near the base, tibiae finely punctate, grooved and carinate; strongly curved and elongate in ^J. Dimensions : ^, 20 x 65 mm.; 9, 16 x 5-6 mm.
Hah. — Kalgoorlie and Kookynie (Messrs. Dubou- lay, senior, and E. Duboulay).
Three specimens, two (J, one 9, are the only speci- mens I have ever seen, and are quite distinct from the described species in the shape of the prothorax, and the stronger surface-punctures. One speci- men, (J, shows much more puncturation than the P . IoUcoIHh ^ . others, possibly due to immersion in spirits. The elytral sculp- ture is unlike that of any other Tenebrionid known to me, and may deserve generic position, but as it possesses all the salient
Fi<'.-:
BY H. J. CARTER.
67
characters of Promethis, as briefly given by Pascoe, I prefer not to multiply genera in its favour. Types in the Author's Coll.
Promethis MiNon, n.sp.
Elongate, parallel, piceous-black, subnitid, underside piceous- brown, more nitid, antennae and tarsi red.
Head much more coarsely punctate than in P. quadricollis Pasc, the antennae shorter, and a paler red. ProtlioraxZ x 4mm., widest at middle, subtruncate at apex, the middle slightly raised and more nitid than the rest, anterior angles rounded, obtuse, and declinate, sides rather widely rounded, lateral border narrow, even and entire, turned dow^nwards, rather abruptly narrowed, but scarcely sinuate behind; posterior angles widely obtuse, base bordered and sulcate, apex without bor- der, disc distinctly and evenly punctate, the punc- tures deeper and more distant than in P. quadricollis Pasc, medial channel distinctly impressed but not quite continuous to apex. Scutellum triangular. Elytra wider than prothorax at base, and thrice as long, shoulders rather squarely rounded, sub-cylin- dric, narrowly marginal throughout, striate-punctate, seriate punctures smaller and more distant than in P. quadricollis Pasc, becoming larger towards sides, intervals convex and finely punctate; abdomen sparsely and finely punctate, slightly wrinkled at the edges of segments, metasternum finely rugose, pro- sternum nearly smooth. Front tibiae of ^ slightly curved, and finely tomentose at apex (straiglit in 9). Dimensions, 14x0 mm.
Hah. — Rockhampton, Queensland.
Three specimens, 1 ^, 2 9, in the British Museum consignment, sent to me by Mr. Blair, are evidently distinct from the common P. quadricollis in (1) smaller size and cylindric form; (2) less nitid, browner-black colour; (3) prothorax wuth sides and angles more turned downwards, the wider angles, and the much more rounded sides without any sign of crenulation at margin; (4) more
Fig. P. viinor.
68 RKVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TE S EBRIOS I S\€,
evident punctures of elytral intervals, and finer punctures of the underside. Types in the British ]\Iuseum.
Tkremenes socius, n.sp.
Elongate, parallel, nitid-black; oral organs, clothing of tarsi, and (in some examples) the underside of legs pitchy-red.
Head densely and strongly punctate, clypeal suture arched and well impressed, eyes large and rather prominent, antennae not reaching the base of prothorax, the apical joints moderately enlarged. Prothorax about as wide as long (3-5 m.m.), widest in front of middle, subtruncate at base and apex; anterior angles rather widely rounded and depressed, scarcely advanced, sides gently converging backwards in a feeble curve, slightly sinuate behind; posterior angles narrowly dentate and extended, sides and base sulcate within the border, disc slightly gibbous in the middle of the anterior portion, densely and clearly punctate, generally with two fovese near the basal border, and without any medial line. Scutellum curvilinearly triangular. Elytra wider than pro- thorax at base, twice and one-half as long, sides subparallel, or slightly widened behind in the female ; striate-punctate, the punc- tures in the striae smaller and closer than in T. convexiusculus Hope; the intervals distinctly punctate, and, towards the apex, a little convex. Underside-structure as in T. convexiusculus, but much more strongly punctured, especially on the abdomen. The male is distinguished as in T. convexiusculus by the longer and strongly curved front tibiae, with their tuft of golden hair at the apex, which is absent from the female. Dimensions, 10-14 x 4-4-4 mm.
Rah. — North Queensland: Coen (Hacker), Cairns(Lea), Cook- town, Ayr.
Several specimens examined, differ from the widely dispersed T. convexiusculus Hope in the more strongly sculptured surface, both above and beneath, in marked contrast to the almost impunc- tate pronotum and abdomen of Hope's species. The lateral border is also narrower, the front angles less depressed and more evident, the hind angles sharper than in T. convexiusculus Hope {servulus Pasc). Types in the Author's Coll.
6Y H. .J. CARTER. 69
Menephilus LiETUS, n.sp.
Near M. corvinus Erichs., ( =M. cyaneipennis Hope), the whole upper surface bright blue (sometimes purplish), underside black, antennae and legs castaneous.
Head very finely punctate, epistomal suture straight, prothorax subquadrate, truncate at base and apex, twice as wide as long, moderately arcuate and not all sinuate at sides ; lateral margin and channel narrow, basal margin thicker ; disc without f ovege or middle line, minutely punctate (only apparent under a strong lens) ; anterior angles rather squarely rounded, posterior angles obtuse but defined. Elytra parallel, cylindric; striate-punctate, the stria3 narrow, the punctures small and regular, intervals flat on disc, slightly convex towards the sides and minutely punctate. Dimen- sions^ 10-12^ X 4:-4| mm.
Hab. — Kuranda, North Queensland (F. Dodd and A. M. Lea).
I have identified H. corvinus Erichs., from specimens taken at Dorrigo, New South Wales, and compared with specimens sent from the British Museum. The above differs from it in its sliortor and more convex form, nonsinuate sides of prothorax, the anterior angle squarer, posterior obtuse (acute in M. corvinus), mucli finer punctures, while the elytra are more glossy, and not as in Erich- son's species '^subtiliter transversim rugulosis" but are minutely punctate. Types in the Author's Coll. (eight specimens examined, four sent me by Mr. Dodd, and four taken by Mr. Lea in the same district.)
Menephilus brevis, n.sp.
Short, parallel, convex, head and pronotum purple-bronze or blue, elytra variegated, in general green with metallic reflections, the suture purple, all aj^pendages and underside castaneous.
Head short and wide, epistoma rounded and tumid, its suture straight, eyes just free of prothorax, antennae attenuated at base, 7-10 enlarged and subtriangular, 11th spherical; whole surface and that of the pronotum densely, and bj' no means finely punctate. Prothorax subquadrate, but arcuately narrowed in front, its acute anterior angles rather strongly produced; rather depressed and
70 liEVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONIN JE^
slightly explanate; sides (except for the slight narrowing in front) nearly straight, base faintly bisinuate, posterior angles subrectan- gular. Scutellum very small, punctate. Elytra of the same width as prothorax at base, shortly cylindric, and bluntly rounded be- hind ; striate-punctate, with eight striae containing fine, close punc- tures, the intervals flat (slightly convex at the sides) and minutely punctate; legs smooth, abdomen and epipleurge rather closely and strongly, prosternum and gula coarsely punctate; prosternal pro- cess with raised crenulate margins, the first segment of the abdo- men with a fovea betwen the coxce. Dimensions, 4|--5 x 2-2 J mm.
>/« 6. —Brisbane (R. Illidge), Kurauda (G. E. Bryant); Acacia Creek, N.S.W. (The Author).
Five specimens of this pretty little insect differ only in colour, the Acacia Creek specimen being the most brilliant, the head and jironotum being blue-green, the elytra purple at suture, then blue, green, gold, purple, blue, and gold (on sides), succeeding one another. Types in the Author's Coll.
Menephilus rectibasis, n.sp. Elongate, parallel, nitid-black above and beneath, tarsi and antennae red (tibiae sometimes reddish).
Head minutely punctate on epistoma, more coarsely so on fore- head, the former surface extended backward more than usual, and defined by arcuate depression, eye-sockets more deeply hollowed than in M. Sydneyanus Blkb., the antennae shorter and less en- larged apically than in that species. Prothorax 2-5x3 mm., apex bisinuate, advanced in the middle, the anterior angles acute and strongly advanced, sides feebly arcuate, narrowed apically, almost straight on posterior two-thirds, base truncate, posterior angles sharply rectangular, lateral margins raised, distinctly sul- cate within, basal border narrow but clearly defined, disc densely and finely punctate, without central line, and with two small and inconspicuous basal foveas. Scutellum transversely oval. Elytra scarcely, or very slightl}^, wider than prothorax at base and more than twice as long, shoulders rather sharply rectangular, sides parallel, less convex than M. Sydneyanas Blkb., striate-punctate, the seriate punctures small and closely placed in deep striae, inter-
BY H. J. CARTER. 71
vals convex, and finely punctate (the punctures becoming larger and intervals sharper towards sides). Abdomen densely and deli- cately punctate, prosternum finely striolate, tibiae straiglit, or nearly so, the anterior tibia? strongly and angularly dilated at apex, especially in ^. Dime^isions 9-10 x 3 mm.
Hah. — Dorrigo (H. Cox, W. Heron), Riclmiond River (British Museum).
Ten specimens under examination, of which two, in the consign- ment from the British Museum, are intermediate between M. Syd- neyanus Blkb., and M. colydioides Erichs. Possibly it has often been overlooked by collectors in mistake for the common M. Syd- neyanus Blkb., which I have from the same district. It can be readily distinguished from Blackburn's species by (1) prothorax with unproduced hind angles and truncate base, the distinctly sul- cate sides, and the absence of the basal transverse depression; (2) elytra of flatter form, more deeply striate and more convex inter- vals; (3) much more distinctly punctate thorax and underside; (4) the straight tibiae of (J, with their angulately dilated apex (the same being strongly bent dow^nwards, and rounded at apex in M. Sydney anus). From M. colydioides it can be distinguished by its wider form, more nitid-black colour, prothorax with more produced anterior angles wuth wider lateral border and sulcation within. (N.B. — M. Sydney anus Blkb., ranges from Victoria to South Queensland, while I have specimens of M. colydioides Erichs., from Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales). Types in the Author's Coll.
Meneristes dentipes, n.sp.
(J Elongate, subcylindric, polished nitid-black; antenna?, palpi, and tarsi dark red; apex of front tibi« with large tuft of red tomentum, tarsi scantily clad with a few reddish hairs.
Head minutely punctured on forehead, more closely on epis- toma, and finely rugose-punctate on the neck; epistoma truncate in front, with a deep, straight sulcus behind, arcuately continued in front of canthus, with two straight longitudinal sulci produced backward in front of the eyes; antennae short, scarcely reaching beyond the front third of prothorax, considerably widened out-
72
REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TE S EBRIONIS ^^
wards, joint 3 scarcely longer than 4, 8-10 subquadrate, 11 nearly round. Protliorax 5 x 5'G mm., more convex than in M. laticollis Pasc, widest near middle, apex slightly bisinuate, the middle a little advanced, anterior angles widely rounded, scarcely achanced, sides gently rounded, sinuate behind when viewed sideways (due to subangulate depression of border at this point), base nearly straight, posterior angles rather bluntly acute and! produced; sides, base, and the greater part of apex I with raised border, the lateral border not so evident i from above as in M. laticollis Pasc, due to its greater convexity ; a narrow sulcus within border throughout, except at the middle of apex, border thickened at the posterior angles; disc cjuite smooth, highly polished, with four foveate depressions, one near each angle within the apical and basal border respectively, and a faint beginning of a central depression at base and apex. Sciitellum triangular. Elytra wider than pro- thorax at base, and nearly twice and one-half as long, more convex and parallel than J/, laticollis Pasc, shoulders advanced and rather scjuarely rounded, striate-punctate, with nine rows, besides a ]\f dentipes. short scutellary row of large round punctures, no wise concealed by the striae, the terminal puncture at base especially large and deep; intervals convex and smooth. Gula finely, transversely rugose, prosternum finely punctate, metasternum and abdomen nearly smooth, except for a row of punctures at front edge of second and third segments, and some minute strioles; femora smooth, front tibise unusually bent downwards and iuAvards, deeply excavated, carinate on the inside, with two teeth, one wider near base, the second conical on the upper third; middle and hind tibias straight on the outer edge, the middle , tibia3 with two teeth, the one near the apex far more acute, posterior tibiae also biden- tate, with a large conical tooth near the middle, the other wide and round, emerging into the unusually widened ajDex. Dimensions^ 19-20 X 7 mm. ^.Wanting,
Fig. 4
BY H. J. CARTEl
73
Hah. — Coen River, Cape York (H. Haeker), Queensland (Brit- ish Museum).
Two male specimens examined, one taken by Mr. Haeker, in 1906; a second, labelled Queensland 77-27, in the British Museum consignment to me. The tibial characters are remarkable, and are shown in my outline figure; while its highly polished surface, cylin- dric form, large seriate punctures, and less produced angles of thorax, easily distinguish it from the common M. laticollis Pasc. Type in the Author's Coll.
Mknkristks tibialis, n.sp.
^J, Elongate, parallel, polished ebony-black; antennae, palpi and tarsi castaneous, front tibiae with a few red hairs at apex.
Head rather coarsely punctate on forehead and labrum, with a smooth arched space connecting the eyes, more densely and finely punctate on epistoma, the latter straight in front, limited behind by arched sulcus, canthus oblique and raised, antennas extend- ing to two-thirds of prothorax, joint 3 as long as 1-2 combined, longer than 4, joints 8-10 transverse but somewhat cjuadrate, 11th elongate-ovate. Prothorax 5x6 mm., widest at middle and base, one-tliird narrower at apex, feebly bisinuate at apex (a little drawn back in middle) ; anterior angles obtuse, scarcely rounded and well advanced, sides gently arcuate widening to middle, feebly sinuate behind; posterior angles acutely produced, pointing directly backwards and downwards, with narrow reflexed ^^ • tibialis. border at sides, terminated and thickened at the posterior angles, attenuated but continuous throughout at apex, base without raised border, sides with narrow sulcus within border, widened into a hori- zontal lamina towards the anterior angle, base bisinuate; disc minutely not closely punctate, with two large and deep basal foveae, comma-shaped, occupying half the space between the angles and the middle, a faint indication of depressed middle line (not shown in one example). ScuteUnm triangular, minutely punctate.
Fig.S.
74 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBBIONIN^,
Elytra wider than prothorax at base, and twice and one-third as long, shoulders rather squarely rounded, sides narrowly margined, striate-punctate, with nine rows, besides a short scutellary row of rather small punctures, closely placed in deep striae, intervals strongly convex and distinctly punctate (more evidently so than in M. laticollis Pasc), gula densely and coarsely punctate, pro- sternum finely rugose-punctate, metasternum, abdomen, middle and hind femora very finely rugose and minutely punctate; front femora more densely and coarsely punctate, front tibiae swollen in middle, strongly widened and curved near apex only, this wide curved lobe coarsely punctate ; earinate on outside edge, this carina widened into a rounded tooth or emargination at apex, with two short blunt spurs; middle tibiae strongly curved and similarly but less widened at apex, hind tibiae slightly curved with an angulate emargination or triangular tooth on inside edge below the middle, apex less enlarged than in the other tibiae, the four hind tibiae with long apical spurs.
C^. With all tibiae straight, much less enlarged at apex, hind tibiae without the emargination.
Dimensions of type (J, 20 x 8 mm,, other specimens from 18 X 7 mm.; of 9, 19-23 x 7-9 mm.
Hah. — Victorian Alps (The Author), Queensland C^), and New South Wales.
Three male specimens examined, two from the Victorian Alps taken by myself, with four corresponding females; the third male, with a female, is labelled N. Queensland, but I have no record of their capture; a very large female was taken by my son, at Gynken, Blue Mountains.
The species is easily separated from its allies, in male specimens by the single tooth on the hind tibiae. It has the polished surface of M. dentipes, with much more anteriorly narrowed prothorax and sharper angles. Even female specimens may be distinguished from M. laticollis by the more polished black colour, the more pro- duced and sharper angles, and widened margins near the front angles of prothorax. Types in the Author's Coll.
Var. proximus, n. var.
BY H. J. CARTER.
75
A provoking'ly closely allied species, of which both sexes, from Dorrig'o and Acacia Creek, and Tambourine iSIountain, is without the emargination on the hind tibiae of the $; the only other dif- ferences to be noted are (1) larger seriate punctures of elytra; (2) sides of prothorax less arcuately widened but more sinuate behind;
(3) posterior angles of prothorax directed a little outwards; and
(4) tibiae less curved and enlarged at apex in ^.
Meneristes latior, n.sp.
(J. Widely ovate, polished ebony-black; antennse, palpi, and tarsi castaneous, front tibiae with a fringe of red tomentum at apex.
Head: labrum emarginate and coarsely punctate, forehead coarsely, epistoma densely and more finely punctate, the latter straight in front, rectangular at sides, meeting the canthus at a wide angle, limited behind by a defined semicircular sulcus; antennae extending to two-thirds of prothorax, con- siderably widened at apex, joint 3 as long as 1-2 combined, 8-10 transversely oval, 11th nearly twice as long as 10, ovate. Prothorax 5*5 x 7 mm., widest in front of middle, much less narrowed in front than in 31. laticoUis Pasc, or M. tibialis, and nearly as convex as in 31. dentipes; apex bisinuate, middle portion advanced, anterior angles widely rounded but advanced, sides moderately arcuate? sinuate behind, posterior angles acutely produced backwards and a little outwards, base strongly bisinuate, extreme border narrow on sides, thick- ened towards and at the posterior angles, very narrow but unin- terrupted at apex, obsolete at base, sides with a wider marginal channel than usual, less widened in front than in 31. tibialis, but more marked than in 31. laticoUis Pasc, disc microscopically punctate, highly polished, with two deep foveato excavations at base near angles, and only the faintest suspicion in one example of a medial depression. Scutellum widely triangular. Elytra very little wider than prothorax at base, ovate, twice and one- third as long, shoulders rather widely rounded but prominent;
Fig.6. M. latior.
76 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONl N.f!,
striate-punctate, intervals sharply ridged, seriate punctures larger than in 31. tibialis, more closely placed than in M. laticollis Pasc, intervals apparently quite impunctate; underside very finely striolate, prosternum finely transversely rugose, femora smooth, tibiae coarsely punctate on under surface, (on upper surface at apex only). Front tibije moderately curved and enlai ged at apex, external carina triangularly enlarged at apex, middle and hind tibiie less curved and enlarged, apical spurs long. Dimensions of type (^, 21 X 8'5mm.; other specimens from 17 x 6*2 mm.
Hab. -Dorrigo, N.S.W.(Il. J. Tillyard).
Five specimens examined, all males. I can find no females to match them. The species is separated from its allies by the great width of the prothorax, very little less than that of elytra at base, also the great width of elytra compared with length. Thus in M. laticollis Pasc, the elytra are nearly exactly twice as long as w^de. In M. la/ior, the length is only once and two-thirds the width. I ype in author's Coll.
TOXICUM INSIGNE, n.Sp.
Elongate, parallel, dull brownish-black above, without the usual indumentum; oral organs, antennae, legs, and underside piceous.
(J. Head concave, punctate, the clypeal horns degraded into conical tubercles situated at the corners of the clypeus, frontal horns strongly incurved at base and apex, the apices slightly widened and deflexed, nearly meeting, with a fringe of golden hair on the outside only, extending but narrowing almost to the extreme base; antennae with a distinct 4-jointed club, the 8th joint clearly differentiated in size and shape from the 7th. Prothorax bisinuate at base and apex, widest in front, about as wide as long (4 mm.), anterior angles rather squarely rounded, sides nearly straight and gently converging to base, posterior angles obtuse, not produced ; disc densely and uniformly punctate, sometimes with a faint de- pression to denote a medial line. Scutellum curvilinearly triangu- lar. Elytra wider than prothorax at base, and twice and one-half as long, shoulders rather square, sides nearly parallel till near apex; striate-punctate, the intervals convex, the punctures smaller and closer than in T. punctipenne Pasc, the basal part of elytra
BY H. J. CARTER. 77
with irregular, confused punctures of the same size as those in the series. Sternum, especially the prosternum, very coarsely punc- tate, abdomen less coarsely punctate. Front femora enlarged but not dentate, tibiae widely dilated at the apical two-thirds.
^. Without tlie (clypeal) tubercles, the frontal horns replaced by two wide conical tubercles, the antennal club smaller, the tibia? only slightly dilated at apex.
Dimensions^ 16 x 5(vix) mm.
i?ab.— Lynndoch, S.A. (Tepper) ; Young, N.S.W. (Sloane) : Teralga, N.S.W, and South Australia (British Museum).
Eight specimens (5 (J, 3 9) examined; three from the South Australian Museum, two from the British Museum, three from the Melbourne Museum, labelled from the above localities. It is easily distinguished by its greater size, the form of the male horns, its different elytral puncturation, and the curiously widened tibiae of the male. Types in the South Australian Museum.
TOXICUM QUINQUE-CORNUTUM, n.sp.
Elongate, parallel, opaque-black above, nitid-black beneath; antennae and tarsi piceous, the apical joints of the former red.
Head densely and strongly punctate, clypeus three-horned, the middle one largest and widely triangular, obliquely pointing up- wards, its base occupying the whole front of clypeus, with two shorter triangular elevations forming a dentate extension, forwards and upwards, of the canthi; the frontal horns flattened, widest when seen laterally, sharply curved inwards at base, twisted back- wards at apex, with a very small tuft of yellow tomentum on the outside of apex; club of antennae moderately wide and four-joint- ed, joints 9 and 10 largest, and rounded. Prothorax 3 x 2-6 mm., bisinuate at apex and feebly so at base, slightly widest at apex, anterior angles rather squarely rounded and depressed, sides nearly straight and slightly narrowed to base, posterior angles obtuse; disc very finely and densely punctate, with a faint indication of a smooth middle line. Scutellum triangular. Elytra wider than pro- thorax at base, and twdce and one-half as long; striate-punctate, the punctures in the striae regular; of the same size, but more dis- tant than in T. hrevicorne Pasc. Underside sparsely punctate, the
7
78 REVISION OP THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONINjE,
punctures on prosternum largest. Femora unarmed, tibiae slender. Dimensions, 10 x 3-5 mm.
9. Wanting.
J/a&.— New South Wales (Bellingen ?).
A single ^ specimen, kindly given to me by Mr. W. Duboulay, probably from Bellingen, is easily distinguished by its remarkable elypeal and frontal appendages. Type in the Author's Coll.
In my revision of the Cyphaleinae, I have unfortunately used generic titles that are preoccupied. Thus Mitrephorus has been used by Schonherr, (Col., 1837; Seudder, Nom. Zool.), and Toreuma, by Haeckel (Index Zool., 1902). Moreover, it appears that Ctimene Bates, was also used by Boisduval in Lepidoptera ; and Chariotheca Pasc, is preoccupied by Dejean (Col. 1833; Seud- der, Nom. Zool.). I^ therefore, propose the following changes: YoY Mitrephorus Cart., substitute Mitrothorax, n.gen.; for Toreu- ma Cart., substitute Entoreuma, n.gen.; for Ctimene Bates, sub- stitute Timeneca, n.gen. ; for Chariotheca Pascoe, substitute Chari- othes, n.gen.
Errata.— On. p. 105, These Proceedings, 1903, In the Ex- planation of Plates, for Chlorophanes, read Trisilus; and on p. 65, for Lygestria read Lygestira; and for Mithippa read Mithippia.
Platyphanes vittatus Westw. — Mr. Blair lately informed me that he had written to Geneva, and that Dr. Weber had kindly sent him the type of P. vittatus Westn. It is Pascoe's Opigenia iridescons. which, accordingly, must be now known as Opigenia vittata Westw. As regards P. aculeatus Westw., and P. striato-punctatus Westw., Dr. Weber states that neither of them is at Geneva, though both types are stated to be in the Melly Coll. This is most unfor- tunate, as leaving the identity of P. aculeatus Westw., with Moerodes Westivoodi Macl., unsettled. The following new species have been received since the publication of my revision.
Subfamily Cyphalein^. Platyphanes denticollis, n.sp. Elongate, parallel, black; head and thorax opaque, elytra and underside subnitid, tarsi and antennae piceous, the former clothed >vitli red hair.
BY H. J. CARTER. 79
Head: labrum squarely emargiiiate, rui'o-ciliate in irout, epis- toma truncate, its sides rounded, making nearly a right angle with the Hat, elongate, and parallel canthus, the suture arcuate and sub- obsolete in the middle; front depressed, the whole coarsely and deeply punctate, space between the eyes as wide as the transverse diameter of one; antennae short, extending to one-half the length of prothorax, greatly enlarged apically, joint 3 longer than 4, 4-7 obconic, 8-10 transverse, successively wider and more ovate, 11 as wide as 10, oval. Frothorax 5 x 6*0 inm., widest in middle, wider at base than at apex, the latter nearly straight except at the angles, these slightly reflexed, produced obliquely outwards and forwards into a sharp triangular tooth, base bismuate, sides slightly rounded in the middle, sinuate in front and (less strongly) behind; the pos- terior angles subrectangular, not produced; lateral border moder- ate, scarcely raised, not channelled within, apical border evident throughout. Disc with irregularly scattered round punctures, more crowded at the sides, with some smooth spaces near the middle. Scutelliim curvilinearly triangular, punctate. Elytra wider than prothorax at base and four times as long, widely rounded at, and slightly gibbous near, the humeral region, sides parallel, apex rather wide and horizontal, gradually narrowed in front, obsolete at shoulders, narrowly bordered, the margin separated from the disc by a fine sulcus, showing a few close punctures on basal half; disc scarcely striate-punctate, with ten defined rows of large punc- tures besides a short scutellary row, and an abbreviated row of smaller punctures on the fourth interval; intervals somewhat tumid, and convex at the sides, minutely punctate; the seriate punctures round, and placed so that the distance between two is about the width of an interval, with slight, variations of size and distance apart. Submentum closely pustulose, prosternum trans- versely rugose, its process coarsely punctate, bisulcate and widely rounded behind, compressed and nodulose in front, mesosternal cavity widely triangular, its edges swollen, sides of metasternum and epimera with large round punctures, basal segments of abdo- men strigose and finely punctate, femora coarsely punctate, pos- terior tarsi with apical and clawjoint of equal length. Dimen- sions, 28 X 12 mm.
80 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONIN ^^
Hah. — Warra, Queensland (Mrs. Hobler).
A single {^%) specimen, kindly given to me by Mrs. Hobler, is the largest described si3ecies, and differs from its nearest ally, P. creber Blkb., in its black elytra, its dentate anterior angles of pro- thorax, the absence of defined striae, of which P. creber is said to have about 14. From P. striato-punctatus Westw., it differs still more, not only in the form of the prothorax, but in its wider, more parallel, and not at all cylindrical shape, with a quite different elytral sculpture. Type in the Author's Coll.
Platyphanes rugosulus, n.sp.
Narrowly elliptic, very convex; head and pronotum iiitid cop- pery-black, elytra dull coppery-brown, antennae and tarsi fuscous, underside and legs black.
Head distinctly but not very closely punctate, epistoma straight in front, arcuately impressed behind, this impression joined by two shallow longitudinal impressions extending backwards behind the eyes, the latter rather widely separated ; antennae short and slender, moderately enlarged at apex, joint 3 cylindric, not as long as 4-5 combined, 4-7 obconic, 8-10 nearly round, 11 ovate. Pro- thorax 3x5^ mm., widest at base, apex arcuate, anterior angles obtuse, slightly depressed, scarcely advanced, sides arcuately widening to base, posterior angles produced and acute, base strongly bisinuate, lateral margins slightly raised, scarcely chan- nelled within, disc finely punctate, with three small shallow foveae at base. Scutellum triangular, punctate. Elytra of same width as prothorax at base, and more than thrice as long, elliptic, very con- vex, almost gibbous, with the highest point near middle, shoulders obtuse, narrowly margined throughout, striate-punctate, the striae indistinct, quite obliterated towards apex, the second stria scarcely traceable throughout, the punctures in striae small and not deeply impressed, intervals quite flat and finely transversely wrinkled; epipleurae nearly smooth, abdomen very clearly and delicately striolate-punctate ; prosternum earinate, its flanks coarsely and sparsely punctate, meso- and metasternum finely and sparsely, their epimera more coarsely punctate, mentum earinate in middle,
BY H. J. CARTER. 81
submentum rugose-punctate at sides, smootli iii middle. Dimen- sions^ 14 X 6-5 mm.
Udb. — Rockliamptoii, Queensland (Mr. H. Brown).
A single ^ specimen, generously given to me by its captor, is nearest to P. cyaneus Pasc, and P. ellipticus mihi, in form, but is narrower and more convex than either, and quite different in colour and sculpture. It is distinguished by the contrast of nitid head and pronotum, with its subfuscous elytra, tlie sculpture of the intervals being irregularly and finely striate, like the skin of one's hand. Type in the Author's Coll.
Opigenia Browni, n.sp.
Oblong-oval, convex; upper surface green and blue with purple reflections, the suture golden; underside, legs and antennae nitid- black, tarsi wdth a very thin clothing of red tomentum.
Head: epistoma truncate, angulate wdth the canthus, limiting- suture subobsolete, canthus little raised, eyes separated by a space of the width of one, half concealed by thorax, coarsely and closely punctate, antennae not reaching base of prothorax, joints 3-7 of equal length, 8-9 successively wider and subtriangular, 10 trans- verse, 11 shortly oval. Frothora,v 3(vixjx5mm., widest at middle, wider at base than at apex, the latter circularly emargi- nate, the anterior angles produced, slightly rounded and obtuse, sides widely and evenly rounded, posterior angles rather \videly acute, not dentate; base strongly bisinuate, lateral border moderate, narrowly concave within, apical border very narrow; disc very clearly and rather deeply punctate at sides and base with a large smooth transverse middle space, with no indication of a middle line. Scutellum triangular and punctate. Elytra as wide as pro- thorax at base, widening at shoulders, subparallel on middle third, evenly convex; striate-punctate, the intervals closely punctate, the seriate and interstitial punctures of almost equal size and scarcely differentiated. Prosternum closely rugose-punctate, slightly com- pressed and raised in middle, its process widely rounded behiiid, epipleurse smooth, metasternum smooth in the middle, strongly punctured on sides and epimera; abdomen finely punctate and
82 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONIN^^
striolate. Tibiae straight, femora unarmed, posterior tarsi rather short, claw-joint longest. Dimensions'. lo x 7 mm.
Hah. — Southern Cross, West Australia.
A single specimen, 5, was given to me by that very enthusiastic collector, Mr. H. W. Brown, amongst some Chalcopteri, which it somewhat resembles, except in the structure of head and thorax. It differs from 0. vittata Westw., (a specimen of which is before me) in the following respects : (1) Colour less brilliant; (2) body more convex and robust; (3) prothorax with nitid spaces, the sides much more widely rounded, front angles wider, margins less refiexed; (4) elytral intervals more strongly punctured.
The prothorax is very similar, in form and colour, to that of Frojjhanes chalcopter aides Cart., which is a much larger insect; the elytra are similar, in shape and colour, to those of Chalcop- terus polychromus Pasc, but the seriate punctures are less dis- tinct. Type in the Author's Coll.
OLISTH.ENA KUF0-.ENEA, n.sp.
Ovate, slightly convex; head and prothorax castaneous (margins rufous), elytra green-bronze; antennae, legs, and underside pale red.
Head rather deeply enclosed in prothorax, epistoma short, round in front, widely impressed behind, evidently and clearly punctate, eyes separated by a distance greater than the diameter of one eye, antennae short, not reaching base of prothorax, apical joints en- larged, two penultimate joints about as wide as long, eleventh elongate-ovate. FrothorcLC 2 x '6b mm., deeply bisinuate and and emarginate at apex, the middle lobe a little raised and ad- vanced (this emphasised by the depression behind) ; anterior angles strongly advanced in front of eyes, acute but a little blunted at apex, sides nearly straight and gradually widened to apex, base bisinuate; posterior angles acute, a narrow horizontal margin within the raised border, widened at the angles; disc very finely and densely punctate, with two small basal foveae and a large cen- tral depression on apical half. Scutellum triangular with rounded sides, punctate. Elytra of same width as prothorax at base and
BY H. J. CARTER. 83
thrice as long, slightly widening behind shoulders, narrowly bor- dered, irregularly punctate, with some indications of a lineate arrangement on middle, quite irregular, with smootli intervals on sides; presternum short, compressed and subcarinate in front, its process triangular behind, with a corresponding mesosternal notch, and finely punctured, abdomen finely striolate, tibiae slender. Dimensions, 7Jx 3 J nun.
Hah. — Tambourine Mountain, South Queensland (H. Hacker).
Two specimens, kindly sent by Mr. Hacker, evidently differ from 0. tenuitarsis Pasc, in the smaller size, coloured thorax and head, with much sharper and more produced front angles, more convex elytra. Type in the Author's Coll.
Prophanes Browni, n.sp.
Elongate-ovate, navicular; coppery-bronze above and beneatli, pronotum and scutellum more nitid copper, legs nitid-black, an- tennae and tarsi brown, the latter and the tibiae sparsely clad with red hairs.
Head and pronotum rather strongly but not very closely punc- tate, epistoma convex, with limiting sulcus strongly defined at the sides, subobsolete in the middle, canthus short and raised, eyes very large, prominent, and approximate, the separating lamina not wider than in Anausis metallescens Westw., but rapidly widening each way; antennae extending beyond the base of prothorax, slen- der at base, moderately enlarged apically, joint 3 cylindric, not as long as 4-5 combined, 4-7 subequal in length, successively wider, obconic, 8 shorter and wider than 7, 9-10 longer than wide, much shorter than 8; 11th longer and wider than 10, ovate. Prothorax 5 X 6'5 mm., length measured in middle, widest at base, apex bisinuate, anterior angles produced obliquely outwards into long acute spines, sides slightly sinuate anteriorly and posteriorly, feebly widened in the middle, posterior angles spinose, obliquely pointing outwards, disc with two large basal and two smaller apical impressions, the latter at the angular emargination, base bisinuate, lateral and basal border narrowly raised. Scutellum large, curvilinearly triangular, minutely punctate. Elytra slightly
84 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIONIN^,
wider than prothorax at base, thrice and one-half as long, widen- ing at the shoulders, then subparallel on middle third, then strongly tapering to a narrow apex, each elytron with a short externa] spine, shorter and more closely placed tlian in P. Master si Pasc. Disc moderately convex at base (mucli less so than in P. Mastersi), evenly declivous in all directions ; irregularly and rather closely punctate, the punctures mucli smaller and closer than in P. Mas- tersi, these becoming obsolete towards apex, margins very narrow on front half, gradually becoming wider and horizontal apieally; submentum with coarse round punctures, prosternum transversely rugose, strongly compressed and carinate, the process produced behind conically, into a widely raised V-shaped receptacle; meso- sternum and epipleurae very coarsely rugose-punctate, the latter rather abruptly terminating at the last abdominal segment, abdo- men finely striolate, the last segment finely punctate, and termi- nated witli a fringe of red hair ; legs smooth, front femora swollen, posterior tarsi with basal and claw-joint of equal lengtli. Dimen- sions, 23x 10 mm.
Hah. — Kuranda, N. Queensland.
A single $ specimen, taken by Mr. H, W. Brown, adds another fine species ; but it arrived too late to be included in my monograph of the group. It is intermediate in form and character between Prophanes and Anausis, but is much more convex and less parallel than the latter. Type in the Author's Coll.
Stigmodera suavis Cart. — This is anom. prseocc, by Kerremans (Insecta gen. 1902, p. 210). I therefore propose the name S. venusta for the species so described (These Proc. 1913, p. 507).
CffARIOTHES SUBVIOLACEIIS, n.Sp.
Rather widely ovate, convex; head, thorax, and underside very nitid-black, elytra with a violaceous tinge, antennaB and tarsi pale red, legs piceous (red at knees and apex of tibiae).
Head strongly unevenly punctate, rather flat, epistoma slightly rounded in front, with a straight indistinct suture behind, eyes large, coarsely faceted and transverse, antennae short, apical four joints considerably enlarged, joint 3 not longer than 4, apical
BY II. J. CARTER. 86
joint elongate. Prothorax 3-4 x 3 mm., rather convex and gib- bous in middle at apex, widest at base, very little narrowed at apex, widely arcuate at apex, anterior angles obtuse, slightly de- pressed, and scarcely advanced, sides nearly straight (feebly arcu- ate) on anterior two-thirds, sinuate behind, posterior angles acute and slightly produced, base bisinuate, lateral border rounded and somewhat thick, with a very narrow sulcus within, disc clearly punctate, the punctures shallow and not close, a transverse depres- sion behind middle and two basal foveae. Scutellum small, triangu- lar. Elytra ovate, convex, slightly gibbous in front of middle, of same width as prothorax at base and twice as long, widening be- hind, seriate-punctate, the punctures smaller and closer near suture, large and foveolate on sides and apex, general surface rather uneven, with some transverse ridges and depressions, nar- rowly bordered. Sternum closely, abdomen rather sparsely punc- tate, prosternal process concave in middle and punctate, imper- fectly received into the triangular receptacle of the mesosternum. Fore and middle tibiae curved, hind tarsi straight. Dimensions, 9 X 3-6 mm.
iJab.— Kuranda (H. Dodd).
A single specimen, sent by Mr. Dodd, is congeneric with C. cupripennis Pasc, but differs in its more explanate prothorax, its more gibbous elytra and uneven surface, inter alia multa. In form, it suggests Campolene nitida Pasc. Type in the Author's Coll.
Postscript (added 31st March).— The following extract from a letter received from Mr. R. G. Blair, of the British Museum, is of interest in evidence of the mystery connected with Boisduval's species. ''J think I can clear up a few of Boisduval's species. Bates acquired, with La Ferte's Collection, a set of duplicate Heteromera from the Dejean Collection, and among these are probably cotypes, possibly types of Boisduval's species. These are as follows : —
Tenebrio australis Boisd. = Meneristes intermedins Pasc, a small specimen, resembling one seen by you (from Peak Downs).
8
86 REVISION OF THE SUBFAMILY TENEBRIOSIN jE.
T. nigerrimus Boisd. = M. servulus Pasc, (? = convexiusculus Hope). T. nigerrimus Blanch., (Blessig) = J/, laticollis Pasc.
Uloma australis Boisd. ,{IIeterocheira) correctly identified.
Amarygmus columhinus Boisd. = Chalcopterus vinosus Pasc. = C. variabilis Bless.
Adelium harpaloides Boisd. = ^. calosomoides Kirby.
A. vii'escens Boisd. = ^. brevicorne Bless.
In addition to these, there are a few specimens in the Bates Coll., bearing labels which agree with the labels on Dejeanian types of other families. These were probably acquired by Bates from Bakewell's Coll., though there is nothing to show this. Amongst these are the last two in the above list, and
Upis crenata Boisd. = Hypaulax ovalis Bates.
Cilibe hrunnipennis Boisd., {Saragus\ King George's Sound."
87
ORDINARY MONTHLY MEETING.
April 29th, 1914.
Mr. C. Hedley, F.L.S., Vice-President, in the Chair.
The Chairman announced that, under the provisions of Rule xxvi., the Council had elected Messrs. A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., B.Sc, J. R. Garland, M.A., C. Hedley, F.L.S., and W. W. Froggatt, F.L.S., to be Vice Presidents; and Mr. J. H. Campbell [Royal Mint, Macquarie Street] to be Hon. Treasurer, for the Session 1914-15.
Also, that at the next Meeting, it was proposed to give Mem- bers an opportunity of discussing Mr. Andrews' paper on " The Development of the N.O. Myrtaceae " [Proceedings, 1913, p.529].
The Donations and Exchanges received since the previous Monthly Meeting (25th March, 1914), amounting to 10 Vols., 75 Parts or Nos., 15 Bulletins, 6 Reports, and 11 Pamphlets, received from 60 Societies, etc., and two Authors, were laid upon the table.
NOTES AND EXHIBITS.
The Rev. W. W. Watts submitted specimens of Ophioglossum vulgatum L., preserved in formalin. The specimens were collected near Sydney during April by Mr. Thos. Whitelegge. 0. vulgatum does not occur in Australia in its typical European form; the specimens shown belonged to the varieties costatuvi (R.Br.), col. lected in Nielsen Park, and gramineum Hook., {0. Dietrichice Prantl), also from Nielsen Park, and possibly a third variety {lanceolatum).
Mr. Fred Turner exhibited and contributed notes on : — Chloris barhata Sw., collected near Kyogle, Upper Richmond River, New South Wales, in 1899. He gave some additional particulars about C. barbata Sw., var. decora (Syn. C. decora Nees), which was first discovered in this State by the exhibitor and recorded
88 NOTES AND EXHIBITS.
in these Proceedings in 1904. — Astrehla triticoides F.v.M., var. lappacea [Syn. Danthonia lappacea Lindl.,] forwarded to him by Mr. N. Turnbull, Noorama, Cunnamulla, Queensland. The ex- hibitor first drew public attention to this grass as producing a fairly large grain, like small wheat, at a meeting of the Austra- lasian Association for the Advancement of Science held at Mel- bourne in 1890. — Eragrostis major Host., forwarded to him, for identification and report, by Messrs. P. L. C. Shepherd k Son, Nurserymen and Seedsmen, Sydney, who had received it from one of their clients in the Forbes district.
Dr. H. G. Chapman reported some results of the breeding of guinea-pigs by his wife and himself. Attention had been paid to the colour of the hairs, length of the hairs and arrangement of the hairs on the skin. Experiments had now been in progress for two years, and five generations had been bred.
Dr. Petrie showed, on behalf of himself and Dr. Chapman, a specimen of the African plant Acohanthera spectabilis, the milky juice of which afifects a photographic plate in the dark. Extracts of this plant are used as arrow-poison by the Zulus and Somalis. Information was asked for, regarding its botanical relations, and poisonous properties.
Mr. Tillyard exhibited both sexes of the interesting archaic Ascalaphid, Stilhopteryx costalis Newman, together with the eggs. The eggs had never been seen before. They are very large, about 3-5 X 2 mm., oval and well rounded at both ends. He also showed a pair of the Panorpid, Harpohittacus tillyardi Petersen. This species, which is very common round Sydney in October and November, has for a long time been confused with Bittacus aus- tralis Fabr., a much smaller and rarer species. The insect is mentioned under the latter name in Froggatt's Entomology, and in other publications.
Dr. J. B. Cleland exhibited a silver-fish (Lepisma sp.) found alive and active in the crop of a healthy turkey, together with a number of grains of wheat.
Mr. A. A. Hamilton exhibited specimens from the National Herbarium, including Eosa Hort. var., (T. Steel; Strathfield;
NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 89
27/3/09) showing fasciation of the stem and foliar prolification of the inflorescence. A whorl of reduced leaves is noticeable on the faciated stem, below the dilated, abortive ovary, upon which a circlet of sessile, atrophied buds, with foliaceous calyces, is seated. — Chrysanthemnm frutescens L., (W. M. Carne; Sydney Botanic Gardens; 14/3/14) showing extrafloral prolification; virescence of the tubular florets, which are much enlarged, and have their reproductive organs suppressed, and of the ligulas of the ray- florets; leafy branches, bearing buds, spring from the axils of the floral bracts, a capitula of floral bracts ascending from one of the tubular florets, and a ray-floret of an otherwise perfect flower which has developed its tube at the expense of the ligula. Green flowers, a result of the development of chlorophyll in place of the colouring matter proper to the flower (virescence), have been unusually prevalent in the coastal area, especially among cultivated Asters, during the past exceptionally dry Spring and Summer, furnishing additional evidence in favour of the generally accepted theory that droughty conditions are largely responsible for this habit.— A series of leaves of Isopogon ane^nonifolius R.Br., (A. A. Hamilton; Cook's River; September, 1913) showing the xerophytic character of reduction of leaf-surface, owing to unfavourable conditions. The plant, from which the leaves were taken, was growing on a plateau overlooking Cook's River at Undercliffe, in a shallow depression, with a few inches of shale covering the rock, which, after rain, becomes a pool of stagnant water. — Acacia longifolia Willd.,(A. A. Hamilton; Springwood, Went worth Falls, and Leura; November, 1913) showing leaf- variation, from linear to ovate-lanceolate; obtuse, acute, to long acuminate; straight to falcate. Some measurements are, 11 J x | in., 8x|in., 6J x IJin., 6 x |in., 5^ x Jin., 3 J x |-in., 1\ x ] in. — Hakea dactyloides Cav.,( A. A. Hamilton; Cook's River, December 1913; Valley Heights, January, 1914) showing leaf- variation in breadth, contour, and texture.
Mr. Fletcher showed a number of branches of Lantana Camara Linn., from Hunter's Hill, exhibiting the cohesion of opposite leaves, basally and upwards to a varying extent. Before the bountiful rains, which began in February, the plants were suffer-
90 NOTES AND EXHIBITS.
ing severely from drought, and many of them lost their leaves. At present, they were growing most luxuriantly, and the anomalies were fairly common. In every case the coherent leaves were terminal, one or both margins being involved, the cohesion being accompanied by the suppression of the growing point, much as if the shoots had been pinched off.
Mr. R. H. Cambage brought before the Meeting the important matter of the safeguarding of the Bulli Pass, on the South Coast, as a beauty-spot and Nature Reserve. Happily the seascape and landscape elements cannot be seriously interfered with; but it is otherwise with the subtropical vegetation, which is such an important factor in the general effect. With the object of secur- ing the continuance of the vegetation, the Council had passed a Resolution — which had been communicated to the Minister — to the effect that it is highly desirable that action should be taken by the State to secure an area of several hundred acres around the Pass, and that the Minister for Lands be respectfully urged to take the necessary action. Mr. Cambage said that he thought that what the Council had done would commend itself to the Society. Scientific Societies in Europe and America were inter- esting themselves, on an international basis, in the preservation of Nature, and in providing for Nature Reserves. He accord- ingly moved : That this Meeting cordially supports the action of the Council. The Resolution was seconded by Mr. A G. Hamilton, and a number of Members took part in the discussion; on being put to the Meeting, the motion was carried unanimously.
Miss S. Hynes moved — That there should be more adequate protection of the native flora. Mr. A. G. Hamilton seconded the motion, which, on being put to the Meeting, was carried.
91
THE VENOM OF THE FISH, NOTESTHES ROBUST A.
By Leighton Kesteven, M.R.C.S., Eng., &c.
(Communicated hy A. R. McCulloch.)
That the Bullrout is a very awkward customer to handle, is an undisputed fact, but the virulence, or otherwise, of the wounds inflicted by the spines about its head, is a " questio vexata " on which the best known authorities differ.
As during some years' residence on the northern rivers of New South Wales, I was frequently brought into contact with cases of " sting " from this fish, I can speak with professional experi- ence of the symptoms presenting on such wounds.
Tenison-Woods(l), in his description of the Bullrout, gives a fairly accurate account of the ordinary symptoms met with, and I can confirm his statements, with one exception, viz., that the pain disappears at sunset. Though I am not prepared to say that it never does, I have not found it the usual condition. I have seen several cases where the agony remained unabated for twenty-four hours or more, only to be relieved by morphia or other analgesic drug.
Ogilby(2) summarily dismisses the ^dea of the spines of the Bullrout being toxophorous, without sufficient justification, as ray experience teaches me exactly to the contrary.
The symptoms are in no way confined to the mere pain and discomfort of an ordinary cut or scratch, or the irritation arising therefrom. There are very marked and distinct symptoms of the direct effect of venom.
The first of these to manifest itself is the rapid appearance of an erythematous blush, which spreads around the wound for some distance, in a manner not noticeable in ordinary incised wounds; the pain is out of all proportion to the very insignificant nature of the injury; it radiates in an altogether abnormal manner, com-
92 THE VENOM OF THE FISH, SOTESTHES ROBUSTA.
pared with ordinary pricks or scratches, in many cases extending to the shoulder, or even up the side of the neck; the temperature varies greatly, in most cases going up two, three, or more degrees within a very short time : lasting thus for a varying time, and going down again as rapidly, often below the normal, when severe collapse occurs, necessitating the free administration of stimulants to counteract the heart-failure which threatens.
Cases treated as in the ordinary methods for snakebite —chiefly I have found permanganate the most efficacious - can be relieved considerably if taken in hand soon after the sting: but if the poison has had time to put in its fine work, so much the longer does the recovery take. Extreme prostration, for several days, often follows the stings, leaving the patient weak and exhausted.
These symptoms are not compatible with non-toxic wounds. They are undoubtedly venomous.
LITERATURE.
1. Tenison- Woods, Fish and Fisheries, N. S. Wales, IS82, p. 48.
2. Ogilby, Ed. Fish. X. S. Wales, 1893, p. 68; and Proo. Roy. Soc. Qsld.,
xviii., 1903, p.2i.
I
93
CONTRIBUTIONS TO A KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIOLOGY OF THE RICHMOND RIVER.
By G. I. Playfair, Research Scholar of the University of Sydney in Hydrobiology and Plankton.
(Plates ii.-viii.)
The material which has given occasion for the following notes was obtained from the Richmond River and tributary creeks, principally in the neighbourhood of Lismore, during the spring and summer of 1912-13. Lismore lies on the North arm of the river at the head of the navigable portion, and my richest gather- ings were made in the short stretch of river, almost undisturbed by traffic, between the bridge and the boatshed. Here, on either side, were to be found huge beds of weed, chiefly MyriophyUum and Elodea, many yards in extent, and reaching right up to the surface of the water. The river remained undisturbed by heavy rains from the end of September, 1912, to the beginning of Feb- ruary, 1913, and the current being very slow indeed, the surface of these weed-beds became increasingly rich in both plant and animal life. Upon two occasions gatherings were made with silk plankton-nets, but these proved disappointing, nothing being obtained but Coscincdiscus lacustris and a few other diatoms, and as the weed-beds themselves constituted a very efficient filter, it was determined to rely altogether upon them.
On the main river, a single sample was obtained at Casino, near the bridge, three mucous strata from the river-brink at Coraki, and a stripping from a small bunch of weeds in a tribu- tary creek at Kyogle.
9
94 BIOLOGY OF THE RICHMOND RIVEB,
Samples.— ^os.l-3, 5, 6, 8, 11-13, 15-18, 20-22* are from squeez- ings of weeds, chiefly out of the river at Lismore, two or three out of tributary creeks. Nos. 7 and 9 are silk-net gatherings, also from the river at Lismore. No. 14 out of weeds and Hydro- dictyon reticulatum from the river at Casino. Nos. 24 and 33, mucilaginous gouts from an open drain in Keen Street, river- water. Nos. 25 and 26, mucous strata on the footpath near the Commercial Hotel, caused by a leaky fire-hydrant, river-water. Nos. 27-29, 39 and 40, mucous strata from the river-brink at Coraki. Nos. 30 and 34, scrapings from the basin of the horse- trough near the Gov. Savings Bank, river-water. No. 41 from weeds out of a tributary creek at Kyogle, running water. This last, a very small gathering, is remarkable for the number of forms contained in it, especially Desmids, which do not take kindly to running water.
Character of the Flora and Fauna. — The outstanding feature of the Richmond River flora is undoubtedly its richness in diatoms, of which it forms almost a synopsis of the district. Of 147 forms noted in the latter, from Kyogle to Bexhill, 132 occur in the river-system, belonging to 75 generally recognised species. It is not surprising, therefore, to find also a considerable number of the MyxophycecE, as these two groups generally flourish together. Of seven species of the latter, the principal source was indeed on land, in situations (horse-trough, foot washer, fire-hydrant, or open drain) supplied by river-water, but of these seven, four were also noted in the river itself.
The following tables show the relative proportions of the con- stituents of the Flora and Fauna of the Richmond River, com- pared with those of the Nepean River (Sydney water), Yan Yean Reservoir, Melbourne, the Central African Lakes, and the Lochs of the West of Scotland, as far as they have been noted. f
* For convenience, the local numbers 1-41 have been used in these notes; they correspond to Nos. 176-216, inclusive, in the National Herbarium, Sydney, where the originals are deposited.
t Cf . These Proceedings, Vol. xxxvii., 1912; Journ. Linn. See. Bot., Vol. xxxix., 1909; ibid., Vol. xxxviii., 1907; Trans. Roy. Irish Acad., Vol. xxxiii., 1906, respectively.
BY G.
PLAYFAIR.
95
Flora.
Alo.k. Richni. Nepean. Yan Yean. Afr. L. Scottish L.
Chlorophyceae 57 60 25 43 31
Desmidiacese 57 112 61 19 102
Bacillariese 134 48 19 58 38
Myxophycese 38 19 4 36 16
Phytheliese 16 ... 2
Algal Fcnqi.
Chytridiacese 6 not noted.
Schizomycetes 13
305 255 109 158 187
Dinobryon nil
Peridinieae
Vermes
Tardigrada
Entomostraca
Rotatoria 14 14
Infusoria 34 35
Rhizopoda 33 13
"93 "84
|
Fauna. |
||
|
nil 3 |
3 nil |
6 |
|
nil 13 |
1 5 |
12 |
|
5 3 |
||
|
1 nil |
||
|
6 3 |
not noted. |
Plankto7i.— Aiter my experience of the Nepean water, in which the Phytheliece and Feridiniece were so remarkably well represented, it was disappointing to find them both absent from the Richmond. This was the case with Rhizosolenia and Di^iohryon also.
Desmidiacece. — The Desmid flora seems to me to be extra- ordinarily rich, in face of the decided preponderance of the Diatomacece, the number of forms being almost equal to that of the Yan Yean plankton with only 19 diatoms. Of the 57 forms noted, exactly half belong to the genus Cosmarium (29), and a little more than one-quarter to Clostenum (15); Goriatozygon 1, Docidium (Pleur.) 2, Peiiium 2, Micrasterias 2, Euastrum 1, Staurastrum 5, make up the remainder. One is prepared for the absence oi Xanthidium, the forms of that genus being priu-
96 BIOLOGY OF THE RICHMOND RIVER,
cipally swamp-dwellers, but considering that almost all the gatherings were shaken out of weeds, the extremely poor repre- sentation of Staurastnini is surprising. In the main gatherings only three species were noted, St. retiisum Turn., St. striolatum Niig., and another: the other two, in an isolated sample from Kyogle, were St. ddatatumxsiY. obtusilobum De Not., and another (unidentified). Of the long-rayed forms, not a trace was to be found, nor were there present any of the variations of St. orbicu- larcy so common in the Nepean water. Euastrum was also con- spicuously absent, two specimens only (of Eu. binale i.) having been noted in a net-gathering.
Chlorophycecp. — These total up well, but in the fresh gather- ings they were very poorly represented indeed, both in species and in numbers. Spirogyra maxima was plentiful at Lismore, and Hydrodictyon reticidatum was found in great abundance, covering the surface of the river, at Casino, but the commonest forms of ProtococcoidefT. had to be diligently sought for. All the usual members of the Chlorophycecp were represented, however, the same genera almost exactly as in the Sydney Water with the exception of Nephrocytium, Oocyst is, Eremosphcera, Botryococcus and Ineffigiata. As these are found here in swamps and lagoons, their presence in the Nepean water would seem to indicate some infiltration from a similar source. All five, but especially the last two, get the credit of being plankton-algse, but all my observations of their occurrence go to show that their home is in swamps and lagoons.
With regard to the Fauna, the Peridiniece and Dinobryon have already been mentioned; there was a good array of Rota- toi'ia; the Rhizopoda were plentiful and in fair variety. Of the Infusoria, the flagellates Euglena, Phacus, Lepocinclis and Trachelomonas were almost entirely wanting, MaUomonas and Synnra altogether so. But then the swamps and lagoons of the district seem to be quite separate from the river-system.
The number of organisms noted in the Richmond River and creeks amounted to Flora 305, Fauna 93, total 398. Of these, 81 and H respectively are here described as, to a greater or less extent, new forms. They are allocated thus -.—Chlorophycece 18,
BY G. I. PLAYFAIR. 97
Desmidiacece 10, Bacillariefp, 32, Myxophycem 13, Chytridiacem 4, Schizomycetes 4, Infusoria 4, Rltizopoda 10.
CHLOROPHYCE^.
Genus Geminella Turpin. Geminella interrupta var. cylindrica, ri.var. (PI. iii., f.3l ).
Cellulse cylindraceae adpiessae, ad geiiicula coiistrictie: chloro- plastidibus crassis parietalibus, totam cellulam compleritibus, utroqiie polo macula miiiuta nigra.
Diam. cell. 6, alt. 6-10 /x.
Lismore (206).
Genus Spirogyra Link. SpiROGYRA MAXIMA (Hassal) Wittr.
Lat. cell. veg. 108-130; cell. alt. 120-340; niembr. crass. 1-4 /x.
Zygospora a fronte visa exacte circ, diam. 110-112; subcirc, long. 112-136, lat. 100-116; crass. 84-92 /x.
Lismore (12, 16, 20, 21).
Syn. Sp. orbicularis (Hass.) Kiitz., in Petit, Spirog. de Paris, p.31, PI. xii., f.l, 2. I have never found this species before, but it is the characteristic Spirogyra of the River at Lismore, being found in quantity almost anywhere. The breadth of the vegeta- tive cells is generally 120/z. The chloroplasts are six in number, making J to 1 turn each. The dimensions here given, unite the forma tenuior Magn. et Wille, in Wille, Sydamer. Algfl., p. 34 with the type as recorded by Petit, I.e., p. 31. It seems also very probable that the Sp. seti/ormis f. minor, zygotis lenticularibus Magn. et Wille, is a form of Sp. maxima, as Mobius (Austral. Siissw., ii., p.334) has recorded the latter from the Darling Downs, Queensland, at still lower dimensions. Petit gives the zygospores of Sp. seti/ormis as elliptic, not lenticular, and the cell-membrane of S]). maxim,a, as observed by me, was just as often stratified as not. A few filaments (diam. 120 /x) were noted with extremely long cells, yet in perfect condition. The cells varied in length from 1026 to 1035/x, and contained six chloro, plasts making three complete turns each (20).
^8 BIOLOGY OF THE RICHMOND RIVEk,
Spirogyra Lismorensis mihi. (PI. iii , f.l).
Diam. cell. veg. 14; cell. alt. 80-300 /x.
Lismore(12).
Cells very long for the diameter, containing a single broad chloroplast, not wound spirally, but twisted round its long axis; pyrenoids in a single row down the centre; chloroplast making 5 to 15 turns, edge somewhat laciniate; ends of the cells reflexed 2 /x. I have given this curious and interesting form a name, but I do not consider it a distinct species. It is highly probable that each chloroplast splits longitudinally into two which become spirally disposed. Some were already divided at the ends, and there were other Spirogyra filaments with two taeniae in the same gathering. The latter (diam. 18/x, cell. alt. ca. 160//) might be Sp. ivflata (Vauch.) Rab., but with both forms infertile, there could be no certainty about either. Cf. Spir. Goetzei Schm., Ergeb. d. Nyassasee, p.251, PI. iv., f.8.
DESMIDIACE^. Genus Gonatozygon DeBary. GoNATOZYGON KiNAHANi (Arch.) Rab., f. (PI. iii., f.32). Forma apicibus extremis quam levissime angustatis. Long. 288-470, lat. 13-14, ap. 12-13 /x. Lismore (18).
The apices, which are generally somewhat inflated, are in this form just a little narrower, no membranous tag at the angles.
Genus Penium Breb. Penium australe, forma crassior G. S. West.
Zygospora matura globosa, levita angulata, spinis brevibus e tumoribus orientibus ad angulos munita, spinis maturis bifidis. Membrana crassa.
Long. 66-90, lat. 48-54. Zygo. diam. s. sp 65; spin. long, ad 14 /x; membr. 4 /x.
Lismore (12), Casino (14).
Cf. G. S. West, Third Tanganyika Exp., p.l08, P1.6, f.4. The diameter of the type is 38 /x. The endochrome is arranged in two
BY G. I. PLAYFAIR. 99
main radiating chloroplasts each containing a pyrenoid, but besides these there are 10-15 very narrow radiating laminae with- out pyrenoids. A specimen was noted with the central pyrenoid divided into three. (PL iii., f.2).
Penium globosum var, Wollei (W.&G. S. West) mihi, f. maxima.
Long. 70, ]at. 54 ^.
Lismore(12). Cum priori. (PI. iii., f.3).
Cf. Cos. globosum var. Wollei f. major G. S. West, I.e., p. 118, P1.7, f.lO, with which it is practically identical, but half as large again. The naming of this form affords an example of the diffi- culties arising from the present system of nomenclature, and the absolute impossibility of making the latter the expression of observed biological facts. When any Penium of the Dysphiiic- tium type undergoes rapidly repeated mitosis, the nascent semi- cells have (in the short interval between one cell-division and another) no time to attain their full proportions; the resulting Penium-CQ\\s tend, therefore, more and more to become globose in shape, the diameter remaining practically unchanged. Cos. globosum Buln., is such a form, probably (diam. 22-25 /x, Monog., iii., p. 27) the shortened form of Pen. polyiiio^ylmm (diam. 21-28/x, Monog., i., p.91) or some other Penium. Cos. globosum var. Wollei f. major G. S. West, (diam. 37-39 /x) I.e., is certainly a diminished Pen. australe (diam. 36-38 /x) type, just as my f. maxima (supra) is of P. australe f. crassior G.S.W. I find it so in this gathering (12), and if the notes by G. S. West, 1 c, p. 11 8, on Cos. globosum be compared with those, p. 108, on P. australe^ it will be seen that, in the case of Victoria Nyanza at least, the specimens of both were found in the same gatherings : — Bukoba (20 Apr., 1905; lSro.251 and No.618). Cos. globosum is not really a species at all, but merely a mixture of degenerate forms of various " species " of Peniiwi, brought together under one name on account of a similarity of shape. But it would be unreason- able to make such a distinct form as P. australe a variation of Cos. globosum (which has priority) although they are biologically connected. There is nothing left, therefore, but to accept Cos. globosum as a species, well knowing it to be a mass of contradic
loo felOLOGY OF THE RlCfiMONt) RIVER,
tions. I have ventured, however, to move it to the genus Penium^ as the arrangement of the chloroplasts is not at all that of Cos- marium {seiisu stricto).
Genus Closterium Nitzsch. Four forms of Closterium rather common in the river at I>.is- more are CI. Ehrenhergi% CI. Leibleinii, CI. tnoniliferuin and CI incurvum. I consider these are forms of the same species, the difference being a mere matter of development. The zygospores also of 67. Ehreubergii and CI. moniliferuin are identical, Monog., i., pp.143, 144, PL 17, f.4. The last three were found together at Kyogle also.
Closterium acerosum (Schrank) Ehr. Long. 460-655, lat. 42-50, ap. 6 ju. Lismore(3, 16, 19), Casino (14).
Fairly plentiful: the membrane pale pink, smooth or very finely and faintly striate, 10-12 ridged chloroplasts, 11-20 pyrenoids in semicell. The edges of the chloroplasts are sometimes scalloped towards the apices of the cell.
Var. lanceolatum (Kiitz.) mihi. (67. lanceolatum). Long. 300-310, lat. 48, ap. 6 /x. Lismore(22). CI. lanceolatum is only a short form of 67. acerosiim.
Var. Angolense W. t G. H. West, f. (PI iii., f.4). Forma semicellulis infra apices ut in 67. turgido incrassatis; polls levissime recurvatis: apicibus extremis ut in CI. nceroso truncatis. Membrana hyalina (apicibus extremis exceptis) vel dilute rufescente. Interdum ad suturam zona intercalata (lat. 6/x).
Long. 840, lat. 40. ap. 6//. Casino (14). Cum priori et sequenti.
Cf. W. & G. S. West., Monog., i., p.l49, P1.18, f.6. Thisform combines in itself the characteristics of four " species."' It has the extreme tip of CI. acerosum, the size and shape of CI. acero- sum var. Angolense, the recurved ends and slight curvature of CI. Pritchardianum, and the subapical incrassate zone of 67. turgidum.
BY G. I. PLAYFAIU. lOl
Var. Casinoensis, n.var. (PL iii., f.5).
Forma semicellulis sciagraphia CI. aceroso consimilis ad polos non recurvatis, infra apices seriebus singulis nodulorum incrass- atorum circ. 10 ornatis. Membrana dilute rufescente, dense scrobiculata, utrinque ad nodulos longitudinaliter striata; inter- dum membrana glabra vel subtilissime striata.
Long. 560-640, lat. 44-50, ap. 6 /x.
Casino (14).
This is almost the exact shape and size of CI. turgidum f. glabra Gutw., Nonn. Alg. Nov., p. 5, T.v., f.lO. The scrobiculse are on the inner side of the membrane, which is striate just for a short distance above and below the incrassations. The striae run alternately through and between the incrassations.
Other forms of Closterium noted were CI. acutum and var. linea, CI. gracile, CI. corriu. The plankton-forms, CI. gracile var. elongatum W. &l G. S. West, and CI. actitujn var. subpronum (W. & G. S. West), which might have been expected, and are not uncommon round Sydney, were not observed. The current of the river, however, is very sluggish.
Genus Cosmarium Corda.
COSMAKIUM ANdULATUM f. MAJOR Grun.
Long. 70-82, lat. 44-48, ap. 20, isth. 15-16, crass. 30 /x.
Lismore(12), Casino (14). (PI. iii., f.6 ).
Syn. Cos. Bengalense Turner, Alg. E. Ind., T.8, f.33, and T.9, f.33. A very rare desmid this, only twice noted before, viz., from Banka I. and Bengal. Cf. Grunow, Insel Banka, T.ii., f.24, (whose figure works out at 63 x 40 /x) and Turner, I.e., p. 56, T.8, f.35, and T.9, f.25. Our specimens are not so retuse in the sides as in Grunow's figure. Membrane smooth but sometimes faintly and closely pustulate, and there were no signs whatever of the inflations indicated by Grunow. When the chloroplasts are in good condition, their surface is divided into minute digitate fibrilhe, as noted by Turner, I.e., and Wallich. They are most noticeable at the isthmus. My opinion of this desmid is that it is 2b forma maxima of Cos. Meneghinii.
102 BIOLOGY OF THE RICHMOND RIVER,
Var. CONICUM, n.var. (PI. iii., f.7rt). Forma brevior, lateribus planis nee retusis, superne etiam quam levissime convexis.
Long, semicell. 34, lat. 44, ap. 16, isth. 14 /x. Lisinore(12). Cum priori.
Var. suBCUCUMis (Schm.)