Rostrum slightly dilated at apex, little more than half the length of thorax and about as broad as the short head, with a ridge along the middle ending in a broad interocular depression. Thorax a good deal, yet not abruptly, narrowed in front, rather broader than long; the surface a little uneven, with a broad frontal impression near each side, the median impression distinct at the base, less so in front, the punctation entirely hidden. Elytra oblong, narrowed and vertical behind, twice the length of thorax, broader than it is, medially incurved at the base, thus causing a sublunate gap between it and the thorax, the shoulders obtusely prominent; they seem to be coarsely seriate-punctate; the 3rd interstices are unevenly but only moderately elevated, somewhat prominent at the base, and terminate as nodiform elevations on the summit of the apical declivity; the 5th are less raised, and the posterior nodosity on each is smaller than that on the 3rd, and does not extend quite as far back; the suture is obtusely elevated behind.

Legs coarsely setose, tibiae a little flexuous, mucronate, with fine fulvescent setae near the extremity, the posterior with some denticles along the inner or front face. Tarsi finely setose above, their penultimate joint moderately dilated and bilobed, the terminal nearly as long as the others, taken together.

Scape inserted near the apex, barely attaining the thorax, very gradually incrassate, dull, bearing pale squamae and outstanding setae. Funiculua more finely setose, the basal joint longer than the elongate 2nd, 3rd of about length and breadth, joints 4–7 moniliform. Club oblong-oval, densely and minutely pubescent, indistinctly triarticulate.

There are no ocular lobes or scutellum. The eyes are free from the thorax, widely separated above and subacuminate below. Scrobes open above, subapical, extending half-way to the eyes. Posterior corbels with duplicate cilia and distinct but not broad truncations externally.

The typical species (763) is distinguishable by a glance at the spiniform process near the base, on the inner face, of the hind tibiae; the other (2099) by the mesial thoracic depression being deeper near the front.

The sappy, scale-like encrustation is hardly removable with the point of a needle, the actual sculpture, therefore, is invisible.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 7 ½ mm.; breadth, 3 ½ mm.

Christchurch. My specimen was kindly sent by Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf, D.Sc., who found it in the cultivated ground at Lincoln Agricultural College.

3261. Nonnotus nigricans sp. nov. Nonnotus Sharp, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1177.

Convex, elongate, slightly nitid, nigrescent; antennae, tarsi, and knees more or less ferruginous, legs rufo-piceous; sparingly clothed with small nearly white squamae and slender suberect setae.

Rostrum nearly as long as thorax, slightly arched, not quite as broad as the head, but not at all abruptly narrower, irregularly punctate, and with a fine median carina. Eyes large, transverse, nearly flat, not quite as distant from the thorax as they are from each other. Antennae moderately stout and elongate; scape gradually thickened, and attaining the thoracic margin; basal joint of funiculus rather longer than 2nd, 3rd and 4th obconical, 5–7 bead-like; club oblong-oval, triarticulate. Thorax slightly broader than long, moderately rounded laterally, a little narrower in front than at the base, not uneven above, with a short smooth central

line, elsewhere rather closely but not coarsely punctured. Scutellum small. Elytra a little incurved at the base, broader than thorax there, almost thrice its length, not vertical behind; with short basal striae near the suture, seriate-punctate elsewhere.

Legs finely setose; tibiae flexuous, the anterior curved at the extremity, the others expanded there, posterior corbels narrowly truncate and with double cilia externally.

Underside blackish, covered with elongate grey scales and setae. Basal ventral segment flat and, in the middle, longer than 2nd, which is hardly as long as the 3rd and 4th combined; 5th obconical, irregularly and closely punctate, rufescent and strongly rounded at the extremity, the supplementary segment quite exposed, with broad margins. Metasternum broadly depressed behind.

In Sharp's N. griseolus the elytra have fine, simple striae. N. albicans (781), which also belongs to this genus, has striate-punctate elytra, and chestnut-red legs and antennae. These are the nearest species.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 6 mm.; breadth, quite 2 mm.

Waipori. A pair forwarded by Mr. A. O'Connor from Mr. H. Hamilton's collection.

3262. Tigones rugosa sp. nov. Tigones Broun, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 855 = Protophormus Sharp, p. 1178.

Opaque, dark fusco-piceous, densely covered with depressed dull coppery squamae and rather lighter slender setae; on the apical declivity the scales are paler and brighter, some being slightly viridescent; the tarsi, scape, and club are dark obscure fusco-rufous, the funiculus more shining and rufescent.

Rostrum a third shorter than thorax, moderately pterygiate, nearly plane along the middle. Head broadly impressed between the eyes, with a shining narrow angular bare spot behind. Eyes distant from the thorax by less than their own length. Thorax very slightly longer than broad, a little narrowed behind the middle; its surface slightly unlevel and irregularly rugose, its punctation hidden by the squamae. Scutellum oblong, grey. Elytra more than double the length of thorax and evidently broader than it is at the base, their apical portion vertical; they are seriatepunctate along the middle, more coarsely and irregularly at the sides, but without distinct sculpture on the declivity; the 3rd interstices are elevated at the base, and again behind the middle, and terminate as large nearly horizontal prominences on top of the declivity; the 5th also are somewhat raised from before the middle backwards, but do not extend as far back as the 3rd, and are less prominent; the apices are simple.

Tibiae flexuous, with grey setae. Funiculus fully the length of the scape, 2nd joint as long as the 1st. Club normal.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 7 mm.; breadth, 2 ½ mm.

Mount Arthur. Mr. H. W. Simmonds.

Var. Fem.—Vestiture paler and brighter, but not viridescent behind. Rostrum a little longer, with a slight central carina. Thorax not rugose, a little shorter. Scutellum rather broader. Elytra with more definite punctures, each with a minute grey scale, apices not prolonged.

Dr. Sharp's Protophormus robustus (2091) is nearly related, but the apices of the elytra are prolonged, and the 7th interstices apparently are somewhat nodiform behind. I have not seen it as yet.

3263. Tigones albopicta sp. nov.

Subdepressed, nigrescent, densely clothed with opaque nigro-fuscous scales and decumbent greyish setae; on the 3rd interstices, near the beginning of the hind slope, there is a spot formed of nearly white scales; legs and scape slightly, the funiculus more distinctly, rufescent.

Rostrum pterygiate, a third shorter than thorax, the shallow longitudinal grooves separated by an obtuse keel. Head simple. Thorax slightly rounded laterally at the middle, its length and breadth about equal, with, a slight ridge along the centre, its sculpture completely concealed. Scutellum triangular. Elytra nearly thrice the length of the thorax, and broader than it is at the base, narrowed but not abruptly declivous behind, with simple apices; their sculpture consists of rather narrow serial punctures, the suture and 5th interstices are only very slightly elevated behind, and the 3rd at the base.

Scape stout and finely setose; 2nd joint of funiculus as long as the 1st, joints 4–7 moniliform.

There can be no difficulty in recognizing this species, owing to the smoky vestiture and pair of white spots on the after part of the elytra.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 6 mm.; breadth, 2 mm.

Orepuki My specimen is from Mr. H. Hamilton's collection, and was given to me by Mr. A. O'Connor.

3264. Platyomida hamiltoni sp. nov. Platyomida White, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1186 = Empaeotes Pascoe, p. 441, and Eurynotia Broun, p. 440.

Asperate, opaque, rufo-piceous, tarsi and antennae fusco-rufous; densely covered with pale-coppery and grey scales, the latter congregated at the sides of the thorax and on the top of the posterior declivity, and also with some squamiform setae, which are chiefly confined to the sides of the thorax and more elevated parts of the hind-body.

Rostrum nearly a third shorter than thorax, and, owing to the dense squamosity, not distinctly carinate. Eyes large, very slightly convex, wice as distant from each other as they are from the thorax, with a linear impression between them. Thorax slightly dilated laterally near the middle, of equal length and breadth; its surface very uneven, with a broad longitudinal impression in front and behind, its punctation hidden, but with several dark specks which, in some lights, seem like minute tubercles. Scutellum small. Elytra slightly sinuate at the base and but little broader than the thorax there, wider behind the oblique shoulders, apical declivity nearly vertical and much narrowed; biseriate-punctate near each side of the suture, more irregularly punctured near the sides; 3rd interstices, on the disc, slightly trinodose, the basal elevation not projecting, and with a larger additional prominence on the top of the posterior declivity; 5th nearly similarly nodose, but without any basal elevation, not extending as far back, and less prominent; the declivity itself rather rough, bearing several small tubercular elevations; their sides also are uneven.

Basal two ventral segments covered with yellowish squamae, the others with greyish setae.

Legs squamose, and bearing also many more or less curled greyish setae; tibiae flexuous, the posterior corbels with a narrow external truncature and double cilia. Scape gradually incrassate and attaining the back of the eye; 2nd joint of the funiculus rather longer than 1st,

3–7 longer than broad; club elongate-oval, triarticulate, densely and minutely pubescent.

No other described species accords with this. In P. amota (1415) the inequalities are almost confined to the after part of the elytra; there, however, they are very much more conspicuous.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 7 ½ mm.; breadth, 3 mm.

Mount Greenland, Westland. My specimen was received from Mr. O'Connor, but was discovered as an altitude of 2,500 ft. by Mr. H. Hamilton, whose name has been attached to it.

3265. Platyomida morosa sp. nov.

Narrow, asperate, opaque, piceous, antennae and tarsi pitchy red, squamosity dull coppery brown.

Somewhat similar to P. hamiltoni, evidently narrower; the dark-grey setae scarcely relieve the prevailing sombre aspect. The central thoracic impression is almost continuous. Scutellum obsolete. The 3rd elytral interstices are trinodose behind the posterior femora; on the 5th there are 3 nodosites, the central is placed in line with the hind thigh, the anterior is distant from the base and as far from the central as the posterior, is; there is another at each side, about equidistant from the base and middle, besides other smaller inequalities.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 6 ½ mm.; breadth, 2 ⅓ mm.

Mount Greenland. A single individual, from the same source as the preceding species.

3266. Lyperobates guinnessi sp. nov. Lyperobates Broun, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1461.

Robust, opaque, piceous; densely covered with small cupreous squamae, those on the rostrum slightly tawny; antennae and tarsi rufo-piceous.

Rostrum subpterygiate, nearly as long as thorax, with 2 broad longitudinal grooves separated by a median carina; the scrobes deep, quite open above, prolonged to the apex, and extending obliquely almost to the lower part of the eyes. Head short, nearly as broad as the front of thorax, on the same plane as the rostrum, rather broader than it is, and with an elongate interocular fovea. Scape opaque, slightly, flexuous and rather slender; 2nd joint of funiculus elongate and rather longer than the 1st; club elongate-oval, triarticulate. Thorax of equal length and breadth, its sides somewhat narrowed near the front, almost straight behind; disc a little uneven, with 3 moderate frontal ridges and an obtuse median elevation behind the middle; near each anterior angle there is a broad impression; no punctures are visible, but some minute black granules can be seen; a few pale elongate scales or coarse setae are distributed over the surface, in front especially. Scutellum covered with very slender flavescent setae. Elytra with pale setae at the base, just as wide as thorax there, each elytron slightly curved towards the suture; the shoulders gradually dilated towards the large lateral prominence just behind each middle thigh, and at that part twice the width of the thorax; there is a small nodosity near each hind thigh; from thence the sides are a little incurved and again expanded, so that the outer horizontal prominences on top of the apical declivity extend very nearly as far outwards as the post-humeral dilatations; the dorsum is not quite flat, being broadly concave behind; it is subtruncate on the summit of

the vertical declivity, and there tipped with short grey setae; the serial punctures are rather indefinite, but the rows of pale squamae are distinct, and there are some small black granules on the basal half; on the 3rd interstices there is a basal nodiform elevation and a smaller one in line with the posterior femora; there are 2 others near each side before the middle; the declivity is a good deal narrowed, its sides are darker than the suture, with some well-marked punctures; along the fuscous vertical sides of the hind-body the punctation is seriate and moderately coarse.

This is the largest member of the genus as yet known. The most similar species is L. virilis (2867), which may be easily separated by the trinodose elytral interstices, the thicker and quite straight scape, and more prominent sides of the thorax, just before the middle.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 11 mm.; breadth, 5 ½ mm.

Erua. One example only, found amongst decaying leaves in January, 1910, by Mr. W. J. Guinness and myself. It bears that gentleman's name.

3267. Lyperobates elegantulus sp. nov.

Piceous, closely and uniformly clothed with small depressed fulvescent squamae; tarsi and antennae rufo-piceous.

Rostrum with an obtuse median carina and a broad groove along each side of it, slightly shorter than thorax; interocular fovea elongate. Thorax subcylindrical, a little longer than broad, slightly dilated and broadly rounded, but not at all prominent, before the middle, very gently curvedly narrowed anteriorly, nearly straight behind; its surface a little uneven, with 4 shallow frontal and 2 basal impressions, its central portion irregularly and longitudinally but only obtusely elevated, and with some small black granules there. Scutellum with very slender fulvous setae. Elytra slightly broader than thorax at the base, shoulders oblique; just behind each of these there is an outstanding, elongate, lateral tubercle; in line with these the broadth is double that of the widest part of the thorax; the sides are widely incurved towards the horizontal lateral protuberances, which project backwards beyond the subtruncate summit of the nearly vertical posterior declivity, and extend outwardly very nearly as far as the humeral tubercles; the dorsum is almost flat, and bears on each elytron 4 small well-defined grey-tipped tubercles, which are placed before the middle; the 3rd interstices are nodiform at the base; the serial punctures on the disc are moderately fine and distant, those on the fuscous somewhat infiexed sides are rather coarser.

Scape slightly flexuous, very gradually incrassate; 2nd joint of funiculus rather longer than the basal; club elongate-oval, its intermediate joint slightly narrowed towards the base and consequently distinctly marked off from the 1st.

Underside nigrescent, with slender bright coppery squamae. Metasternum with a deep median puncture. Basal ventral segment slightly impressed along the middle, subtruncato between the coxae, not quite twice the length of the 2nd.

The subcylindric thorax, nearly quite level elytral disc, the elongate humeral tubercles, and posteriorly prolonged subapical protuberances are distinctive characteristics. The nearest species are L. virilis and L. guinnessi.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 10mm.; breadth (maximum), 4 ½mm.

Erua. Unique. Picked out of leaf-mould forwarded to me by Mr. W. J. Guinness in April, 1910.

6268. Lyperobates rostralis sp. nov.

Robust, opaque, piceous, thickly covered with slender depressed pale yellowish-brown scales, and numerous coarser and more flavescent ones; antennae and tarsi fusco-rufous.

Rostrum with a pair of broad basal grooves which do not extend forwards as far as the middle, and a fine median carina in front; the head and rostrum conjointly just the same length as thorax; the interocular fovea small and quite punctiform. Thorax with 4 large impressions, two frontal and two basal, and with irregular intervening elevations; there are a few small black granules along the middle, but no punctures are discernible; it is of equal length and breadth, distinctly more dilated before the middle than it is elsewhere; the yellowish setae or scales are somewhat congregated in front. Scutellum small and short. Elytra not wider than thorax at the base, the shoulders gradually widened to beyond the middle thighs and at that part not quite double the breadth of thorax, but slightly wider than the lateral dilatations on top of the apical declivity; between these lateral prominences there is a small nodosity; the disc is not quite level, as from each shoulder an obtuse, more or less interrupted, ridge extends obliquely backwards to beyond the hind thigh, but does not reach the suture; the 3rd interstices are elevated at the base; they are indistinctly seriate-punctate, and bear some minute black granules near the suture; the flavescent squamiform setae are serial near the suture; the sides and posterior declivity are vertical and seriate-punctate.

Scape nearly straight, and gradually thickened; 2nd joint of funiculus slightly longer than 1st, joints 3–7 each longer than broad; club elongate-oval.

Underside piceous, covered with an admixture of greyish-yellow depressed coarse and fine setae; it is very finely and indefinitely sculptured; the basal segment behind and the 2nd in front are medially impressed lengthways, the 5th is subtruncate at the apex.

No other species closely resembles this. It is larger than all, except L. guinnessi, from which it is differentiated by the much less prominent post-humeral angles and more uneven dorsum. The abbreviated rostral grooves and small punctiform interocular fovea will aid in its identification.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 1 ½ mm.; breadth, 5mm.

Waimarino. Two found by myself in the forest, on the ground, midway between that place and Erua in January, 1910.

3269. Lyperobates punctatus sp. nov.

Subopaque, pale castaneous, antennae piceo-rufóus; squamosity dense, somewhat tawny, grey, with a slightly reddish tint, on the legs.

Rostrum with a slight frontal carina, the broad grooves are confluent behind, so that the middle of the head is depressed; it is rather shorter than the thorax; the clypeal portion is rufescent and finely punctured; instead of the usual interocular fovea there is an oval, smooth, blackish spot. Thorax slightly broader than long, widest and obtusely prominent just in front of the middle, distinctly narrowed anteriorly, nearly straight behind; its surface uneven, with 4 frontal and 2 oblique basal impressions, the intervals irregularly and obtusely elevated, and bearing some small dark granules near the middle. Scutellum short. Elytra nowhere twice the breadth of the widest part of the thorax, very little broader than it is

3270. Phaeocharis cuprealis sp. nov.

Piceous, legs and scape obscure fusco-rufous, funiculus and tarsi usually ferrginous; the body densely covered with variegated squamae, along the suture and across the basal portion of the elytra they are of a reddish-coppery hue, whilst some similar ones are scattered over the dark areas near the sides, and on the middle of the thorax; the vestiture near the sides of the latter, as well as on the head and rostrum, is for the most part yellowish; the setae are pallid or slightly infuscate.

Rostrum with slender grey setae on the nearly bald apical portion, with an obtuse ridge along the middle, and a broad oblique impression in front of each eye. Thorax of equal length and breadth, somewhat prominent laterally before the middle, obliquely narrowed anteriorly, nearly straight behind; its surface uneven, with a large angular median impression, before the middle, which is prolonged towards the base as a broad channel; near each anterior angle there is another large impression; the intervals are more or less elevated; in front and at the sides there are some elongate, coarse, pale setae; no punctation can be seen. Scutellum obsolete. Elytra quite twice the length but not double the width of thorax, narrower at the base, with a slight lateral prominence just behind the oblique shoulders, they are a good deal narrowed behind the posterior femora; dorsum slightly uneven, with an obtuse elevation at each side of the slight yet rather broad basal depression; in line with each of these, on top of the declivity, there is another, and outside this a pair; the suture is obtusely elevated along the posterior declivity; there are no dorsal striae or punctures.

The legs bear coarse greyish setae. Scape thickly, funiculus sparingly, setose; 3rd joint of the latter barely half the length of the elongate 2nd, 7th rather broader than 6th; club finely pubescent, its intermediate joint rather shorter than the basal.

Underside piceous, with pale elongate setae; basal ventral segment flat in front, its hind suture oblique towards the sides, its sculpture, like that of the 5th, close but ill defined.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 5 ½–6 mm.; breadth, 2 ½ mm.

Erua; January, 1910. Two found amongst leaves on the ground at an elevation of nearly 2,500 ft.

3271. Phaeocharis punctatus sp. nov.

Opaque, piceous, squamosity dense, fuscous or dull cupreous, nowhere concentrated, obscure tawny on the rostrum and sides of thorax; funiculus and tarsi somewhat ferruginous.

In most respects like P. cuprealis, the body narrower, thorax rather more elongate, its impressions less definite; but the elytra are striate-punctate, and the front or inner face of the posterior tibiae bears some small denticles.Length (rostrum inclusive), 5 mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Raurimu. I found two in January, 1910.

3272. Notiopatae terricola sp. nov. Notiopatae Broun, Man N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1186.

Variegate, slightly nitid, thorax fuscous; the rostrum, elytra, and legs fusco-rufous; funiculus and tarsi lighter; elytral disc thinly clothed with fulvescent decumbent setae, which, behind, are somewhat more prominent and curled; near the sides they are much coarser, curled, and either greyish or infuscate; on the thorax the setae are irregularly distributed, and form

posterior widely, separated. Mentum large, nearly filling the buccal cavity, curvedly narrowed backwards. Palpi minute.

This cannot be made to accord structurally with any of our genera. The European Otiorhynchus is at once separable by its strongly pterygiate rostrum and elongate scape. The posteriorly attenuate hind-body is more like that of the subantarctic Catodryobius vestitus.

3273. Getopsephus acuminatus sp. nov.

Black, moderately nitid; sparingly clothed with inconspicuous scales, which are nearly as dark as the derm itself, and also with slender straw-coloured setae that are most numerous behind.

Rostrum irregularly punctate, with a rather broad, nearly smooth, median ridge, and a broad groove along each side of it; the triangular apical portion is distinctly marked off. Head finely but not closely punctured, with an interocular fovea. Thorax a fifth broader than long, a little wider before the middle than at the base; with an angular median impression near the front, where it is finely punctured; behind that part and at the sides the surface becomes somewhat asperate with coarse, irregular, but not definitely tubercular sculpture. Elytra nearly thrice the length of the thorax, much narrowed and declivous behind, their sides very slightly rounded and somewhat inflexed; they are regularly striate punctate, quite coarsely towards the sides, but rather indistinctly behind; the discoidal interstices are nearly plane, there being only a slight elevation of the 3rd at the base.

Underside nigrescent, with some pale bluish-green and light-coppery scales and depressed flavescent setae. Basal ventral segment broadly impressed.

♂. Length (rostrum inclusive), 11 mm.; breadth, 4 ½ mm.

Bold Peak, Wakatipu. My specimen was found at an elevation of 5,500 ft. by Mr. H. Hamilton.

Obs.—Since the foregoing description was compiled, a female specimen, in the possession of Mr. A. O'Connor, was submitted for inspection. It exhibits the following differences: The surface is covered with small, depressed, rotundate squamae, which are mostly infuscate grey, but inter mingled with these, on the thorax especially, there are others of metallic lustre, some being viridescent and others of a pale-coppery hue. The rostrum is rather longer, and its central keel is cariniform. The thorax is only very slightly uneven. It measures 6 by 2 ¼ lines.

3274. Brachyolus labeculatus sp. nov. Brachyolus White, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., pp. 432, 1194.

Opaque, fuscous, legs obscure fusco-rufous, tarsi and funiculus lighter; thorax densely covered with pale greyish-brown squamae; on the elytra they are much darker at the sides than near the suture, and on the disc are intermingled with some pale greyish-blue ones; the setae, though not very coarse, are conspicuous, being quite white.

Rostrum about half the length of the thorax, nearly plane along the middle, but at the base on an abruptly lower level than the broader head. Eyes oblique, oval, not prominent. Thorax slightly broader than long. widest and obtusely prominent before the middle, with an indefinite linear median impression which becomes more distinct at the base; no punctures are visible. Elytra quite double the length of thorax, a little broader than

it is at the base, the humeri, oblique, behind these the sides are nearly straight, but are rather abruptly narrowed near the extremity; they are rather finely striate-punctate; 3rd interstices slightly and obtusely ele- vated, but not projecting, at the base, only minutely at the middle, and, like the 5th, terminating on top of the declivity as nodiform but not very prominent elevations, the 5th being smaller, the suture is obtusely raised towards the extremity.

Tibiae slightly flexuous, the anterior mucronate. Scape thick, gradually incrassate, setose; 2nd joint of funiculus as long and almost as stout as the 1st, 5–7 equal and quite moniliform; club elongate-ovate, triarticulate, minutely and densely pubescent.

Scrobes visible in front, directed downwards, but not attaining the eyes. Posterior corbels simple. Ocular lobes only slightly developed.

The bluish specks seen amongst the darker scales on the hind-body will serve as a good differentiating character.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 4mm.; breadth, 1 ⅔ mm.

Wairiri, Kaikoura. Unique. Another of Mr. W. L. Wallace's discoveries.

3275. Brachyolus varius sp. nov.

Subopaque, densely covered with depressed variegated scales, and short erect white and fuscous setae; the squamae for the most part are of a pale coppery brown, there are, however, several blackish spots on the thorax and hind-body; on the former there is usually a central greyish spot, on the latter the grey scales and setae are somewhat concentrated near the top of the apical declivity, they also form a few specks on the dorsum; legs also a little variegate, the scape dull, funiculus fusco-rufous, terminal joint of the tarsi paler.

Rostrum thick, nearly half the length of thorax, a little dilated in front, depressed at the base, not perceptibly ridged. Thorax slightly broader than long, a little wider before the middle than it is elsewhere; with an indistinct median groove, but without other well-marked inequalities; its punctation entirely hidden. Scutellum small, grey. Elytra hardly a fourth longer than broad, their sides almost straight, vertical and much narrowed behind, their shoulders evidently wider than the base of thorax; striate punctate, 3rd interstices slightly elevated, 5th less so, blackish and sub-nodiform on the summit of the posterior declivity, but not projecting at the base.

Underside densely covered with depressed pale squamae and numerous slender setae, so that the punctation is not discernible. Prosternum deeply incurved in front. Basal ventral segment slightly longer than the meta sternum, subtruncate between the coxae, its hind suture oblique from the sides to the middle, the 5th with a pair of punctiform impressions.

Scrobes open above, subapical, and almost foveiform. Ocular lobes moderately developed. Scape stout, gradually incrassate, and attaining the back of the eye, which is nearly contiguous to the thorax. Funiculus with dark setae, its 2nd joint about as long as the 1st, 3rd scarcely longer than 4th, joints 4–7 moniliform.

B. labeculatus has a larger and broader thorax, the shoulders are obliquely narrowed, and the serial punctures are less distinct. O. posticalis has very different sculpture and a longer rostrum. These are the only similar species.

Legs with elongate, curled, fulvescent setae.

In P. intricatus (1508) the posterior declivity is striate. P. terreus has no rostral crests.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 5 ½ mm.; breadth, 2 ⅔ mm.

Wairiri, Kaikoura. Found by Mr. W. L. Wallace.

3278. Phrynixus binodosus sp. nov.

Opaque, fusco-piceous, antennae and tarsi fusco-rufous; the coarse squamiform setae irregularly distributed, chiefly ferruginous, those on the shoulders flavescent.

Rostrum arched, truncate at apex, nearly plane and indistinctly punctate before the antennae, behind these with many coarse erect setae which do not form definite crests. Thorax rather longer than broad, a little narrower in front than at the base, where it is medially depressed; the coarse setae form a fringe, irregular, however, along each side, and become more approximated and prominent in front, those on the disc are sub-depressed and hide the punctures; a few minute tubercles also may be detected. Elytra short, just about as long as broad, the base distinctly bisinuate, so that the suture, though somewhat depressed, seems projecting; they are abruptly perpendicular behind, and thinly clad and striate there; disc moderately coarsely seriate-punctate near the suture, the squamiform setae there are depressed; outside this area the surface, as well as the sides, are tuberculate or tufted; exactly on top of the declivity there is a pair of large, distant, setigerous nodosities, and another of smaller ones a little lower down, quite at the sides.

Legs with curled setae, tibiae mucronate, terminal joint of tarsi as long as the basal three combined. Antennae inserted immediately before the middle, finely setose; scape moderately clavate at the extremity; 2nd joint of funiculus as long as the 1st, joints 3–6 subquadrate, 7th rather larger; club ovate, triarticulate, its basal joint half of the whole length, the others indistinct.

The abruptly vertical posterior declivity and the pair of large nodosities on its summit, in conjunction with the slight scutellar depression and basally prominent suture, show that this species should be located apart from all the others except, perhaps, P. brevipennis (2545).

Length (rostrum exclusive), 4mm.; breadth, 2 ½ mm.

Greymouth. I am indebted to Mr. J. H. Lewis for my specimen.

3279. Lithocia acuminata sp. nov. Lithocia Broun, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1470.

Opaque, fusco-niger, antennae and tarsi obscure ferruginous; irregularly crested with pale-yellowish setae.

Rostrum much arched, quite as long as thorax; very slightly expanded, nearly nude and punctate in front, with a pair of very elongate crests behind the antennae and a slight median carina near the eyes. Thorax of about equal length and breadth, a little constricted in front; moderately coarsely, very irregularly, but not closely punctured, medially depressed as the base; with a pair of conspicuous frontal crests, which are curvedly prolonged, but less elevated, towards the hind angles, and with a much smaller ante-median crest. Elytra quite double the length of thorax, of about the same width as it is at the base, considerably broader at the middle, and very much narrowed and acuminate behind; the discoidal punctures are subseriate,

and rather coarse but not deep; on the rather long but not vertical apical slope the sculpture is very much finer and substriate; a pair of oblique elongate crests form the boundary of the scutellar depression, there are 4 just behind these across the disc, and a curvate series of 8 on top of the hind slope, a rather larger one just below these at each side, and some smaller ones near the apex; their sides, near the middle, appear uneven, owing to the presence of 3 coarse tufts.

Legs elongate, moderately slender, with curled tawny setae, tibiae not distinctly mucronate.

Antennae finely setose, scape medially inserted, gradually moderately thickened apically; 2nd joint of funiculus as long as the basal, 3–6 sub-quadrate, 7th larger; club ovate, pubescent, obsoletely articulate.

Prosternum incurved in front, and fringed with coarse tawny setae; the breast and coxae bear similar setae. Metasternum short, with a straight transverse median groove. Basal ventral segment rufescent, distinctly punctate, convex, angularly emarginate behind; 2nd on a lower plane than the 1st, in the middle about as long as it is, flat and smooth, dull smoky black; 3–5 reddish, with deep straight sutures; the 5th curvedly narrowed, transversely impressed behind the middle, with fine setae and punctures.

This species does not agree exactly with the type of this genus, and cannot be referred to Phrynixus. The scrobes are open above as in Lithocia, but are oblong rather than foveiform. The eyes are longitudinally oval, free from the thorax, rather widely distant above and slightly prominent. The apex of the thorax is very distinctly incurved, and the sides, in front, are obtusely rounded so as to form ocular lobes. If similar species are discovered they will be entitled to generic separation.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 5 mm.; breadth, 2 ½ mm.

Mount Quoin. The discovery of this species, at a high elevation, is due to Mr. A. O'Connor.

3280. Bradypatae minor sp. nov. Bradypatae Broun, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1206.

Subopaque, pale brown, antennae and legs more or less rufescent; with irregularly distributed setae, coarse and curled on some parts, quite small on others.

Rostrum arched, as long as thorax, its anterior half a little expanded, the posterior less than half the width of the front of thorax; with numerous depressed pale-yellowish elongate squamae, and an indistinct groove along each side of the middle behind. Head contracted behind the prominent eyes, and scarcely visible above. Thorax as long as broad, base and apex truncate; the latter bears coarse, somewhat bent, pale squami-form setae; its sides are somewhat similarly clothed, and thus appear a little dilated just behind the subapical constriction; disc uneven, having a slight median crest before the middle, and a pair proceeding from the centre of the base, obliquely, towards the sides in front; the intervening depressions seem smooth; the punctation discernible near the base is coarse and shallow. Elytra of about the same width as thorax at the base, much broader behind, posterior declivity vertical; the scutellar depression is distinct and smooth, and bordered laterally by finely setose elevations; on each there are 2 series of coarse punctures alongside the suture, and interrupted rows nearer the side; this discal portion is very sparingly clothed with short setae; near the side there are 4 or 5 somewhat rounded

crests and some minute dark tubercles; on the summit of the apical declivity the yellowish setae are concentrated, so as to form a transverse series of 6 lines or small crests; the declivity is substriate-punctate, and bears minute tufts.

Legs stout and elongate, with coarse elongate setae; tibiae nearly straight, slightly mucronate at inner extremity. Terminal joint of tarsi thick, arched above, and about as long as the other three taken together, with small claws.

Underside dull fusco-piceous, abdomen nude and impunctate; the basal segment and metasternum are broadly medially depressed; the 2nd segment is as long as the basal, slightly nitid, with the frontal suture well marked, and oblique towards the sides; 3rd and 4th abbreviated, with deep straight sutures; 5th rufescent, with an apical fovea in the middle, thus appearing slightly elevated near the centre. Prosternum deeply incurved in front.

Careful comparison with B. armiger (2893) shows that the thoracic sculpture is quite different. The eyes are rather smaller. The antennae stouter. The hind face of the elytra is more abruptly perpendicular, and the posterior coxae more widely separated and almost in contact with the prominent intermediate pair.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 3 mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Erua. Three specimens were found in a parcel of decaying forest leaves collected by Mr. W. J. Guinness, at an altitude of 2,500 ft., in April, 1910.

3281. Clypeorhynchus calvulus sp. nov. Clypeorhynchus Sharp, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1210.

Convex, moderately elongate somewhat nitid, rufo-castaneous; nearly nude, there being only a few slender greyish scales on the rostrum and sides of thorax.

Rostrum rather shorter than thorax, slightly medially narrowed, nearly smooth in front, elsewhere moderately coarsely punctate, indistinctly bicarinate, and, towards the base, obtusely elevated longitudinally. Head short, narrowed anteriorly, rugosely punctate, but at its sides, behind the eyes, nearly smooth; there is a shallow interocular fovea. Thorax of almost equal length and breadth, widest before the middle, very gradually narrowed behind, a good deal but not abruptly so in front; slightly uneven, with an obtuse but not prominent elevation near each side at the widest part, and a broad irregular depression along the middle; its sculpture consists of short irregular rugosities and punctures. Scutellum obsolete. Elytra slightly wider than thorax at the base, much narrowed and declivous behind, shoulders slightly narrowed; they are nearly double the length of the thorax, with subparallel sides; the disc is nearly plane and obviously striate, but the punctation of the striae is somewhat indefinite, more so near the suture than at the sides; interstices minutely tuberculate and rugose; the 4th, 5th, and 6th become confluent and slightly prominent at some distance from the apices, which are rounded and do not quite cover the last abdominal segment.

Legs elongate; femora strongly clavate beyond the middle but slender near the base; tibiae slightly dilated inwardly below the knees and bent inwards near the extremity; penultimate tarsal joint with elongate lobes. Scape flexuous and slender, but clavate near the extremity; basal joint of the funiculus rather longer than 2nd.

The nearly bald surface distinguishes this species.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 9 mm.; breadth, nearly 3 ½ mm.

Mount Hector, Tararua Range. Described from a specimen on cardboard sent by Mr. A. O'Connor for examination. It was found under a stone at an elevation of about 5,000 ft.

3282. Clypeorhynchus caudatus sp. nov.

Subopaque, piceo-fuscous, the tibiae, antennae, and apex of rostrum more or less rufo-piceous; sparingly clothed with decumbent yellow setae.

Rostrum rather shorter than thorax, indistinctly bicarinate, longitudinally impressed medially, with ill-defined sculpture, its glabrous apical portion slightly convex and finely punctate. Head rugose. Thorax just as broad as it is long, narrower in front than at the base, rather wider before the middle than elsewhere; very slightly uneven, with granular and rugose sculpture, the median longitudinal impression deeper near the front and base than on the middle. Scutellum small, triangular. Elytra more than twice the length of thorax, evidently broader, with rounded humeral angles, the base, nevertheless, slightly wider than that of the thorax; they are rather gradually narrowed posteriorly, with prolonged and subacuminate apices; on each elytron there are 5 discoidal punctated striae, the outer pair with subquadrate and coarser punctures than the others, but along the posterior declivity the punctures are absent; the 4th and 6th interstices are a little elevated, particularly near the base, and unite before the extremity; all bear numerous fine granules.

Underside moderately shining, pitchy brown, finely rugosely sculptured, and sparsely covered with flavescent depressed setae. Metasternum moderately convex, and as long as the basal ventral segment, which is medially incurved behind and distinctly marked off from the nearly equally elongate 2nd; 3rd and 4th short, yet well developed; 5th as long as the preceding two combined. Prosternum rather short, incurved in front, subgranulate. Epipleurae very narrow. Anterior coxae contiguous, intermediate distinctly separated.

This differs from C. calvulus in coloration, sculpture, vestiture, and flatter eyes, and from all the other described species by the remarkable prolongation of the elytral apices, which are even more robust than those of Inophloeus inuus (771).

Length (rostrum inclusive), 10 mm.; breadth, 3 ½ mm.

Mount Hector. A mutilated individual found under a stone, at an elevation of 5,000 ft., by Mr. A. O'Connor.

3283. Phemus curvipes sp. nov. Phemus Broun, Man, N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1214.

Elongate, moderately convex, subopaque; nigrescent, legs rufo-piceous, antennae and tarsi pale ferruginous; scantily clothed with slender flavescent setae.

Rostrum normal, pitchy red, slightly nitid, and very finely punctured in front of the antennae, but, behind these, with coarse and close puncti-form sculpture, and fine, interrupted, somewhat asperate costae. Thorax slightly longer than broad, a little wider before the middle than elsewhere, with a broad obvious groove from base to apex; it is coarsely and moderately closely punctated, but with smooth though rather narrow intervals behind; its base not quite truncate. Elytra almost double the length of

thorax, incurved, and rather broader than it is at the base, much narrowed behind; they are a little depressed medially at the base, with rather ill-defined sculpture; when examined obliquely there appear to be on each wing-case 4 discoidal series of coarse quadrate or oblong punctures; in other aspects they seem substriate, with rows of small distant granules; the 3rd interstices are slightly elevated near the base, rather more so on top of the posterior declivity; the 5th nearly similar; these, however, are not true costae, being formed for the most part of series of granules.

Legs with coarse shallow punctures. Tibiae flexuous; the anterior, along the inner edge, bear numerous small denticles so as to appear sub-serrate; the posterior are finely asperate on the hind or upper face, finely ciliate on the frontal, and distinctly curved.

Antennae elongate, rather slender, bearing fine yellowish setae, those on the club more numerous; basal two joints of the funiculus almost equally elongate, none transversed, even the 7th being rather longer than broad.

Underside shining, black, with very few slender inconspicuous setae. Prosternum coarsely punctate, mesosternum rather finely; metasternum flat, with a few. coarse punctures. Basal ventral segment broadly and deeply impressed, coarsely punctured at the sides, and without any discernible median suture at its apex. Second segment covered with, distinct granules, and on a slightly higher level than the following ones; 5th rather longer than 2nd, with finer granular sculpture, grooved along the middle, broadly rounded and finely ciliate at the apex, beyond which the 6th segment, though short, is quite distinct.

This is rather larger, blacker, and more nitid than the previously described species (2143 and 2561), and can be easily separated from them by its curvate hind tibiae.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 6 mm.; breadth, 2 mm.

Waimarino, 2,600 ft.; January, 1910. One specimen. Another, no doubt a male, which I found at Raurimu, 1,900 ft.; during the same month, was mounted on its back, and the description of the peculiar sculpture of the under-surface has been drawn up from it.

3284. Phemus constrictus sp. nov.

Subnitid, nearly glabrous, the few pale slender setae,hardly perceptible except on the legs; black, legs rufo-piceous, antennae and tarsi pale ferruginous, apex of rostrum shining pitchy red.

Rostrum nearly as long as thorax, with coarse shallow punctures, and a groove with subcarinate borders extending from the eyes to the antennae; its almost impunctate apical portion is not marked off, and, indeed, is prolonged behind the antennae. Thorax slightly longer than broad, a little constricted in front; behind this contraction the sides are moderately rounded; its surface is moderately coarsely and closely punctured, more finely in front, and the usual mesial groove from base to apex is rather broad but not very deep. Elytra incurved at the base and Scarcely any wider than the thorax there; they are not definitely striate, but have series of coarse subquadrate punctures, which become obsolete behind; the suture and the 3rd interstices are slightly elevated near the top of the posterior declivity, the 5th terminate as minute granules.

Tibiae slightly flexuous, distinctly mucronate, the posterior almost quite straight behind, the anterior obsoletely denticulate along the inner edge. Antennae rather elongate; basal joint of the funiculus quite as long as the second, 7th subquadrate.

Underside black, its punctation distinct, coarser on the prosternum. Metasternum very short, and, like the basal ventral segment, broadly depressed; the suture between the latter and the 2nd segment is straight and very fine; 3rd and 4th on an abruptly lower plane than the 2nd; the 5th with an elongate apical fovea.

Though without any basal demarcation of the smooth clypeal portion of the rostrum, this species in other respects agrees structurally with the typical one (2143). It is distinguishable from the others by its smaller size, by the frontal contraction of the thorax, and more oviform or anteriorly narrowed hind-body.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 4 mm.; breadth, 1 ¼ mm.

Greymouth. I am indebted to Mr. J. H. Lewis for my specimen, found amongst decaying leaves.

3285. Sosgenes planirostris sp. nov. Sosgenes Broun, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1476.

Subopaque, with a few slender inconspicuous brassy setae; piceo-rufous, antennae and tarsi fulvescent.

Rostrum of about the same length as the thorax but not half its breadth, moderately arched, nearly plane along the middle, dull obscure reddish, with dense, very minute, granular sculpture; its apical portion shining, almost smooth, and distinctly marked off. Thorax slightly longer than broad, oviform, a little contracted in front; with a shallow groove along the middle, its punctation not very deep but coarse, the intervals distinct and slightly uneven, the basal margin depressed. Elytra a little broader than thorax at the base, and becoming rather broader near the hind thighs, they are narrowed and vertical behind; moderately coarsely striate-punctate; 3rd interstices subcarinate, more distinctly near the apex.

Tibiae slightly flexuous, finely setose, the posterior not ciliate along the inner face. Scape stout, almost glabrous. Funiculus with slender setae.

Underside slightly nitid, piceo-rufous, coarsely and irregularly but not closely punctate, nearly quite glabrous. Basal ventral segment depressed between the coxae only, the 5th very minutely, closely, and indefinitely sculptured, with a transverse impression near the apex.

When comparing this species with S. carinatus (2556) under the microscope I found that the rostrum of the latter has longitudinal series of coarse punctures. The pale squamae in the punctures of the rostrum and thorax are lacking in this species, which, moreover, has the thorax more oviform, the intervals between its punctures are not flat, the elytral punctures are distinctly separated, the surface is more shining, and the legs are more slender.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 2 ½ mm.; breadth, ¾ mm.

Mount Ngauruhoe. Mr. W. J. Guinness gathered a small bagful of leaves and sent it to me in March, 1910. From amongst the leaves I picked out three of this minute and interesting weevil.

Obs—In January, 1909, when at Waimarino, I found a specimen of S. carinatus in which, like my type from Mount Pirongia, the posterior femora are obviously fringed inwardly. This character, therefore, is not a sexual one.

3286. Rachidiscus multinodosus sp. nov. Rachidiscus Broun, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1477.

Elongate, convex, much narrowed and depressed medially; glabrous, slightly nitid, piceo-rufous, the legs and antennae pale castaneous, tarsi and club fuscous, rostrum rufo-piceous.

large though shallow oblique impressions; between the distinct frontal punctures there are some minute ones similar to those on the middle of the disc, but the basal region is somewhat coarsely granulate and rugose. Scutellum obsolete. Elytra ovate-oblong, rather wider than thorax at the base, and nearly thrice its length; on each elytron, alongside the suture, there are 2 series of moderately large but not sharply defined punctures; similar ones between the 3rd and 5th and the 5th and 7th interstices have longitudinal series of granules which are absent, or indistinct, on the sutural ones; the 3rd interstices are moderately elevated from near the base to the top of the posterior declivity, but do not end abruptly there; the 5th are less distinct at the base, but extend further back; the sculpture of the declivity is much finer.

Underside shining, black, sparingly clothed with depressed yellowish setae. Mesosternum distantly punctured on the middle, closely on the sides. Metasternum, between the intermediate and posterior coxae, shorter than the 2nd ventral segment. Basal segment broadly medially impressed, with fine transversely rugose and granular sculpture; 5th closely subgranulate, and with a rather large apical depression; 6th short and thick.

Palpi robust, all of equal length, occupying nearly the whole buccal cavity, the last two joints of each pale chestnut, the terminal subacicular. Mandibles lamelliform, truncate inwardly, vertical in front.

Although similar in appearance to the typical species, T. latirostris (2911), this is larger, more glossy, and the underside has different sculpture as well as the upper. The basal depression of the thorax is absent, but there is a narrow central ridge. The series of punctures on the elytra are separated singly in 2911 by more or less distinct longitudinal interstices, and the rostral sculpture also differs.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 14 ½ mm.; breadth, 5 ½ mm.

Vanguard Peak, near Macetown, Lake Wakatipu. Found by Mr. H. Hamilton at an elevation of 5,000 ft.

3289. Tocris hamiltoni sp. nov.

Nigrescent, but, except on the suture and raised elytral interstices, densely covered with small depressed oviform pale testaceous squamae; tarsi and club infuscate.

Rostrum of normal proportions, nearly plane, with a bare linear space along the middle, its punctation concealed by the squamosity. Head with a small interocular fovea and a narrower one behind it. Thorax about a third broader than long, obtusely prominent laterally before the middle; with a broad but shallow impression between the middle and base, divided in front by a longitudinal, smooth, but hardly at all raised line; there is also a deeper impression near each side behind the middle; it is distantly punctured, but rather more closely near the base; the apical margin is rufescent and very slightly emarginate in the middle. Scutellum small but distinct. Elytra rather broader than thorax at the base, which is oblique from each shoulder to the suture; they are oblong-oval, more than twice the length of, and obviously broader than, the thorax, with minutely protuberant apices; alongside the suture, on each elytron, there is a series of rather fine punctures, and close to the sides of the dark and somewhat elevated 3rd and 5th interstices the serial punctures are rather larger and cause the interstices to appear crenulate; the 7th, or marginal one, is like the others; none reach the apex.

Underside fuscous, punctate, and with fine grey setae. Basal ventral segment broadly impressed, the 5th with a broad median longitudinal impression.

Femora clavate but not dentate; tibiae slightly flexuous, the anterior mucronate. Scape inserted before the middle, attaining the eye, slender. Funiculus with slender elongate grey hairs, basal joint elongate and gradually incrassate; 2nd rather longer than 4th; the 7th transverse, shorter and broader than 6th. Club triarticulate, about half the length of the funiculus. densely pubescent. Ocular lobes absent. Eyes transverse, free from thorax, distinctly faceted, and rather flat.

We have no other similar species.

♂. Length (rostrum inclusive), 5 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ⅔ mm.

Mount Quoin, Tararua Range. A single individual sent by Mr. H. Simmonds, who found it feeding on Olearia Colensoi.

3294. Erirhinus exilis sp. nov.

Slender, elongate, slightly convex and nitid, very sparingly clothed with minute grey setae; fulvescent, legs and antennae testaceous, club fuscous.

Rostrum moderately slender, parallel, obviously longer than thorax, indistinctly sulcate. Thorax about as long as broad, rather narrower in front than behind, distinctly but not very closely punctured, without ocular lobes. Scutellum small. Elytra rather broader than thorax at the base and quite twice its length, closely punctate-striate, with simple interstices.

Legs moderately stout, unarmed; 3rd tarsal joint expanded and deeply lobed. Antennae inserted between the middle and apex of the rostrum; basal joint of funiculus thick, 2nd longer than 3rd, joints 4–7 transverse, the last broadest; club ovate, densely pubescent, feebly triarticulate.

Underside fulvescent, with numerous grey setae, moderately coarsely but not closely punctured. Prosternum incurved in front, the metasternum with a short median groove behind; basal ventral segment distinctly depressed in the middle.

Female –Rostrum more elongate and finely sculptured. Antennae implanted just before the middle.

♂. Length (rostrum inclusive), 2 ⅓ mm.; breadth, ⅔ mm.

Erua; January, 1910. A dozen examples shaken off shrubs. There is no species at all like this.

3295. Dorytomus maorinus sp. nov. Dorytomus Germar, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 453.

Elongate, subdepressed, slightly nitid, nearly glabrous, having only some minute greyish setae; fulvescent, the thorax rufous, club infuscate.

Rostrum arched, slender, and elongate, rather longer than thorax, very slightly expanded towards the extremity, finely bisulcate behind the antennae. Eyes distinctly faceted, situated in front of the short globose head and touching the sides of the rostrum. Thorax without ocular lobes, truncate at base and apex, with moderately rounded sides; it is a little broader than long, closely and distinctly punctate. Scutellum small. Elytra very elongate, thrice the length of the thorax, gradually narrowed posteriorly, apices singly rounded, the base slightly oblique towards the suture and evidently wider than that of the thorax; they are closely and regularly punctate-striate from base to apex, with slightly elevated almost impunctate interstices.

Femora stout, the anterior with a small denticle, the others angulate and dentate. Tibiae slightly - flexuous and minutely mucronate. Tarsi with pilose soles, 3rd joint expanded and deeply lobed, terminal very short, claws obviously thickened but not distinctly toothed.

Antennae elongate and slender, implanted between the middle and the apex; scape attaining the eye; 2nd joint of funiculus rather longer than 3rd but shorter than and barely half the width of the basal; 7th transverse and bead-like; club ovate, triarticulate.

Underside chestnut-red, shining, with, like the femora, numerous grey setae. Prosternum medially incurved in front; metasternum sulcate along the middle, finely wrinkled transversely, and slightly longer than the basal ventral segment, which is depressed in the middle; the punctation fine, but not close.

Female.—Rostrum minutely and distantly punctate.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 3 ⅓ mm.; breadth, 1 ⅓ mm.

Mount Dennan. Discovered by Mr. Hubert Simmonds.

3296. Dorytomus consonus sp. nov.

Elongate, subdepressed; thorax and base of elytra dark rufous, the rest of the latter bright fulvous, the legs and antennae infuscate red; with numerous fine but distinct grey setae.

This closely resembles D, maorinus but is rather smaller, and may be at once separated by an examination of the vestiture. The thorax is slightly longer and more gradually narrowed towards the front, its sides consequently are less rounded. The elytra are a little shorter, with more shallow striae, so that the interstices, which are not as smooth, seem less elevated. The antennae are more slender, and the setae on the legs more conspicuous.

The underside also differs, being dark red, with more distinct punctures and setae; the depression on the basal ventral segment is prolonged, though not as deeply, half-way along the 2nd, and the well-marked depression in front of the anterior coxae of D. maorinus is altogether absent.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 2 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 mm.

Erua; January, 1910. Half a dozen found on various shrubs; none on Oleariae.

3297. Aneuma spinifera sp. nov. Aneuma Pascoe, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 455.

Oblong, slightly convex, a little nitid, with numerous suberect slender greyish setae, which are more scanty and slender on the thorax; somewhat rufo-testaceous, legs testaceous.

Rostrum moderately arched, parallel, of about the same length as the thorax, subseriate-punctate, but smooth along the middle. Thorax subtruncate at base and apex, without ocular lobes, a third broader than long, its sides a little rounded, its surface distinctly and closely punctured. Scutellum small, minutely punctate. Elytra oblong, twice as long as thorax, and broader than it is at the base; moderately coarsely and regularly striate-punctate, interstices with minute serial punctures and slightly convex behind.

Femora stout, with a minute denticle underneath; tibiae straight. Antennae inserted before the middle; scape slender, attaining the front of the eye; funiculus very finely setose, basal joint distinctly longer and thicker than the 2nd, 3rd and 4th rather longer than broad but shorter than 2nd, joints 5–7 bead-like; club oblong-oval.

Underside testaceous, scantily pubescent, finely and irregularly punctate, the metasternum and front of basal ventral segment finely transversely rugose; the 1st and 2nd segments medially impressed, the former behind, the latter in front.

Allied to A. fulvipes (803), without nigrescent marks, and well differentiated by the structure of the prosternum, which is depressed but not canaliculate before the coxae, and with the apical emargination finely spinose at each side.

♂. Length (rostrum inclusive), 3 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Mount Quoin. A pair from Mr. O'Connor.

3298. Eugnomus calvulus sp: nov. Eugnomus Schoenherr, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 458.

Nitid, rufo-castaneous, nearly glabrous, there being only a few inconspicuous slender greyish setae above, and some stouter and darker ones near the sides.

Rostrum rather longer than thorax, closely punctured, subcarinate along the middle, its apical portion a little dilated and nearly smooth. Head broadly impressed between the moderately prominent eyes. Thorax widest at the base, moderately narrowed near the smooth apical margin, its length and breadth about equal, the punctation close and distinct, slightly coarser than that of the head. Scutellum oblong. Elytra manifestly broader than thorax at the base, with slightly elevated obtuse shoulders, a good deal narrowed posteriorly; they are distinctly punctatestriate, the discoidal interstices are plane, more or less rugose, and bear some minute granules, which are most easily seen on the shoulders.

Underside rufous, finely punctate, with some slender grey hairs. Basal ventral segment largest, strongly curved between the coxae, broadly impressed along the middle; 3rd and 4th, singly, evidently shorter than 2nd; 5th with a large median fovea.

Scape slender, thicker near the extremity; 2nd joint of funiculus as long as the 1st, 3rd also elongate, 7th not at all larger than 6th; club elongateoval. Femora finely pubescent, the anterior moderately, the posterior strongly, angulate and toothed below.

In form somewhat similar to E. picipennis; the eyes less approximated and less prominent, the thorax shorter, and the whole sculpture different.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 4 ¼ mm.; breadth, 1 ⅔ mm.

Mount Greenland. One good specimen, and another in fragments, from Mr. O'Connor, from Mr. Hamilton's collection.

3299. Eugnomus dennanensis sp. nov.

Derm fusco-rufous, sometimes nearly piceous; covered with flavescent hairs, which, on the head and thorax, are disposed transversely; the scutellum and a spot in front of it bear small yellowish scales; in line with the hind thighs there is an irregular fuscous fascia, but the posterior declivity is clothed with depressed elongate pale-yellow, or in some examples greyish, squamae; legs and antennae rufo-castaneous.

Rostrum slightly longer than thorax, cylindrical, a little dilated near the extremity, its sculpture rather shallow and indefinite. Head distinctly and closely punctured, depressed between the eyes. Thorax nearly a third broader than long, much narrower in front than behind, distinctly and closely punctate. Scutellum elongate and conspicuous. Elytra a good

deal broader than thorax at the base, much narrowed apically, closely striate-punctate; interstices broad, each with a series of small distant granules having a dark slender seta in each.

Underside nitid, rufo-castaneous, with depressed elongated grey scales and setae.

Female.—Basal ventral segment simple, the 5th elongated and conical. Generally more brightly coloured.

Male.—Basal segment broadly depressed; 5th depressed medially near the apex, which is strongly rounded; 6th rather coarsely fringed with grey setae at the extremity.

From the common E. feruidus (812) this differs in having coarser thoracic sculpture, more-convex eyes, and a longer club. E. aspersus, though more approximated, has less prominent eyes, the hind-body is shorter, broader, and more cordiform and bears numerous erect blackish setae, and the clothing of the declivity is hair-like.

♀. Length (rostrum inclusive), 6 mm.; breadth, 1 ¾ mm.

Mount Dennan. Found by Messrs. O'Connor and Simmonds.

3300. Oreocharis albosparsa sp. nov. Oreocharis Broun, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 864.

Elongate, moderately convex, subopaque; nigrescent, tarsi castaneous; clothed with elongate inconspicuous greyish or cinereous setae, and numerous elongate white squamae.

Rostrum of about the same length as the thorax, very slightly dilated anteriorly, punctate, and with indistinct longitudinal carinae. Head a third shorter than thorax, slightly narrowed towards the prominent eyes, closely and distinctly punctate Thorax of about equal length and breadth, its sides only slightly rounded, with a quite definite frontal constriction; its sculpture like that of the head. Scutellum oblong, sometimes greyish. Elytra almost four times the length and nearly twice the breadth of the thorax, gradually narrowed posteriorly; with closely punctured, rather shallow striae, which are rendered indistinct by the mixed vestiture; interstices punctate and rugose; on the 2nd, in rear of the hind thighs, there is a slight nodosity.

Underside blackish, sparingly clothed with slender grey hairs and fleecy scales; metasternum slightly impressed medially behind, with transversal sculpture; abdomen closely punctate, 5th segment rather shorter than the basal, subtruncate at apex, 6th short and transverse.

Femora, intermediate and posterior, strongly angulate and dentiform; posterior tibiae arched above behind, and, below the middle, dilated along their frontal or inner face. The scape attains the back of the eye. Funiculus with black setae, basal joint largest, 2nd rather longer than the following one, 4–6 equal. Club minutely and densely pubescent, quite as long as the funiculus, triarticulate, the terminal joint about as long as the basal two combined. Palpi porrect, their apical joint less than half the bulk of the penultimate.

The conspicuous white scales which besprinkle the surface will lead to the identification of this species.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 5 mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Mount Dennan, Tararua Range. Discovered by Messrs. A. O'Connor and H. Simmonds.

Obs.—A varietal form was taken by myself on Mount Egmont, at an elevation of 4,500 ft., over twenty years ago. In it the dilatation of the

hind tibiae begins above the middle, and the extremity of the front pair is simply rounded and setose instead of being emarginate and angulate externally. The frontal constriction of the thorax is hardly perceptible, and the squamae are less numerous. As my specimen is unique, the specific description has been drawn up from Mount Dennan specimens.

3301. Oreocharis veronicae sp. nov.

Elongate, slightly nitid, clothed with distinct cinereous pubescence; rostrum and thorax black, hind-body subcyaneous; antennae and legs piceous, knees and tarsi paler.

Rostrum about a third shorter than thorax, with an indefinite central linear elevation, its punctation moderately close. Head shorter than thorax, narrowed anteriorly, distinctly and moderately closely punctured, with minutely sculptured interstices and a narrow interocular fovea. Thorax slightly broader than long, its sides but little curved, rather abruptly constricted in front, and with some black setae there; its sculpture similar to that of the head. Elytra double the width of thorax at the base and quite thrice its length, very slightly impressed before the middle; they are striate-punctate, but the three inner striae on each become more distinct behind; the outer series of punctures are moderately fine, subquadrate, and rather close to each other; interstices broad, finely punctate and rugose.

Pygidium uncovered, obconical, closely punctate.

Underside nigrescent, with fine greyish setae. Prosternum more closely and distinctly punctured than the abdomen; 3rd and 4th segments, at the sides, almost as long as the 2nd. Metasternum punctate and finely transversely rugose.

Femora normal, as much angularly toothed as the common Scolopterus, the anterior with a small denticle. Posterior tibiae incurved but not distinctly dilated along the inner face, the front pair notched and angulate at the extremity. The 2nd joint of funiculus much more slender and rather shorter than the basal one, 3rd oblong, joints 4–6 moniliform. Club as long as funiculus, its terminal joint as long as the basal two conjointly; these latter truncate at the apex.

More robust than O. pullata, the rostrum and thorax shorter and broader.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 6 mm.; breadth, 2 mm.

Waimarino, elevation 2,600 ft. Half a dozen taken off Veronicae in January, 1910.

3302. Oreocharis picipennis var.

More slender than O. veronicae, the thorax rather longer and relatively narrower; the elytra rufo-piceous, or of a somewhat chocolate hue.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 5 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ⅔ mm.

Waimarino; January, 1910.

3303. Oreocharis uniformis sp. nov.

Elongate, convex, subopaque, castaneo-rufous, legs and antennae paler, club infuscate, with greyish pubescence; the base of the rostrum, the head and thorax covered with subrotundate fulvescent scales, those on the hind-body seem rather darker; the setae, though short and slender, are erect and numerous.

Rostrum of about the same length as the thorax, indistinctly sculptured, with slender greyish setae at its apex. Head punctate, with an elongate median impression behind the prominent eyes. Thorax of equal length and breadth, slightly narrowed and constricted in front, closely punctured. Elytra broader than thorax at the base and thrice its length, very broadly rounded at the extremity, and leaving the pygidium uncovered; they are closely striate-punctate, with the space between the middle and declivity irregularly and slightly infuscate.

About half the bulk of its nearest ally, O. ferruginea (2922), with more convex eyes, a well-marked impression on the vertex, and the elytral apices, instead of being separately strongly rounded, are subtruncate. The 3rd joint of the funiculus is rather shorter than the 2nd, joints 4–6 transversely moniliform. The base of the elytra is slightly bisinuate, with rather more prominent shoulders, the sides do not differ from the dorsum in coloration, the common pair of spots on top of the hind slope are absent, but the setae are more conspicuous.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 4 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Waimarino; January, 1910. Unique as yet.

3304. Oreocharis dives sp. nov.

Similar in form to 2922, rather darker, more richly coloured, the squamosity being bright dark rust-red instead of yellowish, the elytral suture and sides are almost rufo-piceous, and there is a distinct dark spot on the 2nd interstices near the summit of the declivity. The 3rd joint of the funiculus is about as long as its predecessor, the 5th and 6th bead-like and transverse. The eyes are certainly more convex and prominent, and the elytral striae, though narrow, are better marked.

Underside slightly nitid, infuscate red, the abdomen, however, is somewhat piceous; rather thickly clothed with depressed, feather-like, grey scales and slender setae. The sculpture is ill defined and close, on some parts punctate and transversely rugose, on others subgranular. The 5th ventral segment is only indistinctly flattened, the 6th rather narrow.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 7 mm.; breadth, 2 ⅓ mm.

Waimarino; January, 1910. I found only a few specimens, all on Veronicae.

3305. Oreocharis castanea sp. nov.

Elongate, very scantily clad with suberect inconspicuous greyish hairs, moderately shining, rufo-castaneous, the club and claws piceous.

Rostrum about as long as thorax, closely and moderately coarsely punctate, longitudinally rugose near the antennae. Thorax of equal length and breadth, constricted in front, its sides a little rounded, the surface distinctly and closely punctured, and bearing some dark setae in front. Elytra elongate, broader than thorax at the base, slightly and gradually narrowed backwards, apices separately rounded and leaving the pale pygidium uncovered; they are regularly and distinctly striate-punctate, interstices transversely rugose and with minute serial punctures.

Scape pale fuscous; basal joint of the funiculus much thicker than 2nd but scarcely any longer, 3rd quite as long as broad, joints 4–6 transverse; club as long as funiculus, its terminal joint equals the basal two combined in length. Legs normal, middle and hind femora strongly dentate, posterior tibiae flexuous.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 5 mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Silverstream. One individual from the collection of Mr. H. W. Simmonds. A rather narrow, almost concolorous species.

3306. Hoplocneme vicina sp. nov. Hoplocneme White, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 461.

Shining, sparingly clothed with slender grey setae; head and rostrum black, thorax piceous, the elytra and femora piceo-rufous, anterior tibiae and the tarsi infuscate, antennae nigrescent but with the intermediate joints of the funiculus reddish.

Rostrum moderately dilated near the extremity, finely punctate. Head oblong, nearly double the width of the beak, a little impressed, between the large prominent eyes, moderately coarsely punctate, and transversely rugose. Thorax of about equal length and breadth, gradually narrowed anteriorly and slightly constricted near the apex; it is transversely rugose and punctate. Scutellum nude, not smooth. Elytra oblong, nearly double the width of thorax, with a pair of distinctly setose nodosities in line with the hind thighs, the humeral angles smooth and slightly elevated, the disc is slightly impressed before the middle, its punctation distinct and seriate, but the sutural series become sulciform behind; in each puncture there is a fine greyish seta similar to those on the head and thorax.

There is but a single similar species (2166); both are rendered conspicuous by the short, broad hind-body.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 4 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Mount Dennan, Tararua Range. A single damaged specimen found by Mr. A. O'Connor. Perhaps only a local variety of 2166.

3307. Pactola nitidula sp. nov. Pactola Pascoe, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 465.

Elongate, moderately convex, shining; rufo-castaneous, sparingly clothed with suberect elongate greyish squamae.

Rostrum obviously shorter than thorax and narrower than the head, subparallel, only slightly dilated in front, opaque, indistinctly sculptured. Scrobes just visible above. Head almost as broad as the thorax, as long as the rostrum, indistinctly punctate. Eyes prominent, longitudinally oval, widely separated from each other, and distant from the thorax. Scape inserted near the apex, attaining the back of the eye, slender, slightly curved and thickened towards the extremity, glabrous and fulvescent. Funiculus finely pubescent, basal joint long and stout, of about the same length as joints 2–5 united, 2nd small, 7th rather closely applied to the base of the large oblong-oval club. Thorax subcylindric, slightly longer than broad, a little constricted before the middle, base and apex truncate, not tuberculate, moderately coarsely and closely punctured. Scutellum small. Elytra thrice the length, and at the base nearly double the width of the thorax, considerably narrowed near the extremity; they are rather convex behind the middle, deeply punctate-striate, with narrow, somewhat convex interstices; the 4th–7th become confluent on top of the apical declivity. Posterior femora strongly clavate, and armed with an elongate tooth; the corresponding tibiae very much curved.

P. humeralis (2924) has oviform elytra, which at the base scarcely exceed the thorax in width. P. demissa more nearly resembles this species

in form, but it is smaller, opaque, densely squamose, and has differently sculptured elytra.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 2 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 mm.

Waimarino; January, 1910. A solitary individual in my own collection.

3308. Pactola fuscicornis sp. nov.

Opaque, nigrescent, antennae, tibiae, and tarsi fuscous; squamosity dense, for the most part black, indistinctly intermingled with ashy grey, along the middle of the thorax and on a pair of small spots between the hind thighs there are some pale-tawny scales, on the legs and elytra there are a few short erect white setae.

Rostrum subparallel, shorter than thorax, indistinctly punctate. Head depressed behind, with a pair of small crests there. Eyes subrotundate, coarsely faceted. Thorax subcylindric, moderately constricted before the middle, not at all closely punctured, with a pair of pale, small, median tubercles. Scutellum small, grey. Elytra twice as broad as thorax, thrice its length, much narrowed behind; disc not quite flat, uneven, depressed before the middle, striate-punctate at the base, quite striate behind; there is a narrow small nodiform elevation on the suture in front of the middle, the interstices uneven but without conspicuous tubercles, on the 3rd there is a small pale nodosity, on each, in line with the base of the hind thigh, and on the 5th a small dark prominence just below the summit of the declivity.

Scape slightly curved and thickened towards the extremity, implanted near the apex; basal joint of funiculus stout and as long as the next four combined, 2nd joint very slightly longer than broad, joints 3–7 short and moniliform; club large, triarticulate, oblong-oval, densely pubescent.

Much smaller than the typical species (825), proportionately narrower, the thorax longer, the legs more slender, and the scape fuscous instead of being fulvescent. P. demissa (826) is not only smaller, but has narrower elytra, which are free from inequalities. It can hardly be confounded with P. nitidula.

Length (rostrum inclusive), 2 ⅔ mm.; breadth, quite 1 mm.

Waimarino; elevation, 2,700 ft. One found during January, 1910.

3309. Pactola binodiceps sp. nov.

Subopaque, variegate, fuscous; base of femora, the tarsi, antennae, and apical declivity more or less fusco-testaceous; the legs and elytra somewhat speckled, these latter, before the middle, with a triangular dull sooty mark, they bear several erect white setae.

Rostrum almost as long as thorax, indistinctly carinate. Head with a pair of tawny nodosities behind, these are tipped with white setae. Thorax cylindric, slightly constricted near the front, a little longer than broad, not closely or distinctly punctured, with a pair of small tawny crests just in front of the middle and a more minute pair near the base. Scu-tellum small. Elytra quite double the width of thorax at the base, nearly four times its length, their apices rounded singly, quite oblique towards the suture, so that the testaceous pygidium is visible behind; they are broadly impressed before the middle, somewhat uneven, distinctly striate-punctate, more definitely sulcate behind; the 3rd interstice of each elytron has a median tawny nodosity, the 5th is less evidently nodose near the base and middle, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th are very slightly raised in front of

Female.—Oblong-oval, the sides of the elytra behind the posterior femora, but not at the apex, minutely spinose or serrate, discoidal interstices not perceptibly spinose. Femora obtusely angulate and subdentate underneath. Metasternum angularly depressed behind. Second ventral segment with elongate yellow scales. 7 ½ mm. by 3 ⅓ mm

The armature of the femora is distinctive. In the male of P. coronatus (852) the lateral spines extend from one hind thigh to the other; they are coarser, and just as conspicuous at the apex as at the sides; the discoidal series begin near the middle, but end in line with the posterior femora; the middle tibiae are less strongly, the femora not at all, dentate; the antennal club is evidently longer, and the squamosity is different.

♂. Length (rostrum inclusive), 7 mm.; breadth, 3 ⅔ mm.

Mount Greenland, near Ross. Mr. A. O'Connor gave me a specimen of each sex, which had been discovered by Mr. H. Hamilton at an altitude of 2,500 ft.

1312. Mesoreda longula sp. nov. Mesoreda Broun, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1235.

Elongate, subparallel, transversely convex, subopaque; fusco-piceous, front of thorax and the tarsi somewhat rufescent, antennae piceo-rufous; the vestiture consists of nearly white and greyish scales with a tendency to overlap one another, and moderately coarse but not very elongate setae, some of which are infuscate.

Rostrum subparallel, slightly narrowed towards the base, not arched, a third of the width of the head, its length about a third less than the thorax; its sculpture subgranulate at the base, quite punctate, but less closely towards the apex, which is distinctly notched. Mandibles prominent, obsoletely dentate inwardly. Thorax a trifle broader than long, a good deal contracted in front, the base evidently bisinuate, its punctation close but not coarse. Scutellum suboblong. Elytra of the same breadth as thorax at the base, moderately deflexed and narrowed behind; substriate-punctate, the interstices finely punctured and interrupted by transverse impressions, so as to appear somewhat rugose or asperate.

Femora laterally compressed, the hind pairs angulate and subdentate underneath, the corresponding tibiae with an external dentiform projection near the base, that of the posterior less distinct than the intermediate. Antennae inserted immediately before the middle; scape slightly flexuous and gradually incrassate, it attains the eye; funiculus longer than the scape, 2nd joint as long as 1st, 3rd subquadrate, 4–7 transverse; club triarticulate, elongate, yet shorter than the funiculus.

Male.—Underside shining black, with some whitish squamae, distinctly but nowhere closely punctate. Mesosternal process lunate and elevated but not cavernous, its front face being vertical. Metasternum longer than the basal ventral segment, medially flattened, and with a well-marked angular depression behind. Second segment obviously shorter than 1st, the suture between them straight; 5th obtusely rounded at the apex, and leaving exposed the broad, densely and finely ciliated supplementary segment.

In 865, M. setigera, the metasternum is not flattened in the middle, the rostrum and antennae are much thicker, and the femora are more dilated underneath at the extremity. In M. orthorhina (1625) the thorax is emarginate at the apex, the clothing is different, &c. M. sulci-frons has a distinct interocular impression, a median ridge on the thorax,

entirely different vestiture, and its club equals the funiculus in length. All these are shorter than this species.

♀. Length (rostrum exclusive), 6 ½ mm.; breadth, 2 ⅔ mm.

Wairiri, Kaikoura. A pair found under bark by Mr. W. L. Wallace.

3313. Acalles conicollis sp. nov. Acalles Schoenherr, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 488.

Convex, subovate, somewhat nitid; nigrescent, femora piceous, tibiae fusco-rufous, tarsi and antennae rufescent; sparingly covered with inconspicuous, infuscate, elongate squamae, but on the shoulders the scales are quite pallid and form obvious crests.

Rostrum nearly the length of thorax, slightly arched and medially narrowed, distinctly marked off or constricted at the base; it is nearly nude, with very few punctures. Thorax conical, about a third broader than long; rather distantly and not at all coarsely punctured, and bearing very few scales on its basal portion. Scutellum absent. Elytra obconical, subtruncate and rather broader than thorax at the base, nearly twice its length, abruptly vertical behind; they are coarsely seriate-punctate the 3rd interstices have moderately large subapical crests, the 5th with 2 smaller ones, the hinder placed near the posterior femora, there are also 3 or 4 at the sides.

Legs elongate, anterior femora evidently longer than the intermediate; tibiae uncinate and nearly straight, and with some coarse dark setae; tarsi elongate, terminal joint as long as the basal, 3rd only moderately expanded and lobed.

Scape medially inserted, just attaining the eye, shorter than the funiculus, gradually thickened; 2nd joint of the funiculus elongate, yet shorter than 1st, joints 3–6 nearly equal, 7th broader than 6th; club oblong-oval, finely pubescent, indistinctly triarticulate. Eyes subrotundate, rather flat.

A peculiar species, which may be readily identified by the conspicuous pale humeral crests as contrasted with the shining black derm.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 2 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Makatote, near Erua. One, found amongst dead leaves collected for me by Mr. W. J. Guinness, March, 1910.

3314. Acalles eruensis sp. nov.

Subovate, convex, a little shining; piceous, antennae and tarsi fulvescent; covered with yellowish-grey and fuscous squamae, the darker ones most apparent on the thoracic disc and 3rd interstices of the elytra; there are no setae, the legs being clothed with suberect scales.

Rostrum broad, subparallel, rather shorter than thorax, slightly arched, coarsely punctate and squamose, but nearly bare at the extremity. Thorax truncate at base, its anterior half moderately, but not very abruptly, contracted and depressed, a little broader than long; it is moderately coarsely and closely punctured, but with the central space, near the front, more distantly, and somewhat glossy; the middle of the basal portion is dark, and seems depressed, owing chiefly to the scales being erect at each side of the middle, but there are no crests. Elytra truncate and slightly wider than thorax at the base, their sides gently rounded as far as the hind thighs, from thence much narrowed but not vertical behind, and with the extremity rather broad; they are reddish and striatepunctate,

but not very distinctly so, owing to the squamosity; the 3rd interstices bear, on each, two dark slightly raised spots, the posterior declivity is somewhat laterally compressed along the middle, and is spotted.

Legs stout and elongate, thickly squamose, tibiae nearly straight; tarsi with fine hairs above, 3rd joint broadly dilated but not deeply lobed.

Scape inserted just before the middle, shorter than the funicle, reaching the front of the eye, gradually incrassate; 2nd joint of funiculus slender and elongate and as long as the thick 1st, 3rd and 4th about equal, longer than broad, 7th transverse; club oblong-oval, its basal joint large, the others small.

Rostral canal broad and deep as far as the back part of the anterior coxae, bounded behind by the raised but not cavernous mesosternal lamina. Metasternum short. Abdomen thickly squamose in its natural state, so that its structure cannot be ascertained; when scraped and cleaned the basal segment appears slightly curved between the widely separated coxae, the suture, however, is very fine, it is medially flattened, and, like the other segments, closely and moderately coarsely punctured, but there is no definite suture between it and the 2nd; the 3rd and 4th are moderately short, with deep sutures, these conjointly are as long as the 5th.

It may be placed near A. australis (2180), but in it, as well as Pascoe's A. intutus, there is a distinct scutellum, of which there is no trace in A. eruensis.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 2 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Erua. Two, picked out of leaf-mould sent to me by Mr. W. J. Guinness during March and April, 1910.

3315. Acalles peelensis sp. nov.

Convex, elongate, oviform, subopaque, without superficial inequalities; obscure fusco-rufous, rostrum pitchy red, antennae ferruginous; thickly covered with depressed infuscate grey squamae and rather long and coarse outstanding setae.

Rostrum about half the length of thorax, slightly expanded towards the extremity, coarsely punctate, less so in front, and bearing scales and setae. Thorax a trifle longer than broad, but appearing elongate; a good deal, yet only very gradually, narrowed anteriorly; coarsely and closely punctured, more finely at the base. Elytra oviform, hardly double the length of thorax, and scarcely any broader than it is at the base; they have series of coarse oblong punctures, but become substriate behind; on the suture, at the summit of the declivity, there is a blackish spot, there are also a few indistinct ones near the sides.

Legs moderately elongate, thickly setose, the tarsi more finely, their 3rd joint with moderately broad lobes. Scape implanted behind the middle and attaining the eye, gradually incrassate, and nearly glabrous. Funiculus very finely pilose, basal joint much and somewhat abruptly clavate; 2nd slender, shorter than the 1st but longer than the following one, 4–7 become shorter and broader. Club oblong-oval, indistinctly triarticulate, its basal joint more than half of the entire length.

Underside piceous, with numerous coarse setae, coarsely and irregularly punctured, the basal ventral segment rather distantly in the middle, the 2nd more finely, the 5th indistinctly and somewhat rufescent. Rostral canal deep, bounded between the intermediate coxae by elevated borders. Metasternum short. The suture between the basal two segments quite

obliterated in the middle. Scutellum obsolete. Eyes rather flat, not at all transversal.

No species in my possession agrees with this. It should be located near 1282, A. spurcus, but in it the antennae are inserted before the middle.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 3 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Mount Peel. A pair forwarded by Mr. H. Simmonds.

3316. Acalles consors sp. nov.

Convex, densely clothed with yellowish-brown scales and paler erect setae; thorax piceous, elytra fusco-rufous, antennae fulvescent. Sometimes covered with greyish pollenarious matter, through which the setae protrude.

Very much like A. peelensis, more broadly oval, the elytra evidently so, and rather broader than the thorax at the base, with more obvious black sports composed of scales and setae, their sculpture more striate; generally setae are somewhat concentrated on the 2nd and 4th interstices, on the top of the declivity, so as to form small tufts there. The rostrum is thicker, with 3 or 4 coarse erect setae near each eye, as is also the case, though less distinctly, in A. peelensis. The 1st joint of the funiculus is less swollen, the 2nd is almost as long, and the 7th joint only is transversal. The underside also is very similar, the effacement of the suture between the basal abdominal segments is as complete, but the 5th is not red, and bears numerous minute tawny scales.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 3 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ¾ mm.

Mount Greenland, near Ross. Several specimens sent by Mr. O'Connor, but collected by Mr. H. Hamilton at an elevation of 2,500 ft.

3317. Acalles gracilis sp. nov.

Elongate, transversely convex, subopaque; rufescent, elytra rufopiceous, tarsi and antennae fulvescent, club fuscous; squamosity elongate, suberect, unevenly distributed on the elytra, fulvescent; setae numerous, outstanding and elongate, infuscate.

Rostrum shining, rufous, sparingly punctate, nude beyond the base, slightly and gradually dilated anteriorly, shorter than thorax, moderately arched. Thorax truncate at base, about a third longer than broad, oviform, widest just behind the middle, closely and moderately coarsely punctured. Elytra elongate-cordate, about a third longer than thorax, of the same breadth as it is at the base, a good deal narrowed, but not perpendicular, behind the posterior femora; they are deeply sulcate, with rather narrow interstices.

Scape inserted just behind the middle, short, gradually incrassate; 2nd joint of funiculus about as long as but more slender than the 1st, joints 3–7 transverse, 7th not as broad as the club but rather broader than the 6th; club ovate, triarticulate, pubescent. Tibiae nearly straight; tarsi Setose underneath, their 3rd joint rather short, bilobed, broad.

Like A. comptus (2565), more slender, the hind-body more prolonged posteriorly, less vertical there, without rufescent scales, the club distinctly ovate and not narrowed towards the base, terminal joint of the tarsi rather shorter. There is no scutellum.

Nos. 874, 2935, 2565, and the present species form a homogeneous section of the genus, as regards form. The first two are distinguishable by a glance at the inwardly curved anterior tibiae.

Length, (rostrum exclusive), 1 ¾ mm.; breadth, ⅔ mm.

Erua. One only, found amongst dead leaves on the ground; January, 1910.

3318. Acalles contractus sp. nov.

Convex, rather long and narrow, somewhat contracted at the junction of the thorax and hind-body, without crests or tubercles, subopaque; fusco-rufous, antennae fulvescent, club fuscous; sparsely covered with flavescent squamae, some of which on the hinder part of the elytra are coarser and erect, those on the legs are equally coarse but paler or greyish.

Rostrum rufescent, shining, nearly smooth, slightly arched, just perceptibly narrowed towards the base. Thorax a little longer than broad, widest behind the middle, narrowed, but not abruptly, towards the apex, somewhat contracted at the subtruncate base; it is moderately coarsely and closely punctured. Elytra oviform, not twice the length of the thorax, very slightly wider than it is at the base, widest near the middle, the declivity not vertical; with distinct, seemingly impunctate, sutural striae, the lateral sculpture ill defined.

Legs long and thick; 3rd tarsal joint expanded and bilobed. Scape inserted just behind the middle, barely reaching the eye, gradually thickened; 2nd joint of funiculus slender, shorter than 1st, joints 3–7 subequal, small; club oviform, densely pubescent, not distinctly annulate. Eyes not prominent, subrotundate. Scutellum absent. There are no ocular lobes.

Its nearest congeners are 1275 and 1745, from both of which it can be separated at once by the yellow squamosity. Ultimately all three probably will be detached from Acalles.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 1 ⅔ mm.; breadth, ⅔ mm.

Erua. One found amongst vegetable matter on the ground in January, 1910.

3319. Tychanus costatus sp. nov. Tychanus Pascoe, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 498.

Convex, broad, nigrescent, densely covered with tawny scales, on the hind-body they are rather finer and more rufescent than those on the thorax; on each elytron, near the hind thigh, a very irregularly formed patch of white squamae extends from the side half-way to the suture; antennae and tarsi piceo-rufous.

Rostrum a fifth shorter than thorax, not arcuate, broader at the base than elsewhere, opaque; its frontal half glabrous and finely yet distinctly punctate, the basal more coarsely sculptured, and finely squamose; there is an interantennal groove. Thorax about a third broader than it is long, not as broad as the elytra at the base; its apical portion, about a third of the whole length, contracted to the width of the head, which it partly covers; the basal part rather broader in front than behind, and with a pair of obtuse median elevations near the front; its punctation is invisible. Scutellum quite nude and distinct. Elytra broader than thorax, the shoulders obtusely prominent, behind each of these there is a rather large lateral prominence; the posterior declivity is not quite vertical, and at the apex is obtusely prominent at each side; along each, at a short distance from the suture, an obtuse ridge extends from the base, near which it is most elevated, and terminates at the declivity, the sutural area has some coarse punctiform impressions and minute granules; nearer the side a

shorter ridge ends at the white mark; the punctures on the declivity are subseriate and much finer than those on the dorsum.

Legs thickly squamose, femora angularly dentate below. Funiculus rather stout, basal joint rather shorter than the second. Club triarticulate, rather narrow.

Rostral canal deep, limited by the raised crescent-shaped mesosternal process, which is cavernous. Coxae, prosternum, and metasteraum coarsely punctate and squamose. Basal ventral segment, in the middle, nearly double the length of the 2nd, rounded there in front, flat, and coarsely punctured; 5th impressed along the middle.

Undoubtedly allied to T. bufo Sharp (2182), but much larger, and differentiated therefrom by the hind-body being broader than the thorax and having longitudinal ridges.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 7 ½ mm.; breadth, 4 ½ mm.

Silverstream, Hutt Valley. Found on the trunks of black birch (Fagus). A single example received from Mr. H. Simmonds.

3320. Crisius humeralis sp. nov. Crisius Pascoe, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 500.

Variegate, piceo-rufous, thorax nigrescent, densely squamose.

Rostrum distinctly, yet finely, longitudinally punctate, still more finely in front, the punctures near the base filled with depressed pale-ferruginous scales. Head depressed along the middle. Thorax of nearly equal length and breadth, quite a third of its length, much contracted in front, the basal portion nearly parallel-sided; subcarinate along the middle, bicristate near the front, its whole surface moderately and closely punctured; it is covered for the most part with depressed ferruginous scales, the coarser ones form a pair of antemedian crests, those on the apex are paler and erect. Elytra subcordate, rather wider than thorax at the base, shoulders oblique and densely covered with slender pale-ferruginous squamae; the disc, as far as the hind thighs, is on a higher plane than the thorax, and is covered with small scales of a lighter colour; at the base there is a pair of small blackish spots, and a few minute granules near the suture; at each side of this area there are 2 moderate crests, and 2 or 3 others nearer the sides; the posterior declivity forms a long curved slope, covered with small ferruginous scales, some dark, others bright; this part is substriate-punctate, bears several minute crests and 3 larger ones near each side; the punctures near the sides are much coarser and less regular.

Femora medially angulate. Tarsi rather narrow, their basal joint quite as long as the terminal, 3rd moderately expanded and bilobed. The scape attains the eye. Basal joint of funiculus evidently shorter than 2nd. Club elongate-oval, triarticulate and acuminate.

Underside with depressed ferruginous and flavescent squamae. Pectoral canal profound, bounded by the strongly raised border in line with the back of the middle coxae. Metasternum very short. Basal ventral segment quite double the length of the 2nd, moderately coarsely and very closely punctured, subtruncate behind and more elevated there than in front; 2nd medially raised; 3rd and 4th flat, on a lower level than the preceding one, and, at the sides, nearly as long as it is; 5th deeply impressed at each side.

In form somewhat similar to C fasciculatus (2574), the basal portion of the thorax less sharply defined in front owing to the absence of lateral

crests; the elytra broader behind but narrower at the base; the femora not distinctly dentate. It may be separated from other species by the oblique, brightly coloured shoulders.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 5 ½ mm.; breadth, 3 mm.

Mount Quoin. Taken off the trunks of Fagus trees (black birch), at a height of about 4,000 ft., by Mr. H. Simmonds, who sent me the specimen from which the description has been drawn up.

3321. Crisius semifuscus sp. nov.

Opaque, fuscous; the elytra from the shoulders to the apex, except on the middle at the base, thickly covered with pale-tawny scales and a few short grey setae, the legs similarly clothed; tarsi and antennae ferruginous.

Rostrum arched, subparallel, equalling the thorax in length, longitudinally rugose and punctate, more finely in front, with a few squamae at the base. Thorax only slightly broader than long, much contracted in front, very sparingly clothed; with a pair of small apical crests, and with another pair between the middle and each side across the front of the broad basal portion, there is a slightly elevated and abbreviated ridge along the centre, its punctation is moderately coarse but becomes rather finer and closer in front, the intervals are densely and minutely sculptured and appear somewhat asperate. Scutellum obsolete. Elytra subcordate, much broader than thorax at the base, their sides uneven, with 4 or 5 nodosites along each, much narrowed posteriorly; on the dark basal part the punctures are coarse, but are less so, and quite seriate, behind; on each elytron the 3rd interstice, near the base, is uneven but not distinctly nodose, but on top of the declivity there is a nodiform elevation, there are 3 others near the side, and another close to the apex.

Femora evidently angulate and dentate below, tibiae externally curvate above; tarsi rather narrow, their 3rd joint only moderately expanded. Scape rather slender, gradually thickened; 2nd joint of the funiculus nearly double the length of the 1st, 3rd and 4th oblong, 5–7 submoniliform; club elongate, triarticulate.

Metasternum very short, medially depressed. Basal ventral segment twice as long as the 2nd in the middle. Underside densely covered with pale-tawny scales and setae, but the middle of segments 2–4 with dark fuscous.

The disposition of the elytral vestiture, and rather rough thoracic sculpture, render its identification a comparatively easy matter.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 4 mm.; breadth, 2 ¼ mm.

Titahi Bay, near Wellington. A single individual from Mr. A. O'Connor.

3322. Crisius decorus sp. nov.

Variegate, densely squamose, to a great extent nigrescent; the shoulders, a large transverse space across the elytra, near the middle, and a few other specks, yellowish-grey; crimson scales predominate on the rostrum, and are distributed amongst the dark ones on the thorax and hind-body; antennae and tarsi fusco-rufous.

Rostrum arched, as long as thorax, abruptly constricted at the base, nude, pitchy red, and finely punctate near the apex. Thorax slightly broader than long, its anterior half abruptly contracted and bicristate at the apex, a pair of dark crests tipped with grey are placed in front of the broad basal portion, near the middle; its punctation is rather coarse

and close. Scutellum small, rotundate, yellowish. Elytra cordiform, the elevated shoulders are obliquely narrowed to the width of the thorax at the base, the disc is on a higher plane than its base, the posterior declivity is not abrupt; they are narrowly striate behind, with fine indistinct punctures; at the middle of the base 2 short series of punctures are easily discernible, the lateral punctures are much coarser and irregular; on each elytron, at the base, there is a pair of small elevations, the outer one is prolonged and ends as a crested nodosity at the front and outer angle of the pale area, along the side and between it and the middle there are 6 nodules or crests, and on the hind slope there are several much smaller ones.

Antennae implanted before the middle, scape gradually incrassate; 2nd joint of funiculus of about the same length as the basal, 7th broader than its predecessor; club oblong-oval, distinctly triarticulate.

Pectoral canal deep, its raised borders extend to the back of the middle coxae. Metasternum short, slightly incurved behind. Basal ventral segment broadly impressed, twice the length of the 2nd in the middle, this latter slopes towards the lower level of the 3rd and 4th, 5th nearly as long as the preceding two conjointly, it is covered with pale elongated scales on the middle, but is dark and deeply impressed at each side of the apex; the squamae on the metasternum and basal segment are pale-yellowish, on, the 3rd and 4th and sides of the 2nd they are dark; all, as well as those on the femora, are intermingled with crimson ones.

C. dorsalis (2952) is the nearest ally; in it the pale area on the elytra extends from the base, and the punctation is quite distinct and regular.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 4 ½ mm.; breadth, 2 ½ mm.

Makatote, Main Trunk Railway. Unique. Picked out of a bag of leaf-mould which Mr. W. J. Guinness kindly collected and forwarded in February, 1910.

3323. Tychanopais flavisparsus sp. nov. Tychanopais Broun, Man., N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1379.

Convex, ovate-oblong, dull smoky black, antennae and terminal joint of tarsi fusco-rufous; sparingly clothed with depressed, irregularly distributed yellow and grey squamae, the former predominant, on the thorax there are a few that are quite black.

Rostrum not arched, a third shorter than the thorax, moderately broad, slightly narrowed medially, rather coarsely punctate, more closely near the extremity. Head with a narrow interooular fovea. Thorax subtruncate at base, its anterior half gradually contracted, of equal length and breadth; erect black squamae form an apical fringe, which, however, is notched in the middle; the discoidal punctures are distinct, but not coarse, and very unevenly distributed, leaving a central spot smooth. Elytra oblong, almost exactly the same width as thorax at the base; the shoulders minutely projecting forwards; they are somewhat broader, but nearly straight, near the middle; the posterior declivity is almost vertical and much narrowed, they are only a third longer than the thorax; the punctures are seriate near the suture, but irregular, with uneven intervals, towards the sides, all are coarse and rather distant, on the declivity they, are narrow and elongate; the crests on the 3rd and 5th interstices, on the summit of the declivity, are black, tipped with grey, those before the middle of the disc are less distinct, the declivity is marked with small patches of yellow suberect scales.

The following numbers indicate species that must be transferred from Acalles to this genus: 2570, 2571, 2572, and 2936.

3324. Allanalcis ignealis sp. nov.

Opaque, piceous; squamosity dense and variegate, for the most part bright rufous, the thorax with a few scattered white scales, on the elytra there are a few small blackish spots, the largest being close to the hind thighs, in line with these, pale greyish-blue, and more slender, squamae are somewhat concentrated but do not reach the suture, the apical declivity is also a little variegated but paler than the disc; the short suberect setae vary from greyish to black, and are most conspicuous on the legs; antennae and tarsi rufescent; the hinder pairs of femora are darker than the anterior.

Rostrum rather shorter than thorax, slightly elevated but not distinctly carinate along the middle; thickly squamose except near the apex, which is punctate and bears only a few fine setae. Thorax widest at the base, a little broader than long, its anterior half slightly but not at all abruptly narrowed, closely and moderately coarsely punctured. Elytra feebly incurved at the base, of the same width as thorax there, broader and rounded before the middle, obliquely narrowed and deflexed behind; they are seemingly striate-punctate, the true sculpture, however, is hidden by the squamosity.

A beautiful insect, somewhat similar to A. formosus (2936), which is rather smaller, with the rostrum flatter, the base of the elytra slightly exceeding that of the thorax in breadth, and with the 3rd interstices somewhat elevated. In A. ignealis the eyes appear more obliquely oval, owing partly to their being encroached upon in front by the red scales. Length (rostrum exclusive), 2 ½ mm.; breadth, quite 1 ½ mm. Erua. I found my specimen amongst decaying leaves on the ground in January, 1910.

3325. Allanalcis oculatus sp. nov.

Convex, broadly oval, opaque; piceous, femora fuscous, tibiae fuscorufous, antennae and tarsi rufescent; squamosity testaceous, much darker on the rostrum, mingled with a few erect setiform squamae.

Rostrum broad, rather shorter than thorax, coarsely punctate, with fine setae only at the extremity. Thorax quite a third broader than long, in front narrowed to half the width of the base, moderately coarsely and closely punctured. Elytra short and broad, but little longer than thorax, and at the base scarcely exceeding it in width, their sides rounded, much narrowed and vertical behind.

Legs normal, bearing coarse greyish setae. Scape short, subclavate at the extremity; 2nd joint of funiculus quite the length of the 1st, 3rd slightly longer than broad, 5–7 moniliform and transverse, 7th broader than 6th.

A rather short and broad species, the sides of the elytra evenly and broadly rounded, the vestiture hardly at all variegated. The eyes are more rotundate and approximated above than in any other species, and consequently form a good differentiating feature.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 2 ½ mm.; breadth, quite 1 ½ mm.

Maketu, Hunua Range. A single example found amongst decaying leaves on the ground.

3326. Allanalcis dilatatus sp. nov.

Compact, convex, evidently broader between the middle and hind thighs than it is elsewhere; piceous, legs obscure fusco-rufous, antennae and tarsi much paler; squamosity thick, chiefly tawny, or yellowish, with some irregular dark spots on the elytra, the lower part of the body also fuscous; there are no setae except the coarse ones on the legs.

Rostrum rather shorter than thorax, widely narrowed medially, constricted at the base; in front rufescent, and bearing a few fine yellowish setae. Thorax of about equal length and breadth, quite a third broader at the base than the apex; moderately coarsely and closely punctured. Elytra cordate, bisinuate at the base and hardly wider than the thorax there, considerably dilated before the middle, nearly vertical and much narrowed behind; their striae are well marked, but the punctation, if present, is concealed.

Readily distinguishable from 2572, A. incultus, by the body being obviously narrowed towards both extremities, by the distinct posthumeral dilations, and by the absence of the dark apical marks.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 2 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Erua. One found amongst decaying leaves on the ground; January, 1910.

Obs.—An error occurs in the description of A. incultus, p. 1490, Man. N.Z. Coleopt. Instead of the squamosity being infuscate yellow, it is printed “infuscate red.”

3327. Metacalles crinitus sp. nov. Metacalles Broun, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, vol. 12, p. 381.

Subovate, convex, slightly nitid; fusco-rufous, sides of elytra darker, tarsi and antennae fulvescent, club piceous; vestiture flavescent, hairlike, erect, somewhat patchy on the elytra, the setae slender and elongate, also erect.

Rostrum shining, red, nearly nude and smooth, with linear sculpture near the base, very slightly arched, not constricted near the eyes, parallel, only a little shorter than thorax. Head globose below, immersed up to the rather small flat subangulate eyes. Thorax without ocular lobes, subconical, truncate at base, rather wider behind the middle than elsewhere, gradually narrowed anteriorly; coarsely, rather closely, and somewhat rugosely punctured, more finely in front, with very few hairs; it is only slightly longer than broad. Elytra on a higher plane than the thorax, of the same width as it is at the base, broader and rounder at the middle, abruptly deflexed behind so that when examined directly from above-they seem but little longer than the thorax; on each elytron there are 3 rather deep punctate striae, the apical sculpture is finer; the pubescence is somewhat concentrated so as to form tufts, leaving some parts nearly bare.

Legs elongate, thinly clad; tibiae rather slender and tapering towards: the extremity; tarsi narrow, 3rd joint a little dilated, excavate above, with short lobes. There is no scutellum.

Scape short, moderately stout, inserted distinctly behind the middle and barely reaching the eye. Funiculus elongate, 2nd joint slender at the base and evidently smaller than the 1st; joints 4–6 small and bead-like, 7th slightly broader. Club ovate, densely pubescent.

A peculiar-looking little weevil. The short, subrotundate hind-body, with its tufts of elongate pubescence and deep sulci, is unlike any of its allies. The pectoral canal is profound and extends almost to the posterior coxae.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 1 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 mm.

Erua. Another of our rare ground-weevils, of which a solitary example only could be obtained amongst decaying leaves; January, 1910.

3328. Metacalles lanosus sp. nov.

Subovate, convex, somewhat nitid; rufo-piceous, rostrum reddish, antennae and tarsi fulvescent, club fuscous; sparingly clothed with elongate, outstanding, slightly infuscate setae and irregular patches of pale woolly hairs.

Rostrum parallel, slightly arched, about a third shorter than thorax, pinched in at the base, beyond that shining and almost smooth. Thorax oviform, rather wider near the middle than elsewhere, rather longer than broad, base truncate; it is closely, coarsely, and somewhat rugosely punctured, less distinctly in front. Elytra cordate, of the same width as thorax at the base, a good deal broader before the middle, narrowed and vertical behind, and only about a third longer than the thorax; they are striate-punctate, distinctly so alongside the suture; just before the middle, on the 3rd interstices, there is a pair of dark indistinct crests.

Legs elongate, tibiae slightly flexuous, the anterior rather slender; tarsi not broad, 3rd joint a little dilated, scooped out above, but not perceptibly lobate, terminal elongate. Scape implanted behind the middle, a little bent, slender at the base, thickened apically; funiculus longer than the scape, basal joint thick, 2nd only about half as large, 3–5 short, 6th and 7th transverse and bead-like; neither of these half the breadth of the ovate club, which is triarticulate.

Easily recognizable by the pale woolly patches on the hind-body.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 2 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Makatote. Unique. Another of the acceptable species picked out of the leaf-mould collected in February, 1910, by Mr. W. J. Gumness.

3329. Zeacalles pictus sp. nov. Zeacalles Broun, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, vol. 12, p. 379.

Compact, ovate, very convex, somewhat nitid, variegate; rostrum shining, red, thorax rufo-piceous, elytra fusco-testaceous, legs obscure rufous, tarsi and antennae testaceous; squamosity variegate, on the thorax rufescent, with a few grey scales, there are also four small dark bare spots; on the elytra the squamae are more slender, fulvescent, and placed farther apart, small black ones form a pair of basal and median spots or minute crests, on the summit of the posterior declivity there is a pair of more prominent white crests, and smaller ones near the hind thighs, and across the declivity two black fasciae; the setae are numerous, erect, and nigrescent.

Rostrum nearly smooth, with some linear impressions and punctures near its base, it is subparallel and rather shorter than the thorax. Eyes subovate, placed on the upper part of the head. Thorax conical, slightly broader than long, very gradually narrowed towards the front, base truncate; the surface closely and distinctly punctured, more distantly in front. Elytra on an abruptly higher level than the thorax, of the

same width as it is at the base, when examined sideways the height appears to exceed the length, the posterior declivity is vertical, the dorsum seems to be without sculpture, but the sides are obliquely sulcate.

Scape inserted just behind the middle, much shorter than the funiculus, gradually incrassate; 2nd joint of funiculus about the same length as the 1st, slender at its base, 3rd and 4th as long as broad, 5th and 6th moniliform, 7th transverse, broader than 6th, but not as broad as the club, which is oblong-oval and triarticulate.

Femora long and thick, tibiae nearly straight; 3rd joint of tarsi moderately dilated, excavate above but not perceptibly lobate.

The bright appearance, the distinct black spots and subapical bands, and the white crests on top of the posterior declivity are marks that will lead to its recognition.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 1 ½ mm.; breadth, quite 1 mm.

Retaruke. Another rare ground-weevil that I picked out of leaf-mould collected for me by Captain H. S. Whitehorn; March, 1910. Unique as yet.

3330. Zeacalles femoralis sp. nov.

Compact, very convex, elongate-oval; rufo-piceous, legs fusco-rufous, rostrum rufous, antennae fulvescent; covered with small squamae varying in colour from yellowish to white, those of the latter hue forming a semicircular streak on each elytron from the middle of the base towards the suture, near the base this streak is bordered inwardly with fuscous scales; the setae are erect, rather coarse, and vary from grey to brown.

Rostrum rather shorter than thorax, finely and distantly punctate in front, with yellowish scales behind. Thorax conical, about as long as broad, moderately finely and not closely punctured, the scales yellowish, but with grey ones forming an indefinite streak along the middle and another near each side. Elytra of the same width as the thorax at the base, wider near the middle, twice its length, on a higher plane, vertical behind; with some small dark spots on the apical declivity and sides, and on the top of the former, near the suture, with a pair of small nodosities which, bearing dark setae, appear more prominent than they are in reality; the suture is sharply marked, but no distinct striae or punctures are visible.

Femora thick and elongate, and, like the tibiae, bearing numerous erect coarse greyish setae.

Rather larger than Z. binodosus (3139), with much less conspicuous nodosities, and lacking the distinct elytral striae. The penultimate tarsal joint is less expanded, the antennae are rather longer though similar in structure, but the outstanding setae on the femora are different. The dilatation of the hind-body and the presence of small sublateral nodosities distinguish 2958.

Length (rostrum exclusive), 1 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ½ mm.

Mount Greenland, near Ross; elevation, 2,500 ft. One of Mr. H. Hamilton's captures, sent to me by Mr. O'Connor.

3331. Onias irregularis sp. nov. Onias Broun, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, vol. 4, p. 153.

Subovate, convex, nitid, nigro-piceous, legs obscure fuscous, tarsi and tip of rostrum slightly rufescent, antennae pale ferruginous, club darker;

the extremities of the tibiae and basal joints of the tarsi; head and thorax sparingly clothed with yellowish pubescence, which is more slender on the former; elytra with a broad lateral area, on each, before the middle, and irregular spots behind similarly pubescent.

Rostrum short and broad, flat, medially emarginate in front, moderately coarsely and closely and somewhat rugosely punctate; it is obscurely rufescent. Thorax of about equal length and breadth, its sides medially rounded, a little narrowed anteriorly and with a slight sinuosity behind; the sculpture is ill denfied, appearing to consist of irregular linear elevations and punctures; the basal carina is almost in contact with the elytra, slightly sinuate towards the sides, and forming acute posterior angles which are directed backwards but do not extend outwardly beyond the shoulders. Scutellum small. Elytra oblong, just perceptibly wider behind than at the base, with truncate apices; they are moderately striate-punctate, the flavescent space on each is broadly impressed, and the basal nodosities when examined sideways appear prominent, there are no other distinct inequalities; the sutural region and shoulders are somewhat rufescent.

Antennae quite half the length of the body, very scantily pubescent; basal joint stout and suboblong, 2nd pyriform, its basal half slender, as long as the 1st; joints 3–7 elongate, gradually decreasing in length, 8th evidently smaller than 7th yet elongate; 9th elongate-triangular, 10th about as long as broad, rounded towards its base, 11th conical, slightly longer than its predecessor, these three articulations form the well-marked pubescent club.

Eyes prominent, rotundate, without any discernible frontal excision. Pygidium somewhat inflexed.

This is the smallest member of the genus. The others are 2215, 976, and 977. It is easily known, by the unusual shape of the thorax.

Length, 2 ½ mm.; breadth, quite 1 mm.

Huia, Manukau Harbour. One found during November, 1909, by Mr. Bert Turner or myself. It has been named after Mr. Turner, who assisted me when searching for beetles on his father's property.

3336. Eugonissus sylvanus sp. nov.

Fuscous, the legs and basal three joints of antennae fusco-rufous; the intermediate joints of the tarsi, the extremity of the 3rd of the antennae, and the whole of joints 4–11 fuscous; the vestiture variegate, on the head and rostrum chiefly grey, of similar colour in front and along the middle of thorax, but not sharply definite there; the elytra irregularly covered with grey pubescence along the middle, near the extremity there is a broad dark space, another at each side behind the shoulder, and smaller spots along the dorsum, near the sides the clothing is of a pale fusco-rufous hue mixedwith some grey.

Head and rostrum together about as long as thorax, rather broad and nearly plane. Thorax slightly broader than long, widest at the base, gradually narrowed anteriorly, its punctation moderately coarse and close; the basal carina almost contiguous with the elytra, obtusely and only very slightly prominent at the middle, just a little sinuate towards, the sides, and terminating as acute lateral angles. Scutellum small, grey. Elytra oblong, each a little rounded at the base, seriate-punctate, with a dark slightly, raised nodosity on each near the base, and another slight elongated elevation extending from the hind thigh backwards.

Tarsi elongate, basal joint longer than 2nd and 3rd combined; claws rufescent, distinctly toothed at the base. Eyes entire apparently, but with some short grey setae encroaching on them in front. Antennae inserted at the sides of the rostrum near the eyes.

Resembles E. proximus (977), which differs in vestiture, and may be separated by the absence of the dark posterior space, and by the white pubescence extending from each shoulder and along the middle of the elytra nearly to the apices.

Length, 3½ mm.; breadth, 1 ¼ mm.

Silverstream, near Wellington, and Waimarino. Mr. A. O'Connor sent me a specimen captured at the former locality; and, at the latter, two were found by myself, on different trees, at a height of 2,700 ft., in January, 1910.

3337. Anthribus cornutellus sp. nov. Anthribus Geoffroy, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 545.

Fuscous, legs and antennae fusco-rufous, the middle of the tibiae and apices of the tarsal joints fuscous; vestiture variegate, the head and rostrum with yellowish hairs, but with a grey patch between the eyes and antennae.; thorax with irregularly distributed pubescence so that some parts are nearly bare, the yellowish hairs most numerous along the middle; elytra still more variegated, yellowish hairs predominate, on the elevated parts particularly, but broad longitudinal streaks are formed of alternate blackish and nearly white spots.

Head and rostrum as broad as the front of thorax and almost as long as it is, with a pair of distinct spiniform tubercles midway between the eyes and antennae. Eyes semicircularly emarginate in front. Thorax of equal length and breadth, widest behind the middle, Its sides moderately rounded, the disc distinctly and closely punctured; the carina is distant from the elytra, angulate in front of the scutellum, oblique and indistinctly sinuate towards each side, obtusely angulate there, and extending along the side nearly as far as the middle, where it ends abruptly Scutellum yellowish, small. Elytra oblong, uneven, with, on each, a large basal, a post-median, and a pair of much smaller subapical nodosities; their punctation moderately fine, close, and seriate.

Antennae about a fourth longer than the body, their basal two joints short and thick, and densely pubescent; joints 3–8 elongate, decreasing gradually in length, somewhat nodiform at the extremity; the 9th as long as the 8th and very gradually expanded, 10th and 11th longer than broad, 11th with a terminal appendage or false joint.

Nos. 969, 970, 1317, 2228, and 2229 are congeneric or nearly related. This is the most distinctly marked species of the series.

Length, 6 mm.; breadth, 2 mm.

Tarukenga, near Rotorua. I found a male many years ago, just before the railway was formally opened for traffic.

3338. Anthribus levinensis sp. nov.

Variegate, to a great extent rufo-fuscous, the elytra particularly, legs fusco-testaceous, the middle of tibiae and the tips of tarsal joints blackish; antennae fusco-rufous, their basal two joints and the apex of the 3rd densely pubescent; head and rostrum thickly covered with greyish-yellow hairs mixed with some of a light brown; this latter colour is the prevailing

tint of the thorax, but yellowish ones form an indefinite streak along the middle and a shorter one across it; on the elytra the pubescence is chiefly reddish-brown, with lines of grey and black spots, the dark spots being most conspicuous near the sides and apices.

Head with a pair of horn-like tubercles. Eyes just free from thorax, very prominent behind, not deeply emarginate in front, but with their inner portion projecting forwards further than that of the outer. Antennae not twice the length of the body, joints 3–7 elongate and more or less nodiform at the extremity, 9th as long as 8th and slightly expanded apically, 10t and 11th rather longer than broad. Thorax about a third broader than long, closely punctate; the carina distant from the elytra, angulate, but not sharply, in front of the scutellum, extending obliquely forwards towards the sides, obtusely angulate there, prolonged nearly half-way along the sides and terminating abruptly, so that there appears to be a small notch there. Scutellum greyish-yellow. Elytra oblong, vertical behind, finely substriate-punctate; with a large elongate callosity on each near the base, another near the posterior femur, and a third, much less elevated, on top of the declivity.

The alternate black and grey maculation of the hind-body is similar to that of A. cornutellus, but it may be readily separated from that species by its smaller size, shorter thorax, and different eyes. A. cornutellus, but less darkly variegated, its legs and antennae are concolorous, the median elytral nodosity and the tubercles on the head are much smaller, the eyes are less convex behind, and their inner portion does not project further than the lower.

Length, 4 ¾ mm.; breadth, 1 ⅔ mm.

Levin, near Wellington. Found by Mr. A. O'Connor.

3339. Anthribus obscurus sp. nov.

Opaque, fusco-piceous, unevenly clothed with obscure yellowish-grey pubescence, legs and antennae pale fuscous, but with joints 10 and 11 and the apex of 3–9 dark, the middle of the tibiae also dark fuscous.

Head and rostrum about as long as the thorax, and nearly as broad its apex. Eyes prominent, entire, subrotundate, just free from thorax. Antennal cavities deep and close to the eyes. Antennae rather longer than the body, basal two joints short and stout, with grey pubescence, joints 3–8 moderately elongate, 9th about as long as the 8th and gradually thickened, 10th and 11th rather short. Thorax a third broader than long, closely punctured; its carina obtusely angulate in front of the scutellum, oblique towards each side, nearly rectangular there, and prolonged forwards almost to the middle. Scutellum small, grey. Elytra oblong, twice the length of thorax, finely seriate-punctate; each elytron with a moderate basal nodosity, and a slight longitudinal elevation of the 3rd interstice behind; when examined sideways there appears to be a transverse depression before the middle.

The form of the eyes at once differentiates this from A. levinensis and its allies. The thoracic carina is more contiguous to the elytra and forms rectangular, though not acute, posterior angles, characters which, together with the subrotundate eyes, show that it is congeneric with our northern A. deterius (2232).

Length, 3 ½ mm.; breadth, 1 ¼ mm.

Silverstream. My specimen is another of the numerous discoveries made by Mr. A. O'Connor.

Obs.—Since the above description was written a male specimen has been received from Mr. O'Connor.

Male.—Thorax longer than broad, oviform; with minute lateral tubercles, a median and frontal; its surface finely and closely punctured, with, near each side, an elongate slightly raised space bordered by coarser punctures; and another smooth linear area behind the middle. The 7th joint of the antennae extends beyond the extremity of the hind-body.

3342. Didymocantha oedemera sp. nov.

Subdepressed, elongate; head and thorax opaque, fuscous; elytra nitid, also fuscous, but with the following testaceous marks: 1st lateral, situated behind the shoulder, oblong; 2nd large, elongate at the side, and curved inwards and backwards, but not reaching the suture; 3rd much shorter than the 2nd at the side, extending obliquely forwards and as far inwards as, but not touching, the 2nd; 4th apical, almost in contact with the suture: base of the femora and upper half of the tibiae testaceous, their other portions rufo-fuscous; antennae and tarsi infuscate red; sparingly clothed with erect, rather elongate, yellowish hairs.

Head vertical and obscurely rufescent in front, distinctly and closely punctate. Thorax of about equal length and breadth, its sides moderately rounded, and a good deal narrowed near the base; disc nearly plane, closely punctured, the basal sculpture granular or transversely rugose; it is entirely destitute of lateral or discoidal prominences. Scutellum densely and very minutely sculptured, almost nude. Elytra broader at the base than the middle of the thorax, more than thrice its length, with strongly singly rounded apices; their surface flat, closely and distinctly punctured at the base, the punctures becoming more distant and shallow towards the extremity, but not obliterated even there.

Antennae finely pubescent, and bearing some longer hairs near the base, they just reach the extremity of the body, their 4th joint quite half the length of the 5th, which is slightly longer than the 3rd. Femora extremely slender and stalk-like basally for half their length, but very strongly clavate, the middle pair almost bulbous, near the extremity; intermediate tibiae distinctly curvate.

This species stands alone, owing to the very remarkable structure of the thighs and the total absence of inequalities on the thorax.

Length, 7 ½ mm.; breadth, 2 mm.

Clevedon, near Auckland. The unique specimen was captured by a lad, William Horne, of Devonport.

3343. Didymocantha fuscicollis sp. nov.

Elongate, slightly nitid, very scantily clothed with elongate slender greyish hairs; head and thorax rufo-fuscous, elytra infuscate testaceous, the suture and scutellum nigrescent, legs and antennae pale testaceous, but with the basal joint of these latter rufescent.

Head distinctly and closely punctate, finely sulcate along the middle, its sides, in front of the eyes, acutely prominent. Thorax of about equal length and breadth, its sides not evenly rounded, there being a distinct median tubercle and a very slight prominence near the front; it is irregularly punctured, very coarsely and rugosely at the sides, closely and rather coarsely on the disc, more finely at the base; there is a slightly raised median line, and another, but shorter one, between it and each side; near the front there is a pair of rounded, but not smooth.

3345. Somatidia nodularia sp. nov.

Elongate, convex, moderately nitid; fuscous, the elytra and base of femora paler and more rufescent; tibiae and tarsi testaceous, the base and a small subapical spot, on the former dark fuscous; antennae castaneo-rufous, joints 5–10 sometimes testaceous with the apical half of each infuscate; vestiture fine and variegate.

Head vertical, sparingly punctate and pubescent in front, darker, concave, and nearly glabrous between the antennae. Thorax slightly longer than broad, convex, widest and evidently rounded near the middle; irregularly punctate, rather coarsely near the middle, where there is a pair of slight nodiform elevations, less coarsely but more closely behind; pubescence cinereous, but more distinct and quite yellow at the middle of the base, and sometimes in front also. Scutellum elongate, with fine yellowish or grey pubescence. Elytra quite double the length of the thorax, of the same width as it is at the base, widest at the middle; they are more coarsely punctured than the thorax, but the punctation becomes finer and much more distant on the posterior slope; on each, behind the shoulder, there is an elongate narrow elevation, another but more prominent one before the middle at some distance from the suture, and a much less obvious one on top of the hind slope; the pubescence is scanty, rather slender, somewhat curled, and ash-coloured on the disc but more conspicuous and yellowish behind; on the apical portion there are some faint greyish spots and erect setae.

Antennae finely pubescent and bearing some longer hairs like those on the legs, their 4th joint evidently shorter than 3rd yet longer than 5th; they nearly attain the extremity of the body.

Male.—Fifth ventral segment not longer than 4th, strongly curved, at the extremity, 6th short.

Female.—5 mm. by 2 mm.; 5th segment medially impressed.

Quite as elongate, narrow, and convex as the male of S. angusta (1052), which, without reference to other details, may be at once distinguished by the finer and dense punctation of the thorax, and by the absence of nodules there.

♂. Length, 6 mm.; breadth, 2 mm.

Erua. Found amongst leaves on the ground, at an elevation of 2,400 ft., by Mr. W. J. Guinness and myself; the female by Captain H. S. Whitehorn at the head of the Retaruke River a couple of months later, March, 1910.

3346. Somatidia discoidea sp. nov.

Subopaque, rather broad, moderately convex, variegate.

Head black but not smooth behind. Thorax of equal length and breadth, with moderately rounded sides; the disc, on the middle, with a shallow impression, and at each side of this, with a dark, smooth, but scarcely elevated spot, near the front there is a slight transverse impression; its punctation moderately coarse but not close, more regular and closer at the sides; on the centre of the base there is a conspicuous angular patch of yellow hairs, and a smaller one at the apex, the rest of the pubescence is greyish, the ground-colour reddish-brown. Scutellum triangular, greyish. Elytra moderately convex, of the same breadth as thorax at the base, a good deal broader in the middle; their basal portion dull fuscous and coarsely punctured; the broad space between that and the posterior declivity is pale testaceous and less distinctly punctate; the top of the declivity is

marked with light fuscous, which colour extends backwards, but less definitely, near the sides, and becomes spotted with grey pubescence near the apex; the enclosed central space is pale and somewhat maculate, it is distinctly but not closely punctured, and bears some dark erect setae; on each elytron there are 2 small elevations or crests, the first before the middle, the other at the summit of the hind slope.

This species is more robust than S. nodularia and differs from it in the broad interantennal space; different vestiture, sculpture, and coloration, the less basally narrowed thorax, and the very broad process between the intermediate coxae.

Length, 6 ½ mm.; breadth, 2 ½ mm.

Erua. The unique specimen was found amongst some leaf-mould collected and forwarded to me by Mr. W. J. Guinness in March, 1910.

3347. Somatidia posticalis sp. nov.

Subopaque, fusco-niger, with an irregular, more or less maculate, area between the hind thighs covered with grey pubescence, the whole of the dark hind slope spotted with grey; tarsi and tibiae flavescent, the latter with a small subapical spot and their basal half fuscous; antennae with the basal joints fusco-rufous and feebly speckled, the remainder testaceous at the base but fuscous beyond it.

Head densely covered with yellowish pubescence in front, and with a few small but distinct punctures, the interocular space broad and quite black. Thorax slightly broader than long, widest before the middle, moderately narrowed backwards; the disc irregularly, moderately, but not closely punctured, and with a broad median impression. Scutellum greyish. Elytra of the same width as thorax at the base, more than twice its length, gradually dilated towards the middle; they are irregularly but not coarsely punctate; on each there are three small specks of brassy pubescence, and there are also a few erect setae on the hind slope.

Antennae not quite reaching the extremity of the body, their 4th joint shorter than the 3rd, but longer than the 5th.

An easily identified species, owing chiefly to the almost uniformly nigrescent and mottled surface. The thorax, before the middle, at each side of the central impression is convex, so that its frontal portion seems a little depressed. There is a fine line along the back of the head. The labrum is reddish, with elongate flavescent setae. There is no trace of the scutiform mark on the hind slope seen in S. antarctica, and its allies.

Length, 6 ½ mm.; breadth, 2 ½ mm.

Wairiri, Kaikoura Range. My specimen was found by Mr. W. L. Wallace.

3348. Somatidia corticola sp. nov.

Subopaque, rather broad, moderately convex; dark fuscous, tibiae and tarsi obscure testaceous, sometimes quite infuscate; antennae also variable, fusco-rufous, or much darker, and mottled with greyish pubescence; the body with yellowish-grey pubescence and some erect setae, but the humeral region, a broad irregular fascia behind the posterior femora, and a much interrupted but not scutiform subapical area are dark fuscous.

Head distinctly and moderately closely punctured, broad and unimpressed between the antennary orbits. Thorax rather broader than long, wider before the middle than elsewhere, rather closely and coarsely punctate;

at each side, behind the middle, there is a minute crest. Elytra of the same width as the thorax at the base, twice its length, much broader near the middle; their punctation irregular, but rather finer and much more, distant than that of the thorax, and becoming even more remote and indistinct towards the extremity.

Femora maculate, with slender setae, those on the tibiae paler and much coarser.

Male —Antennae similar to those of S. latula, but in the other sex the 3rd articulation is only about a third longer than the 4th.

This belongs to the S. antarctica, series, the antennary orbits being but little elevated, and the interval broad and plane. It is most like S. latula, which, however, is brighter, with fulvescent vestiture.

♀. Length, 6 mm.; breadth, 2 ½ mm.

Wairiri, Kaikoura Range. We are indebted to Mr. W. L. Wallace for the discovery of this species, which he found under bark.

3349. Somatidia pinguis sp. nov.

Robust, slightly nitid, rufo-fuscous, legs and antennae of a reddish-chestnut hue and hardly at all variegated; pubescence yellowish, moderately slender and depressed; the middle of thorax and elytra nearly nude, these latter, on the derm itself, with several small crimson marks, some linear, others rotundate; tibiae and tarsi with numerous coarse pale hairs.

Head distantly but not coarsely punctate, the vertex broad and plane. Thorax a third broader than long, rather more narrowed behind than in front, its sides somewhat rounded, with some coarse scattered punctures, but nearly smooth along the middle and in front. Scutellum triangular. Elytra nearly thrice the length of thorax, and a little broader than it is at the base, wider just before the middle; a shallow sutural stria begins near the hind thighs but does not reach the apex; there is also on each elytron a sutural series of distant moderate punctures extending to the top of the hind slope, and a few irregularly placed ones on the basal region; there are no crests, only a very slight swelling of the surface on top of the slope, near the middle of each elytron.

Legs robust, femora clavate, intermediate tibiae not notched, claws thickened at the base. Antennae finely pubescent, and bearing longer hairs on their basal half, their 4th joint about a third shorter than its predecessors; they reach the extremity of the hind body.

Smaller than 2269, with more scanty and rather finer vestiture, without crests and the dark shield-like apical mark, and with more slender claws, &c.

Length, 7 ½ mm.; breadth, 3 ½ mm.

Mount Quoin. Taken off dead trees in October, 1909, at an elevation of 3,600 ft., by Mr. O'Connor.

3350. Tetrorea maculata sp. nov. Tetrorea White, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 609.

Elongate, the derm shining fusco-niger; legs rufo-castaneous, more or less spotted with grey and fuscous pubescence, basal two joints of the tarsi dark at the extremity; antennae variegate, the basal four joints slightly rufescent and maculate, joints 5–11 greyish at the base, fuscous beyond it; thorax nearly covered with fusco-cinereous pubescence and several small blackish patches, the largest of which are basal; elytra with a broad

oblique area on each extending from the shoulder to the suture in line with the hind thigh, covered with paler pubescence than that on the thorax, the space behind nearly similarly clothed but with irregular dull black spots; the largest of these are near the hind thigh and the apex; there are a few erect but not very elongate white setae on the antennae, legs, and posterior portion of the wing-cases.

Head distantly punctate in front, with some yellowish pubescence between the very prominent and subcontiguous antennal tubercles. Eyes large and only moderately separated above. Thorax nearly as long as broad, with prominent lateral tubercles; on the middle of the disc there is a pair of less prominent tubercles which, as well as most of the interval between them, are smooth and shining; just behind each of these there are 4 or 5 small black granules. Scutellum dark. Elytra thrice as long as thorax, evidently broader than it is at the base, their apices broadly rounded and not covering the terminal dorsal segment; the basal nodosities are not large, and are not crested, the light-coloured but somewhat spotted area on each is broadly depressed, and behind it there is a slight longitudinal costa; the basal punctation is distinct and rather close, it is seriate alongside the suture, but much coarser and more distant near the sides.

Underside fuscous, maculate, clothed with fine grey pubescence.

Femora very slender near the base, clavate near the middle; tibiae nearly straight. Antennae elongate, their 8th joint extending just beyond the extremity of the hind-body, the 5th reaches the posterior femora, the 3rd and 4th are equally elongate.

Length, 10 mm.; breadth, 3 ½ mm.

Silverstream. Two were found under bark, in August, 1910, by Mr. H. W. Simmonds.

This, doubtless, is nearly allied to 2277, T. sellata Sharp. The very prominent and subcontiguous antennal tubercles, much less widely separated eyes, and broadly rounded elytral apices are not in conformity with the type of the genus.

3351. Hybolasius cupiendus sp. nov. Hybolasius Bates, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 609.

Elongate, uneven, subdepressed, opaque, variegate; base of femora castaneo-rufous, tibiae and tarsi slightly viridescent, with dark and grey specks; antennae maculate with grey and brown, their basal four joints fusco-rufous, the others become somewhat viridescent towards the end, and, besides the usual fine pubescence, bearing slender elongate grey hairs; the body is fuscous, but densely covered with dark- and light-brown and grey, pubescence; the elytra are more variegated than other parts, the suture is spotted with brown and grey, the apices are slightly tinged with green; a greyish-yellow, irregularly formed, oblique fascia extends inwards from each side, near the middle thigh, but does not reach the suture, and becomes light brown; this is narrowly bordered behind with dark fuscous but broadly in front; the slender greyish hairs on the legs are very long and conspicuous, on the intermediate tibiae there are some short blackish setae.

Head medially depressed, with a fine groove along the front. Antennae elongate, their 8th joint reaches the extremity of the body, 4th joint nearly twice the length of contiguous ones. Thorax rather broader than long, with a large but not acute prominence at each side just behind the middle, and a pair of small ones on the disc before the middle; no punctation is

visible. Scutellum with a pure-white speck at each side. Elytra tapering towards the apices, which are not at all dehiscent; on each there is a large basal prominence, another, which is only slightly raised but elongate, is situated near the hind thigh; their punctation is moderately coarse and close near the shoulders, more distant and subseriate along the middle, and becomes obsolete behind.

I have not seen H. wakefieldi, but have no doubt that this species is nearly allied; it is, however, distinguishable by the rufescent femora, greenish tibiae, and by the absence of large fulvous patches on the elytra. No. 2265 should also be placed in this genus; it is much smaller, and has a frontal groove along the middle of the thorax and a continuous one on the head.

Length, 7 mm.; breadth, 2 ½ mm.

Silverstream. One of Mr. A. O'Connor's captures; evidently very rare.

3352. Hybolasius tumidellus sp. nov.

Subdepressed, rufo-piceous, legs and antennae pitchy red, apical half of tibiae and the tarsi dark fuscous; the clothing variegate, on the broadly depressed antemedian area of the elytra it is mostly yellow, quite greyish behind, but more scanty and apparently darker between the hind thighs without, however, forming a distinct fascia there; on the head and thorax the hairs are yellow, but much more slender than those on the wing-cases; the legs bear numerous outstanding white setae, the antennae a few darker ones.

Head short, minutely and closely granulate. Thorax a third broader than long, the sides obtusely prominent behind the middle, between these there is a pair of just-distinguishable discoidal swellings, its surface is finely and closely punctate-granulose. Elytra evidently broader than thorax at the base, 2 ½ times its length, very gradually and slightly narrowed backwards; they are irregularly punctured, and have a pair of moderate basal nodosities.

Femora strongly clavate. Antennae elongate, basal joint thick, piceous, 2nd very small, 3rd and 4th very elongate, each nearly twice the length of the 5th, 6–11 gradually decrease in length.

Small allied species are rather numerous and difficult to discriminate, and are likely to become more so, as separate localities seem to produce different species. A careful perusal of the first part of the diagnosis will lead to the recognition of this species.

Length, 4 mm.; breadth, 1 ⅓ mm.

Silverstream. One example from Mr. H. Simmonds, its discoverer.

3353. Hybolasius rugicollis sp. nov.

Piceo-rufous, with a darker transverse space at a little distance behind the posterior femora bu not forming a definite fascia, tarsi nigrescent; the pubescence grey, not thick, but conspicuous.

Head with a very distinct mesial sulcus. Thorax transversely quadrate, the outline only a little uneven, owing to the presence of a minutely granulated nodosity at each side behind the middle; it is closely and distinctly transversely rugose at the base and apex, irregularly and very finely on the middle, but granulose near the sides. Elytra distinctly punctured, more closely at the base than on the middle, more distantly towards the extremity, and without perceptible depressions or basal callosities.

unequal interstices on the disc, but with narrower intervals near the sides. Scutellum impunctate. Elytra oblong, broader than thorax at the base; their sculpture very irregular, composed of punctures and foveae of different shapes, and short, smooth, apparently elevated interstices running in all directions right to the apices; the shoulders, however, have fine punctures only.

Antennae with fine greyish hairs, their 3rd joint rather longer than 2nd but shorter than 4th; they attain the posterior femora. Basal two joints of the tarsi narrow and subcylindric.

The remarkable, extremely coarse, elytral sculpture differentiates this from all the other species. L. asperellus (3020) is somewhat similar as regards size and colour. L. princeps, another beautiful insect, is narrower and obviously rufescent.

Length, 6 ½ mm.; breadth, 3 ⅓ mm.

Capleston, Westland. Unique, Discovered several years ago by Mr. A. T. Cavell.

3358. Luperus o'connori sp. nov.

Shining, nearly glabrous, having only a few slender marginal setae, legs and antennae, however, with numerous grey hairs; the head, legs, and antennae nigrescent, elytra testaceous, but with the base, suture, and margins broadly nigrescent, thorax more or less testaceous.

Head with a frontal carma along the middle, the interocular elevations distinct. Thorax nearly twice as broad as long, its sides only moderately curved, with fine margins, which are thickened in front, posterior angles rectangular; the surface obsoletely and not at all closely punctate. Scutellum smooth, black. Elytra broader than thorax at the base, with definite margins there, apices well rounded; punctation fine and moderately close; under the microscope there appear to be numerous very minute brassy setae.

Antennae elongate, basal joint moderately and gradually incrassate, 3rd longer than 2nd, but about a third shorter than 4th. Claws obviously appendiculate.

This, no doubt, comes near Sharp's L. nigricornis (2315), which I have not seen, but differs therefrom in sculpture and colour.

Length, 5 mm.; breadth, 2 ½ mm.

Ohau, near Wellington. Two examples from Mr. A. O'Connor, in whose honour this species has been named.

3359. Luperus atripennis sp. nov.

Oblong, rather narrow, shining, glabrous; head and thorax cyaneous, elytra nigresent, legs and antennae nigro-piceous.

Head rather narrow, a little uneven, without definite sculpture. Thorax a third broader than long, only a fourth of the length of the elytra, its sides nearly straight, anterior angles slightly incrassate but not prominent, the posterior nearly rectangular; its surface a little uneven, distinctly but irregularly punctate, with some slightly raised ill-defined spots which are distantly punctured. Elytra rather broader than thorax, with straight sides, apices very broadly rounded and not covering the pygidium; they are irregularly punctured, rather closely near the base and sides, coarsely elsewhere, and with somewhat elevated, very irregularly rugose intervals.

Antennae stout, their 3rd joint longer than the 2nd but shorter than the 4th.