Zoological Society. 135 



duced part is shorter and broader ; they are scarcely indented at the 

 suture, excepting in a slight degree towards the scutellum; the 

 transverse folds are less regular, often dividing into two branches, 

 and approach more near to the suture. A transverse section of 

 the elytra of N. plicata would present a convex upper surface near 

 the suture, but at the part where the grooves commence the line 

 would be straight (though sloping downwards to the lateral keel), 

 or even slightly concave ; whilst in N. Solieri a similar section 

 would present an even convex curve. Scattered punctures are ob- 

 servable on the fore-part of the head, and a shallow transverse de- 

 pression is situated between the eyes ; the thorax is nearly twice as 

 broad as long, convex in the middle, but slightly concave towards 

 the lateral margins : with a moderately strong lens some minute 

 punctures are visible, rather thinly scattered over the surface. The 

 elytra are ovate, the length to the width bearing about the propor- 

 tion of 7 to 9. 



Nyctelia Darwinii. Nyct. breviter ovata, convexa, nigra, nitida ; 

 capite subpunctato ; thorace paulb ad partem anteriorem qudm 

 posticam angustiore, leevi, convexo ; elytris subrotundatis, valde 

 convexis, Icevibus, marginibus lateralibus crenulatis. 



Long. corp. 11§ lin. ; lat. 8 lin. ; vel, long. 11 lin. ; lat. 7£ lin. 



Hab. Port Desire. 



This species is remarkable for its broad and very convex form and 

 deficiency of sculpturing, having the upper surface of the thorax and 

 elytra smooth and glossy. The head is finely punctured : the thorax 

 is twice as broad as long, and convex ; a groove runs parallel with 

 and close to the lateral margins, and a similar groove is observable 

 on the anterior margin, though here it is less strongly marked. 

 Elytra rather more than one-third broader than the thorax, and the 

 length and breadth are very nearly equal, if we exclude the produced 

 apical portion, which is broad, depressed, and nearly of a semicircular 

 form. The lateral keel is distinctly crenulated, and separated by 

 an adpressed line. The underside of the thoracic segments are ru- 

 gose in the middle, and the first and second abdominal segments 

 have irregular longitudinal rugae ; the third segment presents a faint 

 trace of similar rugae at the base ; the other segments are smooth. 



The spines at the apex of the posterior tibiae are longer than usual 

 in the genus. 



Nyctelia Darwinii, var. ? minor (long. corp. 8§; lat. 6J); elytris 

 rotundatis apice paul6 producto et angustiore. 



Hab. Port Desire. 



Nyctelia FitzRoyi, Curtis, MSS. Nyct. subrotunda, convexa, 

 nigra, nitida; capite utrinque punctis paucis adsperso ; thorace 

 Icevi, convexo, antice latiore, angulis posticis acutis ; elytris rotun- 

 datis, ad apicem productis, convexis, Icevibus, margine externo 

 crenulato ; antennis pedibusque piceo-rubris. 



Long. corp. 10^ lin. ; lat. 8 lin. 



Hab. Port Desire. 



This species was first discovered by Capt. King, and will be here- 



