Broun. — New Genera and Species of Coleoptera. 385 



deeper and more strongly and closely, yet not very coarsely, punctured; 

 these become convergent, and do not reach the base; the 3rd and 5th 

 interstices are a little broader than the others, the 5th at some distance 

 from the base is split up by a finely punctured stria, the 7th is quadri- 

 punctate; the smooth space along each side is rather broad and convex; 

 the marginal punctures are small; the sculpture near the apex becomes 

 coarsely punctiform and irregular, but the margin, though fine, is quite 

 distinct there. 



Legs rather thick; the external angle at the apex of the front tibiae 

 is hardly at all prominent, that of the intermediate pair is moderately 

 angulate. Antennae with the basal 4 joints smooth and glabrous, the 

 others finely and closely punctate, but, in my specimen, only scantily 

 pubescent. 



The shape of the thorax is somewhat similar to that of M. laeviceps 

 and M. cognatum, but the elytra! sculpture, rather thick legs, and 

 reduction of labial punctures are good distinguishing features. 



<J. Length, 25 mm.; breadth, 8 mm. 



Mount Quoin, Tararua Kange; elevation, 3,90(Jft. My specimen, 

 somewhat damaged, was found by Mr. A. O'Connor, of Wellington, who 

 sent it mounted on cardboard. 



3168. Mecodema arcuatum sp. nov. 



Elongate, dull sooty black, legs, antennae, and palpi piceous. 



Head rather large, including the mandibles, as long as the thorax, 

 forehead strongly longitudinally striate, more irregularly near the eyes; 

 in line with these there are numerous distinct punctures; labrum cur- 

 vate in front. Thorax cordate, apex evidently arcuate-emarginate, its 

 sides not distinctly crenulate, curvedly narrowed towards the base but 

 without any abrupt contraction there, lateral margins not unequally 

 expanded, posterior angles obtuse; the disc with feeble transverse striae, 

 but the basal fossae, which are moderately large and placed close to the 

 angles, are more distinctly and irregularly wrinkled, the base is more or 

 less punctate, the curvate frontal impression is well marked throughout 

 and near the angles feebly punctate, the median groove is distinct; 

 length and breadth about equal. Elytra slightly convex, twice as long 

 as thorax, only a little broader, their sides gently rounded, about 

 equally so near the base and apex; the sutural 4 striae on each elytron 

 are only slightly impressed, and rather finely and distantly punctured 

 on the middle, with plane interstices; the 3rd and 5th are a little 

 broader than the others; the 5th and 6th striae are rather more distinctly 

 punctate, and the 7th interstice is somewhat carinate from the base 

 towards the middle; the 7th and 8th striae are deeper and more coarsely 

 but not very regularly punctured; the interval between the 8th stria 

 and the side is smooth. 



Legs rather thick, like those of M. quoinense, the external angle of 

 the posterior tibiae hardly at all prominent. Antennae pubescent from 

 the 4th joint onwards. 



From all the other species, except the very different M. striatum 

 (2600), this is distinguished by the more incurved thoracic apex. Castel- 

 nau's M. impressum is described as having a rather brilliant coppery 

 hue, with the anterior angles of the thorax densely punctate, whilst 

 M. lucidum is larger. I do not think that this species will prove to be 

 13— Trans. 



