Broun. — Notes on Coleoptera from the Chatham Islands. 145 



Grypluea, Trigoma, Halobia, and Spiriferina. Since several of these are not 

 known in strata older than the Jurassic, it is probably right to class these 

 strata as Jurassic, thereby ionoring the prosence of the archaic genera here 

 meutioned. This conclusion seems all the more reasonable when the present 

 isolated position of the Dominion is considered. It is quite possible that 

 another period of isolation had terminated at the beginning of the Jurassic 

 period. An old fauna which had lived on during the period of isolation 

 Avould then be mingled with the invading newer and more vigorous types. 

 Such an explanation might reasonably account for the rapid change in life- 

 forms which has caused Sir James Hector to class a conformable series of 

 rocks as of an age extending from Permian to Jurassic. 



Art. XXVII. — Notes on Coleoptera from the Chatham Islands. 



By Major T. Broun, F.E.S. 



[Read before the Auckland Institute, ISth November, 1908.] 



A COMPLETE list of the Coleoptera now proved to occur in these islands is 

 given for reference. It is just possible that some other species may have 

 been described by European authors, but the list includes all that were 

 recorded by the late Captain F. W. Hutton and those whose descriptions 

 follow the list. 



Eighteen species appear to be purely endemic at the Chathams ; the re- 

 mainino- twentv-three were originallv found in New Zealand. All the genera 

 were instituted for the reception of New Zealand species, with the exception 

 of such as are more or less cosmopolitan — eight or nine altogether. 



None of the genera and species recently described by me from the Auck- 

 land Islands are represented, so far as we are aware at present, at the 

 Chatham Islands, but I feel confident that some, or closely allied forms, will 

 be discovered ultimately. 



List of Coleoptera from the Chatham Island.s. 



Group Anchomenid^. 



1. Anchomenus suhmetallicus, White, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 2-1. 



2. ,, chathamensis, Broun, sp. nov. 



Group Colymbetid^. 



3. Rhantus pulverosus, Stephens, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1333. 



Group Staphylinid^. 



4. Creophilus oculatus, Fabricius, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 107. 



Group HlSTERID.^i. 



5. Sternaulax zeaJandicus, Marseul, Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 162. 



