Broun. — Revision of the New Zealand Cossouidae. 151 



and 4th joints very elongate, the 4th a little the shorter, but quite twice as 

 long as the 5th ; from this to the end each is slightly shorter than its prede- 

 cessor. The thorax is scarcely so long as broad, infuscate at the sides and 

 across the middle. The after-body is short, the elytra covered with minute 

 tomentum, which allows, however, numerous small pits to be seen ; they 

 are pallid, but at each side there is a large irregular dark patch, which be- 

 yond the middle approaches near to the suture. Under-surface infuscate. 

 Femora short and thick, yellow, with dark marks. 



Chatham Islands ; Professor Schauinsland. Two specimens. 



Art. XXVIII. — Revision of the New Zealand CossonidiB, with Descriptions 



of New Genera and Species. 



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



[Read before the Auckland Institute, l^th November, 1908.] 



Owing to the difficulties encountered by local entomologists in identifying 

 the numerous species, nearly all small, often without very perceptible dis- 

 tinguishing characteristics, and, as a rule, inconspicuous and uninteresting, 

 I determined to undertake the task of revision. The resolution was easy, 

 the accomplishment just the reverse. 



Any naturalist who has really studied these minute creatures will readily 

 acknowledge that the work of rearranging and classifying such a complex 

 assemblage was an undertaking of more than ordinary difficulty. 



A distinguished British entomologist, with the best typical collections 

 of insects and books of reference in the world easily accessible, when dealing 

 with about twenty species of a nearly aUied group consisting of 108 genera, 

 remarked that " the study of these genera is attended with great difficulties, 

 for they are divided from one another by no strongly marked peculiarities," 

 &c. So, although he stated that these twenty species represented " a con- 

 siderable number of distinct genera," only two new genera were described, 

 all the other species being referred to the typical genus of the group, and 

 there. they have remained for upwards of thirty years. As the members 

 of that group are much larger, and differentiated by more easily seen 

 characters, it is unlikely that our Cossonidce would be more systematically 

 dealt with. 



In 1873 no less than 123 genera, including five from New Zealand, were 

 known to occur in various parts of the world. A great many of these are 

 rare, and, as there is nothing very attractive about their general appearance, 

 most collectors during their travels make no special search for them, con- 

 sequently any New Zealand student will find it nearly impossible to obtain 

 accurately named specimens of more than a dozen of these exotic genera 

 for comparison with our own, so that in attempting to classify and name 

 our indigenous species he must carefully study the Latin descriptions of these 

 123 genera. Any naturalist who has made the experiment will know what 

 that means. 



