Broux. — Bc'visinn of the Xew Zealand Cossonidu\ 163 



and closely punctured, the punctures confluent, the interstices narrow, in- 

 distinctly seriately punctate. 



2 . Length, nearly 1| lines : breadth, | line. 



Picton. Evidently closely allied to 1549. I have not seen it. 



Torostoma, gen. nov. 



Robust, subcylindric, narrowed anteriorly, transversely convex, sparingly 

 and indistinctly pubescent. 



Rostrum twice as long as broad, parallel or jiist perceptibly narrowed 

 anteriorly, on the same plane or slope as the head, which, at the sides, is. 

 slightly constricted immediately behind the eyes. The scrobes are deep 

 and oblique towards the lower part of the eyes. Scape medially inserted, 

 of moderate length, attaining to just behind the centre of the eye. Funi- 

 culus with the 2nd joint nearly as long as the 1st, 3-5 transverse. Club 

 moderate, oviform. Eyes prominent, more so behind than in front. Thorax 

 longer than broad, curvedly narrowed towards the frontal constriction. 

 Scutellum small. Elytra parallel, of the same width as the thorax ; posterior 

 margins rather widely dilated and appearing each as two curves ; under- 

 neath the dilatation is broad and distinctly sculptured from the 3rd ventral 

 segment to the extremity, and on an evidently higher level than the terminal 

 3 segments. 



The margins of the buccal cavity are thick, and, in line with the cunei- 

 form mentum, ternainate as tubercular projections. The rostrum is broadly 

 concave underneath, with thick borders. The metasternum is elongate, 

 depressed behind, and grooved along the centre. The basal 2 abdominal 

 segments are on a higher plane than the following 3 ; the first is medially 

 depressed. Femora strongly inflated ; tibire much curved, with well- 

 developed hooks ; 3rd tarsal joint simj^le. 



The characters of the underside as detailed above, in conjunction with 

 the peculiarly dilated elytral margins, distinguish this genus in an unmis- 

 takable manner from Pentartkrum and its allies. 



Torostoma apicale, Broun. 906. Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 509. (Plate XV, 



fig. 4.) 



Nigro-piceous, moderately nitid, legs piceous, antennae and tarsi dark 

 red ; sparingly and indistinctly pubescent. 



Rostrum moderately finely and closely punctured, the interocular 

 sculpture nearly similar, occiput with many minute punctures. Antennae 

 pubescent. Thorax convex, moderately closely and in proportion to the 

 large size of the insect not at all coarsely punctured, the apex more finely. 

 Elytra cylindrical, moderately striate, the punctures not very coarse and 

 subcrenate, the suture and interstices with fine distant serial punctures, 

 and more or less transversely rugose : the reflexed posterior dilatation on 

 each assumes the form of two curves, the terminal one the larger. 



Underside shining, nigrescent, sparsely clothed with fine short greyish 

 hairs. Prosternum usually somewhat convex and rather finely but closely 

 punctate in front, nearly smooth, or with some transverse rugae behind the 

 intercoxal suture. Metasternum more distinctly punctured near the sides 

 than on the middle, the sides broadly impressed. Abdomen moderately 

 finely, the 5th segment closelv, punctate. 



Female. — Rostrum more slender, very finely punctate, antennae inserted 

 behind the middle, basal ventral segment simple. 



3 . Length, 2| lines ; breadth, nearly | line. 

 Whangarei and Hunua Range. Both sexes. 



