100 • I October, 



The species apparently varies a good deal in colour ; especially as 

 to the extent and distinctness of the brassy tinge. 



Five specimens of this very interesting species have been recently 

 sent me from Tairua by Captain Broun, whose persevering researches 

 are bringing to light a remarkable number of important New Zealand 

 insects, and in whose honour I have named it. 



APHILON,* nov. gen. {CJ/rj/somel idarit??:) . 



Corpus latum, sub-hemisjjJiericum. 

 Goxce omnes distantes. 

 Acetabula atitiea aperta. 

 Elytroriim epipleura lata. 



Antennae 11-jointed, witli the last four joints considerably thickened, widely se- 

 parated at their point of insertion, this being just at the inner and front part of the 

 eye, which is small, but convex and nearly semicircular. Thorax finely margined at 

 the sides. Anterior coxal cavities small, obliquely oval, very widely separated, and 

 also far distant from the sides. Mesostemum excessively short, forming a mere band, 

 placed just on the same level with the metasternum, so that the very widely separated 

 middle coxa; almost touch the front coxse. Hind coxse deeply imbedded, xery widely 

 separated, conical in form. Five ventral segments of the hind-body are visible, the 

 first as long as the three following together, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th narrow, just similar 

 to one another, of just the same width at the sides as in the middle ; 5th elongate. 

 Pygidium covered. Elytra with their epipleura very broad, and closely adapted to 

 the sides of the body. Scutellum not visible. Tarsi all 4-jointed, moderately 

 slender, basal joint considerably longer than the 2nd, 3rd truly bilobed, with the lobes 

 )mrrow, 4th joint rather longer than the basal joint, the claws small and simple. 



This most anomalous little creature, I think would be best plaecd 

 among the Phijtophages, Section III, Gycliques, Chapuis ; in which 

 section, however, it must apparently form a distinct tribe. Notwith- 

 standing two or three days spent in investigating it, and searching for 

 its allies, I am quite unable to discover that it has any described near 

 relatives. 



ArniLOis' ENIGMA, n. sp. 



Latum, convexum, nudum, sup>ra txneum, suit us fusco-ceyieum, an- 

 tennis pedibusque testaceis ; fere Iccve, prothorace hasi medio fortiter 

 piinctato. Long. corp. 2 mm., lat. \\ mm. 



Antennae yellow, not quite reaching the back of the thorax, Ist joint rather 

 large, 2nd stouter than, but not so long as, the 3rd ; 4th, 5th, and 6th small, 7th 

 broader than the preceding one, 8th, 9th, and 10th transverse, 11th elongate, longer 

 than the two preceding together. Head very small in proportion to the rest of the 

 insect. Thorax strongly transverse, continuing the outline of the elytra without 



* A-phi-lon.— rf S. 



