August, 187S] -1.9 



The species cannot be confounded with Soronia hystrix, on account 

 o£ its very different outline ; it has also the set« o£ the upper surface 

 very different, for, instead of being upright and very conspicuous as in 

 that species, they are arched or bent down, so as to escape notice when 

 only a superficial observation is made. 



I have seen but one individual ; it was from Mr. Bakewell's col- 

 lection, where it was merely labelled Xew Zealand. 



BeOUNIA THORACICA, 11. SJJ. 

 Ohlongo-ovalis, nigra, elytris purpureo-nigris, sat dense puhescens, minus 

 nitida, tarsis fusco-testaceis ; thorace lateribus et parte anteriore defiexis et 

 dense punctatis, disco incpquali minus punctata, margine basali crenato ; elytris 

 crebre sat fortiter punctatis, versus suturam obsolete sulcatis. 



Long. b\ mm., lat. 2 mm. 



Anteniiffi rather long, the 1st and 2nd joints short and bead-like, 3rd larger and 

 triangular, 4th shorter than 3rd, somewhat produced inwardly, 6th to 11th each 

 produced inwardly into a long slender lobe, 5th joint intermediate in form between 

 the 4th and 6th. Thorax with all the anterior and lateral parts depressed, so that 

 their outer margins are not visible from above, these parts densely and coarsely 

 punctured, the part wliich remains in the natural plane of the pronotum shining and 

 but little punctured. Scutelhim conspicuous, somewhat circular, impunctate ; elytra 

 rather long, black, but with a distinct violet or purple tinge, shining, but pubescent, 

 with some ill-defined longitudinal grooves towards the suture, and rather closely, but 

 not coarsely, punctured. Under-surface densely punctured, and very densely and 

 finely pubescent, except on the middle of the metasternum. 



Captain Broun has sent me an individual of this species labelled 

 Drilus ? atroctBTuleus ; and informs me he has only been able to find two 

 specimens. It is one of the most remai'kable beetles yet discovered 

 in IS^ew Zealand, and I give below its structural characters, so far as I 

 can make them out from the very brittle and mutilated example before 

 me. I have, with very great pleasure, named the insect in honour of 

 its discoverer, whose energy and skill are doing so much to enable us 

 to get a satisfactory knowledge of the important insect-fauna of New 

 Zealand. 



Anterior parts of the head atrojphied, so that the antennise appear inserted near 

 one another on its front edge, eyes large and conspicuous ; antennae 11-jointed, the 

 basal joints small, those towards the extremity emitting an elongate lobe : beneath, 

 the parts of the mouth seem small but exposed, and the apical joints of the labial 

 and maxillary palpi rather large and subsecuriform. The prothorax is so formed 

 that its anterior open part is placed on the under surface, and the head can be com- 

 pletely doubled in and concealed, all the parts of the head except the prominent 

 trophi when doubled in fit the front opening, and to accomodate the trophi, there is 

 a deep depression h\ tlie middle of the prosternum, which extends as far as the coxse. 



