July, 1883.] 25 



Lecanomeeus marginatus, n. sp. 



Ovaius, nigricans, palpis, pedihus elytrorumqite margine externa 

 testnceis, anfennis, tihiarum apice tarsisqne fuscis, illis hasi testaceo ; 

 corpore suhtus variegato : prothorace transversa, posterius angustata, 

 hasi Icevigato vix impresso ; elytris sat profunde striatis, striis haud 

 punctatis. Long. 6 onm. 



This species is distinguished from the other New Zealand Lecaiwmeri by the 

 more variegate surface, in which respect it resembles the New Caledonian Acupalptis 

 domesticus (a species which shoidd also be referred to the genus Lecanomerus) . The 

 antennae are rather stout, and the basal joint clear yellow ; the raised margin of the 

 prothorax is yellowish, as is also the scutellum, and the same colour forms a broad 

 definite border of variable width along the sides of the elytra ; on the under-surface 

 the head and the hind coxse are yellow, and the ventral segments are maculate at 

 the sides. The dilatation of the male tarsi is moderate, the fourth joint being not 

 very short and broad. 



This species occurs at Auckland, where it has been found by 

 Messrs. Broun and Lawson : it is probable that Captain Broun's re- 

 cord of the occurrence of L. lafimmius at Tairua and Whangharei 

 refers rather to this species ; Mr. Bates having at first supposed the 

 L. marginatus to be a variety of L. lafimantis, so named specimens, and 

 thus the error has arisen. 



Pterostichus Helmsi, n. sp. (sub-gen. Steropus). 

 Elongatus, niger, sup erne plus minusve metallica-tinctus ; protliarace 

 elongato, posterius angustato, mox ante angtilos posteriores sinuato, his 

 rectis, hasi utrinque fovea magna, impunctata, impressa ; elytris ad 

 apicem acuminatis, laterihus curvatis hand paralleJis, profunde striatis, 

 striis haud perspicue punctatis, interstitiis absque punctis impressis, ad 

 apicem leviter transversim depressis itaque suhundulatis apparent. 



Long. 18, lat. Q\ — 7 mon. 



Var. femoribus rvfis. 



t 

 This is, so I am informed by Mr. Helms, the only Carabideous insect of con- 

 siderable size that is at all common near Greymouth ; it is remarkable that it should 

 not have been detected in other parts of the islands, especially as it belongs to a 

 sub-genus not known before to occur in New Zealand ; this sub-genus {Steropus) is 

 recorded by Chaudoir (Bull. Mosc, 1865, p. 97), as possessing several species in 

 Australia characterized by their elytra being acuminate at the extremity, and posses- 

 sing some large punctures on the third interstice. Pterostichus Helmsi agrees in 

 the former of these respects with the Australian Steropi, but has no punctures on 

 the third interstice, so that it should apparently form a separate section in Steropus. 

 From all other New Zealand Pterostichi of large or moderate size known to me, 

 P. Helmsi is readily distinguished by its more slender form, and the more prolonged 

 apical portion of the elytra. The undulated appearance on the posterior part 

 of the wing-cases is somewhat variable, and the metallic tinting of the upper surface 

 is very variable, and occasionally very slight. 



