1881.1 47 



severance. There are good reasons to believe that the natural fauna 

 of the Antipodes, more especially of New Zealand, is rapidly, like its 

 native population, going to extinction, and yet, on a knowledge of its 

 nature, there are dependent a large number of most difficult and 

 important scientific questions. In these countries, men, therefore, 

 who will at present collect well, and take proper steps for the preser- 

 vation of what they collect, are really very valuable, and deserve the 

 encouragement of their fellows. 



Anchomenus Helmsi, n. sp. 



Sat elongatus, partem nitidus, nigro-piceus, antennis, pa/pis pedibusque 

 rufo-testaceis ; prothorace parvo, lateribus postice fortiter sinuatis, angulis 

 posterioribus rectis, basi utrinque profunde impresso ; elytris sat convexis, 

 lateribus valde curvatis, profunde striatis, prope apieem fortiter sinuatis. 



Long. 11, lot. 4 mm. 



Similar in appearance, and more particularly in colour, to A. otagoensis, Bates, 

 but abundantly distinct, rather smaller, the upper surface less opaque and not so 

 flat, the thorax shining, the elytra deeply striate. The thorax is much rounded at 

 the sides, and much constricted behind, the posterior part of the sides is quite straight, 

 and the hind angles are abruptly marked, and quite rectangular ; the surface is not 

 flat, but is deeply impressed on each side at the base ; the mesial longitudinal 

 channel is very distinct. Elytra rather short, the sides and shoulders much curved ; 

 the striae deep, but not punctate : the interstices are broad and but little convex, the 

 three punctures on the third moderately distinct. There is but little difference 

 between the male and female, even the front tarsi of the former being but little 

 dilated. 



G-reyinouth, ]N~o. 6, Helms. 



Necrophilus prolongatus, n. sp. 



Niger, nitidus, Icevigatus, antennarum basi rufescente, prothoracis lateri- 

 bus late testaceis ; elytris ad apieem attenuatis, ultra abdominis apieem pro- 

 longatis, subtiliter striatis, striis in partem prolong atam profundioribus et 

 fortiter punctatis. Long. 10, I at. 4f mm. 



Antennse with the basal five joints piceo-rufous, slender, and shining, the apical 

 five abruptly broader than the others, fuscous-black, densely pubescent and opaque ; 

 head closely and finely punctured, even in front; the clypeal suture indistinct, 

 angulate in the middle. Thorax rather strongly transverse, the front angles extremely 

 rounded off and indistinct, and not projecting farther forwards than the middle of 

 the front margin ; the disc sparingly and obsoletely punctured, the explanate yellow 

 sides more distinctly punctured. Elytra rather narrow and elongate, with their 

 apices prolonged, and the prolonged portion abruptly bent down; they are rather 

 finely striate, but the interstices are somewhat convex, and the 7th is elevated at 

 the shoulder ; the striee are provided with fine, distant impressions or punctures ; 



