48 tJ«iy; 1SS1 - 



on the apical, and more especially on the lateral-apical, portion the sculpture 

 becomes deeper and coarser, so that the outer stria bears some very large, deep, im- 

 pressions. On the under-surface it is seen that this apical portion of the wing-cases 

 projects quite beyond the hind-body. The two individuals described are females. 



The species appears structurally very similar to the European 

 and North American species of Necrophilus, and the peculiar form and 

 sculpture of the wing-cases would not at present justify its being 

 treated as a distinct genus. 



Greymouth, No. 57, Helms. 



Zeatyrtts (n. g.) Lawsoxi, n. sjj. 



Convexus, rufescens, nitidus, pareius pub escens, fere imjpunctatus ; pro- 

 thorace sub-globoso ; elytris brevibus, jpallide rufis. Long. \\<mm. 



Antennae rather stout, first joint longer than broad, slightly longer than the 

 following ones, 2nd and 3rd sub-equal in length, the latter more slender than the 

 former, 4 — 8 differing but little from one another, the first of them rather longer 

 than broad, the last rather broader than long, 9th joint much broader than the 8th, 

 transverse, 10th strongly transverse, 11th large, rather broader than the 10th, and 

 three times as long as it. Head shining, impunctate, with a fovea behind each of 

 the large frontal tubercles. Thorax sub-globose, almost impunctate, destitute of 

 fovese. Elytra short, but little longer than the thorax, much narrowed towards the 

 shoulders, convex or inflated, of a paler red than the rest of the surface, sparingly 

 and very obsoletely punctured, without Butural stria. Hind-body greatly deflexed, 

 strongly margined at the sides ; legs elongate. 



A single specimen of this species was found by Mr. Lawson at 

 Auckland some years ago. 



This insect must form a new genus in the family Pselapltidce, the 

 characters of which I give below. 



Antennas stout, inserted in two cavities on the front of the head, 

 near, but distinctly separated from, one another ; front with two 

 approximate but distinctly separated tubercles over the antennal 

 insertion. Maxillary palpi rather elongate, the 2nd joint somewhat 

 elougate, curved or emarginate in front, angularly dilated behind, and 

 furnished with an elongate seta on the prominent angle ; 3rd joint 

 quite small, about as long as broad, 4th joint excessively dilated, so as 

 to form a large knob, with a minute tubercle or angle on its front 

 edge internally. Metasternum very short ; middle trochanters 

 elongate ; claws of the tarsi two, quite distinct. 



The genus should be placed next to Tyrus, from which its 

 remarkable maxillary palpi readily distinguish it. Its nearest allies are 

 the Australian Tyrus mirandus, and the New Zealand T. mutandits. 



