August, 18S1.] 49 



Lissotes Helmsi, n. sp. 



Niger, opaeus, prothoracis elytrorumque marginibus squamosis ; capite 

 prothoraceque crebre punctatis, hoc lateribus rotundatis, margine anteriore 

 leviter bidnuato, angulis posterioribus omnino latissime rotundatis ; elytris 

 sat crebre punctatis, seriebus quatuor squamorum brevium erectorum. 



Long. corp. (sine mandibulis), 20 mm., lat. 10 mm., $ . 



Head with numerous punctures on the upper surface, which, on the extreme 

 vertex, become almost dense : the hind angles slightly prominent but without any 

 distinct projection. Prothorax very strongly transverse, with very numerous, rather 

 fine, punctures ; its front has a slight but distinct margin, which becomes obsolete in 

 the middle, the sides are a little curved, and the hind angles are very broadly rounded ; 

 side margins very densely covered with very short fulvous setae, or scales. Elytra 

 short and broad, dull, with four longitudinal series of closely-packed, erect, very 

 short fulvous setse, and with the strongly raised side-margins very densely covered 

 with similar setae, the surface between the series very distinctly punctured. The 

 upper-inner face of the hind tibiae is distinctly longitudinally sulcate ; the apical 

 spurs are broad. 



The male has the mandibles short and stout, strongly curved, with a short basal 

 tooth, which overlaps the labrum, and a very large tooth in the middle, which, when 

 the mandibles are closed, meets that of the opposite mandible, just in front of, but 

 below, the labrum. The female is unknown. 



Found at Greymouth, West Coast of New Zealand, by Mr. 

 Helms ; in recognition of whose successful researches ] have named 

 the species. 



This species is allied to Lissotes capito, Deyr. and Parry, from the 

 Chatham Islands, but is abundantly distinct, by the form of the thorax, 

 the series of setae on the elytra, the punctured head and prothorax, dis- 

 tinctly sulcate hind tibia?, and other less important characters ; there 

 is not, I believe, any species at all similar to it known as occurring 

 in New Zealand. 



Cheosis yiolacea, n. sp. 

 Elongata, versus apicem attenuata, sat nitlda, nigra, supra violacca ; 

 prothoracis lateribus pone angulos anteriores angulariter prominulis. 



Long. 12 — 15, lat. 3f mm. 



Antennae deep black, just as long as head and thorax. Thorax elongate, of 

 peculiar form, the sides commencing at the front angles as if they were going to be 

 a good deal rounded and directed outwards, but very shortly becoming all at once a 

 little narrower, and parallel with one another, so that a small conspicuous prominence 

 is formed on each side near the front, the hind angles gradually but strongly directed 

 outwards ; the sides are densely and rather coarsely punctured, the middle smooth 

 and nearly shining, the surface bears a very short and fine upright black pubescence. 

 Elytra strongly narrowed towards the extremity, distinctly striate, the striae rather 

 strongly punctate, the interstices moderately closely and finely punctate ; each wing- 



