8 COLEOPTERA 



bilobed. Palpi robust, the last joint a little thickened towards the 

 extremity and truncated, yet scarcely securiform. Labriim transverse, 

 rounded outwardly. Mandibles strong, arcuated, the right strongly den- 

 tate at base. Eyes rather small, prominent, obsoletely facetted. Antenna'- 

 moniliform, second and third joints longest, the latter the longer of the 

 two, joints, 5 — II pubescent, the others sparingly hispid. Legs mode- 

 rate, femora not very much inflated ; tibice a little dilated apically, the 

 anterior armed internally with a strong apical process, and produced 

 externally, the other two pairs with two stout spines ; the four basal 

 joints of the front tarsi are sub-cordate and of nearly equal size ; the 

 soles smooth, but hispid near their front angles. 



Head rather short, not quite so wide as the thorax, which is cordi- 

 form ; elytra oviform, somewhat narrowed in front. Scutelliini pro- 

 portionally small, sub-triangular. 



I have not seen the diagnosis of this genus ; the above characters 

 have been derived from a specimen of M. liicidiini, which had been 

 found on the hills near Nelson by Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. 



(See p. 1 o, note to M. altcrnans. ) 



13. M. SCUlpturatum, Blaneh. ; Voy. an Pole Slid, Zool. iv, 35, 

 1853. Black, above dull bronze, head generally punctate-rugose ; pro- 

 thorax cordate, grooved on the middle, posterior angles slightly notched. 

 Elytra strongly rugose, quadri-costate, intervals slightly excavated. 

 Tarsi pitchy-black ; femora red. 



Length, 22 mil. 



Body slender ; liead slightly convex, rugose, and covered with large 

 confluent punctures. Antenna blackish, hairy, especially at the extre- 

 mities. Prothorax almost heart-sharped, with the posterior angles rather 

 prominent, very little convex, rugose over its whole surface, having a 

 median groove terminating behind in a slight cavity, and an oblong fovea 

 near each posterior angle. Elytra oval, slightly convex, bronzed, like 

 the head and thorax very strongly shagreened (punctate?) with four 

 obscure costte in front of the extremity ; the sutural indistinct, those 

 nearer the margin much more prominent than the others ; the interstices 

 with a series of impressions, or rather, deep excavations. Tarsi brownish 

 black, thighs deep red. Abdomen black, almost smooth. 



Taken at Otago. 



14. M. howittii, Castelnau ; Trans. Roy. Sac. Vict., vol. \\\\., p. 

 159. Dark copper ; forehead almostsmooth, but strong transverse striolse 

 cover the anterior parts of the head; thorax broad and cordiform, rather 

 smooth with some transverse irregular striolre, on its anterior margin 

 the striolse are longitudinal, the margins are entire ; elytra oval, rather 

 long, covered with longitudinal lines, rather elevated, and with their 

 intervals most irregularly but strongly punctated and granulated. 



Length, 13 — 16 lines. 



Christchurch. 



Syn. M. rectolineatiim, Putz., Stett. Zeit., 1868,/. 317. 



15. M. rectOlineatum, Castelnau; Trans. Roy. Soe. Vict., vol. 

 viii, p. 160. Nearly allied to sciilptitratinn, but the thoiax more smooth, 



