OF NEW ZEALAND. 205 



what flattened granules. The prothorax is deeply emarginate behind 

 the eyes, so that the anterior angles seem prominent ; the base is sub- 

 truncate, with a short but deep excision at each side close to the hind 

 angle, which is almost rectangular ; the sides are crenate, with a wide 

 sinuation near the middle ; the disc is elevated, and in front bears two 

 conspicuous, laterally-compressed tubercles, which are porrected,. so as 

 to project over the hinder portion of the head ; the surface is more or 

 less uneven, and so densely clothed that the sculpture is concealed, but, 

 on a denuded spot, it appears quite smooth. The elytra are not very 

 closely applied to the base of the thorax ; their base is obliquely emar- 

 ginate, their shoulders oblique, and their sides nearly straight to the 

 apex, which, owing chiefly to a large tubercular elevation on each at the 

 extremity, has a rather truncate though uneven aspect ; they are 

 transversely convex, and each bears two discoidal, but not very well 

 defined, tubercular ridges, and two much less distinct lines on the 

 side ; the interstices are coarsely punctate. 



The ground-colour is piceous, but the whole of the body is so densely 

 covered with minute fusco-testaceous scales that it is scarcely discerni- 

 ble ; the tarsi and antenna? are infuscate-red, the former pilose. 



Length, ^\ lines; breadth, ifo- 



I am indebted to T. F. Cheeseman, Esq., F.L.S., for my first 

 specimen of this curious species ; it was found, I believe, in the Wairoa 

 district, Auckland. 



Ithris. 



Pascoe. 



I have been unable to get the description of this genus, but the 

 form is well delineated in the following description by Dr. Sharp. 



365. I. gracilis, Sharp; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., July, 1876. 

 /. sub-cylindrica, angustula, rufescens, opaca ; protliorace minus distincte 

 trisulcato ] elytris costatis. 



Long. Corp., vix 3 mm. ; lat. | mm. 



Anteii?icB yellowish ; first joint in large part exposed from above ; 

 second short and stout ; third to eighth small ; ninth and tenth forming 

 a large broad club ; ninth and tenth each strongly transverse ; eleventh 

 large. Head with the sides greatly elevated ; its surface rather densely 

 but indistinctly punctured, so as to be almost opaque. Thorax longer 

 than broad, the sides straight and parallel, along the middle with a 

 broad but ill-defined groove ; and on each side of this central depression 

 there is also another but very obsolete depression ; the surface is 

 densely and indistinctly sculptured, and is quite dull. Elytra each with 

 three or four longitudinal costie, and the surface between them densely 

 sculptured, so that they arc quite dull. Lci^s reddish yellow. Under 

 surface dull, but only finely and indistinctly punctured, and with an 

 extremely scanty and fine j)ubcscence. All the pairs of coxcr. are only 

 slightly separated ; tlie inetasteriuun is elongate ; the epipletmc are 

 narrow, and not accurately adjusted to the body ; the tihiif are con- 

 siderably dilated at the extremity, and exhibit small but distinct spurs ; 



