364 COLEOPTERA 



The body is convex, rather broad and comparatively short ; the head 

 and thorax are shining piceous, sometimes olivaceous, the elytra are 

 piceous but reddish, the side margins and apex of elytra paler, the 

 antennae are reddish and the legs testaceous, sometimes pellucid. Head 

 very finely punctured. Thorax convex, transverse, the sides nearly 

 straight, but a little rounded and narrowed anteriorly, its hind angles 

 just about the same width as the humeral angles ; its surface is so very 

 finely punctured that it seems quite smooth and shining. Elytra 

 rather short, obovate, rather convex, widest in front of the middle and 

 considerably narrowed posteriorly ; their whole surface is more or less 

 finely and irregularly punctured, without the least disposition to assume 

 the form of lines, being even less distinctly arranged in rows than in AI. 

 batesi. 



Length, nearly 2 lines; breadth, i^. 



A'l. batesi, according to my scale, is rather more than two lines in 

 length by one in breadth. 



I found several individuals of this species in the forests near Whan- 

 garei Harbour. 



661. M. obSCUruS, n.s. Allied to the two preceding species. 

 Sub-ovate, convex, rather short and broad, sparingly pubescent, the 

 pallid hairs chiefly disposed on the head and thorax, of a rather dull 

 fuscous colour, antennae reddish, and legs testaceous-brown. 



Head distinctly and rather closely punctured ; eyes comparatively 

 prominent. Thorax rather large but transverse, the sides somewhat 

 rounded and narrowed anteriorly but nearly straight behind ; the surface 

 is finely and remotely punctured. Scutellum transversely-triangular and 

 punctulate. The elytra are broader than the thorax, their sides nearly 

 straight as far as the middle, from thence rounded and almost acuminate 

 at apex ; their sculpture is ill-defined, they are almost impunctate, with 

 a few obsolete longitudinal lines ; but my specimens are covered with 

 some sappy matter, which I found extremely difficult to remove, so their 

 sculpture may be more distinct, though I do not think so. 



Length, \\ lines by f. 



I found three examples near Whangarei Heads. 



662. M. thoracicus, n.s. This distinct species will be easily 

 recognized by its small size, and elliptical-oblong form. Head large and 

 punctulated. Thorax large, transverse, its sides considerably rounded, 

 base and apex of about equal width, in its widest part quite as broad as 

 the elytra, leaving an obvious gap between the sides and shoulders of the 

 elytra ; its surface at first sight might be pronounced impunctate, but on 

 a careful inspection minute punctures may be perceived; it is larger in 

 proportion to the elytra than in any of the described species. The 

 elytra are obovate-elongate, the sides consequently are but little rounded, 

 though rather narrow at the apex ; their sculpture consists of shallow 

 punctures, which can scarcely be said to assume any regular form, yet 

 there are some fuscous discoidal lines which might be mistaken for the 

 rudiments of strise. 



