392 COLEOPTERA 



The eyes are small and convex, the mentitm large and cordiform. 



Length, 2| lines; breadth, i. 



I found one example amongst decaying vegetable matter in the 

 Parua Forest (near Whangarei Harbour), when it was coated with sappy 

 matter which concealed its sculpture. The insect might form the type 

 of a new genus. 



Helops. 



Fabricius; Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Colcop., Tom. v.,/. 450. 



Mentiim trapezeiform, with a carina on the middle. Ligula truncated 

 in front. Last joint of the labial /a/^/ ovate, not truncated at the extrem- 

 ity ; sometimes sub-triangular ; maxillary palpi rather elongated, their 

 fourth joint obliquely securiform. Mandibles usually simple at the end. 

 Labrum exposed, transversal, entire. Head more or less narrowed and 

 prolonged behind ; epistome defined by a sub-triangular furrow in front 

 of the forehead, short, gradually narrowed and truncated in front. Eyes 

 moderate, transversal and sinuated. AntenncB perceptibly longer than 

 the thorax, rather robust, slightly thickened towards the extremity \ 

 their first three joints elongated ; joints four to seven or eight shorter, 

 almost equal to one another ; eighth or ninth to tenth in general feebly 

 triangular, the eleventh variable in form. Prothorax contiguous to the 

 elytra, transversal or not, narrowed at both extremities, rounded late- 

 rally, feebly, or scarcely distinctly emarginated in front, truncated, or 

 rounded at its base. Scutelluin transversal, curvilinear, situated between 

 the elytra. Elytra in general oblong-oval, rather convex, truncated or 

 hollowed at their base, their shoulders sometimes dentiform, their epi- 

 pleural fold rarely incomplete behind. Legs more or less long ; femora 

 rather robust ; tibice gradually dilated ; first joint of the posterior tarsi 

 rather elongate, the last shorter than the preceding ones united. Pro- 

 sternal process moderately wide, rarely acutely triangular. Metasternum 

 short or moderate. Mesosternum sloping down, concave in front. 

 Body winged or apterous, oblong or oval, rarely pubescent. 



696. H. expolitUS, n.s. Oviform., very convex, the most elevated 

 portion being the middle of the elytra ; it is nude, of a glossy black, 

 with the tarsi, antennse, and palpi dark red, sometimes pitchy, the tarsi 

 densely clothed below with bright yellowish hairs. 



The head is finely and remotely punctured, more obviously near the 

 eyes; epistome plane; eyes transversal, sinuated in front, and coarsely 

 facetted. Prothorax not much broader than long, apex a little sinu- 

 ously emarginated, but little rounded laterally, narrower in front than 

 behind ; its base obliquely truncated towards the sides ; it is finely 

 margined, remotely and delicately punctulated, with four more or less 

 indistinct distant depressions, two near the middle, the others at the 

 base ; these, however, are sometimes absent, and the punctation occa- 

 sionally quite obsolete. Scutelliim transversely triangular, almost con- 

 cealed. Elytra oval, very convex, a good deal narrowed posteriorly so 

 as to appear somewhat pointed ; they are a little wider than thorax, and 



