640 COLEOPTERA 



TJiorax transverse, not so wide as the elytra, rounded towards the front, 

 where it is emarginated, and much narrower than behind ; base with a 

 central lobe, and sinuated towards each side, hind angles somewhat 

 overlapped by the shoulders of the elytra ; it is convex, with an 

 excessively coarse, rugose punctation, the punctures, however, less 

 congregated, but coarser, near the impressed dorsal line. Elytra broad, 

 widest in front, gradually rounded ; disc very convex, sloping gradually 

 towards the moderately explanated sides; their sculpture even coarser 

 than that of the thorax but less rugose, the punctures nearest the suture 

 being almost arranged in rows ; the suture and an elevated spot near 

 each shoulder smooth, the sides impressed with transverse foveae. 

 Under-side rugose, the epipleurae impressed in the same way as the sides 

 above. The prostemal process of the same level throughout; mesosternal 

 elevated, triangular, with a deep frontal cavity ; nietasternutn longitudi- 

 nally furrowed ; first segment of the abdomen separating the hind coxae ; 

 epipleurce moderate. 



The insect is of a bright almost emerald-green above, with reddish 

 margins, the under-side is also metallic, being of a cupreous green. 



Length, 6|- ; breadth, 4f lines. 



The genus (owing to the entire absence of legs and antennse) may 

 be considered doubtful, but it undoubtedly belongs to a nearly allied 

 form. The only specimen extant was sent to the Auckland Museum 

 by Mr. T. Heale,'as having been found by a surveyor near the Taupo 

 district. 



Group— EROTYLID^. 



Head small or moderate, ordinarily broader than long, more or less 

 deeply sunk in the prothorax ; the epistome generally ill-defined. Labruni 

 truncated or emarginated on its free edge. Mafidibles a little projecting, 

 trigonal, obtuse or slit at the extremity. Internal lobe of the maxillce 

 unarmed, or having one or two corneous spines ; the external small, 

 attached to the preceding ; palpi quadri-articulate, the apical joint of 

 variable form. Under-lip with a developed mentum, transversal, tricus- 

 pidate in front, its surface divided into three parts. Ligula small, not 

 distended, sinuated or emarginated on its free edge ; furnished with 

 paraglossse, free or soldered. Eyes finely or coarsely facetted. Antennce 

 of moderate length, eleven-jointed, the last three or four dilated, and 

 forming a loose or compact club. Prothorax sub-quadrangular, nar- 

 rowed anteriorly, frequently transversal, as broad as the elytra, very 

 seldom narrower. Sciitellian usually moderate. Elytra oval or oblong, 

 more or less convex, sometimes hemispherical. Prosternum convex, 

 often carinated on the middle, with closed cotyloid cavities. Metaster- 

 nuni with linear parapleurse ; its epimera always distinct. Legs generally 

 robust, terminating with sub- more rarely pentamerous tarsi ; claws 

 simple. 



Cryptodacne. 



Sharp. 



This genus combines the characters of Triplax^ Dacne^ and Crypto- 

 phagus ; the antennce are those of a Cryptophagus, such as C. lycoperdi, 



