SgO COLEOPTERA 



a deep but narrow indentation beyond the middle. Maxillary j^a/^^'i 

 four-jointed, first joint longest, somewhat cylindrical ; second sub- 

 cylindric, its apex oblique ; third very small, quite cylindric ; fourth 

 minute, aciculate : labial very much shorter, their two last joints similar 

 to those of the maxillary. Mandibles bifid at apex. Eyes rather 

 small, not prominent, free. Legs moderate ; femora simple ; tibiae 

 gradually expanded towards the extremity, acutely denticulated 

 externally, apical spurs not elongate ; tarsi five-jointed, the fifth 

 equalling the preceding four in length, the three basal joints of the 

 anterior dilated in the male. Front coxcb contiguous, not large ; 

 posterior large, transversal, not quite touching each other, their 

 inner portion broad, the outer gradually accuminated. Trochanters 

 large. Mesosternal ])rocess acutely triangular, meeting the pointed 

 metasternum. Metasternum large. Abdomen very short, on a lower 

 plane than the breast, so that the hind legs when retracted are on 

 a level with the metasternum ; with five segments, the apical small. 



1584. M. litorea, '^-s. Oblong, moderately convex, sparsely 

 clothed with greyish-yellow hairs ; shining, head and thorax black, 

 wing-cases smoky-brown with some paler spots, legs variegate- 

 castaneous, tarsi yellow, antennae variegate- fuscous. 



Head distinctly punctate. Prothorax similarly sculptured, but 

 with a smooth linear space on the dorsum, and one or two spots with 

 fewer punctures ; rather broader than long, sloping outwards 

 gradually, not in the least flattened near the sides ; front angles 

 depressed, not acute ; sides a little curved, with fine rims ; base 

 feebly bisinuate, vnth. rounded posterior angles. Scutellum smooth. 

 Elytra a little broader than, and twice the length of, the thorax, 

 oblong, nearly quite truncate apically, leaving the small pygidium 

 uncovered ; they bear some very indistinct cost^e, and their puncta- 

 tion is not disposed in regular rows. Anterior tibia expanded 

 apically, armed along the outer edge with five or six denticles or 

 spine-like teeth ; the others similarly armed, but with about eight 

 on each, all pilose. Antemue bearing greyish hairs, some of the 

 joints more or less rufescent. Underside pitchy-black, punctate, 

 with some reticulate marks and greyish hairs. 



Length, i^-ij lines ; breadth, f. 



One female and a mutilated male were captured on the sandspit 

 at Port Chalmers by Mr. T. Chalmer. 



Group-SILPHIDiE. 

 Choleva (p- 151)- 



1585- C. granifer, n.s. Oviform, attenuated posteriorly; 

 clothed with slender, elongate, decumbent fulvescent hairs ; 

 shghtly shining ; head red, thorax blackish, elytra brown, legs 

 and antenna) fusco-rufous. 



Head trigonal, indistinctly sculptured. Antennoi thickened 

 apically, basal joint yellowish, second shorter than third, joints 

 3-5 elongate, sixth and seventh longer than broad, eighth shorter 

 than but as broad as seventh, ninth and tenth sub-quadrate. 



