OF NEW ZEALAND. 1447 



punctm-es having a fine grey hair in each, the sculpture becomes ob- 

 solete behind, the sutiiral stria? are least evident near the base. Legs 

 moderate ; tarsi pentamerous, their three basal joints nearly equal, 

 the tliird entire below but excavate above, and appearing as if pro- 

 longed under the minute fourth joint, fifth about as long as the 

 first three. 



Underside shining, black, more or less finely punctured, its pu- 

 bescence grey. The j^i'osternal j^rocess is not broad. The mesosternum 

 has only a small, smooth, angular space in front, there being no de- 

 pression for the prosternal process. The ■,netastcrmim is angulate in 

 the middle, in front, and incurved behind. The middle cox(b are not 

 widely separated. 



Length, f ; breadth, nearly f line. 



AshlDurton. Mr. W. W. Smith sent me five specimens. The 

 oiossv-black colour distinguishes this from all its allies. 



Group-LATHRIDIID^. 



Lathridius (Gen., p. 232). 



2510. L. caviceps, '^-s. Subovate, moderately convex, gla- 

 brous, shining, blackish ; legs and antennae fuscous, the basal joint 

 of these latter, and the club, nearly black, tarsi pale-brown. 



Head narrowed behind and in front, the forehead with oblique 

 lateral margins ; its surface distinctly and somewhat rugosely punc- 

 tured ; the clypeus smooth. Eyes large and prominent. AntenncB 

 stout, basal joint thick ; second oviform ; 3-8 slender, evidently 

 longer than broad ; ninth about as long as broad, narrow at the 

 base ; tenth transverse ; eleventh largest, coniciil. Thorax trans- 

 versely quadrate, the lateral margins moderately explanate, 

 minutely serrate, a little sinuously narrowed towards the base ; its 

 surface uneven and rugose ; in front, at the middle, there is a 

 rounded impression, and, usually, an elongate one extending from 

 the base and touching the frontal one, the borders of these impres- 

 sions are very slightly raised, there is another large impression at 

 each side, near the base. Scutcllum smooth. Elytra large, broader 

 than the thorax at the base, still wider before the middle, gradually 

 narrowed posteriorly ; they are distinctly punctate-striate ; inter- 

 stices irregularly elevated, the external a little raised at the shoul- 

 ders, the sutural depressed, the third and fifth are more or less 

 elevated throughout, seventh narrow and cariniform towards the 

 extremity. Legs slender, tibia? nearly straight and unarmed ; tarsi 

 moderately slender, their basal joint nearly as long as the second, 

 third as long as the preceding two, claws small. 



Underside glossy-black. Metastermim large, convex, nearly 

 smooth on the middle, distinctly punctured at the sides, impressed 

 behind. Abdomen finely punctate, the basal segment largest, 

 minutely margined and subtruncate between the coxa? ; the others 

 decrease in size. Prostcrnum truncate in front, with a central costa 

 from base to apex. Head rather sharply limited in front, and at the 



