OF NEW ZEALAND. 1345 



Group-CUCUJIDiE. 



Thortus. 



Nov. gen. 



Picrotus is nearly related, but differs in some important points. 



Body convex, oval, elongate. The antennce are eleven-jointed ; 

 the terminal articulations, however, form a three-jointed club, which, 

 owing to the gradual incrassation of the preceding joints, is not at 

 all abruptly marked off; the ninth joint is not twice the bulk of the 

 eighth, but is distinctly smaller than the transverse tenth joint, the 

 terminal being still larger ; the third joint is rather longer than the 

 contiguous ones ; joints 4-8 decrease in length. The thorax is of the 

 same width as the elytra at the base and closely adapted thereto, it 

 is gradually narrowed towards the front ; its side margins are not 

 flattened or thickened, being, in fact, quite fine, and there is no trace 

 of lateral grooves near them ; the middle of the base has a sort of 

 broad depressed plate which overlaps the extreme front of the 

 scutellum ; the posterior angles are not prolonged backwards, being 

 almost rectangular. Scutellum i-iith.evla,vge. The /c(/s and tarsi are 

 longer than they are in Picrotus, and terminate in small claws ; 

 each of the four basal joints of the tarsi is furnished below with 

 a rather elongate bristle. The ventral sutures are not so deep. 

 There is a distinct quadrate depression at the termination of the 

 prosternal process. The etjcs are much smaller, quite minute and 

 inconspicuous. 



Thorictus is quite different in many respects. 



2359. T. OValis, "-s- Elongate-oval, very sparingly clothed 

 with slender pallid hairs; shining, red, sides of thorax piceous, legs 

 fulvous. 



Head nearly smooth, somewhat flattened above. Thorax about 

 as long as broad, simple, with a few moderately-fine distant punc- 

 tures on each side of the smooth central portion, tlie curved basal 

 plate impunctate. Scutclluiu large, rounded behind. Elytra widest 

 before the middle, gradually narrowed posteriori}-, about twice the 

 length of the thorax ; each with an ill-defined sutural stria and very 

 few distant punctures. Legs stout ; the tibiae thickened towards 

 the extremity, with minute spurs. The antemuc are sparsely 

 pubescent, and are longer than the thorax. 



Length, f ; breadth, % line. 



Boatman's, Westland. One example, found by Mr. Cavell. 



Group-CRYPTOPHAGID^. 



Cryptophagus (Gen., p. 224). 



2360. C. discoideus, "-s. Oblong, moderately convex; the 

 head, thorax, and antennte red, legs fulvescent ; elytra, near the 

 base and apex, infuscate-red, most of the dorsum nearly fulvous ; 

 clothed with yellow hairs, some of which are long and upright. 



