OF XEW ZEALAND. 977 



shallow towards the suture. Legs black ; middle tibite very asperate 

 externally. 



None of the descriptions of other species at all accord with the 

 sculpture of this insect. 



Three examples were found by Helms, near Bealey, in 1884. 



1760. M. nietallicuni, ^^--s. (Sliarj) ; Trans. Boy. DtcblinSoc, 

 1861.) Ancjaatulinn, nigro-piceum, supra teneum, antennis pedi- 

 busque piceis, femoribus ruiis ; capite subrugoso, vertice latins punc- 

 tato ; prothorace elougato, lateribus obsolete crenatis, dorso parum 

 profunde transversim rugoso ; elytris ubique subaequaliter variolosis. 



Long., 18mm. 



Aiitcnnce and palpi dark-red ; head very irregularly rugose, the 

 rugte not elongate or very definite, the vertex coarsely punctate. 

 Thorax elongate, very nearly as long as broad, with a channel on the 

 middle becoming obsolete before attaining the front margin, the sur- 

 face with rather distant, coarse, but not deeply impressed, transverse 

 rugcB ; the base has distinct longitudinal plicte ; the sides are but 

 little rounded, but are narrowed behind, and sinuate so as to form a 

 rather well marked contraction close to the base ; the base is a little 

 emarginate in the middle, and the hind angles rather obtuse ; at the 

 point of contraction there is a depression not reaching the base ; the 

 lateral margin is not truly crenate, though it has the appearance of 

 being broken owing to its being impinged on by the punctures in which 

 the inira-marginal tactile seta3 are placed ; these latter are nine or 

 ten in number on each side, the three or four anterior being placed 

 rather near one another. The elytra are narrow, the shoulders being 

 excessively diminished, and they bear series of impressions or large 

 punctures, the external ones being deep, those near the suture rather 

 smaller and less deep. 



Greymouth. I received my example of this species from Mr. 

 Helms four or five years ago, but have not described it hitherto, 

 hoping I might be able to compare it with M. crenicoUe, Cast., to 

 which it is probably allied. Although I have not been able to 

 make the acquaintance of Castelnau's species, I feel little doubt the 

 two are distinct, though Castelnau's is very brief and imperfect. 



Note. — Metacjlyiuma 'piuiciifcr, No. 1323, and M. ceneoniger, No. 

 1453, must be placed in the genus Mecodema. In both species the 

 tibiiE are not dilated apically, and the seven terminal articulations 

 of the antennae are pubescent. — T.B. 



1761. M. SUteri, n.s. Black, shining ; tarsi, antenna, and palpi 

 piceous. 



Head finely punctured behind, with short longitudinal striolae in 

 front, sides longitudinally rugose, the middle and posterior portions 

 obsoletely and irregularly \vriukled ; mandibles striate ; eyes promi- 

 nent. An t enncB ixiodemte, second joint as long as third; basal four 

 joints glabrous, except for the presence of a few fine hairs at the 

 extremity, the other joints pubescent. Thorax broader than long 

 (3^ by li lines), base slightly incurved, apex nearly truncate, hardly 



