1020 COLEOPTEKA 



the neighbourhood of Saphiidrits and Byginodus ; the large exposed 

 labrum, the thick legs, and the ta^rsi hairy beneath, are characters 

 which, taken conjointly, distinguish this from all the other New 

 Zealand forms of Hydrophilid^e. The two species known to me, 

 though similar iti general appearance, differ in some important 

 sculptural characters, which will be alluded to in the specific de- 

 scriptions ; at present there would be no advantage in treating them 

 as distinct genera. 



1826. H, linsi, ^.s. {SJmrp ; Trans. Ent. Soc. Loud., 1884, 

 p. 476.) Ovalis, latus, niger, sat nitidus, autennis palpisque rufis, 

 tarsis piceis ; corpore supra dense punctato, elytrisque pra^terea 

 seriebus decern punctorum majorum, seriebus internis obsole- 

 tescentibus sed suturali apicem versus in striam continuata ; tibiis 

 crassis rude scabrosis. 



Long., 7i-mm. ; lat., 5mm. 



This very remarkable Hydrophilid is readily identifiable by the 

 thick, densely scabrous middle and hind itbice ; the punctures of 

 the external series of the elytra are remarkably large and definite, 

 but give rise to no appearance of striation ; the sutura,l series is 

 scarcely distinguishable in front, but behind forms a fine well- 

 marked stria. The mesosternal portion of the pectoral prominence 

 is rather large, quite as long as it is broad, and the middle legs are 

 comparatively slightly separated ; the hind tarsi are quite laxly 

 articulated, and are furnished with long bushy pubescence beneath. 



We are indebted to Mr. Lins, of Maori Creek, about sixteen 

 miles from Greymouth, for the discovery of this and some other 

 species of Coleoptera. Mr. Lins is placed in a district which cer- 

 tainly supplies some remarkable insects, and it will be a great 

 benefit to science if he can devote some time to their research. 



Obs. — Hydrostygnus brouni, the second species alluded to by Dr. 

 Sharp in the generic diagnosis, being exactly the same as No. 155, 

 must be sunk as a synonym of Hydrostygnus frontalis, the name 

 No. 155 must now bear. It is certainly an extraordinary circum- 

 stance that Dr. Sharp could not reconcile the insect {Hydrostygnus 

 brouni), of which he received a specimen from me, with any of the 

 descriptions in the Man. N.Z. Coleopt. — T. B. 



1827. H. minor, »• s. Convex, broad, oviform, piceous, legs 

 red, antenucG and palpi fulvous. 



The following characters distinguish this species from H. fron- 

 talis (H. brouni. Sharp) : The body is shorter and broader, and, 

 consequently, less oval ; it is redder in colour, the head and thorax 

 being evidently rufescent ; the legs are quite red ; the antennce. are 

 decidedly more slender, though similar in structure ; the eyes are 

 more distinctly facetted, only very finely however ; the tarsi are 

 more closely jointed ; in both species the sculpture is nearly similar. 



Length, 2i ; breadth. If lines. 



Ho wick. One example.. 



