OF XEW ZEALAND. 1045 



P. pilistriatus. — Clavate portion of terminal joint of palpi about one-third of 



the whole length. 

 P. ccBCtis. — Palpi extremely slender and elongate, the clavate portion of the 



fourth joint very small. 

 P. delicatus. — Clavate portion of tiie last joint of the palpi little more than 



one-fourth of the entire length. The femora punctate. 

 P. fuscopllns. — Clavate portion of the last joint of the palpi less than half the 



entire length. 

 P. citimus. — Clavate portion of terminal joint of palpi about one-third of the 



whole length. 

 P. dulcis. — Clavate portion of terminal joint of palpi about two-thirds of 



the whole length. The thorax much compressed laterally, so that the 



middle appears as if ridged and very convex. 



Bryaxis. 



1869. B. euplectoides, n.s. Elongate, much narrowed an- 

 teriorly, a little convex ; sparingly clothed with pale, rather short, 

 decumbent hairs., and a, few longer erect ones behind ; shining, red, 

 legs and palpi rufo-testaceous, tarsi yellow. 



Head nearly quadrate, rounded behind the prominent eyes, with 

 two large foveae, one near each eye, the front margin of these foveas 

 appearing as if raised towards the tubercles, the space in rear of the 

 tubercles depressed but without obvious frontal foveae. Antcnnce 

 two-thirds the length of the body ; two basal joints stout ; joints 3-7 

 nearly equal, each longer than broad ; eighth little more than half 

 the length of fifth ; ninth larger than eighth ; tenth twice the 

 breadth of eighth ; eleventh subovate. double the bulk of the pre- 

 ceding one. Thorax widest at the middle, its length and breadth 

 about the same, sides strongly rounded ; with a large fovea near each 

 posterior angle and a smaller one intervening not distinctly united 

 by a linear transverse impression. Eb/tra no longer than broad, a 

 good deal narrowed towards the shoulders ; sutural strife broad and 

 deep, the stria beyond abbreviated but nearly as well marked, some- 

 times prolonged to tlie apex as a curved aciculate impression ; their 

 surface seems as if marked with punctures or minute elevations, de- 

 pending on the way they are looked at. Hind-body quite as broad 

 as wing-cases, widely marginated, basal segment nearly twice as long 

 as second, the others deflexed, impunctate. Legs elongate, posterior 

 tibiffi slightly bent near the extremity. 



Male. Sexual distinction, legs thickened. 



Nearly related to Startes scitlpturata, the head, however, much 

 shorter, less elevated on the vertex, and not prolonged anteriorly. 

 Eyes large and prominent, instead of being very small as in that 

 species. Maxillary palpi shorter, the second articulation unusually 

 slender from its base to the clavate apex. AntennjB more slender. 

 It is quite distinct from any Bryaxis known to me, the elytra are 

 less convex than in B. inflata, and much less curvedly narrowed 

 between the base. The elytral striae are peculiar. 



The discovery of this species, which is intermediate between 

 Bryaxis and Startes, would seem to invalidate the latter genus. 



Length, f-f : breadth, ^ line. 



Found near Howick. Three examples. 



