OF NEW ZEALAND. 1075 



narrowed in front than behind, apex emarginate between the 

 sharply-rounded angles, posterior angles rectangular but with a 

 short oblique sinuosity just in front of them ; the surface slightly 

 uneven, there being two large shallow impressions behind the 

 middle, punctuation moderately close. Scutellum broad, punctate. 

 Elytra gradually narrowed towards the obtusely-rounded apex, im- 

 pressed behind the scutellum, and with two or three obsolete longi- 

 tudinal elevations ; their punctuation similar to that of the thorax. 

 Tibics slender at base, gradually dilated beyond, the groove along the 

 external face of the two hind pairs bordered with fine yellow cilise. 



This species, in general appearance, looks more like a large 

 Ejmrcea — E. zealandica for example — than a Soronia, but lacks the 

 distinguishing character of that genus (the deeply-notched labrum). 

 It is of oblong form, and of about the same size as Herr Eeitter's 

 S. oculata ; the coarse set® seen in that insect, however, are here 

 wanting. 



Length, 2f ; breadth, 1^ lines. 



Otago. Mr. T. Chalmer sent me the only specimen he found. 



Platipidia. 



Kov. gen. 



Like Soronia in structure. The antennal grooves extending along 

 the inner margin of the eyes, but only slightly directed inwards. 

 Anterior tibire simple ; intermediate broadly grooved along the ex- 

 ternal face ; posterior similarly channelled, open near the extremity, 

 the basal portion slender for one-third of the length, then abruptly 

 thickened or angulated on the inside. Coxce gradually more widely- 

 separated, the hind pair more widely separated by the broad, 

 scarcely angulated abdominal process than is the case in the Euro- 

 pean Soronia grisea. Labrum transverse, emarginate in front, with 

 oblique angles. 



The institution of this genus was suggested by some observations 

 of Dr. Sharp concerning the Soronia oculata described by Herr 

 Eeitter. 



1919. P. asperella, '>i-s. Oblong, subdepressed, opaque above, 

 variegate ; mostly fuscous, the head and sides of the body broadly 

 obscure-testaceous, as are also some irregular marks on the elytra ; 

 legs and antennae rather more rufescent. 



Head moderately closely punctured, forehead broadly rounded, 

 with a distinct impression near each antennal orbit ; eyes promi- 

 nent. Thorax transverse, sides explanate, widest behind the middle, 

 from thence rounded to the rectangular, but not acute, hind angles, 

 curvedly narrowed towards the front, apex widely emarginate ; its 

 surface punctate, coarsely on the sides, covered with yellowish 

 setae, some more slender than others (hairs, in fact) and depressed, 

 many rather coarse and bent, and, besides these, there are a good 

 many dark spots formed apparently of blackish seta?.. Scutellwu 

 broad, closely punctate. Elytra with, on each, three or four series 



