6i6 FAUNA HAWAIIENSIS 



In this table the species likely to cause most difficulty are {a) those in which the 

 eyes are unusually large, but not so greatly developed as those in section I ; species 

 most likely to cause difficulty are M. 7iigrocastanens and M. discolor, which might 

 almost be placed in the first division : (b) species in which the puncturation is of a 

 feeble and indefinite character or variable, e.g. M. nuntrus, htgjihj'is, varius, discolor 

 and a few others, which, either from individual variation, or from ill-definition of the 

 sculpture, it is hard to tell whether to refer to ( i ) I or to I (2). Fortunately these 

 difficult forms are, when all told, comparatively few. The pubescence is of great value 

 in deciding the position of a species, for when it is markedly distinct immediately along 

 the suture behind the base of the elytra and very scanty external to this, such a form 

 will be placed under I ( i ) ; when fairly regular in distribution, even though not at all 

 dense, the species so clothed will fall under I (2). Unfortunately the clothing is subject 

 to abrasion, when the antennae are being extracted, and this abrasion usually occurs 

 a little behind the base, in fact on the most critical part of the insect. In these cases 

 most careful examination of the puncturation is necessary. If the punctures are very 

 few and of unusually large size and very shallow, the species should be placed in I (i). 

 Species like M. debilis (or at least examples that I refer to debilis) clearly belong to 

 I (2); so too does M. lugubris $, though I have placed it under both sections, since it 

 varies in sculpture. 



Although I have obtained a good many Mirostcrmis in various localities since 

 I ceased to collect for the Sandwich Islands Committee, I have (with one exception) 

 not considered these specimens in the present paper. I have been much struck with 

 the entire absence of distinct new forms in those recently collected, and, I may say, that 

 so far from throwing light on the species here described, these later specimens will 

 greatly increase the difficulty of distinguishing the species, there being either a number 

 of new species excessively closely allied to those here described, or forming variations of 

 a most perplexing nature. 



(l) Mirostermis ocu/atns, sp. nov. 



Ferrugineus aut testaceus, oblongus, capite et pronoto nonnunquam sordidioribus, 

 antennarum clava nigricante aut fuscescente. Oculi permagni, singulis spatio frontis 

 intermedio duplo latioribus. Antennarum clava permagna, articulo primo triangulari, 

 angulo interno baud acuto, apice producto. Caput et pronotum pallide pubescentia, 

 hoc nitido subtilissime nee distincte punctato. Elytra pallide pubescentia, sat nitida, 

 subtiliter, subaequaliter, parum fortiter punctata. Long. 3-5 mm. 



In some examples the suture and lateral margins of the elytra are dark. The 

 pubescence of the elytra is not dense, but in fresh examples is evenly distributed over 

 their dorsal surface. The puncturation is rather stronger in some examples than in 

 others. The metasternum is strongly carinate in front. 



Hab. Kauai ; 3000 — 4000 ft. 



