POGONIDAE. 36i^ 



3814. Tarastethus propinquus sp. no v. 



Nigro-pict'ous, legs and mandibles piceo-rufous. ante7)nac and tarsi light 

 t'usco-rufous, palpi fulvescent. 



In form like T. longulus, ratliei' larger, uniformly darker. Thorax- 

 longer, almost as long as broad, with fuier margins ; its base medialh' 

 emarginate, distinctly but not strongly curved towards the slightly promi- 

 nent angles, which are setigerous ; it is without basal punctation or fossae. 

 Elytral striae apparently impunctate, sharply impressed near the suture, 

 obsolete towards the sides. The eyes rather more prominent. 



Underside smooth, terminal segment of abdomen bipunctate at each 

 side of the apex. 



Anterior tarsi of the male with the basal 3 joints a httle dilated, anrj 

 jjrovided underneath with greyish squamae. 



T. simplex (2656), found by Commander J. J. Walker, K.N., at Port 

 Chalmers, measures 5 mm. by 2 mm. Its thorax is decidedly cordate, a good 

 deal broader and more rounded before the middle, with minute longi- 

 tudinal sculpture at its base. The male has the same tarsal vestiture as 

 T. propinqims. 



c^. Length, 6 mm. ; breadth, nearly 2| mm. 



Ben Lomond. Another of Mr. T. Hall's discoveries ; two examples on 

 about the 6th March, 1914. 



3815. Tarastethus optatus sp. nov. 



Oblong, shghtly convex, nitid ; fusco-niger, the sides, but not the 

 margins, and apices of elytra and the femora fusco-testaceous ; palpi, 

 antennae, and tarsi more or less fulvescent ; mandibles pitchy-red ; tibiae 

 obscurely rufescent. 



Head rather narrower than front of thorax, eyes inclusive, interoculai- 

 impressions rather large and deep, the interval between each and the 

 sharply marked lateral groove obtusely elevated ; epistome truncate, and 

 with 4 or 5 small punctures ; labrum deeply emarginate ; eyes large but 

 only moderately prominent. Thorax a third broader than long, base trun- 

 cate, apex a little incurved, its sides with distinct, slightly reflexed margins, 

 widest and rounded at the middle, gently narrowed towards the slightlv 

 projecting hind angles ; the surface exhibits some feeble transverse striae, 

 the central groove is slender, and does not reach the apex, basal fossae 

 shallow and indefinite and feebly rugose. Elytra oblong-oval, rather broader 

 than thorax, twice its length, with very distinct, somewhat reflexed margins, 

 and broadly rounded apices ; their striae apparently impunctate, the sutural 

 three, on each elytron, not deep but reaching the extremity, the outer ones 

 shallow and obsolete near the base : interstices plane, the 3rd feebly tri- 

 punctate, subapical carinae distinct. 



Like T. oxygomis (1456) ; in it, however, the margins of the thorax and 

 elytra are broadly testaceous ; the thoracic fossae are sulciform and well 

 marked, and the elytral striae are punctate and distinct. Both species are 

 witliout setae at the posterior angles. T. optatus has obtu.se terminal joints 

 of the palpi ; in 1456 they are acuminate. 



$. Length, 6| mm. ; breadth, quite 2| mm. 



Mount Dick. Unique. Found by Mr. Hall on the 17th March. 1914. 



