596 COLEOPTERA. 



M. stnalnni (2G00) is well diftVrontiated by its more elongate form, its 

 elvtra though gradually are considerably narrowed posteriorly, and, more- 

 over, have impunctate but unusually deep and regular striae. 



Length, 19i mm. ; breadth, 6h mm. 



Hump Ridge, Southland ; elevation, 3,500 ft. A single Specimen, from 

 Mr. Cuthbert Fenwick, of Dunedin ; 20th January, 1916. 



4156. Mecodema veratrum sp. nov. 



This is similar to M. femorale in general form and coloration, but it is 

 smaller, smoother, and duller. 



The labrum is very short, slightly emarginate in front, with five coarse 

 punctures. The head has only a single definite groove alongside each eye, 

 the forehead is depressed in the middle but is only unisulcate at the sides, 

 and the occipital punctation is closer and finer. The thorax is of the same 

 shape, the basal fossae are shorter, do not reach the basal margin, and have 

 numerous fine punctures near them ; the mesial furrow though distinct is 

 more slender, but there are no linear impressions across the disc. The 

 elytra are rather more regularly and finely sculptured, the alternate inter- 

 stices are but little broader than the others, flat near the suture, and less 

 convex behind than those on M. femorale. 



The ventral segments are quite smootli, as is the middle of the breast, 

 but its sides are moderately closely and distinctly but not coarsely 

 punctured. 



Both species differ materially from M. iyifimate (3471), being less elongate 

 and glossy, differently sculptured, and with broader, much less oviform 

 elytra. 



^. Length, 17 mm. ; breadth, 5 mm. 



Hunter Mountains, south-west of Lake Wakatipu. One example, from 

 Mr. A. Philpott, who was also kind enough to present me with his type of 

 M. infimate. 



4157. Mecodema punctellum sp. nov. 



Robust, sUghtly convex, nitid ; black, antennae, palpi, and tarsi rufo- 

 piceous. 



Head, mandibles exclusive, nearly the length of thorax, including the 

 prominent eyes as broad as its apex ; the surface a little uneven, with irregu- 

 lar rugae near the sides, deep longitudinal ones in front, and an indefinitely 

 punctate transverse depression behind not extending as far as the eyes, 

 behind these the genae are somewhat swollen ; labrum slightly emarginate 

 and coarsely sex-punctate. Mandibles closely, obliquely, and finely rugose. 

 Thorax cordate, truncate in front, a fifth broader than long, widest near 

 the front, gradually narrowed to beyond the middle, evidently sinuate- 

 angustate beliind, the base slightly emarginate at tlie middle but rounded 

 towards the subrectangular angles ; disc almost smooth, the central groove 

 well marked and very nearly if not quite touching the base and apex, both 

 of which have fine longitudinal striae, there is an oblique impression near 

 each anterior angle and a subrotundate one near each side before the middle, 

 basal fossae moderately large ; lateral margins subcrenulate, the channels 

 moderately broad, with many setigerous punctures. Elytra oblong-oval, 

 finely margined, fully twice the length of thorax, a little broader ; on each 

 elytron there are six dorsal, rather shallow, finely punctured striae, the 

 suture, third and fifth interstices are nearly twice as broad as the others, and 

 somewhat elevated at the base, seventh narrower but more convex inside the 



