600 COLEOPTERA. 



and well marked, the carinae also distinct. Labrum widely emarginate 

 and quadripunctate in front, its length oidy a fourth of the breadth. Thorax 

 an eighth broader than long, base and apex truncate, its sides distinctly 

 margined, a little wider near the middle than elsewhere, gently curvedly 

 narrowed anteriorly, nearly straight, only feebly sinuate, towards the 

 rectangular posterior angles, these do not extend outwards as far as the 

 margins of the shoulders ; discal groove distinct at the base but not 

 attaining the apex, where there are several abbreviated, fine, longitudinal 

 striae ; basal region moderately closely and finely punctate, the large fossae 

 distinctly carinate outside. Scutellum broadly triangular, smooth. Elytra 

 oviform, quite double the length of thorax, a third broader than it is at 

 the middle, with strongly rounded apices, marginal channels moderately 

 broad ; they are finely, yet quite definitely punctate -striate, interstices 

 nearly plane, the third tripunctate ; there are about four larger punctures 

 at the sides near the base and extremity. 



The remarkably abbreviated and widely incurved labrum, with only 

 four in place of six setigerous punctures, is its principal distinguishing 

 character. Dr. Sharp's Z. helmsi has impunctate elytral striae, and the 

 inner angle of the basal tarsal joint of the male is rather more prolonged. 

 Z. atralus (1796) has larger and more convex eyes, its measurement is 

 8^ mm. bv 3J mm. Z. suhopacus (3689) and Z. ocvlarius (3808) are mani- 

 fe'stly different. Z. femoralis (2658), (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 6, vol. 14, 

 p. 311), is the nearest species. 



<S. Length, 8 mm. ; breadth, 3 mm. 



Mount Roberts, Nelson. A solitary individual, found by Mr. T. Hall 

 on the 28th December, 1915. 



Tarastethus Sharp. Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1003. 

 4163. Tarastethus robustus sp. nov, 



Nitid, black, legs, antennae, and mandibles rufescent, tarsi and palpi 

 of a lighter hue. 



Head subovate, narrow^er and rather shorter than thorax, irregularly 

 and very finely wrinkled behind, with moderate frontal impressions ; 

 labrum twice as broad as long. Thorax a fourth broader than long, its 

 sides finely marginate, widest and rounded at the middle, curvedly nar- 

 rowed towards the front, evidently sinuate-angustate behind, posterior 

 angles rectangular ; base slightly emarginate at the middle, apex sub- 

 truncate ; discal groove rather fine, not reaching the base or apex, the 

 basal region rather finely and irregularly rugose and punctate, the fossae 

 situated between the middle and sides, rather large but shallow. Elytra 

 convex, double the length of thorax, a third broader at the middle, rather 

 wider than thorax at the base, their sides rather strongly rounded, evidently 

 marginate and channelled ; on each elytron there are seven dorsal, regular, 

 impunctate, rather sharply marked striae ; interstices nearly plane, the 

 third slight-ly tripunctate, the posterior plica normal. 



In general form almost similar to Sharp's T. puncticollis (1799), rather 

 larger, the lateral thoracic margins considerably finer, the basal sculpture 

 and fossae less distinct ; labrum shorter ; elytral striae very different ; 

 the antennae and anterior tibiae stouter. 



Length, 7| mm. ; breadth, 3^ mm. 



Mount Roberts, Nelson ; 28th December, 1915. A single male, found 

 by Mr. T. Hall during a wet, stormy journey. 



