CNEMACANTHIDAE. 671 



broader than long at the middle, a good deal rounded but evidently 

 contracted and straight-sided at the base, lateral channels narrow, the 

 margins hardly at all crenulate, base and apex a little incurved ; its 

 surface almost smooth, discal stria distinct but not reaching the apex, 

 the usual curvate frontal transverse impression is scarcely visible except 

 near the angles ; basal fossae deep, rather narrow, extending to the base, 

 with well - defined margins. Elytra oblong-oval, slightly broader than 

 thorax, nearly thrice its length ; regularly punctate-striate, their three 

 outer striae deeper and more distinctly, but not very coarsely, punctured 

 than the inner five, and their interstices rather narrower and more convex, 

 the sculpture more irregular behind, the space outside the eighth stria is 

 smooth but does not reach the shoulder, marginal punctation similar to 

 that of the nearest stria. 



Underside almost quite smooth ; the last ventral segment at the apex 

 bipunctate at each side of the middle. 



The very definite frontal hmitation of the occiput is its chief 

 characteristic. 



Length, 23 mm. ; breadth, 7 mm. 



Tokaanu. Two sent (one damaged) by Mr. A. C. O'Connor on the 

 6th April, 1918. 



4257. Mecodema cassense sp. nov. 



Shining, sUghtly convex ; black, the antennae, palpi, labrum, legs, and 

 trochanters rufescent. 



Head nearly smooth, with moderate inter-ocular rugae, the longitudinal 

 ones on the forehead, and the setigerous punctures on the labrum well 

 marked. Thorax a sixth broader than long, widest near the front, 

 gradually curvedly narrowed backwards, more and subsinuously narrowed 

 rlear the obtuse basal angles ; lateral margins entire, the channels narrow 

 but slightly expanded in front, base and apex a little incurved ; disc 

 almost smooth, without visible apical or basal striae, the central groove 

 moderate, abbreviated at both extremities ; basal fossae deep, sub- 

 rotundate, rather small and situated close to the angles. Elytra oblong- 

 oval, shghtly broader than thorax, 2h times its length ; the four inner 

 striae on each are slender and almost impunctate, rather deeper at the 

 base, with plane interstices ; the outer are deep, the seventh and eighth 

 though not very coarsely, are closely and more distinctly punctured than 

 the sixth, with narrower and more convex interstices, apical sculpture 

 irregular ; the usually smooth lateral space has four or five punctiform 

 impressions. 



Underside glossy black, nearly quite smooth, terminal ventral segment 

 at the extremity with two distinct punctures, and two others, close 

 together, nearer each side. Outer angles of front and middle tibiae 

 distinctly prominent. 



Fern.. — Less glossy. Terminal ventral segment truncate behind, with 

 four almost equidistant punctures there. Length, 2U X 6 mm. 



Nearly alhed to M. cofjnatum (2603), but with more outstanding eyes, 

 smoother thorax, much finer elytral sculpture, more asperate intermediate 

 tibiae, and differently marked terminal ventral segment. 



cJ. Length, 23 mm. ; breadth, 7 mm. 



Cass, Canterbury side of West Coast railway, amongst tussock-grass. 

 One of each sex, both damaged, sent by Professor Hilgendorf on the 

 23rd July; 1917, and 4th January, 1918. 



