Neiv Zealand Coleoptera. 85 



Mesanobium, n. g. 



Caput parvum, valde inflexum, oculis minoribus sed 

 convexis. Antennae ll-articulatse, quasi simplices, 

 articulis inter se parum dissimilibus, nee serratse, 

 articulis ultimis nullo modo elongatis. Prothorax par- 

 vulus, supra aequalis, lateribus baud marginatis, pro- 

 sterno brevissimo, coxis fere contiguis. Mesosternum 

 simiDlex ; pedes intermedii sat distantes. Metasternum 

 baud impressum. 



Head very sbort, greatly inflexed; the eyes small, 

 but prominent and nearly circular; the mandibles 

 largely exposed in front of the clypeus (terminal joint of 

 maxillary palpus apparently narrowly oval, with slightly 

 acuminate extremity). Antenna rather small, 11-jointed, 

 the first joint swollen and glabrous, the others finely 

 setose and pubescent ; 2nd joint rather stouter than the 

 following, but not longer than it ; 3rd slender ; 4th 

 slightly less slender ; 5th a little longer than 4th ; 6th 

 to 11th differing very little from one another ; the 10th 

 and 11th each about as long as broad. Prothorax not 

 produced in the middle in front, but, as the pronotum is 

 greatly longer than the prosternum, having the appear- 

 ance of being so produced when viewed laterally. Pro- 

 sternum very reduced in size, but simple, not hollowed ; 

 the front coxae small, and nearly contiguous, but sepa- 

 rated by a slender band ; the pronotum not limited from 

 the side portions. Middle coxae moderately distant, 

 the space between them not impressed. Tarsi rather 

 long and slender, but getting slightly broader from the 

 base to the 4th joint. 



This minute and unattractive insect is one of the least 

 differentiated of the forms of Anohiidce. It has the 

 appearance, colour, and sculpture of the genera Dryo- 

 philus and Priohium, and may be placed between them if 

 the antennae be disregarded, but differs from both the 

 genera named by the structure of these organs ; no other 

 position can be suggested for the insect, and, as I 

 consider that too great an importance has been attached 

 to the antennae in comparison with other parts of the 

 structure in the Anohiadce, I think its place should really 

 be that I have mentioned. Broun (Man. N. Zealand 

 Col., p. 687) has described an insect under the name of 

 Sphiiiditelcs, which may possibly be allied to this, but as 



