New Zealand Coleoptcra. 91 



elongate elevation in the middle in front ; a rather large 

 prominence on each side of this, and other smaller less 

 conspicuous asperate tubercles. After body very convex, 

 very narrow at the base, with a longitudinal series of 

 large tubercles near the suture, and a row of smaller 

 tubercles outside this and marking the part where the sides 

 become perpendicular (these slope even a little inwards), 

 and with other smaller asperities, and with longitudinal 

 series of large punctures or pits, which are indistinct in 

 the spots where the tubercles are much developed. Legs 

 elongate and slender. 



This remarkable species has been discovered at Grey- 

 mouth by Mr. Helms, and a specimen sent to me as 

 No. 133. 



Pentarthrum helmsianum, n. s. 



(? . Piobustum, sat elongatum, nigrum sat nitidum, 

 prothorace crebre fortiter punctato ; elytris sat fortiter 

 striato-punctatis ; rostro lato, anterius latissime angu- 

 lariter dilatato, subrhomboidali. Long. 6 mm. 



Antennae black, with the intermediate joints piceous ; 

 the basal joint opaque and somewhat twisted, so as to 

 appear emarginate in one aspect. Eostrum very broad, 

 extremely dilated in front, so that the sides project 

 as acute angles, and the front margin is curved ; the 

 upper part is rather closely, the anterior more sparingly, 

 punctate ; the neck is smooth, and the eyes are not very 

 far from the front of the thorax. This latter part is 

 rather broad, and a good deal rounded at the sides, the 

 surface rather coarsely, moderately closely, evenly j^unc- 

 tate and shining. Elytra with impressed striae, which are 

 distinctly jjunctate ; the interstices scarcely punctate, but 

 somewhat dull and obscurely rugulose. Legs black, 

 robust, all the tibiae armed at the apex internally with 

 an angular process, which is on the hind legs large and 

 remarkable. The female is unknown. 



This peculiar insect will probably ultimately form the 

 type of a genus distinct from Pentarthrum, but as it goes 

 very well into that genus, as at present defined, it is not 

 necessary to make a new name for it. The great 

 development of the rostrum reminds one rather of some 

 of the Brenthidce than of a Cossonid. The two indi- 

 viduals before me are quite similar, and I have no 



