378 Mr. F. Bates's descriptions 
somewhat closely, but not coarsely, rugose-punctate ; epi- 
stoma and vertex minutely punctate : jjrothorax of same 
form as in cyaneus, the anterior angles a little less pro- 
duced, disk somewhat sparsely punctured; the punctuation 
on the depressed basal portion sometimes obsolete, sides 
minutely and not closely punctulate : elytra blue-black, 
with faint violet reflections, decidedly less convex than in 
any preceding, the strife nearly obsolete, the punctures 
distinct and well marked, except at the apex, where they 
are much smaller ; intervals distinctly but sjDarsely piuic- 
tulate, the 7th only distinctly convex from near the apex : 
underside and legs deep shining black ; basal joints of the 
antennae and of the tarsi dark chestnut, the palpi paler : 
prosternal process and mesosternum as in cyaneus ; the 
intercoxal process relatively narrower, broadly triangulate 
at apex. 
Long. 3 1 to 4 lin. ; lat. elytr. If to 2 lin. 
Hab. — New Caledonia. Tavo examples. 
Isopus oxygaster, Montrouzier, 1. c, p. 300 
(sec. Coll. Done). 
I have grave doubts as to the wisdom of leaving this 
species in the genus Isopus: the form is globulous and ex- 
ceedingly convex, the head and prothorax, and the elytra 
behind, being strongly and almost equally declivous, with 
the apex of the latter a little produced ; the prothorax is 
strongly narrowed to the apex, where it rather closely 
embraces the sides of the head, the front angles are pro- 
duced, acute and directed forwards ; the head is faintly 
and distantly punctured, the epistomal suture distinctly 
marked ; the prothorax is impunctate, smooth, the base 
broadly rounded ; the elytra are not wider at base than 
the base of the prothorax, impTuictate, the strije being 
represented by faint lines or streaks, the position of tlu; 
7th interval is indicated by a costiform elevation at the 
apex ; the prosternum is short, compressed and subcarinate 
in front, the process is very Avide, bi-impressed, and broadly 
rounded behind ; the mesosternum is wide, short, broadly 
and angularly cleft in front nearly to the base ; the mcta- 
stcrnum is rather long, being nearly twice as long between 
the coxae as the 2nd ventral segment ; the intercoxal 
process is very mde, the apex broadly and sinuously 
rounded ; the head, prothorax, underside, and femora, 
are deep shining black, the elytra are shining black Avith 
