Suarp—On New Zealand Coleoptera. 365 
PTEROSTICHINI. 
Having made a short study of such New Zealand members of this group as are 
at my command, I subjoin a table of their genera or sub-genera which I hope may 
be found to facilitate future research. 
Metathoracic episterna elongate, . : , : : . Rhytisternus Chaud. 
Metathoracic episterna short. 
1.  Prosternum with sete at tip, . : a : . Trichosternus Auct. 
ls.  Prosternum without sete at tip, ; : 5 et 
2. Basal joint of antenna impressed and aiboaraate: - Zeopecilus (sub. gen. nov.) 
2a. Basal joint of antenna simple, . : 6 ¢ 5 8 
3.  Scutellum striate at base, : C ° : 0 eh 
8a. Scutellum not striate, : ‘ ‘ F : oe tbs 
( A Thorax with four lateral sete, . . 6 z . Pterostichus subeneus group. 
4.°B + 5, three ,, BY; c 2 3 C 5 3 elongellus. 
lo 4 py UOT) 55 x : c ; ; 54 longiformis group. 
5.  Elytra with two or three punctures on third interstice, Haptoderus Bates (auct. ?). 
5a. Elytra without interstitial punctures, . ° ; . Pterostichus helmsi. 
The above scheme brings into moderately good order the New Zealand forms 
at present known to me, but as it is sure to require modification in the future—the 
species at my disposal being certainly only a minority of those existing—I have 
not thought it desirable to give special names to the groups except in the case of 
Zeopeecilus ; especially, too, as a great deal remains to be done in correlating these 
insects with their allies in other countries, the Pterostichini being one of the most 
widely distributed and complex of all the groups of Carabidee. As regards this 
part of the question, it may be remarked that Rhytisternus and Trichosternus are 
Australian forms, while the other sections have apparently affinities with the 
Pterostichi of the Northern hemisphere. For instance, group 5a—of which 
Pterostichus helmsi is at present the sole representative—has no salient character to 
distinguish it from the European insects now ranged under Pterostichus, but at 
the same time it does not recall to the eye any of the groups of that genus except 
it be Steropus, and of this it wants precisely the distinctive character, viz., the short 
(in the transverse direction), thick basal margin to the wing-case; on the other 
hand, Pterostichus brounianus, belonging to the group or groups hitherto called 
Holcaspis (and differing therefore from Steropus which has the scutellum estriate) 
has the Steropus facies as well as the characteristic Steropus-structure of the 
shoulder. It will be observed that I have not used the name of Holcaspis in the 
table; this is because I have satisfied myself that the scutellar character has only been 
very imperfectly studied, and species differing much in other respects possess this 
in common. I have introduced the thoracic lateral setze as a means of classification, 
and as regards this I should remark that though apparently but little variable 
within specific limits, yet when the normal number of setz is departed from by 
