;,'.u, COLEOPTERA. 



.1/. striatum (2600) is well differentiated by its more elongate form, its 

 elvtra though gradually are considerably narrowed posteriorly, and, more- 

 over, have impunctate but unusually deep and regular striae. 



Length, 19| nun. : breadth, 51 nun. 



Hump Ridge, Southland ; elevation, 3^500 ft. A single specimen, from 

 Mr. Cuthbert Fenwick, of Punedin ; 20th January, 1916. 



4156. Mecodema veratrum sp. nov. 



This is similar to M.femorale in general form and coloration, but it is 

 smaller, smoother, and duller. 



The labium is very short, slightly eniarginate in front, with five coarse 

 punctures. The head has only a single definite groove alongside each eye, 

 the forehead is depressed in the middle but is only unisulcate .at the sides, 

 and the occipital punctation is closer and finer. The thorax is of the same 

 shape, the basal fossae are shorter, do not reach the basal margin, and have 

 numerous fine punctures near them ; the mesial furrow though distinct is 

 more slender, but there are no linear impressions across the disc. The 

 elytra are rather more regularly and finely sculptured, the alternate inter- 

 stices are but little broader than the others, flat near the suture, and less 

 convex behind than those on M. fenwrale. 



The ventral segments are quite smooth, as is the middle of the breast, 

 but its sides are moderately closely and distinctly but not coarselv 

 punctured. 



Both species differ materially from M. infimate (3171), being less elongate 

 and glossy, differently sculptured, and with broader, much less oviform 

 elytra. 



o. Length, 17 mm. ; breadth, 5 mm. 



Hunter Mountains, south-west of Lake Wakatipu. One example, from 

 Mr. A. Philpott, who was also kind enough to present me with his type of 

 .1/. infimate. 



4157. Mecodema punctellum sp. nov. 



Robust, slightly convex, nitid ; black, antennae, palpi, and tarsi rufo- 

 piceous. 



Head, mandibles exclusive, nearly the length of thorax, including the 

 prominent eyes as broad as its apex : the surface a little uneven, with irregu- 

 lar rugae near the sides, dee]) longitudinal ones in front, and an indefinitely 

 punctate transverse depression behind not extending as far as the eyes. 

 behind these the genae are somewhat swollen; labrum slightly eniarginate 

 and coarsely sex-punctate. Mandibles closely, obliquely, and finely rugose. 

 Thorax cordate, truncate in front, a fifth broader than long, widest near 

 the front, gradually narrowed to beyond the middle, evidently Binuate- 

 angustate behind, the base slightly eniarginate at the middle but rounded 

 towards the Bubrectangular angles ; disc almost smooth, the central groove 

 well marked and very nearly if not quite touching the base and apex, both 

 of which have tine longitudinal striae, there is an oblique impression near 



each anterior angle and a subrotundate one near each side before the middle. 

 basal fossae moderately large ; lateral margins subcrcnulate. the channels 

 moderately broad, with many setigerous punctures. Elytra oblong-oval, 

 finely margined, fully twice the length of thorax, a little broader; on each 

 elytron there are six dorsal, rather shallow, finely punctured striae, the 

 suture, third and fifth interstices are nearly twice as broad as the others, and 

 Somewhat elevated at the base, seventh narrower hut more convex inside the 



