406 Mr. D. Shaq) on the Elateiidae of New Zealand. 



and femoral portions. Tarsi with the 4th joint short but 

 quite distinct, the apices of the 1st to 4th joints beneath 

 more or less membranous and prolonged. Elytra acuminate. 

 Species of large or moderate size. 



This group in New Zealand is abruptly marked off from 

 group 1 {Thoramus) by the form of the head, tarsi, and coxa?, 

 and by the acuminate elytra ; its affinities are undoubtedly 

 with the South-American Semiotus ; and one of the species, 

 Metahkix Brouni, must be considered specially allied to that 

 ■ genus. It is a remarkable fact, however, that the elevation 

 and horizontality of the mesosternal cavity, wdiicli forms one 

 of the most pronounced features of Semiotus, is in the New- 

 Zealand species Elater approxbnans the subject of sexual dis- 

 parity ; while the disappearance of the suture behind this 

 cavity is subject to difference in closely allied species ; and yet 

 Cand^ze considered this latter character of such importance 

 that he used it as the essential character of his subtribe Chal- 

 colepidiides. 



10. Amphiplatys Lawsoni, Janson, in litt. 



A. brevis, latinsculus, brunnescens vel fiiscescens, prothorace saepe 

 nigrieante, tenuiter pubescens, indistincte puuctatus, sat nitidus ; 

 antcnnis pedibusque testaceis; prothorace parcius punctate, an- 

 guhs posterioribus elongatis sed vix divergentibus ; elytris brevi- 

 bus, fere estriatis, obsolete punctatis. Long. 3 m. m., lat. I5- 

 \\ m. m. 



This species may readily be distinguished from the other 

 known small New-Zealand Elateridre by its short broad 

 form and the peculiar structure of its antennfe 5 these are 

 rather short and stout, and a good deal thicker towards the 

 apex, and are bilaterally symmetrical ; that is to say, a line 

 drawn along the middle of the antennse would pass through 

 the articulations from joints 4-11. 



I first received this species from Mr. Lawson, who appears 

 to have found a few specimens near Auckland ,• lately Cap- 

 tain Broun lias sent me a specimen with tlie No. 20 attached, 

 and the information " Only found amongst decaying vege- 

 table refuse and rubbish in the domain at Auckland ; in- 

 active." 



Group 3. — This species, No. 10, besides the peculiar antennse, 

 shows the following structural characters : — 



Forehead broadly rounded in front, and limited by a very 

 well-marked, though not much raised carina, which is quite 

 even throughout, not being at all more raised at the sides or 



