480 Mr. D. Sharp on the Elateridfc of New Zealand. 



specimens quite agree with South- Australian individuals of 

 the species ; and I suspect it lias been introduced bj means of 

 maritime traffic into New Zealand. 



Group 17. — The characters of the genus Lacon are well 

 known. L. variahilis may be readily distinguished from all 

 the other known New-Zealand Elateridje by the prosternal 

 sutm-es being quite open for half the length of the thorax, so 

 as to receive and conceal the antennse ; this character is 

 approached only by Parinus villosus ; but Lacon variabilis 

 may be distinguished at a glance from it by the tarsi having 

 the fourth joint well developed and not at all lobed beneath, 

 and by the form of the front part of the head, which is almost 

 that of the Corymbites group. 



48. Limonius collaris, Pascoe. 



L. thorace pedibusque testaceis, antennis abdomineque rufis, elytris 

 pectoreque nigricantibus vel fuscis ; antennis elongatis, serratis, 

 articulis secundo et tertio conjiinctim quarto Kqualibus ; prothorace 

 minus elongate, antrorsum augustato, baud longiore quam latiore, 

 anguUs posterioribus vix divergentibus, sat crebre punctate ; 

 elytris apicem versus fortiter attenuatis, apicibus minute spinosis, 

 fortiter striatis, striis evidenter punctatis. Long. 6|-9 m. m. 



The species is rather variable. The female is generally 

 larger than the male and more convex, has the antennas 

 rather less sen-ate, and the elytra very often of an obscure red 

 colour ; and it has generally the under surface nearly of a 

 uniform red colom\ 



This species has been sent from Auckland by Mr. Lawson, 

 and from Tairua by Captain Broun, who informs me that he 

 meets with it occasionally on Dodoncea viscosa. 



49. Geranus crassus, n. sp. 

 G. testaceus, elytris fulvis, antennis nigricantibus, prothorace medio, 

 prosterno plagis duabus, metasterno lateribus, coxisque poste- 

 rioribus fuscis ; antennis minus elongatis, articulis secundo et 

 tertio conjunctim quarto fere a^qualibus ; prothorace convexo, sat 

 crebre fortiter punctato, angulis posterioribus sat divergentibus ; 

 elytris striatis, striis fortiter punctatis, interstitiis parcius pxinc- 

 tatis et pubescentibus. Long. 14-15 m. m. 



This is the broadest and most robust species of the group. 

 I think the two individuals before me are male and female, 

 though they exhibit but slight differences. 



Drybush, Nov. 21, 1873 {C. M. Wakejkld, Esq.). 



