482 Mr. D. Sharp on (he ElateriJce of New Zealand. 



Ohs. Acroniopus grandis (Redtenbaclier, ' Novara Reise,' 

 Coleopt. p. 96) will prove, I think, to be this species or a 

 closely allied one. 



Group 18. — Species 48-52 sliow these characters : — 

 Forehead produced between the antennae, and terminating 

 with a small abruptly inflexed portion over the labrum, 

 this portion representing, as I consider, the clypeus ; labrura 

 very small and scarcely to be seen ; anteunal spaces rather 

 large and very deep, almost circular, widely separated 

 from one another by the produced forehead ; antennae either 

 nearly filiform or strongly serrate. Prosternum moderately 

 long, with excessively abbreviated chin-piece ; lateral sutures 

 open for one third or one half their length ; prosternal process 

 short and stout. Middle coxae moderately distant ; meso- 

 sternal cavity with thick but not raised borders ; hind coxal 

 lamina as long at its external portion as at its internal one, so 

 that there is no trace of a trochanteral lobe. Tarsi slender, 

 basal joint as long as the three following together ; the 3rd 

 and 4th joints with a produced membrane on their underside. 

 In these insects the structure of the head is intermediate be- 

 tween that of the Frotelater group and that of the ordinary 

 forms of the Elaterida;. 



53. Frotelater ehngatuSj n. sp. 



P. elongatus, angustus, densius pubescens, colore variabilis, rufes- 

 cens, plus minusve infuscatus, et in elytris vage plagiatus ; an- 

 tennis sat elongatis, vix serratis, articulis seeundo et tertio sat 

 elongatis conjunctim quarto ferelongioribus; capite dense subtiliter 

 punctate et pubescente ; prothorace valde elongate, subcylindrico, 

 angidis posterioribus divergentibus, elongatis, testaeeis, fere dense 

 punctato, fusco, fere subseneo, dense flavo-pubescente ; elytris 

 elongatis, minus discrete striatis, sed iuterstitiis alternis versus 

 apicem magis elevatis; coxis intermediis bene separatis. Long. 

 7-10| m. m. 



This species appears to be extremely variable in size and a 

 good deal in colour and markings. 



Christchurch, Akaroa, llJth Dec. 1874; Tairua. Captain 

 Broun informs me that this species is rather common on the 

 outskirts of the forest at Tairua. 



54. Frotelater Huttoni^ n. sp. 



P. elongatus, angustus, pubescens, rufescens, supra prsesertim in 

 thorace, magis obscurus ; prothorace elongato, subcylindrico, an- 



