434 Mr, D. Sharp oti the 



darker; the joints 1 and 2 largely developed, and together 

 almost as long as joints 3-8, which are small ; of these each 

 is a little shorter than its predecessor, and also very slightly 

 stouter ; joints 9-11 form a rather large flat club, the first two 

 of these joints being transverse. Thorax not so long as broad, 

 its front part greatly deflexed, its carina contiguous with base 

 of elytra ; its surface without sculpture, but exhibiting a 

 peculiar silky opacity, and clothed with distinct scanty hairs. 

 Elytra rather deeply striated, but the stride only indistinctly 

 punctured. Legs rather long, yellowish. 



Sent both from Auckland and Tairua by Messrs. LaAvson 

 and Broun. 



Ohs. I. This minute little species, which is of the size and 

 form of an Atomaria, is variable in colour and size. Some- 

 times it is nearly entirely black, with the legs and basal portion 

 of the antennfe paler ; in others the general colour of the 

 upper surface is yellow, with the middle of the thorax and 

 variable marks on the elytra of a dark colour. 



Obs. II. In this species the diminution of the head and 

 rostrum seems to reach tlie greatest point it attains in the 

 Anthribidas. The antenna are inserted in a cavity situated 

 at the inner side and front part of the eye, which is small, but 

 prominent, and about circular in form. The natural position 

 of the head seems to be that of deflection or inflection ; and 

 the prosternum is much reduced in size, so that in the position 

 of repose the head is brought near to the mesosternum. The 

 basal line of the thorax is curved forwards along the sides, 

 but is fine and indistinct ; the front cox« are contiguous, and 

 the middle ones are only a little separated from one another ; 

 the metasternum is very short ; the penultimate dorsal segment 

 of the hind body is deeply grooved for the extremity of the 

 elytra, and the groove extends to the basal part of the pygi- 

 dium. The basal joint of the tarsi is rather small ; the second 

 is distinctly emarginate ; and the exposed part of the third 

 joint is scarcely so large as the second. 



I do not know any very near ally of this insect, of which 

 the place in classification at present should be near to Choragus. 

 It is undoubtedly closely allied to Anthrihus injlatus^ but 

 difi'ers therefrom by the diminished basal portion of the pro- 

 thorax. 



AntJiribus inflatus^ n. sp. 



A. capite hand rostrato, oculis minoribus sat convexis, piceus, niti- 

 dus, iiudus, antennis pedibusque testaceis, illarumclava infuscata; 

 prothorace parce punctato, lateribus rotundatis, carina a basi sat 

 remota ; elytris minus fortiter striato-piuirtatis. Long, r-orp. 

 U-lg m.m. 



