Genera and Species of New Zealand Coleoptera. 453 



Underside shining, the sternum more or less finely punctate. 



This species most nearly approaches the M. rugiceps, 

 Sharp, but is differentiated therefrom by its smaller size, 

 glossy surface, disparities of sculpture, and emarginated base 

 of thorax. 



c? . Length 7^, breadth 2^ lines. 



Westport. 



Mr. J. J. Walker, F.L.S., of H.M.S. ' Ringarooma,' a 

 well-known European entomologist, who discovered this 

 species, also found a specimen of M. metaUicum, which he 

 kindly placed at my disposal. 



Mixodema variolosum, sp. n. 



BodT/ slightly convex, brilliant fuscous black ; legs, an- 

 tennae, and palpi rufo-piceous, these last more rufescent. 



Head rather short, nearly as broad as the thorax, its hinder 

 portion distinctly but not closely punctured; the vertex 

 nearly smooth, near the eyes it is irregularly and coarsely 

 rugose, but on the epistome and labrum the rugje are longi- 

 tudinal. Eyes but little prominent. Antennce pubescent 

 from the fifth joint onwards, their fourth joint rather shorter 

 than the contiguous ones; they reach backwards as far as 

 the thoracic fosste. Thorax 3 lines long by 3|- broad, its sides 

 evidently crenulate, only gently rounded, but abruptly con- 

 tracted behind, this narrowed portion parallel-sided, with 

 rectangular angles ; apex widely incurved, the base medially 

 emarginate ; the median furrow is entire and rather broad, so 

 that the middle seems slightly depressed lengthways ; the 

 basal fossse are large and placed close to the lateral margins, 

 the disk is rather finely wrinkled transversely, the sides 

 coarsely so; the base and apex are scored with short longitu- 

 dinal rugae. Elytra oblong-oval, their widest part scarcely 

 exceeds that of the thorax ; their lateral sculpture is very 

 coarse and irregular ; on each side of the suture there are 

 two series of elongate impressions, which, however, can 

 hardly be termed punctures, but form furrows near the base ; 

 the apical sculpture is also irregular and the whole surface is 

 more or less marked by aciculate impressions. 



There are eight or nine setae along each side of the thorax, 

 several on the elytra, four setigerous punctures on the labrum, 

 and four at the extremity of the last ventral segment. 



Underside black, shining; the head with dense zigzag 

 sculpture ; flanks of prosternum closely punctate-rugose ; 

 abdomen nearly smooth, but punctate near the base. 



Anterior tarsi with the four basal joints dilated, the first 

 two somewhat prolonged at the outer angles. 



