sYNOKTHUS. 15 



small, 8-10 abruptly enlarged arid strongly transverse. 1 Itli large, sub- 

 ovate ; club apparently quadri-articulate. 



Underside shining, with distinct yellowish pubescence. Mctasternnm 

 piceous, rather large, relatively coarsely punctured on the middle, finely 

 behind. Abdomen rufescent, basal 3 segments finely punctate, the 5th, 

 in the middle, with excessively short yet quite definite setae. 



This is the smallest species of the genus, with long slender vestiture like 

 that of S. villosus, with shorter tarsi, and its eyes less prominent in front. 



Length, 1| lines ; breadth, f line. 



Southland. Sent by Mr. A. Philpott, with the number 265 attached. 



Section 4. 



Body with distinct vestiture. Forehead not perceptibly margined. 

 Scutellum present. 



Synorthus anomalus Broun. Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 243. 



Rufo-castaneous, legs ferruginous, antennae, tarsi, and palpi fulvescent ; 

 rather thickly and irregularly clothed with tawny, decumbent, slender 

 setae, and many erect, coarser ones, which are more or less irregularly con- 

 centrated, there being 3 tufts on each elytron. 



Head curvate in front, not margined ; its sculpture ill defined, not close, 

 fine and distant on the vertex, rather closer and apparently almost punctate- 

 granulose at the sides ; carina of the labrum distinct. Thorax with very 

 minute distant sculpture, apparently granular ; it is subtruncate in front, 

 and very much narrower there than at the base. Elytra minutely and 

 remotely granulate. 



Tibiae with moderately coarse flavescent setae, all very little arched 

 externally, without visible tarsal furrows. Tarsi with distinct appendages, 

 claws very small. Maxillary palpi with elongate-oval terminal articulations, 

 which taper towards the extremity. Antennae gradually thickened from 

 the 6th joint, so that the club seems to be 6-jointed, 4th and 5th equal, the 

 latter elongate-oval. 3rd distinctly longer than 4th and thickened towards 

 the apex. Eyes finely but distinctly faceted. Scutellum small, but dis- 

 tinctly marked oft'. 



This and the following species, no doubt, will not remain permanently 

 with this genus, but, as they are represented by single specimens only, and 

 are difficult to manipulate, it is not advisable to proceed further until more 

 specimens are available. 



Length, If lines ; breadth, 1^ lines. 



Tairua. Unique. When found it was covered with a film of sappy 

 matter which was diffieu't to scrape oft with the point of a needle, and until 

 that had been done its sculpture could not be seen. 



Synorthus granulatus Broun. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., September, 1893. 



Shining, rufo-piceous, sparingly clothed with erect, moderately coarse, 

 yellowish setae ; legs and 1st joint of antennae red, the other joints and the 

 tarsi fulvescent. 



Head finely and rather closely punctate, in some aspects appearing 

 minutely granulate ; the forehead not perceptibly margined, labral carina 

 only moderately distinct and rather distant from the forehead. Eyes large 

 and prominent, with fine facets. Thorax very finely but not closely granu- 

 late, much depressed towards the anterior angles, its width more than 



