SYNORTHUS. H 



The fine sculpture, form of the eyes, and unusually broad joints near the 

 terminal one, will lead to its recognition. 

 Length, I] lines; breadth, L| lines. 

 Parua. Unique. 



Synorthus nigralis Broun. Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 1348. (Fig. 3.) 



Glossy, nearly nude, having only a few minute yellowish hairs, which are 

 most easily seen near the extremity of the hind-body; it is Mack, with 

 testaceous tarsi, fulvescent antennae ; the basal joint, however, and the 

 legs, rufous. 



Head broadly rounded, obtuse and not at all well limited in front ; 

 finely yet distinctly punctured, closely near the eyes, nearly smooth on 

 the middle ; on the vertex there are 4 shallow foveae. Thorax not margined 

 in front, with acutely prominent anterior angles, its sculpture similar to that 

 of the sides of the head. Elytra somewhat irregularly and finely punctate 

 less distinctly near the base than on the disc, the suture a little depressed 

 behind the middle, as in S. nigricans. 



Tibiae with fine grey setae, the anterior slightly curved, the others 

 normal. Club apparently 5-articulate, joints 8-10 moderately transversal. 

 Mandibles obtuse and not distinctly dentate at the extremity. Eyes ob- 

 soletely faceted. Antennal grooves broad and deep, extending underneath 

 alongside the eyes, as in S. sternalis. 



Underside shining, rufo-piceous, abdomen rufescent, clothed, on the 

 femora and sides especially, with slender brassy setae. Metastemum finely 

 and distantly punctured, middle of abdomen still more finely and indis- 

 tinctly, the sides and terminal segment very densely and minutely sculptured. 

 Prosternum less abbreviated than in S. sternalis. the front of its flanks 

 plane. 



Maxillary palpi with thick terminal joints, their apical portion distinctly 

 narrower and truncate at apex. 



Somewhat similar to S. nigricans. The forehead different, thoracii 

 angles more acute and prominent, the antennae more elongate, &c. 



Length, 2 lines ; breadth, 1J lines. 



Boatman's, Reefton. Mr. T. Cavell ; three examples. 



Synorthus mixtus Broun. Man. N.Z. Coleopt., p. 901. 



Nitid, black, head and thorax slightly bronzed, legs dark rufous, tarsi 

 and intermediate joints of antennae rufescent, basal joint pitchy-red. 

 terminal joints paler. 



Head with some slender grey setae, medially curved but not margined 

 in front ; closely and finely punctured near the eyes, very distantly on the 

 middle. Thorax not perceptibly margined in front, with acute rectangular 

 angles ; distinctly but finely and not closely punctate, indistinctly near the 

 base. Elytra finely and irregularly punctured, and, like the thorax, bearing 

 some minute, hardly discernible setae. 



Front and hind tibiae slightly, the intermediate evidently, arched, with 

 distinct slender grey setae. Antennae with the club 5-articulate ; 3rd 

 joint almost as long as the following 3, which are just a little longer than 

 broad, 9th and 10th transverse. Maxillary palpi with unusually broad 

 terminal joints, their apical portion sub-membranous and impressed or 

 concave. Eyes large, finely faceted. 



Underside piceo-niger, nitid, with slender greyish pubescence. Meta- 



num distinctly, abdomen finely punctate, the 5th segment densely. 



