OF NEW ZEALAND. 121 



FAMILY PSELAPHIDES. 



Mentum sub-quadrangular, truncated in front. Ligula membraneous, 

 very small ; the paraglossae very large, divergent, ciliated inwardly. 

 Lobes of the maxilla membraneous, flattened, unarmed, ciliated in- 

 wardly; the external very much larger than the internal. Maxillary 

 palpi usually very elongate, four-jointed ; the labial small, two-jointed^ 

 Mandibles, in nearly all, short, broad, denticulated inwardly, the ex- 

 tremity acute and bent. Antenna clavate or sub-cylindrical, often 

 moniliform. Elytra truncated, short, leaving the greater part of the 

 abdomen exposed. Abdomen scarcely mobile, composed of five, very 

 rarely six, segments, all horny above. Anterior coxa conical, prominent ; 

 the posterior transversal, contiguous. Tarsi three-jointed, cylindrical, 

 terminated by one or two simple claws, and slightly pubescent under- 

 neath. 



Group PSELAPHHXE. 



Maxillary palpi more or less large, nearly always four-jointed. 

 Antenna eleven-jointed, very rarely only ten-jointed. Abdominal seg- 

 ments distinct above. Head trigonal or sub-rhomboidal. 



Tyrus. 



Aube ; Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Coleop., Tom. ii.,/. 167. 



Maxillary palpi with four joints ; first very small ; second rather 

 long, clavate and arched ; third spiral ; fourth a little longer and fur- 

 nished with a membraneous appendage. Head triangular ; forehead 

 prolonged, with a small tubercle near the antennae. Antenna rather 

 long, terminated by a moderate club; the second joint rather longer 

 than the six following ones, sub-cylindrical, the latter obconical, short ; 

 the ninth and tenth thicker and longer, moniliform ; eleventh oval. 

 Prothorax oviform, rather short. Elytra a little depressed. Abdomen 

 very slightly depressed, and margined laterally. Legs rather long ; 

 first joint of the tarsi very small, the two following longer, sub-equal, 

 the last terminated by two equal claws. Body long, and a little convex. 



225. T. mutandus, Sharp ; Trans. Ent. Soc., 1874, //. iv., 

 Dec. Rufescens, antice angustatus, sat dense setosus, impunctatus ; 

 pedibus elongatis ; eiytrorum stria suturali foveolata. 



Long., if mm. 



Antennce longer than head and thorax, reddish-yellow, first and 

 second joints about equally stout.; first longer than second ; second 

 about as long as broad ; third, fourth and fifth about equal in length, each 

 a little longer than broad ; joints six, seven, eight slightly shorter than 

 the preceding joints, especially the eighth ; ninth joint stouter and 

 longer than the eighth, about as long as broad ; tenth joint slightly 



