OF NEW ZEALAND. 147 



with short distinct pubescence. The front tibia are a little sinuate, 

 their inner margin, in its lower half, rather densely pubescent. 



Five specimens of this interesting insect have been sent from Auck- 

 land by Mr. T. Lawson ; they do not show any indications of sexual 

 distinction. 



NOTE. The elytra are generally of a paler red than the thorax ; I 

 found a few specimens at Auckland, Tairua, and Whangarei. 



268. P. picicolle, n.s. Head and thorax shining piceous, elytra 

 dark shining rufous, legs and antennae pale fusco-rufous. The antenna 

 are similar in form to those of P. setosa except the eighth joint, which is 

 rather small. The head is without prominent elevations, is punctate, 

 and clothed behind with fulvous tomentum. The thorax is moderately 

 convex, much longer than it is broad, widest in front of the middle and 

 contracted behind ; it is laterally rounded anteriorly ; it is rather dull, 

 and, owing to the pubescence, its sculpture cannot be defined, but its 

 disc is impunctate. The elytra are ovate, convex, not much wider than 

 the thorax, their shoulders oblique and obsolete ; they are depressed at 

 the base, and bear an abbreviated costa near each shoulder ; the surface 

 is not perceptibly punctured, and they are clothed with yellowish hairs. 

 The/tf^/ and legs are similar to those of P. setosa. 



This species may be recognised by its thorax, which is rather more 

 than half as long as the elytra. 



Length, f line. 



I found my specimen at Tairua. 



269. P. calva, n.s. Antenna similar in structure to those of 

 P. setosa. Head not perceptibly punctate ; vertex plane, not at all 

 elevated, nude, the hind part and sides pilose. Thorax moderately 

 convex, longer than it is broad, rounded laterally ; it is pilose, especially 

 near the sides, and bears a few basal punctures. The elytra are convex, 

 much wider than thorax, oviform, their shoulders narrow, apex rather 

 broad ; the scutellar region is depressed, and beyond this, on each, but 

 inside the shoulder, is a conspicuous elongate elevation, which might be 

 mistaken for a humeral carina ; they are, apparently, impunctate, and 

 clothed with pallid tomentum. The legs are elongate, the femora 

 inflated towards the apex ; the front tibiae are flexuose, and all more or 

 less dilated towards the extremity. The head and thorax are of a dark- 

 rufous colour, the elytra and legs pale infuscate-red, the palpi testaceous. 

 The apical joint of the palpi is rather acuminate, and, in this respect, 

 differs in structure from P. setosa^ otherwise the two species agree in 

 their chief structural characters. 



This species may be at once identified by the form of the elytra, 

 which are broad, particularly behind. 



Length, f- line. 



The example before me was obtained at Tairua ; I have one or two 

 others in my collection, which were found at Whangarei Heads. 



