158 COLEOPTERA 



286. M. domestica, n.s. Rather smaller and more shining than 

 the three previously described species ; castaneous, thorax reddish, legs 

 and antennae red, club a little darker. 



The insect is finely sculptured, the elytra are apparently impressed 

 with very short lines which cross one another, the bright yellow hairs on 

 the thorax are similar to those of M. hirtalis, those on the elytra bear a 

 considerable resemblance to them, though sometimes quite distinct from 

 each other, finer and more elongate. 



Length, f line ; breadth, % nearly. 



I caught four specimens on the window of my house at Tairua ; in 

 one, which I believe to be the female, the front tarsi are much more 

 slender than those of the other three, the joints are similarly formed, the 

 basal being the most widely dilated. 



These four species approach the Anisotomidce, in the structure of the 

 legs, and indicate a form intermediate between that group and the one 

 to which they have been assigned. 



FAMILY SCAPHIDIDES. 



Ligula membraneous, without paraglossse. Maxillce. terminated by 

 two membraneous lobes. Last joint of the palpi obconical. Antenna 

 eleven-jointed, terminating in a club. Elytra imperfectly covering the 

 abdomen, truncated at the apex. Legs slender ; front coxa cylindrical, 

 prominent, contiguous ; the others widely separated ; the intermediate 

 globose, the posterior oval ; tarsi five-jointed. Abdomen conical at its 

 extremity, with five, six, or seven segments visible underneath ; the first 

 very large, the three following short ; the last four horny above. 



Scaphisoma. 



Leach; Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Coleop., Tom. \\.,p. 240. 



Ligula slightly hollowed in front. Internal lobe of the jaws small, 

 terminating in an obtuse point, furnished on the inner side with a spini- 

 form bristle. Mandibles sharp and simple at their extremity. Eyes 

 entire. Antenna hair-shaped, finely pilose ; their first and second 

 joints stout, subequal, third and fourth slender and short, fifth and 

 sixth a little elongated, the last five joints a little thicker, but with the 

 eighth smaller than the others. Middle lobe from the base of the pro- 

 thorax elongated so as to cover the scutellum. Legs long and slender, 

 tibiae furnished with fine hairs ; the four posterior tarsi longer than the 

 anterior, their first joint elongated. Mesosternum not projecting in 

 front. Abdomen with six segments in both sexes. 



287. S. COnciima, n.s. Convex, ovate, moderately shining and 

 pubescent. Antenna, filiform, the joints differing but little from one 

 another in size, the three basal joints pallid, the others pale fuscous. 

 Head testaceous, distinctly punctate ; the eyes moderately large, trans- 

 versely elongated and obtusely pointed in front. Thorax considerably 



