OF NEW ZEALAND. 159 



rounded laterally, and narrowed anteriorly so that its apex is but little 

 wider than the head, base sub-truncate ; its disc is finely punctulate, 

 testaceous, with pale fulvous pubescence. Scutellum conspicuous, 

 triangular. The elytra are closely adapted to the thorax at their base, 

 where both are of the same width, so that the general outline of the body 

 is continuous ; they are rounded and narrowed posteriorly, and quite 

 cover the pygidium ; the suture is distinct, each elytron has a sutural- 

 and about six other ill-defined striae ; their surface is finely transversely 

 rugose, and clothed with fine pubescence, which is rather bright towards 

 the apex ; they are testaceous, prettily variegated ; the most conspicuous 

 variations in colour being a large infuscate quadrate scutellar patch, a 

 small spot on each beyond the central patch, and indications of a large 

 but paler fascia near the middle. The legs are testaceous, rather long 

 and slender; the intermediate tibia are arcuated, the others straight, 

 and the two hind pairs are bi-spinose apically ; tarsi slender j in the 

 specimen before me, no doubt a male, the two basal joints of the front 

 tarsus are dilated. 



Length, ij line. 



I found two specimens of this aberrant form at Tairua, one, unluckily, 

 much mutilated. I place it at the head of the group, because its 

 structure appears to me to be intermediate between the Catopidce and 

 Scaphidiida, the lower part of the thorax being similar to some form of 

 the former, whilst the superficial structure, with the exception of the pro- 

 duced apex, agrees with the latter group. I hope to be able to discover 

 other allied forms, and should I be fortunate enough to do so, I shall 

 give this species a new generic name. 



288. S. SCUtellar 6, Redten.; Voy. Novara, Zoology. Nigrum, 

 nitidum, antennis, ore pedibus, elytrorum apice, anoque rufo-testaceis, 

 antennarum articulo septimo proximis minore ; elytris impunctatis, stria 

 suturali postice profunda, ante medium obsoleta impressa/ scutello 

 minutissimo. 



L// T 1 /// 



. i. La. ^ . 



289. S. tenellum, Pascoe; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., January, 

 1876. S. nitidum, nigrum, pygidio pedibusque piceis; antennis pallidis, 

 articulis quinque ultimis, basi apiceque exceptis, fuscis ; capite protho- 

 raceque impunctatis, hoc lobo scutellari scutellum obtegente ; elytris 

 impunctatis, stria suturali distincta ; pygidio conico ; corpore infra 

 nigro ; abdomine segmentis sex. 



Long., if lin. 



Auckland (Tairua). 



Longer than our S. boleti, and the elytra, except in the sutural stria, 

 impunctate ; in my specimen the eighth joint of the antennae is much 

 narrower than the seventh or following joints. This character is found 

 in other members of the genus, but it does not seem to be invariable 

 even in the same species. 



NOTE. This is the species most commonly found under logs and in 

 decayed wood, but I do not remember having seen so large a specimen ; 

 the usual size is i line. 



