OF NEW ZEALAND. 167 



arcuated externally towards the apex, and this widened part is ciliated. 

 Under-side punctulate, dark castaneous red. 



Length, J line ; breadth, \. 



I found this pretty little species at Tairua, and sent some specimens 

 to Dr. Sharp, who, however, has not described it. 



FAMILY NITIDULIDES. 



Ligula horny. Maxilla nearly always terminated by a single lobe. 

 Palpi short. Antenna with eleven, very seldom with ten, joints ; the 

 two or three last generally forming a button-shaped club. Elytra very 

 often abbreviated behind. Legs short ; anterior and intermediate coxa 

 transversely oval, not contiguous; the posterior strongly transversal, 

 semi-cylindnc, more or less separated. Tarsi five-jointed, the posterior 

 sometimes with four only among the males ; the fourth joint very small, 

 nodiforra. Abdomen with five or six segments, all free. 



Group CARPOPHILIDJE. 



A single lobe to the maxilla. Labrum distinct. Antenna eleven- 

 jointed. Elytra leaving the two or three last dorsal segments of the 

 abdomen exposed ; not covered at their base by the prothorax. An- 

 terior cotyloid cavities imperfectly closed behind. Tarsi five-jointed in 

 both sexes. Prosternnm usually projecting beyond the front coxae. 



Brachypeplus. 



Erichson ; Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Coleop., Tom. ii., p. 297. 



Mentum wide, hollowed in front. Ligula furnished at each side 

 with a large, wide, membraneous lobe, ciliated on the inner side. Lobe 

 of the jaws small, strongly ciliated inwardly and at the end. Last joint 

 of the labial palpi subsecuriform ; that of the maxillary obconical. 

 Mandibles a little prominent, provided with two very small teeth near 

 their apex. Labrum rounded in front, scarcely emarginate. Head 

 moderate, short ; the antennal furrows short, well-marked, and very 

 convergent. Antenna a little longer than the head, first joint a little 

 dilated outwardly, second a little thicker than the following, third rather 

 elongated, four to six short, equal, seven to eight a little stouter, joints 

 nine to eleven forming a round compressed club. Prothorax as wide 

 as the elytra, subtruncate at* its base, with its posterior angles rather 

 prominent, strongly margined laterally. Elytra short, leaving the two 

 or three last abdominal segments exposed, margined laterally, their 

 external apical angle rounded. Legs short ; tibiae robust, slightly 

 grooved beneath, finely pilose externally, with small terminal spurs ; the 

 three first joints of the tarsi very short, very compact, dilated, compactly 

 brush-like beneath, claws simple. Abdomen with its two first ventral 

 segments very short, the two following a little longer, the fifth largest, a 

 small additional one among the males. 



