I 68 COLEOPTERA 



301. B. breviCOrniS, Sharp ; Entom. Mon. Mag., July, 1878,^. 

 47. Depressus, sub-oblongus, parallelus, niger, antennis pedibus elytro- 

 rumque parte basali rufis, his apice late fuscis, subtus griseo-pubescens, 

 sed pubescentia ad basin elytrorum et abdominis grisea. 



Long., 3^-3! mm. ; lat., ij mm. 



The antenna are short and rather stout, red in colour, the joints are 

 short, the second and third being each only a little longer than broad, 

 while the following are not so long as broad. The head and thorax are 

 densely and finely punctured ; the latter is strongly transverse, nearly 

 straight at the sides, but distinctly narrowed in front, the hind angles 

 rectangular and very definite ; the colour at the sides is more dilute. 

 The elytra have the basal part rufescent, the apical blackish, the limit 

 between the two colours is indefinite ; their sculpture is fine and indis- 

 tinct, and consists of series of fine punctures and punctate interstices. 

 The dense pubescence of the upper surface is blackish, but there is a 

 patch of pale pubescence at the base of the elytra, and two very large 

 patches on the first exposed dorsal segment, there are also a few pale 

 hairs on the margin of the following segment, at the hind angle. 



The male has a supplementary dorsal segment. 



The species may be located in Murray's sub-gen. Tasmus, near the 

 Australian B. binotatus and B. blandus ; though it greatly resembles 

 these species, it is very readily distinguished by the much shorter 

 antennae. 



Sent from Tairua by Captain Broun. 



Group NITIDULID^E. 



The maxilla with one lobe. Labrum distinct. Antenna eleven- 

 jointed. Elytra entirely covering the abdomen, or only leaving the 

 pygidium partially exposed ; their base not covered by the prothorax. 

 Anterior cotyloid cavities generally imperfectly closed behind. The 

 tarsi with five joints in both sexes. Prosternal process sometimes 

 distinct. 



Epursea. 



Erichson ; Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Coleop., Tom. ii., p. 302. 



Mentum angular laterally, its anterior angles dentiform. Ligula horny, 

 rounded, and truncated in front, furnished with two large, lateral, mem- 

 braneous lobes, and ciliated inwardly. .Lobes of the jaws moderate, 

 rounded at the end, sometimes provided inwardly with long hairs. Last 

 joint of the labial palpi large, oval, and truncated at the end. Mandibles 

 terminated by a sharp point, preceded by a small tooth. Labrum rounded 

 in front, divided into two lobes by a deep, narrow excision. Head 

 rather broad, its antennal furrows nearly effaced, convergent. First 

 joint of the antenna dilated outwardly ; second elongate, obconical ; 

 third also long, cylindrical ; joints four to eight decrease in length but 

 become thickened ; joints nine to eleven form an elongate and rather 



