OF NEW ZEALAND. I"JI 



306. N. abbreviate, Fabridus; Syst. Ent. i., 348. N. ovata, 

 nigra, obscura, elytris laevibus, obtusis, abbreviatis. 



Habitat in Nova Zelandia. Mus. D. Banks. 



NOTE. I have not seen any insect agreeing with the above des- 

 cription, and as no size is given, I anticipate difficulty in identifying the 

 insect without reference to the typical specimen in London. 



307. N. amoenum, n.s. Moderately convex, obovate, the thorax 

 broader than the elytra, which are gradually attenuated ; the legs are 

 yellowish, the antennae testaceous with the club infuscate, and the body 

 is variegated with brown and testaceous ; the darker colour predomi- 

 nates on the head and thoracic disc, and on the elytra forms two very 

 irregular flexuous fasciae at and behind the middle. 



Head rather broad and short, the mandibles not prominent ; it is 

 closely and somewhat rugosely sculptured, and bears a few bright yel- 

 lowish hairs ; the eyes are longitudinally ovate. Prothorax large, 

 margined, broader than long, apex emarginate, base not quite truncate, 

 being slightly sinuous, it is widest behind the middle, more narrowed in 

 front than behind, with obtuse hind angles slightly overlapping the 

 elytra ; it is rather convex, finely punctured and longitudinally rugulose, 

 and sparsely clothed with bright yellowish hairs. Scutellum broadly 

 triangular. Elytra moderately convex, margined, widest at the base, 

 they cover the pygidium, are finely punctulated, sparingly clothed with 

 yellowish and infuscate pubescence, and, on each, there are five very 

 distinct rows of small patches of rather bright, short, fine setse, which 

 add to their variegated aspect. Under-side dark castaneous. The legs 

 are stout, femora dilated ; tibia straight, a little dilated apically, finely 

 serrate externally, and armed at apex with two short spines ; tarsi 

 robust, sponge-like below, and ciliated with bright yellow hairs, their 

 three basal joints are very much dilated, fourth minute, fifth slender 

 and longer than the other four, and the claws are thickened at the base. 



The antenna are inserted below in front of the eyes in deep 

 cavities which are prolonged backwards; they are eleven-jointed; the 

 first joint is large and cylindrical ; the second shorter but stouter than 

 the third, oviform; joints three to five, elongate, equal; sixth and seventh 

 small, globular ; eighth larger than seventh, transversal ; the last three 

 form a large oblong-oval club. 



The palpi are stout, the last joint of the maxillary is longer than the 

 penultimate, sub-cylindrical, and slightly pointed. 



The prosternal process extends backwards beyond the coxae, which are 

 rather widely separated ; the middle and hind coxce also far apart, the 

 latter most distant. 



Length, 2 lines ; breadth, i. 



I found four examples of this elegant species near Whangarei Heads. 

 The genus is doubtful. 



Soronia. 



Erichson ; Lacord. Hist. des. Ins. Coleop., Tom. ii., p. 304. 



Parts of the mouth, head, and antennae similar to those of Nitidula ; 

 the prothorax and elytra more widely margined laterally, the former 



