214 COLEOPTERA 



Mandibles short, arched at the extremity, somewhat concave below. 

 Labrum prominent, its middle part acuminate. Antenna nearly as long 

 as head and thorax, robust, perfoliate, finely hirsute ; the basal joint 

 stoutest, almost obconical, joints two to ten globular, the eleventh ovi- 

 form. Eyes small, longitudinal, almost depressed, and finely facetted. 



Head of variable form, dilated behind, elongated in front, and joined 

 to thorax by a more or less distinct neck. Prothorax longer than 

 broad, a little convex, narrowed anteriorly, more or less sulcated, and 

 connected with hind-body by a peduncle. Elytra elongate, base 

 bisinuated, humeral angles sub-tubercular, sides rounded, with their 

 surface furrowed. 



Legs stout ; femora inflated, especially the anterior pair, and sub- 

 dentate below ; tibia flexuose, those of the front pair hollowed at apex, 

 with two terminal processes, of which the inner is the larger ; the others 

 terminating in two spurs ; tarsi robust, rather narrow, the four basal 

 joints decrease in size, the apical longest ; claws of moderate size. 



The body is of an elongate, sub-cylindric form. 



The above characters have been epitomized from Lacordaire's work 

 (Hist, des Ins. Coleop., lorn. \\.,p. 387), but somewhat modified as more 

 applicable to the New Zealand species whose descriptions follow. 



377. R. aterrimus, n.s. Body of a deep shining black colour, 

 the antennae and legs piceous, the palpi red. Head with two grooves on 

 the vertex which are bent outwards to the front of the eyes, so that 

 the dilated basal portion of the head has a somewhat bilobed aspect ; 

 the space between these furrows is smooth, and diverges anteriorly 

 so as to be united at each side to the carinated margin of the fore- 

 head, which is smooth on the middle, but depressed and punctate at 

 its sides. The prothorax is subovate, finely margined, rather convex 

 transversely ; with a dorsal groove from base to apex, a curved groove 

 at each side of the central one, extending to beyond the middle, very 

 wide and foveiforrn at the base and punctate ; the marginal channels 

 are punctured, but the rest of the surface is almost smooth, and quite 

 nude. Scutellum subtriangular. The elytra are a little wider than the 

 thorax, the humeral angles tubercular, and the sides are a little rounded ; 

 each elytron bears six not very well defined striae, which are 

 strongly punctured, but the sculpture becomes somewhat confused pos- 

 teriorly ; the outer interstices are bent towards the suture, and are a 

 little elevated towards the apex, so that the sutural striae and interstices 

 at that point appear to be a good deal depressed ; the sides are indis- 

 tinctly margined and punctate. The anterior femora are distinctly 

 dentate below, and the posterior tibia are simple externally, but termin- 

 ate inwardly in a strong curved process. The legs bear a few yellowish 

 hairs. 



In this, as in the three following species, the elytra are a little de- 

 pressed at the base. 



Length, 3 lines; breadth, f. 



I found two examples some years ago at Auckland, and subsequently 

 one other individual at Tairua. 



