OF NEW ZEALAND. 241 



scutellum, its punctation indistinct, its pubescence consisting of white 

 hairs which are not evenly distributed, while the parts between the 

 patches bear more sparing indistinct darker hairs. Elytra clothed 

 with white hairs at the base, and with two distinct transverse fasciae of 

 sparing white hairs, as well as some others at the apex, and the spaces 

 between with some still more scanty and shorter hairs ; the punctation 

 is distant and indistinct, so that the surface is a little shining, notwith- 

 standing the clothing. The under-surface is sparingly clothed with fine 

 hairs. The tibia and tarsi are very slender and obscurely reddish. 

 The palpi are pale yellow. 



This species was discovered some time since near Auckland by Mr. 

 Lawson, and I have recently received some specimens of it from Captain 

 Broun. 



428. T. maesta, n.s. Smaller, narrower, and much duller than T. 

 signatum, with the elytra more narrowed posteriorly, but, owing to the 

 smaller lobe of the prothorax, less emarginate at the base. 



Antenna short, the basal joints testaceous, the last five fuscous ; 

 joints seven to ten strongly produced inwardly, so that their articulation 

 is not near the middle, the eleventh rounded. Head rather deeply, 

 very closely, but not coarsely punctured, and almost destitute of pubts- 

 cence. Prothorax moderately convex, rounded anteriorly, very closely 

 and distinctly punctured so as to be quite dull, with a large dense 

 patch of grey pubescence near each hind angle, and a few other scattered 

 hairs. The sculpture of the elytra is ill-defined, but consists apparently 

 of fine closely placed punctures, with slightly rugulose intervals; they 

 are sparingly clothed with short greyish hairs, which however have no 

 tendency to form fascia? or other distinct patterns. The legs are of 

 moderate length and reddish in colour. 



This insect can be easily identified by the structure of the antennal 

 club, and the peculiar punctation of rhe elytra. The pubescent spots 

 on the thoracic angles are very conspicuous. 



Length, \\ line. 



I found one example only near Whangarei Heads. 



FAMILY BYRRHIDES. 



Ligula membraneous or corneous, without paraglossa*. Maxillce 

 bilobed, unarmed. Antenna with eleven, rarely with ten joints, gene- 

 rally clavate at their extremity. The head nearly always retracted 

 within the prothorax when in repose and invisible above. Elytra entire, 

 lobed or scolloped at their epipleurse. Legs contractile ; anterior coxa 

 oval ; the intermediate almost rounded ; the posterior strongly trans- 

 versal, plane, contiguous, or only slightly separated ; tarsi pentamerous, 

 simple. Prosternal process received into the mesosternal cavity ; meso- 

 sternum short. Abdomen with five segments \ the three first fixed, the 

 last at least larger than the preceding. 



G ii 



