OF NEW ZEALAND. 275 



Long., 5^ mm. ; lat, 2 mm. 



Antenna rather long, the first and second joints short and bead- 

 like, third larger and triangular, fourth shorter than third, somewhat 

 produced inwardly, sixth to eleventh each produced inwardly into a long 

 slender lobe, fifth joint intermediate in form between the fourth and 

 sixth. Thorax with all the anterior and lateral parts depressed, so that 

 their outer margins are not visible from above, these parts densely and 

 coarsely punctured, the part which remains in the natural plane of the 

 pronotum shining and but little punctured. Scutellum conspicuous, 

 somewhat circular, impunctate ; elytra rather long, black, but with a 

 distinct violet or purple tinge, shining, but pubescent, with some ill- 

 defined longitudinal grooves towards the suture, and rather closely but 

 not coarsely punctured. Under-surface densely punctured, and very 

 densely and finely pubescent, except on the middle of the metasternum. 



Captain Broun has sent me an individual of this species labelled 

 Drilus (?) atro-ceruleus ; and informs me he has only been able to find two 

 specimens. It is one of the most remarkable beetles yet discovered in 

 New Zealand, and I have given above its structural characters so far as 

 I can make them out from the very brittle and mutilated example before 

 me. I have with very great pleasure named the insect in honour of its 

 discoverer, whose energy and skill are doing so much to enable us to 

 get a satisfactory knowledge of the important insect-fauna of New Zea- 

 land. 



FAMILY BUPRESTIDES. 



Mouth below. Ligula without paraglossse, often hidden by the 

 mentum. Maxilla bi-lobed, unarmed, lamelliform, ciliated. Antenna 

 eleven-jointed, serrate. Head very short, vertical, immersed in the pro- 

 thorax up to the eyes. Legs short : anterior cotyloid cavities widely 

 open behind ; anterior and intermediate coxae globose, their trochantins 

 very apparent; the posterior lamelliform, canaliculate posteriorly : tarsi 

 pentamerous, their four basal joints furnished with membraneous 

 lamellae below. Abdomen consisting of five segments, the two first 

 connate. Prosternum terminating in a projection received and fixed in 

 the sternal cavity. 



Buprestis. 



Linne ; Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Coleop., Tom. iv.,/. 40. 



Last joint of the maxillary palpi sub-cylindrical or sub-oval, strongly 

 truncated at the end. Lab rum quadrangular or transversely oval, 

 entire, sometimes slightly emarginate. Head simple, epistome very 

 short, truncated or slightly hollowed; antennal cavities moderate, rounded. 

 Antenna slender, generally rather long, first joint moderate, clavate; second 

 short, obconical; third of the same form, longer than the following joints, 

 which are longer than broad, and slightly dentate. Eyes a little promi- 

 nent, distant from each other on the vertex. Prothorax strongly transverse, 

 regularly convex, narrowed in front, hardly Insinuated at its base. 



