OF NEW ZEALAND. 285 



This species greatly resembes Metablax brouni, but is very readily 

 distinguished by the junction between the meso- and metasternum being 

 still represented by a distinct suture ; the alternate interstices are in this 

 species very distinctly depressed and densely pubescent ; and in fresh_ 

 specimens these pubescent furrows offer a striking contrast to the shining 

 and impunctate interstices between. The pubescence, however, is very 

 readily removed. The colour in this species is also very variable. The 

 sexual distinctions are apparently slight. 



The species is widely distributed in New Zealand, but apparently 

 rare. Tairua (Broun); Riccarton ; Akaroa, January, 1873 (Wakefield) ; 

 Rockwood (Powell). 



499. M. approximans, White. Sharp; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 

 May, 1877. M. m'gervel nigro-piceus, angustulus, sat nitidus, sparsim 

 brevissime albido pubescens ; prothorace angulis posterioribus divergen- 

 tibus, ad latera crebre subtiliter punctato et magis evidenter pubescente ; 

 elytris apice acutis, evidenter striatis, striis (prsesertim externis) latis, 

 crebre irregulariter punctatis ; sutura inter-coxali bene distincta. 



Long., 13-15 mm. 



Mas. Thorace paulo angustiore, mesosterni fovese lateribus minus 

 elevatis, angustis. 



Fern. Mesosterni fovese lateribus crassis, fortiter elevatis, fere hori- 

 zontalibus. 



This species is a very distinct one, not likely to be confounded with 

 any other. The sexual disparity in the structure of the mesothoracic 

 cavity is highly interesting, and is such as in other cases is considered 

 characteristic of distinct genera ; in the female the tarsi also are stouter 

 than in the male and their lobes more distinct, the antennae also are less 

 elongate. 



A pair of this species has been sent from Tairua by Captain Broun. 



500. M. Cinctiger, White. Sharp; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., May, 

 1877. M. ferrugineus, prothorace elytrisque versus latera vitta lata 

 testacea ; parce brevissimeque pubescens ; elytris ad apicem acutis, 

 evidenter sequaliterque striatis, striis fortiter punctatis, interstitiis sparsim 

 punctatis ; subtus crebre punctatus, mesosterni fovese lateribus haud 

 elevatis, obliquis, nullo modo horizontalibus. 



Mas. Angustulus, thorace elytris angustiore, angulis posterioribus 

 divergentibus, medio nitido. 



Long., 10-13 mm. ; lat, fere 2\ mm. 



Fern. Latior, thorace elytris latiore, angulis posterioribus vix divergen- 

 tibus, medio fortiter punctato. 



Long., 13-14^ mm. ; lat, fere 3 mm. 



The sexual discrepancies are here again very remarkable; the greatly 

 developed thorax of the female gives it the aspect of a minute Chalco- 

 lepidius. 



Sent from Auckland and Tairua by Messrs. Lawson and Broun, but 

 rare ; the female especially rare. The species is probably confined to 

 the North Island. 



