286 COLEOPTERA 



Amphiplatys. 



Sharp; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., May, 1877. 



Forehead broadly rounded in front, and limited by a very well- 

 marked though not much raised carina, which is quite even throughout, 

 not being at all more raised at the sides or depressed in the middle ; 

 clypeus inflexed-perpendicular, much overhung by the edge of the 

 forehead ; antennae widely separated, without antennal spaces ; last joint 

 of maxillary palpi securiform. Prosternal sutures deeply duplicate ; 

 chin-piece well developed, prosternal process nearly straight; meso- 

 sternal cavity oblique-perpendicular, its sides not raised ; side-wings of 

 metasternum very short. Tarsi rather short, but basal joint of the 

 posterior ones as long as the three following together ; third and fourth 

 joints very short, but furnished beneath with rather long membranes ; 

 claws very small. Coxal plate consisting of a rather large trochanteral 

 portion, but with the femoral portion entirely wanting, so that the 

 trochanteral portion covers the trochanter, but the femur is entirely 

 exposed. 



The genus is allied to Cryptohypnus. 



501. A. lawSOIli,/"<mftw. Sharp ; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., May, 

 1877. A. brevis, latiusculus, brunnescens vel fuscescens, prothorace 

 saepe nigricante, tenuiter pubescens, indistincte punctatus, sat nitidus ; 

 antennis pedibusque testaceis ; prothorace parcius punctate, angulis 

 posterioribus elongatis sed vix divergentibus ; elytris brevibus, fere 

 estriatis, obsolete punctatis. 



Long., 3 mm. ; lat, i J-iJ mm. 



This species may readily be distinguished from the other known 

 small New Zealand Elaterid<z by its short broad form and the peculiar 

 structure of its antennae ; these are rather short and stout, and a good 

 deal thicker towards the apex, and are bilaterally symmetrical ; that is 

 to say, a line drawn along the middle of the antennae would pass through 

 the articulations from joints four to eleven. 



I first received this species from Mr. Lawson, who appears to have 

 found a few specimens near Auckland ; lately Captain Broun sent it 

 with the information, " Only found amongst decaying vegetable refuse 

 in the domain at Auckland." 



NOTE. I found other specimens subsequently and under precisely 

 similar conditions at Tairua and Whangarei- Heads. 



Betarmon. 



Sharp; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., May, 1877. 



Antennte slender, subfiliform, second and third joints moderately or 

 well developed. Forehead rounded in front, and limited by a raised 

 carina, which is distinct throughout its whole width ; clypeus inflexed- 

 perpendicular, short and overhung by the forehead, antennal spaces not 

 marked. Prosternal sutures simple ; prosternal process horizontal. 

 Mesosternal cavity oblique, perpendicular, its sides not in the least 



