OF NEW ZEALAND. 305 



dilated front of the forehead points out the present group as an interest- 

 ing connecting link between them and the Eucnemides. 



The peculiar narrow form and elongate cylindric thorax of the 

 species give them a facies by which they may be readily recognized. 



These interesting insects have an undescribed ally in Chili, whidf 

 Mr. Janson informed me was considered by Candeze not to be a 

 member of the Elaterida. But I think there is no doubt that the New 

 Zealand species may be placed in the Elaterida ; they offer, however, 

 an important obstacle to the separation of the Throscida and Eucne- 

 midce from the Elateridtz as distinct families. The structure of their 

 head is, in fact, such that by a little modification it might be trans- 

 formed into the head of a Eucnemid or a Tliroscid. 



545. P. elongatUS, Sharp ; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., May, 1877. 

 P. elongatus, angustus, densius pubescens, colore variabilis, rufescens, 

 plus minusve infuscatus, et in elytris vage plagiatus; antenms sat elonga- 

 tis, vix serratis, articulis secundo et tertio sat elongatis conjunctim quarto 

 fere longioribus ; capite dense subtiliter punctato et pubescente ; pro- 

 thorace valde elongate, sub-cylindrico, angulis posterioribus divergen- 

 tibus. elongatis, testaceis, fere dense punctato, fusco, fere subaeneo, dense 

 flavo-pubescente ; elytris elongatis, minus discrete striatis, sed interstitiis 

 alternis versus apicem magis elevatis \ coxis intermediis bene separatis. 



Long., 7-1 oj mm. 



This species' appears to be extremely variable in size and a good 

 deal in colour and markings. 



Christchurch, Akaroa, igth December, 1874; Tairua. Captain 

 Broun informs me that this species is rather common on the outskirts 

 of the forest at Tairua. 



546. P. Imttoni, Sharp; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., May, 1877. 

 P. elongatus, angustus, pubescens, rufescens, supra praesertim in thorace, 

 magis obscurus ; prothorace elongate, subcylindrico, angulis posterioribus 

 elongatis, valde divergentibus ; coxis intermediis fere contiguis. 



Long., 8 mm. 



This species is extremely similar to the preceding one, but it has the 

 middle coxae nearly contiguous. 



The only individual I have seen was found in Otago by Captain 

 Hutton. 



547. P. guttatus, Sharp; Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., May, 1877. 

 P. sat elongatus, angustus, subcylindricus, fortiter punctatus, tenuiter 

 pubescens, haud nitidus, nigricans vel inmscato-rufus, antennarum basi, 

 pedibus, prothoracisque angulis posterioribus testaceis, elytris plus 

 minusve distincte testaceo signatis ; antenms sat elongatis, subserratis ; 

 prothorace dense, fortiter profundeque punctato, angulis posterioribus sat 

 divergentibus ; elytris fortiter seriatim punctatis, sed vix striatis. 



Long., 5J-6 mm. 



The female is rather broader than the male, but otherwise scarcely 

 differs. 



p ii 



