OF NEW ZEALAND. 325 



middle to receive the prosternal process; the articulation of metasternum 

 with mesosternum between middle coxae incomplete. 



The following species is abruptly differentiated from the other New 

 Zealand species by the want of the cavity on the mesosternum, and by 

 the less-reduced front band of the prosternum. The species makes a 

 greater approximation to the Palsearctic Dascillus than do any of the 

 other New Zealand species, and may be treated at present as occupying 

 a position intermediate between it and Mesocyphon. 



590. C. angUStifronS, Sharp / Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., July, 

 1878, /. 58. C. elongates, angustulus, parcius pubescens, sat nitidus, 

 colore variabilis ; capite angustulo, exserto, oculis prominulis, crebrius 

 fortiter punctato ; antennis elongatis, articulo tertio elongato, quam 

 secundus longiore; prothorace transversim subquadrato, elytris duplo 

 angustiore, anterius in medio truncate, lateribus crenulatis, anterius 

 rotundatis, dorso inaequali, crebrius fortiter punctato, nitido, parcius 

 pubescente ; elytris elongatis, crebre, sequaliter, fortiter profundeque 

 punctatis, nitidis, parcissime pubescentibus, humeris liberis, prominulis. 



Long., fere 6 mm. ; lat., 2-f mm. 



This singular insect does not at first sight suggest that it has an 

 affinity with the other insects here described ; for it is in appearance 

 much more like the Luperi of the Phytophagous series of Coleoptera. 



It seems to be very variable in colour, one of the two individuals 

 before me being nearly black all over, including the antennae and legs, 

 while the other is of a yellowish colour, with portions of the surface 

 (notably the head, elytra, and ventral segments) more or less infuscate. 



Two individuals have been found by Mr. Wakefield on the west 

 coast of the South Island. 



FAMILY MALACODERMES. 



Mentum often but little distinct. Ligula coriaceous or membra- 

 neous, without paraglossae. Maxilla bilobed, lamelliform, ciliated ; the 

 inner lobe sometimes deficient. Labial palpi with three, the maxillary 

 with four joints. Mandibles short. Eyes nearly always entire. Antenna 

 with eleven, rarely with ten or twelve joints, of very variable form. 

 Anterior and intermediate coxa conico-cylindrical ; the trochanters of 

 the former always distinct, of the latter sometimes invisible ; the poste- 

 rior transversal, prolonged inwardly into a conical projection, not covered 

 by the femora in repose ; tibiae nearly always destitute of terminal spurs; 

 tarsi pentamerous, the anterior tetramerous in some of the males, all 

 without lamellae underneath. The abdomen with six or seven segments 

 all free. The integuments generally thin and flexible. 



Group TELEPHORnXE. 



Antenna inserted on the forehead, more or less distant. Labrum 

 indistinct. Head uncovered; epistome confounded with the forehead. 

 Legs slender, not compressed ; intermediate coxa contiguous ; trochan- 



