OF NEW ZEALAND. 333 



but it has the apical joint of the maxillary palpi large, and the basal joint 

 of the tarsi more atrophied. 



604. B. niger, Sharp; Ent. Mon. Mag., May, 1877. Sat 

 robustus, nitidus, niger, leviter seneo-micans, obsolete parce punctatus, 

 pi] is erectis sparsim vestitus ; antennis articulis basalibus posterius testa- 

 ceis. 



Long., 8-10 mm.; lat., 2\ mm. 



Antenna moderately slender and long, third joint slender, longer 

 than the fourth, and much longer than the thick short second joint, ninth 

 joint a good deal broader than the preceding ones, longer than broad, 

 tenth as broad as ninth, but rather shorter, eleventh sub-oval, acuminate, 

 longer than ninth, longer than broad ; their colour is black, but the two 

 or three basal joints are more or less distinctly yellow behind. Head 

 broad and short, its punctation about the vertex rather closer and more 

 distinct than that of the rest of the upper surface. Thorax as long as 

 broad, much constricted in front and behind, so as to be a good deal 

 dilated in the middle, it is very sparingly punctured. Elytra elongate, 

 shining black with a faint metallic tinge, sparingly and finely punctured, 

 and with whitish scanty hairs ; under-surface and legs entirely black. 



Christchurch, found by Mr. Wakefield. 



NOTE. I am indebted to Mr. J. Buchanan, F.L.S., for an example 

 of this species ; as I know that Mr. Wakefield collected at Wellington, 

 it seems just possible that Dr. Sharp may have made an error as to 

 habitat. 



605. B. SigTiatllS, n.s. Body of a shining purplish-black colour ; 

 antennae pitchy-red, their basal joints paler ; legs red with the apical 

 half of the femora piceous ; each elytron with two testaceous marks. 

 Head punctate, except a smooth space on the vertex, and with two 

 fovese between the eyes. Thorax about as long as broad, wider in front 

 than behind, where it is considerably narrowed, dilated laterally at the 

 middle, and constricted in front ; there is an obvious dorsal depression, 

 which is obliquely prolonged towards the sides ; the middle is almost 

 smooth, the rest of the surface more or less punctate. Elytra elongate, 

 rather narrower in front than behind ; the humeral and scutellar regions 

 obtusely elevated ; their surface is indistinctly sculptured, especially 

 behind ; they are somewhat rugulose on the anterior portion and along 

 the suture, and bear several rows of fine punctures ; on each elytron 

 there is an oblique sub-triangular elongate testaceous mark near the base, 

 which is situated in a depression, and an irregularly-formed transverse 

 one of the same colour near the middle. The under-surface is punctate 

 and pilose. The body is clothed with whitish hairs, those on the elytra 

 being shorter than the others. The structure of the antennae is similar 

 to that of B. niger, except that the third, fourth, and fifth joints are 

 about equal. 



Length, 5^ lines. 



Described from one example which was found by Mr. T. F. Cheese- 

 man, of Auckland, in the Nelson district. 



