OF NEW ZEALAND. 337 



with a conspicuous yellow spot in its centre ; the scutellar region is a 

 little elevated behind, which is an indistinct curved depression ; the 

 space behind the posterior femora is smooth, the rest of the surface 

 rather coarsely punctured in lines. The legs are of moderate length ; 

 the thighs but little inflated, and of a fuscous colour; the tibia are 

 piceous, except at the base, where they are whitish. The general ground 

 colour is brownish red ; and the body is sparingly clothed with fine hairs. 



Length, if lines. 



I found two examples of this distinct species at Whangarei Heads. 



FAMILY PTINIDES. 



Mentum corneous. Ligula membraneous or coriaceous, without 

 paraglossse. Maxilla bilobed, lamelliform, ciliated. Head covered by 

 the pro thorax, often retracted within it, invisible from above. Antenna 

 with eleven or nine joints of variable form. Anterior and intermediate 

 coxa cylindrical or sub-oval, somewhat prominent, contiguous or sub- 

 contiguous, without distinct trochantins ; the posterior transversal, not at 

 all or very slightly dilated at their inner extremity ; trochantins placed 

 within the axis of the femora ; terminal spurs of the tibiae scarcely 

 distinct or absent ; tarsi pentamerous, their two basal joints almost 

 equal. Abdomen composed of five segments, the first not longer than 

 the others. 



Group PTINID^E. 



Antenna with eleven joints, inserted on the forehead, filiform. The 

 pronotum continuous with the prothoracic parapleura. 



Ptinus. 



Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Coleop., Tom. iv.,/. 513. 



Mentum transversal, slightly hollowed, its front angles more or less 

 acute ; ligula feebly hollowed and ciliated in front ; first joint of the 

 maxillary palpi a little elongated and arched, the last long, fusiform, and 

 acute at the end ; that of the labial of the same form ; mandibles robust, 

 triangular, arched and simple at the end, furnished with a small inner 

 tooth in front of the middle ; labrum transverse, rounded and ciliated in 

 front. 



Head free during repose \epistome triangular; eyes moderate, rounded, 

 rather prominent. Antenna inserted on the forehead, approximate, 

 filiform ; basal joint stout, the second and third shorter than the follow- 

 ing, these latter cylindrical among the males, shorter and stouter among 

 the females. Prothorax transversal or not, narrowed behind, very often 

 furnished with tubercles or tufts of hair. Scutellum triangular, curvilinear, 

 or rectilinear. Elytra variable according to the species. Legs long and 

 slender, especially in the male. Anterior coxa sub-contiguous, the 

 intermediate more distant. Tibiae, more slender at the base than else- 

 where, particularly in the male ; first joint of the tarsi elongate, joints 



u ii 



