OF NEW ZEALAND. 361 



process projecting backwards and meeting the front of the metasternum, 

 there being no process of the mesosternum to receive it. Middle and 

 hind coxae slightly separated. Epipleura of elytra rather broad and 

 accurately fitted to the sides of the breast and hind-body. Tibia rather 

 slender, unarmed, the apical spurs minute. Tarsi moderately long 

 and slender, furnished beneath with rather long but scanty hairs, the 

 basal joint of the hind tarsi stout or moderately long. 



This genus seems to me to find a fitting place in the Diaperides of 

 Lacordaire, near Diaperis and Scaphidema, from both of which the 

 characters above mentioned readily distinguish it. I sent some speci- 

 mens to Mr. F. Bates, who returned them as quite unknown, and 

 expressed a doubt as to whether they belonged to the Heteromera ; I 

 think, however, that when he has had an opportunity of examining the 

 characters, he will probably be of my opinion. 



NOTE. The following arrangement of the species has been adopted 

 in order to facilitate their recognition, though it might have been pre- 

 ferable to have used either M. oblongus or M. crassus as the typical 

 form, instead of that employed by Dr. Sharp. 



654. M. bates!, Sharp; Ent. Mon. Mag., Sept., 1876. Ovalis, 

 sat convexus, sat nitidus, nudus, piceus, antennis pedibusque rufis ; vage 

 punctatus ; oculis mediocribus ; tarsorum posticorum articulo basali 

 sequentibus duobus eequali. 



Long, corp., 4^ mm. ; lat, 2j mm. 



Antenna one mm. in length, reddish, stout, much thickened to the 

 extremity, basal joint much concealed by the side of the head and 

 projecting but little beyond it, second and third joints short, fourth, 

 fifth, and sixth short, not so long as broad, seventh broader than sixth, 

 eight to tenth forming a loosely articulated club, the eighth and ninth 

 transverse, the tenth scarcely so broad as they are, rounded, and about 

 as long as broad. Head distinctly and moderately sparingly punctured, 

 not much shining. Thorax rather strongly transverse, the sides con- 

 siderably narrowed towards the front, but scarcely curved, the surface 

 rather shining and finely and sparingly punctured. Scutellum short and 

 broad, finely punctured. Elytra pitchy, with the extremity paler, rather 

 finely and not closely punctured, the punctation irregular, but some- 

 times forming the rudiments of striae. 



I have three specimens of this species, which were sent from Auck- 

 land by Mr. Lawson, and I also received the species from Captain 

 Broun, and returned it to him as unknown to me. I have named this 

 species in honour of Mr. F. Bates, to whom I am indebted for some 

 information on New Zealand Heteromera. 



655. M. puncticeps, n.s. This species is nearly allied to M. 

 batesi, but of a more oblong-oval form, rather more parallel sided, with a 

 less transverse thorax, rather larger and more prominent eyes. Antenna 

 nearly nude, of a shining reddish colour, the three terminal joints large, 

 the seventh but little larger than the sixth, only about half as broad as 

 eighth. Head nearly as wide as the apex of the thorax, muzzle slightly 



x ii 



