542 COLEOPTERA 



the legs, are sparingly clothed with fine fulvous hairs. The anterior 

 tibia are obliquely grooved and carinated. 



Length, 2f lines. 



I cut a specimen of this species out of a fagus at Tairua. 



959. P. castaneus, n.s. Cylindrical, convex, of a shining chest- 

 nut colour. Head declivous in front, with many elongate punctiform 

 impressions, there is a curved groove at each side from the eye to the 

 antenna, and a short one, deepest in front of the middle, extends to the 

 vertex, which is punctate and bears a few yellow hairs. 



The form of ftut protliorax differs but little from that of the immedi- 

 ately preceding species, its surface is a little uneven, the cordiform 

 punctate space behind is not very distinct ; the apex is coarsely, but not 

 deeply, and the disc finely and remotely, punctured, and there is a short 

 impressed line behind. The sides of the elytra are nearly parallel with 

 the suture, the scutellar excision elongate, the apex is abruptly deflexed, 

 almost vertical, and so densely covered with bright yellow hairs, that, 

 when viewed from above, the posterior portion appears almost truncate 

 and incurved ; each elytron bears eight distinctly punctured striae which 

 become merged in the coarse rugose sculpture of the sloping portion : 

 the interstices are slightly and irregularly elevated, particularly near the 

 base, where they are very finely and densely punctured. 



The antennce, palpi, and tarsi, are testaceous, and the latter, as well 

 as the tibiae, are clothed with short yellow hairs. 



Length, 2f lines. 



I shook one specimen off the foliage of a tree at Tairua. 



FAMILY BRENTHIDES. 



Head produced in the form of a horizontal rostrum of variable 

 length, rarely reduced in the form of a short muzzle, and bearing the 

 organs of the mouth at its apex. Menticm usually very large, and 

 covering the ligula, the maxillae, and their palpi. Mandibles variable. 

 Labrum null. Antennce inserted on the beak, straight, with eleven, very 

 seldom with nine joints. Eyes rounded. The pronotum confounded 

 with the flanks of the prothorax ; the latter imperfectly, or not at all, 

 contiguous to the elytra. Anterior coxa rarely approximated, their 

 cotyloid cavities closed behind. Tarsi generally spongy underneath, 

 sub-pentamerous, with a small distinct knot at the base of the fourth 

 joint, the third as often entire as bilobed ; claws always free and simple. 

 Abdomen composed of five segments ; the two basal very elongate, con- 

 founded together, or defined by a fine superficial suture ; the following 

 two short, equal or almost equal. 



Body invariably elongate, often linear and very narrow. 



Brentlms. 



Fabricius; Lacord. Hist, des Ins. Coleop.^ Tom. vii., /. 442. 



Head usually moderately elongated, convex, more or less narrowed 

 and truncated behind, with a deep circular contraction, its neck short 



