653 



NEW ZEALAND COLEOPTERA. 



PART II. 



Group-CNEMACANTHIDJE (P. 7). 

 Mecodema (p. 7)- 



1142. M. flllgida, n.s. Body black, shining, the antennae, 

 palpi, and legs piceous, and the apical margins of the elytra ru- 

 fescent. 



Head moderate, transversely impressed between the antennae, and 

 quite obsoletely behind the eyes ; at the inner margin of each of 

 these latter there is a distinct punctiform impression ; mandibles ob- 

 liquely striate ; labrum outwardly curved. Prothorax sub-depressed, 

 rather broader than long, slightly rounded laterally, and considerably 

 narrowed towards the blunt posterior angles ; the superficial impressions 

 consist of the punctulated dorsal line, ending in the frontal curvature, 

 which terminates near each front angle and is indistinctly duplicated on 

 the middle, the fossae near the hind angles united by a curved basal 

 depression, and a row of marginal punctures : the lateral rims can hardly 

 be termed crenulate. The elytra are elongate-oval, slightly convex, 

 broadest behind the middle, and slightly incurved in line with the middle 

 thighs ; each elytron bears eight distinct, finely-punctured striae, between 

 the eighth and the side a smooth raised space not attaining the base 

 or apex ; the marginal sculpture is indefinite, being too shallow and 

 irregular to be described as punctate ; the punctation of the two outer 

 striae is close and distinct, but the whole of the apical sculpture is some- 

 what irregular ; the interstices are nearly plane, though a little elevated 

 near the sides and apex. 



Under-side smooth, glossy, pitchy-black. 



The smooth head and thorax differentiate this species from all the 

 others of equally large size. 



Length, \2\ lines; breadth, 4^-. 



My two specimens were found by T. F. Cheeseman, Esq., F.L.S., on 

 the mountains near Nelson. 



1143. M. COELStricta, n.s. Body elongate, elliptical, somewhat 

 convex; glossy black, slightly rufescent near the sides and apex of 

 the elytra ; femora and basal joint of antennae red, the rest of the latter 

 pitchy-red. 



