OF NEW ZEALAND. 677 



grooved from the anterior almost to the extremity of the posterior angles. 

 Mesosternal cavity small but deep, with thickened and somewhat elevated 

 lateral margins, apparently open behind, so that the inter-coxal suture is 

 rendered indistinct. Metasternum rather short, canaliculate. Coxal 

 lamina very large, its trochanteral portion about half the length of the 

 metasternum, obtusely prominent over the trochanter, obliquely truncate 

 towards the suture; obliquely narrowed, yet quite broad, towards the 

 episternum. Tarsi stout, their basal joint longer than the succeeding 

 four united, penultimate apparently lamellate, fifth rather small, claws 

 simple. 



If the front edge of the- forehead were rendered indistinct, the head 

 would be similar to that of the genus Talerax. 



1181. M. SCUlptUS, n.s. Body sub-parallel, rather depressed, 

 sub-opaque ; sparsely clothed with very fine grey and yellow hairs, the 

 latter the coarser and somewhat congregated near the base of the thorax, 

 and the base and suture of the elytra ; colour almost wholly black, the 

 last four joints of the tarsi only being infuscate. 



Head densely punctate, the margin of the forehead smooth and glossy. 

 Prothorax about as long as broad, rounded towards the front, its apex 

 truncate and slightly deflexed, its sides behind the anterior curvature 

 nearly straight, posterior angles projecting backwards, the base deeply 

 bisinuated ; a distinct basal furrow extends forward to the middle, and the 

 basal curvatures are depressed ; its whole surface is very densely but 

 rather finely punctured. Elytra slightly and gradually narrowed pos- 

 teriorly, with simple striae and rather closely wrinkled interstices ; the two 

 sutural striae of each elytron are rather broad behind, the one nearest the 

 suture more deeply impressed than the other at the apex ; the third and 

 fourth unite at some distance from the apex, the others become confluent 

 but are not abbreviated. Legs short; tibiae straight inwardly, ciliated 

 outwardly. Under-side black, densely punctured and pubescent. 

 Antenna stout, of nearly equal thickness throughout, normal. 



These characters can hardly fail to render the species distinct. I at 

 first thought the insect might prove to be the Drasterius nigellns of White ; 

 but the elytral sculpture, almost at a glance, seems sufficient to separate 

 the two species. 



Length, 2f lines ; breadth, J. 



I found three or four individuals in the vicinity of Whangarei Harbour ; 

 another has been received recently from Wellington, where it had been 

 found by Mr. P. Stewart. 



Group ELATERID.&!. 



Thoramus (P. 280). 



1182. T. cervinus, n.s. Narrow, not very glossy, reddish-brown, 

 clothed with fine pale-yellow hairs. 



Head coarsely but not very closely punctured, broadly impressed 

 between the eyes. Prothorax longer than broad, moderately closely 

 punctured, except on the narrow dorsal space, its punctation much 

 closer near the sides. Elytra broadly dilated behind the middle, apices 

 gradually narrowed, not obtusely rounded; striate, the five sutural 

 4 



