7^6 COLEOPTERA 



tellum punctulated. Elytra convex, rather abruptly declivous and 

 attenuated apically, bearing many rows of fine distant punc- 

 tures, the yellowish spaces spotted with brown, so as to appear 

 coarsely punctated, though really smooth. Underside piceous ; 

 prosternal process distinct, not depressed. 



Allied to M. obscurus, but more convex, the posterior slope of the 

 hind-body more abrupt. The body is contracted at the junction of 

 the thorax and elytra. The pubescence is almost exclusively confined 

 to the legs and antennae, though a few short hairs may be perceived 

 along the margins. The colour is subject to variations, being some- 

 times much darker than in the typical specimen. In M. cacus the 

 form is more elongate, less convex, and almost wholly of a chestnut- 

 red colour. 



Length, i^- lines ; breadth, f line. 



My specimens were found at Tairua. 



1402. M. piceUS, n.s. Convex, oblong-oval, nude, shining, 

 nearly black, sometimes slightly rufescent, with testaceous margins. 



Head finely but distinctly punctured. Prothorax transversal, 

 slightly narrowed anteriorly, not rounded laterally, finely and dis- 

 tantly punctured. Elytra convex, finely punctured in rows. 



Difficult to identify ; closely allied to M. curtulus, but differing 

 from it in having no narrowing of the middle of the body, the sides 

 of the thorax being straight, and of the same width as the shoulders 

 of the elytra ; the punctation of the thorax is closer, that of the 

 elytra not only closer but coarser, and their surface is more uneven. 

 The prosternal process is elongate, almost touching the intermediate 

 coxae, and on the same level throughout. 



Length, i lines; breadth, line. 



Taranaki. Collected by Mr. Stewart- Sandager. 



Group TENEBRIONID JE . 



Lorelus (p. 380)- 



1403. L. quadricollis, n.s. Nitid, light-brown, head darker, 

 legs and palpi navo-testaceous, antennae ferruginous, sparingly 

 clothed with minute greyish hairs ; elongate, subdepressed. 



Head rather finely and not very closely punctured ; slightly 

 dilated laterally ; antennal orbits raised and prolonged towards the 

 middle of the forehead. Eyes quite flat. Antenna stout, bearing yel- 

 low hairs, gradually incrassated ; second joint short, square ; joints 

 4-8 transverse ; ninth and tenth transversal, not twice as broad as 

 the eighth. Prothorax transversely quadrate, its sides almost 

 straight, only slightly narrowed posteriorly, the lateral margins 

 explanate, particularly behind, hind angles rectangular but not 

 produced, base and apex almost truncate ; its punctation quite as 

 distant as, and rather finer than, that of the head. Scutellum 

 smooth. Elytra sub-parallel, punctate, the punctures not close, 

 coarser than those of the thorax. Legs robust; the tibiae with a 

 minute terminal spur. 



Larger and broader than L. prisons, with finer sculpture, and 



