890 COLEOPTERA 



a deep but narrow indentation beyond the middle. Maxillary palpi 

 four-jointed, first joint longest, somewhat cylindrical ; second sub- 

 cylindric, its apex oblique ; third very small, quite cylindric ; fourth 

 minute, aciculate : labial very much shorter, their two last joints similar 

 to those of the maxillary. Mandibles bifid at apex. Eyes rather 

 small, not prominent, free. Legs moderate ; femora simple ; tibiae 

 gradually expanded towards the extremity, acutely denticulated 

 externally, apical spurs not elongate ; tarsi five- jointed, the fifth 

 equalling the preceding four in length, the three basal joints of the 

 anterior dilated in the male. Front coxa contiguous, not large; 

 posterior large, transversal, not quite touching each other, their 

 inner portion broad, the outer gradually accuminated. Trochanters 

 large. Mesosternal process acutely triangular, meeting the pointed 

 inetasternum. Metasternum large. Abdomen very short, on a lower 

 plane than the breast, so that the hind legs when retracted are on 

 a level with the metasternum ; with five segments, the apical small. 



1584. M. litprea, n.s. Oblong, moderately convex, sparsely 

 clothed with greyish-yellow hairs ; shining, head and thorax black, 

 wing-cases smoky-brown with some paler spots, legs variegate- 

 castaneous, tarsi yellow, antennae variegate- fuscous. 



Head distinctly punctate. Prothorax similarly sculptured, but 

 with a smooth linear space on the dorsum, and one or two spots with 

 fewer punctures ; rather broader than long, sloping outwards 

 gradually, not in the least flattened near the sides ; front angles 

 depressed, not acute ; sides a little curved, with fine rims ; base 

 feebly bisimiate, with rounded posterior angles. Scutellum smooth. 

 Elytra a little " broader than, and twice the length of, the thorax, 

 oblong, nearly quite truncate apically, leaving the small pygidium 

 uncovered ; they bear some very indistinct costae, and their puncta- 

 tion is not disposed in regular rows. Anterior tibia expanded 

 apically, armed along the outer edge with five or six denticles or 

 spine-like teeth ; the others similarly armed, but with about eight 

 on each, all pilose. Antenna bearing greyish hairs, some of the 

 joints more or less rufescent. Underside pitchy-black, punctate, 

 with some reticulate marks and greyish hairs. 



Length, i J-iJ lines ; breadth, f . 



One female and a mutilated male were captured on the sandspit 

 at Port Chalmers by Mr. T. Chalmer. 



Group SILPHID JE . 



Choleva (p. I5 1 )- 



I 5^5- C. granifer, n.s. Oviform, attenuated posteriorly; 

 clothed with slender, elongate, decumbent fulvescent hairs ; 

 slightly shining ; head red, thorax blackish, elytra brown, legs 

 and antennae fusco-rufous. 



Head trigonal, indistinctly sculptured. Antenna thickened 

 apically, basal joint yellowish, second shorter than third, joints 

 3-5 elongate, sixth and seventh longer than broad, eighth shorter 

 than but as broad as seventh, ninth and tenth sub-quadrate, 



