93$ COLEOPTERA 



robust, whilst the wing-cases have smaller interstitial punctures and 

 the interstices are less uneven. In the female the elytra are shorter 

 and broader, with deeper striae and more elevated intervals. 



g . Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 3^. 



Oamaru, Otago. Collected by Mr. T. Chalmer. 



Holcaspis (P. 37)- 



1688. H. mordax, n.s. Black, shining, legs and antennae rufo- 

 piceous, tips of palpi paler. 



Head constricted behind, causing a distinct post-ocular linear 

 impression, frontal foveae well marked, labrum truncate. Prothorax 

 moderately rounded laterally, gradually and moderately contracted 

 posteriorly, hind angles rectangular ; dorsal groove broad and deep, 

 and expanded near the extremities, basal fossae elongate and narrow, 

 and sub-punctate ; apex incurved, base medially ernarginate. Elytra 

 oblong, very slightly rounded, distinctly punctate-striate, interstices 

 slightly raised, third with one sub-apical puncture. Flanks of pro- 

 sternum, episterna, and sides of abdomen more or less rugose-punc- 

 tate, middle of rnesosternum punctured. Legs stout, posterior femora 

 not toothed. 



Like No. 1149, especially as regards the contour and sculpture of 

 the thorax, but with deeper and more strongly punctated elytral 

 striae and narrower interstices, less distinctly dentiform humeral 

 angles, and with the labrum simple, instead of being emarginated as 

 in that species. 



Length, 5j lines ; breadth, if. 



Base of Mount Egmont. 



Group DYTISCID^I. 



Exocelina. 



Nov. gen. 



Prosternum gradually raised from the sides towards the middle, 

 which is obtusely prominent in front, its process projecting, nearly 

 plane, and fitting into the triangular excavation just before the 

 middle coxae. Epipleurce broad at the base, but becoming linear in 

 line with posterior coxae. Metasternum as in Rhantus. Femora like 

 those of Hydroporus ; tibia gradually expanded apically, the front 

 obliquely rounded at the extremity, and there furnished with several 

 short spines; tarsi distinctly 5-articulate, the three basal much 

 expanded and strongly transverse, fourth not so broad as third and 

 contracted at its base, fifth elongate ; claws equal, moderate ; those 

 of the middle pair nearly similar to the front ones in structure, but 

 not so broad ; swimming legs slender, their tibiae armed inwardly at 

 the apex with two spines, their tarsi compressed, without outstand- 

 ing ciliae. Terminal joint of maxillary palpi fusiform. Antenna 

 1 1 -jointed, setaceous, their joints simple and sub-equal. 



The body is, superficially, like Celina, being oblong and mucronate 

 at the extremity, the apices of the elytra are acute, but not prolonged. 

 The anterior tarsi of the male, above, resemble those of the Dytiscida, 

 but the swimming legs have not the usual conspicuous cilias. 



