OF NEW ZEALAND. 9^5 



punctated, the coarser punctures on the thorax less numerous and 

 confined to a broad space behind the middle ; the punctures in the 

 elytral striae are smaller, so that the striae are not crenate-punctate, 

 as in that species. 



Length, i^ lines ; breadth, ^. 



Taranaki, near Mount Egmont. 



Group MELOLONTHID-ffi, 



Scythrodes. 



Nov. gen. 



Body broadly oviform, moderately convex, nude. Head short, 

 the forehead limited by a rather deep but fine, slightly sinuous line, 

 its front edge truncate and a little carinated ; eyes not convex ; 

 labrum deeply emarginate. Palpi short. Antenna short, ^8-jointed ; 

 basal articulation largest, one-half of it visible above, cylindric ; 

 second shorter than the next two, not so stout as the first ; third 

 and fourth obconical and about equal in length ; fourth broader 

 than third ; fifth strongly transverse ; club tri- articulate, its leaflets 

 rather short, the terminal [joint broadly concave on its outer face. 

 Metasternum short. Parapleurce horizontal, broad, narrowed pos- 

 teriorly yet not linear at the apices. Abdomen with five distinctly 

 separated segments of equal length. Legs as in Odontria. 



In facies the type very much resembles some of the Oriental 

 and African Tenebrionidae, a broad Pwielia for example, but with 

 the base of the thorax equalling the elytra in width. The charac- 

 ters ally it to Odontria, though it has a totally different aspect. 



1722. S. SCjualidus, n,s. Black, but little shining, bald, 

 broadly oval, moderately convex. 



Head with a few coarse punctures, the frontal portion slightly 

 roughened with fine, ill-defined, rugose sculpture. Prothorax trans- 

 verse, apex widely emarginated, front angles prominent, attaining the 

 front of the eyes ; sides finely margined, slightly curved, narrowed 

 towards the front ; base a little sinuated, posterior angles obtusely 

 rectangular ; its punctation like that of the head, its middle and a 

 space near each side with fewer punctures ; there is an impressed 

 line in front. Scutellum triangular, depressed. Elytra with 

 rather thick reflexed rims ; each with nine broad striae, interstices 

 somewhat convex, punctate, their whole surface appearing slightly 

 rugose ; suture elevated. Underside black, slightly glossy ; the 

 sternum, femora, labrum, and abdominal segments bear a few 

 straight fuscous bristles. Legs stout, anterior tibiae obtusely tri- 

 dentate. Middle of mesosternum densely sculptured. 



Male incog. 



$ . Length, 8^ lines ; breadth, 5f. 



I am indebted to Mr. G. M. Thomson, of Dunedin, for my 

 specimen, which he found on Mount Tyndall, at an elevation of 

 6,oooft. 



