COLEOPTERA 



Xylostygnus. 



Nov. gen. 



Body sub-ovate, convex, bearing excessively minute setae. Head 

 short, the forehead marked off by a medially- angulated linear im- 



Eression ; clypeus sub-truncate in front, with slightly raised edges ; 

 ibrum somewhat deflexed, semicircularly excised ; eyes not promi- 

 nent. Palpi short. Antenna hispid, short, g-jointed ; club tri- 

 articulate. Thorax transverse, its sides finely marginated, base 

 widely sinuated towards the sides, apex broadly emarginated, an- 

 terior angles acutely projecting. Metasternum short. Epipleura 

 moderate. Abdomen with six segments, the four basal equal, fifth 

 very short, the apical exposed behind. Legs stout ; anterior tibiae 

 expanded, not very evidently tri-dentate, the others with a spinose 

 median elevation ; tarsi rather short, their claws simple. 



The g-jointed antenna, nearly bald surface, differently- formed 

 tibiae, much shorter palpi, and more distinctly separated front coxaa 

 distinguish this genus from Odontria. 



1723. X. piceus, n.s. Black, sub-opaque, sides of body sparsely 

 ciliated with brownish hairs, the surface with minute greyish setae ; 

 legs pitchy-red, tarsi and antennae infuscate-red, the club paler. 



Head nude, moderately closely and coarsely punctured. Antenna 

 short, basal joint longest ; second as long as broad, thicker than the 

 following ones ; third and fourth nearly equal, obconical, longer 

 than broad ; fifth and sixth short ; 7-9 forming the club, not much 

 produced. Thorax broader than long, a little rounded laterally, its 

 sculpture similar to that of the head. Scutellum pubescent and 

 rugose-punctate at base, but smooth behind. Elytra indistinctly 

 marginated, very obtusely rounded behind ; not obviously striate, 

 but with a sutural groove on each deepest behind, but becoming 

 nearly obsolete at the base, the punctures not so close as those of 

 the thorax, and not disposed in regular rows. Pygidium a little 

 exposed, shining, with a few large punctures. Underside shining, 

 pitchy-black, sparsely clothed with pale, reddish-brown, hair-like 

 bristles. Sternum coarsely and rugosely punctate ; middle of meta- 

 sternum smooth, but impressed on the middle. Femora with rows 

 of punctures, tibiae with spimform bristles and hairs. 



Length, 44-4} lines ; breadth, 2j-2f . 



First found in fragments on a small sandstone island in Whanga- 

 rei Harbour, and afterwards on Tiritiri by Mr. Sandager. 



Group ELATERID . 



Protelater (p. 304)- 



1724. P. vitticollis, n.s. Elongate, narrow, clothed with pale 

 hairs, sub-opaque ; testaceous ; the thorax with two dorsal vittae, the 

 elytra with two basal streaks, and two round spots behind posterior 

 femora, pitchy-brown ; tarsi infuscate, the anterior darkest ; two 

 basal joints of antennae testaceous, the remainder blackish ; body 

 coarsely and closely punctate. 



