OF NEW ZEALAND. 995 



point and the base hollowed for the accommodation of the elongate 

 trochanters ; hind tibice curvate, with long terminal spurs, gradually 

 dilated ; the intermediate tibiae distinctly dilated near the extremity 

 along the front or lower face. In both sexes there are two punctures 

 at each side of the last ventral segment. Four thoracic setae at each 

 side. 



Fern. Legs more slender, though similar in form; the thorax 

 less narrowed behind, and only feebly rounded laterally. 



P. cribralis is larger, and there is only one basal fossa at each 

 side. P. adicnemus is the nearest ally. 

 Length, 7; breadth, 2| lines. 



Wangapeka Valley. Mr. T. F. Cheeseman was kind enough to 

 bring me a pair which he found there. 



1786. P. oscillator, n.s. (Sharp ; Trans. Boy. Dub. Soc., 

 1886, p. 369.) Nigerrimus, antennis extrorsum tarsisque piceis ; 

 antennis gracilibus, oculis convexis ; prothorace basi utrinque fovea 

 elongata lineare, angulis posterioribus exacte rectis ; elytris regu- 

 lariter sat profunde striatis, striis fere impunctatis, interstitio tertio 

 bi- vel tri-punctato. Scutello laevigato. 



Long., 13mm. 



Antenna slender, with the fourth joint rather longer than the 

 third. Head short, with prominent eyes, and with two fovese near 

 the front. Thorax flat, about one-fourth broader than long, the 

 sides a little narrowed, and slightly sinuate behind ; the central 

 channel deep, extending from base to the front margin, half-way 

 between it and the side with an elongate channel-like fovea. Elytra 

 with slightly-rounded shoulders, destitute of denticle, the striation 

 regular and rather deep, with two or three large punctures placed 

 on the third interstice touching the third stria. The male has the 

 hind femora simple, and one seta on each side of the last ventral 

 segment . 



This is, no doubt, allied to Haptoderus maorinus, Bates, which, 

 however, is only 7mm. or 8mm. long, and is almost destitute of 

 frontal impressions. Although, no doubt, the type of a distinct 

 group or subgenus of New Zealand Pterostichi, I somewhat doubt 

 the propriety of associating this insect with the European Haptoderi, 

 though no doubt the structural characters of the New Zealand 

 and European species, so far as yet observed, are very similar. The 

 labrnm in the New Zealand insects is very short and broad, the 

 mandibles short and stout, smooth, not striate above, the left one 

 with slender and elongate incurved apex, the fourth joint of antenna 

 longer than the third, the thorax with a front margin, two lateral 

 setae, and the scutellum estriate. 



Dunedin and Otago. Sent by Professor Hutton in 1876 and 

 1877 ; two male examples. 



1787. P. perfidlOSUS, .s. Shining, black; legs pitchy-black, 

 tarsi rufo-piceous ; mandibles rufescent, as are the first four joints 

 of the antennae at the base. 



