OF NEW ZEALAND. 1251 



Kostrum closely punctulate, dull ; antennae inserted behind the 

 middle, very short, with small slender club ; eyes prominent ; thorax 

 rounded at the sides, and much narrowed in front, where it is only 

 very obscurely constricted ; coarsely punctate ; scutellum minute ; 

 elytra with series of punctures becoming more obsolete towards the 

 extremity, but quite coarse at the base ; interstices sparingly seriately 

 punctate. 



Picton. Helms; one example. This differs from its only con- 

 gener, M. huttoni, by its thicker rostrum and differently - formed 

 antennae, which are more like those of Pentarthrum : the insect, in- 

 deed, has much more the appearance of an obscure Pentarthrum 

 than of its congener, but it is abruptly differentiated from the genus 

 named by its approximate front coxae. 



Novitas. 



2204. N. dispar, n.s. Elongate, subopaque, fusco-niger, 

 rostrum shining-red, antennae and tarsi fulvous, front of thorax and 

 apex of hind-body rufo-castaneous. 



Rostrum elongate, very slender, arched, parallel, minutely and 

 remotely punctured. Head transversely, minutely, granulate-ru- 

 gose. Antenna inserted behind the middle of rostrum, scape very 

 slender and flexuous, but ciavate at the extremity ; second joint of 

 funiculus nearly as long as but much more slender than first, joints 

 3-5 each longer than broad, club elongate. Thorax convex, sub- 

 cylindric, sides widely curvate, opaque, its sculpture dense and 

 minute, consisting apparently of exceedingly minute granules, it 

 bears a few slender yellowish hairs. Elytra but little broader than 

 thorax, its greatest breadth behind posterior femora, striate-punctate 

 as far as the middle, their whole surface finely rugosely sculptured ; 

 a few fine grey hairs are visible. Legs rather short and very thick ; 

 tarsi large, basal joint small, second and third exceedingly broad, 

 fourth elongate. 



Underside blackish, last three ventral segments rufescent ; meta- 

 sternum and basal segments with some coarse distant punctures. 

 Front coxae as distant as posterior. 



In N. nigrans the elytral punctation ceases near the middle, but 

 some of the striae are continued to the apices, and the rest of the 

 surface is very finely longitudinally rugose, the thorax bears distinct 

 punctures, and the insect is rather larger and broader. 



Length (rost. incl.), f ; breadth, |- line. 



Found on Phormium tenax, Tiritiri Island, by Mr. P. Sandager. 



Phlceophagos oma. 



2205. P. serenum, n.s. Fusiform, not distinctly pubescent, 

 shining ; rostrum and thorax red, elytra chestnut-red. 



nostrum about two-thirds of the length of the thorax, gradually 

 and slightly narrowed behind the antennal insertion, before rather 

 than behind the middle, with very few punctures along the middle 



