1344 COLEOPTERA 



folded and placed over the antennae. The mesosternum bears 

 granules. The space between the middle and hind coxae has raised 

 borders, but there is a deep transverse depression just in front. 

 The basal segment of the abdomen is much depressed or hollowed at 

 each side; the sutures between the segments are very deep and 

 large. The epipleurce are broad at the base, but taper towards the 

 extremity, they are studded with prominent tubercles along the 

 sides as far as the third or fourth segment. 



The insect is usually covered with pallid and fuscous sappy 

 matter, which conceals the true sculpture. 



E> parvus is the nearest ally, but in it the thoracic tubercles are 

 pointed, and the setae are more slender, slightly longer, and paler, 

 besides other differences. The middle of the body is much less nar- 

 rowed than is the case in Nos. 362, 363, and 1168. 



Length, f ; breadth, f line. 



Moeraki. I am indebted to Mr. Sandager for two examples of 

 this interesting little creature. 



Lithostygnus (Gen., p. 950). 



2358. L. minor, n.s. Elongate, subparallel, transversely con- 

 vex, subopaque, nude, pitchy-red or infuscate, antennae and tarsi 

 fulvescent. 



Head narrowed in front of the small eyes ; these are, nevertheless, 

 quite distinct, and are placed near the back part, which is much 

 contracted behind, so as to form a short neck. Antenna rather 

 slender, the basal joint is large and thick, the second is also stout 

 but much smaller than the first though about thrice the size of the 

 third ; ninth slightly thicker than the eighth, but less than half the 

 bulk of the tenth, which is smaller than the eleventh. Thorax 

 broader than long, its sides much explanate, somewhat rounded 

 near the front, gradually narrowed behind, posterior angles not well 

 developed ; near the front there are two curved abbreviated costae, 

 there are also two small nodules on the middle, and two near the 

 base, so that there appear to be two large discoidal depressions. 

 Elytra curvedly narrowed behind ; each elytron with two costae, 

 the inner slightly bent at both extremities, the outer does not reach 

 the base, but is continued to the apex, where it forms the edge of 

 the dorsum, towards the shoulder the side is more explanate, and, 

 though not costiform, the margin is well defined, the suture is slightly 

 raised ; the interstitial sculpture consists of double series of puncti- 

 form impressions. 



This species, though very similar to L. costatus, is much narrower, 

 the sides of the thorax are not greatly and almost abruptly con- 

 tracted behind the middle, as is the case in that species, and the 

 tarsi are relatively shorter and stouter. 



Length, ; breadth, nearly 1 line. 



Moeraki. One example from Mr. Sandager, who informs me 

 that Dr. Sharp is of opinion that it belongs to the genus Melophthalma. 

 This genus (Melophthalma) I cannot find any description of. The 

 genus Lithostygnus was described about six years ago. 



