OF NEW ZEALAND. 1345 



Group CUCUJID-flS. 



Thortus. 



Nov. gen. 



Picrotus is nearly related, but differs in some important points. 



Body convex, oval, elongate. The antenna are eleven- jointed ; 

 the terminal articulations, however, form a three- jointed club, which, 

 owing to the gradual incrassation of the preceding joints, is not at 

 all abruptly marked off; the ninth joint is not twice the bulk of the 

 eighth, but is distinctly smaller than the transverse tenth joint, the 

 terminal being still larger ; the third joint is rather longer than the 

 contiguous ones ; joints 4-8 decrease in length. The thorax is of the 

 same width as the elytra at the base and closely adapted thereto, it 

 is gradually narrowed towards the front ; its side margins are not 

 flattened or thickened, being, in fact, quite fine, and there is no trace 

 of lateral grooves near them ; the middle of the base has a sort of 

 broad depressed plate which overlaps the extreme front of the 

 scutellum ; the posterior angles are not prolonged backwards, being 

 almost rectangular. Scutellum rather large. The legs and tarsi are 

 longer than they are in Picrotus, and terminate in small claws ; 

 each of the four basal joints of the tarsi is furnished below with 

 a rather elongate bristle. The ventral sutures are not so deep. 

 There is a distinct quadrate depression at the termination of the 

 prosternal process. The eyes are much smaller, quite minute and 

 inconspicuous. 



Thorictus is quite different in many respects. 



2359. T. OV2tlis, n.s. Elongate-oval, very sparingly clothed 

 with slender pallid hairs ; shining, red, sides of thorax piceous, legs 

 fulvous. 



Head nearly smooth, somewhat flattened above. Thorax about 

 as long as broad, simple, with a few moderately-fine distant punc- 

 tures on each side of the smooth central portion, the curved basal 

 plate impunctate. Scutellum large, rounded behind. Elytra widest 

 before the middle, gradually narrowed posteriorly, about twice the 

 length of the thorax ; each with an ill-defined sutural stria and very 

 few distant punctures. Legs stout ; the tibiae thickened towards 

 the extremity, with minute spurs. The antenna are sparsely 

 pubescent, and are longer than the thorax. 



Length, ; breadth, f line. 



Boatman's, Westland. One example, found by Mr. Cavell. 



Group-CRYPTOPHAGIDJE, 



Cryptophagus (Gen., p. 224). 



2360. C. discoideus, n -s- Oblong, moderately convex ; the 

 head, thorax, and antennas red, legs fulvescent ; elytra, near the 

 base and apex, infuscate-red, most of the dorsum nearly fulvous ; 

 clothed with yellow hairs, some of which are long and upright. 



