1382 COLEOPTEEA 



on each side behind the posterior femora, and a smaller one 

 between it and the shoulder, besides some smaller inequalities of 

 surface ; the serial punctures are large and suboblong, but become 

 smaller behind, the declivity is almost punctate-striate ; the inter- 

 stices are more or less raised, causing a somewhat striate appear- 

 ance ; nearly halfway down the hind slope there is a transverse 

 black streak. 



Underside fuscous ; third and fourth ventral segments black, the 

 fifth covered with tawny scales. Metasternum with a semicircular 

 depression in front, between the coxae. 



Most nearly resembles No. 1682, but there are no white scales, 

 no thoracic crests, and the hind-body is decidedly more oblong. 



Length (rost. excl.), 2 lines ; breadth, 1 line. 



Moeraki. Two specimens, found by Mr. Sandager. 



Psepholax (Gen., p. 478). 



2413. P. brevicornis, n.s. Subcylindriccd, short, convex, 

 variegated- brown ; densely covered with short tawny scales, with 

 some erect setae on the elytra ; the head blackish, rostrum reddish, 

 the legs and antennae ferruginous. 



This species is closely allied to P. simplex. The rostrum is 

 rather shorter, with a smooth interantennal spot. The scape, is 

 shorter and thicker; the funiculus, too, is shorter, with a very stout 

 basal joint ; the club is large, quite equalling the funiculusin length. 

 The thorax is much constricted and depressed in front, its apical 

 margin is not at all sinuate, and its median ridge is well developed. 

 The eyes are shorter in the longitudinal direction, are more rotundate, 

 and rather farther from the thorax, and the sides of the head appear 

 less swollen below them. The legs are clothed with greyish hairs. 

 The scrobes are very short, and extend to the lower surface of the 

 rostrum, so that a broad space intervenes between them and the 

 eyes, which is the actual condition in P. simplex. 



I may here state that P. simplex differs from White's types in 

 some important points. The eye of P. simplex is placed near the 

 back of the head instead of being distant from the thorax, it is 

 narrower from above downwards, and extends longitudinally, the 

 gena appears swollen below it, and the scrobe, as indicated above, 

 is essentially different. The genus Psepliolax will, in course of time, 

 have to be subdivided. 



Length, 2 lines ; breadth, 1 line. 



Mount Maungatua, Otago. One, taken off a Veronica buxifolia 

 by Mr. S. W. Fulton. 



OBS. At Midhirst I found a varietal form of Psepholax mediocris. 

 The body is quite oval, the eyes almost round, the scrobes reach the 

 lower and anterior part of the eyes ; the thorax is nearly smooth on 

 the middle, with shallow punctures ; the elytra are rather broader, 

 and the third and fifth interstices are a good deal elevated near the 

 top of the hind slope, the third being blackish and obtusely raised at 

 the base, 



