92 SOBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. [ColeopUtra. 



incurved in front. Eyes slightly prominent. Antennae reaching backwards beyond 

 base of thorax, filiform ; basal articulation large, stout, and oval ; 2nd short ; 3rd 

 and 4th equal. Thorax cordiform, base and apex truncate. Elytra ample, broader 

 than thorax at the base, oval, rather convex, rounded posteriorly. Legs rather 

 long. Tibiae slender, the anterior strongly emarginated. Anterior tarsi of the male 

 with brushlike soles, the basal 4 joints strongly dilated and cordiform ; those of the 

 intermediate more triangular and elongated ; the 4th joint prolonged at the inner 

 angle as an elongate lobe. 



The above is my translation of the description given by Lacordaire (Hist, des 

 Ins. Coleopt., torn, i, p. 275). The genus was instituted by Guerin under the name 

 Heterodactylus, which, being preoccupied, was replaced by Chaudoir's Loxomerus. 



Loxomerus nebrioides, Guerin. 



Shining black. 



Head smooth, with 2 wide fossae in front ; mandibles with one tooth, the margins 

 widened, reddish, and slightly transparent. Antennae longer than the head and thorax, 

 the first 4 joints smooth and shining, the second shortest, the others downy. Thorax 

 cordate, truncated in front and behind, smooth, finely margined, with a longitudinal 

 groove in the middle, a feeble transverse impression in front, and two rather deep 

 fossae behind, near the hind angles. Scutdlum rounded, slightly rugose. Elytra 

 oval, of the width of thorax at base, without humeral projections, feebly margined, 

 widest in the middle, smooth, and with 9 striae on the disc, but nearly obliterated 

 on the sides ; these striae do not all reach the end, the 2nd especially stops a little 

 beyond the middle, and on the outer margin are some impressions most marked 

 behind ; beneath and legs smooth. 



Length, 1\ lines to 8 lines. 



Hah. — Auckland Islands. 



As I have not the original description, Dr. Benham kindly forwarded the above 

 copy of that given by White (Voy. Ereb. Terr.), no doubt an essentially correct 

 translation of the original. 



Loxomerus ambiguus, sp. nov. 



Shining piceo-niger ; the back of the head, lateral margins of thorax, the 

 shoulders, and an oblique subapical space on the elytra more or less rufescent ; legs, 

 palpi, and basal 4 joints of antennae shining piceo-rufous, remaining joints of these 

 last opaque and pubescent. 



Head, including the moderately prominent eyes, as wide as front of thorax, 

 narrowed anteriorly, its surface not smooth, the broad interocular impressions being 

 wrinkled ; on the middle, in front of these, the rugae almost represent an enlarged 

 asterisk ; the hind portion, especially behind the eyes, is irregularly and finely but 

 quite perceptibly wrinkled ; the dilated sides of the mandibles are rufescent and 

 semitransparent ; the forehead has an almost- vertical frontal slope, but its apex 

 is truncate. Thorax about one-third broader than long, widest just before the middle, 

 moderately rounded towards the slightly projecting but obtuse anterior angles, a 

 good deal sinuate-angustate behind, posterior angles rectangular, lateral margins 

 well developed ; the median longitudinal groove distinct, but not attaining the 

 base or apex ; basal fossae rather large and deep, near each side at the middle 



