98 SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. [Coleoptera. 



2nd and 3rd obconical, subequal ; joints 4-10 of variable form, in general gradually 

 becoming transverse ; 1 1th short, oval. Prothorax usually narrower than the elytra, 

 transversal. Elytra covering the base of the abdomen. Abdomen more or less 

 elongate, rounded posteriorly, strongly margined laterally. Legs rather short. 

 Tibiae very finely spinose. Tarsi short, their 4 basal joints very short, equal to one 

 another, the apical as long as or longer than the others taken together. Bodi/ oblong 

 or elongate, depressed, smooth or finely pubescent, winged. 



Translated from Lacordaire's Hist, des Ins. Coleopt., torn, ii, p. 143. 



Omalium venator, sp. nov. 



Narrow and elongate, depressed, slightly nitid ; head nigrescent ; thorax and 

 elytra rufo-piceous ; hind-body fuscous, apical segments fusco-testaceous, basal 4 

 segments with short greyish pubescence ; legs, palpi, and basal 5 joints of antennae 

 more or less fusco-testaceous, remaining joints fuscous, opaque, and pubescent. 



Head abruptly contracted behind the eyes, finely coriaceous, vertex nearly 

 smooth ; frontal impressions rather shallow, interocular foveae well marked, the 

 ocelli placed in these ; there is a distinct puncture near each eye with duplicate 

 setae, 2 finer ones on the back part of each of the foveae, and 1 near, each antenna. 

 Thorax subquadrate, transverse, anterior angles depressed and strongly rounded, 

 the posterior almost rectangular, its sides indistinctly marginated, a little narrowed 

 behind the middle ; its surface with coriaceous sculpture and some fine scattered 

 punctures ; the 2 longitudinal impressions on the middle are shallow ; there are 4 

 setae in front, 1 at each hind angle, 2 or 3 near each side, and 2 at the base. Scutel- 

 lum large, curvilinearly triangular, and apparently smooth. Elytra oblong, extendr 

 ing to just beyond the hind thighs, broader than thorax there, apices with rounded 

 angles, but truncate towards the suture ; they are finely and rather distantly punctate, 

 but almost smooth behind ; there are also a few larger but not at all coarse punc- 

 tures with setae proceeding from them. Hind-body nearly smooth along the middle, 

 the basal 4 segments distinctly sculptured towards the sides, and with broad flattened 

 margins ; 5th and 6th very finely sculptured, the margins of the former broad near 

 the base but curvedly narrowed behind ; 7th short and narrow, its hind angles pro- 

 longed alongside the small 8th. Antennae attain base of throax, basal joint stout, 

 cylindric, 3rd evidently longer than 2nd, joints 4 and 6 equal, 6-10 obconical, 11th 

 ovate. Tibiae finely spinose. Basal 4 joints of tarsi with long slender grey setae. 

 The lahrum is pallid, almost membranous, and deeply incurved in front. The eyes 

 distinctly faceted, rather large, but only moderately convex. 



Length, 2 lines ; breadth, nearly J line. 



Campbell Island. 



Caught by Professor Chilton on the beach between high- and low-water marks. 



Group SPHERIDIIDAE. 



Namostygnus, gen. nov. 



Mentum transversely quadrate, not narrowed towards the front, medially con- 

 vex. Maxillary folpi moderately elongate, 2nd joint slendei; at base, clavate at 

 extremity ; 3rd rather shorter than the terminal, which is subcylindric. Antennae 

 inserted just before the eyes in deep broad grooves which extend backwards, below, 



