Coleoptera from New Zealand. 163 



Thorax with four setigerous punctures on each side, the 

 last ventral segment with one ; scutellum more or less striate 

 at base. 



When compared with its nearest ally, No. 1469, it will be 

 seen that it is narrower, the thorax is longer and narrower 

 and much less contracted near the base, and the elytral stria3 

 are not so deep. In P. pellax the grooves of the elytra are 

 quite deep and rather broad. 



Female. — Thorax of equal lengtli and breadth, appearing 

 elongate, its sides very slightly curved ; elytra witli more 

 feebly impressed striaa ; legs rather slender j last segment 

 with two punctures near each side. 



c? . Length 6|, breadth 2|- lines. 



Ligar's Bush, Papakura. 



Pterostichus ohsoletus (No. 1469, var.) . 



This is very much like P. hyhrida. The shoulders are not 

 dentiform, there being only a slight thickening of the margins 

 there j the transverse line which marks off the base of the 

 elytra from the striee in allied species is here quite obsolete ; 

 the scutellum is only indistinctly striate ; the elytra are 

 narrowed towards the base. The tJiorax is only about one 

 sixth broader than long, and its sides are only moderately 

 curved ; its anterior angles are rounded, the posterior are 

 rectangular. The elytral strias are somewhat irregularly 

 punctured, some of the punctures are much smaller than the 

 others, so that the striaj themselves appear interrupted in 

 some parts. 



(J . Length 6^, breadth 2^ lines. 



Hunua Range. Two males. 



Pterosticlms Sharpianus^ sp. n. 



Ohlong^ very slightly convex, shining, black ; femora 

 piceous ; the antenna;, palpi, tibia?, and tai'si pitchy red. 



Head much narrowed behind, the frontal impressions broad 

 and shallow ; labrum usually quite transverse. Eyes large 

 and moderately prominent. Antennce rather slender, reaching 

 the intermediate femora, their three basal joints glabrous, the 

 fourth not longer than the tliird. Mandibles reddish, smooth. 

 Thorax nearly one fourth broader than long ; its sides regu- 

 larly curved from the front angles to beliind the middle, 

 slightly but not sinuously narrowed behind, posterior angles 

 rectangular, not at all projecting ; the surface faintly striate 

 transversely, the central furrow well-marked but sometimes 

 indistinct near the apex ; basal fovcai elongate but not sulci- 



LS* 



