42 Mr. D. Sharp on the Dascillidse of New Zealand. 



North-American region, and that on making a synthesis of 

 the groups of species (genera) , it is found that they form three 

 distinct aggregates, one of whicli is varied and extensive and 

 probably very characteristic of New Zealand — that the second 

 of these aggregates consists as yet of but one species, in which 

 the characters of the Dascillidge are but poorly expressed, 

 while the third and last of these secondary aggregates unites 

 in a very complete and intimate manner with the European 

 and North- American allies. 



For the specimens that have enabled me to draw up this 

 paper I am chiefly indebted to Captain Thomas Broun of 

 Whangarei, and C. M. Wakefield, Esq., who was formerly 

 resident at Christchurch, New Zealand. Prof. Hutton of 

 Otago and Mr. T. Lawson of Auckland (through his brother 

 Mr. R. Lawson, of Scarborough) have also contributed some 

 additional species ; and all of these gentlemen are here heartily 

 thanked. 



In order to facilitate the comprehension of the method I have 

 followed in dealing with these insects, I add an introductory 

 table (p. 43). This, though I hope it will be useful for a time, 

 will probably be found unreliable in the case of a considerable 

 number of fresh species being discovered, as I anticipate will 

 be actually the case. 



1. Byrrhodes gravidus^ n. sp. 



B. magnus, latus, robustus, ovalis, sat couvexus, dense subtiliter 

 punctatus, dense conspicueque pubescens, fusco-castaneus ; an- 

 tennis elongatis, articulo basali crasso, secundo parvo, tertio 

 elongate, quam quartus duplo breviore, quarto et sequentibus sub- 

 sequalibus ; protborace valde transverse, elytris angustiore, mar- 

 gine anteriore profunda bisiuuato, augulis anterioribus productis . 

 acutis, lateribus leviter rotundatis, angulis posterioribus obtuse 

 rectis, basi subrotundata vix utrinque sinuata ; elytris obsolete 

 longitudinaliter costatis. Long. 10-12 m. m., lat. 6-7 m. m. 



This large species recalls somewhat by its appearance some 

 of the European Byrrhi, B. scabripennis for example. The 

 very conspicuous pubescence on its elytra is rather irregularly 

 arranged, so as to have a somewhat spotted appearance, and is 

 very easily rubbed off. 



I have received some very damaged specimens of this 

 remarkable species from Captain Broun, who found them, I 

 believe, at Auckland; and 1 have seen other individuals from 

 the same source in the collections of Messrs. Pascoe and 

 Wakefield. 



