52 Mr. D. Sharp on the Dascillidfe of New Zealand. 



Group 6. — Species 12 to 15 are associated together as 

 follows : — 



Form rather elongate and depressed. Head rather elon- 

 gate, the interantennal portion distinctly prolonged forwards. 

 Antennal fossa indistinct. Mandibles slender, greatly crossed 

 in repose, and therefore projecting but little tjeyond the front 

 of the much-exposed labrum. Maxillary palpi elongate, 

 slender, the apical joint slender, and so not appearing acumi- 

 nate, longer than the preceding joint. Labial palpi not 

 furcate. Front band of prosternum short, but not excessively 

 reduced, prosternal process small, hastate, pointed behind, its 

 junction in front with the middle piece of the prosternum on a 

 level with tips of the coxae. 



It is impossible to unite these insects in a first synthesis 

 with Group 7 (^CypJion) unless intermediate forms are dis- 

 covered ; they differ from the Cypliones by the maxillary palpi, 

 by the less-reduced front band of the prosternum, and by the 

 acuminate prolongation of the prosternal process. Mesocyphon 

 divergens in its appearance departs much from the other 

 three species ; but I have not discovered any important points 

 to differentiate it from them. I suspect the species of this 

 group will ultimately prove to be rather numerous. 



16. CypJion Huttoni, n. sp. 



C. Bat angustus et convexus, fere elongatus, fere opacus, ferrugineus, 

 pedibus testaeeis, elytrorum lateribus in medio infuscatis ; capite 

 angustulo et hand brevi, partibus oris porrectis, densissime forti- 

 ter granulate, peropaco, conspicue pubescente ; thorace densius 

 granulate, et pubescente, elytris multe angustiere, lateribus sub- 

 rectis, vix posterius latioribus, angulis anterioribus rectis, posteri- 

 oribus obtusis, baud rotnndatis ; elytris circa scutellum granulatis 

 et opacis, apice subtiliter punctatis et nitidis, post scutellum 

 profunde oblique impressis. Long. 3^ m. m., lat. 1| m. m. 



This is a very distinct species from the following ones, and 

 aproximates closely to Mesocyphon marmoratus and its allies. 

 The only individual I have seen has lost half of its antennae ; 

 joint 3rd is slender and moderately long, quite half as long as 

 the rather slender and elongate 4th joint ; the 5th and 6th 

 joints are each a good deal shorter than the 4th. 



This species was sent from Otago by Professor Hutton. 



17. Cyphon parvicepSy n. S]). 



C. parvulus, sat latus, baud elongatus, dense minus subtiliter punc- 

 tatus et pubescens, ferrugineus, sat nitidus ; capite parvo, baud 

 elongate, crebrius granulate ; antennis brevibus, articulo tertio 



