Mr. D. Sharp on the Dascillidse of New Zealand. 57 



lively broad space between the subocular and genal lines ; it 

 is variable in colour, the elytra having an infuscate patch on 

 the sides, which sometimes is largely extended ; so as to suf- 

 fuse most of their surface. The short [lubescence is removed 

 by extremely slight friction ; so that it is rare to see an indivi- 

 dual in perfect condition. 



Sent in numbers from Tairua and from Auckland by Cap- 

 tain Broun. 



Group 7. — Species 16 to 27 seem to me not to differ struc- 

 turally from the European and North-American Cyphon ; they 

 exhibit the following characters : — 



Small and short (or at any rate but little elongate) species. 

 Head short and broad, the interantennal portion but little pro- 

 duced forwards. Antennae never very long. Antennal fossa 

 absent. Mandibles but little visible, being nearly entirely 

 covered by the labrum. Maxillary palpi rather short, the 

 apical joint short, shorter than the 3rd joint, and acuminate. 

 Labial palpi not furcate. Front band of presternum excessively 

 reduced. Prosternal process very small, projecting but little 

 behind the front coxse, its termination blunt, not slender ; it 

 is placed at right angles with the middle piece of the proster- 

 num ; and the junction between the two is quite as prominent 

 as the tips of the coxa3. 



I am unable, as above remarked, to find any characters to 

 distinguish these insects from the European CypJion, as de- 

 fined by C. J. Thomson and Mulsant. The New-Zealand 

 species which present the above characters are very difficult 

 to distinguish from one another ; and I have drawn up the 

 following Table to facilitate the discrimination of the species I 

 have here described. It is well to add that this Table should 

 not be trusted to by itself; for if so, it might mislead any one 

 having before him a species I have not seen. It is also neces- 

 sary to explain what I mean by the term " subocular line." 

 If a European species of Cyphon {C. variabilis, auct., e. y.) 

 be examined, it will be noticed that there is on each side of 

 the head an acutely raised line extending from the base of the 

 maxilla to the hinder and outer part of the head, and sepa- 

 rating the dull or sculptured side of the head, in which the eye 

 is placed, from the smooth and shining under surface of the 

 head. If, then, the New-Zealand Cyphon be looked at, this 

 genal line will be found in a similar position ; but interposed 

 between it and the eye will be observed another raised line, 

 which is quite wanting in the European insect. This line is 

 what I have referred to as the subocular line ; the space en- 

 closed between it and the genal line is smooth and shining. 



