482 Mr. D. Sharp on the Elateridae of New Zealand. 



Ohs. Acroniopus grandis (Redtenbacher, ' Novara Reise/ 

 Coleopt. p. 96) will prove, I think, to be this species or a 

 closely allied one. 



Group 18. — Species 48-52 show these characters : — 

 Forehead produced between the antennse, and terminating 

 with a small abruptly inflexed portion over the labrum, 

 this portion representing, as I consider, the clypeus ; labrum 

 very small and scarcely to be seen ; antenna! spaces rather 

 large and very deep, almost circular, widely separated 

 from one another by the produced forehead ; antennge either 

 nearly filiform or strongly serrate. Prosternum moderately 

 long, with excessively abbreviated chin-piece ; lateral sutures 

 open for one third or one half their length ; prosternal process 

 short and stout. Middle coxae moderately distant ; meso- 

 sternal cavity with thick but not raised borders ; hind coxal 

 lamina as long at its external portion as at its internal one, so 

 that there is no trace of a trochanteral lobe. Tarsi slender, 

 basal joint as long as the three following together ; the 3rd 

 and 4th joints with a produced membrane on their underside. 

 In these insects the structure of the head is intermediate be- 

 tween that of the Protelater group and that of the ordinary 

 forms of the Elateridte. 



53. Protelater elongatuSj n. sp. 



P. elongatus, angustiis,- densius pubesceiis, colore variabilis, rufes- 

 cens, plus miuusve iufuscatus, et in elytris vage plagiatus ; an- 

 tennis sat elongatis, vix serratis, articulis secundo et tertio sat 

 elongatis conjunctim quarto fere longioribus ; capite dense subtiliter 

 punctate et pubescente ; prothorace valde elongate, subcylindrico, 

 angulis posterioribus divergentibiis, elongatis, testaceis, fere dense 

 punctate, fusee, fere subaeneo, dense flavo-pubescente ; elytris 

 elongatis, minus discrete striatis, sed interstitiis alternis versus 

 apicem magis elevatis ; coxis intermediis bene separatis. Long. 

 7-10| m. m. 



This species appears to be extremely variable in size and a 

 good deal in colour and markings. 



Christchurch, Akaroa, 19th Dec. 1874; Tairua. Captain 

 Broun informs me that this species is rather common on the 

 outskirts of the forest at Tairua. 



54. Protelater Huttoniy n. sp. 



P. elongatus, angustus, pubescens, rufescens, supra praesertim in 

 thorace, magia obscurus ; prothorace elongate, subcylindrico, ao- 



