998 Transactions.—Zoology. 
This species is extremely similar to the preceding one; but the thorax 
has two not very distinct elongate impressions on the middle, the narrow 
space between which is without punctures; the grooves on the elytra are 
not so deep, and the punctures at the bottom of these are less widely sepa- 
rated from one another ; the sculpture of the under surface is less coarse. 
Also sent by Captain Broun from Tairua. 
Pycnomerus minor, n. sp. 
P. parallelus, ferrugineus, subnitidus; prothorace fere squali; elytris 
punctato-striatis; antennis minus distincte 11.articulatis. Long. 
corp. 21 m.m. 
Very similar in size, form and colour to a Rhizophagus. Very closely 
allied to P. simulans, but smaller and paler in colour. The head is rather 
short; the fold near the eye very obsolete; the suture between the tenth 
and eleventh joints of the antenne is indistinct. The thorax is longer than 
broad, slightly narrowed behind, with extremely indistinct traces of two 
impressions on the middle. The elytra are striated, and the strim are 
coarsely punctured. The under surface is quite shining, and moderately 
coarsely punctured. ; 
Also sent by Captain Broun. 
Obs. Pascoe and Leconte have proposed to distinguish the Pycnomeri 
with distinctly eleven-jointed antennæ by the name of Penthelispa. Erich- 
son, who pointed out this character, considered it unnecessery to make 
distinct generic names for the two forms ; and the present species indicates 
the correctness of his judgment ; for the antennæ are just intermediate in 
structure between the two forms. 
Bitoma vicina, n. sp. i 
B. fusca, capite, thoraceque brunneo-testaceis, elytris testaceis, antennis 
pedibusque rufis; prothorace inæquali, haud costato ; elytris minus 
distincte costatis, lateribus apiceque fusco-signatis. Long. corp. 
84 m.m. 
Antennæ reddish, the ninth joint scarcely larger than the preceding one, 
the tenth very broad and transverse, eleventh large, nearly as broad as the 
tenth. Head of a brownish colour, rugose, without distinct impressions. 
Thorax a good deal narrower than the elytra, not quite so long as broaå, 
nearly straight at the sides, the front angles prominent ; the surface bears 
some irregular elevations, so thatit appears to be occupied by large irregular 
depressions ; in sculpture it is similar to the head. Elytra rather depressed, 
of a testaceous colour, with some ill-defined darker marks near the sides, 
and a larger and more distinct one just before the apex; each elytron bears 
three or four costæ, and between these is coarsely sculptured; but the 
sculpture is made indistinct by some short rigid sete. Legs reddish; tarsi 
rather long and slender. 
