Bates. — On the Longicom Coleoptera of New Zealand. 327 



Mesothorax paululum abbreviatus. Pedes elongati j coxae magnse, globosse ; 

 femora fortiter clavata j tibise intermedise extus leviter emarginatse ; tarsi vix 

 elongati, articulo primo cseteris subsequali ; ungues divaricati. AntenncB 

 corpore triente longiores, graciles, sparsim ciliatse j articulo primo basi extus 

 subito sed modice dilatato, cseteris elongatis ab tertio gradatim brevioribus. 



Tbis genus has many of the peculiar characters of Xylotoles^ and is evidently 

 allied to it; but its facies is very different, resembling that of many Acanthocinince 

 (e. g. Driopea). The metathorax, without being conspicuously abbreviated as 

 in the Borcadionince, is so much shortened that the distance between the 

 middle and posterior coxae is somewhat less than that between the anterior and 

 the middle. The prosternum also, although very narrow between the coxae, 

 is nearly plane as in Xylotoles. The head is of precisely the same shape. 



Stenellipsis himaculata. 



Xylotoles himaculatus, White, Voy. Ereb. and Terr., Ins. p. 22. 



White's description, though brief, is sufficient to enable us to recognize his 

 species, as he mentions the " bulging middle of the thorax," the anterior and 

 posterior transverse impressions of the same part, and the tomentose yellow 

 spot in the depressed part near the base of each elytron. 



Auckland. Sent sparingly by Mr. Lawson. 



/Stenellipsis gracilis. 



? Xylotoles gracilis, White, Voy. Ereb. and Terr., Ins. p. 22. 



The above-cited description of this species leaves us in doubt whether it 

 applies to our insect, as no mention is made of the " bulging" middle of the 

 thorax, although it is as conspicuous as in the allied S. himaculata. The elytra 

 are more cylindrical and less ovate than in S. himaculata^ and are clothed with 

 fine grey tomentum, prettily spotted with brown, and having a brown fascia 

 across the middle and a streak of the same colour behind, near the suture. 



Auckland. Several examples sent by Mr. Lawson. 



Stenellipsis latipennisj n. sp. 



S. latior, elytris oblongo-ovatis, ad humeros thoracis basi fere duple 

 latioribus. Chalybeo-nigra, subtiliter cinereo-pubescens, antennis (scapo 

 excepto) tibiisque basi et unguibus castaneis j thorace breviore, medio 

 rotundato, laevi ; elytris cinereis, guttis majoribus rotundis lineatim ordinatis, 

 ad basLQ, in medio et versus apicem in plagas aggregatis. Long. 3 lin. 



A true Stenellipsis^ although differing from its congeners by the broader 

 shoulders of the elytra ; the latter have an obtuse elevation near the scutellum 

 and a few punctures arranged in rows ; with this exception the body is 

 smooth and clothed with very fine laid pile, as in the other species. 



Auckland (iHfr. Za^(?so?^) j one example. 



