396 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
‘“‘T have recently submitted the New Zealand specimens of Wydro- 
philide in my collection to an examination, with a view to determining 
the species, and throwing some light on their classification. As the 
result I find I have twenty-four species which I am obliged to refer to 
twelve genera ; five of these genera—Hydrobius, Paracymus, Tormus, 
Cyclonotum, and Cercyon—are each represented only by a single species, 
and of these five genera no less than four are found in other countries, 
the species found in New Zealand being the same as that found abroad. 
Cercyon is represented by an introduced European species ; Hydrobius, 
Paracymus, and Cyclonotum each by an Australian species; while 
Tormus at present seems likely to be a peculiar endemic New Zealand 
form. Of the other seven genera no less than six are peculiar to New 
Zealand, so far as we at present know, while the cosmopolitan genus 
Philydrus is represented by three species. This result is very 
remarkable, for the genera of Hydrophilide are, asa rule, very widely 
distributed ; and, if we consider also that some of the most cosmopolitan 
genera of the family are quite unrepresented in the fauna, we cannot 
but admit that the New Zealand fauna of Hydrophilidea is, as a whole, 
of the most remarkable character. The genera Hydrophilus, Berosus, 
Hydrochus, and Octhebius, all of which are nearly cosmopolitan, and all 
found in Australia, may be mentioned as examples of forms we should 
expect to find in New Zealand, but which apparently are absent. 
“The Hydrophilide are insects of an unattractive character, and 
usually of inactive and retiring habits, and it may be taken-as certain 
that there exist in the country numerous species with which I am 
unacquainted, and which, when known, may modify the opinion I have 
just expressed.” 
Dr. Sharp considers that it is still premature to generalize on the 
pecliarities of the group. The following species are described or 
referred to :— 
1. Hydrodius assimilis, Hope—H. zealandicus, Broun. Auckland 
and Canterbury ; possibly an introduction. 
2. Paracymus (H.) nitidiusculus, Broun. Tairua and Whangarei 
Heads. (Broun.) 
Saphydrus, u.gen.—Probably peculiar to New Zealand ; its 
nearest ally being an undescribed Chilian genus. 
S. suffusus, n.sp.— Greymouth and Mouri (Maori?) Creek. 
(Helms. ) 
S. obesus, n.sp.—Greymouth. (Helms.) 
S. antennatus, n.sp.—Greymouth. (Helms.) 
S. longulus, n.sp.—Greymouth. (Helms.) 
Rygmodus modestus, White. (2 pedinoides, White.) Auck- 
land and Greymouth ; apparently common throughout New 
Zealand. 
8. L. femoratus, n.sp.—Greymouth. (Helms.) 
9. A. unguicularis, n.sp.—Dunedin. (Professor Hutton.) 
10. £&. ovalis, n.sp.— West Coast (Slack) ; Bealey (Helms.) 
ll. Philydrus tritus, Broun. Auckland district (Broun) ; Christ- 
church (Wakefield.) 
12. P. variolorum, Broun. Auckland, Wellington, and Christ- 
church, Apparently not uncommon. 
13, P. abditus, n.sp.—Tairua (Brown.) 
Tormus, n.gen,—Allied to the American genus Derallus. 
Sere. 
