and 4th joints very elongate, the 4th a little the shorter, but quite twice as long as the 5th; from this to the end each is slightly shorter than its predecessor. The thorax is scarcely so long as broad, infuscate at the sides and across the middle. The after-body is short, the elytra covered with minute tomentum, which allows, however, numerous small pits to be seen; they are pallid, but at each side there is a large irregular dark patch, which beyond the middle approaches near to the suture. Under-surface infuscate. Femora short and thick, yellow, with dark marks. Chatham Islands; Professor Schauinsland. Two specimens.

Art. XXVIII.—Revision of the New Zealand Cossonidae, with Descriptions of New Genera and Species. By Major T. Broun, F.E.S. [Read before the Auckland Institute, 18th November, 1908.] Owing to the difficulties encountered by local entomologists in identifying the numerous species, nearly all small, often without very perceptible distinguishing characteristics, and, as a rule, inconspicuous and uninteresting, I determined to undertake the task of revision. The resolution was easy the accomplishment just the reverse. Any naturalist who has really studied these minute creatures will readily acknowledge that the work of rearranging and classifying such a complex assemblage was an undertaking of more than ordinary difficulty. A distinguished British entomologist, with the best typical collections of insects and books of reference in the world easily accessible, when dealing with about twenty species of a nearly allied group consisting of 108 genera, remarked that “The study of these genera is attended with great difficulties, for they are divided from one another by no strongly marked peculiarities,” &c. So, although he stated that these twenty species represented “a considerable number of distinct genera,” only two new genera were described, all the other species being referred to the typical genus of the group, and there they have remained for upwards of thirty years. As the members of that group are much larger, and differentiated by more easily seen characters, it is unlikely that our Cossonidae would be more systematically dealt with. In 1873 no less than 123 genera, including five from New Zealand, were known to occur in various parts of the world. A great many of these are rare, and, as there is nothing very attractive about their general appearance, most collectors during their travels make no special search for them, consequently any New Zealand student will find it nearly impossible to obtain accurately named specimens of more than a dozen of these exotic genera for comparison with our own, so that in attempting to classify and name our indigenous species he must carefully study the Latin descriptions of these 123 genera. Any naturalist who has made the experiment will know what that means.