d from the great number of species which have been described. The difficulties attendant on rearing these insects are, however, very great, and it thus happens tha

d, referring to the following species, may induce som

Geod

Cicin

lata (Plate I., f

ns. It delights in hot sunshine, and may be constantly observed flying from our

egment being horny and much flattened, and the body provided with tw

ruction. By reference to the figure it will be seen how admirably the hollowed head and prothorax serve the purpose of a shovel to the larva, when forming its shaft. These burrows are first observed about the middle of November; the perfect insects coming abroad three weeks or a month later, when they may be often seen in the neighbourhood of their old domiciles. They are very voracious, devouring large quantities of flies, caterpillars, and other insects, some of which are much superior to themselves in size. On one occasion I saw a male specimen of Cicindela parryi (a species closely allied to but smaller than C. tuberculata) attack a large Tortrix caterpillar, an inch and a half in length. The beetle invariably sprang upon the back of t

y Car

entus (Plate I.,

ct; it may be at once distinguished from the numerous other closely allied spe

arly three inches square, in which they are placed. These she broods over until hatched, and probably some little time afterwards, as I have found a specimen close to a nest, which contained both eggs and larv?, and the zealous mother furiously bit at anything presented to her. The eggs are oval in shape, quite smooth, and yellowish white in colour. The young larva is drawn at Plate I., fig. 3a; it is remarkable for its superficial resemblanc

Hydrad

y Dyt

anus (Plate I.,

of their own species for food. These they capture by means of their powerful mandibles, retaining a firm hold of the victim until they have consumed all the fleshy portions, the rest of the carcase being thrown aside, and a fresh search made for more. One individual I kept for some time, remained perpetually concealed in a small patch of green weed, growing in the middle of its aquarium. In a short time it became surrounded with the skeletons of small water shrimps which had been seized by the larva as they passed by its hiding place, the unfortunate crustaceans only discovering their enemy when it was too late. I have not yet observed the pupa of this insect, but it probably does not differ materially from those of its European allies. Although so very different in general appearance to the preceding insects, th

Clavic

Nitid

zeala

ggots of many dipterous insects, occurring in similar localities. It is generally found in the large yellow fungi, so abundant in wet situations during the late autumn and winter months. It forms numerous galleries through the plant in all directions, and owing to the large amount of moisture which is usu

ly E

ii (Plate I., f

and thin, possessing the usual thoracic legs, which, however, are rather short. The last segment of the abdomen is furnished with an anal prole

se behind them. The anal proleg then supports the insect while the anterior segments are thrust out, and the others fo

difficult to find owing to its colour, which clo

ly E

ritides (Plat

wood-boring weevils. Its larva, which feeds on the grubs of these insects, is of a pinkish colour, very fat and sluggish; the head and three anterior segments are strong and horny, the legs being rather short. It undergoes its transformation into the pupa within the weevil bu

Brache

Staph

culatus (Plat

tions of this fine insect, but they will probably closely resemble those of the typical species (S. olens) described in the majority of standard books on European Coleoptera. This beetle may be frequently seen flying in the sunshine, when it has a most striking appearance, owing to its large size and rapid motion. An unpleasant odour is found to arise when it is handled, this being noticeable in nearly all the members of the family. These beetles are comparativel

Lamell

y Luc

ulatus (Plat

however, are purely defensive measures, the insect being quite harmless when left alone. The larva is at present unknown to me. Another species, D. reticulatus, is a much handsomer insect than the preceding; it may be at once recognized by four deep impressions in the thorax, filled in with light-brown scales; the margins of the elytra are similarly s

Melol

alis (Plate I.,

ents and the absence of any anal proleg, which compel it to lie always on its side. I have not yet succeeded in obtaining the pupa of this insect, although larv? may be frequently found enclosed in oval cells, evidently about to undergo their transformation. Several of these have been kept in captivity, but they have hitherto always died without undergoing any change. I have, however, no doubt as to its being the larva of S. suturalis, as there are no other large Lamellicorns found near Wellington to which it could possibly be referred. The perfect beetle appears in great numbers from November to March; it is best taken at dusk, when it flies with a loud humming noise, abou

Melol

ota f

surface being reddish-brown, sparsely clothed with white hairs. A small Lamellicorn grub, found amongst refuse in manuka thickets, is probably the larva of this insect; it is less thickened posteriorly than that of S. suturalis, but otherwise closely resembles it. The perfect insect is diurnal in its habits, flying round

Ster

y Ela

(Plate II., fig. 1

until the warmer weather calls the insect from its retreat. Two closely allied species are T. perblandus and Metablax acutipennis. The former is occasionally found under the large scales on matai trees, and resembles the present insect in general appearance, but is much smaller and more elongate in form, its elytra being also ornamented with longitudinal rows of yellowish-brown hairs. The latter may be often taken on the wing in the hottest sunshine, and is chiefly remarkable for its elongate prothorax and pointed elytra; its colour is dark reddish-brown, ornamented with a few scattered white hairs. All these insects possess the singular habit of leaping into the air when placed on their backs, the last-named species exercising this faculty in a most mark

Hete

Teneb

(Plate II., fig. 2

t, whilst bush-clearing is going on, its influence is beneficial, as it devours large quantities of useless wood, which is thus rapidly broken up and got rid of. The pupa is enclosed in an oval cell, constructed by the larva before changing, from which the perfect insect emerges in due course. When first exuded its colour is pale red, but this

Longic

y Pri

(Plate II., fig. 3

les formed by a full-grown larva of this insect creating rapid destruction in the largest timbers. It may be remarked, in connection with these wood-boring species, that a good thick coat of paint put on the timber as soon as it is exposed, and renewed at frequent intervals, to a great extent prevents their attacks. The pupa (Fig. 3a) is enclosed in one of the burrows formed by the larva, which, befo

its smaller size and plain elytra; it is very much scarcer than P. reticularis,

Rhynco

Curcu

Plate II., fig

s these burrows, devouring large quantities of the wood; it is provided with a large head and powerful pair of mandibles, but, in common with all other weevil larv?, does not possess legs of any description, the insect being absolutely helpless whe

Curcu

tus (Plate II.,

tra of the male being furnished with the characteristic coronet of spines, which is entirely wanting in the female. Numerous other members of this genus may be taken in company with the present insect, and should be carefully examined, as a correct determination of

is the remarkable Lasiorhynchus barbicornis, a large insect furnished with a gigantic rostrum, which will at once distinguish it from any of the rest. Other genera contain nume