II.—Zoology.

Art. XVII.—Notes on the Ornithology of New Zealand.

By Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., D.Sc., President.

[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 29th January, 1876.]

In continuation of the ornithological notes, read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury last year, I beg to lay before this Society some

An egg of this species in the Canterbury Museum is ovoid or slightly ovoido-elliptical in form, yellowish-white, with a roughly granulate shell, wholly devoid of gloss or polish, but without any excrescences. It measures on its axis, 4.8-inches in length by 3.3 in width. Its longest circumference is 12.6-inches, and its widest 10-inches.

Phalacrocorax brevirostris.

In the Canterbury Museum there are two nests of the White-throated Shag, differing entirely in their construction. One of them is very compact, rounded in form, with a diameter of more than a foot, and a thickness of five inches, and presenting only a slight depression for the eggs, and composed of weeds, grasses, and dry flags, on a foundation of broken twigs. The other is formed entirely of broken twigs, with the leaves attached, closely interlaced together, with a deep cavity for the eggs, the whole being securely placed in the fork of a small tree. It is, in fact, a compact structure, of a round symmetrical form, and very firmly put together. Each of these nests contains three eggs, all of which have the surface much soiled.

Phalacrocorax novæ-hollandiæ.

A nest of this species, in the same collection, is a massive bed of flax leaves, toe-toe, and dry grasses pressed together into a thick flat layer, measuring about 20 inches by 15 inches, with a thickness of 3 to 4-inches, and with a slight depression on the top. It contains three eggs, elliptical in form, greenish-white, with chalky incrustations, and measuring 2.5-inches by 1.6-inches.

Podiceps rufipectus.

The frequency of albinos, of various species, is a very noticeable feature in New Zealand ornithology. We have now to add to the list an albino Dabchick, presented to the Canterbury Museum by Mr. Thomas Waters, of which the following is a desciption:—General plumage pure white, the sides of the head and throat shaded with brown; crown, nape, and hind neck streaked and spotted with black; fore-neck and breast varied with pale rufous; shoulders, back, and scapulars with numerous scattered black feathers, giving the upper surface a pied appearance; wings dusky black, more or less varied with white; bill and feet of the normal colours.

Art. XVIII.—Note on Gerygone flaviventris.

By Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., D.Sc., etc.

[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 7th August, 1875.]

The last volume of “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,” contains, at page 524, an interesting note by Mr. Justice Gillies, on the habits of

child of another species, and about ten times its own size, is no fanciful representation, but a true picture of bird life.

Art. XIX.—On the Nesting Habits of the Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris).

By Walter L. Buller, C.M.G. D.Sc., etc.

[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 29th January, 1876.]

Five years ago, I had the honor of placing before this Society a somewhat complete account of the Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris), with special reference to its habits in a state of captivity. This account was reproduced in my “Birds of New Zealand” (p. 63–68), together with such further information as I had been able to collect; and in the introduction to that work (p. 17–18), I gave an exhaustive description of its osteology and anatomy, from the pen of Mr. A. H. Garrod. I was unable, however, to give any information on the nesting habits of this singular bird, beyond what is contained in the following paragraph:—“Of the nidification of the Huia, nothing is at present known. I have been assured, however, by a native, that he once found the nest of this bird in the cavity of a tree; that it contained two young birds (a male and female), and that they differed from the adults in having the wattles flesh-white instead of orange.”

It will be gratifying to lovers of natural history to hear of the recent discovery of a nest of the Huia in the Orongorongo Ranges, near Wellington. A Maori, named Mikaera, who has been a very zealous collector for the Museum, brought to Mr. Buchanan, about the 20th of October last, an egg of this species, which he had taken from a cavity in a dead tree. Observing the old birds passing in and out of the opening, he concluded that there was a nest, and, climbing up, attempted to reach the bottom with his arm; finding it too deep, he cut a yard of “supplejack” (Rhipogonum scandens), and, bending this into a loop, he thrust it down the opening, and by this rude means endeavoured to hoist the contents of the nest. He at length succeeded in bringing up an egg, although in a somewhat broken condition. The egg contained a young bird, apparently just ready for extrusion, and both embryo and shell are now in the collection of the Colonial Museum. The egg is ovoido-conical in form, measuring 1.45 by 1.05-inches, and is of a pale stone-grey, irregularly stained, freckled and speckled with purplish-grey, the markings in some places running into dark wavy lines. The chick is apparently a male; the bill being very stout, with the caruncles at the angles of the mouth well developed, and of a flesh-white colour. The whole of the body is bare, with the exception of what appears (in spirits) to

be strips of coarse hair-like filaments, from one-half to three-quarters of an inch in length, and perfectly black, but are in reality tufts of extremely fine downy feathers. A strip of these filaments encircles the crown, a line passes down the course of the spine, and there is another along the outer edge of each wing and behind each thigh.

I would venture to suggest to the Museum authorities that, as Mr. Garrod has carefully studied the anatomy of this singular bird, and is now devoting his attention to embryonic ornithology, it would be very desirable to place this unique specimen at his disposal for more critical examination.

I have only thought it necessary to place the general facts on record, as furnishing an interesting addition to our knowledge of the habits and life-history of the rare and beautiful Huia.

Art. XX.—On the Occurrence of Apteryx oweni at high altitudes in the North Island.

By Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., D.Sc.

[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 12th February, 1876.]

We have been so accustomed to speak of the Apteryx oweni as a strictly South Island species, and, as representing these, the Brown Kiwi of the North Island (Apteryx mantelli), that the discovery of its existence, under certain conditions in this Province is an interesting fact in geographic distribution. The fine specimen which I now exhibit, and for which I am indebted to Mr, Morgan Carkeek, of the Survey Department, was obtained by that gentleman, on Mount Hector, at the head of the Hutt River, in December last. It was caught by his dog among the snow-grass, at an elevation of about 3000 feet. At a higher altitude he found the species comparatively abundant, and he met with it occasionally below the snow-line, frequenting mossy places in the bush free from undergrowth.

This peculiarity of range, as compared with the distribution of the species in the South Island is very suggestive, and it will be interesting to discover whether this bird inhabits the summits of mountains further north.

In connection with the Apteryx, there is another matter to which I will take this opportunity of referring.

Captain Hutton, in his valuable essay on the “Geographical Relations of the New Zealand Fauna” (“Trans. N.Z. Inst.,” Vol. VI., p. 232) says:—“The Apterygidœ have a more generalised structure than the other struthious birds; they, therefore, belong to an older type, and cannot, with any degree of correctness, be said to represent the extinct race of Moas.”

And, again, in his review of my “Birds of New Zealand,” in the “New Zealand Magazine,” p. 99, Captain Hutton says:—"We must take exception to the Kiwi being considered as the living representative of the Moa, or as Dr. Buller puts it in his preface, ‘the only living representative of an extinct race.’ No doubt the Kiwi and the Moa have several features in common; but it is certain that both the Emu and the Cassowary are far more nearly related to the Moa than is the Kiwi.” It will be interesting to the meeting to learn that Professor Mivart has recently read a paper before the Zoological Society of London, on the axial skeleton of the Struthionidæ, which effectually settles the question at issue. The learned professor pointed out that, judging by the characters of the axial skeleton, the Emu presents the least differential type, from which Rhea diverges most on the one hand, and Apteryx on the other; that the resemblance between Dromaus and Casuarinus is exceedingly close, while the axial skeleton of Dinornis is intermediate between that of Casuarinus and Apteryx; its affinities, however, with the existing New Zealand form very decidedly predominating.

It will be seen, therefore, that I was fully justified in referring to the existing species of Apteryx, as “the diminutive representatives of colossal ornithic types that have disappeared.”

Art. XXI.—Remarks on Dr. Finsch's Paper on New Zealand Ornithology.

By Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., D.Sc.

[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, August 7, 1875.]

I Have read with interest Dr. Otto Finsch's valuable contribution to the last volume of the “Transactions,” (pp. 226–236,) which is merely a precursor of his promised “Synopsis of the Birds of New Zealand,” and I find we are still at issue on several points:—

There are other points on which I am hardly inclined to agree with the learned author, but I have no wish to provoke a controversy by pursuing the subject further.

Art. XXII.—Remarks on various species of New Zealand Birds, in explanation of Specimens exhibited at meetings of the Wellington Philosophical Society, 1875–6.

By Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., D.Sc., President.

1. On varieties of Carpophaga Novœ Zealandiœ.

Dr. Buller exhibited two remarkable specimens of the New Zealand Pigeon (Carpophaga Novœ Zealandiœ.) One of these was a beautiful albino, the entire plumage being of a pure milk white, the small wing coverts alone presenting a slight tinge of yellowish-brown; bill and feet carmine red. It was obtained in the Wairarapa by Mr. Keleher, who has presented it to the Colonial Museum. The other specimen was a partial albino, shot by Capt. Mair, of Tauranga, and presented to the exhibitor. In this bird the shoulders, back, rump, and upper tail coverts have a rich appearance, the white predominating. Some of the wing feathers and their coverts are wholly white, with bronzed edges and clouded with grey, while others again present the normal coloration. The distribution of colors, however, is quite irregular, the white largely predominating in the right wing. In remarking on these specimens, Dr. Buller referred to some other accidental varieties described at page 158 of his “Birds of New Zealand,” and more particularly to an example presented to him by Mr. Edward Hardcastle, of Hokitika (now in the Colonial Museum), in which the head, neck, fore part of the breast, and all the upper parts are pale yellowish-brown, more or less glossed with purple; the wing coverts and scapulars stained towards the tips with coppery brown; the quills and tail-feathers uniform pale yellowish-brown, tinged with vinous, the tips of the latter paler.

Dr. Buller exhibited a drawing, which Dr. Finsch had sent him of the wing of Eudyptula albosiquata; but he still maintained the opinion that it was only an accidental variety of the common species.

Art. XXIII.—Notes on Birds observed during the Voyage to England, in a Letter to the President.

By James Hector, C.M.G., M.D., F.R.S.

[Communicated to the Wellington Philosophical Society by DR. Buller, G.M.G., 7th August, 1875.]

“On board the 'Howrah,' 18th May, 1875:—I hope we shall be in London in a week, and may as well write a few lines in readiness to post to you. Our voyage has been slow, but pleasant, with very little rough weather. We did very well to the Horn; but since then have had very light winds, and but little help even from the Trades. * * * * I have been rather surprised at the small number of birds we have seen. For some days out from New Zealand we had Diomedea melanophrys and another small species with a white head and brown mottled body. These were very common near the Bounty Islands; but were not seen afterwards. The Mollymawks we had till we reached the South Tropic. It was not till we rounded the Horn that we saw any of D. exulans or D. fuliginosa. The latter species I am positive we never saw in the Pacific, as it is so easily recognised by the blue streak on the mandibles. It is very abundant between the Falkland Islands and latitude 30° S. Off the Western Isles two or three birds like albatrosses, but much smaller, with white bellies and white ring round the throat, were seen. I dare say I shall recognise it in the British Museum. Thalassidroma nereis followed us almost to the Horn; but, after entering the Atlantic, T. melanogastra took its place, at first in large flocks, but, since latitude 35° S., only a few stragglers have been seen. In the Pacific I saw one Lestris, and large flocks of “whale-birds” as the sailors called them—which were the Blue Billy (Prion turtur); but, in the South Atlantic, we met flocks of another but larger-sized grey bird, which they also called “whale-birds.” These were evidently Procellaria glacialoides. When 100 miles off the Horn, a specimen of the White-throated Shag (Graculus brevirostris) flew on board. We never saw a single Cape Pigeon during the voyage. Where can they be at this season—February—March? Only two Tropic Birds, one Frigate Bird, and a few Noddies were seen near St. Paul's Rocks, and these complete the list of birds. I am anxious to get to the end of the

voyage, as it is a waste of time after ninety days, and we are now out ninety-four days, and have still 1000 miles to the Lizard. * * * * The birds are all well, except the loss of one Kiwi and two Woodhens. The specimen of O. nigricans, from the Snares, is all right, however; also the pair of Ocydromus earli, and O. australis (the large yellow variety). The Cassowary and the Cranes are in fine condition. * * *

“London, 30th May.—Arrived last night by rail from Falmouth; 105 days in all.”

Art. XXIV.—Further remarks on some New Zealand Birds.

By Otto Finsch, Ph.D., of Bremen; Hon. Mem. N.Z.I.; Hon. Mem. Brit. Ornith. Union.

[Read before the Otago Institute, 7th February, 1876.]

Circus approximans. Peale.

A Comparison of specimens in the Leiden Museum from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and New Caledonia, has fully convinced me of their identity. The specimen from New Caledonia (C. wolfii, Gurney) does not show a single character by which it can be specifically distinguished. As the true C. assimilis, Jard. and Selby, is undoubtedly the same as C. jardinei, Gould (which, therefore, must bear the former appellation), the New Zealand Harrier must stand as approximans, Peale. I also compared specimens of C. assimilis (= C. jardinei) from Australia and Celebes, and found them entirely alike.

Scops novœ-zealandiœ. Bp.

An accurate description of this curious owl. has been given by Mr. Sharpe (“Erebus” and “Terror,” 2nd edition, p. 23) from the type in the Leiden Museum. Having also carefully inspected this unique specimen, I must state that the label gives no evidence of the true habitat, and that the notice “New Zealand” remains only a supposition.

Strix delicatula. Gould.

Mr. Sharpe includes this species in the avifauna of New Zealand (“Erebus” and “Terror,” 2nd edition, p. 23) on account of my statement (” Journ. für Ornith.,” 1867, p. 318). But I long ago stated (” Journ. für Ornith.,” 1870, p. 245) that I had made a mistake on this point.

Platycercus novœ zealandiœ. Sparrm.

I had the pleasure of seeing a very rare variety of this species, which, instead of green, was of a uniform marine blue, with dark blue wings; the front and rump spots being isabelline-whitish instead of red. ^*

Eudyptes schlegeli, Finsch. = Eu. diadematus, indiv. No. 3, Schleg., in Mus. P.B.

General coloration, size, and form of bill as in chrysolopha, but front margin, slate-black; a broad frontal band, bright orange, with narrow black shafts. This orange band runs to above the eye, and here the hair, like black shafts, forms a small tuft of about 2 ¼-inches in length, which runs backwards; round the eye, and the temporal region, pale brownish-grey; lores, and a narrow rim round the mandible, pale sulphur-yellow; cheeks, sides of the head and neck, and the whole under surface, white.

Art, XXV.—An account of the Maori manner of preserving the Skin of the Huia, Heteralocha auctirostris, Buller.

By J. D. Enys.

[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 3rd June, 1875.]

While spending the latter part of the last winter (1874) on the East Coast of the Wellington Province I had the opportunity of observing the way the Maoris preserved the skin of the Huia (Heteralocha auctirostris). The party I saw most of were two brothers, whom I met at the edge of a large forest, on their return from their expedition. Their equipments were few, consisting of a small blanket, a gun, and a slight stock of provisions. So provided, they started off into the bush, and calling the birds by an imitation of its note, which is well expressed by the native name Huia, they bring them within range of their guns. Formerly they killed them with small sticks. The bird is skinned, leaving both mandibles as well as the wattle attached, but both wings and legs removed. The skin is then stretched by three small sticks, placed one above the other, and stuck on a forked stick inserted in the ground in front of a fire, the inside of the skin is turned towards the fire so as to dry the skin ready for packing; the tail is carefully bent back behind so as not to dirty the white tips of the feathers. When dried, the under side of the quills of the tail feathers are cut away carefully, so as to render the feathers more flexible.

A piece of Totara bark (Podocarpus totara), about two feet long and five feet wide, is prepared and bent double in the middle, the ends being rounded off. The dried skins with the tail feathers bent back over the back as dried, are placed between these thin pieces of bark, and are then ready for being sent away to the Waikato and Taupo country, where they are most valuable articles of exchange.

The slaughter that came under my notice last year was so large, that I fear, when the country is more opened up the poor Huia will become extinct, a fate I shall much deplore, as any one who has once seen this most graceful bird alive can only regret that he has not oftener a chance of doing so.

I am glad to say, one inducement to its destruction is wanting, as it is reported by all who have cooked it, to be a tough morsel. I ascertained that over 600 skins were procured last year, from the back ranges of the East Coast of the Wellington Province, by the natives. I may mention, that, part of the ranges had been tapu by the natives, for the last seven years, so as to protect the Huia from being killed off.

I exhibit a specimen, obtained with some difficulty, from one of the brothers mentioned in the beginning of this paper.

Art. XXVI.—Notes on the Introduction and Acclimatization of the Salmon.

By James Stewart, C.E.

[Read before the Auckland Institute, 6th December, 1875.]

The recent importation into Auckland of healthy Salmon Ova, and successful distribution of them by Mr. Firth in the upland tributaries of the Waikato and Thames, has drawn renewed attention to the subject of the introduction of this splendid fish into New Zealand. Happening to be on my way to Waikato on the morning on which Mr. Firth left with his charge, I can bear testimony to the completeness of his arrangements, and the care and forethought brought to bear on the most minute details of the enterprise, which, favoured by very unseasonable weather, but, on that account, all the more favourable to success, enabled him to distribute the living ova in waters over a wide area of country, and, so far as possible, with the present venture, secure many chances of success.

The subject and discussions naturally arising from it on that journey, awakened, in my mind, memories of almost forgotten scenes and experiences in pisciculture in the old country. At intervals, during my absence of a week in the Waikato, I was enabled to recall my early observations, and study the matter in the light of present requirements, and as a small contribution to the cause, I have now the honour to lay before this Institute, and my fellow-colonists these notes, in the hope that the work will not be allowed to rest with the present venture, but will be prosecuted anew, and with the certainty of the same success attending it as has been achieved in the introduction of the Trout.

long as enables them leisurely to reach the sea, where in their natural feeding grounds they rapidly attain size, and return to their rivers again as grilse.

Although par are exceedingly difficult to transport with safety, it has been accomplished; and to considerable distances. But it would be better to prepare nursing streams and ponds, even at every river-basin whose waters it is intended to stock. It is well known that the salmon do not, as a rule, return to any stream, but that from which they proceeded to the sea. These ponds and streams need be of a very simple design, the requirements being, plenty of cool, clear, and well aerated water, with good current over basaltic shingle. And of course, protection from floods and the entrance of eels. In this manner a colonial scheme ought to be entered into and carried out. But the details of the scheme are by no means few, and would necessitate careful study. The introduction should not be confined to one year, but a second, or even a third lot of ova would be desirable. The scheme could be capable of sending to sea each time, through every river selected as suitable in the colony, not less than ten thousand smolts, and perhaps 200,000 in all each year. And if some doubt attaches to the suitability of such rivers as the Waikato and Waipa, none can be expressed in regard to the magnificent shingle beds of the rivers of Canterbury and Otago, and other Southern Provinces. I can see no reason against these grand counterparts of the Tay, Dee, and Spey, becoming waters teeming with salmon, descended from progenitors which have not their equals for combined size and quality in the world, Salmon of 71 lbs. and 64 lbs. have been taken in the Tay. Fish like these are worthy to be the ancestors of future denizens of the Clutha and Waitaki, and let us hope, if only hope, of the Waikato also.

Art. XXVII.—Contributions to the Ichthyology of New Zealand.

By Captain F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.S.

denticulated on its posterior margin, smooth below. Operculum smooth, armed with two small flat spines. Dorsal single, deeply notched, the third spine, which is the longest, goes nearly two and a half times into the length of the head. Spines of the dorsal and anal very strong. Anal and soft dorsal half covered with scales, the spiny parts scaleless. Caudal and exteriors of pectorals and ventrals partly covered with small scales. Caudal forked, each lobe about equal to the length of the head. The dorsal commences at the base of the ventrals, and ends at a distance from the caudal, equal to about two-thirds of the length of the head. Pectorals pointed, the upper rays the longest, but not so long as the head, and not extending so far back as the points of the ventrals. Ventrals inserted behind the pectorals, and extending to about one-half the distance to the vent.

Colour apparently reddish, fading to greyish-yellow.

Total length of the specimen, sixteen inches.

Otago.

This fish is described from a single stuffed specimen in the Otago Museum. It differs from Therapon in the oblique cleft of the mouth, the forked caudal, and the greater development of scales on the vertical fins; but I hesitate to draw up generic characters for it, until I can get a fresh specimen.

Toxotes Squamosus.
D. 5/23, A. 3/23, P. 20, V. 1/5, L. Lat. 85, L. Trans. 11/18.

Length two and a third times the height of the body, or nearly four times the length of the head. Length of the snout equal to the width between the orbits. A single row of teeth on each palatine bone, none on the vomer. Teeth in the jaws cardiform, the exterior row on the inter-maxillaries larger. Diameter of the eye goes three and a half times into the length of the head. Maxillary extends back nearly to the vertical from the centre of the orbit. Operculum, præoperculum, and maxillary, scaly, their margins smooth. Dorsal and anal fins covered with scales. The first soft ray of the dorsal and anal longest, behind which the fins suddenly contract, and then maintain a uniform level along the tail. Pectorals, long and pointed. Ventrals, small, with a set of elongated scales just above the base of each. Caudal, deeply forked, the lobes equal to the length of the pectorals. Colour, uniform, silvery, getting darker on the back.

Total length of the specimen, 22-inches.

Habitat, Cook Strait.

This description is from a stuffed specimen belonging to W. T. L. Travers, Esq., who kindly sent it to me for description. He informs me

that several years ago he saw other specimens of this fish on the shores of Massacre Bay.

In general appearance it much resembles T. jaculator; but, besides the differences in the fin rays and scales, the anterior superior profile of the snout is more blunt; the vertical fins are more deeply contracted behind the first soft rays; the anal spines are much more slender; and the spinal portions of the fins are covered with scales equally as much as the soft portions.

Haplodactylus Meandratus. Solander.

Agriopus Leucopœcilus. Richardson.

Xiphias Gladius. L.

A Sword-fish was caught in the Waitemata Harbour, Auckland, on the 19th January, 1874, and, from the careful drawing and measurements sent me by Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, I agree with him in referring it to this species. The total length was eleven feet three inches, and the height of the dorsal fin one foot three inches.

Seriolella Porosa. Guichen.
D. 5 / 1/34, A. 2 / ½4.

This specimen agrees with the description quoted by Dr. Günther (“Cat. Fish,” Vol. II., p. 467) from Guichen, except that the coloration

is steel blue on the back, passing into silvery white on the belly, and with a dark spot over the pectoral fins. The whole body is covered with minute pores. All the spines and rays of the dorsal fin are very feeble and difficult to count. The pectorals are shorter than the head, and twice the length of the ventrals. I can find no teeth on the vomer.

Dunedin, not uncommon.

Trachichthys Trailli. sp. nov.
B. 8, D. 5/13, A. 3/10, V. 1/6, P. 12, C. 7/22/6, L. Lat. ca. 95.

Length two and a quarter times the height, or three times the length of the head. Snout, about half the diameter of the eye, which goes two and two-thirds into the head. Upper maxillary, extending to posterior of orbit, dilated at the end. All the teeth on the jaws, palate, and vomer, very small. Interorbital space equal to the diameter of the eye, convex; scales ending before the middle of the eye. Nostrils and ridges on the top of the head, as in T. elongatus. Snout, with two spines, directed forward, one from each ridge. Infraorbital slightly crenated along its inferior margin. Præoperculum divided by a deep channel, which is crossed at the angle by a strong rough projecting spine, which extends to the gill opening. Operculum, with radiating rough ridges and a single spine. Cheeks scaly. Scapular, with a spine equal to that on the operculum. Spines of the dorsal, short and smooth; the third soft ray the longest, as long as the pectorals, which are rounded, and one-fifth of the length of the body. Caudal, forked, composed of 22 soft rays, with seven spines above and six below. Spines of the anal small. Ventrals situated on either side of the vent, slightly behind the pectorals; they extend back to the end of the pectorals. Ventral keel, with eleven scales, each armed with a strong spine directed backward. Colour, greyish-yellow; fins, yellow.

Total length, seven and a half inches.

Stewart Island.

Presented to the Otago Museum by Mr. C. Traill, after whom I have much pleasure in naming it.

Leptoscopus (?) Angusticeps. Hutton.

This fish belongs to Dr. Günther's genus Crapatalus (“Ann. Nat. Hist.” 3rd series 7, p. 87), and is perhaps identical with C. novœ-zealandiœ, the description of which I had not seen when describing the species.

Notothenia Maoriensis. Haast.

Notothenia Angustata. sp. nov.
B. 6, D. 4-5 | 28-29, A. 22-24, V. 1/5, P. 19, L. Lat. 52-58, L. Trans. 6/13-15.

Length, four and a quarter times the height of the body, or three and a half times the length of the head. Breadth of the head equal to the height of the body. Interorbital space rather more than twice the diameter of of the eye. Top of the head flat, roughened; a bony ridge over each eye extending back to the posterior margin of the præoperculum. Eyes lateral. Mouth wide with rather strong teeth in the jaws, and a band of villiform teeth behind them; vomer and palate smooth. Præoperculum scaly behind the eye, its margin denticulated. Operculum with two points above the shoulder. Lower jaw slightly longer. Nostrils tubular. Spines of first dorsal, flexible. Ventrals in front of the pectorals. Caudal rounded.

Variable in color from dark olivaceous-black, to olive-green slightly mottled with blackish on the back. Lips speckled with white. Axil of the pectorals yellow. Caudal and dorsal blackish. Total length about 14.5-inches.

Dunedin and Bluff Harbours. Not uncommon. Type in the Otago Museum.

This fish and the next differ from the rest of the species of Notothenia in having the head not so broad, and the eyes lateral.

Notothenia Microlepidota. sp. nov.

Trypterygium Compressum. Hutton.

This fish belongs to the genus auchenopterus of Günther.

Trachypterus Altivelis. Kner.

A specimen of this fish, preserved in alcohol, is in the Otago Museum, and I am thus enabled to confirm my identification of the dried specimen in the Auckland museum.

Psychrolutes Latus. sp. nov.
B. 7, D. 9, A. 9, C. 10, V. 2.

Length, nearly three and a half times the height of the body, or about two and three quarter times the length of the head. Breadth of the head equal to its length. Height of the head, about four-fifths of its breadth. Snout rounded, jaws equal; maxillary not extending to the middle of the eye. Anterior nostril with a very fine tentacle. Diameter of the eye about one-third of the interorbital space. Top of the head and operculum covered with soft skin. Operculum produced into a flexible posterior process. The gill opening commences above that process, and is not continuous with that of the other side. Body compressed posteriorly, covered with soft, rather loose skin. Pectorals rounded, the middle rays longest, and extending beyond the vent. The ventrals very short, situated below the middle of the base of the pectorals, and at a distance from one another rather more than the length of the fin; each is surrounded by a fold of loose skin. Dorsal and anal opposite to one another, situated far back on the tail, almost entirely enveloped in skin. Caudal rounded. Vent situated rather nearer the origin of the anal than the root of the ventrals. Dark greyish-brown, irregularly spotted with white.

Dunedin and Bluff Harbours. Type in the Otago Museum.

The following are the dimensions of a specimen:—

Diplocrepis Puniceus. Richardson.

The colour of this fish is olive, but it turns to rose pink when placed in spirit.

Trachelochismus Pinnulatus. Forster.

Pale yellowish-brown, marbled and streaked with olive-brown; turning pink in spirit.

Odax Vittatus. Solander.

Ammotretis Rostratus. Gunther.
B. 6, D. 80, A. 57, P. 12, V. Dext. 6, Sin. 4, L. Lat. 90, L. Trans., 34/49.

A fish not uncommon in the Dunedin market, where it goes by the name of “Lemon Sole,” agrees so well with Dr. Günther's description of A. rostratus, from Tasmania, that I have no hesitation in considering it that species. The chief difference is that, in the New Zealand fish, the height is rather more than half the length.

Rhombosolea Leporina. Gunther.

The New Zealand fish referred by me to this species appears to belong more properly to R. flesoides, Günther (“Ann. Nat. Hist.,” 3rd series, Vol. XI., p. 117); but the difference between the two species seems small.

Rhombosolea Tapirina. Gunther.

In the “Trans. N.Z. Inst.,” Vol. VI., p. 106, I described a flat-fish doubtfully under this name, as the eyes were on the left side. Since then I have examined several specimens in Dunedin, and find that the eyes are sometimes on the right side, and sometimes on the left; consequently my determination is good.

Gonostoma Australis.

Leptocephalus Altus. Richardson.

Stigmatophora Longirostris. Hutton.

Specimens obtained in Dunedin Harbour were sometimes of a brilliant green colour.

Scyllium Laticeps. Dumeril.

During a cruise in the West Coast Sounds, in March, 1874, a specimen of this fish was caught in Dusky Bay, and it is now preserved in the Otago Museum. This, therefore, confirms my identification of this species from Mr. Buchanan's sketch in the Colonial Museum.

Raja Nasuta. Solander.

Snout long and pointed, the interorbital space being less than one-third of the distance from the eye to the end of the snout. Anterior profile, concave; but with a convex sinuosity situated rather nearer the snout than the angle of the pectoral. Teeth in eight or nine series in the upper jaw. The male is rarer than the female, and apparently always much smaller. A specimen obtained last May, from Oamaru, is yellowish-white above, and white below, with distant black spots, which are more numerous towards the anterior end.

Female: Length of body, 24-inches; of tail, 17-inches; breadth, 31-inches.

Male: Length of body, 17-inches; of tail, 13-inches; breadth, 18-inches.

Trygon Brevicaudata. sp. nov.
T. thalassia (?) Hutton. “Cat Fish, N.Z.,” p. 85, non Columna.

Female: disc, rather broader than long; the anterior margin forming a very obtuse angle, which is interrupted by a short projection of the snout. Body smooth. A single small oval tubercle in the centre of the back. Tail not longer than the body, with a cutaneous fold along the lower side and no upper ridge; armed with two serrated spines, the anterior of which is the smaller, and in front of these a row of large ossifications. Sides of the tail, with smaller stellate ossifications. Brown above, whitish below.

Length of disc, 44-inches; breadth, 48-inches; tail, 32-inches.

Dunedin Harbour. Type in the Otago Museum.

The end of the tail of this specimen is broken off; but it is probable that it only extended a few inches further.

The tail described in the “Cat. Fishes of N.Z.,” p. 85, may probably belong to a male of this species.

Geotria Chilensis. Gray.

This species has a broad band of green down each side of the back; the median line and the whole of the lower surface being pale brownish-white.

Histiophonus herschellii. Gray.

A specimen of this fish was caught in Dunedin Harbour on the 17th

January, 1876. It agrees very well with the figure given by Gray in “Ann. Nat. Hist.,” Vol. I.; but differs slightly in some of the details of the fins and proportion, as given both by Gray and Günther. The head is of the same size and proportions as the one in the Colonial Museum, described in the “Trans. N.Z. Inst.,” Vol. II., p. 13.

The total length from the end of the snout to the end of the central portion of the caudal-fin was nine feet eight inches. The height of the body is rather less than half the length of the head, and about one-sixth of the total. The length of the upper jaw from the nostrils is five-eighths of the length of the head. The fin formula is:—

D. 4/36|6, A. 1/11|6, V. 1.

In all other respects it agrees with the description in Dr. Günther's catalogue.

The back and sides are dark slate-blue, the belly whitish. The following are the principal dimensions:—

The skin is preserved in the Otago Museum.

Echeneis Brachyptera. Lowe.

A specimen of this fish was obtained on the Sword Fish just mentioned.

D. 16|25, A. 23.

The length of the disk goes four times into the total length, and the width of the body between the pectorals eight times; the caudal is very slightly crescentic, and the upper jaw is angular. The colour was uniform slate blue, and the total length of the specimen 5¼-inches. It is preserved in the Otago Museum.

Dinematichthys Consobrinus. sp. nov.

D. 75, A. 45, C. 14.

Height of the body not quite equal to the length of the head, two-ninths of the length of the body. Ventrals one-sixth of the total length. Snout, obtuse, longer than the eye, which is small. Nostrils, about half the

Art. XXVIII.—Notes on the Habits of the Frost Fish (Lepidopus caudatus).

By C. H. Robson.

[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 6th September, 1875.]

These remarks on the habits of the Frost Fish are presented to the Philosophical Society of Wellington, not so much in the belief that they shed any great amount of light upon a hitherto obscure subject, as in the hope that they may incite other members, who have opportunities of doing so, to make observations, so that we shall at last find out why it is that this curious fish commits suicide, or appears to do so. Dr. Hector, in his notes on the edible fishes, attached to Captain Hutton's “Catalogue of the Fishes of New Zealand,” and under the head of the Frost Fish, or Hiku of the Maoris, remarks, “Nothing is definitely known of the habits of this singular fish, or why it should be cast up on the land, the probability being that, on the calm nights, when the sea is smooth, it pursues its prey too close to the shore, and is left by the long swell during ebb tide.” This hypothesis is, I venture to think, though very ingenious, incorrect. It is true that the Frost Fish usually comes on shore during the cold moon-light nights of winter, but it also frequently lands in Clifford Bay, near Cape Campbell, during the daylight, always when it is calm or with a southerly wind, and smooth water. It has been my good fortune to witness several such landings, and though unable to determine the reason of them, I can state positively that the fish is not cast up by the sea, but that it deliberately forces itself on shore, selecting a shallow sandy beach for that purpose. My first thought was that it came to rid itself of some external parasite, by scouring on the sand; but a careful examination of some fish thrown out of the water by hand, before they could touch the sand, showed me that this was not the case, and that the only parasite with which the Frost Fish seems to be troubled, is an internal one, of which I send herewith a

specimen for your inspection. It is a yellowish-white worm, about two inches long when alive, and is usually found inside the fish, not far above the vent, with its head firmly fixed in the flesh, to which it clings with great tenacity. Having discarded the idea that the fish came to rub off parasites, I next thought that it might be blind and not know where it was going, but I soon found out that it could see as well as myself. On two occasions I stood between a Frost Fish and the beach, and, as he came on, turned him with a long stick head to sea, making him swim out, but in a minute or two he turned again for the shore, going up high and dry as fast as possible, so, as he seemed to have set his mind upon landing, I gave up the attempt to influence his decision, and just took him home for breakfast. All the Frost Fish which come on shore here are in fine condition; they seem to be in perfect health, and their landings appear to be deliberate acts of self-immolation. Their food, I believe to be the young of Clupea sagax or Clupea sprattus, but I have only found one specimen with food in its gullet sufficiently perfect for identification. I have seen one Baracouta forcing itself on shore in the same way as the Frost Fish.

Accompanying this paper, I forward for your inspection a specimen in spirits of the internal parasite of the Frost Fish, and with it specimens of a recent addition to the interesting class of phosphorescent fishes, hitherto represented in the Colonial Museum by Phosichthys argenteus and a small fish obtained by Dr. Hector in Milford Sound. A specimen similar to those before you was forwarded to Captain Hutton for identification, and he has written to say that it is certainly a new species.

Art. XXIX.—Notes on the Sword Fish (Ziphias gladius).

By T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S.

[Read before the Auckland Institute, 16th August, 1875.]

Dr. Hector, in a valuable contribution to New Zealand icthyology, printed in last year's volume of “Trans. N. Z. Inst.,” introduces the well-known Sword Fish of the North Atlantic (Ziphias gladius) as an inhabitant of the New Zealand seas, on the authority of a dried snout obtained by Mr. G. M'Leod from the natives at Ngunguru, and presented by that gentleman to the Auckland Museum. During the last year I have been able to collect some additional evidence of the occurrence of this curious fish that appears to me to be worthy of record.

In the early part of last January an adult specimen was stranded at Shelly Beach; and, through the kindness of Mr. T. Jenkins, I was enabled to secure the greater portion of the skeleton for the Museum, and to obtain

the following measurements while the animal was still entire:—

The extreme point of the snout (or so-called sword) was broken off, about three inches being wanting. This, of course, will require to be taken into account in considering the above measurements.

About two months ago a paragraph appeared in the Southern Cross newspaper stating that a Sword Fish was then being exhibited in Auckland. This proved to be a second specimen of the Ziphias. On enquiry, I found that it had been washed by a heavy gale into shallow water inside the mouth of the Waikato River, and, being noticed by some sailors struggling among the breakers, was killed, and brought to Auckland for exhibition Its length was slightly under that of the first example, being less than ten feet, but the proportions were about the same.

A second species of Sword Fish has occasionally been observed on our coasts, belonging to the genus Histiophorus, distinguished from Ziphias by the round snout and the presence of ventral fins. A good skull is in the Museum, obtained by Captain Mair near Opotiki; and I recently observed two nearly perfect skeletons not far from the mouth of the Waikato River, but unfortunately had no means of removing them.

Art. XXX.—Is Access to the Sea a Necessity to Eels?

By James Duigan.

[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 4th October, 1875.]

I Have had my attention drawn to a paper by Mr. W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., published in Vol. III. of the “Trans. N. Z. Inst.,” in which that gentleman argues that, inasmuch as there is an absence of Eels in the upper waters of the Waiau-ua and its tributaries, it is necessary that Eels should be able to go down to the sea during the spawning season. Dr. Hector, in his notes on the edible fishes of New Zealand, also alludes to this belief, and gives an extract from a letter written by Mr. Maling, a Surveyor, to Mr. Travers on the subject, in which the writer says, “from my own observavations, I think it is absolutely requisite for that fish (the Eel) to have access to the sea. There are three notable instances of it here (Taupo). 1st, In the Waikato River, Eels are found as far as the Maungatautari Falls, and in all the streams that flow into it below them. 2nd, In the Kaituna River, which drains Rotorua and Rotoiti Lakes, Eels are caught as far as the Falls below the Taheke, and no further. 3rd, They are caught in Lake Tarawera, but not in Rotokakahi, the waters of which run into Tarawera Lake, but have a perpendicular fall in one place of 100 feet.”

That there is something more than the physical difficulties alluded to at work to account for the absence of Eels from the places named by both Mr. Travers and Mr. Maling, I am firmly persuaded, as I have caught Eels in places more completely isolated from access to the sea than any of those named by the above gentlemen; and, as one instance is quite sufficient to establish the fact that Eels not only can, but do live, in waters having no access to the sea, I shall merely state that they exist in large numbers in Virginia Lake, a sheet of deep water close to the town of Wanganui. This lake has neither inlet nor outlet from the surface, and is some three or four miles distant from the sea, and at an elevation of about 250 feet the above sea level. The natives look upon it as one of their best fishing grounds, and catch large quantities there every season. The fact of the lake, which is in places very deep, having no visible source or overflow, and keeping its level and purity throughout the droughts of summer, at once struck me as indicative of subterranean sources of supply and drainage. On examining the strata in the vicinity, I found the lake had its bed in just such a position as to bear out the hypothesis above mentioned. As a section of it would shew first a greater or lesser extent of blue clay, forming an impervious bottom; next, a varying thickness of gravel lying in the blue clay, which dips at a gentle angle to the sea; above the gravel follows yellow clay, or rather a volcanic mud, containing rolled lava stones, over which a post tertiary

deposit of a few feet in thickness has accumulated. It is evident from this that the gravel bed acts as both inlet and outlet, as it drains and filters the water from the high lands to the north of the lake, and carries it down to keep the water of the lake both pure and at a permanent level. When the lake is full, as it always is, the weight of water in it regulates the supply to compensate exactly for what has passed away through the gravel-stratum and been lost by evaporation. It will thus be seen nature has supplied the lake with what is, to all intents and purposes, a “ball-cock,” and has further placed it just where it can be best utilised by the people of Wanganui as a source of water supply. I may mention, in support of my hypothesis as to the supply and drainage of the lake, that, where the blue clay bed is exposed on the sea-beach, water flows continually from the overlying gravel.

Returning to the question whether eels can exist without free access to the sea, I may mention that, in Australia, I have caught them in swamps and lagoons hundreds of miles from the sea, and utterly cut off from any possible communication therewith. It is, therefore, plain that there are state other reasons than those advanced by Messrs. Travers and Maling, why eels cannot live in the localities they mention. It is more likely that low temperature of the water is the real cause, as eels are notoriously fond of warm, sluggish water, not that the water of Lake Virginia partakes of that character, being always both cold and pure; but even in Lake Virginia they can escape extreme cold by burying in the mud at the shallow end; that they do so is more than probable, as during very cold weather they are seldom seen or caught in the lake. There is one thing quite certain, they cannot leave the lake, which is quite sufficient to controvert the theory of their being unable to exist without having access to the sea.

Art. XXXI.—On the Habits of the Trap-door Spider.

By R. Gillies.

use and instruction of others. The field naturalist, on the other hand, undertakes the former, and by patient research and observation, studies the animal in its native haunts, finds out what it does, how it does it, when it does it, and why it does it; observes its habits, its food, its enemies, the localities where it is found, and its geographical distribution over the world. To the special training and intimate knowledge of science necessary for the prosecution of the work of the cabinet naturalist, I lay no claim whatever, and therefore on that side of the subject, I shall have little to say. I may mention, however, that through the kindness of Captain Hutton, specimens of these spiders have been sent to the Rev. P. Cambridge, the greatest living authority on spiders in England, and no doubt, in due time, we shall have exact descriptions of each of them, and their precise species and places in their family assigned to them. Any original remarks I may have to make to-night, refer entirely to the other side of Natural History, and I have only to express my regret, that my opportunities for observing these animals during the two years since I first discovered them, have been so few and scattered, that it is with hesitation I bring this paper before you. It has, however, been pointed out to me, that by making known what little I have observed, it may be the means of inciting others more favourably situated to take notice of, and record what they do observe of their habits and skill, and so instead of one observer working at the subject through a long course of years, we may have the recorded observations of a dozen individuals in different localities available for the study of the cabinet naturalist, in a very short space of time.

The great Order Araneœ or true spiders, have been divided into seven sub-orders; of these, the fourth, or Territelariœ, is the one with which we have now to do. The Territelariœ, are easily recognised by any one, even apart from their nests. Their falces (mandibles or fangs as they are commonly called, work vertically downwards and are parallel. In other spiders they work horizontally, and cross each other like nippers. They have also four whitish spots or blotches on the under side of the abdomen, near its junction with the sternum, which are supposed to be branchial tubes, whilst other spiders have only two. The specimens now exhibited, clearly show both these characteristics.

How first found.

It may be interesting to note how my attention was first drawn to the subject. My discovery of their existence in Otago was purely accidental. Rather more than two years ago, I was riding slowly through an English grass paddock, near Oamaru, when, on a bare patch of ground, my eye accidentally rested upon a very large spider. Attracted by its size, I kept steadily looking at it, when suddenly, as if by magic, it disappeared. I got

off my horse so as to carefully examine the ground, which was very dry and dusty. My suspicions that the spider had rolled itself up in the dust, were soon confirmed, by observing that the earth was a little raised or bulged up at one part, so I took my knife to turn it out of its dirt heap. Judge of my surprise and delight, when no sooner had I applied the point of my knife, than up sprang a beautiful trap-door, revealing a large hole going right down into the earth, lined with beautiful white silk that shone in the sun, and lining the inside of the door, forming a clever and remarkably good hinge. I had no doubt now, where the spider had gone, but having no tools I could not dig it out. I examined this strange novelty for some time, lifting up the wonderful door, and admiring the exactness with which it fitted, the perfect mobility of the hinge, the spring with which it immediately shut down on slipping from the knife, and the marvellous adaptation of the outside of the lid to the existing conditions surrounding it. It was literally peppered on the outside with loose soil, exactly the same as that around, so as to defy detection by any one unacquainted with the way of finding such nests. In fact, though I carefully marked several things near by, so as to find it again; when I returned with a spade I could not find it, and never afterwards came upon this particular nest. Since that time I have taken every opportunity of my being in the Oamaru District, to observe and record what I saw of them, and in the months of October and November of last year, being detained there through illness, I had some weeks of leisure to pursue my investigations, the results of which I now propose to place before you.

Distinctions in the Spiders themselves.

Unfortunately I am not in a position to say what is the name or names of the Territelariœ now before you, or to determine whether there is more than one species. Distinctions of species in the Araneœ are very minute, and require the skill of an expert to unravel them. Eighteen months ago, Captain Hutton kindly sent home to the Rev. P. Cambridge, a few specimens in a bottle. His reply was, that he thought there were at least two new species previously unknown to science, but his exhaustive examination of them has not yet, through want of time, been transmitted to us. In the meantime, other and better specimens have been obtained and sent home; some of them to Rev. P. Cambridge, and some with the nests they inhabit to the Paris Museum, through the kindness of Dr. Filhol, who was recently amongst us. Captain Hutton, however, permits me to say, that after a careful examination of the specimens now before you, he is inclined to believe that there is only one species, and that the slight differences observable in individuals, will only result in the separation of varieties. One specimen is marked with greyish spots different from others. It was found in

the same locality as the one I first discovered, and may have had a double branched nest, as the soil was so loose and friable, that in digging it out, it was impossible to tell through the nest getting spoiled. Another from the same locality was one of those which were sent home to Rev. P. Cambridge, and it had a side gallery and double trap-door, as shown in sketch No. 1. Plate VIII., which I will describe further on. This is the only instance of this peculiarity which has been observed, and as it was not seen by myself, but by one of my servants, I do not attach great weight to it. It may, however, account for the two different species referred to by Rev. P. Cambridge. Another specimen, and the pieces of the nest, had a peculiar greyish colour different from others. It was found in a different locality, in a very peculiar situation, the foot of the corner post of a stable, and had its trap-door depressed under the general surface of the ground as afterwards described. The cephalo-thorax in another, is peculiarly large and broad, and its nest is figured in Plate VII. It was got from a different locality, called the Bobbin Creek, and all the nests in that locality have this peculiarity—they are lined with silk about two-thirds down only, the bottom part being unlined. Specimens of part of this nest are also before you. The spider and young ones in the bottle were from a different locality, the Stable Gully, and several of the young ones had a greenish-blue spot on them, and some of them brown, before they were put into the spirits. Another from the same locality, had a slightly different nest, as seen in Plate VII., and all those from this locality had by far the most ingeniously concealed trap-doors, though the nests were smaller than those elsewhere. Another from the same locality was much darker in colour, and larger, and had a very peculiar nest, figured in Sketch No. 6, Plate VIII., and afterwards described. Another lot of about half-a-dozen, with several young ones, from the same locality, are all of smallish size. They were of a dark olive tint, and turned lighter in colour in the spirits. Some of these were actually got crawling about outside of their holes, and some were dug out. One little one of these was of such a peculiar colour, that I kept it distinct. It was mostly of a pale bluish-green or greenish-blue colour, and some parts colourless. It was quite different in colour to every other one I ever got, so I hope it may be a male, as males are very rare, and difficult to get. These are really the only differences readily noticeable in the spiders themselves, beyond differences of size. There are greater differences, however, in their nests and trap-doors, &c., which will be noticed further on, and which may help in the determination of their species.

Nests, how detected.

We come now to their nests, and I think I cannot do better than at once give the clue whereby to detect the presence of their nests. The

spider tunnels down a comparatively deep hole, through the surface soil into the clay or differently coloured subsoil beneath. This subsoil it brings up last, and generally carries to some distance from its hole (from one to eighteen inches), and forms a spoil-bank there; the excavated stuff is all cemented in a peculiar way, afterwards described, but this does not prevent the rain from gradually washing it away, more or less, thereby discolouring the surface soil, for a short distance, with the differently coloured sub-soil. For instance, if the surface loam be black, and the subsoil yellow clay, there is no difficulty whatever in detecting them, as the yellow mark remains, even after the spoil-bank has been washed away; and, as the spoil-bank is always on the lower side of the nest, all you have to do when you see such a mark, is to look from six to eighteen inches above it, according to the lay of the ground, and it will be strange indeed, if you do not detect somewhere, a little round ring on the ground, or amongst the herbage, marking the lip of the trap-door, where it fits to the beveled mouth of the nest. I do not say you will find every one this way, for some are so skilfully concealed, as to defeat every search made for them, and others (specimens of some of which are before you), were only discovered by accident, and would never, I believe, have been discovered in any other way; the above, however, gives a clue which aids immensely in the search for them.

Nests and their distinctions.

The nests are in reality, tunnels of varying size, dug into the ground, and lined more or less with silk of varying thickness and consistency, and with a lid or trap-door hinged to the mouth. Moggridge distinguishes four types of trap-door nests (see page 79), in the world at large, and names them. First, the single-door cork nest, or shortly, the cork nest; second, the single-door wafer nest; third, the double-door unbranched nest and fourth, the double-door branched nest. The distinction here drawn, between the first and second type consists in the thickness of the door; the cork nest, having a thick door beveled at the edges and fitting tight; the wafer nest, having a thin door. I am inclined to think, that so far as the Oamaru species are concerned, this distinction will not hold good, that is, on the supposition that the individuals forming a colony in any one place are likely to be of the same species, for, notwithstanding that I had this distinction always in view, I never was able to detect any such marked differences in the thickness or fitting of the lids in different localities, or in different colonies in the same locality, as to be specially noticeable. Cork nests and wafer nests were found in all localities, and, in fact, amongst the scores of nests I have examined, this distinction does not hold good. Doors of all degrees of thickness are to be found, and of all degrees of neatness

identical nests.” If I am right in this idea, of the varying type being the result of different conditions of soil, etc., it opens up a wide field for thought, for it carries with it, the ability on the part of each individual spider, not only to estimate the conditions under which it is about to pursue its work, but to adapt the mechanical contrivances it makes use of, to the varying conditions that arise, displaying an amount of artistic and engineering ability and judgment, that quite transcends all our ordinary ideas of habit and instinct—but I must not enlarge on this.

Localities where Observed.

The locality where I have observed the Territelariœ is in the Oamaru district, North Otago, about ten miles in from the coast, and the particular situations there, in which my observations have taken place, are six, known locally as follows:—The Cultivation Paddock, the Stable Gully, the Wool-shed Fence, the Bobbin Creek, the Awamoko River Terraces, and the Waiareka Valley, at Elderslie. The distances of these places from each other vary from one quarter of a mile to eight miles. In the Waiareka Valley they were observed on the flat in the bottom of the valley as well as on the sunny faces of the terraces above. This fact seemed very peculiar to me, as undoubtedly they are within the reach of ordinary floods of the Waiareka, when the river overflows its banks. At the time I observed them, the ground was very spongy and damp, and had been recently flooded, and yet the holes had no water in them. They bore evidence, however, of recent labour having been expended on them, in the fresh-excavated subsoil not far from the holes. They were very numerous, large, sinuous, and deep, and easily distinguished by the different coloured sub-soil showing on the surface. Now, the question immediately suggests itself, what became of the inmates whilst the ground was covered with still water ? Did they migrate to the terraces, not very far off, or did they remain in their holes? From what I have observed since of their habits (as afterwards described), I am inclined to think that they will rather die than desert their nests, and that, therefore, the owners of these nests remained in them under water. This necessitates that the silk lining acts as cement, and is capable of keeping out wet, and also that the lids fit so closely as to prevent water passing between the lips of the mouth. It, also, would require that the occupants should be capable of existing in their nests for a considerable time without more air than happens to be in the particular nest. As to the nests keeping out water, I confess that I cannot very well see how the spiders could exist in these earth-tunnels in our wet climate, and with the soil in many seasons saturated with rain and snow, unless it were so. It is difficult, on any other hypothesis, to account for the nests remaining free from water, and from the damage inseparable from the presence of water and hard frost. Let

any one just bore an inch augur-hole a foot into the ground, and cover it, to prevent the actual beating of the rain on the mouth, and see how long the hole will remain perfect, or free from water, even in a very ordinary season. It must be borne in mind, too, that almost always the mouth of each hole is on flat ground, even though it may be on the face of a terrace, and though I have watched narrowly to detect if there were anything in the configuration of the ground, or in the spots selected, that might act in the way of turning off surface water from the mouth of the nest, I never could detect any; on the contrary, instances were not unfrequent where the actual surroundings of the mouth of the nest made it a matter of certainty that, during heavy rain, the surface drainage would be directed towards the nest, and would lodge there. An instance of this, on a small scale, is seen in one case, where the depressed mouth of the nest was underneath the drip from the stable-roof. As to the other necessity alluded to above, that of the spider existing for some considerable time with very little air, it will be seen further on that I have repeatedly found the living spider in its nest with the trap-door sealed up and plastered over with clay on the outside, and specimens of the lids so sealed up are now before you, and with no other visible means of ingress or egress. This, I think, indicates the same thing—that the spider can exist with a very small supply of air.

Aspect of the situations where found.

With regard to the general situation of the nests. Those found in the Woolshed Fence, as represented in Sketch No. 9, Plate VIII., were always found on the southern or shady side of the sod wall. But it must be remembered that a sod wall gets heated up very much with the sun's rays, and is peculiarly dry and warm. In the sketch a nest is drawn on each side, but this is to show the two styles of mouth without drawing another fence. In all the other situations, where I have observed them, the nests are always on northern or sunny slopes of greater or less steepness, never in stony or rocky ground, and never actually in the face of a bank so as to be the cause of the trap-door shutting to by its own weight, but always each nest on a little bit of flat, or almost flat, ground. So much is this the case that, even in the sod wall (Sketch No. 9, Plate VIII.) the nest is not tunnelled in at right angles to the slope of the wall, and the trap-door does not hang at the angle of the wall, but a little platform is excavated flat, or nearly so, out of the wall, and on this flat the nest is excavated vertically at first. These may appear to you minute distinctions; but they are such as distinguish the Otago species from those found elsewhere, for Moggridge, writing of the Mediterranean species, says (page 88)—“All these Trap-door Spiders seem usually to prefer rather moist and shady places and sloping banks, or loose terrace walls,

where the interstices between the stones are filled up with earth, etc.;” and again, (page 91)—“I have very seldom seen nests on the flat ground, where the door would lie horizontally when closed; a sloping or nearly vertical bank being usually chosen, where the door will fall to by its own weight;” and Costa, in his “Fauna del Regno di Napoli,” Aracnidi, page 14 (translated by Moggridge, page 138) says they live “in shady places, and for the most part, turned to the north, or to the west, seldom to the south; hence cool and rather damp.” So that you see the habits of the Oamaru species, in regard to the situation of their nests, so far as observed, are exactly contrary to those recorded from other parts of the world.

Shape of the Nests.

The nests, though cylindrical, are often very irregular in form, as you may see by the specimens before you, and in this they evidently differ from those described and beautifully drawn by Moggridge, all of which, whatever their type, seem to be even and regular in form. The direction of the holes is always downwards, no instance of one turning up having been observed; but they are all more or less sinuous, those in the Bobbin Gully, especially, being very tortuous, and bend in all four directions, north, south, east, and west. In this there would appear to be a difference from all other recorded species, as the rule with them would appear to be that they are mostly straight, and only in the case of the double-branched nests are they “double-bent.” But the great difference between the Oamaru nests and others in general form, is in the enlargements which occur frequently in the tubes. This is a very marked feature, especially in the nests in the Bobbin, where the enlargements are often double the normal diameter of the nest. Sketch No. 3, Plate VIII., shows one in which the normal diameter of the hole is under an inch, and the enlargement is fully two inches. These enlargements are sometimes nearly up at the top of the nest, within an inch of the trap-door, as in the nest No. 2, Plate VIII., now before you, and sometimes half-way down. In only one case (figured in Sketch No. 5, Plate VIII.), was there any marked enlargement in the bottom of the hole, and this nest was the only one from that particular locality (the Stable Gully), which had any enlargement at all. The enlarged chamber is generally of an elongated form vertically, and more extended on one side than on the other; but this latter characteristic may be only apparent, as from the sinuous outline of the nests, it is not easy to tell the exact form when cutting out a vertical section of them. In Sketch No. 7, Plate VIII., is an instance of a nearly straight nest, with a chamber extended pretty equally on all sides, and with a very long and narrow tube (proportionally) descending from the enlargement.

Use of Enlargement.

For some time it was a great puzzle to me what this enlargement was for; but, accidentally one day, I had the puzzle completely solved, as will be seen from the following extract of my note-book:—“In digging one out, we cut across another large hole about two or three inches below the surface of the ground, the trap-door of which we did not detect on the surface. We had cut it across, just at the top of the wide part, and there inside, we saw suspended by silk threads to each side, in the centre of the enlargement, a beautiful, dazzling, white cocoon, with the golden-yellow eggs shining through the silk covering of the cocoon. It was fully distended, and glistening bright white and yellow in the glare of the sunlight, which shone full upon it. The spider was embracing the side of the cocoon, and there was room left for her to pass up or down the nest on either side (of the cocoon).” Part of this nest, with the cocoon in it, is now before you; though the cocoon got torn and soiled in digging the nest out and subsequently in transporting it here. I found cocoons suspended in the same way in the enlargements of many other nests, so that there is little room to doubt that the wide part is for the purpose of suspending the cocoon, and giving free access around it; and here I may remark—though it is somewhat anticipating what I have to say further on as to cocoons—that we must not jump to the conclusion that only nests with enlargements will have cocoons or young ones in them, for I found many nests with young ones which had no enlargements whatever, and some with cocoons without any decided chamber. As a rule, almost all the nests at the Bobbin had enlargements in them, whilst those in the Stable Gully had none. I may mention, also, that the nests at the Bobbin had often horizontal markings, or small ridges, running round the tubes like rings, or like the marks left by a large augur in boring through wood, and that the mouths of them all, but especially the large ones, and their trap-doors, are most decidedly oval, and are beveled off in the lips, so that the lid fits like a flap, and is often depressed in the centre.

Size of the Nests.

As to the sizes of the nests, they vary from eight inches deep to fourteen inches vertically, or fifteen inches round the bends, whilst the width of the mouth, and of the trap-door, varies from half-an-inch to an inch, at least in those I examined. There were also many narrower; but they are more difficult to detect, and to examine. Sketch No. 3, Plate IV., you will notice, is about half-an-inch at the mouth, widens out to an inch and a-half at the enlargement, then suddenly narrows in to three-eighths of an inch, and then widens to half-an-inch to the bottom of the hole. Another was fourteen inches deep, one inch wide at the mouth, widened out to about two inches,

and then narrowed to three-quarters of an inch down to the bottom. ^*

How they occur and numbers.

They occur in large numbers, scattered more or less all over the ground, but more frequently in colonies in favoured spots facing the sun. I have counted seven near each other, within a radius of two feet, and on another occasion, five within a radius of a foot, and, again, seven within a foot and a-half; and almost invariably, in digging out a nest, we cut across others which we had not detected on the surface. In any of the localities I have mentioned they are to be got literally by the hundred. They are more numerous where clay is the subsoil, or at any rate they are more easily seen there from the discoloration caused by their excavations, and very hard-baked clay does not seem to discourage them, as you will see by the nest No. 4, which was just as hard and compact when it was dug out as it is now. Loose friable soil, or even soil that has been stirred and cultivated with the plough, does not inconvenience these clever engineers; but it is almost impossible to obtain specimens of nests from such soil. Indeed, I may say, that the work of obtaining specimens of the nests is at all times one of considerable labour, patience, and often of disappointment, and occupies a great deal of time. I have tried stuffing the nests with wool, as recommended by some authorities; but found the experiment not satisfactory, as you will see by the specimen No. 28. This is, however, the only way I know of to obtain nests in loose friable soil.

Lining of the Nests.

The silk lining of the nests I always found continuous to the bottom of the holes, with the exception of those at the Bobbin, where it generally ended about two-thirds of the way down. The silken cloth was generally tougher and thicker here than elsewhere, being more like fine leather than spider's web. It was generally thickest at the mouth, and became thin as it extended down the hole, till it ended altogether before reaching the bottom. Some parts of the nests were double lined, the old part of the nest being outside and the new patch inside. This probably indicates where some weakness in the wall of the tunnel had shown itself, or where some water found access to the dwelling of this sturdy miner, and how it was shut out by a coffer-dam. In nest No. 2, the lining was very thick silk, and generally in the Stable Gully the nests are well lined and well woven, although they are generally of small size; whilst in the cultivation paddock, they are much thinner and more fragile to handle, even in the case of large specimens. This is all the more remarkable, as there the soil is loose and friable, and has been cultivated, and it is there we would naturally expect the toughest and best woven webs, to prevent the soil tumbling in,

whereas, the nests at the Bobbin, and the one at the Stable, had, by far, the toughest and best lining, though the soil is such as to remain secure and solid without any protecting web. This leads me to think that the lining of the nest serves other, and more important, purposes in the household economy of the inmate, than protection from the clay tumbling in. Probably prevention of damp, or exclusion of worms, ants, and other under-ground intruders, and the age of the nest, have all something to do with it. The lining is always more or less incorporated with the soil, so that it is difficult quite to separate them, and it is invariably neatly finished off, and fitted to the bevelled mouth (when it occurs), as seen in the specimens before you. The lining is continued up on one side forming the hinge, and widening out in a circular form into the trap-door. At the hinge, and for a short distance below it, the lining is often double, or thickened, but this is not the only, or principal cause of the spring which all the doors have, as indicated by some writers.

Hinge of the Trap-door.

That the trap-doors have always a decided spring causing them to fall quickly, and with force, into their position, and preventing them from tumbling back open, is beyond question, as any of you can test for yourselves, by lifting up any one of those now before you, with the edge of a pen-knife. But this is caused mainly, I feel sure, by the peculiar shape of the hinge, and not by its thickness. The hinge and trap-door is formed, as I have said, by the extension upwards of the silk lining of the nest, and by its being folded over at right angles to the tube. The mouth of the nest is, you will recollect, circular and the hinge is not simply a tag connecting the lining with the door, but extends along from a fourth to a sixth of the whole circumference of the mouth. It is therefore in reality an arc of a circle of from 90° to 60° in length. If the circular lining of the nest were simply folded over, as I have said, it would cause a fold or loose crease at both sides of the hinge, though it would be tight in the centre. Now this is not the case, but the hinge is equally continuous and tight at all parts, it is, in fact, woven into a bend like the heel of a stocking, and not merely folded over. The consequence is, when the trap-door, which is stiff, is lifted, the outer edges of the hinge are opened further than the centre, and are strained tight, and when the door is let go, the elasticity of the material of the hinge brings down the door with a spring. It is almost impossible to turn the trap-doors right over backwards, without injury to the hinge, or to keep them open, without tying them back to something near. I feel sure you cannot but be struck with wonder at this ingenious mechanical contrivance, so simple in construction, and yet so well adapted to the materials and circumstances of the case, and so effective for all the purposes

for which it is designed. Easily opened by the inmate for all the distance which his necessities require, and yet presenting increased resistance to every attempt to open it beyond that.

Spur or stay to the Trap-door.

There is another appendage to some of the trap-doors, which aids materially in the spring with which they shut, or at least prevents them from turning right over backwards, or remaining open. It is in reality a sort of spur or stay constructed on the outside of the lid close to the hinge, and with its thickest edge next the hinge, and it acts as a choke against the ground outside the nest when the lid is opened up. This choke is formed sometimes of soil, and sometimes of other materials. In one case, No. 11, it is evidently formed of several old trap-doors of different sizes, the upper one at the top of the choke, and goes to show that when a nest is increased in size, it is always enlarged at the mouth, on the side opposite the hinge, and that these descriptions of trap-doors are extended somewhat like the growth of a shell, always at the lips. This explains the tiled appearance of these trap-doors, which has been likened, and very correctly so, to the outside of an oyster shell. Or probably it would be more correct to say, that as the old doors had, one after the other, become useless through some accident, or through the expansion of the mouth of the tube, a new one was constructed below the previous one, and joined on to the lining of the tube always at the same spot, the hinge. This accounts also for the fact, that such trap-doors are generally depressed below the surface of the ground at the hinge.

Bevelled mouth of the Nest.

All the nests found, had the mouth of the tube more or less beveled and the lid corresponding, and there were always varying degrees of perfection in the workmanship; some doors fitted exactly to the cup-like form of the tube, over which the lining is always extended, so that the lid may fit tight down. Others not fitting so exactly, and being a mere flap, covering over the mouth of the tube. But in no case was there anything like what Moggridge describes and figures, as “cork-nests, with the thick lid going down into, and filling up the mouth, so as to require some degree of force to take the plug out.”

Distinctions in the Trap-doors.

Apart altogether from these variations, and from the oval or circular outline, there are two distinctions that may be noticed, in the form of the trap-doors. First: Those that are slightly raised above the surrounding surface, that is, in the middle of the lid, and thin off at the edges; and second: those that are flat, and exactly coincident with it, or slightly depressed. You have now before you twenty-eight specimens of trap-doors, and of these, by far the larger number belong to the latter or flat class.

This is, however, largely owing to the difficulty of transporting the raised ones, they get broken off so easily in carrying and packing them. Some also that are really flat, appear as if the whole mouth of the tube and the trap-door were raised above the ground, in consequence of the breaking away of the loose soil round about. Of the true raised trap-doors, Nos. 1, 2, 5, 30, and 22, may be taken as fair specimens. Nos. 1 and 2 have this specialty, that the trap-doors are larger than the mouth of the nest, and overlap somewhat. No. 1 especially, overlaps very considerably. The mouth of the nest is only five lines in diameter, whilst the trap-door is eight lines, and the long way of the lidis from the hinge to the front. The cause of this is, that the nest itself, goes into the ground at an acute angle, and not straight down, and consequently the section of the cylindrical tube is elongated thus where the trap-door covers it. The spider has evidently calculated upon this, and so made its trap-door elongated in order to meet the requirements of the sloped section. It is quite likely too, that these are instances where the spider intended to enlarge her nest, and like a prudent and wise builder, provide before hand against rain, and enemies getting in by the hole, whilst it was being enlarged, and so made her trap-door to extend over the area which she intended should ultimately form the mouth of her nest; but that like many other intentions with referencet o houses, it was never carried out. Either this, or it is an instance of bungling workmanship, or over calculation on the part of the architect, of the length, of a sloped section of a cylinder, and the Trap-door Spider is not the only architect or artificer that commits this sort of blunder. In any case, it is a variation from the general rule, and displays a remarkable capacity on the part of the spider, for estimation and foresight, and for adaptation to special circumstances as they arise. The second distinction, those that are flat, is more often accompanied by the beveled or cup-like form of the mouth of the tube, and the majority of clay or soil covered trap-doors are exactly coincident with the surface of the ground. Some (though only a few), are depressed, but this, I suspect, is an evidence of incomplete or bungling workmanship, and consequent weakness, more especially as in such cases, the excavated soil is always close by the mouth of the nest.

Trap-doors, what made of.

The trap-doors are made of several layers or plies of web, between which earth, grass, or other substances are woven to thicken and stiffen them.

General remarks on mode of concealment.

We come now to what is by far the most wonderful thing about these spiders, and that is the modes of concealment which they practise for the prevention of the discovery of their nests. This is accomplished in two

in the individual, but the power of adaptation to circumstances, and of selection to suit the emergencies as they arise, take the case of a nest in bare burnt ground; such ground is invariably coated with a thick covering of herbage before the fire runs over it; it may not be very rank and long, but it must be close and continuous, or the fire will not run on it. The spider, in such circumstances, must have had its trap-door planted thick with herbage also, and would know nothing of roots or pieces of stick, or bits of half-burnt grass, and yet in the altered condition of the surface, when rain and wind have done their work in removing the loose surface loam and exposing the roots and stumps of woody plants and burnt grass leaves, there you find this master conjuror alter his mode and materials of concealment to suit the altered conditions in which he finds himself placed.

Specimens of Trap-doors not the same as when obtained.

It would be too tedious, after this general discussion, to describe in detail each one of the twenty-eight trap-doors now before you, though each one has some peculiarity of detail which makes it differ from every other, and supplies it with an interest of its own. It will be better, I think, to select one or two of those differing most, and to which special interest attaches; reminding you that the shaking and jolting of a journey of 100 miles over rough New Zealand roads has not tended to improve their appearance.

Description of specially deceptive Trap-doors.

Trap-door No. 6 is an instance where brown-clayey loam is the sole covering of the lid, to correspond with the same bare soil around. The web forming the lid is thin, tough, and leathery, and of a brown colour; but it is thickened by the covering soil, cemented on the outside. It is small, but fits accurately. This trap-door is the trap-door of nest No. 4, and spider No. 2, alluded to before as found at the foot of the corner of a stable. The ground is rather sloping, but the trap-door is constructed level, and for this purpose a portion of the minature bank is excavated out, half-an-inch deep at the back part where the hinge is placed. This is a further illustration of what I have referred to in page 229, of the Oamaru species never taking advantage of a slope of a bank, or of a sod-wall, to assist the trap-door in closing to, as mentioned by Moggridge and others as characteristic of the species in other parts of the world. It is also an illustration of the case alluded to in page 229, where water must have been caught, and must have lodged round about the mouth of the nest. But yet, in this very peculiarity of formation, we have an instance of how observant these insects are of peculiarities of situation, and of their power of exact imitation of these peculiarities. This nest was situated exactly under the line of drip from the stable-roof. The roof is shingled with what are colonially known as Hobart

attaching to this one is, that it is a small nest and trap-door, and the question immediately suggests itself—how came this young spider to make such a gem? No matter how well its education had been attended to in the parent home; no matter how great its powers of observation of the conditions of things around, and how well able to reason upon them; all these qualities must in this case have been largely supplemented by the transmission of qualities enabling the cunning artificer to construct such a perfect piece of workmanship.

Habits of the Trap-door Spider—New Zealand Species.

I must now proceed to refer to the habits, etc., of these spiders, and in doing so you must remember that, though my remarks may seem tedious and uninteresting, they will embody what I have actually observed, and as in some matters these observations differ widely, and in others are quite opposed to what is recorded of species in other parts of the world, it is absolutely essential to notice them, so that by the accumulation and comparison of facts, the truth may be ultimately arrived at; and in this connection, also, let me say that my observations of their habits is by no means exhaustive. Such observations require ample opportunities, much time and careful study, before the truth is arrived at, and were it not for the reason already given, I would fain delay this part of my subject.

Live in Colonies; but not sociable.

I have said these spiders live in colonies in favoured localities; but it must not be inferred from this that they are sociable animals. On the contrary, they always lead a solitary life, one adult spider in one hole, and invariably they adhere to their own nests with a tenacity that is something surprising, and never desert them for others under any circumstances. Of this I will give some instances further on. Only in one instance have I ever found two spiders in one nest, and then there were two galleries to it; but this, also, I shall describe further on, when I come to refer to their breeding. On the contrary, I believe they are a most savage race. Repeatedly, when I had occasion to put more than one into a box or bottle together, there was invariably a fight, ending in the fluids of one or both coming out, and not long after, in the cramping up of their limbs and death. They are sometimes much fiercer and more pugnacious than at other times, but you can always, by teasing them with a straw, or otherwise, make them do battle.

How they fight.

It is very amusing to see how they show fight. They rear themselves straight up in a threatening attitude, bending the body at the joint between the abdomen, and the cephalo-thorax, with the abdomen resting flat on the ground, steadied by the hinder pair of legs, whilst the cephalo-thorax is quite erect, and all the other legs, palpi and falces all stretched out ready for

action. They paused in this attitude for a little, and then suddenly in at moment, legs and fangs strike downwards, with all the celerity and force which the weight of the cephalo-thorax can impart. In fact you would be surprised to see with what force and quickness these tiny animals can strike. On one occasion I found in the bottom of a nest, the legs and hard case of a spider, and I have very little doubt, but that he was killed and eaten. An intelligent and trustworthy servant of mine, who has largely assisted me in digging out nests, etc., informs me that on one occasion he put two Trap-door Spiders together in a tin match-box, at night, and in the morning he found that the one had eaten the other, as evidenced by the remnants of the cannibal feast, in the shape of legs and hard indigestible bits that were left as the only memorials of the corpse of the departed one. They will frequently show fight, and strike at you, when digging out their nests. There is no difficulty, however, in securing them as they never run away, and are not quick in their movements. Even when placed on a bare table, they will only run quickly for a few inches, and then stop, their style of running being jerky, and by fits and starts. The only difficulty is in digging out their nests without injury, as from their sinuous character, you never know which direction they will take. I always found it best to sound the depth of any nest, by passing a straw down, and then by observing the way I had to turn the straw in order to get it past the bends, I could estimate the general direction taken by it. I then dug a deep trench on the side from which this general direction tended, till I was sure that I was below the bottom of the nest, and then with a knife, carefully scraped away the exposed face of the sod till I came upon the nest, and in this way got a vertical section displayed without injury, and after that it was an easy matter to know where and how to dig, so as to secure the whole complete. But even then you will find it a difficult matter to preserve the sod from breaking, and at the same time secure it in a sufficiently portable form for carrying a mile or two. I generally found it best to leave the sod with the nest in it, exposed to the sun where it was dug out, till it was somewhat dried and hardened. All this takes considerable time and labour, and you will be astonished how large an excavation is necessary to get one large nest out complete.

Mainly nocturnal, but not always.

I believe with Moggridge, that these spiders are mainly nocturnal in their habits, as when I confined any of them in tin match-boxes at night, I could hear them moving about and making a sort of clicking noise, probably caused by trying to dig through the tin with their mandibles, but I never heard any noise or movement during the day time. But contrary to his experience of the Mediterranean species, I have frequently seen them

out of their holes in the day time. You will remember that my discovery of them was caused by my seeing one (a large one), on the ground as I rode slowly through a paddock. Repeatedly afterwards, while hunting for them, I saw individual spiders outside their nests, and on one occasion, a bright sunny-day about noon, I observed three different instances of this. On another occasion, my children collected about half-a-dozen in the evening, all of smallish size, and several young ones. They told me they got some of them crawling outside their holes, and some they dug out, but they could not distinguish which. They are all in bottles, Nos. 7 and 8.

Never set their doors ajar.

Several times, when examining their nests, I have detected them “peering out of their doors,” as described by Moggridge, but on no occasion have I ever seen the door “set ajar for the purpose,” or “set open in the daytime, and the tube empty,” as mentioned by Moggridge, and by M. Olivier. On every occasion where I saw the spider outside, she immediately on being disturbed, ran to her hole, quickly and cleverly lifted up her door and ran in. This is done so nimbly, that you have hardly time to see more than the spider disappearing down the hole, and the lid falling flap. They never seem to stop when they come to the hole, but glide in between the lid and the ground in a moment, down falls the door, and they are out of sight. On one occasion my wife saw a spider run into its nest, by quickly and cleverly lifting its trap-door and running in. She called to me, and while we were both watching it, the trap-door opened again slightly, and the legs of the spider became visible between the door and the ground, but evidently in consequence of seeing us, the cunning creature ran down its hole again, and the door sprang into its place, and though we watched it some time, and tried to get it to show itself, it did not again hazard the experiment. Nor have I ever observed anything approaching to what Moggridge describes, on the authority of Mr. Hansard, about a species inhabiting the island of Formosa, in the China Sea, of these spiders “staring at any one who might approach,” still less have I ever seen amongst the hundreds of nests I have observed, anything like what the same author mentions, on the authority of Lady Barker, about some black Trap-door Spiders, which are common about Paramatta, near Sydney, Australia, “that the eye of the passer-by was attracted by the open doors which fell over backwards when the spider made her exit.” In fact I think you will agree with me, that from the construction of the specimens of nests now before you, it is physically impossible for the trap-doors “to fall over backwards,” or even to remain “set open,” without something holding them. No doubt the statements quoted have been correctly observed, of the particular species in

these countries, but they do not apply to the Oamaru species, and it is somewhat interesting and useful to note such essential differences.

Spider shamming death.

Another matter in which my experience seems to differ from Moggridge's, is in the spider being generally found in the bottom of her nest shamming death. He says (page 100):—“More frequently when the spider finds that resistance is hopeless, and sees the earth crumbling in, she drops to the bottom of her nest and lies there helpless, with her legs folded against her body, like an embryonic creature; some, however, more savage than their neighbours, fly out and strike at the intruder with their fangs.” In only one case, spider No. 2, the occupant of nest No. 4, found at the stable corner, have I ever got the spider in the bottom of the hole as if dead. In all other cases, wherever the spider was got, it was lively and wide-awake, sometimes more savage than at other times; but always alert and on the defensive.

Spider found in all parts of the nest.

I agree with Costa that the spider does not remain at the bottom of her burrow, as related by Sauvage, Olivier, and Latreille; but, on the other hand, I equally disagree with him when he says that “she always stands at the door as sentinel,” and that “the light seems to offend her so much, that, if exposed to the full day, she remains so stupified as to appear dead, nor does she move even if shaken, but constantly stops still, and holds herself with her feet pressed against her body.” On the contrary, I have found the spider at the door doing sentinel in the wide part of her nest, embracing her cocoon of eggs in any one of the bends at the bottom, and quite as often in one part of the nest as in another.

Effect of light.

Nor have I ever seen her stupified by the light, or appear as dead, except in the one case I have mentioned, and unless you teased her, say with a straw, when, after striking and fighting with the source of annoyance ineffectually, she would become as if exhausted, curl in her legs “like an embryonic creature,” and not move for some time. No doubt the light must incommode her; but it is not noticeable, as I have had specimens in the glare of the sunshine scores of times, and never could detect any difference in their actions from other times under a subdued light.

Holding down Trap-door.

But to whatever extent the Oamaru species may differ from others, in these minor details of their habits, there is no doubt about their being exactly the same in regard to what is, I think, the most wonderful thing in the habits of these animals, namely, that they have such a knowledge of the effects of mechanical resistance, as to apply it in the defence of their

“hearths and homes.” I confess, when I first read of this, I thought it partook so much of the Baron Munchausen style of marvel that I did not believe it, and it was not till I had repeatedly seen it with my own eyes that my scepticism was vanquished. The trap-door is used in two ways, not only as a means of concealment to the mouth of the nest in the modes I have already fully described, but also as a means of defence against the intrusion of enemies. This is effected by the spider actually holding down the trap-door from the inside, and by its obtaining a purchase for this purpose with its body against the sides of the nest. That there may be no doubt in your minds on this point, I transcribe from my note-book what actually occurred on one of these occasions, and was noted by me on the spot:—” 26th November, 1874. Another well-made, but thin, trap-door was near at hand, and on my touching it, I saw it visibly become depressed in the centre and shut close, as graphically described by Moggridge, 'like the movement of the tightening of a limpet on a sea rock.' So I took my knife and raised the trap-door a little, when I saw the spider clinging to it, feet uppermost, and felt her holding down the door with some degree of resistance; her body being placed across the tube and filling it up, with her extremities planted against the sides of the nest. The trap-door slipped off my knife with the force, and on my raising it again more firmly, she let go her hold and ran down the hole out of sight. I raised back the lid, so as to examine the inside of it for any marks of its claws, such as described by Moggridge; but could not detect any regular markings. Whilst eyeing it, up came the spider to the mouth of the hole; but, on seeing me, she ran back, and though I waited and watched some time, she did not again come up.” I then dug out the spider, and have her now in bottle No. 9. From the looseness of the soil, it was impossible to preserve the nest; but it was nearly straight, with an enlargement immediately below the trap-door. I measured a section of it, however, and it is depicted in Sketch No. 7., Plate VIII. I also secured the trap-door, and you have it now before you, No. 26.

Holes in the Trap-door.

On examining the under side of the lid carefully with a glass at the time, I could make out two or three holes or places where the silk lining of the lid was raised and wraggled, irregularly placed towards the centre of the lid, as if they were the marks of the hooks of the spider's claws, but not very distinct, as the texture of the silk was rather coarse and open, and certainly not so regular, nor placed round the edges, as shown by Moggridge, in one of his beautiful sketches. If you examine the lid now with a glass you will see these holes even more distinct than they were when freshly made; but they are nothing like in appearance to what has been described by Moggridge and others. I have examined several other trap-doors, which

I saw held down by the spiders; but always with the same result; but I should be sorry to hazard the opinion that what has been observed by so many eminent naturalists never does occur in Otago. My opportunities of observation on this point have been too limited to generalise, for though I have seen hundreds of nests; it is only sometimes the spider can be caught in the act of holding down the trap-door. I have repeatedly tapped the lids of nests with my knife, and have observed the spider come up and hold down the lid (and I may mention here that one of the spiders first sent home to the Rev. P. Cambridge was one of these); but I have also tried this device scores of times without the inmate of the nest taking the slightest notice. Much difference of experience, and of opinion, has been recorded about these holes in the lids; but I am not in a position to decide the point. I must say, however, that the suggestion of Gosse, that they are air-holes, is untenable, so far as the Oamaru species is concerned, for, if air-holes, are required, they would be found in every lid, or at least in every tight fitting one; but this is not the case, as in the large majority of trap-doors that I have found, no markings or holes whatever are discernable, and on no occasion, even when the lid had been seen to be held down, was there anything in the least like what he describes in the following passage:—“A row of minute holes such as might be made by a very fine needle, pierced around the free edge of the lid, and a double row of similar ones just within the margin of the tube. There are about fifteen or sixteen punctures in each series, and they penetrate through the whole substance, the light being clearly seen through each hole. I do not think, as I have somewhere seen suggested, that they are intended to afford a hold for the spider's claws when she would keep her door shut against the efforts of an enemy, for what would be the use of having them in the tube close to the lid, so close that not an eighth of an inch intervenes between the surface of the lid, and that of the tube when the former is tightly closed.” I would suggest whether they may not be air-holes, for so tight is the fitting of the lid, and so compact the texture of the material, that I should suppose the material would be impermeable to air but for this contrivance. It is evident that Mr. Gosse, in this passage, refers to holes in the tube that are not observable in the Oamaru nests, and in this respect my experience coincides with that of Mr. Moggridge, as stated at page 96 of his book.

Nests, how long to construct.

On the question of how long time these spiders take to make their nests, I can throw very little light. The first nests I found nearly three years ago, were situated in the middle of a three hundred-acre paddock which had been laid down in English grass less than two years before, and had been in cultivation for several years previous. When I discovered them there

frequently immense quantities of freshly excavated soil are found accumulated near the nests, corresponding in bulk very much to the size of the hole, that the spider is able to dig out and construct a full sized nest at once, in new ground. For if the process were always gradual from day to day, the excavated soil would be, every now and again, washed away-by heavy rain, preventing any large accumulation of soil, and leaving only the stain of the different coloured earth, as is the case in general. It must be borne in mind, however, that the clay or soil in front of the holes is all in little pellets, like what passes through a worm, and often all the bits are cemented together hard, and that this cement hinders the action of the weather upon soil which otherwise would very quickly powder into fine dust. This cement is, no doubt, produced by the saliva from the mouth, and the spider in forming its hole, moulds the excavated clay into these little pellets with the viscous secretion, and then carries each little ball up to the surface, and deposits it on its dirt heap. Some faint conception of the enormous labour and activity of which this little creature is capable, can be obtained from this fact, when we consider the extreme minuteness of the pellets, as compared with the size of such a hole as No. 3, one inch in diameter at the mouth, two inches further down, and fifteen inches deep.

Renewing the Trap-doors.

So far as the trap-doors are concerned, the spider has the power of renewing them in a single night. This I have proved over and over again, by cutting out the trap-door and taking it away, and invariably there was a new one on the next morning. As samples of this, I extract the following from my note-book:—“9th November, 1874. In the afternoon I went down the Bobbin, and found the nests, the trap-doors of which I had cut out yesterday, all repaired, or in course of repair. One new door had pieces of dried grass woven across the lid and extending to the ground on each side, as if to prevent the lid tumbling in, till it was finished, which it evidently was not.” “16th November, 1874. The nest in the Stable paddock, from which I yesterday cut off the trap-door, and sod, about two inches below the surface, has to day a new trap-door woven on it.” The new door was thin, but complete in every way, with fibres and clay, and earth all woven into it. The sides of the nest have also been added to, the silk lining being extended over the adjoining ground in a cup-like form, to make the proper over-lap for the lid to fall tight down.” Again: “29th November, 1874. On going this morning to inspect the nests, the lids of which I dug out yesterday, I found they all had new doors and mouths constructed to them, quite perfect, though the earth, etc., had not the compact hard consistency noticeable in older nests. It is quite clear therefore, that the spiders can, and do, construct their trap-doors in a single night.”

Reluctance to desert their nests.

I have several times throughout this paper referred to the reluctance shown by these spiders to desert their nests. I am not aware that there is any difference of opinion amongst observers upon this point; but, at the risk of wearying you, I will relate an experiment carried out by me, which bears on the point, and at the same time illustrates some other interesting habits of spider. In the end of the month of February last, I was at Awamoko, and a servant of mine showed me a nest in clay, got in the bank opposite the stable, containing a spider with a number of young ones. He had cut out the trap-door and top of the nest before he dug out the nest. Being in hard, dry, clay, I determined to take the nest down to Dunedin with its occupants. On opening the box in Dunedin, I found the spider still lively and well, and so were the young ones.” The lid, or trap-door, however, had got broken off from the top of the nest with the severe shaking in travelling; but the lid itself was sound, and has already been described as trap-door No. 30. I kept the sod containing the nest in a shallow box, without any lid, in my vinery, so the spider and its young ones could have escaped, if they so pleased—the floor of the vinery being dry soil. During the first week after its arrival in Dunedin, I brought it out several times on to the verandah to let friends see it, and I always found the spider lively and well. A hole had been cut in the side of the sod into the nest, exposing about two inches of the tube, just above the debris of fibres, etc., always found in the bottom of their nests. You will see this hole in the sod which is now before you, No. 6, and, by putting a straw in at this hole, I could always tease the spider and her young ones to come out at either end. Finding that she did not feel inclined voluntarily to leave her nest, I determined to leave her alone undisturbed, hoping that she might weave a new trap-door to her nest, or perhaps join on the old one. So I took a piece of soft clay and moulded it to fit the hole in the side of the nest, and stuck it on, so as to close up the hole. (I have the clay here beside the nest, and you will understand better when I fit it on). I also laid the old trap-door in a convenient position for the spider to join it on, and for several days placed dead flies and moths round the mouth of the nest, and some in it, and did not disturb the nest in any way. In a few days, I noticed that no attempt had been made to make any use of the old trap-door, but that the flies put into the hole were put out, apparently untouched, and that the lining of the nest, just below where the trap-door had been cut out, was drawn in from each side, completely closing in the nest and sealing it. A few days after this the clay that I had stuck on to close up the hole in the side was either forced off, or had fallen off in drying, revealing the fact that the spider had completely woven a patch over the hole from the inside, the materials used were the fibres from

the bottom of its nest, all woven together. Hoping that some further work was going on, either in the way of making a trap-door for the old hole, or digging out a new entrance through the sod in some other place, I left it quite undisturbed for some weeks, only laying down some flies and moths occasionally, which, however, I never found touched. Nothing further, however, appeared outside, and I became pretty sure that either the spider had buried itself alive or had escaped. I had wished Captain Hutton to see it, but his absence from town prevented me doing anything further till the 8th of May, when I examined it, first of all by cutting open the nest where it had been repaired. I then found that the nest had been deepened by about an inch, or rather that the materials which had been used in mending the side of the nest had been taken out of the bottom. In the bottom I found four young ones dried and dead, and this made me sure that the old one must still be in the nest. Accordingly I passed a straw down the hole from the top, when I found that about half-way down, it was stopped by something, and after cutting away a little more of the nest I soon found the dried body of the old spider in a hollow in the nest, at a bend about half-way up. It was shrunk and shrivelled up, but quite perfect, showing that it had literally starved itself to death. I found the body of a blue-bottle fly in the nest, dried also, but with the head off it. From this and other instances—which I shall refer to presently—of nests sealed up from the inside, containing sometimes dead and sometimes living spiders, it is perfectly clear to me that the spider deliberately sealed its nest and starved itself and its young to death. It evidently could not bear to leave its home, or it would have done so easily at any time with its young. The partial marring of its handiwork seemed to have so disheartened it that it sealed itself up in its own ruined house—a broken-hearted architect and builder. The nest from the surface of the ground to the bottom is exactly eight and a quarter inches, and has several bends in it.

Sealed-up Nests.

I come now to refer to a fact, in connection with the habits of these spiders, which I may as well say at once is to me totally inexplicable. I have not seen it referred to in any way, by any of the observers who have recorded their experiences, and I should have hesitated to mention it now, were it not that so many instances of it came under my notice, as to preclude the idea altogether of accident as an explanation. I refer to the fact alluded to above, that the spider is sometimes found in her nest with her trap-door sealed-up from the inside, with no means whatever of ingress or egress, and yet with the outside of her door covered over with clay or soil, plastered over and sealed up as it were, implying the absolute necessity of

all, and the bottom of this, and all the nests examined in this locality were not lined with silk.” On the same day, later on, the following entry appears in my note-book:—“Found another nest with the lid sealed up, and on digging found the legs and hard parts of the body only, of the inmate, at the bottom. It either had died, or been killed and eaten.” No further remark is made, as I felt very puzzled about it. From that time till the 26th November, repeated instances of sealed up nests came under my notice, but no new fact, nor any further light was thrown on the subject. On that date, however, the following entry appears in my field-book:—“26th November, 1874. At Awamoko River. Nests very plentiful and all sizes. One nest with raised lid, I found embedded in clay, and on raising it, found it had been sealed down. The lid is fully more than half-an-inch thick, with a lining of silk near the top, and on the bottom, and a sort of cap of soil on the top. The thickness was mostly made up with earth woven in between the silk. I secured the lid and put it in a match box, but found, on reaching home, that it had all crumbled down, excep the silk linings.” It is now before you, No. 22. “I dug this nest out with my knife, and found it not very deep, as it came upon the rock about eight inches down. On removing the lid, I put down a straw to see how deep it was, and on withdrawing it, I felt something resisting, and on pulling it out, I brought up a beautiful white bag of eggs (Cocoon No. 2.) On digging out the nest, I got the spider at the bottom, but unfortunately it had been pierced with my knife; it was alive, but unfit for a specimen. In the bottom of the hole, was a quantity of what is apparently moss, and brown fibre, and remains of insects. I could not detect any other hole for ingress or egress; though either, it must have had some way of getting in after covering the clay up about its trap-door, or this must have been done by some other spider. Query! Do they shut themselves up to hatch their eggs, and if so, do the males close them in ? It is possible this may have had another gallery, as in digging down I came on another tube going downwards, though no hole or trap-door could be found on the surface corresponding to it. This second branch or gallery went deeper than the other, and in it I found another spider, much smaller than the other, but unfortunately not expecting it there, I had pierced it with-my knife; I regretted this, as it may have been the male. I cannot be sure that there was any connection between the two holes, as I did not-see them actually bifurcate, but I almost certain they were connected, as they were so close, and also from the direction they took, and no second hole or trap-door being discoverable above. If they were connected, and really think so, this is the first (and I may add now, the only) instance in which I have found two spiders in one hole. Couldd it have been the male and female sealed up together?

Not the result of accident.

These are all the facts I have to offer on the subject. Other sealed nests were found at other times, and some of their trap-doors are in the case before you, but nothing specially different from what is above related was observed. I put forward no explanation or theory, but no doubt I shall be told, that these are all instances of accidental covering up by other spiders, which had placed their excavated dirt heaps on the top of their neighbours' trap-doors, or that they are cases of accidently burying, by the slipping of a bank or something of that sort. I may as well say therefore at once, to prevent such surmises, that they are quite untenable, as would be evident to any one seeing the nests on the ground. Apart altogether from the care which I always took to find out if there were any nest near, from which the excavated matter could have come, there is no getting over the fact, that the trap-doors were always sealed and tied with strings on the inside, and that the spider was always, with one exception, hale and hearty inside, and that the nests had no other outlet. Also these nests were all on level ground, with no bank or place near them from which the soil covering them could have accidentally come. No; whatever is the explanation, these are inadmissible. Noting a number of sealed up nests, and watching them at every month of the year, might supply the key, as I feel strongly impressed with the idea, that it has something to do, either with their hybernating, if they do bybernate, or with their breeding. Unfortunately it is only at long intervals that I get the chance of observing them, but I would commend this matter to some of our Oamaru natualists for investigation.

Breeding-cocoons and young ones.

On this subject M. de Walckenaer, as quoted by Moggridge, says that the Trap-door Spider attains her maturity in August (corresponding to our February); leaves her mother in September (our March), and that she lives with the male before the time of laying eggs, and that M. Dorthes has many times seen, in the same nest, the male and female with about thirty young ones. From the preceding extract from my note-book, it will be seen that the only instance in which two spiders were found by me together was on the 26th November, and that there was a cocoon of eggs in the same nest, and the nest itself was sealed up. But you will remember that I described how I found out the use of the enlargement by seeing a cocoon suspended in it. This was on the 9th November. Between those two dates, I repeatedly found cocoons of eggs in the nests. Some of the nests were sealed up, and some were not, and some had enlargements, and some had not. The eggs, however, were always in cocoons of varying sizes, and always suspended about a third, or half-way down the nest. In this they

refer to is on the 28th November, when, in the evening, I cut out the very beautiful trap-door No. 1. On cutting it out with a knife, I found a smaller hole, close to the hole belonging to the trap-door, and, thinking it might be a double-nest, as I could find no lid corresponding to the small hole, I dug both carefully out. The small tube had no connection with the larger one, I am at a loss to know how ingress or egress from it is managed. At the bottom of the larger tube (the one, of which I have the door), I found the spider herself, and after, with considerable force, pulling her out of her hole with a pair of forceps, I found a lot of young ones packed close and hard on the bottom of the hole, and she had been squatted firmly over them. I secured them all, I think numbering twenty. She and her progeny are in the small-necked phial alone (labelled No. 11). Below the young ones was a mass débris of insect (beetles especially), and below that, the brown fibrous matter so often observed before. The hole had a horizontal bend at first into the bank, and then went straight down, and was not more than eight inches deep. It was the same width from top to bottom, and had no wide part for eggs or young ones. So that what I observed at the Bobbin, in this respect, does not hold good at the Stable Gully.

Débris in bottom of Nests.

You will have noticed that, several times in these notes, I have referred to my having found masses of fibrous matter, and the remains of insects, in the bottom of the nests. It is unnecessary that I should more particularly refer to this, as it bears on the question of their food, and on this subject, Moggridge—the best authority on these spiders—says (page 135):—” More observations of this kind are greatly wanted, as it is most important that we should know what are the principal sources of food upon which these spiders depend for their existence. If we could answer the questions, What do they eat? and, what do they fear? we should have advanced a long way towards solving the larger problem as to the causes which limit particular species to certain districts. For there seems every probability that other new types of nests remain to be detected in warm climates, some of which may perhaps exceed those we have been here studying in beauty of workmanship and adaptation; it is at least certain that an abundant harvest of interesting facts in the life history of Trap-door Spiders remains yet to be gathered in.” Now, curiously enough, this very question of food is one in which my experience has been quite different from that of all other observers. Moggridge, at page 135, says:—“I have but seldom detected any refuse in these nests;” and this accords with what M. Erber tells us—“In October, 1872, however, I found a black layer of débris at the bottom of five nests of Nemesia eleanora, and this was composed principally of the remains of insects, and, among others, of some rather large beetles.”

instances of this in two different places were observed by myself in which the refuse food remains of insects, and the animal matter so usually found at the bottom of the nest, were all tumbled out over the bank of clay excavation in front of the holes, and in both cases they were great heaps, and also in both cases, when I dug out the nests, the bottoms were found clean, and no refuse in them.

It is, I think, quite likely that the time of year, and the presence, or otherwise, of young ones has something to do with the deposits of refuse food inside the nests. Moggridge's observations seem to have been made in October (corresponding to our April) whereas mine, on this point, were mostly made in November. At that time of the year, in the Oamaru district, I am safe in saying that I found lots of refuse in every nest.

Food and enemies.

As to the mode of capture of their prey employed by the Trap-door Spider, I have no doubt Erber's observations, in this respect, are correct, and that a snare is constructed on the ground in front of the nest, from which the wily spider pounces out upon the unlucky insect, which gets caught in the meshes of its net. I have never actually seen this snare, but in the mornings have seen traces of it remaining, and should not have known what they were, without Erber's interesting description. I do not think that in New Zealand, on the open grass-covered terraces of the Oamaru district, the Trap-door Spider has any very extensive choice in the way of food. If it lives exclusively on animal food, and I suppose it does, the Fauna of such a district do not present very great variety, nor are they very abundant. The insect life is certainly the most abundant, or rather, I should say, almost the only wild life, but at best, it is very meagre, as compared with most other countries, or even with most other parts of New Zealand. Beetles, Moths, Dragon Flies, Grasshoppers, Spiders, Caterpillars, a few Butterflies, and a very few small Ants, comprise about the only insects noticeable to unscientific eyes, and no doubt from this very limited and simple bill of fare, our friend the Trap-door Spider makes his choice, as I have no doubt he is more than master of them all. Of the enemies which he has to fear, I know of none that could touch him, except Wekas, which are very scarce now, however, lizards, and a few small birds, such as Sand Larks. As to monkeys, squirrels, and several kinds of birds, as well as tortoises, frogs, toads, and centipedes, all which, M. de Walckenaer states, prey upon these spiders, there are absolutely none of them.

Exceptional forms, Forked Nests.

I must now briefly refer to one or two exceptional forms of nest, and, as connected with the subject of food, I will refer, first, to the nest, a section of

which is shown in Sketch No. 6, Plate VIII., and the inmate of which was Spider No. 6. This nest was found in the Stable Gully, and a small cocoon of eggs was found in it near the top. (Cocoon No. 1.) On digging it out and shaving away the side of the sod, I found running out from it near the bottom, a streak of earth, showing dark in the yellow clay. On examining it further, I found it was surface soil, and hence showed distinct and black. It was mixed with fibres of the brown animal matter already described, wings, legs, and hard cases of insects, beetles, etc. This showed me it was another branch, and so I carefully scraped the sod away, till I found this branch join the main excavation or nest. This side branch was evidently an old part of the nest which had been abandoned, and it was filled up and packed tight with surface soil (black mould), so that these spiders must have the faculty of taking soil down into their holes, as well as throwing it out. The débris of the refuse food alluded to, was also mixed with the black soil, in fact this was evidently its old midden, where all the refuse had been thrown, the whole being packed in tight, and sealed up by the usual lining of the nest, so that on looking from the main nest, I could not tell where the branch started from. There may have been a trap-door at the junction of this double branch, but I could not detect any. If there was one formerly, it had been amalgamated with the lining of the nest, the inside of which had been rounded off, smoothed and papered, just the same as others. There is no doubt in my mind, that a very long time must have been necessary for one spider to accumulate all this large mass of animal matter so tightly packed, and if the black mould were really surface soil, it almost suggests the idea, that this spider was acquainted with the antiseptic qualities of dry earth, for what else could this soil have been mixed up with the refuse for, if not to prevent the unwholesome odour from such a mass of decaying animal matter. If the object of the spider were merely to fill up the whole from any cause, it would have done so at once, and it would probably have used only clay from its main, or new, nest, but the packing being surface soil mixed with refuse animal matter, suggests the above idea, and that the spider preferred to get rid of it in this way, rather than empty it out, and thereby draw attention to its nest.

Double-branched Nest.

The other exceptional form of nest I wish to refer to, is a double-branched one, but quite distinct from the one just described, inasmuch as, the double branch proceeded upwards from the upper part of the nest, and not downwards from the lower part, as in the last. A great part of Mr. Moggridge's book is taken up with references to this description of nest, and to it I must refer you for information as to the wonderful way in which this double branch is utilised as a means of retreat from enemies, and also

as to the marvellous way in which the second trap-door is hinged at the mouth of the branch, so as to be capable of closing up either the branch or the main nest, the door having a handle or flap attached to it, for more convenient use by the spider. I confess that though I searched anxiously for such, I never found one. A servant of mine, however, on whose veracity I can depend, informed me, that in the month of April, he found such a nest in the cultivation paddock. His statement is, that when he lifted the outer door on the surface of the ground, he saw the spider holding down the trap-door with its feet. (The spider was one of those first sent to the Rev. Pickard Cambridge.) On forcing the door open, the spider retreated down its hole, and on digging down after it, it retreated up a side gallery, which had a door on its entrance. This door had a little flap attached to it. In this branch gallery were stored caterpillars and grasshoppers. The main tube was crooked, but the branch gallery was straight and sloped upwards, as shown in Sketch No. 1, Plate VIII., which is a copy of the original given to me by the man who saw it. In the particular spot where this was got, I was not able to examine many nests, and in those I did examine, the soil around was so loose and friable, that the nests got spoiled in the digging, so that though I did not get them, I think it is highly probable this type of nest may yet be found in abundance. At any rate, I am sure there is an ample field for many observers to occupy their attention upon, as I believe the type of nest, and habits of the individual will vary in different localities.

Do they emit a viscous secretion from the palpi?

As some doubt seems to exist as to the Territelarœ emitting from their palpi a viscous secretion, enabling them to traverse the perpendicular surfaces of dry, highly polished bodies, I may as well state, that my experience is the same as Moggridge's, viz.: “That when placed in a glass tumbler they all remained helpless prisoners, though struggling vigorously for their freedom.”

Comparison with Jamaica nest.

Through the kindness of Captain Hutton, I am able to exhibit to you, a Trap-door Spider's nest from Jamaica, presented to the Museum by Mr. Murison. You will see at a glance, that it is quite a different type from any of those I have described, or exhibited to you. It is really a nest, or pouch opening directly from the surface of the ground, about an inch in diameter, and about three inches deep. It has nothing at all in common with our species, except the silk-lining and the trap-door, and these are much more tough and thick in the woven material, than are any Oamaru nests. The nest too, tapers in at the bottom to a point, and is closed up, though it is now slit up, and has nothing at all like a long tunnel connected

with it, as is invariably the case here. Unfortunately the spider connected with this nest has been destroyed by insects. If the trap-door of this nest is a fair specimen of the West India type referred to by Moggridge (pages 80 and 133), as a “single-door wafer nest,” then clearly there is no difference between it and many of the trap-doors of the Oamaru nests now before you except in the strength of the material, which is no doubt due to the effects of the tropical climate. There are great differences between the nests from the two places, but none in the general type of trap-door, and this illustrates what I stated near the beginning of my paper, that the distinctions put forward by Moggridge of “single-door cork nests,” and “single-door wafer nests,” is not a good one, especially as he says that “the single-door wafer nest is only known, at present, in the West India Islands.” If this turns out to be a good distinction it will indeed be remarkable that this type should only be found at two such extreme points on the Globe, as Jamaica and New Zealand. In this nest there is nothing of the short spur-shaped enlargement referred to by Moggridge, as sometimes characterises the West India nests. I may point out too, that the Jamaica nests described by Gosse, and quoted by Moggridge, have evidently not “wafer-like doors,” merely “lying on,” rather than fitting into the aperture of the tube” for he (Gosse) says: “The mouth of the tube is commonly dilated a little, so as to form a slightly recurved brim or lip; and the lid is sometimes a little convex internally, so as to fall more accurately into the mouth and close it.”

Distribution in New Zealand.

On the question of distribution, I may state that, though I have found them only in the Oamaru district, I have been told they have been got as far south as Palmerston, in Shag Valley, and in Auckland. In the latter place I have only heard of their being found in scoria walls. My brother, Mr. Justice Gillies, after seeing these nests and spiders, when on a visit here recently, wrote me that his little boy had found a nest in the scoria walls of his garden at Mount Eden. I do not think they are obtainable round about Dunedin, as I have often looked unsuccessfully for them, and my impression is that they will not be found in any of the heavy cold clay lands south of Dunedin. In Oamaru and Shag Valley the soil is a light sandy clay, or silt, resting on a dry bottom, generally of limestone, and it is in such warm lands only, that, I suspect, this sub-tropical species of spider has survived. If this species is limited to certain districts by the supply of food, and by its enemies only, then, obviously, there can be no reason on this score why they should not be found in greater abundance almost anywhere else in Otago and New Zealand than in the Oamaru district. I rather incline to the opinion that this species will be found to be limited by

Art. XXXII.—Notes on the Coleoptera of Auckland, New Zealand.

By Captain Brown.

to the entomological student of Auckland. I am now, however, so far as the means at my command will permit, preparing such a collection as will materially aid in providing that desideratum. Some two years ago I forwarded a case of New Zealand Coleoptera to Dr. Sharp, the entomologist of Dumfrieshire, and, perhaps, I may be permitted to quote from some of his letters to me on the subject. In one he states:—“I have received your box, which contains about one hundred and sixty species, by far the greater number of which are unknown to science, and therefore undescribed.” In another, dated the 18th September last, he informs me:—” I am packing up your lot of Coleoptera, named, so far as I have been able to accomplish it. As regards the Curculionidœ, I have failed to identify more than a few species. Mr. Wollaston has described the Cossonides, and as there were, amongst your lot, two specimens of a very interesting new genus of the group, he has described them under the name of Mesoxenophasis brouni.” On the arrival of that case of insects I shall deposit in the Museum duplicates of all that have been named. I afterwards forwarded two other cases of beetles to the same gentleman, containing about nine hundred specimens of upwards of one hundred species, and have no doubt the result will be equally satisfactory.

I have also corresponded with Captain Hutton, F. L. S., of the Dunedin Museum, on the subject, and he, having intimated his desire to assist me, I sent him nearly fifteen hundred specimens, on 5th January last, for distribution amongst such entomologists in England as might be willing to undertake the task of naming and describing them, stipulating that one named individual of each species should be returned to me in order that I might place duplicates of these also in the Museum. I am indebted to Mr. Wakefield for much valuable assistance, as also a collection of about a hundred of such species as occur in Canterbury or other of the Middle Island Provinces, which will enable me to institute a comparison with ours.

I may premise the details of my subject by the observation that, in comiparison with the Coleoptera of India, and particularly Burmah, where I collected, in the year 1857, those of this country must ever appear insignificant as to size, and singularly destitute of the brilliant metallic colours so characteristic of the order; nevertheless, our beetles are by no means to be despised, as they exhibit a variety of forms that will always prove a source of interest to the studious, and, I may add, of pleasure, even to those who display but little inclination to study the works of the Creator, as exhibited by this beautiful order of insects.

Taking the different classes in rotation, we have, first of all, the

Geodephaga.

The predaceous ground-beetles are divided into two distinct groups or

families—Cicindelidœ and Carabidœ; the former generally accorded the first place, appears to be represented in this Province by only two conspicuous species, one of which, Cicindela tuberculata, is abundant on almost every road and pathway. I have taken three others, and although these insects frequent places exposed to bright sunshine, I found one, the smallest of all, in heaps of vegetable rubbish in the Domain, in such numbers as would warrant the belief that such is its usual haunt; it differs in colour from all the other Cicindela I have seen in this country.

I have five species from the Middle Island, all bearing a strong family likeness to our own in their general outline and colour.

Carabidœ exhibits seven moderately large species in my collection, the finest, Feronia antartica, is about an inch long, of bright dark bronze colour; but another fine Carabid is the grandest of the group in these islands. The second in size frequents the roots of potatoe crops, where it is serviceable to the agriculturalist, and may also be found under stones at Mount Eden.

In addition to these, I possess a number of small species, most of them brighter in colour than their more bulky friends; but all, I regret to add, unnamed. One active little Carabid of a shining whitish-colour, ornamented by dark marks on the elytra and thorax, is common during summer amongst weeds and rubbish on the sea shore. The sub-family Scaritides, distinguished by their elongate form, the junction of the elytra and thorax by a neck, and the palmation of the anterior tibiæ, affords two species at least for observation. I discovered them under sacks of grain and chaff. It is desirable that a collection of our predaceous beetles should be exhibited in the Museum by themselves, coupled with a notice that farmers and gardeners should abstain from injuring or destroying them, when they see them in the land they may be tilling, as they render such people important services. It may safely be assumed that the Middle Island has the advantage of us, both as regards the size and the number of the species of Carabidœ.

Hydradephaga.

Dytiscidœ offers but few species for observation; indeed, I only know of five, whilst Gyrinidœ seems to have no representatives whatever. I saw one species of Boat-beetle in a pool near Remuera, but never elsewhere.

The large Onychohydrus hookeri, asserted by Dr. Buller as belonging to the North Island, I have searched for in vain.

Perhaps it may not be out of place to assure such Acclimatization Societies as may be engaged with the introduction of European fish into our rivers that no danger need be apprehended from our Water-beetles. I placed several of them in a glass globe containing young fish, and the result of the experiment satisfied me that they will not attack carp. It is,

therefore, probable that they will abstain from interference with others under circumstances much more favourable to the fish.

Some specimens from the South Island are much prettier than any we possess; but nearly all the members of this class being nameless as yet, I can give little information respecting them.

Brachelytra.

Etaphylinus oculatus, a carrion beetle, may be accepted as the type of this section, as well as of the indigenous carrion-feeders. This class, divided into thirteen families, comprising some seven hundred species in Britain alone, furnishes my cabinet with rather less species than the number of families I have mentioned. I possess six from Canterbury, differing from ours mostly in unimportant details; but two of our species are rather more finely-coloured than those of the South Island. I found numerous individuals of one small, dull species, on the sea beach of the East Coast under Algœ, even to a depth of two feet below the surface. Of the Brachelytra, it may be confidently asserted that New Zealand will not provide much more than a fiftieth of the number of species found in Britain, and none at all equal to those which adorn the cabinet of the British collector.

Necrophaga.

The Carrion, or Burying Beetles so abundant in most other countries, do not appear to have been equally partial to New Zealand, I possess two species of Histeridœ, one of them closely resembling those which occur in the South Island, neither of them have been described as yet, so far as I am aware. I have taken two other Carrion-feeders (besides Staphylinus oculatus), which I believe will exhaust the list, so far as really indigenous insects of the class is concerned. The small blue and red insect, found in considerable numbers amongst bones and decaying animal matter, is an importation from abroad named Necroia rufipes.

Lamellicornes.

Of the Melolonthidœ, the most familiar to us is the brilliant green Pyronota festiva, abundant for the greater portion of the year on Leptospermum, and unfortunately on such of our orchard trees as bear stone fruit; being exclusively vegetable feeders, they are exceedingly injurious to the trees we so desire to preserve. This insect varies in colour; I have taken several varieties, though all have a bright metallic hue. I have occasionally captured an insect, resembling Pyronota festiva, but four times larger which I imagine to be Stethaspis suturalis, most probably the finest specimen of the group we shall find. It is more common at Wellington than Auckland. Odontria striata, a rather handsome beetle, as well as two species belonging to Rhysotrogus, I have, now and then, found in the morning entangled in spiders' webs, but, not under other circumstances, and am therefore

inclined to believe they are of nocturnal habit, but it is just possible that the experience of other collectors may prove my conjecture to be erroneous. A species I possess from Canterbury, belonging to Rhysotrogus, I have not succeeded in finding as yet.

Of Lucanidœ, I cut one fine specimen out of a partially decayed Kowhai tree, near Stokes' Point, and subsequently two others out of rotten branches of a tree I could not identify, in a clearing on the East Coast. I suspect these are specimens of Dendroblax earlianus, but hesitate asserting this with confidence. I also obtained two other species out of Tupakihi, one of which has antennæ of unusual development, Coriaria sarmentosa seems to be the habitat of these two species, as I have frequently found them embedded in its decayed wood, in different localities, but never anywhere else, and am inclined to think that both species are new to science. I also possess a couple of specimens of Lissotes reticulatus, and of another species (Cerstognathus helotoides), which terminates the catalogue of the endemic Lucanidœ of New Zealand, so far as I am acquainted with them. Dynastidœ furnish my cabinet with three species—Pericoptus truncatus, P. punctatus, and one smaller insect unnamed—the two former are identical as to species with others from Canterbury, but are somewhat larger; the third which was given to me by Mr. Wakefield, of Christchurch, I have never found in this Province. I saw one specimen of Pericoptus on the wing in January last, and was greatly annoyed at being unable to capture it, owing to a severe cut on one of my feet; the larvæ I have occasionally found buried in sand on the beach under kelp and logs. Of the habits of these insects, respecting which so little is known, I can only surmise that they live principally in burrows deep in the sea shore, and only appear above it by night. When overtaken by gales of wind, being bulky, heavy insects, they succumb, and thus are found in numbers strewed along the beach, dead, and generally mutilated.

The fact of their being seen by different observers under precisely similar circumstances, I can account for in no other way, and venture to assert my belief that further investigation will bear out my view of the case; however, I intend to pursue a systematic course, in order to ascertain, if possible, something more definite regarding their peculiar habits.

Sternoxi.

This section exhibits thirty-eight species in my collection, only two of which are identical with others which occur in Canterbury, whilst there are three others from that Province which I have never seen in Auckland.

These insects vary in size from one line to an inch, the largest, Elater zealandicus, I cut out of a decayed Kowhai tree. I collected nineteen species in the vicinity of Auckland in the course of some three years, and as I

have a penchant for these insects, I searched for them assiduously, and at last came to the conclusion, that very few others would be found. In December last, having removed to another locality, I selected one side of a wooded ravine as the scene of future operations, and with considerable labour having rendered it passable, I spent the greater portion of seventeen days in collecting there, with a result that indicates my having formed an erroneous estimate of the productiveness of this class. Unfortunately a severe cut on the ancle, with a tomahawk, on the 29th December, whilst out collecting, forced me to abandon my researches for the rest of the season. These few days' work, however, furnished me with examples of sixteen species quite new to me, which must seem to be an extraordinary number, when taken in connection with what has been previously stated; and in addition, many individuals of another very handsome species of which I only obtained two specimens at Auckland (one at Cabbage Tree Swamp, and the second in the Domain, nearly two years afterwards, on a Ngaio tree.) I have two other species in the box referred to in connection with Dr. Sharp. Not only were the species more numerous in the locality alluded to, but the insects are far finer examples of the class than I have seen elsewhere. I can hardly form an estimate of the number likely to be produced by the South Island, or even of this Province alone, but it must be obvious, that more careful investigation will add considerably to those already obtained, and we shall find that we possess, at least, one group of insects excelling those of Britain, in beauty, and exceeding them, in number.

Malacodermt.

Owing to a considerable portion of my collection being in England or en route from thence, I am unable to give as good an account of the species which occur here, as I might otherwise have done. One, or rather, two species of Tanychilus, are very handsome insects. Another species which I captured quite recently, is one of the most beautiful of the New Zealand beetles; it is about four lines in length, of a fine metallic-purple colour, with four bright yellow marks on the elytra. The largest species with which I am acquainted is Nacerdes lineata, a very different insect from those I have been describing.

Heteromera.

This section comprises a numerous variety of species, some of which are represented by innumerable individuals. As an instance of this, I may mention that, on one occasion I saw on the floor of a cellar, when removing some rubbish, some thousands congregated within the space of a few feet.

The collector is often provoked at finding the most insignificant beetles

so numerous, whilst he may often search in vain for more than one or two of the more valuable kinds. This is to be regretted, as, unless several of a kind are placed at the disposal of the more skilled European entomologists, they are unwilling to undertake the task of describing them. I have taken one specimen of a species at Auckland, which I have never met with elsewhere, and another at the Island of Motuihi; the first is a beautiful beetle. Of another species, seven lines long, somewhat cylindrical, and of a dull black colour, I have secured about a dozen specimens. Of Cilibe I have two species, generally found under stones and logs, whilst Canterbury affords three at least for observation, one of them being much larger than any which occur here. Prioscelidœ may be found in rotten wood throughout the Province; but I only know of two species; the finest is Prioscelida tenebrionides, which varies in colour from black to red.

I have lately captured four specimens of an insect belonging to this class, which is the most handsome I have met with; it is of a bright black colour with innumerable silvery lines in irregular patches all over its body.

Of Mordella I have taken six species; the most conspicuous being Mordella antartica; the smallest, but most abundant, species may be found on the blossoms of Ti-tree scrub in swampy places. These are troublesome beetles to capture, but more so to mount.

I must now notice Chœrodes trachyscelides (group Diaperidœ), which is found in considerable numbers on the sea-beach, amongst kelp, when embedded in the sand. When I first met with this insect, I at once thought I had discovered a new species belonging to Pericoptus, and went to some trouble in order to ascertain its habits, which might afford a clue to the discovery of those of Pericoptus. Chœrodes burrows into the sand the moment it is disturbed by the collector. It varies in colour, from pale white to brown but I believe the difference in colour will not affect the number of species. On a subsequent occasion I discovered a nearly allied species, much smaller in size, and far less common than that already adverted to, specimens of which have been transmitted to London. Chœrodes trachyscelides may also be found on the western shore of the Province; but I am not aware of its occurrence further South.

Rhyncophora.

The Curculionidœ, embracing seventeen families in Britain, affords a large number of indigenous species for observation, many of them being very curious insects. The largest specimen I have taken was found near the summit of Mount Eden, amongst loose scoriæ, where I did not expect to find it. Two individuals of a rather smaller but finer beetle, I cut out of a tree at Stokes' Point; but I have never met with others of the same kinds. Both of these comparatively bulky beetles, however, are vastly inferior

to Rhyncodes ursus and R. saunderei, which belong to the Province of Canterbury; the former may justly claim pre-eminence as the typical specimen of the group. I possess a good many species of Stephanorhynchus, which are chiefly remarkable for their thickened thighs.

Of Scolopterus I have taken six species of a black or bronze colour, the smallest and most common is named Scolopterus penicillatus, and one of a dark red, found only on the native fuschia. Psepholax may generally be found in the decayed wood of Ngaio, Manuka, Kowhai.

Our present defective knowledge of this extensive class renders any detailed account impossible. In illustration of its extent I may mention that, besides the number I have sent home to be named, I have still remaining in one small bottle upwards of two thousand specimens, varying in size from the third of an inch to half a line.

The inexperienced collector will often fail to recognize many of the the members of this group, owing to their resemblance to pieces of wood, bark, etc, and their habit of remaining motionless when disturbed.

I have often noticed numbers of Elm and other trees in our neighbour-hood presenting a decayed or blighted appearance, generally attribute to atmospheric influences, but were the owners of such sickly-looking plants to remove portions of the wood adjacent to the decaying twigs, they would probably find that the larvæ of insects belonging to this group did the damage.

Mr. “Wakefield, in his treatise of 4th September, 1872, which appears in the “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,” refers to a species of Brentidœ (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis), which I never met with until T. F. Cheeseman, Esq., F.L.S., showed me one which he discovered near a decayed stump at the Thames. That beetle is by far the largest I have yet seen, its rostrum alone is equal to the entire length of Prionoplus reticulatis, hitherto considered the largest of our Coleoptera.

Longicornes.

The most conspicuous members of this class with which I am acquainted are Prionoplus reticularis, œmona hirta, Navomorpha lineata, and Hexathrica pulverulenta; the three latter being handsome beetles. Another remarkably fine species, dark blue with yellow stripes of about an inch long, occurs in the vicinity of Remuera. A single specimen of another species, which I captured on a fence at Whitiangi, is nearly as long as Prionoplus, but more cylindrical in form; its prevailing colours being blue and yellow; and more recently I discovered another new Longicorn, which equals, if not excels, those already alluded to in beauty, though rather less bulky. Another Longicorn (Tetrorea cilipes) is common on Motuihi and along the East Coast. There is a curious Longicorn, which I suppose to be Calliprason sinclari,

found at Tairua, of a green colour above, but with silvery pubescence underneath. The smallest insect of the kind I know, occurs amongst vegetable rubbish in the Domain; but, though small, it is a pretty beetle.

The members of the Rylotolea abound in most parts of the Province, may be found on almost all the native shrubs, but seem partial to such as are covered with climbers.

This group comprises a great many species, very various as to size and colour, but few exceed seven lines in length, and although they are rarely remarkable for beauty, they exhibit as fine average examples as any other family of indigenous Coleoptera. Rylotoles griseus may be accepted as a rather inferior specimen; but it is perhaps the one most generally known. I have only seen one or two specimens from the South Island, but must not, therefore, infer that it is deficient in species there; on the contrary, I am inclined to think that this group is well represented throughout the whole of these islands. I have sent home about three hundred to be identified.

Eupoda.

Although I have found the members composing this section exceedingly numerous, I am unable to give much information respecting them, owing to the reprehensible practice which obtains, with me as well as others, of devoting special attention to the finer or more remarkable families, to the almost entire neglect of such as have no claims to beauty.

They are most abundant on Ti-tree blossoms, but may be found on most of our native shrubs. All the species are small, and generally rather sombre, varying in colour from black to red and brown. I have sent about a thousand to England to be named; but none have been returned to me as yet. I suspect the number of genera and species will prove to be small, when compared with the number of individuals. They are difficult to set out, a fact which may have something to do with the neglect we have displayed towards them.

Pseudotrimera.

This is the last class to be noticed. Coccinella tasmanii is the most common representative species, and may be readily identified by its colour, which is a bright black, ornamented with sixteen yellow spots. Another species, besides four yellow or rather orange marks on the elytra, has a broad orange band around the margins. The other species are insignificant as to size, but have more claim to beauty. One single specimen, which I found at Whitianga, is of a yellow colour with dark spots, somewhat resembling the British Coccinella 22-punctata. I am unable to state whether Chilomenes hamata, C. maculata, and Epilachna reticulata occur in this Province, as I have no descriptions of them. The beetle which must be considered the type of the class is one which I discovered at Tairua. It is

Art. XXXIII.—Remarks on the Pselaphidæ (Coleoptera) of New Zealand.

By Captain Brown.

I now deposit in the Museum a typical specimen of this group, for reference by such entomologists as may not be acquainted with them, but as even a complete typical collection of the group in this Museum would not promulgate a knowledge of these interesting insects beyond that narrow sphere, I take the liberty of attaching copies of the descriptions of the fifteen species already enumerated, and of asking the members of this Institute to aid me in pressing on the “Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute,” the advisability of reprinting them in the “Transactions.” If some such course is not pursued, what encouragement will be held out to our entomologists to persevere in their researches beyond the mere selfish gratification of enriching their private collections with a number of nameless beetles? And moreover, how are we to avail ourselves of the joint labours of our collectors, and those eminent entomologists who place their valuable services at our disposal in describing and naming our recently discovered insects, unless the course I venture to recommend be adopted? Surely it cannot be expected of our entomologists, that after expending a considerable amount of time and money in bringing to light our indigenous fauna, and inducing the more skilled European entomologists to name and describe those unknown to science, that they should also, if desirous of communicating such acquired knowledge, supplement their labours by personally transcribing the printed descriptions for each of our colonial collectors.

I will now conclude this paper by expressing a hope, that this year's volume of “Transactions” will afford satisfactory replies to these queries in the shape of a re-print of such descriptions, in the form of an appendix or otherwise, as the Board of Governors of the Institute may deem most beneficial to the interests of science.

Additional Notes, Descriptions, Etc.

prominentes basi fere contiguæ. Abdomen sat elongatum, minus deflexum, marginatum, segmentis ventralibus sex, quorum primo vix conspicuo. Pedes robusti modice elongati, tarsis unguiculo unico valido.

Sagola, nov. gen. Labrum, broad and transverse; its front margin forming a gentle curve, the sides being more advanced than the middle. Mandibles without teeth on their inner edge, with the basal portion very thick; the apical portion abruptly curved inwards; elongate, slender, and acuminate. Maxillæ with the lobes distinct, short, but with long pubescence; their palpi short, four-jointed; first joint abruptly curved in the middle, second joint rather longer than the first, rather narrower at the base than at the extremity, twice as long as broad; third joint short, about as long as broad; fourth joint oval, broader than the preceding joints, about twice as long as broad; its extremity a little truncate, and furnished with a very minute appendage. Mentium large, rather broader than long, quadrate, but with the anterior margin forming a slight double curve, being a little produced and acuminate in the middle. Labial palpi short, stout, two-jointed; second joint shorter than and not quite so thick as the first joint. Paraglossæ prominent, extending about as far as the extremity of the labial palpi.

Antennæ, eleven-jointed, elongate, and rather stout, not clubbed; the apical joints being but little thicker than the basal ones, separated at their point of insertion by their broad, flattened, contiguous, frontal tubercles. Head short, not in the least rostrate. Eyes moderately large. Prosternum rather large, front coxæ slender, moderately prominent.

Mesosternum elongate. Middle coxæ large, only partly embedded in their cavities; separated only by a thin lamina of the mesosternum. Femoral portion of hind coxæ prominent and conical, contiguous at their base; their trochanters moderately large; but the apex of the femur almost attains the coxa. Legs elongate, simple; tarsi much shorter than tibiæ, with two well-developed unguiculi. Hind body elongate, strongly margined at sides; the dorsal and ventral plates equal to one another, with five visible segments, both above and below, but with a well-developed additional basal segment visible on dissection, the ventral plate of which is horny, the dorsal plate membranous. Body pubescent, general form elongate, sub-depressed, very staphylinous-like.

This genus appears to be extremely close to Faronus; but the species possess a well-marked process of mesosternum, separating the middle coxæ, of which there is no trace in Faronus lafertei; the frontal tubercles, also, are more approximate in Sagola, so that the distance between the antennæ at their insertion is less than in Faronus lafertei.

Copies of descriptions of new species of Pselaphidæ from New Zealand.

By Dr. Sharp.

Tyrus mutandus, n. sp. Rufescens, antice angustatus, sat dense setosus, impunctatus; pedibus elongatis; elytrorum striâ suturali basi foveolato. Long. 1 ¾ M.M.

Antennæ, longer than head and thorax, reddish yellow, first and second joints about equally stout; first, longer than second; second, about as long as broad; third, fourth, and fifth, about equal in length, each a little longer than broad; joints six, seven, and eight, slightly shorter than the preceding joints, especially the eighth; ninth joint, stouter and longer than the eighth, about as long as broad; tenth joint, slightly broader and a little shorter than the ninth, not quite so long as broad; eleventh joint, stout, oval, as long as the two preceding ones, but stouter than they are. Head, narrow, not half the width of the elytra, the antennæ approximate at their insertion, the tubercules contiguous, but separated by a well-marked channel, on each side near the eye is a distinct fovea; the vertex is elevated, smooth, and shining. Thorax, longer than broad, only about half as broad as the elytra, much narrowed in front, behind the middle with a very deeply-impressed curved line, which terminates on each side in a deep, but illdefined impression; it has no punctures, but is clothed with a short upright pubescence. Elytra, bright reddish-yellow, much narrowed at the shoulders, each with a sutural stria which is very deeply impressed at the base, and outside this a short, deep, and broad humeral impression; they have no punctuation, but are clothed, especially about the sides, with a long, fine, upright, pale pubescence. Hind body short and convex, pubescent, the first segment only slightly longer than the second. Legs long and slender, the claws of the tarsi small.

Pselaphus pauper, n. sp. Rufo-castaneus, nitidus; capite medio impressione magnâ; prothorace elongato, impressione basali curvatâ bene distinctâ; elytris striâ discoidali sat profunde impressâ. Long. corp. 2 1/3 mm.

Obs.—P. lineata, King, peraffinis; prothoracis impressione magis profundâ, ejusque parte basali nitidâ, elytro-rumque striâ discoidali bene distinctâ, differt.

Antennæ, longer than head and thorax, the ninth joint but little thickened. Head, with the channel between the frontal processes rather broad, and terminating between the eyes in a deep impression, which is continued backwards along the vertex. Thorax, not more than half the width of the elytra, longer than broad, not much dilated in the middle, in front of the base with a deep curved impression, the part behind this shining like the rest of the upper surface. Elytra, longer than the thorax,

Art. XXXIV.—Descriptions of a New Genera and Species of Heteromera, New Zealand.

By F. Bates, F.L.S.

The Mimopeus amaroides, Pascoe, judging from description, will be the same as the Cilibe elongata, Brěme.

The genus Rygmodus, White, has been shown by Mr. C. O. Waterhouse (“Journ. of Entom.” v. p. 194) to belong to the Hydrobiidœ.

The number of the now described New Zealand Heteromera amounts to but forty species, distributed in twenty-two genera; there are doubtless many more to come.

Cilibe opacula, n. sp.

Somewhat broadly oval, but little convex; brownish black, the elytra usually with a tinge of dark chocolate (or purplish) brown; subopaque. Head and prothorax finely and very closely punctured, the interstices (except on the epistoma and disk of prothorax) a little elevated and reticulate; epistoma broadly truncated in front, the angles rounded, the suture strongly marked at each side: prothorax deeply arcuately (sometimes slightly sinuously) emarginate in front; front angles prominent, subacute, slightly convergent; base more or less strongly bisinuate-emarginate; the hind angles more or less produced, acute, directed behind or sometimes a little outwardly, reposing on the shoulders of the elytra; sides gradually narrowing in a slight curve from base to apex, sometimes (Fem.,?) subparallel from the base to a little beyond the middle, thence rapidly curvedly narrowed to the apex; usually they are very slightly sinuous in front of the hind angles; disk very moderately convex, lateral margins rather broadly expanded, a little reflexed or concave, and unequally thickened at the edges; base and apex more or less distinctly margined or thickened at each side, sometimes throughout at the apex; a more or less distinct, transverse, angulate impression at each side of the middle, close to the basal margin; scutellum transversely curvilinearly triangular, closely punctured: elytra more or less sinuate-truncate (and a little wider than base of prothorax) at the base; a space, more or less open, between the base of the elytra and base of prothorax; sides very slightly rounded, more or less gradually narrowed from the middle to the apex; expanded lateral margins wide, reflexed or concave, transversely and somewhat reticulately rugose-punctate, and studded with very small granules; disk closely, finely, and rather uniformly punctured, the interstices (especially at the sides) a little elevated and reticulate and studded with indistinct minute granules; a series of narrow longitudinal costæ more or less indicated, and an irregular row of rugged foveæ, just within the expanded margin, not extending to the apex: underside brownish-black, shining, finely punctured; flanks of prothorax more or less strongly (especially basally) longitudinally rugose, the underside of the expanded lateral margins being transversely rugose: legs dark brown, shining; femora finely and not closely punctured; tibiæ closely submuricately

punctured, the anterior obliquely truncated at the outer side at apex; hind tibiæ quite straight; tarsi and antennæ reddish-brown; joint eight of the latter subpyriform, nine and ten a little transverse, subturbinate, eleven large, broadly rounded at apex.

Length 8½-9 lines; width of elytra 4⅓-4¾ lines.

Hab. New Zealand

There is a very great amount of individual variation in the species of this genus in the form of the prothorax (especially) and elytra, and in the amount and intensity of the punctuation, etc. of their surface.

In one of the three examples of the present species before me (possibly a female, as similar differences exist in individuals of the other species whereof a series has been obtained), the form is more expanded or more broadly oval, the head and prothorax are broader in proportion to their length, the sides of the latter, instead of gradually narrowing in a slight curve from base to apex, are subparallel to a little beyond the middle, thence rapidly curvedly narrowed to the apex; besides the two ordinary foveæ at each side of the middle, at the basal margin, there is also a broad transverse line or depression, feebly arched, subparallel and near to the basal margin; the elytra are broader and less narrowed behind, and the base is squarely truncated; and the punctuation on the prothorax and elytra (especially on their disks) is more open.

Altogether the largest, most expanded and opaque, and least convex form in the genus.

Cilibe nitidula, n. sp.

Very near to the preceding, and of the same form, but smaller; the the colour black; the entire upper surface much smoother, and shining; the punctuation finer and more open, the interstices less distinctly elevated and reticulate: the elytra do not present the shagreened appearance seen in the preceding; they are more, and very distinctly, convex behind the middle, and consequently more abruptly declivous behind; on the under side the punctuation and the rugosities on the flanks of the prothorax and on the abdomen are similar but stronger; the hind tibiæ are feebly but perceptibly sinuous; antennæ, etc., as in C. opacula.

In the single example of this species before me, the head is distinctly impressed on the crown; the prothorax is gradually and slightly curvedly narrowed from base to apex; the apex is strongly arcuately (and feebly sinuously) emarginate, the front angles prominent, subacute, and directed forwards; the base is strongly bisinuate, the hind angles prominent, acute, and slightly outwardly directed; the lateral margins are expanded (but less broadly so than in the preceding) and slightly reflexed or concave, the edges irregularly thickened, and the base and apex margined at each side only.

There is a large, distinct, outwardly curved impression at each side of the disk, extending from near the middle to the basal margin; the scutellum is transversely curvilinearly triangular and closely punctured; the elytra are distinctly convex behind the middle, and are consequently more abruptly declivous behind than in C. opacula; the base is feebly sinuately truncated, and between it and the base of the prothorax (and the hind angles of the latter, which repose on the shoulders) there is a decided open space, as in C. opacula; the lateral margins are expanded (but less broadly so than in the preceding species) and concave, and there is the row of rugged foveæ just within this margin, as in C. opacula; the disks of the elytra also present traces of numerous narrow longitudinal costæ; the under side and legs are of a deep brownish-black, shining; the antennæ, tarsi, and palpi are reddish-brown.

Length 7 ½ lines; elytra, width 3 5/6 lines.

Hab. New Zealand.

Cilibe otagensis, n. sp.

Very close to C. opacula, and difficult intelligibly to define in what it differs from that species; it is, however, distinctly narrower or oblong-oval, usually smaller, paler, more convex, the base of the prothorax more closely applied to the base of the elytra, distinctly more shining, the punctuation etc., on the elytra coarser, more confluent and confused, somewhat ruggedly so at the sides; the sides of the prothorax more rounded, more incurved at the base, the median basal lobe more prominent; the base, consequently, has not that appearance of being bisinuate-emarginate as is the case in C. opacula.

Head closely punctured, the punctures coarsest and somewhat confluent on the front, between the eyes, where there are also usually two more or less marked foveate depressions; prothorax more or less strongly transverse; sides more or less regularly rounded, more narrowed in front than behind, always distinctly and more or less sinuously incurved before the hind angles; apex deeply arcuate-emarginate, the angles prominent, subacute, and usually directed forwards; base bisinuate, the angles more or less prominent and acute, reposing on the shoulders of the elytra, and directed backwards; disk moderately convex, very closely (save on the centre) punctured, the interstices a little elevated, and more or less reticulate, at the sides; a transverse depression subparallel and near to the base, and an angulate fovea at each side, close to the basal margin (as in Fem., ? of C. opacula); sides moderately expanded, the edges unequally (not uniformly) thickened; scutellum as in C. opacula: elytra oblong-oval, base sinuate-truncated; disk moderately convex, closely and more or less confluently

punctured; the interstices (especially at the sides) elevated, minutely granulose, reticulately confluent, sometimes assuming the form of irregular nodules, at others of small umbilicated tubercles; the ordinary series of narrow costæ and the row of foveæ within the side-margins more or less apparent; sides rather strongly expanded, concave, transversely reticulately rugose-punctate and granulous: underside, legs, antennæ, etc., as in C. opacula.

Length 7 ¼-8 ¼ lines; width of elytra 3 3/5-4 lines.

Hab. Otago, New Zealand. Four examples.

Var. ? grandis.

Larger (length 9 lines; width of elytra 4 1/5 lines); the elytra less convex, distinctly more gradually declivous behind; the punctuation, etc. (on the elytra especially) coarser, the punctures larger, the interstices still more elevated and more uniformly reticulate; the apical emargination of the prothorax distinctly sinuous; the tibiæ (especially the anterior) distinctly less closely punctured, and the entire upper surface of a browner colour.

Hab. New Zealand. One example.

Cilibe elongata, Brěme, and C. phosphugoides, White.

Examples of C. elongata obtained from the collections of Reiche and Doue (presumably authentic exponents of the species) do not differ from C. phosphugoides except in the form of the prothorax, which in the former has the sides more obliquely narrowed anteriorly, and the elytra, which are more acuminate behind. Experience has shown us that these differences possess no true specific value in this genus: C. phosphugoides must consequently be sunk under C. elongata.

This species is much smaller than any of those preceding; the form is more or less elongate-oval; prothorax shining black; the expanded lateral margins paler; the elytra are of a more or less deep purplish or chocolate-brown. Head convex between the eyes, trapezoidal in front, with the borders usually dark ferruginous, more or less strongly, closely, and sometimes rugosely punctured; epistoma convex, more or less distinctly arcuate-emarginate in front, the sutural impression more or less distinct: the form and punctuation of the prothorax is variable; it is always of a shining black, convex, a depression on the middle near the base, another smaller at each side at the basal margin; usually very finely and not closely punctured on the disk, the punctures more crowded at the sides and finely rugulose, more or less distinctly granulous on the intervals; lateral margins moderately expanded and concave, the edges finely and uniformly thickened; apex deeply emarginate, front angles more or less acute, and

usually a little convergent, sometimes directed forwards; base closely applied to the base of the elytra, bisinuate, hind angles prominent, reposing on the shoulders of the elytra, acute, usually a little outwardly directed; ordinarily the sides are a little sinuously contracted posteriorly, but sometimes they are sub-parallel (in this latter case the base is as wide as the base of the elytra); anteriorly they are always more strongly contracted, sometimes very gradually (obliquely) from behind the middle, at others more abruptly (curvedly) from the middle or even before the middle; scutellum transversely triangular, punctured: elytra oval, more or less acuminate behind, convex subopaque, of a dark purplish brown; frequently the base (narrowly), the suture, the expanded margins, and the scutellum are of a reddish tinge; base sinuous, and generally a little wider than base of prothorax; expanded lateral margins narrow, concave, not distinctly reaching the apex; disk with numerous more or less distinct longitudinal costæ, irregularly punctured, finely rugose (most strongly at the sides), and studded with very distinct, shining, black granules: underside shining black, finely punctured; flanks of prothorax longitudinally wrinkled, the lateral margins transversely wrinkled; abdomen finely longitudinally rugose; epipleural fold and legs dark reddish-brown, sometimes ferruginous; antennæ, palpi, and labrum (sometimes) ferruginous.

Length 6-6 ½ lines; width of elytra across the middle 2 2/3-3 ¼.lines.

Hab. New Zealand. Six examples.

It is doubtless in error that De Brě has reported this species as from New Guinea.

Var. granulipennis.

A little smaller (5 ½ lines); head and prothorax (at the sides) less closely punctured, the punctuation nowhere rugosely confluent; prothorax gradually curvedly narrowed from the hind to the front angles, median basal lobe less prominent, the base consequently appears bisinuately emarginate; the interstices (between the punctures) not perceptibly granulose; scutellum a little shorter, less distinctly pointed behind; elytra scarcely sinuous at the base, the punctuation less varied, the punctures distinctly larger and rounder.

Hab. New Zealand. One example.

Cilibe pascoei, n. sp.

Near to C. elongata; more broadly oval. Head closely punctured, somewhat reticulately so between the eyes, the interstices being also finely punctulate; epistomial suture well marked throughout: prothorax moderately convex, black, subopaque; sides subangulately rounded, more strongly (and somewhat obliquely) narrowed in front than behind, distinctly and very feebly sinuously narrowed from behind the middle to the hind angles,

which are directed backwards; base bisinuate, closely applied to the base of the elytra; apex deeply subangularly emarginate, front angles produced, acute, directed forwards; disk not closely punctured, acute, directed forwards; disk not closely punctured, the interstices not granulose, but sparsely finely punctulate, basal impressions as in C. elongata; lateral expanded margins wide, a little concave, and (together with the sides of the disk) rather strongly reticulately rugose-punctate, the edges unequally (not uniformly) thickened; scutellum strongly transversely triangular, punctured: elytra convex, very dark purplish brown, the suture and narrowly at the base inclined to reddish; base subtruncate; disk finely irregularly punctured, the costæ but little evident except at the base, and, together with the suture, smoother than the intervals; indistinctly, except at the apex, minutely granulose; intervals between the costæ irregularly impressed with much larger punctures, and feebly reticulately rugose, most distincsly so at the sides; lateral expanded margins wide, distinctly extending to the apex, concave, faintly punctured: underside shining black; legs and antennæ dard reddish brown.

Length 6 ¼ lines; width of elytra across the middle 3 ¼ lines.

Hab. Pitt Island (the Chathams.) A single example.

Easily separable from C. elongata by the relatively broader form, the subangulately rounded sides of prothorax, the peculiar punctuation of the head, etc., the much broader expanded lateral margins, which in the elytra are distinctly broadly continuous to the apex.

Cilibe humeralis, n. sp.

Oblong or oblong-oval; black; elytra sometimes with a slight purplish-brown tinge, slightly shining, moderately convex. Head moderately punctured, the punctures not crowded the interstices sometimes sparsely minutely punctulate: prothorax distinctly less transverse than in any preceding species, sides more or less strongly and obliquely narrowed from behind the middle, slightly sinuously narrowed behind; hind angles acute, slightly outwardly directed; disk finely punctured, the punctures more crowded at the sides, the interstices not perceptibly granulose, sparsely minutely punctulate; a transverse, slightly bowed, impressed line at each side the middle near the basal margin, and sometimes a rounded fovea at each side the median line near the middle of the thorax; lateral margins moderately expanded, a little concave, rugosely punctured, finely and somewhat uniformly thickened at the edges; apex deeply emarginate, front angles prominent, acute, directed forwards; elytra slightly emarginate at the middle of the base, obliquely and slightly arcuately truncated at each side; humeral angle very prominent, slightly rounded, reflexed, and deeply concave within the angle; disk finely rugulose, studded with small granules,

rather closely and finely but irregularly punctured, the punctures largest and most crowded (and frequently, especially at the base, more or less run together, forming indistinct irregular foveæ) between the costæ; these very indistinct; expanded lateral margins rather broad at the base, gradually narrowing behind and scarcely extending to the apex, concave in their basal portion: underside shining, pitchy black; legs and epipleural fold with a reddish tinge; flanks of prothorax and sterna more or less strongly reticulately rugose and granulose; antennæ, palpi, and labrum (sometimes) ferruginous; anterior border of epistoma rufescent.

Length 5 ½-6 lines; width of elytra across the middle 2 2/3-3 lines.

Hab. New Zealand. Four examples.

In the Fem. ? the form is slightly more expanded, the prothorax slightly more transverse, the sides less strongly narrowed anteriorly, and the punctuation of the elytra a little more open.

The three species last described are very near to each other, but I think there is ample justification, at present at least, in holding them distinct. The species last described is of a more oblong form (especially in the Mas. ?) than the others; the prothorox has not the same glossy blackness as in elongata; and the elytra are less opaquely roughened, more closely punctured, and much less distinctly granulose; the humeral angle is much more prominent, the lateral expanded margins broader and strongly concave within the humeral angle. From pascoei it may be known by its narrower and more oblong form, finer and closer punctuation, and more narrowly expanded lateral margins.

Cilibe thoracica, n. sp.

In this species the prothorax is still more decidedly elongated (but is yet wider than long) than in the preceding. Form elongate-oval; entirely in a dark brownish black, subopaque. Head and prothorax (save on the middle of the disk) closely punctured, the punctures rounded, a little more crowded at the sides of the latter, the interstices distinctly punctulate; sides of prothorax gradually and but slightly curvedly narrowed from near the hind angles to the apex, distinctly incurved at the hind angles, which are more produced than in humeralis, and slightly convergent or directed inwardly; apex deeply emarginate, front angles subacute, slightly convergent; expanded lateral margins moderately wide, scarcely concave, the edges finely and almost uniformly thickened; a rather slight sublunate impression at each side of the middle, close to the basal margin, and another still less distinct, rounded fovea above and in front of them; scuttellum transversely triangular, punctured; base of elytra as in C. humeralis, the humeral angle still more produced (but not strongly concave within the angle), sides with a very distinct sinus behind the humeral angle; disk

slightly roughened or rugulose, indistinctly (except at apex) granulose, moderately punctured, obscurely foveate-punctured between the costæ (when viewed obliquely); costæ very feeble; expanded lateral margins wide (and concave) at the base, gradually narrowed behind; underside, etc., as in C. humeralis.

Length 5 ¼ lines; width of elytra across the middle 2 2/3 lines.

Hab. New Zealand. One example.

The punctuation on the head and on the sides of the prothorax is more crowded, and the insterstices more closely and distinctly punctulate than in C. humeralis; the sides of the thorax are distinctly incurved at the hind angles; the punctuation on the elytra is less defined; and the form is elongate-oval.

Cilibe brevipennis n. sp.

Smaller, and of a more briefly oval form, than any other species in the genus. Black, usually most nitid on the prothorax, the elytra frequently of an obscure purplish-brown hue; sometimes the entire upper surface is of a decided reddish-brown colour. Head and prothorax finely and closely punctured, the punctuation very dense (and frequently finely reticulately rugose) on the former and on the sides of the latter; the interstices more or less distinctly minutely punctulate; prothorax transverse, apex deeply emarginate; front angles prominent, more or less acute, usually directed forwards, sometimes slightly convergent; sides anteriorly very gradually narrowed from the middle (sometimes from behind the middle), posteriorly subparallel, or slightly incurved (in one example they are distinctly excurved at the hind angles, which are consequently somewhat outwardly directed), hind angles, more or less produced, acute, directed backwards; lateral margins moderately expanded, more ar less concave; three more or less distinct impressions at the base, and sometimes two indistinct foveate impressions on the middle, at each side of the median line; elytra short, moderately convex, base feebly sinuous; humeral angle not distinctly prominent as in C. humeralis and thoracica; sides sub-parallel or slightly rounded, not sinuous behind the humeral angle; expanded lateral margins rather broad at the base, narrowed behind, more or less distinctly extending to the apex, strongly concave at the base (especially within the humeral angle) as in C. humeralis; punctuation, etc., almost as in C. thoracica, but (especially at the sides and apex) the surface is slightly more roughened, more distinctly granulose, and the punctuation a little finer and closer: underside, etc., as in C. humeralis.

Length 4 ½-5 ½ lines; width of elytra 2 1/3-2 ¾ lines.

Hab. New Zealand. Five examples.

Cilibe granulosa, De Brěme.

Easily recognizable by its usually squalid aspect, and coarsely sculptured and closely granulose surface. The humeral angle is more or less strongly prominent; the expanded lateral margins of the elytra broad and concave; and there is at the sides a more or less distinct sinus behind the humeral angle; the costæ on the elytra are more conspicuous (especially at the base) than in any of those preceding. In some examples we can perceive on the elytra a very minute pubescence.

Length, 5 ¼-6 ¾ lines; width of elytra, 2 ½-3 1/5 lines.

Hab. New Zealand. Six examples.

Cilibe rugosa, n. sp.

Near C. granulosa, but distinctly narrower; the expanded lateral margins of the elytra very narrow, not concave, except slightly at the base; the surface of the elytra distinctly punctured, reticulately rugose, not granulose, or granulose-punctate, and with three distinctly prominent costæ on each; humeral angles not prominent, the sides not sinuous behind them; and the anterior tibiæ have the outer apical angle strongly dentiform.

From the following (C. tibialis, the only other species having the outer apical angle of the anterior tibæ dentiform) it may be known by its different form, somewhat squalid, opaque surface, the elytra distinctly rugose, costate, and pubescent; the prothorax more deeply emarginate at apex, the front angles more prominent, the hind angles not acutely produced, etc.

Brown, slightly squalid; head (except the epistoma) and prothorax coarsely punctured, the interstices narrow, appearing a little elevated, and a good deal broken up on the front of the head and the base of the prothorax, allowing the punctures to run confusedly together. Head trapezoidal in front; sides of the epistoma almost completely continuous with the antennary orbits, the angles slightly rounded: prothorax arcuate-emarginate in front, the angles a little produced, subacute, directed forwards; sides regularly but moderately rounded, more narrowed anteriorly than behind, a little sinuous in front of the hind angles, these latter not acutely produced, slightly divergent; the three impressions by the base as ordinary, the two outer strongly marked, and another rounded depression on the middle, at each side of the median line: elytra rather strongly narrowed behind, humeral angles not prominent; sides slightly rounded from the humeral angles, not at all sinuous behind them; the surface somewhat coarsely punctured, very distinctly reticulate-rugose, and very thinly clothed with a short, minute, rigid, pale golden pubescence, on each elytron three very distinct costæ, with a much fainter one between them; these send out irregular, lateral, elevated branches, which cause the reticulate-rugose appearance before mentioned, the interstices being somewhat squalid; the

punctuation, costæ, etc., obsolete at the apex; lateral expanded margins very narrow, and concave only at the base; under side brown, closely and somewhat coarsely punctured, much more distinctly pubescent (especially on the abdomen) than on the upper side; flanks of prothorax sparsely, pronotum closely and coarsely, rugose-tuberculate: legs rather long, reddish-brown; hind tibiæ a little sinuous, front tibiæ with the outer apical angle strongly dentiform; tarsi elongate; antennæ and palpi ferruginous.

Length 5 1/3 lines; width of elytra 2 1/3 lines.

Hab. New Zealand. One example.

Cilibe tibialis, n. sp.

Oblong or (rarely) oblong-oval, convex, entirely dark brown, slightly shining, anterior border of the head more or less rufescent; epistoma broadly emarginate in front, the sides distinct from the antennary orbits, the angles broadly rounded; head and prothorax rather coarsely and closely punctured, the interstices on the middle of the former, and on the sides of the latter, appearing a little elevated and somewhat reticulate; prothorax strongly transverse, rather broadly and feebly, and usually a little sinuously, emarginate at apex; front angles not at all prominent, convergent; sides more or less rounded (ordinarily they are well rounded), more or less strongly incurved anteriorly from the middle, less strongly and a little sinuously posteriorly; hind angles acutely produced, divergent; lateral margins not distinctly expanded, the edges very finely and almost uniformly thickened; the three impressions by the basal border always obscure, sometimes obsolete; elytra oblong, or oblong-oval, the punctuation finer than on the prothorax and with a disposition to run together between the costæ; costæ more or less distinct; the intervals, or interstices, more or less distinctly reticulate-rugose at the base, sides, and apex; lateral margins narrowly expanded, usually not distinctly extending to the apex, strongly reflexed at the base, rather coarsely transversely rugose-punctate; flanks (save the lateral margins) of prothorax and sides of abdomen longitudinally wrinkled; flanks of meso and metasterna coarsely punctured; abdomen finely punctured; under side shining black; epipleural fold and legs reddish-brown, or piceous; antennæ elongate, and, together with the palpi, ferruginous; outer apical angle of the interior tibiæ strongly dentiform.

Length 6-7 ½ lines; width of elytra 2 4/5 -3 ¾ lines.

Hab. New Zealand. Seven examples.

The apical emargination of the prothorax is distinctly more feeble in this species than in any of the others, and the front angles least prominent; it is also the most convex, and, ordinarily, the most oblong, form

Cilibe impressifrons, n. sp.

Oblong or elongate-oval; ordinarily black, the elytra sometimes dark

brown, the entire insect sometimes reddish brown; most nitid on the pro-thorax; rather convex: head rather long, rather finely and closely punctured; a distinct, transverse, slightly bowed impression across the front between the eyes: epistoma broadly truncated in front, the suture rather strongly marked and angulate at the sides; prothorax very finely and, on the middle, remotely punctured; a strong angulate impression at each side close to the basal margin, and sometimes an obscure transverse impression between them; apex moderately emarginate; anterior angles subacute, directed forwards; sides more or less regularly rounded, more contracted anteriorly than posteriorly, occasionally a little sinuous before the front angles; hind angles more or less (sometimes almost imperceptibly) outwardly produced, acute; lateral margins very slightly expanded, a little concave, the edges moderately and almost uniformly thickened: elytra oblong-oval, feebly sinuous at the base; shoulders more or less distinctly rounded; punctuation, etc., almost as in C. tibialis, but the interstices, especially at the sides, are more distinctly rugulose; expanded lateral margins narrow, almost obsolete (or strongly narrowed) at the base, scarcely perceptibly continued to the apex, a little concave, the edges sometimes slightly reflexed at the base: markings on the underside similar, but much feebler, to those in C. tibialis; legs, antennæ, and epipleural fold reddish piceous; anterior tibiæ acute (but not at all dentiform) at the outer apical angle.

Length 6 ½-8 lines; width of elytra 2 4/5-3 3/5 lines.

Hab. New Zealand. Five examples.

The oblong or elongate-oval form, the transverse impression between the eyes, the almost smooth prothorax in contrast with the somewhat coarsely sculptured elytra, the scarcely expanded sides of the prothorax, and the lateral expanded margins of the elytra obsolete at the base, will serve to distinguish this species.

Artystona, n. g.

Differs from Titana in the prosternum less strongly and abruptly elevated between the coxæ, not distinctly concave in front of them, the anterior horizontal portion longer; the head consequently is less deeply imbedded in the prothorax, and does not repose on the front coxæ. Prothorax squarer, less convex, truncated at base and apex, more or less finely punctured. Lateral reflexed margins of the elytra distinctly terminating at the humeral angle; the punctuation of the surface of the elytra is in rows of fine punctures, the intervals being convex, interrupted, and forming, especially at apex, series of oblong tubercles. Legs longer and (especially the tarsi) more slender. Body not pilose.

Artystona erichsoni, White (Titœna).

The Titœna interrupta, Redtenb., must be referred to this species, the type specimens of which are in my collection.

The head is remotely punctured; the prothorax more closely punctured, with the interstices quite smooth.

Hab. New Zealand. Three examples in my collection.

Artystona wakefieldi, n. sp.

Readily to be distinguished from A. erichsoni by the colour entirely of a dark shining brown; the head and prothorax much more closely and rugosely punctured; and, as a secondary character, the intervals on the elytra (especially at sides and apex) are more strongly interrupted and more distinctly tuberculiform.

Length 5 lines.

Hab. New Zealand. Five examples.

Examples of this species in Doue's collection were labelled “Strongylium volvulum, Klug.”

Artystona rugiceps, n. sp.

Of the same colour as the preceding, but smaller; form decidedly less parallel; eyes narrower, appearing outwardly conical when viewed from above, a distinct space between their upper margin (which is entire) and the antennary orbits; these latter very convex, subangulately rounded; head much more strongly rugosely punctured; the punctures larger, rounder, and deeper; punctures on prothorax not more numerous than in A. wakefieldi, but larger, rounder, and deeper; the interstices not at all rugulose: elytra sculptured as in the preceding, but the form is elongateoval.

Length 3 2/3-4 ¼ lines.

Hab. New Zealand. Seven examples.

This is the species dispensed by Dr. Schaufuss under the name of “Helops? porcatus.”

Adelium zelandicum, n. sp.

Oblong, subparallel, attenuate behind, depressed; bronzed brown, more or less metallic. Head short, immersed up to the eyes in the prothorax, somewhat rounded in front; epistoma very short, convex, distinctly emarginate in front, the suture more or less distinctly marked, arcuate; one or more impressions between the eyes; rather strongly and somewhat irregularly punctured and rugose: labrum prominent, transverse; angles strongly rounded, notched at apex: antenn æmoderate, a little longer in male than in female, perfoliate (distinctly so in male), gradually thicker, and a little compressed outwardly; the joints obconic, all longer than wide, three shorter than four and five united, the last largest of all, obliquely rounded

at apex: prothorax subquadrate, wider than long; sides anteriorly moderately incurved, posteriorly subparallel, or very slightly sinuously contracted; apex arcuate-emarginate, and distinctly margined throughout; front angles a little depressed, obtuse; base closely applied to and overlapping the base of the elytra, strongly emarginate at the middle, the hind angles obtuse; more or less finely, and somewhat irregularly, punctured, more or less distinctly wrinkled at the sides and at the hind angles, distinctly (especially at the sides) but very finely pubescent; the whole surface more or less uneven by numerous irregular foveate impressions, the most constant being the rounded fovea at each side of the middle at the basal margin: scutellum rather large, convex, punctured, transversely curvilinearly triangular: elytra but little broader at base than the base of prothorax, narrowed behind, finely pubescent, with numerous striæ, these sometimes a little irregular, more or less finely impressed, but very rarely (in but one out of the ten examples before me) distinctly punctured; the intervals (except at the apex) flat, very finely and closely muricate-punctate, here and there interrupted by irregular transverse impressions, which sometimes assume the form of rounded foveæ: underside bronzed brown, finely pubescent: prosternum slightly compressed in front of the coxæ, its process rather narrow, convex, finely margined at the sides, very obtuse and not produced behind; intercoxal process wide, subtruncate at apex: legs reddish-brown; tarsi and antennæ ferruginous; the four front tarsi distinctly more expanded in male than in female: inner edge of hind tibiæ fringed with longish hairs in the male.

Length 3 ½-4 ½ lines.

Hab. New Zealand. Ten examples.

There are some points of resemblance, especially in the form of the head, between this species and the Cymbeba dissimilis of Pascoe; and, did I hold that genus unmistakably distinct from Adelium, I might be inclined to place this with it as a second species. It has not, however, the produced and pointed prosternal process, the distinctly marked-off epipleuræ of the elytra, nor the apically rounded intercoxal process, as in Cymbeba dissimilis. I possess examples of this latter coming from Cape York, New Hebrides, and New Caledonia.

Amarygmus zealandicus, n. sp.

Form and general aspect of A. hydrophiloides, Fairm.; but differs from it, and from all the other species of the genus known to me, in having the four hind tibiæ attenuate at the base, and then expanded, and strongly sinuous (almost broadly dentate in the hind pair) at the inner margin.

Prothorax green, with a slight bluish tinge, brassy at the sides; elytra green, with a brassy tinge, the sutural region a little coppery; head and

prothorax finely and, except on the epistoma, not very closely punctured; elytra punctate-striate, the striæ distinctly deeper and the punctures a little larger than in A. hydrophiloides; intervals finely and not closely punctulate; under side and legs piceous; tarsi and basal joints of antennæ paler; lower margin of the four posterior femora emarginate; anterior tarsi strongly expanded, the intermediate thickened; antennæ elongate.

Length 3 ½ lines.

Hab. New Zealand. One example.

The peculiarities observable in the tibiæ and tarsi of the species are either sexual or subgeneric.

Techinessa, g. n. (œdemeridœ).

Mentum transversely quadrangular. Last joint of maxillary palpi cultriform, acute at apex. Mandibles bifid at apex; labrum short, slightly sinuously truncated in front. Head short; epistoma broadly and squarely truncated in front. Eyes large, slightly transverse, entire, more (concolor) or less (telephoroides) strongly prominent. Antennæ inserted on slight prominences in front of, and quite distinct from, the eyes; joint first, swollen, pyriform; second, a little shorter than third, and both obconic; third, not more than half as long as fourth; fourth to tenth, sub-equal, cylindric (concolor) or elongate-obconic (telephoroides); eleventh, a little longer then the tenth, subfusiform. Prothorax scarcely wider than long and convex in concolor; distinctly wider than long, subdepressed, and somewhat unequal in telephoroides; truncated at base and apex; sides rounded, abruptly incurved anteriorly, gradually contracted posteriorly, rather strongly grooved or margined along the base. Elytra elongate, parallel, scarcely convex, somewhat broadly rounded at apex. Femora sublinear; tibiæ armed with two distinct spurs at apex; the two penultimate joints of the tarsi rather short, expanded, and spongy pubescent beneath. Abdomen of five free joints. Body more (telephoroides) or less (concolor) linear, shortly pilose.

Of all the published genera of the (Edemeridæ the present seems to me to approach nearest to Cycloderus. It is, however, at once to be distinguished from that genus, and from all the others of the family known to me, by the short third joint of the antennæ.

Techmessa concolor, n. sp.

Black, a little shining; everywhere rather densely clothed with a shortish, semi-erect, brownish pile. Head and prothorax coarsely punctured and rugose; the punctures more crowded on the front of the former and on the sides of the latter; elytra rather strongly and closely punctured, and transversely confluently rugose; under side and legs brownish black, pubescent, punctured; antennæ (save the three basal joints) and palpi dusky-brown.

Art. XXXV.—Critical Notes on the New Zealand Hydroida.

By Millen Coughtrey, M.B.B.M.; Edin. Univ.; Corr. Mem. Roy. Phys. Soc. Edin.; Hon. Fell. Historic Soc., L. and C., etc.

Allman's Calypto-blastea, and is very abundantly illustrated on our coasts; the third sub-order is identical with the Eleuthero-blastea of Allman, some members of this sub-order also existing in New Zealand. ^{‡ §}

Sub-order Thecaphora, Hincks.

Though larger in general habit, and the hydrothecæ are more of a subconical form than what we find in S. tricuspidata, I agree with Mr. Hincks that the two species are very closely allied to one another.

S. simplœ. Hutton, loc. cit. Coughtrey, “Trans.,” loc. cit., p. 283. Figs 8 to 11, Pl. XX.

In my paper to the New Zealand Institute, I expressed an opinion that S. simplœ of Hutton was the New Zealand representative of S. polyzonias of Linnæus, and I grouped along with Hutton's species, several pigmy varieties in which the hydrothecæ were transversely wrinkled. In this I was wrong, and I would now regard Captain Hutton's species as a distinct one, approaching nearest to Sertularella fusiformis of Hincks, while the transversely wrinkled variety is an intermediate form between S. rugosa and S. tenella (British species), but resembling more closely the latter, and the large form (“Trans.,” loc. cit., Fig. 10, Pl. XX.), I have proposed to call Sertularella robusta. Vide “Annals,” loc. cit.

Genus Sertularia, Linnæus (in part.) Hincks, “Brit. Hyd. Zooph.”

S. bispinosa, Gray.

Mr. Busk when reporting on the Sertularian Zoophytes and Polyzoa of South Africa (“Brit. Assoc. Reports,” 1850), remarked upon the resemblance between this species and S. operculata (British.) The likeness only holds good between one of the varieties of S. bisinosa, of New Zealand, and that is the extremely lax, slender and delicate variety. The other variety both by the peculiarity of its gonothecæ, and its more robust and coarse habit is different from the British form.

S. ramulosa, mihi. Trans., loc. cit. There are two varieties, coarse and delicate.

S. trispinosa, mihi. Trans. loc. cit.

The intermediate position of this species between S. bispinosa and S. ramulosa, has been preserved in all recent specimens.

S. abietinoides. Gray.

One variety of this species bears a close resemblance to S. filicula (British species) in its general habit, but the characters of the hydrothecæ and of the gonothecæ are quite distinct. Similar differences separate it from the more robust British ally S. abietina.

S. fusiformis, Hutton, loc. cit. Coughtrey, p. 285 (Trans. loc. cit.)

In consequence of there being a likelihood of this species being confused with Sertularella fusiformis, of Hincks, I would suggest for this species the name of Sertularia longicosta (from the crest along one side of the gonothecæ.) Its ovarian capsules, approach somewhat the form of those described by Mr. Busk, on the South African variety of Pl. cristata, again the apex of the capsule has an appearance not unlike the crest of Camp.

calceolifera, Hincks. “Annals N.H.,” Ser. 4, Vol. X., p. 85. It never attains a greater height than two inches.

Sertularia pumila (sp. nov. to N.Z.), Synthecium gracilis, mihi, “Trans.” loc. cit., p. 286, Figs 26 to 31, Pl. XX.

I am now perfectly satisfied that I was in error when I placed this species under Allman's genus Synthecium. I have carefully compared it with varieties of S. pumila from the Mersey (Britain) and elsewhere, and cannot detect sufficient specific characters for a new species. The difference I observed in the New Zealand specimens as shown in Trans. loc. cit., Pl. XX., Figs 26 and 27 (both magnified to same extent) is present in British specimens, and one character has been observed by Dr. M'Intosh, in St. Andrew's specimens (namely, presence or absence of joint in the stem). “Annals N. H.,” Ser. 4, Vol. XII., p. 205.

Sertularia elegans. Synthecium elegans, Allmans. (Gymnoblastic Hydroids).

Another small specimen has enabled me to confirm my previous identification of this species. It is equally pigmy in size with my first one, and in one of the calycles has the lower three-fourths of the pecular ovarian capsules described by Professor Allman. ^*

Sertularia monilifera, Hutton. Coughtrey, “Trans.,” loc. cit., p. 282.

I am now inclined to place this species under the genus Diphasia.

Genus Hydralmania, Hincks.

During my two visits to the Bluff Harbour, I obtained a most beautiful Hydroid, which I have provisionally placed under the above genus with the specific name of bi-calycula. The description of H. bi-calycula is given in the communication to the “Annals” before alluded to.

Genus Thuiaria.

T. sub-articulata. I am now quite satisfied that this species is distinct from the British species T. articulata. T. articulata is by far the finer and more delicate of the two, its pinnæ are longer, the hydrothecæ more evenly tubular and free from dentations, while the absence of transverse wrinkles over the whole of the ovarian capsules contrasts clearly with the New Zealand form. Though some of the British specimens have the proximal three-fourths of the ovarian capsules wrinkled.

Our Southern specimens bear the same relation to the East Coast ones, as Mr. Norman's Shetland variety, bears to the ordinary British form.

Regarding the members of the family Plumularidœ, I desire to reserve my notes with one exception, and that is Plumularia simplex, mihi. Fresh

Art. XXXVI.—Description of a Species of Butterfly belonging to the Family Satyridæ, Westwood.

By Richard Wm. Fereday, C.M.E.S.L.

Art. XXXVII.—On the Mollusca of Auckland Harbour.

By T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S.

been touched, and yet it will yield most valuable results. There are also the phenomena connected with the growth and development of each individual form—perhaps the most interesting portion of the subject. Every species has a history of its own—always suggestive and full of interest—but in too many cases the historian is yet to be found. There is its birth; its first transient wandering existence; later, its adult life—whether buried in the sand of the sea bottom or anchored by cables capable of resisting the heaviest surf—whether boring deep in submerged timber or excavating chambers in the hardest stone—now, as the Oyster, immovably bound to the exposed rock, or, as the Fusus, crawling slowly over it—now darting rapidly through the water, or floating on its surface, the sport of every wind and tide; there is its food—its means of obtaining it—its special habitat—its relations to the species immediately surrounding it—its economic value to man. All these are chapters in the life-history of every species, and chapters which in many instances are yet to be written. The table of contents is indeed prepared; but the contents themselves—the material which is to give the work its real value—still remains to be filled in.

List of species observed in Auckland Harbour:—

I. Cephalopoda.

• Sepioteuthis major, Gray.

• Spirula lœvis, Gray.

II. Heteropoda.

• Ianthina exigua, Lamark.

• " communis, Lamark.

III. Gasteropoda.

• Murex octogonus, Gray.

• Fusus zealandicus, Quoy.

• " dilatatus, Quoy.

• " stangeri, Gray.

• " plebeius, Hutton.

• " lineatus, Gray.

• " linea, Martyn.

• " n. sp.

• " duodecimus, Gray.

• " nodosus, Martyn.

• Pleurotoma buchanani, Hutton.

• " n. sp.

• " n. sp.

• " n. sp.

• " n. sp.

• Daphnelia letourneuxiana, Crosse.

• Triton australe.

• " spengleri.

• Buccinum maculatum, Martyn.

• " costatum, Quoy.

• " luridum, Hutton.

• " lavigatum.

• " testudineum, Quoy.

• " n. sp. (?)

• Purpura haustrum, Martyn.

• " textiliosa, Lamark.

• " scobina, Quoy.

• " quoyi, Reeve.

• Ancillaria australis, Quoy.

• Voluta pacifica, Lamark.

• " sp.

• Marginella albescens, Hutton.

• Columbella, n. sp.

• " n. sp.

• Natica, n. sp.

• Scalaria zelebori, Dunker.

• " lineolata, Kiener.

• " sp. (?)

• Chemnitzia zealandica, Hutton.

• Odostomia lactea, Angas.

• " sp.

• Eulima chathamensis, Hutton.

• Struthiolaria nodulosa, Lamark.

• " vermis, Martyn.

• Trichotropis inornata, Hutton.

• Cerithium bicarinata, Gray.

• " subcarina, Sowerby.

• " kirki, Hutton.

• " terebelloides, Von Martens.

• " n. sp.

• Littorina diemenensis, Gray.

• Rissoa, sp.

• " sp.

• " sp.

• " sp.

• Turritella rosea, Quoy.

• " fulminata, Hutton.

• Calyptrœa maculata, Quoy.

• Trochita tenuis, Gray.

• Crypta costata, Deshayes.

• " contorta, Quoy.

• " unguiformis, Lamark.

• Nerita atrata, Lamark.

• Turbo smaragdus, Lamark.

• " granosus, Lamark.

• Imperator cookii, Lamark.

• Adeorbis varius, Hutton.

• Rotella zealandica, Chenu.

• Chrysostoma, sp.

• Polydonta tuberculata, Gray.

• " tiarata, Quoy.

• Labio zealandicus, Quoy.

• " cingulatus, Quoy.

• " subrostrata, Gray.

• Euchelus bellus, Hutton.

• Diloma nigerrima, Linn.

• Ziziphinus tigris, Martyn.

• " selectus, Chemintz.

• Cantharidus elegans, Gmelin.

• Monilea zealandica, Hutton.

• Gibbula sanguinea, Gray.

• " nitida, Adams.

• " n. sp.

• Haliotis iris, Lamark.

• Tugali elegans, Gray.

• Parmophorus australis, Lamark.

• Tectura pileopsis, Quoy.

• Patella, sp.

• Nacella radians, Gmelin.

• " sp.

• Chiton pellis-serpentis, Quoy.

• " quoyi, Deshayes.

• " sulcatus, Quoy.

• " longicymbus, De Blainville.

• Tonicia undulata, Quoy.

• Acanthopleura nobilis, Gray.

• Acanthochœtes porphyreticus, Reeve.

• " hookeri, Gray.

• Katharina violacea, Quoy.

• Cryptoconchus monticularis, Quoy.

• Buccinulus albus, Hutton.

• " n. g. (?)

• Cylichna striata, Hutton.

• Bulla quoyi, Gray.

• Haminea obesa, Sowerby.

• Philine angasi, Crosse.

• Aplysia, sp.

• Pleurobranchœa, sp.

• Doris, sp.

• " sp.

• " sp.

• " (?) sp.

• Onchidoris tuberculatus, Hutton.

• œolis, sp.

• " (?) sp.

• Onchidella nigricans, Quoy.

• Siphonaria zealandica, Quoy.

• Melampus costellaris, Adams.

• Leucoma (?) sp.

• Amphibola avellana, Gmelin.

IV. Lamellibranchiata.

• Barnea similis, Gray.

• Pholadidea tridens, Gray.

• Teredo antarctica, Hutton.

• Corbula zealandica, Quoy.

• Anatina tasmanica, Reeve.

• Myodora striata, Quoy.

• Chamostrea albida, Lamark.

• Hemimactra ovata, Gray.

• Tenatia acinaces, Quoy.

• Psammobia stangeri, Gray.

• " lineolata, Gray.

• Hiatula nitidula, Gray.

• " sp.

• Tellina deltoidalis, Lamark.

• " lintea, Hutton.

• Mesodesma chemnitzii, Deshayes.