Subdivision 1.—“The exhalent openings through which the water leaves the sponge are true oscula—i.e., they lead directly into a space lined by collared cells, and formed by the union of a number of ascon-tubes.”

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Subdivision 2.—“The exhalent openings through which the water leaves the sponge are pseudoscula—i.e., they lead at first into a space not lined by collared cells, but, presumably, by ectoderm. This space is a pseudogaster. It really lies outside the colony, and is formed, probably, by the upgrowth of the colony around it. The ascon-tubes open into the pseudogaster.” Leucosolenia rosea.

I hope to have an opportunity, in a future paper, of making some remarks on the histology of the New Zealand reticulate ascons.

Leucosolenia clathrus, Schmidt. (“Supplement der Spongien des Adriatischen Meeres,” p. 24.)

As Mr. Carter has pointed out,^* Schmidt's sponge is not the one afterwards described and figured by Haeckel.^† In Haeckel's sponge the ends of the spicules are obtusely rounded, or even knobbed, and the rays are often wavy.

I see no reason for regarding as different from L. clathrus a white ascon of considerable size that occurs freely along the shores of Cook Strait, in the neighbourhood of Wellington. Its spicules are more sharply pointed than the one figured by Schmidt; but they are almost exactly like those of a specimen, sent me by Dr. Dendy, of a sponge collected at Budleigh Salterton by Mr. Carter, and identified by him as Schmidt's L. clathrus. Moreover, the specimen referred to shows mesodermal ingrowths exactly like those of Wellington specimens —Dendy's type E. The sponge shows at death the colour-changes described by Carter.

I also place under L. clathrus, for the present at all events, the large white ascon that occurs so freely in Paterson's Inlet, Stewart Island. In this handsome sponge the spicules are often blunt, and approach those of L. coriacea, and the mesodermal ingrowths are less pronounced than in the Wellington sponge. Moreover, it differs from the Wellington sponge in the fact that its oscules are conspicuous, and borne at the apex of pronounced papillæ.

Leucosolenia challengeri, Pol.- (“Report on the Calcarea of the ‘Challenger’ Expedition,” p. 38.)

This sponge occurs in Cook Strait, in the neighbourhood of Wellington. The “Challenger” specimen is from Cape York. My specimens are all of the Auloplegma form. I have not yet seen the Soleniscus form, which is that of the “Challenger” specimen. Length of the sponge, as found near Wellington, about 20mm. Half the length is made up by the slender, solid peduncle. Of two specimens that I have sectioned, one has no mesodermal ingrowths, and the other has ingrowths of Dendy's type F.

Leucosolenia cerebrum (Ascaltis cerebrum), Haeckel. (“Kalkschwämme,” ii., 54.)

A sponge with the apical rays of the 4-radiate spicules beautifully spined in their distal portion occurs — not very freely—in Cook Strait. These apical rays echinate the inner surface of the ascon-tubes in the usual manner. I have no hesitation in referring it to Haeckel's Ascaltis cerebrum. A pseudoderm is always present, so far as I have been able to observe, but I have not noticed the irregularity in the pseudodermal spicules referred to by Haeckel. I have found these spicules regular and massive, with the tips of the rays incurved in the regular tripod fashion. Size, 0.08mm. × 0.002mm. They closely resemble those of L. intermedia (Plate IV., fig. 2). Well-marked ingrowths of the mesoderm, of Dendy's type E, occur.

Haeckel's locality for this sponge is Lesina, in the Adriatic.

Leucosolenia proxima, Dendy.

If my identification of this sponge is right, it forms in New Zealand handsome yellow- or orange-coloured colonies from 10mm. to 25mm. in diameter, and with numerous oscules. The spicules of the pseudoderm have the rays slightly incurved, so that the centre is raised a little from the plane in which the points of the rays lie; the rays themselves taper rather less regularly than in the type, and they are a little more sharply pointed. It is quite possible that this is a different sponge from L. proxima, but at present I do not regard the differences as specific.

The canal system shows ingrowths of type E and also of type F.

The sponge forms colonies of two external characters: light-yellow in colour and loose in texture, and orange in colour and compact in texture. Slight differences in spiculation occur, but not constant and pronounced enough to justify,

according to my present view, the separation of the two forms, much as they appear at first sight to differ.

Locality: Cook Strait.

Leucosolenia intermedia, n. sp. (Plate IV., fig. 2.)

Sponge compact; yellow or yellowish-white when alive. Oscules numerous, each one at the apex of a small conical papilla: they often become obscured at death. There is a well-marked pseudoderm, characterized by stout tripod spicules. The spicules are all triradiates.

Spicules:—

The rays of the stout, pseudodermal spicules are strongly incurved, and are of about the same length as those of the deep spicules; they are blunt. The spicule forms a massive tripod, stouter than that of L. tripodifera, and with the rays a little more widely spread. Viewed from below, in certain positions the effect of perspective is to give a sagittal appearance that is illusive (figs. 2d-2f). A few stout 3-radiates are regular, and have straight rays (fig. 2a). Size, 0.13mm. × 0.04 mm.

The spicules of the deep parts of the sponge are regularly-tapering 3-radiates, with fairly sharp points. Size, 0.09mm. × 0.01mm. The canal system is of Dendy's type E.

In spiculation this sponge occupies a position intermediate between L. pulcherrina and L. proxima. From the former it is broadly distinguished by the fact that its pseudodermal spicules are larger instead of smaller than its deep ones, and from the latter by the marked tripod character of the pseudodermal spicules. This last characteristic seems also to distinguish it from L. stipitata.

Locality: Cook Strait.

Leucosolenia laxa, n. sp. (Plate IV., fig. 1.)

Texture loose; colour white. A pseudoderm, characterized by oxeote spicules, is present, but is not well developed except at the sides of the sponge. Mesodermal ingrowths occur sparingly, and they may or may not be covered by collared cells. Skeleton consisting of 3-radiate, 4-radiate, and oxeote spicules, the two former occurring throughout the sponge, and the last being confined to the pseudoderm, and echinating feebly the surface of the sponge.

Spicules:—

Triradiates: Regular; rays tapering evenly to a sharp point; 0.17mm. × 0.015mm.

Quadriradiates: Basal rays sometimes slightly curved, tapering evenly to a sharp point, 0.15mm. × 0.013mm.; apical ray straight, 0.1mm. × 0.013mm.

Oxea: Clavate, generally obtuse at both ends, uneven; 0.37mm. × 0.025mm.

This sponge is closely allied to Haeckel's Ascandra reticulum, from which, however, it may easily be distinguished by the character of its oxea. In A. reticulum these are fusiform, even in outline, and pointed at both ends. In L. laxa they are clavate, wavy in outline, and obtuse at the broader end, generally at both. Dr. Dendy's L. dubia is very like this sponge, but its quadriradiates are occasional and not constant.

The external appearance of this sponge is that of L. clathrus.

Leucosolenia depressa, Dendy. (Monograph.)

Occurs in the neighbourhood of Wellington.

Leucosolenia rosea, n. sp. (Plate III.)

This sponge forms spreading masses, which may attain a diameter of 75mm. The surface is for the most part remarkably even, but it rises into rounded lobes and ridges, along which the pseudoscula are placed. The pseudoscula are generally oval in shape, and are from 0.6mm. to 8mm. long. Around the margin of each is a pseudoscular membrane, slightly developed, and not rising above the general surface of the sponge. The pseudopores are evenly distributed over the whole surface. The pseudoscula open into pseudo-gasters. A colony often contains a large number of these spaces. The canal system is of Dendy's type D.

When alive the sponge is of a pale-pink or salmon colour, and the colour remains for a long time in dried specimens.

Spicules:—

Triradiates: The pseudoderm consists mainly of enormous 3-rayed spicules, which show an approach to the tripod condition. Their outline is often wavy, and the broadest part of the ray is often at about a third of the distance from the base to the point. The points of the rays are blunt. Length of ray, 0.3mm.; greatest breadth, 0.07mm.

Deep triradiates: The 3-radiates of the inner part of the sponge are regular and sharp-pointed; the rays tapering evenly. 0.2mm. × 0.018mm.

The triradiates of the wall of the pseudogaster, and especially those around the pseudosculum, often become sagittal, the oral rays being curved, either towards or away from each other, and the basal ray being shortened. In these regions of the sponge occurs a curious 2-rayed spicule, the third ray having failed to appear, or, having appeared, to develope. Fig. h shows a spicule in which the third ray is incipient.

Quadriradiates: These are generally rather smaller than the 3-radiates, and the main rays are a little less sharp. The

The majority of the species collected have already been described in the first part of these notes, but even concerning these a certain amount of additional information was obtained.

Geoplana triangulata, var. australis, Dendy.

This large, handsome variety was met with in abundance, being perhaps the commonest form in the locality. The colour of the dorsal surface was usually dark-purplish-brown in its median portion, while the margins and ventral surface ranged from pale-yellow to orange. Some specimens were found associated with dead beech-leaves, which, in their two prevailing shades of orange and dark-brown, almost exactly matched the colours of the planarians. Possibly we have here a case of protective resemblance. It is interesting to note that all the specimens found were without the dark speckling on the margins and ventral surface. Thus they agree with the Dunedin form. In Christchurch, on the other hand, none but the speckled form has yet been found, though the species is very common.

Geoplana latissima, n. sp.

When at rest, very broad and short, flattened, not triangular in section; when crawling, long and narrow, strongly convex above, flat beneath. Length of a specimen when crawling, 62mm.; breadth of another at rest, 11mm. Eyes small and rather few, arranged in almost single series around the anterior extremity.

Dorsal surface orange, shading into pinkish anterior tip, and with narrow yellow margins. A very narrow deeper-orange stripe may be visible in the mid-dorsal line in the posterior part of the body. Ventral surface very pale yellow, nearly white, without markings.

In spirit the shape of the body is very characteristic—very short and broad, and with the two ends curled in ventrally. The anterior end is bluntly pointed, hollowed underneath and convex above. The posterior end is much more bluntly rounded off, and has a slight median notch in the margin (present in four out of five specimens, the other being injured posteriorly). The very narrow lateral margins are thin and prominent, and slightly upturned. Both apertures are situate far back, the peripharyngeal at about the junction of the middle and posterior thirds, and the genital perhaps slightly nearer to it than to the posterior extremity.

At first sight this species resembles Geoplana triangulata, var. australis, but in life the orange colour is really very characteristic, while in spirit the shape of the body is still more so. It is the broadest land planarian in proportion to

its length which I have seen, the length in spirit being scarcely more than twice the breadth.

Geoplana alfordensis, n. sp.

When crawling, long and narrow, convex above and flattened below. One specimen measured, when crawling, about 33mm. in length by 2mm. in breadth. The ground-colour of the dorsal surface is very pale yellow, with a pair of rather broad dark-reddish or chestnut-brown stripes. The width of the median band of ground-colour varies a good deal in the three specimens. Anterior tip pink. Ventral surface very pale yellow, without markings. Eyes as usual, but comparatively few and inconspicuous.

In spirit the body is of approximately uniform width, except where it tapers just at the anterior and posterior extremities. It is oval in transverse section, convex dorsally and ventrally, and with rather prominent lateral margins. The peripharyngeal aperture is well behind the middle of the body. The position of the genital was not very satisfactorily determined.

Geoplana purpurea, Dendy.

I identify four specimens as a slight colour variety of this species. The colour in life was very dark brown, nearly black, on the dorsal surface, with narrow dirty-white median stripe. The ventral surface was lighter brown, and the anterior tip pale-brownish.

Geoplana quinquelineata, Fletcher and Hamilton.

I identify with this common Australian species two small specimens. The largest was only about 30mm. long when crawling. At rest, flattened on both surfaces, but not markedly quadrangular. Ground-colour very pale yellow all over, with five dark-grey stripes on the dorsal surface, the median one narrowest. Anterior tip pink.

Geoplana graffii, Dendy.

Three fairly typical, although rather small, examples of this species were met with.

Geoplana graffii, var. somersii, nov.

This variety, represented by three specimens, differs from the typical form in the suppression of the pale longitudinal bands on both surfaces. The body in spirit also appears to be narrower in proportion to its length, and hence less leaf-like. The colour is greyish-brown all over, with minute white specks; paler on the ventral surface, but also speckled. The white specks or dashes are more strongly developed in the mid-dorsal line than elsewhere, perhaps indicating the lost

median stripe. The peripharyngeal aperture in spirit is some what behind the middle, and the genital rather nearer to it than the posterior extremity.

Geoplana iris, n. sp.

Closely resembling G. graffii, to which it is evidently nearly allied, in size and shape and in the general markings of the dorsal surface, but differing strikingly in the details of pattern. In the mid-dorsal line is a rather narrow pale band of brownish yellow or orange, sometimes edged with iridescent green. On each side of this is a broad band of dark chocolate-brown, in all specimens edged on the outside with iridescent blue, and about twice the width of the median band. This is followed again by a narrow marginal band of orange, which may also have greenish iridescence on its outer edge. The ventral surface is pale, dull orange, without markings. The anterior tip is dull-orange or dark pinkish-brown. The peripharyngeal aperture is decidedly behind the middle, and the genital about half-way between it and the posterior end.

Geoplana inæqualistriata, Dendy.

This species was originally described from a single specimen found crawling on an asphalt path near Christchurch, and it therefore gives me peculiar satisfaction to be able to record the discovery of a fine specimen in its native haunts, beneath a rotten log near the edge of the Alford Forest.

When at rest it was broad and flattened; when crawling, long but fairly broad, broader behind than in front, strongly convex above, flattened or concave below, measuring about 80mm. by 5mm. Dorsal surface brownish-grey with white stripe and dashes arranged exactly as in the type. Ventral surface white, with abundant small brownish-grey specks, which are absent from the prominent narrow margins, and almost absent from a narrow median band. Anterior tip pink. Eyes as usual. In spirit the body contracts but little. The ventral surface is slightly concave, with very prominent margins, the dorsal surface convex. The peripharyngeal aperture is situate decidedly behind the middle, but well in the middle third, and the genital aperture is at about one-third of the distance from it to the posterior end. The white markings became, in parts, distinctly yellow in spirit.

[Since the above was written I have found, on 30th June, another specimen of G. inæqualistriata in my garden at St. Albans, where the type specimen was obtained. The last-found specimen was lying under a large stone. I placed it in a tin collecting-box with some parsley leaves and left it on the verandah, intending to preserve it in spirit next day. There

have them named. On mentioning this to Captain Hutton he pointed out the disadvantages of having them named in Europe, and advised me to work them up myself. This task I have found even more difficult than I anticipated, and my comparative inexperience in the distinguishing and description of specific characters is the only apology for the inaccuracies and blunders that I must necessarily make in the following classification and description of those Diptera that I have been able to obtain. I intend to publish from time to time papers on the various families of Diptera. These I hope to supplement every year by species that have been discovered during the preceding year; so that, ultimately, these papers may perhaps attain to the completeness of monographs on the different families of Diptera.

The classification I have adopted is that used by Mr. F. A. A. Skuse in his papers on the Australian Diptera. These papers have in every case been the model to which I have endeavoured to attain, and I must here express my keen appreciation of the work he has done in collating and systematizing the writings and classifications of other dipterologists in Europe and elsewhere. He has certainly very greatly lightened the task of all subsequent workers at the Diptera in the Australasian Colonies. He has kindly assisted me in all cases where there seemed to me a doubtful issue, and has offered to afford me every assistance in his power. Many pages of these papers, more especially those that deal with the descriptions and classifications of the families and genera, have been taken almost directly from his papers, and he has generously acquiesced in this wholesale cribbing.

As far as possible, every genus will have a type-species illustrated by a diagram, giving a general idea of the appearance of the insect, and displaying those characteristics that are made use of in the classification of the particular group to which the insect belongs. In general these diagrams have been drawn from dried specimens, and do not, therefore, give with any exactitude the form of the abdomen and other soft parts that are liable to shrinkage during the progress of drying. For specific characters the diagrams, though drawn with considerable care, cannot always be trusted. It would, perhaps, have been better to have omitted drawing the body of the insect, and to have given diagrams illustrating the neuration of the wings alone, as done by Mr. Skuse; but my work has already shown how useful such diagrams may be if made use of with proper caution.

I very deeply regret that I am at present unacquainted with the life-history of any but a very few of the species that I shall describe. I shall be able, however, to give diagrams illustrating the life-history of what are, I hope, fairly typical

species of each of the families. These diagrams have in every case been drawn from living specimens. All the material that I at present possess has been collected by myself, chiefly in the neighbourhood of Lincoln College; but during the summer vacation many specimens have been collected in various widely-separated parts of the colony. I have not thought it advisable to arrange keys for reference until so many specimens have been collected that they may be considered to form a fair percentage of the total number of species in the colony.

In regard to collecting specimens, I have, like Mr. Skuse, found that glass tubes are the most suitable apparatus. Some bruised laurel-leaves should be placed in the bottom of the tube, and over these a layer of blotting-paper. This will absorb the moisture given off by the laurel-leaves, and therefore protect the insects from the injury that always results to them from contact with fluid. Most of the smaller and many of the larger species can be collected by placing the tubes over them with care whilst they are settled on some object. They will usually not rise until the tube completely covers them, and after a little fluttering about they will die. Specimens captured in this way should be fixed as soon as possible with gum on thin white cardboard. Gum of tragacanth, with a trace of corrosive sublimate, is the most suitable substance, as it does not cause any glaze on the surface of the cardboard. Only a very small spot of gum is necessary, and the legs and wings should be spread out as much as possible, but not at the risk of mutilating the specimen. The larger and more active insects can be easily caught with a gauze or muslin net of the ordinary make, but the net should not have a ring of too large diameter, otherwise it will be found exceedingly cumbrous in bush districts, where most of the Diptera Nemocera are found. I have collected large numbers of specimens from windows looking out on to shady and moist gardens. If the top is left slightly open it will be found that many insects enter and flutter about on the glass-panes, where they are very easily captured. I shall be very happy to supply glass tubes and other requisites to any one who will be good enough to catch a few of these insects for me.

The only literature I have been able to obtain on the Diptera are Walker's “Insecta Diptera Britannica,” Theobald's “Account of British Flies,” Hutton's “Catalogue of New Zealand Diptera,” some of Osten-Sacken and Loew's “Monographs of the Diptera of North America,” and Mr. Skuse's admirable “Monographs of the Australian Diptera.” These last so ably summarise the work of the best-known American and European authors on the Diptera that I shall in every case adopt the classification employed in them, and thus render the New Zealand Diptera very easily comparable

Much more active than the insects of the last family. The larvæ of some species have got the name of “army-worm” in Europe, from their habit of travelling together in large numbers. Represented by a large number of species in New Zealand.

Family 3. Mycetophilidæ (Fungus Gnats).—Size, small to moderate; usually rather robust. Ocelli, three or two. Antennæ short. Proboscis short. Legs rather long; coxæ elongated; tibiæ spurred. Wings often shaded, and sometimes pubescent; without discoidal cell, but neuration more elaborate than in the two preceding families. The majority of the larvæ live upon fungi or decaying vegetable matter. Some form a web of slimy material, and are occasionally phosphorescent. Perfect insect very active, and often capable of leaping. Found abundantly in damp and shady situations. Represented by several genera and numerous species in New Zealand.

Family 4. Simulidæ (Sandflies).—Size small. Body black, thick, and short. Antennæ cylindrical, short. Ocelli, none. All parts of the body fully developed. Legs short; hind tibiæ and first joint of the tarsus broad; tibiæ without spurs. Wings broad, abundantly but rather obscurely veined. The larvæ live in clear water, becoming fixed to plants when about to transform into pupæ. Perfect insect capable of inflicting severe wound. Found abundantly in all regions where there is clear or running water. The-family contains only one genus, which is well represented in New Zealand.

Family 5. (Bibionidæ).—Moderate or small size. More robust than the preceding families. Antennæ short. Ocelli, three. Prothorax large. Wings large, but rather obscurely veined. Larvæ found on the ground or in dung. Perfect insects with a sluggish flight. Common on flowers. Very probably an archaic type.

Family 6. Blepharoceridæ. — Small. Antennæ long and slender. Eyes alike in both sexes. Ocelli, three. Legs long; coxæ short; posterior tibiæ generally with strong spurs. Wings broad and long, in neuration approaching the Myceto-philidæ. Skuse says very little is known of these species. I have not yet captured any specimens.

Family 7. Culicidæ (Mosquitoes).—Very slender; moderately sized. Antennæ moderately long. Mouth-parts of female containing all the organs found in the Diptera. Ocelli, none. Thorax stout. Legs long and slender. Wings slender, usually with scales; veins more than six in number. The larvæ are abundant in all stagnant water, in which they move with a peculiar jerking motion. The perfect insects are abundant in low-lying bush districts. The males feed on vegetable matter, especially honey. The females are capable

of inflicting a severe bite. Represented by a moderate number of species in New Zealand.

Family 8. Chironomidæ (Midges).—Small. Antennæ slender, beautifully adorned with hairs in the male. Proboscis fleshy and short. Ocelli, none. Abdomen and legs long and slender. Wings slender, veins as in Culicidæ, but no scales, though hairs are often present. Larvæ and pupæ generally aquatic, but some feed on dung and decaying vegetable matter. Perfect insect common in the neighbourhood of water. Some specimens capable of biting.

Family 9. Orphnephilidæ.—Small. Antennæ short. Ocelli absent. Proboscis little projecting. Thorax elevated. Legs rather short. Wings long and narrow; veins uniformly distinct. Little appears to be known of this family. I have no species belonging to it.

Family 10. Psychodidæ (Moth Midges).—Very small flies. Antennæ long, whorled with hairs. Ocelli, none. Body clothed with coarse hair. Legs rather long; tibiæ without spurs. Wings broad and hairy, with many longitudinal veins. Larvæ living in fungi and rotten wood. Perfect insect frequently found on walls and windows. Represented by a few species in New Zealand, one at least of which is very common.

Family 11. Tipulidæ (Daddy-long-legs).—The largest flies in this division, and in linear dimensions, if not in bulk, the largest flies of the order. Antennæ long and thread-like, often furnished with long hairs, or pectinated. Almost all without ocelli. Proboscis fleshy, rather prominent, and sometimes long. Thorax with a V-shaped transverse suture. Legs extremely long and fragile; tibiæ often spurred at the tip. Wings long, with a very complete neuration; discoidal cell present in most cases; basal cells very long. Larvæ and pupæ found in the ground, in rotten wood, in water, or in the leaves and stems of plants. Species extremely abundant in New Zealand, being found in numbers in all damp and shady situations.

Family 12. Dixidæ.—Medium-sized gnats. Antennæ long. Ocelli wanting. Proboscis rather prominent. Body slender. Legs long and slender. Wings somewhat large, occasionally spotted; six longitudinal veins; discoidal cell wanting. Larvæ aquatic. I have only found three specimens in New Zealand, all of which were taken on windows. According to Skuse they are common in Australia.

Family 13. Rhyphidæ.—Moderate-sized flies. Antennæ moderately long. Ocelli, three. Legs rather long and slender. Wings rather long and broad, with a discoidal cell. This family contains a single genus. The larvæ feed on vegetable matter, cow-dung, &c. Perfect insects found in outhouses and

• • • Sub-section A. Cross-vein, if present, placed between the root and tip of the first longitudinal vein.

      • Sub-genus 1. Gonioclema (Skuse).

        Antennæ of female 2 + 11 jointed, verticillate, pilose. Second longitudinal reaching margin at the apex of the wing; cross-vein distinct; third longitudinal not branched.

      • Sub-genus 2. Cecidomyia (Loew).

        Second longitudinal vein reaches the margin of the wing a little before its tip. Generally the same number of joints in male and female, the joints being pedicelled or sessile.

      • Sub-genus 3. Diplosis (Loew).

        Second longitudinal vein reaches the margin of the wing at or beyond its tip. Antennæ of male 2 + 24 jointed; joints pedicelled; single joints alternating with double ones, or all joints simple. Antennæ of female 2 + 12 jointed; joints cylindrical, pedicelled.

      • Sub-genus 4. Asphondylia (Loew).

        Second logitudinal vein reaches the margin of the wing a little beyond its tip. Antennæ of both sexes with the same number of joints; the latter cylindrical, sessile, with a short pubescence and without verticils.

      • Sub-genus 5. Hormomyia (Loew).

        Second longitudinal vein reaches the margin of the wing either at or beyond the tip. Thorax more or less gibbose, frequently extending over the head in the form of a hood. Joints of male antennæ pedicelled, those of female pedicelled or sessile.

      • Sub-genus 6. Necrophlebia (Skuse).

        Second longitudinal vein reaching margin of wing beyond its tip; third longitudinal vein without anterior branch. Antennæ in female 2 + 12 jointed; joints pedicelled, with two verticils.

      • Sub-genus 7. Chastomera (Skuse).

        First longitudinal vein very wide of costa; second longitudinal reaching margin beyond apex of wing; no trace of anterior branch of fourth longitudinal. Antennæ in female pedicelled, verticillate.

short pedicels, cylindrical. Wings either unspotted or variegated.

A. Second Longitudinal Vein reaching the Margin of the Wing at or before the Apex.

1. Flagellar joints of the antennæ alternately singly and doubly jointed.

a. Wings unspotted.

Diplosis dubia, n. sp. (Plate V., fig. 3.) Female. Antennæ, 0.033; expanse of wing, 0.060 × 0.024; body, 0.036 × 0.010. Antennæ dark-brown, the two basal joints of the flagellum being longer than the others; all the joints cylindrical, the pedicels being half the length of the joints; verticils small. Front part of thorax black, becoming ferruginous-brown posteriorly. Scutellum ferruginous. Halteres white; pedicels long, with rather small pyriform clubs, clothed, like the pedicels, with scattered black hairs. Abdomen ferruginous-brown, with a few hairs giving silvery reflections. Legs long, clothed with black hairs giving silvery reflections; femora longer than the tibiæ; first joint of tarsus very short, second joint four or five times the length of the first, third about one-third the length of the second, fourth and fifth slightly shorter than the third. Wings with yellowish tinge, very small hairs. Veins yellowish; first longitudinal one-third length of the wing, close to costa; second longitudinal joining margin just before the apex; transverse vein joins first longitudinal at two-thirds of its length from the base.

I have only one specimen, taken at Lincoln, October.

Diplosis difficilis, n. sp. Male. Length of antennæ, 0.064; expanse of wings, 0.055 × 0.019; body, 0.031 × 0.005. Antennæ brownish, with moderately-long black verticils; double joints about the same length as their pedicels, but single joints considerably shorter; last joint ending in an appendage about as long as its pedicel. Head black, smooth. Thorax yellowish-brown, darker anteriorly; a patch of black curved hairs on each shoulder, but otherwise surface of thorax smooth. Scutellum light yellowish-brown, smooth. Halteres with long pedicels ending in a comparatively small club; dirty-white in colour, clothed sparingly with black hairs. Abdomen yellowish-brown; posterior part of the segments darker, clothed with black hairs, giving silver reflections. Legs about three times the length of the body, slender, light-yellow, but appearing nearly black from the large number of black hairs situated on them; tibiæ slightly swollen at the tip. Wings hyaline, with slight yellowish tinge. Veins brownish; first longitudinal ending a little before half the distance along the costa; second longitudinal reaching the

margin of the wing at the apex; branch of third longitudinal very indistinct. Surface of wings clothed with long black hairs; fringe long.

I have only one specimen, of a male insect. (Lincoln, February.)

Diplosis melana, n. sp.—Antennaæ, 0.035; expanse of wing, 0.077 × 0.029; body, 0.033 × 0.020. Antennæ dark-brown; joints of flagellum cylindrical, more than twice the length of their pedicels, ornamented with a few short verticillate hairs; terminal joints slightly shorter than the others, and conical in shape. Head black, with short hairs rising from its posterior border. Thorax black, and hairless except for a few tufts arising from the shoulders. Scutellum dark-grey. Abdomen, black, ferruginous on the flanks; a few hairs on the sides of the segments with silvery reflections. Halteres with short pedicels clothed all over with black and grey hairs; club pyriform, small. Legs moderately long, dark-brown, covered rather thinly with black hairs; femora rather stout; tarsi lighter in colour than the proximal joints. Wings with a grey tinge, a few short hairs scattered over their surface. Veins yellowish-brown except the second longitudinal, which is black; first longitudinal joining the costa about half-way from the base of the wing, the transverse vein, which is almost colourless, joining it at about two-thirds of its length; second longitudinal reaching the margïn at the apex of the wing; apex of forks of third longitudinal below end of second longitudinal.

I have only one female specimen. (Lincoln, November.)

Diplosis minuta, n. sp. Female. Antennæ, 0.026; expanse of wings, 0.050 × 0.018; body, 0.030 × 0.011. Antennæ black; joints of flagellum with short pedicels, about one-third the length of the joints; cylindrical, ornamented with short black verticils. Anterior portion of thorax black, becoming red towards the extremity; a few white scattered hairs on its surface. Scutellum red. Halteres with slender pedicels; club small, pyriform, covered like the pedicels with scattered black hairs. Abdomen with the anterior segments dark-brown, but becoming red towards the posterior end; a few scattered hairs with silvery reflections situated on its surface. Legs rather short, dull-yellow in colour, covered with hairs black in colour but giving silvery reflections; tibiæ slightly shorter than the femora; first and fifth joints of the tarsus about the same length, second joint about twice the length of the third, which is longer than the fourth. Wings hyaline, with yellow reflections. Costa and second longitudinal dark-brown in colour, the others light - grey; first longitudinal ending at about one-third along the costa; second longitudinal ending at the apex; branch of third longitudinal forms

very acute angle with the trunk. Wings covered with slight pubescence.

Separated from D. dubia by shorter legs and smaller size; from D. difficilis by character of hairs on wings. (Lincoln, November.)

B. Second Longitudinal Vein reaching the Margin of the Wing beyond the Apex.

Diplosis fragilis, n. sp. (Plate VII., fig. 3.) Male. Antennæ, 0.049; wings, 0.066 × 0.027; body, 0.033 × 0.006. Antennæ with the joints longer than their pedicels, double joints nearly the same length as their pedicels; sub-globose; double joints cylindrical, with transverse suture, smoky-grey in colour; verticils not numerous, moderately long, black. Thorax ferruginous, dark in front but becoming lighter posteriorly. Scutellum semicircular, opaque, white. Halteres with long slender white pedicels; club pyriform, with small conspicuous thick black hairs. Abdomen with first segment ferruginous, the two succeeding segments much darker; the usual scattered hairs are present arranged on the posterior borders of the segments. Legs long and slender, light-yellow; fomur and tibia about equal in length; first joint of the tarsus very short, second slightly shorter than the tibia, other joints much shorter, the fifth being the shortest. Wings perfectly hyaline, a few short black hairs being scattered over the surface. First longitudinal about one-third the length of the wing, marginal cross-veins situated half-way along it; second longitudinal at first straight, but afterwards strongly arcuated, ending a little beyond the apex; apex of feet of third longitudinal situated exactly below the end of the first longitudinal.

I have several specimens, collected at Lincoln during November and December.

Diplosis hirta, n. sp. Female. Antennæ, 0.033; wings, 0.071 × 0.027; body, 0.038 × 0.011. Antennæ, dark-brown; joints of scapus fuscous; flagellar joints about twice the length of their pedicels, with one circle of long black verticils attached to the base; joints cylindrical, but constricted in the middle; terminal joint with distinct projection from its end. Thorax dark-brown, with two tufts of long black hairs arising on each lateral margin. Scutellum opaque, white. Halteres with long pedicels bearing a club thickly covered with black hairs. Abdomen dark-brown, with its segments much more hairy than in the other species. Legs dark-brown or black, covered with short black hairs—these are longer on the femora than elsewhere; joints of the legs as in D. fragilis. Wings smoky, their surface very densely covered with a brown pubescence; long, stiff, black hairs project from the costa, and there is a deep fringe extending right round the

posterior border of the wing. First longitudinal less than one-half the length of the wing; second longitudinal arcuated at the tip, ends slightly beyond the apex; anterior branch of third longitudinal very indistinct; transverse vein situated less than half-way along the first longitudinal.

I have two specimens, taken at Lincoln during November.

Diplosis scoparia, n. sp. Female. Antennæ, 0.036; wings, 0.088 × 0.038; body, 0.059 × 0.012. Antennæ dark-brown; joints about twice the length of their pedicels, cylindrical in shape, but slightly constricted in the middle; verticils short and scattered; terminal joint of the antennæ bears a pointed projection at its end. Palpi pink. Thorax dark-brown, with two narrow pink stripes, widely separated at the anterior end, but converging considerably towards the scutellum; a few hairs on the lateral margins and on the pink stripes. Scutellum pink, with a row of hairs on its semicircular posterior margin. Halteres with long slender red pedicels, bearing a pyriform club clothed rather thickly with black hairs. Abdomen bright-pink, the posterior margins of the segments, as usual, bearing a few long hairs. Legs dark-brown; femora and tibiæ about equal in length; joints of the tarsus as in D. fragilis. Wings smoky, rather thickly covered with a brown pubescence. First longitudinal rather less than half the length of the wing; second longitudinal at first straight, but afterwards strongly arcuated, ending considerably beyond the apex; fork of third longitudinal slightly beyond the end of first longitudinal; cross-vein situated less than half-way along first longitudinal.

I have two female specimens of this insect, which were taken at Lincoln in November.

Diplosis wanganuiensis, n. sp. (Plate VII., fig. 2.) Female. Antennæ, 0.049; wings, 0.096 × 0.035; body, 0.071 × 0.014. Antennæ dark-brown; joints of the scapus dull-yellow, nearly orbicular; basal joints of the flagellum more than double the length of those near the apex; basal joints much more, and apical joints slightly more, than double the length of their pedicels; terminal joint with a small projection; verticils small and scattered. Palpi the same colour as the joints of the scapus, as long as the antennæ up to the first joint of the scapus. Thorax ferruginous, with two converging light lines; perfectly glabrous. Scutellum ferruginous, without hairs. Hal-teres with long slender white pedicels, the clubs being darker owing to the presence of black hairs. Abdomen pink, with long slender ovipositor; very few hairs on the segments. Legs light - brown, long and slender, very slightly hairy. Wings pellucid, glabrous, or slightly hairy. Costa and second longitudinal light-red; first longitudinal a little more than

of fuscous brown, down the middle of which there is a narrow black line; sides of the fuscous-brown stripe marked by a single row of long black hairs. Scutellum glistening-white, with long black hairs on posterior portion. Halteres long, densely haired; club moderate. Abdomen light yellowish-red, densely covered with long grey or black hairs. Legs long and slender, everywhere covered with short black hairs, which are more numerous on the fore femora and less numerous on the tarsal joints than elsewhere. Wings pellucid, densely pubescent; violet, red, and blue reflections. Costal veins testaceous, but becoming red towards the apex of the wing; cross-veins pale, nearly straight, diverging from first longitudinal about four times the length of cross-vein from end of first longitudinal; second longitudinal thin, with a deep bow before cross-veins, reaches wing-margin beyond the apex; both branches of the third longitudinal indistinct.

Female. Size of body, 0.121; ovipositor, 0.044; antennæ, 0.146; wings, 0.153. Joints of antennæ, 2 + 25; pedicels short; joints cylindrical near base, but becoming orbicular at the apex; last joint two and a half times length of previous joint, subconical. Thorax darker than in the male, cunei-form stripe separated into two narrow linear fuscous-brown stripes approaching one ánother, and becoming lost opposite the base of the wings. Abdomen darker than in male, but otherwise similar. Ovipositor long, needle - shaped, same colour as abdomen. Verticils not so long as in male.

Epidosis agricolœ, n. sp. Female. Antennæ, 0.052; body, 0.090 × 0.011; wings, 0.119 × 0.011. Antennæ longer than the head and thorax, 2 + 11 joints; joints nearly cylindrical, with short pedicels; pedicels of lower joints shortest, those of central joints largest; joints gradually decreasing in size from below upwards; verticils few and scattered. Palpi bright-red, with a few scattered black hairs. Collare testaceous. Thorax a uniform pink colour, with two shallow and narrow grooves extending from the collare, where they are widely separated, to the base of the wings, where they are close together; a few scattered black hairs on the grooves and sides of the thorax. Scutellum rather brighter in colour than the thorax, with a few hairs on the posterior border. Halteres long, with white glabrous pedicels; club white and glabrous. Abdomen of a lighter pink than the thorax, with a few scattered hairs on the segments. Legs long and slender, covered rather thickly with short black hairs. Wings pellucid, thinly covered with black hairs. Second longitudinal vein bent in a short arcuation before junction with cross - vein, afterwards strongly bowed, and terminating beyond the apex of the wing; both

branches of third longitudinal vein indistinct; costal and second longitudinal veins red; transverse vein short, joining first longitudinal three times its own length from end of first longitudinal.

Lincoln, November.

Epidosis ordinaria, n. sp. Male. Antennæ, 0.046; body, 0.049 × 0.008; wings, 0.109 × 0.036. Antennæ 2 + 11 joints; joints of scapus nearly white; lowest joints of flagellum nearly cylindrical, shortly pedicelled; pedicels of middle joints longer, and joints shorter and oval; terminal joints small and oval; verticils few but long. Palpi moderately long, testaceous. Thorax dark-brown, becoming lighter posteriorly, with a few scattered black hairs. Scutellum opaque, white, with one or two black hairs, sometimes bordered with red. Halteres fuscous, pedicel densely covered with short black hairs; club moderate, covered with short black hairs. Abdomen pink, with scattered grey hairs. Legs long and slender, clothed with black hairs. Wings pellucid, densely covered with brown hairs, which are especially long in the fringe on the inner margin. Veins testaceous to red; second longitudinal slightly arcuated before junction with transverse veins, afterwards broadly arcuated, and ending slightly beyond apex of the wing; transverse vein short, about a quarter length of first longitudinal from rising-point of transverse to costa.

Most noticeable points: Colour of the scutellum and halteres, and veins of the wing. Common, October to March.

Lincoln.

Epidosis aurea, n. sp. (Plate VI., fig. 3.) Antennæ broken; wings, 0.110 × 0.048; body, 0.051 × 0.024. Antennæ unfortunately broken in my single specimen; joints of scapus red in colour, with a few black hairs; flagellar joints all oval, with pedicels about half as long as themselves; joints cinereous in colour, with few but long verticils of a black colour. Palpi testaceous. There are eight flagellar joints remaining on one antenna, all of which are similar in size and shape. Anterior portion sides and posterior portion of the thorax orange-yellow in colour, a central dark-brown mark extending from the collare to a little anterior to the point of insertion of the wings, its length being about three times its breadth; on each side one black mark about the same size as the central brown mark, but situated more posteriorly; between the central and lateral marks orange-yellow stripes with a few golden hairs. Scutellum golden-yellow, with a few golden hairs. Halteres light-orange; pedicels long, and, like the club, clothed sparingly with black hairs. Abdomen dark-red, with a few grey hairs scattered over the segments. Legs long and slender, fuscous,

surface. Genital appendages elongated. Legs slightly paler than the abdomen; femur rather stout, shorter than tibia; very few hairs on any of the joints. Wings slightly smoky. First longitudinal rather distant from the costa, about half as long as the wing; second longitudinal ends slightly beyond the apex of the wing; basal portion more than five times the length of the transverse vein; third longitudinal very pale, issuing from the basal portion of second longitudinal at a little beyond half its length, disappearing before the margin; fourth longitudinal with a long anterior branch, nearly straight, posterior branch distinct, and strongly arcuated. Surface of wing covered with black hairs.

Lincoln, November.

Campylomyza lincolniensis. Male. Antennæ, 0.048; wings, 0.044 × 0.025; body, 0.027 × 0.006.

Antennæ brown; joints of scapus slightly compressed; joints of flagellum thirteen in number, large, globose, decreasing in size from below upwards; pedicels nearly twice as long as the joints; verticils black, long, pointing forwards, just reaching the base of the succeeding joint; terminal joint much smaller than the rest, oval, rather longer than its pedicel, its verticils slender. Thorax about as broad as long, black, but ornamented with a few golden-yellow hairs. Scutellum semicircular, black. Halteres with slender pedicels and a circular white club. Abdomen black, slightly haired. Legs light-brown, rather short and robust, not hairy. Femora rather longer than the tibiæ. Wings pellucid. First longitudinal joins the costa at about half its length, part beyond the transverse vein about twice its length; second longitudinal bent at junction of third longitudinal and of transverse vein, afterwards strongly arcuated, joining margin beyond the apex; basal part about five times the length of transverse vein; third longitudinal arising at ábout two-thirds of its length; third longitudinal very faint, disappearing before reaching the margin; fourth longitudinal faint, anterior branch nearly straight. Surface of wings covered sparingly with black hairs.

Lincoln, November. Only two specimens.

Campylomyza minuta, n. sp. Female. Antennæ, 0.011; wings, 0.035 × 0.014; body, 0.028 × 0.005.

Antennæ dark-brown, 2 + 7 jointed; joints of flagellum with very short pedicels, broader than long, ornamented rather sparingly with long radiating verticils; terminal joint oval, rather longer than the others, and ornamented in the same manner. Thorax dark-brown, with lateral margins much lighter. Halteres with slender white pedicels and a small white club. Abdomen smoky-brown, darker at the posterior

border of the segments. Legs short, the same colour as the abdomen, rather hairy. Wings hyaline. First longitudinal about half as long as the wing, part beyond the transverse vein about as long as the transverse vein; second longitudinal vein distinct, only slightly bent, joining the margin distinctly before the apex of the wing; third longitudinal very indistinct, disappearing long before the margin is reached; fourth longitudinal indistinct, anterior branch long and nearly straight. Surface of the wings covered with a few scattered black hairs.

I have only one specimen, taken at Lincoln in February.

Campylomzya nitida, n. sp. Female. Antennæ, 0.028; wings, 0.038 × 0.018; body, 0.033 × 0.008.

Antennæ dark-brown; joints of flagellum thirteen in number, oval, about twice the length of their pedicels, ornamented with a few straight radiating verticils; terminal joint smaller than the others, without any projection. Thorax black and shining, without any hairs. Scutellum light-brown, oval. Halteres with a moderate pedicel and a small white club. Abdomen cinereous, narrowing considerably posteriorly, surface with a few scattered hairs. Legs light-brown; femora and tibiæ robust, with a few scattered black hairs; first joint of tarsus double the length of the second; the others are always slightly shorter than the preceding joint, except the last, which is longer than the fourth. Wings slightly smoky. First longitudinal less than half the length of the costa; transverse vein long, but slightly shorter than that part of the first longitudinal beyond the point of junction; second longitudinal very distinct, distant from first longitudinal, joining margin at the apex; third longitudinal very indistinct, disappearing long before the margin; fourth longitudinal fairly distinct, but both branches disappear before they reach the margin. Surface of the wing with scattered black hairs.

Lincoln, February.

Campylomyza hirta, n. sp. Wings, 0.044 × 0.019; body, 0.038 × 0.006.

Antennæ apparently 2 + 11 joints; joints of flagellum dark-brown, almost sessile, ornamented with a few short verticils; terminal joint equal to the others in size. Thorax dark-brown, almost smooth. Scutellum dark-brown. Halteres with a large club, almost black from the clothing of short hairs. Abdomen nearly cylindrical, but bulging out at the segments; dark-brown, but lighter than the thorax and scutellum. Legs short, dull light-yellow, ornamented with rather long black hairs; all the joints are rather stout. Wings hyaline, surface covered with long black hairs. First

short brown pedicel, but a large cinereous club. Abdomen cylindrical, terminating in a short ovipositor. Abdomen clothed with short black hairs. Legs short and rather robustr dark-brown; first joint of the tarsus about half as long as the tibia and about double the length of the second joint; very few hairs on any of the joints. Wings smoky. Second longitudinal and costa dark-brown, the others lighter; distinct indication of auxiliary vein, but it does not join the costa; first longitudinal rather more than half the length of the wing, bending down at the junction of the transverse vein, which is only one-fifth of the length of remaining portion of first longitudinal; basal portion of second longitudinal about one-third of the length of vein, only slightly bent, joins margin before the apex of the wing; third longitudinal very indistinct, arising from second longitudinal at a little beyond a third of length of basal portion, cannot be followed more than a third of the distance to the margin; fourth longitudinal distinct, anterior branch only slightly bent, posterior branch almost at right angles, disappears before reaching the posterior margin of the wing. Posterior angle of the wing pronounced. Surface covered with a minute brown pubescence.

I have only one specimen of this large distinct species, taken at Lincoln in December, 1893.

Campylomyza robusta, n. sp. Male. Antennæ, 0.024; wings, 0.070 × 0.031; body, 0.055 × 0.011.

Antennæ black, 2 + 11 jointed; flagellar joints almost globose; pedicels about a quarter the length of the joints; all the joints are covered with hairs, but there are no verticils; subterminal joint oval, and longer than the others, which are slightly compressed longitudinally; terminal joint much smaller than the others, apparently without a pedicel. Thorax black, clothed sparingly with light-coloured hairs. Scutellum black. Halteres with short thick brown pedicels, ending in rather a large oval cinereous club. Abdomen very dark brown, covered with scattered black hairs. Legs light-brown; femora about the same length as the tibiæ, thick, clothed sparingly with light-coloured hairs. Wings with a distinct anal angle, rather smoky, covered with black hairs. First longitudinal less than half the length of the wing, part beyond point of origin of transverse vein about four times the length of transverse vein; second longitudinal slightly bent, ending a very little before apex of the wing, very distinct; third longitudinal very indistinct, arising a little beyond middle point of basal portion of second longitudinal; both branches of fourth longitudinal distinct, but the posterior branch does not reach the margin.

Lincoln, February.

Antennæ dark-brown; joints cylindrical, with very short pedicels; terminal about half as long again as the penultimate joint; a circlet of short verticils arises from the basal portion of each joint. Lower portion of frons black. Three ocelli, situated in a triangle just above point of insertion of the antennæ. Compound eyes far apart, emarginate, the antennæ being situated in the bend in the outline. The antennæ are nearly surrounded by a single row of facets, bead-like in appearance. Palpi light-yellow. Thorax dark-brown, hood-shaped; two stripes of lighter colour inclined to one another like the sides of a wedge, the point directed posteriorly; on these stripes long hairs are situated. Scutellum dark-brown, with a row of hairs along posterior margin. Halteres with short pedicels ending in elongate pyriform clubs; light - brown in colour, with scattered black hairs. Abdomen dark-brown, anterior portion of third and succeeding segments light-brown. Surface of all the segments with slender light-coloured hairs. Legs not much longer than the abdomen; light-brown femora, rather shorter than tibiæ; latter light-pink at the tip; first joint of tarsus more than double the length of the second, others all shorter than the one preceding them. Wings pellucid, covered with scattered short black hairs. Costal and second longitudinal pink; rudiment of auxiliary vein present; first longitudinal more than one-third the length of the wing, cross-vein near its tip very oblique; second longitudinal ending long before the tip of the wing; third longitudinal branching out of second just before junction with cross-vein, fork long, both branches wavy, anterior branch ends at the tip of the wing; fourth longitudinal commencing nearer base of wing than third longitudinal, nearly straight, almost disappears before reaching the margin; fifth longitudinal distinct, strongly arcuated; sixth longitudinal short, lying close alongside fifth longitudinal. Posterior angle of the wing very distinct.

Lincoln. Fairly common, especially in very early spring, but is found all the year round.

Male. Antennæ, 0.055 (largest), 0.035 (smallest); wing, 0.077 × 0.030 (largest), 0.060 × 0.024 (smallest); body, 0.052 × 0.011 (largest), 0.046 × 0.011 (smallest). (Plate VI., fig. 2.)

Antennæ light - brown, 2 + 14 joints; joints cylindrical, with pedicels twice their length; all the joints appear double; ornamented with rather long verticils arising from the constriction in the middle of the joint; terminal joint oval, larger than those immediately preceding.

At first I thought that there were three distinct species, which, on examination, proved to differ only in size. This,

abundantly represented in this colony. This is the more remarkable when one considers that all the Australian forms hitherto described are included in four of these sub-sections. In the majority of these divisions there are insects that differ-radically from any previously-established genera, and for these new genera have been established, though with considerable reluctance in one or two cases. The insects of this family can easily be distinguished from all others by their strongly-curved thorax, and legs armed with strong spurs, as well as by the arrangement of the veins of the wings. They can be taken very commonly on windows facing shady gardens at almost any time throughout the year. They are abundant in the early spring, and at Lincoln a few stragglers will be found as late as the middle of June. At Wanganui no less than ten distinct species could be found as late as the middle of July, and would doubtless be as numerous right through the winter. In their native haunts they can be taken abundantly by sweeping the undergrowth and ferns in all damp bush throughout the summer and the greater part of winter. Though usually small insects, one of our native species is more than an inch in expanse of wings, and to a casual observer would appear to belong to the Tipulidæ rather than to the Mycetophilidæ.

In the present paper I give descriptions of thirty-five species, of which the majority belong to old-established genera. They are distributed as follows: Macrocera, 4 species; Bolitophila, 1; Ceroplatus, 3; Platyura, 4; Scio-phila, 1; Tetragoneura, 1; Brachydicrania, 1; Aphelomera, 1; Mycetophila, 6. Of these genera, species of Macrocera, Cero-platus, Platyura, Sciophila, and Mycetophila have been described from Australia and the Old World. Species of Bolitophila and Tetragoneura have been described from the Old World, but not from Australia; while the genera Heteropterna and Brachydicrania have been established for insects recently described from Australia. Of the new genera established in this paper, the first three belong to the sub-section Myceto-binæ, in which there were but three previously-existing genera, containing but few species, all of which have been described from the Old World, Australia, so far, not having been shown to possess any. Two of the new genera are in some respects highly peculiar, and without doubt form a very interesting feature of the New Zealand Diptera. The other new genera belong to well-represented sub-sections, and have many characteristics in common with previously-described genera, but, owing to the rigid manner in which the genera of this family are described, and the slight variations that are considered sufficient to justify their separation, they cannot be placed in any of the old genera. Some of the genera here

many more species, and probably genera, will yet be discovered belonging to the sub-section Mycetobinæ. Generally the Mycetophilidæ are excessively abundant in the colony, owing probably to the great extent of damp bush-covered country, and wherever search is made new species are discovered in comparative plenty.

The following is a résumé, taken from Skuse's “Monograph of Australian Mycetophilidæ,” of Winnertz' classification of the family. Only those genera are described that have so far been shown to possess representatives in this colony. Where genera of my own are mentioned their probable relation to other genera is indicated.

• Section I.—Second longitudinal vein arising from the fourth longitudinal vein, at the middle of it, or more or less before the middle of it. Marginal cross-vein elongated, very obliquely situated. Inner marginal cell dilated. Anterior branch of the second longitudinal vein seldom missing (in Diadocidia only). Anterior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein issuing from the base of the second longitudinal vein. Fifth longitudinal vein generally perfect. Ocelli on the front.

• Section II.—Second longitudinal vein arising from the fourth longitudinal vein near the root of the wing. Marginal cross-vein not elongated. Inner marginal cell not dilated. Anterior branch of the second longitudinal vein always present, very small, situated very near the marginal cross-vein; consequently the marginal cell is very short. An-terior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein issuing from the fourth longitudinal vein beyond, at, or before the middle of it. Fifth longitudinal vein incomplete. Three ocelli on the front.

• Section III.—Second longitudinal vein, marginal cross-vein, fifth longitudinal vein, and inner marginal cell as in the last section. Anterior branch of second longitudinal vein always missing; therefore only two submarginal cells. Anterior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein arising from the fourth longitudinal vein beyond, at, or before the middle of it, rarely missing, more rarely still the anterior branch of the third longitudinal vein missing. Ocelli three, or only two—namely: (A) Three on the front; (B) three, one on the inner margin of each of the compound eyes, the third always very small, situated in the middle of the anterior margin of the front; (C) two, one on the inner margin of each of the compound eyes.

I have only one species of this genus. It is distinguished from nearly all the other genera of this sub-section by the absence of the subcostal cross-vein.

Genus Euryceras, nov. gen.

Costal vein extending beyond the tip of the second longitudinal vein, but not reaching the apex of the wing. Auxiliary vein ending in the costa at about one-third the length of the wing; subcostal cross-vein situated about half-way along it. Basal portion of the second longitudinal vein and the marginal cross-vein equally long. Inner marginal cell short. Third longitudinal complete. Surface of the wing distinctly hairy. Antennæ compressed.

I have only one species of this genus.

Genus Anomala, nov. gen.

Second longitudinal joining costa not far before the apex of the wing. Costa nearly reaching apex of wing. Subcostal cross-vein missing. Inner marginal cell somewhat lengthened, but its apex lies some distance before base of second sub-marginal cell. Fork of third longitudinal vein short, its. petiole rather long. Base of the second posterior cell situated before the origin of third longitudinal vein.

This genus includes two species, both of which are common. It is closely allied to Leia, Ateleia, and Cælosia.

Genus Aphelomera, Sk.

Costal vein extending far beyond the tip of the second longïtudinal vein, but stopping before the apex of the wing. Auxiliary vein joining the costa a short distance before the marginal cross-vein; no subcostal cross-vein. Marginal cross-vein situated very much before the middle of the first longitudinal vein. Third longitudinal vein detached from the second longitudinal, starting in the wing-disk beyond the marginal cross-vein; no anterior branch. Anterior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein quite detached, appearing as a short piece of a vein joining the margin. Fifth longitudinal vein very rudimentary. Wing microscopically pubescent. Abdomen with six segments.

I have only one species belonging to this Australian genus.

Genus Cycloneura, nov. gen.

Auxiliary vein represented by a rudiment. First longitudinal vein ending at about half the distance along the wing. Second longitudinal vein detached at the base, ending some distance before the apex of the wing, and before the end of the costa. Third longitudinal vein detached at the base, ending a little beyond the apex of the wing; posterior branch missing. Fourth longitudinal vein detached at the base.

Fifth longitudinal vein complete, joined beyond half its length by a vein probably corresponding to the posterior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein.

I have only one species of this genus.

Genus Paradoxa, nov. gen.

Auxiliary vein represented by a rudiment. Costa ending some distance before apex of the wing. First longitudinal vein ending in the costa about half-way along the wing. Second longitudinal ending in the costa some distance before its end. Third longitudinal vein with rather short petiole and long fork; posterior branch slightly detached at its base. Fourth longitudinal not forked. Fifth longitudinal as in Cycloneura.

I have only one species of this genus.

B. Three ocelli, one on the inner border of each of the compound eyes, the third one situated in the middle of the anterior border of the front.

Subcostal cross-vein missing. Surface of the wing microscopically pubescent. Abdomen of the male with six segments.

Genus Zygomyia, Winn.

Tips of the costal and second longitudinal veins uniting far before the apex of the wing. Auxiliary vein incomplete, bent anteriorly, gradually disappearing or only forming a tooth. Apex of the inner marginal cell not situated beyond the base of the second submarginal cell. Petiole of the fork of the third longitudinal very short. Anterior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein wanting. Fifth longitudinal vein incomplete. Sixth longitudinal vein in most cases longer.

I have two species belonging to this genus.

C. Two ocelli, one on the inner border of each of the compound eyes.

Surface of the wing microscopically pubescent. Costal vein not extending beyond the tip of the second longitudinal vein. Subcostal cross-vein missing.

Genus Mycetophila, Meig.

Auxiliary vein incomplete, bent anteriorly. Apex of the inner marginal cell lying over the base of the second sub-marginal cell. Branches of the fourth longitudinal fork inclined towards one another at their tips. Fork of the third longitudinal vein with a very short petiole, or almost sessile. Base of the second posterior cell before, under, or a little beyond the base of the second submarginal cell. Fifth longitudinal vein incomplete, broken off before the base of the second posterior cell, or disappearing. Abdomen of the male with six segments.

with setiferous hair. Metathorax highly arched or perpendicular. Scutellum generally small, semicircular, sometimes large, rounded, triangular, generally setiferous; no transverse suture. Abdomen six- or seven - segmented, rarely eight-segmented, cylindrical or compressed at the sides, narrower at the base. Male with a large or small anal joint holding forceps; female with an ovipositor with two terminal lamellæ; the hair, except in a few cases, short and lying close. Legs sometimes long and slender, sometimes short and robust. Coxæ very strong and elongated. Femora broadly flattened, usually strong. Tibiæ spurred, and with lateral spines, rarely without the latter; fore ones with a spur and a very short spine, two hind ones with two spurs and one to four ranges of lateral spines on the outside, and generally with one range on the inner side; rarely all the tibiæ unarmed. Tarsi long and slender, or short and strong; metatarsus frequently prickly. Wings ovate, longer or shorter than the abdomen, with a broad, rounded, more or less cuneiform base. Five or six longitudinal veins, the fifth generally, the sixth always, rudimentary; three cross-veins, of which the humeral and submarginal are always present. Third and fourth longitudinal veins almost always, and the second longitudinal sometimes, forked. No discoidal cell. The first and fourth longitudinal veins are always complete, and form the most important veins issuing from the root of the wing. The costal vein either extends quite to the apex of the wing or stops rather short. The auxiliary vein is often incomplete. Second longitudinal vein issues from the fourth longitudinal vein near its middle or close to its base—in the former case it is broken in an angle, in the latter case it arises obliquely; it joins the costa at or before the apex of the wing. The anterior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein issues rarely near the root of the second longitudinal vein. When the second longitudinal vein issues from the middle of the fourth longitudinal vein it is at the base coalescent with the anterior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein, and the third longitudinal vein has its origin a little below or above the marginal cross-vein, and its fork lies higher up in the wing-disc. In this arrangement the second longitudinal vein is rarely simple, but usually sends out an anterior branch, which runs into the costa or into the first longitudinal vein; this branch may be short or long. When the second longitudinal vein issues from the base of the first longitudinal vein the third longitudinal vein issues from the angle before the marginal cross-vein. Rarely the anterior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein is missing, still more rarely the anterior branch of the third longitudinal vein; infrequently one of these branches is or both are detached at the base. Fifth longi-

others. Epistome setose. Proboscis prominent, rather longer than the palpi. Palpi four-jointed; first joint short, about as broad as it is long; second joint long and greatly swollen, broadest in the middle; third joint rather shorter, cylindrical, much narrower than the first two joints; fourth joint slender, cylindrical, longer than any of the others. Antennæ shorter than the thorax, 2 + 15 jointed; first joint of scapus cupuliform, twice as long and twice as broad as the second, which is also cupuliform; joints of flagellum cylindrical, length about three times the breadth, covered with a dense pubescence, central portion of each joint with stout setæ. Thorax strongly arched, its surface covered with a thin pubescence; lateral margins, with stout setæ. Scutellum small, fringed with long setæ. Metathorax acclivous. Abdomen rather slender, broadened rather posteriorly, slightly pubescent, seven-segmented. Forceps of male large, almost flabelliform, not chelate, covered with setæ. Legs long and slender; coxæ stouter than the femora, setiferous at the tip and on the outer surface; femora very slender, slightly pubescent; tibiæ long and slender, in fore-leg shorter than tarsus, in intermediate leg about as long as tarsus, and in posterior leg nearly twice the length of tarsus, fore and intermediate tibiæ with practically no spines, but posterior tibiæ with two ranges; spurs rather short; tarsi pubescent, with a few small prickles. Wings about as long as abdomen, rather scaly near posterior margin, and hairy near the apex, remarkably rounded at the apical end, and cuneiformly narrowed at the base. Auxiliary vein rather more than one-third the length of the wing, disappearing just before reaching the margin; first longitudinal more than two-thirds the length of the wing; inner marginal cell one-third the length of the wing; petiole of second longitudinal less than the length from apex of inner marginal cell to the commencement of the third longitudinal; anterior branch of second longitudinal long, arcuated, running very gradually into costa; posterior branch very strongly arcuated, joining costa almost at the apex; costa slightly extended beyond point of junction; fork of third longitudinal slightly beyond fork of second; fourth longitudinal only slightly arcuated; fifth longitudinal more strongly arcuated, reaching margin some distance beyond apex of inner marginal cell; sixth longitudinal slender, long, but incomplete.

I have at present only received a specimen of one species belonging to this genus.

Cyrtoneura hudsoni, sp. nov. Plate X., fig. 4; Plate XIII., figs. 1, 2.

Length of antennæ, 0.179; size of body, 0.874 × 0.062; expanse of wing, 0.752 × 0.172.

Antennæ 2 + 15 jointed; first joint of scapus yellow, slightly longer than broad, cyathiform; second joint orange, short, cylindrical, length about equal to its diameter; both joints of scapus almost naked; all joints of flagellum black, but the first has a ring of light-yellow at its lowest end; length and diameter of joints decreasing slightly from below upwards; all the joints are covered with a black pubescence, and have a few stiff black hairs near the middle. Proboscis moderately long, grey above but black below. Palpi fourjointed; first joint grey, narrow, and short; second joint orange, long, and greatly swollen, clothed with yellow and black hairs; third moderately short and narrow, dark-brown, with a black pubescence; fourth about twice the length of the third, covered with black pubescence. Eyes emarginate, separated by a very narrow line just above the antennæ. Ocelli three, two lateral large, central one moderate; situated almost in a line. Vertex narrow. Thorox dark-brown, with a narrow yellow line down the centre, and two broad lateral lines meeting in a semicircle in front, and tapering towards one another posteriorly; another longitudinal lateral stripe just above the wing; the yellow is bordered with dark-brown, which becomes lighter away from the yellow stripes; surface covered with small black hairs, and a row of strong hairs is situated on each lateral margin. Scutellum and metathorax dark-brown. Epimera mottled dark-brown and light-yellow. Halteres with a slender pedicel, terminating in an orange-coloured club, dark at the base, and covered with a short pubescence. Abdomen of seven segments, dark-brown on the median line, but light-yellow on each side. Forceps of the male orange in colour. Legs long and slender; coxæ stout, light-yellow in colour, but shaded with dark-brown; femora dark-yellow, the two posterior pairs being dark in the centre; tibiæ brown, long and slender, clothed with short black hairs; the anterior tibiae have a single spine, the posterior have two short spines each; short stiff hairs at intervals; tarsi dark-brown, clothed with black hairs of two siaes. Wings very broad at apex, but cuneiformly narrowed at the base, clothed with scattered scales, especially near the inner margin, and with hairs near the apex. Auxiliary vein rudimentary; first longitudinal ending in costa at about five-sixths the length of the wing; second and third longitudinals with a common petiole; anterior branch of second longitudinal very long, bending slightly downwards at the tip; posterior branch strongly bent, ending just before the end of the costa, near the apex of the wing; fork of the third longitudinal nearer the apex of the wing than that of the second; both branches feebly developed, and ending close behind the apex of the wing; both branches of fourth longitudinal well developed;

divergent; fourth longitudinal almost straight; fifth longitudinal arcuated; sixth incomplete, not reaching to apex of inner marginal cell, situated some distance from fifth longitudinal.

This genus is evidently closely allied to Ditomyia, but differs from it in the point of origin of the third longitudinal vein.

Nervijuncta nigrescens, sp. nov. Plate VIII., fig. 1.

Length of antennæ 0.055; dimensions of body, 0.170 × 0.030; expanse of wing, 0.155 × 0.057.

Antennæ 2 + 15 jointed; first joint of scapus short, cyathiform, fuscous; second more than twice the length of the first, fuscous, but with a broad cinereous border on the upper end; all joints of flagellum black, slightly decreasing in length and diameter from the base upward; each joint with several small scattered hairs, and a zone of stiff hairs about the middle point. Palpi four-jointed-first joint small, nearly round; second joint long and rather broad, black, with long black hairs at its anterior end; third joint black, more slender, nearly naked; last joint cylindrical, brown, with a few stout black hairs at its anterior end. Eyes large, emarginate. Ocelli three middle smaller than the two lateral, situated nearly in a row. Eyes almost contiguous, behind the antennæ. Vertex dark-brown, densely pubescent. Anterior portion and sides of thorax bright-golden, covered with golden hairs; central portion of thorax and scutellum dark-brown, the former ornamented with a few long stiff black hairs. Metathorax brown, but lighter than the mesothorax. Lower portions of epimera almost black. Abdomen very narrow anteriorly, but broadening posteriorly, consisting of seven segments; anterior portion of each segment dark-brown; posterior margin has a narrow band, smoky-grey in colour; all segments covered with moderately-long black hairs. Legs rather long and thin; anterior coxæ light-yellow, posterior coxæ becoming brown at the tips; femora dark-brown, long and narrow, covered with short stout black hairs; anterior tibia slightly longer than the femur, bearing one short spine at its end; posterior tibia much longer, ornamented with two spines, and bearing scattered short stiff bristles; all tibiæ and tarsi nearly black; first joint of tarsus very long, others decreasing gradually in size, thickly clothed with very short black hairs. Wings nearly entirely brown, surface clothed with scattered black slender hairs. Auxiliary vein rudimentary; first longitudinal nearly three-quarters the length of the wing; second and third longitudinals with a common but very short petiole arising from the apex of the inner marginal cell; petiole of second

marginal cell; fifth longitudinal strong, slightly arcuated; sixth longitudinal rudimentary, represented by a straight line of black hairs.

This genus is in some degree a connecting-link between the foregoing genera. I have not got sufficient material to ascertain its exact position.

Huttonia tridens. Plate VIII. fig. 2.

Platyura tridens, Hutton (Cat. N.Z. Diptera).

Length of antennæ, 0.078; size of body, 0.0245 × 0.038; expanse of wing, 0.225 × 0.071.

Antennæ 2 + 16 jointed; joints of scapus thick and cyathiform, light-yellow, fringed with black hairs; joints of flagellum compressed, oval in outline, the first nine joints yellow at the base, the centre is coloured brown, and the apical portion again is yellow; there is no sharp line of demarcation between the yellow and brown bands. Palpi yellow; first joint dark - yellow long and thick, covered with short black hairs; second rather shorter than the first and slender, with very few black hairs; third and fourth same thickness as the second but much shorter, the latter being rather pointed; a few black hairs on third and fourth joints. Eyes emarginate, almost meeting above the bases of the antennæ. Front black round the ocelli, shading to black posteriorly. Collare light-yellow. Anterior portion of the thorax light-yellow, but bordered with a narrow streak of brown; three longitudinal bands blending together anteriorly behind the yellow band; central longitudinal band much shorter than the lateral ones, not extending more than half-way down the thorax; whole thorax covered with short black hairs. Epimera light-yellow above, but black just above insertion of the coxa. A very few long stout black hairs on the lateral and posterior margins of the mesothorax. Scutellum smoky-brown, fringed with six very long black hairs. Metathorax and pleuræ dark-brown. Halteres with rather a slender pedicel, bearing a densely cinereous club. Abdomen dark-brown, the posterior half of each segment yellow; a thin covering of black hairs on all the segments. Forceps of male light-yellow, ending in a black claw, and covered with short black hairs. Legs rather long; coxæ yellow, with, a few black hairs on the outer side; femora darker, about twice the length of the coxæ; tibiæ darker, with short black hairs and longer spines; spurs moderately long, black; tarsi rather short, covered with short black hairs and a few spines; ground-colour dark-yellow. Wings slightly longer than the abdomen, with a slight dusky tinge, covered rather sparingly with black hairs. Veins dark-brown. A dark patch on the anterior branch of second longitudinal, extending to posterior

prominent, incurved, cylindrical, four-jointed; first joint very small, the following of about equal length; the fourth the longest. Antennæ setaceous, pubescent, in the male as long as, in the female shorter than, the body; 2 + 15 jointed; the joints of the scapus cyathiform; the flagellar joints cylindrical, the terminal one very small, almost gemmiform. Thorax small, oval, highly arched. Scutellum small, roundish. Metathorax acclivous. Halteres large. Abdomen very long and slender; in the male linear, subcylindrical, eight-segmented without the anal joint; in the female nine-segmented, the last segment small. Legs long and slender; tibiæ with very short weak spurs, the fore tibiæ with a single range of spines on the inner side, and the hind pair with one range on the inner and two ranges of shorter and weaker spines on the outer side. Wings large, microscopically pubescent, as long as or somewhat longer than the abdomen, with obtusely cuneiformly narrowed base; incumbent in repose. Costal vein uniting with the tip of the third longitudinal at or somewhat beyond the apex of the wing; auxiliary vein complete, joining the costa, united to the first longitudinal by the subcostal cross-vein; third longitudinal vein with an anterior branch (which is sometimes wanting), the branch short, almost vertical, ending in the tip of the first longitudinal vein or in the costa; small cross-vein, short, situated almost midway between the origin of the third longitudinal vein and the inner end of the second posterior cell; fourth longitudinal vein starting from the base of the fifth longitudinal vein; fork of the fifth longitudinal vein united at its base to the fourth longitudinal vein by a small cross-vein; sixth longitudinal vein perfect.

The only New Zealand species of this genus that I have seen is B. luminosa, (Sk.). The only specimens of this fly, so far as I know, were reared from larvæ by Mr. G. V. Hudson, of Wellington. The larvæ are abundant throughout the colony in dark, damp gullies, but whether they all belong to the same species is not so far determined. Though the larvæ are abundant the fly seems scarce, as I have never taken any; but this may be because the insect is a night-flier. The larva and metamorphosis of the insect are fully described by Mr. G. V. Hudson (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxiii., pp. 43–49, pl. viii.).

Bolitophila luminosa, Skuse (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxiii., p. 47). Plate IX., fig. 2; Plate XIII., fig. 4.

Length of antennæ, 0.090; size of body, 0.380 × 0.040 expanse of wing, 0.250 × 0.070.

Antennæ very slender, as long as the head and thorax combined; joints of scapus yellow, tinged with brownish; flagellar joints elongated, progressively diminishing in thick

ness, brown. Hypostoma brown. Palpi yellow. Front and vertex black. Thorax black or very deep brown, levigate, with a median yellow line; the humeri and lateral borders pale - yellow or whitish; two convergent rows of short black hairs from humeri to scutellum; some black bristly hairs above the origin of the wings. Pleuræ deep-brown tinged with pale-yellow. Halteres pallid, the club black. Abdomen slender, subcylindrical, five times the length of the thorax, dusky-brown; the segments distinctly, especially the hindermost ones, tinged with yellowish anteriorly, densely clothed with very short black or brown hairs. Extremity and lamella of ovipositor yellow. Legs long and very slender; coxæ pale-yellow or whitish, the fore and intermediate pairs with the extreme apex and the hind pair with almost the apical half dusky-brown, trochanters dusky-brown; femora pale-yellow or whitish, the hind pair black at the apex; tibiæ and tarsi black, tibial-spurs black; in the fore-legs the tibias and metatarsi of about equal length, the tarsi twice the length of the tibiæ. Wings shorter than the abdomen, pellucid, with a delicate yellowish tint, and almost the apical half infurcated with grey. Costal vein uniting with the tip of the third longitudinal vein somewhat beyond the apex of the wing; auxiliary vein terminating in the costa opposite or somewhat beyond the inner end of the second posterior cell, the subcostal cross-vein situated near its base; first longitudinal vein running straight into the costa, near a point before the tip of the posterior branch of the fourth longitudinal vein; third longitudinal vein greatly arcuated near its base, strongly arcuated near its tip; posterior branch of fifth longitudinal vein abruptly reaching the margin.

Though well acquainted with the larva, I have never taken the mature form of this insect. Mr. G. V. Hudson, of Wellington, has hatched out some of the larvæ, from one of which this description was drawn by Mr. Skuse.

Genus Ceroplatus, Bosc.

Head small, broadly oval, flattened on the fore part. Eyes oval, sometimes a little emarginate on the inner side above. Ocelli three on a curved line on the front. Palpi short, not incurved, with three or four joints; first joint small, the others large. Antennæ projecting forwards, shorter than the head and thorax together, very flat and broad, broadest in the middle, 2 + 14 jointed; joints of the scapus cotilliform, in some species the first joint prolonged in front; flagellar joints almost annular, the last joint conical or gemmiform. Thorax oval, highly arched. Scutellum almost, semicircular. Metathorax arched. Abdomen cylindrical, or a little flattened,

with seven segments in both sexes. Legs long; tibiæ spurred, the spurs of unequal length; lateral spines missing or exceedingly small, one range on the inner side of the fore tibiæ, one on the inner side and two on the outer of the hind tibiæ. Wings microscopically pubescent, shorter than the abdomen, base broad and rounded off, incumbent in repose. Costal vein extending beyond the tip of the second longitudinal vein, ending before the apex of the wing; auxiliary vein complete, terminating in the costa before the origin of the third longitudinal vein; subcostal cross-vein missing; second longitudinal vein forming a long-stalked fork with a short anterior branch, the latter running into the costa, sometimes into the first longitudinal vein; petiole of the third submarginal cell always short; fifth longitudinal vein complete.

I have specimens of three species of this genus, all of which are of small size.

Ceroplatus dendyi, sp. nov. Plate IX., fig. 3.

Length of antennæ, 0.046; size of body, 0.198 × 0.038; expanse of wing, 0.160 × 0.66.

Antennæ dark; scapus with lowest joint moderately long and very thick second joint about as long as broad, black, with a faint tawny tinge; joints of flagellum considerably dilated and flattened, broadest at the base, and gradually decreasing in width towards the apex; surface pubescent, with stiffer hairs on the margins, all joints of flagellum black. Ocelli in a triangle, central, much smaller than the two lateral. Crown dark-brown or black, pubescent. Thorax dark-brown, with two lighter patches over the point of insertion of the wings, and two broad indistinct lighter lines commencing near the collare and coalescing some distance in front of the scutellum. Thorax densely covered with black hairs. Scutellum black, its posterior broader, fringed with black hairs. Metathorax brown. Pleuræ dark-brown. Halteres with almost white pedicels; club brown for basal three-quarters, spical quarter white. Abdomen black, with brown patches on the middle segments. Forceps of male cinereous Abdomen and forceps covered thinly with black hairs. Legs moderate; coxse straw-coloured, with black hairs, darker at the tips; femora, tibiæ, and tarsi straw-coloured, but covered with black hairs that become more numerous towards the distal extremities; one spur on each anterior tibia, and two, the inner larger than the outer, on each posterior tibia; all black. Wings smoky, with a large dark patch at the apex, and another smaller one proceeding transversely from the costa to the petiole of the third longitudinal. Auxiliary vein joining the costa just before

the origin of the third longitudinal vein; anterior branch of second longitudinal short, joining the costa a little beyond the apex of the first longitudinal; costal vein extending some distance beyond the apex of second longitudinal, but not quite reaching the apex of the wing; posterior branch of third longitudinal and subsequent veins do not quite reach the margin; sixth longitudinal terminating some distance before the margin. Surface of wing microscopically haired.

I have only two specimens of this insect, one of which was reared by Dr. Dendy from larvæ, and the other by myself. The larvæ are found beneath logs, and apparently live on the small mould fungi that grow in such localities. The insect is closely allied to Ceroplatus mastersi (Skuse) of New South Wales. The larvae from which my specimens were bred were-found by Dr. Dendy in Alford Forest. Unlike the larvæ of O. mastersi, those of the present species are certainly not luminous. The form of the larvæ is totally different from that of the diagram given in Theobald's “British Flies,” vol. i., page 96 Geroplatus hudsoni, sp. nov.

Length of antennæ, 0.056; size of body, 0.168 × 0022; expanse of wing, 0.143 × 0.049.

Antennæ about as long as head, and thorax very similar to those of G. dendyi. Thorax, scutellum, and pleuræ black, the two former covered with stiff black hairs. Halteres with a stout pedicel bearing a black pubescent knob. Abdomen black, the posterior portion of each segment being dark-grey; abdomen covered with stiff black hairs. Legs rather long; coxæ black, hairy towards the extremity; femora with the two extremities black but light-yellow in the central portion, covered all over with short black hairs; tibiss and tarsi straw-coloured, clothed with short stiff black hairs. Wing; slightly smoky; an indistinct patch of dark colour near the apex, which disappears at the anterior branch of the third longitudinal, and does not extend further from the apex than the fork of the second longitudinal; another patch extending' from the junction between second and third longitudinals nearly to the former patch; both patches much lighter than in C. dendyi. First longitudinal very close to margin of the veing brown, not black as in C. dendyi

I have only one specimen of this insect, taken by Mr. G. V. Hudson in the neighbourhood of Wellington. It closely resembles G. dendyi, but can be distinguished by its smaller size, darker colour, narrower and lighter wings, and the colour of the coxæ.

Ceroplatus leucoceras, sp. nov. Plate XIII., fig. 3.

Length of antennæ, 0.044; size of body, 0.170 × 0.022; expanse of wing, 0.110 × 0.044.

black hairs. Metathorax and pleuræ yellow, but with a bright-silvery sheen, due to the presence of a minute silvery pubescence. Halteres with a stout orange pedicel, terminating in a moderate knob, orange at the base but darker at the apex, covered with a black pubescence. First two segments of abdomen slender, black; third segment dark-orange, with a dense covering of black hairs; fourth segment bright-orange, with few black hairs; fifth segment dark-orange; the last two segments black, and covered thickly with black hairs. Base of forceps dark-orange, becoming black at the apex, and ending in two horny chelæ. Legs moderately long; coxæ orange, with a few black hairs at the tip; femora dark-orange, covered with short black hairs; tibiæ and tarsi dark-orange, but the close covering of hairs on the tarsi makes them appear almost black: spurs stout, black. Wings with a fulvous tinge, especially near the costal margin; a black patch extending from the fork of the second longitudinal to trie apex, very dark near the costal margin, but shading away towards the inner margin; another feebly-shaded spot near the end of the fifth longitudinal, extending a little beyond the fourth longitudinal, but not extending any distance towards the anterior margin. Veins yellow at the base, but shading into black at the apex of the inner marginal cell: costal vein terminates where the second longitudinal joins it; two branches of the third longitudinal terminate close together, and the apices of the fourth and fifth longitudinals close together. Wings microscopically haired.

Female. Length of antennæ, 0.079; size of body, 0.385 × 0.071; expanse of wing, 0.242 × 0.094.

Joints of scapus bright-orange, covered with short black hairs; joints of flagellum as in the male. Head black, but thorax orange, with silver sheen marked with dark-orange in much the same way as the male is marked with black. Scutellum dark-orange, fringed with black hairs. Metathorax and pluræ with a beautiful silvery sheen. All segments of abdomen dark-orange inottled with black, and covered with black hairs. Legs rather darker all over than in male. Wings with more pronounced fulvous shade, and less conspicuously shaded than in male. Sides of abdomen covered with a less-evident silvery tomentum than the pleuræ.

I have only one male and one female specimen of this fine and remarkable insect; they were taken together, at an elevation of about 1,000ft., on the Ruahine Mountains, in the month of January.

Platyura agricolce, sp. nov.

Male. Length of antennæ, 0.064; size of body, 0.203 × 0.033; expanse of wing, 0.157 × 0.055.

Antennæ 2 + 14 jointed; joints of scapus about as long as broad, black, fringed with black hairs; joints of flagellum moderately stout, base of lowest joint fuscous, all the rest black, slightly pubescent. Second joint of palpus black, third and fourth joints about equal in length, light-yellow covered with minute yellowish pubescence arid a few scattered black hairs. Epistome black, covered with black hairs. Vertex smoky-grey with moderately long black hairs, and covered with minute silvery pubescence. Thorax covered with minute silvery pubescence, except a median and two lateral black stripes whose surface is shining; one median line of strong black hairs, which are also scattered all over the surface except on the black stripes. Scutellum black, but covered with minute silvery pubescence and fringed with strong black hairs. Metathorax and pleurææ black, but with pubescence. Halteres with stout pedicel bearing large oval fulvous clubs apparently naked. Abdomen black, but often with dull - orange patches on the posterior portions of the third, fourth, and fifth segments; all segments with numerous black hairs. Forceps of male large, dull-orange at the base, but darkening upwards, becoming black at the tips. Legs rather long; coxæ sti-aw-coloured, darker on the outer surface; femora straw - coloured, covered with short black hairs; tibise and tarsi darker and more thickly covered with black hairs; several rows of spines on the tibise; spurs rather long, black. Wings with yellowish tinge, surface covered with minute black pubescence. All veins strong, black but lighter near the base; costal vein extending beyond junction with second longitudinal, but ending abruptly before the apex; anterior branch of second longitudinal about equal in length to petiole of third longitudinal.

Female. Length of antennæ, 0.050; size of body, 0.108 × 0.044; expanse of wing, 0.176 × 0.073.

Antennæ more slender than those of the male; joints of scapus light-brown; basal and terminal joint of the flagellum much longer than any others; basal joint dark-brown, others black. Thorax tawny, the black marks being represented by dark-brown stripes which unite in a broad patch, in front of the scutellum. Scutellum tawny, with a fringe of black hairs. Metathorax and pleuræ dark-brown. Halteres as in the male. Abdomen much broader and of a lighter colour than in the male, all the segments being bordered posteriorly with tawnyred. Legs and wings as in the male, but apex of the wing much rounder.

I have assumed that these are male and female forms of the same insect, for, though both forms are extremely common about Lincoln, I have never captured a female of the one or a male of the other. They can be taken all through

only as long as the head and thorax together, somewhat compressed, 2 + 14 jointed; joints of the seapus distinct, cyathiform, setose at the apex; flagellar joints cylindrical, with downy pubescence. Thorax highly arched, oval. Scutellum small, semicircular. Metathorax acclivous. Halteres with an oblong club. Abdomen slender, with seven segments, narrowed at the base, generally claviform, especially in the male, somewhat flattened posteriorly; in the male terminating in a short forceps, in the female in a short non-projecting ovipositor with two terminal lamellæ. Legs long; femora with a fringe of hair on the lower side; tibiæ spurred, the fore pair with two, the hind pair with three ranges of lateral spines, of which those on the inner side are particularly short and delicate; coxæ elongated, the fore pair hairy on the front, the intermediate pair only at their apex, the hind pair with a row of setaceous hairs on their outer sides. In the male of some species the coxæ of the intermediate legs have on the inner side a long arcuated spine; these spines terminate in a double hook-shaped curved point, usually of a dark colour. Wings microscopically pubescent, longish-oval, with roundedoff base, a little longer than the abdomen. Tip of the costal vein uniting with the tip of the second longitudinal vein at the apex of the wing, rarely before it; auxiliary vein terminating in the costa not beyond the anterior branch of the second longitudinal vein; base of the second posterior cell lying either before, under, or beyond the origin of the third longitudinal vein, but always before the base of the third sub-marginal cell, and never so far forward as to come under the anterior branch of the second longitudinal vein; fifth longitudinal vein incomplete, usually broken off opposite the middle of the second posterior cell, sometimes disappearing before the base of the second posterior cell.

Sciophila fagi, sp. nov. Plate X., fig. 1.

Size of body, 0.174 × 0032; expanse of wing, 0.132 × 0.074.

Joints of scapus short, not more than half their length, light-yellow, with a few black hairs; first joint of flagellum yellow but clouded, subsequent joints black, length about four times their breadth, covered with very fine glistening black hairs. Palpi long and slender, clouded straw-colour; first joint short, slightly hairy; second joint about twice the length of first, scattered black hairs on its surface; third joint more slexider and twice the length of the second; fourth joint still more slender and darker in colour, about half as long again as the third. Vertex almost black. Thorax yellow, marked with tawny; two lateral rows of black hairs inclined to one another and meeting before the scutellum, also a median

row, but much shorter, not half the length of the thorax; sides of thorax with scattered black hairs. Scutellum testaceous, with two long black hairs on its posterior margin. Metathorax almost black posteriorly; pleuræ brown. Halteres with stout pedicels bearing black hairs; clubs almost white, with short stout black hairs. Abdomen of seven segments, the posterior portion of each segment being darkyellow. Forceps of male black, covered with black hairs. Legs long and slender; coxæ very light yellow, with black hairs; femora, tibiæ, and tarsi darker, more densely eoveredl with hairs; a few short black spines on the tibiæ, and shorter-ones on the tarsi; spurs black, but rather short. Wings smoky, covered with black hairs. Auxiliary vein rather faint, rather more than one-third the length of the wing; first longitudinal ending rather near the apex of the wing; second longitudinal ending in costa slightly before apex of wing; costa continued to apex; subcostal cross vein below apex of auxiliary; anterior branch of third longitudinal disappears about half-way from the fork to the margin of the wing; posterior branch very faint; anterior branch of first longitudinal almost straight, posterior rather wavy; fifth longitudinal straight, but not nearly reaching the margin.

I have only one specimen of this insect, and, unfortunately, the antennæ are not entire. The peculiarities of its neuration perhaps entitle it to be the type-species of a new genus.

Sciophila (?) hirta, n. sp. Plate IX., fig. 5.

Size of body, 0.132 × 0.030; expanse of wing, 0.165 × 0.069.

Antennæ not perfect; joints of scapus dark-brown, nearly cylindrical, breadth nearly as great as their length; flagellum nearly cylindrical, no appreciable gap separating the joints, covered all over with a soft light-yellow pubescence. Palpi very slender but not long, light-yellow. Vertex black and shining. Thorax black and shining, a dark-yellow humeral patch on each anterior corner, behind which there is a patch of long black hairs. Abdomen black and shining, and covered with a close coating of stiff black hairs. Legs rather slender; coxæ pale-yellow at the base but darker at the tip, covered with black hairs; femora dark-yellow, clothed with black hairs; tibice dark-brown, considerably dilated at the extremity, marked with longitudinal rows of black hairs, with spines at intervals; spurs very light yellow; tarsi much darker and more densely clothed with black hairs than the tibiæ. Wings light-brown, becoming much darker at the first longitudinal vein; surface covered with scattered black hairs. Auxiliary vein ending blindly, not extending as far as the transverse vein; first longtudinal extending about four-fifths

less than one-third the length of the wing, subcostal crossvein situated near its apex; first longitudinal vein ending at about two-thirds the length of the wing; marginal cross-vein situated just beyond subcostal; petiole of second longitudinal very short, so subrargmal cell is almost triangular; second longitudinal running into the costa some distance before the apex; costa prolonged beyond its tip, but not reaching the apex; third longitudinal rather indistinct, the apex of its fork situated some distance beyond apex of inner marginal cell, branches slightly divergent; fourth longitudinal unbranched; fifth and sixth longitudinals absent.

I have specimens of but one species of this genus, but the neuration is so distinct that I think I am justified in establishing a new genus for it.

Parvicellula triangula. Plate X., fig. 2; Plate XIII., figs. 8, 9.

Length of antennæ, 0.038; size of body,: 0.132 × 0.033; expanse of wing, 0.115 × 0.057

Antennæ 2 + 14 jointed; first joint of scapus very short, pale-yellow, second joint pale-yellow, cyathiform, the margin of the upper side ornamented with a few stiff black hairs about as long as the joint; first two joints of flagellum yellow, but antennæ gradually darkening towards the tip; all joints much the same length, centre ones bulging in the middle, terminal joints more cylindrical; all joints covered with soft pubescence giving silvery reflections; all joints rather longer than broad. Palpi incurved, cinereous; first joint short, second rather longer and thicker, clothed with black hairs; third and fourth slender and short, with a few short black hairs. Proboscis slightly protruding, hairy. Ocelli three, one situated close to the inner margin of each eye, the third almost in a line between them. Vertex black and shining, with a few black hairs, Thorax dark-tawny, with indistinct central and lateral black bands, covered with a minute pubescence arid long golden hairs. Scutellum tawny, with golden hairs. Metathorax black, with golden hairs on its posterior margin. Pleuræ and epimera black. Abdomen of seven segments, black, but thickly covered with long golden hairs, slightly depressed, broadest in centre. Lamellæ of female white, covered with light-coloured hairs. Halteres very light yellow, covered with a minute pubescence. Legs of moderate length; coxæ smoky at the base, light-yellow in the middle, and black at the apex, the apical portion clothed with long golden hairs; femora dark at the tip; tibiæ about half as long again as the-femora, rather stout, with many short black spines and a dense covering of black hairs; tarsi slender, straw-coloured, with a dense covering, of short black hairs and spines on the posterior

side. Wings oval, rounded at the apex, and anal angle not prominent, shorter than the abdomen, surface hairy. Auxiliary vein more than one-third the length of the wing, but not half its length; no subcostal cross-vein; first longitudinal slightly arcuated, ending near the apex of the wing; second longitudinal arcuated, joining costa just before the apex; costa prolonged beyond the tip of the second longitudinal and reaching the apex; basal portion of second longitudinal about one and a half times the length of the submarginal cross-vein, which is situated some distance before the apex of the auxiliary vein; petiole of the third longitudinal about the same length as the anterior branch, branches divergent; apex of the second posterior cell situated before the apex of the second submarginal cell; branches of fork of fourth longitudinal very divergent; fifth longitudinal incomplete.

This genus differs from most of the others in the sub-section in the absence of the subcostal cross-vein. It is closely allied to Boletina.

Aneura boletinoides, sp. nov. Plate X., fig. 5; Plate XIII., figs. 12, 13.

Length of antennæ, 0.093; size of body, 0.154 × 0.016; expanse of wing, 0.132 × 0.049.

Antennæ 2 + 14 jointed, longer than head and thorax together; joints of scapus short, nearly globular, very light yellow; first joint of flagellum light - yellow at base, but upper portion and all succeeding joints dark-brown; length of joints about three times their diameter, all rather thickly clotted with black hairs; terminal joint slender but rounded. Palpi very dark brown; first joint rather slender, second long and slightly swollen, third shorter and more slender, fourth longest and more slender than any others. Thorax bordered all round with light-yellow, central portion light-brown; one central row of short black hairs; two lateral rows, the outer one consisting of long hairs; central row short, but two inside lateral rows meet in front of scutellum. Scutellum light-yellow, bordered with long black hairs. Meta-thorax and pleuræ brown. Pedicel long and slender, supporting rather a large club, both pedicel and club being covered with a short black pubescence. Abdomen light-yellow, the posterior margin of each segment especially on the sides being brown; surface with scattered long slender black hairs. Lamellæ of female dark-brown, and forceps of male rather large, black. Abdomen of male with broader brown borders on posterior portion of abdomen than in female. Legs long and slender; coxæ rather short, very light yellow; femora rather long, light-yellow, but covered with black hairs; tibiæ and tarsi light-coloured, but covered with black hairs, and

complete but short, subcostal cross-vein situated about half-way along it; first longitudinal joining costa more than two-thirds the length of the wing; second longitudinal joining the costa before the apex; costa slightly extended beyond the point of junction, but not reaching the apex of the wing; submarginal cross-vein about equal to basal portion of second longitudinal; petiole of third longitudinal rather short; apex of fork of fourth longitudinal just below origin of third longitudinal, branches divergent; fifth longitudinal strong but incomplete.

This genus is closely related to Anaclinia, Winn.

Euryceras anaclinoides, sp. nov. Plate XI., fig. 1; Plate XIII., figs. 14, 15.

Length of antennæ, 0.068; size of body, 0.132 × 0.034; expanse of wing, 0.154 × 0.060.

Antennæ 2 + 14 jointed; joints of scapus short, yellow, cyathiform, covered with short yellow cilia; joints of flagellum black, but densely covered with a yellow pubescence; fifth and sixth joints broadest, their breadth being half as much again as their length; terminal joint the longest, its length being about three times its breadth; succeeding joints gradually decreasing in length but increasing in breadth. Palpi very light yellow, incurved; first joint short; second joint rather long and broad, densely ciliated with light-yellow hairs; third and fourth joints much more slender, about equal in length, densely ciliated. Vertex black, rather hairy. Ocelli situated nearly in a straight line. Eyes emarginate, but not nearly meeting. Thorax light-yellow anteriorly but much darker posteriorly, becoming almost black in front of the scutellum; surface covered with short black hairs, the sides with a margin of long golden hairs. Scutellum dark-brown, with a fringe of black hairs. Metathorax almost black, the posterior portion with a few long yellow hairs. Pleuræ brown, with a few long hairs. Halteres with stout pedicels bearing an elongated pyriform club, light-yellow in colour, and covered with a fine pubescence. Abdomen black, first segment yellow except in centre of dorsal surface, where it is brown covered with long yellow hairs; abdomen broadening considerably posteriorly, the posterior portion of each segment brown, last segment with a yellow border covered all over with rather black hairs. Legs rather long; coxæ yellow, the outer surface of posterior coxa brown, a few stiff yellow hairs on each coxa; intermediate and posterior femora brown on the anterior side of the upper portion, and at the distal extremity, which is covered with black hairs, other parts of coxa yellow, covered with short yellow hairs; tibiæ of anterior and intermediate legs rather short, yellow,

Anomala guttata. Plate XI., fig. 3; Plate XIII., figs. 16 17.

Mycetophila guttata, Hutt.

Length of antennæ, 0.079; size of body, 0.174 × 0.044; expanse of wing, 0.165 × 0.066.

Antennæ 2 + 14 jointed; joints of scapus yellow, first much longer than the second, which is cyathiform, surface of both with a few stout short black hairs which are much longer on the edge of the second joint; first five or six joints of flagellum yellow, terminal joints nearly black, length usually about twice the breadth, all joints densely covered with short hairs having bright silvery reflections. Palpi prominent, rather large and thick, light-yellow, with a few short hairs. A black shining patch round, each ocellus, but an orange area between them. Vertex dark-brown, with long; black hairs on the margin. Thorax dark-yellow, surface with a few scattered hairs, which are long on the anterior and lateral margins; four longitudinal brown stripes, two short ones extending from the collare to the insertion of the wings, one on each side of the mediam line, but never confluent; the other two near the lateral margin, commencing farther back, and extending nearly to the scutellum, never confluent. Scutellum dark - brown anteriorly, light - yellow posteriorly, fringed with long black hairs. Metathorax and pleuræ dark-brown. Halteres with light-coloured rather slender pedicels bearing an oval club, light - yellow in colour. Abdomen broadest in the middle, covered with hairs giving golden reflection; anterior portion of each segment yellow, posterior and longer portions dark-brown. Legs rather short; coxæ light-yellow, with black hairs on anterior surface; femora brown at both ends but yellow in the centre; tibiæ rather stout those of posterior and intermediate legs darkened at both extremities and covered with short hairs and bearing several spines of two sizes; anterior tibiæ only with shorter spines; tarsi light - yellow, but thickly clothed with dark hairs; spurs brown. Wings with brownish tinge, microscopically pubescent; one brown patch between apex of first longitudinal and costa; another patch at fork of second and third longitudinals, and a third on the inner side of posterior branch of fourth longitudinal; a more indistinct patch between anterior branch of fourth longitudinal and posterior branch of second longitudinal-i.e., near the margin of first posterior cell. Second longitudinal joining costa not far before apex of wing; costa almost reaching the apex; apex of fork of third longitudinal much nearer the apex of wing than-trans-verse vein, the latter situated half-way along the wing; fork, of fourbh longitudinal nearer base of wing thau junction

nate above on the inner side. Palpi prominent, incurved, four-jointed; first and second joints somewhat robust, first joint small, second twice the length of the first, third rather longer than the first and second taken together and considerably more slender, fourth joint very slender, about equal in length to all the others taken together. Antennæ arcuated, projecting forward, longer than the head and thorax combined, very slender, 2 + 14 jointed; joints of the scapus of about equal size, cupuliform, both setiferous at the apex; flagellar joints cylindrical, with a short dense pubescence. Thorax oval, highly arched. Scutellum small, almost semicircular. Metathorax high, acclivous. Abdomen slender, cylindrical, six-segmented, with an anal joint almost as large as the sixth abdominal segment, and small forceps. Legs long, slender; femora not so robust as the coxæ, compressed; tibiæ spurred, and the intermediate and hind pairs each with two rows of lateral spines. Wings oblong-ovate, longer than the abdomen, rounded off at the base, microscopically pubescent. Costal vein extending far beyond the tip of the second longitudinal vein, stopping a little before the apex of the wing; auxiliary vein joining the costa a little before the marginal cross-vein; the humeral cross-vein very oblique; no subcostal cross-vein; first longitudinal vein joining the costa at a point three-fourths of the distance from the root of the wing to the tip of the costa; the marginal cross-vein situated very much before the middle of the first longitudinal vein, at a point about one-third the length of the latter; third longitudinal vein detached from the second longitudinal vein, starting in the wing-disc considerably beyond the marginal cross-vein, reaching the margin much below the apex of the wing, without any trace of an anterior branch; fourth longitudinal vein joining the margin before the tip of the first longitudinal vein joins the costa, the only trace of an anterior branch being an indistinct short piece of a vein quite detached from the fourth longitudinal vein, and joining the posterior margin a short distance in front of it; fifth longitudinal vein only rudimentary.

The only species of this genus hitherto described is from Sydney, so the genus would appear to be confined to Australasia.

Aphelomera skusei, n. sp. Plate XI., fig. 4.

Length of antennæ, 0.055; size of body, 0.073 × 0.013; expanse of wing, 0.066 × 0.030.

Joints of seapus orange, with a few black hairs; flagellum black, joints from three to five times longer than broad, covered all over with a fine pubescence. Palpi light-brown, darker at the tip. Thorax dark-brown or black, covered with short yellowish hairs and longer black hairs,

lum black, with a few long hairs on the posterior margin. Abdomen black, narrow in front but broadening considerably posteriorly, hairs few and scattered. Forceps of male light-yellow. Halteres with a light-yellow pedicel; club large, pyriform, black. Legs not long; coxæ yellow, darkening towards the apex, where there are a few light-coloured setæ; trochanters light-yellow; femora rather compressed, yellow, but dark-brown or black at the apex, covered all over with black hairs, which are lengthened considerably near the end of the lateral margins; tarsi straw-coloured, with two ranges of long black spines; posterior spurs half the length of metatarsus, straw-coloured, but densely covered with short black hairs; tarsi with spines on the inner surface. Wings with a pale-yellow tinge; veins dark-brown, but lighter where they cross the white areas; costal margin of wing brown, the shading extending downwards at the marginal cross-vein; all the apical half of the wing shaded with brown, which is darker near the costal margin; a roundish white patch half in the second and half in the first submarginal cell. Tips of costal and second longiudinal veins uniting before the apex of the wing; fourth longitudinal strong; fifth longitudinal parallel to the third, ending about half-way down it; sixth longitudinal strong.

Common at Wanganui and Lincoln early in the spring.

Zygomyia fusca, sp. nov.

Length of antennæ, 0.049; size of body, 0.115 × 0.033; expanse of wing, 0.125 × 0.049.

Joints of scapus rather long, light-yellow, cyathiform, the first half as long again as the second; joints of flagellum rather compressed, dark-brown, those at the base about as long as broad, the apical ones with the length more than four times the breadth, thickly clothed with a pubescence giving silvery reflections. Palpi yellow. The central ocellus small, situated in rather a deep depression. Thorax dark-brown, bordered with orange anteriorly, and covered with black hairs. Scutellum dark-brown, with long hairs on the posterior margin. Metathorax and pleurse dark-brown on upper portion, but black below. Halteres white; club oval, with a few black hairs. Abdomen black, with very few hairs except on the posterior margins of the segments; a cinereous band on the hind margin of every segment. Forceps of male dark-brown, and densely covered with black hairs. Legs moderate; coxæ almost, white, but a small patch of brown and black hairs at the tip; trochanters dark; femora light straw-colour, with short black hairs which become setæ on the margins near the apex, rather dark at the base, compressed; tibiæ stout and, like the tarsi, closely resemble those of Z. flavicoxa.

reflections. Palpi long, incurved; first joint nearly black, second joint long, light-brown, third joint similar to the second but more slender and shorter, fourth joint longest, orange-coloured. Front greyish-brown, setose, the hairs being black. Thorax dark-brown, thickly covered with short black hairs, with long curved black hairs on the margins. Scutellum black, with long black hairs on the margin. Metathorax and pleuræ black, the latter with long slender black hairs. Halteres with stout pedicels, very light yellow, but covered with short black hairs. Abdomen slender, dark-brown irregularly mottled with fulvous, covered everywhere with rather short black hairs. Legs rather long and slender; coxæ yellow at both ends, but the central portion is darkbrown, tip setose; femora dark-yellow, the tip and central portion shaded with brown, surface covered with short black hairs; tibiæ slender, straw-coloured, with longitudinal rows of black hairs, and spotted with brown spots, from which long spines arise; spurs dark-brown; tarsi long and slender, with horizontal rows of black hairs, but no spines. Wings with distinct brown tinge, but extreme tip yellow; a dark-brown patch at marginal cross-vein and apex of inner marginal cell; a very irregular band extending from the end of the first longitudinal to near the end of the second posterior cell; a shaded patch between these two marks and a shaded sub-apical area. Veins brown. Surface of wing microscopically pubescent, the hairs being arranged in oblique lines. Auxiliary not very short, slightly bent posteriorly and gradually disappearing; tip of costa and second longitudinal very near apex of the wing; fifth longitudinal extending to fork of fourth longitudinal; sixth longitudinal long, nearly reaching margin; inner marginal cell just lying over base of second submarginal cell, whose petiole is very short.

I found abundant specimens of this insect in one spot in a very damp gully on the bushcovered side of the Rirnu-taka Mountains, near the Summit Station.

Mycetophila howletti, sp. nov.

Length of antennæ, 0.132; size of body, 0.300 × 0.065; expanse of wing, 0.264 × 0.120.

Basal joint of scapus more than twice the length of the second, setæ black; length of joints of flagellum two or three times their breadth, the basal five or six joints with an orange band at both ends, but the central portion is dark-brown. Palpi dark - orange; first joint short, second stout, third more slender, bristly like the second, fourth strongly curved, broadening considerably at the apex, slightly bristly. Front yellowish-grey, covered with black hairs. Thorax reddish-yellow, but black on lateral margins above the wings, densely

covered with black hairs. Scutellum dark-brown, with strong hairs on its posterior margins. Metathorax yellow. Pleuræ dark-brown, covered with slender black hairs. Abdomen almost black, mottled with very dark brown; margins of some of the segments lighter. Legs robust; coxæ light-yellow, but brown on the posterior margin; femora rather expanded, greyish-yellow, with two black spots on the posterior side and a conspicuous black tip on the posterior legs; tibiæ dull-yellow, with a black tip covered with longitudinal rows of black hairs and spines of two sizes, the longer ones being orange-red; spurs long, orange-red in colour; tarsi darker than the tibiæ, several rows of fine spines on the inner side. Wings very broad, microscopically pubescent, with a deep-yellow tint, but the larger part coloured almost black; a dark patch surrounding marginal cross-vein, which extends downward and spreads out widely, covering all the posterior portion of the wing, but becoming lighter as the margin is approached; this becomes darker nearer the apex and spreads up again to the second longitudinal vein, but has an irregular outline, becoming very much narrower at second longitudinal and reaching costa at the end of first longitudinal, the apex being yellow. First and second longitudinals brown; the others very strong and black; petiole of second submarginal cell very short, the apex of the inner marginal cell lying over the base of the second posterior.

I have only one specimen of this fine insect. It was taken in bush on the Ruahine Mountains, in January.

Mycetophila fagi, n. sp.

Length of antennæ, 0.055; size of body, 0.148 × 0.034 expanse of wing, 0.127 × 0.055.

Antennæ slender; joints of scapus long, long black setæ on anterior portion of last joint; flagelluna nearly cylindrical, brown, the basal portion of each joint being lighter than the apical portion, covered all over with short pubescence. Palpi light-yellow. Head yellow, dark near the two ocelli. Thorax yellow, without any markings, but ornamented with a few long and many short black hairs. Scutellum yellow, with long black bristles on the posterior margin. Metathorax and pleuræ dark - yellow. Pedicel of halteres nearly white; club light-yellow, pubescent. Abdomen darkbrown, the posterior portion of each segment light-yellow. Forceps of male brown, with black setæ. Legs rather short; coxæ pale - yellow, with a few black setæ; femora straw-coloured, with black hairs; tibiæ straw-coloured, with long black spines but no smaller ones, and a fringe at the distal end; spurs long, straw-coloured, but densely covered with black pubescence; tarsi rather stout, with short black spines

on the lower surface. Wings with yellow tinge. Veins all about equally distinct; costal vein, ending at tip of second longitudinal just before apex of wing; apex of inner marginal cell and of fork of third and fourth longitudinal almost in same transverse line; fifth longitudinal not reaching fork of fourth.

This is a doubtful species, but I believe it to be distinct. I have four specimens, taken in Fagus bush, in March.

Mycetophila variabilis, sp. hov. Plate XII., fig. 3.

Length of antennæ, 0.090; size of body, 0 187 × 0.033; expanse of wing, 0.198 × 0.071.

Antennæ rather slender; first joint of scapus light-yellow with setæ on lower surface, second joint with setæ all round anterior border; length of each joint of flagellum more than twice the breadth, basal half of each joint yellow, apical half brown, last seven joints entirely brown, covered with short pubescence giving grey reflections. Palpi yellow, covered with black hairs. Front dark-yellow, with short black hairs and a row of long black bristles along the anterior and lateral margins. Thorax dark-yellow, with short and long hairs scattered over its surface; sometimes the thorax is marked with more or less distinct broad dark-brown or black longitudinal stripes, which in extreme forms cover the greater part of its surface. Seutellum varies from yellow to brown, and has four long black bristles situated on its posterior border. Metathorax and pleuræ brown, the latter rather hairy. Abdomen varies from brown to yellow, the posterior margin of each segment being usually far lighter in colour than the anterior portion. Halteres with short stout pedicels bearing rather large clubs, brown in colour, covered with a close short pubescence. Legs stout; coxæ light-yellow, with one or two small spots of brown on the sides; femora light-yellow, in the darker specimens they are conspicuously tipped with black; tibiæ, straw-colour, often darker at the tips, with longitudinal rows of black hairs and spines of two sizes, the longer being long and stout; the longer spur almost as long as the metatarsus; joints of tarsus light-yellow, with numerous rows of black hairs and spines on the under-surface. Wings with distinct yellow tinge. Veins dull-yellow, all equally distinct; auxiliary vein short, but not terminating abruptly; second longitudinal uniting with costa some distance before the tip of the wing; often a small black patch at the end of each branch of the longitudinal veins; usually a distinct black patch around marginal cross-veins, also a small one at apex of second posterior cell; fifth longitudinal ending at or a little before apex of second posterior

cell, its distance “from the fourth longitudinal differs considerably in different specimens.

This is an extremely common and variable insect. Several varieties seem to be well marked, and subsequent investigation may show that they belong to different species. For the present I have united them, as I am not yet satisfied that some of them belong to different species. The insect may be taken throughout the year, but is especially abundant during the summer months. I have obtained specimens at Wanganui and Lincoln, as well as at several intermediate localities.

Mycetophila robusta, sp. nov.

Length of antennæ, 0.121; size of body, 0.198 × 0.054; expanse of wing, 0.204 × 0.090.

Antennæ slender; joints of scapus not very stout, reddish-yellow, the basal joint setiferous on the lower surface, the upper joint all over the upper margin; flagellum with basal joint in length about four times its breadth, reddish-yellow, others with length about three times their breadth, reddish-yellow on the lower portion, dark-brown above, the yellow portion smaller and the brown portion larger in each succeeding joint as the apex is approached; all joints covered with short pubescence. Palpi reddish-yellow; second and third joints stout, covered with short black hairs; fourth joint very slender and rather longer, and not so densely covered with black hairs. Front reddish-yellow, the anterior margin and lateral margins fringed with stout black hairs. Thorax, scutellum, metathorax, and pleuræ reddish-yellow; thorax with rather short black hairs. Scutellum with four long black spines on posterior portion. Halteres short, reddish-yellow; clubs pyriform, with black pubescence. Abdomen reddish-yellow, darker on the upper surface, covered all over with rather short black hairs. Legs stout; coxæ bright-yellow, setiferous at the end; femora rather dilated, yellow, covered with short black hairs; tibiæ with longitudinal rows of short black hairs, two rows of very long spines and a few shorter ones; tarsi yellow, with longitudinal rows of black hairs and numerous black spines on the under-surface; spurs very long and stout. Wings with pronounced yellow tinge. Veins yellow; tip of costal uniting with tip of second longitudinal almost at the apex of the wing; fifth longitudinal not nearly reaching apex of second posterior cell; sixth longitudinal longer. Black spots on the wing absent or less pronounced than in the last species.

The three last species are very closely allied, and would perhaps be more properly classed as varieties of a single species. The chief distinction between them is their size, but this cannot be considered a specific character if specimens

small. Thorax strongly curved. Abdomen compressed laterally, with six segments in the female. Legs moderately long; father slender; femora compressed; tibiæ of anterior legs without spines, posterior and intermediate tibiæ with a few very weak spines; spurs rather long and slender; tarsi slender, first joint more than twice as long as any of the succeeding joints. Wings rather shorter than the abdomen, microscopically pubescent. Auxiliary vein short, ending in the costa; first longitudinal ending in the costa at a point more than two-thirds of the length of the wing; second longitudinal vein joining the tip of the costa before the apex of the - wing; inner marginal cell rather lengthened, but its apex lies before the apex of the fork of the third longitudinal vein; inner marginal cell not quite closed, as marginal cross-vein is not perfect; petiole of third longitudinal vein not very short; fourth longitudinal vein with very acute fork, the apex of the second posterior cell lying some distance before the apex of the second submarginal cell; fifth longitudinal vein incomplete, ending just beyond the apex of the fork of the second posterior cell.

The character of the antennæ and of the tibiæ I think justify me in establishing a new genus for this species. I have, so far, specimens of but one species.

Brevicornu flava, sp. nov. Plate XII., fig. 4; Plate XIII., fig. 20.

Length of antennæ, 0.020; size of body, 0.100 × 0.021; expanse of wing, 0.088 × 0.033.

Antennæ short; joints of scapus bright-yellow with black hairs, about equal in length; joints of flagellum dark-brown, covered everywhere with a short dense pubescence giving silvery reflections; joints of about equal length, but the basal joints have a breadth about three times their length, while those near the apex are nearly as long as they are broad; terminal joint longer than broad, subconical. A small black patch round both ocelli. Front dark-brown, almost black. Vertex brownish-orange, with scattered hairs about the same colour. Palpi pale-yellow. Thorax dark-yellow, covered with long dark-brown hairs and shorter yellow hairs. Scutellum dark-yellow, fringed with long black hairs. Metathorax and pleuræ dark-yellow. Halteres yellow, small, covered with short pubescence. Abdomen greatly compressed, yellow, but darker on the posterior portion of each segment; terminal segment nearly black; all segments covered sparingly with short black hairs. Legs moderately long, rather slender; coxæ pale-yellow, with a few setæ near the end; femora yellow, rather robust, covered with short black hairs; tibiæ straw-colour, with longitudinal rows of short black

Cubiceps gracilis, Lowe; Gunther, “‘Challenger’ Pelagic Fishes,” pl. ii., fig. A.

A specimen in the Museum was obtained in the Christchurch market in June, 1893.

Cybium guttatum, Bloch (?); Day's “Fishes of India,” pl. lvi., fig. 4.

A damaged specimen of a Cybium, probably C. guttatum, was obtained at the Chatham Islands by Major Gascoyne, and presented to the Museum in April, 1894.

Echeneis remora, Linne.

There is a specimen in the Museum collection labelled “Wellington Harbour.”

Kathetostoma giganteum, Haast.

In my list of New Zealand fishes (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxii., p. 279) this is by accident given as a synonym of Anema monopterygium (Bloch), whereas it should have been placed with the next species on the list—K. lœve (Bloch). Haast's type, however, has no humeral spines, and may possibly be distinct.

Kathetostoma fluviatile, Hutton.

There are specimens in the Museum from the Rangitata River, forty miles from its mouth, and also from Dunedin; so that it inhabits the sea as well as the rivers. It has the same mesial occipital bony plate as K. maculatus (Forster), to which it is closely allied; but it has no scales on the sides of the tail; the humeral spines are short and obtuse, and the granulations on the opercular and cranial bones are not quite so coarse. The colouration is also slightly different; but the two species are so much alike that they are always considered to be the same by fishermen.

Parapereis gilliesii, Hutton.

A specimen which was obtained in the Christchurch market on the 27th June, 1893, is in the collection. It agrees closely with the description of the type. The name Parapercis has been given by Dr. Theodore Gill, as Percis is preoccupied.

Eleotris radiata, Quoy and Gaimard.

I have received specimens from the Chatham Islands, collected by Major Gascoyne.

Eleotris gobioides, Cuvier and Val.

I have received specimens from the Chatham Islands, collected by Major Gascoyne.

very extremity of the tunnel, which ended in a circular cavity large enough to hold a good-sized saucer; and at several places along the course of the tunnel there were enlargements or, so to speak, chambers. All the drives I examined had an upward course; I never found one commencing at the top of the tree. It was evident to me that the insect had planned its tunnel in such a way as to insure a dry house at all times. I noticed that in some places the insect had eaten its way through hard knots in the wood, nothing being allowed to interfere with the true course of the tunnel; but I looked in vain for the workman whose skill I had been admiring. I had given up the search as hopeless when one day I noticed, at a place some 600ft. below the Saddle, a very large lichen hanging over the entrance to one of these holes, which are generally a good inch in diameter. This, like all the others I had examined, was in a living tree; and, as it looked quite fresh, I determined to explore it. I first of all felled the tree with the axe, and then I followed up the tunnel for about 8ft., when I unfortunately sent the axe clean through a very large Weta—a much larger insect than the one forwarded, but of the same species. He seemed to be engaged in forming one of the chambers I have described. Not far from this place I found, on another tree, the same kind of lichen overhanging a hole, and this time I was more careful in using the axe. Here I found the insect which I send to Wellington. The altitude of this spot is something like 2,708ft. above the sealevel. Speaking generally, I should say that this species of Weta frequents dense forests, and lives by eating the heart of red-birch trees; for I observed that it always attacked growing timber. The red-birch trees are very hard, but their exterior is covered with mosses of various kinds, and the vegetation all round is very dense, much of it being composed of the forest cabbage-tree. From observing the habits of my Weta in captivity I am convinced that it is nocturnal in its habits. I had an excellent opportunity of noting his ways and doings, for I kept him in a glass pickle-jar, and he was the only camp-mate I had for some time. He seldom moved by day, unless I disturbed him; but he became quite lively by night, and at times emitted a chattering kind of sound. I had frequently heard this sound at night in the woods, but was never able to tell what produced it till I got this captive. I tried one day to measure him round the girth, but he resented this liberty, and went through some extraordinary antics, and I had to give it up. I found that he could bite fiercely, and when excited could hiss like an adder. I

most careful to prevent dogs and cats—those great destroyers of native birds—from becoming feral on the island. It is at a convenient distance from the mainland, and seems specially designed by nature for what it will now, we may hope, soon become—the central colonial dépφt, so to speak, for our birds and plants. I only wish I could report that steps were being taken to give effect to Lord Onslow's original proposal, to collect rare birds in various parts of the country and turn them loose on the island preserves—such birds, for example, as Kakapo, Kiwi, Huia, and the native Crow. But that, I trust, will be the next forward step.

I regard with extreme satisfaction this gradual awakening to the fact that we have animal and vegetable forms of life indigenous to the country which ought to be protected and cherished; that we have bush scenery of matchless beauty that ought to be preserved; and that, new as our record is, we have sites of pas and other places of historic interest that ought, at any cost, to be handed down unimpaired to those who will come after us. That this growing feeling is becoming part of our national life must surely delight every true lover of New Zealand. The various Commissioners of Crown Lands all over the colony have received instructions to withhold from sale spots of exceptional beauty and all places of historic interest—such, for example, as the site of the Orakau Pa, with its tradition of “Ake, ake, ake!” (which, by the way, was within a few hours of being sold when the Government stepped in to save it); and the site of Rangiriri, where the Waikato tribes made their first heroic resistance before surrendering to an overwhelming force, and where so many of our own brave men lie buried. Forest reserves, like the beautiful belt of bush along the boundary of the State farm at Horowhenua, are being defined and proclaimed; and the law is being invoked for the protection, one after another, of our rarer species of birds. The only danger to be apprehended now is that by continuing the insane policy of introducing predatory animals, such as stoats, ferrets, and weasels, in the vain hope of suppressing the rabbit nuisance, the good that is being accomplished may be to a great extent counterbalanced. To my mind it is impossible to exaggerate this evil: it is so easy to introduce these bloodthirsty little animals, and so difficult to extirpate them when once fairly established and the mischief of their presence has become manifest. I have so often referred to this matter in my addresses to this society that it is not necessary for me to give reasons for the strong opinion I hold. It seems to me that we ought to benefit by the experience of other countries where these predaceous pests abound, and where large sums have been expended in the attempts to exterminate them.

No one has opposed this fatal step on the part of the New Zealand Government more strongly or consistently than Professor Newton, of Cambridge. In a letter to myself, as far back as the 23rd of July, 1876, the learned professor says,—

“In Land and Water for 8th July, Frank Buckland wrote that he had been applied to by Messrs. Macowie and Cuthbertson, of Invercargill, to send out weasels to New Zealand (five pairs at £5 each) to be let loose to check the superabundance of rabbits. Buckland said he could not get weasels, but proposed sending ‘polecat-ferrets’—thirty or forty pairs! I at once wrote to remonstrate with him, urging him to do nothing till he had communicated with New Zealand; and this he has promised to do, but does not give up the notion. Harting, Rowley, and some one else have also protested in terms like my own, as you will see by Land and Water for 15th and 22nd July. I suspect Buckland will eventually drop the matter, but meanwhile it seems quite possible that some sheep-farmer or other (for with them began the complaint) may on his own responsibility act on this mischievous hint without waiting for Buckland, and then good-bye at once and for ever to your brevipennate birds, as well as to many other of your native species—which of course have no instincts whereby they may escape from such bloodthirsty enemies—to say nothing of pheasants and the like, which you have been introducing at so great a cost, and your poultry. Here, as I dare say you know, the polecat (and the ferret is only a tame polecat) is the most detested beast we have, and in consequence has nearly been extirpated. In New Zealand it will undoubtedly become master of the situation.

“So strongly do I feel on this subject that I am writing to Hector (both at Wellington and Philadelphia, to make sure of catching him) urging him to use all his influence to prevent such a disastrous importation; even, if need be, to getting an Act of your Parliament prohibiting the introduction of any predaceous animals. Should Hector not have returned, I pray you to do what seems best under the circumstances; but be sure there is no time to be lost. I am writing to Hutton to the same effect, and I trust that among you all you will be able to keep off the threatened scourge. Colonists in general have not been slow to hinder unacceptable importations from the mother-country—as witness the historic tea-chests at Boston, U.S.A., and Australian convicts. I have always understood the latter were selected for the mild nature of their crimes: but even this was not allowed. There can't be a doubt of how you should behave when you have a shipload of known marauders to be let loose on your peaceful shores, and I conceive my duty as an honorary member of

your Institute compels me to give you this timely notice. It is too annoying to think that the fate of your fauna should depend on the rash act of the greatest fool that was ever called a naturalist.”

Mr. J. Brough informs me that, owing principally to the introduction of stoats, the Grey Kiwi has now entirely vanished from wooded districts near Nelson, where formerly it was so abundant that he has collected a score in a single locality.

From all parts of the country I continue to receive reports of the ravages of stoats and weasels. From Nelson Mr. R. I. Kingsley writes to me, “I hear there is a likelihood of stoats and weasels being turned out by the Government at West Wanganui. It will be a great shame if they are, as it will mean destruction to the Big Kiwi; and the rabbits at West Wanganui are only found on a small strip of sandy beach. They have been there for many years and never spread; therefore they could easily be destroyed by other means. Could you not speak a word to avert the danger?”

It seems to me that the only chance of arresting this deplorable evil is by directing public opinion against it. Unfortunately, most people are indifferent about it, and the Government yields to the clamour of a few faddists whose one idea is to exterminate the rabbits at any cost to the country. We have no guarantee, however, that these animals will suppress the rabbit nuisance, whilst we have the most positive evidence that, as in every other country they inhabit, they are themselves proving a curse in New Zealand. Mr. William Townson, of Westport, wrote me some time ago, saying, “I am told by bushmen and diggers living back in the ranges that it is becoming quite common now to see Grey Kiwis lying dead about the bush. The weasels are blamed for this, as they are now fully established on the coast as far south as Ross and Okarita. Indeed, several have been seen in this district. I fear that all the ground-game and native birds will fall victims to these little bloodsuckers. In this part of the country we have no rabbits to engage their attention.”

It may be said, in reply to this, that there is no direct evidence that the dead Kiwis were the victims of these marauders; but, as a matter of fact, birds do not die about the woods of their own accord, and their partial mutilation generally tells its own tale. It is very remarkable, indeed, how seldom one finds the bodies of birds or mammals that have apparently died a natural death. In New Zealand, casting my mind back over a period of five-and-thirty years, I can count on the fingers of one hand the cases in which I have found the bodies of birds dead from natural causes. Of course, I do not refer to

the cases, of not infrequent occurrence, when the sea-beach is found strewn with the dead bodies of Prion turtur and other oceanic species, because it is well known that this is the result of a sudden gale towards the land, or some other widespread cause, the deaths in this case being violent rather than natural ones. So at the Auckland Islands, and in similar localities, the ground is sometimes found covered with hundreds of dead Penguins; but this is apparently due to some fatal epidemic, causing widespread mortality. On the mainland you may wander for months in the woods without ever seeing the body of a bird “dead from natural causes.” Nowadays, unfortunately, nothing is more common than to find a Kiwi or a Woodhen lying on the bush-path torn and mutilated by stoats and weasels; but this, again, is the result of violence. I remember years ago picking up a dead Riroriro (Gerygone flaviventris) under a huge kauri-tree. This was after very severe weather, to which the little warbler had apparently succumbed. On another occasion, when seeking refuge from a violent storm on the Island of Motu-taiko, in the Taupo Lake, on making an exploration in the vicinity of our camp I found on a rocky ledge the perfect skeleton of a large Rivershag, which had evidently died a natural death there and escaped the vigilant eyes of the ubiquitous Harrier (Circus gouldi). Once I found a Kaka by the roadside in a dying condition, and occasionally I have met with dead bodies of the Tui and Korimako. But the occurrence is confessedly a rare one. The same observation has been made by naturalists all over the world. That careful observer, Nordenskiold, says, “During my nine expeditions in the arctic regions, where animal life during summer is so exceedingly abundant, the case just mentioned”—that of finding a number of self-dead fish on the sea-bottom near one of the islands in the Arctic Sea—“has been one of the few in which I have found remains of recent vertebrate animals which could be proved to have died a natural death. Near hunting-grounds there are to be seen often enough the remains of reindeer, seals, foxes, or birds that have died from gunshot wounds, but no self-dead polar bear, seal, walrus, white whale, fox, goose, auk, lemming, or other vertebrate. The polar bear and the reindeer are found there in hundreds, the seal, walrus, and white whale in thousands, and birds in millions. These animals must die a ‘natural’ death in untold numbers. What becomes of their bodies? Of this we have for the present no idea, and yet we have here a problem of immense importance for the answering of a large number of questions concerning the formation of fossiliferous strata.” Referring to this, Mr. H. H. Howarth says, “This is true not only of Siberia; it is universally true, and notably of the great pachyderms. Travellers who

have visited their ordinary haunts have remarked on the extraordinary scarcity of their bones and other remains. When old and worn out they apparently seek out the recesses of the forest and retire there to die.” He quotes an interesting passage from Sir Emerson Tennent's work on Ceylon, as follows: “Frequenters of the forest with whom I have conversed, whether Europeans or Singhalese, are consistent in their assurances that they have never found the remains of an elephant which had died a natural death…. A European gentleman, who for thirty-six years without intermission has been living in the jungle, ascending to the summit of mountains in the prosecution of the trigonometrical survey, and penetrating valleys in tracing roads and opening means of communication—one, too, who has made the habits of the wild elephant a subject of constant observation and study—has often expressed to me his astonishment that, after seeing many thousands of living elephants in all possible situations, he had never yet found a single skeleton of a dead one, except those which had fallen by the rifle.”

The following touching account is given by Thomas Edward, the Scotch naturalist, of the finding of a dead wild duck, on crossing the Clashmauch: “As I imagined she was skulking with a view to avoid observation, I touched her with my stick in order that she might rise; but she rose not. I was surprised, and, on a nearer inspection, I found that she was dead. She lay raised a little on one side, her neck stretched out, her mouth open and full of snow, her wings somewhat extended, and with one of her legs appearing a little behind her. Near to it there were two eggs. On my discovering this I lifted up the bird, and underneath her was a nest containing eleven eggs; these, with the other two, made thirteen in all: a few of them were broken. I examined the whole of them and found them, without exception, to contain young birds. This was an undoubted proof that the poor mother had sat upon them from two to three weeks. With her dead body in my hand I sat down to investigate the matter, and to ascertain, if I could, the cause of her death. I examined her minutely all over, and could find neither wound nor any mark whatever of violence. She had every appearance of having died of suffocation. Although I had only circumstantial evidence, I had no hesitation in arriving at the conclusion that she had come by her death in a desperate but faithful struggle to protect her eggs from the fatal effects of the recent snow-storm. I could not help thinking, as I looked at her, how deep and striking an example she afforded of maternal affection. The ruthless blast had swept, with all its fury, along the lonesome and unsheltered hill. The snow had risen higher, and the smothering drift came fiercer as the night drew on; yet still

that poor bird, in defiance of the warring elements, continued to protect her home and the treasure which it contained, until she could do so no longer, and yielded up her life. That life she could easily have saved had she been willing to abandon the offspring which Nature had taught her so fervently to cherish, and in endeavouring to preserve which she voluntarily remained and died. Occupied with such feelings and reflections as these, I know not how long I might have sat had I not been roused from my reverie by the barking of a shepherd's dog. The sun had already set, the grey twilight had begun to hide the distant mountains from my sight, and, not caring to be benighted on such a spot, I wrapped a piece of paper, as a winding-sheet, round the faithful and devoted bird, and, forming a hole sufficiently large for the purpose, I laid into it the mother and the eggs. I covered them with earth and moss, and over all placed a solid piece of turf; and, having done so, and being more affected than I should perhaps be willing to acknowledge, I left them to moulder into their original dust, and went on my way.”

But to resume my subject: The effect of these foreign introductions is to accelerate the threatened wiping-out of an avifauna admitted to be one of the most interesting in the world. Many of the species have already disappeared; a still larger number are, so to speak, on the border-land and will ere long be extinct, whilst even the commonest species exhibit year by year a steady diminution in numbers. What the result will be in, say, twenty years from the present time it is not difficult to predict. And the consideration of these facts brings me at once to the urgent necessity that exists for completing our collections of these forms before it is too late. Foreign museums are being enriched whilst our local museums are practically at a standstill. By last mail I received a letter from Canon Tristram, of Durham, informing me that at a recent meeting of the Zoological Society, in London, the Hon. Walter Rothschild had exhibited a series of no less than forty skins of our hitherto-rare Apteryx haasti, of which, so far as I am aware, only eight specimens exist in all our New Zealand museums. He adds that Mr. Rothschild has obtained “enormous series” of other New Zealand birds. For example, there are fifty-four specimens of the Chatham Island Snipe, of which our local museums contain very few examples; and very large series of the beautiful Chatham Island Shag (Phalacrocorax featherstoni), of which, so far as I know, the Colonial Museum possesses the only example in the colony; and the still more striking P. onslowi, of which there is no representative in any of our museums. Dr. Hartert, the excellent curator of Mr. Rothschild's museum, in a letter to myself states that the collection contains eighty specimens of

the Flightless Duck of the Auckland Islands (Nesonetta aucklandica); and this bird is now so rare that, on the last visit of the “Hiaemoa” to those islands with His Excellency the Governor, Sir James Hector, who accompanied the expedition and was most anxious to procure some for the Cambridge University Museum, found the utmost difficulty in collecting three specimens, although the whole ship's crew were on the look-out for them; and so with several other comparatively rare species. Of course, it is a good thing that these extensive collections have found their way into Mr. Rothschild's possession, because he makes excellent use of them, being himself one of the most active of our working ornithologists; besides which he is a liberal donor to other public museums. His own zoological museum at Tring Park is one of the most perfect of its kind in the world. It contains priceless treasures, and its great merit in the eyes of a practical ornithologist is that it possesses huge series of specimens, whenever that is possible, thus minimising the ever-present danger of generalising on insufficient data. But, whilst fully recognising all this, one cannot but acknowledge and deplore the fact that in our own museums nearly all the native species are imperfectly, or, at any rate, insufficiently, represented.

Canon Tristram himself has a beautiful collection of New Zealand birds, comprising all the rarer forms, but he is content with a small series of each species, such as male, female, young, and seasonal states. It is to be hoped that his splendid collection of birds from all parts of the world—the accumulation of a lifetime—may ere long find a resting-place in one of the provincial museums, instead of being dispersed, as too often happens, at the owner's death. That was the fate of the celebrated Jardine collection, when some very choice and rare New Zealand specimens found their way into other hands. This collection contained many skins procured in New Zealand by Mr. Percy Earl, and purchased by Sir William Jardine as far back as 1842—such forms, for example, as Coturnix novœ-zealandiœ and Pogonornis cincta.

Whilst the Rothschild Museum boasts the possession of seventy or more Stitch-birds (Pogonornis cincta) of both sexes, the Colonial Museum and the Auckland Museum are the only ones that can exhibit sexual pairs of this species, which now exists on the Little Barrier Island and nowhere else. To say nothing of so rare a form as Notornis mantelli—of which there are only three known specimens, two in the British Museum and one at Dresden—there are many of our indigenous birds wholly absent from our local museums, whilst others have only a single representative. For example, the Colonial Museum possesses one Auckland Island Merganser and one

North Island Thrush, and the other museums in the colony are entirely without them. This being so, it is surely high time that an effort was made to collect for each of our museums, before it is too late, a complete series of our existing native birds—at any rate, for the Colonial Museum, which is maintained by the Government and is supposed to take the lead. This might be easily accomplished now, but ere long it will be impossible. It is to such a museum as this that the student of the future will naturally look for his working material when the forms of which I have been speaking have passed away for ever from the sphere of living things. It will be a sad reproach to us, living as we do in this boasted nineteenth century, if in this respect we fail in our manifest duty. An excellent collection of the interesting insular forms could be made by sending such a taxidermist as Mr. Yuill (of whose neat work there are some illustrations now on the table) on two or three round cruises of the “Hinemoa.” An enthusiast such as he is, with the necessary facilities at his command, would soon accumulate a collection for the colony of very great value.

And this brings me to the question of the proper display of such collections in our museums, so as to make them subservient to the requirements of modern science.

At the present time we have in the Colonial Museum upwards of three hundred mounted specimens of indigenous birds, a large proportion of them being highly creditable exhibits of the taxidermists' skill; but how are they arranged? Not systematically, according to their natural affinities, because of the want of the necessary room for their proper classification and display. The only grouping that is natural is such as is now to be seen in the admirably-arranged galleries of the Natural History Museum at South Kensington, where, in separate plate-glass show-cases, birds of one species, representing the sexes, the adult, young, and adolescent states, and the various phases of seasonal plumage, are exhibited, together with the natural accessories of wood and rock and vegetation, to illustrate the life-history of the bird. Such a mode of exhibition is not only attractive in the highest degree, but most instructive. Of course, we cannot attempt anything so ambitious here, on account of the great expense; but there is no reason why the birds should not be arranged systematically for the benefit of the natural-history student. This has been done in the Canterbury and Otago Museums, and I think also in Auckland. It seems little short of a scandal that, owing to the lack of proper departmental aid, scientific classification should be neglected in the leading museum of the colony, which is admittedly under the control of a director of exceptional ability and culture. Then, again,

if I may be allowed to speak plainly, the nomenclature adopted is not up to date, some of the names attached to specimens having been obsolete these twenty years, whilst fully half of those exhibited are not named at all. If the Museum is to be regarded as an educational institution, as it clearly should be, an antiquated nomenclature is not only confusing but misleading.

And here I may say, parenthetically, that there is one innovation in the matter of scientific nomenclature, now becoming very popular, which will, I hope, be resisted in this country, and that is the use of trinomials. In Ridgway's “List of North American Birds” trinomial designations are adopted in no less than 160 cases. The author candidly acknowledges that the use of them has caused perhaps the greatest difficulty encountered in the compilation of the catalogue, “it being in many cases very difficult to decide whether a given form should be treated as having passed the varietal stage and therefore to be designated by a binomial, or whether it is as yet incompletely differentiated and to be subordinated in rank by a trinomial appellation.” His contention, however, is that every form whose characteristics bear unmistakably the impress of climatic or local influences, generally less marked towards the habitat of another form with which it thus intergrades, and all forms which certainly intergrade, no matter how widely distinct the opposite forms may appear, together with intergrading forms whose peculiarities are not explained by any known law of variation, should be reduced to subspecific rank. Commenting on this, the editor of the Ibis writes, “We cannot deny the advantages of the use of trinomials when strictly limited to such cases as these, and have little doubt that they will ultimately come into general use. But they can only be advantageously employed in countries such as North America and Europe, where large series can be obtained from different localities. In other parts of the world their use would at present be attended by much inconvenience, it being impossible to ascertain in very many cases, from lack of specimens, whether these intergradations exist or not. We may also remark that other authors use trinomials on quite different principles—e.g., Dr. Sharpe, who in his Catalogue of Birds (British Museum) has applied them in some instances even to insular forms (which certainly cannot intergrade) where the slight differences are, in his opinion, not strictly sufficient for specific distinction.”

I submit that what I have now called attention to as defects in the Colonial Museum might be easily remedied; and that the value of the Museum as an instrument of public instruction would be vastly increased if the Director could

get authority to prepare a descriptive catalogue for the use of visitors and students. This would involve a little expense, but it must be borne in mind that the Museum, as a whole, contains collections of considerable value, and that in the absence of a catalogue the general public has no conception of what the colony possesses in this respect. I do not know what the estimated value is in money, but I should say certainly not less than £30,000; and all this accumulated through the exertions of Sir James Hector, who had nothing but the small miscellaneous collection of the New Zealand Society to start with. The truth is that the Colonial Museum is not large enough for the exhibition of the treasures it contains. When it was built, some thirty years ago, the various collections were in their infancy, and very few additions have since been made to the building. Now that an effort is being made to recover, for educational purposes, the beautiful site on which the Central Criminal Gaol stands, it might be well to consider whether the site of the present Museum should not be sold at a good price, and the proceeds applied to the erection of a really suitable building on a portion of the fourteen acres comprised in this Mount Cook reserve.

Before passing on to my notes on the species selected for particular mention this evening, I should like to say that the Legislature is to be congratulated on having by special enactment extended a very necessary protection to our splendid Wood-pigeon, by making the whole of the year 1896 a close season. It is to be hoped that the Government will not make too free a use of its discretion under the Act as to relaxing the restriction in native districts. I may mention, too, that Sir James Hector has performed an important service to science by obtaining legal protection for that unique representative of an ancient fauna, the Tuatara Lizard. To take or kill one of these animals is now punishable with a heavy fine. This course was rendered necessary by the wholesale way in which Tuataras were being collected for trade with Europe and America. This may seem a digression from the subject-matter of my paper; but the Tuatara is the foster-brother, so to speak, of several species of Petrel, inhabiting the same burrows and breeding in adjoining chambers; and, although it belongs to a lower order in the animal kingdom, it is known to possess the most bird-like skeleton of all existing reptiles.

These introductory remarks will prepare you for the ever-recurrent record of increasing rarity of many of the species treated of in the following notes. Their ultimate extinction within measurable time is a matter of certainty, except in so far as a remnant may be preserved through the protective action of the Government to which I have referred.

Creadion cinereus, Buller. (Jack-bird.)

In forwarding the specimen now exhibited my correspondent writes, “During the whole four months I was camped in the woods on the Karamea Saddle I only heard one Saddleback. I managed to secure it, and may remark that it is the largest-boned bird of the kind I ever shot. The colours are plain, but the bird is in perfect plumage. I cannot say whether it is a male or female, for before I had time to make a dissection, after skinning it, the Woodhens ran away with the carcase.”

Miro ochrotarsus, Forster, Desr. Anim., p. 82 (1844).

After a careful investigation of the subject and a comparison of a large number of specimens, I have come to the conclusion that there are in reality three forms of Wood-robin in New Zealand, all of course descendants from a common stock, but now sufficiently differentiated to bear distinctive specific names. The North Island bird was the first to be recorded. This is Miro australis, formerly the commonest species in our woods, and now almost if not entirely extinct on the mainland, but to be met with on the Little Barrier Island at the north, on the Island of Kapiti in Cook Strait, and probably on other outlying islands near our coasts. The two other forms belong to the South Island, and have hitherto been confounded under the general name of Miro albifrons.

Mr. G. R. Gray, in the “Voyage of the ‘Erebus’ and ‘Terror’” (part “Birds”), thus describes Miro albifrons: “Upper surface and forepart of neck sooty-black; under surface pale-rufescent; front with a small spot of white. Length 7in.” This is the Turdus albifrons of Gmelin's Syst. Nat., p. 822.

Now, that description exactly fits the two examples (male and female) from Pelorus Sound which I have the pleasure of exhibiting this evening. But Mr. Gray's description does not accord with the coloured figure which he gives of the bird. Referring to this figure, in my account of the species (“Birds of New Zealand,” p. 36) I said, “The figure of this species in the” ‘Voyage of the “Erebus” and “Terror”’ is incorrect, on account of the exaggerated extent of white on the under-parts; but the attitude is a very characteristic one.” It seems pretty clear, therefore, that the description and the figure represent different birds.

After diagnosing Miro albifrons, as quoted above, Mr. Gray says, “The original of this description is contained among the drawings of Forster, and it is very like Petroica longipes, Garn. (= Miro australis). The figure of Forster differs, however, from the bird referred to by the white extending from the forepart of the breast to the base of the tail, leaving the throat of the same colour as the back. I have subjoined a

figure, for the purpose of making known the original drawing from which Latham took his description, that it may assist in elucidating the species should it hereafter be discovered.”

Now as to the other form, of which I exhibit this evening six specimens, obtained in the high wooded country known as the Karamea Saddle. This bird can be distinguished at a glance from Miro australis, and Gray's figure suits it fairly well. It is appreciably larger than the last-named species, and, instead of having the abdomen white as in that bird, or the under-parts rufescent as in Miro albifrons, it has almost the entire under-surface of a pale lemon-yellow. The frontal spot, too, instead of being very small, as described by Mr. Gray, is even more conspicuous than in the North Island bird.

Writing of Miro albifrons Mr. Gray says, “It may eventually prove to be the same species as M. longipes (= M. australis); and in my own account of this form (op. cit., p. 36) I remarked, “My collection contains a specimen from Christchurch in which the whole plumage is suffused with brown, and the under-parts are smoky-grey instead of being white.” I have since received an example from Otago which is scarcely distinguishable from ordinary specimens of Miro australis.

On a review of all the facts I am disposed to define the group thus:—

Miro australis, Sparrm. North Island form; with under-parts, within very narrow abdominal limits, pure white.

Miro albifrons, Gmelin. South Island form; with under-parts rufescent, and over a wider surface.

Miro ochrotarsus, Forster. Another South Island form; with almost the entire under-surface pale lemon-yellow. Conspicuous spot of white on forehead.

Female.—Similar to the male, but a trifle smaller, and paler in plumage.

Whilst thus recognising a third form I have no wish to invent a new name. As there is some doubt as to which bird was intended to be distinguished as Miro albifrons, and as that name is retained for the other South Island form, I think we cannot do better than fall back upon Forster's proposed name, Turdus ochrotarsus, simply shifting the species into the genus to which it now belongs.

Forster's original account is as follows: “Habitat in australi insula Novæ Zeelandiæ, victitat insectis et minutis cancellis ad littora maris, suaviter cantillat; homines non formidat, sed ubique ob insecta in ambulando inter fructices excussa et circumvolitantia sequitur, sæpius manu captus vel pileo.”

Miro albifrons, Gmelin. (South Island Robin.)

A correspondent, writing over the initials “S.D.B.,” sends the following to the Lyttelton Times of the 24th of April: “A very interesting case, showing the usefulness of a purely insectivorous bird, came under my notice the other day, and is, I think, worthy of record. A friend was showing me his vinery, and I was astonished to see in it a tame Robin (Petroica albifrons) following him about in its characteristic fearless manner. The bird was in as perfect plumage as if in its native bush, although now quite domiciled in the greenhouse, which it keeps free from insect-life without injuring the vines or grapes. I was informed that the Robin occasionally gets out into the garden, but is then easily induced to return to the vinery, which is, of course, kept locked when the owner is away. I asked if it did not want a mate, but was told that these birds are very pugnacious, and would fight like gamecocks if shut up together. Certainly this fellow seemed quite happy by himself.”

Myiomoira toitoi, Garnot. (North Island Tomtit.)

It seems probable that the male of this species aids in the task of incubation, for an adult bird of this sex, shot in November, had the under-parts much denuded of feathers.

Sphenœacus rufescens, Buller. (Chatham Island Fern-bird.)

Mr. W. Hawkins, the well-known Chatham Island collector, writes to me, “The Fern-bird is extinct. I spent a fortnight on the island where they used to be, but never saw any sign whatever of them.”

Anthus novæ-zealandiæ, Gray. (New Zealand Pipit.)

It is very clear that these birds congregate in autumn. During a ride to and from Owhaoko (22nd to 29th April) I met with numerous flocks, numbering from twenty to fifty at a time. I hardly saw a single bird detached from the flocks. I have already noticed the inquisitive disposition of this Pipit, and mentioned the circumstance of a flock keeping pace with a train for some miles. There is another evidence of it: as you ride along the road they keep before you, almost allowing your horse to tread on them, then rising with a shrill “cheep,” flying a few yards further, and so on again till their curiosity is satisfied, when they wheel upwards and fall to the rear.

Anthornis melanocephala, Gray. (Chatham Island Bellbird.)

Of this species Mr. Hawkins writes, “This bird, too, is very nearly extinct. I have no difficulty in selling the skins

for £1 apiece; so I have sought diligently for them, but it is very difficult to get any of them now.”

Xenicus insularis, Buller. (Island Wren.)

There is probably nothing so refreshing to the soul of a naturalist as the discovery of a new species. Quite apart from the satisfaction of being able to impose a specific name which, according to the accepted rules of zoological nomenclature, must be respected for all time, there is an indescribable charm in the mere fact of discovery. It is common to all naturalists in every branch of research, and operates as a spur to the most tedious and difficult investigations. With some specialists the ruling passion is to append the coveted mihi to the new species; but in the case of most naturalists this consideration is, I really think, subservient to a loftier feeling—that love of discovery which is so characteristic of the true man of science. In a country where the fauna and flora have been pretty thoroughly worked, such as New Zealand, the delight experienced at finding an undoubted new species is, of course, proportioned to the rarity of such occurrences. You will readily understand, therefore, how pleased I was at receiving, through the kind offices of Mr. Bethune, the skin of a bird from Stephen Island which was entirely distinct from anything hitherto known. I saw at a glance that it belonged to the small group of New Zealand birds which I have placed in a family by themselves under the name of Xenicidœ. Possessing characters in common with Xenicus longipes and X. gilviventris, which inhabit the mainland, it is a very distinct species, apparently restricted in its habitat to Stephen Island, where several specimens have been procured. Being anxious that a coloured figure of so rare and interesting a form should be published in the Ibis, I lost no time in forwarding the specimen to the editor of that magazine, together with the following description and diagnosis of the species:—

“On a New Species of Xenicus from a Small Wooded Island off the New Zealand Coast.

“Projecting into Cook Strait as a bold and salient point from the eastern shore of Blind Bay, and rising to a height of 2,180ft., is D'Urville Island, presenting a broken and partially-wooded surface. With a width of from five to six miles, it stretches away seventeen miles to the northward, whilst to the south it is separated from the mainland by a very narrow channel known as the French Pass. Lying two miles to the north-eastward of the northern extremity of D'Urville Island, and rising abruptly from the sea to the height of a thousand feet, is Stephen Island, only about a square mile

in extent, and more or less wooded on its sides. From this island I have lately received a single specimen of a species of Xenicus entirely distinct from the two forms (X. longipes and X. gilviventris) inhabiting the mainland.

“I have described and named this new bird, which may fittingly be called the Island-wren, as distinguished from our Bush-wren and Rock-wren; and as these island-forms present features of special interest to the student of geographic zoology, I am forwarding the specimen in the hope that it may be figured.

“My correspondent on the island informs me that the bird is semi-nocturnal in its habits, and that he has seen three examples, all of which were brought in at different times by the cat.

“I hope shortly to receive further specimens of this interesting form. In the meantime I regret that I am unable to give the sex of the bird here described. In plumage it differs conspicuously from the other two species, and it has a decidedly more robust bill, whilst the claw on the hind-toe is not larger than in Xenicus longipes.

“Xenicus insularis, sp. nov.

“Upper surface generally dark-olive with brown margins to the feathers, presenting an obscurely-spotted or mottled appearance; a minute whitish spot in front of and another underneath the eye; a narrow superciliary streak, and the whole of the throat, fore-neck, and breast, as well as the wings at their flexure, olivaceous-yellow with darker margins; wings and tail, sides of the body, abdomen, croup, and under tail-coverts olivaceous-brown. Plumage underneath plumbeous. Upper mandible dark-brown with horn-coloured tip; under mandible, legs and feet, pale-brown. Length, 4in.; wing from flexure, 2in.; tail, 0.75in.; bill, along the ridge 0.75in., along the edge of lower mandible 0.75in.; tarsus, 0.75in.; middle toe and claw 1in., hind toe and claw 0.7in.

“Hab. Stephen Island, Cook Strait, N.Z.”^*

I have since had an opportunity of examining a female specimen. It is somewhat smaller than the male, and has duller plumage, the mottled appearance on the upper surface being less conspicuous, and there being more vinous-brown on the sides and abdomen.

Referring to this interesting discovery, an article, presum

ably from the pen of a well-known New Zealand scientist, appeared lately in the Canterbury Press, under the head of “Found and Exterminated,” from which I take the following extract: “At a recent meeting of the Ornithologists' Club in London, the Hon. W. Rothschild, the well-known collector, described this veritable rara avis, specimens of which he had obtained from Mr. Henry Travers, of Wellington, who, we understand, got them from the lighthouse-keeper at Stephen Island, who in his turn is reported to have been indebted to his cat for this remarkable ornithological ‘find.’ As to how many specimens Mr. Travers, the lighthouse-keeper, and the cat managed to secure between them we have no information, but there is very good reason to believe that the bird is no longer to be found on the island, and, as it is not known to exist anywhere else, it has apparently become quite extinct. This is probably a record performance in the way of extermination. The English scientific world will hear almost simultaneously of the bird's discovery and of its disappearance before anything is known of its life-history or its habits. It was only a little creature, about four inches in length, allied to the little Rock-wren, which lives in the mountains, and is occasionally found dead on our glaciers. It was not a flightless bird, but from its structure was evidently very weak-winged, and thus fell an easy prey to the lighthouse-keeper's cat…. Not only scientists, but all New-Zealanders who take an interest in the preservation of whatever is specially characteristic of the colony, will deplore the extermination of such an interesting creature. It is, indeed, saddening to reflect how, one by one, the rare and wonderful birds which have made New Zealand an object of supreme interest among scientists all over the world are gradually becoming extinct…. And we certainly think it would be as well if the Marine Department, in sending lighthouse-keepers to isolated islands where interesting specimens of native fauna are known or believed to exist, were to see that they are not allowed to take any cats with them, even if mouse-traps have to be furnished at the cost of the State.”

Mr. W. W. Smith, of Ashburton, in a letter to the same journal, writes, “The setting-apart of the Little Barrier and Resolution Islands as sanctuaries for vanishing native birds is a lasting honour to the originator of the scheme—the Earl of Onslow—and the present Government who adopted and put it in force. But, as Mr. Purnell observes, ‘It is one thing to maintain preserves of native birds in two secluded spots, inaccessible to the vast majority of the inhabitants of New Zealand, and quite another to have those birds fluttering daily about us.’ It is for the rare species still lingering in the forests and other favoured spots on the mainland we appeal;

and if the Government would act as promptly in stopping marauders, commonly called natural-history collectors, from visiting the outlying islands of New Zealand and carrying off the Tuataras and rarer birds by hundreds as it did the seal-poachers in the southern islands last year, it would gain the gratitude of science and coming generations.”

With the views thus forcibly expressed it is impossible not to agree; and I believe measures for the better conservation of these island faunas are now under the consideration of the Government. But the collection of skins for trade purposes is, of course, a very different thing to the formation of a complete type-collection for the Colonial Museum, as advocated in the introduction to this paper.

Xenicus longipes, Gmelin. (Bush-wren.)

A correspondent has sent me for examination some beautiful specimens of the Bush-wren, accompanied by the following notes:—

“Far up in a gloomy, wet mountain gully, nearly 4,000ft. above the level of the sea, I came across a few families of this little silent bird. In the gully which they were inhabiting grew a dense mass of a flax-like plant—a species of Astelia. These birds seem to display more of the golden colour at the bend of the wing than any I have seen before, and they do not appear to be so large as those I sent you from the Big Bush some years ago. All my specimens of this bird were obtained by using a small net.

“I have not met with any Rock-wrens up in this district. From where I was camped, half an hour's climb took me into the open country—a bare mountain-side, in fact. I had a long ramble over the rugged ridges and across the mountain-slopes, or ‘mountain meadows’ as they are called. I went to the summit of Mount Nugget, 4,995ft., and then I went in another direction to the summit of Mount Luna, 5,261ft., but I never saw or heard a Rock-wren. It is clear that the species does not exist in this part of the country.

“I have been much impressed by the stillness and the almost entire absence of animal life in these red-birch forests, so entirely different from my experience in the Pelorus woods. There, as I lay in my tent at sunrise, the woods fairly rang with the chorus of songsters, the introduced Finches, Thrushes, and Starlings joining in with the native birds. They seem to me to be sun-worshippers. I have timed them with my watch, and find that the concert lasts just an hour. Here, on the contrary, there is no sun-worship. I have often listened in my tent at break of day, waiting for the song to commence, but there has been nothing but a chirp or two, or the note of a Kaka passing overhead. And here I may remark

that the note of the Kaka in these woods is very different to anything I have heard elsewhere—a fact also noticed by Mr. Saxon, the surveyor. It is something like this: ‘Motuaka—hurry up,’ followed by a shrill whistle—like a shepherd calling his dog. I shot one or two, but I could observe nothing different from other Kakas; only at this season (April) they were nothing but bones and feathers.”

Eurystomus pacificus, Latham. (Australian Roller.)

Stray examples of this well-known Australian species still continue to be heard of in New Zealand. Mr. Walling Handley, writing to me from Blenheim on the 22nd December, says, “During the month of November a specimen of the Australian Roller, in perfect plumage, was shot at the Weld's Hill Station, Awatere, by a station-hand. The bird was first noticed flying with a peculiar uncertain flapping flight over the tussock grasses in quest of moths in one of the paddocks adjacent to the station. Its handsome appearance, as seen by the waning light of eventide, and the striking contrast it presented to the sombre brown of the surrounding vegetation, excited attention, and this led to its pursuit and capture. The plumage, &c., corresponds in every particular with the technical description of the species as given in your ‘Manual of New Zealand Birds.’”

Halcyon vagans, Lesson. (Kingfisher.)

The following paragraph appeared in the Rangitikei Advocate: “A Paraekaretu farmer, who had unaccountably lost several hives of bees, at length discovered that the losses were due to a Kingfisher, which, on being killed, was found to have its crop full of bees.”

Platycercus novæ-zealandiæ, Sparrm. (Red-fronted Parrakeet.)

Mr. Alexander MacDonald, of the Awahuri, mentioned to me a curious incident which had come under his own observation. His young people had obtained a nest of young Parrakeets, and succeeded in rearing them. When adult, two of the birds mated and became quite inseparable, always occupying the same perch, and cuddling up to each other in the most affectionate manner. One day the male bird made his escape from the cage, and in being recaptured had his tail pulled out. Thus dismantled, the fugitive went back to his cage in a very sorry plight. The female bird immediately discarded her disfigured mate, rejected all his advances, and before long paired with one of the other birds, whose caudal appendage was the very pink of perfection. But the curious part of the story has yet to come. In course of time the divorced lover

had renewed his tail, and then the inconstant lady forsook her second mate and restored to favour her “first love” in all the glory of his long, new tail. Not a bad proof, I think, that even birds are not insensible to the charms of personal appearance. It may be added that the last-deserted mate forthwith moped, refused to eat food, and died of a broken heart.

It would appear that this species breeds twice in the year. A young bushman at Hawera found, in the month of May, a nest containing eight young ones, which he took and sold for 10s. each, the village settlers being very partial to these docile and imitative pets.

I have examined a caged Parrakeet brought by Mr. Ernest Bell from Curtis Island, situated a few miles from Sunday Island, in the Kermadec Group, where also this Parrakeet was abundant till the introduction of the domestic cat, which soon killed them off. I can detect no difference from the New Zealand bird. It is of decidedly small size (probably a female), and there is a blue tinge on the tail-feathers; but I take these to be merely individual peculiarities. Macaulay Island, where a distinct species closely allied to P. novœ-zealandiœ is said to exist, lies about a degree distant from Sunday Island.

Platycercus erythrotis, Wagl. (Island Parrakeet.)

This species has a peculiar cry—a short, shrill note—which further distinguishes it from Platycercus novœ-zealandiœ.

A caged bird, from Antipodes Island, having died in my possession, I am enabled to furnish measurements from a specimen in the flesh: Extreme length, 17in.; extent of wings, 12in.; wing from flexure, 5.75in.; tail, 6in.; bill, along the ridge 0.90in., along the edge of lower mandible 0.50in.; tarsus, 0.90in.; longer fore-toe and claw, 1.25in.; longer hindtoe and claw, 1.20in.

Nestor meridionalis, Gmelin. (Kaka.)

As I have fully explained in the “Birds of New Zealand,” there are many well-defined varieties of this characteristic species. I have enumerated and described (at pages 151–157) no less than twelve of such varieties. One of these is the large Kaka of the South Island (Nestor montanus, Haast). The late Sir Julius von Haast, in sending me specimens, wrote, “Even judging from its habits alone, it is quite distinct from the common Kaka. It is never found in the Fagus forest, whilst the other species never goes above it into the subalpine vegetation.” And Sir James Hector, writing to me of the same bird, said, “I never met with it in the forests of the lowlands. It is more active in its habits and more hawk

like in its flight than the common Nestor. It often sweeps suddenly to the ground; and its cry differs from that of the common Kaka in being more shrill and wild.” Reviewing these opinions, I said (op. cit., p. 153), “No doubt some naturalists will be disposed to regard this larger race as a distinct bird, and for a considerable time my own inclinations were in that direction; but, looking to the extreme tendency to variation in this species, and to the difficulty of drawing a clear line between the larger and smaller races in consequence of the occasional intermediate or connecting forms, I feel that I am taking a safe course, concurrently with Dr. Finsch, in refusing, for the present at least, to separate these birds.” That is how the matter rests now; but I am always open to conviction, and would welcome any further information on the subject. I have already a piece of evidence which, so far as it goes, seems rather to strengthen the view of the species being distinct. It is this: The nestling of the North Island Kaka as described by myself (op. cit., p. 151) is “covered with soft white down, thinly distributed, and very short on the under-parts; abdomen entirely bare; bill whitish-grey, the upper mandible armed near the tip with a white horny point; cere pale-yellow; legs dull-cinereous.” A nestling brought from the West Coast Sounds, and submitted to me as a skin, was covered all over with short slaty-grey down; bill greyish-horn colour; feet brown. These nestlings, therefore, were very different, and they belonged to the two varieties.

Professor Newton writes,^* “Considering the abundance of Parrots, both as species and individuals, and their wide extent over the globe, it is surprising how little is known of their habits in a wild state. Even the species with which Englishmen and their descendants have been more in contact than any other has an almost un written history compared with that of many other birds; and, seeing how many are oppressed by and yielding to man's occupation of their ancient haunts, the extirpation of some is certain, and will probably be accomplished before several interesting and some disputed points in their economy have been decided. The experience of small islands only foreshadows what will happen in tracts of greater extent, though there more time is required to produce the same result; but, the result being inevitable, those who are favourably placed for observations should neglect no opportunities of making them ere it be too late.” And, referring to our bird, he says, “The position of the genus Nestor in the order Psittaci must be regarded as uncertain. Garrod removed it altogether from the neighbourhood of the Lories, to which, indeed, the structure of its tongue, as pre

viously shown by him, indicates only a superficial resemblance. Like so many other New Zealand forms, Nestor seems to be isolated, and may fairly be deemed to represent a separate family—Nestoridœ—a view adopted by Count T. Salvadori (Cat. B., Brit. Mus., xx., Introd., p. viii.), and fully justified by a cursory examination of its osteology, though this has hitherto been only imperfectly described and figured.”

It will be remembered that at a former meeting I exhibited a specimen of the Yellow-belted Kaka named by Mr. Gould Nestor esslingii, in honour of the Prince D'Essling. I have now to exhibit another example of this peculiarly-coloured form, from the same locality. Seeing that no less than five have been obtained at different times, it may seem unreasonable not to accord the bird full recognition as a distinct species. But the tendency to albinism in some of the claws in the beautiful specimen now exhibited makes me still suspicious, and, for the present at any rate, it will, I think, be safer to rank it as a well-marked variety. I may mention, however, that in this bird the bill seems finer than in ordinary examples of Nestor meridionalis, coming nearer in this respect, as well as in the yellow colour of the under-mandible, to the very distinct Nestor notabilis.

Stringops habroptilus, Gray. (Ground-parrot.)

Major Mair informs me that the Kakapo, according to the Maoris, is still to be found in the Upper Wanganui. Formerly it was very abundant there, as also in the Kaimanawa Ranges, in the direction of Taupo. Major Mair adds, “The natives caught the Kakapo by the aid of trained dogs. The birds, when going out to feed, always placed one on sentry. The object with the kakapo-hunter was to bag this one first, then the whole family would be secured; but if the sentinel gave the alarm the others all slipped over the side of the ridge. The dogs used to wear a rattle, called by the Whanganui tatara, and by the Ngatimaniapoto rore. The purpose of this rattle was that the masters of the dogs should know where they were.”

Carpophaga novæ-zealandiæ, Gmelin. (Wood-pigeon.)

To the many instances of albinism reported from time to time I have now to add two more. One of these is a pure albino, from the Wanganui district. The entire plumage in this bird is pure white, with just the faintest tinge of buff on the shoulders and upper wing-coverts. The other specimen is from Collingwood, and being only partially an albino presents a very peculiar appearance. The entire plumage is pure white with the following exceptions: From the lower mandible, on each side, a broad patch of purplish-black, with metallic re

flections, passes under the eye, spreads over the ear-coverts, and extends downwards almost to the shoulder. On the inner flexure of each wing there is a patch of coppery-brown; some of the wing-coverts are brownish-grey, and the secondaries are almost wholly of that colour, the innermost ones more or less washed with coppery-brown. One of the tail-feathers is of the normal colour, freckled towards the base with white, as are several of the upper tail-coverts; bill, eyelids, and feet bright arterial red.

Carpophaga chathamiensis, Rothschild. (Chatham Island Wood-pigeon.)

Mr. Hawkins writes, “The Pigeon on the Chatham Islands is nearly extinct. I have been out every day for two weeks and only got four, and one of those was spoilt in the shooting.”

Larus dominicanus, Licht. (Black-backed Gull.)

As a contribution to the history of this well-known species, the following note, furnished by Mr. Drew quite recently to the Wanganui Chronicle, is worth preserving: “It is not at all uncommon to see both kinds of our Seagulls as pets on lawns and gardens, but I think it very uncommon to find them nesting and producing eggs in captivity. This singularly rare ornithological occurrence has come under my notice lately. Mrs. Martin, of Wilson Street, has one of these pets; it is the large Black-backed Gull (Larus dominicanus), or the Karoro of the Maoris. The bird is quite tame—comes when called, &c. —but during the whole nineteen years of its captivity has never started egg-laying; in fact, was always thought to be a male bird. But this year, to the surprise of her mistress, she has constructed a nicely-built nest, and in it has laid three beautiful spotted eggs. ‘Maori’—for so she is called—is fruitlessly sitting on her unfertile eggs—or, I should say, on two of her own and one hen's egg, for the third egg has been taken from her and is now in the Museum. I wonder if she has noticed the difference!”

Sterna vittata, Gm. (S. Nat., i., p. 609.)

Mr. Bethune, of the “Hinemoa,” has shown me a skin of the Tern obtained by him at the Bounty Islands, for which Mr. Henry Travers had proposed the name of Sterna bethunei. It is a lovely bird, presenting a general resemblance to Sterna antarctica, but with a snow-white tail, and legs of arterial red. But the bird is not new, having been first described and named as far back as 1788 (op. cit.). Mr. Bethune states that it occurs at the Snares and on Campbell Island as well as on the Bounties. There were four specimens of this bird in

the collection made by the “Challenger” Expedition, from Betsy Cove and Christmas Harbour, in Kerguelen Island.

Another species of Tern obtained by Mr. Bethune at the Auckland Islands may, however, prove to be new. It is similar in plumage to Sterna frontalis, but is appreciably larger, with a longer and more robust bill. Like the lastnamed species it is gregarious, hunting in flocks, whereas Sterna vittata flies in pairs. The specimen shown to me gave the following measurements:—^*

Extreme length, 17.75in.; extent of wings, 28.5in.; wing from flexure, 11in.; tail, 7in.; bill, along the ridge 2in., along the edge of lower mandible 2.5in.; tarsus, 1in.; middle toe and claw, 1.25in. If new, it may be thus diagnosed:—

Ad. ptil. œstiv. similis S. frontali sed paullo major: rostro et pedibus conspicue majoribus.

I cannot, however, venture to bestow a specific name, because, before the bird was submitted to me, a specimen was given by Mr. Bethune to Dr. Collins, who, I am informed, took it with him to England. If still without an appellation it might appropriately be named Sterna bethunei.

Platalea regia, Gould. (Royal Spoonbill.)

In vol. ix. of our Transactions, pages 337–338, I gave an account of the occurrence of this fine Australian bird at Manawatu. The specimen, for which I was indebted to the kind assistance of Mr. C. Hulke, is now in the mounted collection of the Colonial Museum. I am informed by Mr. W. Townson, of Westport, that another specimen was shot on the Buller River about January, 1892, and is still preserved in Dr. Gaze's collection.

Phalacrocorax colensoi, Buller. (Auckland Island Shag.)

Since writing the notes on the Auckland Island Shag which appeared in the last volume of our Transactions, I have had an opportunity of examining two more specimens (male and female). The male bird of these is without a crest, but has a broad irregular white dorsal patch, and the white alar bar long, narrow, and distinct. The female is also crestless, and exhibits only an indication of a dorsal spot in a few white feathers. The alar bar is very irregular, being represented in the left wing by only a few scattered white feathers. In both birds the white streak on the fore-neck commences within the angle formed by the crura of the lower mandible, and in

creases rapidly in width downwards towards the breast. These specimens, therefore, go to confirm the conclusions to which I had arrived from an examination of the collection made by Mr. Henry Travers.

Diomedea regia, Buller. (Royal Albatros.)

At the time of the last visit of the “Hinemoa” to Campbell Island the eggs of Diomedea regia were just on the point of being hatched, the embryo being well developed. This was at the end of February. The breeding season of Diomedea exulans on Auckland Islands is somewhat later, for on the same cruise the crew and passengers brought on board some four or five hundred eggs, all of which were fresh enough to be blown.

Diomedea exulans, Linn. (Wandering Albatros.)

The following cutting is from the Sydney Morning Herald: “With reference to a paragraph which appeared in a recent issue respecting the rescue of a seaman who fell overboard from the ship ‘Gladstone’ while on her voyage from London to this port, we have been supplied with the following interesting additional particulars by Captain Jackson himself: On the 24th October, at noon, whilst the ship was in latitude 42° and longitude 90° E., and going at the rate of about ten knots an hour, the cry of ‘A man overboard’ was raised. Captain Jackson and his chief officer, Mr. John Rugg, who were seated at dinner at the time, immediately rushed cut of the cabin and rounded the ship to. A boat, manned by four hands, was then lowered, and left the ship in charge of Mr. Rugg five minutes after the alarm was raised. The man was then out of sight, but the rescuing party pulled towards the spot where it was supposed he had fallen, and after some little time found him clinging to an Albatros, which he was using as a lifebuoy. As soon as the boat got within a few yards of him he let the bird go and swam to the boat, being apparently none the worse for his unexpected immersion. He returned on board smiling, and stated that just after he fell an Albatros swooped down upon him and made a peck at him, but he seized it by the neck and kept its head under water until he had drowned it, and then used it to preserve his own life in the manner already described. The boat was away about one hour. The sea was very rough at the time, and the wind was from the north-west. The most remarkable thing about this remarkable story is that the man, who could only swim a little, had heavy sea-boots on at the time of the accident, besides being encumbered with oilskins. The names of the crew of the boat were Messrs. W. Gilchrist, L. Mann, Richard Simpson, and John Murphy, the first two of whom are Sydney

men. The Albatros was the first that had been seen for a month.”

Diomedea salvini, Rothschild. (Salvin's Albatros.)

On a recent visit to Wanganui I was invited by Mr. Drew, the curator of the museum, to examine and identify a live Albatros which had just come in. The bird proved to be an adult specimen (apparently a female) of Diomedea salvini. Mr. Drew gave me the particulars of its capture, which would seem to indicate that this bird is nocturnal in its habits. A party of fishermen in their boat, at 2 o'clock the previous morning—the night being starlight but without any moon—were waiting for the dawn, in order to fish for schnapper. They saw the Albatros hovering about them, and threw out a piece of bait on a line. The bird at once descended to the water, took the hook in its bill, and was towed on board. In this specimen the bill is grey with a yellowish unguis; the black pencilled lines and the yellow cartilage are very conspicuous.

Œstrelata neglecta, Schl. (Schlegel's Petrel.)

I find that in quoting Mr. Bethune in relation to this species (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxvii., p. 133), I rather overstated what he had said. He informs me that, although he saw many of these birds mated in the breeding season, as a matter of fact he “collected” only one pair—the specimens which I had the pleasure of exhibiting at the meeting of our society on the 5th September last. But, as far as he could observe, the two phases of plumage were always associated; so that my general argument is not affected in any way. But, as Mr. Bethune is a very careful observer, I am anxious that he should be reported with strict accuracy. On another point also I appear to have misunderstood him. This species, he assures me, does not deposit its eggs in a burrow, like so many of the other Petrels, but places them in an open depression on the surface of the ground.

Œstrelata affinis, Buller. (Mottled Petrel.)

The bird of the first year differs from the adult in being generally darker in plumage. The whole of the upper surface, the sides of the breast, the sides of the body, flanks and abdomen, dark slaty-grey, the feathers very minutely margined with paler. Chin pure white; lores, lower sides of face, fore-neck, breast, and under tail-coverts white varied with slaty-grey; on the breast in freckled wavy lines. All the median wing-coverts are stained with brown; the inner webs of all the wing-feathers pure white, as also are the larger under wing-coverts. Bill black; legs and feet yellowish-brown (in dried specimen).

Puffinus bulleri, Salvin. (Buller's Shearwater.)

A specimen brought from the Mokohinou Islands by Captain Fairchild in September last (in spirits), and presented by him to the Colonial Museum, has enabled me to describe the soft parts: Sides of the bill greenish, the ridge and hook brownish-black; feet yellow, the outer side of the tarsi and outer toes and a line along the base of the middle toe on its outer side blackish-brown. The bird proved to be a male, and the greenish colour of the bill is probably a sexual character, because there was no such appearance with my specimen (a female), although it was picked up fresh on the Waikanae sands. Mr. Sandager, in his description of Puffinus zealandicus (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxii., p. 291), which I have identified with this species, says that “the lower part of both mandibles is bluish, remainder black.”

I may here correct a common error among local ornithologists—that of confounding Puffinus with Puffin, the two birds having no relation whatever to each other. The principal offender in this respect is Mr. Reischek, who has contributed some interesting notes on the various species of Puffinus to the pages of our Transactions, and persistently calls them “Puffins.” Professor Newton, in his admirable “Dictionary of Birds”^*—a book which should be on every ornithologist's shelves—gives the following explanation of this popular mistake:” The name ‘Puffin’ has been given in books to one of the Shearwaters, and its latinised form Puffinus is still used in that sense in scientific nomenclature. This fact seems to have arisen from a mistake of Ray's, who, seeing in Tradescant's museum and that of the Royal Society some young Shearwaters from the Isle of Man, prepared in like manner to young Puffins, thought they were the birds mentioned by Gesner (Hist. Avium), as the remarks inserted in Willoughby's “Ornithologia” (p. 251) prove; for the specimens described by Ray were as clearly Shearwaters as Gesner's were Puffins.”

Puffinus chlororhynchus, Lesson (= Puffinus sphenurus, Gould). (Wedge-tailed Shearwater.)

I do not think I have yet put on record the following letter, received some time ago from Mr. W. M. Crowfoot, of Beccles, Suffolk:—

“My friend Mr. Dalgleish, of Edinburgh, draws my attention to the fact that, in the last edition of your most valuable book on the birds of New Zealand, in the article on Puffinus griseus, you state that my remarks on Puffinus sphenurus in Norfolk Island probably refer to Puffinus griseus. I think this is a mistake, as a skin of the Norfolk Island species

(which I at first thought was P. griseus) was sent to me by my correspondent, Mr. Metcalfe, and I forwarded it to Mr. O. Salvin for his inspection. He returned it to me as Puffinus sphenurus of Gould. I have since received the eggs of Puffinus griseus from New Zealand, and find that they are much larger than those of P. sphenurus, and of a different colour. My specimens of the egg of P. griseus measure 3in. by 2in. and 3 ⅛in. by 2in. respectively, and are of a yellowish-white colour, whereas the eggs of P. sphenurus measure 2 ¾in. by 1 ¾in. and 2 ½in. by 1 ⅞in. respectively, and are of a purewhite colour, just like those of Puffinus anglorum and P. kuhli.”

Puffinus gavia, Forst. (Forster's Shearwater.)

We have at length discovered the breeding-place of this species. I find that these birds resort in large numbers to Stephen Island, in Cook Strait, for the purpose of reproduction; and through the kind offices of Mr. Lyall, the light-house-keeper there, I have recently obtained six eggs. They are of a rather narrow ovoido-conical shape, perfectly white, and differing appeciably in size, the largest of the series measuring 2.45in. in length by 1.45in. in breadth, and the smallest measuring 2.20in. by 1.45in.

Majaqueus parkinsoni.

A specimen in the flesh (adult female) sent to me from Manawatu measured 18in. in length, and 47.25in. in extent of wings.

Casarca variegata, Gmelin. (Paradise-duck.)

Those of you present who have visited the Masterton fishponds cannot fail to have noticed a tame Paradise-duck, which has been an inhabitant of the place for several years. I have been assured by the curator that this bird is as useful as any watch-dog could be, for it sets up an unceasing clamour on the appearance of a stranger. Its affection for the keeper is most remarkable, for it will follow him everywhere and nestle about his feet in the most demonstrative manner, squatting on the ground with its neck outstretched and uttering all the time a sort of purring note of satisfaction. It has now a mate, and they have brought up a large brood of young; but previously to this it every season laid a number of unfertilised eggs, and then took to hatching-out a nest of domestic duck's eggs. The handsomely-striking plumage of this bird, coupled with its docility and readiness to breed in confinement, marks it out as being specially suitable for private ponds and ornamental waters.

A tame Duck of this species which I have at the Papai

tonga Lake has attached itself in the same marked way to one of the domestics, but is shy and distant with every one else. I have remarked elsewhere^* on the devotion of this species to its young, and the devices to which it resorts to draw intruders away from the vicinity of its nest. I have lately met with the following in the columns of a newspaper, and the record is worth preserving:—

“The following is a touching instance of the affection of birds for their young: Mr. Shalders informs the North Otago Times that, having been requested to obtain some young Paradise-ducks for the purpose of exchanging with the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, he, while travelling with another up-country with a waggon and team, saw on a stream two parent birds and eight or nine young ones. On his essaying to capture some of these, the parent birds, like the Home lapwings, endeavoured, by feigning lameness, to decoy him from their young; but he captured three of them, and placed them in a small box on the waggon. They proceeded a distance of six miles and camped for the night, and on rising early in the morning Mr. Shalders's first care was to look after the young birds. On leaving the tent, however, he saw not far from the waggon a Paradise duck and drake, and remarked to his mate that he believed the birds had followed them. To ascertain if this were so, he took the little ducklings out and placed them on the ground some short distance from the waggon, and watched. They were almost immediately taken charge of by the drake, who made off with them through the mate-kauri in the direction of the river, rising every few yards in order, apparently, to let his companion see the course he was taking. The informant says he had not the heart to endeavour to recapture his prize, and he let them go as a tribute to the faithful care of the parent birds.”

Hymenolæmus malacorhynchus, Gmelin. (Blue Duck.)

I received from Waikanae on Saturday, the 12th December, an adult pair of the Mountain-duck, with a bird of the first year, and a fledgeling from another brood. The lastmentioned accidentally hung itself in the wire-netting of its enclosure. The others were very shy at first, but soon adapted themselves to their new life, and took readily to their new diet of cooked potato and rice. When alarmed they uttered a loud whistling cry—especially the young bird; at other times their note was a low rasping one, like the sound produced by drawing an object quickly against the teeth of a large comb.

Eudyptes chrysocome, Forster. (Tufted Penguin.)

I am able now to add to my account of this species a description of the nestling from a specimen obtained at Dusky Sound.

Head, throat, hind-neck, and upper parts—that is to say, the surface that is coloured in the adult—covered with short sooty-black down, and the under-parts with short white down; bill whitish-horn colour; feet pale-brown.

In a more advanced chick—which is double the size of that already described—the down is even shorter, as if rubbed off, and the root-points of future feathers are disclosed, covering the surface in regular lines or series.

The young of this species differs from the adult in being appreciably smaller in size, and in having a whitish-grey throat; the long crests are absent, being represented by a tuft of feathers little more than ½in. in length, commencing immediately above the eyes and extending back 1 ½in. towards the occiput; pale lemon-yellow, with blue tips. Bill black, with reddish-brown tips.

Eudyptes sclateri, Buller. (Sclater's Penguin.)

On the 25th February the “Hinemoa” brought from Antipodes Island four living examples of this species and ten of Eudyptes chrysocome. I am assured by the second engineer (who is a collector of birds) that the former always lays one egg and the latter two. Eudyptes chrysocome (= E. filholi, Hutton) is readily distinguishable from the other Penguins by its full crest of lengthened yellow feathers and its red eyes. Its home is Antipodes Island. But all those brought on this trip were birds of the first year, in which the crest was not yet developed. The examples of Eudyptes sclateri interested me very much, because they too were young birds, but somewhat more advanced, and just undergoing the first seasonal moult—throwing off the adolescent plumage and assuming that of the adult state. The young of this species has the plumage of the upper parts much duller, being mixed with brown, and the throat, instead of being black, is greyish-white, darker in some specimens than others. In one of the two which I secured the chin is white, and, this portion of the plumage not having moulted off, the bird presents a singular appearance, the white chin being very conspicuous. In the young bird the superciliary streak, which is broad and well defined, is white, instead of being golden-yellow, as in the adult. This species is found both on Antipodes Island and on Campbell Island. It has never, I believe, been found on the Auckland Islands. The species inhabiting that group is Eudyptes antipodum. The “Hinemoa” brought up one live

example of the last-named species for His Excellency the Governor. It has peculiar flat, button-like eyes.

A bird undergoing the first moult (February) presents the following features: Yellow facial streak broad and distinct, in a line with the nostrils, but at present extending only lin. beyond the head; throat black, with well-defined lower margin, the old white plumage still adhering to the chin for the space of lin. from the angle of the crura of the lower mandible, and giving a very peculiar appearance to the head. The old dark plumage is still clinging to the forehead, and the feathers are peeling off the flippers; but all the body-plumage has been completely renewed.

Young of first year differs from the adult in having the plumage duller, and the throat dark-grey, shading into the dark plumage on the sides of the head; broad superciliary streak of white springing not far from the angles of the mouth. At the first moult the white streak is replaced by a golden crest, the feathers of which project beyond the head. Bill dark-brown, and less robust than in the adult.

Aptenodytes longirostris, Scop. (King Penguin.)

On looking over a book of cuttings, I find that I omitted to-notice in my “Birds of New Zealand” an interesting notice of this species which appeared in a southern paper in August, 1878: “A very handsome King Penguin was exhibited [at the Otago Institute] last evening. Professor Hutton said it was caught at Moeraki a short time ago, and that its existence proved that the King Penguin was really an inhabitant of New Zealand.”

Eudyptes atratus, Hutton. (Black Penguin.)

A local ornithological event of some interest is the discovery of another example of the Black Penguin, described and named by Professor Hutton in 1875, from a specimen obtained at the Macquarie Islands, a group of sea-girt rocks lying about six hundred miles to the south-west of Stewart Island. For many years this was the only known example. It belonged to the fine collection of birds in the Otago Museum, and was lent to me by Professor Parker for the purpose of being figured in the second edition of my “Birds of New Zealand.” A beautiful drawing of it was made by Mr. Keulemans, in association with Eudyptes antipodum, for the plate which faces page 294 in vol. ii. Unfortunately, the specimen itself was lost, with many other treasures, in the wreck of the “Assaye” on her return voyage to New Zealand. The present example, which also comes from the Macquarie. Islands, is a somewhat larger bird, and is apparently quite mature; but apparently it had only recently moulted, as the

sulphur-coloured crests, which formed so striking a feature in the other, are only partially developed.

Apart from its black plumage, this species may be distinguished by its powerful bill, its very small hind-toe, and its long and rigid tail-feathers.

The true home of the Black Penguin has yet to be discovered. It no doubt lies to the south of the Macquaries, which seems curious, seeing that as we approach nearer to the South Pole the universal tendency in the birds is to assume whiter plumage. It can only be a straggler at the Macquarie Islands, because ever since the discovery of the type, in 1875, Captain Fairchild has made diligent search for it there during the periodical visits of the “Hinemoa” without ever seeing one.

The Black Penguin is the only uniform-coloured form in the whole group of these very interesting birds, and its present rarity adds very much to the value of the specimen.

The distribution of the various species of Crested Penguin is very curious. On the Snares Eudyptes pachyrhynchus is the only species to be found; on the Auckland Islands Eudyptes antipodum, which occurs also on Campbell Island; on the Bounty Islands Eudyptes sclateri; and on Antipodes Island both the last-named species and Eudyptes chrysocome. The habitat originally assigned to Eudyptes sclateri (the Auckland Islands), on the authority of a live one sent to the Zoological Society, was evidently a mistake. Going still further south, we find on the Macquarie Islands the magnificent King Penguin (Aptenodytes longirostris), the Royal Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus), the Rockhopper (Pygoscelis tæniatus), and the Black Penguin (Eudyptes atratus), of which, as already remarked, only two examples have been recorded.

On the New Zealand coasts both Eudyptes pachyrhynchus and E. sclateri are occasionally met with.

Apteryx oweni, Gould. (Grey Kiwi.)

One of my correspondents, writing from the Karamea Saddle on the 6th April, says, “I expected to find Kiwis very plentiful here, but I have not yet obtained one, although I have been camped in these woods three months. The forest is nearly all of red-birch, and, owing to the dampness of the woods, the ground is spongey and mossy, with an abundance of worms, which constitute the favourite food of this bird. The District Surveyor, who has an excellent retriever, has caught only two during the last four months. Woodhens, too, are very scarce. I have collected a few of the brown-legged species. I have preserved them, and will send them to you on my return to Nelson. On 1st April I came across a family of the red-legged species—male, female, and two young. I captured

twenty or thirty specimens may often be noticed within quite a small radius.

Parson-bird (Prosthemadera novæ-zealandiæ, Gml.).

A rapidly-diminishing species.

Bell-bird (Anthornis melanura, Sparrm.).

The bell-bird, familiarly called the “mocker,” still holds its own, and is to be met with in most unlikely places, frequenting alike the scant open scrub and Phormium along the sea-shore, and blind gullies winding amid arid hills, as well as the virgin bush. Along the bridle-track leading from Picton to the Grove, during the Easter of 1894, it was particularly abundant—the bush seemed to swarm with them; but upon reaching the Mahakipawa goldfields, but a few miles distant, the following day, none were observed. A nest now in my possession was found built in and over that of a song-thrush (T. musicus).

Blight-bird (Zosterops lateralis, Lath.).

Very common.

Bush-wren (Xenicus longipes, Gml.); Rock-wren (X. gilviventris, Pelz).

Both species are now principally restricted to the back-ranges, the former predominating.

Rifleman (Achanthidositta chloris, Sparrm.).

Numerous in the Sounds district.

Yellow-head Canary (Orthonyx chrocephala).

Common, though never associated together in large flocks.

Ferm-bird (Sphenæacus fuluvus, Gray).

Seldom obtained.

Grey Warbler (Gerygone flaviventris, Gray).

Very common; frequenting the gardens and hedgerows during the winter months.

Brown Creeper (Certhiparus novæ-zealandiæ, Gml.). Common.

Yellow-breasted Tit (Petroica macrocephala, Gml.); South.

Island Wood-robin (P. albifrons, Gml.).

Both very common.

Ground-lark (Anthus novæ-zealandiæ, Gml.).

The introduction of ground-vermin and the laying of poisoned grain for small birds are the factors largely responsible

for the rapid diminution of this bird during recent years. It is, however, to be met with in considerable numbers in many localities—more especially in the Awatere district; and I have noticed in Picton several small flocks running along the grasscovered streets of that prettily-situated seaport town.

Pied Fantail (Rhipidura flabellifera, Gml.); Black Fantail (R. fuliginosa, Sparrm.).

Common; the former species occurs in the ratio of six to one of the latter. I have seen an albino, having a wing pure white, the remaining plumage being of the ordinary colouring.

Orange-wattled Crow (Glaucopis cinerea, Gml.).

Occurs in the neighbourhood of Mount Riley.

Saddleback (Creadion carunculatus, Gml.).

The range of the saddleback is yearly becoming more circumscribed, and it is now confined to a few out-of-way localities, such as Tophouse, on the road to Nelson, and the Sounds, district, where it is rare and widely distributed.

Red-fronted Parrakeet (Platycercus novæ-zealandiæ, Sparrm.);

Yellow-fronted Parrakeet (P. auriceps, Kuhl); Orange-fronted Parrakeet (P. alpinus, Buller); Lesser Red-fronted Parrakeet (P. rowleyi, Buller).

The red-fronted bird is the most plentiful, being generally to be met with in all suitable localities. During the year 1888, the year of the unprecedented invasion of native rats, hundreds of parrakeets, particularly the first two species, haunted the neighbourhood of the villages adjacent to the bush and made themselves obnoxious to orchardists, in many instances entirely stripping the trees of their fruit.

In caged specimens of P. alpinus the articulation is very indistinct.

Brown Parrot (Nestor meridionalis, Gml.).

The kaka was at one time very abundant. A spot was lately pointed out to me along the road to Picton where in former days the natives camped for weeks in order to snare them for winter consumption, where now, alas ! not one is to be found within many miles.

Long-tailed Cuckoo (Eudynamis taitensis, Sparrm.); Shining Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus, Gml.).

The first visitants herald their arrival about the third week in October; and during the latter part of November and December, when the main body appears, they are very plentiful, numbers frequenting the plantations near town, depending principally for their means of subsistence upon their persistent

robbery of the nests containing eggs and young of several species of acclimatised birds. The latest record of their occurrence is 26th March.

Owing to its general resemblance at a distance to the greenfinch (C. chloris) the shining cuckoo is, I believe, in numberless instances mistaken for that species. Comparatively few people here seem to be acquainted with it, though very common.

Wood-pigeon (Carpophaga novæ-zealandiæ, Gml.).

Irregularly distributed; albinoes are often shot.

South Island Kiwi (Apteryx australis, Shaw); Grey Kiwi (A. oweni, Gould).

Both species have now become very rare. Individuals of the latter species are now confined to the high precipitous hills bordering Cook Strait, notably Port Underwood, from where a few are occasionally procured. The back ranges of the Wairau Valley, the Wakamarina, Mahakipawa, and Waikakaho Goldfields, as well as portions of forest-country within the confines of the Queen Charlotte, Pelorus, and Kenepuru Sounds, are the haunts of the main remnant.

Eastern Golden Plover (Charadrius fulvus, Gml.).

A specimen was shot at the Wairau bar early in January. I heard the particulars of its capture some days after it was shot, and endeavoured to secure it, but the shooter had in the meantime eaten the body, no doubt with satisfaction to himself, but giving me cause for regret, as I do not possess a specimen.

Dottrel (Charadrius bicinctus, Jard.).

The dottrel is very numerous along the sandy shores of the southern portions of the province, but rare in the Sounds. Throughout the year considerable numbers habitually frequent the river-beds and stony pastures far inland. While crossing the Taylor River-bed on horseback one evening I noticed a dottrel flying along, as if wounded, a few yards in advance of a retriever; the dog entered into the chase with spirit, coursing up and down the river-bed until it seemed perfectly tired, and was returning to the road again when the dottrel, observing the direction it was taking, flew again in front of it and repeated its antics, until, having, no doubt, betrayed it past the spot where its eggs or young were concealed, it mounted high in the air and wheeled back again.

Crook-bill Plover (Anarhynchus frontalis, Quoy et Gaim.).

Resorts to the mud-flats at the Wairau bar, and I have also met with it on the Awatere and Spring Creek river-beds.

Pied Oyster-catcher (Hæmatopus longirostris, Vieill.); Black Oyster-catcher (H. unicolor, Forst.).

Both frequent the extensive mud-flats in various parts of the Sounds, marshy situations far inland as well as round the coasts; they are very plentiful at Port Underwood.

White Heron (Ardea alba, L.); White-fronted Heron (A. novæ-hollandiæ, Lath.); Blue Heron (A. sacra, Gml.).

The white heron, or crane as it is generally called locally, is, owing to its conspicuous appearance, the most generally heard-of species. Of late several specimens have been obtained; the last one—a remarkably fine bird—I saw mounted in a window here was obtained at the Wairau Pa by a native. Individuals oftentimes haunt for a considerable time the mud-flats at the junction of the Opawa and Wairau Rivers and their adjacent lagoons, and generally manage to elude capture. My father observed a beautiful specimen some years ago perched on the topmost bough of a weeping-willow overhanging the Wairau River, near the Wairau Pa. The natives all turned out to observe the stranger, one old man indicating a spot some distance up the river where in former days they resorted in numbers.

Bittern (Ardea pæciloptila, Lath.).

Numerous.

Sandpiper (Limnocinclus acuminatus, Horsf.); Godwit

(Limosa baueri, Naum.).

The godwit, known by the local trivial appellation of snipe, and shot and eaten as such, is plentifully distributed along the coast and estuaries of our rivers during its summer sojourn.

Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephaus, Gould); Black Stilt (H. novæ-zealandiæ, Gould).

Both species occur sparingly, and in localities far apart.

Knot (Tringa canutus, L.).

Pelorus Sound.

Southern Woodhen (Ocydromus australis, Sparrm.).

A pure-white albino was captured by a party near the Top-house, on the road to Nelson, and kept alive by its owner as a curiosity for a considerable time, until it began to assume the ordinary brown colouring, when the owner had it killed and mounted.

Striped Rail (Rallus philippensis, Linn.).

Now rare and widely distributed. While at Kenepuru at Christmas a young one was captured, and several others were reported from several localities in the same sound.

Swamp-crake (Ortygometra affinis).

Very rare.

Swamp-hen (Porphyrio melanotus, Linn.).

A rapidly-diminishing species. Albinoes are frequently reported.

Paradise-duck (Casarca variegata, Gml.); Little Teal (Querquedula gibberifrons, Müller); Brown Duck (Anas chlorotis, Gray); Grey Duck (A. superciliosa, Gml.); Shoveller Duck (Rhynchaspis variegata, Gould); Blue Mountain-duck (Hymenolæmus malacorhynchus, Gould); Black Teal (Fuligula novæ-zealandiæ, Gml.).

The paradise-duck was formerly more numerous in this province than, owing to the progress of drainage and the consequent extension of agriculture, it is at present, though still by far the most abundant species.

Lake Grassmere, though little more than a lagoon, about three miles in diameter, situated along the coast between the Awatere River and Cape Campbell, and Lake Rae, situated in the open country between the Awatere and Clarence, and generally known as the Salt Lakes, are now its chief haunts. In the early days very heavy bags were obtained.

The Wairau lagoons, which cover an area of country equal to eight square miles, was in the early days alive with them during the shooting season, and “shootists” from all parts were there to be found congregated, with punts, swivel-guns, and every other gun guaranteed to kill. The result was that the birds were slaughtered by thousands to supply the Wellington market. This went on for years, till the local acclimatisation society prayed the Governor to proclaim it a protected area. This was granted, and now large flocks may be seen disporting themselves on the placid waters.

Of the remaining species none require any particular notice. The shoveller, or spoonbill, as known locally, is most generally found frequenting the two chief lagoons before mentioned. I recently examined a stuffed albino shot in the Awatere the general colouring of which resembled that of a silver-grey Hamburg fowl, the wings and neck being of a beautiful mottled silvery-grey. The bill was abnormally large and deeply coloured.

The range of the blue mountain-duck is restricted to the foamy mountain-torrents amid the lonely fastnesses of the Clarence, and the Kaikouras, although a few frequent the Awatere.

The little teal and black teal are the rarest species; and of the remaining species the grey duck is the commonest.

Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus, L.).

Very rare; I have heard of but few occurrences.

Black-backed Gull (Larus dominicanus, Licht.).

Everywhere plentiful. A large breeding - colony exists at the mouth of the Awatere River, from whence I recently obtained sixteen beautifully-marked eggs.

Mackerel Gull (Larus scopulinus, Forst.).

Not so numerous as the previous species.

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia, Pallas); Sea - swallow (S. frontalis, Gray); Common Tern (S. antarctica, Forst.);

Little Tern (S. nereis, Gould).

All numerous. The sea-swallow is called by the Sounds fishermen “barracouta-bird.”

Black-eyebrowed Albatros (Diomedea melanophrys, Boie).

Mr. Joseph McMahon, of Kenepuru, secured a skeleton found on the Kenepuru beach, and by a careful comparison of its mandibles with those illustrative of this species in the Auckland Museum he was enabled to correctly determine the species.

Diving-petrel (Halodroma urinatrix, Gml.).

Plentiful.

Mutton-bird (Procellaria tristis, Forst.).

Most numerous off Jackson's Head.

Cape Pigeon (Procellaria capensis).

Often observed along the coast.

Dove-petrel (Prion turtur, Soland.).

Abundant.

Gannet (Dysporus serrator, Banks).

Abundant.

Black Snag (Phalacrocorax novæ-hollandiæ, Gould); Frilled Shag (P. melanoleucus, Vieill.); White-throated Shag (P. brevirostris, Gould); Pied Shag (P. varius, Gml.); Spotted Shag (P. punctatus, Sparrm.).

Owing to its special relish for trout, the black shag has become a marked bird to the local disciples of Isaac Walton. Considerable colonies are to be met with all round the coasts. At Port Underwood they are said to be particularly numerous. In the Kenepuru Sound, owing to continuous molestation, it has now become scarce.

however, most of it has been grassed. When this block was taken up fifteen years ago very little work had been done there. The place was mostly in its natural state of fern, bush, and swamp. It has been easy, therefore, to note the arrival of foreign species, the disappearance and growing scarcity, and sometimes, though more rarely, the increase of the indigenous birds.

As the British and Australian birds are still comparative strangers, they may be given first place. Even when the run was first taken up larks and Australian swans had preceded us. The English lark, however, cannot here boast of his early hours. Those who dwell in tents hear the harsh screech of the kaka and the liquid notes of the tui long before the lark has stirred. When the silence of night still reigns over the bush, and the hushed murmur of the forest-brooks alternately grows and fades in the ear, it is the brown parrot and the parson-bird that first enliven the expectant woods. It is only later, when the shepherds brush from the dew-soaked scrub the hanging drops, and the last stars pale and fade, and the steam of the little waterfalls rises on the sharp, keen morning air, that the lark sings in the grey dawn.

Although it would be natural to expect the black swan should be fairly numerous on our considerable sheet of water, this is not the case. Whether because there is no feeding in the lake, or for some other reason, swan have never been plentiful. Indeed, though so near the Napier lagoons, these birds may here be actually called rare. Sometimes in the dawn their music may be heard high overhead, and sometimes for a few days a brace will remain. The absence of reeds and raupo-beds seem to be distasteful to many of our water-fowl. A brace of Australian magpies in 1888 took up their abode in a clump of native bush close to the homestead. Unfortunately they were shot, and no others have taken their place. At a neighbour's run a pair of these birds were the terror of travellers going along the Wairoa Road. The shepherds' main track, too, passed close to their nesting-tree, and it was amusing to notice the woebegone appearance of the collies as they neared the fatal spot. On one occasion one of these magpies actually knocked the hat off a specially-obnoxious swagger who happened to be travelling up the coast.

Birds do not, however, always come in pairs; indeed, from the fact that the few rabbits killed at intervals of years in this part of the coast have been forlorn bachelors, it seems not unlikely that the earliest arrivals on new ground are outcasts driven from the parent colony. Many years ago, during two successive springs a minah appeared on the place. It used to sit disconsolately outside the fowl-yard seeking to chum up with the hens, who rather scornfully rejected its advances.

For the last three seasons one or two brace of minahs have appeared. This year, as the birds were evidently looking for a building-site, I had a box put up in one of the pine-trees. It was an open box, not at all adapted to the habits of the bird. However, in spite of this, a nest was built and eggs laid. I believe that normally these birds build in holes of trees or stacks, or under eaves of houses; at any rate, they attempted to remedy the defects of their open box, and the eggs were found covered with willow-leaves. Whether to hide the pale-blue eggs or whether to shield them from the sun, there is something in this action that seems almost to transcend what we term instinct. I recollect the arrival of the first sparrows, and how pleased we were to hear their merry chattering. How dependent on man and his requirements are the numbers and habits of the inferior creatures is well illustrated by the history of our sparrows. They, too, like man, are dependent on events taking place at the other end of the world, and for which they are in no degree responsible.

The earliest improvements on the run were done by white men, and while they were resident on one spot our sparrows increased and multiplied. At a later period all improvements were stopped, and the sparrows decreased. When work was again started, for various reasons native labour was employed, and the men were camped out. Sparrows abhor such temporary quarters as tents, yet their numbers began again to swell. Later again they increased enormously when oats were grown, rising in clouds from the grain and filling the pinetrees with their untidy nests. The development of the frozenmeat industry, however, was a serious blow to their interests. We found then that turnips were the best-paying crop, and ceased grain-growing. At present only a few couples reside at the homestead and woolshed.

About six years ago a cock goldfinch appeared in spring. I used to see it as I went over to the woolshed day after day. It was always alone, and, as none of us observed young birds later in the season, I do not think the female was sitting. Next year, however, it reappeared about the same time and on the same spot, this time with a wife. Goldfinches are now very common. Their plumage of red and gold ornaments the autumnal thistle-tops. In the garden and lawn they may be noticed gathering their food from the sow-thistle, and bending the hollow stems of the seeding dandelions. Yellowhammers and linnets are pretty numerous.

Five years ago the first thrush was heard, and now they have considerably increased. They do not seem to particularly haunt the homestead, but live in patches of scrub in various parts of the run. Thrushes do not seem to do very well in Hawke's Bay—at least, I have not often heard them

in the shrubberies, or seen them on the lawns. For the last three years during winter flocks of starlings have been noticed on the run.

In one small patch of bush a peahen has lived alone for three or four seasons. I believe there are no other examples of this breed within twelve miles.

A blackbird has been heard in the Matahaura Gorge, on the Napier-Gisborne Road.

Of game birds I have seen pheasants, partridges, Australian and Califonian quail. The partridges have utterly disappeared, probably also the Australian quail. The pheasants and Californian quail still fight it out with rats, cats, dogs, weasels, wekas, and lastly man. In all, fifteen species of imported birds have been noticed on Tutira up to July, 1895.

Of the 176 New Zealand birds enumerated by Sir Walter Buller, no less than thirty-five have been observed on the run. Taking into consideration the species only to be found in the South Island, the sea-birds, the Chatham Island representatives, and these Australian birds, which are really but visitors, I think the number is large. As out of the nine ducks native to the Island seven have been observed on the run, the swimmers may first be considered.

The paradise - duck, once a pretty frequent visitor, now appears but rarely. The traffic and the shepherds and barking of dogs may be the cause, though not altogether, for on two occasions I have seen a brace of these birds not sixty yards from the Petane Hotel on a paddock close to the road. This handsome sheldrake offers a good example of double sexual selection; and of all birds that simulate lameness the paradise-duck does so most perfectly. Throughout the Mackenzie Country, in the South Island, this bird is very common. At the head of Lake Tekapo, under the glaciers and streaks of perpetual snow, while angling I have watched with interest the stratagems used to decoy me away from the eggs or ducklings, the bird now trailing a broken wing, now dropping on an injured leg. On the smaller pools and lakelets the brown duck is pretty numerous. He is a tame little fellow, and takes to flight with some unwillingness. The grey duck we have also, but few of these birds abide with us. Even when shooting is going on at other spots the grey duck does not stay.

Last year a shoveller rested for a short time on one of the smaller lakes. About seven years ago, after a violent southerly gale, a brace of blue ducks appeared on the lake. Although the “whio” or “whistler,” as the natives call it, is fairly plentiful, this is the only occasion it has been seen away from the haunts peculiarly its own—the rushing, shadowed creeks half-blind with fern and koromiko. I have given orders that

this delightful bird shall be in no way molested, for there are few sounds more characteristic of wild New Zealand than the startled, half-indignant whistle of the mountain-duck. Dipping from the summer's sultry heat into some deep fernfeathered gorge, I have often paused to watch him. The little waterfalls dash into diamonds on his slate-blue plumes. He is thoroughly at home in the bubbling champagne pools. Where the swift stream shows every polished pebble clear he can paddle and steer with ease.

Throughout the year there are numbers of the scaup, or black teal. I have been surprised at what the historian of our New Zealand birds says of its powers of flight. He remarks, “Its powers of flight are very feeble; it takes wing with reluctance, and never rises high in the air.” At a shooting party, when guns have been stationed round the lake, and boats worked for a couple of hours, I have seen nearly every black teal leave the lake. Gathering into flocks, they would rise as high as three hundred yards, and, circling higher and higher, disappear. The birds did not usually reappear for several days. Of the white-winged duck a single specimen was procured last year.

The skies of New Zealand would be very different without the harrier. Over every acre of the run he hunts industriously, flapping lazily over the fields of fern, or sailing high in air, a patch of brown against the blue. We have also the fierce and bold little sparrow-hawk. I have seen one of them strike a chicken at the very kitchen-door. In the course of their strong low-level flight they seem to know no fear, and disdain to move aside even for man, passing with hardly a swerve close above his head. Often when mustering sheep the scared collies have returned to me hunted back by this resolute little hawk. He builds in ledges of cliffs, and the great harrier, when near his nesting-place, is furiously assailed. The little hawks utter a kind of neighing scream, for usually both male and female attack the intruder. Circling above their foe they swoop upon him, while the harrier, hard-pressed, turns completely over on to his back, stretching out in defence his terrible talons.

Of the two native owls I have never heard the laughing cry of the almost extinct whekau. The solemn little more-pork is pretty common. As a rule he rests from hunting and rapine during the day; still, even in the light he will throw no chance away. Mr. Sidney Brandon, who is an accurate observer, and to whom I am indebted for help in this paper, noticed on one occasion a flight of blight-birds settle within reach of a morepork, who instantly reached out a claw and seized one of them.

During late autumn and winter the kingfishers begin to

come in from the outlying parts of the run. The head and long projecting beak give them rather a jockey-like appearance. During heavy rainfalls many of these birds congregate in the garden. There, selecting the low bough of an orchard tree, they wait for the drowned or wandering worms. The moral character of the kingfisher does not seem altogether above reproach: on one occasion I saw a small chick killed, and for no apparent purpose. The kingfisher will also kill canaries as they cling to the wire of the aviary.

A rather remarkable instance of aberration of instinct in the kingfisher came under my notice three years ago: the bird had begun to bore into a rotten stump not more than a foot or so in width, and therefore quite unsuitable for nidification. Our kingfisher's eggs are as round as those of the British species.

Of the honey-eaters we have two—the tui and the wax-eye or blight-bird. To those who have been once only in our New Zealand woods it is unnecessary to dilate on the tui. Throughout the years, almost at any hour, even through the warm, light summer nights, his pleasing notes blend with the unceasing rustle and stir of leaves and the sound of the wind in the tree-tops. In its wild state even the tui is an accomplished mimic, taking off the squeal of the wild pigs particularly well. Mr. Brandon tells me that not infrequently his collies have mistaken its imitation of a shepherd's whistle for the genuine article. One nest I examined was built of small branches of manuka, lacebark, lichen and mosses woven together, while the delicate, white, rather long eggs lay in a thick. Taed of the brown glaucous hair of the tree-fern's crown; a second was built entirely of the little jagged branches of the lawyer, and lined with bush-grass and a few feathers.

The little blight-bird's history in the North Island has been fully given by Sir Walter Buller. With us it is one of the native species that has increased greatly of late years. These birds roost in large flocks in the fern—at any rate in summer. Often I have startled them out of their cover at dawn. In spring, when nestling, they are exceedingly tame, and do not seem in the least alarmed or shy, even of an observer within 6ft. of their nest. They will hop about quite unconcerned, or, sidling up, will press close to one another like love-birds. A glance at one of their nests will reveal the great alterations that have taken place in the natural history of New Zealand within the last few years. First of all, the bird itself has only lately come to the North Island; and one nest I got was composed of Yorkshire-fog grass, a few fowl-feathers, and hair of horses and cattle—every material alien to the colony. Few sights are prettier, I think, than to watch the wax-eye nimbly threading its way through the prickly mazes of a box-thorn

hedge—the colours of the bird, the bright scarlet berries, and the deep verdure of the leaves forming a pleasing picture. Ordinarily these birds have a joyous twitter. In early dawn, however, when waiting for the sheep to appear and amusing myself by birdnesting, I have heard them uttering what I can only term a whisper-song. The notes are so very low that they could not be heard further than a few feet.

In the many small raupo-beds around the lake the little fern-bird may be heard rustling. “Fern-bird” is rather a misnomer nowadays, for, whatever the habit of the utick may have been, I have never yet, though riding over hundreds of miles of fern-country in the course of the year, observed the bird in this kind of herbage. Ordinarily this species is very shy; but in spring the male loses to some extent his timidity. He will then, regardless of the presence of man, mount to the very top of a flax-stick, climbing up in little runs, like a mouse or a house-fly. His tail is all the while bent in towards the stem. Indeed, like a young bird swung in the air, the utick seems to use his tail for balancing.

Among other small birds we have the grey warbler, whose delicate pensile dome-nest is built of moss, then thistledown and lastly feathers. The pied tit also is to be found on the run: it is one of our rarest birds. The pied fantail, on the other hand, is one of our commonest species, and adds another charm to our native woods. He does not like the wind, but in the forest-paths, when the chequered light or shade hardly moves on the nibbled grass, he unceasingly flutters and flits. Along the bubbled brooks he dances above the drooping koromiko and tutu. This fairy of our bush is, however, a hardy little creature. Often I have seen him hunting for flies in pelting rain, when the boles of the great pines were waterpipes, and from the patter and splash of the big drops a gritty mist arose from the soaked earth. He never remains for any length of time in the air, after a short flight or hover alighting for an instant and then darting off once more. I am inclined, after a good deal of observation, to think that, at any rate on some occasions, he deliberately furthers his work of securing food by perching on outlying boughs and thereby shaking out the minute insects.

Another of our native birds is the pihoihoi, or groundlark.

Once or twice I have noticed parrakeets, but at too great a distance to be sure of the variety. We have the brown parrot too. On some gaunt and ghostly forest monarch, standing barked and battered above the fallen bush, the kaka may be heard harshly denouncing the spoilers of his sylvan home. Besides the felling of timber and subsequent bush-fires, the English bees are also affecting the chances of the kaka in the

struggle for existence. Twice in taking wild swarms I have found egg-shells among the broken bark and dust. On several occasions the whekau, or laughing-owl, has even been stung to death, and this may happen to the kaka also. There is no doubt, at any rate, that the bee has often usurped his hollow tree.

Both our cuckoos arrive about the first week in October. The long-tailed species is rare, but the shining-cuckoo may be heard everywhere during the early summer months. It loves, like the tui, to perch on the top of some bare bough. From beneath I have often watched the music brew and bubble in its bronze-brown throat. This cuckoo fairly swarms in the bush between Mahia and Gisborne. Upon one occasion I heard the pipiwarauroa whistling within a few minutes of midnight.

Twelve years ago I knew a couple of natives shoot eighty pigeons in a day. Their numbers have sadly fallen off since that time; not a quarter that number are now killed during the whole season. They are easy to shoot, and good to eat; but it seems a pity that these confiding birds should, from these very qualities, be unfit to survive.

One of the rarest birds, perhaps, that has ever visited the station is the kotuku, or white heron. Buller describes it as wild and shy; yet upon its first appearance here I rode directly beneath it. It was on the top bough of a large willow, some 50ft. or 60ft. from the ground, and perhaps because I had no gun, or because it was tired after a long flight, I was allowed to admire at leisure. A few hours later a native fired at the bird. We saw it once again, sailing up the lake, snow-white between the blue of water and sky. Certain feathers of the kotuku were in old times used to ornament the heads of chieftains, and the natives about us have a tradition that one of these white herons after being seen at the Tongoio lagoons will next appear at Tutira. On two other occasions we have had visits from these graceful birds.

Another smaller variety of the heron family—the bittern—is more common. Sir Walter Buller remarks concerning this bird, “If unmolested it may be observed stalking knee-deep in the water in search of food, with its neck inclined forward, raising its foot high at every step as if deliberately measuring the ground.” Watching the bird, I am inclined to believe this high action is assumed in order not to dim the mirror of water, and thereby dull the vision of fish.

In the early days of the run I think the weka increased in numbers; now, however, the bird is getting rarer. Its cry resembles the weird moorland call of the curlew, and there are few prettier sights than a brood of lively black wekachicks.

ledge of the earlier states available I think the fact should be mentioned; and for this reason I have nearly always (except in the Diaspidinœ) inserted the words “Larva unknown” or “Second stage unknown.”

It has occurred to me that a type-series of figures may not be useless as a guide to the study of Coccid larvæ, and two plates containing such figures are therefore attached to this paper, showing the abdominal extremities, the antennæ, and the feet of the eight principal sections into which the family is divided (Plates XVI., XVII.). I have purposely drawn these figures so as to include as far as possible the most important characters, without special regard to any particular species or even genus, though the variations in the four last groups have necessitated a double arrangement of the abdominal extremities. It will be seen, however, that in these double figures the differences shown are by no means fundamental: thus, for example, in the Monophlebus section of the Monophlebinœ the difference from Icerya is merely in the number of the setæ, the principal character being identical in both—namely, the springing of the setæ from the last segment without any tubercles or lobes. As regards the feet, the general similarity in all the groups is apparent; and the point is to be noted that in every case the tibia is shorter than the tarsus. Morphologically, the antennæ also are similar throughout, having always six joints, the aberrant antenna of Tachardia melaleucœ really emphasizing the rule. I have given a figure of this antenna (Plate XVII., fig. 4d), partly on this account and partly to show its approach to the type-form of the Diaspidinœ.

Lest, however, I should be thought to mean that any of the types here shown is to be taken as so definitely fixed as to be rigid, I venture to repeat a passage in my paper of 1890 (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxiii., p. 32): “Whatever may be the rule amongst other orders and families of insects, Coccids present this difficulty to students: that one must be prepared at any time to find very distinct departures from generic, or even group, types, and to consider any character whatsoever as elastic and variable.” Tachardia melaleucœ will again furnish an example of this, as the abdominal extremity of the larva is as aberrant as its antenna.

Note here, with regard to the foot, that in the Monophlebinœ there is only one digitule on the claw. Note also that the appearance shown in Plate XVI., fig. 2b, where slight pressure has caused the anal ring to protrude some distance from the terminal cleft, is not infrequent in mounted specimens of Lecanid larvæ, although by no means constant. Signoret, in his “Essai,” gives a similar figure in Philippia oleœ, a Lecanid. Note, finally, that in my Plates I have

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Adult male dark-red; length, exclusive of the spike, about 1/50in.; the spike is about as long as the abdomen. Antennæ, feet, &c., presenting no special characters.

Hab. In Australia, on Hakea sp. My specimens were sent by Mr. Olliff, from Sydney.

This species may be recognised by the entire absence of abdominal lobes in the adult female, and their presence, conspicuously, in the pellicles; also by the groups of rostral spinnerets in the first pellicle and the large oval ones in the male pupa. In Aspidiotus acaciœ, Morgan, similar groups are seen near the rostrum, but in the adult state; and although the adult female of that species has very small and (apparently) not protruding lobes, yet these are present. I believe that A. hakeœ is clearly distinct.

Aspidiotus virescens, sp. nov. Plate XVIII., figs. 7–10.

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Puparium of female subcircular, flat, greyish-white; diameter about 1/10in. Pellicles subcentral; the larval pellicle is distinctly green, the second pellicle greenish in the middle and yellowish on the borders. The texture of the secreted portion of the puparium is thin and papery.

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Puparium of the male subcircular, snowy-white, flat; the single pellicle subcentral, green. Diameter about 1/20in.; the texture very thin, delicate, and papery.

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Adult female of the usual peg-top form; colour yellow, with a greenish tinge. Length about 1/20in. Abdomen ending in six subequal lobes, not set closely together; each lobe is narrow at the base, widened in the middle, and narrowed again towards the end; between the lobes, and extending along almost the whole abdominal margin, are very numerous broad scaly hairs, the ends of which are deeply serrated. There are four groups of spinnerets; upper groups with 17–21 orifices, lower groups with 8–13. Dorsally, there are great numbers of tubular spinnerets.

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Adult male yellow, with a greenish tinge; length about 1/40in., exclusive of the spike, which is about half as long as the body. The organs present no distinctive feature.

Hab. In Australia, on Eugenia smithii. My specimens were sent by Mr. Froggatt; locality not named, but probably near Sydney.

This species may be distinguished by the terminal lobes and scaly hairs, as well as by the papery, thin puparia, and the distinctly green pellicles.

Aspidiotus ficûs (Riley), Comstock. Rep. Entom. U. S. Dept. Agric., 1880, p. 296.

Occurs in India, on orange, at Khandallah. My specimens were sent by Dr. Alcock, Superintendent of the Indian Museum, Calcutta.

Aspidiotus cladii, Maskell, 1890.

I have lately received from Mr. A. Cooper, of Richmond, Natal, some pieces of aloe having on them several specimens of an Aspidiotus which is very clearly A. cladii. I have never before seen this insect from any place outside Australia, in which country it seems to be widely spread, as I have had specimens from nearly every portion of the continent. The species must have been taken to South Africa (I suppose) in some ship, perhaps on decorative plants for the saloon, or in a Wardian case. Mr. Cooper tells me that the aloe in question seems to be not seriously damaged; and I have not heard that A. cladii is injurious in Australia, although common enough. But this is a good instance of the way in which nowadays Coccids are being spread about the world; and, more than this, it is another nail in the coffin of that old fancy that Coccids may be recognised to some extent by their food-plants. Very probably A. cladii will be found ere long in other countries and upon all sorts of plants. Few people, I take it, will care in future to erect new species simply from finding insects on plants not hitherto known to have been attacked by them.

Aspidiotus eucalypti, Mask., var. comatus, var. nov. Plate XVIII., fig. 11.

Puparium of female circular, greyish-white, slightly convex; as in the type.

Puparium of male narrow, subelliptical, white, not carinated; as in the type.

Adult female of the general form, colour, and size of the type, with a similar characteristic deep groove. The abdomen ends in two conspicuous lobes, but these are not laterally incised, and there is also at each side a small, sharply-triangular lobe. The margin bears on each side ten rather long slender hairs, which are arranged in pairs, not singly as in the type. There are no groups of spinnerets.

Hab. In Australia, on Eucalyptus viminalis. Specimens from Melbourne, sent by Mr. French.

The non-incised lobes and the longer hairs in couples will distinguish this variety.

I find that in my original description of A. eucalypti I omitted to mention that the puparia (and the same holds good for the variety) are covered, when uninjured, by a very thin scale formed of the minute bark-cells of the tree. In this state the pellicles are very inconspicuous, and the whole has a grey appearance. Frequently, however, this scale is rubbed off, and then the pellicles are much more clearly visible, surrounded by a ring of whitish secretion.

A. articulatus, Morgan, 1889, comes near to A. eucalypti

Mytilaspis pallens, Maskell, 1889, var. alba, var. nov.

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Puparium of female snowy - white, elongated, narrow; length about 1/7in. Pellicles terminal, pale-yellow.

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Puparium of male similar to that of female, but smaller; not carinated; length about 1/20in.

Adult female as in the type.

Adult male not observed.

Hab. In Australia, on Xanthorrhœa sp. My specimens were sent by Mr. Froggatt, from Sydney.

I see nothing but the whiteness and the slightly larger size of the puparia to separate this from the type.

In my original description I mentioned as the food-plant of this species “a kind of fan-palm.” I now find that the pieces sent were Xanthorrhœa: their triangular form misled me.

Mytilaspis banksiæ, sp. nov. Plate XIX., figs. 3–5.

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Puparium of female dull-rusty-buff-coloured (similar to the underside of the leaf); convex, broadly pyriform and short; pellicles dull-red, usually covered by a thin scale of rusty secretion, which, however, is frequently rubbed off. Length of puparium about 1/27-in. Many puparia are almost sub-elliptical.

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Puparium of male similar in colour to that of the female, but much narrower and more cylindrical; not carinated; length about 1/27in.

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Adult female dark-red, the median dorsal region sometimes yellow. Form normal of the genus, but frequently so much shortened as to be almost globular; the proper length is about 1/35in. Abdomen ending in six lobes, of which the two median are the largest, the outer ones the smallest. The median lobes are not quite adjacent; their sides are straight, the ends-obliquely emarginate. The second pair are deeply incised on the outer edges; the third pair are bidenticulate. Between the lobes the margin has deep semicircular depressions with thickened edges, and beyond the lobes the margin is broken by many serrations. There are a few short scaly hairs between the lobes, and on the marginal serrations there are many others larger and longer; all these hairs have deeply-serrated ends. Five groups of spinnerets: upper group with 8–10 orifices; upper laterals 20–22, lower laterals 20–22. There are a great many dorsal spinnerets on all the segments as high as the rostrum, and on the anterior cephalic region are some short fine hairs.

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Adult male dark-red; length (exclusive of the spike) about 1/65in.; the spike is about half as long as the body. The feet, antennæ, &c, present no special features.

Hab. In Australia, on Banksia integrifolia. My specimens

spines; but in the terminal lobes and serrations the insect is identical with the type. The groups of spinnerets have usually more numerous orifices, the lower laterals having 36–42; but this is a very variable character in most Diaspids. Curiously, in three specimens examined the right upper lateral group was entirely absent, or was represented by only a single orifice.

Hab. In Northern India, on tea; no special locality was mentioned. If, as is quite possible, the tea-plants in question should have been imported from Japan, the relationships of this variety may be easily accounted for.

I have only lately been informed that Professor Sasaki, of Tokyo, has described my C. prunicola under the name of Diaspis patelliformis. In my original description (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxvii., p. 49) I mentioned how nearly the puparium approached that of a Diaspis, but gave reasons for not considering the species as of that genus. I have not yet had an opportunity of seeing Professor Sasaki's paper, nor do I know whether it has priority over mine or not. But I am obliged to adhere to my opinion for the present, and leave both the species and the variety in Chionaspis.

Chionaspis spartinæ, Comstock, var. natalensis, var. nov. Plate XIX., figs 9–11.

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Puparium of female white, very elongated, narrow, sub-cylindrical; length about 1/12in.; width about 1/50in. Pellicles terminal, small, yellow.

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Puparium of male white, elongated, cylindrical, carinated; length about 1/30in.

Adult female pale-yellow; form normal of the genus. Abdomen ending in four very small lobes, of which the two median are the largest; the two others are almost obsolete. The median lobes are roundly triangular, divergent; the outer pair are denticulate. The margin is broken by small serrations, and bears a few spiny hairs, of which two on each side are close to the median lobes. There are five groups of spinnerets: upper group with 10 orifices; upper laterals 20–24; lower laterals 16–20. Many large oval pores.

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The larva is small, elliptical, active; length about 1/100in. The general characters are normal, but the last joint of the antenna is rather thicker and more clavate than usual amongst the Diaspidinœ.

Adult male unknown.

Hab. In Natal, on grass. My specimens were sent by Mr. A. M. Cooper, from Richmond, Natal.

This insect is very close to C. spartinœ, and I think the chief difference is in the numbers of the spinneret-orifices, which are fewer in var. natalensis than in the type. Com-

For the foregoing reasons I have to abandon L. pingue as a distinct form and to classify the species anew as follows, regarding its general features:—

• L. scrobiculatum, type.—Adult female convex, colour brownish-yellow or reddish-brown; epidermis bearing very numerous pits; feet not abnormally short; dorsum with four to six circular tubercles.

• L. scrobiculatum, var. pingue.—Adult female convex, colour reddish-brown; epidermis bearing very numerous pits; feet atrophied; dorsum with four to six circular tubercles.

• L. scrobiculatum, var. leve, var. nov.—Adult female convex, colour usually dull-yellow or brownish-yellow, with dull-red patches; epidermis bearing many pits (but less numerous than in the type); feet atrophied; dorsum without any circular tubercles.

The second stage of the female, the larva, and the test of the male pupa do not seem to vary sufficiently in these forms to require separate description. The first and third are described in my paper of 1892, and the larva in my paper of 1894 under L. pingue.

My specimens of var. leve were sent by Mr. Froggatt on Acacia longifolia, from Manly, near Sydney.

Lecanium mori, Signoret.

I have to report this species as plentiful on gorse (Ulex europœus) and broom (Spartium or Genista) at Fairlie, South Canterbury, New Zealand. My specimens were sent by Mr. T. Kirk.

I mentioned L. mori first in 1884 as occurring in New Zealand on Alsophila; and in 1893 here also on Asplenium and other ferns. The gorse and broom on which I now record it are, of course, European, and, if my recollection serves me correctly, there is not much, if any, native forest near Fairlie. The anatomical characters of the insects, as I observed in 1893, correspond most exactly with those of Signoret's species. The question arises as to the original country of L. mori. Signoret's specimens were found upon mulberry (presumably) in the south of France. That author does not himself mention the plant, and it is within possibility that “mori” is not meant to indicate the mulberry; but, however that may be, I have not found the species mentioned by any other writer as occurring in Europe or elsewhere. Neither Mr. Douglas nor Mr. Newstead reports it in England, although both have paid much attention to the genus Lecanium. Possibly, however, the species named L. assimile, Newst. (Ent. Mo. Mag., May, 1892, p. 141), may be the same or a variety. L. genistœ,

to reopen now the discussion of the generic name, as to which I have somewhat fully expressed opinions previously; but I shall merely refer to my remarks on the subject in these Transactions, and in the “Annals and Magazine of Natural History,” August, 1895, p. 134.

It is somewhat, curious that the occurrence of this pest on the Nelson oak-trees has never before been made known. The twigs which were sent to me were so thickly covered with the little greenish-yellow tests as to be in places invisible. In Mr. Kingsley's letters he informs me that “the owner first noticed the blight about fourteen years ago.” It would appear from Signpret (loc. cit.) that P. quercicola was first observed as an injurious, pest about 1836, near Paris, and that certain oaks in the Bois de Boulogne were then practically destroyed by it. I have not found any particular mention of it, either in France or elsewhere, since Signoret wrote, as being especially common or injurious, although it has been reported several times in Europe and in America. It is difficult to look at the Nelson oak-twigs without fancying that the countless thousands of insects on them must greatly damage the trees; and yet all that Mr. Kingsley tells me is that “the upper branches of the trees look somewhat unhealthy.” This is after fourteen years' uninterrupted existence. Probably, in Europe there is some parasitic enemy (not generally known) which has kept it in check, and some accidental disappearance of the parasite may account for the prevalence of the Planchonia in 1836. In New Zealand, apparently, either there is no parasite, in which case the Planchonia will be able to increase indefinitely, or whatever parasite there may be has for a while disappeared, with the consequent outbreak of the Coccids.

Coccids, like other insects, are subject to sudden and injurious increase at irregular intervals. Just in the same way as in England a few years ago there was an extraordinary, swarm of the butterfly Colias edusa, so in New Zealand at one time Lecanium hesperidum was for a few years excessively numerous. In Mauritius and other tropical places Aspidiotus destructor broke out at one time with unusual vigour; and we can remember here how in the summer of 1894–95 occurred an alarming increase of Dactylopius adonidum in the Hutt Valley, an increase which may perhaps be observed again during the present season. If, therefore, Planchonia quercicola, after being fairly quiescent for several years, has of late suddenly started into abnormal activity, we may expect that after a while the checks (whatever they may be) to its increase will again act on it, and it will return to comparative harmlessness.

There remains, of course, the chance that the insect is not

of which the third is much the longest, the fourth the next, then the second and first which are subequal, the fifth, sixth, and seventh the shortest and subequal, the seventh probably the shortest of all. Each joint bears some short fine hairs; the first has also one and the second two much longer and thicker. Feet rather strong; the coxa, trochanter, and femur rather thick; the tibia about twice as long as the tarsus; both tibia and tarsus are much wrinkled, and the tarsus is curved; claw moderate; all the four digitules are fine hairs. There are several short spiny hairs on each joint of the foot, and on the trochanter are two very long and thick. Rostrum small; mentum monomerous, subcircular; setæ very short. The abdomen terminates in a curve without any appearance of anal tubercles, nor are there any special terminal hairs. Anal ring large, compound, bearing from twenty to twentyfour long strong hairs. The margin of the body has a series of long and strong spines set closely together; each spine springs from a projecting tubular base, which is ringed. Epidermis bearing many short fine hairs, and near the cephalic and abdominal extremities are two curved series of stronger spiny hairs, about sixty in each. On the abdominal segments there are great numbers of very minute subcircular marks which seem like the orifices of spinnerets, but of the twenty five specimens observed none exhibited either cotton or wax. In some specimens there are two strong short conical spines set close together between the antennæ, but these are apparently not constant.

Female of the second stage yellow or yellowish - brown, elliptical, convex, segmented; length about ⅛in. Antennæ of six joints, which are proportionately thicker, than in the adult; of these the third is much the longest. Feet, marginal spines, and anal ring as in the adult; but instead of one pair of strong conical spines there are many such pairs— apparently twenty-four in all.

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Larva yellow, subcircular or broadly elliptical, slightly tapering posteriorly; length about 1/80in. Antennæ short, thick, with six subequal joints. Margin bearing a series of strong conical spines set closely together; these are proportionately shorter than those of the adult, but their points are produced into very long fine threads forming a delicate fringe.

Hab. In Australia, on Eucalyptus rostrata. Mr. French has sent me a number of specimens, and says, “It does great damage to young trees at Mooroopna, Goulburn River, Victoria.”

L. lectularius may be distinguished from both the preceding and the following species by the much, longer marginal spines both in the adult and the larval stages. From L.

hirtus it likewise differs in its very much slighter dorsal pubescence. I am not prepared to say that in its natural state it may not produce some cotton, although none of my specimens has any.

I find I have omitted to say that the adult male and the male pupa are unknown.

Lachnodius hirtus, sp. nov. Plate XXII., figs. 1–9.

Adult female dark-purple, but covered with a quantity of very short white filaments rising from the dorsal hairs, so that the general appearance is grey; form subglobular; diameter about ⅕in. or ¼in. before gestation. Dorsum covered with great numbers of short but rather strong brown hairs, which give it a woolly appearance. Antennæ of seven joints, of which the third is the longest, then the fourth and second, next the first, and the last three are the shortest and equal; the last joint is not elongated. All the joints bear a few hairs, the last having several. Feet long and strong; coxa, trochanter, and femur large and thick; tibia cylindrical, three times as long, as the tarsus, and bearing on the inner edge several strong spines and at the tip two spurs; tarsus short and thick, with two slender spines on the inner edge; claw short and broad. There are no digitules either on the tarsus or on the claw. The anogenital ring has about twenty hairs. The mentum is large and monomerous. The abdominal extremity is rather truncate, and there are no anal tubercles; but two of the hairs on the extreme margin are a little longer than the rest.

Second stage of the female not observed.

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Larva reddish- or yellowish -brown, active, elongated, tapering posteriorly; length about 1/45in. Abdomen ending in two very minute anal tubercles, each bearing a long seta. Antennæ of six rather thick joints, of which the third and the sixth are the longest; on the last joint are several hairs, of which one is much longer than the rest. Feet long and rather slender; tibia rather more than half as long as the tarsus; claw very small and slender. There are four digitules, all of which are fine hairs. The dorsum is covered with many fine hairs, and on the margin there is a row of strong spines, of which the two which are between the anal tubercles are double.

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The male pupa is covered by a white cylindrical sac of white cotton, about 1/7in. long. The enclosed insect has not been observed.

Adult male unknown.

Hab. In Australia, on Acacia sp. My specimens, are from. Mr. Froggatt; I believe the locality to be Thornley, near Sydney. As, however, the adult female is quite apt for

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Adult female dull-red or yellowish-red or brownish, globular or subelliptical; diameter about 1/26in. Abdomen distinctly segmented. Antennæ variable; in some species they are almost if not quite wanting, being reduced to a mere tubercle; in others they are short and swollen, with very confused joints (three?. or six?) difficult to separate. Feet entirely absent. Mentum distinctly biarticulate, rather large, and bifid at the tip. There are four large thoracic spiracles, each surrounded by a ring of circular glands. The epidermis bears many small simple circular spinneret-orifices; and on the last three abdominal segments are some larger orifices. Anogenital ring small, simple, hairless. The whole body is much wrinkled; and on the dorsal abdomen there are four very strong transverse chitinous bands, broad in the middle and tapering to points at the ends; the outer margin of each bandis smooth, the inner bearing on each side from four to eight conspicuous crenulations. On the cephalic and thoracic margins are some short spines.

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The female of the second stage is circular, flattish dorsally and ventrally, or subglobular; diameter about 1/20in., being thus rather larger than the adult. The colour is a dull yellow or grey. The rostrum and mentum are large; the antennæ nearly completely atrophied. Feet absent. The abdominal region has not been accurately observed, but I see no trace of chitinous bands.

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Larva subelliptical, flattish, active; length about 1/85in. Abdomen ending in two conspicuous protruding anal tubercles bearing spines and setæ. Antennæ of six rather thick, and somewhat confused joints, of which the fourth and fifth are the shortest. Feet also rather thick; all the four digitules are fine hairs. In its later state the larva becomes more elongated.

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Male pupa enclosed in a felted, yellowish, cylindrical sac which has a small orifice at the posterior end; length of the sac about 1/25in. I have not observed the pupa itself.

Adult male unknown.

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A minute scarlet Gamasid mite, about 1/180in. in length, is very active in the burrows of this Coccid. I do not know how far it may be occupied in feeding on the Sphœrococcus, but possibly the difficulty which I have found in getting any quite complete specimen of the second stage may be due to the action of this mite. I have not observed any eggshells in the cavities examined, though the insect is not, as far as I can make out, viviparous; and this again may be due to the appetite of the Gamasid.

Hab. In Australia, on Acacia longifolia and on Eucalyptus obtusiflora. Specimens on both plants have been sent by Mr. Froggatt from Hornsby, near Sydney.

I have been unable to attach this insect to any known species. In the absence of an ovisac and the consequent viviparous propagation it approaches I. rosœ, Riley and Howard, 1890; but both adult and larva differ from that species, of which I have reported a variety australis in 1893. There is an insect, I. palmeri, Raley and Howard, 1890, of which the adult female is not yet known, and I at first thought that it might be this Sydney one; but the larva of I. palmeri has the last joint of the antenna conspicuously swollen at the base and constricted in the middle; and the larval marginal hairs also differ.

Since 1892, when I inserted in my paper (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxv., p. 246) a list of all known Iceryœ, the following have been found:—

• I. rosœ, var. australis, Maskell, 1893, Australia;

• I. crocea, Green, MS., Ceylon;

• I. sp., Cockerell, MS., New Mexico;

• I. nudata, Maskell, Australia.

The outline of this insect is much like that of Cœlostoma immane, Mask., the gigantic Coccid from central Australia; but, apart from size and colour, the antennæ of the two show that they belong to different genera.

The figures 1 and 2 of my Plate XXIII. are taken from tracings of sketches sent to me by Mr. Olliff. Since the foregoing description was written intelligence has come of the lamented death of my friend, an event which all who are interested in science, especially in this quarter of the globe must very deeply deplore. An earnest and energetic worker on the natural history of Australasia, his removal while still in the prime of life leaves a gap which may not be easily filled. Personally I have many recollections of pleasant and useful correspondence with him, although we never actually met; and I have been frequently indebted to him for hints, information, and other kinds of help, always promptly and generously given. Whilst, therefore. I mourn his loss as a co-operator in our branch of science, I must also regret the untimely loss of a friend.

Icerya rosæ, var. australis, Mask., 1893. Plate XXIII., figs. 7–11.

Specimens of this insect received lately from Mr. Froggatt do not show the rows of yellow spots noted in my description (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxvi., p. 101). In other respects the specimens agree with my former ones. It is possible that the spots may be noticeable only at certain seasons. But I find also that in the specimens in my cabinet the spots have disappeared, although when alive they were quite conspicuous. It may therefore be also possible that the type of I. rosœ in

Florida may, when seen in the living state, also exhibit the spots. The differences which I noted in the Australian variety -the antennal joints of the adult and the arrangement of the larval hairs-will still stand good, and I shall leave it as a valid variety.

In November, 1895, Mr. Froggatt sent mé a number of specimens of the adult male of this species. I believe I am right in saying that, up to the present time, no male Icerya, has been reported except that of I. purchasi, Mask. It is therefore interesting to record now that of I. rosœ.

But after a careful examination I am unable to detect any characters of importance which may distinguish this male from that of I. purchasi. Pròbably one naturally expects to differentiate a new thing from what is already known; inore over, one would suppose that a male of one species should not resemble entirely that of another. In all the Coccidœ, however, it is difficult to separate the males; whether amongst the Diaspids, or the Lecanids or the Monophlebids, they are all exceedingly alike. In Sphœrococcus I have been obliged to postpone giving generic characters for the male precisely because that genus exhibits just what no other does-a marked difference amongst the males. I gave in my “Scale-Insects of New Zealand,” 1887, plate ii., fig. 3, some type-forms indicating a means of separating the males of one group from those of another; but there is nothing that I know of at present which may serve in a similar way as between males of any particular genus. Probably there is such a thing, if one could discover it, because a male of, say, Aspidiotus nerii would not couple with a female of Aspidiotus aurantii, or a male of Ctenochiton viridis with a female of Ctenochiton elœocarpi: but I do not yet know what it is.

However, I append a description of the male of I. rosœ var. australis, premising that the general appearance seemed to me to be so near to that of I. purchasi that I wrote to Mr. Froggatt asking him if he were quite sure as to the collection of his specimens. In reply he assured me that he found both the adult females and the male cocoons on the same plant, and that the males which he had sent me had hatched out of these same cocoons in his own boxes. He also sent me a further supply of both females and cocoons together.

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The male larva before changing to the pupa is very dark red, elliptical, slightly convex; length about 1/16in. The antennæ and feet are black. This larva is enclosed in a sac of thin white or slightly-yellowish wax, which is surrounded by much white cotton, and many of these sacs or cocoons are frequently massed together on a leaf. The antennæ have six joints, of which the first three are subequal, the next two shorter and equal, the last about as long as the fourth and

increase the list of species even in this country; and it stands to reason that in other lands there must be many Aleurodidœ awaiting discovery. I do not hold the opinion that the interest attached to any order of insects is to be measured by the number of genera and species which it at present contains, any more than by the size and colours of the insects comprised in it. Possibly the publication of these notes may induce entomologists to devote more attention to these minute and interesting, and by no means unimportant, organisms.

At the outset I must say that I am conscious of what may perhaps be considered a serious defect in this paper. I mean that in the majority (indeed, nearly all) of the new species which are herein described and figured I have been unable to report anything concerning the adult stage of the insects. It may be thought that an account of the larvæ, and pupæ, without a description of the imagines, is too imperfect for scientific completeness and accuracy, and is therefore of little use to science. Probably such a view might be correct as regards the greater number of insect orders, and I would myself admit its justice even as regards the Coccidœ, for in most cases a knowledge of the immature stages of insects is not much of a guide to their adult form. But in the Aleurodidœ the case is different; and I venture to put forward the following reasons for the proceeding which I have adopted :—

1. The Aleurodidœ differ but very slightly in their adult stage. The form of the body, of the feet and antennæ, of the rostrum, of the genitalia, is but little varied in this stage, and the differences which may exist require exceedingly minute observation for their detection. The presence or absence of spots on the elytra, and a very minute difference in the venation, are really about the only characters for differentiation.

2. But, on the other hand, the form of the larva and the pupa, their colours and markings, and their secretions, vary most considerably. A glance at the figures accompanying this paper will very readily exhibit this fact.

3. It is precisely in the larval and pupal states that these insects inflict injury upon plants. Although (differing in this from the Coccidœ) both sexes possess rostra and digestive organs in the adult state, yet it does not appear that in that condition they damage plants; that is done by the larvæ and pupæ. It appears, therefore, more important, in the domain at least of economic entomology, to bring out the differences in these immature stages, so that cultivators may recognise the insects in those stages in which they more particularly affect plants.

4. The point just mentioned has been probably the reason why most of the species which I have received have been sent to me as larvæ or pupæ. Aleurodidœ in these states are often

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“personal equation” of an observer. Plates XXIV., 1, and XXIV., 2, of this paper are designed to show the details of structure which may be taken as sufficiently constant throughout the family, as far as the adults are concerned.

The adults may therefore be said to be practically always yellowish or tinged with red or brown; the wings carried flat when at rest and not extending much beyond the abdomen; forewings usually rounded, pure white or spotted, patched or banded with brown or red; hind-wings smaller, also rounded; vein in the forewing single, median, with one basal branch (Aleurodes), or a basal and a terminal branch (Aleurodicus); vein of hindwing single, median, with one basal branch^*; head small, transverse, oblique beneath, slightly convex above, anteriorly rounded; eyes two, red or brown, not prominent, more or less reniform or sometimes divided, the anterior portion the smallest; a small simple circular ocellus close to each eye; antennæ anterior to the eyes, consisting of seven joints, of which the two first are short and simple, the rest long, slender, and numerously ringed; rostrum projecting from the under-side of the head, composed of a single (?) conical joint, at the apex of which are three tubular setæ, and from the base of which (beneath) springs a long subcylindrical mentum, of three segments,^† which is free in all its length, and frequently extends beyond the thorax the tip of the mentum is usually dark-coloured; thorax short, the pro-, meso-, and meta-thorax about equal; abdomen mode rate, roundly tapering, terminated by the genitalia, and bearing dorsally a minute tubercular organ^‡ (described more particularly below) consisting of an orifice, an operculum, and a lingula; genitalia usually dark-coloured; genitalia of female conical or subconical; genitalia of male forcipate; feet slender, long, tarsi dimerous, terminal claws three, of which the middle one is the shortest.

The eggs, which are elliptical, pedunculated and usually yellow or orange in colour, are produced in great numbers, but seemingly only once in a year, although it would appear (according to Réaumur and Hegeer) that the period required for hatching is ten days or a fortnight.

The larva, as soon as it is hatched, fixes itself on the leaf, and, as a rule, never afterwards moves from its position. In

this stage the differentiation of species can be fairly commenced. In general form and outline there is little distinction, the larvæ being (as far as is at present known) always elliptical and flattish; but in the colours, in the character of the secretions and fringes, in the arrangement, or the absence of hairs, spines, pustules, or other features, it is possible to note clearly enough the specific differences, as will be seen from the descriptions and figures given in this paper. Generally, in the earliest form of the larva, it is simply a thin, flattish, elliptical, motionless object in which no trace of organs is visible with the exception of an orifice near one extremity, which in this paper I term the “vasiform orifice,” and of which I shall speak more particularly presently. As the larva grows, indications of the rostrum appear, and still later rudiments of feet and antennæ may be faintly traced. According to the two authors mentioned above, the larva remains in this state only for about a fortnight, and then, without change of position or discarding of, its envelope, passes into the pupa stage. This, is the view adopted by most writers on the family, and it seems to be, as a general rule, correct; so that there is extreme difficulty in recognising, except perhaps by size, the difference between a late larva and a pupa, and most authors seem to speak indiscriminately of both, under the names of “early larva,” “adult larva,” “nymph,” &c., these stages being apparently usually distinguished by the more or less definite outlines of the rudimentary feet and antennæ. In 1889 (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxii.) I pointed out that in Aleurodes asplenii, otherwise sufficiently normal as regards the question here referred to, it is possible to differentiate the larva from the pupa by reference to the secreted, waxy fringes. Still, as a rule, it may, perhaps, be admitted that in this family the typical larva passes nearly imperceptibly into the pupa stage. But. I am able in this paper to report some species (e.g., A. floccosa, A. piperis, &c.) in which the larva is clearly distinct from the pupa, and in its metamorphosis discards its envelope, the exuviæ remaining attached to the pupa-case. In these species I am unable to detect any rudimentary organs in the larva.

It is possible that at a future time it may be thought necessary to create a new genus, or perhaps a sub-genus, for the species which thus depart from the usual rule. I report in this paper only four of these; but others may hereafter be found. However, at present I shall not separate them. In only one of the four (A. piperis) have I yet seen the adult form, and that does not seem to present any remarkable features.

The pupa-case, as remarked above, in the normal state

may be distinguished from the “late larva” principally by its size. But it happens not unfrequently that there are other characters which may be employed. Colour may be to some extent considered, and in many cases the pupæ can be recognised by their darker tinge. As a rule, also, the rudimentary feet and antennæ are in this stage much more distinctly visible, although sometimes (e.g., A. barodensis, A. limbata, &c.) the very dark colour prevents this. Again, sometimes the fringes or hairs of the larva are absent from the pupa (e.g., A. asplenii, A. cotesii), or the arrangement of the hairs or wax may differ (e.g., A.hirsuta). On the whole, it is not difficult to decide whether a specimen is a larva or a pupa, though there are exceptions; of course, there can be no doubt in those cases where the larval exuviæ are seen on the dorsum of the pupa.

I may here remark, in passing, that, as far as my experience goes, the Aleurodidœ differ from other Homoptera in being always on the under-surface of leaves. Coccidœ and Psyllidœ are found indiscriminately on leaves or twigs, and often on both upper and lower surfaces of a leaf; but I have never seen an Aleurodes except on a leaf, on the lower side-I mean, of course, a larva or a pupa.

It remains to speak of an organ which is quite characteristic of this family, and which, more or less modified, is visible in every stage of growth after the egg. Viewing an Aleurodid larva or pupa with the naked eye, or with a lens of low magnifying-power, it is scarcely possible to distinguish it from a Coccid, especially of the section Lecaninœ, especially if, as sometimes happens (e.g., A. decipiens), there is a cleft in the abdominal extremity. But on applying a greater magnifying-power it is observed that, whereas in a Lecanid there are two minute subconical lobes visible on the abdominal dorsum, there is seen in an Aleurodid a minute orifice, more or less elliptical or subconical posteriorly, and more or less depressed, or even slightly convex, anteriorly. This orifice is partially closed by a plate which is hinged on the anterior edge of the orifice, but does not extend altogether to the posterior edge. No author known to me has entered into any details regarding this organ; and yet, as it is persistent in one form or another from the earliest larval stage to the latest adult state, and is entirely characteristic of the family, it may be well to elucidate it as far as possible. Signoret merely remarks that in the adult there is on the last abdominal segment “a kind of” elongated tubercle of varying shape, apparently allied to the cornicles of Aphis”; but he does not say anything about its presence in the earlier stages. I have not found any other author who pays particular attention to this organ except Mr. R. T. Lewis (Journ. of Quekett Micr. Glub, 1895), who

mentions it, and gives figures of it on the adult only; and Mr. J. W. Douglas, who, in the Entomologists' Monthly Magazine, 1891, figures the organ on the pupa of A. rubicola.

I have in this paper noted carefully what seem to be specific variations in this organ, believing it to be quite a valid differentiating character. It consists of three parts. First, an orifice in the dorsal surface of the abdominal region, to which I have given the name of the “vasiform orifice,” from its general outline. Secondly, a plate hinged upon the anterior edge of the orifice, which I call the “operculum,” and which does not entirely cover the orifice. Thirdly, a more or less slender, subcylindrical, tongue-like tube, which I call the “lingula,” and of which the length varies considerably, being sometimes shorter than the operculum (A.fodiens) sometimes very much longer (A. decipiens). In the adult stage the lingula, as a rule, does not project when at rest, the whole organ then appearing as a simple open tubercle on the abdominal dorsum; but in some species (e.g., A. asparagi, and in all probability A. decipiens) it protrudes as a conspicuous cylindrical tongue. The lingula also very frequently bears some fine hairs or setæ, varying from extremely minute to considerably long ones.

I strongly incline to the belief that this organ is concerned with the secretion of “honey dew.” The Aleurodidœ do not seem to produce this substance in such quantities as the Coccidœ and the Aphididœ, and the leaves which they attack are therefore usually less subject to be covered with black fungus than is the case with those families; but they do produce some. For example, Messrs. Riley and Howard, in Insect Life, 1893, p. 316, observe of A. cocois, “The upper surface (of a leaf) is frequently attacked by a smut-fungus which is developed on the honeydew thrown down from the under-sides of the leaves above. The honeydew attracts numerous ants.” In my paper “On the Honeydew of Coccidœ and the Fungus accompanying these Insects” (Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1886, p. 41), I drew special attention to this secretion and to the blackening of the leaves by it, and I described and figured an organ which I had actually seen employed in the production of honeydew in the species Ctenochiton elœocarpi. That species belongs to the Coccid section Lecaninœ, and in that section, on the abdominal dorsum, there are always present two subtriangular projecting lobes, from between and beneath which the tubular organ just mentioned was protruded whilst I was watching the specimen. I am convinced, that the “lingula” of Aleurodes is homologous with the honeydew organ of Ctenochiton, and that its function is the production of honeydew.

In a letter to me respecting A. asparagi Mr. Lewis tells

me that he is informed that “something analogous [to the lingula] is found in certain Coleoptera adjacent to the generative organs, and that they are regarded as of the nature of palpi.” But I think that the explanation which has just been given will be nearer the truth.

As regards the waxy secretions of the Aleurodidœ, I may-say that, in my experience, they never take the form of solid homogeneous plates, as in some Coccidœ. Often, when an Aleurodes pupa is lifted from a leaf, a ring of wax is left behind, and to the naked eye appears rather solid; but on close examination it is seen to be composed of adjacent tubes. The marginal fringes and dorsal wax of larvæ and pupæ are also not solid. On the other hand, I think they scarcely reach the same degree of fineness and “fluffiness” as the secretion, say, of some Dactylopidœ or Acanthococcidœ, which seems really like soft cotton. In chemical composition, doubtless, the secretion of an Aleurodid will not differ from that of a Coccid. Amongst the species described in this paper, A. croceata has the most solid-looking marginal wax; but even in that close observation will detect a tubular structure. This fact arises from the character of the margin in the larva and pupa. The figures which I give show that the margin is never quite entire, but presents a “crenulated” appearance, more or less conspicuous. The “crenulations” are merely the extremities of cylindrical tubes closely adjacent, each of which has the function of secreting wax, and this wax, therefore, necessarily preserves the form impressed upon it at its origin. It does not necessarily follow that a crenulated margin always carries a fringe; for example, A. hirsuta has deep crenulations but no fringe.

A curious illustration of my remark just now, that the Aleurodidœ, affect only the under surfaces of leaves, and never (or scarcely ever) the upper surfaces, and therein differ from other Homoptera, has been furnished to me since this paper was written. Mr. C. Musson sent me, from the Kurrajong Hills, in New South Wales, some leaves of Syncarpia laurifolia which were covered with numbers of very deep pits on the upper surfaces, the other sides being pressed, out into conspicuous elevations. Examining these with a lens, I found in each pit what seemed to be an Aleurodid pupa, looking dorsally very much like that of A. melicyti. When, however, I extracted one of these, I found that the rudimentary feet and antennæ were not enclosed in the pupa-case, but were very distinctly free and active (the ventral surface of the insect being exceedingly convex); and on examination, under the microscope, no trace appeared of any vasiform orifice. Further, the extremity of each foot was furnished with a fan-shaped pad beneath the two claws. It was clear, therefore, that I

Eggs elliptical, with a short peduncle for attachment to the leaf.

The relationship between Aleurodes and a Coccid of the section Lecaninœ, or a Psyllid of the section Triozinœ, is very noticeable in the earlier states; and the principal character by which it can be distinguished is the vasiform orifice, which has its counterpart in a Lecanid in the abdominal lobes, and in a Triozid in the “anal ring” (see my paper on Psyllidce, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 1889). Another, but less conspicuous, difference is in the feet: in a Lecanid there is but a single claw, and in a Psyllid the two claws have beneath them a fan-shaped pad. The adult Aleurodes differs from Coccids in the possession of four wings in both sexes, and from Psyllids in the single median vein of both wings.

For a reason of which I am not aware, the word “Aleurodes” has been treated by all authors as feminine. I have not thought it worth while to disturb the arrangement.