[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury 3rd July, 1907.]

In vol. xxxii, pp. 408–9, of the Transactions Mr. T. White published a short paper on some supposed spiders (“Arachnids: the Small Pond in the Forest”). I would suggest that these were a species of the heteropterous hemipteron Microvelia, a tiny sort of water-strider, the account of the behaviour of the “spiders” applying very well to that of Microvelia.

Some years ago I described a species of this genus from New Zealand, and, as it was published in a French journal perhaps little accessible to most residents in New Zealand, I append a translation now:—

Microvelia macgregori (Kirk.).

Aydrœssa macgregori, Kirkaldy, 1899: ‘Revue d'Entomologie,” xviii, 91–2.

Apterous Form.—Long and fairly narrow, about 2 ½ times as long as wide. 4th segment of the antennæ about twice as long as the 3rd, which is about ¼ longer than the 2nd, the latter subequal to the 1st. Rostrum reaching as far as the base of the pronotum. Pronotum rugose, not carinate. Femora neither tuberculate nor dentate; fore femur ¼ longer than the tibia, which is ⅓ longer than the tarsus; middle femur a little longer than the tibia, which is ½ longer than the tarsus, the 2 tarsal segments subequal; hind tibia ¼ longer than the femur and 2 ⅕ times as long as the tarsus, the 2 tarsal segments subequal.

Blackish, with a narrow band of silvery pubescence on the interior lateral margin of the eyes; antennæ lurid or flavotestaceous, the 4th segment always lurid; a wide band across the anterior margin and a narrow band across the posterior margin of the pronotum, reddish-yellow; coxæ and femora yellowish, testaceous; tibiæ and tarsi more or less lurid. Beneath, greyish-black.

Length, 2 ¼ mm.; width, nearly 1mm.

Hab.—New Zealand.

This description is incomplete, as it lacks notice of the winged form. The little bug is surely well distributed in all ponds, water-troughs, &c., and I will be much obliged to any one who will favour me with a good supply for a revised description.