Wellington Philosophical Society. 541 



was the only instance of such a reflection having been seen that he had 

 yet met with. 



2. "Further Coccid Notes; with Descriptions of New- 

 Species from Australia, India, Saudwich Islands, Demerara, 

 and South Pacific," by W. M. Maskell. (Transactions, 

 p. 201.) 



Before referring to his paper Mr. Maskell exhibited a 

 small green beetle, and a fly which eats these destructive 

 beetles. It was collected by Mr. Pine, of Hastings. The fly 

 is Asilus lascus, and probably was what is known as the 

 bot-fly, and if it destroyed these beetle pests it would not 

 be considered to be so harmful as a horse-pest. 



Mr. Laing said that the bot-fly had been identified as an 

 introduced Mexican fly. 



Sir Walter Buller thought he recognised the fly exhibited as a native 

 species with which he had been familiar for over thirty years. The 

 native fly to which he referred was a predatory species, and common in 

 certain parts. As to its supposed usefulness in eradicating the little 

 green beetle, by preying upon it ; this seemed quite absurd. As country 

 people were aware, this little beetle with shining green surface came at 

 certain seasons in countless millions, covering the manuka scrub (Lcpto- 

 spermum scoparmm) so thickly that not a leaf was visible. On these occa- 

 sions the Maoris went out and collected the beetles in baskets by shaking 

 the scrub, after which they prepared them for food, finally drying them in 

 the sun, and pounding them into a kind of bread. The speaker said that 

 it must be satisfactory to members to find that one of their number had 

 come to be regarded as a specialist in regard to this particular group of 

 insects, all over the world. From all countries Mr. Maskell now received 

 specimens for discrimination and description, and in the voluminous 

 paper which he had now produced there was scarcely any mention made 

 of a single New Zealand species. To a layman it ought to be sufficient 

 proof that good work was being done when an investigator in New Zea- 

 land was accepted as an authority in America and Europe, and his assist- 

 ance invoked in the determination of foreign species belonging to the 

 family which he had made his special study ; and, although the descrip- 

 tions might seem dry and technical, there could be no doubt that such 

 contributions added much to the scientific value of our annual volume of 

 Transactions. 



Sir .James Hector said that Mr. Maskell's work was most valuable. 

 He said he expected shortly to receive from America a beetle that would 

 destroy the snail that was now doing so much damage. There were many 

 other pests that required prompt attention. 



Sir Walter Buller said that the best enemy to snails was the woodhen. 



3. " On Heterostyled Trimorphism in New Zealand 

 Fuchsias, with Notes on the Characters of the Species," by 

 T. Kirk, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 261.) 



4. Sir J. Hector exhibited — (1) a sample of an unusual form 

 of guano from the islands (exact locality not stated). It con- 

 tains about 40 per cent, of broken and entire marine shells, 

 cemented together in blocks by carbonate of lime, and 41-88 

 per cent, of tri-calcic phosphate. It should prove a very 

 useful manure when ground to the same degree of fineness as 

 the samples exhibited. 



