140 Transaction*. 



got between them, it cannot get out again. Six specimens of a new and 

 handsome species of Mecodema, bright shining black and 25 mm. in length. 

 have also been taken crawling along among the tussocks, as well as a 

 few specimens of the handsome Nascio enysi, 9 mm. long, black with 

 four large yellow spots, and the less common Aemona separata, a large 

 pale - yellowish • brown beetle, and the small black Anchomenus feredayi. 

 On clayey banks among the tussock Cicindela feredayi, or a closely allied 

 species, with an intricate yellow edging to its brownish - black elytra, 

 darts in and out of its holes in the ground or takes short nights to elude 

 capture. 



The only Orthoptera noted are the common grasshopper, Phaidacridiam 

 margin-ale, which varies in colour from brown to green but always has a 

 pair of white lines along the sides of the back of the thorax, and Paprides 

 australis. Members of the other orders are not common. The cicada 

 Melampsalta nervosa is more frequently heard than seen, and one of the 

 Coccidae sometimes produces a striking appearance in the heart of the 

 wild-spaniard (Aciphylla squarrosa). At first glance it appears as if a cup 

 of flour had been emptied into the centre of the rosette of leaves, but 

 on examination this is seen to be the waxy excretion of Pseudococcus 

 oamaruensis, living specimens of which may be seen crawling among the 

 mass of mealy powder. Anywhere near the swamps sand-flies are bound 

 to occur, and an occasional dragon-fly may dart past. 



Here also must be mentioned three introduced insects : the house-fly, 

 which occurs sparingly indoors ; the European earwig (Forficula auricularia), 

 which is very common under boards, &c, lying round the railway-station 

 buildings ; and the sheep's nasal bot-fly (Oestrus ovis), which lays its eggs 

 in the sheep's nostrils. 



2. The Lake and Swamp. 



In the shallow water near the edge of the lake the water-boatman 

 (Anisops) occurs freely, darting up to the surface for air and clown again 

 to feed. In the same position the larvae and nymphs of most of the dragon- 

 flies may be found, but they are so effectively protected by their trans- 

 parency or greenish tints th; t they easily escape observation despite their 

 length of 20 mm. or over. In the swamp round the lake and lower down the 

 Grassmere Stream the dragon-flies are the most conspicuous insects. The 

 largest is Uropetala carovei, which is 8 cm. or 9 cm. in length and 10 cm. or 

 11 cm. in wing-span. As well as being the largest it is the rarest of the 

 dragon-flies, perhaps because its larva and nymph, which is found in Lake 

 Sarah up to 4-5 cm. long, must afford such suitable food for the large trout 

 which abound there. This dragon-fly shows in perfection the habit of many 

 of the .species in frequenting a favourite spot over which it ranges in its 

 hawking flights. Besides the swamps it is common on the rock-faces that 

 border the Waimakariri. Next in size and frequency is Somatochlora 

 smithii, 4-5 cm. in length and 6 cm. in wing-span. The thorax is metallic 

 green, and in the male the proximal segments of the abdomen are of reduced 

 diameter. This species dives into the water of smooth pools and picks 

 off the surface floating larvae of certain gnats. It appears to wet only its 

 head, and may make ten or twenty dives in a minute. Lestes colensonis, 

 A <in. in length and with a very slender abdomen, is the commonest species, 

 and the females seem to preponderate largely. Finally comes Xant/tagiion 

 zealandieum, 2-7 cm. in length, with an abdomen that is often reddish in 

 the male and blue in the female. 



