4 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



tion may at once be directed to the earth-worms, of which 

 several European species have become naturahsed, and suc- 

 ceeded in replacing indigenous forms in various localities in 

 both Islands. "When recently travelling in the upper portions 

 of the valleys of the Eangitikei and Turakina I found that in 

 localities where a few years back native worms were plentiful 

 the introduced Lumhricus terrestris (L.) had spread over large 

 areas of grass-land to such an extent that it was impossible to 

 find a single square foot of earth free from its castings, while 

 in many places its burrows rendered the soil so spongy that 

 it was dangerous to the passing horseman. As a rule, native 

 worms are most frequent in unploughed land ; a single plough- 

 ing destroys large numbers, and if the land is frequently 

 ploughed the native kinds speedily disappear — a restilt in- 

 variably accelerated by the advent of introduced species, which 

 quickly effect a complete replacement. It is stated that a 

 large worm which, in the Kaipara, frequently attained a length 

 of over 20in., and was used as food by the Maoris, has not 

 been seen of late years : I believe it has not been described. 



Amongst Arachnida the small introduced mite known as 

 the red spider {Tetranyclms telarius) has increased enormously 

 in some districts, and is found on native and introduced shrubs 

 alike ; but my knowledge of the indigenous species of this 

 group is not sufficient to enable me to state whether actual 

 displacement may be observed or not. Many spiders of kinds 

 usually found in or about dwelling-houses in Europe have been 

 accidentally introduced, but it is not clear that they have 

 succeeded in replacing indigenous species. 



"When the limited area to which many of our indigenous 

 insects ai'e restricted is considered in connection with the 

 wide area over which clearing operations have extended, it 

 will be difficult to evade the conclusion that many species, 

 and possibly entire genera, have become extinct, their places 

 being now occupied by introduced species, although under 

 different conditions ; but this can hardly be considered true 

 replacement, and, so far as known to me, no instance has been 

 observed of an introduced insect having extirpated an indi- 

 genous species, although not a few of the latter have become 

 rare in districts where they were formerly plentiful, and in all 

 probability the food-supply of others has been reduced by the 

 agency of the honey-bee. 



Amongst the indigenous insects which are now to be met 

 with only in diminished numbers is the elephant beetle (Lasio- 

 rhyncltns barbicornis, Eabr.), which was formerly plentiful in 

 the vicinity of Wellington, as in other districts, but is now 

 comparatively rare. Its high degree of specialisation invests 

 it with exceptional interest, so that its diminution can only be 

 witnessed with regret. 



