BuLLEB.— Ou a New Species of Deinacrida. 325 



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 com- 

 mencing 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 600fi;. 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 alti- 

 tude of this spot is something like 2,708ft. above the sea- 

 level. 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 ob- 

 serving the habits of my Weta in captivity I am con- 

 vinced 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 

 a,t times emitted a chattering kind of sound. I had fre- 

 quently 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 re- 

 sented 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 



