258 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Kirby, quoting Consul Krug, says of a large West Indian 

 Hymenopteron (Scolia atrata) that it digs its nest, "then 

 goes in search of a grasshopper. Having partially disabled i 

 with its sting, it mounts on its back and rides it up to its own 

 grave, where it buries it. If the grave proves to be too small, 

 the wasp drives the grasshopper away while it enlarges it as 

 much as is required, and then brings the grasshopper back to 

 the hole." 



There is a great deal of interest in the life around us, of 

 which we know very little. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXIX. 



Fig. 1. Porrothele antipodiana. 

 Fig. 2. Salttcs monachus. 

 Both natural size. 



Art. XXIV. — On the Anatomy of Paryphanta busbyi, Gray. 



Bv K. Murdoch. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 16th December, 



1902.] 



Plate XXVII. 



An example of this fine species preserved in alcohol recently 

 came into my possession. Unfortunately, the animal was com- 

 pletely retracted within the shell and very hard, an unsatis- 

 factory condition for anatomical investigation. In order to 

 extract the animal it was necessary to sacrifice the shell. 

 The retractor muscle encircled the columella to the extent of 

 a complete volution ; the muscular impression is somewhat 

 acutely ovate, and the position of its upper margin is about 

 one and a half whorls from the apex of the shell. Above this, 

 and proceeding towards the apical whorl, there is an ill-defined 

 narrow muscular scar. This was doubtless the seat of the 

 retractor muscle in the young animal, but in the adult form I 

 do not think there is any muscular attachment outside of the 

 area defined by the great impression. 



The animal is bluish-black, with the foot-sole perhaps a 

 shade lighter in colour. On the head and neck are a few 

 regular rows of rugae, somewhat quadrate in outline ; on other 

 parts of the body the rugae appear to be oval-shaped, irregular 

 in size, and not forming continuous rows." The mantle has a 

 sharp even margin, and a deeply incised line or groove rather 



* For a figure of the animal, see Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. (2), vol. ii., 

 pi. xx., fig. 6. 



