264 Transactions. — Zoology. 



conical form, and then become for a while arrested in their 

 development. In this state, surrounded by a firm membrane 

 of a blackish-grey colour, they continue until the following 

 spring, when the investing membrane splits to allow of the 

 elongation of the branch." 



In November the water was again crowded with fragments 

 of Paludicella, and also Plumatella, small fresh-water crus- 

 taceans, and beautiful water -mites. No doubt the larger 

 water-mains contain masses of these Polyzoa, amongst which 

 large numbers of fresh-water animals find a habitation. 



Both Paludicella and Plumatella were found choking the 

 water-pipes of the City of Hamburg, and were considered as 

 having an unfavourable influence on the water-supply, as pro- 

 viding a nidus for undesirable germs. Allman found that this 

 species was " eminently a lover of obscurity," being only 

 found under arches or places where direct sunlight does not 

 penetrate. 



Art. XXVI. — Short Notes on some Insects. 

 By F. W. Hilgendorf, M.A., B.Sc. 



[Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 26th November, 



1902.] 



Poliaspis media. 



I found this Coccid in dense white masses near the base 

 of the leaves of Phormium tenax, at Lincoln. Maskell, in his 

 notes on Coccids, records this insect only on Veronica, Leuco- 

 pogon, Gyathodes, and ferns. 



Rhizobius graminis. 



Under the roots of cultivated grasses are commonly 

 observed masses of a white mouldy-looking substance. On 

 examining these I found each to contain an immature form 

 of the above Aphidian. Its appearance and size are some- 

 thing like those of the underground form of Phylloxera vasta- 

 trix. The adult form, of which I found a single specimen, 

 was covered with white waxy threads, as Schizoneura 

 lanigera is, and it is doubtless by the shedding of these 

 threads that the common tufts of white substance are formed. 

 The adult, when cleaned of its covering, was dirty-white in 

 colour, with bright-red eyes and a very long and strong 

 proboscis, by means of which it feeds on the roots of grasses. 



Anabarhynchus luridus. 



I found the larva of this fly about 2 in. under the surface 

 of ground sown in wheat, which at the time was about 3 in. 



