16 Proceedings. 



In the case of the one brought to me, I have little doubt but that it was brought to this 

 country in one of the hardwood logs imported for wharf purposes. To account for its 

 presence more than a mile from any wharf or stack of such timber is a question which I 

 cannot solve. I do not think it is at all likely that it came from the native bush near 

 which it was found. 



Mr. Tepper kindly wrote as follows : " The aborted large moth belongs to a 

 species about which there seems to reign considerable confusion among European 

 entomologists (morphologists, rather), who, like Kirby (Cat. E. and A. Lep. Het., 

 874), apparently merges it with Xyhufes d'vrrillei, Dan., which is a quite different 

 species, the larva of which feeds in acacias exclusively, while he accords specific 

 rank to X. edivardni, described and figured by me in Trans. R. Soc. S.A., xiv., 

 p. 63, p). i, (1891), which is very much more like your moth, and of which I have only 

 seen one specimen yet. But the late American lepidopterologist Edwards, to whom I 

 showed it, declared that it was a distinct new species, which he had not found anything 

 like in the Europe and American collection. He had specially studied the group. In 

 fact, if the species were redescribed with exact life-size figures under a distinctive name 

 I think it would stand, unless it be regarded as a variety of X. edivardsii, although much 

 more numerous in number of individual.s. Hitherto I have always designated it as 

 Cossus eucalypti, as I also applied that generic name to edwardsii. The larvae here feed 

 exclusively in the heartwood of Eucalyptus ro^trata for many years, always feeding from 

 below at ground-level upwards, and emerge between that and about the height of the 

 thick branches from December to the beginning of March, and from about sunset to 9 

 or 10 p.m. Unable to take food, all those that pair die within twenty-four hours. Even 

 those that do not pair cannot rise again, their wings becoming so brittle that they, through 

 breakage and stiffiiess, become useless. The ova number up to thirty thousand for each 

 female, and are dropped on the ground, but few escape the ants under normal conditions. 

 WTien sufficiently softened I shall send you a specimen of the female ; all I have to spare 

 are not very perfect, for they are rarely to be got so, as the wings get broken quickly 

 during their short vigorous flights from the birds in the early morning, though neither 

 ' jacks ' nor magpies, nor even fowls, will eat them, as far as my experience goes. I 

 also send you two specimens of Trictena (Meyi-.) {Pielus, Walk.) labyrinthica, Den., 

 with very similar habits, but their larva^ feed outside the larger roots, on the decayed 

 bark, &c., and emerge from the ground about April to June. All birds are fond of them. 

 They do no harm to vegetation. The injury of the Xyleutes larvae extends to the timber 

 only, and not to the foliage. The injury to vegetable health is wholly due to scale insects, 

 ancl gall-forming larva? of midges. &c. The tawny yellow species you mention as having 

 been taken in New Zealand is unknown to me." 



Address. — A short popular address was given by the President on " Quasi- 

 experimental Stages in Evolution." 



Exhibits. — A collection of humming-birds was shown by Mr. A. Hamilton. 



Dr. A. K. Newman exhibited a number of implements of Maori manu- 

 facture, as follows : — • 



1. A whalebone purupuru (resembling a sailor's marlinespike), dug up during 

 road-making operations near Taradale, Hawke's Bay. 



2. A whalebone patu. 



3. A boar's tusk, used by the Natives as a needle for sewing up baskets. 



4. An ear-pendant made from part of a large tooth. 



5. A fine black stone chisel. 



Third Meeting : 1st July, 1908. 

 Professor H. B. Kirk, President, in the chair. 

 New Members. — ^Mr. Herbert L. James and Mr. William Gray. 



The Chairman stated that, in compliance with a suggestion made by the 

 Council, the Surveyor-General had promised to publish in due course the 

 results of the placing of bench-marks on the coast of New Zealand- 

 Paper.—" The Wellington Tide-gauge," by C. E. Adams, B.Sc. 



