THE ORTHOPTERA. 109 



Family BLATTID^E. 

 Periplancta fortipes (Plate XVII., fig. 5). 



Few people who cut up old wood remain unacquainted 

 with this species for very long, its insufferable odour im- 

 mediately betraying its presence independently of any- 

 thing else. It is very common under the bark of rimu, 

 henau, and other large trees, where specimens may be found 

 in all stages of growth ; the mature individuals only differ- 

 ing from the young in the matter of size and the posses- 

 sion of rudimentary wing-cases. I have never found the 

 females of this species carrying their eggs, but have, on 

 several occasions, discovered the closely allied, but smaller, 

 Periplaneta undulivitta thus engaged under stones on the 

 hills round Nelson. This is a much more agreeable insect 

 to study than P. fortipes, not possessing the disgusting odour 

 so characteristic of the latter species. 



The only winged Blattidee found round Wellington are 

 Blatta conjuncta, and Periplaneta orientalis. The former 

 (Fig. 6), may be occasionally noticed under the scaly bark of 

 rimu and matai trees, but a sharp eye and hand are needed 

 to effect a capture, the insect running with marvellous 

 rapidity. The latter species I have not yet noticed, but as 

 it is the ordinary " cockroach " of Europe its habits have 

 already been amply described. 



Family MANTID/E. 



Tenodera intermedia (Plate XVII., fig. 2). 



A local species confined, I believe, to the South Island, 

 and occurring in some numbers round Nelson, where my 

 specimens were obtained. It seldom flies, but crawls 

 stealthily about the trunks of trees, in the hottest sunshine, 

 capturing and destroying great quantities of insects, its green 

 colouring and leaf-like form rendering it very inconspicuous 



