64 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTERA. 



'? AGILIS, n. sp. 



(Plate II., fig. 4, 5 larva removed from case enlarged.) 



So far as I am aware at present, this handsome 

 species has only occurred in the valley of the first 

 eastern tributary of the Wainui-o-mata River, above the 

 Wellington Reservoir, locally known as George's Creek. 



The expansion of the wings is about 1J inches. The antennas are rather 

 stout, and about the same length as the fore-wings. Spurs 2.4.4. The 

 fore-wings have the costa slightly arched at the base, and much arched 

 before the apex ; the termen is sharply excavated near the middle. The 

 general colour of the fore-wings is pale brown, paler in the middle with 

 a large almost white patch towards the tornus, partially bordered by a 

 number of dark chocolate brown markings. The hind-wings are yellowish- 

 brown, darker towards the apex. The body is dark brown. 



The larva constructs a stout, cylindrical, and slightly 

 curved case about f inch long, composed entirely of large 

 pebbles firmly fastened together with silk. These cases 

 are rather scarce, and are only found in the central and 

 most rapid portions of the river, where the beautiful 

 bright water dashes over the large boulders, resting on 

 a clean and shingly bottom. 



The length of the larva when full grown is about f inch. The first 

 three segments are pale brown, the third being scarcely horny. The rest 

 of the body is dull white, very large, soft, and fat. The sides of all but the 

 last two segments are furnished with a row of extremely short, fine hairs. 

 There is a bunch of very fine respiratory filaments on each segment above 

 and below this line, making four rows in all ; but no filaments are present 

 on the last two segments. The anal segment is abruptly truncated, the 

 upper portion is furnished with numerous spines, and the lower with two 

 small, but very strong, clasping hooks. 



Apart from the contained larva the case of this insect 

 can always be distinguished from that of Pseudonema 

 amabilis by its larger size, and by the very much larger 

 stones of which it is composed. When mature, this larva 

 firmly fastens its case by its posterior end to a boulder, 

 closes each of the apertures with a large pebble, but leaves 

 sufficient space to admit of a free circulation of the water 

 through its dwelling. As usual with these insects, the 

 pupa swims about for some hours before emergence ; and 

 when the caddis-fly finally makes its escape the pupa 

 skin may be found close by, and generally floating on 

 the surface of the water. 



The perfect insect appears early in December. It 

 •delights to rest on overhanging twigs, situated close 

 to the most rapid-running waters. Whilst thus resting 

 it is extremely difficult to see, the antennae being placed 



