126 [*^""*> 



We were at Picton for three cla3's in "February, and ten days in 

 March, 1902, and I found it a very good and interesting locality for 

 collecting, though by no means easy to work, from the steep and 

 rugged character of the hillsides, and the paucity of available paths. 

 One afternoon's work in February produced the respectable number 

 of 52 species of Coleoptera^ including 12 Longicorns, obtained almost 

 entirely by general beating. A large felled " Tawhai " {Fnr/uH sp.) 

 retaining most of its dry leaves, was especially productive, and from 

 it I got, among many others, the Longicorns Diastamerus tomentosus, 

 Pasc, Hyholasius viridescens, Bates, Didi^macantlia jucunda, Br., and 

 the neat little Stenellipsis cuneata. Sharp, as well as the very pretty 

 Anthrihus rudis. Sharp, conspicuous for its bright white thoracic basal 

 spot, all in some numbers. Among the numerous weevils, the curious 

 Stephanorrhynchus curvipes, White, came rather freely off the arbo- 

 rescent Fuchsia; this beetle, when feigning death in the umbrella, 

 with its legs closely tucked up, bears in shape as well as in colour, 

 a really ludicrous resemblance {very much in miniature) to a duck 

 plucked and trussed ready for roasting. Under logs a form of the 

 evil-smelling TricJiosternus planiusculus, White, with red legs, and the 

 ebony-black Holcaspis myrmidon, Sharp, were common, and Zceopoecilus 

 calcaratus. Sharp, a really brilliant Carabid of fairly large size, 

 occurred sparingly ; also Zolodinufi zeaJandicus, Blanch., and an 

 apparently undescribed species of Syrphefodes (simplex, Broun). A 

 rather dark form of Gicindela latecincta. White, was common in 

 dry open places, and one example of the pretty little C. huftoni, Br., 

 was taken running among grass. Almost the only butterfly observed 

 at Picton was the common Lyccena plicehe, Murray. 



In July, 1902, a visit of two days only was paid to Pelorus Sound 

 in the same district, and I was enabled to collect in a beautiful 

 wooded gully, left intact amid the general wreck of the forest. The 

 weather was very cold, and hoar-frost lingered throughout the day in 

 sheltered places, but a good many interesting beetles were met with. 

 Zolus femoralis, Br., Brontopriscus sinuatus. Sharp, Parahrontes setiger, 

 Br., Recyntus tuherculatus, Br., Ulonotus viridipictus, Woll., and 

 another undescribed iSyrplietodes (nodosnlis^ Broun) were found 

 more or less plentifully under loose bark, and were all fairly active, 

 though they were frequently picked out from among pieces of ice; 

 and the deeply sculptured Holcaspis oedicnema, Bates, was very common 

 under logs in open places. 



fTo be eontinuedj. 



