54 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



points out, C. leptochila is allied to the Javanic G. arachnites, 

 which however has the leaves much broader, and, according to 

 Blume's illustration, not dull red, but pale green underneath, and 

 the spots of the labellum perhaps more numerous and smaller. 

 C. alismifolia, which in 1881 I described from Samoa, belongs to 

 the same series in the genus, but is still more disrelated. 

 Whether your plant should be regarded as late autumnal or 

 rather early vernal, remains yet to be decided. Bentham 

 describes the labellum of (J. leptochila as concave, but it is 

 convex, and only by a twist in drying could become so reversed 

 as to assume a concave form. We hai'e no localities noted for 

 this species, except those alluded to on this occasion. 



LIFE-HISTORIES OF INSECTS.— First Paper. 

 By C. C. Britteebank. 

 (Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 9th May, 1892.) 

 The following notes on the life -histories of two insects were taken 

 some years ago in the Uandenong district. In Victoria there yet 

 remains work in this branch which will take many years to com- 

 plete, though of late years there are several naturalists who have 

 taken up this study. That collections illustrating life-histories are 

 of more interest than those of the ordinary kind nearly every 

 naturalist admits. 



The first here dealt with is one of the Curculionidae, as yet not 

 named. In colour a bright brown, with a bronze tinge in certain 

 lights ; length 2 lines, by 1 in width. The ordinary collector, on 

 taking this insect, would, when set, place it in his cabinet, among 

 others of the same species, perhaps not even giving a thought as 

 to the plant or manner in which it passed its former existence. 

 With the "life-history" collector it would be different. He would 

 watch, and if at the right season (October and February) would 

 see the beetle select a tender leaf, and, after a careful examination, 

 would deposit a very minute white egg on the margin, about 

 half an inch from the base of the leaf. After allowing time for 

 the egg to adhere, the insect commences to cut a thin strip, on 

 the point of which is the egg. Having freed about an eighth of an 

 inch, it seizes the free end with the hind legs and draws it forward 

 to the second pair, which in turn pass it on to the first pair. These 

 are provided with a projection or spine on the under surface of 

 the thighs, which keep the roll in place till the beetle can secure 

 it. This it does in a most ingenious manner by uniting the surface 

 of leaf and roll at the point of contact. To do this the insect 

 presses the roll forward, so that the outside edges are level. These 

 it bruises with the mandibles till they are a species of pulp, which 

 is rendered adhesive by the gum contained in the leaf. Having 

 secured the first coil, the insect mounts on the top, thus adding 

 the weight of its body to keep the roll firm, and commences 



