April iSq8.) 



PSYCHE. 



203 



The distribution of Aiiosia plexippns is 

 peculiar. It is very common at Suva, 

 Levuka, Loma loma, and Kadavu Isd, and 

 in fact, seems to exist upon those islands 

 where white men live. On many of the 

 islands inhabited exclusively by natives it 

 apparently does not exist. It is probable 

 that this insect has been introduced into the 

 group within recent years and has not yet 

 reached many of tlie remote islands. A 

 species of Asclepias was found upon some of 

 the islands where this butterfly is common. 

 It is probable that it has been carried by 

 commerce froin island to island, and as there 

 is but little commerce with islands inhabited 

 exclusively by natives the butterfly has not 

 reached them. Anioni; moths, a species of 

 Utetheisa allied to our U. bella was common 

 upon the sandv atoU, although it does not 

 exist upon the high rocky islands. A Macro- 

 sila and a hummingbird sphinx were also 

 common. 



Beetles were well represented by a number 

 of weevils, Uuprestids and Carabidae. There 

 were also a few Staphylinidae, Elateridae and 

 Cerambycidae. A species of Cicindela was 

 very common along the roads near Suva. 



Hemipterous insects are remarkably com- 

 mon and are represented by many species of 

 Corisiae. There are also several species of 

 Cicadellina, and a Cicada. A species of 

 Hylobates is common upon the calm waters 

 of bays and estuaries. 



Orthoptera were common but seemed to 

 be represented by but a few species. Grass- 

 hoppers of several species were found upon 

 all of the islands. Walkingstick insects 

 (Phasmida) were represented by several 

 species, one of which was about twelve inches 

 long. Others possessed wings and were 

 smaller. The \&B.i inseci P/iyllium lobivenire 

 is common upon the leaves of the guava but 

 it resembles the leaves so closelv that it is 



extremely difficult to find. These insects are 

 usually green in color and the broad flat fore 

 wings are veined and colored so as to resemble 

 almost exactly the leaves over which the insect 

 crawls. Some individuals instead of being 

 green are brown, like a withered leaf, and 

 others are bright yellow, or yellow streaked 

 with brown. Their individual variability is 

 most remarkable. These insects are said to 

 be nocturnal in their habits and certainly the 

 best time in which to collect them is very 

 early in the morning, just before sunrise. 



Neuroptera were rare. 



The insect fauna of the group is undergoing 

 a change owing to the introduction of many 

 exotic species, some of which thrive very 

 well. This is especially noticeable at Suva 

 where many moths and beetles etc. are found 

 that are not seen upon other islands of the 

 group. 



Mr. S. II. Scudder exhibited specimens 

 of Airidiiim ieptemfasciatum Serv. from, 

 Pietersburg, South African Republic, which 

 had been sent him for determination by 

 Mr. W. D. Hunter of the University of 

 Nebraska. They were said to be very destruc- 

 tive, flying some 200 yards above the ground, 

 are very wild and cannot be " driven " like a 

 smaller scourge appearing in former years; 

 they first appeared in that region about seven 

 years ago. He also announced the capture 

 by Mr. F. H. Sprague of numerous fresh 

 specimen oi yujiofiia coenia at Sharon, Mass., 

 on July 25 and oi Atrytone logan at Braintree, 

 Mass., on July 17, 1S97. 



Mr. J. G. Needham said that he had noticed 

 that the increase in the strength of the neu- 

 ration of the wings of Odonata was accom- 

 panied by an increase in depth of color and 

 asked if any explanation could be given. 

 In illustration he showed photographs of 

 several species. 



