of some new Species of Coleoptera. 101 
am certain of its form, for I observed it on a leaf, and was par- 
ticularly noticing a peculiar motion of its raptorial legs, when it 
suddenly darted off. I am thus particular in my mention of it, 
from a passage | happened to open upon in Mr. Swainson’s volume 
on the Insects (Lardner’s Cyclopedia), which [ have just received, 
and in which it says, ‘ of Mantispa the greatest number of species 
appears to occur in America, although it is found all over the 
world, excepting New Holland.’ 1 have two species of Myrmeleon. 
In the other orders only a few straggling species, none of any re- 
markable forms. I have also three species of scorpions. I trust 
that as soon as I become settled I shall not only be enabled to 
collect the specimens, but also to make some observations on their 
habits, &c., and also to be enabled to collect the animals, birds, 
plants, &c. of this fine country. The animals here evidently 
possess much interest. I have an apparently new species of 
Jerboa (Dipus), totally different from that obtained by Major 
Mitchell, and figured in his narrative; mine is fully twice the 
size. The birds, too, present great variety and beauty. The 
reptiles are very numerous; I know about twenty species of 
lizards, 
“‘ The voyage out here was very pleasant. Nothing of particular 
interest occurred, except that when off the coast of Africa, about 
300 miles from land, (Monday, 7th September, 1840,) a butterfly 
visited us; it looked like a frittiillary, but we could not catch it. 
Long. 21° 25’ W., lat. 24° 54° N. Again, on Sunday the 13th, 
long. 25° 34’ 30”, lat. 12° 15’, three dragon flies, apparently true 
Libellule, with red abdomens, hovered about us, and I caught a 
Noctua off one of the sails; and the next day the dragon flies 
were still with us, and another butterfly, flying like Vanessa. 
“TI arrived on the 13th of December, after a passage of four 
months and a week: we did not touch anywhere on the voyage. 
I am happy to say my collection of Orthoptera, which I brought 
here, arrived perfectly safe. This is certainly a beautiful country ; 
the plains about Adelaide are now looking like a park; in the 
summer (December, January, &c.) they are parched with the heat 
of the sun: a few days after my arrival the thermometer stood at 
110° under a verandah in the town. The scenery up the hills of 
the Mount Lofty range, where I at present am living, is very 
beautiful, and has the advantage of being cooler in the summer 
than the plains. Yesterday (9th August) it snowed a little, and 
people were all complaining of the ‘ intense cold.’ But how com- 
parative our feelings are! when the thermometer here stands at 
from 45° @ 50° every one complains of the cold, and great coats 
