Mr. W. Stephenson’s Remarks, Sc. 263 
The country is subject to frequent and very hard gales of wind, 
which tear up by the roots huge trees, mostly of hard wood, that 
being the general nature of New Zealand timber. These at dif- 
ferent periods are sooner or iater attacked by insects depositing 
their ova upon them in swarms, verified by observed effects. 
They are principally of the order Coleoptera, as far as my obser- 
vations went, but Lepidopterous larvae were also found in very 
limited proportions. The larvee soon perforate the robust trunks 
and branches of these monsters of the forest, in order evidently to 
allow the moisture to penetrate for the purpose of hastening their 
decomposition; a further proof of which is afforded by the dif- 
ference of time in which some of the species arrive at the imago 
state to that of others. I have noticed that the smaller species of 
Coleoptera, in their larva state, feed more superficially on the 
bark and soft exterior of the wood; but the larger ones, and some 
Lepidoptera, perforate, as with an auger, to the heart of the tree, 
increasing the caliber with the growth of the larve. The former 
I believe, in many instances, pass into the pupa state in one sea- 
son, but the latter frequently remain three or more years previous 
to that change. 
This seems ordained, in order to hasten the decay of the ex- 
terior, whilst the harder and more durable substance is being 
perforated more and more, in order to admit air and moisture. 
These borings are partially filled up by the excrementitious mat- 
ter of the larvee, which detains the water, and keeps the adjacent 
parts in perpetual moisture, materially hastening their decay. No 
sooner is a tree deprived of vitality, than it is attacked in rotation 
by various tribes of Coleopterous insects, the effects of which may 
be observed at any time in hundreds of instances, after they have 
accomplished their final change, and eaten their way out through 
the bark, in order to perform the duty of continuing the species. 
The Tetramera, or Phytivorous beetles, seem to form three- 
fourths of the Coleoptera of New Zealand. 1 could only find two 
species of Cicindela; the larger is rather numerous on dry foot- 
paths; the smaller, of which I have only one specimen, was taken 
on a path in a wood; but I have seen others in similar situations 
with the first, but they are rare. In Carabide@ few species are to 
be found, and those thinly scattered. Aquatic Coleoptera were 
few in the localities which I visited. 
In Brachelytera three or four species were procured, inhabiting 
decayed vegetable matter, putrid carcases, &c. In Serricornia 
the Elaterid@ are vather more numerous; two or three species 
were collected. No Buprestide could any where be found or 
