94 Mr George M, Thomson, on the 



tion. I cannot do better than quote here the following 

 extracts from a communication on tlie subject, which 

 Captain Broun has been good enough to make me. Of 

 " the family Palpicornes, two genera, Hydrohms and 

 PhilJiydrus consist of water- loving species, as is usual in 

 other countries, but one peculiar New Zealand genus of 6 

 species (Rygmodus) is of quite abnormal habits : one, R. 

 modestiis, is commonly found on the inflorescence of 

 Brachyglotiis rcpanda, Cordyline Banksii^ &c. It has finely 

 spinous legs, and though somewhat metallic above, is hairy 

 underneath ; it undoubtedly plays an important part in the 

 fertilisation of flowers, a remarkable trait in the case of an 

 insect belonging to that family, I think the only instance 

 known to science. Most of the others are rare, and though 

 described by me, were found by other collectors, so that I 

 cannot speak authoritatively as to their habits ; I suspect, 



however, that all frequent plants." " Some two 



or three species, temporarily located in the genus Crypto- 

 pJiagus, frequent Arcca sajnda, but do not, I imagine, aftect 



its seeding." "Of the Melolontliida:, the pretty 



Pyronotct /estiva, metallic above, hairy below, is found in 

 profusion on the inflorescence of Lcptospcrmwns. The 

 Buprestidco and Elateridce, about 80 species, are wood- 

 feeders in the larval state, but when perfect insects, 

 occasionally visit flowers. Some of the Dascillidcc do so too, 

 in fact nearly all, and must, being hairy, render important 



services." " All the Melandryadoi and Mordellicc 



frequent flowering shrubs ; one insect — Sclenopalpus cyaneus 

 — is never found away from them, chiefly ti-tree {Cordyline 

 australis\ but I once noticed numbers of that species on 

 grass in bloom. The Curcidionidcc, an extensive family, in 

 most cases having scaly or hairy clothing, aid to a great 

 extent the seeding of flowers. The species of Eugnomus 

 are very partial to the ' Lawyers' (Buhus australis) when 

 in bloom, in fact about 40 species of the group Erirliinidcc 

 may be found on most of the indigenous flowering shrubs. 

 Apion metrosideros confines itself almost exclusivel}' to the 

 Pohutukawa {Metrosideros tomentosci) . Oropterus coniger 

 lives entirely on the native Fuchsia excorticata. The Longi- 

 cornia are wood-feeders, but often visit flowers. Zorion 

 mimduiih confines itself almost exclusively to flowers. Some, 



