Insects of Neio Zealand. 31 



sense). The task has not been difficult ; for, including three 

 new species here described, the total number of insects of the 

 order at present known to inhabit the colony barely exceeds 

 forty-five species ; and some of these are yet doubtful, pending- 

 further information. Nearly half of them are Trichoptera, 

 which division appears to be the best-represented ; or it may 

 be that they are best known only because a friend, knowing 

 my penchant for these insects, has collected them more 

 assiduously. 



Owing to the proximity of New Zealand to the Australian 

 continent, and to the fact that some few species are common to 

 both, it may not be uninteresting to give a brief comparative 

 sketch of the various Neuropterous families as regards their 

 numerical strength in the two districts, so far as present know- 

 ledge will permit. The physical conditions of Australia and 

 New Zealand are so different that a considerable discrepancy 

 might naturally be expected ; but, owing to its ramified water- 

 system and comparative freedom from drought, the advantage 

 ought to be on the side of the latter. Let us see, then, how 

 this idea is affected by the apparent facts. I will commence 

 with the Odonata (Dragonflies). In Australia all the tribes 

 (excepting Calopterygina) are tolerably abundant. From 

 New Zealand I know of only eight species ; the great tribe 

 Libellulina is wholly absent ; the Corduliina are represented 

 by three species of Australian facies ; the ^Eschnina by one 

 Australian species ; the Gomphina by one ( Uropetala) , a mag- 

 nificent insect of an Australian group ; the Calopterygina are 

 absent, but are almost so in Australia ; of the Agrionina there 

 are only three species. Of other Pseudo-Neuroptera the Ter- 

 mitidee, Ephemeridse, and Perlidae have a few representatives 

 in both ; the Psocidse are not known from New Zealand, and 

 but few have been noticed in Australia ; but this is probably 

 owing to their minute size. Among the Planipennia, New 

 Zealand and Australia have each a species of Sialidse ( Chau- 

 liodes) ; the former has only one ant-lion (Myrmeleontidse), 

 though they are common in the latter ; Ascalaphidee appear to 

 be wanting in the former and tolerably well represented in the 

 latter ; and the same remark will apply to Ghrysopidae and 

 Mantispidse. Australia has one species of Nemopteridge and a 

 few Panorpidte, neither of which are known from New Zea- 

 land ; while Hemerobiidte and Osmylidce are feebly represented 

 in both ; the Nymphidte, an almost peculiarly Australian 

 family, are unknown in New Zealand. In Trichoptera alone 

 does New Zealand appear to have the advantage over Australia. 



The paucity of species of Dragonflies is very remarkable ; 

 and one is tempted to believe that in New Zealand there must 



