( xxix ) 



to be very distinct from Mr. Billups' specimens. Mr. Fitch thought the 

 larva belonged to one of the Staphylinidce. 



Dr. D. Sharp communicated a note changing the specific name of 

 Batrisus spinicollis, Sharp (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1883, p. 304), to 

 B. armaticollis, and that of B. similis, Sharp (I.e., p. 319) to B. affinis; 

 the specific names first employed having been previously used. 



Paper read. 



Mr. W. F. Kirby read " Notes on the Diptera of New Zealand, 

 supplementary to Prof. Hutton's last Catalogue of 1881." Three new- 

 species are described, and some synonymy corrected, so that the number of 

 species now admitted stands at T25 against 119 in Hutton's Catalogue. 



Mr. E. Meyrick, who had lately returned from Australia and New 

 Zealand, remarked that the number of Diptera recorded from New Zealand 

 was not a tenth part of that occurring there. The islands were rich in 

 species, many of them being also very abundant. Lepidopterous larvae 

 suffered greatly from dipterous parasites, which were far more numerous 

 than Ichneumonidce. In the case of some abundant Tortoicina it was 

 difficult to find a larva not infested with them. 



Mr. Meyrick also called attention to a peculiarity of the New Zealand 

 insect fauna. The islands were composed partly of bare mouutain ranges, 

 partly of low-lying forest. The mountains, although very bleak and 

 shelterless, had an extensive and varied fauna, fresh species of insects 

 occurring on every mountain visited ; the genus Crambus, for example, was 

 represented by a variety of species, for which there seemed to be no special 

 reason. On the other hand, the forests, which comprised a remarkable 

 number of trees and shrubs apparently well suited for food, were strangely 

 deficient in insects, and further, the same species occurred nearly throughout 

 the islands. It appeared, in fact, that a vast number of situations suitable 

 for insects were not utilised. This was the case with the Lepidoptera and 

 Coleoptera, and probably with the other orders. He then remarked how 

 very different a state of things appeared to exist in the Hawaiian Islands ; 

 there he had seen an abundance of insect-life, quite distinct from anything 

 occurring in New Zealand; for instance, within a few hours of landing he 

 noticed five or six species of dragon-flies, three species of humble-bees, and 

 two or three large wasps. 



Mr. F. P. Pascoe said he could quite confirm these remarks on the 

 absence of insects in the forests. Entomologically speaking, he considered 

 New Zealand one of the most barren countries he had visited ; he should 

 like to ask Mr. Meyrick how the question of the fertilisation of red clover 

 by the humble-bee now stood. 



Mr. Meyrick replied that Mr. Armstrong, of Christchurch, who had 

 made observations for several years, had found that in New Zealand the 



F 



