Relations of the New-Zealand Fauna. 93 



that out of more than three hundred species only eight belong 

 to the butterfly section (Fereday, Trans. N. Z. Inst. iv. p. 217), 

 and several of these are world-wide stragglers. 



Of Neuroptera about fifteen species are known. Of these, 

 Perla opposita is found in Tasmania, and our representative 

 of the white ants [Calotermes insularis) in Australia. This 

 order appears to have more afiinity with Tasmania than with 

 Australia ; and it is remarkable that the wide-spread genus 

 Perla, which is found throughout North and South America, 

 and from Europe through India to China and Japan, is also 

 found in New Zealand aud Tasmania, but not in Australia. 

 Leptocerus has also the same range, with the exception of not 

 being known in China and Japan. Hermes extends from 

 India to China and Java ; it is also found in tropical Africa 

 and South America, but not in Australia or Tasmania. 

 Palingema is found in Europe, India, North Africa, and 

 North and South America, while Philanisus is peculiar to 

 New Zealand. The Heteroptera are remarkable for their 

 fragmentary character and wide distribution. The thirteen 

 known species belong to thirteen different genera and nine 

 families. Anna Schellenbenjii is found in Australia and the 

 Philippine Islands, Germatxdus nasalis in Australia and 

 Tasmania, Platycoris immargiaatus and Rhaphigaster Amyoti 

 in Australia, Lygceus pacijicus in Australia, Tasmania, and 

 India, and Nysius zelandicus in Tasmania — thus leaving not 

 more than seven endemic species, three of which have not yet 

 been properly examined, and may therefore be found to be 

 identical with species inhabiting other countries. One of the 

 endemic species [Rhopalimorpha obscura), however, belongs 

 to a genus found nowhere else. 



In strong contrast to this stand the Homoptera, which in- 

 clude nineteen species, all endemic and belonging to two 

 genera only, Cicada having twelve and Cixius seven species. 



The number of s]:)ecies of Orthoptera I do not know ; but in 

 comparison with other orders it is well represented by both 

 winged and wingless members ; and the genera, as a rule, con- 

 tain several species. 



Whilst, therefore, the insect fauna as a whole shows its 

 greatest affinity towards Australia, it also exhibits a connexion 

 with other countries, more especially China and Europe. 

 But the most remarkable fact is the great difference shown in 

 this respect by the different orders. Whilst the Diptera, 

 Neuroptera, Homoptera, and Orthoptera present the ap])car- 

 ance, in part at least, of an old fauna, the Heteroptera are 

 nearly all stragglers ; and this strongly suggests the inference 

 that at the time of the spreading of the former orders the 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Vol. xiii. 8 



