968 Transactions.— Zoology. 
If the logs were permitted to remain undisturbed for many months, I 
have no hesitation in asserting that Xenocnema spinipes, in the larve and 
perfect states, would render them comparatively useless for commercial 
purposes, so far at least as ship and house building are concerned. 
I have noticed shingles split from heart of Kauri, en route from districts 
north of Auckland, and even doors of dwelling-houses, completely perforated 
in several places; data clearly proving that it reaches even the centre of 
the logs. Generally, however, the practice which obtains amongst bush- 
men of rolling the logs into the adjacent creeks, down which they are 
. afterwards driven during freshes to the “booms, as .soon as possible, 
prevents this destructive weevil from penetrating beyond the sap-wood. 
I have already indicated that the shelter of the bark appears to be a 
necessity to this insect during the earlier stages of its operations; it may, 
therefore, be inferred, that if bushmen were required to remove the bark as 
soon as the tree had been cut down, Xenocnema spinipes would not have the 
power of materially injuring the timber. The only other practicable method 
I can propose for the preservation of the timber is to “drive” the logs down 
to deep water at once; but, as this proceeding depends entirely on the 
weather, it can only be resorted to under favourable circumstances. 
Although Xenoenema spinipes has its habitat in Kauri forests, it may be 
met with many miles distant from the nearest tree of that species, owing 
chiefly to its powerful flight when on the wing. I have seen specimens 
occasionally on the windows of buildings erected near the sea-shore, as well 
as on the foliage of isolated plants, but I have not, under these conditions, 
observed any damage to wood or foliage that could be attributed to its 
action. 
This beetle varies greatly in the form of its rostrum, and though the 
colour and sculpture are constant wherever visible, yet I have remitted 
several specimens to British entomologists, with notes as to habitat, ete., in 
the hope of having their assistance in determining whether this important 
creature is in reality of one variable species, or, as I believe, consists of the 
genus Xenocnema, having two or more distinct species. 
The insect which next claims attention is a new species of the Xantho- 
linide, named by Dr. Sharp of Dumfriesshire, ** Metoponcus brouni,’’ which 
I discovered under the bark of Kauri logs, in company with the weevil 
already alluded to, during the winter of 1875; and found on other occasions, 
as well as during other seasons, subsequently. This beetle, however, does 
not injure the timber any more than two or three species of the genus 
Cryptanurpha, or the numerous centipedes found associated under Kauri 
bark, and all of which, I need scarcely say, are destroyed when the logs 
arrive at deep water. I regret that the time at my disposal did not enable 
