Browy.—On the Coleoptera of Auckland, New Zealand. 267 
have a penchant for these insects, I searched for them assiduously, and at 
last came to the conclusion, that very few others would be found. In 
December last, having removed to another locality, I selected one side of a 
wooded ravine as the scene of future operations, and with considerable 
labour having rendered it passable, I spent the greater portion of seventeen 
days in collecting there, with a result that indicates my having formed an 
erroneous estimate of the productiveness of this class. Unfortunately a 
severe cut on the ancle, with a tomahawk, on the 29th December, whilst 
out collecting, forced me to abandon my researches for the rest of the 
season. These few days’ work, however, furnished me with examples of 
sixteen species quite new to me, which must seem to be an extraordinary 
number, when taken in connection with what has been previously stated ; 
and in addition, many individuals of another very handsome species of 
which I only obtained two specimens at Auckland (one at Cabbage Tree 
Swamp, and the second in the Domain, nearly two years afterwards, on a 
Ngaio tree.) T have two other species in the box referred to in connection 
with Dr. Sharp. Not only were the species more numerous in the locality 
alluded to, but the insects are far finer examples of the class than I have 
seen elsewhere. I can hardly form an estimate of the number likely to be 
produced by the South Island, or even of this Province alone, but it must 
~ be obvious, that more careful investigation will add considerably to those 
already obtained, and we shall find that we possess, at least, one group of 
insects excelling those of Britain, in beauty, and exceeding them in 
number, 
MatacopERMI. 
Owing to a considerable portion of my collection being in England or 
en route from thence, I am unable to give as good an account of the species 
which occur here, as I might otherwise have done. One, or rather, two 
Species of Tanychilus, are very handsome insects. Another species which I 
captured quite recently, is one of the most beautiful of the New Zealand 
beetles ; it is about four lines in length, of a fine metallic-purple colour, 
with four bright yellow marks on the elytra. The largest species with 
which I am acquainted is Nacerdes lineata, a very different insect from those 
I have been describing. 
HETEROMERA. 
This section comprises a numerous variety of species, some of which 
are represented by innumerable individuals. As an instance of this, I may 
mention that, on one occasion I saw on the floor of a cellar, when remoy- 
ing some rubbish, some thousands congregated within the space of a few 
feet. 
The collector is often provoked at finding the most insignificant beetles 
