WAKEFIELD.—On the Coleoptera of Canterbury. 297 
generally small and inconspicuous, and are, on the whole, greatly inferior to 
those of Britain. This comparison will appear all the more striking when we 
reflect that Great Britain itself does not possess more than half the number of 
species contained in an equal area of the continent of Europe, and it is almost 
needless to observe that Europe is greatly excelled in this respect by Asia, 
Africa, and America. Indeed, a Swiss entomologist once remarked to me that 
after collecting in his own country nature appeared to be dead in England, 
and from my own experience of European collecting I am able to indorse his 
statement. Three thousand species of Coleoptera have been found in Great 
Britain, and, although I cannot say precisely how many New Zealand species 
have been described, yet I do not think the number can possibly exceed five 
hundred. When, therefore, we consider what a diversity of climate and surface 
these islands present, it is obvious that there is ample scope for further inves- 
tigation. Not only are our species few in number, but the individuals com- 
posing them are small and inconspicuous, and singularly destitute of brilliant 
colouring. The same dull and sombre hue so characteristic of the vegetation 
of New Zealand extends itself, with but few exceptions, to its fauna. The 
collector will vainly search here for those splendid metallic colours for which 
this order of insects is so celebrated, and which are unrivalled throughout the 
whole range of creation, Indeed, I only know of one finely coloured beetle in 
this province. I allude to the Pyronota festiva of Fabricius, which is so 
extremely common in our gardens and orchards, where it often does consider- 
able damage. This is a pretty little insect no doubt, but how poor does it 
appear in comparison with the brilliant genera Cetonia, Gnorimus, Trichius, 
Aromia, Chrysomela, and Donacia, which are so familiar to the British 
collector. 
Commencing with the Cicindelide, a family which, on account of the 
perfection of its organisation, was justly placed by Linnæus at the head of 
the whole order, we shall find that New Zealand is well represented. Five 
species occur in Britain, and of these only one can be called common, the 
others being exceedingly local. These islands possess certainly five, and 
probably six species, viz. : C. tuberculata, C. douei, C. late-cincta, C. parryi 
and C. feredayi, the last named by Mr. Bates from a specimen sent tò him by 
one of our members. There is also another species which Mr. Bates hesitates 
at present to consider as distinct. I have only taken myself C. tuberculata 
and C. late-cincta in this island. C. feredayi is apparently very rare, and Mr. 
Fereday does not possess a duplicate. The other species appear to be confined 
to the North Island. The habits of Cicindela are well known. From their 
beauty and ferocity they have been appropriately named “ tiger-beetles.” As 
an instance of the utter insufficiency of popular language to discriminate even 
the widest marks of distinction between insects, and of the consequent 
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