302 Transactions.—Zoology. 
example of this apparent resemblance between the two orders. I possess a 
few specimens of Prioscelida tenebrionides, White, but have never taken it in 
Canterbury. Two species of Cilibe and two of Opatrum have also been 
described from New Zealand. I have found a Mordella (probably antarctica) 
at Little River, and have a specimen of Mordella 10-guttata, but do not 
know in what part of these islands it was taken. The singular family 
Meloide, or oil-beetles, appears to be unrepresented in this colony. Two 
species of Selenopalpus described by White, and belonging to the same family 
as the beautiful @demera cerulea of Britain, would seem to be worthy of 
notice, but I am only acquainted with one of them. 
We now enter the Rhynchophora, or weevils, a section well represented in 
New Zealand, where some species are to be found finer than any of the 
British. Although I am not aware of any member of the remarkable family 
Brentide having been taken in Canterbury I cannot pass it over in silence, as 
it is the most characteristic one amongst the Coleoptera of New Zealand. 
These insects are easily recognized by their enormous snouts, and one species 
at least (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis) is common at Wellington, and occurs also, 
I believe, in Nelson. I am not well acquainted with the exotic species, but a 
few which I possess from Mexico are much inferior to ours. Amongst the 
Curculionidae the largest species I know of has been taken by Mr. Fereday on 
black-birch trees. It belongs to the genus Rhyneodes, and another large species 
(Rhyncodes saundersii) has been found by the same gentleman on “spaniards” 
(Aciphylla) at the Rakaia. I am not able to enter into details respecting the 
numerous smaller species of this family, but the curious genus Scolopterus 
deserves a passing notice. S, penicillatus has been taken by Dr. Powell, I 
believe, at Governor Bay, and I have found the same insect at Amuri. 
We now enter upon an important section, the members of which may be 
easily recognized even by those who have paid no attention to entomology. 
The Longicornes are, for the most part, wood-feeders, and the coleopterist 
would naturally expect to find them abundant in so densely timbered a 
country as some parts of New Zealand. Nor will he, on the whole, be 
disappointed, although our species can scarcely be said to equal those of 
Britain. To this group belongs the largest beetle found in these islands, 
Prionoplus reticularis, a species which is abundant throughout their whole 
extent. I hardly need mention that the larve of this beetle used to form an 
important article of diet amongst the Maoris, but it is interesting to note that 
a similar grub was considered a dainty by the ancient Romans, and that one 
of their patrician families received its name therefrom. Linnæus, indeed, 
applied the word “cossus” to the larva of the goat-moth, but it is now 
generally admitted that the larva in question must have been coleopterous. 
These insects undoubtedly live in the wood for several years before assuming 
