WaAKEFIELD.—On the Coleoptera of Canterbury. 303 
their perfect shape. The larve of the stag-beetle are said to live in the wood 
for four years, and many other wood-boring beetles are supposed to exist in it 
for a still longer period. Though I have no positive proof I feel certain, from 
observations I have made, that Prionoplus passes at least four years in the 
larva state. Upon leaving the province several years ago I put aside a log 
which I knew to contain larve of Prionoplus, and requested a friend to watch 
it during my absence. Upon returning, after an interval of three years and a 
half, I split open the log and found larve still there. Perfect insects might 
have visited the log whilst I was away, but, under the circumstances, it is 
hardly possible that they should have done so. The nearest ally to Prionoplus 
amongst the British beetles is Prionus coirarius, an insect which is by no 
means common. 
Next to Prionoplus the best known of our Longicornes is Coptomma 
variegatum, a handsome insect, about 10 lines in length, which I have 
frequently taken on posts and rails near Christchurch, though the forest 
is, of course, its proper habitation. I have found Obrium JSabricianum, the 
smallest of the family, abundant upon flowers at Hoon Hay. A Longicorn 
which I have taken under titoki bark on the Peninsula is of a new species and 
genus also, Besides these kinds the following have been kindly given to me 
by Mr. Bates and Mr. Fereday, but all, I imagine, were taken in the 
North Island. Hexathrica pulverulenta, Westw., Zetrorea cilipes, White, 
Navomorpha lineata, Fab., Ayloteles griseus, F., Gmona villosa, F., and 
Ambeodontus bituberculatus, Reatenbacher, Many other Zongicornes have 
been described and figured by White in the work to which I have so often 
alluded, but they all seem to have been taken in the North Island, and I am 
acquainted with none of them. 
According to the classification which I have followed, the Zupoda next 
claim our attention. This section comprises some of the most beautiful 
genera of Britain (Donacia, Chrysomela, etc.), but I am almost totally ignorant 
of its representatives here, White describes two species of Chrysomelide, and 
I have taken at least one allied to Crepidodera. The Pseudotrimera conclude 
the order, and amongst them the Coccinellide, or lady-birds, are well known 
and widely distributed. Of the three or four species which I have taken in 
this province, none are equal in”size to the common T-punctata, of England, 
and their colours and markings are generally inferior. I possess, indeed, three 
very beautiful species, (Chilomenes hamata, Muls., C. maculata, Fab., and 
Epilachna reticulata), which I procured from a London dealer, but I feel 
certain that they must have been taken in the North Island, 
In conclusion, I wish to offer a few remarks respecting the ease with which 
insects of the order Coleoptera may be collected and preserved. Tt is partly to 
the ignorance of this, and not entirely to apathy, idleness, or contempt of 
