Wakefield. — On the Coleoptera of Canterbury. 303 



their perfect shape. The larvse 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 larvse 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 larvse still there. Perfect insects might 

 have visited the log whilst I was away, but, under the circumstances, it is 

 tardly 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 Ohrium fabricianum, 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., Tetrorea cilipes, White, 

 NavoTYhorplicb lineata, Fab., Xyloteles griseus, F., (Emona villosa, F., and 

 Amheodontus bituberculatus, Beatenbacher. Many other Longicornes 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 Eupoda 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 Chrysomelidce, and 

 I have taken at least one allied to Crepidodera. The Pseudotrimera conclude 

 the order, and amongst them the Coccinellidce, 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 ^-punctata, of England, 

 and their colours and markings are generally inferior. I possess, indeed, three 

 very beautiful species, (Chilo'menes hamata, Muls., G. Tnaculata, 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. It is partly to 

 the ignorance of this, and not entirely to apathy, idleness, or contempt of 



