numerous upou certain native shrubs. Some glitter in most 

 brilliant colours. The genus Cimex furnishes the giant of the 

 family, nearly one inch in length, feeding on Eucalyptus dumosa, 

 twelve species. Pentatoma is most numerous, 52 having been col- 

 lected. One or two species are notorious as infesting the vine, 

 imparting their objectionable odour to the grapes. This odour is 

 nearly the same for all the members of the group, excepting 

 the Hydrometridce. Another very minute species occasionally 

 attacks the wheat crops to some extent, and has been figured 

 and described by Dr. C. Mueeke, M.A., some years ago. 

 Trichius, represented by eight or nine species, has the thorax 

 armed with spines ; a very small one is furnished with a 

 globular excrescence upon the prothorax. 



The Eeduviad^: comprise 37 species, mostly of very small 

 size, and are carnivorous, hunting other insects. An allied 

 genus, a description of which I have not met with, is remark- 

 able on account of the singular form of its legs and antenna?. 

 Both are thickly set with fine long hairs, forming in one or two 

 species large brushes on the last pair of legs, which much exceed 

 the others in length. They live under loose bark and in 

 hollows and cracks of trees about Lyndoch, JNTiiriootpa, &c. ; 

 appear to be carnivorous, and are not very numerous. The 

 Ltgeidj;, or stinging bugs, are present in several genera, with 

 sixteen species. They can and will inflict a most painful wound, 

 when incautiously handled, by inserting their proboscis. The 

 largest is about three-quarters of an inch in length, but (as 

 most of this family) it is very rare. They hide by day under 

 stones, leaves, &c„ and fly by night. One species is adorned 

 and armed with spikes, and has a very attenuated form of body 

 and limbs. All seem to be carnivorous. The Pyrrhocoridce, 

 eight species, are pretty large insects, vegetable feeders, and 

 sometimes very numerous upon certain eucalypts and acacias. 

 In them the distinctive odour is most prominent, being 

 developed to such extent that the birds refuse them as food, 

 and even the ants appear to avoid their approach. Of Geocoris, 

 or underground bugs, eight species have been observed. They 

 live in loose soils, and are not numerous. Of Hydrometkid^, 

 or water bugs, four genera, with ten species, have been noticed. 

 There is one large JVepa, or water scorpion, which frequents 

 stagnant water, and is about one inch long ; and one still 

 larger, Hanetra. Both have long tail bristles, and sting with 

 their proboscis. 



Of Notonecta four species have been captured. They are 

 found in the calm reaches of rivulets, and fly about at night. 

 Hydrometra (Gferris?) and another genus (Halobates ?) , with two 

 species each, complete the list of the Heteroptera. 



The Homopteea, or Cicades, are scarcely less numerous than 



