﻿21 S Transactions. — Zoology. 



the NocUim family are far from scarce on the Canterbury plains ; but, so far 

 as my experience extends, the BombycidcB, a family of moths whose habitat 

 is generally more confined to woodland localities, have very few represen- 

 tatives here. At the same time it must be understood that, with one or two 

 exceptions, Riccarton Bush (a few acres in extent) and some of the bush 

 in the neighbourhood of Wellington, are the only woods (of varied vegetation) 

 in which I have had an opportunity of collecting. I have collected in some 

 of the black birch forests, but with very little success, as might be expected 

 from the small variety of vegetation existing in them. 



The Geometroi family I believe to be very fairly, if not abundantly repre- 

 sented, and also the Pteroplwri (plume moths) ; but of the Tinece (the minute 

 moths) except three or four species of those household pests, clothes moths, 

 which are unfortunately most abundant, there appear to be but few repre- 

 sentatives. 



The extraordinary number of genera as compared with that of species is 

 a remarkable peculiarity in the Lepidoj^tera of New Zealand, as also the 

 general sombreness of their colours. 



The larvse referred to by Mr. Bathgate as so destructive to grass by eating 

 the roots, " to such an extent as to cause large patches of it to wither up as 

 if scorched by fire," T have not the least doubt are of the same genus and 

 species as those which commit a similar depredation in this neighbourhood, 

 and, if so, belong to the Melolonthidoi family (cockchafers), and not to the 

 Elateridce (click-beetles). I am acquainted with three species of Melolonthidce 

 inhabiting this province, but all totally distinct from any British species. 



In speaking of our insect pests, I am surprised that Mr. Bathgate does not 

 mention the larvae of a moth of the Noctuo} fa.raily, an insect which has 

 committed such depredations on the grass and corn in this province. Perhaps 

 it has not occurred so plentifully in Otago. 



The application of the word " Phasiuma " to the insect commonly called a 

 " walking-stick," is probably an error of the printer. It should be " Phasma," 

 and the hyphen placed between " walking " and " stick " should be omitted — 

 the common name having been given from its resemblance to an animated 

 twig, and not (as the hyphen would suggest) from any resemblance to a stick 

 we use in walking. 



Mr. Bathgate mentions one, but there are several species of Cicada in these 

 islands ; the claws of the larvae of this insect are used for cutting the roots of 

 plants upon which it feeds ; the larva is not, neither is the perfect insect, 

 carnivorous. 



As to a classified list of New Zealand insects, I believe there is nothing in 

 existence worthy of the title. 



Although I have had but little time or opportunity I have collected, of 



