154 Trcmsactions. — Zoology. 



Rome, I am unable to detect any difference. I feel certain, therefore, that 

 this cosmopolite devourer has found its way to Kew Zealand. I find that a 

 species of Dermestes, from this country — D.carnivorus {versicolor, Castelnau) — 

 was long ago described by Fabricius, but I have never seen it, or even its 

 description. The genus Dermestes was first established by Linnaeus (Syst. 

 E"at. Ed., 12, II., p. 561), and its characteristics may be found in Lacordaire, 

 Vol. II., p. 461. From the same author I gather that the insects of this 

 genus, in all their stages, live principally xipon animal substances, apparently 

 giving prefei'ence to those which are partly desiccated, but that in other 

 respects their taste is so little exclusive that they may be considered almost 

 omnivorous. Placed in favoixrable circumstances they multiply with great 

 rapidity, and become exceedingly troublesome. Most of them have a very 

 extended geographical distribution, so much so that it is often difficult to 

 determine their true country. The other insect which I have to notice is a 

 much larger and more conspicuous one. 



In the early part of the same month a daughter of Mr. Tully, of Middleton, 

 near Christchurch, found a very remarkable Beetle upon the wall of his 

 cow-shed. The insect was forwarded to Mr. Fereday, and by him kindly 

 given to me. From the brilliancy of its markings, so different to the dull and 

 sombre hues which generally characterize the fauna of New Zealand, we at 

 once concluded that our specimen was a visitor from Australia, and upon 

 comparing it with some Yictorian types in the Christchurch Museum, we 

 found its name to be Phoracantha recurva. The genus Phoracantha belongs 

 to the remarkable family of Ooleoptera, Longicornia, and contains many large 

 and handsome species much superior to the one under considei'ation. All its 

 members are wood-borers, so it is easy to account for the introduction of any 

 of them into the Province. Probably our specimen arrived in some of the 

 timber imported for the railway, near which it was found. Considering the 

 constant traffic between Australia and New Zealand, the appearance in the 

 latter country of Dermestes and Phoraoantha is in no way remai'kable, being, 

 in fact, just what might have been expected ; but it is most important that 

 the first appearance of all new species should be accurately noted and placed 

 on record. 



The genus Phoracantha, with the exception of one species which occurs in 

 New Caledonia, is peculiar to Australia. Its name was first established in 

 1840, by Newman (Ann. of Nat. Hist., V., p. 19), and its characteristics may 

 also be found in Lacordaire, " Genera des Coleopt^res," Vol. VIII., p. 303. 

 Dieffenbach (Vol. II., p. 278) mentions a Phoracantha dorsalis as occurring in 

 New Zealand, but I know nothing more of it. 



