Wakefield. — On some New Coleopfcei^a. 157 



of the commonest Beetles in tlie neighbourhood of Christchurch, and yet it 

 proves to be not only a new species but a new genus. The same remark will 

 apply almost equally well to Irenimus and Cyttalia, the latter of which is very 

 common in spring upon the " Spaniard." 



The Ceresium, too, is anything but rare on the Peninsula, and, altogether, 

 I have been astonished to find how many new genera and species are contained 

 in this very small collection of Beetles. 



It will be seen that the thirty-four species referred to were divided amongst 

 three or four of the best entomologists in London, and that eleven of them 

 remain undetermined. Fi-om this we may form some idea of the dijfficulty of 

 the task, which I consider to be one that could not be properly performed in 

 the colony. The temptation to describe our own species is, of course, obvious, 

 since, by the etiquette of science, and indeed by the necessity of the case, it is 

 the describer, and not the discoverer, who obtains the credit of introducing a 

 new species ; but in the present state of knowledge no one man could well 

 undertake more than a single group of insects. Until, therefore, science shall 

 have been much more widely cultivated in New Zealand, reference to Europe 

 will be absolutely indispensable, and, in spite of the delays, disappointments, 

 and expense attendant upon such a course, I am encouraged to persevere in it 

 by the result of Mr. Bates' letter. But, in order that we may reap the full 

 benefit of the labours of English naturalists, it is necessary that all descriptions 

 of New Zealand animals published in the scientific periodicals of Europe 

 should be at once reprinted in our " Transactions." I am convinced that the 

 funds at the disposal of the Institute could not be applied to any better 

 purpose, and I think that the general rule — prohibiting the printing of any 

 but original matter — might be advantageously dispensed with in this instance. 

 At present I have a most elaborate and painstaking pamphlet on the New 

 Zealand Trichoptera, by Mr. M'Lachlan, but, so far as the scientific public of 

 these islands are concerned, it might almost as well be non-existent, for I do 

 not believe that more than a couple of copies exist in the colony. I must, 

 however, take this opportunity of expressing a hope that no one will forward 

 insects to England without stipulating that a specimen of each new species, 

 with name and description attached, be returned to us here. Much mischief 

 and confusion has, undoubtedly, arisen from the iu discriminate despatch of 

 specimens of natural history to Europe. 



In conclusion, I may mention that I have lately forwarded a considerable 

 number of Coleoptera, Neuroptera, and Hemiptera, to Messrs. Bates, Scott, 

 and M'Lachlan, and, with their kind assistance, I hope shortly to be able to 

 introduce something like order iato the chaos of New Zealand entomology. 



