GENEBA-L ZOOLOGY. 



31 



also two of the beautiful green beetles peculiar to Lord Howe, Lamprima 

 insiilaris, Maclcay,* found by Mr. Thorpe, one on Babbit Island,^ the other 

 on the main island. Although not obtained during our visit it may bo 

 mentioned that Mr. OllifE has in course of description two species of 

 Staphylinidae — not hitherto recorded ; cue he calls Hesperus pacificus, 

 differing from the mainland species, H. hcemorrlioidalis, Macleay, in several 

 important particulars ; the other is Greopliilus erythrocrplmlus, Fab., an 

 abundant and widely distributed species. The same author has already 

 reeordedf two species of Cucujidas, viz, BendropJiagus australis, Erich., a 

 widely distributed Australian form ; and Gryptamorpha Besjardinsii, Guer., 

 found on the banana trees of the Island, but probably introduced. The most 

 numerously represented divisions of the Coleoptera are the CarabidiB, and 

 Khynchophora. Amongst the former wo have the very uncommon Saara- 

 pliites Macleayi, Westw., a new discovery at Lord Howe, but found in New 

 South Wales ; Cklcenius peregrimts Cast., a widely distributed Australian 

 species, and one found in Norfolk Island. The Bliynchoplwra are all recorded 

 species, but we were not fortunate enough to find any of them, although 

 they are peculiar to Lord Howe Island, viz., OrthorUnus lateralis, Pasc.,t 

 Tranes insularis, Fuse. ,§UmhapJioides pyxidatus, Pasc.,!| y^threus cicatricosus, 

 Pasc.,^ Spliaeropterus harbipes, S. & J., and Syhomorphus melanosomus, S. & J., 

 the most peculiar form of insect found there ; and lastly a strange, and 

 perhaps new species of Telephorus, locally known as the " bug." By far 

 the two commonest and most widely distributed beetles on Lord Howe are the 

 little Saraqus ea-2(?fl?is,Pasc.,and 8. GuUelmi, Oil., to be found under every stone 

 and in every rotten stump. They are peculiar to the island, and when 

 disturbed immediately feign death, tucking their legs underneath the body 

 and remaining still for an incredibly long time. Since our return from Lord 

 Howe, Mr. W. B. Langley has brought from thence a true water-beetle 

 of the family Dytiscidai, referable to the genus Cyhister. The Hymenoptera 

 are conspicuous by their absence in our collection. Bees are plentiful and 

 cultivated ; but whether or no there is a native bee, we are unable to say. 

 Nests are occasionally taken from the banyan trees, probably those of bees 

 escaped from confinement, and I regret to say that I saw more than one 

 instance of these noble trees felled for the purpose of obtaining the comb. 

 As before stated, our visit was paid at too early a season for Lepidoptera, 

 with the exception of a few Jleterocera, chiefly small forms, There is, 

 however, one exception in Dasypodia cymatodes, Guenee, which occurs under 

 very interesting circumstances in some caves at the North Bay. These 

 occur in the Coral-sand rock, and extend for a limited distance underground, 

 the roofs of both being completely clothed by thousands upon thousands 

 of this moth. 



The most important members of the Ortlioptera. wc obtained were a largo 

 Ulatta, probably a new species, which is invariably found in and under 

 decayed logs : a mole-cricket, Gryllotalpa australis, Eric, not hitherto 

 recorded from the island ; and aii immature grasshopper of the genus 

 Phaneroplera, and of which there appeared to be large numbers about. The 

 so-called "Tree Lobster, " Eurycantha aiw^m/w, Montr., peculiar to Lord 

 Howe, was found to occupy the' hollow trunks of the smaller trees along 



* Revision of the Genus Lamprima of Latreille, &o. 

 X, pt. 2, p. 1.37. 



tProc. Linu. Soc, N. S. Wales, x, pt, 2, p. 218 and 220. 



X Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1882, ix, p. 381. 



§ Ibid. 1874, XIII, p. 387. 



li rbid, loc. cit. p. 419. 



IT Hid, 1875, XVI, p. 65, t. 1, f. 8. 



Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. Wales, 



