THE HISTERID/ OF NEW ZEALAND. I51 
through all its metamorphoses in the wood; nevertheless my 
inquisitive friend remained my only capture, all I then saw being 
mere fragments of the once perfect insects. In the course of a 
couple of years I had removed to Whangarei Heads, and having 
chosen a suitable ravine for future research, proceeded to cut 
down an Areca sapida, for the express purpose of examining its 
inhabitants. I need not advert to the success met with as 
regards Cossonide, etc., as these have nothing to do with the 
subject of this memoir; but I must mention that the whole of 
the tree was carefully utilised as traps for coleoptera. The bole 
was cut into short lengths for convenience in turning over, and 
the pieces rolled into shady spots, whilst the leaves were 
systematically placed in layers just beyond the sun’s rays. Ina 
few days afterwards I returned to the place, and on that, as on 
almost every other visit, I found one or more of this species, 
which, it must be apparent, had been attracted by the exudations, 
or had actually been living on the plant itself. I have not heard 
of its being found under other circumstances ; but I make a 
practice of felling one of these palms in different localities, and 
having allowed a few days to elapse, never look in vain for this 
species. 
Abreus vividulus, a rather brightly coloured little beetle, has 
been seen at one place only, a flat alluvial delta at Tairua, 
occasionally flooded, and at such times thinly covered with 
sandy soil and debris. I caught about a dozen individuals at 
various times, but although the dung of cattle was abundant, 
and the remains of a pig hard by, not one approached either. 
Another representative of this genus, A. Lrount, so named 
by Mr. G. Lewis, is the smallest of our Histeridz, and seems to 
be excessively rare, as I have been unable to detect more than 
two or three specimens. These were taken off a moss-covered 
log in the neighbourhood of Whangarei Harbour. 
A number of specimens in my cabinet, derived from various 
sources, remain nondescript ; all that can be asserted concerning 
them just now is that none can be termed carrion-feeders. 
We now arrive at the genus whose members exhibit modes 
of existence demanding close investigation—at any rate, with 
the exception of Saprinus punctulipennis, and perhaps S. latipes. 
The former was found in the forest at Tairua, the latter at 
Wellington, both phytophagous. 
I shall give an account of S. /epidulus first, reserving the 
most important species to conclude with. Mr. P. Stewart- 
Sandager sent me a specimen he had found at Lyall Bay, 
Wellington. I needed no information as to its habitat, as, when 
describing it, I detected minute pieces of shell-sand on the 
underside of its body. It is, structurally, closely allied to the 
following species. 
Saprinus pedator, an extraordinary little creature, so far as 
structure is concerned, particularly on account of its retractile 
ventral segments and coarsely sculptured, strongly developed, 
hind legs, more nearly resembling those of a Pericoptus or 
