142 



The Naturalist. 



done, especially amongst the smaller species." Such a summary applies 

 to the majority of natural orders. Large insects as curios, readily 

 find their way to other countries, and animals which tickle the drum 

 of human amazement are unearthed from their native habitats. We 

 are neither deficient in stinging bugs nor stinking bugs, lovely bugs, 

 ugly bugs, and noisy bugs. I submitted a small collection of them to 

 Dr. White, gathered haphazard in different parts. One of our most 

 interesting bugs, by reason of its leafy shape, which bars the way of 

 detection, is PhyllomorpJia paradoxa, Sparm. I took one on my coat 

 sleeve a short time ago, and have seen several belonging to other 

 naturalists. The specimen I sent to Dr. White came to grief en route, 

 but I have since ensured its name in accordance. Dr. White names 

 also the foUomng species : — Reduvius erythrocnemis, Germ., a powerful 

 biter ; Lygoens elegans, Wolf., a pretty thing, common on Ornitliogalum, 

 &c. ; Pseudoflata postica, Spin., a delicate green Homop., extremely 

 local ; Scantms Forsteri, F. ; Mictis curvipes, F. ; and a water bug, 

 Appasus luridu-s, Germ., " occurs also in Egypt," White. We have a fair 

 number of Cicada, of yell-erlasting fame. Dr. White notes Platypleura 

 hirtipennis, var. b., and P. stridida probably, though not altogether 

 agreeing with it. 



The AracJmid(B differ materially from the foregoing, inasmuch as they 

 have scarcely been studied at all. This is the more strange when we 

 reflect how much of interest is absorbed in the one word spider, and 

 how ignorant we remain of the habits of scorpions and of ticks, three 

 families classified together but infinitely apart. What connecting link 

 exists between the two former is vaguely defined, and their homologies 

 are questionable. Those who have paid any attention to the economy 

 of the scorpion would be astonished when told that science places the 

 beast on the same platform with the spider. To see a life-to-life 

 encounter between a Tarantula (?) and its supposed brother is but to 

 increase the wonder. One fights like the condensed phantoms of all 

 Furies. The other more calmly awaits, sneak that it is, until weakness 

 intervenes, when it spurs to the rife contest, and a spider's requiem is 

 pronounced. But it seems to me that classification of the future will 

 depend not upon the habits of animals, relationship of economies, or 

 forms, but upon affinities of internal structure, and comparative resem- 

 blance of vital organs. Dr. D. Astley Cresswell, during a recent visit 

 to the Colony, collected and took with him some living scorpions for 

 anatomical purposes, but I have not yet learned whether he succeeded 

 in his endeavour. We shall score one for Science when the relative 

 positions of scorpions and crustaceans are indelibly fixed and 

 generically defined. 



