2 5 
species of Paeclcrus, which are undetermined. The very common 
Weevil (. Moloctus gagates, Pas.) proved as numerous as ever ; 
Chrysomelidas gave us Paropsis gratiaria, which were all we suc- 
ceeded in getting at Mtmdaring, but during our journey home a 
very small specimen of Coptocercus aberans, Newn, flew on to 
Dr. Thorp’s coat, thus ending its career and furnishing our only 
Longicorn. This is indeed a widely distributed pest. 
On arriving back at the Weir we were met by a friend who 
had noticed our arrival, and who presented us with a tin box 
containing what he informed us was “ one of your extraordinary 
pets.” It turned out to be one of the large carnivorous Bugs 
(. Reduvius sp.) . Perhaps it would be well to advise members to 
use caution in handling any of this tribe, should they chance to 
meet with them, as they are able to inflict a most painful stab 
with their stout beak ; the agony resulting therefrom is ex- 
cruciating, and lasts from four to six days, especially so with 
Pirates ephippiger, a common and widely distributed species, 
upwards of an inch in length, of a dull black color, with rafhei 
stout reddish-brown legs, and a conspicuous heart-shaped patch 
of pale yellow' behind the scutellum. I have seen persons bitten 
by this species hardly able to contain themselves in their agony. 
The wound is distinctly visible as a dark crimson spot. If you 
have not been bitten, from personal experience let me advise 
you “ not to,” as I much prefer being stung by two or three 
Bull-dog Ants ( Myrmecia vindex, Smth.) if I am allowed the 
choice. 
We were on the look-out for specimens of the “ fossorial ” 
Hymenoptera, but none W'ere met with, again illustrating the 
seasonal difference, as at Gooseberry Hill last August we collected 
two species new to us, with two or three of the commoner 
forms. 
Although many species of Diptera (Flies) were in evidence, 
we did not devote any time to them, as we had another object 
in view, but we could not help observing one species we had not 
met with previously on account of the “ habit and position ” ; 
that is, almost every flou'er of the bright canary yellow Craspedia 
richea had one, and in some, cases, two specimens of that very 
handsome but dreadful pest, the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Cerati- 
tus capitata ) on it. Both sexes were observed but only very 
few males. It is certain that they do not breed in it, but resort 
to it as a source of sustenance alone. 
The above finishes the Insect life taken, as we were devoting 
our attention more to the less-sought-after “ Cryptozoic ” forms 
of life, but although we worked hard at log and stone turning, 
our reward w r as poor indeed, as we only met with three specimens 
of Planarian worms of two species which belong to the genus 
Geoplana , furco-dorsalis and quinquelineata , We were more 
fortunate in numbers with our special object, Peripatoides gilesii, 
