646 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
former are viviparous, it is the female only which makes the 
loud buzzing noise. The true New Zealand musca is a 
denizen of the forest, a very fine large fly with a golden hue, 
covered with hair, and is by no means numerous. 
There are three kinds of bees indigenous to New Zealand, 
one having a large deep blue body and wings, similar to one 
found both in Australia and Europe, another with a small 
long narrow black body, it makes its nest in hollow twigs, 
and deposits the bee bread and honey in the same cell, the 
honey floating above the other. The third and least makes 
its nest in dry sandy ground ; all appear to be hermit bees, 
and sting. 
A beautiful golden green fly, F. Ghrysididce, or golden 
wasp, is the most brilliant of the New Zealand flies, it is 
seen hovering about on the brightest sunny days. 
Lumbricus , Tohe , there are many kinds, some attaining a 
very large size, even more than two feet ; in a small lake on 
the Kawau, there is a kind which is said to be seen more 
than a yard long.* The Tcenia , tape-worm, is not uncommon, 
the natives say it is acquired by drinking the water of moun- 
tain springs, when they perforate the skin and make their 
appearance externally, they skilfully wind out these worms 
upon a bit of stick. The Tohe wetara is a short kind of worm. 
The T. piripiri a small one. The T. puraharoro is a large 
long one, found in the clefts of rocks, this was eaten. T. tijoa , 
a very large long worm, which fed on roots, this was much 
prized as a great delicacy ; there is a saying that the rehab, 
sweetness, of this worm, remained in the mouth for two 
days after it was eaten. The engaio, a long white worm, 
like a line, is a parasite infesting the inanga of Rotorua 
Lake, and during settled rain in some parts to the north it 
breeds in the little pools of standing water, coiled up in 
knots of great length. Several of the small earth-worms, 
Piritaua , Puratoke , are highly phosphorescent, particularly 
those found in caves and at the roots of rushes by the water 
side. A worm found on the sand hills, forms large masses 
of calcareous matter from its' slime, probably given out 
* Sir G. Grey. 
