54 
T H E TASM A N1A N N ATU R A LI ST. 
Our true cave beetles are not blind, but as one species certainly, 
and the other probably, feed on * glow-worms/ eyes are of use to them. 
Of other Australian cave-insects Mr. Kroggatt has recorded a cricket 
from New South Wales, another species is common in several of the 
Mole Creek Caves, whilst a third occurs in the Ida Bay Caves. All of 
these have very long antennae and legs. 
In the majority of Tasmanian caves 1 glow-worms,’ the larvae of a 
very peculiar fly, are abundant, and may sometimes be seen in thousands. 
But similar 1 glow-worms * are (so I am informed) sometimes to be seen 
in deserted mining shafts. And a very similar, if not identical species, 
is sometimes to be seen under logs in wet gullies. 
In all the caves, other insects are to be obtained in the twilight 
portions, but these appear to be purely chance visitors ; as for instance 
mosquitoes, daddy-long-leg flies, moths, ants, caddis-flies, &c. 
Spiders are fairly numerous in Australian caves. Two species at 
least occur in the Jenolan caves, in the totally dark parts, but one of 
these 1 have taken under logs in very wet places, as well as in the caves 
themselves. Their food is unknown, and it would be interesting to find 
what it consists of. An enigma, which it is to be hoped Mr. J. C. 
Wiburd, the well known guide of those caves, will be able to solve. 
With two species of spiders, both fairly common in parts of the caves, 
one must suppose that they have insects to feed upon, and yet Mr. 
Wiburd (from whom I have received thousands of other insects, includ¬ 
ing many minute species) informs me that in the black parts of the caves 
he has never found insects, and such was my own experience there. 
Two species at least occur in the Mole Creek caves, although usually in 
the twilight parts, one, at least of these commonly feeds on the crickets* 
At the Ida Bay caves there is one true species of cave spider which feeds 
on the‘glow-worms/and two other species are found in the twilight 
parts. At the Gunn’s Plains caves another species is found in abundance 
in the twilight parts. 
CARABID/E. 
Idacarabus, n.g. 
Head rather narrow; clypeal sutures distinct, labrum more than 
half the length of clypeus and not much narrower. Eyes small, elliptic, 
sublateral, finely faceted. Mandibles fairly long, strong, curved at apex, 
simple except for obscure denticulations at extreme base. Antennae long 
and thin. Mentum wide. Labial palpi apparently four-jointed, first and 
second joints short, third long and somewhat curved, fourth as long as 
third, inflated at base and narrowed at apex. Maxillary palpi long, 
apparently four-jointed, first joint almost concealed, second long and 
slightly curved, third and fourth somewhat inflated to their junction, 
which is somewhat obscurely marked, their combined length about once 
and one half that of second. Prothorax rather narrow. Seutellum 
minute. Elytra ovate. Prosternum rather strongly ridged, intercoxal 
process strongly carinated and almost perpendicular behind coxre. 
Mesosternum narrow. Metasternum short, in middle obtusely rounded 
