222 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Noy. 
Friendly Islands, Chatham Islands, Norfolk Island, and many of the other 
islands of the great ocean which surrounds New Zealand, and they all agree 
that no frogs have ever been found in any of these islands. Perhaps, 
however, more careful inquiries may detect frogs in the hilly rivulets of 
these countries, as they have been discovered in New Zealand. 
When the character of the now almost extinct native rat in New 
Zealand became known it furnished a link in the chain of evidence 
regarding the countries from whence the New-Zealander originally came, 
and the discovery of the frog may throw a ray of light on some obscure 
geological questions in New Zealand. 
Auckland, New Zealand, 29th November, 1852. 
Verconella adusta : a Further Correction. 
By an unfortunate error the figures of Verconella adusta (Phil.) and 
F. dilatata (Q. & G.) on page 170 of last issue of the Journal were trans¬ 
posed. Fig. 1 is Verconella dilatata and fig. 2 is F. adusta. 
Notes on the “Hosts” of certain Parasitic Hymenoptera, by G. V. 
Hudson, F.E.S., F.N.Z.Inst. 
Breeders of Lepidoptera are often very remiss in failing to record the 
various species of parasitic Hymenoptera and Diptera which emerge in 
their breeding-cages. As a rule these insects are looked upon as interlopers, 
and their advent is not regarded with satisfaction by the lepidopterist, 
seeing that the insect actually wanted is naturally destroyed by its 
parasite. I myself have failed to note many such cases, but the following 
are a few instances where the observations have been preserved, and these 
should perhaps be permanently recorded. 
Fhogra rubromaculata Cameron, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 33, p. 105. 
Sixty specimens of this small ichneumon-fly were bred from a single 
larva of a species of Melanehra. Food-plant of host: Grasses and other 
low-growing plants. 
Ichneumon richardi Cameron, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 33, p. 117. 
Parasitic in the caterpillar of Izatha attactella. Food-plants of host : 
Bark and wood of dead hinau ( Elaeocarpus dentatus), wineberry (Aristotelia 
racemosa), beech ( Fagus) ; and other trees. 
Degithina buchanani Cameron, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 33, p. 112. 
This very handsome ichneumon-fly is parasitic in the caterpillars of 
several species of Porina, having been reared from larvae of Porina 
cervinata and P. umbraculata. The male ichneumon-fly is rarely taken, 
but the female has a remarkable habit of hibernating gregariously, large 
numbers of individuals of that sex often secreting themselves in the 
crevices between the weatherboarding of houses and in similar situations. 
When the country was in its primitive condition these insects used to be 
found under the large scales on the bark of standing rimu-trees ( Dacrydium 
cu'pressinum), where they were often extremely abundant. I recorded this 
habit in the Entomologist for 1883 (p. 215), but have never seen it mentioned 
elsewhere. As the caterpillars of Porina feed on the roots of grasses 
during the whole of the winter, the female ichneumon-fly would need to 
be abroad during mild intervals for most of that period in order to avail 
herself of all suitable opportunities for ovipositing in the caterpillars. The 
