families—Cicindelidæ and Carabidæ; the former generally accorded the first place, appears to be represented in this Province by only two conspicuous species, one of which, Cicindela tuberculata, is abundant on almost every road and pathway. I have taken three others, and although these insects frequent places exposed to bright sunshine, I found one, the smallest of all, in heaps of vegetable rubbish in the Domain, in such numbers as would warrant the belief that such is its usual haunt; it differs in colour from all the other Cicindela I have seen in this country.
I have five species from the Middle Island, all bearing a strong family likeness to our own in then general outline and colour.
Carabidæ exhibits seven moderately large species in my collection, the finest, Feronia antartica, is about an inch long, of bright dark bronze colour; but another fine Carabid is the grandest of the group in these islands. The second in size frequents the roots of potatoe crops, where it is serviceable to the agriculturalist, and may also be found under stones at Mount Eden.
In addition to these, I possess a number of small species, most of them brighter in colour than their more bulky friends; but all, I regret to add, unnamed. One active little Carabid of a shining whitish-colour, ornamented by dark marks on the elytra and thorax, is common during summer amongst weeds and rubbish on the sea shore. The sub-family Scaritides, distinguished by their elongate form, the junction of the elytra and thorax by a neck, and the palmation of the anterior tibiæ, affords two species at least for observation. I discovered them under sacks of grain and chaff. It is desirable that a collection of our predaceous beetles should be exhibited in the Museum by themselves, coupled with a notice that farmers and gardeners should abstain from injuring or destroying them, when they see them in the land they may be tilling, as they render such people important services. It may safely be assumed that the Middle Island has the advantage of us, both as regards the size and the number of the species of Carabidæ.
Hydradephaga.
Dytiscidæ offers but few species for observation; indeed, I only know of five, whilst Gyrinidæ seems to have no representatives whatever. I saw one species of Boat-beetle in a pool near Remuera, but never elsewhere.
The large Onychohydrus hookeri, asserted by Dr. Buller as belonging to the North Island, I have searched for in vain.
Perhaps it may not be out of place to assure such Acclimatization Societies as may be engaged with the introduction of European fish into our rivers that no danger need be apprehended from our Water-beetles. I placed several of them in a glass globe containing young fish, and the result of the experiment satisfied me that they will not attack carp. It is,
