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266 inclined to believe they are of nocturnal habit, but it is just possible that the experience of other collectors may prove my conjecture to be erroneous. A species I possess from Canterbury, belonging to Rhysotrogus, I have not succeeded in finding as yet.

Of Lucanidæ, I cut one fine specimen out of a partially decayed Kowhai tree, near Stokes' Point, and subsequently two others out of rotten branches of a tree I could not identify, in a clearing on the East Coast. I suspect these are specimens of Dendroblax earlianus, but hesitate asserting this with confidence. I also obtained two other species out of Tupakihi, one of which has antennæ of unusual development, Coriaria sarmentosa seems to be the habitat of these two species, as I have frequently found them embedded in its decayed wood, in different localities, but never anywhere else, and am inclined to think that both species are new to science. I also possess a couple of specimens of Lissotes reticulatus, and of another species (Cerstognathus helotoides), which terminates the catalogue of the endemic Lucanidæ of New Zealand, so far as I am acquainted with them. Dynastidæ furnish my cabinet with three species—Pericoptus truncatus, P. punctatus, and one smaller insect unnamed—the two former are identical as to species with others from Canterbury, but are somewhat larger; the third which was given to me by Mr. Wakefield, of Christchurch, I have never found in this Province. I saw one specimen of Pericoptus on the wing in January last, and was greatly annoyed at being unable to capture it, owing to a severe cut on one of my feet; the larvæ I have occasionally found buried in sand on the beach under kelp and logs. Of the habits of these insects, respecting which so little is known, I can only surmise that they live principally in burrows deep in the sea shore, and only appear above it by night. When overtaken by gales of wind, being bulky, heavy insects, they succumb, and thus are found in numbers strewed along the beach, dead, and generally mutilated.

The fact of their being seen by different observers under precisely similar circumstances, I can account for in no other way, and venture to assert my belief that further investigation will bear out my view of the case; however, I intend to pursue a systematic course, in order to ascertain, if possible, something more definite regarding then peculiar habits.

This section exhibits thirty-eight species in my collection, only two of which are identical with others which occur in Canterbury, whilst there are three others from that Province which I have never seen in Auckland.

These insects vary in size from one line to an inch, the largest, Elater zealandicus, I cut out of a decayed Kowhai tree. I collected nineteen species in the vicinity of Auckland in the course of some three years, and as I