their economy, and a rigid investigation of a number of nests kept in captivity, is the only mode by which we can hope to become fully acquainted with the habits of this interesting family. {109}Family BLATTIDÆ. _Periplaneta fortipes_ (Plate XVII., fig. 5). Few people who cut up old wood remain unacquainted with this species for very long, its insufferable odour immediately betraying its presence independently of anything else. It is very common under the bark of rimu, henau, and other large trees, where specimens may be found in all stages of growth; the mature individuals only differing from the young in the matter of size and the possession of rudimentary wing-cases. I have never found the females of this species carrying their eggs, but have, on several occasions, discovered the closely allied, but smaller, _Periplaneta undulivitta_ thus engaged under stones on the hills round Nelson. This is a much more agreeable insect to study than _P. fortipes_, not possessing the disgusting odour so characteristic of the latter species. The only winged _Blattidæ_ found round Wellington are _Blatta conjuncta_, and _Periplaneta orientalis_. The former (Fig. 6), may be occasionally noticed under the scaly bark of rimu and matai trees, but a sharp eye and hand are needed to effect a capture, the insect running with marvellous rapidity. The latter species I have not yet noticed, but as it is the ordinary "cockroach" of Europe its habits have already been amply described. Family MANTIDÆ. _Tenodera intermedia_ (Plate XVII., fig. 2). A local species confined, I believe, to the South Island, and occurring in some numbers round Nelson, where my specimens were obtained. It seldom flies, but crawls stealthily about the trunks of trees, in the hottest sunshine, capturing and destroying great quantities of insects, its green colouring and leaf-like form rendering it very inconspicuous {110}to its victims. The purple spots on the tibiæ of this insect are very noticeable, and resemble small drums in structure, hence they are regarded by Mr. A. H. Swinton ("Insect Variety," page 239), as the organs of hearing. These curious drums may be also found in insects belonging to nearly all the remaining families of the Orthoptera, but, as we find no auditory organs occupying a similar situation in any other groups of insects, I think that Mr. Swinton's explanation of their function must be regarded at present as a somewhat doubtful one.[21] Family PHASMIDÆ. _Acanthoderus horridus_ (Plate XIX.). The curious Stick Insects are familiar to most people from their remarkable similarity to the twigs of trees.