II.—THE NOTODONTINA.

TheNotodontinaare characterized as follows:—

"The maxillary palpi are obsolete. Fore-wings with vein 1b usually furcate, but with lower fork often weak or tending to be obsolete, 5 rising not nearer to 4 than to 6, parallel, 7 and 8 out of 9. Hind-wings almost always with frenulum, 1c absent. (PlateII., figs. 19 to 64, and PlateI., figs. 12 and 13.)"Imago with fore-wings more or less broad-triangular; hind-wings broad-ovate."—(Meyrick.)Larva (in New Zealand) generally with 10 or 12 legs only (PlateIII., figs. 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 24), rarely with 16 (Sphinx, Pl. III., figs. 13 and 14)."Pupa with segments 9 to 11 free; not protruded from cocoon in emergence."—(Meyrick.)

"Imago with fore-wings more or less broad-triangular; hind-wings broad-ovate."—(Meyrick.)

Larva (in New Zealand) generally with 10 or 12 legs only (PlateIII., figs. 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 24), rarely with 16 (Sphinx, Pl. III., figs. 13 and 14).

"Pupa with segments 9 to 11 free; not protruded from cocoon in emergence."—(Meyrick.)

This is a very extensive group of the Lepidoptera, and so far as it is represented in New Zealand is equivalent to that group formerly known as theGeometrina, with the addition of the familySphingidæ. The insects here included comprise many of our most interesting, abundant, and beautiful species. Some of them are so extremely variable that it is often a matter of considerable difficulty to determine the most convenient points on which to base the specific distinctions; although fortunately great advances have been made in this direction of late years owing to the increase in the number of workers, and the consequent accumulation of available material. In connection with this portion of the subject, special mention should be made of Mr. Meyrick's paper on the group, which appeared in the 'Transactions' of the New Zealand Institute for 1883. This essay has been of the greatest value in dispelling the doubts which formerly existed respecting the limits of many of the most variable species.

TheNotodontinaare represented in New Zealand by the six following families:—

TheHydriomenidaeare thus characterized:—

"Tongue well developed. Fore-wings with vein 10 rising separate; anastomosing with 11 and 9 (forming double areole), or rising out of 11 and anastomosing with 9 (forming simple areole). Hind-wings with vein 5 fully developed, parallel to 4, 6, and 7 almost always stalked or connate, 8 anastomosing with upper margin of cell from near base to beyond middle, or sometimes approximated only and connected by a bar or shortly anastomosing beyond middle." (PlateII., figs. 19 to 43.)

"A very large family distributed in equal plenty throughout all temperate regions, but becoming scarcer within the tropics. The structure is very uniform throughout, and the generic distinctions slight. Imago with body slender, fore-wings usually broad.

"Ovum broad, oval, rather flattened with usually oval reticulations. Larva elongate, slender, with few hairs, without prolegs on segments 7 to 9; often imitating live or dead twigs and shoots. Pupa usually subterranean."—(Meyrick.)

This family is very extensively represented in New Zealand by the following fifteen genera:—

"Face smooth. Palpi long, straight, porrected, shortly rough-scaled, terminal joint short. Antennæ in male simple, stout, gradually dilated from base to near apex, apex attenuated. Abdomen in male very excessively elongate. Hind-wings in male deeply excised near dorsum, dorsal lobe folded into a long pocket, fringed with hairs. Fore-wings with vein 6 rising out of 9, 7 from or above angle of areole, 10 anastomosing moderately with 9, 11 anastomosing moderately with 10, 12 free. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 separate, 8 free, united with 7 before transverse vein by an oblique bar.

"This singular genus is a remnant of a widely diffused, but now fragmentary group, to which belong alsoLobophora(Europe),Rhopalodes(South America),Sauris(Ceylon), andRemodes(Borneo.) In all, the hind-wings of the male are peculiarly modified, usually much diminished in size, and with the dorsum formed into a distinct lobe, the object of which is unknown. A similar structure is found only in one or two genera ofTortricina.Rhopalodesis the nearest genus to this, but vein 5 is said to be obsolete, and the lobe does not form a pocket; inSauristhe areole is simple, and the antennæ thickly scaled; inRemodesthe areole is also simple, the antennæ flattened and scaled, and the dorsum is furnished with three superposed lobular folds, so that it represents the extreme of development in this direction."—(Meyrick.)

It will be seen on reference to PlateII., figs. 22 and 23, which represent the structure of the hind-wings of the male and female ofTatosoma agrionatarespectively, that in the male veins 1 and 2 are absent, having no doubt become absorbed during the formation of the characteristic sexual lobe; vein 8 is connected with the margin of the cell by an oblique bar, this being probably due to an extension of the wing in the costal region, compensating for the loss in the dorsal region due to the above-mentioned lobe. In the hind-wings of the female the normal neuration of the family is almost preserved, the only peculiar feature consisting in the origin of veins 6 and 7 from a point on the margin of the cell.

Of this remarkable genus we have three species, and I think it quite possible that others may reward the industry of future collectors.

TATOSOMA LESTEVATA, Walk.

(Cidaria lestevata, Walk. 1416.Sauris ranata, Feld. cxxxi. 11.,Tatosoma lestevata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 67.)

(PlateVI., fig. 25 ♂.)

This beautiful species has occurred at Wainuiomata, near Wellington, in the North Island, and at Nelson and Christchurch, in the South Island.

The expansion of the wings is 1⅜ inches.The fore-wings are bright-green; there are four wavy, black, transverse lines; the first near the base, the second a little before the middle, the third considerably beyond the middle, and the fourth near the termen; the terminal line is very faint towards the tornus, and it emits three or four very sharp, longitudinal, black, tooth-like marks; all the transverse lines are much stronger where they cross the principal veins. The hind-wings are very pale yellowish-green.

The perfect insect appears in February. At present I believe the species is represented by four specimens only—two in Mr. Fereday's collection and two in my own.

TATOSOMA AGRIONATA, Walk.

(Cidaria agrionata, Walk. 1417.Cidaria tipulata, ib. 1417.Cidaria inclinataria, ib. 1418.Cidaria transitaria, ib. 1419.Sauris mistata, Feld. cxxxi. 12.Tatosoma transitaria, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 68.Tatosoma agrionata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvii. 64.)

(PlateVI., fig. 26 ♂, 27 ♀.)

This fine species has occurred commonly at Wellington in the North Island. It is generally distributed in the South Island, and has also been found at Stewart Island.

The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches.The fore-wings are bright-green traversed by numerous black, wavy, transverse lines; these black lines are grouped into four more or less distinct bands, the outermost of which is interrupted at each of the veins; there is a conspicuous black dot in the middle of the wing, a number of small triangular black marks near the termen, and a series of minute black dots on the termen. The hind-wings are ochreous, tinged with green towards the termen. In the female the abdomen is much shorter, and the hind-wings are larger than in the male.

The perfect insect appears from December till April. It frequents dense forests, and is generally found at rest on the trunks of trees. In these situations the pattern of the fore-wings is extremely protective, the whole insect bearing the closest possible resemblance to a patch of moss. This species may also be taken at sugar, and sometimes at light, but I have found that it can be obtained most plentifully by a careful scrutiny of the tree-trunks in a favourable locality. As a rule I think that the males are considerably commoner than the females. I have noticed them in the proportion of about four to one.

TATOSOMA TIMORA, Meyr.

(Tatosoma agrionata, Meyr. (nec Walker), Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 68.Tatosoma timora, Meyr., ib. xvii. 64.)

(PlateVI., fig. 28 ♂, 29 ♀.)

This rather sombre, though interesting insect, has occurred at Palmerston and Wellington in the North Island, and at Christchurch and Akaroa in the South Island.

The expansion of the wings is 1⅜ inches.All the wings are sparsely covered with scales. The fore-wings of the male are dull reddish-brown, with numerous obscure transverse dusky stripes; there are two rather conspicuous blackish blotches on the costa, a white dot in the middle of the wing, a wavy, pale, transverse line near the termen, and a series of black terminal dots; the veins are dotted in black. The hind-wings are very small, dull grey, with the lobe large and conspicuous.The female is faintly tinged with green, the markings on the fore-wings are rather indistinct; the hind-wings are small, though much larger than those of the male.

The perfect insect appears from November till May. It frequents densely wooded districts, but is not a common species.

"Palpi short, arched, roughly-scaled beneath. Antennæ bipectinated. Fore-wings with vein 6 from below 9, 7 from below angle of areole, 10 very shortly anastomosing with 9, 11 out of 10 considerably before angle of areole, 12 free. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 stalked, 8 separate, united to 7 before transverse vein by an oblique bar.

"This singular genus is of quite uncertain affinity, and stands at present alone. The simple areole, and connecting bar of 7 and 8, can only have arisen by modification of the normal type of this family, to which it must be referred. It is also the only New Zealand genus exceptDeclanain which the female has pectinated antennæ; but this character recurs in a few exotic genera not otherwise allied."—(Meyrick.)

PlateII., figs. 27 and 28 represent the neuration of the male ofParadetis porphyrias, vein 2 of the hind-wings being absent in that sex. In the female, which is the sex from which Mr. Meyrick characterized the genus, the vein is present as usual. Only one species is known.

PARADETIS PORPHYRIAS, Meyr.

(Parysatis porphyrias, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 58.Paradetis porphyrias, Meyr., ib. xviii. 184.)

(PlateVI., fig. 36 ♂.)

This interesting little insect has occurred in the South Island at Mount Arthur, Castle Hill, the Otira Gorge, and Lake Wakatipu.

The expansion of the wings is about ¾ inch.The fore-wings of the male are deep purplish-brown; there is a wavy, reddish, transverse line at about one-third and another at about two-thirds; between these two lines near the dorsum there are often four, more or less distinct, yellow dots; there is an obscure orange mark at the origin of the first line and a conspicuous mark at the origin of the second.The hind-wings are deep purplish-brown.The cilia of all the wings are white.The fore-wing has the apex hooked and the termen deeply excavated above and below the middle.The female is very much paler; the lines are more distinct and the veins are marked in brown.

The perfect insect appears in January. It frequents rather open spots in the forest, and flies in a very busy manner close to the ground amongst the numerous ferns and other plants, which are always abundant in such situations. It is consequently very inconspicuous and sometimes difficult to capture. Thus, no doubt, it is often overlooked, and perhaps is much commoner than at present appears probable.

"Face with short cone of scales. Palpi rough-scaled. Antennæ in male shortly ciliated. Abdomen crested. Fore-wings with areole simple, vein 11 running into or anastomosing with 12. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing with cell from near base to beyond middle." (PlateII., figs. 19 and 20.)

"This genus is especially characteristic of New Zealand, and is also found in South Asia, a few stragglers occurring in Europe and elsewhere."—(Meyrick.)

We have twelve species, several of which are very beautiful.

CHLOROCLYSTIS PLINTHINA, Meyr.

(Pasiphila plinthina, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 49.)

(PlateVI., fig. 8.)

This pretty species has occurred at Wellington.

The expansion of the wings is about ½ inch. All the wings are traversed by numerous obscure, wavy, reddish-yellow lines; the fore-wings have a dark shading near the base,a very large white blotch in the middle, and a dark chocolate-brown patch near the apex.The hind-wings have a large shaded white patch in the middle, a blackish dot near the base, and a series of brownish crescentic marks on the termen; the cilia of all the wings are pale brown barred with brownish-black. The termen of the fore-wings is very oblique, of the hind-wings rather irregular.

Many specimens of this insect are strongly tinged with green, and the shape and size of the white patches on the fore- and hind-wings are subject to slight variations.

The perfect insect appears in November and December. It frequents brushwood, where it may be occasionally taken at rest on tree-trunks but more often dislodged from the foliage. It is not a very common species.

CHLOROCLYSTIS BILINEOLATA, Walk.

(Eupithecia bilineolata, Walk. 1246.E. muscosata, ib. 1246.Scotosia humerata, ib. 1362.Eupithecia semialbata, ib. 1708.E. cidariaria, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 62.Cidiaria aquosata, Feld., pl. cxxxi. 33.Helastia charybdis, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 503.H. calida, ib. 504.Pasiphila muscosata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. 50.P. bilineolata, ib.)

(PlateVI., fig. 9 type, fig. 10 variety.)

This beautiful little species is common, and generally distributed throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings is ¾ inch.The fore-wings are bright green with numerous wavy darker lines.There is a jagged transverse black line near the base, two at about one-fourth, enclosing a rather paler space; beyond this there are several rather irregular, fine black marks, and an obscure white patch below the apex; the cilia are dull green. The hind-wings are grey slightly tinged with reddish; the dorsum and termen are shaded with green, and there is a number of curved black lines on the dorsum; the cilia are dull greenish-grey. The termen of the fore-wings is slightly bowed, and all the wings are finely scalloped and sharply outlined in black.

A very distinct variety frequently occurs in which the entire ground colour isorange-yellow. This variety can be artificially produced by exposing a typical specimen to the fumes of bruised laurel leaves. Intermediate forms may also be found, but are much scarcer than either the typical form or the variety.

The larva (according to Mr. Purdie[26]) is about ½ inch long; colour brownish, surface very rugged; body tapering somewhat towards the head. Two pairs of small dorsal tubercles about the middle, the posterior pair being larger; oblique lateral dark markings faintly seen on dark ground colour; below lighter. Food-plants:Aristotelia,Leptospermum ericoides,Rubus(?), andMuhlenbeckia(?). Found in December and January.

The perfect insect appears from September till May, and is often very common. It rests on tree-trunks with outspread wings, in which position it so closely resembles a patch of moss that it is extremely difficult to detect, even when specially searched for.

CHLOROCLYSTIS ANTARCTICA, n. sp.

(PlateVI., fig. 20.)

This species was discovered by Mr. Philpott at West Plains, near Invercargill.

The expansion of the wings is ⅞ inch. The fore-wings are rather dull green; there is a reddish-brown patch near the base, followed by two, slightly oblique, reddish bands; the central band is very broad, green, traversed by numerous fine wavy lines; there is a broad reddish band on the termen. The hind-wings are slaty-grey, tinged with pink towards the termen and dorsum. The cilia of all the wings are pink barred with black.

Two other specimens kindly given to me by Mr. Philpott have the bands on the fore-wings more or less brown in place of red, but are otherwise identical.

This insect is evidently very closely allied toC. bilineolata, but its larger size, longer wings, and barred cilia will, I think, distinguish it from that species.

The perfect insect appears in November.

CHLOROCLYSTIS ARISTIAS, Meyr.

(Chloroclystis aristias, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1897, 385.)

(PlateVI., fig. 21 ♂, 22 ♀.)

This beautiful insect was discovered on the Mount Arthur Tableland in January, 1896, at an elevation of about 4,000 feet.

The expansion of the wings is 1⅛ inches.All the wings are very pale greenish-grey.The male has three distinct dark brownish bands near the base, an irregular broad suffused band near the middle, becoming obsolete before it reaches the dorsum, a dark patch at the apex, another patch on the termen below the apex and another near the tornus. The hind-wings are traversed by numerous, very fine, wavy blackish lines, becoming darker towards the dorsum. In the female there are three wavy reddish-brown bands on the costa of the fore-wings, becoming obsolete towards the dorsum, then a wavy yellowish line, followed by two rust-red patches. The hind-wings resemble those of the male. Both sexes have the veins dotted with black, and the cilia of all the wings are grey barred with black.

The perfect insect was found in a limestone valley at the foot of Mount Peel, where it was fairly common.

CHLOROCLYSTIS NEREIS, Meyr.

(Pasiphila nereis, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 51.)

(PlateVI., fig. 11 ♂.)

This insect has occurred at Mount Arthur, Mount Hutt, and the Humboldt Range, Lake Wakatipu, at elevations from 2,500 to 4,000 feet.

The expansion of the wings is nearly an inch.All the wings are dusky grey with numerous black and dull white, wavy transverse lines; there is often a somewhat paler area near the apex of the fore-wings, and the termen of the hind-wings is slightly scalloped; the cilia are dull white barred with dark greyish-black.

The perfect insect appears in January and February. It generally frequents cliffs on mountain sides, resting with outspread wings on the dark rocky surfaces. In these situations it is extremely difficult to detect, and the protective value of its colouring is thus at once demonstrated.

CHLOROCLYSTIS DRYAS, Meyr.

(Pasiphila dryas, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxiii. 97.)

(PlateVI., fig. 12 ♂.)

This species has occurred at Wellington.

The expansion of the wings is 1 inch.The fore-wings are dull rosy-brown, traversed by numerous obscure blackish transverse lines, somewhat concentrated towards the middle and forming an ill-defined central band; the termen is slightly shaded with blackish, and the veins are marked with dotted lines. The hind-wings are grey, tinged with rosy-brown; there are numerous very faint blackish transverse lines and the veins are marked with blackish dots. The cilia of all the wings are dark grey. The termen of the hind-wings is rather irregular.

The perfect insect appears in December and January, and is attracted by light. I once took a specimen in July, but this may have been due to an exceptionally mild winter.

CHLOROCLYSTIS SPHRAGITIS, Meyr.

(Pasiphila sphragitis, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 51.)

(PlateVI., fig. 13 ♂, 14 ♀.)

This extremely variable insect has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at Christchurch in the South Island.

The expansion of the wings of the male is ⅝ inch, of the female ¾ inch.The fore-wings are pale ochreous; there is a narrow darker area at the base followed by a narrow oblique pale band; then a broad central band, formed of numerous oblique, wavy, brown, transverse lines, next, a rather narrow curved pale band, followed by several small irregular patches on the termen, sometimes forming a dark brown terminal band; all the markings are much darker on the costa, and portions of the costa, termen, and dorsum are frequently tinged with green. The hind-wings are pale ochreous; there are numerous wavy, pale brown lines on the dorsum, becoming obsolete towards the costa. The termen of all the wings is edged with fine black crescents. The cilia are pale ochreous barred with dark brown.

The perfect insect may be met with from September till February, but is most abundant in the early spring. It is extremely common in the Wellington Botanical Gardens, frequenting the forest gullies, where numerous specimens may be easily dislodged from amongst the dense undergrowth. This moth rests with expanded wings on the leaves and stems of shrubs, but is extremely difficult to find in such situations, the colouring of the insect causing it to closely resemble the droppings of birds.

CHLOROCLYSTIS LICHENODES, Purd.

(Pasiphila lichenodes, Purdie, Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 70.)

(PlateVI., figs. 15 and 16, varieties.)

This extremely interesting species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at Dunedin in the South Island; it has also been found at Stewart Island.

The expansion of the wings is about ¾ inch. The fore-wings are dull green;there is a large pale brown area near the base, divided by fine black lines into three distinct patches; the central portion of the wing is mottled with black, pale brown, and dull green;there is a very broad, irregular band of chocolate-brown near the termen, outlined with black towards the base and with white towards the termen, the white line almost dividing the band into four or five patches. The hind-wings are dull greenish-brown; there are several irregular black and white transverse lines and small patches of chocolate-brown, the markings being more distinct towards the dorsum. The cilia of all the wings are pale brown barred with dark brown.

I have observed that in many specimens of this species the ground colour is entirely pale brown instead of green; the markings, however, are not variable.

The perfect insect appears from November till February. It frequents forests, resting with outspread wings on lichen-covered tree-trunks, where its wonderfully perfect protective colouring may be seen to great advantage. The remarkable brown patches on the wings have undoubtedly been acquired for this protective purpose, and Mr. Purdie's name is certainly a most appropriate one. It is not, I think, a common species.

CHLOROCLYSTIS INDICATARIA.

(Eupithecia indicataria, Walk. 1708.Pasiphila indicataria, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 52.)

(PlateVI., fig. 17 ♂, 17A♀.)

This rather dull-looking species has occurred at Napier and Wellington in the North Island, and at Nelson in the South Island.

The expansion of the wings is ⅞ inch.The fore-wings of the male are dull greenish-grey; there is an oblique, black-edged, reddish, transverse band at about one-third, and another very irregular band near the termen; between and beyond these bands there are numerous irregular, broken, reddish and blackish transverse lines; there is a rust-red patch on the termen below the apex. The cilia are grey barred with brown. The hind-wings are dull grey with several faint, jagged, transverse lines; the termen is rather irregular. The female is much browner than the male, and the lines are more numerous and distinct, especially on the hind-wings.The antennæ are simple in both sexes.

The perfect insect appears from October till March, and is fairly common in wooded localities. It is sometimes attracted by light.

CHLOROCLYSTIS INDUCTATA, Walk.

(Coremia inductata, Walk. 1322.Scotosia subitata, ib. 1362.Pasiphila inductata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 53.)

"This is a distinct species; but I have only seen the British Museum specimens, and am unable to say to which section it belongs, or to give a proper description. The termen of the fore-wings is more bent, and the hind-wings are narrower than in any other species; ground colour light reddish, with the margins of the median band formed by distinct black lines."—(Meyrick.)

I am unacquainted with this insect.

CHLOROCLYSTIS MACULATA, n. sp.

(PlateVI., fig. 18.)

This interesting species was discovered at Wellington by Mr. W. P. Cohen.

The expansion of the wings is about ⅞ inch.All the wings are creamy-white slightly tinged with green. The fore-wings have several irregular large black marks on the costaextending abouttwo-thirds towards the apex; there is a curved transverse series of black dots at about two-thirds, and several obscure brown marks on the termen near the middle and at the tornus.The hind-wings have several irregular rows of conspicuous black spots.The cilia are cream-coloured barred with black. The apex of the fore-wing is very much rounded.

The perfect insect appears in December, and is attracted by light.

Described and figured from a specimen kindly given to me by Mr. Cohen.

CHLOROCLYSTIS RECTILINEATA, n. sp.

(PlateVI., fig. 22.)

This species was discovered at Wellington by Mr. W. P. Cohen.

The expansion of the wings is ¾ inch.The fore-wings are pale grey; there are several irregular black, transverse lines near the base, very broad on the costa; a broad, pale, central area with no distinct markings;then two very fine, almost straight, parallel, dark transverse lines alternating with two broader white lines, and followed by a very conspicuous black line, this being again immediately followed by a fainter black line; beyond these lines the wing is darker, with a wavy transverse white line and a row of black terminal marks. The hind-wings are grey with several faint, wavy, transverse lines and a series of darker marks on the termen. The cilia of all the wings are grey.

Described and figured from a specimen kindly given to me by Mr. Cohen.

"Face with short cone of scales or smooth. Palpi moderate or short, porrected, more or less rough-scaled. Antennæ in male ciliated or naked. Posterior tibiæ with all spurs present. Fore-wings in male with swelling or tuft or rough scales on costa, vein 5 sometimes distorted or absent; areole simple, 11 running into 12. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing with cell from near base to beyond middle."—(Meyrick.)

We have one species in New Zealand.

PHRISSOGONUS DENOTATUS, Walk.

(Scotosia denotata, Walk. 1361.Phibalapteryx parvulata, ib. 1721.Phrixogonus denotatus, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 53.)

(PlateVI., fig. 19 ♂.)

This dull-looking insect is common and generally distributed throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings is ¾ inch.The fore-wings are very dark grey, with numerous obscure black and pale brown transverse lines; there are several black dots on the veins, and a white mark on the termen near the apex. The hind-wings are pale grey with numerous wavy black lines, especially near the dorsum.The antennæ are simple in both sexes.The cilia are dull pink barred with black. The female is slightly tinged with reddish-brown.The male has a peculiar dilation on the costa, beyond the middle, beneath which is a naked longitudinal mark occupying the space between veins 10 and 12, these veins being slightly distorted in consequence.

The larva, which feeds on the blossoms of the wharangi (Brachyglottis repanda), is pale green with a series of elongate triangular brown markings down the back and an obscure series of brown marks on each side. It may be found during the latter end of October and beginning of November, but is extremely inconspicuous amongst its food-plant. The pupa is concealed in a light cocoon constructed of the remains of the blossoms.

The perfect insect appears from October till February. It frequents dense undergrowth in the forest, and is generally found resting with extended wings on the dark-coloured stems of the kawakawa (Piper excelsum), where it is practically invisible. In this situation its colouring is evidently specially adapted for protective purposes.

"Face smooth. Palpi rather long, straight, porrected, densely rough-scaled above and beneath, terminal joint short. Antennæ in male stout, flattened, bipectinated (2½). Thorax somewhat crested. Fore-wings with vein 6 from a point with 9, 7 from angle of areole, 10 anastomosing moderately with 9, 11 out of 10, running shortly into 12. Hind-wings with veins 6 and 7 stalked, 8 anastomosing with 7 from near base to near transverse vein."—(Meyrick.)

We have one species.

ELVIA GLAUCATA, Walk.

(Elvia glaucata, Walk. 1431; Feld. cxxxii. 25.Elvia donovani, Feld. cxxxii. 5.Elvia glaucata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 65.)

(PlateVI., fig. 23 and 24 varieties.)

This very pretty insect is generally distributed throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings is about an inch.

The fore-wings vary from pale green to dark steely blue, rarely pale reddish-brown;there is an almost straight, black transverse line near the base; a broad curved line before the middle, shaded towards the termen; then a straight line, breaking up into dots towards the dorsum, followed by a conspicuous cream-coloured blotch near the costa; this again is followed by a fine jagged cream-coloured line; there is a terminal series of black dots. The hind-wings are cream-coloured, tinged with steely blue or green towards the termen; there are a few obscure transverse lines and a short series of dots from the dorsum. The apex of the fore-wing is very blunt, and the termen is slightly hollowed out towards the tornus;the termen of the hind-wings is deeply scalloped.

This species is extremely variable. In addition to the variations above indicated, the markings of many specimens differ considerably in intensity, and there are frequently several large cream-coloured blotches towards the base or middle of the forewings.

The perfect insect appears from September till March, but is not a common species. It frequents forest districts, and may sometimes be found at rest on tree-trunks, where the beautiful colouring of its fore-wings closely imitates that of certain lichens, and renders its detection in such situations extremely difficult. Unlike the insects included in the two preceding genera, this species closes its wings when at rest, the anterior pair alone being visible. These wings are not held flat, but are curiously folded longitudinally, and the end of the abdomen is also curled upwards. By slightly raising the insect above the level of the surrounding surface, this peculiar attitude considerably increases its resemblance to a lichen growing on the stem or branch of a tree. It will also be observed that in this species, which when at rest exposes only its fore-wings, these alone are protectively coloured; whilst in the generaChloroclystisandPhrissogonus, where both pairs of wings are displayed, both pairs are protectively coloured.

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