36 Transactions. 



Art. X. — Lepidoptera oj Auckland and the King-country. 

 By Charles E. Clarke. 



{Read before the Otago Inditute, 9th December, 1919 ; received by Editor. 314 December, 



1919 : issued separately, ItJi June, 1920.] 



During tlie month of January, 1919, I made a collecting tour along the 

 Main Trunk Railway from Wellington to Auckland, returning via Rotorua, 

 Tokaanu, and Waimarino. I collected at various other localities en route — 

 Swanson, Wairakei, Waitonio, Raurimu, Erua, Ohakune, Waiouru, the Hot 

 Lakes district, and the lower slopes of Mount Ruapehu from Rangataua, 

 all being included. I had originally intended climbing to the subalpine 

 of Mount Ruapehu, but was deterred by stormy weather, which decided 

 me to proceed to the Auckland District for a few days in search of a better 

 climate. I there experienced good weather and collected at Kauri Gully 

 and in the Auckland Domain, and also ascended the Waitakere Ranges 

 from Henderson and Swanson. The best collecting of the trip, however, 

 was made on my return journey while camping at Waimarino and Erua 

 at an altitude of about 2,600 ft. From Erua I ascended Mount Hauhaunga- 

 tahi by the track, but owing to the cloud-banks enveloping the higher 

 country I was able to collect during my visit only to a height of about 

 3,500 ft. 



The following Ust contains only such species as I actually took in good 

 condition on_my somewhat hurried journey : — 



Vanessa gonerilla Fabr. A few at Kauri Gully. 



Lijcaena oxleyi Murray. Very common at Auckland and at the foot of the 



Waitakere Ranges. 

 Chrysojjhanus holdenarum White. Very common on the Waimarino Plateau. 

 Nyctemera ammlata Boisd. Generally common. 

 Heliothis armigera Hiibn. Plentiful in Auckland Domain ; also netted at 



Rotorua. 

 Euxoa adwirationis Guen. Several at Rotorua on Veronica blossom. 

 Agrotis ypsilon Rott. At sugar, Waimarino. 



Graphiphora compta Walk. Three netted in the Auckland Domain. 

 Leucania sulcana Fer. Several at Waitakere. 

 — ■ — semivittata Walk. Two specimens at Rangataua. 



phaula Meyr. A few at sugar on the Mangaehuehu Stream, near 



Rangataua. 

 Aletia moderata Walk. One at Waitomo. 

 — — unipuncta Hew. Several in the Auckland Domain. 

 Dipaustica epiastra Meyr. One at Waimarino and one at Rangataua. 

 Persectania disjungens Walk. Some fine specimens were taken at Waimarino. 



sleropastis Meyr. Two at sugar on the Mangaehuehu Stream. 



' — — composita Guen. Several at Auckland. 



atristriga Walk. Common at Auckland and Rotorua. 



Erana graminosa Walk. Two only at Waimarino. 



Melanchra exquisita Philp. One v^ry fine specimen taken at the electric 

 light of Waitomo Hotel. 



plena Walk. A few at Waimarino. 



