Cohen. — On Rare Lepidoptera in Wellington. 377 



belong to a stork. This long bill had more than one use. 

 When its ungainly owner leaned forward it was used as a 

 support, and was also used to bore in the ground for worms, 

 like our modern snipe. It is supposed to have become extinct 

 during the present century, but this is hardly a justifiable 

 supposition, since there is nothing in the traditions of the 

 native New-Zealanders that concerns this strange creature. 

 This fact leads to the more reasonable belief that the Aptcryx 

 perished off the face of the earth many centuries ago, perhaps 

 at the time of the subsidence into the sea of that portion of 

 the xlsiatic Continent of which New Zealand was a part. The 

 traditions of man do not extend back to this probable event." 



It would be difficult to imagine anything more bewildering 

 thaii the information imparted in these few lines ; but it is 

 only a specially egregious example of the blunders with which 

 compilations of this class abound. I quote it by way of 

 solemn warning against the showy compilations by hack 

 writers, which are worked off in large numbers on a confiding 

 public by the agents commonly known as " book-fiends." 



x\rt. XXXVI. — Notes on Rare Lepidoptera in Wellington. 

 By Walter P. Cohen. 



[Read before the Welluigton Philosophical Society, 17th July, lS9o.] 



I HAVE much pleasure in reporting the following Lepidoptera 

 as plentiful m Wellington during last season : — 



Ehopaloceka (Butterflies). 



Nothing very startling was taken last season, not having 

 even seen a solitary Vanessa itea. 



Porina enysii. 



One specimen, which flew into a town shop-window, at- 

 tracted by the light, during the month of January, and which 

 was presented to me. 



NOCTUINA. 



Matnestra stlpata. 



One specimen only, which was taken in December. 



Mamestra prionistis. 



One specimen only, which was taken in December. 



