246 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Art. XXI. — On some Neiv Species of Lepidoptera (Moths) 



from Southland. 



By Alfred Philpott. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 18th November, 



1902.] 



Plate XXXII. 

 Melanchra g-randiosa, n. sp. Plate XXXII., fig. 1. 



$ , 44 mm. Antennae and legs brownish-ochreous. Palpi 

 brown, terminal joint ochreous. Face greyish. Thorax bright 

 orange-brown, between paiagia brownish-yellow ; slight an- 

 terior and strong double posterior crest. Abdomen dull- 

 brownish, anal segment tipped with pale-yellow. Fore wings 

 slightly sinuate on costa, apex subacute, termen crenulate, 

 purplish-brown, base suffused with ochreous. An indistinct 

 pale irregular line near base ; a small elongate yellow spot 

 above middle at about -J ; an ochreous patch below middle 

 from base to i ; below this a broad elbowed black line to J ; 

 dorsum broadly suffused with pale-ochreous ; an irregular 

 V-sbaped pale purplish-brown line from near costa at about 

 4;, shortly bent towards base, thence obliquely to near dorsum 

 at -|, again slanting upwards to reniform ; space within V- 

 shaped line much darker. Near centre of wing, above 

 middle, a large bell-shaped ochreous blotch, the base towards 

 costa. Eeniform faintly outlined in pale purplish-grey. A 

 sharply defined oblique line from costa near apex to dorsum 

 at § , dentate near apex and broadly projecting below middle ; 

 beyond this line the colour is ochreous-brownish densely 

 irrorated with dark- brown. A waved subterminal line. Cilia 

 brownish-ochreous on termen, pale-ochreous on dorsum. 

 Hind wings dull brownish ; cilia brown, greyish towards 

 tornus. 



Perhaps the most handsome New Zealand species of the 

 genus yet described. It is not likely to be confused with any 

 other form. 



West Plains. Taken at " sugar " in May. Mr. George 

 Howes, of Iuvercargill, secured a male at about the same 

 time, but, as it was not in very good condition and diffets 

 very little from the female, I have described from the latter 

 sex. 



Melanchra exquisita, n. sp. Plate XXXII., fig. 2. 



3 , 32 mm. Head and palpi greenish ; tips of palpi and 

 outward surfaces blackish ; two linear black marks on crown 

 of head. Antennae brownish, shortly bipectinated. Legs 





