254 Transactions. — Zoology. 



as intermediate between C. daphnandrce, and these latter 

 species ; the further similarity in larval habits indicates very 

 close relationship, if not actual descent, of C. virescens from 

 the Queensland species G. daphnandrce. 



Further Notes. 



Hitherto my friend Mr. Blackmore Lane has accompanied 

 me at the proper season to search for G. virescens on the 

 Hokowhitu property of Mr. James Eitchie, near tbe banks 

 of the Manawatu Eiver, where Hoheria populnea (thousand- 

 jacket tree) grows in fair quantity ; it was possible, how- 

 ever, to get there only at intervals of sometimes a week. 

 This season, in addition to our joint visits, Mr. Eitchie 

 made constant and almost daily search at dusk, and when 

 successful brought his captures to me to prepare and set, 

 and a larger number than ever before have passed through 

 my hands. 



The first specimen, a female, was taken at light on the 6th 

 September, it having already deposited all excepting one of 

 its ova, and that proved infertde The weather being cold, 

 it was not until the 19th September that others were taken, 

 although repeated search was made. Subsequently the equi- 

 noctial gales were accompanied by frost, and none were seen 

 until the 29th September ; from this date they were taken 

 with more and more frequency, sometimes one or two speci- 

 mens only, sometimes many, until early in November. 



At first, and during the prevalence of a rigorous atmo- 

 sphere, a considerable number of crippled specimens were 

 found, whereas in previous seasons, with more genial tempera- 

 ture, it has been exceptional to find any such ; and to the same 

 cause we have no hesitation in referring buff-coloured speci- 

 mens (mentioned by Mr. Hudson in his work on Macro-lepid- 

 optera), of which three males were taken on the 29th Sep- 

 tember, one being crippled. Two females of this form were 

 taken at a later date. 



We have not met with this aberration until the present 

 season, but that it is due to atmospheric conditions acting 

 on the developing imago in the pupa stage is strongly sug- 

 gested by a curious specimen having its superior wings sym- 

 metrically streaked with golden buff on the usual green 

 ground-colour. If atmospheric influence acted directly on 

 the imago at the time of emergence one would expect the 

 wings to be asymmetrically streaked. Is this coloration due 

 to retarded emergence, and consequent alteration in the 

 strength or nature of the pigment in the wing-scales? 



Other notable specimens were one albo-extretuus taken 

 on the 29th September, and three other albo-extremus on 

 the loth October. Male specimens were the most plentiful. 



