Meyrick — On Sew Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera. 173 



almost directly beneath it cm told, and a third in di^c beyond 

 middle, all sometimes obsolete ; a cloudy curved-angulated line 

 from § of costa to inner margin before anal angle hardly darker, 

 preceded by a faint paler shade ; an interrupted obscure darker 

 hindmarginal line : cilia light ochreous-brownish, with two in- 

 distinct darker lines, tips ochreous-whitish. Hindwings rather 

 light grey ; cilia ochreous-whitish, with a cloudy grey line. 



The form of wings varies, being usually more oblong in the 

 female than in the male. 



Christchurch, Dunedin, and Lake Wakatipu ; rather com- 

 mon in December and January. 



PLUTELLID.E. 



Head tolerably smooth. Antennae in male simple or pube- 

 scent, sometimes scaled. Labial palpi recurved, pointed. Max- 

 illary palpi short or moderate, porrected. Forewings with vein 

 1 furcate, 7 and 8 separate (or in exotic genera sometimes 

 stalked), 7 usually to hindmargin, secondary cell and forked 

 pai ting-vein usually well-defined. Hindwings elongate- ovate or 

 ovate-lanceolate, veins 3 and 4 separate, 5 and 6, or 6 and 7, 

 usually separate, sometimes stalked. 



In all the three following genera the antennas are projected 

 directly in front of the head in repose. Plutella is probably a 

 northern genus, but one species at least, P. cruciferarum, is now 

 by the agency of man disseminated through the world ; the 

 other two New Zealand species, both new, occur also in Aus- 

 tralia, and will probably be found to be not indigenous in either 

 region, but introduced with the weeds of cultivation. The other 

 two genera are endemic, so far as known. Protosynama is 

 especially interesting, indicating in my opinion with certainty 

 the origin of Glyphiptetyx and its allies, whilst in structure clearly 

 referable here. The free-feeding larvae, tapering towards both 

 ends, and usually spindle-shaped cocoons of this family, are in 

 general easily recognisable by those familiar with them. I found 

 larva? ol one species of the family feeding on a species of Carex 

 in the mountains, but failed to rear them, as they were infested 

 with parasites. 



la. Second joint of palpi tufted . . . . . . 10. Plutella. 



lb. ,, ,, „ not tufted. 



2a. Antennas partially clothed with scales . . 8. Protosynama. 



2b. „ not thickened with scales . . 0. Orthenches. 



8. Protosynama, n. g. 



Head smooth ; ocelli present ; tongue well-developed. An- 

 tennae f , lower portion thickened with dense clothing of scales, 

 remainder in male with augularly projecting joints, pubescent- 

 ciliated, basal joint moderately elongate, stout, without pecten. 

 Labial palpi moderately long, recurved, with appressed scales, 



