Philpott. — Catalogue of Southland Lepidoptera. 167 



are so lasting. If not in too exposed a situation the beer-and- 

 rum mixture will attract very well for a week, without fresh 

 material being laid. I have also tried condensed milk as a 

 base instead of treacle, but, though apparently equally attrac- 

 tive, it is much too sticky to be recommended. 



It is best to have two or three killing-bottles. One often 

 has to take more than one specimen from the same tree, and 

 if but one bottle is used it is probable that the first moth will 

 escape while the second is being secured. It is well also to 

 have a bottle or box to place the dead moths in, as they are 

 liable to be knocked about by the freshly taken specimens. 



The present season has, so far, been a poor one for 

 " sugaring." Though the weather has been for the most 

 part delightfully fine, chill easterly breezes have prevailed, 

 a condition of things fatal to the success of " sugaring " 

 operations. 



Art. XVII. — A Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Southland. 



By Alfred Philpott. 



Communicated by G. V. Hudson, F.E.S. 



[Read before'Jhe Wellington Philosophical Society, 16th October, 1900.] 



Nyctemcra annulata. 



Common everywhere. I have taken imagines from the 

 22nd September to the 4th June. Apparently full-fed larvae 

 are to be found in midwinter sheltering under logs and in 

 crevices. During summer these moths may be seen shortly 

 after daylight, often hovering about the foliage of tall trees. 

 My friend Mr. George Howes possesses a specimen with no 

 trace of the white spoc on the hind wings. 



Metacrias strategica. 



I have taken this moth in the larval stage at West Plains, 

 •Otatara, Morton Mains, and Waihopai. I have been suc- 

 cessful in rearing one male and several females. On the 

 19th November I obtained several larvae and pupae from 

 Waihopai ; from these some female moths emerged about the 

 25th November. From other larvae secured I got some more 

 female moths about the middle of January, and on the 

 13th February found small larvae again at Waihopai. On 

 the 25th February I found numerous larvae at Otatara, 

 varying in length from 2-J to 9 lines. On the 6th October 

 a full-fed larva was found at Morton Mains. The larvae at 

 Waihopai were found under the edges of logs lying on the 



