172 Transactions. — Zoology. 



moth blended admirably with the rough surface of the rock, 

 and were protective in a high degree. 



M. rubescens. 



Not common. An occasional specimen comes to " sugar." 

 There appears to be an autumn brood only, as I have only met 

 with the moth from about the end of January to the beginning 

 of April. West Plains. 



M. cceleno. 



Mr. George Howes took two examples of this moth at 

 "West Plains on the 21st October, one of which he very kindly 

 added to my collection. 



M. ustistriga. 



One of the earliest spring moths. My earliest record is 

 the 31st August. Daring September and October the moth is 

 extremely abundant, and comes freely to "sugar." A brood 

 which I reared emerged from the egg — which is hemi- 

 spherical,, ribbed, and pale greenish-yellow in colour — about 

 the 17th November ; the caterpillars began to spin up on the 

 1st January, and the imagines to appear on the 15th Feb- 

 ruary. In February and March the ragweed attracts a num- 

 ber of specimens, and the moth may be taken well on into 

 April. West Plains. 



M. prionistis. 



Not common. I have met with a few specimens at 

 " sugar " in October and April, and a few more at ivy-blossom 

 in May. West Plains. 



Dd. cucullina. 



Mr. Howes has several specimens of this moth, taken at 

 Waipori. 



(Erana graminosa.) 



I had a moth in my collection which was supposed to be 

 graminosa, but as the specimen was in very poor condition, 

 and as I have since lost sight of it altogether, I have placed 

 this species among the doubtful ones. 



Bityla defigurata. 



Not plentiful at any time. Good specimens may be 

 obtained from November to March, and, as the insect hyber- 

 nates in the imago state, worn examples may be taken during 

 the winter. These winter specimens appear to hybernate in 

 companies, as I have several times found from ten to twenty 

 specimens under the same piece of loose bark. The moth 

 frequents the flowers of the ragweed, and also comes to light 

 and "sugar." West Plains, Eimu, Orepuki. 



