A. P. BuLLEK. — On Anosia bolina in. Wellington. 39 



It has been thought by some to be an introduction into 

 this colony from the South Sea Islands, but I think this 

 theory can scarcely hold good, for at the time the Rev. Mr. 

 Taylo'r first makes mention of it — 1855 — there could have 

 been very little, if any, communication with the Fijis. 



On comparing the specimen with my Fijian series, I find 

 that it is appreciably larger than the island form, its measure- 

 ment from tip to tip being 3| in. Out of twenty male speci- 

 mens of the island form, the largest measures 3 J in. and the 

 smallest 2|in., the rest of them giving a fairly uniform 

 measurement of 2f in. to 3 in. I notice, also, that the buff- 

 coloured bar on the under-surface of the secondary wings is 

 considerably broader, and the small pale-blue ocellated spots 

 on the under-surface of the primaries somewhat larger, than 

 in its Fijian congener. I should think it is quite entitled to 

 rank as a distinct race of the species, and to take its place 

 accordingly in our list of RJwpalocera. 



Since writing the above I have been fortunate enough to 

 add two more specimens of Anosia bolina to my collection. 

 They were both taken by Mr. J. B. Mackenzie, in the Nelson 

 Province : one — a battered male — was taken on the wing, 

 after a long chase, at Motueka, early in February of this 

 year ; and the other, a female, at Kaitiritiri, near Motueka, 

 towards the end of April. He tells me that he found the 

 latter fluttering feebly at the foot of a high cliff, having 

 apparently been beaten down by the wind. 



One— "a male — has recently been taken at Picton by Mr. 

 F. W. Andrews, and presented by him to the Colonial Museum. 

 On comparing it with mine I find that it almost corresponds 

 as to measurement, being only a shade smaller. This rather 

 goes to show that the local capture is not of abnormal mea- 

 surement, and it indicates a persistence as to size in the New 

 Zealand form as compared with that from the South Sea 

 Islands. I should state, however, that the male taken by 

 Mr. Mackenzie is somewhat smaller than the Ohau and Picton 

 examples, though noticeably larger than any in my Fijian 

 collection. The female taken by him measures 4 in. from tip 

 to tip, and is most vivid in colour. 



Mr. G. V. Hudson tells me that solitary specimens, ranging 

 over a period of twenty years, have been taken in Auckland, 

 Napier, Nelson, Wakapuaka, and Collingwood, and one seen 

 in Christchurch. So far it would appear, from recorded 

 captures, that it principally occurs in the northern portion 

 of the South Island, although at all times a rare butterfly. 



