334 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Art. XXX. — Notes on the Entomology of Mount Holdsworth. 



Tararua Range. 



By G. V. Hudson, F.E.S. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 1st June, 1904.] 

 During the middle ot February of this year I spent, in company 

 with my wife, a fortnight in the vicinity of Mount Holdsworth. 

 The object of this and two previous expeditions undertaken by 

 me was to investigate the insect fauna of this well-known range 

 of mountains ; and, although the results at present arrived at 

 cannot be regarded as complete, it is perhaps desirable that they 

 should be placed on record, more especially as, so far as I am 

 aware, the Tararuas have not yet been visited by other ento- 

 mologists. 



The Tararua Range is, of course, very familiar to all residents 

 in Wellington, its snow-capped summits, which close in the head 

 of the Hutt Valley, being a most beautiful and conspicuous feature 

 in the landscape in winter-time. These peaks constitute the 

 southern portion of the range, and Mount Holdsworth, which is 

 situated further to the north, is hidden by them. The range is 

 best approached from the other side — i.e., from the Wairarapa — 

 and intending visitors should take the early train to either Carter- 

 ton or Masterton, and thence proceed by trap to the junction of 

 the Waingawa and Mangatariri Rivers. From this point there 

 is a fair road for about four miles up the latter river, and a good 

 camping-ground may be found at the termination of the road. 

 To adequately explore the mountain it is necessary to make a 

 permanent camp here, so that suitable weather may be selected 

 for the ascent, as the summit of the mountain is nearly always 

 enveloped in cloud. This is no doubt due to the fact that this 

 range is situated in the centre of the southern portion of the 

 North Island, and, being the highest land in the neighbourhood, 

 attracts large quantities of cloud whenever there is the slightest 

 atmospheric disturbance. In fact, much cloud is attracted with 

 any wind, either north-west or south-east. For entomological or 

 viewing purposes, the mountain should not be attempted except 

 during the passage of the crest of an anti-cyclone — i.e., when the 

 barometer is at its highest at the termination of a southerly wind, 

 before the change to the north-w r est, the sky being, of course, 

 absolutely clear at the time. 



[ have dwelt at Borne length on the meteorological aspect of the 

 question, as it is a most important one. In fact, on two previous 

 visits which I made to this locality, both a week in duration, I was 

 unable to ascend the mountain, and the expeditions were almost 

 fruitless in result, owing to unfavourable weather conditions. 



