47 



The history of this species is very interesting as it seems 

 to be a gall-producer, several species of Tortricidce are 

 known to breed in gaUs of other insects, but this little moth 

 is an independent animal ; it has been handed over to me 

 for description by Mr. Albert Miiller, the present Director 

 of the Zoological Gardens at Basle, having been received 

 by him from Mr. C. M. Wakefield of Christchurch. 



The following is an extract from the letter which accom- 

 panied the galls and specimens — • 



" Christchurch, New Zealand, 



" September 27th, 1873. 



" By this mail I am forwarding to you a little box, con- 

 taining a number of galls, which, I trust, will be interesting 

 to you. Amongst them you will find a glass tube, contain- 

 ing two moths and two ichneumons which were bred from 

 similar galls last year ; unfortunately, I forgot them until 

 it was too late, and they are, I fear, too much damaged for 

 you to describe from. The galls however contain larvaj, 

 which may perhaps live and be bred out on the voyage. 



" They are very abundant, and occur on a rather pretty 

 creeping plant of which I do not know the name. . . . 

 The galls in the box were only gathered last week." 



Unfortunately no moths were bred out on the voyage ; 

 the letter reached England Jan. 12th, 1873, and the pupje 

 in situ are evidently dead. 



The larva seems to feed upon the pith and causes the 

 stem to swell, so as to produce a fusiform gall ; it forms 

 a light silk coccoon within the centre of the swelling, the 

 frass being apparently gummed on to the thread ; the chry- 

 salis is of a bright mahogany colour and about 3i lines in 

 length. The large round hole through which the insect 

 escapes is evidently produced by the larva. 



The ichneumon Hy parasitic upon this species, belongs 

 to tlie genus Mesoleptiis* , it is more nearly allied to M. 

 atomator than to any other described species, but differs in 

 its more slender build, in having the scutellum and post- 

 scuteUum black like the remainder of the thorax ; the basal 

 two-thirds of the first segment of abdomen black ; the an- 

 tennae jet black and the entire insect darker in colour t ; 

 expanse of wings 5 J lines. I propose to name this little 

 species 3f. Mulleri. 



Genus 93. Batodes, Gue'nde. 



244. Batodes Jactatana. 



Batodes Jactatana, Walker, Lep. Ret. XXVIIL, p. 317, 

 n. 6 (1863). 



Auckland {Oxley) ; New Zealand {Colenso). Type. B.M. 



Genus 94. Tortrix, Treitschke. 



Eur. Schmett. Mil., p. 228 (1829). 



245. Tortrix? innotatana. 



Tortrix ? innotatana, Walker, Lep. Eet. XXVIIL, p. 333, 

 n. 61 (1863). 



* I have to thank Mr. F. Smith for referring me to the genus. 



Auckland (Oxley). 

 I am unable to decide whether or not the species is a true 

 Tortrix, as I have not seen the type. 



Genus 95. Sciaphila, Treitschke. 

 Eur. Schmett., Nil., p. 233 (1829). 



246. Sciaphila flexivittana. 



Sciaphila flexivittana. Walker, Lep. Het. XXVIIL, p. 

 353, n. 67 (1863). 



Auckland (Bolton). Type. B.M. 



247. Sciaphila transtrigana. 



Sciaphila transtrigana. Walker, Lep. Het. XXVIIL,/). 354, 

 n. 68 (1863). 



Auckland (Oxlen). Type. B.M. 



248. Sciaphila turbulentaka. 



Sciaphila turbulentana, Walker, Lep. Het. XXVIIL, p. 

 355, n. 69 (1863). 



Auckland (Oxley). Type. B.M. 



249. Sciaphila detritana. 



Sciaphila detritaua. Walker, Lep. Het. XXVIIL, p. 356, 

 n. 71 (1863). 



New Zealand (Bolton). Type. B.M. 



250. Sciaphila servilisana. 



Sciaphila servilisana. Walker, Lep. Het. XXVIIL, p. 356, 

 7!. 72 (1863). 



New Zealand (Bolton). T}'pe. B.M. 



251. Sciaphila isfimana. 

 Sciaphila infimana, Walker, Lep. Het. XXVIIL,^. 357, 

 n. 74 (1863), XXX., ^. 986 (1864). 



New Zealand (Bolton). Type. B.M. 



A small obscure species. 



252. Sciaphila saxana. 



Sciaphila saxana, Walker, Lep. Het. XXVIIL, p. 357, n 

 75 (1863). 



New Zealand (Bolton). T>i)e. B.M. 



Genus 96. Olindia, Guinea. 

 253. Olindia? vetustana. 

 Olindia ? vetustana. Walker, Lep. Het. XXVIIL, p. 358, 

 11. 4 (1863). 



New Zealand (Bolton). Type. B.M. 



A pretty white and brown species. 



t This may be due to the manner in which the specimens were killed. 



