108 NEW ZEALAND MACBO-LEPTDOPTEBA. 



South Island I believe I once saw a specimen at Nelson, but beyond that I can find no 

 record of its occurrence there. 



The expansion of the wings is about '2 inches. The fore-wings are black, becoming reddish-brown 

 speckled with gold towards the base ; there is a very broad yellmo band nearly across the middle, and 

 one yellow and tiro white spots near the apex. The hind-wings are rich reddish-brown, broadly 

 bordered with black, especially towards the costa; there are four small black spots with blue centres 

 near the termen, and a blue stripe bordered with black at the tornus. The under surface closelj 

 resembles that of Vanessa gonerilla, except thai the red patch mi the fore-wings is replaced by pale 

 yellow, ami the markings mi the hind-wings are more sharply defined. 



The perfect insect appears from January till April, hibernated specimens occurring in 

 the spring. It is very fond of selecting a perch on the top of a hill, and often engages in 

 violent encounters with Vanessa gonerilla. During the contest both insects course round 

 each other with great rapidity, and generally ascend to a considerable elevation. They 

 almost invariably return to their former resting-places. This is a fortunate habit for the 

 collector, as it frequently enables him to ultimately capture a specimen, which he has 

 almost touched with the net on several previous occasions. I have noticed this propensity 

 to return to a favourite perch in the European species of the genus Vanessa, so that it is 

 most likely a congenital habit, probably of great antiquity. 



This insect has a fine appearance when flying ; the large yellow spots on the fore- 

 wings are then very conspicuous, and ensure its immediate and certain recognition. 



VANESSA CAEDUI, L. 



{Vanessa cardui, L. Cynthia kershawii, McCoy, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist, iv., vol. i. p. 76 (1868). 



Pyrameis cardui, var. P. kershaivii, Butler, Erebus and Terror Lep., p. 29 (1874).) 



(Plate XII., fig. 1, 2 under side.) 



This elegant butterfly occurs throughout both islands, but is very irregular in its 



appearance. In some years it is quite abundant, whilst in others scarcely a specimen will 



be seen. During the summer of 1889-1890 it was extremely plentiful in the Wellington 



district, being at that time much commoner than Vanessa gonerilla, but its appearance in 



such large numbers as this was, I think, very exceptional. 



The expansion of the wines varies from 2 to 2£ inches. Above, all the wings are orange-red, 

 spotted and mottled with black. The fore-wines are bronzy towards the base ; in the black apex there 

 are Jin white spots. Near tile termen of the hind-wings three of the black spots have blue centres. 

 On the under side of the fore-wings the markings are very similar to those on the upper side, except 

 that there are several additional while blotches, and the orange-red ground colour has a rosy blush 

 towards the base. The hind-wings arc very beautifully mottled with an elaborate series of pale brown, 

 purplish-grey, yellowish-brown, and white markings; three of the large spots near the termen have 

 pale blue centres. 



I have not yet met with the larva of this insect, neither can I find any record of its 

 having been observed in New Zealand. The following description by Mr. Stainton is 

 taken from a European specimen : ° " The spiny larva is brown with two dorsal and two 

 lateral yellow lines; on the third, fourth, and twelfth segments there are four spines ; on 

 the fifth to eleventh segments seven spines, and on the thirteenth two spines ; it feeds 

 solitarily in rolled thistle-leaves." 



The perfect insect appears in January, February, March and April, hibernated 

 specimens occurring from August until December. It is a much more wary butterfly than 

 either Vanessa gonerilla or V. ilea, and can seldom be captured after it has once been 



• British Butterflies and Moths,' p. L03. 



