TV— THE PAPILIONTNA. 109 



disturbed, although it will often return to the same spot several times in succession. In 

 fact, owing to its extreme timidity, its capture is generally attended with some difficulty. 



This insect is found almost throughout the entire world. In specimens from the 

 Northern Hemisphere the black spots on the hind-wings have no blue centres, and the 

 butterflies are a little larger than those found in the Southern Hemisphere, otherwise the 

 two insects are exactly alike. The southern form has been called 1". Jcershawii by several 

 writers, but the differences do not appear to me to be sufficiently important to merit a 

 distinct specific name, especially as both forms occur together in South Africa. 



This insect has frequently been observed at various places on the European Continent 

 migrating in vast swarms; and it seems probable that its strong migratory instinct may 

 have led to its enormously wide range at the present time. 



Genus 3.— JUNONIA. 



" Eyes glabrous. Club of an tennse abrupt. Fore-wings, with vein LO separate. Hind-wings 

 uitli transverse vein, absent between veins 4 and •">." (Meyriek.) 

 We have one species in New Zealand. 



•II 'NOMA VELLEDA. 

 (Plate XI., fig. L6, fig. 17 under side.) 



This butterfly was very common in the neighbourhood of Wellington during the 

 summer of 1886-87. To the best of my knowledge the insect had not previously been 

 observed in New Zealand, but I understand from Mr. It. Holloway that he has since met 

 with it on the sea-coast near Xew Plymouth, in L893, and at Motueka in 1898. 



The expansion of the wings is nearly -2 inches. On the upper side all the wings are dull blackish- 

 brown, with greenish or bronzy reflections. The fore-wings have t\v<> broad orange-brown stripes on 

 the costa, and a very large patch of tin same colour along the termen, containing a large black spot 

 with a bluish-white centre : there an- three irregular whitish marks near the apex of tin- wane. an( J ;l 

 minute blue-centred ocellus. The hind-wings have tir<> eery large orange-brown spots almost touching 

 each other near the termen ; each of these contains a large blue-centred ocellus in the middle ; there are 

 also two terminal rows of In-own crescent-shaped markings. Underneath, the markings of the fore- 

 wings resemble tla.se of the upper sale, hut they are very much paler, ami the ground colour is light 

 brown. The hind-wmes are pale brown, with a wavy black line across the middle, followed h\ 

 a. brown shading towards the termen; there are also hair small round black spots and a series of 

 irregular black dots near the termen. 



The perfect insect occurred very plentifully in December, January and February, 

 and was fond of settling on barren, stony places in the hot sunshine. It was very timid 

 and difficult to catch, darting off with great rapidity when approached. During the 

 season I managed to secure about nine specimens, some of them in very good condition. 

 I am unable to explain the sudden appearance of this butterfly in Xew Zealand during 

 the above-mentioned year. The large numbers, which wen- observed over extended areas, 

 almost seem to forbid its accidental importation from Australia, whilst the distance of 

 Xew Zealand from that continent would render immigration a most unlikely circumstance. 

 On the other hand, if the insect is a regular inhabitant of this country, it is strange that 

 it had never before been observed. When on the wing, its superficial resemblance to 

 Vanessa cardtii may have led to its having been overlooked, and hence it is very 

 desirable that entomologists should use every effort to detect it in the future. 



According to Mr. Olliff, this butterfly litis a very wide geographical range, being 



