102 NEW ZEALAND MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 



Family l.-NYMPHALID^E. 



"Anterior legs in both sexes much reduced, useless for walking; posterior tibiae without 

 middle spurs. Fore-wings with veins 8 and 9 out of 7. Hind-wings with praecostal spur." 

 (Plate I., figs. 7 and 8.) 



" An extremely large family, mainly tropical. The species are of large or 

 moderate size, usually dark-coloured, with light or bright bands or rows of spots. 



"Ovum cylindrical or sub-conical, ribbed and often reticulated. Larva with 

 pairs of tentacles or more usually series of bristly spines. Pupa exposed, suspended 

 by the tail, often angular or with metallic spots." — (Meyrick.) (See Plate III., 

 figs. 1, 2, and 3 larva', '27, 31 and 32 pup*.) 



We have three genera represented in New Zealand : — 



1. Anosia. 2. Vanessa. 3. Junonia. 



Genus 1.— ANOSIA. 



" Eyes glabrous. Club of antennae elongate, gradual. Fore-wings with vein 10 separate. 

 Hind-wings with transverse vein present." (Plate I., fif, f s. 7 and 8, neuration of A. erippus.) 



" A genus of moderate extent, generally distributed within the tropics, with two 

 or three species ranging beyond them. Imago with termen of fore-wings sub- 

 concave. Larva with pairs of long tentacles. Both larva and imago are protected 

 by a strong nauseous scent, or taste, and are uneatable to birds." — (Meyrick.) 



We have two species in New Zealand. 



ANOSIA EKIPPUS, Cr. 

 (Papilio archippus, Fabricius, Spec. Ins., p. 55, n. 243 (1781). Danais archippus, Butler, Butterflies of 

 N. Z., Trans. N. Z. Inst. x. 265. Anosia plexippus, L.) 

 (Plate XL, fig. 1, fig. 2 under side; Plate IIP, fig. 3 larva, fig. 27 pupa. J 

 This handsome insect has occurred from time to time at various localities in 

 both the North and the South Islands, but does not appear to be generally common. 

 Particulars of the early captures of this butterfly are thus given by Mr. Enys ° : 

 "First recorded as a New Zealand insect by Mr. Fereday, in a paper read before 

 the Canterbury Institute, January 2, 187-1, and printed in vol. vi. of ' Transactions.' 

 Mr. Fereday received the butterfly from F. H. Meinertzhagen, of Hawkes Bay. Dr. 

 Hector also obtained it in Westland. It has also been caught near Auckland. In 

 vol. xi. of ' Transactions ' Mr. F. W. Sturm records that he first saw this insect, or 

 a closely allied one, at the Reinga, up the Wairoa River, Hawkes Bay, December, 

 1840, or January, 1841. In 1848 he captured a, number at the Waiau, a tributary 

 to that river. Again in 1861 he captured three on the Rangitikei River near Mr. 

 Birch's run. He also records other captures." From these records it will be seen 

 that the insect was observed as early as 1840, and it thus seems scarcely probable 

 that it was accidentally introduced by man, as Mr. Butler appears to suppose.! 

 Recently A. erippus has occurred many times in the neighbourhood of Cook's Straits. 

 In 1879 several specimens were bred from larvae found by Mr. C. W. Lee near 

 Wangaehu. In 1881 I captured two specimens near Nelson and saw three others. 

 In 1890 two specimens were taken by Mr. R. I. Kingsley, and in January of the 

 following year I captured two more, all near Nelson. During the autumn of 1892 



'Catalogue oi X. Z. Butterflies,' p. '21. | 'Trans. N. Z. Inst.' x. 265. 



