II.— THE NOTODONTINA. 49 



the clearings at the foot of the Tararua Range. According to Mr. Meyrick the typical 

 form is common in Tasmania and Victoria. 



HYDRIOMENA TEIPHRAGMA, Meyr. 

 (Cidaria triphragma, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 74.) 



"Male. — 26-27 mm. (about 1 inch). Fore-wings moderate, termen strongly sinuate; pale 

 dull greyish-purple; a very small darker basal patch, outer edge strongly convex, margined by a dark 

 fuscous fascia, posteriorly whitish-edged ; a dark fuscous fascia before one-third, irregularly outwards- 

 curved, posteriorly suffused, anteriorly sharply defined and whitish-edged; a minute blackish discal 

 dot; a dark fuscous fascia beyond middle, forming a strong angle in middle, upper and lower halves 

 both inwards-curved, anteriorly suffused, posteriorly sharply defined and whitish-edged. Hind-wings 

 moderate, termen somewhat irregular, projecting in middle ; wbitish-ochreous mixed with pale 

 purplish ; an angulated darker band before middle. 



" A very distinct species, probably not variable. 



" Blenheim ; two specimens received by Mr. Fereday from Mr. Skellon." — (Meyrick). 



T am unacquainted with this species, which Mr. Fereday stated he was unable to 

 identify. I have therefore inserted Mr. Meyriek's description without alteration. 



HYDRIOMENA RIXATA, Feld. 

 Cidaria rixata, Feld. cxxxii. 1 ; Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 75. Coremia squalida, Butl., Cist. 



Ent. ii. 505.) 

 (Plate VII., fig. 11.) 

 This pretty insect is very common, and generally distributed throughout the 

 country. 



The expansion of the w T ings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings have a dull green patch near the 

 base, with numerous dull brown and dull white wavy transverse lines ; there is a very broad blackish- 

 brown central band paler in the middle, but almost black at the edges; this band has a large rounded 

 projection on its outer edge near the middle, and below this projection it is deeply indented ; the 

 remainder of the wing is dull yellowish-green, with several brown and white transverse lines; one of 

 the white lines is more conspicuous than the rest and very wavy ; there is a shaded oblique black 

 mark from the apex. The hind-wings are very pale yellowish-brown ; there are a few obscure 

 brownish transverse lines near the dorsum, and a faint series of crescentic marks near the termen. 



The perfect insect appears in December and January, and frequents the over- 

 hanging banks of streams in densely wooded ravines, where it often occurs in the 

 utmost profusion. 



HYDRIOMENA PURPURIFERA, Fereday. 

 (Cidaria purpurifera, Fereday, Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 119 ; Meyr., ib. 75.) 

 (Plate VIE, fig. 12.) 

 This extremely pretty insect has been taken in the South Island at Mount Arthur, 

 Mount Hutt, Castle Hill, Dunedin, and Lake Wakatipu. 



The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings are rather bright green ; there is 

 a darker area near the base, a very broad purplish-brown central baud, with a large square projection 

 on the middle of its outer edge ; above this projection there is a very conspicuous white mark, bordering 

 the central band ; the remainder of the wing is green ; there is a wavy white line near the termen, and 

 an oblique bluish-black mark near the apex. The hind-wings are pale brownish-yellow. 



This species is closely allied to Hydrio?nena rixata, but easily distinguished by its 

 brighter green colouring, purplish central band with square projection, and broad white 

 marking beyond the central band. 



The perfect insect appears in December and January, and frequents forest at 

 elevations of from 1,000 to 3,000 feet. It is found in drier situations than the pre- 



7 



