I.— THE CABADBININA. 27 



This insect varies slightly in size, especially in the female. The larva is dull 

 greyish-brown, with the subdorsal and lateral lines darker. It feeds on honeysuckle 

 during the summer months. 



The pupa state is spent in the earth. 



The moth is very irregular in its appearance. I have captured specimens in 

 January, February, March, April, July and September. It appears to pass the winter 

 in both the pupa and imago states. It is very partial to light, and in consequence often 

 enters houses. 



MELANCHEA PKIONISTIS, Meyr. 



(Mamestra prionistis, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 27.) 



(Plate V., fig. '21 <?.) 



This species is common at Wellington in the North Island. In the South Island 

 it has been taken at Rakaia. 



The expansion of the wings of the male is 1| inches, of the female 14 inches. The fore-wings 

 arc rather pale yellowish-brown, witli numerous irregular longitudinal grey streaks ; there are several 

 very obscure jagged transverse lines, and the stigmata are almost invisible ; a very broad blackish 

 longitudinal band is situated an the dorsum. The hind-wings are brownish-grey; the cilia are grey 

 tipped with white. The head and thorax are grey tinged with yellowish-brown ; there is a con- 

 spicuous blackish streak on each side of the thorax. 



In this species the dorsal band is often considerably paler, but otherwise there is 

 no variation. 



The perfect insect appears from November till April. It comes freely to sugar, and 

 occasionally to light. It is also sometimes met with at rest on trees in the daytime, 

 where its colouring is protective. I have noticed that this moth is much commoner 

 in some years than in others. 



MELANCHKA PHRICIAS, Meyr. 

 (Mamestra temperata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 27 (nee Walk.). Mamestra phricias, Meyr., ib., xx. 46.) 



(Plate V., fig. 22.) 



This species has occurred in the Manawatu district in the North Island. In the 

 South Island it has been found at Christchurch and Lake Coleridge. 



The expansion of the wings is about U inches. The fore-wings are pale silvery-grey ; there are 

 several obscure blackish marks near the base, two dark, shaded, transverse hands, one just before the 

 orbicular, and one between the orbicular and the reniform. : the orbicular is round, nearly white, with 

 a faint greyish ring in the middle ; the reniform is large, oblong, margined first with white and then 

 with black ; there is a series of black crescentic marks near the termen, and another smaller series on 

 the termen ; the cilia are dark grey. The hind-wings are dull brownish-grey, the cilia are grey tipped 

 with white. The terminal joint of the palpi is elongated. 



The perfect insect has been taken in December, February, March and June, and 

 is attracted by light. It is rather a rare species. 



MELANCHKA CUCULLINA, (in. 



(Xylocampa cucullina, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 40. Agrotis mitis, Butl., l'roc. Zool. Koc. Lond., 1877, 383, 



pi. xlii. 5. Mamestra cucullina, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 28.) 



(Plate V., fig. 23 $.) 



This species has occurred at Mount Arthur, and at Rakaia. 



The expansion of the wings is 1£ inches. The fore-wings arc bluish-grey, speckled and dappled 

 with blackish-brown ; there is a pale transverse line near the base, partially edged with black ; the 

 orbicular is round, containing a blackish dot in the middle ; the reniform is elongate-oval, including a 



