26 NEW ZEALAND MACBO-LEPTDOPTEBA. 



of the fore-wings, which occasionally cause the pale ground colour to form tooth-like 

 projections. It also varies a little in the intensity of the other markings, and in the 

 depth of the ground colour. 



The moth appears in January and February, and is attracted by light. I have taken 

 it in some abundance on the Tableland of Mount Arthur, at an altitude of 3,500 feet 

 above the sea-level. 



MELANCHEA LIGNANA, Walk. 



(TIalena liijnana, Walk., Noct. 758. ? Xyhphasia morosa, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii. 543. Mamestra lignana, 



Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 26.) 



(Plate V., fig. 19 S .) 



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

 South Island it has occurred at Mount Hutt. 



The expansion of the wings is \\ inches. The fore-wings are greyish-cream-colour, slightly paler 

 on the costa. There are two very distinct blackish transverse marks on the. costa near the base, and 

 two others at about one-third ; the stigmata are all sharply and finely outlined in black ; the orbicular 

 is oval, the claviform triangular, the reniform large and oblong, containing a smaller black-edged mark 

 in its centre, and a blackish blotch towards its lower margin; beyond the reniform there is a faint 

 jagged transverse line ; there are two dark patches on the termen, the pale ground colour forming two 

 sharp tooth-like markings slightly below the middle; the termen itself is slightly indented, and the 

 cilia are dark brown. The hind-wings are dark grey with the cilia white. 



Some specimens of this insect are slightly darker than others, but in other respects 

 there are no important variations. 



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

 to light, and is often taken at rest on trees and fences in the daytime. 



MELANCHEA CCELENO, n. sp. 

 (Plate IV., fig. 39.) 



This interesting species has been taken at Wellington by Messrs. Hawthorne 

 and Norris. 



The expansion of the wings is If inches. The fore-wings are very pale brownish-cream-colour ; 

 there is a large irregular dark brown patch on the dorsum from about one-eighth to about two-thirds, 

 another smaller patch at the tornus, and another still smaller on the termen a little above the middle ; 

 there are two very obscure transverse lines ; the orhicular is finely outlined in brown ; the reniform 

 contains two very dark brown dots, and is rather strongly outlined in brown towards the base. The 

 hind-wings are dark grey. The cilia of all the wings are grey with a paler line. 



The perfect insect appears in November. 



MELANCHEA USTISTEIGA, Walk. 



(Xylina ustistriga, Walk., Noct. 630. X. lignisecta, ib., 631. Mamestra ustistriga, Meyr., Trans. 



N. Z. Inst. xix. 26.) 



(Plate V., fig. 20 $ , '20a ? .) 



This beautiful insect has occurred commonly at Wellington in the North Island, 



and in the South Island, at Blenheim, Cbristchurch, and Lake Coleridge. 



The expansion of the wings is about If inches. The fore-wings, head, and thorax are pinkish- 

 grey in the male, pale grey in female ; the orbicular spot is rather large, nearly round, finely outline// 

 in black ; the reniform is very large, margined with black towards the base of the wing, and usually 

 touching the orbicular spot or connected with it by a short black line ; the claviform is triangular, also 

 black margined ; there is a cloudy oblique line below the reniform, and an irregular line between the 

 reniform and the termen. The hind-wings and abdomen are pale pinkish-grey in male, dull grey in 

 Eemale ; the cilia are white with a cloudy line. 



