IV.— THE PAPILI0N1NA. Ill 



rudimentary, and has no white central dot. On the under side there are no silver stripes 

 near the apex of the fore-wings, and only five or six silver stripes on the marginal portions 

 of the hind-wings (s^ Plate XL, figs. 3 and 7). At Kekerangu, on the " Chalk Range," 

 at an elevation of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet, a similar hut slightly larger form occurs. 

 On the Tableland of Mounl Arthur, Nelson district, 3,600 bo ±,600 feet above the sea- 

 level, the females are paler than in cither of the preceding forms, and the males darker, 

 so that the sexes arc well marked; hut there are no silvery stripes on the under side of 

 the apex of the fore-wings, and usually only five stripes on the marginal portions of the 

 hind-wings. Finally, in the Canterbury, Otago and Southland butterflies (southern 

 form), we have the large, very dark reddish-brown coloured male insect with large ocelli, 

 and the extremely pale yellow female with small ocelli, the two sexes here exhibiting the 

 greatest differentiation. On the under side, the male has several small silver stripes near 

 the apex of the fore-wings, and seven stripes on the marginal portions of the hind-wings. 

 (See Plate XL, figs. 1, 5, and 6.) In elevated situations in Canterbury, however, I have 

 taken a somewhat similar variety to that found on the Mount Arthur Tableland. I have 

 also taken similar forms on .Mount Robert near Lake Rotoiti, Nelson district, these 

 having, in addition, numerous white hairs on the wings near the body. 



Besides these extreme variations, which appear to he largely dependent on Local 

 conditions, great variability exists with respect to the number and size of the ocelli or 

 white-centred spots. In some specimens there are no ocelli on the hind-wings ; in others, 

 two, three, or four very minute ones, whilst others have all four very large. Occasionally 

 specimens have a minute ocellus below the large one on the fore-wings. Were it not for 

 the intermediate varieties, there would probably lie little hesitation in separating the 

 extreme forms of this insect into several distinct species ; hut as they are connected by 

 a host of intermediate forms, it is quite impossible even to divide them into varieties. 



In a paper communicated to the ' Entomologist' in February, 1889,° by Mr. W. W. 

 Smith, the author makes some interesting remarks on the variation of this butterfly, 

 as observed by him in Canterbury and Otago. After pointing out the great diversity 

 exhibited by different specimens in the depth of colouring, and in the number and size 

 of tlie ocelli, he states that in his opinion the greatest variation occurs during the summers 

 that succeed wet winters. In the year 1888 I had the opportunity of inspecting a most 

 interesting series of this insect, presented by Mr. Smith to the Wellington Museum. 

 They embraced specimens of very varied colouring, and included, amongst other remark- 

 able forms, a male, which was entirely destitute of all ocelli, both on the fore- and on the 

 hind-wings. Amongst these specimens, however, I did not see any resembling those 

 I have described from Nelson and Marlborough. This collection has, I regret to say, 

 since been disposed of by the Museum authorities, and cannot therefore be utilised by 

 New Zealand students. 



The larva of this insect feeds on the tussock grass (Poa austmlis). Its length, when 

 full grown, is about 1 inch. The top of the head is furnished with a Aery large process, 

 which projects forwards. The body is much attenuated towards the tail, which is bifid. 

 Tin' general colour is dull green, with a crimson line on each side and numerous alternate 

 lines of yellow and white. The legs and prolegs are very small. There are four wrinkles 

 on the posterior edges of each segment. 



' ' Entomologist,' xxii. 37. 



