II.— THE NOTODONTINA. 79 



black, wavy, somewhat broken transverse line at about one-third, and another at about two-thirds, 

 enclosing a slightly darker central band, with a black dot above middle; there is also a darker 

 shading on the termen, and an obscure wavy paler line. The hind-wings are grey, with an 

 obscure wavy central line. 



Tht' perfect insect appears in January, February and March. It frequents dry, 

 open, sunny situations, generally alighting on paths or roads. It is also attracted by 

 light, 



Genus ±— THEOXENA, Meyr. 



" Palpi moderate, triangularly scaled, porrected. Antennae in male bi-ciliated with long tufts 

 of cilia (5). Fore-win^s with vein (3 from below 9, 7 from angle of areole, 10 out of 9 above 7, 

 11 anastomosing shortly with 9, 12 free, closely approximated to 11 on areole. Hind-wings with 

 veins and 7 from a point or short-stalked, 8 live, closely approximated to 7 from base to uear 

 transverse vein." — (Meyrick.) 



We have one species. 



THEOXENA SCISSAEIA, Gn. 



(Panagra scissaria, Gn., E. M. M. v. 43. Theoxena scissaria, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 56.) 

 (Plate VIII., fig. 41.) 



This delicate-looking species has occurred at Christchurch. 



The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. All the wings are white. The fore-wings have a 

 longitudinal, slightly curved black line, extending from a little beyond lli<- base, almost as far ax the 

 termen below the apex; above this line there is a black dot at about one-third; the apex of the 

 fore-wing is slightly hooked, and there is a row of minute black dots on the termen of both fore- 

 and hind-wings. 



The perfect insect appears in January. According to Mr. Fereday it frequents 

 the plains near Christchurch, and towards the foot of Mount Hutt. 



Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection. 



Family 4.— ORTHOSTIXID^E. 



" Hind-wings with vein 5 fully developed, rising from about middle of transverse vein, 8 

 connected with upper margin of cell by an oblique bar towards base." — (Meyrick.) (See Plate II., 

 figs. 46 and 47.) 



This small family is represented in New Zealand by a single genus only. The 

 peculiar oblique bar connecting vein 8 with the cell towards base, combined with 

 the development of vein 5, distinguish it from all other families. If there is any 

 chance of confusion with those forms of Hydriomenidce in which vein 8 is also 

 connected by a bar (though in them the bar is placed beyond and not before the 

 middle of cell), the absence of the characteristic areole of the Hydrioinenidce will 

 be a further test. 



Genus 1. -EPIRKANTHIS, Hb. 



"Face with appressed scales. Tongue developed. Palpi very short or moderate, porrected 

 or subascendine;, rough-scaled. Antennae in male evenly ciliated. Thorax rather hairy beneath. 

 Femora glabrous; posterior tibiae with all spurs present. Fore-wings with vein 10 anastomosing 

 with 9, 11 anastomosing with l'l and 10 before 9. Hind-wings with and 7 separate." 

 — (Meyrick.) (Plate II., figs. 46 and 47, neuration of Epirranthis alectoraria ; fig. 48, head 

 of ditto.) 



Represented in New Zealand by two species. 



