10 NEW ZEALAND MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 



In some specimens the fore-wings are quite destitute of markings, whilst in others 

 the ground colouring varies considerably, and is occasionally dull brown instead of 



gray- 



The larva is very stout, bright yellowish-brown, considerably paler on the under surface ; 

 the dorsal line is faintly indicated, the subdorsal and lateral lines are dull brown, with a chain 

 of elongate white spots beneath each ; the spiracles and dorsal surface of the posterior segments 

 are black ; there are also numerous white dots all over the larva. 



This caterpillar feeds on spear-grass {Aciphylla squarrosa), and only a single 

 individual inhabits each clump. It devours the soft, central portions of the tussock, 

 and its presence can generally be detected by a quantity of pale brown " frass," or 

 discoloration, which is generally visible near the bases of the leaves. Owing to the 

 formidable array of spines presented by the spear-grass, this larva can have but few 

 enemies. The presence of these spines makes the insect a difficult one to obtain 

 without special apparatus. A sharp pair of strong scissors, however, will enable the 

 collector to cut off a sufficient number of the "spears" to allow of the insertion of 

 a small trowel or hatchet under the root. The plant can then be lifted out of the 

 ground, and the larva afterwards carefully extracted from its burrow in the stem. 

 These larvae are full grown about the end of May, which is consequently the best time 

 to obtain them for rearing. The pupa is enclosed in an earthen cell amongst the 

 roots of the spear-grass. The moth appears in November, December, January, 

 February, and March. It is sometimes attracted by light. I have found it 

 commonly on the Tableland of Mount Arthur at elevations of from 3,500 to 4,000 

 feet above the sea-level, where its food-plant also flourishes. 



LEUCANIA PUEDII, Frdy. 

 (Leucania purdii, Frdy., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xv. 195 ; Meyr., ib. xix. 8.) 

 ' (Plate IV., fig. 11.) 

 This fine species was discovered at Dunedin by Mr. Purclie. A single specimen 

 has also been taken at Wellington. 



The expansion of the wings is from 2} to '1\ inches. The fore-icing* are brownish-crimson ; 

 there arc two broad, shaded, yellow, longitudinal streak.': above and below the middle; the costa 

 is margined with yellow near the base, and the dorsum is yellow throughout its entire length ; 

 the cilia are deep orange. The hind-wings are dark grey, and the cilia yellow. 

 The perfect insect appears in December. 



Described and figured from specimens in the collections of Messrs. Feredav and 

 Hawthorne. 



LEUCANIA ATRISTRIGA, Walk. 

 {Xylina atristriga, Walk., Suppl. 756. Mamestra antipoda, Feld., Beis. Nov., pi. cix. 23. Leucania 

 atristriga, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 8.) 

 (Plate IV., fig. 12.) 

 This smart-looking species is very common in the North Island in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Wellington, in the South Island it has occurred abundantly at Nelson, 

 Christchurch, Lake Coleridge, and Dunedin. 



The expansion of the wings is about U inches. The fore-wings are rich reddish-brown ; 

 there is a broad bluish-grey longitudinal streak on the casta, reaching nearly to the apex, and 

 a very broad, pale brown, longitudinal shading on the dorsum ; then 1 is a conspicuous longitudinal 

 black strip: in the middle of tin wing from the base to one-third, the orbicular, reniform, and claviform 

 spots are bluish-grey, edged with black, the transverse lines are very indistinct ; the cilia are 

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



