THE LEPIDOPTERA. 69 



Wairarapa is one of the best localities I know of for this 

 curious little species. 



Family Lyclenid^e. 

 Lycama phccbe. 

 This is the common blue butterfly of New Zealand, 

 which may be observed in great numbers along the road- 

 side on a hot summer's day. Its larva must be very 

 abundant, but has hitherto escaped attention, owing, pro- 

 bably, to its small size. The perfect insect is on the wing 

 from October till May. 



Group HETEROCERA. 

 Family Sphingid^e. 

 This family is represented in New Zealand by the 

 splendid Sphinx convohuli, an insect I am at present 

 unacquainted with. 



Family Hepialim:. 

 Porina signata (Plate IX., fig. 2). 

 Common throughout the summer, when it may be taken 

 in great numbers round lighted windows during any mild 

 evening. The larva is as yet unknown, but is in all pro- 

 bability subterranean in its habits, and feeds on the roots of 

 plants. A large Hepialns larva I once discovered under a 

 stone, whilst looking for Coleoptera, was very likely refer- 

 able to this insect, but as it unfortunately died shortly 

 afterwards it is impossible to speak with any degree of 

 certainty at present. Two closely allied species are P. 

 umbraculata, and P. cervinata. The former is rather 

 smaller than P. signata and of a more uniform brown, 

 with a white stripe in the centre of each fore-wing, sur- 

 rounded with darker colouring. The latter is one of the 

 smallest of the family, its size at once distinguishing it 



