32 THE entomologist's record. 



versa, was of general application. With regard to this, Mr. 

 Smith now writes : — " The last three exceedingly hot and dry 

 seasons in succession in New Zealand, which have been more 

 severely felt on the plains of Canterbury, have been productive 

 of remarkable colour variation in some species of lepidoptera, 

 the variation in all cases developing in the form of much paler 

 colours. The variation of CJirysopJiamis boldenarum was recorded 

 by Mr. R. W. Fereday, of Christchurch, N.Z., twelve years ago, 

 who published two papers on "The Genus Chrysophanus in New 

 Zealand" {Transactions N. Z. Institute, vols. ix. and x.). Mr. 

 Fereday, in the papers referred to, figured the type of the 

 species together with several well-marked varieties, and gave 

 an interesting account at the time of the known habits of the 

 genus, in the same volume (x.). Mr. A. G. Butler published a 

 valuable paper on N. Z. Rhopalocera. Mr. Butler's paper 

 was also accompanied with figures and descriptions of both 

 sexes of all the known species. The figures given by Mr. 

 Butler, although smaller than the majority of specimens, are 

 typical of the species. Apart, however, from the types and 

 varieties figured by these gentlemen, there are many other 

 well-marked varieties occurring, besides a very striking and 

 general variation not equalled by any other species in the 

 genus. Although C. boldenarum is in ordinary seasons a very 

 variable species, it has never previously varied to the extent it 

 has done in the present season. I have already referred to its 

 variation in a melanic direction in humid seasons {Entom.y 

 xxii., 38). But last season, and more so in the present one, 

 the variation is in the opposite direction, several of the female 

 specimens exhibiting a decided tendency to gynandromor- 

 phism, and the males an abnormal arrangement and develop- 

 ment of paler colours. The cause of these phenomena is, I 

 think, easily understood. For three years there has been an 

 exceedingly light rainfall on the Canterbury plains, and that, 

 at long intervals, while the weather has been exceedingly hot 

 and dry, and was accompanied for several months this season 

 with hot north-west winds, the blighting effects of which are 

 well known and dreaded by the settlers. It would therefore 

 appear clear that the absence of moisture in all stages of 

 development during several generations of the species, is the 

 chief factor in developing the pale phase of variation. These 

 remarks apply with equal force to numerous other species of 

 both diurnal and nocturnal lepidoptera I have collected here 

 this season, as all species (some of course more than others) 



