KiNGSLEY. — On dome rare BultcrjUt's. V.iS 



Ou referring to Mr. Enys's Catalogue of the Butterflies of 

 New Zealand, I find there a coloured drawing and a reference 

 to it under the name of Danais archippus. It appears to have 

 been first recorded as a New Zealand insect by E. W. Fereday 

 in a paper printed in vol. vi. of the Transactions, and named 

 by him D. herenicc. 



In vol. xi. Mr. F. W. Sturui states he saw it in Hawke's 

 Bay in 1840 or ISil, and again in 1861. It would thus 

 appear to occur periodically at intervals of several years. 



Mr. G. V. Hudson has two specimens taken in 1879 and 

 two taken in 1881, but from inquiries made I can find no 

 evidence of their having been seen in Nelson since that date 

 until the present time,' And it is scarcely probable that so 

 large and prominent an insect could escape observation. 



This occasional appearance is a subject which deserves 

 investigation. There may be several surmises by ^^ay of 

 explanation, all more or less reasonable, and yet not satis- 

 factory because void of proof. It may be that their usual 

 habitat is "far from the haunts of jnen '" on some of the back 

 ranges or secluded mountain-gullies, from which a succession 

 of strong winds similar to those we have lately experienced 

 has driven them ; or, as is the case with some insects in 

 England, the larva may require some four or five years to 

 mature. 



Whatever may be the cause, it is well from time to time 

 to notice their presence, in order to assist in unravelling the 

 tangled web of their life-history. There is no description, as 

 far as I am aware, in the Transactions, but I have, through 

 the kindness of Mr. G. Y. Hudson, received the following copy 

 of BoisduvaFs description : — 



Danais plexippus, Linn. Danais archipjfus, D. bcrenice (in 

 Transactions), Anosia plexipims . 



The four wings somewhat sinuate, fulvous above, with a 

 rather brilliant reflection ; all the wings eutii-ely margined 

 with deep-black, having in fresh specimens a bluish reflection ; 

 nervures same colour. The summit of the primaries has three 

 oblong fulvous spots, preceded by eight or ten smaller white 

 or yellowish-white, extending to the middle of the upper edge, 

 two rows of wliite spots on the outer borders of all the wings ; 

 occasionally the inner row is ferruginous. The fourth nervure 

 of the secondaries has a large black spot or tubercle. The 

 under side presents the same markings as the upper, but the 

 points of the posterior edge are larger and all white. The 

 ground-colour of the secondaries is nankin-\ellow, with the 

 ner\T.ires slightlv bordered with whitish. The emargiuations of 

 all the wings white. Body black, with yellowish points on 

 the thorax and breast. 

 13 



