194 T)-ansacticns. — Zoology. 



The ? has wider iiervui-es, aod is destitute of the black 

 mbercxilous spot on the secondaries. 

 Expanse of wings, l^in. 



I have also to exhibit two fine specimens of a moth, which 

 Mr. Hudson identifies as Sphinx convolvuU. They were ca,p- 

 tui-ed in Nelson during the past week. Mr. Meyrick, in vol. 

 xxii. of the Transactions, describes it, and mentions it as being 

 found in Taranaki and Napier, and that the larvaa feed upon 

 the wild con vol villi of the sea-shore. 



From a description of the larva, I should say it is identical 

 with the one that I am informed has been seen for several 

 years feeding on the convoh*uh in Blind Bay distiict. 



I also have to record the occurrence of the somewhat raie 

 and beautiful moth, Elvia glaucato, in Nelson, but, unfor- 

 tunately, my specimen was destroyed. Mr. Meyrick mentions 

 it as found in Christchiu'ch from December to February, but 

 I captured it early in the month of October. 



Art. XXIII. —0// Bat^ and Mice. 



By T.WLOE White. 



'Bead before the Uaicke's Bay Philosophical Iiistiinte, llth November, 



1890.'] 



Plate XXII. 



Owing to my pastoral occupation I have mostly lived on tlie 

 outskirts of cixnlisatiou, residing in districts formerly httle 

 known and sparsely populated. This was eminently favour- 

 able for the obser\-ation of the indigenous fauna, and of the 

 gradual sprea-1 of imported animals. In this paper I \\ill 

 endeavour to set before yon my experience on the subject of 

 rats and mice. 



Coming to the Province of Canterbury at the commence- 

 ment of the year 1855, 1 at once went into what is now known 

 as the Oxford district, and assisted in starting the Wan-en 

 Station. We had shipped a brace of pointers to use on shoot- 

 ing-exeui-sions after the New Zealand quail ; but even in those 

 early days quail were becoming very scarce in that part of the 

 country — possibly owing to bimiing off the native grasses 

 to cause green feed to spring. Having no game to work the 

 pointers to, they were utilised in hunting minor game — rats, 

 for instance. We would take a spade, and walk out on the 

 plains, which were like a great sea, whose limit was the hori- 

 zon, or, on the west, the apparently endless ranges of moun- 



