] :20 Trdiisdcfions. 



very little iuseet-life to be noted. We Avere disappointed at this, as we were 

 looking forward to some interesting collecting on this saddle. 



The bad weather-conditions (cold, sharp nights) made the night collect- 

 ing poor round the hut. The ribbonwood (Plagianthus Li/nlli) was in full 

 bloom, and we got most of the moths round that, with lights. Declana 

 floccosa and Melanchra rubescens were very common, with an occasional 

 M. mutans. One very battered specimen of that beautiful and rare moth 

 Lrucnnia furdei was taken round the ribbonwood-blossom. Treacling 

 failed to produce anything, the blossom being too strong a counter- 

 attraction. We left Routeburn feeling that we had not heeii sufficiently 

 rewarded for our efforts. 



We left the Cold Lake District finally on the 20th February, and 

 returned to Invercargill district, with the hopes of getting good collecting 

 round the ragwort and Canadian thistle that infest the locality. 



Wallacetown, Orepuki, Moeraki. and Rangitata were visited without 

 much result. 



Castle Hill, on the old ^\'est Coast Road, was next visited, in the hopes 

 that we might be able to find forms recorded by Enys many years ago. 

 Erehia pluto is said to occur on the ranges in the vicinity of Mount Torlesse ; 

 but, whether the weather Avas too bad or the butterflies Avere over for the 

 season, Ave Avere unsuccessful. 



Finally aa'c were ordered to Nelson, Avith instructions to work the Dun 

 Mountain thoroughly. The Aveather and the lateness of the season com- 

 bined to make our trip unprofitable. Apart from a feAv of the special form 

 of Argi/ropkencjn from the Dun Mountain, one Dodonidia hchnsi and a feAV 

 Xoctuac obtained round Nelson, we did not get anything Avorth recording. 

 This is unfortiuiate, as Nelson is a good locality for collecting, as is evi- 

 denced by the good local collections of Lepidoptcnt that are to be seen. 



We left Nelson on the 29th March, and concluded operations for the 

 season 1908-9. 



It is a Avell-established fact that this season Avas an unusually bad one, 

 regarded from an entomologist's point of vicAv. Not only in the South 

 Island did Ave have the bad AA'eather, continuous reports from collectors in 

 the North told of equally bad AA^eather in their districts, and Ave must be 

 thankful that Ave did so well while the fine weather lasted. Without a 

 doubt MacetoAvn was the most productive numerically, but I doubt if the 

 .series of Physetica caerulea obtained from Waipori was not more interesting. 

 The AA'onderful A-ariation in the same species, and the gradation from one 

 marking to another, makes this series especially valuable. 



The practice of taking all moths in good condition from every locality 

 tends to show that some forms are most variable, and in others it is 

 impossible to detect any variation. 



It is hoped that our modest endeaA'ours to record entomological facts 

 will be appreciated, and AA-e are deeply thankfid to the Dominion Museum 

 Department for the opportunity of doing so. Our knoAvledge of the Ncav 

 Zealand Lepidoplera must necessarily be incomplete until a large amount 

 of collecting and recording is done. 



B. Season 1909-10. 



The foUoAving notes and observations Avere made by the Avriter during the 

 season 1909 -10— from the 26th November. 1909, to the 25th March. 1910— he 

 being emploved I)y the Dominion Mnscnm as collector during this period. 



