124 Tj-a/is(/rfioiis. 



for the night consisted only of Orthosia comma and two Melanchra ewingi (?). 

 The following night was not so successful, as I failed to get even a single 

 specimen. This can only be put down to the lateness of the season, 

 although there were plenty of Argyrophenga antipodum, Notoreas brephos, 

 and Vanessa gonerilla flying in the daytime. Chrysophanus holdenarum 

 was very scarce in places where there were any quantity the year before. 



On the way back to Wellington I stopped at Moeraki, and in company 

 with Mr. G. Howes, of Dunedin, spent the night of the 23rd February 

 treacling in the bush at the back of Port Moeraki. On that and the follow- 

 ing night I took the following species : Orthosia comma, Leucania sulcana, 

 Melanchra decorata (four specimens), M. mntans, M. plena (very common), 

 M. stipata. Rhapsa scotosialis, Venusia undosata, Xanthorhoe rosearia, Epir- 

 ranthis alectoraria, SeUdoscma dejectaria, S. melinata, S. panagrata, Declana 

 floccosa, and D. niveata. 



No more collecting was done until the 12tli March, when I camped on 

 Mount Greenland, near Ross, Westland. Mount Greenland rises to a height 

 of 2,968 ft. above sea-level, and the top is fairly open country. I stopped 

 at a hut in the subalpine vegetation, elevated about 2,500 ft., intending 

 to see what moths came to a flowering bush of Veronica which grew at 

 the door of the hut. I stayed there four nights, and got good results, 

 especially on the warm misty nights when there was little cold wind 

 blowing from the main range. Strange to relate, the commonest moth 

 there was Leucania alopa, which is considered rather a rarity at other 

 places. Every evening I treacled the stunted trees, and even treacled 

 Veronica blossoms, but got nothing by that method ; everything had to 

 be netted. It is a peculiar fact that the smoke or heat from the hut- 

 chimney seemed to attract many moths : perhaps they were only trying to 

 get to the source of light. By far the most important capture was that of 

 a single specimen of Junonia velleda, a butterfly that in 1886 was common 

 in Wellington, and has been recorded from New Plymouth in 1893 and 

 Motueka in 1898. Since 1898 no other specimens have been seen in the 

 South Island until I got this damaged specimen at Mount Greenland on 

 tlie 14th March, sheltering under a flax-bush during the pouring rain. Not 

 expecting to find a rarity like that in such a locality, I mistook it for Vanessa 

 cardui, and only by chance sent it up for examination. 



The season was undoubtedly nearly over for collecting on the AVest 

 Coast, but I made a trip to the Styx Saddle, near Browning's Pass, on 

 the main Southern Alps. I did not expect to get much, but w^anted to 

 see if the locality was a suitable one for collecting earlier in the season. 

 Nevertheless I took a large male Porina* darker and less spotted than 

 usual. Specimens of Leucania alopa, L. atristriga, and Bitijla defigurata 

 were also taken, but nothing else of any importance. Several golden-ringed 

 black hairy caterpillars were taken feeding on a wayside plant, E echtites 

 (jlabrescens. These are considered to be a species of Metacrias, but so far 

 have not been reared to maturity. The Styx Saddle contains about 30 acres 

 of fine subalpine meadow land, and about New Year time should prove 

 an excellent field for collectors. 



On my Avay back to Wellington I walked over Arthur's Pass, in company 

 with Dr. Cockayne, of Christchurch. The day was a fine one. but the only 

 butterfly seen was one specimen of Vanessa gonerilla. After this, collecting 

 Avas abandoned for the season, and I returned to AVellington on the 30th March. 



* Porina dinodes. 



