Hudson. — On Entomology of tlie Bouteburn Valley. 197 



Art. XIX. — Notes on the Entomology of the Routebiirn Valley. 

 By G. V. Hudson, F.E.S. 



[Bead before the Wellington Philosophical Society, IHth August, 1906.] 



During January, 1905, and 1906, in company with my wife 

 and little daughter, I spent a few days entomologizing in the 

 Routeburn Valley. On each occasion the weather was un- 

 favourable, and the collection obtained is probably very incom- 

 plete. It is, however, as far as it goes, very interesting, and is, 

 I believe, the only collection of insects which has been made 

 in the locality. 



The Routeburn Valley is best reached from Kinloch, a small 

 settlement on the western side of the head of Lake Wakatipu. 

 The first ten miles of the journey may be performed by horse 

 and trap, a fair road skirting the foot of the Humboldt Range, 

 along the western side of the Dart River. About two miles 

 after leavijig Kinloch a good view is obtained of Mount Bon- 

 pland and its glacier, as well as of a fine waterfall on the slopes 

 of the Humboldts, and before leaving the Dart Valley the tra- 

 veller cannot fail to be struck by the great snow-clad moun- 

 tains and glaciers at the head of the valley. About nine miles 

 from Kinloch the Routeburn Station is reached, the road having 

 left the Dart and turned up the Routeburn Valley, which is here 

 fairly wide and flat, and is partially under cultivation. About 

 a mile beyond the station the road gives place to a bridle-track, 

 which follows the Routeburn into the forest, and it is at this 

 point that the characteristic scenery of the locality may be said 

 to begin. 



The eight miles of track now traversed before reaching the 

 Routeburn Hut is certainly without exception the finest country 

 I have ever seen. The beeches constituting the principal trees 

 in the forest are very large, and the undergrowth consists of 

 small totaras and several interesting shrubs. The forest is 

 interspersed with numerous picturesque grassy openings. The 

 edges of these openings are fringed with lacebark-trees [Plagi- 

 anthus betidinus), and from these trees swarms of the beautiful 

 pale-yellow Venusia undosata fly out when disturbed. The 

 stream itself is large, very rapid, running over a beautiful bed 

 composed of blue rock, shingle, and boulders, and is as clear as 

 crystal. The valley is bounded by vast forest- clad hills and 

 precipitous cliffs, frequently traversed b}' fine waterfalls and 

 backed by stupendous snowy mountains. Some four miles 



