200 Transactions. 



For several days prior to our departure from the Routeburu 

 the hills around were considerably obscured by smoke. The 

 weather having been frequently wet for fully a week before, and 

 the winds westerly, I was at a loss to account for the origin of 

 the smoke, seeing that under the circumstances bush-fires could 

 hardly have been raging on the south-west coast. On m}' re- 

 turn to civilisation I learned that extensive fires had occurred 

 in Queensland at that time, and there is little doubt that the 

 prevailing north-west winds had carried the smoke from these 

 fires on to the south-west coast of New Zealand. 



The following is a list of the insects taken at the Routeburn, 

 with general remarks on the class of locality where each species 

 occurred : — 



Vanessa gonerilla. 



A few specimens of this well-known butterfly were seen on 

 the wing. A number of young larva? were also observed feeding 

 on the small nettle ( Urtica incisa) in the forest. 



Chrysophanus boldenarum. 



Fairly common on the shingle near the river during the few 

 sunny intervals experienced. The males were entirely suffused 

 with glistening purple, with the black spots very small ; the 

 females pale yellowish-brown. 



Chrysophanus salustius. 



A few in open spaces near the river, probably rare owing 

 to the prevalence of cloudy weather ; a small pale - coloured 

 form. 



Physetica caerulea. 



One specimen taken Hying over a grassy flat near the river, 

 in hot sunshine. 



Leucania purdii. 



At " sugar." One specimen only. 



Leucania propria. 

 At " sugar." Rare. 



Ichneutica ceraunias. 



One small very dark male specimen taken flying wildly in 

 hot sunshine in the open country near Lake Harris, at about 

 3,800 ft. 



Melanchra vitiosa. 



At " sugar." One specimen. 



