216 Transactions. 



under notice— such as T. agrionata and Topea and C. plinthina 

 — to have patches of white amid the green of their mngs may 

 perhaps be explained by supposing that such patches serve to 

 represent the effect of the rays of Ught which glance through 

 apertures in the foliage. C. lichenodes, according to Mr. G. V. 

 Hudson,* " frequents forest^> resting with outspread wings on 

 lichen-covered tree-trunks, where its wonderfully protective 

 colouring may be seen to great advantage. Ihe remarkable 

 brown patches on the mngs have undoubtedly been acquired 

 for this protective purpose." I should think it probable that 

 maculata and inductata also frequent lichens, but both are rare, 

 and their habits little known. 



Hydriomena. 



This large genus exhibits considerable diversity of colour 

 and markings, and several of the species, viewed apart from 

 their natural environment, appear to be very conspicuous insects. 

 H. purpurifera is one of the most striking, but the coiispicuous 

 white fasciae of the forewings become quite inconspicuous when 

 the insect is resting amongst foliage. H. siria is a most peculiar 

 form. It frequents grassy bush tracks, and flits about some- 

 what after the manner of a butterfly, calling to mind, with its 

 bright-orange colouring, a small specimen of Chrysophanus sallus- 

 tius. It is improbable that there is any significance in this 

 resemblance, but the fact is worth noticing. 



Asthena schistaria, Venusia verriculata, and Xanthorhoe 



gobiata. 



These represent a peculiar and interesting style of marking. 

 In each form both fore- and hind-wings are crossed by nume- 

 rous fine lines. Of course, each species rests with the hind- 

 wings exposed. In V. verriculata so perfectly do the lines of 

 the forewings correspond with those of the hindwings that 

 it is difficult to notice the overlapping edge. The abdomen 

 ;also is crossed with fine lines : thus there is no break from the 

 costa of one forewing to the costa of the other. According to 

 Mr. Fereday as quoted by Mr. Hudson,')' verriculata frequents the 

 cabbage-tree (Cordyline australis), resting on the dead leaves 

 which always hang in numbers from this tree, and always sitting 

 across the leaf, so that the Unes across the wing are continuous 

 with the veins of the leaf. I do not know if A. schistaria and 

 X. gobiata are also attached to the cabbage-tree, but faded 

 leaves of the flax-plant (Phormium) or the toitoi (Arundo) would 

 answer the purpose equally well. 



* " New Zealand Moths ami Butterflies," ]). 44. 

 f " New Zealand Moths and Butterflies," ]). .53. 



