b THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



of Sphinx convolvuli in Auckland, February, 1897. This species 

 is the only representative of the Sphingidse in New Zealand. 

 Considering that February is summer in this part of the world, 

 and winter in England, the distribution of such a species is an 

 interesting subject. Judging from Hudson's figure (plate xiii.), 

 in respect to markings and colour, one might assume it a local 

 race due to extreme of distribution ; my Auckland specimen, 

 however, differs in no respect as to colour and markings from 

 European and Australian S. convolvuli, proving this is not so 

 (the species is well figured in Kirby's "European") ; and though 

 I am well acquainted with the species, I cannot remember ever 

 having seen any example like that figure of Hudson's, which, if like 

 the insect it represents, is not typical, but a rare variety. I 

 am inclined to doubt the figure. Another interesting species, 

 Cosmodes elegans, is obtained in Auckland, which differs in no 

 respect, so far as my memory serves me, from a series of this 

 species which my friend Culpin sent to me some years ago from 

 Queensland, having confluent pale green markings finely edged 

 with silvery, and towards the outer margin of fore wings a 

 broken pinkish brown bar edged both sides with silvery, two 

 white dots on costa towards apex, and ground colour bright 

 brown. On plate vi. Hudson's figure has some circular and 

 elongated dull green spots, with curved lines in place of the bar. 

 Only one species of Plusia is stated to occur. I have an Auckland 

 specimen which certainly does not agree with Hudson's figure 

 (plate vi.) of Plusia chalcites, which looks like an overgrown 

 P. gamma; mine has the metallic spots exactly as those of 

 P. iota, but the ground colour of the fore wings is as dark as 

 P. gamma, with metallic lines near the base, and the hind wings 

 are very like in colour to P. chrysitis. Agrotis ypsilon occurs 

 commonly in New Zealand, being amongst the largest of the 

 Noctuse ; the largest species in this group being Dasypodia 

 selenophora, nearly the size of Mania maura. I felt the excite- 

 ment of the old M. maura days when I saw this insect at my 

 sugars. Hudson's figures of the Caradrinina (Noctuse) are very 

 poor ; the Notodontina (Geometrse) are well figured ; and the 

 Papilionina (Ehopalocera) are perhaps the best in the book. 

 Alas ! the old landmarks — Noctuae, Geometrse, Rhopalocera — 

 are no more; and the old familiar genus Mamestra becomes 

 Melanchra {a la Meyrick). Entomological nomenclature is like 

 the sand at the seaside, shifting at every tide. Referring to 

 sugar, I may mention I had good success last season, until the 

 grass began to flower ; then I gave it up, as Lepidoptera were 

 conspicuously absent ; also I notice that warm, rainy evenings 

 are good for collecting at light ; at such times, mostly small fry ; 

 but among them several species of Hepialidae — and curiously of 

 the latter all females in the genus Porina — come in dozens. I 

 have the same report from South Africa in regard to light. 



