( 273 ) 



XV. Lepidoptera from the Chatham, Islands. 

 By Edward Meyrick, B.A., F.Z.S. 



[Read May 7th, 1902.] 



The following species of Leimloptcra were collected in the 

 Chatham Islands by Mr. J. Fourgere, and transmitted to 

 Professor Hutton, of Christchurch, New Zealand, who 

 placed them in my hands for determination. Little or 

 nothing seems to have been known previously of the 

 L&pidopUra of this outlying group of the New Zealand 

 system, and it is exceedingly desirable that no time should 

 be lost in securing representatives of those to be found 

 there. They are probably not numerous, but search 

 should be especially made in those parts of the islands 

 which are furthest removed from the influence of settle- 

 ment, and also particularly on the highest points, however 

 bleak and exposed these may appear to be. 



The present consignment appears to contain 19 species, 

 of which however one is not in a condition to be accurately 

 determined. Of the remaining 18 species, 7 are new to 

 science, 7 are common New Zealand species which are not 

 at all likely to have been introduced by man (two of these 

 occur also in Australia and Tasmania), and 4 are semi- 

 domestic species of more or less wide distribution which 

 have doubtless been artificially imported. The 7 new 

 species are all of characteristic New Zealand genera, and 

 obviously related to New Zealand species of these genera, 

 so that, so far as herein appears, the islands are simply a 

 detached portion of New Zealand. 



CARADRINIDiE. 



1. Leticania propria, Walk. 



One specimen, in poor condition, but apparently normal. 



2. Melanchra hromias, n. sp. 



$ $ . 3 1-36 m.in. Plftad and thorax grey, sometimes whitish- 

 mixed, variably tinged with brownish or reddish, and indistinctly 

 TRANS. ENT, SOC. LOND. 1902. — PART III. (NOV.) 19 



