THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. XVIL] OCTOBER, 1884. [No. 257. 



RANDOM NOTES ON NEW ZEALAND LEPIDOPTERA. 



By Gervase F. Mathew, R.N., F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. 



During the past summer H.M.S. 'Espiegle' was employed 

 for nearly four months cruising on the coasts of New Zealand, 

 when she visited many of the principal ports and harbours of the 

 colony ; this enabled me to make several excursions into different 

 parts of the country, a brief description of which may perhaps be 

 of interest to the readers of the 'Entomologist.' I may, however, 

 at once remark that, on account of the short stay at most of the 

 places visited, and the prevailing wet and boisterous weather 

 experienced, my observations were necessarily of a limited nature, 

 and my captures not very numerous. 



We first called at the little township of Eussell, situated at 

 the head of the Bay of Islands. The approach to the anchorage 

 is very fine. For several miles we passed up a bay studded with 

 small islands clothed with a rich verdure of scrub, with a few 

 scattered trees on their highest points. The mainland on each 

 side and beyond is hilly, rugged, and wooded, and at this time of 

 the year (December 9th) was beautifully green. 



Eussell, although a small place, is one of the oldest "town- 

 ships " in the colony ; but it is likely to become of more 

 importance, as coal-mines, which have recently been discovered 

 and placed in good working order, are already attracting the 

 attention of various steam-ship companies. 



Soon after we anchored I went on shore with two of my mess- 

 mates for a walk, and, as is the custom with most Englishmen 

 when landing for the first time in a strange country, we made for 



ENTOM. — OCTOBER, 1884. 2 F 



