218 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



the top of the nearest hill, about a mile off, and some four or five 

 hundred feet high. Our path took us through thick " Ti-tree " 

 scrub (Leptospernum scoparivm), which grew everywhere, and was 

 only varied in the gullies, where other trees and shrubs, and 

 magnificent tree-ferns, flourished luxuriantly. Near the town, 

 where the land had been cleared some years ago, there was a 

 quantity of furze, sweet-briar .and thistles, which in many places 

 have quite overrun the country and become almost as great a 

 nuisance as the introduced sparrows and sky larks, which have 

 increased and spread with such marvellous rapidity. It was a 

 windy cloudy afternoon but with occasional gleams of sunshine. 

 The only butterflies noticed were Chrysophanus sahtstius, which 

 were disporting themselves in a sheltered nook where sorrel 

 (Rumex) was growing plentifully. This species is usually found 

 in stony waste situations where a dwarfed form of Rumex 

 abounds, and upon which I believe its larvse are nourished. 

 A few small Geometry and Tortrices were dislodged from the 

 bush, but the undergrowth was so reeking with moisture from 

 the recent rains that it was difficult to do much collecting. 



The next morning we got under way and steamed for a few 

 miles up an arm of the bay, and anchored off a place called 

 Opua, where there is a wharf to which coal is brought down by 

 rail from the Kawakawa mines. It was a dull day, with strong 

 wind and frequent showers ; but at one time it cleared up and 

 looked more promising, so I landed on the beach and made my 

 way to a likely-looking gully about half a mile off. Here a little 

 stream ran into the harbour, and on each side of it there were 

 some cattle-tracks leading into the bush. I selected one which 

 ran parallel to the stream, but after walking for about a quarter 

 of a mile the path came to an end and I found it impossible to 

 advance beyond, as a number of old trees which had fallen across 

 the gully effectually prevented further progress, and the bush on 

 each side was far too thick to penetrate. Bain also began to fall 

 again in torrents, and my net soon became perfectly soaked and 

 useless, so I had to retrace my steps and return to the ship. 

 Geometrse and Pyrales were fairly numerous, and had the weather 

 been dry I might have taken a good number. Most of my 

 captures were quite new to me, and for the names of those given 

 I am indebted to my friend Mr. E. W. Fereday, who very kindly 

 presented me with a liberal collection of named types of New 



