RANDOM NOTES ON NEW ZEALAND LEPIDOPTERA. 247 



I was fortunate enough to capture eight beautiful specimens 

 of (Ecophora lambdella, six of which were taken in one evening 

 between 7 and 8 o'clock. 



12, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, London, N.W. 

 September 17, 1884. 



RANDOM NOTES ON NEW ZEALAND LEPIDOPTERA. 



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



(Continued from p. 221.) 



In the gullies, in addition to the numerous beds of nettles, 

 there was a thick undergrowth of mixed rank vegetation, and as 

 one walked through it was astonishing to note the vast quantities 

 of Pyrales of different species that were disturbed. The most 

 abundant was Botys flavidalis, an insect much resembling 

 Scopida ferrugalis, only a trifle larger, and given to variation ; 

 whereas S. ferrugalis is usually constant in its markings and 

 coloration. Two others — Botys notata, also much like S. ferru- 

 galis, but with a conspicuous yellowish white discoidal spot on 

 the fore wings, and an unnamed species — were almost as 

 numerous; while Deana xanthialis, Botys deprivalis, Deraba 

 cordalis, &c, occurred commonly. Beating the lower branches 

 of trees produced Larentia megaspilata, L. invexata, and one 

 specimen of the beautiful Cidaria purpurifera ; besides Helastia 

 indicataria, Acidalia undosata, and many others at present 

 unknown to me. Proceeding further up the gully the trees 

 became less numerous, and gave way to tussock grasses and 

 patches of Iris sp. ? ; and here Cidaria inclarata, one of the most 

 abundant of New Zealand Geometers, was a perfect pest. It 

 varies a great deal, and several very pretty varieties were 

 secured. The tussock grass was also the home of many 

 Crambites, — Crambiisflcxuosellus, C.vitellus, and Chilo leucanialis 

 being the most frequent ; Camptogramma subochraria, Acidalia 

 rubraria, Larentia semisignata, and Cidaria clarata were taken in 

 the same situation. 



On reaching the summit of the range of hills, which is 

 divided into several peaks, of which Mount Pleasant, 1642 feet, 

 is the highest, a magnificent view of the surrounding country was 



