66 NEW ZEALAND ENTOMOLOGY. 



about which so much doubt exists as to its origin in this 

 country, we come to A. antipodum^ one of the most curious 

 and interesting butterflies found in New Zealand. It occurs 

 in great abundance amongst the tussock grass on the 

 plains in the South Island, but becomes an alpine species 

 further north. I have taken a very peculiar form (Fig. 

 I a) on the "Mineral Belt" near Nelson, but can find no 

 record of its appearance in the North Island at present 

 Its larva is as yet unknown, but in all probability it feeds on 

 tussock grass, a fractured pupa having been found attached 

 to that plant by Mr. G. F. Mathew in January, 1884. Two 

 other closely allied species are Erebia pluto and Erebia 

 butleri, both strictly alpine insects, occurring in the South 

 Island at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 feet. 



Family NYMPHALID^E. 

 Vanessa gonerilla x (Plate VIII., fig. 2, 2a underside, 



2b 2c larvae, 2d 2e pupae). 



One of our most beautiful butterflies, found abundantly 

 throughout the country from August till May. The 

 larva feeds on the New Zealand nettle, where it may be 

 taken in great plenty by careful searching. The caterpillar 

 joins several of the leaves together and forms a sort of tent, 

 in which it lives secure from all enemies. While young, 

 these insects are of a uniform dull brown colour, with two 

 faint lines on each side, but as age advances they become 

 very variable. The two extreme forms of variation are 

 depicted at Figs. 2b and 2c, the dark-coloured variety being 

 by far the commoner. When full-grown, this larva sus- 

 pends itself by the tail to a small patch of silk, which it has 

 previously spun on the under side of a leaf. In this posi- 

 tion it remains for about twenty hours, when it begins to 

 twist and distend the lower portions of its body, thus 



1 This genus, as represented in New Zealand, is often called 

 Pyrameis. 



