I. THE CARADEININA. 5 



The perfect insect occurs in January, frequenting sunny, grassy slopes on the 

 mountain-sides, at about 4.000 feet above the sea-level. It flies with great rapidity ; 

 hence it is generally very difficult to catch. 



MBTACEIAS HUTTONII, Butl. 



(Phaos huttonii, Butl., Cist Ent. 487; Metacrias huttonii, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 1886, 750; 



Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 216.) 



(Plate IV., fig. 6.) 



This interesting species was discovered at Lake Wakatipu, by Professor Hutton. 

 The expansion of the wings of the male is 1^ inches. The fore-wings are black ; there is an 

 oblique crimson line near the base, two broad longitudinal cream-coloured lines above and below the 

 middle, and a double transverse series of oblong cream-coloured spots near the termen. The hind- 

 wings are pale ochreous, with a black crescent-shaped spot near the middle, and a broad black band 

 almost touching the termen except a little before the tornus. The female is apterous. 

 Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection. 



Family 2. CARADRINIDJE. 



The Camdrinidce are distinguished by the following characters : 



" Ocelli usually present. Tongue usually well developed. Labial palpi moderate, more or less 

 ascending, second joint densely scaled, usually rough, terminal rather short, obtuse. Thorax usually 

 densely hairy beneath. Posterior tibiae with all spurs present. Fore-wings with veins 7 and 8 

 out of 9, 10 connected with 9. Hind-wings with veins 3 and 4 connate or short-stalked, 5 obsolete 

 or imperfect, parallel to 4, 6 and 7 connate or short-stalked or seldom closely approximated only, 

 8 shortly anastomosing with cell near base, thence evenly diverging." (Plate II., figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.) 



" A dominant family in temperate regions, especially in the northern hemisphere, 

 the species being very numerous and often occurring in great plenty ; within the tropics, 

 however, their place is largely taken by the Plusiadce. The structure is in most 

 particulars remarkably uniform, the neuration and palpi being practically identical 

 throughout the family. The markings are usually very similar, and the colouring dull 

 and adapted to conceal insects which are accustomed to hide amongst dead leaves or 

 refuse; hence this family is not one of the easiest or most attractive to study. The 

 species are the most truly nocturnal of all the Lepidoptera ; few are readily obtainable 

 by day, but at night they are found in abundance at flowers or sugar. Imago with 

 fore-wings usually elongate, body relatively stout, and densely scaled. It may be noted 

 as an established conclusion that antennal pectinations, if not extending to the apex of 

 the antennae, are in this family seldom sufficient to mark generic distinction. 



" Ovum spherical, more or less distinctly ribbed, and reticulated. Larva usually 

 with few hairs, often nocturnal, sometimes subterranean ; often very polyphagous. 

 Pupa usually subterranean." (Meyrick.) 



The family is represented in New Zealand by the following twelve genera : 



1. MISELIA. 



Sub-family 1. POLIADES \ 2. OKTHOSIA. 



3. XANTHIA. 



4. PHYSETICA. 



5. LEUCANIA. 



Sub-family 2. MELANCHEIDES 



6. ICHNEUTICA. 



7. MELANCHKA. 



8. EEANA. 



