20 NEW ZEALAND MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 



white or dull yellow towards the base of the wing and termen ; there are two obscure transverse 

 lines, the outer one often being slightly toothed towards the termen ; sometimes there is a 

 terminal series of minute black marks ; the cilia are brown. The hind-wings are dark grey, with 

 the cilia white. 



This species varies considerably in the ground colouring of the fore-wings. In 

 some specimens the wing is almost entirely rich reddish-brown, whilst in others this 

 colouring is confined to the vicinity of the stigmata and transverse lines. Numerous 

 intermediate varieties exist which seem to connect these two forms. 



The perfect insect appears in January, February, and March. It is very common 

 in the Wellington Botanical Gardens on the white rata blossoms. 



MELANCHEA PROTEASTIS, Meyr. 



(Mamcstra vitiosa, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 20 (nee Butl.). Mamcstra proteastis, Meyr., 



Trans. N. Z. Inst. xx. 45.) 

 (Plate IV., fig. 40 <? .) 



This insect is very common in the neighbourhood of Christchurch. 



The expansion of the wings is 1^ inches. The fore-wings are dark chocolate-brown ; there 

 are several very obscure marks near the base, the orbicular and claviform spots are almost 

 invisible, the reniform is pale brown with a minute dot above and below it towards the termen, 

 followed by a pale, darker-margined, transverse line. The hind-wings are dull brownish-grey, 

 with the cilia paler. The female is rather darker in colour than the male. 



This is a very obscurely marked insect, closely allied to the next species, from which it 

 can only be distinguished with difficulty. Its somewhat smaller size and the two minute white 

 dots on the reniform stigma appear to be the most definite characteristics. 



The perfect insect appears in May and June. 



Described and figured from specimens in Mr. Fereday's collection. 



MELANCHEA VITIOSA, Butl. 



(Apamea vitiosa, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 384, pi. xlii. 3. Mamestra ochthistis, Meyr., Trans. 



N. Z. Inst. xix. 20. Mamestra vitiosa, Meyr. Trans. N. Z. Inst., xx. 45.) 



(Plate IV., fig. 42 ; Plate III., fig. 16, larva.) 



This is a scarce species in the neighbourhood of Wellington. In Christchurch it 

 is very common. 



The expansion of the wings is If inches. In general colouration it closely resembles the 

 preceding insect, but is considerably paler, with the markings much more distinct. There are 

 no clear white dots above or below the reniform stigma, the orbicular is obliquely oval and 

 rather conspicuous, and the claviform is strongly margined with black. 



The larva is rather robust, very pale green above with numerous white lines and dots ; 

 dark green beneath with yellow dots. In the light part there is a triangle of black spots on 

 each segment. The young larva has a strong pink lateral line, but in mature specimens this 

 line is confined to the anterior and posterior segments only. Length when full grown about 

 1J inches. 



This caterpillar feeds on Melicope simplex, and when amongst the foliage of its 

 food-plant it is extremely hard to detect, owing to its protective colouring and sluggish 

 habits. The larva is full grown about October. 



The pupa is enclosed in a light cocoon on the surface of the ground. 



The perfect insect appears from November till April. 



