I. THE CAEADRININA. 21 



MELANCHEA DIATMETA, Meyr.* 

 (Plate V., fig. 5.) 



This species has occurred at Wellington. 



The expansion of the wings is If inches. The fore-wings are reddish-brown ; there is a 

 short longitudinal black streak near the base, an obscure yellow transverse line at about one- 

 fourth, and several short oblique brown or yellow marks on the costa ; the orbicular is oval oblique 

 outlined very distinctly in yellow ; the reniform is white, margined with yellow towards the base 

 of the wing ; there is a black longitudinal streak at the base on the dorsuni, which bends upwards 

 at about one-fourth, and runs in a somewhat curved direction to a little above the tornus. 

 The veins are faintly marked in black, and there are several large yellow dots between the 

 veins near the termen ; the termen itself is slightly indented, the cilia are reddish -brown. The 

 hind-wings are greyish-brown with the cilia reddish. There are two very conspicuous curved 

 yellowish stripes on each side of the thorax. 



The perfect insect appears in September and October. It is a rare species. 



MELANCHEA TAETAEEA, Butl. 



(Graphiphora tartarea, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soe. Lond., 1877, 384, pi. xlii. 2. Mamcstra tartarea, Meyr., 



Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 21.) 

 (Plate V., fig. 6.) 



This species has occurred on the Murimutu Plains in the North Island. In the 

 South Island it is a common species in the neighbourhood of Christchurch. 



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

 a short, dark-margined, pale transverse line near the base, and another at about one-third, the 

 claviform spot is small, oval, dark brown, margined with black, the orbicular and reniform are very 

 large, pale brown and very conspicuous ; there is a broad pale brown terminal band, and a narrmv 

 shading of pale brown along the dorsum. The hind-wings are dark grey and the cilia dull white. 



This species can easily be recognised by the pale terminal band of the fore-wings. 



The perfect insect appears in March and April. 



MELANCHEA HOMOSCIA, Meyr. 



(Mamestra homoscia, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 21.) 



(Plate V., fig. 7; Plate III., fig. 10, larva.) 



This dull-looking species has hitherto only occurred in the Wellington district, 

 where it seems to be fairly common. 



The expansion of the wings is about If inches. The fore-wings are uniform dark grey; 

 the veins are marked with a series of white dots, preceded and followed by black marks ; the 

 orbicular, reniform, and claviform spots are scarcely visible ; an indistinct wavy line runs 

 parallel with the termen. The hind-wings are grey ; the cilia are white with a cloudy line. 

 The head, thorax, and abdomen are grey. 



Sometimes the grey colouring is very much darker, and a faint wavy line is present between 

 the orbicular spot and the base of the wing. In other respects the species does not vary. 



The larva is rather attenuated and black in colour ; the dorsal line is narrow and bright 

 yellow ; the subdorsal is broader and white ; and the lateral line is pale brown. The head, 

 legs, prolegs, and under surface are pale brown, speckled with black ; the spiracles are pink ; a 

 conspicuous white spot is situated above the spiracles. 



This caterpillar feeds on the Tauhinu (Pomaderris erici folia) in December and 

 January. It is very active in its habits, and immediately drops to the ground 

 when disturbed. It is much infested by a dipterous parasite. The pupa state is 

 spent in the earth and lasts about six weeks. 



The moth appears in February, March, and April. It is attracted by light, 

 and in consequence often enters houses. 



* This species has been recently named by Mr. Meyrick, but a description of it has not yet been published. 



