I. THE CARADEININA. 29 



found at rest on tree-trunks in the daytime, where its beautiful green colouring causes it 

 to resemble, in the closest possible manner, a patch of moss. Mr. Hawthorne tells me 

 that he has frequently found dead specimens in this situation. 



This insect is, I think, commoner at slight elevations above the sea-level, forest 

 ranges of from 500 to 1,000 feet in height being apparently the most favourable localities 

 for the species. The appearance of the moth over so long a period would seem to 

 indicate that there are two generations in a year, but I have never found full-grown 

 larvae in the middle of summer. There is, however, no doubt that the insect passes the 

 winter in the larval condition. This species is often met with very late in the season, 

 frequenting the few remaining blossoms of the white rata until the first or second week 

 in April. Mr. Meyrick thus alludes to the scented tuft of hairs in the male insect : 

 " The large tuft of the fore-wings is the source of a very strong vanilla-like perfume, 

 which scents the box in which the specimens are contained for more than a week after 

 their death ; the scent is excited more strongly, even in the dead specimen, by stirring 

 the tuft with a pin." * 



I can fully testify to the accuracy of this interesting observation. 



Sub-family 3.CARADRINIDES. 



" Eyes naked, not ciliated." 



Genus 9. BITYLA, Walk. 



"Antennae in male filiform, shortly ciliated. Thorax not crested, collar sub-erect. Abdomen not 

 crested." (Meyrick). 



Of this genus we have two species in New Zealand. 



BITYLA DEFIGUBATA, Walk. 



(Xylina dcfigwata, Walk., Suppl. 756. Bityla thoracica, ib. 869. Bityla defiyurata, Meyr., Trans. 



N. Z. Inst. xix. 31.) 

 (Plate V., fig. 33.) 



This species has been taken at Palmerston in the North Island, and at Blenheim, 

 Christchurch, Lake Coleridge, Dunedin, and West Plains near Invercargill, in the South 

 Island. 



The expansion of the wings is 1J inches. The fore-wings are uniform dull bronzy-brown and very 

 glossy ; there are one or two faint indications of transverse lines. The hind-wings are dark grey, also 

 glossy. 



The perfect insect appears in January, February, and March, and is attracted by 

 light. The single specimen I possess in my collection was taken in July, evidently 

 hibernating. It is a rare species. 



BITYLA SEEICEA, Butl. 



(Bityla sericca, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1877, 387, pi. xlii. 12; Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 31.) 



(Plate V., fig. 34.) 



This rather striking insect has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at 

 Christchurch and Lake Guyon in the South Island. 



:;: Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 29. 



