II. THE NOTODONTINA. 53 



three-fourths to about five-eighths ; there are in addition, numerous very fine, wavy lines near the 

 termen. The spaces between these bands are paler, and in some specimens the bands are very 

 conspicuous, whilst in others they are hardly perceptible. One specimen in my collection (Plate 

 VI., fig. 39) has a very broad chocolate-brown band across the middle of both pairs of wings, 

 the remaining portions being unusually pale in colour. There is always a dark brown dot in the 

 centre of each wing, and a series of very fine dots on the termen. 



The larva, which feeds on Manuka (Leptospermum), is very ornamental. Its general colour is 

 light green, with black dorsal and lateral stripes, and a series of diagonal markings bordered with 

 crimson ; the legs and prolegs are also crimson, and the segments are divided by brilliant yellow 

 rings, a white line extending down each side of the larva. 



This caterpillar is difficult to find, as it remains closely concealed amongst the 

 dense Manuka foliage, from which it can be dislodged only by vigorous and continued 

 beating. The larvae allow themselves to fall a short distance, hanging suspended by a 

 silken thread, which they rapidly ascend when the danger is past. 



The pupa is enclosed in a slight cocoon about one inch below the surface of the 

 earth. 



The perfect insect appears from October till April. It is very common in most 

 situations where its food-plant is found and, owing to its pale colour, is readily seen 

 when flying in the evening twilight. Specimens may also be taken in the daytime 

 resting with outspread wings on the trunks of trees and on fences, where they are 

 much more easily detected than many other species. 



Mr. Meyrick thinks that this insect will also be found in Australia. 



Genus 9. VBNUSIA, Curt. 



" Face smooth. Antennae in <? bi-pectinated, apex simple. Palpi loosely scaled. Fore-wings 

 with areole simple. Hind-wings with vein 8 anastomosing with cell to beyond middle." (Meyrick.) 

 (Plate II., fig. 13, head of V. verriculata ; figs. 25 and 26, neuration of V. undosata.) 



We have three species represented in New Zealand. 



VENUSIA VERBICULATA, Feld. 



(Cidaria verriculata, Peld. cxxxi. 20. Panopcea verriculata, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 62. 



Pancyina verriculata, ib. xviii. 184.) 

 (Plate VI., fig. 30 ? , 31 ? .) 



This remarkable species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and in 

 the South Island at Christchurch, Ashburton, Dunedin and West Plains. 



.The expansion of the wings is about 1| inches. All the wings are pale yellowish-brown, with many 

 straight oblique parallel dull brown lines ; on the fore-wings there are three lines broader and more 

 isolated than the rest, running from the apex to the dorsum ; on the hind-wings the lines near the 

 middle are rather thicker than the others, and have a broad space on each side of them ; all the lines 

 are clearly marked on the abdomen, so that each line appears to be continuous from one side of the moth 

 to the other. 



The perfect insect appears from October till May, and frequents the Cabbage Tree 

 Palm (Cordyline), on which its larva probably feeds. According to Mr. Fereday the moth 

 always rests on the dead leaves of the plant, keeping its wings in such a position that the 

 lines are continuous with the parallel veins of the dead leaf, which they precisely resemble 

 in appearance. We have, I think, in this species a most instructive instance of special 

 adaptation to surrounding conditions ; and the action of natural selection, in preserving 

 favourable variations of colour and habit, appears to be here unmistakably indicated. Had 

 our investigations been confined to the examination of cabinet specimens only, we might 



