104 NEW ZEALAND MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 



it is to be extricated and firmly attached to the silk outside. It has neither legs 

 nor arms, and we should suppose that it would inevitably fall while endeavouring to 

 accomplish this object. But the task is performed with the utmost surety, though 

 appearing so perilous to us. The supple and contractile joints of the abdomen are 

 made to subserve the purpose of legs, and by suddenly grasping the shrunken larval 

 skin between the folds of two of these joints as with a pair of pincers, the chrysalis 

 disengages the tip of its body and hangs for a moment suspended. Then with a few 

 earnest, vigorous, jerking movements it succeeds in sticking the horny point of its 

 tail into the silk, and firmly fastening it by means of a rasp of minute claws with 

 which that point is furnished. Sometimes severe effort is needed before the point is 

 properly fastened, and the chrysalis frequently has to climb by stretching the two 

 joints above those by which it is suspended, and clinging hold of the shrivelled skin 

 further up. The moment the point is fastened the chrysalis commences, by a series 

 of violent jerkings and whirlings, to dislodge the larval skin, after which it rests 

 from its efforts and gradually contracts and hardens. The really active work lasts 

 but a few minutes, and the insect rarely fails to go through with it successfully. 

 The chrysalis is a beautiful object, and as it hangs pendant from some old fence- 

 board or from the under side of an Asclepias leaf, it reminds one of some large ear- 

 drop; but, though the jeweller could successfully imitate the form, he might well 

 despair of ever producing the clear pale-green and the ivory-black and golden marks 

 which so characterize it. 



" The chrysalis state lasts but a short time, as is the case with all those which 

 are known to suspend themselves nakedly by the tail. At the end of about the tenth 

 day the dark colours of the future butterflies begin to show through the delicate and 

 transparent skin, and suddenly this skin bursts open near the head, and the new- 

 born butterfly gradually extricates itself, and stretching forth its legs and clambering 

 on to some surrounding object, allows its moist, thickened, and contracted wings to 

 hang listlessly from the body." 



The perfect insect appears in March and April, hibernated specimens being met 

 with in the spring. It is a most striking species on the wing, and one which, when 

 once seen, is not likely to be forgotten. 



ANOSIA BOLJNA, L. 



(Diadema iicrina, Butler, Butterflies of N. Z., p. 13. Female. Papilio nerina, Fabr., Syst. Bnt., p. 509, 

 n. 277 (1775); Donovan, Ins. of New Holland, pi. 27, fig. 1 (1805). Papilio iphigenia, Pap. Exot., 1, 

 pi. Ixvii., figs. D, E, (1775). Var. Papilio proserpina, Cramer, Pap. Exot., 3, pi. ecxviii., figs. C, D, 

 (1782). Male ? Papilio augc, Cramer, Pap. Exot., 2, pi. cxc., figs. A, B (1779).) 



(Plate XII., fig. 7 $ , 8 2 , 9 under side.) 



This fine species appears to be rare in New Zealand, but I think it has now 

 occurred often enough to entitle it to a place amongst our native butterflies. The 

 following is a list of the captures so far as I am able to ascertain them : 



From Mr. Eny's 'Catalogue of New Zealand Butterflies' the first specimen taken 

 appears to have been a male, which was captured by Dr. Sinclair, of Auckland, and 

 sent to the British Museum before the year 1855. The Eev. Eichard Taylor also 

 caught one, male specimen in his garden at Wanganui, and saw another, the only 



' Cat. N. Z. Butterflies,' p. 22. 



