TV. THE PAPTLTONINA. 107 



can be obtained in large numbers. It is well worth watching, and if a good many 

 specimens are kept at once, some of them are sure to change at a convenient time 

 for observation. The pupa varies from pale yellowish-brown to dark purplish-brown, 

 darker on the wing-cases and ventral surface. The spines on the back are golden. 

 The whole insect is also speckled with brown or black dots. The pupa varies 

 considerably in size as well as in colour. In this insect the pupa state is of very 

 short duration, usually only lasting about a fortnight. I am informed by Mr. 

 Helms that the pupa of Vanessa gonerilla is often destroyed by the common 

 hemipteron, Cermattihin nasalis, which penetrates its shell by means of its long 

 rostrum, and speedily consumes the liquid internal portions. 



The perfect insect usually emerges early in the morning. It dries its wings for a 

 few hours whilst resting on the old nettle-leaves which formed its home when a larva. 

 The increasing warmth of the sunshine soon hardens the wings sufficiently to allow 

 the new-born butterfly to fly away. 



This insect is very common in most situations from January till April. It lives 

 through the winter, appearing again on fine days towards the end of August. During the 

 spring and early summer these hibernated individuals occur in great profusion, a few 

 specimens always remaining until the earliest of the new ones have emerged ; so that about 

 December we may occasionally observe both hibernated and recent specimens together. 



In the autumn these butterflies may be seen feeding on the flowers of the scabious 

 and the white rata, thus preparing for their long winter sleep. In the spring, however, 

 the insect is most abundant in the vicinity of the nettle-plants, where the females are 

 busily engaged depositing their eggs. 



I have noticed that this insect possesses the power of emitting a distinct grating or 

 hissing noise, evidently closely resembling the sound, which has been observed to be 

 emitted by several European species of the genus. This sound is only made when a 

 specimen is roused from a semi-torpid condition ; and it is thought that it may be useful 

 to the insect for the purpose of intimidating intruders during its period of hibernation. 



This butterfly is a rapid flier and may often be seen pursuing a straight course high 

 above the tree-tops, apparently migrating in search of fresh breeding-grounds. It appears 

 to have a singular liking for hill-tops, and a specimen which has selected one of these 

 places will keep on returning to the same spot, after being repeatedly frightened away. In 

 such situations, if the weather be calm and sunny, we may frequently see two specimens 

 engaged in aerial battle. They fly upwards, and coursing round each other with great 

 velocity, almost disappear in the clear blue sky. A few seconds later the two insects, 

 gently fanning their wings in the warm sunshine, are again seen in their respective places. 



VANESSA ITEA, Fabr. 



(Papilio itea, Fabr., Syst. Bnt., p. 498, n. 238 (1775); Donovan Ins. New Holland, pi. 26, fig. 1 

 (1805). Vanessa itea, Godart, Enc. Meth. ix. p. 321, n. 57 (1819); White in Taylor's New Zealand, pi. 2, 

 figs. 2, 2 (1855). Bassaris itea, Hubner, Samml. Esot. Schmett. (1816-24). Pyrameis itea, Doubleday, Gen. 

 Diurn. Lepid., p. 202 (1849).) 



(Plate XII., fig. 3, fig. 4 under side.) 



This beautiful butterfly is, I believe, fairly abundant in the northern portions of the 

 North Island, but becomes scarcer southwards of Napier and New Plymouth. In the 



* See notes by Mr. Stainton in the Ent. Mo. Mag., xxv. pp. 225, 268. 



