Entomology.] SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 65 



(3.) CAMPBELL ISLAND. 



The insects captured by the members of the Campbell Island party were mostly 

 Coleoptera and Diptera, and were all alcoholic specimens. These have been handed 

 over to the specialists who have dealt with the respective orders, and the descrip- 

 tions of them follow in systematic order. The following general observations on the 

 entomology of Campbell Island have been kindly supphed by Mr. Marriner. 



Campbell Island, in November at least, is not a good place for insects. The 

 island is mostly covered with tussocks, and, with the exception of some very dense 

 dry Dracophyllum scrub, there is no shelter. The country, during the time the expe- 

 dition was on the island, was swept almost continually night and day by very cold 

 strong gales of wind, accompanied by heavy mists, sleet, and rain. These storms 

 naturally hid the warmth and brightness of the sun, and made anything but ideal 

 conditions for entomological investigations. The enormous meadows of Bvlhindla 

 Rossii, which cover miles of the country, must afford a good food-supply for the 

 insects ; indeed, on nearly every plant small groups of flies could be generally seen 

 feeding on the large yellow racemes. The Dracophyllum scrub is very dense, and 

 imder the upper green covering very dead and dry, owing, no doubt, to the dry 

 needles of the plant falling in large numbers to the ground. On the few flowers 

 of this plant that were out, insects were often to be seen abstracting honey. 



Owing to the prevailing heavy winds, the insects at Campbell Island fly very 

 little, and unless they are captured whilst at rest on some plant it is almost im- 

 possible to net them, as the wind picks them up the moment they leave the flower, 

 and whirls them away some ten or twenty feet. 



Lepidoptera. 



This order was represented by about half a dozen species of moths, which were 

 most frequently met with amongst the tussocks fringing the shore, and in the 

 sheltered areas between the patches of scrub. An attempt wa3.|made to attract 

 moths at dusk by means of a lantern, but was not successful. The following species 

 were found on the island, but none of the specimens are in good condition. 



(1.) A species of Chloroclystis, apparently allied to C. indicataria from New 

 Zealand, but not in a fit condition to describe. 



(2.) Venusia charidema. (p. 70.) 



A large number of this common Auckland Island insect was brought back by 

 Messrs. Des Barres and Chambers, having been captured during the summer follow- 

 ing the visit of the expedition. 



(3.) A species near Hydriomena similata, but not in a fit condition to describe. 



(4.) Xanthorhoe orophylloides. (p. 68.) 



Several specimens in very poor condition which appear to belong to this species 

 were taken by Messrs. Des Barres and Chambers after the departure of the expedi- 

 tion. 



5— S. 



