﻿52 TliE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



weeks ago, in an afternoon's hunting, I got more than fifty pupse 

 of Gymnancycla canella. 

 11, George Street, Hastings. 



AN ENTOMOLOGICAL TOUR ON THE TABLE-LAND OF 



MOUNT ARTHUR. 



By G. V. Hudson, F.E.S. 



(Concluded from p. 12.) 



Tuesday, January 24th, was occupied in collecting about 

 Salisbury's Opening, round the base of Gordon's Pyramid. The 

 sun was very hot, and nearly every tussock was enlivened by the 

 presence of Argyrophenga antipodum, which is pre-eminently the 

 butterfly of the table-land. It will be seen how widely the speci- 

 mens of this insect taken here differ from those from Christchurch 

 and the Dun Mountain, and individuals from other localities 

 would probably exhibit further aberrations. The number of 

 ocelli on the wings varies exceedingly ; one specimen in my 

 collection has them almost completely suppressed. 



Of the large Crambi, Crambus crencsus is the commonest 

 species, but is with difficulty distinguished from C. isochylus on 

 the wing. Crambus siriellus is a finely-marked species, and a 

 good series can be obtained with a little perseverance ; but I 

 understand from Mr. Meyrick that it is by no means confined to 

 the alpine or subalpine regions, being found extensively on the 

 low-lands. The brilliant little Crambus helistes may be seen 

 flying about like swarms of small flies, in wet places, and is 

 usually very common near the track. Where it leaves the forest, 

 a fine species of Hepialus occurred, of which I managed to secure 

 four specimens in all. It is said to be only a variety of Hepialus 

 variolaris, a low-land insect ; but I feel almost sure that it is an 

 abundantly distinct species. Other species taken were Arcteuthes 

 chrysopeda, Notoreas paradelpha, and a curious light form of 

 Chrysophanus boldenarum, which was abundant on the shingle 

 round the stream. 



The morning of Friday, 25th, was devoted to the limestone 

 caves, which are often rather difficult to find, but directions can 

 be easily obtained from Mr. Heath, or the miners. In one of 

 these a very remarkable orthopterous insect occurred. I regret 

 to say that I was only able to obtain three male specimens. They 

 are extremely active, and can leap two or three feet at a time ; their 

 capture is consequently attended with much difficulty in a dark 

 cave, where one can only look about with a single candle. I much 

 wanted to ascertain the food of these insects, but the caves seem 

 devoid of any kind of fungoid vegetation, which I should imagine 



