1894.1 11 



The present marJcet value of ChrysopTianus dispar and Noctua snhrosea. — At 

 the recent sale (at Stevens' Eooms) of a portion of the late Rev. H. Burney's col- 

 lection, the highest price obtained for C. dispar was £6 10s. per specimen, and for 

 N. subrosea, £6 6s. per pair. Both of these are extinct, so far as regards the British 

 (and typical) form, and the prices probably indicate a real market value. Well 

 authenticated specimens of very rare British species found ready purchasers at high 

 prices ; but there was a significant variation of confidence shown as between indi- 

 vidual specimens of the same species. — Eds. 



Notes on Hepialus virescens, and other early spring insects in New Zealand. — 

 On the 24th instant, I made the first Entomological expedition of the season, 

 chiefly in search of the pupae of Hepialus virescens. The collecting ground selected 

 was a deep ravine, situated between high hills. On each side of the little stream, 

 which ran at the bottom of this ravine, numerous specimens of the winberry tree 

 {Aristotelia raeemosa) were growing, in the stems of which plant the larvae of S. 

 virescens reside. The first burrow noticed was situated close to a branch in one of 

 the trees, and the extraction of the enclosed pupa was difficult, the wood being very 

 tough, and refusing to split in the required direction. After considerable trouble, I 

 succeeded in getting out the pupa, and observed with much regret that I had 

 apparently injured its anterior portions. I placed the specimen on the ground near 

 the foot of the tree, and resumed work on some others close by. On returning about 

 an hour later, I saw, to my great astonishment and delight, that the insect was in 

 the act of emerging, all the anterior horny plates of the pupa were separated, the 

 beautiful green thorax of the moth appearing through the interstices. In a few 

 seconds the legs were thrust forwards, and, by a prodigious effort, the insect finally 

 drew itself clear of the pupa. The moth now rapidly ascended the tree, until it 

 reached an elevation of about four feet from the gi-ound, where the stem was slightly 

 curved, which thus enabled the insect to place its wings in a favourable position for 

 development, viz., backwards and somewhat downwards. These organs were still 

 extremely small, and much crumpled, especially towai'ds the tips, and it seemed in- 

 credible that they could ever assume their proper shape and dimensions. They, 

 however, grew with marvellous rapidity, and the creases were forced outwards to 

 the extreme tips, and finally disappeared. During this stage of the transformation 

 the wings were held vertically, but as soon as their development was completed, they 

 were closed over the back in the usual position of P. rapes. The moth now rested 

 quietly on the tree-trunk where it would no doubt have remained until nightfall. 

 It was very inconspicuous, notwithstanding the large size of the specimen, which 

 reached upwards of five inches in the expansion of its wings. When thus seen in 

 its full perfection, this giant Hepialus was a superb object, and although familiar 

 with the insect and its habits, the sight is one which I shall never forget. 



On the same day the following species were also noticed : — Vanessa Oonerilla, 

 one only (hibernated) ; Sestia humeraria and Simaethis combinatana, one very pale 

 specimen of each, also evidently hibernated ; Xanthorhoe semijissata, one only, 

 apparently fresh ; Erechthias erebiotis, one only ; Elachista archceonoma, common 

 amongst grass in the sunshine, seen fully a month ago ; several Perlida, Ephemeridce , 

 Tipulidce, &c. — Gr. V. Hudson, Karori, Wellington, N. Z. : September 27th, 1893. 



