4 Transactions.— Zoology. 
probably considerable extent, and is represented in Australia by two species 
only, evidently also stray wanderers. Of the ten endemic genera, none are 
very elosely related to Australian forms; the nearest approach is made by 
Nymphostola and Proteodes, monotypic genera which are certainly akin to 
Hoplitica, but whose common ancestor must have possessed characters not 
now exhibited by any allied Australian genus. Nearly the same may be 
said of the affinity of Atomotricha and Brachysara with Eulechria. The 
other six, of which three are probably rather extensive, are more closely 
allied to each other and to @cophora than to any Australian form. Finally, 
although (Ecophora is a cosmopolitan genus, the New Zealand species 
appear to form a single numerous group, having no direct affinity with the 
Australian species of the genus, any more than with the European. From 
these facts it may be concluded that it is not improbable that a slight inter- 
change of species has taken place at some date not exceedingly remote, but 
that it is certain that almost the whole of the group is of much more ancient 
origin, and was derived from another and quite distinct region. I consider 
it probable that a much closer affinity will be found to exist with South 
America, of which little is known in this group; but there is one well- 
defined case of relationship, viz., between Gonionota and Semiocosma, which 
are apparently more nearly related together than to any other genus. 
Attention should also be given to the undoubted affinity of Trachypepla 
with the European Anchinia and Cacochroa; these latter are very small 
genera, remote from any other European forms, and of Alpine habit; they 
are probably surviving remnants of a once more extensive stock. 
It is remarkable that of the New Zealand genera not one has vein 7 of 
the forewings terminating in the hindmargin. This character is found in 
more than half of the Australian genera, many of them being of great 
extent and doubtless also of considerable age. Nearly all the New Zealand 
species belong to the group in which vein 7 terminates in the costa, and 
this is undoubtedly much older, being the original type of the family ; a few 
are of the intermediate form, in which this vein terminates in the apex. It 
is elear, then, that this portion of the New Zealand fauna is older than the 
corresponding group in Australia. It is important that the food-plants of 
the larve should be ascertained; they would probably point to the oldest 
portion of the New Zealand flora. It is probable that Trachypepla and 
Semiocosma, like other principal genera of these islands, are attached to 
lichens or mosses. Several species of GZcophora seem to be specially 
adapted to Fagus solandri, as also is Proteodes, all being protectively 
coloured. 
It wil be necessary to examine the South Pacific Islands, before the 
origin of the New Zealand fauna can be decided. I made a hurried 
