54 Transactions.—Zoology. 
peculiar structure in the Larentide occur; thus in Parysatis and Tatosoma 
vein 8 of the hindwings is wholly distinct from 7, but connected with it by 
a bar in middle; this bar must undoubtedly be produced by the lateral 
extension of a former anastomosis, and as the genera are not otherwise 
closely allied, it must have arisen independently in each case. A bar at 
first sight similar is found in Elvia and Pasiphila connecting vein 12 of the 
forewings with the areole, but in this case it is simply vein 11 which runs 
into 12 instead of to the costa. Both these structures must be more recent 
than the type. Finally there are the two genera representing in New Zea- 
land the families Boletobide and Lyrceida ; in both of these the hindwings 
have 8 veins, but 8 is free from 7, the neuration of the forewings being 
similar to that of the Ennomide ; these are therefore only separated from 
the Ennomide by the full complement of veins in the hindwings, and are 
consequently a more ancient form, certainly the oldest in New Zealand ; 
probably the hindwings of Lyrcea are almost exactly those of the ancestral 
form of the group. 
At the end of the Geometrina I have added the solitary species which 
represents in New Zealand the Siculina, since it is sometimes mistaken for - 
a Geometrid. The neuration is of a much simpler type ; all the veins of 
the forewings are separate, except 8 and 9, which are short-stalked ; all the 
veins of the hindwings are also separate, and 8 is free. On referring to my 
description of the theoretical type-ancestor of the Geometrina, it will be seen 
that this genus only differs from it by the separation of vein 7 from the stalk 
of 8 and 9. I think, then, that this group—both small and restricted in dis- 
tribution—is undoubtedly to be regarded as one allied to but distinct from 
the Geometrina, and as representing a still earlier stage in development than 
even the progenitor of that group. Further back than this it is not neces- 
sary at present to go. 
In view of the fragmentary state of our knowledge of the Geometrina of 
other countries, and the erroneous plan of classification so commonly 
adopted, it is only possible to make a few general observations on the rela- 
tionship of the New Zealand genera to those found elsewhere. Two 
genera are much larger than any of the rest—Larentia and Pasithea, very 
closely allied moreover to each other—and contain a third of the whole 
number of species ; the species in these genera are as a rule very constant, 
and almost all frequent the mountain-ranges of the interior, and-from their 
habits are probably in great part grass-feeders. These must form a part of 
the earliest fauna, which has had time for full specific development, and is 
attached to the most ancient part of the islands, and one of the earliest 
orders of flowering plants ; if regarded as forms of a single type, they are 
represented by congeners probably throughout the world. They are thus 
