Mzvzick.—On New Zealand Geometrina. 55 
exactly analogous to Crambus, Scoparia, and (Ecophora in other groups, 
cosmopolitan genera, more largely developed in New Zealand than else- 
where, proportionately to the rest of the fauna ; this greater predominance 
being due to less active competition. Azelina and Drepanodes are instances 
of characteristic South American genera, and I am inclined to believe that 
almost all the Ennomide will be found to have a South American affinity ; all 
these are represented severally by one or two species only, all are dwellers 
in the forest, and almost all are highly variable. These must be referred 
to a later immigration, attached to more highly organized plants, and 
specially connected with South America. Ancient as the date of this must 
have been it has hardly sufficed for the development of species, though 
abundant variation has taken place. A parallel case may be found in 
various genera of the Tortricina (e.g. Adoxophyes), which display high 
specific variability, and are probably of contemporaneous origin. The 
single genus of Siculina (Siculodes) is also highly characteristic of South 
America. Four species (Acidalia rubraria, Hippolyte rubropunctaria, Asthena 
pulchraria, and Arsinoé subochraria) are common to Australia and Tasmania, 
as well as New Zealand, being equally abundant in both regions. There is 
no doubt of their natural occurrence. Indeed, it is curious that they were 
all among the first species described from the islands. But they are all 
characteristically Australian, and have probably found their way thence to 
New Zealand in comparatively recent times. All are rather variable, but 
not more so than might be expected in species of the requisite flexibility of 
constitution. A fifth (Detunda egregia) is stated by Felder to occur in Aus- 
tralia. It is, however, a characteristically New Zealand species, and it 
would be impossible to accept the Australian habitat without better evidence 
than that afforded by a nomadic collection from many countries, in which 
confusion of labels may so easily have arisen. 
Most of the other genera are small, and at present of uncertain origin. 
Panagra is characteristically Australian, but is represented by a peculiar 
species. Tatosoma represents a disconnected group now widely scattered, 
and probably everywhere diminishing; Europe, Borneo, Ceylon, South 
America, and Australia each furnishing peculiar allied genera. Statira and 
Dasyuris are local developments of Pasithea. Cidaria, the most cosmopolitan 
genus of the group, though less developed here than Larentia, is very closely 
allied with it, and probably of contemporaneous origin. 
The preparation of this paper would have been impossible without the 
aid of Mr. R. W. Fereday, whose extensive collection furnished most of the 
material for it. I am indebted to his liberality for numerous specimens, as 
well as for his assistance in investigating the whole collection, and for most 
of the localities and dates furnished hereafter, with notes on habits in some 
