Meyrick. — On New Zealand Geometrina. 55 



exactly analogous to Crambiis, 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 Ennomidee 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 Arsinoe 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. Staiira and 

 Dasyuris are local developments of Pasithea. (Jidaria, the most cosmopolitan 

 genus of the group, though less developed here tban 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. B. 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 



