Fereday, — On Danais berenice, 185 



more than Pyrameis itea, Hamadryas zoilus, or Diadema holina {cmge, Cramer), 

 the two former of which occur in Australia, and the latter in the East Indies, 

 as well as in New Zealand ? I think it far more reasonable to suppose that 

 at some distant time New Zealand and Australia were connected with Asia 

 by the present intermediate islands and other land now submerged, or so 

 nearly connected that winged insects might have passed from the one locality 

 to the other. The identity of many Australian and New Zealand sj)ecies of 

 insects with species inhabiting China and the East Indies tends to favour such 

 supposition. 



The occuri-ence of Danais berenice in New Zealand, after not having been 

 seen in the colony for some years previously, would seem to be analogous to 

 the intermittent occurrence in Britain of Vanessa antiopa, Golias edusa, 

 Sterrlwj sacra, and some other species of Lepidoptera which have not yet been 

 satisfactorily accounted for, although many entomologists think it due to some 

 peculiar condition of climate or other circumstance necessary to the develop- 

 ment of these insects, and that they lie dormant in the ova or pupa state until 

 the happening of such condition or circumstance. 



Whether the theory of the introduction of this butterfly into Australia and 

 New Zealand has been supported by any argument or evidence I am not 

 aware, but, in opposition to such theory, I would add the following remarks to 

 the arguments I have already used :^- 

 Firstly. As to its introduction purposely. 



We have no record of such introduction, and it is not likely that anyone 

 would take the trouble to introduce it. 



It possesses no value but as an ornament, and that it would be selected 

 from among so many far more handsome and attractive butterflies is highly 

 improbable. 



I know of no instance of successful attempts to introduce a living butterfly 

 from one disconnected country to another, and the ova of butterflies are not 

 readily procured, neither are the larvae easily reared. 



The appearance of the butterfly at Hawke Bay and Hokitika — places so 

 far apart — without any record of its occurrence in intermediate localities, is 

 inconsistent with the theory of its introduction purposely, iinless we ai-e to 

 suppose that the introdiiction was repeated, or that the person introducing it 

 took the trouble of introducing it at both places. 

 Secondly. As to its introduction accidentally. 



The " blown-over" theory entertained by many entomologists with respect 

 to the appearance in England of butterflies rarely seen there, but common on 

 the continent of Europe, cannot be reasonably applied in this case. That a 

 butterfly could be blown over such an expanse of ocean as it m\ist travel over 

 to reach New Zealand seems to me impossible. Even were it strong enough 



