182 
MICROLEPIDOPTERA OE NEW GUINEA 
Aeolostoma and Antiopala are of Australian origin; Harmologa was 
described from New Zealand but probably occurs also in Australia, as is 
said above (p. 941). These three genera, represented by a single endemic 
species each, are of no especial importance, apparently having a con- 
siderable vertical distribution; discovery of more species from other parts 
of New Guinea may be expected in future. 
The remaini ng four apodemic genera, or at least three of them, are of 
great interest, as their occurrence in this alpine region is highly remarkable. 
They are: 
Cosmiotes (Elachistidae), a small genus, with two species in Central 
Europe and three in North America; in the Snow Mountains it is repre- 
sented by C. epicaeria spec, nov., structurally allied to the North American 
C. scopulicola! 
Ochromolopis (Epermeniidae), with a single species in South Europe and 
North America. 0. oculigera, and the allied 0. bidentata, are new species 
from Letterbox Camp. 
Eidophasia (Plutellidae) ; three species from Europe. E. peristigma, is 
a new species from Letterbox Camp. 
Argyresthia (Yponomeutidae), except for a few stragglers, is confined 
to Europe and North America; in Australia a single species occurs, in 
New Zealand none; the genus is represented by A. nivifraga spec, nov., 
of uncertain affinity, collected in both Letterbox and Scree Valley Camps. 
How these representatives of remote faunas of temperate regions did 
arrive in the heart of New' Guinea is a question which we are not able to 
answer. May these species be regarded as relicts of an old fauna and do 
they, consequently, represent what may be defined as the true alpine 
element? We are inclined to answer in the affirmative. 
The fauna and flora of remote mount ain tops is coni parable with that 
of isolated islands. Their origin is as far not explained but two main 
theories have been brought forward for the solution of this problem. One 
hypothesis is that dispersal of plant seeds and small animals, like insects, 
is possible across very large stretches of land and sea e.g., by wind currents ; 
classical advocates of this theory are Darwin and Wallace. Another 
theory is that remote faunas and floras cannot have originated by the aid 
of any kind of dispersal during present times, and regards typically alpine 
elements of these faunas and floras as relicts of ancient land connections; 
a classical author of this view' is E. Forbes. As far as w'e could ascertain, 
the majority of the present zoologists and botanists is in favour of the 
latter theory, without discrediting the former altogether. 
If we assume that Argyresthia is a plastic genus with considerable 
vertical distribution, there still remain three other genera representing 
faunas of temperate regions ; for an explanation of their presence may serve 
the second theory, that of the historical zoogeography, which means that 
they must be regarded as originating from temperate zones, arrived in the 
Snow Mountains through migration along mountain ranges since dis- 
