ROTORUA 
451 
Whether it be the sulphurous fumes, the barren nature of the 
soil, the climate, or the combination of the three, I know not, but 
the Hot Lakes district has an evil repute as a collecting ground, 
and certainly my experience goes to confirm that of the Hew 
Zealand entomologists. On the whole the hotel itself was the most 
productive spot; this is said in no bad sense as implying any undue 
abundance or variety of species predaceous on man, but refers to the 
harmless frequenters of the electric lights. 
The commonest Noctua was unquestionably Persectania ewingi, 
Westw. ( Melanchra comjoosita , Guen., of Mr. Hudson’s book), 1 of 
which I took fourteen; *Morrisonia mutans, Walk., which used to 
turn up later in the evenings, came second in numbers; *Hyssia 
moderate/, , Walk., was a good third, with eight specimens; *Buxoa 
admirationis, Guen. ( sericea , Butl.), running it close with seven. Of 
the delicate Cosmodes elegans, I was fortunate in securing four, but 
it does not appear to be easy to get this insect in good condition; 
Mr. A. Hamilton does not look upon it as a common insect; its 
general colour is reddish-brown with bright emerald-green markings 
neatly outlined with white, but it looks very pale when on the wing. 
Another Australasian 2 species, Agrotis compta , Walk. ( Orthosia im - 
munis , Walk., of Mr. Hudson’s book), is very variable, one of my 
specimens being unicolorous purplish grey. Of the glossy purple- 
brown *Bityla defigurata, Walk., a single example turned up. Of two 
Chloridea obsoleta which came to the lights, one straightway betook 
itself to a double White Dahlia which stood in a flower vase; like too 
many a tourist, its first idea on reaching its destination was to have 
a drink. This thirsty soul was orange-tinted, approaching Walker’s 
var. rubescens , but not quite attaining the full glory of many 
Australian specimens, which have the fore-wings pink. 
Besides these more or less well-known things there came no fewer 
than nine specimens of a pale, silvery-grey moth which appears to be 
undescribed. I have represented it in Plate VL, Fig. I. 3 To these 
should be added the Deltoid, *Bhapsa scotosialis, Walk. 
The Geometers visiting the lights were not so numerous: the 
grey *Coremia semisignata, Walk.; the yellow Anachloris sub- 
ochraria; Phrissogonus laticostatus, and the neatly marked Pug, 
Microdes guadristrigata , Walk. 
1 “ New Zealand Moths and Butterflies,” G. V. Hudson, F.E.S., 1898. 
2 I apply the term “Australasian” to species which occur in Australia, Tasmania, 
and New Zealand, but not elsewhere. 
3 Since described by Mr. G. W. Howes {Trans. New Zealand Inst., 1911), under 
the name of Morrisonia sequens, sp. nov . 
