468 
NEW ZEALAND 
Perhaps the commonest Noctua was the pretty green * Morrisonia 
plena, which came in considerable numbers; then there were many 
*M. prionistis; several *M. ustistriga; a single *M. homoscia; numerous 
* M. mutans , variable as its name implies; of * M. decorata, Philpott, 
a species only recently detected, I was fortunate in securing seven; 
two * M. agorastis, Meyrk.; several * M. slip ata, Walk., a rather large 
species, notable for the curious tufts of long hair which adorn the 
sides of the abdomen of the male; a few of the handsome dark 
* M. tartaraea, Butl., turned up, together with * M. ochthistis, Meyrk. 
(■ vitiosa , Hudson, nec Butler), and * M. vitiosa, Butl. ( proteastis, 
Meyrk.). The last two species are decidedly confusing, though un¬ 
questionably distinct; they were somewhat mixed up even at South 
Kensington. Of the dark shiny * Austramathes purpurea , Butl., with 
its overhanging eyelashes, I took two. Persectania ewingi had by 
this time ceased to be of much account, but * P. atristriga still 
interested me somewhat. * Hyssia moderata came alone to the 
treacle, but of * Leucania sulcana, Eereday, I got two, and of * Tmeto - 
lophota propria, Walk., three specimens. In contrast to these the 
singular and beautiful * Prana graminosa, Walk., which when living 
is of a brilliant green, was quite common. So much of its long and 
ample hind-wings as projects beyond the skimpy, both short and 
narrow, fore-wings is of the same green colour as they are. This 
moth would have interested M. Oudemans. 1 I much regret that I 
never saw this insect at rest under natural conditions. The curious 
Deltoid, * Bhapsa scotosialis, was fairly common, but I was not able 
to detect any scent in connection with the tuft of hairs under the 
costa of the male. 
Among the autumn Geometers, which seem in New Zealand to be 
as fond of sugar as are the Noctuae, the most remarkable were 
certainly those of the genus Peclana and its allies, a group that would 
appear to be confined to the Antipodes. As I said before, they are 
stoutly made, shaggy insects, which look like gigantic caricatures of 
Peroneids, or perhaps Notodontids, rather than Geometers. * Declana 
floccosa and * Anatossa niveata, Butl., were both fairly common. The 
Boarmiid, * Selidosema panagrata, turned up in some numbers, but 
* Hemerophila dejectaria was not as common as I had found it on the 
Wanganui. Two specimens of * Xynonia alectoraria, Walk., were so 
very different that I was for some time disposed to think them 
distinct species, and to call the more aberrant * X. achroiaria, Feld., 
but until evidence to the contrary—by breeding—is forthcoming, it 
is best to consider them conspecific, as I believe Mr. Howes does. 
1 See Chapter X., § li, infra. 
