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LEUCANIA PURDII. 
(Leucania purdii, Fer., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xv. 195.) 
(Plate Vi. figs, 18 9.) 
This large and conspicuous species has oceurred on 
Mount’ Egmont, the Tararua Ranges and at Wellington, in 
the North Island. In the South Island it has been found 
at Dunedin, and in the Routeburn Valley, near the head 
of Lake Wakatipu. 
The expansion of the wings is from 2 to 2} inches. The 
fore-wings are dull brownish-crimson; there are two broad, 
shaded, yellow, longitudinal streaks above and below the middle; 
the costa is margined with yellow near the base, and the dorsum 
is yellow throughout it's entire length; the cilia are deep orange. 
The hind-wings are dark grey, and the cilia yellow. 
There is considerable variation im the extent of the 
clouded yellow longitudinal streaks. 
The larva, according to Mr. Howes,* is about 2 inches 
in length, ochreous with a pink flush; there is a double 
brown dorsal line; another line from the eye with deep 
brown marks on each segment, and a brown lateral 
line with black dots on each segment. It feeds 
on Astelia, apparently during the winter months, 
becoming full-grown about the end of October. This 
caterpillar rests in a gap, cut out of the leaf of the 
Astelia, in which position it is extremely inconspicuous. 
It feeds by night, retreating into the interior of the plant 
during the daytime. The pupa is enclosed in a slight 
cocoon. 
The perfect insect appears from December till March, 
but is rarely met with. 
LEUCANIA ACONTISTIS. 
(Leucania acontistis, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xix. 9.) 
(Plate sVil) fe worms.) 
This rather obseure-looking species has occurred at 
Castle Hill, Ida Valley, Central Otago, Dunedin and 
Inverearegill. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1% inches. The fore- 
wings are dull ochreous-brown; the veins are slightly darker; 
there is a fine black longitudinal stripe from the base to about 
4 and three very indistinct broad pale longitudinal bands, situ- 
ated below the apex, along the centre, and above the dorsum 
respectively. The hind-wings are pale yellowish-grey. The cilia 
of all the wings are dull ochreous. 
The perfect insect appears from October to January, 
frequenting open grassy country. It is usually taken at 
sugar. 
LEUCANIA UNICA. 
(Leucania unica, Walk., Cat. ix. 112; Butl., Voy. Ereb., pl. ix. 9, 
Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xix. 10. Nonagria juncicolor, Gn., 
Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 2.) 
(Plate VL, fig. 2 4.) 
This rather dull-looking species has occurred at 
Waiouru and Ohakune, in the North Island, and at Blen- 

* Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlvi. 98. 

IX.—THE NOCTUIDAE, 
heim, Rakaia, Dunedin, Lake Wakatipu, Alexandra, and 
Macetown, in the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is slightly under 14 inches. The 
forewings are dull ochreous brown; there is a rather thick 
blackish streak along the lower margin of the cell and the veins 
are irregularly dotted with blackish. The hind-wings are greyish- 
ochreous. The antennae of the male are shortly bipectinated. 
Mr. Philpott points out that Dunedin examples are 
darker and have the veins less clearly marked with blackish 
than the mountain forms. There seems also to be a more 
frequent tendeney to the presence of a subterminal series 
of black points across the wing. 
The perfect insect appears from November till Feb- 
ruary. It is found on open tussock country, where it is 
usually taken at sugar. 
This insect closely resembles Leucania phaula, but in 
that species the antennae of the male are dentate. 
LEUCANIA PAGATA, 
(Leucania pagaia, Huds., Sub Ant. Islds. of N.Z., i. 67.) 
(Plate IX., fig. 20 ¢.) 
This species was discovered by Dr. Benham, on the 
Snares, during the seientifie expedition to the islands south 
of New Zealand, in November, 1907. 
The expansion of the wings is 13 inches. The head and 
thorax are rather dark brownish-ochreous, very densely scaled, 
the latter with a slight anterior crest. The abdomen is paler. 
‘The antennae are reddish-brown, moderately bipectinated, the 
pectinations without ciliations. The forewings are rather broad, 
with the apex rounded, and the termen very oblique towards the 
tornus, brownish-ochreous slightly tinged with greenish; the 
markings are very obscure, consisting of four minute black dots 
marking the boundaries of the reniform stigmata, a group of 
blackish scales a little before the end of vein 1; four small 
patches of blackish scales between veins 2 and 3, 3 and 4, 4 and 
5, 5 and 6 respectively. The hind-wings are rather dark brown- 
ish-ochreous, slightly reddish-tinged. The cilia of all the wings 
are ochreous. 
This species is closely allied to Lewcania wnca, but 
may be distinguished by the slight greenish tinge, the 
absence of the ciliations on the pectinations of the 
antennae and the characteristic though minute blackish 
markings on the forewings. 
Described and figured from the single specimen eap- 
tured by Dr. Benham. 
LEUCANIA TORONEURA. 
(Leucania toroneura, Meyr., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1901, 565, 
Hamps., Cat. v., 591, pl. xevi. 1.) 
(PlatemVic ie toe a) 
This very neatly-marked little species has oceurred 
abundantly around Lake Pukaki, near Mount Cook. 
The expansion of the wings is barely 1} inches. The fore 
wings are pale dull ochreous with the veins clearly and continu- 
ously marked in blackish-grey; the cilia are ochreous, faintly 
barred with grey. The hind-wings are pale bronzy-ochreous-grey, 
with the veins slightly darker; the cilia are ochreous. 
Easily recognised by its small size and the clear vein- 
ing of the fore-wings. The perfect insect) appears in 
