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56 1X.—THE 
law, near Lake Wakatipu, at altitudes of about 3,000 feet 
above the sea-level. 
The expansion of the wings is about 13 inches. The fore- 
wings are dark bluish-grey, very sparsely speckled with silvery- 
white; the markings are blackish, more or less clouded with dull 
yellow; there is an indistinct double transverse line at the base; 
the first line is strongly dentate, also indistinct; the orbicular 
is round, thickly studded with whitish scales; there is a heavy 
jagged black transverse line across the middle of the wing; the 
reniform is often indistinct, partially clouded with dull yellow; 
the second line is very jagged with black and white dots at the 
extremities of the dentations; there are usually three cloudy 
black blotches on the sub-terminal line. The hind-wings are 
dark grey with grey cilia. 
Sometimes the bluish-grey colouring is replaced by 
dull greenish-grey, but otherwise there are no important 
variations. 
The egg is about one-thirtieth of an inch in diameter, 
spherical, much flattened; the micropyle is smooth with 
radiating ridges. Its colour is pale yellowish-white. 
When first hatched the larva is about ;%, inch long, of 
even thickness, pale greyish-green, with a very large 
ochreous -head and whitish lateral line; the two first pairs 
of prolegs are imperfectly developed; there are four rows 
of conspicuous black warts, and the larva is armed with 
numerous short, stout bristles. The egg-shell is devoured 
on emergence, and the infantile larva is extremely active. 
The food-plant no doubt consists of native grasses. After 
the first moult, the larva is clear apple-green with four 
white lines, the two lateral lines being the thickest; the 
ventral surface is yellowish; there is a row of black warts 
on each segment, each wart emitting a moderately long 
black bristle. 
The full-grown larva is about 14 inches long, slightly 
attenuated posteriorly ; the head is ight green and shining ; 
the body very vivid green, paler and bluer beneath; the 
second segment slightly yellowish; there is a very fine, 
white dorsal line, a conspicuous yellowish sub-dorsal line, 
a broad, white lateral line, and a series of minute whitish 
yellow specks between the lines; a few extremely minute 
bristles are situated above the lateral line, near the head 
and posterior extremity of the larva. 
The perfect insect’ appears from November till March. 
It is usually found on open, grassy country, or in river 
beds, generally at considerable elevations and is much 
attracted by sugar, blossoms and light. It occasionally flies 
in the daytime. The colouring of the fore-wings is protec- 
tive, resembling the blue rock surfaces on which the insect 
often rests. 
ALETIA TEMENAULA, 
(Leucania temenaula, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxxix. 106.) 
(Plate VII., fig. 18 4.) 
This very distinetly-marked species has occurred at 
Rakaia, at Wedderburn and Mount Ida, in Central Otago, 
and at Dunedin and Lake Wakatipu. 

NOCTUIDAE. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1% inches. The fore- 
wings are pale grey with blackish markings; the first line is 
distinct, moderately waved; the orbicular almost! round, whitish, 
edged with black; the claviform conical; the reniform large, 
ear-shaped, strongly margined with black towards the base and 
termen; there is a series of large black spots on the sub-terminal 
line, the spots gradually decreasing in size towards the dorsum; 
the sub-terminal line itself is whitish and there is-a series of 
minute black terminal marks. The hind-wings are whitish-grey. 
The perfect insect appears in March and April, and 
may be taken at sugar. It is found from sea-level to alti- 
tudes of about 3,000 feet. 
ALETIA FALSIDICA. 
(Hyssia falsidica, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xliii. 70; H. Hamiltoni, 
Hamps., Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., xii. 594.) 
(Plate VII., fig. 17 9.) 
This fine species has occurred on the Tararua Ranges 
in the North Island and in the South Island on Mount 
Arthur and on the high country around the head of Lake 
Wakatipu. 
: The expansion of the wings is from 12 to 1} inches. The 
fore-wings are pale grey thinly speckled with darker grey, the 
markings are black; there is a broken transverse line near the 
base; the first line, which is very deeply indented, extends from 
about 4 of costa to 4 of dorsum; the claviform is cone-shaped 
and the orbicular oval, both having whitish centres; the reni- 
form is very large, ear-shaped, greyish-ochreous, containing a 
curved white line and surrounded by a blackish-brown shading; 
the second line is extremely jagged, blackish, irregularly edged 
with white; there is ua very broad, conspicuous sub-terminal line, 
also strongly indented; a greyish terminal band and a series of 
black terminal dots. The hind-wings are greyish-ochreous, with 
a series of dark grey terminal dots. The. cilia of all the wings 
are pale brownish-ochreous. 
The perfect insect appears in February and is found 
on high, open, country at about 4,000 feet above the sea- 
level, but is very rarely met with. It is more frequently 
observed flying in the daytime than most members of the 
family. 
ALETIA PACHYSCIA. 
(Leucania pachyscia, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst, xxxix. 106.) 
This very obscure and doubtful species has occurred 
on Mount Arthur and on the high country around Lake. 
Wakatipu at an elevation of about 4,700 feet above the 
sea-level. 
It closely resembles Aletia falsidica, from which it 
is apparently distinguished by its smaller size, much less 
distinct markings, ‘‘ whitish ground colour and strong dark 
praesubterminal shade.’’ 
The perfect insect appears in January, and is found 
on open country above the ordinary limit of forest. 
ALETIA CUNEATA. 
(Aletia cuneata, Philp., Trans, N.Z. Inst., xlviii. 420; Aletia 
dentata, Philp., ib. liv. 148.) 
(Plate IX., fig. 19 9.) 
This very distinct, though rather obscurely-marked 
species was discovered by Mr. J. H. Lewis at Ophir, Cen- 
