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black mark on the costa just beyond this, followed by a wavy 
band of dark brownish-black, very mvuch broader on the costa 
than on the dorsum, and bordered with a pale wavy line towards 
the termen. The hind-wings are dark brownish-black. The cilia 
of the fore-wings are brownish-ochreous, of the hind-wings dark- 
grey. The head and thorax are brownish-ochreous, and the abdo- 
men grey. There are two conspicuous black marks on the ante- 
rior portion of the thorax. 
The perfect insect may be found from August till 
April. It is apparently a very rare species in most places, 
although common at Titahi Bay, near Wellington, and at 
Lake Wakatipu. 
Sub-family 3.—MELANCHRIDES. 
Eyes hairy; tibiae not spinose. 
Genus 8.—ICHNEUTICA, Meyr. 
Face without prominence. Antennae in male strongly bipec- 
tinated to apex. Thorax clothed with hair without crests. 
Abdomen without crest. 
An endemic genus represented by seven species, of 
which only one occurs in the North Island. 
ICHNEUTICA DIONE. 
(Ichneutica dione, Huds., N.Z. Moths, 14.) 
(Plate Viojpne. 22a.) 
This interesting species was discovered by Mr. C. W. 
Palmer, on Mount Arthur, Nelson, at an elevation of about 
4.400 feet. It has also been found at Waiho Gorge and 
on Mount Cleughearn, Hunter Mountains, Southland. 
The expansion of the wings is 14 inches. The fore-wings are 
dull blackish-brown, darker near the middle; there is a rather 
oblique, white, longitudinal stripe below the middle from about 
one-eighth to one-third; above this there is a very conspicuous, 
large, elongate white mark; this mark has a semicircular inden- 
tation above, probably representing the orbicular; another inden- 
tation towards the termen, probably representing the reniform, 
and below this it emits two short teeth-like projections; beyond 
these markings the ground colour becomes paler, and is traversed 
by an obscure, jagged, transverse line; the cilia are grey. The 
hind-wings are pale grey; the cilia are also grey. The body is 
dark brownish-black. The pectinations of the antennae are 
slightly shorter than in Ichneutica cerdunias. 
This species varies in the ground colour, which is 
sometimes clouded with reddish-brown; the whitish diseal 
marking is also variable, and is sometimes divided. 
The perfect insect appears in January, but is 
evidently very rare. It frequents open, grassy country 
between about 3,500 and 4,500 feet above the sea-level. 
Mr. Philpott informs me that it is very partial to the 
flowers of Dracophyllum longifoliwm. Like I. cerawnias, 
it will readily take wing during the daytime. 
ICHNEUTICA CERAUNIAS. 
(Ichneutica ceraunias, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xix. 13.) 
(Plate VI., fig. 5 @; 6 9; 4 dark variety of @.) 
This very handsome species was discovered by Mr. 
Meyrick on the Tableland of Mount Arthur, where it seems 
to be fairly common, It has also occurred on Mount’ 

IX.—THE NOCTUIDAE. 
Egmont, Mount Ruapehu and on the Tararua Range, in 
the North Island, and at Mount Grey, Arthur’s Pass, Mace- 
town, Tuturau, Waipori, Hunter Mountains, and on the 
Lake Harris Saddle, near Lake Wakatipu, in the South 
Island. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is 1? inches, of the 
female 2 inches. The fore-wings of the male are rich orange- 
brown, paler towards, the base. There are two very broad, 
longitudinal, yellowish stripes, one on the costa and the other 
on the dorsum. The costal stripe divides into two branches 
before itis termination, one of which is produced downwards; 
there is also a conspicuous white mark a little beyond the middle 
of the wing emitting two tooth-like projections towards the ter- 
men, and two narrow, dark brown streaks near the base of the 
wing. The hind-wings are dark brownish-grey. The head, thorax, 
and abdomen are yellowish-brown, and the antennae are very 
strongly bipectinated. The female has much narrower wings, 
the ground colouring is pale brown, the markings are dull yellow 
and the hind-wings pale ochreous. 
This species varies considerably in the intensity of 
the markings, and in the depth of the ground colour 
which, in southern specimens, is much clouded with dark 
brown, especially in the vicinity of the longitudinal 
streaks. 
_ The perfect insect appears in December and January, 
frequenting high open country at an altitude of about 
3,900 feet above the sea-level. It is sometimes seen flying 
wildly in hot sunshine, but is more often attracted by 
light. 
ICHNEUTICA LINDSAYI. 
(Ichneutica lindsayi, Philp., Trans. N.Z. Inst., lvi. 387.) 
(Plate VI, fig. 8 @.) 
This very handsome insect was discovered by Mr. S. 
Lindsay, on the slopes of the Hunter Mountains, towards 
Lake Manapouri, at an elevation, of 4,000 feet above sea- 
level. 
The expansion of the wings of the male is almost 12 inches. 
The fore-wings are dark brown; there is an elongate trapezoidal 
patch of pale ochreous on the costa from the base to about 3, 
considerably broader towards apex, its apical termination being 
inwards curved; a very much smaller elliptical patch is situated 
in the disc below this; the extreme basal portion of the wing is 
blackish, and the veins, except on the ochreous patch, are clearly 
marked in black. The hind-wings are greyish-ochreous, darker 
towards termen. The head and thorax are clothed with shaggy 
reddish-brown hair. The abdomen is blackish-brown, slightly 
tinged with purple. 
The perfect msect appears in January, and may be 
looked for amongst’ the mountains in the extreme south. 
Described and figured from specimen submitted by 
Mr. Philpott. 
ICHNEUTICA CANA. 
(Ichneutica cana, Howes, Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlvi. 96.) 
(Plate IX., fig. 15 @.) 
This fine insect was discovered by Mr. Howes on the 
Garvie Mountains, near Lake Wakatipu, at an altitude of 
about 2,000 feet above the sea level. 
