IX.—THE NOCTUIDAE. 49 
thorax is reddish-brown, and the abdomen is grey tipped with 
reddish-brown; the upper joints of the tarsi of the anterior legs 
are white. 
There are two rather distinct forms of this species, 
one being considerably darker than the other. The fore- 
wings of the paler form are orange-brown, of the darker 
form reddish-brown. I have not yet found any inter- 
mediate varieties which connect these two forms, but the 
differences between them do not appear sufficient to 
warrant their specific separation. 
The larva feeds on nettle (Urtica). 
The perfect insect appears in January, February, and 
March. It frequents the blossoms of the white rata, where 
it occasionally may be taken in the daytime, but more 
frequently at night. 
This species is common in Australia, and reaches the 
New Hebrides. 
Sub-family 2.—POo.tapDEs. 
Eyes glabrous but overhung by long cilia from margins; 
tibiae not spinose. 
Genus 5.—AUSTRAMATHES, Hamps. 
Face without prominence. Terminal joint of palpi rather 
long. Antennae in male ciliated. Thorax with divided anterior 
and spreading posterior crests. Abdomen without crests. 
An endemie genus of somewhat doubtful affinity, it is 
not very distinct, but the palpi are rather characteristic. 
We have one species in New Zealand. 
AUSTRAMATHES PURPUREA. 
(Graphiphora purpurea, Butl., Cist. Ent., ii. 490; Xanthia 
ceramodes, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xix. 31; X. purpurea, ib., xx. 
46.) 
(Plate VII., fig. 3 9; Plate I., fig. 26 larva.) 
This handsome species has been found at Wellington 
in the North Island, and at Dunedin in the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is 14 inches. The fore-wings 
are very deep, rich, glossy reddish-brown with several scattered 
whitish scales; there is a distinct! yellow mark on the costa at 
about one-fourth, forming the beginning of a broken transverse 
line; the orbicular is small, round, and yellowish; the reniform 
is small, crescentic and yellowish, the space between the orbi- 
cular and the reniform is very dark blackish-brown; beyond the 
reniform there is a conspicuous white mark on the costa form- 
ing the beginning of a second broken transverse line; a third 
shaded line is situated near the termen. The hind-wings are 
pale brown with a dark spot in the middle, very conspicuous on 
the under surface. 
The full-grown larva is about 14 inches long, 
moderately stout and of uniform thickness. The head is 
ochreous, with a black stripe on each side; the back of 
the larva is dark greyish-green, and the under surface 
pale greenish-ochreous; there is a rather large, shining, 
black mark above each spiracle; the dorsal, sub-dorsal and 
lateral lines are orange-yellow and very conspicuous, the 
two upper lines being very much broken; there are several 
minute black warts below the spiracles, and a series of 
D 
very small black marks on the orange dorsal line. It feeds 
during the spring and early summer on Melicytus rami- 
florus. When full-grown it constructs a strong cocoon of 
moss and silk on the surface of the ground, remaining 
therein for some weeks before it is transformed into a 
pupa. 
The perfect insect appears in March and April, hyber- 
nated specimens being sometimes met with in August and 
September, or even in the depth of winter. It is usually 
taken at sugar or at light, but is not a common species. 

Genus 6.—ANDESIA, Hamps. 
Face without prominence. Antennae in male ciliated. 
Thorax with anterior angles ridged and projecting and with 
anterior and posterior crests. Abdomen with crest on basal seg- 
ment. 
This genus is represented in New Zealand by one 
species, which bears considerable superficial resemblance 
to A. oenistis recorded by Hampson from Argentina, a 
most interesting identification. 
ANDESIA PESSOTA. 
(Miselia pessota, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xix. 29.) 
CRIatemVib atts wel) 
This little species has occurred at Wanganui and Wel- 
lington in the North Island, and at Lake Coleridge, Rakaia, 
and Lake Wakatipu in the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. The fore-wings are 
dull purplish-brown; there is an oblong black mark at the base 
of the dorsum containing a slender curved white line; the orbi- 
cular is rather small, round, margined first with dull white and 
then with black; the reniform is large, oblong, dull white, mar- 
gined with pale ochreous towards the base of the wing; there is 
a conspicuous oblong black mark between the orbicular and reni- 
form stigmata. The hind-wings are dull grey, with the cilia 
paler, 
The perfect insect appears in January, and is usually 
taken at sugar. It is a rare species. : 
Genus 7—HOMOHADENA, Grote. 
Face without prominence. Antennae in male ciliated. 
Thorax without crests. Abdomen without crest. 
There is only one New Zealand species. 
HOMOHADENA FORTIS. 
(Orthosia fortis, Butl. Cist. Ent. ii. 549; Miselia iota, Huds., 
Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxxv. 243, pl. xxx. 3.) 
(Plate sViy, eel oe) 
This very distinctly-marked little insect has occurred 
in the North Island at Wellington. In the South Island 
it has been found in the Marlborough province, at Lake 
Wakatipu and Invercargill. 
The expansion of the wings is a little over 1 inch. The 
fore-wings are dull brownish-ochreous finely speckled with black; 
there is a conspicuous hook-shaped black mark close to the base, 
a sharp black mark on the costa at about 4, a clouded wavy 
line near the middle of the wing, darker on the costa, a sharp 

