IX.—THE 
it was quite a common insect in the neighbourhood of 
Wellington, but it is now rarely met with, and its numbers 
seem to be declining in most localities. 
The expansion of the wings is from 14 to 1}? inches. The 
fore-wings are pale yellowish-brown, sometimes tinged with red. 
There is an irregular band of dull grey or brown near the ter- 
men; the reniform is small, and blackish; the orbicular minute, 
also blackish; the claviform is obsolete; there are several very 
indistinct traces of transverse lines towards the base of the 
wing. The hind-wings are dull yellow, with a very broad, black- 
ish, terminal band. The head and thorax are yellowish-brown, 
and the abdomen is dull yellow. 
This insect varies a good deal in the ground colouring 
of the fore-wings, which ranges from dull yellow to brick- 
red, or even to dark yellowish-brown. The hind-wings 
~ are also much darker in some specimens than in others. 
The larva feeds on the seeds and flowers of various 
plants. It is extremely variable in its colouring. 
Some specimens are dull green, with a few obscure red 
spots on the sides of the anterior segments. Others are brownish- 
black, with many fine yellow stripes and dots, and the red spots 
confined to the three anterior segments. Others, again, have 
numerous olive-green, white, and pale green lines, with a reddish 
blotch on the side of nearly every segment. 
This caterpillar is often rather destructive in gardens. 
Amongst other things, it devours tomatoes and peas, the 
flowers and young fruit of pumpkins and _ vegetable 
marrows, the flowers and leaves of geraniums, veronicas, 
ete. It is full grown in the autumn. 
The pupa is concealed in the earth, the insect remain- 
ing in this condition until the following summer. 
The moth appears in January and February. It often 
flies by day, and may then be seen disporting itself 
amongst the flowers of the Seotch thistle. Its larva may 
also be found feeding on these flowers. 
This insect is practically cosmopolitan; it has occurred 
in the following countries: Australia, Samoa, India, 
Ceylon, Madagasear, Africa, Europe, North and South 
America. 
Genus 2.—EUXOA, Hiibn. 
Face with small truncate-conical prominence with raised 
rim. Antennae in male bipectinated, towards apex simple. 
Thorax with rather spreading anterior and posterior crests. 
Abdomen without crests. 
An extensive cosmopolitan genus represented in New 
Zealand by three species. 
EUXOA RADIANS. 
(Huxoa radians, Guen., Noct., i., 261; munda, Walk., Cat., 
x., 348; basinotata, ib. xv., 1686; turbulenta, ib., xxxii., 703; 
injuncta, ib., xxxii., 703; scapularis, Feld., Reis. Noy. pl. 110, 
33) ; 
(Plate VI., fig. 25 2.) 
This pretty species has occurred at Rotorua, Ohakune, 
Tararua Ranges, and Wellington, in the North Island, and 
at Dunedin, Alexandra and Invereargill, in the South 
Island, but seems to be rarely met with. 
The fore-wings are pale brownish-grey, darker towards the 
termen; the markings are dark brown and very conspicuous; 
NOCTUIDAE. 47 
the claviform is very elongate; the orbicular small, irregularly- 
oval, edged first with white, then with dark brown; the reniform 
large, edged with dark brown; there is a brown streak which 
partially envelopes the orbicular and reniform; the first and 
second lines are indicated on the costa by whitish bars, other- 
wise indistinct; there is a series of confluent terminal dots. The 
hind-wings are pearly-white, slightly iridescent; there is a brown 
apical shading and the veins and termen are finely and clearly 
marked in brown. The antennae of the male are shortly bi- 
pectinated from the base to about 4%, thence simple to apex. 
The perfect insect appears from October till February, 
and has been taken at blossoms. It is common in Australia, 
and is also found in the Friendly Islands and at Norfolk 
Island. 
EUXOA ADMIRATIONIS. 
(Agrotis admirationis, Guen., Ent. Mo. Mag., v., 38; Oher- 
sotis sericea, Butl., Cist. Ent. ii., 490; Agrotis inconspicua, Butl., 
Cist. Ent., ii..545; Agrotis veda, Howes, Trans. N.Z. Inst., xxxviii. 
Hil) 
CPlates Vil, fies (aa) 
Although nowhere common this species appears to be 
generally distributed throughout both North and South 
Islands. 
The expansion of the wings is about 14 inches. The fore- 
wings vary from very pale grey to pale reddish-grey; there is 
an obscure transverse line near the base, and another at about 
one-fourth; the orbicular is oval and dark centred, the claviform 
is elongate, often very obscure, the reniform. is broad, dark cen- 
tred, usually joined to the orbicular by a dark patch; all the 
stigmata are outlined in black; beyond the reniform there is a 
rather jagged transverse line, and several faint wedge-shaped 
markings; there is a series of minute elongate black marks on 
the termen; the cilia are grey with three dark lines. The hind- 
wings are grey with a series of fine black marks on the termen; 
the cilia are white. ‘ 
This species is very variable, both in the depth of the 
ground colour and in markings. 
The perfect insect appears from October till March. 
It is usually taken at sugar. 
EUXOA CEROPACHOIDES. 
(Agrotis ceropachoides, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. vy. 39; Meyr., Trans. 
N.Z. Inst. xix. 34.) 
(Plate VIL. fig. 4 4.) 
This species has occurred at Nelson, and at Rakaia and 
Porter’s Pass, in Canterbury. 
The expansion of the wings is 1} inches. The fore-wings 
are bluish-grey, dotted and streaked with darker grey; there are 
no distinct markings, except that the first and second lines are 
obscurely paler than the rest of the wing and there is a series 
of blackish terminal dots; the costa is slightly concave. The 
hind-wings are grey, paler towards the base, with a dark line on 
the termen; the cilia of all the wings are grey. 
The perfect insect has been taken in February, July, 
August and September. 
Described and figured from a specimen in the Fereday 
collection. 
Genus 3.—AGROTIS, Ochs. 
Face without prominence. Antennae in male bipectinated, 
towards apex simple. Thorax with anterior and posterior crests. 

