VI—THE BUTTERFLIES. 37 
The expansion of the wings varies from 14 to 14 inches. 
On the upper side all the wings are brilliant shining copper, with 
black markings. The fore-wings have three black spots near the 
middle, then a row of black spots, often forming a band nearly 
parallel with the termen, and another row on the termen, gener- 
ally touching the narrow black border of the wing. The hind- 
wings resemble the fore-wings, except that there is only one 
elongate spot in the centre, and the terminal series of spots is 
nearly always separated from the black border. In the female 
the black spots are united and form bands, those on the termen 
often having violet or blue centres. The veins in both sexes are 
indicated by black lines, which are often double in the male, 
when the vein itself is ,coppery. On the under-side the fore- 
wings are orange-brown, bordered with yellow; the spots resemble 
those of the upper-side, except that the terminal series are gener- 
ally faint or obsolete towards the costa. The hind-wings vary 
from light yellow to pale dull brown; the spots are dull greyish, 
the posterior series often having white centres. 
From the foregoing it will be seen that the variation 
in this insect is considerable. After a careful examina- 
tion of a large number of specimens taken at various 
localities in both North and South Islands, I am, however, 
unable to find characters of sufficient constancy to entitle 
any of the forms to specifig rank. One of the most strik- 
ing of these varieties appears to be that’ described by Mr. 
Bates as Chrysophanus feredayi.* (See Plate V., fig. 25, 
upper side; 24, under side.) On the upper surface it has 
the central series of spots almost forming a band in the 
male, and the coppery ground colour is paler than in the 
typical form. On the under side the borders of the fore- 
wings, and the whole of the hind-wings are dull brown. 
This form is identical with C. rawparaha, Fereday.t C. 
maw, Fereday, is evidently that variety of the male having 
very small spots and the veins bordered with two fine 
black lines. The female of C. mawi was never found, but 
this is readily accounted for by the fact, that the female 
of C. maw is nothing more than the female of C. salustius. 
As regards topographical variation, it appears prob- 
able that South Island specimens generally have the black 
borders on both the fore- and hind-wings slightly wider 
than specimens from the North Island. (Plate V. fig. 26.) 
Individuals captured on high mountains, between 4,000 and 
5000 feet above the sea level, very often have the dark 
markings faint but much suffused, the whole insect having 
a more or less dull or dusky appearance, with the ecoppery 
colouring often reduced to chains of oblong marks (fig. 20). 
The forms previously known as Chrysophanus feredayi, 
with the brown or greenish-brown underside to the hind- 
wings, occur at Auckland and at Nelson, the common forms 
being found associated with them. Specimens taken on 
the sea-coast are usually smaller than those found inland, 
and have the coppery colour yellower and less lustrous; 
the female of the coastal form nearly always has distinct 
blue or violet marginal spots. (Plate V., fig. 74, 89.) 
The small coastal form is also often taken on moun- 
tains at considerable elevations. Exceptional aberrations 
of Chrysophanus salustius, differing markedly from the 

* Wnt. Mon. Mag. iv. p. 53. +‘ Trans. N.Z. Inst.’ ix. 460; x. 252. 
usual forms, are extremely rarely met with. In some of 
these the dark markings are very heavy and much suffused, 
either on both pairs of wings or on the hind-wings only. 
One very interesting variety having the usual sub- 
marginal rows of spots absent is represented on Plate V., 
figs 9; 
The eggs of C. salusttws are deposited singly on 
undersides of the leaves of Miihlenbeckia. They are hemi- 
spherical considerably flattened, bluish-green, and covered 
with white reticulations, the whole egg having an irregular 
honeycombed appearance when magnified. They become 
uniform pale yellow before hatching. The young larva is 
shaped somewhat like a wood-louse. The head is quite 
hidden by the three anterior segments, which are much 
larger than the rest. After the first moult the larva 
becomes bright green, with a crimson line down the back; 
the head is then larger, and the three anterior segments 
considerably reduced. This stage occurs in the late 
autumn, and the larva then hybernates, coming abroad to 
feed early in September, and attaining its full size about 
the end of October. The full-grown larva is five-eighths of 
an inch in length, elliptical, slightly tapering posteriorly, 
dark green (not so vivid as the larva of Chrysophanus 
enysit) ; there is generally a darker green, or dull reddish, 
dorsal line, and a few very obscure greenish, or dull 
reddish-green marks on each side; under a powerful lens 
(<x 10) the whole surface is seen to be speckled with 
minute white dots and short reddish bristles. 
The pupa, which is about three-eighths of an inch in 
length, is stout, with the segmental divisions obscure; pale 
yellow, tinged with green; the wing-cases and thorax are 
streaked with pale reddish--brown; there is a large cres- 
eentic black mark on the eye; an oblong black mark at 
the base of the wing; seven rows of alternate large and 
small black dots on each side of the abdomen, these form- 
ing a row around each segment. The head, anterior 
portion, and cremaster are somewhat brownish. There is 
slight variation in the number of the black spots. The 
pupa is unattached, resting on the ground amongst dead 
leaves, ete. 
The perfect insect usually appears about the first 
week in November. It is commonest in January, and 
continues abundant until the end of March or beginning 
ef April. 
Messrs. H. W. Simmonds and R. M. Sunley inform 
me that in certain restricted spots on the northern shores 
of Cook Strait, having a very sunny aspect, this butterfly 
is to be met with all the year round. From this cireum- 
stanee, and from its continuous appearance for over six 
months in most localities, it is clear that there must be 
more than one brood in a season, but I have never been 
able to discover any line of demarcation between successive 
broods. I am, however, now satisfied that there is no 
regular seasonal variation, although I formerly imagined 
that this existed. 

