I.—COLLECTING AND OBSERVING. 
(14). The Hunter Mountains, North of Lake Monowai. 
(15). The Takitimu Mountains, opposite the Hunter 
Mountains and East of the Waiau River. Both 
these are excellent localities for Southern and 
Alpine species, and have yielded many novelties. 
(16). Stewart Island. Although the coastal insects 
are, generally speaking, the same as those found 
on the mainland, the higher portions of the Island 
yield special species, some of which have not 
occurred elsewhere.* 
(17). The outlying islands to the South of New 
Zealand. These have been most imperfectly 
worked at present and many novelties, no doubt, 
await the enterprising collector. 
There are also many localities which have not yet been 
visited by entomologists, especially in the North East 
portion of the North Island, and in the more inaccessible 
regions in the extreme South West of the Suuth Island. In 
the last-named mountainous and imperfectly explored area 
it is almost certain that many new and interesting species 
still remain to be discovered. 
The best months of the year for collecting in 
the lowlands in New Zealand are November, Decem- 
ber, January and February; December being  pro- 
bably the best of all, as the greatest number of species 
are then to be met with in a fresh and perfect condition. 
For mountain work, and for collecting in the extreme 
south of the South Island, the best season may probably be 
fixed nearly a month later. Other months, extending from 
August till May, should not be neglected, as they each 
produce a few special species, not found at other times, 
and even in the depth of winter useful observations may 
be made on larvae and hybernating species, so that the 
collector, or observer, may do a certain amount of good 
work in the field during fine weather the whole year round. 
Too much stress cannot, however, be laid on the fact that, 
so far as the Lepidoptera are concerned, the best results 
are always obtained during the earlier part of the season. 
Before the 1st January nearly every species, then on the 
‘wing, is in a perfect condition, and a greater proportion of 
species emerge from the pupa in November and December 
than at any other time of the year. After the end of 
January the collector will find insects seareer and that 
many of his captures are in poor condition, causing much 
loss of time and disappointment. The fact that the best 
weather is nearly always experienced after the summer 
solstice, is liable to produce an impression that collecting 
can be pursued with greater effect at that time than earlier 
in the year. A prolonged experience, however, refutes this 
idea, and the young collector will do well to seize every 
available fine day in late spring and early summer, seeing 
that one day then will yield better results than three or 
four of the best days in the late summer or autumn. Some 

*T am indebted to Mr. Philpott for information in regard 
to localities numbered 11 to 16 inclusive. 
oT 
species are on the wing for a very short period, and this 
often explains their apparent rarity. 
Any specimens taken in copula should always be very 
carefully preserved and labelled as male and female taken 
in coitu. Besides affording conclusive evidence concerning 
the characters of the sexes of the same species, this pro- 
cedure will ultimately result in extensive evidence being 
available as to any sexual preference which may exist be- 
tween individuals belonging to the same varietal forms. 
Such evidence is at present very meagre, but it is much 
required for the elucidation of several important scientific 
problems. 
Forest collecting is best pursued by following up a 
good track, or watercourse, and vigorously beating the foli- 
age on either side, the insects are then netted as they fly 
out. The dead fronds which accumulate around the stems 
of tree ferns are extremely productive, and should be well 
disturbed with the beating stick whenever they are met 
with. On tussock or open mountain country, the moths 
usually rise on the approach of the collector, and as many 
of the species found here are rapid fliers extreme alertness 
is essential to success. Fine calm weather is, however, in- 
dispensable for working open country. Glades in scrub, 
open to the late afternoon sun, are often extremely produc- 
tive in small lepidoptera, as well as wind swept hill-tops, 
when the weather is exceptionally sultry. 
During the dusk of evening most species of moths visit 
the flowers to feed on the honey, and may often be success- 
fully boxed with the aid of a lantern. The lantern should, 
however, be securely fastened to a strap and suspended 
around the collector’s neck or waist so that both hands may 
be left free for capturing the insects. The most suitable 
blossoms for night collecting are those of the various species 
of Veronica, White Rata, Red Rata, Scabious, and Rag- 
wort. When blossoms fail, recourse must be made to 
‘‘sugaring.’’ To do this it is necessary to obtain some 
black treacle and some rum which should be well mixed in 
the proportion of about four tablespoontuls of rum to an 
ordinary tin of treacle. About sunset the collector will 
spread this mixture with a brush on tree trunks, palings, 
or other objects which can be conveniently examined after 
dark by the aid of a lantern. On some nights, especially 
in the late autumn, the sugared trees will be found swarm- 
ing with the commoner species of Noctuidae, whilst on 
others few, if any, will be attracted. As a rule sugaring is 
one of the most effective methods of night collecting on 
open grassy country, and many species of Noctuidae can 
be obtainéd by this method which cannot be allured by any 
other means. 
That moths and other nocturnal insects are attracted 
by light is a fact familiar to most people, but the experi- 
enced collector desires to turn this habit to good account 
To do this effectively much depends on the surroundings 
of the collector’s residence, and if his house happens to 
have a window facing an extensive area of virgin forest or 

