aie bo ae Ee. 
ry, 
there has been a great increase in the number of collectors and students interested in our native 
Lepidoptera. Amongst these a desire has often been expressed for a work treating of all the 
species of Lepidopterous insects found in New Zealand, and the present book has been prepared in an 
endeavour to satisfy this want. Originally the issue of a supplementary volume treating of the smaller 
moths was all that was contemplated, but it was found that so much additional information had been 
obtained in regard to the species previously described, and so many new species discovered, that the 
issue of a complete work covering the whole order was the only satisfactory method of dealing with the 
INCE the publication of my book on New Zealand Moths and Butterflies over twenty-seven years ago 
ry ‘ (ath, 
subject. 
The purely descriptive portions of the work have been made as brief as possible, and in order to 
appeal to a wide circle of readers, all unnecessary technicalities have been avoided. In every case where 
the desired meaning could be clearly conveyed by words in ordinary use, these have been employed in 
preference to technical scientific terms. Highly specialized accounts of individual species would be out 
of place in a work of this kind and have not been inserted, but references to such accounts, when pub- 
lished, are given under their respective headings. 
The systematic portions of the work have, of necessity, been almost entirely founded on Mr. 
Meyrick’s descriptions of genera and species of New Zealand Lepidoptera, which have appeared in the 
Transactions of the New Zealand Institute and elsewhere during the last 44 years. These very valuable 
contributions to Science have afforded me indispensable aid, and have been freely made use of. I am 
also greatly indebted to the same author for assistance in the identification of species, and for much 
information on questions of Geographical Distribution. 
Mr. Alfred Philpott has supplied me with a great number of very rare, and in some cases, unique 
specimens of Lepidoptera acquired by him during thirty years entomological work in Southland. He 
has also most generously placed at my disposal his extensive observations on the Natural History of 
the Lepidoptera of that interesting region. Since his transfer to Nelson, in 1920, he has continued to 
render much valuable assistance. 
I am much indebted to Dr. J. Allan Thomson, the Director of the Dominion Museum in Wellington 
for the opportunity of figuring many valuable specimens contained in the fine collection of Lepidoptera 
in his charge, and to Miss Castle for. assistance in connection therewith; also to Professor Speight, of the 
Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, for the loan of many specimens from the Chatham Islands and 
other valued help. Messrs. Charles E. Clarke, H. Hamilton, W. G. Howes, C. Lindsay, 8. Lindsay, F. 
S. Oliver, R. M. Sunley, Morris N. Watt, E. S. West, and others, have likewise assisted by allowing me 
‘to figure many rarities contained in their collections. Mr. L. B. Prout has furnished valuable information 
in connection with the Geometridae. 
Sir George Hampson, formerly of the Hntomological Department of the British Museum of 
fatural History at South Kensington, has furnished some interesting particulars in connection with the 
collections of New Zealand insects which were made during the very early days of the Colony. 
‘* Hillview, ’’ G. V. HUDSON. 
Karori, 
Wellington, New Zealand, 1927. 

