
116 
XANTHORHOE IDA. 
(Xanthorhoe ida, Clarke, Trans. N.Z. Inst. lvi., 417.) 
(Plater xa sie Sara) 
This species was discovered by Mr. W. G. Howes at 
Eweburn Stream, near Mount Ida, Central Otago. 
The expansion of the wings is 14 inches. The fore-wings 
of the male are pale brown with fine wavy blackish-brown trans- 
verse lines, the basal area is slightly tinged with reddish-brown, 
and the terminal area beyond the median band much more 
strongly suffused with reddish-brown; basal line with three dis- 
tinct dentations margined with white; first line very similar to 
this, but rather obscure; a small black blotch on costa at inner 
edge of median band; a distinct black discal dot in median 
band below costa; several wavy blackish transverse lines on 
outer third of median band; extreme outer edge of median band 
margined with white, three small sinuations below costa, 
followed by a distinct rounded projection towards termen below 
middle, three small sinuations immediately before junction with 
dorsum at 2; beyond median band there is a narrow band of 
reddish-brown, followed by a darker subterminal band; the ter- 
minal area is reddish-brown with the veins broadly marked in 
blackish-grey; a series of blackish terminal marks; cilia brown- 
ish-grey with darker bars. The hind-wings are pale ochreous, 
with the termen distinctly sinuate; several faint wavy trans- 
verse lines on basal half ; a series of subterminal brownish spots 
and a terminal series of blackish lunules; the cilia are blackish- 
grey. The antennae are heavily bipectinated. 
The perfect’ insect appears in February. 
Described and figured from rather a poor specimen 
kindly submitted by Mr. Clarke. 
XANTHORHOE PRASINIAS. 
(Larentia prasinias, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi., 81.) 
(Plate XIII., fig. 49 @.) 
This bright-looking species has occurred in the North 
Island on Mount Eemont, and in the South Island at 
Mount Arthur, Castle Hill, Arthur’s Pass, Otira, Lake 
Wakatipu, and Inverearegill. 
The expansion of the wings is from 14 to 13 inches. The 
fore-wings are bright orange-yellow with deep purplish-brown 
markings; there is a very small basal patch with its outer edge 
indented; a very broad median band, composed of five or six 
more or less confluent wavy transverse lines, with irregular 
yellow spaces between them, the largest of these spaces contain- 
ing a small black discal dot; the outer edge of the median band 
is very wavy, and has several rather prominent projections near 
the middle; there are several rather faint brownish lines on 
the subterminal area; the cilia are yellow, barred with dark 
brown. The hind-wings are pale ochreous, shaded with grey 
near the base, and with yellow near the termen; the cilia are 
yellow, barred with brown. 
This species varies considerably in the depth of the 
ground colour, and in the thickness and density of the 
transverse lines which form the markings. 
The perfect insect appears in November, December, 
and January, and is usually found in dry beech forests, 
or amongst sub-alpine scrub, at elevations of about 3,000 
feet above the sea-level. It seems to be specially attached 
to Coprosma parviflora, a very small-leaved dull green 
shrub which often grows freely in such situations. In the 
extreme south, however, X. prasinias is a lowland insect. 

X.—THE GEOMETRIDAE. 
XANTHORHOE LIMONODES. 
(Epyaxa limonodes, Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst. xx., 54.) 
(Plate XIII., fig. 32 @, 33 9.) 
This species has occurred at Waimarino, Ohakune, 
Mount Egmont and Wellington in the North Island, and 
at Buller River, Otira, Poherua and Lake Wakatipu in the 
South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore- 
wings of the male are dull yellowish-green with numerous, rather 
obscure, wavy brownish transverse lines; these lines are all more 
distinct near the costa; there are two transverse rows of white 
dots near the base, a very broken line of white dots at about 
three-fourths, some of the dots forming a crescentic mark above 
the middle; beyond this line the colour is often paler, especially 
towards the apex, but inside this line there is often a consider- 
ably darker patch; a very distinct blackish patch is situated on 
the termen below the apex. The costa is very strongly arched 
before the apex and the termen distinctly bowed. The hind- 
wings are very pale greenish-ochreous; there is an obScure dusky 
transverse line in the middle. The female has the fore-wings 
much browner; there are several additional rows of white dots 
and a conspicuous white spot in the disc above middle, 
This species is rather variable. In many specimens 
the dorsal half of the fore-wing is much paler than the 
costal half. 
The perfect insect appears from November till March, 
and frequents damp forests. Generally speaking, it is 
rather a rare species, although fairly plentiful on the West 
Coast of the South Island. 
XANTHORHOE BEATA. 
(Cidaria beata, Butl., Pro. Zool. Soe. Lond. 1877, 397, pl. xliii., 
6; Meyr., Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvi. 79; Larentia philpotti, 
Prout pie lividiee ie) 
(Plate Sch. a encme ery) 
This very beautiful species has occurred at Ohakune and 
Wellington in the North Island, and at Otira, Lake Waka- 
tipu and Invercargill in the South Island. 
The expansion of the wings is about 14 inches. The fore- 
wings are bright green; there is a darker basal patch, edged 
with a jagged white line; a paler sub-basal band, followed by a 
darker green median band, edged with very jagged white lines, 
and containing several white patches; beyond the median band 
there is a paler subterminal area; a fine wavy white subterminal 
line and an oblique pale mark from the apex of the wing. The 
hind-wings are pale ochreous, shaded with pinkish-brown on the 
termen, often with one or two rows of very obscure dusky spots. 
The cilia of all the wings are pinkish-ochreous, with the tips 
whitish; they are faintly barred with brown. 
The depth of colour of the median band and the white 
spots included therein are rather variable. 
The perfect insect appears from January till March, 
and frequents forests. It is much commoner in the South 
Island than in the North Island, where its place seems to 
be largely taken by Yanthorhoe benedicta, 
