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darker, and there are many fine parallel lines of darker 
colouring on the central portions of the larva; the whole 
insect is also speckled with black; the spiracles are red. 
The larva varies a good deal in colour, but, with the excep- 
tion of the next species, its peculiar structure will at once 
distinguish it from any other. 
These larvae often coil themselves up when at rest, 
clinging firmly with their large prolegs to their foodplant. 
Whilst thus engaged they have a very remarkable appear- 
ance. I have not yet ascertained the precise object of the 
peculiar shape and coloration of this caterpillar. It 
appears to resemble very closely a lichen-covered twig, but 
I suspect in this case there is something more special aimed 
at. 
In connection with this subject, it is noteworthy that 
the flattened extremities of the elytra of the beetle, Ectopsis 
ferrugalis, closely resemble in both shape and colour the 
remarkable anterior segments of the larva of D. atronivea. 
As both insects feed on the same plant, and thus exist 
under very similar conditions, it is highly probable that 
the peculiarities have been independently acquired in each 
species for similar purposes. 
The pupa is enclosed in a light cocoon amongst dead 
leaves, ete., on the surface of the ground. 
The perfect insect appears from October till March, 
and is usually taken at blossoms in the evening. It is also 
attracted by light, and has been found oceasionally, in the 
daytime, resting on tree-trunks. It hybernates during the 
winter, coming abroad again the following spring to lay its 
eggs. I have observed that a good many pupae from the 
autumnal brood do not emerge until September or October, 
so that the insect evidently spends the winter both as a 
pupa and as an imago. The value of the strongly con- 
trasted colouring of this species for protective purposes 
has already been referred to in Chapter IV. 
DECLANA EGREGIA. 
(Chienias egregid, Feld. Reis. Nov. pl. exxxi. 24; Fereday, Trans. 
N.Z. Inst. xii. 268, pl. ix. 2. Detunda egregia, Meyr., ib. 
xvi. 101.) 
(Plate XVilly tei eae) 
This very handsome insect has occurred in the South 
Island at Nelson, Christchurch, Akaroa, the Otira Gorge, 
Waiho Gorge, Dunedin, Invereargill, Orepuki and Stewart 
Island. 

X.—VHE GHOMETRIDAL. 
The expansion of the wings is about 1$ inches. 
The fore- 
wings are creamy-white; there is a small dark brown mark at 
the base, a broad oblique transverse dark brown band at about 
4, a very large four-cornered irregular dark chocolate-brown mark 
beyond the middle, one of its corners touching the apex and the 
other the tornus; the termen is shaded with pale grey, and there 
is a series of faint brown marks on the costa and dorsum. The 
hind-wings are pale brownish-grey, darker towards the termen; 
there are two very faint transverse lines. 
The larva, which evidently closely resembles that of 
Declana atronivea, was discovered by Miss Edith Howes. 
at Stewart Island feeding on Nothopanazx. It is thus 
described by Mr. Philpott :— 
When fullgrown the larva is about 13 inches in length 
and is stoutly built, the body being rugose and irregular. 
There are two pairs of prolegs, and the anal claspers are 
broad and flat. The colour is pale ochreous-brown mixed 
with dark brown on ventral surface and thorax; head 
faintly greenish; second thoracic segment much swollen 
dorsally, pale pmk; a double transverse row of, 4 black 
dots on median area, the first row hidden by fold except 
when the head is much depressed, a number of black dots 
and markings on anterior area; dorsal line pale, dark- 
margined, interrupted; sub-dorsal darker, black-margined ; 
lateral indistinct; spiracles yellowish-red. Segments 9, 10, 
and 11 almost wholly dark brown marked off from pale 
posterior segments by oblique black margin; on segments 
6 and 9 a prominent pale dorsal ridge. The young stages 
are darker in colour. Pupation took place under frag- 
ments of dead leaves loosely bound together with a few 
threads of silk. 
The pupa is elongate slightly under 1 inch in length, 
dark red-brown. The appearance of this curious larva is 
probably of intimidative value. Though generally twig- 
like in form, the swollen pink thorax is very striking and 
noticeable. When the larva is disturbed the head is 
depressed, the spotted dorsal area is brought imto view. 
and the creature sways several times to and fro. Further 
careful observations and experiments on this interesting 
larva are much needed.* 
The perfect insect appears from November till Feb- 
ruary, and is probably generally distributed in forest dis- 
tricts in the far south, but not anywhere common. It seems 
to be most plentiful on Stewart Island and in the extreme 
south-west of the South Island. It is attracted by light. 

“Trans. N.Z. Inst. xlix., 213, 
