Part 53

(Fidonia brephosata, Walk. 1037; Butl., Cat. pl. iii. 14. Larentia catocalaria, Gn., E. M. M. v. 62. Fidonia brephos, Feld. cxxix. 5. Pasithea brephos, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 89. Notoreas brephos, ib. xviii. 184.)

(Plate VIII., figs. 20, 21, 22, and 23, varieties.)

This very pretty species is common, and generally distributed throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The fore-wings are dark grey; there is a wavy black line near the base, two similar lines enclosing a very broad central area, with a black dot a little above the middle; beyond this there is a more or less distinct wavy band of pale grey or brown; there are several obscure wavy blackish lines near the termen. The hind-wings are bright orange, dotted with grey near the base and dorsum, with from two to four more or less distinct wavy black transverse lines, generally rather narrow; the termen is moderately broadly bordered with black.

This insect is extremely variable, and, so far as I can judge from an extensive series, several of the varieties appear to indicate that both Notoreas zopyra and N. vulcanica may ultimately have to be ranked as varieties of N. brephos, but the evidence on this point is not yet conclusive enough to render such a course at present desirable.

{76}The perfect insect appears from December to March. It is very active, and is extremely fond of settling on roads or bare ground in the hot sunshine, instantly darting away on the approach of an enemy. It is also common on the mountains, and is often found at elevations of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet above the sea-level.

NOTOREAS OMICHLIAS, Meyr.

(Pasithea omichlias, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 90. Notoreas omichlias, ib. xviii. 184.)

(Plate VIII., fig. 25.)

Two specimens of this dull-looking little species were captured at Castle Hill, by Mr. J. D. Enys.

The expansion of the wings is 7/8 inch. All the wings are dark grey; the fore-wings have several obscure blackish marks near the base, a dull black spot on the costa at about one-third with a yellowish centre; beyond this there are four similar spots forming a transverse band, and several more or less conspicuous wavy blackish lines near the termen. The hind-wings have several obscure wavy blackish transverse lines near the base and dorsum; the cilia are pale grey, obscurely barred with darker grey.

The perfect insect was taken "high up" on the mountains, probably at an elevation of about 5,000 feet.

This species is probably often overlooked through being mistaken for Xanthorhoe cinerearia.

Genus 15.--SAMANA, Walk.

"Face loosely haired. Palpi long, straight, porrected, attenuated. Antennæ in male dentate, ciliated (1). Fore-wings with vein 6 rising below 9, 7 from below angle of areole, 10 anastomosing strongly with 9, 11 anastomosing strongly with 10, 12 free. Hind-wings normal."--(Meyrick.)

Of this genus we have two species in New Zealand.

SAMANA FALCATELLA, Walk.

(Samana falcatella, Walk. xxvii. 197. Panagra falcatella, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvi. 93. Samana falcatella, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvii. 65.)

(Plate VIII., fig. 36.)

This unusual-looking species has occurred in the South Island, at Nelson and at Dunedin.

The expansion of the wings is 1¼ inches. The fore-wings are very pale ochreous, speckled with grey; there is a very fine longitudinal black streak from a little beyond the base to considerably before the middle, slightly clouded above; an elongate dot above the middle; a very oblique slightly curved black streak from near the apex to the middle of the dorsum, edged with white towards the base, and clouded with brown towards the termen; the apex of the wing is very acute. The hind-wings are white, with a black dot above the middle.

The perfect insect appears in February. It is apparently a rare species.

SAMANA ACUTATA, Butl.

(Samana acutata, Butl., P. Z. S. L. 1877, 401; Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xvii. 67.)

The type-specimen of this species exists in the collection of the British Museum. According to Mr. Meyrick, who made a cursory examination of it, the species differs from S. falcatella in the following respects:--

The first dark line runs from the dorsum near the base to below the costa before the middle; the lower extremity of the second line is connected with the tornus by an oblique streak.

{77}Family 2.--STERRHIDÆ.

"Face smooth. Tongue developed. Palpi shortly rough-scaled. Fore-wings with vein 10 rising out of 9, 11 anastomosing or connected with 9. Hind-wings with vein 5 fully developed, rising from middle of transverse vein, parallel to 4, 8 very shortly anastomosing with upper margin of cell near base, thence rapidly diverging."--(Meyrick.) (See Plate II., figs. 49 and 50.)