Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 15.djvu/42

lines; the discal spot is edged with brown in D. auriscriptella also, and is not curved at all in that species, though the posterior edge is concave, and the anterior as well; the series of longitudinal metallic lines is also present in D. auriscriptella; and I believe the size given is too large. However, the white hindwings and the almost wholly leaden-metallic discal spot constitute in themselves a sufficient distinction.

The specimen is stated to be from Dr. Hector's collection; which I understand to have been mainly taken by Mr. J. D. Enys in the neighbourhood of Mount Hutt.

Male, female.—14–15 mm. Head and thorax light yellowish-ochreous. Palpi rather long, ochreous-orange, base and apical third dark fuscous. Antennæ whitish-ochreous. Abdomen pale ochreous-grey. Legs ochreous-grey-whitish. Forewings triangular, very broad posteriorly, costa gently arched, apex rounded, hindmargin oblique, second sinuation slight; pale yellowish-ochreous, deeper ochreous on disc, and towards apex and hind margin; costa dark fuscous towards base; a slender double dark fuscous transverse line from costa at ⅓ to middle of inner margin, strongly and regularly curved outwards, inner line obsolete on upper half, diverging somewhat on inner margin, enclosing on lower two-thirds a leaden-metallic line, becoming shining whitish on inner margin; a very small dark fuscous spot on middle of costa; a small elongate transverse spot in disc beyond middle, narrowed in middle, upper half leaden-metallic, lower half white; a slender double dark fuscous transverse line from costa at ¾ to inner margin a little before anal angle, rather obsolete on disc, upper two-thirds strongly outward-curved, lower third sinuate, included space indistinctly shining whitish; two longitudinal leaden-metallic streaks between discal spot and hindmargin, nearly reaching both, a much shorter streak below them, and rest of second transverse line spotted with leaden-metallic on intersection of veins; a leaden-metallic dot in apex; three small subquadrate black spots near together on hindmargin below middle: cilia rather dark grey, with a deep grey brassy-metallic basal line. Hindwings grey, with a dark grey hind-marginal line; cilia grey.

Distinguishable from all but D. chrysochyta by the discal spot, which has the upper half leaden-metallic and the lower white; it is a duller and paler insect than D. chrysochyta, without indentation on the first transverse line. Crambus gracilis, Feld., is not a synonym of this species, as stated by Butler, but of D. lepidella.

Several specimens taken at Wellington and Port Lyttelton in January amongst scrub.