Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 15.djvu/61

A striking feature is the extreme variability of most of the species. Of those of which I possess sufficiently extensive series to form any judgment, two-thirds are highly inconstant in colouring, and frequently also in size. By a careful selection of types, and exclusion of intermediate forms, some of these, such as Adox. conditana and Pæd. obliquana, could easily be made to do duty as a dozen species in the estimation of those who had not observed them at large, and, in fact, to this variability is due in part the large number of synonyms attached to them. It would seem from this, (in conjunction with the fact that such larvæ as are known are mostly polyphagous, and have readily adapted themselves to introduced European plants), that there have been no sufficient causes in operation to fix special types; it is possible that this may be in some measure due to the broken character of the fauna, and absence of closely allied species. It has also occurred to me, that, considering the very large number of new stations available for these insects on European plants, which have very rarely introduced any of their own Lepidoptera with them, and considering also the great pliability of character evidenced by the variability of colouring and larval habit, we have here every natural facility offered for the production of new species. It is very desirable that attention should be directed to this at once, since the process could only be detected by careful and continuous observation.

Some species were wrongly classified in my paper cited above, owing in most instances to the want of material for a proper examination, my New Zealand specimens there described having been all obtained in a month's tour. I have given descriptions here of all the species, in order to afford a sufficient base of operations for the New Zealand student, without other works; but in the case of species which I have already described elsewhere, I have not given quite the amount of detail which is necessary in a first description.

Head rather rough; ocelli present; tongue short (rarely obsolete). Antennæ short. Maxillary palpi absent. Labial palpi rather stout, more or less porrected. Wings usually broad. Forewings with 12 veins (rarely 11 or 10, by coalescense of 7 and 8, and further of 3 and 4), 7 and 8 sometimes stalked, rest separate, vein 1 furcate at base (rarely one fork obsolete). Hindwings with 8 veins (sometimes 7 by coalescence of 3 and 4), 3 and 4 often stalked, sometimes separate, 6 and 7 often stalked.

Lower median vein of hindwings without basal pectination; vein 2 of forewings rising before posterior third of lower margin of cell.