Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 15.djvu/75

edge of basal patch strongly angulated above middle, beneath connected with a spot on inner margin before middle; central fascia from before middle of costa to inner margin at ¾, narrow above, strongly dilated on lower half, margins very irregular; a triangular patch on costa about ¾; a small spot before middle of hindmargin (sometimes conspicuously darker): cilia ochreous or ochreous-fuscous, with a darker basal line. Hindwings whitish-grey or almost whitish, more or less spotted with darker grey, towards apex sometimes ochreous-tinged; cilia grey-whitish or ochreous-whitish, with two darker lines.

Var. α. Forewings with a small round whitish or whitish-ochreous spot in disc between basal patch and central fascia.

A very variable species, but always characterized by extreme indefiniteness of marking, and broader-winged than the following. The var. α (described by Walker as distinct under the name of biguttana) I also supposed at first to be a good species, but have since seen transitional forms, which leave little doubt that it is merely a varietal development. The purple variety is also very striking and handsome.

Larva rather stout, cylindrical, somewhat tapering behind, with scattered short whitish hairs; whitish-green, spots hardly darker; dorsal very distinct, slender, dark green; head very pale greenish-ochreous. Feeds between joined leaves of Panax arboreum (Araliaceæ) in April; pupa free in same position. This larva produced a specimen of the purple variety in June (indoors). The larva is certainly not confined to this food-plant, and is probably more or less polyphagous.

Common at Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and probably generally, from January to May, and even in July.

Media, alis ant. dilute fuscis, costa, linea antica transversa, fascia obliqua lata superius coarctata, trianguloque costæ saturate fuscis; post. albidis.

Male.—20 mm. Head, antennæ, thorax, abdomen, and legs whitish-brown; (palpi broken); anterior and middle tibiæ and tarsi suffused with dark fuscous except at apex of joints. Forewings moderate, posteriorly dilated, costa moderately arched, hindmargin sinuate, hardly oblique; light dull brown; costal edge and fold dark fuscous; outer edge of basal patch indicated by an irregular dark fuscous line from ¼ of costa to ⅓ of inner margin; central fascia dark fuscous towards costa, towards inner margin hardly darker than ground-colour, but margined by dark fuscous lines, running from before middle of costa to before anal angle, very narrow on costa, gradually dilating to middle, very broad on lower half, margins rather irregular; a flattened-triangular dark fuscous spot on costa about ¾: cilia