Abdomen ovoid, slightly longer than cephalothorax, brownblack, sparingly furnished with short light hairs. Vulva moderately prominent, convex; margin of hood forms a transverse, lightish brown intumescent lip, extending to branchial opercula. Shingle slopes, Two-Thumb Range, Lake Tekapo, Canterbury, A.T.U. EXPLANATION OF PLATES VI.-VIII. PLATE VI. Fig. 1. Linyphia diloris, sp. n., a, male; b, female; three times natural size; c, palpus of male in two positions; d, vulva; e, claws of fore-leg and maxillæ, labium of female. Fig. 2. Linyphia trisphathulata, sp. n., male and female; five times natural size; a, palpus of male in two positions; b, vulva. Fig. 3. Theridium varium, sp. n.; a, male; b, female; twice natural size; c, palpus of male in two positions; d, claws of first part of legs; e, vulva. PLATE VII. Fig. 1. Theridium veruculatum, sp. n., female; four times natural size; a, vulva. Fig. 2. Theridium blatteus, sp. n., female; seven times natural size; a, vulva. Fig. 3. Theridium pumilo, sp. n.; a, male; b, female; eight times natural size; c, palpus of male; d, maxillæ, labium, and sternum of female; e, vulva; f, claws of anterior leg. Fig. 4. Theridium calyciferum, sp. n., female; four times natural size; a, vulva. Fig. 5. Theridium cruciferum, sp. n., female; four times natural size; a, vulva. PLATE VIII. Fig. 1. Theridium triloris, sp. n., vulva; a, palpus of male in two positions. Fig. 2. Theridium squalida, sp. n., vulva. Fig. 3. Theridium setiger, sp. n., vulva. Fig. 4. Theridium zantholabio, sp. n., vulva. Fig. 5. Theridium sericum, sp. n., vulva; a, maxillæ, labium, and sternum. Fig. 6. Hemiclæa plautus, sp. n., cephalothorax of female; a, profile with legs truncated, twice natural size; b, vulva; c, maxillæ, labium, and sternum. Fig. 7. Lycosa proxima, sp. n., profile of cephalothorax with legs and palpi truncated; 7a, palpus in two positions. Fig. 8. Attus auricomus, sp. n., palpus of male and vulva. Fig. 9. Attus zanthofrontalis, vulva. Fig. 10. Attus saxatilis, sp. n., vulva. ART. XXXVIII.-Description of Diadema nerina. [Read before the Nelson Philosophical Society, 13th April, 1885.) Or the Order Lepidoptera, New Zealand appears to possess but a comparatively few species, especially when we consider how lavish nature has been in this respect in both number and beauty with Australia and the adjacent islands, and America; even Britain is far better off in variety than this colony. Of the few we can boast of, the specimen which I have the pleasure to exhibit is, I believe, one of the largest and most beautiful. It was caught in a garden, near the Normanby Bridge, on the 18th of last March, and is the only specimen I have hitherto met with. In vol. ix. of the Transactions I believe there is a notice of the capture of the only other female specimen recorded; it was captured by Thomas Tanner, Esq., of Hawke's Bay. The male has been several times met with, but still not frequent, since the Rev. Richard Taylor, of Wanganui, states he only observed two in a period of thirty-two years. Dr. Barker also saw one in a garden at Christchurch. I have affixed the name Diadema nerina to this specimen, but I am not absolutely certain whether it may not be a distinct variety, inasmuch as it does not quite coincide with the description of this species given in Mr. Enys' book "On the Butterflies of New Zealand," published in Christchurch in 1880. From that work (which I may state is a reprint from vol. x. of the Transactions,) I gather: "The range of this species is peculiar; it occurs in Java, Australia, New Guinea, and the Loyalty Islands, and a small variety in Samoa." Dr. Semper, in his work, says :-" In Samoa the larva lives long after it is adult, and then becomes a pupa very abruptly. The pupa hang suspended everywhere on trees, old stones, etc., and change after twelve days. Breed in November. It is very probable that the habits of Diadema nerina would be very similar to that of Samoa." From this extract it will be seen that this species forms another of the interesting links that exist amongst the fauna of New Zealand, and that of Australia and adjacent islands, each in their way helping to establish the theory advanced by geologists, of these countries, with New Zealand, having in past ages formed one vast continent. I give my own description of the specimen now before you. Order LEPIDOPTERA. Section RHOPALOCERA. Description-Female. Above black-brown, fringes white, varied; primaries with tawny-red patch extending from the internal border towards the discoidal vein. An oblique whitish band beyond the cell, divided into four elongated spots bordered with a bluish tinge. A double sub-apical whitish spot anterior margin blue tinged, from which extend a series of three small round blue-edged white spots across the disc towards the oblique whitish band, beyond which they are continued by two small round blue spots to the external margin of the tawny patch; between the oblique band and the tawny patch there is a rather faintly marked blue spot. A double sub-marginal series of interrupted lunulated bluish spots. Secondaries crossed by a broad whitish patch bordered with blue; a sub-marginal series of spots as in the primaries, but more indistinct; the series of round spots also continued as rather faint blue spots. Body above blackish-brown; head and pro-thorax white spotted; white vertical dash at back of each eye. Wings below, red-brown; basal area of primaries ferrugineous; basal half of costa black, spotted with white; four black-edged, sub-costal white spots, oblique patch of black brown across disc to middle of costal area; oblique band of five white spots as on the upper side, the extra spot being on the costal area. A double, sub-apical, whitish spot, with series of small spots as on upper, the two blue ones being larger but more faint, a double sub-marginal series of lunulated whitish spots, fringe white, varied. Secondaries below, a diffused central transverse whitish band; a discal series of white spots, and a double series of lunulated whitish spots; body below red-brown, spotted with white; palpi and inner edge of femora, white; expanse of wings, 4 inches. In comparing this description with that in Mr. Enys' book, there are the following differences: On the primaries, he gives five elongated white spots, this has but four, and bordered with blue tinge; he gives a subapical white spot; this has a double white blue-edged spot; his a series of white spots; this two of the series unmistakeably blue, and a blue spot near the tawny patch; his lunulated spots were white, these decidedly bluish. On the secondaries, his large spot is edged with either tawny or blue; his diagram shows tawny; this is edged with a brilliant blue. He says nothing of the discal series of blue spots. Below, he does not mention the oblique band of black-brown, but gives the costal base and anal area as ferruginous, which I fail to observe. His measurement is 3 inches 9 lines; mine, 4.5 inches. With regard to the rare occurrence of this species, as well as the Vanessa antiopa, or Camberwell Beauty of the British Isles (the latter only observed at regular periods of seven years), I have long had a supposition that the larva of these butterflies may very probably take a much longer period to arrive at maturity, say five or six years; if so, this would fully account for their only being observed at regular fixed periods. When we are more conversant with the details of the lives of these insects through their different stages of existence, we shall, doubtless, be in a position to give an easy solution to many of the problems that puzzle us now. ART. XXXIX.-Life History of Epyaxa rosearia, Dbld. Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 23rd September, 1885.] THE object of this short paper is to describe the life history of the above moth, and also to correct some errors in Mr. Meyrick's description of the adult insect. These errors are not the result of inaccurate observation, but of having bad specimens. This moth, although not distinguished by bright colouring, is interesting, as being one of those species in which the male and female differ much in colour. So much do they differ, that in the case of most, if not of all, these species the male and female were at first described as distinct species; but this is not so remarkable, for one of these authors has given as many as ten different names to one species. Taking now the three stages of this insect: The egg is oval, smooth, and of a pale yellow colour. The caterpillar is a looper-that is, it has pro-legs only on the 10th and 13th segments; and two specimens of it were found about the 1st of August, nearly full-grown, on water-cress in the mouth of an old mining tunnel near the Waterworks. Description of caterpillar.-Length, at rest, about threequarters of an inch. Colour light-green, with indistinct whitish longitudinal lines, and a narrow median dorsal stripe of the ground colour, edged on each side by one of these whitish lines; a subdorsal whitish line on each side of the median stripe; the ground colour shows again as a lateral line, edged below with whitish. Under-side with delicate whitish or yellowish longitudinal tracings, as on the upper side. The junctions of the segments show yellowish or whitish rings when the larva con tracts. Head, greenish-yellow. Body tapering somewhat to the head. Chrysalis enclosed among the withered leaves of the cress above ground; very dark brownish-black, glossy. A pair of the perfect insects emerged about the second week of September. Mr. Meyrick's descriptions are evidently taken from more or less faded cabinet specimens: hence there are errors unavoidable in the case of a naturalist not having access to fresh specimens. In specimens kept for some time the male is, as he describes, pale whitish-grey, with the median band of the forewings more or less distinctly outlined with black, especially opposite the cell; while the female is ochreous or of a pale sandy colour, with faint traces of the usual markings. But in quite fresh specimens the insects are much more ornamental. The male is darker than above described, usually of a rosy or warm-tinted grey as ground colour in the forewings. The outer side of the basal patch and both sides of the median band are edged with a greenish-yellow line, showing distinctly on the unfaded ground-colour. The fringes are also rosy-grey. Mr. Meyrick states that the male is very constant in colour and the female variable; but the reverse is rather the case, faulty specimens having led to this misstatement, for the female suffers most when preserved in a cabinet. The true colour of the forewings of the female is dull yellowish-green; but the common methods of killing-for instance, by bruised laurel leavesdestroy the colouring of green moths. Collectors may note this caution against exposing fine green moths to the fumes of prussic acid. By lantern light the female seems to be of a glaucous or peculiar blueish green, which serves at once to distinguish it. The green colour of the female seems dingy and faded if placed beside the rich green of Cidaria similata, but if compared with the dull greys of allied Geometrina it seems peculiar and noticeable. The ordinary markings are not very distinct in the female. The hindwings are often a dull blackish-grey. The yellowish colour ascribed to the female is merely the common colour of faded green moths. The two sexes are more dissimilar in their fresh state than when faded; and the green colour of the female may serve as a very efficient protection whilst among foliage. ART. XL.-Notes on the so-called " Vegetable Caterpillar" of New Zealand. By A. HAMILTON, of Petane. [Read before the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute, 1885.] AMONG the many curious and interesting objects of natural history which have been made known by the collections of the early travellers and voyagers to our Southern seas, very few surpass in general interest the subjects of these notes. The evident vegetable nature of the one part, and the simulacrum of the perfect caterpillar of the other part, presented a biological riddle of the deepest interest, and one which we are yet very far from having solved fully. |