Art. XV.—New Species of Lepidoptera.

By G. Howes, F.E.S.

All the specimens that I have examined show a surprising uniformity, and no difference is noticeable between the male and female in size and colour. Smaller and more compact than Hydriomena gobiata, it superficially has a strong resemblance to Venusia verriculata.

Taken at Mr. O'Connor's residence, at Titahi Bay, Porirua, Wellington, where it came in fair numbers to “treacle,” light, and blossom; November to March.

PART II.

[Read before the Otago Institute, 1st November, 1910.]

Morrisonia praesignis sp. nov.

One male specimen expanding 37 lines, and one female 40 lines. Antennae filiform, reddish-brown. Palpi and legs reddish-brown. Tarsi with lighter bands at joints. Palpi pale reddish at tips, and rising from a reddish tuft. Face at base of antennae green. Thorax. reddish-brown. Patagiae green edged with reddish-brown. Thoracic crests strong, green edged with brown. Abdomen ochreous red, darker towards extremity. Crests strong. Forewing rich red-brown, with well-defined green areas. A double subbasal line from costa to median fold. A greenish suffusion from base along close to costa as far as reniform. A well-defined light-green line at ¼ from costa to dorsum, bending outwards at centre; a light-green line at ½, edging reniform, and bending outwards at centre; the space between these two lines reddish-brown. A well-defined subterminal line edged on basal side with deep reddish-brown and on terminal with green. Indentations slight. A greenish suffusion from base to posterior angle. Veins faintly outlined with dark-brown and green dots. Reniform dark below, white above. Cilia long, dark reddish-brown. Hindwings, reddish-brown, with narrow dark reddish-brown suffusion along termen. Cilia lighter reddish-brown, with a darker line near base.

Two specimens came to “treacle” at Orepuki, September and October, 1910. Although close to plena, it is easily distinguishable.

Morrisonia longstaffii sp. nov.

Four specimens. Expanse, 28 to 30 lines. Antennae ferruginous-grey, filiform. Legs, palpi, head, and thorax grey irrorated with ferruginous. A dark mark across front of thoracic crest. Crest strong. Abdomen greyish-ochreous, lighter in colour towards anal tuft, which is light ochreous-grey. Forewings grey, markings ferruginous. Reniform and orbicular grey outlined with ferruginous. Base of wing light grey, followed by a dark jagged transverse line. A double jagged transverse line at ¼ across wing. A suffused patch around reniform, continuing as a well-defined jagged line with a faint line on each side to dorsum. A rather indistinct suffused line near termen. Cilia grey. Hindwings uniform dark-grey. Cilia silvery-grey with a dark-grey line at base.

I took a single specimen in Dunedin on the 28th March, 1907, and a good series when collecting with Dr. Longstaff at Queenstown and Paradise Lake Wakatipu district, in second week of March, 1910.