(Plate XI., fig. 16, fig. 17 under side.)
This butterfly was very common in the neighbourhood of Wellington during
the summer of 1886-87. To the best of my knowledge the insect had not
previously been observed in New Zealand, but I understand from Mr. R.
Holloway that he has since met with it on the sea-coast near New Plymouth,
in 1893, and at Motueka in 1898.
The expansion of the wings is nearly 2 inches. On the upper side all the
wings are dull blackish-brown, with greenish or bronzy reflections. The
fore-wings have two broad orange-brown stripes on the costa, and _a very
large patch of the same colour along the termen, containing a large black
spot with a bluish-white centre_; there are three irregular whitish marks
near the apex of the wing, and a minute blue-centred ocellus. The
hind-wings have _two very large orange-brown spots almost touching each
other near the termen; each of these contains a large blue-centred
ocellus in the middle_; there are also two terminal rows of brown
crescent-shaped markings. Underneath, the markings of the fore-wings
resemble those of the upper side, but they are very much paler, and the
ground colour is light brown. The hind-wings are pale brown, with a wavy
black line across the middle, followed by a brown shading towards the
termen; there are also four small round black spots and a series of
irregular black dots near the termen.
The perfect insect occurred very plentifully in December, January and
February, and was fond of settling on barren, stony places in the hot
sunshine. It was very timid and difficult to catch, darting off with great
rapidity when approached. During the season I managed to secure about nine
specimens, some of them in very good condition. I am unable to explain the
sudden appearance of this butterfly in New Zealand during the
above-mentioned year. The large numbers, which were observed over extended
areas, almost seem to forbid its accidental importation from Australia,
whilst the distance of New Zealand from that continent would render
immigration a most unlikely circumstance. On the other hand, if the insect
is a regular inhabitant of this country, it is strange that it had never
before been observed. When on the wing, its superficial resemblance to
_Vanessa cardui_ may have led to its having been overlooked, and hence it
is very desirable that entomologists should use every effort to detect it
in the future.
According to Mr. Olliff, this butterfly has a very wide geographical range,
being {110}found in Java, Sumatra, Tasmania and all parts of the Australian
Continent. About the year 1830 it was described by Stephens, in his
'British Entomology,' under the name of _Cynthia hampstediensis_, on
account of its having been taken at Hampstead, the well-known suburb of
London. Subsequently it transpired that the specimen in question was no
doubt of foreign origin, its "appearance" having been due to a practical
joke perpetrated on the British Lepidopterists of the day.
Family 2.--SATYRIDÆ.
"Characters of _Nymphalidæ_, but fore-wings with vein 12 greatly dilated
towards base." (Plate I., figs. 25, 26, and 27, neuration of _Erebia
pluto_.)
"A large group of very general distribution. The species are usually of
moderate size, generally dark coloured with light bands or spots, and with
several round, black, white-centred spots on lower surface. Some of them
are more fond of shady places than is customary in this group.
"Ovum spherical-ovate, surface reticulated and often ribbed. Larva more or
less tapering towards extremities, with short hairs; segment 13 ending in
two points; feeding on grass. Pupa suspended by the tail or unattached,
sometimes subterranean."--(Meyrick.) (See Plate III., figs. 4 and 5 larvæ,
28 and 29 pupæ.)