the head, thorax, and upper portion of the abdomen, the pupa being secured from falling by the spines on its posterior segments, which retain a firm hold in the silk. Its anterior portion then ruptures, and the moth makes its escape, clinging to the outside of its old habitation, and drying its wings. It is probable that the female insect does not leave her case, communication with the male being no doubt effected through one of the orifices, and the eggs afterwards deposited inside. On one occasion I found a case full of eggs, containing the shrivelled body of the female and her old pupa shell, which would seem to confirm the above opinion. The perfect insects are drawn at {77}Figs. 1 and 1a. The male (1) is extremely active, dashing about the breeding cage with great rapidity when first emerged, and rapidly beating his wings to tatters; but the female (1a) closely resembles a large maggot, all the appendages being completely rudimentary, except the two-jointed ovipositor at the end of her body; she is incapable of any motion, except a slight twirling of the abdomen, which takes place while the eggs are being laid.[17] Family NOCTUIDÆ. _Leucania nullifera_ (Plate XIII., fig. 3, 3a larva). This large, though dull-looking insect, is occasionally taken at light during the summer and autumn months. The larva feeds on the spear-grass (_Aciphylla squarrosa_), an abundant plant on the coast hills near Wellington. It devours the soft central-growing point, and its presence in a tussock can be at once seen by a quantity of pale-brown "frass," visible at the bases of the leaves. The formidable spear-like points with which this plant is armed must afford the caterpillar considerable protection from enemies. As a rule a single specimen only is found in each clump of the grass, so that the female probably deposits her eggs singly. This larva is full-grown about August, and may be found feeding in the plants during the autumn and winter. The pupa state is spent, in an earthen chamber, amongst the roots of the spear-grass, and the moth emerges during the summer. This species occurs at considerable elevations. I have seen it as high as 4,000 feet in the Nelson province, where its food-plant may also be found. {78}Family NOCTUIDÆ. _Leucania atristriga_ (Plate X., fig. 2). Abundant among various blossoms during the latter end of summer, being one of the last of the Noctuæ to disappear in the autumn. The larva probably feeds on grasses, but I have not yet met with it. The illustration (Fig. 2) is taken from the male insect, the female differing only in having her abdomen rounded at the tip, a sexual distinction which holds good throughout the family. Family NOCTUIDÆ. _Erana graminosa_ (Plate X., fig. 5, 5a larva).