Immediately a cloud obscures the sun these butterflies retreat into the tufts of the snow grass, remaining closely hidden there until the sun shines out again. This circumstance makes the capture of the insect, even in a favourable locality, a matter of considerable uncertainty, as bright sunshine is more often the exception than the rule on the summits of high mountains. Family 3.--LYCÆNIDÆ. "Anterior legs developed, but tarsi of [M] more or less abbreviated, or with one or both claws absent; posterior tibiæ without middle spurs. Fore-wings with vein 7 absent, 8 and 9 stalked or coincident. Hind-wings without præcostal spur." (Plate I., figs. 15, 16, neuration of _Chrysophanus salustius_.) "The family is large and very generally distributed. The species are of moderate size or more often rather small, usually blue, dark brown, or coppery-orange in colouring, often with series of small black pale-ringed spots on lower surface. {116}"Ovum flattened--spherical or subcylindrical, reticulated and sometimes ribbed, seldom smooth. Larva stout, with few hairs. Pupa attached by tail and a central belt of silk, or sometimes unattached or subterranean."--(Meyrick.) We have two genera represented in New Zealand, viz.:-- 1. CHRYSOPHANUS. 2. LYCÆNA. Genus 1.--CHRYSOPHANUS, Hb. "Eyes glabrous. Club of antennæ elongate. Fore-wings with vein 6 separate, 8 and 9 stalked." (Plate I., figs. 15 and 16 neuration of _C. salustius_). "An extensive and nearly cosmopolitan genus. Larva short, stout, attenuated at extremities, with short hairs. Pupa attached by the tail and central belt of silk, or sometimes unattached on the ground."--(Meyrick.) There are three New Zealand species. CHRYSOPHANUS SALUSTIUS, Fabr. (_Chrysophanus salustius_, Fabr., Butler, Butterflies of N. Z., Trans. N. Z. Inst. x. 263. _Chrysophanus rauparaha_, Fereday, Trans. N. Z. Inst. ix. 460. _Chrysophanus maui_, ib. x. 252.) (Plate XII., fig. 18 [M], 19 [F], 20 and 21 under side; Plate XIII., figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 varieties.) This pretty little butterfly appears to be very common in most parts of New Zealand. I have records of its occurrence in abundance at various localities, from Napier southwards to Invercargill.