The expansion of the wings is from 1½ to 1¾ inches. The fore-wings are dull brown with several irregular dull white markings near the centre of the wing. The hind-wings are also dull brown. In general appearance it closely resembles the last-mentioned species (_P. cervinata_), _but may always be recognised by its longer and narrower wings, smaller body and antennæ, and absence of distinct markings near the termen_. The perfect insect appears in January, and is usually taken at light. PORINA UMBRACULATA, Gn. (_Pielus umbraculatus_, Gn., Ent. Mo. Mag. v. 1. _Porina umbraculata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 209.) (Plate XIII., fig. 14 [M].) This species is probably common, and generally distributed throughout the country. It has been taken at Palmerston, North Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Invercargill and Stewart Island. The expansion of the wings of the male is 1¾ inches, of the female 2¼ inches. The fore-wings are dull yellowish-brown; _in the centre there is a broad longitudinal blackish streak, containing a conspicuous straight white stripe, occasionally broken into two or three very elongate spots_; there are often several black dots along the termen. The hind-wings are dull ochreous, strongly tinged with pink towards the base. This species varies considerably in the depth of the ground colour, and in the number of the black dots. A blackish shaded line, parallel to the termen, is also frequently present. The species may, however, be at once recognised by the straight, white, central stripe of the fore-wings. The perfect insect appears from October till January, and is generally captured at light. PORINA SIGNATA, Walk. (_Elhamma signata_, Walk., Bomb. 1563. _Porina novæ-zealandiæ_, ib. 1573. _Porina signata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xxii. 210.) (Plate XIII., fig. 15 [M]; Plate III., fig. 6 larva.) Apparently an abundant species in the North Island, having been taken {135}commonly at Napier, Palmerston and Wellington. I suspect it occurs in the South Island also, but I have no records of its capture there. The expansion of the wings is from 2 to 2¼ inches. The fore-wings are dark brownish-ochreous, becoming dull white near the middle and on the termen; _there is a shaded central, longitudinal, blackish band containing several white spots, forming an irregular stripe in the middle of the wing_; there are also many irregular markings with dull white centres, chiefly situated near the veins, and often arranged in two or three rows parallel to the termen. All the markings are very variable, but the insect may be at once known by the irregular central white stripe. When alive the entire colouring is always strongly tinged with pink. I have often found a large subterranean caterpillar, that I believe to be the larva of this insect; but as I have never succeeded in rearing a specimen, I cannot assign it to this species with absolute certainty.