The moth may be observed on mild evenings nearly all the year round, but is commoner during the summer. It is an extremely abundant species, and is very often seen resting on tree trunks during the daytime, in which position the colouring of both sexes will be seen to be very protective. MELANCHRA AGORASTIS, Meyr. (_Mamestra agorastis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 18.) (Plate V., fig. 30 [F].) This species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and at Akaroa and Lake Guyon in the South Island. The expansion of the wings is about 1½ inches. _The fore-wings are rich reddish-brown_, with dull yellowish-white markings; the claviform is small, grey, margined with dark reddish-brown; the orbicular is also rather small, grey, margined with dull white; the reniform is rather large, oblong, dark grey, margined rather broadly with yellowish-white. The hind-wings are dark brown. _The antennæ of the male are shortly pectinated._ This species very closely resembles a dark specimen of _Melanchra pelistis_ so far as the female is concerned, which is the only sex I have had an opportunity of examining. The perfect insect appears in February and March. It is a scarce species. {19}MELANCHRA PICTULA, White. (_Dianthoecia pictula_, White, Tayl. New Zeal., pl. i. 3. _Meterana pictula_, Butl., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1877, 386, pl. xlii. 1. _Mamestra pictula_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 18.) (Plate IV., fig. 37 [M].) Three specimens of this handsome species have occurred at Lake Coleridge in the South Island. The expansion of the wings is 1-5/8 inches. The fore-wings are grey, very faintly tinged with pink, the markings are yellowish-green margined with black, _the reniform is large, oval, clear white, with a minute white dot above and below it_, there is a series of conspicuous black-edged yellow spots near the termen; the cilia are grey with a series of minute black and white dots at their base. _The hind-wings are pale crimson shaded with dark grey near the termen_, there is an obscure grey spot near the middle; the cilia are grey. The sides of the abdomen are bright crimson. The moth appears in March. Described and figured from a specimen in Mr. Fereday's collection. MELANCHRA RHODOPLEURA, Meyr. (_Mamestra rhodopleura_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 19.) (Plate IV., fig. 38.) This species has been taken in the North Island at Napier and Wellington. The expansion of the wings is 1½ inches. The fore-wings are greenish-grey, with the markings yellow margined with black; _the hind-wings are dark grey_ with a terminal series of small yellow spots. The sides of the abdomen are bright crimson. This insect is very closely allied to _Melanchra pictula_, _but the absence of the white reniform spot and the grey hind-wings, will at once distinguish it from that species_. The perfect insect appears in May and June. It is decidedly rare. MELANCHRA MEROPE, n. sp. (Plate V., fig. 2.)