The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are dull brown _with a pale area on the dorsum near the base, and a very broad pale band just before the termen_; there is a broken {25}black-edged transverse line near the base, and a fainter transverse line at about one-third; the orbicular is oblong, the claviform crescentic, _and the reniform oblong, white, and very conspicuous_, all are strongly outlined in black; there is a shaded transverse line on each side of the broad pale terminal band; the termen is dark brown; the cilia are brown, and the veins are marked in black. The hind-wings are pale grey; there is a rather conspicuous dark crescent in the middle, and two shaded transverse lines; the cilia are grey. This species is evidently allied to _Melanchra dotata_. MELANCHRA STIPATA, Walk. (_Xylina stipata_, Walk., Suppl. 753. _Mamestra stipata_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 25.) (Plate V., fig. 17 [F].) This fine species has occurred at Wellington in the North Island, and in the South Island at Christchurch, and West Plains, near Invercargill. The expansion of the wings is 1¾ inches. The fore-wings are brown; there is a shaded, pale yellowish-brown, longitudinal line on the costa, _and an extensive irregular patch of the same colour from about two-thirds to within a short distance of the termen; the orbicular is large, oval, oblique, pale yellowish-brown; the claviform is semicircular, broadly margined with black_; the reniform is dull grey, with one large and one small white mark towards the termen; the termen is broadly shaded with dark blackish-brown, except near the apex of the wing and a little below the middle. The hind-wings are dark brownish-grey, with the cilia reddish-brown. The female is rather paler with a slightly olive tinge. Both sexes vary a little in the depth of their colouring. The perfect insect appears from October till May. It is common at Christchurch, but rather scarce in Wellington. MELANCHRA OCTANS, n. sp. (Plate V., fig. 1.) This distinctly marked little species was discovered by Mr. Philpott, at Mount Linton, near Invercargill. The expansion of the wings is 1¾ inches. The fore-wings are pale ochreous-brown; there are several wavy brown transverse lines near the base, two lines at about one-third, _then a large_ V-_shaped white mark extending almost from the costa and touching the dorsum_; the orbicular and reniform spots are situated in the middle of this mark, the orbicular is very finely outlined in brown, and contains a black dot towards the base of the wing; the reniform is large, dark brown, _surrounded by a large triangular dark brown shading_; there is an obscure subterminal line; the termen is slightly indented. The hind-wings are dark brown, paler towards the termen. This species may be immediately recognised by the large, white, V-shaped markings on the fore-wings. The perfect insect appears in March.