The expansion of the wings is 1-3/8 inches. The fore-wings are very pale brownish-cream-colour; _there is a large irregular dark brown patch on the dorsum from about one-eighth to about two-thirds, another smaller patch at the tornus, and another still smaller on the termen a little above the middle_; there are two very obscure transverse lines; the orbicular is finely outlined in brown; the reniform contains two very dark brown dots, and is rather strongly outlined in brown towards the base. The hind-wings are dark grey. The cilia of all the wings are grey with a paler line. The perfect insect appears in November. MELANCHRA USTISTRIGA, Walk. (_Xylina ustistriga_, Walk., Noct. 630. _X. lignisecta_, ib., 631. _Mamestra ustistriga_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 26.) (Plate V., fig. 20 [M], 20A [F].) This beautiful insect has occurred commonly at Wellington in the North Island, and in the South Island, at Blenheim, Christchurch, and Lake Coleridge. The expansion of the wings is about 1¾ inches. _The fore-wings, head, and thorax are pinkish-grey in the male, pale grey in female; the orbicular spot is rather large, nearly round, finely outlined in black; the reniform is very large, margined with black towards the base of the wing, and usually touching the orbicular spot or connected with it by a short black line_; the claviform is triangular, also black margined; there is a cloudy oblique line below the reniform, and an irregular line between the reniform and the termen. The hind-wings and abdomen are pale pinkish-grey in male, dull grey in female; the cilia are white with a cloudy line. {27}This insect varies slightly in size, especially in the female. The larva is dull greyish-brown, with the subdorsal and lateral lines darker. It feeds on honeysuckle during the summer months. The pupa state is spent in the earth. The moth is very irregular in its appearance. I have captured specimens in January, February, March, April, July and September. It appears to pass the winter in both the pupa and imago states. It is very partial to light, and in consequence often enters houses. MELANCHRA PRIONISTIS, Meyr. (_Mamestra prionistis_, Meyr., Trans. N. Z. Inst. xix. 27.) (Plate V., fig. 21 [M].) This species is common at Wellington in the North Island. In the South Island it has been taken at Rakaia. The expansion of the wings of the male is 1-5/8 inches, of the female 1¾ inches. _The fore-wings are rather pale yellowish-brown, with numerous irregular longitudinal grey streaks_; there are several very obscure jagged transverse lines, and the stigmata are almost invisible; _a very broad blackish longitudinal band is situated on the dorsum_. The hind-wings are brownish-grey; the cilia are grey tipped with white. The head and thorax are grey tinged with yellowish-brown; there is a conspicuous blackish streak on each side of the thorax.