Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 1883. I.—Zoology.

Art. I.—Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera.* For Parts I. and II., see Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xv., art. i. By E. Meyrick, B.A. [Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 3rd May, 1883.] III.—œcophoridæ. The œcophoridæ are the principal family of the Tineina in New Zealand, as in Australia, and attain considerable development; 55 species are here described, but the actual number is probably much more considerable. In addition to those characterized, I have included in an appendix references to descriptions of some other species, which I have not yet satisfactorily identified. The family here constitutes about a sixth of the entire Micro-Lepidoptera; in Australia it forms more than a fourth, whilst in Europe it is about a thirtieth. I have elsewhere discussed the internal development of the family, and its relation to other families of the group, and need not again enter into these questions. Two points, however, present themselves, on which some-thing needs to be said; firstly, the relation of this portion of the fauna to Australian forms, and secondly, the inferences to be drawn from the character of the fauna itself. Since the family occupies such a prominent position in both Australia and New Zealand, compared with such other regions as are yet known, it seems at first sight reasonable to infer a more or less close interconnection between the species of these two countries. Such an impression is not confirmed on investigation. No species is yet known common to both. Fourteen genera are found in New Zealand; of these, ten are endemic, three occur also in Australia, and one is cosmopolitan. Of the three genera shared with Australia, two (Eulechria and Phlœopola) are large and typically Australian genera, represented in New Zealand by three species, obviously mere stragglers; the third, Trachypepla, is a typical New Zealand genus of