212 INSECTS. 



usually seen in small flocks passing over the tops of 

 the trees^ uttering- a loud sharp scream at intervals. 

 Another parrakeet^ not so big" as a sparrow^ of a 

 g-reen colour^ was sometimes seen in flocks^ hut 

 we could not succeed in g-etting' one. The Torres 

 Strait and Nicobar pig-eons^ also Duperrey's Meg*a- 

 podius were common enough^ as well as many 

 other hirds^ twelve species of which are also found 

 in Australia^ — a most unlooked-for occurrence. 



No snakes were seen during' our rambles^ but 



small lizards occurred everywhere. A large lizard, 



apparently Monitor Gouldiij was shot from a tree 



on the banks of the river. Although not troubled 



by mosquitoes^ such of us as strolled about much in 



the bush were sadly tormented by sand-flies — a 



minute two- winged insect whose bite raises a small 



swelling followed by much itching*. On going to 



bed one nig*ht^ I counted no less than sixty-three of 



these marks on my left leg' from the ankle to half 



way up the thigh^ and the right one was equally 



studded with angry red pimples. Among many 



kinds of ants I may mention the green one^ which 



is found chieflv on trees and bushes, of the leaves 



of which it makes its nest. Should one unconsciously 



disturb them by getting entangled among the 



branches in the neighbourhood of a nest^ he may 



expect a whole swarm upon him before he can 



extricate himself^ and is first made aware of their 



presence by feeling sharp stinging pains in various 



places^ especially the neck^ caused by their bites. 



