132 DoDT), A Naturalist hi New Guinea. [y-^' 



XXXV. 



the Hombron ridge, altogether there being several miles of 

 this rather gay species to l)e seen — brown intermixed with 

 various shades of red. The gardens are on a scrub-headed 

 creek which runs east, then turns to the north, and, joined by 

 other water-courses, eventually reaches the Brown River, that 

 junctioning with the Laloki some distance away. The upper 

 portion of Hombron is precipitous, the summit, fairlv flat, 

 often ending suddenly in a precipice of several hundred feet. 

 In the clefts and on the abutments were various orchids and 

 ferns, &c., inaccessible to those unsupplied with ropes and such 

 necessaries. The rocks are often in great boulders, themselves 

 composed of roimded pieces of various sizes apparently fused 

 together by heat, many being as large as an ordinary- cottage ; 

 they stand boldly out here and there on the mountain-tops 

 and sides, some in the bed of the river. 



At Hombron we obtained many fine insects. Soon we 

 ascertained that Coscinocera her cities was present, we taking 

 in our several localities nearly fortv cocoons containing living 

 pupa.^ but, though some of the cocoons were heavv. the moths 

 were not equal in expanse to the Queensland form, which we 

 frequently had up to 10^ inches^ — once io| inches. Three 

 pupae remained when we reached Kuranda, the last moth proving 

 to be a magnificent female iii inches across when spread on 

 the setting board ; but, owing to evisceration and drying, mav 

 have contracted a little, though it remains the finest specimen 

 that has passed through my hands, and ma3^be is the largest 

 moth in any collection. As regards wing area, it comes easily 

 first -in the giant moths of the world. I have heard of an 

 Attacus atlas iij inches in expanse, but the hind wings of 

 hercules would easily place it first were atlas even of greater 

 expanse. 



(To })c continued.) 



The Buchax Caves. — Satisfaction will be felt at the inten- 

 tion of the Government to light the Buchan Caves with 

 electricity in place of using magnesium ribbon, as at present. 

 Last year 3,465 visitors were admitted to the caves, about 

 /350 being paid in entrance money. The opening of the railway 

 to Orbost has brought these caves within 18 miles of a railway 

 station, but unfortunately the distance from town (225 miles) 

 places them beyond the reach of the tourist possessed of only 

 moderate means or limited by time. To the man of leisure the 

 district offers many attractions besides the caves, which in several 

 respects rival the famous ones at Jenolan, in New South Wales. 

 Some remarkable limestone cliffs occur on the banks of the Mur- 

 rindal River, the motor trip along the Nowa Nowa Arm of Lake 

 Tyers is unrivalled, while the views in every direction are 

 charming. Folders can be obtained at the Tourist Bureau. 



