144 DoDD, A -Naiuralisi in New Guinea. [vo["^''xxx' 



XXXV. 



Rowan, who had been so much further than ourselves, to an 

 out-of-the-way part of New Guinea, and who, though the victim 

 of a severe attack of fever, bravely carried on her interesting 

 and splendid work of flower and also bird painting. That 

 attack of fever I fear she will be long in throwing off, for, 

 meeting and talking to the lady in Melbourne recently, I noticed 

 that she was far from being well, and judged the cause to be 

 the fever contracted in New Guinea. 



A six months' visit to New Guinea is far too short a period 

 in which to gain a fair knowledge of the insect life there ; 

 moreover, we were not there at the most productive time of 

 the year, nor in a good locality, so, all being well, I hope yet 

 to visit a more interesting and productive spot. 



Our thanks are due to all whom we met. Government officials, 

 business, plantation, and mission people being exceedingly kind, 

 and all giving us every reasonable assistance towards pro- 

 secuting our inquiries into the natural history of this great 

 country. 



" The Gum Tree." — ^The December (1918) issue of this 

 journal is to hand, and its articles should all help to promote 

 its objects — the conservation, propagation, and utilization of 

 Australian trees. 



Butterflies. — ^The month of December, 1918, will long 

 be remembered by lepidopterists for the countless numbers of 

 the fine Meadow Brown butterfly, Heteronympha mcrope. Fab., 

 seen everywhere— in city, in park, and even in houses. This 

 butterfly differs considerably both in the size and the coloration 

 of the sexes, and the uninitiated were probably of opinion that 

 more than one species was concerned in the influx. Though 

 the coloration of this species is simply brown with black 

 markings, the female (the larger of the two sexes) is really a 

 handsome insect, and makes a fine display as it lazily flits from 

 one object to another. The question which has arisen as to 

 why this multitude of butterflies seems unanswerable ; whether 

 attributable to abundance of food in the larval state, to suit- 

 able temperature at that period of its existence, or to the 

 absence of enemies when in the adult form, are moot points. 

 Seeing that the larvae feed on various grasses, little apprehension 

 need be feared as to any serious consequences likely to ensue 

 on this visitation. Some years ago the Painted Lady, Pyrameis^ 

 Kershawi, M'Coy, was equally common. 



