11 



the species to Mr. Boulenger, as a slight recognition of the 

 impetus which he has given to herpctological science by formu- 

 lating a definite method for tlie description of the species 

 belon£i;in<T; to this interesting sub-order. 



REPORT OF A COLLECTING TRIP TO MOUNT 

 KOSCIUSKO. 



By Richard Helms. 



( Abridged from his Report to the Curator.) 



Leavixg Sydney on tlie oth Fel^ruary by night train, and reaching 

 Michelago about 7 a.m., I proceeded without delay by coach to 

 Coonia. On account of the l)oisterous weather of the previous 

 night the roads w-ere very bad, and the prospect of success in 

 my undertaking, Avhich almost entirely depended on fine weather, 

 was therefore not very hopeful. All my boxes got saturated, 

 which compelled me to unpack them to prevent the contents 

 getting spoiled. This increased my discomfort, for anxious as I 

 was to make my tour a success, particularly as it was my first 

 for your Institution, the outset was so discouraging that it 

 almost disheartened me. ^Moreover everyone predicted a long 

 continuance of bad weather, this having been the usual experience 

 in that part of the country after the breaking up of a long dry 

 season. It is pleasing to relate, therefore, that since I left Cooma 

 only a few rainy days have stopped my collecting, but I was at 

 a great disadvantage in reaching the field of operations at such 

 a late time of the season, when most of the shrubs and trees were 

 past flowering. Another disadvantage was that I reached Jinda- 

 byne, the last settlement neai' the mountains at a time when 

 evei'yone was engaged in harvesting, and consecjuently a con- 

 siderable difHculty arose about getting a guide and packhorses to 

 enable me to push on at once to the highest peaks of the range. 

 I am however doubtful whether after all much has been lost, for 

 whilst waiting to get a guide, etc., I put my time in well at 

 another place, and what I missed from the highest altitudes, I 

 gained in extra numbers where I collected, many of which also 

 proved highly interesting. To collect successfully at these high 

 altidudes, it is my opinion one ought to be there before the 

 beginning of .lanuary, and stay at least during the whole of 

 that month, when the floral development displays its greatest 

 luxuriance. The high winds which commonly prevail at altitudes 

 above 4,000 feet, are very detrimental to successful collecting ; 

 but occasionally almost dead calms are experienced, and during 

 such periods insect life appears abundant. 



