14 



crossed one of tlu* pennanent snowfields which are hanging 

 everywhere on the south-east side of the; liigheat ranges. Crossing 

 a saddle that again divides the >Snowy and Murray waters, by 

 turning slightly to the left we reached the liighest peak of the 

 Rauishead Range, which from our position extends almost in a true 

 easterly direction, and divides the Snowy and Crackenbac Rivers. 

 My aim was to obtain some " Boogongs," the native name for 

 the moths which so abundantly occur- on this range, and no doubt 

 have given it its name. From descriptions I expected to find a 

 large Sphinx, and was puzzled how such an insect could exist in 

 such masses at this altitude and in a comparatively barren 

 country. What I found was a Noctuid moth, an Agrotis* 

 probably the same as is found in New Zealand, and likely to be 

 a cosmopolitan species. The first I disco\-ered was sitting in a 

 crevice, and as soon as I saw it I knew where to look for more. 

 On lifting some of the stone slabs, split from the rock by frost, 

 dozens .scrambled away in all directions. I secured some fifty 

 specimens, and but for the high wind might perhaps have caught 

 many more. Why, at such an elevation (from 0,000 to 7,000 

 feet), millions of these insects should be found, is perhaps 

 one of the most remarkable problems in the insect world. 

 The conditions are by no means favoral)le, because sometinies 

 during nearly .seven months of the year the country is covered 

 with snow, and when the summer conies immense numbers of 

 birds pursue them, particularly the crows which may always be 

 found by thou.sands aliout the rocks where tlie " Boogongs " con- 

 gregate. In former years before rum and disease had diminished 

 the aborigines, hundi'eds of them went regularly to the ranges 

 " Boogonging," and lived for montlis on almost nothing Ijut these 

 insects, returning fat and with a polished skin. An informant, 

 who has lived in Monaro for over forty-live years, told me as 

 follows : — In October, as soon as the snow had melted on the 

 lower ranges, small parties of blackfellows would in fine weather 

 start for the rocks on the sunnnit to get " Boogongs " 

 (most likely hybernated examples), and perhaps return if the 

 weather changed ; but a great gathering usually took place 

 about Christmas on tlie highest ranges, and for about two months 

 a great feast of roasted moths would be held. He assured 

 me he has seen corroborees of 500 to 700 aboriginals on the 

 mountains, in which the various tribes that took part were 

 friendly, some of them coming from a great distance. Their 

 method of catching these insects was both simple and effective. 

 With a burning or smoldering bush they entered as far as 

 possible the rents in the rock.s, and by the heat and smoke stifie 

 the thickly congregated insects sitting in the upper parts of the 



*This species has be'in identified by Mr. OUiff as Agrotis spina, Gn., 

 immense swarms of which appeared on the sea-board of Victoria and 

 New Soi\th Wales in the early part of the present siunmer. — Ed. 



