16 



of Mus obtained hy lue was caught here in my tent. But perhaps 

 the most intor'esting contribution to my Collection was made on 

 Sunday, lOtli Marcli, in the shape of a specimen of Peripatus. 

 This intei'esting lind was later on augmented by two others, and 

 one specimen was obtained on the 19th at an elevation of at 

 least 5,700 feet. This is the highest altitude at which I obtained 

 this interesting Myriapod, and as far as I am aware none have 

 been previously found at such an elevation. It must be remem- 

 bei'ed that this locality for at least from four to five months is 

 frequently covered with several feet of snow. During my stay 

 there I experienced several frosty nights. 



After a few rough and cold nights, which made insects very 

 scarce, I shifted on the 2.jrd of jVLarcli to a well sheltered place 

 called Wilson's Valley, at an altitude of about 5,000 feet, and 

 stayed there for the remainder of my time. Being favored with 

 exceptionally fine weather for the time of the year, I was lucky 

 enough to obtain in this locality many fine insects, particularly 

 some interesting CoJpoptera^ Diptera, etc., and the greater number 

 of the Peripati(.s was also obtained here, but only one variety 

 which I did not get amongst the four specimens from the 

 higiiei' altitude. There are in my opinion three distinct species 

 in the collection brought l)y me, and one doubtful species or 

 variety. In this place were also obtained a good number of 

 Planarian worms, and some Mollusks, including an interesting 

 (most likely new) naked species. 



The comparatively short stay amongst the mountains scarcely 

 enabled me to thoroughly explore even those parts of the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of my camping places, and still less the 

 whole of the mountain ranges. If with this is taken into 

 consideration that my collections are made from the autumnal 

 fauna, and that I secured none of those animals that make their 

 appearance in spring or early summer, it stands to reason that 

 the result of my captures cannot give anything like a fair 

 representation of the extremely interesting mountain faimia. 

 Considering tliat the Kosciusko plateau alone is estimated to 

 contain upwards of 160 square miles, there is an innnense tract 

 of country still waiting for a thorough zoological examination. 

 Already xnHt stretches of country are annually burnt off to 

 improvi^ the pasturage, and during summer, when through the 

 devastation of forests, the water gets scarcer in the low lying- 

 parts, and consequently the pasturage parched up, the mountains 

 will be more resorted to. 



The finish of my trip, like the beginning, was a wet one. Rain 

 just started the morning of the day I had appointed to break up 

 camp, and lasted for several days, giving me .some trouble to get 

 things dry again. It is, however, very satisfactory to me to be able 

 to report that in spite of this and of rough coaching over some 75 

 miles, I have l)rought all my collections without mishap to Sydney. 



