KQ [March, 



siderable. It was known that a Grerman cruiser was not far off. 

 However, we crossed the Grulf of Carpentaria without mishap. The 

 weather continued to be fine and warm as we entered the Araf ura Sea. 

 Here we passed through a quantity of yellowish-bi'own scum, which 

 lay in streaks, and at a little distance imparted a fulvous or almost 

 reddish hue to the surface of the water. This was said to be due to 

 the same organism as that which gives its name to the Red Sea. 

 According to Prof. Seward, F.E.S., it is an Alga, very likely mixed up 

 with diatoms.* 



Eunning past Melville Island on a smooth, pale chalky-green sea, 

 we put in at Port Darwin late in tlie afternoon of September 15th. 

 Smart ladies and men in white drill came on board to welcome us, and 

 we were fortliAvith taken in motors to the Botanic Gardens, where we 

 were hospitably received by the Administrator and his wife, and enter- 

 tained at a delightful open-air tropical tea. Here I had the pleasant 

 experience of meeting with an old pupil, who supplied me with many 

 interesting mementoes of the visit in the shape of shells and crocodile's 

 eggs, together with native implements of war and peace. I was also 

 presented by Mr. Bleeser, a resident, with a few butterflies which had 

 been taken by him in the neighbourhood at various times. These 

 included Hypocista antirius Butl., Atella i>1iaJantlia Drui-y, Cethosia 

 cyane Drury (^ , and Hypolimnas bolina Linn. ^ . 



Next day we were off again, gliding over smooth and almost oily 

 seas on our way to Java. The sun shone in a cloudless sky, and the 

 weather was decidedly warm, though to my mind not unpleasantly so. 

 Sea-snakes were much in evidence, basking at the surface of the calm 

 water. 



On September 18th we were passing Timor, and early on the 19th 

 we sighted Lombok. Later in the day we traversed the famous strait 

 between Bali and Lombok, having in sight the two great volcanoes, 

 10,500 and 12,460 feet high respectively. The Bali mountain was still 

 in view at sunset, and the impression made by the wonderful scenery 

 along " Wallace's Line " is likely to be permanent. 



Next morning, as soon as it was light, we found oiu-selves 

 surrounded by crowds of sampans under sail. These are curiously 

 painted boats with raised and pointed bow and stern, and a very large 



* This Alga {TrirJimJaonhna sp.) is a characteristic feature of the ti'opical oceans at nioderate 

 distances from hind. In my voyages I have observed it off the coast of Brazil in the region where 

 Charles Darwin described it so graphically in his "Journal of llesearches" (pp. 14-10); i^lso in 

 tlie lied Sea, and especially near the south coast of Ceylon and in the Timor Sea off North-West 

 Australia. Ur. (i. U. Longstaff also met with it in the Indian Ocean off Goa(f/. "Butterfly Hunting 

 in Many Lands," p. 3!S'.i)- The sail, rs' name for this plant, '-.sea-sawdust," gives a very good idea 

 of its appearance. —J.J. W. 



