SoptcnibuT, isoi.l 233 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FROM PORT DARWIN, &c. 

 BY JAMES J. WALKER, R.N., E.L.8. 



We arrived at Tanjong Priot on May 7th, but as we left again on 

 ilie 9th at daybreak, and were busy coaling, &c., all the time, I had, to 

 my regret, no chance of going on to Batavia. I had, however, a turn 

 round the immediate vicinity of the hai'bour, but as the weather was 

 rainy and unfavourable, I did not meet with very many insects. The 

 country here is sandy and entirely alluvial and very swampy in places, 

 though covered with dense vegetation, coco-nut palms predominating. 

 There seemed to be a fair sprinkling of butterflies along the roads, &c., 

 but mostly of small and comparatively inconspicuous kinds. I met 

 with examples of three European species, viz., Neptis aceris, Lyccsna 

 hcetica, and L. trochilus. The commonest butterfly appeared to be a 

 black and greenish-white Danais, which abounded in shady places. 

 By brushing long grass with my net, I obtained a fair variety of small 

 Coleoptera and Semiptera, but the only conspicuous beetle I got was 

 a beautiful blue Cicindelid, with red legs, which at first I mistook 

 for an Agra !, it is, I believe, a species of Collyris. A beautiful little 

 metallic Heteromeron, allied to Selops, found not rarely under logs, 

 is also worth notice. On the whole, however, I was somewhat dis- 

 appointed with Tanjong Priok, though it must be acknowledged that 

 I had no good opportunity of collecting. 



We had a fine view of the picturesque north coast of Java on our 

 way to Timor, and especially of the fine volcano, " Gunong Agong " 

 (10,500 feet), in the Island of Bali, as we passed through the Strait 

 between that Island and Lombok on May 12th. 



On the 13th our course lay between the Islands of Flores and 

 Chandana (Sandalwood Island), but at too great a distance to see 

 much of either of them ; we also got a distant glimpse of Sumbawa. 



On the 15th, at 8.30 a.m., we arrived off Koepang (Timor), and 

 anchored about half a mile off the town. The country here is of 

 moderate elevation, but very rugged, with some high mountain peaks 

 in the background ; it appears somewhat arid, but there is no lack of 

 vegetation. A tine " fan palm," 100 feet or more in height {Boj'assiis 

 flahelliformis) , is very conspicuous, and large Ficus and other trees 

 are planted on either side of the principal streets of the town. 

 Koepang, which is one of the oldest Dutch settlements in the East, is 

 an exceedingly neat and clean place, with an abundant supply of water, 

 but it is said to be unhealthy ; there are but few European residents, 

 most of the trade being in the hands of the Chinese. A fine stream 



7. 



