236 [September, 



not bite ! I saw and captured a good variety of butterflies, at least 

 20 species being observed, the most numerous individually was a black 

 bordered Fieris. The fine Papilio Erithonius was not rare, but shy 

 and very difficult to obtain (on a subsequent visit to the Island I found 

 the larva pretty freely, and have now a good many pupa)) ; I also 

 noticed Eujyloea, Junonia, Terias, Lyccena, CaUidri/as, Elodina, &c., 

 most of which I captured, but I could fiud scarcely any Coleoptera. 

 Next day (24th) we proceeded to the westward, among a perfect labyrinth 

 of small sterile islands, for the most part uncharted and unnamed, and 

 in the afternoon came to an anchor off a small rocky Islet, which we 

 called " Queen's Islet," it being apparently unnamed on the chart. 

 Landing here for an hour or two (until I was fairly driven off by the 

 flies!), I found a good deal of grassy and bushy vegetation, and a few 

 Tiepido-ptera, chiefly LyccBnid(S,\)U.t also a nice Pie7-is allied to P. Tetotonia, 

 Euploea Pelor?, &c. On the following day (25th) five of our officers, 

 including myself, attempted to land on " Bigge Island," but we were 

 met on the beach by a party of eight or ten natives, who showed such 

 decided symptoms of hostility, that we thought it best not to persevere 

 in our attempt (as it was, some spears were thrown at us, none of 

 which fortunately took effect) ; they were great strapping fellows 

 fully six feet high, perfectly black, and with absolutely no clothing, 

 except a few streaks of white paiut on the upper part of their bodies. 

 I have since been informed at Port Darwin that all the natives of the 

 N.W. coast are hostile and untrustworthy, except in the immediate 

 vicinity of the settlements. 2Gth, we ran down to De Freycinct 

 Island, a very singular little rock, capped with a great mass of ironstone 

 like a huge wall : landed here, but got very little. 27th, again pro- 

 ceeded westward, and anchored off one of the "Pleywood Group," where 

 I lauded (armed !), but saw little except sand-flies, though there was a 

 fair amount of rough vegetation. 29th, proceeded to the entrance of 

 King's Sound, and anchored among the " Buccaneer Islands " (named 

 I believe by Dampier !) ; found some natives on the Island where we 

 landed for observations, but they did not come near us, the steam 

 whistle seeming to frighten them very much. I got a few LyccenidcB 

 and small moths here, but very little else, these Islands are at this 

 season arid and parched almost beyond belief ; it is a mystery to mo 

 how the natives manage for fresh water. On the 30th we commenced 

 our return to the eastward, and calling at Queen's Islet and Baudin 

 Island (at which latter place we left a party for tidal observations), 

 we arrived at Port Darwin on the afternoon of June 5th, and I landed 

 for the first time on the mainland of Australia. 



