1892] 2U3 



on Mount Wellington small but most bloodthirsty land leeches are 

 suiBeiently common to render a certain amount of precaution neces- 

 sary before venturing into such places. The three species of snakes 

 which are found in Tasmania {Hoplocephaliis siiperhus, H. curtics, and 

 H. coronoides) are all common, except the first, and all poisonous, the 

 bite of the first two and larger species being sometimes fatal. The 

 third, known as the " whip snake," is seldom more than a foot in 

 length ; it is, however, very active and vicious, especially in hot weather, 

 and as it has a habit of harbouring under stones and loose bark, a good 

 look out has to be kept for it when collecting. 



It was originally intended that the " Penguin " should return to 

 Hobart at the close of the present surveying season. Orders have, 

 however, been recently received to proceed to Hong Kong in Decem- 

 ber, and to finish the commission in Chinese waters ; so I write these 

 notes with much regret that I shall have no further opportunity of 

 making them more complete, by revisiting one of the most interesting 

 and productive localities which it has ever been my good fortune to 

 work in. 



H.M.S. " Penguin," 

 Koebuck Bay, N.W. Australia: 



September 16th, 1891. 



MELIANA FLAMMEA, &c.— NOTES OF THE SEASON. 



BY F. D. WHEELEE, M.A., LL.D., P.E.S. 



The present year having proved (in my experience) an unusually 

 good one for this species, it may, perhaps, be of interest to place on 

 record a few facts with regard to it. 



The exceptionally fine warm weather which we enjoyed during 

 the spring led me to expect a good appearance of early species in the 

 fens, and I accordingly made an effort to get out for some collecting. 



My first night was May 24th, when the weather was at its best — 

 very hot and close. I rode over to Eanworth and took boat, reaching 

 the fen at dusk, ^anagra petraria was abundant on the wing, but 

 very little else ; one specimen, however, of M.flammea occurred thus : — 

 at dark I lit the attracting lamp, and worked till midnight, when I 

 was compelled reluctantly to give up, having regard to the next day's 

 school-work and the long journey home. During this interval twenty- 

 four specimens of M. flammea had been secured. The curious feature 

 of the thing is that with the exception of a solitary specimen of 



