THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 53 



breeds in the Blackwood, Acacia melanoxylon. Trichomesia 

 newmam and the curious wasp-like Hesthesis acutlj^ennis were 

 found on blossoms. 



Want of space prevents further details, but the appended list 

 will, perhaps, be of use to workers and collectors. I am indebted 

 to Mr. A. M. Lea, F.E.S., for many of the names. 



Lepidoptera.. — Four species of butterflies were at all times very 

 plentiful ; these were Heteronympha merope, Xenica achanta, 

 X. klagi, and Pyrameis kershawi. P. iiea was less common, 

 while Tisiphone (Epinephile) abeona might be looked upon as 

 one of the rarities. This fine butterfly seemed fond of slowly 

 floating about in shady spots near the creeks. Several times I 

 saw skippers fly past, but they travelled so swiftly that identifica- 

 tion was out of the question. 



The moths were very few and far between. One would have 

 thought that a district so lavishly clothed with vegetation would 

 produce moths ad libitum. Possibly in the autumn they may be 

 more plentiful. :Scoliacma, bicolor, a red and black species, and 

 Asicra lydia, a yellow moth with black markings, were taken on 

 eucalypts. Darala acuta, a greyish moth with a diagonal mark 

 across the wings, was found sheltering in the Blackberry bushes. 

 Hydriomena suhocliraria, a small yellowish species, was common 

 in places ; it has a jerky flight, resembling that of some butter- 

 flies. Scipophaga patulella, a beautiful pure white moth, was met 

 with in swampy localities, resting on rushes. The handsome 

 Agarista lewiiii was at home everywhere. 



My first experience of the Great Green Cicada, Cyclochila 

 auslralasice, will be long remembered. I had heard and read a 

 good deal about its " vocal " powers, but was scarcely prepared 

 for the reality. Somewhere near Dandenong I struck a patch of 

 them in full blast, and, being rather enthusiastic about entomology, 

 I quite enjoyed the terrible concert for a time. One rendering, 

 however, would assuredly satisfy most people. Amongst all the 

 host of green ones only one of the large black species, Cicada 

 ■Dicer'ens, was seen. 



Of the Hemiptera, great numbers of the beautiful " Harlequin 

 Fruit Bug," Dindyvms versicolor, were met with almost every- 

 where, but especially where Blue or White Gum saplings 

 abounded ; they did not appear to trouble the fruit trees at all. 

 In fact, it was remarkable how free from insect depredations the 

 orchards were. In all that I saw no trace of the Codlin Moth 

 could be found, and only at rare intervals were trees seen affected 

 by the Woolly Aphis. 



In the vast forest regions of Gippsland the many families of 

 the Hymenoptera, Homoptera, Neuroptera, and Diptera afford an 

 inexhaustible field for study and observation, and volumes might 

 be written on their habits and life-histories. All that is wanted is 



