22 O'DoNOGHUE, Ramble s in Raak . [v.^!^xxxiii. 



the dry season, by attaining the moisture that exists some 

 little distance below the surface. Confirmatory evidence of 

 such an acquired habit was recently published in the Agri- 

 cultural Journal of the Union of South Africa, February, 1914, 

 by Eugene N. Marais, in an article entitled '* Notes on Some 

 Effects of Extreme Drought in Waterberg, South Africa." 



Along the lee side of the high water mark of some downpour 

 that had temporarily covered the lowest part of the area of a 

 " salt-pan " with a shallow sheet of turbid liquid, the remains 

 of the cockroach Geoscapheus robustus could be collected in 

 scores, having been surprised, possibly, in their underground 

 retreats by the storm water, and on coming to the surface 

 perished after protracted and unavailing struggles, and were 

 then cast by the ripples on the shore, there to be entombed by 

 the shifting sand, or eaten by the foraging fox or Lace Lizard. 

 One of the latter, Varanus gouldi, was surprised by us whilst 

 it was foraging for these insects on a " lake -bed," and in turn 

 surprised us by the rapidity of its progress over the partially- 

 wet sand ancl through the Pigface and Prickly Saltwort, 

 Salsola kali. 



Whilst dealing with insects, it might be here mentioned that 

 it was noticeable, when fire was apphed to a large clump of 

 spinifex, the greater number of insects sheltering therein 

 seemed loth to leave their domicile, and were either incinerated 

 by the flames or overpowered by the heat when making a 

 belated break for a safer haven. On the other hand, the 

 moment the flames began to manifest their power, a general 

 exodus of panic-stricken small snakes, lizards, beetles, spiders, 

 grasshoppers, cockroaches, &c., ensued from clumps of spinifex 

 some yards distant from the scene of the conflagration. It 

 was noticeable also that shortly after the smoke occasioned by 

 the combustion of these large growths of tangled and pungent 

 leaves had attained some little height in the heavens. Crows 

 were to be discerned converging towards it from all points of 

 the compass. From experience they appear to comprehend 

 that where there is fire in the Mallee there will be found food 

 in abundance. This peculiarity on the part of the Crow was 

 repeatedly tested by Mr. A. W. Milligan during the course of 

 his extensive ornithological excursions in Western Australia. 



Whilst standing watching the play of the flames in a large 

 growth of spinifex, we were surprised to notice an oyster-shell- 

 shaped piece of loam, at the base of the clump, suddenly lift 

 above the level of the surrounding soil, and a dark, hairy form 

 peer forth from beneath the elevated lid with evident trepida- 

 tion and then disappear. When the fire had exhausted itself 

 we hastened forward to investigate the matter, and found 

 two small oyster-shell-shaped lids leading to a circular shaft 



