Apnl.j Kershaw, A Naturalist in Northern Queensland. 183 



semi-transparent larva, about half an inch long. The head 

 was furnished with a phosphorescent light, similar to but not 

 so large and bright as that of the beetle, while it was much 

 brighter than that emitted by glow-worms noticed a few weeks 

 earlier in the same locality. Could these be the larvae of the 

 beetle ? 



•After spending several days among the swamps, we again 

 moved our camp up the river. The heavy rains still continued, 

 and their effect on the growth of the coarse grass was wonderful. 

 In places where we had previously found it easy walking the 

 grass was now three and four feet high, and we were rarely dry. 

 Shrubs and creepers were now coming into flower, some of 

 the latter having a strong, sweet scent. March-flies and 

 mosquitos had increased to such an extent that we were often 

 compelled to light smoke fires in the sciiib in order to get a 

 little relief, while similar fires had to be kept going regularly 

 around and inside our tents. The ordinary domestic fly, which 

 had been practically absent, now made its appearance in 

 increasing numbers every day, and a small blow-fly, which 

 dropped its living larvse over everything, frequented the camp 

 in numbers. Leeches and the scrub-itch were, however, absent. 

 Insects were now becoming more plentiful, and many inter- 

 esting species were taken. Cicadas were numerous, five or 

 six species occurring, chiefly in the open country, while among 

 the butterflies were Papilio polydorus, Rhinopalpa sabina, 

 Diadema alimena, Massaras prosope, Mycalesis terminus, and 

 several species of skippers. Several rare moths, some quite 

 new to me, were also captured. 



Many of the birds were also nesting more freely. In the 

 scrub the small, open, cup-shaped nests of the White-bellied 

 Flycatcher, Monarcha albiventer, were found, containing two 

 eggs. They were composed of small strips of bark and fine 

 tendrils, bound together with spiders' web, and lined with 

 hair-like fibre and rootlets. In a deep recess between the 

 l)uttressed roots of a large fig-tree was discovered the nest of 

 the Lesser Pitta, P. simillima, containing three eggs. It was 

 a loosely-built, dome-shaped structure, placed on the ground, 

 and built of leaves, small sticks, and fibres, with the entrance 

 at the side. Another nest was found in a' similar situation, 

 but about 8 feet from the ground. The nests of the Blue- 

 breasted Pitta, P. mackloti, were also found. Two of these 

 were built on the ground in a similar situation to those of P. 

 simillima ; another was found among the branches of a recently 

 fallen tree. The White-tailed Kingfisher, Tanysiptera sylvia, 

 and the Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Symci flavirostris, both breed in 

 termites' mounds, in the side of which they excavate a small 

 tunnel. They occupy these mounds whether situated on the 



