BY A. W. SCOTT, M.A. 47 



much like wind, or flock of sbeep." The Tumut blacks report 

 that the moths do not congregrate on the high peaks in the 

 spring time, but they first locate the lower mountains, feeding 

 on the blossoms which appear there earlier, and then work 

 their way up to the higher peaks where the plants are later in 

 bloom. 



The Bougong moths are collected and prepared for food by 

 the Aborigines, in this wise — a blanket or sheet of bark is spread 

 on the floor ; the moths on being disturbed with a stick, fall down, 

 are gathered up before they have time to crawl or fly away, and 

 thrust into a bag. To cook them a hole is made on a sandy spot, 

 and a smart fire lit on it until the sand is thoroughly heated, 

 when all portions left of the glowing coal are carefully picked 

 out, for fear of scorching the bodies of the insects, (as in such a 

 case, a violent storm would inevitably arise, according to their 

 superstitious notions). The moths are now poured out of the 

 bag, stirred about in the hot ashes for a short time, and then 

 placed upon a sheet of bark until cold. The next process is to 

 sift them carefully in a net, by which action the heads fall 

 through, and thus, the wings and legs having been previously 

 f-inged off, the bodies are obtained properly prepared. In this 

 state they are generally eaten, but sometimes they are ground 

 into a paste by the use of a smooth stone and hollow piece of 

 bark, and made into cakes. 



In this locality were seen many of these holes, having been 

 formed years ago for a similar purpose by the then numerous 

 blacks. 



Mr. Vyner also mentions, that at the period of his visit to 

 this peak, he saw hundreds of crows and magpies feeding upon 

 these moths, and the foot marks and other tracks of native dogs 

 and tiger cats were abundant, leading direct to the fissures of the 

 rocks, and although he did not see these animals, he adds, " I am 

 certain from their traces that they must feed upon them," (the 

 moths). 



