,88 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



the illustration. The lower wings are smoky grey-brown. Below, 

 the colour is very much paler, and there are three white spots 

 on the upper wings and five on the lower. 



One Australian species, Euplaa hamata, is remarkable for 

 being used as food by the natives, who know the insect by the 

 name of Bugong. In certain seasons the Bugongs arrive in vast 

 swarms, just as do locusts in many parts of the world. They 



Via. 881.— Euplcea Lorenzo, 

 (Brown and white.) 



settle upon the rocks, and the natives then light fires so as to 

 smother them with the smoke, when they are swept into baskets. 

 Large fires are then lighted on the rocky ground, and the "moths," 

 as they are called, thrown on the heated ground and stirred about 

 until they are cooked and the wings and legs separated from the 

 bodies. They are then pounded into lumps and are fit to be 

 eaten. Mr. Bennett describes the flavour as resembling that of 

 a sweet nut. 



The natives become exceedingly fat upon this curious diet, 

 though at first it always disagrees with them. Birds, as well as 

 men, feed upon the Bugong, and there is a species of crow called 



