HINTERLAND NOTES 485 



hole, whence the branch had fallen, was built up with mud, 

 not wax. I broke away the alighting platform, in order 

 to get a view of the interior. Upon the tree were several 

 kushie warrior ants, one of which, observing bees settling 

 upon the trunk and wandering about in search of an entrance, 

 dashed up to the attack. As a bee settled, the ant would 

 rush at it; a nip would be audible; and the bee would fall 

 to the ground. Over a dozen were treated in this way. When 

 a bee hovered, the ant followed its movements, and this gave 

 other bees time to find the entrance and crawl in. These 

 bees were the ruddy pimiro, named after a small, red pepper, 

 similar to the pimi. I have seen five honey-bees, for each of 

 which the Indians have names. 



It cannot be a common experience to have a plague of 

 butterflies. Each June, our store-room was invaded by a 

 large, dark butterfly, which would swarm over the bananas 

 (before we had the wire room) , and rise in a cloud from the 

 sugar-tin. 



Galaxies of yellow butterflies, having pale-green under 

 the wings, may be seen anywhere, on the river. When set- 

 tled upon the sand at the brink of the water, they have the 

 appearance of a bed of leaves erect. Mingled with these 

 companies are some others of a deep orange hue. 



Of ants there is no end. Tuka and Thepokaru are tun- 

 nelled by the kushie, which interfere seriously with attempts 

 at cultivation. In the bush about the Thewarikuru is a long, 

 black ant, which whistles or produces a sound in some way, 

 when disturbed s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s. Ants swarm over the ground 

 and the trees. In size they vary from the pin's head miku 

 thamu, to black insects, almost an inch long. To the west 

 of Kwatata Savannah is a stretch of country which might 

 appear to be a burial ground of the ancients, with many steles 

 standing yet. According to the nature of the soil, they are 

 terra cotta, brown, or grey. These are the mona, or nests 

 of the wood- ants ; they may be two feet or five feet high. A 

 tribe of Indians takes its name from these monas the Pata- 



