CONGREGATION OF MOTHS. 269 



Our native guides wished us to proceed and 

 join the tribe ; but the day had so far advanced, 

 that it was thought more advisable to return, be- 

 cause it was doubtful, as the blacks removed 

 from a place as soon as they had cleared it of the 

 insects, whether we should find' them at the next 

 group, or removed to others still further distant. 



From the result of my observations, it appears 

 that the insects are only found in such multi- 

 tudes on these insulated and peculiar masses 

 of granite ; for about the other solitary granite 

 rocks, so profusely scattered over the range, I 

 did not observe a single moth, or even the re- 

 mains of one. Why they should be confined 

 only to these particular places, or for what pur- 

 pose they thus collect together, is not a less curi- 

 ous than interesting subject of inquiry. Whether 

 it be for the purpose of emigrating, or any other 

 cause, our present knowledge cannot satisfactorily 

 answer.* The view from this second group was 



* Captain Cook mentions, that at Thirsty Sound, on the 

 coast of New South Wales, he found an incredible number 

 of butterflies ; so that, for the space of three or four acres, 

 the air was so crowded with them, that miUions were to be 

 seen in every direction, at the same time that every branch 

 and twig was covered with others that were not upon the 

 wing : and Captain King observes, (Survey of the Coasts of 

 Australia, vol. i. p. 195,) " Here, (Cape Cleveland,) as well 

 as at every other place that we had landed upon within the 



