12 



BENNETTS WANDERINGS 



every branch and twig, for several acres, was covered with a 

 species of butterfly, and the air was so crowded with them, that 

 millions might be seen in every direction. And Captain King, 

 as quoted by our author, observes: " Here, (Cape Cleveland,) 

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

 the tropic, the air is crowded with a species of butterfly, a great 

 many of which were taken. It is, doubtless, the same species 

 which Captain Cook remarks as so plentiful in Thirsty Sound. 

 The numbers seen by us were indeed incredible ; the stem of 

 every grass-tree {Xanthorrhcea), which plant grows abundantly 

 upon the hills, was covered with them ; and, on their taking 

 wing, the air appeared, as it were, in perfect motion. It is a 

 new species, and is described by my friend, Mr. W. S. Mac- 

 Leay, under the name of Ei/pl<za hamata."- — {Survey of the 

 Coast of Australia, Vol. I. p. 195.) 



In England we have occasionally seen gnats and ants almost 

 equally numerous ; and in northern countries, the cruel mos- 

 quito is no less abundant. But we must proceed with the 

 account of the Bugongs. 



Near this station is a lofty table-mountain, rising above numerous 

 wooded hills, varying in their degrees of elevation : it forms the com- 

 mencement of a mountainous range, extending in a south-west 

 direction. It is named the Bugong mountain, from the circum- 

 stance of multitudes of small moths, called Bugong by the aborigines, 

 congregating, at certain months of the year, about masses of granite 

 on this and other parts of the range. The months of November, 

 December, and January, are quite a season of festivity among the 

 native blacks, who assemble from far and near to collect the Bugong ; 

 the bodies of these insects contain a quantity of oil, and they are 

 sought after as a luscious and fattening food. I felt very desirous 

 of investigating the places where these insects were said to con- 

 gregate in such incredible quantities, and availed myself of the 

 earliest opportunity to do so. — Vol. I. p. 266. 



Mr. Bennett was prevented by the weather from ascending 

 the mountain till the 12th of December. Part of the ascent 

 was made on horseback, the remainder on foot: at last he 

 arrived at the summit of the mountain, composed of enormous 

 masses of granite. 



This was the first place where, upon the smooth sides or crevices 

 of the granite blocks, the Bugong moths congregated in such incre- 



