ENTOMOLOGICAL VISIT TO NORTH QUEENSLAND AND NATAL. 31 



Deudorix diovis, Bindahassa sugriva, Megisha nigra, whilst Danis 

 serapis was very abundant. Many other Lycaenidse and also 

 Hesperidse were taken, but I have not yet identified them. Small 

 ants were very troublesome here, attacking larvae, pupae, and 

 perfect insects at every opportunity. Beetles did not seem so 

 much in evidence as I had expected, but I took a beautiful pair 

 of the magnificent Phalacrogtiathus muelleri. Eound a large tree 

 with a lilac-coloured flower were many green Lomaptera duhou- 

 layi, and I also obtained a few Longicorns. Whilst at Kuranda, 

 Mr. Dodd kindly showed me some of the magnificent insects 

 which he collects in this district. 



On my return southwards I again called at Townsville, where 

 I found things very different. Heavy rains were falling, and on 

 the paths were swarms of Cicendela semicincta (both forms), 

 where previously not one was to be seen. Birds, too, seemed 

 more numerous, and I was particularly interested in some 

 bee-eaters which were numerous along a watercourse which I 

 followed. 



I arrived at Sydney on February 1st, and paid a visit to the 

 National Park. Although the wild flowers are extremely varied 

 and beautiful here, there were very few butterflies and practically 

 no beetles at this season to be found. The only butterflies noticed 

 were species of Xenica and Heteronympha {H. mei'ope), and one 

 or two dull Lycaenidae. From February 4th to 9th I was in 

 Melbourne, but only two species of Xenica were taken, although 

 I visited one of the best localities in South Victoria. Perhaps I 

 should have done better here but for the rain, which interfered 

 with outdoor work very considerably. During my whole stay in 

 Australia constant rain handicapped me severely in outdoor 

 work, whilst it rendered it very difficult to dry specimens and to 

 prevent mould. 



I left Melbourne (February 9th) by the steamship ' Salamis ' 

 for Durban, where we arrived on March 5th after a rough and 

 dreary passage. Here I was particularly anxious to obtain 

 some of the beautiful instances of mimicry which occur in this 

 locality, and on the whole was very successful. On the first 

 afternoon I went up the Berea, and into the Stella Bush, where 

 I found insect-life apparently far more abundant than in any 

 part of Australia, although one missed the gorgeous beauty of 

 Papilio idysses or Ornithoptera cassandra. Flowers are also far 

 more conspicuous than in the Queensland scrubs, but the country 

 seemed dustier, and lacked the fresh green of the palms, lawyers, 

 &c., so familiar in the tropical jungles of Northern Australia. 

 One of the commonest butterflies here was Pieris thysa, but, 

 strange to say, its model, Mylothris agathina, was quite scarce 

 here, although I subsequently found it abundant enough up 

 country. Another interesting butterfly which was unusually 

 common was Pseudacrcea tarquinia. This was to be taken daily 



