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THE AUSTKALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 



males. The males probably use it for 

 exciting- the admiration of the females 

 in courtship, since they may be seen 

 at the mouths of their burrows with the 

 large hand, which is very brilliantly 

 coloured, in constant motion as though 

 beckoning to attract the attention of the 

 females. When feeding they always hold 

 the hand readv for use the long-stalked 



The Ant-house plant, which serves as the home 

 of a numerous colony of small black ants. 

 Photo — A. R. McOulIocli. 



eyes keeping a sharp lookout over the 

 top. If alarmed they scurry off side- 

 ways, holding the large hand forwards 

 in a fighting attitude. 



ANTS AXD TER]\nTES. 



In the low-lving countrv near the 



coast the ant-house plant is found. Be- 

 sides the "white ants" (termitfs), which 

 construct a great mound nest sometimes 

 18 feet in height, there are true ants 

 which make their home in the curious 

 button orchids. These ant-house plants 

 ai'e usually to be found growing on the 

 prper-bark trees. One i)art of the or- 

 chid is enlarged to form an irregular 

 mass aboi;t foui' inches in diameter. It 

 has one or two entrances, and is honey- 

 cond)ed throughout by a series of tun- 

 nels, which serve as the home of a 

 numerous colony of small black ants. 



Green ants are also exceedingly plen- 

 tiful in the dense coastal scrub. They 

 build their nests of varying sizes in the 

 trees Ijy fastening together bunches of 

 leaves, and as the colony grows more 

 leaves are added to the structure. The 

 building of the nest is a most interest- 

 ing spectacle; a great many of the ants 

 assemble along the edges of two green 

 leaves which are close together, and 

 reaching from one to the other, gradual- 

 Iv laing their edges into contact. 

 Other ants now bring some pupae from 

 ancther nest, and pass them backwards 

 and foi'wards from one edge of the 

 held leaf to the other, at the same time 

 pressing the pupae against each leaf. A 

 white secretion oozes from the pupae, 

 and this quickly dries, and holds the 

 heaves together. 



Almost all the animals referred to in 

 tills brief description of the Great Bar- 

 rier Keef of Australia are exhibited in 

 tlie museum galleries, and are accom- 

 ]ianied by explanatory labels, giving full 

 <letails concerning their curious habits 

 and otlier features of special interest, 

 and iniiiortance. 



The Spider-eating Insects of Australia. 



By G. H. IIaruy. 



Spiders belong to the most abundant 

 class of the invertebrates, other than 

 insects, to be seen in the Australian 

 bush. There are species that hunt their 

 game, some that weave an entangling 

 net to snare their prey, others that sink 

 a shaft in the ground and at the en- 



trance wait for other creatures to come 

 within reach, and still another that 

 seeks its food under water. 



Spiders themselves form a staple food 

 for other creatures, such as birds, and 

 hence many secure special cavities to 

 retire into on the least suspicion of 



