26 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



portions not covered were the eyes, feet, and mouth. It was- 

 not an emerald at all, but a small brown geometer. Later on 

 I found a second type — a geometer caterpillar clothed by aster 

 florets. These were firmly adherent to the skin, and, except 

 when in motion, perfectly deceptive among the aster heads of 

 florets. This turned out to be an interesting specimen, being 

 the rare buff-green, or emerald, Eucrostis argocrana, Meyr. — new 

 to science when I took it at Marysville and at Upper Moe. I 

 only succeeded in getting one specimen here, but the imago is 

 identical with the Victorian specimens. 



I fear I shall weary you. I could go on writing all day about 

 the wonders to be seen here, but I must not omit to rouse 

 your ardour by describing my success at the electric light. 

 The success varies on different nights, and, so far, I am baffled 

 to say what regulates moth appearance. Wind and rain offer 

 no criterion, but, as far as I can judge, the meteoric conditions 

 of the atmosphere have most to do in the matter. And I think 

 this is feasible. The condition of the atmosphere, acting 

 on the sensitive nerve ganglia, must arouse or abate energy;, 

 and, in response, particular species fly or rest, as the heralder 

 imposes. Such, at least, agrees with my experience. One 

 night a species may appear largely, and not again for a week. 

 But here the whole insect-life economy offers material for wide 

 study. The fences on hot days swarm with lizards, and moths 

 are scarce. When the lizards are lazy, or sluggish, or asleep,. 

 the moths appear. At the electric lights all kinds of enemies 

 torment the moths. Bats fly through and through the groups. 

 I believed these creatures caught their prey in their mouths ; 

 but it is not always so, at any rate with the larger ones. A large 

 moth dodged a bat as I was watching the struggle in the air, 

 and fell to the ground. I secured the prize, but found that the 

 bat had struck and torn the hind wings with its claws. Frogs 

 here, in swarm and diversity of species, perch on window 

 ledges, logs, stones, posts, or trees, watching for a meal. As 

 they jump you cannot see them seize their prey. They seem to 

 do it in the jump. A gentleman put a pin through a cockroach, 

 and fastened a thread to the pin. Directly the cockroach 

 started to run away a tamed frog jumped and had him. It 

 swallowed its prey too quickly to be seen, but the observer 

 gently drew in the string and fetched the cockroach up again. 

 When the frog swallowed a hard longicorn he felt very 

 uneasy, and, after repeated attempts, brought up his indi- 

 gestible meal intact and unharmed. I got a couple of 

 neepers, about three inches long, and let them claw a large 

 green frog as he waited for prey under the light. He did not 

 attempt defence or assault, but scampered off squealing until he 

 frightened his riders away. Beetles, mantises, grassho pers, 

 bugs, water neepers, white ants, moths, and sometimes butter- 

 flies visit the lights. One night I cauglit five species of hawk 



