ITINERARY. XlV 



free of them, as mentioned in one instance 1)}' McCoryiell in the 

 itinerary of the first journey. This is mainly due, however, to the 

 eftect of drought, for it would seem they are })lentiful everys\heie in 

 low-lying and flooded arejiS in the wet seasons. The larger species, 

 commonly known on the rivers as '' Kabowruos" — the "noongka" of 

 the JNTakushis — produces an intense itching where they have pierced 

 the skin, leaving little clots of blood which soon blacken; and the 

 exposed parts of the body may be altogether pitted with them. They 

 may be literally a real torture at times, and cause one to dread the 

 chance exposure of any part of the body, as in bathing. Luckily they 

 are easily killed by a slight slap, but the operation Avould have to be a 

 continuous one to give any relief ; and it is a marvel to Avitness the 

 stoical endurance of the Indians under the infliction on their bare 

 bodies. Famiiiai-it)' no doubt explains much, though the oiling of the 

 l)ody, an atmosphere of smoke in the enclosed houses, and frequent 

 slapping aflbrd relief. Strong-smelling oils give some protection where 

 clothes are not available, but the eftect is only for a time ; and at the 

 camps the ordinaiy mosquito-netting is not of much use, as the little 

 insects quickly get thiough : and one hails the coming of night, when 

 they are not about. As may be imagined, the work of the naturalist 

 in the skinning and preparation of specimens, is often one of literally 

 sore trial. Yet, on the whole, in the cooler, more elevated high lands, 

 there is a minimum of these various discomforts — if, indeed, they are 

 not wholly absent. 



In the open country, as also on the coastlands and along the rivers, 

 one is frequently wondering at the flights of the white and yellow Pierids 

 overhead, often for long periods. Somewdiere they must be breeding 

 in astonishing numbers, possibly in the forest canop}'^, since no one, as 

 far as I am aware, has ever come upon the caterpillars in the numbers 

 that would be requii-ed for these swarms. The commonest butterfly 

 along the track, however, was a species of Junouia, which seems to be 

 ul)iquitous over the savannahs of the sandstone range. At times, many 

 other species of Nymphalids, Hesperids, Lyca^niils, etc., Avere to be 

 seen ; tliough the most curious of all these insects was a caterpillar of 

 about three inches in length, with long and thick pink, yellow, and 

 black hairs, tliat was crossing the track on a lidge where the grass was 

 very short and spaise on a rocky ground. It is the oidy caterpillar I 

 liave ever seen which, from the rapidity of its movements, can really 

 be described as running. Possibly it found the rocky track hot under 

 the heat of the sun, or it may have been alarmed by the vibration 

 fi'oni many sandalled feet, but its pace was astonishing, and it must 

 li;»ve l)een largely habitual. It would have been interesting to rear it, 

 if circumstances had been fav()ural)Ie: in ignorance of its foqd-j)lant, it 

 woul<l have been a trial for Ix^th parties. 



The grasshoppeis frequently ari'ested attention l)y their numl)ers 

 and variety — chielly tiie red-marked dark spocii-s, the young of which 

 were collected for pepper-pot, and two huge kinds, species of Tro- 

 pidacris, one with a blue and the other a red hind-wing. The latter 

 (the"8asa") was once met with in and around some of the l^pper 

 Jreng villages in extraordinary numbers; and the projecting conti-al 

 [Kile.s of the houses in one village, ou an exposeil plateau, were covered 



