118 HORN EXPEDITION — NAUKATIVE. 



bags are ffozeii solid this will not probably appear so small a uuiiil)er as it will 

 to those whose collecting has been dune in more favoinal)le spots. Duiing the 

 whole Expedition we secured one hundrfid and sp\ enty-sevi'n species of which 

 sixty-six are new. The large proportion obtained during three days in one spot 

 was due to the fact that we had one of our rare spells and were able to do a 

 little more careful searching, Ijut, judging ))y the way in which througliout the 

 ranges we came upon the same animal time after time, I do not think it very 

 likely that the spending of a longer time in other parts would, at this particular 

 season of the year, have added proportionately to the collection of Colcoptcra though 

 of course it would have added a certain number of new forms. 



The same or any other spot would undoulitedly yield different species at a 

 dillerent season or time, and so far as collecting insects of all kinds is concerned it 

 must be remembered that our work was done during the most unfavourable sea.son. 



Amongst the Arachnida the more common forms were a species of Myriapod 

 resembling a iScolopendra and the Cei'uiatia (8cutigera), which ap])ears to be 

 identical with the one connnonly found in other parts of Australia such as (_!ip[)S- 

 land in Victoria. In some parts of the world, as for example in Malta,* they are 

 described as coming out into the blazing sun in search of their prey. I have 

 collected a considerable number of Myriapods in various parts of Australia,, such 

 as Victoria, Tasniania, Queensland and the Central district, but havc^ never yet 

 seen a Scutigera out in the open. They always lie under logs or stones or the 

 bark of trees and when disturbed always move away with remarkable speed into a 

 dark spot. Their legs move in such a way and so rapidly that you can only see as 

 it were a series of waves passing down each sitle of the body, and tlu;re is in 

 Australia at all events no Myriapod which in speed of movement is to be compared 

 witii the Cei-matia. 



Sometimes they are beautifully coloured with the flattened, })late-like teiga 

 blue and vvA and their gliding movement is so ra})id that it is no easy matter to 

 catch them without the loss of a few legs, which come oil' almost with the slightest 

 touch. 



The Scorpions at Palm Creek were found under stones. These creatures 

 adapt themselves to the nature of the country in which they happen to live. If it 

 be a rocky spot then they live under stones, if it Ije amongst the sandhills then 

 they burrow. At Crown Point for example, in sandhill country you c(.)ulil, during 



* Peripatus, Myriapods and Insects, Pt. I., Canib. Nat. Hist., p. 35. 



