ZOOLOGICAL NOTES FROM SYDNEY. 349 



itself are two species : Helcecius cordiformis and M (xerophthalmus 

 setosus ; besides several kinds of Annelida. The last-mentioned 

 Crab — Pilumnopeus serratifrons — I have found, is occasionally 

 attacked by a parasite — Sacculina.*' The parasitized Crabs 

 which I examined were found to represent both sexes in about 

 equal proportions, and neither the pleons nor the abdominal 

 appendages were affected in either sex ; a different state of things 

 to that recorded by Prof. A. Giard in the case of certain European 

 Crabsf attacked in a somewhat similar manner ; and also by 

 Prof. W. Haswell in that of an Australian species — Nectocar- 

 cinus integrifrons.t 



I have spoken of Ryde as being in a fruit-growing district, 

 which reminds me of the Fruit-Bats (Pteropus poliocephalus) . 

 These are perhaps the orchard's greatest enemies. The fruit- 

 growers of the north-western suburbs of Sydney (of which Ryde 

 is one) have annually large quantities of fruit destroyed by these 

 " Flying Foxes," which congregate in immense numbers during 

 the fruit season (the present time). After a night's ravaging 

 they mass in great numbers in the heavy timber of the surround- 

 ing bush, and may be seen hanging thickly, almost like Bees, from 

 the tree-branches. A war of extermination is waged against 

 them periodically by bodies of fruit-growers. Recently, in pur- 

 suance of that custom, a party of fifty-three fruit-growers from 

 the surrounding districts drove to a known camp of the pest, 

 carrying with them 5000 cartridges. The number of " Flying 

 Foxes" was estimated to be between 100,000 and 120,000. A 

 successful raid was made upon the " camp," resulting in the 

 destruction of about 2750 animals. In another district one 

 hundred miles north of Sydney, at a recent battue, twenty men 

 killed 13,000 of the same animal, which proves what a serious 

 pest this Pteropus is to the orchards ; as, for every peach, necta- 

 rine, or plum that the " Flying Fox " bites, it knocks down at 

 least a dozen. 



On two occasions recently we have had, on the coast of New 

 South Wales, the most unusual phenomenon of a dust-storm at 



* Cf. my " Contributions to a Knowledge of the Australian Crustacean 

 Fauna. No. 2. On Sacculina parasitic upon Pilumnopeus serratifrons " 

 (P. L. S., N.S.W., part iv. 1899). 



f Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5), vol. xix. pp. 325-345, 1881. 



J P.L. S., N.S. W. (2), vol. ii. 1888. 



