189 
“STING CATERPILLARS.” 
FEW days ago, while exploring among the small tea- 
tree scrub which is very plentiful hereabouts, I 
chanced upon an interesting and quite unexpected 
curiosity. Seeing upon a stem of the scrub a small 
square-looking object, of unfamiliar appearance, I examined it 
closely, and found it to be one of the stinging caterpillars 
[Doratifem) which are not infrequently met with in Australia, 
but which have not, to my knowledge, been previously reported 
from the island colony. They are uncouth-looking creatures, 
something under an inch in length, and of a four-sided build, 
but narrower on the upper side, or back, than at the base. The 
upper side is of a pretty emerald green, becoming purplish 
about the thorax and also near the opposite extremity ; the 
underside is yellow, and is furnished with very tiny legs, 
scarce!}' visible without a glass. Ten transparent bristle-like 
appendages project from each side, the hindermost being much 
the longest ; while from a ridge behind the head project two 
small horns. From the segments immediately behind these 
horns rise four protuberances, two from each segment, and four 
more from the hinder segments of the body. When the cater- 
pillar is touched, it immediately pushes forth from these eight 
protuberances bundles of sharp filaments, yellowish in colour, 
with black tips, and bearing a strong resemblance to miniature 
porcupine quills. These are the organs from which the insect 
has derived both its scientific (“ Doratifem ” or “ dart-bearing ”) 
and popular (“ sting caterpillar ”) appellations. 
A colonial authority states that if the skin be brought rudely 
into contact with these filaments, a continued itching, accompa- 
nied by some inflammation, is said to be produced. Wishing to 
test this for myself, I brushed the back of one of my fingers, 
where the skin is fairly soft, against these groups of spires on 
the caterpillar’s back. A slight pricking sensation was followed 
by an “ itchy ” feeling, which gradually became worse and worse 
until it was intolerable, and caused me to fly to the ammonia 
bottle for relief ; a little of this liquid applied a couple of times 
to the affected part soon took away the unpleasant effects of the 
little warrior’s darts. 
In connection with this caterpillar I may mention another 
with somewhat similar properties, which was encountered in the 
bush a few miles from here during the summer of 1895. 
friend and myself were track cutting, and came upon the Flower- 
dale river at a most beautiful spot, a sort of basin surrounded by 
large “myrtles” {Fagus), immediately below which were great 
boulders of quartzite rock, over which the waters roared and 
tumbled, while blocks of the same hard white rock were strewed 
along the banks. Among these rugged boulders grew clumps of 
