Dec. 81, 1902. 'J'he Queensland Naturalist. 95 
being then easily mistaken for a dead and twisted leaf.”* 
Sometimes when chased it will seek to escape by trusting 
entirely to its protective colouring, and having settled 
among the dead leaves, will absolutely refuse to fiy up 
again, a ruse which is generally successful unless one 
happens to have seen it pitch, and has kept their eye on 
the exact spot. 
Tn the heavily timbered forests of the Dandenong 
Ranges the females of H. merope pass the night settled 
on the trunks of large eucalyptus trees within a foot or so 
of the ground, but prefer to get into the cavities so often 
formed in the roots and butts by bush fires, and one can 
generally depend on finding from four to eight specimens 
on a big tree having suitable hollows. Perhaps they rest 
in this manner to avoid being disturbed by Myrmecia 
forflcata, and alho-cincta, the formidable “ bull-dog ” and 
“ jumper ” ants, that occur very freely in the same locality, 
and are sometimes moving about on warm nights ; and 
when settled near the ground are less easily seen from 
above, and may avoid the notice of bats and insectivorous 
birds, etc. Their colouring would seem to afford little 
protection in such situations by day, and if alarmed it is 
amusing to sec the hurried manner in which they invariably 
decamp. At such times, however, when disinclined to 
fly, they will ofter resettle in similar places. 
“ As a result of the fires that periodically sweep through 
the timbered country of Victoria, blackened tree-trunks 
and charred logs, etc., are a marked characteristic of bush 
scenery. Hence it is not surprising that many insects 
habitually use these as resting places, and for their better 
protection have assumed sombre shades of colour well 
calculated to assure their safety in such situations. Per- 
haps the most extraordinary example of this class is the 
black grasshopper [Coryphistes-cyanopterus), found on 
scorched bark and charcoal covered logs, where, indeed, 
it would seem to constantly reside.”— Op. 
This remarkable creature is able to adapt its colour 
to its surroundings in a wonderful manner, and varies in 
shade from greyish-brown to black. It places more faith 
in its protective colouring than its powers of leaping, and 
when discovered remains motionless on the log or bark, 
refusing to move until almost touched by the hand. In 
its early stages it is somewhat gregarious, and the young 
nymphs are generally found on the bark of fallen trees. 
When no danger is near they hop from the trunk and feed 
on the surrounding vegetation, but if approached leap 
back to their log for safety. At such times, should they 
chance to alight on a part unlike to them in colour, they 
will run quickly about the trunk until finding the shade 
* Fide Jarvis, E. — “ That Deceitful Insect,” Lone Hand June 1st, 19CB. 
