Feb., 1913. 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
255 
and the front legs. Only a few minutes elapsed until all of 
the six had regained the land. Progression is made by striking 
the posterior tibiae upward and back against the water, at 
the same time bringing back and down the front legs. The 
strokes are very rapid, and the body moves forward in a 
series of jerks. (Cairns, Queensland.) 
3. Jealousy in Pentatomids . — A curiously coloured 
pentatomid, known locally as the " Skull Bug,” because of 
the fact that small, yellowish- white spots are arranged on 
its back in such a manner as to suggest the grinning head of 
a mask or skuU, was found mating upon the trunk of a gum 
tree, May 26, 1912, at Nelson (near Cairns), North Queensland. 
A second male was present, persistently attempting to dislodge 
the paired male. This habit occurs in a large number of 
insects, and it seems to be a true case of unconscious jealousy. 
The male desired the mate of the other male, and, consequently 
attempted to gain possession without any scruples. In the 
human animal something of the same sort occurs, tempered 
according to the nature and culture of the one concerned ; 
in savages scruples would be few, and murder would often 
result, and such cases are none too rare to-day in more 
civilised countries. In the highest human beings, however, 
scruples would likely be many, and the female decides without 
hindrance in regard to her mate and choice once made, little 
or no interference is allowed or attempted. The case as 
concerns the insects is nearly the same in a very much cruder 
and primitive degree, altogether unconscious ; still, the female 
selects from the available males, as she has the power to 
prevent mating, and chooses the one pleasing to her. This 
is not the case with all insects, however, the female falling 
to the male successful in the fight for her, as when some 
female moths “ assemble” a crowd of males, the choice 
falling upon the one who first succeeds in clasping. 
JABIRU (XENORHYNCHUS ASIATICUS). 
I have just returned from a short visit to the Central 
District, inland from Rockhampton, and while staying at 
my brother's station on the Mackenzie River, was told a 
pair of jabirus were frequently seen at the lagoon, a splendid 
sheet of water just down from the house. I was fortunate 
in seeing these striking birds, and to witness a most interesting 
incident. One jabiru was slowly walking along in the water 
keen and alert for prey, the other, more successful, was on 
the bank preparing his or hers — with the aid of the field glass 
I watched intently. The glittering object I at first supposed 
to be a fish was an eel at least two feet long, this was given 
various pecks, to produce, I suppose, the right degree of 
