28 
VoL. 2 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
or frequently they settle on a low twig with fore-wings 
wrapped round it, thus looking like a part of the twig. In either 
case, unless accurately located, it is difficult to find them. 
The Coleoptera contain strange forms in Helseides {Tene- 
hriomdoe), Leptops and Amycteridae in weevils {CurculionidcB), 
and rich colours in jewel beetles [But^resHd n). Carabidae 
likewise ai*e noted for many fine species in Carenides, some 
opaque black, others nitid and a few of glittering metallic 
hues. The longicorncs, though not abundant in species, 
are remarkable for shining white spots and stripes. This 
feature is also noticeable in other orders, as Locustidae, 
likewise Homoptera. In some species, notably Auoplostethus 
opaliniis. a rutelid beetle, very great variation in colour, is 
exhibited. In Hymenoptera the flower wasps {Thymiidae) 
abound. The males of these are wingless and carried by the 
females. At Wilson's Inlet one warm day, numbers of the 
large and liand::<'.me T . hrowvi were flying round one particular 
spot, and I took many females all without their mates. After 
searching some time for the cause, I at last found a dead 
and dry female, and upon boxing this the rest of the males 
disappeared. I need say no more about the insects, for 
the exhibits will give a better idea of their variety and beauty 
both in form and colour. 
The general character of the soil of the whole south-west 
of West Australia is arenaceous. The Darling Range haS 
not a peak throughout its whole extent. It has been worn 
down and rounded off everywhere. There are certainly large 
outcrops of granitic boulders. The only peaked mountains 
I saw in West Australia were the Porongarups and the 
Stirling Range, clearly visible from Mt. Clarence, at back of 
Albany. The forest country east of the Darling Range 
contains soil of a loamy nature, largely utilised for wheat- 
growing, which is the chief industry of West Australia. The 
1913 yield was about 14,000,000 bushels. Within the last 
few years they have also found the sand plains valuable, 
especially during dry seasons, for the ^ame purpose, and these 
are now being taken up. The wheat belt is of great area, 
and extends from the Australian Bight to some distance 
north of Geraldton. Its greatest breadth is probably between 
Northam and Merredin. and lies midway betv^een the Isohyetal 
lines of 10 and 15 inches, the lowest under which wheat can 
be grown for grain. As the rains are usualh/ in winter, and 
generally reliable, West Australia is likely to become the 
chief wheat-growing centre in Australia. 
Fruit-growing is largelv follow^ed on the slopes of the 
Darling Range, the principal centres being at Armadale 
and Jandakot, etc., near Perth, also in the range east of that 
city. Harvey, near Bunburv, Bridgetown ana other places, 
