INTRODUCTION. 
recent traveller regarding one of the species, Euplcea 
liumata (Mac Lcay), found in the country just re- 
ferred to, namely, that it is employed as an article 
of food ! 
He states that there is a certain mountain, called 
the Bugong Mountain from multitudes of small 
moths, named Bugong by the natives, which con- 
gregate at certain times upon the masses of granite 
which compose it. The months of November, De- 
cember, and January are quite a season of festivity 
among these people, who assemble fiom every quarter 
to collect these moths. They are stated also to form 
the principal summer food of those who inhabit to 
the south of the Snow Mountains. To collect these 
moths (improperly' so called, for as above indicated, 
they are true butterflies), the natives make smo- 
thered fires under die rocks on which they congre- 
gate ; and suffocating them with smoke, collect 
them by bushels, and then bake them by placing 
them on heated ground. Thus they' separate from 
them the down and the wings ; they are then 
grounded and formed into cakes, Tesembling lumps 
of fat, and often smoked, which preserves them for 
some time. When accustomed to this diet, they 
thrive and fatten exceedingly upon it*. Millions 
of these butterflies were likewise observed on the 
coasts of New Holland, both by Captains Cook and 
King ; and thus, says Mr. Kirby, has a kind Pro- 
vidence provided an abundant supply of food for a 
Benett's "Wanderings, &c. i. p. 265. 
