THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 109 
Se ee eee 
Borrerriirs anp Apnipes.—It is a well-known fact that the 
larve of many species of butterflies (Lycinides) fraternise with 
ants, and also that many of the latter keep, systematically, 
aphides for che purpose of milking them of a sweetish substance 
or “honey-dew.” In “The Fauna of British India, including 
Ceylon and Burma,” Butterflies, Vol. IL., an interesting obsery- 
ation by Col. H. J. W. Barrow is recorded, namely, a Lycinid 
(Allotinus horsfieldi’) “ milking ” an aphis in the same manner as 
if the butterfly had been an ant. A figure is given on page 287 
of the work quoted, of the butterfly in the act of milking, 
Mr. W. W. Froacarr.—Members of the Club will be pleased 
to note, by occasional references in the daily press, that our 
old friend and comrade is progressing well on his travels. 
Since leaving Sydney he has seen much of the world, and has 
amassed a vast amount of information that should, and doubt- 
less will, be of immense value to every State in the Common- 
wealth. As a keen observer, Mr. Frogeatt is well-known 
throughout New South Wales, and his reports that have been ” 
published respecting his visits to Hawaiian Islands and various 
centres in the United States, furnish much interesting 
information. 
A New Rousper Tree.—Rubber has of late years entered so 
largely into common use, that fears have been entertained 
that the time is approaching when the output will fail to mect 
the demand. It is interesting, therefore, to note that a new 
rubber-producing tree, belonging to the same natural order 
as Hevea brasiliensis and Manihot glaziovii is reported from 
Mexico, to which the name Palo amarillo has been given. 
This tree is reported as thriving well on rocky soil, and 
occurs in several States of Mexico at a height of 
1,500 to 1,900 metres, where the temperature varies from 
625° to 68° BF. The latex of P. amarillo is yellowish and 
white, thin, and does not coagulate readily. A yield of 1°75 
pints per tree was obtained in recent experimental tappings. 
It is expected that the trees will stand three tappings per 
annum for ten years. ‘The latex contains a large proportion of 
resin, this being reported as 40 per cent., and the amount of 
rubber present as 18 to 20 per cent. It is stated, however, 
that a process has recently been devised for separating the two 
substances, with the result that rubber of good quality has 
been obtained, while the resin yielded an excellent varnish. 
The value of the rubber is estimated at 4s. per lb., and the 
resin at ls. 6d. per lb. 
Tue Pranur.—The ground or peanut Arachis hypogeea shows 
some striking differences compared with other members of 
the Leguminosw, more especially in the interesting formation 
of underground fruits. The pods of most of our common 
leguminous plants break open at maturity. This is not the 
