THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 19 
the mountain. It is true that a few hurried snatches were 
made both before and after Sawpit Creek at likely spots. 
For example, near Mr. Spencer’s farm <Anoplognathus hirsutus, 
Burm., and A. montanns, Macl., were thus taken (they were 
present on the Hucalypts in great numbers); but the only 
systematic collecting was done at and around Betts’ Camp 
(about 6,000ft.) and at Pretty Point (5,700) ; and only five 
nights in all were spent on the mountain, so that the insects 
taken are only a fraction of the number and variety that could 
be taken by an active collector who could afford to spend at 
least a month—preferably January —in this magnificent district. 
Our headquarters on the mountain was Betts’ Camp, a two- 
roomed hut built by the Government for the accommodation of 
tourists. Thereislittle orno furniture therein; afew gumtwigs 
takes off the hardness of the floor, and on this you spread your 
blankets and get what sleep you can. 
We managed to strike a peculiarly hot period of this climati- 
cally variable region. On a former occasion I have gladly crept 
into the sleeping bag made of sheep skin—wool inside—with all 
the clothing available. This timel lay ourstpe the blankets clad 
in simple pyjamas, and was tormented by mosquitoes. Query: 
Are these mosquitoes a late importation? Ihave twice before 
visited the mountain, five and seven years ago respectively, but 
have not met with this pest before. The blow-flies by day are 
also a great pest in this hut, probably encouraged by the dirty 
habits of its varied occupants in leaving half-emptied tins 
around. 
We were much delighted at Jindabyne to watch the proceed- 
ings of a blue ground wasp, who busily employed her day by cap- 
turing blow-flies for the purpose of giving them a decent burial. 
Seven times did she return to one hole in the sand, each time 
bearing her trussed victim below, sometimes partially closing 
the hole of the interment by scratching the sandy soil back- 
wards, much like a dog does, with a sort of kick backwards of 
the hind legs. This wasp deserves encouragement at the hands 
of the Government: some small subsidy as scalp-money per head 
of blow-fly, just to show thatit is appreciated as a pest destroyer. 
From Betts’ Camp excursions were made to places of interest, 
and beetles were found to the’ very summit. ‘T'wo fine 
Amycterids are common on the very edge of the snow-drifts : 
Psalidura sp.,a fine black fellow (remarkable for his smooth 
pronotum) and a Sclerorrhinus (possibly longus, Macl.), while 
around the very pools of water Scopodes simplex, Blackb., is 
common under stones. On the shore of the Blue Lake [founda 
lovely little Perperus—as blue as the lake itself, while other 
smaller Carabidee occurred. ; 
As far as the tree-line extends Paropsis and Heteronyx are 
common, while two Scarabeids were much in evidence—a 
