THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 205 
The time taken to go underground varies from eight 
to ten hours, or longer. it is several weeks before a 
pupa case is formed. 
The plenteous rains this year seemed to kill off many 
eaterpillars before they pupated, while they are also at- 
tacked by one of the-ighneumon flies. 
Description OF Puares I. anp II.—Fig. 1: Cater- 
pillar commencing to make its burrow when ready to 
pupate. Fig. 2: Caterpillar resting after forming the 
burrow. Fig. 3: Caterpillar half buried in the soil while 
making the burrow. Fig. 4: Caterpillar closing the open- 
ing after entering the burrow. 
NEWCASTLE SCIENCE AND ARTS SOCIETY 
AND FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB. 
The excursion of-the members of this Society to Mere- 
wether Banana Plantation was made from Beachtram ter- 
minus, and up the ridge, in a westerly direction, through 
the bush. s 
From the high ground fine views of the ocean beaches 
from Merewether to Redhead were appreciated, and on 
the other side the whole district, including the Newcastle 
Steelworks, the Government works on Walsh Island, and 
the Hunter River. While traversing the ridge several 
botanical specimens were collected. 
On arrival at the plantation, Mr. Bailey conducted 
the party over the different sections; plantains oceu- 
pied ten acres out of the 75; some *‘finger’’ bananas being 
located in another part of the grounds. Lemons, Joquats, 
oranges, ete., were also in good form, 
The transformation of ‘‘Murder Gully ’’ by cultiva- 
tion into a garden shows what can he done by patience 
and perseverance. The plantains take two years ‘to 
raature, and grow to a height of ten to twelve feet. Only 
cne bunch of fruit can be gathered from a single stalk, 
and the suckers form the next year’s plants. 
