THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 127 
sides of Mount Penang, is xerophytic. A little way back from 
the beach the ground rises to hills clothed with abundant vegeta- 
tion. Here the Macrozamia “palms” abounded, and seedlings 
were found in all stages, from the “nut” with its two cotyledons 
in contact with food supply in seed, and large taproot, to ma- 
ture seedlings. 
On the way home we took the old road, having driven out by 
the new. This route is along higher ground, so that although 
we missed the heavily timbered belt, with the sub-tropical vege- 
tation, we had the advantage of the wider views. And beautiful 
indeed was the prospect as we drove into Gosford; the sun was 
just sinking behind Mount Penang, the sunset hues refiected in 
the Broadwater making a golden pathway. We felt it to be 
“the close of a perfect day.” 
REPORT OF THE EXCURSION TO NARRABHEN, 
11th OCTOBER. 
About 30 members took part in this excursion, which was 
primarily arranged to demonstrate how to find the larvae of 
Satyrid and Hesperid Butterflies. The first species obtained 
was Tisiphone abeona, feeding on Gahnia (sword grass) grow- 
ing in the bed of the creek. The larva is wholly green with a 
forked tail, and feeds during the night, hiding amongst the 
leaves of the foodplant during daytime. The perfect insect 
was also on the wing. Larvae of Hesperilla picta were also 
found on the swordgrass. These hide during the day in a 
shelter made by drawing the leaves in the centre of a tuft to- 
gether; the larvae is pale greenish with a very hard head which 
bears brown lines. On grass growing beside the creek several 
larvae of the Xenica acantha were found; these are usually grass 
green with forked tail, though at times brown ones are found, as on 
this occasion. The head is provided with two projecting horns 
at the top, and is rich brown with two darker brown ovoid 
patches in front. Several brown larvae of the large skipper 
Trapezites symmomus were found in shelters amongst their 
food plant (Xerotes longifolia). Several interesting moths were 
captured by one of the members and a number of botanical 
specimens obtained, 
G. A. WarrerHouse. 
