172 ‘ : THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIS'. 
There was a marked preference shown by the insects for 
Shaddoeck trees, Orange and Lemon being next in order of 
preference. The trees in all cases observed were some considei- 
able distance from any nests of the Ant. 
The Mound Ant was also reported from Griffith as destroying 
the blossoms on Peach Trees. 
This acquired habit somewhat resembles that of the leat- 
eutting Ants of South America, the damage in the present 
instance however extending over a few weeks, the Ants then 
leaving the trees.. 
The small Black Ant (Iridomyrmex rufoniger) was responsible 
for considerable destruction of seedling carrots and parsnips; 
tunnelling down beside the small plant and cutting off the 
growth -above the surface of the ground and feeding upon 
the severed radicle. 
These attacks by Ants upon growing plants are probably 
due to the abnormal dry season which we are experiencing, 
with the consequent shortage of food. 
NOTES ON THE AURORA AUSTRALIS: LEETON, 
22-23rd MARCH, 1920. 
By Keira C. McKeown. 
On the night of Monday, 22nd, and the early hours of the 
morning of Tuesday, 23rd March, 1920, the Aurora lights pre- 
sented a magnificent spectacle. The night was clear and cold, 
and quite cloudless. The display commenced about 11 p.m., as 
a red glow in the sky to the South, resembling the reflection 
from a large bush-fire; but waxing and waning at intervals; 
about 1 a.m. two red searchlight-like rays emerged from it, after 
which the light in the sky died out. At 2.45 a.m. the display 
commenced again more brilliantly than before, there being fully 
8 to 12 brilliant rays resembling those of searchlights in which 
the light waxed and waned rapidly, the light waves appearing to 
pass from East to West, the rays alternately fading and brighten- 
ing as the light waves passed along. The light-rays extended 
over the greater portion of the Southern sky and presented a 
scene of great brilliancy, the rays of light shooting almost to the 
zenith. The Hastern and Western sides of the display were of 
a soft pink colour, while the central portion was a pale green. 
. The Western edge of each ray was sharply defined, while on the 
other or Eastern side the edve of the ray was softened and 
