62 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
cross. It resting upon light grey wood or soil the main colour 
is of that hue.* 
I was surprised at the numbers of a handsome brown butter- 
fly about just at present. At first I took it to be the Ghost 
moth (Melanitis leda) but soon saw that it was differently 
shaped, and of a much brighter colouring, while flying it is a 
handsome reddish brown, but directly it settles with folded wings 
it so much resembles the colour of the dead leaves that it is 
almost impossible to distinguish it from its surroundings. Its _ 
flight is singularly short, and I have never seen it in the open, 
it seemingly preferring the dense shade of the bean trees where 
it flies from clump to clump of the black-stemmed ferns losing 
its identity as it alights amongst the multitude of leaves. Oc- 
casionally too an odd specimen may be seen fluttering about the 
long rushy grass in the thickest parts of the tea-tree swamp. 
EXCURSIONS TO AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 
June 10th. A party of about 30 members assembled; as 
this was rather large a number for one guide, a division was 
made, one section going with Mr. Thorpe, and the other with 
Mr. EB. A. MeNeill. Mr. McNeill gave an illustrated survey 
of the typical Australian animals, pointing out that the greater 
number of these were marsupials or pouched mammals, that the 
kangaroos took the place of the deer of other countries, opos- 
sums of squirrels, etc. Amongst the most interesting features 
were the leader’s description of the primitive egg-laying mam- 
mals or monotremes, the platypus, and the echidna, the former 
being confined to Australasia. The development and method of 
nutrition of the marsupials was described lucidly, and was most 
interesting. Attention was directed to the carnivorous types. 
The leader then pointed out the main features of the various 
types of seals and the differences between the turtles and tor- 
toises, and between the dolphins and porpoises. A rapid survey 
was then made of the lower forms of animal life, such as the 
corals and sponges. Under Mr. ‘Lhorpe’s guidance, the other 
section visited the anthropological part of the Museum. At- 
tention was directed to some very fine examples of geometrical 
carving on large trunks of trees made by the aboriginals in 
various parts of Australia. These must have taken much time 
and labour to execute with the primitive tools used. A large 
variety of weapons and utensils used for many purposes, both 
*This answers the description of Hyla phyllochroa.—Kd. 
