THE .^ R A I OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, (SEOOIrTID SEISIES.) Plates i-xxix and xiv Ms.) IFOE, THIE "^TE-A.!?, 188Q. SYDNEY: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED FOR THE SOCIETY BY F. CUNNINGHAME & CO., 146 PITT STREET, AND SOLD BY THE SOCIETY. 1890. SYDNEY : F. CUNNINGHAAIE & CO., 146 PITT STREET. 1890. CONTENTS OF VOL. IJ. - . > PART I. (Issued May 29th, 1889.) PAGE On the Vegetation of Malaysia. By the Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, F.L.S., F.G.S. (Plates i.-ix.) 9 Notes on the Geographical Distribution of some New South Wales Plants. By J. H. Maiden, F.L.S. ... '• 107 Description of a new Moth of the Genus Phyllodes. By A. Sidney Olliff, F.E.S 113 Note on the Linnean Murex corneus found living on the Coast of the Island of New Caledonia, South Pacific Ocean. By John Brazier, F.L.S 117 Note on Danais Chrysippus'" (L.), and D. Petilia (Stoll). By W. H. MiSKiN, F.E.S 119 Notes on the Genus Lestophonus, Williston, and Description of a new Species. By Frederick A. A. Skuse 123 Descriptions of two new Species of Australian Cetoniidse. By Oliver E. Janson, F.E.S , ..127 Revision of the Genus Heteronyx, with Descriptions of new Species. Part II. By the Rev. T. Blackburn, B. A 137 Description of a new Genus [Batrachomyia, W. S. Macleay, MS.), and two Species of Dipterous Insects parasitic upon Australian Frogs. By Frederick A. A. Skuse. (Plate x.) 171 List of the Australian Palceichthyes, with Notes on their Synonymy and Distribution. Part II. By J. Douglas Ogilby, F.L.S. ... 178 Note on Cyprcea venusta (Sowerby). By James C. Cox, M.D., F.L S. (Plate XV., figs. 1 and 2) 187 Note pointing out that Poepliila' gouldicB and P. armitiana are merely varieties of P. mirabilis (Honibron and Jacquinot). By A. J. North, F.L.S 188 Remarks on the proposals of a South Australian Committee for the better protection of the native Fauna and Flora. By P. N. Trebeck 190 Elections and Announcements 1,121,132 Donations 1,121,132 Notes and Exhibits 117,131,188 iv. CONTENTS. PART II. (Issued September Wth, 1889.) PAGE Note on the Probable Occurrence of Aldrovanda vesiculosa in N.S.W. By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M.D., Ph.D., F.R.S. (Plate XVI.) 197 Remarks on Fossils of Permo-Carboniferous Age, from North-Western Australia, in the Macleay Museum. By R. Etheridge, Jun. (Plate xvii.) 199 Diptera of Australia. Part vi. — The Chironomidse. By Frederick A. A. Skuse. (Plates XI. -XIV. and XIV. &is.) 215 Specimens of Plants collected at King George's Sound by the Rev. R. Collie, F.L.S. By the Rev. Dr. Woolls, F.L.S 317 Bacteriological Notes. By Dr. Oscar Katz— (1) Note on the Bacillus of Leprosy 325 (2) On "Air-gas" for Bacteriological Work 328 An Attempt to Synchronise the Australian, South African, and Indian Coal-Measures. Part i. — The Australasian and New Zealand Formations. By Professor Stephens, M. A., F.G.S. 331 Observations on the Oviposition and Habits of certain Australian Batrachians. By J. J. Fletcher, M.A., B.Sc 357 Notes on possible Means of Dispersal of Species, and on the Effects of eating Pigeons nourished by the Seeds of Euphorbia Drummondii. By C. T. MussoN, F.L.S 388 A List of the Birds of the Mudgee District, with Notes on their Habits. By J. D. Cox and A. G. Hamilton 395 Revision of the Genus Heteronyx, with Descriptions of New Species. Part III. By the Rev. T. Blackburn, B. A 425 Notes on Australian Coleoptera, with Descriptions of New Species. Part III. By the Rev. T. Blackburn, B. A 445 Note on the Origin of Kerosene Shale. By T. W. Edgeworth David, B.A., F.G.S. (Plate XVIII.) 483 Studies in Australian Entomology. No. i. — Review of the Genus art de la Societe Hollandaise des Sciences a Harlem. " The Journal of the College of Science, Imperial University, Japan." Vol. II., Part 4 (1888). From the President of the University. "The Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 1888." Vol. v., Part 4. From the Society. "Technological Museum of New South Wales — The Useful Native Plants of Australia (including Tasmania)." By J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., &c., Curator. From the Committee of Manage- ment. "The Pharmaceutical Journal of New South Wales." n.s. Vol. II., Part 1 (January, 1889). From the Editor. "The American Naturalist." Vol. XXIL, No. 262 (Oct., 1888). From the Editors. "Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, Cambridge, U.S.A." Vol. XVII., No. 2 (1888). From the Curator. DONATIONS. / " Proceedings of tlie United States National Museum." Vols. X. (1887) [Sheets 46-49]; XI. (1888), [Sheets 1-8]. From the Museum. "The Canadian Record of Science." Vol. III., No. 4 (1888). From the Natural History Society of Montreal. "Tromso Museums Aarshefter." Vol. XI. (1888); " Aars- beretning for 1887." From the Museum. "The Victorian Naturalist." Vol. V., No. 9 (January, 1889). From the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. " Geological Survey of India. — A Bibliography of Indian Geology." Compiled by R. D. Oldham, A.R.S.M., F.G.S. (Preliminary Issue.) From the Director. " Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen, Amsterdam, voor 1886, 1887;" "Verslagen en Mededeelingen." Derde Reeks, Deel III., IV. (1887 and 1888). From the Academy. "The Royal Society of Edinburgh. — Transactions." Vols. XXVII. ; XXVIII. ; XXIX.; XXX. (Part 1), (1872-1881); "Proceedings." Sessions 1878-1879 (Nos. 103 and 104); 1879- 1880 (105-107); 1880-1881 (108-109). From the Society. "Proceedings of the Royal Society of London." Vols. XLIII. (Nos. 262-265); XLIV. (Nos. 266-270) (1888). From the Society. "Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, New South Wales Branch." Vols. III. and IV. (1885-1886) in one. From Professor W. J. Stephens, M.A., F.G.S. "Feuille des Jeunes Naturalistes — Catalogue de la Biblio- theque." Fasc. No. 4 (1888). From the Editor. 8 DONATIONS. "The Gold-Fields of Victoria,— Reports of the Mining Regis- trars for the quarter ended 30th September, 1888." From the Secretary for Mines, Melbourne. "Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria." Decade XVII. By- Frederick McCoy, C.M.G., M.A., &c. From the Premier of Victoria^ through the Librarian, Public Library, Melbourne. "The Australasian Journal of Pharmacy." Vol. IV., No, 37 (January, 1889). From the Editor. " Oology of Australian Birds — Supplement, Part v." By A. J. Campbell. From the Author. " Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou." Annee 1888, No. 3. From the Society. "Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, 1888." Part 6 (December). From the Society. ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA. By the Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, F.L.S., F.G.S., Hon. Member Royal Asiatic Society (Straits Branch). (Plates i.-ix.) The following essay being meant for the European residents of the Straits Settlements, technicalities are avoided, and explanations given which would not be necessary if it were addressed to a strictly scientific class of readers. In the absence of any pub- lished description of the flora, the figures given must be understood to be approximate only. The whole review of the vegetation is founded on my own observations aided by collections made in company with the Rev. B. Scortechini, or during my own subse- quent travels. Though the essay is said to be confined to the flora of Malaysia and deals principally with what may be considered the very heart of the region, it must be borne in mind that some portions of it are little known. Yet in a general Avay the floras of the countries around are well-known. Thus we are fairly well acquainted with the flora of Burmah as well as that of Siam, Cochin China, Cambodia or Tonquin. The Australian region to the south is as well known as any in the world. New Guinea has recently disclosed some of the secrets of its vegetation ; therefore a general review of the flora of Malaysia ought to be easy to make without much risk of error. Geographical Limits. — Of the Malay Peninsula no more is here included than the portion south of lat. 5° 30' N. This is its broadest part and includes many varieties of soil and climate. A few preliminary words are necessary as to — (1) The Physical Geography ; (2) Geology ; (3) Climate of this region. 10 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, The Malay Peninsula is covered with ranges of mountains running parallel with the general trend of the land. There are two systems of mountains ; one running through the centre and forming a watershed between the east and west coasts ; the other a broken series of ranges lying between the main range and tlie sea. The first mountain chain is the highest. It increases in extent and height towards the wider parts of the land, and many of its summits reach elevations of from 8,000 to 10,000 feet. It gradually declines from the interior of Perak, and after passing- through the state of Malacca it subsides to the level of the sea in the island of Singapore. The second range parallel with this consists of two or three parallel ranges. They do not form a watershed. There are several gaps and intervals between them through which rivers pass. These ranges rise to a height of between 5,000 and 6,000 feet. Some of them border almost on the very edge of the sea. The geology of this region is very simple. The basis of the whole is granitic. This is overlaid in places by schists and slates, which, on the coast, where exposed to marine action, have decom- posed into a reddish deposit called Laterite. The schists and slates contain large quantities of iron, forming purple, red, and brightly variegated strata. The Laterite, therefore, is a hydra ted per-oxide of iron with clay, or Limonite. At the junction of the granite with the schists or Laterite, tin occurs, forming some of the richest mines of stream tin in the world. The main range is probably in its highest portions largely composed of schists. There are besides this a number of isolated outliers of crystalline limestone retaining traces of stratification. These form abrupt and precipitous mountain masses of limited extent, from 1,500 to 2,000 feet high. They do not contain fossils ; but in Borneo similar masses contain Devonian fossils, and therefore it is pro- bable that this is the age of the strata in the Malay Peninsula. There is scarcely any development of volcanic rocks on the western side, though I have seen a recent basaltic dyke in one place. But on the eastern side, half-way between the mountain range and the BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 11 sea, there are some andesitic ranges very similar to the Andesite rocks of the Philippine Islands. Along the sides of the rivers are alluvial plains of limited extent but considerable depth. They consist of strata of alluvium from the neighbouring mountains, enclosing large stems, branches, and roots of trees of existing species. The climate of the region is one of the warmest and most moist of the tropics. There are many countries even outside the tropics where the temperature has a higher range, but the peculiarity of this is that the mean temperature is perhaps a little above 85,° and that there are no seasons, no winter and no summer, or any period distinctly marked with periodical rains. Storms and disturbances of the atmosphere are almost confined to daily thunderstorms, sometimes of great violence, while gales of wind are of rare occurrence. The air is cloudy and misty, which moderates the excessive heat. The alternate north-east and south-west monsoons are felt, but scarcely more than felt. The average number of rainy days is said to be about half the year, while the mean rain- fall is about 100 inches. The west coast, if subject to any remark- able change, is so from the visitations of certain squalls called Sumatras (as they are supposed to come across the Straits of Malacca from that island), but they are of short duration though violent. The rivers run north and south, parallel with the main range, and eventually turn to the coast, and those which run a short course flow east and west of the watershed. Of the former there is on the west side the Perak River with its large tributaries the Plus, Kinta, and Batang-Padang. On the eastern side of the range there is an almost similar course taken by the Pahang and its tributaries. Both these rivers are supposed to drain an immense area, which is variously computed at between 4000 and 6000 square miles, but about which no accurate measurements can be given. The other chief streams on the west coast are the Bernam, Selangor, Langat, Klang, Linggi, Moar, and the Johore, the estuary of which faces Singapore. Between the Pakshan 12 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, (the lower course of which separates the Peninsula from Tenas- serim in British Burmah) and the rivers Muda and Krian there are none but small streams. On the east side there is the Endau, the Pahang with its large tributaries, the Kuantan, the Besute, the Kelantan, and the Patani. The short rivers which flow east and west of the dividing range have their channels through marshy grounds, and their estuaries amid low man- grove islands. This is a feature which affects the vegetation of the region. Mangrove flats are well-marked areas in the vegetable kingdom. They fringe almost all the west coast of the Peninsula and a good deal of the east. They represent long periods of erosion on the mountain ranges. The heavy rains have, for ages, been washing away piecemeal the mountain axes of the country. These have been gradually lowered, and the land extended in the form of shallow mud flats of alluvium of considerable depth. The marshy soil has thus encroached on the Straits of Malacca and rendered them very shallow. Thus a fringe of low-lying, flat mud islands lines the shores of Sumatra on one side, and the west coast of the Peninsula on the other. These regions have been described as unattractive, dreary places of the most un- wholesome kind ; but this is erroneous. The soils are perhaps the richest in the world. They are densely clothed with vegeta- tion. When the tide is out they do not look attractive, but the islands have a rich and picturesque beauty of their own. The beautiful masses of dark green and lustrous leaves form groves of ever-changing aspect, while probably the great evils of malaria are mitigated by the absorbing power of these trees. When the tide is in, the beautiful masses of foliage contribute most admir- ably to adorn the water scenery. References will be made to some of the larger islands of the Archipelago. To treat of them separately would exceed the limits of this paper. Most of them are only partially explored, that is, botanically explored, and others have but little individu- ality. This region is the one above all which seems to offer the greatest results to botanical research. Take for instance Borneo, a country larger than England, Scotland, and Wales combined, BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 13 how much remains to be discovered amongst the solitary fastnesses of its interior forests. Characters of the Flora. — The portion of the vegetable kingdom of which this essay treats is the tropical Asiatic flora, but not all of it ; and, moreover, including certain outlying plants. The limitations will be understood from the following : — Amongst the included plants of the Malayan Peninsula and the Archipelago many will be found generally distributed over India, excepting the dry parched regions of western India. Many extend eastward to Chittagong and eastern Bengal, several to Ceylon, and a few to tropical Africa ; but none to central India. To the eastward many range over the South Pacific islands to North Australia ; a few are found to the northward on the Chinese coast, probably extending over Cochin China. On the north-eastern edges of the region occur plants of the Chinese flora reaching it through the Philippine Islands. There is a small and peculiar Asiatic element in the vegetation which extends northward to Shanghai and Japan. Besides these, there are plants of course of world-wide distribu- tion which have been introduced in many cases from remote countries, and now are spread everywhere. A characteristic instance of this in a common and rather showy weed named Turnera, of the order Turnerace^, is met on the roadsides near Singapore, Penang, and Malacca, besides the other native states. The genus is almost entirely American, one only out of 70 species being found at the Cape. The connection of the flora with that of the Philippine Islands is most intimate, as nearly all the genera are represented in that group. The exclusively Philippine genera are very few and nearly always confined to one species, such as Diplodiscus, Dasycoleum, Carionia, &c. The relations of the region to Australia are less extensive ; but still the species common to both regions would make a list too long to be inserted here. They are chiefly tenants of the sea-coast, or common tropical weeds. 14 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, The best way to deal with the character of the flora as pro- posed in this essay will be first to describe generally its features, and then such subdivisions as arise from position, soil, climate, &c. Numerically the Malayan flora is very rich in genera and species. Accurate figures cannot be given, but we may say that of dicotyle- dons there are about 1,000 genera and 3,000 species. Of monoco- tyledons 250 genera and say 1,000 species. This is a large proportion, the average being usually about one-fourth in tropical insular vegetation unless over very limited areas. But this estimate is founded on the opinion of more than one collector and botanist, and is borne out by the closely allied flora of the Philip- pines. The G-YMNOSPERME^ are poorly represented. Having no accurate figures to go upon, I must depend in some measure upon the estimates that have been made of some of the neighbouring floras such as the Philippines, and particular islands as Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes^ &c. In the Philippines the proportion of vascular cryptogams to phsenogamic vegetation is nearly one-eighth, chiefly ferns. "^ Of these 52 species were not known from elsewhere at the time Mr. Rolfe wrote, or a pro- portion of one-tenth of the ferns indigenous to the Philippines. Since that time, however, the publication of Beddome's list of Scortechini's ferns, f and Hose's papers on collections of ferns made in West Borneo 1 has somewhat changed the numbers. There is one peculiarity about the Malayan flora which must strike every observer, and that is the comparative absence of one * See Rolfe " On the Flora of the Philippine Islands." Jour. Linn. Soc. Botany, XXI. (1886), p. 283. t "Jour, of Botany.'" Nov. 1887, XXV. p. 321, pi. 278. + " Jour. Linn. Soc, Botany, XX. p. 222 ; XXIV. p. 258 ; also " Jour, of Botany, XXVL p. 323. See also Cesati's Memoir in Vol. VII. of the " Atti deir Accademia, delle Scienze Fisiche e Matematiche di Napoli ;" J. G. Baker, "Jour, of Botany," VIII. p. 37 (1870) , and Burck's paper in Vol. IV. of the "Annals of the Botanic Gardens of Buitenzorg," p. 88 (1884). BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 15 of the largest, the most distinct, most uniform, and therefore the most natural of all the flowering plants, namely, the Composite. The Malayan region is certainly influenced in some way so as to almost exclude the order from its vast forest-clad plains and hills. It is at once the poorest in CoMPOSiTiE, and those genera which are seen are destitute of any interest or peculiarity. There is not a single endemic genus, and every one of the representatives of the order in Malaysia spreads more or less over the Indian continent. A large proportion are little more than weeds which spring up rapidly and thickly where a forest has been cleared, and cultivated ground abandoned. Amongst these are Ageratum conyzoides, Ele- phantopus scaber, Spilanthes grandijlora, Crepis japonica, Blumea hieracifolia (very common), and Vernonia cinerea. These are ubiquitous weeds ; they have taken thorough possession of the waste places in Malaysia. Bentham, in his essay on the Com- POSIT.E, says that if the known CoMPOsiTiE of the Indian Archi- pelago were reduced to our ordinary standard they would not probably extend beyond 110 or 120 species. Beccari's collection of Sarawak plants made in Borneo in 1849 contained only six Composite. The principal genera of a higher grade of Composite prevalent in tropical Asia are Vernonia, Blmnea and allies, Conyza and allies, Grangea and allies, Gnaphalioid Inuloidese, and Senecionidese. No others can count ten species ; the most remarkable among them being a few Mutisiacese (Leucomeris, Dichoma, Ainslice.a, Catamixis, Gerhera), mostly allied to South African species. Ainslicea is a special type, the only genus of thistles which is chiefly tropical. But the Mutisiacese are thistles of a peculiar kind. There are three large tribes of Compos it^e not found at all in the flora of Malaysia, though largely represented in America and South Africa. These are the Helenioidese (Gail- lardia, Tagetes), Calendulacese (Marigolds) and Arctotidese. Yet there are some introduced weeds of this order.* *See Bentham, " On the Classification, History and Geographical Distri- bution of Compositse." Jour. Linn. Soc. Botany, XIII. (1873) p. 547. 16 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, DICOTYLEDONS. Amongst these certain genera occupy a leading position and give a character to the whole flora. These are shown in the following catalogue. The genera of sedges and some of the insignificant weeds, rushes, grasses, &c., are not included in the estimate. Leguminos^ : — Large genera : Desmodium, Crotalaria, Cassia Bauhinia, Indigo/era, Flemingia, Dalhergia, Pterocarpus, Ccesal- pinia, Derris, Pithecolobium. Endemic genera :* Mecopus, Phylacium (Arch.), Ahauria (B.), Amherstia (Ten.), Pahudia (Arch.), Sindora (M.P.). Urticace^ : — The genus Ficus is beyond all question the most thoroughly characteristic of the Malayan flora, numbering formerly between 400 and 500 species, but since Dr. King's revision reduced to 207. They are trees or shrubs with milky juice, alternate leaves with varied shape, the leaf-buds covered by deciduous leaf -scales. The fruits or figs are called receptacles, closed at the mouth by numerous scales in rows ; the base narrow, with bracts, sessile or pedunculate, in pairs in the axils of the leaves or of the scars of fallen leaves. Dr. G. King,! whose obser- vations have been made almost exclusively on Tndo-Malayan and a few Chinese species, has arranged them in seven sections, of which, leaving out the technical detail, the following are the characters: — (1) Paloiomorphe : small trees and erect or sub- scandent shrubs. (2) Urostigma : usually trees or powerful climbers ; epiphytal at least in early life ; leaves alternate, entire, coriaceous, rarely membranous ; receptacles in the axils of the leaves or of the scars of fallen leaves, with three bracts at the *The following letters after the genus represent the locality in which it is found :— M.P. Malay Peninsula, S. Sumatra, J. Java, B. Borneo, C. Celebes, Mol. Moluccas, Ten. Teuasserim, Arch. Malay Archipelago. t " Observations on the genus Ficus with special reference to the In do- Malayan and Chinese species," Jour. Linn. Soc. Botany, XXIV". (1887), p. 27. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 17 base. This is the largest and most characteristic section. In no other is the tendency to be epiphytal at all strongly marked ; in Urostigma it is universal. Many species in other sections are scandent and support themselves on trees and rocks by throwing out rootlets from their stems and branches. But these rootlets are furnished with fibrillse and collecting-hairs like the roots that penetrate the soil, and are very different in appearance from the strong sub-divisions of the main axis by which the epiphyte embraces and ultimately strangles the tree to which it attaches itself. One constantly meets in the jungle fig-trees of this section, the stem of which is a perfect lattice of sub-divisions, the tree round which they were formed having entirely disappeared. (3) Synoacia : climbers with large coloured receptacles, the leaves tesselate beneath . (4) Sycidium : shrubs, small trees, or climbers ; rarely epiphytal ; leaves alternate ; receptacles small, axillary and more or less scabrid. (5) Covellia: shrubs or trees; never epiphytes or climbers ; receptacles on long sub-aphyllous branches issuing from near the base of the stem, often sub-hypogseal or on shortened tubercles from the stem and larger branches, or axillary. (6) Eusyce : scandent or erect shrubs or small trees ; rarely epiphytal, leaves alternate, softly hairy, not scabrid or hispid ; receptacles usually small, axillary. (7) Neomorphe : trees rarely scandent, never epiphytal : receptacles often very large, in fascicles from tubercles on the trunk and larger branches. Ficus hispida, L., is one of the commonest species throughout tropical Asia and extends to North Australia and Hong Kong. It is also very variable, the variability being due in a great measure to the different situations in which it grows. This species bears the receptacles in pairs in the axils of the leaves, or in clusters on the trunk, and sometimes they appear in both positions on the same tree at the same time. The fruit from the trunk sometimes burrows in the ground. Other species have dimorphic receptacles, but this dimorphism bears no relation to the separation of the sexes. Other large genera are Celtis, Artocarpus, Filea, Pouzolzia. 2 18 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, Endemic : Sloetia (Arch.), Parartocarpus (B.). RuBiACE^ : — Large genera : Hedyotis, Musscenda, Randia, Gar- denia, Ixora, Morinda, Psychotria, Spermacoce. Endemic : Greaghia (M.P.), Musscendopsis (B.), Lerchea (Arch.), Lucincea (Arch.), Goptophyllum (S.), Trisciadia (M.P.), Aulaco- discus (M.P.), Lecananthus (Arch.), Gonyanera (S.), Praravinia (B,), Morindopsis (M.P.), Jackia (M.P.), Rennellia (M.P. k S.), Amaracarpus{J .), Gynochthodes (Arch.), Tetralopha (B.), Proscepha- lium (J.), Cleisocrafe7X(, (B.), Mesoptera (M.P.), Litosanthes (J.), Myrmephytuin (C.) EuPHORBiACEiE : — Large genera : Euphorbia, Phyllantlius, Anti- desma, Groton, Acalypha, Mallotus, Macaranga, Exccecaria. Endemic : Scortechinia (M.P. & B.), Ghloriophyllum (Arch.), ParacToton (J.), Swinhavia (Arch.), Ghloradenia (J.), Coccoceras (M.P.), Polydragma (M.P.), Cheilosa (J.), Gephalomappa (B.), Gladogynos (C), Epiprinus (M.P.), Megistostigma (M.P.). MYRTACEiE : — Large genera : Boickea, Eugenia, Barringtonia. MELASTOMACEiE: — Large genera: Osheckia, Melastoma, Sonerila, Dissochceta, Medinilla, Astronia, Kihessia, Memecylon. Endemic : Oxyspora (S.), Driessenia (B.), Ochthocharis (M.P. and S.), Anerincleistus {M..V . h^.), Phyllagathis {Arch.), Dalenia (B.), Greochiton (J.), G'lnplialopus (J. & S.), Pachycentria (Arch,), Pogonanthera (Arch.), Plethiandra (B.). LAURiNEiE : — Ginnamomum, Actinodaphne, Li Endemic : Dehaasia (Arch.), Eusideroxylon (B.), Iteadaphne (M.P.). AcANTHACE^:— :ZVmn6er^m, Eranthemum, Strohilanthes, Bar- leria, Asystasia, Justicia. Endemic : Trichacanthus (J.), Filetia (S.). BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 19 Apocynace^ : — Large genera : Willoughbeia, Alyxia^ Alstonia, Tabemceniontana. Endemic : Leuconotis (Arch.), Amhlyocalyx (B.), Cerhera (Arch.), Dyera (Arch.), Micrechites (Arch.), Beaumontia (Arch.). AscLEPiADE^ : — Large genera : Hoya, Dischidia, Ceropegia, Marsdenia, Stephanotis, Toxocarpus. Endemic : Pycnorhachis (M.P.), Asterostemma (J.), Atherandra (Arch.), Myriopteron (J.), Gonchophyllum (Arch.), Raphistemma (Arch.), Phyllanthera (J.). Malvaceae : — Large genera : Sida^ Abutilon, Hibiscus, Gossy- piumti. Endemic: Dialycarpa (B.), Durio (Arch., 7 sp.), Lahia {B.), Boschia (Arch.), Neesia (Arch.), Goelostegia (M.P.). Sterculiace^ : — Large genera : Sterculia, Helicteres, Melochia^ Buettneria. VERBENACEiE : — Large genera : Lantana, Lippia, Callicarpa, ViteXj Premna, Clerodendron. Endemic : Geunsia (Arch.), Tectona (Arch.), Peronema (Arch.). Anonace^ : — Large genera : Uvaria, Polyalthia, Melodorum, Xylopia, Unona, Orophea. Endemic : Tetrapetalum (B.), Sphoerothalamus (B.), Marcuccia (B.), Enicosanthemum (B.). Ellipeia (Arch.), Drepananthus (M.P.), Monocarpia (B.), Disepalum (B.), Eburopetalum (B.), Anomianthus (J.), Marsypopetalum (J.), Mezzettia (B.), Kingstonia (M.P.), Loncliomera (M.P.). CoNVOLVULACE^ : — Large genera : Erycibe, Argyreia, Lettsomia, Ipomoea (very numerous), Convolvuhcs, Evolvulus, Breweria, CusGuta. Meliace^ : — Large genus : Turrma. 20 ON THE VEGETATION OP MALAYSIA, PiPERACEiE : — Large genera : Piper (very numerous), Peperomia. Endemic : Zippelia (J.). Solan ACEiE : — Large genera : Solanum^ Physalis^ Capsicum, Lycium. ScROPHULARiNE^ : — Large genera : Mimulus, Stemodia, Limno- 2yhila, Herj^estis, Gratiola, Torenia, Vandellia^ Striga. Amarantace^ : — Large genera : Celosia, Amarantus, Alternan- thera. Sapindace^ : — Large genera : Allophyllus, Guioa, Arytera. Endemic : Aphanococcus (C)., Schleichera (Arch.), Nephelium (Arch.), Pseudonephelium (B.). Begoniace^e : — Begonia. A large number of species are found on the mountain summits of the Malay Peninsula, and generally throughout the Indian Archipelago. TiLiACEiE : — Large genera : Grewia, Cor chorus, Elceocarpus, Triunifetta. Endemic : Pentace (M.P. & J.), Chartacalyx (M.P.), Schoutenea (Arch.), Phainicos2oermuin (J.). Sapotace^e : — Large genera : Chrysophyllum, Sideroxylon, Mimusops, Palaquium, Bassia, Payena. Endemic : Biploknema (B.). Oleace^ : — Large genera : Jasminum, Linociera. CucuRBiTACEiE : — Large genera: Trichosanthes, Momordica, Cucumis, Melothria. Anacardiace^ : — Large genera : Buchanania, Mangifera, Swintonia, Rhus, Semecarpus. Endemic : Pentaspadon (Arch.), Microstemon (M.P.). BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 21 BoRAGiNE^ : — Large genera : Cordia, Ehretia, Rhahdia^ Tournefortia^ Heliotropium^ Cynoglossum. AMPELiDACEiE : — Large genera : Ampelocissus, Vitis, Gissus, Leea. TERNSTRCEMiACEiE I — Large genera : Dupinia^ Saurauja^ Gor- donia. ARALiACEiE : — Large genera: Aralia^ PanaXj Heptapleurum, Gilihertia. Endemic : Hederopsis (M.P.). GuTTiFERiE : — Large genera : Garcinia, Calophyllum. CAPPARiDEiE : — Large genera : Cleome, Mcerua, Capparis. Ebenace^ : — Large genera : Maba, Diospyros. Lythrarie^ : — Large genera : Rotala, Lagerstrcemia. CoMBRETACEiE : — Large genus : Terminalia. Loganiace^ : — Large genera : Mitrdsacmey Geniostoma^ Buddleia^ Fagrcea. Endemic : Norrisia (M.P.). Rhamne^e : — Zizyphus. Menispermace^ : — No large genera ; but the order is well represented. Gesnerace^ : — Large genera : ^schynanthus, Didymocarpus, Chirita, Cyrtandra. Endemic : Loxonia (S. & J.), Hexatheca (B.). PoLYGONACEiE : — Large genus : Polygonum. The Buck-wheat (Fagopyrum) is in cultivation. DiLLENiACE^ : — Large genera : Tetraceraf Wormia. 22 ON THE VEGETATION OP MALAYSIA, MAGNOLiACEiE : — Large genus : Michelia. BixiNEJE : — Large genera : Cochlospermum, Xylosma. Endemic : Bennettia (J.), Pangium (J.), Bergsmia (J.), Tarah- togenos (J.). Nepenthaoe^ : — Nepenthes. There are a few representatives also of the following orders : — HYPERICINEiE, SiMARUBACE^, E-HIZOPHORACEiE, ERICACEiE, Lentibulare^, Thymeleace^, MONOCOTYLEDOlSrS. Only a few Monocotyledons are here mentioned, either because they are specially dealt with under the headings of palms, orchids, &c., or because they would convey no idea of the flora. The grasses and sedges are wholly omitted, for there is little or nothing peculiar about them. ZiNGiBERACEiE : — Large genera : Glohha, Redychium, Curcuma, Amomum, Zingiber, Costus, Alpinia, Phrynium. Endemic : Burhidgea (B.), Strohidia (S.), Riedelia (Arch.). AROiDEiE : — Large genera : Pothos, Rhaphidophora, Alocasia. Endemic : Amydrium (B. & S.), Guscuaria (J.), Podolasia (B.), Piptospaiha (B.), Gamogyne (B.), Bucephalandra (B.), Agla- odorimi (S. & B.). CoMMELiNACEiE: — Large genera : Commelina, A neilema, Cyanotis. LiLiACEiE : — Large genera : Smilax, Asparagus, Aloe, Draccena Chlorophytum. Pandane^e : — Large genera : Pandanus, Freycinetia. DioscOREACEiE : — Large genus : Dioscorea. Amaryllide^e : — Large genera : Hypoxis, Crinum. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 23 For convenience the sub-divisions of the region will be taken in the following order : — (1) The marine littoral region. (2) The alluvial plains. (3) Lower mountain slopes. (4) Sub-alpine region. Most of these regions are capable of further subdivision ; though the divisions seems simple, it is not always easy to separate them. There are regions of an intermediate character where it is hard to decide to what they strictly belong. Further- more, though the whole country is clothed with forest, this is particularly true of the mountain regions. In the alluvial plains there are extensive areas of open plains with no timber except of a low bushy kind. The plains are clothed with coarse grasses and are composed of poor soil. Most of these plains are subject to inundation, and indicate the extent of the overflow by their limits. Lands liable to inundation are not always densely clothed with forest, for the contrary is the case in some instances. There are wide savannahs of coarse grasses without much timber in the Malay Peninsula, as well as open forests with little timber and a dense undergrowth of jungle. The latter term is made to mean many things. Any thick entangled tract of uncultivated trees and shrubs, is called jungle ; but what is distinguished by that term in Java, and what is known by the same name in the Straits Settlements, are two very different things, as will appear hereafter. Mangrove Forests. — What are called Mangroves are forests growing on shallow marine mud-flats inundated by every tide, and in fact living in sea-water more than out of it. Most of the species germinate from the fruit while it reuiains attached to the tree. The radical and club-shaped crowns of the root gradually lengthen until they reach the soft muddy soil where they strike root and form a close thicket down to the verge of the ocean ; a thicket both above and below. Above, the branches and leaves 24 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, entirely intercept the rays of the sun ; below, each tree is raised upon a stool of roots, which spreads around over considerable spaces. These roots are swollen, and succulent, arching from the stem to the mud with the convexity upwards, and gradually raising the main trunk high above the mud. Most of the trees belong to the order Rhizophorace^, which numbers about 50 species distributed through 17 tropical genera. A few do not germinate on the tree, but drop the developed fruit, where imme- diately it takes root, and so helps to spread the forest. One of the genera fPellacalyx) is peculiar to the Straits of Malacca, and two (Plcesiantha and Combretocarpus) are restricted to Borneo. The others in the Peninsula belong to the genera Ceriops, Bruguiera, Carallia, Gynotroches and Anisophyllea, the last with four styles, while all others except Combretocarpus have only one style. The commonest species probably belong to the genus Bruguiera. Besides the Rhizophorace^ the Mangrove forests are made up of many other plants ; amongst which, in the Malay Peninsula, are three species, if not more, of Sonneratia, a genus formerly included amongst the Myrtace^, but now placed with the Lythrarie^e. It lines the muddy estuaries of the Malay Penin- sular, Borneo, and, as far as I know, all the islands of the Indian Archipelago. It goes by the name of the Willow, and forms fluviatile thickets some little distance into the interior beyond the Mangroves but where the water is still brackish. It is something like a willow, but distinguished by a depressed fruit, around which the sepals of the calyx stand out in rays, reminding one of popular representations of the sun. The fruits of S. acida, L.f., are eaten by the Malays. The wood is stigmatised as soft and useless by Kurz, but he and M'Clelland say that the strong, hard, close- grained wood of S. apetala, Buch., is useful. Quite as abundant is jEgiceras majus, Gaertn., which forms dense hedges round the islands of the Indian Archipelago and grows far outside the tropics in Australia. It is a pretty plant, covered for the most part of the year with cymes of fragrant flowers. It belongs to the Myrsine^e or Ardisiads, an BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 25 order producing handsome shrubs with evergreen leaves and red berries, and which, strange to say, has its greatest development in New Zealand. JSyiceras differs from Ardisiads in this, that the fruit, when ripe, becomes a follicle. Another shrub with the habits of RHizoPHORACEiE, though not belonging to the order, is Avicennia officinalis^ L., a Verbeniad which extends all round the Australian continent, as well as being common in Asia, Africa, and America. The coasts of South Australia, especially in St. Vincent's and Spencer's Gulf, are thickly furnished with this kind of vegetable protection, which, though neither so luxuriant, so dense, nor forming such shady groves as the true tropical Mangrove, is thick and shrubby, and has a special beauty of its own. Amid the Mangroves will be noticed a small tree with con- spicuous fruits like a large green apple, three or four inches in diameter. This is {Xylocarpus granatum, Keen.) Carapa moluc- censis, Lam. It has four to six large irregularly-shaped, closely packed seeds inside, which are said to be pressed for oil. It is not cultivated for the purpose, and it grows too scantily in the Mangroves to afford much oil. It extends to tropical Asia, westward to east Africa, eastward to the Moluccas, and south- ward to tropical Australia. The Mangroves further inland are inundated only during spring- tides. These thickets form a well-known belt within the true Mangroves, where the ground begins to be less muddy and a little higher and drier. Certain species are also found where there are no Mangroves at all, and these may be called the sea- coast tidal-thickets. The species found are Hibiscus tiliaceus, L., having large yellow flowers with a deep crimson centre, besides other showy species ; Thespesia j^ojndnea, Corr., famous for the rich yellow dye exuding from the brown seed-vessel ; Heritiera littoralisj Dryander, or the Looking-glass Tree; Exccecaria agallocha^ L., a tree with a milky juice which causes blindness, and so does also even the smoke from the wood when it is burned ; Antidesma bunius, Spreng., a euphorbiaceous tree which extends over the 26 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, Indian Archipelago, the Philippines and South China, having large acid fruits, black or white when ripe ; Cerhera odallarn, Gaertn., a glossy evergreen tree with white flowers and oval or elliptical green fruits (black when ripe), said to be extremely poisonous, but the seed of which is pressed for lamp oil ; Erythrina ovalijolia, Roxb., with large dull purple flowers and the trunk armed with sharp thorns ; Dalbergia pongamia, DerriSy and other climbing leguminous plants, including Abrus precatoriuSy L., whose scarlet and black seeds are known all over the world. The above are the common and conspicuous trees and shrubs amongst the Mangroves on the whole of the Malayan sea-coast. There are also found along the banks of the estuarine streams on the west coasts of the Peninsula, Nipa fruticans, Wurmb., a Palm-tree which has not the advantage of a stem, but yet forms one of the most attractive and interesting members of the order. It lines the lower part of many of the coast streams to the exclusion of almost every other vegetation. It is difficult to describe the singular efiect of long lines of feathery palm-leaves, twenty to thirty feet long, gathered in thick clusters on both sides of a river. The plant is one of the giants of vegetation, and it is as useful as it is big. The leaves are cut down and form all the houses in the Malay region. The pinnge of the fronds are plaited in various forms to make walls, wainscots, and partitions. Throughout Malaysia the people have no other roof for their dwellings than these fronds laid over each other like tiles, giving a leafy covering more or less impervious to rain. It is good enough unless when the wind lifts it up, and then woe to the interior of the dwelling in a tropical storm. This is the well- known attap roof universal in the Peninsula. Further up the banks the thicket is intermingled with a fern which is a giant of its kind ( Acrostichum aureum, L.) with fronds eight and ten feet long, and a showy prickly Acanthaceous plant with blue and white flowers (Acanthus ilicifolius, L.), both of which are as common in Northern Queensland as they are in the Malay Peninsula. A Screw-pine (Pandanus) almost com- BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 27 pletes the census of this river-bank flora, for the Nipa absorbs everything. Such thickets does it make that whole islands are floated ofl* by the spring tides, and these cruise about, especially oE the coast of Borneo, like patches of marine jungle. I can testify to the strange appearance they present when met far from the land, sheltering sea and land birds together. The fruits on a short stalk amongst the stolons are quite as big as a man's head. They are cut ofl" before maturity, and the juice which exudes is fermented, and forms an acid and not very agreeable stimulant. Altogether the Mangroves are of the highest interest to botanists, and possess a beauty of their own. It is a wonderful provision of nature which associates together so many luxuriant trees of great beauty of foliage, growing so richly in salt water, a medium fatal to nearly every land plant. Alluvial Plains. — The alluvial plains are thickly studded with clumps or belts of timber, and open grassy savannahs where the lofty Lalang or jungle-grass (Im'peTaia arundinacea, Cyr.) meets above the head. This is interlaced by many climbers such as the climbing ferns Lygodium scandens, 8w., L. japonica, Sw., and L. Jiexuoswn, Sw. At a distance such open spaces look like meadow-land of bright green with little clumps of trees like a park. But the ground underneath is sloppy, and the meadow is full of coarse vegetation and harsh grasses very difficult to walk through. It is a flowery region. About Singapore and through all the Straits Settlements Thunhergia alata with its yellow or white blossoms, and a very large-flowered blue species, T. grandiflora^ are common in almost all the clumps of trees. Gallicarpa longifoliay a tree with minute pink flowers in large clusters, is everywhere on the plains, with a tender spring-like look about it. Showy Ixoras also are common with a profusion of long-tubed scarlet, pink or white flowers. But most frequently met is Melastoma mala- bathrica with large pink salver-shaped flowers. It is like a dog-rose at a distance except for the few long stamens with a prolongation of the connective ending in two spurs. This species is as common at Hong Kong as in the Straits Settlements, and equally so 28 ON THE VEGETATION OP MALAYSIA., in Australia as far south at least as Moreton Bay. The structure is well worthy of attention. The stamens, ten in number, are dissimilar in size, shape and colour, five being large, violet, and having two long spurs, and five small and yellow with no projection. It may possibly be mistaken for Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, a shrub four or five feet high with large pink flowers, but they are axillary. The species is widely spread over Southern India, Penang, Malaysia and northwards to China and Japan, and the Philippines. The natural order of Melastomace^e is largely represented in the flora of Malaysia. Besides the grassy plains in places the forest is rendered almost continuous by a better or drier soil. Around Singapore the flora is modified thus. The place of the grass is taken by large bushes of Gleichenia dichotoma and G. flagellaris which, with a few other ferns ( Blechnutn orientate, a species of Lomaria, Poly podium, Vittaria, &c., &c.), entirely occupy the ground. There is an undergrowth, however, in places of the Melastoma and Rhodo- rtiyrtus, Cassia alata, C. sepiaria, C. tor a, Solanu^n verba scifolium, iS. ferox, S. sanctum, and Lantana camera. There are few palms, but I have noticed occasionally that extremely handsome palm-tree Cyrtostachys rendah, though much more common in Labuan than it is at Singapore. The alluvial plains are varied by occasional swamps which are always thickly covered with Nelumhium speciosum, L. This solitary species demands a passing notice. It lives with its rhizomes buried in the mud. Its large orbicular leaves on the upper surface, which, determined to breathe air, break up the water into crystal dew-drops ; the large, deep rose-coloured flowers and the nuts or seeds nearly buried in a receptacle like the rose of a watering- pot, all make it a most interesting, as well as beautiful, ornament to still waters. The Nelurnhium is indigenous in the waters of the Nile, and is found in the rivers of Persia and India ; in Cash- mere up to a height of 5,000 feet ; in the Volga up to the 46th degree of north latitude ; in China ; in Japan ; and then in tropical Australia. Probably some of this wide-spread area is BY THE REV. J. E. TET^ISON-WOODS. 29 due to introduction. It divides the beauties of the still waters in Malaysia with NymphcEa, a large blue, yellow or red-flowered water-lily even bigger than Nelumbiumy easily distinguished by the cluster of stamens in the middle Its leaves float in the water, and they are recognised by their very long stalks, which are much sought after in North Australia by the natives as an article of food. So is the root of the plant also, and even the Malays make use of it. All that might be said about this flower may be guessed in saying that it is the Lotus of the ancients. Sometimes the open forest is dry and rocky with out-crops of Laterite. This supports a somewhat difierent flora such as Malotus philippinensis and M. javanica, Cinnamomurn spurium, Fagrcea peregrina, several species of Eugenia^ Ficus, Mcesa (a large genus of Myrsine^ belonging to Africa, Asia, and Aus- tralia), Phyllanthus emhlica^ a feathery-leaved small tree with conspicuous green acid fruits, Sinclora siamensis (1), a tree with one-seeded indehiscent spiny pods borne on long pedicels. There are several species of Myristica or wild Nutmeg, notably a long- leaved form with a thick brown tomentum (M. sesquipedalia). Adinandra dumosa is a common and handsome tree of the tea family. River Vegetation. — This is the richest portion of the forest lands and supports a dense growth of trees. It would require a long list to describe this flora. On the banks of even the small creeks I have seen the finest trees, and the undergrowth is so dense that daylight scarcely penetrates. The common trees are Ficus (many), Dipterocarpe^e including Shorea, Hopea, Vatica, Arto- carpus (many), Gastania, Castanojysis, and plentifully, Rhodamnia trinervia, Cratoxylon polyanthurti (one of the St. John's Worts), Evodia roxhurghiana, Ixonanthes icosandra, Phyllanthus superhus, Elceocarpus (several), Canarium (two or three), Oommeo^sortia echinafa, Vitex trifoliata, Macaranga tanarius, Pithecolohiuin (several), Maba ebenus, Diospyros /ruticosus, Alstonia macrophylla , A. scholaris. The last named is seen quite as frequently on the grassy plains where it lifts its head as a conspicuous straight stem, 30 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, divided into regular stages by whorls of large laurel-like leaves. Occasionally one meets Antiaris or the far-famed Upas-tree, formerly supposed to be confined to Java. The natives know it well, but do not seem to be much afraid of it, at least in the manner related by travellers of old. There is also a large fleshy fetid Aroid named Amorphoj)hallus likewise used as a poison for arrows, or to intensify the venom of the Upas, here called Ipo. This vegetation is laced together by numberless vines and creepers, such as Entada scandens with enormous pods, and beans large enough to be made into match-boxes ; Mucuna giyantea with its crop of irritating hairs on the outside of the pod. Bauhi- nias abound as well as Melastomaceous creepers of the genera Medinilla and Sonerila. The true vines (Vitis) are represented by many species, as well as climbing genera of the natural orders MENISPERMACEiE, ApOCYNACE.E, AsCLEPIADEiE. The Palms, as might naturally be expected, are numerous, in- cluding the destructive Calamus whose thorns few escape in the jungle. They are perennial spreading shrubs or small trees, lithe and supple, erect as well as climbing. The whole plant is densely clothed with formidable thorns. It is difficult to keep out of their way. The petiole is modified into a thong or prolongation, covered with hooked prehensile spines of cruel design. Woe to those who are caught in these tendrils. The struggle to free oneself from one brings down a dozen, each being as difficult to detach as a puzzle. C. grandis is common at Penang and in all the Straits of Malacca, with many species besides. C. rotang, C. rudentum, and several others are largely exported for chairs, baskets, mats, hats and other useful articles. The celebrated Malacca canes are derived from C. scipionum. It is not common, and the natives who gather, stain and sell it, do not care to make its habitat known. It does not grow anywhere near Malacca. Zalacca edulis is a tufted short-stemmed palm with leaves eighteen to twenty feet in length, growing abundantly in moist shady places. The pinnules about eighteen inches long and five broad, are at first ascending, then curved downwards, oblong-spathulate, lanceolate BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 31 and tapered into a long subulate bristle. They are 3-keeled above, the margins furnished at intervals with short bristles. Other Palms might be named, but they belong more to the mountains than to the alluvial plains. Finally a few of the common trees may be mentioned. They are Randia densifolia, Memecylon plebeium, Gironniera celtidi- folia, Symplocos pedicellata, Rourea splendens, and several species of Elceocarpus which the natives here call Jelei. The undergrowth includes one or two remarkable plants. One is Haloragis disticha, a showy little shrub something like Box only that its leaves are pointed, while the branches spread out in distichous sprays of a neat and graceful form. No one would take it to be a Haloragis, though this is one of the non-aquatic genera in an order principally composed of water-plants. It is met occasionally on the mountain sides. Leea sambucina, a member of the vine family without tendrils, and a shrub, is conspicuous for the deep crimson colour of its younger leaves, whose stalks are dilated at the base so as to enclose the plant in a kind of sheath. It extends to the tropics of Australia, and perhaps is identical with a common African form. Trema virgata and T. amhoinense are frequently seen, mingled occasionally with more than one species of Uvaria, having clusters of fruits like a bunch of yellow grapes on which the monkeys are said to feed. UvaricB are climbing plants, beautiful looking with their golden fruits, and showing under the microscope most interesting stellate hairs. The LEGUMiNOSiE have many representatives, such as species of Indigofera, Tephrosia Candida, Crotalaria striata, several species of Cassia, Derris, and Alhi%%ia. The ornamental shrubs include Ixora, Gardenia cam- panulata, Clerodendron velutinum and other species, Pavetta indica, differing but little from the Ixoras except in having the corolla twisted in the bud, Dracoina angustifolia, Dianella ensi- folia, several species of Costus, with the large and luxuriant Alpinia nutans. Amongst the useful plants may be mentioned one highly valued through the east as far as Japan. This is Delima sarmentosa {Tetracera), widely distributed in tropical Asia. 32 ON THE VEGETATION OP MALAYSIA, The upper surface of the leaves is covered with hard asperities, so rough that the leaves are used (like many kinds of Fig-trees) as a substitute for sand-paper. The character of the river vegetation will be best understood from the following entry in my diary : — " Got the elephants loaded in good time and sent them away. Walked two miles on a good road to a village on the banks of the Kinta. Crossed the river on elephants, and then succeeded a tedious journey through swamps, the elephants being mostly up to their bellies in mud. After this we went through an open jungle supporting a thick weedy growth of Lantana camera, with a small Eugenia and Melastoma mala- hathrica, the fruits of both of which our Malays ate freely, though the berries were small and unpalatable. The country soon became thick forest, both boggy and broken under foot, on a track which none but an elephant could travel. Emerging from this we came upon a deserted plantation of which there are, alas, a good many in Malay countries. It was on a rising ground, covered with Lantana but intermingled with Solarium i:>entadaGtylum, rendered conspicuous by yellow fruits with protuberances something like fingers. This is a native of Trinidad about Saint Anne's and the port of Spain. It is a shrub two or three feet high, with an erect stem, and leaves sinuated, with acute segments shining above. It looks as if it had been cultivated, but the Malays do not eat the fruits and said they were poisonous. This is one of many instances in Malaysia, of small patches of an introduced plant flourishing as a weed, but very local ; more common amongst the Solanace^ than any other order. "The view from this abandoned farm was across a wide plain to the eastward, bounded by an abrupt and broken range. The forest was open, and looked like moorland in Europe. When we got off the cultivated area we plunged into a dense growth of Costus, a shrub of ornamental character belonging to the Zingiberace.e. Thickets of this kind are common, 12 or 14 feet high. The only method of making one's way through them is by the aid of the jungle-knife or parong, which has to be slashed right and left with BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 33 much force. A journey of a quarter of a mile thoroughly exhausted our Malays, and we were not sorry to find ourselves once more upon the swampy ground of the river Raya and close to the village of that name." Lower Mountain Slopes. — There is a decided difference between the forests on the lower slopes of the mountains and those on the summits and on the plains. The trees are more varied and finer. In fact, this is where the forests are seen in their grandeur, because on ridges or the summits of ranges the trees are often stunted and the timber poor. In the lower forests the under- growth, amid dead and decaying timber, is nearly impenetrable. The surface of the ground becomes only occasionally visible, and the difiiculty of travelling through such places is really great. In this region and that of the plains are the same genera, slightly varied in proportion, but with a more stately and luxuriant growth. DiiJterocaT'pus, Sliorea, Hopea and Vatica are numerous, with Fig-trees, Chestnuts, Oak-trees, and an occasional coniferous tree of the genus Darnmara. It was always a subject of admiration to me to notice the varied tints of the vegetation on the mountain slopes. At a distance they wore a uniform hue of sombre green or purple ; but when near it was surprising how the surface was dappled with colours like a garden bed. Trees that looked like bunches of pink, bluish-red or yellowish flowers, stood out in surprising numbers. This appearance was often due to blossoms ; but also it was owing to the variegated leaves, and, sometimes though more rarely, to the fruits. Those common and con- spicuous were Chmamomum spu7'ium, a Gastania or Castanojysis (a genus which cannot be maintained), a sapindaceous tree named Cupania fuscidula ; and trees of light green foliage, such as Erio- dendron and Alhizzia, help to vary the colour. There are also se\'eral species of Artocarpus and Eugenia, with wild Garcinia or Mangosteens, Ebonies, the real Ebenus, and Diospyros fruticosus^ Ganarium, Guttas, Isonandra, Bassia and Bichopsis, with the useful Fagrcea peregrina and another Fagrcea with large flowers, of which more presently. The Palm-trees belonging to this region 34 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, are Arenga, Areca, Calamus, Euqeissona, Caryota, Corypha Licuala, the Nibong which is an Areca, with Slackia and Macro cladus which the Malays call Ebul. Sub-alpine Region. — In the higher mountain regions the tree vegetation becomes smaller and more scanty, and on the summits almost disappears. There is an alpine vegetation, differing altogether however from what is understood by that name in European countries. This flora is of an Australian character, a fact difficult to explain. It includes Melaleuca, Leucopogon, Vatica, Rhododendron, and Nepenthes, mingled with peculiar cryptogams and the conifer Podocarpus. A similar flora is seen on the mountains of Borneo, Java, Celebes, and some of the Philippine Islands. Over about 3000 feet above sea-level the vegetation becomes thinner and smaller. Cryptogams take the place of dicotyle- donous plants, and even these, where they are not peculiar, are less tropical. A species of Fterocarpus, several members of tiie Tea family (TERNSTRCEMiACEyE), some PiTTOSPOREiE {Bursaria '>), a Microtropis and Euonymus (Celastrine^), an Ilex, and a Daphniphyllum are amongst the remarkable plants, with Orchids, Begonias, Caladiums, Marantas, Lycopods, Selaginellas, Ferns, Mosses, Lichens, and Fungi innumerable. Limestone Rocks. — The numerous outliers of limestone have a distinct flora, but not the same in every place. Certain species re-appear wherever the limestone crops out. Owing to the facility with which limestone strata are eroded, they are generally detached, precipitous and inaccessible mountains. A striking instance is Pondok in Perak, which is a gigantic rock at the eastern opening of the pass at Gapis, about 1500 feet above the level of the sea.* It is crystalline, and the stratification seems to be almost obliterated ; but yet what does remain in this and other places has a considerable dip. I have never heard that * In my report on the geology of Perak this, by a misprint, is stated to be only 300 feet high. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 35 anyone was able to get to the summit ; but it is full of fissures and cavities which are overgrown with a luxuriant and apparently peculiar vegetation, differing from that of the country around. At Selangore, at the limestone caves, I was able to make a good collection of plants, but they were mostly Lycopods and Ferns. Similar limestone cliffs are found in the Calamianes and Cuyos Groups, amongst both of which I collected plants, but not many, as the difficulty of getting on to the rocks was nearly as great here as at Gunong Pondok. Ferns and Lycopods were, as usual, the principal spoils, with, in the Philippines at least, a Tristania. DiPTEROCARPEiE. — This is a natural order of fine forest trees with conspicuous fragrant flowers, yielding good timber and valu- able aromatic resins, balsams, and oils. It is an order which stands aloof, so that its limits can be concisely defined. Its peculiarities are the long wing-like lobes of the calyx, with nerves like the root-scales of a fern, and generally rich'y coloured from red to brown. The leaves have rolled-up stipules like the Magnolias, and they terminate the branches with a taper point ; the foliage is like that of an oak tree, and as in oaks the coty- ledons perform their office without rising above the ground. The cup of the acorn and similar organs in the filbert, chestnut, beech, &c., are represented in the hardened calyx of these trees, which have a tendency to sacrifice all the ovules but one. The order flourishes best in the Malayan region, and is confined to tropical eastern Asia. The species range on the west from Assam, through eastern Bengal to Ceylon. Eastward they extend through Burmah and Siam to Cambodia and the Philippines. Southward they are found in the Andaman Islands, the Malayan Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and Banka; but only to a small extent is the family at present known east of Wallace's line through the Straits of Macassar. The order was discovered in 1798 ; four species of Dlpterocarpus were sent to Sir Joseph Banks by Dr. B. Hamilton from Sumatra. But the order was not defined until 1825 by Gaertner. At that time a dozen species were not known, and now there are upwards 36 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, of 200. It is divided into about a dozen genera, namely — (1) Dryohalanops, (2) Dii^terocarpuSj (3) Ancistroclachis, (4) Anis- 02?tera, (5) Pachynocarjms, (6) Vatica, (7) Shorea, (8) Hopea, (9) Doona^ (10) Vateria, (11) Monoporandra. Some botanists include the genus Lophira, which Endlicher erects into a separate order from its marked differences. It does not, however, belong to the Malayan region, but to west Africa. Dipterocarpus — trees with two winged seeds — has given the name to the order. In reality there are five wings, but two of the lobes are much larger than the other three, which crown the calyx as small leaf -like sepals. Bryobalanopis has the lobes of the calyx nearly equal, and they form five spreading wings round the fruit, something like a shuttle-cock. In Ancistrocladus the five lobes of the calyx are similar, but the genus is composed of climbing shrubs with claw-like thorns. In Anisoptera there are two large wings with inconspicuous stipules ; its ovary and fruit partly inferior in reference to the insertion of the calyx, but having a concave receptacle, the edges of which bear the corolla and stamens. In Vatica there are five stamens opposite the petah, five alternate with them, then outside each of these a small stamen. Vatica is distinguished by its calyx, which is sub-valvate or with pieces not touching one another in the bud, and forming round the fruit five large free wings not adherent to the fruit but enveloping it closely. Pachynocarpus has the same flowers, a concave receptacle with a calyx which disappears round the fruit. Vateria has the free ovary of Vatica, but a small calyx refiexed under the pericarp. Mono2)orandra has the fruit of Vateria, but only five stamens. Hopea has the flower of Vateria, and two only of the five non- adherent sepals dilated in wings round the fruit. Shorea can hardly be separated from Hopea ; but if distinguished at all, it is by the three large wings developed from the calyx lobes. Doo7ia has three wings also, enclosing an embryo with cotyledons full of much-contorted folds, and the flowers are red. All the species of this order are filled with resins, balsams, or oils, which render them valuable. The Oil-tree of the Malays is BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 37 derived from Diptei^ocarpus Icevis or D. turbinatus, for the two species are now united. It extends from eastern Bengal to Singapore and perhaps further. The oil is abundant and is obtained by cutting a kind of well in the stem, which opening is charred around by lighting a fire inside it, and then left for the oil slowly to exude. The exudation separates into two portions, one liquid and bland, and the other thick. The quantity produced is extraordinary. The oil is extracted every year ; and sometimes the same tree will have two or three cavities in it. From 20 to 40 gallons is about the quantity produced each season ; but from time to time the fire has to be renewed in the cavity to char the surface afresh. When a tree in full growth is cut down and divided into pieces, a quantity of oleaginous resin exudes and hardens on the surface into something like camphor, and with a faint aromatic odor."^ The Malays call this tree Palaglar mienjak, but both in Sun- danese and Javanese Palaglar is a name applied to all the species *As the above species (D. turbinatus, Gaertn.) has such interest and value a botanical diagnosis is here inserted. " The species bears terminal clusters of from three to five flowers. The flowers are hermaphrodite with a slightly concave receptacle. The calyx is formed of five sepals united into a tube at the base and very unequally developed ; three of them remaining very small, while the two others grow into large oval wings above the fruit. The tube of the calyx is obconical. It is developed at the same time as the fruit and closely envelops it. The corolla is formed of five alternate petals, nearly of the same length, slightly perigynous, twisted in the bud and colored a rose pink. The stamens are indefinite, inserted on several circles. Anthers elongate, acuminate, formed of two linear cells, introrse, opening in longitudinal slits ; ovary very slightly inferior to the base, trilocular, surmounted by a filiform style, entire or slightly tridentate. each ovicell with two anatropal ovules collateral with the micropyle directed upwards and outwards, inserted in the internal angle of the cell. The fruit is a pubescent spherical nut, surrounded by the tube of the calyx, with two sepals divided in large linear-lanceolate obtuse wings, with three longitudinal veins giving off laterally numerous slightly oblique anasto- mosing venules ; pericarp dry, woody, indehiscent ; seeds free, without albumen, enclosing an embryo between thick fleshy unequal cotyledons and a slightly developed superior radicle. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, smooth on both sides or a little pubescent on the veins and edges, oval or wide, lanceolate, entire or sinuate, pointed, rounded at the base, penninerved with parallel veins, petiole long, with two lateral much-developed stipules surrounding a leaf-bud and falling when it opens, leaving an annular scar." J. D. Hooker, " Flor. Brit. Ind.," pt. 2, p. 295. 38 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA^ of Di2?terocarpuSj and other balsam iferous trees such as several species of Mastixia and Gironniera.'^ The balsam of Dijiterocarpus is called Gurjun in India, and is enumerated amongst the products of India, Burmah, and the Malayan region, by various authors since the commencement of this century. Its medicinal properties were pointed out by O'Shaughnessy ("Bengal Dispensary," 1842, p. 222) as being equal to Copaiba, and as such it has now obtained a place in the Indian Pharmacopsea. Balsam of Gurjun varies somewhat in its character because it is derived from different trees of the order, all of which are more or less balsami- ferous. The basis or the acid crystallised from the resin is called Gurgunic Acid by Werner, who gives it tlie chemical formula C44 Hgj O5+ 3 H2 O which is that of hydrate Abietinic Acid f and jDrobably identical with that and Metacopaibic Acid. This statement of the qualities of Dipterocarpus turhinatus will serve as a specimen of the whole. The balsam of D. trinervis is used in Java tor wounds. It furnishes a dye, and with the yolk of an egg an emulsion of the same efficacy as copaiba. I have seen torches made of banana leaves smeared with this dammar as mentioned by Blume. The light is brilliant and the smell agreeable. The Camphor Tree of Borneo and Sumatra, and which I think I have seen growing in the state of Selangore also, is Dryobalanops aromatica, Gaertn. The product is best and most abundant where it is found in the wood. De Vriese tells us (Hook. Lond. Jour. IV. p. 33) that its price is high in Sumatra where it is called Kassa baras, and the rajahs do not care to export it, but use it to embalm the remains of royal personages. The same kind of camphor is known in China and Japan, where it is sold as a drug for a tonic and stimulant. The same tree also exudes a small quantity of aromatic or balsamic oil, called Oil of * Mastixia belonging to the order Cornace^, has about six species in Java, &c., and two in Ceylon. Gironniera belongs to the order Urticace.>e, with seven or eight species extending from Cejdou through the Malayan region to South China and the Pacific Islands. t Derived from Canada balsam, an exudation from the Canadian cedar. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 39 Camphor, obtained by incisions and collected in half-cylinders of split bamboo. After straining it is put into bottles for preserva- tion. " Vateria indica is the tree from which is obtained a false resin, called Copal in India, which when fresh appears under the form of a liquid varnish called Pimen dammar or Piney varnish in British India; it is solid, tenacious, but has the inconvenience of melting- at a moderately low temperature. (36-5°C.). According to Wight it is obtained by making incisions in the trunk where the liquid collects and hardens. In Malabar wax lights are made of it which give a brilliant light and exhale a perfumed odour." (Baillon, "Nat. Hist. Plants," IV. p. 219). Formerly it was stated in most treatises on the geographical distribution of plants, that the flora of New Guinea is thoroughly similar to that of Borneo, and that its vegetation is an eastern extension of the Indo-Malayan flora, ^ir Joseph Hooker, on the other hand, in denying this statement, pointed out that none of the DiPTEROCARPE^ had been found to the east of Borneo. This, however, was equally incorrect, as I have seen the order as well represented in the Philippines, the Sulu Archipelago, and in all the islands of the Molucca Passage where I landed, in- cluding the Xulla Islands and some others down to Amboyna, as in Borneo or tlie Malayan Peninsula. The explorations of Beccari have also shown that a few species occur in New Guinea, but the small number of species found there (three I believe) shows a remarkable falling ofi" from the preponderating influence of the order in the Malayan region. Mr. Thistleton Dyer has chronicled a single endemic species in the (Seychelles group, which is, to use his own expression, " like that of Nepenthes pervillei, an interesting connecting link between the Indo-Malayan flora and its westward outlying extensions in Madagascar and central Africa." (See " Journal of Botany " for 1878, page 98). The order is well represented in Cochin-China, Tonquin, Cam- bodia, and Siam. I frequently remarked in Cochin-China large trees with the trunk blackened about a yard from the soil, with 40 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, the well-known oil-cavity. This tree, I was informed, is called " Dau," and by the French "I'arbre a huile." It is stated that the bast is the part from which the oil only fiows, at least that is the Anamese idea, which is incorrect, for the cavity is always made in the heart- wood. The order is well known in Biirmah to the north of the Malay Peninsula. Here Dipterocarpus is one of the commonest and best known trees, and gives its name to the forests of the plains. It is called "Eng,'' and the Eng forests are truly the characteristic features of the Burmese region. Kurz in his " Forest Flora of British Burmah " often refers to them, classifying two parts of his botanical regions as the " Hill and Plain forests." It will help our comprehension of the Malayan flora to quote his words : — " Eng or Laterite Forests. — The principal constituents of this forest are Byoo (Dillenia 2^ulcherri'ma), Phthya (Shorea ohtusd)^ Engyeen [Pentacme siamensis), Joeben ( Walsura villosa), Moon- deing [Lojyhopetalum wallichii), Myoukzee (Zizyj^hus jujuha), Lam-bo {Buchanania latifolia), Thit-say [Melanorrhoea usitata), Dan-yat (^Symi^locos racemosa), Tay (Diospyros burmanica), Tasha [Emhlica officinalis), Ziphyoo {E. inacrocarjm), Engyen (Aporosa iinacTopliylla), Yemine (A. villosa), Yindyke fDalhergia cultrata), Wendlandia tinctoria, Toukkyan (Terminalia macrocarjoa), Banbwe (Carey a arhorea), Kone-pyenma ( Lager stroemia macro- car pa), Khaboung (Strychnos nux vomica), Xabbhay (Odina wodier), Yingat {Gardenia ohtusifolia), Thameng-sa-nee {G. turgida), Tha-byay-hpyoo {^Eugenia jamholana), Sideroxylon p)arvifolium, Na-yu-wai (Flacourtia sajnda), and others. The Eng (Dipterocarpus tuherculatus ) is the characteristic tree of this forest. Moondein (Cycas siamensis) is plentiful in the Prome forests. Palms are represented only by a stemless Date-palm (Phoenix acaulis) called Thin-boung, and here and there by an erect much-reduced rattan called Kyeing-kha {Calamus gracilis). Of bamboo are seen only Myin-wa {Dendrocalamus strictus), and less so Tei-wa (Bambusa tulda) along the outskirts of the forest. Climbing vegetation has almost disappeared. Ferns are rare, BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 41 but Orchids and some Asclepiads are plentiful. The shrubs here are meagre and sparse, but still exhibit a great variety of species, and the same may be said of the clothing of the ground. The display of gaudy flowers during the hot season on trees as well as on the ground is often very striking. Where depressions occur, they are usually filled up with stiff clay inundated during the rains, and such places are more or less densely covered by thin dry grass and sedges." " Hill Eng Forests. — These forests occupy the ridges of the outer hill ranges of Martaban and Upper Tenasserim, where they luxuriate either on Laterite formed by decomposition of the underlying rock or on debris of metamorphic rocks. In general aspect they agree with the Eng forests of the plains ; but numer- ous trees occur in them, which are peculiar to them, or very rare in those of the plains. The Eng tree {Dipterocarpus tuherculatusj is still represented here, but is also often replaced by, or inter- mixed with, two other wood-oil trees, viz., — D. costatus and D. ohtusifolius. Other conspicuous trees are Engelhardtia villosa, Quercus hrandisiana and Q. hancana, Pauma (Schima banca7ia), Thit-say (Melanorrhoea glabra), Castanea trihuloides, Tristania burmanica, Anneslea fragaiis, etc. Various trees of the true Eng forests and sometimes of the drier hill forests associate, like Doung-hsap-pya {Callicarpa arborea), Dillenia aurea, Rhus javanica, Vernonia acuminata, etc." (" Introduction," Yol. I. p. xxii). The above descriptions of the Burmese Dipterocarpus forests will serve to show the unity of the vegetation ; and indeed with the exception of the appearance of some new species, and the disap- pearance of others with no great difference between them, there is only one aspect for the flora between Borneo and Ceylon. Dammara Trees and Conifers. — Some of the varnish derived from the Dipterocarpus trees goes by the name of Dammar, which is a Malay term. There are several kinds of dammar, but the one termed Dammar puti or batu (white or stone dammar) 42 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, is derived from a coniferous tree, which takes a leading part in the formation of forests on the mountain. In ascending to the summits of any of the high hills, one is sure to notice, round the stems of certain stately-looking trees, deposits of yellowish white resin. This comes from a tree which is a near relation to the Pines and Arauearias, but diflfering in appearance from any of them except in this that wherever the bark is wounded quantities of the resin exude. " The Dammaras are distinguished from the true Pines and Firs by their broad, opjiosite or alternate, oblong-lanceolate, attenuated leathery leaves, with parallel veins, and in the male and female flowers being solitary and on separate plants : they however approach nearest to the genus Araucaria in being dioecious, but from which they differ in the form of the scales, in the absence of a bractea to each female flower, and in the seeds being winged only on one side, and free or unattached." (" Pinetum, A Synopsis of all the coniferous Plants." By Geo. Gordon, 3rd ed. p. 108). There is only one species, which is a tree growing upwards of 100 feet high, with a straight, smooth bark and trunk, from eight to ten feet in diameter, found on the summit of the mountains of Amboyna and Ternate, and in many of the Molucca Islands, Java, and Borneo. Timber of little value, but producing a fine trans- parent resin, and esteemed by the natives for incense. There is a variety having longer and more lanceolate leaves with the edges rolled on the under side, slightly undulated, whitish, and tapering to the point, and with the bark on the branches of a whiter colour. Europeans distinguish the resin of Vateria indica as Pmey dammar, that derived from Shorea and Hopea as Dammar simply, like the conifer, while the resin of Dipterocar2)us is distinguished by the Indian name Gurjun, and that of Dryohalmiops as Cam- phor. No distinction is made in the uses to which these resins are put except the camphor. They are largely employed for caulking boats, and with the oil are combined for making various varnishes. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 43 Melastomace.^. — Another of the remarkable and common members of the flora of the Malayan Peninsula is this order. They are plants of warm climates, few extending into the sub- tropical regions. Generally they may be distinguished by their remarkable opposite leaves, which have five to seven deeply impressed curved longitudinal veins, and with long beaks to the anthers. The prominence of the lateral ribs in the leaves gives these plants some resemblance to species of MvRTACEiE ; but with a few exceptions, the leaves of the Melastomas are without transparent oil-glands. Out of 134 genera in the order, 29 are found in the Malay region ; the rest belong principally to South America, excepting a few in Africa and Polynesia. The order is divided into three sub-orders, namely, MELASTOMEiE, AsTRONiEiE, and Memecyle^. The first has no less than twelve tribes, the first of which (Microlicieee) is almost confined to America; the second (Osbeckieae) has 29 genera of which three only, Osheckia, Otanthera and Melastoma, are represented in the Malay Peninsula, but these rather extensively. The Rhexieae and Merianiese with ten genera are American ; the Oxysporeae with ten genera is scattered over a large area between Madagascar and Japan; the tribe Sonerileae with 13 genera has representa- tives in Asia, Africa and America, and throughout a large area. The tribe Medinillese with eleven genera has nine of them represented in the Malay Peninsula and one of them (Medinilla) with many species. The Miconiese with 30 genera belongs almost exclusively to tropical America, and so does the next tribe, Blakese. The other two sub-orders have only six genera. The AsTRONiEiE with four genera is almost exclusively Malayan with the exception of a few species in the Pacific region. The last sub- order, Memecyle.e, has only two genera, both of a decidedly aberrant type. One, Mouriria^ has thirty species, all American ; the other, Memecylon, with a hundred species, in Asia, Australia, the Pacific Islands, Ceylon and Africa, but all within the tropics. The order is closely connected with that of the Myrtles, which, as most readers are aware, consists of trees and shrubs usually 44 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, with opposite entire leaves marked with translucent dots. The stamens are indefinite. Not only, however, is there the closest relationship between the two orders, but they pass into one another, so to speak, in the genera Blakea, Astronia, and Alouriria. Mouriria has no ribs on the leaves, which are very distinctly dotted. Diplogenea shows also some signs of dots, while Meme- cylon has no lateral ribs, neither has the large genus Sonerila, There is a strong resemblance also between the two orders in the variations to which the typical structures are subject. To mention no more than the leaves, we find almost every variety of form amongst the Myrtles, such as in the genus Calythrix where they are scattered (not opposite), small, semi-terete, three- or four- angled, rigid, and as unlike the leaves of a myrtle as possible, to the showy coriaceous forms amongst the Eugenia, Tristania, &c. In the Melastomace^ there is just as much variety, which seems to follow the same lines. The characteristic leaf-structure in some of the South American species disappears. For instance, in the genus Fritzschia the leaves are small, coriaceous, sometimes dentate, and with impressed dots ; in Lavoisiera they are small and decussately imbricated ; in Marcetia small and heath-like, and so forth. It would seem as if the Melastomace^ are, in the Malaysian region, what the Myrtace^ are in Australia within the tropics, where they do not prevail over other forms of vegetation to the extent they do in temperate regions. The genera of Myrtles with fleshy fruits are the members of the order best represented in the Malaysian region, but in Australia such are almost entirely confined to the tropics. On the other hand, the characteristic Myrtace^ of Australia are those with capsular fruits, and they are nearly entirely confined to that continent, though there are a few stragglers to be found in the flora we are now considering. There is a Metrosideros in the Malayan Peninsula, and I found on the summit of Gunong Bubu a Leptospermum and a Leucopogon. The Melastomace^ of Australia are few in number, not exceeding five species, belonging to four wide-spread genera, namely, BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 45 Oshechia, Melastoma, Otanthera, and Memecylon. One species of Osheckia common in Malaysia extends to Australia. The Australian Otanthera is wide-spread in the Indian Archipelago, and Memecylon umhellatum was also recognised in the Peninsula. Melastoma is the only species of the order which extends outside the tropics in Australia. The useful properties of this order are few. They are generally astringent, and one or two produce edible fruits. Black and yellow dyes are extracted from the berries of American and Malaysian species. The leaves of Melastoma malahathrica are said to be efficacious in dysentery. Astronia papetaria is a Malayan species with sub-acid leaves, and is cooked with hsh. It is called Obat papeda. Most of them have showy blossoms of pink and violet tints, which are a great embellishment to the vegetation of Malaysia. Some species of Medinilla are climbers and cover the trees with a profusion of scarlet blossoms, while the stalks of the whole raceme are a brilliant coral red, carmine or pink. See Curtis's "Botanical Magazine," where there are beautiful figures of M. speciosa, M. magnifica, M. javanensis, M. cu7'tisii, M. amahilis, and some others. Palms. — This natural order in Malaysia requires a special essay to itself to do it justice. The whole scenery of the Malayan region is modified and characterised by its palms. It is usually a fringe of Cocoa-nut Palms which lines the coast. Even where the Mangroves form a soft green margin, the Cocoa-nuts project their feathery heads above the line of trees and give a tropical character to the scene. Cocoa-nut Palms are soon discovered to be everywhere. They liue the coast, they crowd the valleys, they shade the sand-hills, and they form the borders of both the roads and the garden enclosures. There are plantations of this palm besides, near the towns, where nothing else grows by its side except the Betel Palm. And this also grows evei7 where. It is iust as well that it is so, for the Cocoa-nut Palm is apt to become 46 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, straggling, and its stately dignity much impaired by its faded look. Betel Palm is gracefulness itself. Tall, slender, fresh- looking and green, with a close luxuriant tuft at the summit of arched or straight leaves, it forms one of the very agreeable embellishments of the tropical flora. The foliage is like a plume of feathers around a warrior's helmet as it waves to and fro in the breeze. It is seen almost everywhere, and is always an index of cultivation. In wandering through the jungle when one gets a sight of Cocoa-nut Palms or Betel Palms, one may be sure that there is, or there has been, a native settlement in the locality. Everyone knows the purpose for which Betel is culivated. The seed is cut into small slices, mixed with lime and wrapped up in a leaf of feirrih or Betel pepper, and is chewed by the natives. It is an acquired taste, and one would say not easily acquired, yet the practice is universal, and the natives would forego anything rather than this luxury. A curious fact connected with the Betel is the uncertainty about its habitat. Somewhere in Malaysia, is the conclusion arrived at, but one never sees it in a wild state. The Chinese historians state that it was received from the south B.C. Ill years, and then it bore the name of Pinlang; now, the native name is Pining ; in Javanese, Jambi ; in Balinese, Banda according to Crawfurd, who also says the Bugis call it Rapo ; in Tagalo, Bouga and Bongang-pato, also Sacsic. In all the Philip- pine dialects it should be remarked, however, that Bonga means simply a fruit. The Sanskrit name is Gouvaka (de Candolle). The Telinga name, A.rek, is the origin of the botanical name Areca^ while Betel is the Malabar name. In Hindostanee it is called Paunsooparee or Paun, but this refers to the prepared state of the Betel-nut, lime and pepper leaf. The spathe of the leaf contains valuable fibre deserving the attention of paper-makers. The Chinese storekeepers in Singapore and Penang use it for packing, and in India it is employed for many purposes, even water- vessels, caps, umbrellas, &c. It has a tine surface like paper. Borassus flabelliformis, or the Palmyra Palm, is seen sparingly near the coast in the Malay Peninsula. It is not common any BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 47 where in this region, but most frequent in Java. The leaves are over eighteen inches in diameter, folding and opening like immense fans. The upper enamelled surface is written on with an iron stylus, and forms the Balinese books, remaining in good preserva- tion for hundreds of years. The ribs being of cane give great strength to the leaf. Cut off at the stem, the thicker part of the fan is bent round, making a powerful helmet used by fighting men, and as a protection for those who force their way through the jungle, for which the wedge-like form is admirably adapted. Further- more, it serves as an umbrella. It is said to yield its fruit only when the tree is eighty years old, when previously a flower, about thirty feet long in large trees, bursts forth with a loud report. Its perfume is overpowering, which causes the natives to destroy them. This tree is used for the production of sago from its pith, but only in times of scarcity. The leaf-stalks yield a wiry fibre about two feet in length, made into rope occasionally. A fine down is collected from the base of the leaves, valued for staunching wounds and straining liquids. In Bengal the juice is fermented for toddy, and is used for yeast and yields a sugar of grey colour. A more common and more valuable palm is the Gomuti, Jaggery, Kabong, Areng or Aju, known to Europeans as the Sugar-palm and to botanists as Arenga saccharifera. It is a magnificent tree, with close long pinnse on the leaves, less stiff and regular than the Cocoa- nut Palm. There is more than one species of Areng extending to nearly 3,000 feet above the sea level, but the Sugar-palm loves low moist situations, and is quite content with the poorest soil. It vies with the Cocoa-nut Tree in utility. In Java it is common on the road-sides in the mountains, but not so common anywhere as it ought to be. It produces valuable supplies of sugar, fibre, spirit and sago, but the sugar is the great production. This is yielded by the male spadix (in Malay Mayam), but not before the tree has attained its seventh year, and even then male spadices are rare or absent; but if absent the tree is abundantly rich in sago. The Mayams, both male and female, have a handsome appearance as they hang down in clusters or strings of rich-looking buds. Curious things are related of them, such as, that each new sprout- 48 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, ing of Mayam is lower and lower, and till the last comes forth at the root of the tree and it then dies. Generally two male spadices come forth at a time and they yield juice from three to five months, and, ere they cease, their places are supplied by fresh ones. When the flower opens the spadix is cut at the base, and tubes of seasoned or smoked bamboo (from which the upper phragmata are removed, making a long vessel), are applied. As they fill the juice is poured into earthen jars, and evaporated in iron pans over a fire until nothing bat grain-sugar remains. If toddy be wanted, the spadix is tied at the base and beaten with a small stick for two or three days in succession, and the juice collected in the usual way. It is left in jars until fermented^ in which state mostly it is taken by the natives. In the Philip- pines it is consumed largely and I believe to intoxication. I have seen the natives lying about in a stupid state of inebriation from its use, especially the old men. It has a flavour which suggests beer, viaegar and malt, while there is a general aroma recalling the smell of a brewery and mouldy wood. A powerful spirit is distilled from it, largely used by the Chinese in Malaysia, and to some extent abused also. Dr. de Vry, a Dutch naturalist from Batavia, strongly recom- mends the employment of Arenga for the sole production of sugar ; as he says the tree takes nothing from the soil, while beet and cane utterly exhaust it. He calculates that three quarters of an acre planted with Gomuti should yield annually 2,400 kilo- grammes of sugar in a soil quite unfit for any other culture. I am not aware of the number of trees or their distance apart in the supposed area. The Jaggery also produces sago ; in fact no other tree is the source of it in Java ; but it is dark in colour, of poor quality and small in quantity in proportion to the yield of other palms. In Sunda it is the only sago ofi"ered in the markets ; but in eastern Java other kinds are imported. The enumeration of the useful qualities of this Palm-tree is not yet finished. The stem of young trees is wrapped round in the leaf- sheaths, the sides of which aflbrd a black fibre like horse-hair, to BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 49 the extent of about three-quarters of a pound to each leaf. This falls away of itself and is easily collected without injury to the tree. Some is coarse like elephants' bristles, and some so fine as to be good for stuffing beds ; but the greater part is like horse-hair, making a beautiful rope. It bears a greater strain than coir, and loses less weight than coir, hemp or Manila hemp, as it requires no preparation for manufacture, and water has no efi'ect upon it. It would be superior to every other kind of fibre for ropes, were it not that it is not sufficiently elastic for anything but standing- rigging, cables and such-like purposes. I conclude this summary of the value of Gomuti with the words of Dr. Roxburgh : "I cannot avoid recommending to every one who possesses land in India, particularly such as is low and near the coasts, to extend the cultivation of this useful and elegant palm, as much as possible. The wine itself and the sugar it yields, the black fibres for cordages and cables, and the pith for sago, independent of many other uses, are objects of very great importance. From observations made in the Botanic Gardens at Calcutta, well-grown thriving trees produce about six leaves annually, and each leaf yields from eight to 16 ounces of the clean fibre. They are in blossom all the year; one lately cut down yielded about 150 lbs. of good sago meal." Sago Palm. — In 1475, Marco Polo wrote as follows : — "And I will tell you another great marvel ; they have a kind of tree that produces fiour, and excellent flour it is for food. These trees are very tall and thick, but have a very thin bark, and inside this bark they are crammed with flour." Tliis is the first accurate description of the Sagus Uevis, Reinw., by that most accurate and painstaking of travellers. Twenty feet is about the average height, and the tree is generally surrounded by numerous young plants. The stem is very thick with annular leaf-scars on the upper part. The leaves are like those of the Cocoa-nut but grow more erect ; they are pinnate, unarmed ; leaflets linear, acute, carinate and smooth. This tree is not matured till it is about seven to 20 years old ; the fructification then appears and it soon 4 50 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, after decays and dies. The inflorescence is terminal ; several spadices rise from the summit of the stem, enveloped in sheaths at their joints, and are alternately branched. The flowers and fruit, generally five to eight inches long, are produced on these branches. They are brown, closely imbricated with broad scariose scales, within which is a quantity of ferruginous flocculent fibre or waddinsf, in which the minute flowers are embedded and com- pletely concealed. Each scale supports two flowers which are hermaphrodite, and scarce larger than a grain of turnip-seed. In habit and character this tree differs much from all palms, and its propagation by radical shoots like the Banana is not observed in any other species. The terminal blossoms and the death of the tree after fructification are other peculiarities. The fruits are retroversely imbricated like the rattans or Calamus. In its young stages the stem is covered with sharp thorns, no doubt to protect the tender tree from destruction, as they fall off subsequently. It grows best in muddy marshes, and will not do well anywhere else. The sago must be gathered before the fruit forms, as then the stem consists of a thin wall enclosing a v/ide mass of pith. This is the flour which requires other preparation before it becomes an article of export. The natives call it Sagu. It is eaten with palm-sugar and forms a dish called Santan, very luscious and nourishing with cocoa-nut milk (the juice of the nut expressed with water, not the contained fluid), but probably too sweet for European palates. The flour is also baked in biscuits which keep well. The fruits of the tree are eaten and easily preserved, 30 baskets being no uncommon harvest for one tree, and a basket giving ample nourishment to a small family for a week. Neither fruit nor sago is much used by the natives except in Celebes, and the Philippines and Moluccas. It would be useless to enter into detail on the mode of pre- paration, which is described by so many authors. At present the product gives rise to industries in many parts of the Indian Archipelago, particularly Malacca, Sumatra, certain parts of Perak, Selangore, Borneo, &c. In Singapore there is an exten- sive trade in sago, whence it is exported after being bleached and BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 51 pearled for the European market. When I was in Borneo there had been a great advance made in the sago trade^ through the influence of the North Borneo Company, owing to the efforts of the Government of Sarawak, and arrangements between Labuan and the Sultan of Brunei. At the latter city I met with a few Euro- peans who were trading with certain Chinese merchants and manu- facturers in Brunei for sago. I visited one Chinese establishment where there was rather a small plant for bleaching and pearling, and I heard of others ; but owing to the unsettled state of affairs, and the war between the Sultan of Brunei and the Kadyans, there was a general exodus of Europeans from the kingdom. Crawfurd states that by far the best and fullest account of the culture and manufacture of sago is given by Mr. Logan in Vol. III. of the '' Journal of the Indian Archipelago f but readers will do well also to consult Simmonds' " Tropical Agriculture " (London, 1877), and Spon's " Encyclopaedia of Manufactures and Raw Materials " (London, 1882) for an account of the cultivation. The following quotation from Logan deserves insertion : — " When a plantation has once arrived at maturity there will be a constant harvest, because the natural mode of growth secures a continued succession of new plants from the time those first planted have begun to extend their roots, and this succession can be regulated by the knife in any manner the planter desires. The Sago Tree, when cut down and the top severed from it, is a cylinder about 20 inches in diameter, and from 15 to 20 feet in height. Assuming 20 inches as the diameter, and 15 feet as the height of trees, the contents will be nearly 26 bushels, and allow- ing one half for woody fibre, there will remain 13 bushels of starch, which agrees very closely with our previous calculation of 700 pounds for each tree, or 12 J bushels. It may give some idea of the enormous rate of this produce if it be considered that three trees yield more nutritive matter than an acre of wheat; and six trees more than an acre of potatoes. An acre of sago, if cut down at one harvest, will yield 5220 bushels, or as much as 163 acres of wheat, so that according as we allow 7 or 15 years for 52 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, the growth of a tree, an acre of sago is equal in annual produce to 23 or 10 acres of wheat.'' ("Journal of the Indian Archi- pelago,'' Til., p. 312). The manufacture of pearl sago by the Chinese is described fully in the works already cited. Though Sagus Icevis or aS'. koenigii is the species most used for the production of the farina, there are probably three or four species and a number of varieties known to the Malays. There is what is called a bastard sago, derived from the Toddy Palm {Caryota urens), a native of the mountains of India and Ceylon. Another sago is made from a distant relation of the palm family in Japan (Cycas revoluta). There is also an extensive trade in Brazilian sago, derived from Copernicia cerifera. Cycas circinnalis yields sago in Malabar and Cochin China. A few words more about some well-known species in Malaysia must conclude the references to the palms. Certain species frequent certain altitudes. In an expedition to Gunong Bubu I met with three palms clothing the mountain side, almost to the exclusion of any others up to about 3,500 feet. For the first 2,000 feet we had the usual mountain species of Arenga, Areca or Betel, and Ptychosperma^ with occasionally the less common genera of the plains. At 2,000 feet or so we began to meet with abund- ance of Pinanga, or Ptychosperma, with which genus it has been united. The large pinnse were especially useful for roofing our temporary huts. They are unarmed, often arboreous palms or shrubs, somecimes with creeping stems. There are several species such as Pinang boreng of Malacca, and Kurdu at Penang. Many persons think that this particular species produces those formidable palm-tree bludgeons which are known in the Straits Settlements as "Penang lawyers ;" but it cannot be the Pinang boreng which is Areca (Pinanga) onalayana (Mart. Palmse, p. 184, pi. 158, fig. 3, and Griffith, " Palms of Brit. E. India," p. 152, pi. 230). It is an elegant palm eight to twelve feet high, with a distinctly annulate stem scarcely an inch in diameter, and a crown of five to eight spreading leaves with stalks a foot and a-half long, while the BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 53 alternate linear pinnules are one and a-half to two feet long ; upper pinnules cuneate and deeply bipartite. Above this region of Pinanga is the Bertam Palm, a stemless species, growing in thick tufts which are surrounded by the withering fragments of old leaves. This is the Eugeissona triste (Griffith, p. 110, pi. 220, A. B. C.) The leaves are numerous, the outer ones spreading, and fifteen or twenty feet in length. The stalks throughout the lower seven or ten feet are roundish, armed with brown, fiat ascending thorns ; but between the pinnules they are triangular and unarmed ; the pinnules long and narrow, 25 or 30 inches in length. This is one of the most useful of palm-trees and in its industrial application it divides the honours with Nipa fruticans. Most of the partitions of houses are made of it, and often the walls ; while the leaves with the pinnules plaited over one another make a very eSective roofing. It is common everywhere in the Straits Settlements, and adds much to the impenetrability of the vegetation. The Bertam con- tinued up to about 3,000 feet and then we had nothing but Licuala. These were very handsome trees even though they are almost stemless, but as the leaves are fan-shaped or sometimes circular the appearance is very elegant. The natives call them generally by the name of " Plass," but most of the species occur on the lower grounds in wet places. Here, however, I met with them on dry slopes, altogether above the usual region of palms, and this was quite a discovery. The leaves were circular and peltate, and I have little doubt that this was Licuala peltata, a species peculiar to the woody mountainous country of the Hima- layas below Darjeling. I never saw it anywhere except on this mountain, nor below a height of 3,000 feet ; but I must add that my experience of mountain ranges was somewhat limited in the Malay Peninsula. Griffith says that this is the largest and finest species of the genus, and not likely to be confounded with any other. Its large peltate orbicular leaves, simple, large pendulous spikes, and comparatively very large fiowers will at once distinguish it. In its leaves it resembles Z. longipes, but that is an almost stemless palm, while this, though a low species, has a stout stem 54 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, three or four feet high, marked below with leaf-scars, but above the base of the petiole is persistent. It is used as an umbrella or parasol, and is called on that account the Chattah pat, chattah being an umbrella in Assam. The demand for them is great ; scarcely a single ploughman, cow-keeper, or coolee but carries a sunshade made from this tree in Assam ; but in Malaysia it is not so used. Licuala acutifida, or, in Malay the Kat-plass {Plass tisTcu), appears to be the plant supplying the " Penang lawyers," It is a small miniature palm, the trunk being only from three to five feet high, though specimens may be obtained 15 or 20 feet in height and about two inches in diameter at the base, marked with incomplete rings to which fragments of the leaf stalks adhere. Some think that the best of " Penang lawyers " are those which are stoutest and most bludgeon-like ; but this is not the case, because of the way in which they are prepared. Nearly the whole of the outer layer is removed almost to the pith by scraping and polishing. They thus become brittle and easily decayed. The thinner sticks are much more valuable and are more rare. Scraping and straightening over a fire is the only preparation these sticks appear to be subjected to. The species is not common and has a restricted habitat, though probably not entirely confined to the neighbourhood of Penang or the province of Wellesley. On the borders of paddy-swamps throughout the Peninsula there is a very elegant palm 30 or 40 feet high, annulate, and each ring beset with spines with a dense and graceful foliage. This is the Nibong Palm of the Malays, or Areca tigillaria, not to be confounded with Nibong Paday, or A. horrida, common on the cliffs of the sea-shore a little to the north of Kundur, near Malacca. The first species mentioned is much in request for door-posts. Nibong tubal is the name of a somewhat large village (tubal, thick) in the province Wellesley. Orania macrocladus, tbe Daun daun or Ebul of the Malays, is a handsome palm about 40 feet in height resembling a Cocoa-nut BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 55 tree. It is common in the forests at Ching, near Malacca, and met occasionally in the Peninsula and in Singapore Island. Caryota urens, or the toddy-palm, is met with in situations which •suggest former cultivation, besides C. soholifera, C. ohtusa, and C. cumingii. I am not aware that the natives make any use of these trees. Ptychosperma singaporensis, a species which closely resembles the common palm found on the north and east coast of Australia down to lat. 34° south, is frequently met with in the Peninsula, in fact is the most abundant of indigenous palms. Another species, C. coccinea, is rather rare. Cyrtostachys rendah is one of the ornamental palms in the jungle of the Peninsula. The Malay name is Malam waren. It has a beautiful red hue, and though not ever assuming the proportions of a tree, its pinnate fronds are disposed in such a way as to render it very elegant and graceful. When in Labuan, Borneo, I saw this species growing apparently wild in the jungle close to Government House. CuPULiFER.E, Amentace^, OR C0RYLACE.E. — Chestnuts and Gaks form a considerable portion of the indigenous flora of the mountain forests, extending at least up to 3000 feet. The species are numerous, and probably many are undescribed. The Oaks differ from the European species. The acorns are mostly depressed, round and oval, so as to form almost a disk an inch or two across, and the cup is either covered with imbricated scales or overlapping lines of the involucre forming a series of rings. A figure of one of these is given at the end of the chapter. I am not aware that any of the species are valued amongst the Malays on account of the timber they yield. The species of Castania or Chestnuts are nearly as numerous as the Oaks, if not quite as many. They have been divided into two genera by some authors, namely, Castania and Castanopsis. The distinction is derived from the ovary and the involucre. In Castanopsis it is 3-locular> and the spinous involucre altogether encloses the fruit, finally splitting open irregularly. In Castania the ovary is 6-locular, and the thorny involucre includes one or two nuts, and opens 56 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, regularly into two or four valves. Gastanopsis includes all the species found in the oriental region, 24 being enumerated between India, China, and Malaysia ; in fact there is only one other. According to Bentham and Hooker there are but two species of Gastania, one of which is the well-known edible Chestnut. No true Gastania therefore exists in the Malay Peninsula. Gastanopsis argentea occurs as high as 6,000 to 7,000 feet in Burmah. The timber is valued to some extent, especially in Java, and the fruit is used in the same manner as the Euro- pean Chestnut. Sanienten appears to be the Malay name, and Tangogo in Sunda. In Tagalo and Visayan Oaks are called Olayan, Hayopag, Macabingao, Mangasariqui, Cacana, Palayen. The Gastanopsis in Tagalo is Talacatac and Tacatac. There are but two or three species of Gastania in the Philippines, and the Oaks are somewhat more numerous, but they do not occupy so important a position in these islands as they do in Malaysia. Nearly all the fruits of the Chestnuts of the forest are used as articles of food, in Java and Sumatra especially, but they are not cultivated. Creeping or Climbing Plants. — The vines of the jungle form so large a portion of the vegetation that to enumerate even a fair percentage would far exceed the limits of this essay. Only a few of the leading genera can be mentioned, for the climbing shrubs range through every natural order, not even excepting the Cryptogams. Lygodium scandens has already been mentioned. Freycinetia is a common climbing Screw-pine, Galamus a climbing Palm, and Vanilla a climbing Orchid ; and as for the climbing Aroids they are innumerable. This will serve as a specimen for the endogens. As for the exogenous climbers only a very few can be named. Several species of Gocculus and Anamirta are common. The latter is the source of the bean Gocculus indicus, used in beer to increase its stupefying qualities and as a fish- poison. Gocculus glaucescens is another common species, the fruit of which is eaten readily by the natives and is said to be agreeable and refreshing. Naravelia zeylanica is an inconspicuous climbing BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 57 plant of the order Ranunculace^, with star-like yellow flowers, distiiigiiished from Clematis by the presence of petals. It extends through all the Eastern Archipelago. Delima or Tetracera sar- mentosa is universally met with, belonging to the order of D1LLENIACE.E, already referred to as used by cabinet-makers as a substitute for sand-paper ; besides several fir-trees. Tinospora crispa a,nd Cissampelos paraira Sive two other climbers belonging to the MENisPERMACEiE. The first yields the Galuncha drug to the natives of the Indian Peninsula, who attribute to it many medicinal virtues ; the second produces the Portuguese remedy known as Pareira-Brava. Fihraurea tinctoria, another member of the order, called Akar by the Malays, is common, yielding a dye from its root. Schizandra marmorata (MAGNOLiACEiE) is a some- what rare climber with red, yellowish, or white flowers : an infusion of the roots is used for dysentery or colic. The climbing Leguminosse are very numerous. The large pods of Entada scafidens, which contain beans made into match-boxes both in the Straits Settlements and in Australia, are common. The appearance in the jungle of the skeleton pods is very peculiar, as the sutures of the coriaceous pod remain upon the tree after the seeds have fallen away, looking like a miniature ladder. It is widely diflused over tropical Asia, Africa, and the West Indies, the seeds being carried by ocean currents without losing their power of germination. Derris scandens and D. uliginosa are tall woody climbers distinguishable by the sutures of the flat pod being bordered by a narrow wing, with white or yellowish axillary racemes of flowers. Both species, wide-spread through- out the Archipelago, are used as fish-poisons. Canavalia ohtusi- folia has the stems more frequently prostrate and trailing than twining, with white or slightly pink flowers and winged pods, but distinguished from Derris by having pinnate leaves with five or more leaflets, and a divided reputation either as an esculent or a virulent poison. C. ensiformis can certainly be used as an escu- lent, as the leaves, pods, and unripe fruits are cooked by the Malays with rice and eaten. Among the Caesalpinese three or 58 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, four if not 'more species of Bauhinia are commonly met with. B. tomentosa affords a remedy for dysentery, while the seeds afford the medicine named the Downy Mountain Ebony Oil. The Passiflorace^ are well represented by climbers in the jungle including Passiflora foitida, as well as Modecca ohtusa with its large scarlet capsule, which is common and brilliant. Cucujrbi- TACE^ will be easily recognized by their gourd-like frnits, including the Gourd itself {Lagenaria vulgaris), which grows wild in the jungle as it does in North Australia. It is not very palatable, but still the natives use it as food, and uncooked the pulp is taken as a purgative. Most botanical works state that it is poisonous, but this is incorrect. Momordica ialsami?ia is widely spread, and is conspicuous from its long fusiform bright yellow fruits, which bursting disclose the seeds enveloped in a brilliantly red pulp. True Yines of the natural order AMPELiDEiE are especially common, including Vitis elegans, V, hooheri, V. gracilis, V. semi- sagittifolia, V. irifolia, V. lanceolaria, F. capriolata. They all have fruits, and some, large bunches of a very enticing-looking grape, but generally astringent and nauseating. Pcederia fcetida and P. tomentosa are common, the former with its fetid odour being unmis- takable. Three species of Willoughheia, {TV. firma, martahanica and flavescens) represent the scandent Dog-banes, with very large apple-like fruits, said to be good eating ; but the order is a suspi- cious one. Ichnocarpus frutescens is another of its members. Passing from the Dog-banes to the Asclepiade^ we find a larger allied order more extensively represented, including as common members of it, Streptocaulon lanmii, Tylophora tenuis, Gymnema syringifolium, and the Royrn or Wax-plants {H. pratense, H. impe- rialis, H. lacunosa and P^. carnosa) distinguished by their fleshy wax-like leaves and clusters of beautiful fragrant flowers. These plants prefer to grow like Orchids on rocky outcrops. The LoGAN- lACE^ are also represented by climbing Fagrcm, notably F. auricu- lata, a fragrant sjDecies with cream-coloured flowers fully five inches across. Strijchnos colubrina is a climber everywhere BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 59 abundant, with poisonous qualities which seem to be well-known to the Malays. The CoNVOLVULACE^ are amongst the principal adornments of the jungle, from Ipomcea hona-nox with its large white salver- shaped flowers to I. quamodit with small brilliantly carmine blossoms and leaves with minute pinnae. There are also represen- tatives of the order all through the jungle, of which I. pes-tigridis is the most common ; it is found everywhere, with its five-lobed palmate leaves and funnel-shaped purplish flowers, twisted together so as to form ropes which strangle many a fine young tree. The species (a variety) is equally common in Hong Kong. The BiGN^ONiACE^ are not well represented in the Malayan flora ; but observers will be sure to notice Bignonia ungua which is common everywhere. Almost as common is Grewia umhellata, a tiliaceous climber of which there are others in the jungle. Sexa- centris mysorensis is an ornamental climber of the order Acan- THACEiE. It has dentate leaves and many-flowered axillary racemes of handsome blossoms. A Smilcix or two, which the Malays call Pina-pina, contribute their tendrils and binders to the tangled intricacies of the Malayan thickets. Finally two Aroids are noticeable by the way they grow up the stems of trees and clasp them with the tenacity of the ivy of Europe. One is Pothos loureiri, a smooth climber with the leaves usually arranged longi- tudinally in two rows on the opposite sides of the stalks. The leaves moreover have the blades fixed by a joint to the stalk, and the stalk itself is spread out like a leaf. The species is in Australia, the Philippines and south China, as well as Malaysia. The other Aroid is Rhaphidophora pinnata^ which climbs on trees, rooting in the lower part of them ; but the leaves are deeply lobed, often three feet long and one broad, the segments being narrow and curved, with more or less incurved points. This species is called by Europeans the Climbing Fern, and is found in Australia as well as in the South Pacific Inlands. Parasites or Epiphytes. — Plants growing on others and deriving nourishment from their sap, or plants which grow on the '60 ON THE VEGETATION OP MALAYSIA, surface of others without deriving anything from them, are extremely common in this region, especially if we include the Fig- trees. 5ut even exclusive of the Figs, the Mistletoes and similar plants, such as Viscuni, Ginalloa and Anginalloa, are abundant in the jungle. The species of Viscum or true Mistletoe which are found in the Indian Archipelago belong to the leafless group, and these, like those of Mauritius and Australia, V. compressum and V, ramosissimum are common with Loranthus tetragonus, L. formosus and over twenty other species on different trees. This exceed- ingly difiicult genus has its species so closely resembling one another, and so many varieties that they require great experience to distinguish them, especially where they are so numerous. Orchide^. — There is no department of the vegetable kingdom that attracts so much attention in Malaysia as this natural order. They are interesting in their habit ; they grow so easily, requiring little attention, and can be put almost anywhere, and they often produce flowers pre-eminent in their form, colour, and fragrance, that nearly every one collects them amongst the European resi- dents. They hang them in their verandahs or amongst their flower-pots, and are often rewarded by seeing the fairest blossoms open from what look like dry and shrivelled stems and roots. Scarcely a bungalow in the European quarters but contains a goodly show of these odd plants, though they are not ornamental unless when in flower. Yet it may be questioned whether there are many who make these collections who have the most elemen- tary knowledge about the nature of the plants. They would flnd it extremely difficult to give a definition of what an Orchid is. Most amateurs believe that their epiphytic character is a dis- tinctive mark belonging to the order. This is not a matter of surprise in Malaysia, where ground Orchids are rare, and nearly all the species are epiphytal, or grow on stones. The fibrous roots in bundles which clasp the stems of the trees to which they grow, or which hang loosely in the air, or are fleshy tubers and filled with granules of bassorin (a soluble gum like tragacanth), are marks distinct enough in the eyes of amateurs BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON- WOODS. 61 in Malaysia to denote an Orchid. The irregular flowers, how- ever, demand a word of explanation. They differ from the plan which prevails in the vegetable kingdom, and their organs are arranged on a uniform plan of their own. This consists of three sepals, between which are three petals, the two lateral ones similar, and like the dorsal sepal, so called because it is placed at the back of the flower. The third petal is the largest, and differs in shape and hawS various appendages. Instead of having a style and stamens like other flowers there is a body in the centre called the column. The pollen is in wedge-shaped masses, two or more in number, detached, or adhering by a stem. The stigmas are confluent, in a hollow mucous disk. The ovary has one cell opening eventually into six dry woody valves with horizontal cells, three of which contain minute seeds in a loose netted skin. The special peculiarities of the order are : — (I) the union of the stamens and style into the column ; (2) the suppression of all the anthers but one (except in Cypripeiium) ; (3) the peculiar condition of the pollen ; (4) the development of one of the petals into a large and peculiar form. Orchids are divided into seven tribes thus : — three with pollen masses, namely, (1) MALAXiDEiE, with no stem or caudicle to the pollen masses which are immediately applied on the stigmata ; anther hanging down like a lid, usually deciduous (two, four, or rarely eight) ; (2) Epidendre^, pollen masses with caudicle, but no separable stigmatic gland ; (3) Vande^, pollen masses in two pairs on a single or double caudicle attached to a gland. Four tribes have powdery or granular pollen, namely, (1) Ophre^, anther terminal, erect ; (2) Arethuse^, anther terminal, lid-like ; (3) Neotte^, anther dorsal ; (4) CvpRiPEDEiE, anthers two. Orchids are tropical in this sense that they are more numerous in tropical regions than elsewhere. The Malaxide^e prevail principally in the Indian continent and Malaysia, being less numerous in tropical America and the islands of South Africa. They extend likewise to Australia and the Pacific Islands, but are completely absent from the Mediterranean, extra-tropical €2 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, America, and the Cape of Good Hope. They have a large number of genera, the most notable of which are Denchohmm (a very large genus generally belonging to Malaysia, the majority with purple or yellow flowers, some remarkably showy and some of delightful fragrance) ; Dendrocldlum (a small Malaysian genus on branches or trunks of trees, with bulb-like roots and a single shiny leaf and long spikes of small white and yellow flowers, some like lilies of the valley and very graceful) ; Aporum (flowers small and of no great beauty) ; Bolhoinhyllum (a large genus of small size on trees or rambling on the ground amongst mosses, with one leaf, a kind of bulb with small fleshy deeply-coloured flowers, in dense spikes occasionally) ; Girrlioidetalum (another genus with solitary leaves and pseudo-bulbs, with the lateral sepals of the flowers prolonged into narrow streamers, hence the name) ; and Eria (likewise a large genus with flowers sometimes remarkable for their fragrance, but not of great beauty. It takes its name from the Greek "epiov, wool, because many species have the flowers clothed with white down). The Epidendre^ are epiphytes rarely having fleshy roots, con- spicuous for large coloured membranaceous flowers, with a great lip curved in like a hood, bearing fringes on its veins, and a broad column. Pholidota with pseudo-bulbs or fleshy jointed rhizomes ; Spatltoglottis a native of Malacca, China, India and the Philip- pines, with a few pretty species of yellow and crimson ; Phaius with large and showy flowers, spread over tropical and sub- tropical Asia. P. grandifolius is found in Australia, and even New South Wales, as well as Malaysia. Generally speaking the EPiDENDREiE are tropical American. The tribe Vande^ are pretty equally divided between the tropics of America and of the old world, and very rare elsewhere. Amongst the most ornamental are Euloplda with a handsome crest in elevated ridges on the labellum, and Vanda (the Sanskrit name of the original species of this genus) with deliciously fragrant as well as beautiful flowers. There are about a dozen, if not more, Malaysian species in cultivation. Renanthera so-called from the BY THE REV, J. E. TENISON-WOODS. kidney shape of the pollen masses. R.coccinea, probably indigenous, but at any rate cultivated in Singapore (from Cochin China), is a splendid plant ; the loose lateral panicles of flowers have the sepals of a pale blotched scarlet, and the petals and labellum a brilliant yellow and scarlet. Saccolahium is beautiful and interesting; some species will produce from 30 to 100 spikes of flowers every season. There are eight or ten highly ornamental kinds in Malaysia. Sarcanthus is equally prolific and quite as showy. (Eceoclacles has probably one or two fine plants undescribed in the Peninsula. Angrcecum is an African genus the name of which is Angurek amongst the Malays. The species are very ornamental. Aca7ithoph{ppium has pseudo-bulbs instead of tubers with rich flowers produced near the base of the shoots. One very fine crimson rose species is cultivated from Java. Calanthe the name of which (beautiful flowered) tells its character, has many species in Java, Japan and the Straits Settlements, all especially attractive. Phalcenopsis (from cfiaXaiva a moth) so called from a fancied resemblance to a butterfly, is a beautiful plant, commonly called the Indian Butterfly Orchis. The flowers are large and either white or yellowish, produced on an erect spike ; tliere are also pink and purple species, only a few of which have been described. Borneo is said to be especially rich in species. The OPHREiE are rare in the tropics, and also the tribe Are- THUSE^ ; though Vanilla is a genus which has been introduced and is sometimes seen in the jungle. The Neotte^ grow principally in extra-tropical Asia and Australia, except one genus Anoectochilus, a terrestrial orchid with creeping slender jointed rhizomes and spikes of white or yellow blossoms and radical leaves. Some are traversed by glistening silver or golden veins on a rich green or purplish ground. An allied genus (^Physurus) has its leaves similarly veined ; the commonest species is P. jjictus. Cyprip}edium is a remarkably handsome genus, constantly met in cultivation. They are not confined to the tropics ; but are particularly well represented in Malaysia. ^^^ ,', -'-^■v^ ^ i -».•-•. <^ . giganteum, rose ; Philippines. B. miserum^ white ; Philippines. B. mutahile, rose ; Java. B. nudum, pale purple ; Java. B. picium, crimson ; Borneo. B. latifoUum, pale rose and yellow ; Singapore, var. with green flowers at Manila. B. planihulbe, purple and white; Luzon. B. plicatile, yellow and red ; Luzon. B. revolutum, straw-coloured ; Singapore. B. rho^nheiim, pale yellow ; Luzon. B. rigidum, colour ? ; Java. B. rucheri, yellow ; Philippines. B. rugoBum, pale yellow ; Java. B. salaccense, yellow ; Java. B. scopa, whitish ; Philippines. B. secundum, rose purple ; Malacca. B. pallidum, pale purple ; Sumatra. B. taurinum, yellow and purple ; Philippines. B. teres, white and orange ; Singapore. B. undu- litum, flowers in long spikes, yellow and brown ; common amid mangroves, Malaysia to Australia. B. ' aginatum, straw-coloured and purple ; Singapore. B. veitchianum, yellow, white, and crimson ; Java. B. %ollingerianum, Java and Singapore ; var. album, Singapore. Dendrochilum abhreviattmi, green and white ; Java. B. Jiliforme, green and yellow ; Luzon. D. glumaceum, pale green ; Manila. B. latifolium, green ; Manila. B. lungifolium, greenish- white ; Singapore. Aporum indivisum, colour 1 ; Java. A. leonis, red-brown ; Singapore. A. sinuatum, yellow ; Singapore. A. sarcostomum, colour 1 ; Malacca. Bolhophyllum adenopetalum, yellow ; Singapore. B. heccari, white ; Borneo. B. calamarium, yellow ; Singapore. B. limbatum, purple ; Singapore. B. lobhii, yellow-brown ; Java. B. pileatum, yellow ; Singapore. B. purpureum, purple ; Java. B. sp., yellow ; common in Malay Peninsula. B. vaginatumy brown ; Singapore. Girrhopetalum antenniferum, brown ; Philippines. C auratwn, yellow and crimson; Manila. C. blumei, yellow and red; Java. C. candelabrum, straw-coloured and purple ; Manila. C. capitatum 5 66 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, yellow and orange ; Java. G. cotnpressum, purple and yellow ; Java. C. cumingii, ruby-coloured ; Philippines. C. elongatum, red and yellow ; Java. C. maxillare^ brown and yellow ; Philip- pines. C. medusm, pink spotted ; Singapore ; Borneo. C. nutans, pale straw-coloured ; Manila. G. pahudii, colour ? ; Java. G. stramineum ; Sumatra. G. thouarsii, colour ? ; Java. G. vagi natum, pale yellow ; Singapore. Besides other undescribed species in cultivation. Eria armeniaca, orange ; Philippines. E. hractescens, stone colour ; Singapore. E. cochleata, white and crimson ; Luzon. E. convalarioides, white; Keddah. E. denticulata, white; Singa- pore. E. dillwynii, white ; Philippines. E. flava, yellow ; Java. E. fusGQ-Hride, brown and green ; Singapore. E. lencostachys, white ; Borneo. E. mucronata, white and pink ; Singapore. E. multiflora, white ; Malacca. E. nutans, white and yellow ; Singa- pore. E. obesa, white ; Singapore. ' E. ovata, crimson and white ; Singapore. E. pannea, green and yellow ; Singapore. E. polgura, white ; Manila. E. stellata, yellowish ; Java. E. velutma, yellow ; Singapore. E. vestita, red-brown ; Malacca. Goelogyne: — Pseudo-bulbous Orchids with flowers large and membranaceous, pollen masses four in number, waxy, united by a granular substance ; stigma deeply hollowed out, two-lipped. G. asperata, Lindley, India ( = G. lowii, Paxton), white ; Borneo. G. cinnamonea, brown ; Java. G. corrugata, yellowish ; Perak. G. cmmngn, white, crimson, and yellow ; Singapore. G. longifotia, colour *? ; Mount Salak, Malacca. G. pandurata, green and black ; Borneo. G. plantaginea, pale yellow; Singapore. C. speciosa, brown ; Java. C. tedacea, brown ; Singapore. C. trinervis, white and yellow ; Singapore. Pholid'Aa clypeata, green and yellow ; Borneo. P. conchoidea yellow ; Luzon. P, imbricata, yellowish ; Malay Peninsula. Spathoglottis aurea, yellow; Malacca. S. plicata, colour 1 ; Singa- pore. S. tomentosa, crimson ; Mindanao, Philippines. Gymbidium aloifolium, purple and yellow; Malaysia. G. atro- purpureum, dark purple and yellow ; Borneo. G. brevilabre, green, BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 67 red and yellow ; Singapore. G. puhescens, purple and yellow ; Singapore. C. mnguineum, red ; Java. Arundina densa, rose and violet ; Singapore. A. speciosa, colour ? ; Java. Collabium nebulosum, dark purple and yellow ; Java. Plocoglottis acuminata, colour ? ; Singapore. P. javanica^ colour ? ; Perak ; Johore. Phaius callosus, brown and white ; Java. P. grandifoUus, brown, red, white ; Perak ; Selangore. Thrixspermum unguieulaf urn, rose pink; Luzon, Philippines. Plant like Phalcanopsis rosea ; flowers much inferior, often imposed upon purchasers for Phalcenopsis. Eulophia macrostachya, yellow and green; Singapore. E. squalida pale green ; Manila. Vanda hatemanni, crimson and yellow; Moluccas. V. fuscovi- oides, brown; Java. V. gigantea, white, Perak. V. hooTceri, colour ? ; Labuan, Borneo ; Kinta, Perak. V. helvola, red ; Java. V. insignis, lilac and brown ; Java. V. lamellosa, pale yellow ; Luzon. V. limlata, brown and lilac ; Java. V. lissochilus, colour ? ; Luzon. V. suaviS) white and purple ; Java. V. tricolor, yellow and rose ; Java. V. vinlacea, white and violet ; Luzon. Renanthera arachnites, brown and purple ; Java and Singapore. R. lowii { Vanda, Lindley) yellow and brown ; Borneo. R. matu- tina, brownish ; Java. Saccolabium lifidum, pink and yellow ; Luzon. S. hlumei, violet and white ; Malaysia and Philippines. S. compressum, crimson and white ; Luzon. S. densifolium, rose ; Manila. S. harrisonii, colour?; Timor. S. hendersonianum, colour 1; Malaysia. S.macro- stachyum, rose ; Philippines. aS'. miniatmn, vermilion ; Java. iS. pallidum, pink ; Manila. Bromheadiafinlaysonianum, colour ^ ; Singapore. B. palustris, white; Singapore. "' ""^^v,^^^ :1 68 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, Sarcanthus croceus, yellow; Luzon. ♦S'. teretifolmis, colour?. Singapore. (Eceoclades falcata, white ; Malaysia. JErides huttoni, white ; Borneo. This genus is named from aer the air, because the plants possess the power of living almost entirely upon matter which they absorb from the atmosphere. The flowers usually are very fragrant and amongst the largest orchids known. jE. tceniale, growing on branches, has long flat roots hanj^ing down like the joints of a tape- worm ; hence the name. JE. quinquevidnerum, pink, with five red blotches on each flower, which the Spaniards in the Philippines likened to the wounds of our Lord ; it is cultivated in Singapore. ^E suaveolens, colour 1 ; Java. jE. suavissimum, white, lilac, orange ; JSIalacca. jE. virens, purple and white ; Java. uE. superbfwi, purple and white. Thelasis capitafa, Bl., colour?; Java. T. carinata, Bl., colour 1; Java. Acantho2)hippium javanicum, crimson, rose ; Java. Calanthe abbreviata, colour ? ; Java. C. migustifolia, colour 1 ; Java ; Gunong Hijau, Perak. C. curcuJigoides, orange ; Malacca. C. emarginata, violet and orange ; Java. G. furcata, white ; Luzon. C. parviflora, colour ? ; Java. C. pidclira^ orange ; Java. C. speciosa, orange ; Java, C. veifchii, purple and rose ; Borneo. C. veratrifolia, white ; Java. C. vestita, white and crimson; Perak; Malacca; Singapore; Borneo. Grammatophyllum fastnosum, brown and yellow ; Malacca. G. Tnultiflorum, green and brown ; Luzon. G. scriptum, colour 1 ; Amboyna. G. speciosum, yellow and purple ; plant ten feet high ; flower-stem six feet long ; flowers six inches across ; called the Queen of Orchids ; Java. G. tigrinum, brown-spotted ; Luzon. Leoptardanthus scandens, colour ? ; Java ; Singapore. Phalmnopsis amabilis, white and yellow ; Manila ; Borneo. P. grandiflora, white and yellow; Java; Borneo. P. cornucervi. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 69 colour *? ; Java and Malay Peninsula. P. lowii, pink and white ; Malay Peninsula. P. luddemanniana, colour % ; Philippines. P. rosea, pink and white ; Luzon. P. schilleriana, purple ; Philip- pines. P. sumatrana, colour?; Sumatra. P. violacea, violet; Kinta, Perak. Goodyera procera, cinnamon ; Singapore. G, ruhicunda^ cinnamon ; Malaysia. Anmctochilus dawsonianus, colour 1 ; Malacca. A. lowii, colour?; Borneo. A. setaceus ; Ceylon; Malaysia. A. xantho- 2)hyllus ; Gunong Pulai, Johore. (All inconspicuous flowers). Cypripedium harbatum, rose and brown ; Malacca ; Penang ; Keddah. C. concolor, yellowish ; Perak. C. hirtisshnwni, purple and brown; Java. C. hookeri, purple and yellow ; Java. C. Iawrencianu7n, colour 1 ; Borneo. C. lotvii, green, purple, and yellow ; Borneo, C. i^urpuratibm, purple ; Hongkong. C. stonei, purple ; Borneo. Physurus sp. ; Perak. Water Plants, — Reference has already been made to Nelum- bium speciosum, and the lotus {NympJicea) which are seen in all still waters. In other respects the ponds and running streams are infested with the usual water plants. Thus the aquatic dicotyledons principally belong to the HALORAGEiE, with some representatives amongst the Onagrarie^, Lentibularirie^, &c. A common floating or creeping herb with alternate oval leaves and yellowish flowers is seen in all swamps and brooks. This is Jiissieua repens common in most tropical countries including Australia, as far south even as Victoria and South Australia. There are curious floats of cellular tissue attached to the sub- merged nodes of the stems. The HALORAGEiE are a nearly allied order including the Water-chestnuts ( Trapa), important food-plants in north-west India and China, the Mill-foils {Myriopliylluni), the Horn- worts {Ceratophylkim), and the Mare's-tail (^Hippuris), with that universally difiused small smooth water-weed or star-wort 70 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, seen equally in the ditches of Britain, America, Australia and Malaysia. This is Callitriche verna, worth more than a passing examination for its curious fruits and monoecious flowers. It is doubtful whether Myriophyllum occurs in Malaysia ; if it does, M. indicum, Willd.,is the species. The Trapa can be recognised by the seeds, but the lower leaves are finely multifid like Myriophyllum^ while the upper or floating ones are deltoid, smooth and disposed in a rosulate manner. The white kernel inside the hardened calyx- lobes tastes like a chestnut and is nourishing. It is largely used in France, Italy, India, Thibet, China and Japan. The Japanese use the roots also, though the taste is not agreeable. In ffijypuris the flower is reduced to a calyx of the smallest size, no petals and but one stamen and one carpel. The stem is curiously formed of cellular tissue radiating from the centre with large air-cavities between. The centre is a cylinder of fine woody tubes, cellular tissue and spiral vessels, which led Prof. Link to regard them as endogens. The LENTiBULARiEiE are represented by probably half-a- dozen species of Utricularia, the commonest of which are U. stellaris, TJ. exoleta^ U. bifida and U. reticulata. In all these the stems are floating with the leaves submerged, divided into capillary segments with minute bladders attached, hence the vernacular name Bladder- worts. Several small Indian species, growing on the ground, are leafless at the time of flowering. H. reticulata, a species with large purple flowers, is common in rice-fields. It is variable in its habit and the size of its flowers. The larger forms of it are twining ; the smaller rigid and erect. Of endogenous water-plants there is of course the Duck-weed (Lemna oligorrhiza) a rather larger species than that of Europe. Fotamogeton tenuicaulis with a few linear submerged leaves takes the place of the British P. natajis. The Malaysian Frog-bit is Enhalis Iccenigii with linear leaves and edible fruits found in fresh and brackish waters. Its fibres are capable of being woven.* * On the authority of Lindley (Veg. King. p. 141), who quotes Agardh, Aphorism! Botanioi, a reference which I am unable to verify. I know of no economical purpose to which the fibre is applied in the East, but I may add my own observation that the plant is rich m fibre of a fine and tenacious quality. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 71 Pistia stratiotes is found in all the freshwater streams and lakes of Malaysia and the Philippines, covering the surface with plants that look like small lettuces. It floats in rafts bound together bv runners, with roots hanging free in the water or touching the muddy bottom. It is very acrid, but in the Philippines is boiled and used as food for pigs. Blyxa roxhurghii is a submerged herb with long, grass-like, acute and entire leaves, without laminae, tufted, with the flowering peduncles at the bottom of the water. This is spread in the fresh waters of tropical Asia along with Yallisneria spiralis from which it differs in the shape of the leaf and flower. Another submerged herb, but with the radical leaves and peduncles in tufts together on the muddy bottom, and with the leaves bearing a broad lamina, is Ottelia alismoidts, a species found in every stagnant pool throughout Malaysia and the East Indies. Hydrilla verticillata is also common and widely dis- persed in still and running waters, not only in the tropics, but the temj)erate regions of Europe and Asia. The stems are leafy throughout, with short verticillate leaves ; it is much branched and floats under the water in large masses, where it has proved fatal to many a swimmer. Finally Monochoria vaginalis is an aquatic herb common in the rice-fields and ditches, with radical, petiolate, cordate leaves, and racemes (apparently springing from the side of a petiole) of several rather large bright blue flowers. It is employed in Indian pharmacy in liver complaints and stomach diseases. Rubbed down in butter and eaten, it is thought to remove redness of the eyes ; powdered and mixed with sugar it is administered in asthma ; and when chewed is said to relieve toothache ; brayed with milk it is given in fever ; and finally, when young is eaten as a vegetal >le. It is very abundant in ditches around Thaiping, Perak. The other members of the pond- weed families including the Grass-wrack, the Eel-grass, Duck- weed, Water-plantain, Cat-tails, Arrow-heads and Flowering-rushes, have nothing special about them. Azolla rubra is a common minute aquatic cryptogam which completely covers the surface of the water with a purplish-green crust. 72 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, Grinum asiaticum, a bulbous plant with large mostly white flowers in a terminal umbel, is seen on the water-sides of most tropical streams, and by the sea-side in Asia, Africa and Australia. The same may be said of an equally showy plant closely resembling it, named Eurycles amhoinensis. Both belong to the order Amaryllide^. Though the cryptogams will be dealt with subsequently, mention may here be made of an aquatic fern, Ceratopteris thalictroidesy with distinct sterile and fertile fronds. The genus is limited to the single species which is widely distributed over the tropical regions of the whole world. The spores of this species are inter- esting to the microscopist as they are marked with curious concentric rings. Ataccia cristata is a peculiar-looking plant in the jungle, of which a separate order, the Taccaceje, has been made. The flowers are arranged in umbels at the end of a scape of green and dark purple, with numerous long filaments of sterile pedicels. In the South Seas a kindred plant is cultivated for the starch of the root. The root is red, round, and about three inches in diameter, bitter and acrid, but losing some of this by culture. The raw root is peeled, rasped and washed frequently, when a starch is separated and again washed until the water has no longer an acrid taste. The bitter juice is probably violently poisonous. The meal makes a tasteful, nourishing, gelatinous bread, consisting principally of bassorin. The starch consists of circular or poly- hedral particles with few and not very distinct rings. In Banda it is preferred to sago bread, and generally in the Moluccas is used for cakes and confectionery. The name Tacca is said to be derived from the Malay language, while Royle* says that it is the Tacca-youy of some navigators. The tubers are eaten in China, Cochin China and Travancore. The leaf -stalks and scape, as well as the roots, are boiled for a long time to destroy the aciidity, but even then some vegetable acid is required to make it palatable. * *' Illustrations of the Botany of the Himalayan Mountains," p. 378. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 73 The Malay plant is not the same as a Tacca similarly used in the Pacific Islands, of which Mr. Nuttal"^ has pointed out the differences. Ellis in his " Polynesian Researches "f says that the " Pia or Arrowroot, Chailia Tacca, grows on the high sandy banks near the sea or on the sides of the lower mountains." The starch is obtained by rasping with a board on which coai'se coir twine is wound. The pulp is washed with sea-water and strained, the sediment formed into balls, dried in the sun for 12 or 24 hours, then broken and reduced to powder, which is left in the sun to dry. This detail is given as one of many points of contact, domestic as well as linguistic, between the Malay and Polynesian races. Cryptogams. — In such a moist and warm climate, with dense shady forests, ferns, mosses, lichens and fungi must be abundant. Every rock and every foot of forest ground, the dead timber especially, and the roots and stems of the tall trees are, so to speak, muffled and enshrouded with this kind of vegetation. It is marvellous sometimes to see how deeply the ground is covered with this growth. To step aside off the narrow beaten tracks into the tangled thicket of branches and dead wood causes one frequently to disappear into as much as five, ten, and even fifteen feet of a mass of ferns, mosses, vines, rattans and decaying vege- tation. Or when one attempts to peer through the almost vaulted roof of branches with which the forest glades are so thickly covered, one sees a rich and varied aerial growth which quite impedes any extensive view. Bird's-nest Ferns (Asplenium nidus) and Stag's- horn Ferns [Platy cerium hiforme) beautifully ornament the lofty branches of the stateliest trees, causing an astounding mass of vegetation to hang as it were in mid-air. The Bird's-nest Fern standing out like a feathered coronet, the Stag's-horn dependent as u, graceful fringe, while the giant Polypody {Folypodium * "American Journal of Pharmacy," IX. p. 306. t "Polynesian Researches during a residence of nearly eight years in the Society and Sandwich Islands." By the Rev. William Ellis, L, p. 361 (4 vols. 12mo. London, 1839). 74 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, sends stout and tall fronds eight and ten feet into the air.. The large species moreover of tree-ferns, and such giants as Angiopteris evecta, vie with the Palm-trees in the spread of their graceful fronds, while the epiphytes of the smaller kind make hoar J tufts and clothing for almost every tree. The little Drymoglossum piluselloides is seen on every tree, outside the forest as well as in it, and many other minute forms, particularly Polypodium, Niphoholus and Vittaria. I do not propose to enter into any detail about the genera and species which is obviously beyond the scope of this essay, but I give a list from the " Journal of Botany "* of the ferns found in Perak by Father Scortechini and myself and described by Colonel Beddome, which I may say includes nearly all that is known up to the present time of the cryptogamic flora, f * Jouru. of Botany, Nov. 1887, XXV. p. 321, pi. 278. I I take this opportunity of explaining a circumstance under which the ferns described by Colonel Beddome were collected. I arrived in Perak in November, 1883, having previously travelled through Java, part of Sumatra and much of the Malay Peninsula. In all these journeys I had made extensive collections of plants, some of which I exchanged with Mr. Nicholas Cantley, the Government Botanist, Singapore. Father Scortechini arrived in Perak on March 1st, 1884, and we explored and collected together for about six months, under the auspices of the Perak Govern- ment and at its expense. The Rev. Mr. Scortechini devoted himself exclusively to botany, and so on his arrival I handed ov^er to him all my collections of plants from the Straits Settlements and elsewhere, with the understanding that I was to get a complete set of the ferns from his collections before he went to Kew. The melancholy and unexpected death of the rev. gentleman at Calcutta prevented this arrangement being carried out, and I mention it only for the purpose of stating that I am the authority for many of the habitats given in the ensuing list. They may have been found subsequently in other places by Father Scortechini, but I give the habitats that I know. Perhaps it may be permitted to me here to add the inestimable loss science has sustained by the premature death of so learned, painstaking, and experienced a botanist. Personally amiable, generous, and self-sacrificing, he was an invaluable companion to me in my explorations. He was indeed an instance of the avdpconou travra KaXcos ttoulv, whose loss was equally great to friendship and to fame. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON- WOODS. 75" A LIST OF THE FERNS OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. The species marked * have not been previously recorded from the Peninsula. Gleichenia dicarpa, Br., var. vulcanica, Bl., on all the roadsides and throughout the jungles of the Malay Peninsula and Indian Archipelago. "^G. Jlagellaris, Spr., very common on roadsides near Singapore. G. norrisii, Mett., Salama River, Perak, near Malacca. G. dichotoma, Willd., very wide-spread and common, extending to Australia. Cyathea brunonis, Wall, mountain ranges to 3,000 feet. "^Alsojohila obscura, Scort., not common, but T believe this species was found in the interior beyond the Kinta River, Perak ; A. glabra, Hook., Maxwell's Hill, Perak ; A. lafebrosa, Hook., all through the Peninsula occasionally; A. latebrosa, var. with very broad segments, Arang Para ? ; A. glauca, J. Sm., in the gullies on the lower slopes of Gunong Bubu ; A. kingi, Clarke ; A. Gommutata, Mett. ; *A. trichodesma, Scort., this specimen was, I believe, found on the Upper Salama River, on the Keddah side of the shore ; its nearest ally is A. andersoni, Scott, Sikkim. Matonia pectinata, Br. This plant is stated by Wallace to be found only on the summit of Mount Ophir, which he also believed to be the highest mountain in the Malay Peninsula, this being the general impression at the time of his visit (1861. See Wallace, " Malay Peninsula," p. 31). Found also on the upper slopes of Gunong Bubu when first explored, and then generally at a height of about 4,000 feet throughout the Peninsula. It occurs also in Java. *Dicksonia barometz, Link., in the deepest mountain gullies hroughout Perak ; D. (Dennstoedtia) ampla^ Baker. Lecanopteris carnosa, Bl. 76 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, Hymenophyllutn folyanthos^ Sw., var. hlumeanum, Spr., Arang Para on stems of tree-ferns ; H. javanicmn, Spr., var. hadium^ Hooker and Greville ; H. javanicum, Spr. ; II. smithii, Hook. ; H. neesii, Hook. ; ^11. aculeaturn, Y. d. B. ^ TricJiomanes neilgheriense^ Bedd., not uncommon in northern Perak ; T. parvulmn, Poir., this wide-spread species is common everywhere ; T. ]yyxidiferum^ another very common species widely spread over all tropical regions ; T. digitatum, Sw, ; T. imllidum, Bl. ; T. hij)U7ictatum, Poir. ; T. auriculatum, Bl. ; T. javanicum^ Bl. ; T. rigidum, Sw., very common and widely spread ; T. onaximum, Bl. ; T. j^luina^ Hk., on the summit of Grunong Bubu above 5,000 feet. Davallia (Humata) heteroj^hylla, Sm. ; D. angustata, Wall. ; D. ijedata^ Wall., common in Perak and widely spread ; D. (Prosaptia) emersoni, Pres. ; D. configua, Sw. ; D. ( Leucostegia) puldira, Dru. ; D. hymenophylloides, Bl. ; D. nodosa, Presl. ; D. solida, Sw. ; D. elegans, Sw. ; D. epiphylla, Bl. ; D. divaricata, Bl. ; D. griffithiana, Hk. ; D. hullata. Wall. ; D. (Microlejnaj 2?innata, Cav. ; *i>. moluccana, Bl. ; D. sp>eluncce, Baker, very common and widely spread ; D. (Stenoloma) tenuifolia, Sw. Lindsaya cultrata^ Sw. ; L. rejyens, Thw., the jungle, Arang Para ; L. scandens, Hk. ', L. orhiculata, Lam. ; *L. horneensis, Hk. ; L. lancea, L. ; L. rigida, J. Sm. ; L. divergens, Wall. ; L. lanuginosa, Wall. ; L. lobata, Poir. Pteris longifolia, L., on rocks and trees everywhere in the jungle, Malay Peninsula ; P. cretica, L., equally common with preceding, on buildings, rocks, &c., Malaysia generally ; P. semi- 2nnnata, L. ; P. ^^rt^eris. Hook. ; P. quadriaurita, Wall., the white variegated variety, jungle, Perak River ; Kuala Kangsa : P. aquilina, L., waste sterile savannahs, Malaysia generally ; P. aquilina, var. esctdenta, Forst., waste sterile savannahs as above ; P. (Doryopteris) ludens, Wall. ; P. (Litobrochia) incisa, Thunb., Maxwell's Hill, Thaiping, Perak, about 3,000 feet ; P. marginata, Bory. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 77 Ceratopteris thalictroides, Brong., Salama Kiver, Perak Kiver, and common in all Malayan streams. Lomaria ( Plagiogyria ) pycnophylla, Kze., Arang Para on lower slopes. Blechnum orientale, L., common in all Malayan jungles ; B. findlaysonianurn, Wall. As2)lenium (Tharmiopteris) nidus. L., on trees in all Malayan forests f A. scortechinii, Bedd., Caulfield's Hill, Maxwell's Hill, above 3000 feet. The following Asp^lenia are generally diffused through the mountain ranges : — A. amboinense, Willd. ; ^A. squa7nulatum, Bl. ; A. normale, Don ; A. subaveniuni, Hk. ; A. longissimum, Bl. ; A. tenerum, Forst. ; * A. borneense, Hook. ; A. hirtum, Kaulf. ; A. falcatuin, Lam. ; A. macroiyhylhim, Sw. ; A. caudatum, Forst.; A. cuneatum, Lam.; A. nitidum, Sw. ; A. belanyeri, Kze. ; A. ( Anisogonium) cordifoliwni, Mett. ; A. lineo- laf,um, Mett. ; A. esculentum, Presl. Diplazium subserratum, Bl.; D. j^orrectum. Wall.; D. pallidwni, Bl., D. bantamense^ Bl. ; D. sylvaticum, Presl. ; B. tomeydosum, Hk. ; D. sioeciosum, Mett. ; D. sorzogonense, Presl. ; i>. asjoerum^ Bl. ; D. p)oly2)odioides, Mett. Didymochlcena lunulata, Desv,, in all the jungles on the mountain sides up to 3,000 feet ; D. polycarpa^ Baker. Aspidium (Polystichum) auriculatum, L., var. marginatum, Wall. ; do. var. coespitosum. Wall. ; A. aculeatum, Sw., var. biaristatum, BL, occasionally met with in the undergrowth in all Malaysia ; A. (Pleocnemia) leuzeanum, Hook. ; A. menibranaceuni. Hook. ; A. singaporianum. Wall., occasionally met with through the whole Peninsula; A. melanocaulon, Bl., fragment only ; A. vastum, Bl. ; A. subtrijjhyllutn, Wall. ; '^A. pachyphyllum, Kze. ; A. variolosiom, Wall. ; A. cicutarium, Sw. 1 Nephrodium(Lastrea) gracilescenSjBl. ; *do. var. glanduligera, Kze. ; N. calcaratum, Bl., var. sericea, J. Sm. ; ]\\ crassi/olium. 78 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, Bl. ; do. var. motthyanum, Hk. ; N. syrmaticmn, Hk. ; "^i^^. dayi^ Bedd. ; N. filix-mas, Rich., var. elongata, Hook. ; N. sparsa, Don ; N. hlumei, Hook. ; N. horymium, Baker ; N. unitum, L. , *iV^. eniinens, Baker; N. j)ennigerum, BL, var. ; N. molle, Desv., extremely common everywhere in Malaysia ; N. crinipes, Hk. * NepJirolepis excdtata^ L. ; N. volubilis, J. Sm. ; JV. hiserrata^ Schott; *#. acuminata, Hout. Oleandra neriiformis, Cav. ; 0. Tnibscefolia, Kze. Polypodium (Phegopteris) punctatum, Thunb. ; *P. laser pitii- folium^ Scort. ; P. (Dictyopteris) difforme, Bl. ; P. subevenosum, Baker ; *P. hirtellum, Bl. ; "^P. cornigerum^ Baker ; P. cucul- latum, Nees ; *P. triangidare, Scort., on the very highest summits of the mountain ranges about Thaiping, where it grows in tufts on withered branches of stunted trees ; P. khasyanurrij Hook. ; P. Juscatum, Bl. ; P. decorum, Brack. ; P. ohliquatum, Bl. ; P. subfalcatum, Bl. ; *P. papillosum, Bl. ; "^P. tenuisectum, Bl. Goniophlebium subaurictdatum, Bl. ; G. verrucosum, Wall, ; ^G. korthalsii, Mett. Nipliobolus adnascens, Sw. ; jN'. acrostichoides, Forst. ; N. stigmosum, Sw. ; N. nummulari/olium, Mett. ; iV. fissum, Bl. ; N. penangianum, Hk. Pleo2?eltis accedens, Bl, ; P. tvrayi, Baker ; P. stenopliyllwm, Bl. ; P. longifolium, Mett., on rocks 3,000 feet ; P. angustatum, Sw. ; P. stijwrficiale, Bl. ; do. var. ; P. sinuosum, Wall. ; *P. riqyestre, Bl. ; *P. platyphyllum, Sw, ; P. irioides, Lam., near mangrove swamps in all Malaysia ; P. tnuso'folium, Bl. ; P. sp. near membranaceum, but with the rachis shining black ; P. hastatum, Thunb. ; P. incurvatum, Bl. ; P. phytnatodes, L., near sea coast, Malaysia ; P. nigrescens, Bl. ; P. longissimum, Bl. ; P. palmatum, Bl. Dijiteris horsfieldii, R. Br., generally above 3,000 feet, but at Singapore extending to sea-level ; D. bifurcaHim, Baker. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 79 "^Drynaria heradeum, Kze., above 3,000 feet, Maxwell's Hill, Perak ; D. linncei, Bory ; D. rigidulum, Sw. * Monogy^amtne paradoxa, F^e. Gymnogramme ( Stegnogramme) aspidioides, Hk., var. ; G. Jraxinea, Don ; G. wallichii, Hk. ; G. alis'incEfolia, Hk. ; G. lanceolata, Hk. ; G. involuta, Hook ; G. /eei, Hk. ; "^G. hamil- toniana, Hk. Menisciuni triphyllum, Sw. ; M. salicifolium, Wall. ; M. cuspidatum, Bl. Antrophyu7n nanum, Fee ; A. reticulatum, Kaulf., Maxwell's Hill, on granite rocks below bungalow, rare ; A. semicostatum, Bl. ; A. lati/oluim, Bl. Vittaria elongata^ Sw., Maxwell's Hill, on dead logs above bungalow ; V. falcata, Kze., open forests at all elevations, on trees; *F. sulcata, Kuhn, as above, but not common; V. lineata, Sw., throughout Malaysia ; V. scolopendrina^ Presl., as above. Tcenitis blechnoides, Sw., Arang Para. Drymoglossum piloselloides, Presl., everywhere in Malaysia. A small epiphyte on the stems of trees ; leaves of two forms ; the sterile, elliptical ; the fertile, contracted, linear. Acrostichwm {Elaphoglossutm) conforme, Sw. ; A. {Stenochlcena) palustre, 1j. ; A. sorbi/olium, Jj. ; A. (Polybotrya) appendiculatum, Willd. ; A. (Gyinnopteris) minus, Mett. ; A. spicatum, L. ; A. contaminans, Wall. ; A. variabile, Hk. ; A. sub7^epandum, Hook. ; A. aureum, L., in all mangrove swamps, where its fronds attain 10 to 12 feet; the young leaves are subject to great variation in colour, being often of a brilliant red, the older leaves coriaceous and shining green, contrasting well with the rich brown sori of the back : A. ( Photinopiteris ) rigidum, Wall., common everywhere on the lower grounds ; A. drynarioides, Hook,, as above. Platyceriuin biforme, Bl. ; on trees at lower levels. 80 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, Schizma malaccana, Baker ; S. dichotoma, Sw., this fern some- times takes the place of grass on savannahs, Perak ; *S. digitatay Sw. Lygodium dicliotomum, Sw,, widely spread in all jungles ; L. flexuosum, Sw., particularly abundant in open marshy plains about Thai ping, Perak ; L. microjyhyllum, Br., as above and Singapore. Angiopteris evecta, Hoffm., not very common. ^Kaulfussia cesculi/olia, Bl. I have seen this only in one place, on rocks, Maxwell's Hill, above 2,000 feet. Ophioglossum reticulatum^ L., moist, shady jungles near Kuala Kangsa ; 0. pendulum, L., as above. Helminthostachys zeylanica, Hk., on the sea coast. Cultivated Plants. — The cultivated plants in every country include many which do not belong to the indigenous flora ; in fact, when we trace the origin of most of the useful fruits, flowers, and other vegetable products, it is astonishing how widely diverse are the sources from which they come. There is not an extensive list in Malaysia in comparison with other countries. Neverthe- less it is of sufficient length to render necessary some condensation in this essay. For convenience I shall consider — (1) the fruits ; (2) vegetables ; (3) plants useful in manufactures, with some remarks on the ornamental trees and shrubs. Fruits — In Malay Buah. — Several common tropical fruits need not be more than named here, such as the Sweet Sop, Sour Sop, Bullock's Heart, and Custard Apple, which are, though the fact has been disputed, undoubtedly of American origin. The local names, besides Cherimolia or Chirimoya, are applied so as to cause confusion ; but generally the Sweet Sop and Sugar Apple is applied to Anona squamosa, L. ; Sour Sop, A. muricata, L. ; Bullock's Heart, A. reticulata, L. ; and Chirimoya, A. cherimolia, Lam. The first two are not much cultivated, though the Sour Sop is used for ices, for which it is much esteemed, particularly BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 81 in Java. The Custard Apple is called Seri kaya. Bullock's Heart is well cultivated in the gardens round Malacca, and there it is obtained at its best. In Java it is a very poor worthless fruit. Oranges and Lemons, that is, all the different varieties of Citrons, Lemons, Oranges, Shaddocks, &c., are well represented in the Malay Peninsula, though the climate is not favourable to the majority of the species. China is generally regarded as the indigenous home of the orange tribe, for which the Malay language has, however, many names, probably indicating an ancient culti- vation. The following are quoted : — Limau-manis, L. kusturi, L. jamboa, L. japun, L. nipis, L. susu, L. asam (lemon, lime), L. jeruk (citron), Malay, Sundanese, and Javanese. In Borneo, in the wild countries of the Dusuns, near Gaya, T obtained very good oranges and lemons. Probably the orange most consumed in Malaysia is the Shaddock, or Pompelmouse (French), Linau gadang in Malay, Citrus decumana, Willd., the Poor Man's Orange of Europeans, or Pomeloe (from the Dutch Pompelmoes). It is said that the best of these come from Amoy in China ; but they are equalled, if not surpassed, by those produced in Labuan, Borneo. For this the colony owes a debt to Sir Hugh Low, who was for over 20 years a resident on that island. During this time he gave unceasing care to the introduction and cultivation of tropical fruits. His garden and indeed every cultivated plot in the island give evidence of his skill and care. The large extent of the gardens round Gov^ernment House might be likened to those of the Hesperides in the season of this magnificent fruit. It is of the richest kind and with a flavour of the finest quality. The original country of the fruit is not known, but the number of varieties in Malaysia indicates an ancient cultivation. Roxburgh says, " that the species was brought to Calcutta from Java" (Roxburgh, "Flora Indica," edit. 1832, III., p. 393), and Rumphius (" Hortus amboinensis," II. p. 98) believed it to be a native of southern China. Neither he nor modern botanists saw it wild in the Malay Archipelago (Miquel, " Flora Indo-Batava," 82 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, I. pt. 2, p. 526). In China the species has a simple name, Yu ; but its written character (Bretschneider, " Study and Value," etc.), appears too complicated for a truly indigenous plant. According to Loureiro the tree is common in China and Cochin-China, but this does not imply that it is wild (Loureiro, " Fl. Cochin," II. p. 572), For another species of the genus he says that it is cultivated and non-cultivated (p. 569). " It is in the islands to the east of the Malay Archipelago that the clearest indications of a wild existence are found " (De CandoUe, " Origin of Cultivated Plants," p. 178). The rind of this species is much esteemed for bitters. It is said that Shaddock was the name of the captain who introduced the fruit to the West Indies. Pimpelnose is another name in English, and Pompoleon one in French. Some Malays for an unknown reason call this the Bali Lemon (Jeruk Bali, also Majang). In Javanese it is Limau kasumba. Other Malay names are Jeruk dalima, J. jamblang, J. gedogan. In Tagalo (Philippines), Dalandan, Dayap, and Kalamondin; Kahil, Yisayan, besides Limon generally. Lemon susu is Citrus medica, L., probably indigenous to the Malay Peninsula, or at any rate introduced in ancient times into Java, Amboyna, and the Peninsula.* The orange in all Malaysia is much inferior to the varieties cultivated in southern Europe ; not the only instance of naturalised fruits becoming much superior to the best productions in their native country. * In Filet's "Plantkundig Woordenboek voor Nederl. Indie," and in Bisschop Grevelink's " Planten van Nederl. Indie, bruckbaar voor handel, nijverheid en geneeskunde" (Amsterdam 1883), a great number of Malay terms are given for different species of Aurantiace^ ; but the references are too lengthy for quotation here. Filet gives a list of .35 names, but some of them are Sundanese and Javanese. The Dutch orthography makes them appear as if differing more from the common Malay terms than they are in pronunciation. Thus, jeruk, which according to these authorities is the common Malay term for these fruits generally, is spelled djeroek or djeroh, for the final k in Java is not sounded as in Perak Malay. The Philippine list of names might be much extended. The name jeruk is found in all the languages west of Celebes, as well as the Portus;uese word limau. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 83 The other members of the orange family in Malaysia deserving of some notice are, first, Murraya exotica, L. (Malay, Kamiming japan), which is found all over south Asia, Java, Timor, and the Moluccas ; valued for its white fragrant flowers and small succu- lent fruits. The tree, however, and another species, M. sumatrana, E-oxb., are valued on account of the wood, though seldom growing high, and the stems rarely exceeding a diameter of eight inches. The wood is pale yellow, grained with black, in quality much resembling box, and even finer, with a closer fibre, excellent for turners' work. The best grows in Menado, Celebes. Malays attach great value to this wood to make scabbards and orna- mental boxes. Cookia punctata is another member of the orange family, the fruit of which is much esteemed. It is a small orange, growing in bunches, extensively used in preserves by the Chinese, who call it Wampee. It is the Wilde-lansen of Yalentyn, and Kibecha puti of the Malays, or Ki-bejek-bodas of the Sundanese. Feronia elephantum, Corr., the Elephant Tree of India has a fruit about the size of an apple, when ripe green outside and yellow within, one-celled, with numerous seeds immersed in a fleshy edible pulp contained in a hard rough woody rind. The pulp is valued for preserves, besides being esteemed for its medicinal qualities. Altogether the tree is very useful. Lac is obtained from it, and it yields a gum like Gum Arabic. The yellowish wood, though rather coarsely fibrous and said not to be durable, is heavy, close-grained and hard, and takes a fine polish. The leaves smell like anise. From the unripe fruit a sour liquor named Kujak is made, used as a sambal with curries. The Bael-fruit or jEgle marmelos, Corr., (Maja Malay, Mojo Javanese, the Slijm-appel-boom of the Dutch) has a world-wide reputation as a remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea. It is a tree from 30 to 40 feet high, much cultivated on account of the many medicinal qualities attributed to the fruit. It is thorny and leaf- shedding, with thick, greyish, smooth bark, and rather large, white, poor flowers ; fruit woody, varied in shape, smooth, with 84 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, 10-15 cells each containing 6-10 oblong woolly seeds embedded in a tenacious shiny yellowish pulp, very agreeable in flavour and fragrant. It is supposed to be indigenous in India, on the slopes of the Himalayas up to 3,500 feet. The wild fruit is said to be small, hard and devoid of fragrance. It is the unripe or half ripe fruit which is the efficacious remedy in dysentery and all cases of irritation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and bowels. It may be useful to give the prescription. " The unripe fruit is cut into small slices and dried, and in this state is used in the form of decoction, prepared with two ounces of the dried fiuit and a pint of water. The mixture is to be gently simmered down to one-fourth, and of this the dose must depend on thp attendant circumstances of the case. In bad cases of diarrhoea and dysentery three tablespoonsful are to be taken every two or three hours ; in milder cases the like quantity three or four times a day ; and in mild cases of irritation two or three times a day will be sufficient." (Pereira, " Materia Medica." Yol. IL, pt. 2, p. 549.) Sir VV. Jones observes of it that " it is nutritious, warm, cathartic ; in taste delicious, in fragrance exquisite ; its aperient and detersive quality, and its efficacy in removing habitual costiveness, have been proved by constant experience."* A sort of sherbet is prepared from it with tamarind juice, beneficial in fevers and inflammatory affections attended with thirst. A jelly and a preserve are made of the ripe fruit with sugar, and are used in cases of habitual costiveness and irritation of the stomach. The glutinous mucus surrounding the seeds is used by painters as a size and varnish, and, according to Royle, is an excellent addition to uiortar, especially in well-digging. - Triphasia trifoliata DC, (Javanese Jeroh kingkit) a low-sized tree with small oblong red fruits and very fragrant flowers ; said to be wild in various places in Malaysia, but is far better known as an ornamental shrub in the gardens about Penang. The Durian so widely known and so much the subject of animadversion from Europeans on account of its odour, may be * Quoted by Ainslie in his "Materia Indicse," II. p. 189. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 85 called the fruit of Malaysia. It is said that all attempts to cultivate it in India or tropical America have failed. It is most abundant in Java, Sumatra, the Peninsula and Siam, where it is mostly in cultivation, though said to occur in a wild state ; ex- tending to the Sulu Archipelago, but not further into the Philippines (though Crawiurd says the contrary). It is rather curious to trace the different opinions about the offensive odour which, like all the Sterculiads, is emitted from the rind of the fruit. Rumphius and Valentyn state that in their time it was forbidden by law in the Moluccas to throw them near any public path. In the " Histoire des Voyages," copied by Lamarck in his Encyclopaedia, it is said that the Durian diffuses an excellent odour, but the taste is rather unpleasant being that of fried onions. It is needless to state that the Malays are passionately fond of it, and most Europeans also, after a time. There are at least three varieties, in one of which the aril surrounding the nut is hard and leathery. There is, however, a great difference in the flavour in the same varieties, some being luscious and agreeable, while others are harsh and almost acrid with a large admixture of the odour with the flavour. Only a Malay knows how to choose a good Durian. A preserve or comfiture is made from the pulp which I have tasted but once, and then the flavour of garlic seemed disagreeably predominant. The Amygdalace^ and Rosacea do not flourish in Malaysia. European fruits cannot be successfully cultivated ; but in Java, on the higher slopes and rich volcanic soils of the mountains almost everything can be produced. Thus very good Peaches, Almonds, Cherries, Cherry-laurels and Plums, with Strawberries and Raspberries, have rewarded the toil of the acclimatisers at Pantaran, Buitenzorg, and perhaps the Tengger mountain. The careful Dutch husbandry at Buitenzorg, with the advantages possessed by the Acclimatisation Society's garden, must soon place Java in possession of the fruits and flowers of every country of the world, whether tropical or temperate. The MYRTACEiE produce perhaps a larger number of indigenous and introduced fruits in Malaysia than any other order, the 86 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, principal of wliicli only can be enumerated. Bceckia frutescens, L. (Ujang atap and U. ratab, Malay) extends from Hong Kong and south China over the Philippines and Malaysia. It is a glabrous, heath-like shrub, with twiggy branches, minute linear subulate leaves, and small axillary solitary flowers. The Malays use this plant for many purposes, but more medicinally than as an escu- lent. It is considered an insecticide. " Castae Battanae virgines tanquam medicamento abortivo utuntur^^ (Junghuhn). The Eugenicn or Kose-apples, four in number {Jamhosa domes- tical Rumph., J. alba, Rumph., J. aqucea, Rumph., and X vulgaris^ DC, named respectively by the Malays Jambu-bol, J. puti or merah and J. ayer-mawer), are fruits well known throughout Malay- sia, but little esteemed, for they have scarcely any flavour or juice : the flowers, however, are handsome. Forty-three species are enumerated by Filet, so it is one of the best represented genera in the region. Syzygiutn jambolanum or Juat of Sunda, and Buali- jamblang, Malay; Malaruat, Tagalo; Lumboi, Tagalo and Visayan, is another small tasteless fruit much resembling an olive in appear- ance. It grows extensively in the western groups of the Philip- pines, and is the only food of the natives when excessive rains and storms drive them to the mountains. Twenty other species are enumerated by Filet. Three species of Pimenta or Allspices ( Pimenta vidgaris, Lind., P. officinalis, Lind., and P. «cr«s, Wight) may be mentioned. Though occupying a doubtful position as fruits, they are valuable cultivated plants in all Malaysia. The Guava {Psidium guayava^ L., Jambu biji or utan, Malay) is too well known to require particularising. It must have been intro- duced from South America into Malaysia very soon after the entry of Europeans into these countries, for it has become per- fectly naturalised. Three species or varieties are enumerated by Rumphius, and therefore are of ancient cultivation. Rhodomyrtus tonientosa, DC. (Harendong, Malay) is abundant and widely spread over southern India, Ceylon, Malaysia and northwards to China and Japan ; but probably in the latter an escape from cultivation. The berries are eaten and much used as a preserve, having an agreeable flavour. It has already been referred to for the beauty I BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 87 of its flowers, Soneratia acida, L., previously described as the "Willow-tree" of Malaysian rivers, bears a sour fruit used in making curries and chutnee, and called Brambang by the Malays, Punica granatum, L., or the Pomegranate (Dalima,the red-flowered D. berrem with double flowers, D. susu with white flowers) will conclude this enumeration of Myrtle fruits. Terminalia catajjpa, L., a large tree called by the Malays Katapang, is found on the sea-coast in all Malaysia. It is named by Europeans the Indian Almond, but the utterly insigaificant kernel certainly renders it unworthy of the name of a fruit ; nevertheless it is extensively cultivated for the shade given by its large leaves, and its ornamental character. Grewia ojypositi/olia yields an edible berry hardly worthy of mention, and several other species of different orders having small fruits consumed by the natives are omitted. Zizyphus jujuha, Lamarck, is cultivated everywhere. The fruit is sometimes like an unripe cherry, sometimes like an olive. Burmah and British India seem to be its original abode. The Malays call it Bidara, but in Java the name is Doroh. Latterly another, quite a different tree, is sometimes called the Jujube. This is Muntingia calabtcra, L., a tiliaceous tree from tropical America recently introduced into Malaysia, and already abundant about Manila. Morus indica, L., (Malay, Babesarem), the Indian Mur?erry, is cultivated in Java, Celebes^ and Amboyna for the sake of its fruit ; and for silkworms in Java, in the Lampongs and Bencoolen. Four species of the Cactus order, viz., Opuntia cochinillifera, Mill. ; 0. polyantha, Haw. ; 0. tomentosa, S. Dyck ; and 0. dillenii, Haw., have been introduced into Java for the sake of cochineal culture, and bid fair to become naturalised. Strange to say the Malays of Java call this fruit Juli badak or the Rhinoceros' Ear. The fruits are eaten. Water-Melons and Rock-Melons in many varieties are of course found in cultivation throughout Malaysia. The Malays 88 ON THE VEGETATION OP MALAYSIA, call them Batteka, Mandiki, and Seraangka. The Musk Melon is distinguished as Semangka belanda. Though long thought to be indigenous to southern Asia, the fruit is now generally- admitted to be of African origin. Cucumis trigonus, Roxb., is a coQimon wild species in Asia, extending to Australia. The only- absolute difference between it and the wild Melon is that the former has a perennial root, while the Melon is strictly an annual. Most probably all the species are only forms of C. melo, and therefore the exclusively African origin of the plant cannot be maintained ; for if the Asiatic species may have been an ancient escape from cultivation, this cannot be the case with the Aus- tralian ones, which have been found wild in the interior by the first explorers, from New South Wales right round to north- western Australia. Carica papaya^ the Papaw tree or Kattosh of the Malays, is found in the whole of Malaysia. The Gulf of Mexico or the West Indies is supposed to be .the original habitat ; but it is so widely spread in Malaysia that it must have been in cultivation shortly after the advent of Europeans to these regions. The property attributed to the milky juice of rendering meat tender has been much exaggerated, though probably having some foundation in fact. The fruits in Malaysia are small ; they are cooked unripe as a vegetable (the seeds being removed), or eaten as a fruit when ripe. The seeds resemble in flavour Tropmolum majus^ commonly called Nasturtium, a name properly belonging to the Water-Cress, Of Passiflorace^, whose fruit is eaten, the most important are Passijiora filamentosa, pallida, lutea, coccinea, maliformis, quad- rangularis, laurifolia, edulis, incarnata, and serrata ; Tacsonia rnoUissima, tripartita and speciosa ; and the Madagascar shrub called Paropsia edulis (Lindley). None of these can be said to be much, if at all, in cultivation in Malaysia. Inocarjms edulis (Gajam, Malay) is found in the Moluccas producing a nut which is cooked and eaten in Java. It is found in a few places in cultivation. Fersea gratissima, Gaertn., or the BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 89 Avocado pear, is a tree of the Laurel family with the highest reputation for medicinal properties, and a husk rich in green oil. It is a native of the West Indies and is only cultivated in Java. Bread-fruits, Jack-fruits, Champada and Terap or Tarippe, known to botanists as Artocarpus incisa, L., A. hlumei, Tr., A. elastica, Reinw., and A. integrifolia, L., and to the Malays as Klowei, Sukon and Bendo in Javanese, are cultivated in all Malaysia, and from Sumatra to the Marquesas Islands ; and this was the case when Europeans first visited these regions. De OandoUe regards Bread-fruit as a native of Java and the Moluccas. Its fruit is constituted like the Pine-apple into a spherical fleshy mass, and, like that fruit, the seeds come to nothing. From this he argues, in the extreme eastern islands at least, the great antiquity of its cultivation and probably also its introduction. But, he adds, the number of varieties and facility of propagation by buds and suckers prevent our knowing its history accurately. The large almost palmate-leaved Bread-fruits are very ornamental. The Jack-fruit, called also Nangka, is more generally cultivated, producing immense fruits along the main branches or stem of the tree A species with smaller fruits which are much better flavoured is the Champada, distinguished by the underside of the Ir'aves being hairy. It is a kind much preferred by the Malays. Finally, the Tarippe or Terap [Artocarpus elastica) is a round tree with leaves larger than the preceding, and hairy on both surfaces. The fruits are borne near the end of the branches, and not from the main branches or stem, as in Jack-fruit and Champada. Most persons prefer the Terap as being less tough and leathery and more juicy. The seeds of all the species are roasted like chestnuts and eaten. All yield a kind of gutta. " The Tampoe or Tampui (Pierardia dulcis ?) is another very common jungle-fruit, of which but little appears to be known. There are three varieties — Tampoe shelou, Tampoe puti, and Tampoe baraja. The two first-named difler in one having yellow pulp and the other white. The last is a smaller fruit having four internal divisions instead of six, and the pulp is of a bright 90 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, chestnut colour. The part eaten is the pulp surrounding the seeds, which is agreeably sub-acid and very refreshing. The pavia-like husks and the seeds are discarded. The tree is 50 or 60 feet high, with dark green poplar-like leaves, and the fruits hang two or three together in lax clusters, the stalks being pro- duced from the older branches. This fruit is eaten in large quantities by the natives ; and the pulp, mixed with rice and water and afterwards fermented, affords them an intoxicating drink but little inferior to the toddy prepared from the Cocoa-nut Palm" (Burbidge, "Gardens of the Sun," p. 317). The author refers to Borneo only, but if Tampoe is Pierardia dulcis, it occurs in Java and Sumatra. Emhlica officinalis, Gaertn., (Buah malaka and Kemloco, Malay), is a sour-fruited species of the EuPHORBiACEiE, which grows abundantly round Malacca ; Malaka is one of the native names both in Sundanese and in Malay. The tree is ornamental enough with its feathery distichous leaves ; but the green fruits seemed to my taste too sour to be palatable. The genus Garcinia has many species, perhaps ten or twelve, in Malaysia which may be said to be the head-quarters of the well-known Mangosteen, a name derived from the Malay mangis, which with little modification is found in all Malayan dialects. The fruit is found throughout the equatorial region as far as 14° N. and S. latitude; but Min- danao is the only island of the Philippines in which it succeeds. For those who do not know the fruit it may be described as one of the most luscious, while the tree is particularly ornamental. In July, August, and September it is abundant in the markets and cheap. Another fruit belonging to the same family is Stalagmites dulcis, Camb., the Mundu of Java and Gledok or Gertok-pantok of Sundanese Malay, an evergreen tree 40 to 60 feet high, frequent in the forests up to 3000 feet. It yields a superior quality of gamboge, fruiting in February, and bearing a four-celled berry about an inch in diameter. This must not be confounded with Garcinia dulcis, Kz., an equally common tree bearing a berry the size of a lime, smooth, bright yellow, with from one to five large seeds in a yellow fleshy pulp. In the same BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 91 order we find Calophyllum inophyllum, L., a tropical species which is widely spread in Asia, with a globular fruit the size of a plum. It is equally common in tropical Austra]ia. It grows close to the sea-margin, and being a tree of splendid foliage and handsome white flowers, is a conspicuous ornament. The fruit however is not of much value. The Malay name is Betau. Amongst the GuTTiFER^ there are other fruit-trees of interest of which want of space compels the omission. One of the MELiACEiE calls for a little remark, and that is Sandoricum indicum, Cav., the Sattul of the Malays, found throughout the region. It is valued for a yellow apple-like berry containing five nuts ; but it is not very palatable, being somewhat like a sour Mangosteen. Another much more important member of the order is Lansium domestiGum, or Langsat, Lanse, or Ayer-ayer, a fruit growing in clusters, of yellowish colour, containing a tenacious juicy aril. It has a pleasant, sweetish flavour, much esteemed by the Malays. The order SAPiNDACEiE gives a good many useful and esculent members. First of all is the Rambutan which is the Malay name for a fruit cultivated abundantly throughout Malaysia on a tree of medium size. It is peculiar to the region, like the Durian and Mangosteen. Like the Langsat the edible portion is the aril. This is semi-transparent and of agreeable flavour ; but small in quantity, and rather too tenacious to be pleasant eating. The husk is scarlet in colour, covered with a kind of shaggy coat, and has a decidedly attractive appearance as seen in some of the crowded orchards around Penang. The name is derived from the Malay word for hair. The botanical name is Nephelium lappaceum^ L. The wood has not much solidity, and therefore is little used. What the Malays call Rambutan-utan is Xerospermum noron- hianum, BL, a shrubby tree about 20 feet high, with a compact durable wood much used in carpentering. Lansium domesticum, Bl., is thought to be the finest fruit in the Peninsula, or at any rate ranking next to the Mangosteen. The fruit lies in clusters on the trunk and branches, being of a moderate size, and having the edible part inside of a tough bufF-coloured husk or rind. The Rambi is another variety of the same tree. When the Langsat, 92 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, Rambi, or Duku is cultivated in richly manured ground, the fruits have comparatively thin and small seeds or nuts, while the edible part is much augmented. The Li-chi [Nephelium litchi) does not grow in Malaysia, though it finds its way in quantities from south China to Singapore, and is seen abundantly in the markets in July and August. This fruit appears to me to be the most palatable of any in the East, deserving the saying of Warren Hastings that it was almost the only fruit which deserved to be regretted even amidst the plenty of Covent Garden. Anacardium occidentale, L., the Jambu-monjet of Malays and the Cashew-nut of English, is a native of South America, which is quite naturalised in Malaysia, so that one sees the fruit in all the markets about the month of April. This has a very peculiar appearance, being like a yellow or reddish tig, bearing at its base a kidney-shaped seed. The sweet kernel inside is protected by a husk saturated with an indescribably acrid oil, which corrodes iron rapidly and marks linen with ine^aceable stains. The Pomme d' Acajou, as the French call it, though attractive in appearance and sweet to the taste, leaves a painful irritation on the throat, so that they are seldom eaten raw. The green fruits are very astringent, and serve to tan leather as well as to fix dyes in fabrics. The ripe fruit used as a preserve is excellent and wholesome. The nut is parched on a pan, and so is used as a substitute for chocolate or as a means for its adulteration. The Malays call the nut Casoe. Semecarpus anacardium, L., (Rengas meira, Malay), or the Marking-nut, has become naturalised in Malaysia, and bears racemes of what look like small Pommes d' Acajou the ripe fruit of which is eaten. The mature corolla and receptacle are fleshy and of a sweetish sour taste, but producing, unless cooked, much sub- sequent irritation of the throat. The kernel of the nut can be eaten, but scarcely with safety uncooked, for the juice contains an acrid, viscid oil, used as an escharotic, which leaves a mark for life on the skin, and often intractable and painful sores. It is used as a medicine for elephants, but in excessive doses renders them BY THE EEV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 93 furious. The pollen of the flowers is very narcotic and irritating, affecting some people to a dangerous extent, since by only going near the flowers they become stupefied and their lioibs swollen. It is considered dangerous to cut down the tree or even to work upon the wood ; in fact everything about this tree is so poisonous that it seems to realise the exaggerated fables about the Upas-tree. Semecarpus cassuvmm, Spreng., (Daun sako, Malay), the Malacca or Marsh-nut of the French, now naturalised in the Moluccas, Banda and Ceram, from the Antilles, has similar properties, and is said to be a brain stimulant, giving memory and wit to fools like the elixir of the Arab doctor Mesne. After all that has been written about the well-known Manofo {Mangifera indica, L., and Manga, Malay) a mere reference will suffice in this essay. The species are about 14, including J/, indica and its many cultivated varieties, M. fmtida. Lour., the Horse Mango of the Malays, of which natives of Malaysia and India are very fond notwithstanding its offensive odour and seriously dele- terious qualities. The genus is entirely Malayan ; the best are cultivated in the Philippines and in Java, while they seem unable to grow good fruit in the Malay Peninsula. There is a consider- able export of Mangoes from Manila, which proves the esteem in which they are held in the neighbouring countries, but I have never seen fruit superior to that which I obtained in Java. Bouea gandaria, Bl., the Gandaria of the Malays is a kind of Mango ; the fruits are esteemed by the natives, and the young leaves are eaten with rice in Java and Borneo. Dracontomelo'nP mangiferum^ Bl., or Buah rau, known to most botanists as Poupar) tia^ bears a kind of edible Mango eaten in the Moluccas. This is the Dragon-tree (Drakenboom) of Valentyn, who says that the fruit when newly gathered is highly refreshing. Evia aeida, Bl., is the Kedondong of the Javanese and the Pomme de Cythere of the French, which is cultivated and almost naturalised in Malaysia though probably introduced from the Society, Friendly, or Fiji Islands. It is like a large plum and contains a stone, but coloured like an apple, and covered with long hooked bristles. •94 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, The flavour resembles that of the Pine-apple. This is the Hog- plum or Tahiti Apple, better known to botanists under the name of Spondias dulcis. Mata kuching or Cat's-eye, the well-known Jungle-nut, growing in close racemes, consisting of a triangular drupe containing a single bony one-seeded nut with an opalescent kernel from which the name Cat's-eye is derived. This is Canarium commune, L., belonging to the BuRSERACE^, an order much resembling the Orange tribe, but whose fruit has a shell which splits into valve-like segments. The three-cornered nuts are eaten safely when cooked, and an oil obtained from them which is eaten when fresh, and burned when stale. Myrrh and frankincense are also derived from the gum. There are several species of Canarium, a name which seems to be derived from the Malay word Kanari, the Java almond. The resin is called Gum-elemi in India. Another species is called Kanari rainjak by the Malays, and another in the Moluccas Kanari- itam and Damar-itam, and Damar gala-gala; while, according to Bisschop Grevelink, Canarium dichotomum, Miquel, is the species to which the name of Damar mata kuching is applied. In the same order is Protium javanicum, Burm., the Tingulong of the Malays, a stout tree of medium height which grows in Java and the Moluccas. The fruit, though edible, is but little esteemed, yet it yields an aromatic essential oil with many uses. The large order of E-ubiace^e scarcely furnishes any fruits of importance, and of these none are known in Malaysia either indigenous or cultivated. Sarcocephalus is a genus well represented in the province, but the fruit-bearing Native Peach of Africa, S. esculentus, has not come into use. Two species of Morinda, which are very abundant on the coast (if. citrifolia, and persicce- foUa), one of which is widespread in Australia and serves as a fruit for the natives, are common. Amongst the Sapotace^ Achras sapota, L., or the Sapodilla Plum, (in Malay Chicos, Javanese Sawo) is extensively cultivated in and around Malacca, though it is a plant of West Indian or Central American origin. It is a tall straight tree without knots BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 95 or branches for 20 feet or so ; and the head then spreads into small branches ; the bark dark grey, full of cracks ; fruit oblong, covered with a thick brownish-grey rind, the flesh is yellow as a carrot, with two stones like almonds, very fragrant. The taste is relished exceedingly by the Malays ; but is like brown sugar. When fresh gathered it is extremely acrid, and a white clammy juice exudes from the broken skin. This is a true Gutta and very adhesive. The fruit is then hard, but by being kept it becomes soft and sweet like a medlar, losing its astringency, a process hastened by burying in sand. The seeds are in the centre. The Ohicos are highly esteemed throughout Malaysia. It is best known in the Philippines where probably it was first introduced. The species called the Naseberry has truit in shape and size like a Bergamot Pear. This is Achras zapotilla, Achras being the name of the wild Pear, and the specific name is from the Mexican Zapotl. It is a wonder that Europeans have not introduced A. mammosa, the Mammy Apple or American Marmalade, which is so highly esteemed in the West Indies. It bears a large, oval, brownish fruit, with a thick russet-coloured pulp called Natural Marmalade, and very luscious to the taste. In Malacca it is said that a Sapotilla tree is one of the most profitable grown, as one will produce fruit of the value of £50 in a season. The order of Sapotace^ has some indigenous representatives in Malaysia, in- cluding species of Isonandra and Bassia, both of which are Guttas, producing valuable varieties of gutta percha. Isonandra gutta, Hook., Balam tambaga of the Malays, besides other species of that genus and of Bassia, are met with in the Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, &c. ; but the trees are being destroyed by the natives who collect the juice in a most wasteful manner. Diospyros hahi, the Persimmon or Date-plum, the Caju Sawu of Java, is a tree which grows abundantly on the southern coasts of the island of Bali, and in the western and low lands of Java. The Sawu loves a humid soil near the beach, and seems to grow especially well in the islands of the Bay of Batavia, where the trunk acquires considerable thickness ; but Bali and Java seem to be the only parts of Malaysia where it thrives. 96 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, Finally, though somewhat out of place, Averrhoa caramhola and A. hilimhi, the Carambola trees of the Encrlish and the Blimbinoj and Bainan of the Malays, bear an odd-looking winged green fruit, containing an acid pulp which is somewhat insipid ; but the trees themselves are very ornamental. In this list some omissions have been necessary to bring it within reasonable limits ; but none of the more important fruits have been passed over. The different varieties of Plantains and Bananas would require a separate treatise, while the Cocoa-nuts are identified more with the vegetable products. Nanas, as the Malays call the Pine-apples (Ananassa sativa, Lindl.), is of course widely diffused amongst them. Their name is identical with the Brazilian oije, obtained through the Portuguese, who introduced it into India in 1594. Altogether it is not a favourite fruit in Malaysia, since it is certainly not seen in its perfection in those regions. A peculiar variety introduced by Sir Hugh Low is commonly seen as an ornament upon the table. It is called the Hen and Chickens on account of the odd mode of growth which it manifests. There is a tall conical central pine, and, at its base, four or five small pines spring forth, but the fruit is for ornament only. Horticulture. — The English and Dutch colonists have always been remarkable for the cultivation of flowering plants. This peculiarity has resulted in the ornamental or neat and beautiful appearance which roads and streets, gardens and enclosures invariably bear in the colonies of the above nations. The taste thus manifested is of ancient date ; but it has grown, and probably has never previously attained such activity in the cultivation of native flowers, and the introduction of new ones as at present. Yet in the Straits Settlements and Dutch colonies acclimatisation has not progressed as it should have done. Persons who possess every advantage, and might have gardens of pre-eminent variety and beauty, confine their attention to a few common and easily grown species, so that one sees the same things over and over again. Masses of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 97 Poinciana regia and 'pulcherrima, Duranta plumieri, BougainviUcea glabra^ Plumieria acutifoUa, and the same Clerodendrons meet one with tiresome monotony on every side, and nothing else. Splendid exotics are within the reach of every one without much trouble or expense, since the work has already been begun by a few. I made many lists of the flowers in cultivation in the gardens of the Straits Settlements especially, and I was equally astonished and disappointed to find how meagre the catalogues were, and at the endless repetition of the same plants. Combining these together, the following list will give an idea of the floral adorn- ments of the gardens of Malaysia. I shall take the opportunity of making a few comments on some of the species as they occur. Species marked "^ are naturalised. Where the species of an order are few, several orders are grouped together. Nymphcea lotus, JV. pubescens, N. stellata, and Nelumhium speci- osum are found in all gardens where there are ornamental waters. Magnolia fuscata, M. pumila, and Michelia champaca are in most gardens cultivated for their fragrance. Bixa orellana, Pittosporum undulatum, Portulaca grandijlora, Garcinia (many species), Ade- nandra dumosa, Camellia japonica, Ahutilon venosum, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Stigmaphgllon ciliatum, Canarium commune, Melia composita. LEGUMiNOSiE. — Clitoria ternatea, Cassia fistula, Poinciana pul- cherrima and P. regia, Ceratonia siliqua, Bauhinia (many species), Amherstia nobilis. [This last forms one of the most attractive things in flowering trees that is possessed by the East. Don is almost justified in saying that when in foliage and blossom it is the most superb object imaginable, not surpassed by any plant in the world. It is probably a native of Burmah, and was found originally in the garden of a Buddhist monastery. Yet its native place is still uncertain. It is an unarmed tree some 40 feet high, with large abruptly pinnate narrow leaves with six to eight pairs of leaflets, and long pendulous drooping terminal racemes of showy flowers. These are very handsome, of fine 7 98 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, vermilion colour diversified with yellow spots, and a soft velvety- appearance. The bracts are also highly coloured and persistent. The latter are a pair, one and a half inches long, broadly lanceolate and crimson, the whole forming long drooping racemes at the ends of the branches]. Also Luccena glauca, Inga dulcis. Hyd/rangea japonica, Bryophyllum calycinum, Rhodoleia championiy Comhretum grandiflorum, Rhodamnia trinervis, Rhodomyrtus tomen- tosa, Lawsonia inermis^ Lagerstrosmia florihunda, L. indica, L. regince, Punica granatum (Pomegranate, white and red varieties), Turnera trioniiflora, Passiflora (many species), Trichosanthes laciniosay Begonia (many species), Opuntia (many species) and other Cactacese. Panax fruticosum, Aumiba japonica^ Lonicera chinensis (the Chi- nese Honeysuckle), Rondeletia odorata, Gardenia (many species), Ixora alba, I. coccinea, I rosea, and others. Composite. — Helianthus tuherosus, H. annuus, Chrysanthemum sinense, Evpatorium glandulosum, Gaillardia bicolor, Coreopsis coro- nata, Dahlia excelsa (Tree Dahlia) and other species, "^ Zinnia multiflora, Z. elegans and other species, Cichorium intyhus, Rud- beckia laciniata, R. hirta, R. columnaris, Silphium terebinthaceu m, Gras2:)edia glauca, Centaur ea depressa, Ageratum mexicanum, Far- fugium grande^ Tagetes patula, T. erecta, Melichrysuni (many spe- cies). Cineraria sinensis and other species. Rhododendrm javanicum, Plumbago capensis, P. rosea, Ardisia (many species), Jasminum (many species). Apocynace^. — Allamanda aubletii, A. eathartica, A. nobilis, A. schottii, A. neriifolia, A. violacea, Ochrosia elliptica, Wrightia eoccinea, Echites sp., Mandevilla suaveolens, WiUiighbeia edulis, Cerbera odollam, Kopsia fruticosa, Vinca rosea, Plumieria acu- tifolia (commonly called the Frangipanni, which it is not ; planted in all cemeteries), Tabernmmontana coronaria, Nerium oleander^ Beaumontia wultiflora. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 99 Calotropis gigantea^ Stephanotis fiorihunda, Pergularia odora- tissimaj Hoya carnosa (and other species), Heliotropium peruvianum, Ipomcea (many species both from the jungle and exotic), Jacque- montia violacea^ and Parana volubilis or the Bridal Wreath, a climbing shrub bearing dense racemes of small white delicate or waxy-looking flowers. This is a very beautiful species, a native of Burmah, but much cultivated in Malaysia. The closely packed racemes of white flowers, though small are exceedingly attractive. Solanum jasminoides and many other species, Solandra grandi- flora. Datura sp., Brugmansia arhorea and other species, BrunfeUia eximia, Sahrothamnus newellii, Juanulloa mexicana^ Centrum candi- dum^ Angelonia Horihunda and others, Pentstemon (many species), Russelia juncea (the Corallitos of the Spaniards ; this has become quite a part of the native flora in Borneo and the Philippines), Torenia asiatica, T. haillonia^ and T. polygonoides. The dim ate being exactly suited to the Gesnerace^, which flower easily in the open air though requiring shade, they are well represented, but not as extensively found in every garden as they should be. Gloxinia with its many varieties, Achimenes cherita and its varieties, Tydcea picta and varieties, Gesnera cinnaharinay G. oxoniemisy G. refulgens^ G. zebrina, Cyrtandra glahra^ Cyrtodeira fulgida, ^schynanthus (all of the species which the jungle pro- duces). BiGNONiACEiE. — Bignenia venusta, B . grandiflora, B, radicans and other species, Tecoma australis, T. capensis, T. jasminoides^ T. tweediana ; the latter I saw only in gardens in Menado, Celebes. AcANTHACEJE. — Thuuhergia alata, T. grandiflora^ T. harrisii, T. laurifolia, Meyenia erecta, M. vogeliana, Sanchezia nobilis, "^ Barleria cosrulea and other species, Crossandra infundiluliformis, Asystasia coromandeliana, Eranthemum (many species), Aphelandra cristata, A. fascinator^ Jiisticia coccinea, Rhinacanthus communis^ Cyrtanthera pohlianay Fittonia argyroneura^ GraptopJiyllum hortense. VERBENiACEiE. — Lantantt (many species), ^ ^tacJiyta/rpheta indica, S. j'amaicensis, S. mutahilis^ Duranta plumieri (both the blue and white varieties), Petrcea volubilis, Clerodendron (many species). 100 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, LABiATiE. — Coleiis (many species), Salvia coccinea, S. la/rhata and other species. NYCTAGiNEiE. — MiraUUs jalapa, Bougainvillcea glabra. Euphorbia CE^. — Acalypha marginata^ A. indica and other species, Croton (many species), Manihot utilissima, Jatropha curcas, J. multifida, EupJiorhia splendens^ E. {Poinsettia) pulcherrima. Amongst the Conifers the usual Pines, Cypresses, and other genera commonly in cultivation are met with, the favourites being Cupressus Ugnum-vitce, and Gryptomeriajaponica. ENDOGENS. Canna indica and other species, Maranta (many species, in the Straits as elsewhere great favourites amongst the plants cultivated for their foliage), Alpinia nutans^ Costus speciosus, Seliconia hieolor, S. sanginnea (with large magnificently coloured flowers closely allied to Banana), Urania speeiosa or the Traveller's Tree, as well as Strelitzia ar.gustata, which it somewhat resembles in habit, ■ are much in cultivation round Singapore. Having dealt with the Orchids we may pass by the Bromeliads, of which a good many are in cultivation. Amongst the AROiDEiE many species of Alocasia and Galadium are cultivated for their foliage, Richa/rdia cetMopica. LiLiACE^. — Yucca aloifolia, Y. hrevifolia, Y. glcmcescens^ Liliuyn longiilorum, L. washingtonianum, Agapanthus umhellatus. Bland fordia cunningliamii, B. Jiammea, B. nohilis, Aloe carinata, Dianella ccerulea^ D. ensifolia, Cordyline albicans^ C. ensifolia, Draccena (many species), Tradescantia discolor. Amaryllide^. — Clivia nohilis, Imantophylhi'ni 'miniatiim, Doryanthes excelsa, D. pal7)ierii, Agave a^nericana, Fourcroya gigantea, Amaryllis belladonna, A. hippeastruin, A. ignescens, Zephyranthes rosea, Vallota inirpurea, Eucharis amazonica, BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 101 Alstrcemeria aic7'ea, A. braziliensis, Criniim amabile, C. asiaticum, C. omatum, C. 'pediiiwiilatum^ Eurycles aiostralis, E. cunninghamii , Pancratium hiflorum, P. malabaricmn, P. speciosum. Ferns and Lycopods are as extensively cultivated in the Straits Settlements as Orchids, and the number and variety of indigenous kinds is as great as in any part of the world, so that this branch of horticulture is very popular and successful. Seed-plants. — Plants cultivated for their seeds would make a very extensive list if we include the cereals, such as Triticum^ Panicum, Setaria, Sorghuin, Zea mays, Oryza, and the legumes such as the Peas (Pisum arvense, sativum, &c.), the Beans (Pliaseolus), Pigeon-pea (Cajanus indicusj, the Soy (Dolichos soja). Buckwheat (Polygonum fagopyrum), &c. In this essay no more can be done than to enumerate a few of the most common. Goffea arahica cultivated extensively in Java, but more sparingly in all the other islands. Strange to say, Blanco thought it indig- enous in the Philippines. It is a native of Abyssinia. Theohroma cacao or Cocoa is extensively cultivated all over Malaysia, Gossypiumj herhaceum, L., Algodonero, a Spanish word which is in use by all the Philippine Indians ; in nearly all the Malay dialects Kapas and Kabu-kabu ; in Bengali Kapase ; in Hindo- stanee Kapas, all derived from the Sanskrit word Karpassi; Arabic Kutn whence Coton and probably Algodon; Chinese (Punti) Min; Mandarine Mien; Japanese Wata and Momen. Probably its original habitat was Malaysia. Two exhaustive works have appeared on the subject lately in Italy, one by Parlatore* and the other by Todaro.f The former admits seven well-known species and two doubtful, while Todaro counts * Monogr. delle specie d. Cotoni, 4to. Florence, 1866. t Relaz. della coltura dei Cotini in Italia con monographia del genere Gossypium. 8vo. Roma, 1877. 102 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, fifty-four, only two of which are doubtful, reckoning as species forms which originated in cultivation and are permanently pre- served. G. herhaceum is the species most cultivated in the United States, G. indicum in China and Japan ; but these determinations are doubtful. The natives of all the East from India to Japan depend upon it as one of the great staples of agriculture. Papaver somwferum derived from F. setigerum which is wild on the shores of the Mediterranean; cultivated from the most ancient times. Mere mention can only be made of the following: Sesamu7)i indicum cultivated for oil, Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), Aleu- rites moluccanci cultivated for the oil in its seeds, Jatropha curcas yielding a medicinal oil used also in lamps. Cultivated Roots. — Golocasia antiquorum is cultivated for the edible rhizome and the swelled lower portion of the stem. The leaf-stalks and young leaves are also eaten as a vegetable when cooked. It belongs to the flora of south Asia, but its use has spread over the warmer islands of the Pacific, the West Indies and tropical America. Alocasia macrorrhiza, Schott, is another of the esculent aroids, less frequently cultivated than the first-named ; but in the same manner, and nearly in the same countries. The rhizomes attain the length of a man's arm. They mast be cooked until all bitterness is removed, or they are poisonous. (De Candolle). "The Malay names of the first-named species are kelady, tallus, tallas, tales or taloes, fiom which perhaps comes the well-known name of the Otahitans and New Zealanders — tallo or tarro, dalo in the Fiji Islands. The Japanese have a totally distinct name, imo, which shows an existence of long duration either indigenous or cultivated."^ Alocasia indica, Schott, with three varieties mentioned by De Candolle, is cultivated equally with the former. De Candolle, "Origin of Cultivated Plants," p. 74. BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 103 I'pomcea batatas, L., is the well-known sweet potato belonging to the order of Convolvulace^, largely cultivated amongst the Malays, likewise in all countries within or near the tropics. The Malay name is Ubi, which is also applied to the common potato ; Keledek is the common Malay name for the sweet potato. The origin of this plant, universally cultivated in the tropics, is extremely doubtful. The whole question is given in De Candolle op. cit. He gives the Chinese name as Chu ; in Punti I find it is Fan-shu ; in Japanese it is called Satsuma-imo, and common potatoes Riukiu-imo. Lichens. — In a moist climate and amid such shady forests as those of Malaysia it may be readily imagined how rich the harvest of lichens ought to be ; but very little has been done towards their determination. I made no collection except a few speci- mens which have not been determined. I give here therefore the list of genera of those enumerated by Nylander and Crombie from Vol. XX,, p. 48, of the " Journal of the Linnean Society/' (Botany), London. These were collected in the Straits Settle- ments by Dr. Maingay about twenty years previously, or between 1861 and 1865. Amongst them was a number of new species. Family Collemacei : Collema 2 species, DichodiuTii 1, Lep togiujti 2. Fam. Lichenacei : Ramalina 1, Usnea 2, Parmelia 10, Physcia 1, Pyxine 2, Pannaria 1, Lecanora 5, Thelotrema 2, Ascidiuin 1, GocGocarpia 5, Lecidea 10, GyrostomiMii 1, Graphis 8, Medusula 1, Opegrapha 1, Arthonia 4, Glyj)his 4, Ohiodecton 1, Verrucaria 15, Trypethelium 4, Endococcus 1. This collection can only be considered as an instalment of the lichen flora of the region, but it is interesting as affording a good specimen of its character. It will be observed also that amongst them common and well-known species of commercial value such as Parmelia tiiictorum, Despr., and other world-wide species were found. The largest number of species came from about Malacca and Singapore. 104 ON THE VEGETATION OF MALAYSIA, Fungi. — It is impossible to give any complete or satisfactory- account of the fungi of the Malayan region. A little has been done here and there, but nothing like a systematic collection of the whole region. Dr. Hooker has collected in the Himalayas, Janghuhn in Java, a little is known of the Philippines and some portions of the Indian Archipelago, but the knowledge is too fragmentary to be of much service. During my travels I was able to make a few observations on the species seen in the jungle, and I have a very few drawings of some of the more perishable kinds. The result of all is that no more can be offered here than a few general and fragmentary observations. Although heat and humidity influence all kinds of vegetation, yet heat, says Mr. Cooke, seems to exert a less, and humidity a greater influence on fungi than on other plants.* Moisture and caltivation affect their growth in most civilised countries ; but in the Malayan region the great influencing causes are moisture, shade, and decaying vegetation. In Java Junghuhn found them most prolific at an elevation of 3,000 to 5,000 feet, and Dr. Hooker remarked that they were most abundant at 7,000 to 8,000 feet above sea-level. In tropical countries Agarics are not so numerous as Poly2)orits, Lenzites, iceuSy Blanch., horridus and normalis, Blackb., &c D. Puncturation of elytra smooth a nd very minute E. Lateral margins of clypeus convergent (hind ward) close to the eye Mulwalensis, Blackb. EE. Lateral margins of clypeus divergent (hindward) quite to the eye punctipennis, Blackb. DD. Puncturation of elytra coarser and subrugulose nigricans, Burm, CC. Puncturation of elytra less close and more isolated (as is usual in the genus) D. Labrum uniformly rugulose. ... E. Prothorax fully twice as wide as long 2^^9^^i blackb. EE. Prothorax less than twice as wide as long raucinasus, Blackb. DD. Labrum not uniformly rugu- lose E. Prothorax closely punctulate [intervals between punctures 20 (or less) the length of the segment.] BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 143 F. General puncturation more or less coarse, and not uniform over upper sur- face G. Club of antennae black . . . nigellus, Er. GG. CI ub of antenna3 yellow dicbms, Blackb. FF. Puncturation fine and uni- form (though not minute and confluent as in punc- tipennis, &c.) Size over 5 lines constans, Blackb. EE. Prothorax more sparingly punctulate F. Prothorax only moderately narrowed forward (base not more than i again as wide as front) G. Middle lobe of "trilobed outline " of head at least half as wide as lateral lobes H. Lateral margins of cly- peus nearly straight electus, Blackb. HH. Lateral margins of clypeus normally curved cygneus, Blackb. GG. Middle lobe of "tri- lobed outline" of head appearing evidently less than half as wide as lateral lobes auricomuSj Blackb. FF. Prothorax more strongly narrowed forward (base more than i again as wide as front) 144 REVISION OF THE GENUS fl^TifiJOiVFX, G. Ventral segments closely covered in the middle with strongly defined fine puncturation anceps, Blackb. GG. Ventral segments in the middle at most feebly and not closely punc- tured H. Hind angles of pro- thorax quite rounded ofi" I. General puncturation of upper surface exceptionally coarse and strong crassus^ Blackb. II. Puncturation of pro- thorax fine, of ely- tra moderate ... Augustce, Blackb. HH. Hind angles of pro- thorax from a certain point of view well defined Sloanei, Blackb. BB. Hind coxge not longer than external margin of 2nd ventral segment... C. "Trilobed outline" of head not well developed ; middle lobe much more than ^ as wide as lateral ones D. Hind angles of prothorax from some point of view appearing acute or sharply rectangular... E. Clypeal suture strongly ele- vated dentipes, Blackb. EE. Clypeal suture obscure t?^i*7u, Blackb. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 145 DD. Hind angles of prothorax quite obtuse or rounded off jejunus, Blackb. CC. " Trilobed outline " of head well- developed; middle lobe scarcely half as wide as lateral ones lateritius, Blaokb. Heteronyx normalis, sp.nov. Minus elongatus ; sat convexus ; pone medium leviter dila- tatus ; minus nitidus ; piceus vel ferruginous; pilis pallidis brevi- bus adpressis (nonnullis longioribus erectis intermixtis) vestitus ; subsequaliter crebre subtilius punctulatus ; labro clypeum late sat fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendi- culatis. [Long. 4-5 J, lat. 2-3 lines. Labrum decidedly overtopping level of clypeus which is widely and roundly emarginate in front; ''trilobed outline" of head having the lobes feebly convex, the middle one not very much narrower than the others ; clypeal suture well defined, straight and impressed ; head (especially the clypeus) a little more strongly sculptured than the rest of the body. Prothorax nearly twice as wide as long, and nearly twice as wide at base as at front which is strongly concave, with sharp well-produced angles ; the sides are gently arched converging slightly from base to middle, thence more strongly ; the hind angles viewed from above appear fairly well defined but not sharp nor directed hindward ; the base is bisinuate and widely lobed in the middle. The elytra have more or less appearance of striation (in one example before me it is quite well marked) ; their transverse wrinkling is fine but distinct (especially in front) ; the lateral fringes are not carried round the apex, which is truncate with a narrow but distinct membranous border. The puncturation of the whole upper surface is fine, close, and even, with a tendency to become fainter and less close from the clypeus hindward, till on the pygidium (which is sub- granulate) it is feeble and hardly close ; it resembles that of H. insignis, Blackb. The metasternum and hind coxae are of equal 10 146 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX^ length and are rather finely and closely punctured externally ; the metasternum a little more sparingly towards the middle, where the hind coxae are almost impunctate. The ventral segments are punctured almost as the metasternum. The ventral series consist of stout hairs and are well defined. The hind femora are decidedly wider than the intermediate, their inner apical angle very obtuse and scarcely prominent. The uppermost tooth on the anterior tibiae is small but sharp. S. Australia ; widely distributed ; also Kangaroo Island. H. GRANULIFER, Sp.UOV. Sat elongatus ; minus convexus ; pone medium vix dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; ferrugineus ; pilis pallidis brevibus adpressis (non nullis perlongis, e granulis squamosis orientibus, intermixtis) vestitus ; capite et eljtris crebrius sat crasse, prothorace et pygidio sparsius subtilius, punctulatis ; labro clypeum minus late minus f ortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appen- diculatis. [Long. 4|, lat. 2 J lines (vix). Labrum decidedly overtopping level of clypeus which is gently emarginate in front ; " trilobed outline " of head having the lobes feebly convex, the middle one about half as wide as the others ; clypeal suture fairly defined, straight, and impressed, clypeus forming an even surface with the rest of the head. Prothorax nearly twice as wide as long down the middle and more than half as wide again at base as at front which is moderately concave with sharp moderately produced angles ; the sides are evenly and gently arched, most divergent immediately in front of the base ; the hind angles viewed from above appear very ill-defined but not quite rounded off; the base is bisinuate, widely and feebly lobed in the middle ; the elytra (in the example before me) have no trace whatever of striation ; their transverse wrinkling is coarse and rather conspicuous; the lateral fringe is much abraded in the example before me but evidently is not in a fresh specimen carried round the apex in any conspicuous manner ; the apex has an obscure membranous border. The puncturation of the whole BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 147 upper surface except the pygidium is very much coarser and less close than in H. normalis. The hind coxae are scarcely so long (by measurement) as the suture between the metasternum and its episterna ; the metasternum is closely and rather finely punctured externally, less closely and more coarsely towards the middle ; the hind coxae are punctured a little more strongly and less closely than the metasternum externally but are almost impunctate in their inner half. The basal ventral segment is punctured sparingly and moderately strongly on the sides, sparingly and faintly in the middle ; the other ventral segments are successively more and more feebly punctulate. The ventral series consist of stout hairs rising from granules and are very well defined. The hind femora are considerably wider than the intermediate, their inner apical angle well produced but rather obtuse. The uppermost tooth on the anterior tibiae is strong (about half as large as the intermediate) and moderately sharp. Rose worthy, S.A. H. NASUTUS, sp.nov. Sat elongatus; sat convexus ; pone medium minus dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; ferrugineus ; pilis flavis elongatis sat sparsim vestitus ; corpore supra crasse sat sparsim (capite minus sparsim, elytris apice pygidioque subtiliter) punctulatis ; labro clypeum anguste sat fortiter superanti; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendi- culatis. [Long. 4|-, lat. 2^ lines. Clypeus with strongly and widely reflexed margins, strongly emarginate in middle ; " trilobed outline " of head having the lobes very strong, the middle one barely a third as wide as either of the others, about equal to them in length ; clypeal suture well defined, impressed, and strongly angulated in the middle, clypeus not forming an evenly continuous plane with the rest of the head. Prothorax about twice as wide as long down the middle and scarcely a third again as wide at base as at front which is moderately concave with sharp moderately produced angles ; the sides con- verging in a slight curve from base to front; the hind angles viewed 148 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONTX, from above appear fairly defined and obtuse ; the base is feebly bisinuate, widely and feebly lobed in the middle. Elytra (of the example before me) without trace of striation, their transverse wrinkling coarse and fairly conspicuous ; lateral fringe normal, apex with well defined membranous border. The puncturation is much coarser and stronger than in N. granulifer, and on the whole upper surface much resembles that of //. fulvohirtus (Sect. I.) Hind coxje scarcely so long as the metasternum which is strongly punctured, — closely at the sides, sparingly in the middle, — the former being closely and strongly punctured through- out, and also finely coriaceous. The ventral segments are finely coriaceous, with tuberculous puncturation, which is strong and rather sparing at the sides, — nearly obsolete in the middle. The ventral series consist of moderately stout hairs and are fairly con- spicuous. The hind femora are much wider than the intermediate and have their inner apical angle fairly prominent, but much rounded off". The anterior tibiae are much like those of II. granulifer. !N. Territory of S. Australia. H. Bi^EVicoRNis, sp.nov. Elongatus ; sat convexus ; pone medium vix dilatatus ; minus nitidus ; pallide fuscus vel ferruginous ; pilis subtilibus adpressis minus dense vestitus ; capite crasse minus crebre (clypeo magis crebre), prothorace subtilius sat sparsim, elytris subtilius crebrius, pygidio sparsissime, punctulatis ; labro clypeum late sat fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis brevibus ; unguiculis appendi- culatis. [Long. 24-2f, lat. 1-1^ lines (vix.) Olypeus almost truncate in front where there is no distinct reflexed margin ; " trilobed outline" of head having the middle lobe quite as wide as the lateral ones and about equal to them in length, but (owing to forward protrusion of labrum) projecting forward beyond them; clypeal suture nearly straight, ill-defined; clypeus forming an almost evenly continuous surface with the rest of the head. Prothoiax about half again as wide as long down BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 149 the middle, its base about half again as wide as its front which is lightly emarginate with very feebly produced angles ; the sides diverge strongly from the apex to the middle where they are ix)unded and whence they converge slightly to the base with which their hind angles are almost rounded off; the base is scarcely distinctly bisinuate or lobed, but is almost evenly rounded all across. Elytra with no trace of striation except a fairly defined sutural stria ; their transverse wrinkling scarcely perceptible ; lateral fringe feeble and not continuous round apex which has a scarcely noticeable membranous border. The puncturation of the upper surface resembles that of H. testaceus, Blackb., (Sect. I.), but is feebler except on the head. Hind cox^e about as long as meta sternum, the puncturation of both being feeble and sparse (especially in the middle). The ventral segments are scarcely distinctly punctulate. The ventral series consist of long erect hairs and are very conspicuous, but obsolete in the middle. The hind femora are not very much wider than the intermediate and have their inner apical angle very feeble. The lower two teeth of the anterior tibiae are very strong and sharp, — the uppermost tooth is obtuse and subobsolete. S. Australia (Port Lincoln ; also near Adelaide). H. PUNCTIPENNIS, Sp.nOV. Minus elongatus ; latus ; sat convexus ; pone medium sat dilatatus ; minus nitidas ; obscure ferrugineus, antennis palpisque rufo-testaceis ; pilis brevibus adpressis vestitus; clypeo creberrime mgulose, capite postice sat fortiter minus crebre, prothorace minus fortiter sat crebre, elytris crebre subtiliter squamose, pygidio fortius crebrius, punctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus externis inferioribus perlongis; labro clypeum late minus fortiter superanti; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendiculatis. [Long. 4, lat. 2^ lines. Clypeus gently emarginate in front, its reflexed margin obsolete in the middle part ; " trilobed outline " of head as in H. debilis 150 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX, except that the middle lobe appears proportionally narrower owing to the greater convexity of the upper outline of the labrum ; clypeus almost forming an even surface with the rest of the head; clypeal suture slightly wavy and not well marked. Prothorax very nearly twice as wide as long down the middle, its base more than half again as wide as its front which is only gently emarginate, with angles but little produced ; its sides diverge in a slight curve from the apex to the base with which they form angles that from a certain point above appear quite sharp, and somewhat directed hindward; the base rather feebly bisinuate and moderately lobed in the middle. Elytra with little or no indication of striae, their transverse wrinkling very fine, but from some points of view fairly distinct, their lateral fringes normal, their membranous apex well defined. The puncturation of the prothorax is evidently coarser, and that of the elytra evidently more minute, than in H. normalis. The hind femora are moderately wider than the intermediate, with their inner apical angle feeble and rounded. The hind coxaB are considerably shorter than the metasternum and evidently longer than the second ventral segment. The metasternum and hind coxae are rather strongly and closely punctulate at the sides, the puncturation continuing more markedly than in most species across the middle, the latter having a smooth portion only towards the antero-internal corner. The hind body is punctured a little less strongly, the punctures being much enfeebled in the middle. The ventral series consist of fine hairs and are not very con- spicuous. On the anterior tibiae the lower teeth are long and sharp, but the uppermost is very small, evidently less than half the second. Adelaide district. H. MuLWALENSis, sp.nov. Sat elongatus ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat convexus ; ferrugineus, antennis palpi sque testaceis ; pilis adpressis vestitus ; capite toto creberrime sequaliter rugulose, elytris crebre subtiliter, pygidio sparsius sat subtiliter, punctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 151 externis inferioribus validis ; labro clypeum late sat fortiter saperanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiciilis appendiculatis. [Long. 4f5i lat. 2^3^-21 lines. Closely allied to II. punctipennis, the description of which may be taken as applying to it except in so far as here modified. The "trilobed outline" of the head is much more conspicuous owing to the greater prominence of the lab rum, the middle lobe appearing slightly narrower in proportion (i.e., very little more than half as wide as the lateral ones) ; the plane of the clypeus is rather more distinct from that of the rest of the head and its lateral margins are more dilated, their outline being moreover angularly contracted at its base close in front of the eye (instead of forming an even gentle curve from the eye to the front) ; the entire head is very finely, closely, evenly and rugosely punctulate instead of having (as II. punctipennis has) the portion behind the clypeal sature very much more sparingly punctulate than the clypeus. The prothorax is slightly less wide in proportion to its length. The surface of the front face of the labrum is roughened and granulose, while in pitnctij)ennis it is smooth, nitid, and finely punctulate. Mulwala, N.S.W. ; taken by Mr. T. G. Sloane. H. NIGRICANS, Er. Sat elongatus; sat convexus; postice vix dilatatus; sat nitidus; piceo-niger, antennis palpisque testaceis, tarsis rufescentibus ; pilis brevibus albidis adpressis sat sparsim vestitus ; supra fortius sat crebre sequaliter (pygidio sparsim excepto) punctulatus ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus externis inferioribus robustis acutis ; labro clypeum late minus fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendiculatis. [Long. 4, lat. 2i lines (vix). Clypeus scarcely emarginate in front, its reflexed margin very fine but continuous; "trilobed outline " of head fairly defined, the middle lobe appearing decidedly narrower than the lateral ones ; clypeus not forming an even surface with the rest of the head ; 152 REVISION OP THE GENUS HETERONYX^ clypeal suture well marked and gently arched. Prothorax deci- dedly less than twice as wide as it is long, its base about half again as wide as its front which is rather strongly emarginate and subbisinuate, with angles little advanced and not very pointed ; its sides are gently arched but scarcely convergent from the middle to the base ; the hind angles viewed from a certain point above appear fairly defined and a little directed hindward but not sharp ; the base moderately bisinuate and moderately lobed in the middle. Elytra with some indication of striae, their transverse wrinkling not conspicuous, their lateral fringes normal, their apical membrane fairly developed. The puncturation of the upper surface as a whole closely resembles that of H, graciUiJes. The hind femora are moderately wider than the intermediate with their inner apical angle scarcely at all prominent. The hind coxae are decidedly shorter than the metasternum but considerably longer than the second ventral segment. The metasternum is moderately coarsely punctured all across, the hind coxae are punctured much like the metasternum but are laevigate on the inner anterior portion. The ventral segments and anterior tibise scarcely differ from those of H, puncti2)ennis except that the uppermost tooth of the latter is still less developed. King George's Sound; in the collection of the Hon. W. Macleay. H. RATJCINASUS, Sp.nov. Elongatus ; sat convexus ; postice leviter dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; piceo-ferrugineus, antennis palpisque testaceis, pilis adpressis sat brevibus albidis vestitus ; capite crebre rugulose, prothorace spar- sius fortiter, elytris squamose sat crebre, pygidio sparsim sat fortiter, punctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus externis ro- bustis ; labro clypeum sat fortiter minus late superanti (illo antice ruguloso) ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendiculatis. [Long. 44, lat. 2f lines. Clypeus very slightly emarginate and with the reflexed margin scarcely indicated in the middle ; " trilobed outline " of head well BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 153 defined, the middle lobe appearing not much more than half as wide as, but rather longer than, the lateral ones. The entire surface of the head is nearly even with scarcely a trace of a clypeal suture. Prothorax not much more than half again as wide as long ; its base about half again as wide as front which is moder- ately emarginate with angles neither very prominent nor very sharp; it is slightly wider just behind the middle than at the base; sides gently arched ; hind angles viewed from above appearing modemtely distinct and rectangular but neither sharp nor notice- ably directed hindward ; the base feebly bisinuate and feebly lobed. Elytra with scarcely any indication of any (even a sutural) stria, their transverse wrinkling fairly conspicuous, their lateral fringes normal, their apical membrane rather indistinct. The puncturation of the elytra is much like that of H. gracilipes while the prothorax is considerably less closely punctured than in that species. The hind femora are not very much wider than the intermediate, their inner apical angle feebly prominent and much rounded. The hind coxae, metasternum, ventral segments and legs agree with the description of those parts in //. j^unctijMnnis except that on the anterior tibiae the teeth are evidently stouter, the uppermost being larger, moreover, in proportion to the others. Adelaide district. A specimen (in the collection of the Hon. W. Macleay) from Gunning, N.S.W,, seems to differ only in its darker colour. H. PiGKR, sp.nov. Elongatus ; sat convexus ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; ferrugineus, antennis pal[)isque testaceis ; pilis adpressis brevibus albidis vestitus ; capite crebre rugulose, prothorace sat fortiter sat crebre (hoc quam longiori duplo latiori), elytris squamose sat crebre, pygidio sat fortiter sat crebre, punctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus externis validis ; labro clypeum sat late sub- fortiter superanti (illo antice ruguloso) ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendiculatis. [I^ong. 6, lat. 2^ lines. Clypeus moderately emarginate, its reflexed margin nearly obliterated in the middle ; " trilobed outline "of head very well 154 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETEMONYX, defined, the middle lobe appearing not much more than half as wide as, and scarcely longer than, the lateral ones. Entire surface of head nearly even, with scarcely a trace of a clypeal suture. Prothorax just twice as wide as long, its base rather more than half again as wide as its front, which is moderately emarginate and gently bisinuate, with sharp but not very strongly produced angles ; its sides are gently arched, and diverge from the front to near the base, thence becoming nearly parallel ; hind angles (viewed from above) appearing defined, but hardly pointed, or directed hindward ; base only feebly bisinuate and not strongly lobed in middle. Elytra with only sutural stria (and that not in all lights) distinct, their transverse wrinkling not conspicuous, their lateral fringes normal, their apical membrane obscure, their puncturation a trifle finer and closer than the same in H. graci- lipes (the puncturation of the prothorax also being much as in that species). The hind femora are only moderately wider than the intermediate, their inner apical angle moderately prominent but not sharp. The hind coxee, metasternum, and ventral seg- ments do not seem to diff'er noticeably from the same in H. punctipennis and raucinasus, the teeth on the anterior tibise resembling those of the latter. Taken at the Grange, near Adelaide. '&^3 H. coNSTANS, sp.nov. Elongatus ; sat convexus; postice leviter dilatatus; sat nitidus; piceo-niger, an tennis palpisque testaceis ; pilis minus brevibus (nonnullis postice inclinatis, nonnuilis erectis) fulvo-griseis conspicue sat dense vestitus ; capite prothoraceque sat fortiter sat crebre, elytris squamose paullo minus crebre, pygidio (hoc longe hirsuto) sparsius fortius, punctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus externis validis ; labro clypeum minus late subfortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendiculatis. [Long. 5^-6^, lat. 24-3i lines. The head scarcely difiers from that of //. jnger, except that the upper outline of the labrum is a little more convex so that BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 155 the middle lobe of the "trilobed outline" appears a little nar- rower. The prothorax is about J again as wide as long, and the base is in about the same proportion wider than the front, which is deeply emarginate, with sharj:) prominent angles ; the sides are nearly straight in their hinder half, thence converging arcuately to the front (the segment is slightly at its widest a little in front of, not at, the base), forming right angles (but somewhat rounded off at extreme apex) with the base — as viewed from above — the base being somewhat bisinuate and moderately lobed in the middle. The elytra have little or no trace of striation, their transverse wrinkling being fairly distinct, their lateral fringe normal, and their membranous apex fairly defined. The general puncturation of the upper surface resembles that of H. gracilijyes — the pro- thorax being, however, rather less closely and less strongly, the elytra decidedly more squamosely, punctured. A marked character of the species is its decidedly close, not very short, pale dirty brown pubescence, which is for the most part inclined backward but not closely adpressed, with a good many erect hairs rather longer than the rest. The hind femora are con- siderably wider than the intermediate, their inner apical angle well produced but not sharp. The hind coxse are only a little shorter than the metasternum and very much longer than the second ventral segment. The metasternum is rather strongly punctured all across — more closely at the sides than in the middle ; the hind coxaB much more sparingly especially on the antero-internal region. The ventral segments are very distinctly punctulate, more closely and strongly at the sides than in the middle. The ventral series consist of long and rather fine hairs and are well defined. The teeth of the anterior tibiae are very robust, the uppermost being decidedly more than half the size of the second tooth. Widely distributed in S. Australia but apparently not very common. H. NIGELLUS, Er. Minus elongatus ; convexus ; postice leviter dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; nigro-piceus ; sat sparsim griseo-pubescens ; capite crebre 156 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX, rugulose, prothorace fortiter minus crebre, elytris fortiter sub- squamose minus crebre, pygidio (hoc capillis erectis dense vestito) crebre minus fortiter, pnnctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibns externis validis ; labro clypeura minus late sat fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; tarsorum posticorum articulo basali secundo fere tertia parte breviori ;* unguiculis appendiculatis. [Long. 4, lat. 21 linos. Clypeus with a strongly reflexed margin obsolete in the middle, which is rather strongly eniarginate ; " tiilobed outline " of head strongly defined — the middle lobe appearing less than half as wide, and the same length, as the lateral ones. The clypeus does not form an even surface with the rest of the head, and the clypeal suture is strongly impressed and somewhat angulated in the middle. The prothorax is slightly more than half again as wide as long, its base about half again as wide as its front, which is rather strongly eniarginate with sharp prominent angles ; the sides are nearly parallel in their basal half, thence arcuately converging forward and forming (as viewed from a particular point above) rather sharp right angles with the base, which is moderately bisinuate and rather strongly lobed in the middle. The transverse wrinkling of the elytra is only moderately defined, there is scarcely any trace of striation, the lateral fringe is normal, the apical membrane well defined. The general puncturation is coarser than in any of the species hitherto men- tioned in this Memoir as common, but it nevertheless bears much resemblance to that of H. gracilipes. The hind femora are very little wider than the intermediate, their inner aj^ical angle scarcely prominent. The hind coxae are much shorter than the metasternum (both being rather strongly, and at the sides closely, punctured — the latter more sparingly in the middle, the former obsoletely in the antero-internal region) and very evidently longer *Tlie length of the basal joint is of course measured from its point of insertion within the apical cavity of the tibia ; casually glanced at it appears even shorter still. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 157 than the second ventral segment, which with the other ventral segments is punctured moderately all across. The ventral series are fine and not particularly conspicuous. The teeth of the anterior tibiae are fairly robust and sharp, the uppermost being about half the size of the second. N.B. — The identification of this insect has fared badly. The original description unfortunately omits the following characters without which certainty is hopeless apart from examination of the type, viz., the relation of the labrum and the clypeus to each other, the number of joints in the antennae, and the details of the claws. The latter two are implied by the assignment of the species to Silojm, but as the acceptance of this evidence would place all Erichson's Ueteronyces in one small group of the genus (viz., that with 9-jointed antennae and claws bifid at the apex) it cannot be considered conclusive. Dr. Burmeister tabulates H. nigellus, Er., as having 9-jointed antennae. M. Lacordaire ex- pressly states that it has 8-jointed antennae, but adds that its hinder claws are simple. The specimen described by me above was taken in Tasmania and bears the name " nigellus, Er.," in the collection of the Hon. W. Macleay. It agrees very fairly with Erichson's description except in being somewhat larger than the size given. But the character on which I rely most in its identi- fication is the colour of the antennae which are pitchy black with the base paler, — a character specially mentioned by Erichson, and of which I know scarcely another example among the species of Heteronyx that I have examined. I cannot help thinking that M. Lacordaire's observation of the claws was inaccurate. H. DUBius, sp.nov. Sat elongatus ; postice minus dilatatus ; sat convexus ; piceo- ferrugineus, antennis paipisque testaceis, pedibus in parte et abdomine toto rufis ; capite crebre rugulose, prothorace fortiter minus crebre, elytris fortiter subsquamose minus crebre, pygidio (hoc capillis erectis vestito) sat crebre minus fortiter, punctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus externis inferioribus 2 validis ; labro 158 REVISION OF THE GENUS EETEROiVYX, clypeum sat late sat fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; tarsorum posticorum articulo basali secunclo vix breviori* ; ungui- culis appendiculatis. [Long. 4f , lat. 2t lines (vix). This insect is so close to H. nigellns, Er., that it would be waste of time and space to add to the above diagnosis more than a statement of the respects in which the description of H. nigellus would not agree with it. 1 distinguish it mainly by its testaceous antennse, and the elongate basal joint of the posterior tarsi which (from its actual root) is scarcely shorter than the second joint. I observe also the following slight differences, viz., the colour in general (possibly only an individual peculiarity except in respect of the antennae, which in no species that I have seen vary with the general colour of the surface), the wider and slighter sinuation of the clypeus in front displaying a wider piece of the labrum, the in general slightly closer puncturation of every part, the less developed apical membrane of the elytra and the much feebler uppermost tooth of the anterior tibiae. The hind coxae also are less narrowed inwards from the external margin, and (in the example before me) there is little or no pubescence on the pro- thorax and elytra, — except of course the fringes. A single example was taken by Mr. J. G. O. Tepper, at Nor- ton's Summit near Adelaide. H. AURICOMUS, sp.nov. Minus elongatus ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat convexus ; ferru- ginous, antennis palpisque testaceis ; pilis aureo-brunneis sat dense vestitus ; capite crebre rugulose, prothorace elytrisque sat fortiter minus crebre, pygidio sat sparsim sat leviter, punctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus externis validis acutis ; labro clypeum minus late sat fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; ungui- culis appendiculatis. [Long. 4, lat. 2 lines. Clypeus with reflexed margin not obsolete in middle which is distinctly emarginate ; " trilobed outline " of head only moderately * Vide note on page 156. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 159 defined, otherwise as that of H. nigellus ; surface of clypeus not quite uniform with that of rest of head, clypeal suture fairly impressed and angulated. Prothorax about three-fifths again as wide as long, its base less than half again as wide as its front, which is moderately emarginate, with fairly prominent angles; the sides converge arcuately from base to front ; most strongly near front ; they form (viewed from above) strongly rounded angles with the base which is moderately bisinuate and feebly and widely lobed in the middle. The puncturation of the elytra is very uniform with that of the prothorax, except that it shows a little tendency to be squamose ; the transverse wrinkling of the elytra is feeble, their lateral fringe normal, their apical membrane little defined. The prothorax is evidently more sparingly and feebly punctured than that of H. nigellus, gracilipes, &lc., and much more closely than that of Augustce and others ; the elytra are more sparingly punctured than is usual in the genus. The hind femora are evidently wider than the intermediate, their inner apical anc^le rather feeble and blunt. The hind coxae are considerably shorter than the metasternum and longer than tlie 2nd ventral segment. Tlie description of the anterior tibiae and the puncturation of the under surface in H. nigellus (above) may be applied to this species ; the ventral series, however, seem more conspicuous than in H. nigellus, and the uppermost tooth on the anterior tibi^ is a little more acute. Darling River ; in collection of Hon. W. Macleay. H. CYGNEUS, sp.nov. Sat elongatus ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat convexus ; ferru- gineus; pilis sat dense vestitus ; clypeo crebre rugulose, capite postice minus crebre, prothorace elyt risque sat for titer minus crebre, pygidio sat sparsim sat leviter, punctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus externis inferioribus 2 validis ; labro clypeum sat late sat fortiter superanti ; an tennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendiculatis. [Long. 3|, lat. 1| lines. 160 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX^ Yeiy close to H. auricomus, but differing as follows ; the labrum is more widely and strongly prominent so that the middle lobe of the " trilobed outline " appears longer than and more than half as wide as the lateral lobes ; the clypeus is less distinctly margined in the middle of its front ; the puncturation of the hind part of the head is much less uniform with that of the clypeus; the hind angles of the prothorax are much better defined ; the apical membrane of the elytra is well defined ; the uppermost tooth on the anterior tibiae is much feebler, being much less than half as large as the middle tooth, the external outline of the tibia (from its base to the apex of the uppermost tooth) being straight, whereas in auricomus that outline is more or less concave. The general form, moreover, is a little more elongate and parallel than that of H. auricomus. Kangaroo Island ; taken by Mr. J. G. 0. Tepper and others. H ELECTUS, sp.nov. Sat elongatus ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat convexus ; ferrugineus, antennis pallidioribus ; pilis fulvis vestitus ; capite crasse rugu- lose, prothorace elytrisque sat fortiter sat sparsim, pygidio subtilius nee crebre, punctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus externis inferioribus 2 validis ; labro clypeum sat late sat fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendiculatis. [Long. 4|, lat. ^ lines. Clypeus with reflexed margin obsolete in middle which is widely and gently emarginate ; "trilobed outline" of head moderately defined, the middle lobe appearing more than half as wide and the same length as the lateral ones ; sides of clypeus less arched than in some species of the genus (e.g. H. auricomus and cygneus) ; surface of clypeus nearly uniform with that of rest of head ; clypeal suture feebly impressed and nearly straight. Prothorax not much less than twice as wide as long, the base nearly half again as wide as the front, which is rather strongly emarginate with sharp prominent angles, the sides gently rounded BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 161 forming (viewed from above) feeble obtuse angles with the base, which is scarcely bisinuate and but feebly lobed hindward all across. The puncturation of the elytra scarcely differs from that of . the protborax except in being a little squamose ; the trans- verse wrinkling is well defined, the lateral fiinge normal, the apical membrane well defined. The general puncturation re- sembles that of H. auricomus, but with the transverse wrinkling of the elytra much more conspicuous. The under surface and legs do not appear to differ noticeably from the same parts in H. auricoimis except in the hind coxse being a little narrower, and the uppermost external tooth on the front tibias considerably smaller ; the external outline of the anterior tibia from its base to the apex of the uppermost tooth is almost quite straight in this species, while in //. auricomus it is quite strongly concave. Port Lincoln ; not rare. N.B. — Some smaller specimens (long. 34 lines) — also from Port Lincoln — are of a pale testaceous colour and seem to have the prothorax slightly more sparsely punctured, but I am not satisfied of their specitic distinctness. They have the same slight but decided peculiarity in the nearly straight sides of the clypeus, giving the Lead in front of the eyes (from some points of view) something of the appearance of the sides presenting two truncate faces. H. CRASSUS, sp nov. Minus elongatns ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat convexus ; ferru- gineus, antennis palpisque testaceis ; pilis sat longis vestitus ; clypeo crebre rugulose, capite postice sparsius rugulose, prothorace SDarsira crasse, elytris crasse squamose nee crebre, pygidio sub- tilius sat crebre, punctulatis ; tibiarnm anticarum dentibus externis inferioribus 2 validis : labro clypeum sat late minus f ortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appen- diculatis. [Lo"g. H (vix), lat. 2^ lines. Clypeus widely and feebly emarginate in front, its reflexed margin scarcely continuous ; " trilobed outline " of head rather 11 162 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX, feeble, the middle lobe appearing considerably more than half as wide as the lateral ones ; surface of clypens almost uniform with rest of head, clypeal suture finely impressed, angulated in middle. Prothorax about half again as wide as loDg, the base a little more than half again as wide as the front, which is rather strongly emargmate and slightly bisinuate with sharp prominent angles, the sides gently arched, the hind angles quite rounded off, the base scarcely bisinuate but moderately lobed hindvvard all across. The puncturation of the elytra is very squamose in appearance, the transverse wrinkling strongly defined, the lateral fringe normal, the apical membrane distinct. The sculpture of the upper surface is extremely like that of H. Julvo-hirtus (Section I. of the genus). The hind coxse are much shorter than the metasternum and evidently longer than the second ventral seg- ment. The under surface is rather evenly punctured, closely and moderately strongly on the sides, — more sparsely and feebly in the middle, the impunctate antero-internal space on the hind coxpe being scarcely noticeable. The ventral series are moderate ; the hind femora moderately wider than the intermediate, their inner apical angle rounded and little prominent. The uppermost tooth on the anterior tibiae is very small. The external outline of the tibia from its base to the apex of the uppermost tooth is straight. Port Lincoln. H. AuGUSTiE, sp.nov. Minus elongatus ; postice sat dilatatus ; sat convexus ; ferru- gineus, antenuis palpisque testaceis ; pilis pallidis vestitus ; capite crebre rugulose, prothorace subtilius sat sparsim, elytris subtilius sat crebre squamose, pygidio leviter minus crebre, punctulatis ; tibiarum anticarum dentibus externis validis ; labro clypeum sat late sat fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendiculatis. [Long. 5J, lat. 2| lines. The head scarcely difiers from that of H. crassits ; the labrum, however, rising slightly more above the level of the clypeus, and the puncturation of the hinder part of the head differing less BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN, 163 from that of the clypeus. The prothorax is nearly twice as wide as long, the base slightly more than half again as wide as the front, which is rather strongly emarginate with sharp prominent angles, the sides gently arched, the hind angles quite rounded off, the base evidently bisinuate and moderately lobed hindward in the middle. The puncturation of the elytra is rather fine and lightly impressed, not very close, very squamose in appearance, the transverse wrinkling well marked but tine, the lateral fringe normal, the apical membrane fairly defined. Of the commoner species perhaps H. consians comes nearest to this in respect of elytral puncturation, but the prothoracic sculpture resembles that of R.ffdvo-hirtiis snid crassus, though evidently finer than in either of those species, and a little more sparing than in the former. The under surface and legs are as the same parts in II. crassus, except that there is a more evident impunctate space on the antero-internal part of the hind coxse, and that the external teeth of the front tibiae are more robust, the uppermost being very fully half as large as the second, and the external outline of the tibia from its base to the apex of the uppermost tooth being gently concave. Port Augusta ; dug up from the soil at the roots of Bticali/2)tu8. H. ANCEPS, sp.nov. Sat elongalus ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat convexus ; ferrugineus, antennis palpisque testaceis ; pilis fulvis vestitus ; clypeo crebre rugulose, capite postice crasse minus crebre, prothorace subtilius sat sparsim, elytris minus crebre subfortiter, pygidio subtiliter leviter sat crebre, punctulatis ; tibiis anticis externe minus fortiter dentatis ; labro clypeum sat late sat fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendiculatis. [Long. 4f , lat. 2|- lines. Very closely allied to the preceding two species and also to II. piger. It differs from them as follows : — from H. piger by its polished and smoothly (and more sparingly) punctulate labrum, the much less close puncturation of its surface, and other characters ; from H. crassus by its wider prothorax (not much 164 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONTX, less than twice as wide as long) of which the hinder angles are slightly more defined and the base is a little more strongly bisinuate while the surface is evidently more finely and decidedly less sparsely punctured, by the much finer (though still not par- ticularly fine) puncturation of its elytra; by the very unusually fine and close puncturation of the middle part of its ventral segments, the somewhat larger Itevigate space at the antero- internal part of the hind coxae, and by the somewhat feebler external structure of its front tibiae which have their lower tw^o teeth smaller and evidently shorter than those of H. crassus (in all respects not specified above the description of H. crassics may be taken as applying to H. anceps) ; from H. Augnstce it differs by the much less close puncturation of the hinder part of the head as compared with that of the clypeus, by the somewhat less rotundity of the hind angles of the prothorax (this difference is only slight), by the fine close and strongly defined puncturation of the middle part of the ventral segments, and by the very much feebler external structure of the anterior tibiae, as well as other characters. Adelaide district ; I find it in several collections, but not in numbers. H. Sloanei, sp.nov. Sat elongatus ; postice leviter dilatatus ; sat convex us; ferru- gineus, antennis palpisque testaceis ; pilis pallide fulvis vestitus ; clypf^o crebre rugulose, capite postice crasse minus crebre, pro- thorace sat fortiter sat crebre (huic angulis posticis, certo visu, rectis), elytris squamose subrugulose sat crebre, pygidio (hoc breviter sparsius piloso) subtilius sparsius, punctulatis ; tibiia anticis externe fortiter dentatis ; labro clypeuni sat anguste sat fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appen- diculatis. [Long. 4^, lat. 2/o lines. Clypeus moderately emarginate in front ; " trilobed outline " of head well defined, the middle lobe appearing scarcely more than half as wide, and about the same length, as the lateral ones ; surface of clypeus quite distinct from that of rest of head, BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 165 clypeal suture well impressed, and angulated in the middle. Pro thorax nearly twice as wide as long, its base more than half again as wide as its front, which is moderately emarginate and very slightly bisinuate with moderate angles, the sides gently arched, the hind angles (viewed from a certain point above) rec- tangular, the base evidently bisinuate and rather narrowly and decidedly lobed hindward in the middle. The elytra are quite like those of H. Angustce, the legs and underside also not appearing to differ noticeably from those of the same insect save that the uppermost external tooth of the anterior tibiae is scarcely so strong. This species bears a good deal of resemblance to H. inger (though it is much smaller), but differs by the nitid surface of its labrum ; also its puncturation is throughout decidedly coarser. From other allied species it differs inter alia as follows : — from crassus by the very much closer puncturation of its upper sur- face; from Augitstce by the very much closer and coarser punctura- tion of its prothoiax ; from anceps by the rectangular (as viewed from a certain point) hind angles of its prothorax (those of ance2:>s appearing from any point of view almost entirely rounded off), and different sculpture of the ventral segments ; and from all the four just mentioned by the less width of the part of the labrum over- topping the clypeus, the middle lobe of the " trilobed outline" thus appearing narrower. Melbourne ; taken by Mr. Sloane (of Mulwala). H. LATERITIUS, Sp.nOV. Sat elongatus ; sat convexus ; pone medium leviter dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; rufo-ferrugineus; pilis adpressis minus dense vestitus; crebrius fortius subsequaliter punctulatus ; labro clypeum fortiter minus late superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendi- culatis ; coxis posticis abdominis segmento ventrali 2° haud longi- oribus. [Long. 4, lat. 2i lines. Clypeus emarginate in front, without a continuous reflexed margin ; " trilobed outline " of head having the middle lobe little 166 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONTX^ more than half as wide ns the lateral ones, rather longer than these, and very strongly convex ; clypeal suture gently arched ; clypeus unusually convex, — or sub-gibbous, very distinct from hinder part of head. Prothorax about f again as wide as long ; widest close to the base ; its base nearly ^ again as wide as its front which is moderately emarginate with the angles fairly sharp and produced ; its sides gently arched, and forming (viewed from above) feebly defined angles with the base which is moderately bisinuate and lobed hindward in the middle. Elytra with more or less feeble indica- tions of striation (most examples showing at least traces of a sutural stria) ; their transverse wrinkling very strongly (at least in some lights) defined; lateral fringe normal ; membranous apex moderate. The punctu ration of the upper surface is about as close in all parts as (except the head where it is closer than) in H. gracilij)es, but is a little finer, more squamose, and less strongly impressed. The hind coxae are as nearly as possible the same length as the external margin of the 2nd ventral segment, and are very much shorter than the metasternum ; like it they are rather coarsely punctulate, — sparsely in the middle, more closely at the sides- The puncturation of the ventral segments does not differ much from that of the metasternum except in being a little finer and nearly uniform all across. The ventral series consist of rather stout hairs and are well defined, but very slender and feeble in the middle. The hind femora are not very much wider than the inter- mediate and have their inner apical angle fairly prominent but not sharp; all the teeth of the anterior tibiae are sharp and strong, — the uppermost about half the size of the second. Adelaide. H. JEJUNUS, sp.nov. Sat elongatus ; sat convexus ; pone medium vix dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; testaceo-rufus, autennarum clava dilution ; minus per- spicue pubescens ; capite (clypeo dense ruguloso excepto) pro- thoraceque (huic angulis posticis rotundatis) subtilius sparsius, elytris magis fortiter magis crebre, pygidio (hoc pilis perlongis sparsim vestito) crebre fortius, punctulatis ; labro clypeum late BY THE REV T. BLACKBURN. * 167 minus fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; ungiiiculis appen- diciilatis ; coxis posticis abdominis segmento ventrali 2° haud longioribus. [Long. 3i lat. If lines. Clypeus feebly and widely emarginate in front, its reflexed margin not quite obsolete even in the middle ; " triloVjed outline " of head very feebly visible from any point of view, the lobes appearing when viewed from the most favourable position to be scarcely developed, with the middle one very little narrower than the external ones ; clypeus not continuous with the rest of the head; clypeal suture strongly marked and undulating. Prothorax a little less than twice as wide as long ; its base about I again as wide as its front, which is moderately emarginate with fairly prominent sharp angles ; its sides moderately curved, most divergent near the base ; its hind angles (viewed from above) much rounded ofi' and not in the least directed hindward ; its base scarcely bisinuate and moderately lobed backward all across. Elytra with scarcely a trace even of a sutural stria; their transverse wrinkling fine and inconspicuous ; their lateral fringe normal ; their membranous apex obscure. The sculpture of the upper surface is evidently coarser and more sparing than of H. testaceus, to which insect this species bears a close superficial resemblance. The hind coxae are of the same length as the second ventral segment, being very much shorter than the metasternum which is closely and moderately strongly punctured at the sides, feebly and sparingly in the middle, — the hind coxae being nearly impunctate, except the sparingly and coarsely punctulate lateral and hinder portions. The ventral segments are coarsely but not closely punctured, — much more feebly in the middle. The ventral series consist of fine hairs and are little conspicuous. The hind femora are but little wider than the intermediate, with their inner apical angle neither sharp nor very prominent. All the teeth of the anterior tibiae are sharp and fairly large, — the uppermost scarcely half the size of the second. Adelaide. 168 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX^ H. DENTIPES, Sp.nOV. Sat elongatus ; sat convexus ; pone medium leviter dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; piceo-ferrugineus, antennis palpisque testaceis ; vix })ubescens ; clypeo crebre rugulose, capite postice sat for titer sat crebre, prothorace (huic angulis posticis siibrectis) subtiliter sat sparsim, elytris sparsius minus subtiliter, pygidio (hoc pilis per- longis sparsim \estito) fortiter minus crebre, punctulatis ; clypeo transversim concavo ; sutura clypeali fortiter carinata ; tibiarura anticarum dentibus externis perlongis ; labro clypeum late minus fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; unguiculis appendicu- latis ; coxis posticis abdominis segmento 2^ subbrevioribus. [Long. 4, lat. 2 lines. Clypeus truncate in front with its front margin thickened in a triangularly elevated manner ; " trilobed outline " of head only fairly developed, the middle lobe appearing better developed and very little narrower than the lateral ones ; clypeus oi very peculiar form, being subcompressed longitudinally in the middle (thus appearing rather abruptly convex down the middle) and at the same time concave transversely ; the triangularly elevated apex of the middle part of the clypeus seems to result from the trun- cation of the compressed portion mentioned above. The clypeal suture appears as a strongly elevated carina or " wheal " bisinuate in front, and at the sides reflexed and running up the head (while gradually sinking to the level of the surface) nearly to the level of the back of the eyes. The prothorax is twice as wide as long, its base a little more than J again as wide as its front which .is moderately emarginate with fairly prominent sharp angles ; its sides diverging from front to behind middle, thence nearly straight to base, with which they form angles that viewed from a certain position above appear (quite sharply) rectangular : the base dis- tinctly (from some points of view strongly') bisinuate and moderately lobed in the middle. Elytra with faint suggestions of striation, their transverse wrinkling scarcely marked, their lateral fringes normal, their membranous apex obsolete. The punctura- tion of the upper surface in general is tiner, smoother, more sparing BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 169 (and consequently more distinct) than in any of the common species hitherto described in this monograph. It is most like that of H, testaceus except in being very much less close The hind coxae are scarcely so wide as the second ventral segment and very much shorter than the metasternum. The sculpture and pubes- cence of the under surface scarcely differ from those of the preceding species {H. jej units). The hind femora are decidedly wider than the intermediate, with their inner apical angle rather prominent but a good deal rounded off. The lower two teeth of the anterior tibige are unusually long and slender, the uppermost sharp but small (less than half the size of the second). S. Australia (Balaclava). H. DEBILIS; sp.nov. Sat eiongatus ; sat convexus ; pone medium leviter dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; piceo-ferrugineus, antennis palpisque dilutioribus ; vix pubescens ; clypeo crebre rugulose, capite postice sparsim subtiliter, prothorace minus sparsim minus subtiliter (huic angulis posticis subrectis), elytris confuse subsquamose sat crebre, pygidio (hoc longitudinaliter subcarinato) fortius crebrius, punctulatis ; tibiariim anticarum dentibus externis perlongis ; labro clypeum latissime minus fortiter superanti ; antennis 8-articulatis ; ungui- culis appendiculatis. [Long. 3f, lat. It lines (vix), Clypeus gently emarginate in front, its reflexed margin scarcely indicated in the middle part ; owing to the slight convexity of the upper outline of the labrum the appearance of a " trilobed outline " of the head is only obscurely attainable from a point of view far back and almost level with the surface of the head. The clypeus does not quite form an even surface with the rest of the head ; the clypeal suture is well impressed and nearly straight. The prothorax does not differ from that of the preceding except in its puncturation being a little less fine, and indeed in all other respects the description of H. dentijyes may be taken as applying to this species with the following qualifications, viz., the sculpture 170 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX. of the elytra is somewhat coarser (a little squamose in appearance) with more evident transverse wrinkling, and the uppermost tooth on the anterior tibiae is somewhat more pleveloped. It will thus appear that the present insect is very close to the preceding, differing chiefly in the structure of the labrura, clypeus, and clypeal suture, and the very much finer and more sparing punc- turation of the hinder part of the head. I think, however, that it is really distinct, as the differences just mentioned are not of a kind that appear to distinguish the sexes in this genus (1 do not think that I have seen a male of either species), and moreover are accompanied by decided though slight differences in general sculpture, &c. It may be noted also that H. dehilis is a more nitid species than H. dentipes. S. Australia ; Sedan, taken by Mr. B. S. Eothe. DESCRIPTION OF A NEW OENUS (BATRAGHOMYIA, W. S. MACLEAY, MS.), AND TWO SPECIES OF DIPTEROUS INSECTS PARASITIC UPON AUSTRALIAN FROGS. By Frederick A. A. Skuse. (Plate x) More than twenty years ago Mr. George F. Angas reared a Dipterous insect from a small frog, Cystignathus Sydneyensis, Kr. (^=Crinia signifera), for which Mr. W. S. Macleay devised the appropriate appellation Batrachomyia, but did not characterize the newly discovered genus. The original specimen was deposited in the Australian Museum. The first printed record we have relating to Batrachomyia is a note by Mr. Gerard Ki-efift ( then Curator of the Australian Museum), read before the Entomological Society of N.S.W,, in 1863 (Trans. I. p. 100), giving an account of the metamorphoses of a fly reared by him from another frog, (Uj^eroleia) Hyperolia marmorata, which he considered to belong to the same genus as the above-mentioned fly, but which to all appearance represented another species ; the author also roughly figures different stages of the insect's existence, and gives a dia;^ram of the wing of the imago. Mr. Krefft says that the parasite is most common upon Cystignathus Sydneyensis ( Grinia signifera), though he has met with it upon Pseudophryne Bihronii; and he observes that whenever he found specimens of Hyla Citropus they were always infested with them ; but although the larvae all reached the pupa state he could not succeed in keeping them alive afterwards ; only in the case of U. marmorata had the attempt been successful. Both these specimens appear to have been subsequently mislaid, for Mr. Olliff has on more than one occasion searched in vain for them in the Entomological 172 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS OF DIPTEROUS INSECTS, Collection of the Australian Museum; I have, however, lately found a single specimen each of the pupa and imago labelled ^^ Batra- chomyia ^-lineata ; in frogs of N.S.W.," in the collection of the late Mr. W. S. Macleay. Between the months of June and December of last year Mr. J. J. Fletcher obtained and kindly handed over to me three frogs infested with Dipterous larvae which I have in all cases successfully bred out ; I am therefore enabled to publish the characters of the genus, and in addition to compare the few notes I have been able to make with those of Mr. Krefft. As pointed out by Mr. KrefFt, the larvae are found between the skin and flesh on difierent parts of the sides and back of the frogs ; sometimes only one parasite is present, at others two or three, whilst a spirit specimen of Helioporus cdbopttnctatus from W. Australia, in the Macleay Museum, nursed as many as five. After the emergence of the fly-larvse the frogs seemed little or none the worse, though according to Mr. Krefft's statement they ought to have succumVjed to the effects of the parasites. His frogs, however, may have died of starvation. The presence of a full grown larva is indicated by a glandular-looking swelling of the skin about half an inch in length and having a small aperture at one end. Having lived in their host for a certain at present unknown time, the larvae leave their nidus and crawl away to some dark and damp situation (such as the underside of a log or a stone*), become quiescent; while their skin hardens gradually, blackens, and becomes the puparium. The newly emerged larva is extremely averse to the light, crawls very slowly, moving the anterior portion of its body from side to side as if surveying the situation or looking for some convenient spot in which to pupate. As all my larvae, except one, emerged and assumed the next stage during the night, and as I was unwilling to sacrifice the only live specimen which I had the brief opportunity of examining, besides its being the only example reared from Pseud. Bibro7iii, I can * Last October, I found in a damp umbrageous spot on Saddle-back Mountain, near Kiama^ a puparium attached to the underside of a leaf. BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 173 simply give a very general description of its appearance. There may be marked specific distinctions between the larvae of different species. Mr. Krefft mentions that the larva found by him in Hyla Citropus varied in structure considerably fi'oni all others. I must postpone for the present a critical examination of the mouth-parts. The living larva is pale lemon-yellow, very soft, glabrous, with the skin pellucid ; elliptic-ovate, ll-segmented (including head), with very indistinct stigmata ; head with two divaricate tentacles ; posterior extremity of the body furcate. The posterior tentacles evidently aid in progression. Pupa exhit iting the general appearance of the imago, entirely enveloped in an extremely delicate transparent skin fitting glove- like round the insect. Arista of the antennae overlapping the eyes at the tip, directed sidewards. On the underside the wings reach to about the posterior margin of the second abdominal segment, but are separated from each other at the tips. Fore and inter- mediate legs beginning at the shoulders (with the tibiae) running between the wings, the fore tarsi reaching to a little above the extremity of the wings, the intermediate terminating level with the extremity. Tarsi of the hind-legs issuing from under the wings just before the tip, almost touching at the tips, nearly reaching the posterior margin of the fourth abdominal segment. Puparium exhibiting the general appearance of the larva, black, opaque, with more or less distinct transverse wrinkles. Six species of Australian frogs at least are known to be subject to the attacks of Batrachomyia, but at present it cannot be stated definitely whether or no each species of frog harbours its own special species of fly, though as both the flies now described were only bred from particular frogs, it seems not at all improbable that this will ultimately be found to be constantly the case with all species. The specimen in the Macleay collection named Batrachomyia quadrilineata, belongs to the same species as an example reared by me from PseudopJiryne Bibronii ; it is unfortunate that the label of the former does not specify any particular frog. As far as observations go, the time of year at which the larvae leave the frog is indefinite, and the duration of the several stages 174 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS OF DIPTEROUS INSECTS, of existence from the emergence to the imago state is equally uncertain, as the following table will show ; but it is not im- probable that the seasonal differences of temperature, and the necessarily artificial conditions under which their hosts lived in continement may have had something to do with the latter. Name of Frog. Obtained. LARV.E EMERGED. PUPARITJM FORMED. Fly emerged. Hyperolia ( Uperoleia) marmorata Begin. April. "In a few days." "In 86 hours." 32 days. Hyla phyllochroa June 26. July 16. During night. * (Containing three larvae.) »> July 17. >» 62 days. j> July 19. 5J 63 days. Hyla phyllochroa Nov. 10. December 1. >» 24 days. (Containing one larva). Pseudophryne Bibronii ,, January 30. During clay. 22 days. (Containing one larva). (in about 12 hours ?) * One puparium was opened on September 4th in order to obtain the pupa for descriptive purposes. N.B. — In rearing the larvae I have followed the course adopted by Mr. Krefft, of placing the frog in a glass vessel provided with damp moss and earth. Batrachomyia, gen. nov. (W. S. Macleay, MSS.) Head transverse, as broad as tbe thorax ; vertex with a very few short bristles; front flattened; face oVdique. Eyes rather rounded, but higher than broad. Antennae very short, not reaching the epistoma ; third joint twice the length of the second, nearly round, a little emarginate at the base ; sixth slender, bare (pi. x., fig. 10). Thorax rather longer than broad, with a few short lateral bristles ; transverse suture distinct at each side; scutellum rather small, semi- circular, rounded at the corners, fringed with short bristles. Abdomen ovate, five-segmented ; first segment large, as long as the three next following ; last two segments and anal joint much narrower than the preceding segments, curved downwards. Legs BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 175 of moderate length and thickness ; tibiae without bristles, the intermediate pair with very small spurs ; hind femora slender ; hind tibiae slightly curved (pi. x., fig. 9). Wings rather short and broad ; costal vein without bristles, ending at the tip of the fourth longitudinal; auxiliary vein wanting, its course indistinctly indicated by a pale wing-fold-like line ; first longitudinal vein gradually bent, terminating in the costa at a point rather beyond mid-way between the transverse shoulder vein and the tip of the second longi- tudinal, and opposite the posterior transverse vein; third longitudinal vein originating opposite a point mid-way between the transverse shoulder vein and the tip of the first longitudinal ; hinder transverse vein slanting ; foremost of the two small basal cells united with the discal cell, the posterior one entirely wanting; sixth longitudinal vein stopping immediately before reaching the border * (pi. x., fig. 7). Obs. — Judging by the above characters this genus might be considered identical with Oscinis, but the far greater size and peculiar habits of the contained species both give it an un- mistakable distinction, and to my mind justify the retention of Mr. Macleay's generic name. Batrachomyia nigritarsis, sp.n. (J. — Long 2f ; alar. 2 J lines; 9 long SJ ; alar. 3J. Antennae entirely black. Head ferruginous-ochre ; the pubescence on the front and short bristles on the vertex black. Ocelli on a small deep brown or black triangular patch. Eyes black, with pale yellow pubescence. Thorax ochreous-brown, shining, densely covered with short black hairs ; very indistinct traces of four light brownish bands similarly disposed to those in £. quadri- lineata ; pleurae and pectus bright ochreous or ferruginous- ochreous, the latter with short yellow hairs ; scutellum ochreous or brownish-ochreous with short black hair, fringed at the apex * This vein runs so close to the border that the fact of its really not reaching it can only be ascertained by very close examination with the ordinary lens. 4 176 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS OF DIPTEROUS INSECTS, with short black bristles ; metanotum ochreous-brown, shining. Halteres pale ochre-yellow or brownish-ochreous. Abdomen shorter than the thorax (in dried specimens), as broad as it or a little broader, shining, castaneous, tinged with ochreous-browD^ the last two segments wholly ochreous in the 9 ^ clothed with short black hairs, intermixed with some yellowish hairs in the Q ; anal joint in the $ nodose, in the 9 pointed. Legs densely clothed with yellow hairs. Coxse and femora ochreous, the latter black at the apex. Tibiae and tarsi black, the hind tibise ochreous or brownish-ochreous, black at the base and apex ; ungues black. Wings considerably tinted with yellow on the anterior portion of the basal half, the remainder hyaline : veins dark brown, ochreous-brown towards the base of the wing ; very pale reflections. Middle transverse vein erect in the ^J, slanting in the ^ ; posterior transverse vein straight, separated from the middle transverse vein a distance equal to twice its length (rather more than this in tlie ^), and at a point mid-way between the latter and the tip of the fifth longitudinal vein. Larva^ Q, long 5^ ; broad 2 lines. Puparium, (J, long 4^ ; broad 2. 9, long 5^; broad 21. Ilab. — Illawarra, &c., N.S.W. Bred from two specimens of HyJa phyllochroa, obtained by Mr. Fletcher in June and November respectively. Batrachomyia quadrilineata, sp.n. (W. S. Macleay, MSS.) (J. — Long 2^-3 ; alar. 2 J lines. Antennae ochreous-brown or ferruginous, the arista deep brown or black. Head ochreous or ferruginous-ochre ; the pubescence on the front and short bristles on the vertex black. Ocelli on a small deep brown or black triangular patch. Eyes black (deep olivaceous whilst living), with pale yellow pubescence. Thorax ochreous-brown, shining, rather densely covered with short yellow hairs ; traversed by four parallel longitudinal narrow bands of black, the lateral ones somewhat broader than the median two, starting below the humeri, completely interrupted near the anterior extremity by the transverse suture (thus cutting off a squarish portion), not BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 177 reaching as far as the scutellum, the median ones close together, starting from the anterior margin, not reaching quite as far posteriorly as the lateral ones ; pleurae and pectus ochreous or ochreous-brown, the latter with yellow hairs ; a small black spot before the intermediate coxae, and another much smaller almost linear before the hind coxae; scutellum ochreous or brownish- ochre, shining, covered with short black hairs, fringed at the apex with short black bristles ; metanotum shining black. Halteres pale ochre-yellow, more brownish towards the base of the stem. Abdomen shorter than the thorax (in dried speci- mens), as broad as it or a little narrower, brown, more or less castaneous, tinged with ochreous, shining, clothed with short yellow hairs. Legs brownish-yellow, with a dense short yellow pubescence ; ungues brown. Wings very slightly ochreous at the base, hyaline, the veins dark brown or blackish, ochreous- brown towards the base of the wing ; delicate opaline reflections. Middle transvei'se vein erect ; posterior transverse vein slightly bent, separated from the middle transverse vein a distance equal to scarcely twice its length, and at a point rather nearer to the latter than to the tip of the fifth longitudinal vein (pi. x., fig. 7). Larva, long 4^ ; broad If lines. Puparium, long 4; broad 1|- lines ; with rather more distinct transverse wrinkles than in the last species. Hah. — Burrawang, N.S.W. Bred from specimen of Fseudo- phryne Bihronii obtained by Mr. Fletcher in November. EXPLANATION OF PLATE X. Fig. L Larva of Batrachomyia quadrilineata. Fig. 2. Pupa of Batrachomyia nigritarsis (back view). Fig. 3. ,, ,, „ (side view). Fig. 4. ,, ,, ,, (front view). Fig, 5. Puparium of Batrachomyia nigritarsis. Fig. 5a. „ ,, ,, anterior portion detached on the escape of the imago. Fig. 6. Batrachoinyia quadrilineata. Fig. 6a. ,, ,, natural size. Fig. 7. Diagram of wing of Batrachomyia quadrilineata. Fig. 8. Head Fig. 9. Hindleg [■ of Batrachomyia quadrilineaia. Fig. 10. Antenna 12 178 LIST OF THE AUSTRALIAN PAL^ICHTHYESy LIST OF THE AUSTRALIAN PAL^IC HTHYES, WITH NOTES ON THEIR SZNONYMY AND DISTRIBUTION. By J. Douglas Ogilby, F.L.S., Assistant Zoologist, Australian Museum. Part ii. In this part are contained the remaining families of the Selachoidean Palceichthyes, namely, the Notidanidce^ ScylliidcBy Eeterodontidce, Spinacidce, SquatinidcE, and PristiojyJioridcE : of these twenty-five species are enumerated, seven of which, ^.e., Scylliorhinus analis, Ginglymostoma concolor, Stegostoma tigrinum, Farascyllium collare, Ghiloscyllium inmctatum, Crossorhinus dasy- pogon, and Echinorhinus spinosus, have been added to the Aus- tralian fauna since 1884. Two of these (S. analis and P. collare) have been described since that date in the Proceedings of this Society, the former in Vol. x. p. 445, the latter in Vol. iii. (2) p. 1310; for the record of E. sjoinosus we are indebted to Prof. McCoy, who has done so much to elucidate the zoology of Victoria both fossil and recent ; while that of 0. pimctatinn is due to Dr. Klunzinger ; the remaining three, being well-known species from the tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, were certain to have been recorded sooner or later from our northern shores, as without doubt will many other species when our long and varied sea-board has been systematically examined. In the present part the only points on which I feel any doubt concern (1) the correctness of the identification of Mr. Zietz's South Australian Crossorhinus with the C. tentaculatus of Dr. Peters, but in the present state of our knowledge of both forms it is perhaps better to follow Mr. Zietz, who, in a letter received BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 179 subsequently to the writing of my note on this species, informs me that he has decided to describe the South Australian fish as distinct under the name of C. stirlingi ; (2) the propriety of separating the three alleged species of Acanthias, the characters of which I find to vary greatly ; and (3) the specific value of Pristio- phorus nudipinnis. In connection with the synonymy I have felt it incumbent upon me to alter the names of the following genera : — Notidanus to Heptanchus, Scyllium to Scylliorhinus, and Rhina to Squatina. NOTIDANID-^. Heptanchus, Ratinesque (1810). 21. H. iNDicus, Cuv., sp. Coast of New South Wales, common. The " Seven-gilled Shark." Victoria, one of the rarer sharks in Hobson's Bay {Mc Coy). Tasmania {AUport, MS.). Rafinesque's excellent name having the priority of that of Cuvier by several years, I can see no reason whatever for its rejection, and I therefore unhesitatingly adopt it. The increased number of the gill-openings being the more important of the two principal differences between this and the two preceding families, I am at a loss to under- stand— seeing that a genus is merely a number of species, having two or more characters in common, placed in juxta-position for the sake of convenience — how Rafin- esque's two generic names can be ignored. SCYLLIID^. Scylliorhinus, Blainville (1816). 22. S. MACULATUS, Bl.Sckn., sp. North-western coast of Australia. Bramble Bay {Brit. Mus.). Port Darwin {Macleay Mus). The genus Scylliorhinus having been established by Blainville in 1816, takes precedence of Cuvier's Scyllium by thirteen years, and must therefore be retained. 180 LIST OF THE AUSTRALIAN PAL^ICHTEYES, *23. S. ANALis, Ogilhy, sp. Port Jackson, and its vicinity {Austr. Mus.), common; the "Spotted Dog-fish." I have been unable to ascertain the northern limit of the range of this species, which is at a glance distinguishable from the preceding by the non-confluence of the nasal valves ; it should, however, be compared with the Japanese S. buergeri, to which it seems to be nearly related. Mr. Johnston in his " Catalogue of Tasmanian Fishes " in- cludes S. maculatios, and states that the " nasal valves are confluent " ; this would of course be conclusive evidence as to the non-identity of the Tasmanian with my species, but as his short diagnosis is evidently taken word for word from Dr. Giinther's catalogue description of the true S. maculatus — Mr. Johnston not having personally examined a Tasmanian specimen — I consider it highly probable that my species has been mistaken for the northern one. 24. S. LATICEPS, Dnm., sp. Tasmania. Note. — This Dog-fish has a very wide range in the Pacific, having been recorded as abundant in New Zealand waters (Sherrin, Handbook of the Fishes of N.Z., p. 121), and more recently from the Californian coast by Messrs. Jordan and Gilbert. GiNGLYMOSTOMA, Miiller and Henle (1837). *25. G. CONCOLOR, Riipp.j sp. Port Moresby, New Guinea (Macleay). In the British Museum Catalogue of Fishes, viii. p. 409, Dr. Giinther mentions as adult an example which measures twenty-eight inches only, but he unfortu- nately omits to mention the sex of the specimen ; I hardly think that the term "adult" can be correctly applied to this example, since a male from the Solomon Islands, in the collection of the Australian Museum, though measuring no less than sixty-six inches, is presumedly immature, the claspers being but little developed. Of course there is a possibility that the individual in question BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 181 may have sustained some injury which has resulted in a partial or even permanent arrest in the development of the sexual organs, which would at once account for the possibly abnormal decrescence in the size which these have attained in our specimen, and being barren, for its increased size. Stegostoma, Muller and Henle (1837). ■^26. S. TiGRiNUM, Gmel., sp. Cape York, Q. (Austr. Mus.J. Parascyllium, Gill (1861). 27. P. VARiOLATUM, Bum., sp. Tasmania. As with the two succeeding species this Dog-fish appears to be individually scarce, since from his short note on the subject it does not seem that Mr. Johnston has ever met with a recent example. I think it highly probable that the cause of this apparent scarcity will be found to be due to the ordinary habitat of the genus being in deep water, or at least in water of such a depth as to exceed the limits to which the professional fishermen of these coasts confine themselves. *28. P. COLLARE, BJcO. Outside Port Jackson, N.S.W., in seventy fathoms (Austr. Mus.); vide P.L.S. N.S.W. iii. (2) 1888, p. 1310, 29. P. NUCHALE, McCoy. Port Phillip, Vic. (McCoy), scarce. Chiloscyllium, Miiller and Henle (1837). 30. C. OCELLATUM, Gmd., sp. Port Jackson, N.S.W. (Austr. Mus.), rare. North coast of Australia. Port Moresby, New Guinea (Austr. Mus.), common. Richardson's C. trispeculare is merely a variety of this species. ■^31. C. PUNCTATUM, M. y^r(^M WEDNESDAY, 24th APRIL, 1889.N^ / % v^'^ The President, Professor Stephens, M.A., F.G.S., in the Chair. Mr. C. I. K. Uhr, and Dr. Cobb were present as visitors. The President made the following announcements: — (1) That Mr. Henry Deane had deposited with the Society on loan his valuable collections of Australian and other seaweeds, which had been collected and named by the late Dr. Harvey. (2) That there would be no Excursion in May. DONATIONS. "Zoologischer Anzeiger." XII. Jahrg., Nos. 300-302 (1889). From the Editor. "Entomologisk Tidskrift." Arg. IX. (1888). De la i^rt de la Societe Entomologique de Stockholm. 13 194 DONATIONS. " Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia comparata della R. Universita di Torino." Vol. III., Nos. 49-52 (1888), and one plate. From the Museum. Memoires de la Societe des Naturalistes de la Nouvelle-Russie, Odessa." Tome XIIL, Part 2 (1888). From the Society. " Bulletin of the American Geographical Society." Vol. XX., Supplement (1888). From the Society. *' The American Naturalist." Vol. XXIII., No. 265 (January, 1889). From the Editors. "The Canadian Record of Science." Vol. I., Nos. 1 & 2 ; TIL, No. 4 (1884-88). From the Natural History Society y Montreal. " The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London.'* Vol. XLV., Part 1 (No. 177), 1889. From, the Society. " The Pharmaceutical Journal of New South Wales." n.s. Vol. IL, Part 4 (April, 1889). From the Editor. "The Victorian Naturalist." Vol. V., No. 12 (April, 1889). From the Field Nattcralists' Club of Victoria. *' Annales de la Societe Geologique de Belgique." Tomes XIIL ; XIV., Liv. 1 ; XV. (1887-88). From the Society. " Acta Societatis pro Fauna et Flora Fennica." Tomes III. and IV. (1886-88); " Meddelanden af Societas." xiv. Haftet (1888). Fro7n the Society. " Systematic Census of Australian Plants, &c." By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M. & Ph.D., F.R.S. Fourth Supplement (for 1886, 1887 & 1888). Fo^om the Author. DONATIONS. 195 " Comptes Rendus des Seances de rAcademie des Sciences, Paris." Tome CVIII., Nos. 1-4 (1889). From the Academy. "Proceedings of the Royal Society of London." Vol. XLV., No. 273 (1888). From the Society. *'Sur le Gulf-Stream — Recherches pour ^tablir ses Rapports avec la C6te de France: Campagne de VHirondelle^ 1885." Par S. A. le Prince Albert de Monaco. Also eight Pamphlets on various subjects in connection with the Voyage of the Yacht "Hirondelle" by the same author. From the Author. *'Feuille des Jeunes Naturalistes." No. 221 (March, 1889). From the Editor. "Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Naturhistorisk Forening i Kjobenhavn for Aaret 1888." From the Society. "The Gold-Fields of Victoria — Reports of the Mining Regis- trars for the quarter ended 31st December, 1888." From the Secretary for Mines, Melbourne. " Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 1889." Vol. VI., Part 1. From the Society. "Report of the Auckland Institute and Museum for 1888-89." From the Institute. " Verhandlungen des naturhistorischen Vereines der preussischen Rheinlande und Westfalens." Folge 5, Jahrg. V. Zweite Halfte (1888). From the Society. "Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, 1888." Part 6a (December) ; 1889, Part 1 (February). From the Society. 196 DONATIONS. "Annalen des k.k. naturhistorischen Hofmuseums (Wien)." Band III., Nos. 3 and 4. From the Micseum. "Eecords of the Geological Survey of India." Vol. XXII., Part 1 (1889). From the Director. "The Insect Fauna of Lord Howe Island." (Pamphlet.) By A. Sidney Olliflf, F.E.S. From the Author. PAPERS READ NOTE ON THE PROBABLE OCCURRENCE OF ALDRO- VANDA VESICULOSA IN N.S.W. By Baron Von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M.D., Ph.D., F.R.S. (Plate XVI.) In the year 1747 a highly remarkable aquatic plant was discovered in Italy, and described by Monti, then Professor at Bologna, namely, the Aldrovanda vesiculosa. Long afterwards it was found in Bengal, then in the south of France, later in Austria, south-western Russia and Prussia. Suddenly and quite unexpectedly, in 1867, the plant was gathered in a swamp near Rockhampton, Queensland, by the late Mr. P. O'Shanesy ; thus it is but reasonable to suppose that it may yet be found in many other places in Australia ; but it is apt to escape notice, being usually entangled among other water-plants. Indeed I found fragments of Aldrovanda among dried specimens of Utricularia vulgaris, gathered in Silesia at the commencement of the century, the collector never observing the prize which had come within his reach. To draw prominently attention to this most curious weed, a lithographic illustration is prepared now for Australian use ; and the advice is given, when lakes, swamps or river-bends are raked for floating or submerged plants, to watch also for fragments of Aldrovanda. It seems shy in flowering ; but the petals, when developed, are rather conspicuous and white. At Calcutta the plant occurs also in *' salt pans ;" but Dr. Roxburgh already found it there in fresh waters also, alike to its ordinary occurrence elsewhere. Ripe fruits seem seldom to have been obtained. The plant soon becomes rootless, moving free about. The folded but vesicular- turgid, transparent and irritable lamina of the leaves catches (and perhaps digests) 198 PROBABLE OCCURRENCE OF ALDROVANDA VESICULOSA IN N.S.W. minute aquatic animals. The stigmas, when the flower rises to the surface, obtain the pollen through the action of insects (Schenk). Irrespective of seedlings, the plant hibernates from leaf-buds (Leiboldt). Vascular bundles in the leaves are wanting (Oels). Aldrovanda, as a genus, differs solely from Drosera in its vegetative organs, the external aspect being much that of D. stolonifera from West Australia; and here it should also be remarked, that the great differences exhibited in habitual respect and leaf-organisation by species of Utricularia count not as of generic value, U. stellaris being even provided with a whorl of turgid float-organs under the raceme, consisting of metamorphosed leaves. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVI. Aldvovanda veskidosa. Fig. 1. A whorl of leaves. Figs. 2 and 3. Separate leaves. Fig. 4. Flower unexpanded. Fig. 5. Flower expanded. REMARKS ON FOSSILS OF PERMO-CARBONIFEROUS AGE, FROM NORTH-WESTERN AUSTRALIA, IN THE MACLEAY MUSEUM. By R. Etheridge, June. Paleontologist to the Australian Museum, and Geological Survey of New South Wales. (Plate XVII.) Introduction. — At a meeting of this Society, held in April, 1888, the Hon. W. Macleay exhibited some fossils from the neighbour- hood of Derby, North-western Australia. They are contained in a sandy ferruginous rock, and are said by Mr. Froggatt, who collected the specimens, to come from a small area mapped by the late Mr. E. T. Hardman,"^ as a portion of his Pindan Sands. The position indicated by the collector on the chart in question coincides with a portion of Hardman's Pindan Group. The latter regarded these deposits as of Tertiary age, and distinctly states that they proved to him unfossiliferous. Great, therefore, was my surprise to find the organic remains exhibited clearly of a Carboniferous facies. Mr. Macleay was kind enough to allow me to have the loan of the specimens in question, with others from neighbouring localities, in the latter case unquestionably from the great Carboniferous area of the Napier Range, as mapped by Mr. Hardman, and obtained by Mr. Froggatt during the same visit. The full list of localities is as follows : — * First and Second R,eports on the Geology of the Kimberley District, Western Australia, by Edward T. Hardman. W. Australia Legislative Council Papers, 1884, No. 31 ; Ihid. 1885, No. 34. Perth, 1884-85 (Govern ment Printer). 200 REMARKS ON FOSSILS OF PERMO-CARBONIFEROUS AGE, (1) Ironstone Ridge, twenty-five miles south-east of Yeeda Station, on the Fitzroy River. (2) Mount Marmion, near the junction of the Lennard and Meda Rivers, (3) Mount North Creek, Napier Range. (4) Lennard River Gorge, Napier Range. (5) Barrier Range Homestead, Napier Range. (6) Oscar Range, north-east side. Before proceeding to a description of the organic remains, a short sketch of the Pindan Sands and of the recognised Carbo- niferous beds, extracted from Mr. Hardman's Reports,* will not be out of place. (1) The Pindan Sands and Gravels are the youngest of the Geological formations in the Derby area, excepting, of course, recent alluvial deposits, and were provisionally called by Hardman, Pliocene. They were termed "Pindan" — "from principally occur- ring in the thickly wooded undulating country termed by the natives 'pindan.'" These beds consist of reddish sands with pea- like nodules of ironstone, gravels, coarse conglomerate, grits and sandstones, the result of the consolidation of detrital deposits by carbonate of lime, or ferruginous material. There are no good sections, but these beds are known to be from twenty to thirty feet thick. About ten miles south of the Feeda Station where they attain this thickness, these sands and gravels rest on " coarse sandstone, probably of Carboniferous age." No fossils were found in the Pindan beds by Mr. Hardman, " but there can be little question that they are of comparatively recent age. I have classified them provisionally as belonging to the Pliocene period."! Mr. Hardman further added that thick beds of consolidated iron- stone conglomerate were associated with the sands and gravels in places, often assuming the form of low, flat-topped, and conical hills, t * O/J. cit. pp. 7 & 9 and 14 & 15, respectively. t Fii-st Report, 1884, No. 31, p. 8. + Second Report, 1885, No. 34, p. 14, BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUN. 201 With regard to the area occupied by these rocks, it is a con- siderable one. Starting from Roebuck Bay on the west, a narrow- band has been traced eastward to the mouth of the Fitzroy River in King Sound, extending north-westwards to and beyond the mouths of the May and Med a Rivers. Thence towards the south- west the Pindan Sands and Gravels occupy the whole of the country between the Fitzroy and Lennard Rivers as far as the Napier, Oscar, and Prince Leopold Ranges, which are composed of Carboniferous limestone and metamorphic rocks. Throughout this area are dotted the remains of a Carboniferous formation — the division (b) of the next paragraph — as isolated hills of sand- stones, grits and conglomerates,"^ which apparently crop up through the Pindan beds. (2) The Carboniferous Formation, as recognised by Mr. Hard- man, occupies an immense area in the Kimberley district, and consists of two subdivisions — (a) an upper or Sandstone Series, and (6) a lower or Limestone Group. The former is a yellowish- reddish freestone, and of it many of the most prominent mountain ranges are formed, such as the Grant Ranges, the St. George Ranges, and Mount Anderson. " It may reasonably be asserted that this sandstone formation is considerably over 1000 feet in thickness." Again, the author adds: "And although in great part hidden by the newer deposits described above, it is certain that it extends from near the sea-coast, as at Roebuck Bay, for a distance of 190 miles into the interior. . . . Numerous exposures of the sandstone rocks are seen to emerge from the alluvial and pindan coverings." In the Lennard River area, Car_ boniferous ])lants were found in these beds, but no marine fossils. f On the contrary, on the Fitzroy River the sandstones proved very fossiliferous, the organic remains, as listed by Mr. Hardman, being characteristic Carboniferous Limestone species. J The second subdivision (b), or Carboniferous Limestone in the * First Report, 1884, No. 31, map. t First Report, 1884, No. 31, p. 8. : Second Report, 1885,* No. 34, p. 16. 202 REMARKS ON FOSSILS OF PERMO-CARBONIFEROUS AGE, Kimberley district, is of large extent, and in it are comprised Nos. 2-6 of the above localities. It is a light-coloured magnesian limestone interbedded with thick layers of shale, and thin arenaceous bands usually fossiliferous, the list given by Hardman being well-known Carboniferous Limestone species. It comprises within its area the Napier, Hull, Rough, Oscar, and other ranges."^' The sum of Mr. Hardman's explorations went to show that "there are wide-spread deposits of Carboniferous rocks in "Western Australia, although, even within the last few years, this has been doubted."! We may now consider the localities yielding the two sets of fossils seriatim. Ironstone Ridge and its Fossils. — From this locality Mr. Froggatt has collected a sandy ironstone crammed with fossils, which weather out in a peculiar state of preservation, and from their crowded nature it is difficult to sufficiently individualise specimens for description. Mr. Froggatt informs me that this ridge is about seven miles long, and from thirty to forty feet above the surrounding country. It is composed of horizontally bedded ironstone. The organic remains are essentially Permo-Car- boniferous in age, answering to those of our Lower and Upper Marine beds in the New South Wales coal-bearing series. Iron- Stone Ridge is not shown on Hardman's map, but other parallel, and most probably similar, ridges are near, such as Grant Range and Mount Anderson, the latter being described as composed of " red and white sandstone, with flaggy ironstone on the summit." These ridges evidently crop through the Pindan Sands which were deposited round them, and it is therefore easy to understand that where not specially marked on the map they might be mistaken for a portion of the Pindan Series. The following are the species discernible: — * First Report, 1884, No. 31, p. 9. t Second Pveport, 1885, No. 34, p. 17. BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUN. 203 BRACHIOPODA. Genus PRODUCT US, J. Sowerby. Productus brachyth^rus, G. B. Sowerhy. P. hrachythcerus, G. B. Sby., in Darwin's Geol. Obs. Vole. Islands, 1844, p. 158 ; Morris, in Strzelecki's Phys. Descrip. N. S. Wales, &c., 1845, p. 284, t. 14, f. 4° {non. f. 4^). Ohs. — Both a ventral and dorsal valve are present which appear to represent this protean shell. The dorsal valve is of a much more quadrate shape than the ventral, and belonged to a larger individual. It is covered by closely set spine bases, which both on this and on the ventral valve forcibly remind one of D'Orbigny's figure of this species in Dumont D'Urville's work.* The ventral valve also has an unmistakable resemblance to the forms figured by Dr. Waagen as Productus Ahichi and P. serialis.j- This resemblance lies in the elongated tear-like spines distributed over the surface and the median sulcus. I have seen a similar variety from Queensland. . P. hrachythcBvus is widely distributed throughout the marine beds of the Coal Measures of N. S. Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania. PELECYPODA. Geuus AVICULOPECTEN, McCoy. AVICULOPECTEN TENUICOLLIS, Dctna^ Sp. Pecten tenuicoUis, Dana, in Wilkes U.S. Explor. Exped. Vol. X. Geol. p. 705, Atlas, t. 9, f. 7. Aviculopecten tenuicoUis, Etheridge fil.. Cat. Australian Foss. 1878, p. 67. * Voy. au Pole Sud, &c. Geologie, Atlas, t. 9, f. 6 and 7. + Pal. Indica (Salt Range Foss.), 1884, I. pt. 4, fasc. 4, t. 74, f. 1-7, f.8. 204 REMARKS ON FOSSILS OF PERMO-CARBONIFEROUS AGE, Sp. char. — Shell of median size, practically equilateral, higher than wide, hinge line apparently as wide as the shell ; valve, seemingly the right, faintly convex, with rather large triangular ears, the anterior slope abrupt and steep ; umbo well marked and prominent ; surface bearing from twenty to twenty-two radiately curved, coarse, or rough-looking entire costse, with a smaller interpolated rib separating each pair, and hardly reaching the umbo ; the whole crossed by growth laminae, the primary costae apparently becoming spinous at the points of intersection. Obs. — The principal characters of this species are its shape, the number and arrangement of the costae, and the steep anterior slope above the anterior ear. On the whole, it appears to corres- pond with the above little-recognised species, but which, I have reason to believe, is much more common in the Permo-Carbonifer- ous beds of N. S. Wales than is generally supposed. Genns PETERINEA, Goldfuss. Pterinea macroptera, Morris* P. macroptera, Morris, in Strzelecki's Phys. Descrip. N. S. Wales, &c., 1845, p. 276, 1. 13, f. 2 & 3. Obs. — A single example, much defaced by a peculiar fused or semi-enamelled aj)pearance common to most of the fossils from Ironstone Ridge, possesses many of the characters of this species, such as the convex body, large posterior wing, coarse concentric rugae, and well-marked ribs. The anterior margin, however, is rather defective, and in consequence the characteristic curve of the projecting anterior end is not visible. I think it may be regarded as a small individual of this species. It measures 2 inches by 1^-. * This species has no real relation to the genus Pterinea as now restricted. It will shortly be pubhshed by the writer as the type of a new genus. Merismopteria. BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUX. 205 Genus PARALLELODON, Meek and Worthen. Parallelodon subarguta, De Koninck. Palizarca subarguta^ De Koninck, Foss. Pal. Nouv. Galles du Sud, 1877, pt. 3, p. 287, Atlas, t. 16, f. 8, 8\ Ohs. — Several small shells appear to correspond with De Koninck's description of this species, but I am unable to compare the interior characters. The shell is suboval, with a rather obliquely truncated posterior end, an inflated body, inconspicuous umbones, and rather distant growth laminae. Genus EDMONDIA, De Koninck. Ohs. — A single valve, much embedded in matrix, may possibly belong to this genus. It is short and rotund, and has the general outward appearance of the EdmondicE. The concentric ornament of the shell is, however, rather coarse for this genus, and reminds us rather of that of Pachydomus. GASTEROPODA. Genus MOURLONIA, De Koninck. MouRLONiA HUMiLis, De Koninck. Pleurotomaria humilis, De Koninck, Foss. Pal. Nouv. Galles du Sud, 1877, pt. 3, p. 325, Atlas, t. 23, f. 14. Sp. char. — Shell depressed conical, of five or six whorls; the body whorl enlarging but slowly until near the mouth; band moderately wide but not deep, with thread-like bounding carinas, becoming quite sutural on the older whorls ; inner lip a little reflected ; umbilicus small. Obs. — Mourlonia is a conical or discoid section of the older genus Pleurotomaria, usually with a large and deep umbilicus. The band is persistent, placed near the suture, in the form of a groove, and bounded by two keels. The present shell fulfils all these conditions, except that the umbilicus is small. 206 REMARKS ON FOSSILS OF PERMO-CARBONIFEROUS AGE, The portion of a shell figured by De Koninck under the above name closely resembles the specimens from north-west Australia, the form being very close indeed, and the appearance of the band identical. Genus EUPHEMUS, McCoy. EuPHEMUS Orbignii, Povtlock, var. Bellerojyhon d'Orhignii, Portlock, Geol. Report, Londonderry, (tc, 1844, p. 401, t. 29, f. 12. Euphemus d'Orhignii, de Koninck, Faune Calc. Carb. Belgique, 1883, pt. 4, p. 156, t. 42, f. 10-12 ; t. 42^^ f. 5-7 ; t. 43, f. 9-12. Ql,s, — By far the commonest shell amongst the Ironstone Ridge fossils is a Bellerophon of the group Eupherrius. In the present altered state of the specimens I cannot distinguish it from the above species. The shell is globular, with a reniform aperture, devoid of a keel, covered with distinct and separate spiral ridges, which are obliterated on the back of the youngest portion of the body whorl, whilst the umbilicus is very small and pit-like. Although to some extent resembling the allied species E. Urei, Fleming, sp., the discernible characters are, on the whole, more those of Portlock's shell. Associated with the individuals of this species are a few others on which faint traces of transverse decussating striae are visible, and one exhibits a tendency to a reflected callous inner lip. It is possible that these may be distinct from those referred to E. Orhignii. Mount Afarmion, with its Fossils. — The patch of which this hill forms a portion is described by Mr. Hardman as formed of " hard sandstone, ironstone, and grits,'' and is an elongated out- crop of strata surrounded by Pindan beds, and the alluvial matter of the above rivers. By the colouring of the map this is cer- tainly a part of Hardman's Upper or Sandstone Series. The hill, BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUX. 207 Mr. Froggatt says, is flat-topped, and consists of ironstone, which is to some extent in accord with the former description. The fossils were obtained from a calcareous sandstone on a small spur running out from the foot of the hill. The fossils from this locality are exceedingly interesting, both from the fact of their coming from an horizon where only plants had been previously observed, and also from their close corres- pondence with others from a fossiliferous locality further to the south in Western Australia. The species are :— ACTINOZOA. Genus STENOPORA, Lonsdale. Ohs. — Several fragments of a Monticuliporid coral with wrinkled corallites is present in one of the blocks, but they are too closely embedded to enable a microscopic examination to be made. Sections prepared for the microscope display the features of Stenopora in the presence of the moniliform walls of that genus. The corallum appears to have been that of a delicate branching-lobate species, the branches having a width of three millimetres, but immediately before bifurcation the width is increased to six millimetres. The corallites in the axial portion of the corallum are polygonal, with delicate walls. Genus EVACTINOPORA, Meek and Worthen. Ohs. — This genus has previously been recorded from Western Australia by Mr. W. H. Hudleston, who described two species from the Gascoyne Range, viz., Evactinoiyora crucialis and E. den- droidea. With regard to the specific separation of these I have some doubt, but amongst Mr. Macleay's specimens is an example partaking of the characters of that called E. crucialis. The specimens originally consisted of the two opposing sides of one of the rays of the shuttle-shaped corallum seen on the weathered surface of the matrix. The .structure is very badly 208 REMARKS ON FOSSILS OP PERMO-CARBONIFEROUS AGE, preserved, and adds nothing to that already known. The tubes and superimposed layers are visible, but the dividing lamina separating the two halves of the ray is not so. The occurrence of Evactinopora is interesting as furnishing a fossil in common between the Mount Marmion and Gascoyne beds. BRACHIOPODA. Geuus SPIRIFERA, /. Soicerhy. 05s.— Two species of this genus are present in the Mount Marmion gatherings. The first is represented by fragments only, clearly those of a very large species, evenly and finely costate. One of the pieces is three and a quarter inches in depth from the hinge towards the front. Of the second species only one specimen is present, and although differing from the typical figures ^ must, I think, be referred to iS2)irifera tasmaniensis. It is a ventral valve, bearing six principal radiating costse, three on each side the sinus. These, as well as the valleys between them, are traversed by fine and much smaller subsidiary ribs, and there are traces of trans- verse or concentric laminae. The sinus, which is wide and open, likewise bears similar riblets. The general form of the shell is transversely oval. Genus ATHYRIS, McCoy. Athyris Macleayana, sjy.nov. Sp. char. — Shell circular, or transversely oval in outline, but usually the former, plano-convex, or at times slightly concavo- convex ; the dorsal valve always convex, the ventral valve flat or slightly concave ; the lateral margins are in the same plane with the hinge line, but the front is to some extent sinuated. Ventral valve flat as a rule, and very shallow, with an inconspicuous horizontal and semi-truncate umbo, but in no degree overhanging the hinge line ; foramen small, circular, opening upwards, but * Strzelecki's Phys. Descrip. N.S. Wales, &c., 1845, t. xv. BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUN. 209 sometimes a little oblique ; sinus very faintly shown on the surface of the valve, but indicated by a forward extension of the front margin. Dorsal valve moderately convex, evenly rounded in outline, with little or no distinction into fold and flanks ; umbonal region far more marked than in the ventral valve. Surface of both valves with coarse, concentric, roughened laminae. Obs. — ^A very i)eculiar form of Athyris, from the persistent shallowness of the united valves, especially of the ventral. Ordinarily in this genus the valves are equally convex, or the ventral valve is the more so, the perforated umbo of the latter overhanging that of the dorsal valve. There is also a sinus in the ventral, and a fold more or less developed in the dorsal. In A. Macleayana some of these characters are reversed, thus : — the ventral valve is almost flat, except just at the front margin, the latter being bent upwards, and so representing the sinus. There is no fold in the dorsal valve, but it is moderately convex, and there is a sinuated front margin to some extent. The umbo of the ventral valve does not curve over that of the dorsal as in most species of Athyris ; but, on the contrary, what little umbo there is to that valve is to some extent truncated, and the fora- men is practically at right angles to the hinge line, instead of opening in the same plane. From this arrangement die foramen appears to open upwards, and is inconspicuous. In other words, the ventral valve fits on to and against the dorsal ; and when the united valves are held in a direct line, and on the same level with the eye, from the dorsal side the foramen is not visible. These characters are constant in all specimens examined by me, and are so contrary to the general features in Athyris that I feel obliged to separate this curious shell as a distinct species. It affords me, therefore, much pleasure in associating with it the name of Mr. Macleay, to whom I am indebted for an opportunity of describing these interesting fossils. In one or two places the appearance of the concentric surface laminae would lead to the belief that they projected as separate spines, after the manner of Athyris Roysiiy Lev. 14 210 REMARKS ON FOSSILS OF PERMO-CARBONIFEROUS AGE, Geuus CYRTINA, Davidson. Cyrtina CARBONARI a, McCoy, var. austral as ica, var. nov. Pentamerus carhonarius^ McCoy, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 1852, X. p. 426. Pentamerus carbonaritcs, McCoy, Brit. Pal. Foss, 1855, fas. 3, p. 442, t. 3d, f. 12-18 Cyrtina (?) carbonariits, Davidson, Mon. Brit. Garb. Brach. 1858, pt. 2, p. 71, 1. 15, f.5-14. Si?, char. — Shell elongately oval, longer than wide, constant in shape, straight-sided, rough. Valves bi-convex, or in some cases nearly plano-convex, the ventral valve being much arched. Hinge shorter than the width of the shell. Ventral valve inflated, very convex; beak strongly incurved, overhanging the area which is concave, broad, and wide ] sinus well marked, but narrow, and more or less angular ; fissure large. Dorsal valve either nearly flat, or slightly convex ; mesial fold low ; umbonal region flattened from abo\'e. In the interior the septum of the ventral valve is more than two-thirds its entire length. Surface of the ventral valve rugged, bearing a few (four or five) thick, coarse, hardly radiate and prominent arched ribs, but usually indistinctly sub-divided, or split, especially the pair bounding the sinus, and all separated by angular interspaces ; the bottom of the sinus occupied by a single rib. Ohs. — This truly British Carboniferous type is another important form in the West Australian extinct fauna, and is exceedingly like the shell found in the Northern Hemisphere, but possesses a greater degree of regularity and less variation. It resembles the later figures of Davidson, rather than the earlier ones of McCoy. Although the genus has before been recorded from New South Wales, I am not aware that this specific type has been met with. The oval, almost egg-shaped outline, and coarse angular ribs give the shell a very marked appearance. BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUN. 211 The septum of the ventral valve, when exposed by fracture, is well shown, and is narrower in proportion than that of G. carbon- aria, and without its abrupt forward termination, the decrease being much more gradual, and the inner ridge more or less sigmoidal. The dental plates are also shorter, and do not graduate into the septum as in C. carbonaria. McCoy describes the shell as punctate, but Davidson makes no remark on the subject. In the present specimens it is impunctate. The interior details of the dorsal valve are wanting, and in conse- quence it is impossible to throw any further light on its relation to Pentamerus than the late Dr. Davidson did. Genus PRODUCTUS, /. Sowerhy. Obs. — It is always unfortunate when the palseontological appetite is incited by promising material of a limited nature. Such is the case with the dorsal valve of a large Productus, measuring 3 x 3 J inches. The interior is exposed, displaying a large and prominent septum, and a remarkably straight hinge line. From the inner contour of the valve it is quite apparent that the outer was flatly concave. The dendritic adductor impressions are well shown, but still more remarkable are the deep long channels of the spine bases, visible not only on the sides, but over the general front surface of the valve. It is difficult, and somewhat hazardous to speak as to specific identity on such a specimen as this, but it may be P. subquadratus, Morris, or P. scabricidus. The former is met with in the rocks of the Mount Britton gold-field, North Queens- land, but as a rule the dorsal valves are deeper and not so wide. PELECYPODA. Genus PACHYDOMUS, Morris. Obs. — The greater portion of the right valve of a species allied to Pachydomus globosus, Sby., sp., but probably possessing a smoother shell. As regards size, its dimensions are small when 212 REMARKS ON FOSSILS OF PERMO-CARBONIFEROUS AGE, compared with the above massive species, which is the type of the genus. Pachi/domus is exceedingly characteristic of the Permo- CarboniferoLis beds in Eastern Australia. Napier Range Localities. Mount North Creek. — At this locality, a creek running into the Lennard, a white and red streaky limestone was collected. It contains the indistinct remains of shells ; one appears to be a Brachiopod, perhaps even a Spirifera, otherwise it is not name- able. Lennard River Gorge. — A coarse siliceous and micaceous grit, forming " sandstone bars " in the limestone bed, contains a uni- valve very near to Strajmrollus. Three whorls are visible, with- out ornament or other distinsuishins: feature. Another block contains very small valves of a Brachiopod' with the general outline of the ventral valve of Rhynchonella pleurodon ; and another shell with much coarser and more obtuse ribs, with a punctate shell structure. The latter may be either Retzia or Spiriferina. A third hand-specimen of siliceous grit exhibits six corallites of a medium-sized Bugose coral protruding from its surface, and partly seen in section, grouped together, but there is no evidence to show that they were fasciculately united. The corallites are circular, with about twenty simple septa projecting into the calices for about two-thirds of their width. The septa converge towards the centre and partially unite, leaving a small tabulate median area. The interseptal loculi are sparsely subdivided by dissepiments, becoming rather closer towards the middle of the corallum. The general facies of this coral is to some extent that of Diphyphylluni, and to some that of Zaphrentis. In the absence of additional material for extended microscopic examination, it is provisionally referred to the former. BY R. ETHERIDGE, JUN. 213 Conclusion. — It has been shown that throughout the Pindan Sands and Gravels, there protrude isolated hills and ridges, which were believed by Hard man, from their associated fossil plants, to be Carboniferous. Ironstone Kidge is evidently a similar hill, and not a portion of the Pindan Series at all, the latter resting on the flanks and filling up the hollows between the Carboniferous prominences. This view is, I believe, borne out by an expression of Hardman's, to the ejffect that " about ten miles south of the Yeeda station it" (i.e., the Pindan,) "is 30 feet thick, and rests on coarse sandstone, probably of Carboniferous age."* Here we have the sandstone forming the bed-rock, and it is of course possible that it may extend under the Pindan deposits, where denuded away before their deposition. That the fossiliferous beds at Ironstone Ridge form a portion of the Upper or Sandstone Series, is again borne out by the fact that further south in the Fitzroy district, the place of the plants in this sandstone is taken by a copious marine fauna, f This point is an exceedingly interesting one, for again further south, a similar fauna has been shown to exist in the basin of the Gascoyne Hiver, by Mr. W. H. HudlestOxi,i the fossils of the two areas having a close resemblance to one another. As regards Mount Marmion, we have here a repetition of what takes place in the Fitzroy River district, the appearance of a marine fauna, in beds forming a portion of Hardman's Upper or Sandstone Series. The conclusions which may be drawn from a study of these fossils from near Derby are briefly the following : — (1) The Pindan beds may still, for all that is known to the contrary, be regarded as of Tertiary age. (2) The Ironstone-ridge at Yeeda station cannot be regarded as of the age of the Pindan Series, but is of a similar Carboniferous facies to Mount Marmion, &c. * 1st Report, 1884, No. 31, p. 8. t 2ud Report, 1885, No. 34, p. 16. X Quart. Journ. Geol. See, 1883, XXXIX. p. 582. 214 REMARKS ON FOSSILS OF PERMO-CARBONIFEROUS AGE. (3) The Upper or Sandstone Series of Hardman in the Lennard and Fitzroy districts is probably characterised by a fauna as well as a flora. (4) The fauna in question shows a more general similarity to that of the Permo-Carboniferous formation of Eastern Australia and Tasmania, than it does to any other fossiliferous group of rocks. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVII. Athyris Madeayana, sp.nov. Fig. 1. View of the flattened ventral valve showing foramen. Fig. 2. View of convex dorsal view. Fig. 3. Side view showing line of union of the valves, relative convexity, &c. Fig. 4. The hinge with united valves, foramen, &c. Fig. 5. A dorsal valve, decorticated, with the shelly spires visible on the right hand side. Cyrtina carhonaria, McCoy, var. australasica, var.nov. Fig. 6. View of a ventral valve of a large specimen, defective about the umbonal region. Fig. 7. Side view of another example, showing relative convexity of the ventral valve. Fig. 8. Fractured ventral valve with the large septum. (The figures ai^e all of the natural size.) DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, By Frederick A. A. Skuse. Part VI.— THE CHIRONOMID^. (Plates xi.-xiv. and xiv. his). The descriptions of eight species of Australian Chironomidse have hitherto been published, while four species of Ohironomus mentioned by Walker in his " Notes " appear only to have received names. The described species include seven species of Chiro7wmus, six by Walker and one by Macquart ; and Cerato- pogon rhynchops, Schiner ; all but the latter are described so inadequately as to be quite unintelligible. To these I now add descriptions of sixty-four new species, distributed as follows : — Chironomus 21, Orthodadius 5, Camptocladius 5, Doloplastits (gen.nov, allied to Chironomus) 1, Tanytarsus 7, Metriocnemus 1, Tanypus 1, Isoplastus (gen.nov. allied to Tanyjyus) 3, Procladius (gen.nov. allied to Tanypus) 2, Leptoconops (gen.nov. allied to Ceratopogon) 1, and Geratopogon 17, bringing the total up to seventy-two. The Chironomidse, or Midges, constitute one of the most richly represented families of the Nematocera, both in regard to species and individuals. It is principally based on the three original genera — Chironomus, Tanypus, and Ceratopogon, characterised by Meigen in 1803, but has subsequently been subdivided into numerous genera. Our knowledge of the family is at present in a very unsatisfactory state, owing principally to the fact that among those who have contributed towards the literature of the group, only a very small number have bestowed upon their work the unstinted labour and precision requisite in treating with such extremely approximate forms. We find that the characters regarded by one author as most important to notice are held in 216 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, little or no estimation by others. Those under the latter category are mostly transient describers, who, in the majority of cases, make the species they describe perfectly undeterminable through their insufficient acquaintance with the peculiarities of even the genus to which they j)ossihly correctly refer them, and their ignorance of the systems previously elaborated by authors who have perhaps, like Winnertz, devoted years of most careful study in ascertaining the importance and unimportance of the structural characters presented by the species. Consequently just those ■peculiarities necessary to be pointed out for the correct identifi- cation of a certain insect are often quite omitted, and what is sometimes called the description of a species will apply equally well to all the species in the genus, or even to those of allied genera. Schiner in 1868 (Novara Exp. Dipt. p. 24) recognised sixteen established genera as belonging to this family, not counting his own genus, Telmatogeton, created in 1866. The known species of the world were set down as numbering 669, of which 551 occur in Europe, 93 in America, 5 in Africa, 13 in Asia, and 7 in Australia (to which latter Geratopogon rhynchojjs, Sch., must be added). As far as I can ascertain, a very inconsiderable number of species have been described during the last twenty years, and these principally belong to the genus Chironomus. About half the known species are referred to the genus Chironomus (though many of them should be removed to the genera subsequently derived from it), and are of unlimited distribution ; but as far as has been ascertained, it principally predominates in northern and temperate latitudes. The species of Chironomtts and closely allied genera now described from Australia constitute the majority of the members of this group as far as its representa- tives are known, but it is premature to generalise upon the distribution of these or any of the other genera until a great deal more collecting has been done, not only in the other colonies, but also in the vicinity of Sydney. Judging by the result of limited research the number of unknown species, BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 217 and perhaps genera, might be very considerable. It is to be regretted that many of the entomologists of this and the other colonies do not more endeavour to extend the knowledge of our least known orders by submitting specimens to those who are striving to work up particular groups. Tanypus and Geratopogon appear to have a distribution equally as wide as that of Chironomus, and include by far the greater number of the remaining species. Doubtless many species of these small flies have been overlooked even in the most thoroughly worked countries. No New Zealand species of Chironomidae appear to have been described. The Midges, like the Culicidae, may be often seen hovering in the air in great swarms, especially towards evening. As the larvse and pupae mostly dwell in water, it is in such localities that the perfect insects are most numerous. Many species may be obtained by the sweeping-net among grass, etc., and others are commonly met with in caves and similarly shady retreats. As far as my observations go, most of these insects are not lovers of sunshine ; the species of Ceratopogon, however, are often found in sunny situations. Stagnant waters generally teem with the larvae of Chironomidm. Some of the larvae are commonly known as blood-worms on account of their colour. The larvae of Chironomus stercorarius, Meig., reside in dung. Both larvae and pupae of different species often exhibit marked variations of structure. The habits of Tanypus and closely allied genera mostly resemble those of Chironomus ; the larvse are often found in swampy places and about the stems of aquatic plants. The larvae of Chironomus oceanicus, Pack., has been obtained from the depth of twenty fathoms in Eastport Harbour, Maine, and in Salem Harbour; and the pupae and larvae of a Tanypus or allied genus were found in great numbers by Packard in a salt-water lake in California. The genera Halirytus, Eaton, and Psamaihiomya, Deby, have been proposed for the reception of marine Chironomidae with rudi- mentary wings. The first was discovered at Royal Sound and \ 218 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, Swaint's Bay, Kerguelen Island, the second in abundance at Biarritz, in the south of France, in both cases by their describers. A species of Chiromomus which emits a strong phosphorescent light is reported from a locality near Lake Aral. The females of several species of Ceratopogon are bloodsuckers, and capable of inflicting very painful wounds ; these annoying insects are particularly numerous in Australia and generally go by the name of "Sand-flies." Their "bites" are quite as severe as those of the mosquitoes, and I am told that in some parts of this country the cattle are dreadfully attacked by them and are sometimes almost driven frantic by the irritation of their wounds. It is possible, however, that the insects referred to really belong to Simulium. The larvse of Ceratopogon reside in water, in the ground, in manure, under the bark of decaying timber, etc. Some are said to be carnivorous, devouring the larvse and pupae of other insects. Classification. Meigen (Syst. Beschr. I. 1818, p. xxxiv.) and Macquart (S. a B. Dipt. I. 1834, p. 41) included in the then known genera of the present family the tribe Tipulariae culiciformes ; Macquart's diagnosis of the group and classification of the genera stands as follows : — 1st Tribe Tipulaires culiciformes, T. culiciformes, Meig. Chars. — Antennae filiform, in ^ generally plumose, in $ pilose, each inserted in a disciform elevation. Eyes lunate, separated in both sexes. No ocelli. Thorax generally with three elevations ; metathorax large. Abdomen of eight distinct segments. Wings recumbent ; discoidal cell wanting ; interior basilar often con- founded with the second posterior ; generally one marginal, one sub-marginal, and three posteriors. A. Antennae plumose to the extremity. B. Legs inserted at equal distances; pectus little prominent. BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 219 Genus 1. Corethra. BB. Anterior legs inserted a distance from the others j pectus very prominent. C. Terminal joint of the antennas very long in $. Genus 2. Chironomus. CC. Penultimate joint of the antennse very long in (J. Genus 3. Tanypus. AA. Antennae plumose at their base only, or bare. D. Antennse plumose in (J. Genus 4. Ceratopogon. DD. Antennge without plumes. Posterior legs very long. Genus 5. Macropeza. The genus Corethra should properly have been placed among the Culicidee, a position it now occupies; the others are typical genera of the Chironomidse. Since Macquart's work numerous genera have been established, and many have been erected upon such slender grounds as to be quite worthless. Forcipomyia, Palpomyia, and Serromyia, Megerle (in litt.), Priono- irnyia, Sphceromias, SiiidLahidomyia. Stephens, Culicoides, Latr.,and Eeteromyia, Say., might be considered sub-genera of Ceratopogon, but I agree with Loew that this division has not been executed in a sufficiently satisfactory manner. By it, some very subordinate characters would be raised to sub-generic rank. Rondani's genera Apogon^ Serromyia, and Alasion are insufficiently characterised. Philippi's genera Podonomics, Psychophcena, Spaniotoma, Penta- neura, Tetrapliora, and Heptagyia, of which he referred only the first-named to its correct family, are poorly described, and another examination of the types may prove some of them unwarrantable 220 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, innovations. Van derWulp in 1873 split up the genus Chirono- mus into six genera, the leading characters of which are shown in the covering and venation of the wings, and joints of the legs ; all these divisions are very useful and appear quite tenable. Besides the above-mentioned there are several other genera by various authors, some of which are unknown to me ; their names, however, appear in my list of genera. Westwood in his generic synopsis (Class. Ins. II. 1840), arranges the genera after much the same manner as Macquart, but adds more particulars about the joints of the antennae, and introduces the sub-divisions of Ceratopogon proposed by Megerle, Latreille, and Stephens as genera. Family 2. Tipulid^, Leach. (Tipulides, Macq. H.N. Dipt.) Sub-family 1 Chironomides, Westw. (Culiciformes, Latr., Macq.) Corethra, Meig. Chironomus, p. Fab., 3 sp. Ch. lolumicornis. Fab. Antennse $ plumose to the tip ; legs placed at equal distances apart ; sternum not prominent. Steph. pi. 42, fig. 1. Chironomus, Meig. Tipula, p. Linn., 91 sp. G. plumosus, L. Curtis, 90. Four hind-legs at a distance from the others ; sternum prominent; last joint of (J antennae longest (fig. 124 8). Tanypus, Meig. Chironomus, p. Fab., 26 sp. T. monilis, L. Curtis, 501. Antennae 14-jointed in both sexes, penultimate joint longest ; sternum prominent ; four hind-legs wide apart. Sphaeromias, Steph. , 6 sp. Sph. alhomarginatus, Curtis, 285. Antennge slender, basal joint globular, eight following joints short, five terminal joints long; eyes emar- ginate ; trophi fully developed. BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 221 Ceratopogon, Meig. Chironomus, p. Fab., 18 sp. C. stigTna, Meig. Antennse ^ plumose at the base, five terminal joints elongated, simple in 9 ; all the femora simple ; second joint of the palpi longest ; legs of nearly equal length ; two sub-marginal cells. Meig., Zw. i. pi. 2, fig. 18. Palpomyia, Meig.'?, Steph. Ceratopogon, B. Meig., 10 sp. C. spinipes, Meig. Differs from Ceratopogon in having the fore femora thick and spinose beneath. Pz. 103.14. Prionomyia, St. Serromyia, Meig.?, Ceratopogon, C. Meig., 6 sp. Ceratopogon femioratiis, F. Meig., Kl. pi. 2, fig. 4. Differs from Ceratopogon in having the hind femora thickened. Culicoides, Latr. Ceratopogon, p. Meig., 6 sp. C. pulicaris, Linn. Femora simple, not spined ; one large imperfect sub- marginal cell. Meig., Zw. i. pi. 2, fig. 17. Labidomyia, St. Forcipomyia, Meig.'?, 2 sp. Cer. hipunctatus, Linn., Meig. Orphnephila, Hal. Chenesia, Macq., 1 sp. 0. devia, Hal. Eyes confluent in front ; ocelli wanting ; antennae very short, naked in both sexes ; base globose ; anterior tarsi elongated ; wings incumbent, parallel. Zool. Jour. Vol. v., pi. 15, fig. 2. The only other distribution of the genera that I have seen is that by Haliday (Ins. Brit. Dipt. III. 18o6) in which five only are included ; his arrangement is as follows : — a. Proboscis distinct, with (4-) jointed palpi. Metathorax produced over the base of the abdomen. h. Mesosternum compressed, gibbous, descending as low as the ends of the posterior coxse. c. Wings oblong, with anal angle more or less abrupt. 222 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, d. Antennae with twelve joints or more in the (J, seven or eight in the 9. 1. Chironomus. dd. Antennae 15-jointed, plumose in the $, with the penultimate joint elongated. Pobrachial areolet closed externally. 2. Tanypus. cc. Wings nearly spatulate, the anal margin being sloped without an angle. 3. Corynoneura. hh. Metathorax short, descending. Posterior coxae extending downwards beyond the convex mesosternum. 4. Cerat- opogon. aa. Proboscis and palpi obsolete. Wings coriaceous. 5. Clunio. It would facilitate the study of the Chironomidae if the genera were divided into properly defined sections or sub-families, and it appears to me that at least three very natural sections may be thus defined : — Section I. Chironomina. Third and fourth lon^^itudinal veins never furcate. Marginal cross- vein wanting. No posterior cross- vein. Antennae of Q with few joints. Section II. Tanypina. Third and fourth longitudinal veins never furcate. Marginal cross-vein present. Posterior cross-vein present. Section III. Ceratopogonina. Third longitudinal vein entirely wanting or rudimentary (a fork only being often indistinctly visible). Fourth longitudinal vein furcate. Marginal cross-vein usually present, often wanting. Posterior cross-vein wanting. Note. — Some of the genera imperfectly or totally unknown to me may require new sections, but this must be determined by others. A separate section ought probably to receive the genera Halirytus and Psamathiomya, aberrant Chironomidce in which the palpi are 2-jointed, the antennae 6-jointed, without plumes, and the wings small, rudimentary, and without veins. by frederick a. a. skuse. 223 List of Genera contained in Chironomid^e. Chironomus, Meigen, Illiger's Magazine, II. p. 260, 1803 (Chironomina). Tanypiis, Meig., I.e. p. 261 (Tanypina). Ceratopogon, Meig., I.e. (Ceratopogonina) . Macropeza, Meig., Syst. Beschr. I. p. 87, 1818 (unknown to me). Heteromyia, Say, N. Am. Entom. II. 1825 (Ceratopogonina). Hydrobsenus, Fries, Kon. Vet. Ac. Handl. p. 176, 1829 (Chironomina 1) Diamesa, Meig., Syst. Beschr. VII. p. 12, 1838 (Chironomina?). Corynoneura, Winnertz, Stett. Ent. Zeit. VII. p. 12, 1846 (Ceratopogonina ?). Oeeacta, Poey, Memorias, &c. I. p. 236, 1853 (Ceratopogonina 1). Clunio, Haliday, Nat. Hist. Review, VI. p. 62, 1855 (Chirono- mina 1). Paehyleptus, Walker, Ins. Saiind. Dipt. p. 426, 1856 (Cerato- pogonina). Chasmatonotus, Loew, Berl. Entom. Zeit. VIII. 1-2, p. 50, 1864 (unknown to me). Podonomus, Philippi, V. z.-b. G. Wien, XV. p. 601, 1865 (Tanypina) Psychophsena, Phil., I.e. p. 628 (Ceratopogonina). Spaniotoma, Phil., I.e. (Chironomina). Pentaneura, Phil., I.e. p. 630 (Tanypina?). Tetraphora, Phil., I.e. (Chironomina?). Heptagyia, Phil., I.e. p. 635 (Tanypina). Telmatogeton, Sehiner, I.e. XVI. p. 931, 1866 (Chironomina). Smittia, Holmgren, Sv. Ak. Handl. VIII. No. 5, p. 47, 1869 (Chironomina ?). 224 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, Cricotopus, Van der Wulp, Tijdschr. Ent. XVII. p. 132, 1873 (Chironomina). Orthocladius, Y.d. Wulp, I.e. (Chironomina). Camptocladius, V.d. Wulp, I.e. p. 133 (Chironomina). Tanyfcarsus, V.d. Wulp, I.e. p. 134 (Chironomina). Eurycnemus, V.d. Wulp, I.e. p. 135 (Chironomina). Metriocnemus, V.d. Wulp, I.e. p. 136 (Chironomina). Halirytus, Eaton, Ent. Mon. Mag. XII. p. 60, 1875 (Ceratopo> gonina 1). Limnophyes, Eaton, I.e. (Chironomina). Didymophleps, Weyenberg, Stett. Ent. Zeit. XLIV. Nos. 1-3, p. lOS, 1883 (Ceratopogonina). Burmeisteria, Weyen., Tijdsehr. Ent. XXIX. p. 130, 1886 (unknown to me). Psamathiomya, Deby, Jour. K Mie. Soc. II. p. 181, 1889 (Ceratopogonina T). Doloplastus, gen.DOv. proposed in the present contribution, p. 260 (Chironomina). Isoplastus, I.e. p. 279 (Tanypina). Procladius, I.e. p 283 (Tanypina). Leptoeonops, I.e. p. 288 (Ceratopogonina). Venation. The venation of the wings is eonsiderably modified in the the Chironomidse. We have elearly three principal types of vena- tion, which at once suggest the division of the genera into sections. The homologies of these types at first seem doubtful and obscure, and, as might be expected, the opinions of authors diflfer con- siderably about the terminology of the veins. What one author considers part of one vein, another regards as the whole, or a portion, of another ; one vein is sometimes named twice, and two veins united under a single name. Occasionally the rudimentary condition or complete absence of a certain vein will lead to a BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 225 misunderstanding of those really represented, the lost vein being considered present. My theory of the venation in this family differs almost entirely from that of Winnertz (as exemplified in his monograph of the genus Ceratojyogon), but agrees principally with those of Schiner (V.z-b. G. Wien, Bd. XIY. 1864) and Van der Wulp (Tijd. v. Entom. XIY. 1871, p. 79-98). The latter author bases his nomenclature on that of Schiner, and gives (pp. 82-83) an elaborate table of the different terminologies of Meigen (1), Macquart (2), Winnertz (2), and Schiner (2). In the nomenclature employed by me I endeavour to follow Loew and Osten-Sacken (Mon. Dipt. N. Amer.). On comparing the wings of Chironomus and Tanypus it is at once evident that Winnertz's Wurzel- or Unterrandader (in Gera- topogon) is composed really of the basal portion of the first longi- tudinal and the whole of the second longitudinal ; in the former two genera the second and third longitudinal veins take their origin, the one from the other, at or beyond the middle of the first longitudinal, and the presence of the marginal cross- vein and rudimentary third longitudinal vein found in the wing of so many species of Ceratopogon further testifies to the correctness of this veiw. Van der Wulp regards the second longitudinal (his Radiaalader) as wanting in Ceratopogon ; this vein, however, is plainly present, and is called by him the Cubitaalader, really the correct name of the rudimentary third longitudinal overlooked by him. The second longitudinal and the marginal cross-vein are, however, sometimes so reduced in Ceratopogon that they, in a few instances, are known to amalgamate with, and form an incrassation of, the tip of the first longitudinal. In Chironomus and Tanypus the second longitudinal vein is often pale and sometimes entirely wanting. The posterior branches of the fourth and fifth longi- tudinal veins are named as distinct veins by Winnertz. The following table gives the nomenclature of the alar venation in Ceratopogon as interpreted by Winnertz and V. d. Wulp, compared with that substituted in the following pages, and will assist in reading the descriptions of these authors : — 15 226 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, WINNERTZ. Van der WULP. Terminology adopted in the (Beit, zur Kennt. der Gat- (Tijd. V. Entom. xiv., pi. present Essay. tung Ceratopogon, 1852.) 3, Ceratopogon, 1871). Adern. Aderen. Veins. Randader Randader Costa (v. costalisj. Wurzelquerader Worteldwarsader Transverse shoulder-vein (v. trans, hmneralis). Afterader (1) Hulpader ... Auxiliary (v. anxiliaris). Subcostaalader First longitudinal (v. long. Ima). Wurzel- oder Unterrand- Ader der Cubitus Portion of the first longitudinal vein XjLVJ.t;i y Vl^X V^Lifc-fAVClO .«• before the middle cross-vein-f-tbe second longitudinal vein. Y.Mir^ csp Vi pn a A f^v Portion of the first longitudinal vein £J W liD^i.Jt;iJ.Cwvlt^i .•• ••• a*. beyond the origin of the second longitudinal. Randf eldquerader Marginal cross-vein. Cubitaalader Second longitudinal (v. long. 2da). Third longitudinal (v. long. 3a). Middle cross-vein (v. trans, media). Rucklaufende Ader Middeldwarsader Mittelader + Scheiben- ader Discoidaal- of shijfader Fourth longitudinal (v. long. Jf.a). Achselader + Hinterader Posticaalader Fifth longitudinal (v. long. 5a). Afterader (2) Afterader (3) Zellen. Sixth longitudinal (v. long. 6a). Seventh longitudinal (v. long. 7a). Cells. Cellen. Vordern Randzelle Rand- of Costaalcel ... Subcostal (c. siibcostalis). Vordern Thiel der hin- tern Randzelle Cubitaalcel Inner marginal (c. marginalis interior) Hintern Theil der hin- tern Randzelle Subcostalcel Marginal (c. marginalis). Vordern Cubitalzelle ... Bovenste wortelcel 1st Basal (c. hasalis Ima). Hintern Cubitalzelle ... Eerste achtercel 1st Posterior (c. posterior Ima). Obern Scheibenzelle Tweede achtercel 2nd Posterior (c. posterior 2da). Untern Scheibenzelle ... Derde achtercel 3rd Posterior (c. posterior 3a). Hintern Achselzelle Vierde achtercel Anal (c. analis). Vordern Achselzelle Spurious. BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 227 Section I. Chironomina. Head small, transverse, situated deep in thorax. Eyes more or less reniform, separate in both sexes (approximate beneath in Clunio). Ocelli wanting. Palpi porrected, pubescent, sub- cylindrical, curved, four-jointed ; first joint very small, second and third moderately long, of equal length, fourth as long or longer (wanting in Clunio). Proboscis short (obsolete in Clunio). Antennae porrect^ normally 2- + 12-jointed in (J, 2- + 5-jointed in 9, rarely with an equal number of joints in both sexes ; first joint of the scapus large, globose or disciform, the second small ; in ^ usually as long as thorax, densely plumose, the verticils diminishing in length towards the extremity ; first eleven flagellar joints extremely short, terminal joint filiform, very long; in ^ usually about half the length of thorax, flagellar joints ovate, oblong, or elongate-pyriform, increasing in length from first, sparingly verticillate-pilose, terminal joint slender, pilose. Thorax ovate or elongate-ovate, gibbose, more or less projecting in front, usually with three dark stripes; scutellum small, semicircular; metathorax prominent. Halteres short. Abdomen eight-segmented ; long and slender in (J, anal joint distinct, forceps prominent, generally falcate or filiform ; in 9 shorter and more robust. Legs more or less long and slender, anterior -pair remote from the others ; coxae short ; tibiae more or less confluently-calcarate at apex ; as long, longer or shorter than metatarsus ; ungues small. Wings narrow, elongate, lanceolate, more or less rectangular at base, naked or pubescent, ciliated ; deflexed in repose. Humeral cross- vein present. Sub-costal cross-vein always (?) absent. Marginal cross-vein wanting. Posterior transverse- vein wanting. Auxiliary vein usually pale and indistinct, often scarcely reaching costa about middle of anterior border or beyond it. Costal usually terminating at tip of third longitudinal vein, sometimes extending a little 228 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, beyond it. First longitudinal vein reaching costa beyond middle. Second and third longitudinal veins originating together from first longitudinal vein at apex of middle cross-vein, which may be situated before, at or beyond middle of wing ; second longitudinal vein usually very pale and indistinct, or wanting (?). Third longitudinal never furcate, bent upwards or downwards towards tip. Fourth longitudinal never furcate, originating at base of fifth longitudinal, usually slightly angulated at middle cross- vein, gently arcuated anteriorly, straight, or somewhat sinuose beyond it, not quite reaching wing-margin, or indistinctly reaching it, at or below the apex.* Fifth longitudinal vein forked before, at or beyond middle of wing, fork acuminate at base ; anterior branch straight or slightly arcuated posteriorly, longer than posterior, latter straight, slightly arcuated or sinuose. Genus 1. Chironomus, Meig. Chironomus, Meigen, Illiger's Mag. II. p. 260, 1803; Latreille, Gen. Cr. et Ins. lY. p. 248; Macquarfc, S. a B. I. p. 47, 1834; Zetterstedt, D. Sc. IX. 1850; Walker, LB. p. 149, 1856; Schiner, F.A. Dipt. 1864; V. d. Wulp, Tijd. Entom. XVII. p. 129, 1873-74. Antennae 2--f 12-jointed in (J, 2- -i- 5-jointed in 9. Thorax usually with three stripes. Wings naked. Costal vein not extending beyond tip of third longitudinal vein. In fore legs metatarsus longer than tibia, or (by exception) at least as long as it. Anal joint of J abdomen longer than broad; forceps generally filiform or falcate. * In most cases it is impossible, without the aid of the microscope, to discover that the fourth longitudinal vein does not really reach the wing- margin ; the ordinary entomological lens will rarely reveal the fact. BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 229 INDICES OF ALAR AND TARSAL PROPORTIONS. Species. Relative Length Relative Distance No. .2 li O II II c — S *" o a li o ^z o;s < S p d o pq 1 Em ft -2 o g 1 B ft S 1 pq < i % pq t ft 3 o B 2 S f S 9 9 $ S $ $ 9 9 9 9 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 Ch. occidentalifi .. Ch. Nepeanensis... Ch. egregius Ch. pervagatus ... Ch. intertinctus ... Ch. subdolus Ch. Hexhamensis Ch. blandus Ch. ja7iuarius . . . Ch. delinijicus ... Ch. pulcher Ch. seorsus Ch. orarius Ch. erebeus Ch. Tepperi Ch. Jluviaticus . . . Ch. subvittatus ... Ch. oresitrophus... Ch . vespertimis ... Ch. brevis Ch. nubifer 64 63 64 64 64 65 63 65 65 67 64 63 66 36 37 36 36 36 35 37 35 35 33 36 37 34 64 65 65 60 65 1 63 65 67 63 65 36 35 35 40 85 37 35 33 37 35 81 77 80 79 78 78 74 73 74 73 73 71 78 4 6 4 5 6 4 5 3 9 6 2 7 4 13 16 14 15 14 16 19 ... 23 15 17 25 21 16 2 ... 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 4 0 1 79 ... 77 76 75 65 74 78 73 73 72 69 76 7 6 5 5 8 3 4 10 5 3 3 4 13 15 18 19 ... ... 22 23 17 12 20 25 28 17 1 1 1 I 5 0 1 5 2 0 0 3 230 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, A. Thorax pale with three distinct stripes. 219. Chironomus occidentalis, sp.n. (PL xi., fig. 1.). ^. — Length of antennae 0*042 inch ... 1*06 millimetres. Expanse of wings 0*240 x 0-065 ... 6*09 x 1-66 Size of body , 0-310 x 0*047 ... 7-87 x MS Antennae wholly ochre-yellow. Head ochreous-brown, with golden-yellow hairs. Clypeus and palpi ochreous-brown, densely covered with golden-yellow pubescence, that on the former longer. Thorax pale pinkish-ochreous with three longitudinal stripes of light fuscous, the lateral ones starting somewhat above middle of thorax, running almost to a point posteriorly and reaching hinder margin, intermediate one beginning at collare, terminating some- what beyond the middle, with a light brown median line sup- porting a double row of short golden-yellow hairs ; a row of longer hairs between the stripes ; pleurae pale pinkish-ochreous : scutellum yellowish, light fuscous along base, fringed with long golden-yellow hairs ; metanotum pinkish-ochreous. Hal teres pale yellow. Abdomen thrice length of thorax, umbrous-brown, each segment bordered posteriorly with very pale ochreous or whitish, the bands narrower on each succeeding segment, lamellae of ovi- positor ochre-yellow. Legs yellow ; tarsi brownish-yellow, each joint slightly tipped with light fuscous (tarsal joints of fore legs and those with tibiae of hind legs lost). In intermediate legs tibiae exactly the length of femora and twice the length of metatarsus ; metatarsus not quite twice the length of second tarsal joint, this joint I longer than fourth and twice the length of fifth. Wings hyaline, glabrous, costal and first two longitudinal veins brownish- yellow, marginal cross-vein and portion of the second longitudinal vein between that and origin of third longitudinal vein sufi'used with brown. Costal and third longitudinal meeting nearly at apex of wing ; auxiliary vein joining costa opposite middle of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal vein; second longitudinal BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 231 vein somewhat indistinct, reaching costa nearly opposite tip of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ) fourth longitudinal almost reaching the wing-margin, its tip situated at a point J the distance from tip of costa to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; posterior branch of latter |- length of anterior. Hah. — King George's Sound, West Australia (Masters). One specimen. 220. Chironomus Nepeanensis, sp.n. (J. — Length of antennae 0-075 inch ... 1-89 millimetres. Expanse of wings 0-180 x 0-037 ... 4-56x0-92 Sizeof body 0-300x0-037 ... 7-62xO-92 Antennge dark brown, with light bronzy-brown plumes ; first joint of scapus dark brown, somewhat pruinose. Head, clypeus, and palpi brown^ with brown hairs. Thorax pale greenish-yellow with three bands ; anterior band fulvous, bordered laterally, except for its anterior third, with a dark brown line, base united to scutellumby a fine brown line, lateral bands fulvous posteriorly, dark brown anteriorly, united at apex to anterior extremity of dark brown border of middle band by dark brown line ; bands and lines with a hoary appearance when viewed in a certain light ; a median longitudinal row of short pale yellow hairs in the anterior band, and another of longer hairs along inside margin of lateral bands ; pleurae and scutellum pale greenish-yellow, the latter fringed with yellow hairs ; pectus brownish, hoary ; meta- notum deep brown, almost black, dark fulvous at each side. Halteres pale yellow. Abdomen about three times length of thorax, greenish-yellow, tinged with brownish, second to fourth segments bordered anteriorly with a moderately broad ring of deep brown, with the last two segments entirely deep brown ; all segments with a light reflection on posterior margin ; densely clothed with long pale yellow hairs ; anal joint and forceps dark brown, densely haired. Legs yellowish or pale ochreous, the femora, tibice, and all tarsal joints slightly tipped with brown, 232 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, tibiae of the fore legs also brown at base. In fore legs metatarsus J longer than tibia. Wings considerably shorter than abdomen, hyaline, veins very pale, ochreous-yellow, marginal cross-vein and portions of the neighbouring veins suffused with deep brown or black ; veins pale. Costal and third longitudinal meeting a little before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein reaching costa opposite tip of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longitudinal distinct for the whole of its length, reaching costa a little past tip of first longitudinal ; fourth longitudinal very pale past the middle cross-vein, almost reaching the wing-margin, its tip about mid- way between tip of costa and that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of the latter situated opposite base of middle cross-vein, its posterior branch rather more than half the length of anterior. Hah. — Nepean River, near Penrith, N.S.W. (Skuse). Sep- tember. Ohs. — I have taken but one specimen of this conspicuous insect. 221. Chironomus egregius, sp.n. (J. — Length of antennae 0.070 inch ... 1*77 millimetres. Expanse of wings 0-160 x 0-040 ... 4-06 x 1-01 Size of body 0-270x0-037 ... 6-85x0-92 Antennae light ochreous-brown ; first joint of scapus light ferru- ginous. Head, clypeus, and palpi ochreous-brown. Thorax pale greenish-yellow, with three broad fulvous bands, middle one united to the scutellum by a fine line ; pleurae pale greenish or greenish- yellow, sometimes, with pectus, pale fulvous ; scutellum pale greenish-yellow, fringed with yellow hairs ; metanotum light umbrous-brown, yellow anteriorly, with a very fine median yellow line. Halteres pale yellow. Abdomen nearly three times length of thorax, prasinous, the last three segments pale brown, each segment marked longitudinally with deep brown, the markings on second, third, and fourth segments olive brown, more or less BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 233 diamond-shaped, densely clothed with rather long pale yellow hairs ; anal joint and forceps dark brown, more or less tinged with ochreous. Legs very pale ochreous-yellow, last two tarsal joints and extreme tips of preceding ones more or less dusky, densely clothed with pale yellow hairs ; tibial spurs deep brown. In fore- legs metatarsus nearly twice the length of tibiae. Wings shorter than abdomen, hyaline, iridescent, costal, first and third longitu- dinal veins and basal portion of fourth longitudinal vein ochre- yellow, distinct. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting a little before the apex of the wing; auxiliary vein indistinct, scarcely reaching costa, its tip about opposite that of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longitudinal indistinct towards its tip, scarcely reaching costa, teroiinating a short distance beyond tip of first longitudinal vein ; fourth longitudinal vein pale beyond middle cross- vein, not quite reaching wing-margin, its tip situated about J the distance from tip of costa to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter lying opposite base of middle cross-vein, its posterior branch rather more than half the length of anterior. Hab. — Sydney (Masters and Skuse) ; Hexham near ISTewcastle, N.S.W. (Skuse) ; Victoria Park, Brisbane, in November (Mr. H. Try on). April. 222. Chironomus pervagatus, sp.n. 9. — Length of antennae 0-037 inch ... 0*92 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-185 x 0-057 ... 4-68x1-44 Size of body 0-250x0-040 ... 6-34x1-01 Aiitennse brown, dusky towards the extremity, the basal joint and first two flagellar joints sometimes ochreous-yellow. Head ochre-yellow or brownish-yellow. Face, clypeus, and palpi brown or yellowish-brown. Thorax ochre-yellow, pale yellowish- brown, with thvee brown stripes, the anterior one with a lighter (sometimes darker) median line which continues to the scutellum; three longitudinal rows of pale yellow hairs ; pleurae ochreous, 234 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, ochreous-brown or brown, sometimes with a small perpendicular oblong brown spot under the origin of the wings ; pectus light reddish-brown to deep brown ; scutellum yellow or sordid yellow, fringed with pale yellow hairs ; metanotum usually dark brown, sometimes lighter, Halteres yellow. Abdomen about three times length of thorax, clothed with pale yellow hairs, more or less dark brown, posterior borders of segments sometimes slightly fulvous. Legs yellow or pale ochre-yellow ; tarsi more or less brownish or dusky. Tibial spurs deep brown or black. In fore legs metatarsus twice length of tibia. Wings shorter than abdomen, hyaline, weakly iridescent ; costal, first and third longitudinal veins, middle cross-vein, and basal half of fourth longitudinal distinct, ochreous-brown. Costal and third longi- tudinal veins meeting somewhat before apex of wing ; auxiliary very pale and indistinct, reaching the costa opposite or somewhat beyond middle of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longitudinal vein very pale, especially towards tip, termi- nating at a point about ^ distance from tip of first longitudinal to that of third longitudinal ; fourth longitudinal very pale beyond cross-vein, almost reaching wing-margin, its tip situated at a point not ^ the distance from tip of third longitudinal vein to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter lying a little beyond middle cross-vein, its posterior branch nearly § the length of anterior. Ilab. — Lawson, Berowra, and Sydney, N.S.W. (Masters and Skuse). 223. Chironomus intertinctus, sp.n. (J. — Length of antennae 0*075 inch ... 1*89 millimetres. Expanse of wings 0'150 x 0-032 ... 3-81 x 0-80 Size of body 0-240 x 0*037 ... 6*09 x 0-92 c^. — Length of antennae 0"032 inch ... 0*80 millimetres. Expanse of wings 0-150 x 0*037 ... 3-81x0-92 Size of body 0-200x0037 ... 5-08x0-92 BY FREDERICK A. A, SKUSE. 235 ^ and 9. — Antennae light brown in ^, fuscous in 9 ; joints of the scapus varying from ochreous-yellow to light fuscous brown. Head, clypeus, and palpi light fuscous-brown, clypeus sometimes yellowish ; head with yellow, and clypeus and palpi with brownish hairs. Thorax pale greenish-yellow (slightly tinged with brown in some specimens) with three longitudinal stripes, fulvous in ^, very prominent and deep castaneous-brown in 9 ; intermediate stripe with a sparse median line of short yellow hairs, also a row between the stripes extending the whole length of the thorax ; pectus more or less tinged with brown ; pleurae pale greenish- yellow, more or less distinctly tinged with pale fulvous ; scutellum pale greenish or greenish-yellow, sometimes with a fulvous tint, fringed with yeUow hairs ; metanotum in ^ pale fulvous-yellow, in 9 the anterior half pale greenish, greenish or fulvous-yellow, posterior half deep castaneous-brown with a pale median line. Halteres pale yellowish-green in (J, almost seruginous in 9* Abdomen about three times the length of the thorax in ^, shorter in 9, prasinoas, clothed with pale yellow hairs, the last two abdominal segments of ^ tinged with brown, and anal joint and holding forceps entirely brown ; lamellae of $ ovipositor light brown. Coxae and femora pale greenish-yellow ; in fore legs apex of the femora and entire tibias and tarsi deep fuscous-b'^own, in intermediate and hind legs extreme tip of femora generally v^ry slightly brownish. Tibise in intermediate and hind legs pale brownish-yellow, deep fuscous at extreme base and extreme apex. Tarsi fuscous-brown, basal three-fourths or more of metatarsi brownish-yellow. In fore legs tibiae a little more than half the length of metatarsus. Wings shorter than the abdomen in (J, as long or longer than it in 9 ; hyaline, iridescent, the costal, first three longitudinal veins, and basal half of fourth longitudinal brownish-ochreous. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting a short distance from apex of wing ; auxiliary vein joining costa not quite mid- way between middle cross-vein and tip of the first longitudinal ; first longitudinal joining costa before tip of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; fourth longitudinal vein almost reaching wing-margin, its tip situated nearer tip of costa than to 236 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of the latter situated somewhat beyond middle cross-vein ; its posterior branch J the length of anterior. Hah. — Wheeny Creek, Hawkeshury District, and Hexham Swamps, near Newcastle, N.S.W. (Skuse) ', Brisbane, Queensland (taken at light by Mr. H. Tryon). November to April. 24. Chironomus subdolus, sp.n. (t. — Length of antennae 0-055 inch ... 1-39 millimetres. Expanse of wings 0-130 x 0030 ... 3-30x0-76 Size of body 0-200x0-027 ... 5-08x0-68 Antennae brown, with somewhat bronzy-brown plumes ; first joint of scapus umber-brown. Head pale greenish-yellow with pale yellow hairs. Clypeus and palpi light greenish-brown. Thorax, pleurae, and scutellum pale greenish or greenish-yellow, the former with three ochraceous-ferruginous bands ; pale yellow hairs ; pectus brownish ; metanotum deep brown, pale greenish- yellow anteriorly, and with a very fine pale median line. Halteres very pale green. Abdomen nearly three times length of thorax, prasinous, second to fifth segments with a diamond-shaped olive- brown spot superiorly, last two segments entirely blacki^h-brown ; rather moderately clothed with short pale yellow hairs ; anal joint and forceps dusky brown, with short hairs. Coxae and femora pale greenish-yellow. Tibiae and tarsi of a more ochreous- yellow, joints of tarsi almost imperceptibly tipped with brown. Tibial spurs deep brown or black. In fore legs metatarsus twice length of tibia. Wings shorter than abdomen, hyaline : costal, first three longitudinal veins and basal half of fourth longitudinal vein brownish-ochreous. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting a little before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein indistinctly reaching oosta opposite middle of posterior branch of fifth longi- tudinal fork j second longitudinal joining costa a short distance beyond tip of first longitudinal ; fourth longitudinal pale beyond BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 237 middle cross-vein, not reaching wing-margin, its tip situated at a point ^ the distance from tip of costa to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; latter very pale, its base lying opposite middle cross-vein, posterior branch J the length of anterior. ]g;ah. — Clifton, Illawarra district, N.S.W. (Skuse). December. 225. Chironomus Hexhamensis, sp.n. (J. — Length of antennae 0-055 inch ... 1-39 millimetres. Expanse of wings 0-120 x 0030 ... 3-04x0-76 Size of body 0-200x0-023 ... 5-08x0-58 Antennae light ochreous-brown ; first joint of scapus fulvous. Head, clypeus, and palpi ochreous-brown. Thorax, pleurce, scutellum, and abdomen prasinous ; three bands of thorax, pectus, and metanotum fulvous. Halteres pale yellow. Abdo- men three times the length of thorax, rather densely clothed with yellow hairs; anal joint and forceps light ochreous-brown, densely haired. Coxao and femora prasinous. Tibiae greenish-yellow, apical spurs black or deep brown. Tarsi dusky, except meta- tarsi of intermediate and hind legs, which are more or less yellowish or fulvous. In fore legs tibiae not quite | the length of metatarsus. Wings shorter than abdomen, hyaline, with a weak reflection, all the veins tolerably distinct, brownish. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting somewhat before apex of wings ; auxiliary vein reaching costa opposite tip of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longitudinal vein running close to first longitudinal, pale, terminating in the costa a short distance past tip of latter ; fourth longitudinal pale past middle cross-vein, indistinctly reaching the margin, its tip some- what nearer to tip of costa than to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of the latter almost opposite, but some- what beyond, middle cross-vein, its posterior branch about half the length of the anterior. Hah. — Hexham, near Newcastle, N.S.W. (Skuse) ; Adelaide, S. Australia (Coll. Adelaide Museum, Mr. T. P. 0. Tepper). December to April. 238 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, 226. Chironomus blandus, sp.n. 2- — Length of antennae 0-025 inch ... 0*62 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0'135xO-037 ... 342 x 0-92 Sizeof body 0-150 x 0-027 ... 3-81x0-68 Antennae light brown, tinged with ochreous. Head, clypeus, and palpi light brown; pale pubescence. Thorax pale greenish- yellow, with three pale fulvous stripes more or less tinged with greenish ; longitudinal row of pale hairs between the bands from anterior extremity of lateral ones to scutellum ; pleurse, pectus, scutellum and metanotum pale greenish-yellow ; scutellum fringed with long pale yellow hairs. Halteres pale greenish- yellow. Abdomen twice the length of thorax, pale prasinous, the last two segments brownish, (the last five segments brownish beneath, but this may be merely discoloration) clothed with tolerably long pale yellow hairs. Legs pale greenish-yellow, fore tibiae and tarsi, and last four tarsal joints in intermediate and fore legs more or less brownish. Tibial spurs deep brown. In fore legs metatarsus about twice the length of tibia. Wings longer than abdomen, pellucid, somewhat opaline, costal, first and third longitudinal, middle cross-vein, and basal half of the fourth longi- tudinal veins distinct, greenish-yellow. Costal and third longi- tudinal veins meeting a little before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein indistinctly reaching costa about opposite middle of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork; second longitudinal pale, running close to first longitudinal and for a little distance along costa ; fourth longitudinal vein pale beyond middle cross-vein, not quite reaching wing-margin, its tip situated at a point about half way between tips of costal and anterior branch of fifth longitu- dinal fork ; base of the latter lying somewhat beyond middle cross- vein, its posterior branch J the length of anterior. Hah. Narrabeen Lagoon, near Manly, N. S. Wales (Skuse). January. BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 239 227. Chironomus januarius, sp.n. (J. — Length of antennae 0*040 inch ... 1*01 millimetres. Expanse of wings 0*110x0*027 ... 2*79x0 68 Size of body..., 0*140x0020 ... 3*55x0*50 Antennse pale brown ; first joint of scapus reddish-brown. Head brown. Clypeus and palpi light reddish-brown. Thorax greenish-yellow or pale ochreous, with three somewhat indistinct light brown bands, the anterior one united to the scutellum by a light brown line ; a longitudinal row of yellow hairs between the bands and on anterior portion of the intermediate one ; pleurse and pectus pale ochreous-brown; scutellum sordid ochreous-yellow, fringed with long yellow hairs ; metanotum purplish-brown. Hal- teres pale green. Abdomen rather more than thrice the length of thorax, umbrous-brown, sub-levigate, rather densely clothed with moderately long yellow hairs. Legs yellow, the tibia terminating in deep brown or black spines, the tarsi except metatarsal joint of fore legs light brown, dark brown at the extreme apices of the joints. In fore legs metatarsus twice the length of tibia. Win^^s rather shorter than abdomen, hyaline ; costal, first and third longitudinal, and basal half of the fourth longitudinal vein, brownish-yellow. Costal and third longitudinal vein meeting a short distance before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein joining costa before middle of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork; second longitudinal vein joining costa a little beyond tip of first longi- tudinal vein ; fourth longitudinal vein pale almost reachino- the wing margin, its tip situated nearer to tip of costa than to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter lying opposite middle cross- vein, its posterior branch a little more than half the length of anterior. Hah. — Wheeney Creek, N.S.W. (Skuse). January. 228. Chironomus delinificus, sp.n. (PI. xi., fig. 2). (J. — Length of antennae.. 0*037 inch ... 0*92 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0*085x0020... 2*14x0*50 Sizeof body 0*120x0*017 ... 3*04x0*42 240 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, Antennae light ochreous-yellow; joints of scapus reddish-brown. Head, face, clypeus and palpi brown, with a yellow pubescence. Thorax ochre-yellow, with no anterior stripe, two lateral stripes of brown posteriorly, and an intermediate narrow stripe of same colour not reaching scubellum; pleurae ochre-yellow; pectus tinged with brown ; scutellum pale yellow ; metanotum ochreous-brown with a darker median line. Halteres pale yellow. Abdomen nearly three times the length of thorax, pale yellowish-green, with a rather dense covering of pale yellow hairs ; anal joint and forceps narrow, yellowish-green. Legs light ochre-yellow (tarsal joints of the fore legs lost) ; tibial spurs black. Wings nearly the length of abdomen, pellucid, almost hyaline ; costal, first and third longitudinal, middle cross-vein, and basal half of fourth longitudinal veins yellow, distinct. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting a short distance before apex of wing; auxiliary vein pale, indistinct towards tip, apparently terminating in costa at a point about § the distance from middle cross-vein to tip of first longitudinal vein ; second longitudinal vein very pale, running close to third longitudinal for greater part of its length, joining costa a short distance beyond tip of first longitudinal ; fourth longitudinal pale beyond the middle cross-vein, very nearly reaching wing-margin, its tip situated at a point nearer to tip of costal than to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter considerably beyond middle cross-vein, its posterior branch half the length of anterior. Hah. — Knapsack Gully, Blue Mountains (Masters). One speci- men in September. 229. Chironomus pulcher, sp.n. (PI. xi., fig. 3). $. — Length of antennae 0-014 inch ... 0*35 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-075x0-027 ... 1-89x0-68 Size of body 0*075x0-016 ... 1-89x0-40 Antennae brownish-green, basal joint more yellowish. Head green, the face, clypeus, and palpi brownish-green. Thorax BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 241 prasinous, with three olivaceous stripes more or less tinged with tawny ; pleura?, pectus and scutelhim prasinous, the latter fringed with short yellow hairs ; metauotum prasinous an- teriorly, livid posteriorly. Halteres prasinous. Abdomen short, robust, seruginous, all segments with a narrow paler border posteriorly, clothed with a sparse pale yellow pubescence ; terminal lamellae yellow. Coxse and femora prasinous. Tibiae and tarsi of fore legs sooty brown. Tibiae and metatarsi of inter- mediate and hind legs somewhat fulvous, their tips and all remaining tarsal joints sooty brown. In fore legs metatarsus J longer than tibia. Wings the length of whole body, beauti- fully opaline ; costal, first and third longitudinal, middle cross-vein, and basal half of fourth longitudinal veins distinct, yellow. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting considerably before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein indistinctly joining costa about mid-way between middle cross-vein and tip of first longi- tudinal vein ; second longitudinal vein scarcely distinguishable, reaching costa at a point ^ the distance from tip of first longi- tudinal to tip of costal vein ; fourth longitudinal pale, almost reaching wing-margin, its tip situated about mid-way between tip of costal and that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter lying somewhat beyond middle cross-vein, its posterior branch somewhat more than half the length of anterior. Hah. — Summer Hill, near Sydney (Mr. Cyril Haviland). April. B. Thorax pale without distinct stripes. 230. Chironomus seorsus, sp.n. (PI, xi., fig. 4). 9. — Length of antennae 0*025 inch ... 0*62 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-085 x 0-025 ... 2-14x0-62 Size of body 0-070x0-016 ... 177x0-40 Antennae ochreous-brown, with long brownish verticils ; basal joint deep brown. Head ochreous-brown ; face and clypeus deep brown. Palpi yellow. Thorax yellow, levigate, with three 16 242 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, longitudinal rows of yellow hairs ; pleurae, pectus, scutellum, and metanotum yellow, the latter tinged with brownish. Halteres pale yellow. Abdomen short, yellowish-green, densely clothed with short pale yellow hairs. Legs yellow, densely haired. Tibial spurs black. In fore legs metatarsus almost twice length of tibia. Wings longer than body, pellucid, almost hyaline, with rosy and aurichalceous reflections ; costal, first and third longi- tudinal, and basal portion of fourth and whole of fifth longi- tudinal vein distinct, brownish-yellow. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting at apex of wing; auxiliary vein very indistinct, joining costa a short distance beyond middle cross-vein ; second longitudinal vein scarcely determinable, running close to first longitudinal ; fourth longitudinal very pale and indistinct, disappearing entirely a short distance before wing-margin, its tip nearer to tip of costal than to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; posterior branch of latter less than f the length of anterior branch. Hah. — Lawson, Blue Mountains, N.S.W. (Masters). January. 231. Chironomus orarius, sp.n. (J. — Length of antennae 0-037 inch ... 0*92 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-075 x 0-020 ... 1-89 x 0-50 Size of body 0-090x0 016 ... 2-27x0-40 9. — Length of antennae 0-025 inch ... 0*62 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-105 x 0-025 ... 2-67 x 0-62 Size of body 0-105 x 0016 ... 2-67 x 0-40 (J and 9. — Entirely yellow, except that flagellar joints in $ antennae ochreous-brown or light brown. Antennae in 9 with long pale yellow verticils. Thorax with three longitudinal rows of long yellow hairs. Abdomen with slightly greenish tint in 9 ; in both sexes about three times the length of thorax; densely clothed with pale yellow hairs; anal joint and holding-forceps of BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 243 (J narrower than terminal segment. Tibial spurs black. In fore legs the metatarsus twice the length of tibia. Wings in ^ shorter, in 9 longer, than the body; pellucid in ^, hyaline in 9, with weak reflections ; veins yellow. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting slightly before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein very indis- tinct, especially in ^, joining costa a little beyond middle cross- vein ; second longitudinal vein most indistinct in ^, clearly visible in 9, very near first longitudinal; fourth longitudinal very pale beyond middle cross-vein, almost reaching wing-margin, its tip nearer to tip of costal than to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; posterior branch of latter about half the length of anterior branch. Ilab. — Middle Harbour, near Sydney (Skuse); Berowra, N.S.W. (Masters). Abundant in September. Obs. — Very closely allied to the last, but I think distinct. C. Thorax brown or black without distinct stripes. a. Wings icnspotted. 232. Chironomus erebeus, sp.n. (PI. xi., fig. 5). 9. — Length of antennse. 0-030 inch ... 0-76 millimetre. Expanse of wings O'l 60 x 0*040 ... 4-06x1 -01 Size of body 0-210x0-033 ... 5-33x0-84 Antennae brown, with brown verticils ; first joint of scapus black. Head black, glabrous. Palpi brown, and with clypeus densely covered with brown hairs, those on latter longer. Thorax black, sub-nitidous, glabrous ; pleurae and scutellum brownish- black, latter fringed with black hairs ; metanotum black. Hal- teres yellow, sometimes slightly brownish at base. Abdomen more than twice the length of thorax, black, sub-nitidous, sparingly clothed with short black hairs ; lamelli of ovipositor black. Coxae deep brown, slightly ochreous at apex; trochanters ochreous. Femora and tibiae black. Tarsi almost ochreous-brown, slightly infuscated. In fore legs tibia twice the length of metatarsus. Wings hyaline, smoky along anterior border, iridescent ; costal, 244 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, first and second longitudinal veins, middle cross-voin and basal half of fourth longitudinal vein brown. Costal and third longi- tudinal veins meeting at a point much before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein joining costa nearly opposite tip of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork; second longitudinal vein reaching margin midway between tips of first and third longitudinal veins ; fourth longitudinal vein nearly reaching wing-margin, its tip situated at a point considerably nearer to tip of anterior branch of fifth longi- tudinal fork than to that of costal vein ; base of fifth longitudinal fork lying somewhat beyond middle cross-vein, its posterior branch 1 the length of anterior. Hah. — Woronora, N.S.W. (Skuse). Two specimens. September. 233. Ohiroxomus Tepperi, sp.n. (PI. xi., fig. 6). ^. — Length of antennae 0'027 inch ... 0-68 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-165 x 0-045 ... 4-]8xl-13 Size of body 0-200x0-035 ... 5-08x0-88 Antennae black ; first joint of scapus somewhat ochreous, more or less hoary. Head, clypeus, and palpi brown, with yellow hairs. Thorax black, opaque, hoary, with three longi- tudinal rows of yellow hairs ; pleurae, pectus, scutellum and metanotum black, hoary ; scutellum fringed with long yellow hairs. Halteres pale yellow. Abdomen more than twice the length of thorax, dusky brown or black, levigate, a little hoary, tolerably clothed with pale yellow hairs ; lamellae of ^ ovipositor ochreous. Legs with a yellow pubescence. Tibial spurs black. Femora and tibiae brownish-ochreous, the apex of former and base and apex of latter dusky brown. Metatarsi brownish-ochreous, their tips and remaining tarsal joints dusky brown. In fore legs metatarsus not J longer than tibia. Wings about the length of abdomen, hyaline, a little iridescent, with ochre-yellow veins. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting a little before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein extremely indistinct, apparently terminating near costa a short distance past middle cross-vein ; second longi- tudinal vein very pale and indistinct, joining costa at a point ^ I BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 245 the distance from tip of first longitudinal vein to tip of third longitudinal \ fourth longitudinal very pale and indistinct beyond cross-vein, disa})pearing some distance from wing-margin, its tip situated at a point much nearer to tip of third longitudinal vein than to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter lying a little beyond middle cross-vein, its posterior branch | the length of anterior. Eab. — Mount Lofty and Adelaide, South Australia (Mr. T. P. O. Tepper). June and October. Two specimens in the collection of the Adelaide Museum. 234. Chironomus fluviaticus, sp.n. ^.—Length of antenna 0-050 inch ... 1-27 millimetres. Expanse of wings. 0*105 x 0-023 ... 2-67x0-58 Size of body 0-160x0-020 ... 4-06x0-50 Antennae light and somewhat bronzy, brown ; first joint of scapus deep brown or black, second and few following flagellar joints ochreous-yellow. Head deep brown or black, with some short brownish hairs. Clypeus and palpi deep brown or black, with a brown pubescence. Thorax deep brownish-black, dull, traversed (when viewed at a certain obliquity) by two longitudinal more or less hoary narrow stripes, extending from humeri to scutellum, sparingly beset with yellow hairs ; also an intermediate double row of short hairs reaching to middle of thorax ; pleurae, pectus, scutellum and metanotum black, the scutellum fringed with yellow hairs. Halteres yellow. Abdomen very slender, rather more than three times the length of thorax, deep dull black, rather densely clothed with moderately long yellow hairs; anal joint black, forceps brown. Coxse black. Remaining joints sordid ochreous-yellow, tips of femora and tibial spurs dark brown. In fore legs metatarsus |- longer than tibia. Wings shorter than abdomen, pellucid, with a very pale bluish tint ; veins very pale brownish-yellow; dull pale brassy reflections. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting a short distance before apex of wing ; 246 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, auxiliary vein scarcely visible towards its tip, apparently termin- ating about opposite middle of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork; second longitudinal vein tolerably distinct, pale, joining costa at a point somewhat more than J the distance from tip of first longitudinal to tip of third longitudinal; fourth longitudinal pale, almost reaching margin, its tip situated somewhat nearer to tip of third longitudinal than to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter lying a little beyond middle cross- vein, its posterior branch ^ the length of anterior. Hah. — Nepean River, N.S.W. (Skuse). September. 235. Chironomus subvittatus, sp.n. (J. — Length of antennae 0*045 inch ... 1-13 millimetres. Expanse of wings 0-090 x 0-022 ... 2-27x0-55 Sizeof body 0-120x0-020 ... 3-04x0-50 Antenn96 ochreous-brown with yellow plumes ; basal joint black. Head, face, and clypeus black. Palpi ochreous-brown. Thorax pitch-brown, nitidous, with three indistinct black stripes ; three longitudinal rows of yellow hairs ; pleurse and pectus black ; scutellum pitch-brown ; metanotum black. Halteres pale yellow. Abdomen rather more than twice the length of thorax, black, sub-nitidous, clothed with tolerably long yellow hairs ; anal joint and forceps black. Legs pale ochreous-yellow ; last four joints of tarsi in fore legs, and last three in intermediate and hind legs somewhat infuscated. In fore legs metatarsus about twice the length of tibia. Wings rather shorter than abdomen, hyaline, with brassy reflections ; costal, first and second longitudinal veins, middle cross-vein, and basal half of fourth longitudinal brownish-ochreous. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting a short distance before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein very indistinct towards tip, joining costa about opposite middle of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longitudinal vein pale, fairly distinct, running nearer to third than to first longitudinal vein, reaching costa at a point about J the distance from tip of first to tip of third longitudinal vein ; fourth longitudinal vein pale beyond BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 247 cross- vein, not quite reaching wing-margin, its tip situated about midway between tips of third longitudinal and anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter lying opposite middle cross-vein, its posterior branch half the length of anterior. Eab.—Wdlchu, N.S.W. (Mr. J F. Schofield). April. 236. Chironomus oresitrophus, sp.n. (PI. xi,, figs. 7 and 8). (J. — Length of antennae 0'035 inch ... 0*88 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-090x0-020 ... 2-27x0*50 Size of body 0-100x0-020 ... 2-54x0-50 9- —Length of antennae 0-022 inch ... 0-55 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-097x0-027 ... 2-44x0-68 Size of body 0-100x0-020 ... 2-54x0-50 (J and <^. — Antennse, head, and palpi brown; basal joint of antennae more or less tinged with ochreous. Thorax brown, with three longitudinal rows of brown hairs; pleurae and pectus brown; scutellum yellowish-brown, sometimes ochreous-yellow; metanotum dark brown. Hal teres brown or yellowish-brown. Abdomen in (J rather more than twice the length of thorax, much shorter in 9 ; densely covered with brownish hair ; brown, the segments sometimes indistinctly bordered posteriorly with ochreous ; $, anal joint and forceps brown ; ^, lamellae of ovipositor ochre- yellow. Legs sordid ochreous-brown, densely clothed with brownish hairs, femora indistinctly darker at apex. Tibial spurs dark brown or black. In fore legs metatarsus about i longer than tibia. Wings longer than abdomen, almost hyaline, a little iridescent, with distinct brown veins. Costal and third longi- tudinal veins meeting at apex of wing ; auxiliary vein reaching costa almost opposite base of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longitudinal vein indistinct, joining costa at a point about ^ the distance from tip of first longitudinal to that of third longitudinal ; latter vein much arcuated posteriorly ; fourth longitudinal vein indistinct beyond cross- vein, almost reaching margin at a point about J the distance from tip of third longitudinal to that 248 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA., of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter lying considerably beyond middle cross-vein, its posterior branch about ^ the length of anterior. Rab. — Lawson, Blue Mountains, N.S.W. (Masters). January. 237. Chironomus vespertinus, sp.n. (J. — Length of antennae 0.037 inch ... 0-92 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-090 x 0-020 ... 2-27x0-50 Size of body 0-085x0-015 ... 2-14x0-38 Antennse bronzy-brown ; basal joint deep brown. Head black. Palpi brownish-ochreous. Thorax black, opaque, more or less hoary, with three longitudinal rows of brownish hairs ; pleurae and pectus black ; scutellum dark brown, sometimes ochreous- brown ; metanotum black. Halteres dusky brown, basal half of the stem yellow. Abdomen about twice the length of thorax, deep umber-brown or black, moderately clothed with tolerably long yellowish hairs ; anal joint deep umber-brown or black, narrow ; forceps ochreous or ochreous-brown. Legs entirely ochreous-yellow, densely covered with long yellowish hairs. Tibial spurs deep brown or black. In fore legs metatarsus about ^ longer than tibia. Wings rather longer than body, pellucid, with a weak brassy reflection ; costal, first and third longitudinal veins, middle cross-vein, and basal portion of fourth longitudinal yel- lowish, distinct. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting somewhat before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein indistinct, joining costa about mid-way between origin of third and tip of first longitudinal vein ; second longitudinal vein indistinct, joining costa a little past tip of first longitudinal ; fourth longitudinal very pale beyond middle cross-vein, slightly bent, scarcely reaching margin, its tip situated at a point ^ the distance from tip of third longitudinal to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; posterior branch of the latter about f the length of anterior branch. ^«6.— National Park, near Sydney, N.S.W. (Skuse). Plentiful in July. BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 249 238. Chironomus brevis, sp.n. (PI. xi., fig. 9). 9. — Length of antennae 0'017 inch ... 0*42 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-057x0-015 ... 1-44 x 0-38 Size of body 0-050 x 0-010 ... 1-27x0-25 Antennae light brownish-ochreous; basal joint very pale ochreous- yellow. Head, clypeus, and palpi brownish-ochreous, the latter palest. Thorax umber-brown, with two longitudinal rows of brown hairs ; pleura? and pectus umber-brown, more or less tinged with pale ochreous-yellow ; scutellum ochreous-brown, fringed with long brown hairs ; metanotum dusky umber-brown. Halteres dusky, base of the stem pale. Abdomen short, robust, dusky umber- brown, rather densely clothed with a short brown pubescence • lamellae of ovipositor ochreous-yellow. Legs pale ochreous-yellow, with a pale pubescence. Tibial spurs black or deep brown. In fore legs metatarsus rather more than ^ longer than tibise. Wings longer than body, pellucid, with brassy reflections ; costal and first and third longitudinal veins light brown, distinct, remaining veins fairly distinguishable. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting at apex of wing ; auxiliary vein very pale, joining costa somewhat beyond middle cross-vein; second longitudinal scarcely distinguish- able, running close to first longitudinal ; fourth longitudinal much paler beyond middle cross-vein, very little bent, its tip nearer to tip of costal than to tip of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork; posterior branch of the latter J the length of anterior branch. Hab. — Sydney (Skuse). A single specimen. b. — Wings S2:)0tted. 239. Chironomus nubifer, sp.n. (J. — Length of antennae 0-055 inch ... 1-39 millimetres. Expanse of wings 0-140x0-040 ... 3-55x1-01 Size of body 0-200x0-033... 5-08x0-84 9 — Length of antennae 0'025 inch ... 0.62 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-140 x 0-040 ... 3-55 x 1-01 Size of body 0-120x0*027 ... 3-04x0-68 250 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, fj and 9. — Antennae smoky-brownish ; first joint of scapus deep black, somewhat hoary when viewed in a certain light. Head and clypeus brown or black. Palpi brown. Thorax greyish-black, with a very fine median furrow beset with short yellow hairs and two parallel lateral rows of rather long yellow hairs ; pleurae, pectus, scutellum and metanotum deep brown or black, scutellum fringed with long yellow hairs. Halteres yellow. Abdomen in ^ about three times, in the 9 aboutr twice, the length of thorax, deep brownish-black, densely clothed with yellow hairs ; $ anal joint and forceps deep brownish-black. Legs very pale ochreous- yellow, densely clothed with pale yellow hairs, particularly long and dense in the fore tarsi ; coxae brown, and femora generally with a more or less brownish tinge. In fore legs metatarsus in ^ about 5, in the 9 J, longer than tibia. Tibial spurs black or deep brown. Wings in ^ longer, in ^ shorter, than the abdo- men, pellucid, with several small pale violaceous markings ; one enveloping the fourth longitudinal vein immediately beyond cross- vein, a second between third and fourth longitudinal veins mid- way to apex of wing, a third at apex, one below each of these between fourth longitudinal vein and anterior branch of fifth longitudinal, another at base of fork of latter, and lastly two more behind fifth longitudinal ; veins ochreous-yellow. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting a short distance before apex of wingj auxiliary vein very pale, joining costa opposite middle of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longitudinal vein indistinct, joining costa at a point 3- the distance from tip of first to that of third longitudinal ; fourth longitudinal vein very pale beyond cross-vein, almost reaching margin, its tip situated almost mid-way between tips of third longitudinal and anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork, somewhat nearer former; base of fifth longitudinal fork lying somewhat beyond middle cross-vein, its posterior branch about J the length of anterior^ Rab. — Wheeny Creek, Hawkesbury District, Berowra, Hex- ham, Armidale and Sydney, N.S.W. (Skuse). January. BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 251 It is not possible to ascertain from the descriptions to what genera of the Chironomina the following should be referred, mention of most of the characters essential to notice being entirely- omitted. Those described by Walker all fall into the section with naked wings, while C. conjionctus, C. ojypositus, C. aj^plicatus, and C. alternans have the tibia longer than the metatarsus in the fore- legs. I do not believe that G. conjungens, C. opponens, C. rejlectus^ and C. proximus, named by Walker in his " Notes," have ever been described. 240. Chironomus alternans, Walker, Chironomus alternans, Walk., Insecta Saundersiana, Yol. I. Diptera, 1856. p. 423 (Div. 1, Alse nudse. Sub-div. 1, Halteres pallidi). " (^. — Testaceus ; antennce fuscoi ; thorax vittis duabus dorsal- ihus lateribusque viridibus ; abdomen vii'lde, pitbescens, vitta interrup)ta Jusca dorsali ; pedes virides, pubescentes, tibiis et tarsorum articulis apice fuscescentibus ; alee limpidce, venis tes- taceis, litura discali sicb-obscuriore. "Testaceous. Antennse brown. Thorax green on each side, and with two green dorsal stripes. Abdomen green, pubescent, with an interrupted brown dorsal stripe. Legs green, long, slender, pubescent; tips of the tibiae and of the joints of the tarsi brownish; fore-tibia very much longer than the fore-metatarsus. Wings limpid ; veins testaceous ; discal mark a little darker, not distinct. Length of the body 4 lines, of the wings 6 lines. Hab.—" New South Wales." 241. Chironomus applicatus. Walker. Chironomus ajjpUcatus, Walk., Insecta Saundersiana, Vol. I. Diptera, 1856, p. 424 (Div. 1, Alse nudsB. Sub-div. 1, Halteres pallidi). "5. — Ganus; antennce fuscm ; thorax fusco trivittatus; abdomen fuscum, fasciis ventreque canis; pedes viridescentes, sub-pubescentes, tarsis fere totis feTnoribusque tibiisque apice fuscescentibus ; aim sub-cinereoi, venis fuscis, litura discali obscuriore. 252 DIPTERA OP AUSTRALIA, " Hoary. Antennae brown, testaceous at the base. Thorax with three brown stripes, the lateral pair indistinct. Abdomen brown, with a hoary band on the hind border of each segment ; under side hoary. Legs greenish, long, slender, slightly pubes- cent ; tarsi, except towards the base and tips of the femora and of the tibiae, brownish ; fore tibia very much longer than the fore metatarsus. Wings greyish ; veins brown ; discal mark darker brown. Halteres testaceous. Length of the body, 4 J lines ; of the wings, 7 lines. Sah. — " Van Diemen's Land." 242. Chironomus duplex. Walker. Chironomus duplex, Walk., Insecta Saundersiana, Vol. I. Diptera, 1856, p. 424 (Div. 1. Alae nudse. Sub-div. 1. Halteres pallidi). "2. — Alhido-viridis ; antennce testacecB, fusco fasciatce ; thorax vittis tribus obscure cinereo-fuscis ; abdomen fascum, albido tomentosum, fasciis lateribusque albido-virldibus ; j^^des virides- centes, tarsorum articuUs apice fuscis^ alee limpidoi, venis halteri- husque testaceis, litura discali fusca. " Whitish-green. Antennae testaceous ; sutures and tips brown. Thorax with three dark greyish-brown stripes. Abdo- men above brown, with whitish tomentum ; sides and hind borders of the segments whitish-green. Legs greenish, long, slender; tips of the joints of the tarsi brown. Wings limpid; veins testaceous ; discal mark brown. Halteres testaceous. Length of the body, 4 J lines ; of the wings, 7 lines. Hah. — " Van Diemen's Land." 243. Chironomus imitans, Walker. Chironomus imitans, Walk., Insecta Saundersiana, Vol L Diptera, 1856, p. 425 (Div. 1. Alae nudas. Sub-div. 1. Halteres pallidi). BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 253 "(J. — Pallide viridis ; antennce fuscoi ', thorax vittis trihus pectorisque disco nigro-cmereis ; j^edes tihiifi et tarsorinn articulis apice fuscescentihus ; alee limpidce, venis albidis, litura discali fusca. " Pale green. Antennae brown. Thorax with three blackish- grey stripes. Pectus with a blackish-grey disc. Abdomen with a broad blackish-grey band on the fore border of each segment. Legs pale green, long, slender; tips of the tibife and of the joints of the tarsi brownish. Wings limpid; veins whitish ; discal mark brown. Length of the body, 4 lines ; of the wings, 6 lines. Hah. — ''Van Diemen's Land." 244. Chironomus oppositus, Walker. Chironomus oppositus, Walk., Insecta Saiindersiana, Vol. I. Dij^tera, 1856, p. 425 (Div. 1, Alae nudse. Sub-div, 1. Halteres pallidi). ^''^. — Pallide testaceus aut viridis ; antenncR fuscoi : thorax vittis trihus rufescentihus ; abdomen pubescens, viride fasciis fuscis ; pedes 2)allide virides pubescentes, iarsis apice fuscis ; aloi limpidoi, venis albidis, litura discali fusca. " Pale testaceous, green (?) while living. Antennae brown. Thorax with three reddish stripes. Abdomen pubescent, green, with a brown band on each segment. Legs pale green, long, slender, pubescent ; tarsi brown towards the tip ; fore tibia very much longer than the fore metatarsus. Wings limpid ; veins whitish ; discal transverse vein brown. Length of the body 3|- lines ; of the wings 5 lines. Hab. — " Van Diemen's Land." 245. Chironomus conjunctus, Walker. Chironomus conjunctus, Walk., Insecta Saundersiana, Vol. I. Diptera, 1856, p. 425 (Div. 1. Al^e nudae. Sub-div. 1. Halteres pallidi). "^ and ^. — Viridis; antennce pallide fuscoi ; thorax vittis tribus rufescentibus ; pedes pcdlide virides, tarsis apice fuscis ; 254 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, aim Umpidce, venis j^ci^ll^dis, litura discali nulla. (J. — Abdomen pubescens aj)ice juscitm. " Green. Antennae pale brown. Thorax with three reddish stripes. Legs pale green, slender ; tarsi brown towards the tips ; fore tibia much longer than the fore metatarsus. Wings limpid ; veins pale ; no discal mark. ^. — Abdomen pubescent, brown at the tip, much longer than that of the 5. Length of the body 2-2 J lines ; of the wings 3 J lines. Hob. — "Yan Diemen's Land." 246. Chironomus australis, Macquart. (J. — Chironomus australis, Macq., Dipteres Exotiques, 2nd Suppl. 1847, p. 9; 9, 4th Suppl. 1850, p. 12. "^. — Thorace rufescente, vittis fuscis ; scutello rufescente. Abdo- mine nigricante, incisuris rufis. Pedibus rufis. Alls pallidis. " Antennae with brownish plumes. Metathorax black, with a light grey down. The tawny rings to the incisions of the abdomen narrow. Extremity of femora and base of the tibiae brownish ; a little brown at the extremity of the tibiae and the joints of the tarsi ; intermediate and hind tibiae finely haired beneath. Wings with the transverse vein a little brownish. Long. 3J x 1. Hob. — " Tasmania." Obs. — Macquart says that the 2 differs only by the ordinary sexual characters. Genus 2. Orthocladius, V.d. Wulp. Orthocladius, Y.d. Wulp, Tijd. Entom. 1873-74, XVII. p. 132. Antennae 2- + 12-jointed in (J, 2- + 5-jointed in 9. Thorax with three stripes. Wings naked. Third longitudinal vein straight or only a little curved, going nearly to end of anterior margin. Costal vein sometimes extending a little beyond tip of third longi- tudinal. Posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork straight or a little bent. Legs unicolou red; or only darker at articulations. In fore legs metatarsus considerably shorter than tibia. ^ forceps slender. BY FREDERICK A. A . SKUSE. 255 INDICES OF ALAR AND TARSAL PROPORTIONS. Relative Length Relative Distance • a _^^- a ^+i rf S ^ S li ^^ U pq Q P &q PQ O ft H No. Species. 8 *" li c 8 *> 4^ S s o S < S S o 3 n Of the m theh Of the sc joint in tl 2-^ II o g s 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 247 67 33 9 9 s 66 15 15 4 9 9 9 9 0. annuliventris ... 248 0. numerosus 67 33 ... 67 10 15 8 249 0. venustulus 61 39 ... ... 73 5 21 1 250 0. insoUdus 67 33 ... 54 0 27 19 251 0. pulhdus 1 ... 66 34 ... ... 54 10 20 16 247. Orthocladius annuliventris, sp.n. (PI. xi., fig. 10). 0-88 millimetre. 2-27 X 0-58 2-79 xO-50 (J. — Length of antennaQ 0*035 inch Expanse of wings 0-090 x 0-023 Size of body 0-110x0-020 AntennaB black, plumes somewhat bronzy towards tips. Head, clypeus, and palpi black, the latter sometimes more brownish. Thorax black, nitidous, glabrous, with no trace of stripes ; pleurae, pectus, scutellum, and metanotum black, the last two opaque. Halteres pitch-brown. Abdomen about twice and half the length of thorax, black, nitidous, whole of the first segment, anterior third of second, and anterior half of fourth and fifth segments pale brownish-yellow or ochreous ; sparingly covered with short brownish hairs ; anal joint and forceps short. Legs pitch-brown, genua ochreous-yellow, and fore and intermediate tibiae with a very broad ring of white near the base. In fore legs tibia nearly twice the length of metatarsus. Wings as long as abdomen, hyaline. 256 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, with a more or less brassy iridescence ; veins light umber-brown. Third longitudinal vein meeting the costa some distance before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein pale, joining costa opposite middle cross-vein ; costal vein extending beyond tip of third longitudinal, about i the distance to tip of fourth longitudinal vein ; latter almost reaching margin, its tip situated nearer to tip of costa than to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longitudinal vein pale, reaching costa about midway between tips of first and third longitudinal veins ; base of fifth longitudinal fork lying considerably beyond middle cross-vein, its posterior branch J the length of anterior. Sah. — Blue Mountains (Masters and Skuse) ; Sydney (Skuse). September to January. Qjjs. — The white rings on the anterior two pairs of legs at once distinguish this species. Yan der Wulp says with reference to the legs of the species of this genus, " Pooten eenkleurig, hoog- stens aan de gewrichten donker geteekend," so the above seems a peculiar exception to the general rule. 248. Orthocladius numerosds, sp.n. (PL xi., fig. 11). ^, — Length of antennae 0-035 inch ... 0*88 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-075 x 0-017 ... 1-89 x 0-42 Sizeof body 0-085x0-015 ... 2-14x0-38 Antennae black ; plumes somewhat bronzy at the tips. Head and clypeus black. Palpi deep dusky brown. Thorax black, levigate, with two longitudinal rows of black hairs; pleurae, pectus, and met-anotum black, levigate. Scutellum pitch-brown, fringed with black hairs. Halteres pitch-brown. Abdomen more than twice the length of thorax, deep black, opaque, clothed with brown hairs : anal joint and forceps black. Legs light greyish-brown to pitch-brown, with brownish hairs. In fore legs tibia i- longer than metatarsus. Wings as long or longer than abdomen, pellucid, with a pale bluish tint, and a brassy iridescence ; costal and first and third longitudinal veins pale greyish-yellow. Auxiliary vein BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 257 pale, indistinct, joining costa about mid- way between middle cross- vein and tip of first longitudinal ; third longitudinal vein joining costa very much before apex of wing; costal vein extending beyond third longitudinal vein almost ^ distance from that to tip of fourth longitudinal; the tip of latter indistinctly reaching wing- margin, situated considerably nearer to tip of third longitudinal than to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longitudinal vein pale, joining costa somewhat before mid-way between tips of first and third longitudinal veins; base of fifth longitudinal fork lying much beyond middle cross-vein, and almost opposite the tip of auxiliary vein, its posterior branch J the length of anterior. Hob. — Lawson, Blue Mountains, N.S.W. (Masters). January. 249. Orthocladius venustulus, sp.n. (PI. xi., fig. 12). (J. —Length of antennae 0*032 inch ... 0*80 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0-065 x 0-017 ... 1-66x0-42 Size of body 0-085x0-015 ... 2-14x0-38 Antennte light greyish-brown, plumes with pale reflections ; first joint of the scapus deep brown or black, levigate, second pale yellow. Head and clypeus brownish-black. Palpi light greyish- brown. Thorax deep brownish-black, levigate, somewhat pruinose, with two longitudinal rows of brownish hairs ; pleurae pitch-brown; pectus dark brown or brownish-black ; scutellum pitch-brown ; metanotum black or deep brownish-black. Halteres pale yellow. Abdomen nearly three times length of thorax, pitch-brown, levigate, rather densely clothed with brown hairs ; anal joint and forceps pitch-brown. Legs light greyish-brown to pitch-brown, densely pubescent. Wings about the length of abdomen, pellucid, with a delicate violaceous tint and brassy reflection, veins sordid pale ochreous. Costal and third longitudinal veins meeting immediately before apex of wing ; auxiliary vein indistinctly joining costa opposite tip of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longitudinal very pale, running close to first longi- tudinal, afterwards close to costa, terminating a little beyond tip 17 258 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, of first longitudinal ; fourth longitudinal very pale beyond cross- vein, almost reaching wing-margin, its tip situated at a point J the distance from tip of third longitudinal to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter lying somewhat beyond middle cross-vein, its posterior branch 1 the length of anterior. Hah. — Berowra, Hawkesbury district, N.S.W. (Masters). 250. Orthocladius insolidus, sp.n. (PI. xi., fig. 13). (J. — Length of antennae 0*025 inch ... 0-62 millimetre. Expanse of wing 0 055x0-017 ... 1-39 x 042 Size of body 0-060x0-012 ... l-54x0-30 Antennae light brown; plumes with yellowish reflections; basal joint deep brown or black. Head, clypeus and palpi brown or brownish-black. Thorax black, slightly ochreous at the humeri and brown longitudinally in front of scutellum, opaque ; pleurae brown, tinged with ochreous; pectus and metanotum black, levigate ; scutellum ochreous. Halteres ochreous-yellow. Abdo- men rather more than twice the length of thorax, umber brown, levigate, tinged with ochreous-brown beneath ; clothed with yellowish hairs ; anal joint and forceps short, deep brown. Legs light greyish-brown, with a pale pubescence; the genua yellow. In fore legs tibia about J longer than metatarsus. Wings longer than abdomen, pellucid, with a delicate brown tint, and brassy reflections ; costal, first and third longitudinal veins, and basal half of fourth longitudinal vein, pale greyish-brown. Auxiliary vein very indistinct, joining costa at a point almost mid-way between middle cross-vein and tip of first longitudinal vein ; second longi- tudinal vein entirely wanting ; third longitudinal joining costa very far from apex of wing and before tip of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; costal vein extending beyond tip of third longitudinal i the distance from that to tip of fourth longitudinal ; latter almost reaching wing-margin, its tip situated at a point just before apex and at a point almost | the distance from tip of third longitudinal to that of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; base of latter lying somewhat beyond a point mid-way BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 259 between middle cross-vein and tip of first longitudinal, its posterior branch rather more than J the length of anterior. Hob. — Middle Harbour, Sydney (Skuse). August. 251. Orthocladius pullulus, sp.n. (PL xi., fig. 14). ^. — Length of antennae 0*008 inch ... 0*20 millimetre. Expanse of wings 0042 x 0-015 ... 1-06 x 0-38 Sizeof body 0-055 x 0-008 ... 1-39x0-20 Antennae brown. Head, face, and clypeus black or brownish- black. Palpi sordid ochreous-brown. Thorax black or brownish- black, levigate, with two longitudinal rows of pale hairs ; pleurae and pectus brownish-black ; scutellum and metanolum black or brownish-black. Hal teres brownish-black, the stem ochreous- brown. Abdomen twice the length of the thorax, black or brownish-black, sparingly pubescent. Legs pale greyish-yellow or sordid ochreous, with a pale pubescence. In fore legs tibia twice the length of metatarsus. Wings longer than abdomen, pellucid, almost hyaline, with a more or less brassy reflection ; costal and first and third longitudinal veins brownish. Auxiliary vein very pale and indistinct, scarcely reaching the costa, dis- appearing opposite base of fifth longitudinal fork ; second longi- tudinal vein extremely pale, joining the costa opposite tip of posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork ; third longitudinal vein joining costa much before apex of wing and opposite tip of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal ; middle cross-vein very short and indistinct ; costal vein extending beyond tip of third longi- tudinal i the distance from that to tip of fourth longitudinal vein; latter scarcely sinuose, pale for whole of its length, directed posteriorly for whole of its length, almost reaching the wing- margin, its tip situated at a point considerably nearer to tip of anterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork than to that of third longitudinal ; base of fifth longitudinal fork lying beyond middle cross-vein, its posterior branch not quite ^ the length of anterior ; both branches scarcely reaching posterior margin. Hah. — Sydney (Skuse). September ?. 260 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, Genus 4. Doloplastus, gen.nov. Antennae 2- + 6-jointed in (J, otherwise as in ^ of preceding species. Wings naked. Third longitudinal vein nearly straight. Costal vein extending a little beyond tip of third loDgiturlinal. Posterior branch of fifth longitudinal fork straight. Legs uni- coloured. In fore legs metatarsus considerably shorter than tibia. ^ forceps robust. INDICES OF ALAR AND TARSAL PROPORTIONS. Relative Length Relative Distance. ^ ^ ^-w II 2^ -Ja'a o Q o « o o Q o H o 4^ No. Species. J"^ o *" 8- 5 J5 < pq O P „ delinifiais ( „ pulcher ( $ ). Fig. 4. ») ,, seorsus ( ? ). Fig. 5. J> ,, ereheus ( ^ ). Fig. 6. >> ^e2?peW($). Fig. 7. »J ,, oresiti'ojyJius { S )• Fig. 8. J5 ,, oresitrophus{'^). Fig. 9. >> „ 6revJs ( ? ). Fig. 10. >> Orthodadius annidiventris {$). Fig. 11. 9) ,, numerosus iS). Fig. 12. 5J ,, venustuliis {$). Fig. 13. J» ,, insolidus iS)- Fig. 14. 5> puUulus ( ? ). Plate xii. Fig. 15. Wing of Doloplastus monticola ( J ). Fig. 16. jj Camptodadius terjugus ( ? ). Fig. 17. »> ,, cra.ss«/)e?ims ( ? ), Fig, 18. >> ,, invenustulus ( ? ), Fig. 19. >j Tanytarsus montaiius ( (? ). Fig. 20. j» ,, inextentus {$). Fig. 21. >> ,, inextentus ( $). Fig. 22. ?> „ fuscithorax($). Fig. 23. >> Metriocnemus nitidulus ( $ ). Fig. 24. )> Tanypus Mastersi ( ? ). Fig. 25. >> Isoplastus notabilis {$). Fig. 26. )) ,, formulosus{$). Fig. 27. >j Prodadms paludicola {$). Fig. 28. 5> ,, pidi23e7inis { S ). 310 DIPTERA OF AUSTRALIA, Plate xiii. Fig. 29. Wing of Leptoconops sty gins ( $ ). Fig. 30. ,, Ceratopogon albopunctatus {S)' Fig. 31. ,, ,, (Bqualis{$). Fig. 32. „ „ saltivagus [%). Fig. 33. ,, „ rhynchojysi'^). Fig. 34. ,, ,, Mastersi{$). Fig. 35. ,, ,, insignis{^). Fig. 36. „ 5, suhnitidus {^). Fig. 37. ,, ,, minusculus {$). Fig. 38. „ „ nigellus { ? ). Fig. 39. ,, ,, lO-jmnctatus {'^), Fig. 40. „ „ Sydney ensis ( S )• Fig. 41. ,, ,, ceratipennis [S). Fig. 42. „ ,, cEratipennis ( ? ). Plate xiv. Fig. 43. Wing of CeintojJogon marmoratus ( $ ). Fig. 44. „ ,, molestus ( ? ). Fig. 45. ,, ,, tigrimis ( $ ). Fig. 46. ,, ,, imperfectus {'^). Fig. 47. ,, )) latipennis {^). Fig. 48, Diagram (wing of Ghironomus) illustrating the ter- minology of the venation. Fig. 49. Diagram (wing of Tanypus) illustrating the termin- ology of the venation. Plate xiv. his. Fig. 50. Diagram (wing of Procladius) illustrating the terminology of the venation. Fig. 51. Diagram (wing of Leptoconoj^s) illustrating the terminology of the venation. Fig. 52. Diagram (wing of Geratopogon) illustrating the terminology of the venation. Fig. 53. Diagram (wing of Geratopogon) illustrating the terminology of the venation. BY FREDERICK A. A. SKUSE. 311 Veins. Costa (v. costalis). A, h. Transverse shoulder- vein (v. trans, humeralisj. x. Auxiliary (v. auxiliaris). a, s. First longitudinal (v. long. Ima). a, B. Marginal cross-vein (V' trans, marginalis). x x. Second longitudinal (v. long. 2da), b, C. Third longitudinal (v. long. 3a). b, D. Middle cross- vein (v. trans, media), x x x. Fourth longitudinal (v. long. 4a). c, d, e. Posterior cross-vein (v. trans, posterior), x x x x. Fifth longitudinal (v. long. 5a). c, f, g. Ohs. — Following the plan adopted by Winnertz in his treatment of the species of Geratopogon (Linn. Entom. VI. p. 13), I have by means of micro- metrical measurements divided the wings in tiie species of all the genera into one hundred parts, thereby being enabled to tabulate the respective positions of the tips of the first, second, and third longitudinal veins between the base and apex of the wing. In the plates I have represented all the wings on the same scale of one hundred divisions, which will be found more useful than if the relative size of the winces had been retained. 312 NOTES AND EXHIBITS. NOTES AND EXHIBITS. Mr. Etheridge exhibited the fossils referred to in his paper. Mr. Skuse exhibited specimens of sixty-seven species of Chiron- omidse described in his paper ; a Tineid bred from a species of stag-horn fern growing in Mr. Macleay's garden ; a young plant from Samoa growing like Bryophyllum or one of the Gesneracese from the leaf ; and a female gall and Coccid, Brachyscelis du2^lex, obtained by Mr. Maiden on Eucalyiytios jnjjeo^itaj at Little Zig-zag, Blue Mountains, with the apical processes of the gall projecting upwards instead of outwards. Also an excellent drawing by Mr. G. V. Hudson of Wellington, New Zealand, of the imago and enlarged wing of a Dipterous fly which is phosphorescent in its larval condition. In 1886 both Mr. Meyrick and Mr. Hudson observed these luminous larvae for the first time inhabiting the banks of a shady creek in New Zealand, and although the latter gentleman has since repeatedly tried to obtain the perfect insect by breeding, his efforts have only just recently been rewarded in obtaining a single specimen. As Baron Osten-Sacken suspected (Ent. Mon. Mag. XXIII. p. 133) the insect belongs to the Mycetophilidse, but, accepting the draw- ings as correct, the fly must be referred to a new genus of the section Ceroplatinse. Mr. Ogilby exhibited two examples of the rare Anomalo2)S j)al'pehratus, Bodd., sp., a deep sea flsh provided with a luminous lobe beneath the eye. Bleeker and Kner place the genus in the family Berycidce, but it is probable that it is an aberrant form of the CarangidcB as stated by Giinther. Bleeker's generic name, Heterophthalmiis having been previously used by Blanch ard for a genus of Coleopterous insects, must give place to Kner's Anoma- lops. Only eight specimens are known, four from Amboina and Manado, one from Fiji, one from the Paumoto Archipelago, and our two from the New Hebrides whence they were brought by Captain Braithwaite. NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 313 Mr. Froggatt showed a specimen of Girella tricusjndata prepared to illustrate a mode of preserving and exhibiting fish by casting in plaster of Paris, lining the mould with the skin and so filling it. A portion of the collections of seaweed referred to by the President was exhibited, and in reference to them Mr. Deane expressed the hope that the opportunity of referring to a named collection would help to promote among the members of the Society the study of this section of the Flora. The President exhibited a specimen of Valuta magnifica obtained at a depth of 70 feet below sea-level at Stockton Pit, Newcastle. The President pointed out that the stems with prominent ridges of cork, shown at the February meeting, probably belong to Mezoneiirum hrachycaiyum^ Benth., [Fl. Aust. II., 278 ; also Wing's "Southern Science Record," April, 1882, where Baron v. Mueller gives some notes upon this plant and an allied species M. Scortechinii]. The flanges and cylindrical projections of cork which clothe the stems of this climber probably serve in place of hooks or prickles — which in this species are rudimentary — to support the plant among the branches of other trees. WEDNESDAY, 29th MAY, 1889. The President, Professor Stephens, M.A., F.G.S., in the Chair. Mr. Walmsley Stanley was present as a visitor. The President announced that there would be no Excursion in June. DONATIONS. "Royal Dublin Society — Scientific Transactions." Series ii. Vols. T. (25 Parts); II. (3 Parts) ; III. (Parts 1-10), (1877-85); " Scientific Proceedings." n.s. Vols. I. (3 Parts) ; II. (7 Parts) ; III. (7 Parts) ; IV. (9 Parts) ; V. (Parts 1 and 2), (1877-86). From the Society. " The Australasian Journal of Pharmacy." Vol. IV., Nos. 40 and 41 (April and May, 1889). From the Eaitor. "Bulletin de la Societe Royale de Geographic d'Anvers." Tome XIIL, fasc. 3 (1889). From the Society. " Abstracts of Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London," February 5th and 19th; March 5th and 19th; April 2nd, 1889. From the Society. " Memoires de la Societe de Physique et d'Histoire naturelle de Geneve." Tome XXX., Premiere Partie (1888). From the Society. " Mittheilungen aus der Zoologischen Station zu Neapel." Band VIII., Hefts 3 and 4 (1888). From the Zoological Station. DONATIONS. 315 " Proceedings of the Royal Society of London." Vol. XLV,, Nos. 274 and 275 (1888-89). From the Society. "Comptes Rendus des Seances de I'Academie des Sciences^ Paris." Tome CVIII., Nos. 5-8 (1889). From the Academy. " The Journal of Conchology." Vol, VI., No. 1 (1889). From the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. " Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte." 54th Jahrg. Band I., Heft 2 (1888). From the Editor. "Proceedings of the United States National Museum." Vol. XI. (1888), Sheets 12-15. From the Museum. " Zoologischer Anzeiger." XII. Jahrg., Nos. 303-305 (1889). From the Editor. " Annales de la Societe Royale IVIalacologique de Belgique." Tome XXII. (1887) ; " Proces-Verbaux." (January- June, 1888). Fro7n the Society. "Feuille des Jeunes Naturalistes." No. 222 (April, 1889); " Catalogue de la Bibliotheque." Fasc. No. 5 (1889). From the Editor. Two Pamphlets by M. Adrien Dollfus — '' La Station Zoologique de la Societe Neerlandaise de Zoologie ;" " Le Museum de Londres — (Notes et Impressions)." From the Author. " Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society." Vol. XIV., Part 3 (1889); "Proceedings." Vol. VL, Part 5 (1888). From the Society. " United States Geological Survey — Geology and Mining Industry of Leadville, Colorado," with Atlas. By Samuel F. Emmons. From the Director. " Bulletin of the Essex Institute, Salem." Vol. XIX. (1887) ; " Visitors' Guide to Salem." Published by Henry P. Ives. From the Institute. " The Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History." Vol. XL, Nos. 2 and 3 (1888). From the Society, 316 DONATIONS. " New York Academy of Sciences — Annals." Vol. IV. Nos. 5-8 (1888); "Transactions." Vol. VII., Nos. 3-8 (1887-88). From the Academy. "Acta Societatis Scientiarum Fennicae." Tomus XV. (1888) ; " Bidrag till Kannedom af Finlauds JSTatur ocli Folk." Haftet XLV.-XLVII. (1887-88); " Ofversigt af Finska Vetenskaps- Societetens Forhandlingar." T. XXVIII & XXIX. (1885-87); " Finska Vetenskaps-Societeten, 1838-88, dess Organisation ocb Verksamhet," From the Society of Sciences of Finland. " Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales." Vol. XXII., Part 2 (1888). From the Society. '* Siebeuter Jahresbericht des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins 2U Osnabriick fiir die Jahre 1885 bis 1888." From the Society. "The Victorian Naturalist." Vol. VI., Nos. 1-2 (May-June, 1889). From the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. " The Journal of the College of Science, Imperial University, Japan." Vol. II., Part 5 (1889). From the President of the University. "Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsch-Indie, uitgegeven door de Konink. Natuurk. Vereeniging in N.-I." Deel xlviii. (1888). From the Society. "Jahresbericht des Vereins fiir Naturwissenchaft zu Braun- schweig fiir die Vereinsjahre" 1880-81 ; 1881-82 und 1882-83 ; 1883-84 bis 1885-86. From the Society. "Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, 1889." Part 2 ^April). From the Society. SPECIMENS OF PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEORGE'S SOUND BY THE REV. R. COLLIE, F.L.S. By The Rev. Dr. Woolls, F.L.S. The specimens collected by the Rev , R. Collie, though containing nothing new, are nevertheless highly interesting. The Rev. gentleman seems to have visited part of the same ground which the eminent Robert Brown examined in the early portion of the present century, when he was attached as naturalist to Flinders's expedition, and when further he collected some of the same species which attracted Mr. Collie's attention. King George's Sound, therefore, has a history in the progress of botanical science, having as it were acquired classic celebrity from the labours of Brown, and from the appropriate names which he gave to many of its plants. From the small collection of Mr. Collie, only a limited idea can be formed of the peculiarity exhibited by our South- western Flora ; but, so far as the collection goes, especially in the orders Leguminosae, Myrtaceae, Proteacese, and Epacridese, it tends to illustrate the fact, so strikingly enunciated by Sir J. D. Hooker in his " Introductory Essay on the Flora of Tasmania," that the proportion of species in S. W. Australia is much greater than in the S.E., and that the striking differences in the genera and species of the two quarters open for consideration questions of deep significance in regard to the creation and distribution of species. Though Hooker's work was published in 1859, — that is about twenty years before the completion of the Flora Australiensis by the united labours of Bentham and Mueller, his views are still found to be correct, whilst the probability that Western Australia was the centrum of Australian vegetation is still further confirmed by the opinions of our eminent Geologist Mr. Wilkinson, and the recent calculations of Baron Mueller in his Census of Australian 318 SPECIMENS OF PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEORGE's SOUND, Plants. With regard to the distributiou of the latter, it appears that, of the known species in Australia now reckoned about 9000, they occur respectively in Western Australia 3559 South Australia 1904 Victoria 1904 New South Wales 3260 This calculation fully bears out the importance of the Western Flora, whilst the fact remains, in reference to the Floras of the S.W. and S.E. regions, that the genera of the former are much larc^er than those of the latter, and the species proportionally more numerous. Following is a list of the plants furnished by Mr. Collie : — EPACRIDEiE 1. Leucoioogon cdterniflorus, R.Br. 2. Andersonia sprengelioides, K.Br. 3. A. micrantha^ Sond. Myrtace^e. 4. Hyj)ocalymma strictum, Schau. 5. Agonis Jlexitosa, Schau. 6. A. theccformis, Schau. 7. A. marginata, Schau. (i) 8. Melaleuca striata, Labill. 9. Fucalyptics marginata, Sm. Proteace^. 10. FetrojyJiila rigida, R.Br. 11. Adenantlios cuneata, Labill. 12. Conospermibinflexiwsum, R.Br. 13. Franklandia fiicifolia, R.Br. BY THE KEY. DR. WOOLLS. 319 14. Persoonia longifolia, R.Br. 15. Grevillea Brownii, Meissn, 16. Hakea Irifurcata^ H.Br. 17. Banksia grandis,Wi\\d.. 18. B. Brovjnii, Baxt. 19. B. coccinea, R.Br. LEGUMINOSiE. 20. Psoralea pinnata, W. (Int.) 21. Phyllota harhata, Benth. 22. Jacksonia sinnosa^ R.Br. 23. J. horrida, DC. 24. Daviesia divaricata, Benth. 25. Bossicea Preissii, Meissn. (?) 26. Acacia pulcheUa, R. Br. 27. A. alata, R.Br. Composite. 28. PithocariM corymb ulosa, Lindl. 29. Olearia cassinice, F.y.M. POLYGALE^. 30. C omes2oerma confertum, Labill. PiTTOSPOREiE. 31. Solly a heterophylla, Lindl. 32. Billardiera variifolia, DC. RUTACE^. 33. Boro7iia spathulata^ Lindl. Umbellifer^. 34. Xanthosict rotundifolia^ R.Br. (?) 35. Trachymene eriocarpa^ Benth. (?) 320 SPECIMENS OF PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEORGE's SOUND, HESTIACEiE. 36. Anarthria scabra, R.Br. 37. Lepyrodia stricta^ R.Br, f?) 38. Anarthria prolifera^ R.Br. Of the three Epacricls not one of them extends to the Eastern Coast. The genus Andersonia^ containing 20 species, is limited to W. Australia. Some of them approach our Sjyrengelia, but they differ materially in the shape of the corolla and its aestivation. Leucopogon alternifolius, which was collected by Brown during his voyage with Flinders, has some resemblance to our L. am2)lexicaulis, but it is smaller in every part. It seems rare, as Mr. Bentham's only specimen was from Brown's collection. Of the 118 species oi Leiccopogon, 23 only occur in N. S. Wales, but of the genus Epacris, none have been found in W. Australia. The plants of Myrtacese belong to four genera, two of which are not represented in N. S. Wales, viz., Ilypocalymma and Agonis, the former with 12 and the latter with 11 species, all in W. Australia. The Rev. B. Scortechini found a species of Agonis on Stradbroke Island (Queensland), and that is described by Baron Mueller as being a remarkable species, extending the limits of the genus to the Eastern Coast. Melaleuca striata is strictly a western species, though resembling some of the eastern ones. Nearly 100 species of the genus are described, but only 17 extend to N. S Wales, and of these M. acumiiiata, M. parviflora, M. uncinata, and M. leucadendron are common to W. Australia. It should be considered in studying the distribution of species, that M. leucadendron is widely spread in the Oriental Archipelago and Malayan Peninsula. Eitcalyjitus marginata is the Jarrah of W. Australia, and is reckoned among the forest resources of the west (Baron INlueller's Report). Baron Mueller calculates that of the 150 Eucalypts now pretty well known, 80 are found in W. Australia. It is strange that only E. rostrata and a few of the smaller kinds, designated " Mallee," are common to N. S. Wales and W. Australia. BY THE REV. DR. WOOLLS. 321 The Legiiminosse (with the exception of Psoralea jnnnata, a plant introduced from the Cape of Good Hope, and found also near Sydney) have species of each genus in N. S. Wales, but not identical with any in the west. Fhyllota barbata does not appear so variable as our P. j)hyliGoides, and it is well distinguished by its fringed style. Jacksonia horrida and J. spinosa differ very much from our J. scojKtria (which is leafless and grows to be a small tree), and they are rigid shrubs with angular and striate branches. In the Flora 28 species are described, all, with one exception, western. But since the publication of that work, the Baron has recorded seven new ones in his Fragmenta, three of which occur in the eastern part of Australia. Daviesia divaricata is a leafless plant with sulcate spinescent branches. Of 55 species of Daviesia, only 13 occur in N. S. Wales. The specimen of Bossicea being only in leaf is doubtful, but in that genus the species are more numerous in the west than in the east, nor are any of them identical. Of the large genus Acacia, numbering about 300 species, A. alata and A. pidchella are remarkable, the one for its bifariously decurrent phyllodia, and the other for its minute pinnate leaflets. Both of these plants were collected by Brown and named by him . Of the Acacise 122 occur in W, Australia, and less than 100 in N.S.W. Yery few species are common to all the Australian Colonies. The Proteaceso belong to eight genera, six of which extend to the east, but the species are different. Petrophila riyida is similar to some of ours, but more rigid in foliage. Gonospev'mwm flexuosum is an under-shrub with divaricate angled branches, and unlike our species in aspect. Persoonia longifolia and Grevillea Broiunii are similar in character to some of the eastern species, but Hakea trifurcata has two kinds of leaves varying very much in shape. Of the three Banksias, B. gra^idis is distinguished by its large pinnatifid leaves, B. coccinea is remarkable as being one of the species flgured by F. Bauer, and B. Broivnii, Baxt., for its long, narrow whorled leaves. Adenanthos cuneata and Franklandia fucifolia belong to genera exclusively western, the one having cuneate silky leaves, and the other terete ones repeatedly forked. 21 322 SPECIMENS OF PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEORGE's SOUND, W. Australia is rich in Proteaceae, and the large genus Dryandra occurs nowhere else. Of the two Composites, Pitliocarpa corymhulosa is the only- species of the genus, and, though approaching Humea, differs from it in habit and involucre. It is a small plant with long slender stems forming nearly leafless panicles of little white flowers. Olearia cassinice seems peculiar to King George's Sound and Lake Leven, and belongs to a series of plants differing very little from each other. Indeed, when comparing it with some of our Eastern species, especially 0. ramulosa, it is very difficult to say whether they are all distinct species or not. Having glanced at the most striking of Mr. Collie's specimens, it may not be out of place to make some general observations on our flora as bearing on the differences between the eastern and western species and genera. Mr. Bentham's opinion was that the predominant portion of the Australian flora was indigenous, although there appeared to be a very remote ordinal, tribual, or generic connection with African forms. He also recognised on the one hand, an ancient connection between Australia and India, and on the other, a still more ancient one, through the Alpine Flora of Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand, even to the American Continent. Whilst fully acknowledging the sagacity of the distinguished Botanist as accounting for the diversity of forms found in Australia, the difficulty still remains of accounting for the great differences in the genera and species of S.W. and S.E. Australia. Sir J. D. Hooker, after having expressed an opinion that Western Australia mi^jht be reojarded as the centrum of Australian vegetation, whence a migration proceeded Eastward and led gradually to the differentiation of specific forms, suggests that the inquiry cannot be pursued satisfactorily without a know- ledge of the comparative geologic ages of the respective regions. On this question I am permitted to quote a passage from a communication addressed to me by our indefatigable Geologist Mr. Wilkinson : — " I do not think that the Western Australian Flora can be rightly understood until studied in connection with the BY THE REV. DR. WOOLLS. 323 distribution of the Tertiary Flora, from which the recent one has been developed, also with the changes in the physical geography of the continent which have directed that distribution. Imagine the luxuriant condition of the vegetation, especially upon South-eastern Australia, during the great rainfall period which immediately preceded the recent flora, when the great Eiverina Plains were formed by higher floods than those occurring at the present day ; and when crocodiles sported in swampy jungles along the Darling River in places 15 miles distant from the river, and now dry plains! In that period Lake Torrens and Lake Eyre were probably connected with Spencer's Gulf and stretched northward far into the continent. Then, in the previous Miocene times, Australia stood at a lower level, and the ocean occupied all that low country between Speiicer^s Gulf and Western Australia. Then again in the Cretacean period, about two-thirds of Australia onust have been under the ocean. Under these conditions how did the plants migrate'? And with alteration of the form of sea and land, the ocean currents, with warm or cold water, as the case might have been, varied accordingly and affected the temperature of the climate of the different localities ; for along the coast 7iear Adelaide the rocks are grooved with glacier strise. These changes of temperature, therefore, and of rainfall, must at times have greatly favoured the growth of certain plants, and the diminution or extinction of others until the present distribution resulted." It would be presumptuous in me to pursue this subject any further, but I can easily imagine that, at a period when Eastern and Western Aus- tralia were separated by an intervening sea, the migration of many plants from the west (a migration which had probably commenced) was rendered impossible ; and this may account for the fact that so many forms of vegetation have remained isolated from the rest of Australia, and that the flora of the S.W. is richer than that of the S.E. Anyone by studying the census of plants, as furnished by Baron Mueller, must see how, in some genera truly Australian, the species are all limited to the west, and how, in other genera, a few species only have found their way east. How can such things have happened unless some great physical changes have 324 SPECIMENS OF PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEORGE's SOUND. interrupted the ordinary sequence of events 1 If, as enunciated by Baron Ettingshausen, the whole existing vegetation of the world can in its development be traced to a universal flora of bygone geologic ages, and if, as stated by Mr. Wilkinson, the process of development through countless periods has been accompanied by catastrophes such as can scarcely be imagined in these days, a theory may doubtless be constructed as satisfactory to the Botanist as to the Geologist. However that may be, the hand of infinite wisdom may be traced in all the works of the Creator, as tending to the gradual development of His purposes, the preservation of species adapted to different soils and climates, and a providential care for the wants of humanity. BACTERIOLOGICAL NOTES. By Dr. Oscar Katz. 1. — Note on the Bacillus op Leprosy. Since its discovery by Hansen and Neisser, about ten years ago, the bacillus of leprosy has been made the subject of numerous researches, with a view to its artificial cultivation, and its behaviour when experimentally transmitted to man or animals. With reference to the first point, the only positive and unob- jectionable results appear to have been obtained by G. Bordoni- Ufi'reduzzi,* who cultivated the bacilli in question from the marrow of an individual who had died from leprosy. Any attempts made by him to cultivate the micro-organism from the skin, spleen, liver and lymphatics of the dead subject, failed. Some cultivation-experiments, which I undertook with material from living lepers, yielded negative results. For that purpose, I visited on two occasions the Asylum associated with the Coast Hospital at Little Bay, near Sydney, where at the time several lepers were, with one exception (native of Java), all Chinamen. The material for experiment was derived from typical non- ulcerating tubercles of the hand. In each case a suitable tubercle was selected, and after having caused the man to wash his hand thoroughly with soap and water, I applied for some minutes a * " Ueber die Cultur der Leprabacillen. " Von Dr. G. Bordoni-Uffreduzzi ZeitschHft fiir Hygiene^ Britter Band^ Erstes Heft^ 1887, p. 178. 326 BACTERIOLOGICAL NOTES, 5 p.m. watery solution of corrosive sublimate, whereupon the spot was carefully rinsed with a sterile 0*6 p. c. watery solution of sodium- chloride. The tubercle was then cut open through its whole mass by means of a sterilised scalpel. The blood which appeared first was rejected, but subsequently samples were taken from the bottom of the wound by means of a platinum-loop, and at once transferred on or into the culture-material. (i) June 6, 1887. The material was supplied by a Chinaman who suffered from characteristic tuberous leprosy. Samples of blood from a rather large nodule on the right hand were transferred to half-a-dozen test-tubes on to the inclined surface of coagulated human hydrothorax fluid, which had been obtained from the Little Bay Hospital some time previously. Besides, one tube containing such fluid not coagulated, was charged with some of the leprosy- blood. I will mention at once that the subsequent microscopical exam- ination of cover-glass preparations of this blood showed only a very limited number of leprosy-bacilli. A corresponding experiment was made with a small tubercle on the left hand of the same leper. Samples of blood taken from it served for sowing an equal number of tubes as before. This blood, as was afterwards proved by the microscopical examination^ contained an enormous quantity of leprosy-bacilli. On my return to Sydney, but not until the following day, all the tubes were placed in a thermostat, where they remained, at a temperature of 36° C. to about 34° C, for about two months. During this time they were occasionally inspected, but the result of the experiment was negative, in so far as I was unable to trace any multiplication of the bacilli. (ii) November 21, 1887. Two Chinamen were selected, one of them being the same as above, the other having been brought to the Asylum since my last visit there. In each case a typical BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 327 tubercle of the hand was picked out for yielding the necessary- material of blood, with which the following tubes were charged : for each case, five containing peptone-glycerine-agar, solidified at an inclined surface. [The composition was — meat-broth as usual ; agar-agar 1 p.c, peptone 1 p.c, glycerine 6 p.c. (in weight), sodium- chloride 0*6 p.c. ; reaction slightly alkaline.] On microscopic examination of each of the two descriptions of blood, leprosy-bacilli were seen to be present in moderate numbers. The tubes (fourteen in all) were placed, in the evening of the same day, in a thermostat, in which they were kept for a month, at a temperature of about 37°C. At the end of this period the tubes were still sterile ; the pocket-lens could not discover any sign of growth having taken place in them. As to the question whether leprosy is inoculable into animals or not, the opinions still differ. The possibility of its contagiousness in regard to man is now proved beyond doubt. It will be remem- bered that Father Damien, who died the other day, is said to have contracted the disease while engaged in his mission work among the lepers at Honolulu. The contagious nature of the disease has, in more than one example, been made manifest, as if by experiment, through vaccinating (against small-pox) with lymph derived from persons who subsequently exhibited symptoms of leprosy. A variety of animals, such as rabbits, guinea-pigs, cats, etc., have been experimented upon, in order to ascertain whether, or under what conditions, leprosy, or at least something like it, can be communicated to them. It seems as if in certain animals and under certain conditions, leprosy-bacilli can be brought to multiply, thereby causing changes similar to what takes place in leprosy as it occurs naturally in human beings. 328 BACTERIOLOGICAL NOTES, I can offer the following experiment. On the 6tli June, 1887, a number of sterilised silk-threads were soaked with fresh leprosy- blood, of the same origin as that from which samples for cultivation were derived (see above), and placed in sterile, cotton-wool stoppered test-tubes. Those which were steeped in the blood exceedingly rich in bacilli, were used, soon after my return to Sydney, for inoculating a guinea-pig and three house-mice. The guinea-pig, a full-grown specimen, received some of the silk-threads in a small subcutaneous pouch made at the inner side of the left thigh. At the point of inoculation there was noticed, after some time, a small hardened mass, which, however, disappeared again gradually. The animal was not any further operated upon. It is alive up to the present (that is, after two years), and never showed any symptoms of disease. The three mice received one silk-thread each subcutaneously at the root of the tail. They died within about a month, without exhibiting, at the post moi'tem examination, anything that looked suspicious. Leprosy-bacilli were not found. 2. — On " Air-gas " for Bacteriological Work When, a year ago, the Intercolonial Commission, appointed to inquire into, and report on schemes for the extermination of rabbits in Australasia, decided to erect a laboratory on a little island (Rodd Island) in a western portion of Port Jackson (called Iron Cove), in order to have certain infectious diseases tested, the question arose as to how this laboratory should be supplied with gas. Although the Island is only a few hundred yards from the mainland, where ordinary coal-gas was already in use, it was considered as too hazardous to conduct such gas across to the Island, on account of the formation of the bottom of the water at that place. The only way, therefore, to get out of the difficulty, was to manufacture the required gas on the Island itself. After BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 329 some deliberation, I decided to employ for this purpose a Miiller's " Alpha Patent Gas-making Machine." This apparatus produces gas in the shape of a mixture of atmos- pheric air and the vapour of gasolene or petroleum spirit (composed of carbon and hydrogen) ; this mixture is called " air-gas." By means of weights, atmospheric air is pumped through a drum into a chamber, where it becomes impregnated or " carburetted " with the vapour of that very volatile liquid. It is thus turned into gas j as such it passes into a small gasometer ("governor "), "whence it supplies automatically what is required for the burners, no matter how many are in use." The machine used by me was a so-called 40-light one, in other words, one able to yield 200 cubic feet of gas per hour, A sub- stantial little house, adjoining the laboratory, was specially built for it ; this house also contained the store gasolene. Pipes were conducted all through the laboratory ; the gas was employed both for heating and lighting. My experience with this gas — I know it now for nearly a year — -goes to show that it is, on the whole, well adapted for labora- tory researches in cases where coal-gas cannot be easily obtained. The whole apparatus requires only little room ; the processes of filling in fresh gasolene, or of winding up the weights, take but little time. The knowledge of the way in which the machine works, and how it will give satisfactory results, must, of course, be acquired.* It speaks well, I think, for the gas manufactured in the above- stated manner, that by aid of some thermo-regulator, and a little * For a proper evaporation of the gasolene, it is necessary that the gas- making machine should be kept at not too low a temperature. In a climate such as that of Sydney, the prevailing temperatures all through the year are favourable to the manufacture of "air-gas." In colder places, in winter it will become necessary to arrange for special heaters in the gas house. 330 BACTERIOLOGICAL NOTES. extra attention, it can without risk be used for heating thermo- stats. For instance, I wanted a temperature in the thermostat of 38°C.; by means of an Argand burner supplied with such gas, and of a Reichert-Babes thermo-regulator, this temperature was kept up, within a few tenths of a degree, for weeks. Bunsen's burners can only discriminately be used when working with this gas, which is mostly too rich in carbon for these burners^ to give a non-luminous or almost non-luminous flame. When the gas gets poorer, that is, when it contains more atmospheric air, Bunsen's burners can with advantage be taken for the purpose of heating. Fletcher's burners, which have a large opening stretched over with strong wire-gauze or perforated metal, answer best for the gas, when intended for heating, say, steam-sterilisers or copper- boxes. For sterilising instruments, platinum-wires, glass tubes, etc., I generally used a Fletcher's burner of long cylindrical shape v^ith a flattening-out at the top, which was covered with wire-gauze. I should add that the light of this gas from an Argand burner is admirably fitted for working with the microscope. AN ATTEMPT TO SYNCHRONISE THE AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL MEASURES. PART L— THE AUSTRALASIAN AND NEW ZEALAND FORMATIONS. By Professor Stephens, M.A., F.G.S. PREFATORY NOTE, The following attempt to obtain a general view of the Geo- logical History of Australia and New Zealand between the close of the Devonian and the commencement of the Cretaceous periods, might not unfairly be called a "summary of summaries,"^ or "comparison of comparisons;" since it accepts the outlines as drawn by competent authorities each for his particular district, places them side by side, and endeavours to unite them by trans- verse lines of isochronism. The same attempt has often been made with more or less success. But it is in the nature of things that our present conclusions on these matters can only be pro- visional, and will require modification and adjustment with every new advance in our knowledge. The works to which I shall refer generally, and from which I shall quote without further notice, are the abstracts of the latest results of Geological work in the various colonies as follows, viz.: — In New South Wales, the Notes by C. S. Wilkinson, Government Geologist, in the annual reports of the Department of Mines ; in Yictoria, the Manual of Physical Geography and Geology by R. A. Murray, Geological Surveyor for the Depart- ment of Mines (Government Printing Office, Melbourne, 1887); in Queensland, the Handbook of Queensland Geology, by R. L. Jack, F.G.S., &c., Government Geological Surveyor; in Tasmania, a paper by R. M. Johnston, F.L.S., &c., in P.R.S.T., 1887 ', in New Zealand from the Outline of N.Z. Geology, by Sir J. 332 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, Hector, 1886. I have also used the Fossil Flora of the Coal, &c., by Tenison- Woods, in our Proceedings for 1883 ; Fossil Flora of E. Australia, &c,, by Dr. 0. Feistmantel, Proc. Roy. Soc. N. S. Wales, 1880, p. 103 ; Geology of Tasmania, by Johnston, Hobart, , 1888 ; Invertebrate Fauna of the Hawkesbury, (fee, by R. Etheridge, jun., Sydney 1888 ; Capt. F. W. Hutton on the Geology of New Zealand. Q.J.G.S., 1885, p. 191, &c., (fee* I take this opportunity of expressing my extreme regret that in discussing Dr.Waagen's paper (Proc. Linn, Soc. ser.ii., Vol. III. p. 1 802). I had omitted to refer to the sources from which it was mainly derived. Dr. Blanford's Montreal Address (B. A. Report for 1884, p. 691). In the discussion of the true correlations between the Aus- tralian, South African, and Indian Coal Measures there seems — at least from my point of view — to be betrayed a kind of in- definiteness as to the lines upon which an enquiry which is as much Geographical as Geological should be prosecuted. |^| The problem set for solution has now been shown to be not so much purely palseontological as dependent on the reconstruction of ancient climates by the revelation of ancient Geographical con- ditions, such as position, extent and elevation of land surfaces, direction and strength of marine and atmospheric currents, and the alternations of glacial or interglacial periods caused by the varying eccentricities of the earth's orbit, in combination with that rotation of the axis which at long intervals bring the Northern and Southern Hemispheres each in its turn into Summer or Winter perihelion. Regarding the princiioles of Dr. Croll's theory as sufficiently established, though unable to follow his developments of those principles with the same degree of acceptation, I cannot conceive to * I have purposely refrained from quoting from any author not easily accessible in this country, thinking that these Abstracts are sufficient for my purpose. BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 333^ that we can properly correlate the phenomena of the Coal Measures of India and Australia, formations accumulated in opposite hemi- spheres, and different latitudes, by direct comparison. The more reasonable course would be, I think, to investigate as fully as possible, the whole question in the Southern Hemisphere before entering upon its bearings upon the analogous question in the Northern. But the opposite course has been pursued, owing probably to the far more perfect knowledge which has been gained of Indian Geology by the skilful, energetic and brilliant labours of the Geological staff of that country, than is as yet available for Australia. New Zealand, indeed, and Victoria have set an example which has been very timidly followed by the other colonies. Nevertheless, in spite of many difficulties and distrac- tions the excellent geologists — too few, unfortunately, for the work — who are now engaged in these researches, have collected a great mass of information, out of which a connected history of this portion of the Southern Hemisphere may be provisionally con- structed ; and this paper is a humble essay in that direction. To commence with New South Wales. I think it may be convenient to give a brief summary of Mr. Wilkinson's report so far as concerns the period in question, even though it be familiar to all present, since inquirers away from Sydney often want and find it difficult to obtain this kind of information. Mr. Wilkinson here repeats that the Lower Car- boniferous beds with Lepidodendron, CalamiteSj Sigillaria, &c., have been much disturbed, being tilted at all angles, and at the Copeland Goldfield, like the corresponding Maitai rocks of N.Z., traversed by auriferous quartz reefs, yielding from 1 to 15oz. per ton. Other beds are rich in marine carboniferous fossils. The Upper Carboniferous (unconformable) commence with marine strata of great thickness, implying long continued depression, which are very rich in characteristic fossils, succeeded by plant beds and coal seams (Greta, Anvil Creek, West Maitland), in which a flora which has been termed Mesozoic is abundant, 334 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, displacing entirely the preceding types of vegetation. These coal measures are probably also represented at Hartley, Joadja Creek, Mt. Kembla, &c. Upon these rest the Upper Marine Beds, indicating another period of depression, and exhibiting a similar fauna with the Lower, with coarse and fine conglomerates con- taining striated boulders and yielding unmistakable evidence of Glacial action. (These are regarded by Mr. T. Oldham of the Indian Geological Survey as equivalents of the Talchirs.) Above these Upper Marine (Carboniferous) beds come the Middle Coal Measures, worked near East Maitland and at Rix's Creek, Singleton. Then about 2000 feet of strata without workable coal, and then again the Upper or Newcastle Coal Measures. These Middle and Upper Coal Measures contain Glossopteris (8 si)ecies), Gangamoj^teris angustifolia, Phyllotheca Australis, Verte- hraria Aitatralis, &c., with Urosthenes Australis. \Urosthenes is a c'enus of Ganoids which occurs also in the Carboniferous of Britain and North America, and not later. There seems therefore to be no good reason for separating the Newcastle beds from the rest of a series which is, up to its Upper Marine beds, undoubtedly Carboniferous in the British sense.] It used to be assumed that the Hawkesbury formation immedi- ately succeeded the Upper Coal Measures. Mr. Wilkinson, how- ever, some years ago pointed out that on the right of the Shoal- haven, near Jordan's crossing, the Coal Measures had been eroded to a considerable extent before the deposition of the overlying rocks. I myself had long ago observed at Bulli, Mount Victoria, Hassan's Walls, &c., a series of red shales which appeared to intervene between the Hawkesburys and the Coal Measures, and had also noticed that a formation older than the Hawkesbury cropped out from under it upon the coast near Narrabeen. This I supposed to be the upper portion of the Coal Measures, and mentioned it as such to Mr. Wilkinson, who with Mr. David examined the ground, with the surprising result that these Narrabeen beds turned out to be a portion of the Clarence River series, yielding as they do, not Glossopteris, Gangamo})- teris and Vertebraria, but Tceniojyteris Daintreei, Alethopteris BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 335 Aitstralis, and Tliinnfeldia odordo^yteroides, which are charac- teristic of that series. And at the same time these heds are found to correspond to the chocolate or red shales just men- tioned. (These appear also about Coal Cliff and in the bores which have been put down between Sydney and Illawarra.) In a paper read April, 1885, before this Society, the Rev. J. Milne Curran maintained that the Clarence River beds are, on the fossil evidence, older than the Hawkesbury, and that the Ballimore beds near Dubbo are the first in succession above the Newcastle Coal Measures. Mr. MacKenzie, the Examiner of Coalfields for New South Wales, has quite recently enlarged our knowledge of these most western coalfields by the discovery of Glossopteris, which is strong evidence for even a more remote date than that arrived at by Mr. Curran, But a still more interesting fact has been ascertained by Mr. Wilkinson, as he has kindly informed me, in a recent official journey through the Clarence River district. He finds that the Narrabeen beds are at the base of the Clarence series, about 300 feet in thickness (on a rough estimate) ; that they contain coal seams which may be of some, at least, local value ; and that they are succeeded by the Hawkesbury beds, which are again (in the Clarence River district) overlaid by the Upper Clarence beds, which also contain coal seams. This is an extremely important discovery, and clears up many difficulties. I may, I hope, be pardoned if T here quote a few words from a paper on the Geology of the Clarence River district, read before this Society in December, 1883: — "The road from Grafton to Buccarumbi runs through a poor country of sandstones and shales, undulating in the valleys, but broken by ranges of mural preci- pices closely resembling the escarpments common in the Hawkes- bury sandstone. The false bedding or oblique stratification so common in the latter series is equally predominant here, and the rock faces are excavated by atmospheric action into caves or ' gibber gunyas ' of exactly the same character as those on the 336 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, shores of Port Jackson or in the gullies of the Blue Mountains. The vegetation is also so similar that it is only bv a kind of effort that one remembers that the formation is not the same." I think this passage is an amusing though rather humiliating illustration of the manner in which preconceived ideas may lead to the misinterpretation of obvious phenomena, even when they have been correctly observed. The sequence of these formations appears to be as follows : — The Newcastle beds are succeeded by a blank in the record, indicating a period of unknown length, during which the G^ossop- teris flora was entirely swept away, not by any sudden cataclysm, we may be su^e, but by the gradual alteration of climatic con- ditions. It may very probably have been a period of depression corresponding with an actual glacial period in higher southern latitudes, and contemporaneous with the formation of the Bacchus Marsh conglomerates, of which more hereafter. To the same period the Esiheria shales of 500 feet in thickness, proved by Mv. David, may perhaps belong. And the con- glomerates of Lake Macquarie, Murru^'undi, Wingelo, (?) &c., which rest upon the greatly denuded coal measures, may probably form the commencement of the new record. The Clarence Eiver series succeeds with its lower members, as at Narrabeen, ove) laid somewhat irregularly by the great fluviatile deposits known as the Hawkesbury sandstone (Sydney sandstone of Dana and Jukes), which a\e thus intercalated in the Clarence River series, and contain Thinnfeldia odontopteroides, Alethop- feris Australis, and Odontopteris raicropliylla^ but no ToRniopleris Daintreei. Large numbers of Ganoid Fishes, and two or three species of Labyrinthodonts, Mastodonsaurus (?) and Platyceps Wilhinsonii (P.L.S. N.S.W., 1886) have recently been added to the known fauna of these beds, and, more remarkable still, Tremanotus Maideni, a Bellerophontid mollusc, with siphonal openings along the keel, has been described by Mr. Etheridge from Cockatoo Island, where it was found in association with BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 337 the thoracic plate of Mastodonsaurus (?) determined by myself.* It is an extraordinary instance of survival, but is here especially interesting as proving the estuarine character of at least this stage of the Hawkesbury formation in the Sydney area ; a view which I confess seemed to me so inconceivable, in the previous entire absence of maiine remains, that I readily accepted this fossil, without examination, as a freshwater mollusc. It is important to remember with regard to these Hawkesbury Sandstones, that they also, at least in the upper portion, offer sufficient evidence of Glacial action, as has been particularly shewn by Mr. Wilkinson, and by Mr. David in a paper on Glacial action in Australia read before the Geological Society, Q.J.G.S., May, 1887, although it does not seem to have met with a very cordial reception, "f I quote again from Mr. Wilkinson : " The surface of the Hawkesbury Formation was denuded and worn into hollows before the Wianamatta beds were deposited." (See also Clarke, Sedimen- tary Formations, &c., p. 72), ''and the latter in their lithological characters show that great physical changes must have taken place, for they consist chiefly of argillaceous shales, which are in striking contrast with the thick bedded arenaceous rocks underlying them. The fine sediment which formed the Wianamatta shales evidently settled down in the quiet waters of a lake." Thbmfeldia odon- topteroides, Alethopteris Gurrani, Odontopteris Knicrophylla and Phyllotheca Australis continue from the Hawkesbury, but Macro - tceniopteris Wianainattce and Gleichenia sp., appear as new species. The genus Palceoniscus is common to both, and both yield ♦This genus, on account of the siphonal openings, has led to the removal of the family from the Heteropoda to " a position near the Fissurellidaa and Haliotidse, and between these groups and the Pleurotomariidae." tin the discussion of this paper Professor Boyd Dawkius is reported to have said that " he had found Olossopteris to the west along with Lepido- dendroid plants of Mount Victoria." I suppose we should read '^Glos^opteris along with Lepidodendroid plants to the west of Mount Victoria." There is plenty of Glossopteris, but if any Lepidodendroid fossil was found there it must have been a lower carboniferous or upper devonian form, possibly from Mount Lambie, or perhaps as a transported and foreign fossil from the upper marine (glacial) beds. 22 338 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, Labyrinthodont remains, but from the Wianamatta Mr. Etheridge (in his report mentioned above) also describes two species of Unio and two species of Unionella. It seems a plausible hypothesis that the Upper Clarence Beds may have been more or less contemporary with the Wianamatta Shales. But, in any case, above these Wianamatta or Upper Clarence beds we have no later formation, marine or fresh-water, on the eastern side of the colony, — but on the right bank of the Darling we find the Cretaceous marine beds which are so largely developed in Queensland, and which probably come near the marine beds of Uitenhage in South Africa. The whole series — as determined from the work of the Rev. W. B. Clarke, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. David, Mr. Etheridge and the Rev. J. M. Curran, is as follows : — Formations. Climate (Supposed). Paroo beds, Marine, Cretaceous f?) Break in the Record (?). 1 /?^/ Wianamatta Shales, lacustrine, 700ft \ ,, ^''\ Clarence River Upper Coal-Measures, 500 ft. (1)/ ^^"^ 2. Hawkesbury Sandstone, fluviatile, 1000 ft extreme. „ .^v r Clarence River Lower Coal-Measures, 300ft. (fj.\ .. \ Narrabeen beds J . f Lake Macquarie Conglomerate \ , \ Estheria Shales, Flooded Plains (?), 640 ft J ^^ ^^^^' 5. Break in the Record. g,„ I Ballimore Coal-Measures j j^ I Upper or Newcastle Coal-Measures J 7. Barren Shales, Floods and Droughts (?;, 2000 ft. extreme. 8. Middle Coal-Measures equable. 9. Upper Marine beds extreme. 10. Lower Coal-Measures equable. 11. Lower Marine beds extreme. 12. Break in the Record (?). 13. Lepidodendron beds equable. BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 339 QUEENSLAND. From Mr. Jack's Handbook of the Geology of Queensland, which contains also much of Mr. Dain tree's observations, we obtain the following ascertained facts: — The Lower Carboniferous with its characteristic fossils appears at Gympie. In the Star basin also, at the junction of the Big and Little Star Rivers, tributaries of the Upper Burdekin, we find besides Marine Carboniferous fossils, Lepidodendron atistrale, Knorria inibricata, &c., these beds being no doubt identical with the Lepidodendron beds of Gloucester, Goonoo Goonoo, &c., N.S.W. The same beds with a similar but better preserved flora occur also in the Drummond Range, which forms the watershed between the Belyando and Mackenzie Rivers, and is intersected by the Central Railway. Here the Carboniferous Flora ceases, as elsewhere, abruptly, and we find the Glossopteris beds of our Uppe^- Carboniferous appearing in the Bowen River Coal Field, in which three distinct series of sedimentary rocks are presented. At the base of this formation we find white and red sandstones overlaid by the bedded trappean rocks of Mount Toussaint, Mount Divlin and Mount Macedon. They are succeeded by Series ii., chiefly marine, with strong evidence of Glacial action, and Glossopte7'is, and are identi- fied by Mr. Jack with our Lower Coal, and Lower and Upper Marine beds. The Third Series, of freshwater formation, which is repre- sented also at the Oakey Creek (Cooktown), Little River (Palmer- ville), and the Dawson-Comet-Mackenzie Coalfields, with Glossop- teris Browniana, PhyUotheca Australis^ &c., corresponds to our Upper Coal Measures. In the Burrum Coalfield, extending from the Burnett River to Maryborough, and near Rockhampton, Glossopteris Broioniana, and Tceniopteris Daintreei occur in association, a fact which has been thought to be repeated in the Jerusalem Coalfield of Tasmania ; •and Mr. Jack observes that " it seems probable we have here a series of passage beds bridging the gap between the Bowen and Ipswich Coalfields." This gap, in which Glossopteris 340 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, is about leaving the stage and Tmniopteris has already appeared^ must, one would suppose, correspond in position more or less to the hiatus to which I have already referred between the Newcastle and the Clarence River series. The Ipswich or Brisbane River coal measures correspond with- out doubt to the latter (Narrabeen and Clarence River), containing as they do Tmnioiiteris Daintreei, Cyclopteris cuneata, Tliinnfeldia odontopteroides^ Alethopteris Australis, ifec. But in Queensland this formation seems to be continuous with the Cretaceo-jurassic, which we have already met with on the right bank of the DarliDg, but which is of vast extent a little further north. There appears to be no break in the continuity of the Ipswich beds with the great Rolling Downs formation, " which contains a marine fauna (and occasionally freshwater) representing the migration of many species which in Europe date from Rhsetic to Cretaceous, but which cannot be quoted as arguing a strict con- temporaneity of life." (Jack, l.c, p. 67.) It is not difficult to understand the survival of Triassic forms in these regions, since many such remain to this day. But it is very difficult to imagine that a large number of fossils of Cretaceous character should have appeared in the southern hemisphere so far in advance of the northern as to alter the character of a true Jurassic fauna. The mode in which these fossils chiefly occur, in nodules lying upon the general surface of the ground, seems to suggest that a consider- able erosion of the softer portion of the deposits, has carried away all the mass which once overlaid the present surface, and has left behind it the hard and heavy concretions which had formed around the organic remains of many periods in succession, so that Cre taceous fossils from the highest and first denuded beds are mingled with Jurassic forms from the lower and last denuded. Otherwise we must inevitably be drawn to the conclusion that the TcBniop- teris flora extended its duration into a period contemporaneous with (at least) the Lower Cretaceous in the Northern Hemis- phere. This would bring the Hawkesbury beds with their BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 341 Labyrintliodonts, lVema7iotus, &o., to a period near that of the Upper Jurassic ; a position not apparently quite consistent with the fauna ; yet it is not an inconceivable solution of the problem. The succession, as recorded in Queensland, is therefore Rolling Downs, Marine Lower Cretaceous. = Paroo beds, N. S. W. r upper Clarence R. 1-4 Upper, Ipswich, &c., Coal- I Hawkesbury, Measures .. ... t n^ V Lower Clarence. 5. Burrum Coal-Measures. Break in the record. ^ Bowen Coal-Measures, 3rd 6-lL I Upper and Middle CM. series ... ... ... j ^^ Bowen Marine, glacial, 2nd series 1 ] > Upper Marine beds Bowen Sandstones, 1st ) ) Lower CM., Lower Marine. series ... ... ... j ' 12. Break in the record. {Drummond Bans^e beds, &c. ) c^^ ^ ^ ^ o ^ ' \ Stroud beds, ikc. (Lepidodendron nora)... J The correspondence with the formations of New South Wales is, as might be e:i:pected, clear enough in general outline ; and it may be confidently expected that between the two series a fairly complete history of the East Australian Lands during the Carboniferous and Mesozoic periods may be ultimately con- structed. Victoria. The Geology of this Colony has been pretty well worked out in many especially the mining districts ; but the Mesozoic beds have received less systematic investigation ; — and it is with these that we are here principally concerned. For, with the exception of certain Lepidodendron beds upon the river Avon in Gippsland, there is no Carboniferous record whatever in the country ; and these ought very likely to be ranked as Devonian. Nor is there even any Glossopteris to be quoted, whether Carboniferous or Mesozoic; but the next beds the Avon sandstones — after a 342 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, very long interval — are the Gangamopteris beds of Bacchus Marsh, which are said to afford unequivocal evidence of Glacial action, and are at the same time probably related in some way or other to the Newcastle Coal Measures which contain both Ganga- 7)i02)teris and Glossopteris. These Gangamopteris sandstones and glacial conglomerates of Bacchus Marsh, resting partly on strongly folded and denuded Silurians and partly on the older volcanic rocks, have generally been regarded as the equivalents of the Indian Talchirs, which, as stated above, are supposed to be represented by the Ecca glacial conglomerates and Glossopteris shales in South Africa ; and by the Upper Marine Beds in New South Wales. But Feistmantel with more reason — as it seems to me — places the Bacchus JNlarsh beds above the Upper Coal of N.S.W. (Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S.W., Vol. XIV. 1880, p. 111). Above these Gangamo2:>teris beds of Victoria succeed the Car- bonaceous (so called) beds, the last, if not the first, of the Victorian Mesozoic, with two species of Unio^ three of Cycads, and, more important for our purpose, Pecopteris {Aletltoj^teris) Australis, and Tcaniopteris Daintreei. Now these same ferns of the Carbonaceous rocks of Victoria occur also together in the Clarence River beds, so that there cau be little doubt of the correctness of their identification, which, indeed, has not to my knowledge been questioned. But the discovery of the Narrabeen beds, and their identification with the lower beds of the Clarence River, involving the claim of the latter to a position intermediate between the uppermost Glossop- teris beds (i.e., the Newcastle Coal Measures), and the Hawkesbury sandstone alters the argument in some respects. Granting, as we must, the correspondence of the Carbonaceous beds with the Clarence River series, including the Hawkesbury sandstones, we must look for a quite difierent horizon for the Bacchus Marsh Glacial beds than that mentioned above. The absence of Glossop- teris in the one case, as compared with its luxuriance and variety in the other, has always presented some difiiculty in the way of BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 343 accepting the identification of the Bacchus Marsh and Upper Marine Glacial and Boulder beds. It seems to me that the evidence is in favour of Feistmantel's correlation of the Lower Bacchus Marsh beds with the blank space above the Newcastle series, in which case the overlying Tceniopteris beds come out directly in their accepted position, equivalents of the Clarence Biver and Hawkesbury deposits.* The Victorian series is, therefore, apparently to be rearranged as follows, by an adaptation of the list given in Murray's Geology of Victoria, p. 85. 1, 2, 3. — Carbonaceous rocks of the Wannon, Cape Otway, Western Port, and North Gippsland — Coal Measures and sandstones — corresponding to the Clarence River series with the intercalated Hawkesbury sandstones, which are probably represented by similar fluviatile formations in Victoria, especially in the Cape Otway district. 5. — Bacchus Marsh conglomerates and sandstones with evi- dence of Glacial action, and with Gangamopteris, corres- ponding to some part of the great blank in the New South Wales record, between the Newcastle Coal Measures and the Ivake Macquarie conglomerate. 6-12. — No record of any part of the period which elapsed between the close of the Lepidodendron era in New South Wales (Stroud, &c.,), and the uppermost Newcastle beds ; that is to say, of the whole Glossopteris period, together with the undefined age of change which immediately preceded it. 13. — Lepidodendron beds on the Avon, Gippsland, correspond- ing to those of New South Wales. I should wisli to draw particular attention to the Glacial character of the Bacchus Marsh conglomerates, as indicating that * This was practically Feistmantel's conclusion before the Clarence River beds were removed to their true position, before the discovery of Labyrinthodonts in the Hawkesbury sandstones, and, of course, before Mr. Wilkinson's discovery of the intercalation of the latter formation between the lower and upper members of the Clarence River beds. 344 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, the blank period in which the disappearance of the Glossopteris flora took place was one of extreme or severe climatic conditions, accompanied by development of Glacial phenomena either gener- ally or under local conditions. Tasmania. In Tasmania we find no Lepidodendron beds, nor any other record of upper Devonian or lower Carboniferous. The marine beds of Easlet'n Tasmania, with Productus hrachythoirus, &c., and evidence of Glacial action (Bruni Island and elsewhere), are classed by Mr. Johnston as equivalents of our Lower Marine series, with which they sufficiently correspond. But the Mersey (or Lower) Coal Measures, with GlossojMris (.?), Gaiigamopteris and Noeggerathioijsis spatliulata^ etc., seem to correspond rather with our Middle and Upper Coal Measures, than with the Lower or Greta Coal, with which our author correlates them. If so, these Tasmanian " Lower Marine " beds may represent the whole of our Lower Coal Measures and "Marine" beds; and the Mersey Coal Measures, our "Middle and Upper Coal Measures." But the Tasmanian " Upper Coal Measures " are plainly the same as the Clarence River and Ipswich beds, in all of which Glossopteris, previously so abundant, disappears for ever. A doubtful case of G. linearis and G. morihunda is indeed reported from some of these Upper Coal Measures in Tasmania, just as Mr. Jack mentions another species still surviving in the Burrum basin. But otherwise the fossil flora clearly indicates this identification, which extends even as far as South Africa, where the Stormberg beds contain the very same species, as successors to the same species C?) of Glossopteris.'^ * Since writing the above I have received a note from my brother, Mr. Stephens, M.A., F.G.S., of Hobart, mentioning that a fossil heterocercal Ganoid, probably a species of Palceoniscus though in imperfect preserva- tion, has just been discovered in the Knocklofty Sandstone, belonging to the highest formation of the Upper Pakeozoic marine beds in the south of the island. The identification of this fossil will be looked for with some interest. Its occurrence, however, is some evidence in favour of a fluvia- tile origin for this sandstone, which may possibly, like the Hawkesbury beds, be ultimately relegated to a later period than was originally thought probable. by professor stephens. 345 New Zealand. In New Zealand the Lower Carboniferous beds have as yet yielded no plant remains. They consist in the lower beds of limestones with characteristic marine fossils, gradually passing upwards into unfossiliferous fine grained argillaceous slates. (Hector, Outline, &c., p 78.) We are not warranted, it seems to me, in assuming that the Lepidodendroid Flora of the Lower Car- boniferous in Australia and Africa ever had existence in New Zealand, although there must have been land surfaces, with some kind of flora. That those islands were more or less directly connected with Asia and Austi-alia during some part of the Mesozoic period is extremely probable, if not absolutely certain. But there is nothing to indicate any earlier connection on this side, and we are quite certain that there was none in the subsequent ages ; though it is probable enough that at more epochs than one New Zealand may have formed an outlying portion of an Antarctic continent. However this may be, the next in sequence, the Oreti-Kaihiku series, regarded as Permian on the ground of its Molluscan fauna (though containing also Saurian remains {Ichthyosaurus) and Labyrinthodont (?) teeth, and remarkable for the " absence of Spirifera, Productus, and the other usual Palaeozoic elements of a Permian fauna," both of which facts appear to indicate a Mesozoic rather than a Palaeozoic position, (Hector, lib. cit.), presents, in its lower portion, a glacial conglomerate or boulder formation " resembling the character described for the base of the Gond- wana series in India," and above this one species at least of Glossopteris. It is impossible to recognise in the marine fauna here quoted (Permian Molluscs and Ichthyosaurus) or in the (probably) Labyrinthodont remains, any resemblance to our Upper Marine (Carboniferous) beds, however much they may appear to correspond in their evidence of glacial action. 346 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, But let us consider the series which follows. The Wairoa- Otapiri series, with a fauna of very mixed character, com- bining some surviving Permian forms with a great majority of distinctly Triassic character, and a few which are Jurassic in Europe, has been on the whole regarded as Triassic, the Wairoa beds even as lower Trias. Yet the presence of Belemnites otajnri- ensis, which is near B. elongatus of the English Lias, along with Pleurotomaria ornata and Tancredia truncata, which are '''Oolite forms," (Hector I.e. p. 71), must not be neglected. In this forma- tion there are also fresh water beds, with Glossoptens, ZamiteSy and Rhacophyllum. Now, looked at from the northern stand- point, all our Mesozoic and post-Mesozoic formations appear of a mixed character, like what are called Passage beds in an area of definite formations. And in the same manner the corres- ponding formations in the northern hemisphere would present to the Antarctic geologist, who had commenced with our Australasian and South African fossils and had studied these alone, a similar confusion and mixture of heterochronous characters. Yet in view of the much more rapid and extensive dispersal of animals, and especially of marine animals, than of plants, and the great preponderance of the Holarctic region in abundance and variety of forms, both vegetable and animal, in view also of the evidence of a general drift of these forms to the southward, at least since the commencement of Mesozoic times, and taking into account the generally feeble character of the return current or reraigration towards the Equator, by which some types are creeping north from the now sunken Antarctic continent and its still extant outliers in New Zealand, Tasmania, and Eastern Australia, South Africa and South America, we may come to a general conclusion that a large number of contem- porary northern types found fossil in any southern marine for- mation indicates a nearly synchronous but later period for the southern than for the northern equivalent ; so that a Southern Cretaceo-jurassic Fauna should be considered as synchronous with, or even a little younger than the European Cretaceous, and a Liasso-triassic assemblage, on the same principle, as Liassic; except BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 347 where there is reason to suppose that the Liassic element is of Southern origin, in which case we should accept the Triassic position. I should therefore regard the Oreti-Kaihiku as, at any rate, not more ancient than Triassic, and as properly correlated with the Clarence River and Hawkesbury beds, with their Labyrinth odont fossils; and in the same way I suould suppose the Wairoa- Otapiri series to extend upwards into the Oolitic period of the northern hemisphere. (See Capt. Hutton, Geol. N.Z., Q.J.G.S., 1885.) It is true that in both of these series we find the record of Glossojyteris, a fact which seems to militate against the view here proposed, since in New South Wales this form is undoubtedly Palaeozoic, and perhaps truly Carboniferous. But it appears to me that Glossojyteris must have continued to exist in New Zealand long after its complete disappearance from New South Wales, the region in which it had been present earlier, in greater abundance, and with more numerous species than in any other known part of the Southern Hemisphere. And therefore, disregarding Glossopteris, and relying on the presence of Saurian and Amphibian remains, and the absence of Spirifera and Froductus, I cannot but think that the Oreti-Kaihiku comes in above our upper coal, and that the glacial period which the base of this formation records in New Zealand, was the same period which, without leaving any tokens of its presence, and very possibly without any accumulation of ice at all, closed our Upper Carboniferous period by putting an end to the flora characterized by Glossojyteris, Vertehraria, &c. If so, the Clarence River and Hawkesbury formations may together form the equivalent of the combined Oreti-Kaihiku and Wairoa-Otapiri. The succeeding formations in New Zealand are classed by Sir James Hector as Liassic, Jurassic and Lower Greensand, and represent the Rolling Downs formation and the XJitenhage of S. Africa. Capt. Hutton, however, regards them as Lower Jurassic 348 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, (I.e. p. 194). Omitting them therefore from our present consider- ation we shall have a conjectural list of parallel formations made out as follows : — "^ NEW ZEALAND. NEW SOUTH WALES. Mataura series, No. viii., Hector, I.e. " Jurassic " ... Wianamatta. Macrotcenmpteris lata ... M. Wianamattce. Tceniopteris Daintreei, Clent Hills, N.Z. Otapiri-Wairoa (No. x.), "Tri- 1. < . - Clarence beds. assic I Upper 4- (') { GlossojJteris, Labyrintho- donts Oreti conglomerate — evidence | Hawkesburj beds, Laby- of ice ... ... ... ( rinthodonts. Kaihiku beds (No. xi.), j Lower Clarence beds, "Permian" ... ... ( Narrabeen, &c. Glossoj^teris, Laby rintho- donts. Conglomerates of Lake Macquarie, &e. 5. Break in the record. i Glossopteris beds, New- 6-11. Maitai series, No. xii., "Car-j ,, ri at j. t ' ' \ castle CM, to Lower boniferous " ... ... I tm • ^ Marine. Spirifer bisidcatus, S. glaber, Froductus brachythcBrics, CyathophyUurrij Cyathocrinus. 12. Break in tlie record. 13. Te Anau beds (No. xiii.)^ i Lepidodendron beds at " Devonian " (?) .' ( Stroud, &c. If we endeavour to reconstruct for ourselves the varying aspects of the whole region during the vast extent of time over which we have glanced, we shall see some such succession of Physiographical features as the following : — * See Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S.W. Vol. XIII. 1879, p. 68, for a provisional classification by Sir James Hector, which however, as was inevitable at that time, contains many misapprehensions as to the succession on our side. BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 349 First, — we behold an Australian group of islands extending from below the Tropic, and perhaps even from the Asiatic conti- nent, up to an Antarctic Archipelago or continent, which is also approached in like manner by two other oceanic lands ; one, a group of islands to the east, representing the present New Zealand, the other, a great way further to the westward, being the southern prolongation of the African continent ; but we cannot make out anything of the corresponding extremity of South America. In all of these are ranges of mountains rising into the clouds above those areas which are marked in geological maps as occu- pied by the older crystalline rocks, their summits white in many regions with perennial snows, and fostering glaciers in their upper hollows. The lower hills, where they are shaped out of sedimentary rocks, are full of the fossils which we call Silurian or perhaps also Devonian. If we confine our attention to the Eastern portion of the area roughly marked out above, that is to say, Eastern Australia, New Zealand, and the intervening portion of the Pacific, disre- garding the larger western part formed by Western Australia, the Indian Ocean and South Africa, but remembering at the same time that both the seas mentioned are practically landlocked towards the south, we shall see that the warm equatorial currents of the Pacific which then as now flowed southwards along the eastern shores of both the eastern and the western islands, and through the various channels which divided each of those groups were not as now confronted, split up and chilled, in or about "the forties," by a vast and continuous flood of cold water from the west, nor by the influx of still colder drifts of iceladen currents from the polar seas, but were defended from both by tracts of land which at the present moment are submerged. The cur- rents flowing from the equatorial regions were thus forced to return along the northern shores of the Antarctic lands, warming them as the Gulf Stream now warms the coast of Norway, and to complete their circle by bathing the western shores also of New Zealand, which thus lay between two currents, one much the warmer, running southwards, the other cooled but 350 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, not chilled, flowing to the north. (Somewhat similar to this was the system of circulation in the Western or Indian Ocean, though on a much larger scale.) Hence the climates were warm and moist, the land surfaces below the snow line were clothed with luxuriant vegetation, and the sea swarmed with animal life of familiar Carboniferous types. The maritime lowlands, especially in the eastern portion of the Australian group, were covered with forests or jungles of Lepido- dendra, Calamites, and the other allied forms with which we are so familiar in the Carboniferous formations of the Northern Hemisphere. In the more northerly parts of the same group such forms were abundant on both eastern and western flanks of the principal islands ; but towards the south they became more and more restricted to the moister and warmer east. As the land rose towards the mountains the vegetation grew less luxuriant, and began to consist principally or at least most conspicuously of ferns and Equisetaceous plants of humbler growth and hardier habit ; until at the higher level the plants became for the most part reduced to ferns of creeping or scrambling habit, with simple fronds not unlike some of the existing Polypodiums, accumulating in thick matted brakes, the lower beds of which were gradually being consolidated into peat. Among these, especially near brooks or in swamps, were dense reed-beds of Horsetails or similar plants. In short, the flora of these high lands was of what I have already named the Glossop- teris type ; while the dense and rank vegetation of the shores was the Lepidodendron flora of the Northern Hemisphere, of the Drummond Range, of Tamwoith, Stroud, Cobar, Gippsland, Grahamstown in S. Africa, and other places known and unknown. It did not however extend, so far as I can see at this distance, into the latitudes of Tasmania, nor into the New Zealand group to the eastward. This is the first picture in the geological magic lantern, the first of the epochs under our consideration. After a long interval of darkness in which we can discern jiothing clearly, but have an indistinct perception of great BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 351 variations in level, vast volcanic disturbances, and consequent geographical alterations, we again begin to see in a glimmering light the landscape as before, but in a strangely altered state. Subsidence of the land or rising of the sea has opened ways for the cold ocean currents from the west, and the still colder water from the icy south. The maritime i-egions that formerly bore the exuberant jungles of the Lepidodendron flora are now below the sea-level. The climate in general is severe and stormy, modified of course by local conditions. The snow line has descended, and before it the Glossopieris flora has been gradually forced likewise, step by step, to a refuge in the low lands. Strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless certain that how- ever extreme the transformation of the landscape may have been, the waters of the sea and their inhabitants underwent no sufficient hardship to alter their character. From the last preceding marine fossiliferous beds we find the following genera and species still surviving, viz. : Cyathophyllura, A7n2olexuSf Syringopora, Favosites, Strophalosia, Chonetes, Orthis, Rhyn- chonella pleurodon, Atryjoa, Spirifer, Teltinomya, Aviculopecten, Pterinea, Dentaliutn, Murchisonia verneuiliana, Pleurotomaria, Eioomplialus, Loxonema, Goniatites, Orthoceras (Report l)ep. Mines, pp. 57-67). I have no doubt that this list will be largely increased by further identifications in the older or Devonian beds. This is our third epoch — that of the Lower Marine beds. In the fourth — the Lower Coal Measures — we see the land again emerging, broad valleys opening upon well- watered plains ; a climate, if not warm, at least constantly temperate, moist, and eminently favourable to the growth of the Glossopteris flora, which is now occupying wide areas with the peat mosses which are to be the " Lower Coal " of the future. On the drier eleva- tions we see forests of Araucarias and other conifers. But the snow line is still at a lower level than in the Lepidodendron time, and the glaciers, in consequence of the abundant pre- cipitation of aqueous vapour, descend even lower than in the colder period immediately preceding. Except in the more 352 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, northern parts, as before, the western shores of the Australian islands have a drier and colder climate, and a much less abundant growth of the eastern flora. We cannot see what the vegetation of New Zealand is, but conjecture it to be scanty, developed as it must have been from very small remnants of a scanty indigenous flora. Few forms could have survived the severities which had destroyed the Australian Lepidodendra. (For even here in Australia the destruction of species must have been enormous, and the number of survivors very few, as the vast profusion of individuals and fewness of species which is so marked a feature in our Upper and Middle Coal Measures clearly shows. Yet here was a large quasi-continental area, extending far towards the north, on which to draw for replenishment of the recovered land, while New Zealand does not seem at that time to have had any advantage of the sort.) The emergence of the land has again barred the channels of the old currents from the west and south, and the genial, or at least equable, climate of the former period has been renewed. Why, then, has not the former vegetation recovered its place ? The same plants as flourished here in the reign of the Lepidodendron flora of Australia are flourishing still in jungles as thick and luxuriant as before, in Brazil, and in vast regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Why not, therefore, in Australia also ? The answer is simple. The destruction was so complete that it left no Australian asylum in which a remnant might have been preserved for the future restoration of the race. The communication between Australia and Asia was also interrupted, so that re-migration from the northern continent was impossible. Besides, the climate seems to have altered in respect of average temperature. It seems now to be rather cool than warm, though exceedingly equable and favourable to the growth of ferns. In the Upper Marine beds we observe a repetition of the submergence of land, thereby reopening the cold water channels, lowering the snow line, and stretching out the glaciers downwards even to reach the sea. BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 553 Another age of emergence and amelioration produces the Middle Coal Measures, followed in its turn by the severe interval of the Barren shales. These oscillations, however interesting as indications of the regularity in these southern regions, as also of the alternations of climate which are so remarkably illustrated in the history of the Glacial periods of the north, are of no importance to us at this moment. But the next emergence corresponding with the Upper Coal Measures appears to deserve more particular attention. Not only have all the climatic conditions been altered by the reclosing of the cold water channels, but some kind of communication vfith the northern continent has been approximately completed. For, in the rivers of this period, flowing through lands covered with the very same vegetation, and in all other respects apparently just the same as the rivers of the preceding coal-forming epochs, there suddenly appears a quite new arrival from the rivers of the north. For Urosthenes is a Ganoid fish of the Palaeoniscus family, belonging to a genus well-known in the northern Carboniferous, and makes the first appearance of a vertebrate in the Australian freshwaters. The Ganoids are essentially freshwater fishes, and though they are tolerant of the brackish water of estuaries, and can doubtless make short voyages by sea from one river mouth to another, yet they are incapable of traversing any considerable tract of salt water, as is indeed shown by the geographical distribution of the surviving members of the order. It is a fair conclusion, therefore, that some means of communication had been at last opened between Australia and Asia. There had been, so far as can be seen, no passage of any organic form from the one land to the other since the period of the Lepidodendron flora, which must have originated in either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, and whose existence in both requires the hypothesis of a line of communication on the Australian as well as on the American side. It would be audacious to argue that the existence of such a bridge (or stepping-stone) between Australia and Asia indicates a 23 354 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES, greater and more extensive emergence of these regions than had occurred in the previous coal-forming periods. Yet the two things are at least not inconsistent, and the hypothesis will help to account for many otherwise inexplicable or difficult points. Supposing then, since the supposition is allowable as such, that during this Newcastle period the western and eastern groups of islands (Australia and New Zealand) were both at the same time united (by emergence) with the Antarctic lands, and supposing also that the southern extremity of the African continent was in like manner, and at the same time, prolonged to meet a northern extension of the same, we should once again have two Oceanic resions, the sea between Australia and New Zealand on the one side, and the sea between Australia and Africa on the other, practically closed against all cold currents and continually warmed in their higher latitudes by the equatorial currents generated within the tropics. Such conditions would induce for certain the general dispersion along the maritime districts of those elements of the Australian flora and fauna which had been severally developed by one cause or another in such a way as to qualify them for a general occupation of the new territories ofiered by emergence and for a contest on advantageous terms with the other competitors. Thus the Glossojyte^^is flora spread into the Antarctic lands, among them east and west to New Zealand and South Africa, and perhaps also northwards from Australia across the equator towards India, then an insular tract in processs of emergence, occupied in all probability by a low and feeble flora, and open as India has ever been to the first invader. It is unnecessary to enter into further detail. The hypothesis is sufiiciently stated, but remains as it began, a hypothesis, in- volving the assumption that the evidence of the existence of Glossopteris, &c., in South Africa and New Zealand does not indicate synchronism with the Glossojyteris series of New South Wales. The next period in the New South Wales series (the blank in the record, which succeeds to the Newcastle Coal Measures) is again one of extreme change in the flora and on land. BY^ PROFESSOR STEPHENS. 355 It was in all probability a period of great replacement in the marine fauna also, no record of which, however, is preserved, except in the New Zealand formations ; and these, though corres- ponding more or less, do not at present allow of a precise corre- lation. There is no positive evidence on this side of any sub- mergence, though it has been strongly suspected on other grounds, and is suggested by the complete and final disappearance of the Glossopteris flora from New South Wales, taken together with its subsequent development elsewhere. The severity of some portion of this period is indicated by the Glacial conglomerates of Bacchus Marsh in Victoria, which can not reasonably be referred to any other epoch, and by the similar and probably contemporary characteristics of th^ Ecca conglomerates in South Africa. The Burrum Coal Measures of Queensland, and perhaps also the Estheria shales and even the Ballimore beds in New South Wales may possibly indicate intervals of more favourable climatic con- ditions, such as are testified to by unequivocal evidence during the great Glacial age of the north. It is impossible at present to do more than guess at the (geological) length of this period, during some part of which I take the Bacchus Marsh conglomerates to have been formed. At its conclusion, however, and after these regions had settled dow^n again under a condition of things not unlike that which had preceded, we find a different flora, quite new to this country, occupying the same ground (more or less) as the lost Glossopteris. This, which I call the Tceniopteris flora, is unanimously declared to be, from the northern standpoint, Jurassic. (If it is derived from the north it is later, and if from the south, earlier than its nominal era.) It is at any rate undoubtedly Mesozoic. The lowest and the uppermost formations of this period, taken as a whole, seem to indicate emergence or elevation of the land, so that its abundant rivers swept out in rapid descent to the ocean, bearing with them their loads of coarse detritus, and depositing only in flood-time their lighter silt and finer sand upon the surface of the plains through which they ran. 356 AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH AFRICAN, AND INDIAN COAL-MEASURES. But in the middle of this period (taken as a whole) the pendulum swung back, and an intervening period of depression and refrigeration took place. Vast rivers, swift in their upper courses, and carrying with them into their lower waters enor- mous volumes of sand, which they, with their diminished fall, were unable any longer to carry through into the ocean, accumu- lated about their shifting beds the enormous masses of the Hawkesbury sandstone and its southern equivalents. In this rock we have evidence, not as yet found in the Lower Clarence beds, of the introduction of many Ganoid fishes, of Labyrinth odonts, a,nd of the existence of other forms whose pre- sence seems at present inexplicable. Upon the hypothesis here adopted it would seem probable that the fish and amphibia had really made their way into this region during the preceding period of emergence (period of the Lower Clarence beds), and during the existence of a temporary " bridge " between Australia and S. E. Asia. In the same way one would account for the con- temporary introduction of Labyrinthodonts in the New Zealand regions. And I have more than once shown that it is at least not improbable that Ceratodus and Osteoglossum (besides Hatteria) managed to effect their entrance at the same time. After the Hawkesbury interregnum, the restoration of more equable climates, owing probably to yet another emergence of the land, is testified to by the Coal Measures of the Upper Clarence beds, of Ipswich in Queensland, and of Newtown and Jerusalem in Tasmania. If the formations of this period do really graduate upwards into the Marine Cretaceous beds of the Kolling Downs series, as suggested by Mr. Jack (above, p. 340), we have here before us a complete record of the very uneventful history of this ancient flora of Australia, from the Lower Carboniferous of both hemis- pheres to the Upper Jurassic of the southern, far poorer and more antique and, as it were, obsolete, than the contemporary flora of the north. The breaks in the record are but two — one between the Lepido- dendron and the Glossopteris flora, the other between the latter and the Tseniopteris. (To be continued.) OBSERVATIONS ON THE OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN AUSTRALIAN BATRACHIANS. By J. J. Fletcher, M.A., B.Sc. The object of my remarks is suggested by the following quota- tion from a paper by Dr. Giinther : " Our knowledge of the mode of propagation of extra-European Batrachians is restricted to a very small number of species ; and from the few singular facts with which we have become acquainted, we may expect that most interesting discoveries will be made by naturalists who have the opportunity of observing these animals in their native countries." "^ The late Mr. Krefft at different times published three lists of Australian Frogs,! and one of those found in the neighbourhood of Sydney;! several of these — as well as a paper " On the Verte- brated Animals of the Lower Murray " &c.§ — contain particulars about the habits of Australian frogs, and in one or two of them the subject of their breeding is incidentally but very briefly touched upon. Dr. Giinther has also recorded some observa- tions II on four species of Australian frogs — three of which are figured — which lived for some time in the Zoological Gardens, London ; and Professor McCoy ^ has some remarks on Hyla * Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 1876 (4), xvii, p. 377. t (1) Cat. of Nat. and Indust. Products of N.S. W. forwarded to the Paris Universal Exhib. of 1867, p. 107. (2) Monthly Not. of Fap. and Proc. Roy. Soc. of Tasmania, 1865, p. 16. (3) "Australian Vertebrata." The Industrial Progress of N.S.W.y being a Report of the Intercolonial Exhibition of 1870, at Sydney, p. 741. JP.Z.S. 1863, p. 386. § Trans. Phil. Soc. of N.S.W. 1862-65, p. 32. II P.Z.S. 1863, p. 249. IT Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria, Decades v and vi, pi. 42 and 63. 358 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, aurea, Limnodynastes dorsalis, and L. tasmaniensis to accom- pany coloured plates of these species. These, together with the notes of Messrs. Aitken and Sanger (infra p. 361) I believe, comprise all but what relate to the taxonomy of Australian Batrachians. The species of frogs referred to in what follows are, with one exception, comprised in the Batrachian fauna of the neighbour- hood of Sydney, or, as it would be better to say, of the County of Cumberland, a district which, with an average rainfall of 50 inches, is, for Australia, one very favourable to Batrachian life. Tt is necessary to point this out because Australia presents such a wide range of climate, and many of the species are more or less cosmopolitan; hence it may be that individuals of the same species may present differences in habits according to locality and variations in external conditions, and more particularly rainfall. Reference to Boulenger's " Catalogue of the Batrachia Salientia in the British Museum " (1882) shows about fifty species to be therein recorded from Australia and Tasmania, while last year the same gentleman described two additional species ; of these New South Wales may be credited with about thirty, and the County of Cumberland with about twenty. This number suffices to show how rich in Batrachians the neighbourhood of Sydney is, though owing to the steadily increasing area required for settle- ment, the consequent removal of sheltering logs and stones, the contamination of the ponds and creeks with sewage, and the increasing numbers of ducks, geese, and small boys, the collector of frogs already has to lament the devastation of some of the best collecting grounds in the neighbourhood. Though other local lists are not so far available, yet as many of the species are more or less cosmopolitan, and each of the colonies has one or more peculiar species, Australians may well be astonished at the following ridiculous statement, more especially as it is made by so eminent a scientific man as the late Paul Bert : '' In our country the poor toads are often cruelly and stupidly destroyed. It will undoubtedly not a little astonish you to hear that great BY J. J. FLETCHER. 359 numbers of these useful but disregarded creatures are sent from Europe to Australia to help to keep the gardens free from noxious and destructive guests, such as snails, insects, &c."* Of the frogs occurring in this neighbourhood then I have at different times found pairs referable to about ten species in coitio, and in most cases have been able to identify the ova, and to determine the circumstances under which oviposition takes place. The species referred to are Liinnodynastes tasmaniensis, L. dor- saliSj Crinia signifera, Hyla aurea, H. ewingii var. calliscelis, H. i:>hyllocliToa^ H. citropics, ffyj?erolia marmo7'ata, FseudojyJiryne australis, and P. hibronii. With the exception of the two species of Pseudo2yhryne (and perhaps, though I doubt it, also Hyperolia marmorata, of which I have seen the ova, but only when laid under abnormal conditions) these come under Section A. of Group I of Mr. Boulenger's Synoptic Table,! that is to say : — i. *' The ovum is small and the larva leaves it in a comparatively early embryonic condition." A. '* The ova are laid in water." " Probably the majority of Batrachians ; all European forms except Alytes."' In regard to some of the remaining species, by noting the dates on which males with breedin;^ papillae have been found, or young ones completing their metamorphoses, some idea of the breeding season has been gained ; while the occurrence of recognisable tad- poles in ponds which one has been regularly in the habit of visiting, together w^ith a knowledge of the characters of such ponds and of the facilities which they offer to frogs for depositing ova, enable one to form opinions which will probably eventually be found to approximate to the truth. Hence from such incom- plete observations as I have been able to make I think that by far the majority of the remaining species occurring in the County of Cumberland also deposit their ova in water in the ordinary * "First Year of Scientific Knowledge." By Paul Bert. English Edition translated by Madame Bert (1886), p, 61. ''Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 1886 (5), xvii, p. 463. 360 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, way without presenting anything remarkable. At any rate, with the exception of the ova of the two species of Pseudophryne above-mentioned, no spawn has been met with by me except such as has the characters mentioned. In the case of a few of the rarer species, or those which do not occur very near Sydney, e.g.^ Hyla lato2?ahnata, H. lesueurii, U. dentata^ Hylella bicolor, no data whatever have so far been obtained. The two species of Pseudophryne do not oviposit in water, but under stones, &c., in damp situations. The tadpoles, though capable of sustaining without injury a prolonged postponement of the hatching — in one case for a period of over three months, — - seem unable to complete their metamorphoses without gaining access to water. These two species therefore are referable to Group II of Mr. Boulenger's Table, and w^ill be provided for if Section A of it be subdivided as follows : — ii. " The yolk-sac is very large, and the young undergoes the whole or part of the metamorphosis within the egg ; at any rate the larva does not assume an independent existence until after the loss of the external gills." A. " The ova are deposited in damp situations or on leaves." (a) The embryo leaves the egg in the tadpole stage. Pseudophryne australis, Gr.; P. 'bihronii,Qth.Y. (b) ** The embryo leaves the egg in the perfect air-breathing form." "i?a;ia opisthodon, Blgr.; Hy lodes martinicensis, D. & B." Other Australian frogs, more particularly Myohatrachus gouldii, Gr., (sp.) from West, and Notaden hennettii^ Gthr., from East Aus- tralia, perhaps also Helioporus cdhoinmctalus^ Gr., may be expected to exhibit similar or perhaps even more interesting modifications. In his description of the first-mentioned of these Dr. Giinther alludes to the large size and the fewness of the ova.* Notaden is an inland form, recorded in the British Museum Catalogue from Castlereagh River, also from Wilson's River, Queensland ; but this species also occurs in the Cobar and Narrabri districts, the *" The eggs are ver\' large, half the size of a pea, and there are only twenty to twenty-four in one ovarium ; no sign of an embryo is visible therein, although the eggs appear to be ripe for being laid." {Cat. of Batr. Sal. in the Brit. Mus., first edition, p. 54). I BY J. J. FLETCHER. 361 former of which has (for a period of six years) a mean annual rain- fall of 13-66 inches, and 45 as the mean annual number of rainy days, as compared with 49-86 inches and 153 days respectively for Sydney (for 29 years). "^ Hence in such a locality as this the frogs must sometimes be in great straits to get rid of their ova, if their oviposition is of the ordinary character ; and the young must often develop under difficulties unless there is some adaptation to cir- cumstances. Dr. Giinther (I.e. p. 378) also says : " The observa- tion of A. W. Aitken {Trans. New Zeal. Inst. ii. 1870, p. 87) that in tropical parts of Australia certain frogs form a hollow ball of clay, containing about half a pint of clear cold water, in which they sojourn during the drought, is probably also indicative of a provision to secure the safety of the spawn and young." Further information about this species as well as its identification are desir- able. Mr. E. B. Sanger statesf that on one occasion he found in pools collected from rain which had fallen two days previously, "the first time for certainly two years," on the stony plains of the central Australian desert, a greab number of tadpoles and a young fish ; and as to how they came there he concludes " that the eggs must have been buried rather deeply, and then when the moisture reached them developed rapidly." On this subject Mr. Aitken also says (I.e.) " There are districts often exceeding 5,000 square miles in extent in the interior of the Australian continent in which there is no surface water for many months, and in some instances for years ; yet as soon as rain falls in sufficient quantities to fill the water-holes they are swarming with young frogs." Fur- ther on he again speaks of swarms of tadpoles peopling the water- holes after rain. Since 1881 I have carefully made notes of the dates at, and the circumstances under which, I have met with frogs breeding; with the result that, taking one year willi another for several years, e.g. the three years 1884-86, some frog-spawn was met with in every month in the calendar. Not that there was anything abnormal about these years, for a similar result would be quite normally obtainable by regularly collating one's observations for * "Rain and River Observations, 1887, p. 41." t Ameiican Naturahst, 1883, xvii. p. 1185. 362 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, a longer or shorter period. This interesting state of things — in correspondence with which the creeks and ponds, except of course during such unfavourable seasons as we have recently had when these have had little or no chance of becoming established, may- be found more or less teeming with tadpoles throughout the year — is attributable to at least three or four causes : — (1) Dependence of the oviposition on the rainfall, itself irregular; (2) Seasonal differences in the breeding times of different species ; (3) The prolongation of the breeding seasons owing to the fact that all the females of a given species may be far from simultaneously ready to spawn at a given time ; and possibly (4) some species may breed normally more than once during the year. The mild climate is perhaps also a factor which should not be entirely over- looked. The rainfall is a most important factor in regulating the dates of oviposition, inasmuch as a heavy downpour of rain is often necessary to release the frogs from their aestivation, and in many cases to provide the water-supply in which the spawn is to be deposited. A heavy downpour of rain succeeding a period of dry weather will set some frogs spawning at any time of the year ; and on the other hand, in whatever month the frogs spawn, as a general rule they do so as soon as the weather clears up after rain. In the case of the swamp frogs, if, as in very favourable years, the ponds are full when the frogs are ready to spawn, no doubt they do so ; but in very dry seasons they are in the same plight as the less aquatic species. In England Rana temporaria spawns with considerable regu- larity at the end of February or beginning of March, the spawning lasting about a fortnight ; while on the continent two varieties of R. escidenta spawn within a fortnight of each uther, a fact which is held to be of importance as indicating that they are distinct races, and in maintaining their distinctness.* Similar regularity has been noted in the case of American frogs, f With our frogs there is much irregularity, and the ovipositing periods, instead of * P.Z.S. 1885, p. 670. t Packard's *' Zoology" pp. 484-487, BY J. J. FLETCHER. 365 being brief and well-marked, are more or less prolonged and inter- mittent, a condition for which the irregular character of the rainfall is primarily and mainly responsible. Of a period of thirty years the Government Astronomer says : — '' There is not much difference in the average amount of rain falling in each of the first seven months, but a marked decrease is manifested in the last five, especially September, November, and December. . . It is remarkable that during that period every month in the calendar, except December, has been the maximum for the year one or more times. . . . The evaporation in October, November, December, and January is greater than in the other eight months of the year." (Meteorology of N.S.W. Industrial Progress of N.S.W., 1871, pp. 589, 590). That is to say at the season of the year at which it would seem most natural for the frogs to spawn, judging from the habits of frogs in general, the meteorological conditions on the whole are against them, for, even allowing for averages, the monthly rainfall is decreasing, the evaporation is on the increase, so that spring- droughts are by no means uncommon ; this state of things is varied occasionally by a very heavy rain-storm during this period giving the maximum monthly rainfall for the year, an event which gives the frogs special opportunity. In the case of Rana temjooraria, for example, all the surviv^ing frogs of the same season's hatching are approximately of the same age, while all the frogs of different ages differ in regard to the same by some multiple of one year. With our frogs this may obviously not be the case, since individuals of the same species hatched during the same season may differ in age by as much as six months or more ; so that it is reasonable to expect that the maturation of the ova, though probably occurring at regular periods, should not be simultaneous in all the females of a given species. Consequently of our frogs it may be said that they spawn when they are ready, or as nearly as the conditions of moisture will allow ; but that they are not all ready at the same time. 364 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, In correspondence with this one never sees as much spawn at any one time as may be seen in an English pond when the frogs are breeding. My most instructive round in one of the suburbs of Sydney included a visit to an old quarry, a brick -yard, a deserted tan-yard, and three waterholes in paddocks used for watering cattle; these five spots were frequented during some period of the year by at least eleven species of frogs. If during a visit to these on the same afternoon in the whole of the ponds together between 100 and 200 individual deposits of spawn co.uld be counted, I should consider it a very brisk outburst of spawning. And one might make this same round after every heavy downpour of rain thronghout the year and iind more or less spawn as des- cribed. But for the "gallons of jelly " which may be seen in English and American ponds* when the frogs are breeding, one looks in vain out here. There are also indications of seasonal differences in the breeding periods of different species, respecting which fuither details are given later on. Mr. Krefft says : " During the breeding season, however (about November), many otherwise nocturnal frogs may be seen in broad daylight in search of their mates The greater num- ber of species have deposited their ova in the beginning of Decem- ber, though I have reason to believe that some species breed at all seasons, for I have taken Pseudoplwyne australis in mid-winter full of ova, and have observed larvae of this and of several other species in pools of water about the same time. All the Hylidse, however, deposit their ova only once a year, generally in Novem- ber and December" (I.e. No. 2, p. 19). On the whole the breeding period is shorter and perhaps better marked in the majority of the Hylidae which may be said to spawn during the latter half of spring, and summer, certainly both earlier and later than Mr. Krefft mentions ; Hyla ewlngii var. calliscelis, on the other hand, is a remarkable exception. As far as my observation goes, Pseudo- •phryne australis may be fairly said to spawn during summer, and * " Wake Robin," by John Burroughs, (English edition) p. 181. BY J. J. FLETCHER. 365 P. hibronii during autumn. Whether some species do not also spawn more than once in the year is very probable, but it is a difficult matter to decide. If this is not the case with some of them then these might almost be said to " breed at all seasons." The species of Limnodynastes, however, should be excluded, as though their breeding season is long enough to give them the oppor- tunity of spawning at least once in half-a-year, yet there is a well- marked though perhaps not very long period in winter (say two months or longer or shorter according to circumstances) during which heavy rain neither sets them croaking nor breeding, though in the interval Crinia signifera, and Hyla ewingii Yar. - calUsceUs may be breeding and lustily vocal. Characters of the spaivn. — All the spawn observed by me has been (1) white frothy-looking more or less circular floating patches, larger or smaller according to the species, deposited in the water ; or (2) small submerged bunches of ova enclosed in clear transparent jelly attached to blades of grass or reeds, or twigs of dead branches, or (3) numerous separate ova not laid in the water but under stones, or debris in reed or grass tussocks on the edges of pools. The first section includes the spawn deposited by Limnodynastes tasmaniensis, L. peronii, L. dorsalis, and Hyla aurea ; probably also that of H. citropus, H. ccertdea, H. peronii, H. freycincti and others. The floating patches when fresh are more or less circular if free, isolated or often in corners or behind a particularly good bit of shelter the spawn of a few contiguous spawning couples accidentally coalescent, conspicuous from the white colour, and look very much like the froth of soap-suds. If there is no wind they may continue to float freely ; otherwise they become adherent to the bank, or anything else with which they come in contact, by the sticky and tenacious gelatinous substance enclosing the ova, or they may have become so from the first where laid. Limnodynastes tasmaniensis is very fond of spawning in ditches close to the bank under overhanging ledges. Sometimes the ova are deposited in the middle of a bunch of reeds or grass to which the patches are anchored from the first, or about the bases of tussocks ; in many ^66 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, cases the surface of the water being lowered subsequently by evapo- ration or otherwise, such patches may soon be left high and dry with little chance of developing. The frothy appearance of the patches is caused by the entanglement of numerous bubbles of air or gas in the glairy envelopes of the ova, and their accumulation on the surface, quite obscuring the ova which to the number of several hundred lie below. The oviposition of the common European frogs is said to take place at the bottom of the water, the ova being sub- sequently floated to the surface by the disengagement of gas in the substance of the glairy envelopes (the hatching in England not taking place for a month). The frothy appearance of the spawn of our frogs is hardly I think to be explained in this way. In shallow pools they may be said to oviposit at the bottom of the water — and in many cases, though it may be only accidental, it seems as if the frogs preferred to oviposit in shallow water an inch or two in depth, e.g., in rain pools, or in a chain of little pools along the course of overflow of a. pond, or in the water-tables of roads, and which often dry up in a few days' time without the tadpoles having a chance of surviving, and this though more permanent supplies of water may be close at hand ; or round the edges of large ponds. But on the other hand, whether from choice or necessity, frogs cer- tainly do spawn sometimes in deeper water, and then the copulating frogs may be seen floating at the surface, or clinging to the branches of partially submerged shrubs, and they evidently spawn so. Moreover such frothy patches enclosing the still segmenting ova, and sticky enough to adhere readily to anything stationary with which they may come in contact, may be found floating freely ; and by visiting a pond in the evening and then again in the early morning, one may satisfy oneself as to some of its having been deposited during the preceding night, even if one cannot get more direct evidence. Hence it seems to me that the buoyancy of the patches is possibly quite as much dependent on the entanglement of air-bubbles due to oviposition at or close to the surface of the water, or perhaps to some peculiarity in the mode of oviposition, as to the liberation of gases by decomposition in so short a period, more especially as in our mild climate the tadpoles are hatched by BY J. J. FLETCHER. 367 about the fourth or fifth day (longer if the weather is very cool), the patches in the meantime spreading out and becoming larger but losing their frothy appearance and showing signs of disintegration. The spawn referred to the next section also is without the frothy character, even when not attached to twigs &c. as sometimes accidentally happens. At the same time it must also be pointed out that in all the cases in which L. tasmaniensis, and H. aurea spawned in dishes of water in captivity the spawn was without the frothy appearance ; but the very unnatural conditions of the surroundings and circumstances probably will explain this. Such spawn may be found intermittently from about the middle of July to the following April or May, sparingly at the beginning and end of the season. If the conditions are favourable a good deal of spawn may be met with in August, and again towards the end of September or beginning of October or thereabouts ; if however there is a spring drought then vigorous spawning may be looked for about the middle of January, when heavy showers accompanying thunderstorms may be expected. The ova are small and numerous, and so far as I have seen have the pigmented pole very dark, dark brown or blackish or even black, the unpigmented portion being white or whitish, or slightly tinged with a dark wash, about 1-1 '5mm. in diameter. The second section includes the spawn of Ovinia signifera, Hyla ewingii var. calliscelis, and H. phyllochroa ; probably also H. hrefftii and other small species. This kind of spawn in incon- spicuous bunches of 1-2 inches long is symmetrically disposed round grass- or reed-stalks or twigs, so that the spawn remains submerged just below the surface of the water, very much as described in certain American species. There are about 100 ova in a bunch, enclosed in clear jelly; and from the small number of ova, and the slender nature of the supports, one would expect them to have been deposited by small frogs. The ova of Crinia signifera have the pigmented pole black, the rest of the ovum being white ; of C. ewingii var. calliscelis orange and pale 368 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, yellowish ; and of R. phyllochroa yellow, the lower pole slightly tinged with yellow. Exceptionally one may see this kind of spawn floating free, or attached otherwise than as described; but this is probably accidental or due to the absence of grass- stalks or twigs. The spawn of this section may be met with under favourable conditions at almost any time of the year ; even in mid-winter. The third section includes the spawn of Pseudophryne australis and P. bibronii, already referred to, which may be found during summer and autumn. (For further details see p. 376.) During copulation the males in some species clasp under the arms, in others round the waist ; thus the embrace is axillary in Mixophyes fasciolatus, H. aurea^ H. citropus, H. ewingii var. calliscelis, H. p)hyllochroa, and H. ccerulea ; it is inguinal in Lim- nodynastes tasmaniensis, Hyperolia marmorata^ Grinia signifera, Pseudojohryne australis, and P. bibronii. In a footnote to his description of Limnodynastes ornatiis Mr. Boulenger says (I.e. p. 262) "that one of the females of this species has on the breast two cicatrices which are evidently caused by the thumbs of the male ; this proves that the male seizes the female under the axillae and not round the waist." In L. tasmaniensis, as I have had ample opportunity of observing, the embrace is inguinal as stated above. I have had only a single and early opportunity of observ- ing the coitus in L. dorsalis and L. 2^e'^onii, when I was not suffi- ciently alive to the desirability of noting the mode of embrace, and I regret to say that I have never had the chance since of repeating the observation ; hence I am unable to speak with con- fidence in the case of these two species. The tadpoles of the different species in their earlier stages offer few characters sufficient for their identification — unless perhaps a study of those of the mouth with its horny fringes would yield such. As the completion of the metamorphosis approaches, however, the determination becomes less difficult, the characters of the webbing, or of the metatarsal tubercles, or of the disks when the hind limbs have developed, being among the earliest satisfactorily recognisable BY J. J. FLETCHER. 369 characters. The tadpoles of E. aurea and H. ccerulea, at any rate in their later stages, are green, in the case of the former the larval frogs acquiring golden streaks before leaving the water. I have no definite information as to the length of time which elapses under favourable conditions between the hatching and the com- pletion of the metamorphosis in the case of any species. For some three months commencing about May, or for a period longer or shorter, or commencing or ending earlier or later, according as the weather is very mild and the season favourable or otherwise, the frogs, like the snakes and lizards, resort to the shelter of logs and stones, under which they are then to be met with in a more or less sleepy condition. It is also noticeable how frequently frogs which at other seasons frequent gullies or swamps, are at this time found on high ground, on the slopes or summits of the ridges, and long distances from water. In this mild climate where the ground is never frozen the hibernation does not seem to be of the thorough-going character exhibited by frogs in Europe and America, which are said to bury them- selves in the mud at the bottom of pools, lying clustered together in a state of complete torpidity.* Australian frogs may also hibernate in this way (L. dorsalis possibly; Mr. Krefft says also many individuals of H. aurea) ; but seeing how abundant they are in the situations indicated during this period as compared with other seasons of the year, it is evident at least that the habit is by no means universal; and moreover some species like Hyperolia marmorata one rarely sees during the rest of the year. Semper in his "Animal Life" (p. 426, Note 36) quotes Forel's view "that winter-sleep does not depend at all on the diminished temperature in winter, but rather on influences determined by food." How far the hibernation of our frogs is due to chill-coma, and how far to scarcity of food I am not ♦Article "Frog," Encyclo. Britann. ix, 794. On the subject of the hibernation of American frogs vide Butler in Report Amer. Assoc. Advanc. of Sc. xxxiiL p. 545, and Amer. Nat. 1885, p. 37. 24 370 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, prepared to say ; but seeing that some of the small frogs actually breed in mid- winter, one cannot help wondering whether if food were more abundant during the cold months, the period of hiber- nation would be as well-marked as it is. Certainly the species differ among themselves in certain respects. For example the larger species are silent during this period, but as early about the middle of July if the weather is mild Limnodynastes tasmaniensis may be heard and be found to be breeding, whereas this will not be the case with Hyla aurea until about the end of September, or a little later, and later still for H. ccerulea and II. peronii. On the other hand II. ewingii yslv. calliscelis, and Crinia signifera may be heard croaking and even breeding after rain in mid-winter, though these species are to be found apparently sheltering under stones, &c., like the others. That our frogs sestivate during hot and very dry periods there can be no doubt ; in many cases they must certainly otherwise perish. During such times one hears no croaking and sees very little or nothing of the frogs ; while logs and stones no longer afford sufficiently moist shelter. In March 1885, a very dry month, after just sufficient rain to moisten the ground, hearing croaks emanating from what under more favourable conditions is the bed of a pond, I turned up the soil with a stick and soon unearthed half a dozen specimens of Pseudophryne hibronii, which were in this manner trying to survive the drought. Speaking of the Batrachia of Victoria, Professor McCoy says " with the exception of the common green frog (Rayihyla aurea) [they] are rarely seen or heard, — the true tree-frogs (Hyla) in- habiting the lofty gum-trees, and the Limnodynastes tasmanicus, L. dor sails, and L. affinis burrowing in the sand during the day.""^ This statement will not apply to the Batrachians of this neighbour- hood except perhaps during a drought. It is quite true that nocturnal frogs like the species of Limnodynastes and Pseudo- phryne are not seen or heard in the day-time except when breed- * Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) xx, 1867, p. 182. BY J. J. FLETCHER. 371 ing ; but besides H. aurea, one may see H. freycineti^ H. lato- palmata, H. phyllochroa, H. lesueurii, H. citropus, and Mixophyes fasciolatus abroad by day, and H. ccerulea frequently comes into verandahs and even indoors in the summer evenings : while as for hearing the frogs, in the evenings in October and later after rain in the western suburbs of Sydney wherever there are paddocks and waterholes, one may hear the croaking of individuals belonging to at least half-a-dozen species in the course of as many minutes ; indeed the frogs of some species may be heard at any time of year in moist weather. L. dorsalis is rarely seen probably owing to its habit of burrowing which I believe Professor McCoy was the first to point out ; but L. tasmaniensis and L. peronii are so commonly to be found sheltering under logs and stones that, except durino- periods of aestivation, one may doubt whether in this locality they habitually burrow. With regard to the statement that the true Hylas inhabit the lofty gum-trees — a similar supposition in regard to H. citropus in the summer being made by Mr. Krefft — one may remark that no evidence in favour of it is adduced in either case ; indeed direct evidence would be very difficult to obtain. The most arboreal of the Hylidse in this neighbourhood may be found on the ground during the cold months, and during the summer they come to the ground to breed, as they doubtless do also to testivate. It is quite true that Hylas may often be found sheltering under the loose bark on the trunks of trees, but there is no other evidence forth- coming at present of the frogs in this neighbourhood habitually inhabiting lofty trees unless it be that some of them are not so frequently met with during part of the year. Professor Cope remarks of our Hylidse " that in the latter country (Australia) with its usual perverseness they are terrestrial in their habits. ""^ I think it would not be an altogether unreasonable supposition that the addiction to terrestrial habits, which more particularlv characterises the species formerly included in Litoria — now along with Peloclryas merged in Hyla by Boulenger — is to be explained as in part due to the frequently arising necessity of finding more Nat. Hist. Rev. 1865, p. 109. 372 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, moist shelter during very dry periods than could be found under loose bark, &c., on trees. On the other hand, Hijla aurea which is pre-eminently a swamp frog, may often be seen basking on the trunks or branches of trees which have fallen into or across ponds ; while in other situations it is still more arboreal. In Mr. Macleay's bush-house there are generally some of these frogs, v/hich may often be seen perched on the tree-ferns or plants. In March, 1887, Mr. Masters called my attention to a still better instance in which several of the frogs were, perched in the asparagus plants preying on the caterpillars and grasshoppers with which at this time of year the asparagus is much infested. MixoPHYES FASCIOLATUS, Gthr., is not yet recorded from the County of Cumberland, but it may still be looked for on the side adjoining Illawarra. I am able to record its occurrence at Springwood, and Mt. Wilson, Blue Mts., whereas it was previously known from Clarence River, and Illawarra N.S.W., and Pine Mt. Queensland. From the observation of a single specimen living in captivity Mr. KrefFt supposed " that this frog is remarkably fond of lying buried under moss in water, never making its appearance before dark."* Where I have seen it, it is a diurnal frog haunting the banks of creeks in deep shady gullies. It takes readily to the water on being pursued. With an exception or two all my specimens wei-e met with in the open in this way. Two males taken in December, and one in the beginning of April show a large brownish rugosity on the first finger of each hand together with a slight modification on the inner half of each second finger. At the end of December at Mt. Wilson large dark-coloured tadpoles were very numerous in the creeks in the gullies where the frogs were abundant ; one of these in spirit with the hind legs about half developed is 61 mm. long including the tail (which is 41 mm.), the breadth of the body being 14 mm. In the beginning of Novem- ber in the succeeding year the tadpoles were nothing like so noticeably numerous. On April 2, 1888, on opening the tin in which three living specimens of the frogs were brought down alive * Monthly Notices of Paper and Proceedings Roy. Soc. Tasm. 1S65, p. 19. I BY J. J. FLETCHER. 373 from Spring-wood, one male was found to have seized a female, the clasp being axillary ; but nothing came of it. Two half-grown specimens obtained at Mt. Wilson at the end of December are 28 and 30 mm. from snout to vent ; a third specimen from Spring wood at the end of March is 24 mm. These are probably specimens of tw^o seasons' growth. On the whole I should conclude that this species breeds during the summer months and oviposits in water in the ordinary manner. Mr. Ivrefft estimated the number of species occurring in the neighbourhood of Sydney as nineteen or twenty, of which in two papers he enumerates seventeen, the others being then unde- termined. The thorough revision of the whole group by Mr. Boulenger has rendered Mr. KrelBft's lists obsolete, some of the species being now known by different names. It may be conve- nient therefore to have a revised list of the species occurring in the County of Cumberland, since out of Sydney the opportunities of consulting the British Museum Catalogue are limited. It includes all the species mentioned in the last-named work from the district in question. Of the following species I have myself collected specimens belonging to eighteen species within the limits of the County of Cumberland, in addition to three others, one {Uyla lesueurii) just on the border as well as in the adjacent County of Cook, and two others {Mixophyes fasciolatus, and Cryptotis hrevis) also in the latter county. For the identification of many of my specimens, including all those difficult to determine from mere descriptions, I am indebted to Mr. G. A. Boulenger of the British Museum, to whose courtesy and help I am glad of this opportunity of acknow- ledging my indebtedness. CYSTIGNATHIDiE. 1. LiMNODYNASTES PERONII, D. & B., sp. Not quite so common as some of the others, and not occurring sufficiently near me to be so conveniently and systematically observed, I have seen breeding specimens only once, in February, 374 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, in deep water and out of reach in a quarry. At Burrawang it is tlie common Limnodynastes of the neighbourhood, and I have found numbers hibernating under logs in July, some of them females distended with ova as if the breeding season were not far off. It is quite common to find the very young frogs with bright red or carmine longitudinal stripes on the back, corresponding with the light stripes of the adult, and also on the arms and legs. A spirit specimen 22 mm. from snout to vent still shows them well. 2. Limnodynastes salminii, Steind. Keferstein gives Sydney as a locality for this species; Boulenger's Catalogue also for one half-grown specimen. I have never been able to find it, nor are there specimens of it from nearer than Bathurst in the Macleay Museum 3. Limnodynastes tasmaniensis, Gthr. One of our commonest frogs, and about the earliest of the larger species to be heard croaking and to be found breeding after hibernation, as it is about the last to leave off before this period. A female taken in coitu on January 30th spawned the following day ; she had a light vertebral line, the male had not. The tadpoles must be very common, but I do not happen to have met with them at a stage of growth in which they were identifiable. As Mr. Krefit observes, the very young frogs often show a dis- tinctly red vertebral line. 4. Limnodynastes dorsalis, Gr., sp. Probably not rare, but it manages to keep out of sight, possibly owing to its penchant for burrowing. I have seen one pair in coitu late in September ; guided by the croak I captured a male in November with well-developed breeding rugosities — a pair on each hand ; in February I found three dead ones (probably stoned by boys) with frothy spawn in a pond at Manly ; and I have seen a male captured in March, also with breeding rugosities. The breeding season is thus possibly as prolonged as in L. tasmaniensis. BY J. J. FLETCHER. 375 The tadpoles are very large — the largest occurring in the neigh- bourhood. I have seen them in ponds at least as late as June and as early as September. Several which I have measured are from 2J to nearly 3 inches long, the tail about half as long again as the body. At first they are very dark in colour, almost blackish, but they become lighter as they increase in size, the ground colour becoming brown or olive-brown much spotted with darker spots ; they have a single spiraculum on the left side of the body. Two larval frogs with the tail all but absorbed are about 21 mm. from snout to vent. Neither the tadpoles nor the frogs seem to show any of the carmine spots or stripes so commonly present at some stage in other species of the genus.* 5. Crinia georgiana, Bibr., sp. I have never met with this species which ought to be easily recognisable by its having the " loins, front and hinder side of thighs and inner side of tibia6 carmine." Mr. Krefft mentions it only in the latest of the four papers referred to, and then as from King George's Sound, not from Sydney. The latter is given by Dr. Giinther (Ann. Mag. JV. H. (3) xx, p. 53) and in the British Museum Catalogue. 6. Crinia signifera, Gir. sp. One of our commonest species. At Burrawang late in June after three days' incessant rain during which as many inches fell, hundreds of these tiny frogs in the swamps and creeks began to croak. One much distended female had the oviducts crammed with ova. A few mornings after I found at least fifty deposits of similar ova attached to blades of grass and reeds in a small pond though except on cloudy nights there were sharp frosts and the surface of the pond was frozen over in the mornings. A fortnight later at Capertee (2700 feet) in equally cold weather * In the young frogs of L. tasmaniensis and L. peronii as mentioned above ; in the adults, probably also in the young, of L. salminii and L. fietcheri^ Big. ; and in the young frogs, and, as I have also reason to think, in the advanced tadpoles of L. ornatus. 376 OVIPOSITION AIsD HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, similar spawn was noticed. About Sydney I have met with it in different years in February, May, and July, At Mt. Wilson at the end of December I found a pair in coitu under a stone near the water. Possibly this species breeds more than once a year. 7. Hyperolia marmorata, Gr., sp. Common under stones in the cool months. Females distended with ova may be found in June ; once early in June a day or two after bringing home some specimens three were observed in coitu^ a second male clasping the first; of a number of speci- mens kept in confinement for two months (July and August) two on one occasion in August were noticed in coitu, but no ova were deposited in either case. Of three specimens kept for some days in September one female deposited over 200 separate ova in a dry saucer, but they did not develop and probably had not been fertilised. The ova had the pigmented pole black, the other cream-coloured. 8. Helioporus albopunctatus, Gr. Sydney is mentioned as a locality by both Boulenger and Keferstein. I have never met with it, but have a very large old male specimen in which the shagreening of the skin is more than usually developed, given me by Mr. A. G. Hamilton, whose son found it in a creek-bed at Hartley, Blue Mts. BUFONID^. 9-10. Pseudophryne australis, Gr., sp., and P. bibronii, Gthr. Mr. Boulenger suggests that the latter may prove to be a mere variety of the former ] but this view will not I think commend itself to anyone who is familiar with the frogs in their natural conditions. Not only is there the well-marked and very constant difference in colour and pattern, but the frogs differ more or less in temperament, in habits, and in regard to the breeding season. BY J, J. FLETCHER. 377 P. australis is a lively perky little frog, very partial to damp shelves and cracks in the Hawkesbury sandstones ; and breeds earlier — three times I have found ova, in November, January, and this year as late as May 11th, but early in September I once saw a pair in coitic, though I do not know that spawn was deposited. P. hibronii on the other hand is much less active, usually makes little or no effort to escape when uncovered in its hiding place, " shams dead " when placed on its back, and falls to the bottom like a stone when thrown into water ; I have never found it except on the ground under stones, logs &c. ; I have found the ova every year for seven consecutive years, once in April only, thrice in May only, once in June only, and twice in both April and June. The two species agree in regard to their oviposition and general development. The ova are laid after rain in depressions or cavities, preferably under stones, but when these are wanting under pieces of old tin, under debris brought down by the water, or in a tussock of grass or reeds, near the margins of ponds or creeks. That they have been deposited where one finds them is obvious from the circumstances under which they occur. To satisfy myself that the ova could be fertilised without being placed in water I collected at different times males and females of both species. In two instances on reaching home at least one couple were m cojjula^ the embrace being inguinal ; these subsequently spawned on a damp rag placed at the bottom of a dish, the ova as shown by their subsequent development being duly fertilised. Several hundred ova may sometimes be found in the same little cavity, but these have been deposited by several females. In the two instances above-mentioned each frog laid about ninety ova ; and these were disposed in short rows or in masses of a dozen or more, at some distance apart, showing that the frogs had moved some distance every now and then and probably slightly after the deposition of each ovum. The ova would seem to be fertilised singly. If the surroundings are moist the ova, (in- cluding the gelatinous envelope,) are about as big as peas, 378 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, spherical, 3-5 mm. in diameter ; if in contact tbey adhere to one another slightly but are readily separable with a feather, and dO' not fuse into a mass. The ova themselves are twice the size of ordinary frog ova. The pigmented pole is black, the other cloudy white. The seg- mentation is complete, but on account of the considerable amount of food-yolk very irregular ; the pigmented pole segments much more rapidly than the other ; and in some segmenting ova which I observed, after the stage in which there were two vertical and one transverse furrow the next two vertical furrows instead of continuing round the lower pole frequently turned to one side and joined one of the original vertical furrows. As I hope to give a more complete account of the development hereafter I need only briefly refer to subsequent events. By about the fifth or sixth days the embryo is well-folded off from the large yolk-sac ; a day or two later the embryo may be noticed at tiuies to exhibit wriggling movements, and about this time the two developing claspers or suckers begin to show prominently. But neither up till now or at any subsequent stage have I been able to see any trace of external gills, and I believe these are not developed. Gills and tentacular reticulations such as Heron-Royer describes* in Alytes obstetricajis, if present could hardly be overlooked ; moreover external gills are noticeable enough in the newly hatched tadpoles of the species which oviposit in water ; hence I am unable to say how respiration is provided for in the early stages unless the tail functions as a respiratory organ. [After a time a single spiraculum is present on the left side as usual. In keeping the tadpoles in aquaria individuals may sometimes be found floating at the surface of the water, the ventral surface uppermost, and every now and then ejecting a number of bubbles of gas sometimes from the mouth and sometimes from the anal aperture, while numbers of small bubbles may sometimes be seen in the spirally coiled intes- tine ; at other times the tadpoles appear to be swallowing air, and often accidentally re-swallow the bubbles previously ejected. * Bull. Soc. Zool. de France, 1883, p. 423. BY J. J. FLETCHER. 379 These phenomena, may, however, be pathological, as the individ- uals sometimes seem sickly, and may have nothing to do with respiration ; but I have never seen anything like it in tadpoles of other species.] Development proceeds steadily, the tadpoles becoming more and more recognisable, until after between a fortnight or three weeks from the time of laying they are ready for hatching. By this time in order to accommodate itself to the size of the chamber in which it lies the tad- pole bends its tail round to one side, the tip reaching to the snout or beyond ; from time to time the position is changed by bending the tail the other way. If now a number of the ova are placed in water some of the tadpoles will emerge very shortly^ while others may not do so for a day or two. They emerge through a usually more or less circular hole ; but I have never been able to observe the actual exit thouo'h I have watched for it, and have several times seea them with the tail free, but these may be cases of misadventure. Possibly the tadpole with its horny beaks first weakens a spot in the envelope softened by moisture, and then deliberately increases the strain, as Royer describes in Alytes (I.e. p. 428). If the ova do not get into the water the hatching is simply postponed till they do, a proceeding which at any rate for a period of at least three months, provided of course that they are not absolutely deprived of moisture, seems to cause little inconvenience. They can stand a good deal of dessication without damage ; and anyone who sees specimens which have undergone some drying up for the first time would hardly believe that the contained tadpoles are still alive ; nevertheless on the addition of water the gelatinous matter again swells up as before ; under these circumstances if the ova are left in the water the tadpoles seem to hatch more quickly than otherwise. Balfour in his Comparative Embryology (Vol. II. p. 115) mentions the large yolk-sack of Pseudophryne australis. This is evidently correlated with the ability to endure a postponement of the hatching. Oviposition takes place after heavy rain, and the next fall of rain has to be depended upon for the release of the 380 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, tadpoles; but the intervening period may be one of weeks or months. On July 29th, 1885, I exhibited at a meeting of this Society [vide Proceedings x, p. 342] ova of P. hihronii (not P. australis as there mentioned) obtained in the previous April, that is to say a period of between three and four months, yet the tadpoles seemed to be none the worse ; after reaching the con- dition of readiness for hatching they increased but little in size, and there was a marked difference in this respect between tadpoles of the same batch allowed to hatch at different tioies. I have not yet ascertained the limit of endurance, but it was certainly not reached in the above case. The only dii3iculty to be contended with is to keep the ova sufficiently moist and yet keep them free from attacks of moulds. I kept them in the hope of seeing them complete their metamorphoses without gaining access to water ; this however they seem unable to do. The tadpoles are very hardy, strikingly so as compared with those of other species. A number of them may be hatched out in a wine-glassful of water and left for a fortnight or longer without the water being changed or any food supplied, and yet they seem none the worse for such treatment which would be fatal to ordinary tadpoles. The above-mentioned facts explain the sudden appearance of large numbers of the tadpoles in pools and ponds after heavy rains, which when previously visited were dry or contained no tadpoles, and when the intervening interval has been too short to allow development to have reached the stage met with. I have met with instances of this kind frequently, but the tadpoles have always being referable to one or other of the species of Pseudo- phryne ; and I have seen nothing to warrant the supposition that the tadpoles of other species by burying themselves in the mud can survive for any length of time if, as frequently happens, the ponds dry before the completion of the metamorphoses ; if they could one would expect to find instances of their sudden re-ap- pearance after rain has again filled the ponds. Balfour (I.e. p 116) also says : " The tadpoles of Toads are the smallest, Pseudo- phryne australis excelling in this respect." When hatched the tadpoles of both species are about 10 mm. long of which the BY J. J. FLETCHER. 381 tail is 7 mru., and the body about 2 mm. broad. They grow pretty rapidly when they are well fed, until they are about 25 mm. long, the body being about 8-10 mm. long and 5-6 mm. broad. They are of a dark colour, blackish, greyish or dark brown, becoming lighter, olive brown, as they grow older, with innumerable minute bronzy specks especially on the ventral surface. The ova and tadpoles of the two species are indistinguishable as far as I can see at present, the larval frogs not acquiring the colours of the adults, but they probably do so very soon after quitting the water, as I have a young specimen of P. australis found early in April, about 10 mm. long, which has the characteristic markings. In several instances tadpoles hatched from ova found in April, and kept in an aquarium, completed their metamorphoses in the Sep- tember following ; but this is probably at least twice as long as is necessary under natural conditions. HYLIDiE. 11. Hyla c^rulea. White, sp. One of our commonest species, but I have never been able to catch the frogs breeding. Two males taken towards the end of January both have breeding rugosities. In the first week in March a number of tadpoles captured a fortnight previously com- pleted their metamorphosis; three of the young frogs, now in spirit, measuring about 17 mm. from snout to vent, and two of them having a few white spots on the back and sides. The pond from which these specimens came was in the middle of a grass paddock, and was periodically visited by me ; and I have no doubt that the ova were deposited in water in the ordinary way. This species begins to be seen and heard later even than H. aurea ; and appears to breed during the summer months. Mr. A. G. Hamilton informs me that at Guntawang in the Mudgee district early in February, on one occasion in a tuft of grass at some little distance from water he found a pair in coitu, the embrace being axillary. 12. Hyla peronii, D. &B,, sp. All my specimens have been captured in the post-holes in fences, in which, in one locality when not too dry I could generally (in the 382 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, ■daytime) find at least one specimen asleep — when tliey are nearly white from about October to April. Early in December hearing a number crocking in the neighbourhood of a pond, and guided by the croaking I caught a male in a post-hole, with a brown rugosity on the first finger of each hand ; judging from the croaking the others appeared to be on the ground but hidden under the banks, and I suspect they were preparing to spawn, and that they do so in the ordinary way. A large tadpole with well-developed hind legs is 61 mm. long of which the body is 21 mm. 1 3. Hyla phyllociiroa, Gthr. This species is common in shady gullies. During the summer months a few of these frogs may generally be found in Mr. Macleay's bush-house, in the day-time asleep on the plants. On four different occasions, in December(twice), January, and February I have seen a pair in coitu in the water-cask used by the gardener in the bush-house. They can only spawn comfortably when the casks are quite full ; the female then sits on the bevelled edge of the cask looking outwards with, the hind-quarters in the water. The pigmented pole of the ova and the young tadpoles themselves are rather pale yellow, and this will help to distinguish them from the darker yellow prevailing in H. eivingii var. calliscelis. In the same three months of the following year spawn was again found on three occasions, but I did not happen to find the frogs. Under more natural conditions the spawn is attached to blades of grass, twigs, &c. (as Mr. Hamilton has informed me) ; and they also spawn earlier than the above dates, as in October last in a gully near Kiama in the day-time my attention was attracted by croaking, and on going to see I found a number of these frogs having a sort of field day at the opening of the breeding season just as I have noticed several times in the case of H. aurea ; a number of the frogs were in the water, and very active, the males ci-oaking vigorously and every now and then making a grasp at the females. JSTo spawn was visible, but I was unable to visit the spot again. BY J. J. FLETCHER. 383 14. Hyla dentata, Kef. A rare frog. I have only taken two specimens and these not full grown. I know nothing of the habits of this species. 15. Hyla citropus, P. & L., sp. Not common. Mr, Krefft gives Ryde and Hunter's Hill as localities. I have not found it nearer than Waterfall j also in the gullies at Mt. Wilson. In September last at Waterfall a pair of this species were found in coitu on the damp rocky bed of the creek close to water. They were caught without difficulty and spawned in a dish containing water 24 hours later, the male never relaxing his hold as far as observed. The male has a blackish rugosity on the first finger of each hand. 16. Hyla ewingii var. calliscelis, Peters. One of our commonest frogs, whose shrill notes may be heard all the year round when the weather is not too dry. This species probably breeds pretty nearly throughout the year. On June 16th, 1885, under a large stone about a yard from the edge of a pond I took a pair in coitu, which allowed themselves to be caught without trouble ; the female spawned on the evening of the 19th the male so far as observed not having relaxed his position on the female's back. The male is much smaller than the female, and has a brownish rugosity on the first finger of each hand. The ova have the pigmented pole orange. Similar ova in bunches attached to twigs, blades of glass, &c., I have found in from May to September, but some of it may have been laid by H. krefftii. What I take to be this species also sometimes (in different years I have noted it in November, December, January and February) spawns in the water-casks under similar conditions to H. phyllochroa. The gardener has frequently seen them ; I have seen the spawn, but have always been too late to see the fro^s themselves ; from his description, and from the characters of the spawn there can be I think little doubt about the species. In the middle of November 1885 I found hundreds of advanced tadpoles 384 OYIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, in tlie liquid mud of a pond which was in the last stage of drying up; a week later several of them completed their metamorphoses crawling out of the water up the side of the jar ; two of these now in spirit are about 12 mm. from snout to vent. 18. Hyla krefftiIj Gthr. Not very common about Sydney; have taken specimens on Zamia at Randwick early in March ; also numerous specimens under logs at Burrawang in July, some of them females distended with ova. Hence this species probably breeds in spring or early summer, but I have not yet been able to obtain any details about the oviposition. On a Zamia at Randwick when collecting speci- mens of this frog with Mr. Masters, pellets of excreta were noticed consisting largely of fragments of the elytra &c. of beetles, where- upon Mr. Masters pointed out to me that two Curculios (Tranes intern/itus and Einzeuxis lyterioides) frequent the Zamias, so that it seems likely that the Hylas haunt the Zamias to feed on these beetles. 19. Hyla aurea. Less., sp. This species breeds from about the middle of spring through the summer. In three successive years in the same pond about the end of September numbers of this species were noticed in a con- siderable state of excitement, the males darting at and seizing the females ; but little or no spawn was deposited. Early on the morning of October 20th, 1886, in the pits in a disused tan-yard I found a number of couples in coitu, as well as a good deal of spawn ; the female of a couple which I caught and took home commenced to spawn during the day in a dish of water, and com- pleted the operation some time during the succeeding night, the male never relaxing his hold. In the first week of December of this same year I also found breeding couples. I have noted find- ing young frogs, which had just about completed their metamor- phosis, common about the margin of swamps in December, March and April ; and tadpoles at the beginning of April in a pond in which there were also tadpoles of two other species of Byla, one BY J. J. FLETCHER. 385 of them H. ccerulea, examples of all of which were to be met with in which at least the hind legs were well developed. The larval frogs of this species acquire golden stripes before leaving the water. I have noted as unusually early seeing two specimens of JB. aurea on the margins of a pond on July Slst, and of hearing and seeing a number on August 20th of the same year. 20. Hyla lesueurii, D. & B. I have not taken this species nearer than Bulli where it was not uncommon under stones in June. I have also found a few speci- mens in the gullies at Springwood in January; from the conditions under which these were found this seems to be a terrestrial species diurnal in its habits ; the chestnut tinge of the back harmonises with the dead leaves and strips of bark lying about on the ground ; so that seeing a good specimen, but taking my eye off for an instant, it was some time before I could recognise it again though it had not moved. This is a common species in the Mudgee district whence I have numerous specimens of various sizes sent me by Mr. Hamilton, and a fine example sent me alive by Mr. J. D. Cox. I have no information at present about the oviposition. 21. Hyla latopalmata, Gthr., sp. Two specimens are in the British Museum from Richmond. I have found only a single specimen which jumped up in front of me while walking across a grass paddock between a swamp and the banks of South Creek at St. Mary's. 22. Hyla freycineti, D. & B., sp. Common about the swamps near the coast from Botany to Narrabeen. Early in August among the reeds in a large pond, vociferous croaking was going on, attracting one's attention even at a distance ; a good deal of frothy spawn was visible, but the frogs were too shy and the pond was too full to get near them. The croaking of Limnodynastes tasmaniensis was recognisable, but that of the majority of the frogs was new to me, and I suspect 25 386 OVIPOSITION AND HABITS OF CERTAIN BATRACHIANS, them to have been H. freycineti. In the middle of last April I found a number of tadpoles just about completing their metamor- phoses, about 35 mm. long, the body 15x7 mm. Towards the end of March in the previous year numbers of young frogs which had only recently taken to land were common about the edges of swamps at Botany. Three males taken as late as the beginning of April have a brownish rugosity on the first finger of each hand. There can I think be little doubt that this species breeds in spring and summer, and oviposits in water in the ordinary way. This species may possibly hibernate buried in the mud, as unless the frogs travel some distance in some localities there is a dearth of suitable shelter. 23. Hyla dimolops. Cope. This species, mentioned in the British Museum Catalogue as from Sydney, I have never met with. 24. Hylella bicolor, Gr., sp. I have never met with this frog. Krefft gives as localities " 30 miles from Sydney, and Blue Mts." In Professor Parker's third memoir " On the Development of the Skull of the Batrachia " {Phil. Trans. 1881, p. 158) the locality Dogtrap Road, Parramatta is mentioned for it. In regard to the foregoing list the following points may be noticed : — Limnodynastes ornatus occurs in Keferstein's list * under the two names Platyplectrum inarmoratum and F. ornatum, for each of which the locality Sydney is given. In Steindachner's list f Sydney is given as a locality for Cryptotis hrevis. 1 have specimens of the former from Mudgee collected by Mr. A. G. Hamilton, and I have found examples of the latter in gullies in the Blue Mts.; but I have not found them in the County of Cumberland nor have I met with any who has. These two, and a similar remark possibly applies to Helioporus alho- • " Ueber die Batrachier Austrahens," Arch. f. Naturgesch. 1868, Bd. i, p. 253. t ** Reise der Novara," Amphibien, BY J. J. FLETCHER. 387 punctatus and Crinia georgiana, are either rarer than they used to be since resident collectors do not find them, or, what is per- haps more probable, the earlier collectors of frogs used the term Sydney in a similar somewhat elastic sense to that in which the early botanical collectors are known to have used the term Port Jackson. Dr. Keferstein was indebted to Mr. Krefi"t for some of his material ; but it is noteworthy that though Krefi*t's latest list was published about two years later than Keferstein's paper, yet the former does not give Sydney as a locality for L. ornatus ; nor indeed for any of the other species in question, nor for L. salminii. If we except Crinia georgiana, this is not a matter of much importance, as the others undoubtedly occur in New South Wales. But, as far as I can learn, the British Museum specimens of Crinia georgiana, which were acquired by purchase, are the only speci- mens recorded from New South Wales, and in this colony from Sydney only ; in which case, and if the collector did not mix his specimens, it is remarkable that it should not have been again found here. Mr. Krefft frequently refers to Hyla verreauxii, a name which does not occur at all in Mr. Boulenger's Catalogue, but which he tells me in a letter was unintentionally omitted, and that it is pro- bably a variety of II. ewingii. From Mr. Krefft's remarks about it I suspect that he refers to the frog now known as H. ewingii var. calliscelis. 388 NOTES AND EXHIBITS. NOTES AND EXHIBITS. Mr. C. T. Musson, F.L.S., contributed the following notes : — (1) "In June, 1887, I shot on the border of a small artificial dam, on Boolcarrol Station, 30 miles north of Narrabri, N.S.W., two specimens of the Top-knot pigeon ( Lojoliolaimus antarctica^ Sharw.), one of which on examination was found to have a curious ball of earth on each leg, caked quite hard and completely sur- rounding the \e,g just clear of the ground when the bird was walking. One of the legs was cut off, with its accompanying incubus, and is sent herewith for exhibition*; unfortunately the connection between the clot and leg has become severed. The larger ball only is shown, but it will be noticed that it is of con- siderable size, and no doubt accumulated as the bird wandered about on the muddy margin of some water-hole. One need hardly dilate on the importance of birds as seed-distributors, — a question which has been thoroughly discussed by Darwin, Wallace, and others ; but when we find an example of one of the many methods of distribution capable of demonstration, it is well to note the fact. In this case the amount of earthy matter is not great (weighing 9 grains), but there is ample for the inclusion of many such seeds as are likely to be lying about in places where pigeons might be in the habit of alighting for water." (2) " Whilst collecting on Mount Archer, near Rockhampton, Queensland, during September, 1887, I found under some loose stones in one of the numerous gullies, a Coleopterous insect, carry- ing on one of its elytra a specimen of a land-snail ( Vitrina). It does not require a very great stretch of imagination to consider that, could the insect have taken flight with this strange companion as passenger, it might have been the means by which distribution would have been aided, and thus a new colony be started where possibly the species had been before unknown." * The specimen was duly exhibited. NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 389 (3) "On the effects of eating pigeons which have fed on the seeds of EiLphorhia Drummonclii, Boissier. — During a residence in the north-western district of New South Wales (Namoi), 1887-1888, I noticed a peculiar effect produced on human beings, under the following circumstances. Whenever our household partook of pigeon pie it invariably followed that after some 12 or 15 hours we all suffered under a severe attack of diarrhoea, accompanied by acute griping pains in the bowels, lasting some three or four hours and then passing away. This effect had so constantly and invariably followed the presence of pigeon pies on our table that I naturally connected the one with the other, and cast about for an explanation. We had noticed in cleaning the birds that their crops were filled with small rugose seeds, which only recently I have found to be those of Eujohorhia Driimmondii, Boiss., which grows in profusion with us, covering a considerable area of ground in that portion of the garden devoted to grape vines, the pigeons feeding, regularly on the Euphorbia fruits. This plant is stated to be injurious to stock, and we know that many members of the spurge family possess purgative and emetic properties, whilst others are powerful irritants. The question then naturally arises whether some of these peculiar properties have taken effect upon us in the indirect manner here set forth thus to bring about the results indicated? All the ingredients of our last two pies (the last one partaken of out of curiosity as a further test) were most carefully examined, and I have come to the conclusion that the cause of the mischief is indirectly attributable to Euphorbia Drummondii" Dr. R. B. Read communicated a note on the circumstances under which Australian Coal first came into use by foreign steamships. Mr. Fletcher exhibited for Dr. Woolls the plants sent by the Rev. R. Collie. Also the ova and tadpoles of both Pseudophryne australis and P. hihronii referred to in his paper. Mr. Trebeck exhibited a living specimen of a snake ( Yermicella annulata) from Annandale. 390 NOTES AND EXHIBITS. Dr. Katz exhibited the drawings accompanying Bordoni- UfFreduzzi's paper on the cultivation of leprosy-bacilli (Zeitschrift fiir Hygiene, Band III., Heft 1, 1887); also a pamphlet with illustrations of the gas-making apparatus mentioned in his com- munication on " air-gas/' He also handed round the first number of the third volume (1889) of the *'Annales de I'lnstitut Pasteur," in which the Pasteur Institute is described and illustrated ; and the first two numbers of the "Microphotographic Atlas of Bacteria," which is being brought out by Dr. C. Fraenkel and Dr. K Pfeiffer. Special attention was drawn to an admirable photo of Ampliipleura pellucida ( x 1000), in which the striae were plainly seen to consist of a system of minute dots or nodules. Mr. Rohu sent for exhibition an Egyptian mummy hand. WEDNESDAY, 26th JUNE, 1889. Mr. Robert Etheridge in the Chair. Messrs. T. B. Trebeck, M. A., R. Helms, W. Anderson, and S. A. Wise were introduced as visitors. Mr. C. M. Woodford, Sydney, was elected a Member of the Society The Chairman announced that the next excursion had been arranged for July 27th. Members to leave Redfern Station, for Clifton, Illawarra line, by the 9-10 a.m. train. DONATIONS. " The Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. Vols. XI.- XV. ; XVIIL ; XX.-XXVIII. ; XXIX. (Parts 1-5), (1810-89) ; " Journal of Botany," n.s. Vols. VIIL, No. 204 (December, 1879); IX.-XI. (1880-82); "Challenger Reports— Zoology." Vol. XXX. ; '' Encyclopaedia Britannica." 9th Edition, Index ; " Nouvelles Archives du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris." 2nde. Serie. Tome X., Ease. 2 (1888); " Zeitschrift fiir wissenschaftliche Zoologie." XLVII. Band, 4 Heft (1888) ; "Notes from the Leyden Museum." Vol. XL, No. 1 (1889); "The Origin of Floral Structures through Insect and other Agencies." By the Rev. George Henslow, M.A., F.L.S., &c. ; 392 DONATIONS. " The Morphology of the Skull." By W. K. Parker, F.R.S., and G. T. Bettany, M.A., B.Sc. ; " Berliner Entomologische Zeit- schrift — herausgegeben von dem Entomologischen Yerein in Berlin." Band XXXIL, Heft 2 (1888); "Stettiner Entomolo- gische Zeitung." 50 Jahrg., Nos. 1-3 (1889). From Sir William Macleay^ F.L.S. " Dept. of Mines, Sydney — Memoirs of the Geological Survey of New South Wales — Palaeontology, No. 2. Contributions to the Tertiary Flora of Australia." By Baron von Ettingshausen. (1888); "Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition, 1888 — Descriptive Catalogue of Exhibits of Metals, Minerals, Fossils, and Timbers in the N.S.W. Mineral Court." From the Minister for Mines. "The Australian Museum, Sydney — Memoirs, No. 2. — Lord Howe Island, its Zoology, Geology, and Physical Characters." From the Trustees. " Memoires de la Societe Zoologique de France pour I'Annee 1888." Tome I., No. 3 ; " Bulletin pour I'Annee 1889." Tome XIV., No. 2 (February). From the Society. "Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 1888." Vol. XXI. From the Institute. " Report of the Central Park Menagerie, New York, for 1888." From the Director. " Proceedings of the Royal Society of London." Vol. XL Y., No. 276 (1889). From the Society. "Feuille des Jeunes Naturalistes." No. 223 (May, 1889). From the Editor. " Comptes Rendus des Seances de I'Academie des Sciences, Paris.'* Tome CYIIL, Nos. 9-12 (1889). From the Academy. DONATIONS. 393 " Bulletin of the American Geographical Society." Vol. XXI., No. 1 (1889). From the Society. " Proceedings of the United States National Museum." Vol. XI. (1888), Sheets 16-19. From the Museum. " The Journal of Comparative Medicine and Surgery." Vol. X., No. 2 (1889). From the Editor. " Sydney Free Public Library — Report from Trustees for 1888-89." From the Trustees. " Report of the Trustees of the Public Library, Museums, and National Gallery of Victoria for 1887," &c. From the Librarian. " Zoologischer Anzeiger." XII. Jahrg., Nos. 306 and 307 (1889). From the Editor. " The Transactions of the Entomological Society of London for the year 1889." Part 1. From the Society. "Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1888." Nos. ix. and X. (Nov. and Dec); "Journal." n.s. Vols. LVL, Part ii., No. 5 ; LVII., Part ii.. No, 4 (1887-88). From the Society. " Archives Neerlandaises des Sciences exactes et naturelles." Tome XXTII., Liv. 2 (1889). De la part de la Societe Hollandaise des Sciences a Harlem. " Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia comparata della R. Universita di Torino." Vol. IV., Nos. 53-61 (1889), and one plate. From the Museum. " Calendar of the University of Sydney for the year 1889." From the University. "Transactions and Proceedings and Report of the Royal Society of South Australia." Vol. XI. (1887-88). From the Society. 394 DONATIONS. Two pamphlets — '' Poissons Lune fOrthagoriscus molaj cap- tures pendant deux Campagnes de 1' Hirondelle /' "Le dyna- mometre a ressorts emboites de 1' Rirondelle.^' Par le Prince Albert de Monaco. From the Author. "The Proceedings of the Ptoyal Society of Queensland, 1889. '^ Vol. VI., Parts 2 and 3, From the Society. "Abstract of Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London," 16th April, and 7th May, 1889." From the Society. "The Australasian Journal of Pharmacy." Vol. IV., No. 42 (June, 1889). From the Editor. " Geological Survey of Queensland — Preliminary Report on the Limestone District, part of the Palmer Goldfield." By R. L. Jack, Government Geologist. From the Director. PAPERS READ. A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, WITH NOTES ON THEIR HABITS, Etc. By J. D. Cox AND A. G. Hamilton. Having observed and collected the birds of the Mudgee District for many years, we think it may be of interest to give a list of them, adding notes, though by no means exhaustive, on their habits, etc. A preliminary account of the geography of the district is neces- sary to the full understanding of the list, as otherwise the fact of such birds as Menura su2')erha and Sericornis frontalis appearing in it would be inexplicable. The Mudgee District lies in the north of the South Table-land, extending from the Dividing Range to the slope towards the plains. It is separated from that part of the coast district occu- pied by the upper valley of the Hunter River by the ridge of the Blue Mountains, here narrow and low, the formation being Hawkesbury sandstone. This situation renders it easy to under- stand why we have an avi-fauna partaking of the characters of both the plains and the coast district, as well as that proper to the table-land. Towards the north-east, at no greater distance than 30 miles from our west boundary, the plains begin at Dubbo, and an arm of the flat country runs up the valley of the Talbragar River nearly to Cobbora, 50 miles from the town of Mudgee (which lies south of the centre of the district). Again, on the north-east the district is divided from the Liverpool Plains by that spur of the Liverpool Range called the Warrumbungle Moun- tains. Hence we see why such birds as Eupodotis, Dromaius (once common in the district, but now, as far as breeding and 396 A LIST OP THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, constant residence go, extinct), Geronticus, Threskiornis, and Grii^s australasianus should at times be found in numbers. Again, the western slopes of the Dividing Range at Cooyal, 18 miles east from Mudgee, are clothed with vegetation resembling that of the coast brushes, and here Menura, Sericornis^ Ptilonorhynchus and other coast forms are plentiful. The district is bounded on the east by that part of the Blue Mountains extending from Cassilis on the north to where the Hunter Range begins at Mount Coricudgy; thence the south boundary runs westward along the Dividing Range to the spur forming the watershed beween the Meroo River and the Cudge- gong, and along that spur to the head of the Meroo. The east boundary runs along that stream to its embouchure into the Cudgegong, and then northward to Cobbora. From Cobbora the Talbragar River eastward to the point of commencement forms the northern boundary. The average length of the district is about 60 miles, its breadth 35 miles, and its area may be estimated at about 2000 square miles. From this it will be seen that it takes in the valley of the Cudgegong in its entirety, and also includes the affluents of the Talbragar on the left bank, and those of the right bank of the Meroo. It includes in its borders the peaks of Durambang, Coricudgy (3000 feet), and just leaves out Tayan Peak (4000 feet); and it also takes in the curious basaltic hill, Bocoble, which is 3500 feet high. We have come to the conclusion that the height of Mudgee itself, 1635 feet above the sea, is a fair average for the district. Mount Frome, a limestone peak capped with slaty stone, rises to a height, as measured by one of us, of 820 feet above the river bed, about 2455 feet above the sea, and Dwealdjeree is 1640 feet above the river — about 3200 feet abso- lute height. This last peak is of igneous origin, and in the creek rising on its west flank the vegetation is of a different character, Eucalyptus globulus^ Pittosporum undulatum, and other plants unknown in the rest of the district occurring there. Here a few insects and birds live which are not general all over the district. BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 397 The whole district is well watered by the Cudgegong and its tributaries, and although rugged and barren in places, is very rich in minerals. The valley of the Cudgegong is fertile, and while the flats are eminently suitable for agriculture, the uplands are unequalled for sheep raising, and for pastoral purposes generally. The whole of the country, though now much cleared, was originally timbered, in places very heavily, principally with Eucalypts and apple-trees (Angophora intermedia). In regard to its geological features, the principal formation is Silurian, and the Coal-Measures extend from the Dividing Range to Guntawang and Beaudesert, where shales occur, and by Talle- wang and Cobbora (where coal has been found) to Dubbo. As already mentioned, at Cooyal the Hawkesbury sandstone composes the Dividing Range. Near Home Rule granite occurs and outcrops of igneous rocks are seen in various places. Limestone also is found in a few spots. 1. Circus assimilis, Jcird. dc Selb. Most commonly met with in the spring months when it builds among wheat and long grass on the river flats. Nest, a few sticks placed triangularly. The egg is white, rather rough, and has a greenish-blue lining membrane. 2. AsTUR NoViE-HoLLANDiiE, Gmel A rare bird here. 3. AsTUR APPROxiMANS, Vig. & Hots. Very daring birds, attacking pigeons and chickens close to the house, and even killing such birds as Dacelo gigas. 4. ACCIPITER CIRROCEPHALUS, Vieill. These birds breed in the district, sometimes building a nest for themselves or taking possession of an old magpie's nest. They kill small birds, but seldom touch Myzantha garrula, notwithstanding their numbers. We have, however, seen them attack these birds when mobbed by them. 398 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, 5. Aquila audax, Lath. Breeds in the district. All the nests we have seen have been m easily accessible trees, and were of enormous size, being evi- dently, as Gould states, added to every year. We have known them to attack a foal, and full grown kangaroos, two taking turns in chasing them. The wing stretch in one we shot was 7 feet, and weight 10 lbs ; another was 6 feet 11 inches. One of us saw a tortoise in the grip of a wedge-tailed eagle, which when ap- proached dropped the animal from a height. 6. Haliastur sphenurus, Vieill. Not a common bird. 7. MiLVUS AFFINIS, Gld. VYe have known this bird to swoop down and carry away the meat off a dish as it was being taken from the kitchen to the house. 8. LOPHOICTINIA isura, Gld. We have shot only one of these birds, at Guntawang. 9. Elanus axillaris. Lath. In 1880, and again in 1886, large flocks of these birds came to Guntawang in the autumn. They frequented the flats and low foot hills covered with scrubby vegetation, living on lizards, and "small deer" generally, but we have known them to kill quail : they roosted at night in dead trees along the river bank. 10. Falco melanogenys, Gld. Usually comes to the district in March and April. 11. Falco hypoleucus, Gld. A specimen shot at Springfield by Mr. Garling, one near Mud- gee by the late Mr. H. Thurston, and one by ourselves at Cullen- bone, areall we have seen of this beautiful falcon. 12. Falco lunulatus, Lath. Rather rare. BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 399 13. HiERACIDEA ORIENTALIS, Schl. Rarely visit the district, but when they do are very numerous. 14. TiNNUNCULUS CENCHROIDES, Vig. & HoTS. Usually nests in hollow spouts and sometimes in deserted nests. 15. Strix flammea, Z., suh-sp. delicatula. A specimen shot by the late Mr. H. Thurston is in the reading- room of the Mechanics' Institute, Mudgee. They are said to be plentiful in the orchard at Puttabucca when the fruit is ripe. Probably the windfalls attract mice, and the owls follow. We have also a specimen from Coolah. 16. NiNOX BOOBOOK, Lath. A very common bird, breeding in hollow trees. Its booming cry is continually heard in the spring months. 17. Aegotheles Nov^-Hollandi^, Lath. We have shot three specimens all differing much in colour from Gould's figure, being dull ashy-greys without the warm tints shewn in figure alluded to. Eggs December 7th. 18. Pod ARGUS strigoides, Lath. Breeds in spring and early summer. We have taken eggs October 4th to 15th November, and seen them sitting on the unfledged but downy young on November 15th. It is probable that we have more night-birds than the above four species. We have certainly seen Eurostopodus guttatus, but having failed to shoot it, we have not included it in this list. 19. CHiETURA caudacuta. Lath. A regular visitant. We have observed flocks in January, February, March, April, July, August, and December. 20. Cypselus pacificus. Lath. We have seen this bird only in among the flocks of Choetura. 400 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, 21. HiRUNDO NEOXENA, Gld. ( -H. FRONTALIS, Q. et Gaim.), The majority of individuals are regular suaimer visitants, but some remain all the year round. They begin their nests late in July ; the earliest eggs we have seen were found on 7th August, and then are to be found on to middle of December. Each pair rears several broods. Gould says they build in smoky chimneys, but we have never found a nest in such a situation, though in every other possible place about houses we have observed their nests. We have never seen a nest in a tree or anywhere but in a building. They take their bath on the wing. 22. Petrochelidon nigricans, FmZ/. ( =- Hylochelidon). Some few remain all the year, but the bulk leave in May and reappear in August. Eggs in October, if not earlier. One of us has on several occasions found morsels of the shell of the river mussel (Gyclas) in the mouth of shot specimens, for what purpose we are unable to say. 23. Lagenoplastes ariel, Gld. We have seen this bird as early (or late) as 1st June. They are plentiful in the first week in August. When they arrive, they roost for some nights in packs in the reeds on the river banks ; and when preparing to migrate in April, they gather in dense flocks about sunset and fly up and down the river for an hour, sometimes rising to a great height in the air, and then coming down nearly perpendicularly, ending by roosting in the reeds as when arriving. In the month of February, 1887, they behaved in this way for a few days, and then resumed their ordinary habits till April 7th, when they packed and departed. We have taken the eggs from 1st September to December. Gould says they club together in fives and sixes to build a nest, bat we have never seen more than two building, although one of us has seen three or four feeding the young, probably themselves young of an earlier brood assisting their parents. When their nests are built on the river banks, they hear a footstep or feel the vibration at a great dis- tance, and, flying out with distressed cries, encircle the intruder. BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 401 Each pair very jealously guards its nest, and fights are common on this account. They build in angles of beams supporting loft- floors, along eaves of houses, under culverts and bridges, and on the steep clay-banks of the river. 24. Merops ornatus. Lath. Arrive here on September 25th, and later, in ones and twos. They come in numbers in the first week in October, and begin nests at once. A sure sign of the completion of the nest is the bluntness of the beaks. Eggs may be taken from the beginning of November till the latter end of December. The main body leaves in February, but we have seen a few as late as March 11th. They are very destructive to bees, like their European representa- tive, and when a pair nest near a hive they live almost entirely on them. Plunges into water for bath. 25. EURYSTOMUS PACIFICUS, Lath. These birds arrive about October 1st, and leave in February. They nest in hollow trees, and we have seen young birds being fed late in December. 26. Dacelo gigas, Bodd. We have repeatedly seen this bird plunge in dams and the river, and secure crayfish or prawns. 27. Halcyon sanctus, Vig. & Horsf. They begin to arrive early in September, the nest is nearly finished on October 3rd, and we have taken eggs in October and up to November 20th. We have seen them as late as March 21st. This bird, too, dashes into the water after its prey. When skinning, one of us has found worms between the skin and the flesh. 28. Halcyon pyrrhopygius, Gld. We have noticed this bird first on September 8th, and taken eggs on November 18th. Last seen on March 21st. They have 26 402 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, a penchant for sitting on the telegraph wires ; otherwise they rarely perch on anything but dead twigs in trees. 29. Halcyon Macleayi, Jard. & Selh. A specimen shot by Mr. H. Thurston at Holyoak Bridge, Mudgee, is in the Mechanics' Institute in that town ; but as Gould states it extends from Moreton Bay to Coburg Peninsula, it must be considered as an accidental visitor, or stray. 30. Alcyone azurea, Lath. The eggs are laid on a pile of shrimp carapaces and small fish bones, which smells just as vilely as the nest of its British representative. 31. Artamus sordidus. Lath. Some remain all the year round, but the majority come in flocks, and then break up into pairs. These arrive about Sep- tember 3rd. On one occasion we observed about 100 going into a large hollow in a tree to roost, those for which there was no room roosting on the edges outside. Eggs from October 26th to January 26th. 32. Artamus person atus, Gld. Vast flocks mingled about equally with the following species arrive in September, and remain packed for a considerable time. Eggs from October 24th to November 18th. 33. Artamus superciliosus, Gld. For many years this species and the last came here in great numbers in September, dispersed and built early in October, and then after packing in latter part of December for a week or two, departed in January, none being left by the 14th of that month. In 1886, however, not a single bird came. In 1887 a flock of A. personatus^ and none of species under notice, arrived on September 11th. No birds, perhaps, are so careless in their nidification as these two species. We have taken two eggs from a BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 403 nest composed of green clover leaves, quite fresh and moist, placed in a knot-hole of a fallen tree. Eggs October 6th to November 18th. All three species are locally known as "Blue- larks " and " Martins." 34. Pardalotus punctatus, Temm. Kare in most parts of the district, but common at Cooyal on the Dividing Range, eighteen miles east of Mudgee. Eggs October 12th. Known as "Diamond-bird." 35. Pardalotus ornatus, Vig. ds Horsf. ( = P. striatus, Temm.) This bird here, in addition to its habit of nesting in hollow branches and Fairy-martins' nests, also burrows into banks on river sides and creeks, building a stringy bark nest about 18 inches from opening It sometimes takes possession of the Fairy- martin's nest by force of arms. They nest in spouts and Martins' nests in August and September, and in burrows in September. Eggs taken from burrow on October 4th. 36. Strepera graculina, White. Although stray birds may be observed at any time, they first appear in force on the newly ploughed ground in April. We have not taken eggs, but they breed in the highest hills of the district. We have shot full fledged young birds on January 21st. Gould observed them only in small families, but here they are seen in flocks of 10 to 20, and at Mt. Wilson one of us has often noticed flocks of 100 or more making the mountain resound with their cries. They are very destructive in orchards and vineyards. Known locally as " Black Magpies." 37. Strepera cuneicaudata, Vieill. Not generally seen in pairs in the centre of the district, but common at Cudgegong and Ilford in the southern part. They do not usually attack fruit when wild, but in a state of captivity eat it greedily. Gould attributes the metallic call of dinky clink to S. argiUa, but, if this is not a mistake, the present J^ -^©^^ 404 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, species has it too. Local names, " Rain-bird " and " Grey Magpie." Its call is supposed to be a prognostic of coming wet weather. 38. Gymnorhina tibicen, Lath. A few nest in August, and we have known them begin as early as July 17 th, but the greater proportion lay in October, A nest was taken at Springfield composed of the cut wire used by reaping and binding machines. They sing as much in autumn and winter as when nesting. Many do not breed every year, as we have noticed a flock of about 20 near the house always at Cullenbone. During the present autumn it increased to about 70. We have known them attack and kill old quail, and they frequently make a meal of young swallows. When washing, they wade into the water and stand in it flapping their wings. 39. Cracticus torquatus, Lath. We have never known this bird impale its prey as the English shrike does, and indeed we have so few shrubs with strong thorns that it would find it difficult in most places to do so ; but we have frequently observed it hanging its food in a fork. We have noted eggs from September 17th to middle of November, but as we have a note of young birds just fledged on September 1 4th, it must lay much earlier. Known as " Butcher-bird." 40. Cracticus robustus. Lath. This handsome species is capricious in its occurrence. For some years they were common at Springfield, 3 miles east of Guntawang ; these suddenly disappeared and were seen no more there. A flock of 7 lived about Beaudesert for a few weeks, and then left. One pair has lived for many years on a basaltic point at Guntawang. It is a daring bird, and attacks other birds even full grown. We once saw one killing an Artamus sordidus, a number of magpies, peewits, and soldier-birds looking on but not daring to interfere. In captivity it is dainty in its eating, and will not touch raw meat unless it is perfectly fresh and moist. It BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 405 talks and whistles well. Its most characteristic natural call resembles a prolonged klo-klee-klo, the first on d, the second its higher octave, and slurring back into the lower note on the third. It is a fine, bold, clear and liquid call, and worthy of the storm- cock himself. Eggs in October. Known as " Magpie Butcher- bird." 41. Grallina picata, Lath. We once found a pair of these birds which had taken possession of an abandoned magpie's nest, and were there bringing up its brood. Eggs from September 16th to November 24th. Wades into the water to bathe. 42. Graucalus melanops, Lath. We have noted both this bird and Pteropodocys using deserted nests of Grallina. The nest is frequently built on a dead tree without any shade. Eggs October 28th to December 7th, but as we have seen nearly fledged young on September 24, there can be no doubt that they breed much earlier. Locally known as "Blue-jay." 43. Pteropodocys phasianella, Gld. Sometimes rarely seen for years, at other times common all the year round, but usually leaves early in winter and returns in spring. For this reason it is known as " Spring-bird." Eggs in November and December, and we have noted a brood of young birds leaving the nest on January 29th. 44. Lalage tricolor, Siv. ( = Campephaga humeralis, Gld.). These birds arrive in September and leave in January and beginning of February. Eggs October 2nd to October 31st. The male sits in turn on the nest, and we have repeatedly observed that when he had sat as long as he thought proper, he left the eggs and, seeking out his mate, drove her to the nest. 45. Pachycephala gutturalis. Lath. Although the females of this species are often seen, the males are very rare, but this arises from shyness. They are apparently 406 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, aware that the beauty of their plumage renders them a desirable mark for the stone-throwing boy. We have not taken the eggs, nor are we able to state the times of its arrival and departure. 46. Pachycephala rufiventris, Lath. This species arrives in September, and most of them leave us in March, although we have noticed their plaintive call in the middle of May. A sudden noise, as the report ot a gun, will always start them singing, and in this they resemble the Coach- whip bird, as also in their possessing ventriloquial powers. We have taken eggs from November 1st to December 7th. The male takes a turn in sitting on the eggs. 47. COLLYRIOCINCLA HARMONICA, Lath. Builds in all manner of unexpected places, hollow posts, stumps, and even in banks where there is a hollow on the edge. For five years consecutively a pair has built in an old iron pot standing on a shelf in a carpenter's shop where work is frequently going on, at Cullenbone. On an occasion we took a set of eggs out of an old nest of Pomatostomus tempo7'alis. Eggs in September, October, and November. 48. Falcunculus frontatus, Lath. A rare bird, but when seen, many birds may be observed. 49. Oreoica cristata. Lew. This bird also possesses ventriloquial powers. Eggs in August and September. 50. Rhipidura albiscapa, Gld. We have seen an unfinished nest as late as December 15th. Gould says the eggs are invariably two, but one of us has seen three. Locally known as " Devil-bird." In bathing it hops into water and beats the water over itself, and then goes out, repeating the proceeding several times. BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 407 51. Sauloprocta motacilloides, v. & H. Often poises itself over a calm waterhole with the fluttering motion of the kestrel. Eggs from September 2nd to December 7th. Known as " Wagtail." Sings all night. 52. Seisura inquieta, Lath. This bird is rarer than the former, and the nest is generally found on the hills, but on two occasions in a Casuarina overhang- ing the river. It makes the grinding sound, from which it derives its local name of " Razor-grinder," both while on the wing and perched. Eggs from October to end of November. 53. Myiagra rubecula. Lath. Rare. 54. Myiagra nitida, Gld. Rare. Two nests have been seen in Casuarinas. 55. MiCRiECA FASCINANS, Lath. A very common species. Eggs October 3rd to December 14th. Locally known as " Jacky Winter." In the early morning when almost dark it sings a low sweet song. 56. Gerygone albigularis, Gld. Sometimes ornaments the outside of its nest with the elytra of bright-coloured beetles. Eggs all through October and November. Local name " Native Canary." 57. Smicrornis brevirostris, Gld. Eggs in November. Common. 58. Petr^ca Leggii. Sharjoe. Common all over the district. 59. Petr^eca Goodenovii, Vig. & Horsf. Common all over the district. 408 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, 60. PETRiECA PHOENICEA, Gld. Common on the upland flats in winter, but in spring it retires to the wooded hills to breed. Eggs taken in November. All three species are known as " Robins.'' 61. Melanodryas bicolor, Vig. & Horsf. These birds also retire to forests to breed in early spring, coming into the open country on February 7th. Eggs August 10th to October 4:th. We have taken a set of eggs blotched with brown on the usual dull green ground. 62. EopsALTRiA australis. Lath. Eggs October 4th to December 7th. An egg in the possession of one of us is of a very vivid sea-green with red-brown blotches. Local name "Yellow Robin." 63. Menura superba, Dav. This bird is found only in the scrubs on the Dividing Range at Cooyal. They build there on ledges of rock. Eggs in July. 64. Malurus cyaneus. Lath, These birds, like the wagtail and reedbird, sing at night, espe- cially in summer and when the moon shines. One of us has noted one flying persistently in front of a window, as if admiring its image in the surface. Eggs from September 2nd to December 7th, but we have seen young birds in the last week of August. Wades into water for bath. 65. Hylacola pyrrhopygia, Vig. & Horsf. We have shot only one of these birds, at Biraganbil, but on several occasions afterwards we noticed a small flock at the same spot. 66. Sericornis frontalis, Vig. & Horsf. So far as we know, this bird only occurs at Cooyal, and at Mullamuddy. A nearly finished nest was observed at the latter place on October 24th. BY J. D, COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 409 67. ACANTHIZA PUSILLA, Lath. We have seen this bird only at Cooyal. 68. ACANTHIZA NANA, VlQ. (& Hovsf, Also shot only at Cooyal. 69. ACANTHIZA LINEATA, Gld. Common in all parts of the district. The bronze cuckoos often lay their eggs in this bird's nest. Eggs August 1st to October 6th. Local name " Tomtit." 70. Geobasileus reguloides, Yig. & Eorsf. Much rarer than its congener. Eggs September 14th. 71. Geobasileus ohrysorrhoea, Q. et Gaim. Eggs in July, and on almost all through the year. Known locally as "Tomtit." Frequently foster-parent of bronze cuckoo. Wades into water for bath. 72. Ephthianura albifrons, J. & S. Eggs September 4th to November 7th. Although Gould, quoting E. P. Ramsay, says they arrive in New South Wales in September and October, we have always observed a few all winter, and it will be seen above that they breed early in September. 73. Xerophila leucopsis, Gld. They pack in large flocks on the open uplands in autumn and winter, sometimes mingled with Geobasileus chrysorrhcea. Eggs July to November. Local name " Squeaker." 74. Origma rubric ata, Lath. Only seen on the sandstone at Cooyal and Goodaman, and in the brush at Mullamuddy. A deserted nest with one egg was taken at Cooyal in July, probably the last season's nest. 75. Chthonicola sagittata, Lath. Eggs in September and October. Locally known as " Tit- lark." 410 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, 76. Anthus australis, Vigr. & Horsf. Eggs August 1st to November 20th. Sometimes a set is met with differing from the ordinary type in having bold blotches on the usual ground ; they then resemble the eggs of Artamus super- ciliosus. Known as " Ground-lark." 77. Cincloramphus cruralis, Vig. dh Horsf. A summer bird, rare here till 1884 and 1885, when it was extremely common. In 1886 few were seen, but they remained all winter, and we noticed them singing early in August. In 1887 they were rare still, although there were more than in the previous year, but in 1888 and 1889 we saw none at all, Eggs in October and November. Known as " Singing-lark." 78. Cincloramphus rufescens, Vig. <& Horsj. ( = Ptenoedus RUFESCENS). The remarks on the previous species apply equally to this. Eggs August 1st to December 7th. A rare type of ^gg is pale flesh colour with a cap of deep chocolate. Known as " Singing- lark." 79. Calamoherpe australis, Gld. Found on the river bank wherever a bed of reeds or bulrushes occurs. They arrive here in August, and lay from September 25th to December 16 th. We have observed them feeding their young about the middle of March, and by the beginning of April they are all gone. They sometimes construct the nest in hanging branches of Casuarina or willow, as well as in reeds. They use wet and partly decomposed Typha leaves and water-weeds in building. Their song is heard all through the night in summer, especially on moonlight nights. Known as " Reed-bird." 80. MiRAFRA Horspieldii, Gld. Rare. 81. Estrilda Bichenovii, Vig. (Sc Horsf. First observed by us in 1886, and then seen all through the winter, and up till September in small flocks mingled with Estrilda BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 411 guttata. A pair took possession of an old nest of these birds for some days, but did not lay. 82. ESTRILDA TEMPORALIS, Lath. Common on hills and rocky ground, but still rarer than E. guttata. We have not personally taken eggs. Called " Red- head." 83. ESTRILDA MODESTA, Gld. Seen with E. guttata on a few occasions. 84. ESTRILDA GUTTATA, Shaw. Very common. They breed all the year round. We have taken a set of eggs from an old Pomatostomus nest, and have also seen them build in hawks' nests. About Cullenbone they are very tame, and build in a prickly cactus past which people are con- tinually passing ; and also in a rose bush within a few feet of the kitchen door. They sleep in the half-built nest. When washing they wade into water. Locally known as " Diamond Sparrow." 85. ESTRILDA CASTANOTIS, Gld. We are not sure whether this species was not introduced by having escaped from captivity, but the birds breed in the immediate vicinity of Mudgee in September and October. 86. DONACICOLA CASTANEOTHORAX, Gld. Only one specimen shot. Besides the above finches, we once observed a small flock of red finches feeding on grassland, but were unable to shoot for identifi- cation. 87. CiNCLOSOMA PUNCTATUM, Lath. Not uncommon on stony hill-sides. Eggs taken on August 20th withlarge young ones in them. 88. Ptilonorhynchus violaceus, Vieill.{ = P. holosericeus, Kuhl.) One or two shot at Cooyal in a fruit garden. It has decided powers as a mimic. 412 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, 89. MiMETA viRiDis, Lath. A summer visitant, arriving here on August 1st and staying to middle of May. Its sweet rolling song is only heard while it is breeding. It breeds in Casuarinas along the river-bank. It is very destructive in orchards, being especially partial to cherries and mulberries. Known as " Green Thrush." 90. CORCORAX MELANORHAMPHUS, Vieill. We have taken the eggs in September. The young birds have brown irides instead of crimson as in the adult. Shares the name of " Black Magpie " with Strepera gracuUna, and that of " Dollar-bird " with Eurystomus. 91. Struthidea cinerea, Gld. The eggs of the peewit were apparently described by Gould for those of this bird. They are faint blue with intensely black specks. The only eggs we have taken, and kept a note of date, were three belonging to a family of four at Cullenbone, but it breeds also at Springfield and Guntawang. It seems to be a wandering bird. About Cobbora they are known as " Twelve Apostles," a title shared by Pomatostomus. 92. CORONE AUSTRALIS, G7nel. Breeds in the district. 93. CoRVUS AUSTRALIS, Vig. (S; Horsf. Breeds in district. Local native name is " Waggalin." 94. Pomatostomus temporalis, Vig. & Horsf. Very common. We fancy that more than one couple lay in the same nest. On one occasion, in taking a nest, one of us saw seven birds fly out, three eggs being in the nest. We have taken as many as eight eggs in one nest. Dirty white specimens with- out any markings are not uncommon, and the shape is very variable. Eggs July to March 29th. Known by an immense variety of trivial names, the local native name being "Kid- geragah." Fond of taking a bath in the dust by the road-aide. BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 413 95. PoMATOSTOMus suPERCiLiosus, Viff. (fc Rorsf. Rarer than the preceding species. Eggs in September and October. 96. MeLIORNIS NoViE-HOLLANDIiE, Lath. We have seen only a single pair of these birds. 97. Ptilotis leucotis, Lath. Not uncommon from July to January, when the Eucalypts are flowering. Like all of the Meliphagidae which we have observed, this bird takes its bath by dashing into the water almost as rapidly as a kingfisher. We have not taken eggs of this species. 98. Ptilotis auricomis. Lath. Kare, but breeds in the district. 99. Ptilotis penicillata, Gld. Breed in the Casuarina trees on the river banks. Eggs from September to November. Young seen on April 28th. 100. Ptilotis fusca, Gld. Common everywhere. Eggs September to November or later. 101. Ptilotis chrysops, Lath. Common. All five Ptilotes are locally known as " Gold-eyes." 102. Plectorhyncha lanceolata, Gld. One of us shot a solitary bird. 103. Meliphaga phrygia, Lath. Not common here till 1885 and 1886, when large numbers were observed in July feeding on the white-box blossom (^Euca- lyptus hemiphloia), and young birds not able to fly were observed in September. One of us took two sets of eggs and heard of another being taken, so that there can be no doubt as to their breeding. 414 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, 104. Anthoch^ra carunculata, Lath, Common all over the district, but most plentiful in July, when the red-flowering ironbark (E. sideroxyloii) is in blossom, at which time the succeeding species also is most abundant. Called " Wattle-bird " or " Gill-bird." 105. Philemon corniculatus, Lath. Eggs taken in November. Local name " Leather-head," Native name " Quallarogong." 106. Philemon citreogularis, Gld. A young bird shot eating fruit on February 15th, 1886, and a large flock observed by us at Cullenbone on November 12th same year, are all we have seen of this species in the district. 107. ACANTHORHYNCHUS TENUIROSTRIS, Lath. This species is rave in all parts of the district except at Cooyai where it is extremely common. It feeds on mistletoe berries, honey, and small insects, and is very commonly noticed in Acacia discolor^ when that shrub is in bloom. 108. Myzomela nigra, Gld. Two males were shot out of a large flock feeding on the blossoms of Robinia at Springfield in September. A single female was seen by us at Guntawang in March, and one at Cullenbone on May 1st. The bird is a western species, we believe, and had far overlapped its ordinary bounds in coming here. 109. Entomyza cyanotis, Swains. Sometimes this bird makes a depression on top of the nest of a Pomatostomus to lay in, but more usually it goes inside. It very rarely builds a nest of its own, but when it does, it is of the same type as that of the Leather-head. Eggs November 2nd. It is locally known as " Blue-head " and " Green-baker," the latter name being probably a corruption of Green-back or backer, in allusion to its olive-yellow back. BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 415 110. Melithreptus brevirostris, Vig. S Sorsf. Not known to breed. Usually but seldom seen, though some- times coming in vast flocks. 111. Melithreptus lunulatus, Shaw. One of us has seen this bird feeding the young of Cuculus pallida. 112. Myzantha garrula, Lath. Breeds from August 1st to January or even later. Very plentiful and very destructive to fruit, especially grapes. Trivial name ^' Soldier-bird," the native name " Kwee-kwee-gah." 113. Dictum hirundinaceum, Shaw. We have not taken eggs, but one of us took an old nest in an Exocarpus tree on Beaudesert hills. Fond of cherries and straw- berries. 114. ZOSTEROPS C^RULESCENS, Lath. We do not think this bird breeds in the district. It arrives in the height of the grape season, and causes much loss by pecking the fruit. 115. Climacteris scandens, Temm. Common. A pair builds every year at Cullenbone under the eaves, on top of a brick wall. Eggs from September 16th to December 7th. Some nests taken in hollow trees were lined with opossum fur. 116. Climacteris LEUCOPHiEA, Lath. Eggs September to November. 117. Sittella chrysoptera, Lath. We have not taken eggs of this species. 118. Cuculus pallidus. Lath. ( = Cacomantis pallida). The majority of individuals arrive in September and depart before the frosts, in March; but a few remain all the winter as we 416 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, have noted them and heard the call from April to August. The commonest call is part of a chromatic scale rising from d to A. The eggs are often found in the nests of various species of Ptilotis. 119. CUCULUS FLABELLIFORMIS, Lath. ( = CaCOMANTIS FLABELLI- FORMIS). Seen from August to April. ■» 120. Mesocalius palliolatus, Lath. One specimen is all we have shot. 121. Chalcites plagosus, Lath. Eggs taken in nests of Malurus and Geobasileus November 2nd to December 9th. Flocks were seen as late as June 16th. 122. Chalcites basalts, Eorsf. Eggs taken December 9 th in nest of Malurus. 123. SCYTHROPS NOV^-HOLLANDI^, Lath. One specimen shot by the late Mr. H. Thurston at Rylston is preserved in the Mechanics' Institute, Mudgee. 124. Cacatua galerita, Lath. These are rare in the central parts of the district where pastoral pursuits are followed, but in the outlying agricultural districts common. We have known nests in white gums on river flats at Gooree and Broombee. 125. Cacatua roseicapilla, Vieill. Once not uncommon but now extinct in the district. 126. Calyptorhynchus Banksii, Lath. 127. Calyptorhynchus Solandri, Temm. These two birds are extremely rare. 128. Calyptorhynchus funereus, Shavx Common at Cooyal, but we do not know of their breeding. We have also seen them at Goodaman and at Guntawang. BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 417 129. Calopsittacus Nov^-HoLLANDiiE, Gmel. Usually a rare bird, but on October 3rd, 1886, numbers appeared ; and many, apparently, had not time to seek hollows for nesting, and were seen to alight on the ground and deposit an ^gg. On the borders of the district they are common. Eggs from the nest December 7th. 130. Aprosmictus scapulattjs, Bechst. These birds come in numbers to Cooyal to feed on the rijDe mistletoe berries in March and April, and stray pairs are often seen all over the district. We have no evidence of their breeding here, 131. Aprosmictus erythroptertjs, Gmel. Some have been shot at Eurunderee eating peaches, and they are known to breed at Cobbora. Local name " Bellawingf." 132. Platycercus Pennantii, Lath. Common in the winter months. Breeds at Cooyal in December. Known as " Blue Lowry." 133. Platycercus eximius, Shaw. Common all over the district. Breeds in November to December 7th. Like all the parrots, it wades into the water to wash. 134. Psephotus h^matonotus, Gld. Very common, living in flocks. Breeds from 27th September to the end of November. Known as " Ground-parrot." 135. Euphema pulchella, Shaw. Frequent well grassed stony hills, feeding on kangaroo grass {Anthistiria ciliata). They breed in the hills, but we have not taken eggs. 136. Melopsittacus undulatus, Shaw. Once very common, and then not seen again, but coming in vast flocks for the last three or four years. Breeds in December. Native name " Budgherighar." 27 418 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, 137. Lathamus discolor, Shaw. Arrives in April and May to feed on the gum-blossom. 138. Trichoglossus NoviE-HoLLANDi^, Gmel. Visits the district to feed on gum-blossom, especially in spring when Eucaly2)tus sideroxylon flowers. 139. Trichoglossus concinnus, Shaw. Breeds in the district, but the flocks follow the gum-blossom. Known as " Green-leek " and " Musk-paroquet." 140. Trichoglossus pusillus, Shaw. The same remarks apply to this species, and the same local names are applied to it. 141. Leucosarcia picata, Lath. A few specimens procured at Cooyal. 142. Phaps chalcoptera. Lath. Eggs taken on December 28th. Native name "Wabba." 143. Geopelia tranquilla, Gld. Common. 144. Geopelia cuneata. Lath. Earer than the preceding species. 145. TuRNix VARius, Lath. Common. Breeds in November. One of its calls is a booming sound not unlike that of Ninox hoohook. 146. TURNIX VELOX, Gld. Rare. We have taken eggs on December 11th. 147. TuRNix pyrrhothorax, Gld. Breeds in December. 148. COTURNIX pectoralis, Gld. Common. Breeds here. 149. Synoicus australis, Lath. Breeds here. BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 419 150. EXCALFATORIA AUSTRALIS, Gld. Rare. Known as " King-quail." 151. Dromaius Nov^-Hollandi^, Lath. Once common, but since the settlement of the district only appearing as a visitor, especially in dry years. 152. EuPODOTis AuyTRALis, Gray. A summer visitant. 153. GilDICNEMUS GRALLARIUS, Lath. Common. Breeds in August. 154. LOBIVANELLUS LOBATUS, Lath. Common. Breeds in August. 155. Sarciophorus pectoralis, Ciiv. These birds live in large flocks up till the middle of July, when they separate into pairs. They are very regular in their time of nesting ; eggs taken from about the 1st to 14th August. They pack again on November 19th. 156. Aegialitis nigrifrons, Cux. Eggs taken from October 1st to November 1 9th. Young seen October 30th and on to December. They occasionally, as if for amusement, take lofty flights, wheeling about for some time and then descending to the earth like stones. '& 157. Erythrogonys cinctus, Gld. These sometimes visit us during floods in autumn — April and May usually, young birds of the year being among the number. These may be distinguished by their dark brown instead of black heads. On arrival they are usually in poor condition, but after a week or two on the flooded ploughed lands they become balls of fat. 158. Tringa acuminata, Horsf. These arrive in October, yoimg birds being of the number. They soon become very fat. 420 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, 159. Gallinago australis, Lath. Generally a few arrive on September 1st, but the main body come in the middle of the month, and they remain up to Feb- ruary 1st. 160. RHYNCHiEA AUSTRALIS, Gld. Rarer than the last bird. 161. Geronticus spinicollis, Jameson. These arrive in thousands in dry years, in October and Novem- ber, many young birds being amoug them, their necks being clothed with white feathers, and their backs brown instead of bronze. Locally known as " Hard-times." 162. Threskiornis strictipennis, Gld. Another occasional visitor, but only seen in pairs. We have shot them in April and January. Besides these two Ibises, we have seen one specimen of Ibis falcinellus, Linn., shot at Coolah, but as that is a little beyond the limits of our district as before described, we have not included it in our list. 163. Platalea melanorhynca, Reich. Occasionally a few pairs visit us in January and February, as does the succeeding species. 164. Platalea flavipes, Gld. 165. Grus australasianus, Gld. A visitant observed in December and March. 166. Mycteria australis, Lath. A rare accidental visitant. 167. Ardea pacifica. Lath. 168. Ardea Nov^-Hollandi^, Lath. Both species are common and breed in the district. On one occasion one of us saw seven young birds of this species perched round one nest. BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 421 169. Herodias alba, Linn. Kare. 170. Nycticorax caledonicus, Lath. Breeds with us, but we have no record of dates. 171. BoTAURUS poicilopterus, Wagl. A specimen was shot by Mr. H. Thurston. 172. Ardetta minuta, Linn. We have seen only one specimen, shot by Mr. E. Garling at Springfield. 173. PoRPHYRio MELANOTUS, Temm. Bare. 174. Gallinula tenebrosa, Gld. Very common. Breeds. 175. FULICA AUSTRALIS, Gld. Not so common as Gcdlinula. Breeds. 176. Parra gallinacea, Temm. One was shot by Mr. H. Thurston. 177. Hypot^nidia Philippensis, Linn. Eggs taken in hayfield October 26th, and young birds just hatched seen on 5 th November. 178. Cygnus atratus, Lath. Rare, but once quite plentiful. Eggs October 30th. Young out November 3rd. 179. Anseranas melanoleuca, Lath. We have seen two specimens shot at Beaudesert ; the species also occurs at Coolah. 180. Branta jubata, Lath. Common. Breeds. 422 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT. 181. Dendrocygna vagans, Eyton. Kare. 182. StICTONETTA NiEVOSA, Gld. 183. Anas superciliosus, Gmel. Common, and breeds. Some well-authenticated cases of hybrids between this species and the domestic duck have occurred. 184. Anas castanea, Eyton. Common, breeding in the district, Gould describes the eye of the adult male as hazel, but we have noted it bright carmine. 185. Spatula rhynchotis. Lath. Rare, usually occurring in pairs. 186. Nyroca australis, Gld. One or two shot at Beaudesert and at Reedy Creek. 187. BiZIURA LOBATA, Sliaw. Seen in small numbers in the deeper reaches of the Cudgegong 188. PODICEPS ISToViE-HOLLANDI^, Stepll. ( = P. GULARIS, Gld.). Common all over the district in river and creeks. 189. Larus pacipicus, Lath. A large number of these birds appeared, with a few of the following species, on the river at Beaudesert, and on dams, especially a sludge dam, at Canadian Lead in 1885 and 1886, about Christmas. 190. Larus NoViE-HoLLANDi^E, Ste2:)h. 191. PlOTUS NoVyE-HoLLANDI^, Gld. Rare. In the stomachs and hock joints of these birds we have found quantities of worms. 192. Graculus melanoleucus, Vieill. Common. 193. Graculus stictocephalus, Bj:). Common. BY J. D. COX AND A. G. HAMILTON. 423 194. Pelecanus conspicillatus, Temm. An occasional visitant. In addition to the 194 species above recorded, the English sparrow has become naturalised in the town of Mudgee, and is rapidly spreading over the country. It was quite unknown until some little time after the completion of the railway. A number of English song birds were procured, and set at liberty near Mudgee, but the only one which succeeded in getting a footing was the Skylark. We have been told that they are often heard singing about Broom bee, but do not know if it is a fact. At Guntawang, however, a pair appeared, and remained for some time apparently looking for a suitable nesting place, but after a few days we saw no more of them. Besides these, private individuals have turned out Pheasants, Californian Quail, and Partridges, but we have no evidence that they have spread. Some of the country on which they were turned out was much traversed by us, but we saw no trace of them. Of the 194 above-named species, 17 belong to the western side, and 13 to the coast district. 127 species live constantly and breed in the district; 15 visit the district to breed, 10 are regular visitors but do not breed; 33 are occasional visitors; 7 are strays, and 1 visits occasionally but was once plentiful, while another once plentiful, is now extinct in the district. Arranged according to their natural orders there are : — AcciPiTRES 16= 8*1 per cent of the whole. Passeres 100 = 51-5 „ scansores 23 = 11-8 „ COLUMB^ 4= 2-1 „ GALLINiE 6= 3-1 „ Struthiones 2= 1 „ Grall^ 25 = 12-9 „ Anseres 17= 8-8 424 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT. Of the Passeres, 19 belong to the tribe Meliphagidae ; while 17 out of the 23 Scansores belong to Psittacidse. A comparison of the Mudgee birds with those given as Cumber- land birds in Mr. A. J. North's list (P.L.S.N.S.W. Vol. III., 2nd Ser., p. 1773), and with the birds of New South Wales and Aus- tralia, as given in Dr. Ramsay's list (I.e. Yol. II., p. 177) will perhaps be of interest. Orders. Australia. N. S. Wales. Cumberland. Mudgee. Species. Per- centage. Species. Per- centage. Species. Per- centage, Species^ Per- centage. ACCIPITRES 36 393 83 26 18 4 84 100 4-8 52-5 11-1 3-4 2-4 •5 11-2 13-3 33 178 50 14 11 2 67 74 7-6 41-2 11-6 3-1 2-5 •4 15-6 17-2 20 122 23 11 6 0 26 30 8-4 51-2 9-6 4-6 2-5 0 10-9 12-6 16 100 23 4 6 2 25 17 8*1 Passeres. 51-5 Scansores COLUMB^ 11-8 2-1 Galling 31 Struthiones Grall^ 1 12*9 Anseres 8-8 Total species 744 429 238 194 In making out the numbers and percentage of Cumberland birds from Mr. North's list we have included those he considers strays, as we had done so also in the list of Mudgee birds. REVISIOiSr OF THE GENUS HETERONYX, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES. By the Rev. T. Blackburn, B.A., Cork. Mem. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. Part III. The Beteronyces still remaining to be treated form the 2nd group of the 3rd of the main divisions into which I have cut up the genus for the convenience of this memoir, but which divisions it will be remembered I do not set forth as at all capable of being regarded as sub-genera, being well aware that if such a grouping were possible (which it has not been to me) it would have to follow very different lines. This (my Section III.) consists of species having the summit of the labrum overtopping the plane of the clypeus, and I subdivide it into two groups distinguished by having 8- and 9-jointed antennae respectively. The former of these groups was treated of in Parts I. and II. of my revision, and I have now to enter upon the revision of the 2nd group. As in the case of the former I again subdivide the group into two subgroups, one having the claws bifid, the other having them appendiculate. The present Part of the Revision deals with the species having bifid claws. As a rule there is at most not much difference between the claws on the various tarsi, — but nevertheless to make the characters more reliable I base them in each instance on the claws of the hind tarsi. Strictly speaking the claws of all Heteronyces are appendiculate and the differences among them are of degree only. The differences consist chiefly in the extent to which the basal piece of the claw is angularly produced, or dentate, at its inner apex. In general, the larger the basal piece in proportion to the apical the more pronounced is the inward projection of the former, so that there are a certain number of species in which, 426 REVISION OF THE GEXUS HETERONYX, this inward projection being quite pronounced, while the apical piece is very small, these two {i.e., the inward projection or "tooth" of the basal piece and the apical piece) are not very different from each other in size and the claw has a bifid appearance. Although it does not appear to me really accurate to call this form of claw " bifid," nevertheless as it has been so called by former describers I have thought it better to retain the word in the Latin diagnoses. I have also included in this subgroup such species (they are very few) as have the claws ahnorinal, the appendiculation being extremely minute and placed close to the tip of the claw, so that the apical piece is only a quarter or thereabouts of the size of the basal piece. Thus, the following will be the definition of the hind claws in the species forming this subgroup: — ^'the basal piece ending internally in a well defined process at least half as large as the apical piece, or the appendiculation quite minute and apical." Tabidation of the species of Heteronyx having the labrum over- topping the plane of the clypeus, th^^ antennae 9-jointed, and the claws as specified above. A. Hind coxse not, or scarcely, shorter than lateral suture of metasternum B. Anterior tibiae distinctly tridentate ex- ternally C. Surface of elytra normal D. Middle lobe of trilobed outline* much narrower than the lateral lobes .- Darwini, Blackb. DD. Middle lobe of trilobed outline very little narrower than the lateral lobes incola, Blackb. CC. Surface of elytra with wide feeble costse * Vide antea p. 139. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 427 D. Trilobecl outline of head well defined ; middle lobe narrow ; club of antennfe black potens, Blackb. DD. Trilobed outline of head scarcely apparent ; middle lobe very wide ; club of antennte pale aridus, Blackb. BB. Ui)permost tooth on external margin of front tibi83 reduced to a mere ' nick on the outline bidenfatus, B'lackb. AA. Hind cox?e decidedly shorter than lateral suture of metasternum B. Club of antennae black or nearly so.. .. C, Puncturation of prothorax sparse and lightly impressed D. Middle lobe of trilobed outline of head from all points of view projecting beyond the lateral lobes which are scarcely defined cqyJiodioides, Blanch. DD. Middle lobe of trilobed outline of head not appearing to pro- ject beyond the lateral lobes which are well defined incultus, Blackb. CC. Puncturation of prothorax strong and close asjpericoUis, Blackb. BB. Club of antennse pale in colour C. Relation of labrum to clypeus such that the outline of the head is dis- tinctly trilobed from a certain point of view D. Middle lobe of trilobed outline appearing rounded 428 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX, E. Appendiculation of claws very minute and close to apex lividus, Blackb. EE. Appendiculation of claws not particularly minute and close to apex F. Prothorax closely {vide ant. p. 139) punctured G. Joints 1 and 2 of hind tarsi equal subfuscus, Macl. GG. Joint 2 of hind tarsi longer than 1 horealis, Blackb. FF. Prothorax sparingly punc- tured sparsus, Blackb. DD. Middle lobe of trilobed outline appearing sharply triangular acutifrons, Blackb. CC. Relation of labrum to clypeus such that the outline of the head is not distinctly tiilobed rotundifrons, Blackb. Heteronyx potens, sp.nov. Sat brevis ; sat convexus ; postice vix dilatatus ; minus nitidus ; obscure ?eneo-niger ; pilis pallidis parum perspicuis minus crebre vestitus ; capite (clypeo sat crebre ruguloso excepto) prothoraceque sparsius leviter subcrasse, elytris (his substriatis) sparsim leviter crasse, pygidio subobsolete, punctulatis ; labro clypeum anguste leviter superanti ; antennis 9-articulatis ; unguiculis bifid is ; coxis posticis metasterno vix brevioribus. [Long. 2J-3J, lat. lf-2 lines. The "trilobed outline" of the head is fairly well-marked, the middle lobe being about as long, but less than half as wide, ag either of the lateral ones. The upper edge of the turned-up labrum rises slightly above the surface of the clypeus ; the latter is concave in front with its BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 429 reflexed margin obsolete in the middle and its surface nearly evenly continuous with that of the rest of the head ; the clypeal suture is marked by a faint wavy line. The prothorax is a little more than half again as wide as long, its base a little less than half again as wide as its front which is gently concave with sharp but little prominent angles ; the sides are very gently arched ; the hind angles (viewed from above) appear right angles, but not sharply so ; the base is bisinuate, being moderately lobed in the middle ; the surface is faintly impressed on the median line. This is one of the few species of Heteronyx in which the elytra have some appearance of being punctulate-striate ; on careful inspection however it is seen that the lightly impressed punctura- tion (which is rather small and close near the suture becoming coarse, more sparing and sub-obsolete externally) is not really linear in arrangement but appears so only through the presence of some very obscure longitudinal costse on which the punctures are more faint than on the general surface ; nevertheless there is cer- tainly a tendency towards the kind of sculpture that prevails in Scitala and other genera ; the lateral fringe is not continued round the apex and there is little or no defined membranous border ; the costa nearest to the lateral margin (which is practically non-existent till close to the apex) becomes well-defined at the apex, and is bent round just within the apex and reaches across towards the suture. The sculpture of the underside is very obscure, consisting on a minutely coriaceous ground of rather large scarcely impressed punctures. The hind coxse are scarcely shorter than the meta- sternum. The ventral series consist of hairs and are moderately well-defined. The three teeth on the anterior tibise are acute, but the uppermost is very small. The pilosity of the upper surface is much more conspicuous on the head and prothorax, where it has a golden tinge, than on the elytra. Resembles H. fortis (in Sect. I.), and H. suhmetaUicus, but difiers widely from either in important structural characters. Immature specimens are more or less ferruginous, with a slight metallic tone. The pilosity is very deciduous. The black antennae of this and some of its allies are characteristic. The produced apex of the 430 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX, basal piece of the hind claws is slender and more than half as large as the entire apical piece. Apparently common. I have seen specimens from N. S. Wales, Victoria, and S. Australia. H. APHODioiDES, Blanch. The information regarding this species supplied by its place in the preceding tabulation added to that furnished in the original description will render it easy of identification. The insect to which I apply the name (and to which Sir W. Macleay also applies it), differs from the description a little in the puncturation of the prothorax which is stated by Blanchard to be '-deep," but I find that the punctures although rather large are only lightly im- pressed. H. aspericoUis has a deeply punctured prothorax, but also has the pygidium strongly punctulate, which in ai^hodioides is said to be " scarcely punctured." If H. aphodioides be before me at all it is certainly I think the insect to which I apply the name, and which differs from the description so slightly that I am unwilling to give it a new name. It may be added that some specimens have a faint metallic tinge, and that the produced apex of the basal piece of the hind claws is very little smaller than the entire apical piece. The costa? on the elytra (mentioned by Blanchard) are in reality only very slight, — resembling those of j^T. potens (to which this species is clearly allied) — but distinguish it and some other species from nearly all the genus. N. S. Wales, apparently common. H. INCULTUS, sp.nov. Brevis ; sat latus ; postice dilatatus ; minus nitidus ; niger, ore pedibusque piceis ; pilis sat elongatis pallidis vestitus , leviter punctulatus ; labro clypeum sat anguste sat fortiter superanti; antennis 9-articulatis ; unguiculis bifidis. [Long. 3 1, lat. li lines. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 431 The part of the labrum overtopping the clypeus is narrow and the sides of the clypeus are considerably reflexed so that the "trilobed outline" of the head appears well-defined with the middle lobe less than half as wide as the lateral ones and equal to them in length. The clypeus forms a nearly even surface with the rest of the head and its suture is very feeble. The prothorax exactly resembles that of H. potens, except in having the hind angles more rounded off' and its surface without any indication of a dorsal channel which in H. 2>otens seems to be invariably indi- cated,— at least in the middle of the disc. In other respects the description of E. ^JOtens may be read as applying to this species with the following exceptions ; — the elytra are considerably more pilose and their sculpture though still lightly impressed is very evidently better defined ; the hind coxa? are considerably shorter than the metasternum. There is also a marked difference in shape between the two insects, If. incultus being in every way a more convex species than //. potens ; viewed from the side the upper outline of the elytra appears in the former as a well-marked gentle arch evidently rising from the scutellum to aboub the middle of its length, while in H. potens it runs backward nearly on a level till it deflects at the posterior declivity. The black club of the antennee distinguishes this from the majority of species of Heteronyx, In the hind claws the produced apex of the basal piece is decidedly stouter, and not much shorter, than the entire apical piece. Near Adelaide ; Sir W. Macleay's collection possesses a specimen attributed to N.S.W. I have seen only these two examples. H. ASPERICOLLIS, Sp.nOV. Elongatus ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; niger ; pilis elongatis rufis vestitus ; supra crebre rugulose sat crasse punctu- latus ; antennis basi, palpis, tarsisque, rufescentibus; labro clypeum late minus fortiter superanti ; antennis 9-articulatis ; unguiculis breviter bifidis. [Long. 2|, lat. li lines. 432 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX, The part of the labrum overtopping the clypeus is wide and but slightly elevated, while the sides of the clypeus are well-reflexed, so that the " trilobed outline " of the head appears only moderately defined, with the middle lobe half as wide, and scarcely so long, as the lateral lobes. The clypeus does not form a continuous surface with the rest of the head from which it is separated by a well-defined sub-angulated suture ; its punc- turation is finer and closer than that of the rest of the surface. The sculpture of the upper surface is in all respects extremely similar to that of H. nigellus, Er., albeit the puncturation of the prothorax is a little closer. The prothorax is a little more than half again as wide as long, its base not much more than a quarter again as wide as the front which is only moderately concave with angles little produced and rather blunt ; the sides are gently arched, the hind angles viewed from above appear distinct and almost rectangular ; the base is slightly bisinuate and but feebly lobed hindward. The lateral fringe of the elytra is normal, the apical membrane of the same scarcely apparent. The hind coxae are much shorter than the metasternum and not much wider than the 2nd ventral segment. The puncturation of the under surface is large, sparing, and lightly impressed except on the sides of the me- tasternum where it is fairly close and deep ; on the ventra^ segments it is very ill-defined. The ventral series consist of long testaceous hairs. The hind femora are moderately wider than the interme- diate and have their inner apical portion but little prominent and obtusely angulate. The anterior tibise are like those of H. pote^is. The apical piece of the hind claws is scarcely a quarter the size of the basal piece and is very little larger than the produced apex of the latter. Wagga Wagga, N.S. Wales; in the collection of Sir W. Macleay. H. ARIDUS, sp.nov. Sat elongatus ; postice minus dilatatus ; subnitidus ; supra subtilius leviter, crebrius (clypeo paullo crassius) punctulatus ; BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 433 piceo-niger, vix bronzeo-^micans ; labro et clypei lateribus, rufes- centibus ; palpis antennis pedibiisque testaceis vel rufis ; sutiira clypeali et protlioracis margine antico pilis erectis fimbriatis ; corpore subtus parce sat longe hirsuto ; labro cljpeum late leviter superanti ; antennis 9-articnlatis ; unguiculis bifidis. [Long. 2i, lat, 1 line. The " trilobed outline " of the head is scarcely defined owing to the anterior concavity of the clypeiis being filled by the labrum so that from the most favourable point of view (very far back) the outline appears as a continuous scarcely bisinuate curve, with the middle lobe scarcely narrower than the lateral ones. The plane of the clypeus is quite distinct from that of the rest of the head, the clypeal suture being well marked and angulated. The anterior concavity of the clypeus is very wide and very slight, The prothorax is a little less than twice as wide as long, its base rather less than half again as wide as its front, which (viewed from above) is almost truncate with scarcely prominent angles ; the sides are gently arched, but (viewed from above) appear scarcely divergent from base to middle, there subangulated, thence obliquely convergent ; the hind angles appear from above distinct but obtuse, and the basal outline is gently convex all across. The sculpture of the elytra resembles that in IT. potens, but the puncturation is a little finer, deeper, and closer, and the lateral costse are scarcely existent — those on the disc also being even feebler than in potens. The hind coxae are quite as long as the metasternum ; the puncturation of the latter being faint but not fine, much closer at the sides than in the middle — of the former almost obsolete except near the lateral margins where it is very sparse and faint. The ventral segments are scarcely punctured at all. the ventral series hardly distinguishable among the similar long hairs scattered thinly over the ventral surface. The hind femora are considerably wider than the intermediate (as in II. * This word (though not classical) seems necessary, as " SBneus " is con- stantly used to express "brassy." 28 434 REVISION OP THE GENUS HETERONYX, potens), their inner apical angle scarcely defined. The three external teeth of the anterior tibiae are fairly strong, the upper- most about half as large as the intermediate one. The apical piece of the hind claws is about a quarter the size of the basal and scarcely twice as large as the produced apex of the latter. The bifid apex of the claws is much more minute than in //. 2ootens. Basin of Lake Eyre. H. BIDENTATUS, Sp.nOV. Sat elongatus ; postice vix dilatatus ; minus nitidus ; fusco- testaceus ; pilis adpressis minus brevibus sat dense vestitus ; capite pygidioque (his pilis erectis plus minus vestitis) sparsius subtilius, prothorace elytrisque crebre subtiliter, punctulatis ; labro clypeum late fortiter superanti ; antennis 9-articulatis ; unguiculis bifidis. [Long. 3, lat. 1|- lines. The " trilobed outline " of the head is scarcely marked, owing to the strong projection of the labrum and the almost obsolete projection of the sides of the clypeus ; in the position most favourable for showing a "trilobed outline" the appearance is that of an almost continuous curve suddenly bulging out in the middle — the portion thus bulging out being nearly as wide as the lateral portions. The clypeus does not quite form an even surface with the rest of the head, from which it is separated by a feebly angulated suture ; its front is scarcely concave and not distinctly margined. The prothorax is twice as wide as it is long ; its base about half again as wide as its front, which (viewed from above) is bisinuate, with feeble angles scarcely produced ; it is widest a little in front of the base, its sides being strongly arched, its basal angles scarcely defined from any point of view ; its base very feebly convex all across. The elytra show no stria tion beyond a feebly traceable sutural stria (probably quite obsolete in some examples), their transverse wrinkling quite obsolete, their puncturation very fine and close (a little BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 435 more so than in H. jnceus, Blanch.), their lateral fringe normal their apical membrane obsolete. The hind coxae are quite as long as the metasternum, the puncturation of both these being decidedly close and fairly strong at the sides, while in the middle of the latter and about the antero-internal part of the former it is coarse and sparse. The ventral segments are almost Isevigate, the ventral series being very conspicuous and consisting of stout bristle- like hairs. The hind femora are very wide (quite double the inter- mediate), their inner apical angle obtuse and little prominent. The lower two external teeth of the front tibisB are very strong and sharp — the uppermost is represented by a mere nick on the outline. The apical piece of the hind claws is evidently less than half as large as the basal piece and decidedly larger than the produced apex (which is truncate at the end) of the latter. N.B. — The intermediate joints of the antennae are so crowded together, small, and obscure, that they are very difficult to count with certainty. Western Australia ; taken by E. Meyrick, Esq. H. Darwini, sp.no v. Sat elongatus ; convexus ; postice leviter dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; niger, an tennis palpisque testaceis ; pilis testaceis (et adpressis et erectis) vestitus; supra subcrasse minus crebre punctulatus; labro clypeum anguste fortiter superanti; antennis 9-articulatis ; ungui- culis bifidis ; coxis posticis metasterno baud brevioribus. [Long. 5f, lat. IJ lines (vix). The head closely resembles that of H. nasutus, Blackb. The prothorax is J again as wide as long, its base scarcely | again as wide as its front which is moderately concave with angles but little produced ; the sides are gently arched ; the hind angles viewed from above appear fairly defined but obtuse ; the base is lightly bisinuate, being moderately lobed in the middle. The puncturation of the upper surface is not deep but rather coarse, 436 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX, and somewhat even but becoming slightly less coarse and sparse continuously from the clypeus hindward ; on the pygidium, how- ever, it is decidedly faint and sparse. The elytra have no distinct trace of striation ; their transverse wrinkling is well defined, their lateral fringe normal, their apical membrane very obscure. The hind coxae are not shorter than the metasternum. The ventral series consist of stout bristles but are not very conspicuous owing to the presence of numerous fine long hairs on the ventral seg- ments, and they appear to be very deciduous only one of several specimens before me having them in full complement. The meta- sternum and hind coxae are punctured rather coarsely and closely but not deeply, the punctures becoming sparser and coarser towards the middle of the former and the antero-internal space of the latter being Isevigate. The hind body is punctured very similarly to the metasternum. The hind femora are very much wider than the intermediate, the apex of their inner margin being strongly but not sharply dentate. The lower two teeth on the external margin of the front tibise are very strong ; the uppermost is sharp and well defined but less than half as large as the second j the edge of the tibia from its base to the apex of the uppermost tooth is almost a right line. The produced apex of the basal piece of the hind claws is stout and just about half as large as the entire apical piece. N. Territory of S. Australia ; taken by Dr. Bovill. N.B. — Specimens from the same locality in the collections of Sir W. Macleay and the Adelaide University diff'er only in being of a uniform ferruginous colour. H. INCOLA, sp.nov. Sat elongatus ; sat convexus ; postice leviter dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; ferrugineus, antennis testaceis ; pilis fulvis vestitus ; capite crebre, prothorace elytris pygidioque sat sparsim, rugulose leviter punctulatis ; labro clypeum late sat fortiter superanti ; BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 437 antennis 9-articulatis ; iiiigaiculis bifidis ; coxis posticis meta- sterno baud brevioribus. [I^oiig. 3i, lat. 2 lines (vix). The part of the labrum overtopping the clypeus is very wide and the sides of the clypeus are very little prominent so that from the most favourable point of view the " trilobed outline " of the head apj^ears only feebly developed, with the middle lobe nearly as wide as the lateral ones. The clypeal suture is scarcely marked ; the sculpture of the head close and coarse but not deep. The pro- thorax is slightly more than half again as wide as long, its base not quite half again as wide as its front which is moderately con- cave with angles but little produced ; the sides are gently arched ; the hind angles from every point of view appear rounded off; the puncturation is sparing (spaced so that about 15 punctures occupy the length of the middle longitudinal line) and by no means fine, but not deep, and has a slightly rugulose appearance. The elytra are squamosely, lightly and rather sparingly punctulate, their trans- verse wrinkling is conspicuous, their lateral fringe normal, their apical membrane normal. The hind coxae are of the same length as the metasternum ; the ventral series consist of long hairs. The puncturation of the under surface is fairly close and strong on the sides of the metasternum becoming gradually more sparing hind wards, and also becoming more sparing from all the lateral parts towards the middle, but the hind cox£e have not a very well defined impunctate space except at their extreme inner margin. The hind femora are considerably wider than the intermediate, their inner margin being moderately and roundly produced at the apex. The anterior tibiae resemble those of H. Darwi7ii. The produced apex of the basal piece of the hind claws is stout and about half as large as the apical piece. A single specimen from Petersburg (S.A.) H. LiViDUS, sp.nov. Minus elongatus ; postice vix dilatatus ; minus nitidus ; lividus (nonnullis exemplis piceo-tinctis) ; pilis brevibus adpressis pallidis 438 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX, vestitus ; capite prothoraceque fortiter, elytris minus fortiter, sat sparsius punctulatis ; labro clypeum sat leviter sat late superanti ; antennis 9-articalatis ; iinguiculis breviter bifidis. [Long. 2f, lat. 14 lines (vix). The " trilobecl outline " of the head appears fairly well defined, the middle lobe more than half as wide as, and slightly longer than, the lateral lobes. The clypeus does not form a continuous surface with the rest of the head from which it is separated by a very well defined feebly angulated suture; it in widely and gently emarginated in front with a continuous reflexed margin. The puncturation of the head and prothorax is strong and coarse, rather close on the clypeus, less so hindward. The prothorax is not quite twice as wide as long, its base nearly half again as wide as its front which is gently concave, with slightly prominent angles ; the sides are very gently arched, the basal angles scarcely defined from any point of view ; the base is scarcely bisinuate or lobed. The elytra are punctured much as the prothorax but scarcely so strongly, their transverse wrinkling is scarcely apparent, their lateral fringe normal but not at all strong, their apical mem- brane fairly defined. The puncturation of the pygidium (which is clothed with long erect hairs) is very sparing but rather coarse. The hind coxae are considerably shorter than the metasternum and longer than the 2nd ventral segment ; these, and the metasternum are rather closely set with very large deep punctures which do not become much more sparing towards the middle ; the punctu- ration of the ventral segments is sparing and not very strong on the sides, but almost entirely obsolete in the middle. The ventral series consist of long fine hairs and are but little conspicuous. The hind femora are much wider than the intermediate and their inner apical angle is scarcely prominent and quite rounded off". The three external teeth of the anterior tibiae are all well defined and sharp, — the lower two very strong, — the uppermost scarcely half as large as the 2nd. The apical piece of the hind claws is very minute, — much less than a quarter the size of the basal piece BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 439 and is stouter, but very little longer than the produced apex of the latter. This species bears much resemblance to an Aphodius. N. Territory of S. Australia ; taken by Dr. Bovill. H. suBFUscus, Macl. Sir W. Macleay has forwarded a specimen of this insect to me. To the characters mentioned by him (P.L.S.N.S.W., 1888, p. 916) it will be well to add the following ; antennae 9-jointed, "trilobed outline " of head fairly defined (the middle lobe being more than half as wide as the lateral ones), hind coxse decidedly shorter than metasternum and decidedly longer than 2nd ventral segment, uppermost tooth on external margin of front tibise much less than half as large as the middle tooth, apical piece of hind claws about half as large as the basal piece and quite twice as large as the produced apex of the latter. H. BOREALis, sp.nov. Elongatus ; postice vix dilatatus ; minus nitidus ; ferrugineus ; pilis brevibus adpressis pallidis vestitus ; sat sequaliter sat crebre minus subtiliter punctulatus ; labro clypeum fortiter sat anguste superanti ; antennis 9-articulatis ; unguiculis bifidis. [Long. 3^, lat. Ig, lines. The "trilobed outline" of the head appears distinct, but irregular, — owing to the slight convexity of the lateral lobes as compared with the middle one which appears considerably longer and scarcely more than half as wide as the former. The clypeus almost evenly continues the plane of the rest of the head from which it is separ- ated by a fairly defined scarcely angulated suture ; its front is widely and feebly concave with the reflexed margin not carried distinctly across. The prothorax is not much less than twice as wide as long, its base about half again as wide as its front which is bisinuate with slightly produced angles ; the sides are very 440 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX, gently arched, the basal angles much rounded off; the base is gently bisinuate and feebly lobed hindward in the middle. The transverse wrinkling of the elytra is very slight, their lateral fringe normal, their apical membrane narrow but distinct. On the head, front of prothorax, and pygidium are a few long erect hairs. Owing to the want of transverse wrinkles on the elytra the sculpture has a distinctive appearance ; perhaps of the com- moner species hitherto described H. testaceus, Blackb., comes nearest to it in that respect, but has somewhat finer sculpture throughout. The hind coxae are much shorter than the meta- sternum and very decidedly longer than the 2nd ventral segment ; they and the metasternum are rather sparingly and strongly punc- tured at the sides, — the former being impunctulate, the latter finely punctulate, internally. The puncturation of the ventral segments is much finer than that of the sides of the metasternum but is con- tinuous all across. The ventral series consist of coarse red hairs but are rather inconspicuous. The hind femora are not much wider than the intermediate, their inner apical angle being fairly defined but scarcely prominent. The three external teeth of the anterior tibias are extremely robust and sharp, the uppermost being about half as large as the middle one. The apical piece of the hind claws is scarcely a quarter the size of the basal piece and is scarcely so large as the produced apex of the latter. The basal joint of the hind tarsi is very distinctly shorter than the second. The real allies of this species appear to be among the group with 8-jointed antennae, — H. piger, lateritius, &c., to some of which it bears much resemblance. From H. sich/uscus, Macl., it differs inter alia by its much more strongly and narrowly elevated labrum. N. Territory of S. Australia ; taken by Dr. Bovill. H. SPARSUS, sp.nov. Sat elongatus ; postice vix dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; ferrugineus (exempli typici capite prothoraceque obscurioribus) ; pilis brevibus BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 4^1 adpressis pallidis vestitus ; capite crebre rugulose, prothorace elytrisque sparsim fortius, pygidio obsolete, punctulatis ; labro clypeuin leviter late superanti ; antennis 9-articulatis ; unguiculis bifidis. [Long. 3], lat. 1? lines (vix). The " tiilobed outline " of the head appears fairly defined, — the middle lobe shorter than, and considerably more than half as wide as, the lateral lobes. The clypeus does not form an even surface with the rest of the head from which it is separated by a well- defined straight suture ; its front is rather strongly concave with the reflexed margin very finely continuous in the middle. The prothorax is | again as wide as long, its base about half again as wide as its front which is gently concave with very feeble angles ; the sides are gently arched, the hind angles quite rounded off; the base is scarcely bisinuate and rather strongly convex hindward all across. The elytra are punctured a little more closely than the prothorax, their transverse wrinkling is very slight, their lateral fringe normal, their apical membrane scarcely distinct. The hind coxae are decidedly shorter than the metasternum and not much longer than the 2nd ventral segment ; the metasternum is rather sparsely and feebly punctured at the sides, more sparsely and strongly towards the middle ; the hind coxae are rather coarsely punctured except a small laevigate intero-anterior portion. The ventral segments are feebly and sparingly punctured at the sides, almost Isevigate in the middle. The ventral series are fairly con- spicuous, consisting of long stoutish hairs. The hind femora are not much wider than the intermediate, their inner apical angle ill- defined. The three external teeth of the anterior tibiae are well- defined but not particularly acute, the uppermost being less than half as large as the middle one. The hind claws scarcely diflfer from those of H. borealis. The basal joint of the hind tarsi is distinctly shorter than the 2nd joint. The puncturation of this species is exceptionally sparse, — on the prothorax as much so as in //. AugustcB, Blackb., — on the elytra scarcely closer than on the prothorax. N. Territory of S. Australia ; taken by Dr. Bovill. 442 REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX H. ACUTIFRONS, Sp.nOV. Minus elongatus; postice dilatatus ; minus nitidus ; testaceo- ferrugineus, capite prothoraceque nonnihil obscurioribus ; elytris pilis brevibus erectis minus crebre vestitis; clypeo crassissime rugu- lose, capite postice prothoraceque sparsius leviter nee rugulose, elytris sat fortiter subrugulose, pygidio (hoc setis longis vestito) sparsim obscure, punctulatis ; labro clypeum late triangulariter sat fortiter superanti ; antennis 9-articulatis ; unguiculis bifidis. [Long. 2|-, lat. If lines (vix). The " trilobed outline " of head is very peculiar, the middle lobe (which is longer, and scarcely narrower, than the lateral lobes) being acutely triangular. The clypeus is very distinct from the rest of the head, from which it is separated by a strong angulated suture, its front being widely and rather strongly concave with the reflexed margin obsolete in the middle. The prothorax is twice as wide as long, its base scarcely half again as wide as its front, which is gently concave, with scarcely produced angles ; the sides are strongly rounded, the hind angles quite rounded off, the base gently convex all across, evenly continuing the curve of the angles. The elytra are punctured more strongly and very much more closely than the prothorax ; their transverse wrinkling is fairly defined, their lateral fringe normal, their apical membrane obsolete. The hind coxae are decidedly shorter than the metaster- num and decidedly longer than the 2nd ventral segment: the puncturation of the metasternum is w^ell defined, and rather strong and close at the sides, but the middle is almost Isevigate ; the hind coxse are almost without puncturation. The ventral segments are punctured sparingly and coarsely all across ; the ventral series are scarcely conspicuous the whole ventral surface being clothed somewhat densely with fine long hairs. The hind femora are not much wider than the intermediate, their inner apical angle is but slightly defined. The three external teeth of the front tibite are fairly strong, the uppermost being about half as large as the middle one. The apical piece of the hind claws is BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 443 about ^ the size of the basal piece and nearly twice as large as the produced apex (which is truncate at its end) of the latter. There is a conspicuous fuscous spot on the prothorax near the lateral margin on either side. This is an extremely distinct species. Yorke's Peninsula. N.B. — This species must be near H. j^ellucidus, Burm., but if I am right in thinking that I have both sexes before me, the anterior claws of the male are quite different ; also the anterior tibiae seem to be differently toothed ; it seems unlikely that Dr Burmeister could have failed to note the very peculiar angulation of the labrum, or the spots (apparently quite constant) on the prothorax. The description of the puncturation also does not agree very satisfactorily. H. ROTUNDIPRONS, Sp.nov. Minus elongatus ; postice dilatatus ; sat nitidus ; ferruginous, antennarum clava testacea ; pilis erectis minus crebre vestitus ; clypeo crebrius minus crasse, capite postice prothoraceque fortiter sparsim, elytris squamose fortiter minus sparsim, pygidio sparsim subtilius, punctulatis; labro clypeum late vix perspicue superanti; antennis 9-articulatis ; unguiculis bifidis. [Long. 4f , lat. 2i lines. The labrum rises so slightly above the clypeus and the sides of the latter are so feebly reflex ed that (from the point of view most favourable for observing a " trilobed outline " of the head) the front outline appears an almost even curve, the convexity of which however is a little greater in the middle than it would be if the curve were quite even. The clypeus does not form an even surface with the rest of the head, — from which it is separated by an almost straight suture; its front is scarcely concave, but is without a reflexed margin. The prothorax is about f again as wide as it is long ; its base about half again as wide as its front, which is feebly concave with angles but little produced ; it is widest a little behind the middle its sides being rather strongly arched, its basal 4:4:4: REVISION OF THE GENUS HETERONYX. angles well marked but obtuse, its base (from a certain point of view) distinctly bisinuate and moderately lobed hind ward. The elytra have little or no indication of striation, — at most some semblance of a sutural stria, — their transverse wrinkling is fairly defined from some points of view, their lateral fringe normal, their apical membrane obsolete. The hind coxas are decidedly shorter than the metasternum and decidedly longer than the 2nd ventral segment; the puncturation of both these is at the sides strong but not close, being on the latter very sparing towards the middle, and the former having a small Isevigate antero-internal space. The ventral segments are punctured at the sides rather finely and closely, in the middle more coarsely and sparsely, the punctures there tending to a linear transverse arrangement. The ventral series consist of fine long hairs and are not very conspicuous. The hind femora are evidently wider than the intermediate, their inner apical angle much rounded and but little prominent. The three external teeth of the anterior tibise are thick and blunt, the uppermost about half as large as the 2nd. The apical piece of the hind claws is nearly half as large as the basal piece and not much larger than the produced apex of the latter. Taken by Mr. T. G. Sloane at Albury, N.S.W. NOTES ON AUSTRAIJAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES. By the Rev. T. Blackburn, B.A., Cork. Mem. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. Part III. The following notes and descriptions embody the results of the study of various Coleoptera chiefly belonging to my own collection. CARABID.^. EuTOMA (Carenum) sumptuosum, Westw. I have received from Dr. Bovill a very remarkable insect taken in the N. Territory which appears to be probably identical with the type on which Prof. West wood's brief description of this insect was founded. It agrees very exactly in size and proportions (long. 10, lat. 3 lines) and with such scanty record of the sculp- tural characters as the Professor gives, viz., — "two punctures on the elytra near the base and two others subapical " (these four punctures are very large and strong), — also, " front tibise exter- nally bidentate " (the teeth are very long and acute, and the smaller teeth above them are so placed as to be quite invisible when the tibia is looked straight down upon). These characters would be quite insufficient, of course, for identification among the great number of Australian Scaritidce now known, — but the colouring mentioned in the description is so peculiar that I think it justifies my identification. Professor Westwood describes it thus, — "nigrum, igneo colore varium." In the example before me the head is black with the exception of the portion behind the eyes (all across) and part of the space between the eyes and the frontal sulci, which are bright green. The prothorax all round the 446 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, margins except in front is of a fiery copper colour changing inter- nally to bright green, while the disc is occupied by a large black triangle, the front being its base and its apex falling behind the middle. The colour of the elytra is across the base (widely) brilliant golden which changes gradually backward to green ; a large common purplish-black patch occupies the middle part, — its front considerably before, its apex a little behind, the centre of the suture ; in some lights a smaller common subapical patch of similar colour is apparent. The insect is evidently a Eutoma. The head across the eyes is scarcely narrower than the prothorax which is of the same width as the elytra (by measurement; it looks decidedly wider at a casual glance). The frontal sulci are very strong, diverge strongly hindward to the level of the back of the eyes, and are connected behind by a very strong transverse impression ; there are two supra-orbital punctures. The prothorax is slightly transverse (as 7 to 6), its front truncate, its base slightly concave ; the lateral margins bear three strong setiferous punctures on either side. The basal cluster on each elytron consists of five strong punctures ; the anterior discal puncture is about a fifth the length of the elytron distant from the base. DYTISCID^. CaNTHYDRUS BOVILLiE, Sp.UOV. Ovalis ; convexus ; posterius attenuatus ; nitidus ; niger, capite anterius prothoraceque ad angulos anticos rufo-testaceis ', elytris gutta transversa pone medium testacea, punctis sparsis sat con- spicuis ; antennis testaceis ; pedibus rufis, posterioribus magis obscuris. [Long. If, lat. 4 line. This species must be very near C. yuttula, Aube (from Mada- gascar and Mauritius), but difiers apparently in having the red mark on each elytron in the form of a somewhat irregular trans- verse line, rather than of a round spot. Northern Territory of S. Australia ; taken by Mrs. Bovill and dedicated to that lady. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 447 HYDROPHILID/E. Philhydrus burrundiensis, sp.nov. Late ovalis ; minus nitidus ; crebre siibfortiter puncfculatus ; subtu.s pubescens ; niger vel piceo-niger ; antennis, palpis, pro- thoracis et elytrorum lateribus, tarsisque, plus minus rufescentibus ; elytris stria suturali perspicua baud instructis. [Long. 4, lat. 2 lines (vix). This species bears much resemblance to a very large darkly coloured example of P. ynelanocephalus, Fab., from which species indeed it scarcely differs in respect of sculpture except in having no sutural stria on the elytra ; nor do I observe any difference in the form or proportion of the various segments and members except that the maxillary palpi are very much longer, equalling in length the head and prothorax together. The apical joint of the palpi is perfectly concolorous with the other joints. The insect, as a Avhole, is wider than P. inelanocej^halus in proportion to its length. Burrundie, N. Territory of S. Australia ; taken by Dr. Bovill. Berosus auriceps, sp.nov. Oblongo-ovatus ; convexus ; supra testaceus ; capite (postice longitudinaliter carinato) aureo vel aureo-seneo, prothorace maculis dorsalibus 2 elongatis fere connexis et elytrorum striis (iis mar- ginem lateralem versus exceptis) maculisque vix perspicuis non- nullis, nigricantibus ; subtus fuscus (capite nigro excepto) ; palpis, antennis, pedibusque, pallide fusco-testaceis ; capite crebre subru- gulose, prothorace sparsius sat leviter (linea longitudinali media laevigata excepta), punctulatis ; elytris apice acuminatis, sat fortiter striatis ; striis subtilius punctulatis ; interstitiis planis, eodem modo quo strise punctulatis. [Long. 2, lat, 4 lines. The specimen (female) on which the above description is founded is conspicuous by its pale elytra being streaked with fine black striae (the external three striae, however, being black only on a 448 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIOXS OF NEW SPECIES, short space about the middle of their length) and punctured with blackish punctures, and being otherwise almost without markings, — although when carefully looked at some indication of a fuscous spot can be seen on each of them near the suture before and close behind its middle and near the middle of the external margin ; it is also characterised by having the thinly dispersed punctures on the interstices between the striae of about the same size as those in the striae. The 5th ventral segment is excised as though a segment of a circle greater than a semicircle had been cut out, so that the apices of the margin of the excision point partly towards each other and not directly hindward ; the margin of the excision is however flattened (or even a little convex) in front, — this being especially conspicuous if the segment be viewed obliquely from behind, — from which point of view the excision looks almost square. There is a fairly large 6th segment visible which is terminated by two filaments. The closely punctured head separates this species from all I have previously described of the genus, except diqjlojntnctatus, discolor and Flindersi ; the combination of a sparsely punctured prothorax and wholly testaceous palpi will distinguish it from all the latter. From some of M. Fairemaire's species (as also from B. Australice, Muls.) its elytra not bispinose at the apex are a sufficient distinction. From the rest (except sticticus which has the head almost impunctulate in front) it differs in having the apex of the elytra pointed, — not obtuse. If this latter distinction be (as I think it is) founded on a variable character, — it also differs from the three species concerned as follows, — from B. ovi- jyennis in being more elongate^ with the prothorax not " densely punctured," and from B. aj^proximans and stigmaticoUis in its more sparsely punctured prothorax and apparently in the greater comparative width of the same ; M. Fairemaire distinguishes both those species from the European B. affinis by their prothorax being " notably narrower than the elytra," whereas in the present species there is less difference than in B. affinis between the width of the prothorax and of the elytra. I observe that the eyes are a little more strongly granulated than in B. affinis. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 449 N. Territory of S. Australia ; taken by Dr. Bovill. N.B. — A specimen (also female and with identical sexual charac- ters) from the same locality is smaller (long. If lines) and differs in characters which would certainly seem specific, — but I think the identity of sexual characters so important that without knowing the males I shall regard it as a variety. It has scarcely any trace of markings on the prothorax and has that segment and the elytra decidedly more coarsely, and indeed quite differently, sculptured, — the former having evidently closer (though by no means close) puncturation, and the latter being less pointed at the apex, with the stride quite coarsely punctulate and the interstices not quite flat and scarcely punctured at all. LAGRIID^. Lagria tincta, sp.nov. Oblonga, postice minus dilatata ; supra crebre crasse sat jequaliter punctulata ; pilis longis sparsius vestita ; rufa, piceo- umbrata. [Long. 3|, lat. If lines. The under surface is red, with the sides of the metasternum and some blotchy marks on the ventral segments (chiefly down the middle) piceous. On the upper surface the sides of the prothorax and the inner half of each elytron are obscurely piceous, the piceous portion of the latter interrupted about its middle by an ill-defined round spot of a brighter red colour than any other part of the elytra. The antennae are not much longer than the head and prothorax together and are very stout, the joints (except the last) red with their apex black : the 3rd joint is distinctly but not much longer than wide, the 4th scarcely so ; joints 5-10 as wide as long, joint 11 about equal to the preceding three together. The femora (except at their extreme base) are nearly black. The long erect hairs (with which the upper surface is rather densely clothed) are partly pallid and partly dark, rather confusedly mingled together. The punctures on the underside are lightly impressed and neither close nor large. The prothorax is nearly 29 450 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, as long as wide and has gently arched sides, its greatest width being just in front of the middle. Compared with L. grandis, GylL, this species is considerably smaller and very much less dilated behind ; its antennee are much shorter and stouter ; its prothorax and head are a little more coarsely and rugulosely punctured, and the same coarse rugulose sculpture extends over its elytra ; the apical joint of the palpi is less strongly securiform ; the tarsi are more slender, with the penultimate joint not so much wider than the preceding joints, the ventral segments are much more strongly punctulate, and the eyes are more prominent and more strongly granulated. A specimen in the South Australian Museum which I believe to be L. cyaneay Macl., has a shorter prothorax and less rugulose puncturation, besides being very differently coloured. From the brief description of L. affinis, Boisd., that species would appear to have the prothorax and elytra dissimilarly punctured, and the expression "geniculis nigris" would seem to differentiate it from the present insect. The three species described by Sir VV. Macleay from Cairns all differ widely in colour and other characters. L. tomentosa Fab., also is very different. N. Territory ; taken by Dr. Bovill. LONGICORNES. Tryphocharia. I have to acknowledge and correct an unfortunate error in my notes on this genus published in the Proceedings (2), Vol. III. part 4, pp. 1456-63. At the time I was unable to refer readily to the description of T. hamata, Newm., and accepted without verification the assertion in Mr. Masters' " Catalogue of Aus- tralian Coleoptera " that that species and T. long/ijjennis, Hope, are identical. I have since had reason to conclude that this is not the case — indeed, judging by Hope's description, his insect is as unlike hamata as could well be. The result of this oversight BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 451 on my part was that I described as being probably hannata an insect which can only be said to be prohahly longipennis, and, still worse, described the true hamata as new under the name uncinata. If those who possess last year's Vol. of the Proceedings will run their pen through the heading " T. hamata " on page 1458, and substitute that name for "T. uncinata, sp.nov." on p. 1461 the mistake will be corrected. Uracanthus acutus, sp.nov. Obscure ferruginous, nonnullis exemplis antennis basi pedibusque plus minus infuscatis ; parum nitidus ; dense breviter (elytrorum parte antica subglabra excepta) pubescens; prothorace vix evidenter transversim strigato, crebre subtilius subrugulose punctulato; elytris apice spinuloso-productis, obscure costatis; antice crebrius subtilius punctulatis, punctis postice gradatim etiam crebrioribus subtilioribus ; parte apicali coriacea. [Long. 7f , lafc. 1|^ lines. Yery distinct from all others yet described of the genus. The elytra, — each drawn out to a point, — the peculiar sculpture of the same, and the very feeble transverse strigosity of the prothorax are strongly characteristic. From Mr. T. G. Sloane ; Victoria. Khinophthalmus modestus, sp.nov. Elongatus ; gracillimus ; sat parallelus ', obscure fuscus, elytris paullo pallidioribus ; dense breviter sat pallide pubescens ; rostro quam R. nasuti breviori magis parallelo ; prothorace haud trans- versim strigoso. [T-iong. 6, lat. f line (vix). Very much smaller than E. nasutus, Newm., and with the rostrum evidently shorter, and very parallel. From R. margini- pennis, Fairm., it would seem to differ by the absence of elytral vittae; from M. striicolUs, Fairm., by the prothorax not transversely strigose ; and from all three by the extremely parallel form. The anterior margin of the eye is distinctly nearer to the apex of the 452 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, snout than to the front of the prothorax. The eyes are very similar to those of R. nasutus, — they are almost contiguous in the male on the upper surface (more nearly than on the underside) while in the female they are almost equally approximate both above and below. In the male the fifth ventral segment is densely clothed with long pilosity at and about the apex, while the apical segment in the female is evenly pubescent and simply fringed behind with longer hairs. Melbourne ; taken by Mr, T. G. Sloane. Macrones debilis, sp.no v. Angustissimus , ferruginous, elytris plus minus pallidioribus, abdomine plus minus infuscato, tarsis posticis baud pallidioribus ; prothorace brevi, lateribus rotundatim nee f oi'titer gibbosis ; elytris costatis. [Long. 6, lat. 5 line. In some specimens the head, prothorax, legs, and even antennae from certain points of view appear purplish-red, — especially the dilated part of the femora and of the basal joint of the antennae. Of previously described species this seems to be nearest to M. acicularis, Pasc, from which it diff"ers by its unicolorous red head, the absence of whitish-yellow colouring from its antennae and hind tarsi, and the comparatively greater width and less length of its prothorax. 3f. capita and exilis, inter cdia, are much larger and ha\e the prothorax much more strongly bulging out on either side in front of the posterior constriction. M. ru/us (which I have not seen) is described as being more than twice as large with the thorax spined on either side. M. subclavatus, inter alia, has blue-black elytra. In the present species the disc of each elytron bears two longitudinal costse between the costate suture and margin. Victoria. Oroderes uniformis, sp.nov. Elongatus ; fortiter rugulose punctulatus ; cyaneus ; antennis apicem versus, elytris (basi excepta), femoribus basi, tibiis tarsisque, BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 453 obscure £ieneo-feiTugineis ; prothorace quam latiori sat longiori. [Long. 5 J, lat. f^ line (vix). As in 0. humeralis, Saund., the head, the prothorax, the basal five or six joints of the antennae, and the legs, are clothed with long hairs. The front part of the elytra also is hairy. The extreme apex of the antennae is obscurely yellow. Rather more than the basal I of the elytra is bright blue, whence this colour gradually fades into dull ferruginous with a slight metallic tone. Western Australia ; taken by E. Meyrick, Esq. Amphirhoe sloanei, sp.nov. Picea ; capite, antennarum basi, prothorace antice, elytris basin versus, pedibusque (femorum clava excepta), rufis ; abdomine nonnullis exemplis rufescenti; elytris intus subtilius, extus fortius, crebre rugulose punctulatis; his apice biapiculatis vittis 2, interna elongata, externa perbrevi, flavo-eburatis ; prothorace quam latiori longiori; tarsorum anticorum articulo basali elongato subparallelo. [Long. 6-7, lat. li-l| lines. This species appears to be mixed in collections with A . decora, Newm., to which it bears much resemblance, and from which it differs as follows : — it is a more slender insect, with the ferruginous parts much brighter, — the head especially (which in decora is piceous behind) being unicolorous and of quite an orange ferru- ginous tone ; the prothorax is more elongate and less swollen on the sides (in decora by measurement it is scarcely longer than its greatest width, in this species decidedly so) ; the inner extremity of the apical truncation of the elytra is obsoletely, the outer distinctly, spinose ; the basal joint of the anterior tarsi in both sexes is much longer than wide and is almost parallel-sided, whereas the same joint in decora is of a triangular shape and is scarcely longer than its width across the apex. My specimens of decora were taken near Port Lincoln, — and they are evidently identical with the species figured by Lacordaire 454 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, as A. decora, The original type is from Tasmania. My examples of A. Sloanei were taken by Mr. T. G. Sloane in Gippsland, Victoria. Phalota obscura, sp.nov. Fusco-brunnea, elytris (nonnullis exemplis basin versus solum), antennis, tibiis, tarsisque, paullo dilutioribus ; pilis longis erectis sparsius vestita ; prothorace transversim rugato ; elytris crebre sat fortiter subrugulose punctulatis. [Long. 3, lat. |- line (vix). The prothorax is almost twice as long as its greatest breadth. The elytra are rounded behind, and scarcely flattened dorsally. This species is coloured very difierently from the two previously described. I have seen a good many specimens which scarcely vary except in the elytra having their whole surface or only the basal part of a paler hue than the head and prothorax. It differs from its congeners also, it would seem, in having a wide channel (much abbreviated at both ends) down the prothorax and also in having the prothorax very distinctly transversely wrinkled; mixed up with, and much obscured by, this transverse wrinkling there is close rather fine and rugulose puncturation. Port Lincoln; also sent to me from Victoria by Mr. T. G. Sloane. Lychrosis. Having lately acquired specimens appertaining to this genus from several parts of Northern Australia I have been compelled to regard the examples from the N. Territory of S. Australia (mentioned in the "Proceedings" for 1888, p. 1469) as distinct from P. luctuosus, Pasc, to which I attributed them. The pattern on the elytra in all the species I have seen varies to such an extent that I fear little reliance can be placed on it for dis- tinguishing species. The specimens from the N. Territory, how- ever, have much longer antennae than L. luctuosus (they slightly exceed the length of the body in both sexes). Whether they are Z. afflictus, Pasc, I cannot make up my mind, as the description BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 455 of that insect does not mention the length of the antennae ; if they are identical with it the description must have been founded on a much darker example than any I have seen, but in some respects {e.g., the greater size and the colouring of the antennae) they seem to correspond very well. The specimen coming nearest to actual identity with Mr. Pascoe's fig. of L. luctuosus was sent to me from ;N"orthern Queensland by Mr. T. G. Sloane, but it was accompanied by another so extremely different in markings that I cannot satisfy myself absolutely of the two not being specifically distinct. I think the genus requires to be studied by some one resident in tropical Australia, who could be certain which speci- mens were taken actually in company. Ill^na, Er. There appears to be little doubt that Neissa, Pasc, is identical with this genus. Mr. Pascoe distinguishes his genus on the ground of its having the prothorax " abruptly spined " at the sides, whereas Erichson calls that of Illcena only " slightly nodose at the sides." Erichson, however, though using this expression in characterising the genus, yet in describing the species varies it somewhat, saying that the sides of the prothorax are " furnished with a small tubercle/' which certainly brings the character of Neissa too near it to justify generic distinction. Mr. Pascoe's S. Australian species are very likely to be distinct from Erichson's Tasmanian /. exilis, although no very good distinctive character is mentioned for the smaller one. I possess examples (from Port Lincoln) of an insect that is probably identical with Illmna (Neissa) inconspicua, Pasc. ; and also a single example (from Western Australia) of the following apparently new species. Ill^na meyricki, sp.nov. Sat angusta ; fusco-picea, ore, antennis, pedibus, elytrisque, dilutioribus ; his piceo-notatis ; corpore supra obscure sat crasse 456 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, nec crebre (capite prothoraceque nihilominus paiillo crebrins) punctulatis ; antennaram articulo tertio prime manifeste longiori. [Long. 14, lat. f lines. Compared with the S. Australian insect which I take to be /. (Neissa) inconspicua, Pasc, this species is evidently of a narrower and more parallel form, and has the 3rd and 4:th antennal joints longer in comparison with the scape. The example before me is somewhat abraded, but I should judge that a fresh specimen would be marked and coloured very similarly to Mr. Pascoe's insect. Unfortunately in the description of /. exilis, Er., the 3rd joint of the antennae is not compared in length with the scape, but Erichson's species is said to be " black," with certain parts " reddish pitchy;" and as the insect I am describing has no black coloration whatever, and the two are found in very widely separated localities, it is not at all likely that they are identical. Tn all the specimens I have seen of this genus the surface of the prothorax is a little uneven ; in /. inconspicua the unevenness is very ill-defined, but seems to consist of one or more obscure trans- verse wheals and a slightly more apparent longitudinal carina which is best defined in front ; in the present insect the uneven- ness of the prothoracic surface is not quite so ill-defined, and when carefully examined is found to consist of two rather obscure round swellings placed one on either side of the middle line not far behind the front, and of a longitudinal keel which is scarcely evident except in its hinder half. A perfectly fresh specimen of the species that I regard as /. inconspicua has the elytra marked as follows: — The darker portion being regarded as the ground colour a dull silvery stripe commences below each shoulder (where it is narrow) and runs (increasing in width all the way) in a slight curve to the suture, — which its front edge meets at a distance from the base of a quarter, and its hind edge of two-thirds, the length of the suture. From the hinder point where this stripe touches the suture another stripe similarly coloured (narrow at the suture and widening externally) runs across obliquely to a point a little before the apex of the lateral BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 457 margin ; the vspace occupied by these stripes is slightly depressed. The basal crest is placed longitudinally on each elytron. The lighter part of the elytra being regarded as the ground colour, there appear, — a common somewhat quadrate, dark basal spot, — a sub- tiiangular dark spot on each elytron having its base on the lateral margin and its apex (which is truncated and forms an obscure longitudinal carina) near the suture, — and a common, subtriangular, apical, dark spot. These markings are more obscure as specimens are less fresh, but in all I have seen of the genus I can discern traces of them. In the specimen on which I found /. Meyricki they are extremely obscure. Western Australia; collected by E. Meyrick, Esq. PHYTOPHAGA. DiAPHANOPS. Dr. Chapuis in Vol. X. of the " Genera des Coleopteres " men- tions the existence in collections of several forms closely allied to D Wester?nanni, Boh., some of which he thinks may be distinct species. I have recently examined the specimens appertaining to this genus in my own collection and in that of the South Australian Museum, all from Western Australia, and find among them three forms that certainly appear to be specifically distinct i7iter se. I am doubtful whether any one of them is D. Westermmmi, but one is suflB.ciently near to be disqualified from being regarded as certainly distinct. The points in which it differs from the description of Rhynchostornis curculionides, Lac, (which Dr. Chapuis asserts to be identical with D. Westermanni) are as follows, — the prothorax is less elongate and more coarsely punctured than the description would lead one to expect. The length of the prothorax is said to be ^ greater than the width. I cannot help thinking that this statement is founded on a mistaken observation, for although the prothorax on casual view appears very elongate I find that careful measurement shows the widest part of the prothorax in all the examples I have seen of the genus to measure at most very slightly less than the 458 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES^ length. The surface of the prothorax is said to be " covered with fine rugosities hardly distinct under a lens "; although this appears to be the case in a fresh specimen owing to the presence of pubes- cence I find that the removal of the pubescence exposes a surface very distinctly, although finely, rugulose-punctulate. DiAPHANOPS Meyricki^ sp.nov. Oblongus, postice angustatus ; rufo-brunneus, pilis densis (supra pallide briinneis, subtus albidis) tectus ; palpis nigris ; prothorace quam basi latiori quinta parte longiori ; elytris utrinque oblique impressis ; antennis corporis dimidio sat brevioribus. [Long. 5f, lat. 2 lines. The entire insect (except the palpi) is of a uniform pale reddish brown colour densely clothed with silky pubescence on every part except the antennae, which however are quite concolorous with the general surface. The pubescence is of the ground colour on the upper surface except the scutellum, which together with the under- side is silvery white. The whole upper and under surface is finely and very closely punctulate, but the sculpture is entirely hidden beneath the pubescence. The sides of the prothorax are gently concave from the base to beyond the middle where the segment is nearly as wide as at the base and whence they converge slightly to the apex; a longitudinal median carina is feebly indicated on the hinder half of the dorsal surface. The elytra across the base are twice as wide as the base of the prothorax and are evenly and rather strongly narrowed to their apex ; the oblique impression on either side is quite distinct but not sharply limited, commencing near the lateral margin a little behind the shoulder and terminating about the middle of the disc half-way ,to the apex ; the elytra are obliquely truncate behind. The antennae are of the length of the prothorax and head (including the rostrum) together. Inter alia the shorter antennae, of a unicolorous bright pale brown, appear to distinguish the species from D. Westermanni. Three specimens, quite identical inter se, were sent to me from Western Australia by E. Meyrick, Esq. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 459 DiAPHANOPS PARALLELUS, Sp.nOV. Oblongus, sat parallelus ; brunneo-niger, pilis densis (supra griseo-brunneis subtus albidis) tectus ; palpis nigris ; antennarum articulis basi, tibiisque, rufis ; prothorace quam basi latiori vix longiori ; elytris lateraliter baud oblique impressis ; antennis corporis dimidio sat brevioribus. [Long. 4, lat, 1|- lines. The pubescence does not differ much in colour from that of D. Meyrickij — but that of the upper surface (in the example before me) wants the bright, silky tinge that is displayed on the latter species. The pro thorax is of similar form, but is scarcely longer than its width at the base, where moreover the width is scarcely greater than at the dilatation near the front. The elytra differ from those of D. Meyricki in being almost parallel nearly to the apex, in their greater convexity, their more rounded apices and in their more even surface. The antennae are equal in length to f the length of the whole body. It should be noted that the tibiae are somewhat infuscate near their apex. The parallel form, smaller size, and differently coloured antennse will distinguish this species from D. Meyricki. From the older species the shortness of the antennae will distinguish it, — as in that insect M. Lacordaire says that they are half as long as the whole body, which I find to be their length in the specimens that I attri- bute to it ; I should judge from the description too that D. Westermanni is a less convex insect than this and has a more elongate prothorax. If I am right in my determination of D. Westermanni it differs from the present species also in being much less parallel. A single specimen was taken in Western Australia by E. Mey- rick, Esq. Lema bifasciata. Fab. I have received from Dr. Bovill a single specimen (taken in the Northern Territory) which agrees very well with Olivier's brief 460 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, description of this insect except in having the hinder part of the under surface of a dark piceous colour. Notwithstanding this colour discrepancy I think it is probably conspecific with the insect described by Fabricius, — the exact habitat of which has not, so far as I know, been previously recorded. Crioceris recenSj sp.nov. Oblongo-parallela ; piceo-nigra ; elytris basi sat late, ad latera antice anguste, rufescentibus ; capite insequali fortius crebrius punctulato, antice sat producto, sparsim argenteo-pubescenti ; an tennis crassis, articulo 5° ceteris longiore ; prothorace trans raedium sparsius minus subtiliter punctulato, antice posticeque Isevigato, pone medium transversim impresso, quam longiori paullo ]atiori, basi quam antice latiori, ad latera coarctato ; scutello angusto elongato ; elytris postice vix dilatatis, vix striatis, antice sparsim sat crasse seriatim punctulatis, punctis post medium vix distinctis ; corpore subtus medio obscure rufescenti, sparsim argenteo-pubescenti. [I^ong. 4^, lat. 2 lines. Allied to C. fuscomaculata, Clk., but larger and entirely different in colour and markings, &c,, &c. The uniform dark pitchy colour of the antennae and legs (only the extreme base of the former and the tarsi of the latter being obscurely reddish in the example before me) will suffice to distinguish this species from all its Australian congeners. N. Territory of S. Australia (Dr. Bovill). Terillus. The following species is very different in facies and in several of its characters from typical members of this genus and I feel much hesitation in associating it with them. It would appear however to bear a good deal of resemblance to T. j^erplexus, Baly, — so that I think I shall not be far wrong in connecting it with that insect. Dr. Chapuis' tabulation of Eumolpidce (Gen. Col. X.) would refer it to Terillus. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 461 Terillus suturalis, sp.nov. Sat elongatus ; subparallelus ; ferrugineus, mandibulis apice, scutellum, suturaque, piceis vel nigris ; pilis sat longis pallidly gracilibus (supra nonnullis robustis squamiformibus intermixtis, — his sublineatim dispositis) sat crebre vestitus ; supra sat sequaliter crassius subragulose, subtus multo subtilius, punctulatus ; pro- thorace quam longiori fere duplo latiori, antice minus angustato, lateribus rotundatis. Maris tarsorum anteriorum 4 articulo 1° sat fortiter dilatato, segmento ventrali 5° postice late arcuatim emarginato. Western Australia ; taken by E. Meyrick, Esq. CuDNELLiA, gen.nov. Corpus ovale, supra glabrum, subtus pilis erectis minus con- spicuis vestitum. Caput verticale usque ad oculos thoraci insertum. Oculi fortiter granulati, subrotundati, sat prominentes. Antennae corporis dimidio paullo longiores, apicem versus minus incrassatse. Prothorax ad latera valde declivis, antice fortiter productus, lateribus integris. Scutellum parvum, trans versum. Elytra ovalia, coagmentata, abdomen arete amplectentia. Pro- sternum inter coxas minus latum, postice truncatum minus dilatatum, episternis antice baud convexis. Femora inermia, medio dilatata. Tibiae validse, simplices, apice externo dente dilatato. Tarsi robusti, articulo 3° profunde bilobo, posticorum articulo primo sequentibus 2 conjunctis paullo breviori. Ungui- culi appendiculati, divaricati. Metasternum prosterni dimidio vix longius. I am in considerable doubt as to the affinity of this insect. It bears much resemblance to the species which Dr. Chapuis groups together under the name " Clidonotites" — indeed I found it in company with a Strumatophyma. But these are ChrysomelideSj and the present insect having the 3rd joint of its tarsi deeply and narrowly bilobed should stand through that character among the 462 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, EuTTiolpides, with which tribe it agrees also in the form of the anterior coxae and prosternal episterna. I am, however, unable to assign it with confidence to any of Dr. Chapuis' groups of Eumoljndes. By the tabulation of these groups in the Gen, Col. X. p. 229, it would be assigned to the Ipliimeites^ but it does not seem to resemble any of those genera satisfactorily. Its elytra soldered together, and closely embracing the hind body (so that a considerable portion of their lateral part is visible only from beneath), its very short metasternum, and prosternal episterna not or scarcely convex in front, are sufficient, taken together, to distinguish it from all its allies. Its habits appear to resemble those of Pachnephorus and Colaspidea, but I cannot find sufficient reason to treat it as really allied to those genera. The name of the genus is derived from the native Australian name of the district in which I found the insect. Port Lincoln ; under atones. CUDNELLIA MYSTICA, Sp.nOV. -^nea; labro, palporuui antennarumque basi, capite subtus, pedisbusque (his plus minus infuscatis), rufo-testaceis ; capite crebre fortiter, prothorace duplo (subtiliter et minus subtiliter), scutello vix perspicue, elytris profunde crasse sublineatim minus crebre, punctulatis; his postice substriatis, interstitiis subcostatis ; corpore subtus crebre fortiter punctulato. [Long. If, lat. 1 line (vix). The basal joint of the antennae is moderately large and stout; it together with the 2nd joint (which is about half its size) is testa- ceous ; joints 3-6 are of a pitchy colour, somewhat slender, not difiering much inter se in length (joint 5 however slightly longest) and about as long as joint 2 ; the remaining joints are nearly black, 7-10 a little longer than 5 and somewhat dilated being of an elongate triangular form, 11 of similar size but oval in shape. The claws are thick and swollen in appearance with the basal piece angulate beneath. The sides of the prothorax are very strongly BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 463 rounded, its puiicturation sparse on the disc but becoming close and coarser towards the sides. The antennae are thinly clothed with long fine hairs. Port Lincoln ; under stones. N.B. — Some smaller specimens (long, li lines, vix), with puncturation slightly coarser throughout, and antennae and palpi scarcely infuscate towards the apex are probably to be regarded as a mere variation, — or possibly pertain to the other sex. Rhinobgltjs, gen.nov. Corpus oblongum ; supra glabrum ; subtus pilis adpressis parce vestitum. Caput verticale, usque ad oculos thoraci insertum, antice sat cylindricum subrostriforme. Oculi sat magni, rotun- dati, sat convexi, minus fortiter granulati. Antennae corporis dimidio pauUo longiores, medio graciles, apicem versus minus incrassatae. Prothorax sat convexus, antice medio fortiter pro- minens, lateribus integris. Scutellum transversum, sat parvum. Presternum inter coxas sat latum, postice truncatum dilatatum, episternis antice baud convexis. Femora inermia, medio minus dilatata. Tibiae simplices, modice robustae, apice externo minus dentate. Tarsi S3.t robusti (posticis manifeste longioribus graci- lioribus), articulo 3° profunde bilobo, posticorum articulo primo secundo vix longiori. Unguiculi appendiculati, divaricati. Labrum magnum. Mandibula porrecta. This appears to be an extremely anomalous genus and I am quite unable to specify any other as being its near ally. I do not, however, observe any character suggesting a doubt of its belonging to the Eu7nolpid(E (of which it has quite the facies) except that its antennae are not quite so widely separated at the base as is usual in the family. But I believe this to be merely an accidental discrepancy connected with the very peculiar form of the head. This organ is produced into a short wide thick beak, with parallel sides, extending forward beyond the base of the antennae slightly 464 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, further than the length of the basal joint of the antennae. This clypeus is not separated by any conspicuous suture from the rest of the head. The labrum is scarcely shorter than the clypeus. From the antennae forward the head is somewhat declivous, — so that (the entire head being placed vertically) the front outline of the same as viewed from the side seems to bend back slightly towards the prosternum, somewhat after the manner of Rhinaria in the Curcidionidca. The mode of insertion of the antennae is a little suggestive of Haltica, but the hind femora are not at all stouter than the intermediate ones, nor are channelled beneath for the reception of their tibiae. There is an evident interval between the front of the eye and the level of the insertion of the antennae which moreover is distinctly nearer to the middle longitudinal line of the head than is the inner margin of the eye, but this is accompanied by a narrowing of the head itself. In Dr. Chapuis' tabulation of groups of Eumolpidm this genus would fall in the Iphimeites, and I think it is perhaps more allied to Terillus than to any other previously described genus. Rhinobolus nitidus, sp.nov. Nitidus ; niger ; capite viridi-micante, prothorace elytrisque angusteviridi-marginatis; labro, mandibulis, antennis (his articulo ultimo apice nigro), pedibusque, testaceis ; capite la3vigato (spatio inter oculos crebrius fortius punctulato excepto) ; prothoracis disco sparsim subtilius lateribus fortius paullo crebrius, elytris profunde sparsius sublineatim, punctulatis. [Long. I5, lat. \ lines. Of the antennae joint 1 is moderately long and stout, — 2 half as long and equally stout, — 3-6 slender and moderately long (5 the longest of them), — 7-11 feebly incrassated (7 and 11 the longest of them, each about as long as the basal joint). The pro thorax is strongly transverse with very strongly rounded sides ; it is but little narrower in front than at the base. The aws are moder- ately stout, their basal piece feebly dentate. Yorke's Peninsula ; on foliage of Eucalyptus BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 465 Agetinus iEQUALis, Blackb. A small series of this insect recently sent from the Northern Territory by Dr. Bovill displays a considerable variety in colour and size, — some specimens being much smaller (long. I5 lines) than the type, and there being green and blue as well as copper coloured specimens among them. I do not think however that they represent more than one species. TOMYRIS RASA, Sp.nOV. Oblonga; nitida; supra igneo-cuprea, clypeo antice laete viridi mar- ginato ; subtus seneo-viridis, prosterno et abdomine postice cupreo- micantibus ; ore, palpis, an tennis (articulo ultimo apice nigro excepto), pedibusque, flavis ; corpore supra sat sequaliter confer- tissime subtiliter subaspere punctulato, brevissime confertitn aureo- pubescenti ; sternis subcrasse, abdomine subtiliter, crebre punctu- latis, sat crebre albido-pubescentibus ; oculis fortiter convexis ; elytris postice sat abrupte declivibus. [Long. 2|, lat. 1 1 lines. The antennse are about f the whole length of the body. The clypeus is bidentate in front. The surface of the head is very gently convex. The pro thorax is not much less than twice as wide as long ; its front margin is not much narrower than its base and the sides are rather evenly but not very strongly rounded ; viewed from above, however, the front appears much narrower than the base, and the sides appear very strongly rounded, with their greatest divergence very near the base. The elytra are not more than ^ again as wide as the prothorax and are about double the length of the head and prothorax together. The sculpture of the upper surface is conspicuously asperate though fine, and is so close that the surface might almost be called coriaceous rather than punctulate. This species is much larger than those previously described except T. pulchella, Chap., from which it differs in colour and in 30 466 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, the uniform asperate punctiiration of its upper surface, the elytra in T. indchella being very finely striolate. The shortness and comparative coarseness of the pubescence in this species suggests the idea of a hairy surface that has been closely shaved. In some lights the prothorax shows a very faint dorsal impressed channel. Port Lincoln ; also on Yorke's Peninsula. TOMYRIS NEGLIGENS, sp.nOV. Oblonga ; minus nitida ; cupreo-senea j clypeo antice laete viridi marginato ; subtus viridis ; ore, palpis, antennis (articulo ultimo apice vix inf uscato) pedibusque, flavis ; corpore supra sat tequaliter confertissime subtiliter aspere punctulato, brevissime confertim aureo-pubescenti ; sternis abdomineque dense albo-pubescentibus ; oculis minus fortiter convexis; elytris postice haud abrupte decliv- ibus. [Long. 2?, lat. \\ lines. Very closely allied to the preceding. The upper surface (under the pubescence) is much less shining and much less vividly coloured, and its puncturation (especially on the elytra) is markedly more asperate in character. The apex of the last antennal joint is hardly infuscate. The eyes are very much less prominent. The prothorax (viewed from above) appears to be less rounded on the sides and less narrowed in front ; the true margin (which is invisible from above owing to the sides being strongly declivous) is seen when viewed from the side to be very little different from that of T. rasa in curvature, but to have its angles with both the front margin and base much better defined ; the hind angle is here almost a right angle, but in T. rasa is quite rounded off. The elytra are less abruptly declivous behind. The humeral calli are of a green colour. The 5th ventral segment in the male bears a large transversely quadrate excavation divided into two parts by an obscure carina which runs down its middle. The basal joint •of the anterior tarsi in the same sex is scarcely dilated. Yorke's Peninsula ; unique in my collection. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 467 N.B. — I have before me three specimens, — from another locality on Yorke's Peninsula, — which differ from the above in being smaller (long. 2i lines) and differently coloured, the colour vary- ing from deep copper to a dull green, but they are all clothed with pubescence similar to that of T. negligens ; the antennae seem a little shorter than in that species, but as I do not observe any well- defined structural distinction it will be better to regard them as merely vars. TOMYRIS OBSCURA, sp.nov. Oblonga ; minus nitida ; nigra ; antennarum articulis (ultimis 2 exceptis) basi obscure ferrugineis ; corpore supra crebre sub- fortiter aspere punctulato, brevissime sparsius albido-pubescenti, subtus sparsim punctulato sparsim albido-pubescenti ; oculis for- titer convexis ; elytris postice sat abrupte declivibus. [Long. 2g, lat. I5 lines. This species differs from all others known to me of the genus by its uniform black colour, varied only by a brassy green front of the clypeus, by very short white pubescence which is neither very close nor conspicuous, and by the ferruginous colour of parts of the antennae. It is also notable for having its puncturation decidedly more rugulose on the elytra than on other parts, these organs presenting a slight appearance of striation on the disc and being strongly punctulate-striate, with elevated interstices, in the hinder half of the portion near the lateral margin, and their pubescence tending to run a little in longitudinal lines. The prosternum is evidently wider between the anterior coxae than in T. rasa and most of its congeners. If this species be compared with T. rasa it will be seen that the eyes are slightly less promi- nent, that the prothorax is less convex and less rounded on the sides and that the elytra are much rougher in appearance with indications of striation which is entirely absent in T. rasa. The two or three joints of the antennae preceding the last are some- what compressed, and dilated from the base to the apex. Port Lincoln. 468 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES^ TOMYRIS L^TA, Sp.nov. Oblonga ; sat angusta ; subnitida ; laete viridis, abdomine ciipreo vel aureo-micante, labro, mandibulis, palpis, antennis (articulo ultimo apice obscure excepto), pedibusque, flavis ; corpore supra sat sequaliter confertissime subtiliter aspere punctulato, brevissime confertim aureo-pubescenti, subtus sat fortiter minus crebre punc- tulato, sat dense albo-pubescenti ; oculis fortiter convexis ; elytris postice minus abrupte declivibus. [Long. \\-2% lat. 5 (vix)-l line. Apart from colour, very like T. rasa but a narrower species, its elytra more closely finely and rugulosely punctulate, and its meso- sternum very evidently narrower between the intermediate coxae. From T. ohscura it difiers widely in colour, in sculpture, in the narrowness of the prosternum between the anterior coxae, &c. From T. viridula, Er., which it resembles in colour, it differs in the very fine and close sculpture of the prothorax, &c. [The sexual characters are described under T. imjoressicollis.'] Forke's Peninsula. TOMYRIS GRACILIS, Sp.UOV. Anguste oblonga ; sat nitida ; aureo-pubescens ; viridis, abdomine cupreo-micante, labro, mandibulis, palpis, antennis (articulo ultimo apice nigro excepto), pedibusque, flavis ; capite prothoraceque fortiter rugulose sat crebre, elytris confertim aspere minus fortiter, punctulatis ; corpore subtus antice confertim, postice sparsius, punctulato ; oculis sat fortiter convexis ; elytris postice minus abrupte declivibus ; prothorace trans versim impresso ; antennis corpore longioribus, articulo 4° 3° tertia parte longiori. [Long, 1? (vix), lat. 5 line. The puncturation of the head and prothorax, — very much coarser and stronger than of the elytra, — will distinguish this species from most of its congeners, and the inequality inter se of the 3rd and BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 469 4th joints of the antennse is also a strong character. The antennte are decidedly, though not much,, longer than the whole body. The transverse impression across the disc of the pro thorax is well- defined and strong. In the male the whole middle part of the 4th and -Sth ventral segments is occupied by a large deep excavation very like that in T. impressicollis but without the erect lateral processes. The basal joint of the front tarsi is very little dilated. This species must be near T. viridula, Er., (from Tasmania), but as the author of that species expressly states that the 3rd and 4th joints of the antennae are equal I must regard the two as distinct. Tasmania and S. W. Australia have so few species in common that I have no doubt other differences would appear if my example could be compared with Erichson's type. Port Lincoln. N. B. — A female (also from Port Lincoln) which I attribute doubtfully to this species is a wider insect, with antennae scarcely differing from those of the male ; its colour is coppery-aeneous with greenish reflections. TOMYRIS IMPRESSICOLLIS, Sp.nOV. Oblonga ; sat angusta ; sat nitida ; viridis vel seneo-viridis, ab- domine aureo-micante, labro, mandibulis, palpis, antennis (articulo ultimo apice obscuro excepto), pedibusque, flavis ; corpore supra confertissime subtiliter aspere (elytris minus aspere) punctulato, brevissime confertim aureo-pubescenti, subtus sat leviter minus crebre punctulato, minus dense albo-pubescenti ; oculis fortiter convexis ; elytris postice minus abrupte declivibus ; prothorace transversim late impresso. [Long. 2^, lat. 1 line (vix). Yery close to T. Iceta, but seems to be distinct. It differs from it as follows ; — a more or less elongate shining elevated slender line runs down the middle of the clypeus ; the colour is dull or brassy green rather than a bright clear green, and the general 470 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, surface is decidedly more nitid ; the puncfcuration of tiie el}'tra is feebler, less asperate, and not so close, while that of the rest of the body is similar to that of T. IcBta. The prothorax has a very distinct, though not sharply defined, wide depression crossing the middle of the disc. On the underside the ventral segments are of a golden coppery colour. The sexual characters in the ventral segments, too, are difi"erent. One sex (apparently the female) in all the species of Tomyris that I have examined has the apex of the 5th segment widely and gently emarginate with its apical border a little thickened and reflexed. (This structure varies to some extent with the species but not in a manner that seems available for description). In the other sex of this species the 4th and 5th segments are occupied by a large deep common fovea of almost circular form, on either side of which near its apex are two stout blunt erect spines placed close together. In T. Iceta the 4th segment of the male does not present any peculiarity, but the 5th segment is of remarkable structure difficult to describe, appearing different in different lights. As far as I can ascertain a large square excavation occupies its middle part, but some parts stand up in this excavation to the level of the general surface, and these in some lights (when regarded obliquely) apjDear almost to fill up the excavation so as to give the appearance of the surface of the seg- ment being cut up by a deep irregular channel. In this species also the basal joint of the anterior tarsi is very strongly dilated in the male, while in T. Iceta it is only slightly dilated. Port Lincohi. Tomyris longicornis, sp.nov. Oblonga ; sat angusta ; minus nitida ; seneo-cuprea ; clypeo antice, elytris latera versus, capite subtus, coxis, metasteinoque, Isete viridibus ; labro, mandibulis, palpis, antennis (articulo ultiuio apice obscure excepto), pedibusque, flavis ; corpore supra confer- tissime subtiliter aspere punctulato, sat breviter sat confertim argenteo-pubescenti, subtus antice sat confertim postice sat sparsim leviter punctulato, sat dense albo-pubescenti ; oculis sat fortiter convexis ; elytris postice minus abrupte declivibus ; prothorace BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 471 transversim late impresso ; antennis gracilibus corpore vix bre- vioribus, articulo 3° 4° manifeste breviori. [Long. 2, lat. | line. A narrower and more slender insect than the precedinsf, and differently coloured, with longer and more slender antennae, the pubescence on the elytra showing a decided tendency to run in rows ; the prothorax is narrower, being not more than half again as wide as long. I have not seen a male of this species. Port Lincoln. TOMYRIS ^NEA, Sp.nOV. Oblonga ; sat brevis ; sat nitida ; senea vix cupreo-micans ; capite plus minus viridi ; labro, palpis, mandibulis, antennis (arti- culo ultimo apice obscuro), pedibusque, flavis ; corpore supra subtiliter vix confertim sat aspere punctulato, setis brevibus argenteis suberectis minus confertim vestito, subtus sternis crebre sat fortiter, abdomine sparsius subtilius punctulato, obscure argenteo-pubescenti ; oculis sat fortiter convexis ; elytris postice minus abrupte declivibus ; prothorace transversim late impresso ; antennis corpore brevioribus, articulis 6-10 paullo compressis elongato-subconicis, 3° et 4° inter se sequalibus ; capite inter oculos longitudinaliter carinato. [Long, li, lat. ? line. The front part of the disc of the prothorax is much less closely punctulate than the other parts of the same, — a very distinctive character. This species is very distinct from all previously described on account of its . less crowded puncturation and (especially) the structure of its antennae, which are stouter than in any of the preceding and have each of the five joints preceding the last slightly compressed and very gently dilated from the base to the apex so that the apical portion of the antennae appears to be slightly serrate. This antennal character might possibly justify generic separation, — but as still more decided antennal modifi- cations appear in the species next to be described I think its value of less importance than it appears at the first glance. The insect possesses all the essential characters of Tomyi'is, — proster- num evenly concave in front, claws appendiculate with the basal 472 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OP NEW SPECIES, piece very broad, posterior 4 tibise emarginate externally before the apex, body pubescent, apical joint of antennae appendiculate. In the male the 5th ventral segment is of very complicated structure and presents diflferent appearances from different points of view ; when looked at from vertically above it there is seen to be a rather small somewhat semicircular excavation occupying the whole length of its middle part, with a narrow longitudinal shining keel running down the middle of the excavation. This is not unlike the structure of the corresponding part in T. negligens^ but in that insect the excavation occupies a larger area and is differently shaped, and the central keel is much wider and feebler. The basal joint of the anterior tarsi in the male is not much dilated. A female, which I believe appertains to this species, is somewhat larger than the male (long. 1| lines) and has the head unicolorous with the rest of the body, and antennae not much longer than half the whole insect. Port Lincoln. TOMYRIS ANTENNATA, sp.nov. Breviter oblonga ; sat nitida ; supra capillis argenteis erectis minus sparsim vestita; nigro-senea, capite antice plus minus viridi; labro, mandibulis (his, nonnullis exemplis, apice infuscatis), palpis, antennis (articulis ultimis apice nigricantibus exceptis), tibiis (bis plus minus infuscatis), tarsisque, brunneo-testaceis ; capite pro- thoraceque (illo inter oculos carina nitida instructo) sat confertim, elytris sparsius, fortius punctulatis ; corpore subtus pedibusque sat longe sat dense albo-vestitis : prosterno confertissime, meta- sterno sat confertim (medio sparsim), abdomine femoribusque sat sparsim, punctulatis; oculis sat fortiter convexis; elytris postice sat abrupte declivibus ; prothorace vix transversim impresso ; antennis corporis dimidio parum longioribus, articulis 6-10 sat fortiter compressis elongato-conicis, 3° et 4° inter se sequalibus. [Long. 1|, lat. -^-Q line. The structure of the antennae of this insect (the subapical joints of which are verj little longer than their greatest width and give Bi THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 473 the apical part of the antennae a distinctly serrated outline inter- nally), and their comparative shortness, distinguish it at once from all the above and from all previously described species of Tomyris. T. cenea, however, makes a manifest approximation in this respect and T. ohscura shows indications in the same direction. I have seen only one sex (apparently female) of this species. Port Lincoln. Tomyris difficilis, sp.nov. Oblonga ; minus nitida ; asnea, vix cupreo-micans ; labro, mandibulis, palpis, antennis (articulis ultimis apice nigricantibus exceptis), pedibusque, flavis ; coipore supra sat sequaliter confer- tissime subtiliter aspere punctulato, breviter sat confertim argenteo- pubescenti, subtus antice confertim aspere (postice sparsius vix aspere) punctulato, minus dense pubescenti ; oculis sat fortiter convexis ; elytris postice minus abrupte declivibus ; prothorace transversim impresso ; antennis corpore sat brevioribus, articulis 6-10 paullo compressis elongato-subconicis, 3° et 4° inter se sequalibus. [Long. 1§ (vix)^ lat. % lines. The antennaB are shorter, and have joints 6-10 much more evidently compressed and dilated, than those of T. mnea ; com- pared with those of T. antennata they are somewhat longer with less dilated joints. The puncturation of the upper surface dis- tinguishes the present insect from both those just named, being very similar to the puncturation of some of the larger species of the genus, — especially T. Iceta and negligens. My two examples are both females. Port Lincoln. Tomyris (?) paradoxa, sp.nov. Late ovata; glabra; sat nitida; subtus picea, vix seneo-micans ; supra seneo-cuprea ; labro (hoc exempiis nonnullis infuscato), anten- nis (his apicem versus obscuris), palpis, pedibusque rufo-testaceis ; capite verticali, prothoraci profunde insertum, crebre minus subti- liter (clypeo laevigato excepto) punctulato; oculis magnis minus pro- 474 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, minentibus, vix sinuatis; prothorace fortiter transverse, valde con- vexo, coriaceo, subtiliter minus crebre punctulato, antice in medio sat fortiter producto, margine laterali leviter arcuata ; elytris quam conjunctim latioribus parum longioribus, prope suturam sub- tilius — inde latera versus gradatim fortius — punctulatis, inter haec puncta subtiliter minus sparsim punctulatis, pone humeros vix transversim strigosis, intra marginem lateralem profunde sulcatis latitudine majori mox pone basin posita ; scutello sat magno, quin- quangulo, crebre subtiliter punctulato ; femoribus medio dilatatis, anticis medio dente minuto acuto instructis ; tibiis intermediis leviter, posticis vix perspicue, emarginatis ; prosterno antice con- cavo, margine reflexo, inter coxas sat lato, fortiter elevato- dilatato pone ; abdominis segmentis 2-4 gradatim brevioribus ; corpore subtus subtilius sat sparsim (prosterno crassius crebre excepto) punctulato. [Long. 2 (vix), lat. 1| lines. This and the next species cannot be regarded as genuine mem- bers of Tomyris ; the glabrous body and different anterior margin of the presternum would suffice to justify their separation, — but I think they are certainly allied to Tomyris and 1 am unwilling to give them a new generic name because they appear in many characters to agree so well with Cleptor, Lef., (placed by its author in the Edusitoi) that I cannot resist a doubt whether M. Lefevre may not have overlooked the slight external emargination of the 4 hinder tibiee and the peculiar anterior margin of the prosternum, and have founded his genus on a species congeneric with that now before me. This insect undoubtedly seems intermediate between Tomyris and Edusia. Its tibiae, — although their external emar- gination is very feeble, — are those of Tomyris. The prosternum does not agree with that of either genus ; it resembles Tomyris rather than Edusia in having no part of its front margin con- vex in a forward direction, but the whole of that margin is bent U]ywards (forming an increased receptacle for the head). The anterior coxae are separated about as widely as in Tomyris ohscura, the hind portion of the prosternum from the point where it begins to dilate hind ward bring abruptly on a higher plane than the BY THE REV. T BLACKBURN. 475 antei'ior portion. The general facies is much like Chrysomela but the penultimate joint of the tarsi deeply bilobed is that of a Eumolpid. The antennse are a little more than half as long as the whole body ; joint 1 moderately elongate, piriform ; 2 rather more than half 1 ; 3 more slender and slightly longer than 2 ; 4-6 equal to each other and scarcely longer than 3 ; 7-11 all lightly dilated. Port Lincoln. TOMYRISC?) MINOR, Sp.nOV. Late ovata ; glabra ; sat nitida ; subtus piceo-viridis, latera versus la^tius viridis ; supra cuprea, capite viridi, prothorace an- tice aureo-viridi ; labro, palpis, antennis, pedibusque testaceis ; capite (clypeo excepto) crebrius sat fortiter, prothorace subtilius minus crebre, elytris ut T. paradoxce sed fortius, punctulatis ; scutello sublgevi. [l^ong. 1|, lat. 1 line (vix). This small species scarcely differs from the preceding in its structural characters ; the external emargination of the interme- diate and hind tarsi is a little stronger, the front margin of the prosternum is not so distinctly turned up and the apical 5 joints of the antennse are decidedly more dilated, — though in all of them the length decidedly exceeds the greatest width. The colour, the small size and the stronger puncturation readily distinguish it. Port Lincoln ; also on Yorke's Peninsula. Besides the preceding species T have in my collection an unique example of a Tomj^ris from Yorke's Peninsula, and another from Port Lincoln, but as they are both females it will probably be better to pass them by for the present. The following tabulation will show clearly I hope the distinctive characters of the species described above. A. Prosternum normal B. Antennae with each of the apical joints more than twice as long as its greatest width. . . . 476 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, C. Legs testaceous D. Prothorax with a wide shallow impres- sion across the middle E. Antennae long and slender ; joints 6-9 sub-cylindric and not dilated F. Puncturation of prothorax almost uniform with that of elytra G. Elytra coppery with lateral mar- gins green longicornis. G G. Elytra entirely green mipressicollis . FF. Puncturation of prothorax (espec- ially in front) much coarser than of elytra gracilis. EE. Antennse with joints 6-10 evidently compressed and elongate-trian- gular cenea. DD. Prothorax not impressed across the middle E. Eyes at least normally prominent F. Mesosternum wide between inter- mediate coxae rasa. FF. Mesosternum narrow loita. EE. Eyes exceptionally slightly promi- nent negligens. CC. Legs black or nearly so obscura. BB. Antennae with some of the joints not, or scarcely, twice as long as their greatest width C. Clothed with erect (and not particularly short) hair antennata. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 477 CC. Clothed with close short pubescence difficilis. AA. Prosternum abnormal B. Head coppery paradoxa BB. Head bright green minor. Edusoides, gen.nov. Corpus oblongum, plus minus sat longe pubescens. Caput subverticale usque ad oculos thoraci insertum, oculis subintegris. Antennae corporis dimidio subbreviores, articulis 5 ultimis monili- formibus. Prothorax fortiter transversus, lateribus integris. Scutellum sat transversum, quinquangulum. Elytra haud costata. Prosternum sat latum postice dilatatum truncatum, episternis autice vix perspicue convexis. Femora inermia, medio sat fortiter dilatata. Tibiae validse, breves, simplices, apice externe fortiter dentatae. Tarsi robusti (maris ' posticorum 4 articulo primo valde dilatato). Unguiculi appendiculati, divaricati. The following species cannot be referred to any hitherto charac- terised genus known to me ; I am therefore compelled to find a new name for it. Although its facies is decidedly suggestive of Edusia, its place in Dr. Chapuis' classification would be difficult to assign, as the front margin of the prosternal episterna is so slightly convex and its inner angle so very slightly marked that I question whether the insect could be placed in the Edusites; the hinder tibise are not emarginate externally, the claws are appen- diculate and the sides of the prothorax are entire. Edusoides pulcher, sp.nov. (J. — Oblongus; minus nitidus ; supra alutacius ; viridis, aureo- micans ; labro, palpis, antennis (his apicem versus infuscatis), pedibusque, testaceis ; capite confuse minus subtiliter, prothorace sparsius subtilius, elytris obscure crassius, punctulatis ; subtus sat nitidus, aureo-viridis^ longe minus crebre pubescens, metasterno 478 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES, fortiter transversim rngato ; abdomine transversim acervatim punctulato, segmento ultimo late fortiter emarginato ; tarsorum anticorum 4 articulo basali fortiter dilatato. [Long. 11 (vix), lat. ? line. The joints of the antennae are all more or less bead-like, — the basal joint the largest, the second about a half smaller, the next four all smaller still but not differing much inter se, the apical five joints almost equal inter se and each a little smaller than the basal joint, — the 11th, however, a little longer (though not stouter) than the preceding. The legs are very stout, all the femora being strongly dilated in the middle, the tibiae widening considerably to near the apex and then abruptly dilating at the extreme apex externally in a very strong and very sharp tooth. The basal joint of the four anterior tarsi is very large being about as wide as long and about as wide as the dilated apex of the tibia. The claws are appendiculate, the basal piece of the claw being produced in a sharp tooth internally. The elytra have some obscure transverse wrinkles behind the shoulder, and are feebly striate near the apex with feebly convex interstices. Sent to me from Western Australia by E. Meyrick, Esq. N.B. — The specimens of the preceding sent by Mr. Meyrick were accompanied by some females evidently congeneric, but I do not think certainly conspecific. They are larger and broader [long. 1-|, lat. 1 line (vix)], of a dark seneous colour, with the antennae more slender, the joints of the same (especially joints 3-7) less bead-like, the pubescence much longer and more conspicuous on the underside and invading the sides of the upper surface, the external tooth on the tibiae even longer, and of course the basal joint of the posterior four tarsi not dilated, nor the apex of the 5th ventral segment strongly emarginate. The convexity of the front of the prosternal episterna appears to be a trifle more pronounced in these females than in the male described above. BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 479 Chalcomela illudens, Baly. The habitat of this species is given by its author as "? Adelaide." I have seen no insect agreeing with the description in the numerous South Australian collections that have come under my notice, — but examples have been sent to me, taken near Brisbane by Mr. Bailey, which answer to the description very fairly. The descrip- tion of the purple markings on the elytra corresponds a little doubtfully with the markings of the examples in question, but those markings are so ill-defined and in some lights agree so fairly well that I think my identification is correct. Strumatophyma undulatipennis, Clk. I have met with an insect near P. Lincoln which agrees very well with Mr. Clark's description, and differs from S. verrucosa as undidatipennis is said to do, — except in the absence of the reddish colour attributed to the sterna and antennae of the latter species. This discrepancy may arise from Mr. Clark's having described a somewhat immature specimen. *S'. undulatipennis was described on a unique example from W. Australia. ChALCOLAMPRA ADELAIDE, Sp.nOV. Brevis ; ovalis ; nitida ; nigro-senea ; ore, antennis, palpis, pedibusque testaceis ; prothorace duplo-punctato ; elytris striato- punctulatis, interstitiis subtiliter punctulatis. [Long. 2, lat. li lines (vix). Not unlike the European Prasocuris aucta, Fab., in shape, but a little more attenuated and prolonged behind. The entire upper sur- face is finely, evenly and closely punctulate, — the coarser sculpture being superadded to this system of fine even puncturation. The head is in some examples more or less red; the clypeus is separated from the front by a strong arched impression. The prothorax at the base is nearly twice as wide as it is long, the base being a 480 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES^ little less than half again as wide as the front which is gently concave, with obtuse angles ; the sides are nearly straight from the base to beyond the middle, and then arcuately convergent ; the base is gently bisinuate, widely roundly and rather strongly lobed in the middle, and very exactly applied to the elytra ; the hind angles are well-defined ; the coarser puncturation is in the middle sparing, and not much coar&er than that of the general surface, but is larger and closer towards the margins. The elytra are very distinctly punctulate-striate quite to the apex, the inter- stices being almost perfectly flat. The claws are not far from being simple, the basal tooth being ill-defined, feeble, wide and very obtuse. The 3rd joint of the antennae is considerably longer than the 4th. This insect must be near the Tasmanian C. pacifica, Er., and luteicornis, Er., from both of which (apart from colour differences) it differs in having the sculpture of the elytra not obsolete near the apex ; from C. acervata, Germ., it differs in colour, shape and sculpture as well as size. Not rare near Adelaide ; generally found (like most of its con- geners) under bark. Chalcolampra hursti, sp.nov. Robusta ; nigro-senea ; sat nitida ; capite (nonnullis exemplis), ore, palpis, antennis, pedibusque piceo-rufis (his, plurimis exemplis, obscurioribus) ; prothorace duplo-punctulato ; elytris sat fortiter punctulato-striatis ; interstitiis late leviter insequaliter convexis, laevigatis. [Long. 3-3i, lat. If lines. The antennse are decidedly less than half as long as the whole insect, and slender, their 3rd joint much longer than the 4th which is equal to the 5th. The prothorax is considerably more than half again as wide as long, its base about half again as wide as its front which is rather strongly concave ; the sides are contracted in a gentle curve from base to apex ; the surface is covered with very fine lightly impressed and by no means close puncturation, BY THE REV. T. BLACKBURN. 481 and also bears a system of coarser (but not very coarse) punctura- tion which is rather evenly distributed (except on the hinder part of the disc where it fails), and is not much coarser on the sides than elsewhere. The elytral sculpture is scarcely enfeebled towards the apex. The interstices are for the most part very evidently convex but in an irregular fashion some parts of the same inter- stice being more convex then others^ and the convexity being here and there extended laterally so as almost to interrupt the stria- tion ; all these irregularities however are feeble and not at all sharply defined, but they give the elytra a somewhat blotchy appearance. Compared with C. repens^ Germ., this species (apart from colour differences) has the antennae much more slender, the joints of the same differently proportioned inter se, the prothorax less transverse and differently punctured, the elytral interstices less evenly convex, &c., &c.,; compared with C. acervata, Germ., (which is supposed to be identical with mnea, Boisd.) it presents similar antennal differences, its prothorax differs by the concavity of its front margin, the much greater closeness and evenness of its coarser system of puncturation, &c., &c., and the elytra by the con- vexity of their interstices. Two species have been previously recorded from Queensland, — C. marynorata, Baly, which has yellowish elytra sprinkled with piceous patches, — and C. rufipes, Jac, which has the prothorax very sparingly punctulate, besides colour differences. Taken near Brisbane by Mr. Hurst ; several specimens. N.B. — Specimens taken in the Adelaide district, also on Yorke's Peninsula and near P. Lincoln, appear conspecific with this, although the brassy tinge of colour on their upper surface is more decided and they seem te be a little more convex longitudinally, — the elytra viewed from the side presenting an upper outline which forms a more decided curve; in some of these examples, more- over, the elytra are more or less opaque and finely coriaceous, — the latter character being possibly sexual. 31 482 AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES. Chalcolampra distinguenda, sp.nov. Minus convexa ; nitida ; senea ; antennis pedibusque nigro- piceis, abdomine apice rufescenti ; prothorace acervatim crassissime punctulato ; elytris seriatim punctulatis ; punctis in seriebus sat subtilibus, sparsim positis, apicem versus obsoletis ; antennis robustis, articulis 3° 4°-que inter se sequalibus. [Long. 3f , lat. 1^ lines (vix). The only other previously described species resembling this in having dark coloured legs and antennae (the latter being stout) and elytra devoid of markings are acervata, Germ., repens, Germ., and (perhaps) pacifica, Er. Of these the last-named is a very much smaller insect ; acervata is decidedly smaller and repens considerably larger. C. distinguenda differs moreover from all three inter alia in having elytra quite devoid of striae, the punc- tures being simply inserted in rows on an even surface. The interstices between the rows are quite laevigate. Victoria j unique in the S. Australian Museum. NOTE ON THE ORIGIN OF "KEROSENE SHALE." By T. W. Edgeworth David, B.A., F.G.S. (Plate XVIII.) Introduction. — The so-called kerosene shale of New South Wales has been more appropriately termed Torbanite by the late Rev. W. B. Clarke.* Professor Liversidge has also adopted the same name for it, remarking that the oil which it contains is probably not kerosene, and that the fracture in most cases is conchoidal and not shaly, the only exception to the latter rule being the small patch of oil shale formerly worked at America Creek, near Wollongong.f The first mention of the discovery of kerosene shale, according to LiversiJge (loc. cit.J, is that made by P. Cunningham, Sur- geon, R.N., in a book entitled, " Two Years in New South Wales," published in London in 1827, where he describes its occurrence near Bathurst. Since that date kerosene shale has been proved to exist in many localities in this colony, of which the most im- portant are the following : — Colley Creek, near Murrurundi and Greta in the Northern Coal-field, and in the same field in the Greta Coal Measures, at Homeville, near Stony Creek, West Maitland, it is represented by a seam of cannel coal ; Hartley, Blackheath, Katoomba, Mt. Victoria, Mt. York, Burragorang, Wallerawang, Capertee, Bathgate in the Western Coal-field ; Joadja Creek in the South-western Coal-field, and Mount Kembla, Ameiica Creek near Wollongong, and the head of the Clyde River in the Southern Coal-field. * Remarks on the Sedimentary Formations of New South Wales, Sydney, 1878, p. 66. tMinerals of New South Wales, &c., by A. Liversidge, M.A., F.R.S., London. Trubner & Co., 1888, pp. 145-153. 484 NOTE ON THE ORIGIN OF "KEROSENE SHALE," The kerosene shale at each of these localities is believed by Mr. C. S. Wilkinson, F.G.S., the Director of the Geological Survey, to occur in the Lower Productive Coal Measures, other- wise known as the Greta Series, of Permo-Carboniferous age, and this fact first recognised by Mr. Wilkinson may prove a valuable help in the correlation of the different Coal-fields of New South Wales. Occurrence. — Kerosene shale is developed in isolated patches for the most part near the edge of the basin of the Lower Productive Coal Measures of New South Wales. In certain coal seams it is associated with the coal, and occasionally passes rather suddenly into ordinary bituminous coal, Mr. C. S. Wilkinson having observed one instance where the transition occurred in the space of three feet. The change from kerosene shale into bituuiinous coal can be traced vertically in the seam as well as horizontally. Mr. W. A. Dixon, F.I.C., F.C.S., in a paper read before Section B. of the Australasian Association*, calls attention to the fact that at Joadja there are three distinct layers in the kerosene shale seam, a lower layer of splint coal, a middle layer of kerosene shale, and an upper layer of good bituminous coal, and remarks (loc, cit.), " It is evident that the differences in the three layers in this seam cannot be ascribed' to any other causes than an originally radical difference in the vegetation forming them." In other cases, however, these lenticular patches become stony near the margins, and pass into a very fine-grained black carbon- aceous clay shale, having a splintery conchoidal fracture. These patches vary in extent from a few square feet to perhaps over a square mile, and in thickness from a few inches to five feet. The kerosene shale, though at first sight it appears to be massive, is in reality minutely laminated, as may be observed if the weathered outcrops of the deposit be examined. The laminae occasionally show imprints of Glossopteris and Vertebraria. The former are * Proceedings of Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science. First Session, 1888, p. 127. BY T. W. EDGEWORTH DAVID. 485 found to conform to the planes of lamination, whereas the latter, as I am informed by Mr. C. S. Wilkinson, are almost invariably found at Joadja to lie with their longest axes at right angles to the planes of bedding, so that they must have been growing in an erect position at the time that the kerosene shale was being formed. Professor Liversidge also mentions this fact {loc. cit. p. 146). Mr. AVilkinson also informed me that the substance of the Vertebraria in these shales is usually found to be converted into jet. Where of an inferior clayey character the shale contains great numbers of spherical bodies sprinkled through it, about the size of a small pin's head, and about l-50th to l-40th of an inch in diameter. In places these pin-head bodies are represented by hollows of about the same size, or a trifle smaller, partly filled with a brown resinous-looking powder. This has been observed by the author at Iron Creek, near Mittagong, and also in the core from the recently completed bore at Woodford, in the Blue Mountains. At the Homeville colliery, at Stony Creek, near West Mait- land, a band of fire-clay occurs in association with the main seam of cannel coal, which here represents the kerosene shale ; and this fire-clay contains spherical bodies about l-40th of an inch in diameter in such abundance as to constitute about :jth of the whole rock. They consist of earthy ochreous limonite, and become magnetic on being heated to bright redness in the blow- pipe flame. Microscopic sections, however, prepared at the Department of Mines, and exhibited by kind permission of the Minister for Mines, show that these bodies, which at first sight might be supposed to be minute concretions, are probably minute fossils. Their spherical shape suggests that they may belong to sporangia, or seeds, or possibly large spores. They appear to consist of three parts — an amorphous nucleus, surrounded by a thick zone having more or less of a fibrous radial structure, which last is encased in a narrow opaque ring which forms the outer envelope of these bodies. Were they concretions there would probably be less uniformity in their size, and they would 486 NOTE ON THE ORIGIN OF " KEROSENE SHALE,' be not so much indented, as they are, into the fossil leaves with which they are associated, Mr. W. A. Dixon {loc cit. p. 133) requotes a statement of his from Professor Liversidge's " Minerals of New South Wales " with regard to a coal from Mittagong, which the author knows to be intimately associated with the kerosene shale, to the effect that "the bright lines of fracture were marked by numerous lens- shaped cavities 00 "5 to 0*10 inch in greater diameter, generally filled with a brownish pulverulent carbonaceous matter. These were apparently the impressions and remains of seeds, and they showed traces of a dense cortical layer." Mr. C. S. Wilkinson informs the author that he has observed numbers of similar sporangia or seeds associated with, he thinks, the Lower Lithgow seam at Bowenfels. Microscopic sections of the kerosene shale itself show that it consists largely of numerous flat, elongated, and round or oval particles, some of which at any rate may be referred to spores, spore-cases, or seeds. Fossil wood is conspicuously absent from the Lower Coal- Measures in which the kerosene shale occurs. A few fragments, however, are occasionally met with near Maitland in the Ravens. field Sandstone of the Lower Marine Series, which underlies, and in some of the beds of the Upper Marine Series, which overly the Lower Coal Measures. There is no evidence, however, of the existence of large roots or stools of trees in the underclays of the kerosene shale or cannel coal, such roots as do exist being some- what minute. The following is a section by Mr. J. Mackenzie, F.G.S., of the kerosene shale seam at Joadja, near Mittagong, in this colony* : — (RooJ) Conglomerate. Ft. In. Bituminous Coal 0 8 Boghead Mineral 1 0 Indurated Clay 0 1 Boghead Mineral 1 0 Coal and Shale (hole in this) 1 6 * Mineral Products of New South Wales, &c., and Description of the Seams of Coal Worked in New South Wales, by John Mackenzie, F.G.S., 1887 edition, p. 176. BY T. W. EDGEWORTH DAVID. 487 With this it may be of interest to compare a descending section of the Torbanehill seam in Scotland by Thomas Stuart Traill, M.D., F.R.S.E.^ 1. "A thick roof of sandstone. 2. Faeks, a crumbling shale = 4 inches in thickness. 3. Cement, a mixture of shale and poor ironstone = 3 inches. 4. Bituinenite, which in this pit at the face => 1 foot 4 inches in thickness (elsewhere 1 foot 11 inches, T.W.E.D.). 5. Fine ironstone from 2 inches to \ inch. 6. Bituminous shale often containing tabular masses of good iron- stone — 2 inches. 7. An inferior coal = 7 inches. These four last-mentioned beds are all raised with the Bitumenite, and together measure 2 feet 3 inches in thickness. 8. Coal much mixed with shale, here called ybit/ coal, about 2 feet 4 inches. 9. Fireclay." The " Bitumenite " above is a synonym proposed by Dr. Traill for Torbanite. On p. 10 (loG. cit.) he states that large Stigmarice occur in the Tor- banite, one as thick as a human body, and also that no real organic structure was visible in the Torbanite, but numerous globules of a pale yellowish matter. In the same publication, p. 176, Dr. John Hughes Bennett, M.D., F.R.S.E., describes minute trans- parent bodies in the Torbanehill Mineral having a radiate crystal- line appearance, and being from sJo^-h to 4000th of an inch in diameter. He states (loc. cit. p. 181) that these yellow masses in the Torbane- hill Mineral are a " bitumenoid or resinoid substance, imbedded in earthy matter ;" and also that " We could nowhere discover in them any trace of cell wall or contents. , . . Numbers of them present no envelope or definite boundary." * Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh, xxi. Part 1, p. 8. 488 NOTE ON THE ORIGIN OF " KEROSENE SHALE, Chemical Composition — Mr. W. A. Dixon in his above quoted papers, page 135, gives the following as an analysis of the best Joadja shale : — Carbon 75-32 Hydrogen 1 2" 05 Oxygen 5'49 Nitrogen 0-28 Sulphur 0-31 Ash 6-55 On the preceding page of the same paper, Mr. Dixon says, " It has been suggested by some one that the shales are the products of resinous spores of some plant. From the persistent fatty pro- ducts of distillation, I think resin must be abandoned, as resins pass more to aromatics. It appears to me more probable that shale comes from some oil or wax producing plant, more likely the latter, in view of the considerable yield of solid paraffin." On p. 137 of the same paper, Mr. Dixon states that "the organic matter of the shale is evidently a very stable body. It is almost absolutely insoluble in naphtha, carbon bisulphide and similar menstruse." Professor Liversidge states (loc. cit., p- 145J — "The Hartley and Murrurundi shales are but slightly soluble, if at all, in alcohol, ether, carbon disulphide, petroleum or caustic potash, even when boiled ; but they gelatinise with boiling sulphuric acid, and evolve a sulphurous acid odour; with nitric acid they yield a yellow solution." On p. 148 (loc. citj, the same authority gives the following analysis by himself of kerosene shale from Joadja Creek, and, amongst analyses of other similar minerals for comparison, one by How of the Torbanite, from Torbane Hill : — Locality. Moisture. Volatile Hydro- carbons. Fixed Carbon. Ash. Sulphur Specific Gravity. 12. Joadja Creek, N.S.W 25. Torbanite, Torbane Hill... 004 82123 71-17 7-160 7-65 10-340 21-18 0 337 1-229 1-170 by t. w. edge worth david. 489 Previous Theories about its Origin. (1) Drift Tinnher Theory. — With reference to the origin of kerosene shale, the late Rev. W. B. Clarke"^ states that "it has unquestionably resulted from the local deposition of some resinous wood, and passes generally into ordinary coal, many portions of the same bed in the Illawarra mines exhibiting the unmistakable features of the latter and the impress of fronds of Glossopteris as plainly as they are shown on ordinary coal shale." On the follow- ing page Mr. Clarke states, " presuming that the origin above suggested is correct, viz., the occasional occurrence in the ancient deposits of trees of a peculiar resinous constitution, there is no anomaly in finding in one spot a mere patch amidst a coal seam (as is the case at Anvil Creek on the Hunter River), or thick-bedded masses of greater area as in the coal seams of Mount York, or of American Creek in the Illawarra, depending on the original amount of drift timber." This theory is the one at present most generally accepted. (2) Distillation Theory. — The late Examiner of Coalfields, Mr. Wm. Keene, F.G.S., was of opinion that kerosene shale owed its origin to a natural distillation of the hydrocarbons from bitu- minous seams through the heat of igneous rocks intruded into the coal-measures subsequent to the formation of the coal-seams. He considered, therefore, that igneous rocks of later date than the coal-measures formed everywhere a necessary accompaniment to kerosene shale. (3) Oil-spring Theory. — The late Professor Denton, when in Sydney a few years ago, suggested that kerosene shale was due to local outbreaks of oil-springs, which may have overflowed at the surface and saturated the peaty material in the coal-swamps for a considerable radius around the scene of the outbreak. This explanation, however, simply puts the difficulty back a stage, but * Sedimentary Formations of New South Wales, Sydney, i878, p. 66. 490 NOTE ON THE ORIGIN OF " KEROSENE SHALE," does not remove it, as the obvious question at once suggests itself, What caused the oil-wells? and of this no satisfactory account can be given. It might be argued that such oil-wells might have had an origin similiar to those of Trinidad, which are associated with the famous Asphaltum Lake of La Brea. At Trinidad, however, the oil and asphaltum is considered by Messrs. S. P. Wall and J. G. Sawkins, F.G.S.,"^ to have originated from the alteration in situ of ligneous deposits, together with, perhaps, a slight admixture of animal material, especially shells. They consider the Asphaltum Lake of La Brea, which has a superficial area of 99J acres, and is estimated to contain about 3,168,000 tons of bitumen (the average depth being supposed to be 20 feet)> to have resulted simply from a segregation and concentration of the bitumen in local depressions in the asphaltic sands and shales. The same authors state {loc. cit. p. 144) : — "The conversion from the ligneous into the bitumineous structure may be seen in any stage, from the first deposit (usually parallel with the fibres) to the total obliteration of organic texture, when nothing but the external form of the wood reoiains." They conclude that asphaltum has been formed from vegetable material by direct conversion at the ordinary temperature. The same stratum may be lignitic at one point, and asphaltic at another, the difference being attributed to the different chemical reactions which have taken place, the tendency being for lignite to be formed, where the deposit is of a pure carbonaceous nature, and asphaltum, where a large propor- tion of earthy matter exists. The first stage in the process of con- version of woody matter into asphaltum consists in the formation of asphaltic oil ; this oil rises in springs from comparatively shallow depths. The residue after the separation of this oil is usually the ordinary asphalt. * " Memoirs of the Geological Survey of the West Indies." Part I. " Report on the Geology of Trinidad." By S. P. Wall and J. G. Sawkins, F.G.S., 1860, pp. 143-147. BY T. W. EDGEWORTH DAVID. 491 Yegetahle Secretion Theory. — This theory was advanced by Mr. W. A. Dixon in his paper already quoted (pp. 135 and 136), and the similarity in the chemical composition of some waxes of living plants to that of kerosene shale, as Mr. Dixon points out, lends some weight to this argument. It may be not out of place here to mention that Mr. Hamlet, F.C.S., the Government Analyst, stated at the last meeting of the Royal Society that the fact had lately come under his notice that a considerable quantity of oil had lately been observed to be floating on the surface of the reservoir at the waterworks at West Maitland. This oil, in Mr. Hamlet's opinion, was produced by a small aquatic plant, Spirogyra or ProtococGus, but he was not pre- pared to say whether the oil was secreted by the plant, or whether it was connected with fructification. He was inclined to the former opinion. Coorongite Theory. — The author is informed by Mr. C. S. Wilkinson that he believes that it has been suggested that kerosene shale may have had an origin similar to that of the Coorongite found at Coorong, in South Australia. The author, however, has been unable to find any reference to such suggestion. Coorongite is described by W. T. Thiselton Dyer, B.Sc, F.L.S.,"^ as "a peculiar indiarubber-like material, . . . the history and origin of which seem likely to become matters of as great controversy as the true nature of the Torbane Hill Mineral. In appearance it consists of sheet-like masses somewhat less than an inch in thickness, and with more or less scattered sand-grains adhering to their surface. It occurs at a place called Coorong, whence it is brought to Adelaide. The country in the neighbour- hood is described as consisting of limestone ridges and scrub without grass. The Coorongite, as it has been named, is con- fined to a depressed portion of the district, the bottom of which is sandy and grass-covered ; it occurs on the banks forming the * " On a Substance known as Australian Caoutchouc." Journal of Botany, 1872, pp. 103, 104. 492 NOTE ON THE ORIGIN OF " KEROSENE SHALE," margins of the depression, and also on the sides of island-like elevations which are scattered about it." On page 104 {loc. cit.) he states, " Another writer in the Register (May 8th, 1866) describes thin sections as 'exhibiting under the microscope, especially if moistened with a solution of caustic potash or benzole, a granular and cellular structure with entangled fibres resembling the fibres of decayed fungi.' Mr. Berkeley has also, as he informs me, been struck with this pseudo-cellular structure. Mr. Archer, the Secretary of the Dublin Micro- scopical Club, to whom I submitted a fragment for examina- tion, gives, I think, the true explanation of this appearance. He writes to me in a recent letter to the following effect : — * I think the substance in question is certainly organic — some kind of gum with accidental things imbedded, such as bits of vegetable tissue, some confervoid or fungal threads, and the like. Once I saw a Cymhella in the material, but I never could find the same place again. The matrix appears to possess a certain amount of quasi cellular appearance by reason of streaks running here and there in a quasi reticulated manner. Of course, in the act of making the section, the knife leaves a number of superficial streaks which one must throw overboard.' The struc- ture of the matrix noticed above may doubtless be attributed to a physical fibrillation due to the mere shrinking and hardening of the substance. That it must have been in a soft, if not fluid state, is evident from the miscellaneous collection of crypto- gamic reliquice which different microscopists have detected in it. Their miscellaneous character is a sufiicient proof that their presence is adventitious. As to the origin of the substance, opinions are the most discordant possible. The suggestion which occurred to Mr. Berkeley that it is the residue of some crypto- gamic plant, is, at first sight, very plausible. One can imagine such a residue being formed by Bromicolla aleutica, which forms in the Aleutian Isles a layer two feet thick of a Nostoc-like sub- stance, covered with a gramineous vegetation. One can imagine it also to result from the drying up of a lake covered with Hoomo7iema fluitanSj the ' vegetable turtle-fat,' described by BY T. W. EDGEWORTH DAVID. 493 Dr. Seeman as a jelly-like mass several feet thick, with a tall species of sedge growing in it. The following analysis made by Dr. Bernays discountenances, however, this theory entirely. He found : Moisture -4682 Carbon 64-7300 Hydrogen 11-6300 Ash 1-7900 Oxygen and unestimated matters.... 20-3768 Any residue left by a Cryptogam (assuming, of course, that no extensive change of composition had taken place in it, except the loss of watei) would contain about 50 per cent, oxygen, or far more than the ivhoh of the unestimated matter put down above ; it would also contain much less hydrogen. It may, therefore, be safely concluded that no cryptogamic growth could have produced a substance which is practically a hydro-carbon and not a carbo- hydrate." Professor Thiselton Dyer concludes that coorongite may be the oozing or secretion of some plant like the grass-tree f Xan- thorrhcEa) or it may have been formed from petroleoid springs. The diatoms found in the coorongite are all freshwater species, as the author is informed by Mr. J. J. Fletcher, M.A., B.Sc, to whom he is indebted for the above reference to Professor Thiselton Dyer's paper, and also for the following reference to a description of the diatoms associated with coorongite."^ Mr. R. Etheridge, jun., has also kindly supplied the author with the following references to coorongite. f * Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science. Vol. XIII. New Series, p. 211. " The diatoms in the Australian Caoutchouc, &c," by the Rev. E. O'Meara. t Coorongit, a New Australian Mineral Product. Baird's Annual Record of Science and Industry for 1872, p. 134. Coorongit. Das Australische Kautschuk Coorongit. Der Naturforscher, 1872, V. No. 23, p. 186. 494 NOTE ON THE ORIGIN OF " KEROSENE SHALE," The author has been unable to ^et access to the two last-men- tioned works, but these references may perhaps be of use to others. The many points of resemblance between coorongite and kero- sene shale may serve as an excuse for the author having intro- duced so lengthy a quotation as to its nature and probable origin. So long, however, as these remain a mystery, their exact bearing, if any, on the origin of kerosene shale, must remain in abeyance. Arguments against Drift Timber Theory. — (1) Had kerosene shale been formed from rafts of resinous trees, which became macerated at the spots where we now find kerosene shale, it is unlikely that the maceration should in every case have been so thorough and complete as not to leave a vestige of woody struc- ture behind. At Trinidad, for instance, as already related, the wood in the asphaltic deposits exhibits every gradation of change from the ligneous into the bitumenous state, so that if the w^hole deposit were buried under thick sediments for a long geological period until it became completely fossilized, and were afterwards re-exposed by denudation, there would be ample proof of the formation of bitumen from woody matter in the fragments of the undecomposed and partially decomposed woody material in the rocks associated with the bitumen, and the latter would also con- tain pseudomorphs in bitumen after the original individual frag- ments of wood. In the case, however, of the kerosene shale seams of this colony fragments of fossil wood are rarely found in the strata immediately associated with the kerosene shale seams. (2) It is difficult to understand how Glossopteris leaves could have become so delicately interleaved with the laminae of the kerosene shale, or the Vertebraria stems have maintained their erect position in the kerosene shale, supposing it to have originated from a mass of drift wood. Such leaves would in the case sup- posed have been chiefly restricted to the top of the mass, and would not have been evenly distributed through it, as they are now found. (3) The resins in such trees, during such supposed maceration, would be liable to separate out in places into small irregular BY T. W. EDGEWORTH DAVID. 495 patches and lumps, like the retinite in the altered brown coal of Invercargill and Kawa Kawa, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, but such do not as a rule occur in the shale. (4) Drift timber would be sure to carry fragments of rock or lumps of earth entangled in its roots, and these would be liable to be imbedded in the shale, during the process of maceration, but this is not found to be the case. (5) The results of the decomposition of resinous trees would probably be to produce some true resin, but from the reports above quoted of Mr. Dixon and Professor Liversidge, kerosene shale is not appreciably soluble in alcohol, ether, or bisulphide of carbon, and it certainly would have been partly soluble had it contained resin in large proportion. Arguments against Theory of Distillation hy Intrusive Igneous Rocks. — (1) In some cases, as at Greta, kerosene shale has been found far removed from intrusive igneous rocks. (2) At Joadja, if the shale had resulted from distillation, the seam would have had a tolerably uniform composition, instead of being separated into three distinct layers. (3) Oil would be found in the crevices and interstices of the rock wherever it is at all porous. But this has not been observed. Arguments against Oil-spriytg Theory. — These would be the same as those already advanced against drift-timher theory^ with the exception of (4) and (5), and with the additional objection that there would be no apparent source for the oil-springs. Arguments against Vegetable Secretion Theory. — No valid argu- ments have occurred to the author against this theory, with the exception that it does not fully account for the very lenticular character of the shale, nor from its development being chiefly confined to the edge of the coal basin. It appears, however, by far the best of the theories already advanced, and may be the correct one, though the author thinks that there is more evidence in favour of his own theory. 496 NOTE ON THE ORIGIN OF " KEROSENE SHALE," Arguments for and against Coorongite Theory. — The origin of Coorongite being not yet understood, it is useless to speculate as to a possible similar origin for the kerosene shale, though the latter certainly possesses some striking points of resemblance to the former, especially if allowance be made for the elimination of oxygen, which would take place in Coorongite were that mineral subjected to such prolonged conditions of heat and pressure as the kerosene shale has undergone. Suggested Theory oj Kerosene Shale having been formed from Si^orangia, Si^ores, Pollen, or Seeds. —The minute lamination of kerosene shale, and the uniform distribution throughout it of the minute resinous-like particles, taken in conjunction with the fact that fossil leaves are regularly interlaminated with the shale, especially where it is at all inferior, lead the author to infer that the finely divided state of the kerosene shale was of primary and not of secondary origin. If the resinous-like particles were originally in a finely divided state, the most natural assumption is that they were spores, sporangia, pollen, or seeds. A micro- scopic examination of the clay shales associated with the cannel seam at Homeville shows them to contain abundant spherical bodies, about 1-30 th of an inch in diameter, which are probably sporangia. Somewhat similar bodies are observable in inferior portions of the kerosene shale, and possibly even in purer varieties. It is possible, therefore, that the oily character of these shales may be chiefly due to the local accumulations of showers of minute spores or sporangia or seeds, with a certain admixture of peaty material from the swampy ground in which the coal was found. What was the nature of the plants which supplied these small spherical bodies is at present unknown. Probably they did not belong to the genus Glossopteris, for had they been derived from a plant so universally distributed as this is throughout the Lower Goal Measures, kerosene shale would probably be less restricted in its occurrence than we now find it. Perhaps these minute bodies were derived from plants which grew on the hills which fringed BY T. W. EDGEWORTH DAVID. 497 the coal basin. This supposition would, if correct, explain the fact that kerosene shale is chiefly restricted to the edges of the coal basin. \Vind blowing ofi* the hills would be apt to carry with it spores from cryptoganiic plants, and deposit thero over the swampy flats of the coal basin, much in the same way that the pollen from the catkins of the fir is blown over the pine forests and lakes of Scotland, Scandinavia, and Canada, as described by Dr. John Davy."^ Such deposits, even at the present day, frequently attain a thickness of half an inch. Where the pollen shower falls on earth it soon becomes mixed with the decayed vegetation and earthy imparities, but where it falls on the surface of lakes it floats for a while, then becomes water-logged and sinks to the bottom, where it would form a thin layer of inflammable material. If little or no muddy sediment were received into the lake, such an accumulation might go on from year to year until it had acquired a considerable thickness, and such light material as leaves of trees and needles of the fir would be liable to become interbedded with this deposit. Such a deposit, however, would not be uniformly ]mre, as every shower of rain would be sure to wash in a little sediment round the margin of the lake, and so render the pollen sheet clayey along such areas of sedimentation. Somewhat analogous to these pollen showers is the spore dust from tree-ferns, which is described by R. M. Johnstonf as so filling the air at certain seasons in the fern-tree gullies of Tasmania, as to afi"ect travellers with fits of sneezing while passing through such belts of spore-laden atmosphere. Phenomena somewhat analogous to those of the pollen and spore showers would be likely to have obtained on a grander scale during the Permo-Carboniferous Period in Australia. Here and there around the margins of the low-lying swampy flats in which the coal was being found there would be likely to be shallow lakes devoid of vegetation, so that although the supposed * Proc. Eoy. Soc. Edinburgh, Vol. IV. p. 157 (1859). The author is in- debted to Professor A. H. Green's Geology, Part I. p. 184 (1882) for this reference. t Geology of Tasmania, by R. M. Johnston, F.L.S., &c., 1888, p. 138. 32 498 NOTE ON THE ORIGIN OF " KEROSENE SHALE," spore showers would fall with tolerable uniformity over the edges of the plains of the Greta coal-basin, only such portions of the showers as fell on the surface of the lakes would be fairly free from admixture with vegetation, and so would form, when they sank water-logged to the bottom, a tolerably pure inflammable deposit, with, of course, a certain amount of peaty material intermixed. Every one of the minute laminae of the kerosene shale may therefore represent a spore shower, or a season of spore showers, so that it may have taken many hundreds of years to have admitted of the formation of a seam of kerosene shale five feet thick, as at Hartley. It is possible, however, that these lamin?e may be simply due to superincumbent pressure, irrespective of individual spore showers, and they may therefore have no special chronological value. Subsequent to these sap- posed local accumulations of pure spore deposits in the shallow- lakes of the Greta coalfield, there is evidence of sedimentation having set in again, which, before the close of the Permo- Carboniferous Period, buried the Greta coalfield in places under at least 6000 feet of strata. The great pressure and considerable heat consequent on the Greta coalfield being loaded with such a thickness of sediments would tend to efiace the original sporaceous character of the lacustrine spore beds, especially in those areas where the deposit was so fine that the individual spores were in close contact with one another ; but where they were much inter- mixed with muddy sediment, the isolation of the individual spores would prevent their being agglutinated, so that it is chiefly to these impure varieties of kerosene shale that observation may be most advantageously directed with a view to seek further information as to the origin of the purer varieties. Possibly the minute spherical bodies observed by the author in association with kerosene shale may be the spore cases of Ehizocarps allied to Salvinia of the present day, and so abundant in the bituminous Huron Shales of Ohio. The origin of the kerosene shale of New South Wales from seeds or spores is stated by Mr. Dixon, in his paper above quoted, to have been advanced before by some one, but up to the present BY T. W. EDGEWORTH DAVID. 490 the author has not met with any reference to such a hypothesis. Mr. Dixon states, as an objection to the " Seed-and-spore-Theory," that kerosene shale is not of a resinous composition. If, how- ever, the kerosene shale of New South Wales be analogous to the Tasmanite of the Mersey River Coal-field in Tasmania, which is of approximately the same geological age, it may be composed of sporangia or spores without '^eing of resinous composition, avS Mr. E. T. Newton, F.G.S., in describing the Tasmanite, or White Coal of Tasmania says"^ that the apparent resinous particles which microscopic examination proves to be sporangia, are in reality not resinous, as they are insoluble in alcohol, ether, or bisulphide of carbon. This objection is therefore partly if not wholly answered by the results of Mr. E. T. Newton's experiments. If, therefore, kerosene shale is formed chiefly of sporangia, it has analogues in this Tasmanite, and in the well-known " Better- Bed " Coal Seam near Bradford, England, which latter, as described by Professor Huxley,! is chiefly made up of spore cases and spores. Further light may be thrown upon the origin of kerosene shale by careful microscopic research, a means of study, which up to the present has never been systematically applied to the oil shales and coals of this colony. The above theory is advanced by the author in a tentative manner, open to subsequent correction, and is chiefly based on his recent observation of the frequent association of abundant small spherical bodies like sporangia or seeds with the kerosene shales and cannel coals of this colony. The author is indebted specially to Mr. John Waterhouse, M. A., of West Maitland, for kindly procuring him the specimens of sporangia (?) fireclay and cannel coal exhibited this evening, to Messrs. C. S. Wilkinson, R. Etheridge, Jun., and J. J. Fletcher, for many useful references and suggestions, and to Mr. P. T. Hammond of the Mines Department, for drawing the accom- panying plate. *Geol. Magazine, 1875, Dec. 11, Vol. II., p. 339. t Critiques and Addresses, pp. 94-97, 1873. 500 note on the origin of Appendix. Since reading the above paper, with the exception of one or two references which have been subsequently added, the author has succeeded in preparing a good microscopic section of the kerosene shale from Joadja Creek. Examined under the micro- scope by transmitted light, the small spherical resinous-like bodies, of which the shale is chiefly composed, are seen to possess a decided organic structure, which appears to resemble that of the minute " pin-head " bodies of the carbonaceous clay shales at Hill Top, near Mittagong, and at Woodford in the Blue Moun- tains, but differs somewhat from that of the objects figured in the accompanying plate. Numerous aggregations of minute spindle-shaped or club-shaped bodies are seen to occur in each globule, and recall the appearance of zoospores in some forms of Algse. It is just possible, therefore, that hereafter it may be found that these spherical bodies are to be referred to some variety of fresh- water Alga, which, like the Volvocinece, consist of single gelatinous globules enclosing zoospores. In this case the lenticular deposits of kerosene shale would have their ana- logues in the deposits of "vegetable turtle fat" already referred to, and to accumulations of infusorial earth, and perhaps to the sheets of Coorongite, if the latter be of cryptogamic origin. At all events, in the present state of our knowledge, it may be asserted that kerosene shale was probably formed in lakeS; and that it was formed from minute plant bod'es, probably either sporangia or algae. Mr. R. Etheridge, junr,, has kindly promised to assist the author in investigating this question, and the author hopes that Mr. Etheridge and he will soon be able to communi- cate to the Society a joint paper on this subject. EXPLANATION OF PLATE. The circular bodies are pseudomorphs in limonite after sporocarps (?), and occur in yellowish-brown fireclay associated with the Fireclay Seam, which overlies the Cannel Coal Seam at the Homeville Colliery, near West Maitland. These sporocarps (?) average about one-fortieth of an inch in diameter. STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOxMOLOGY. No. L— REVIEW OF THE GENUS SARTICUS (CARABIDzE). By Thomas G. Sloane. Sarticus. Sarticus, Motschulsky, Bull. Mosc. 1865, pt. iv., p. 265. This genus among the Feronides was founded in 1865 by M. Victor Motschulsky. The same year and previously to Motschul- sky's paper, Baron de Chaudoir* and Count de Castelnauf described species belonging to Sarticus under the heading of Steropus (Stei'oiyi australici, Chaud.). In 1874, when reviewing de Castle- nau's species, J de Chaudoir adopted Motschulsky 's name Sarticus for his Steropi australici. I find that Motschulsky 's definition of Sartictts cannot be taken without modification ; the following are its characters as I would define them. Head rather small, the facial impressions faint. Protlwrax rounded on the sides ; the basal angles rounded oflf ; the lateral margins reflexed, more widely so towards the base ; the median line impressed, ending behind in a punctiform impres- sion ; a single deep and wide impression on each side near the basal angles, touching the lateral margin at its posterior extremity ; the marginal punctures ac the base small and placed on the edge of the lateral margins ; a narrow entire border along the anterior margin. Elytra wider than the prothorax, usually convex, striate, with an abbreviated subscutellar stria between the suture and the first stria. Abdomen with basal segment punctate. * Bull. Mosc. 1865, iii. p. 97. t Trans. Roy. Soc. Victoria, VIII. J Ann. Mus. Genov. 1874, VI, 502 STUDIES IN AUSTllALIAN ENTOMOLOGY, Antennca light, filiform ; 3rd joint almost one-half longer than 4th, apical joint long, narrow, pointed. Apterous. Other features in common with other divisions of the Feronides, Its position seems to be between Gyphosoina, Hope,"^ and JVotonomus, Chaud. From Cyphosoma it may be readily dis- tinguished by the presence of an abbreviated subscutellar stria, and by the segments of the abdomen not having a transverse line across them. It is more difficult to point out decidedly distinctive characters between Sarticus and Notonomus ; the following seem the most noticeable : (a) the narrow border along the anterior margin of the pro thorax, which is entire in Sarticus, does not reach the middle of the margin in Notonomus ; (b) the posterior marginal punctures of the prothorax difier somewhat in their position — in Sarticus these are always placed on the edge of the margin, aud a little more forward than in Notonomus ; (c) the basal segment of the abdomen is always punctate in Sarticus, but not so in Notonomus. The following is a tabular view of all the species of Sarticus I have seen ; those unknown to me, viz., S. iriditinctus, Chaud., and S. quadrisulcatus, Chaud., I have omitted. f I. Dorsal strise of elytra not punctate. Elytra convex *S'. aubei, Ca stein. Elytra depressed *S'. Macleayi, sp.nov. II. Dor.sal striae of elytra punctate. A Mesosternal and metasternal episterna not punctate. * The genus Cyphosoma was founded by Hope (Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1842, IX. p. 426) for an insect from Port Essingtou, which he named Cyphosoma unicolor. Chaudoir has determined (Bull. Mosc. 1878. LIII. pt. iii. p. 35) Cyphosoma, Hope, to be the same as Cratogaster, Blanch. Hope's name, which seems to have been lost sight of, must therefere be adopted. f Fero'iia lesiteuri, Casteln., Trans. Roy. See Victoria, p. 210, is in- cluded in Sarticus in Masters' Catalogue, the authority being de Chaudoir (Ami. Mils. Genov. 1874, p. 596). It is unknown to me, but from de Chaudoir's description it is evidently not a Sarticus, nor do I think he intended that it should be placed in that genus. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 503 a Elytra with humeral ele- vation S. saphyreomarginatus, Casteln. aa Elytra with no humeral elevation. Elytra convex, with 7th stria obliterate S. discopunctatus, Chaud. Elytra hardly convex, with 7th stria distinct S. obesulus, Chaud. B Mesosternal andmetasternal episterna punctate. b Form and size normal. c Elytra with interstices flat (strisB shallow and finely punctate). Prothorax perceptibly nar- rowed behind S. civilis, Germ . Prothorax not perceptibly narrowed behind aS'. Bockhamptonensis, Casteln. CO Elytra with interstices convex (always convex in ^, sometimes hardly so in 5). Elytra depressed, striae deep and strongly punc- tate aS'. habitans, sp.nov. Ely tra convex, striae strong and finely punctate S. monarensis, sp.nov. bb Form graceful, size small. Elytra fiat, broad, widely margined ; prothorax transverse S. cycloderus, Chaud. Elytra narrow, finely mar- gined; prothorax almost as long as wide aS'. ischnus, Chaud. 504 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY, Sarticus AUBEL PterosticJius aubei, Casteln., Trans. Roy. Soc. Victoria, VIII., p. 215 ; Sarticus aiohei, Chaud., Ann. Mus. Genov. VI. p. 595. In February 1888, I found a species of Sarticus at Bathurst after heavy rains ; it seemed very common, great numbers being crushed on the pavements of the town by persons walking in the evening. I feel sure that this is Sarticus aubei, Casteln. De Castelnau's diagnosis of this species is quite useless, and as it has not been described before in an Australian publication, I append the following description. Black, nitid; the striae not punctate. Prothorax transverse (4 mm, X 5 mra.), rounded on the sides and angles ; lateral margins reflexed, more widely so at the posterior angles ; median line lightly marked, not reaching either margin, ending behind in a deep foveolet ; the disc crossed by faint transverse striolse. Elytra oval (11 mm. X 6 mm.), rather convex, deeply striate; the sides abrupt, parallel, narrowing slightly towards the base ; the lateral margins reflexed, sinuate towards the apex, rounded and joining the basal border at the shoulders ; the striae smooth ; the dorsal interstices convex, equal, reaching to both base and apex, 3rd with three distinct punctures, 7th not elevated at the base, 8th and 9th flat, 8th wider than 9th; 7th stria shallow, punctulate, 8th shallow, its course interrupted by the large punctures of the 9th interstice, these wide apart in the middle but close and undu- lating towards the apex ; abbreviated stria of moderate length. Segments of the abdomen with a foveiform impression on each side, these more transverse and punctate on the three last seg- ments. Prosternum smooth without a margin. Metasternal episterna impunctate. Tarsi of hinder legs distinctly sulcated. It probably has rather a wide range in eastern New South Wales. Sarticus Macleayi, sp.no v. Niger, nitidissimus; capite Isevi; prothorace planiusculo, canali- culato, antice truncato, postice leviter emarginato, ad angulos posticos utrinque impresso, lateribus rotundatis marginatis ; elytris BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 505 ovalibus, subplanatis, profunde striatis (sti'iis in fundo suh lente cremdatis) ; abdominis segmentis tiibus ultimis utrinque foveolatis punctulatisque ; episternis posticis haud punctulatis. Long. 15, lat. 5 mm. Very shining black. Head rather small, smooth ; eyes promi- nent ; post-clypeal suture distinct ; clypeus with a well-marked punctiform impression on each side ; the impressions on each side behind the clypeus short and shallow. Prothorax almost as long as wide (3J mm. x 4 mm.), truncate in front, wider at the anterior angles than at the posterior, lightly rounded on the sides ; the lateral margins narrowly reflexed in front, widely so at the pos- terior angles ; median line lightly marked, not reaching either margin, ending in front in a faint transverse iuipression, and behind in a deep foveolet \ disc closely covered with minute transverse striolse. Elytra oval (8 mm. x 5 mm.), flat, deeply striate ; sides abrupt, parallel, narrowing slightly towards the base ; lateral margins rather wide, reflexed, rounded off and joining the basil border at the shoulders, sinuate towards the apex; the dorsal interstices equal, rather convex, extending in full depth to both base and apex, 3rd with three distinct punc- tures, 7th not elevated at the shoulders, 8th and 9th flat, and of about equal width ; 7th stria shallow and finely punctulate ; 8th shallow, interrupted by large punctures, these more widely placed in front, behind more closely set and elongate ; abbreviated stria short, oblique. Three last segments of the abdomen with a broad shallow transverse impression on each side, these impressions punctate. Prosternum without a margin. Metasternal episterna impunctate. This species is allied to *S'. auhei, but is altogether a flatter and smaller insect. A single male specimen taken June, 1888. Hah. — Coonabarabran, N.S. W. Sarticus saphyreomarginatus. Feronia (Steropus) saphyreo^narginata, Casteln., Trans. Eoy. Soc. Victoria, 1865, VIII. p. 222 ; Feronia (Steropus) cyaneocincta^ 506 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY, Chaud., Bull. Mosc. 1865, iii., p. 97 ; Feronia ( Pterostichus ) azureo7narginata, Casteln., I.e. 1865, VIII. p. 215. This species is easily distinguished from all others by the elevation of the 7th interstice of the elytra at the shoulders, and by the 6th stria bending in and joining the 5th near the base and just behind the humeral carina. These characters are peculiar to this species, and are in themselves sufficient to determine it. The striae of the elytra are deep and strongly punctate ; the prothorax and elytra have a bluish margin, the shades of blue being variable. The female is broader, and has the elytra duller than the male. Length 16-20 ; breadth 6-8 mm. A common and widely-spread species. I have it from Mel- bourne, Victoria ; and from Mulwala, Condobolin, and the Warialda district in N. S. Wales. It also occurs in Queensland. I am led to consider Flerostichus azureomarginatus, Casteln. , as a synonym partly by de Chaudoir's remark^ that "it is a Sarticus, and appears to me, apart from a little greater size, not to differ from Fer. saphyreo^narginata ;" and partly because I have a specimen from Condobolin, on the Lachlan, which agrees very well with de Castelnau's description. Sarticus discopunctatus. Feronia (Sterojous) discopunctata, Chaud., Bull. Mosc. 1865, iii. p. 97 ; Feronia (Sterojms) geronari, Casteln., Trans. Roy. Soc. Victoria, 1865, VIII. p. 222 ; Feronia (Sterojms) honvou- loiri, Casteln., I.e. p. 223 ; Sarticus ovicoUis, Motsch., Bull. Mosc. 1865, iv. p. 266. A. distinct species, and easily distinguished by its oval and convex elytra, with roughly punctate striae ; the 7th stria is obliterated (though usually perceptible) ; this gives the sides a smooth and glossy appearance ; the lateral margins are broad and Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov. 1874, VI., p. 595. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 50T distinct, and not sinuate towards the apex ; the elytra are more broadly rounded behind than in other species. Length 15-18; breadth 6^-8 mm. _ Ilab.— South Australia ; Mulwala, N.S.W. Sarticus obesulus. Feronia (Steropus) obesula, Chaud., Bull. Mosc. 1865, iii. p. 99 ; Sarticus orbicoUis, Motsch., Bull. Mosc. 1865, iv. p. 266 ; Feronia (^Steropus) saphyripennis^ Casteln., Trans. Boy. Soc. Vic- toria, 1865, VIII. p. 223 ; Feronia (Steroptcs) esmeraldip)ennis^ Castln. I.e. ; Feronia (Ster opus) olivieri, Castln., I.e. The broad prothorax with rounded sides, and the wide and not very convex elytra are the conspicuous features of this species. The strise of the elytra are deep and strongly punctate (more especially so in the male) on the anterior part of the elytra ; towards the apex, and on the sides the strise are shallower and the punctures fine. On the posterior part the elytra are flushed with jDurpl", particularly towards the sides. Its affinity is to iS, civilis from which it differs, inter alia, in its thorax being wider behind, and in its elytra having deeper and more strongly punctate striae. Length 15-17 ; breadth 5-6 J mm. Rab. — Melbourne, Princetown (mouth of Gellibrand Riv^er), Victoria. Sarticus civilis. Pterostichus civilis, Germ., Linn. Ent. 1848, III. p. 167 ; Feronia {Steropus) civilis, Chaud., Bull. Mosc. 1865, iii. p. 99. This species may be distinguished from .S'. obesula, which is nearly allied to it, by the absence of any bluish tint on the elytra, and by its more elongate shape ; by the striae of the elytra being shallower and much more finely punctate; and by the shape of the prothorax, which is not so transverse, and is narrower behind than in front ; the lateral margins of the elytra are narrower and more sinuate behind. From S. habitans, another allied species, which a description might not differentiate much, though they are quite distinct, it differs, inter alia, in its prothorax being narrowed 508 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY, behind, in the 8th interstice being broader than the 9th, and in the 8th stria not being thickly set with punctures. Length 1J:-15 ; breadth 5 mm. Hah. — South Australia. I have only had the opportunity of examining three specimens of S. civilis ; of these two had the mesosternal espisterna distinctly punctate, while the metasternal espisterna in none of them pre- sented more than two punctures; judging from the latter feature alone it would almost be better placed with group I. of my table. Sarticus rockhamptonensis. Feronia (^Steropus) rockhamptonensis^ Casteln., Trans. Roy. Soc. Victoria, 1865, VIII. p. 223. This species has been united with S. ohesulus by de Chaudoir,"^ but I have a female specimen from the Rockhampton district which appears to me distinct from S. ohesulus, while it agrees with de Castelnau's description of S. rockhamptonensis. In general appearance like S. obesula, but differing from it in having the prothorax less transverse ; in the elytra of the female being duller, with the strife shallow and very finely punctate, and with the interstices flat ; in all the segments of the abdomen being closely and rather roughly punctate ; and in the meso- sternal and metasternal episterna being punctate. Length 16 ; breadth 6 mm. Hah. — Rockhampton district, Queensland, a single female specimen in my collection. Sarticus habitans, sp.nov. Niger, nitidus ; prothorace antice posticeque truncate, cana- liculato, ad angulos posticos utrinque impresso ; lateribus rotun- datis marginatis ; elytris ovatis, tenue marginatis, fortiter striate - punctulatis, interstitiis convexis, 3° tribus punctis impresso, lateribus subparallelis ; abdominis segmentis ad latera subtiliter punctulatis. Long. 13-15 mm. ; lat. 4J-5J mm. * Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov. VI. p. 595. BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 509" Black, nitid (elytra not opaque in the female). Head not offering any distinctive features. Prothorax rather broad and flat (3 mm. x 4 mm.) ; truncate in front and behind ; the sides rounded ; lateral margins wide at the posterior angles ; median line distinct, not reaching either margin, ending behind in a punctiform impression. Elytra very little wider than the pro- thorax (7J mm. X 4J mm.), sub-convex ; the disc flatter in the male than in the female; the sides sub-parallel, with the lateral margins narrow and sinuate behind ; striae deep, thickly set with rather strong punctures, especially towards the sides (in the female shallower and less strongly punctate than in the male) ; 8 th thickly and closely punctate, thus obscuring the punctures of the 9th interstice ; interstices convex, equal in fiont, but the 2nd, 4th, and 6th narrowed towards the apex ; 3rd with three impressed punctures, 8th not wider than 9th. Segments of the abdomen thickly and finely punctate towards the sides. Meso- sternal and metasternal episterna punctate. A common species in many parts of N. S. Wales. I have it from Mulwala, Goulburn, (at both places it is common) and Blayney. A single specimen which I have from Glen Innes, seems a lighter insect, with the prothorax more rounded, and the elytra more convex and less strongly punctate ; it is possibly a distinct species though 1 am unable to regard it as more than a variety. Sarticus moxarensis, sp.nov. Niger, nitidus, elytris obscure viridescentibus ; capite parvulo, oculis vix prominulis ; prothorace Isevi, antice posticeque truncate, marginato, canaliculato, ad angulos posticos utrinque impress©, lateribus parum rotundatis; elytris ovalibus, subconvexis punc- tulato-striatis, interstitiis vix convexis 3° punctis tribus extus notato j abdominis segmentis ad latera subtilissime punctulatis. Long. 12-13; lat. 4-5 mm. Black, nitid, the elytra having a greenish tinge (in the female the elytra are more opaque than in the male). Head smooth, not 510 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY, large ; eyes not very prominent ; clypeus lightly impressed on each side ; the post-clypeal suture not distinct. Prothorax subquadrate (3mmx3Jmm.), sides rounded; the lateral margins narrow in front, wider and upturned at the posterior angles ; median line light, short, not reaching either margin, ending behind in a punc- tiform impression. Elytra oval (7 mm. x 4 J mm.), rather convex, striate ; the striae thickly and finely punctate, extending in full depth to base and apex ; the interstices equal, slightly convex in the male, but not so in the female, 3rd with three punctures placed almost in the 3rd stria, the punctures of the 9th placed along the 8th stria — more widely in front, closer, yet not con- fluent behind ; abbreviated stria short and slightly oblique ; the sides somewhat abrupt, with the lateral margins rather wide, narrowly reflexed, and rounded off at the shoulders to the basal border. Segments of the abdomen smooth, with very fi.ne punc- tures— visible under a lens — towards the sides. Prosternum without a margin. JVletasternal episterna strongly punctate. This species has probably a wide distribution in the Australian Alps. There are specimens in the Australian Museum from Bombala and the Monaro district of N.S.W. The specimens on which the description above is founded are a pair in my collection from Porpunkah, near Mount Buffalo, Victoria. Sarticus cycloderus. Feronia {Sterojms) cyclodera, Chaud., Bull. Mosc. 1865, iii. p. 100 ; Feronia (^Stero2)us) Waterhousei, Casteln., Trans. Roy. Soc. Victoria, VIII. p. 224 ; Feronia (^Steropus) Mastersi, Casteln., I.e. ; Feronia (Stei^opus) Blagravi, Casteln., I.e. Size small. Black, nitid, the elytra and under parts having a piceous tinge. Head small, lightly impressed on each side in front. Prothorax rather convex (2^ mm. x 3 mm.), rounded on the sides, a little narrowed behind, the margins wide behind ; median line light, not terminating towards the base in the usual foveolet, but almost reaching the margin. Elytra oval (6 ram. x BY THOMAS G. SLOANE. 511 3Jmm.), a little wider than the prothorax, rather flat, the sides sloping gently from the 6th stria ; striee shallow, finely punc- tate, the abbreviated stria longer and less oblique than usual in the genus ; interstices equal, not convex, 9th punctate as usual. Segments of the abdomen smooth. Metasternal episterna with a few line punctures. Long. 10, lat. 3| mm. Hah. — South Australia. I have six specimens, all of which T believe to be females j the anterior tarsi are as in tlie females of all other species of Sarticus I have seen, not being dilatate, but I cannot discern more than one setigerous puncture on each side of the anus in any of my specimens ; in every other species I know the female has two anal punctures on each side. The synonymy given above is on the authority of de Chaudoir."^ Sarticus ischnus. Feronia {Sferopus) eleyantala, Casteln., Trans. E-oy. Soc. Vic- toria, 1867, VIIL p. 224. The name Feronia (Sai^ticus) ischna was proposed by de Chaudoir (Bull. Mosc. 1878, LTII. p. 68) for Feronia {Ster opus) elegantula, Casteln., de Castelnau's name having been previously used in the genus Feronia. This species is allied to S. cydoderus, Chaud., but is of much more elougate form, and has the prothorax hardly transverse. The following is de Castelnau's original description: "Length, 4 lines; very much like Waterhousei [cydoderus, Chaud.], but of a still more slender and elegant form ; thorax much narrower behind ; elytra more elongated and oval ; three punctiform im- pressions on the interval between the second and third striae." To this I would add the following measurements taken from specimens in the Australian Museum, Sydney. Length 8 mm. ; breadth 2| mm. Prothorax, length 2 mm. ; breadth 2 J mm. Elytra, length 5 mm. ; breadth 2 J mm. Hah. — King George's Sound. * Ann. Mus. Civ. Genov. VI. p. 595. 512 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGY. Sarticus IRIDITINCTUS. Feronia [Steropus) iriditincta, Chaiid., Bull. Mosc. 1865, iii. p. 100. This species is unknown to me ] the following is de Chaudoir's description. " Prsecedentis [aS. cycloderus] summa affinitis, differre tamen videtur thorace longiore et angustiore lateribus minus rotundato, postice haud angustato, ovoideo, antice emarginato, basi sub- truncato, margine posterius minus dilatato, elytrorum striis multo obsoletius punctatis, interstitio tertio punctis duobus tantum impressis, et imprimis colore to bins fere corporis valde irideo. Long. 8 J mm. Hah. — Swan Eiver." Sarticus quadrisulcatus. Feronia (Sarticus) quadrisulcata, Chaud., Bull. Mosc. 1878, iii. p. 67. A remarkable species unknown to me. The following are its chief characteristics taken from de Chaudoir's lengthy description. It is distinguished from all the species of this subgenus, and from the majority of the species included in Feronia, with the exception of Oribazics, by the sculpture of the elytra which have only 4 deep sulci. Eacies of S. saphyreomarginatus. Elytra not wider than the thorax, smooth and rather convex, striae deep but narrower and less punctate [than in S. saphyreomarginatus], 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th totally obliterated so that the interstice which separates the 2nd from the 4th has the width of 2 inter- stices, while there is only 1 between the 5th and 8th striae. Of an iridescent black, very shiny, and as if varnished, prothorax and elytra of an iridescent bronze with the lateral channel of the prothorax, the wide external interstice of the elytra as well as the 9th interstice and the lateral groove of a coppery green, the lateral margins and the epipleurse are black like the under surface. Length 19 mm. ; breadth 6 J mm. Hah. — Port Denison. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH THE MICROBES OF CHICKEN-CHOLERA. By Dr. Oscar Katz. Introduction. It will be remembered that Pasteur recommended, as a means for rabbit-extermination on a large scale, the disease commonly known under the name of cliolera des poioles, chicken- or fowl- cholera. The Royal Intercolonial Commission, appointed in April last year by the Australasian Governments to inquire into, and report upon, the schemes submitted for the extermination of rabbits in Australasia — a prize of £25,000 being offered for a successful remedy by the New South Wales Government — at once took the necessary steps to make itself acquainted with Pasteur's proposal. Being, however, dissatisfied with the information already to hand about the merits of this particular disease, or rather the microbes of this disease, as rabbit-exterminators, and considering the results of the experiments performed in France by Pasteur or under his direction, and of those by his delegates in Sydney, as unsatisfactory, it decided to have experiments of its own carried out. As chief expert officer to the Commission, I was entrusted with this work. A laboratory — intended also for the investigation of any other scheme that might be worthy of consideration — was built on an hitherto unoccupied islet, called Rodd Island, in Iron Cove (Leichhardt Bay), a western portion of Port Jackson. The little island, of solid sandstone, and covered here and there with scrub, was well adapted for the object in view. Its plateau was mostly formed of loose sandy soil. The laboratory, a substantial building 33 514 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, of corrugated galvanised iron, the space between the sheets of the walls being filled up with sawdust in addition to a lining of felt, contained four rooms, and was fitted out with what appeared necessary. Gas was produced on the Island itself, out of gasolene, through a Miiller's " Alpha Gas Making Machine," ordinary coal- gas across the water not being obtainable."^ Water-pipes were laid on, the water supplied being rain-water collected in iron tanks. On one free side of the laboratory, under the verandah, arrangements were made for accommodating a large number of rabbits. In the centre was erected a large enclosure, covered in all over with fly-proof wire-gauze in connection with wide-meshed wire- netting. This enclosure measured 100 feet (about 30 J metres) in length, and 80 feet ( 24| metres) in width ; it was slightly cut ofi at the corners. Most of the surface-area consisted of loose soil, in which artificial burrows could easily be dug (as will be seen later on) ; a small portion only being taken up by rocks (f^and- stone), which were partly on a level with the soil-surface, partly more or less projecting. There were a few small trees (gums, geebung) preserved in this enclosed place. Adjoining one of the shorter sides of this main enclosure, was a large shed covered all round with corrugated iron, and having a brick-basement ; at the rear of this shed was a number of pens and stalls. In one corner of the Island, towards the water-edge, was an aviary, 15 feet (about i^ metres) square. One, the southern, half of it was covered at top and sides with sheets of galvanised iron ; the other, northern half, only with wide-meshed netting and fly-proof wire-gauze. The greater portion of the aviary was accessible to the sun for nearly all day. A dwelling-house, with belongings, completed the collection of buildings on Rodd Island. * See my communication "On 'Air-gas' for Bacteriological Work ;" these Proceedings, Vol. IV. (2nd Ser.), p. 328. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 516 The following pages contain an account of my researches with regard to the microbes of chicken-cholera. These researches, as far as they were carried out before April last, were made the subject of five Progress Reports laid before the Commission from time to time, and printed in the Volume of Proceedings of that Commission. 1 think that sufficient interest attaches to the sub- ject to be dealt with in a scientific journal. For this purpose the whole avciilable material, including that which was obtained since April last, has been worked up and grouped in an appropriate manner. To Messrs. F. Dillon Bell and J. P. Meagher, w^ho in succession were Assistants on Rodd Island, I am indebted for the services rendered by them in regard to the various experiments. General Remarks. The microbes with which all the experiments recorded in the following pages were carried out, were descended from those which were brought to Sydney from Paris by Pasteur's representatives. When, August 4th, 1888, the latter concluded their experiments of demonstration, which were begun about a month previously (July 7th), and to which attention has already been directed in the introduction (a special report on that demonstration may be found in the Volume of Proceedings of the Royal Com- mission), I took, with M. Loir's permission, some blood from the heart of a rabbit which had died after feeding on virulent broth- culture of the chicken-cholera microbes. Pure cultures were obtained from a *' colony " on nutrient gelatine (after Esmarch's roll-method) from the blood of a rabbit, which had been inoculated with broth-culture in second generation, derived originally from the above-mentioned sample of blood. In ray experiments, partly such material was used as originated from that " colony," and was cultivated from tube to tube ; partly cultures prepared directly from the heart-blood of rabbits newly dead from virulent " chicken-cholera," and not otherwise diseased. Such blooJ, as a rule, only contains the microbes under considera- tion. 516 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, As liquid medium for the cultivation of these microbes I em- ployed rabbit-flesh infusion, in the following briefly termed rabbit- broth, or simply broth. Stated in a few words, this liquid was pre- pared by allowing finely minced flesh of well-nourished, thoroughly healthy, wild rabbits to stand with double the quantity (in weight) of distilled water, in a cool place, for twenty-four hours, stirring up from time to time, filtering and pressiug through cheese-cloth, steaming, filtering again, neutralising with 20 p.c. watery solution of anhydrous carbonate of soda, or rather pro- ducing a slightly alkaline reaction, steaming and filtering again, and ultimately filling into different-sized, cotton-wool-plugged, sterilised test-tubes, which with their contents were thereupon discontinuously sterilised. In such plain rabbit-broth, without any additional ingredients, the chicken-cholera bacteria grow very luxuriantly at a suitable temperature ; they grow in that medium with pretty much the same vigour as in rabbit-broth to which 1 p.c. dry peptone and 0'5 p.c. sodium chloride are added. Broth of the latter description I employed, besides the former, in connection with certain experi- ments {re Immunisation, p. 526). Of nutrient solid soils I mostly used a 6 p.c. rabbit-broth-pep- tone-gelatine, which was prepared in the usual way, with the difi"erence that infusion of rabbit-flesh instead of beef -infusion was taken. On such a rabbit -broth -gelatine, the chicken-cholera microbes flourish excellently ; fully developed stick-cultures always showed a substantial, expanded, superficial layer, of a whitish colour and sticky structure. The colour of the growth along the stick-canal, at first also whitish, changed into yellowish or yellowish- brown in old cultures ; the same applied to isolated colonies in the gelatine. In nutrient agar-agar — in the preparation of which beef- infusion was used — I saw the superficial growth (in stick- cultures) assume the shape of a thin film extending nearly over the whole surface, while the stick began to show by and by a darker coloration than the slightly yellow agar. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 517 The usual nutrient gelatine (containing beef-infusion), as well as such gelatine with 2 p.c. grape sugar, or nutrient gelatine con- taining 2-7 p.c. sodium chloride, were occasionally taken into use. In order to avoid repetitions, I will mention here that all the rabbits, upon which the microbes were tried from different points of view, were wild rabbits, if not specially noted to the contrary. These wild rabbits were ordered by the Kabbit Branch, Lands Department, Sydney, from near Hay, in New South Wales, about 420 miles from Sydney ; they were mostly caught and sent to Rodd Island in a large number of consignments from Carrathool, near Hay. A few of the wild rabbits used came from Tasmania. I ascertained the weight of six full-grown, perfectly healthy wild rabbits from Carrathool; the average weight was 1522 grammes (3 lbs. 5f oz.).^ Effect of Chicken-cholera Microbes on Rabbits. It has been made known by Pasteur and others that rabbits manifest a great susceptibility towards the microbes of chicken- cholera, let the latter be applied as subcutaneous or cutaneous inoculation, through the alimentary canal, by way of injection into the peritoneal cavity, or of inhalation into the lungs. It has also been shown that the mucous surface of the uterus, after par- turition, can form a means of entrance for the microbes, when * In the Paper the terms cubic centimetre, gramme, centimetre, milli- metre, centigrade (°Cels.), are often used. J give their English equivalents as follows : — • One (1) cubic centimetre (ccm.)=: sixteen (16) minims (drops in general). 28 "3495 grammes (g. ) = 1 ounce. 1-7718 „ =ldram. 2'539977 centimetres (cm.) 25-39977 miUimetres (mm.) ' ~^ ^^^^' n° Cels. ^ 9/5 jj + 32° p^hr. ; [ -h 20° C. = (9/5 x 20) + 32° F. = 68° F.] (Centigr.) 518 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, other micro-organisms, highly pathogenic for rabbits, e.g.^ anthrax bacilli, are powerless."^ Pasteur states that the action of chicken-cholera microbes is much more pronounced in the case of rabbits, than in that of fowls.f My observations in this direction — my material for experiments was derived from rabbits dead from " chicken- cholera " — are thus far in accordance with Pasteur's statement. With regard to the effect of subcutaneous application of the microbes on rabbits, I can assert that the result which I obtained with material of U7idoubted full virulence (blood ; artificial cul- ture) on wild rabbits (also one tame one), which had not been pre- viously treated in any way — I estimate the number of wild rabbits used in that way at about one hundred and fifty — was always a positive one. All of them succumbed to a disease which owed its origin to the chicken-cholera microbes. The time which it took from inoculation to death diflered according to the degree of con- 'centration of the virulent object introduced, and according to the individuality of the rabbits. Generally speaking, the microbes thus administered kill speedily. Instances hereof may be found in sufficient numbers later. The shortest time actuall}'- observed in a full-grown healthy specimen (^), inoculated between the shoulder- blades with 4^ ccm. (I minim) of heart-blood from a rabbit newly dead from " chicken-cholera," was about 8J hours ; at another time, in the case of a half-grown rabbit inoculated at the belly with a small quantity of fresh broth-culture of the fourth genera- tion, it was less than 7f hours. The longest space of time was observed in a full-grown, but apparently young doe, namely about forty-eight hours. This rabbit had been inoculated (at the belly) with ^ ccm. of virulent rabbit-blood (see Table III., Rabbit No. 34 ; also p. 552). *J. Straus et D. Sanchez-Toledo, •' Recherches microbiologiques sur I'ut^rus apres la parturition physiologique." Annates de VInstitut Pasteur, Tome II., No. 8, 1888, p 433. t Sur la destruction des lapins en Australie et dans la Nouvelle-Z^lande. Annales de VInstitut Pasteur. Tome II., No. 1, 1888, pp. 5-6. BY DR, OSCAR KATZ. 619 My experience as to the effect which it has on fresh wild rabbits, when they are given to eat food contaminated with virulent chicken-cholera bacteria — this kind of treatment having naturally come largely and repeatedly into operation, as may be seen from tlie various experiments described in the following — may thus be summarised. Small quantities of freshly prepared broth-cultures (1 ccm.- 3 ccm.) of the microbes of chicken-cholera, or of blood derived from animals dead from the disease, added to food (green stuff, as cabbage- or barley-leaves ; dry food, as bran) and consumed by fresh wild rabbits, caused the death of the animals with few exceptions. The time which, in this mode of infection, lay between feeding and death, fluctuated in the majority of instances between 18 and 25 hours; in others, more time elapsed until death fol- lowed ; one full-grown robust rabbit, fed on bran with 1 ccm. of virulent broth-culture, held out for about 3|^ days before it died (from " chicken-cholera"). On the other hand, it was now and then, but comparatively seldom, observed that fresh wild rabbits (also one tame one), which had partaken of food contaminated with as much as 1 ccm. -2 ccm. of fresh broth-culture, did not at all succumb subsequently, and if so, not to "chicken-cholera." In about half the number of instances I am inclined to ascribe the reason for these failures to the circumstance that the respective rabbits, although having been somewhat starved before, waited for hoars before eating of the food (green leaves), and that, in conse- quence, the infectious matter on it was exposed to the drying effects of a summer temperature, disastrous to the microbes. In this way, it may be urged, the virulence might have been lost altogether, or if a certain portion of active material was preserved, it was perhaps not sufficient to infect by way of the digestive organs. Such an explanation, however, cannot be adduced in favour of four other cases (three wild rabbits fed on 1 ccm. of broth-cul- ture ; one tame rabbit fed on about l^^ccm.) ; nor can it be main- tained that in those cases the quality of the material employed was 520 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, to be blamed for the negative issue, because other rabbits treated under exactly the same conditions promptly perished. Be that as it may. That such rabbits as resisted in the first instance, were not, or had not become protected against the disease — except the tame rabbit mentioned, the history of which is given on pp. 522- 525 — was proved by their succumbing to it when they were in a satisfactory manner fed, in the second instance, on 2 ccra. of broth- culture, some time afterwards (one rabbit, however, died more than 2J days after the first feeding, from some indifi'erent cause, and another was lost sight of, before the ultimate proof of its sus- ceptibility or otherwise could be given). It has already been pointed out that the disease set up by the chicken-cholera microbes in rabbits, both by inoculation and feeding, mostly takes a rapid course. Although the term ''chicken- cholera" for the disease caused by the microbes in rabbits, is in- appropriate, I have made use of it for the sake of brevity and a better understanding. The incubation occupies most of the time, the symptoms, or the actual disease being only of short duration. Death occurs under clonic cramps, and dyspnoea. Observations about the body- temperature during the disease, and some data regarding the breathing at the end of it, will be found in connection with experi- ments on the transmission of the disease from rabbit to rabbit (see pp. 554, 555, Table III.). At the post-mortem examination one finds the following notice- able features : — The heart is filled with blood. The lungs are dis- coloured ; they are very voluminous owing to an emphysematic oedema involving their entire substance (on cutting through with a pair of forceps, or a scalpel, a crepitant sound is heard, and froth left on the blades of the instruments). Their surface pre- sented a shining, mottled or tesselated appearance, due to ecchy- moses or haemorrhages in the lungs. Pleura and peritoneum were mostly inflamed. The pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities filled, as a rule, with serous exudations. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 521 The spleen did not present any characteristic appearance. The intestines were more or less hyperaemic, but of all the dozens of cases examined — rabbits fed as well as inoculated — I have only once met with a severe inflammation of the small intestine, the contents of which consisted of blood-stained liquid slimy masses. This was in the case of a vigorous, full-grown rabbit, fed at noon, February 19th, 1889, on cabbage-leaves and 2 ccm. of fresh broth- culture, and found dead at 7 a.m. next day."^ The rectum, or lowest portion of the large intestine, showed nearly always normal-looking faecal masses, balled as usual ; it was only rarely that its contents were not in the shape of isolated, well-formed " spheroids," but in that of soft, more or less coherent, greenish material. Very frequently the rabbits, soon after death, had the nostrils covered with froth, which was stained with blood once. On the other hand, when the dead rabbits were kept for some time, in warm weather, undisturbed, in an open, place, a blood-stained discharge from the nostrils was noticed repeatedly. In conclusion, I may add that in the cases of inoculation, the seat of inoculation showed, as a rule, a slightly hj»morrhagic and gelatinous oedema. (One remarkable exception is that of a rabbit already mentioned above, as living two days after inoculation (see also p. 552) ; other noticeable excei)tions are given by rabbits pre- viously treated (see pp. 523-525, 529, 530). The absence, as a rule, of hsemorrhagic exudations into the in- testinal canal, and, as a standard, of diarrhoea proper, in rabbits treated with chicken-cholera bacteria, either by means of feeding or of inoculation, forms a fundamental difference from what we * Haemorrhage of a different character took place in a pregnant doe, which formed one of two fresh rabbits placed in a wire-bottomed hutch with one which had been given 2^ ccm. of virulent broth-culture (conf. p. 534). The doe, which was to all appearances in the end of the first, or the beginning of the second week of gestation, died from "chicken-cholera" by "contact," in less than 64 hours after being put in the hutch. Part of the fcetuses were found to have been aborted under severe hcemoi^rhage. 522 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, are accustomed to find in poultry affected with chicken-cholera. " Chicken-cholera " of rabbits has the character of a pure, most acute septicaemia, and is not a septicaemia in combination with " typhoid," as in poultry. In the judgment of the results obtained from certain experiments, we shall have to take this fact into consideration.! History of Experiments on a Tame Rabbit. 1888. (a) August 16th, 11.30 a.m. A tame rabbit (^f , full-grown, long-haired albino, of the Angora type ; not treated so far with '-chicken-cholera" or anything similar) was fedy together with another tame, long-haired black i^abbit (in one box), on cabbage-leaves infected with 3 ccm. of a virulent broth-culture of the chicken-cholera microbes. Both began to eat at once and had quickly finished eating the portion. Results : The black specimen was found dead (from " chicken cholera ") at 8.45 p.m., August 18th (again mentioned under "Experiments on Hares," p. 569). 1 1 regret not to have had at my disposal active cultures of the microbes of Koch's rabbitsepticsemia. Dr. Fischer, of Sydney, handed me on the 7th July, 1888, Agar-Agar-cultures of these microbes, which he had brought from Koch's Laboratory when in BerUn some time before. On examination, however, they were found to have lost their vitality. I should have liked to study such bacteria side by side with the; bacteria of chicken-cholera. The difiference, so far made out between the two, is one of degree rather than of kind. In the blood of the rabbits (as well as in other animals which in my experiments died of chicken-cholera, see below) the bacteria, in properly stained cover-glass preparations, appeared in the shape of the well-known rods which showed only the ends deeply coloured, while a middle portion presented itself as a colourless spot, with delicate^ coloured lines laterally. In liver-blood of rabbits dead of "chicken-cholera," I repeatedly observed that among the large numbers of typical microbes, there occurred, here and there, rather anomalous forms, which had about the same outlines, and behaved towards methylene-blue in the same way as those typical forms, but which were very considerably larger. Their length was up to 0'004 mm, (cover-glass preparations), their width about a third of length. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 523 The other white specimen was still alive, August 20th; meanwhile it behaved in quite a normal manner, (b) August 20th, 9.30 a.m. It was given cabbage-leaves with 3 ccm. of virulent broth-culture of the microbes of the third generation. It began to eat at once, and had soon finished. Result : It was still alive, August 25th, not showing any symptoms of illness all the time. Two control-rabbits (wild), of which one (full-grown) received the same quantity of virulent material as the tame one, namely 3 ccm., and the other (half -grown) only half as much, namely 1 1 ccm., were both found dead at 8 a.m. , August 21st. P.M. in each case. Positive. Cc) August 25th, 10 30 a.m. It was given 4| ccm. of an active broth-culture of the microbe of the third generation, along with cabbage-leaves. It was not slow in doing away with the portion of infected food given. Result : It remained unaffected by this treatment, whereas a vigorous wild Tasmanian rabbit, taken as control, was observed to die at 8.30 a.m., August 26th, or about 22 hours after feeding. The cause of death, " chicken-cholera." (d) September 1st, 4 p.m. It was inoculated, subcutaneously at the left side of the belly, with ^ ccm. (2 minims) of a virulent broth-culture of the microbes, obtained directly from the blood of a rabbit which died after feeding with those microbes. It outlived this operation, whereas a control rabbit (wild) was found dead (from the disease) at 8 a.m., September 2nd. At the seat of inoculation, however, in the case of the tame rabbit, was formed a large abscess, at first closed, but beginning to open five days after inoculation, thereby discharging a sticky, yellowish, inodorous pus. (A platinum -loop full of the latter was inoculated into a wild rabbit, at 12.45 p.m., September 10th. This animal was found dead at 7.30 a.m., September 13th, having perished from causes independent of "chicken- cholera"). The abscess healed slowly ; the healing process was completed in the beginning of October. (e) October 10th, noon. The rabbit received injected, on a corresponding spot on the right side of the belly, ^ ccm. (2 minims) of fresh heart-blood from a rabbit out of those recorded in Table III., Series X., No. 19). As control- animals may be taken, on the one hand, the two rabbits from Series Xl.y 524 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES Table III., which died in 14h. 21rn., and between 7h. 29m. and 9h. 29m., after inoculation, respectively, (quantity for inoculation only l-40th ccm.) ; on the other hand, the fowl and pigeon from Series III., Table IV., which died between 20h. 15m. and 21 h. 40m., and be- tween 14h. Ion), and 20h., after inoculation, respectively, (quantity for inociilation only l-40thccm.). The tame rabbit did not become seriously indisposed. It reacted again through the formation of an abscess at the point of injection, and a higher body-temperature for some time after the operation. Remarks on Body Temperature, &c. : — October 10th — At time of inoculation (noon) ... 40*4° C. ,, ,, 5.55 p.m. ... 4r0° 10.15 p.m. ... 41-2° October 11th— 11 a.m. ... 40-47° 3.30 p.m. ... 40-2° 10.10 p.m. ... 40-86° On the morning of this day this rabbit's appetite was not so keen as usual. The seat of inoculation inflamed. October 12th— at 3.15 p.m. ... 40-6° October.l3th— 1.15 p.m. ... 4005° October 18th — A distinct closed abscess, elastic to the touch, pink at surface, and of pear-shape. October 1 9th — Abscess still closed, measuring 30 mm. in length (from apex to base), 23 mm. across the widest part, raised about 12 mm. above the level of the adjoining portions of the skin of the belly. October 22nd — Abscess still closed, but apparently smaller. October 26th — Abscess apparently discharging pus through a small hole. By pressing, pus of a thick, tenacious, and inodorous nature was obtained. The microscopical examination of samples of this pus (cover-glass preparations coloured with methylene- blue solution) did not disclose any chicken-cholera bacteria. November — Traces of abscess disappearing. 1889. (f) May 9th, 12.45 p.m. The tame rabbit (which, I may mention here, was from the first to the last treatment, and afterwards, kept in a large enclosed place) was again treated, after an interval of seven months. This time I injected l-24thccm. (§ minim) of fresh heart-blood (from a rabbit dead of " chicken-cholera " after inoculation) under the skin at the back, between the shoulder- blades. Another vigorous wild rabbit was subjected to the same BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 525 treatment. The latter was found dead at 9.50 p.m., same day, it having died between 9 p.m. and that time (i.e., between 8 and 9 hours after inoculation). (Result of P.M. examination^ "chicken- cholera.") The tame rabbit appeared somewhat indisposed on the evening of the same day, and on the morning of the following day. After that time it behaved as lively as usual, ready to eat any food given to it. But this time again an abscess developed itself at the place of inoculation, without having, however, any fatal effects on its bearer. The abscess discharging again copious quantities of pus, had almost completely healed up in the middle of June ; on the other hand, under the skin to the left of the seat of the abscess, a hard, freely movable nodule of about nutmeg- shape and -size was noticed. When seen, June 29th, the wound had completely healed up and the nodule disappeared. Other Experiments on Rahhits regarding Immunisation. It is known that Pasteur succeeded in conferring immunity against infection by virulent chicken-cholera bacteria, on fowls which had previously been inoculated with liquids obtained by filtering virulent broth-cultures of those bacteria through a Pasteur-Chamberland filter. The bacteria being thus eliminated, the efiect produced by the filtrate must be ascribed to soluble substances resulting from the growth of the bacteria in the culture- fluid. The results of a few similar experiments on rabbits are published by Prof. P. Foa and Dr. A. Bonome, in Turin.* By repeated injections of filtered broth-cultures of the chicken-cholera microbes into a rabbit, and subsequently of active culture, the death of the animal from chicken-cholera occurred at a considerably later date than that of a control-rabbit. By injecting successively larger doses of filtrate, and more frequently, a rabbit was rendered altogether insusceptible to a subsequent inoculation with such active microbes as were able to kill a fresh rabbit after a certain time. * Ueber Schutzimpfungen. Zeitschrift fur Hygiene, Band V., Heft 3, 1889, p. 423. 526 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, In the following I record a number of experiments which were undertaken with a view to ascertaining, whether it was possible to protect rabbits from the effects of virulent chicken-cholera bacteria, by administering to them such liquids in which the viru- lent microbes had propagated, but were afterwards killed by- moderate heat. A preliminary^ experiment had shown me that, by immersing ordinary thin-glassed test-tubes containing fresh broth-cultures of the microbes, in water kept at 60°C. (140°F.), samples of the contents derived after 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes, were proved to be completely sterile in each case. Such sterilised cul- tures I employed of two kinds. The one description of culture- liquid was plain rabbit-broth, of slightly alkaline reaction ; the other rabbit-broth, to which had been added 1 p.c. pe])tone and 0-5 p.c. salt ; reaction the same. The cultures to be sterilised were left in the water-bath of the above temperature for 30 minutes. I selected ten full-grown, well-conditioned wild rabbits, having been kept on the Island among others, which served me for control-experiments, for about three months. They had so far not been experimented upon, except that they had for some time pre- viously been in an enclosure separated, by means of a double fence of rabbit-netting with fully a yard of space between, from another portion of the same enclosure in which wild rabbits v/ere allowed to die of ^'chicken-cholera," and the dead bodies not removed until some time afterwards. This was, as may be seen later on, for the sake of testing the value of the disease with regard to its possible spread from infected to healthy rabbits under certain conditions. The ten rabbits were placed separately in clean, spacious, shel- tered hutches. I first intended to administer the different quanti- ties of sterilised cultures directly per os ; on finding, however, (by trial on an indifferent rabbit) this procedure not safe enough, I gave them to the rabbits in a small portion of bran, of which they were very fond. Bran was also used in these experiments when virulent broth-cultures were fed. To induce the rabbits, the control-rabbits included, to eat the portions given to them at once, BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 527 they did no receive any food, except water, on the morning of the day when (soon after noon) they were to eat the si)ecially prepared food (conf. Footnote, p. 533). The result was quite satisfactory. In order to avoid repetitions, I will mention here that all the bioth-caltures, both those to be sterilised and those to be used in their active state — in the latter case plain rabbit-broth only was the nourishing mediura — had been obtained from fresh heart- blood of rabbits, inoculated for that purpose with virulent broth- culture of the microbes. Such blood was tranferred in small quantities by means of a platinum-loop into the culture-tubes which had been warmed before in the water-bath, so that the broth contained in them showed already a temperature of some thirty degrees Centigr. They were then placed in a thermostat, where they remained for about 24 hours at a temperature close on 37-7°C., roughly speaking, between 37-5°C. and 38°C. They were then used immediately afterwards. The plan of feeding the ten rabbits on sterilised cultures was as follows : — Two of them were to receive three successively inci-eased portions at certain intervals, the next two one more than the first, the third one more than the second, and so on. Section I. 1889. Two rabbits were fed thi-ee times on steadily increased quantities of sterilised culture in peptonised broth (for one) and plain broth (for the other), as follows : — 2ccin., April 16th; 4ccm., April 17th; 6 com., April 19th. On April 21st, at about 1 p.m., up to which time the two rabbits appeared perfectly normal, they, as well as a vigorous control-rabbit, were given each 1 ccm. of active broth-culture in some bran. The control- rabbit died between 6.30 a.m. and 7.45 a.m., April 23rd, of "chicken- cholera." One of the principal rabbits, namely that previously fed on sterilised peptonised broth-culture, was seen to die at about 7 a.m., April 24th, of typical "chicken-cholera," as the subsequent examination proved. 528 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, The other rabbit which had been treated previously with sterilised plain broth-culture, being still alive April 27th, was given on that day, 2 ccm. of active broth -culture.* It was still lively May 4th, when it was again fed, at about 1 p.m., this time on 3 ccm, of virulent culture. While another fresh, very robust rabbit, fed on 2 ccm. only, succumbed at 3 p.m., May 5th, to the disease, the former survived. On May 10th, at about 2 p.m., it received 4 ccm. of active broth- culture ; the same quantity was given to a control-animal which, however, had not finished eating it until 4 p.m. same day. The latter died between 2.15 p.m. and 2.35 p.m., May 11th, of "chicken-cholera;" the principal rabbit survived. On May 15th, at about 2 p.m., this rabbit, and a control-rabbit, were fed on 6 ccm. of virulent broth-culture. The latter perished of "chicken- cholera" at 12.40 p.m.. May 16th, i.e., about 22| hours afterwards. Neither did the former withstand this time; it died at 10.50 p.m., May 16th, i.e., about 33 hours afterwards. On post-mortem examination, the carcass was found to be very stiff as usual ; typical bacteria in preparations of the blood ; but, with the exception of a plearitis and a slight emphysema of the right lung, the organs looked normal. (Weight of the rabbit, 1490 grammes). Section II. 1889. Two rabbits were fed four successive times on the following quantities of sterilised culture in peptonised broth and plain broth, respectively : 2 ccm., April l6th ; 4 ccm., April 17th; 6 ccm., April 19th; lOccm., April 21st. On April 23rd, at 1.15 p.m., they, as well as a control-rabbit, M'ere given 1 ccm. of active broth-culture. The latter died at 2.30 p.m., April 24th, of " chicken-cholera ;" of the two former, one previously treated with sterilised plain broth-culture died about a quarter of an hour later, also of ' ' chicken-cholera. " The other rabbit being still alive April 30th — it never exhibited any suspicious symptoms— was fed again on that date, at 2 p.m., on 2 ccm. of virulent broth-culture. It was found dead at 6.30 a.m., May 2nd, whereas another fresh rabbit fed at the same time, along with others, on only 1 ccm. of the same culture, was found dead at about 7 a.m., May 1st. Both succumbed to typical " chicken-cholera." * As will be seen further below, the two rabbits of Section IV. and a control-rabbit were fed, the same da5% on 1 ccm. of the same culture for each rabbit. Althoug-h this control- rabbit survived this time, and only one of the former died of the disease 22 hours after being fed, the virulence of the employed culture cannot be doubted. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 52& Section III. 1889. Two rabbits were led. jive successive times on sterilised cultures either in peptonised, or in plain broth, as follows : 2ccm., April 16th ; 4ccm., April 17th ; 6ccm., April 19th ; lOccm., April 21st ; 15ccm., April 23rd. On April 25th, at 1.15 p.m., these two rabbits, as well as a control- rabbit, were given 1 ccm. each of virulent broth-culture. One of the two first mentioned, namely that previously fed on sterilised peptonised cultures, died between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., April 26th; the control-rabbit succumbed considerably later, it being found dead at 6.40 a.m., 29th April, i.e., roughly speakings after 3i days. The cause of death each time was typical "chicken-cholera." The rabbit previously treated with sterilised plain broth-culture, being still alive on April 30th, was fed at about 2 p.m. that day, on 2 ccm. of active broth-culture. It survived again, without ofifering any sign of a change in its behaviour, while a control-rabbit, fed on 1 ccm. only, along with others on the same date (see Section V., mentioned also in Section II.), was found dead (from "chicken-cholera") at about 7 a.m.. May 1st. On May 4th, at 1 p.m., the above rabbit was given 3 ccm. of active broth-culture. A very robust control-animal which received 2 ccm. of the same culture (as also did two other rabbits treated before), died at 3 p.m.. May 5th, of typical "chicken-cholera." The principal rabbit remained alive and well. On May 10th, at about 2 p.m., 4 ccm. of virulent broth-culture were given to it. It survived again without, apparently, the least inconvenience. A control-rabbit, as already mentioned in connection with the rabbit under Section I., of the same date, succumbed abou.t 24 hours afterwards. On May 15th, at about 2 p.m., the rabbit received 6 ccm. of active broth- culture. It withstood also this time, without showing any abnormal symptoms. A control-rabbit, as already mentioned under Section I., died about 22^ hours after feeding. On May 21st, six days after the last feeding on 6 ccm. of culture, the rabbit was inoculated with a small quantity of heart-blood, derived from a rabbit which had perished about 6 hours since, of typical "chicken-cholera" consequent on inoculation with virulent broth-culture. The quantity, namely l-48th ccm. (^ minim) was injected by means of a pointed glass-tube, under the skin at a spot on the belly. Another fresh rabbit, of the same sex {$) and about the same size, served for control-inoculation. This control-rabbit died at 1.10 a.m.. May 22nd, or 13 hours afterwards; the autopsy as well as the result of the microscopical examination of cover-glass preparations of blood, secured the diagnosis — "chicken-cholera." 34 530 EXPEKIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, The principal rabbit remained alive for good, but exhibited the following symptoms : — At the place of inoculation there was formed a rather large abscess which began to discharge pus for some time, and through which a necrotised portion of muscle and skin was eliminated, similar to the process which may be observed in fowls. The rabbit, which had always a good appetite, became somewhat thinner ; when seen again on June 15th, it was as well- conditioned as before the experiment ; the wound was then not quite healed up. When seen on June 29th, the healing was perfect. Section IV. 1889. Two rabbits were fed six successive times on sterilised cultures in pepto- nised broth or in plain broth, respectively, namely : the first five times exactly as under Section ///., and on the same dates ; the sixth time on 22 ccm., April 25th. On April 27th, at 1 p.m., each of them, and a control-rabbit, were given 1 ccm. of virulent broth -culture. The rabbit previously fed on sterilised peptonised cultures, died from typical " chicken-cholera'' at 11 am., April 28th, that is 22 hours after feeding. The other rabbit, as well as the control-animal, did not succumb this time. On May 4th, at about 1 p.m., both received 2 ccm. of active broth-culture each. A control-rabbit died at 3 p.m.. May 5th (the same already mentioned under Sections I. and ///., May 4th) ; the rabbit previously treated with sterilised plain broth-cultures perished between 8.45 a.m. and 9.30 a.m., May 6th, that is about 44 hours after feeding, whereas the original control- rabbit was found dead at about 6.30 a.m., May 7th, it having died between 9 p.m., May 6th, and that time. Section V. 1889. Two rabbits were fed seven successive times, of which the first six were as in Series IV., and the seventh time was on April 27th, when 45 ccm. of sterilised culture, either peptonised or plain, were given. On April 30th, at 2 p.m., each of them, as well as a control-rabbit, received 1 ccm. of virulent culture. The last-mentioned rabbit was found dead at about 7 a.m., May 1st (as already notified under Sections II. and ///. ). The rabbit formerly treated with sterilised peptonised cultures died between 10 a.m. and 11.15 a.m.. May 3rd, or somewhat less than 3 days after feeding; cause of death, typical "chicken-cholera." The other rabbit, treated with sterilised plain broth-culture, did not become atfected. On May 4th, at about 1 p.m., it was fed on 2 ccm. of active culture. It died at 4.30 p.m.. May 5th. At the post-mortem examination everything BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 531 was found as in ordinary rabbits dead from the disease. A control-rabbit died 1-^ hours before, at 3 p.m., that day (as already mentioned under Sections L, III. and IV.). According to the results thus obtained in the foregoing experi- ments, which are not numerous and not varied enough to admit of any definite conclusions to be drawn, the possibility of the pro- tective power, on rabbits, of sterilised broth-cultures introduced successively into the digestive canal, against a subsequent infec- tion by active cultures, can hardly be denied. We see that a subsequent feeding on Iccm. of virulent culture had in several cases not the slightest effect on previously treated rabbits, while control-rabbits succumbed, with one exception (1 ccm.). Continued feedings up to 6 ccm. (two cases) of active material caused the death of all rabbits except one, out of Section III. This rabbit survived even inoculation, of which another fresh rabbit perished quickly.* Cultures in peptonised rabbit-broth, and sterilised, proved them- selves, against my expectation, inferior to such made in plain rabbit-broth, as regards their protective influence on rabbits. Is " Chicken-cholera " a Contagious Disease among Rabbits? The question as to whether, or to what degree, rabbits suffering or dead from " chicken-cholera," are able to communicate the fatal disease to other healthy rabbits with which they are associated, was one that engaged my attention for a considerable time. Experiments hy Pasteur and his Representatives. Pasteur states that fresh rabbits placed with others which have ])artaken of food contaminated by virulent chicken-cholera microbes, die in large numbers.! * If possible, and unless the rabbit should die from some cause or other, I intend to try another inoculation several months after the first. t Sur la destruction des lapins en Australie et dans la Nouvelle-Z^lande Annales de VInstitut Pasteur, 2me ann^e, 1888, p. 6. 532 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, Five tame rabbits, in one box, were fed on infected food, and 6 hours later three fresh ones (not contaminated) were introduced into the same box. Apart from the five former, one of the three latter succumbed to "chicken-cholera." * In another experiment, four tame rabbits received microbe-contaminated food, and 7 hours later when all the food had disappeared since several hours, four new rabbits were penned up in the same box with the four first ones. The carcasses of these four infected rabbits, which died within 23 hours, were left in the box. All the four additional rabbits were dead from "chicken-cholera" within six days from the beginning of the experiment.t An experiment on a large scalej made by Loir, at Pasteur's instigation, on Mme. Pommery's Estate, at Reims, on the rabbits in an enclosure of eight hectares (about twenty acres), resulted in killing off the whole number of rabbits there, which were estimated at more than a thousand. According to the evidence given before the Rabbit Commission in Sydney by Pasteur's representatives^ it was considered as probable that the mor- tality among those rabbits was partly due to the transmission of the "chicken-cholera" virus from rabbit to rabbit. In my opinion, this whole- sale mortality can satisfactorily be explained without taking to "con- tagion." Lastly, I adduce the experiment of demonstration performed by Pasteur's delegates at Rodd Island (Sydney). Five wild rabbits, fed in one cage on cabbage-leaves sprinkled with 5 com. of a virulent broth-culture, were soon afterwards placed among twenty fresh rabbits (also wild) in a four-sided wooden enclosure of only one square metre area (about 3' 3j" square), in a stable-stall. The observation extended to a period of ten days. Within this period eleven rabbits in all died, among these, three (specially marked/ of the Jive which had been given infected food, while one of the latter survived. The fate of the ffth of the originally infected rabbits could not be ascertained, because, inadvertently, it had not been marked . Accordingly, either seven or eight of the twenty uninfected rabbits died. All the dead rabbits were left in the enclosure until the demonstration was concluded, with the exception of three not marked ones which were removed during the experiment for examination (among these, one infected one might or might not have been, to judge from what has been stated above). In consequence of this examination, the diagnosis "chicken-cholera" could be given in each case. In order to fully decide whether the other unmarked rabbits (five) also perished of "chicken-cholera" or not, a post-morttm examination ■would have been necessary ; this, however, was not made. * loc. cit., pp. 4, 5. t loc. cit., p. 5. X loc. cit., pp. 7, 8. I BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 533 Own Exjjeriments. In my official reports full details (with illustrations) are fur- nished about the experiments undertaken by me with a view to obtaining what information was considered by the Commission as worth having. Here it may suffice to give a resume of their arrangements and their results. Generally speaking, such experiments were conducted : — A. On infected and uninfected rabbits mixed together I. In wooden hutches, either with wooden bottoms or wire-netting bottoms. II, In enclosures containing artificial burrows. B. On intact rabbits placed III. In boxes or hutches, in which rabbits had died from " chicken-cholera." Ad I. (a) On September 3rd, 1888, ten full-grown rabbits were fed,* in separate cages, on cabbage-leaves to which was added a small quan- tity of virulent broth-culture of the chicken-cholera microbes. f This quantity was 2| ccm. each for eight of the ten, 1 ccm. each for the two remaining ones.ij: Soon afterwards, when all the food had disappeared except in one cage, where only about half was eaten, the ten rabbits were placed, in the proportion of one to two, with tiventy uninfected rabbits, of which six were only half-grown, in eight hutches, as follows -.—six hutches (measuring in the clear inside 23" x 18" x 18" in * Whenever, during- the course of my experiments, rabbits were to be fed on " chicken- cholera"-contaminated food, I adopted the precaution of starving them to some blight extent beforehand, in order to induce them to eat the infected meal given to them more readily. In spite of this arrangement it sometimes happened that the one rabbit or another was slow in touching the food, or finishing it up. Wild rabbits, when suddenly penned up in hutches, are naturally very shy and suspicious at first. t In order to be sure on this and all other occasions, when green leaves were used, that the infective material adhered firmly to the food, and that the danger of the broth becoming detached or perhaps lost, while the rabbits were eating, be avoided as much as possible, each portion was prepared on a soup-plate, where the culture, which was sprinkled out of a fine-pointed measured glass-tube, was placed between leaves or portions of such, and these repeatedly pressed down, and turned by aid of flat wooden sticks. J The history of the culture employed is as follows :— Colony from virulent blood of a rabbit (fed on culture), 10/vm. 1888 = 1. generation ; stick-culture in 6 p.c. rabbit-broth- gelatine, 14/vin. = IL generation; stick-culture, 18/vm, = III. generation; rabbit-broth culture, 1/ IX = IV; generatiou. The latter, when used September 3rd, had been since in thermostat at 33-35° C. for two days. 534 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, depth, height and width, respectively ; three were wooden-bottomed, three wire-netting bottomed, the latter resting on sandy soil) were stocked with three rabbits each ; two hutches (3' 3g" square, 2' high ; one wooden-bottomed, the other wire-netting bottomed, placed as before §) were stocked with six rabbits each ; here, as well as there, always in the number of one infected to two uninfected specimens. The experiment lasted seven days. Eight of the ten infected rabbits promptly died from "chicken-cholera," as proved by the post-mortem examination— they were removed from their hutches soon after death — and by control-rabbits. All these had been fed on 2| ccm. of culture. Of the remaining two, however, which had received only 1 ccm. culture, one died (after more than 2^ days) from some indifferent cause, and the other survived this time, while a control-rabbit [I ccm.) succumbed to the disease. Of the twenty originally uninfected rabbits, four contracted " chicken-cholera," and died in consequence, in the smaller hutches, namely— t?iJO in one with bottom of rabbit-netting ; one each in a wooden-bottomed and wire-netting bottomed hutch. I need hardly say that these four rabbits, which perished in from about two days and a half to four days seven hours after the beginning of the experiment, had been together with rabbits which, after feeding on 2| ccm. culture, quickly succumbed, as mentioned above. I have also to record the death of t^m other (including five half- grown) rabbits oub of the original twenty, within the seven days, but I was unable to trace, as cause, "chicken-cholera." (b) On September lOth, 1888, two rabl-its were fed on green barley and virulent culture (derived directly from the blood of one of the rabbits dead from " chicken-cholera" by "contact," in one of the hutches of the preceding experiment). One of them received 1 ccm.; the other, which was the surviving one from the former experiment after feeding of 1 ccm., was given 2 ccm. this time. They were p'aced in two of the smaller hutches (see above), one having a bottom of wood, the other one of rabbit-proof netting (as before), with one full-grown and one half -grown rabbit for each. The two infected rabbits died speedily from " chicken-cholera " (they were removed from their hutches soon after death) ; of the four uninfected rabbits, the two half-grown and one full-grown died within the first three days ; the result of post- mortem examination was each time negative as regards " chicken- cholera." The other full-grown specimen was still alive after seven days. § All the eight hutches were placed in the large wire-gauze enclosure on the Island. Six of theua (the small-sized) were so placed as to prevent the sun completelj' from shining into them ; the inside of the two larger ones was only to a slight extent accessible to the sun. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 535 o -4J So dio co05 d So p. CO r— 1 d : di'i So ^2 Is CO d a S^,^ p,o^ Sg,^ ^- ^- ^s d S2 ra .-I'M s s d ^^ ^^ g2 IT- t-^ t^ la- 5^ CO ^-^ t- 1 J3 CO p-H I— 1 pd 2 p— 1 2 ioi d s d S do d s^ 1— 1 Tfl -H ^ d 2 2,. 2 2. £ S d,Q cLo o 2 1 o 2 P^^ o ■ • a 1 o d,o S 0 s Is- . g3 ". 0 h 2o a c3 0 2 "^ 1%, CD it i 4 CO .jd 00 -t-3 o 1— 1 536 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, The result of these experiments is somewhat marred by the great mortality among the rabbits under observation, independent of " chicken-cholera." Nevertheless it shows that, similar to those obtained by Pasteur and his representatives, the possibility of a transmission of the disease from rabbit to rabbit, under conditions such as are described, is out of question. Ad 11. (a) On August 28th, 1888, eight full-grown rabbits (also two others for immediate control) were fed on cabbage-leaves sprinkled with 2| ccm. of active broth-culture * for each. They were thereupon placed with sixtee7i uninfected rabbits (among which five half-grown) in special enclosures containing an artificial burrow each. These artificial bur- rows were constructed in the loose sandy soil which covers the surface of the large wire-netting and wire-gauze enclosure, and fenced in, at some distance, by rabbit-netting. They consisted in winding and branching trenches, as nearly as possible five inches deep and four and a half inches wide, covered with boards and soil so that they could easily be uncovered and inspected. They were provided with one entrance. + Three rabbits (one infected, two uninfected) were turned into each of three small burrow-enclosures containing about 13' 6", 16', 16 '6" of burrow, respectively ; into another, with about 58 running feet of burrow, six rabbits (two infected, four uninfected) were let go ; the last enclosure, in which were about 70 running feet of burrow, was stocked with 7iine rabbits (three infected, six uninfected). Within twenty-five minutes all twenty-four rabbits had found their way inside the burrows in their respective enclosures. The eight infected rabbits (as well as the two others also fed on the same quantity of contaminated food) promptly died from "chicken- cholera," six outside, tivo inside the burrows. Their carcasses were left untouched on the spot, where found, for three full days. Of the sixteen uninfected rabbits which, unless they died before, were to be left in the enclosures for seven days from the beginning, six in all (namely four full-grown, and two half -grown) died within this time. But not in one instance could the cause from which they died be identified as "chicken-cholera." * The history of this culture is as follows :— Colony from virulent blood of a rabbit fed on culture, 10/ VIII. '88:^1. generation ; gelatine-stick-culture, 14/viii. — II. generation ; broth- culture, 23/viii. = III. generation; broth-culture, 26/vni. = IV. generation. The latter remained, before use, in a thermostat at 35-37° C. for two days. t They were constructed after data given by Mr. A. N. Pearson, of Melbourne, a member of the Royal Commission. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 537 eg o a -q o 13 J5 ;3 00 >» !h Ol -^ -: +^ E! ^ r^H O c3 &0^ ^ C3 j3 'TS ^.^ ■g « c6 i fl fs s? CC '^'TD TS &J0— ■ «^ a ^% 6 .J5 c .sp-s ^^ S &o„,- rt;;^ 2 ^ «^ .^ §^ =tSi a o3 -^i^ a o ^ =3 IS niJ • ^ o i=^ riling wers ning o o m 'r' ^'x * is C5 C5 s co;* "rjH 1 CD s 0 d s 1—1 l-H d —H So 3 So Tl5 GO 10 00 CO s ^§0 ■ r^ 06 So CO 1. 06 I— 1 S k cc k CO 1*2 d Sc CO 2,25. 0 CO 2. 0^ 16 k CO So s, -*■ i CO d CO '3. Tin' • s 0 S 0 ■ s c4 Be 1— 1 d c4 co' a I— t So l-H 00 d c4 B c4 S.o 06 i-H 0 CO 1 +3 r 1 rd ■+3 CO :5 00 :5 C5 0 f-H i i ^ 0 i BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 557 Experiments on Indigenous Birds, In the appended Table Yl,—(a, b, c, d) are put together, seriatim, the results of experiments with the microbes of chicken- cholera on a number of indigenous birds. These consisted of : — (1) Two wekas, or Maori- or wood-hens (Ocydromus australis, Sparrm). Habitat : South Island of N.Z. (2) Two magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen, Lath.). Hab. : Q., N.S.W., v., S.A. (3) Two laughing-jackasses (Dacelo gigas, Bodd.). Eab. : Q., KS.W., V. (4) Two butcher-birds (Cracticus torquatus, Lath.). Hab. : Q., N.S.W., v., S.A. (5) One blue-jay (Graucalus melanojys, Lath.). Hab. : Austral, (and New Guinea). (6) Two gallahs, or rose-breasted cockatoos {Cacatua roseicapilla, Yieill.). Hab. : Austral. (7) Two wonga-pigeons (Leucosarcia picata, Lath.). Hab. : Q., KS.W., Y. (8) One bronze- wing pigeon (Fhajys chalcoptera. Lath.). Hab. : Austral. (9) Two common Bwa.mTp-c[VLa.i\(SynoicusaustraUs, Ij^th.). Hab.: Austral. "^^ [See Table YI. (a), (b), (c), (d), at the end.] (10) Six crows (Corone australis, Gould). Hab. : Austral. (See p. 560.) « All the specimens of birds mentioned under 1—9, were obtained, in an apparently good condition, from a dealer at the Sydney markets, on the 8th October. On the Island they were kept in spacious, airy boxes, so as to be protected from any injurious effects of the weather. When they were to be experimented upon (in case of feeding only), they were slightly starved beforehand, and their boxes emptied of all except water. During the course of the experiments they were regularly fed, as usual. 558 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, From the results so far obtained we see that the virus of chicken-cholera, derived, as it was, in the shape of blood from rabbits which died in consequence of infection by that virus, proved, when caused to gain entrance into the digestive organs in the noted quan- tities, fatal to the magpies, butcher-birds, and blue-jay (which are principally animal feeders), to the wonga- and bronze-wing pigeons, to the gallahs and quail (which are all of them vegetable feeders). One of the wonga-pigeons, however, and one of the quail, did not succumb until after having been fed a second time on somewhat larger portions of the virus than before. One of the gallahs, although surviving two experiments by feeding, perished quickly in consequence of inoculation, thus manifesting its ready suscepti- bility to inoculated chicken-cholera. Of two laughing-jackasses (true animal-feeders), one died after the first experiment (feeding), but not of chicken-cholera, as shown by the result of the post-mortem examination. The other sur- vived feeding on virulent material for two successive times ; but when inoculated later on, it succumbed, we are entitled to say, to this disease, in so far as evidenced by the occurrence of numerous bacteria of chicken-cholera in the blood, by their successful culti- vation, and inoculation into a healthy rabbit, which died as usual. The appearance of the organs was less characteristic than is usually the case with birds dead of the disease. Two wekas (animal-feeders), of which one was once fed and twice inoculated, the other twice fed and once inoculated, remained alive. Whether their insusceptibility arose from the fact of their having been possibly treated preventively at first, or whether — what seems to me to be not at all impossible — birds of this description are naturally immune against chicken-cholera in any shape of application, can only be decided by further experiments. Nearly five and a half months later, the two wekas (rooster and hen) were subjected to a last inoculation, this time of a con- siderably larger quantity of virulent blood from a "chicken-cholera'' rabbit [see Table YI. {d)\ The result was that the weka-hen BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 559 remained alive for good, whereas therooster was founddead 42 hours after inoculation (having died in less time than that). The inocu- lation, in this instance, had not run off smoothly; instead of apply- ing, as intended, the same quantity as that injected into the hen (in each case under the skin of the right side of the breast), only about half of that penetrated under the skin : the animal may have become too much injured at the place of inoculation, in consequence of the manipulation. At the 2^ost-mortem examination, the seat of inoculation and neighbouring portions were in a state of haemor- rhagic infiltration. The organs presented everywhere indications of general sepsis. The blood, of black crlour, showed in cover-glass preparations a moderate number of bacilli which, although being larger than the chicken-cholera bacteria usually are, resembled them. There were also bacilli of a different form. In order to arrive at a certainty whether the former were true chicken cholera bacteria, and active, I inoculated a medium-sized fresh rabbit with heart-blood of the weka-rooster. The rabbit was found dead 20 hours afterwards, it having died between lOf hours and that time. The finding of the examination was : death from typical " chicken-cholera." Notwithstanding this occurrence of virulent bacteria in the heart-blood of the weka-rooster — they were also observed in the spleen — it is very doubtful whether this case is to be placed under the heading of a true infection by those microbes. To judge from the 'post-mortem appearances, I think, the presence of these microbes in the vascular system might be explained with- out adopting the view of an infection, properly speaking. That with regard to all the representatives of indigenous birds which, experimented upon, died, the cause of death must be regarded as due to chicken-cholera, as briefly noted in the quoted table by ^^ P.M., Positive ^^ (with the exception of one laughing- jackass, where the post-7}iorte7n was negative, and very likely of the weka) was, 1 think, conclusively demonstrated by the presence, usually in immense numbers, of the typical bacteria in the blood ; by cultivation of such material in suitable media, when they gave rise to typical cultures ; and by the positive results of occasional 560 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, inoculations of blood into normal rabbits. Besides, the appearance of the organs was nearly always such as bearing a close resemblance to that in the case of fowls and pigeons which succumb to the disease. Certain results obtained in the foregoing experiments, would seem to lead to the belief that indigenous birds, as exemplified by a few instances, may not always necessarily become affected or killed by taking up, along with food, certain small or minute quantities of the microbes derived, we had better add, directly from the bodies of rabbits newly dead of " chicken-cholera.'*' On the other hand, inoculation with the virus taken from the same source, may be looked upon as a far more dangerous, although naturally more rarely occurring, mode of infection for such birds. Further below I shall mention a corresponding case in common pigeons. (10.) Indigenous Crows. At my request, Mr. Taylor, of the Rabbit Branch, Lands Department, Sydney, caused a number of indigenous crows to be caught near Hay, New South Wales, and to be forwarded to me. On the 8th and 10th November, 1888, I received them, eight in all, of which, however, two died soon after arrival. The remaining six appeared in good health, although at first they were a little sluggish. They belonged to the species Corone australis, Gould ; found all over Australia, including Tasmania. I am told that there is very little difference between the two species of crows described from Australia ; one is the above-mentioned, and the other is Corvus corondides, Yig. and Horsf., which is said not to occur in Tasmania. I enumerate the experiments upon the six crows in chrono- logical order : — 1888. (i) November 13th, 11 a.m. Two of the crows, kept in one box with plenty of space in it, were inoculated (under the skin over the pectoral muscle on one side) with fresh virulent liver-blood taken from a rabbit which died of " chicken- cholera " on inoculation. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 561 One received l-16th ccm. = 1 minim 1 ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ The o<^er received 1 -32nd ccm. = J minim J Results : November 15th. — The one which had been inoculated with 1 minim of blood, was found dead at 7.30 a.m. P.M., Positive. (Appearance of the organs resembling to some extent that of the organs of poultry- dead of chicken-cholera. Immense numbers of typical bacteria in the blood.) December 1st. — The other which had received only 5 minim of blood, was still alive on this date, when it was used otherwise, as will be seen below, (ii) November 13th, 12.35 p.m. Four crows which were accommodated in a commodious specially- fitted stall in the shed, and which had not been treated so far, were fed on the livers of two rabbits which had succumbed to '^ chicken- cholera " on feeding. Annotations : (1) The crows, although not being fed on the morning of that day, were very slow in eating the pieces of liver placed in their stall on a soup-plate. (2) The feeding had, from want of rabbits at the time, to be dis- continued until later (vide below). Result : December 1st. — The four crows were still alive, (iii) December 1st to 7th. In the stall which contained the above four crows, and into which was turned the one which had been inoculated previously with | minim of virulent blood, were placed, for seven consecutive days, in the mornings, the carcasses, each time, of two rabbits which died of "chicken- cholera " on inoculation (in connection with the desiccation experi- ments (,p. 572). Annotations : (1) The dead rabbits {fourteen in all), before being given to the crows, had been deprived of their entrails (with the exception of liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs), and as there were more on hand than were required at the time, they were kept in a cool place, so that the carcasses were still fresh when placed in the crows' stall, with the exception of one (out of the last feeding) in which putrefaction had already set in. (2) During the above-mentioned period the crows did not receive any other food. Water, of course, was always provided. 36 562 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBSE, Results : December 4th.— Owe found dead at 9.30 a.m. (alive at 8.15 a.m.). P.M., Positive. (Carcass stiff; blood coagulated, and of a tarry- appearance ; hypersemia of intestines ; contents of small intestine consisting of slimy, yellowish masses, stained here and there with extravasated blood ; spleen apparently enlarged, cherry - brown. Immense numbers of bacteria of chicken-cholera in the blood. A healthy rabbit inoculated with a small quantity of such blood, succumbed promptly. Cultures derived from blood of this rabbit were further tested, so that with regard to this crow there cannot be any doubt as to the cause of its death). December 9th. — One found dead at 8.30 a.m. P.M., Positive. The three remaining crows, among them the previously inoculated one, were still alive on (iv) December 14th, when, at noon, they were inoculated with fresh virulent blood derived from the liver of a rabbit that died of "chicken- cholera " on inoculation. Of these three crows, two, of which one had been inoculated before, received 1 minim each of the blood ; the third ^ minim. Jtesults : All three crows remained alive and well, thus showing that they were altogether refractory to this treatment. 1889. ,(v) April 8th, about noon. After a lapse of nearly four months, the three crows were inoculated again, at the above time, with liver-blood from a rabbit recently dead from "chicken-cholera"; each crow received the rather large dose of ^ ccm. (4 minims) of such blood injected under the skin of the left side of the thorax. In the evening of the same day, and at noon of the following day, they were seen to have eaten only portion of the meat given to them. Pesults : One crow which some time ago had lost one of its feet through injury, died between 3 p.m. and 3.15 p.m., April 9th; 27 hours after inoculation. The carcass was found resting on a perch, and its head leaning against the wall. A second crow which looked dull, and ruffled in plumage, in the evening of April 9th, was found dead at 6.25 a.m., April 10th ; it was lying on tlie floor of the stall. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 563 The third crow whrch also was ill since the previous evening, was found dead at 7.30 p.m., April 10th ; lying on the floor ; it must have died between 5.50 p.m. and that time. (A vigorous full-grown rabbit, also inoculated with | ccm. of that liver-blood, as control, was found dead at 7 a.m., April 9th. It must have died soon after 10 p.m., the previous night.) The examination of the carcasses of the three crows, of which the last two were in a very good condition, resulted in showing that they all had succumbed to chicken-cholera. The carcasses were very stiff. At and round the seat of inoculation there was, in the case of the last two crows, a tough, yellowish- white forma- tion, resembling in appearance what is known in fowls or pigeons similarly treated. Spleen conspicuously enlarged, cherry-brown, and soft. Intestines hyperaemic ; hsemorrhagic exudations in the duodenum of the crow which died first. Blood mostly coagulated, blackish ; in it innumerable numbers of the typical bacteria of chicken-cholera. To judge from the outcome of these experiments we may say, generally, that the microbes of chicken-cholera are only under certain conditions fatal to crows. Small doses of the virus, it appears, are not efficacious enough to become fatal ; on the other hand, repeated feedings on larger quantities of virulent material are more dangerous, while inoculations with larger quantities of such caused death (from chicken-cholera) each time. The pre- vious treatment of the crows mentioned under iii and iv, may have had something to do with the surviving of the greater por- tion (iii), or of all of them (iv). These treatments combined, were, however, unable to protect — if there was any protection at all — the three crows, when they were subjected to a severer test, about four months later. How far there is danger for all the useful indigenous birds to take up the disease (chicken-cholera), should the latter be intro- duced into the country for the sake of rabbit-destruction, cannot be precisely defined from the results of the above experiments. That such a danger, however slight it may be, does exist, if the disease was intentionally spread and reared in the open, cannot be denied by the unprejudiced mind \ and that, even admitting that in the 56-± EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, first instance only a minute fraction of wild birds may be carried off by the disease — an occurrence which in itself would be of little importance — these few birds, travelling as they may, perhaps, after having become infected, may transmit the germs hither and thither, ready to be taken up again by susceptible birds of the same or some other description. Experiments on Common Fowls and Pigeons. (a). Feeding and Inoculatio7i. On page 553 and Table IV. (at the end), I have already recorded certain inoculation-experiments with reference to common fowls and pigeons. This was in association with the experiments on. the behaviour of chicken-cholera bacteria when removed from rabbit to rabbit through twenty generations. ' Table YII. (at the end), {a, 6, c, d, e), contains an account of the arrangement and the results of other experiments. From it will be seen that one fowl (hen) proved insusceptible to taking chicken-cholera by feeding on a small portion of virulent material from a dead rabbit, while after a second feeding on a considerably larger portion it died, unfortunately, soon afterwards, from some cause different from chicken-cholera. (The result of the j^ost-niortem examination is denoted as negative in the table). Another fowl (heavy rooster) was fed three consecutive times on successively larger portions of virulent material (taken from rabbits) without the least harm to its health. Later on it was inoculated with a small quantity of active microbes, but it remained alive. [Necrotised tissue was thrown out where the seat of inoculation was, corresponding to what takes place in fowls which are treated preventively with attenuated virus of chicken- cholera (Pasteur)]. The immunity of the rooster, in this instance, was possibly due to the animal having undergone three previous and successive feeding experiments, which might have had a protective influence. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 565 Nearly five months and a-half later, the rooster, which was then very robust, received subcutaneously (breast) a much larger quan- tity of virulent rabbit-blood [see Table VII. (at the end) (e)]. This time the rooster did not resist; it died, under the typical chicken-cholera symptoms, 27 hours after inoculation, after a short illness. The post-7norte7)i examination revealed an example of severe chicken -cholera. The duodenum was filled with almost one mass of blood. Two pigeons which were repeatedly fed (the one twice, the other three times) on food contaminated with active microbes, succumbed promptly to the effects of inoculation later on, thus showing that they had not been rendered immune by the previous treatments. However, in the judgment of these results, it should be borne in mind that, as the pigeons were too slow in eating (see Table VII.), the preceding treatments (feeding) cannot be regarded as exact. (The results of the post-mortem examinations are simply denoted as positive in the table.) (b). Experiment with a view to ascertaining the effect of exposing poultry to rabbits which are dying from " chicken-cholera " (after feeding), and the carcasses of which are allowed to remain with the former for some time. For this purpose the Aviary on the Island, shortly described in the Introduction, was utilised. At the beginning of the experi- ment, November 9th, 1888, it contained nine fowls, (of which three had been there for some time, as left over from a former consignment of twelve, and six had been received from the Sydney Markets the day before, November 8th), and twelve pigeons, also obtained from the Markets on the latter date. Neither the fowls nor the pigeons had so far been experimented upon in any way. . The experiment, as already mentioned, was begun November 9th, and lasted five weeks, up to December 14th. Within this period rabbits were introduced, at intervals, in all three times. 566 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, 1888. (i) November 9th, 10 a.m. Two rabbits, one quite full-grown, the other nearly full-grown, were given cabbage-leaves sprinkled with 3 ccm. of an active broth-culture for each rabbit. When seen at 12.15 p.m., they had finished their portions of infected food. At 12.30 p.m. they were let go in the aviary. Results : One observed to die at 10 a.m., November 10th ; the other about two hours later, at 12.7 p.m., both under " chicken-cholera " symptoms. Their carcasses also showed the typical stiffness. A control- rabbit which was found dead at 7.30 a.m., November 10th, was, on examina- tion, proved to have succumbed to " chicken-cholera." (ii) November 22nd, 11 a.m. Three full-grown rabbits, having besides others arrived on the Island on the previous day, were given cabbage-leaves with 2 ccm. of a fresh broth-culture for each rabbit (at the same time six other rabbits were similarly fed, see p. 538). The three rabbits which were very slow in eating, although they had been left without food for some time, were placed in the aviary at 7 p.m. Results : One rabbit found dead at 7 a.m., November 23rd. As check for its having died from " chicken- cholera " may be taken a rabbit which, being among the six mentioned (turned into the main enclosure), was also found dead at 7 a.m., November 23rd ; a sample of liver derived from this rabbit, contained the typical chicken-cholera bacteria. The tioo other rabbits being still alive, November 27th, were taken out of the aviary that day. (iii) November 23th, 11 a.m. Three full-grown rabbits were given green barley-leaves sprinkled with 2 ccm. of a fresh broth-culture for each rabbit. Two of them were seen to have eaten their portions of infected food at noon, the third at 1 p.m. At 3.15 p.m. they were transferred to the aviary. Results : One found dead at 7-30 a.m., November 29th. Another found dead at 6 p.m., December 1st ; seen alive an hour before. In these two cases a sample of liver was derived, as described pp. 538, 539. The microscopical examination yielded large numbers of typical bacteria. The third being still alive, December 14th, was removed from the aviary. Thus five rabbits died in the aviary from " chicken-cholera," two November 10th, one November 23rd, two November 29th BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 567 and December 1st, respectively. The carcasses remained there until December 14th (see above). Now, with regard to the poultry, penned up in the same aviary, I have to state that within the five weeks there died : six pigeons and hvo fowls. However, early on Nov. 10th, i.e., very soon after the beginning of the experiment, two pigeons which were ailing before, were found dead. Leaving these two out altogether, the mortality, and the result of j^ost-mortem examination, is as fol- lows : — November 13th — One hen found dead at 7.30 a.m. P.M., Negative. November 17th — One pigeon found dead. P.M., Negative. November 29th — One rooster found dead at 7.30 a.m. P.M., Negative. December 7th — One pigeon found dead at 8 a.m. P.M., Negative. December 11th — One pigeon found dead at 8.30 a.m. P.M., Negative. December 14th — One pigeon found dead at 8 a.m. P.M., Positive. (Characteristic appearance of organs : immense numbers of chicken- cholera bacteria in blood. Rabbit inoculated with small quantity of this blood perished from "chicken-cholera" in less than 10 hours after inoculation). Thus, it was only once, namely in the case of the last pigeon, that the disease was communicated.'^ This result appears to rabbits dying and dead from " chicken-cholera," is not great under indicate that the danger to poultry which are associated with those conditions. It must be mentioned that during the term of the experiment both fowls and pigeons were observed to peck freely at the dead rabbits lying about. When the latter were removed ultimately, the three rabbits which had died first, presented only fragments scattered in difi'erent directions. The two which died last, were * After December 14th, another death occurred in the aviary, namely that of a hen which was found dead at 7 a.m., December 15th. The result of the P.M. examination, and the successful inoculation of some heart- blood of this hen into a healthy rabbit, was undoubted proof of death being due to chicken-cholera. It cannot, however, be decided whether this hen died in consequence of infection from the dead rabbits which were in the aviary up to December 14th, or of infection from the droppings of the pigeon which, having been found dead on the last-mentioned date, was shown to have succumbed to chicken-cholera. 568 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, not dismembered, but they were pecked open, and their flesh and entrails mostly missing. Experiments on Hares. Below are recorded a few experiments with the chicken-cholera microbes on hares. "^ It will be seen that these rodents (which were employed in full-grown specimens) are as easily amenable to " chicken-cholera " as rabbits. 1888. (i) August 11th, 3.30 p.m. A hare was inoculated with five small platinum-loops full (about l-40th ccm.) of virulent blood from a rabbit that had died after inocu- lation with a small quantity of a virulent broth-culture of the microbe. Control : — A control-rabbit (full-grown) was found dead at 9 a.m., August 12th. P.M., Positive. Result : The hare was found dead at 9 a.m., August 12th. P.M., Positive. (ii) August 11th, 4 p.m. A hare was fed upon a few cabbage-leaves infected, by means of a platinum-loop, with about j ccm. of blood from the same infected rabbit from which blood was taken for the inoculation of a hare this date [vide (i) above]. It was not until 10 p.m. {i.e., six hours after the infected food had been placed in the box) that the hare was observed to have eaten all the infected food given to it. Control : — A control-rabbit which had finished eating its portion of infected food shortly after the food was placed in its box, was found dead at 8.30 p.m., August 12th, having died between 5.30 p.m. and that time {i.e., between 25| and 2S| hours after being fed). P.M., Positive. Residt : The hare was still alive at 11.30 a.m., August 16th {i.e., about 8 days after the feeding referred to above). (iii) August 16th, 11.30 a.m. (a) The same hare was fed upon cabbage-leaves infected with 1| ccm. of a virulent broth-cultare of the microbe. • The hares used here were among five robust specimens received from the country, through Mr. H. C. Taylor, Rabbit Branch, Lands Depart- ment, Sydney. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 569 {b) Another hare (which had survived from inoculation with some dried blood taken by Dr. Bancroft, of Brisbane, Q. , from a hare that had died in captivity) was/ec? upon cabbage-leaves infected with 1^ ccm. of the same culture. Control : (a) Of tivo control-rabbits (large vigorous animals ; both tame'f)^ fed together in the same box upon food infected with 3 ccm. of the same culture, 07ie (a long-haired black specimen) was found dead at 8.45 p.m., August 18th (i.e., about 57 hours after being fed). P.M., Positive. The othe7' (a long-haired albino) was still alive on August 20th. (For further treatment of this particular rabbit vide pp. 523-525.) (6) A control -rabbit (a tame long-haired albino) inoculated with a small quantity of the same culture, was found dead at 8 a.m., August 17th. Results : Both hares were found dead at 8 a.m., August 17th. P.M. (in each case), Positive. Feeding op Guinea-pigs on Chicken-cholera Microbes. About guinea-pigs it is said that, when inoculated with such microbes, they generally react by the formation, at the seat of inoculation, of closed abscesses which, as a rule, pass away again without being followed by a general infection and, as consequence, by the death of the animals. I have not made any inoculation- experiments, but, on the other hand, tried the effects of virulent microbes introduced into guinea-pigs through the alimentary canal. On May 10th, 1889, at 2.30 p.m., 12 ccm. of a virulent broth-culture of the microbes — obtained from virulent heart-blood of a rabbit, and incubated for 24 hours at 37 75-37 ■9°C. — were uniformly sprinkled on, and made to adhere to, fresh cabbage-leaves which were placed in a large box t Several tame rabbits (Angora) were sent to the Island in June, 1888, by Professor Watson, of Adelaide, S.A. Most of those which were not used for chicken-cholera experi- meats, exhibited "scab " later on, with which, I believe, they, or at least a portion, had been infected by Professor Watson. 570 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, containing five well-nourished guinea-pigs, namely : three young ones^ about i-year old ; one (doe) not quite full-grown, about J-year old , one (doe) quite full-grown. They all had been kept hungry for a while. At the same time, or rather a little before, a fresh rabbit was given 4 com. of the same broth-culture ; this rabbit which served in particular as control to two previously-treated rabbits, died about 24 hours after feeding (see pp. 528,529). Results : One guinea-pig, the ^-year old doe, died at 10.45 a.m., May 12th, the symptoms shortly before death being similar to those noticeable in '' chicken-cholera " rabbits. Another, the full-grown doe, died at 3 30 p.m., May 12th, in pretty much the same way as the preceding one. The three i-year old guinea-pigs remained alive, somewhat to my sur- prise. They were watched for weeks afterwards, but were never seen to show any signs of illness. It should be mentioned that they were observed eating the infected food just as well as the two others which subsequently died, and that they must have partaken of it in proportion. At the post-mortem examination of the two guinea-pigs, it was first noticed that rigor mortis was very well marked. On removing the skin at the belly, the veins were seen to be gorged with blood. There was a severe peritonitis and pleuritis, especially in the old guinea-pig. Heart distended with blood, which was of a blackish colour. Lungs very voluminous, reddish-white, here and there intersected with darker spots ; on section frothy, crepitating. Spleen enlarged, of apparently usual colour. Stomach filled with food. Intestinal canal very strongly hypersemic ; in one case (full- grown female) the small intestine at different places containing blood-stained liquid masses ; in the other (younger female) the whole of the small intestine .showing externally a dark cherry-red colour, and on being cut open, showing the contents consisting of liquid material very rich in blood. Something similar to such a degree of extravasation of blood into the intestines, I have occasion- ally met with in birds dead from chicken-cholera. The rectum contained solid, although soft, greenish ffeces. Cover-glass preparations of blood from heart and liver showed moderate numbers of " chicken-cholera " bacteria ; these were, on the other hand, exceedingly abundant in sap from cut-surfaces of the lungs. A stick-culture, derived from heart-blood, in ordinary nutrient gelatine, was in its appearance exactly like others obtained from blood of rabbits or birds which died from " chicken-cholera." BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 571 Experiments on Ferrets.* In the following is given the enumeration of experiments with chicken-cholera microbes on ferrets. Certain carnivorous animals, as dogs and cats, are already sufficiently known to be insusceptible to these microbes, and from the results obtained with regard to ferrets, it may reasonably be inferred that the latter are equally inaccessible to them. 1888. (a) Inoculation. (i) With culture. September 10th, 11.30 a.m. Ttwo ferrets (one male, one female) were inoculated with | com. of a virulent broth-culture of the microbe of chicken-cholera, obtained directly from blood of a rabbit that had died of " chicken-cholera." Control : — A control-rabbit was found dead at 7.50 p.m. the same day [i.e., about 8^ hours after being inoculated). P.M., Positive. Results : On being fed, at 9 a.m. on the 11th September, the two ferrets appeared dull and feverish. Both drank water freely before touch- ing the meat or porridge and milk given to them, and when they took up the pieces of meat, did not tear at them ravenously, as was their wont before. So they remained for some time. The seat of inoculation showed some special reaction, which in one (the female) subsided gradually, while the condition of the other (male) became worse and worse, till it succumbed on the 18th September. P.M.— Extensive gangrene round the seat of inoculation; organs abnormal ; absence of any micro-organisms in preparations from heart-blood and spleen. * The ferrets referred to in these experiments were sent to the Rabbit Commission by the Government of New Zealand, and were received at Rodd Island on the 31st August. Ferrets are here and there in the Australasian Colonies employed for the destruction of rabbits. 572 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES A rabbit inoculated with a small quantity of heart-blood from this ferret, died during the night in consequence of some injuries accidentally received in its hutch, (il) With Uood. September 11th, 12.50 p,m. Two fresh ferrets (one male, one female) were inoculated each with five platinum-loops full (about l-50th ccm.) of heart-blood from a rabbit that had died of " chicken-cholera " (inoculation). Control: — A control -rabbit was found dead at 7.30 a.m. on the 12th September. P.M., Positive. Results : The seat of inoculation did not show any special reaction. The two ferrets appeared somewhat sluggish at first, but very soon afterwards behaved as before. (h) Feeding, (i) September 12th. Three fresh ferrets (one male, two females) were fed together upon 30 grammes (about 1'07 oz.) of virulent liver taken from a rabbit newly dead of '* chicken-cholera " (inoculation). Results : The ferrets did not appear to show any reaction whatever. (ii) September 18th. Two fresh ferrets (one male, one female) were fed together upon 45 grammes (about 1*6 oz.) of virulent liver from a rabbit newly dead of "chicken-cholera " (inoculation). Results : The ferrets did not show any signs of illness. They remained alive, like the former. Effect of Desiccation. In accordance with a desire expressed by the Rabbit Commis- sion at one of its meetings, I have carried out some experiments with a view to testing the influence of desiccation on the microbes of chicken- cholera. It should be mentioned here that, as more than one observer tells us, the virus of chicken-cholera becomes innocuous by drying up, and that this peculiarity in the life-history of those microbes furnishes an easy and practical means of getting rid of them, wherever they are deposited in poultry-yards. The bacteria of BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 573 chicken-cholera are not known to form spores or seeds (as, for instance, the anthrax-bacilli do), by means of which they are able to live under adverse circumstances. I have to record three series of experiments. The general plan of procedure was as follows : — A number of silk-threads — of the kind used in surgery — of 1 centimetre in length and |^ to | millimetre in thickness, were placed in a sterile cotton- wool-plugged test-tube, and after having been thoroughly moistened with distilled water, were exposed in the steam-steriliser to steam of 100°0. (212° Fahr.) for two hours. The moisture remaining in the silk-threads and in the tube, was got rid of by placing the latter in a copper-box heated up to 100 — 105° C. (212 — 221° Fahr.) as long as required. The virulent material to be tested for its resistance to desicca- tion consisted, on the one hand, of blood taken from the liver of rabbits which died on inoculation, on the other hand, of fresh broth-cultures derived directly from blood of rabbits newly dead of " chicken-cholera " on inoculation. The silk-threads referred to above were impregnated with either blood or culture. In case they were to be impregnated with blood, they were placed on cut-surfaces of the liver, where they remained until they were completely soaked. The livers of all the rabbits used were, I may mention, not otherwise diseased. In case the threads were to be charged with broth-culture, a small quantity of the latter was placed, by means of a sterile pipette, in a sterile watch-glass, where they remained for some time. The silk-threads, thus treated either with blood or culture, were then transferred to different places where they could dry up, as will be seen from what follows below. Within certain intervals a silk-thread of both the one and the other description was inocu- lated into a rabbit each, whereby the virulence or non-virulence of the administered material was to be ascertained. The threads 574 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, were, in each case deposited in small pouches produced under the skin of the rabbits on the left side of the belly. I think it necessary to say that every detail of the experiments was managed under due precautions. 1888. Series I. Silk-threads saturated, November 28th, 11 a.m., with fresh liver-blood (containing large numbers of bacteria), and others saturated with fresh broth-culture of the microbes (this culture had been in the thermostat for a day at 39-39|° C, and for another day in the room at a temperature up to 25° C), were placed on a piece of sterilised brass-wire-gauze in a desic- cator over chloride of calcium. This desiccator was placed, immediately after the threads were put in, in the cupboard of a room where the temperature kept pretty even. The virulence of the material employed (blood and broth-culture) was controlled by means of inoculation of a silk -thread impregnated with either blood or culture into a rabbit each. Both rabbits died promptly of *' chicken-cholera," ten and twelve hours, respectively, after inoculation. Silk- threads were taken out of the desiccator and inoculated into rabbits after 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 hours from the beginning of the experiment. Within this period of six days, from November 20th to December 5th, the temperature near where the desiccator stood, fluctuated between 21|° C. and 18° C. Details about temperatures are given in the following table : — Date. Temperatures. November 29th... Between 11a.m. and 11p.m.: Highest, 2H° C. Lowest, 21° C. }> 30th... Between 11a.m. and 11p.m.: Lowest, 19° C. Highest, 20° C. December 1st Between 11a.m. and 10 p.m.: Highest, isr c. Lowest, 18° C. 5 J 2nd Between 10a.m. and 5 p.m.: Lowest, 18° C. Highest, i9r c. >> 3rd Between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.: Lowest, 18^° C. Highest, 20° C. JJ 4th Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.: Lowest, 19^ C. Highest, 21|°C. >» 5th At 11 a.m.: 21f^ C. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 575 The result was that the blood which was under the influence of desiccation for three days at the above temperatures, was still able to infect a rabbit, and cause it to perish of " chicken-cholera " {about twenty-one hours after inoculation), whereas after four, five, and six days from the beginning, the desiccated blood had lost its virulence. On the other hand, the desiccated broth-culture preserved its virulence so far that after two days from the beginning it was still able to kill a rabbit (about twenty-seven hours after inocula- tion), whereas it was not any longer efficacious when inoculated after three, four, five, and six day s' desiccation. Series II.. Silk-threads saturated, December 7th, 10 a.m., with fresh liver-bipod {containing large numbers of bacteria), and others saturated with fresh broth-culture (having been for twenty-four hours in the thermostat at 40° C. — 37° C), were placed on a thin layer of sterilised sandy soil (dry) at the bottom of a shallow basket made of fine brass-wire-netting. (The bottom of this basket had been bent up a little where the sandy soil was put on). The basket was then immediately after placed on a piece of wood, at a distance of about 2| feet from the ground, in the main enclosure, at a spot which was shaded off by means of a wooden post and of boards, so as to leave the spot only at the south side free and accessible. The basket was sheltered from rain by putting coverings over the top of the boards mentioned. The virulence of the original material (blood and broth -culture) was tested by inoculating rabbits, one with silk-thread charged with blood, and the other with silk-thread containing broth-culture. Both rabbits died of •' chicken-cholera," 10 and 21 hours, respectively, after inoculation. The effect of the drying-up of the silk-threads was ascertained by inoculating rabbits after 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 hours from the beginning. Within this period, from December 7th, 10.15 a.m., to December 12th, 10.15 a.m., the thermometer in the shaded place regis- tered temperatures of between 20|? C. (lowest) and 29|° C. (highest). 576 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 577 The result was this : — The blood thus exposed to desiccation preserved its virulence when inoculated after four, eight, and twelve hours ; when inocu- lated after twenty-four hours and more from the beginning, it had est its efficacy on rabbits. The desiccated broth-culture proved virulent only when inocu- lated four hours after the beginning of the experiment. The rabbit succumbed to " chicken-cholera " twenty-six hours after inoculation. Subsequent inoculations, eight, twelve, and more hours after the beginning, were attended with negative results. Series III. Silk-threads saturated, December 7th, 10 a.m., with virulent material ( blood and broth-culture) derived from the same sources as the material used in Series II., were placed on sterilised dry sandy soil, which in a thin layer covered the bottom of a small shallow wire-gauze basket, similar to that in Series II. Annotation : Control of virulence as in Series II. At 10.10 a.m., same day, this basket was placed on some available spot on the Island ; this spot was accessible to the sun's rays all day long. The bottom of the wire-basket was placed flat on the perfectly dry sandy surface of that spot. This latter was also accessible to the wind or breeze prevailing during the experiment. The silk-threads remained there from 10.10 a.m. to 6.1.0 p.m., i.e., for eight hours. Within this period rabbits were inoculated 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours from the time the silk-threads were exposed. A thermometer was laid on the soil near where the basket with the silk- threads stood. Details about the temperatures at the surface of the soil, during the course of the experiment, are given in the accompanying table. December 7th: — 10.15 a.m., 45^ C; 10.45 a.m., 50° C— Sunshine for about ten minutes. 11.15 a.m., 47° C. — Sunshine for about ten minutes since last observation. 11.45 a.m., 42|*^ C. — Few minutes sunshine. 12 noon, 35° C. —Cloudy for about twelve of last fifteen minutes. 37 678 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, 12.15 p.m., 38*^ C. — About five minutes sunshine. 12.45 p.m., SQ'^ C — About five minutes sunshine. 1,10 p.m., 391*^ C, — A few minutes sunshine. 1.45 p.m., 42 j° C. — About fifteen minutes sunshine. 2.15 p.m., 38^° C — About twenty minutes sunshine. 2.45 p.m., 36|° C. — Two or three minutes sunshine. 3.15 p.m., SS^'' C— A little sunshine. 3.45 p.m., 33J° C— Very cloudy. 4.15 p.m., 29^^ C— Very cloudy. 4.45 p.m., 30 J° C. — Sunshine for about twenty minutes. P* ■' ■ [ Sun completely obscured. 5.45 p.m., 26° C— ) From this table there may be seen that the sun was often prevented from making his appearance, by clouds passing by. The day was free from rain, the air was dry, and a southerly breeze was blowing during the time of the experiment. The result was : the blood exposed to desiccation in this manaor proved infectious after one, two, six, and eight hours' exposure (when the experiment was terminated). The rabbits inoculated succumbed to " chicken-cholera " in^ respectively, twenty-one, twenty, between thirty and forty, and twenty-eight hours after inoculation. But strange to say, the silk-thread inoculated after four hours' exposure proved ineflicacious in so far as the rabbit was still alive, December 17th, ten days after inoculation. ]t died at about 5.30 p.m., December 18th. Post-mortem exami- nation negative with regard to " chicken-cholera." On the other hand, the silk-threads steeped in broth-culture, exposed in exactly the same * way, soon lost their efiScacy. It was only the first time, after one hour's exposure of the silk-threads, that the inoculation of such a thread proved fatal to a rabbit. It died of undoubted '^ chicken-cholera " between fifty-nine and sixty-nine hours after inoculation. In all the remaining cases, two and more hours after the beginning of the experiment, the rabbits did not become infected. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 579 From the results thus obtained we learn again that desiccation in general is fatal to the microbes of chicken-cholera. The higher the temperature during the process of desiccation, the less time is required to destroy their virulence. Desiccation of virulent blood lying on, or impregnating small objects such as the silk-threads usedj caused the virus to die off less quickly than is the case with virulent broth-cultures exposed to desiccation under the same circumstances. The reason for this probably is that the superficial portions of the blood drying up, are able to protect the deeper portions for a longer time than is the case with broth-cultures attached to, or saturating small objects, where, by virtue of the composition of the broth, less protection can be afforded to the deeper portions by the superficial ones. The fact that a virulent broth-culture of the microbes of chicken- cholera very soon ceases to be eflScacious when exposed, in a thin layer, to desiccation at summer temperatures such as they exist here, must, in my opinion, to a large extent account for the sur- viving, now and then, of wild rabbits, which during summer nionths were ajiven (in shaded hutches) cabbage- or barley-leaves sprinkled with small portions of such a culture, but which were very slow in beginning to eat the infected food, or in finishing it «p, so that meanwhile the liquid spread on it was enabled to dry up. Effect of Putrefaction. It is ascertained that the bacteria of chicken-cholera, when kept together with other micro-organisms, as in contaminated cultures, are sometimes able to retain their vitality, and power of infecting, for a considerable time, up to three months.* For my own part, I have tested how long chicken-cholera bacteria would remain active in rabbit-blood which, containing *Kitt, Wert und Unwert der Schutzimpfungen gegen Tierseuchen Berlin, 1886, p. 55. 580 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, the organisms in their full virulence, was allowed to putrefy at a moderate temperature. From the obtained results it follows that in putrefying or putrid blood of the above kind, they may be found still efficacious after weeks. 1888. At the examination, on the 2nd September, of a rabbit about four days after its death from " chicken-cholera," in one of the burrows in the large enclosure on the Island, the coagulated blood of the right ventricle of the heart was removed and placed in a small clean, not sterilised, glass-flask which was stoppered and put aside in the laboratory. On microscopical examination on the date mentioned, only the microbes of chicken-cholera were present. (i) September 3rd, 11.30 a.m. A half-grown rabbit, inoculated with a small platinum-loop full of this blood (not yet putrid), was found dead at 7 a.m. on the 3rd September. P.M., Positive. (ii) September 10th, 5 p.m. A rabbit, inoculated with about the] same quantity of the blood (now putrid), was found dead at 8.25 a.m. on the 11th September, having died between 7. 15 a.m. and that time {i.e., between 14^ and 15| hours after being inoculated). P.M., Positive. (iii) September 17th, 2.10 p.m. A rabbit, inoculated with about the same quantity of the blood (putrid), was found dead at 7.40 a.m. on the 18th September. P.M., Positive. (iv) September 20th, 10.40 a.m. A rabbit, inocidated with about the same quantity of the blood (putrid), was found dead at 5 p.m. on the 22nd September, having died between 1.50 p.m. and that time {i.e., between 51 and 54 hours after inoculation). P.M., Positive. (v) September 24th, 11.10 a.m. A rabbit, inoculated with about the same quantity of blood, remained alive after this treatment. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 581 APPENDIX I. Note on the Transition of Pathogenic Bacteria from the MOTHER TO THE FCETUS. Several pathogenic micro-organisms, especially those which cause lesions of the vascular system (haemorrhages, thromboses) in the different organs [e.g. Bacillus anthracis ; Streptococcus septicus (Flugge)], are known to be able to pass from the mother to the foetus. Fraenkel's pneumococcus is also capable of so doing ; in tuberculosis a passage of the bacillus through the placenta appears to exist, but rarely occurs, it is said. In typhoid fever the possi- bility of a transmission of the bacillus of this disease from the mother to the child has lately been established (J. C. Eberth)."^ With regard to chicken-cholera, Marchiafava and Celli found the bacteria of this disease in the foetus of a guinea-pig which had been successfully infected with those microbes. On pp. 569, 570, I have given notice of an experiment on guinea-pigs, which were fed on cabbage-leaves sprinkled with virulent chicken-cholera microbes. One of two guinea-pigs which subsequently died from " chicken-cholera," namely a full-grown doe, had in the right uterus a foetus measuring 53 mm. in a straight line from the vertex of the head to the root of the tail. I will repeat here that the haemorrhage in the small intestine of the mother animal was less considerable and less marked than in the case of the other younger doe which also died. Samples of heart-blood and of liver-substance were carefully derived from the above foetus, and cover-glass preparations made. These were fixed, stained, and examined with homogeneous ira- * Centralhlatt fur Bakteriologie und Parasitenkunde. Rand V., No. 19, 1889, pp. 643, 644. See also E. Malvoz, Le passage des micro-organisms au foetus. Revue critique. Annates de I'Institut Pasteur. Tome III., No. 4, 1889, pp. 188-193. 582 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, mersion objective, as usual, but there was neither a sign of chicken- cholera bacteria nor of any others. By that, however, it cannot be asserted that the blood of the foetus must have been absolutely free from such bacteria, because culture-experiments, which would have been decisive, were not carried out. In rabbits also, the results obtained from a few similar micro- scopical examinations were negative. Examined were (1) heart- blood of two out of seven fully-developed foetuses which had been dropped by a doe dead from inoculated " chicken-cholera." In this case, however, the young ones might have been born soon after the inoculation of the mother-rabbit took place. (2) liver-sub- stance of two of several foetuses contained in the uterus of a doe dead after inoculation ; this doe was in the beginning of gestation. (3) liver-substance of one of a few foetuses taken from the uterus of a doe dead after inoculation ; this doe was in about the end of the second week of gestation. These negative findings, I confess, cannot claim an absolute value from want, again, of any culture-experiments in gelatine being carried out with samples of the foetal organs ; vet they are quite in agreement with the fact that " chicken-cholera " in rabbits, at least in those with which I had to do, presented itself as a rapidly killing septicaemia, in which, if we except the lungs, any visible lesions of the blood-vessels are rarely found. APPENDIX II. Remarks on Gamaleia's article " A Contribution to the Etiology of Chicken-cholera, with Notes on the Question of Protective Vaccination."* In this article Garaaleia states as tlie result of direct experiments, which he describes, that microbes of chicken-cholera constantly * Zur Aetiologie der Hilhnercholera. Nebst einigen Bemerkungen iiber die Schutzimpfungsfrage. Von Dr. N. Gamaleia, Vicedirector der bakterio- logischen Station in Odessa, Centralhlatt fiir Bakteriologie und Parasiten- kunde. Band IV., 1888, pp. 161-168. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 583 inhabit the normal intestinal canal of pigeons, perhaps also of other birds, similarly as the septic vibrio (the bacillus of malignant oedema) is always present in mammals. In such state the microbes are not virulent enough to do any harm to their host, or to other poultry into which they are inoculated ; they are, however, able to cause disease and death in the case of very susceptible, though healthy, animals, namely rabbits and " Ziesel " (also rodents, Genus Spermophilus). Transmitted through the body of a rabbit or a " Ziesel," they attain such a strength that they are aV)le to kill pigeons and fowls ; on the other hand, fowls can be rendered immune against deadly infection by chicken-cholera bacteria, by means of the inoculation of certain doses of the above virus (passed through rabbits, e.g., from the intestines of healthy pigeons). With regard to the important question : under what conditions the originally harmless bacteria exhibit their dreaded epidemic virulence, Gamaleia favours the view of the " removal from the intestinal canal of all mesoderm-phagocytes which must be engaged in the digesting of large quantities of the introduced saprophytes." He proposes to strike out the altogether inappropriate designation " bacteria of chicken-cholera," and to substitute the more scientific name " bird-septicsemia." The name for the concerning microbes shall be coccobacillus avicidus, which must be assigned to the entosaprophytes which are also facultative parasites. After having taken information of Gamaleia's interesting paper I wished to know whether I should succeed in proving' the occur- rence of attenuated forms of the bacteria of chicken-cholera in normal pigeons, on Australian soil. The tests were made on wild rabbits which throughout were known to me as highly accessible to virulent "chicken-cholera." The results, however, did so far not confirm Gamaleia's statement ; they were all negative, as shown by the following list of experiments. At the end is mentioned the examination of a chick, with the same result. 584 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES 1888. (1) September 27th, 3.50 p.m. A healthy pigeon* was killed by chloroform-narcosis. The contents of the small and large intestines, and part of the contents of the stomach (the latter containing green food) were taken under anti- septic precautions, placed together in a test-tube, and mixed and shaken with about 10 ccm. of sterile distinctly alkaline rabbit-broth. This tube was for a while put in a water-bath at 37"^ C. Of this mixture, 1 ccm. was injected subcutaneously into each of two rabbits by means of a sterilised pointed glass-tube. Besults : (a) One rabbit was found dead at 6 p.m., September 28th. P.M , Negative. A healthy pigeon, inoculated at 10.30 a.m., September 29th, with a platinum-loop full of heart-blood from this rabbit, remained alive and well. A half-grown rabbit, inoculated at 10.45 a.m., same date, with one platinum-loop full, and a full-grown rabbit, inoculated at 11.30 a.m., same day, with five platinum-loops full of heart-blood of the same rabbit, were both alive at 4 p.m., October 8th, when they were removed from their hutch. (b) The other was still alive at 4 p.m., October 8th, when it was turned loose among others. (2) October 3rd, 10.40 a.m. A healthy pigeon was killed by chloroform-narcosis. The contents of the intestines were collected under antiseptic pi-ecautions, mixed and shaken with sterile rabbit-broth (as above) in a test-tube, and warmed as before. Of this mixture injections were made (analogously to the first experi- ment) into two rabbits. At 11.10 a.m., A half -grown rabbit received | ccm. of the mixture, A full-grown rabbit received 1 ccm. of the mixture. Results : Both of these rabbits were alive at 9 a.m., October 11th, when they were removed from their hutch. * All the pig-eons mentioned here were among a consignment of twelve purchased at the Sydney Markets. BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 585 (3) November 23rd, 5 p.m. One of two pigeons, taken out of a consignment of twelve obtained from the Sydney markets, on 8th November — the remaining ten were with two others placed in an aviary, where they were used for another experiment — was killed by chloroform-narcosis. The contents of the intestines, including a portion of the contents of the stomach, were derived under proper precautions, and thoroughly mixed and shaken ■with about 10 ccm. of sterile distinctly alkaline rabbit-broth in a test- tube. (a) Of this mixture, 1 ccm. each was injected into a full-grown and a half- grown rabbit soon afterwards. Results : The half-grown rabbit observed lying dead at 7.30 a.m., November 29th. P.M., Negative (both as regards appearance of organs and microscopical examination of liver-blood). The full-grown rabbit being still alive at 10 a.m., December 2nd, was removed from its hutch. (6) The above mixture was, after the 2 ccm. had been taken out, put into a thermostat where it remained for about 24 hours at about 39* C. November 24th, 5.30 p.m. A full-grown rabbit received J ccm. =4 minims, A half-grown rabbit received J ccm. =2 minims of the culture obtained from the mixture. Results : The full-grown rabbit died at 11.30 a.m., November 30th. P.M., Negative. The half-grown rabbit observed to die at 7.30 a.m., November 25th. P.M., Negative. {4b) December 11th, noon. The remaining of the two pigeons was killed by chloroform-narcosis. About half the contents of the intestines, including part of the con- tents of the stomach, were transferred to a spacious test-tube contain- ing about 15 ccm. of sterile rabbit-broth which was of a distinctly alkaline reaction. The mixture after being well-shaken showed still a slightly alkaline reaction. The tube was at once placed in the thermostat at 38"^ C. to SSf C, for about twenty-four hours. 586 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES^ December 12th, 1 p.m — Of the culture obtained (showing now a slightly- acid reaction), a very vigorous full-grown doe received i^subcutaneously) 1 ccm. ; a rabbit not quite full-grown, J ccm. Results : Both rabbits were alive for a considerable time. They both died in succession, the following month (January, 1889), but not from " chicken-cholera," or anything similar. (5) September 14th, 11.30 a.m. A half -grown rabbit was inoculated with a portion of the contents of the intestines of a young chick sent to me the previous day (dead) from Burwood, near Sydney. (The mortality amongst chickens there had been very great that year, according|to information.) The rabbit died between 11 a.m. and 12.30 p.m., September 15th^ but on examination it was found that the cause of death could not have been an infec- tion by chicken-cholera microbes, t Another half -grown rabbit was inoculated, at the above date, with heart-blood from the same chick ; it also died about a day afterwards, the result of the autopsy likewise excluding "chicken-cholera.")* * In connection with the above subject it may not be uninteresting to mention that up to the present, chicken-cholera, so devastating- and dreaded a dii-ease in other countries, has not been proved to exist in Australasia. I mean, of course, the typical disease with its well-characterised microbes, and not other disorders met with in poultry, where, misled by certain suspicious sj'mptoms, one may think of the true cholera (poultrj'-typhoid). The Rabbit Commission received specimens of dead fowls or blood from such, mostly from New South Wales, twice from Victoria, and once from New Zealand, in all nine cases. They were examined by me ; inoculations were made into fowls (six times), mice (once), rabbits (once), besides mostly examining microscopicallj^ the blood, or obtaining in nutrient gelatine colonies of the bacteria present in the suspicious specimens. However, the results showed that bacteria of chicken-cholera w-ere not there. It is to be regretted that at the time of these examinations, rabbits which are susceptible to attenuated " chicken-cholera " (according to Gamale'ia^, were not at my disposal, except in one case [(5) above]. Fur- ther researches in this direction may ultimately lead to positive results. BY DR. OSCAR KA.TZ. 587 ^ » ^ ^ s -- : .2 fl o fl Oi i-H s; H05 O -H CO ^ 05 CI CO ^ CC O c^?5 i-IIM Oi .-1 rHlCQWlTi* rt O OiO — (N .^1 .r^ r^ ■^ : a c a : tf s 3 0 • bJO &0 ton : 0) O) ft 00 T— 1 Ti c^ ca ff CO ^ fi g^i' SS5 HCOMW QO 1— ( 2S 55 S5 S^ (M 22 S5 is5 CO -* ^55 cc CO i"^ coS KW S^g §?< S^g5 i^ 55 c^ ^§5 w|cq C5 Ci 2g ?,g C5 r-H 2g5 ccWHTf C^ (M (M (M CO CO :^ : S3 ■ 2 S-I g < o < 1 03 a Air Underground Id 2 C < 1 03 < $3 2 03 s 0 t ^ 3 03 s < o & 03 g Air Underground -a s 03 > ■d a ^6 ?3 J3 1- 1 1 i 1 +3 t3 A 590 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, >>2 o d A .. ^ d ^ f= S o 0) o r^ 2 Ti a rt aj :3 W) o r-i ^ fl d s o ^ >j ^ g •7-! a> a © ^ |2 BQ o a o a a> ^ ^ a ■*" a-q OJ © o '^ P-l <4-l 3 o © o ^ 5 a bo g^ a p<^ a +3 2 += i^-. m a % ki bL£| 0 0 a >> S 5 evenin 1. 9 p. thout ri ^ V < 1 'S • a '^ g §1'^ !>» g ^ 4^ .S 1— 1 u % aj 'd' .2 ^ I— 1 0^ ^ • 5 c o 1 a o . a - a ^i'a 0^ '0 . •5^ 1^ a 02 "a 2 ^ bX)-r| . 0 a ". a CO g i^ ^ ^^ ^ 4J e & c« ^ g^ N 1 .^ >,..-^ -5 1>. Si oi N -^ 2 O C ^ a.m. : dull, ci breeze, dull, breeze, thund^ 0 o II < a.m.: int calm. 3 p.m. : ca Morning: Afternoo breeze, c^ ■•GO 31 a ^ t- t^ S o • H-i< --iN-clCO .H|?) ,.*S nM HtI- «!•# KWcoMcchif CO S ^^^ gl§^^ GO Tji 1 1 (M CO(N COCO(N (N COC^ OlCOtN (N CO (N -IIM— IM H^H^ -w .Ml-9.-fN Oi -H 0 ^ (M (N (M (N (N CI (N (M (N(N(N „ 'o'^ ■5^ 'c-^ •q'^ "o'^ O'^ m 111 02 a w a 02 a 03 a Ttl c M a OS 0 S° 0 bO -o 0 0) fcO © to 0 0 O !^ a s-c 0 ^H 0 sT^ 0 fcT r|l rf cu § © c3 0 c3 .b'^S a .^I'a ^ ^ ^ ^ A ^* +3 +3 +3 43 (N cc -^ 10 CO r- — ( f-H r— 1 r— 1 1 i a 0) Cm 1 1 BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 591 H H i S i 43 J3 :2i i W .^ 4^ iJO is 0) .^ and evening : ' ight : calm, clei 1^ ^ ■ 1 1 43 K o ^ Si a si 02 .. 0) o il !2; °° 43 -^ >> 1 1^ a.m. breez ^1 c3 < C3 13 5«" 1^ ^ !>• !>> <5l t^ r-lKMHrJI rti(MHW_|C-, rHl-rQ^I^ c^l-H Wl-H «M -hM rH|Th-ll^-HW( XW 03I-* ?5S5^ O -H CO ^ -H CO C^l CO '^ CM CM Tj^ CM CM -* UO tJ^ O ^ CO Tt< (N (N (M C-> i ^ ^ ^ ^ El< 1 592 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHICKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, 1^ ^^1 Is > Ifs^ ^3 .a 1 §1 ill 11 i? 2 ^ ^. o ^ H ^^- dw ^ ^*S ^ L' d -g s 2 Is 2 a s % s|4 1I§ a ^s §s > M 1 § A! 1-:) a ci » s si . o •• 1^1 it! a. fl . > «3 fi •1 So Z CO 1l > o o -^ St 11 1 ill U& 72 «5^| gg F a*" 8 . o^g Mi ". >> .2 S_2 ..^-^ .b .. 4^ .. ^ -'3 ^i1 . ^ .^ Ml 1^1 ci 'o 1^ a.sp t- c^ !>• t>. !>• o • H|«!.:WH,ii H0»HT5 ^IM rHlN -ie»-^lrH HMHM rtlNHM ^iTjiHCHeoM So. a r^ -^ lO I>.CD CD Oi ^\o 05 05 CO CO i-H CO P-( rH ^ COCOTfH CO (N (N (N (M(M ^coco ^ r^CO (N CO CO CO (M CO coco (M wiiq rHWHN i-H|CT-i|e^ ^r^ i-W Hri'rHH'HN rHljq lOiO UO Oi O) CO § ca c5 O -H CO CO CO Tt- COCOrJH T*H CO ko (N (>) (M CO (M CO CO ca CO CO C-J CO CO CO G-1 CO CO s ^-hr •tHW -H^o, «|-i<-.|C»MM i-i|*0]|M-I?q rtIN -InHn .^ t^CO lO 00 t^O r-^^ lO ^ CO CO -* CO CO t^CO Tf CO ■* JO OO^IO <3 ■(i CO s (M CC (N CC CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO C^J CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO c-j coca S H5 Ti< CO Tt^ V o ^ ■* O O CO Oi a-i ^ --^ CO o CO CO CO CO Tt< (M D O tlO o ^ o u o s- O S-c O l^ o s^ o s- O S-i ill cS Q ei H) eS O cS aj c3 ID rf a> ci a> d - OD «} fl -^3 -4-3 (M CO CO '"' CO CO TfH uo 1 i >> ^ o Q S ^ o „ 1 „ i^ cS s Ph 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 TABLE III. Table showing Results of the Inoculation 1 — ofrbb". Time romi„cc„,.t,„„to i — Time from death preceding Series ""•""'■ . When When found dead. From time ot 'S' , chfckencholoni, ( Oot.' «h lli'aiS: B.M. n.„. n.M. liriS" 33-46 „ 1 u preceding Series. I Oct. 4lli 10.10 pirn'. 15 s|:K= 18.20 "^r { ^ } " { oc': SE 2.15 p.m. 1:5° 'in.5ot:S ?6M :: ":« IT ! I ! •• { Set': et£ sSi": 'I Oct. eU, 6.60 p.m l?:l5 ~r 1 .? } .. { Set Z IJ'i;:S; 1:?6 Oct: E 9.5° S llf ~vi~ 1 IJ } ■• I ot ™ m4o'.'.m: i:lJ S ?&1S^:S \lf v„ 1 \l } •■ { ^ s llso n'.m'. 1.? Sol: l«£: 8.55 ?.S w'.Sb vin { is li ■■ { Ocl. 8th 4.57 p.m. i.f ?^: ^: ^:l?::. 16.22 13.S „ 13.6S ,x { ie 1 •• { S §1S 8.22 a:S: 1:?? Oct: aiS!;:S \ii fSrLS^wToil'Sxik'^"'^''^'^'- ^"-^ ^" ^'° X 1 ^ } .. { S S£ Sl-2 "? oft.\ lS:i?:S::r„ 11:S :: 1!:S 371 X, { S } J Oct. 10th i'o°:34.°S: 1:55 8?'t:! lS:i?:Si::S 14.21 380 xn 1 g } { SISE ^:f?:S; 1:?2 oct:l SS: rSp.S 1°6.3 :; "6.28 39'8 x,n { i } { Oct. 11th "iIsS: 1:S Oct. 1 th, 11,43 p.m 13.35 14,42 „ 14.49 38-6 XIV { S I Oct. 12th SfoS: 'm ol Im] lillZ lo." ;; 5i:34 40-45 - l{ S } { ?^^ ?:5Sr,;S; 1:1, 8ct S: IT.Z 10.17 12.37 „ 13.22 No. 29.-A doe which had dropped seven fullydoveloped youns, some of which were found aUve the next morning. XVI { g ) 8S; I™ IflZ. llo Sol aiSK 16.41 16.40 „ 16.38 No. 31.-A doe in the beginning of gestation. xvn, { « } oil: uu \i°lZ. Lit SSt. ft ":65 5 m 45:20 :; 48:35 37-4 No. 34.-A doe, about which soniething toore on page 618. xviii j g 1 ■• { ^. IJll- \'2a'pZ. 1:^' Oct. a^sr 13.10 11.20 „ 11.45 41-7 - { ^^ } { 8cE: Is* 1:32 S. 1:" "ot[ a ^:Si;:S 14.5, 16.33 „ 17,13 No. 8S.-A doe in about the end ot the second week of gestation. - .{ S } 1 Oct. 15th tSlZ. 1.0 8^[p: ?:lo::m 13.42 35-6 Table showing results of inoculation of fowls and pigeons with the yirus of chicken-cholera, taken from certain cases oat of the Inoculation Series of Rabbits (Table III). pig°'on. Snttfoo'dTf Inoculation. Whcnsesntodij^orwhm Time from inoculation to death — • «i?Sr When Wlien found dead. Between Remarks. From ■( Fowl Pigeon Inoculation Series I. Oct. leth, 2.40 a.m. 2.50 a.m. H. M. 65 Oct. 16th, 11-30 p.m. „ ■9.20p'.m. 20.60 17.2|5 and 18.30 •Body when found was cold. Fowl must have died between 12 h. 30m. and 15h. 45m. att«r moculation. II j p-'on Series V. Oct. 7th, 11 a.m. 10.52 a.m. 1.60 1.42 Oct. 8th. 7.35 a.m. 14 30 „ 20.35 14..38 „ 20.43 III 1 Fowl Pigeon Inoculation Scries X. Oct 10th, 10.46 a.m. 10.50a.m. 1.35t 1.40 Oct. nth, 8.25 a.m. 20.15 14.15 „ 21.40 „ 20.0 t Temperature when found dead 371'' C. This fowl had laid au egg hetween 7 a.m. and 8.25 a.m., which ap- peared perfectly normal as regards both the exterior and interior. On microscopical examination of the yolk, micro-organisms could IV j Fowl Pigeon Inoculation Series XV. Oct. 13th, 8.25 a.m. 8.33 a.m. 2.28 2.36 Oct. 14th, 8.30 a.m. „ 13th, 11.10 p.m. si „ 24.5 „ 14.37 V 1 Fowl Pigeon Inoculation Series XX. Oct. 16th. 10. 5 a.m. 10.10 a.m. 3 .Ot 3 .5 Oct. 17th, 5.45 a.m. 5.45 a.m. 17.201 „ 19.40 17.15i „ 19.35 ITemperature when found dead SS-O" C. TABLE V. Table sliowing Body Temperatures of certain of the Rabbits used in the Inoculation Serie: ■" ?rsf Temperatures (Centiurrule). 1 rtrin. ii Hours atterlnociil.«(.n. Remarks. 1 1 2 2» 3 ^ H ' 6i « H ' 71 ^ 8,|. »i 10 101 " llj 12 12! 13 . 14 14, ,6 ■h 39.8 39-9 40-2 40-7 1 t 39-9 39 4 4C7 40-7 40-0 1 40.96 t Between 12h. 25iii. and 18h. 6m. after ^|4 39.S6 39'7 400 40-0 J4--S 41-0 'SaSoV""-"''"''-'""'-''"'""- ».2 «■, 39-66 1 40-1 1 |40-4 40-26 t Between 15b. 40m. and 17h. 45m. after IV 1 7 MO 40-35 1 1 40-6 1 41.4 1 41-47 39-6, 1 -^JT 39'2 38-3 1 _ 39-1 |39-. 39.26 I4.-6 39.87t 38-9 39-07 39-3 1 30-0 39-4 1 40'26 40-8 39 6t 1 39-1 39-6 39-8 1 40-06 40-2 1 41-0 41-6 40-2t 3S-85 39-2 39-4 1 39-6 |40-4 40.Ot 301 39-2 3«| 39-7 |39-9 1 40.45 40-5 40-9t " 39-3 38-45 40-7 1 1 ^'tody-temtemmrfwaa^'c!' °° 1! .. "- 398 39-26 |38-7 1 38-7 1 39-6 1 39-6 39.6t 18 mi I' 39-8 39-4 1 |39-6 1 39-4 1 41-4 1 - 41-27 41-26t ■■ .1 40-6 40-46 38-9 40-86 My-teSiperature wis 3S-6'»C. (Died between 14h. 4-2m. and 14h, 49m, alter IS XV, T 38-7 39-3 39-15 39-3 1 j 39-1 1 10 ,_xvm 3«.9 S9-« 40-06 1 40-4 n~ 41-2~ 1 1 71^ ~ — 1 ^ 5 39-8 39-4 39-8 39-2 1 30-6 1 I 40-2t 1 « 390 38-8 39-7 40-2 1 j I ii «^ ^^ 3.-1 1 39-5 j 38-4. , 'Zd^ySpSrw^'SeS?.'"™ TABLE VI. (a). Showing results of experiments (by feeding) on indij """lerfm'g™"' I„,ec.ea.o„aa,p^edinea«.o^e. — N.me,o.birde. DcBcriptiou. QuiiDtity. ~ Two Wekas (in one cage). 1888. Oct. 12th, 11.5 a.m. Liver and heart-blood from rabbit No. 22 of Inoculation Series XI., Table HL lOg. Both were still alive on October 19th They ate aU the food at once. Two Magpies (in one cage). „ 11.10 a.m. ditto ditto ditto lOg. One was found dead at 6.35 a.m. on October 13th (i.e., between 18h. 50m. and 19h. 25m, after being fed). P.M., Positwe. Tlie other was found dead at 1 p.m. on the same day {i.e., between 26h. 25n,. and 2oh. SOm. after being fed). P.M., Positive.' They ate aU the food at Tavo Laughing Jack- (in one cage). „ 11.15 a.m. ditto ditto ditto log. One was found dead at 3.5 p.m. on October 17th {i.e., between I22h. 45m. and 124h. 50m. after being fed). P.M., Negative. The other was stiU aUve on October 19th. They had eatenall the food in five minutes. Two Butcher-birds and one Blue Jay. (in one cage). „ 11.20 a.m. ditto ditto ditto lOg. One Butcher-bird was found dead at 6 a.m. on October 13th (i.e., between lOh. 30m. and 18h. 40m. after being fed). P.M., Positive. The other Butcher-bird was found dead at 9.20 a.m. on the same day (i.e., between 21h. 10m. and 22h. after being fed). P.M., Positive. The Blue Jay was found dead at 2. 10 p.m. on the same day (i.e., between 26h. SOm. and 26h. 50m. after being fed). P.M., Positive. Theyhadeatenallthefood inaquarterofanhour. TwoGallahB (in one cage). „ noon ditto ditto ditto (mixed with 0-6 p.c. salt-solution and tion and maize). One was found dead at 7.30 a.m. on October 14th (i.e., between 37h. and 43h . 30m. after being fed). P.M., Positive. The other was still alive on October 19th. They had eaten about half in 2J hours, and in 5 hours had eaten all. Two Wonga Pigeons and one Bronze-wing (in one cage). , 12.20 p.m. ditto ditto ditto He. CS CQ ^ O Ph fcfi rt s o 'T3 0) 03 c^ s EH g •s S H c 1-:] .M w N < c H *^ -1^ ;^ o o i o 1 Is 1 1— 1 .s s h o o 1^ -^ CO 1— 1 The exact time after which this pigeon had eaten, or nearly eaten the food, was not specially noted. It was, however, observed to be very slow in proceeding to eat. d i 1 it III 6 d d d ft d d ft 1 2^ 1 ^ ff a Ejoo.2 PQ o ill d^l'^ ft d d ft .s bn 11 1^ '" -fci d O T-H 1- o o Fowl or pigeon. if o 1 d d BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 595 ■^ % g s ' — " H g Z ?s C4 1 « w h-H p-l >-H > W K o hJ ^ M ^ < w fH C/J .id S c o 1 4) 1 _6 d P 1 2 11 li 1— 1 t O .2 fl 0) O cS lO ^ n 1 1 si rt © ^ — 02 3^ 2 si CO i i oj'rt-S 2 1 1 O i til 6 6 Q ^ fl § 6 d o 11 1? 1^ - 2 O 2 is .2 "^ CO ^^ O p— 1 O s" o 1 i! 6 S3 i Ah 596 ICXPERIMENTAL RESEARCHES WITH CHTCKEN-CHOLERA MICROBES, ta a -N •1-1 '^. n3 S ^ "j;^ H g •A C^ H ^, 1— 1 > X ^, Pi H-1 (^ PQ s Ei b rrt -P W) i 1 •73 .2^ § 1" i § s ^^ 53 M C =0 S 5:^ « Q) tj P ^ :3 ^£ -*^ IS SiS^-^ -2 C3 ->3 i 1— ( ci -(^ (N c3 . O -^ f-i O -M ^^ "5 o ^^ d S O) S^ -^ (^ t> 1! 5> .^ C4_ ^ c3 t, CI C I o 1—1 tb^ o S § S's' ri ^: § c .2 -^3 (U 6 ^§-1 O ,: ."S cS -^ A ^§1 o c^ 3 l« ::D c3 ■i^. 11 2^ «^ -+io 4J ^H H o O p^ O ^H O o c _^ o Q) $4 T— 1 (M 1 ^1 1^ 6 6 o gs §& ? o &D o fe N S *f2 BY DR. OSCAR KATZ. 597 a Y ?S f4 1— 1 ^ l-H > X H W H^ H M H w M g a> P5 ? ji :Si ^w o O w O M O i rc: — a s ■i^ ^ 1 ^-2 H o 2 OS r-" 1 r^ Su3 S^ c3^ s _■ -2 fc< isi s^'-- .c Z^^.s 3 *3 ■": 73 -^ *-'«:£ § 3 c3 =o :K 03 ^ ^s^ ^ t^^ o'!^'*^ oj 6 ■'^ ^ S«=i > ^^< |< 1 « . .s ^11 |il 1 ^ ^ Sja"g fl 1 pl^ QJ W 1 >; 1-1-5 ^ 5 :?|3 "^ O ci > « ^^ |p=*o 1 ^O^O •ss§a "a o nil m d d ? --^■ZB ■1^ ■1 -W ^H c3 a^=t3 s . a 5^S^o '"' S LO Sh^ S dr-H^ y d d rH « fi 1^1 5 =s d jil go §§. ^§ a=| "o --I ■§s O o o ;» • (N °i il d d li 1^ 1- r u. s K o ^ 5 •43 -g^ .III 1.1.1 1 |i| III S 1 1 ? 1 i r 8 Jccm. (4 minims) of liver-blood from a rabbit recently dead from " chicken-cho- lera " after inoculation with virulent g-ela- tine-stick culture of the 11th generation. id i{i < "5 h 598 NOTES AND EXHIBITS. NOTES AND EXHIBITS, Mr. A. Sidney Olliff exhibited, on behalf of Mr. C. S. Wilkinson, a community of Wasps (Polistes sp.) from Drake, near Tenterfield, recently obtained by that gentleman. Mr. Olliff also showed a selection of insects from a large and interesting series from Mt. Kosciusko, recently obtained on behalf of the Trustees of the Australian Museum by Mr. Helms, Al- though the collection contains many new forms, particularly among the Coleoptera and Hymenoptera, no peculiar mountain forms which so often characterise the faunas of high altitudes were found ; but he thought there were two noteworthy points with regard to the collection, namely, the occurrence of certain distinctly Tasmanian types among the Orthoptera and Coleoptera, and the general similarity of the fauna to that of the higher elevations of the Coast Range. Mr. Skuse exhibited a large collection of Diptera (numbering about 650 specimens) also obtained by Mr. Helms under circum- stances similar to those just mentioned. It contains several new and remarkable forms, among which a new genus of Tipulidce longi- palpi with pectinate antennse is one of the most interesting. The excellent state of preservation of so large a number of minute specimens and the skill displayed in mounting them alike testify to the ability and industry of the collector. Mr. Helms offered some remarks upon some of the more striking forms in the collections referred to, more particularly the wingless grass-hoppers : and he also alluded to his discovery of Peripatus at altitudes up to 5700 feet. Mr. Rohu exhibited a collection of mounted specimens of English plants, and signified his intention of presenting the col- lection to the Society's herbarium. Mr. David exhibited sections and specimens of the kerosene shale and fire-clay referred to in his paper. Dr. Katz exhibited drawings, and a collection of pure cultures of the microbes of chicken-cholera. P.LS. N.S.W.(2':'^Ser.).Voi..lV. PL. XI, F.A A Skuse del. Baron & Gatv^ard lilh . PL. XII. F.A.A.SkasBdel Baron & Gatwsrd lith. P.L.S. NSWi2"'*Sen).VoL.IV. ?I.XITI. F.A.A.Skuse.def. Baron & Qatward lil^ . P.L.SN:SW(2"^Ser.).VoL.IV. PLXIY B C D E FA A.Skuse del Baron di Gst^drd lifii PL.S.N S-WjE^-^SerlVoUV A F A.A 5kuse,del. Baron hi Oaf war 3 lith. RL.S. N.S.W. (2"^ Sen.) Vol. IV. PL. XV. (l.2.)CYPR/^A VENUSTA Sow.Var. (3.4)CYPR/^A VITELLUS Lmn.Var. J M. Kennedu del. et lith. o.T.LeiihsC Print P.LS.N.SW.(2"^5er).V0LlV. PL.lOa. R.Graff de/. ALDRCVANDA VESICULCrA Lmne. Bo'-onR- Gsfward lith. P.LS.NSW.(2"dSer).VoLlV. PL.XVll. mm^ Xi 4 in -<;■: \ l# (^£^^^- § Baron & Ga/'t^arc/ c/eL et /ith. P.L.S.N.S.W(2':^Ser.).Vot.lV. PL.XV111. (x 22:) ^ S ^ V' i'"..\ '■^^ .\ -^\ P T Hammond del. SPORANGlAf?) inlii-eclay. Baron & Gs^wsrd l,th. WEDNESDAY, 31st JULY, 1889. Dr. James C. Cox, Vice-President, in the Chair, Mr. Beid and Mr. R. Helms were introduced as visitors. The Chairman announced — (i) That the next Excursion had been arranged for August 24th, to leave Redfern Station, for Como, Illawarra line, by the 9.10 a.m. train. (ii) That the next Meeting of the Australasian Association forthe Advancementof Science would be held in Melbourne, commencing on 7th January, 1890. DONATIONS. "L'Academie Royale de Copenhague. — Bulletin pour 1888." No. 3 ', " 1889." No. 1. From the Academij. " Monatliche Mittheilungen des naturwissenschaftl. Vereins des Reg.-Bez. Frankfurt." Jahrg. VI., Nos. 7-9 (October- December, 1888); " Societatum Litterae." Jahrg. II., Nos. 9 and 10 (September and October, 1888). From the Society. 39 600 DONATIONS. "The Journal of Conchology." Vol. VI., No. 2 (1889). From the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. "The Canadian Record of Science." Vol. III., No. 6 (1889). From the Natural History Society of Montreal. "Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, Cambridge, U.S.A." Vol. XVI., No. 4; XVII., No. 3 (1889). From the Curator. " Abhandlungen herausgegeben von der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, Frankfurt a. M." XIV. Band, Hefts 2 and 3 (1886) ; "Bericht, 1886." From the Society. " Zoologischer Anzeiger." XII. Jahrg., Nos. 308 and 309 (1889). From the Editor. " The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London." Vol. XLV., Part 2 (No. 178), 1889. From the Society. " Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London for the year 1888." Part IV.; "Abstract of Proceedings," 21st May and 4th June, 1889. From the Society. "Feuille des Jeunes Naturalistes." No. 224 (June, 1889) From the Editor. " Comptes Rendus des Seances de FAcademie des Sciences, Paris." Tome CVIIL, Nos. 13-18 (1889). From the Academy. "The Victorian Naturalist." Vol. VL, No. 3 (July, 1889). From the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. " Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria." New Series Vol. I. (1889). From the Society. " Records of the Geological Survey of India." Vol. XXII., Part 2 (1889). From the Director. I DONATIONS. 601 " Catalogue of the Lower Silurian Fossils, Cincinnati Group." By U. P. James (1st and 2ncl Editions) ; also 23 Pamphlets on various subjects. From Professor J. F. James. " Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, uitgegeven door de Neder- landsche Entomologische Yereeniging." Deel XXXI. (1887-88). From the Society. "The Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 1889." Vol. VL, Part 4. FT07n the Society. " Report of Trustees of the Australian Museum for the year 1888." From the Trustees. "Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique de France pour I'Annee 1889." Tome XIV., No. 4, (April). From the Society. " Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou.'' Annee 1888, No. 4. From the Society. " British Museum. — Catalogue of Marsupialia and Monotre- mata." By 0. Thomas (1888); "Catalogue of Fossil Cephalo- poda. Part i." By A. H. Foord, F.G.S. (1888); "Catalogue of Fossil Fishes. Part i." By A. S. Woodward, F.G.S., &c. (1889) ; " Catalogue of Chelonians, &c." New Edition. By G. A. Boulenger (1889). From the Trustees. Pamphlet entitled " Sur les Courants Superficiels de I'Atlan- tique Nord." Par S. A. le Prince Albert de Monaco. From the Author. " Memoires et Publications de la Societe des Sciences des Arts ^t des Lettres du Hainaut." 5me Serie. Tome I. (1889). From the Society. "Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, London, 1889." Part 3. Frotn the Society. 602 DONATIONS " Reichenbachia. — Orchids Described and Illustrated by F. Sander, &c." Vol. I. (12 parts); II. (parts 1-5), [1888-89]; "A History of British Fossil Reptiles." (4 vols). By Sir Richard Owen, K.C.B., F.R.S., &c. From Sir William Macleay, F.L.S., &c. "The G old-Fields of Victoria. — Reports of the Mining Regis- trars for the quarter ended 31st March, 1889." Fro^n the Secre- tary for Mines J Melbourne. Pamphlet entitled " On the Occurrence of Tellurium in Kew South Wales Ores." By J. C. H. Mingaye, F.C.S. From tht Author. Eight Pamphlets on various Biological Subjects. By Professor Ralph Tate, F.G.S., &c. From the Author. " The Australasian Journal of Pharmacy." Vol. IV., No. 43, (July, 1889). From the Editor. PAPERS READ. DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF lODIS, WITH REMARKS ON PIELUS IMPERIALIS, Olliff. By Thomas P. Lucas, M.R.C.S,, L.S.A., Lond., L.R.C.P., Edin. The past season in Brisbane Las been most unfavourable for the appearance of Lepidoptera. Many of the new species of lodis I found last year have not turned up at all, and all have been rare. I have found /. leucomerata here for the first time. I obtained one worn specimen of a new species early in the year, but must wait for describing until I obtain better specimens. But last April Mr. Illidge was fortunate enough to discover a novel and most interesting species on a small tree growing in his garden, which he had transplanted from the bush. With a lantern light he discovered the imago flying rapidly around the tree, and afterwards Mrs. Illidge found the pupa cases in very light cocoons among the leaves, evidently showing that the larvas had fed there, and that the moths were there to deposit their eggs. I have great pleasure in naming the species after its discoverer. loDis Illidgei, sp.nov. (J9* 25-30 mm. Face brown-red, fillet yellow-green, crown green with a very fine white line posteriorly. Palpi greenish-white. Antennae yellow-green, pectinations of ^ short, white-green. Thorax pea-green, dorsum posteriorly yellow-green, undersurface white. Abdomen pea-green, dorsum yellow-green, lateral surface posteriorly and undersurface white. Legs white, upper surface of anterior coxae and tibise brownish- white. Forewings, costa nearly straight, rounded towards apex, hindmargin obliquely rounded, pea-green ; costal line and hindmarginal line yellow-green : cilia 604 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF lODIS. greenish - white. Hind wings as forewings, hindmarginal line yellow-green ; hindmargin slightly angled at vein 4 : cilia greenish- white. Undersurface of wings greenish-white. The light pea-green colour, absence of markings, and the yellow-green borders of wings readily distinguish this species. It comes near to TJrolitha hipiinctiferay Walk., but appears to be a true lodis. PostscrijJt. — Since writing the above, I find that the tree on which these caterpillars feed is Duboisia myojwroides. Dr. Thomas L. Bancroft found the exuvia of a caterpillar, probably a larger species, among a quantity of collected leaves. It contained the active poison principle duboisin. Caterpillar elongated, flat- tened, green with lighter green and darker green linear stripes laterally. In the Proceedings of this Society for 1887, (p. 1016, pi. XXXIX.), Mr. Olliff described and figured a moth of the genus Pielus belonging to Mr. Prince. I happened to be present at the meeting at which the specimen was exhibited, and stated that I possessed three specimens from the Gippsland District. I had sent an example to Mr. Meyrick, who afterwards re- turned it named P. hyalinatus. On referring to Schafler's LejndopL Exot. Nov. Ser. i, fig. 50, I find an almost exact coloured copy of PI. xxxix. of P.L.S. N.S.W., and the insect named P. hycdinatus. Walker also described it under the name P. hyalifiatus, and referred to Schaflfer; hence Mr. OllifF's name P. impericdis must give way to P. hyalinatus. I have a specimen I take to be the ^. It is 75 mm., and is marked similarly to the larger ones, bat the two apical spots alone of the oblique row of spots parallel with the hindmargin of the forewings are silvered. THE EXAMINATION OF KINOS AS AN AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EUCALYPTS. PART I.— THE RUBY GROUP. By J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., F.C.S. The astringent exudations so common on species of Eucalyptus are termed Kinos. The author is not aware that these substances have hitherto been taken cognisance of in the elucidation of species, and he proposes to give a brief account of his experiments in this direction. The genus Eucalyptus is such an abnormally difficult one, that any method of showing the affinities of its species must be welcome. The author has already shown (Pharm. Journ. [3], XX. p. 221) that Eucalyptus Kinos may readily be grouped into three great classes, according to their behaviour with water and with spirit. Briefly, he divided them into (1) The Buby Group, which consists of ruby-coloured Kinos, the members of which are soluble either in cold water or in cold spirit ; (2) The Gummy Group, whose members are soluble in cold water, but very imperfectly in spirit, owing to the gum they contain ; (3) The Turbid Group, whose members are soluble in hot water or in hot alcohol, but the solu- tions become turbid on cooling ; all the members of this group contain catechin. The author, however, wishes to make it quite clear that these Groups only refer to Kinos which he has actually examined, since he does not presume that the Kinos he has never seen fall into either one of them, whatever his opinion may be in regard to some of those yet undescribed. It is very possible that fresh groups and sub-groups showing affinities of Kinos may yet require to be erected, but the material at his disposal at present does not justify him in making other than the three broad groups already alluded to. 606 ON KINGS AS AN AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS OP EUCALYPTS, Bentham (following Mueller, Fragm. ii.), in the Flora Aus- traliensis, classified the Eucalypts according to the shape of their anthers. The Renantherse, those . with kidney-shaped anthers, comprise the following species found in New South Wales : — E. stellulata, Sieb. F. ijaiicijiora, Sieb. F. regnans, F.v.M. E. amygdalina, Labill. E. obliqua, L' Herit. E stricta, Sieb. E. macrorrhyncha, F.v.M. E. capitellata, Sm. E. eugenioides, Sieb, E. 2nperita, Sm. E. jnhdaris, Sm. E. triantha, Link (Syn. E. acmenioides, Schau.) E. haemastoma, Sm. E. Sieheriana, F.v.M. (Syn. E. virgata, Sieb.) E. onicroGorys, F.v.M. With the exception of that of E. triantha, the author has examined the Kinos of all the above species, including those of innumerable individuals belonging to species found in the Counties of Cumberland, Camden and Cook. It is rather remarkable to find that, with one exception (E. microcorysj, the whole of the Kinos in the Renantherae belong to the Ruby Group. The author also has arrived at some unexpected results in connection with the other two groups, but he does not propose to deal with those in the present paper. E. microcorys has quite an anomalous Kino, that is to say, it can readily be distinguished from all others Unlike the Ruby Kinos it is very friable (capable of being crushed to a fine powder between the fingers, which no " ruby " Kino ever is), and looks like a parcel of uncut garnets. It forms an orange-brown powder, and belongs to the Turbid Group. At present it may be compared to " the exception which proves the rule." It is, however, worthy of BY J. H. MAIDEN. 607 note that E. microcorys is not placed by Bentham in the Renan- therse, but in a group called by him Heterostemones, in which he includes an additional member .of Baron Mueller's Renantherse, the other members falling in the Baron's Porantherse. The author has proved by experiments on many samples that a Kino of one species, no matter what its variety, and under whatever circumstances of climate, soil, &c., it may grow, invariably belongs to one group.* For example, all the Kinos of perhaps twelve specimens of eight varieties of E. amygdalina Kino which have passed through his hands belong to the Ruby group, and not one to either the Gummy or the Turbid group. The composition of all Kinos appears to be constant to that extent. Since this discovery dawned upon the writer, he has had many opportunities of verifying its truth ; in some notable instances where Kino has been forwarded to him, he has been able to call the naming of the species in question, and by assigning the group to which it belongs has thrown light upon its position, and has caused the evidence on which a species- name had been given to be re-opened, with the result, in each case, of alteration. He therefore does not hesitate to strongly recommend that in sending specimens of little known or variable Eucalypts to be named, the Kino, wherever procurable, should always form portion of the material for the botanist to work upon. The author offers his chemical system of grouping Eucalypts merely as a supplement to, or a check upon, the anthereal * In the amplified anthereal grouping of Bentham, the following species are placed by him in more than one series or sub-series : — E. virgata ( SieberianaJ . E. bicolor flargiflorens ) . E. stricta. E. albens (hemiphloiaj. E. siderophloia. E. gomphoceiihala. At the same time, it is but fair to point out that in Baron Mueller's anthereal classification no Eucalypt appears in more than one group, of which, however, there are but three for the whole genus . 608 ON KINOS AS AN AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EUCALYPTS, system. Often Kino cannot be found on a certain tree; on the other hand, the uncertain period of flowering of many species often precludes any examination of anthers. And when anthers are obtained, only those who have frequently examined the flowers of this genus know how difficult and uncertain it is to assign the species yielding them to its proper anthereal group. When once the Kino is obtained, how^ever, an ordinary child of seven would be able accurately to place it in its proper group. The specimens of Kino now, and to be, described are the property of the Committee of Management of the Technological Museum, in which collection will be found many specimens collected by Mr. Bauerlen on behalf of the Committee, over forty specimens collected by the author, together with a few of miscellaneous origin, the whole forming a series probably not to be equalled anywhere. It will be seen from the descriptions now given how similar are all the Kinos of this Ruby group. Time seems to alter them all similarly ; and the author believes that Kinos of all these species, provided the same period has elapsed since exudation, and they have been exposed to similar climatic influences, tend to have precisely the same appearance and composition. He has given a few notes on the appearance of those of different species partly with a view to bring out the relationship between physical appearance and chemical composition, and partly with the view to furnish the fullest particulars in regard to these little-known substances. It must be borne in mind that the dates given are either those of collection or of receipt, and not of exudation, so that they do not, in many cases, give a precise idea of their comparative ages. But appearance and composition of the Kinos give, he believes, an infallible clue to their ages. With not much diffidence he hazards the belief that when a series of Kinos just exuded shall have been collected, and thus their ages known at the time of different experiments, it will be found that the per- centages of tannic acid, for instance, will be in inverse ratio to their ages. BY J. H. MAIDEN. 609 Eucalyptus amygdalina, LahilL, B.Fl. iii. 202 (Syn. E. fissilis, F.v.M. ; E. radiata, Sieb. ; and other synonyms). This Eucalypt has more than a score of vernacular names, but in regard to this species, as in others, only those vernacular names have been used which are actually employed to describe the tree in the locality given. Found in Tasmania, Victoria, N. S. Wales. 1. E. amygdalina var. radiata. " Ribbon Gum." Nelligen, Clyde River, N.S.W. Collected 21st and 22nd September, 1886. Height, 100-120 ft. ; diam., 2 ft. 6 in. A clear port- wine coloured Kino, which is fairly friable, yielding a sparkling powder. It is not readily obtainable in large pieces. It dissolves readily in cold water, forming a clear, medium ruby liquid, but the residue contains more woody matter than the Bombala sample, and less phlobaphene. Colour of residue Vandyke brown. (Note. — Colours are taken from damp residues. The colours of aqueous solutions were taken from J gram, of powdered Kino in 100 cc. of water, which stood for three days, and the colour esti- mated by placing the liquid in a bottle 2 inches in diameter.) Kino-tannic acid, 62*95 per cent.; insoluble phlobaphenes, 6'46 per cent.; soluble in cold water, 92*54 per cent.* 2. E. amygdalina, var. " Peppermint." Bombala, N.S.W. Collected 14th Feb., 1887. Height, 60-80 ft. ; diam., 3 ft. Phy- sical description same as No. 1. In cold water it forms a solution of a pale ruby colour. The insoluble phlobaphene is very dark, almost black. Colour of residue purplish-brown. * The remainder of these Kinos consists for the most part of hygroscopic moisture (average 20 per cent. ), together with small percentages of sugar, resin, &c. I have made complete analyses of them, but the descriptions of the raw products themselves, and an account of the botanical questions involved in the elucidation of them, can alone properly be brought before this Society. 610 ON KINGS AS AN AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EUCALYPTS, Kino-tannic acid, 62-58 per cent.; insoluble phlobaphenes, 6-58 per cent. ; soluble in cold water, 92*62 per cent. 3. E. amygdalina, var. " Peppermint." (This and the pre- ceding tree are very different in appearance.) Little River, near Braidwood, KS.W. Collected Uth November, 1886. Height, 60-80 ft. ; diam., 1-2 ft. Physical description same as " Ribbon Gum." To cold ^yater it yields a perfectly clear pale ruby solution, with insoluble phlobaphene of the same colour. Residue con- tains a few particles of ligneous matter. Colour of residue Vandyke brown. Kino-tannic acid, 62*4 per cent.; insoluble phlobaphenes, 5-5 per cent.; soluble in cold water, 93*4 per cent. Following is the description of a sample of E. amygdalina Kino examined by Dr. Wiesner (Pharm. Journ. [3] ii. 102) : — " Easily soluble in water, solution neutral, onion-red, turbid * on cooling. Black particles, and only in very thin fragments, zircon-red in transmitted light, fatty lustre, very tough, rich in fibrous bark." 4. This sample had been collected for an indefinite period when received on 29th December, 1887. No particulars are available. This and the following Kino, received from the Sydney Botanic Gardens, are very similar in outward appearance, and the same description will apply to both. They have obviously been collected for a very considerable period, are bright and black, and look very much like little pieces of jet. Although of a horny nature, it is not very difficult to reduce them to a coarse black sparkling powder, as they are rather brittle, but it is very difficult to rub them down into an impalpable powder, which is dull, and in colour purplish-brown with a predominance of red, and inclining to Venetian red. * There is some mistake here ; his labels have probably got mixed. I have examined scores of Kinos of this species. The same remarks also apply to E. pilularis, infi^a, a common Sydney species. BY J. H. MAIDEN. 611 Cold water acts with extreme slowness upon this Kino, and a dark ruby liquid is the result, with nearly black insoluble phlo- baphenes. The soluble phlobaphenes possess very powerful colouring properties. Kino-tannic acid, 35-78 per cent.; insoluble phlobaphenes, 35'8 per cent,; soluble in cold water, 55-4 per cent. 5. Sample sent as E. fissilis. For physical description see previous specimen (No. 4). Cold water yields a dark ruby solu- tion inclining to orange. The Kino dissolves slowly, leaving a residue of phlobaphene almost entirely of a rich red-brown colour, with but a very small proportion of black. Kino-tannic acid, 30*59 per cent.; insoluble phlobaphenes, 40*9 per cent.; soluble in cold water, 50-1 per cent. Following is Dr. Wiesner's description of a sample of E. fissilis Kino examined by him : — " Reddish solution, neutral, remaining clear on cooling, trace of gum-resin. Tough drops, blackish red, zircon-red, translucent, fatty lustre on fracture." 6. E. mnygdalina, var. No local name. Appears to be scarce. Has a bark something like "Mahogany" (E. rohusta). Cambe- warra, N.S.W., 30th May, 1888. Height, 60-80 ft. ; diam., 2-3 ft. The greater portion of the small sample obtained has evidently remained long on the trees. A few freshly exuded drops are of a clear reddish-brown colour ; the remainder is so opaque that its colour by transmitted light can scarcely be determined, though at the edges of some pieces a reddish-brown colour is observed. The general colour by reflected light is Vandyke brown, and the Kino cuts like horn. Cold water forms a pale orange-brown solution. It is, however, all but insoluble. Alcohol (B.P. strength of tincture) yields a pale brown liquid, and a granular almost black residue of phloba- phenes. 612 ON KINGS AS AN AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EUCALYPTS, This sample is chosen as an example of the effect of age on a ruby Kino. The tendency to insolubility has proceeded to an even greater extent in the case of the specimen which follows (No. 7). Kino-tannic acid, 12-4 per cent. ; insoluble phlobaphenes, 60-5 per cent. ; soluble in cold water, 24*2 per cent. 7. E. amygdalina, var. "Messmate." Nowra, August, 1888. Height, 100-150 ft. ; diam., 2-6 ft. This sample has also been chosen to illustrate the effect of extreme age on a ruby Kino. It has been obtained from the interior of the wood, and incrusts or is attached to the chamois- leather fungus ( Xylostroma giganteum, Fries). It bears a remarkable resemblance to vulcanite, but it is scarcely of a pure black, being of a uniform Vandyke brown. Its fracture is conchoidal, and of an "egg-shell black." It is about as hard as vulcanite, and its powder (difficult to obtain on account of the toughness of the material) is of a burnt-umber colour. It yields practically nothing to boiling water, alcohol or ether, and consists almost entirely of phlobaphenes. 8. E. mnygdalma, var. (near E. regnans, F.v.M.). " Cut-tail," "Bastard Black -butt." Tingiringi Mountain, Delegate, N.S.W., 2nd March, 1889. Height, 200-300 ft. ; diam., 3-6 ft. A fresh Kino which appears in no way to differ from that of fresh normal E. amygdalina. Eucalyptus eugenioides, Sieh. Made a variety of E. inperita in B. Fl. iii. 208. Found in Victoria and N. S. Wales. 9. "Broad-leaved Stringybark." Bangley Creek, Cambewarra, 15th March, 1888. Obtained from various trees from 60-80 ft. high, and 1-2 ft. in diam. Kino very scarce. This has been quite freshly exuded, and is for the most part of a pale ruby colour, although particles of it are of deeper tint. It BY J. H. MAIDEN. 613 is transparent and bright-looking, and easily powdered. Frag- ments of the very fibrous bark are usually attached to the pieces. In cold water it forms a clear solution of a pale ruby colour. Eesidue Vandyke brown. Kino-tannic acid, 65*48 per cent. ; insoluble phlobaphenes, 3*6 per cent.; soluble in cold water, 96'0 per cent. 10. " Broad-leaved Stringybark." Bangiey Creek, Cambe- warra, 29th March, 1888. Height, 40-60 ft. ; diam., 1-2 ft. This specimen was obtained in the same neighbourhood as the preceding one, but it is Vjy no means so fresh-looking, having obviously remained on the trees for a much longer time. Cold water yields a medium ruby liquid. Colour of residue Vandyke brown. Kino-tannic acid, 59'37 per cent.; insoluble phlobaphenes, 7*5 per cent.; soluble in cold water, 91-6 per cent. 11. '"Stringybark." Between the Valley and Springwood, Blue Mountains, KS.W., 3rd April, 1888. Height, 60 ft. ; diam., 1 ft. Kino of this species is difficult to collect, like that of other stringybarks, as it becomes firmly cemented to the fibrous bark. It is something like E. ohliqua Kino, but perhaps more similar in appearance to that of E. inperitci from the same locality. It is intermediate in toughness between the two Kinos. Colour of powder purplish-brown. Cold water forms a medium ruby liquid, inclining to reddish- brown. Residue dark brown. Kino-tannic acid, 64-26 per cent. ; insoluble phlobaphenes, 2-5 per cent.; soluble in cold water, 97*0 per cent. 12. "Stringybark." Barney's Wharf, Shoalhaven, "NT.S.W., August, 1888. Height, 60-80 ft. ; diam., 2-3 ft. Freshly exuded ; of a rich ruby colour. Yields a pale ruby liquid to cold water. Kino-tannic acid, 65*46 per cent.; insoluble phlobaphenes, 2*9 per cent.; soluble in cold water, 96*4 per cent. 614 ON KINGS AS AN AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EUCALYPTS, Eucalyptus h^emastoma, Smith, B.Fl. iii. 212. Found in Tasmania, Victoria, N. S. Wales and Queensland. The specific gravity of a sample of Queensland Kino from this species is about 1*378, and the percentage of tannin 64*51, according to Mr. Staiger. 13. Rough or Small-leaved" Stringybark." Lyttelton (Colombo), Candelo, KS.W., 24th December, 1886. Height, 40-60 ft. ; diam., 2 ft. When freshly exuded this Kino is of a clear light ruby colour, becoming more or less opaque and of a Vandyke brown colour, like other ruby Kinos, if it remains sufficiently long on the trees. It is clean to handle, powders fairly readily, forming a light purplish-brown powder. In cold water it forms medium ruby- coloured liquid. Colour of residue Vandyke brown. Kino-tannic acid, 57*35 per cent. ; insoluble phlobaphenes, 11*4 per cent. ; soluble in cold water, 88*0 per cent. 14. Keceived from Mr. F. M. Bailey, Government Botanist of Queensland, 28th February, 1888, but no particulars are available. It is in rather larger and more rounded pieces than the sample from Colombo, and has evidently been collected for a longer period than the former. It is bright-looking, and of such a deep garnet colour as to be almost opaque. To cold water it yields a solution of a medium ruby colour with a little brown in it. Besidue Vandyke brown. Kino-tannic acid, 59*92 percent. ; insoluble phlobaphenes 11-76 percent. ; soluble in cold water, 87*8 percent. Eucalyptus macrorrhyncha, F.v.M., B.Fl. iii. 207. Found in Victoria and N. S. Wales. 15. "Stringybark." Amboyne, Delegate, N.S.W., 25th May, 1887. Height, 80-120 ft. ; diam., 2-4 ft. Of a rich ruby colour. This particular sample is rather friable, and for this reason appears of a dull colour, unless it has been very little handled. It reminds one somewhat of some specimens of seed-lac. BY J. H, MAIDEN. 615 To cold water it yields a medium ruby-coloured solution. The residue contains particles of fibrous bark, together with phloba- phene of a dark ruby colour. Residue Vandyke brown, Kino-tannic acid, 64-4 per cent. ; insoluble phlobaphenes, 5*52 per cent. ; soluble in cold water, 93*78 percent. Eucalyptus obliqua, L^Herit., B.Fl. iii. 204 (Syn. E. gigantea^ Hook. f. ; and other synonyms.) Found in South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and N. S. Wales. Following are the results of Dr. Wiesner's examination of two Kinos of this species : — "^. gigantea. Little soluble in water; solution brownish, neutral, no turbidity, rich in gum-resin. Tough, drop-like pieces, of a zircon red. " E. obliqua. Taken as identical with E. gigantea. Completely soluble in water, with deep red colour, neutral, no turbidity, free from gum-resin. Looks like Kino. " E. gigantea. Add to solution first HCl and then NH4 HO, yellowish-red ppt, which on exposure to the air becomes of rusty red. " E. obliqua. Dark violet ppt under the same circumstances." The first sample was evidently much older than the second. 16. " Stringybark." (Botanic Gardens, Sydney, received 29th December, 1887.) Another Kino which must have been collected for a very long period. It looks perfectly black by reflected light, and has much the appearance of jet. It is fairly brittle, but rather difficult to reduce to an impalpable powder, which is rich Vandyke brown in colour. Cold water yields a clear dark reddish-brown solution. The phlobaphene residue is very abundant, and almost a perfect model of the original Kino. Kino-tannic acid, 21*4 per cent. ; insoluble phi oba])heneR, 48'52 per cent. ; soluble in cold water, 38*9 per cent. 40 616 ON KINGS AS AN AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EUCALYPTS, Eucalyptus pauciflora, Sieh. (Syn. E. coriacea, A. Cunn., the species name in B.Fl. iii. 201, and a more correct one than Sieber's.) 17. "Cabbage Gum." Monga, near Braidwood, 1st and 2nd October, 1886. Height, 60-80 ft. ; diam., 1-2 ft. A free yielder of Kino in this district. This Kino is rather tenacious, adhering to pestle and mortar, and yielding a dull orange-tinted powder. It dissolves readily and almost entirely in cold water, forming a medium ruby liquid, with a garnet residue. Kino-tannic acid, 55-37 per cent.; insoluble phlobaphenes, 8-6 per cent.; soluble in cold water, 91*8 per cent. Eucalyptus pilularis, Smith, B.Fl. iii. 208. Found in Victoria, N. S. Wales, and Queensland. Following are Dr. Wiesner's remarks on a sample of this Kino : — " Readily soluble in water, red solution, faintly acid, turbid * on cooling, traces of gum-resin. Pieces opaque, earthy, or with slight fatty lustre, dark reddish-brown." 18. "Blackbutt." Eastwood, near Sydney, 28th April, 1888. Height, 50 ft.; diam., 1 ft. In outward appearance this Kino so closely resembles the sample E. jnperita (Valley), as to be scarcely distinguished from it. Cold water dissolves it readily, forming a quite clear liquid. Like very new Kinos it has a purplish rose tint. Colour of residue Vandyke brown. Kino-tannic acid, 65.52 per cent.; insoluble phlobaphenes, 2-8 per cent.; soluble in cold water, 96-4 per cent. ■* There is some mistake here. BY J. H. MAIDEN. 617 Eucalyptus piperita, Smithy B.Fl. iii. 207. Found in Victoria and N. S. Wales. Dr. Wiesner says of a sample : — " Easily soluble in water ; solution yellowish-red, neutral, free from gum-resin. No turbidity on cooling. Dense pieces of zircon-red, translucent." 19. E. piperita, var. "Messmate," or "Narrow or Almond- leaved Stringybark." Brooman, Clyde River, N.S.W., 14th September, 1886. Height, 100-120 ft.; diam., 2-3 ft. One of the clear ruby or garnet Kinos. Some of it is in rather large pieces, and is rather hard and tough. It has a very bright fracture. Cold water dissolves it to a medium ruby-coloured liquid, leaving a residue consisting chiefly of phlobaphenes. Colour of residue dark purplish-brown. Kino-tannic acid, 59*78 per cent. ; insoluble phlobaphenes, 8*7 per cent. ; soluble in cold water, 90-84 per cent. 20. "Stringybark." The Valley, near Springwood, N.S.W., 4th April, 1888. Height, 80 ft. ; diam., 4 ft. The description given of the Brooman sample (No. 18) applies here exactly. The only perceptible difference is that the specimens from the Valley are a little lighter in colour because fresher. It is very tough to povVder, and can be cut in pieces with a knife. Except that it is rather more easy of solution, to be accounted for by its more recent collection, this sample behaves exactly like the Brooman sample when in cold water. Colour of residue Vandyke brown. Kino-tannic acid, 62*91 per cent. ; insoluble phlobaphenes, 5*1 per cent. ; soluble in cold water, 94*1 per cent. 21. "Peppermint," "Messmate." Barney's Wharf, Shoalhaven N.S.W., August, 1888. Height, 60-80 ft. ; diam., 2-3 ft. 618 ON KINGS AS AN AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EUCALYPTS. A rather handsome Kino. Freshly exuded, of a pale ruby colour ] a portion of it is in very thin fragments, and shows a colour like orange lac. Much of it has been allowed to flow into a vessel and therefore is nearly pure. Cold water yields a very pale ruby solution with a tint of rose. Colour of residue brown. Kino-tannic acid, 67-52 per cent. ; insoluble phlobaphenes^ 4 0 per cent. ; soluble in cold water, 95*4 per cent. Eucalyptus Sieberiana, F.v.M. (Syn. E. virgata, Sieb., the species name in B.Fl. iii. 202). Found in S. Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and N. S. AVales. 22. " Mountain Ash." I have obtained a sample of Kino from this species (Mt. Victoria, N.S.W., March, 1889), which is an ordinary ruby Kino, both in appearance and chemical deport- ment. 23. " Mountain Ash," " Black Ash." A second sample of Kino of this species is from Tantawanglo Mountain, near Candelo, N.S.W., and is from a tree 60-80 ft.; diam., 2-6 ft. It was collected 12th July, 1889. It has exuded for a much longer time than the preceding sample. Neither has been quantita- tively analysed. Eucalyptus stellulata, Sieh., B.Fl. iii. 200. Found in Victoria and N. S. Wales. 24. "Sally or Black Gum." Bombala, KS.W., 17th Feb., 1887. Height, 30-50 ft.; diam., 2 ft. A ruby Kino similar to most of the others in general appear- ance. It yields a medium ruby liquid, with some phlobaphene residue and a few particles of woody matter. Colour of residue purplish- brown Kino-tannic acid, 61*97 per cent.; insoluble phlobaphenes, 7.2 per cent.; soluble in cold water, 9242 per cent. ON RHOPALOOERA FROM MT. KOSCIUSKO, NEW SOUTH WALES. By a. Sidney Olliff, F.E.S. Assistant Zoologist, Australian Museum. Our knowledge of the Rhopalocera o£ Mt. Kosciusko, the highest point of Australia, has hitherto been confined to the four species obtained by Mr. E. Meyrick in January, 1885, and recorded by him in September of the same year in an account of his journey, which, he tells us, was chiefly made in the interests of Entomology, and more especially in search of micro- lepidoptera.* Of the four species obtained by Mr. Meyrick two proved to be undescribed ; the others were widely-distributed and abundant species. To this meagre list I am now able to add fifteen species, three of which are new, from material collected by Mr. R. Helms during an excursion which he made on behalf of the Australian Museum in March and April of the present year. As far as Entomology is concerned this expedition was most successful, in spite of the fact that the collecting season was almost over, and Mr. Helms is to be congratulated upon the results of his under- taking. Like Mr. Meyrick, I was in hopes that some form of Satyridse allied to Erehia would be found on Mt. Kosciusko, and I asked Mr. Helms, who is familiar with those found in the mountains of New Zealand, to do his utmost to ascertain if such a form exists, but his efforts met with no success. L Pyrameis cardui, Linn., var. Kershawi, McCoy. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet), Mt. Kosciusko (5,000 feet) ; several very darkly coloured specimens. 2. Pyrameis itea, Fabr. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet), Mt. Kosciusko (4,000 feet). * An Ascent of Mount Kosciusko. Ent. Mo. Mag. xxii. pp. 78-82 (1885), 620 ON RHOPALOCERA FROM MT. KOSCIUSKO, N. S. WALES, 3. JuNONiA VELLIDA, Fabr. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet), Mt. Kosciusko (5-6,000 feet). 4. Xenica achanta, Don. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet). 5. Xenica Klugii, Guer. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet), Mt. Kosciusko (5,000 feet). 6. Xenica lathoniella, Westw. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet), Jindabyne (3,000 feet), near Mt. Kosciusko, in March ; common. Perhaps a trifle darker than the typical form, but scarcely distinguishable from specimens obtained at Warra, on the Liver- pool Plains. 7. Xenica orichora, Meyr. Mt Kosciusko (5-6,000 feet), in March ; abundant. Expanse, (J 32-35 mm. ; 9 34-39 mm. It is a singular fact that amongst some 150 or 160 specimens of the form which I conclude is the X. orichora only two indi- viduals— a male and a female — are to be found which agree satisfactorily with Mr. Meyrick's description (Ent. Mo. Mag. 1885, p. 82), inasmuch as the hind wing is provided with an incurved ochreous-whitish marking extending from vein six along the inner margin of the ocellus to above the anal angle. In the two exceptions alluded to this marking is split up into five spots, thus answering to the " inwards-curved row of five ochreous- whitish silvery-tinged indistinct pale ochreous spots in a curved low between ocelli," whose presence is alluded to by Meyrick. In all other respects the fine series before me answers to the description of X. orichora. I am inclined to think from the fact that this form, and this form only, is abundant on the higher slopes of Mt. Kosciusko, that it is only a mountain race of X. lathoniella ; but as the points in which it differs from the typical form (chiefly its darker colouring and its greater pro- fusion of markings) appear to be constant, I think it may be BY A. SIDNEY OLLIFF. 621 allowed the distinction of a name. In one or two specimens I have examined the ocellus of the forewing is duplicated. 8. Xenica corre^, sp.n. Wings above fuscous, with orange-fulvous markings, somewhat like those of X. lathoniella, but smaller and more irregular, and with similarly placed ocelli. Forewing with two large slightly oblique transverse spots within the cell, one about the middle, the other before the extremity, a similar and larger spot below the cell in the middle, a series of irregular spots (usually four) beyond cell, at § from base, extending from costa to inner margin, of which the first is longitudinal, and the third broadly transverse ; a conspicuous white-centred apical ocellus and a minute supplementary ocellus situated within an elongate marking, behind which is a small spot ; a hind-marginal series of small spots. Hindwing with three small spots near base, an irregular series of spots extending from beyond costa to above anal angle, three spots extending upwards from anal ocellus, and a distinct hind-marginal series. Forewing beneath dull orange- fulvous, the fuscous markings almost obsolete, except near the costa ; a series of whitish hind-marginal spots. Hindwing fuscous, with a black white-centred ocellus, surrounded by an ochreous ring near costa beyond middle, and a similar one above anal angle ; four ochreous spots near base, first just beneath costa near base, second beneath first, third beyond second towards extremity of cell, fourth below second ; an outwardly curved silvery band from middle of costa to above anal angle, interrupted at vein 5 and sometimes at vein 6 ; three rather large indistinct ochreous spots between ocelli ; a hind-marginal series of elongate silvery spots, from which the dark hind-margin is divided first by a fuscous and then by an ochreous line. Expanse, $ 33-37 mm ; 9 36-40 mm. X. FULVA, var.nov. Underside dull orange-fulvous, marked with fuscous, the white and silvery markings of the typical form entirely absent, their size and position being indicated by indistinct fulvous markings ; ocelli smaller and less conspicuous. 22 ON EHOPALOCERA FROM MT. KOSCIUSKO, N. S. AvALES, Mt. Kosciusko (5-6,000 feet) in March ; a considerable number were taken flying over a low-growing shrub, Correa laiurenciayia, Hk., upon which Mr. Helms is convinced, and I think with reason, the larva of the butterfly will be found to feed. This somewhat variable species is often without the minute extra white-centred ocellus in front of the ordinary ocellus of the forewing, and occasionally the band on the underside of the hind- wing, which usually extends continuously from the costa to above the anal angle, is broken and slightly separated at vein five. It is evident that it is allied to X. orichora ; but the veins at the base of the hindwings are not marked with ochreous-whitish streaks as they are said to be in that species, nor is the inner margin ochreous-whitish. Tn these two points it also difi'ers from X. Jathoniella, and what is more it does not agree with either in having the spots at the base of the hindwings fulvous, or in the general disposition of the markings, particularly of those on the upperside of the forewings. 9. Heteronympha philerope, Boisd. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet), Mt. Kosciusko (5,000 feet). Apparently this species has a wide range; it is found in North- West Australia, and throughout the Southern colonies, and recently I have seen specimens from Lord Howe Island. 10. Heteronympha merope, Fabr. Jindabyne (3,000 feet). 11. Heteronympha cordage, Hiibn. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet). 12. Zeritis discifera, Herr.-Sch. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet). 13. Lampides alsulus, Herr.-Sch. Jindabyne (3,000 feet), Moonbar (3-3,500 feet), Mt. Kosciusko (5,000 feet). The specimens from the higher elevations are exceedingly small. BY A. SIDNEY OLLIFF. 623 14. Lampides agricola, Westw. Mt. Kosciusko (5,500 feet). 15. Ialmenus evagoras, Don. Jindabyne (3,000 feet). 16. Belenois teutonia, Fabr. Mt. Kosciusko (5,500 feet). 17. Telesto drachmophora, Meyr. Moonbar (3-3, 500 feet) ; abundant. A lino series of this species, which also occurs in Tasmania where it was captured both by Mr. G. Barnard and myself, was obtained by Mr. Helms. The silvery-white spots composing the discal band on the hindwings vary in size to a slight extent, but otherwise their peculiar markings appear to be fairly constant. 18. Hesperilla munionga, sp.n.* Thorax and abdomen dark fuscous brown, segmental margins of the latter whitish-ochreous. Head dark brown, spotted with ochreous ; beneath whitish ; palpi black, whitish beneath, except at the tips ; antennae black, spotted with yellow beneath. Fore- wing dark fuscous, some fulvous hairs near base, a whitish-ochre- ous oblique spot at end of cell, and three similar but smaller spots beyond middle, the first near costa at | from base, divided into three parts by fuscous veins, the second behind first on disc, the third small, behind second, near inner margin f from base, the three together forming an oblique series nearly parallel to the hind-margin. Hindwing dark fuscous, with an oblique transverse orange coloured band. Cilia of both wings whitish-ochreous, barred with fuscous. Forewing beneath fuscous, marked as above, except that the spot near costa is absorbed in a large ochreous apical marking which extends from costa at f from base to just before middle of hind-margin ; within this marking are three sub- apical, and a hind-marginal series of four small fuscous spots. Hindwing beneath ochreous, sometimes orange yellow, a dark fuscous spot at base, and three transverse series of elongate fuscous spots, the first before the middle, the second just behind * Munyong is the native name of Mt. Kosciusko 624 ON RHOPALOCERA FROM MT. KOSCIUSKO, N. S. WALES. the middle, the other hind-marginal. Expanse, ^ 29-30 mm ; 9 33-35 mm. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet), Mt. Kosciusko (5,000 feet) ; taken sparingly in March. Allied to Hesjyerilla ornata, Leach, but the underside of the hindwings is very different, being more profusely marked with fuscous spots and quite differently coloured. 19. HeSPERILLA MONTICOLiE, Sp.n. (J. Head, thorax, and abdomen dark fuscous ; palpi whitish, tipped with fuscous ; antennae black, annulated with whitish, beneath ochreous. Forewing dark fuscous, with three white spots, the first near costa at about | from the base, divided into three parts by fuscous veins, the second just beyond middle at end of cell, the third at lower angle of cell, divided into two parts by fuscous vein. Hindwing with white spot on disc near middle, divided by fuscous vein. Cilia of both wings ochreous-white, barred with fuscous. Beneath both wings greyish fuscous, inclining to ochreous. Forewing with ochreous hairs near base, marked as above, whitish from apical angle to middle of hind-margin. Hindwing with broad longitudinal bars of whitish ; one in the middle extending from base to hind- margin conspicuous, interrupted before extremity of cell where there is a fuscous spot, and again about midway between cell and hind-margin ; an indistinct white bar near costa ; a third near inner margin ; both interrupted by an indistinct fuscous spot at about § from base. Expanse 24-25 mm. Moonbar (3-3,500 feet), in March ; rare. In the male, which is the only sex known to me, there is a conspicuous black sexual bar. The species is somewhat like Hesperilla (Cyclojndes) cynone, Hew.,"^ in the disposition of its markings, but it is abundantly distinct, and as it does not appear to agree with any of the species described by Plotz, Mabille, and other writers who have recently turned their attention to the Hesperiidse, I conclude it has not hitherto been characterised. Exot. Butt. V. p. 115, pi. 60, fig. 17 (1876). NOTE ON THE FRUCTIFICATION OF PHLEBOPTERIS . ALETHOPTEROIDES, ETHERIDGE, Fil., FROM THE LOWER MESOZOIC BEDS OF QUEENSLAND. By R. Etheridge, Junr., &c. In the " Proceedings '' of this Society for last year '*' I gave a description of a fern from the Lower Mesozoic beds of the Darling Downs, to which the above name was given, but up to that time no trace of the fructification had been observed. On looking over some miscellaneous fossils in the collection of the Mining and Geological Museum, Department of Mines, I found a few additional examples of this species, one of which shows the fructification distinctly. In the genus Phleho^jteris the sori are borne at the ends of certain of the nervules, which do not reach the margin of the pinnules, but are arrested half-way.f This is exceedingly well shown in Brongniart's figure of P . i^olypodioides ',X and although these smaller nervules cannot be distinguished in the present specimen, from its condition of preservation, the position of the sori is similar to that given in the figure quoted. * Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 1888, iii. (2), p. 1306, t. 38, f. 1 and 2, t Schimper, Traite Pal. V^g. I. p. 624. X Hist. Veg. Foss. t. 83, f. 1 and la. 626 ON THE FRUCTIFICATION OF PHLEBOPTERIS ALETHOPTEROIDES. In general appearance the fructification of our fossil greatly resembles that of P. crenifolia, Phillips, * but in its minute structure is much like that of P. Schouvii, Brong. f In its present state it possesses a stellate appearance, and occupies a very considerable portion of the surface of the pinnule. It would seem that the indusium had in each case burst, leaving the interiors of the sori exposed, in which case the sporangia are represented by the small radiating sub-divisions. The fossil is from the same locality as former specimens, viz.. Darling Downs, near Toowoomba. * Geol. Yorkshire, 2nd Edit. t. 8, f. 11. + Brongniart, loc. cit. t. 132, f. 4a. NOTE ON THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF LORD HOWE ISLAND. By R. Etheridge, June., &c. Pal-