Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/379



year (Zool. 1899, p. 407) I had the pleasure of narrating one of my zoological wanderings near Sydney. On the present occasion I propose to describe some of the objects of interest which it has been my good fortune to encounter on various rambles during the past few months.

At the time of writing the "bush" is teeming with animal life, chiefly insects, though the Reptilia play no small a part. Of the former, perhaps the Cicadas attract most attention, both by numbers and noise. It is only a few weeks since they made their appearance above ground (that is, in the city and environs), but they have been making the most of their time; and now the first thing to greet one's ears on awaking in the morning is the sound of their stridulation. Hot, still, sultry weather always suits them best, and under such atmospheric conditions, and as the season advances, they may be often heard long before daybreak, keeping up their "churr-urr-urr-urr" until about 7 or 8 o'clock, when there will be a general quietude until about 11 o'clock, when once more the concert is resumed with renewed vigour. This goes on with a few intermissions until about 4 or 5 p.m., when once more it ceases as suddenly as it began; only to start again about 7 p.m., and continuing until long after darkness has set in. I have even heard them as late as 11 p.m. I have Zool. 4th ser. vol. IV., August, 1900.