Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/383

Rh itself are two species: Helœcius cordiformis and Macrophthalmus setosus; besides several kinds of Annelida. The last-mentioned Crab—Pilumnopeus serratifrons—I have found, is occasionally attacked by a parasite—Sacculina. The parasitized Crabs which I examined were found to represent both sexes in about equal proportions, and neither the pleons nor the abdominal appendages were affected in either sex; a different state of things to that recorded by Prof. A. Giard in the case of certain European Crabs attacked in a somewhat similar manner; and also by Prof. W. Haswell in that of an Australian species—Nectocarcinus integrifrons.

I have spoken of Ryde as being in a fruit-growing district, which reminds me of the Fruit-Bats (Pteropus poliocephalus). These are perhaps the orchard's greatest enemies. The fruitgrowers of the north-western suburbs of Sydney (of which Ryde is one) have annually large quantities of fruit destroyed by these "Flying Foxes," which congregate in immense numbers during the fruit season (the present time). After a night's ravaging they mass in great numbers in the heavy timber of the surrounding bush, and may be seen hanging thickly, almost like Bees, from the tree-branches. A war of extermination is waged against them periodically by bodies of fruit-growers. Recently, in pursuance of that custom, a party of fifty-three fruit-growers from the surrounding districts drove to a known camp of the pest, carrying with them 5000 cartridges. The number of "Flying Foxes" was estimated to be between 100,000 and 120,000. A successful raid was made upon the "camp," resulting in the destruction of about 2750 animals. In another district one hundred miles north of Sydney, at a recent battue, twenty men killed 13,000 of the same animal, which proves what a serious pest this Pteropus is to the orchards; as, for every peach, nectarine, or plum that the "Flying Fox" bites, it knocks down at least a dozen.

On two occasions recently we have had, on the coast of New South Wales, the most unusual phenomenon of a dust-storm at