Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/388

354 belong. In the present instance, however, there could be no doubt whatever. My friend Mr. Charles Hedley, F.L.S., of the Australian Museum, informs me that they much resemble an Aplysia figured by Rang.

On another occasion, when at Manly, while walking along, I was very much struck with the conduct of an Ant. It saw me at the distance of a few paces. The insect was carrying what I thought to be a green leaf, but what turned out to be a comparatively large larval "Grasshopper," several times the size of its bearer. The Ant seemed to become very excited, twisting round from side to side, looking at me all the time, and holding its prey up as high as it could. It appeared as if it were challenging me to come on (which I did), and when I tried to effect its capture it dropped its burden, and made several quick springs in my direction, leaping from five to six inches at a time. Whenever I moved to one side my little antagonist followed my motions with its eyes in the same manner as does the Mantis. It looked, indeed, so uncommonly human in its actions that when I captured it I had quite a large amount of respect for it.

One morning I went to Mosman's Bay (Port Jackson), and walked from thence along the harbour coast. After walking for some distance, I observed two fishermen about to haul in their net; so I went out with them in their boat, and assisted in the unloading of the net. It was a poor haul (i.e. looking at it from the fishermen's point of view, but not from the naturalist's), consisting as it did almost solely of small Discophoræ and immature pelagic Crabs (Neptunus pelagicus (Pl. IV.) and N. sanguinolentus, Thalamita sima, Charybdis cruciatus, and Nectocarcinus integrifrons). There were a few specimens of Squilla lævis, also of the handsome Prawn Penæus canaliculatus, and of the smaller and commoner Prawn P. esculentus. There was also a goodly number of species of small fishes, the most noticeable of which were the "Fortescues" (Pentaroge marmorata), and two specimens of the "Stink Fish" (Callionymus curvicornis). The first mentioned is a harmless-looking little creature, but in reality it is just the reverse. It is armed on each side of the head with exceedingly sharp spines. When the poor unsuspecting mortal picks up one of these carelessly, it whirls round its head suddenly, and the spines inflict a wound of a very painful nature. I captured several of these, however, without being injured. Whilst thus engaged I noticed