The geological character of the range upon which they grow, as far as I was capable of ascertaining, consisted of granite and quartz: they were readily distinguished from other trees on the same range, by their dark-green foliage and peculiar form. I collected several specimens of the tree in a state of fructification. The “Currijong-tree” was also occasionally seen about the range: it is named “Bundine” by the aborigines, who eat both the young roots and shoots of the tree, and use the bark in the manufacture of a small cordage, for nets, &c. Some of the roots are described to be a foot in circumference, like the stalk of a cabbage, consisting of medullary and fibrous substance, having a sweetish and agreeable taste. A station situated in a fine fertile flat, called “Bumboly,” the property of Mr. Shelly, was next passed; and a few miles further brought me to Mr. Rose’s cattle station, called “Been,” located in a fertile, picturesque situation, surrounded by verdant hills and wooded mountains; the Tumat river and a fine creek running through the estate: it is excellent in situation, and has capabilities for a valuable farm. I remained here a few days to examine this but little known country, as also to observe the objects of natural history, which abounded in the vicinity. CHAPTER XIV. Wooded hills—Base of the Bugong mountains—Multitudes of the Bugong moths—Timber trees and granite rocks—Snow mountains—Method of collecting the moths—Use of these insects—Crows—Height of the Bugong mountains—The aborigines—Dread of ridicule in the females—Native fine arts—Lyre-bird of the colonists—Destruction of kangaroos and emus—The station of Been—Sanguinary skirmishes—A fertile plain—Cattle paths—Shrubs on the banks of the Tumat. Near this station is a lofty table-mountain, rising above numerous wooded hills, varying in their degrees of elevation, as seen in the accompanying engraving: it forms the commencement of a mountainous range, extending in a south-west direction. It is named the “Bugong Mountain,” from the circumstance of multitudes of small moths, called Bugong by the aborigines, congregating at certain months of the year about masses of granite on this and other parts of the range. The months of November, December, and January, are quite a season of festivity among the native blacks, who assemble from far and near to collect the Bugong; the bodies of these insects, contain a quantity of oil, and they are sought after as a luscious and fattening food. I felt very desirous of investigating the places where these insects were said to congregate in such incredible quantities, and availed myself of the earliest opportunity to do so.