: &£*'~? v^^ WMk$*$. FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Id TIKE Victorian Naturalist: THE JOURNAL & MAGAZINE OF THE APRIL, 1896, TO APRIL, 1897. 1bOH. JEDitor: MR. F. Q. A. BARNARD. The Author of each Article is responsible for the facts and opinions recorded. Melbourne: WALKER, MAY & 00., PRINTERS, MAOKILLOP STREET (OFF 390 LITTLE COLLINS STREET). 1897. ^ 3 3- r Vfc f ">-? ^Qu*s\ "i-*f Quasi. " INDEX TO VICTORIAN NATURALIST. VOL. XIII. Acacia glandulicarpa - Albatross, Flight of - Albatross Island, Trip to Artamu8 personatus J rtamus superciliosus Ascent of Mt. Peter Botte, Queensland - Australia, Ornithological Notes from Central - Australian Plants, Descrip- tions of New 111,117, Acacia - - - 112, Eucalyptus - - 147, Bacchus Marsh, Miocene Deposits of - - Banana, A New Guinea Wild Baw Baw, Under Eastern - Beetle, A Fungus on a Birds of Box Hill Books, Notices of - 64, " Concise Handbook of British Birds " • Insectivorous Birds of New South Wales " - ' ' Introduction to Miner- alogy" - ' ' Sketch of ISl atural History of Australia" Botanical Trip to Mt. Baw Baw - - Botrytis angulata Box Hill Birds, Notes on Calvert Exploring Expedition Campephaga, Nidification of Cicadas - Collecting in Biverina Collecting Trip to Murray and Loddon Eggs from North Queensland Errata - PAGE 146 11 3 37 37 - 151 58 147, 168 117 168 80 53 93 56 103 120 64 64 120 120 93 56 103 28 135 119 72 127 63 134 Eucalyptus MacuJata, Notes on 150 Fantail, Nest of Black and White - - - 56 Field Naturalists' Club— Annual Report - - 29 Conversazione - - 34 Exhibition Wild Flowers - 85 Excursions — Fern Tree Gully - - 142 Nar Nar Goon - - 139 Studley Park - - 46 Willsrnere 2 Proceedings, 1, 17, 29, 45, 58, 69,85,101, 113, 125, 137, 149 Finches, Plumage of - - 126 Flight of Albatross - 1 1 Flight of Sea Birds - - 49 Flora of Victoria, Contribu- tions to - - 146, 167 Fluke, Intermediate Hosts of - 24 Fungus on a Beetle - - 56 Fungus, An Entomogenous - 99 Geological Correction, A - 28 Geological Notes on Toom- bullup Goldfield - - 107 Habits of Wood Swallows - 36 Ialmenus myrsilus - - 118 Intermediate Hosts of Fluke 24 Kent Group, A Sericornis from - - - - 84 Knot, The - - - - 55 Lacinularia elongata - - 22 Lyctma cyrilus - - - 138 Mallacoota, Trip to - - IS Microscopic Work, Turpen- tine in - 16, 2.S Mimicry in Birds and Insects 147 Miocene Deposits of Bacchus Marsh - - - - 80 Moths, A Catalogue of Vic- torian - - 41, 65, CEcophoridee - Murray, Collecting Trip to - Murray, Birds from Murray, Plants from - Musa, Notes on Genus New Guinea Banana, A Nidification of Jardine's Campephaga Obituary Notices — Forbes-Leith, T. A. Mueller, Baron Sir F. von - 87, Oologists' Reunion, An Ornithological Notes bo, 56, Parrot, an Extinct Plants, New Australian 111, 146, 147, Plumage of Robins, Notes on Ptilorlris paradisea Queensland, Ascent of Mt. Peter Botte - - - 151 I'Ai.i: 121 41 127 133 134 53 53 135 139 101 63 , 58, 112 112 117, 168 115 145 Queensland, Eggs from North - 63 Raptores - 58 "Red Rain " - - -125 Rifle Bird, Nest and Egg - 145 Riverina, Collecting in - 72 Robins, Notes on Plumage of 115 Rotifer, a New - 22 Sea Birds, Flight of - - 49 Sericornis gidaris - - 84 Sitella, Orange-winged - 138 St. Helena - - - - 100 sfijin Acrociliata - - 167 Thalassogeron cairius - - 10 Toombuilup Goldfield - -107 Trip to Albatross T. - 3 Trip to Mallacoota - - 18 Turpentine in Microscopic Work - - - - 16 Victorian Moths - 41, 65, 121 Victorian Plants, New 146, 150, 167 Voluta Roadknighti - - 33 Wood Swallows, Notes on - 36 ILLUSTRATIONS Baron Sir F. von Mueller Cysts of Fluke Embryos Eggs from North Queensland Nests of Bittern - Nest and Egg of Rifle Bird - I'AGE 85 25 63 77 145 New Rotifer, Lacinularia elongata - - - 22 Shy Albatross on Nest - 1 Summit of Mt. Peter Botte, Queensland - - - 158 THE |1 i c tori an gtaturaUet* Vol. XIII.— No. 1. APRIL, 1896. No. 149 FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th April, 189G. The president, Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the chair, and some 60 members and visitors were present. REPORTS. Reports of the Club excursions to Studley Park and Willsmere were received from the respective leaders, Mr. T S. Hall, M.A., and Messrs. W. and J. Stickland. At the former excursion the many interesting geological features of the Yarra basin were pointed out, and the members present were delighted with the lesson in field geology they received. The Willsmere excursion was also well attended, and the ponds in the locality yielded fair results. PAPERS. The paper on " Intermediate Hosts of Fluke," by Rev. W. Fielder, was postponed, owing to the rather sudden death of Mrs. Fielder, and on the motion of the Chairman the hon. secretary was directed to convey to Mr. Fielder the deep sym- pathy of the Club in his sad bereavement. By Mr. J. Shephard, entitled " A New Rotifer." The paper dealt with the important discovery of a new species of Lacinularia, to which the name of L. elongata was provisionally given. Drawings of several species for comparison were shown, and also specimens preserved in formalin under the microscope. EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Plant of Polypodium serpens, from Queensland. By Miss Cochrane. — Entomogenous fungus, Cordy- ceps Taylori, from Cape Otway. By Mr. A. Coles. — Australian Bittern, Botaurus Australis ; and Minute Bittern, Ardetta pusilla. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Nests, larvae, and perfect insects, male and female, of Procession Moth, Teara con- traria, from the Wimmera [Mr. E. Anderson informs me that this insect, the identity of which was formerly doubtful, has been reared from the larvoe in the larger suspended nests, by Mr. Froggatt, of the Technological Museum, Sydney. — C.F.j o^* THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Remarkable double nest of the Black Fantail, collected by Master W. Shepherd at Western Port, Victoria ; egg of New South Wales Lyre Bird, Menura superba ; and orchid, Prasophyllum despectans, collected at Western Port, being a new locality for this comparatively rare Victorian orchid. By Mr. J. Shephard. — Lacinularia elongata, new species of rotifer, in illustration of paper. By Mr. G. E. Shepherd. — Yellow-legged Spoonbill, Plat aha Jiavipes. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. EXCURSION TO WILLSMERE. Favoured by a fine though warm afternoon, on Saturday, 7th March, a party of about ten members made their way to Willsmere Park, near Kew,and spent two or three hours pleasantly in searching the ponds at that place. Owing possibly to recent rains, animal life seemed much less abundant than usually is the case, but the customary forms of Polyzoa, sponges, Hydra, and Entomostraca were taken. As at this season last year, the sponges were found to contain gemmules. For the first time in our experience Volvox was plentiful in the locality. As regards rotifers, the beautiful clusters of Lacinularia pedunculate, and L. natans were numerous : they appear to have found their way to the first and largest of the ponds only recently, as we noticed them there for the first time a few months back. All the usual tube-building genera were represented, and amongst these a gigantic specimen of Floscularia coronetta deserved special notice. Free-swimming forms were scarce, though the pretty little Green Bag Rotifer, Sacculus viridis, and a few more common species were taken. Special mention may perhaps be made of a rotifer which lives parasitic in the Volvox, sailing about in the water with no effort of its own, while it calmly devours its host. Of this one specimen was taken here, the only other place where we have caught it being a pond at Box Hill. Infusoria were poorly represented, the only ones almost being the chlorophyll-bearing Paramecium bursaria, and the Stentors. Many of the latter were conspicuous by their colouration, which was pale pink — a peculiarity we do not remember having seen mentioned in any text-book. Microscopic plant life was present in abundance. In addition to the common filamentous algge, Spirogyra and Tyndaridea, Oscillatoriae, Nostoc, Diatoms, and an unusual variety of Desmids occurred. These beautiful little green plants, which would well repay much more study than they seem to receive here, are very numerous just now at Willsmere. Amongst the filamentous forms found were Hyalotheca dissiliens, with its broad gelatinous sheath ; the curiously twisted Desmidium Swartzii ; and the chain-like THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Sphserozosma. The very large and handsome species Closterium lunula, half-moon shaped, shows, when examined with careful illumination, the currents of protoplasm streaming to and from the ends. Others of the same genus taken were the Beaked Clos- terium, C rostratum, running out at each end into a long, slender, clear prolongation, and the Striated Closterium, C. striolatum. Of the genus Cosmarium we noted the Pearl-bearing Cosmarium, C. margaritifervm ; C. Broomei, squarish in shape ; and C. biocuJatum ; besides, perhaps, others. Of Euastrum there were one or two species — E. didelta, and perhaps E. ansatum. The long, narrow, rod-like genus Docidium was represented by one species — D. baculum. Of the queerly-shaped Staurastrum there were a couple or more species, while the spiny genus Xanthidium gave us one — X. armatum. — W. and J. Stickland. FURTHER NOTES FROM ALBATROSS ISLAND- NARRATIVE OF A SECOND TRIP. By J. Gabriel, F.L.S. (Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, \3th January, 1890.^ We left Queen's Wharf at noon on 17th October in the s.s. Bellinger, bound for the Hunter Group of Islands, Bass Strait, where we hoped to obtain additional information re the nidification and flight of the Shy Albatross, found there. My companion, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, was also very anxious to replace the valuable photographs which he had so unfortunately lost through the swamping of the dingey on his last trip. He had also a forlorn hope of recovering the box, which contained some money. We had a fair run across the Strait, of course paying the usual contributions on the way, being hastened by the character- istic aroma of ten tons of bonedust which was stowed on deck. Early morning, however, found us in better humour, and soon after breakfast we were abreast of the Three Hummocks, with Circular Head, or " The Nut," in the distance straight ahead. We were soon interested in watching the birds, which began to muster up in large numbers. We were able to distinguish the Shy and Sooty Albatrosses, Pacific and Jamieson's Gulls, Mutton Birds, Richardson's Skua, &c. Our old friends the Gannets were seen in considerable numbers, while the pretty Cape Pigeon {Daption capensis), with its barred markings, appeared at frequent intervals. The little Stormy Petrel (Procellaria fregata) would also occasionally appear. Being thus among our feathered friends we felt quite at home. In a few hours we were steaming around " The Nut," and about noon landed at Stanley. Our bond fides were kindly vouched for to the Customs officer by a resident whose acquaintance THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. we had made on board. Certainly our luggage did look suspicious, with imposing boxes containing potatoes, onions, bread, personal effects, guns, cameras, tent, &c. According to arrangement, Captain Mullins soon appeared, and we at once decided to start the following morning in his 22 feet centre-boarder The Fox. Captain Mullins fortunately left the schooner Martha, in which Messrs. Ashworth and Le Souef crossed the Strait last year, before she capsized in the Rip in February last, and in which Captain Stuty and Frank, who accompanied them, lost their lives. After placing our luggage on the little craft we went for a long walk along the beach and into the adjoining scrub, where we recognized the dulcet notes of Selby's Thrush ; but we were too early for eggs. The Tasmanian Flycatcher, Horseshoe Honeyeater, Long-tailed Superb Warbler, Scrub Quail, &c, were also seen. The pretty little Azolla was growing luxuriantly in the ponds which we passed, and growing on the roadside was a perfect carpet of white daisies. The scrub was inclined almost parallel to the hillsides where exposed to the east wind, which must blow very severely here at times. During our stay at Stanley we resided at the Temperance Coffee Palace, a comfortable, homely, but curiously planned house, whose architect must have taken his design from Noah's Ark. Early morning on the 19th October found us quite refreshed and ready to start, and soon the little Fox was merrily sailing round " The Nut," from which a Black-cheeked Falcon swooped down to show his anger at our intrusion. Passing two outlying rocks with the euphonious names of Bull and Cow, and rounding a dangerous sunken reef off the headland, we made for Robbins Island, which was to be our first place of call. Our attention was soon attracted to a large number of birds in the distance, whose movements puzzled us for some time, but as we approached we were soon enlightened, and were treated to a magnificent sight. Heedless of our approach, several hundreds of Gannets were working a shoal of fish. I have frequently watched these birds diving for fish in our bay, but here I saw them in company for the first time, and truly it was an exciting scene. A continuous stream of birds were diving into the shoal, and as they rose flying around in a circle, only to dive again until they were gorged, when they would retire, but only to make room for others who were continually arriving from the distance. There is doubtless a method in this circular flight of theirs — very likely it tends to keep the fish together. Nor did they leave off till we sailed right through them, and then, I believe, it was the fish that made away. Our artist took several snap-shots with a kodak, but I am afraid they were not quick enough for satisfactory pictures. The Gannets must consume an enormous quantity of fish during these TfiE VlCTOfclAN NATURALIST. raids. Several which we found swimming about afterwards were so gorged that they allowed us to almost cut them down with the boat before they would rise and then only to alight a little distance away. We anchored about midday in a snug little creek on Robbins Island, and went over in the ''flatty" to two small islets near, expecting to find Oyster-Catchers and Gulls breeding, but found we were too early. We had some difficulty in getting back, as the tide was running out like a sluice, and several times the " flatty " was aground, necessitating our dragging her over the stones, which, in our bare feet, was rather a treat. We were not long in making for the Reids' homestead. The good folks were glad to see us, and soon made us welcome, and during our stay supplied us with some valuable notes. After refreshing ourselves, we took a scamper along the beach for a few miles. The large number of whale bones attracted our attention, and we were shown an old " trying-out " station, the cleared sand track on the beach showing where the whales had been drawn up at high tide. This must, in bygone days, have been a busy spot, from the number of bones which were lying around. Further along we were shown what they called a " sea-devil," which had been washed up. This we found to be a female Australian Fur Seal (Euotaria cinerea). Captain Mullins informed us that he passed through a shoal of some hundreds of large seals while coming across from King Island. A correspondent has since informed me that he has had a very successful sealing season, which confirms what the captain told us. Returning from the beach to the homestead we noticed the pretty little Emu Wren (Stipitiims malachurus) in considerable numbers. Robbins Island seems to be a perfect aviary for both land and sea birds, but as we were too early for eggs we con- tented ourselves with collecting notes for future reference. We gather that the island is a place of call for many birds during their migratory flight between Australia and Tasmania. Observa- tions on this subject would be of much interest. Just before our arrival the Martins were seen at dusk clinging on to the trees in bunches like a swarm of bees. Along the flats we were con- tinually flushing Quail, and on the beach the Dotterels, both Hooded and Red-capped, were seen in numerous flocks, the latter just beginning to lay in little ledges under the sandy bank. It is a curious fact that the birds on the larger islands lay some weeks earlier than those on the outlying islands. The tide serving, about noon the next day we left our kind hosts, and sailing past the east side, were soon abreast of Walker's Island. On a headland is the Sea Eagle's eyrie which Mr. Atkinson found some years back, but it is now tenantless. Our Captain Mullins was there last season with a companion, who shot one of the birds, which fell badly wounded at his feet. The THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Captain finished the bird by hitting it on the head with a stick. He then slung it upon his shoulder, but in a few minutes the bird came to and dug its talons into the Captain, who, in a rage, gave the bird another battering. It was again mounted upon his shoulder, but in half an hour the pesty thing came to and again clawed the Captain in a tender part. This time that eagle was killed in earnest and taken home to Duck River, where it is now to be seen alive and well. The wind now began to freshen, and as we passed the Petrels we had to reef down. We had hoped to reach Chimney Corner, on Three-Hummock Island, but, much to our chagrin, a nasty sea forced us to run before the wind to East Telegraph Bay. To add to our discomfort the boat began to leak, and we had to keep baling all the way. Mr. Burgess, who leases this island, has a farm at East Telegraph Bay, and we were shown around by his brother-in-law, who was in charge. The ground is of a rich chocolate character, and has, so far, given satisfactory returns for the labour expended on it. Poultry also do very well, having no enemies. To escape the sandflies, " skeeters," and other live cattle we elected to sleep on the boat, but at 4 a.m. the next morning we were roused up and had to clear out, the wind having changed during the night. We were soon out of the jobble, and made round the north side of the island. We were destined to have more trouble, however, for the wind died away to a dead calm, after which it again freshened into a stiff gale, leaving us beating up the passage between the Three Hummocks and the West Hunter. On the starboard tack off the West Hunter we had to take in our reefs, and shortly afterwards to lower sail and hoist the storm sail. During this fuss we were unfortunate in losing one of our oars and a boathook overboard, and in trying to regain them we split our jib into three pieces, necessitating the hoisting of a spitfire. With this scandalized sail we beat into Shephard's Bay for shelter. We went ashore for a few hours, having the mail for Mr. James, the solitary resident, who hospitably cooked some wallaby for us, and being awfully hungry we declared it to be very good. The wind and sea having abated, we soon ran across to Chimney Corner, on the Three Hummocks, where we were warmly welcomed by the Burgess family, and well pleased to get ashore after our rough trip around. The baling especially had been very trying, so The Fox was beached for repairs. We were now only ten miles from Albatross Island, and intended to slip out at the first opportunity, and then, if the weather continued fine, to attempt a landing on the Black Pyramid, sixteen miles further out into the ocean. Little did we reckon on the boisterous weather which was to prevail right up to the last day of our stay, so that we began to despair that we would ever reach even Albatross Island. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. On 22nd October repairs to the boat was the order of the day, Captain Mullins being kindly assisted by the Burgesses. A plaster was placed over the worst leak, and some tarred oakum jammed into the others. During the day we made short trips inland, but found nothing of more interest than a fresh Strepera's nest, which we watched for ten days, but the birds were too wary, and waited till we left before laying. Cattle and sheep thrive fairly well at the homestead, notwithstanding the cottonweed, two species of which are very abundant. But the introduction of clovers and lucernes has worked wonders, both here and at King Island, so that a large cattle trade is springing up. On 23rd October we went for a walk across the island to East Telegraph Bay, some seven miles. Following a track between the sandhills which fringed the coast we soon came to a different class of country to what we expected. All along the coastline we had met with almost impenetrable scrub, consisting of ti-tree and such-like ilk, but inland we passed through forests of what is locally called bastard bluegum, alternating with lanes of swamp ti-tree, which, being festooned with the pretty bush Clematis, pleasingly reminded us of Gippsland scenery. A little further on we came to a sandy plateau, commanding a fine view around. On our right the Big Hummock, with its commanding height of 790 feet, was to be seen ; to the left was an immense swamp, while immediately around us the country was ablaze with the familiar flowering shrubs which adorn our own heath grounds. Among others we noted Sprengelia incarnata, Pultencea humilis, P. daphnoides, Aotus villosa, Pimelea humilis, Slyphelia Aus- trcdis, and the orchids Thelymitra longifolia, Caladenia carnea, C. latifolia and Pterostylis cticu/Iata. Our track next led us through a dense belt of the ever present ti-tree, and then, to our surprise, into a lovely little gully, in which tree ferns grew luxuriantly. The total absence of mistletoes on these islands has caused Baron von Mueller to remark in his report on the plants brought from King Island by the Club expedition : — "It does not seem that mistletoes have been noticed by the party, the genus Loranthus, though represented by more than one species quite to the southern extremities of the Australian continent, having never yet been traced to Tas- mania." It is satisfactory to know that this may now be explained by the fact that the Swallow Dicseum, which bird has been shown by Mr. Ashworth to be the sole agent in dispersing the mistletoe, is confined to Australia. Arriving at East Telegraph Bay, we startled our solitary farmer having his midday smoke. After dinner he led us around nesting. A Boobook Owl flew out of a dead tree, which was climbed, with no result. An unfinished nest of the Flame-breasted Robin showed us that we were too early. We were pleased to 8 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. see the Spotted Diamond Bird, Pardalotus punctatus, breeding in holes in a sandbank; it does not seem to have been recorded before from the islands. On the return journey we paid a flying visit to the large swamp ; but as we could see no signs of bird life, owing to the dense scrub, we retraced our steps. When we came to the sandhills, with their Boobyalla and Honeysuckle trees, we decided to make a short cut to the beach to gather shells — a decision we soundly regretted ten minutes afterwards. However, by crawling on all fours the greater part of the distance, we at last broke through. On 24th October, the weather being still too unsettled to venture on the waters, we went for a long walk towards West Telegraph Bay, but came across nothing more interesting than a 9 in. x 2 in. Oregon plank, which, being of no scientific interest, we left behind. A crow's nest containing four fresh eggs was found in the top of a ti-tree growing in a swamp. On 25th October, the weather being still very rough, we spent the day in wandering along the beach in search of shells and polyzoa, and in taking lessons in crayfish pot making. The Crayfish (Palinurus Lalandii) industry is now a considerable one among the islands of the Strait, but these fine fish are becoming fast decimated through the suicidal policy of allowing the female fish to be taken during the spawning season. Of course, fish with spawn are not allowed in the markets, but this is easily overcome by the fishermen removing the spawn. Some few fishermen do not take spawning fish, but their good intentions are frustrated by others who take all. Our friends on the island suggest what I consider the only remedy, viz., that female fish be not allowed to be sold during the spawning months, say from 1st September to 31st December. Our Club has been useful in the past in placing insectivorous birds upon the protected list, and I do not think it would be out of our province to move in this matter. The female fish are readily recognized by the extra appendages on the tail flap which hold the spawn in position, and also by the subchelate claws of the fifth or last legs. On 26th October, the wind abated a little, and we sailed across to Stack Island, a distance of ten miles, to see an eyrie of the Sea Eagle, Halicutus leucogaster, but we found the birds had not yet laid. A crow's nest found on a ledge near the top of a rocky pinnacle was also empty. This island is rented from the Tasmanian Government by Captain Mullins, who anticipates a good harvest of Mutton Birds this coming season. He tells us that the Tasmanian Government now prohibits the sale of eggs, which I think is a wise action. When we consider that half a million birds are taken yearly in the Furneaux Group alone, there must in time be an appreciable difference. Nor must we look to the robbery of eggs alone as a destructive THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 9 influence, for from several correspondents I hear that this season thousands upon thousands of these useful birds have been found dead upon our shores, from Phillip Island to nearly as high as Sydney Heads. Can any of our members suggest an apparent cause for this destruction ? The harvest of eggs this season at Phillip Island has been a complete failure. Some have suggested the heavy gales prevailing early in the season ; but these birds are in their element in the roughest of weather, and I can hardly accept this as a reason. We have always been told that the birds, after cleaning out their holes in September, are not seen again till November, when they come to lay; but to our surprise they came in at dusk as usual. We had beached the boat on the sand for comfort's sake, and as it was now raining heavily we slept on board. Early in the morning the tide came in, and we had to turn out into the cold sea and get her afloat. After breakfast we left for Penguin Island, where, with a little difficulty, we landed. Scrambling through the saltbush and tumbling through Mutton Bird holes, we made our way to the Pelican rookery, noting on the way the Little Grass Bird (Sphenosacus gramineus). The Pelicans made out to sea as we approached, so we contented ourselves with taking photographs of the rookery. The eggs proved to be fresh — indeed, several clutches were not completed. Returning to the boat, we hastened on board, as the wind was fast rising, and, hoisting sail, we headed for Chimney Corner again. On the way up we had another unpleasant baling experience, necessitating the beaching of The Fox for examination. We found that the plaster which had been put on was a " porous plaster," and there was nothing for it the next day but a renewal of repairs. At night we had a haul of about ten dozen fine garfish. This proved an acceptable change from Mutton Bird, which, how- ever, we had got to relish at our meals. Early in the morning of the 29th October we started for Albatross Island, and after crossing the " pot-boil " north of the West Hunter, we were not long in approaching this lonely rock. Bold and rugged it is indeed, and doubly so to-day, for the wind had changed round to the north and rolled a nasty sea into the landing-place. We could see the Albatrosses sitting on their nests upon the shelving rocks, but after standing off and on for some time in the hope of a change, we had to swallow our dis- appointment and return. The following day an easterly gale raged all day, raising such a heavy swell that it was with little hope of success that we started again at dawn on 31st October. The " pot-boil " was very lively, and tossed our little boat about like a cockle shell. After a couple of miles of this we despaired of getting on the rock, but as we had the day before us we held on, and when within a few miles of the island our skipper declared we would get on after all we cheered up considerably. Shortly after we were anchored amongst the kelp in comparatively smooth 10 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. water. Dreading the backwash of the cove where the dingey was capsized last year, we scrambled on to the ledges of an outlying rock, and, following a Penguin track, were soon through the caves. In the gulch way we were surprised to see a Tasmanian Flycatcher and a Bronze Cuckoo, with his resplendent green back. Climbing over the hill, the Black-cheeked Falcons showed by their clatter that they had eggs, and a large Wedge-tailed Eagle soared away overhead. We were rejoiced to find the Albatross rookery in full swing. It was the beau ideal of a photographic day, with little wind and light fleecy clouds, and our artist lost no time in pro- ceeding to work. As to myself, I was soon arguing the point with the birds re possession of eggs, the powerful mandibles on the one hand, and my foot and a bucket on the other being the argumentative media. These beautiful birds sit gracefully on their nests, but when disturbed they flounder about in quite a ludicrous manner, strongly in contrast to their glorious appearance at sea when they so majestically sweep through the air on ex- panded pinions. After its egg was taken the silly bird could not make out where it had got to, and would put its head into the nest to look for it. I have little to add to the descriptive account so ably given last year by Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth of the nidifica- tion of these birds. The eggs taken by me, with three exceptions, contained chicks in all stages of growth. From this I gather that the laying season must commence late in September and early in October, with an incubation of probably eight weeks. The Hon. Walter Rothschild has lately reviewed the nomenclature of the Albatrosses and has referred this bird to the genus Thalassogeron. The bird breeding on the Snares in New Zealand differs from Gould's type, T. cautas, and has been named T. Salvini, after that eminent authority on oceanic birds. There can be no doubt of the identity of our species with Gould's T. cautus, and Albatross Island is, therefore, the only known breeding haunt. As Mr. Rothschild observed to Sir Walter Buller, " Why, every group of islands seems to have its own species of albatross." The flag was now flying as a signal for us to leave, and so busy had our artist been that he forgot all about looking for the treasure lost last year, and, indeed, did not have time to look at the spot. We had had no food for ten hours, and were surprised to find we had been six hours on the island. On regaining the boat, a decisive " Give me a hand with the chain " caused us to postpone the luxury of " tucker." Oh ! that 25 fathoms of chain, wasn't it heavy ! As we got near the West Hunter the wind died away, and we lost the tide, and drifted slowly back. Just before dark we came across an Albatross, a Mutton Bird, and a Cape Pigeon quarrelling over a Cuttle-fish. As we approached the Cape Pigeon was left in possession. In the moonlight we set the fire-pot going, and made coffee, waiting for the turn of the tide. Music, also, helped to pass the time, THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 11 our only audience being a Cape Pigeon which flitted about. About midnight we got a breeze, and arrived at Chimney Corner shortly after i a.m. After a final breakfast in the morning with our kind friends we left for Stanley with a fair wind. Just as we reached " The Nut," a stiff sou'-wester gave us the worst wetting of the trip. At 9 p.m. on 2nd November we left in the Bellinger for Melbourne, and being by this time good sailors we had the satisfaction of sleeping while our fellow-passengers persisted in being sick. THE FLIGHT OF THE ALBATROSS. By H. P. C. Ashworth. (Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 10th February, 1896.^ When a paper was read before the Royal Society of Victoria last year by Mr. Le Souef and myself on the birds found breeding in the Hunter Group, the president, Professor Kernot, M.A., remarked that he was sorry we had not more fully dealt with the important question of the flight of the albatross, and my main objects in revisiting Albatross Island were to make observations on this subject, and also to replace the photographs which were lost through the capsizing of our dingey. I was further induced to make the investigation by the great amount of misconception by nearly all who have written on the subject, either in the principles involved or in the description of the movements of the bird. The subject has attracted the attention especially of those engaged in the problem of constructing flying machines ; and, indeed, the apparent contradiction of mechanical principles in the flight of a bird without perceptible movement of its wings — that is, without the expenditure of any external work — is sufficiently startling. If we know anything of the mechanical conditions, it may be taken for granted that no bird can glide with outstretched motionless wings in a wind which is both uniform and horizontal without losing either in vertical elevation or in velocity. The fact that an albatross does glide for hours together without move- ment of the wings shows that the solution of the problem lies altogether in a study of the movements of the wind, and not in any peculiar property inherent in the bird itself. A review of some of the theories advanced is given by Sir Walter Buller in "Trans. New Zealand Inst.," vol. xxvi. He says: — " It seems to me that we have not yet solved the problem in- volved in the flight of the albatross — a rapid, well-sustained motion, ever against the wind, with scarcely any visible movement of the wings. There are some very sensible observations on the subject in Dr. Bennett's ' Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australasia.' Professor Hutton has grappled with the mechanical principles it rests upon, and the Duke of Argyll has treated the question in a masterly way in his ' Reign of Law.' But, after all, can it be 12 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. said that the problem has been satisfactorily solved ? I think not. Sir James Hector believed with myself that it might be explained by some peculiar mechanism in the wing of the bird, and at a meeting of our society some years ago he elaborated a very ingenious theory on the subject, exhibiting at the same time an albatross wing specially prepared to illustrate his argument. In 1889 he took the trouble to send to England a fine adult specimen in spirits of wine for critical examination by an expert. I forwarded it to the well-known comparative anatomist, Dr. Hans Gadow, F.R.S., at Cambridge, but he reported that he could not discover any departure from the normal character in the structure of the wing ; and so the matter rests at present." All the older theories ignored the fundamental condition laid down above, and on the evidence of imperfect observers scientists spent their energies in futile efforts to solve the so-called soaring problem, not recognizing our old friend perpetual motion in a different guise. Mr. L. Hargrave, a well-known experimenter in aerodynamics in New South Wales, says on this point — "No amount of observation of birds will solve the soaring problem ; it can alone be done by making some kind of apparatus that will advance against the wind without losing its velocity." I must reply that no apparatus will ever be made to fulfil this condition unless provided with motive power, such as the revolving screw in Mr. Maxim's machine ; and if an apparatus be ever made that will gain motion relatively to the earth (which is a very different thing) without the expenditure of power, it will have to take advantage of the same variations in the wind as a soaring bird. The latter achievement is however very problematical, though Mr. Maxim's successful experiments seem to promise flying machines provided with motive power in the near future. A most extraordinary theory is advanced in a letter to Nature, October, 1894, by Mr. A. Kingsmill, who found, on developing a snap shot at an albatross, that the wings in the picture were vertical, although the indication on the camera showed them at the moment of exposure apparently at full stretch. The bird was probably in the act of turning to one side, but his conclusion that it seems to entirely upset the accepted theories as to the flight of this bird involves the fantastic suggestion that the movement of the wings is too quick to be perceptible to the human eye. In his account of Tristan da Cunha, in " Linn. Trans.," vol. xii., Captain Carmichael relates that he threw a Mollyhawk (Diomedea culminata) over a cliff and saw it fall like a stone without attempt- ing to flap. On my last visit to Albatross Island I repeated this experiment on some of the Shy Albatrosses, but after falling a short distance they all found their wings and soared away. I have said that it is only by a consideration of the movements of the wind that a solution of the problem is possible, and here it may be noted that soaring is only practised when there is a THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 13 stiff breeze — indeed, the stronger the wind the more motionless are the wings, and the less necessity for resorting to flapping. Two theories based on the movements of the wind have been propounded — the first that a soaring bird is supported by upward currents, that is, that the wind is not horizontal ; the second that the wind is not uniform in velocity, so that a bird can by manoeuvring take advantage of this want of uniformity, and it was to test which of these theories is supported by the actual movements of soaring albatrosses that my observations were made. The first is championed by no less an authority than Mr. Hiram Maxim, and therefore deserves some notice. In an article in the North American Review for October, 1895, he states that Professor Froude, the mathematician, observed the flight of that greatest of all flyers, the albatross, and admitted that no existing mathematical formula could account for the soaring of these birds, and proceeds as follows : — " Air near the surface of the earth becomes heated and ascends in columns. The velocity with which these vertical currents move is, say, from 1 to 6 miles an hour, and they are quite independent of any other horizontal current that the air may have as relates to the earth at the same time. Suppose the velocity of a bird to be 30 miles per hour, this would account for the whole phenomenon of soaring on an upward current of only 1^ miles an hour." Now, do these vertical currents exist ? I think not. The smoke of steamships exhibits practical uni- formity in a vertical direction, while Mr. Maxim supposes the air divided into alternatively ascending and descending columns ; and to account for the birds not being caught in the latter currents, he advances an ingenious but unproven theory that birds have some very delicate sense of feeling and touch to ascertain whether they are falling or rising in the air, just as deep-sea fish can tell by the pressure on the bladder whether they are approaching the surface. Mr. Maxim goes on to say : — "Albatrosses and seagulls find a resting place, and follow the ship for days at a time without any apparent exertion, but whenever they find themselves in front of the ship or at one side they have to work their passage very much as other birds do." This statement is incorrect as far as albatrosses are concerned ; they never move continually in a straight line, but are always circling and sweeping up and down the wind, alternately rising and falling. This fact is the strongest argument against the theory, for these continual movements between the upper and the lower strata of the air would have no object. I do not deny that upward currents exist, but Mr. Maxim has undoubtedly given the principle a too extended application. I have noticed albatrosses keeping to the leeward of the crest of a large wave, where the wind is undoubtedly deflected upwards. Herr Lilianthal, who has used an aeroplane to soar several hundred 14 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. yards, by throwing himself off a height against the wind, makes the astonishing statement that the wind is always inclined upward; but this position is untenable. Before passing on to the second theory it will be well to con- sider how a bird is supported in the air, and what are the forces to be overcome. Premising that the bird must always have some velocity relatively to the surrounding air — that is, that the wind must always be in its face (for nothing is more helpless than a bird borne with the wind) — it is evident that there will always be a certain amount of resistance to its progress. This resistance, ac- cording to the known laws of wind pressure, is directly proportional to the square of the relative velocity, and it must be remembered that all motion is relative, so that the conditions are the same whether the bird has a certain velocity relatively to still air or the air has the same velocity and the bird is still. This atmos- pheric resistance will reduce the velocity of the bird relatively to the surrounding air, therefore a gain in relative velocity will overcome the resistance. But there is another force to be over- come, and that is gravity. To balance this, the pressure of the wind underneath the bird must be equal to its weight, unless the bird be rising, when it is greater, or falling, when it is less ; but in rising or falling the pressures due to its vertical motion acting on its full sail area have also to be taken into account. To obtain a pressure underneath equal to its weight, an albatross must incline its body against the wind till the pressure is equal to 2}^ lbs. per square foot. This is exactly the weight of Mr. Maxim's machine, and his experiments showed that it requires a velocity of 40 miles an hour to lift it, the aeroplane being inclined 7^ degrees. Now, the pressure at right angles to the wind would only be 6 lbs. per square foot, and Mr. Maxim accounts for the large results obtained with slightly inclined planes to the advantage of moving forward on to new air, the inertia of which had not been disturbed. Professor Proctor give a similar explanation, that when moving forward at a high velocity a bird does not rest on the same air long enough for the air to be set in motion. To Mr. Irminger, a Danish engineer, belongs the credit of giving the true explanation — that the lifting force is largely a negative pressure or suction on the upper surface due to rarefaction of the air. He also determined the fact that a narrow aeroplane, such as the wings of an albatross, is twice as effective as a broad one. We are now in a position to under- stand how a bird can by manoeuvring take advantage of a want of uniformity in the wind to gain relative velocity, which we have seen is necessary for the support of the bird in the air and can also be utilized in overcoming atmospheric resistance. The theory was first advanced in Nature, vol. xxix., by Lord Rayleigh, and independently by Dr. Hubert Airy, to account for the con- tinuous rising of eagles, pelicans, &c, as observed in Assam by THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 15 Mr. S. E. Peal. It rests on the fact that the velocity of the wind always increases with the height above the ground, owing to the lower strata being retarded by friction. Now in ascending against such a wind, a bird will be meeting stronger currents in its face as it rises — that is, it will be gaining in relative velocity, and in descending with the wind they are also gaining in relative velocity, since the lower strata really have a velocity, as compared with the upper strata, in the opposite direction. A bird may circle around indefinitely on this principle, the circles being inclined downwards to leeward, provided the successive gains in relative velocity balance the resistances to its motion. The ascent against the wind is made with inclined body, so that the pressure underneath is greater than the weight of the bird ; but the atmospheric resistance is also great, and the ascent is made as quickly as possible. On wheeling around to descend with the wind the relative velocity will be small and the lifting pressure less than the weight of the bird. In falling into the slowly moving strata it will be really meeting a stronger wind in its face, having itself a velocity at least equal to that of the upper stratum, and will also be aided by the upward pressure due to its vertical descent. We possess no experiments to determine this latter pressure, but it is probably greater than if the bird were falling with the same velocity in still air. An albatross does not, however, move always in circles ; it seems to make best progress in a direction across the wind, alternately rising quickly against and across the wind and then gliding downwards with the wind and across in the same direction as before, the resultant motion being at right angles to the wind. It may be asked what evidence is there that this variation in the velocity of the wind actually exists. In 1889, at the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, experi- ments were made upon the relation between the velocity of the wind at the top and at a station 70 feet from the ground. It was found that the velocity at the top was from two to five times as great as at the lower station. In Nature, 22nd April, 1886, Mr. E. D. Archibald records observations made with kite-wire sus- pended anemometers, which show that the velocity in high winds was 38 per cent, greater at 250 feet above the ground than at 100 feet above, and 56 per cent, greater at 550 feet up, and also that there is a steadily diminishing increase up to a height of 1,300 feet. It has been contended that the progressive increase in the velocity of the wind does not extend sufficiently above the earth to account for the soaring of eagles at great heights, and that they may gain in relative velocity by always facing gusts ; but the regularity of their movements seems to preclude this view, and it must be remembered that these birds take very large sweeps, and are much lighter in proportion to their supporting area than an albatross, and can take advantage of smaller differences in velocity. The difference between the velocity of the wind in the troughs of 16 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. an ocean swell and that above the crests of the waves must be very great, and an albatross, in descending with the wind into the trough or ascending against it above the crests, gains an increment of relative velocity equal to this difference. That the wind above the crests has a high velocity relatively to the waves is shown by the familiar " white horses," and fishermen well know the danger of losing the wind in the bottom of a trough. In conclusion, the albatross is a skilled aerial gymnast, which has learned by experience to take advantage of the various inequalities in the wind to gain in velocity relatively to the surrounding air. I hope at some future time to pay a visit to the island when the young birds are learning the art. It is known that in the islands south of New Zealand they take a full year of practice, and have to be driven off the nests by the old birds when they return to breed. With a knowledge of this theory, which is confirmed by every movement, to watch the flight of an albatross has a never-failing interest. ON THE USE OF TURPENTINE IN MICROSCOPIC WORK. Having lost several carefully prepared specimens of insects by using as a final clearing agent the ordinary turpentine of the shops, I was led to inquire into the matter, when I found that the trade article is not the turpentine referred to in Davis's "Practical Microscopy," p. 415, and Carpenter's "The Micro- scope," pp. 441 and 442 (1891 edition) It is the natural balsam which flows from the trees that is referred to, and not the distilled extract sold as turpentine or oil of turpentine. The following definition is taken from Cooley's " Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts" (1892 edition), p. 1720 :—" Turpentine, Turpentin, Terebinthina — an oleo-resin flowing from the trunk (the bark being removed) of Pinus palustris, P. tteda, P. sylvestris, and various species of Pinus and Abies. It is viscid, of the consistence of honey, and transparent. By distillation it is resolved into oil of turpentine, which passes over into the receiver, and into resin, which remains in the still. Bordeaux, or French, turpentine is from P. maritima. Chian turpentine is from P. terebintlms. It is pale, aromatic, fragrant, and has a warm taste devoid of bitterness. It is much adulterated, and a fictitious article is very generally sold for it. Venice turpentine is the liquid resinous exudation from the Abies larix. It is sweeter and less resinous tasted than common turpentine, but is now scarcely ever met with in trade. That of the shops is wholly a fictitious article." In Carpenter, p. 442 (1891 edition), it is stated that the natural balsam has a peculiar power of rendering the chitinous textures of insects transparent. — H. Bullen. 10th February, 1896. THE Victorian ^Latxxvali&t. Vol. XIII.— No. 2. MAY, 1896. No. 150. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth May, 1896. The president, Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the chair, and some 70 members and visitors were present. REPORTS. A report of the excursion to Black Rock was read by Mr. J. Shephard, and of the visit to the Biological School by the chairman. ELECTION OF MEMBER. On a ballot being taken, Mr. J. Brunning was duly elected a member of the Club. GENERAL BUSINESS. After the nominations of office-bearers for the ensuing year had been made, Messrs. R. Hall and H. Cummins were elected to audit the accounts of the past year. PAPERS. 1. By Rev. W. Fielder, entitled "The Intermediate Hosts of Fluke " (third note). The paper gave a record of the results so far attained in follow- ing up the life-history of the various forms of fluke found in the shells forwarded from different parts of the colony. It is hoped by isolating the different forms to get a definite clue to the exact larval form of the liver fluke of sheep. It appears to be proved, however, that although the adult form is precisely like the text- book form, the life -history is different. Encystation takes place in the larval host, which is so small that it may be taken in by the sheep when drinking. Some discussion ensued, in which Professor Spencer and Messrs. Keartland and T. S. Hall, M.A., took part. 2. By Mr. G. A. Keartland, entitled "Ornithological Notes from Central Australia, part i. — Raptores." Many interesting field observations — jotted down during the journey of the expedition despatched to Central Australia, in 1894, by Mr. VV. A. Horn — were given relating to the eagles, hawks, and owls, which are the characteristic forms of that dry region. x^ 18 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. «e NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. Mr. G. Lyell, jun., of Gisborne, read a note on the specific distinctions between the various butterflies commonly known as " blues ; " and Mr. H. Bullen contributed a cutting from the Therapist on the advantages of formalin as a preservative. EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Group of exotic Buprestida;, including new species from the Congo. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Eggs of the following rare Australian birds, viz.: — Western Black Cockatoo and Striated Wren, from Central Australia ; Red-backed Superb Warbler and Long-billed Shore Plover, from Northern Queensland; also skin of Tiger Snake, four feet long, and Black Snake, six feet long, from Paynesville, Gippsland, lent by Mr. Maynard for exhibition; and plants in flower: Epacris microphylla and several varieties of Epacris impressa ; and variegated leaves of Eucalyptus Gunni, from Dandenong Ranges. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw. — Nest of Water Spider, from Queensland. By Baron von Mueller. — Polygonum orientate, from Lake Cowal, near Lachlan River, N.S.W., in order to draw attention to this so far southern locality for this plant, as it would be desirable to search for this species on the Murray River, and if shown to exist there would be new for Victoria. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. A TRIP TO MALLACOOTA. By D. Le Souef. (Read before. Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 13£A January, 1896.,) I left Melbourne on 2nd November for Lakes' Entrance, and then went on overland on my bicycle, and propose now to mention a few natural history notes I observed on my way, as a redescription of the country is unnecessary. When near Traralgon a Laughing Jackass (Daclo gigas) was noticed sitting on the telegraph wires as the train passed by, showing it had grown accustomed to them, but in any case a telegraph wire must have been a difficult resting- place for a bird of that size. I broke my journey for a short time at Rosedale, and while there found nests and eggs of the Yellow- breasted Robin, White-throated Thickhead, Black-throated Grebe, Garrulous Honey-eater, and Pallid Cuckoo. One Copper-head Snake was passed by, but as it remained perfectly still, although close to us, was taken for dead, but when disturbed soon made for a patch of scrub, which, however, it never reached. A flock of about seventy Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were seen feed- ing on the ground. White and the Roseate Cockatoos seem to feed far more on the ground than anywhere else. When passing THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 19 through the Gippsland Lakes a pair of Black Swans were noticed with their five little ones — a full clutch. Some of the adult birds were moulting, and were unable to fly. At Cunninghame I noticed a gull feeding on the shore, hopping along on one leg, whether the other was lost or tucked up I cannot say, probably the latter. The Silver Gulls, when hovering close over the water, bend down their outspread tails and also their heads, giving then a curved appearance. On the banks of the Snowy River a flock of sixty Spurwing Plovers were seen feeding together on some cultivated ground. A domestic cat was also disturbed capturing a Landrail (B. phillipensis). The bird was on its back, kicking and pecking vigorously and crying out loudly at its enemy, which seemed to be trying to get hold of it. On the cat leaving it at my approach the bird still remained on its back until it noticed me alongside, when it jumped up and ran off. An Australian Cormorant was seen resting on the middle of the road, a long way from water ; I rode at it with the expectation of its flying away, but it didn't, consequently I rode over it, and then coming back killed it, and found it a very old and exceedingly thin speci- men. Near the Little River a beautiful White Hawk flew past. New Holland Honey-eaters were numerous in the various belts of scrub passed through, and several of their young seen, and also two clutches of black downy little Coachwhip Birds, hopping about in the thick scrub, attended by their anxious parents. Some young birds seem to leave the nest much sooner than others, as neither clutches of the young Coachwhip Birds could fly, and one pair of young New Holland Honey-eaters could only just manage it. Near the Bemm River a Flame-breasted Robin was busy building its nest on the top of a high stump, and another nest was found with young in. White-eyebrowed Wood Swallows were plentiful, but only one nest with young found. Bell Birds were numerous in places, and one nest found ready for eggs high up in a gum sapling. Black Duck and Wood Duck (Maned Geese) were noticed in some waterholes near the Cann River ; the latter bird is seldom seen in this part of Gippsland. In the scrub on the banks of the Tonghi River the nest of the Little Brown Sericornis was found, with one fresh Sericornis egg in and one Fantail Cuckoo's. These Cuckoos seemed to be numerous, and their call often heard. The shrill noise made by the cicadse was almost deafening. I noticed four kinds — two of the large greenish variety, a smaller brown one, and one small black one. Then, again, in some of the swampy ground passed by numerous frogs added their quota to the din : when one frog starts all the others seem to join in. When walking up a steep hill near Cockatoo Creek I was startled by seeing a Brown Snake coming rapidly down the hill; it 20 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. caught sight of me when too late to stop its career, and passed under my bicycle and between my feet, and quickly disappeared in the scrub : something had evidently disturbed it. As the clearer country was reached near the Genoa River, two Grey Kangaroos were passed close to the road. Although so early in the season, a great deal of the country had been burnt by the bush fires, and the blackened tree trunks gave the country a very dismal appearance. In the country round about Mallacoota nests and eggs were found of the following birds : — The Bronze- wing Pigeon, Coachwhip Bird, Brush Wattle Bird, Superb Warbler, Grey-backed Zosterops, New Holland Honey-eater, White- throated Thickhead, Sordid Wood Swallow, Welcome Swallow, White-shafted Fantail, Laughing Jackass, Brown Tree-creeper, Blue Mountain Parrots, Spurwing Plover, Fire-tailed Finch, Flame-breasted Robin, Emu Wren, and Spotted Ground Thrush. Among other birds noted were the Funereal Cockatoo, Leach's Cockatoo, Wonga Wonga Pigeon, King and Pennant's Parrots, Satin Bower Birds ; and Chestnut-breasted Teal were very numerous, and nesting. I saw none of the Slender or Grey Teal. Musk Ducks were very plentiful in certain portions of the inlet, and they were very local, probably because their food, which was obtained by diving, was more plentiful there. A fisherman once caught over one hundred of these birds here in one haul of his net. There were a few Black-throated Grebes diving for their food like the Musk Ducks. Lyre-birds were numerous in the gullies, and their clear note often heard; and I heard one mocking the whining of a puppy to perfection — it was by a deserted miners' camp, and they used to leave the puppy fastened up while they were away. The surveyors complain that these birds fill up their trenches by scratchings, and pull off the pieces of paper they place on their pegs when running a surveyor's line. I saw a Harmonious Shrike Thrush catch a large grasshopper, and flying up to a tree, impale the unfortunate insect on to a splinter of wood, and then the bird began to devour it piecemeal, as it was too large for one mouthful. The Black Snake is common here in suitable localities, and on one occasion I unknowingly walked between two of them, each about four feet six inches long — they were about three feet away from me in the open, but as I was looking up into a tree, had not noticed them ; after watching them for a short time, the larger went down a neigh- bouring rat-hole, and then the other disappeared under a heap of dead scrub. They grow as long as six feet, and when that size are formidable-looking customers to come across. Brown Snakes are occasionally seen, and also Carpet and Diamond Snakes — the latter is looked upon as a strictly New South Wales snake, but it is found in Croajingolong, as far down the coast as the Bemm River, sixty miles from Mallacoota, and perhaps THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 21 exists further this way still. I saw a specimen which had recently been killed. A resident at Mallacoota put a log on his fire, and after a few minutes was startled to see seven small snakes quickly wriggle out on to the floor. Insects were scarce, even to mosquitos, except in the gullies. Ticks occasionally made their presence felt, and are very difficult to remove when once they have taken a hold ; occasionally dogs die from them if the insects are not taken off in time. Fish are very plentiful, and in the evening, when the water is calm, the inlet seems alive with them, and a continuous noise going on, difficult to describe, caused by the fish rising to the surface. I saw a Flathead caught which weighed 14 lbs. and measured three feet long. Stingarees (Ray) are very plentiful, and on one occasion eighty-six were caught by a fisherman in his net at one haul. The various kinds of fish found in the inlet are as follows :— Schnapper, Kingfish, Ludrick, Flathead, Bream, Perch, Soles, Flounders, Whiting, Mullet, Sand Mullet, Skipjack, Salmon, Silverfish, Trevalla, and Sharks of course, although they do not appear to be very numerous. Octopus are also seen of a good size. The varieties of shells were not numerous. After staying for a fortnight in this delightful place, I started on my return vid Genoa. On going up the river a pair of Whistling Eagles were noticed performing a series of evolutions high up in the air, and occasionally uttering their curious cry. Skipjack were to be seen jumping clear out of the water, their silvery sides gleaming in the sun, and in the small swamps behind the ti-tree near the water's edge numbers of ducks were found feeding. At a settler's place were noticed the skins of a Delicate Owl and Tawny-shouldered Podargus. Native Bears were plentiful, and two were noticed on a very thin bough overhanging the water ; it seemed wonderful how they could keep their balance. They seem to have a preference for the White Eucalyptus trees, and are seldom found on the Stringybark or Messmate trees. Water Lizards from six to twelve inches long were occasionally seen basking in the sun on the logs or rocks by the river bank, but they at once dived into the water when approached. Towards evening the Boobook Owl was heard. On arriving at the Bemm River I took the opportunity of visiting Sydenham Inlet, and we rowed five miles down the river to it. I noticed that the Welcome Swallows built their mud nests on the top of and inside the hollows of snags and logs in the river, and not far from the level of the water, so that if a flood occurs during the nesting season all the nests and their contents get destroyed. I suppose that ex- perience has taught the swallows that they have fewer enemies to contend with over the water than anywhere else, as well as being near their winged insect prey ; they often seem to start 22 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. building in holes that are too small to allow them to finish, and then they have to leave them for more roomy quarters. A Platypus dived near the bank as the boat approached. Cormorants were exceedingly numerous, evidently showing that food was abundant. We passed a towering White Gum tree, and saw two hawks' nests on it, one belonging to a White Goshawk and the other to a Collared Sparrowhawk, but they were well out of reach. A pair of Plotus Birds were passed ; when these birds dive they do not do as most other birds, head down and tail up, but they seem to sink and draw their long neck under the water and so disappear. Towards evening several shoals of Mullet passed up the river to the falls ; they made a considerable noise as they went along, swimming near the surface. Sydenham Inlet is a fine sheet of water, with a picturesque bar. There were hundreds of Black Duck, Chestnut-breasted Teal, and Swans on its surface, and a few Pelicans, and any quantity of fish. It must be a delightful place to camp for a holiday. A large nest of the White-bellied Sea Eagle was seen about fifty feet up an old gum tree, and it contained about a cartload of material. The Black Wattle trees lining the bank were all in bloom, and looked very beautiful, and the water was in many places covered with their fallen flowers, but the bark strippers were busy at work taking the bark off. When passing through the Gippsland Lakes again, ducks, swans, and the Sombre Gallinule were seen in many thousands, and they could only be described by acres of them. They kept in the shallow water, and were probably here in such numbers on account of the extreme dryness of the season. The flight of the Gallinule is very weak. When passing up the Thompson River numbers of young ducks were seen close under the river bank and among the reeds, and two Copper-head and one Tiger Snake were seen swimming across the river. A good many dead eels were floating about on the surface of the water, and we presume that they were killed by the dredge that was at work in the channel. A NEW ROTIFER— LACINULARIA E LONG AT A. By J. Shephard. (Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 13th April, 1896.^ On nth January, on the occasion of a Club excursion to Heidel- berg, was found a considerable number of colonies of this rotifer, which I take to be new, and have ventured to name Lacinularia elongata. Before describing it I would mention that when Hudson and Gosse's " Rotifera " was published, in 1889, only two species of the genus Lacinularia were mentioned — L. socialis, a widely distributed form, and L. pedunculata, peculiar to Australia. Up to June, 1893, when Mr. Rousselet published a list of new species de- Fig. 2 Fig, 3 Fie. I Fig. 5 J.Shephard del. Fig. i. — Dorsal view. Fig. 2. — Ventral view of anterior part of animal. Fig. 3. — Lateral view of anterior part of animal. Fig. 4. — Trophi. Fig. 5. — Outline of corona (seen from above). LACINULARIA ELONGATA (NEW ROTIFER). THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 23 scribed since 1889, four more had been added — two from China, one from Victoria, and one in England, the latter being L. natans, now often met with in the lagoons along the valley of the Yarra, though it has not been reported from any place other than Littleton, near London, and the abovementioned locality, so far as I know. It would therefore appear that Australia is rich in forms of this genus, as three out of seven known forms are not reported from elsewhere, and of the remaining four two are common, leaving but two, the Chinese forms, as unrecorded here. The literature I have access to does not contain any newly described species of Lacinularia since 1893. In addition, I would say that Prof. Baldwin Spencer obtained a form from Central Australia, which, owing to its being preserved in spirit, I was unable to definitely identify. Such points of the anatomy as could be discerned differed very little from L. socialis. In the formation of the colony there was, however, a most emphatic departure from the ordinary type. Instead of a spherical colony of about ^ in. in diameter, the individuals were spread over a twig of about y& in. diameter, completely surrounding it for 2 in. of its length, forming a thick felt, closely resembling to the naked eye a freshwater sponge, which are found in Australia, despite recent statements in widely read journals to the contrary. Whether this abnormal luxuriance indicates a new species must be left for decision until the living form or suitably preserved specimens are obtained. The form which is the subject of this paper was found adhering to the stems of water plants in spherical clusters of a dirty brown colour. This brown colour appears characteristic of the species, as colonies of L. socialis found on the same stem retained their usual whitish appearance, and therefore the difference must be attributable to some habit or property of secretion peculiar to the species. The clusters are about 2.5 mm. in diameter. The individuals are more sparsely spread over the surface of this sphere than in other species of the genus, and are at once dis- tinguishable by their narrower body and corona. The corona is slightly oval, the shorter axis being placed dorso-ventrally. There is a very distinct dorsal gap. The groove between the principal and secondary ciliary wreaths is covered with shorter cilia. Two antennae are placed towards the dorsal surface, low down on the neck. These antennae are very small, and can only be seen when the animal is suitably placed and the illumination effected in a proper manner. Taking the general outline, the corona is rather wider than the body, and in living specimens the neck is con- stricted and there are two transverse furrows on a level with the mastax. From the neck the outline broadens until the widest part is reached, a little below the neck, from whence it tapers off some- what quickly to a long peduncle of about two-thirds the entire length of the animal. The peduncle is highly contractile. The 24 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. trophi have the form characteristic of the family, but are much smaller, being -023 mm. across, as against 072 mm. for some of L. socialis measured for comparison. The fulcrum is pointed at its termination, and not swollen as in L. socialis. The arrangement of the internal organs does not vary from the usual type, except that the alimentary tract is not so sharply divided into intestine and stomach as in other species of the genus. A mounted speci- men showed the anus to be ciliated. Three round nucleated bodies were noticed towards the dorsal surface, just below the dorsal gap, which are shown in fig. 1, the two anterior ones being smaller proportionately to the third than figured. Fig. 1 was drawn from a preserved specimen, figs. 2 and 3 from life. I am indebted to Mr. W. Stickland for the careful manner in which he has engraved the figures. I sum up the specific characters as follows : — Clusters fixed, with a dense matrix of adherent tubes of a dirty brown colour. Body of individual narrow and much elongated, terminating in slender peduncles two-thirds of whole length. Corona rather wider than body, slightly oval, with short axis, dorso-ventral, at right angles to trunk, ciliate between wreaths. Dorsal gap distinct. Antennas two, dorsal, minute. Dimensions. — Clusters, up to 2.5 mm. diameter; individuals, .8 mm. to 1 mm. long; corona, .08 mm. wide; body, .06 mm. ; trophi, .023 mm. across ; ova, .07 by .048. Habitat — Heidelberg, Victoria. INTERMEDIATE HOSTS OF FLUKE.— Third Note. By Rev. W. Fielder. {Read he/ore the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 10th Hay, 1896.) Some twelve snails have already been recorded for Victoria as harbouring fluke embryos. One or two others from New South Wales have since given examples, notably Isidora (Bulinus) newcombi, together with varieties of Limnea brazieri, embryos from these forms being more common now than earlier in the year. Perhaps the most interesting find of the month, however, is that of the occurrence of curiously modified fluke embryos in the Fresh- water Mussel (Unio Australis). The cercaria embryos are some- what oval in shape, the head region being narrower than the tail region. Towards the posterior border a pinching-in takes place, a segment, so to speak, being almost separated from the body proper. From the groove thus formed springs a whip-like structure on either side, each process when in a contracted condi- tion being about the length of the body. The method of extend- ing these processes is extremely interesting. The substance appears to run out from the base like the tape from a winding measure till it reaches a length five or six times that of the body. THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. •25 A slight jerk, and the extended filament is rapidly contracted till it assumes a state of rest. Although of such length, it does not take up much space, since it arranges itself in coils which overlap each other. A gas-globule is usually present at the extreme tip. The nurse-sacs of this form are very long compared with typical ones, being crowded with cercarige, and are present in great numbers in the " liver " of the host. In the last note reference was made to the occurrence of cysts within the snails and the comparative absence of encystation outside the snail was commented upon. The appearance and structure of these cysts will be described in the present note. Seven varieties have been observed, and there is every reason to believe that they are the temporary home of distinct forms of fluke embryos. Rabbits and ducks have been fed upon some of them, but up to the present no satisfactory results have been obtained. However, the experiments cannot be regarded as conclusive, since the material operated upon has been of too limited a character to found upon it any definite conclusions. The first cyst to be de- scribed is that occurring in very large numbers in Isidora texturata, Isidora alicice, and Limnea lessoni. It reaches a size of T ^ of an inch, and is easily known by the curious appearance of some glassy-lookingcells, which are always arranged in a very definite manner. In the cercaria these cells stand out quite distinct from the rest, and are seen as a band extending down each side of the body. When the animal is about to encyst it doubles the anterior of its body over the posterior portion, and throws off the tail. This doubling is not quite equal, so that darkish cells in the upper fold do not lie quite above those in the lower, but rather a little to one side. Two loops, therefore, of these specially modified FIG. I Wn IN. FIG, 3 FIG. 6 Cysts of Fluke Embryos. cells are seen (fig r). It was not till actual encystation had 26 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. been witnessed that the full explanation of the arrangement was definitely understood. In the living cercaria the cells are confined to two ducts, which end blindly behind but open in front just behind the anterior sucker. The cells are probably cystogenous in function, yet only a few seem to be used up in the actual process of making the cyst. Shining through the cyst a circlet of spines is clearly visible, encircling the anterior sucker, and if the cyst is ruptured this circlet is seen to be made up of a double row of small spines. The ring is broken by the anterior sucker, and at the points lying near its posterior border are two patches, each bearing four large pointed spines. Exceed- ingly minute spines cover the anterior end of the embryo, and extend down the body to the level of the posterior border of the ventral sucker. Rudimentary spines can be made out on some of the active cercarine, but growth of the spines seems to proceed most rapidly in the period immediately following encystation. This example affords evidence of what is known as an " armed " variety of embryo fluke — the armour referring to the presence of specially modified spines or stylets, which are, doubtless, of use to the embryo for attachment purposes in a final host. The cysts themselves occur not only in the liver, but also in the albumen gland and near to the pericardium, and in one instance a redia also contained cysts. Another interesting cyst occurs in the snails Isidora lexturata and Limnea le.ssoni. It is just twice as large as most of the others, being about J 3 in. in size ; so large, in fact, that no active cercaria has been seen which can be exactly fitted to it, and it is probable that the earlier stages have yet to be observed. The semi-transparent cells which have already been described in connection with the other cyst here take the form of a crescent, the edges of which give off branching processes. In the space between the limbs of the crescent structures like the teeth of a comb can be seen (fig. 2). If now the cyst be ruptured carefully, this comb-like structure assumes the shape of a nearly complete ring in the region of the anterior sucker — the ring being made up of about thirty-seven large spines. On either side of the pharynx is a tuft of four spines, then the others follow in a single row till they meet in the mid-dorsal line. Covering the whole of the anterior portion are small spines which extend, as in the case of the fluke before described, as far as the ventral sucker. At this stage the embryo has practically all the rudimentary struc- tures of an adult fluke. Occurring side by side with the cysts already described, a great number of somewhat smaller cysts, about ^bo in - m diameter, were occasionally met with. No opaque cells were present, but the included protoplasm presented a uniform granulated appearance. In most cases the cysts occurred in THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 27 groups of two to twelve, surrounded by a very thin transparent gelatinous substance, enclosed in a definite cell wall (fig. 3). When the cysts were ruptured, both anterior and posterior suckers were clearly defined in the embryo, as well as a circlet of small spines near the anterior sucker. Another curiously modified cyst also occurs in immense numbers in Isidora texturata, and occasionally in Isidora tenui- striatus. This cyst is about ^ s in. in length, being somewhat oval in shape, with the anterior end just a little wider than the posterior one. The whole of the posterior region is obscured by a large number of dark pigmented cells, with the exception of a small circular patch which occurs near the posterior border, in the region probably of the excretory pore (fig. 4). If these cysts are kept for any length of time within the snail, the pigmented portion becomes less in size and lighter in colour, and it is quite probable that the pigmented cells are food yolk cells, upon which the young embryo is supported during its temporary imprisonment. During the last three months these cysts have been frequently met with in the same gathering of snails, and it is probable that they will exist in a living condition for some considerable time when protected by the tissues of the snail. The embryo which issues from this cyst does not appear to be an *' armed " variety, no large spines being visible. The anterior portion, however, is, as in the other cases, covered with very minute spines. Another pigmented variety of cyst, t }q in. in size, occurs in Limnea brazieri. In the case of this form encystation was seen to take place directly it was taken from the snail. A granulated material was passed over the cercaria and the tail eventually cast off. A very large amount of pigment was present in the cercaria, and when the cyst was complete the centre of it was so dark as to be quite opaque to transmitted light. The outer border of the cyst presented a serrated appearance in all the examples observed on this occasion (fig. 5). No spines were noticed on any of the embryos. The embryo fluke (cercaria stage) with one spine springing from the anterior sucker has already been described as occurring in Isidora texturata, I. gibbosa, Limnea lessoni, and L. brazieri. Encystation has been observed in one or two instances, the resulting cyst being about r \^ in. in diameter. The central proto- plasm is very granular, but a single stylet is clearly seen shining through (fig. 6). If the embryo is released, both anterior and posterior suckers come into view, as well as the typical arrange- ment of the alimentary track. A depression with an opening on either side of the anterior sucker is visible at a slightly higher level than the openings referred to in the first embryo described. The last cyst to be described is one found in company with Segment ina victories — a few only of the cysts being noted, and 28 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. the embryos in Isidora tenuistriatus and Ancylus tasmanicus and those during the month of January. These cysts were of average size, being about j^q in. in diameter, and the anterior and posterior suckers could be distinguished through the deeply pigmented mass of the central protoplasm (fig. 7). In dealing with these cysts the question naturally arises, " Where do they find their future home — is it in bird, fish, sheep, or man ? " The answer to this, as far as Australia is con- cerned, has yet to be found, and bearing, as it does, upon the everyday life of the people of infected districts, its economic value is of the very greatest importance. MICROSCOPIC WORK. The note by Mr. Bullen in the last Naturalist on the use of turpentine in mounting recalls to my mind a somewhat similar experience which I have had. Some years ago I put up a number of slides of calcareous sponge spicules, using oil of cloves to displace the air from the spicules, and in turn replacing the oil of cloves by running in balsam in benzine. From these slides the spicules have completely disappeared, having evidently dissolved in the balsam, which would, perhaps, retain a trace of the oil of cloves. — Thos. Steel. Sydney, nth May, 1896. The Calvert Exploring Expedition. — This expedition, which has been fitted out by Mr. Calvert for the purpose of completing the work of the Elder expedition of 1891, will start from Derby, on the north-west coast, and work in an easterly direction towards the overland telegraph line, somewhere about Powell's Creek. Members of the Field Naturalists' Club will doubtless be pleased to learn that a fellow member, Mr. G. A. Keartland, has been selected to fill the position of zoological collector, for which duty the experience gained on the Horn expedition will prove of great service. The party has already left Adelaide en route to Western Australia, and will probably be away about twelve months. Geological — a Correction. — We notice that several of our geological friends are accustomed to style Dr. Selwyn " Sir A. R. C. Selwyn," and we even note it in the index of one of our English contemporaries. This is an error. Dr. Selwyn has received the title of C.M.G. at the hands of Her Majesty, but has not been knighted. Attention has previously been called to a similar mis- take with reference to Richard Daintree, but error dies hard. THE Victorian tyat\xvali$t. Vol. XIII.— No. 3. JUNE, 1896. No. 151. (PUBLISHED JULY U, 1896.) FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The sixteenth annual meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 8th June, 1896. The president, Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the chair, and some 60 members and visitors were present. REPORTS. A report of the dredging excursion in Port Philip Bay, on Queen's Birthday, was received from Mr. J. Shephard. The party was successful in locating a splendid dredging ground, and this has been marked for future operations. It was decided that Messrs. Cooke and Cottell be again thanked for the use of their boats. Mr. F. G. A. Barnard submitted a report of the excursion to Olinda Creek, Lilydale, on the same day, which was enjoyed by those present in spite of the wet weather. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. On a ballot being taken, Miss Brent and Messrs. L. Arendts, F. Buckie, and Rev. J. S. Hart were duly elected members of the Club. ANNUAL REPORT. The hon. secretary (Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth) read the sixteenth annual report, 1895-96, which was as follows : — " To the Members of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. Ladies and Gentlemen, — Your Committee has much pleasure in presenting to you the sixteenth annual report of the Club's work, being for the year ending on 31st May, 1896. " The past few years have, of necessity, seen a slight diminution in the membership of the Club, in common with that of other societies in the colony, but though this has been the case it is satisfactory to note that the interest in the monthly meetings has been fully maintained, the average attendance at which has been about 60. " During the past year 1 1 new members have been elected, and the total membership is now 157, including life and honorary members, the latter numbering 11. 2 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. taking as far as possible an active share in the work d Club. " Signed, on behalf of the committee, " W. Baldwin Spencer, Chairman. "8t/i June, 1896." " H. P. C. As h worth, Hon. Sec. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The hon. treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., then read the financial statement for 1895-96, which was as follows : — Receipts. To Balance, 30th April, 1895 ... ... ... £\G 7 1 ,, Subscriptions ... ... £92 2 6 ,, Victorian Naturalist — Subscriptions ... £4 10 6 Sales, &c. ... 789 Advertisements ... 900 20 19 3 1 9 .£129 8 10 £86 10 • H 13 18 6 6 • 4 19 . 16 5 £123 6 6 2 10 £129 8 10 Expenditure. By Victorian Naturalist — Printing, on account 1893-4 £26 9 o „ ' 1895-6 ... 58 6 6 Reprints ... ... 1 15 o ,, Rooms — Rent and Attendance... ,, Library — Binding ,, Printing and Stationery ,, Postages and Advertising ,, Balance C. FROST, Hon. Treasurer. 1st June, 1896. Audited and found correct. H. CUMMINS,! . ... 4th June, 1896. ROBT. \\NLU) AmMors - On the motion of Mr. H. T. Tisdall, F.L.S., seconded by Mr. C. French, F.L.S., the report and balance-sheet were received and adopted. OFFICE-BEARERS FOR 1 896-7. The following office-bearers for 1896-7 were declared duly elected, being the only nominations received : — President, Pro- fessor Baldwin Spencer, M.A. ; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. French, F.L.S., and J. Shephard ; hon. librarian, Mr. O. A. Sayce ; hon. treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S. ; and hon. secretary, Mr. C. French, jun. THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 33 A ballot for five members of committee resulted in the election of Messrs. H. P. C. Ashworth, D. Best, J. Gabriel, F.L.S., T. S. Hall, M.A., and W. Stickland. On the motion of Mr. E. T. Carter, seconded by Mr. C. French, jun., a vote of thanks to the retiring hon. secretary was passed with acclamation. PAPER. By Mr. H. R. Hogg, M.A., entitled "The Flight of Sea Birds." The author showed how, in flying against the wind without Mapping their wings, the motive power is obtained chiefly by utilizing the momentum gained by force of gravity, and offered some remarks on the methods of regaining vertical distances lost in the process. In the discussion which followed Professor Spencer and Mr. H. P. C Ashworth took part, the latter holding that Mr. Hogg's explanation amounted to perpetual motion, since a bird on enter- ing the air formed part of it, and no movement of the whole of the air could therefore be of any advantage. NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. A note was received from Miss Agnes F. Kenyon, recording the occurrence of Voluta Roadknighti, a shell hitherto supposed to be confined to Victorian waters, from the east coast of Tasmania. EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By Mr. F.G. A. Barnard. — Queensland moths and flowers of Melaleuca squarrosa grown by exhibitor. By Mr. G. Coghill. — Young Copper-head Snake, alive. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Rare Australian butterflies, Epinephile Joanna, E. Helena, Atella pro- pinqua, Libythea myrrh, Holoclula cyprotus, II. albosericea, Pseudodipsas Digglesi, P. Brisbanensis, Hypoclirysops Ollijfi, Lycama oranigra ; also insects from Duke of York Island, collected by Rev. E. Brown. By Mr. C French, jun. — Orchid in flower, Pterostylis vittata, collected at Sandringham, 6th June, 1896. By Mr. R. Hall. — Bird, nest, and eggs of Little Chthon- icola. By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G. — Struvea plumosa, found by Mr. O'Halloran at Spencer Gulf. This alga is new for South Australia, having previously been known from near the estuary of Swan River and from Champion Bay ; Claudia elegans, also from Spencer Gulf, and obtained by Mr. O'Halloran, the locality being the sixth from which this magnificent seaweed is known ; Alysicarfms vaginalis, sent by Mr. Joseph Harris, F.R.H.S., who obtained it from Fiji, where it has been intro- duced and is rapidly supplanting the original pasturage. It is remarkable that stock are passionately fond of it, and that neither this nor any other Alysicarpus has been previously recorded as a rural plant. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 34 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB CONVERSAZIONL The twelfth conversazione of the Field Naturalists' Club Victoria was held at the Athenaeum Hall, Collins-street, M< bourne, on Thursday and Friday, 28th and 29th May, 1896. The arrangements of the conversazione were practically the same as of that held in June, 1894. It was inaugurated on Thursday evening, in the presence of a large number of members and friends, with a brief address by Baron Sir F. von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M. and Ph. D., &c, one of the patrons of the Club, who called attention to the aims and objects of such organiza- tions, and the opportunities they afforded for working out the geographical distribution of both animal and vegetable life. He expressed his pleasure at seeing so many ladies interested in the subject, and hoped that some of them at least would become prominent workers in natural science. A vote of thanks to Baron von Mueller was proposed by Professor Sir Frederick M'Coy, K.C.M.G., D.Sc, who referred to the great help field observers could be to the scientific specialist, who was perhaps unable to devote sufficient time to working out the life-histories of such animals or plants as he might require to complete his investigations, and spoke with great appreciation of the prominent position held by Baron von Mueller in the scientific world, and especially in Victoria. The motion was briefly seconded by the president, Professor Baldwin Spencer, and carried by acclamation. A lecturette entitled "Some Notes about Spiders" was then delivered in the upper hall by Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S. In the course of his remarks, which were well illustrated by limelight views, he pointed out the principal groups into which spiders are divided, and gave many interesting particulars as to their habits, method of web-spinning, &c, many of the audience being sur- prised to learn that spiders should be regarded as friends rather than foes to mankind, owing to their usefulness in keeping insect life in check. On Friday afternoon Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., delivered a lecturette entitled " An Australian Ice Age." The lecturer briefly indicated some of the factors in the formation of glaciers, and described the effects of moving ice on a land surface. The glacial beds at Bacchus Marsh and Derrinal were then dealt with, and their characters were fully illustrated by lantern views. The discussion of the age of the beds, their geographical extent, and probable source, brought the proceedings to a close. In the evening Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A., gave an illustrated lecturette on " Life in a Central Australian Water- hole " to a numerous audience. He briefly described the characteristic physiographical features of that region, and the situation of the principal permanent and temporary waterholes, THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 35 and then gave a brief sketch of the life-histories and habits of their most noteworthy inhabitants. The lantern used to illustrate the lectures was kindly placed at the disposal of the Club and worked by Mr. J. Searle. The display of natural history specimens in the main hall was, of course, the principal feature of the conversazione, and was quite up to the standard of previous exhibitions of the Club. Besides the many fine exhibits by the individual members, splendid collections of specimens were on view from the Biological School, Melbourne University, and the Entomological Branch of the Department of Agriculture. Some twenty members exhibited microscopes with objects, which proved a great source of attrac- tion during the evenings. EXHIBITS. The following is a list of the contributors, with particulars of their exhibits : — Ashvvorth, H. P. C, Glenferrie — Mounted Birds and Birds' Skins. Photo- graphs from the Islands in Bass Strait. Baker, Frank L., Auburn — Photo-Micrographs. Barnard, F. G. A., Kew — Victorian and British Insects. Birds' Skins from Richmond River. Pair Flying Mice. Victorian Ferns in pots. Portraits of Sir Jos. Banks and Sir J as. E. Smith, with autograph de- scription of Datura arborea by latter, dated 1792. Best, D., Hawthorn — Case of Australian Wasps and Hornets. Case of Vic- torian Butterflies. Twelve cases of Australian Beetles. Biological Department, Melbourne University — Series of specimens illustrating the more important groups of the animal kingdom. Cochrane, Miss S. W. L., Auburn — Paintings of Victorian Orchids. Coles, A., Melbourne— Queensland Cassowary. Australian Kangaroo. Black Brush Wallaby. Red-necked Wallaby. Striped Rock Wallaby. Case of New Guinea Birds. Shade of Australian Quail. Arctic Fox. Litter of six young Foxes. Wedge-tailed Eagle. White-bellied Sea Eagle. Owls. Sitellas. Grauculus. Bittern. Silver Gulls and young. Collection of Australian Birds' Eggs. Entomological Branch, Agricultural Department — Charts of Insects destructive to vegetation. Cases of Silk-producing Moths, with- Life- Histories and Insect Dissections. Plates for Handbook of De- structive Insects. Group of Insectivorous Birds of Victoria. Fielder, Rev. W., St. Kilda — Shells of Snails which form the Intermediate Hosts of Fluke Embroyos. French, C, F.L. S., Malvern — Two drawers of Foreign Beetles. Five drawers of Australian Butterflies. Five drawers of Australian Moths. Six drawers of Foreign Butterflies and Moths. Four frames of Illus- trations of Australian Insects. Ferguson, W. H., Albert Park— Aboriginal Stone Implements. French, C., jun., South Yarra — Princess of Wales Parrakeet (alive). Blood- stained Cockatoo (alive). Pennant's Parrakeet (alive). Podargus (alive). Also case of Nests and Eggs of Insectivorous Birds of Victoria. Gatliff, J. H., Carlton— Cases of Victorian Shells. Grayson, H., St. Kilda — Diffraction Gratings for Spectroscopic Work. Gratings for Monochromatic Illumination with the Microscope. Micro- metric and Test Rulings ranging from 5,000 to 120,000 lines per inch. Hall, R., Box Hill — Plumed Egret, mounted. 36 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Hall, T. S., M.A. — Geological and PaUrontological Collection. Graj &c. Hill, VV. H. F. , Windsor — Two cases of Victorian Lepidoptera. Hill, Gerald F., Windsor — Two cases of Victorian Hymenoptera (Wa Hill, Bernard F., Windsor — Two cases of Victorian Hymenoptera. Hill, Wilfred F. — Case of colony of Beehive Moths. Kershaw, W., Windsor — Three drawers of Foreign Lepidoptera. Th drawers of Australian Lepidoptera. Case of Australian and N I Guinea Birds. Kershaw, Jas. A. — Two drawers of Australian Lepidoptera. Case Foreign Lepidoptera. Kitson, A. E., East Melbourne— Ores of Silver, Lead, Copper, Iron, Tin Zinc, Antimony, Nickel, Manganese, Mercury, Molybdenum, and Tungsten. Le Souef, D., Parkville — Case of Australian Birds' Eggs. Case of Queensland Curios. Live Snakes. Lyell, G., jun., Gisborne— Four cases of Australian Butterflies and Moths. Maplestone, C. M., Heidelberg — Drawings of Orchids. Shepherd, G. E., Somerville — Yellow-legged Spoonbill. Blue Reef Heron. Mountain Teal. Sooty Oyster-Catcher. White-breasted Oyster-Catcher. Barred-Rumped Godwit. Hooded Dotterel. Turn- stone. Black-chested Pewit. Lewin's Rail. Little Water Crake. Stickland, W., Hawthorn — Drawings of Rotifiers. Stickland, J., Hawthorn — Mounted Seaweeds. Sweet, G., Brunswick — Geological and Palreontological Collection. Tisdall, H. T., F.L.S., Toorak — Coloured Drawings of Victorian Fungi. Wisewould, F., Melbourne— Case of Shells. Watson, W., & Sons, 78 Swanston Street — Microscopes, and Display of Micro. Specimens. Novelties in Optical Instruments, &c. Microscopical exhibits were shown by the following : — Mr. H. Bullen, metallic ores and micro-fungi ; Mr. E. T. Carter, entomological mounts ; Mr. J. Gabriel, polyzoa ; Mr. R. Hall, pond life ; Mr. W. H. F. Hill, rock sections, with polarized light ; Mr. H. R. Hogg, pond life ; Mr. VV. J. M'Caw, specimens illustrating life-history of the Liver Fluke; Mr. H. O'Neill, biological preparations ; Mr. G. J. Page, Foraminifera and DiatomaceEe ; Mr. A. O. >>ayce, slides illustrating histology of the frog, also blood in circulation, and some living examples of its eggs under development ; Mr. J. Shephaid, preparations illustrating development of jelly-fish, anemone, and pond life ; Mr. W. Stickland, Rotifiers ; Mr. J. Stickland, pond life ; Mr. W. Stone, pond life ; Mr. J. Wilson, insect anatomy. NOTES ON THE HABITS OF WOOD SWALLOWS. By Robert Hall. ( Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 10th February, 1896 J In the Box Hill district two species of the Artamidse — viz., Artamus super ciliosus, Gould, and A. personatus, Gould — are well represented at the present time (January, 1896). Last season their arrival was noted on 12th December, but this season they appeared much earlier, viz., 25th October, when the grasshoppers were in their babyhood. The insectivorous habits of these birds, besides being worthy of record, have afforded me the opportunity of putting together a few notes as to their mode of life. Previous to settlement for the season they show considerable knowledge or instinct, and generally seem to choose a locality THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 37 for the season insect life is specially abundant. At the e time it is noticeable that a certain number are generally jociated with a distinct area. Hawking singly, in pairs, jr in a flock constantly assembling upon the grassed ground, they raid. In the latter case they move by "jump" motion. Often does a single bird (but never a silent one) choose a pinnacle some twenty feet high, maybe the upper portion of a tree, and settling itself to the business of the evening, leaves its headquarters in direct pursuit of a dipterous or other winged insect, and returning essays another chase, continuing to repeat the same for a considerable time, soaring downwards and winging its active upward way by a series of rapid flaps. Previous to entering upon the serious portion of life, the birds assemble in flocks amongst the lower portions of the higher leafy vegetation, causing a vocal din such as one would not expect from a group of birds so graceful in their movements, the harsh, sharp and powerful chirps of a hundred birds, con- tinuously repeated, not being as pleasant (at all events somewhat modified) as in the sobered parents of twenty-one days later. I remember a large flock of the swallows taking possession of a cluster of timber in which were a Black Fantail, its mate, nest and eggs, and only occassionally could the little bird be heard. It tried, and generally succeeded, after they had retired for the night. The second of a weekly visit showed their desire for nest- building had in part set in, and the constructions were completed in one or two days. Some were rapid in work, others appeared to play in comparison. Artamus supercitiosus (Gould), White-eyebrowed Wood Swallow.- — A clutch of eggs was observed on 8th November, with the birds still in flocks on the 17th of the same month. With this species both sexes incubate. The young of others were on the wing by the 23rd, but before leaving the nests a relic of inheritance was distinctly noticeable in the horizontal and perpendicular motions of the short-plumaged tail, as is per- petual with the day movements of the parents. The fledgeling, when taken from the nest, announced itself by two calls — one imitative of the general note of the mother, though more broken and feeble, and the second of fear, which was the result of being away from its nest fifteen minutes. This bird we endeavoured to domesticate, but without success — it refused to eat. The eggs varied in markings slightly, with a deep or light ground colour — one egg in a set of three had the zone of spots at the narrow end, the other two were normal. They differed on the average only a shade in dimensions, and in the number to a clutch from four to two. Of twelve nests observed three contained four eggs, six three eggs, three two eggs, all well incubated. 38 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. The nests at times, though slight in structure, were generally faithfully built of rootlets, or grasses, or more often twigs and grasses, and in many cases artistically arranged, seldom above six feet from the ground, and placed in all manner of places, preference being given to perpendicular slight stems, though nearly as often placed upon the horizontal firm twigs or branchlets of assorted shrubs and bushes. One nest was placed in the socket for a paddock slip panel, a second in a furze or whin hedge, many in bushes of the same, in Leptospermum, others in acacia wattles, and fewer in eucalypts, as far as this district is concerned. That these two members are here in considerable numbers may be deduced from the fact that forty nests — building, tenanted, and vacated — were observed by the writer on the 16th of Decem- ber within a mile, and nearly within the straight line lying between its termini. Two orchards, a belt of furze or whin, and an almost dry watercourse had to be passed through — or, rather, the creek was passed over, not so the orchards. The nests were placed in the orchards more numerously than in the legume whin, areas being equal. Plum, pear, apple, and cherry trees received the nesting honours. One nest was placed in a " sweetbriar," low to the ground — that is, about two feet — in the township of Surrey Hills. My chord of generosity was somehow struck, and I placed a piece of basalt in the nest, in order that the birds would be saved more serious distress later on. Next week the nest was gone, and so would have been the eggs but for the stone. This does not cast a reflection on Surrey Hills boys, for they are diligent. On a previous occasion I referred to the sensitiveness of this bird : its hardihood is now the chief feature, for no less than seven times was a nest in a young elm enclosed within a guard destroyed, this being done to save restless boys from making investigations and damage to the structural beauty of the tree. Each time the nest was bodily taken away, leaving only a remnant, the birds would persist in rebuilding it within the same fork, until the seventh part edifice was destroyed, and I doubt not that they then sought pastures new, for no further attempt was made in that tree. Artamus personaius (Gould), Masked Wood Swallow. — As with the previous member, it is insectivorous to a nicety, when opportunity occurs showing full interest in an apiary and not despising the odorous pear-slug, according to a neighbour market gardener, who remarked " an odour so powerful that we are obliged, when picking fruit, to keep to windward of greatly infested trees, and leave them to the care of Hellebore and Summer Birds." There is little doubt about the former, but I question any special service by the latter. Spring sees a struggle in vocal development ; its usual rapid, THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 39 asping note is left aside for a moment or two occasionally, and an endeavour to pour forth a bar more of melody for the benefit of a member of the gentler sex of its kin is made. The effort is great, and the result, though comparable to the song of many Df the bird-fauna, falls feebly and brokenly upon the ear of one 'stomed to better results from such an effort. However, it is ince decided on the little varied croak that early becomes ordinary. Phis species did not appear to build as early as the former, nature favoured the depositing of two eggs as a clutch in the ajority of cases. Of 18 nests personally observed 5 contained each 3 eggs, 11 contained each 2 eggs, 2 contained each 1 egg. The young were, as a whole, well advanced in the eggs, and other nests with plumaged young had two in each. As is the manner with many other birds so is it so with these, that of flying angrily and boldly at you as you observe the perfect quiet of the young in the nest. The mother bird is more retiring in her fear, and the persistent darting flights almost direct to the intruder devolve upon the male. The interest in watching the movements is about as keen as is in many other families. On Christmas Eve I observed that two young were about to fly from a nest built in an odd-looking piece of dead timber near the ground, which I had watched for eight days past. One would serve as a cabinet representative specimen, so I withdrew it at 7 p.m. For an hour and a quarter I kept fifty yards away watching other birds, and returning then I found the parents had removed the remaining young swallow, probably for preservation sake. Meanwhile I had extracted three fresh eggs (the third one laid the day previously) from another nest of this species, and placed therein the young bird mentioned ; the layer of the eggs, returning at once, looked astonished, but immediately and carefully gathered the young bird under its plumage. Continuing this mild experiment, the young feathered bird was now extracted after being there for fifteen minutes, and a member of the white- eyebrowed species, born two days previously, was placed in the nest, and the proprietor female bird returning a second time again gently covered the creature, this time almost a featherless one, as if it belonged to it, and the loss of three eggs was purely a philosophical matter. This young bird was taken through its cradled course of life by the ninth day later, and released on the same day as were the two in the nest from which it was removed. The young of the previous species at 24 hours of age are downy and well stored with vitality. The last movement of one made in methylated spirit was the dropping of the neck and head upon its chest after 20^ minutes had elapsed from its placement in bottle. The majority of nests were loosely constructed, but where 40 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. fibrous roots were with ease available invariably they were used, and the results were compact nests, neatly arranged. The birds gather the constructive material in the vicinity of the place chosen for the nest, and seemingly do not care to move away from it. A typical example is easily noticed in the case where a fence divides an orchard from a gorse field ; for on the orchard side ten yards from the fence you will find nests constructed wholly of fruit tree fibrous rootlets, while on the gorse side each nest within the same distance is composed of grasses and twigs that can be gathered amongst them. There are, of course, exceptions. Three characters of combinative material appear to be used, though they pertain possibly more to local influences and may have but little weight in a limited study of the nests of the Artamidse : — i. In orchards : rootlets of the trees of same, inter- nally fine, but with coarse mantling. 2. In lightly timbered paddocks ; grass-stems principally, chlorophyll bearing before completion, with occasionally a few horsehairs. 3. In well- timbered country : twigs of the trees, with a finer internal lining of linear leaves. The bowls of all the nests are similar in dimensions, but those of the complete structure may vary occasionally to twice the normal measurements. The positions, as with the previous species generally range about six feet, and often enough only two, from the ground. Nests are placed higher in occasional places here, but, with the exception of Pinus insignis and a few species of eucalyptus, the rule is "low to mother earth." The two species build promiscuously, favouring a break of low shrubs which is used for this purpose, the nests being placed in prominent positions, each species as a whole keeping together, but inter- mixed in both cases with several of the other incubating in their midst. By the middle of December many of each species were pre- paring homesteads for the third brood, and seldom do they use the nests of a past family for a future one. Late builders were observed in the early portion of this month (January) carrying twigs. After sundown those birds not engaged in the night tasks cf caring for the young or eggs congregate in bodies from 10 to 15 close to each other in a tree or shrub convenient to the nests and near the ground. It may be a large fruit tree, a sweetbriar bush, or one of many other vegetable forms. With both kinds I find an egg is deposited each day, and the clutch hatch out within twenty-four hours of each other on the twelfth day of sitting, and the young of the two species fly upon the eleventh or twelfth day from hatching, subject to a slight variation in a number of broods. This season having proved a specially favourable one, these notes have been jotted down from observations made in the district lying between Box Hill and Burwood. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 41 ALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA. By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S. Part XX. Family— CECOPHORID^E. PALPARIA. Wing. 667. P. aurata (Palpatio, aurata, Walk., B. M. Cat., 775 ; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 427, 1882). Gisborne, Armadale, Sale, &c. *668. P. lambertella, Wing (Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 428, 1882). Gisborne. *66o. P. rectiorella, Walk. (B. M. Cat., 775 ; P. aurigena, ib-, 775 ; P- confectella, ib., 776 ; P. rectiorella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 430, 1882). Moe. 670. P. micrastrella, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.. 433, 1882). Melbourne, Gisborne. 671. P. euryphanella, Meyr. (lor. rit., 435). Warragul, Gippsland. ^672. P. semijunctella, Walk. (Tortricopsis semijunctella, Walk., B. M. Cat., 777 ; Palparia semijunctella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 436, 1882). Melbourne. 673. P. uncinella, Zeller (Cryptolechia uncinella, Zeller, Linn. Ent., ix. 355, x. 146, T. i., fig. i. ; Tortricopsis rosabella, Newra,, Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., iii., N.S., 293 ; Palparia uncinella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 437, 1882). Gisborne, Melbourne, &c. 674. P. pyroptis, Meyr. (MSS.) Melbourne. *675- P. aulacois, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 438, 1882). Geelong. *676. P. lithocosma, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vol. x., part iv., Appendix, page 63). Melbourne. ENCHOCRATES. Meyr. *677. E. glaucopis, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., p. 43, 1882). Windsor, Melbourne. *678. E. picrophylla, Meyr. (loc. cit., vol. x., part iv., page 63). Windsor. 42 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. ECLECTA. Meyr. LEPIDOTARSA. Meyr. EOCHROIS. Meyr. *679- E. callianassa, Meyr. (Eochroa callianassa, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 450, 1882). Melbourne. 680. E. lcetiferana, Walk. (Lophoderus lostiferana, Walk., B. M. Cat., 336 ; CEcophora semifusella ib., 696 ; Crypto- lechia pudorinella, ib., 760 ; Eochroa Iceti/erana, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 449, 1882). Melbourne. 681. E. dejunctella, Walk. (Cryptolechia dejunctella, Walk., B. M. Cat., 1,036 ; Eochroa dejunctella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 452, 1882). Melbourne, Gisborne, Stawell. *682. E. pulverulenta, Meyr. (Eochroa pulverulenta, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 454, 1882). Melbourne (Botanic Gardens). *683. E. protophaes, Meyr. (loc. cit., 457, 1882). Gisborne, Ararat, Melbourne. EUPHILTRA. Meyr. ^684. E. eroticella, Meyr. (loc. cit., 458, 1882). Melbourne. ZONOPETALA. Meyr. 685. Z. clerota, Meyr. (loc. cit., 461, 1882). Melbourne. *686. Z. glauconephela, Meyr. (loc. cit., 462, 1882). Trafalgar. 687. Z. decisana, Walk. (Conchylis decisana, Walk., B. M. Cat., 367 ; CEcophora retractella, ib., 680 ; (Ecophora mediella, ib., 1,033 > (Ecophora ustella, Walk., loc. cit., 678 ; Zonopetala decisana, Meyr., Proc. Lin. Soc. N.S.W., 463, 1882). Melbourne. 688. Z. erythrosema, Meyr. (loc. cit, vol. x., part iv., Appendix, p. 65). Melbourne. *689- Z. synarthra, Meyr. (loc. cit., p. 65, Appendix). Trafalgar. HELIOCAUSTA. Meyr. ^690. H. inceptella, Walk. (Cryptolechia inceptella, Walk., B. M. Cat., 759 ; ' Heliocausta inceptella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 469, 1882). Gisborne, Melbourne, Moe. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 43 691. H. severa, Meyr. (loc. cil., 471, 1882). Gisborne, Melbourne. *6g2. H. mimica, Meyr. (loc. cit. } vol. ii., Appendix, p. 934, 1887). 693. H. limbata, Meyr. (loc. cit, p. 471, 1882). Melbourne. 694. H. epidesma, Meyr. (loc. cit., Appendix, 68). Melbourne. 695. H. hemiteles, Meyr. (loc. cit., vii., 475, 1882). Gisborne, Melbourne. *6g6. H. eljEODes, Meyr. (loc. cit , 474, 18S2). In railway carriage at Prahran (at light). 697. H. triph/ENATELLa, Walk. (Crt/ptolechia triphcenaiella, Walk., B. M. Cat., 753 ; C. cecophorella, ib., 760 ; Heliocausta triphcenaiella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 477, 1882). Melbourne, Daylesford, &c. ♦698. H. paralyrgis, Meyr. (loc. cit, 479, 1882). Melbourne, Stawell, &c. ^699. H. eudoxa, Meyr. (loc. cit, Appendix, 67). Melbourne, Mornington. *7oo. H. parthenopa, Meyr. (loc. cit, 481, 1882). Ringwood. *7oi. H. euselma, Meyr. (loc. cit, 483, 1882). Brighton, Stawell, &c. EUCH^TIS. Meyr. *702. E. habrocosma, Meyr. (loc. cit, 484, 1882). Stawell. *703- E. metallota, Meyr. (loc. cit, 486, 1882). Melbourne (Albert Park Cricket Ground). *704. E. rhizobola, Meyr. (loc. cit, vol. 1887, 937). Melbourne, Gisborne. *7o5- E. iospila, Meyr. (loc. cit., 938, 1887). Melbourne. *7o6. E. holoclera, Meyr. (loc. cit, 940, 1887). Stawell. 707. E. sarcoxantha, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S A.) EURYPLACA. Meyr. *7o8. E. ocellifera, Meyr. (loc. cit, 488, 1882). Gisborne, Melbourne, Dandenong Ranges. 44 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 709. E. demotica, Meyr. (loc. cit., 489, 1882). Gisborne, Frankston, Ringwood, Melbourne. NYMPHOSTOLA. Meyr. PROTEODES. Meyr. (The above two genera are restricted to New Zealand.) HOPLITICA. *7io H. sobriella, Walk. (Depressaria sobriella, Walk., B. M. Cat., 565 ; Hoplitica sobriella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 495, 1882). Gisborne, Melbourne, &c. '•'711. H. myodes, Meyr. (loc. cit., 496, 1882). Melbourne. *7i2. H. sericata, Meyr. (loc. cit., 498, 1882). Melbourne. *7 13. H. carnea, Zeller (Cryptolechia carnea, Zeller, Linn. Ent., x., 148 ; Hoplitica carnea, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 488, 1882). Gisborne, Randwick, &c. 714. H. repandula, Zeller (Cryptolechia repandula, Zeller, Linn. Ent., x., 150, fig. iii. ; Hoplitica repandula, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 499, 1882). Melbourne, Gisborne, Fernshaw. *y 15. H. pudica, Zeller (Cryptolechia pudica, Zeller, Linn. Ent., x., 152 ; Hoplitica pudica, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 500, 1882). Melbourne, Gisborne, &c. *7i6. H. leucerythra, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 50 r, 1882). Gisborne, Melbourne, &c. 717. H. liosarca, Meyr. (loc. cit., vol. ii., 1887, p. 941). Melbourne. 718. H. colonias, Meyr. (loc. cit., 942, 1887). Bairnsdale, Moe. ♦719. H. rufa, Meyr. (loc. cit., 504, 1882). Gisborne, Melbourne, &c. 720. H. absumptella, Walk. (Depressaria absumptella, Walk., B. M. Cat., 567 ; Hoplitica absumptella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 505, 1882). Melbourne, Oakleigh, Gisborne. 721. H. callianthes, Meyr. (loc. cit., vol. iii., 1888, 1,595). Fernshaw. 722. H. thyteria, Meyr. (loc, cit,, 1,596, 1888). Melbourne. THE tyictovian igtatttralt^t* Vol. XIII.— No. L JULY, 1896. No. 152. {PUBLISHED AUGUST 6, 1S96.) FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th July, 1896. The president, Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the chair, and about 70 members and visitors were present. The President announced that an almost complete set of the periodical Natural Science had been presented to the Club's library by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, and that the Committee had decided in future to add the publication to the list of magazines purchased for the use of the members. Mr. G. Coghill drew attention to the publication of Warne's " Royal Natural History," which is being republished in weekly parts. PAPERS. 1. By Mr. J. Gabriel, F.L.S., entitled "Collecting in Riverina During Full Flood." The author gave an interesting account of a collecting trip to the Riverina District, N.S.W., during the spring, when the country is to a great extent flooded, and recorded much valuable infor- mation on the birds of the district between Deniliquin and the Murray. The paper was well illustrated by some fifty splendid limelight views, and also by specimens of the birds' eggs referred to. Some discussion ensued, in which Messrs A. Coles and C. French took part. 2. By Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, entitled " Notes on the So-called Miocene Deposits of Bacchus Marsh." The author gave a brief description of the characteristic features of the district, with more detailed explanations and measurements of the sections exposed in the valleys of the rivers and creeks. Carefully prepared drawings of sections were shown to illustrate the paper. In the discussion which followed, Messrs. G. Sweet, F.G.S., T. S. Hall, M.A., and H. R. Hogg, M.A., took part. Mr. J. Searle exhibited lantern slide of photograph of mouse taken by Rontgen rays. NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. i. By Mr. A. Coles, on "A Supposed New Species of Sandpiper from Western Port, Victoria, probably between the Curlew Sand- piper and the Great Sandpiper." [This bird has been identified by Mr. A. J. Campbell, F.L.S., «