"^./r /i/J ^ 1^

FOR THE PEOPLE

FOK EDVCATION

FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

OF

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL HISTORY

I

ti-3:e

Victorian Naturalist:

THE JOURNAL & MAGAZINE

fi^U ^atuplbb' 4^kh of l^tdaria.

W^lL, ^M'WE.

MAY, 1909, TO APRIL, 1910.

Ibon. EDitor : MR. F. G. A. BARNARD.

The Author of each Article is responsible for the facts and
opinions recorded.

/IR c I b 0 u r n e :
WALKER, MAY & 00., PRINTERS, MAOKILLOP STREET

(off 390 LITTLE COLLINS STREET).
1910.

^/7v A/ffutt^^-^-^^^*^

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST,

MAY, 1909, to APRIL, 1910.

CONTENTS.

Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria : — vx^n'

Aiiuual Report ------ 'iH

Prooeedings 1, lo, 2(1, 37, VJ, (il, 81, !»7, 121, 141, Kil, 181

Reports of Excursions 4, 7, 17, 26, 33, lil, 81, 97, 101, 121,

144, 161, 181, 184, 185.

ORIGINAL PAPERS.

Barrett, C. L. — A Naturiilist in Bass Strait - - - 51

Campbell, A. J., Col. Mem. B.O.U.— Wattle-timu, or ''Yellow-
haired September " - _ . . yo

Chapman, F., A.L.S., F.R.M.S. — Vietorian Foraminifera ;

Recent and Fossil (with plate) - - - 19()

EwAKT, Pkoe. A. J., D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S. — Biological Survey

of Wilson's Promontory (second report) - - 129

Gatliee, J. H., and Gabriel, C. J. — First Record of the

Aiiinuil of Valuta niaiuUla, Gray (with two plates) 117

GoUDIE, J. C. — Notes on the Coleoptera of North-Western

Victoria (Part I.) - - - - - 39

Hall, T. S., M. A., D.Sc — Ungavnered Grain - - 124

Kershaw, J. A., F.E.S. — Additions to the Fish Fauna of Vic-
toria (No. II.) - - - - - 78
Notes on the Hairy-nosed Wombat (Fhuscolomys latifronti) 118

Mahony, D. J.. B.Sc— A Fossil Watch . . _ 9

Mattingley, a. H. E., C.M.Z.S.— In the Heart of the Mallee

(with plate) - - - - - (M

CONTKNTS.

North, A. J., C.M.Z.S.— A New Genus aud Species of Honey-
eater from Western Australia - - -
Description of a New Species of Acanthiza from Western
Australia ------

On the Nest and Eggs of the Large-tailed Grass- Wren

(Avith plate) _ - - - _

PiTCiiEK, F. — Victorian Vegetation in the Melbourne Botanic

Gardens (%vdth two plates) _ _ -

Pkitchard, G. B., B.Sc, F.G.S.— The Recent Shell-beds of
Williamsto\\Ti - _ - - -

Watkkhouse, G. a., B.Sc, F.E.S., and Lyell, G., F.E.S.—
New and Eare Australian Buttei-flies

I'AUK

i;is

55

loS

164

•JO

110

INDEX.

'• A Bush Calendar " -
Acacias. Australian
Acacias, Early Flowering of
Acanthiza Wkitlocki, u.s\). -
Alexandra Avenue, Excur-
sion to _ - _
Algte of Yau Yean
Altona Bay, Excursion to -
Amytis macrurus. Gld.
Amytis I'aria, Carter -
A.N. A. Exhibition
Anthercea eucalypti
" Apple -nuts" -
' ' A Quarter-Century of Tech-
nical Education in New
South Wales "
Aquatic Plants - - -
Audas, J. W., Botany of
Wilson's Promontory -
Australian Butterflies, New
and Rare - - -
Banks, Memorial to Sir Joseph
Barrett, C. L., A Naturalist
in Bass Strait
Birds of Eyre Peninsula -
Bass Strait, A Naturalist in
Beetles of N.W. Victoria
Belgrave, Excursion to
Beveridge, Excursion to
Birchip, Coleoptera of
Bird Day -
Bird -life in Mallee
Bird List, A New
Birds of Brisbane Rangfe

I'AGE

140

86

8

55

- 184

- 60

- 20

- 158

- 95

- 180

- 196

143
162

lo3

110
79

51

162
51
39

101

4

39

, 95
64
35

157

63

PAGE
18
4

36

Birds, Western Port -
Bland, Mount - - -
Botanic Gardens, Guide to -
Botanic Gardens, Victorian
Plants in - - -
Brisbane Range, Through the 151
' ' Building and Ornamental
Stones of New South
Wales"
Buttei-fles, New aud Rare
Australian - - -
Campbell, A. J., Wattle-time,
or ' • Yellow-haired Sep-
tember "
Cave Hill, Lilydale
Chalcococry.r 2^/(i(Josus -
Coleoptera of N.W. Victoria
Cuckoo, Bronze - - -
Cultivation of Native Plants
"Darwinism and the Prob-
lems of Life "
Denlsonla supirba
Description of a New Acan-
thiza - - - -
*' Descriptive Guide to Bo-
tanic Gardens, Mel-
bourne "
' ' Descriptive List of Birds

Native to Victoria "
Destruction by Foxes -
Dyke, A Large Igneous
Early Flowering of Acacias
Eel Fare, An - - -
Emu, White Egg of -

164

- 140

110

m

11

150

- 36

35
56

184
8

123
15

rAt;E

PAGE

ElKtcris 'niiprcs'iu, A Tall

6-6

Gatliff, J. H., and Gabriel,

Every Saturday - - -

U

C. J., First Record of

Ewart, A. J., Biological

Valuta mamiUa

li-

Survey of Wilson's Prom-

Geological Map of Victoria -

ne

ontory _ _ -

129

Geology of Melbourne

48

Eucalypts, Some Large

102

Glass Flowers - - _

96

Eucalypts, Victorian -

12

Goudie, J. C, Coleoptera of

Eucalyptus irythroneuui

121

North- Western Victoria

39

Eucalyptus i-ostrata - 165,

166

Graham Falls, Belgrave, Ex-

Eyre Peninsula, Birds of

162

cursion to -

101

Fautail, the Eufous -

149

Grass- Wren, Nest and Eg:e:s

Field Naturalists' Club of

of - - - -

158

Victoria-

Greviileu rosiaarini folia

81

Annual Report

26

Gum Emperor Moth -

3

Excursions —

Hall, T. S., Ungamered

Alexandra Avenue, &c.

1,S4

Grain - - - -

124

Altona Bay - - -

20

Halley, Late Rev. J. J.

143

Bayswater - - -

97

' ' Handbook of Destructive

Belgrave - - -

101

Insects of Victoria "

48

Beveridge - - -

4

Hawks and Owls

2

Black Rock - - -

82

Herbarium, Visit to National

33

Botanical Gardens

121

Honey-eater, A New Geiuis

Eltham

81

and Species of

13.S

Frankston - - -

81

Insects, Handbook of Vic-

Graham Falls, Belgrave

101

torian - - - -

48

Lilydale _ _ .

7

Kaiu-i Forest, The Waipoua

60

National Herbarium

33

Kcnnedi/a prostrata

15

Port Melbourne Beach -

161

Kershaw, J. A., Additions to

Stony Point

17

Fish Fauna of Victoria -

78

Toolangi - _ -

144

Notes on Hairy-nosed

Warrandyte - - -

61

Wombat - _ _

118

West Warburton -

185

Kororoit Creek - - _

20

Williamstown

20

Lacustroica, yen. nor. -

138

Willsmere - - 121,

161

Larustroica inhitei, n. sp.

138

Zoological Gardens

181

" Last Words on Evolution "

11

Exhibition of Wild Flowers

84

Lepisma, sp. - - _

16

Financial Statement

30

Lily, The Lotus - - .

ISO

Office-bearers, 1909-10 -

32

Lilydale, Excursion to

7

Proceedings, 1, 13, 25, o~

49,

Liiidsaya triclioraanoides

129

61,81, 97, 121, 141, 161,

181

Lvphotes cristatus

78

Report of Plant Records

Lotus Lily, The - - -

180

Sub-Committee -

103

Lyell, G., and Waterhouse,

Rules, Altei'ation of

49

G. A., New Australian

Fish Fauna of Victoria

78

Butterflies - - -

110

Flowers in Glass

m

Mahony, D. J., A Fossil

Foraminifera, Victorian

190

Watch

!)

" Fossil Apples "

181

Mallee, In the Heart of

64

Fossils, Silurian - - -

184

Man, Remains of Pre-His-

Fossil Watch, A -

9

toric - - _ .

11

Fox and its Victims, The

.56

Map of Mount Dandenong,

Frogmouth, The Tawny

82

&c. - - - -

140

Gabriel, C. J., and Gatliff,

Mattingley, A. H. E., In the

J. H., First Record of

Heart of the Mallee

64

Valuta riiuiailla

117

Melaleuca ericifolia

165

INDEX.

PAGE

Metrojcylon ainicuruiK, - 196

Microscopical Society of

Victoria - - 96, 181
Miletus apollo - - - 1 1 1
Miletus eigne?-!, u. sp. - - llo
Miletus erythryna, u. sp. - 11<3
Miletus pancetha, n. sp. - 112

Mineral Map of Victoria - 137
Modiola victor iff. - - - 17
MoUusca of Tasmania - - 83
Morley's Track, Fernshaw - 15
Mosses from Toolangi - l-JO

National Parks Association,

The - - - 12, 14
"Naturalized Flora of South

Australia" - - - 139
Nelumlnum speciosum - - ISO
"Nests and Eggs of Birds
Found Breeding in Aus-
tralia" - - - 100
New Zealand, AlgaB, &c., pf 80
North, A. J., A New Genus
and Species of Honey-
eater - - - - 138
Description of New Acan-

thiza - - - -00
Nest and Eggs of Large-
tailed Grass- Wren - loS
O'Douoghue. J. G. , and St.
John, P. R. H., Through
the Brisbane Range - 151
Ogyris abrota - - - 81
Orchids, Bayswater - - 97
Orchids, Warraudyte - - 61
Ornithologists' Union, The

Australasian - - H6

Phascvlonvys luickctti - - ISO

Phascolumys latifrons, Owen 118
['hylloglossum Drurninondi - 97
Fleurotainiuiu niamillatum - 16
Pigeons. Bronze- wing - 32

Pitcher, F., Victorian Vege- .
tation in Melbourne
Botanic Gardens - - 164
Plant Records Sub-Commit-
tee, Progress Report of 105
Plants Cultivated in Botanic

Gardens, Victorian - 171
Plants, Cidtivation of Native

120, 171
Plants, Introduced - - 119
Plants, Vernacular Names

for - - - - 105
Plants at Willsmerc, Aquatic 162

I'AGK

Plants of South Australia,

Naturalized - - - 139
Plants 'of Wilson's Promon-
tory - - - - 130
Pritchard, G. B., Recent
Shell-beds of WiUiams-
town - - - - 20
Prodanthera ineltissifulia - 145
" Records of Canterbury

Mu.seum " - - - 80
"Records of Western Aus-
tralian Museum " - 180
Red-gum, A Grand - - 104
Remains of Pre-Historic Man 1 1
Rhipidocera mystacina, Fab. 6
Rotifers at Willsmere - - 121
Sayce, O. A., A.L.S. - - 143
Shell-beds of Williamstown,

The Recent - ' - - 20
Shells, Western Port - - 19
Silurian Fossils - - - 184
"Silver Fish" - - - 16
Spiders' Webs at Healesville 50
Spisula parou - - - 161
Sthenurns occidental is - - 180
St. John, P. R. H., and
O'Donoghue, J. G.,
Through the Brisbane
Range - - - 151
Stony Point, Excursion to - 17
Sutton, C. S., Botany of Wil-
son's Promontory - 136
Tasmania, Mollusca of - 83
Tasmanian Naturalist, The - 83
" The Animals of Australia " 77
"The Rock" - - - 188
Tretotltorajy cleistotoina - 183
Ungarnered Grain - 99, 124
Vaucheria, sp. - - - 183
Victoria, Geological Map of IK)
Victoria, Mineral Map of - 137
Victorian Fish - - - 7S
Victorian Foramiuifera - 1!(0
Victorian Plants in Botanic

Gardens _ _ .. 154
" Victorian Hill and Dale " 48
Valuta mam ill a, Gray - - 117
Waipoua Kauri Forest - 60
Watch, A Fossil- - - 9
Waterhouse, G. A., and
Lyell, G., New Aus-
tralian Buttei-flies - llO
Wattle Day - - - 122
Wattle-time - -, - 86

INDEX.

Wattle-trees, Destruction of
" Weeds, Poison Plants, and

Naturalized Aliens of

Victoria " -
Werribee Gorge - - 1,
West Warburton, Excursion

to - : ■

Western Australia, A New

Acanthiza - - -

Western Port, Excursion to

I'ARE

T22

119
120

- ISo

55

17

I'AGK

Wild Flowers, Exhibition of 84
Williamstown, Excui'sion to 20
Wilson's Promontory, Bio-
logical Survey of - - 129
Wilson's Promontory Plants 130
Wonibat, The Hairy-nosed - IIS
Yan Yean, The Algpe of - 60
' ' Yellows-haired September "' 80
Zoological Gardens, Visit to 181

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Nest and Eggs of Large-tailed Grass- Wreji
Pines and Tall Mallee - - - -

Pines, Wonga Basin _ - - -

Red Gum, Eucalyptus rostrata - - -

.Swamp Tea-trees in Botanic Gardens -
Victorian Foraminifera — Recent and Fossil
Volutit mamilld. Gray - - - -

I'AOK

158
70
TO
166
165
190
116

ERRATA.

Page 46, line 4 — For " satiirah's " read " sittiiralis."

Page 47, line IS — For " hmgipennd.^'' read " Jovgijiejinr."

Page 81, line 14 — For "A. L. Deane, C.E.," read " Heiiry Deane,
M.A., F.L.S., M. Inst. C.E."

Page 115, line 11 — For " tornus " read " termen."

CDe Uktoriait naturalist

Vol. XXVI.— No. 1. MAY 6, 1909. No. 305.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 19th April, 1909.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 75 members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to Beveridge on Saturday, 13 th
March, was given by the leader, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who
reported a good attendance of members. The extinct crater
known as Mt. Bland and Mt. Fraser had been visited, and the
members had been greatly interested in the volcanic features
it disclosed, while a number of interesting specimens of volcanic
action had been collected.

A report of the excursion to Lilydale on Saturday, 27th
March, was submitted by the leader, Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S.,
who stated that there had been a large attendance of members
and friends. Some time had been spent at the Cave Hill
limestone quarry, where the general features of the geology had
been studied and a number of fossils collected. Afterwards a
visit had been paid to a much worn down crater near the
Melbourne road, where there is a splendid exposure of volcanic
tuffs.

A report of the junior excursion to the Clifton Hill quarry on
Saturday, 3rd April, was given by the leader, Mr. R. W.
Armitage, who took the place of Dr. Hall, who was unable to be
present. He reported a good attendance of juniors, who
evinced considerable interest in the geology of the quarry. Fine
specimens of arragonite and ferro-calcite were secured, but
zeolites were very scarce. A glance was afterwards given at the
general physiography of the district.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS,

On a ballot being taken. Miss Gilbanks, Moonee Ponds, and
Miss Enid Ritchie, Hotham-street, Balaclava, were elected
ordinary members ; Mr. Edmund Jarvis, Department of Agricul-
ture, Brisbane, as a country member ; and Master Donald
Bridges, Lansell-road, Toorak, and Master Edgar H. Neal,
Weybridge-street, Surrey Hills, as junior members of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

The hon. secretary stated that during the Easter holidays he

2 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

had visited Werribee Gorge for the first time since the local
Progress Association had formed the pathways and effected other
improvements, and said that it is possible now to see all the
most interesting portions of the Gorge with very little trouble,
and that ladies need not be deterred from going there by the fear
of rough walking.

PAPER READ.

I. By Mr. D. J. Mahony, M.Sc, entitled "A Fossil Watch."
The author exhibited portions of a watch found some litde
time ago during the progress of the works at the Red Bluff, St.
Kilda, and showed that, though from its make the watch could
not be much more than twenty years old, it was so embedded
in the sandstone that it could be truly called a fossil, and in-
stanced the fact as proving the rapidity with which material may
be formed into true stone.

Some little discussion ensued, in which Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc,
referred to the cementing action of some tertiary beds near
Coburg, and Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S,, to a similar action by
the rocks near the Loch Ard Gorge, west of Cape Otway.

DISCUSSION.

Following up the innovation of the previous meeting, a dis-
cussion on the Hawks and Owls of Victoria was set down on
the notice paper for the evening.

The chairman introduced the subject by giving some par-
ticulars of the habits of the two groups. He related having seen
a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles chasing a hare, which sought as
much shelter from a fence as it could, but was dislodged by one
of the birds, while the other remained ready to capture it as it
emerged from cover. He said hawks were deserving of protec-
tion from the fact that they were great enemies to snakes.

Dr. Macgillivray related a number of interesting facts about
different members of the groups which had come under his notice
during many years' experiences in the back country. He main-
tained that the Wedge-tailed Eagle rather than being a nuisance
to pastoralists was a benefit, as it was very destructive to rabbits.
On one occasion he found the remains of no less than two
hundred rabbits round one nest, besides which there were ten
freshly killed ones. His experience was that only weakly lambs
were attacked. The Goshawk was very destructive to small
birds, while the Sparrow-hawk preferred domestic chickens. Owls,
as a rule, fed largely on insects, but the Barn Owl was very
destructive to rats, mice, and the smaller marsupials. The
Black-cheeked Falcon was remarkable for its determination and
courage, and he had observed it feeding on the small Shell
Parrakeets.

May, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 3

Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., considered the Goshawk one of the
most destructive species, and he had known it attack magpies.

Mr. C. F. Cole related that the Harrier had proved very
destructive to the White-faced Storm-Petrels at Mud Island, and
also to the Ibis on inland swamps. He considered they took five
or six years to attain full plumage. Whistling Eagles were
extremely fond of Cormorants and Quail.

Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., asked why the Powerful
Owl should be so scarce, but without satisfactory reply.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Caterpillar of Gum Emperor Moth. — Mr. J. S. Kitson
stated that on 23rd March, while watching some captive larvae of
Gum Emperor Moth, Anthercea eucalypti, moulting, he noticed
that one, shortly after casting its skin, turned round, and, while
the cast skin was still moist, commenced to eat it, and did not
cease eating till the whole was devoured, a proceeding which took
the caterpillar a little over an hour. There was a plentiful
supply of fresh eucalyptus leaves alongside the caterpillar, so
that want of food could scarcely be the reason for the action,
and he would like to know if any reason could be given for the
occurrence.

exhibits.

By Mr. J. W. Bainbridge. — Nest of wasp, built in broken glass
steam-gauge pipe, showing the different cells.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Geological specimens from Beve-
ridge excursion ; Big Hill, Wallan ; and volcanic tuff from Lilydale
excursion.

By Mr. J. Booth.— Stick-insect among twigs, showing protective
resemblance and colouring ; frogs, Hyla lesueurii, from Sunbury,
and Heleioporus pictus, from Wagga, N.S.W.

By Mr. J. W. CoUings. — Volcanic bomb from Beveridge
excursion.

By Mr. C. F. Cole. — Specimens of falcons, hawks, kites, owls,
&c., in different stages of plumage, in illustration of discussion.

By Mrs. C. H. Edmondson. — Flowers and berries from Buffalo
Mountains.

By Mrs. A. D. Hardy. — Skin of Black-cheeked Falcon.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — A fresh-water alga, Entero-
morpha intestinalis, Link, (family Ulvaceas), from Burnley.

By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., on behalf of National Museum.
— Specimens of rarer Victorian hawks and owls.

By Mr. D. J. Mahony, M.Sc— A fossil watch found at St.
Kilda, in illustration of paper.

By Mr. C. Oke. — Berries from Mt. Wellington, Tasmania,
gathered at an elevation of over 2,500 feet.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

By INIiss Raff. — Nodular swellings on branch of She-oak,
Gasuarina distyla.

By Mr. W. Thorn.— Specimen of mistletoe growing on tree
lucerne.

By Mr. J. Wilcox. — The rotifer, Megalotrocha alboflavicans,
under microscope.

.■\.fter the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

EXCURSION TO BEVERIDGE.

This excursion took place on Saturday, 13th March, and was
arranged for the purpose of visiting the extinct crater marked on
maps of Victoria as Mount Bland, but locally known as Mount
Eraser, after some previous owner of the property. Though the
afternoon threatened to be showery, and the locality is generally
considered an uninteresting one, the leader was pleased to have
a following of 17 members and friends, including several ladies.
Four of the party motored up from town (25 miles), and joined
the others at the railway station. Mt. Bland, or Beveri'lge Hill,
as it is also known, can be easily seen on the northern horizon
from the more elevated parts of Melbourne, such as the higher
parts of Carlton, and from there lies a little to the west of due
north. To travellers along the Sydney road or the North-
Eastern railway, it is a prominent object, especially as one
descends the Dividing Range towards Wallan, and no doubt
Hume and Hovel), when, after troublous times around !Mt.
Disappointment, in December, 1824, they crossed the Divide just
about the locality of the present railway line, and saw the bold
mass standing up before them, made directly for it, as it is on
record that they named it Mt. Bland on the 14th December,
1824, after a Dr. Bland, of Sydney, a patron of their expedition,
and took their bearings thence to Aitken's Hill, near Somerton,
10 miles further south — another interesting locality to tlie field
worker, and the site of former excursions of this Club {Vict. Nat.,
xviii., p. 33). Beveridge station is 989 feet above sea-level, and
as the mount is little more than half a mile from the station, the
gradual slope towards the summit commences almost at once.
One of the members had brought an aneroid, and we were thus
able to obtain a few approximate heights as we proceeded. Just
where the ground seems to make a decided slope upwards on the
southern side we found the height to be 1,160 feet. Thence to
the lowest portion of the southern rim — in fact, except the breach,
the lowest part of the rim — was a steeper ascent of 90 feet, or a
total of 1,250 feet. The outlook here was extremely interesting.
Fifty feet below was the floor of the crater, a perfectly level little
plain, about 180 yards in diameter, while all round in almost a
perfect circle rose the encircling rim, except towards the north

May, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 5

west, where it was broken down, and had formed the exit for the
lava of former ages. On the southern side of the breach the rim
rose to 1,280 feet, while on the opposite side (the northern side
of the crater), it rose to its highest point, 1,380 feet above sea-
level ; round to the east it gradually fell to the spot from which
we first viewed it. The breach itself is about 20 feet above the
level of the floor. Unfortunately, we were not able to accurately
measure the distance from rim to rim, but careful estimates gave
it as about 450 yards. In one corner of the bottom is a water-
hole for stock, excavated in the solid lava (bluestone), but, owing
to the dry season, it contained little water. It is probable that in
this isolated pond some interesting life might be found after a wet
season. Two or three photographs were secured of interesting
features, but the strong wind blowing formed a serious obstacle
to successful photography. From the highest part of the rim an
excellent view of the surrounding country was obtained. Though
very hazy and stormy towards the south, we were able to pick out
the You Yangs, 50 miles away ; the Anakies, a little further ;
Macedon, Hanging Rock (the scene of the excursion three weeks
before), 20 miles to the north-west. Due north was the Big Hill,
or Pretty Sally's Hill, an outlier of the Dividing Range, with
Wallan at its foot, while to the east were the Plenty Ranges, almost
enshrouded in heavy masses of black clouds. Besides these
more prominent mountains, numerous points of eruption occur
all round, such as the Bald Hill, a little further south. Green Hill,
close to Wallan, &c., details of which will be found in a paper by
Mr. T. S. Hart, M.A., read before this Club some years ago
{Vict. JS^at., xi., 74). Having taken in the surroundings
sufficiently, we traversed the rim towards the west, to where,
owing to the operations of rabbits, there was an exposure of tuffs
and lapilli, of which nice specimens were secured. I am
indebted to Mr. F. Chapman for a few notes on the geological
features of the mount, &c. He says : — " The extinct volcano at
Beveridge, xMount Bland, presents so many interesting features,
and in several points differs from those of other neighbouring
cones, that to anyone at all interested in the study of volcanic
phenomena it is well worth a visit. The main rim of the cone
on the south and west appears to be composed generally of
scoriaceous basalt. The northern flank, however, rising 100 feet
higher, is largely composed of volcanic agglomerate and lapilli
of a comparatively light colour (pale ochreous to reddish-brown)
and microscopically resembling true pumice, although not floating
in water. This accumulation may have arisen from a later out-
burst, and since the cone is not quite circular in outline there
may have been one or more parasitic cones produced by renewed
activity of an explosive nature. Numerous volcanic bombs were
seen strewn over the surface of the cone, some attaining a foot or

THE VICtORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVl.

more in length, and varying in shape from spheroidal to fusiform
nodules. One rounded bomb was found fractured, which showed
the interior to be composed of several layers of scoriaceous or
frothy lava of varying density, which had evidently accreted
round a nucleus in successive stages. The crater lake
shows the characteristic features, well preserved, and from
the presence of rushes it was evident that a considerable swamp
exists there during the winter months. The crater has been
broken down on the western side, and the ' breaching ' is most
distinctly shown as a wide valley with gently_ curving sides,
through which the lava once flowed down in a resistless stream to
fill up some old creek valley, and spread over the site of where
Coburg, Collingwood, and Richmond now stand. Another
interesting feature — the level of the crater-floor being lower than
the breached edge of the crater — points to a sagging down of the
lava within the throat of the volcano during the last stages of the
eruption. The basalt of this cone, besides being scoriaceous,
shows numerous phenocrysts of olivine, generally of the variety
rich in iron." As showmg how unexpectedly one may come
across interesting specimens, it may be mentioned that in passing
through a wire fence on the top of the hill a specimen of that
singular beetle, Bhipidocera mystacina, Fab., noticeable for its
beautiful pectinated antennae, was taken, and further search
revealed another specimen on the wire not far away, probably
sheltering from the strong wind prevailing. A descent was now
made to the Sydney road, which passed round the western side of
the hill. On reaching this we found the height to have dropped
to 1,025 feet, showing that the mount has an elevation of about
350 feet above the plain. On the other side of the road some
rocky hills attracted our attention, so, leaving the ladies to follow
the road to Wallan, the others made a slight detour, and found
the hills to be the remains of the rim of another crater, but
much smaller and imperfect. Growing in the crevices of the
basalt were numerous plants of maiden-hair fern, Adianium
cethiopicum, just sending up new fronds after the recent rains.
Hereabouts some good volcanic bombs and pieces of light scoria
were picked up by those interested, and we then wended our
way towards Wallan, about 3 miles distant, which we reached
just as darkness set in. We found the ladies had ordered tea at
the Tower Hotel, so we were all soon engaged in replenishing
the energy expended during the afternoon. As the railway
station is quite two miles from the township, we had a pleasant
walk after tea in the brilliant starlight, and caught the 10 p.m.
train for town. It is unfortunate that trains are so infrequent on
the North-Eastern line, as there are several other places in that
direction which would be worth visiting if it could be accom-
plished without so much expenditure of time. — F. G. A. Barnard.

May, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 7

EXCURSION TO LILYDALE.

A COOL and pleasant afternoon on Saturday, 27th March, was
partly responsible for the large number of members and friends
(38) taking part in this excursion, most of whom came down by
the 1.22 train from town. On arrival the party turned back up
the line towards Mr. Mitchell's limestone quarry. At the
entrance we were met by Mr. Mitchell, jun., who very kindly led
us round the works, so that we might gain some information as
to the method of producing the lime which is prepared in large
quantities at Cave Hill. The quarry is an excavation on the
northern side of Cave Hill, opened up nearly thirty years ago on
the site of the original cave noted by Sir A. R. C. Selwyn on his
map published in July, 1856. The note runs as follows: —
"Limestone cave 120 feet deep. — Hard, crystalline grey and
reddish limestone. Fossils, corals, &c. (Wenlock limestone ?) "
This cave yielded the early geological surveyors a small collec-
tion of fossils, chiefly corals, which, with its original label, " From
a limestone cave in the parish of Yering," is now in the
National Museum, Melbourne. We learned from Mr. Mitchell,
jun., that when the cave was first opened it was hung
with numerous stalactites, which must have presented a
striking appearance ; but, alas ! the stalactites were speedily
removed, and only a small portion of the original cave
remains to view. In all probability there is another cave
hidden away behind the quarry face, since Mr. Mitchell informed
us that at one particular spot, pointed out to the members, several
crowbars have been lost, having dropped into a cavity at about
the angle made by floor and wall. Further indication is seen in
an extensive pipe of the overlying rock, which forms a huge
" swallow hole " leading into the limestone mass. The limestone
in this quarry dips at a steep angle (35°-So°). The bedding
plane can be easily verified by the growth of corals, &c., such as
Favosites and the various stromatoporoids, which may be traced
along the planes of sedimentation in their relative position of
growth. A large proportion of the limestone is dolomitized by
the action of the overlying old volcanic rock which covers this
side of the Cave Hill. The dolomitized limestone contains some
iron, which renders these altered layers conspicuous by their
reddish-brown colour. The opportunity was taken at this stage
to point out to members the chief items of interest in regard to
the quarry, one of the most important being the close relation-
ship it bears in age — or, at any rate, its fauna — to that of Dudley
and Wenlock, in England, and to that of the island of Gotland.

The fossils collected during the afternoon included — Cyatho-
jihyUum sp., Favosites grandipora, Eth. fi!., Syringopora sp.,
ffeliolites sp. ; various stromatoporoids, including Clathrodictyon
sp., Euomphalus disjunctus, J. Hall, Trematoiiotus pritchardi,
Cress well, Trochus {Scalmtrochus) litidsiroemi, Eth. fil., Cyclonetna

8 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

lilydalensis, Eth. fil., and Niso (Vetotuba) brazieri, Eth. fil.
After witnessing some blasting of the limestone, the party
inspected the overlying decomposed basalt, which is seen to rest
on a bed of fine angular sand, and this in turn rests uncomformably
on the limestone. The sand in places has been partially dissolved,
probably by heated and alkaline water from the overlying basalt,
and re-deposited as chalcedonic concretionary layers and nodules
in the uppermost part of the sand-bed. A fine view of the
Dandenong Ranges, and also of the Main Uivide, was obtained
from the eastern side of Cave Hill, whilst beneath our feet lay a
remarkable bed of quartzite, in part conglomeratic. Crossing the
paddock, and taking the road in a westerly direction, we next
visited a notable example of a low tuff cone of the older volcanic.
This point of eruption is in remarkably good preservation,
considering its age and the material of which it is constructed.
The interior of the crater is now used as a fruit and vegetable
garden. The Melbourne road cuts through one side of the cone,
which enabled us to see very clearly the tuffaceous material of
which it is constructed — a fine reddish-brown ash with small
scattered lapilli. Across the road in an adjoining paddock there
is a section showing another tuff deposit, the material of which is
of an ash to brown colour, and appears to be a finer material than
that seen in the road cutting. The members then returned to
Lilydale, and a contingent caught the early train to town. Those
who remained for the later evening train were most kindly
entertained to tea by one of our members. Miss Rollo, who also,
earlier, placed the members under obligation by suggesting the
extension of our walk to take in the interesting tuff cone, which
proved so instructive an item in our programme. — F. Chapman.

Early Flowering of Acacias. — Looking over some back
numbers of the Naturalist I saw a note on p. 52, vol. xxii. —
" The first blossoms of the Silver Wattle, Acacia dealbata, were
picked at Kew on ist July, 1905. Notes of other early flowerings
are desired." I have a specimen in my possession gathered by
myself, marked ^^ Acacia o^ea^6a<a, Healesville, June, 1906." It
is in full flower. In other seasons since then I have noticed this
acacia in bloom in the same month. My recollection is that it
was about the end of the second week. The earliest I have seen
were at Yarra Glen early in the same month, and this in several
seasons. The earlier bloomers face the north-east. I have observed
that in other species this aspect brings the first blooms, and that
trees planted in a curve so as to face every point of the compass
give a succession of bloom from earliest to latest. Whether or
not it is a coincidence, my experience is that these early
bloomers are most infested with the Goat Moth, Zeuzera eucalypti,
Boisd., particularly the cultivated A. Baileyana. — Reg. Kelly.
Mt. Yule, Healesville, 24th April, 1909.

May, 1909] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 9

A FOSSIL WATCH.

Bv D. J. Mahony, M.Sc.

{Read before the Field NaturulisW Cluh of Victoria, 19th April, 1909.)

Before describing the specimen, some apology should be
offered for the title of this short paper, for the word fossil
connotes great antiquity to most of us, and a watch, especially a
keyless watch, can certainly be of no great age. Mr. J. E. Marr,
in his well-known work, " The Principles of Stratigraphical
Geology," remarks that the stone implement of the river gravels
is as genuine a fossil as the ammonite collected from the chalk,
and that even more modern implements may be true fossils. For
instance, the occurrence of moa bones in New Zealand in
accumulations below those containing biscuit tins and jam pots
has been used as a geological argument pointing to the extinction
of the moa before the arrival of Europeans. The biscuit tin
here serves all the purposes of a fossil, and there is no valid
reason why it should not be spoken of as such. The same
argument applies to the watch under consideration for it shows
that the rock in which it was imbedded has been solidified during
the last quarter of a century.

The specimen consists of a watch and chain, now separate, but
evidently once united. The watch is keyless, and the winder has
been broken off and is still attached to the chain. The chain is
of German silver, and is of the short double type worn by ladies
about 15 years ago. The two strands are fastened by a sliding
band and the swivel and shank are attached. The ring or bow
to which the swivel is fastened is of rolled gold, and the shank
which connected it and the winder to the watch has an iron core.
The whole is for the most part imbedded in a hard mass of sand-
stone, composed of small silica grains of beach sand and some
pebbles of ironstone, bound together by a cement of calcite, and
in part iron-stained. The iron oxide is especially common round
the steel shank of the winder, from which it has evidently been
derived. There are a few slight traces of verdigris on the chain,
but the exposed parts scarcely look duller than they would if put
by in a drawer for a few years, and they remain quite flexible.
It might well be used again if freed from stone. The watch
itself was unfortunately broken away from the rock by the
workmen who discovered it. Mr. Kosminsky, an expert on the
subject, informs me that this kind of keyless movement is still
used in Geneva watches, and was first introduced about 20 years
ago, so that the age of the watch is restricted to that short
number of years. The case is missing, but was probably silver.
The works are of steel and brass, and the face is white enamel,
quite fresh and unstained, with the figures as clear as on the day
when it left the maker. The hands are broken off.

10 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

I am indebted to Mr. Chas. Robinson, the overseer in charge
of the works, for the specimen. In March, 1906, a workman
engaged on the improvements at Red Bluff, St. Kilda, found it
while trimming away a mass of rock on the beach Hne at the foot
of the cUff. It was situated at the mouth of a cavity cut by the
sea into the cliff, which consists of a red ferruginous sandstone
of cainozoic age. The sand with which it was covered was
cemented by the action of the sea water, which dissolved some of
the lime carbonate composing the dead shells on the beach and
redeposited it amongst the sand grains. Similar rock is common
in the neighbourhood. Its position, together with the fact that
the case has been roughly removed, points to a burglar's
"plant."

The two main points of interest about the specimen are the
evidence of the quick formation of solid rock and the wonderful
way in which metals have survived under conditions which seem
the reverse to favourable. About the hardness of the rock it
may be remarked that it required very appreciable pressure on a
knife-blade to make an impression.

One of the most remarkable points about the watch is that the
hair-spring is still preserved, and, though rusted in places, some
parts of it look quite clean when seen with a magnifying glass.
Other steel parts, such as the regulator, can be moved, and the
balance-wheel is free to turn on its axis, but some parts have
rusted a good deal. The brasswork is almost without chemical
change, and the teeth of the cogs are as sharply defined as when
the works were moving. It seems a marvellous thing that these
metals should be preserved while the surrounding rock was
solidified by sea water percolating between the sand grains.

This fossil brings home to one the unbroken processes of
nature. In times so remote that the mind can scarcely form any
adequate idea of their antiquity the rocks were forming in the
same way and preserving traces of the highest forms of the life of
the times — forms that have been succeeded by others of a higher
type. Here is a record of nature's greatest triumph, man. It
speaks of the brain that can conceive a means of measuring time
and the art that can execute the necessary work, but, alas ! it also
tells of the thief who would destroy all for the paltry value of the
silver case.

Elementary Physiology. — A course of twenty University
Extension Lectures in Physiology, by Prof. W. A. Osborne, M.B.,
D.Sc, was commenced at the University on Tuesday evening,
4th May, and will be continued at weekly intervals. The cost of
the course is one guinea. Further particulars can be obtained
from the secretary, Mrs. W. A Osborne, University, Carlton.

May, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 11

BOOK NOTICES.

Darwinism and the Problems of Life. By Conrad
Guenther, Ph.D., &c. Translated from the third edition by
Joseph M'Cabe.

Last Words on Evolution. By Ernest Haeckel, translated
from the second edition by Joseph M'Cabe.

We received some time ago from the publishers, Owen and Co.,
London, copies of the above works, which, up to the present,
have not received notice in these pages. Those who are follow-
ing up the great question of evolution in its varied aspects will
find statements of great value in these books, which will be
helpful to them in drawing conclusions from any set of facts.
The second work, on account of its illustrations, genealogical
tables, &c., is perhaps more interesting than its companion, and
puts the question in such an unanswerable way that the reader
cannot help being convinced even against his will. It concludes
with a striking manner of illustrating the duration of life on the
globe, which seems worth quoting. Many leaders of science,
such as geologists, palaeontologists, astronomers, and physicists,
have variously calculated the time which has elapsed since life
first manifested itself on our earth at from one hundred to two
hundred millions of years. If, for argument sake, the shorter
time be taken, and an attempt made to reduce this vast period of
creation to an understandable unit such as twenty-four hours, as
has been done by Dr. H. Schmidt, of Jena, it will be found that
the five evolutionary periods, through which most are agreed
life has extended, would make up one day as follows ; —

1. Archeozoic period (52 million years) = 12 hrs. 30 mins.

2. Paleozoic ,, (34 million years) = 8 hrs. 7 mins.

3. Mesozoic ,, (11 million years) = 2 hrs. 38 mins.

4. Cenozoic „ (3 million years) = 43 mins.

5. Anthropozoic period (1-200,000 years) = 2 mins.

Analyzing this latter period at the same rate, it will be found
that the " historic " portion extends to only jive seconds, while
two seconds would suffice to cover the Christian era. Such a
calculation seems incredible, and yet the evidence of its correct-
ness appears on every hand.

REMAINS OF PRE-HISTORIC MAN.

There have recently been unearthed in France certain remains
for which are claimed the distinction of being the earliest remains
of man yet found. Somewhat to the south-west of Central France
are situated the departments of Correze, Dordogne, and Lot,
where during recent years important deposits of cut flints have

12 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

been found in several places, and from the village of Moustier,
situated at the foot of a chalk cliff in the upper valley of the
River Vezere, has been derived the term " Moustierian," used by
archaeologists to indicate an age of civilization. In the same
neighbourhood are the caves of the Eyzies, which are decorated
with designs that go back to the reindeer age. Near the village
of Chapelle-aux-Saints, in the department of Correze, in a cave at
the depth of about two feet, were found the remains of a skull, so
complete that it lias been possible to reconstruct it without the
necessity of the restorer supplying any missing parts. The skull
was associated with chipped flints and the bones of reindeer and
bisons. A fresh discovery at Moustier has thrown further light
on the life of those ancient days. After finding large quantities
of cut flints in a cave, the workmen unearthed some fragments of
bone, which careful examination proved to be parts of a human
skeleton, but though extreme care was taken many of the bones
fell to dust as soon as they were exposed. However, portions of
the skull and other bones were secured, from which it is surmised
that the remains are those of a young man about eighteen years
of age and four feet ten and a quarter inches high. From the
position of the remains it seems probable that the body had
received a primitive burial, for along with it were found a pointed
flint dagger, remarkably well cut, and a well-formed scraper, while
around were numerous bones of oxen, some of which were partly
calcined. It is almost impossible to ascribe even an approximate
date to this skeleton, but, judging by recent observations of
denudation in Switzerland, &c., it seems permissible to reckon
its age at 400,000 years. The Illustrated London News of 27th
February gives illustrations of the skulls, &c., published by
arrangement with U Illustration of Paris.

The National Parks Association. — This Association, it
will be remembered, was inaugurated at a public meeting in the
Melbourne Town Hall in December last. Since that time the
executive, which is composed of representatives of the various
scientific societies of Victoria, has been steadily gathering
information as to desirable places for reservation, and, on the 5th
inst., waited on the hon. the Premier with its suggestions. The
deputation was most favourably received, and it is to be hoped
that the important work now started will not be allowed to flag
until something tangible results.

Victorian Eucalypts. — The series of articles in Every
Saturday on eucalypts, with special reference to Victorian species,
has been continued during the month, and provides some useful
notes, the brevity of which is to be regretted.

Cbe Uictorian naturalist

Vol. XXVI.— No. 2. JUNE 10, 1909. No. 306.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, loth May, 1909.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 70 members and visitors were present.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From Mr. D. Mahony, M.Sc, intimating that it is proposed to
entertain Prof. J. W. Gregory, D.Sc, at dinner, during his
approaching visit to the State, by the bodies with which he had
been connected when resident in Melbourne, and asking whether
the Club would take part in the welcome. It was resolved, on
the motion of Messrs. Thiele and Stickland, that Mr. G. B.
Pritchard, B.Sc, be appointed to act on the proposed committee.

REPORTS.

A report of the Easter dredging excursion to Western Port Bay
was given by the leader, Mr. J. Gabriel, who reported a successful
outing but a very poor attendance of members. The weather had
been very favourable for dredging, and three different localities
had been tried. Attention had been principally devoted to the
Mollusca, of which 225 species had been obtained. This total
exceeded that of the. previous year by five species, and included
46 species not obtained then. He called attention to the more
important finds, and exhibited examples of several of the more
interesting species.

A report of the excursion to Altona Bay on Saturday, 24th
April, was given by the leader, Mr. G. B. Pritchard, B.Sc, who
reported a good attendance and an interesting afternoon's work.
Some time had been spent in the examination of the shell
deposits near the VVilliamstown Racecourse and discussing their
probable origin. The party then went on to the workings at the
Altona Bay Coal Company's shaft, where the geological features
of the locality were explained.

The excursion for Saturday, Sth May, to see the basalt columns
at Holden, had to be postponed owing to the inclement weather,
and will probably be included in the list for next session.

A report of the junior excursion to Royal Park at Flemington
Bridge, on Saturday, ist May, was given by Mr. H. W. Wilson, who
acted as leader owing to the unavoidable absence of Mr. J. A.
Leach, M.Sc. The attendance was rather small. The afternoon

14 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

was devoted to demonstrating how a landscape is altered by
weathering and cutting down by streams.

The hon. librarian acknowledges the receipt of the following
donations to the library : — Journal of Agriculture of Victoria,
January and February, 1909, from Department of Agriculture;
The Emu, January, 1909, from the Australasian Ornithologists'
Union ; The Microscoj^e, March, 1906, from Watson and Sons,
Melbourne; "Records of the Australian Museum, Sydney,"
vol. vii., part 3, from the Trustees ; " A Critical Revision of
Genus Eucalyptus," part 10, and " Forest Flora of New South
Wales," vol. iv., part 3, by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Government
Botanist, from the author ; " Report of Botanic Garden and
Domain, Sydney," for 1907-8, from the Director; Agricultural
Gazette of Neil) South Wales, February, March, and April, 1909,
from Secretary for Agriculture, Sydney; "Proceedings Linnean
Society of New South Wales," 1908, part 4, from the Society;
The Australian Naturalist, January, 1909, from the New South
Wales Naturalists' Club ; The Tasmanian Naturalist, February,
1909, from the Tasmanian Field Naturalists' Club ; Nature Notes,
November and December, 1908, and The Selborne Magazine
and Nature Notes, January, February, March, 1909, from the
Selborne Society, London.

ELECTION OF IMEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken. Miss Janet Raff, B.Sc, Stanley-street,
Elsternwick, was elected an ordinary member ; Miss Hilda
Atkinson, 6 Kooyong Koot-road, Hawthorn, ]\lr. Geo. Langley,
93 Bay-street, Port Melbourne, and Mr. Chas. Stout, Gillies-
street, Fairfield, as associates ; and Masters Ronald Chugg,
Mont Albert-road, Canterbury, and Sidney Green, 235 Auburn-
road, Hawthorn, as junior members of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

The hon. secretary reported that, as representative of the Club
he had attended the deputation of the National Parks Associa-
tion which had recently waited on the Premier with the
resolutions adopted at the public meeting held in the Melbourne
Town Hall. The association desired the reservation of land,
&c., at Mallacoota and Wingen Inlets, East Gippsland ; the
islands surrounding Wilson's Promontory ; a national park
in the Mallee ; and the erection of simple mem.orials to mark the
routes travelled and the landing places of the early explorers.
To each of these requests the Premier expressed himself
favourable, and it seemed probable that something definite
would result.

Nominations were received for office-bearers for the years
1909-10, and Messrs. D. Best and J. Stickland were elected to
audit the accounts for the past year.

June, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 15

PAPER READ.

By Mr. G. B. Pritchard, B.Sc, F.G.S., entitled "The Recent
Shell-beds of Williamstown."

The author discussed the occurrence of the sandy shell-beds
exposed near the Williamstown Racecourse, on the Altona Bay
railway line, which have been regarded as evidence of an elevated
sea-bottom, but he pointed out that the evidence of the surround-
ing locality showed that a gradual reclamation of the sea shore
was taking place, and that the origin of the beds was no doubt
wind and tide, and that they were geologically of Recent age.
This was shown by the fact of their being almost entirely com-
posed of the shells of living species. Careful examination has
shown that at least one hundred species of moUusca can be
collected there, besides numerous remains of Crustacea, corals,
polyzoa, &c.

The author's remarks were closely followed, and some little
discussion followed the reading of the paper.

Owing to want of time the discussion on the Ranunculacese
(Buttercup family) was postponed.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., mentioned that plants of the scarlet
pea, Kennedya jorostrata, were blooming at the present time in his
garden at Kevv.

Mr. F. G. A. Barnard stated that he had recently paid a visit
to the Fernshaw district, and had been grieved to see the
destruction caused there by the bush-fires of last summer. The
beautiful vegetation along Morley's track had been utterly ruined,
and would take many years to recover. He had remarked with
interest the numbers of tree-ferns with from three to seven crowns
from the same stem, while in one instance a Dicksonia billardieri
and an Alsophila australis had grown together and formed a
symmetrical trunk some five or six feet in height.

Mr. F. Pitcher mentioned that during a recent holiday in
Tasmania he had been present at a meeting of the Tasmanian
Field Naturalists' Club in Hobart, where he had been most
cordially welcomed. The meeting was well attended, and the
club appeared to be prosperous and doing good work.

Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley called attention to his exhibit of a
white egg of the Emu. Mr. G. A. Keartland said that he had
been informed by the late Prof M'Coy that in such a case it
was probable that if hatched out a white egg would produce an
albino bird.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. R. W. Armitage. — Blooms of Sunshine Wattle,
Acacia discolor, from a tree which began to bloom during last
week of April ; bloom of Acacia urojyhylla (starting to bloom

16 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

beginning of May) ; spray of a variety of acacia raised from seed
of Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia baileyana, with spray of latter
for comparison ; galls on Acacia baileyaota, causing alteration of
colour of leaves along whole course of twigs from greyish-white
to russet-tinted ; leaf of Purple Oak, Quercus jmrpurea, showing
autumn colouration ; spray of Portugal Evergreen Oak, Quercus
lusitanica, with fruit ; spray of Evergreen Oak, Q. virens, from
south of Europe, with fruit. All the specimens were grown in
Malvern Public Gardens.

By Mr. J. W. Audas. — Ranunculus rejjens, L., Creeping
Buttercup (introduced), from Emerald, November, 1907. Only
previously recorded from Outtrim, South Gippsland.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Geological specimens from Altona
Bay excursion ; live specimen of Lepisma, sp., commonly known
as " Silver-fish," which has been without food for four months.

By Mr. C F. Cole. — A living specimen of an orthopterous
insect which is responsible for the sound resembling the cry of a
chicken often heard in the evening during the autumn. The
sound is produced by crossing the wings.

Mr. J. Gabriel. — Shells collected during the Easter dredging
excursion.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — A desmid, Pleurotcenium
mamillaUvm, from the Yan Yean water. First time exhibited,
though first reported in 1906.

By Mr. H. Jeffrey. — Coral growing on bivalve shell from New
Hebrides.

By Mr. J. A. Kershaw. — Orchid, Pterostylis pedaloglossa, also
specimen of the luminous fungus, Pleurotus candescens, collected
at Snake Island, Corner Inlet, 9th May.

By Mr. J. S. Kitson. — Nest and egg of Mistletoe-bird, Dicoitim
hirundinaceum, from Longwarry — the nest was built in a gum
sapHng, about 8 feet from the ground ; eggs of land tortoise,
found by Mr. E. Triplett at Kow Swamp, N.W. Victoria ;
dipterous flies parasitic on larvae of Mottled Cup Moth (35 flies
emerged from one cocoon).

By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S.— Three Emu eggs— (a)
typical, (6) white, (c) size and shape of pear ; album of views of
the islands of Bass Strait, showing bird-life, &c. ; specimens of
topaz (known as Killiecrankie diamonds), from Mt. Killiecrankie,
Flinders Island, Bass Strait.

By Mr. C. L. Plumridge. — Wasp's nest, showing larvae and food
store ; also flowers of Japanese Anemone, Clematis (hybrid), and
Delphinium, for illustrating discussion on Ranuncuiaceje.

By Mr. P. R. H. St. John. — Specimen of Manna Gum,
Eucalyptus viminalis (juvenile or sucker form), showing variegated
leaves, from Caulfleld district, 24th April last.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

June, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 17

EXCURSION TO STONY POINT, WESTERN PORT.

On our programme of excursions for 1908-9 the Easter excursion
was put down for Hastings, but it was decided to alter it to
Stony Point, where we had done so well the previous Easter, as it
affords better opportunities for good work.

Before noon on Good Friday, 9th April, our small party of
three was heartily welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Osterlund, our
hosts of the previous year, and after a hasty dinner no time was
lost in getting to the dredging ground. Having been so success-
ful with the MoUusca last year, we decided to again work over
some of the same ground, and were soon enthusiastically engaged
in picking out the treasures from our hauls. We were fortunate
in striking the Modiola ground again, but, although we worked
over it several times, obtained only one species, Modiola albicosta.
However, we kept on till dark, and returned home well satisfied
with the afternoon's work.

Saturday morning was ushered in with slight showers of rain,
which proved, however, to be only the " pride of the morning."
The tide being out, we spent two hours on the rocks hunting for
littoral species, with fair success. A little before noon we started
off in the launch again, selecting for this trip some new ground.
Starting opposite Sandstone Island, we dredged northerly with the
tide for three or four hours, until, rounding French Island, we
were opposite Quail Island. The results, however, were so meagre
that we decided to try on the Hastings side of the channel, where
we found marine life more prolific. Molluscs, polyzoa, sea-pens,
&c., were in profusion, and, after selecting what we wanted, a
pleasant run home of eight or nine miles wound up an excellent
day for the delighted three.

On the third day we made an early start in a southerly
direction. Starting off Tortoise Head, we dredged with the tide
towards Rhyll, with excellent results. In this locality are found
the .rare Typhis yatesi, Conns segravei^ Humphreyia slrangei,
Claviyella luuUangidm-is^ and the extremely rare shells Modiola
arborescens and M. victorice. Opposite Rhyll, towards Elizabeth
Island, was our next ground : here we were successful in getting
six fine specimens of the Typhis, or, as our skipper called them,
" Cows' Horns," on account of the two peculiar spiny processes
which project and curve outwards very like cows' horns. It is
very rarely that this shell is found with the processes intact,
consequently we were very pleased that four of them were in
perfect order. There still being a i^'^- hours left, we returned to
Tortoise Head, and cast a itw dredges in Gardiner's Channel,
but the tide was slack, and we were unable to work the dredge
properly, so we made homewards again, well pleased with the
day's results.

During the three trips we secured 225 species of Molluscs,

18 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVl.

of which 1 80 were Gastropods and 45 LamelUbranchs, our total
being five more than the record of the previous trip. While
naturally not getting all the species we got before, we added 46
species to our previous list, which is given in full in the Naturalist
for July last (vol. xxv., p. 54); of these 37 were Gastropods and
9 LamelUbranchs. Thus our two years' dredging has resulted
in a list of 266 species, and there are still many more to be

got-

Among the shells obtained was our smallest Victorian univalve,

named by our fellow-member, Mr. J. H. Gatliff, Cyclostrema
bastowi. This shell is extremely minute, measuring only nine-
tenths of a millimetre in diameter. Some fine specimens of
Conus segravei — first figured and described in our journal some
years ago (Vict. Nat., vii. (1890), p. 179) — Lippistes hlainvil-
lea7ius, Cancellaria pur pur if or mis, and Mitra vincentiana were
also secured.

An interesting find was a small chiton, Lepidopleurus cancel-
lalus, Sowerby, which has a very wide distribution, being recorded
from Spain, Greenland, Britain, Alaska, and Corea.

In addition to the Mollusca, numerous interesting forms of life
were collected for future investigation, but unfortunately, owing to
the absence of sufficient co-workers, large quantities of material
such as crustaceans, sponges, echinoids, tunicates, &c., had to be
thrown overboard again. Doubtless many of these have not yet
been recorded for Victoria, and some may even have been new
to science. It is greatly to be regretted that more of our
members do not take advantage of a trip like this, which can be
carried out with practically no discomfort. Everyone who stays
away makes it harder for the faithful few who take part in the
outing. The motor-launch is a commodious boat, and can take
twenty or thirty passengers with comfort and safety, and, not being
at the mercy of sails or oars, can be taken anywhere without
trouble to anyone. As for material, there is sufficient for all.
While our National Museum is craving so much for new material
it is a pity to see it lost for want of gatherers.

A small species of Hermit Crab was another interesting find.
This creature selects for its home a cylindrical hole in a stone,
preferably sandstone. When it retires into this hole it so arranges
its four front claws that they appear like a circular cap or lid, and
completely close the entrance. A most wonderful and ingenious
plan, and a beautiful protection to itself.

While on the water we noted the following birds : —
Numenius cyanopus ... Curlew

Tringoides hypoleucus ... Common Sandpiper

Larus novse-hollandiae ... Silver Gull

Gabianus pacificus ... ... Pacific Gull

Sterna bergii ... ... Crested Tern

June, 1909.1

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

19

Notophoyx novje-hoUandise
Phalacrocorax hypoleucus
Phalacrocorax leucogaster
Sula serrator
Pelecanus conspicillatus
Podicipes novje-hoUandise
Eudyptula minor
Chenopis atrata
Anas superciliosa
Netlion gibberifrons
Biziura lobata.

White-fronted Heron

Pied Cormorant

White-breasted Cormorant

Gannet

Pelican

Black-throated Grebe

Little Penguin

Black Swan

Black Duck

Grey Teal

Musk Duck

A patch of scrub covering a few acres immediately behind the
Stony Point station was quite alive with birds, in direct contrast
to our experience of the previous Easter, when the whole country
was dried up and bird-life practically absent. Here we noted
the following species : —

Collyriocincla harmonica
Microeca fascinans
Gymnorhina leuconota
Cracticus destructor ...
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
Zosterops coerulescens
Ptilotis leucotis
Ptilotis penicillata
Manorhina garrula

Grey Shrike-Thrush
Brown Flycatcher
White-backed Magpie
Butcher-Bird
Yellow-rumped Tit
White-eye

White-eared Honey-eater
White-plumed Honey-eater
Noisy Minah

The following are the additional Mollusca recorded for the
trip, which have been identified by Mr. C. J. Gabriel : —

GaSTROI'ODA.

Personella eburneus, Rve.
Siphonalia dilatata, Q. and G.
Nassa rufocincta, Ad.
Voluta papillosa, S^oaiii.
Maiginella simsoni, Tate and May
Ancilla edithse, P. and G.
Columbella cominellaefonui.s, Tale
Crepidula inimersa, Ang.
Vermicularia flava, Verco
Vermetus novaj-hoUandix', Rousseau
Turbonilla spina, C. and F.
Odostomia simplex, Ang.
Oscilla ligata, Ano.
Cerithiopsis angasi, Semper
C. turbonilloides, T.-Wds.
Seila attenuata, Hedley
Triphoia angasi, C. and F.
Liotia australis, Kiener
Cyclostrema johnstoni, Bcdd.

C. mayii, Tate

C. contabulatum, Tate

C. bastowi, Gatliff

Rissoa petterdi, Braz.

R. atropurpurea, Dunk.

R. perexigua, Tate and May

R. atkinsoni, T.-Wds.

R. nitens, Dunk.

Rissopsis maccoyi, T.-lVds.

Calliostoma incertum, Rve.

Fissurella omicron, C. and F.

Cocculina tasmanica, Fils.

Chiton calliozona, Pits.

Ischnochiton sculptus, Sotv.

I. pura, Sykes

Lepidopleuius cancellatus. Sow.

Tornatina brenchleyi, Ang.

Assiminea brazieri, T. - IVds.

20

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXVI.

LAMELLIBR.A.NCHIATA.

Myodora albida, T. - IVds.

Anatina creccina, Rve.

Mactra jacUsoniensis, E. A. Smith

Gari zonalis, Lam.

Chione peronii, Lam.

Montacuta .semiradiata, Tate
Mylitta tasmanica, T. - Wds
Lissarca rhomboidalis, Verco
Limopsis tenisoni, T. - Wds.

— J. Gabriel.

EXCURSION TO VVILLIAMSTOWN AND ALTONA BAY.
A FAIR number of members met at Flinders-street station on Satur-
day, 24th April, and proceeded by train to North Williamstown,
where, on gathering together, we found our party numbered 18,
and comfortably filled the drag which was in waiting to convey
us to our destination. The Kororoit Creek road, along which we
proceeded as far as the Williamstown Racecourse, is somewhat
uninteresting, and the innovation of driving instead of walking the
distance, some two and a half miles, was voted a great improve-
ment. Here we halted and examined the newer basalt and
marine shell-beds of the . locality, and discussed their probable
origin. However, there is no necessity to enter into details here,
as I am dealing fully with the question in a separate paper.
Members were able, however to secure specimens for after
examination, ^^''e then drove on some two or three miles to the
Altona Bay estate, and viewed the location of the sand-pits, the
basalt quarry, and the new brick shaft of the Altona Bay Coal
Company. This shaft is thirteen feet in diameter, and is being
put down by a new company to test the value of the large deposit
of brown coal which has been proved to exist beneath the basalt
of this area. Underneath the basalt, which varies from about 25
to 60 feet in thickness, several feet of fossiliferous clays of Bal-
combian or Eocene age intervene before the brown coal occurs.
Good specimens of fossils from this formation, excavated when
sinking a previous shaft, were also secured. As the work
advances it will be advantageous to again visit the locality. We
then drove back to North Williamstown, having spent a pleasant,
and I think profitable, afternoon. — G. B. Pritchard.

THE RECENT SHELL-BEDS OF WILLLAMSTOWN.
By G. B. Pritchard, B.Sc, F.G.S.
(Read be/ore the Field Naturalists' Gluh of Victoria, lOth May, 1909.)

In order to reach the beds in question it is best to go by rail to
the North Williamstown railway station and proceed westerly
past the Rifle Ranges to the neighbourhood of the Williamstown
Racecourse. Upon reaching the Racecourse station, adjoining
the Kororoit Creek, it will be noticed that the railway line is
continued for some distance further, and this represents the
remnant of the old Altona Bay line.

The Kororoit Creek has a shallow course, which meanders

June, 1909] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 21

along a slight depression in the surface of the newer basalt of the
plains, and may be crossed by the railway bridge or road bridge,
or often for the greater part of the year by a natural basaltic ford.
If the railway line be followed for a very short distance from the
creek two small cuttings will be seen, the first through basalt,
with its typical black clay soil, whilst the second displays a good
section of the sandy shell-beds. This section is about two and
a half miles from the North Williamstown station and about a
quarter of a mile from the present shore line.

This spot serves well to show how fossils may be preserved, and
a little study of the conditions will well repay those who investi-
gate them. At first sight the shell-beds appear to show horizontal
layers, but a closer inspection shows false bedding to be distinctly
present. In some parts the beds are largely composed of layers
of fine, loose sand, with varying quantities of shells, whilst other
layers are almost entirely shells. The porosity of those sandy, cal-
careous beds is well shown by the hardening of certain layers by
the deposition of a limy cement, and the consolidation towards
the surface, with the development of a travertine, shows the part
which evaporation has played in the changes through which these
beds have passed. By careful collecting a large series of fossils
may be obtained from this section, including something upwards
of a hundred different species of MoUusca, apart from remains of
Crustacea, Polyzoa, Corals, Echinoids, and Foraminifera.

An examination of these various specimens proves them beyond
doubt to be all living species, and the age of the deposit can,
therefore, only be considered as geologically recent. Although
many of the shells retain their colour markings distinctly enough,
one cannot help being struck by the fact that a considerable
number show a bleached and corroded appearance, but this is
not to be wondered at when it is understood that these very
shells have contributed to the calcareous cement now noted
through the beds. With regard to the organic remains, there is
no hesitation in saying that they are marine, but occasionally
a layer of brackish water shells, composed of such genera
as Truncatella, Coxiella, Assiminea, Salinator, and Ophicardelus,
make their appearance, and for such alternations we must be
able to account in a reasonable manner.

It is generally known that the basalt of the plains has a
gradual slope seawards, and that the lava flow actually runs out
for a considerable distance below the present sea level, but the
reason for this is perhaps not so well understood. The evidence,
which can be gathered readily enough, shows that the lava must
have been a terrestrial flow, and, consequently, its present position
can only be explained by a general subsidence, which, without
doubt, followed as a natural sequence to the volcanic outpourings.
The basalt has suffered very considerably by marine erosion,
especially as there has been an abundance of grit derived

22 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

from the sandy tertiary deposits with which to wear down all
resistance.

Along the present shore margin of the basaltic plain the
accumulation of the shelly deposits has taken place, and the
height above ordinary high water mark attained in the section
under inspection has been determined by Messrs. A. Brown and H.
Summers to be 7^ feet.*

Such an accumulation would be commonly called a " raised
beach," and the reasoning usually associated with it would be —
A deposit of marine shells, therefore laid down beneath the sea ;
at present some 7 or 8 feet above sea level, therefore at least 10
feet of elevation ; marine shells all of living species, therefore
recent elevation to that extent.

Thus it has become generally accepted that there is much
evidence around Port Phillip of a considerable elevation during
recent time.

In 1854 t Mr. Selwyn remarks : — " Recently Upheaved Sea and
Estuary Beds, containing Shells of Existing Genera and Species. —
Wherever cliffs occur along the line of coast from Melbourne to
Point Nepean, these beds may be distinctly seen resting
indifferently on either the granite, basalt, palaeozoic, or tertiary
strata, also forming all the low shores where no other rocks are
seen in place. They consist chiefly of beds of loose sand and
clay, with layers of shells (oysters, mussels, periwinkles, cockles,
limpets, and other shells, perfectly identical with those now
found living on adjacent shores), but in several places from
100 to 300 feet above the level of the sea, and from 5 to 6 miles
inland."

In a later report (1856)1 similar views are expressed, though
the raised beaches are spoken of as Pleistocene.

If the geological literature of Port Phillip be followed up
through later dates the general acceptance of these views can be
readily noted, yet we are fully at liberty to pause and think, and
inquire into their validity.

In the first place there seems to be little doubt that many of
the beds now accepted as aboriginal accumulations or old
kitchen-middens were included in most of the references to raised
beaches. Amongst these may be mentioned some well-known
spots along the eastern shores of Port Phillip, such as Point
Ormond, Hampton, Half-Moon Bay, and Frankston. These
deposits are notable for the number of large oysters, Oslrea
angasi, and mussels, Mytilus plamdatus, and other edible bivalves,

* Proc. Roy. Soc.'Vic, 1902, vol. xv., N.S., part i, p. 37.

+ "Geological Surveyor's Report on the Geology, Palaeontology, and
Mineralogy of the Country situated between Melbourne, Western Port Bay,
Cape Schanck, and Point Nepean," by A. R. C. Selwyn, p. 4.

J " On the Geological Structure of the Colony of Victoria, &c.," by A. R.
C. Selwyn, pp. 6, 7.

June, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 23

as well as many edible univalves ; and the way in which the
shells are chipped and broken is characteristic of aboriginal
work, apart from the association of charcoal and the stones with
which the shell-chipping was done. All these beds are well
above high tide mark, though not beyond the reach of excep-
tional storms, and through wind agency many of the lighter
shells have been redistributed and carried up gradual slopes for
considerable distances. This secondary dispersal of some of
these shells may account for some of the misconceptions that
have arisen, and some of the greater heights that have been men-
tioned may possibly be accounted for in this manner. No great
antiquity can be allowed here, and geologically " Recent " is all
that can be said.

In the second place there are the undoubted marine deposits
underlying the West Melbourne Swamp area and the Carrum
Swamp area, and concerning these it will be well to again
quote what Mr. Selvvyn says of the area extending east from
Port Phillip Bay to the base of Strzelecki's Range : — " Many
parts of this area are, I believe, still beneath the sea level, the
water having been excluded from them by the successive terraces
or beaches of sand, which have been piled up by the combined
action of wind and waves, and now form the narrow sandy belt
dividing the Carrum Swamp from the sea, known as the Nine-
mile Beach. A depression of 15 or 20 feet would be sufficient
again to submerge the whole of the above area, and to connect the
waters of Port Phillip and Western Port, as was undoubtedly the
case during some portion of the Pleistocene period." According
to observations made by Mr. A. H. S. Lucas * on the Coode
Canal excavations, the marine silt with abundant shells is about
7 feet in thickness, and is overlaid by 16^ feet of sands, while
the ground surface is 73^ feet above low water level. This
would only bring the base of the marine silt to 16 feet and the
top of the deposit to 9 feet below present low water — a position
which it is quite reasonable to assume would be requisite for such
a formation.

In the northern extension of these beds at Arden-street, North
Melbourne, the association of Diprotodon remains of drift origin
have already been recorded, t and quoted as evidence for
regarding these beds as of Pleistocene age. This is quite in
agreement with Mr. Selwyn's remarks, and we are thus able not
only to mark down specifically the geological age of these marine
silts, but by the evidence of their present position it is possible to
very materially discount the views concerning recent elevation of
other shell-beds.

In the third place, then, we may consider such accumulations

* Proc. Roy. Soc. Vic, vol. xxiii., p. 166, 1887.
t Proc. Roy. Soc. Vic, vol. xii., N.S., part l, pp. 112-114, 1899.

24 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

as the shell-beds near the Williamstown racecourse, and see what
explanations can be offered that may still be in reasonable agree-
ment with the foregoing remarks. Let us take up a position for
observations from the grassy bank just above the present beach
and look seawards. Even at high tide, with only a crescentic strip
of sandy beach a few feet in width below us, the shallowness of
the water off this shore can be noticed, but at low tide a very much
finer impression can be obtained, and the development of a sand-
bank running parallel with the coast is at once seen. There are
times when a strong north wind keeps the tide back from
properly rising over the sand-bank even at its present height, and
it does not therefore require a very great stretch of the imagination
to understand the conditions which would ultimately raise the
bank to such a level that the high tide would no longer be able
to surmount it. Inside the bank there would be a salt-water
lagoon, with its collection of dead and living shell-fish and other
organisms. This, when once beyond the reach of fresh accessions
of sea water, must necessarily gradually soak away or evaporate,
and the depression gradually becomes shallower by layer after
layer of wind-blown sand. Rain water soon dilutes the saltness
to brackishness, and brings about the conditions suitable for the
moUuscan genera found in such regions, and enables us to
account for the occasional layers of such remains in similar sands
to the marine shells. Then plants of the dwarf pig-face type and
others capable of existing under salty-soil conditions gradually
make their appearance and contribute their share towards the
permanent infilling of the lagoon depressions. The old beach
slowly becomes sweetened by the continual percolation of rain
water, and ultimately supports some of the coarser sand-binding
grasses. A perfect sequence of such events as these can be seen
if we look towards the Williamstown Racecourse, and a series of
grassy and parallel crescentic tracks one behind the other marking
the successive sandy beaches can be traced right up to the
railway cutting already described. Here, then, there appears to
be no necessity to call in elevation of the sea bottom to our aid.
except such elevation as would be due to the building up of
an extensive accumulation of several feet in thickness on a
shallow shelving shore-line by the joint action of wind and tide.

This reclaiming process is still going on, and along this part of
our coast the sea is being slowly pushed back. Such deposits
are evidently Recent. The upper i6 feet or so of sands overlying
the Pleistocene marine silts of the West Melbourne Swamp area
should be regarded as contemporaneous with the Williamstown
shell-beds.

Up to the present there is no evidence for ascribing any of the
local aboriginal feeding-grounds to a high antiquity,. and they also
must be referred to as Recent.

Cbc Uictorian Hamralisi

Vol. XXVI.— No. 3. JULY 8, 1909. No. 307.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The twenty-ninth annual meeting of tlie Club was held at the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th June, 1909.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 75 members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to Coburg on Saturday, 22nd May,
was given by the leader, Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc, who reported a
fair attendance of members, and an interesting afternoon spent
in examining the physiography of the locality and studying the
evidences of denudation on a miniature scale for which it is noted.

A report of the visit to the National Herbarium on Saturday,
1 2th June, was given by Mr. J. R. Tovey, who kindly acted as
leader in the unavoidable absence of Prof Ewart. He gave
some account of the progress of the institution since the previous
visit of the Club, and called attention to the many valuable addi-
tions made to the library, which is now one of the best botanical
libraries in the Southern Hemisphere.

A report of the meeting of junior members at the Club rooms
on Saturday, 5th June, was given by Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S.,
who took charge of the gathering, and, with the assistance of Miss
F. Bage, M.Sc, and Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., kept the juniors
fully interested in the wonders of nature under the microscope.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Miss M. Davis, 337 Weston-street,
Brunswick, Mrs. VV. White, Savings Bank, Malvern, Mr. E. Hill,
16 Vale-street, East Melbourne, Mr. E. A. Plumridge, 76 Regent-
street, North Richmond, and Mr. J. Robinson, 13S Powlett-
street, East Melbourne, were duly elected ordinary members ; and
Master G. A. Forster, VVrixon-street, Kew, and Masters Frank
and Tom Mower, 15 Albion-street, Essendon, as junior members
of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., called attention to the
recently issued list of Victorian birds compiled by Mr. J. A.
Leach, M.Sc, and published by the Education Department, and
moved that a letter of thanks be sent to the Director for providing
so useful a list at such a trifling cost.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The hon. secretary, Mr. F, G. A. Barnard, read the twenty-
ninth annual report, for the year 1908-9, which was as follows : —

26 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

" To THE Members of the Field Naturalists' Club of

Victoria.

" Ladies and Gentlemen,— Your committee have much pleasure
in presenting for your consideration the twenty-ninth annual
report of the work of the Club, being for the year ending 30th
April last.

" During the year 84 new members were elected, consisting of
33 ordinary, 4 country, i associate, and 46 junior members.
The total membership now amounts to 313, and is made up as
follows : — 7 honorary, 2 life, 157 ordinary, 54 country, 17
associate, and 81 junior members. The total is slightly larger
than last year, owing to an increase in the number of junior
members, but the country and associate members show a slight
falling off. It is hoped that a scheme will be devised shortly by
which the interest of the juniors will be brought more in touch
with the general \vorking of the Club.

" It is with deep regret we record the death of Mr. F. C.
Christy, M.I.C.E., one of the few remaining original members
of the Club. Though unknown to the later members, in the
Club's earlier days Mr. Christy was an enthusiast, and contributed
on several occasions to its proceedings.

" The attendance at the monthly meetings has been fully
maintained during the year, and it has often been felt that a
larger, or, at any rate, more accessible, room for meetings would
be desirable, but owing to the greatly increased cost which
would be entailed by meeting elsewhere the question has always
been put aside as impracticable.

" The papers read, though much fewer in number than usual,
have been of great interest, while in addition three illustrated
lectures were given, and for two evenings discussions on ornitho-
logical subjects were put down on the notice paper, which
proved a welcome innovation.

" Twelve papers were read, of which 4 dealt with zoological
subjects (2 being ornithological and 2 entomological), 3 with
botany, i with geology, and 2 with extended trips — all of which
have been published in the Naturalist.

" The authors were Messrs. J. \V. Audas, T. Carter,
M.B.O.U. ; Prof Ewart, D.Sc. ; A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. ; E.
Jarvis, D. Mahony, B.Sc. ; J. H. Maiden, F.L.S. ; A. J. North,
C.M.Z.S. ; C. S. Sutton, M.B. ; and G. A. Waterhouse, B.Sc,
F.E.S. Some of these names are new as contributors of papers,
and we thank them for coming forward and helping in the work
of the Club.

" In addition to the papers, three illustrated lectures were
given, for which the members are indebted to Dr. Hall and Mr.
J. H. Harvey, A.R.LV.A. (conjointly); Mr. F. Chapman,
A.L.S. ; and again to Dr. Hall.

July, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 27

" Your committee would urge upon members the importance
of supporting this portion of the Club's work by contributions to
its proceedings, the after publication of which, through the
medium of the Nahtralist, reaches a large circle of students
throughout the world.

" The natural history notes read at the monthly meetings have
frequently proved of great value, and in some cases provoked
discussion of an interesting character. During the year many
unique specimens have been exhibited, and your committee
would urge upon all members the desirability of contributing
to this, which is not the least interesting part of our monthly
meetings.

" After an interval of three years a general conversazione and
exhibition of wild-flowers was held in the Masonic Hall, Collins-
street, on 22nd and 23rd September last, when the Club was
honoured by the presence of His Excellency Sir T. Gibson-
Carmichael and Lady Carmichael. His Excellency evinced
great interest in the exhibition, and kindly opened the pro-
ceedings. The exhibits were of the usual interesting character,
and their preparation and display had cost the owners many
precious hours of work. The exhibition of wild-flowers was very
fine, and the Club is particularly indebted to those friends in the
country to whose efforts its success was greatly due. The
financial result was hardly so good as on some previous occasions,
but the monetary result of such an exhibition has no relation
to its educational value, which, we believe, was of a high
standard.

"The programmes of excursions for seniors and juniors, drawn
up at the beginning of the year, have been duly carried out, and
on the whole have been well attended. The choice of interesting
localities close to Melbourne is becoming more limited every
year, so that on several occasions members made rather long
trips into the country, and with very gratifying attendances. It
may be pointed out that the carrying out of an excursion pro-
gramme is a very difficult matter, as so much depends upon the
weather and season, and it is only fair that those members who
give their services as leaders should receive that support which
their action warrants. The Club is indebted to several of the
leaders for interesting detailed reports of the excursions which,
having been published in the Naturalist, are available as founda-
tions for future excursions to the same localities. The excursions
afford splendid opportunities, to new members especially, of
becoming acquainted with convenient collecting grounds, and,
while being of a health-giving nature, are excellent means for
members to become acquainted with one another.

" The twenty-fifth volume of the Club's journal has been com-
pleted and issued to members, &c. That it is in demand as an

28 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

exchange from all parts of the world shows that it is appreciated
as a record of natural history work in Victoria. The frequent
inclusion of valuable illustrations, which are greatly marred by
folding for the post, has induced your committee to arrange
for the journal to be sent flat through the post in future, and it is
thus hoped that the number will make a more presentable volume
when bound. Three notable illustrations in the volume were the
first published (February, 1909) plates of the nest and eggs of
Newton's and the Tooth-billed Bower-birds, the long-looked-for
desiderata of Australian oologists. A fair number of back
numbers have been disposed of during the year, and the stock of
some volumes is now extremely low.

" The Hawthorn and Cambervvell Microscopical Society for-
warded a communication asking that it might be affiliated with
the Club, and after some consideration the requisite additional
rules for the affiliation of kindred societies were drafted and
adopted at a general meeting in November last, but up to the
present the Society has not taken any further step in the matter.

" The Plant Names sub-committee, since its appointment in
August, 1907, has held eight meetings, and has provisionally
adopted more than 450 names. In order to obtain uniformity in
the naming, it has been in communication with the Government
Botanists of the various Slates, several of whom are in sympathy
with its objects, and it expects to have, in particular, the valuable
co-operation of Mr. J. H. Maiden, F.L.S. Although much
success did not result from the first attempt to glean material
from the schools, other efforts will be made in that direction, and
much information is also expected when the copies of the
recording census, compiled by Prof. Ewart, and issued at the
beginning of the year, are returned to the Herbarium.

" During the year the Royal Society of Victoria initiated a
fund to provide a medal in commemoration of the late Dr. A.
W. Howitt, C.M.G., a former honorary member of this Club, and
your committee forwarded a donation of two guineas to the fund
as some recognition of the high place which Dr. Howitt held
among the nature students of Australia.

"The recent foundation in Melbourne of a society devoted
solely to microscopy in its various branches has to be recorded.
The society will doubtless do much to advance that method of
studying the wonders of nature, and, we trust, will have a useful
career.

" With reference to matters of more public interest your com-
mittee are pleased to report a further step in the reservation of
Wilson's Promontory, for which this Club has so long been working,
in the appointment of a ranger, but it is greatly to be regretted
that the intention of erecting a vermin-proof boundary fence has
not yet been carried out. The set of lantern slides of .the

July, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 29

Promontory possessed by the Club has been used on two or
three occasions during the year before different audiences, and
has served to illustrate the scenery of a portion of the State
which, as years go by, will doubtless become more familiar to
Victorians.

" A deputation (on which this Club was represented) waited on
the Prime Minister with reference to the enormous destruction of
birds for the sake of their plumage for decorative purposes, and,
we are pleased to say, with good results, as it was promised that
steps would be taken to minimise the evil.

" At the instance of the Melbourne Beefsteak Club your com-
mittee sent delegates to a meeting of kindred bodies, &c., which
resulted in the formation of a National Parks Association, which
has undertaken the duty of urging upon the Government the
reservation of suitable areas for national parks, and the protection
of the indigenous fauna and flora, and it is confidently expected
that something tangible will result from this movement.

" Other matters of public interest, such as the pollution of
Britannia Creek and the prevention of fires in the Gembrook
Reserve, have occupied the attention of your committee, and an
attempt was made to influence the Government to repurchase the
Grange property and restore it to the Domain, but without
success.

"The hon. librarian reports that during the year 6i vols, or
parts were purcliased, and 125 vols, or parts donated or received
in exchange. Among the donations may be mentioned a copy of
that valuable work, Buller's " Birds of New Zealand," presented
by the University Library; several volumes of the Smithsonian
Reports and Proceedings of the United States National Museum,
from the National Museum ; and many back numbers of the
Naturalist from the National Herbarium. These latter have been
most useful in enabling broken sets to be completed. He
suggests that the Club's exchange list be further extended, and
that popular works relating to natural science should be
purchased for the library for the benefit of those members who
have neither time nor opportunity to specialise. A large book-
case was added during the year, and to Mrs. E. Bage, one of its
life members, the Club is mdebted for a donation towards the
purchase of a case, &c., for a card catalogue, the compilation of
which has almost been completed, and it is hoped that, more
especially for the benefit of our country members, the catalogue
will also be published m pamphlet form during the year. During
the year a large number of parts of serials have been bound and
made available for issue.

" The financial position of the Club is, we are pleased to say,
very satisfactory. The statement of accounts to be submitted here-
with shows the receipts to have been ;^203 8s. gd., and the

30 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

expenditure jQ2o'] 12s. id. The credit balance, ^^109 17s. 3d.,
is slightly less than at the commencement of the year, but as ;^35
has been spent on binding, and an additional bookcase, the
result cannot be considered otherwise than satisfactory.

" Towards the end of the year your committee received the
resignation of Mr. W. H. A. Roger as hon. assistant secretary and
librarian, which was accepted with regret. During the three
years Mr. Roger had held the office he had devoted a large
amount of time to the duties, and your committee desire, on
behalf of the Club, to tender thanks to him for the work done
— work which was not very evident to the ordinary member.

" Finally, your committee would once more urge on members
the desirability of inducing as many persons as possible interested
in Natural History to join our ranks and so strengthen the Club, and
by so doing help one another in elucidating the mysteries of nature.

" On behalf of the committee,

" G. A. Keartland, President.

" F. G. A. Barnard, Hon. Secretary.
"Melbourne, 3is« May, 1909."

The report was adopted on the motion of Messrs. J. H. Harvey
and J. H. Gatliff, who congratulated the committee on the work
accomplished during the year.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The hon. treasurer, Mr. G. Coghill, read the financial state-
ment for 1908-9, which was as follows : —

Receipts.
To Balance, 30th April, 1908 ... ... ... ^^114 o 7

,, Subscriptions-

Ordinary Members £12^
Country Members ... 25
Associates ... 2
Juniors ... ... 3

15

10
10
14

0
0
0
0

n*

Victorian Naturalist —
Subscriptions and

Sales ... ... 6

Advertisements ... 6
Reprints ... ... 5

9
15

8

10
0

0

i9 I"

10
6
0
0

5
0

Conversazione Admissions

Donation to Library (Mrs. Bage)

Sales of Badges

Sales of Howitt Photographs ...

Interest

... 23 12
... I I
... 0 4
... 0 8
... 3 I

£l^l 9 4

•Subscriptions :— Arrears, ;^28 i6s. 6d. ; 1908-9, ;^I2I 17s. 6d. ; 1909-10,
;^5 153.— total ;^is6 9s-

July, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST

31

Expenditure

By Victorian Naturalist —

Printing ... ... £%i

Illustrating ... 8

12
9

6

2

Free Reprints ... 4
Reprints ... ... 7

3
0

0
0

102

4

8

,, Victorian Natura'ist — Wrapping

and

Posting ...

12

I

4

,, Rooms — Rent and Attendance

8

10

0

,, Library — Books ... i

I

0

Periodicals ... 0

12

6

Binding ... 12
Bookcase ... 22

4
17

6
6

Card Catalogue 2

I

6

Insurance, &c. i

7

0

40

0

4

., Conversazione — Rent Masonic

Hall ... II

3

0

Sundries ... 16

I

0

27

4

0

,, Howitt photos. — Printing
,, Howitt memorial — Donation

0

2

10

2

0
0

,, Slides — Wilson's Promontory

0

6

0

,, Printing and Stationery

7

4

0

,, Postages, &c.

7

6

I
— ^207 12 I

,, Balance Melbourne Savings Bank
,, ,, London Bank

105 18
3 19

■ 109 17 3
;^3I7 9 4

G. COGHILL, Ho)i. Treasurer.
\i^th May, 1909.

Audited and found correct.
D. BEST,

\Wi May, 1909.

1
J. STICKLAND,/

Auditors.

The following statement of assets and liabilities was also
read : —

Assets.

Balance in Banks ... ... ... ... ;^I09 17 3

Arrears of Subscriptions (^107), say ... ... 43 o o

,, for Reprints ... ... ... ... 440

Library and Furniture (Insurance Value) ... ... 130 o o

;^287

Liabilities.
Subscriptions to Club and Naturalist paid in advance

£(> 19

The financial statement was received and adopted on motion
of Messrs. Best and Ewart.

32 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS FOR 1909-IO.

The following office-bearers, being the only nominations
received, were declared elected : — Professor A. J. Ewart, D.Sc,
Ph.D. : vice-presidents, Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc, and Mr. F.
Wisewould ; hon. treasurer, Mr. G. Coghill ; hon. librarian, Mr.
A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. ; hon. secretary, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard ;
hon. assistant secretary and assistant librarian, Mr. R. W.
Armitage ; and hon. editor, ^Nlr. F. G. A. Barnard. On a ballot
being taken for five members of committee, Messrs. J- Gabriel,
G. A. Keartland, j. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., F. Pitcher, and Dr. C.
S. Sutton were duly elected.

Mr. G. A. Keartland thanked the members for their support
and encouragement during the two years he had occupied the
presidential chair, which he then vacated in favour of Professor
Ewart, who expressed his gratification at being honoured with the
position, and trusted he would carry out the duties to their
satisfaction.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES

Mr. J. A. Kershav\', F.E.S., said that a request had recently
been made for a short open season for Bronze-wing Pigeons, on
account of the damage they cause to farmers' crops, and asked
the opinion of those present. Mr. G. A. Keartland said from
his observations he considered the Bronze-wing Pigeons eminently
useful birds. At Narree Warren he had seen them feeding on
the fruit of the African box-thorn, and did not consider them any
detriment to farmers, as they usually feed on small seeds.

Mr. G. Coghill called attention to the splendid exhibit of
Epacris blooms forwarded by Mr. A. G. Campbell from the
Grampians, which was some of the finest ever exhibited at a
meeting.

Mr. C. F. Cole mentioned the occurrence of a Bronze Cuckoo,
Chalcococcyo: plagosus, at East Malvern on 30th May last. This
he considered as an instance of early arrival, not late departure.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. R. W. Armitage. — Wood opal, sectioned and polished,
showing annual rings, medullary rays, grub borings, bark, &c. —
probably a casuarina, from Gawler, South Australia; also a
casuarina stem, sectioned, for comparison ; lignite, with fossil
resin, from Eocene deposits, Parwan Valley, Ingliston.

By Mr. A. G. Campbell. — Flowers of Epacris impressa, various
shades, from Grampians, near Pomonal.

By IMr. C. J. Gabriel, — Marine shells from Japan and Hong
Kong.

By Miss H. Maddren. — Grass-stone from Central Queensland ;
shark's teeth and skin from Flinders ; &c.

July, 1909.] THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 33

By Miss J. W. Raflf, B.Sc. — Portion of Sheoak, Casuarina
distyla, from near Blowhole, Tasmania. Having grown on the
sea coast, salt has apparently been absorbed, and made the bark
thicker and more fleshy, hence tending to crack when old and dry.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

VISIT TO THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM.

About twenty members took part in the visit to the National
Herbarium on Saturday afternoon, 12th June. Owing to the
unavoidable absence of Professor Ewart, it devolved upon me to
act as leader, and with the help of my fellow-assistant, Mr. J. W.
Audas, I endeavoured to make the visit an instructive and enjoy-
able one. The members were shown a number of specimens new
to science which have recently been named and described.
Amongst these was a new genus and species, Bellida graminea,
A. J. Ewart, which is very remarkable on account of its coloured
pappus and curious achenes. About 20 plants new to science
have been described and published during the past year,
principally from Western Australia, including a new genus and
species of Compositje, Gilruthia Oshornii, Ewart and White.
Two new species of Victorian plants — Olearia (Aster) Toppii,
Ewart and White, from the North-West, collected by F. M.
Reader, 1892 and 1904 ; also Gnephosis Baraccliiana, Ewart
and White, near Dimboola, St. Eloy Dalton — have also been
named and described. The latter plant has an external
resemblance to Gnephosis skirrophora, and from superficial
examination might easily be confused with it, but is readily
distinguished by the leaf-like bracts surrounding the main heads,
by the pappus, and by the mucilaginous layer on the achene.
Several new varieties have also been recorded and described.
The Reader and Walter herbariums have now been incorporated
with the main collections, and have made a fine addition to the
Herbarium ; thus all the new species described by Mr. Reader are
now in the National Herbarium. The late Dr. Hewitt's
collection of eucalypts has also been added to the Herbarium.
In addition over 4,000 sheets of herbarium specimens have been
added to the main collections. Included in these are many of
the plants recently described by Mr. J. H. Maiden, Government
Botanist of New South Wales ; also many rare plants from
Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, while three hundred speci-
mens of New Zealand plants have been added to that collection.
Among other interesting items shown was a collection of pre-
Linnean plants from Herb. Fettiver, collected over 200 years ago,
which are still in good state of preservation. Also a collection of
plants collected in Australia during the years 1802 to 1805 by
Robt. Brown. It may be of interest to the members to know that

34 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. (Vol. XXVI-

a separate collection of plants from the National Park, Wilson's
Promontory, has been formed, which consists of over 400
species, mainly collected by the members of the National
Herbarium excursion to the National Park during the past year.
The method of fumigation by bi-sulphide of carbon vapour, by
which the Herbarium collections are preserved from the attacks of
the museum beetle, was also explained. As showing the daily
work of the Herbarium, it may be mentioned, over 1,000 specimens
of plants, weeds, &c., have been named for various correspondents,
but few of these were worth preserving. The visitors were also
shown over the library, and were greatly interested in the various
scientific books, &c., contained therein. It was mentioned that
several hundreds of books, pamphlets, &c., were recovered during
the past year from the late Baron von Mueller's executors, thus
filling up many of the gaps. The Herbarium is indebted to the
Director of the Kew Herbarium for the completion of the sets
of Hooker's " Icones Plantarum " and the Kew Bulletin, and to
the British Museum for Banks and Solander's drawings of Capt.
Cook's first voyage to Australia. More than 400 volumes and
parts of journals, books, &c., have been received in interchange.
Over 200 books and scientific periodicals have been added to
the library by purchase, and in addition to these a considerable
number of books have been purchased from the libraries of
Messrs. Reader and W. R. Guilfoyle. I'he visitors were greatly
interested in the various pre-Linnean works, of which the
Herbarium possesses a very complete and valuable series. The
total number of books in the library exceeds 8,000, a very large
number being bound. Progress has been made in overtaking
the arrears of binding for the past 30 years. Nearly 2,000
volumes have been bound during the past three years, and over
300 are now in the hands of the binder, or are in course of
preparation for binding. Additional shelving has been added to
provide for the steady expansion of the non-Australian herbarium,
the shelves have been re-numbered, and the whole collection will
be re-arranged shortly. Another work that has been taken up by
the herbarium (in conjunction with the Botanical Department of
the University) is the testing of seeds, as regards purity and
germination value, a work which is of great importance to the
agricultural interests, and which is capable of considerable
extension with profit to the community. Various papers, &c.,
have been published from the Herbarium and Botanical Depart-
ment of the University during the year. Included amongst
these are " Contributions to the Flora of Australia " and
" The Longevity of Seeds," &c. The publication of the short
descriptions and illustrations of the proclaimed plants has
now been completed, and these will also appear in a work
entitled, " Weeds, Poison and Proclaimed Plants of Victoria,"

July, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 35

now in the hands of the Government Printer, in course of
publication. With part ii. of this work will be issued the
census of naturalized aliens and introduced exotics of this State,
which will, no doubt, be very useful to the various botanical
workers, and which gives some idea of the extraordinary way in
which naturalized aliens, mostly obnoxious, are replacing our
native flora. — J. R. Tovey.

BOOK NOTICES.

A Descriptive List of the Birds Native to Victoria,
Australia. Compiled by J. A. Leach, M.Sc, Organizing
Inspector of Nature Study, Education Department, Victoria.
Melbourne : J. Kemp, Government Printer. Price, 6d.

This is a re-issue, in handy size, of the " Circular of Informa-
tion, No. 12, Nature Study," published as a supplement to the
Education Gazette for December last. The utility of the list
being quickly recognized, the original issue was soon exhausted,
consequently it was decided to reprint the list in a smaller sized
page, with such corrections and additions as were needed. As it
is, it forms an excellent guide to the birds of Victoria, so far as
can be accomplished without the aid of illustrations, and the
compiler is to be congratulated on the simple way in which he
has arranged his matter. The vernacular names are made the
foundation of the scheme, and, with many other common or local
names, are well indexed, so that there should be no difficulty in
identifying the bird for which any of them may be used. The
arrangement of the species is that adopted by Mr. Gregory
Mathews, F.L.S , in his " Handlist of the Birds of Australia,"
recently published as a supplement to the Emu. The species are
tabulated in columns as follows : — i. Number of species (of a
genus, family, or order, &c.) found in Australia; 2. Number of
species found in Victoria ; 3. Names — vernacular, local, and
■scientific ; 4. Total length of bird (including bill and tail) in inches ;
S. or N. Occurrence south or north of Main Divide, with further
indications as t<> the frequency with which the species is likely to
be met with ; 5. Kind of country usually seen in ; and 6.
Remarks — these generally consist of the leading points necessary
for the identification of the species. According to the list we
have 389 species recorded for Victoria, of which 195 are common
to both northern and southern Victoria; 71 are recorded for
northern Victoria only; while 123 (including 60 sea and shore
birds) have been recorded from southern Victoria only. That
the list is a useful one is unnecessary to state, and we will be
pleased to welcome others of a similar character, for which there
is ample room.

36 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

A Descriptive Guide to the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.

By W. R. Guilfoyle, F.L.S., Director. Melbourne : J. Kemp,

Government Printer. Price, one shilling.
The previous guide to the Gardens, noticed in these pages
some time ago {Vict. Nat., xix., p. 66) having been sold out, the
Director, in issuing a new edition, has taken the opportunity to
rewrite and considerably enlarge the handbook. Its value is
greatly increased by the inclusion of a number of views
of striking scenes, trees, &c., in the gardens, including
a large panoramic view of that portion of the grounds
which was added by the completion of the Yarra improve-
ment works in 1905. A large coloured plan is included, but
again no indication is given of its scale. We do not,
however, see the necessity of repeating the plan of the gardens
prior to 1873 — byegones should be bygones. The book has no
pretensions to be a complete catalogue of the plants to be found
in the Gardens, but the "Descriptive Tour Through the Gardens"
is very fully written, and indexed in such a way that the visitor
entering at any of the gates can at once join the supposed party,
and see for himself the more important trees, shrubs, &c.,
as he passes along. A reference to the smaller route map
on page 19 will show that the whole of the Gardens is
visited in turn. We regret that when issuing a new guide the
opportunity was not taken of associating the late Baron von
Mueller's name with one of the lawns, while the present
Director's name should undoubtedly be associated with
another, and we would suggest that the authorities be asked
to alter the names of tlie " Eastern" and "Southern " lawns to
" Mueller " and " Guilfoyle " lawns respectively. The list of
memorial trees is rapidly increasing, but few of them will have
greater interest to young Victorians than the grand old red gum
figured on page 51, under which was held a notable political
meeting on ist July, 1851, when it was resolved to urge the
separation of Victoria, or rather the Port Phillip District, from the
mother colony. New South Wales, and the creation of a new
colony. A plan of the system house will be found very useful
by the student of botany, while the size of the blocks devoted to
each order will give some indication of the importance of the
various orders of plants. Plans are also given of the arrangement
of the Museum of Economic Botany and Plant Products, which
will be useful to the student wishing to rapidly find any particular
specimen. An index of botanical names and another of common
names complete the guide, which should have a ready sale.

Che Uictorlan namralisi

Vol. XXVI.— No. 4. AUGUST 5, 1909. No. 308.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 12th July, 1909.

•The president, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, occupied the chair,
and about 70 members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the visit to the National Museum on Saturday,
loth July, was given by Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., the Curator
of Zoology, who reported a fair attendance of members.
Attention was first of all directed to the collections of Victorian
insects, more especially the butterflies and moths, with their life
histories ; then the other orders were inspected, as well as the
Howitt collection of Coleoptera. The valuable Curtis collection
of English Lepidoptera, which contains many rarities and some
types, and which has been in the possession of the Museum for
more than forty-five years, was also inspected, and seen to be in
^a splendid state of preservation. Some little time was also
devoted to the fine series of skeletons now displayed for the
instruction of students.

A report of the visit of the junior members to the botanical
laboratory at the University on Saturday, 3rd July, was made.
Miss Jean White, D.Sc, one of the demonstrators at the
Biological School, took charge of the party, and a profitable
afternoon was spent in examining different forms of leaves, &c.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. J. F. Haase, Little Collins-street,
City, was duly elected an ordinary member ; and Miss V.
Crockett, 104 Charles-street, Seddon, Miss V. Flee, 3 Pickett-
street, Footscray, Miss V. Scott, 6 O'Farrell-street, Seddon, Miss
D. White, 54 Pickett-street, Footscray, Miss D. Wyatt, Hobbs-
street, Seddon, Master B. Coutts, Victoria-road, Camberwell, and
Master J. Graham, Studley Park-road, Kew, were elected junior
members of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr. G. Coghill said that he thought it would be to the advan-
tage of the Club if the associate members by a small extra charge
could obtain the Club's journal monthly, and that the Committee
had decided to call a special meeting for the next monthly
meeting to consider the following alteration of clause d, rule 4, of
which he gave notice, viz., that the words " provided that by
payment of an additional sum of two shillings and sixpence

38 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

associates shall be entitled to receive the Club's journal monthly "
be added after the word " shillings."

PAPERS READ.

1. By Mr. J. C. Goudie, entitled " Notes on the Coleoptera of
North-Western Victoria, Part I."

In this paper, which was taken as read, the author enumerated
the various species of beetles belonging to the families Cincin-
delidae and Carabidse, which he had met with in the Birchip and
Sea Lake districts, and included a note by Mr. T. G. Sloane on
the distribution of the Carabid groups dealt with in the paper.
Useful notes were given as to the habitats and months of
appearance of many of the species. As usual in Victoria the
Cincindelidae were poorly represented, only two species occurring,
but of Carabidse 102 were list, many of which appeared to be
extremely rare.

2. By Mr. C. L. Barrett, entitled " A Naturalist in Bass
Straits."

This took the form of a lecture illustrated by lantern slides, in
which the author briefly described the route and sights met with
by the Ornithologists' Union excursion in November last. He
then gave some account of die trip made in the same locality in
the Commonwealth trawler, Endeavour, and described the
methods of trawling and dealing with the fish and other objects
obtained.

The president remarked on the interesting nature of the
author's communication, and several members discussed some of
the points mentioned.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Mr. G. A. Keartland said that he had noted the Spiny-cheeked
Honey-eater, Acanthogenys rufigularis, at Preston a few days
before, which he considered a very early appearance.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. C. F. Cole. — Aboriginal tomahawk, found three feet
below surface when draining land in the Gardiner's Creek valley
at Malvern. About twenty have been found under similar cir-
cumstances in the same locality.

By Mr. A. Coles. — Male and female Whistling Duck, Dendro-
cycna arcuala, Cuv., shot at Werribee, ist July, 1909.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Marine shells, twenty-two species of
genus Ovula, from various localities.

By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. — Living Gecko Lizard, Gymno-
dactylus milinsii, Bory., Victoria.

By Master A. Pitcher. — A curious lichen, Ramalina calcicaris,
var. Eckloni, from Newlyn, near Daylesford.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

August, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 39

NOTES ON THE COLEOPTERA OF NORTH-WESTERN
VICTORIA.— Part I.

By J. C. GouDiE.
(Read hefore the Field Naturalists' Chih of Victoria, 12t7i July, 1900.)

Having been engaged in collecting Coleoptera in the north-
western or Mallee districts of Victoria for upwards of fifteen
years, and having got together what may be regarded as a fairly
representative collection, it has seemed to me that such work is
not of much value unless published for the use of co-workers.
To put it in the form of a list, according to the latest accepted
classification, and with brief notes bearing on the habits, &c., of
the species, seemed the most convenient way to handle the
subject.

My collecting has been almost confined to the Birchip and Sea
Lake districts and the country lying between these towns.
Birchip is situated about 215 miles north-west from Melbourne,
and Sea Lake is 40 miles further north, and close to the southern
edge of Lake Tyrrell, approximately long. 143° E., lat. 353^° S.
Being comparatively new settlements, their names are only to be
seen on the later railway maps.

With regard to the naming of the species — an important point
— I may say that the names in this list may be relied on as
authentic, specimens of all the species having been submitted to
acknowledged authorities on Australian entomology. I have
much pleasure in expressing my thanks to those who have helped
in various ways, especially to Mr. A. M. Lea, F.E.S., Tasmanian
State Entomologist, and Mr. T. G. Sloane, the well-known
authority on Australian Carabidse.

Two families, Cicindelidas andCarabidge, are now dealt with, and
it is intended to complete the list by instalments, as time and oppor-
tunity will permit. There are a large number of species belonging
to various families and genera which have not been satisfactorily
identified, but it was not thought advisable to include these
under the generic name only, though in some cases when one
species only is known to occur its position has been indicated.

The numbers given are those of Master's Catalogue and
Supplement, which will enable anyone interested to refer to the
literature on the subject. The following note, kindly supplied
by Mr. T. G. Sloane, throws some light on the probable origin
and geographic dispersion of the principal Carabid groups dealt
with in this paper : —

'' The district over which Mr. Goudie has collected is part of
Professor Spencer's great Eyrean sub-region of Australia, which,
as shown in the map accompanying his ' Summary of Results of
the Horn Scientific Expedition,' includes Australia generally
except a narrow coastal strip extending easterly from King's

40 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Sound in the north-west round Australia to the mouth of the
Glenelg River. This coastal strip is divided by Professor Spencer
at the Clarence River into two parts — viz., a northern ' Torresian'
sub-region (in which New Guinea is included), and a southern
' Bassian ' sub-region (in which Tasmania is included).

" The ' Birchip-Sea Lake ' area partakes of the general
poverty in Carabid?e which characterizes the Eyrean sub-region,
and its Carabidse show a decided preponderance of Eyrean
types. Being situated near the confines of the Bassian sub-region,
it has naturally received more genera and species from that sub-
region than from the more distant Torresian sub-region. It has
derived from the Bassian sub-region its Nomiini (an Antarctic
element) and Lebiini. The Apotomini, Panageini, and Odacan-
thini have, no doubt, been derived indirectly from the Torresian
sub-region — they are Oriental tribes now distributed generally
over Australia. The Clivinini, Scaritini, Broscini, and Helluonini
are represented by forms which are essentially Eyrean. The
other tribes included in this local fauna are here composed of
ordinary Australian forms, and have such a general distribution
over Australia that more knowledge of the areas to which the
different genera and species are limited will be required before it
will be possible to divide them into geographical groups for the
study of their geographical distribution.

"The general conclusions I arrive at from an examination of
Mr. Goudie's materials are —

"i. The Carabidffi in the main are composed of elements that
are characteristic of the interior of extra-tropical and Western
Australia.

" 2. Owing to the arid summer and the low annual rainfall
there is a marked absence of the types which reach their highest
development in the more humid forests of the adjacent Bassian
sub-region. — Thos. G. Sloane. 6/6/09."

CICINDELID^.

4. Megacephala (Tetracha) australis, Chd. (Nov.)
This fine species is not common in the area under notice, but
is said to be frequently met with along the course of the Murray,
under logs, &c., close to the water.

13. Cicindela semicincta, BruUe (Nov.)

A widely distributed species, but rare in the Mallee. Habits
similar to foregoing.

CARABIDiE.

Tribe — Carabini.
35. Calosoma schayeri, Er. (Nov.)

Tribe — Clivini.
509. Clivina dilutipes, Putz.

C.felix, Sloane, P.L.S. N.S.W., 1896, part 2, p. 213.

August, 1909.) i'HE VICTOKIAN N ATUHA Llsl'. 41

519. C. melanopyga, Putz.

496, G. procei'ct, Putz. Included by Masters in Scolyptus.

G. queenslandica, SI., I.e., p. 164.

G. tumidipes, SI., I.e., p. 180.

The Clivini all have a strong family resemblance, being very
narrow in proportion to their length, and generally of a pitchy-
black colour. They are numerous and have a wide range in
Australia, and are usually found along the margins of lakes and
swamps hiding in cracks in the mud or under debris during the
summer. On sultry evenings they are often attracted by a light.
In 1896 Mr. T. G. Sloane published a fine monograph dealing
with 83 species, and a number have been added since.

Tribe — Scaritini.

460. Scaraphites lenceus, Westw. (May.)
A rare species, found on white sand-hills in Sea Lake district.
Originally described from Swan River, W.A. The headquarters
of this genus, of which there are fourteen species, is in Western
Australia.

445. Euryscaplius dilatatus, Macl.
In burrows, March to November (rarely found at midsummer).
One of the finest of the Victorian Scaritini. It has a lengthy
synonymy. (Sloane, "Check-List of Australian Carabidse," No.
132.)

347. Garenu'iii antltracimim, Macl.

A common and very variable species, both as regards size and
colour. It is often found on sand-hills, hiding under the tussocks
of "porcupine grass."

G. cordipenne, SI., P.L.S. N.S.W., 1897, part i, p. 196
(Mar.-Nov.)
Peculiar amongst its congeners by the presence of " one or
more setigerous punctures on the gense below the antennal
scrobes " (Sloane). A deep-burrowing species.

364. G. dispar, Macl. (?)
A single specimen is in the author's collection, taken on the
rifle range at Birchip in September.

366. C. elegans, Macl. (Mar.-Nov.)
A brilliant green species, well deserving its name. Taken in
burrows. Odd specimens found right through the summer.

G. imitator, SI., I.e., p. 206.
Comparatively rare, found in burrows (Mar.-Nov.)

371, C. interruptum, Macl.
Mr. Sloane, in his " Check-List," gives six synonyms of this
species, four being by Macleay.

42 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. iXVl.

404. C. scaritioides, Westw. (Mar. -Nov.)
Another much-described species. Being variable, and widely
distributed, it has been known by eight different names since
1842. Practically a non-burrower.

335. Carenum (Eutoma) tiuctillafitm, Newm. (Aug.-Nov.)
Usually taken under logs in the vicinity of water. Ten
synonyms appear in the " Check-List."
339. N eocarenum elongatum, Macl. (Aug.)
A single specimen is in my collection. It was found dead and
badly mutilated.
7308. Neoscaphus simplex, SI. (Aug.)

One specimen of this extremely rare Carenid was found 10
miles S.W, from Sea Lake, in dense mallee country. It was
dead, but perfect. Mr. Sloane tells me it is the rarest southern
Carenid.
7360. Carenarchus fortis, Blackb.

A great rarity. One specimen taken in open grassy country in
October.
402. Garenidiuin riverinm, Macl. (July-Nov.)
Formerly placed in the genus Conopterum. Two specimens
obtained whilst digging post-holes, so it is evidently a burrower.
312. C. superbum, Cast.
A fine black species, with violaceus tints near the margins of
upper surface. One specimen found near Birchip under a piece
of wood in open country in May.

HARPALIN^.
Harpalinse — Unisetosse.
Tribe — Broscini.
587. Proniecoderus concolor, Germ. (March-Nov.)

A common and variable species, found under logs or stones,
chiefly in grassy places.
633. Cerotalis semiviolacea, Cast. (March-Nov.)

In general appearance and habits this species resembles
Proniecoderus concolor, but may be distinguished by its more
shining appearance, by its blue colour underneath, and by the
absence of a tooth to the mentum or chin.
7419, Parroa ajoicalis, SI.

This fine insect is included amongst the list of novelties
obtained by the Elder Exploring Expedition in Central Aus-
tralia. But the place of its capture — i.e., of the type specimen —
seems not to have been recorded. One specimen was found on
the ground, under a piece of bark, in May, 10 miles south-west
from Sea Lake.

August, 1909.] THK VICTORIAN NATURALISt. 43

Tribe — Apotomini.
285. Apotomus aicstralis, Cast. (July).
My specimens were taken floating in water-channels, so that it
may not really be a local species.

Tribe — Harpalini.
656. Gnatliaphaniis adelaidce, Cast. (Sept.-Nov.)
This typical Harpalid is found throughout Australia and
Tasmania, and is very common in the springtime,

G. latus, Si., P.L.S. N.S.W., 1899, part 4, p. 455.
I have taken this species under logs at Green Lake, 6
miles south of Sea Lake, in November.

7436. Fhorticosoniics hrunneios, Blkb.

678. Hypharpax deyrollei, Cast.
7456, H. inornatus, Germ. (Sept.-April).
Often found in flood waters.

7461. H. vilis, Blkb.

This and the three preceding species are similar in their habits.
During the winter months they appear to burrow into the ground
and remain in a semi-torpid condition until the warm weather
sets in.

668. Cenogmus rotundicollis, Cast. (May-Nov.)

669. C. waferhousei, Cast. (May-Nov.)

The species belonging to this genus were formerly placed in
Anisodactylus, but were removed to Cenogmus by Mr. Sioane in
1898, on the ground that the former genus did not properly
belong to Australia.

Notophilus gracilis, Blkb.
N. Icetus, Blkb.
I have found both these species under debris round the edges
of waterholes in October.
646. Psilonothtos (^Amblygnathus) viinutus, Cast.
This highly-polished little Harpalid is found in the Sea Lake
district on sand-hills, under logs and sticks, &c,, in November.
I include it in Psilonothus on Mr. Sloane's authority, who con-
siders that Amblygnathus is not an Australian genus.

7462. Thenarotes australis, Blkb.

7463. T. discoidalis, Blkb.
707. T. tasmaiiicus, Bates.

Three well-known species, usually found on the margins of
waterholes. On sultry summer evenings they sometimes fly
indoors to the light in large numbers.

Tribe — Chl^nini.
567. Oodes inornatus, Cast.
571. 0. modestus, Cast.
These two species have a decided partiality for the water's

44 I'riE VICTORIAN NATUkALis'h [Vol. XXVl.

edge, hiding under logs or other shelter. I have taken them in
November.

541. Chkeniuis australis, Dej.
7402. C Icetiviridis, Chd.

Taken abundantly round the margins of lakes and swamps in

early summer.

HARPALIN/E.

Harpalinae — BisetoscC.
Tribe — Panagceini.
532. Epicosinuti australasice, Chd. (August).
A well-known and widely distributed species. About twelve
years ago it was very numerous in the Birchip district, but since
then it has become almost extinct.

Tribe — Bembidiini.
953- Bembidium jacksoniense, Guer.
This small, active species may be seen in large numbers in the
spring running on the mud at the edges of waterholes. B. siob-
viride, Macl., and B. ocellatum, Blkb., are listed as synonyms,
M. C. Supp., p. 694.

Tribe— NoMiiNi.

923. Mecyclothorax ambigutis, Er.
7486. M. curtus, SI.

Very rare. Described in 1894 from a single specimen found
at Bendigo by Mr. VV. W. Froggatt. My specimen was taken
.under dry leaves.
7488. Afecyclothorax fortis, Blkb. (May).

650. M. lateralis, Cast. (Nov.)
7491. M. puncbatus, SI. (Sept.)

The species of Mecyclothorax known to me are all similar in
their habits, being found on the ground under dry leaves during
the winter and spring.

M. punctatus, SI., is remarkable in having the prolhorax
strongly punctate.

7509. Epelyx lindensis, Blkb.

Found (rarely) on tree trunks, sometimes under the bark.

7499. Amblytelus brevis, Blkb. (Sept.)
A. discoidalis, Blkb. (Sept.)
Taken under bark on tree trunks. From the habits and
appearance of this genus one would expect it to be allied to the
Lebiini.

Tribe — Trigonotomini.

Sub-tribe — Morionini.

2 88. Hyperion schroetteri, Schreib.
This giant among Carabs is rarely taken here. One of my

August, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 45

specimens was found in the interior of the trunk of a large hollow
" Box " tree in October. The hollow was filled with damp earthy
material, in which were a number of Scarabseidse and their
larvae. Nothing appears to be known of the larval stage of
Hyperion, thus leaving an interesting entomological problem to
be solved.
761. Catadromus lacordairei, Boisd. (July-Nov.)
A fine, ornate species, widely dispersed ; usually found in
damp situations.

C. latro, Tsch.
A larger species than the last-mentioned. Taken under logs
near water.

Tribe — Trigonotomini.

867. Hhytisternus cyathoderus, Chd.

868. R. kevilaterus, Chd. (July-Nov.)

Taken generally in open, grassy country, under logs, &c. They
resemble the species of Sarticus to a certain extent, but are more
depressed in form. Mr. Sloane has given a very useful tabular
view of twelve species (P.L.S. N.S.VV., 1894, 2nd series, p. 437).
Sarticus discopunctatus, Chd.
S. esmeraldipennis, Cast.

Two very common species. Taken almost anywhere, under
logs, &c., from March to December. S. esmeraldipennis, Cast.,
is given as a synonym of S. obesula, Chd., in Master's Catalogue.
Mr. Sloane, however, regards «S'. esmeraldipennis as a good
species, and has redescribed it (P.L S. N.S.W., 1903, part 3, p.
617).

878. Chlcenioidius meMei, Montr., Ann. Fr., i860, p. 238.
This species is well known as C. herbaceus, Chd. The following
note by Mr. Sloane explains the change of name : — " It was
described from New Caledonia (where also C. prolixus, Er., is
found) by Montrousier in i860. Chaudoir did not describe it as
C. herbacetis till 1865, so his name sinks to a synonym of
C. mellei, Montr."

881. C. prolixus, Er.

909. Simodo7itus atistralis, Dej. (April-Dec.)

S. ma^idibularis, 81., P.L.S. N.S.W., 1894, part 4, p. 574.
Both species occur plentifully throughout the Mallee, sheltering
under sticks, &c.

Tribe — Sphodrini.
Lcemostenus complanalus, Dej.
An introduced European insect, known for nearly 20 years in
Australia as Prislonychus auslralis, BIkb. Sometimes found in
houses and grain sheds.
926. Platynus marginicoUis, Macl. (Nov.)
Very plentiful under logs near water.

46 THE VICTORIAN NATUKALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Tribe — Licinini.

Some years ago I took a specimen of what appears to be an
undetermined species of Microferonia under a stone near Birchip.

581. Physolesthus saturalis, Cast.
Found under logs at Green Lake in November.

913. Dicrochile goryi, Boisd. (Nov.)
918. D. quadricollis, Cast. (Nov.)
These two species are sometimes taken in arid situations, but,
like most Carabidse, they prefer the vicinity of water.

Tribe — Odacanthini.

Eiidalia niger, SI., P.L.S. N.S.W., part 4, p. 581.
A rare species ; easily recognized by its shining black colour,
small prothorax, and bicoloured legs. My specimen was taken
under a stick at the edge of a waterhole at Sea Lake, in November.

Tribe — Lebiini.

The insects placed in this tribe appear to be, with the excep-
tion of the three genera placed at the end {Homethes, Dromius, and
Scopodes), arboreal in their habits. At any rate, they hide by day
under the loose bark of trees, their flattened form being specially
adapted for this mode of concealment. When collecting them it
is a good plan to spread a piece of white cloth at the base of the
tree, as the insects falling on it can be easily seen and captured.

Xantlwphcea loweri, Blkb. (May-Dec), P.L.S. N.S.W.,
(2), v., 1890, p. 304.
This species is peculiar in that it is found under the bark of
dead trees.

104. Trigonothops flavqfasciata, Chd. (March-Dec.)
108. T. pacified, Er. (March-Dec.)
7246. Biabaticus minor, Blkb.

Not common in the Mallee districts. My specimen found
amongst dry leaves in September.

The genus Phlceocarahus is represented by at least one species,
but this has not yet been satisfactorily identified.

181. Agonochila higuttata, Chd. (Oct.)
7275. A. fenestrata, Blkb. (May-Dec.)

187. A. lutosa, Newm. (May-Dec.)

164. Philophloeus eucalypti, Germ. (May-Dec.)

167. P. immaculatus, Chd. (May-Dec.)
7271. P. opaciceps, Blkb. (May-Dec.)

176. P. quadripennis, Chd. (May-Dec.)

178. P. unicolor, Chd. (May-Dec.)

The species of Philophloeus have in many cases a close general
resemblance to each other, more particularly those of a uniform

August, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. • 47

colour, the sculpture of the prothorax being one of the chief
points of distinction. An excellent paper on the Lebiini, with
tabulations of genera and species, and many valuable notes, was
published by Mr. T. G. Sloane some years ago (vide P.L.S.
N.S.W., 1898, part 3, p. 492).

134. Homethes guttifer, Germ.
7250. H. gracilis, Blkb.
140. Microlestes [Dromius) humeralis, Macl.
206. Scopodes hoops, Er.
2ro. S. sigillatus, Germ.

The species belonging to the three latter genera are found on
the ground under dry leaves, &c. They are elegant in shape, and
quick in action. The species of Scopodes may be likened to
miniature " Tiger-beetles." All met with during the greater part
of the year, but chiefly in spring and early summer.

Tribe — Helluonini.

Gigadema carhonaria, SI., M.S.S. (May-Nov).
82. G. longipenna. Germ.

These fine Carabs are usually found under the loose bark of
dead trees, sometimes in considerable numbers. Fourteen
species are listed in Master's Catalogue, many of them being
much alike, and, consequently, somewhat of a puzzle to entomol-
ogi.sts.

PSEUDOMORPHINl.

Dr. Horn makes this aberrant group a sub-family and places
it last. Two genera are catalogued as Australian — viz., Silpho-
morpha and Adelotopus, the species of which are far removed in
appearance from typical Carabidse, being, in fact, more like
water-beetles, and in some cases resembling some of the species
of Pteroheloeus, of the Tenebrionidse. They live on tree-trunks
under the loose bark, and on a hot day are very active.

220. Silphomorpha scolybetioides Westw. (March-Nov.)
225 S.Jallax, Westw. (March-Nov.)
229. S. hydroporoides, Westw. (March-Nov.)
232. S. maculata, Nevvm. (March-Nov.)
248. S. suturalis, Germ. (March-Nov.)
254. Adelotopus aphodioldes, Westw.
256. A. bicolor. Cast.
262. Adelotopus dytiscoides, Newm.
A. insignis, SI., M.S.S.

Note. — The dates mentioned for the occurrence of many of
the species are not in any case meant to be arbitrary, but are in-
cluded as a tentative effort in the direction of an " entomological
calendar."

48 THE VICTOKIAN NATUKALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

BOOK NOTICES.
Victorian Hill and Dale. By T. S. Hall, M.A., D.Sc,

Lecturer in Biology, University of Melbourne. Melbourne :

T. C. Lothian. Price, 3s.
This little volume of 160 pages is the first attempt to place the
geology of Melbourne and a few other centres in Victoria before
the general reader in a popular manner. The work is the out-
come of a series of articles contributed to the Argus in 1905-6
by Dr. Hall, which -were so much appreciated that a desire was
expressed for them in book form. With the additional help of
forty illustrations and maps the author has arranged his story so
clearly that the average student should have no difficulty in
grasping the main facts of the why and wherefore of the hills and
valleys around us. Technical language is conspicuous by its
absence, but a useful appendix shows the geological age of the
various rock series mentioned.

Handbook of Destructive Insects of Victoria (Part IV.)
By C. French, F.L.S., F.E.S., Government Entomologist.
Melbourne : Osboldstone and Co. Price, 2s. 6d.
It is greatly to be regretted that the Department of Agriculture
is not provided with sufficient funds for the publication of its
" Handbook of Destructive Insects " at shorter intervals. Refer-
ence to Part III. will show that nearly nine years have elapsed
since its appearance. That it is not the talented author's fault is
shown by the fact that he has sufficient material prepared for two
more parts, which, at the present rate of progress, will not appear
till long after those who are anxiously waiting for the information
will have ceased to require it. The only point of satisfaction in
connection with the delay is that in the interval the three-colour
process of illustrating has been developed, and the 34 plates in
the present part are fine specimens of that work, and portray the
various species even more faithfully than did the lithographs
of the earlier parts. Following the plan of the last part, Mr.
French has included plates and descriptions of 14 useful birds,,
so that farmers, &c., may have no difficulty in recognizing their
friends. The 20 plates and descriptions of insects include a
number of species which are chiefly destructive to our forest trees
rather than to fruit trees, but there is always the risk that as the
former become fewer, the insects will take to cultivated trees, as
has happened in the case of the apple root-borer, &c. It is
needless to say that the work is written with Mr. French's usual
thoroughness, the illustrations are mostly from drawings by Mr.
C. C. Brittlebank, while Messrs. Osboldstone have done their
part of the work excellently. For those whose duty it is to keep
within the law a list of the proclaimed insect and fungus pests is
included, as well as the amended Vegetation Diseases Act and
its schedules, while a useful appendix gives the latest particulars
as to materials in use for the destruction of noxious insects and
methods of use.

tbc Uictorlan naturalist

Vol. XXVL— No. 5. SEPTEMBER 9, 1909. No. 309.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

A SPECIAL general meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
.Society's Hall on Monday evening, 9th August, 1909.

Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc, one of the vice-presidents, occupied
the chair, and about 50 members were present.

In accordance with notice given at the previous ordinary
meeting Mr. G. Coghill moved — "That the following alteration be
made in clause d of rule 4, viz., that after the word 'shillings'
the words ' provided that on payment of an additional two
shillings and sixpence such associate shall be entitled to receive
the Club's journal monthly ' be added." He considered that the
associate members, who, it must be remembered, were under
the age of twenty, would take a greater interest in the Club work
if at a small extra expense they could obtain the Club's journal.

The motion was seconded by Mr. R. W. Armitage, and carried
unanimously.

The business of the ordinary meeting was then proceeded with.

REPORTS.

A report of the junior excursion to Sandringham on Saturday,
7th August, was given by the leader, Dr. C. S. Sutton, who
reported an excellent attendance, about 40 juniors being present.
The date proved to be somewhat early for the present season, as
only some 25 plants were found in bloom. However, several
interesting species, such as the orchids Corysanthes pruinosa^
Pterostylis vittata, and Acianthus exsertus, were obtained. Many
questions were put by the young folks, and notes taken down, so
that he considered the afternoon had been well spent. The day
was extremely fine, and everybody seemed to enjoy the outing.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. Frank C. Bury, Hoyt-street,
Brighton, and Mr, Gerald F. Hill were duly elected ordinary
members ; Master C. Raff, Elsternwick, an associate ; and
Masters John Barbour, Yass, N.S.W., and S. H. Mereweather,
Loch-street, Camberwell, junior members of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

A circular letter was read from the Kernot Memorial Com-
mittee, containing the various suggestions by w^hich the deep
interest of the late Professor Kernot, for many years president of
the Royal Society, in scientific matters, might be recognized, and
soliciting subscriptions to the proposed memorial.

Mr. G. Coghill called attention to several inaccuracies in recent

50 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

natural history notes in the public press, and thought an efifort
should be made to have them corrected, but it was generally-
considered that individual action would be the better way of
calling attention to the mistakes.

PAPER READ.

By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., entitled " In the Heart
of the Mallee."

The author's remarks were well illustrated by a fine series
of lantern views depicting the scenery and the many interesting
birds, &c., met with during a visit to the Pine Plains district,
some 35 miles north-west of Hopetoun. He pointed out that,
instead of being, as most people thought, a treeless, sandy waste,
the country known as the "Mallee" was really one of the best
parts of Victoria for studying natural history. Though com-
paratively level, cind at only moderate elevation above the sea, the
Mallee contained an infinite variety of vegetation, ranging from
Murray pines forty to fifty feet high to the smallest herb, and
consequently the bird-life was also very varied. His friend, Mr.
C. M'Lellan, who had spent a number of years in the district, had
recorded 175 species, among which were included several almost
confined to the locality. Open grass plains, often dotted with
red gums, occurred at intervals, and provided nourishment for
the pastoralists' stock. Many of the pictures were obtained under
considerable difficulties, but, notwithstanding, they proved of great
interest, and clearly demonstrated that the Mallee is very different
from the general impression which prevails in the ordinary mind.

The chairman expressed his pleasure at the author's descrip-
tions, which recalled many scenes familiar to him during a resi-
dence of some months in north-west Victoria.

Mr. C. French, jun., who had collected in the same district
some years before, also spoke in support of the author's statements.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Spiders. — Mr. R. Kelly forwarded a note calling attention to
an extraordinary occurrence of quantities of spiders' webs at
Healesville in June last, which seemed to have been spun to enable
the spiders to escape from the flood waters then prevailing.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Marine shells, Spondylus gcederopus,
Linn., from the Mediterranean ; S. aurantiics, Lam., from
Philippine Is.; S. imperialis, Cham., from China ; and S.
Atnericanus, Lam., from West Indies.

By Mr. R. Kelly. — Photographs of spiders' webs at Healesville.

By Miss Lazarus. — Ivory nut from Solomon Is.

By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S.— A snake-lizard, Lialis
burtoni, from the Mallee, in illustration of paper.

After the usual conversazione the meeting closed.

Sept., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 51

A NATURALIST IN BASS STRAIT.

By Charles L. Barrett.

(Read he/ore the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, I2lh Julj/, 1909.)

To a Victorian naturalist, whatever his " specialty" may be, the
islands of Bass Strait offer much of interest. But the ornithol-
ogist should be happier among the islands than all other lovers
of nature, for the sea-birds nest on these lonely specks of land.
Thousands of gannets and black cormorants may be seen on
their nests, while in burrows beneath the tussocky grass are the
homes of countless petrels and penguins. Along the desolate
shores, rock-strewn and patterned with dead sea tresses, sharp
eyes may find the primitive nests of terns and dottrels and oyster-
catchers, and tlie scanty vegetation of some of the isles yields
many interesting " finds" to the diligent oologist.

I have made two brief voyages in Bass Strait within the past
twelve months, and of these I propose to give some account.
My first trip was made as a member of the expedition arranged
by the Australasian Ornithologists' Union, under the leadership
ofMr. A. H. E. Mattingley, CM.Z.S. The s.s. Ifauawaiu was
chartered for a moderate sum, and for fifteen days she was the
ark of refuge for a large party (26) of naturalists.

We left Melbourne at midnight on 24th November, 1908, and
ran to Western Port Bay before a favouring wind. A brief stay
was made at Flinders, and then the steamer headed for Seal
Rocks. As we approached this haunt of the seals, hundreds of
the animals could be seen in the water, and from the rocks came,
borne on the wind, the sound of their voices. The rookery
presented a " moving spectacle," as we surveyed it through
binoculars from the steamer's deck. Huge brown' forms were
clambering among the pools and darting in and out of the surf,
while sleek cubs lay basking in the sunlight beside their
anxious mothers. Mr. Mattingley, accompanied by Dr. Lempriere
and the cinematograph operator, landed from a motor launch, after
great difficulty, and stayed on the rocks for several hours. They
succeeded in obtaining some tine snapshots and one or two
" moving pictures."

From Seal Rocks our little steamer made heavy weather to
Currie Harbour, on the west coast of King Island, where she had
to shelter for a day. The members of the expedition split up
into small parties for rambles ashore. Accompanied by Mr. E.
B. Nicholls and three King Islanders, I rode across to the east
coast, and visited Sea Elephant River and the site of the proposed
new harbour. We had a glorious gallop over the heathy downs
and along the firm white beach, which was strewn with large
bivalve shells, strange fishes, and sea-weed, for it was the morning
after a great storm. The ride "home" to Currie in the twilight

52 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

was pleasant indeed. The air was fragrant of " melilot"
and clover, and the light at the harbour's mouth beamed a
welcome.

Next morning the Manawatu steamed to Seal River Bay,
where the famous sand-blow was searched by Mr. J. A. Kershaw
and others, who made a fine collection of " bones." We had
hoped to make a landing on Albatross Island, but it was not to
be. AVhen the granite cliffs loomed on our starboard bow the
foam was seen to be spouting high upon them, and our skipper
declined to risk his boat. We could make out the white forms of
the birds, seated serenely on their nests, above the reach of the
breaking waves and as unattainable to us.

At dusk we anchored in Chimney Corner Bay, Three Hummock
Island. Soon after daylight a party went ashore, to be welcomed
by a herdsman and his wife and three children, who are sole
habitants of the island. There was little of interest on Three
Hummock, and we were all glad to be aboard and under weigh
again.

Penguin Island was the next place of call, and here those
bird-lovers who braved the landing, which was most difficult and
dangerous, were rewarded. The summit of the island was riddled
with penguin burrows, which made upright walking an impossi-
bility. Every minute somebody stumbled in a burrow, and I
fear many an unfortunate bird was crushed to death. On the
narrow end of the island we found the pelican rookery described
by Mr. J. Gabriel in the Naturalist * many years ago. There
were eight nests, each containing a pair of eggs. Several of
these were addled. The birds flew out to sea before our boat
was a cable's length from the steamer's side, and the cinemato-
graph operator had nothing to do but mourn over the stupidity of
the pelican.

With Penguin Island the first half of our voyage was ended.
We ran into Devonport, Tasmania, to take in fresh stores, and
thence set a course for the Furneaux Group. Cape Barren Island
was first visited, and our party spent a pleasant day at Franklin
settlement among the half-castes. Mr. Knight, the schoolmaster,
told us many interesting stories of his "people," and the half-
castes themselves were communicative on some subjects,
especially their wrongs. They are certainly an unfortunate
community.

Coasting along Flinders, we dropped a small party at the
north-east end of the big island, and then steamed away to Babel
Island. Despite gloomy prophecies by the skipper and the mate,
no difficulty was experienced in landing on Cat Island, where the
great gannet rookery was in full swing. The rookery has been

* Via. Nat,, xiii. (1896), p. 9.

Sept., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 53

described often before, and I have nothing fresh to add, save that
the number of birds breeding seems to be the same as when Mr.
Gabriel visited Cat Island a score of years ago. Storehouse
Island was also visited, and several cormorant rookeries were
examined. Excellent cinematographs were obtained of both
gannets and cormorants.

After a rough passage, we steamed into the quiet harbour of
Kent Group, to the south-east of Wilson's Promontory. The
light-keeper, Captain Robinson, and his pleasant family gave us
a hearty welcome, and we were sorry indeed we had to say good-
bye. The homeward voyage was full of incident, and once, off
the Promontory, the Manawatu was so buffeted by wind and
wave that she could make no headway under full steam for some
time. But the stout little craft won through, and once under the
lee of the Promontory all was smooth steaming. Still the trip
had a " sideways ending," for the Manawatu, after casting anchor
in the channel at San Remo, was left high and dry at ebb tide,
and the members of the expedition practically walked ashore.

My second trip to Bass Strait was made in May, 1909. By
good fortune I was enabled to secure a berth on the Common-
wealtli fisheries investigation vessel Endeavour for one of her
short cruises.

The Endeavour, which was built at the Government dock-
yards, Sydney, where, too, all her machinery was constructed, is a
splendid sea boat. Modelled on the lines of a Norwegian type
of tiawling vessel, the Endeavour measures 135 feet over all by
23 feet 6 inches beam and 11 feet 6 inches depth. Her engines
are of the most modern design, and she is capable of a speed of
12)^ knots. She is provided with a Hercules refrigerating
machine and a large steam trawl winch, weighing 11 tons and
carrying 500 fathoms of 5-inch wire on each drum. The chief
engineer is Mr. VV. T. Anderson. The " fittings " of the trawler
are all of the best. The saloon is small, but elegant and com-
fortable, and the cabins occupied by the director (Mr. H. C.
Dannevig) and the chief officers are very pleasant apartments.
Nor are the members of the crew neglected ; their quarters are
roomy and comfortable, and as strict cleanliness is enforced, the
Endeavo7ir may be regarded as a model for shipmasters. I spent
much of my time in the laboratory, which, if the space is confined,
is fitted with all manner of scientific conveniences. This is the
special sanctum of the assistant investigator, Mr. Burford. Cap-
tain Cartwright, an experienced navigator, has quarters on deck —
a cabin and chart-room combined.

Everyone on board was eager to assist me in my endeavours
to gain knowledge. As a pressman I was a " chiel amang them
takin' notes," and I can only say that but for the kindness of Mr.
Dannevig and all those associated with him those notes would

54 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

have contained many an error. My thanks are due also to Mr.
N. Lockyer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, on whose recom-
mendation to the Minister the invitation was given to my paper
to send a representative with the trawler on her cruise last May.

We experienced very stormy weather during nearly the whole of
the trip, and were compelled to shelter every night under the lee
of the nearest island. The first trawl was shot in i6 fathoms, off
Sealers' Cove, east of Wilson's Promontory, but the ground
proved so unsuitable that the net was badly torn. This neces-
sitated a " stay of proceedings" for some hours while broken
meshes were repaired, so we steamed into Murray Pass (Kent
Group) and anchored for the night. Before noon on the following
day we left our anchorage and set a course for Flinders Island.
But the weather was " dirty," and it took the Endeavour many an
hour to cross the fifty miles of heaving sea ; and when we got to
Flinders the sea was so stormy that our skipper was compelled to
shelter in Endeavour Bay. Late in the evening we ran across to
West Sister Island (six miles), and on the morrow (Sunday) the
men were given a run ashore.

It was not until 17th May that the "fishing grounds" were
reached. Off Babel Island, at daylight, the trawl was shot in 45
fathoms, and after being towed astern for two hours the " cod
end," or basket portion of the net, was wound in board by the
great steam winch. The catch was a good one. The " cod end "
was opened, and a stream of fishes of many species flowed into
the " ponds " on deck. Among others I noticed large grey flat-
head, "jackasses," silks, gurnets, rock cod, ling, and a miscel-
laneous assortment of electric rays, small sharks, leatherjackets
or file fish, globe fish, toad fish and other "rubbish."

Half a dozen men at once set to work sorting the good or
edible fishes from the "rubbish." The rejected ones were cast
overboard, while the chosen suffered the horrible process known
as " gutting." After being thoroughly washed, the fishes were
stowed on shelves in the refrigerating chamber. This is an out-
line of the work carried out on the trawler as regards fishing.
The trawl is cast overboard as soon as the "cod end" has
yielded its catch, and the work goes on from dawn till long after
the port lights are lit. It was very interesting to watch for a
while, but soon became monotonous, save when the sorting was
going on, and as a naturalist (albeit one knowing little about
fishes), I was ever on the watch for curious specimens. But
trawling is only part of the Endeavour's raison d'etre. Under the
supervision of the director, soundings are constantly made, and
the temperature of the sea water at different depths ascertained
and recorded.

It is perhaps too early to express any opinion as to the possi-
bility of establishing a trawling industry in Bass Strait. The

Sept., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 55

Endeavour must make many more trips before even the experts
can venture to speak with authority. But, apart from the
economical aspect of the trawler's work, surely the Federal
Government is justified in keeping her in commission to the end
that science may be advanced. For that the scientific work
which Mr. Dannevig and his assistants are carrying out is of
value, and will add much to our knowledge of Australia's marine
fauna, none can doubt.

[The paper was illustrated with a number of excellent lantern
views. — Ed. Vict. Nat.\

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF ACANTHIZA,
FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., C.M.B.O.U., Ornithologist

to the Australian Museum, Sydney.*
Mr. R. Etheridge, Curator of the Australian Museum, has
placed in my hands for determination a parcel of bird-skins
received from Mr. H. L. White, of Belltrees, Scone, New South
Wales, and collected for him by Mr. F. Lawson Whitlock, in the
vicinity of Lake Way, East Murchison District, Western Australia.
Although only a small collection, it contains some interesting
forms, notably Cinclosoma marginatutn, Acanthiza robtostirostris,
Climacteris auperciliosa, and three specimens of an apparently
new species of Acanthiza, which may be characterized as
follows : —
Acanthiza whitlocki, sp. nov.

Adult Male. — General colour above pale greyish-brown;
upper wing-coverts like the back, some of the outer greater series
with darker brown centres ; quills brown, the primaries ex-
ternally edged with ashy-white, the secondaries broadly margined
with gre)ish-brown on their outer webs ; upper tail-coverts light
rufous brown ; tail feathers pale brown, crossed with a broad
sub-terminal black band, less distinct on the central pair, and
having a spot of white extending about half-way across the tip
tip of the inner web, and which is smaller and less distinct
towards the central pair; feathers on tlie forehead blackish with
whity-brown margins; lores and ear coverts whitish, the latter with
narrow indistinct blackish margins ; all the under surface white,
the feathers of the chin, throat, and fore-neck with blackish mar-
gins, those of the breast faintly tinged with fulvous ; lower sides of
the body and under tail coverts pale fulvous ; " bill black ; legs and
feet black ; iris red " (Whitlock). Total length, 4 inclies ; wing, 2 ;
tail, 1.9 ; bill, 0.4 ; tarsus, 0.8.

Adult Female. — Similar in plumage to the male.

* Contributions from the Australian Museum, lay permission of the Trustees.

56 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, [Vol. XXVI.

Habitat. — Lake Way, East Murchison District, Western Aus-
tralia.

Remarks — Mr. H. L. White has done much recently to advance
Australian ornithology, and, in compliance with a request, I have
therefore much pleasure in associating with the present species
the name of Mr. F. Lawson Whitlock, who has collected during
the past few years for the Perth Museum and for Mr. White in
different parts of Western and North-Western Australia.

Acanthiza ivhitlocki, of which two adult males and an adult
female were obtained, is more nearly allied to A. apicalis. From
that species, however, it may be distinguished by its greyish-brown
instead of olive-brown upper parts, rendering the rufous-brown
upper tail coverts more conspicuous, by its purer white under
parts, and the broader black sub-terminal band on the tail
feathers. Vernacularly it may be distinguished as Whitlock's
Thornbill.

Possibly referable to this species is a mutilated fiat skin I
received in 1906 from Mr. Chas. G. Gibson, the Assistant Govern-
ment Geologist of Western Australia, who was collecting in the
Lake Way district during that year. This skin, which was for-
warded to me under the name of Acanthiza pyrrhopygia (?), is,
however, more of an olive-brown on the upper parts, but the
entire skin and feathers of the breast and abdomen are missing.

THE FOX AND ITS VICTIMS : A SERIOUS SITUA-
TION.

The following article, contributed to the columns of the Argus
of Saturday, 28th August, by "Wanda," points to a very serious
result from the increase of foxes, which, we fear, is not realized
either by the authorities or the general public, and should serve
to warn others, who may be contemplating elsewhere the introduc-
tion of foreign creatures, as to the possible results : —

I am afraid it will eventually be agreed that the fox is the worst
of those three great pests which we owe to unthinking acclimatis-
ing enthusiasts. The sparrow is limited in its scope of action,
and the rabbit can be turned to commercial use. But tlie range
and scope of the fox is, in a sense, unlimited, and he is commer-
cially worthless. Like both the rabbit and the sparrow, the fox
has found this country so suitable, both as regards climate and
food, that he is spreading and increasing in numbers much
quicker than he does in his native land. In England the utmost
care has to be taken of him, so that a sufficient number may be
annually available for the national sport of fox-hunting. Foxes,
in England, are practically never shot, trapped, or poisoned, yet
they are never over-abundant. Here every man's hand is against

Sept., 1909.] THE VICTOHlAN NATURALIST. 57

them, and the State pays a bounty for their scalps ; and in spite
of it all, they are increasing rapidly every year.

When foxes were first introduced, the principal fear expressed
was that they might turn out to be troublesome to sheep-breeders.
It was also thought that the farmers' hen-roosts miglit suffer.
But no one seems to have taken into account the probable effect
that tliey would have upon our native animals and birds. As it
happens, the damage they have done amongst the pastoralists'
flocks and the country poultry-yards is comparatively small. In
some districts, where other food is scarce, they take an annual
toll of lambs and cast ewes ; but over large areas they exist side
by side with the sheep, and give the farmer or the squatter no
trouble. Their principal food is the omnipresent rabbit, and
there is no doubt that, from year to year, they account for a large
number of these pests.

But the great objection to the fox is that he is a born hunter,
and has an msatiable lust for blood. If he gets the opportunity
to kill he seizes it eagerly, quite apart from whether he is hungry
or not. Curiously enough, the fox is a very small eater, and the
average fox will thrive on what would be a starvation allowance
to a dog of his size. But though he only requires small quantities
of food, he is always on the look-out for food of a special quality,
and he delights in hunting for it. With regard to the killing of
lambs, the fox almost invariabiy eats only the tongue of his
victim. This is so extremely small that lamb after lamb is killed
before the slaughterer has secured a decent meal. In this case,
too, it is probable that the love of killing is partly responsible for
the death of many of the lambs. When a fox gets into a hen-
roost much the same thing occurs. Everything is killed, and,
unless the fox happens to be particularly hungry, very little is
eaten.

This is the instinct which has made the fox such a danger to
our native fauna. Unfortunately for our wild birds and animals,
the life of security that they led prior to the coming of the fox
has made them an easy victim in most cases to their new and
cunning foe. Previously the dingo and the native cat were their
only enemies ; but from neither of these did they suffer a tithe
of what they now undergo from the teeth of the fox. I have
made a list of the native birds and animals that are suffering from
the attack of the fox, and it is appalling in its completeness.
For the fox is so catholic in his taste that nothing in fur or
feathers seems to come amiss to him. Even the strong-smelling
and sinewy 'possum is a constant victim. The 'possum is a good
example of how long-existing previous immunity leads to habits
of carelessness. So long as he keeps in the trees, the 'possum, of
course, is safe. But it is the invariable habit of this animal to
come to the ground in the course of the night, and to wander

58 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

from tree to tree. All of our ground-dwelling animals, such as
the bandicoot and the kangaroo rat, suffer very severely, as they
are quite helpless against such a large, active, and eager enemy
as the fox.

But, although the furry tribe are suffering badly, by far the
most serious of the fox's depredations are those upon our birds.
It happens, unfortunately, that a large number of our finest birds
are ground-frequenting in their habits. Some of them, such as
the emu, the wild turkey, and the swan, do not use trees at all ;
while others, such as the lyre-bird and the duck family, use them
to only a limited extent. And it can be laid down as an axiom
that all birds which do not roost in trees fall a more or less easy
prey to the fox. The full-grown emu, of course, is able to
defend itself against a fox — at least, I have not yet heard of any
being killed by foxes. But the young ones are constantly taken.
The lyre-bird, which is a slow breeder, and is steadily being
driven back by civilization, is one of the fox's most easy victims.
The wild turkey, another shy breeder, is constantly being killed
by the fox. In these and many other cases the habit of doing
his hunting by night — which is always the practice of the fox —
helps him greatly. The wild turkey is sitting on her solitary egg,
on the bare ground, when the fox, after an easy stalk, pounces
upon her. After killing her, he disposes of the egg. At one
time a large number of these fine birds used to nest on our open
western plains. Now a nest is a novelty, and a station manager,
who has spent most of his life on the plains, told me lately that
almost the whole of the responsibility for this sad state of affairs
rested on the fox. Time and again, while riding over his estate,
he has come upon the mangled remains of nesting birds. A
heavy toll is also taken of the eggs of the smaller ground-building
birds, such as the quail and plover, and the young of hundreds
of these birds are also eaten.

It would perhaps be thought that the water-fowl would be safe
from molestation, as the fox has no love for water. But his
hunting instinct has been able to overcome even this difficulty.
The native companion, as a rule, nests on an island in a lake, or
on a piece of rising ground in a swamp. There she lays her two
large eggs. But the fox doesn't mind the water-logged rushes
that lie between him and his prey, and so the nest of this fine
bird is broken up and the eggs devoured. The swan nests in
the rushes and the reed-beds of the lakes, lagoons, and swamps,
and sometimes in a clump of reeds in a quiet river bend. She
lays from four to six, or even eight, eggs in a clutch, so that a
swan's nest is a regular windfall to a fox. Prowling about night
after night, he is so active and energetic that very little escapes
his notice. Not only will he wade amongst the reeds, but, if the
occasion demands it, he will also swim. I know of a large reed-
bed in a lake that is always completely surrounded by about three

Sept., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 59

feet of water. This reed-bed is a favourite nesting-place of swans
and other wild-fowl. A few months ago a stockman, who waded
in to find a swan's nest, was amazed, when he found the nest, to
see a fox curled up in it. He had eaten the eggs, and was taking
a well-deserved sleep. The fox at once sprang into the water
and swam for the land, where, fortunately, an eager hound was
waiting for him.

A favourite occupation of the fox is to stalk ducks and swans
and geese around the margin of a lake or creek. One moonlit
night not long ago a duck-shooter, who was camped at the side
of a lake waiting for the ducks to come in, suddenly noticed a
fox stealing cautiously down to the water. The fox kept low in
the grass and crept very slowly along. His eyes were all the
while on the water, and the reeds that fringed it. When he got
to the margin of the lake he crept cautiously along. As this
happened to bring him within easy range of the sportsman, 'a
charge of shot settled one poacher. The sportsman then found
the mangled remains of three ducks along the lake shore.
Judging from the remains found at the earths of foxes in the
Western lake country, the menu of the fox consists chiefly of
hare and swan. Both the swan and the hare are very plentiful,
but it is certain that large numbers are killed by foxes. The
Cape Barren goose, which visits these plains every summer, is
another of the fox's victims. This goose does not go out into
deep water, like the ducks and swans, but stays in the shallows,
so that it often falls an easy prey to the fox. It is said that it
sleeps standing on one leg, in the water, and that the fox thus
cannot scent it. But I am prepared to back the fox to either see
or smell this large bird, especially on moonlit nights. It
happens, however, that the Cape Barren goose is a very shy and
wary bird, so that it is one thing to see it and quite another to
catch it. This fact probably protects it to some extent against
the fox.

Incomplete as it is, the above list, it must be admitted, forms
a very heavy indictment. And, although in isolated districts
something is being done to prevent the increase of the pest, over
huge areas the fox is being allowed to pursue his work of
devastation practically unmolested. The fact that most of his
nefarious work is done at night gives him two great advantages —
it is unseen, and it is uninterrupted. During the day the fox, for
the most part, keeps to the cover, and is only seen by the early-
rising bushman when stealing home in the early dawn after a
night's hunting. The fox has the further advantage of being too
swift-footed and cunning to be caught by the average dog, and of
being too large and strong to be killed by the average shot. All
these facts, while they place difficulties in the way of his
destruction, at the same time call loudly for more energetic and
more systematic efforts to keep him in check.

60 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

The Waipoua (N.Z.) Kauri Forest. — The New Zealand
Department of Lands has recently issued another of Dr.
Cockayne's valuable reports, this time on the Waipoua Kauri
Forest, situated near the west coast of the North Island, about
no miles north-west of Auckland and lo south of Hokianga
Harbour. The report is on similar lines to that on Kapiti Island,
noticed in these pages some time ago, but, entering into more
minute details, is even more interesting. The area under notice
covers about 23,000 acres, and, while termed a Kauri forest, is
far from being covered to any great extent by that tree, and, in
fact, the Tarairi, Beilsclmiiedia tarairi (Lauraceae), is a more
frequent tree ; still, the forest contains many fine Kauris, Agathis
australis, and the author considers that the area should be
absolutely closed to timber-getting, for, as he points out, unless
this is done, a Kauri tree will be as rare as a Moa in New
Zealand in less than twenty years. It is hoped, for the benefit of
future botanical students, that this will be done, and especial care
taken of the area to prevent fire undoing all the work of legisla-
tion. Dr. Cockayne's report is interesting from the way in
which he considers the varied aspects ot the different plant
associations, and he concludes by saying that if allowed to be
invaded by timber-getters there will pass away from the face of
the earth a scene that will never be replaced, and while such
fiords, glaciers, and hot lakes as those of New Zealand occur in
other parts of the globe, nowhere else does a Kauri forest exist.
Hence, if only for the sake of future generations, it should be
preserved. The report contains a number of beautiful and
characteristic illustrations, which give a splendid idea of the
vegetation, while a complete list of the flora, amplified by notes
on the distribution and life-form of the species, with English and
Maori names, is given. In all, 241 species are recorded. A
useful bibliography and map complete the report.

Alg/e of the Yan Yean Reservoir. — In the Journal oj
the Linnean Society (London) — Botany xxxix. (1909), pp. 1-88 —
Professor G. S. West, D.Sc, F.L.S., has published an exhaustive
illustrated report on the algse of the Yan Yean Reservoir, which is
important from the fact that it is the first plankton investigation
of Australian fresh waters. The report is based on the monthly
examinations of the reservoir and its surroundings, made by Mr.
A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., who has recently been appointed honorary
algologist to the Metropolitan Board of Works. Prof. West says
the phyto-plankton of the reservoir is rich both in number of
species and individuals. Its desmid-flora is also rich, and in
this respect compares well with British lakes. Over 300 species
of algse are recorded from the Yan Yean drainage area. Of these
14 species and 11 varieties are described for the first time, and 4
species and 5 varieties, previously only partially described, are
now dealt with in greater detail, and figured for the first time.

Che Ufctorian naturalist

Vol. XXVI.— No. 6. OCTOBER 7, 1909. No. 310

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th September, 1909.

The president, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, occupied the chair,
and about 70 members and visitors were present,

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to Bayswater on Saturday, 14th
August, was given by the leader, Mr. C. F. Cole, who reported a
fair attendance of members. Owing to the cold, wet weather, the
season was very backward, so that only a few of the commoner
species of birds were seen. Several partly constructed nests of
the Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin were observed. A few plants
were noticed in bloom, but they were only the usual early spring
species.

A report of the excursion to Warrandyte on Saturday, 28th
August, was given by the leader, Mr. G. Coghill, who reported
an attendance of nearly 50 members and friends, notwithstanding
the very inclement weather at the time of starting. The party
travelled from town in three large motor-cars, and though a little
late, owing to the wet roads, reached Warrandyte without mishap.
Afternoon tea was then taken, after which members had time to
visit the river banks and admire the Silver Wattles in bloom.
Unfortunately, owing to frost and rain during the previous days,
the wattles were not so fine as usual. Little collecting could be
done, owing to the scrub being so wet ; however, the orchids
Pterostylis pedunculata, P. nutans, P. curta, Corysanthes pruinosa,
and Acianthus exsertus were recorded. In addition to Acacia
dealbata, A. acinacea, A. diffusa, and A. pycnantha were noted in
bloom.

A report of the excursion to Sandringham on Saturday, nth
September, was given by Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc, who acted as
leader in the unavoidable absence of Dr. Sutton. He reported
a fair attendance of members, and that a good collection of the
usual spring flowers was made. Some attention was given to the
numbers of sea-birds in the bay at present, and great interest was
taken in the diving of the terns.

A report of the junior excursion to Fairfield on Saturday, 4th
September, was given by the leader, Mr. J. S. Kitson, who
reported a good attendance of juniors. Attention was directed
to the geology and geography, the animal (pond) life, and the
plant life of the district, and short demonstrations given under
each heading.

62 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

The hon. librarian acknowledges the receipt of the following
donations to the Library : — " Transactions of Natural History
Museum, Hamburg,"vol. xxv., from the Director; "Bulletin of the
American Museum of Natural History," vol. xxv., part i, from the
Museum; "The Wilson Bulletin," December, 1908, from the
Wilson Ornithological Society, Oberlin, U.S.A.; "Proceedings
and Transactions Nova Scotian Institute of Science," vol. xi., parts

3 and 4, and vol. xii., part i, from the Institute; TJie Brazilian
Entomologist, June and August, 1908, from the editor; Know-
ledge, November, 1908, from the publishers.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. Edgar Handley, 74 Park-street,
North Fitzroy, was elected an ordinary member ; Miss L.
Parkinson, 12 Johnson-street, Glenferrie, an associate member;
and Miss Nestor Smyth, Master Ponsonby Smyth, 36 Park-street,
South Yarra ; Miss Edith Steel, 37 Leopold-street, South Yarra ;
Master Leslie Dennis, Walker-street, Northcote ; Master Horace
FuUard, Gillies-street, Fairfield ; and Master E. Potts, Cotham-
road, Kew, as junior members of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr. A. J. Campbell gave notice that he would move at the
December meeting : —

1. "That this Club take some action to prevent the stripping
of bark from the Silver Wattles on the Yarra banks, particularly
between Heidelberg and the neighbourhood of Eltham."

2. " That this Club aid in the promotion of a ' National
Wattle-day.' papers read.

1. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., entitled "Additions to the
Fish Fauna of Victoria, No. 2."

The author recorded the occurrence for the first time in Aus-
tralian waters of an extremely rare deep-sea fish, the Crested
Band-fish, Lophotes cristalus, Johnson, recently received by the
National Museum. The specimen, which measures a little over

4 feet in length and only ij^ inches in thickness, was captured
in shallow water about 20 miles east of Apollo Bay, on the Vic-
torian coast. The fish, a photograph of which was exhibited, is
remarkable in shape, the head being abruptly elevated in a high
crest, on the extreme anterior angle of which is a long, flexible
spine, 9 inches in length, the body tapering off to the very narrow
tail. This remarkable species was previously recorded from the
island of Madeira, in the Atlantic, and its occurrence on our
coast is believed to have been due to recent heavy storms.

2. By Mr. A. J. Campbell, Col. Mem. B.O.U., entitled " Wattle-
time, or Yellow-haired September."

The author, in an interesting paper, drew attention to some of

Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 63

the more prominent species of Australian acacias, giving some
particulars of their habit of growth, time of flowering, &c., and
illustrated his remarks with a series of lantern slides showing
typical specimens of each species.

The paper gave rise to some discussion, in which the chairman
and Messrs. Pitcher, Hardy, Coghill, C. J. Gabriel, and Barnard
joined. EXHIBITS.

By Mr. R. W. Armitage. — Specimens of a Sea-pen, or Pennatu-
lid, from the island of Sudest, near New Guinea.

By Mr. A. J. Campbell. — Blooms of acacias, in illustration of
paper.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — Specimen of Epacris impressa, 9 feet
in height. This plant is probably the tallest ever recorded, and
was growing amongst tea-tree at Bayswater, 9th September.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel, — Rare marine shells — Valuta kreuslerce,
Ang. ; V. verconis, Tate ; and V. fidgetrum, Swain., from South
Australia ; also varieties of Chlamys glaber, Linn., from the
Mediterranean.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — Fruit specimen of the Mistletoe,
Loranthus pendulus, found growing on a Swamp Gum, Euca-
lyptus gunnii, at Kew.

By Mr. H. W. Jeffery. — Marine shells — Triton chlorostomus,
Lam., from Hilo, Hawaii ; and Potamides sulcatum, Born., from
Yule Island, New Guinea.

By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., for National Museum. — A
photograph of rare fish, Lophotes cristatus, Johnson, in illustration
of paper.

By Mr. F. Pitcher. — Blooms of Victorian acacias grown
at Melbourne Botanic Gardens — Acacia acinacea, Lindl. ; A.
juniperina, Willd. ; A. leprosa, Sieber ; A. longi/olia, Willd. ;
A. hmata, Sieber; A. montana, Benth. ; A. oxycedrus, Sieber;
A. pravissima, Cunn. ; A. pycnantha, Benth. ; A. sclerophylla,
Lindl. ; A. verniciflua, Cunn. ; and A. verticillata, Willd.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

Bird Day. — The Hon. the Minister for Education has directed
Friday, 29th October, to be set apart as Bird Day throughout
the State schools, and we hope the idea will be taken up by the
private schools and colleges also. The Edvcatiori Gazette and
Teacher's Aid for September contains the details of the programme
to be carried out. It has been suggested that a league be estab-
lished among the pupils, to be called "The Gould League of Bird-
Lovers," as a means of fostering a love for the birds around them.
In the same number of the Gazette Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc,
continues his illustrated articles on the Victorian birds, dealing
with the ground-birds, thrushes, chats, and honey-eaters, giving
figures of nearly fifty species.

64 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

IN THE HEART OF THE MALLEE.

By a. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S.
{Read before the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, 9th Aug., 1909.)

The frequent descriptions of the bird-life to be found in that
part of Victoria known as the Mallee which had appeared from
time to time in the " Nature Notes " column of the Argus from
the pen of " Mallee-Bird," otherwise Mr. Chas. M'Lennan, since
appointed ranger of the National Park, Wilson's Promontory,
whetted the ornithological appetites of my friends, Mr. J. Ross
and Mr. F. Howe, as well as my own. We therefore decided to
visit the Pine Plains district, from which Mr. M'Lennan had so
often drawn his pen-pictures.

To my friends the Mallee was a terra incognita, and both were
anxious to see the peculiar animal and bird life of the scrubs
and arid sandy wastes which they were under the impression
comprised that region. As for myself, I had been in " Mallee "
country before, and knew what to expect. Our leader, Mr. Ross,
thinking that the scrub was only a few feet high, and that
climbing irons and rope ladders would be so much superfluous
baggage, decided that those useful adjuncts for studying bird-life
should be left behind, and greatly we regretted it afterwards.

Arrangements were made with Mr. M'Lennan to meet us at
Hoptoun, which is rather more than 250 miles north-west of
Melbourne. We accordingly left town by the morning train
on 13th September, 1907, and reached our destination just
before midnight, after a long and dreary day's travelling, punc-
tuated by stoppages more or less dreary at numerous wayside
stations.

At one of these, Murtoa, we found we had time for a short
stroll, so, espying some Buloke trees, Casuarina luehmanni, about
a mile away, we reckoned they would doubtless provide food
and shelter for some of the local birds, and made for them. We
were not mistaken, for we found nests containing young of the
Black-backed Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen, the Raven, Corone
australis, and the White-faced Xerophila, Xerophila leucopsis,
whilst a Red-capped Robin, Petrceoa goodenovii, and a Yellow-
rumped Tit, Acanthiza chrysorrhoa, were observed building their
dainty nests, that of the former being an open cup-shaped nest,
while the tit's nest was a domed-over structure three times the
size of the robin's. Among the other birds flying about here
were the Wood-Swallow, Galah (Pink-breasted Cockatoo), White-
fronted Chat, Musk Lorikeet, Grass-Parrakeet, Ground-Lark,
Noisy Minah, Laughing Jackass, or Giant Kingfisher, and
Kestrel.

Returning to the train we resumed our journey, and without
further incident, except a sudden stoppage of the train, which

Oct., 1909.] THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 65

brought the luggage tumbling from the racks, duly arrived at
Hopetoun, and sought out a hotel. Up betimes in the morning,
we had a look round, the township, and were surprised to see a
fine sheet of water on the outskirts of the town, which we forth-
with visited, and found it to be several feet deep and containing
excellent fresh water — in fact, it was the town's water supply.
This was one of the many surprises we were destined to meet
with, for our preconceived idea of this portion of the Wimmera
district took the shape of a howling wilderness, a good-for-nothing
desert.

As was but natural, bird-life was plentiful about the lake, which
is known as Lake Koorong. In some eucalypts growing along
the margin of the lake we found the nest of a Mud-Lark, Grallina
picata, containing three young birds. Out on the open water
Black Swans, Black Ducks, and Coots were plentiful, whilst the
Marsh Terns, in their white plumage, flickered over the lake,
betokening the presence of fish fry in the waters below. The
White-fronted Heron, Notophoyx novce-hollandi(s, the Little
Egret, Garzetta nigripes, and the Black-fronted Dottrel, jEgialitis
melanops, patrolled the shallows, and searched for water insects
and Crustacea. Those alert, graceful birds, the Tippet (irebes,
Podicipes cristatus, were also seen, as ever and anon they
eclipsed themselves when diving after their prey, then as
suddenly there was a flash of iridescent white as their pearly
breasts emerged once more from the water. So quickly do they
disappear on the approach of danger that it is not difticult to
believe the story told of their ability to dive out of harm's way
on seeing the flash of a gun before the shot reaches them.

The full and rounded, richly melodious note of the Harmonious
Thrush resounded through the trees, whilst the White-plumed
Honey-eater, Plilotis penicillata, the Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater,
Acanthochcera riifigularis, and the Black and White Fantail, or
Shepherd's Companion, Rhipidura tricolor, kept up an incessant
twittering as they searched the trees for insects. Overhead the
Whistling Eagle, Haliastur sphenurus, and the Wedge-tailed
Eagle, Uroaetus audax, soared around on the look-out for their
furred or feathered victims.

On returning to the hotel for breakfast we found Mr. S.
Poulton, the owner of Pine Plains station, waiting for us with a
buggy and pair of horses, so we drove out some lo miles to the
head station, Camba-Canya. As we drove along a first-class
road, bordered on either side by scattered, stunted eucalypts and
Needle-wood Trees, Hakea Itucoptera, all that was left of the once
dense mallee, now replaced by wheat-fields, we noticed the Brown
Tree-creeper, Clmiacteris scandens, the Brown Flycatcher, Pseudo-
gerygone jf^usca, the Rufous Song-Lark, Cinclorhamphus rufescens,
and the Black-breasted Plover, Zonifer tricolor. A pair of Mountain

66 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Vol. XXVI.

Ducks, Casarca tadernoides, were seen feeding in a depression
filled by the waters of the irrigation channel, which, by the way,
draws its supplies from Lake Lonsdale, far to the south, near
Stawell. Along this channel a Pacific Heron, JVotophoyx pacifica,
was observed as it diligently policed the banks on the outlook
for those earth-boring crustaceans commonly known as "yabbies."
These creatures pierce the banks of the channels, and so
allow the water to escape, hence the herons are the irriga-
tionist's friends.

Approaching Caraba-Canya we drove through a number of the
graceful Murray Pines, Callitris rohusta, growing upon slight
elevations. Along the bases of some of these elevations we
noticed numbers of small white mounds, known locally by the
native name " Copai." These mounds are quite devoid of
vegetation. Gypsum is to be found in many places, whilst
outcrops of limestone or desert sandstone are not infrequent.
We were hospitably received at the homestead, which is sub-
stantially built of limestone and bricks, and with numerous out-
buildings forms quite a small settlement. Shearing was in
full swing, while in another direction a number of men and
teams were engaged in excavating a huge tank in which to store
water from the channel for summer requirements.

With a fresh pair of horses and the buggy piled high with our
luggage we set off, without a guide, on what we were told was
a 35-mile drive to Pine Plains, in the heart of the Mallee. The
additional information that the road would be sandy and the
travelling slow we soon found to be only too true, and we had
hardly left the homestead paddock when our road became a mass
of soft, fine sand, interspersed with the roots of the mallee, the
stems of which had been cut off level with the surface of the
ground. The consequence was that the vehicle bumped about
fearfully, and the horses had a hard struggle to get along with
their load. After a few miles of this soft, sandy road, two of us
decided to walk and save the horses as much as possible. We
soon out-distanced our vehicle, and, as we passed along the
bush track through typical Mallee scrub, we would occasionally
startle a White-eared Honey-eater, Ptllotis leucotis, or hear the
twittering of a Chestnut-rumped Tit, Acanthiza reguhides. A
nest of a Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater, Acanthochcera rii/igularis,
containing two eggs, was found near the edge of the track,
situated in a tangled mass of the smaller Clematis, C. microphylla,
and being constructed of green-coloured grass and twigs, was
almost invisible. In fact, had it not been for the bird flushing
out as we passed we would never have known that the nest
existed.

Here and there the pug of a kangaroo's foot was discerned in
the soft sand, whilst several species of lizards, aroused by our

Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 67

approach, scuttled across the track. A hasty snap was taken of
a Jew Lizard, Gramatofliora barbata, Kaup., basking on a dead
Mallee stem. One of the smaller lizards was of a beautiful green,
marked with yellow. In a small depression along the track,
where water sometimes accumulated, several box-trees had found
a suitable soil in which to grow, and in the top of one a pair of
Wedge-tailed Eagles had built their large, platform-like nest of
sticks. Rabbits seemed to be absent from this part of the country
— at least, none were seen as we passed along.

Suddenly, on crossing a rise, the road dipped into flat country,
which was dotted for several miles with larger eucalypts ; these
were the homes of a greater variety of birds than we had hitherto
seen. Several elongated plains intersected this country, and
around their margins huge Red Gums, Eucalyptus rostrata, reared
their umbrageous heads. We were in the ancient bed of the
Wimmera River, where it had years ago spread out its arms
and become lost in its vain endeavour to reach the Murray
River.

Presently we came to some rising ground on which was
situated an iron hut, used as a camping place by the men when
droving sheep and cattle between the outlying stations. Several
tanks of fresh water for domestic purposes were here, whilst a
well of semi-brackish water yielded a never-failing supply for the
stock. This place is known as Wonga. We decided to spell
here for an hour or so, and rest and feed our horses. In the
meantime we had a good look round the surrounding country,
which is known as the Wonga Basin, and would form an
admirable national park without any further making. Flowering
shrubs abound, principally Acacias, Hakeas, and Grevilleas,
whilst the Quandong, or Native Peach, is to be found in many
places. Several tea-trees and heaths occur among the smaller
shrubs, and the air was balmy and redolent of the aromatic
odours of the pines, eucalypts, and the fragrant shrubs. The
ridges, covered with tall, graceful pines, were intersected by
verdure-clad bays or indentations forming the plains, the green
sward of which, clear of all other vegetation except grass,
patterned themselves into fantastic arrangements. Patches of
typical mallee intervening lent a decided charm to the spot,
while in every direction the old river-beds were overshadowed
by picturesque Red Gums. Areas of open country were frequently
met with, and places which had once been the beds of lakes
were ready-formed recreation grounds as level and as green as a
billiard table.

Mobs of emus and kangaroos freely dotted these places, whilst
back in the mallee thickets the wonderful nesting mounds
of the Lipoa or Mallee-Fowl were numerous. Pigeons and
cockatoos swarmed in this as yet undisturbed country, and many

68 THE VICTORIAK NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

species of honey-eaters were observed ravishing the eucalyptus
and other blossoms for their nectar. Flocks of Galahs, which
find homes in the numerous hollow spouts of the gums, flew
away when disturbed by our investigations, their pink breasts
appearing as if the blooms of a rose garden were being blown
through the air. Gay-caparisoned parrakeets were everywhere,
also Choughs and Babblers, whilst the Wedge-tailed Eagles could
be seen soaring overhead. Magpies could be heard carolling in
the trees. Several varieties of blue-wrens flitted through the
polygonum bushes, delighting the eye with the colour of their
lovely plumage, whilst quaint Emu-Wrens hopped saucily
through the spinifex. The wailing call of the Curlew, or
Southern Stone-Plover, weird and shrill, broke the stillness of the
night, and as the wind swept sobbing through the pines it carried
with it the call of the Mopoke. The whole place is a perfect
paradise for nature lovers, and in view of its probable early
opening up for settlement, Wonga Basin, along with Brambrook
and the adjoining Jerriwerrup (locally called Cherry-whip j,
should certainly be reserved. The prevailing cloudless sky and
the dry atmosphere of the district mark it as a future sanatorium
— one of the lungs of the city, so to speak. Brambrook derives
its name from a horse the notorious bushranger Morgan used to
ride, and which he left at this place, one of his bush fastnesses.
Everlasting flowers grow to perfection on the sand-ridges, and
were ten or twenty thousand acres of this country set aside as a
national park, it would be a most valuable heritage for future
generations of nature students. Meeting this class of country
in what we had mentally pictured as a wilderness gave us a
surprise, but at the same time infinite pleasure.

Tradition has it that there is a ghost at Wonga. When the
hut was first erected a shepherd was stationed there. One day
he suddenly appeared at the head station in an exhausted condi-
tion, and, when questioned upon his hasty return, said that a
woman had been murdered the night before. Asked if he had seen
the woman, he said no, but he had heard her agonizing screams.
There is no doubt that the noise was made by a Delicate Owl,
Strix delicatula, as this bird at times emits a bloodcurdling
screech. As the woman's body was not to be found, the man
maintained that it must have been the ghost of a murdered
woman, and nothing would persuade him otherwise. The Night-
Parrakeet, Geopsittacus uccidentalis, used to be seen by the
aboriginals at Wonga years ago. It lays five to six eggs, in the
spinifex.

Immediately after leaving Wonga Basin we struck heavy sand
again, and the buggy driven by Mr. Ross was soon left behind,
and we did not see it again until midnight, when it reached Pine
Plains station, where we had arrived nearly two hours before.

Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 69

Darkness came on soon after we left Wonga, and a deathly still-
ness pervaded the air. The sky was presently lit up by the
pale moonbeams, and, as we made no noise in tramping along in
the soft sand, the stillness had a lonely, dispiriting effect,
accentuated further by an occasional wailing cry from a Curlew.
Frequently my companion would ejaculate — " Here is Pine
Plains ! " as he saw a white sand dune show up in the distance
through the tall timber. The white sand appearing like open
country ahead gave him the impression of an open plain.

After many such false alarms we came to another hut and well
for watering stock, known as " Bracke ; " by this we knew we
were on the right track, so, hastening forward, in a few more miles
we came suddenly upon plain country, where the ground was
hard. Sounds of a horseman appeared to be coming towards us,
and presently Mr. M'Lennan rode up. He had become anxious
as to our whereabouts, as we were hours behind time, and had
set out to look for us. Having set us on the way, he hurried on
to meet the buggy, which he found five miles behind, Mr. Ross
having got temporarily bushed. We were not sorry to reach the
homestead after our 35-mile tramp along the sandy track, and
did ample justice to a sumptuous repast set before us by the
married couple in charge, who treated us right royally throughout
our stay.

We spent the first day exploring the open paddocks around the
house, which is situated on the top of a high sand-ridge, from
which we could see in every direction for many miles. A fine
crop of wheat, to be used as fodder, grew close by, while a well-
kept vegetable garden supplied many a welcome addition to our
meals. Fine grass-lands abounded on all sides. There were miles
of country without a trace of Mallee ; large plains without a
vestige of timber, evidently the dried-up beds of ancient lakes,
were fringed with picturesque Red Gums, whilst graceful Murray
Pines grew profusely on the sand-ridges. Box-tree flats intervened,
and as the trees had been rung for some years, innumerable
hollows had formed in the trunks and branches, which were
tenanted by cockatoos and parrots of many species. As we
passed by we tapped the tree-trunks with a stick, when out would
fly the occupants. The Many-coloured Parrakeet, Psephotus
rmdticolor, with its Jacob-like coat of many colours, and the
Pink or Major Mitchell Cockatoo, Cacatua leadbeateri, whose
discordant notes were in marked contrast to its beautiful
plumage, were flushed from the larger hollows. Several Sulphur-
crested Cockatoos, C. galerita, Orange-tipped Pardalotes, Parda-
lotiis affinis, and Tree-Marlins were unceremoniously disturbed
when we tapped the trees in which they had nested. Our leader
looked rather glum owing to the climbing irons having been left
behind, and as I was the climber of the trip, and my companions

70 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

were eager to see all that they possibly could, I had to forego the
opportunity of obtaining photographs of the parrot family in their
homes, and offer my services for climbing.

Galahs, Cacatua roseicapilla, were frequently met with, and in
all cases the hollows in which they nested were lined with a thick
pad of eucalyptus leaves. Our guide led us to a bower of the
Spotted Bower-bird, Chlamydodera maculata, and a photograph
of it was taken. The bower was a small one ; at either end was
a collection of bleached bones, whilst pieces of old china and
broken glass were the brightest objects these birds had gathered
to decorate their play-ground. The Bower-birds are becoming
rare in the Mallee now.

Next day we set out over the plains and across the pine-clad
ridges to the edge of the scrub, my companions driving, with Mr.
M'Lennan as guide, while I rode a good-tempered stock horse,
which remained quite still while I stood up in the saddle to
examine the hollow spouts of the trees deserted by the num.erous
parrots as we passed along. We went some miles along what is
locally known as the Dingo Pad, and found the scrub inhabited
by many varieties of birds. A nest of the White-throated Thick-
head, Pachycephala pectoralis, was found containing two eggs,
also a nest of the Red-throated species, P. gilberti, containing
the same number ; both were built in dwarf pines, and were just
such structures as built by the thickheads around Melbourne. A
pair of Chestnut-rumped Ground-Wrens, Ilijlacola jyiP'^hopygia,
were seen rounding up their newly hatched family of three in
order to get it out of harm's way. The tinkling, bell-like notes
with which the Crested Oreoica or Bell-bird, Oreoica cristata,
finishes its call were frequently heard. Next, the excited actions
of a pair of Scrub-Robins, Drymacedus hrunneopygius, evidenced
our proximity to their offspring, and after some trouble we found
it concealed in some debris. After waiting some time in
concealment a snap-shot was secured of the old birds succouring
their single young one.

The nest of another Scrub-Robin was found by Mr. M'Lennan,
who knows the habits of these birds thoroughly. It was a simple
cup-shaped structure of sticks and small twigs let into the ground,
and contained a solitary egg, the usual clutch of this bird. Our
guide has nicknamed this bird " the trapper's companion " on
account of its inquisitiveness, sociability, and fearlessness when
he has been out quietly setting tra|)s for Dingoes and other
vermin. They are fairly tame so long as no noise is made, but
directly they hear a sound they disappear at once, only to
reappear when all is still again. Sometimes the nest is built
amongst the bark or debris at the base of a mallee bush, and at
times is situated (juite 18 inches from the ground. When return-
ing to the nest after having been frightened these birds adopt a

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST— Vol. XXVI.

V\ AlE I.

Or toiler, 1909.

PINES, WONGA BASIN.

wM

>9

v5l

4 1

••■ ' V-'S'

^BBwtP-^s^^S

„ v_:i.4ipjl

k«ir'; ■ '

-^ (

im. 2. PINES AND TALL MALLEE.

Photos, by 31r. A. H. Kenyon.

Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 71

coquetting action, approaching within a yard or two of it then
rapidly darting away into the scrub, only to repeat the same
performance immediately afterwards. One has only to possess a
little patience and keep quiet and the Scrub-Robin will show
exactly where the egg or young one, as the case may be, is
located.

Having taken a series of photos, of the Scrub-Robin, we pro-
ceeded to the nesting mound of a Lipoa, or Mallee-Fowl,
Lipoa ocellata, which Mr. M'Lennan had thoughtfully marked
down for us. All were eager to examine it, and my companions
were wildly excited, since it was their first introduction to the
nesting habits of these wonderful ornithological enigmas. This
mound, together with several others which we afterwards investi-
gated, greatly enlarged my knowledge of the Lipoa, and helped
me considerably in my monograph of the bird published in The
Emu (vol. viii., page 53), in which further details may be found.
On our way back to the homestead several honey-eaters, which
could not be identified, were seen flitting through the stunted
banksias, whilst the mouse-like hole forming the nesting burrow
of the dainty Golden-rumped Pardalote, Pardalotus xa'iithopygius,
was examined, and found to contain four white eggs, cradled in a
rotund nest of bark and fibre situated at the end of the burrow,
which was about 18 inches in depth.

The following day we started to follow the Patchewollock Pad,
and while driving through the home paddock we noticed a pair
of Wedge-tailed Eagles apparently tearing a lamb to pieces and
feasting upon it. An expectant circle of Ravens surrounded the
eagles, but keeping at a respectful distance of about 15 yards, as
they waited in readiness to secure any scraps which the eagles
might overlook. Driving rapidly up in the buggy, the birds rose
and flew a short distance away to await our retirement. Exami-
nation showed that they had killed a large white domestic rooster
which had boldly engaged them in combat so as to protect the
hens. One of the station hands informed us that he had laid
poison for the eagles, and had destroyed over 200 in the course
of a year. Remonstrance seemed useless in a case like this,
but the large amount of good done by eagles in destroying
vermin, which more than counterbalances the harm done, was
not sufficiently convincing to the people living in this district.
The largest bird destroyed measured over 9 feet from tip to tip
of extended wings. It may be mentioned that our Wedge-tailed
Eagle, (Jroaiitus audax, often called Eaglehawk, is the largest
true eagle in the world, and specimens have been taken measuring
more than 10 feet across the wings.

Our track passed close to a well-known land-mark of the district,
Mt. Jenkins, situated about long. 142° E. and lat. 35)^° S. It
is a pyramidal hill of sand rising about 150 feet above the

72 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

plain, and is one of the highest elevations of that part of the
country. A couple of Mallee- Fowls' nests were visited and
searched, one of them containing two eggs. A nest of the
Chestnut-rumped Ground Wren was found carefully hidden in
fallen bark at the base of a Mallee bush, and contained three
typical rich brown eggs. A Scrub-Robin's nest with the usual one
egg was also found, but though a Chestnut-backed Ground-bird,
Gindosoma caslanonotum, was seen running over the sand
through the scrub, and a diligent search was made, no nest
could be found. Fresh tracks of Dingoes were noticed, and several
skeletons of these marauding creatures were seen, the remains of
animals cast aside by the trappers. A few kangaroos were seen
feeding in an open glade, and hopped jauntily along some
distance in advance of us. Several Choughs' nests containing
young birds were seen, as well as those of the White-browed
Babbler, Pomatorhimhs superciliosus, both useful insectivorous
birds. As the country is almost waterless at this spot the
Choughs must have had some difficulty in building their mud
nests ; to do this they probably regurgitated enough saliva to
make the mortar sufficiently plastic for the purpose, while it was
further strengthened by the use of grass-stems, which the birds
intermix with the mud before cementing it into a solid mass. A
remarkable fact about these mud nests is that they are always
built with a larger diameter at the top than at the bottom, thus
protecting the foundation of the nest from destruction by rain,
which if it were not for the larger rim would be quite exposed
to the elements.

The next day, the i8th of September, found us on the way for
the Heath Pad. These " pads," or rather bridle tracks, are made
by causing a horse to drag a log through the scrub, thus crushing
it down, and after being formed remain visible for some time.
Along them the Dingoes are wont to roam, and there the Dingo-
hunter usually sets his traps in the sand underneath the track, so
that any of these wandering enemies of the squatter's sheep
may be caught. Another method is to doctor a bush with oil of
rhodium, and then set the traps in the sand close by. The
Dingoes come sniffing round the bush and step into the hidden
trap. The best lure, however, is the contents of a Dingo's
bladder, for it is a fact not generally known, and which bears on
the scientific affinity of the Dingo to the ordinary domestic dog,
that it loves to micturate on the spot where another of its kind
has performed the same act. Dingo traps are huge steel affairs,
weighing many pounds. They are never fastened to a stake
because the animal would twist its leg off and escape on the
remaining three if this were done. As it is the traps, some 8 or
lo lbs. in weight, are often dragged 7 to lo miles away from
the spot where set, until the animal becomes exhausted. Owing to

Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 73

the enormous distances to be traversed by the trappers along
these pads, the traps are visited about twice a week, and
when a trap is found missing it has to be tracked over the
country until found, and so expert are the hunters that one is
rarely lost. One has to be careful in traversing the pads,
because the traps are very strong, and it is very difficult to
release one's leg if caught in the jaws. It is, therefore,
customary to fix a branch up in a bush overhanging the trap as
a warning to passers-by.

In the open country, before we reached the pad, the excited
actions of some Black-breasted Plovers informed us that their
young were not far away, and as we approached two large young
birds scampered off. After running a little distance they
crouched on the ground, when their black plumage harmonized
so closely with the surrounding objects that it was most difficult
to detect them. In the top of a box-tree a Wedge-tailed Eagle
had built its nest, and on climbing up a solitary eaglet was found ;
it was covered all over with a coat of pure white down, and
formed a pretty object. Contrary to the usual idea, these eagles
are great cowards, and will desert a nest if anybody approaches
within a quarter of a mile of it.

.Several nests of the Graceful Honey-eater, Ptilotis ornata, were
also found, while many Spiny-checked Honey-eaters were seen
feeding in the tree-tops. Restlesss Flycatchers, Sisiira iiiquieta,
and Red-capped Robins, Peiroica yoodenovii, were also seen,
busily engaged building their nests. Evidence of the presence of
Emus, indicated by tufts of feathers, were seen in many places.
Unharnessing our horses, we fastened them up, and then went for
a long tramp over sand dunes covered with pines and scrub. The
pad led us to a beautifully green oval space of about ten acres,
named by Mr. M'Lennan " the Dingoes' recreation reserve."
Here we espied a fox, and presently a Dingo. Probably both
of these have by this time yielded their scalps to our guide,
who claims to have accounted for the deaths of close on 3,000
Dingoes. Several Mallee-Fovvls' nests were inspected, and
additional notes on the habits of other birds were made. Many
Chestnut-rumped Ground-Wrens were seen in this part.

On returning to the buggy we found the horses had broken
away and returned home, so there was nothing else to be done
but tramp home. Fortunately the saddle-horse had not disap-
peared, so, as I had done most of the hard work in climbing and
had carried a heavy camera all day, my companions decided that
I should ride home. So off I started, with my impedimenta
slung around me, and, though it was now dark, reached the slip-
rails of the home paddock without mishap, and found the two
buggy horses waiting to be let in.

The following morning there was a muster of drovers and

74 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Stockmen, and, in addition, a small band of explorers, whom Mr.
Poulton was sending out to see if any good grass land and water
existed further afield, for Mr. Poulton is the lessee from the
Victorian Government of many thousands of acres of un-
occupied land in the north-western part of the State. After
photographing a group of the men, we drove out to a locality known
as Cape Horn to see more Mallee-Fowls' nests. A White-eared
Honey-eater's nest with two eggs was seen, and a pair of Black-
backed Wrens, Malurus melanotus, were building a nest.

Further on we came to a fine grazing area known as the Wirren-
gren Plain. This has an irregular boundary of about twenty miles,
and is the dried-up bed of an inland sea, with its bays, inlets, pro-
montories, &c., each named by the station hands for convenience
in directing the movements of stock. Miller's Tank, Stuart Island,
Sleeping Point, and Toy's Look-out are some of the names which
occur to me. This vast plain, which when we saw it was well
grassed and verdant in the extreme, seems to have been the
farthest point in this direction to which the Wimmera River had
been able to penetrate. A White Cockatoo was seen leaving a
hollow in one of the largest Red Gums on the edge of the plain,
and several Galahs were flushed from the same tree. As we drove
along parrots and cockatoos kept flushing out of the hollows in
every direction, while an occasional Yellow-tipped Pardalote,
Pardalotus affinis, would dart out, and after a time utter its
peculiar note, " Whit-e-chew." A flock of Black Cockatoos,
Galyptorhynchus Junereus, numbering at least one hundred and
fifty birds, were disturbed as they were feeding on the soft,
nutritious seeds of the Wallaby Grass, Danthonia penicillata, and
of the " Nardoo," Marsilea qiradri folia. As they flew away in
their usual heavy, laboured way, the yellow colour of the ventral
surface of their tail feathers showed conspicuously, in marked
contrast to their otherwise sombre hue.

Driving by a dam known as Miller's Tank, we disturbed vast
numbers of Galahs that had come there to drink. Bronze-winged
Pigeons also frequent the tank, and arrive in large numbers
just at sundown. This habit renders them an easy prey to the pot-
hunter, and steps should be taken to secure their protection.
Among other birds noticed here was the Black-eared Cuckoo.
Close to the tank a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles had built a huge
stick nest in the top of a box-tree. Examination of the nest
revealed two young birds just hatched, and the remains of a
rabbit and a lizard. In this part of the Mallee may be found
many varieties of lizards, the Sleeping or Rugged Stump-tailed
Lizard, Trachysnrus mgosus, the Bearded Dragon or Jew Lizard,
Amphibolurus harbaUis, and the common Dragon, A . ninricatus,
being the most common. That peculiar creature. Burton's Slow-
worm, Lialis burtonii, generally called a snake-lizard, owing to its

Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 75

being a legless species, which is quite harmless, and to the
uninitiated looks like a snake, is found in this part of the Mallee.
It is usually found among the clumps of Porcupine Grass, Triodia
irritans, or Spinifex, as it is sometimes erroneously called. The
Sleeping Lizards were noticed eating the flowers of the introduced
Cape Weed, Cryptostemma calendulaceum, R. Br., perhaps
for the sake of the native bees often frequenting them. The
lizards are doubtless responsible for the destruction of many
young birds, as well as eggs. A Red-capped Robin's nest was
found in a tea-tree about 4 feet from the ground, and contained
two young birds.

Next day we paid another visit to Wirrengren, and as we
drove by a Red Gum disturbed a Boobook Owl, Ninox boobook,
which flew from the nesting hole of a Galah ; this we had
examined earlier on the trip, and found to contain two Galah's
eggs. Wishing to find out what the owl was doing in the
cockatoo's nest, I climbed up, and was surprised to find that the
owl had laid two eggs in the nest, and was incubating both its
own and the Galah's eggs. It would have been interesting to
have watched that nest and noted the final result. Parrots,
Pardalotes, and White-faced Honey-eaters were exceedingly
numerous in the timber fringing the plain, and many nests were
met with, particularly in the dead trees. In a " Lignum " bush,
Miiehlenbeckia cunninghami, a White-faced Honey-eater had
built its nest, while not far away two Black-backed Wrens were
building in fallen pines. In a tree, some 45 feet from the ground,
the huge stick nest of a Wedge-tailed Eagle was seen. I climbed
up and found two eggs just on the point of hatching. The
nest was 4 feet in diameter, and the pile of sticks fully 5 feet
high. We then drove on to the Mt. Jenkins paddock, a
delightful iiatural park — gentle slopes, carpeted with grass and
planted by nature with graceful pines, gums, and acacias, as
if for the very purpose. An Owlet- Nightjar was flushed from
a hollow in a pine where it had been broken off, and on climbing
up I found two eggs of the Mallee Parrot and two of the Galah,
which, judging by their warmth, the Nightjar had been incubating.
This tree is evidently a favourite one with the birds, for Mr.
M'Lennan told us that last season the hollow was tenanted
successively by a Pink Cockatoo, a Kestrel, and a Galah, whilst
on one of the limbs a White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater had
built its nest, and in the sand at its base was the nesting burrow
of a Bee-eater, Merops ornatus. Close by in the top of a pine
tree was the nest of a Brown Hawk, Hieracidea orientalis,
containing one egg. A Kestrel had started laying in another
pine, only 6 feet from the ground. A Rufous Song- Lark, Cinclo-
rhamplw.s rufescens, was seen in this neighbourhood, but it made
no sound whatever, and our guide, who had paid special attention

76 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

to this species, told us that he had never seen two birds at the
same time, or ever heard a note uttered by them. On the road
home we noticed a Many-coloured Parrakeet quietly leaving its
nest. Inspection showed that its family was just arriving, for
the nest contained three young birds covered with white down,
as well as four eggs on the point of incubation. Further on we
found a parrot's egg on the ground and in good condition.
Mr. M'Lennan said that this promiscuous laying of eggs is quite
a common occurrence, owing to there not being sufficient hollows
for all the birds desiring to occupy them to nest in.

The following afternoon we set out in another direction, and
were shown what might be termed a parrot " rookery." Where
a swamp had once been, but which was now dry, was a forest of
dead gum-trees, each with one or more hollow spouts. These
were nearly all occupied by members of the parrot family, the
Red-rumped Parrakeet, Psephotus hcematonotus, and the Maliee
Parrakeet, Barnardius barnardi, being the most numerous. An
Orange-tipped Pardalote, Pardalotus a/finis, was also noted
utilizing a hollow, and they were also found in hollows in the
green eucalypts.

Next day (22nd September) we started off on our homeward
journey, sad at heart because we were leaving such a splendid
ornithological country, in which our studies of the avifauna were
but half completed, but at the same time glad at having had the
opportunity to add so much so much to our knowledge of some
of the species frequenting this favoured district. Being supplied
with a good stock-horse, I indulged in a little cattle-droving on
the way, and greatly enjoyed galloping through the scrub after
the cattle. I was greatly surprised to see the animals feeding
on the foliage of the pines as they travelled along the track.

As a parting gift Mr. M'Lennan conducted us to a small patch
of Porcupine Grass, which was growing in huge, rotund, pincushion-
shaped clumps, to see some emu-wrens which he believed to be
new to science. We saw a few of the quaint little birds as they
hopped hurriedly from clump to clump seeking hiding places ;
in these plants they are thoroughly protected by the sharp spines
bristling in every direction and forming a rampart against attack.
This bird has since been described as new to science, under the
name of Stipiturus maliee, Campbell (Emu, vol. viii., p. 34). As
we had a long journey before us we had reluctantly to leave this
interesting spot, and after a hearty farewell to our guide " Mallee-
Bird," who had made our stay so pleasant and instructive, pro-
ceeded on our way to Camba-Canya station, which we reached
late in the evening. We spent the night here, and next morning
Mr. Poulton drove us to Hopetoun, whence we took train to
Melbourne.

I cannot conclude my account of our holiday without referring

Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. t I

to the whole-hearted manner which characterized Mr. Poulton in
his efforts to make our trip a success. Although exceptionally
busy at the time shearing, and shifting stock on account of the
scarcity of water, yet he and his son gave us the services of men,
buggy, and horses, and also housed and fed us all the time of
our stay. While, not content with supplying our wants during the
day, they gave us phonograph concerts in the evening, for Camba-
Canya and Pine Plains are connected by private telephone, and,
though 30 miles apart, we were able to hear the records quite
distinctly.

I am indebted to Mr. St. Eloy D'Alton, of Dimboola, and Dr.
Sutton for many items of botanical information, and to Mr.
A. H. Kenyon for the loan of lantern slides of the vegetation, &c.,
of the district.

[The paper was illustrated with a fine series of lantern slides.—
Ed. Vict. Nat.]

BOOK NOTICE.

The Animals of Australia : Mammals, Reptiles, and
Amphibians. By A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., B.Sc, and
W. H. Dudley Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., M.B.O.U. Mel-
bourne : Whitcombe and Tombs Limited. 327 + xi. pp.,
with 173 plates and figures. 15s.

This book is designed as a companion volume to " The
Animals of New Zealand," by the same publishers, and is written
in such a manner as to provide matter of interest for the general
reader, as well as information of a more scientific character.
Owing to the extent of the subject the birds will be dealt with in
a separate volume. The publishers are to be congratulated on
having secured such excellent authorities as Messrs. Lucas and
Le Souiif as the co-authors of the work. Advantage has been
taken of various publications, &c., so as to bring the information
up to date, and a fine series of illustrations is included, which
will render the identification of species by, the non-scientist much
easier. The descriptive part of the work is divided into three
parts — the Mammals, the Reptiles, and the Amphibia, with the
Dipnoi (or Lung Fish), the respective numbers of species being
214, 509, and 62 — lizards, numbering 390, being the largest group.
Attention is called to the terrible depletion in numbers caused by
the hunting of marsupials for their skins, no less than 1,526,000
skins having been sold in the Sydney markets in 1908. Indexes
of common names, scientific names, and a systematic table of the
orders, families, genera, and species complete a volume which, we
trust, will be found of great value as the first attempt to place a
portion of our natural history in a systematic manner before the
naturalists of the world and the students of our own continent.

78 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

ADDITIONS TO THE FISH FAUNA OF VICTORIA.

No. 2.
By J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., National Museum.
{Read before the Field Naturalists' Olnb of Victoria, IWi Sept., 1909.)
LoPHOTES CRISTATUS, Johnson.

In the early part of last month, Mr. W, H. Baldwin, while
riding along the shore about 20 miles east of Apollo Bay, noticed
what appeared to be a strange fish floundering about in the
shallow water. On dismounting, he found it to be a fish about
4 feet long, with an unusually square-shaped head, surmounted
by a long, erect spine, and large and slightly prominent eyes,
giving to it a rather fierce appearance.

Being afraid to handle it, for fear, as he explained, of being
poisoned, he endeavoured to land it by means of a stockwhip he
was carrying. Finding the animal altogether too lively, however,
he secured a net, by means of which he succeeded in capturing
it without serious injury.

The specimen was forwarded to the National Museum, where it
arrived in a perfectly fresh and firm condition, although a week
had elapsed since its capture.

It proved to be a fine example of a species of the extremely
rare Crested Band-fish, Lophotes, five species of which have, so
far, been desc^ibed. Of these L. cepedianus, Giorna, and L.
siculus. Swains., are recorded from the Mediterranean; L. cristatus,
Johnson, from Madeira ; L. capellei, Temm. and Schl., from
Japan ; and L. fiskei, Giinth., from Cape Colony, South Africa,
and New Zealand.

Of the species already described, the specimen here dealt with
agrees most closely with L. cristatus, Johnson,* and I have little
hesitation in referring it to that species.

The body is smooth, elongate, and compressed, with fine
reticulated markings along the belly and the anterior portion of
the back, its total length, exclusive of the caudal, measuring
slightly less than 4 feet 2 inches. It greatest height is 8 inches,
and its thickness i % inches. The dorsal line of the body is
practically straight for the greater part of its length, sloping away
towards the tail. The anterior portion of tlie ventral edge is
slightly curved.

The head is abruptly elevated in a high, fleshy crest, sur-
mounted on the extreme anterior point of which is a long,
flexible, flattened spine, 9 inches in length, and furnished with a
rather broad fleshy membrane for nearly its whole length, by the
lower edge of which it is connected with the dorsal fin.

The dorsal fin is continuous to the tail, its base being sheathed

* Proc. Zool. Soc. Loncl., 1863, p. 38.

Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 79

in a delicate membrane. The longest rays measure 2 inches.
The caudal and anal fins are small, the latter situated near the
caudal and immediately behind the vent. The pectoral fin is
placed low down, close behind the operculum. The extremely
small ventral fin is situated slightly below the posterior base of
the pectoral, and measures only 5^ inch in length. The eye is
large, with an oval-shaped pupil, and measures 1]/^ inches in
diameter. The mouth is small, slightly protractile, and is
furnished with 3 or 4 rows of small, conical, incurved, sharp-
pointed teeth along the front of both jaws. There is a single
small, sharp tooth on the vomer and each palatine.

The lateral line is straight, and extends to the caudal ; above
the hinder edge of the eye it ascends abruptly towards the angle
of the crest, which it does not quite reach.

With the exception of one or two rows of rather large, delicate
scales along the base of the dorsal, the body is apparently
without scales. Three or four small and extremely delicate
scales were, however, noticed loosely attached to the lower part
of the body, which indicate that the body is possibly scaled in
its perfect condition.

When fresh the colour of the upper portion of the body was
bright blue, silvery on the lower parts ; front of the head darker,
with a reddish tinge ; opercula and below the eye bright silvery ;
the lips and extreme anterior edge of the crest slightly tinged with
purple : fins bright rosy red ; eye silvery.

When first seen the fish was flapping about in 3 feet of water,
close in shore, being prevented from reaching deep water by a
sand-bar. No doubt its occurrence on our shores was due to
recent heavy storms.

According to Mr. Baldwin, the fish, while being secured, ejected
a dark, inky fluid from the vent, which discoloured the water all
around it.

In 1893, and again in 1896, single examples of a species of
Lophotes were recorded from New Zealand. These have since
been recorded by Hutton,* and later by Waite,t under the name
of Lophotes fiskei, Giinth., a species described by Gunther,J from
Kalk Bay, South Africa.

So far as I can find, this is the first occurrence of this rare genus
in Australian waters.

Memorial to Sir Joseph Banks. — It is proposed to erect in
Sydney a statue or some other appropriate memorial to Sir
Joseph Banks, who has not inaptly been termed the " father of
Australia." That Sir Joseph Banks was most solicitous for the

* Index Fauna Novas Zeal., 1904, p. 47.

t Records Canterbury Mus., vol. i., No. i, 1907, p. 33.

t Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1890, p. 244.

80 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

welfare of the new southern land he did so much to bring before
the people of the old country is well known to those who have
had the opportunity of perusing some of the literature of the
period, but now, through the efforts of Mr. J. H. Maiden,
the Government Botanist of New South Wales, we have every
detail of Banks's life presented to us in a handsome, well-illustrated
volume, published at the moderate price of five shillings, the
whole of which amount goes to the memorial fund. Mr. Maiden,
with his usual thoroughness, has not only given us Banks's life and
work, but, where necessary, has interwoven the names and work
of many of his contemporaries and associates — names which every
Australian naturalist is more or less familiar with as original
collectors or founders of species, genera, &c. The volume is
thus a handy compendium of much of the early work done in
Australian natural history, and reflects great credit on the author,
who has carried out his labour of love so fully, with notes and
references, that the future historian of Banks and his limes will
have little to add. The illustrations, which number over sixty, are
in many cases reproductions of historic pictures, &c., and serve to
further emphasize every detail of Banks and his connection with
Australia. Not the least interesting are the reproductions of
Cook's chart of the eastern coast of Australia, with the latest
surveys placed alongside, showing how marvellously correct that
great navigator was in his delineation of the coast-line, which he
was the first to discover. It is to be hoped that the work will
have a ready sale, for the purchaser, besides getting full value for
his money, will be contributing his mite towards a worthy object.
But this need not deter any individual wishing to contribute
directly to the fund from forwarding his cheque to Mr. Maiden,
who is the hon. secretary to the movement. The New South
Wales Government is to be congratulated for its generosity in pro-
ducing the volume at the public expense, and so enabling the
whole of the proceeds to be devoted to the purpose of the
memorial.

Records of the Canterbury Museum — The second number
of this publication is devoted to a record of the scientific results
of the New Zealand Government trawling expedition of 1907.
Separate reports deal with the Algag, the Annelida and Sipun-
culoidea, the Echinoderma, the Mollusca (part i), and the Pisces
(part i). The latter is by Mr. Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S., Curator
of the Museum, who also furnishes an introduction and a series
of plates illustrating the method of trawling, &c. The steamer
occupied nearly three months in traversing the east coast of
New Zealand, and dredging was carried on at 96 different stations.
The systematic lists of Algae, shell-fish, &c., are very complete,
and record many new species, several of which are illustrated.

Che Uictorian naturalist

Vol. XXVL— No. 7. NOVEMBER 4, 1909. No. 311.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.
The ordinary monthly of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth October, 1909.

The president, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, occupied the chair,
and about 90 members and visitors were present.

CORRESPONDENCE.

A letter was read from Mr. H. H. Newton, secretary to the
Parliamentary Committee on Daylight Saving, asking for an
expression of opinion from the members on the subject. The
chairman briefly explained the details of the proposal, and it was
resolved, on the motion of Messrs. Barnard and Keartland, that
the Club support the proposal. Prof. Ewart and thehon. secretary
being deputed to represent the Club's views before the committee.

VISITOR.

The chairman introduced Mr. A. L. Deane, C.E., an ardent
worker in the botany of New South Wales, as a visitor to the
meeting. Mr. Deane briefly replied.

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to Eltham on Saturday, 25th Sep-
tember, was given by the leader, Mr. G. A. Keartland, who
reported a fair attendance of members. The day was not too
favourable for birds, owing to a fairly strong wind blowing. The
party proceeded towards the river, where, amid the wooded
slopes, several interesting birds were noted. Among these may be
mentioned the Brown Flycatcher, Micrceca Jascinans, the
Fuscous Honey-eater, Ptilotis Jusca^ the Fan-tailed Cuckoo,
Cacomantis flabeUiformis, and the Striated and Yellow-rumped
Tits, Acanthiza lineata and A. chrysorrhoa. Many Orioles were
heard, but only one pair seen. It was remarked that the
locality, once so full of indigenous birds, was becoming more and
more the home of such introduced birds as sparrows, starlings,
goldfinches, and minahs. The entomologists of the party
reported finding several larvae and chrysalides of the scarce
mistletoe blue butterfly, Orgyris ahrota, Hew. Several mem-
bers devoted themselves to botany, and were successful in
noting many interesting plants, among them the beautiful
Grevillea rosmarinifolia, which is very abundant in the local
cemetery. Here, also, fine specimens of the everlasting ffeli-
ehrysum lucidum and of Daviesia corymhosa were seen. Towards
the river the orchids Galadenia carnea, C. Patereoni, and
Pterostylis nutans were obtained. Taken altogether, a very
satisfactory outing resulted.

A report of the excursion to Frankston on Saturday, 9th

82 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

October, under the leadership of Prof. Ewart, D.Sc, was given
by Mr. J. R. Tovey, who reported a good attendance of
members. Along the roadside many introduced plants were
noted, such as Bartsia latifolia, which is usually parasitic on
grass-roots ; Sparaxis grandiflora, and others. Passing over the
heath-ground at least 60 species were found in flower, of which
Thdymitra anfennifera, T. aristata, Glossodia major, and Dinris
pedunculata were the principal representatives of the orchids.
Many white specimens of the beautiful blue squill, ChamcesrAlla
corymhosa were noted. The white blossoms of Ricinocarpus
pinifolius and Leptospermum myrsinoides were very abundant.
Attention was drawn to the floral mechanism of the introduced
Cape Weed, Criiptostemma calendulaceum, and it was remarked
how much this plant had deteriorated in the poor sandy soil till
its leaves were barely two inches long, and the inflorescence in
some cases possessing only six ray florets.

A report of the junior excursion to Blackrock on Saturday, 2nd
October, was furnished by the leader, Mr. E. B. Nicholls, who
reported an excellent attendance of some 50 juniors, together
with several adult members. The excursion was devoted to
ornithology, and many interesting; birds were noted. The first
nest observed was that of the Yellow Robin, one of the charac-
teristic birds of the belts of tea-tree along the coast. A rare
find was a Tawny Frogmouth, which remained on its nest suffi-
ciently long: for a photograph to be taken. Several nests of the
Mountain Thrush with young birds were seen, the parent bird in
each remaining quietly and allowing a good view at close range.
In the scrub towards the beach nests of the Brown Tit and Scrub-
Wren vvere found. At the beach several species of sea-birds, such
as the Gannet, the Pacific Gull, and the Tippet Grebe, were
pointed out, and their peculiarities discussed. Attention was
also directed to some of the forms of animal life washed up on
the shore, and a passing reference was made to the botanical
specimens met with during the afternoon. At the close of the
outing the party was entertained at tea at " Woongara," after
which an interesting series of bird-skins was shown, and the
differences in the species met with during the day pointed out.

On the motion of Mr. Barnard and Dr. Sutton, a vote of thanks
was unanimously accorded to Mr. Nicholls for the trouble he had
taken to entertain the juniors and make the excursion so in-
structive.

[Some excellent views showing the proceedings at this excursion
appeared in the Australasian of Saturday, 9th October. — Ed.
Vict. Nat.}

ELECTION OF ISIEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. Henry Anjou, Neerim-road,
Murrumbeena, Mr. S. Simpson, State school, Glenroy, and Mr.

Nov., 1909.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 83

Ernest F. Thiele, Doncaster, were duly elected as ordinary
members ; Dr. Wm. H. Semple, Kilmore, as a country member ;
Mr. L. Martin, Landcox-street, Brighton, as an associate member ;
and Miss Dorothy Kidgell, 8i Vincent-place, Albert Park, Miss
Inez Baglin, Pickett-street, Footscray, Miss Connie Farnbach,
Geelong-road, Footscray, Miss Blanche Harris, ii Napier-
street, Footscray, Miss Jean Harris, Droop-street, Footscray,
Miss Vera Mitchell, 64 Moreland-street, Footscray, Miss Sylvia
Mitchell and Miss Dorothy Mitchell, Hopkins-street, Footscray,
Miss Ettie M'Pherson, Droop-street, Footscray, Miss Irene
Webb and Miss Joan Webb, Napier-street, Footscray, as junior
members.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr. Woolf Marks referred to the excellent display of wild-
flowers made for the evening, and asked whether it would be
possible to extend the display over the following day, as daylight
was more favourable for viewing the flowers than artificial light.

The hon. secretary pointed out that there were several diffi-
culties in the way of carrying out this idea on the present occasion,
but thought that, as more interest was being shown in this
matter, next year it might be worth while to consider if the exhibi-
tion could not be available in daylight. The chairman and
Messrs. Coghill and Hardy also referred to the matter.

INTERIM REPORT OF PLANT NAMES SUBCOMMITTEE.

The committee having decided that a report on the work of
the Plant Names Sub-committee, appointed to select appropriate
common names for the native flowers, would be appropriate on
the evening of the wild-flower exhibition. Dr. C. S. Sutton, hon.
secretary to the sub-committee, gave an interesting resume of work
so far accomplished.

The chairman and Messrs. Hardy, Deane, Hall, and Barnard
spoke on different points of the subject, referring to the many
difficulties with which the scheme is surrounded.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Young Flounders, varying from one
to four inches in length, taken from stomach of Flathead caught
in Hobson's Bay. Plants of orchid, Pterostijlis mutica (in bloom),
obtained on Melton excursion, October, igo8.

The Tasmanian Naturalist.— The October issue of this
journal contains an excellent article, entitled " Guide to the
Mollusca of Tasmania, adapted for Young Students," by Mr. W.
L. May, which has the additional advantage of being illustrated
by drawings of thirty-three species of Tasmanian shells. As the
conchology of Victoria and Tasmania is very similar, the
article should be useful to beginners here. Copies of the journal
can be obtained from the hon. sec. Tasmanian Field Naturalists'
Club, Hobart, at a cost of sevenpence (including postage).

84 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

EXHIBITION OF AVILD FLOWERS.

The annual exhibition of wild flowers was held in connegtion
with the October meeting of the Club, when a very creditable
display was made. Many members had gone to considerable
trouble in collecting specimens from country districts adjacent to
the metropolis, while friends had sent collections from the more
distant parts, such as the Grampians, Wannon, Castlemaine,
Mildura, Toora, Mt. Doran (Lai Lai), Wilson's Promontory, &c.

The following were the principal exhibitors, with some of the
more notable species shown : —

By Mr. J. W. Audas. — About 35 species from Clayton, includ-
ing Epacris obtusifolin, Daviesia idicina, Sphcerolobium vimineum,
Xerotes Thunhergi, &c.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — About 20 species from Plenty
Ranges, including Grevillea alpina, G.repens (in bud), Eriostemon
correifolius, Pomaderris elachophylla (in bud), Daviesia ulicina
(two varieties), Bceckea diffusa, &c.

By Mr. A. G. Campbell. — About 35 species from Pomonal
(Grampians), including Xanthorrho&a australis (a fine spike),
Eutaxia empetrifolia, Brachyloma daphnoides, Prostanthera den-
ticulata, Thryptomene ciliaia, Dillwytiia hispida, Templetonia
sulcata, Grevillea oleoides, G. ilidjolia, G. aquifolia, Conospermuni
Mitchelli, Styphelia Sonderi, S. costata, Pidtencea mollis, Hibbertia
acicidaris.

By Miss Cochrane. — About 20 species from Bendigo and
Benalla, including Swainsona procumbens, &c.

By Mr. G. Coghill. — About 70 species from Cockatoo and
Emerald, including Bauera rubioides, Zieria Smithii, Pittosporum
bicolor, Daviesia ulicina, var. ruscifolia, Pterostylis cucidlata,
var. alpina, P. pedunculata, Galadenia Menziesii, &c.

By Mr. J. W. Collings. — About 12 species from Wilson's
Promontory.

By Messrs. C French, jun., and C. Frost. — About 25 species
from Dandenong Ranges, including Pidtencea scabra, P. daph-
noides, Grevillea al^nna, Pimelea Jlava, Tecoma australis, Daviesia
ulicina, var. ruscifolia.

By Mr. J. T. Hamilton. — Spike of Dendrohiiim speciosum
(cultivated).

By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — About 6 species from Studley
Park, Kew, including Eucalyptus Gunnii, Alelaleuca ericifolia,
&c.

By ]\Ir. T. S. Hart, M.A. — About 20 species from Mt. Doran
Ranges, Lai Lai, including Chiloglottis Gunnii, Glaytonia
Australasica, &c.

By Mr. F. Holloway. — About 25 species from Yapeen, near
Guildford, including Grevillea alpina, Calochilus Robertsoni, &:c.

i^ov., 1909.] tHE VICTORIAN NATURALISt. 85

By Mr. J. Lindsay. — About 20 species from Wannon, near
Hamilton, including Bicrchardia umbellata, Caladenia Patersoni,
&c.

By Mr. M'Lennan. — About 30 species from Emerald, including
Eriostenion correifoliiis, Spi/ridium parvijoliuin, Diplarrhena
viorcea, &c. Also — (i) About 20 species collected by head
teacher and pupils of State school, " The Lake," Mildura,
including Cassia eremophila, G. australis, Loranthus linophyllus
(with flat leaves), Uelipterum nioschatum, Hakea vittata, Acacia
Sentis, &c. (2) About 15 species collected by head teacher and
pupils State school, Toora, including Epacris impressa, Tecoma
australis, &c. (3) About 30 species collected by head teacher
and pupils State school, May Reef, South Elmore, including
Helipterutn pygmcBuni, Swainsona prociwtbens, &c. (4) About
30 species collected by head teacher and pupils State school,
Kurting, near Inglewood, including Calycothrix SuUivani,
Loudonia Behrii, Eriostenion ohovalis, Bceckea ericcea, and
Eucalyptus rostrata, on which almost every flower-bud was galled.
(5) About 30 species collected by head teacher and pupils State
school, Moyston, near Ararat, including Thelymitra MacMillani
(rare), Baicera sessili/tora, Dillwynia hispida, Pioltencea Benthami,
&c.

By Mr. C. L. Plumridge. — About 25 species from Plenty
Ranges, including Grevillea alpina, Goodia lotifolia, Eriostenion
correifulius, Daviesia uliciwi,, Epacris impressa, Acacia diffusa,
Pimelea axiflora, &c.

By Dr. Sutton. — About 25 species from Evelyn, including
Pultencea Mueller i, P. daphnoides, &c.

Flowers of the following Victorian plants, grown in the Mel-
bourne Botanic Gardens, were exhibited by Mr. F. Pitcher, on
behalf of the Director : —

Acacia salicina, Lindley, var.
Aphanopetalum resinosum, Endl.
Bauera rubioides, Andrews
,, ,, var. alba

Calycothrix tetragona, Labill.

,, Sullivani, F. v. M.
Clematis aristata, B. Br. , var. Dennisee 1 Olearia myrsinoides, F. v. M,
Commersonia Fraseri, J. Gay ' ,, stellulata, Labill

Dillwynia cinerascens, R. Br.
Epacris longiflora, Cavan.
Eriostemon myoporoides, De C.
Eucalyptus sideroxylon, A. Cunn.,

var. rosea
Eutaxia empetrifolia, Schlech.
Goodia lotifolia, Salisb.
Grevillea aquifolium, Lindley

,, lavandulacea, Schlech.

,, Miqueliana, F. v. M.

Grevillea oleoides, F. v. M.
Hardenbergia monophylla, Benth.
Kennedya rubicunda, Vent.
Lasiopetalum dasyphyllum, Sieber
Micrantheum hexandrum, Hook. f.
Myoporum viscosum, R. Br.

Pittosporum phillyrseoides, De Cand.
Prostanthera lotundifolia, R. Br.
Pultenaea Muelleri, Benth.

,, villosa, Willd.
Stypandra glauca, R. Br.
Tecoma australis, R. Br.
Veronica perfoliata, R. Br.
Westriijgia glabra, K. Br.

,, rosmariniformis, Smith

Zieria Smithii, Andrews

86 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVl.

WATTLE-TIME, OR "YELLOW-HAIRED SEPTEMBER."

By a. J. Campbell, Col. Mem. B.O.U.
(Read be/ore the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 13th Sept., 1909.)
With the opening of September another Australian spring may
be said to dawn, a time when the whole land is abloom with
wattles, or, more correctly, acacias, in their many exquisite
shades of yellow, and perfuming the air with their delightful
incense. Were it possible to ascend above our city to an altitude
where we could obtain a bird's-eye view of the whole State, and
with an eagle's vision scan the land from end to end, or from the
Murray to the sea, we would see the sinuous courses of our
rivers more or less traced in yellow by the golden tops of
regiments of water-side acacias — the familiar Silver Wattle, Acacia
dealbata.

But wattles are not confined to the streams alone — the moun-
tains have their own varieties, and wear their cloths of gold; even
the Mallee, so often regarded as a wilderness, is illuminated
with some of the choicest kinds, dressed in suits of lemon-
yellow.

In all this wealth of aurelian beauty where to begin to indi-
vidualize the species perplexes one. Since Australia possesses
something like 400 species, out of a world total of about 500,
surely it may justly be regarded as our national flower, and
should be worshipped accordingly.

To-night we are not concerned with the commercial value of
our wattles — for this aspect of the subject is to be by no
means despised. Many of the species produce bark valuable
for the large quantities of tannic acid it possesses ; then the
timber of more than one species is a valuable asset, and eagerly
sought by the cabinetmaker, wood-turner, &c. But let us briefly
consider them from an aesthetic point of view. Witness their
shapely forms, the perfect beauty of their soft, fluffy, masses of
golden balls, or the goodly fragrance of their blossoms !

A few words about their life-history may not be amiss. The
germination of a wattle seed is truly a revelation of nature's
secret ways. It is born in a small pea-like pod, contracted slightly
between each seed, and is cast upon the world when its cradle
opens with the warmth of the summer sun. For the battle of life
it is better equipped than many other seeds, being encased in
a tough ebonite-like integument or skin, which shelters well the
delicate embryo within. So strong, and under ordinary circum-
stances almost indestructible, is this protective casing that the
seed may lie for years unhurt, and yet germinate when suitable
conditions arrive. It is on record that wattle seeds have
germinated after remaining dormant in the ground for thirty-seven
years. At Armadale wattle seeds, perfectly sound, have been

Nov., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 87

picked up after having lain in a paddock for at least twenty
years. Wattle seeds, when shed, may travel great distances,
sliding over the ground on their hard, polished coatings, or they
may float on the surface of a stream, for they are, unlike most
seeds, lighter than their own bulk of water. At length having
found a haven of rest, the rains of winter may slowly coax the
tough covering to expand until it fractures, and thus sets free the
hidden life within.

Perhaps the most remarkable character of wattle seed is that
roasting by fire will not destroy it. This fierce ordeal only
sooner sets free the embryo within ; thus it is a well-known fact
that when a bush-fire has swept through the forest, young wattles
spring up as if by magic, and will often be thickest where the
fire was fiercest, such as around the sites of logs or masses of
brushwood, thus apparently proving that the violence of the
flames is more effectual in cracking the tough integument than
the persuasiveness of continued moisture. Hence, profiting
by the methods of Nature, man, when he wants to ensure the
early germination of wattle seed, roasts it in a pan over the
fire or scalds it in boiling water. By either method the outer
skin is fractured, and the seed when planted readily puts forth
its green and tender shoot in less than three weeks' time.

Let us now briefly glance at some of the more notable forms
among our yellow-haired friends. One of the best known, and
perhaps the most conspicuous about Melbourne and suburbs
after the winter solstice, is Acacia Baileyana, or the Cootamundra
Wattle, which, taking kindly to cultivation, has been introduced
from New South Wales, and is usually seen in full bloom during
July. Its small, mimosa-like, glaucous or bluish-grey foliage, and
its branchlets bearing abundant crops of tiny balls of rich lemon-
chrome, must be familiar to all. Though its original habitat is a
very restricted area in the mother State, it has been introduced
into nearly every public park and garden throughout the Com-
monwealth. Its discovery was due to that veteran botanist, Mr.
F. M. Bailey, the then Government Botanist of Queensland, who,
when on one of his exploring excursions in the neighbouring
State, espied its graceful form, and, promptly forwarding speci-
mens to the doyen of Australian botanists, the late Baron von
Mueller, was rewarded by having the species called after him,
hence in Acacia Baileyana we have recorded for all time the
name of one who has done valuable work among the plants of the
youngest of the Australian States,

When the blossoms of Acacia Baileyana begin to wane the
Silver Wattles of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania are just
bursting into bloom, and by the end of August the majority are
in their prime and waiting to welcome " Yellow-haired Septem-
ber." The Silver Wattle, Acacia dealbala, was the species

88 THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVl.

referred to in an early paragraph as lining our rivers with borders
of gold. Though called "silver," from the silvery appearance of
its feathery foliage, " water-hide" would be both a poetic and a
more accurate popular name, for they flourish chiefly along our
streams or on the alluvial flats close by. For a typical scene of
Silver Wattles one need not go further than our home river, the
ever-flowing Yarra, where, say between Heidelberg and Eltham
or Warrandyte, in bend succeeding bend may be seen the yellow-
laden trees like curtains screening the stream, some of the
flowering tassels kissing the water on one side, while others,
bending over beds of pennyroyal and maiden-hair fern, sweep the
river's bank. Climb some adjacent hill or other coign of vantage
and gaze upon a huge letter S, which the river, lined with yellow,
has carved in the green landscape — such a scene may be witnessed
from the heights above Yarra Glen, and in a wattle season /;ar
excellence, as that of 1907, is worth travelling miles to see. In
other seasons the best of the flowering trees may be at intervals
more or less wide, or their beauty may be torn and shattered by
the winter's storms and floods.

We might be tempted to satiate our dreamy senses amid the
scenes of Silver Wattles were not other wattles to be seen afield —
to wit, the splendid Green Wattle, Acacia normalis, which
flowers concurrently with its silver relation, to which it is closely
allied. This species flourishes on land away from water ; its
feathery foliage is art-green instead of silvery, and in season is
flowerful from the lowest branchlets that sweep the grass to the
topmost stem, a veritable glory of the bush, a pillar of perfume,
under whose shadow one might sit in an ecstasy of delight. The
Green Wattle abounds in the sandstone region around Sydney,
and brought to our own State does equally well on tiie sandstone
ridges of the Grampians.

September sees the Golden Wattle, Acacia pycnantha, with its
stiff, eucalyptlike leaves — more properly phyllodes, quite different
to the bipinnate or feathery leaves of the previously mentioned
kinds — in full flower, each tree ablaze with bunches of furry
balls, each often the size of an ordinary marble, of the most
voluptuous shade of rich citron-yellow. It is a hardy species, and
thrives on auriferous country inland, on the rich chocolate soils
of some of our mountain ranges, or on the poorer coastal soils of
New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria. Speaking of
auriferous country, one wonders if the early squatters ever thought
that these glorious Golden Wattles were tokens of the precious
stores of gold below. Think of the rich yields of Ballarat,
Bendigo, Beaufort, and other places where this wattle flourishes.
But why call it " golden," when so many other kinds are golden
also when in bloom ? To this question there seems no reply.
Perchance it may be only a happy vernacular for a wattle that

>fov., 1909.1 I'ttK VICTORIAN NATUKALlS'l. 80

happens to flourish on the surface of gold-bearing country. If
you want to see Golden Wattles in their prime, visit the You
Yangs some balmy spring day in September, climb up one of the
granite piles among shapely She-oaks and stunted Blue Gums,
past bushes entwined with clematis crowded with cream coloured
star-like flowers, with here and there a purple sarsaparilla,
Kennedya inonophylla, trailing on the rocks, to liie summit, and
see below a landscape indescribable for beauty on account of its
billows of yellow bloom set in a sea of green foliage resulting
from the wealth of Golden Wattles growing in the adjacent
forest reserve.

My earliest recollections, as a child, of Golden Wattle are of the
nodding yellow plumes, which seemed to beckon me, borne by
slender saplings that grew in the dear old box forest at the foot of
Mt. Cotterell, not far from the present Rockbank railway station.
No part of the country within the same distance of Melbourne
has changed so little since that day as the Pinkerton Forest, as
it is locally called. Eight-and-forty years have passed since I
saw the last grave closed in that sacred, secluded spot, " the
Forest of the F'ive Graves," where loving hands have since planted
a group of wattles, which at this moment are beautiful by reason
of their blossomy balls of yellow.

A great and grand tree which lowers proudly erect beside
other tall timber in the mountain gullies of Gippsland and Tas-
mania is the Blackwood Wattle, Acacia melanoxijlon. From
Blackwood boards beautiful furniture is made, while the so-called
'' fiddle-back " (really a twist in the nature of the tree caused by
stress or storm), when subjected to the polisher's skill, is among
the handsomest of cabinet woods. The blossoms of the Black-
wood are neither so conspicuous in colour nor in character as
those of many other wattles, being somewhat small, of a pale
lemon or yellowish-white colour, but their aroma pleasantly per-
fumes the forest when the frankincense of the sassafras is done.
For photographic effect one must choose sa|)lings, when flowers
and foliage, infant-like, are fair and plump. In the year 1898
there was a fine display of young Blackvvoods in bloom at the
upper end of the Wernbee Gorge, where the whole river bend
was full of trees apparently more crowded with blooms than leaves.
Such a sight is rare to behold.

In the tea-tree groves by the sea-sliore, in sunny glade and in
shadowy scrub alike, the Coastal Wattle, Acacia longijolia, runs
riot in bushes sometimes erect, but as often spreading over the
sandy soil, and aflare with lengthened spur-like, rich lemon-
yellow flowers, and in such abundance that every little sandy
hollow near seems to hold the strongly diffused perfume. This
species may be said to most enthusiastically celebrate "Yellow-
haired September." The finest brakes of this sea-side wattle,

90 fHE VtCtORtAN NAtDftALlSl-. fVo). XXVj.

forming quite coppices in their way, are to be found along the
coast of south-eastern South Australia.

Those who have not the opportunities to travel far afield to
witness the more familiar wattles which I have mentioned in
their natural surroundings will experience a delightful treat in
visiting the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, where a secure or more
kinds may be seen in full flower during the season, some of the
more striking species being the Crescent-leaved Wattle,
Acacia lunata ; the Alpine Wattle, A. pravissima ; the Myrtle-
leaved, A. myrtifolia ; the Knife-leaved, A. cultri/ormis ; and
the showy, A. spectabilis, &c., in various captivating shades of
yellow.

At the vernal equinox the attendant wild gales are often the
bearers of wattle perfume, gathered from field and forest, while
pollen dust absorbed by the passing breeze has later on been
precipitated by the welcome rain, leaving a golden sediment on
our city roads or streets. Gales of wind and wet usually
dishevel and despoil the fair locks of " Yellow-haired Septem-
ber," but with the advance of bright October other wattles step
in to continue the colour scheme.

In the east there is the Scrub Wattle, Acacia leprosa, a bush
of pendulous habit which illuminates the forested hills with its
bunches of bloom of bright lemon-chrome, and mingled with the
soft perfume is the aromatic aroma of its foliage. Away in the
west, near Cape Leeuwin, the beautiful-leaved gum forests and
giant Karri Karri tracts are bathed in yellow splendour by
reason of two striking species of wattles, which, blooming
unheeded in the woody wilderness, are known only by the stern
botanical names of Acacia divergens and A. pulchella, but having
seen these in their natural setting their modest beauty will ever
remain in the memory.

While in the great western land, let us pause to admire another
and larger species, the Western, or, as sometimes called, the
Weeping Wattle, Acacia saligna, on account of its drooping
branches, which skirt-like cling about its figure. It is a most
ornamental tree, which is attested by the fact that it has been
introduced and freely cultivated in the public gardens of the
eastern States. During October every branchlet bears burdens
of fluffy balls, deep chrome yellow in colour. Their perfume,
however, is somewhat overpowering if taken into a room, and
for that reason they are better left upon the trees, where, as in
other kinds, their matchless beauty is better seen in contrast
with the natural greenery of the leaves. Had the poet Burns
dwelt in this southern land of ours, instead of the familiar couplet
he would probably have written —

" For pleasures are like ivattlcs spread,
You seize the flower, its bloom is shed."

Nov., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 9l

Another October-flowering species cannot be passed over —
the Prickly Wattle, or Kangaroo Thorn, Acacia armata, well
known as a hedge plant around the metropolis and elsewhere,
and appearing so gay when decked with its bright yellow
balls, each on a conspicuous stalk, and protected from the
vandal by sharp needle-like spines — hence the botanical
name. A good specimen of this acacia when in bloom is
not to be despised as a flowering shrub. It is perhaps
the oldest known of Australian acacias, and was recorded
by the early explorers of the Port Jackson district. At
the You Yangs there are natural lanes of this wattle, where
the rabbits play and the foxes prowl. It grows to perfection on
Kangaroo Island, off South Australia, in the hollows of the lime-
stone hills of that most picturesque place. In it numerous birds,
such as Warblers, Honey-eaters, and Tits, find secure retreats,
and love to build their nests. Indeed, even human beings might
be tempted to camp under the snug and inviting flowering
bushes if it were not for the fear of settling upon serious
trouble — detached thorns, unseen and scattered in the grass.

In wattle time, the more daylight the more delight. Let
us hasten on to November, when the Black Wattles, Acacia
decurrens and A. niollissima spread their perfume afar over the
land. The Black Wattle is a tree highly prized in commerce, for
as a tanning material its bark possesses the highest percentage of
tannic acid. It enjoys a goodly range, from Queensland to South
Australia, including Tasmania.

Some sound authorities maintain that the Silver, the Green,
and the Black Wattles are merely geographical varieties of the
same species. That may be so, but the field observer seeks a
reason why the Silver and the Green have rich yellow flowers
and bloom in early spring, while the Black (a name suggested by
its dark-coloured bark and foliage) waits till the summer to put
forth its floral splendour of pale yellow. Can the same species
have two seasons and two colours? Again, where does the
geographic distinction come in if the respective trees grow in the
same locality ? True, one is at the water-side, the other on the
hill. Exchange their environments and they perish, or at least
they do not thrive.

Black Wattle is found in every bit of bush ; in fact, if you cut
down the standing forest and send a fire through it, wattles spring
up thickly, seemingly where they never existed before, for the
reason already mentioned when speaking of the germination of
the seed. Nowhere are finer trees for blossom to be seen than
in that favoured locality, the You Yangs. About the beginning
of November the hills and hollows are fairly flushed with its
pale or Naples yellow blossom. Mount some massive granite tor
and take in the scene. You appear to be encircled with Black

92 THE VtCTORIAN NATURALISt. [Vol. JCiVt.

Wattle heads mottled with flowering patches, not so thickly or
so rich in colour as the blooms of the Silver and Green Wattles,
nevertheless very sesthetic in tone. In shape Black Wattles are
rotund ; others with unrestricted freedom recline among the
lichen-covered rocks, the whole place being redolent with strong
wattle perfume, which is agreeably modified by an admixture of
the fragrance given off by the Snowy Mint-bush, Prostanthera
nivea, and other sweet-scented shrubs around.

Cross over to Tasmania and see the wattles along the banks
of th^ Tamar, where they may be seen competing in colour with
the flowering Peppermint Gums. In November and December
the pretty red-tiled villas of Trevallyn are embowered in wattles,
full of bloom, giving forth their delightful fragrance.

Black Wattles are felled not only for their bark for tanners'
use, but for their wood, which is highly prized for use in the
bakers' ovens. Away in Western Victoria is a range of mountains
with serrated and curiously tilted peaks — the Grampians, the
"Sierra Nevadas" of Victoria — whose well-watered slopes, once the
home of countless wattles, have been cleared, and are now occu-
pied by fruitful fields of apples.

We have now reached midsummer, when the Silver Wattles of
" Yellow-haired September " appear in seed, their suspended
pods hanging in nut-brown clusters or purple patches ; myriads
of the tiny jet-black seeds are already shed, some carried afar by
birds, thousands of the exploded pods have fallen and float like
fairy canoes upon the shrunken pools, too low for stream or
current to bear them off. But other wattles are still in flower,
though in lighter shades of splendour, for, according to the
species, the flowers range from almost white to deepest chrome,
and it may be accepted as a general rule that those which
flower in winter and spring possess the rich yellow shades,
while those which bloom in the summer and autumn wear the
paler tints.

Another fine wattle which has been introduced into Victoria
from New South Wales, where it is fairly common, and like many
other wattles rejoices in several popular names, such as Welling-
ton, Cedar, Hickory, &c., is the New Year Wattle, Acacia elata.
Its foliage is like that of the well-known introduced Pepper-tree,
Schinus niolle, and it is the first wattle to flower at or after the
New Year, hence the choice of an appropriate vernacular would
seem to rest between the names " Pepper-tree Wattle " or
" New Year Wattle" — which ? It is certainly not a " Cedar" or
a "Hickory," or even a " Wellingtonia." Its botanical title,
elata, is euphonious and easily remembered. It is an exceedingly
ornamental tree, and fine specimens may be seen in many
private gardens in the different suburbs and in the Botanic
Gardens. An especially fine pair guards the lodge opposite

Xov., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 93

Millswyn-street, South Yarra. The city fathers of Prahran have
permitted by way of experiment the planting of a street with this
wattle, and should they succeed the next generation of citizens
may be able to stroll under " Elata " groves instead of " Elm "
and other groves as at present. Think of the splendour and
delightfulness of these " Elata " groves in a hot January, when
the umbrageous trees shade our streets and the delicate
perfume from the top crested with large pale yellow flowers
is wafted through open doors and windows and permeates our
dwellings.

When the burning beams of a summer sun are drying up the
land during " fiery February," when many trees and shrubs
languish in the heat and fallen leaves crumple and crackle under
foot, another wattle, the proper Lightwood Wattle, Acacia
ijuplexa, is gay, if not gorgeous, with its shining foliage intermixed
with yellowish-white furry balls. The leaves are crescent or
sickle-shaped in form, and the tree is sometimes mistaken for the
Blackwood, which, however, grows in generous soil, alluvial
tracts, while the Lightwoods love the hills and such like
localities as the rocky battlements of the famous Werribee
Gorge, where their rotund forms may be seen, supported by
rough-barked, twisted stems, standing firmly with rock-
encrusted roots.

The Willow Wattle of Riverina, Acacia salicina, also some-
times flowers during " fiery February," when the drought-stricken
earth seems to have put off all its beauty. At such a time the
River Murray, great in winter, is below summer level, and well-nigh
stationary, with shoaling sands and submerged snags, the latter as
seen through the transparent water bearded with green filamentous
algse ; yet not far distant may be seen splendid specimens of the
Willow Wattle, shapely in form, gracefully draped with pendulous
branches of fine-leaved foliage, each branchlet as it droops being
dotted with greenish-white flowers, which emit a somewhat
pungent perfume — a strong tree with a strong scent. When the
seeds are fully ripe the long containing pods, half open, expose
unusually large black seeds, each surrounded by a bright
vermilion rim — fit embryos of one of the largest of our wattle
trees.

Many wattles bloom in March, and to match the month, so far
as initials go, we have one known as the Maiden Wattle, Acacia
JIaideni, named by the late Baron von Mueller after Mr. J. H.
Maiden, F.L.S., Director of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, and an
ardent lover of wattles. The Maiden Wattle belongs to the
Blackwood and Lightwood series, but with lengthened flowers
instead of globular. It is a native of New South Wales, and has
been introduced to Victoria, where it does well. It may be seen
in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, and at Armadale last season

94 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

one was to be seen flowering in the garden of Mr. C. Catani,
our esteemed Engineer of Roads and Bridges, also a true wattle
" apostle."

Several autumnal-flowering wattles make April gay. In the
Grampians, for instance, you will find a variety in whipstick
form — in fact, it might be conveniently called the " Whipstick "
Wattle — bearing lengthened leaves, and topped with tufts of
delicate yellow, diffusing the most delicate of perfumes. By
creeks and gullies the trees grow more bushy and branchy, and
are almost the only native flowers seen until the heath-like
Epacris, in big bells, white, pink, or salmon to deepest crimson,
commences to tint the scrub.

In the sandy tracks of eastern Gippsland and the coastal
region of New South Wales grows a wattle of somewhat straggling
habit, yet with true mimosa-like foliage, rich art-green in colour.
This is Acacia discolor. It has been called the Sunshine Wattle,
but why call it " Sunshine" when, as Mr. Maiden says (" Wattles
and Wattle-barks," p. 56), all wattle flowers are "emblems of
sunshine." The Sunshine Wattle when in flower is adorned all
over with bracts, each bearing a dozen or more lemon-yellow
balls, but in this case the perfume is not at all pleasing.

In having thus enumerated a few of our favourite wattles in
illustrating my theme of " Yellow-haired September," it will be
noticed I have also run the seasons round, and so incidentally
constructed a " Floral (Wattle) Calendar," but at the same time
it must not be inferred that the wattles mentioned do not bloom
in other months than those stated, for situation has much to do
with early or late blooming of many of the species.

As I commenced in July with the graceful Acacia Baileyana
let me conclude with the Sweet-scented Wattle, Acacia suaveolens,
which is perhaps at its best in June. True to its specific name,
its light-coloured tufty flowers are indeed sweet-scented, and on
the heath-covered tracts along the eastern shores of Port Phillip
Bay this wattle finds a congenial home, sometimes springing in
patches of stitT-leaved single stems knee high, at other times
appearing as a solitary bush several feet in height.

Ti:ne, and perhaps your patience, forbid to tell to-night of the
Gum-topped Wattle, Acacia penninervis, of Gippsland, found as
near Melbourne as the Blacks' Spur, at Healesville, and in the
ranges of the far Upper Yarra ; of the Myall and the Mulga of
the vast interior of the continent ; of the Brigalow, Acacia harpo-
phylla, of Queensland ; of the Jam-wood of Western Australia,
Acacia acuminata, so called because its scented wood is so
suggestive of the flavour of raspberry jam ; or of that curious
species. Acacia Jarnesiana, from Northern Australia, known as
the Sponge-tree, which puts forth its globular flowers of old gold
amid a development of small, rich green crinkled or sponge-like

Nov., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 9.^

foliage. Therefore please let it suffice just to have mentioned
these in concluding my sketch of " Yellow-haired September,"
so named by our Australian poet, Kendall.

[The paper was illustrated by a series of lantern slides of the
various species mentioned. — Ed. Vict. N'at.]

BE AMYTIS VARTA, Carter.

To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist.

Sir, — Referring to the bird which I described provisionally as a
new species — viz., Amytis varia (see Vict. Nat., vol. xxv., pp.
75 and 86) — the skins that I obtained are regarded by ornitho-
logical experts as being Amytis macrura, although no skins of this
species were in the collections of either Sydney, Melbourne, or
the South Kensington Museums, and I was unable to make a
comparison with the type skins, which are in Paris. Gould gives
the total length measurement of A. macrura as five and a half
inches, but this is apparently an error, and as his " Handbook " was
the only work I had giving measurements of this species, I
formed the opinion that the birds obtained by me were new to
science. — Yours, &c.,

TOM CARTER
(Of Broome Hill, Western Australia).
Masham, Yorkshire, i6th August, 1909.

Bird Day. — The first Bird Day instituted by the Education
Department for the benefit of the scholars attending the State
schools of Victoria was celebrated on Friday, 29th October. A
special programme of lessons, dealing with various aspects of
bird life and laying particular stress on their protection and
preservation, was carried out. In the smaller schools, where
possible, excursions were made to localities frequented by birds,
and lessons given in the field. In the metropolis, as this was
impossible, the services of a number of natural history enthusiasts
were secured, and practical demonstrations on the value of birds
were given by members of the Field Naturalists' Club, the
Ornithologists' Union, ,and the Bird Observers' Club, to the
senior classes of the suburban schools. On the whole, the move-
ment was a success, and it is hoped will lead to more interest
in our feathered friends, without whose aid human life would
almost become impossible. Advantage was taken of the day to
inaugurate the Gould League of Bird-Lovers, and some 50,000
children handed in their names as willing to observe its precepts.
We trust this movement will, as the years roll by, greatly lessen
the destructive pot-hunting which takes place on every holiday.

96 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Other Societies. — The Australasian Ornithologists' Union
has had, during the month, a very enjoyable " carap-out " in the
Port Lincoln district, South Australia, particulars of which will
appear in an early Emu. The Microscopical Society of Victoria,
to mark the opening of its second year, held a conversazione and
exhibition of objects in the upper hall of the Athenaeum on
Tuesday, 26th October, which was well attended.

Flowers in Glass. — In the Selbome Magazine for September,
1909, Mary W. Porter gives an account of the making of the
" Ware Collection " of glass flowers in Harvard University. These
flowers are the result of years of patience and practice by Leopold
and Rudolph Blascka, two Bohemian glass workers, who have
made a specialty of natural history objects for many years. The
article reads almost like a fairy tale, as the following quotation
will show: — "The glass flowers are in sprays and clusters
precisely as one sees them in nature, and indeed the living flowers
seem to lie before one, so delicate and accurate is the workman-
ship displayed in them." " The importance of the collection
from an artistic or botanical point of view cannot be over-
estimated. With regard to its botanical accuracy, William Deane,
the botanist, says that it is positively startling. He examined
sixteen species by careful comparison, besides making a more
general observation of a large number. Take, for instance,
Aralia spinosa, L. : the building up of the complex inflorescence,
with its multitudinous minute flowers, is almost beyond belief.
In this cluster, with its flowers so small that their structure can
be seen only with a lens, while many of its buds, blossoms, and
developing fruit are so minute as to be indistinguishable to the
naked eye, I counted of buds, blossoms, and developing fruit,
from 2,500 to 3,000. And yet every flower has its five petals
and five alternating stamens with long filaments. I sought to
find on the under part of the cluster some flowers perhaps less
carefully done, as being practically out of sight, but they were all
equal in their perfection, the immense compound leaf shown, the
spines scattered irregularly along the stalk and midribs. Were
every specimen in the collection to be inverted the same accurate
work would be seen. Every plant tells the same story of nature
closely followed out, and I am glad to bear my testimony to the
almost magical work of Leopold and Rudolph Blascka." At the
present time 687 species of flowering plants are represented,
belonging to 520 genera and 147 natural orders ; the mornhology
(cross sections and other magnified details) is exhibited by
more than 2,500 details. All are true to colour, and Harvard
University is to be congratulated on being made the recipient
of such a marvellous collection, which, it is hoped, will be com-
pleted in two years' time.

Cbe Ulctorian naturalist

Vol. XXVL— No. 8. DECEMBER 9, 1909. No. 312.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.
The ordinary monthly of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 8th November, igog.

The president, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, occupied the chair,
and about 6o members and visitors were present.

CORRESPONDENCE.

A letter was read from Mr. H. J. Oke, Agricultural High
School, Wangaratta, inviting members of the Club to join the
District Teachers' Association visit to Buffalo Gorge, on Friday
and Saturday, 19th and 20th November, 1909.

REPORTS.

The chairman reported having, along with the hon. secretary,
attended the Parliamentary Committee on Daylight Saving and
given evidence in favour of the proposal.

A report of the excursion to Bayswater on Saturday, loth
October, was forwarded by the leader, Mr. C. French jun., who
reported an interesting outing. Fourteen species of orchids were
noted, among them being Caladenia Cairnsiana, C. suaveolens,
Calochilus Robertsoni, and Thelymitra aristata, of which fine
specimens were collected. A large number of fine specimens of
the curious lycopod, Phylloglossum Drummondi were secured for
the National Herbarium. Insects as a rule were scarce.

A report of the motor-boat excursion on the Yarra, at Studley
Park, on Saturday, 17th October, was given by the leader, Mr. A.
D. Hardy, F.L.S., who reported a very enjoyable outing. The
scenery along the river had been greatly admired by those who
had seen it for the first time. A landing had been effected in the
Asylum reserve at Kevv, where a little botanizing was done, and
he thought the experiment was worth repeating another season.

A report of the excursion to Graham Falls, Belgrave, on Cup
Day, Tuesday, 2nd November, was given by the leader, Mr. F.
Pitcher, who reported a good attendance of members. Favoured
by a splendid day, an enjoyable outing had resulted. A fine
variety of fern-gully vegetation had been met with, and specimens
obtained of a variety of tea-tree, which had not yet been deter-
mined. The entomologists of the party had also done fairly well,
while from a scenic point of view the locality was well worth
visiting.

A report of the junior excursion to Hampton on Saturday,
6th November, was given by the leader, Mr. C. J. Gabriel, who
reported a good attendance of junior members. The afternoon

98 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [vol. XXVI.

was devoted to marine mollusca, of which about fifty species were
noted. Many interesting forms were taken ahve, including
Philine angasi, Crosse.

The hon. Ubrarian acknowledged the receipt of the following
donations to the library : — " Expedition to Islands of Bass Strait
by the Australasian Ornithologists' Union, 1908," album of photo-
graphs and map, from Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S. ;
" Descriptive Guide to the Melbourne Botanic Gardens," by W.
R. Guilfoyle, F.L.S., Director, from the author; "Victorian Hill
and Dale," by T. S. Hall, M.A., D.Sc. (purchased) ; " Animals
of Australia," by A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., B.Sc, and W. H. Dudley
Le Souef (purchased) ; " Confessions of a Beachcomber," by E.
J. Banfield (purchased) ; The Microscope, Nos. 11 and 12, from
Watson and Sons ; The Geelong ]^ aturalist, second series, vol iv..
No. I (August, 1909), from the Geelong Naturalists' Club ;
" Report of Trustees of Public Library, Museum, and National
Gallery of Victoria," for 1908, from the trustees; "Memoirs of
the Geological Survey of Victoria," Nos. 7 and 8, from the
Department of Mines, Melbourne ; Journal of Department of
Agriculture, Victoria, August and September, 1909, from the
department; The Australian Naturalist, \o\. i, part 15 (July,
1909), from the New South Wales Naturalist Club ; " Proceedings
Linnean Society of New South Wales," vol. xxxiv., part i, from
the society ; " Records of Australian Museum, Sydney," vol. xii.,
part 4, from the trustees ; Agricultural Gazette of Neio South
Wales, August and September, 1909, from the Department of
Agriculture, Sydney ; Report of Public Library, Museum, and
Art Gallery of South Australia, for 1908, from the trustees ; The
Qusensland Naturalist, vol. i., No. 3 (September, 1909), from
the Queensland Naturalists' Club.

ELECTION OF MEMBER.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. Alex. D. Selby, National Park,
vid Yanakie, was duly elected an associate member.

PAPERS READ.

I. By Messrs. G. A. Waterhouse, B. Sc, F.E.S., and G. Lyell,
F.E.S., entitled " New and Rare Butterflies of the Genus
Miletus."

The authors remarked that in the Lycgenid genus Miletus are
now placed some of the butterflies formerly included in the genus
Hypochrysops. They gave a full description of Miletus apollo,
formerly known only from a single damaged male specimen in
the Queensland Aluseum, from specimens obtained at Cape
York, North Queensland ; Miletus pancetha, a new species, of
which both sexes were taken at Cape York by Mr. H. Elgner ;
Miletus elgneri, a new species from Prince of Wales Island,
Torres Strait, also captured by Mr. Elgner; and Miletus

Dec, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 99

erythrina, a new species taken at Port Darwin by Mr. F P
Dodd.

2. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., entitled, " Notes on the
Hairy-nosed Wombat, Phascolomys latifrons, Owen."

The author stated that he had recently seen some skins of this
animal m the National Museum, marked "Deniliquin. N.S.W.",
and as the animal was usually regarded as being confined "to
South Australia, he was led to try and trace their origin. Thouc^h
some twenty years had elapsed, he had been fortunate in getting
into communication with the donor of the specimens, who assured
him that the record was correct, and, though probably now
extinct in the locality, the range of this species must be
extended to include south-western New South Wales.

3- By Messrs. J. H. Gatliff and C. J. Gabriel, entitled " First
Record of the Animal of Voluta mamilla, Gray, with Remarks
thereon."

The authors stated that though this shell had long been known
and IS one of the largest of our Victorian Volutes, measuring
some seven mches in length, it had not been found alive until
taken recently off Gabo Island by the Commonwealth trawler
Endeavour, while searching for new fishing grounds off the
south-east coast. Photographs of the animal were exhibited, and
the smgular fact was stated that the radula was no larger 'than
that of an ordinary limpet.

4. By Dr. T. S. Hall, M.A., entitled " Ungarnered Grain."

The author pomted out many directions in which members of
the Club could be of use in clearing up difficulties, and in adding
to our knowledge of the workings of Nature, and urged all who had
the opportunities to seize them, and record their observations on
certain groups which were fast passing away from our midst,
owing to the clearing of forests, draining of swamps, &c.

The paper gave rise to considerable discussion on several of
the points raised.

Mr. J. Booth thought that much might be done by members
working together in small groups.

Mr. O. A. Sayce said that, to encourage workers, it was neces-
sary that those having special knowledge of a subject should be
able and willing to impart the necessary stimulus, and mentioned
how he had been encouraged when studying the fresh-water
Crustacea by authorities in other lands.

_ Mr. F. Wisewould endorsed the author's remarks, and urged
immediate attention to several groups, which, owing to the spread
of settlement, were likely to be very difficult of study before
many years passed.

Mr. F. G. A. Barnard thought the main difficulty in the way of
study in this part of the world was the absence of an educated
leisured class. All our workers were engaged in the struggle for

100 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

their daily bread, and could spare only odd moments for the
minor details of natural history.

The chairman thanked the author for pointing out so concisely
the various directions in which openings existed for useful work,
and, with regard to botanical lines of study, said that recording the
various methods of pollination of Australian flowers, photo-
graphing plant associations, or drawing our native flowers, were
some of the ways by which those who had the opportunity could
greatly add to our botanical knowledge.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Pot-grown specimen of Native
Beech, Fagus Cunninghami, Hook.

By Messrs. J. H. Gatliff and C. J. Gabriel. — Shell of Voluta
mamilla, Gray, and radula of same, in illustration of paper ; also
shells of Voluta magnifica, Chemnitz; F. _/t<st/brwis, Swainson ;
Melo indicus, Gmel. ; Gyinha proboscidcdis, Lam. ; and C. olla,
L., for comparison.

By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. — Skins of Hairy-nosed Wombat,
Phascolomys latifrons, Owen, and of Common Wombat, P.
mitchelli, Owen, in illustration of paper.

By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S.— A live Worm-Snake,
Typhlops, sp., from Eyre's Peninsula, S.A.

By Mr. E. F. Thiele. — Nest and eggs of Red-wattle Bird,
Acanthochcera carunculata, from Doncaster.

By Mr. F. Wisewould. — Large mud cast from entrance to
chamber of land-crab, Engceus, sp., from Pakenham.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

"Nests and Eggs of Birds Found Breeding in Australia
AND Tasmania." — The third and concluding part of the second
volume of this special catalogue, issued by the Australian
Museum, Sydney, has been published. In it the author, Mr.
A. J. North, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist to the Museum, deals with
the nests and eggs of the remaining families of the order Passeres
and a portion of the order Picarite. Among these are included
the swallows, finches, larks, lyre-birds, nightjars, and kingfishers.
Numerous illustrations are given in the text, and a full plate is
given of a nest of the Brown Kingfisher, Dacelo gigas, in a white
ants' mound, placed in a tree, about 40 feet from the ground.
This was from a photograph taken at Lindfield, N.S.W., ten years
ago, where now the main street of a flourishing suburb is situated.
Two plates of eggs, figuring 34 specimens belonging to 17 species,
are given ; these are all of natural size. As usual, Mr. North's
notes are of a most interesting character, being culled from the
experiences of collectors and observers in all parts of Australia.

Dec, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 101

EXCURSION TO GRAHAIM FALLS, BELGRAVE.
This excursion was fixed for Cup Day (Tuesday, 2nd November),
and, after having scanned the holiday crowd at Princes' Bridge
railway station between 8.30 and 8.52 a.m. for additional
naturalists, a party of Club members and their friends, numbering
eight, left by the train at the later time for the first Club excursion
to Graham Falls. These falls are situated in the Dandenong
Ranges, and are approached from the Belgrave station, on the
Gembrook line. JEn route another member was picked up at
Canterbury. Between Box Hill and Belgrave some of our native
plants growing adjacent to the railway line rendered themselves
very noticeable by their profusion and beauty of bloom, the more
prominent of them being Leptospermum scojMrium, Daviesia
latijolia and D. cor/jmbosa, Stylidium graminifolium, Dillwynia
cinerascens Q-ud D.JiorihunJa, JJittriis pedunculcda, Coniespernntm
ericinum, Hibhertia stricta, Helichrxjsum scorpioides, and Mela-
leuca squarrosa. At Ferntree Gully station, where we were delayed
on the Gembrook train waiting for more passengers by later
special trains from Melbourne, another member joined our party,
and, on arrival at Belgrave at about 1 1.30 a.m., we found the total
number of our company to be fourteen, which included the veteran
excursionists, Messrs. Best, Frost, and Searle. Our course lay
along the Monbulk road for a distance of about half a mile.
Various buildings in process of erection indicated the growing
popularity of this part of the narrow-gauge Gembrook line. As
we proceeded attention was drawn to the distinctive mountain
growth and beauty of many European trees growing in " Glen
Harrow," the valuable property on the right-hand side of the road
formerly held by Mr. Cole, a well-known nurseryman. The
colour of the pink-flowering variety of Cratcegus oxijacantha was
observed to be much more brilliant than in plants growing around
Melbourne. Some fine specimen trees of the Blackwood, Acacia
melanoxylon, among the various eucalypts, and some tall examples
of Alsophila australis, the Hill Tree-fern, were to be seen close to
the roadside prior to reaching the Monbulk Creek, which crosses
the road at a little distance from where we turned off into the track
which was to lead us to the Falls. Near the creek crossing the
first prominent objects of interest were the two Olearias,
0. argophylla, the Native Musk tree, and 0. steUulata, which were
covered with masses of their beautiful white blooms. Diverging
from the road to the track on the left, we started along the latter,
which was specially opened up at the beginning of last year to
afford easy access for tourists and visitors to the Falls. After a
very agreeable journey along this easily-graded, ascending path,
on either side of which were the usual forest trees, shrubs, and
ferns to be found on the slopes of most of the gullies in the Dande-
nong Ranges, we arrived at the camping grounds at the head of

102 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Graham Falls at about half-past 12 p.m. Papilio macleayanus
was the first butterfly noted by one of our party. Several well-
known native birds and a few lizards were noticed in passing
along. We decided to have lunch before inspecting the Falls and
starting on the observation journey. So, boiling the billy in one
of the special fire-places built for such purposes, tea was soon
made. During luncheon some interesting reminiscences by some
of the party of their doings at previous extended excursions were
related, after which we started to descend to the base of the Falls
down steps made in the siding, and which in some places were
nearly perpendicular. During the past eighteen months, mainly
through the instrumentality of the late Minister of Lands, Hon.
J. E. Mackay, M.P., and the Surveyor-General of Victoria, Mr.
J. M. Reed, I.S.O., the whole of the Monbulk Creek, from the
Monbulk and Belgrave road to the head of the creek, a dis-
tance of between 4 and 5 miles, and its adjacent vegetation,
have been opened up to view in a very careful and
judicious manner by the ranger, Mr. J. O'Donoghue. 'J'racks
have been cut, steps, rustic bridges, and seats placed
at suitable spots ; sign-posts indicating routes have been fixed at
otherwise doubtful turnings, and pathways have been made more
accessible, and all without undue destruction of the native vege-
tation. At the main crossing of the water of the falls, which were
named Graham Falls after ihe former owner of property
in their vicinity, a fine view is to be had of the full course of
the several series of falls, forming a descent in all, as viewed from
this crossing, of from 60 to 70 feet. A densely furnished grove of
the Tree-ferns, Dicksonia Antarctica, extending far down, is
noticeable from where we crossed the water and passed over from
the east to the west side of the valley. These ferns a little lower
down were found to be well clothed with Polypodium, Tricho-
manes, and Hymenophyllum ferns as well as with the mosses
Dawsoida superba and Porstrichuin decurvatum. As we ascended
along the zig-zag path, formed with an easy gradient, a fine view
of the east bank of the creek, rising up to 200 feet, presented
itself The usual vegetation of our mountain gullies, such as
Native Sassafras, Atherospermcc inoschata, Blackwood trees,
Hedycarya Cunninghami, Zieria iSmithii, Native Hazel, Musk,
Senecio Bedfordiana (Blanket Tree), Coprosma Billardieri,
Olearias, and Peppermint, Blackbutt, Blue Gum, and other
eucalypts, with giant specimens of the two principal tree ferns,
Dicksonia and Alsophila, sending out their profusion of new
frondage, are so grouped or massed here as to make a fine
picture, well worth travelling so far to conveniently inspect. As
we journeyed along the well-devised, fairly level track for about
a mile and a half, some fine examples of eucalypts were very
noticeable, numbers of them rising from 150 to 200 feet, and

Dec, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 103

having large girths of stem for a great height. One giant
specimen, which is dead, and must have been lying there for a
number of years unobserved, has recently been made an
object of interest to passers-by along, the track, owing
to its having been opened up to view and a footbridge built
on to its bole. We tape-measured this specimen and found
the diameter of its uprooted stem-base to be 14 feet. At
32 feet from its base the stem circumference measured 28
feet 6 inches, and the length of stem along which persons
may walk proved to be 165 feet ; the diameter at that
distance from the base being 2 feet. Adjacent to this specimen is
a living one, which, at a height of as far as we could reach, was
found to have a stem circumference of 22 feet. Within a short
distance from these giants some large and splendid examples of
Blackwood and Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata), were observed,
many of the latter reaching to a height of 60 feet, with stems of
nearly iS inches diameter. Three isolated patches of tea-tree, of
a species yet to be accurately determined, were noticed in the
broad bed of the creek near here, where, also, was passed through
one of the densest groves of Dicksonia tree-ferns seen during the
day. The tea-tree specimens referred to were taller than most of
those in our party had ever observed before, being from 40 to 50
feet in height. We reached the source of the creek, close to the
Sherbrooke road, at a distance of about a quarter of a mile from
where it branches from the Ferntree Gully road. At the head of
the creek were again found some large Blackwood trees and dense
undergrowths of Olearia stelhdata in full bloom, interspersed with
tree-ferns. Some strong-growing young plants were a puzzle for a
time to determine, owing to their rank growth and undeveloped
flower-heads ; these were proved by maturer specimens found
later to be Pimelea ligustrina. Another monster dead Eucalyptus
was seen lying close to the track leading out to Ferntree Gully
road ; the stem measurement of this one was found to be over
160 feet, with an average diameter of over 4 feet. On the journey
from the Falls to the head of the creek several members were
engaged in searching for entomological specimens and noting the
various birds observed. The following plants, in addition to
those already mentioned, were found to be in flower : — Cassinia
aculeata, Helichrijsuvi ferrugineuin, Senecio vagus, Stellaria
/laccida, Drosera Menziesii, Pimelea axijlora, Lomatia Fraseri,
Asperula Gunnii, Glycine clandestina, Ranunculus lappaceus,
Hibbertia stricta, and Geranium dissectiom.

At a quarter to 4 p.m. we started on the journey of about 3I
miles along the road to Ferntree Gully, noting very few plants in
flower other than those already mentioned. Clematis arisiata
was, however, commencing to fully bloom, and Dipplarrhena
morcea, while the Acacias stricta, leprosa, and verticillata were

104 THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Vol. XXVI.

Still found in flower. Being such a beautiful day as it was, and
comparatively clear, fine panoramic and landscape views of
Western Port and Port Phillip Bays, Arthur's Seat, Upper
Beaconsfield, and the intervening country were greatly admired
as we sauntered along the road. We arrived at the foot of Fern-
tree Gully about half-past 5 p.m., and after resting for half an
hour, during which some tea and refreshments were again
liberally provided by the ladies of the party, we strolled along to
the station by half-past 6 p.m. as a united party, still numbering
.14. Having seated ourselves in one of the luxurious (?) cattle-
trucks provided for passenger traffic at holiday time on this line,
we were soon being taken to our respective stations, after an
outing which by its length prevented us searching any spots
more than cursorily, but which nevertheless opened up to some
of the party visions of fresh hunting grounds, and which had
been to one and all, according to their expressions, a most
enjoyable and pleasant excursion.

Mr. C. Oke has furnished the accompanying list and note re
the entomology of the excursion. He says: — "The principal
Coleoptera taken were : — Ceneus chalybeipennis, Chaud. ;
Melobasis nervosa, Bois. ; Alelobasis (sp.) ; Ethon corpulentus,
Bohem. ; Chrosis trisulcata, Erich.; Chrosis (sp.) ; Crepidomenus
fulgidus, Erich. ; C. decoratus, Erich. ; Monocrepidius ; Apasis
howiiti, Pasc. ; Lepispilus sulcicollis, Pasc. ; Lepispilus (sp.) ;
..Elsiotes morosus, Pasc. ; Poropterus conifer, Erich. ; Aoploc-
nemis armipennis. Lea; Ecrizothis (sp.) ; Belus bimaculatus,
Pasc. ; Rhachiodes granulifer, Chev. ; . Ectosticta ornata, Blk. ;
Stenoderus suturalis ; S. concolor ; Leperina decorata, Erich. ;
Cordus hospes, Germ., and Heteromastix galeatus, Blk. These
have been kindly identified for me by the National Museum.
The only butterflies I noticed were the Painted Lady, Pyrameis
kershawi, and the Admiral {F. itea). Moths were scarce, a few
Agrotis being the only ones noticed." — F. Pitcher.

A Grand Old Gum Tree. — It is gratifying to record that at
length a spirit of veneration for the remains of our native flora is
being exhibited in some quarters. The people of Ivanhoe, at
the instance of ]\Ir. and Mrs. A. B. Woolf, are endeavouring to
raise a fund to purchase the allotment at the junction of the
Upper Plenty and Studley Roads, Ivanhoe, on which stands a
grand old red-gum tree. This tree, which was illustrated in the
Australasian of Saturday, 4th December, is probably at least
500 years old, and should, with protection, live as many more.
Should the effort be successful, it is proposed to make the
Heidelberg Shire Council the custodian of the land, and its
occupant. The Committee of the Field Naturalists' Club of
Victoria, in order to further the movement, at its last meeting
voted a guinea to the fund.

Dec, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 105

PROGRESS REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE PLANT
RECORDS SUB-COMMITTEE.

(Presented to Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, Wth Oct., 1909.)

The Sub-committee for Plant Names, appointed in August, 1907,
is now more than two years in being.

So far it has not apparently justified its existence, for no
results of its labours have yet been published. To show,
however, that it has not been idle, it has been considered
advisable by the committee that some explanation in the nature
of a progress report should be given to members — and this
perhaps more appropriately on the night of our annual wild-fiower
show than on another occasion — so that an idea may be formed
of the work already done, and of what still remains to be
accomplished.

To advance arguments urging the necessity for popular names
for our plants seems somewhat superfluous, but as there are still
people, and among them some of the scientific botanists, who
unmistakably set their faces against the use of the vernacular,
perhaps a few may be permitted.

The late Baron von Mueller, in speaking of the Ranuncles
in his "Introduction to Botanic Teachings," says: — "Rational
teaching should discourage these superfluous appellations, which
are vague, carry not beyond one language, and are almost
useless burdens to the memory." He goes on, however, to
observe that if the plant needs interpretation at all, then the
literal translation of the scientific name would be best.

In opposition to this opinion there are some who, while
grudgingly admitting the recognition of such popular names as
already have vogue — that is, those names which have come
gradually, naturally, and inevitably into existence — would
deprecate the cold-blooded invention of other popular names.

But, granting that the existence of popular names would induce
a greater number of people to commence to interest themselves
in our flora, and a greater number of those now slightly
interested to extend their interest in it further, even these
manufactured names would seem to be fully justified. Scientific
names may be safely left to those who have already acquired a
more or less complete knowledge of their subject, and, after all,
they are for international rather than for local use. One might
even go to the length of saying that for the people inhabiting the
country in which the plants occur the popular names are far
more important than the scientific, which are, when not actually
misleading, in many cases mere labels without any suggestiveness
whatever.

Our president tacitly acknowledged this when he recently
dubbed an unoffending plant Gilruthia Osburni. Even if we

106 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI-

take a shining example of scientific nomenclature, one that is
definitive both in its generic and specific parts, such as Zygophyllum
apiculatum — translated by the sub-committee into "peaked
twin-leaf" — surely it will at once be admitted that while the
former name might scare the beginner from any further con-
sideration of the plant, the vernacular would very likely commend
itself to him, and have a very good chance of being remembered.
It may further be said, in the case of the invented names, that in
the future such as are found wanting will doubtless be displaced
by others more suggestive, more appropriate, or more poetic.
Notwithstanding, then, most eminent disapproval, it was felt that
until the species of our flora were fitted like the birds with single,
fixed, and as far as possible, appropriate popular names, the
general interest which the Club naturally desires to stimulate
would continue to languish.

The objects of the sub-committee, at first more modest, and
aiming only to deal with the commoner species, in addition to
the collection of data necessary for the formation of a floral
calendar, now includes in its scope all the members of our flora.

So far the greatest confusion obtains in such popular nomen-
clature as already exists. The great majority of our plants, and
among these are the best known Hibbertias, almost all of the
Goodenias and Pultenaeas, the Cryptandras and Grevilleas — to
name only a few genera — do not possess a name of any sort.
Other species, and most notably the eucalypts, are, on the other
hand, cursed with names galore. Some, like E. pauciflora, E.
amygdalina, E. hcemastoma, E. paniculata, E. leticoxylon, E.
holryoides, E. goniocalyx, E. Stuartiana, E. roslraia, and E.
viminalis, have a dozen names or more apiece, and current in as
many diff^erent localities. In this genus twelve of the species
found in Victoria are known, in one place or another, as white
gums, nine as blue gums, seven as red gums, an equal number as
swamp gums ; and such appellations as cabbage gum, mountain
ash, peppermint, stringybark, box, ironbark, messmate, blackbutt,
and woollybutt seem to have been indiscriminately applied, in some
cases to a few, in other cases to many members of this important
group, with the result, as we all know, that here confusion is
worse confounded. Species in other genera, again, from some
fancied resemblance to old-world plants, have been given the
popular names of these, with the objectionable "native " prefixed,
and we have accordingly such absurdities as Native Fuchsia for
Gorrea speciosa, Native Mignonette for one of the Stackhousias,
and Native Wallflower for Pultengea !

In short, most of our plants have no popular names at all,
others have names too many, others only such designations as are
obviously inappropriate and misleading, and the minority alone
— and of these the bulk are species occurring also in other
countries — have names which have seemed worthy of retention.

Dec, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 107

The work of the sub-committee, then, has been and still is to
find names for those plants not possessing any, to choose the best
when many are in use, and to find a better when the only one
current is deemed unfit for adoption.

To obtain as great an amount of material as possible, lists of
names have been widely solicited through the Naturalist; by
means of notes in the Teachers' Gazette — the Education Depart-
ment being so much in sympathy with our objects that it nomi-
nated Messrs. H. B. Williamson, J. P. M'Lennan, and W. H.
Callister to act with the sub-committee ; in the daily press, and by
special appeal in certain directions.

To further the sub-committee's object a " Recording Census "
was issued by Professor Ewart at the beginning of the year, and
this has been sent to all those who have been thought likely to
aftbrd us the information desired. This census is still available to
those wishing to help in the matter, and on application to the
National Herbarium a copy will be forwarded. In addition, the
various works dealing with Australian plants, as well as other
volumes, have been ransacked for matter.

The result of this appeal has been somewhat discouraging,
though there is still hope that in the copies of the census not yet
returned much useful help may be obtained. Gratifying returns
have I)een already received from some of the schools and from,
in particular, Messrs. Leonard Rodvvay (Government Botanist
of Tasmania), St. Eloy D'Alton, H. B. Williamson, J. P.
M'Lennan, and Vroland, Dr. Morrison (of Perth), and Mr. W.
R. Guilfoyle, who consented to become a member of the sub-
committee, but was unfortunately prevented through illness from
attending any of its meetings. Of these eleven have been held,
when more than 700 names were considered and provisionally
adopted, and, judging from the names remaining in hand and
still undealt with, it would seem easy to find suitable vernaculars
for another 300 species.

In view of the fact that perhaps more than 300 plants are
common to all the States of Australia, or to these and Tasmania,
and that so many of the Victorian forms occur in one or more of
the other States, it was very soon agreed that an early under-
standing with the botanical authorities there would be a matter
of much importance and particularly desirable, so that the names
ultimately adopted might receive the widest possible recognition.
In order to secure this desirable agreement, the various Govern-
ment Botanists were communicated with, and satisfactory replies
were received from Messrs. J. H. Maiden, Leonard Rodway,
and Dr. INlorrison. As a result of this the sub-committee is
working in complete harmony with Mr. J. H. Maiden, of Sydney,
and the names of species occurring also in New South Wales will
not be adopted without his approval. Also we have the assurance

108 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

of the two other gentlemen named that the vernaculars agreed
upon will have their recognition and also that of their States in
as far as their efforts can secure it.

In this regard it only remains to be said that on a recent visit
to Sydney Dr. Ewart conferred with Mr. Maiden, with the result
that finality was arrived at in the matter of the majority of the
700 names provisionally adopted, so that these may now be
published as a first draft of our work.

Before actually dealing with the plant-naming, the sub-com-
mittee laid down certain principles for its guidance, and these
have been adhered to as closely as possible.

The one that naturally first suggested itself was that the old-
world name, or one or other of them where several existed,
should be adopted in the case of those species occurring both
here and in the old country, and that this rule should also apply
to common genera which were not, however, represented by
identical species in both places. In this category are nearly 100
species, and about 150 genera. Some examples which may be
mentioned are — Smaller Mousetail for Myosurus minimus, Sea
Rocket for Cakile maritima, Smooth Sea-heath for Frankenia
Icevis, Yellow Woodsorrel for O.valis coruiculata ; and, among
the genera, the buttercups (Ranunculus), sundews (Drosera), star-
worts (Stellarias), goosefoots (Chenopodium), docks (Rumex),
knotweeds (Polygonum), brambles (Rubus), pennyworts (Hydro-
cotyle), woodruffs (Asperula), cudweeds (Gnaphalium), speedwells
(Veronica), eyebrights (Euphrasia), bladderworts (Utricularia),
mints (Mentha), germanders (Teucrium), duckweeds (Lemna),
&c.

The next rule is that the substantive name should be the same
for all members of a genus where possible. For example, having
fixed on sundew for Drosera, we would have the Desert Sundew,
D. indica, Alpine Sundew, D. Arctiori, Forked Sundew, D.
binata, Scented Sundew, D. Whittakeri, Climbing Sundew, D.
Menziesli, and so on.

Where suitable aboriginal names are already in use and are
seemingly fitting, they have been retained, so that hereafter we
may have Bolwarra designating Eicpomatia lam-ina; Wilga, Geijera
parvifiora ; Mulga, Acacia aneura ; Yarran, A. Itomalophylla ;
Burgan, Kunzea 2ieduncidaris ; Waratah, Telopea oreades ; Boobi-
alla, Myoporiim insulare ; Berrigan, Eremophila longifoUa ;
Quandong for the Santalums, and Geebung for the Persoonias.

Again, it was decided that when the scientific name was in
popular use — Clematis, Aster, Pittosporum, Boronia, Acacia,
Myosotis ; when its brevity or euphony recommended it —
Correa, Hovea, Vallisneria ; or when great difficulty was
experienced in finding or inventing a name for a genus, such as
Eriostemon, the scientific name should be retained.

Dec, ig09.] THE VIdTORlAN NATURALIST. 109

It was also decided that no popular names sliould be admitted
if these are the scientific names for other and widely different
plants. This, while barring Native Fuchsia for Correa speciosa,
has not prevented Southern Sassafras for Atherosperma moschaiam,
and the inconsistency may be excused when it is remembered
that while the Onagracete are far removed from the Rutacese, the
Lauraceas and the Monimiacea; are closely related. When close
kinship can be claimed with the plants of another genus, the old-
world popular name for this has been sometimes chosen, as in the
case of Austral Hollyhock for Lavatera plebeja, Bentham pointing
out the very slight difierence between Althaea and Lavatera. A
few more examples of the naming, taken from the list more or
less at random, may be quoted here. Commer<-onia Fraseri is
Blackfellows' Hemp ; Amperea spartioides, Broom Spurge ; the
Pimeleas, rice-flowers. In the leguminos^ the Gompholobiums
are bladder peas ; Sph^rolobiums, globe pods ; Daviesias, bitter
peas ; PultenKas, bush peas ; Dillwynias, parrot peas ; Platy-
lobiums, flat peas ; Swainsonias, darling peas ; Psoraleas, scurfy
peas ; Kennedyas, coral peas ; the Leptospermums are tea-
trees, the Callistemons bottle-brushes, and the Melaleucas paper-
barks ; Craspedia Richea is Billy-buttons ; Cotula coronopifolia,
Water-buttons ; the Centipedas, sneeze-weeds ; the CandoUeas,
trigger-plants ; Brunonia australis is Blue Pincushion ; the Corys-
anthes are red helmets, C yrtostylis reniformis the Mosquito
Orchid, the Patersonias purple flags, Drymophila cyanocarpa
Turquoise Berry, Burchardia milkmaids, Calectasia Blue Tinsel
Lily.

From the foregoing it will be gathered that quite a fair amount
of work has already been done, about half of our total species
having been more or less satisfactorily dealt with. In dealing
with the remainder many difficulties which have been shirked so
far will have to be overcome. Very naturally the easier part was
first tackled, and in finishing the work, which will, no doubt,
occupy the sub-committee for another couple of years at least, the
assistance of every plant-lover in the club will be needed. None
of these should fail to send in the completest possible list. Even
if only one of the names suggested is deemed worthy the contribu-
tion will not have been made in vain. In instancing some of
the most difliicult genera and species it may be asked — How are
the Hibbertias, the Bteckeas, the Pomaderris, the Cryptandras,
the Grevilleas, the Coprosmas, Lomatias, and Conospermums to
be known ? If the Helichrysums are called everlastings, how shall
we name the Heliptcrums ? What names are worthy for the
charming myrtaceous plants Lhotzkya genetylloides, Thryptomene
Mitchelliaaa, and Baxkea crenatlfolia, for Damj)iera stricta, for
the curious Mitrasacmes, and the malodorous Opercularias ? Can
anyone suggest a better name for the Prostantheras than mint

110 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. [[Vol. XXVI.

bushes ? Among tlie Composites, wliere are hosts of difficulties,
appellatives will be welcomed for Minuria, Vitiadinia, Podolepis,
Leptorrhynchos, and others, as also for the members of the Epacrid
and the orchid family. Many other queries might be put, but
these are perhaps sufficient to indicate where assistance is most
needed, and will, it is hoped, have some effect in so stimulating
the energies of members that quite a crop of suggestions will soon
be available to enable this most important work of plant naming
to be brought to an early completion. — C. S. Sutton, Hon. Sec.
Plant Names Sub-Committee.

NEW AND RARE AUSTRALIAN BUTTERFLIES OF

THE GENUS MILETUS.
By G. a. Waterhouse, B.Sc, B.E., F.E.S., and G. Lyell, F.E.S.
{Read he/ore the Field Naturalists' C'luh of Victoria, SthNov., 1909.)
In the " Transactions of the Entomological Society of London "
for 1 89 1, Mr. H. H. Druce published a monograph of the then
known species of this beautiful genus, under the generic name
Hypochrysops. Since that date many new species have been
described, the greater number by Grose Smith in the " Rhopalocera
Exotica." Two new Australian species were described and the
others listed by one of us in the " Proceedings Linnean Society,
New South Wales," 1903. We have now to make known three
more beautiful forms, and to give a full description of the lately
re-discovered, strikingly handsome Milettts apollo.

Druce {I.e.) divides the genus into three sections, with the
following characters and typical species : —

Section I. — Costa of fore-wing arched : veins 2 and 3 of

hind-wing produced to blunt tails. M. pohjdetus.
Section II. — Apex of fore-wing pointed ; hind-wing more

produced at tornus than at apex. M. iynita.
Section III. — Costa of fore-wing arched : hind-wing more
produced at apex than at tornus. M. theon.
For the present we are allowing Miletus apollo to remain in
this genus, though we have no doubt it will be removed when the
family is again monographed ; it needs a fourth section.

Section IV. — Costa of fore-wing almost straight ; hind-wing

more produced at tornus than at apex, veins i and 2

produced to blunt tails ; cell of hind-wing above (in the

male) with long hairs. M. apollo.

The first, third, and fourth sections are readily distinguished,

being small and easily defined groups ; the first and third are but

geographic modifications of a single widely-ranging form. The

second section contains a number of widely dissimilar species, and

may yet, for the purposes of systematic work, have to be divided

Dec, 1909.J THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. m

into several sub-sections ; in Australia these would be represented
by M. narcissus, If. igjiita, M. delicia, M. meleagris, M. apelles
M. miskini, and M. elgneri. '

Miletus apollo, Miskin, Annals Queensland Museum No i
Supplement, iSqr. ' *

This particularly handsome species was provisionally described
from a very poor male specimen (Miskin supposed it to be a
female— both head and abdomen were missing) found by Mr R
E. Turner between the leaves of a book, with some other butter"
flies from the Herbert River, Queensland. This damaged type
(the remams of which are now in the Queensland Museum) was
the only example known till in 1907 those in our possession were
taken by Mr. H. Elgner. We now describe the female for the
first time, and give fuller and more accurate details of the male •
even with the good specimens now available the extremely
complicated pattern-scheme of the under-surface makes the descrio-
tion a difficult one. ^

il/a^e.— Fore-wing : length of costa 20 mm. ; costa nearly
straight; apex acute; termen and dorsum of equal length
straight. Hind-wing : produced to blunt teeth at veins i 2
and 3. ' '

Above.— Fore-wing : orange-red ; apical area to costa at third
and narrowly to tornus black. Hind-wing : orange-red • cell and
dorsal area between veins i and 2 covered with long hairs
orange-red ; dorsum narrowly cream ; cilia orange-red at veins
I, 2, and 3 black. '

Beneath.— Fore-wing : dorsal half, extending just into cell
pale orange; cell red, with two fl-shaped cream marks upon a
central black streak; apical third, extending to two-thirds of
termen and as a dark line only to tornus, reddish-brown ; a series
of irregular sub-apical interneural marks cream ; a streak along
upper edge of cell metallic ; a sub-terminal line of dots metallic
Hind-wing : apical two-fifths red-brown, shading towards costa to
red ; tornal three-fifths cream, with obscure markings orange •
costa at base red, inwardly edged black ; a small streak on costa
beyond base, and a spot on costa close to apex, cream • three
spots between cell and costa cream, basal one narrow outer one
larger, round, outer two edged black below; a narrow band
through cell, reaching middle of dorsum, scarlet; a discal band
from vein 6 to la at two-thirds scarlet; these two bands ed^^ed
black towards dorsum ; terminal band orange, with median line
metallic and inner line black : cream spots and scarlet bands
sparmgly edged metallic ; two spots in basal portion of cell two
in wide central portion of discal scarlet band, and one close to
costal cream spot at apex, metallic ; all metallic lines and spots
silver in some lights and pale blue or green in others • cilia
orange, at veins i, 2, and 3 black.

112 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST [Vol. XXVI.

Female. — Fore-wing; length of costa 21 mm.; costa more
arched and apex less acute than in male ; termen convex.
Hind-wing : produced to very blunt teeth at veins i, 2, and 3.

Above. — Fore-wing : reddish-orange (several shades lighter
than the male) ; apical area broader than in male, extending
further along costa, right to tornus, and one-fourth along dorsum,
black. Hind-wing : reddish-orange ; a sub-apical area from just
below vein 6 to above vein 7 black; an irregular, obscure, inter-
rupted sub-terminal band between veins i and 4 black ; cilia
reddish-orange, at veins i, 2, and 3 black.

Beneath. — As in male, but slightly paler ; cream areas a little
broader ; scarlet bands and metallic scalings a little narrower.

Four males and four females. Type male in collection Miskin,
Queensland Museum ; type female in collection VVaterhouse.

Localities. — Cape York, Jan., Mar., May, June, Sept., Oct.,
Dec. Prince of Wales Is., June.

Miskin describes the colour as " wholly bright ferruginous."
The male in some lights is almost vermilion ; we consider orange-
red, or orange-heavily-dusted-with-red, describes it accurately ;
abdomen, thorax, and head, as well as the clubs of the antennae,
are all this colour ; the antennse are brown, and more than half
the length of the costa.

The male of M. apollo is of similar shape to the figure of
M. chrysargyra of Grose Smith, but the colour and markings of
that figure above are more like the female than the male of
M. apollo ; beneath, the two species are widely different.

Miletus PANiEXHA, n. sp.

Male. — Fore-wing : narrow ; length of costa, 16 to 19 mm.

Above. — Fore-wing : brilliant blue ; costa and termen
narrowly and apex broadly rich black ; a central streak from near
base along lower third of cell and beyond, but not reaching black
termen, obscurely white. Hind-wing : brilliant blue ; costa
obscurely white, at base dull black ; termen narrowly rich black ;
apical area between veins 6 and 7 rich black ; abdominal fold
obscurely white ; cilia white, at veins black. Abdomen dull
black, ringed white.

Beneath. — Fore-wing : creamy-white ; sub-costal band and
sub-apical broad band rich black narrowly edged metallic-green ;
costa, apex, and termen narrowly dull black ; sub-terminal inter-
rupted line metallic-green. Hind-wing : rich metallic-green,
crossed by three oblique bands of rich black ; first from base to
vein 8 at half; second from dorsum at third to vein 6, thence to
apex dull black; third from vein la at two-thirds to vein 4; a
broad terminal band rich black, with a central broad line brilliant
metallic-green ; costa narrowly white ; between first and second
black bands a broader band from middle of cell to costa near
apex white ; cilia white, at veins black. Abdomen white.

Dec, 1909.] THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

113

^ema^e.— Fore-wing : narrow; length of costa 20 mm.

Above.-Fore-wing : dull black ; central fourth of wing white
n.ef.in ";,'^^''^"" '^^.^^^"ic-blue; base and dorsum dustld dull
h.t H n m'- , "/"^-^'"g ■■ d^ll black ; costa obscurely white, at
wh I / "^'^^k ; base and dorsum dusted dull metall.c-blue ; c lia
white, at veins black. Abdomen dull black, ringed white.

Beneath.— As in male.

Nine males and two females. Types in collection VVaterhouse :

Briin/" '°^'''''°" ^^"'- ^" h^^^ P^^^^"f^d a male to the
ijruisn Museum.

Locality C^^^ York (Elgner), March, June, Sept., Nov., Dec.

ATil.H,l i l'''n''-''-^"''^ ^'^^'^"^^ f^°'^^ ^11 other Australian
^rm nf j^'^'^^'^'^'fy '' .'« "^ore like Danis arinia (Australian
01 m of 1). cycmea), but is much brighter blue above and has
larger green and black areas beneath '

J/^ano^^Aa is the Australian representative of M. theon, of
wf I? onr r ^"° °' ""' "^ ^'^^ ^^^'"^^^^ I^- For comparison
( Transactions Entomological Societv, London," 1801, pi xi
if. rl\i°'v't^^' , ^^^^o'-di^g to this {he male of M. Lo,^ above
at Jiv 'f f ''-^^""^ !'^' dark margms are broader, especially
at apex of fore-wmg ; the central white streak of fore-wino- is
arger, extending below cell ; beneath the metallic-green areas are

blndTstn" k!' ^'^ "^^' ^^"^^ more restricte^d ; first black
runted ' oblique reaching vein 8 before half; third is inter-

Tf'n?^T/ )^' ""^'"'^ ^""^ ^^^^^"^ considerably towards
ed^ed nltn 1 '"/T"'' \ '^^ '"''^^^"^' l^'^^k band is inwardly
edged narrowly and obscurely white. The male of M. Uppurl

X fir' ?"' f°'^^ 'K'^r, I^-' ^' fig^'-ed by Druce {H pi.
,/h5 n '"^ '' an allied form much paler blue above ; beneath
eau nr '' ''''' °^^'\'- "^^'^^ ""^ rnetallic-green, a^d a con-
Tr urn \'hT''''r^ r'^^^r' ^"^"^ "^^"^ °f '""d-wing reaches
?¥ C.; '"?;T'"^ ^ r^ '•"- i^ Present, and cleare? than in
LtTnf r '^^J^'"f^(f^'^^ale) of Grose Smith and M. carmen

Helve. T'"^"''"''-^°'''-^'^"^ ^°"' New Guinea, we believe
to be sexes of one spec.es ; m both the yellow and white band of
hmd-wing beneath extends to the dorsum. The male of J/

ST' "l^'TJ''''''' ^'^^''^ "Rhopalocera ExotcV'
area^l hTh ""'^°^1' ''''\'''^ ^"'"^^' ^^'^ P^^Pl^^h central
tlr^J i ""'"^^ ^^°''^' ^'^^^ °^ fore-wing enclosing the white
hind winl ""'''"'^ black margins; beneath the blafk bands of
aoex t^fe Te "T"''?^ the second and third join towards the
black spot. The male of M. alix of Grose Smith (figured

ha! nT^hitT.t''"J''''V9°°> '^°" '^^^"^ ^^y' N- GuTnet
area of h^l T ^'''™"S "^°""' ^"^ beneath the white

smaller ^'""^-^^"^ is larger and the green and black areas are

114 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Miletus elgneri, n. sp.

Male. — Fore-wing : length of costa 17 to 19 mm. ; same shape
as M. ignita, larger ; veins i and 2 of hind-wing slightly more
produced.

Above. — Fore-wing : dull purple (shining purple in some
lights) ; costa narrowly, apex broadly, and termen narrowly and
evenly brown-black ; cilia brown, towards tornus narrowly
whitish. Hind-wing : dull purple ; costa and termen dark
brown ; dorsum brown ; cilia narrowly whitish, at veins brown.

Beneath. — Fore-wing : ashy-brown, dorsal and tornal areas
sometimes darker ; upper half of cell and short bars from centre
and at end of cell orange-brown ; discal band from costa at
three-fourths towards termen at two-thirds red-brown ; discal band
and cell area and bars narrowly edged brown-black, and some-
times faintly edged metallic-blue; a narrow sub-terminal line
metallic-blue, inwardly edged near apex with three black dots.
Hind-wing : ashy brown, with a series of red-brown spots as
follows — 2 on dorsum, 2 in interspace la (lower one concave out-
wardly), 3 in interspace i (lowest one concave inwardly and
middle one elongate), 2 in interspace 2, i in interspace 3, an
elongate spot across interspaces 4 and 5, i in interspace 6, 3 in
interspace 7, a costal streak near base, 2 irregular elongate spots
crossing cell and a third marking end of cell ; these red-brown
markings all narrowly margined brown-black, and sometimes
faintly outwardly edged metallic-blue; inner sub-terminal line
dark brown dusted metallic-blue ; outer sub-terminal line
metallic-blue ; terminal line orange, with dark dots at veins,,
largest at vein 2.

Female. — Fore-wing: length of costa 17 to 20 mm.; termen
more rounded than in male.

Above. — Fore-wing : brown-black ; central area orange,
shading at base and along basal half of dorsum to golden-brown.
Hind-wing : golden-brown, towards costa brown ; cilia narrowly
whitish, at veins brown.

Beneath. — Fore-wing : central area orange ; base and tornus
brown ; rest of wing grey ; markings as in male. Hind-wing ;
grey ; spots and markings as in male, but light purple-brown
instead of red-brown ; tornal area with heavier metallic-blue
scalings.

23 males, 13 females. Types in collection Waterhouse ;
co-types in collection Lyell. We have presented a male and a
female to the British Museum.

Localities. — Prince of Wales Is., May, June, July.

We have pleasure in naming this species after Mr. H. Elgner,^
whose efforts have resulted in the addition of several new
Lycasnids to the Australian list.

The male of this very distinct species is dull-coloured for a

Dec, 1909.] THE VICTOkIAN NATUKALIST. 115

Miletus ; beneath the metaUic markings are less conspicuous than
is usual in the genus, and the red-brown spots of the hind-wing are
also of a dull tone. The female, with its central orange area of
fore-wing above, is a handsomer butterfly, at first glance recalling
female Ogyris ianthis, or a larger form of female Miletus
hecalius ; beneath it is paler than the male, and the tints are
more delicate.

M. elgneri may be readily distinguished from other species of
the M. ignita section by the discal band of fore-wing beneath.
Only in this species and in M. narcissus does this band run from
the costa towards the tornus ; the corresponding band in the
other species of the section runs parallel with the termen. From
J/, narcissus it is abundantly distinct in size, colour, and markings.

Miletus erythrina, n. sp.

Male. — Length of costa of fore-wing 15 to 16 mm.; shape as
in male M. ignita.

Above. — Shining bluish-purple, shading to dull brown at
margins ; base of costa of fore-wing coppery ; brown costal
margin of hind-wing not (as in M. ignita) reaching sub-costal
vein ; terminal line brown-black, internally at veins i, 2, 3, and 4
coppery ; cilia whitish.

Beneath. — Stone-grey (much paler than in M. ignita) ; coloured
spots and bands in same positions but distinctly smaller and more
heavily margined metallic-green ; costa cell and sub-terminal line
of fore-wing orange (paler than in M. ignita) ; sub-terminal line
of hind-wing orange (in M. ignita red) ; otherwise as in M. ignita.

Female. — Length of costa of fore-wing 14 to 16 mm.; shape
as in female M. ignita.

Above. — Fore-wing ; shining blue ; base of costa coppery ;
costa and apex broadly dull brown ; termen broadly and
obscurely brown ; bar at end of cell brown-black; terminal line
brown-black ; cilia whitish. Hind-wing : shining bluish-purple
(paler and brighter than in male) ; costa broadly dull brown
extending to sub-costal vein and along vein 7 to termen ;
terminal line brown-black, internally at veins i, 2, 3, and 4
coppery; cilia whitish.

Beneath. — Paler than in male ; red bands and metallic lines
and margins brighter and broader than in male.

Three males and two females. Types in collection Lyell ; co-
types in collection Waterhouse.

Locality. — Port Darwin (F. P. Dodd), Feb., March.

This race of M. ignita is more clearly differentiated from the
typical form than any we have yet seen. It is easily distinguished
above by the narrower dark margins and the brighter purple of
the male, and by the narrower dark margins, paler blue of the
fore-wing, and the difference in the colours of the fore-wing and
the hind-wing of the female. Beneath the ground-colour is a

116 TIIK VICIOlllAN NAIUICALIST, |VolXXVI.

grey r;itl)er lluin ihe brown of M. iyaita, and the nielallic mar-
gins of llic coloured spots are much inoro conspicuous.

M. chri/sovof,ii,s (){ OvosG Smith (" Rhopalocera Ivxolica, ' 1899,
pi. xlix.) described from a single female from Cooktown, is, in our
opinion, but a slight variety of M. Ujidta ; we have a female from
Cc'pe York and another from Kuranda, but no niale has yet been
taken, and that sex is needed to proveord is i)rove its identity
with the typical M. iynila.

'I'ypical M. uftiiia, according to the original description by
Leach, has portions of the veins of the hind-wing marked with
copper. 'I'he types came from the neighbourhood of Sydney,
and the usual Sydney form is thus marked, though specimens
will) the c.o|)per absent are by no means uncommon in New
South Wales and Victoria.

M. olliljl is evidently inleiulcd by Miskin to apply to that form
of M. iijvita in which the coppery markings of veins are absent,
but the locality of the type is unfortunately uncertain — " Newcastle,
N.S.W., and Fremantle, \V. A." The probable type (a male) is
still in the Australian .Museum, but is without a locality label ;
above it is of a slightly different shade of purple, has more clearly
defined dark margins, and has an obscure bluish tornal jKitch on
the hind-wing ; beneath the ground colour is different, the S|)Ots
are narrower, and the s])Ot between veins (> and 7 of the hind-
wing is much nearer the tern)en ; but the position of this spot is
by no means constant in .)/. Ignita. Pending further material
from Western Australia we think it best to consider this specimen
an individual aberration of J/, ignita.

We have a male and ii female from Brisbane that differ hom
typical M. ignita in being very highly coloured beneath. From
Mackay we have two females much larger than, but otherwise
ahnosl identical with, J/, eri/thrina, but here again we need
the male to confirm our opinion. I'Vom Mackay we have a male,
and from Sandgate a female, for which, in the absence of further
examples, we hesitate to claim specific rank ; they have the pale
spots beneath very narrow, and the coloured sub-terminal band
of lore-wing beneath is on the inner instead of the outer side of
the sub-terminal interrupted line of metallic spots ; they form a
connecting link between the ])ur|)l(' .1/. i(/n.it<i and the bronze
piuple .J/, '■inriiriis.

tiiioi.oc.icAL Mai' of Victoria. — .\ new geological map of
Victoria, on the scale of 16 miles to 1 inch, has just been issued
by the Mines Department, at the nominal price of one shilling.
Owing to the adoption of a larger scale, it has been possible to
include more details than hitherto, hence the usefulness of the
map is greatly increased.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST— Vol. XXVI.

Plate i i .

December, \ 909.

Fig. 1.

11^

s:>^HhE

Hr^il^^^

V

'■■^j.:,i^ '/'mK^

w

Fig. 2.
VOLUTA MAMILLA. GRAY.

THE VIC TOR I AN NA Tl 'RA LIST.— Vol. XX VI.

Plate hi.

December, 1 909

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4. Fig. 5.

VOLUTA MAMILLA, GRAY.

Dec, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 117

FIRST RECORD OF THE ANIMAL OF VOLUTA
MAMILLA, Gray; WITH REMARKS THEREON.

By J. H. Gatliff and C J. Gabriel.

{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 8th Nov., 1909.)

Having learnt that the Commonwealth trawler Undeavonr had
obtained examples of Valuta mamiUa, Gray, with the animal
living, we v/rote asking the Director of Fisheries, Mr. H. C.
Dannevig, if he would be kind enough to furnish us with a
specimen so that we might obtain the radula. This he consented
to do, and upon the return from the last trawling trip to Gabo
Island, Mr. Burfield, the marine biologist of the vessel, handed us
two specimens with the animal living. A solution equivalent to
sea-water was made, and the shells were immersed in it for some
time in the hope that the animal would crawl, and a photograph
of it would then have been taken ; but some days had elapsed
since they had been obtained, and our eftbrt was unsuccessful, so
we had a photograph taken of the animal in situ, and two others
of it after extraction, in different positions, as shown in the accom-
panying plates.

We selected the smaller specimen for investigation. The por-
tion discernible within tiie aperture was of a salmon-pink colour.
We extracted the radula ; it is very small, the length being
23 mm. and breadth at the middle 1.55 mm.; breadth of dental
area at same place i.i mm., with 95 three-cusped rachidian
teeth.

The protoconch of both shells was absent, having broken away,
evidently owing to the excavations made in tiie test by a spongy
mass that was adhering to the dorsum.

From the evidence that we have been enabled to collate it is
most probable that south-east Australia may be considered to be
the metropolis of this species, and this is the first record respecting
the animal.

The photographs of the shell and animal have been kindly done
for us by Mr. W. D. Nicholas, and the radula by Mr. F. Chapman,
A.L.S., of the National Museum, Melbourne.

The specimens were obtained by the Commonwealth trawler
Endeavour, 15 miles south-west of Gabo Island, Victoria, in 30
fathoms. The specimen photographed is — length 230, breadth
120 mm. ; and the other one is larger.

Referring to the sponge mentioned above, Mr. F. Chapman
has kindly furnished us with the following note: — "A boring
sponge of the family Suberitidae (or Clionidae), differing from the
genus Cliona in the extreme rarity of the pin-shaped spicules, the
megasclera being of the form of slender, smooth, and spinulose
spicules, with an occasional barbed spicule. Related to the

118 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

genus Pione, from which it differs in the absence of the undulose
microscleres."

EXPLANATION OF PLATES.

Plate II.
Animal of Voluta mamilla, Gray.
Figs. I and 2. — Opposite views of same individual (about half natural size).
Plate III.
Voluta mamilla, Gray.
Fig. 3. — Shell containing animal in situ (about half natural size).
Fig. 4. — Radula, x 5.
Fig. 5.— Radula, x 34.

NOTES ON THE HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT,
PHASCOLOMYS LATIFRONS, Owen.
By J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., Curator of Zoology, National Museum.
{Read before the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, 8th Xov., 1909.)
Two species of wombats exist at the present time in Australia
— viz., the Common Wombat, Phascolomys mitchelli, Owen,
found in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, and
the Hairy-nosed Wombat, Phascolomys latifrons, Owen, hitherto
believed to be restricted to South Australia.*

In the course of an examination of the excellent series of
wombats in the National Museum collection my attention was
directed to three skins and a stuffed specimen of P. latifrons
labelled Deniliquin, New South Wales. On looking up the record
of the specimens, I found they were obtained from Mr. Louis A.
Peers, of Deniliquin, N.S.W., on the 21st April, 1884.

As this was the first record which had come under my notice of
this species occurring outside South Australia, some doubt was
felt as to whether these specimens had actually been captured in
Deniliquin, or had been brought from South Australia and for-
warded to the Museum from there.

Inquiries were made regarding the possibility of securing further
specimens, with a view to establishing beyond doubt its occurrence
in this locality. My efforts have so far been unsuccessful : in
fact, from the particulars obtained there seems every probability
that these animals have been altogether eradicated from the
district.

I was fortunate, however, in ascertaining Mr. Peers's address,
and in reply to my communication he very kindly furnished me
with the following particulars concerning the specimens, for which
I desire to express my thanks.

Mr. Peers wrote as follows : — " Regarding the four wombat
skins sent by me to the National Museum in 1S84, I beg to say
that I obtained them in New South Wales, and will give you all

* Mr. C. W. De Vis (Ann. Queens. Mus., No. 5, p. 14, 1900), described
and figured a n. sp. of Wombat allied to P. latifrons, from St. George,
Queensland, under the name of P. gillespiei.

Dec, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 119

the particulars. I was the first to call the late Professor M 'Coy's
attention to them. When I found the burrows (large camps half
a mile long and about three or four chains wide) in a very
secluded part of the country, I at once set about securing
specimens. Upon examination I found they differed from the
South Australian specimens in several little points. The nose
was not quite the same, and the skull appeared to me to be
shorter and the head rounder. The hair was of the same fine
texture, but varied very much in colour. There were also a fair
number of black ones among them. When I obtained the
specimens you have, the late Mr. A. Morton, of the Hobart
Museum, went with me to secure skulls with the brain preserved
for examination by the late Professor Owen. I left New South
Wales soon after 1884, and so lost the run of things, and never
heard what decision was arrived at. . . . Where those
wombats were found was, at that time, a very out-of-the-way place
and the area was comparative small. I knew all the country
round in every direction, and never found any traces of them
outside this area. . . . To give you an idea of the area
in question, refer to a map of New South Wales for the western
boundary of the county of Denison, and carry that north to Billa-
bong Creek, then east to the 146th meridian, then south to the
latitude of Deniliquin, making that the southern boundary ; the
enclosed area is (or was) the habitat of these wombats. I am
satisfied there were none to be found anywhere else in that or
any other part of New South Wales. . . ."

The above particulars, so kindly furnished by Mr. Peers, and
agreeing in every respect with those in the Museum records,
establish without any doubt the occurrence of this species in this
district. Its distribution must therefore be extended to southern
New South Wales.

BOOK NOTICE.

The Weeds, Poison Plants, and Naturalized Aliens of
Victoria. By Alfred J. Ewart, D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S.,
Government Botanist and Professor of Botany in the
University of ^lelbourne, assisted by J. R. Tovey, Assistant
National Herbarium, Melbourne. Melbourne : J. Kemp,
Government Printer. 1909. Price, 2s. 6d.

The author has divided this work of no pages into two parts.
In the first part he deals systematically with the poisonous,
injurious, and proclaimed weeds (native or introduced) of the
State, but, before taking the different orders of plants seriatim,
points out in a general introduction the various causes which
lead to the spread of injurious or useless plants, and methods by
which much of the trouble they cause could be obviated. The

120 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

remarks as to the folly of indiscriminate clearing of timbered land
are particularly pertinent, and it is to be hoped that some atten-
tion will be given to the author's suggestions. Those plants
which contain poisonous principles in such quantities as to be
dangerous to man or animal are specially marked. In the
detailed account of the commoner weeds the different species are
dealt with under their natural orders, and the coloured plates of
the proclaimed plants, which have appeared from time to time in
the Journal of Agriculture, are inserted in their proper places.
The notes about the plants are necessarily very brief, and require
a little botanical knowledge on the part of the reader, as illustra-
tions of each species would have made the cost of the volume
excessive. The second part is devoted to a " Census of the
Naturalized Aliens of Victoria," amounting to 364 species. Of
each the scientific name, common name, natural order, date and
place of publication of first record of naturalization, local dis-
tribution and original home, and character is given. A useful
glossary of technical terms is a thoughtful addition, while a very full
index completes a work which, though necessarily, of a technical
character, is full of useful information for the grazier and the
agriculturist.

Cultivation of Native Plants. — Attention was called in the
Austrdlasian of 13th Nov. to the eflforts made by Mr. A. Rutter
Clarke, of Merriwa, Orrong-road, Toorak, to establish a native
plant section in his garden. A large variety of eucalypts,
acacias, and other flowering shrubs have been planted, and are
doing remarkably well. It is to be hoped his example will be
followed by others, and so dispel the idea that the members of
our native flora are not worth garden room. In the same paper
of 4th December Mr. G. Weindorfer, of Kindred, Tasmania,
relates his experience with numerous native plants which he is
endeavouring to establish round his homestead. Several inter-
esting coniferous plants, removed from Cradle Mountain, Tas-
mania's highest mountain, appear to be thriving in their lowland
situation.

Werribee Gorge. — The pupils of the Melbourne Continua-
tion School, to the number of about 550, made one of their
periodical excursions for Nature Study on Friday, 12th Novem-
ber, when Werribee Gorge was visited. His Excellency the
Governor, Sir T. Gibson-Carmichael, K.C.M.G., the Director of
Education, Mr. F. Tate, M.A., and other education authorities
accompanied the party, and invitations were extended to several
members of the Field Naturalists' Club, who were desirous of
seeing how an excursion of such large dimensions was managed.
The outing proved to be a most enjoyable and instructive one
for all concerned, and was carried through without a hitch.

Cbe Uictorlan naturalist

Vol. XXVI.— No. 9. JANUARY 13, 1910. No. 313.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th December, 1909.

The president, Prof. A. J- Ewart, D.Sc, occupied the chair,
and about 50 members and visitors were present

CORRESPONDENCE.

From Mr. A. B. Woolf, Ivanhoe, acknowledging contribution
to the fund for the purchase of the old red gum tree at Ivanhoe,
and thanking the Club for its interest in the movement.

REPORTS.

A report of the three days' excursion to Toolangi, from Satur-
day, 13th, to Monday, 15th November, was given by the leader,
Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who reported a very interesting outing.
Owing to the very dry spring, objects of interest were not as
plentiful as had been expected, but members were enabled to
make a rough survey of the district, which will be useful for future
excursions. Birds were fairly numerous, about thirty-two species
having been noted. Among flowering plants, Frostanthera
melissijolia, with lilac flowers, in full bloom, was greatly admired.
Insects were rather scarce, though several interesting beetles were
captured. A fine series of mosses, &c , was secured in the fern
gullies. Fine weather prevailed during the outing, and the
middle portion of Myers Creek was suggested as a suitable place
for a future excursion.

A report of the excursion to the Botanical Gardens on Saturday,
27th November, was forwarded by the leader, Mr. F. Pitcher,
who reported a fair attendance of members. A demonstration
was given in the Museum of the development of the flowers and
fruit of the banana ; then the border of Australian vegetation was
visited, and a Western Australian eucalypt, Eucalyptus erythro-
nerna, with bright magenta-coloured flowers, flowering for the
first time in the Gardens, was much admired. The orchid houses
and nurseries were visited, also the nymphea lake and palm
ground ; afterwards an inspection was made of the recently
formed promontories and marginal beds of the main lake.

A report of the excursion to Willsmere, Kew, on Saturday,
nth December, was given by the leaders, Messrs. VV. and J.
Stickland. They reported a fine afternoon and a good attend-
ance of members. The water in the lagoons was found to
contain large numbers of rotifers, among which the genus
Lacinularia was represented by clusters of L. socialis, L. pedun-
culata, and L. elliptica. Immense numbers were present of

122 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Notops brachionus, a rotifer, interesting on account of its close
resemblance to the genus Brachionus, which, however, belongs
to an entirely different family. Conochilus volvox, a clustering
form, was also taken. A small pool was found to be quite green
with a species of Euglena. Entomostraca were unusually scarce,
as if the season had not been suitable for them.

A report of the junior excursion to Cheltenham on Saturday,
4th December, was forwarded by the leader, Mr. C. French, jun.,
who reported a poor attendance of juniors, doubtless owing to
the very showery weather experienced. The afternoon was
devoted to insect life, and a number of interesting galls, larvae of
longicorn beetles, case-moths, &c., were collected.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Miss Bury, State school, St. Kilda
Park, Mr. J. Barr, 39 Queen-street, Melbourne, Mr. R. H. M.
Eltis, Livingstone-street, Ivanhoe, and Mr. J. H. Owen, State
Parliament House, were elected as ordinary members ; Rev. A.
J. Greenwood, Smythesdale, as a country member; Miss Evelyn
Pepperell and Mr. Spencer Pepperell, Burwood-road, Hawthorn,
as associate members ; and Master S. Anderson, 99 Charles-street,
Ascot Vale, as a junior member of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

In accordance with notice, Mr. A. J. Campbell, M.B.O.U.,
moved — " That this Club take some action to prevent bark-
stripping from wattle trees on the Yarra banks, particularly in
the neighbourhood of Heidelberg and Eltham."

The mover pointed out that the beauty of the scenery along the
Yarra, particularly near Heidelberg and Eltham, was being sadly
marred by the practice of stripping the wattle trees for their bark,
and suggested that an endeavour be made to persuade the owners
of property along the river banks to protect the wattles. The
motion was seconded by Mr. D. Best, who thought that the land-
owners might be approached by means of a suitably worded
circular. The motion was carried.

Mr. A. J. Campbell, M.B.O.U., then moved— " That this Club
aid in the promotion of a national ' Wattle Day.' "

The mover referred to the movement recently initiated in
Sydney for the adoption of a national Wattle Day, and thought
this Club should take some steps to further the idea in Victoria.

The chairman thought that the Eucalyptus rather than the
Acacia should be adopted as the national flower, for, while the
former genus was almost restricted to Australia, many species of
Acacia occurred in Africa and the Asiatic islands.

Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., also favoured the Eucalyptus ; Mr. G.
Coghill supported the idea, and the motion, on being seconded
by Mr. D. Best, was adopted.

Jan., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 123

PAPERS READ.

1. By Mr. A.J. North, C.M.Z.S., entitled "Description of a
new Genus and Species of Honey-eater from Western Australia."

The author stated that he had recently received for examina-
tion from Mr. H. L. White, of Scone, N.S.W., some skins of a
honey-eater, obtained at Lake Way, Western Australia, which
differed sufficiently from recognized species to require a new
genus, which he had called Lacustroica, to be constituted for it,
while the bird itself he named Lacustroica Whitei, in honour of
Mr. Alfred H. E. White, a son of Mr. H. L. White, who is proving
himself an enthusiastic ornithologist. The species is very
modestly plumaged, and in that respect resembles Entomophila
albigularis and E. rufigularis.

Mr. G. A. Keartland said that the Lake Way district was a fine
ornithological region, and would probably furnish other novelties.

2. By Prof A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, entitled " The Biological Survey
of Wilson's Promontory — Second Report."

The author stated that the recent visit of Mr. Audas and party
from the National Herbarium to the Sealers' Cove district of the
National Park had resulted in the addition of nearly two hundred
additional species to the known flora; some of these, however,
were introduced aliens. An interesting find was the fern
Lindsaya iricho7nanoides, the first record for Victoria, though
found in New South Wales and Tasmania. He also read a more
detailed report by Mr. Audas, and some notes by Dr. C. S. Sutton,
who was one of the party. With a visit to the north-eastern
corner of the Park the botanical portion of the survey would be
completed. This, it was hoped, would be undertaken at an early
date.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Dr. T. S. Hall, M.A., stated that an eel fare had recently been
witnessed on the Hopkins River, near Warrnambool, and that
specimens of the young eels (elvers) were now on view, alive, at
the National Museum.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. J. W. Collings. — An onyx and moss-agate, from
Aberystwyth, Wales.

By Mr. F. P. Spry.— Australian ants belonging to genus Podo-
myrma ; rare beetles from Western Australia — Megacephala
hlackhurni, Fleutiaux, M. castelnaui, Sloane, and Cunipectus
frenchi, Sloane ; rare butterfly, Dodonidia helmsi, Fereday, from
New Zealand.

By Messrs. W. and J. Stickland. — Colonies of rotifers, under
the microscope, including Lacinularia pedunculata, L. elliptica,
and L. socialis, from Willsmere excursion.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

124 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

UNGARNERED GRAIN.
By T. S. Hall, M.A., D.Sc.
(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 8th Nov., 1909.)
In the course of some remarks made before the Club a few years
ago,* I sketclied the causes which led to its foundation, and
and pointed out that as long as the Club fulfilled the conditions
which brought about its existence so long would the type of its
membership continue. It was formed first and foremost for the
study of natural history in the open air. We are field naturalists.

Among the members of a club which contains such large num-
bers as ours does there will always be a certain proportion whose
inclinations lean more towards what we may call laboratory work.
But, relatively, their numbers are small. It is the living butterfly,
the nesting bird, and the flower of the field that we are chiefly
interested in, and there is enough in the study of what we see on
our rambles, and can examine by the wayside, fully to occupy the
time that most of our members can give to the study of nature.

I should be very sorry mdeed to think that all our members
should look on an earthworm as merely an object to be cunningly
pickled and then cut into innumerable sections for microscopic
study. I would not regard it as an advancement of science if all
our members thought that the only way to study birds is to skin
them and to describe minutely the variations of a few tints on
their feathers. I should hold it to be disastrous for the growth of
knowledge if all our botanists lost their tempers over the question
of the name of a purple-flowering weed.

These and a host of kindred questions must be studied, and
answers must be given ; but do not let the people who deal
in these things destroy our taste for simple food. Are we to
forget the pleasure in the pathless wood, or the breezy call of
incense-breathing morn ? Are we to take no joy in the way of a
bird in the air or of a fish in the sea? Are the cyanide bottle,
the collecting jar, the vasculum, or the geological hammer to be
our tyrants and not our slaves ? Worse, and still worse, are we
bound to describe what we see and tell what we think we know
in a hideous jargon of scientific terms ? Are we to be condemned
to wander for the rest of our days on dissected pene-plains
gathering Cerambycidse or Stylidiums and generally miscalling
technicalities? Why, if in springtime we go to the You Yangs,
should we imagine ourselves climbing over quartz mica diorite or
worse and looking at Bos taurus and Ovis allies being chased by
Canis Jamiliaris ? All these things have their place, and Meso-
potamia is a blessed word ; but if you make up your mind to it
you can do a great deal with the English language. Technical
terms are necessary — sometimes. There are ideas that cannot
readily be expressed without their aid, and objects that cannot be

♦Presidential Address, 1902, Vict. Nat., xix., p. 44, July, 1902.

Jan., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 125

indicated without their use. But don't mistake the gHb use of
polysyllables for knowledge.

In spite of the views of some people who should know better,
there is a very large amount of scientific^work, especially in
natural history, that lends itself admirably to treatment by
amateurs, and which need not be obscured by scientific verbiage.
There is a mean in all things, even in the use of technical terms.
The English language is flexible and elastic ; its vocabulary is
enormous, and the neglect to express one's views in simple terms,
but to prefer to use technical ones, is frequently k form of laziness
and carelessness that everyone should guard against. If there
are two ways of expressing an idea, take the simple one, and you
will find it harder to cheat yourself into believing you understand
it and can communicate it to others.

Anyone who has had any teaching experience, or who has tried
to explain some scientific fact to his friends, knows well how
wonderfully his ideas are clarified by the necessity of translating
into simple English some thought that he thinks he understands
when clothed in technical terms. A wise man long ago said, " By
teaching shalt thou learn."

Science deals with facts and ideas, and is not concerned with
modes of expression. Clarify your ideas and your language will
to a large extent look after itself.

But I did not intend to write rules for English composition. I
meant to point out some work that is awaiting the doing. Some
of it can be done by members of this Club, and we can publish
their results. Much of it I, for my own part, would like to see
presented to some other society, and in its fulness published else-
where. I say this, not because I want to harm the Club to which
I owe so much, but because I wish it well, and do not desire to
see its digestion ruined by strong meats and strong drinks and its
keenness blunted by listening to papers it cannot follow,

A good deal of what I have just said I dealt with in the address
previously mentioned, and in that address I further pointed out
some work that wanted doing. I am glad to say that my words
on that occasion directed the energies of one or two people into
definite channels, with excellent results. I venture, therefore, to
point out some further requirements, and to ask for help.

Our protozoa, the minute life of our ponds, is still neglected.
" Pond-lifers" gather it, and look at it, and guess at a few names,
and 1 hope there will always be nature-lovers who will do so.
But will someone carefully investigate any one group of these
animals ? There is an enormous field for research in the study of
the distribution of the protozoa. Besides, it is a reproach that we
have no one who can name them.

In Victoria we have given too little attention to our fresh-water
sponges ; and surely we have more than a couple of genera of
fresh-water hydrozoa. Can anyone say whether we have a fresh-

126 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

water medusoid or not ? Then there are the terrestrial and fresh-
water turbellarian worms, of which planarians form a group.
Intestinal parasites and earth-worms are being attended to else-
where, but we can afiford to have more workers, or, at any rate,
more collectors. Our leeches and polyzoa surely can yield fresh
forms to the investigator, but whether they do or not their study
will well repay anyone who undertakes it.

Among insects there is a wide field, but just now what we
specially want to know about are our blood-sucking flies, Culicidae,
and other Dip^a. These are great carriers of disease, and atten-
tion all over me world is being concentrated on them. Then
come the centipedes and millepedes, which are of considerable
interest, but which have been greatly neglected here.

Our spiders are fairly well known, but someone on the spot
should be able to identify them readily. One of our members
many years ago accumulated a great deal of information about the
spinning of their webs, but could not be induced to publish any-
thing. With photography to help the naturalist, the difficulties of
illustration to a large extent vanish, and I know of only one Aus-
tralian worker.

As to our land and fresh-water moUusca, again, we in Victoria
are sadly in the dark. Collecting has been done in the south-west
of the State, but the rest is a blank. The way has been made
clear just lately for anyone who will take up the task. The group
is not a large one, and will well repay a few years' patient research,
and we would welcome a careful worker here.

In addressing ourselves to the Crustacea we are on most promis-
ing ground. The discovery of Koonunga threw a brilliant shaft
of light on dark places in the classification of this group, and
Koonunga is not likely to be the sole representative of its family.
Many strange, old-fashioned beasts have been discovered among
our fresh-water Crustacea, and probably as many more remain
undetected. Why should we think for a moment that the new
species and genera discovered on a few summer afternoon rambles
exhaust the possibilities of our mountain valleys to the north and
east ? What treasures lie yet hidden in the salt and fresh-water
lakes of the Western District ! Has a tow-net or even a dip-net
yet stirred their depths ? Are we to wait till they are drained or
turned into sewage tanks before we attempt their exploration ?
The reed-beds are daily being reclaimed, and their rich fauna and
flora is passing away for ever.

When we come to the vertebrates we are at once confronted
with problems of a different kind. There is not the same in-
sistent call for the systematise Nearly everything probably has
been identified as far as land and fresh-water forms are con-
cerned. But we want to know much of their ways of life. We
want observations and records of the breeding habits of the eel
and of our so-called mountain-trout (Galaxias). What absolute

Jan., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 127

proof is there of the spawning of the latter in fresh water ? Can
anybody find the ova in the water, then see the newly-hatched
young, and trace the stages of growth. We want facts, not opinions
based on what occurs somewhere else.

The European eel breeds in the depths of the sea below 500
fathoms. Perhaps our eel does so too, but does anyone know
that it does ? Give us facts. Anyone who will settle either of
these questions will gather much that is of value on other subjects
by the way, and add at least one important stone to the cairn of
knowledge.

There is a good deal to be learned of the breeding of our land
frogs. Do they require water during their metamorphosis or not ?
Our reptiles are well known,- but the recent discovery close to
Melbourne of several specimens of a snake new to Victoria shows
that we should take nothing for granted. The same may be said
of our birds and mammals, but no one would be surprised at the
finding of a new species in the Gippsland ranges or in the Otways.
Our rats, be it remarked, are still very imperfectly known, and
are passing away, and our bats are probably in the same unsatis-
factory condition. We want lists and named collections of all
these things, and we will have to hasten if we are to get them.

I will just cross the threshold of botany and indicate a few
places in which enthusiasts may aid the cause of science. We
want a good series of photographs of all our plants — trees, shrubs,
and herbs. We want pictures of our wild flowers — the single
plant in flower. Don't aim at pretty pictures ; aim at represent-
ing the typical plant. Then we want plant-grouping studied and
photographed. What plants are associated together in certain
situations and on certain soils ? There are long names for these
studies, but you need not know the names in order to do good
work. The studies are older than the names, and will continue
when the names are forgotten.

One other fruitful field of research in regard to our native
plants may be drawn attention to, and that is the methods by
which insects transfer the pollen from anther to stigma. What a
delightful exhibit at our meeting would be a photograph of the
visit of an insect to a trigger-plant. If you can't get a photograph,
will you describe what happens ? What actual insect is in the
habit of visiting this flower, and how does he work ? But the
trigger-plant is one of many. Who will do for Victorian orchids
what Darwin did for the English ones ? We know practically
nothing of this great question of pollination among our plants.
It is field naturalists' work.

Still another botanical question suggests itself. What are the
effects of changed conditions on our native plants? Why, for
instance, are some specimens of Bursaria more spinose than
others ? Why does the character of the bark of some of our
eucalypts change with change of locality ? Read Schimper's

l28 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

"Plant Geography," and ask yourself a host of other questions of
a similar nature that need answering, and many of which anyone
who really tries can reply to.

I have propounded a series of problems that will keep the Club
busy for many a day, and I wish to emphasise the fact that because
we are members of a Club the way is prepared for anyone to attempt
to answer some @f these questions. If you want to know where to
go to find your specimens, how to preserve them, how to store
them, how to manage breeding boxes or aquaria, or where to see
the literature that may be necessary to start you on your path of
discovery, there is some one or other in the Club who can satisfy
your wants, affl|j.nwill be only too glad to do so. Ask ! There is
no need to sei^f the bellman round announcing the fact that you
are preparing to begin, nor is there any necessity for you to
attempt to rush into print before you have accumulated some
carefully tested observations. Don't baulk the end half-won for
an instant dole of praise.

I have sought to direct observation to our fresh-water and land
forms, because it is they that are rapidly passing away with the
onrush of civilization. The marine forms of life need investi-
gation, too, but they can wait, as they have waited for ages past.
The land fauna and tiora, however, must be studied by this
generation or it will be too late to answer many of the questions
that will be asked concerning it by those who come after us.
Some of it has already perished.

What I have said I should like to qualify by one remark. I
fully recognize that the great bulk of our members have neither
time, opportunity, nor inclination to undertake work such as I
have indicated. They have to remain satisfied with what they
gather on our excursions or at our meetings, but it must be
remembered that this is v^^hat all of us have to do when subjects
outside our own special ones, if we have any, are being dealt with
in the Club. The Club needs the support of all its members,
whether they are original investigators or not. All I ask is that a
dozen or so will devote some of their spare time seriously to some
problem that requires settling, or will do something, however
small, to help on the knowledge of natural history in our State.
Everyone can help. Everyone can do something to open up the
path to fuller knowledge. There will be difficulties and dis-
appointments to face. After careful work has brought you to the
knowledge of some fact, quite possibly you will find that you have
been forestalled. But you will have learned the joy of research,
and will be fitted to cope with some new problem that will speedily
present itself. If you are puzzled about the choice of a subject,
let me recommend the lines —

' ' Do the work that's nearest,
Though it's dull at whiles. "

There is no need to go to the polar regions for a subject. It
lies here, under your hand.

Jan., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 129

BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WILSON'S PROxMONTORY.
Second Report,* by Alfred J. Ewart, D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S.

{Read before the Field Naturalists'' Club of Victoria, I3th Dec, 1909.)

In continuance of the work begun last year, and in fulfilment of
the instructions received from the Hon. G. Graham, Minister for
Agriculture, the National Herbarium sent a second expedition to
the National Park last October (1909), the members being Mr.
J. VV. Audas, of the National Herbarium, Mr. P. R. H. St. John,
of the Botanic Gardens, and Dr. Sutton, hon. secretary of the
Plant Names and Records Committee. The expedition confined
its energies to the east coast of the Promontory, which hitherto
has been little explored botanically, and, after a fortnight's work,
only a small area remains to be covered. A third visit should
practically complete the botanical part of the survey, and enable
a handbook to the flora of the Park to be issued as soon as the
pressure of official duties permits.

It is greatly to be regretted that the vermin-proof fence,
promised by the Government in response to the representations of
the National Park Committee, has not yet been erected across
the neck of the peninsula. Rabbits do not as yet appear to have
entered the Park, for although Mount Hunter is full of burrows
on its south-eastern slopes no rabbit traces were seen, and the
burrows are probably formed by some other animal. Should
rabbits once enter, the value of the Park as a sanctuary for the
native flora will become very small, and its value as a sanctuary
for our native animals will be considerably decreased. I desire
to urge the practical importance of immediately erecting the
vermin-proof fence if the Park is to fulfil the functions for which
it was set aside.

A few details in regard to the plants recorded are worthy of
note. The fern, Lindsaya trichomanoides, was previously only
known from Tasmania and New South Wales. This is the third
species of Victorian plant whose sole locality is in the National
Park, and probably as time goes on and the native flora disap-
pears from the rest of Victoria the number of such cases will
steadily increase.

The record 331, Tetratkeca ericinum, Sm., in the previous list
{Vict. Nat., XXV., p. 148), should have been T. ericijolia, which
is now to be given as T. pilosa, Lab. (a broad-leaved form).
Mueller placed T. pilosa as a variety of T. ericijolia, although
Bentham, vol. i., p. 131, quotes Mueller as doing the opposite —
i.e., placing T. ericl/olia as a variety of 2'. pilosa. It seems best
to maintain the two species as distinct ones. The type, T.
erici/olia, is therefore not as yet recorded from the Park, but a

* For First Report, with map, see Victorian Naturalist, vol. xxv. , p. 412
(January, 1909).

130 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVl.

variety of it, var. rubiceoides, occurs on the Vereker Range, which
is the only Victorian locality for this plant. The new additions
include 1 8 naturalized aliens, the total number of aliens recorded
from the Park now being 42, of which three (Spear Thistle, Cape
Weed, Bathurst Burr) are proclaimed plants. The total recorded
native flora is 558, so that yV ^^^ aliens, whereas no less than
one-fourth of the general Victorian flora consists of aliens. So
long as cattle-grazing continues in the Park, the native flora will
continue to suff'er and weeds to spread ; but until a vermin-
proof fence has been erected it is impossible to keep cattle out
of the Park.

The Native Beech, Fagus Cunninghami, was not seen during
the present trip. The fires appear to have killed it out except in
one small locality, where it was found by the Ranger, but which
was not visited, owing to lack of lime. One plant recorded on
the preceding list on the authority of others — namely, Kunzea
peduncularis — was not seen, and is probably an error for K.
corifolia, which is common.

A shrubby Grevillea has been added co the flora, and the
following orders now have representatives in the Park : — Callitri-
chinse, Jasminese, Loranthacese, Lythrarieae. So that of the 1 11
natural orders of the Victorian flora only 27 are still unrepresented
in the Park flora.

Plants Collected October, 1909, not Previously Recorded
FOR THE National Park : —

Introduced plants marked *.

Acacia juniperina, Willd. ... ... Mt. Hunter

,, verticillata, Willd., var. ovoidea,

Benth. ... ... ... ... Vereker Range

Asplenium flabellifolium, Cav. ... ... Lilypilly Gully

Atherosperma moschata, I.,abill. ... ... Sealers' Cove

Atriplex cinerea, Poir. ... ... ... ,,

Bossisea cinerea, R. Br. ... ... Mt. Hunter

Brachycome cardiocarpa, F. v. M. ... Near Vereker Range

„ stricta, D. C. ... ... Mt. Hunter

Brachyloma ciliatum, Benth. ... ... ,,

*Bromus mollis, L. ... ... ... Biddy's Camp, Seaforth

* ,, sterilis, L. ... ... ... Darby River

* ,, unioloides, H. B. et K. ... ... Near Seaforth

Cassia parviflora, R. Br ... ... Three- Mile Beach

Caladenia congesta, R. Br. ... ... Barry's Creek

,, deformis, R. Br. ... ... Leonard Range (Ranger)

,, latifolia, R. Br. ... ... ,,

,, suaveolens, Reichb. f. ... ... Mt. Hunter

Callitriche Muelleri, Sond. ... ... Near Vereker Range

Calystegia Soldanella, L. ... ... Three-Mile Beach

Carex caespitosa, L., var. Gaudichaudiana,

Kunth. ... .... ... ... Vereker Range

,, paniculata, L. ... ... ... „

Cassytha glabella, R. Br. ... ... Near Mt. Hunter

,, melantha, R. Br. ... ... Barry's Creek

Jan., 1910.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

131

Casuarina distyla, Vent., var. pros-

trata, Maiden & Betche
Caustis pentandra, R. Br.
*Cerastium vulgatum, L.
Chamiescilla corymbosa, F. v. M.
Chiloglottis Gunnii, Lindl.
Claytonia Australasica, Hook., f. ...
Colobanthus Billardieri, Fenzl.
Convolvulus erubescens, Sims
Cryptostylis longifolia, R. Br.
Cyathodes acerosa, R. Br.
Cyrtostylis reniformis, R. Br.
Daviesia latifolia, R. Br.
Deyeuxia minor, Benth. ..

,, quadriseta, Benth.

Dianella Tasmanica, Hook f.
Dichelachne crinita. Hook f.
Dichondra repens, Forst.
Dipodium punctatum, R. Br.
Diuris pedunculata, R. Br.

,, sulphurea, R. Br.
Drosera Menziesii, R. Br.
Elasocarpus reticulatus, Sm. (cyaneus,
Epacris microphylla, R. Br.
Erechtites quadridentata, D. C. ...
Eucalyptus capitellata, Sm.

,, macrorrhyncha, F. v. M.

,, pilularis, Sm.

,, regnans, F. v. M.

*Festuca bromoides, L. ...
,, littoralis, Labill.
Gahnia psittacorum, Labili.
,, radula, Benth. ...
,, trifida, Labill.
Gastrodia sesamoides, Benth. & Hook.
Glyceria dives, F. v. M.
Gnaphalium luteo-album, L.
Gratiola Peruviana, L., var. latifolia

Grevillea lavandulacea, Schlecht

Hibbertia angustifolia, Salisbury ...
,, Billardieri, F. v. M., var.

delpha
,, virgata, R. Br.
*Hordeum murinum, L. ...

Hovea heterophylla, A. Cunn.
*Hypochseris glabra, L. ...
Hypolsena lateriflora, Benth.
Imperata arundinacea, Cyrilli
Juncus bufonius, L.
*Koeleria phleoides, Persoon
Lasiopetalum dasyphyllum, .Sieber
Lepidium ruderale, L. ...
Lepidosperma elatius, Labill.

,, gladiatum, Labill. ...

,, laterale

Limnanthemum crenatum, F. v. M.
Lindsaya trichomanoides, Dryader
Loranthus celastroides, Sieber

... Barry's Creek

... Three- Mile Beach

... Biddy's Camp, Seaforth

Near Vereker Range
... Sealers' Cove

Near Vereker Range
... Three-Mile Beach
... Near Vereker Range
... Near Barry's Creek
... Mt. Hunter

Three-Mile Beach

Vereker Range
... Biddy'is Camp, Seaforth

... Sealers' Cove

... Mt. Singapore

... Near Vereker Range

Sealers' Cove
... Vereker Range
,,

Barry's Creek
Sims) Sealers' Cove
... Mt. Hunter

Sealers' Cove

Mt. Singapore
Sealers' Cove
Vereker Range

Bany's Creek

Near Three-Mile Beach

Mt. Hunter

Near Darby River

Sealers' Cove

Mt. Hunter

Vereker Range

Sealers' Cove
Near Barry's Creek
Darby River
Leonard Range
Sealers' Cove
Barry's Creek
Mt. Singapore
Near Vereker Range
Darby River
Mt. Singapore
Sealers' Cove

Near Barry's Creek
Near Vereker Range
Lillypilly Gully
Barry's Hill

132

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXVI.

Lythrum hyssopifolia, L.
*Matricaria discoidea, D. C.

Microseris Fosteri, Hook. f.

Mitrasacme paradoxa, R, Br.

Monotoca elliptica, R. Br.

Olearia myrsinoides, F. v. M., var. erubescens

Panax sambucifolius, Sieber. var. angustifoliu.s
*Papaver Rhceas, L.

Phyllanthus thymoides, Sieber

Phylloglossum Drummondii, Kunze

Pimelea drupacea, Labill.
,, phylicoides, Meissn.

Plantago coronopus, L. ...

Poa annua, L.

Polycarpon tetraphyllum, L.

Polypodium punctatum, Thunb. ...

Polypompholyx tenella, Lehmann

Potamogeton crispus, L.

Prasophyllum rufum, R. Br.

Pteris falcata, R. Br.

Pterostylis concinna, R. Br.

,, cucullata, R. Br., var. alpina

,, curta, R. Br.

,, nutans, R. Br.

PultenEea villosa, Willd.
*Ranunculus muricatus, L.

Sagina apetala, L.

Scsevola Hookeri, F. v. M.

Schizaea fistulosa, Labill.

Schoenus apogon, Roem. & Schult.

,, nitens, Poir., var. major, A. J. E

Scirpus cartilagineus, Spreng.

Solanum nigrum, L.
*Sonchus oleraceus, L.

Sowerbaea juncea, Sm. ...
*Stachys arvensis, L.
*Stellaria media, Cyrilli ...

Stipa semibarbata, R. Br.
,, setacea, R. Br.

Stylidium perpusillum. Hook. f. ...

Tecoma australis, R. Br., var. Latrobei

Tetragonia expansa, Murray

,, implexicoma. Hook. f.

Tetratheca ericifolia, Sm., var. rubiceoides
A. Cunn. ...
,, pilosa, R. Br.

Thelymitra antennifera, Hook. f.
,, carnea, R. Br.

Thysanotus Patersoni, R. Br.

Tillcea macrantha, Hook. f.
*Trifolium minus, Rehlan

* ,, tomentosum, L.
Triglochin centrocarpa, Hooker
Utricularia lateriflora, R. Br.

* Veronica arvensis, L.
*Vinca major, L. ...

Xanthosia pusillus, Bunge

Near Leonard Range
Darby River
Leonard Range
Barry's Hill
Sealers' Cove
Leonard Range
Vereker Range
Near Darby River
Mt. Singapore
Near Vereker Range
.Sealers' Cove
Near Chinaman's Creek
Darby River

.Sealers' Cove

Near Chinaman's Creek

Near Darby River

Collected by Mueller in 1853

Lillypilly Gully

Leonard Range

Mt. Hunter

Darby River

Near Darby River

Near Biddy's Camp, Seaforth

Near Vereker Range

Near Mt. Hunter
Near Vereker Range
Near Mt. Singapore
liiddy's Camp, Seaforth
Near Barry's Creek
.Sealers' Cove
Darby River
Near Mt. Singapore

Near Vereker Range

.Sealers' Cove

Biddy's Camp, Seaforth

Vereker Range
Collected by Mueller
Near Barry's Creek
Mt. Hunter
Near Mt. Singapore
Darby River
Near Vereker Range
Darby River
Three-Mile Beach
Near Vereker Range

Darby River

Near Vereker Range

ian., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 133

Botanical Report, by Mr. J. VV. Audas.

Our party of three— Dr. C. S. Sutton, Mr. P. R. H. St. John,
and myself — arrived at Fish Creek railway station at 12.30 p.m.
on Monday, i8th October, where Mr. J. F. Falls, a local resident,
awaited our arrival with conveyances.

We were driven to the Park, as far as Darby River, reaching
there at about 8 p.m., where we were very hospitably entertained
for that night, and on other occasions, by Mr. and Mrs. Wm.
Miller, who are in charge of Mr. Falls' estate.

Next day the ridges of Vereker Range were examined.
Eucalyptus aniygdalina, E. ohiiqua, E. viminalis, and E. Muel-
leriana were plentiful ; also the following — Ooodia lotifolia,
PuJ.tencea mollis, P. daphnoides, P. scabm, Gahnia radtda, and
G. psittacorum. Among the rocky declivities at the summit we
found Tetratheca ericijolia, var. rubiceoides, A. Cunn., a new
variety for Victoria.

On the mud flats between the range and the Darby River Utricu-
laria dichotoma was very numerous in swamps, and in full bloom,
with purple flowers, but some seen were perfectly white. U.
lateriflora, a much smaller and rarer plant, was also found.
Other more minute plants collected were Drosera pygmcea, D.
spathulata, Stylidium despectum, S. perpusilhcm, and the lyco-
pod Phy/loglossut/i Drunimondii.

The second day was spent in journeying from Darby River to
the Tidal Creek, where we camped for the night. From here a
track is now cut to within three miles of Sealers' Cove beach,
where it joins the old tram line formerly used by the sawmillers.
This new track, which was only recently completed, was carried
out at the instance of the National Park Committee, under the
supervision of Mr. C. M'Lennan, the park ranger, on whom it
reflects great credit. In the vicinity of this track the Pilot-birds
Pycnoptilus floccosus, are very numerous. Some of the hills
have very steep gradients, and corduroy crossings had to be made
over many of the deep and treacherous gullies. Weighty fallen
timber had to be removed, and the Sedge, Lepidosperma elatius,
and the "Wire-grass," Tetrarrhena juncea, both of which are very
abundant here, must have given much trouble.

When the old tram track is repaired — it being now in a very
dilapidated condition — it will be possible to ride on horseback
right through to the beach at Sealers' Cove. The Committee, I
understand, intend to repair the track at an early date. Though
only about four years since this tram track was abandoned, it is
surprising how quickly seedlings of Eucalypti, Prostanthera, and
Hedycarya have sprung up, making it in places almost
impassable.

On hills adjacent to the track the " hop-bush," Goodenia ovata,
and the " fire-weeds," Senecio velleioides, S. vagus, and Erechtites

134 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

arguta, have grown luxuriantly since the last bush-fires. Pimelea
linifolia, reaching a height of twelve feet, and Hibberlia
Billardieri, var. monadelpha, ten feet high, were also very
numerous.

The trees attaining tlie greatest height at Sealers' Cove are
the Blackbutts, Eucalyptus pilularis, some of which are probably
200 ft. high, with a circumference of 25 ft. at the lower part of
the butt. Next in point of size are the Blue Gums, E. globulus,
and the mountain form of the Manna Gum, E. viminalis.

The Stringybark, E. macrorrhyncha, also attains a great height.
This species, ^though allied to other stringybarks, such as E.
capitellata and 'E. eugenioides, can readily be distinguished from
them by the shape of its fruit, by the quality of its wood, and by
its rising to a considerable height before putting forth branches.
Eugenia Sinithii, and the Blackwood, Acacia melanoxylon, also
reach great proportions. High up on some of the Blackwoods
bunches of the parasitical mistletoe, Loranthus celastroides, were
seen.

One specimen of the Mountain Holly, Lomatia Fraseri,
measured 5 feet in circumference at a height of 6 feet from the
ground. Other trees observed were the Sassafras, Atherosperma
moschatum, which is often characterized as a beautiful aromatic
tree ; the Musk-tree, Olearia argophyllus, which is one of the
largest of the few trees included in the large order of Composilae,
abounds ; while the Mint-tree, Prostanthera lasiantha, its com-
panion as the largest of the Labiatse, is equally numerous.

Myrsine variabilis and Hedycarya Ctm^iinghami, although
shrubs in most parts of Victoria, become fair-sized trees in the
sheltered and well-watered gullies.

Only one shrub of Pimelea drupacea was seen during the
present expedition, and it was found close to Sealers' Creek.
There also was found Monotoca elliptica.

Among the shady woods were the Kangaroo-apple, Solanum
avicidare ; Goprosma Billardieri, commonly known as Wild
Currant ; and Tecoma australis, var. Latrobei, a twiner with
beautiful white bell-shaped flowers.

The robust climber, Lyonsia straminea, was seen right at the
top of the tall Blackwoods.

In the fern glens many graceful ferns, such as Alsophila
australis, Cyathea Cunninghami, and Dicksonia antarctica, reach
great heights and dimensions. The noble King Fern, Todea
barbara, rises to perfection from the streamlets which meander
through the gullies.

On the stems of Dicksonia antarctica the peculiar epiphytal
shrub, Fieldia australis, the only Australian representative of the
order Gesneriaceae, appeared in great abundance. This plant was
also found growing on granite boulders and in the ground.

Jan., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 135

The fertility of the soil at Sealers' Cove is evidenced not only
by the rapid growth of the indigenous vegetation, but also by the
way in which European and Asiatic weeds are spreading. Vicia
sativa was so much in evidence as to be almost a pest, while other
aliens are establishing themselves, namely : — Carduus lanceolatus,
Cryptostemma calendulaceuin, Hypochceris glabra, H. radicata,
Silene gallica, and the so-called Stagger-weed, Stachys arvensis.

Returning from Sealers' Cove, we again reached the Darby
River, from whence we journeyed along the north-eastern coast to
Mt. Singapore. This journey occupied two days, and we passed
through very interesting country, which is composed chiefly of
heatliy flats and swamps, which are in places very dangerous, and
where great care is required in crossing.

The vegetation was densely overgrown with dwarf Casuarina,
Leptospermum, Melaleuca, Eucalypti, Acacia verticillata, Ricino-
carpus, Sprengelia incarnata, Hakea nodosa, H. pugioni/ormis,
and Fultencea Gunnii.

Of the monocotyledons, Hypolcena lateriflora and Patersonia
longiscapa were very abundant in the very moist places, while
numerous grass-like Cyperacece, JuncacecB, and Liliacece were
encountered, the most common of which being Mesomelcena
sphcerocejjhala, Gahnia radula, G. psittacorum, Xanthorrhcea
australis, X. minor, Juncus comnninis, J. pauciflorus, Lepido-
sperma concavum, and L. exaltatnm, associated with two species
of Xerotes, X. longifolia and X. I'hunbergii. Almost all of these
are useless as food for domestic animals. A few grasses find a
precarious existence, of which Poa ccespitosa, Danthonia penicil-
lata, var. setacea, Dichelachne crinila, and Stipa semibarhata are
the most conspicuous, together with the introduced Festuca
hromoides, F. rigida, and Koeleria phleoides.

On the numerous granite ridges Banksia serrata, intermixed
with dwarf eucalypts and various species of Pultengea, form
isolated groups of forest.

Along the beach the vegetation chiefly comprised the following :
— Correa alba, C. speciosa, Myoporum insulare, Alyxia huxifolia,
Leucopogon Richei, Leptospermum Icevigatum, with an occasional
Casuarina stricta.

A shrub dotting the open country at the foot of Barry's Hill is
Casuarina, distyla, var. prostrata, Maiden and Betche, which is
new for Victoria. Higher up this hill we noted a Sea-Eagle and
nest situated in a large Eucalyptus obliqua.

Reaching Mt. Singapore the following plants were noted : —
Lasiopetalum dasyphyllum, Dampiera striata (with lovely blue
flowers showing to perfection), and Kunzea corifolia, the bloom
of which attracted many species of Honey-eaters. The principal
trees were Eucalyptus obliqua, E. viminalis, and Casuarina stricta.

On the flat between Mt. Singapore and Mt. Hunter the swamps

136 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

are very numerous, and the scrub was very dense in places. On
crossing the ridge at the foot of Mt. Hunter the slope was so
steep that the pack-horse lost his footing and rolled down fully
25 feet, from which awkward position he was with difficulty
extricated.

At Mt. Hunter the vegetation on the north and western sides
was very dwarfed, while on the east and southern slopes it was
dense and luxuriant, consisting of Pultencea daphnoides, P. mollis,
P. scabra, P. mllosa, and Grevillea lavandulacea, which were
intermixed wi«' ' Lycopodium densuni, Gleichenia circinata,
Sprengelia incark'ata, Correa speciosa, Hedycarya, Prostanthera,
Olearia argophyllus, Pomaderris apetala, and Gahnia psittacorum.
Beneath this almost impenetrable mass a large number of
wallabies were seen, whilst in the scrub birds were fairly
numerous. At the foot of Mt. Hunter, amongst the large granite
boulders, shrubs of the beautiful crimson-berried Cyathodes acerosa
were found within a few yards of the incoming tide. Proceeding
hence along the beach the usual coast plants were found, among
which vvas a very dwarfed form of the eucalypt, E. viminalis. On
the beach the Sea Bindweed, Calystegia Soldanella, was found
growing in the sand, exposed to the salt water ; also Caustis pen-
tandra, with stems 2 feet high, growing sparingly among the open
scrub in company with Schoenus nilens, var. major, A. J. E., a new
variety. Numbers of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were noted
on this beach.

One of the most interesting gullies visited was at tiie head of
Chinaman's Creek. Here Eugenia Smithii is very plentiful and
of great size, as also are Eucalyptus globulus, E. Muplleriana,
E. goniocalyx, and Acacia melanoxylon. The usual plants found
in fern gullies were met with, including the rare fern, Lindsaya
trichomanoides, which was not previously recorded for Victoria.
This gully was the last we visited during the trip.

By tracing on the map the route travelled it will be seen that
there is not much country left uninvestigated ; however, our
experience shows that many interesting plants may yet be found
to add to the already published lists.

Report by Dr. Sutton.

Privileged to accompany Messrs. Audas and St. John in their
second visit to Wilson's Promontory, for the further botanical
survey of the National Park, I am given the opportunity, by the
courtesy of Dr. Evvart, to briefly supplement their reports on the
expedition.

Unfortunately, time did not permit the completion of the
survey on this occasion, but a third visit of similar length will
probably suffice to examine the country to the east of the Central
Range, from Mount Vereker to Mount Ramsay, the north-east

Jan., 1910.] THK VIGTOKIAN NATURALIST. 137

corner of the Promontory, and the very rough area between
Mount Wilson and Refuge Cove, which still remain to be done.
To the latter place it is to be hoped that before the next visit a
track will be cut, as it is at present almost inaccessible.

As evidence of the thoroughness of the work of the first
expedition, I would like to say that on a visit to the lighthouse
from the Tidal River I did not note a single species not already
collected by Messrs. Audas and St. John.

In regard to the plants noted on the visit, it may be said that
the only real surprise was the finding ot the Lindsaya (not
already recorded from this State), and that many species which
might reasonably have been expected to occur were not seen.

In reviewing the list of plants already recorded, we cannot but
be struck by the absence in particular ot Helipterums, of all
Goodenias except G. ovata, of the Prostantheras except P.
lasiantha, of the Eriostemons except E. myoporoides, of
Kennedya monophylla, Vitiadinia australis, Frankenia kevis,
among others, and by the comparative rarity of Crucifers, Pul-
tenseas. Acacias, Eucalypts, and Brachycomes.

It has been rumoured that it is the intention of the Forests
Department to plant a large area at Barry's Creek with alien
trees, and we may be permitted to hope that the rumour is
without foundation. It has been generally understood that the
plantation was to be kept strictly for the preservation of native
plants and animals, and if any experimental planting is to be
done, surely only our Australian trees should be tried.*

Finally, it might be as well to mention, for the benefit of those
intending to visit the reservation, that if it is desired to avoid the
long drive from Fish Creek to the Darby River, the Promontory
can be very conveniently reached by way of Bennison to Bovven,
a little fishing village on the Franklin River. From here Corner
Inlet is crossed by one of the many fishing boats available, all of
which are provided with motors ; and the voyage is made, under
favourable circumstances, in about two and a half hours, the
visitor being put ashore near the northern end of the Vereker
Range, only about five miles from the Darby River.

* [The agreement between the Forests Department and the National Park
Committee indudes a provision to this effect. The area set aside as a forest
reserve for e.xotic trees is trifling as compared with the total area of the Park.
The Committee anticipates receiving considerable assistance from the Forests
Department in carrying out its objects.- — A. J. E.]

Mineral Map of Victoria. — In addition to the geological
map of Victoria mentioned in the last Naturalist, the same map has
been printed in paler colours, with the principal localities of thirty-
seven varieties of minerals, &c., added, making it an extremely
useful publication.

138 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF
HONEY-EATER FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist to the

Australian Museum, Sydney.*

{Read before the Field Naturalists' Olub of Victoria, 13th Dec, 1909.)

Mention has been previously made, in the September number of
this publication, of a small collection of birds sent by Mr. Henry
L. White, of Belltrees, Scone, New South Wales, to the Curator
of the Australian Museum, Sydney, for determination, and from
which I there described a new species under the name of
Acanthiza whitlocki. Among this collection, formed by Mr. F.
L. Whitlock at Lake Way, in the East Murchison District,
Western Australia, was a single skin labelled " Pseudogerygone

, ad. male. Lake Way, East Murchison District, 19/7/09.

F.L.W." The shape of the bill, the absence of rictal bristles,
and general form, however, denoted at once that it was a Honey-
eater. From its dull-coloured plumage I thought it possibly may
have been an adult female of some unknown species, and there-
fore applied for more specimens. These Mr. White has recently
received from Mr. Whitlock, and forwarded them on to the
Curator. They consist of two more adult males, an adult female,
and a nestling, obtained in the same locality. Mr. Whitlock was
also fortunate enough to obtain its nest and eggs.

Lacustroica, gen. nov.

Exposed portion of bill slightly less than half the length of
head, moderately straight, equal in height to breadth at nostril,
the culmen distinctly arched, and decurved towards the tip; tongue
grooved above, bifid at the tip. First primary short, the second
equal in length to the seventh, the almost square end of the wing
formed by the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth primaries, which are
almost equal in length. Tail about two-thirds of the length of
wing. Tarsi long, slender, about twice the length of bill.

Lacustroica whitei, sp. nov.

Adult Male. — General colour above ashy or dull greyish-brown ;
quills dusky brown, the outer webs of the innermost secondaries
like the back, those of the outer series margined around the apical
portion with whity-brown or ashy-white ; remainder of the quills
less distinctly edged on their outer webs with ashy-white ; upper
tail coverts like the back ; tail dark brown, the central feathers
indistinctly margined around their tips with dull brownish-white,
the remainder with a white spot at the tip of the inner web,
larger on the outermost feather on either side, which is of a
paler brown and has the outer web very narrowly edged with
whity-brown ; lores, forehead, crown and sides of the head, ear
coverts, and sides of the neck ashy dull greyish-brown, chin and

* Contributions from the Australian Museum, by permission of the Trustees.

Jan., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 139

centre of the upper throat dull white ; lower throat and foreneck
pale greyish-brown ; remainder of the under surface and under
tail coverts white, very faintly tinged with pale creamy-brown, and
which extends on to the feathers of the foreneck in some speci-
mens. " Bill dark horn colour, the base of lower mandible pale ;
legs and feet lead-grey ; iris dull earthy-brown " (Whitlock).
Total length (of skin), 4 inches; wing 2.4, tail 1.75, bill 0.35,
tarsus 0.6.

Adult Female. — Similar in plumage to the male.

Nestling. — Resembles the adult in plumage, but has a narrow
ring of small whitish feathers around the eye, tinged with yellow-
ish-green, the latter colour also extending on to feathers of the sides
of the head, chin, throat, foreneck, and the outer webs of most
of the quills. Total length (of skin), 3 inches; wing 1.95, tail i.

Habitat. — Lake Way, East Murchison District, Western Aus-
tralia.

Remarks. — The genus Lacuslroica is allied to Entomophila,
and to that section of it which includes E. picta, but differs from
it principally in having a shorter bill, longer tarsi, and a different
wing-formula. In its dull colours it more closely approaches
E. albigularis and E. rufigularis. Lacustroica inconspicua
would fittingly designate this modestly plumaged little Honey-
eater inhabiting the vicinity of Lake VVay, but in response to a
request from the owner of the specimens, who has done so much
recently to advance Australian ornithology, I have associated
with it the name of his son, Mr. Alfred Henry Ebsworth White,
who, although yet young in years, I am informed is worthily follow-
ing in his father's footsteps. Although generically allied to
Entomophila, White's Honey-eater is an entirely new and distinct
species, having no near ally, and may easily be distinguished
from any other member of the family Meliphagidse inhabiting
Australia.

BOOKS, &c.

The Naturalised Flora of South Australia. By J. M.
Black, Adelaide. 5s.
The author of this handy work of 192 pages has laid botanical
students and others under a debt of gratitude to him for the great
amount of information he has compressed into his little volume.
Commencing with a glossary of botanical terms, a ie.w hints are
given as to drying specimens, also some simple points to
remember in pronouncing the Latin names of plants. Half a
dozen pages are devoted to a key to the families, then the
naturalised plants are dealt with. Of these 368 species are
described, illustrated in the text with 206 drawings by the
author ; these, though on a small scale, are very clear, and quite
sufficient for identification purposes. A brief diagnosis of the
genus, with in many cases the derivation of its name, is given, then

140 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

follows a more detailed description of the species, giving authority,
common name, usual habitat, flowering time, and place of origin,
thus forming a very complete handbook, which is well indexed,
and will be found useful in other States than South Australia.

Building and Ornamental Stones of New South Wales.
By R. T. Baker, F.L.S.
There has recently been issued by the Technological Museum,
Sydney, a beautiful handbook of the building and ornamental
stones of New South Wales, of which the State may well be
proud. The principal feature of the work is the thirty-six
coloured illustrations of granites, marbles, &c., executed in
natural size and colours. Some of these are exquisitely pretty,
and all are splendid examples of the printer's art. In addition to
the illustrations of the stones, a large series of illustrations is given
of buildings carried out in the various materials, which testify to
the richness of New South Wales in building stones. Queen's
Statue, Melbourne, is given as one of the examples of Caloola
(Bathurst) marble. The volume is another example of the fine
work turned out at the Government Printing Office, Sydney.

A Bush Calendar. By Amy E. Mack (Mrs. L. Harrison),
With 42 illustrations from nature. Sydney : Angus and
Robertson. 3s. 6d.
The publishers of this dainty little volume are to be con-
gratulated on having placed within reach of all nature-lovers a
series of articles which appeared originally in the columns of the
Sydney Morning Htrald. The book is not only delightfully
written and illustrated, but there is more Australian natural
history lore contained in its pages than in any volume of a similar
character yet issued. Month by month the prominent birds and
flowers are so charmingly dealt with that one regrets there are
only twelve months in the year. Further essays from the talented
authoress will be eagerly watched for, and though to Victorians
some of the birds and plants may be unfamiliar, still it is easy to
see with her in her rambles through the bush. For kindred
spirits in the old country " A Bush Calendar " would be an
excellent introduction to the sights and sounds of our bush.

Tourist Map of Mount Dandenong and District. — The
Lands Department has issued a brief description, with a handy
map of the Dandenong Ranges, on the scale of one inch to one
mile, which includes the area from Ringwood to Lilydale and
Emerald. An inset diagram indicates the views obtainable from
the Trig. Station on Mt. Dandenong. A similar diagram for the
look-out on One Tree Hill (together with its height, ? 1,495
feet) would have been a useful addition. It may be noted that
Graham Falls and Sherbrooke Falls are synonymous. Copies may
be obtained on asking at the Government Tourist Bureau,
Collins-street.

Cbc Ulctorlan natttrallsi

Vol. XXVI.— No. 10. FEBRUARY 10, 1910. No. 314.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 17th January, 1910.

The president, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, occupied the chair,
and about 50 members and visitors were present.

Mr. A. J. North, C.M.Z.S., Sydney, wrote wishing the members
the compliments of the season and the Club continued prosperity.

The hon. secretary stated that the dredging excursion
announced for Saturday, 15th January, had not taken place,
owing to the inability to procure a suitable boat.

The Chairman took the opportunity of welcoming Mr. J.
Shephard on his return from a visit to England. Mr. Shephard,
who was very cordially received, briefly referred to a visit paid to
Selborne, the scene of Gilbert White's natural history writings,
and to parts of Yorkshire which possessed great antiquarian
interest.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Dr. Edward Ryan, Collins-street,
Melbourne ; Dr. Thos. F. Ryan, Nhill ; and Mr. J. Twyford,
9 Villiers-street, Elsternwick, were duly elected members of the
Club.

PAPERS READ.

1. By Messrs. J. G. O'Donoghue and P. R. H. St. John,
entitled " Through the Brisbane Range."

The authors gave an account of the birds and plants met with
during a three days' ramble from Bacchus Marsh to the Brisbane
Range, about 15 miles south of that town, during the early part
of last October.

The chairman and Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., congratulated the
authors on the interesting nature of their description,

2. By Mr. F. Pitcher, entitled " The Victorian Vegetation in
the Melbourne Botanic Gardens."

The author referred to the examples of the indigenous
vegetation still remaining in the gardens, and to the efforts which
had been made to cultivate a representative selection of Victorian
plants. He also gave some selections of Victorian shrubs, &c.,
suitable for cultivation in small gardens. A catalogue of the
Victorian plants now growing in the gardens, numbering about
400 species, was handed in for publication.

Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., referred to the cultivation of Victorian
trees, &c., in small gardens, and related his experiences with

142 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

some of the well-known shrubs from the more elevated parts of
the State.

The Chairman said that while it was very desirable to have a
series of Victorian plants in cultivation close to the city for the
benefit of visitors and students, he preferred to see an area set
aside, such as the National Park, where the plants could be seen
in their natural associations.

3. By Mr. A. J. North, C.M.Z.S., entitled "Notes on the Nest
and Eggs of Amytis macrurus, Gould."

[Owing to the lateness of the hour, this paper was taken as
read.]

The author stated that he had recently received for description
three sets of the eggs of the Large-tailed Grass-Wren, Amytis
macrurus, Gld., obtained by Mr. C. G. Gibson, near Kalgoorlie,
Western Australia. The bird is a rare one, and its nest had not
hitherto been figured.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. R. W. Armitage called attention to his exhibit of a piece
of basalt from the Clifton Hill quarry, enclosing a piece of
charred wood, which was thus strictly a fossil in an igneous rock.

Mr. E. B. Nicholls called attention to the photographs
exhibited of the nest of a Podargus, taken at Black Rock.

Mr. J. Stickland mentioned that when at Warburton recently
he measured a frond of Lomaria discolor 5 feet 9 inches in length.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. R. W. Armitage. — A piece of basalt enclosing a piece
of charred wood, from Clifton Hill quarry.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Pot-grown specimen of Lomaria
Paterso7ii, from Falls Creek, Upper Yarra.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — Abnormal fronds of Lomaria
discolor.

By Mr. G. A. Keatland. — Specimen of the Brush-tailed Phasco-
gale, thascogale peviicil/ata, from Seymour.

By Mr. A. J. North, CM. Z.S.— Photograph of nest and eggs
of Amytis tnacrurus, in illustration of paper.

By Mr. J. G. O'Donoghue. — Fossiliferous limestone from
Moorabool Valley, between Maude and Lethbridge ; Rhyllite,
from Mount Lofty, South Australia.

By Mr. F. Pitcher. — " Boee Wan," or Native Bread fungus,
Mylitta australis, found at Warburton, Christmas, 1909 ; photo-
graphs of scenes in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, also flowers
of Frostanthera lasiantha, Bauera rubioides, Banksia serrata,
Tristania laurina, and Bursaria Pantoni, grown in Botanic
Gardens, in illustration of paper.

By Mr. C. L. Plumridge. — Pot-grown specimen of fern,
Lomaria discolor, var. bipinnatiflda.

Feb., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 143

By Mr. F. Spry. — Australian ants belonging to genus Podo-
myrma ; rare beetles from Western Australia — Megacephala black-
hurni, Fleutiaux, M. castelnaui, Sloane, and Cunipectus frenchi,
Sine. ; rare butterfly, Dodonidia helmsi, Fereday, from New
Zealand.

By Mr. P. R. H. St. John. — Plant of fern Lindsaya trichoman-
oides from Wilson's Promontory, recently recorded as new for
Victoria.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

The late Rev. J. J. Halley. — It is with great regret we
record the sudden death of the Rev. J. J, Halley, who was one
of the first vice-presidents of the Field Naturalists' Club of
Victoria (1880-3), ^"d for three years (1884-7) its president.
Mr. Halley's presidential addresses were greatly enjoyed by those
privileged to hear them, and general regret was expressed when
the increase of his denominational duties necessitated him setting
aside his love for natural science.

We are pleased to record that Mr. O. A. Sayce, Demonstrator
in Bacteriology in the University of Melbourne, has been awarded
an Associateship by the Linnean Society of London, in re-
cognition of his valuable research work.

" A Quarter-Century of Technical Education in New South
Wales " is the title of a quarto volume of 320 pages recently
issued by the Education Department of that State on the occasion
of the exhibition of students' work held at the Sydney Technical
College, Easter week, 1909. A brief introduction is given by the
Minister of Education, Hon. J. A. Hogue ; then the Superinten-
dent of Technical Education, Mr. J. W. Turner, in an article of
142 pages, entitled " Technical Education," gives a general view
of the subject as dealt with in other countries, what has been
achieved in the twenty-five years in New South Wales, the
present condition and its future in New South Wales. Statistics
for 1908 show 18,490 students, paying fees of ;^i4, 176. Botany,
zoology, and geology are included in the lecture courses. In his
optimistic remarks on the future he is so carried away by the
wonderful advantages he sees in the position, &c., of Sydney as
" the London, New York, Glasgow, Athens, and Rome of the
southern hemisphere," that he quite overlooks the fact that other
great and prosperous cities exist in South America, in South
Africa, and even in Australia. The volume concludes with a
detailed description of the various departments of the Sydney
Technical College and its adjuncts, which is very fully illustrated
with a fine series of plates, and shows it to be well up to date.
The volume is a highly creditable production, and was printed at
the Government Printing Office, Sydney.

144 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

EXCURSION TO TOOLANGI.

Fine weather favoured those members who took part in the first
Club excursion to Toolangi. Five members greeted the leader on
the Yarra Glen platform at 10.15 ^•™- O" Saturday, 13th Novem-
ber. Here we found a waggonette and pair waiting to take us to
our destination up in the ranges some 14 miles away. The road
for the first six miles was fairly level, but very dusty, and kept
in the valley of Dixon's Creek. Then turning to the right, the
creek was crossed. In about a mile we turned to the north
once more, and began to ascend a ridge which separates Dixon's
Creek valley from that of View Hill Creek. We quickly rose
above the surrounding valleys, and at about 85^ miles rounded
" Cape Horn," as it is locally styled. From this vantage point,
about 850 feet above sea-level, a magnificent expanse of tree-
covered hillsides presented itself, especially of the ridge separating
View Hill Creek from the Chum Creek. As we gradually
ascended a few wild flowers appeared along the roadsides, such
as Billardiera, Comesperma, Veronica, Goodenia, &c. We were
now in interesting country from a physiographical point of view,
for far down below us on our left was the broad valley occupied
by Dixon's and Steel's Creeks, which Professor Gregory in his
" Geography of Victoria," terms the " old valley of the middle
Yarra,"andwere approaching that part of the Dividing Range which
he styles the "Kinglake Gap," which is only about 1,250 feet, above
sea-level. At about 12^ miles we reached the main divide, and
turned eastwards towards Toolangi, still about a mile and a half
distant. Here the trees were much larger ; huge specimens of the
mountain ash, Uucalyptus amygdalina, up to 250 feet, were
frequent, while in places a dense growth of smaller trees, say
6 inches through and 50 to 60 feet high, prevailed. A little
colour was given to the scene by the wealth of the clear yellow
flowers of Goodenia ovata, which all through the outing was
exceptionally fine. Eutaxia empetrijolia and Pultencea Gunnii
added other shades, while smaller plants, such as Candollea
serrulata and Wahlenbergia gracilis were conspicuous by
their pink and blue flowers among the wayside vegetation. Here
we were about 1,600 feet above sea-level, the road continuing
along the crest of the divide. On our left were some selections
sloping down to the Muddy Creek, or Yea River, and presently a
turning led to the little township of Toolangi, consisting of the
State school and a few houses, the inhabitants of which depend
principally on the timber industry for their means of support.
The track wound through the forest, and presently, in a slight
hollow, Toolangi House came into view, backed up by the high
cone of Mt. St. Leonard (3,304 feet), a few miles further on.
Before going inside it was necessary to get rid of some of the dust
gathered on the way up, and we found bracken fern a very useful
means, and it was quickly taken advantage of. Toolangi House

Feb., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 146

proved to be a very comfortably arranged and commodious
dwelling, and by evening some 40 visitors had gathered under
its roof. Its position is unique, for the divide runs right through
the house, so that rain falling on the front verandah drains to the
Yea River, thence to the Goulburn and the Murray, while the
back part of the house sends its rainfall to the Chum Creek, the
Watts, and the Yarra. The name Toolangi, according to Mr.
Saxton, in his interesting little work, " Victoria : Place-Names and
their Origin," is the native word for zeal, enthusiasm, eagerness,
but I was told up there that it meant " plenty." If the latter be
the case, the question arises, plenty of what, for hills, trees,
streams, and birds are in plenty everywhere. Mr. Saxton has
given me the height of Toolangi House as 1,500 feet from
barometrical observations he made some time ago, but it is hard
to believe that Mt. St. Leonard is 1,800 feet higher, and I should
like to add at least a couple of hundred feet to the height of
Toolangi House.

After lunch the question arose as to how to fill in the afternoon,
and as there was a possibility of joining a photographic party on
the morrow who intended visiting a myrtle gully some 7 miles
away, we decided to try and find the Sylvia Falls, one of the
beauty spots of the locality, which are some 2j^ miles away
in a north-easterly direction, being situated on a creek rising on a
northerly spur of St. Leonard. The Yea River comes within
about 400 yards of the house, and at this point makes its
nearest approach to the divide, and as at the same time it
cannot be more than 200 feet lower, to divert its waters into
the Yarra basin would not be a difficult engineering feat. Our
route led down to the stream, embowered in a wealth of stately
Silver Wattles, Acacia dealbata, with hazel, musk, lomatia, panax,
and other shrubs. We had hardly crossed the stream, some 15
feet wide, on a footbridge of two springy saplings, when one of
the party called attention to a lilac-flowering shrub not far from
the road, which in the distance seemed to be surrounded by a
blue haze. Quickly making for it, we were all delighted with its
charming appearance when viewed at closer range. It proved to
be one of the mint-bushes, Prostanthera melissijolia, and surely
may be regarded as one of the gems of the Victorian bush.
Needless to say the tree suffered to some extent in being robbed
of some of its flowering branches. Continuing on, our road
gradually ascended, leaving the river in dense scrub down below
on our right. The scrub was very thick on either hand, and in
it numerous birds were to be heard, and occasionally seen ;
among them was the Rufous Fantail. Coming to a part which
had been cleared, but where there were numerous tree-fern
stems still standing, it was interesting to note that many of them
were acting as hosts for other plants. Perhaps the most frequent
parasite was Pittosporum bicolor, often called " Cheesewood."

146 THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

We soon came to big timber again, and on one of the
trees was a notice — " Sylvia Falls, i mile," but the track,
which had suffered from a recent fire, and also owing to the
operations of timber-getters, was hard to find. However,
we determined to work down to the stream, and found a
wealth of mountain vegetation, such as the Native Pepper,
Drimys aromatica, the Native Mulberry, Hedycarya Cunning-
hami, the Sassafras, Atherosperma moschatum, the Musk,
Aster argophyllus, and the Beech, Fagus Cunninghaini. Of
the latter we were able to secure a number of seedlings, and a
package of about thirty was sent to the Botanic Gardens on our
return to town. Here also grew the ferns Lomaria fluviatilis,
Polypodium Australe, &c., with very fine examples of the giant
moss, Dawsonia superba. The orchid, Chiloglottis Gunnii was
noted on the tree-fern stems, and the miniature Irid, Sisyrynchium
pulchellum. Working up stream a little we came to signs of a
camping ground, and found we had reached the Sylvia Creek
junction, but, owing to the position of a large fallen tree, it
appeared as if the creek were the main stream. We turned up
the creek, which came in from the east, and soon came to a
cascade some 12 or 15 feet high, with several smaller ones higher
up. Presently, as the track seemed to stop, we returned the way
we had come, but I have since learned that we did not reach the
most imposing fall, which occurs in the dacite country towards
the head of the creek ; the cascades we saw were occasioned by
ledges of silurian rock. A little exploration about the junction
revealed a magnificent growth of the Umbrella Fern, Gleichenia
Jlabellata, many of the fronds being at least two feet across. As it
was getting late, we turned homewards, and on arrival found that
another member, Mr. R. Kelly, and one of his boys had walked
up from Healesville, vid the Chum Creek, some 12 miles. After
tea three of the party found their way by devious tracks to the
State school, where a lantern lecture illustrating a trip to New
Zealand was given by one of the visitors at the house. This
proved very interesting, but the trouble was to get home again,
as there was no moon, and the bush thereabouts is full of tracks.
However, by the expenditure of the greater part of a box of
matches, they eventually reached the house safely, but certainly by
a different track from that which they had followed on the out-
ward journey.

Sunday morning broke delightfully fine, and a stroll before
breakfast was indulged in. For this we selected another track,
which led up the valley, along the water-race which provides the
domestic supply. Coachwhip-birds made the bush resound with
their whip-like notes, while many other birds flitted about in the
scrub. Some huge trees were again passed, and a few more
bushes of the Prostanthera seen, and some young plants obtained.
Along the race seedling ferns of various kinds were in plenty, and

Feb., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 147

some were removed for home cultivation. A number of mosses
were also secured, but insects were very scarce. After breakfast, as
Mr. Kelly reported that Leptospermttm scoparium was blooming
well in the lower country, we determined to try in that direction
and see if any beetles were to be caught, but we spent too much
time on top of the range stripping bark and turning logs, with
poor results owing to the dry weather. Then we turned down
into a hollow which afterwards became a fern-gully, the head of
the western branch of Chum Creek. Here among the tree-ferns
grew some fine specimens of Asplenium iimbrosum, but the
descent was too rough, so we worked out on to the hillside, but
little of interest was noted before we returned to lunch. Insects
were extremely scarce, though a number of Painted Lady butter-
flies, Pyrameis Kershawi, were flying about the brilliant yellow
blossoms of a fine growth of Senecio dryadens.

In the afternoon another attempt was made on the Chum
Creek valley, and with better success. Taking a spur forming the
western boundary of the eastern branch, we soon got into a por-
tion of the Victoria State Forest, and presently the whole hillside
was a perfect flower garden. The deep orange flowers of
Pultencha Gunnii were chiefly responsible for the gay scene, but
Grevillea alpina (scarlet), Eriostemon correifolius (lemon),
Teiratheca ciliata (pink), Comespermum volubile (pink), and
Goodenia ovata (yellow) added other tints to the wayside.
Various acacias and Epacris impressa had been very fine earlier
in the season, but were now quite over. Crossing the creek, we
came to some poor heathy land with stunted gums, not far from
where Grevillea repens was noted on the Healesville excursion in
January last. Here Dillwynia Jiorihunda (bright brick-red) was
the most prominent flower, with occasionally Grevillea repeats and
Bceckea diffusa. The pure white blossoms of Leptospenrmum
scoparitim were plentiful, but beetles were conspicuous by their
absence. Further on some clumps of the splendid blue Dian/ella
revoluta (Liliacese) added another colour to the scene. A
solitary specimen of the blue orchid, Thelymitra aristata, was
observed. Numbers of the flower-spikes of the smaller grass-tree,
Xa-tithorrhoea australis, were to be seen. Several bushes of
Banksia collina were noted, but the flowers were over. It was
getting late, and as we had a climb of about a thousand feet to
accomplish in a distance of about three miles, we turned home-
ward, taking the track up the western branch of the creek, which
eventually led us to the part we had traversed in the morning.
Great patches of the fern Blechnum cartilagineum and the Golden
Bracken, Duvallia dubia, were passed, and again Goodenia ovata,
though such a ubiquitous plant, caUed for special admiration.
Growing on a fence, as we returned, was a splendid plant of
Clematis aristata in full bloom, the pleasant perfume of which was
distinctly noticeable many yards away.

148 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVi.

During the early morning a slight shower occurred, but it had

no other effect than to slightly wet the grass. Another early

morning stroll, this time towards the township, showed a fine

growth of the Christmas-tree, Prostanthera lasiantha. at a ford

over the river, and a pretty sight close by was afforded by a fine

growth of Aster stellulatus in full bloom ; in fact, it reminded one

of a snow scene in a pantomime, while here and there the pale

lilac flowers of Prostanthera melissifolia added colour to the

scene. Rambling home by the road along the river revealed a

wealth of vegetation. After breakfast we decided to visit the

"Canoe." The canoe is the burned-out trunk of a large tree

which forms a bridge across the stream, and reminds one of a

blackfellow's canoe. It is situated amidst tree-ferns, Panax,

Zieria, Hedycarya, &c., and the locality proved a good collecting

ground for mosses, &c. A fine beech was growing on the edge

of the stream, but we could not find any more seedlings. A

shrub here puzzled us for a time, but we eventually decided

it was only a form of Panax samhucifolius. Zieria Smithii was

in bloom in many places. The Coral Fern, Gleichenia circinata

was growing up some tea-tree to the height of 15 feet or more,

while all around was a dense growth of Lomaria capensis, var.

procera, its red fronds forming a very distinctive feature. A

pretty group of tree-ferns was easily visible from the road. Being

so near the house, the reserves along the Yea River should for

many years prove handy collecting-grounds for cryptogamic and

other plants. Returning to the house, we began to pack our

belongings, and after lunch five of us started off on the walk to

Healesville vid Myers Creek, some 10 or 12 miles. For about two

miles we went easterly along the divide towards Mt. St. Leonard,

when at the site of an old sawmill we turned southwards along

a track through dense scrub, almost blocked in places by the

shrubs broken down by the winter snowfall. Here again we

passed a beautiful bush of Prostanthera melissifolia. In about

three miles we struck the old tram line, and thenceforward there

was no doubt about our route, for the tram can be followed all

the way to Healesville. The head of Myers Creek was soon

reached, and then our road was all down hill. The upper part

of the valley had suffered severely from fires during recent years,

and we began to fear that the interest of our afternoon's walk

would have been spoiled. At a soakage across the track a fine

group of King Ferns, Osmunda barbara, were just recovering from

their scorch, and some small specimens were removed for home

cultivation. As usual in moist burnt places there was a fine

growth of Marchanlia polymorpha, and along with it Polypodiuin

punctaium, another plant which shows a liking for such situations.

As we descended the scenery improved, and we were soon

admiring hillsides with as fine a variety of foliage as one could

wish to see. A homestead embowered in a group of fine Acacia

Feb., 1910.] TilE VICTORIAN NATURALlSt. l49

penninervis was seen on our right. The Silver Wattles in the
valley were very fine, while very tall eucalypts were plentiful.
Presently an old mill site was passed. The creepers Lyonsia,
Clematis, and Tecoma were seen twining about the shrubs.
Pimelea ligustrina, Grevillea aljnna, Eriostemon correifolius,
Pultencea Gunnii, and other shrubs were noted. At about half-
way a halt was made for a few minutes at the Meyers Falls, and
the scene admired. In another mile or so the higher hills came
to an end, and the creek found its way through flatter country to
join the Watts or Maroondah near the end of the St. Leonard's
road, about i^ miles from Healesville. The creek runs through
country interesting geologically, for here (see " Records of
Geological Survey of Victoria," vol. ii., part 4, page 199) we
were on the junction of the great Mt. Juliet dacite area with the
Silurian, in which one or two isolated granite outcrops occur close
to the creek. We passed a fine lot of Leptospermum scoparium
in full bloom, but it was now too late in the day for beetles. It
was strange that insects were so scarce all through the trip, as
we were in country which should have yielded many varieties.
Healesville was reached about 6.30 p.m. Here we found a great
throng of holiday-makers, and we had to let two special trains go
before we could get a seat. However, town was reached in the
companionship of some friends who had been exploring the new
track recently cut round Mt. Juliet by the Board of Works, so the
time passed pleasantly.

I am indebted to Mr. E. B. Nicholls for the following notes
about the bird-life of the outing. He says : — " During the trip
thirty-eight species of birds were recognized, including the Gang
Gang Cockatoo, of which a fair number were seen, also the King
Lory. Traces of the Black Cockatoo and Lyre-bird were also met
with in some of the gullies. A Red Lory, Platycercus elegans,
was found feeding upon the galls attached to the leaves of young
eucalypts. The rather rare Rufous Fantail was seen in a patch
of tall bracken fern some distance from, water. The Grey Crow-
Shrike (Grey Magpie), Coachwhip-bird, and Sordid Wood-Swallow
were seen, and also the White-fronted Chat, a bird of the coast
and plains. The commonest bird notes were those of the Fan-
tailed Cuckoo, Crescent Honey-eater, and White-throated Thick-
head. The song of the last-mentioned species at this time of year
is particularly good, and the birds themselves, in their rich black
and yellow plumage, rival in their gay appearance even the red-
breasted robins."

The following notes on the Coleoptera, &c., have been handed
to me by Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., of the National Museum.
He says : — " Insects were as a rule scarce, probably due to the
unfavourable climatic conditions. Of Lepidoptera only common
species were seen, and these were not numerous. Ants, however,
were fairly plentiful. Among Coleoptera may be mentioned

150 THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVi.

Notonomus besti, Sloane, and N. peronii, Castel. (Carabidse),
common under logs ; Lissotus howittii (Lucanidse) — good speci-
mens were taken under logs in gullies ; a Staphylinid, Oxytelus, sp.,
was very numerous in Wombat dung, and is new to the Museum
collection ; a rare Tenebrionid, Lepispilus, sp., was also taken.
Other captures were Tyrus, sp. (Pselaphidae), Lissapterus howit-
tanus, Westw. (Lucanidae), Aphodius victorice, Blackb. (Scara-
baeidas), Coripera ocellata, Pasc, Seirotrana, sp. (Tenebrionidtc),
and Centyres sinuatus, Blackb. (Curculionidse). Among land shells
several fine living examples of the Black Snail, Paryphanta
atramentaria, were obtained in the gullies, as well as a species of
Endodonta and a small Helix. Land planarians were by no
means common, still five or six species were taken, among them
being Geoplana spenceri, G. mediolineata, and G. munda. Of
lizards five species were noted, Hinulioj quoyi being the most
numerous. The only snake seen was a Copperhead, Denisonia
superba, which had effectually done for itself by inserting its head
into a hole in a tin kettle, presumably after a lizard, and had then
been unable to withdraw from the awkward position."

To Mr. Reginald Kelly I am indebted for a list of the mosses,
&c., worked out by Mr. J. R. Murdoch, of Mortlake.

Dicranum Menziesii
,, Billardieri
Leucobryum candidum
Polytrichum piliferum
Funaria hygrometrica
Bartramia affinis
Macromitrum pussilum
Hypnodendron arcuatum
,, comosum

Thuidium suberectum

Podomitrium phyllanthus
Metzgeria furcata
Lepidozia pendulina
Polyotus magellanica
Plagiochila strombifolia

Mosses.

Meteorum limbatum
Hookeria nigella
Leptostomum inclinans
Hypnum cupressiforme

,, ,, var.

, , , , var .

,, extenuatum
Ptychomnion aciculare
Cempylopus introflexus
Bryum — several

IIepatics.

Plagiochila deltoidea
Chiloscyphus coalitus
Gymnantha deplophylla
Symphogyna flabellata

The excursion to Toolangi, if not productive of many unique
specimens, was, at any rate, enjoyable and full of interest, and
might be repeated at no distant date. For those who wish to
see big trees the locality can be highly recommended, but to
naturalists it was sad to see the destruction of forest giants going
on in every direction. Further, a visit to Myers Falls would make
a suitable one-day outing in the spring if arrangements were made
to be driven from and to Healesville (six miles each way), and I
think would reveal a luxuriance and variety of vegetation which
would be a surprise to many members of our Club. — F. G. A.
Barnard.

FcIj., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 151

THROUGH THE BRISBANE RANGE.

By J. G. O'DoNOGHUE and P. R. H. St. John.

{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 11th Jan., 1910.)

In daytime, as the train traverses the broad expanse of treeless
plain between Melbourne and Bacchus Marsh, the traveller is
afiforded, at many points, a distant glimpse, away to the south-
west, of the long, low, undulating bulk of the Brisbane Range.
A much nearer view is obtained as the labouring engines, in
negotiating the steep gradient leading from Bacchus Marsh to
the basaltic table-land separating the Werribee and Parwan valleys,
cross the high pile-bridge near the Rowsley State school.
Transient though the view may be, it suffices to demonstrate that
the range rises abruptly from a level plain, and that it presents a
somewhat monotonous contour. Situated almost in the middle
of the triangle formed by Melbourne, Geelong, and Ballarat, and
though fairly accessible, the Brisbane Range is unknown even by
name to the majority of people. Some folk can claim a nodding
acquaintance with it, and others a more familiar knowledge.
Margined by large estates, particularly on the seaward slopes,
consisting for the greater part of inferior pastoral country,
presenting no physical features calculated to excite the curiosity
of the sight-seer, and not being in the line of direct communica-
tion between townships of any importance, the range is seldom
traversed. Within the past four years I have crossed it on at
least ten occasions, at various hours of the day and night, and
once only was a wayfarer encountered.

From remarks made respecting the varied vegetation to be met
with in this elevated tract of country, my fellow-member, Mr. P.
R. H. St. John, expressed a desire to visit it on a botanizing
expedition, so arrangements towards the realization of this
aspiration were soon made, and, despite the Government Meteor-
ologist's forecast of rain and high winds from the north-west, we
left Melbourne by the 7.40 a.m. train for Bacchus Marsh on
Friday, ist October, on a tour of three days' duration.

The morning was an ideal one, and as the train steamed across
the plain to our destination, the profusion of wild flowers in the
railway reserve engendered an expectation of a generous harvest
on the range, which at Deer Park showed up prominently to the
south-west. Bacchus Marsh was reached at 9 a.m., and five
minutes later, with burdened shoulders, we were shaping a course
for the Rowsley pile-bridge.

Our route lay over land timbered with the Grey and Yellow Box
— Eucalyptus heiniphloia and E. melUodora — with the She-oak,
Casuarhia stricta, and profusely carpeted with native and exotic
plants by reason of one of the most favourable seasons known
locally for years. Among other flowers noticed Microseris
Forsteri, Diuris maculata, Glossodia major, Hyjjoxis glabella,

152 fHE VICTORIAN NATtJRALlSt. [Vol. XxVt.

Wurmbea dioica, Cymhanotus Lawsonianus, Brachycome ciliare,
Ranunculus lappaceus, Leeuwenhoekia dubia, Erechtites arguta,
and Craspedia Richea were unusually abundant. Crossing the
railway for the second time above the Rowsley station, we struck
the Parwan Creek and journeyed along the left bank for some
distance, noting on the way numbers of robust specimens of the
introduced Cape Spurgewort, Euphorbia lathyris, and a fine tree
of the Twisted Acacia, A. implexa, in full bloom. Hereabouts
numerous representatives of the feathered tribe had congregated,
and were enlivening the woodland with their varied calls.

Directly in our course some fifty Sulphur-crested Cockatoos
were observed feeding amongst a growth of Cape-weed, Cryptos-
temma calendulaceum. We succeeded in approaching within
two chains before being detected by the birds, which took wing
with loud screeches of alarm ; the sentinel, who had evidently
been asleep at his post in the Yellow Box tree under which we
passed, making up for his neglect of duty by pronounced
vociferousness. An inspection of the spot where the birds were
foraging revealed the fact that they had been feeding on the bulb
of the Victorian Crocus, Hypoxis glabella. Another, but smaller,
flock met with at the foot of the Brisbane Range on the return
journey on Sunday was also found to be levying heavy toll on
that small yellow-flowered plant. The ground over which the
birds had operated appeared as if it had been scarified.

The foothills were gained about 1 1 a.m., the prevailing timber
on this portion of the basalt area being Eucalyptus hemiphloia,
E. melliodora, E. sideroxylon, E. jyolyanthemos, Casuarina stricta,
and Acacia melanoxylon. About noon a fine sheet of water
known as the sheep-wash dam was reached. Here, as previously
determined, a halt was made for lunch, and whilst the water in
the billy was attaining boiling point we turned our attention to
bird-life in the neighbourhood, and in a very small area noted the
White-fronted Heron, Pied Cormorant, Spotted-sided Finch,
White-throated and Brown Tree-creepers, Black-faced Graucalus,
Pipit, Restless Flycatcher, Mistletoe-bird, and several species of
honey-eaters. Whilst lunching, a Grebe paddled up from the
embankment of the dam, against a stiff breeze and choppy water,
to gaze inquiringly at us, but as a portion of one of the Melbourne
daily papers, with suggestions therein to combat " our greatest
peril," started on a frolic, the bird left for home very hurriedly,
most of the way under water.

Our journey was resumed an hour later, and shortly after the
limit of the basalt was reached, and the Silurian formation, with
its distinctive vegetation, entered upon. A few chains sufficed to
reveal a wealth of flowers and flowering shrubs. Orchids were
particularly in evidence. The purple Glossodia major occurred in
countless thousands, and, with Pterostylis curta and P. mitaiis,
Diuris maculata, and the composite Microseris Forsieri, margined

Feb., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 153

the track and stretched far back into the recesses of the timber.
With them abounded Pultencea daphnoides, Dillwynia cineras-
cens, Tetratheca ciliata, T. erici/olia, Hibbertia acicularis, H.
stricta, Daviesia corymbosa, Veronica ferfoliata^ Aster {Olearia)
jnmeleoides, A. teretifolia, Styphelia hwmifusa, and the white and
pink varieties of the Native Heath, E'pacris invpressa ; the rich
golden yellow o{ Acacia p'ycnantha cox\\.ra.simg to advantage with
the paler yellow of A. acinacea and A. aspera, these in turn
with the Tetretheca and Veronica and the two species of the Native
Daisy tree, the whole exhibiting a luxuriance of growth and
flowering splendour that only a congenial spring can promote.

Selecting specimens of each of the flowers and flowering shrubs
mentioned, we pushed on towards Beremboke, with increasing fore-
bodings as to the continuity of fine weather. The domain of the
Grass-tree, Xanthorrhoea australis, was next reached, and soon
the slopes of the valleys on our right and left were thickly clad
by numberless specimens of this uncouth growth. No inflor-
escence was observed, though a few plants had begun to develop
their flower-spikes. Presently, in the midst of a tropical down-
pour of rain, when our feelings were down to zero, the rare
Boronia polygalijolia, var. anemoni folia, and Prostanthera hirtula
were simultaneously discovered, and shortly after Grevillea
aquifolium and the red-flowered variety of Correa speciosa. The
parasitic Cassytha melantha was often noted, twining on the
dwarf eucalypts and other shrubs. So far as our observation
extended in the journey through the range, the various flowers
and flowering shrubs existed in great abundance, while the Grey
Box and the two iron-barked gums, Eucalyptus sideroxylon and
E. leiicoxylon, were flowering freely. To the banquet so lavishly
spread by nature the honey-eaters had gathered in force.
They were to be seen everywhere, and the welkin rang con-
tinuously with their varied calls.

Years ago the Mallee-Hen inhabited the recesses of the range,
but was either exterminated by the settlers or retired to remoter
localities as the environs of its habitat were selected.

About 4 p.m. the first glimpse of the raammaloid bulk of Mount
Wallace was obtained. A few minutes later we crossed a shallow,
grassy depression, that defined the boundary of the Silurian and
Basaltic formations. This depression constituted the head of the
Little River. The change was strikingly apparent. The Silurian,
with its recurring hill and valley and its dense and varied vegeta-
tion, had suddenly ended, and had been succeeded by a level
plain supporting isolated, gnarled specimens of the Blackwood,
Acacia melanoxylon. The soil was fertile, and nourished a
luxuriant growth of rye and the so-called Rib-grass, Plantago
lanceolata, while struggling for existence against these two exotics
were Erodium cygnorum and E. cicutarium, Claytonia Austral-
asica, Hypoxis glabella, Wurmbea dioica. Ranunculus lajjjmceus,

154 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Microseris Forsteri, Diuris pedunculata, Brachycoine decipiens,
and other native plants. Journeying south for two miles further
across the plain, we at length reached our destination — the
residence of Mr. H. Cameron, where we were cordially welcomed.
It had been our intention to journey to Steiglitz, about eight
miles to the south-west, the following day, stay there that night,
and make an early start on Sunday for Parwan, vid Anakie and
Staughton Vale, to enable us to catch the 7 p.m. train from
Bacchus Marsh, while the magnitude of this task was to be
further increased by our proposal to ascend one of the mammaloid
points of eruption situated between the granite outcrop at Anakie
and the You Yangs ; but, yieldmg to the generous desire of our
host, we decided to forego our purpose, and to make his residence
the base of our investigations on the following day.

About half-past eight on Saturday morning, accompanied by
Mr. Cameron, who is a keen observer of nature, we struck south,
and, again crossing the sharply defined junction of the Basalt and
Silurian formations, entered a dense forest of Messmate and
Stringy-bark, U. ohliqua and E. tnacrorrhyncha. Passing along an
anticline, from whose eastern slope an affluent of the Little River
starts, we were soon in interesting country. Here, as on the
range further north the previous day, the honey-eaters were to be
seen and heard on every side amid the blossom-bedecked foliage
of Eucalyptus polyanthemos, E. ohliqua, E. sideroxyloii, and E.
macTorrhynclia.

Following the Little River, which has eroded its channel across
the basalt edge of the Silurian strata, we approached within a
mile of the plains at Staughton Vale, collecting, among other
specimens, Myoporwn viscosicm, M. deserti, Bursaria spinosa,
Leptospermum lanigerum, Caladenia carnea, Clematis niicrophylla,
and Exocarpus cupressiformis.

The strata hereabouts are vertical, the strike being, as is usually
the case with the primary or Palaeozoic formation in Victoria,
north, or a little to the east or west of north. The anticlinal and
synclinal undulations were sharp and numerous, and served to
demonstrate the enormous plication to which these ancient sedi-
mentary deposits had been subjected. Outcrops of quartz were
often encountered, but no auriferous specimens rewarded repeated
search. The trend of the gullies coincided with the strike of the
strata, the eastern slope being invariably clothed with luxuriant
grass and plants, whilst the western was noticeably barren, the
cause being probably due to the sun's rays striking more directly .
and with greater power on the latter than on the former.

Quitting the river, we bore south-west through grass-tree country
towards the Geelong Reservoir reserve. On entering the reserve
Grevillea floribunda was found in abundance, and again the red
variety of Correa speciosa. The contrast of the vegetation within
the reserve and that on the adjacent land was very marked.

Feb., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 155

Here TeAratheca ciliata showed everywhere in large blotches of
colour, as did the red and white Epacris and various acacias.

Returning to Mr. Cameron's about noon, after dinner we again
set out in the direction of the reservoir, noting on the way a fine
specimen of the Victorian Hemp-bush, Plagianthns pulchellus,
in full bloom. On entering the reserve in the neighbourhood of
several large swamps, the ground was found to be simply carpeted
with Tetratheca. So dense and tall was the growth of this plant
that it could have been mown in swathes, and when the mass of
blossom billowed under the breeze the effect presented can be
easier imagined than described. Nodding plumes of Dillwynia
cinerascens were also in evidence, whilst in and along the margin
of the swamps thousands of the large white flowers of the Aus-
tralian Daisy, Brachycome cardiocarpa added their tribute of
beauty to the scene. The contrast of mauve, green, yellow, and
white was very attractive. Later in the spring, when the Brachy-
come has passed away, the Marsh Buttercup, Limnanthemtim
exaltatum (Gentianeae), will unfold its chrome-yellow flowers to
the traveller's gaze.

Amid these delectable surroundings, with but a small mound
and a rough weather-beaten slab to mark the spot, lies the
mouldering remains of " somebody's darling," whose name even
to the oldest inhabitant is a matter of speculation.

Following up the valley, down which the overflow from the
reservoir runs, we 'found it invested with Leptospermum lan-
igerum and Acacia verticillata. Pterostylis nutans and curta
were plentiful hereabouts, while Indigojera australis was occa-
sionally met with. On reaching the reservoir, which is pic-
turesquely situated, we found it filled to its utmost capacity, the
gauge at the tower registering a depth of 57 feet.

As there were palpable indications of a " dirty " afternoon we
did not deem it advisable to wander further afield. Bearing
north-east we hastened homewards, discovering on the way the
nests of the Brown Kingfisher, Crimson Lory, and the Scarlet-
breasted Robin.

We were early astir on Sunday morning, and as the driving
rain swept past our bedroom window we speculated on our con-
dition if the weather failed to moderate ere the score of miles
that separated us from the Parwan station were traversed.
Shortly before 9 a.m. the weather cleared sufficiently for us to
begin the " home stretch." Accompanied by our host, we struck
due east across a clear and wind-swept basaltic plain, and,
descending a steep slope, found ourselves in the shelter of the
timber growing on the Silurian formation. Here, as on other
parts of the range, the ravages of the larvae of the Cup or Slug
Moth, Doratijera vulnerans, on the foliage of the dwarf gums
were very noticeable. About 10 o'clock we reluctantly bade
adieu to Mr. Cameron, and hastened on, in the midst of driving

156 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

showers. The acacias along our route were greatly in evidence,
and among them A. aspera, A. myrtifolia, A. Mitchelli, A. oxy-
cedrus, A. acinacea, A. tenuifolia, and A. armata were noted.
Pulieruea dapknoides, Platylohium Jormosum, Styphelia virgata,
S. glacialis, and Grevillea aquifolium were also conspicuous
amid the heath and grass-trees. About ri o'clock we reached
one of the highest points on the range, where years ago consider-
able effort had been expended in testing one or more auriferous
lodes. The view hereabouts, seawards and to the north-east, on
a clear day should be an extensive one.

Descending the northern slope of this point, we ascended the
acclivity opposite, and,, crossing a saddle, again descended into a
small valley embouching on to the plain. In the final descent
the uncommon Phyllanthus thymoides was gathered. The trend
of the valley was east and west, and presented a series of
charming views. On its southern slope Xanthorrhcea australis,
EtLcalyptus polyanthemos, and Pteris aquilina flourished, to the
exclusion of other species of vegetation, whilst the northern
declivity supported the Xanthorrhcea, Acacia pycnantha, the fern
Chilianthes tenuifolia, and eucalypts E. polyanthemos, E. hemi-
folia, E. leucoxylon, and E. elceophora. The banks of the small
gully which meandered through the valley were margined by
Correa speciosa and extensive growths of Helichrysum sernipap-
posum. Here, amongst the dwarf specimens of eucalypts. Glycine
clandestina was found twining in profusion, and also, as is usual
in such situations. Clematis microphylla. Here, too, numerous
representatives of the feathered tribe were noted. Quilting the
interesting country at the foot of the range, we headed east across
the plain, traversing many patches of Eutaxia empetrifolia, whose
orange-red inflorescence enlivened the green sward. At noon we
halted for lunch beside a waterhole in which was a family of Wood-
Duck, male and female and twelve young.

A striking topographical feature, which the wayfarer will not
fail to observe, is the numerous shallow depressions of varying
area on the basaltic plain hereabouts. They are invariably
margined by angular flakes of bog-iron ore, the oxide being
derived probably from the disintegration of the basalt, and
nourish to a lesser or greater extent sturdy specimens of Poly-
gonum Cunninghamii or " Lignum." In several of these swamps
we found the Nardoo plant, Marsilea quadrifolia, the spores of
which the ill-fated Burke and Wills were compelled to use for
food.

During the remainder of our journey the usual plants found on
the plains were met with, chief amongst these being Gnaphalodes
uliginosa. The Geelong-Bacchus Marsh road was reached in
the neighbourhood of Mr. Dan Green's residence, about three
miles south of Parwan railway station.

Hereabouts on either side of the road are two large depressions.

Feb., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 157

That on the east is still in its natural condition, overgrown with
Polygonum and large gums, whilst that on the west nourished
a heavy crop of oats. At one time these depressions were
invariably filled with water, and were favourite resorts for wild-
fowl. Some years ago, when both swamps were filled to their
utmost capacity, a large circular hole suddenly formed in the road-
way. Into this aperture the water from the western swamp
quickly drained, making in its transit to the subterranean channel
a loud, rushing sound. Since then no water has collected in the
depression, which, as previously stated, is now under cultivation.
The exact site of this area of subsidence may still be determined.
In the eastern swamp a deep circular hole may be seen, which
would appear to show that a precisely similar occurrence happened
there, with like results. The formation is volcanic, and what is
undoubtedly a large extinct crater is situated at no great distance.
From a well sunk in the neighbourhood clear, sparkling water is
obtained, but it is far too saline for stock or for irrigation
purposes.

Mr. Green, at whose residence we rested for several hours,
kindly drove us to the Parwan station, where twenty minutes'
shivering disquietude were passed before our train arrived.

Despite occasional showers and the prevailing boisterousness
of the wind, the trip, though not so extensive as we had at first
contemplated, was, on the whole, an enjoyable and an interesting
one, and if the country traversed presented no striking physical
features, or the vegetation it nourished failed to compare in
variety and luxuriance with that to be met with in less remote
spots, there was nevertheless some latent charm about it which
gratified our natural instincts and afi"orded us the liveliest interest
while wandering through its solitary wastes.

The following list of the birds noted during the trip may be
useful for reference, and numbers fifty-nine species : —

Blue Wren
Black Duck
Black-faced Graucalus
Black-throated Grebe
White-fronted Heron
Wood-Duck

White-breasted Cormorant
Nankeen Kestrel
Brown Hawk
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Crimson Lory
Rosehill Parrakeet
Brown Kingfisher
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Pallid Cuckoo
Narrow-billed Cuckoo

Black-and- White Swallow
House-Swallow
Wood-Swallow
Brown Flycatcher
White-shafted Flycatcher
Black-and-White Flycatcher
Restless Flycatcher
Spotted Ground-bird
VVhite-browed Babbler
White-fronted Chat
Reed- Warbler
Striated Tit
Yellow-rumped Tit
White-fronted Scrub-Wren
Harmonious Thrush
Magpie-Lark

158

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXVI.

White-backed Magpie
Crested Shrike-Tit
White-throated Thickhead
Rufous-breasted Thickhead
Orange-winged Sittella
White-throated Tree-creeper
Brown Tree-creeper
Silver-eye
Mistletoe-Swallow
Orange-tipped Pardalote
Spotted Pardalote
Lunulated Honey-eater
Spinebill Honey-eater
White-eared Honey-eater

White-plumed Honey-eater
New Holland Honey-eater
Crescent Honey-eater
Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater
Noisy Miner (Minah)
Red Wattle-bird
Ground-Lark
Spotted-sided Finch
Red-browed Finch
Raven

White-winged Chough
Scarlet-breasted Robin
Hooded Robin

ON THE NEST AND EGGS OF THE LARGE-TAILED
GRASS-WREN, AMYTIS MACBUEUS, GouLb.

By Alfred J. North, C.M.B.O.U.. C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist to
the Australian Museum, Sydney.*
(With plate.)
{Read before the Field Naturalists' Clnb of Victoria^ 11th Jan., 1910.)
Mr. George Masters, Curator of the Macleay Museum, at the
University of Sydney, informed me that on one occasion many
years ago while collecting in south-western Australia on behalf
of the Trustees of the Australian Museum he met with a small
flock oi Amytismacrurus in the scrub, bobbing up and down like
tennis balls as they hopped over the ground only a few yards
away from him. Having his gun heavily loaded for wallaby, he
did not fire, and the opportunity to secure this species did not
present itself to him again. Until recently this was the only
instance I knew of anyone meeting with the bird since Gould
described it.

Of comparatively recent years, however, this species has been
obtained, if Aniytis gigantura, Milligan, the Amytornis inegalurus
of Sharpe, be identical with it (I have pointed out elsewhere the
discrepancy in Gould's dimensions of Amytis macrurus in his
original description in the " Proceedings of the Zoological
Society " and his " Handbook to the Birds of Australia " f),
while Mr. Tom Carter described it later under the name of
Amytwnis varia.

During 1909 Mr. Chas, G. Gibson, Assistant Government
Geologist of Western Australia, sent me skins of Amytis
macrurus, collected near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and at
various times since 29th August, 1909, sent me information
relative to finding its nests and eggs. Three sets of their eggs

* Contributions from the Australian Museum, by permission of the Trustees.
tHorn. Exped. Centr. Aust.— Zool., p. 81 (1896).

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST—Vol. XXVI.

Plate iv.

February, 19 lo.

NEST AND EGGS OF LARGE-TAILED GRASS-WREN

( Amytis macritrus, Gould).
Photo, by C. 6. Gibson.

Feb., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 159

have just been received for description, accompanied by a
photograph taken by Mr. Gibson of the nest and eggs in sitit, and
with the following field notes : —

" With regard to the finding of the nests of the Large-tailed
Grass-Wren {Amytis 'tnacrtirus), the first was made on 29th
August, 1909, as I was working througli a clump of thick bush,
when one of the birds suddenly flew out of a thick prickly bush
just in front of me; investigation revealed, much to my delight,
a nest right in the centre of the bush containing three slightly
incubated eggs. This nest was about two feet from the ground.
Next day I visited a similar clump of brush where I had noted a
pair of birds a couple of weeks previously, and within ten minutes
had dropped across a nest in an almost identical position ; this
nest was apparently just ready for eggs, and on returning in four
or five days I was, to put it mildly, somewhat disgusted to find
two broken eggs under the nest, evidently the work of a lizard.
However, in about a fortnight's time I had the satisfaction of
finding the nest of the same pair of birds in a very similar
position not a hundred yards from the original spot. In the
meantime I had visited the scene of the original find and again
obtaineii a set of three eggs in a similar bush about twenty yards
from the first one ; this was the last I saw of this pair of birds.
The scene of the second find was a small thicket, extending some
40 chains by 20 chains, about 4 miles out of Kalgoorlie. I visited
the spot regularly al)out every fortnight, with the results shown.
The skin sent was from here, and apparently one of the third
pair. In every case the new nest was found within a hundred
yards of the original one and generally in a very similar position.
There were three pairs of birds in this thicket, but I could not
locate the third nest; I doubt if the birds built. In every case
the nests were left for a day or two after the two eggs were laid,
so that the clutches are complete. The bush in which the photo-
graphed nest is situated was opened out so as to enable the
photograph to be taken. A similar nest taken 80 miles east of
Laverton early in November, 1905, contained one addled egg
and a small young bird ; the egg was very similar to those of the
set of three.

" The following are the dates of taking nests : —

1909.

* 29th August, with 3 eggs, slightly incubated ... ....\Same pair birds,

14th September, 3 eggs, fresli ... ... .../sets very similar.

i6th St-ptember, 2 eggs, slightly incubated ... ..."

29th September, 2 eggs, fresh .. ... ... Same pair birds,

* I2th October, 2 eggs, fresh (i egg marked on small end),.. - all sets of eggs
In addiiioi), 30th August, nest nearly built, 2 broken very similar.

eggs under nest, 4 days later ... ... ...J

This pair of birds very tame (near nest), others usually extremely shy.

* Sets sent for description.

160 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

29th September, 2 eggs, slightly incubated ... ..A

* I2th October, 2 eggs, fresh (see Plate IV.) ... ... I Same pair birds,

24th October, 2 eggs, very slightly incubated ( i egg [sets very similar,

addled) ... ... ... ... ...j

" The birds are usually found in thick brush thickets, rarely in
the open.

" The nest is the usual bulky grass structure, with very little
' roof.' The entrance is near the top, and is large, the eggs
being plainly visible from outside ; no lining beyond fine grasses
is used in the nest. The lower part of the nest is strongly made,
but the upper part is very loosely put together (see Plate IV.)

" The nest is usually placed in the centre of a low, thick bush,
and varies from i to 2j/^ feet from the ground. The nest
photographed was about 12 inches from the ground."

Of the nine nests found, seven contained sets of two eggs in
each, some of them being slightly incubated ; the remaining two
nests (sets of three eggs in each), one slightly incubated, the other
fresh. As Mr. Gibson points out, two pairs of birds yielded three
sets of eggs, the laying season, doubtless owing to their being
robbed, extending from the 29th August to the 24th October,
1909, inclusive. The eggs vary from rounded oval to somewhat
lengthened oval in form, the shell being close-grained, smooth,
and lustrous. Typically they are white, or of a very faint reddish-
white ground colour, over which are sprinkled dots and small
irregular-shaped spots and a few blotches of rich red or purplish-
red, and having similar, but fewer, underlying markings of
lilac-grey, all of them being more thickly disposed towards the
larger end, where they are confluent, and assume the form of an
irregular zone. A set of three eggs, taken on the 29th August,
measure — (a) 0.78 x 0.63 inches 3 (b) 0.79 x 0.64 inches;
(c) 0.78 X 0.63 inches. A set of two taken from the nest
photographed, on the 12th October, measure — (a) 0.91 x
0.65 inches ; (b) 0.93 x 0.65 inches. An unusually coloured set,
differing from any eggs I had seen of Amytis, are of a salmon-red
ground colour, sparingly sprinkled over one specimen, but
numerous on the other, with dots and small irregular spots of a
darker shade of the ground colour, the latter having a broad
clouded band of a still darker hue, shaded with purple, on the
larger end, and the former a similar band around the smaller
end of the shell. These eggs measured — (a) 0.87 x 0.65
inches ; (b) 0.87 x 0.66 inches.

Typical eggs of Amylis macrurus resemble in colour and
markings lightly marked eggs of Cinclorhamphus rufescens ;
the last described set more resemble the eggs of Meliphaga
phrygia.

The accompanying plate is the first which has been published
of the nest of any species of Amytis.

* Set sent for description.

Cbe Uictorian naturalist

Vol. XXVI.— No. 11. MARCH 10, 1910. No. 315.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th February, 19 10.

The president, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, occupied the chair,
and about 60 members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to West Warburton, from Saturday to
Monday, 29th to 31st January, was given by the leader, Mr. A.
D. Hardy, F.L.S., who said that the locality of the excursion,
which was originally fixed for Gilderoy, vid Yarra Junction, had
to be altered to West Warburton, owing to all the accommoda-
tion at the former place having been taken up. The first day
had been spent in the lower country along the banks of the
Yarra ; on the next day the valley of the Dee was visited, and
the high range at its source, about 3,350 feet above sea level,
ascended. On the way up a fine beech grove had been passed
through. A number of interesting plants had been met with, and
the locality was a good one for those who wished to obtain
seedlings of native plants for home cultivation. On the last day
the Britannia Creek district was visited, which presented vegeta-
tion of quite a different character. Altogether an interesting
outing was spent, though, probably on account of the dry weather,
bird and insect life seemed to be very scarce.

A report of the excursion to Port Melbourne Beach on Saturday,
r2th February, was forwarded by the leader, Mr. C. J. Gabriel,
who said that there had only been a small attendance, members
apparently judging that the afternoon's results would not be very
remarkable. They had, however, found sufficient types of shells
to form the foundation for a half-hour's chat, and he had called
attention to some interesting facts — notably, the enormous in-
crease in recent years of the bivalve Spisula joarva, Petit, which
at one time was rarely found nearer Melbourne than the mud-
banks towards the Heads. He also gave some account of the
life-histories of the wood-boring molluscs, so destructive to jetties
and other marine structures. The only plants noticed in bloom
near the shore were Mesembryanthenium australe and Frankenia
Icevis. In order that members might see what shells may be
found on Port Melbourne Beach, especially after a storm, he
forwarded as an exhibit some of the more notable species.

A report of the junior excursion to Willsmere, Kew, on Satur-
day, 5th February, was given by the leader, Mr. A. D. Hardy,
F.L.S., who said that the excursion had been fairly well attended,

162 THK VICTORIAN NATUKALIST. [\'ol. XXVI.

and great interest in the work had been evinced by the juniors.
The afternoon was devoted to the pond-life to be found in
the lagoons there. Some attention was paid to the aquatic plants,
Ottelia ovalifolia being noted in bloom, others recorded being
Potamogeton natans, F. obtustis, Heleocharis sphacelata, Polygo-
num minus,, P. strigosa, Utricularia Jlexuosa, Triglochin irrocera
and Myriophyllum varicefolium ; with Nitella, sp., Volvox globato7\
and Closterium Ehrenhergi among the lower forms. Animal life
did not seem particularly abundant, but some fine colonies of the
rotifer, Lacinularia pedimculata, were collected.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken. Miss K. Crawford, Motherwell-street,
Hawksburn, was elected an ordinary member, and Miss Flora E.
Daintv, Harold-street, Middle Park, an associate member of the
Club.'

GENERAL BUSINESS.

The president took occasion to welcome to the meeting Mr.
T. Steel, F.C.S., of Sydney, a former member of the Club, and
one still interested in its welfare. Mr. Steel, in thanking the
members for their cordial reception, said that he followed the
Club's doings with interest, by means of the Naturalist, every
month, and was pleased to notice its steady advancement. He
desired to convey the good wishes of the New South Wales
Naturalists' Club, and hoped some of the neglected branches of
natural history would claim their devotees ere long.

The Chairman announced that the resignation of Mr. R. W.
Armitage of the office of assistant hon. secretary and librarian
had been handed in on account of pressure of work, and hoped
someone would come forward to fill the vacancy.

PAPER.

By Mr. C. L. Barrett, entitled "The Birds of Eyre Pen-
insula, South Australia."

This took the form of a lecturette, illustrated by lantern slides
of scenes and incidents connected with the annual camp of the
Australasian Ornithologists' Union, held in October last on Eyre
Peninsula, S.A., where Warunda, inland some twenty miles from
Port Lincoln, was the chosen spot. The locality proved a good
one for birds, and photographs of the nests and eggs of a number
of interesting species were shown on the screen. The Yellow-
banded Parrakeet, Barnardius zonarius, Shaw., often knov/n as the
" Port Lincoln," from the Ipcality, was found not to be so plentiful
as formerly, owing to the expansion of settlement. On a small
island off the west coast pictures were secured of the nesting-
places among the rocks, almost within reach of the waves, of
the beautiful Rock Parrakeet, Neophema petrophila, Old. A

March, 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 1 63

visit was paid to some old kitclien-middens, where a number of
aboriginal implements, such as scrapers, spear-heads, &c., were
secured.

Mr. G. A. Keartland said that even if the Port Lincoln Parrot
was becoming scarce in that district, there was no fear at present
of its extinction, as its range extended through the centre of the
continent towards the west.

Dr. Hall said that it was curious to notice that the islands off
the coast in the vicinity of Port Lincoln had been named by
Flinders after the names of the various farms in the neighbour-
hood of his birthplace in Lincolnshire, England.

Owing to the lateness of the hour, papers by Mr. F. Chapman,
A.L.S., and Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., were postponed.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. J. H. Gatliff drew attention to a list of the land shells of
Australia recently published by Dr. J. C. Cox, of Sydney, a well-
known collector and authority on Australian land shells, and said
that the number of species recorded for Victoria was about nine-
teen, including three introduced species.

Mr. F. Pitcher drew attention to the recent flowering in the
Nymphea Lake in the Botanic Gardens of the Sacred Lotus,
Nelumhiurn sjjeciostim, and said it was probable that further
flowers would expand during the next few weeks.

EXHIBITS.

The following were the principal exhibits : —

By Mr. C. L. Barrett. — Nest and eggs of Tawny-crowned Honey-
eater, Glycyphila melanops, with two clutches in the same nest,
from Mortlock, Eyre Peninsula, S.A. ; grinding stones, quartz
scrapers, &c., from Eyre Peninsula.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Growing fern, Lomaria vulcanica,
from Cradle Mountain, Tasmania.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Victorian shells, representative of species
to be found on Port Melbourne Beach, viz. : — Bivalves. — Chione
disjecta, Perry; C. nilida, Q. and G. ; C. strigosa, Lara.; Area
fasciata, Reeve ; A. trapezia, Desh. ; Tellium deltoidalis, Lam. ;
Soletellina donacioides, Reeve ; Anatina creccina, Reeve ;
Spisida parva, Petit ; Mesodesma nitida, Desh. ; Dosinia circin-
aria, Desh. Univalves. — Nassa labecula, A. Ad. ; JV. pauperata,
Lam. ; N. fasciata. Lam. ; Natica didyma, Chem. ; and N. conica,
Lam.

By Mr. P. R. H. St. John. — Flowers of Eucalyjjtus tetragona,
F. V. M., Western Australia, and Backhousia citriodora, F. v. M.,
Lemon-scented Myrtle, Queensland, grown in Melbourne Botanic
Gardens,

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

164 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

VICTORIAN VEGETATION IN THE MELBOURNE
BOTANIC GARDENS.

By F. Pitcher.

{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, llthJan., 1910.)

It is hardly to be expected that one could find anywhere within
a radius of 2^ miles of the centre of so prosperous a State capital
as Melbourne even the smallest area of land in anything like
the natural condition in which it existed seventy years earlier,
to say nothing of ever hoping to trace within such an area a mass
of vegetation anything approaching the natural condition in which
it existed prior to that time. It may, however, be remarked with
a great deal of pleasure, and to the credit of the persons concerned,
whether they have passed away or are still living, that there are
yet to be seen, within a very short distance of Melbourne, in our
Royal, Studley, Richmond and Yarra parks, numerous specimens
of Eucalyptus, Casuarina, and Acacia, now, perhaps, of very
limited species, which serve to indicate, in part, the character of
the natural vegetation which existed on the site of our city prior
to its discovery and subsequent settlement. In addition, there
yet remain to-day along the banks of the River Yarra, on which
our city is built, and its tributary creeks, within a very short
distance of the metropolis. Acacia, Bursaria, Melaleuca, and
other plants in their natural condition, which afford additional
evidence of the character of the vegetation which previously
occupied the site of Melbourne and its flourishing suburbs. '

Now, when we consider that in the small area so wisely selected
by the first Lieutenant-Governoi of Victoria, the Hon. Charles
Joseph La Trobe, in 1840 as a Botanic Gardens site, since
increased to about 100 acres, there have been going on continuous
changes and transformations of the surface conditions, such as by
the erection of a stately vice-regal residence in its vicinity ; the
providing of suitable approaches and thoroughfares to and from
the city for its population living in the adjoining southern suburbs ;
the improvements of the course and southern bank of the Yarra,
which forms one of the boundaries of the site ; and, last but not
least, the remodelling and improving of the Gardens themselves
according to the varying ideas of the different directors from time
to time during the period named, it is almost unreasonable to
think that any native vegetation would remain of that which
existed prior to the discovery of the State, yet there are still a few
trees living within our Botanic Gardens vvliich were flourishing on
the site before the advent of the first of our white population.
It is to draw attention to these, with the hope of their being
retained as long as ever possible as memorials of such original
vegetation, that they are here referred to and their condition at
this date mentioned.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.— Vol. XXVI.

Plate v.

March, 1910.

March, 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 165

For a number of years after 1869, when the writer was first
introduced to the office and service of the late Baron von Mueller
by Mr. A. C. Neate, a faithful former official of the Gardens staff
for over 40 years, there remained in the north-eastern portion of
the grounds an island area cut off from the surrounding land by
a narrow strip of the then lagoon waters. This area was densely
covered with the Swamp Tea-tree, Melaleuca erici/olia, which in
many parts was surmounted with the Scrub Vine, Cassytha
melaniha. Clumps of the Sword Rush, Lepidosperma elatius, were
scattered amongst this tea-tree, and several Red Gum trees,
Eucalyptus rostrata, were striking objects in the vicinity, while
around the margins and in the adjoining lagoon-waters were
thriving luxuriantly, in their natural condition, numerous aquatic
plants, including the Native Bulrush, Typha angustijolia. Patches
of the tea-tree are still to be found growing in this locality,
and are shown in the photographs here to-night. These I had
taken some time ago with the object of retaining a remembrance
of tlie existence of this wild corner should those patches be found
to vanish by reason of further artificial alteration of the surface,
or by the requirements of exotic vegetation in their vicinity. In
the photograph reproduced as Plate v., the tea-trees will be
distinctly noticeable on account of their prominent white stems
and umbrella-like heads of foliage. One of the Eucalyptus
rostrata trees referred to still remains, and is known by photog-
raphers and others as the " Artists' Tree," as from near to
it some fine views of the lake, Gardens, and Government
House are frequently photographed and sketched. This area,
of which so few remnants now mark its existence, was for a
number of years a charming piece of natural vegetation, and
might have remained so until now but for alterations deemed
necessary by the authorities and by reason of the Yarra improve-
ments in the vicinity. In the north-west corner of the lake may
still be seen a few isolated plants of the same species of
Melaleuca which existed as part of the lagoon vegetation before
the Gardens were established.

On what is now known as Princes' Lawn, on the western side of
the Gardens, are to be seen two fine specimens of the Red Gum,
Eucalyptus rostrata. These have been silently making life in
their present position throughout the whole history of the
Gardens, and indicate their claim for consideration in connection
with the natural vegetation in existence when the site of the
Gardens was selected. These trees also serve to locate a spot in
their vicinity where over thirty years ago a small zoological
collection, principally monkeys and birds, was situated, and
which no doubt interested some of the then visitors to the
Gardens. These two trees are features of the Princes' Lawn, and
the late Director, Mr. W. R. Guilfoyle, a short time ago, very

166 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

wisely had a quantity of English ivy, which had been planted at
their bases to improve their appearance and had grown up the
trunks, removed, as it was found that such was injuring the
specimens, to their possible early destruction. These trees are
each over 50 feet in height. One of them is much more lateral in
its branching than the other, and the radius of its shade on a bright
day averages a distance of over 40 feet from the trunk.

Another example of the original vegetation on the Gardens
site is the old gnarled and grey-stemmed specimen of the same
eucalyptus, E. rostrata, situated a little easterly from the newly
erected tea kiosk on the southern edge of the Tennyson Lawn.
This specimen, which is known as the " Separation Tree," had,
during the late Director's term of office, on many occasions
appeared to be dying, but by various treatments — sometimes by
surface soakage and other times by drainage — it has been kept
alive, and is to-day more vigorous than on many occasions during
the writer's long and respectful observation of it. It is hoped
that this specimen will be cherished and maintained as long as
possible, and be remembered as having been an old tree when,
on ist July, 185 1, there assembled at its base and under its
foliage a company of people to celebrate the separation of our
present State of Victoria from the mother State of New South
Wales.* Plate vi. is taken from a recent photograph of this tree.

The only other remaining tree which one is able definitely to
point out as having been in existence before the establishment of
the Gardens is a specimen of the Victorian Manna Gum,
Eucalyptus viminalis. It is situated on the Western Lawn, near
the Gardens office. The tree is at present almost entirely covered
with English ivy, which for many years has made it a picturesque
object, but which seems to be effectively, if but slowly,
destroying it. The area in which this tree is located Vt'as formally
included in the Domain.

In addition to these few examples mentioned one may observe
in the Domain and in one or two spots in the Gardens, growing
in a natural state, similar plants to those which originally existed,
such as Bursaria, Casuaiina, Myoporum, Leptospermum, Silver,
Black, and Golden Wattles, Kennedya prostratci, Drosera,
Burchardia, and other smaller plants and grasses. These,
however, are only such as have been self-perpetuated from those
existing previously.

In passing on now to the cultivated Victorian plants which are
to be found growing in the Gardens, some general observations
may be made. While there are so many and varied requirements
which a public botanic garden might reasonably be expected to

* A slight error crept into the recently published guide book to the Gardens,
where it is stated • the assemblage resolved on the separation, instead of met
io celebrate the same.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.— Vol XXVI.

Plate vi.

March, 1910.

RED GUM, EUCALYPTUS ROSTRATA, Schl.
("The Separation Tree," Melbourne Botanic Gardens.)

March, 1910.[ THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 167

serve or meet, one should be to furnish its visitors with examples
of the general types of the flora of the country in which such a
garden is positioned. This may seem a superfluous remark, but
from the experience one has had, both from observation and read-
ing, as well as from the remarks of visitors, the aim of the authorities
of many botanic and other public gardens seems to be to acquire as
large a collection of exotic plants as possible, to the exclusion
of the native flora of the local region or country — a striking proof
of the truth underlying the old adage, which, if varied to suit the
case, would read — " A plant is not without honour save in its own
country." It must not be thought for a moment that I am
claiming this to be a paramount object of a botanic garden, but
visitors from different States and other countries should be
able, for various reasons, to see a fairly good representative
collection of types of a country's vegetation in the principal
botanic gardens of that country, to say nothing of the possible
value to the local residents in having such types grown in cultiva-
tion and their nomenclature displayed. It may be said, however,
with a degree of pride and congratulation, that the late Director
did not exclude suitable indigenous vegetation from the Melbourne
Botanic Gardens, for out of an approximate total of 2,000 species
which constitute the Victorian flora no less than 400 are
to be found in cultivation in the Gardens. This may at a first
thought seem to be a very small proportion, but it has to be
borne in mind that a large number of our indigenous plants, like
those of any other country, are too insignificant for cultiva-
tion, and are of no popular interest whatever, while many others
it would be either impossible or undesirable to grow and
maintain owing to the unsatisfactory reward for the labour which
it would be necessary to bestow on them in the endeavour to do
so. When it is remembered that in the case of many of the 400
distinct species represented there are numerous examples
scattered throughout the grounds, the statement that our native
vegetation has not been neglected in the endeavour to make the
institution educationally interesting, and attractive to visitors in
other directions, will be readily admitted. Hence the collection,
within an area of about 100 acres, of so large a number of plants,
brought from habitats of varying longitudes and latitudes
throughout the State, with the attendant differences in situation
of mountain heights or river or creek valleys, from diversified
soils, from dry or wet positions, from coastal or inland districts,
may be considered fairly satisfactory, especially in view of only
general attention being available for their growth and main-
tainence.

While by far the largest number of Victorian plants are to be
found in the extensive area devoted to Australian vegetation
established by the late Director several years ago, and which

168 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

extends from the office entrance (gate F) along the western,
southern, and portion of the eastern boundary fence to the
reservoir enclosure, numerous specimens are to be seen scat-
tered throughout the whole of the grounds. The two largest
genera in the Victorian flora — Acacia and Eucalyptus — con-
taining respectively about fifty-four and forty species, are repre-
sented in the Gardens collection by no less than thirty-four
species of the former and thirty-six of the latter. In addition to
the good specimens of Eucalyptus botryoides, Mahogany Gum,
observable in and close to the Australian plantation, one very
fine example is to be found on the Hopetoun Lawn. Some good
trees of E. hemiphloia, Common Box, and E. rostrata, Red Gum,
are growing in the border along the Anderson-street boundary
fence, while close together on the margins of the Central and
Eastern Lawns are good examples of E. sideroxylon, Ironbark,
and E. pilularis, Great Blackbutt. Although the majority of
the species of Eucalyptus and Acacia are to be found in the
Australian border, various specimens of Acacia, such as A.
jjycnantha, A. dealbata, A. armata, A. implexa, and A. lunata,
are to be met with in different parts of the grounds, while a
number of them are to be found in the border skirting Govern-
ment House grounds, between the Avenue entrance (gate G) and
the Temple of the Winds. Of the nineteen species of Melaleuca
and Leptospermum genera, both familiarly known as " Tea-trees,"
thirteen species are growing in the Gardens ; of the Callistemon
genus, familiarly known as " Bottle-brushes," five species are in
cultivation of the six found in Victoria. In the remarkable order
Proteaceae, some good specimens of Banksia and other Victorian
genera are to be found in the grouping of that order on the Oak
Lawn. Of the interesting Grevillea genus, nine out of the twenty
native species are in the Gardens. Of the Victorian eleven —
not cricketers, but Hakeas — eleven species are to be found ; and
of the Casuarina or " Sheoak " family, consisting of eight Vic-
torian representatives, four are observable. The only indigenous
member of the order Palmae, Livistona australis, Cabbage Palm,
is to be observed scattered about throughout the whole of the
Gardens, where the numerous specimens were planted for their
distinctive foliage effects. The largest one, over thirty feet in
height, is on the south side of the main pathway which crosses
the fern-ground.

Victorian ferns are to be found, if not in great variety yet in
large numbers, in and about the fern-gully and adjacent area.
Four of the tree-ferns — viz., Dicksonia antarctica, Woolly-
stemmed Tree-fern, Alsophila australis, Hill Tree-fern, Gyathea
medullaris, Black-stemmed Tree-fern, and C. Cun7iingha?ni,
Cunningham's Tree-fern, are there represented. Of the first two
named some hundreds of specimens of varying heights were

March, 1910.] THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 169

selected over twenty-five years ago from Gippsland, and about
five years ago from Fernshaw, by the writer. These still aid in
making the fern-ground a most naturally picturesque and at-
tractive resort. The only two specimens of Cyathea Cunning-
hami, sometimes called the Rat-tail Tree-fern, owing to its thin
stem, are good ones, each about eight feet in height. They were
carried by a friend for several miles on a pack-horse to a Gippsland
railway station and forwarded to the Gardens about four years ago.
Other native ferns growing in the required sheltered positions in
the fern-ground represent different species of the genera Lomaria,
Aspidium, Asplenium, Polypodiura, Blechnum, Pteris, Davallia,
and Todea (Osmunda).

As a complete alphabetical list of the Victorian plants in
cultivation in the Gardens at the present date is appended, it will
not be necessary to further specialize in any way, particularly as
remarks on the growth and culture of Victorian plants in the
Gardens may form the subject of another paper on some future
occasion. In this list each plant is recorded under the scientific
name adopted by Bentham and Mueller in their *' Flora
Australiensis."

The common names have been selected, with the aid of Mr.
W. R. A. Baker, who has charge of the Gardens herbarium, from
the manuscript records used for general plant nomenclature in
the Gardens. These common names, however, must not be
considered to have the sanction of, or in any way prejudice the
work of our Plant Records Committee in the extremely difficult
task it has in hand. At the same time they may be helpful to
and worthy of consideration by the Committee.

By the use of reference letters the character of each plant is
indicated, whether it be a tree, a tall shrub, a shrub, a dwarf
plant, a climber, &c. ; but it must be distinctly understood that
these particulars are only given in the light of the condition
of the plant as in cultivation in the Gardens. There also
is given, as the result principally of my own recording, the
month of flowering of each flowering plant. This, it must also
be pointed out, may prove to be subject to slight variations
owing to differing characters of the same seasons and varying
differences of the localities in which the same plant is to be found.
It will therefore be remembered that this information, however
valuable it may be, has relation to the plants in cultivation in the
Gardens.* This list may also prove of value in encouraging
members to name other plants not included which they may deem
suitable and worthy, for specific reasons, of inclusion in the
Gardens collection, and may even stimulate some to forward such
specimens to the Gardens for culture.

* The months mentioned are those in which the principal flowering occurs,
and may not be the only period of flowering, as the preceding and following
months may find the plant in flower also.

170 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

All has not been done, however, in regard to our native vegeta-
tion in the Gardens that perhaps might have been. It may be
possible to further develop an increasing interest in our native
flora by enlarging the area devoted to AustraHan vegetation in
the Gardens for Victorian species, and in indicating by a specially
tinted label in that plantation all such species, so that they may
be readily observed by visitors ; or by setting apart an additional
area in the vicinity or elsewhere exclusively for Victorian plants.

In order to make this paper of somewhat practical value, I
would like to suggest to my fellow-members and to readers of the
Victoi'ian Naturalist that our native plants should not be over-
looked when planting their estates or city or suburban gardens,
as I hold that for beauty of foliage or flowers (both in many
instances united), effective handsomeness of general appearance,
and capability of ready cultivation with ordinary care and atten-
tion, numbers of such plants cannot be surpassed for the purpose,
and become increasingly valuable for mingling judiciously with
other familiar and desirable exotic vegetation.

To show that a large number of Victorian plants are available
for different purposes of a general gardening character, I append
a series of selections of six species. In each case this has been
made from those which from one's experience of their cultivation
and growth in the Botanic Gardens, as well as observation of
them elsewhere, have either proved or suggested them to be the
best or good typical plants of their kinds and suitable for the
purposes specified. Every selection has been made with a view
to provide species having distinctive characteristics — this in order
to allow of one or more, or even the whole six, being planted, as
considered desirable.

The following are the lists : —

Six Acacias. — A. acinacea, A. discolor, A. lunata, A. myrtifolia,
A. oxycedrus, and A. pycnantha.

Six Eucalypts. — E. amygdahna, E. botryoides, E. hsemastoma,
E. melliodora, E. rostrata, and E. sideroxylon.

Six Ornamental Trees. — Angophora intermedia, Banksia integri-
folia, Callitris cupressiformis, Elaeocarpus cyaneus, Exocarpus
cupressiformis, and Pittosporum undulatum.

Sio: Ornaviental Tall Shrubs. — Nephelium leiocarpum, Bursaria
spinosa, Melaleuca Preissiana, Myrsine variabilis, Tristania laurina,
and Westringia rosmariniformis.

Six Ornamental Flowering Shrubs. — Callistemon lanceolatus,
Calythrix Sullivani, Epacris longiflora, Eriostemon myoporoides,
Prostanthera lasianthos, and Thryptomene Mitchelliana.

Six Smaller Flowering Shrubs. — Bauera rubioides, Bossiaea
cinerea, Grevillea ericifolia, Hibbertia stricta, Leucopogon virgatus,
and Tetratheca ciliata.

Six Plants suitable for Undergrowths, or surface covering of the

March, 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 171

ground. — Kennedya prostrata, Mesembryanthemum gequilaterale,
Myoporum humile, Olearia lamulosa, Plectranthus parviflorus,
and Scsevola suaveolens.

Six Creepers or Climbiny Plants. — Aphanopetalum racemosum,
Clematis aristata or variety Denniste, C. microphylla, Eustrephus
latifolius, Hardenbergia monophylla, and Tecoma australis or
variety Latrobei.

Six Hedge Plants. — Acacia armata, Coprosma Billardieri,
Hakea acicularis, Leptospermum laevig'atum, Myoporum viscosum,
and Pittosporum undulatum.

Six Hardy Ferns for Outdoor Cidtivation (if in sheltered
positions from winds and too much sunlight). — Alsophila australis,
Aspidiurn aculeatum, Blechnum cartilagineum, Davallia dubia,
Dicksonia antarctica, and Lomaria discolor.

My object in placing this paper before you to-night has been
threefold — firstly, to draw attention to the few remaining living
monuments of the native vegetation which existed when the
Botanic Gardens site was selected, in the hope of their further
preservation as long as possible ; secondly, to give as far as
possible a complete list, with particulars, of the fairly large collec-
tion of native plants in cultivation at the Gardens at the present
date ; and, thirdly, to show what a great number of species of our
beautiful native flora can be readily grown near Melbourne, with
a view of urging lovers of plants and gardens not to overlook
the Victorian flora when selecting plants for beautifying and
decorating their home surroundings.

This paper may not have been very entertaining, but if it
helps in achieving the objects mentioned I shall feel amply
rewarded for the labour expended on its preparation.

Alphabetical List of Victorian Plants in Cultivation in the
Melbourne Botanic Gardens, December, 1909.

The initial letters appended to each plant indicate its character as in cultivation
in the Gardens : —

A. P. Aquatic Plant.

S. Shrub.

Ci Climber.

S.P. Small Plant.

D.P. Dwarf Plant.

S.S. Small Shrub.

F. Fern.

T. Tree.

G. Grass.

T.P. Trailmg Plant.

R. Rush.

T.S. Tall Shrub.

Endemic species and varieties are indicated by an asterisk (*).

" Flora AuXirensis." Authority

Common Name in Use rharaotor
in Botanic Gardens. Character.

Months of
Flower-
ing.

cacia acinacea . . . . Lindl.

Governor Latrobe's Acacia . . S.

Aug, Sep

,, armata . . . . R. Br.

Kangaroo Thorn T.S.

Aug. Sep

„ aspera . . - . Lindl.

Rough-leaved Acacia . . . . S.

Sep, Oct

„ brachybotrya . . Bnth.

Silver-leaved Mulga . . . . S.

Sep, Oct

„ calamifolia . . Sweet.

Broom \

Vattle S.

Sep, Oct

172

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXVI.

Acacia dealbata . .

Link.

„ decurrens

Willd.

„ „ var. mollis

—

„ diffusa

Edwds

„ discolor . .

Willd.

„ elongata . .

Sieber

„ farinosa . .

Lindl.

„ hakeoides. .

Cunn.

,, homalophylla

Cunn.

,, irnplexa . .

Benth.

„ juniperina

Willd.

„ leprosa

Sieber

* ,, „ var. elongata

—

* ,, ,, ,, tenuifolia

—

,, linifolia . .

Willd.

„ longifolia . .

Willd.

„ ,, var. soi)hor3e

—

„ ,, ,, floribunda

—

„ lunata

Sieber

„ montana . .

Benth.

,, myrtifolia

Willd.

„ obtusata . .

Sieber

„ Osswaldi . .

F.v.M.

„ Oxycedrus

Sieber

„ penninervis

Sieber

„ pravissima

F.v.M.

„ pycnantha

Benth.

„ retinodcs . .

Schl.

„ salicina . .

Lindl.

„ sclcrophylla

Lindl.

„ stricta

Willd.

„ suaveolcns

Willd.

„ verniciflua

Cunn.

„ verticillata

Willd.

Acaena sanguisorbai

Vahl.

Acronychia IjEvis

Forst.

Acrotrichc serrulata

R. Br.

* ,, ventricosa

Luehm

Adiantum /Ethiopicum . .

Linne

,, formosuin

R. Br.

Alisma Plantago . .

Linne

Alsophila australis

R. Br.

Alyxia buxifolia . .

R. Br.

Ammobium alatum

R. Br.

Angophora intermedia . .

D. C.

Anthistiria ciliata

Linne

Silver Wattle

Black Wattle

Common Black Wattle
Edwds. Spreading Acacia or Pin-bush

Sun.shine Wattle . .

Long-podded Acacia

Mealy Acacia

Hakea-like Acacia

Fragrant Myall

Twisted or White- wood Ac

Prickly Wattle

Australian Hickory

Seville Wattle

Slender- leaved Australian Hickory

Flax-leaved Acacia

Long-leaved Acacia

Spreading Coast Wattle

Many-fiowcred Acacia

Golden Glory Wattle

Mountain Wattle . .

Myrtle-leaved Acacia

Blunt-leaved Acacia

Umbrella-bush or " Nelia

Juniper Wattle

Mountain Hickory

Al])in(^ Wattle

Golden Wattle

Bald Acacia or " Wirilda

Murray River Willow

Hard-leaved Acacia

Upright Acacia or " Berry- Yung "

Sweet-scented Acacia

Varnish Wattle

Whorl-leaved Acacia

Burnet-leaved Sheep Burr
" Bidgee Widgee "

White Brush-wood

Saw-leaved Hair Sepal or Ground-
berry
Luehm. Warted Ground-berry

African Maiden-bair Fern

Beautiful Maiden-hair Fern

Water Plantain

Hill Tree Fern

Heath Box . .

Winged Everlasting Flower

Aphanopetalum resinosum Endl.

Spurious Native Apple Tree
Common Kangaroo Grass
Gum Vine . .

Apium australe
Aspidium aculeatum

„ capensc

„ decompositum
Asplenium flabellifolium .

„ Nidus

umbrosum

Thouars Australian Celery
Swartz Scrub P\'rn
Willd. Cape Shield Fern . .
Swartz Common Shield Fern
Cav. Fan-leaved Spleenwort
Linne Bird's-nest Fern . .
J. Sm. Shady Spleenwort

Astroloma conostephioides F.v.M. Flame Heath

T.
T.
T.

S.

T.S.

S.

S.

s.

T.
T.

S.
T.S.
T.S.
T.S.

S.

T.S.
T.S.
T.S.
T.S.

S.

s.
s.
s.
s.
s.
s.

T.

s.

T.

S.

s.
s.
s.
s.

D.P.

T.S.

s.s.
s.s.

F.

F.
A.P.

F.

S.
D.P.

T.

G.

C.
D.P.

F.

F.

F.

F.

F.

F.

S.

Aug, Sep
Nov, Dec
Nov, Dec
August
Apl, May
Jly, Aug
Sep
July
Sep

Jan, Feb
Aug, Sep
Sep
Sep
Sep
March
Aug, Sep
Aug, Sep
Aug, Sep
Aug, Sep
Aug, Sep
Aug, Sep
July

Oct, Nov
August
Nov

Aug, Sep
Aug, Sep
Sep, Mar
Sep, Oct
Oct

Aug, Sep
Sep, Oct
Aug, Sep
Sep

Nov-Feb

Jly, Aug
July

Dec, Jan

Feb

Dec, Jan
Jan, Feb
Dec, Jan
Nov, Dec
Feb. Mar

Sep, Oct

March, 1910.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

173

Astrolonia huinifiisum . . Pern. Australian Cranberry

Atherospt'riiia nio.scliatiim Labill. Victorian Sassafras

Atriplex cinerea . . . . Poiret Victorian or Cirey Salt-bush

nuinmularia .. LiiuH. Old Man Salt-bush

,, vosicaria . . Hew. Bladder Salt-bush

Azolla rubra .. .. R.Br. Floating Pond Moss

Backhousia ni3'rtifoliE
Bajckea (Junniana

,, linifolia
Banksia ;umula . .

,, coUina . .

,, integrifolia

,, marginata
,, serrata . .

P>auora rubioides. .

* ,, „ var.

Bcycria opaoa
viscosa

I'illardiora scandons

Blcclmum cartilaginci

Bossiaea cinerea . .
,, cordigcra
„ hetcrophylla
,, microphylla

Bursaria Pantoni. .
,, spinosa . .

Hk. & Hvy. Grey Myrtle

. . Schaucr Gunn's Baeckca

. . Rudgc Flax-leaved I3a;c'kea

. . R. Br. " Mintee " or " Walhun "

.. R.Br. Hill Honeysuckle

.. Linne Coast Honeysuckle, " Poniera," or

" Curritljah '"
. . Cav. Conuiion Honeysuckle or " Walluni

Warcek "
. . Linn. f. Serrated-leave<l Honeysuckle or

" Wattung-urree "
. . Andr. Wire Scrub or River Rose of Tas.
alba — White Wire-Scrub . .

. . F.v.M. Victorian Wallaby-bush . .
. . Miquel. Wallaby-bush or Pink-wood
. . Sniilli Cliniliiiig Ap])le Berry
an Swailz Dog's-tooth Fern . .
. . R. Br. Australian Sun-bush
. . Benth. Heart-leaved Stui-l)usii
.. Vent. Various-leaved Sun-bush . .
. . Smith Small-leaved Sun-bush
.. Guilf. Panton's Box-tree. .
. . Cav. Prickly Australian Box . .

Callistemon brachyandrus Lindl.

,, coccmeus . . F.v.M.

,, lanceolatus . . D. C.

,, linearis . . D. C.

,, salignus . . D. C.

Callitris calcarata . . R. i5r.

,, cupressiformis . . Vent.

„ robusta . . . . R. Br.

verrucosa . . R. Br.

*Calythrix Sullivani . . F.v.M.

,, tetragona . . Labill.

Capparis MitchcUi . . Lindl.

Cassia australis . . . . Sims

Cassinia aculeata. . . . R. Br.

., spectabilis . . R. Br.

Casuarina distyla . . Vent.

,, glauca . . . . Sieber

„ stricta . . . . Alton

,, suberosa Ot. & Diet,

Caustis ficxuosa . . . . R. Br.

Celastrus australis Hvy. & F.v

Clematis aristata . . . . R. Br.
* ,, „ var. Dennisse —

,, microphylla . . D.C.

Commersonia Frascri . . J. Gay

Short-stamened Bottle-brush
Pale-red Bottle- brush
Lance-leaved Red' Bottle- brush . .
Narrow-leaved Bottle- brush
Willow-leaved Bottle-brush
Black Jlurray Pine
Victorian Cypress or " Brorogorre "
Murray Pine. " Marro." or " Mar-

riing"

Mallee Pine

Sullivan's Hair-cup Flower
Hair-cup Flower . .
Mitchell's Caper Plant or " Mondo "
Soutliern Cassia

Shar])-])ointed-leaved Cassinia . .
Showy Cassinia

Stunted She-oak

Bench Oak or " Belar"

Coast She- oak or " Worgnal " . .

Erect She-oak or " Wayetuck" . .

Australian Curly-wigs

.M. Australian Staff Vine. .

Australian Supple Jack . .

Pink-coloured Virgin's Bower . .

Small-leaved Virgin's Bower

Blackfellow's Hemp

s.

Jun, July

T.

Sep

S.

Oct

s.

Oct, Nov

s.

Oct, Nov

A. p.

—

T.

Dec

S.

Dec

s.

Dec

s.

—

s.

Mar, A pi

T.

Jlar, A pi

T.

Mar, Apl

T.

Feb, Mar

S.

Sep-Feb

s.

Sep- Dec

s.

Nov

s.

Dec, Jan

c.

Oct

F.

s.

Sep

s.

Dec

s.

Sep

s.

Sep

T.S.

Jan, Feb

T.S.

Jan, Feb

S.

Dec, Jan

T.S.

Nov, Dec

T.S.

Oct, Nov

S.

Dec

T.S.

Oct. Nov

T.

—

T.

—

T.

T.

—

S.

Oct

s.

Oct

s.

Oct

s.

Nov-Feb

s.

Jan, Feb

T.S.

Aug-Nov

T.

July

T.

A])l, May

T.

July

T.P.

Nov, Dec

c.

—

C.

Nov, Jan

C.

Nov

C.

Jly. Aug

T.S.

Oct. Nov

174

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXVI.

Hook.
Andr.

Coprosma Billardieri
Correa alba

„ Lawrenciana

,, speciosa . .

„ „ var. glabra —

„ ,, ,, normalis —

Crinum flaccidiim . . Herb.

Cryptandra amara . . Smith

Cyathea Cunninghami
medullaris

Hook.f. Wild Currant-bush or " Morr " . . S. Sep

Andr. White-flowered Australian Fuchsia S. Apl, May

Great Australian Fuchsia . . S. Apl, May

Australian Fuchsia . . . . S. A^il-Jun

Smooth-leaved Australian Fuchsia S. May, Jun

Green-flowered Australian Fuchsia S. May, Jun

Darling River Lily . . . . D.P. March

Australian Heath Spray . . . . S.S. August

Hook.f. Cunningham's Tree Fern. . . . F. —

Swartz Black-stemmed Tree Fern . . F. —

Davallia dubia . . . . R. Br.

„ pyxidata . . Cav.

Daviesia corymbosa . . Smith

„ latifolia. . . . R. Br.

Dendrobium speciosum . . Smith

Dianella elegans . . . . Kunth

,, laevis . . . . R. Br.

,, revoluta. . . . R. Br.

,, Tasmanica . . Hook.f.

Dichelachne crinita . . Hook.f.

Dicksonia antarctica . . F.v.M.

Dillwynia cinerascens . . R. Br.

„ hispida . . Lindl.

Diplarrhena Moraea . . Labill.

Dodonsea lobulata . . F.v.M.

,, triquetra . . Wendl.

,, viscosa . . Linnc

„ ,, var. spathulata

Doodia aspera . . . . R. Br.

„ caudata . , . . R. Br.

Drimys aromatica . . F.v.M.

Ehretia acuminata

R. Br.

ElseocarpuP

cyaneus

Pars.

Eleusine ^gyi^tiaca

Lam.

Enchylsena

tomentosa . .

R. Br.

Epacris im

iressa . .

Labill.

,,

,, var. rosea

—

,, Ion

giflora

Cav.

Eremophila bignoniaeflora

F.v.M.

maculata

F.v.M.

Eriostemor

myoporoides

D. C.

♦Eucalyptus alpina

Lindl.

,,

amygdalina . .

Labill.

" ,,

„ V. regnans

—

,,

Baueriana . .

Shauer

jj

Behriana

F.v.M.

,,

botryoides . .

Smith

„

capitellata . .

Smith

„

corymbosa . .

Smith

,,

corynocalyx. .

F.v.M.

,^

dumosa

A. Cunn

.,

elseophora . .

F.v.M.

,,

eugenioides , .

Sieber

Doubtful Hare's-foot Fern . . F. —

Box-like Hare's-foot Fern . . F. —

Slender Bitter Leaf . . . . S. Sep, Oct

Broad Bitter Leaf . . . . S. Sep, Oct

Australian Rock Lily . . Orchid Sep, Oct

Elegant Flax Lily . . . . D.P. Dec, Jan

Smooth-leaved Flax Lily. . . . D.P. Nov, Dec

Recurve-leaved Flax Lily . . D.P. Oct, Nov

Broad-leaved Flax Lily . . . . D.P. Nov, Dec

Australian Mouse Grass . . . . G. Oct

Woolly-stemmed Tree Fern . . F. —

Pride of the Heath . . . . S. Aug. Sep

Rough Dillwynia . . . . . . S. Oct, Nov

White Butterfly Flag . . . . D.P. Nov

Red-fruited Hopseed-bush . . S. Sep

Three-cornered Hopseed-bush . . S. Sep

Hopseed-bush . . . . . . S. Aug, Sep

Victorian Lignum Vitse . . . . T.S. Sep

Rough Rasji Fern . . . . . . F. —

Tailed Rasp Fern F. —

Victorian Pepper Plant . . . . S. Sep, Oct

Brown Cedar . . . . . . T. March

Blue Oliveberry-tree . . . . T. Nov, Dec

Finger Grass . . . . . . G. Nov, Dec

Barrier or Downy Salt-bush or

" Koo-loo-loo-moo " . . . . D.P. Jan

Wild Heath S.S. Sep, Oct

Pink-flowered Wild Heath . . S.S. Sep, Oct

Long-flowered Australian Heath S.S. Feb-Sep
Desert Fuchsia, " Pombel," or

Emu-bush F.S. Jan, Feb

Spotted-flowered Desert Fuchsia S. Sep- Oct

Woolly Stamen-flower . . . . S. Jly-Oct

Alpine Gum . . . . . . T. June

Victorian Peppermint Gum . . T. Mar

Giant Peppermint Gum . . . . T. Mar

Blue Box T. Nov

Behr's Gum-tree . . . . . . T. Nov

Australian Mahogany-tree . . T. Feb

White or Coast Stringybark . . T. Feb

Blood- wood Gum or "Boonah" . . T. Dec

Sugar Gum T. Feb

.Mallee Scrub Gum or " Bunurduk" T. June

Spurious Box-tree or "Bundy".. T. Mar, Apl

Broad-leaved Stringybark . . T. April

March, 1910.]

THE VICrOBlAN NATURALIST.

176

Eucalyptus globulus

LabiU.

Blue Gum or "' Ballook" . .

T.

Aug, Sep

„ goniocalyx .

F.v.M.

Victorian Spotted Gum . .

T.

April

,, Gunnii

Hook.l

. Swamp Gum

T.

May, Jun

,, liamaestoma .

Smith

White Gum or " Kurra-gurra" .

T.

Dec-Mar

,, hemiphloia .

F.v.M.

Common Box

T.

Mar

„ leucoxylou . .

F.v.M.

Scribbly Blue Gum or " Yerrick"

T.

Mar, Apl

,, ,, V. macrocarpa —

Large- fruited Scribbly Blue Gum

T.

July

,, longifolia

Link.

Woolly butt or •' Gnaoulie "

T.

May-Jly

„ macrorrhyncha F.v.M.

Stringybark or " Yangoora"

T.

Jan

J, Maideni

F.v.M.

Maiden's Gum

T.

,, melliodora . .

Cunn.

Yellow Box or " Dargan "

T.

Nov

„ Muelleriaua .

Howitt Yellow or Pale Stringybark

T.

May

„ obliqua

L'Her.

Messmate . .

T.

May

,, paniculata . .

Smith

Grey Iron bark

T.

Jan

,, pilularis

Smith

Great Blackbutt or " Benaroon"

T.

Jan

,, polyanthemos

Shauei

Red Box

T.

Nov

,, pulverulenta

Sims

Silver-leaved Stringybark

T.

Nov

„ rostrata

Schl.

Red Gum or " Yarrah" . .

T.

Dec

„ rubida

D. &M

. Candle Bark Gum . .

T.

Feb-Apl

,, santalifolia .

F.v.M.

Santalum-leaved Gum

T.

Oct

„ Sideroxylou . .

A. Cunn. Victorian Ii-onbark or "Mugga"

T.

May

„ ,, var. rosea —

Pink-flowered Ironbark . .

T.

May

,, Siebcriana . .

F.v.M.

Mountain Ash of Gippsland

T.

Oct, Nov

„ Stuartiana . .

F.v.M.

Apple-scented Gum

T.

Feb

„ tereticornis . .

Smith

Forest Red Gum or " Mungarra"

T.

Nov

„ uncinata

Turcz.

Black Box or " Gunamalary" .

T.

May

,, vimiualis

Labill.

Manna Gum

T.

Mar, Apl

Eucryphia Moorei

F.v.M.

Moore's Eucryphia

T.S.

—

Eugenia Smithii . .

Poiret

Lilly Pillies or "Coochin Coochin"

T.

Dec

Eupomatia laurina

R. Br.

Australian Copper Laurel

S.

Jan

Eustrephus latifolius

R. Br.

Broad-leaved Wombat- berry

c.

Dec, Jan

Eutaxia empetrifolia

Schl.

Empetrum-leaved Eutaxia

s.

Aug, Sep

Exocai'pus cupressiformis

Labill.

Australian Cherry-tree or " Bailee "

T.

Feb, Mar

Fagus Cunninghami

Hook.

Victorian Beech Myrtle . .

T.

Dec

Ficus aspera

Forst.

Sandpaper Fig-tree or " Balemo"

T.

—

Geijera parviflora

Lindl.

"Wilga" or Sheep-bush ..

T.S.

—

Geitouoplesium eyinosum

Cunn.

Australian Shepherd's Joy

C.

Nov

Gleichenia circiuata

Svvartz

Climbing Net or Coral Fern

F.

—

,, dicarpa

R. Br.

Alpine Net or Coral Fern

F.

—

,, flabollata

R. Br.

Fan-leaved, Star or Umbrella Fern

F.

—

Goodenia ovata . .

Smith

Native Hop

S.S

Sep-May

Goodia lotifolia . .

Salisb.

Salisbmy or Yellow Pea . .

s.

Sep

„ medicaginea

F.v.M.

Medicago-leaved Goodia . .

s.

Sep

*Grevillea alpina. .

Lindl.

Alpine Grevillea . .

S.S.

Aug, Dec

, ,, var. Dallacliiana

Dallachy's Grevillea

S.S.

Sep

Aquifoliuin

Lindl.

Prickly Grevillea . .

s.

Jly-Mar

*

, confei'tifolia

F.v.M.

Crowded-leaved Grevillea

S.S.

Sep, Oct

, ericifolia

R. Br.

Heath-leaved Grevillea . .

S.S.

Aug, Sep

, ilicifolia

R. Br.

Holly-leaved Grevillea

s.

Sep-Jan

, lavandulacea . .

Schl.

Lavender-like Grevillea . .

S.S.

Aug, Sep

, oleoides

Sieber

Olive-leaved Grevillea

s.

Dec-Apl

*

„ V. dimorph

a —

Crimson-flowered Grevillea

s.

Dec-Apl

, parviflora

R. Br.

Small-flowered Grevillea . .

S.S.

Oct, Nov

, Victorise

F.v.M.

Wax-flowered Grevillea . .

s.

Sep

Hakea acicularis . .

. . R. Br. Needle-leaved Hakea

S. Jly, Aug

176

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST,

[Vol. XXVI.

Hakea dactyl oides

„ eriantha . .

,, leucoptera

„ microcarpa

,, nodosa

,, pugionifonnis

„ rostrata . .

„ rugosa

,, saligna

„ ulicina
Hardenbergia moiiophylla

Hedycarya angustifolia . .
Helichrysmn ferrugineum
Hemarthria compressa . .
Hibbertia dentata

„ stricta. .

Homalanthus Leschenault-

ianus
Hovea heterophylla
Hymenanthera dentata
Humea elegans . .

Cav. Fingered Hakea . . . . . . S. Nov

R. Br. Woolly- ilowered Hakea . . . . S. Sep

R.Br. Pin- bush or Water Hakea .. S. Dec, Jan

R. Br. Small-fruited Hakea . . . . S. Oct

R. Br. Knotted Hakea .. .. . . S. May.Jun

Cav. Dagger-fruited Hakea . . . . S. Dec, Jan

F.v.M. Bird's-beak Hakea . . . . S. Sep

R. Br. Wrinkled-fruited Hakea . . . . S. Sep

R. Br. Willow-leaved Hakea . . . . T.S. Sep

R. Br. Australian Furze . . . . . . S. Sep, Oct

Vent. Climbing Lilac or Victorian Sar-

saparilla . . . . . . . . C. Aug, Sep

alba White-flowered Victorian Sarsa-

parilla
Tulas. Australian Mulberry
Lessing Rusty Helichrysum
R. Br. Sugar or Mat Grass
R. Br. Tooth-leaved Button Flower
R. Br. Erect Button Flower

Jussieu Australian Poplar . .
Cunn. Purple Pea- bush . .
R. Br. Tooth-leaved Scrub Boxwood
Smith Plume Plant

C.
T.S.

S.
G.

S.S.

s.s.

s.
s.s.

T.S.

s.

Aug

Sep

Jan

Nov-Jun

Sep, Oct

Sep

Jan

Aug-Oct
Sep, Oct
Jan, Feb

Indigofera australis
Isopogon anemonifolius
„ ceratophyllus

Juncus communis

„ maritimus

Willd. Australian Purple Indigo Plant

R. Br. Anemone-leaved Cone- bush

R. Br. Buck's-horn-leaved Cone-bush .

E. Mey. Common or
" Wirree "
Lam. Coast Rush

Candle Rush oi'

S. Sep
S. Oct
S. Sep, Oct

R.
R.

Feb

Feb

Kennedya prostrata . . R. Br.

„ rubicunda . . Vent.

Kunzea corifolia . . . . Reich.

,, peduncularis . . F.v.M.

Australian Scarlet Runner
Red-flowered Bean Climber
Bottle-green Tea-tree
Mountain Tea- tree or "Burgan"

Lasiopetalum Baueri . . Steetz Bauer's Woolly Petal

„ dasyphyllum Sieber Thick-leaved Woolly Petal

Schulzenii.. F.v.M. Schulz's Woolly Petal
Lemna minor . . . . Linne Duckweed . .

LepidospermalongitudinalcLabill. Long- leaved Sword Rush
Leptospermum flavescens Smith Yellowish Tea-tree or " Tantoon
,, laevigatum F.v.M. Coast Tea-tree

,, lanigerum Smith River Bank or Woolly Tea-tree

* „ ,, V. grandiflorum Large-flowered Woolly Tea-tree

., myrsinoides Schl. Myrsine-like Tea-tree

,, scoparium R.& G.Forst. Broom Tea-tree

Leucopogon australis . . F.v.M. Pigeon-bush
„ ericoides . . R. Br. Beard Heath

,, lanceolatus . . Smith Lance-leaved Pigeon-bush

Labill. Carrot- wood
Labill. Twiggy Beard Heath
F.v.M. Australian Snow Myrtle . .
Spreng. Panicle-flowered Libertia

,, Richei

,, virgatus

Lhotzkya genetylloides
Libertia paniculatum

Limnanthemum crenatum F.v.M. Crenate-leaved Marsh Weed

T.P.

C.
T.S.
T.S.

S.

s.
s.

A.P.

R.

T.S.

T.S.
T.S.
T.S.

S.

s.

s.

s.

s.

s.

s.s.

s.

D.P.
A.P.

Sep
Nov
Nov
Nov, Dec

Sep, Oct

Oct

Sep

Jan-Mar

Jan

Sep, Oct

Oct, Nov

Nov

Dec

Dec

Jun-Dec

Oct

Sep

Oct

Sep

Aug, Sep

Oct

Dec

March, 1910.]

THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST.

177

Lindsaya trichomanoides

Dryan.

Livistona australis

Mart.

Logania floribunda

R. Br.

Lomaria alpina . .

Spreng.

,, discolor . .

Willd.

,, Patersoni

Spreng.

„ procera . .

Spreng.

Lomatia Fraseri . .

R. Br.

,, ilicifolia . .

R. Br.

„ longifolia

R. Br.

Loranthus celastroides . .

Sieber

Lyonsia straniinea

R. Br.

Lythruin Salicaria

Linn.

Marianthiis bignoniaceus

F.v.M.

Melaleuca acuminata

F.v.M.

,, armillaris

Smith

,, decussata

R. Br.

,, ericifolia

Smith

„ gibbosa

Labill.

,, hypericifolia . .

Smith

„ Preissiana

F.v.M.

„ squarrosa

Labill.

Mentha gracilis . . . . R. Br.

Mesembryanthemuni sequi-

laterale Haw.
*M. ajquilaterale. v. album —
* „ tegens . . . . F.v.M.

Micrantheum hexandrum Hook.f.
Morinda jasminoides . .A. Cunn.
Muehlenbeckia adpressa. . Meiss.
,, Cunninghami F.v.M.

Myoporum acuminatum,

V. augustifolium —
„ deserti . . Cunn.

„ huraile

. . R. Br.

„ serratum

. . R. Br.

viscosum

. . R. Br.

Myosotis australis
Myrsine variabilis

. . R. Br.
. . R. Br.

Nasturtium palustre

. . D. C.

Nephelium leiocarpum
Nicotiana suaveolens

.. F.v.M.
. . Lehm.

Noteliea ligustrina

. . Vent.

„ longifolia

.. Vent.

Olearia argophylla
,, axillaris . .

.. Labill.
.. F.v.M.

,, gland ulosa

.. Labill.

„ myrsinoides

,, ,, var. er

.. Labill.
ubescens

„ pannosa . .
,, ramulosa . .

.. Fv.M.
.. Labill.

,, stellulata

.. Labill.

Trichomanes-like Lindsaya . . F. —

Australian Cabbage Palm or

" Kondo " . . , . . . Palm Oct

Many-flowered Logania . . . . S. Aug

Alpine Lomaria . . . . . . F. —

Fish-bone Fern . . . . . . F. —

Paterson's Lomaria . . . . F. —

Tall or Water Fern F. —

Fraser's Australian Holly . . S. Jan

Australian Holly . . . . . . S. Dec

Long-leaved Australian Holly . . T.S. Dec
Celastrus-like Mistletoe .. . .Parasite Aug

Australian Silk Pod . . . . C. Nov, Dec

Purple Willow Herb . . . . D.P. Jan

Bignonia-like Marianthus. . .. C. Oct

Pointed-leaved Tea-tree . . . . T.S. Jan

Bracelet Tea-tree . . . . . . T.S. Nov, Dec

Intersected -leaved Tea-tree . . T.S. Nov

Swamp Tea-tree . . . . . . T.S. Oct. Nov

Swollen-leaved Tea-tree . . . . S. Nov

Hillock- tree T.S. Feb

Small-flowered Tea-tree . . . . T.S. Feb

Victorian Yellow- wood or Yellow

Bottle Brush T.S. Oct, Nov

Australian Slender Mint . . . . D.P. Dec-Mar

Australian Noon Flower . . . . T.P. Oct

White Australian Noon Flower . . T.P. Oct

Clothing Noon Flower . . . . T.P. Oct

Australian Box-bush . . . . S. Sep. Oct

Jasmine-like Morinda . . . . S. Sep

Australian Ivy . . . . . . C. Dec, Jan

Cunningham's Rock Vine . . S. May

" Boobiala" or Water-bush . . T.S. Apl-July

Sweet-fruited Myoporum or

Turkey- bush T.S. Mar, Jly

Trailing Myoporum . . . . T.P. Jan

Cockatoo- bush . . . . . . S. Oct

Sticky Myoporum. . .. .. T.S. Aug

Australian Forget-me-not . . D.P. Dec

Victorian Smooth Beech . . . . T.S. Dec, Jan

Marsh Watercress . . . . . . A. Jan

Smooth-fruited Nephelium . . T. Nov

Australian Tobacco Plant . . S.P. Nov, Feb

White Plum- wood of Gippsland . . T.S. Nov, Dec

Gipp.sland Mock Olive . . . . T.S. Nov, Dec

Australian Musk-tree or " Daal " T.S. Oct, Nov

Axil-flowered Daisy-bush . . S. March

Swamp Aster S. Feb, Mar

Myi'sine-like Daisy-bush . . . . S. Sep

Blush-flowered Daisy-bush . . S.S. Dec

Wrinkled Daisy-bush . . . . S. Aug

Twiggy Daisy-bush . . . . S. Jan-Apl

Victorian Snow-bush . . . . S. Sep, Oct

178

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXVI.

Olcaria stoHulata, var. lirata —

Ridge Snow- bush . .

S.

Aug, Sep

Oxylobium cllipticum .

R. Br.

Oval-leaved Pointed Pod-bush .

S.

Nov

Panax sambucifolia

Sieber

Victorian Elderberry Ash

T.S.

Dec

Patersonia glauca

R. Br.

Australian Swamp Flag . .

S.P.

Nov, Dec

„ longiscapa .

Sweet

Long-scaped Australian Flag

S.P.

Nov, Dec

„ sericea

. R. Br.

Silky Australian Flag

S.P.

—

Pelargonium Rodneyanum Mitch.

Rodiney's Stork- bill

D.P.

Jan, Feb

Persoonia linearis

. Andr.

Narrow-leaved Persoonia or " Gee

-

bung " . .

s.

Jan

„ myrtilloides .

Sieber

Myitillus-like Persoonia . .

s.

Jan

Phebalium dentatum

. Smith

Tooth-leaved Mountain Myrtle .

s.

Sep

Pholidia divaricata

. F.v.M.

Straggling Pholidia

s.

Jan

Phyllanthiis thymoides .

Sieber

Thyme-hke Phyllanthus . .

s.

Oct

Pimelea flava

R. Br.

Yellow Rice Flower

s.s.

Sep

„ humilis . .

R. Br.

Dwarf Rice Flower

s.s.

Oct

Pittosporum bicolor

Hook.

Victorian Cheesewood or White

wood . .

T.

Oct

„ phillyrseoides D. C.

Australian Willow

T.S.

Oct

„ revolutum .

Alton

Yellow-flowered Brisbane Laurel

S.

Sep, Oct

„ undulatum .

. Vent.

Victorian Laurel . .

T.S.

Sep, Oct

Plagianthus pulchellus .

A. Gray Victorian Hemp-bush

T.S.

Sep, Oct

„ ,, V. tomentosns

Woolly Hemp-bush

T.S.

Sep, Oct

Platylobium formosum .

Smith

Beautiful Flat Pea

S.S.

Aug, Sep

„ obtusangulum Hook.

Victorian Flat Pea

s.s.

Sep, Oct

Plectrantlius parviflorus

Henck.

Small Cockspur Flower . .

D.P.

Dec, Jan

Poa caespitosa

G. Fors. Australian Meadow Grass

G.

No\r-Jan

Polypcdium australe

Metten

Finger or Tuft Fern

F.

—

„ Billardieri .

R. Br.

Blistered Polypody

F.

—

„ punctatuni .

Thun.

Rough Polypody . .

F.

—

Pomaderris apetala

LabiU.

Victorian Wild Hazel

T.S.

Sep, Oct

„ lanigera

Sims

New South Wales Wild Hazel . .

S.

Aug, Sep

„ ligustrina . .

Sieber

Privet-like Wild Hazel . .

S.

Oct

„ phylicifolia .

Lodd.

'"Tauhinu"

S.

—

„ prunifolia .

A. Cunn

. Plum-leaved Wild Hazel . .

S.

Oct

„ racemosa

Hook.

Raceme-flowered Wild Hazel

s.

Oct, Nov

,, vacciuiifolia

Reiss.

Vaccinium-leaved Wild Hazel . .

s.

March

Potamogeton crispus

Linne

Cm-led-leaved Pond-weed

A.P.

Dec

Prostantliera lasiantlios .

Labill.

Victorian Christmas-bush

s.

Dec, Jan

* „ melissifolia

F.v.M.

Balm-leaved Mint-bush . .

s.

Oct

„ microphylla

A. Cunn

. Scarlet- flowered Mint- bush

s.

Nov

„ nivea

A. Cunn

Snowy Mint-bush . .

s.

Sep, Oct

phylicifolia

F.v.M.

Phylica-leaved Mint-bush

s.s.

Oct

„ rotundifolia

R. Br.

•Round-leaved Mint-bush

s.

Sep

„ spinosa

F.v.M.

Prickly Mint- bush

s.

Nov, Dec

„ Walteri

F.v.M.

Walter's Mint- bush

s.

Nov, Dec

Pteris aquiliiia

Linne

Common Brake or Bracken Fern

F.

„ comans

G. Fors

. Haii-y Bracken Fern

F.

„ falcata

R. Br.

Sickle-shaped Bracken Fern

F.

—

,, treniula

R. Br.

Trembling Bracken Fern

F.

„ umbrosa . .

R. Br.

Shady Bracken

F.

—

Pultensea daphnoides

Wendl.

Australian Wallflower- bush

S.

Sep

„ Gunnii . .

Beuth.

Golden Bush-Pea . .

s.

Sep

„ Muelleri

Benth.

Mueller's Pultensea

s.

Sep

„ retusa . .

Smith

Blunt-leaved Pultensea . .

s.

Sep

„ scabra . .

R. Br.

Australian Scar- bush

s.

Sep, Oct

March, 1910.]

THK ViCTOKIAN NATUKALIST.

179

Pultensea stricta . .
„ villosa . .

Ranunculus lappaceus
Restio tetraphyllus
Rhagodia Billardieri
Riciuocarpus pinifolius
Rubus parvifolius

,, rosfefolius. .

Sims
Willd.

Erect Pultensea
Hairy Bush-Pea

Smith Australian Buttercup

Labill. Four-leaved Cord-Grass

R. Br. Labillardiere's Red Berry

Desf. Australian Jasmine-bush

Linne Australian Bramble or Wild Rasp-
berry

Smith Victorian Raspberry or " Neram "

S.
S.

D.P.
R.

S.
S.

Sarcopetalum Harveyanum F. v.M.

Sarcostemma australe

. R. Br.

Scsevola suaveolens

. R. Br.

Scirpus nodosus . .

. Roth.

Senecio australis . .

. A. Rich.

Smilax australis . .

. R. Br.

Solanum aviculare

.G. Forst.

Spyridium parvifolium .

. F.v.M.

Sterculia diversifolia

. G. Don

Stipa elegantissima

. Labill.

Stypandra caespitosa

. R. Br.

,, glauca

. R. Br.

Swainsona Greyana

. Lindl.

Tecoma australis . .

. R. Br.

„ ,, var. Latrobei —

Telopea oreades . .

. F.v.M.

Tetragonia implexicoma

Hook.f.

Tetratheca ciliata

. Lindl.

,, pilosa

. Labill.

Teucrium racemosum

. R. Br.

Thryptomene Mitchelliana F.v.M.

Todea barbara

. Moore

Tristania laurina . .

. R. Br.

Typha angustifolia

. Linne

Verbena officinalis
Veronica Derwentia

i, gracilis . .

,. perfoliata
Villarsia reniformis
Viminaria denudata
Viola hederacea . .
Vitis antarctica . .
„ hviJoglauca

Westringia glabra

Harvey's Vine

Caustic Vine

Sweet-scented Scsevola

Knotted Club Rush or " Wiwi". .

Australian Groundsel or Fire Weed

Australian Sarsaparilla

Kangaroo Apple . .

Silver Hazel-bush . .

Victorian Bottle- tree

Elegant Feather Grass

Tufted Stypandra . .

Candyup Poison or Blind Grass . .

Darling River or Poison Pea

Wonga Wonga Vine

Governor Latrobe's Tecoma

Victorian Waratah

Victorian Bower Spinach

Pink Glory-bush . .

Hairy Tetratheca . .

Racemed Germander

Heath Myi-tle

King Fern . .

Swamp Mahogany or Kanooka . .

Native Bulrush or Cat's Tail

Linne Vervain

Littlej. Der went' s Speedwell

R. Br. Slender Speedwell . .

R. Br. Digger's Speedwell

R. Br. Kidney-leaved March Buttercup

Smith Golden Spray

Labill. Ivy-leaved or Wild Violet

Benth. Kangaroo Grape . .

F.v.M. Gippsland Grape . .

R. Br.

,,

rosmariniformis Smith

"

rigida

. R.

Br.

Xanthorrhoea australis .

. R.

Br.

hastilis

. R.

Br.

,,

minor

. R.

Br.

Xerotes

filitormis

. R.

Br.

"

longifolia

. R.

Br.

Zicria S

mithii

. Andr.

Smooth-leaved Australian Rose-
mary-bush
Australian Rosemary
Stiff Australian Rosemary-bush . .

S.
S.

c.
c.

T.P.
R.
S.P.

C.

s.
s.

T.

G.
D.P.
D.P.

s.s.

C.

c.

s.

T.P.

S.S.

s.s.

D.P.

s.

F.

T.

A.P.

D.P.

S.
D.P.

S.
D.P.

S.
T.P.

C.

C.

s.
s.
s.

Australian Grass-tree . . . . —

Dwarf Grass-tree . . . . . . —

Thread-shaped Mat Rush . . R.
Australian Tussock Grass or Mat

Rush R.

Sandfly-bush . . . . . . S.

Sep, Oct
Sep

Jun-Oct
Dec-Mar
Dec-May

Oct-Nov

Nov-Dec
Oct-Nov

March

Jan-May

Nov-Mar

Feb

May

Nov, Dec

Aug, Sep

Jan, Feb

Nov-Jan

Nov-Feb

Oct

Dec, Jan

Sep, Oct

Oct

Oct

May-Oct

Sep, Oct

Oct

March

Aug, Sep

Jan, Feb
Nov-Mar

Dec-Mar
Jan, Feb
Nov-Jan
Oct

Sep-Dec
Dec

Apl-Dec
Oct, Nov
Oct, Nov

Oct
Sep
Oct

Nov
Nov
Nov '
Oct-Dec

Oct-Dec
Sep

180 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Records of the Western Australian Museum and Art
Gallery.— The first part of this recent addition to the scientific
serials of Australia is devoted to an article on "The Fossil
Marsupials of Western Australia," by Mr. Bernard H. Wood-
ward, F.G.S., Director of the Museum. The remains of the
species described — Tachyglossus aculeatus, Native Porcupine ;
thascolomys hacketti, sp. nov.. Wombat ; Phascolarctus cinereus.
Koala or Native Bear ; and Sthenurus occidentalis, sp. nov., a
kangaroo — were obtained in the Mammoth Cave, in the south-
western portion of the State. Mr. L. Glauert, F.G.S., who
devoted some two months to the exploration of this cave, and
collected about 2,000 specimens, adds some notes on the features
of the cave and the occurrence of the bones. A plate of the
entrance to the cave, and seven figures, each on a separate plate,
of the different specimens, each with included scale of measure-
ments, make up a very interesting and creditable publication.

The A.N.A. Exhibition. — Natural history was represented
to some extent at the recent A.N.A. Exhibition, and was
evidently appreciated, for we regret to learn from the Govern-
ment Entomologist that on examining the cabinet drawers of life-
histories, &c., on their return to his office he was greatly annoyed
to find that the drawers had been robbed of some of their most
valuable contents. Some of the specimens were unique, and will
be hard to replace. Seeing that Mr. French has always been so
ready to afford information and show the specimens to inquirers,
this is very poor reward for his trouble, and will lead to entomo-
logical specimens being excluded from the departmental exhibits
at future exhibitions.

The Lotus Lily. — Plants of the famous Lotus Lily, Nelum-
hium speciosum, have recently been grown and flowered for the
first time in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. The plants possess
beautiful peltate leaves, from one to two feet in diameter, rising in
numerous instances above the water surface on erect petioles of
varying heights up to twenty-four inches. The flowers, which
are of a delicate pink colour, nearly twelve inches across, are
borne singly on stalks which stand out above the water for two
or three feet. The plant is variously known as the " Sacred
Lotus," " Egyptian Bean of Pythagoras," " Leichardt's Water
Lily," "Pink Water Lily," "Sacred Lily of Buddha." Although
the plant grows luxuriantly in the Adelaide, Brisbane, and Sydney
Botanic Gardens, a difficulty had previously been found in trans-
porting it safely to Melbourne, owing to the liability of its
rhizomes to rot in transit. However, by arrangement with Dr. A.
Holtze, Director of the Adelaide Gardens, a clump of the plant,
while in a dormant state, was lifted one morning in August last,
and forwarded by express train the same day. The package
received attention here the next morning, and although some
of the rhizomes had rotted the remainder were successfully
developed. — F. Pitcher.

Cbc Uictonan naturalise

V^OL. XXVI.— No. 12. APRIL 7, 1910. No. 316.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th March, 19 10.

The president, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, occupied the chair,
and about 80 members and visitors were present.

VISIT OF MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY.

The Chairman said that the Committee of the Club had
invited the members of the Microscopical Society of Victoria to
be present that evening, and take part in the usual conversazione.
He therefore took the opportunity of extending a hearty welcome
to the members, and pointed out the necessity of co-operation
between scientific societies, advocating closer touch and sympathy,
lest a drifting apart might tend to weaken their influence.

Dr. J. C. Kaufmann, President of the Microscopical Society,
thanked the Club for its invitation, and trusted there would be a
long continuance of friendship between the societies.

REPORTS.

A report of the visit to the Zoological Gardens on Saturday,
19th February, was forwarded by the leader, Mr. D. Le Souef,
C.M.Z.S., director of the gardens, who reported that the day
turned out extremely hot, consequently the attendance was
small. However, a number of interesting animals and birds were
inspected. The nesting mound of the Scrub Turkey, Catheturus
lathami, was examined, and its temperature found to be about
98°. Several young birds recently hatched were seen. An
adjoining enclosure contained several Mallee Hens, Lipoa ocellata,
Gld., but they do not breed in captivity. Several Plumed Egrets,
Mesophoyx plumijera, Gld., have recently been added, and their
spotless plumage was very attractive. Some clutches of Brown
and Stubble Quail were on view. An inspection of the large
flight aviary showed that numbers of Honey-eaters, Wood-
Swallows, Yellow-breasted Robins, Magpie Larks, &c., lived
together in perfect harmony. Many recent additions from
foreign countries were seen, and a little time was spent in
inspecting the Brown and Loch Leven Trout in the hatching
ponds.

A report of the excursion to Alexandra-avenue and South
Yarra on Saturday, 26th February, was given by the leader, Mr.
F. Chapman, A.L.S., who reported a good attendance. Attention
was called to the geological features of the lower Yarra, then the
localities of certain fossils were pointed out, and some attention
paid to the large igneous dyke exposed in the cutting near the

[82 TUK VICTORIAN NATUKALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Botanic Gardens, but which is unfortunately being rapidly covered
by ornamental vegetation. Further along to the east of Anderson-
street the [Dosition of another much-decomposed dyke was jDointed
out, and several interesting fossils were obtained by examination
of the material used for forming the new roadway.

A report of the excursion to Beaumaris on Saturday, 12th March,
was given by the leader, Mr. O. A. Sayce, A.L.S., who reported a
good attendance, but the work was somewhat hampered by the
unfavourable tide. However, comparisons were made between high
and low-tide life, while marine and fresh-water forms were
compared with land forms.

A report of the junior excursion to Beaumaris on Saturday, 5th
March, was given by the leader, Mr. R. W. Armitage, who
reported an attendance of about fifty juniors, and that an
interesting afternoon had been spent.

ELECTION.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. E. A. Petherick, F.R.G.S.,
Melbourne, was duly elected a member of the Club.

PAPER READ.

By Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., entitled " Victorian Foraminifera :
Recent and Fossil."

The author pointed out that there are still many problems
regarding Foraminifera which require working out. questions
which can be answered both by the study of living and fossil
forms. He called attention to the richness of the Victorian
Tertiary deposits, which compared favorably with the better
known ones of Spain, Italy, and the West Indies. He gave a
number of useful hints on the collection of recent and fossil
species, with methods of cleaning and mounting for the microscope,
and illustrated his remarks with a fine series of lantern slides and
later by mounted specimens under the microscope.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

"Apple-nuts." — Mr. D. McAlpine forwarded a note on the
so-called " apple-nuts " or " fossil apples," which were recorded
in the Naturalist of May, 1906 (vol. xxiii,, p. 4), as having been
found in coal cargoes at various times. These he had, by
inquiry, found to be the seeds of a sago-yielding palm, Metroxylon
amicarum, Hook, f., indigenous to the Solomon Islands, from
whence they had been sent to Sydney as articles of commerce,
and becoming loose in the steamers had become mixed with
subsequent coal cargoes.

EXHIBITS.

The following were the principal exhibits : —

By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Male and female of a remarkable
beede, taken in ants' nests, Mulgrave River, Queensland, by
Mr. J. Hacker. Its determination by Mr. A. M. Lea, Government
Entomologist of Tasmania, had required the establishment of a

April, 1910] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 183

new family and genus, and it will be known to science as
Tretotliorax cleistotoma (Tretothoracidse), Lea. The new family
will come between the Brenthidae and the Colydiidse.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — Examples of an Algal mass, of a species
not yet determined, occurring in large patches over many acres of
damp ground in the Werribee district. Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S.,
called attention to the exhibit, and ventured the opinion that it
was probably a species of Vaucheria, but it would require micro-
scopical examination, and then only if in fruiting condition, to
determine the precise species.

By Mr. D. McAlpine. — Nuts of Palm, Metroxylon amicarum,
Hooker f, from Solomon Islands, known in commerce as
" apple-nuts," in illustration of note.

By Mr. J. G. O'Donoghue. — Fine flowering specimens of
Eucalyptus regnans, from Sassafras.

MICROSCOPICAL EXHIBITS.

By Mr. R. W. Armitagef. — Microscopic sections of (a)
junction of basalt, with included fossil charred wood, from Clifton
Hill quarry ; (6) basalt from same quarry ; (c) dense basalt from
plug or throat of Mount Bland, Beveridge, showing flow structure.

By Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S.f — Forty-one lantern slides in
illustration of paper. Forms of microscope slides used in
mounting Foraminifera. Foraminiferal shell-sand from Shore-
ham, Western Port. Foraminiferal dredgings from Point Cook,
Port Phillip Bay. Mounted slides of recent Foraminifera from
Hobson's Bay, St. Kilda, and Torquay. Foraminiferal clay from
the Altona Bay coal shaft. Foraminiferal limestone from Bates-
ford, near Geelong. Fossiliferous sands, with Foraminifera, from
Beaumaris, Grice's Creek (Frankston), and Torquay.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L S.t — Three types of pollen grains,
from Cobea scande^is, Epacris inipressa, and Acacia Baileyana ;
also fresh-water Algse (Desmidiacese), Closterium setaceum, Ehr.,
from Whanregarwan, Upper Goulburn ; and Staurastrum lepta-
canthum, Nordst., from Yan Yean.

By Mr. J. Searle.f — Marine Crustacea and rotifer, Pedalion
mirum.

By Mr. J. Stickland.f — Rotifers, Pedalion mirum and Megalo-
trocha alho-flavicans.

By Mr. J. Wilcox. — Living rotifers.

The following exhibits were made by members of the Micro-
scopical Society of Victoria : —

By Mr. W. G. Bullen. — Botanical and Entomological mounts.

By Mr. E. Creed. — Foraminifera and Polycystina.

By Rev. W. Fielder.* — Sections showing development of chick
at various stages.

* Also member of the Field Naturalists' Club,
t Also member of the Microscopical Society.

84 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI,

By Dr. J. C. Kaufmann.* — Spectre shrimps, with parasitic
diatoms ; diatoms from Beaumaris.

By Mr. J. Lambie. — Grouped diatoms and vase of butterfly
scales.

By Mr. W. J. M'Caw,* — Vegetable fibres under polariscope.

By Mr. S. Seabrook. — Anthrax and other bacteria.

By Mr. J. Twyford.* — Rock sections (granite and basalt) under
polariscope.

By Mr. J. Wilson. — Diatoms, Polycystina, &c.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

EXCURSION TO ALEXANDRA-AVENUE, &c.

Nineteen members and friends assembled at Prince's Bridge on
Saturday afternoon, 26th February, for the purpose of examining
the geological features of the lower Yarra and the instructive
road-sections exposed on the south side of the river. The
weather was all that could be desired, being delightfully fine and
cool. Turning to the left from the St. Kilda-road, past the
Immigrants' Home, the chief geological features of the locality
were pointed out by the aid of a sketch map. The former course
of the Yarra towards South Melbourne was remarked upon, as
seen in the site of swamps formerly crossing the St. Kilda-road
and the present Albert Park Lagoon. The prominent river-
cliffs of the South Yarra Silurian were noticed, where they begin
to rise in front of the artificially truncated mound on which stands
the Queen's statue. Some of the red sands from the capping of
the Silurian hills had been excavated and thrown down at the back
of the home aforesaid, and there was also a small heap of rubbly
Silurian at the same place, probably a remnant of the heaps of
debris which had already afforded one of our members some
choice specimens of the slender Orthoceras-like shell, Proto-
bactrites, and a Craniella. The old pumping station was located,
and the quarry at the side, which had in former times yielded
quite a rich harvest to a few of our indefatigable collectors. At
this place, near the anticline, and, in fact on one of its limbs,
were formerly found the handsome star-fish, Paloeaster, and the
trilobite, Homalonotus. The type-specimen of a curious little
crinoid, Hapalocrinus victorice, described by Dr. Bather, of the
British Museum, also occurred near here, but closer to the river.
The type-specimen of Cyphaspis spryi, Mr. F. Spry informed us,
was obtained close to the "Temple of the Winds." Before
reaching the first gate of the Botanical Gardens we halted at a
grassed depression containing a few heaps of Silurian fragments
and some blocks of the quartz-felsite dyke which occurs in the
road-section just beyond. The dyke is very compact, white,
and comparatively fresh. It is one of the widest of the igneous

* Also member of the Field Naturalists' Club.

April, 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 185

dykes traversing the Silurian in the vicinity, being 18 feet
thick ; but is, unfortunately, becoming obscured from view,
owing to the growth of ornamental vegetation. Near this
second quarry were obtained the fossil fucoids recorded by
Blandowski in 1858, and now determined as Bythotrephis.
Specimens of the dyke-rock were secured, and also a few fossils.
Proceeding up the river, beyond Anderson-street, the party
reached the site of Hoyte's Paddock, where, strewn on the road-
side, were numerous fragments ready for the hammers of the
practical students of the party. Whilst the naturalists studied the
broken fragments, the natives studied the field naturalists. A fair
amount of success rewarded the efforts of the " stonebreakers,"
and the specimens obtained were Trachyderma crassituha,
Chapm. MS. ; Camarot<jechia decemplicaia, Sow., sp. ; Nucleospira
australis, M'Coy ; Nucula melhournensis, Ch.; NucuUtes raac-
coyiamis, Ch. ; Palceoneilo, sp. ; Hyolithes spryi, Ch. ; Cycloceras
bullatum, Sow., sp. ; Encrinurus, sp., and (?) Ceratiocaris, sp.
(casts of spines and carapace). A search on the bank slope of
the river, a short distance beyond the Punt-road footbridge,
revealed the presence of a narrow dyke of a much-decomposed
igneous basic rock, full of dark biotite-mica crystals. This dyke-
rock is of a different nature to the more acid or granite-like dykes
usually met with in the Silurian, and, judging from occurrences
elsewhere, possibly older than the white felsitic dykes in the
Alexandra-avenue. It probably belongs to the ultra- basic lampro-
phyres, judging from the character of the green decomposition
products and the large proportion of biotite. The exposure seen
on this occasion may be one of the minor forks of a similar and
thicker dyke found in the neighbourhood of Chapel-street. This
concluded the business of the afternoon, and the members soon
afterwards dispersed, being fully convinced that it is not essential
to travel outside the zone of city sounds in order to study and
enjoy the problems of the past. — F. Chapman.

EXCURSION TO WEST WARBURTON.

The Foundation Day excursion (29th to 31st January),
originally intended for Gilderoy, in the valley of the Little
Yarra, was diverted to West Warburton by common consent of
those participating — viz., Messrs. Barnard, Mowling, Sutton,
and myself — the reason for the change being that all available
accommodation there had been early bespoken. Not wholly as
an afterthought. West Warburton claimed our attention as a centre
whence the large dacite area on the northern side of the Yarra
might be examined from the river to the top of the ridge by
traversing the valley of the Dee and cutting across the tributary
streamlets and up to " The Rock." This was the principal outing,
but the flats along the Yarra, the Silurian country to the east and

186 THE VICTOKIAK NATUKALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

west of the township, and the granite which, separating the latter
widely to the south, runs out as a narrow tongue to end abruptly
near the Yarra, afford a variety not easily obtained from any other
centre.

Comfortably housed at Mrs. Ryan's hotel on Saturday, the eye
was attracted to the steep mountain slopes on the further side of
the river, culminating westerly in the Rock and easterly in
Donna-Buang, about 4 miles apart, respectively 3,350 and 4,080
feet above sea-level. At the foot of the steep, the Yarra runs a
fast, swirling stream, fringed with a shrubbery mostly myrtaceous,
but including the proteaceous Lomatia longifolia^ &c., and
sheltered by these the Native Raspberry, Ruhus parvifolius, and
the introduced Bramble or Blackberry, R. Jruiiicosus, both in
fruit, helped to make an impenetrable thicket. South of the
Yarra the valley, which is very narrow at Warburton proper, widens
westerly, and fairly extensive alluvial flats carry appropriate vegeta-
tion, inclusive of several species of Eucalypts, the most con-
spicuous of these being the half-barked form of the Manna Gum,
E. viminalis ; and E. amygdalina, of lowland, full-barked habit ;
with E. goniocalyx, Victorian Spotted Gum, of smooth-barked
highland form ; and E. gunni, the Swamp Gum or Cider
Eucalypt, which here are good shade trees, owing to the
comparative bushiness of their branchlets and the profuseness of
the foliage, combined with a somewhat drooping habit of their
lower branches.

Previous excursion parlies of the Club had examined the valley
of the Don, which lies to the west of the Rock ( Vict. Nat., xxv.,
p. 3), and that of the Yithan, which has its origin near Donna-
Buang {Vict. Nat, xxii., p. 128). These being of similar aspect,
altitude, and geological condition, the character of the floras of
the Don and the Dee are, as would be expected, much alike and
of typical Gippsland gully character. Crossing the Yarra by a
substantial bridge, we found a somewhat steep road, mostly formed
by side-cutting, leading up the mountain side. Down below ran
the Dee, a foaming, rushing rivulet, so embowered in vegetation
as to be scarcely visible. Stately tree-ferns, many very tall, with
fine specimens of the King fern, Osmunda barbara, took advantage
of the cool, sheltered position, and enhanced the scene with their
ever graceful fronds. The climbers Lyonsia and Tecoma
entwined the blackwoods, prostantheras and dogwoods, and at
every turn some fresh arrangement of foliage delighted the eye.
At length we reached a plateau, where had formerly been a saw-
mill, and, getting directions from a resident, started along a
disused timber-tram towards the Rock, which we had decided was
to be our goal for the day. The first evergreen Beech, Fagus
Cunninghami, was encountered at an altitude of 1,000 feet,
and to this height the proscribed Rubus has gained a footing

April, 1910.] THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 187

along the roadway. The mountain side has been selected
and denuded of timber. This belt is about two miles
wide. Above it the forest area has also been cleared, partly
by legitimate cutting and partly by bush fires. Many years
ago the wastefulness of the timber-getter was, in the midst
of plenty, and under an old system, hardly observable, but from
the standpoint of the system of the last few years, and with timber
fast disappearing, the thousands of whitened trunks which lie
where they fell, or slid to when cut, caused us to indulge in much
useless regret. To-day active watchful foresters traverse the timber
lands to check illicit cutting and grazing, and, among much else,
even examine the refuse heaps at the mills to see that every
available foot of the logs is made use of, hence waste is now
almost reduced to its minimum. When climbing about these
mountain sides, forcing one's way through almost impenetrable
scrub and over huge tree trunks, one realizes far better than from
the comfort of an easy chair the area to be covered, the difficulties
of travel — often by saddle impracticable — and the comparative
fewness of the officers for the purpose.

During our climb through the higher portion of the forest we
'could not help but remarking the extraordinary length of the
strips of bark hanging from the trees. One tall tree had a
remarkable appearance. The bark had stripped from the base
upwards in a number of thin straps about j5.^-inch thick and a few
inches wide. One of these straps had been tossed by the wind
until the free end had reached an adjacent tall tree, round which
it tangled, and thus formed a giant festoon ; another had frayed
itself into a tine fringe, and several rested with their free ends on
the ground. By taking in hand the end of one of these and
walking away from the base of the tree we were able to estimate,
by means of the angle formed and the measured base, that the
bark had increased its original length by about lo per cent. !
the result of tensile strain of gravity and wind pressure. The
length of the strip was about loo feet.

The upper parts of the tributaries of the Dee run through
a fine beech forest, some of the old trees, with bifurcated trunks,
having a circumference at the base of over 30 feet. Two kinds
of fungus were plentiful on the old bark, one a Polyporus, a dark
brown, hard, horizontally laminated " bracket " fungus, and the
other, of which we brought away a fine specimen, has been
kindly identified by Mr. D. McAlpine, Government Vegetable
Pathologist, as Daldina co7icentrica (BaXi.), Cess, and De Nat.
Some interest attaches to this specimen, which, Mr. McAlpine
states, is the largest he has seen or read of. It was of hard,
smooth surface when collected, but in a few days was covered
with a sooty-black powder, and this, composed of spores ejected
from the asci, had sprinkled the sub-stratum on which the fungus

188 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVl-

rested to a radial distance of two inches beyond the margin of the
plant, which was about two and a half inches in diameter. On
the exposed root of an old beech, some six inches or so above
ground, the fractured and empty shell of the black land-snail,
Helix atramentaria, was found, and near it a Lyre-bird's feather.
The association was suggestive of a tragedy in low life. Can any
member tell us whether the Lyre-bird has been known to eat
these snails after fracturing the shell, as the Thrush does the
garden snail ? We had not been following the most direct track
to the summit, and after leaving the beech forest and its included
fern gullies, found ourselves in scrubby country, near the top of
the range, which was very difficult to traverse, owing to much of
the scrub having been beaten down into a veritable tangle by the
winter snow. At length this was passed, and a depression, one
of the heads of the Don, draining the other slope of the range,
crossed, but only to get into another almost impassable area,
covered with shrubby asters and cassinas, which, as we fought
our way through, rid themselves of the minute hairlets with which
they are clothed, and these latter, getting into our throats and
nostrils, set up a most terrible irritation, which was anything but
pleasant while it lasted. Eventually we struck a paling-getters'
track, from which " The Rock " is easily accessible through a
small forest of young blackbutts. This we found to be an exposed
boss of dacite, several acres in extent, with a precipitous face
turned to the south-east, but less steeply descending towards the
north-west. The surface is traversed by small and large fissures,
which strike south east, and others obliquely to the north. The
fissures occasioned by mechanical stress and change of tempera-
ture have become widened and hollowed out in places in
the process of weathering ; rain, frost, and the chemical action of
decomposing vegetable matter and living plants, such as lichens,
have paved the way for a growth of pseudo-petrophytes, stunted
gums, acacias, calistemon, &c., having secured a good root hold.
The rock weathers also by throwing off thin concentric flakes.
The summit was not without flowering plants of an herbaceous
nature, while in the crevices of the stones grew the little Rat-
tailed Fern, A splenium flab elli folium, the highest plant of all being
Geranium pilosum, but the introduced Flat Weed, Hypocharis
radicata, grew close by. The surrounding eucalypts are E. pillu-
laris, Blackbutt, E. goniocalyx, Victorian Spotted Gum, which
succeeds the Messmate, E. obliqua, and Manna Gum, E.
viminalis, &c., of lower altitude.

From "The Rock," in suitable weather, a magnificent view can
be obtained, and for this alone the climb is justified. The day was
too hazy to make out through our field-glasses any of the promi-
nent land-marks of Melbourne, forty miles away, but the pine
trees on the hill at Ringwood were distinctly visible, while Mounts

April, 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 189

Macedon and Baw Baw, about a hundred miles apart, bounded
our view to the west and east. To the north the sharp cone of
Mt. St. Leonard was just visible through the trees. We looked
over " Nyora," and Malleson's Look-out to Healesville, but the
most delightful view was down into the Yarra valley, nearly three
thousand feet below us, where the three townships of West War-
burton, Millgrove, and Warburton were prominent features. An
apparently level ridge led round eastwards to Donna-Buang,
while southwards range and valley succeeded one another as far
as the eye could reach. The position of Gilderoy, where we had
intended to explore, could just be made out among the ranges
about ten miles to the south-east. We returned by a more
direct route, and from the Dee valley brought away several
species of ferns and seedling plants, including an Eriostemon,
probably E. squamens, some of which are destined to find their
way into public gardens after a period of pot-life.

On the Monday we turned south-easterly and crossed the
intervening Silurian country on our way to that portion of the
State Forest between Warburton and the Britannia Creek. This
formation carries vegetation somewhat resembling that about
Ringwood, and appears at its best early in October, when a
great variety of wild flowers may be obtained in bloom. The
area has given many fine blooms to the Club's wild flower exhibi-
tions. When examining a Hakea rostrata we were informed by
Mr. Dowie, Forest Officer (whose duties for the day happily
coincided with our intentions), that the Black Cockatoo is fond of
the seeds of this shrub. The hard, woody pericarp splits
open easily when ripe, and the birds choose the ripening
season for the attack, leaving the forest shelter for the purpose.
On leaving the Silurian, and mounting the granite slopes
by the road leading up Yankee Jim's Creek to Old Warburton,
we were enabled to examine the gum-tree known locally
as " Silver-top" and " White Ironbark," and found it to be
Eucalyptus seiheriana, characterized by the somewhat spiral
fissures and ridges of the hard, dark bark and the silvery white
upper branches. We had seen nothing of this tree on the dacite
formation north of the Yarra. This gum, with E. aniygdalina,
Mountain Ash, and E. obliqua, Messmate, are the three principal
forest trees of this part. On burnt-out areas fine young gums
were growing. These, now a few feet high, will, if saved
from fire, reach their commercial zenith at about the time when
junior members of the F.N.C. have passed their prime. In the
work of planting forests the pleasure is an unselfish one. It is in
order that others may reap what is sown to-day — a quarter of a
century later. By the roadside grew the only orchid seen, and this
was a well-grown specimen of Dipodiuni punctatum, sometimes
called " Native Hyacinth." The beautiful King Parrot, Apros-
tnictus cyanojyygius, is reputed to be fond of the tubers, and

190 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

personally I hold this species of bird responsible for the dis-
appearance of some species of orchids from a district or locality.

We lunched at the Britannia Falls — a cataract having a fall of
about 60 feet in about four chains — and on our way home were
courteously afforded an opportunity to pay a brief visit to Messrs.
Cuming, Smith and Co.'s chemical works, in the western corner of
the forest. There we saw the process of converting forest trees
into charcoal, methylated spirit, formalin, acetic acid, &c.

The members of the party being all botanically inclined I am
unable to give an account of the bird and insect life, but,
generally speaking, insects and large birds, except parrots, were
scarce, though small birds, such as Tits, Wrens, and the like,
were numerous. In a '■ Spotted Gum " sapling by the roadside,
near West Warburton, a nest, constructed of bark fibre, &c.,
about 6 or 7 inches deep, and about 3 or 4 inches across, and
elliptical in vertical section, was noticed, and reached by means
of a fence post. Careful examination failed to disclose an
entrance, and it was only by burrowing one's finger through with
some force that it was ascertained that two warm eggs were
enclosed. We knew of no bird that so closes its nest up when
leaving it temporarily, perhaps an ornithological member present
could venture a guess at the kind of bird to which the nest
belongs.*

On the whole the excursion was enjoyable and profitable, and
the climb of nearly three thousand feet to " The Rock " as a one-
day excursion can be recommended to anyone who desires to
keep to beaten tracks, and at the same time enjoy the great
beauty and variety of the trees and shrubbery passed en route.
The distance from West Warburton station is probably a little
over five miles, while Millgrove is even nearer, and were the
tracks taken in hand by the Tourist authorities and improved
in places, and a few sign posts put up, there would be no better
outing to be obtained in the vicinity of Melbourne. — A. D.
Hardy.

VICTORIAN FORAMINIFERA— RECENT AND FOSSIL.
By Fredk. Chapman, A.L.S., F.R.M.S., Palaeontologist to the
National Museum.
(With plate).
(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, l-ith March, lOlt).
It is hoped that the following remarks upon one of our most
interesting groups of marine organisms may awaken in some of
the members, either of the Field Naturalist's Club or the Micro-
scopical Society of Melbourne, a desire for research ; and that it
may set them on the road to investigate some problems still open

* Mr. Keartland informed the meeting that it was probably the nest of one
of the Acanthizas. — A. D. H.

April, 1910. THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 191

for workers which may eventually prove to be of much scientific
value. Both phases of the study of Foraminifera — viz., the
systematic and the biological — will equally repay the earnest
worker. Systematic (geological and geographical) work on the
Foraminifera will throw more light upon the numerous questions
concerning their distribution, and also their behaviour under
varying conditions of life. This will link up to biological
investigation, involving their fascinating life-histories, of which I
spoke at a former meeting, and so gain a clearer and deeper
knowledge, not only of this group, but, indirectly, of all other
related protozoans. The biological side appears to be left
severely alone by amateur observers, perhaps on account of the
initial difficulties of starting a marine micro-aquarium ; but
those that reside near the coast will have no trouble in that
direction. All that is necessary is a wide-mouth pickle, or bell,
jar, partly filled with sea-water, and supplied with the material
to be observed. This is obtained from the red and green sea-
weeds found in low tide pools. A few bunches of the weed may
be shaken and washed in the jar, leaving therein a few fronds to
keep up the balance of conditions. The sandy material coming
from the surface of the fronds often largely consist of foraminiferal
shells in the living state. In the day time the living Foramini-
fera can be seen attached to the " Ught " side of the jar, with
their pseudopods extended. Although rather " fickle fish " to
catch and keep, it is remarkable how much a healthy Fora-
minifer will stand. As an instance, I may mention that, when
living at Putney, near London, I received some exceptionally
large examples of the shallow-water Foraminifer, Polystomella
crispa, from Hornell's famous marine laboratory at Jersey.
They survived the railway journey to London, enclosed in a
corked tube, and alter arrival through the post-office, exhibited
their rare beauty in a way that was hardly expected. The
leisurely manner in which they threw out and retracted their
streaming, granular, and inosculating threads of protoplasm,
afforded a charming sight under a black ground illumination,
sufficient to turn any microscopist who saw them into an ardent
and life-long student of that group of animals.

Amongst the biological problems ready to the hand of our
Victorian naturalists may be mentioned the determination of the
actual pelagic or floating foraminiferal fauna found along our
coasts, and the recording of the phenomena connected with their
reproduction ; the occurrence of dimorphism in the recent and
fossil Victorian species, the noting of generic forms which show
the phenomenon of plastogamy, and the explanation of the proble-
matic cause of fistulose outgrowths in the nodosarines and the
polymorphines.

The systematist will also find his hands very full investigating
the faunas of the shore sands, estuarine muds, or deeper

192 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

water deposits. Also, in the imperatively important work of
defining the fossil faunas of our Tertiary strata, which, by the
way, will favourably compare with the rich deposits of Italy and
Spain and the West Indian Islands. A word of warning is here
necessary to amateur workers. In sifting the material be perfectly
certain that you do not invalidate your results by the accidental
inclusion of a few grains of another deposit which may have been
retained in the sieves ; and it is a good rule to carefully clean
the sieves before putting them aside. Further, never waste time
on a deposit of doubtful horizon or locality, for good material is
plentiful, and there are benevolent collectors of the larger fossils
who are only too glad to find someone who can make a good
use of their fossil cleanings.

Recent Victorian Foraminifera. — Our shore-lines afford a
perfect harvest of foraminiferal shells, if searched at the right
time and in the quieter indents. The shore sands of Hobson's
Bay contain Polystomella macella and Miliolina seminulum in
great abundance, together with some Spiroloculinse, whilst the
finer, silty portion, such as may be found adherent to the piles
of piers and groynes, on the information of Mr. F. Barnard, sen.,
is full of the delicate bottle-shaped shells of the Lagence and the
plaited shells of the minute hyaline Bolivince. The shore-sands
of Altona Bay are especially rich in the Polymorphince, some of
the specimens showing the curious oral outgrowth (fistulose
condition) which appears to lead, morphologically, to the form
Ramulina. Many beautiful and delicate species of Foraminifera
may be collected on the retreating tide at Beaumaris, where, also,
there is a large proportion of the carapaces of Ostracoda belong-
ing to the genera Fontocypris, Bairdia, Cythere, and Gylherella.
Not much attention has been directed to the deeper water fauna
of Victoria and the vicinity, but the writer has now some material
in hand from the trawler " Endeavour," which is giving very
interesting results, and which will be embodied in a report to be
published under the auspices of the National Museum.

Tertiary Foraminijera. — These are so important and deeply
interesting as a whole, that time will not permit to do more than
just mention the directions in which our investigations, up to the
present, point us. One striking feature in the Tertiary foramini-
teral fauna is the absence of the Nummulite from the Australasian
region, although the genus occurs elsewhere in the Upper
Oligocene, the age of which I take our oldest beds to be. The
larger part of our Tertiary deposits, from the standpoint of the
megascopic foraminiferal types, are comparable with the
Miocene ot the South of Europe, Asia, and the East Indian
Archipelago, as well as parts of the West Indies. This is seen
in the occurrence of certain forms restricted to definite geological
horizons, as in the genus Lepidocyclina.

Another interesting point brought out by the study of the

April, 1910.[ THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 193

Victorian fossi! Foraminifera is the direct light it throws upon
climate and depth of sea bottom. As regards the first, the
Oligocene and Miocene, as elsewhere, enjoyed a sub-tropical
climate, many forms, now only found in coral areas, being typical
of our Balcombian and Janjukian strata. In later times, towards
the Pliocene (Kalimnan), the climate became much colder and
perhaps even of lower temperature than at the present day.

As regards bathymetrical limits, certain forms indicate a
shallow, shelving sea bottom, others a deep water habitat ; while
still others indicate estuarine conditions, with intercalated fluvia-
tile influence ; and even a dune-sand deposit skirting a coastal
margin, as shown by the occurrence of polished sand and shells
due to aeolian action.

Of older foraminiferal deposits there is very little to say, so
far as our present knowledge goes. There are traces of what
appear to be foraminiferal tests in the Devonian limestones of
Gippsland. In the Silurian limestone of Cave Hill, Lilydale, the
sandy coiled tests of Ammodiscus are not uncommon.

Some Practical Hints.

On the Collection of Recent Foraminifera. — The whitish tide-
streaks left on a gently sloping shore by the retreat of the water
consist of Foraminiferal shells, mostly dead, echinoid spines, fry
of mollusca and seeds. Sometimes a particularly pure gathering
of littoral Foraminifera may be made by scraping the surface of
the sand carefully and lightly with a broad, sharp-edged spoon,
the square-edged lid of a mustard tin or a bent up stiff card.
The material obtained can be filled into a tin, and should be
washed from saline matter as soon as possible.

The silt from estuarine mud deposits often contains a rich
assemblage of the beautiful lagena shells ; and these, if they
be empty, can be separated by throwing the dried material on to
a bowl of water, when they will float, leaving the heavier, minute
sand particles to sink. This floating film of shells can be poured
off into a second vessel and the water siphoned away, so that
one is enabled to dry off the shelly material. Another method is
to skim off the floating shells on strips of blotting paper,
which can be easily dried.

A good method of procuring quantities of living Foraminifera
is employed by Mr. J. J. Lister. A double sieve is used, the top
being of horse-hair, which will allow the Foraminifera and little
else to pass through, the lower being of bolting cloth, which
retains the Foraminifera. This sieve is taken to low-tide pools,
where the sea-weed is washed into it, generally with good
results.

Dredgings from deeper waters are often rich in these micro-
scopic shell deposits, especially in the proximity to currents and
where there are calcareous rather than igneous rocks in the
neighbourhood.

194 THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

Living Foraminifera may be killed by putting them in a mixture
of warm saturated solution of corrosive sublimate, 4 parts, and
glacial acetic acid, i part. They should then be cleaned in water
and placed in picro-carmine for some hours.

To preserve dredgings, use a 5 per cent, solution of formalin
neutralized with a little powdered chalk.

A valuable reagent for decalcifying the foraminiferal tests for
the purpose of observing the protoplasmic body is that
known as Perenyi's fluid. It is as follows : — Nitric acid, 10 per
cent., 4 vols. ; abs. alcohol, 3 vols. ; chromic acid, 5 per cent.,
3 vols.

On the Collection of Fossil Foraminifera.— Tho. calcareous
clays afford the better preserved specimens. Sands are nearly
always barren, owing to the dissolution of the shells by water
percolating through the beds. In washing clays for the extrac-
tion of the Foraminifera, it must be borne in mind that this class
of rocks, even the most tenacious, will freely disintegrate if first
thoroughly dried. Pieces of the size of a walnut, or larger, may
be dropped into a vessel of water, and left undisturbed until the
whole has broken up into a flocculent mass, when the finer
argillaceous and amorphous constituents may be separated by
washing. The cleaning process is facilitated by pouring off most
of the water and rapidly whirling or shaking the vessel until the
fossil organisms are freed by friction from the obscuring clay
particles. Example : —The Tertiary clays of Balcombe's Bay.

With limestones a different course of treatment is necessary.
The specimens selected should be as friable as possible. They
should be placed in a strong vessel, or, preferably, in a porcelain
mortar, with enough water to just cover the fragments, and then
gently pounded by as slight a pressure as will break down the
material. Example : — The Tertiary limestone of the Filter
Quarry at Batesford. In England this disintegration of refrac-
tory fossiliferous rocks is done by putting out the specimens
during a sharp frost, and, although in this country such
conditions would only be obtainable in the Australian Alps, yet
the method could be resorted to by artificial means of freezing.
In some exceptional cases even hard limestones will allow the
foraminiferal tests to be separated by the coercive measures
described above. The disintegrated rubble may then be washed,
dried, and sifted, preparatory to sorting.

Sorting Foraminiferal Residues. — To render the selection of
specimens easy, it is advisable to sift the dried material into
grades of varying coarseness. A set of sieves will be found
useful, having 30, 60, and 90 meshes to the linear inch.
Advantage of the shape of the foraminiferal tests may be taken
from the tendency of the more globular or cylindrical forms to roll
on an inclined plane. The sorting of the first grade of siftings
may be easily done with a lens, but the finer material will require

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST— Vol. XXVI.

Plate vii.

April, 1 9 10.

Pl^. 1. x;26

K.Halmi _

'^-l' r.U*'

Fig-.i . -x^ze

Ua-s-.

'C^^.'^'t^ ^/^ O^

Micro-photo., F. C.

VICTORIAN FORAMINIFERA.

Fig. I. Recent Foraminifera from St. Kilda Beach.
Fig. 2. Fossil Foraminifera from Balcombe's Bay.

April, 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 195

the use of a 2-inch or i-inch objective. A convenient sorting
tray may be made of vulcanite, with a projecting ^^^j-inch
rim, the slide being made slightly larger than the ordinary 3-inch
X i-inch slide.

Mounting Foraminifera. — For dry mounting a cheap and
convenient slide may be made of a slip of 3 x i-inch wood,
bored with a central hole of ^-inch or %-inch diameter, or of
thick cardboard of the same dimensions, perforated by a hole
made with a gun punch. The wood or cardboard slip can then
be glued to a piece of thin card, on which a patch of indian ink,
slightly larger than the hole in the slide, has been painted.
Where cabinet space is limited and specimens numerous, many
shells may be mounted on one slide in which the cell is large,
rectangular, and divided into spaces which are numbered. This
can be covered with removable glass, and a reference index kept
for each slide. The specimens may be gummed on separately,
or, as in the composite slide, the whole surface may be prepared,
and the specimen secured by the application of the moistened
tip of a fine brush. To attach the specimens gum arable may be
used, but it should be rendered tough by the addition of a itw
grains of sugar or a few drops of glycerine to each ounce of
liquid gum. A drop of oil of cloves introduced will prevent
mould. Gum tragacanth gives good results, as it dries with a dull
surface. It requires a little practice in its use, however, as it has
the consistency of a stiff paste.

Transparent mounts of foraminiferal shells involve the cleaning
of the tests. This is done by boiling in a weak solution of
caustic potash, to remove the organic matter. After careful
washing the material may be passed through absolute alcohol,
turpentine, and finally into Canada balsam dissolved in xylol, in
which it is mounted. If left long enough in the turpentine bath
all air bubbles will be removed. In mounting, the heat employed
should not be so great as to cause vapour bubbles to form in the
liny chambers of the shells ; and to obviate this a steam bath
should be used.

Explanation of Plate.

Fig. I. — Recent Foraminifera from St. Kilda beach. This sand contains
the following Foraminifera: — Miliolhta seminulum, L. , sp. ; M. subrotunda,
Mont., sp. ; Discorbina dimidiata, P. and J. ; and Polystomella macella, F.
and M., sp. Also separate valves of the ostracodes Loxoconcha, sp., and
Cythere canaliculata, Reuss ; together with numerous spines of Echinocardiuni
austrah. Gray. x dr. 26.

Fig. 2. — Fossil Foraminifera, &c., from washings of Tertiar)- clay (Bal-
combian age), at Balcombe's Bay, near Mornington. Containing the follow-
ing Foraminifera : — Bolivina ptiiictata, d'Orb. ; Lagena dis/oma, P. and J. ;
L. sulcata, W. and T. ; Cristellaria crepidula, F. and M.. sp ; and Globigenna
bttUoides, d'Orb. Also a radiolarian, Haliomma, sp. ; numerous shells of the
pteropod, Limacina iertiara, Tate, sp. ; and calcareous spicules of an ascidian.
■; cir. 26.

The photomicrographs are taken from slides in the cabinet of the National
Museum by permission.

196 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI.

The Apple-nut of the Solomon Islands. — At various times
peculiar vegetable formations, shaped like moderately sized
apples, of a blackish-brown colour on the outside and excessively
hard, have been found mixed with the coal used for the locomo-
tives on the Victorian Railways, and their occurrence was
recorded in this journal in May, 1906, vol. xxiii., page 4. They
seem at first sight like the fruit of some palm, and had probably
been in the hold of the ship which brought the coal to Melbourne.
However that may be, specimens were sent to me for identifica-
tion, and there are also specimens in the National Museum and
at the Museum of Economic Botany, Melbourne Botanic
Gardens. It is named at the latter Museum Sclerosperma
manni, H. Wendl., a palm found in tropical Africa, and commonly
known as Mann's Ivory-Nut Palm, while Mr. R. H. Walcott, of
the National Museum, received the name from another authority
as Metroxylon vUiense, Benth. and Hook., a palm belonging to the
Fiji Islands. As it was desirable to have this matter cleared up,
especially when specimens were displayed in public institutions,
a sample was forwarded to the Director of the Royal Gardens,
Kew, who courteously replied " The palm-nut sent for identi-
fication is apparently that of Metroxylon amicarum, Hodg." In
the Kew Bulletin for 1897 there is an account of these nuts
under the heading of Ivory Nuts in a report on the British
Solomon Islands, and the references there to prices in Sydney
show that these nuts are articles of commerce, and no doubt had
been carried as cargo in the ships which afterwards loaded with
coal. The report states that "These nuts are the fruit of a palm,
Metroxylon amicarum, one of the sago-yielding palms. The
species is, I believe, peculiar to the Solomons, and grows wild
throughout the group in inexhaustible quantity. The nuts are
exported as vegetable ivory, and are used for making buttons and
similar small articles. Some years ago I made inquiries in
London as to the market for these nuts, and ascertained
that they were known in the trade as ' apple-nuts,' and that three
Birmingham firms occasionally used them. I was informed that
the chief objection to them was the hollow core through the
middle, and their reluctance to take a black dye. More went to
Germany and Vienna than to London. About three years ago
the price of these nuts suddenly jumped from about ^3 a ton in
Sydney to £,\2, at which price a considerable quantity were sold,
and the market probably overstocked. Their value has now
relapsed to about ;^5 a ton in Sydney, at which figure there
seems to be a good demand. The sudden inflation in value was
due, as I was informed, to the demand of a Vienna firm, who
used a considerable quantity for making the wheels of roller
skates." It may be remarked that the vegetable ivory of
commerce is the white seeds of an almost stemless palm known
as Phytelephas macrocarpa. — D. McAlpine.

Supplement to the ''Victorian Naturalist,'' April, 1910

THE

Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria.

(.FOUNDED MAY, 1880}.

-^i^ M E M B E R S Jl^

31st (VIARCH, 1910

(With Date of Flection and particulars of Branch of Study).

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Oct. 1885 t ATKINSON, E. D., C.E.. F.R.G.S., Tasmania.

July 1883 BROUN, Captain T., Howick, N.Z.

Aug. 1884 COX, Dr. J. C, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S., Sydney, N..S.W.

Aug. 1884 FINSCn, Dr. Otto, Germany.

Sep. 1889 tLEGGE, Lieut.-Col. W. V., R.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.,

Hobart.
Feb. 1893 *tLUCAS, A. H. S., M.A., B.Sc, Grammar School, Sydney,

N.S.W.
Aug. 1882 RAMSAY, Dr. E, P., F.R.S.E., &c., Sydney, N.S.W.

LIFE MEMBERS.

Sep. 1884 BAGE, Mrs. Edward, "Cranford," Fulton-street, E. St. Kilda.
Sep. 1882 PATEY, B. R., Esq., Premier Buildings, Collins-street, M.

ORDINARY MEMBERS.

Aug. 1907 Anderson, G., 32 Park Hill-road, Kew ... Ornithology

Aug. 1S85 Andrews, H., 206-208 Flinders-lane, Melbourne

Oct. 1909 Anjou, Hy., Neerim-road, Murrumbeena

Aug. 1906 Armitage, Jas. A.. 510 Station-street, N. Carlton

April 1906 + Armitage, R. W. , 441 Canning-street, Carlton Biology, Geol.

June 1906 t Audas, J. W. , National Herbarium, S.Y. ... liotany

Feb. 1904 t Bage, Miss F., M.Sc, "Cranford," Fulton-st.,

St. Kilda ... . . ... ... General Biol.

June 1906 Bainbridge, J. W., Crown Lands Dept., M. ... Botany

Aug. 1889 t Baker, H. H., 78 Swanston-street, Melbourne Microscopy

May 1880 ^Bale, W. M., F. R.M.S., Walpole-street, Kew Hydroids

May 1880 0 Barnard, F., " Bracondale," Foley-street, Kew

May 1880 o*t Barnard, F. G. A., 49 High-street, Kew Ent.,Bot.(Ferns)

Dec. 1909 Barr, Jas., 39 Queen-street, Melbourne

Sept. 1899 * t Barrett, C. L. , J/e?-a/tt Office, Melbourne ... Orn. & Reptilia

May 1906 Bennett, W. J., "Riverside," Davidson-st., South Yarra

Dec. 1907 Bennetts, W. R., Pakington-street, Kew ... Pond Life

May 1880 fi*t Best, D., 291 Littfe Collins-street, M. ... Ent. (Col.)

Nov. 1900 t Billiiighurst, F. L. , National Bank, Bacchus

Marsh... ... ... ... ... Ent. (Col.)

Nov. 1904 Booth, J., " Orwilda Ruma," 25 Rathdown-st.,

Carlton .. ... ... ... Amphibia

May 1905 Booth, Miss D. E. H., 25 Rathdown-st., Carlton
May 1905 Booth. Miss E. S., " Oakover." P>ell-st.. S. Preston
Aug. 1906 Borlase, J., Tooronga-road, Malvern
Mar. 1907 Bothroyd, T. W., M.A., Tooronga-rd., Hawthorn

u

May 1896
Aug. 1909
Dec. 1909
May 1897
Dec. 1906

Mar. 1909
Mar. 1907
Dec. 1902
May 1902

July 1902
Dec, 1908
Mar. 1889

July 1882
Nov. 1906
May 1905
Nov. 1905
Nov. 1902

Dec. 1903
Aug. 1905
Felx 1 90 1
Dec. 1892
July 1902
June 1909
Nov. 1905
Feb. 1903
May 1880
May 1904
Dec. 1 90 1
Dec. 1909
April 1906

Sept. 1907
May 1890

May 1880

July 1883

Mar. 1905

Aug. 1885

Mar. 1901

Oct. 1900

July 1883

June 1900

July 1908

Nov. 1889

Oct. 1880

April 1909
July 1883
Aug. 1907
June 1902
May 1902
Dec. 1906
Dec. 1909

Supplement to the " Victorian Natmalist."

Brunning, J., Somerville

Bury, F. C., Hoyt-street, Sandringham

Bury, Miss E., State School, St. Kilda Park

* + Campbell, A. ]., Elm-grove, Armadale

+ Campbell, A. G.,"" Fernside Orchard," Pomonal,

viii Stawell
t Carter, T., M.B.O.U., Broom Hill, W. Aust.
Catron, Jos., State School, Charlton
Cayley, F. J., Werribee
tChapman.F., A.L.S., F.R.M.S., Nat. Museum,

Melbourne
Clark, Alister, " Glenara," Bulla
Clarke, A. Rutter, Orrong-road, Toorak
Cochrane, Miss S. W. L., 102 Drummond-street,

Carlton

* Coghill, G., 72 Swanston-street, Melbourne ...
tCole, C. F. , 28 Currajong-road, Auburn
Coles, H. J., Bourke-street, Melbourne
Cormack, F. G., Mail Branch, G.P.O., M.
Cowle, Miss L., c/o Mr. Priest, Devonport W.,

Tasmania
Cowle, Miss C
Cudmore, Mrs.

Orn., Oology

Orn., Oology
Ornithology

Geol., Palseon.
Ornithology

Botany
Botany
Ornithology
Ornithology

Prince's Terrace, S. Melbourne
S.V.

Springfield," Murphy-st.

D'Alton, St. Floy, C.E., Dimboola ... ... Botany

Danks, A. T., Bourke-street, Melbourne

Davey, H. W., Cavendish-street, Geelong

Davis, Miss M., 337 Weston-street, Brunswick

Dawes, Capt. R. J., 76 Morris-st., Williamstown

Day, A. J., Lands Department, Melbourne

0 * Dixon, J. E., 50 Swan-street, Richmond Ent. (Col. & Lep.)

Edmondson, C. H., 75 Riversdale-rd., Hawthorn

Edmondson. Mrs. C. H.. Riversdale-rd., Hawthorn

Eltis, R. H. M., Livingstone-street, Ivanhoe

*tEwart, Professor A. J., D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S.,

National Herbarium, .South Yarra .. Botany

Farr, W. H., Flinders

*tFielder, Rev. W., F.R.M.S., " Croft," Orrong-
road, Armadale ... ... ... Micro. Biology

0 * t French, C, F.L.S., F.E.S., Department of

Agriculture, Entomological Branch, M. ... Entomology

* + French, C, jun.. Department of Agriculture,

Entomological Branch, Melbourne ... Entomology

Fripp, S. J. A., 126 Wattletree-road, Malvern
*t Frost, C, F.L.S., Scott-street, Canterbury ... Reptilia
FuUard, A. F. , Barker's-road, Hawthorn
*t Fulton, S. W., 369 Collins-street, M. ... Crustacea

*t Gabriel, J., 293 Victoria-street, Abbotsford ... Oology
t Gabriel, C. J., 293 Victoria-st., Abbotsford .. Marine Cone.
Gabriel, L E. , Sale
Gates, W. F., M.A., "Cullymont," Selwyn-rd.,

Canterbury

* + Gatliff, J. H., Commercial Bank, Lygon-street,

Carlton ... ... ... ... Marine Cone.

Gillbanks, Miss G., Normanby-st. , M. Ponds

tGodfrey, F. R., "Graylings," Alma-road, St. Kilda

Goodson, W. E., State School, Doncaster

tGoudie, D., Sea Lake, Victoria ... Ent. (Lep.)

tGoudie, J. C, Sea Lake, Victoria ... ... Ornith., Ent.

Gray, O., VVedderburn, Victoria
Greenwood, Rev. A. J., Smythesdale

Supplement to the " Victorian Naturalist." iii

Jan. 1961 Greenwood, G. F., " Garrell," Glen Eira-rd, Caul.

July 1909 *tHaase, J. F., 367 A Little Collins-sl., M. ... Entomology

June 1888 *tHall, T. S., M.A., D.Sc, University, Carlton Gen. Bio., Geo.

(Grapt.)
Dec. 1905 Hamilton, Jas. T., F. L. S., lleidelberg-rd. , Ivanhoe
Sept. 1887 Hammet, E. R. , State School, Loch
Sept. 1909 Handley, Edgar, 74 Park-st., North Fitzroy
Mar. 1908 Harding, A. D., c/o Huddart Parker and Co., M.
Nov. 1901 *+Hardy, A. U., F.L.S., F.R.M.S., Forests Hot. (Freshwtr,

Dept., Melbourne ... ... ... Algas)

Jan. 1904 t Hardy, Mrs. A. D., Studley-avenue, Kew ... Ornith, Oology.
Aug. 1887 t Hart, T. S., M.A., School of Mines, Ballarat Geology, Bot.
July 1899 Hartnell, W. A., " Irrewarra," Burke-road,

Camberwell
Dec. 1905 t * Harvey, J. H., A.R.LV.A., 128 Powlett-st.,

East Melbourne
Jan. 1884 * Hill, G. R., "Glenrowan," Dandenong-rd.,

Windsor
Aug. 1909 Hill, G. F., "Glenrowan," Dandenong-road,

Windsor ... ... ... ... Ornithology

April 1901 t Hill, J. A., Kewell, z'w Murtoa ... ... Ent., Orn.

Mar. 1907 Horner, Miss L. , State School, Castlemaine
Dec. 1907 Hosking, P. F., loi Elgin-street, Carlton
June 1909 Hull, Edw., 16 Vale-street, East Melbourne
Mar. 1907 Jamieson, W. Boyd, M.A., State Sch., Red Blulf,

Huon
Feb. 1909 Jardine, B. A. L., Clermont, Queensland ... Urnitliology

April 1909 tjarvis, E., Dept. Agriculture, Brisbane ... Entomology

Jan. 1905 Jeffery, H. W., "Hazeldene," Cochrane-slreet,

N. Brighton
Nov. 1907 Johnson, H., 36 Rouse-street, Port Melbourne
April 1905 t Jutson, J. T., " Oakworth," Smith-st, Northcote Geology
•Vpril 1904 Kaufmann, J. C, LL.D., 21 Kooyongkoot-road,

Hawthorn ... ... ... ... Pond Life, Mic.

Feb. 1886 *tKeartland, G. A., ^j^f Office, Collins-street, M. Ornilh., Oology

Feb. 1907 Kellock, C. F., Sloyd Centre, Castlemaine

July 1908 Kelly, Reginald, Healesville ... ... ... Botany

Nov. 1905 Kendall, H., 14 Rathmines-grove, Auburn
Feb. 1906 Keppel, Miss K., Marysville

Mar. 1888 *t Kershaw, J. A., F.E.S., National Museum, M. Zoology.
July 1S93 t Kitson, A. E., F.G.S., c/o J. S. Kitson, Con-
tinuation School, Melbourne ... ... ... Geology

June 1903 Kitson, J. S., Continuation School, Melbourne... Geology

Sept. 1908 Lazarus, Miss M., M'Kean-street, North Fitzroy

Dec. 1902 * t Leach, J. A., M.Sc, Education Dept., M. ... Biology, Geol.

Sept. 1907 Leach, Mrs. J. A., 48 Leopold-street, .S. Yarra
May 1903 Lees. E. H., C.E., F.R.A.S., Fairhavcn, Mallacoota
Oct. 1905 * + Le Souef, D., C.M.Z.S., Royal Park.

Parkville ... ... ... ... Ornith., Oology

iVug. 1907 Lindsay, J., State School, Wannon

Oct. 1907 Littlejohii, W. S., M.A., Scotch College, M.

Feb. 1902 Luly, W. H., Spring-street, Preston

April 1888 t Lyell, G., jun., F. E.S., Gisborne ... ... Ent. (Lcp.)

June 1887 * + Macgillivray, Dr. W., Broken Hill, N.S.W. Ornith., Oology

Jan. 1907 Mackeddie, Dr. J. F., Collins-street, Melbourne

Dec. 1902 + Madden, Hon. F., M.L.A., Studley Park, Kew

Sept. 1908 Maddren, Miss H., Retreat-road, Hampton

Jan. 1908 tMahony, D. J., M.Sc, Dept. of Mines, M. ... Geology

Nov. 1904 + Maplestone, C. M., Eltham ... ... Polyzoa (recent,

fossil)

jv Supplement to the " Victorian Naturalist.

July 1

908

Dec. 1

905

Nov. I

895

Sept. 1

908

April 1

909

May

885

July I

894

June

904

Jan.

904

Aujj.

899

June

904

July 1

899

Jan. ]

909

Nov. 1

S84

Dec. ]

905

Oct.

895

April

903

May 1

880

Dec.

908

Dec. 1

904

May

902

Mar. I

910

May ]

880

Jan. 1

909

June

909

Sept. ]

901

May

892

May

909

May 1

905

Jan.

909

April

909

Aug. 1

908

June

909

Jan.

903

May

[904

Mar. ]

899

Nov. 1

896

Jan.

910

Jan.

910

Sept.

908

May

[880

Jan.

909

Nov. ]

885

Mar.

[909

July 1

885

Oct.

909

May

889

Oct.

[909

July

884

July

884

May

905

June

[906

May ]

880

May

1902

Marks, Woolf, 413 Collins-street, Melbourne

Marshall, Jas. E., Tamleugh North

*t Mattingley, A. H. E., C.M.Z.S., Kew ... Urnilholugy

Mattingley, Mrs. A. H. E., Kew

McAll, Geo., 254 Burnley-street, Richmond

+ McAlpine, D., Department of Agriculture, M. Botany

* McCavv, W. J., 7 Liddiard-street, Glenferrie ... Zoology

McLennan, J. P., 10 Chaucer-st., Moonee Ponds Botany

McMahon, W. Hugh, Liebig-street, Warrnamboul

McNab, L. K., " Braeside," Waiora-rd, Caulfield

Montgomery, Miss M. H., State Schl., Clifton Hill

Morgan, W. J., 11 Robb-street, Essendon

Morris, Morris, Biological School, University

Morrison, Dr. A., Rokeby-road, Subiaco, Perth,

W.A. ... ...

Morrison, J. S., " Kooya," Eglinton-st., M. Ponds
Mowling, G., " Athol," Auburn-road, Hawthorn
+ Nicholls, E. B., 164 Victoria-st., North M.
otNorth, A. J., C.M.Z.S., Australian Museum,

Sydney, N.S.W.
O'Donoghue, J. G. , City-road, S. Melbourne ...
Oke, Chas., 56 Chaucer-street, St. Kilda
O'Neil, W. J., Department of Lands, Melbourne
Petherick, E. J., F.R.G.S., Melbourne
(;*t Pitcher, F., Botanical Gardens, Melbourne ...
Plumridge, C. L. , Peel-street, Kew
Plumridge, E. A., 76 Regent-street, Richmond
tPritchard, G. B., B.Sc, F.G.S., 22 Mantell-

street, Moonee Ponds
Quiney, H., Mortlake

Raff, Miss J., B.Sc, Stanley-st., Elsternwick ...
Randall, Miss M., "Litchfield," Primrose-street,

Essendon
Read, W. J., 66 Smith-street, Kensington
Ritchie, Miss E. M., Hotham-st., Balaclava
Robertson, J. L., M.A., 35 Hutcheson-st., Moonee

Ponds
Robinson, John, 16 Vale-st., East Melbourne
*Roger, W. H. A., 19 Wattletree-rd., Armadale Ent. (Lep.)
Rollo, Miss J., 65 Tivoli-road, South Yarra
Ross, J. Andrews, Station-street, Jumbunna

Ryan, Dr. C, 37 Collins-street, Melbourne ... Ornith., Oology
Ryan, Dr. E., Collins-streSt, Melbourne
Ryan, Dr. T. F., Nhill

Sarovich, Mrs. C. J., Beach-st., Port Melbourne
^*tSayce, O. A., .A.L.S., " Staplehurst,"

Harcourt-street, Hawthorn ... ... Crustacea

Scott, Alex. L., 27 Evelina-road, Toorak ... Geology

Scott, W., 54 Fletcher-street, Essendon
Searby, C, B.A., Continuation School, Melbourne
Searle, J., 274 CoUins-street, Melbourne
Semple, Dr. W. H., Kilmore

*tShephard, J., CJarke-st.. South Melbourne ... Pond lift-
Simpson, S., State School, Glenroy
*Simson, Mrs. J., "Trawalla," Toorak
Simson, Miss, " Trawalla," Toorak

Skeats, Professor E. W., D.Sc, Univ., Carlton ... Geology
Slack, T., State School, Bacchus Marsh

0 t Sloane, T. G., " Moorilla," Young, N.S.W. Ent. (Col.)
Smith, A. J., Port Albert

Botany

Ornithology

Ornithology
Ornithology
Entomology

Botany
Botany

Geology, Cone.

Ornithology

Botany

SuppleiftcHt Lu the ''Victorian Natiiyalist." v

Dec. 1901 Somers, Dr. J-, Edgeworth, Mornington
Oct. 1903 Somerville, W., 16 Bellevue-street, Richmond
Jan. 1903 Spark, J. M., Harding-street, Surrey Hills
Aug. 1887 *tSpencer, Professor W. Baldwin, CM. G.,D.Sc..

M.A., F. R.S., University, Carlton ... Biol., Zoology

Feb. 1882 t Spry, F., Napier-street, South Melbourne ... Entomology
Nov. 1908 St. John, P. R. H., Mason-street, South Yarra Botany
Jan. 1908 Stephen, W. J., 32 Robinson's-road, Hawthorn
Nov. 1880 Stickland, J., Latrobe-street, Melbourne ... Pond life

July 1S85 * t Stickland, W., Latrobe-street, Melbourne ... Pond life
Nov. 1900 *t Sutton, Dr. C. S., Rathdown-street, N. Carlton Botany
July 1886 *+Sweet, G., F.G.S., "The Close," Wilson-st.,

Brunswick ... ... ... ... Geology

May 1903 Thiele, A. O., Chatham road, Canterbury

Dec. 1892 Thiele, A. F. , Doncaster

Oct. 1909 Thiele, E. F., Doncaster — ... ... Ornithology

Jan. 1908 Thomson, Capt W. C, Ascot, Brisbane, 0\{\.
Feb. 1904 Thomson, Dr. J. R. M., Hawthorn-rd., Caullield
Sept. 1900 f Thorn, W., Findon-st., Hawthorn
April 1883 * + Topp, C. A., M.A., LL.B., Royal-crescent,

Armadale ... ... ... Botany

Aug. 1907 f Tovey, J. R. , National Herbarium, South Yarra Botany

April 1904 Trebilcock, R. E.. Wellington-street, Kerang ... Ent. (Lep.)

Oct. 1903 Tuckett, Jos. H., Neerim-road, Murrumbeena

June 1904 Turner, Miss E. J., " Torridge," Domain-road, S.Y.

Jan. 1910 Twyford, J., 9 Villier.s-.'-treet, Elsternwick ... Microscopy

Dec. 1908 Walcott, R. H., F.G.S., National Museum, M. ... Mineralogy

Nov. 1891 Walker, J. B. , Mackillop-street, Melbourne

Jan. 1908 Wallace, Rev. H., Frankston

June 1904 t Waterhouse, G. A., B.Sc, F.E.S., Royal Mint,

Sydney, N.S.W. ... ... ... Ent. (Lep.)

Sept. 1908 Waters, C, Continuation School, Melbourne
Nov. 1901 t Weindorfer, G., "Roland Lea," Kindred, Tas. Botany
Aug. 1904 Westley, Rev. A. H., The Vicarage, Drouin ... Ent. (Col. J
May 1906 Wettenhall, Dr. R., c/o Miss Clerk, Muir-st.,

Hawthorn
May 1905 White, Miss R. E.J. , D.Sc, Observatory Quarters,

South Yarra ... ... ... ... Botany

June 1909 White, Mrs. W., Savings Bank, Malvern

Sept. 1898 \^'ilcox, J., 4 Loch-street, Hawthorn

Jan. 1 901 Williamson, H. B. , 52 Gertrude-st., Geelong ... Botany

Sept. 1907 Wilson, H. W., 105 Drummond-street, Carlton Pond life, Geol.

July 1904 Wilson, J., Moorabbin Pharmacy, Cheltenham

May 1880 o*tWisewould. F., Imperial Chambers, 408

Collins-street, Melbourne
July 1902 Wisewould, Miss G. , .Seymour-road, Elsternwick
Oct. 1898 Wollen, A., Nar-Nar-Goon ... ... ... Orn., Ent.

Mar. 1908 Wrigley, Miss E. , 117 Racecourse-road, Newmarket

References.
0 Signifies " Original Members," elected May, 1880.
* ,, Members who have held office.

t ,, Members who have contributed Papers at the meetings.

M. ,, Address— Melbourne ; S.M., South Melbourne; E.M,, East
Melbourne.
Ent. ,, Entomology; Col., Coleoptera ; Lep., Lepidoptera.
Orn. ,, Ornithology; Ool., Oology.
Geol. , , Geology.
Bot. ,, Botany.
Conch. ,, Conchology.

vi Supplement tu the " Victor Lun Naturalist."

Clements, Francis C.
Collings, John W.
Coomer, Frank
Cudmore, Frank
Dainty, Miss Flora G.
Gillespie, R. M.

ASSOCIATHS.

Haig, Geo. F.
Langley, Geo.
Martin, L.
Parkinson, Miss L.
Pepperell, Miss E.
Pepperell, Spencer

Raff, Eric
Selby, Alex. D.
Showers, Miss E.
Spencer, William
Stout, Chas.
Watson, Frank

JUNIOR MEMBERS.

Miss D. Andrews

,, L. Andrews

,, E. Archer

,, D. Bailhache

,, Inez Baglin

,, M. Booth

,, Joyce Bruford

,, L. Bryce

,, V. Crockett

,, L. Crockett

,, L. Demaine

,, G. Dorvvard

,, C. Farnbach

„ V. Flee

,, E. Flood

,, A. Gregory

,, G. Griebenow

,, gB. Harris

,, J. Harris

,, D. Kidgell

,, S. Leach

., M. M'Donnell

,, E. M'Pherson

,, V. Mitchell

,, S. Mitchell

,, D. Mitchell

,, E. Sayce

., R. Sayce

„ V. Scott

,, D. Searby

,, W. Shephard

,, J. Sinclair

,, N. Smyth

,, E. Steel

,, A. Sutton

Miss S. Sutton
,, Irene Webb
,, J. Webb
,. D. White
„ H. Wilson

Master S. Anderson

,, G. Armytage

,, N. Armytage

,, E. Bailhache

,, J. Barbour

,, G. Berry

,, D. Bridges

,, J. Bryce

., E. Cameron

,, R. Chugg

„ E. H. Coghill

,, C. Collis

,, R. Cornelius

,, B. Coutts

,, M. Cronin

,, N. Crossley

,, A. Cudmore

,, E. Cudmore

,, R. Demaine

,, L. Dennis

,, S. J. Docwra

,, E. Drake

,, J. Drought

,, G. A. Forster

,, S. Francis

,, J. Frey

,, II. Fullard

,, N. Fullard

,, L. Gillan

Master J. G. Gillespie

,, J. Graham

,, S. Gree

,, R. Hooker

,, B. Leach

,, L. J. Lodge

,, A, W. Le Souuf

,, R. Le Souef

,, J. M'Cutcheon

,, C. Martin

,, E. Mead

,, S. H. Merewealher

., J. O. Mniifie

,, G. Mitchell-

,, F. Mollison

,, F. Mower

,, T. Mower

,, A. Naylor

„ E. H. Neal

,, A. O'Dovvd

,, Am. O'Dowd

,, A. Pitcher

,, E. Pitcher

,, E. Potts

,, K. Rae

,, L. Robsun

,, P. Smyth

,, A. Spooner

,, C. Sutlierland

,, E. Sutherland

,, W. Thomas

,, G. Turner

,, F. Walpole

,, G. Wilson

List of Journals to which the Club Subscribes.

Annals and Magazine of Natural History.

Entomologists' Monthly Magazine.

Geological Magazine.

Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society.

Zoologist.

Supplement to the " Victorian Naturalist."

List of Publications which the Club Receives
in Exchange.

Victoria —

Publications of National Museum, Melbourne.

„ Government Botanist, Melbourne.

,, Department of Mines and Water .Supply, Melbourne.

,, ,, Agriculture, Melbourne.

Transactions and Proceedings of Royal .Society of Victoria, Melbourne.

Transactions and Proceedings of Royal Geographical Society (Victorian
Branch).

The Emu : the Journal of the Australasian Ornithologists' Union.

The Geelong Naturalist (Geelong Field Naturalists' Club).
New South Wales —

Publications of the Department of Mines and Agriculture.
,, Department of Fisheries.

,, Government Botanist, Sydney.

,, Australian Museum, Sydney.

,, Australasian Association for Advancement of Science.

Journal and Proceedings of Royal Society of New South Wales.

Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New .South Wales.

The Australian Naturalist (New South Wales Naturalists' Club, Sydney).
Queensland —

Publications of the Department of Agriculture.

Proceedings of the Royal .Society of Queensland.

The Queensland Naturalist (Brisbane Field Naturalists' Club).
South Australia —

Proceedings of Royal Society of South Australia.
Tasmania —

Papers and Proceedings of Royal .Society of Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Naturalist (Tasmanian Field Naturalists' Club, Iloliart).
Western Australia—

Records of the Western Australian Museum, Perth.

Journal of the West Australian Natural History Society, Perth.
New Zealand —

Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, Wellington.

Records of the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch.
Great Britain —

The .Selborne Magazine : the Journal of the Selborne Society, London.

Knowledge (London).

Science Gossip and Country Notes and Queries (London).
Europe —

Mitteilungen aus dem Naturhistorischen Museum, Hamburg.

Bulletin of the Geological Institute, University of Upsala, Sweden.
Asia —

Annotationes Zoologies Japonensis (Tokyo Zoological Society, Japan).
NoRi'H America —

Transactions of the Nova Scotia Institute.
United States —

Publications of the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, U.S.A.

Publications of the American Museum of Natural History, New York.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.

Proceedings of the Boston Natural History Society.

Publications of the Field Columbian Museum, Chicago.

Publications of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis, Mo.

Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy.

Bulletin of the Buffalo .Society of Natural Science.

I'ulletin of the Wilson Ornithological Club, Oljerlin, Ohio.

Minnesota Botanical Studies, University, Minnesota.

viii Supplement to the " Victorian Naturalist."

United States — continued.

Pomona Journal of Entomology, Pomona College, Claremont, Cal.

Proceedings Hawaiian Entomological Society.
South America —

Revista do Museo Paulista, S. Paulo, Brazil.

THE

Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria.

(founded may. 1880).

OFFICE-BEARERS. 1909-1910.

President :
Professor A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, Ph. D., F.L.S.

Vice-Presidents :
Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc. ; Mr. F. Wisewould.

Hon. Treasurer:
Mr.'G. Coghill, Queen's Walk, 72 Swanston-street (Tel. 712).

Hon. Librarian:
Mk. a. D. Hardy, F.L.S. , Forests Department, Melbourne.

Hon. Secretary :
Mr. F. G. a. Raknard, 49 High-street, Kew.

Hon. Assist. Secretary and Librarian;
(Vacant).

Hon. Editor of the "Victorian Naturalist":
Mr. F. G. a. Barnakd, 49 High-street, Kew (Tel. 443, Hawthorn).

Committee :

Mr. J. Gabriel, Mr. G. A. Keartland, Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S.
Mr. F. Pitcher, Dr. C. S. Sutton.

Hon. Lanternist:
Mr. T- Searle, 274 Collins-street.

'T'lIIS Club was founded in )88o for the purpose of affording observers and
lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discuss-
ing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the
Exhibition of Specimens; and for promoting Observations in the Field by
means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis.

Voj. XXVI.— No. 1.

May, 1909

The Victorian Katuralist

THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE

OF -

3^he 5ield J/aturalists' eiub of Victoria.

Published 6th May, 1909.

Hon. Editoit : p. G. fl. BflRNflRD, Esq.

The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions

recorded.

COIsTTEnSTTS :

The Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria
Excursion to Beveridge
Excursion to Lilydale

A Fossil Watch

Book Notices

Remains of Pre-Historic Man

PAGE
I

4
7
9

1 1

II

^ T>RICE SIXI»ENCE. ^

^(tent« for fBuvope :

{ I'!!
( ii'i
( I'"

ifldbourttE :
WALKER, MAY & CO., Printers, 25 Mackillop Street

1909.

( ii"i