Full text of "The Victorian naturalist"

:!!ri((!l!ii{!i)!!|I!l5!!f!!!imUin!(liIi!lIIJ!!Ulllll!H.'i!iOitm fl f ll| III l» JH I hi:.
.;i;«!i<Hf!JiniI!i)i:r.!);.')IIMl!l!!l!IHIMnilHtl)li!Ji!!)!l}M!UH.' I II Mil ! I 11 1 » \p

':ifiMl)<>!U))innniit!!]!n))nil)!MI)l!l!ll<i)!!l!!))))!l!ll!li!<!!!) M!l!ll nhU ))!)( I ) ::.

.!ilf))inriinill)iH])l!l!lli)»l!fr!l!)IIiM!!l!!)i!.'l!!l)!))>tHIIi)) >! ItMl ! i)!!!: ! ! I.M !;

;!!J(!M!0)ii!tlll)))MilliJ!nilJMinUl!»!ll!IH.M!ll!l!!l!!i)l!lljf! Mlll'l ! liHIM'M I W '■■
•!;lf(iJ.'M!> !)l!lillltl!l!!l()!IIIlSf!!iil!illlll.'!l'.!IH!llJl5!.>ISIl!f! !1 (It J !!IU M! I ffU!
.:t)lTlil)ll) llin!!))!!I!l)))llf)lli!}l>ll)|l)!»!!l!nl!!MI!)IM!i;M! it t!tl j l!>;! !M ■ )| ]!!
!);Mt) IMII )if)t)!))il>ll!]!!i)l.>!tH)in:i)!l!t)t!!]|!!]!ll!}>SI.>)i)l! II lii! < III!) II H i.
i:j!!I(! ll!Mln!!)HJ)ll!l)!HIMI!mi!!M!IJMllil!Ml!!!)IU!ni!l li M 1IH ! J!!!!! ! ! 1} I.'?;
•:;)!(»! )i)!i)llll!m!!lJ!l)!lilli.'(!!l!l!ll!.>()!(t!!l!t!!l!hl«'lM!!!l !l!ll!i I! ilSJll f!l ! ifHI!;

!lllli.'|!!l!l!ll!.'()!(t!!l!t!!l!hl«'lM!!!ll!l!ll!ii J ill II f lljnhiliii: ;.
l!!!l!<ill!!l!.'l!l!Mimil.'ll!!IM'l!.'!HM!l !li!l I lllllM liilHllljiiilliC
il»!!(llH!'!l!!l);iI!.'l!M!!M!n(.'.'l)ll.'f}l!|l !(1! I •<)!»li iU Uj? jl'll! h'

lM(}n)ll.'l)l!l!!miiJl!l!H!fl!!li!!)(1! !?•"■'!""•!•""<! """■•'"•;f'>Ml ■

!:^Mf!l^MH!)l^!)i}lllnJM^!!!l!< ll!!irM!l!MI)IIIlMl!MMML'!l lU !l « I IIIIIM nHIHSH!

i.!< • 1 11! l<n!!J!!l!^l^lil^!!(lll^^!(!!l)MI!il!M!!M•^(^MHl>f}l!|W!(l! li •<)!»iii!.;j i{? f^^^

^!U1> !) Mini! !^IJlnl^!l^M^•t!^^'l!!!!!Jil!illMlM»l!!!n!lnl!!;!!•»4•!)^<•!»l«•(M(!(!!M•?i•!•
)•;: M)!Mll|l!l!ll)ll)(!!MilM(}n)l!.'l)l!l!!miiJl!l!H!fl!!li!!)(1! !?•"■'!""•!•""<! """■•>"•;

!:!.'J(H'MI!HM!i)M!.'Ultil!!11!ll!lil,'.'ll;il!nl!lll hJUdl!!!)!;." ' • .,.,.,.

; l!!)l!l}MJ!tll)i)li!ni)!!j!!llll!lMl!lll!ll!miJH IIIliiUMMl! ■
;!!S!t»<i!})ll>II)lll!ll!«inil!!n!ilMt!!!!(t!!l()lli! HllJIlit!!!!!;:: ; :

i::'liliti)lli)))lUMl!mi!!!H!!lJin!lif)!lUlt!!l!! |)!i!!M!M):(.':;::;;i:..:;;: .;;:.;.,::::!.:.::
:;HlM l!!ll!!l!!)!!!l)l!l!!iill»!!lll<!l! t!!l!!!)!!f MiijllMiUmjli! litiiilli !!i!.' !!!li|:!l!:;-
.;M!i)!ll)Il)l!I!! IIHl!ll!IIl!ill!»;!!M Mill!!!.'!! I!!)!.'!!l!!<!ljn ! I I "i lllH ! Si'lfUl!;:

:':ll IJilll IIH.'I !!J!n!!!l!!li:))l(!!t! l!l!!l!H!11!!ll.'l!:ill!!!l!J!! ! I IM! !!•••!! !•(?•!!••!:

:;!;lUMMI1!ill)(!!M!!l!lil!:l!!ii()lll!H!M.! K.'imiM!!!!!! Ill.ll Ifil llf •!);;;*!;'!'-:-!;'l' :

.,:»;!»«!» li!)I!ll!.'ni)illl|!!l!llH!)l)!ni!!l1 llMinHlMIIH Ml !1 M IJI !!*!;!;!! ;.";:.::

1! IIJ! ))'1!;))!H!))t!!f!lfi!!|'!l!!!ll!!(i)JIIMtfMl! !i illl ill M i\ ill il!!!::: ::::i;:;;-

;,!■ lf!l!!i!ii!il!HM!llli!l)!! lMli!MMl!IHl!!l!fl!J 1 JJ! J( i 5 MI fii,':!: :::::::::;:: :
::l.f)lf)J i;!)l!!l!M!lill)i)!;)! !!!!.'(linii.' 1! llini I I! Ml in f; JSJ JMi!!!! M Mii'Mr-

.JCflU! )Mim)l!l!llfl l)!tl!) .'.'inilliill! IMI fill »! i M III S JIM I'llSf ! H jf )'!

);;,'(m!!!!!lini(l!l!!lilll!!iiMII!(H!IIMH 1 fl IM( II I 1! il.'llf fUllthfMM iiiUuhlr.

iJ'MlIf) !l!)lMI!!MH)ll)ll!l!!il!lf»!!i.'li I I ini ) IIIMH!!? •!M;'!H;!!l;HMl!!;;--

::!:!i!!ll!lll!!)!!)i!(lfllfl!n!lll!l'jlll!ll I ) MIJMIi If .1 Mir. :::•:•::•■• :■•••••:

.:;!:M)i;!li!li)!il!!l!lll!ll!lI)l!)UH!lll(l I 1 ill II t ." i f.'r;: : : ■

h;!!!!!iMi!l!li!il!ll!lllllil!Mlill 111 III! (I H f I II 1 !!!!• :•■•"■ :

i!: !Ill!()!)ll!!fil!l!!il!l!flill<l!l If ih I! Ilil il M ! il!:: ;.:r.:: :::•:;••;••

i;i!!t«l!!!ltlinii»ilH!ll!lill1!llf! Ml ISIl 1 lllli t i; 1 l l.'Siii!!! JM :•:! :i :'!:••:
'!:!) 11 !lt!!)il)!!l!l!!!l!!l!!llllll I! I 111 J ll'llll 5 IM SK 1 H !l| 1 SI!;-.-:'

»:;;!f Ml lllOlJllMlhlJlllllllIl!! !!! ilil ! tlllJIJ t I iitll iifil M 1 I II H!:;- • :■

:!;il! l!!|!!l!!i!!!!ilJllMl!il!ll!!)ilMII!l 1 IllllMlM! < llltf I II! ?! U 'U*"';"'-

ISIIIl lIlllillMlii)!! ;!l!II}!!ll!fi!llt<lli;!in!!l 11 Hii It HI «l ! I f ! !!< • J;:

;!!!::il!ll!!l!M!l»)!l MItllllllllt IMilHlflllMllllsniJIllII Slit jlJ fli j » f f|| J If j! j f J'
Mil !!MS!I1!!1;M1I1 lilllllMIIII IJIIlISi IHlillM.'nil!} I {III fl fl 1 jj li Ijf« «! i f1» Hi;
;! 1 !!l!!ll })! lllli )!lll!!l!!ll!)iIliU;!l!!ll!(Hli'J! Ilfl! II 1 if III! !ii!!fi ;!;;!!!!' Mfr
lUfflfill l!!)!!i;i !II!ll!llIlill!lil!lM;iniilIl!l IflMUlf III Hi H> !!!•;:!■ :•:••:;•: !•
)!i li ll!}IJl!)li!!l!l !!l!!fll!(l!lllfllJ?lll?iilfl!ll! 111! f ! 1! t 1 i!;:-' : : •

-rif

^ K i

9 .Y'

FOR THE PEOPLE

FOR EDVCATION

FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

NATURAL HISTORY

J'^0 'J

a?nDB

Victorian Naturalist

THE JOURNAL & MAGAZINE

y'^'Uff'^''^^

OF THE ty ,

I't^Id JUtupIbb' 4^tt^ 4 fi^i«^^i^*

MAY, 1908, TO APRIL, 1909.

1bon. jEDitor : MR. F. Q. A. BARNARD.

The Author of each Article is responsible for the facts and

opinions recorded.

/iftelbourne:
WALKER, MAY & CO., PRINTERS, MAOKILLOP STREET

(off 390 LITTLE COLLINS STREET).
1909.

jn. j/^A/^^ mH^f^

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST,

MAY, 1908, to APRIL, 1909,

CONTENTS.

Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria: — page

Annual Report - - - - - - 38

Proceedings 1, 25, 37, 57, 73, 89, 97, 121, 137, 153, 169, 189

Reports of Excursions 1, 3, 9, 37, 52, 89, 97, 125, 130, 137, 141,

171, 192

OEIGINAL PAPERS.

Armitage, R. W. — Notes on the Queensland Firefly Beetle,

Luciola fiavicollls - - - - - 28

AuDAS, J. W. — Notes of a Trip to North Queensland - - 177

Carter. T. , M.B.O.U. — Description of a Supposed New Grass-
Wren ___--- 86

Ewart, Prof. A. J., Ph.D., D.Sc, F.L.S.— Biological Survey

of Wilson's Promontory (with map) - - 142

Some Notes on the Flora of Victoria - - - 78

The Changes of Names in the " Recording Census " - 200

Hardy, A. D,, F.L.S., F.R.M.S.— Further Notes on the Flora

of Wilson's Promontory -• - - - 195

Gatliff, J. H. — Description of Valuta [Amoria) spenceriana - 84

Jarvis, E. — Notes on the Scorpion-fly, Bittacus australis - 69

Lyell, G., F.E.S. — Lepidoptera of the Australian Alps; two

New Butterflies for Victoria - - - 31

Maiden^, J. H., F.L.S. — Records of Victorian Botanists - 101

Mattingley, a. H. E., C.M.Z.S.— A Night with the Birds on

Lawrence Rocks - - - - - 12

Wild Life of the Murray Swamps - - - - 60

CONTENTS.

North, A. J., C.M.Z.S.— Notes on Newton's and Tooth-
billed Bower-birds - - - -
Notes on Some Living Examples of PsepJiotm dissimilis -

Sutton, C. S., M.B.— Botanical Notes of a Visit to Snowy
River District ------

Waterhouse, G. a., B.Sc, F.E.S.— A New Form of Papilio
for Australia - - - - -

PAGJS

160
175

155

118

INDEX.

PAGK

Aboriginal Stone Quarries - 9
Acacias in bloom _ _ 3

Adamson, Fred. M. - - 102
Allitt, Wm. - - - 102

Alps, Lepidoptera of Vic-
torian - - - - 31
Amytis varia - - 75, 86
Anopheles and Malaria - 71
Ant-house Plant - - . - 194
Aprosmictus cyanopygius - 100
Apus - - - - - 68
Armitage, E, W., On Queens-
land Firefly Beetle - 28
Arthur, John - - - 102
Aspidiotus cedri - - - 3
Audas, J. W., Notes of Trip

to North Queensland - 177
Plants of Wilson's Prom-
ontory _ - - 144
Australia, Protection of

Fauna and Flora of - 51
Australian Animals and their

Origin- - - - 90
Australian Animals, Teeth of 170
Backhouse, James - - 102
Barker, Mrs. - - - 102
Burnardius harnardi - - 3
Barnard's Parrakeet - - 3
Becker, L. - - - - 103
Beetle, Queensland Firefly - 28
Beetles, Australian - - 120
Beetles, Food - Plants of

Longicorn - - 72, 77
Bird Destruction- - - 77
Bird Skins, Deputation re - 74
Birds at Lawrence Eocks - 12
Birds of Wilson's Promon-
tory - - - 149, 204

PAGE

Birds, Protection of - - 88
Birds, Some Hawthorn - 76
Bitfacus austral is - - 69

Black Eock, Excursion to - 97
"Bogong"Moth - - 33
Bosisto, Joseph - - - 103
Botanical Nomenclature - 190
Botanists, Eecords of Vic-
torian - - - - 101
Botany of Snowy Elver Dis-
trict - - - - 155
Bower-bird, Newton's - - 162
Bower-bird, Tooth-billed - 165
Buffalo Mountains, The - 35
Bunce, Daniel - - - 103
Butterflies, New Victorian - 31
Butterfly, A Eare Victorian 140
CalocMliis paludosus - - 171

Carter, T. , Description of a
Supposed New Grass-
Wren - - - 86
Chapman, F., A Sketch of
Life-History of Foram-
inifera - - - 122
Charsley, F. A. - - - 105
Clifton Hill Quarries, Excur-
sion to - - - - 37
Glosterium lanceoldtum - 126
Conversazione Exhibits 94, 100
Cormorants - - ~ 56
Cuckoo, Black-eared - - 141
Curdie, Daniel - - - 105
Dallachy, John - - - 106
Darwin- Wallace Celebration 202
Denisotila nigresctns - - 91
Dredging at Western Port - 52
Eels - - - - 88
Elephant, The Pre-historic - 55

INDEX.

PAGE

Eudyjjtula minor - - 13

Ewart, A. J., Biological
Survey of Wilson's Prom-
ontory _ _ - 142
Changes of Names in

" Eecording Census " - 200
Notes on Flora of Victoria 78
Specific Name of Romulea 151
Fauna and Flora of Aus-
tralia, Protection of - 51
Field Naturalists' Club of
Victoria —
Annual Report - - 38

Conversazione - 92, 100

Excursions —

Black Rock - - - 97
Clifton Hill Quarries - 37
Hanging Rock - - 192

Healesville - - - 171
Keilor - - - 1

Launching Place - - 3
Melton - - - 141

Mt. William, Lancefield 9
Plenty Ranges - - 130
Ringwood - - - 97
Sandringham - - 89
South Morang - - 89

Stony Point - - 52

You Yangs - - - 125
Will sm ere - - - 137
Financial Statement - 44

Office-bearers, 1908-9 - 49
President's Address - 45

Proceedings, 1, 25, 37. 57, 73,
89, 97,121, 137, 153, 169, 189
Rules, Additions to - 121

Special Meetings - 57, 121
Flora of Victoria, Notes on - 78
Flora of Wilson's Promon-
tory - - - 144, 195
Food-Plants of Longicorn

Beetles

72, It

Foraminifera, Life-History

of - - - - 122

Frogs - - - - 120

Gannets - - - - 16

Gastrochcena tasmanica - 140
Gatliff, J. H, , Description

of a New Volute Shell - 84
" Geology of Victoria, The

Economic" - - - 51
Geology of Victorian Coast,

Illustrations of - - 26

Geology at Mt. W^illiam - 10

PAGK

Glyceria dives - - 8, 154
Grass -Wren, A New - 75, 86
" Grasses and their Identifi-
cation " - - - 194
Greviilea repens - - - 175
Haliotis conicapora - - 99
Hall, Dr. T. S., Australian

Animals and their Origin 90
Hanging Rock, Excursion to 192
Hannaford, S. - - - 108
Hardy, A. D. , Further Notes
on Flora of Wilson's
Promontory - - 195

Harvey, Wm. H. - - 108

Hawthorn and Camberwell

Microscopical Society - 56
Healesville, Excursion to - 171
Hesperilla munionga - - 32
Heyne, Ernest B. - - 108
Howitt, A. W. - - 71, 109
Hydnophytum foi^micarium - 194
Hydriomena clirynocyma - 33
" In Australian Tropics" - 30
Jarvis, E., Notes on Scorpion-
fly - - - - 69
Keartland, G. A., "Twenty-
one Years' Membership
of the Field Naturalists'
Club of Victoria, and My
Obligations to It" - 45
Keilor, Excursion to - - 1
Koonunga cursor - - 27, 100
Latrobe, Charles J. - - 109
Launching Place, Excursion

to - - - - 3

Lawrence Rocks, Birds at - 12
Layard, — - - - 110

Lepidoptera of Victorian

Alps - - - - 31
Life of Murray Swamps - 60
Limacodes hmgerans - - 26
Longicorn Beetles, Food-
Plants of - - 72, 77
Lucas and Gregory at

Wilson's Promontory - 197
Luciola flai'icollis - - 28

Luehmann, J. G. - - 110

Lyell, G.,. Lepidoptera of

Victorian Alps - - 31
M' Alpine, D., re Romulea - 136
Maiden, J. H., Records of

Victorian Botanists - 101
Malaria and Anopheles - 71
Mallard, — - - - 111

INDEX.

PAGK

204
25

Malleson's Glen, Visit to
Maps, Tourists' - - -
Marsilea quadrifolia
Mattingley, A. H. E., Birds
of Lawrence Bocks
Wild Life of the Murray
Swamps - _ _
Melton, Excursion to -
Microscope, The - - -
Microscopical Society of
Victoria _ _ -
MoUusca from Stony Point -
Morang, South, Excursion to
Morton, W. L. -
Moth, The " Bogong "
Moth, The Mottled Cup
Mountains, The Buffalo
Mt. Diogenes, Excursion to
Mt. William (Lancefield),
Excursion to - -

Mueller, F. v. -
Mueller on changes of names 200
Murray Swamps, Wild Life
of - - - -

Nardoo _ _ _ -
National Park, Wilson's
Promontory - - -
Nicholls, E. B., Notes on
Teeth of Australian An-
imals - - - -
North, A. J., Notes on New-
ton's and Tooth-billed
Bower-birds
Note on Living Examples
of Psephotas dis&imilis -
Ogyris olane _ - -

" Onion Grass " - 75, 136,
Orchid, A New Victorian
Papilio heatrix - - 98,
Fapilio sthenelus - - -
Paradisea granti - - -

Parrakeet, Barnard's -
Parrakeet, Black-hooded
Parrakeet, Ground or Swamp
Penguins, Fairy - - -
Pe?:oporus formosus
Plant, The Ant -house
"Plants, Eecording Census of
Victorian" - - 152,
Plants of Wilson's Promon-
tory - - - 145,
Platypus - - - -

Plenty Ranges, Excursion to 130
Poa {(jflyceria) dives - 8, 154

60
141
120

100
54
89

111
33
26
35

192

9
111

60
25

170

160

175
131
151
171

118
140

77
3

176
72
13
72

194

200

195
100

PAGK

Potatoes and Cockatoos - 100
Preservation of Scenery - 87
Prion desolatus - - - 14
Prion, Dove-like - - 14

Prioriodura newtoniana - 162

Protection of Native Birds - 88
Protozoon, A New - - 135
Psephotus cucidlatus - - 176
Psephotus dissimilis - - 175

Pterosiylis 'nivtica - - 141

Queensland Naturalist, The - 30
Queensland, Trip to North - 177
Ralph, T. S. - - - 111
Rawlinson, T. E. - - 111

" Recording Census" - 152, 200
Richardson, John - - 112

Ringwood, Excursion to - 97
Robertson, John G. - - 1 12
Bomulea hulbocodium 75, 136, 151
Romulea, Specific Name of

136, 151
Sandringham, Excursion to 89
Scenery Preservation - - 87
Scenopoeetcs dentirostris - 165

Scorpion-fly, Notes on - 69

"Sea-fibre" . _ _ 51
Shell, A New Volute - - 84
Shells, Tube - - - 139
Snake, A New Victorian - 91
"Snow-bird" - - - 15
Snowy River District, Botany

of - - - - 155

Solvsbergite - - - 193

Spencer, Prof. Baldwin, D.Sc. 59
St. John, P. R. H., Zoology

of Wilson's Promontory 149
Stony Point, Excursion to - 52
Sula serrator - - - 16
Sullivan, D. - - - 113

Sutton, C. S., Botanical Notes

of Snowy River District 155
Swainson, Wm. - - - 113
Talis megalarcha - - 34

Tasmanian Grasses - - 194
Thrush, An Abnormal - 139, 155
Tourists' Maps - - 204

Tisdall, H. T. - - - 114
Utricidaria fiexuosa - - 140
Victoria, Notes on Flora of - 78
Victorian Botanists, Records

of - - - - 101

Victorian Butterfly, A Rare - 140
Victorian Butterflies, New - 31
Victorian Eucalypts - - 204

INDEX.

vii

PAGE

' ' Victorian Flora, Eecording

Willsmere, Excursion to

137

Census of " - - - 152

Wilson, F. E. M.

116

Victorian Forests - - 72

Wilson, J. Bracebridge

116

Voluta {Amoria) spenceriana

Wilson's Promontory —

lb, 84

Biological Survey of

138,

142

Wallace -Darwin Celebration 202

Birds of -

149,

204

Walter, Carl - - - 114

Flora of -

144,

195

Waterhouse, G. A., A New

Lucas and Gregory at

197

Form of Papilio - - 118

National Park -

Watts, Henrj^ - - - 115

You Yangs, Excursion to -

125

Western Port, Dredging at - 52

Xenica oricJwra -

Whan, W. T. - - - 115

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Aboriginal Stone Quarries, Mt. William

Dove-like Prion and Young _ - _

Fairy Penguin and Young _ _ _

Gannets at Lawrence Eocks _ _ _

Map of National Park, Wilson's Promontory -

Nest of Newton's Bower-bird - - -

Nest and Eggs of Tooth-billed Bower-bird

Voluta npence7'iana _ _ _ _

Wilson, John Bracebridge _ _ _

PAGE
11

14
14
12

142
160
161
85
116

ERRATA.

Page 55, line 9 — For " Pseudamycla " read " Pseudoliotia,"

Page 75, line 10 from bottom — For " Armoria " read " Amoria."

Page 77, lines 3 and 4 — For "Armoria" read " Amoria."

Page 159, line 28 — For "Bell-birds, Oreoica cristata, Lewin," read
"Bell Minahs, Manorhina melanophrys, Lath."

tU Uiciorian llatMralisi

Vol. XXV.— No. 1. MAY 7, 1908. No. 293.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th April, 1908.

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

REPORTS.

Dr. J. C. Kaufmann gave a report on the Club's excursion to
Heidelberg on Saturday, 14th March, the object being pond
life. Some interesting material was found, and examples taken
for closer examination under the microscope.

A report of the geology excursion to Fairfield on Saturday,
28th March, was given by Dr. T. S. Hall. About 12 members
attended, who devoted the afternoon to the examination of the
geological features of the locality.

Mr. R. W. Armitage, who, in the unavoidable absence of Mr.
E. O. Thiele, kindly acted as leader of the juniors' excursion to
Beaumaris on Saturday, 4th April, reported that about twenty-
five junior members attended. The object of the excursion was
fossils, and, notwithstanding a somewhat high tide, a fair collec-
tion of the fossils usually met with in the locality was made.

A report of the excursion to Keilor on Saturday, nth April,
was given by the leader. Dr. T. S. Hall, who stated that there
had been a large attendance of members, who were greatly
interested in the varied geological features of the district, which
have already been described in the pages of the Naturalist (vol.
X., p. 21, and vol xiv., p. 52), in connection with former excur-
sions.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following
donations to the library : — " The Ascent of Water in Trees," by
A.J. Ewart, D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S. (reprint from "Philosophical
Transactions of Royal Society, London "), from the author ;
" Report of Department of Agriculture, Victoria," 1905-1907 ;
Journal of Agriculture of Victoria^ February and March, 1908,
from the Secretary for Agriculture, Melbourne ; " Annual Report
of Trustees Australian Museum, Sydney," June, 1907, from the
Trustees ; Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, February
and March, 1908, from the Secretary for Agriculture, Sydney ;
" Proceedings Linnean Society of New South Wales," vol. xxxii.,
part 4, from the Society ; " Transactions Royal Society of South
Australia," vol. xxxi., from the Society ; *' The Development of
Nestling Feathers," Laboratory Bulletin No. 13, from the Oberlin
College, U.S.A. j Wilson Bulletin, Nos. 60 and 61, September

2 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

and December, 1907, from the Wilson Ornithological Club,
U.S.A. ; " Bulletin of New York Botanical Garden," vol. iv., part
14, from the Director ; Knowledge, February, 1908, from the pro-
prietors ; and Nature Notes, January and February, 1908, from
the Selborne Society, London ; also, " A Guide to the Study of
Australian Butterflies," by W. J. Rainbow, F.E.S., purchased.

ELECTION.

On a ballot being taken. Master Frank Coomer, " Corio," Bent-
street, Northcote, was duly elected a junior member of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Professor A. J. Ewart took the opportunity of conveying the
congratulations of the members to Dr. T. S. Hall on his attaining
the degree of D.Sc.

Dr. Hall expressed his thanks and appreciation of the cordial
manner in which the members had received the announcement,
and mentioned the benefit he had derived from being associated
with the Club.

PAPERS.

1. By Mr. G. Lyell, F.E.S., entitled " Lepidoptera of the
Victorian Alps ; two New Butterflies for Victoria."

The author gave a very interesting account of a collecting trip
to Mts. Hotham and St. Bernard in February last, where, during
a stay of twelve days, he succeeded in taking 22 species of
butterflies and 86 species of moths. Among these were two
species of butterflies and three species of moths new to Victoria,
besides many rarities.

Mr. F. G. A. Barnard congratulated the author on the highly
successful results of his trip, and expressed the opinion that a
collector of Orthoptera would do well in the same localities in
the early autumn.

2. By Mr, A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., entitled "Wild Life
of the Murray Swamps."

A highly interesting account of the bird life of this favourable
locality was given by the author, his remarks being illustrated
with a splendid series of lantern slides.

Dr. W. Macgillivray offered some remarks on the paper, and
congratulated Mr. Mattingley on the exceedingly fine series of
photographs shown.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. R. W. Armitage gave some particulars regarding his ex-
hibits of modern pottery from the N.E. coast of Papua ; a neck-
lace composed of the thoraces of a species of ant ; and pearl
shells from the Trobriand Islands, Papua.

Mr. C. French reported that whilst at Mooroolbark on Saturday,

May, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATUKALIST. 3

the nth inst., a flock of eight or nine parrots was seen high up in
a tree. Being unable to determine the species, one was shot,
when it proved to be Barnard's Parrakeet, Barnardius barnardi
Vig. and Horsf., which had probably migrated southward owing
to the drought in the interior.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. R. W. Armitage. — Examples of modern pottery ware
from VVanigela, N.E. coast of Papua ; rare necklace, composed of
the chitinous coverings of a species of ant ; and single valves of
pearl shells, showing how pearl " blisters " and pearls develop on
the inside of the shell, from Trobriand Islands, Papua.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — New scale insect, Aspidiotus cedri,
Green, on cedar logs imported into Victoria from Queensland.

By Mr. F. Pitcher, for the Director of Melbourne Botanic
Gardens, blooms of the following acacias now flowering in the
Melbourne Botanic Gardens: — Acacia discolor, VVilld., Sunshine
Wattle, Vict., N.S.W., and 1 as. ; A. lini/olia, Willd., Flax-leaved
Acacia. Vict., N.S.VV., and Q. ; A. inaidenii, F. v. M., Maiden's
Acacia, N.S.VV. ; A. pe^idula, A. Cunn., Weeping Myall or Boree,
N.S.W. and Q. ; A. salicina, Lindley, Murray River Willow,
Australia.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

EXCURSION TO LAUNCHING PLACE.

The usual Foundation Day excursion was this year fixed for
Launching Place, a well-known spot on the Upper Yarra, just
40 miles from town. The prevailing heat and dry weather of the
present season made it somewhat uncertain as to how the
excursion would be patronized, and when the leader met the train
at Hawthorn station on Saturday morning, 25th January, and did
not see a single face on the look-out for hmi, he did not feel
much encouragement. However, when tr.'iins were changed at
Lilydale, he was pleased to find one other member of the Club
making the journey, but, unfortunately, not to join the excursion.
There were still signs of Bursaria in bloom as we passed through
Mooroolbark, Wandin, and Woori Yallock, so hopes were enter-
tained that some beetles of the Schizorhina, Stigmodera, and
longicorn groups would still be about their favourite flower, if we
tried it in the afternoon. The day was dull and overcast, but
after lunch cleared up and became decidedly hot. At Launching
Place I found a member and his wife who had gone up by the
previous night's train, so in the afternoon the male portion of the
party decided to work down the Yarra, and try the Bursaria for
beetles, and met with a fair amount of success, considering that it
was a hot day, and most of the Bursaria was over. The only
cetonid seen was the ordinary Schizoi-Jiiiia 2;it?ic^a<<x. Of Stig-

4 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

raodera some twelve species were taken, but not including any-
thing of note. A few specimens of fine Melobasis, displaying
beautiful maroon metallic markings on a green metallic back-
ground, were secured. Of longicorns, the most attractive was
Amjnrrhce decora, noted for its thickened femurs or thighs. The
little black and red Obrida fascialis was fairly common, and, of
course, Stenodorus suturalis, well known from its tar-like smell,
was abundant. A few wasps and bees were seen, but without
a net it was almost impossible to capture them. Another member
of this group, the Bulldog Ant, made its presence felt to my com-
panion as he carefully scanned a Bursaria for beetles. Botany was
represented by the Loose Strife, Ly thrum salicaria, in bloom, and
the Wild Raspberry, Ruhus parvifolius, and the Tree Violet,
Hymeyianthera Banksii, in fruit, but the most satisfying fruit we
got that afternoon was from a stray tree of Prunus pe^^sica,
growing in a shady bend of the river in company with tree ferns
and giant wattles. On returning to tea our landlady was much dis-
appointed at the smallness of the party, considering that a promise
of seven or eight had been made, and she had gone to consider-
able trouble in planning for that number, in addition to other
expected visitors, and it was with some misgiving that we went to
meet the afternoon train, which brought two more, but there was
yet hope, as now a still later train runs to Warburton on Saturdays,
and on meeting that we were gratified to find two more on board,
so that at last we were seven.

During the evening we had arranged for vehicle and pair to
take us to the entrance to Malleson's Glen, five miles away, on
the following (Sunday) morning, and for an early breakfast, so
that we might have a long day there, but notwithstanding that
programme several turned out early, and went to a bend of the
river, where there is quite a tangle of vegetation, and secured
seed-specimens and young plants of one of our few forest
climbers, Lyonsia slraminea. The pods and the seeds, with
their silky pappus, put me very much in mind of the African
Strophanthus, which has come greatly into use of late years as a
heart tonic, but this was not to be wondered at, as both belong to
the same order of plants, Apocynese. Seme of the stems of
Lyonsia were large enough and strong enough to allow one of the
party to use them as climbing ropes. The larger Clematis,
Clematis aristata, also climbed about, and its feathered seeds
were just on tlie point of ripening. The violet fruits of
Ilymenanthera Banksii, the little scarlet fruits of the Native
Currant, Coprosma Billardieri, and the clear, pale fruits of the
Native Elder, Samhucus G audichaudiana, formed pleasing
contrasts. The ground was carpeted with a strong growth of the
fern Polypodium pu'}tctatmii, with here and there a Cat-head Fern,
Aspidium aculeatum. A few specimens of Drimys aromatica,

May, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 5

Native Pepper, and Heclycarya Gicnninghamii, showed that these
shrubs are not confined entirely to the higher altitude.

After breakfast our party, increased by a lady and gentleman
staying at the hotel, who desired to see the beauties of Malleson's
Glen, had to requisition another vehicle, and after packing
supplies for lunch, got away about 9.30. Though only five miles,
the drive occupied nearly two hours, as after the first mile the
road is all on the up-grade, and was rather rutty and dusty. This
portion of the trip was dealt with so fully by Mr. A. D. Hardy in his
report of the excursion in November, 1903 (F. iV^., xx., 116), that
there is little left for me to say. However, I may just recall the
fact that the road is never far from the Don River, as it ascends
the range, and as we now and again turn a bend in the road we
get glimpses of a delightful valley, now partially cleared, and
planted with various crops. Opposite to us on our left is the hill
or range known as Toole-be-wong, on which is situated the well-
known boarding-house " Nyora." On our right we have the range,
the top of which is known as " Ben Cairn Rock," an area of bare
rock some eight or ten acres in extent, from which a very fine
view of the Yarra valley down to Melbourne is obtainable. This,
from its appearance from other parts of the district, must be close
on 4,000 feet above sea-level. About 11.30 we reached the bend
where the road crosses the Don River and turns westerly
towards Healesville. This was our destination, and is, perhaps,
1,500 feet above Launching Place, or 1,800 feet above sea-level.
Though early, it was determined to lunch at once, and so save
coming back in a short time for that procedure, so while some set
out the table and boiled the billy, others started observations in
this charming spot. About a hundred yards from the entrance gate,
under some spreading tree ferns clothed with the greenest of filmy
ferns, mosses, &c., we lunched and enjoyed the murmur of the
mountain stream rushing by at our feet. Mr. Hardy in his notes
about Malleson's Glen wrote in so poetic a strain that I am com-
pelled to keep to prose, hut let me say that Malleson's Glen is
to my mind one of the best and easiest of places to which a
visitor from another country can be taken to see our mountain
vegetation to perfection. Since the last visit of the Club,
mainly through the efforts of your committee, about 722 acres
here, on both sides of the stream, have been permanently reserved
for public purposes, and unless despoiled by bush-fires it is
likely to remain in its present state for many years. Timber
cutting was stopped just in time, and though there are a number
of fine specimens of the so-called Mountain Ash, Eucalyptus
amygdalina, still I doubt whether it would pay to attempt to
get them out. One need not go far up stream to see specimens
of that graceful tree, the Native Beech, Fagus Cunninghamii, and
we were pleased to find along the path several seedlings, which,

6 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

as I have mentioned on previous occasions, make very pretty pot
plants. The Sassafras, Atherosperma moschatum, was in fruit,
and specimens were secured. After Umch four of the party set
out with the view of getting to the head of the stream if possible,
the others exploring round about. The path keeps alongside
the stream, and soon becomes only a sign here and there. We
closely scanned the vegetation as we ascended, but did not add
anything of great interest to our knowledge. Zieria Smiihii, a
rutaceous shrub with strong-smelling leaves ; the Native Ash,
Panax samhucifolius, a stately shrub in its early stages ; some
of the so-called Kangaroo Apples, Solamim aviculare, bearing
numbers of large green globular fruits, were fairly common. The
day was now rather hot, and though we were sheltered from the
north wind, still the pale green fronds of Aspidium umbrosum
drooped, and showed that it was more than they were accus-
tomed to. This fern, by the way, I consider rewards the grower
as much or more than any of our others for trouble taken with
it, its chief points being that it recovers quickly from neglect in
watering, increases rapidly from the root stock, and is not much
troubled with scale or other insect pests. Lomaria fluviatilis and
L. lanceolata, with its pink midrib, both pretty ferns, are here very
luxuriant, the latter being much more frequent. Surely L. al2nna
and perhaps L. Patersoni should be found higher up if we have
time. A look-out was kept for Pteris comans — very like the
Batswing or Oak Fern, P. incisa — and once we thought we had
found it, but close examination showed it to be P. incisa in fruit.
Some fine beeches, with gnarled trunks fully three feet through,
occur higher up, and the ground was carpeted with their fallen
leaves. We were still climbing, and an examination of the com-
pass showed that we had imperceptibly turned towards the east.
At last the faint track seemed to lead us up on the hillside, and we
got into a thicket of Hazel, Pomaderris apetala, and other vegeta-
tion, which was very difficult to get through, so we struck down to
the stream, and again found signs of the track. Further on,
however, it does lead up along the hillside, and somebody had
recently slashed down the vegetation, making it more passable.
Hereabouts was a fine growth of the grass Poa (Glyceria) dives,
known as " wild oats," and a quantity of the seed was gathered
for home cultivation. Again our track led down to the stream
and seemed to stop. As we had been tramping for three hours,
we decided to return the way we had come. No survey seems to
have yet been made of this portion of the country, so any heights
and distances I give are merely guesswork, but I estimate that we
had traversed about four miles from the road, and ascended
another 1,500 feet. I am inclined to think that about another
mile would have taken us on to the summit of Ben Cairn Rock.
The walk down was done in less than half the time of the ascent,

May, 1908.J THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

which shows that we must have covered from three to four miles.
After a final snack and cup of tea, we started on the drive home,
as one of the party wanted to catch the evening train. A dip in
the Yarra was found to be very refreshing, after the hot and dusty
drive, as a termination to the day's work.

On Monday we determined to visit a part of the district not
yet explored by our Club parties. We started off along the road
towards Hoddle's Creek, and in about two miles came to the
creek itself, a very small stream, quite a contrast to the sparkling
waters of the Don, for its purity was sullied by the sluicing carried
on higher up. The vegetation was poor as we went along. The
Umbrella or Palm Fern, Gleichenia flahellata, grew alongside the
bridge, while the Coral or Star Fern, G. ci7xinata, grew in quanti-
ties further along on the hillsides. A look-out was kept for
G. dicarpa, but it could not be detected. The large yellow pea
flower, Go7npholobium Huegelii, was found both in flower and in
fruit. Persoonia juniperina, a small proteaceous shrub, was also
in bloom, with Styphelia scoparia just in bud. The most attractive
object along the road was the stems bearing the splendid turquoise-
blue fruits of Dianella longifolia, which were rather numerous.
After about four miles of walking the road left the valley, and,
reaching higher ground, we found ourselves on a different
formation, the silurian having been replaced by granite. Close
by was Hoddle's Creek P.O., which we made our terminus, and
as one of the party knew the proprietor, we were invited into
lunch, for, notwithstanding that the leader had provided a bottle
of " forced march tabloids," and was anxious to give them a trial,
the others thought something more bulky would be acceptable,
and he too gave way. For dessert we were told to go down in to
the raspberry garden and help ourselves, which we did, and the
fruit was very refreshing on the hot day. But signs of a coming
change were increasing, so we determined to return homewards,
and had almost reached the hotel when rain started ; however, it
was not very serious. After an early tea, we left by the extra
train, and were back in town by 8 p.m., after a very enjoyable
outing.

In response to ray request, Dr. Sutton has kindly given me a
few additional notes on the botany of the trip to Malleson's Glen.
He says : —

" Many flowers are not to be expected at the end of January,
but from the train Leptorrhynchos tenuifolius was observed in
abundance in the railway reserve, and Bursaria spinosa was
frequently seen. The latter, however, was really in its fruiting
time, for its flowers were scentless, and would soon be past.
About the river Geranium pilosum, Oxalis corniculata, Viola
hederacea, Epilobium glahellum, Lythrum salicaria, Cynoglossum
latifolium, Brunella vulgaris, Gratiola PeruviauQf^ Mentha Aus-.

8 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

trails^ and Solanum nigrum were in bloom. In a bend of the
river near the hotel, where the scrub had been little disturbed,
Lyonsia straminea was growing abundantly, and fine fruit
specimens of it and of Clematis aristata were obtained, seedlings
of each being also lifted for home cultivation. Here, also,
Hedycarya Cu7ininghami, the so-called Native Mulberry, and
Hymenanthera Banksii were in ripe fruit, with Lomatia longifolia
in seed, while it was noticed that the seed-cases of Kunzea
pedunculata^ in contrast to the Leptospermums, had already
shed their contents. On the way to the Glen were seen in
flower Glycine clandestina, Hydrocotyle geranifolia, Gnaphalium
Japonicum, Erythrcea spicata, Goodenia ovata, Senecio vagus,
and the graceful little climber, Convolvulus marginatus, from
which a quantity of seed was gathered. Hydrocotyle hirta was
in fruit. Fruiting species seen between the river and the Glen
were Panax sambucifolius, Samhucus Gaudichaudiana, Coprosma
Billardieri, and on the higher ground Correa Lawrenciana, bearing
buds, flowers slenderer than usual, and gaping cocci, was met
with. Here, too, Cassinia aculeata was seen in flower, though
past that stage lower down, and Seyiecio vagus. It was interesting
to notice how many plants had got a start in life by rooting in
the stems of the tree-ferns, particularly when prostrate or inclined
at an angle. Quite a number of species are introduced into our
suburban gardens in this way, and very lately in Carlton I saw
a stem which was the host of four — viz., Fomaderris apetela,
Coprosma Billardieri, Pittosporum bicolor, and Polypodium
pustulatum. Some of the acacias, especially A. inelanoxylon,
as well as Aster argophyllus, often owe their origin to the
hospitable tree-fern, while the orchid Chiloglottis Gunnii is
quite at home on its fibrous stem. In the Glen the usual
fern gully vegetation was found. Fagus Cunninghamii was
frequent, and seedlings were easily obtainable. The same could
be said of Atherosperma moschatum (in fruit), Hedycarya
Cunninghamii, and Panax sambucifolius. The other con-
stituents of the scrub were Aster argophyllus, Prostanthera
lasiantha, and Fomaderris apetala, in fruit, with Zieria Smithli
in bud. A complete ascent of the Glen was not made, for lack of
time. Higher up Senecio velleyoides and Poa (Glyceria) dives.
Wild Oats, standing quite lo feet high, were the most prominent
plants. Mr. Maiden says the latter grows up to 17 feet in height,
and deserves cultivation ; from it a quantity of seed was gathered.
The yellow flowers of the Senecio were visible high up on each
side of the valley. Most of the fruits met with were nibbled
tentatively. That of the Hedycarya was distinctly unpleasant ;
the large berries of the Solanum, looking like pale yellow
tomatoes, and quite warm from exposure to the hot sun,
appeared to be sweet and edible, but not having the sessile

May, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 9

decurrent leaves of Baron von Mueller's S. vescum — the real
Gunyang — they were considered to be those of *S'. aviculare,
described by Bentham as inedible ; the flavour characteristic
of orris root was noticed in the berries of Hymenanthera and
the small fruits of Ruhus parvifolius were frankly eaten. In
connection with the fruits of our indigenous plants, it would
be interesting to elicit from members and others, and place
on record, as much information as possible as to their edibility
and possible culinary uses. Of ferns at least twenty species
were noticed, the most noteworthy varieties being Asplenium
umhrosum^ Lomaria lanceolafa, and L. fluviatilis, of all of
which fine specimens were seen."

I am indebted to Mr. W. H. A. Roger for some notes on the
Lepidoptera of the outing. He says : — " At Malleson's Glen a
number of small butterflies were observed flying about, which, on
a specimen being captured, proved to be Xeyiica kershawi. A
solitary specimen of the handsome Swallow tail Butterfly, Fapilio
macleayamos, was taken in the Glen, but, being faded and worn,
was set at liberty again. On Monday, in a narrow, dry gully
extending up the hillside near the hotel, specimens of the Ringed
Xenica, X. achanta, Klug's Xenica, X. klugii, and the female of
the common meadow-brown, Heteronympha merope, were very
plentiful, sheltering amongst the bracken from the strong north
wind blowing. A few moths were taken, among them being one
of the thorn moths, Hhinodia rostraria, and the pretty little black
and gold Termessa Iceta.'' — F. G. A. Barnard.

EXCURSION TO MT. WILLIAM, LANCEFIELD.

The earnest entreaty at our last meeting by Mr. Barnard for as
large a party as possible to attend the Club excursion to the
aboriginal quarries at Mt. William on 22nd February was
responsible for about a dozen members assembling on the
Lancefield platform. Some had come up the night before, but
most had dared the discomforts of the early morning suburban
trains, and felt they had already spent a long day by the time the
railway journey of 46 miles was finished. As Mr. Barnard read
an interesting account of a visit to the district before this Club
a few months ago {Vict. Xat., xxiv., p. iii), and as we covered
part of the same ground that he did, his description of the
quarries need not be repeated ; and for this reason, therefore, he
has asked me to supply the usual report. Through Mr. M. E.
O'Brien, of the Lancefield State school, we had arranged for a
four-horse coach to take us out to the Mount, and we were
accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Brisbane, of Big Hill State school,
Mr. J. T. Guthridge, of the Lancefield Mercury, and Mr. O'Brien.
Our drive was a terribly dusty one, but at last we reached the home

10 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. tVol. XXV.

of Mr. G. K. Donaldson, on whose property the quarries are
situated. We were sorry to find Mr. Donaldson suffering from
the result of a severe riding accident. Mr. E. E. Johnson, a
former member of the Club, joined us here. As it was now
lunch time, a fire was lighted and tea made. We then visited the
quarries, and spent about three hours in examining them and their
surroundings. The members were greatly interested in the
abundant evidences of the aboriginals' handiwork as displayed
in the numerous chipping places, both on the hillsides and in the
valleys, and it was hard to realize, from the appearance of the
heaps, that more than fifty years had elapsed since the last axes had
been shaped there. Several unfinished tomahawks were obtained
as mementos of the visit. An attempt was made to photograph
some of the stone heaps, but, owing to the unfavourable weather
conditions, the results were not very satisfactory. The main party
then returned to Lancefield and thence to town, while Mr.
Armitage and myself, after photographing some tors, made our
way to Mr. Johnson's house, Mr. Johnson having kindly offered
to put us up for the night.

Before breakfast on the Sunday morning I went to an adjacent
slate quarry in the vain hope of finding graptolites._ After break-
fast we walked down the valley to the south, and in a couple of
miles came to the well-known Lancefield graptolite quarry. Here
we found a fairly large party, including Mr. Barnard, who had
stayed the night in Lancefield. We spent a long time in the
quarry, and everyone secured a few graptolites, though till
further opening up takes place not much good collecting can be
done. A return was then made to Mr. Johnson's for lunch, and
then three of us — Messrs. Barnard, Brisbane, and myself — climbed
the I, GOO feet to the top of Mt. William. The cairn marking the
trigonometrical station is now so surrounded by trees that nothing
can be seen from there. A little to the southward, however,
from clear ground, a very extensive view is to be obtained.
Mt. Alexander shows through a gap to the north-west, and Mt.
Disappointment is seen in the opposite direction, and a series of
flat-topped ranges stretches from Mt. Disappointment far to the
northward. Unfortunately haze and smoke prevented us from
picking out many landmarks, but Kilmore and Lancefield town-
ships were easily seen.

A few notes may be added on the geology of this interesting
district. The oldest rocks exposed are the Lancefield shales,
the lowest Ordovician that we know in Victoria. They are
usually dark blue in colour, and in places are much indurated,
sometimes being almost cherty. Near the disused Mt. William
railway station very silicified beds are displayed in the cuttings.
Near Mr. Johnson's house a road leaves the Pyalong road and
runs east across the Mt. William range. On this road the blue

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. — Vol. XXV.

Ma}', 1908.

Plate i.

AT ABORIGINAL STONE QUARRIES, MT. WILLIAM.
Fhotij. (jy J. a. Hauvky.

May, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 1 1

shales rise liigh on the flanks of Mt. WilHam, and are much
indurated. They are then succeeded by diabase or greenstone,
which forms the main mass of the range. There can be but
httle doubt that the Ordovician is older than the diabase, and has
been silicified by its intrusion. It may be noted that this
diabase outcrop, which is several miles in extent, and includes
the aboriginal quarries, is not marked on the geological map.
At the site of the aboriginal quarries we found highly inclined
platy jointing occurring in the diabase, and it is this jointing
which has determined the site of the quarries, as it has facilitated
the first shaping of the axes. Hereabout small quartz veins were
common in the diabase, and some we saw were over an inch in
diameter. Some of the blocks of greenstone were slightly
vesicular, though nothing approaching the agglomerates of
Photograph Nob at Heathcote were seen. About half a mile
north of the quarries the diabase is bounded by granite, and
along the contact zone a small amount of mining has been done.
From the presence of the quartz veins in the diabase near its
junction with the granite, it seems probable that the granite is
the younger rock, but further observation is necessary to see if
granite veins can be found cutting through the diabase.
The succession, then, seems to be —

Granite
over Diabase (greenstone),
over Ordovician shales, &c.

At Lancefield itself we find modern volcanic rocks extensively
developed, and these yield the rich soil of the district. The
volcanic rocks cover practically all the country traversed by the
railway from here to Melbourne.

All of the party will, I am sure, unite with me in thanking our
Lancefield friends for their kindness, for without their guidance
we should not have seen one-half of what we did see. — T. S.
Hall.

[The illustration given herewith is from a photograph by Mr.
J. H. Harvey, taken during the excursion. It shows one of the
chipping places, just distinguishable as a heap of small stones on
the summit of the hill, with an outcrop of rough stones, from
which the tomahawks were shaped, in the foreground. It was
to this heap, and the fallen she-oak tree, Mr. Barnard referred in
his article on page 115 of the Naturalist for November last. —
Ed. Vict. Nat.']

Botany. — A course of University Extension Lectures on
botany by Professor Ewart, D.Sc, Ph., is announced to be given
in the Biological School, University. Particulars can be obtained
from Miss Jean White, Biological School.

12 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. fVol. XXV.

A NIGHT WITH THE BIRDS OF LAWRENCE ROCKS.

By a. H, E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S.

{Mead before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 9th March, 1908.)

Towering aloft, wind swept, and like a grim sentinel guarding
the entrance to the beautiful bay at Portland stand the precipitous
cliffs of Lawrence Rocks, a mere speck of land buffeting the
billows of the Southern Ocean as they ceaselessly fall upon it
and smash themselves into spray, roaring meanwhile in their
agony. As the dying waves expire they encircle the islet with a
girdle of snowy foam, which recedes from the brown, jagged
shelves of rocks in hundreds of miniature cascades and waterfalls,
scintillating in iridescent colours as the refraction of light forms
small rainbows in the sunshine, Situated on the narrow neck
which connects the two larger masses of rock is a small area of
earthy soil, the detritus washed down from the surrounding
volcanic cliffs. On this soil " Pig-face Weed," Mesembrianthemum
cequilaterale, and the Native Mallow, Lavatera ^j^e6e;a, Sims,
one moss, which, not being in fruit, could not be identified,
and one lichen find a precarious existence.

This verdure-clad spot, a perfect oasis in the desert of bare
rock and wilderness of waves, which no doubt long aeons ago
was separated from the mainland by some vast volcanic distur-
bance, is resorted to by several species of sea-roaming birds as a
breeding ground, on account of the friableness of the soil, which
is readily burrowed into by them when forming a nesting home.
Others, however, prefer to nest on top of the barest and most
exposed part of the rock.

The sea-birds frequenting this place do so on account of its
freedom from ground enemies, such as native cats, foxes, and
dingoes, and also because it is in the vicinity of their food supply.
Owing to their freedom from molestation for perhaps centuries
past, the birds repair to this spot to nest and bring forth their
young precisely at the same date each year. Knowing this, I
journeyed by train to Portland during my Christmas vacation to
enable me to add to my knowledge of the ni(iification of these
birds, and also to obtain a series of photos, of the avine
inhabitants of this lonely place. The Countess, a well-found
vessel of about 12 tons register, was awaiting me, and with a
plentiful supply of water and provisions, not forgetting my camera
and a " bluey," we set sail on a bright afternoon before
Christmas for the rock. The boat, propelled by its engine,
supplemented with its sails, danced merrily over the azure-blue
waters of Portland bay, and as we rounded a headland away, in
the distance to the south Lawrence Rock was discerned like an
emerald set in the golden light of the shimmering ocean, with

THE I WC TORI A N ,\A Tl 'RALIS T — Vol. XX V. May, 1 908.

Plate 2.

May, 1908.] THE VlCtORIAN NATtJRALlST. 13

Lady Julia Percy Island like a faint speck on the eastern
horizon.

As we approached the rock it was noticed that it was divided
into two parts by a narrow passage of surging water. On the
smaller section hundreds of Cormorants, Phalacrocorax gouldi,
were seen sitting on their columnar-shaped nests, and when we
passed close to them the brooding birds waddled off their eggs
and lined up on the edge of the rocks like a regiment of soldiers,
and were re.^dy for instant flight should their leader indicate that
it was too dangerous to remain any longer. Sailing further on,
our boatmen stopped the oil engine, lowered the sails, and deftly
throwing out the anchor on to a little patch of good holding
ground, made fast close by the brown kelp-clad edge of the reef.
My impedimenta having been safely stowed in the dinghy, we
pulled for the reef. This dinghy had been specially built with
high smooth sides, and with great beam, for rowing through the
broken waters of the surf, in which these hardy and bold fisher-
folk, in all weathers, attend ta their crayfish pots, sunk in the
holes of the submerged reefs. As we approached the edge of the
reef many fish were disturbed, and swam hurriedly into the
masses of kelp with which the rocks are lined, and which
continuously flagellates them as the waves in their onward rush
wash them first upwards against the reef then downwards as they
recede from it. Now we are but a cable's length from the jagged
and savage-looking rocks, and the fishermen forthwith heave over
a kedge anchor and row through the joggling water, paying out a
stout line as they go. When the prow of the boat is within a
foot of the rocks the cable is made fast to prevent the boat
bumping, and out some of us spring on to the reef. The
packages are then thrown ashore, where they are caught and
carried through about a foot of white surf that sweeps across the
rocky platform to the higher ground.

After the luggage has been stowed above high water level, we
set out to explore, and as we ascend the first land mass the
nesting burrows of several Fairy Penguins, Eicdyptula mmor,
those grotesque flightless birds, were seen. One burrow con-
tained three white eggs, some others two eggs, all heavily
incubated and besmeared with dirt, whilst higher up the rock,
amongst the pig-face weed, where there was more earth, most of
the penguins' burrows contained two little young ones, which
were clothed in a dark velvety fur, or rather down, which is not
far removed from the fur of animals. In fact, penguins are a
curious mixture of bird, animal, and fish, having some of the
characteristics of all three forms, and as such are noteworthy
examples of the process of evolution from their presumed reptilian
ancestors. Other burrows contained two or three adult birds,
some of which were moulting. Penguins, when interfered with,

14 THE Victorian naturalist. [Voi. xxv.

utter at first a sharp note of anger, and then peck viciously at
one, and woe betide the uninitiated who foolishly attempts to
stroke them, since they can inflict a nasty wound on one's hand.
After a little judicious handling, however, they become quite
tame, Interspersed with the homes of the penguins were the
rabbit-like burrows of the Short-tailed Petrels, Fuffinus tenui-
rosb'is, or " Mutton-birds," as they are more often called. Their
burrows are easily singled out from those of the penguins by
having a smaller opening, besides being more deeply excavated.
Their holes are usually from 4 feet to 7 feet deep, whereas the
penguins' burrows rarely exceed 2 feet 6 inches in depth, but are
generally only 18 inches deep, and with an arched and a cave-like
opening. On some of our coastal islands penguins nest under the
overhanging grass tussocks, also sword-grass and other vegetable
growths,* and on rare occasions they utilize a crevice in a rock.
Investigation of all the homes of the Mutton-birds revealed the
fact that only three burrows were tenanted, and on walking
around the rookery the remains of the carcasses of these sombre-
coloured birds were seen m every direction. This dire mortality
at first puzzled me, but whilst wandering over the summit of the
rock later on I disturbed a pair of Black-cheeked Falcons, Falco
melanogenys, which were feasting on the body of one of these
birds. The Mutton-bird lays but one large white egg at the end
of its burrow, at which place it excavates a cavity and lines it
with but an apology for a nest, and in some instances with no
lining at all. Their eggs are excellent eating, and are gathered
in thousands upon thousands on the islands of Bass Strait and
Phillip Island, for culinary purposes, each nesting season. They
are larger than the egg of a domestic duck, and when fresh they
are a clean chalky white, and look inviting. When the young
birds have grown to a large size in the burrow, the islanders of
Bass Strait obtain quantities of oil from them, by holding them by
the legs over a barrel, and by squeezing them ; all the surplus
oil is expressed through their beaks, while the carcass is cured by
either salting or smoking, and then forms their staple diet. From
the fact that these birds take the place of meat at the table of
these simple islanders, they have been christened " Mutton-
bird."

^'^A few rat-like holes were observed on the outskirts of this
small patch of soil, and into one I inserted my arm for about
two feet, until I felt something wriggling at the end. My
first inclination was to pull my arm out, thinking that it
was a venomous reptile, but I was aware that no snakes were
to be found on these rocks, so, reassured, I seized hold
of the wriggling creature and carefully pulled it from its hole.
As it emerged it was seen that it was a Dove-like Prion, Prion

* See plate 3, fig. i.

7 HE I VC TOR I AN NA TURA L IS 7.— 1 W. XX V.

Plate 3.

May, 1908.

FfG 1.

FAIRY PENGUIN AND YOUNG

( Eudyptula undiiia, Gld.^

i^ici. 2. DOVE-LIKE PRION AND YOUNG

(Prion ae^jiatui^ (jmel.y
Photos, by A. H. E. MAXXlXGLEy.

May, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. l5

desolatus, one of those fragile ocean wanderers known to mariners
as "Whale-birds.""^ When a whaler harpoons a whale and is
cutting up the blubber, these sprites of the ocean congregate in
thousands and snap up any of the stray pieces that happen to
float about. They also suck up any globules of floating oil, of
which substance they seem particularly fond./' Although there
may be only a few Whale-birds in the vicinity when a whale is
killed, yet in an incredibly short space of time thousands of
these birds come flying in to the banquet. Some may consider
this an example of instinct, but one must remember that a bird
can see about fifty miles, and should a W^hale-bird observe a dead
whale, its excited actions, due to the thoughts of a feast, attract
the attention of several birds within sight, although they may be
ranging over the sea within a radius of thirty miles distant.
Other birds, again, which are flying within a radius of sixty miles,
observe the actions of those within the thirty miles radius
and make for the centre point. The birds roaming the ocean
hundreds of miles away are thus informed of the chances
of a meal, and so congregate at a given spot on the ocean in
large numbers, and as they are powerful fliers it does not take
them long to do so.

The Dove-like Prion is vernacularly known at Portland as the
"Snow-bird." There were very few of their rat-like burrows in
this small area of soil, which was riddled in every direction with
Penguin and Mutton-bird holes, and as the Dove-like Prion is a
fragile bird, and unable to fight either the Mutton-bird or Penguin
for its choice of a nesting site, it has perforce to utilize that
portion of the rookery unoccupied by these last-named birds,
which is the outer edge of the soil where it meets the rock. As
the soil, especially at these parts, is loose and friable, the
hurricanes that at times come raging over this exposed islet tear
away the edges of the rookery and destroy these unfortunate birds.
Evidences of the destructive work of wind and water were plainly
visible. All along the extreme edge of the rookery were burrows
of the Dove-like Prions, from which the covering of soil had been
swept away by the wind, whilst in the nesting cavity at the
extremity many broken and a few unbroken eggs were found,
one egg comprising a clutch, whilst some of the adult birds had
been blocked in their burrows and had been smothered. Most
of the burrows of these birds had a turn in them, instead of being
excavated straight into the soil. This turn was no doubt made
by the birds mainly to prevent the complete choking up of their
burrows by particles of wind-driven soil, but in some cases the
turn in the tunnelling was due to a hard piece of rock intruding
and barring the way, rendering it necessary to turn off in another
direction. The burrows measured in depth about two feet, and

* See plate 3, fig. 2.

16 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

only about eight or nine of them at the rookery were tenanted
by either young ones or aduUs. Both the cock and hen Prion
take their share of the burden of hatching out the young. They
often stay at home with their nestling during the daytime, instead
of proceeding to sea, over which they flutter, in calm weather,
like huge butterflies.

— Bishop Mant has well described the various services rendered
by one species of petrel to man : —

Yet may she coast more northern seas,

Round Hebrid isles and Orcades,

And Shetland onward, till more far

Her course the icy mountains bar ;

And there the kindred Fulmar seek,

Her nostril broad, and crooked beak

With yellow nail projecting ; whence,

Instinctive weapon of defence.

By nature taught, against his foes

A stream of liquid oil he throws

At random, gathered from the sea.

His floating food ; more plenteously,

As tending on the harpooner's sail.

He shares the plunder of the whale.

How is Nature's kindness shown

When needed most ! From him alone,

Free burgher on her common way,

Himself to man an easy prey.

By day supplied a grateful feast.

Their ailments cured, their wounds redrest,

Their lamp illum'd with evening light,

With down their couches strewn by night,

Saint Kilda's simple natives find ;

Nor less a signal of the wind,

As by his Sittings or repose

Defined, the aeriel current flows,

Mrs. Meredith, of Tasmania, sings : —

Where mountain billows roll and loud winds sing,

The Stormy Petrel, on untiring wing,

Still skims along the ocean's troubled breast.

And safely steers above each foaming crest ;

As the prophetic herald glances by,

The anxious sailor knows that danger's nigh.

The carcasses of several of these Prions which had been recently
killed by tlie pair of Black-cheeked Falcons aforesaid were
scattered about the rookery, in which a peculiar musky odour was
noticeable. As it was nearly time for the boatmen to return, we
forthwith scrambled up the rocky face of a rough cliff to the
Gannet rookery, and on reaching the summit an enchanting
picture met our gaze. Crowning the highest part was a living
mass of white, composed of some 400 Gannets attending to their
young ones. We hurried forward to examine them more closely,
and as we did so many of them, rushing face to wind to the edge

May. 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 17

of the terrific precipices which surrounded the rookery on three
sides, jumped off and majestically flew away.* How beautiful
they looked as they circled and recircled, wheeled and rewheeled
in their flight over the rookery, or poised in the air as if they
contemplated a return to their young ones, and when the soft,
yellow light of the setting sun streamed over their snowy plumage
and lit up the heavens with an azure blue the effect was extremely
weird, and as they came flying back and alighted amongst their
young ones they created an impression in one's mind similar to
that on viewing a picture of angels descending through space to
relieve suffering humanity. But the cackling of the old birds on
regaining their young ones, together with the pungent odour of
the rookery, rapidly disillusioned one. When approached closely
the old birds, in their excitement, vomited up an oily, fishy mass.
When sailors catch these birds at sea and place them on the
vessel's deck, they eject the contents of their stomach in their
excitement. This the sailors erroneously attribute to sea-
sickness.

The time had now arrived for the boatmen to return, so we
scrambled down the cliff to the dinghy, and with a farewell wave
of the hand they departed, leaving me marooned on the islet — a
veritable Robinson Crusoe, as it were — a lonely man on a lonely
rock. I had now time to revisit the Gannets' rookery, and took
the opportunity of observing their habits more closely. Young
in all stages of development were found, also a few addled eggs
reclining in their mound-shaped nests, which are dished in the
centre to receive the single white egg which the Gannet lays.
The nest needs to be dished so as to give a purchase to the bird's
feet, and it also needs to be firmly fixed to its rocky foundation,
since it is built on the most exposed portion of the cliffs, and it
is a wonder that the birds are not blown completely off the
rookery during the gales that rage along this part of the Southern
Ocean. I was privileged to notice how the Gannets hold on
during a stiff breeze. This was accomplished by the birds by
sitting face to wind so as to offer as little resistance as possible to
it, with their webbed feet flattened on the outside declivity of
their mound on the side which sloped to windward, whilst their
strong, stiff tail feathers were propped against the inside ridge, of
their saucer-shaped nest, and so an excellent leverage was
obtained. Most of the brooding birds' tails were very much
worn by using them in this manner, as diey held on and
protected their young ones with the vent feathers. Whether
they adopt this method of holding on whilst sitting on their eggs
remains to be ascertained. The nest is composed for the most
part of guano, intermingled with a little soil, seaweed, and waste
matter, and is patted down into a smooth and solid mass, as if it

* See plate z.

18 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

had been made of stiff clay, and is almost as solid as the rocky
foundation on which it rests. Now and then an adult bird
would fly in from the ocean, and, regurgitating the contents of its
stomach, would discharge the semi-masticated and partly pre-
digested material, consisting of an oily, thick paste, into its
offspring's throat. Others, again, brought in fish — principally
young Barracouta, Garfish, and Pilchards. It was indeed a
magnificent sight to watch a hundred or two of the old birds
obtaining their food, as they hovered at an altitude of between 30
and 50 feet over a shoal of fish, when, with sudden downward
rushes, they plunged headlong into the waves, the impact causing
the spray to splash up around tlie spot to the height of about 8
feet. On emerging, the birds, with a side-shake of their heads,
swallowed their prey. The effect of so many birds " taking
headers " from aloft was similar to huge flakes of snow falling.

Gannets are specially adapted for diving in this manner, since
they are provided with a liberal supply of feathers, especially on
the crown and neck, which is thick and strong, whilst their bills
are pointed like a stiletto, and offer very little resistance to the
water. They are also provided with a special apparatus in the
shape of a series of small air-sacs, which lie immediately beneath
the skin of the breast. These air-vessels can be inflated at will,
and thus form a pneumatic cushion, as it were, which enables
the bird to soften the concussion caused by meeting the water
after their headlong descent ; besides, they also facilitate the bird's
return to the surface more easily on account of this added buoy-
ancy. Just before the Gannet enters the water in its headlong
plunge it neatly claps its wings to its side and holds them there
rigidly, otherwise, if they were left open or loose, they would
probably be broken ; besides, they would offer too much resistance
to the water, and by retarding the progress of the bird its prey
would escape. The tip of the wing of the Gannet whilst iri
flight covers an angle of 175 degrees. Were a line drawn
vertically through the centre of its body the tip of the wing
would almost touch it above and below in its sweep of nearly
half a circle. The Gannet's fish-like goggle eyes are also specially
adapted for sighting its finny prey under water ; whilst their
subcylindrical bill, being serrated along the inner edge like the
teeth of a saw, helps them to hold their slippery prey more
effectually, especially since the serrations point backwards, and
they no doubt assist them to partly mince their food. These
serrated processes on the Gannet's bill are probably the present
day counterparts of the teeth possessed by their ancestors in
prehistoric times. Such is the almost incredible change which
has been wrought in this bird in nature's workshop, where it has
been subjected to a hammering on the anvil of time by its
environment until we find the teeth which were embedded

May, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 19

in the plastic gum of its progenitors moulded into one solid
piece of mechanism. The Gannet is a bird that is apparently
indissolubly linked up with the past. Not only do we find the
evidences in the serrations of its beak, but. we also find that its
young in their immature state, when the wings, being devoid of
feathers, are covered with skin like our hands, crawl about on all
fours, using both legs, wings, and beak to propel themselves
along. They are also known as Solan or Solent Geese, and were
it not for the shape of its beak one might readily mistake it for
a goose, since they are about the same size and shape. Gener-
ically they are known to science as Sula, to which genus the
boobies belong. The Gannet is a booby par excellence, since
the brooding birds will let one approach close to them, and even
capture them, as they sit on their nests. One can walk through a
rookery amongst these birds, but not altogether with impunity,
because one has to be careful of their powerful beak, since they
peck at a person if approached too closely. It is indeed a pretty
sight to walk through the brooding birds and observe the long,
well-defined line of black of the primaries or large outer feathers
of the wings, sharply though pleasantly contrasting with their snow-
white plumage, whilst the delicate ochreous-buff colour of the head
and nape, blending with the greenish-coloured soft parts adjoining
the bill, with its bluish edgings, make a charming picture. How
loving, too, they are to one another ! What gentle affection is
shown when one of the birds returns home from a fishing trip.
Watch how they cuddle up their necks and utter subdued
cackling love notes as they caress each other. But, loving as
they are by nature, ihey resent any intrusion of their neighbours,
and by vigorously pecking any other Gannet that comes within
reach of their beak they intimate to them that they must keep in
their own back yard. As their nests are built very close to one
another this contingency frequently happens. However, the adult
birds are very kind to the young ones, and should a nestling
wander to an adjoining nest the old Gannet occupying it will
nestle down over it together with its own offspring. It is not
unusual to find two, and sometimes three, of the smaller nestlings
that have gone astray under one old bird, which seems quite
pleased with the addition to its family. The larv^ of a blowfly
were found swarming in the mouth and throat of two of the living
young Gannets. These unfortunate mites, as yet unfeathered,
would have been destroyed very soon had I not washed these
parasites out with sea water. The absence of their parents had
evidently given the blowfly an opportunity to lay its eggs in the
mouths of these helpless creatures.

Well-defined tracks, consisting of nodules or excrescences on
the skin, denote the beginning of the feather forests, or pterylse, as
they are called, in the immature birds. Feathers do not grow

20 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

everywhere on a bird's body in a haphazard fashion, as one would
naturally expect judging by their appearance on a fully feathered
bird, but they have well-defined areas, which differ in pattern in
most of the species. The other parts of the surface of the bird's
skin being covered with the overlapping feathers that grow in
these feather forests makes it appear as if its feathers were
growing from every part of its body. Herewith is a terse descrip-
tion of the phases of plumage of Sula serrator from the most
immature form upwards : —

(i.) The young of the Gannet, when first hatched, is blind and
naked, the colour of its skin being a deep chocolate-black,
whilst its weight is about 2 or 2^ ozs.

(2.) Almost devoid of any covering except for a light patch of
white on crown of head ; fore-neck, interscapulary region, lower
back, rump and flanks, hinder crown, nape, hind neck, breast,
and along the wing in region of humeral feathers showing a
faint growth of down. Auricular region, lores, chin, throat and
lower throat bare, the skin being brownish-black. Bill i inch
long, and the total length about S^^ inches. Irides dark, with a
yellowish spot or streak on skin beneath the eyes. Note. — All
the series that are feathered have this yellowish spot. Tips of
wings in 3, 4, 5 series almost bare ; this enables them to use both
their wings and legs as a means of propulsion, and it is a
remarkable fact that the immature young Gannets " walk " about
on all fours, so to speak.

(3.) Sparsely covered with white down. Throat and region
around the eye bare. Length of bill, i^^ inches. Length,
about 9 inches.

(4.) Body covered with thick white down, except upper back
and nape, which is sparsely covered. Hinder crown, region
around the eyes, chin, throat, and lower throat bare, whilst there
is a scanty growth on the crown. Length, about 12 inches.
Bill, i}i inches.

(5.) Covered with white down, excepting upper back, which is
thinly covered. Hinder crown almost bare. Forehead, region
around the eye, chin, throat and lower throat bare. Bill, i}^
inches. Length of bird, about 13^ inches. The growth of
down in this specimen is now found starting at the sides of lower
throat.

(6.) Covered with thick white down; forehead, region around
eye, chin, and throat bare. Lower throat showing faint growth
of down. Crown with distinct tuft of down standing up like a
casque, evidently a special adaptation to soften the concussion
in its adult stage when it strikes the water in its headlong descent.
Bill of this specimen measured 2j^ inches. Length of bird,
about 16^ inches.

(7.) Same as No. 5, only having the growth of down more

May, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 21

developed on side of lower throat. Length of bird, about 1914^
inches. Bill 2^8 inches in length. In Nos. 5, 6, and 7 the top
joint of wing is covered with down, whilst in all the series
under review the irides are dark and the yellowish-coloured spot
or streak is found beneath the eye.

(8.) Centre of throat, lores, and region beneath the eye bare.
Tuft of down more prominent on the crown. Forehead covered
with whitish feathers flecked with brownish-black spots. All
other parts covered with thick white down ; primaries, second-
aries, wing coverts, and mantle feathers, being dark grey, each
feather being tipped with a white spot, whilst the shaft of the tail
feathers is white, upper tail coverts almost white, whilst some
nearer the rump are tipped with white only. Length, 26 inches.
Bill, 3^ inches. No under tail coverts have as yet appeared.
At this stage of the bird's development it gets its wing and tail
feathers, whilst the other parts of the bird's body still retain the
down. It is evident that the development of these feathers before
the others has a relationship with the feathers that are moulted
first, since it is the tail and wing feathers that disappear earliest.
A noticeable fact is that at this stage the head, excepting the
lores and centre of throat, is covered with down, whilst the
patches that are bare remain naked in the adult.

The shades of night approaching, I descended the cliff and
reached the rookery of the petrels and penguins, and waited there
to observe the home-coming of its inhabitants. At 8.45 p.m. the
pair of Black-cheeked Falcons still hovered around in the semi-
darkness, uttering angry notes at my continued presence, which
evidently prevented them from attacking the home-coming petrels.
At about 9 o'clock p.m. a solitary Mutton-bird arrived, and de-
scended noiselessly into its burrow ; then a couple of Snow-birds,
or Prions, flew quietly in, and after flying up and down the
rookery to take up the bearings of their nest, ihey flickered over
their burrows like large butterflies and descended to their young
ones beneath, after having cleared away the loose material that
had been blown into the mouth of the burrow with a few vigorous
backward kicks of their webbed feet. A faint " coo-coo-coo " of
welcome made by the adult bird could be heard, as it invited
its offspring to open its mouth whilst it regurgitated the contents
of its stomach, consisting of a thick greenish, oily paste, and
ejected it into the open gape of its progeny. The young of the
Dove-Petrels, or Prions, like most of the petrel family, resemble a
ball of slaty-grey fluffy down, in their earliest immature state.
They have a pair of little beady black eyes, which peep out of the
down from just behind a slender black beak, which is sur-
mounted by the tube nostrils peculiar to the petrel family.
Leading an indolent life in the burrow, where they are protected
from wind, heat, and rain, they wax exceedingly fat on the tea-
spoonful of oily fish paste with which they are fed nightly.

22 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

Owing to the young petrels being simply balls of oily fat,
the natives in some parts of the South Seas utilize them to light
up their huts. This is accomplished by passing a rush up through
their bodies, which serves as a wick, and so an excellent candle
is formed. After a time, when its feathers have developed
sufficiently, the burrowling is deserted by its parents and left to
itself. Each night the young bird takes to wandering and flap-
ping around the rookery, prompted by the pangs of hunger, and
after about a week of this life, during which time it assimilates its
heavy lining of fat, it grows lighter, and gains both confidence
and muscular development, until one night it takes wing with
the adult birds, who no doubt guide and assist it at sea until it is
able to help itself. These birds derived their name from the
Apostle Peter, because, when ranging the ocean, they go tripping
along over the billows, using their feet as well as their wings to
propel themselves forward. This action makes them appear as
if they were walking on the water, after the manner of the
Apostle, as related in the Bible.

Whilst I had been taking observations at the petrelry, the
Gannets had been keeping up an incessant cackling on the heights
above, but as the moon rose higher and higher their stridulations
gradually ceased, and as the moonlight glinted on the plumage of
the now silent birds they formed, as they squatted in one huge mass
on the crown of Lawrence Rock, a veritable night-cap, gleaming
white in the pale rays of the moonbeams as the rock slumbered
for a while in the hush that followed. " When you are in Rome
do as the Romans do " is an old but apt saying ; being a stranger
to Lawrence Rock, and desiring to be respectful to its ways, I
decided to conform with its habits, so I looked for a spot whereon
I could lie down to slumber also. The only flat place available
that was covered with sufficient soil to soften the rocks, and where
one could lie down without rolling, was a narrow track close to
the penguin rookery. Wrapping myself in my " bluey," I lay
down in the open, and was lulled to sleep by the steady roar of
the ocean. Just as I was dozing off I had a sensation of creeping
and crawling all over me. It appears that I had camped on a
sea-bird track, and the place was alive with lice which infest sea-
birds, and which drop from them and find a home in the loose
soil until they can find a host again. It was no use trying to rid
oneself of them, since there were plenty more to take their place,
and as I was badly in need of some sleep I decided to lie down
again and allow these obnoxious creatures to please themselves.

Presently I heard a noise as if someone was singing on the
rocks below. Since 1 was situated high up and could see all
over the side of the rock, as well as the surrounding sea, which
was lit up by the bright moonlight, I carefully scanned the place,
but could not discern any other human being. Could it be the

May, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 23

song of the mermaids ? I soliloquized. Could it be the sirens
that tried to lure Ulysses to destruction ? Impossible ! They
were myths pure and simple. What could it be ? Bent on
investigation, I scrambled down the cliff and discovered that the
sound, when divested of part of the accompanying roar of the
ocean, which the overtowering cliffs here deadened, resolved
itself into the psalm of the penguins on their return home. When
they had effected a landing on the rock, which was accomplished
by allowing the waves to sweep them on to it through the broken
surf, they emitted short, subdued barking quacks of pleasure,
which, blending with the roar of the ocean as it ascended and
drifted over the cliffs, seemed like the rhythm of human music.
Fully satisfied, I climbed back once more to my rocky couch, and
rolling myself in my blanket, which was now wet with dew, I essayed
another journey to dreamland, and having reached its sublime
portals I was rudely awakened by a feeling that something had
walked over my head. Sitting up quickly to ascertain what it
was, I upset a penguin that had calmly walked on to my head
and had wandered down along my body to my legs. Emitting a
squawk of fright at being so unceremoniously disturbed, it waddled
off. All around were its companions scrambling up the lower
parts of the cliffs towards me, and to my chagrin I found that I
had camped on the track along which they travel from the sea to
their rookery. This was the only place where they could get up
the steep cliffs, and I had chosen the worst place on the rock on
which to camp. Having no choice of another spot, I made up
my mind to stay where I was and allow the Penguins to walk
over me, which they did when I covered over my face and
remained still under my " bluey." Otherwise, when I left my
face uncovered, they waddled up within a foot or so and stupidly
stared at me for an indefinite time.

I had excellent opportunities, as I peeped out from under my
blanket, to observe how the penguins scrambled up the rocks,
and when, by losing their foothold, they tumbled down some
two or three feet in places, they adopted the old adage " If you
don't succeed at first, try, try, try again." Some succeeded ;
others had, after repeated efforts, to try to ascend at another spot
in the track, and at one of the most difficult points, where the
rocks were jagged and cut the penguins' feet, a trail of blood
marked their course. In no instance was I able to discern them
using their flightless wings as auxiliaries to assist in their loco-
motion. The main body of the penguins, in their march upwards
to their rookery, selected an easier place by which to ascend,
which led them to an eminence about two feet above me, and when
they reached this spot they jumped down, and usually landed
upon my head. Under these circumstances sleep was impossible,
so I wandered over the islet during the balance of the night.

24 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

Just before dawn I noticed the petrels leave the rock and fly
seawards. The Prions seemed to have no difficulty in rising off
their rookery, but the Mutton-birds had to leap off the cliff ere
they could get their wings into motion sufficiently to suspend
them in the air. The penguins, tumbling and waddling,
descended the cliffs and departed also. Some, however, preferred
to camp for the rest of the day under huge boulders close to the
water's edge, where it was damp and cool. Then the pale grey
of the approaching day kissed the horizon, and after dawn the
gleaming shafts of light from the rising sun shot up through the
hideous darkness of the night, stabbing it to death, and then a
new day was born — the day before Christmas. Refreshed by a
dip in a pool of clear sea-water and by an early breakfast, I set
out for the rookeries, and secured some good photographs of
Lawrence Rock's avine inhabitants, although there was a stiff
breeze blowing, necessitating the camera being tied down to
prevent it being blown over the cliffs. Out in the offing the
snow-white sails of the Countess once again hove in sight. As
she bore down to the islet in the face of a rising sea, her cut-
water made the waves spurt out in a continuous shower of spray
on either side.

The boat's arrival was exceedingly welcome, since I desired to
get to the Cormorants' rookery on the other section of the islet,
separated from the main mass of Lawrence Rocks by a deep,
treacherous, surf-swept channel. With great difficulty the dinghy
was brought close in to the edge of the reef, over which the surf
was now breaking in an alarming manner, the white foam swirling
knee-deep as the luggage was carried across, and was thrown to
the boatmen, who had to be very careful that the backwash did
not swamp their small craft. With a run and a leap I once more
landed in the dinghy, then the rope attached to the kedge anchor
was hauled upon, and the dinghy, battling her way through the
rough seas, which momentarily threatened to engulph her, was
drawn out to the Countess, which was labouring heavily on her
anchor line. As we rose on the crest of the wave, first one then
the other sprang into her. The boatmen informed me that the
pilot of Pordand, under whose fatherly care I had placed myself,
had given orders that we were to return to the port immediately,
as heavy weather was approaching. In such a contingency it
would probably be impossible to get me off the rocks, and I
would more than likely have to remain on them several days.
Besides, it was clearly impossible to land me at the Cormorants'
rookery through the waves that were now dashing upon it. So
reluctandy I acquiesced, and the prow of the Countess was turned
for home, and with a strong breeze behind us the sheltered waters
of Portland were safely reached.

CDe Uktorlan Haturallsi

Vol. XXV.— No. 2. JUNE 4, 1908. No. 294.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth May, 1908.

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

REPORTS.

A report of the Easter excursion to Stony Point, Western Port,
which extended from Friday, 17th, to Monday, 20th April, was
read by the leader, Mr. J. Gabriel, who gave an interesting
account of the trip. The research work was confined chiefly
to dredging, the results of which were most gratifying. In molluscs
alone 220 species were taken, including a number of very rare
species, examples of which were exhibited at the meeting. Many
interesting species of bryozoa, hydrozoa, and Crustacea were also
taken. A good deal of time was to some extent lost owing to
unfavourable weather, but, notwithstanding this, the trip proved
a most enjoyable one.

A report of the excursion to Maribyrnong on Saturday, 9th
May, was given by the leader, Mr. R. W. Armitage, who stated
that eighteen members attended, and spent an instructive after-
noon examining the geological features of the locality, which
consist chiefly of the older and newer basalts, with some tertiary
sandstones.

A report of the junior excursion to Kilby Lagoon, East Kew,
held on Saturday, 2nd May, was submittted by the leader, Mr. J.
A. Leach, M.Sc, Fifty-three junior members and their friends
and four adult members attended. The object of the excursion
was water action, interesting examples of which are well shown
in this locality. These were pointed out and explained in an
interesting way by the leader. Various objects of interest
encountered on the way were also noted, and served to occupy
the attention of the party during the rather long walk of two
miles from the tram terminus. The occurrence of the Nardoo
plant, Marsilea quadri/olia, in the fruiting stage, was particularly
interesting, and excited much attention.

The hon. librarian acknowledged the receipt of the following
donations to the library : — " Memoirs of the National Museum,
Melbourne, No. 2 : a Monograph of Silurian Bivalved MoUusca
of Victoria," by F. Chapman, A.L.S., F.R.M.S., Palaeontologist^
from the Trustees ; Journal of Agriculture of Victoria, April and
May, 1908, from the Secretary for Agriculture, Melbourne;,

26 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

" Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Victoria, No. 6 : Tiie
Buffalo Mountains," by E. J. Dunn, F.G.S., Director, from the
Department of Mines, Melbourne ; " Proceedings of Royal
Society of Victoria," n.s., vol. xx., part 2, from the Society ;
"Annual Report for 1907 of Department of Mines, New South
Wales," " Memoirs of Geological Survey, New South Wales :
Palaeontology," Nos. 10 and 13, and " Problems of the Artesian
Water Supply of Australia," by E. F. Pittman, A.R.S.M., from
the Department of Mines, Sydney ; " Records of Australian
Museum, Sydney," vol. vi.. No. 6, and vol. vii.. No. i, from the
Trustees ; Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, April and
May, 1908, from the Department of Agriculture, Sydney;
" Proceedings Hawaiian Entomological Society," vol. i., part 4,
October, 1907, from the Society; Nature Notes, April, 1908,
from the Selborne Society, London ; Knoivledge, April, 1908,
from the proprietors.

ELECTIONS.

On a ballot being taken, the following were duly elected
members of the Club : — As ordinary members — Mr. Arthur E.
Tutton, 22 Merri-street, Brunswick ; Mrs. E. L. Brownell,
" Rosebank," Clarendon-street, East Melbourne ; Mr. A. George,
190 Keele-street, Collingwood ; Mr. E. Joshua, St. James's
Buildings, William-street, Melbourne. As junior members —
Miss Audrey Ursula Sutton, Miss Sylvia Sutton ; Master George
Allan Vasey, Mont Albert-road, Canterbury ; Master J. Smith,
" Earlscourt," Glenferrie-road, Hawthorn.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Nominations for office-bearers for 1908-9 were received, and
Messrs. D. Best and J. Shepherd were elected to audit the
accounts for the past year.

PAPER.

By Messrs. T. S. Hall, M.A., D.Sc, and J. H. Harvey, entitled
" Illustrations of the Geology of the Victorian Coast." A large
series of lantern views, illustrating the geology of various parts
of the Victorian coast, were shown and explained in an interesting
manner by Dr. T. S. Hall.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Mottled Cup Moth. — Mr. J. S. Kitson read a note on the
occurrence of an unusually large number of the larvae of the
Mottled Cup Moth, Limacodes longerans. He stated that during
a visit to the North-East (Beiialla district) at Easter strong evid-
ences were seen of what was a veritable plague. On the Mokoan
Ranges, for a distance of some miles along their sides and sum-
mit, almost every tree had been stripped of its leaves, in many
cases not even the mid-rib being left. When approaching the

June, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 2/

hills from a distance the leafless trees gave one the impression
that a bush fire had recently passed along, for the trees all
appeared brown. There was no evidence that the caterpillars
had been on the flat country. The favourite food seemed to be
the leaves of the Stringy-bark, Eucalyptus inacrorrhyncha, as
scarcely a leaf was left on any of these trees. A noticeable
feature was that, although many of the leafless trees were covered
with mistletoe (Loranthus), not one of the latter had been
attacked. A resident stated that the caterpillars had even
attacked apple, pear, and plum trees in some orchards. The
larvae had at that time all disappeared, but, although they had
been in such myriads, none of their cocoons could be found.
Where had they all gone to pupate? For a short time before
the ground was in some places literally covered with the larvae
when they were moving from tree to tree.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. C. F. Cole. — Fern, from the Grantville district, showing
proliferous growth of frond, apparently constant. The plant was
not in fruit, and does not tally exactly in vegetative characters
with any Victorian fern.

By Mr. J. Gabriel. — Large series of marine shells, &c., obtained
during the Easter excursion to Stony Point.

By Mr. J. S. Kitson. — A living example of the Common Phal-
anger, Trichosurus vulpecida, captured at Tungamah, Victoria.
The specimen has been living in captivity about 2j4 months.

By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S. — Mounted specimen
of Gunn's Bandicoot, Perameles gunnii, Gray, captured by U.
Ramsay, Esq., at Winchelsea, Victoria.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

KooNUNGA CURSOR, Sayce. — We are pleased to notice that
Mr. O. A. Sayce's paper on the new crustacean found near Ring-
wood, read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria in October
last, has been reprinted in the Annals and Magazine of Natural
History for April, 1908. It is accompanied by a note from Dr.
W. T. Caiman, the distinguished carcinologist, who says : — " By
the kindness of Mr. Sayce the British Museum has now received
specimens of the very remarkable crustacean described above.
From an examination of these I am able to bear witness to the
accuracy, in all essential parts, of his description. I believe,
however, that the difference from Anaspides in the flexure of the
thoracic legs will prove to be more apparent than real, and I do
not think that the alterations now necessary in the diagnosis of
the Syncarida in any way impair the status of that group as a
natural division of the Malacostraca. A discussion of these and
similar points must, however, be deferred until the appearance
of Mr. Sayce's promised memoir."

28 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV

NOTES ON THE QUEENSLAND FIREFLY BEETLE,

LUGIOLA FLAVICOLLIS.

By R. W. Armitage.

{Read before the Field Naturalists^ Cluh of Victoria, Wi March, 1908.)

At Kuranda, some 20 miles inland from Cairns, North
Queensland, the rainfall for the fortnight previous to the 6th
January last, the date of my arrival there, totalled 36 inches, or
just one yard measure of rain, while on the night of 7th January,
ten (10) inches of rain fell in as many hours. As a result of
these copious tropical downpours, fireflies were plentiful, and I
was enabled to make some observations on their habits. The
opinion is very general that the light of the firefly is due to
phosphorescence, but I doubt whether this generally assigned
cause for the production of the light or glow is the correct
one.

The larva of this firefly is caterpillar-like, and of a brownish
colour. It measures j^ to ^-inch in length. The two last
segments of its body are whitish-coloured. It lives close to the
ground at the base of grass-stems, &c., and is rather inactive. It
does not bear any resemblance to " glow-worms " from damp
parts of Victoria — as, e.g., Gippsland — these latter being small
earthworms. Nor does the glowing of the Firefly Beetle larva
resemble that of the Victorian glow-worm.

The firefly larva emits light from the two posterior segments of
its body. This light distinctly waxes and wanes, but does not
attain very great brilliancy, nor does it die out entirely. The
glow cannot be removed unless the two segments referred to
come away with it. In such case the glowing will rapidly
diminish and cease, while on the larva being killed, the emission
of light ceases immediately. On the other hand, in the case of
the Gippsland glowing earthworms, a phosphorescent skin or
scum can be removed by rubbing or merely touching them with
the fingers, and the phosphorescence will remain after the death
of the worms.

The Queensland Firefly Beetle belongs to the family Tele-
phoridse, and the imago or perfect adult insect is about ^^ inch
long, with soft, black elytra, reddish-brown thorax, and fairly large
compound eyes. The ventral surface of the two posterior
abdominal segments is of a whitish colour.

As soon as the short twilight of the tropics is over, these
beetles may be noticed crawling up blades of grass preparatory
to taking their evening flight. While walking on grass stems or
on shrubs, they give out light intermittently bright and dull.
Occasionally a flash will be brighter than ordinarily. Then the
flashes will become less and less bright, eventually dying quite
away, to be followed shortly after by another series of flashes.

June, 1908. J THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 29

During flight the flashes will recur at intervals of a second or two,
with very little light, or even none, in between. Occasionally no
light at all will be emitted for a few seconds. Such, in general,
is the normal occurrence of the light when the insect is not inter-
fered with in any way.

When a firefly is touched by a stick or one's finger the flashes
become more brilliant, and recur more rapidly than usual, while
the interval between flashes is filled by a stronger light than is
generally to be seen. As the beetle flies through the air after
being touched in this way it gives out a continuous stream of light,
punctuated by quickly recurring brilliant flashes. On attempting
to capture a firefly which is not flashing rapidly or brilliantly,
failure is often turned into success by the fact that the emission
of light increases by interference with the freedom of the insect,
thus enabling one to follow easily the course of the fugitive.
When one imprisons a firefly in a glass tube, flasli will follow flash
in quick succession for some ten or fifteen minutes after, the
firefly meanwhile being busily engaged in trying to escape from
the tube. Without difficulty, ordinary handwriting in a letter can
be read by the light from three or four of such captives. After
some time, when the beetle becomes less excitable, and apparently
realizes the futility of its endeavours to escape, it will emit very
little light, only occasionally giving a feeble flash. On the firefly
being released from captivity, the light will again increase in
brightness, only to decrease again on the re-imprisonment of the
agent.

A close examination of the Firefly Beetle shows that the light is
emitted from the ventral surface of the two posterior segments of
the abdomen. When the flash begins a small circular patch on
the last segment glows more and more brightly. Immediately
after the beginning of this flash, and while it is becoming more
intense, a circular patch on the middle of the second last segment
glows, followed by a lighting up of two lateral circular patches.
These three areas of light increase in size until they fuse into one
another. Then from the whole of the ventral surface of the two
posterior segments of the abdomen an emission of extremely
bright and beautiful glowing light occurs. The light dies away
from both segments simultaneously. When a firefly dies slowly,
the light becomes less and less distinct, failing utterly at death.
The sudden death of the insect will cause an abrupt cessation of
the light.

The foregoing observations seem to me to lead distinctly to
the conclusion that the glowing of the firefly larva, and the
brilliant flashes alternating with dull light emitted by the imago,
are not due to the presence of phosphorescent material in or on
the body of the beetle, but rather to a nervous e.xcitation or
impulse, caused, to some extent, by influences from outside

30 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

acting on it, and that the brilliance and frequency of the flashes
are controlled by the will of the insect.

The objection may be raised that such an amount of nervous
energy would be expended by the Firefly Beetle in the production
of the light that it would be extremely short-lived. The larva
would not use up much nervous energy, as the light it produces
is not very brilliant. The energy expended could easily be
renewed by feeding. Whether the imago feeds or not I do not
know, but I see no reason why the perfect insect should not
produce a brilliant light for many nights, even though it should
not feed. The expenditure of nervous energy would doubtless be
great, but so must it be in the production of loud and continuous
sounds by some insects, and in the marvellously rapid movement
of the wings of other insects in flying, or of the legs of still other
insects in running.

The " Queensland Naturalist."' — We welcome the first
number of the " Queensland Naturalist, the Organ of the Field
Naturalists' Club (Brisbane) and its Branches." The new periodical
is to be published quarterly, and will, no doubt, further natural
history in the northern State. The number contains the second
annual report of the Club — for 1907 — which indicates steady
progress; the presidential address of Mr. H. Tryon, Government
Entomologist, who took advantage of the bicentenary of the
births of the great naturalists Linnseus and Buffon, and indicated
their lines of investigation and mfluence on succeeding genera-
tions ; a paper by Mr. G. B. J. Skertchly on " The Brisbane
Tertiaries ; " some short notes; and a list of members of the
Club, in which we notice the name of Dr. T. P. Lucas, one of the
original members of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria.

" In Australian Tropics." — Reliable books dealing with the
varied aspects of tropical Australia are not numerous, and, there-
fore, Mr. Alfred Searcy's splendidly illustrated volume will be
read with interest both by the sportsman and the naturalist. Mr.
Searcy, during a residence of fourteen years at Port Darwin as
Sub-Collector of Customs for the Northern Territory of South
Australia, had many opporiunities, during official visits, of
becoming acquainted with the natives, the natural history, and
the productions of that almost terra incognita. The 370 pages
he has written will be found both entertaining and instructive,
and should tend to the formation of a better idea of life in tropical
Australia. The headings of a few of the chapters will indicate
the character of the work — Adventures with Malay Trepang
Fishers, Trips to the Roper, M'Arthur, and Victoria Rivers,
Buffaloes, Alligators, Fishing, White-ants— while many of the 56
illustrations included are delightful pictures.

June, 190S.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 31

LEPIDOPTERA OF THE VICTORIAN ALPS; TWO
NEW BUTTERFLIES FOR VICTORIA.

By G. Lyell, F.E.S., Gisborne.
(Read before the Field Naturalists^ Club of Victoria, I'StJi Ajjril, 1908.)
From our botanical members we have had several papers
describing the plants to be found in our Alps, but as far as I
remember no attempt has yet been made to record any of the
butterflies and moths, so these few notes may be of interest.

On 5th February last, after the long, hot railway journey of
nearly 200 miles to Bright, we found the 1 6-mile coach ride to
Harrietville very pleasant. The narrow, green valley of the
Ovens River, with the abruptly rising, steep, timber-clothed
ranges on either side, were in delightful contrast to the long
stretches of dry, flat country to be seen from the railway between
Melbourne and Wangaratta. Several water-races for the dredges
near Bright flow down the valley, but these and the pretty
rushing mountain stream itself are sadly discoloured by the
mining operations higher up.

After a night at Harrietville, we made an early start on the
Omeo road for the climb of nearly 3,500 feet to the Hospice
standing on Mt. St. Bernard at just above the 5,000 feet level.
The narrow, steep mountain road, doubling upon itself continually
in its climb up the range, is hard work for the horses, but very
pleasant for us, taking us as it does away from the heat of the
lowlands and into the coolness of the mountains. For the first
two hours of the journey we have occasional glimpses of the
dwindling township in its narrow, green valley below, and then
having neared the summit of the range, the going and the pace
are both improved, and we get a glimpse of the Hospice itself.
There it stands, lo or 12 miles away, up at the head of a big
gully, perched just below the skyline of the ridge, and but little
below the point where the dwarf Snow Gums give way to the
treeless summits.

The past weeks had been very barren, from a collector's point
of view, the exceptionally dry season having spoilt even our
best grounds, but a decided improvement is noticed as soon
as we begin our mountain climb. The rare moth, Hydriomena
heteroleuca, flies up in numbers from the shady banks overhanging
the road, and the butterfly Xenica achanta is abundant — this we
did not see higher up the mountains, so it is evidently hardly'an
alpine species. Heteronymjiha meroije is also abundant at the
lower elevation, while only an occasional specimen is seen above
4,000 feet, where its place is taken by H. soland^'i, a species
described by Waterhouse from my collection as lately as 1904.
Pyrameis kershawi and P. ilea are numerous on the coach road,
and the occasional specimens taken on the heights are noticeable
on account of their very large size — three examples of P. ilea

32 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

taken on the summit of Mt. Hotham (6,ioo feet), give an average
expanse of 67 mm.

Arriving at the Hospice, we meet our Castlemaine friends, Dr.
Drake and his wife, and, examining their captures, are pleased to
note a new butterfly for Victoria in Hesperilla jnu7iionga. This
was described by OHiff from Mt. Kosciusko in 1889, and but
very few specimens have yet been secured. Its nearest ally is
H. perornata, from which it is separated by its narrower dark
markings and the golden-yellow ground-colour of its underside.
We were evidently rather late for this species, as one specimen
taken the day of our arrival, and another a few days earlier, were
the only examples secured or seen, though we made careful
search all through the twelve days spent at the Hospice.

On the loth February we drove to Mt. Hotham, six miles
distant, and the highest point on the Omeo road. Here, on the
extreme summit (6,100 feet) we found another butterfly new to
Victoria in Xenica orichora. This was named by Meyrick from
Mt. Kosciusko in 1885, and has since been several times taken
in the same spot, but not elsewhere. Anderson and Spry, in
" Victorian Butterflies," mention it as a possible Victorian species
likely to be taken near Bright — an opinion now verified. This
species was fairly abundant, though not in the best condition, and
the preponderance of females showed we were rather late for it.
Early January should be the most likely time for both these new
Victorian species.

Two other rare butterflies were Heteronympha solandri and
Hesperilla monticolce. Both these were to be taken on the coach
road and in the gullies at from 4,000 to 5,000 feet, and both were
fairly abundant. Though so lately described, H. solandri is not
at all rare at these heights — it has evidently been confused with
the similar H. hanksii by those few collectors who have visited
the mountains. H. 7no7iticolcE is a Kosciusko species, described
from the male alone, by OUiff, in 1889. Three years ago we took
both sexes near VValhalla, and the female was then described by
Waterhouse. Last month Mr. C. French secured specimens from
Walhalla again.

Xenica correce, as usual above 4,500 feet, was very common
indeed. In the evenings it might be seen in dozens, clinging to
the Cladium and other herbage along the watercourses near the
heads of the steep gullies. In one spot I counted no less than
twenty-seven specimens of this pretty little butterfly that could
have been encircled by the 12-inch ring of the butterfly net ; but
when thus at rest no net is needed, the glass-bottomed pill boxes
being much more expeditious and convenient.

Our handsome swallow-tail butterfly, Papilio macleayanus, is
plentiful at the Hospice earlier in the year, and I was rather
surprised to take two large females in very fine condition on the
summit of Mt. Hotham, and a torn one nearer the Hospice.

June, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 33

Lycsenidae were conspicuous by their absence, with the exception
of the ubiquitous Zizera labradus. We took one specimen each of
Neolucia serpentata and of N. hobartensis.

Among the moths the Hydriomenidae, as anticipated, were in
great abundance and variety. Quite a number of species
restricted to the alpine regions were secured. The showy
Hydriomena chrysocyma, previously on record from Kosciusko
only, was abundant in spots, and the equally fine H. perornata
was met with. H. cataphcea^ polycarpa, stereozona, and the hand-
some H. oxygona, were all to be taken, and H. heteroleuca was
very abundant, though rather worn. An allied but darker species
that I have not yet determined was taken resting on rocks in the
steep banks of the coach road, and H. opipara, in poor condition,
was also secured. H. ehuleata was, perhaps, with the exception
of Agrotis spina, the most abundant moth seen, but was not now
at its best.

Among the loose stones of the cairn crowning the summit of
Mt. Hotham, Agrotis spina, the " Bogong " Moth of the blacks,
was present in myriads. A knock against the cairn raised a hum
like a hive of bees, and every stone dislodged revealed speci-
mens.

Upon the summit of this mountain, also, a number of speci-
mens of a dingy but very interesting geometer were taken — a hairy
moth, evidently closely allied to the genus Oenone, which
Meyrick described from the extreme summit of Mt. Wellington,
Tasmania, and of which he wrote : — " Doubtless an early type,
having near relationship to Dichromodes on the one hand and
to the European Brephos on the other. It would appear to have
been brought into close comj^etition with the ancestors of
Dichromodes, and to have been worsted, surviving only in the
mountains of Tasmania. Similarly Brephos has maintained
itself in Europe only by becoming adapted to the wintry climate
of the earliest spring."

The Mt. Hotham species is a very strong flier, keeps close to
the herbage, and from its obscure black and grey colouring is
somewhat difficult to follow and capture.

In " plumes " we came across the whitish alpine species,
Mimeseoptilus' celidotus, and also the better-known Platyptilia
emissalis. Down in a densely wooded gully, beating the occa-
sional tea-tree along the small stream, I disturbed the pretty
Euchloris hoisduvalaria and Asthena balioloma, A. ocea^iias, and
A. %irarclia. Here, too, I took several specimens of the pretty
monoctenid, Onycliodes traumataria ; this, as it floats down from
the boughs of the tea-tree, bears a very strong resemblance, not
only in colour and shape but also in movement, to the coloured
eucalypt leaves that are dislodged at the same time.

Being so near the summit of the Alps, and the hillsides being
so steep, the collecting conditions were not of the best. Except-

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXV.

ing only along the ridges and on the coach road no level ground
was to be met with — steep and densely wooded hillsides and
trackless gullies had to be descended. But the new and rare
species to be taken compensated for all minor difficulties. On
the ridges we took Talis megalarcha, the largest of Australian
" hay-moths," another Kosciusko species now first recorded from
Victoria, and also some few specimens of the much more widely
distributed Thinasotia pentadactyla {claviferella). We wondered
if we should find any species peculiar to the Snow Gums, but a lot
of beating only resulted in one xyloryct, Agriophara ametrodes,
and a few Scoparia philonephes.

We can recommend the St. Bernard Hospice as an ideal spot
from which to collect during January, and, as showing the
abundance of specimens, I brought back with me as the result of
twelve days' collecting 626 set moths and butterflies and an addi-
tional 121 which I have placed on the boards since my return.

During our stay the thermometer touched 33° and reached a
shade temperature of only 77°, so the evening wood fires of
" Snow Gum " were in pleasing contrast with the heat we had left
behind. Heavy rain during the previous night left the^mountains
clothed in dense mist during our ride down to Harrietville on the
morning of the i8th, and the 19th February saw us again on the
railway at Bright, with pleasant memories of our holiday onjthe
top of the mountains.

List of species captured, all at 4,500-5,000 feet except when
otherwise stated. Those prefixed "^ now first recorded from
Victoria : —

BUTTERFLIES.

i Neolucia hobartensis, Misk.

Pyrameis kershawi, M'Coy
P. itea, F.
Junonia vellida, F.
Heteronympha merope, F.
H. solandri, Waterh.
Xenica klugii, Guer.
X. achanta, Don. (2,500 ft.)
*X. orichora, Meyr. (6,oco-6, 100 ft.)
X. correx, Oil.
X. kershawi, Misk. (3,000 ft.)
Zizera labradus, Godt.

Halone sobria, Walk.
Euproctis leucomelas, Walk.
Microdes diplodonta, Turn.
Asthena balioloma, Turn.
A. oceanias, Meyr.
A. urarcha, Meyr.
Scordylia leucophraf;ma,

(3,000 ft.)
Hydriomena interruptata, Gn.
H. anthracinata, Gn.
H. heteroleuca. Meyr.
H. cydalima, Turn,
li. languescens, Rosen.

N. serpentata, H. S.
Delias aganippe, Don.
D. harpalyce, Don.
Papilio macleayanus, Leach
*Hesperilla munionga, OIL
H. monticolae, Oil.
H. compacta, Butl.
II. peronii, Latr.
H. flammeata, Butl.
Trapezites phigaloides, Waterh.

MOTHS.

II. insulsata, Gn.
H. ebuleata, Meyr.
H. perornata, Walk.
H. ieucozona, Meyr.
II. stereozona/Meyr.
H. polycarpa. Meyr.
Meyr. H. oxygona, Meyr.
H. opipara, Turn.
■H. chrysocyma, Meyr.
H. cataphcea, Meyr.
H. subrectaria, Gn. (3,000 ft.)
II. subochraria, Dbldy.
Diploctena argocyma, Turn.

June, 1908.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Xanthorhoe pauper, Rosen. (3,000

X. subidaria, Gn.
X. centroneura, Meyr.
Leptomeris liotis, Meyr.
Euchloris boisduvalaria, Le G.
Taxeotis oraula, Meyr.
■'^Dichromodes diasemaria, Gn.
Onychodes traumataria, Gn.
Agrotis spina, Gn
Euplexia callisina, Turn.
Phalaenoides tristifica, Hubn.
Thinasotia pentadactyla, Zell.
Herculia albidalis, Walk.
Catamola capnopis, Meyr.

[ft.)

Heliothela ophideresana, Walk.
Eclipsiodes drosera, Meyr.
Scoparia philonephes, Aleyr,
S. protorthra, Meyr.
Mimeseoptilus celidotus, Meyr.
Platyptilia emissalis, Walk.
Acropolitis signigerana, Walk.
Cacoecia polygraphana, Walk.
Anisogoiia placoxantlia, Lower

(3,000 ft.)
Tortrix amcenana, Walk.
Lichenaula calligrapha, Meyr.
Agriophara ametrodes, Meyr.
Peltophora charaxias, Meyr.

And 34 species not yet determined.

THE BUFFALO MOUNTAINS.
The recent issue by the Department of Mines of Victoria, as No.
6 of the " Memoirs of Geological Survey of Victoria," of a report
by the Director, Mr. E. J. Dunn, F.G.S., on the Buffalo Moun-
tains, splendidly illustrated with photographs of characteristic
features, should, as the author says, " serve to bring into
prominent notice the most wonderful mountain tract within the
Stale — a true ' Garden of the Gods ' — and it is hoped that the
marvels of this region will draw many tourists from all quarters,
and thus turn a latent asset of great value into a most potent
attraction." The memoir is accompanied by a large scale map of
the area (30 chains to i inch), the result of a careful and minute
topographical survey by Mr. 0. A. L. Whitelaw. The illustra-
tions, fifty-three in number, have been reproduced from photo-
graphs by Mr. Walcott and others, and many of them are
striking pictures. Mr. Dunn gives the area of the granite plateau
as about 13^ square miles, being some seven miles from north
to south and four across at its widest part, and when it can
safely be said that almost the whole of this area is studded with
'' sights," it will be seen how great is the addition made to
picturesque Victoria, for, until the execution of the recent
survey, it is probable many of the groups of rocks were
entirely unknown. The general level of the plateau is about
4,500 feet above sea level, and about 3,700 feet above
the surrounding country, and as the boundaries of the plateau
are usually abrupt precipices, the range appears as a formidable
obstacle from many points of view. On the plateau hills rise
from three to four and even six hundred feet above the general
level. Mt. Buffalo, usually known as " The Horn," rises to 5,645
feet above sea level, and the map shows fifteen elevations over
5,000 feet high, with many more just under that level. The
report discusses the physical features at length, their method of
formation, &c., the origin of "The Plains," as the narrow strips
of treeless soil along the watercourses are called, calls attention
to the marvellous groups of rocks, monoliths, and perched

36 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

blocks, the vi^aterfalls, fissuring, degrading and denuding in-
fluences, metamorphism, and dykes. The dimensions of some of
the more prominent rocks may be quoted as examples — thus
"The Grandfather" is no feet long, 40 feet high, and 20 feet
thick ; " Og, Gog, and Magog," three immense tors, the largest
100 feet high, 104 feet long, and 43 feet wide; "The Pebble,"
54 feet long, 40 feet high, and 42 feet broad ; " The Leviathan,"
108 feet long, 70 feet broad, 40 feet high, standing on a base
21 feet by 12 feet; "Mahomet's Coffin" is suspended at each
end, and is 30 feet long ; the " Riven Rock " stands 80 feet
high, the " Sentinel " 60 feet. One of the first objects seen
by a visitor to the plateau is " The Monolith," a huge block,
30 feet high, 22 feet long, and 14 feet broad, perched on
the edge of another block, apparently wanting only a slight
shake to send it over ; and the existence of these perched
blocks proves that no serious earth tremor has taken place
in these regions for many — perhaps thousands of years. In
speaking of the magnificent forms and sizes of these rocks
Mr. Dunn says : — " These rocks are not only grand, wonderful,
and beautiful, but they inspire a feeling of awe when it is realized
vv'hat gigantic forces have been employed in fashioning them and
how cycle has followed cycle while their evolution was in progress.
That these marvellous rocks have been formed by hewing away all
the surrounding and overlying mass of granite seems almost
incredible, but that is what has really happened. It is as though
a sculptor quarried away a whole mountain of granite to create
one solitary statue. . . . Long before the Egyptian monarchs
hewed granite monoliths the natural ones on the Buffalo Moun-
tains stood like sentinels on their lofty pinnacles, and had already
had their angles rounded by exposure to thousands of winters
and summers." Beyond mentioning the existence of the Snow
Gums, Eucalyptus coriacea, and their influence on the disintegra-
tion of the granite, the report does not touch on the botany of
the region, which in itself, at certain seasons of the year, is worth
seeing. For that, until a thorough " Guide " to the mountains is
written, and which will be a necessity if the proposed Government
tourist chdlet is carried out, visitors will have to depend upon the
descriptive articles which appeared in these pages a few years ago
(Vict Nat, xvi., p. 81 ; xx., p. 4; and xx., p. 144). We trust
that in opening up tracks for tourists the Government will not
lose sight of the fact that the whole plateau should be treated as
a sanctuary for all indigenous animal and plant life, for which,
from its position and isolation, it is admirably adapted, and before
any extensive works such as making lakes for skating surfaces in
winter are entered upon, a thorough examination of the area from
a biological point of view should be undertaken. Unless this is
done at once many of the rarer plants will disappear, and thus the
mountains, which should be the show-place of our highland flora,
will lose much of their charm for the nature student. — F. G. A. B.

Cbe Uictorian naturalist

\roL. XXV.— No. 3. JULY 9, 1908. No. 295.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The twenty-eighth annual meeting of the Club was held in the
Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 15th June, 1908.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 40 members and visitors were present.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From the hon. secretary of the Hawthorn and Camberwell
Microscopical Society, announcing their intention to hold their
annual conversazione at Camberwell on the 23rd June, and
extending a cordial invitation to the members of the Club.

REPORTS.

A report of the Club excursion to the Clifton Hill quarries on
Saturday, 23rd May, was submitted by Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S.,
who kindly acted as leader, in the absence of Mr. E. O. Thiele,
B.Sc. He stated that the excursion was attended by about forty
members and friends, including some members of the Australian
Church Ramblers' Club, introduced by Mr. Haig, as well as several
students from the Continuation School. A short demonstration
was given at the top of the quarry, when the occasion was taken
to point out some of the principal features of volcanic action
here and elsewhere. Since this locality has been previously
visited several times, and more or less detailed reports have
appeared in recent volumes of the Naturalist, it is only necessary
to say that among the interesting features noticed on this occasion
were fine examples of ropy lava, pieces of fossil tree-trunks at the
base of the large quarry, on river silt and under the enormous
thickness of basalt, and a deposit of pure limonite many inches
in thickness, and probably of lacustrine origin, high up in the
smaller quarry, between two distinct flows of lava. This latter
was found on a previous visit by Mr. Armitage, who was with us
and kmdly pointed it out. A fair number of minerals of the usual
kinds were collected.

A report of the excursion to the Botanical Gardens on Saturday,
13th June, was given by the leader, Mr. F. Pitcher. He said
that, considering the threatening afternoon, there was a very fair
attendance of members and friends. A number of the more
notable trees, &c., were pointed out, so that members could
watch their future development with greater interest. The new
propagating houses were inspected, as also the conservatory and
the new water-lily lake, but naturally, owing to the time of year,
the number of plants, &c., in bloom was rather small.

38 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

In the absence of Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., who acted as
leader of the juniors' excursion to the Zoological Gardens on
Saturday, 6th June, Mr. G. A. Keartland reported that fully
forty junior members attended. They were shown round the
gardens by Mr. Le Souef, who described the various animals
seen, and imparted some very interesting details respecting their
habits and history, giving our young members ample food for
thought during the afternoon's inspection.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, the following were duly elected
members of the Club : — As ordinary members — Miss E. Cuth-
bert, 77 Power-street, Hawthorn ; Miss A. M'Innes, Power-street,
Hav.'thorn ; Mr. F. Norris, 789 Drummond-street, North Carlton ;
Mr. Wm. Jas. Stephen, 32 Robinson's-road, Hawthorn. As
country member — Mr. Joseph E. Gabriel, Sale.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The hon. secretary, Mr. A. J. Kershaw, F.E.S., read the
twenty-eighth annual report, for the year 1907-8, which was as
follows : —

"To THE Members of the Field Naturalists' Club of

Victoria.

" Ladies and Gentlemen, — Your committee have much pleasure
in presenting to you the twenty-eighth annual report, embracing
the work of the Club during the year ending 30th April, 1908.

" During the year 40 new members were elected, consisting of
15 ordinary, 6 country, 4 associates, and 15 junior members.
The total membership now amounts to 295, comprising 7
honorary, 2 life, 156 ordinary, 58 country, 18 associates, and
54 juniors. As compared with the previous year, there has been
a loss of I honorary, 4 ordinary, and 7 associates, and a gain of
8 country members. There has been a material falling off in the
number of junior members, owing to a very great extent to the
difficulty experienced in getting into closer touch with them
individually. It is felt that some further inducement is required
to retain their interest and encourage them to avail themselves
of the special opportunities provided for gaining a closer insight
into the study of nature.

" It is with very deep regret that we have to record the death
of two members of long standing. In January last Major R. L. J.
Ellery, F.R.S., F.R.A.S., formerly Government Astronomer of
Victoria, and one of the few remaining ' original ' members of the
Club, passed away at the age of 80 years. Early in the following
March we had to record the death of Dr. A. W. Howitt, C.M.G.,
D.Sc, F.G.S., for many years an honorary member of our Club.
The loss of these two such widely known and highly respected

July, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 39

scientists is greatly to be deplored, and will long be felt in
scientific circles. Still another loss has been sustained by the
death, in October last, of the late Mr. C. Walter, who, though not
of recent years a member of the Club, was one of the earlier
members, and well known to and highly respected by most of our
botanical members.

" The attendances at the ordinary monthly meetings continue
most satisfactory, and reflect the keen interest taken in the
proceedings by the members. The papers contributed were of a
highly interesting and valuable nature. Altogether 26 were read,
of which 13 related to zoology, 7 to botany, i general, and 5 to
trips and excursions. Of the zoological papers, i was devoted to
mammals, 5 to birds, i to Crustacea, and 6 to insects. Several
of the papers were illustrated with large series of excellent
lantern views, which added considerable interest to the subjects
dealt with.

"The authors were Messrs. R. W. Armitage, F. G. A.
Barnard, Isaac Batey, C. F. Cole, Professor A. J. Ewart, D.Sc,
Ph.D., F.L.S., C. French, F.L.S., F.E.S., T. S. Hall, M.A.,
D.Sc, A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., J. H. Harvey, E. Jarvis, G. A.
Keartland, G. Lyell, F.E.S., A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., D.
M'Alpine, A. J. North, C.M.Z.S., O. A. Sayce, J. R. Tovey, and
G. A. Waterhouse, B.Sc, F.E.S.

" Natural history notes on subjects of general interest were
read at most of the meetings, and these, together with the
exhibition of specimens and remarks on those calling for special
mention, continue to form a valuable feature of the Club's work.
It is to be regretted, however, that the exhibits, which always
attract considerable attention from the members and visitors,
have not been so numerous as could be expected. Objects of
unusual occurrence or showing any peculiar features are always
appreciated, and members are urged to assist as much as possible
by the more frequent exhibition of specimens.

''The usual programme of senior and junior excursions was
carried out during the year, short reports of which were submitted
at the ordinary meetings. These excursions have been fairly well
attended, and greatly appreciated by those taking part. Your
committee would, however, like to see a greater number of the
members availing themselves of these excellent opportunities for
field work.

" The twenth-fourth volume of the Club's journal has been
completed, under the editorship of Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who
has again devoted a considerable amount of time and care to
ensure its successful production. Its circulation is gradually
being extended, principally by exchange with other societies, and
in this way the work of the members and the objects of the Club
are becoming more widely known.

40 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

"Your committee have given very careful attention to several
matters of special interest to the Club during the year. One of
the most important of these is that relating to the National Park
at Wilson's Promontory. The urgent necessity of vesting the
Park in trustees and the appointment of a ranger was seriously
considered, and in July last it was decided to enlist the co-
operation of the Director of the National Museum, Professor
Baldwin Spencer, with a view to further action being at once
taken in the matter. Professor Spencer readily consented to again
assist in the movement, and forwarded letters to all the societies
and institutions interested, proposing that a conference be held
to consider the advisability of approaching the Government on
the matter. Each society and institution was asked to nominate
two members as their representatives at the conference. The
proposal was unanimously endorsed by the various bodies
approached, and your committee appointed Professor A. J.
Ewart and Mr. G. A. Keartland to represent the Club.

"The conference was held at the Melbourne Public Library,
where the Trustees generously placed their room at the disposal
of the delegates. It was unanimously decided to ask the
Government to reserve permanently the whole of Wilson's
Promontory as a National Park for Victoria, to vest the Park in
trustees, and to appoint a ranger as custodian, and a deputation
was arranged to place these resolutions before the Minister of
Lands, Mr. Mackey.

"The deputation was received by the Minister on the i8th
December, who expressed himself as thoroughly in sympathy
with the proposal, and at once agreed to vest the whole of the
Promontory in trustees, with the exception of a half-mile margin
around the coast, over which, however, he promised to give the
trustees control. He also agreed to appoint a ranger and to
make him an officer of the trustees.

" Another meeting of the conference was held early in the
present year, and a list of representatives of the various societies
and institutions was drawn up and submitted to the Minister of
appointment as trustees. These nominations have since been
approved of by the Minister, who, however, has constituted
them a board of management instead of trustees as was
suggested.

" The board consists of a representative of each of the eight
societies and institutions taking part in the movement, among
whom one of our vice-presidents, Prof. A. J. Ewart, will represent
the Club. It is expected that the newly constituted board will
shortly make a start on the important work which they have
undertaken.

"Your committee, although much gratified with the results
which have so far attended this movement, greatly regret the

July, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 41

decision of the Minister not to include the half-mile margin in
the area permanently reserved, and will not feel satisfied until
this decision is rescinded and the whole of the Promontory set
apart for the purpose desired. Encouraging progress has,
however, been made, and the Club has now good reason to
expect a successful outcome of its long and earnest endeavours
to secure this area as a permanent sanctuary for our native fauna
and flora.

" The thanks of the Club are due to Professor Baldwin
Spencer for the whole-hearted manner in which he has urged on
this movement on every possible occasion, and to whom much of
the success attending it is due. Your committee also desire to
record their hearty^appreciation of the keen interest and valuable
support accorded by the Directors of the Australian Natives'
Association.

" Another matter with which the Club has long been concerned,
and to which your committee have given their serious attention,
is that relating to the Fisheries and Game Acts. From time to
time various questions relating to the preservation of our native
animals, and the lessening or extending of the close seasons, have
been submitted to this, as well as other similar bodies, for their
opinion. With a view to securing the best possible advice, and
at the same time ensuring the protection and preservation of our
native animals, the Director of the National Museum, Professor
Baldwin Spencer, communicated with the various Melbourne
societies interested, suggesting the formation of a committee
consisting of representatives of each society, the National
Museum, and the Zoological Gardens, to which all requests
relating to the Fisheries and Game Acts could be referred for
report. The proposal met with unanimous approval, and
representatives were appointed by each of the bodies interested.
Mr. G. A. Keartland was appointed by your committee to
represent the Club.

" At the first meeting, held on the 29th November last, the
whole matter was considered, and an executive appointed,
consisting of Professor Baldwin Spencer and Messrs. J. A.
Kershaw and A. H. E. Mattingley. The Government was
approached, and at once consented to officially recognize the
committee, and submit all questions relating to the Fisheries and
Game Acts for its report. The committee has since been
consulted regarding matters relating to the above.

" Prior to the formation of the above-mentioned committee,
the desirability of altering the date of the close season for
Opossums was considered, and it was decided to recommend
that the dates be altered from 1st June to 31st December to those
of I St March to 31st October in each year.

" The advisability of continuing or modifying the existing close
season for seals was also dealt with.

42 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

" In consequence of reports being received regarding the
destruction of the native wattles in the vicinity of Melbourne, an
appeal was again made through the press for their preservation,
with, it is hoped, beneficial results.

" A. proposal to grant 15 acres of the Domain grounds as a site
for a new hospital was viewed with serious concern, and a strong
protest was made on behalf of the Club against any further
alienation of our public parks. Similar action was also taken
with regard to a suggestion that portion of the Royal Park be
utilized for the same purpose.

" The extremely interesting geological sections exposed during
the formation of Alexandra-avenue was found to be in danger of
being altogether lost, owing to the planting of creeping and
other plants on the face of the cutting. The Public Works
Department has been approached on several occasions with a
view to the preservation of two small sections, with so far no
satisfactory results. Further action will be taken, and it is hoped
that the department will fall in with the wishes of the Club.

" As announced in the last annual report, a similar request to
the Railways Commissioners, regarding certain sections in the
railway cuttings, was readily granted. A further request has been
made to the Commissioners that notice boards, indicating the
nature of the formation, be erected on each of the sections.

" During the year a sub-committee, with Dr. C. S. Sutton as
as secretary, was appointed to compile a list of popular names
for our commoner native plants, with the ultimate object of
publishing a ' Floral Calendar,' and a revised issue of ' The
Flora of Victoria.' The work will necessarily take some con-
siderable time to accomplish, but satisfactory progress has already
been made, and we are pleased to report that the Minister of
Agriculture has consented to publish a recording census, which
will be extremely useful to the committee.

*' The usual exhibition of wild flowers was held in the Club
rooms in October last, and, notwithstanding the exceptional
dryness of the season, a good display was made, thanks to the
energy and enthusiasm shown by several of our members.
Collections were forwarded from various distant parts of the
State, while the localities nearer Melbourne were represented by
an excellent collection of flowers. Great credit is due to the
members who undertook the work, and devoted so much of their
time to the labelling and arrangement of the exhibits.

'' The thanks of the Club are due to the various leaders of
excursions and others who have assisted in a practical manner to
forward the work of the Club. To Mr. J. Searle, our hon.
lanternist, we are again much indebted for continuing to
gratuitously place his lantern and services at our disposal. To
Messrs. T. R. B. Morton and G. Coghill we have to tender our

July, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 43

hearty thanks for their generous action in again placing their
office at the disposal of your committee for their meetings.

" The hon. librarian, Air. A. D. Hardy, reports that during the
year further progress was made in the re-arranging and cataloguing
of the library, but this was done only tentatively, on account of
the deficiency of shelving accommodation. During the year 154
volumes or parts were received in exchange and 62 volumes or parts
were purchased, making the total number of volumes and parts in
in the library about 1,000. Only a small amount of binding was
actually done, but a considerable number of volumes are now
ready for the binder. He urges that unbound parts of valuable
works should not be lent to members in that state. Some
progress was made with the card catalogue, in the preparation of
which he had received help from Mr. W. A. Roger, the hon.
assistant secretary and librarian. There had been a fair demand
for the loan of books and periodicals by members, which would
doubtless be increased if the facilities for ascertaining the
contents of the library were better. The purchase of further
text-books of a standard character is highly desirable.

" Regarding the financial position of the Club, the receipts for
the year show a slight falling-off as compared with those of the
previous year, while the expenditure has been greater. We
started the year with a credit balance of £116 14s. id., and
conclude with one of ^114 os. yd. with all accounts paid. The
receipts from all sources amounted to ;£i'\6 os. 8d., while the
expenditure was ^£148 14s. 2d.

" In conclusion, your committee desire to congratulate you on
the sound position of the Club, and the large amount of valuable
work accomplished during the year. Additional workers are,
however, urgently needed, and it is earnestly hoped that the new
year upon which we have just started will see more of our members
contributing the results of their observations in the particular
branch of natural history in which they are interested.

" G. A. Keartland, President.
"J. A. Kershaw, Hon. Secretary.
" 1st June, 1908."

The report was received, on the motion of Messrs. J. H.
GatlifT and O. A. Sayce.

In discussing the report, Mr. Sayce remarked that every
encouragement should be given to the younger members by
devoting more time to discussing the papers read, and otherwise
stimulating them in their early efforts. He also dwelt on the
importance to such members of evenings being set apart for
practical work in the various branches of natural history.

A suggestion by the hon. librarian, in his report, that the
library rule, that paper-bound parts of serials be not loaned until

44 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

the volume is completed and bound, should be adhered to,
evoked a good deal of discussion, during which the im-
portance of making current publications available to the
members at the earliest possible opportunity was emphasized.
On the motion of Mr. O. A. Sayce, seconded by Prof. Ewart,
it was decided that this clause be deleted from the librarian's
report, and that the advisability of lending unbound parts liable
to damage be left to the discretion of the hon. librarian. After
further discussion, in which Mrs. Bage, Dr. T. S. Hall, Prof.
Ewart, Messrs. D. Best, A. D. Hardy, and others took part, the
report was adopted, on the motion of Messrs. D. Best and J. H.
Gatliff.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The hon. treasurer, Mr. G. Coghill, read the financial state-
ment for 1907-8, which was as follows : —

Receipts.

To Balance, 30th April, 1907 ... ... ... £116 14 I

,, Subscriptions —

Ordinary Members ^"92 17 o

Country Members ... 21 10 6

Associates ... 426

Juniors ... ... 2 12 o

Victorian Naturalist —
Subscriptions and

Sales ... ... 9 II 4

Advertisements ... 6 15 o

Reprints ... ... 456

;^i2i

20 1 1 10

,, Sales of Badges ... ... ...197

,, Interest ... ... ... ... 2173

146 o S

;^262 14 9

Expenditure.

By Victorian Naturalist —

Printing ... ... ^'76 ii 3

Illustrating ... 7 7 5

Free Reprints ... 4 15 o

Reprints ... ... 5 9 6

Back Numbers Purchased 100

;^95 3 2

,, Rooms — Rent and Attendance ... ... 950

,, Library — Periodicals ... 5 10 4

Books ... o 16 o

Binding ... 3 17 6

Insurance, &c. 140

II 7 10

Carried forward ... ... •••y^iiS 16 o

bubscriplionb :— Arrears, /^y ; 1907-8, ^105 16b. ; 1908-9, ^6 6b — LoUl /(,i2i 2.s.

July, 1908.] TfiE VICTORIAN NAttTRALIST. 45

Brought forward... ... ... _^ii5 i6 o

By Wild Flower Exhibition — Expenses ... 053
,, Printing and Stationery ... ... ii 12 o

,, Postages, &c. ... ... ... 16 16 li

,, Purchase of Badges .. ... ... 220

,, Subscription to Werribee Gorge Improve-
ment Fund ... .. ... 220

/14S 14 2

114 o 7

,, Balance Melbourne Savings Bank ... IC2 17 3
,, „ London Bank ... ... ii 3 4

;^262 14 9

G. COGHILL, //o/t. Treasurer.
261k May, 1908.

Audited and found correct.

J. SHEPHARD,! .^^
29//^ Mz/, 1908. D. BEST, '^^naaofs.

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

Assets.

Balance in Banks ... ... ... ... £\\\ o 7

Arrears of Subscriptions (;^6o), say ... ... 30 o o

,, for Reprints ... ... ... ... 2120

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

^276 12 7

Liabilities.
Subscriptions paid in advance ... ... ... £(i 6 o

The financial statement was received, on the motion of Messrs.
A. H. E. Mattingley and J. Stickland, and, after discussion, was
adopted, on the motion of Messrs. F. Pitcher and C. F. Cole.

president's address.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, then delivered the follow-
ing address : —

"Twenty-one Years' Membership of the Field Naturalists'
Club of Victoria, and My Obligations to It.

" It is now twelve months since the members of this Club did
me the honour of electing me to the office of president ; and, as
my term has expired, I have been reminded that I am expected
to give a president's address. Whilst some of my predecessors
have spoken on the work of the past year, and to a certain
extent reiterated the annual report, others selected a subject
with which they were familiar, and confined their remarks to it.
Now, I will leave the report of the year's work to speak for
itself, and devote a brief period to reviewing my twenty-one

46 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

years of membership of this Club, its memories, and what I have
gained from it

*' From early boyhood I had always taken a keen interest in
all matters pertaining to natural history, and any book or news-
paper article on my favourite hobby was perused with avidity.
No holiday spent at town sports furnished half the pleasure
derived from a ramble in the forest or along the course of a river,
where I could study the habits of our native fauna, examine nests,
collect eggs, or capture mammals, birds, or reptiles in order to
make pets of them, afterwards visiting the Museum to find out
their proper names.

" This unsatisfactory style of working continued until the year
1886, when I one day saw a paragraph in the Age, giving an
account of a meeting of the Field NaturaHsts' Club. I determined
to try and find out some of the members of the society, in order
to learn from them the best method of pursuing my study, and
to ascertain what works to read for guidance. I told my
difficulty to the late Mr. W. Elliott, the then horticultural editor
of the Leader, who at once said that a friend of his, Mr. Chas.
French, would kindly propose me as a member.

" Although I gladly availed myself of the offer, I attended the
next meeting (early in 1886) with very serious misgivings, and
walked past the gate of this hall twice before mustering up
courage to enter. I was afraid that I should meet a number
of learned scientists, who would soon make it apparent that my
room was preferable to my company. However, when once
inside the room I found myself amongst an extremely sociable
body of ladies and gentlemen, all of whom readily answered my
questions ; and I am afraid some of those questions appeared
very simple.

" At that time the Rev. J. J. Halley was president, and, as I
had learnt many years before that he was a keen ornithologist,
I soon entered into conversation with him. In those days the
late Mr. H. Watts talked about microscopical matters ; Mr.
F. G. A. Barnard about botany and entomology ; Mr. D. Best,
coleoptera ; Messrs. Forbes-Leith, A. J. Campbell, Robert Hall,
W. Hatton, J. T. Gillespie, C. French, jun., W. Macgillivray,
E. D'Ombrain, and others, ornithology ; Mr. S. H. VVintle,
geology, and so on ; and I started home from my first meeting
with a fixed determination to study all branches of natural history.
However, after attending a few meetings and excursions, I learnt
how vast was the contract I had undertaken, and decided to
devote my attention to one branch, ornithology, which had
always occupied the chief share of my thoughts, and therefore
studied Gould's ' Handbook ' until I could quote largely from
its pages.

" In conversation with the gentlemen previously mentioned,

Julj'. 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 47

as we examined specimens on the table, I acquired much in-
formation, and at the same time found that my earlier
observations in the field enabled me to be of service to them.
I think the first time I ventured a decided difference of opinion
from that expressed by others was when a discussion took place
regarding one of our native birds — the Chestnut-breasted Teal,
Nettioit, castaneum, Eyton, formerly known as Anas castanea,
Eyton. 1 expressed a firm conviction that there were two
species of teal, but Mr. Forbes-Leith reminded me that
Gould had stated that there was only one — that the bright-
coloured one was found only in the breeding season, and that
it was the male in its nuptial dress. After procuring further
evidence, in July, 1890, I read a paper (Vict. JVat., vol. vii., p. 43)
on the subject, and produced specimens shot in the month of
June in support of my contention, which has since been fully
recognized as correct.

"In November, 1887, I had the pleasure of joining in the
Club excursion to King Island, the organizing of which was
greatly due to the exertions of Mr. A. J. Campbell. The results
of that excursion, and the names of those who participated in it,
are now matters of past history. Suffice it to say that a con-
siderable amount of work was done, the fauna and flora of the
island being fairly well catalogued. Other extended excursions
were held, but I had not the opportunity of taking part in one
until the excursion to the Kent Group in November, 1890, during
which I gained a fuller knowledge of the range of several of our
sea-birds, at the same time making a nice collection of them.

" In February, 1894, I had occasion to visit Sydney on business,
and, furnished with a letter of introduction from Mr. Barnard to Mr.
A. J. North, Ornithologist to the Australian Museum, I made the
acquaintance of the latter, who kindly showed me the collections
and introduced me to the officials of the Museum at their work,
and in various ways added to my knowledge of taxidermy. The
friendship then formed has continued ever since, and Mr. North
was joint author of the reports of the ornithological section of the
two exploring expeditions in which I afterwards participated.
Mr. North, by the way, is one of the original members of this
Club, and was an exhibitor at its meetings before he went to
Sydney.

" Early in 1894 the Horn Scientific Exploring Expedition to
the Western Macdonnell Ranges, Central Australia, was equipped,
and to my connection with this Club I owe the fact that I was
asked by Professor Spencer to become one of the party. My
duties were to collect anything that had life, and some things
that had not. The trip resulted in the addition of a vast amount
of information concerning a number of mammals, birds, reptiles,
fish, and insects, many of which were new to science. In the

48 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

ranges I made the acquaintance of Mr. C. E. Cowle, and with
his kindly aid obtained many birds' eggs previously unknown,
all of which have since been exhibited at our meetings.

" In 1896 I was appointed to accompany the Calvert Exploring
Expedition across the great desert of north-west Australia, and
again had opportunities of noting the range of many rare birds
and plants, besides the discovery of several new species. It was
when apparemtly stranded after our perilous trip across the
desert, in which two comrades and ten camels perished, that I
first realized the practical value of the friendships formed in this
Club. Just when things appeared at their worst, telegrams
reached me on the Fitzroy River from two members of this
Club, as follows : — " If in need of financial assistance, wire at
once." However, matters were not so black as they looked. I
had the satisfaction of doing more work and returning home
without taxing the generosity of these gentlemen ; but I will never
forget my feeling when I opened those telegrams.

" Having said so much of a personal nature, let me now give
a very brief review of items which occur to my memory. On
glancing round the room I miss many old friends. Some have
gone to distant parts, others have resigned, but many have gone
to their long home. Many of our members furnished papers, or
took parts in the proceedings of the Club, which only need
mentioning to awaken happy memories. Who will forget the
interesting lecturette we had at one of our conversaziones
from Mr. C. A. Topp, entitled * Life on an Old Rail,' which
revealed what a wealth of animal and vegetable life existed on a
piece of old timber. The papers on fungi contributed by Mrs.
Martin, the late Baron von Mueller, and Mr. H. T. Tisdall were
full of useful information. Mr. O. A. Sayce gave valuable hints
on ' Staining Reagents for Microscopic Work.' Then we had a
series of papers by Mr. Robert Hall, in which the birds of Box
Hill were critically discussed ; Mr. A. J. Campbell used to read
notes on the Cuckoos and their foster-parents. Accounts of
excursions to Albatross Island, by Messrs. Ashworth and Gabriel ;
to the Bloomfield River district. North Queensland, by Mr. D.
Le Souef ; and in recent years, botanical outings by Messrs. Bar-
nard, Weindorfer, and Dr. Sutton, were all extremely interesting.
Mr. C. Barrett's papers on birds, showing the various changes
from nestlings to maturity, were very valuable, and a class of
work of which we want a great deal more. Dr. Hall has made
us familiar with the geology of a considerable portion of Victoria,
and many other names might be mentioned of those who have
contributed to our knowledge.

" I feel sure I am correct when I assert that it is largely due
to the work of this Club that nature study occupies such an
important position in the curriculum of our public schools.

July, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 49

Twenty years ago such a subject as nature study was unknown.
During my term of membership of this Club a number of its
members have been called upon to fill important public appoint-
ments, and I believe they one and all acknowledge the benefit
they have derived from their attendances at its meetings and
excursions. Indeed, it is possible to learn more in one field
lesson than in a whole month's book study ; therefore, I would
emphasize to our members, especially the juniors, the advantages
they can derive from so doing.

" In conclusion, I must congratulate the Club on the possession
of so many leaders in the various branches of study, who are at
all times ready to assist beginners, and acknowledge my personal
indebtedness to most of them, especially to Mr. J. Searle, our
honorary lanternist, who, by his readiness to place his services
at our disposal, has enabled the work of our members to be
brought more forcibly before us."

On the conclusion of the address Dr. T. S. Hall moved that a
hearty vote of thanks be accorded Mr. Keartland, this was
seconded by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, and carried by acclamation.

ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS FOR 1908-9.

The following office-bearers, being the only nominations
received, were declared elected : — President, Mr. G. A. Keart-
land ; vice-presidents. Professor A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, Ph.D., and
Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc. ; 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.
W. H. A. Roger ; hon. editor, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard ; committee,
Messrs. J. Gabriel, T. S. Hall, M.A., D.Sc, J. A. Kershaw,
F.E.S., F. Pitcher, Dr. C. S. Sutton.

Mr. O. A. Sayce moved a vote of -thanks to the retiring office-
bearers and referred especially to the work of the retiring
hon. secretary, Mr. J. A. Kershaw, who, after occupying the
position during two separate terms for five years, was relinquish-
ing it in consequence of pressure of other work. Mr. J. Stickland
seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation.

The president endorsed the remarks relating to the hon.
secretary, and Mr. Kershaw, in acknowledging the vote of thanks,
said he was gratified to feel that his efforts on behalf of the Club
were so much appreciated by the members. The work had
always been a pleasure to him, and he regretted that the pressure
of other duties obliged him to relinquish it. He hoped still to be
of use to the Club in other directions.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

The president announced that, owing to the limited space
available for exhibits in the upper hall when used for the ordinary

50 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

meetings, it had been decided to provide accommodation in the
small room on the ground floor for that purpose.

Professor Ewart, in referring to the importance of the conver-
sazione held at the close of the meetings, regretted that so much
time was frequently taken up in the reading of lengthy papers as
to greatly interfere with this part of the programme. He stated
that the purpose of the Club was not solely for the reading of
papers, and considered the short informal conversazione 'quite as
important for the welfare of the Club. Simply with a view to
enable the time to be apportioned to the best advantage, he
would move — "That the time devoted to the reading of papers
should not extend beyond 9.45 p.m."

Mr. O. A. Sayce suggested that, instead of putting the motion
as a hard and fast rule, it might be adopted as a by-law of the
Club.

After further discussion, Mr. G. Coghill moved — "That it be
a resolution of the Club that the reading of papers cease at 9.30
p.m." This was seconded by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, and carried.

Professor Ewart gave notice that at the next meeting he would
move that the above resolution be incorporated as a rule of the
Club.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., stated that early in the previous
week he was shown a specimen of Acacia suaveolens in full bloom,
collected by Dr. Cherry near Rosedale, Gippsland.

Messrs. F. G. A. Barnard, J. Gabriel, J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S.,
and G. A. Keartland contributed remarks on their exhibits.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. F. Barnard. — A ripe pineapple, grown at Kew under
glass without artificial heat.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Growing fern, Botrychiutn ter-
natiim, collected near Oakleigh more than twenty years ago.

By Mr. C. F. Cole. — Young of the Koala, Fhascolarctos
cinereus, taken from the pouch on 9th April, 1908; locality,
Grantville, Vic.

By Master Frank Cudmore. — A series of obsidian bombs,
showing considerable variety in form, found on Oakvale station,
S. Australia.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Marine shells, comprising Fistulana
grandis, Desh., from New Caledonia ; Clavagella australis, Sow.,
from Port Jackson ; six species of genus Brechites, from Singa-
pore, &c., including B. strangei from Tasmania ; and ten species
of Xenophora from various parts, including X. solarioides from
Queensland.

By A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — Three phials containing specimens

July, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 51

illustrating the growth of young Sheoak, Casuarina quadrivahis ;
also filaments of antheridium of Nitella shown under the micro-
scope.

By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — Pair of Gang-Gang Cockatoos,
C allocephalon galeatum, and crop of same full of seeds of a
species of eucalyptus.

By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., on behalf of Mr. C. W. Maclean,
Inspector of Fisheries. — Example of so-called " Sea-fibre," found
in large sheets on the beach at Welshpool. The material was
said to appear about August, and to disappear again about the
end of October. On submitting a sample to Professor Ewart,
Government Botanist, the material was found to be composed of
the filaments of a species of algae, probably mainly of Cladophora,
which had been felted into a mat-like mass by the action of the
wind and tide, forming a sheet some five feet long.

By Mr. G. B. Pritchard, B.Sc— Fibre-balls and portion of
grass-stem, illustrating the manner in which it is shredded into
fibre by the action of sand-blows. From Middleton Beach, near
Albany, Western Australia.

After the usual conversazione, the meeting terminated.

Economic Geology of Victoria. — A useful catalogue of the
publications in which references will be found to the economic
geology of Victoria has been published by the Mines Department
as No. 3 of vol. ii. of " The Records of the Geological Survey."
The full title is " A Contribution to the Economic Geology of
Victoria, to the end of 1903." Its author, Prof J. W. Gregory,
F.R.S., D.Sc, lately Director of the Geological Survey, and his
assistants niust have put a tremendous amount of work into the
compilation, as it seems to have been very thoroughly done,
and amounts to over 120 closely printed pages of references.

Protection of the Fauna and Flora of Australia. — The
scientific societies of South Australia desire to enlist the sympathy
of kindred societies in other parts of the world in a proposal,
which was recently made to the South Australian Government,
to set aside some 313 square miles of country at the western end
of Kangaroo Island as a reserve for the protection of the native
fauna and flora. x\ reserve of 67 square miles in the vicinity of
Cape Borda was readily granted, but it is considered that the
larger area is not excessive when the importance of the proposal
is borne in mind. Kangaroo Island, it will be remembered, was
the home of the now extinct Emu, Dromceus ater, and, at the
present time, possesses some very local birds and plants. We
trust that the movement will be brought to a successful
issue.

52 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

EXCURSION TO STONY POINT, WESTERN PORT.

The Easter excursion, originally fixed for Cowes, on Phillip
Island, was changed to Stony Point, another locality in Western
Port Bay, on account of its easier accessibility, and for its prox-
imity to a fairly sheltered inlet, where it was thought a good
variety of marine life would be found. Stony Point, 45 miles
from town, was reached before noon on Good Friday, and our
little party of six were soon found making themselves at home
in Mrs. Osterlund's cottage, near the railway station, where we
had arranged for temporary residence. From Mr. Osterlund we
had hired a motor-launch, and, after a hasty dinner, we lost no
time in boarding the launch and commencing our dredging opera-
tions. A little run of ten minutes or so brought us to our
starting point, and, dropping the dredge overboard, we drifted
down with the ebb-tide to Tortoise Head, and back again with
the flood, which occupied us till half-past six. We found our
skipper, Mr. Osterlund, a splendid man, strong as a lion, and,
having a good, useful knowledge of the bottom, he saved us a lot
of useless work, loss of time, and damage to the dredge, and we
returned to the pier with a good haul, well pleased with the
afternoon's work.

Early to bed was the order, as we anticipated a long day's
work on the morrow, but we were doomed to disappointment,
for a south-east wind blew all day, raising a nasty "jobble" on
the water, and as the Field Naturalists viewed the scene with
fearful eyes, the dredging trip was postponed until next day.
The morning was spent in turning over the stones at low tide,
and many interesting forms of life were obtained. As the tide
rose too high to continue the search we went for a stroll near the
inlet which separates Stony and Sandy Points ; however, beyond
two species of estuarine shells and the Mangrove trees, with their
singular breathing tubes, which were new to some of us, there was
little of interest. A fine flock of the Flame-breasted Robin,
Petroeca phoenicia, evidently resting after their migratory flight
from Tasmania, was noted.

Next morning broke beautifully fine, and we hurried over
breakfast, but we were again doomed to temporary disappoint-
ment : the tide was out, and the launch was stranded on the mud
flat. After waiting two hours for sufiicient water, at about eleven
o'clock we went on board, and were soon at work dredging with
the flood tide, which runs with considerable force past Stony
Point. We worked on till it was too dark to see our captures,
and returned to the pier thoroughly satisfied with the results.

Monday morning found us again working the rocks at low tide
for a little while before leaving for town by the mid-day train.

The importance of Western Port as a collecting ground for
marine life seems to be little understood bv tliose interested in

July, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 53

that department of natural history. Here we have a magnificent
sheet of water, covering perhaps 80 square miles, the whole of
which is influenced by tides ranging from 8 to 10 feet. Channels
meander in all directions, varying in depth down to sixteen
fathoms, and in width from a few hundred yards to two or three
miles. These channels teem with marine life of wonderful
variety. Look, for example, at the result of our little trip, the
work of practically only two days. Leaving out of the question the
Bryozoa, Hydrozoa, Crustacea, &c., we collected no less than 220
species of Mollusca, there being 53 bivalves and 167 univalves.
Among them were the very rare species Typhis yatesi, Crosse ;
Lippistes blainvilleanus, Petit ; Drillia gabrieli^ Pritchard and
Gatliffj Mitra glabra, Swain.; Conus segravei, Gatliff; and the
Chitons, LoriceJla angasi, Ad. and Angas, and Acanthochites
speciosus, H. Adams. The latter Chiton is extremely rare, and
the last record of its occurrence was by the late Mr. Bracebridge
Wilson, at Port Phillip Heads, many years ago. Two Modiolas
were secured — 31. albicosta, Lam., and M. a7'borescens, Chem.
This latter beautiful shell was a great find. Some years ago my
son, Mr. C. J. Gabriel, obtained a few specimens of it in com-
pany with M. victorice. The peculiar habit of these shells is that
they are always embedded in tufts of sea-weed held together by
mud, and great care has to be exercised in separating the fragile
shells from their environment, otherwise disaster is sure to occur.
We were also fortunate in obtaining two species of tube-shells —
Humphreyia strangei, A. Ad., and Clavagella multangularis, Tate.
The tube-shells are very interesting, and a short description may
be acceptable. Strictly speaking, the tube is only the adult stage of
the shell, for in early life the valves are quite free from any tube
whatever, as may be seen in a specimen collected by my son
about three years ago. In the larger form, Humphreyia strangei,
the fish builds the tube, which is of calcareous material, upon its
shell. The tube is quadrangular in form, and at first you may
fail to see the connection, but near the base you will find the
little bivalve, only about three-eighths of an inch long, embedded
on one of the angles. The smaller form, Clavagella multan-
gularis, is built up similarly, but differs in the tube being
multiangular and that one valve only is embedded in the tube,
the other swinging loosely inside. The reason for this I leave to
wiser heads to explain. The sketch map will give you an idea of
what ground has been worked, and the amount which yet remains
to be done. My son and I have spent most of our holidays in
these waters for the last fifteen or twenty years, and we have not
covered one-fourth of the area. In Bryozoa alone I have
collected over 200 species, while on one short trip I collected
120 species of sponges for Professor Dendy. Among other
objects taken in Western Port may be mentioned the rare mollusc,
Murex tri/ormis, many rare fish, and also Amphioxus.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXV.

I append a list of the Mollusca found during trip, determined
by Mr. C. J. Gabriel, examples of most of which have been
presented to the National Museum collection. — J. Gabriel.

MARINE MOLLUSCA FOUND NEAR STONY POINT, APRIL, 1908.

Gastropoda.

Murex triformis, Rve.

M. angasi, Crosse

M. denudatus. Perry

M. umbilicatus, T.-Wds.

Typhis yatesi, Crosse

Trophon petterdi, Crosse

T. paivae, Crosse

Purpura succinta, var. textilosa, Lam.

Si strum adelaidensis, C. and F.

Lotorium subdistortum, La)n.

L. bassi, Aug.

L. spengleri, Chem.

L. verrucosum, Kvc.

Colubraria bednalli, Braz.

Fusus undulatus. Perry

F. dunkeri, Jonas

Fasciolaria australasia. Perry

Latirus clarkei, T.-Wds.

Cominella costata, Q. arid G.

C. lineolata, Lam.

Zemira australis, Sow.

Nassa fasciata, Lam.

N. jacksoniana, Q. and G.

Voluta undulata. Lam.

Mitra vincentiaua, Verco

M. strangei, Ano.

M. tasmanica, T.-Wds.

M. glabra, Szvain.

M. scalariformis, T.-Wds.

Marginella johnstoni, Petterd

M. turbinata, Sozv.

M. pisum, Rve.

M. laevigata, Braz.

M. halli, Prit. and Gat.

Ancilla marginata. Lain.

A. oblonga, Sow.

Columbeila seniiconvexa, L.am.

C. lincolnensis, Pve.

C. angasi, Braz.

C. tenuis, Gask.

C. nubeculata, Rve.

C. brunnea, Braz.

C. atkinsoni, T.-Wds.

Pseudamycla miltostoma, T.-Wds.

Cancellaria laevigata, Sozu.

C. purpuriformis, Val.
Terebra kieneri, Desk.
T. fictilis. Hinds.

T. iuconspicua, Prit. and Gat.
Drillia quoyi, Desm.

D. beraudiana, Crosse
D. trailli, Lliitton

D. telescopialis, Vervo

Drillia gabrieli, Prit. and Gat.

Mangilia delicatula, T.-Wds.

M. alucinans, Sozv.

M. St. galliae, T.-Wds.

M. incerta, Prit. and Gat.

Cithara compta, Ad. and Ang.

C. kingenensis, Petterd

Clathurella tincta, Rve.

C. sexdentata, Prit. and Gat.

C. denseplicata, Dunk.

C. modesta, Ang.

C. letourneuxiana, C. and F.
C bicolor, Ano.

Mitromorpha flindersi, P. and G.
Daphnella fragilis, Rve.

D. tasmanica, T.- Wds.
Conns anemone, Lam.
C. segravei, Gatliff

C. rulilus, Menke

Cyprasa angustata, Gmel.

C. australis. Lam.

Natica sagittata, Mke.

N. beddomei, JoJinston

N. subcostata, T.-Wds.

Eunaticina umbilicata, Q. and G.

Calyptraea calyptrieformis. Lam.

Crepidula uiiguiformis, Lam.

Hipponyx australis, L^m.

Turritella subsquamosa. Dunk.

Tenagodes weldii, T.-Wds.

Lippistes blainvilleanus, Petit

Scala jukesiana, Forbes

S. aculeata. Sow.

S. translucida, Gatliff

Pyramidella bifasciata, 7.- Wds.

Turbonilla micra, P. and G.

T. casta, A. Ad.

T. mariie, T - Wds.

T. fusca, A. Ad.

T. brevis, P and G.

Odostomia suprasculpta, T.-Wds.

O. mayii, Tate

O. metcalfei, P. and G.

Cerithium monachus, C. and F.

Bittium granarium, L'Ciener

B. minimum, T.-Wds.

B. cerithium, Q. and G.
Cerithiopsis crocea, Ang.

C. semilaevis, T.-Wds.
Triphora tasmanica, T. - Wds.
Diala rnonile, A. Ad.

D. pagodula, A. Ad.
D. varia, A. Ad.

July, 1908.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST,

Styliferina translucida, Gat.

Littorina mauritiana, Lam.

Risella melanostoma, Gf/iei.

Nerita melanotragus, Smith

Liotia tasmanica, T. - 14" ds.

Cvclostrema angeli. T.-lVds.

C. weldii, T.- l^Vds. '

C. micra, T. - IVds.

Pseudamycla micans, A. Ad.

Kissoa ii)cidata, Fran.

R. olivacea, Dunk.

R. cyclostoma, T. - Wds.

R. tenisoni, Tate

R. hulliana, Tat^

R. cheilostoma, T.-lVds.

R. flammea, Fran.

R. dubitabilis, Tate

R. strange! , Braz.

Rissoina flexuo.^a, Gould

R. d'orbignyi, A. Ad.

Phasianella ausiralis, Gmel.

P, rosea, A tig.

Turbo uudulatus, Mart.

Leptothyra rosea, T.-lVds.

Astralium fimbrialum, Lam.

A. aureum, Jonas

Clanculus limbatus, Q. and G.

C. aloysii, T.-Wds.

C. dunkeri, Koch

C. plebeius, Phil.

Austrocochlea constricta, Lam.

Diloma odontis, Wood

Phasianotrochus irisodontes, Q. and G.

Bankivia fasciata, Menke

Cantharidus ramburi, Crosse

Gibbula tiberiana, Crosse

Minolia tasmanica, T.- Wds.

Calliostoma meyeri, Phil.

C allporti, T.-Wis.

C. legrandi, T.-Wds.

C, hedleyi, P. and G.

Euchelus baccatus, Mke.

E. scabriusculus, Ang.

Stomatella imbricata, Latii.

Schismope atkinsoni, T.-Wds.

Megatebennus concatenata, C. and F.

Puncturella harrisoni, Bedd.

Subemarginula emarginata, Blain.

Scutus anatinus, Don.

Acmoea costata, So7v.

A. calamus, C. and F.

Ischnochiton crispus, Rve.

I. contractus, Pve.

I. novae-hollandise, Rve.

Plaxiphoia petholata, Sow.

Acanthochites speciosus, H. Ad.

A. granostriatus, Pit.
Loricella angasi, Ad. and Ang.
BuUinella arachis, Q. atid G.

B. pygmaea, A. Ad.
Bulla australis. Gray
Haminea brevis, Q. and G.
Philine angasi, Crosse
Salinator fragilis. Lam.
Ophicardelus australis, Q. and G.

Lamellibranchiata.

Clavagella multangularis, Tate
Humphreyia strangei, A. Ad.
Solen vaginoides. Lam.
Saxicava australis. Lam.
IMyodora ovata, Pve.
Thracia myodoroides. Smith
Mactra ovalina, Lam.
Spisula parva. Petit
Mesodesma glabrella, Lam.
Macoma mariae, T.-Wds.
Chione disjecta, Perry
C. cardioides, Lam.
C. strigosa. Lam.
C. undulosa. Lam.
C. placida, Phil.
IMeretrix planaiella, Lam.
Dosinia, sp. (?)
Tapes fabagella, Desh.
Cardium cygnorum, Desh.
C. pulchellum, Gray
C. tenuicostatum. Lam.
Loripes crassilirata, Tate
Lucina brazieri, Soi.i<.
Erycina acupuncta, Lledley
Diplodonta globularis. Lam.

Lasgea rubra, Mont.

Lepton trigonale, Tate

Rochefortia donaciformis, Ang.

Cyamiomactra mactroides, T. and M.

Crassatellites kingicola. Lam.

Cardita bimaculata, Desh.

Mytilicardia calyculata, Linn.

Trigonia margaritacea, Lam.

Nucula micans, Ang.

N. hedleyi, P. and G.

Barbatia fasciata, Rve.

B. squamosa. Lam.

Glycimeris radians, Lam.

Limopsis rubricata, Tate

Modiola ater, Zelebor

M. albicosta, Lam.

M. australis, Gray

M. arborescens, Che?n.

Philobrya fimbriata, Tate

Pteria papilionacea. Lam.

Lima bullata. Born.

Pecten medius. Lam.

Chlamys asperrimus. Lam.

Cyclopecten nepeanensis, P. and G.

Ostrea angasi, Sozo.

56 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

The Pre-Historic Elephant. — Natural science is obtaining
greater prominence in the newspapers of the day, and in the
Illustrated London News of yth March will be found an excellently
illustrated article on the researches now being made in the Fayum
Desert, Egypt, about 50 miles south-west of Cairo. Here the
remains of more than 30 species of land animals, many of gigantic
size, have been discovered, and Prof. Osborn, of the American
Museum of Natural History, considers Northern Africa to have
been the ancestral home, perhaps two millions of years ago, of
our modern elephants.

Hawthorn and Camberwell Microscopical Society. —
The annual conversazione of this society was held at Camberwell
on Tuesday evening, 23rd June, when, notwithstanding the
inclement weather, there was a good attendance of members and
friends. Visitors had a fine choice of subjects for examination,
as some sixty microscopes were in use, each having its own
particular subject, which was indicated by a prominent placard,
while on the adjacent walls were enlarged diagrams of the objects
displayed. The president, Mr. O. A. Sayce, in a brief address,
referred to the objects of the society, and regretted that the
example of the society was not followed in Other suburbs of
Melbourne, an example which he felt sure would add greatly to
the interest in the everyday objects around us. During the
evening a lecturette, illustrated by lantern views, was given by
Dr. T. S. Hall, M.A., on "The Geology of Camberwell," which,
as it appealed to an audience familiar with the places mentioned
or depicted on the screen, was greatly appreciated, and brought
home to many how geologically interesting are the hills and
valleys of the Eastern Suburbs.

Cormorants. — At the May meeting of the Victorian Fish
Protection Society and Anglers' Club, Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley,
C.M.Z.S., who, by the way, is an enthusiastic fisherman as well
as bird observer, read an interesting paper in which he main-
tained, in opposition to the usual idea, that Cormorants are the
angler's best friends. He based his remarks on the fact that
enemies to fish ova or the young fry are far more serious than
those of the adult fish, and that the loss of any full-grown fish
which Cormorants may devour is more than counterbalanced by
the vast amount of good which they do as enemies of yabbies,
turtles, frogs, &c., which are very destructive to fish ova
and young fry. The results of his observations among the
Cormorant rookeries of the Murray swamps convinced him that
these birds did more good than harm. The full text of the paper
will be found in the North Melbourne Courier of 29lh May and
5th June, 1908.

Cbe Uktorian naturalist

Vol. XXV.— No. 4. AUGUST 6, 1908. No. 296.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

A SPECIAL general meeting was held at the Royal Society's Hall
on Monday evening, 13th July, 1908, to consider a proposed
addition to the rules.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 40 members were present.

In accordance with notice, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, moved
that the following words be added to rule 3, viz. : — " The reading
of papers at ordinary meetings shall cease at 9.30 p.m." The
mover contended that a mere resolution such as passed at the
last meeting was not imperative enough, since it might be set
aside at short notice ; whereas as a rule the matter was placed
beyond the reach of any meeting or chairman.

Several members thought there was no necessity for a hard and
fast rule, which on some occasions might be found to act harshly.

On a vote being taken, the requisite majority for the adoption
of the additional words was not obtained.

The business of the ordinary meeting was then proceeded with.

REPORTS.

A report of the visit to the Zoological Gardens on Saturday,
nth July, was given by the hon. secretary, who said that, despite
the threatening weather, about twenty-five members and friends
attended. The director, Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., met the
party and conducted them round the gardens, giving interesting
information about many of the exhibits. A specimen of the Tree-
climbing Kangaroo of North Queensland was seen to great
advantage. Unfortunately, heavy rain came on before all the
animals, &c., had been seen, and brought the visit to an abrupt
conclusion.

A report of the visit of the junior members to the Biological
School, University, on Saturday, 4th July, was also given by the
hon. secretary, who said, considering the wet afternoon, there had
been a good attendance of juniors. In the unavoidable absence
of Prof Baldwin Spencer, M.A,, C.M.G., who had intended
giving a demonstration on •' How Animals Hear," Dr. Georgina
Sweet, D.Sc, kindly took his place, and dealt v/ith the same
subject, taking for her types the crayfish, the shark, the frog, and
the human species. The demonstration was fully illustrated by
specimens, models, drawings, &c., and was attentively followed by
the juniors, after which a brief examination was made of the
School museum.

58 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Miss Peters, 12 Murphy-street, South
Yarra, Mr. Reginald Kelly, Healesville, and Mr. Woolf Marks,
413 Collins-street, city, were duly elected ordinary members ; and
Masters Geoffrey Berry, James Bryce, Edwin Drake, and Leo
Gillan, all of Canterbury, were duly elected junior members of the
Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr. F. G. A. Barnard referred to a proposal made by the
Moorabbin Shire Council to acquire the Blackrock estate, near
Sandringham, for a public reserve, and moved that the support of
the Club be given to the matter. Seconded by Mr. D. Best.

Messrs. Shephard, NichoUs, and Topp urged that if secured the
estate should be left as much as possible in its present wild state,
and this provision having been added to the resolution, it was
carried.

Mr. G. Coghill moved, and Prof. Ewart seconded — " That a
letter of farewell be forwarded to Her Excellency Lady Northcote
in view of the interest she had exhibited in the last conversazione
of the Club." Carried.

PAPERS.

1. By Mr. E. Jarvis (communicated by Mr. J. A. Kershaw,
F.E.S.), entitled "Notes on the Structure and Habits of the
Neuropterous Insect, Bittacus australis"

The author gave a highly interesting account of the method
adopted by this scorpion-fly when securing its prey, and detailed
the structure of the mouth parts of the insect.

2. By Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, Ph.D. entitled "Some Notes
on the Flora of Victoria."

The author briefly referred to the various conditions affecting
the flora of Victoria, and contrasted it in several ways with that
of England. He remarked that little seemed to have been done
towards ascertaining whether many of our smaller plants and
shrubs possessed characters of economic value.

Some discussion ensued, when Mr. F. Pitcher said that, from
experiments made, several native plants seemed capable of
producing useful fibres, but they had not been tried in commercial
quantities.

Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., remarked that many years ago an
attempt had been made in the Heytesbury Forest to obtain sugar
from the grass-trees.

Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A., referred to the prevalence of evergreen
trees and shrubs in Australia, and asked if any particular reason
could be assigned for this.

The author replied that, doubtless owing to the absence of very
severe cold, tlie movement of sap was scarcely retarded through-

August, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 59

out the year, and as a consequence the irregular shedding of the
leaves.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Apus. — Mr. R. W. Armitage called attention to his exhibit of
specimens of Apus collected in a small pool close to the sea-
shore at Townsville, North Queensland, in January last.

Mosquitoes and Malaria. — Mr. R. W. Armitage read a
short note recording the occurrence of malarial fever in the island
of Samarai, off the coast of Papua, immediately after the appear-
ance of numbers of Anopheles mosquitoes, which were regarded
by the inhabitants as having been blown from adjacent islands
by a heavy gale.

exhibits.

By Mr. R. W. Armitage. — Specimens of crustacean, Apus, sp.,
collected near seashore, Townsville, North Queensland, in illus-
tration of note.

By Miss C. Cowle. — Dried plants, &c., from the River Forth,
Tasmania, including Eucryphia Billardieri, Lomatia tinctoria,
Campynema lineare, &c.

By Mr. J. Gabriel. — Seaweed, Claudea elegans (in fruit), dredged
in Western Port Bay.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Marine shells — Argonauta argo, Lin.,
Japan ; Murex tenuis^nna, Lam., Ceylon ; M. pahna-rosce, Lam.,
Ceylon; i¥. ^er?us;9ma. Lam., Northern California ; and Trophon
triangiilatus, Carp., California.

By Mr. J. H. Harvey. — Stereoscope, with views of the most
recently opened-up portions of the river branches of the Lucas
Cave, Jenolan, N.S.W.

By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — Specimen of Powerful Owl, Ninox
strenua, Gld.

By Mr. E. B. Nicholls. — Tail of Skate used as riding whip,
from Godaveri River, India.

By Mr. G. B. Pritchard, B.Sc. — A very large fossil sea-urchin,
Linthia mooraboolensis, from Batesford, near Geelong.

By Mr. J. Stickland. — Rotifer, Floscularia ornata, Ehren., from
Bulleen (under microscope).

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

Honours. — The degree of Doctor of Science has been
bestowed by the Victoria University, Manchester, England, on
Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, C.M.G., M.A., F.R.S., Professor
of Natural Science at Melbourne Univerity. Prof. Spencer was
a distinguished student of Owens College, Manchester, now
included in the Victoria University, and it is gratifying to find
that his great services to Natural Science in Australia have been
thus recognized by his Alma Mater.

60 TIIK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

WILD LIFE OF THE MURRAY SWAMPS.

By a. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S.

{Read hef ore the Field Naturalists^ Cluh of Victoria, ISth April, 1908.)

For fifty miles or so up tlie River Murray from Echuca the
stream is lined on either side by a series of swamps, which in a
normal season teem with bird-life. In summer the district is a
Red-gum, Eucalyptus rostrata, forest, and one can drive from
place to place in search of specimens, but at the nesting season,
which occurs in spring, the waters of the Murray, increased by
the melting of the winter snows at its sources in the Australian
Alps, inundate the swamps, and cover the level country, so that
it becomes a vast inland lake. To get about then it is necessary
to employ flat-bottomed boats, and pole or paddle wherever you
want to go.

It was under the latter conditions, during November, that a
friend and myself spent some ten days in the flooded forest,
seeking for information about the nesting habits of the many land,
and water birds which resort there in the^ breeding season. At
that time they are safe from many of their enemies, and close to
large supplies of frogs, yabbies (freshwater crayfish), snails, &c.,
on which to subsist.

After a train journey of about i8o miles, we reached Mathoura
(a station on the Echuca-Deniliquin line) late in the afternoon.
As we crossed the Murray at Echuca we had noticed that the
stream was much higher than when we made a similar trip the
previous year, and we wondered whether we would be able to
reach our destination, some eight miles from Mathoura, with all
the heavy baggage we had brought with us. However, on
arrival, we found a large flat-bottomed boat provided for us
instead of the orthodox buggy we had expected.

Having stowed our baggage safely in the somewhat rickety
boat, we proceeded up the Gulpha Creek, paddling against the
stream, which was running very swiftly. Our course was marked
out by picturesque Red-gums, Eucalyptus rostrata, on either hand,
which threw their shadows across the water. Everything was
calm and beautiful ; the air, warm and balmy, and fragrant with
the aromatic odour of the eucalypts, gave promise of fine weather
for some time, and in this respect we were not disappointed.

Near the place of embarkation we had noticed a Brown
Tree-creeper, Climacteris scandens, carrying food to its nestlings
in the hollow spout of a box-tree. A colony of Welcome
Swallows, llirundo neoxena, skimmed gracefully over the water,
catching insects for their progeny snugly cradled in mud
nests, shaped like a bisected bowl, which they had built
under an adjacent bridge. Occasionally one of these birds
would dip its beak into the water and take a drink while

August, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NAtUllALlSl:. 6l

in full flight. It was also noticed that these birds are not
expert insect-catchers, for several of them made repeated efforts
to catch a small moth, which finally escaped them. Safely fixed
on some overhanging branch, many of the bowl-shaped mud
nests of the Pied Grallina, Grallina jnccUa, were noted, the birds
usually flushing off the nests some distance in advance of our
boat, meanwhile piping a plaintive note of remonstrance. A nest
of the Black-and-White Flycatcher, Bhipidura tricolor, was noticed
on a dead limb of a tree which had fallen into the creek. It was
found to be lined in a marvellous pattern with short red hairs,
evidently plucked from the back of some obliging horse, and
contained four eggs. These birds are commonly known as
" Shepherds' Companions," and are very pugnacious when any
other bird ventures near their nest. A Reed-Warbler, Acro-
cephalus mcstralis, trilled its enlivening and richly melodious notes
as it flitted from reed-stem to reed-stem in search of food for its
family of three, which we noticed in a deep, cup-shaped nest,
securely fastened to the slender, waving reeds. Notice with what
knowledge these birds build their nests ; observe how they place
them half-way up the stems so as to be above flood level, and yet
not high enough to suffer much from the vibration of the reeds
when swayed by the wind ; notice also how deep the interior of
the nest is, so as to prevent the eggs or young birds falling out
should the wind sway the reeds more violently than usual.

As we paddle by a Red-gum, out darts a Sacred Kingfisher,
Halcyon sanctus, from a spout about twelve feet above the water,
and from the repeated swoops he makes at us, uttering the while
a shrill note of anger, as we try to investigate his home, we con-
clude that he has a family domiciled there. Many other birds,
which will be noticed later on, were seen as we proceeded up the
creek. In about four miles we entered the Redbank Swamp, a
large sheet of water, which was covered all over with duck-weed,
swan-grass, sedges, reeds, and water-liUes, the latter being simply
a blaze of vivid yellow flowers, which filled the air with a delight-
ful fragrance^ reminding us that flowers are the beautiful hiero-
glyphics by which Nature tells us how much she loves us.

A colony of the Tippet Grebe, Podicipes cristatus, was dis-
turbed in the channel, a spot such as they prefer to hunt in for
small fish, on account of its being free from entangling weeds.
Soon the booming of the Bittern, Botaurus poeciloptilus, was
heard on all sides as the birds first inspired and then respired
their weird notes, and with the view of making a closer acquaint-
ance with these birds we mentally decided to revisit this spot.
Ducks of various species were flushed as we proceeded, and on
rounding one grassy point a White Ibis was disturbed, which
straightway dropped its capture — a large yabbie (crayfish) — and
flew hurriedly away. At length we reached our destination, just
as daylight was rapidly disappearing.

62 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

Next morning we decided to revisit the Redbank Swamp, and
as we drop down the stream several Blue Wrens, Malurus cyaneiis^
are observed in the reeds fringing the creek, their dome-shaped
nests being suspended in some Scotch thistles close by. Doubt-
lesss the Wrens had learned the value of the sharp prickles
as a protection to their belongings. Further on a Chough,
Corcorax melanorhamphus, was flushed from its large bowl-
shaped mud nest, situated at the end of a tall swaying sapling,
about fifty feet above the ground, and, on investigating its
contents with the aid of a rope ladder, we found a clutch of five
typical eggs.

We now pushed on to reach a sand ridge we knew of, where
we hoped to find the nests of the Bee-eater, Merops ornatus. A
short search revealed some of their burrows, but only one con-
tained a single egg, so we decided to revisit the locality later on.
Many Rose-breasted Cockatoos, Gacatua roseicapilla, commonly
known as " Galahs," were seen feeding amongst the grass on the
ridge.

Returning to the swamp, we paddle across the roadway, which
on a previous visit we had driven along, now several feet under
water. In a distant corner we find a large patch of reeds and
rushes which had been taken possession of by a colony of White
Ibis, Ibis Molucca, for nesting purposes. Nests were everywhere
along the edge, and while three is the usual clutch for this bird,
clutches of five and six were by no means uncommon, showing
that a prolific season was being experienced. Several birds were
still busy building, being noticed carrying sticks and eucalyptus
leaves in their bills. No doubt the eucalyptus leaves tend to
keep insect-life away from the young birds, otherwise softer
material would be chosen for nest-building.

A Reed-Warbler sang gaily to its mate, and its notes were
welcome music to the tired-out ornithologists. The antithesis of
a good thing is usually close at hand, so here was a Grass-bird,
Megalurus gramifieus, in the same patch of reeds, uttering its
mournful note. What freak of evolution could cause a bird
somewhat similar in size, colour, and nesting habits to the Reed-
Warbler to produce notes with such a contrast.

Forcing our way through the tangled growth of water-weeds,
we disturbed several Bald-Coots, Porphyy^io melanotus, which,
after uttering a shrill fright-note, go fluttering away with their
long red legs dangling down in a broken fashion for some
distance before they tuck them up under their blue feathers. As
evening approached we turned homewards, when presently an
unfamiliar bird note arose from a clump of tall grass growing in
the swamp. It sounded like a cry of anguish uttered by a frog
when caught by a snake, then the note suddenly changed to a
sharp, not unpleasant chirp, and these two notes were continued

Aujjust, 1908] THE VICTORIAN NATUKALISt. 63

without any lengthy interval. Investigation proved the notes to
have been made by the little Grass-Warbler, Cisficola exilis.

We had previously heard the booming of a Bittern in the
neighbourhood, and we naturally expected to find some of their
nests, but were unsuccessful. The Bittern was considered a bird
of ill omen by the ancients, and it was formerly believed that the
booming sound was made by the bird with its bill inserted in the
soft mud, but investigation has shown that the sound is produced
by the bird equally well either when in flight or on land.
The legs of this bird are of a pale green colour, and the claws
long and slender. The middle claw is serrated, or toothed like a
saw, for the purpose of better holding its slippery prey, such as
small fish, frogs, and lizards, and also to enable it to stand on the
slippery rushes, which as the bird alights on them bend in a
half-circle downwards, and were it not for the jagged toe-nails it
would slide down the deflected stems. Here again is an example
of the adaptation of a bird, or its parts, to its environment.

Next day we made another attempt to find a nest of the
Bittern. On our way the nest of a Black Swan, Chenopis atrata,
was discovered, built of cats'-tails and rushes interwoven with
the broken down tops of adjacent rushes. In this way the
nest was able to accommodate itself to the rise and fall of
the water of the swamp, and thus the eggs are saved from
destruction. The nest contained seven eggs, and it was rather
late in the season to m.ake such a find, for several broods of large
cygnets had already been seen. These beautiful birds, as well
as many other denizens of the swamps, are in danger of
extinction in this locality, as, owing to the stoppage by the New
South Wales Government of the monetary grant for provisioning
the aboriginals of the district, they have been obliged to work
for their living or else hunt. Naturally they choose the latter,
and raid the swamps for eggs, consequently the water-fowl have
a serious enemy to contend with.

Paddling down Warrick Creek, a White-fronted Heron, ]}^oto-
phoyx novce-liollandice, is observed sitting on her nest at the end
of a limb some seventy feet above the water, and though in
a somewhat awkward position we managed after an hour's
exertion to reach it by means of the rope ladder, when five blue-
tinted eggs rewarded our gaze. At length we came across a
Bittern's nest, containing but one egg. The nest was composed
of green rushes, and harmonized wonderfully with the solitary
egg, rendering it almost indistinguishable in the subdued light.
Swans with their broods of grey downy cygnets were here also,
and paddled valiantly through the swamp-weeds out of our way.
I have frequently remarked the calming effect of the natural oil
deposited from the breast feathers of this bird on the ruffled
waters of some estuary or lake, the water to the leeward of a
flock being quite smooth, whilst all around were curling waves.

64 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. (Vol. XXV.

Island Creek, on the Victorian side of the Murray, was our
destination on the following day. Here we hoped to find
Spoonbills and Little Cormorants nesting. Landing on the only
dry piece of land we could find, several varieties of birds were
noticed engaged in building operations, among them an Orange-
winged Sittella, Sittella chrysoj^tera, which had chosen the side of
a dead limb high up in a gum-tree, and had we not seen the bird
going to and fro to its nest we should have been unable to find
it, owing to the close resemblance of the structure to the dead
wood. Probably it is to dodge the Whistling Eagle that the
Sittella has learned the necessity for disguising its nest. The
Black-faced Graucalus, Graucalus 'mela7io2)s, also suffers from the
depredations of the eagles, and I was informed that these eagles
have been seen to swoop down and carry off both nest and
nestlings. The nest of the Graucalus is usually hung between
the forks of some dead limb of a swamp gum. The birds are
often called " Cherry Hawks " in this district, owing to their
partiality for the cherries of the settlers.

At length we reached the rookery of some Little Cormorants,
Phalacrocorax melanoleucus, and with some qualms of conscience
took some clutches of eggs, for the valuable work these birds do
in keeping down the enemies to fish ova, such as yabbies,
turtles, and eels, is far more than the value of any adult fish they
may eat. After many wanderings backwards and forwards amongst
the snags and shady gums, we at last observed a Spoonbill on its
nest, situated on a limb about sixty feet above the water. An
hour and a half was spent before we succeeded in getting the
rope-ladder fixed ; however, at length this was accomplished, and
the ascent made. The large stick nest contained four large
white eggs, and formed a pretty picture for the camera.

A two-days' camp at Reedy Lake was the next part of our
programme, so the boat was loaded up with luggage, and we
started off up the Murray, and again pass into Island Creek. As
we proceeded, Musk-Ducks were heard chirping pleasantly — a
peculiar note, which one would not ascribe to a dnck — and we soon
notice a nest, situated among some rushes, containing four large
greenish-yellow eggs, cosily covered with soft down. Pushing
onwards through the flooded country we met some timber-getters
securing logs for the saw-mills at Echuca. They informed us
that every second tree around Reedy Lake was in possession of a
snake, but this did not deter us, and we pushed on. Luncheon
time arrived, but with no dry land for miles around, how was the
billy to be boiled ? There was nothing for it but to select the
broad trunk of a fallen monarch of the forest and land on it. As
we prepared to step on it a Tiger Snake reared up, and disputed
our intrusion into its abode, but a poling stick showed it we were
the stronger party.

August, 1908.] Tub: VICTUKIAN XATU KALIST. 65

After lunch we started again, and soon came to a Little
Cormorant " rookery " in some stunted gum-trees, every available
portion of which was packed with nests of the Little Cormorant
and Little Black Cormorant, and there being more birds
than the trees could hold, the overflow had been obliged to
take to the higher trees round about. One often finds a
Whistling Eagle's nest in close proximity to such a rookery ;
doubtless the eagles take toll of the young cormorants for the
benefit of their own young. As we approached we could hear
a pulsating sound — a great purring, as it were — as the adult birds
attended to their maternal duties, and on getting near the rookery
the old birds rose as a cloud, which flashed black and white as
they circled round overhead. After a great deal of trouble we
secured photographs of the scene, which can hardly be described
in polite language. The young birds, in their fright, literally
pelted us with undigested food, in which large yabbies and frogs
predominated, and the general surroundings of the nests were far
from pleasant.

Poling and paddling onwards we at length reach Reedy Lake,
and, as daylight is fast disappearing, look about for a dry spot to
pitch our tent. This takes some time, but finally a water-logged
knob with just sufficient room for our camp is found, and we are
soon ready for a night's repose. Next morning, owing to the
dearth of bird-life in this part of the district, we determine to
return by another route, noting many interesting birds as we
proceed.

Our next journey was planned to occupy three days, as we
wanted to visit some " heronries " some distance away. We
proceeded up the Murray to the mouth of the Edwards, which,
instead of being a tributary of the Murray, receives its water from
that stream. Aided by a strong current, we made excellent
progress, though at several places snags and drift wood had to
be removed before our boat could pass. Several broods of Teal,
Nettion castaneum, and many Wood-Ducks, Chenonelta juhata^
were seen. In one bank the tunnels of the Platypus were rather
numerous, and the footprints of the animal could be seen on the
sand at the entrance, just above water-level. The stream became
narrower, the trees denser and higher, and everywhere a dank,
swampy odour greeted the nostrils. The hoarse croaking calls
of herons could be heard ahead. Several White Egrets and
Nankeen Night-Herons, disturbed by our presence, arose and
flew away with that clumsy wheeling flight peculiar to the cranes
and herons. Nearly every tree was tenanted with the large stick
nests of the herons mentioned. At last we reached our destina-
tion, known as Reedy Nook, in the vicinity of St. Helena, a wild,
isolated, unfrequented locality, hence the name.

At the camping ground we found the remains of an aboriginal's

06 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

mia-mia, and pitched our tent alongside. In the top of a huge
gum-tree, fully 200 feet above the ground, were seen several
nests of the Pacific Heron, Notojohoyx pacijica, quite safe from
molestation from below. Further on we find the objects of our
search — several White Egrets, Herodias timoriensis, sitting on
their bulky stick nests, which, however, are somewhat less in size
than those of the Nankeen Night-Herons ; but these also were out
of our reach. We paddled round the heronry, and reckoned
that it contained from 100 to 150 birds — less than one-sixth of
its former size, owing to the depredations of the plume-hunters.
The disastrous nature of this traffic I dealt with at length in the
Emu for October last (vol. vii., part 2), and unless some means
is found to enforce its discontinuance the utter annihilation of
this heronry is only a question of a few seasons. But our desire
is to get a photograph of the nests and their contents, so, after a
long search, a nest is located in a tree about seventy feet above
the water, and we proceeded to fix the rope ladder, which proved
no easy task. At length the ladder is fixed, and the limb
reached, but the climber has still higher to go before he gets
sight of four delicately shaded blue eggs in a stick nest. No
time is lost in getting up the camera, but fixing it in such an
aerie position is a difficult matter. However, this is in turn
accomplished and a picture secured. Before leaving this spot
we encircle the heronry of the Nankeen Night-Herons, and
estimate the number of birds to amount to several thousands.

Next morning, after diligent search, several nests of the Night-
Herons were found nearer camp, in trees which were more easily
climbed, and we were enabled to make a close investigation of
them. In the centre of the heronry we found that a pair of
Black-cheeked Falcons, Falco melanogenys^ had placed a nest,
and doubtless as soon as the young herons appeared would be
ready to turn them to account ; in the meantime that black egg-
stealer, the Raven, Corone australis, hovered about the heronry,
and robbed the birds of their eggs whenever the nests were left
temporarily unguarded.

Further investigations showed that there were here both the
large White Egret, Herodias timoriensis, and the lesser Plumed
Egret, Mesophoyx plumijera, as well as the Little Cormorant,
Phalacrocorax melanoleucus, nesting in close proximity to one
another, in some cases in the same tree. Having taken a number
of photographs of different phases of the life-histories of the birds,
we returned to camp. Several nests of the little Blue Wren,
containing eggs, were noticed close by in a Native Cherry tree.

Setting our boat once more towards home, we had before us a
hard day's paddling against stream, and there was little time for
ornithological observations. We passed several broods of young
Wood-Ducks, Teal, &c. A small collection of nests of the Little

August, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 67

Cormorant was seen, and as we approached more closely the
more adult young birds began to fall out of their nests, being
evidently stimulated by fright, for none of them were seen to fly
off the nest, and as a rule they fell into the water unceremoniously
on their breasts. Not far away two nests of the White Ibis were
seen in an unusual situation, on the top of the stump of a fallen
tree.

For the last day of our holiday it was planned to make final
visits to several nests we had mentally noted during our various
excursions and get photographs of them in their natural state, but
the fates were against us, for soon after starting rain commenced,
and increased in violence as we proceeded, so that we were
compelled to shelter for a time under some Murray pines on a
sandbank. Here we .found the tunnel of a pair of Bee-eaters,
Merops ornatus^ and so as to avoid having a day without some
result we set to work and sectioned the tunnel, at the further end
of which, in a slightly enlarged chamber, were six roundish
white eggs. We took our photo, under difliculties, for the rain
splashed in the sand continuously. These burrows have a
diameter of about 2 inches, and vary from 2 to 5 feet in
length. The bird lays its eggs on the sand, no linmg being
provided for the nesting chamber, and when entering its burrow
it backs into it.

In these brief notes I have been able to mention only a few of
the more notable birds seen, and the wonderful variety of bird-
life abounding in this portion of Riverina may be gathered from
the fact that during our ten-days' excursion we noted no less than
125 species, but there were some others that we could not identify.
Within a radius of 50 miles from Mathoura the country supports
many millions of birds. The approximate number of Ibis
frequenting this area in a good season amounts to, perhaps, one
million. These birds destroy a large number of noxious pests
daily, such as grasshoppers and snails. The devastation caused
by grasshoppers is well known, whilst the snails act as the inter-
mediate host of the liver fluke, which cause such havoc amongst
our sheep. The quantity of these noxious pests which this
immense number of Ibis dispose of daily amounts to the
astonishing total of 2,200,000,000. Upon investigation the crop
of an adult bird yielded 2,200 insects, grasshoppers and snails
predominating. The vast amount of good these birds do can
therefore be gauged by these figures.

The next day saw us returning to Melbourne, heavily laden
with the results of our ten-days' sojourn among the birds, but
after all I was not satisfied I had not obtained a picture of a
W^hite Egret feeding its young, so I again arranged for a short
flying visit during my Christmas holidays. The result of this trip
will also be found in the October Emu (vol. vii., 1907, p. 71) ;
suffice it to say that the sights that met my gaze as we approached

68 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

the heronry were more than I had bargained for. Dead and
dying Egrets were everywhere. The phime-hunters had been
there before me, and the wreck they had left behind made my
blood boil with indignation. It would not have been so bad had
the slaughter consisted only of the hundred or so adult birds,
but, as these were the parents of three times as many fledglings,
left to die of starvation, you may readily guess how I felt. I took
photos, of the scene, one which you will agree with me is far
from pleasant to contemplate. Let us hope that the day will
come when ladies will eschew Egret plumes as decorations for
their head-gear, as I am sure they would if they only knew what
cruelty the securing of these plumes causes, for it is only at the
nesting time that the adult birds, which are furnished with the
coveted plumes, can be approached with any degree of certainty
by the hunters.

During my three days I was able to get several photos, of
other species of birds which I greatly desired, and, last but not
least, I secured a picture of a duck-shooter and his punt gun, a
murderous weapon ten feet long. But this was a toy to some
that are still surreptitiously used on the swamps, and which are
capable of destroying a mob of one hundred ducks at one
discharge. Under such treatment it is a wonder that any ducks
are left in the district, and, were it not for the sparsely settled
country in the interior of Australia, where some at least of our
game-birds are able to breed unmolested, except by droughts, we
would certainly have few game-birds left. With such a large
space of difficult country to supervise, the energies of the officers
administering the Game Act are severely taxed, and, if we are not
to have complete extermination of our water-birds, much more
stringent measures and laws will have to be devised for their
protection.

[The paper was illustrated by a splendid series of some eighty
lantern slides, depicting the many phases of bird-life touched on.
— Ed. YiGl. Nat?^

Apus. — The spirit specimens of Apus, a phillopod crustacean,
exhibited by me at the July meeting of the Club differ from
the allied genus Lepidurus, which is common in Victoria, in
that Lepidurus has a flap-structure between the two filiform
processes at the posterior end of the abdomen. These
specimens were collected by me at Townsville, North Queens-
land, on 3rd January, 1908, from a small fresh -water pool
about 4 feet wide, 10 feet long, and 3 inches deep, which
had been in existence for less than a fortnight, and was
within a hundred yards of the sea. I estimated the pool to
contain at least two thousand living specimens of Apus, besides
other crustaceans. Professor Spencer informs me that he was
not aware that Apus occurred so near the sea coast, as it is a
Central Australian form of Entomostracan. — R. \V. Armitage.

August, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 69

NOTES ON THE SCORPION-FLY, BITTACUS
AUSTBALIS.

By Edmund Jarvis.
(Communicated by J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S.)
{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria^ IWi July, 1908.)
This common scorpion-fly is a familiar object in country districts
during the spring and early summer, when it may be seen flying
about the blossoms of the leptospermums and other plants, or
resting among the flowers. It belongs to the family Panorpid^e
of the order Neuroptera. The body is of the usual slender
neuropterous shape, with the wings moderately large, and when
folded projecting beyond the extremity of the abdomen.

Although related to the dragon-flies, it is most unlike them in
habits and structure, the flight being slow and weakly, more like
that of the Tipulides, whilst the abdomen is much shorter, and
the head small, with the lower portion produced into a beak, at
the end of which are the parts of the mouth. The antennae are
long and somewhat setaceous. The most remarkable difference
is in the legs, which are very long, and wonderfully adapted for
catching and holding the prey of this most voracious insect. The
femora and tibiae are covered with minute spines, the latter armed
with two long ones at their extremities, whilst the joints of the
tarsi are flexible and can be used for grasping objects like a hand,
the terminal joint being shaped somewhat like a pointed finger-
nail and capable of doubling completely over against the pre-
ceding joint.

It is not unusual to see this extraordinary creature flying
slowly through the air encumbered by the weight of some
insect it has captured dangling at the end of one of its long hind
legs, and held by the foot, which grasps it round the body; it
presents a curious and conspicuous object, more especially
when, as frequently occurs, the insect it carries happens to be
considerably larger than itself. The principal victims appear to
be bees and other insects of about the same size, but on more
than one occasion I have seen it supporting at some height above
the ground, although with apparent difliculty, a specimen of the
day-moth, Philcenoides tristifica (Agarista lewini), which it had
succeeded in overpowering, and was retaining, for the juices of so
large a body would doubtless afford it several meals.

I had often wondered how a soft-bodied insect like Bittacus
australis, three-quarters of an inch only in length, could possibly
overpower the common Honey-bee, A2ns mellijlca, an insect of
about equal bulk, and possessing the apparent advantages of a
hard body and powerful sting, until one day it was my good
fortune to see exactly how the capture was effected. It was on
one of those glorious, perfectly cloudless mornings in November,

70 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

with the sun warm and invigorating without being hot, when I was
collecting insects on the white-clay country at Emerald, that,
whilst standing by a large bush of Daviesia corymbosa, watching
the number of species of bees that were attracted to the blossoms,
I heard a sudden loud buzzing, louder than that caused by the
continuous murmur of the bees, and saw that a specimen of
Bittacus australis had just seized a large Honey-bee which was
making frantic but ineffectual struggles to escape from its clutches.
It had grasped its victim with both hind legs and was holding it
as far as possible from its body, with the flexible tarsi wrapped
around the unfortunate bee and working continually, just like the
fingers of a hand, to prevent it from turning towards its enemy.
In such a position, with its back to the fly, the poor insect was
unable to make use of its sting, and all efforts to twist around
were anticipated and prevented by the movements of the
numerous sharp spines of the encircling tarsi. Some muscular
effort is doubtless required to enable the fly to keep its hind legs
in an extended and rigid position in spite of the struggles of a
large winged insect, which may account for these being larger and
stouter than the others, with the femora being somewhat incras-
sated and the tavsi being larger and more powerful. So intent was
it upon securing its prey that I was allowed to examine its every
movement minutely, and, whilst wondering what would happen
next, it suddenly put out its two mid-legs and caught the tips of
each primary wing of the bee between the two last joints of the
tarsus, in much the same manner as we should take hold of any-
thing between a finger and thumb, and pulled them out to their
fullest expanse, thus effectually preventing the last remote chance
of escape by these organs of flight. The scorpion-fly was now
hanging from the bush by its two arms, and holding its prey with
extended wings and body still grasped by the hind tarsi. And
now came the closing scene of this insect tragedy ; the hind legs
slowly contracted to bring the body of the victim nearer, and the
cruel, beak-like mouth approached, and, after hovering close to it
for a few seconds, was inserted between the head and prothorax
of the bee, which was unable to make the slightest resistance
whilst its captor was piercing and biting through the slender,
fleshy neck.

As the structure of the mouth-parts seems to be particularly
interesting, I will endeavour to give a full description of this
portion of the insect's anatomy. The beak constituting the mouth
is about three times the length of the head, the point being
formed by the labrum and labium, which are hollowed longitu-
dinally internally, and have their edges fringed with stiff hairs,
which, when pressed together, unite and form a complete and
slender tube. The maxillary palpi are moderately long, four-
jointed, and placed about half-way down the beak ; the maxillae

August, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 71

being represented by two exceedingly fine lances, thickly armed
with curved teeth-like spines with their points directed upwards,
and bearing a strong resemblance to the prickles of a blackberry
leaf when under the microscope. It seems probable that these
organs are capable of being used like saws, which would perhaps
account for the continuous and tremulous n»otion observable
in the head of this insect whilst it is piercing its victims. The
labial palpi, which are small and situated close to the end of the
mouth, apparently consist of only two joints. The mandibles are
represented by two stout lances ribbed longitudinally, the extreme
points of which are abruptly curved inwards and have a small
tooth just below the point. It seems very likely that these teeth
and hooked points are used for tearing as well as piercing.

Anopheles and Malaria. — Mr. W. J. Rainbow, F.L.S., in
his little book on " Mosquitoes," published this year, makes the
the statement that — " Many people think that mosquitoes can be
blown into new or different localities by strong winds, and it has
been asserted that Anopheles are so distributed, but this a popular
error." In connection with this, the following may be of
interest : — In April and the beginning of May of this year, at
the end of the ^vet season, a succession of heavy north-westerly
gales blew across the island of Samarai, which lies south-east of
Papua. The island was afterwards found to be swarming with
adult Anopheles mosquitoes. As no Anopheles had been found
on the island for many years, having disappeared when the sago
swamps were drained and filled with earth, it seems highly
probable that these Anopheles were blown from adjacent swamp-
covered islands where they were to be found. Within ten days
of this visitation every person residing in Samarai who had never
till then suffered from malarial fever was down with the disease.
Some of these people had come to Samarai four years before, and,
as the island was regarded as being quite free from fever, had
never expected to contract the disease. As Samarai is looked
upon as the sanatorium of Papua for whites, it would be rather
an important matter to prove or disprove the liability of Anopheles
to be blown from a fever-infested haunt to a place free of the
disease. — R. W. Armitage.

The late Dr. A. W. Howitt. — Some little time ago a sub-
committee of the Royal Society of Victoria was appointed to
consider the question of establishing some memorial of the late
Dr. A. W. Howitt. It has now been decided to raise a fund of
at least ;^ioo, and found a " Howitt Medal," to be awarded
from time to time to the author of distinguished work dealing
specially with the Natural Science of Australia. Dr. T. S. Hall,
M.A., has been appointed hon. treasurer, and will be pleased to
receive contributions to the fund.

7*2 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. rVoI XXV.

Food Plants of Victorian Longicorn Beetles. — In con-
tinuation of list in the February Naturalist (xxiv., page 155) I
append particulars of the localities and food plants of the follow-
ing longicorn beetles : —

Atesta bifasciata, Pasc. — Studley Park, &c. Food plant, Yellow

box, Eucalyptus melliodora.
Distichocera Thomsonella, White. — Eltham, &c. F.p., Mistletoe,

Loranthus pendulus.
Didymocantha sentellata. — Coode Is., &c. ; f p.. Acacia moUissima.

You Yangs; f.p., Casuarina quadrivalvis.
Hebecerus Australis, Boisd. — Greensborough. F.p., Acacia

dealbata.
H. crocogaster, Boisd. — Eltham, &c. F.p., Acacia moliissima and

A. dealbata.
H. marginicollis, Boisd. Same as H. crocogaster.
Monohammus argentatus, Hope. — Gippsland. F.p., Aster

glandulosus.
Phoracantha fallax, Pasc. — Frankston, Coode Is., &c. F.p.,

Acacia moliissima.
Scolobrotus Westwoodi, Hope. — Studley Park, &c. F.p., Euca-
lyptus melliodora.
Symphyletes modestus, Pa^c. — Clayton. F.p., Acacia oxycedrus.

— J. E. Dixon. Richmond.

Victorian Forests. — A brief report for 1907 on the Victorian
Forests, by the acting conservator, Mr. A. W. Crooke, appears
in the annual report of the Secretary for Mines just issued.
Regarding forest fires, he says that he believes " few forest fires
are purely accidental. Most of them are either deliberate acts,
or the result of criminal carelessness." Under the new Act,
which came into operation on ist January last, he expects to be
able to reduce forest fires to a minimum. It is satisfactory to
note that the revenue from timber royalties, &c., amounted to
;£"29,ooo for the year. Four striking illustrations are given of the
magnificent virgin forest of Eucalyptus amygdalina in the Rubicon
Ranges, near Alexandra.

The Ground or Swamp Parrakeet. — " F. R." in the Aus-
tralasian of Saturday, ist August, gives some interesting notes
about this parrakeet, Pezoporus formosus, Lath., which he says is
becoming very scarce in the Western District of Victoria, where
it was once plentiful. This is doubtless due to the fact that the
bird lives entirely on the ground, never to his knowledge
perching in trees. It makes its home among the tussocks usually
found on swampy land, and is thus an easy prey to the prowling
fox.

Cbe Uictorian naturalist.

Vol. XXV.— No. 5. SEPTEMBER 10, 1908, No. 297.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Ckib was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, the loth August, 1908.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 45 members and visitors were present.

CORRESPONDENCE.

A letter was received from Mr. Victor Hood, private secretary
to His Excellency Sir T. Gibson-Carmichael, stating that the
Governor and Lady Carmichael " hope to be able to take con-
siderable interest in the doings of the Field Naturalists' Club,"
and accepting the invitation to open the forthcoming conversazione
on 22nd September.

A circular letter was read from the Royal Society of Victoria,
in which an appeal was made for subscriptions towards founding a
" Howitt Medal " as a memorial of the late Dr. A. W. Howitt.
The hon. secretary mentioned that the committee had voted two
guineas to the fund, and hoped members would contribute
individually. Dr. T. S. Hall, M.A., the hon. treasurer of the fund,
explained in fuller detail the proposed scheme, and commended
it to the members as worthy of support.

REPORTS.

The hon. secretary reported that about twenty-five members had
visited the Botanical Department at the University on Saturday,
8th August, when Miss Jean White, M.Sc, in the unavoidable
absence of Prof. Evvart, D.Sc, took charge of the party, and
demonstrated some interesting experiments which were being
carried on with regard to the growth of plants under certain con-
ditions, and briefly described some of the museum specimens.

The hon. secretary, in the absence of the leader, Mr. R. W.
Armitage, stated that the junior excursion to Studley Park on
Saturday, ist August, had been well attended, and a satisfactory
afternoon's work had been accomplished.

The hon. librarian acknowledged the receipt of the following
donations to the library : — " Types of Floral Mechanism," by A.
H. Church, M.A., D.Sc, part i, types i.-xii. (purchased);
Journal of Agriculture of Victoria, June and July, 1908, from the
Secretary for Agriculture, Melbourne ; The Emu, vol. viii., part
I, July, 1908, from the Australasian Ornithologists' Union ; "Me-
moirs of Geological Survey of New South Wales — Geology, No.
6 : Geology and Mineral Resources of the Western Coalfield "
(with map and sections separate), from Department of Mines and

74 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

Agriculture, Sydney ; " Proceedings of Linnean Society of New
South Wales," vol. xxxiii., part i, from the Society; TJie Australian
Naturalist, vol. i., parts 3-1 1, from the New South Wales
Naturalists' Club ; The Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales,
June and July, 1908, from Secretary for Agriculture, Sydney ;
Queensland Naturalist, vol. i., part i, March, 1908, from the
Brisbane Field Naturalists' Club ; Journal of the West
Australian Natural History Society, vol. i., No. 4, from the
Society; "Annual Report for 1906 of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion, Washington, U.S.A.," from the Institute ; " Bulletin of the
American Museum of Natural History," vol. xxiii. (1907), from
the Museum ; " Bulletin of the Wisconsm Natural History
Society," vol. v., parts 1-4, from the Society ; " Proceedings of
the Hawaiian Entomological Society," vol. i., part 5, from the
Society ; Nature Notes, May and June, 1908, from the Sel-
borne Society, London ; Knowledge, May and June, 1908, from
the proprietors.

ELECTIONS.

On a ballot being taken, the Rev. C. C. Dugan, B.A., Preston,
and Mr. J. L. Robertson, M.A., Moonee Ponds, were duly
elected ordinary members ; and the Misses Gladys Griebenow,
Evelyn Pepperell, Janet Sinclair, Lousia Parkinson, Masters
Albert Pitcher, Ernest Pitcher, Norman Fullard, Lennie
Robson, Clifton Sutherland, and Eric Sutherland as junior
members.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

The president reported that a deputation representing the
various societies interested in the natural history of Australasia
had waited on the Commonwealth Prime Minister, the Hon. A.
Deakin, during the week, and made representations as to the
enormous destruction of certain birds going on throughout the
States, mainly for the purposes of personal decoration. The
deputation urged that the export of such bird skins from Australia
should be prohibited, and from the Prime Minister's remarks it
was almost certain that the traffic would be controlled as desired.

The hon. secretary stated that the mattter of the purchase of
the Blackrock estate, near Sandringham, for a public park had
been brought before the Premier since- last meeting, but so far as
he could learn there seemed to be little chance of the idea being
carried out, owing to the large sum which it was necessary to
raise to secure the land, and while those advocating the purchase
desired to retain the land in its present wild state, the local shire
council contended that it should be cleared for use as a sports
reserve.

The hon. secretary said that he had been asked to announce
that a meeting would be held on Thursday, 13th inst., for the

Sept., 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 75

purpose of forming a society devoted entirely to investigation by
means of the microscope.

Prof. Evvart and Mr. G. Coghill thought that such a society
would only weaken existing societies, and hoped that the
promoters would carefully consider the position before taking any
definite steps.

Dr. Kaufmann said that there was no intention to clash with
existing societies, and thought that it would be found that the
new society would fill a decided want.

PAPERS.

1. By Mr. T. Carter, M.B.O.U. (communicated by Mr. A.
J. Campbell, C.M.B.O.U.), entitled " Description of a Supposed
New Grass-Wren, from Western Australia."

The author stated that the bird, for which he proposed the
name Amytis varia, differed in many particulars from Amytis
gigantura, Milligan (A. megalurus, Sharpe), described in the
Victorian Naturalist, xviii. (1901), p. 72. It was much darker in
colour, the rictal bristles were well developed and easily visible,
and the bird was rather larger in all dimensions. Owing to the
fact that it has been found only in " Marlock " scrub, he gave it
the vernacular name of the Marlock Grass-Wren.

The chairman said that the genus was an interesting one, but
very difficult of study, owing to the extreme shyness of the
birds.

2. By Mr. J. H. Gatliff, entitled " Description of a New Aus-
tralian Volute Shell."

The author said that the shell he proposed to describe had
been in his possession for many years, having been purchased
from the late J. F. Bailey, who had given '' North Queensland"
as its habitat. There were two specimens of the same shell in
the National Museum collection, unnamed, with the same locality.
The shell somewhat resembles Y. canalicidata, M'Coy, but on
taking the opportunity of sending it to England lately, the British
Museum authorities decided that it was not that species, and
stated that it did not agree with any described species; he there-
fore determined to name it Voluta {Armoria) spenceriana, in
honour of Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, C.M.G, in recognition of
his many valued services to the natural history of Australia.
The type specimen and the Museum specimens were exhibited
in illustration of his remarks.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

" Onion Grass." — Prof. Ewart referred to the difference of
opinion as to the correct naming of the introduced irid known as
" Onion Grass," and read letters received from various authorities
regarding it. The Kew (England) authorities confirmed their

76 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

identification as Romulea rosea, Eckl., which they considered to
be the same as R. bulbocodium, Seb. and Maur. The South
African Museum identified it as 7^. rosea, Eckl., var parviflora,
Baker. Mr, Spencer le Moore, of the British Museum, and Dr.
Rendle, one of the leading authorities on monocotyledons, con-
sidered it to be identical with Ker-Gawl's figure of Trichonema
cTuciatum, but followed Baker in classing it as Romulea longifolia,
Baker, to which the former name is a synonym. Prof. Ewart
remarked that Bentham described the plant as Triclionema
ochroleuca 3.nd that the Romulea [Triclionema) bzilbocodium of the
" British Flora," with which Baron Mueller identified it, was now
R. columnoi, Seb., and that the confusion was further increased
by the difficulty of tracing the plant through the various genera —
Ixia, Trichonema, Romulea — in which it had at different times
been placed. He asked members to search for large, many-
flowered specimens with the stigma overtopping the anthers, and
remarked that the characters Kew considered to be quite incon-
stant appeared to be remarkably constant under Australian
conditions.

Some Hawthorn Birds. — Mr. C. F. Cole said that a nest of
White-backed Magpie, Gymnorhina leuconata, Gld., and one of
Striated Tit, Acanthiza lineafa, Gld., had been found at Hawthorn
on 5th July. During July several flocks of Noisy Minahs,
Manorhina garrula, Lath., had visited the district, and on 8th
August a fine specimen of the Wedge-tailed Eagle, Uroaetus
audax, Lath., measuring 7 feet 6 inches from tip to tip of wing,
had been shot.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. G. Anderson. — Young lampreys (alive), about three
inches long, taken from the Yarra some six months ago.

By Mr. H. H. Baker. — Under the microscope, permanent
mounted specimens of the tube-building rotifer Melicerta
ringens, and of Amoeba.

By Mr. C. F. Cole. — Nest and egg of Satin Bower-bird,
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus, Vieill., taken at Lang Lang, South
Gippsland, 12th November, 1907 ; also three male birds from
same locality, showing plumage at about twelve months, two
years, and maturity (several years).

By Mr. J. G. Dixon. — Beetle, Xylonychus eucalyptus
(Scarabidae), taken that day at Sandringham ; also nine species
of Victorian longicorn beetles with their food-plants.

By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Specimens of a remarkable stalk-
eyed fly, Zygotricha, sp., from Endeavour River, N. Queensland,
and enlarged coloured drawing of same by Mr. E. Jarvis ;
collection of biting flies and malaria-carrying ticks from the Sudan.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — Aboriginal stone tomahawks

Sept., 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 77

(polished) recently found at Warragul, Bairnsdale, and Dande-
nong Ranges.

By Mr. J. A. Gatliff. — Shells, Yoluta ( Armoria) sioenceriana,
Gatliff ; and V. (Armoria) canaliculala, M'Coy, in illustration of
paper.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — A fresh-water alga, Pleurococcus
vulgaris, clustered on the empty carapace of an " Elephant Water-
flea," Bosmina longirostris, from the Yan Yean water supply.

By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.L.S. , for National Museum. — Two
specimens of the new volute, V. spenceriana, Gatliff, for com-
parison with type.

By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley. — A fish, Periopthalmus, sp., from
Queensland. This genus, popularly known as " Mudhoppers," is
said at times to leave the shallow water of the mud-flats and climb
into the mangrove trees, where it is equally at liome.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

On Bird Destruction. — Mr. Robert Grant, Taxidermist of
the Australian Mu'jeum, after whom I named a Bird of Paradise,
described in the Victorian Naturalist of January, 1906 (vol. xxii.,
p. 156 — see also vol. xxiv., p. 136), recently brought me
two more specimens for examination. He informed me that
altogether twenty-one specimens of Paradisea granti had passed
through his hands, and of this number seventeen entire bird-
skins, minus their legs, had been prepared for the decoration of
ladies' hats. We have only the type of the species in the
Australian Museum collection. Comment is needless. — Alfred
J. North. Sydney, August, 1908.

Food Plants of Victorian Longicorn Beetles. — The fol-
lowing are the localities and food plants of the longicorn beetles
exhibited by me at the August meeting : —
Omophfena tseniata, Pasc. — Frankston, &c. Food plant, Yellow

Box, Eucalyptus melliodora.
Qmotes erosicollis, Pasc. — Eltham. P.p., Eucalyptus melliodora.
Pentacosma scoparia, Newm. — Frankston. F.p., Viminaria

denudata.
Rhytiphora rugicoUis, Dalm. — Carrum. F.p., Acacia longifolia.
Stephanops nasuta, Newm. — Oakleigh, &c. P.p., Acacia mollis-

sima and A. Baileyana.
Strongylurus cretifer, Hope. — Mooroolbark, &c. P.p., Native

Cherry, Exocarpos cupressiformis.
Strongylurus scutellatus, Hope. — Carrum. P.p., Aster ramulosus.
Symphyletes albo-cinctus, Gue'r. — Mordialloc, &c. P.p., Acacia

mollissima.
Uracanthus acuta. — Studley Park, &c. P.p., Acacia dealbata and

A. mollissima.
— J. E. Dixon. Richmond.

78 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

SOME NOTES ON THE FLORA OF VICTORIA.

By Alfred J. Ewart, D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S., Government Botanist,

and Professor of Botany, Melbourne University.
{[lead before the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, 13th July, 1908.)
The early general accounts of the flora of Victoria by Baron
Mueller have been, to some extent, superseded by the short but
excellent accounts given by Mr. G. Weindorfer in the " Victorian
Year-Book for 1904" (issued by the Government Statist), and
by Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A., LL.B., in the Melbourne Handbook
of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science,
1900. In several respects, however, these general views need
amplification, especially as the progress of settlement, drainage,
irrigation, and cultivation continues to affect the character and
distribution of the native flora. The following remarks will serve
to complete the accounts already given, as well as to draw
attention to certain features which come prominently out in a
general view of the flora, but have not previously been discussed.
The factors which influence a flora and determine its characters
are the result of the interaction of telluric, oceanic, and solar
influences, and may be grouped under the following heads : —

1. The previous geological history of the country, and its

relationship to other countries.

2. The present and past climate, in which the most important

factors are —
{a) Average annual temperature, and extremes of heat

and cold.
(6) Average annual rainfall, and its distribution through-
out the year,
(c) Character and depth of the soil.

{d) Prevailing winds and their intensity and direction,
including the influence of drift sand, &c.
The two latter factors influence more the local than the general
distribution through large areas, although the influence of wind
on the flora of the coastal districts around Melbourne, and on
that of large areas of the north and south-western districts, is very
pronounced.

The previous geological history of Victoria is by no means
certain, although evidences of elevation and subsidence are shown
in many parts, and volcanic eruptions and lava outbursts in past
ages have been responsible for the sudden destruction of the
local flora over wide areas. In the same way, the existing
evidence of glacial action points to the occurrence of a cold
glacial age in the history of Victoria, when arctic conditions
prevailed, and all the requirements were produced for the sub-
sequent development of a homogeneous alpine flora on the tops
of the lofty mountains as the cold receded and more favourable

Sept., 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 79

conditions prevailed, leaving arctic species stranded, as it were,
on the top of every lofty mountain throughout the State. The
alpine flora of Victoria is, however, apparently more modern and
hence less striking than that of Europe, although many features
of similarity exist between the two. The more modern character
of the Victorian alpine flora is, for instance, evidenced by the
facts that the plain and alpine floras largely overlap, and that the
latter shows less type differentiation than usual. Species which
pass from alpine or sub-alpine regions to the plains are Arabis
perfoliata, Billardiera scandens, Correa Lawrenciana, Hypericum
japonicum, Sagina procumhens, and Stellaria pungens, although
species are not wanting, such as Drosera Arckeri, &c., which are
exclusively restricted to high alpine elevations. Little doubt
exists as to a land connection with Tasmania in past ages by way
of King Island, and this is borne out by the large number of
species common to the two States, Tasmania and Victoria. New
Zealand, on the other hand, is widely distinct in its flora from
that of Victoria, so that, if New Zealand and Australia were ever
connected, the separation must have occurred in very remote
ages.

Present Climate. — The average annual rainfall of 26 inches
approximates to that of England, and this, coupled with its
warmer climate and continental connections, makes the flora of
Victoria somewhat more numerous and varied than that of Great
Britain, in spite of the smaller area of the State. The idea that
Victoria is much drier than Great Britain is hardly correct. The
chief difference is that in Great Britain a few places are exception-
ally wet (Ben Nevis, 151 inches per annum; one station in Lake
district, 177 inches per annum), whereas in Victoria a few regions
are exceptionally dry (the north-west portion of the Mallee).
The Lake district in England, and the S.W. coast of Scotland,
with an annual rainfall of 40 inches, correspond exactly to the
Otway Forest and South Gippsland, where the rainfall just exceeds
40 inches. Over a very large part of the east coast of England
and Scotland the rainfall is below 25 inches. The average for
London is, for instance, 24 inches — i.e., below the average for
Victoria ; and in one drought year, when agriculture in Essex
and neighbouring counties suffered greatly, it was as low as
16 inches. A point of great importance is that in all the wettest
parts of Great Britain the flora is of a special character, and
limited to a few bog, humus, or hygrophilous types, whereas it is
in the drier regions that the flora is more abundant and varied —
that agriculture is of most importance, and the land most
valuable.

In Victoria, owing to its warmer climate, a higher rainfall is
required to reach the limit at which it becomes detrimental to
agriculture, and at which bog, humus, and hygrophilous floras

80 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

prevail. Although this limit is reached in parts of South Gipps-
land, the Otways, and on some of the higher mountain ranges,
it is only over limited areas, which represent a relatively small
portion of the total surface of Victoria. The conditions are,
therefore, very different to those prevailing on the west coasts
of Ireland or Tasmania, where, owing to the high rainfall,
enormous tracts of land are quite unsuited for the ordinary
practice of agriculture, though, naturally, not entirely useless.
Even in Victoria, however, if the curves for rainfall and tempera-
ture coincided instead of being opposed — i.e., if the rains of the
south fell on the northern areas — the climate, flora, and agri-
cultural possibilities of the State would be enormously improved,
and irrigation would be largely unnecessary.

As it is, there are over 2,000 species of flowering plants and
vascular cryptogams in Victoria ; and when the lower crypto-
gams — Algae, Musci, Fungi, &c. — are added, the species total
fully 5,000. England possesses about 1,200 flowering plants and
ferns ; but, owing to its relatively large expanse of coast and its
more uniformly moist climate. Algae, Musci, and Fungi are better
represented.

The climate of Victoria may be fairly compared with that of
the south of France or Spain, but the flora is widely dissimilar as
regards the species and genera, and even some of the orders
(Proteacese) of which it is composed. A number of common
British genera — Hypericum, Stellaria, Cardamine, Drosera, Cap-
sella, &c. — are represented in Victoria, but mainly or entirely by
distinct Australian species. A few cosmopolitans — Spergularia
rubra, Sagina procumhens, Myosurus minijuus, Potentllla
anserina, Oxalis coroiiculata, Portulaca oleracea, Polygonum
hydropiper, Lemna minor, Potartiogeton, &c. — are, however,
natives of Victoria, and they, with others, form a connecting
link with the world's flora. Thus Prunella vulgaris, L., the
" Self-Heal," and Solamim nigrum, the " Black Nightshade," are
common English weeds, while native species of Sida, Hibiscus,
Anagallis, Heliotropium, Cyperus, &c., also occur in Asia, Africa,
and America. Such non-European plants as Parietaria debilis,
Dodonoia viscosa, Avicennia ojficinalis, and Tetragonia expansa
are especially interesting, since they connect our flora with that
of the old and new worlds on the one hand and with that of
New Zealand on the other.

The dominant general features of the Victorian flora are deter-
mined by the necessity of protection against periodic drought and
intense sunlight. The latter affects, of course, exposed plants
only, and is shown by the common presence of vertical leaves or
phyllodia on so many of our forest trees, with the result that they
yield relatively little shade, and at the same time transpire less
actively than if horizontally expanded.

Sept., 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 81

Various adaptations for surviving periods of drought are shown,
such as the formation of reduced evaporating surfaces and fleshy
leaves like those of the salt-bushes, by the transformation of
branches which would bear leaves into thorns and prickles, such
as Acacia armata, &c.

In addition, many herbaceous perennials in dry seasons or situa-
tions develop as annuals, surviving the dry period in the form of
seed. The seeds of many Leguminosse (Acacias^ Jachsonias,
Viminaria denudata, &c.) have impermeable cuticularized seed-
coats when fully ripened, so that they may remain dormant in the
soil for long periods of years, germinating when brought to the
surface and the coats softened by heat, by the alkaline ash of bush
lires, or by mechanical abrasion.

A few introduced trees, such as the More ton Bay Fig, Maple,
and Plane, shed a portion of their leaves in drought so that the
remainder may have a chance of surviving, and the same may be
shown to a limited extent by some of the native trees, although
the latter are nearly all evergreen, the leaves being shed irregularly
all the year round without ever leaving the tree entirely bare. The
erect, branchless, lower stems and thick fibrous bark of so many
of our Eucalypti are probably protective adaptations against bush
fires, and this peculiarity often causes them to be unaftected
by a fire which would completely consume a European pine
forest under similar conditions. The frequently delayed de-
hiscence of Callistemon, Hakea, Banksia, &c., especially under
moist conditions, is probably also an adaptation to drought
conditions or to recurrent bush-fires, for both causes clear the
land of existent vegetation to a greater or less extent, and, at
the same time, excite the escape by dehiscence of the seeds which
are to replace it, and the germination of those dormant seeds
whose coats have been softened by the heat and ashes.

The coast scrub of Tea-tree (Leptospermum and Melaleuca) pro-
tects itself against wind and sand-drift by growing close together,
the leaves, which demand a fair exposure to light, being found
at the upper surfaces and edges of the scrub only, and giving its
interior a peculiarly gloomy character. Where the scrub is dense,
no plants grow beneath ; but where it is less dense a few mosses,
grasses, and such orchids as Caladenia, Pterostijlis, &c., may be
found, and an introduced Polygala, P. myrtifolia, L., is some-
times abundant. The Mallee scrub of the north-west (shrubby
Eucalypti) affords an instance of similar adaptation, but in this
case to inland conditions.

In spite of its close connection with the rest of Australia, the
barriers to migration in the past have sufficed to enable Victoria
to retain a fairly large number of endemic species, at least 46,
although possibly some of the latest-described plants may prove
to be merely varieties or hybrids of species with a wider range.

82 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

This appears especially to be the case with the genus Pulteiicea, of
which no less than five new species have been recently recorded,
one of them, P. Weindor/eri, Reader, being found comparatively
near Melbourne. In any case the comparison with England,
which, in spite of its isolation as an island and larger area, has
hardly any true endemic species, is very striking.

The endemic species of Victoria include Eucalyptus alpi7ia,
Acacia tenuifolia, Pultencea (9 species), Grevillea (4 species).
Aster Benthami, Goodenia Macmillani, Prostanihera (3 species),
Styphelia (2 species), Thelymitra (2 species), Praaophyllum (2
species), Stipa (2 species), Poa (2 species), Lepidosperma tortuo-
sicm, and many others. There is, however, a smaller percentage
of endemic species in Victoria than in any other State of Australia,
owing to the greater range of conditions within its boundaries and
to the close connection with neighbouring States, the northern
and western boundaries of Victoria being political rather than geo-
graphical or botanical.

The genera with endemic species, and more especially Pultencea,
Grevillea, Acacia^ Eucalyptus, TJielymitra, and Prasop/iyUum, may
be regarded as especially adapted to Victorian conditions and as
characteristic representatives of its flora.

The latter is, however, in a transitional condition, and is rapidly
undergoing modification as the result of civilization.

The chief factors tending to the disadvantage of the native flora
are — the progress of deforestation, the draining of swamps and
swampy localities, sheep pasturing and the spread of rabbits, the
increase of the area under cultivation or irrigation, and the intro-
duction of hordes of alien weeds and garden escapes, many of
which are not merely more or less aggressive weeds of cultivation —
Seyiecio, Carduus, Centaurea, Anagallis arveiisis (Pimpernel),
Sonchus (Sow Thistle), and Tares ( Vicia), &c. — but also establish
themselves on pastures and virgin ground, largely ousting the
native flora. Such plants are the Gorse, Ulex Europceus, Peren-
nial Thistle, Carduus arvensis, Onion Grass, Romulea cruciata,
Blackberry Bramble, Rubus /ruticosus, Briar, Rosa rubiginosa,
Ragwort, Seuecio Jacobcea, St. John's Wort, PLypericuni perforatum,
%\AX\V\NQ\\., Inula graveolens, ^ox\.\\orn, Lyciumhorridum, Prickly
Pear, Opuntia monacantha, and many others. The list of i)ro-
claimed plants of Victoria now includes no less than 42 species, of
which only the Nut Grass, Cyperus rotundus, Chinese Scrub,
Cassinia arcuata, the Mistletoes, Loratdlius celastroides and
L. pendidus, and the Prickly Acacia, Acacia arinata, are native
plants.

One striking peculiarity is to be noted— namely, that the intro-
duced Pimpernel is ousting the two native Pimpernels, and the
same applies in other cases also. Thus the native Hypericum is
not particularly abundant, whereas the introduced Hypericum, or

Sept., 1908 ] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 83

St. John's Wort, is spreading rapidly. The introduced Dodder,
Cuscuta einthymum^ L., seems to be more dangerous, especially
to lucerne, than the native Dodders ; while the parasite Cassytha
(Lauracese), sometimes mistaken for Dodder, hitherto has con-
fined its attacks to native vegetation and left cultivated plants
untouched.

One curious feature of the native flora is the small number of
useful economic plants it contains. A few of the forest trees
produce good timber, but the latter is usually too hard,
heavy, and brittle when seasoned to be of much value, except
for special purposes where durability is all-important and little
working required ; while the softer woods are, for the most part,
not very durable, or are very liable to warp and crack — at least,
under the methods of seasoning usually adopted here. There
are practically no native fruits and no native cereal grains of any
value as food for civilized man. Even the native fodder grasses
and fodder plants are, with a few notable exceptions, inferior in
quality or objectionable on account of their armed fruits, and are
being driven out by more suitable and adaptable introduced
grasses.

All the Leguminosas used as fodder (Clover, Trefoil, Vetch, &c.),
are introduced, so that if we exclude the Acacia^ with its wattle-
bark, this important order contains no native representatives of pro-
nounced economic value. A large number of our native flowers
would possibly be capable of great improvement under cultivation,
and other native plants might be found to develop useful economic
properties under selective treatment. The cultivated plants of
the world are mainly the result of selective adaptations from the
floras of Europe and Asia, and no one seeing the original wild
mustard for the first time could have predicted, without long trial
extending over generations, the series of useful cultivated plants
(cabbage, cauliflower, rape, mustard, brocoli, Brussels sprouts,
turnip, &c.) to which this one genus would give rise. If only
such investigations are made before it is too late, although we
may regret, on sentimental grounds, the shrinkage of the native
flora and the probable ultimate extinction of many of its repre-
sentatives, it can only be regarded as the inevitable result of the
progress of settlement, while the spread of the different weeds
of cultivation is the usual, though by no means an unavoidable,
accompaniment of the same change.

The proper establishment of the National Park at Wilson's
Promontory will render it possible to preserve many species
which seem in danger of extinction — at least, until such time as
their economic possibilities have been thoroughly ascertained ;
and it is sincerely to be trusted that none of our endemic species
will be suffered to become absolutely extinct when a special
harbour and sanctuary exists for them. A species once extinct

84 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

cannot be revived by any means ; and to allow plants to become
extinct before all their economic possibilities have been thoroughly
tested is a wanton wasting of the hidden treasures which Nature
scatters lavishly around us.

DESCRIPTION OF VOLUTA {AMORIA) SPENCERIANA,
SP. NOV., FROM NORTH QUEENSLAND.

By J. H. Gatliff.

(With plate.)

{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, lOth Aug., 1908.)

VoLUTA (Amoria) spenceriana, sp. nov.

Shell white, fusiform, smooth, polished, apex blunt, spire short,
whorls six and a half, including the nucleus ; suture well defined
on the later whorls, and becoming strongly channeled at the
aperture ; outer lip anteriorly expanded, edge acute, body whorl
somewhat inflated at the upper portion ; columella bears three
ascending plaits. Marked sparsely with light yellowish-brown, a
few irregular linear markings running down from the suture, and
two series of broad equidistant bands of distant zig-zag lines on
the body whorl ; spotted below the suture, spots ceasing on the
penultimate whorl, the remaining spiral whorls being without
markings ; salmon tinted in the interior.

Size of type. — Length 55, breadth 21 mm.

Habitat. — North Queensland (J. F. Bailey).

Observations. — May be readily distinguished from its congeners
by its expanded lip, only having three plaits, its short spire, and
the outline and marking of the shell are different.

It is nearly related to V. canaliculata, M'Coy, but Mr. E. A.
Smith, of the British Museum, who has examined it, does not
consider it to be that species, which has a markedly canaliculate
suture, and four plaits on the columella, and he could not identify
it with any species hitherto described.

I have named it in honour of Professor W. Baldwin Spencer,
C.M.G., M.A., F.R.S., &c., &c., formerly president of this Club,
whose skilled researches in the domain of natural science are so
widely known and appreciated.

Type in my collection.

Two specimens, without specific name, habitat given as Austral-
asia, have been exhibited in our National Museum since 1880,
when they were purchased from Mr. Thatcher. They are rather
larger and more solid than the type, in fresher condition, and
consequently the markings are stronger.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.— VoL XXV.

Plate 4.

September, 190S.

>
o

z
<

LU
O

LU
Ql
CO

I-

D
_l
O

86 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

DESCRIPTION OF A SUPPOSED NEW GRASS-WREN.

By T. Carter, M.B.O.U., Broome Hill, W.A.

(Communicated by A. J. Campbell, C.M.B.O.U.)

{Read before the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, lOth Aug., 1908.)

Having recently procured a specimen of an Amytis which does
not agree in many particulars with Mr. Milligan's description of
Amytis gig antur a (megalurus, Sharpe), {Vict. Nat., xviii. (1901),
p. 27), I send the following description and proposed name for it,
as I think it will prove to be a new species.

Up to the present I believe only one specimen of A. gigantura
has been obtained, and that is not available for inspection at time
of writing, but upon future comparison, or the obtaining of a
further series of skins, should the bird just obtained prove to be
the same, the following description may still be of value in
showing variations in colour and size. Mr. Milligan's account
did not mention the sex, and, unfortunately, my specimen was so
severely shot that the sex could not be determined with certainty,
but I think it is a female. Probably it is not very material, as
the sexes in this genus do not differ very much in colour.

Amytis varia, Marlock Grass-Wren, sp. nov. (?).

Forehead, crown of head, hind neck, and cheeks black, with
numerous striations of white. The whole of mantle, back, and
upper tail coverts rich rufous on margins of feathers, the centre part
of each feather being dark chocolate-brown, and the shafts white,
which white, extending some little distance up the vanes, gives
the whole of the striations on the head, hind neck, and mantle a
remarkable " fish-bone," or, as I believe ladies would term it,
"feather-stitch" appearance. Tail, rusty-brown, with shafts (10)
darker in shade on upper surface, the whole of the tail feathers
being distinctly barred with about thirty bars. Under surface of
tail feathers reddish-brown, with whitey-red shafts. Chin, throat,
and breast rufous, each feather striated with white. Sides of
chest and abdomen similar, but darker in shade, and striations not
so white. Flanks and under tail coverts still darker in colour,
but striations pronounced on under tail coverts. Primaries dark
brown, with lighter margins and white shafts. Under wing coverts
bright chestnut. Bill dark horn colour. Tarsi dark purplish-
flesh, with feet of a darker shade. Soles yellowish, Irides
reddish hazel. ~ Rictal bristles six in number on each side — four
together, stout, and about 10 mm. in length, the remaining pairs,
next the beak, being slightly shorter and thinner. The whole of
bristles very distinct and visible.

Below I have tabulated the main differences between the two
skins, for better comparison : —

Sept., 1908.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Amytis gigantura (megahirus).

Mr. Milligan describes this as
having rusty-red shoulder-patches as
in textilis^ and further on as having
" a bright chestnut patch on each side
of spring" (sic) *'but in front of
thigh."

" Whole of the upper surface, ex-
tending from the forehead to and
including the wings and tail, a uni-
form dull brown.

Rictal bristles six, the sixth being
rudimentary. [Apparently all are
small, as a powerful lens had to be
used to make them out. — T.C.]

[There is no mention of bars on
tail feathers.] Shafts of tail feathers
lighter than webs.

Length
7.25

Wing
2.75

Tail

3-75

Tarsus
0.95

Culmen
0.5

A. varia.

No chestnut patches on body or
shoulders.

Upper surface in three distinct
shades, the dark head and neck being
very pronounced.

All six bristles well developed, and
visible to average eyesight.

Bars on tail feathers very distinct,
and shafts above much darker than
webs.

Soft parts different in colour.
Length Wing Tail Tarsus Culmen
7.50 3.0 4.20 1.20 0.4

As I have only seen this bird on three occasions, and each
time in a patch of " Marlock " scrub, I propose the vernacular
name of Marlock Grass-Wren.

Scenery Preservation. — The beautifully ilhistrated report for
1907-8 of the Scenery Preservation Board of New Zealand is an
example which might well be followed by the Australian States.
New Zealand has grasped the fact that much beautiful scenery is
quickly destroyed by the opening up of the country by railways,
&c. — witness the many picturesque gullies which were visible
when our Gembrook line was first opened, now tenanted by
rung timber and burnt tree ferns. The report for 1907-8 deals
mainly with the scenery of the Wanganui River, well known as
one of the beauty spots of the world. This river, which is
havigable for small passenger steamers to 143 miles from its
mouth, has been carefully examined, and it is proposed to make
no less than 54 reservations along its banks, varying from 30 to
9,000 acres, amounting in all to 46,500 acres. These reservations,
while leaving plenty of places for settlement, will include all the
most picturesque bluffs, bends, &c., and prevent the river
being robbed of its beauty by the advance of settlement. Up
to 31st March last 117 reservations have been made in
various parts of New Zealand, amounting to 34,000
acres. Much of this land had to be repurchased, having
been previously sold or selected, at a cost of about ^15,500.
A brief resume is given of what has been done in Australia in the
same direction, but it is very insignificant compared with what
is being done in the Argentine Republic, where extensive areas

88 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

are being set aside for tourist purposes. The previous year's
report dealt with the scenery along the recently opened main
trunk line from Auckland to Wellington, and recommended 20
reservations, amounting to 24,000 acres.

Protection of Native Birds. — Among other letters on this
subject which have appeared in the Argus lately was the follow-
ing forcible one from Mr. G. E. Shepherd, of Somerville, an
enthusiastic ornithologist. He says : — " The thanks of all nature
lovers, particularly ornithologists, are due to you for your very
able and opportune article regarding our indigenous birds. As a
resident of Mornington Peninsula for upwards of 40 years, I say
most emphatically that even now the result of the indiscriminate
destruction of birds is beginning to be felt. Lagoons and
swamps that were considered to be permanent 40 years ago
are dry depressions, as a result of the wading birds that kept
the yabbies in check being either driven away or slaughtered.
Only two seasons ago, whilst making bird observations in and
around a lagoon, I noticed a stately Pacific Heron feeding
in the shallow water. My successive visits seemed to inspire
confidence in this noble creature, but, alas, less than a week
elapsed ere I found him dead on the margin of the swamp,
shot merely for amusement. The White-fronted Heron con-
sumes large quantities of grasshoppers and crickets. I have
seen the birds working in hundreds in a potato field ; coming in
the early morning, and remaining all day, retiring to thick timber
to roost in the evening. White Herons are now very scarce, the
Bittern and Nankeen Night-Heron are seldom seen, and, unfor-
tunately, when seen are very often shot, like the heron previously
mentioned. Hawks are beginning to become very scarce here,
a result largely due to people's ignorance. Even the beautiful
and harmless little Kestrel is shot " on sight," simply because it
is a hawk, without a single thought being given to the fact that it
has its own field to labour in, and its own destiny to fulfil.
To the State schools and teachers we must, I think, look for
the remedy. Let children be taught that it is wicked to destroy
birds without good reasons ; also let them be taught to see for
themselves that bird-life is part of the great scheme of Nature.
Finally, let us have laws enacted anc^ administered that will be a
protection to useful birds of all classes."

Eels. — Much interest is attached to the early stages in the life-
history of eels, and as the young elvers will soon be ascending
the rivers from the sea, observers can render good service by
securing specimens and forwarding them with data to the
National Museum, Melbourne. Fuller particulars will be found
in the " Fishing Notes " in the Australasian of Saturday, 5th
September.

CDe Uictoriait naturalist.

Vol. XXY.— No. 6. OCTOBER 8, 1908. No. 298.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th September, 1908.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 80 members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the Club excursion to South Morang on Saturday,
22nd August, was given by the leaders, Messrs. G. A. Keartland
and A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. The former said that a fair variety of
small birds, such as shrike-tits, cuckoos, tree-creepers, and honey-
eaters, had been observed in the timber' along the banks of the
Plenty River, but the squally weather of the afternoon had been
against good work being done. Mr. A. D. Hardy said that
beyond seeing some good specimens of the Silver Wattle, Acacia
dealhata, in full bloom, which was mainly the object of the excur-
sion, little of botanical interest was noted during the afternoon.
Owing to recent rains the stream was too high to be crossed, and
attention could therefore only be given to one bank. Later in
the season the locality would prove more interesting, owing to the
variety of shrubs which would then be in bloom. Advantage
was taken of the presence of young fruits on the Native Cherry,
Exocarpos cupress{/o7'mis, to demonstrate their mode of growth,
and to point out that the part popularly regarded as the fruit is
really the fleshy fruit-stalk. He mentioned that a short demonstra-
tion on the geological features had been given by Dr. T. S.
Hall, M.A. The party, which numbered about twenty-two,
returned to Armstrong's Hotel for tea, and spent a pleasant hour
or so before the train left for town,

A report of the Club excursion to Sandringham on Saturday,
1 2th September, was given by Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A., who said
he was very pleased to be able to join in the Club excursions
once more. Since he last collected over the Sandringham
country the spread of building operations had greatly curtailed
the collecting ground, and he was much indebted to Mr. C.
French, jun., for guidance as to the direction for the excursion.
Some forty species of plants were noted in bloom during the
afternoon. Under the tea-tree the orchids Pterostylis nutans^
P. nana, P. pedunculata, and P. concinna were fairly common,
though the ground seemed unusually dry. In an opening in the
scrub a number of the little Adder's-tongue Fern, Ophioglossum
vulgatum, were pointed out. On turning inland, near the
Blackrock estate, the more showy orchids Caladenia deformis
and C. carnea were noted. Here also the acacias A. longijolia,

90 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

A. suaveolens, and A. oxycedrus were prominent features, together
with Bossicea cinerea and Daviesia ulicina. Taken altogether,
the outing was much enjoyed by the members present, who
numbered about twenty-five.

It was reported that the junior excursion to Sandringham on
Saturday, 5th September, under the leadership of Miss Jean
White, M.Sc, had to be abandoned on account of inclement
weather.

ELECTIONS.

On a ballot being taken, Miss Z. Fenton, 81 Merton-street,
Albert Park, Miss M. Lazarus, M'Kean-street, North Fitzroy,
Miss H. Maddren, Retreat-road, Hampton, Mrs. C. J. Sarovitch,
Beach-street, Port Melbourne, and Mr. C. Waters, Continuation
School, Melbourne, were elected as members ; Miss E. Showers,
Showers-street, Preston, as an associate ; and Master N. Crossley,
High-street, Northcote, as a junior member of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Wilson's Promontory National Park. — In the absence of
Prof A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., reported
that Prof Baldwin Spencer, M.A., C.M.G., had been elected
chairman of the Board of Management of the Wilson's Promon-
tory National Park, and that, as the result of representations to
the Minister of Lands, it had been decided to add to the Park
almost the whole of the half-mile strip along the coast line which
had not been included in tbe original reservation, the excepted
portions being the lighthouse reserve and small areas at Refuge
Cove, Waterloo Bay, Oberon Bay, and Mt. Singapore, which,
though under the control of the Board, would be set aside as
landing-places for fishermen and others. A sum of money had
been granted for the expenses of management, and it was intended
to erect a stock-proof fence across the isthmus as soon as possible.
It was resolved, on the motion of Messrs. Sayce and Gatliff — " That
the thanks of this Club be accorded to the Hon. the Minister of
Lands for his efforts in securing the permanent reservation of the
half-mile strip at Wilson's Promontory, and for his action in
generally forwarding the movement,"

Mr. G. Coghill said that he understood the Government
Botanist proposed to make a botanical survey of the Park at
Christmas time, and suggested that the proposed excursion to
Baw Baw be postponed, with the view of helping Prof Ewart.

The matter was left for future consideration.

paper read.
By Dr. T. S. Hall, M.A., entitled " Australian Animals and
their Origin."

The author's remarks took the form of a lecture, illustrated by
lantern views, in which he dealt very fully with the various aspects
of the subject. He first of all pointed out that it was remarkable

Nov., 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 91

that Australia possessed no indigenous member of the cat tribe,
or of the hoofed animals, while the presence of certain other
groups were facts which doubtless indicated a change of geographi-
cal conditions at some former time. A restored picture of the
Diprotodon, a gigantic creature of the kangaroo type, was given,
with particulars of its probable mode of life. The Platypus and
Echidna were referred to as two of the most remarkable animal
forms at present existing on the globe. The great group of mar-
supials, in which is included almost all the Australian mammals,
indicated that Australia had long been cut off from the other parts
of the world. Attention was drawn to the Ceratodus or Queens-
land Lung Fish, a member of a family of which there are only
three living genera, one found in South America and the other in
Central Africa. The Minnow or Mountain Trout (Galaxias) was
another instance of similarity between forms in Australia and
South America, for a Galaxias is found in the streams of Chili
and Patagonia. Even in lower forms, such as beetles, three of
the largest groups — Buprestidae, Curculionidae, and Cerambycidse
(Longicornes) — were equally characteristic of the two continents.
Our fresh-water tortoise is closely allied to a South American, and
in addition to these relationships it was pointed out that certain
relationships exist with South Africa and New Zealand, with the
former more particularly as regards the flora, and, taken altogether,
the evidence points to a great southern land mass, with a more
genial climate than that now experienced towards the south pole,
as place of origin of the ancestors of a great many of our Aus-
tralian forms.

The lecture was followed with great interest, and at the close
a number of questions were asked, the replies to which amplitied
several points raised.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Snakes. — Mr. J. Booth, M.I.C.E., mentioned that two snakes
recently found at Croydon had been identified by Mr. J. A.
Kershaw, F.E.S., as Denisonia 7iigrescens, a species which had
not been previously recorded for Victoria.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. J. W. Audas. — Coral from Magnetic Island, near
Townsville, N. Queensland.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Flowering branches of Acacia
acinacea, from Studley Park, with many of the flower headlets
transformed into galls by insect agency.

By Mr. G. Coghill. — Flowering branches of Acacia pycnantha,
from Tunstall.

By Mr. C. French. F.L.S. — Specimens of male and female
of a new timber-feeding moth, Hepialus (Chargia), sp., and
female of Hepialus (Chargia) scripta, Scott, from Western
Australia.

92 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — Four aboriginal head-plumes, from
Daly River, Northern Territory.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — A rare Victorian mollusc, Coralliojyhila
ruhrococcinea, Melv. and Standen, taken alive off rocks at Point
Lonsdale. This shell has also been recorded from Persian Gulf
and South Africa. Lioconcha castrensis, Linn., from Philippines ;
Callista eryciua, L., from Ceylon; and C. aurantiaca, Sow., from
California.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy. — A monoecious example of Casuarma
(]?is(f2/^« collected at Sandringham excursion, 12th September, 1908,
showing staminate and pistillate flowers and fruits.

By Mr. J. T. Hamilton. — Wild flowers from United States.

By Miss M. Lazarus. — Fossil tooth-shell and whalebone, from
Grange Creek, Hamilton.

By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S.— A giant earthworm
from Poowong, Gippsland, measuring 8 feet 6 inches in length.

After the usual conversazione the. meeting terminated.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB CONVERSAZIONE.

The sixteenth conversazione of the Field Naturalists' Club of
Victoria was held in the Masonic Hall, Collins-street, Melbourne,
on Tuesday and Wednesday, 22nd and 23rd September, 1908.

For the first time in the history of the Club a meeting was
attended by vice-royalty. His Excellency Sir Thomas Gibson-
Carmichael and Lady Carmichael being present. A basket of
wild flowers, arranged by Mrs. Coghill, was presented to Lady
Carmichael on her arrival by Miss Sylvia Leach, a junior member
of the Club.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, briefly referred to the prin-
cipal aim of the Club, which, he said, was to spread a knowledge
of the fauna and flora of the State. For many years this had been
neglected, but, mainly through the energy of the Club, the matter
had eventually been brought under the notice of the Education
Department, and the subject now formed an important item in
the curriculum of our State schools. Greater results were looked
for in the future than in the past, in view of the fact that the
present rising generation had better opportunities of learning than
their elders had enjoyed. The Club, therefore, confidently hoped
that as time went on its exhibitions would grow in magnitude
and interest year by year. The progress already made was
satisfactory, seeing that it now required such a room as the
Masonic Hall to adequately display the members' collections.
He then asked His Excellency to declare the exhibition open.

Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael said it gave him great pleasure
indeed to comply with the request. Not having seen one of the
Club's exhibitions before, he could not, of course, say whether this one
was better or worse than usual, but it struck him as he walked up

Nov., 1908] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. ^3

the hall that at any rate it was a very interesting display. It was
an exhibition that he was personally very anxious to look at, and,
presuming that to be the wish of all present, he would not occupy
more time in speaking than he could help. For himself he felt
certain that the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria was an
extremely useful institution. Nothing could be more important
than the encouragement of young people especially to use their
eyes, and nothing made young people use their eyes more
accurately than the study of the fauna and flora of their own dis-
tricts. He therefore thought the work which the Club was doing
was certain to be valuable work, and he hoped before long to know
more of that work. He trusted that some of the results members
had attained would be communicated to him, and so add to the
pleasure he would derive from his residence in Victoria. He
declared the exhibition open.

His Excellency then made a close inspection of a number of
the exhibits, in company with the president and other office-
bearers, and was introduced to several of the exhibitors, who
readily afforded further information regarding their specimens.
Lady Carmichael evidenced considerable interest in the wild-
flowers, which were brought under her notice by Prof. Ewart. An
adjournment was then made to the lecture-room, in order to hear
Mr. C. L. Barrett's lecturette on bird life, after which some further
exhibits were inspected before the vice-regal party departed.

Three years had elapsed since the last exhibition, and though
the ardour of some of the older members was not so keen as
perhaps it was twenty years ago, the display was a very fine one,
quite equal to, if not surpassing, previous attempts. Again
the exhibition of wild-flowers was a feature of the conver-
sazione, and though it was anticipated that the present season,
owing to the unusual dryness of the summer and coldness
of the early spring, would prove detrimental to a fine display,
no fault could be found with this section of the exhibition.
Members had visited distant parts, or induced country friends to
forward collections, so that it was possible to compare at a
glance the wild-flowers of the Mallee with those of the coastal
country, or of the mountains with the plains. Considerable help
in this direction was also given by the teachers of several country
State schools, for which the Club is deeply grateful.

It may be remarked that perhaps finer exhibits of such flowers
as Kennedya monophylla and the many acacias were made on
this occasion than usual, owing to the lateness of the spring, and
the fact that the exhibition was held on a somewhat earlier date
than for some years past.

A new feature of the conversazione was the large series of jars
containing pond-life, both animal and vegetable. These proved
a constant source of interest, viewed either with the naked eye or
by means of the microscope.

94 THK VICTORIAN NATUKALIST. [Vol. XXV.

The microscopists of the Club were not allowed many spare
moments by the wondering public, there being a constant demand
for a glimpse at the more minute forms of Nature's handiwork. A
party of University teachers and students added greatly to this
department by an exhibition of the development of chick
embryos, section cutting, and camera lucida drawing, &c.

In addition to the exhibits by members of the Club, interesting
displays were made by the Entomological Branch of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture and by the State Forests Department, while
Mr. VV. R. Guilfoyle, F.L.S., Director of the Melbourne Botanic
Gardens, kindly provided a number of palms, ferns, &c., for
platform decoration, in addition to a fine display of cut blooms of
Australian shrubs, &c.

On Tuesday evening a lecturette, entitled " Wild Birds in their
Haunts," illustrated by lantern views, was given by Mr. C. L.
Barrett, whose remarks on the pictures displayed were most
attentively listened to. The lecturer dealt first with the bird-life of
the Olinda Creek and the Dandenong Ranges; then with cases of
protective resemblance, such as the young of the Dottrel amongst
the shingle of the Werribee River; and finally iUustrated some of
the difficulties photographers of bird-life have to overcome when in
pursuit of their pictures. Many of the illustrations evoked con-
siderable applause, and would hold their own with others of a
similar character from other countries.

The lecturette on Wednesday evening was given by Prof. A. J.
Ewart, D.Sc, on the subject "Carnivorous Plants." With a fine
series of lantern slides the three classes of contrivances by which
certain plants secure animal food were briefly demonstrated. The
droseras or sundews were taken as representing the first type,
those which caught their insect victims by means of sticky
exudations ; the second type was illustrated by Venus's Fly-trap,
DioncEa imiscipida, the leaves of which are provided with sensitive
hairs, and close like a mouse-trap when the hairs are disturbed
by an insect ; while the Nepenthes or pitcher-plants represented
the third type, where the victims are drowned in special pitcher-
shaped leaves.

The lantern for the lecturettes was again provided and worked
by Mr. J. Searle with his accustomed skill.

EXHIBITS.

The following is a list of the exhibitors, with particulars of their

exhibits as furnished by them : —

Armitage, K. W. ; Kitson, J. S. ; Tutton, A. E. ; and Waters, C,
Continuation School, Melbourne — Two live Silver-grey Opossums,
Irichosiirtis vulpecula—ox\it in captivity over six months ; alive Rugged
Stump-tailed Lizard, Trachysaurus rtigosus ; jars containing Water-weeds
— Nitelia, Chara, Lemna, AzoUa, Myriophylluni, Riccia, &c. ; jars con-
taining Animal Life — Planorbis, Limn^ea, Taludina, Ancylus with ova,
Unio, Astacopsis (young), Hyla aurea (larvee), Cypris, Daphnia, &c. ;
also a large variety of lower forms of life demonstrated under microscopes.

Nov., 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 95

Baker, H. H., Melbourne — Watson and Sons' Microscopes and Accessories ;

Collecting Apparatus for field workers.
Barnard, F. G. A., Kew — Pair of Flying Mice, Acrobates pygmceus

(mounted) ; growing Victorian Orchids, Pteroslylis nutans and P.

concinna ; all the Victorian fern.s of the genus Lomaria, viz. : — Lomaria

alpina, L. lanceolata, L. rivniaris, L. Pater soni, L. Capense, L. Capense,

var. procera, and L. discolor, var. bipinnatifida ; growing specimen of

Native Beech, Fagtis Cunninghauii.
Best, D., Auburn — Four cabinet drawers of Australian Beetles— Buprestidse,

Cerambycid^e, &c.
Cochrane, Miss S., Carlton — Paintings of Victorian Orchids and Wild

Flowers.
Cole, C. F., Auburn — Cases of Mounted Birds, viz, : — White-plumed Honey-
eater, with young of Pallid Cuckoo ; Blue Wrens, with nest and eggs ;

Satin Bower-birds ; Black Cockatoos ; Grey Goshawk ; Mountain

Ducks ; Pectoral Rails ; Parrots, &c.
Coles, H. J., Melbourne — Cases containing group of Lyre-birds ; Reed-
Warbler, with nest ; Chestnut-breasted Sheldrake, with young ; Pointed

Snipe ; Brown Quail ; Kangaroo ; Wedge-tailed Eagles ; Native Bears ;

Opossums ; mounted Fish, &c.
CuDMORE, Master F., South Yarra— Collection of Fossils.
Department of Agriculture, Entomological Branch — Cabinet drawers

of Life- Histories of Insects, &c., &c.
Director Botanic Gardens, Melbourne— Collection of Australian Flowers

and collection of Victorian and other Australian Acacias, both from plants

growing in Melbourne Botanic Gardens.
Dixon, J. E. , Richmond — Six cabinet drawers of Australian Coleoptera

(Beetles) ; families — Lucanidae, Scai-abidae, Buprestidae, and Ceram-

bycidae.
EwART, Prof. A. J., D.Sc, University — Plant Models. Coloured Drawings

of Australian Plants, by Miss Sambell.
French, C, FL.S., Auburn — Four cabinet drawers of Foreign Butterflies

(family Morpho).
Gabriel, J., Abbotsford — Twenty cabinet drawers of Australian Birds' Eggs.
Gabriel, C. J.. Abbotsford — Cabinet drawers of Australian and Foreign

Marine Shells, including no species of Pectens and Chlamys, 170 of

Cyprea, Spondylus, Tenophora, &c. ; case of rare Victorian Marine

Shells.
Gatliff, J. H., Carlton — Four cabinet drawers of Marine Shells (genus

Voluta ; 62 species, 220 specimens).
Hall, Dr. T. S., ^LA., Camberwell — Graptolites.
Hardy, Mrs. A. D., Kew — Trap-door Spiders, &c., from Queensland.
Hardy, A. D., F.L.S., F.R.M.S., Kew— Skin of Dingo from Wilson's

Promontory ; dried Ferns from Otway Forest ; specimen of "Vegetable

Caterpillar," Cordyceps taylori.
Harvey, J. H., A.R.LV.A., East Melbourne— Stereoscope and Views of

Jenolan Caves, &c.
Keartland, G. a., Preston — Australian Birds' Skins.
Kershaw, J. A., F. E.S., Windsor — Twelve cabinet drawers of Australian

Butterflies and Moths.
Lyell, G. , F. E.S., Gisborne — Three cabinet drawers of Australian Moths

(family Geometrinae, '* Emeralds," &c.)
Mattingley, a. H. E.. C.M.Z.S., North Melbourne— " From Bird to

Bonnet " (enlarged Photographs of Bird Destruction) ; Punt Guns ; Bark

Canoe ; Photographs of Birds and Nests.
NE^VELL, J., Fitzroy — Cages of live Australian and Foreign Birds; cases of

Foreign Beetles, Butterflies, and Moths.
NiCHOLLS, B., North Melbourne — Teeth of Australian Animals,

96 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

ROLLO, Miss J., South Yarra — Violin, &c., made of native woods by J.

Hoglund, assistant lighthouse-keeper, Wilson's Promontory.
Spry, F,, South Melbourne — Two cabinet drawers of Australian Butterflies,

showing life-histories.
State Forests Department, Melbourne — Specimens of Victorian Timbers ;

Photographs of Forest Scenes.
Sutton, Dr. C. S., Carlton — Dried Victorian Orchids.
Wilson, H. W., Training College, Carlton — Jars containing Pond-life ;

many species of Crustaceans, including Kooniingia cursor^ the remarkable

Crustacean recently described by Mr. U. A. Sayce ; Aquatic Insect LarvDS ;

Aquatic Plant-life, &c.

Wild Flowers were exhibited by —

Mr. J. W. Audas, from Frankston and Bendigo, including Acacia aspera^

A. travissima, Cryptandra amara, Grevillea alpina (yellow variety),

PiilteniTa stricta, var. incurvata, &c.
Miss N. Barlow, from South AVeston, Knowsley.
Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, from South W^andin.
Mr. A. G. Campbell, from Pomonal, Grampians, including Thryptoinene

Mitchelliana, Daviesia bj-evifolia, Grevillea alpina, Styphelia Sonderi,

S. adscendens.
Miss Cochrane, from Sandringham and Bunyip.
Mr. G. Coghill, from Launching Place, Emerald, Castlemaine, and

Mansfield, including Acacia diffusa, A. myrtifolia, A. 7nicrocarpa,

Eucalyptus gracilis, Pterostylis ciicidlatn, P. peduncttlata, Epacris

viicrophylla, Eriostemon correifolitts, Drimys aroinatica, Lyonsia

straminea, Caladcnia congesta, and C. ca-riilea.
Mr. C. Cole, from Lang Lang, \x\c\.\x^\\\g Acianthus caudatus, Caladenia

Patersoni, and C carnea.
Miss C. Cowle, from Sandringham.
Mr. A. W. Crowe, from Moe, including Boronia pinnata, Bauera

rtibioides, var. alba : Myoporum deserti, Epacris impressa (very fine).
Mr. St. Floy D'Alton, from Dimboola, including Acacia sclerophylla,

A. rigens, A. farinosa, A. brachybotrya, A. trineura, Eriostemon

pungens, E. deformis, and Prostanthera coccinea.
Mr. S. Eason, from Sea Lake.
Mr. W. French, from Hawkesdale, including Lhotzkya genetylloides,

Grevillea oleoides, G. repens, Goodia lotifolia, &c., grown in school

garden.
Mr. S. W. Fulton, from Mt. Dandenong, including Caladenia caruea,

C. defor7nis, Senecio aiislralis, Coprosma hiriella.
Miss S. Giles, from Belgrave.
Mr. G. Hill, from Mooney's Gap, Ararat, including Grevillea lavandidacea^

G. aguifolijun, G. oleoides, Correa speciosa (red) and C. speciosa, var.

Hillii, C. icnnda, Tetratheca ciliata (very dark colour).
Miss L. Horner, from Stawell, including Conospernunn Mitchelli, Bceckea

diffusa (fine colour).
Miss M. E. Jones, from Wonga Park, Croydon.
Miss Montgomery, from Portarlington.
Miss H. Singleton, from Mangalore.

Miss V. T- Smith, from Upper Plenty, including Eutaxia empetrifolia.
Dr. C. "S. Sutton, from Frankston, including Cyrtostylis renifor?His,

Pterostylis lorigifolia, P. peduticulata.
Mr. W. P. Thomas, from Grantville.

Miss Wisewould and Mr. F. Wisewould, from South Gembrook, com-
prising fungi and complete plants of many showy species.
Microscopical Section.— Owing to pressure on space, details will appear in
next Naturalist.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. — Vol. XXV.

Plate 5.

Novauher, 190S.

JOHN BRACEBRIDGE WILSON (1828-1895.
Froui a yholo. by M4SSING1IAJI, Geelon'j.

Che Uictorl an naturalist

Vol. XXV.— No. 7. NOVEMBER 5, 1908. No. 299.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 12th October, 1908.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 60 members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the Club excursion to Black Rock, Sandringham,
was given by Mr. C. French, jun., who acted as leader, in the
unavoidable absence of Mr. C. L. Barrett. The afternoon had
been set apart for ornithology, so a visit was made to Ebden's
paddock, the site of the proposed park, as almost the only
portion of the district remaining in its natural state. Here a few
birds, such as the White-browed Scrub-Wren, Fulvous Honej'-
eater, New Holland Honey-eater, White-plumed Honey-eater,
White-shafted Fantail, and Yellow Robin were seen. The nest
with young of the Mountain-Thrush was also noted. Some mem-
bers devoted themselves to botany, and secured specimens of the
orchids Caladenia carnea, C. deformis, Pterostylis nana, P.
fedu.nculaia, Diuris loncjifoUa, the Adder's-tongue Fern, Ophio-
glossum vidgafAim, and the singular lycopod, Phyloglossum
Driiinmondi.

A report of the Club excursion to Ringwood on Saturday, 3rd
October, was given by the leaders, Messrs. G. Coghill and O. A.
Sayce. The former took charge of the botanical section of the
party, and reported an interesting afternoon among the wild-
flowers, of which about 80 species were noted in bloom, among
which was a very fine specimen of the orchid Pterostylis harhafa.
The crustacean section, under Mr. O. A. Sayce, also had an
interesting afternoon, and the leader devoted some time to
pointing out, with help of the specimens captured, the general
features of the classification of Crustacea.

A report of the junior excursion to Blackburn, on Saturday,
3rd October, was given by the leader, Mr. C. French, jun., who
reported an attendance of over fifty. As entomology was the
subject for the afternoon, and a number of interesting finds were
made, opportunity was taken to demonstrate the methods of
pinning and setting insects for cabinet puropses, and practical
work was done by several of those present. Some attention was
also given to wild flowers, and Mr. G. Coghill kindly assisted in
the management of the excursion.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following dona-
tions to the library ; — ".Annual Reporc of the Secretary for Mines,

98 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

Victoria, for 1907," and " Records of the Geological Survey
of Victoria," vol. ii., part 4, from the Mines Department, Mel-
bourne ; Journal of Agriculture, Victoria, vol. vi., No. 8, August,
1908, from the Secretary for Agriculture, Melbourne; "The
Edible Fishes of New South Wales," by D. G. Stead, from the
Department of Fisheries, Sydney; " Forest Flora of New South
Wales," part 31, by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Government Botanist,
from the Forest Department, Sydney ; " Records of the Aus-
tralian Museum," vol. vii., No. 2, from the Trustees, Sydney ;
" Proceedings Linnean Society of New South Wales," vol. xxxiii.,
part 2, from the Society ; Agricultui-al Gazette of Neio South
Wales, vol. xix., parts 8, 9, August and September, 1908, from the
Department of Agriculture, Sydney; "Contributions to the
Queensland Flora," by F. M. Bailey, F.L.S., Government Botanist,
from the author; The Queensland Naturalist, vol. i.. No. 2, June,
1908, from the Brisbane Field Naturalists' Club; "Memoirs of
the American Museum of Natural History," vol. ix., part 4, from
the Museum ; Nature Notes, June, 1908, from the Selborne
Society, London ; Knowledge, July, 1908, from the proprietors.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. Robert Jones, 421 Collins-street,
was elected an ordinary member, and Miss E. Flood, Barker's-
road, Hawthorn, Masters Ewen A. Cameron, Tennyson-street,
Sandringham, Rex Cornelius, Chaucer-crescent, Canterbury,
Keith Rae, Darling-street, South Yarra, and Frank Walpole,
Chapel-street, East St. Kilda, were elected junior members of the
Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr. O. A. Sayce brought under the notice of the meeting the
desirability of having provision in the rules of the Club for the
affiliation of societies having kindred tastes, and moved a resolu-
tion to that effect, which was seconded by Prof Ewart. Dr. T.
S. Hall, M.A., and Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., supported the
suggestion, and the resolution was carried.

Mr. O. A. Sayce submitted a draft of the necessary rules,
which was left for the consideration of the committee.

PAPERS READ.

I. By Mr. G. A. Waterhouse, B.Sc, B.E., F.E.S., entitled "A
New Form of Papilio for Australia."

In the absence of the author, the paper was read by the hon.
secretary. The author gave a description of a second female
form of the butterfly Papilio cegeus, Don, long known in Australia
as Papilio erectheus, Don. The new form, which he named
F. heatrix, as compared with the ordinary female of P. cegeus, is
nearly white, and has been recorded from Cape York and Prince
of Wales I., North Queensland. It corresponds to the white

Xov , 1908.] The VlCTOKlAN NATURALIST. 99

female form amaiiga, Boisd., of P. ormenus, Gue'rin, inhabiting
New Guinea and the adjacent islands. He also recorded true
P. ormenus from Australian limits for the first time, and referred
to some specimens from the Woodlark Is,

Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., remarked on the interesting nature
of the paper, and said that the author was to be congratulated on
the good work he is doing in Australian Lepidoptera.

2. By Mr. J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Government Botanist, New
South Wales, entitled " Records of Victorian Botanists " (com-
municated by Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc.)

In the absence of the author the paper was read by Prof Ewart.
The author gave brief notes of the various persons, now deceased,
who had contributed to a knowledge of Victorian botany, including
several who had devoted their attention to sea-weeds only. He
remarked how very necessary it was for future workers that such
details should be placed on record, and regretted that in several
instances he had been unable to obtain the information he desired.
Several of the persons referred to had been more or less promi-
nently connected with the Club, and the mention of their names
aroused considerable enthusiasm.

Dr. T. S. Hall, M.A., referred to the early work of Bunce at
the Geelong Botanic Gardens, and Mr. F. Pitcher and Mr. F. G.
A. Barnard to the work of the late Mr. J. G. Luehmann, the
latter expressing the hope that some day an adequate history of
the collections in the National Herbarium would be placed on
record.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. R. W. Armitage. — Live specimens, under the micro-
scope, of a Protozodn, probably one of the Tentaculifera epizoic
on branchiae and pleopods of the fresh-vVater crustacean Kooniinga
cursor, Sayce.

By Mr. G. Coghill. — AVild flowers from the Ringwood excursion,
including orchid Pterostylis harbata.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — A scale-insect, Rhizococcus leca7iioideSj
Green, new to science, found at Sandringham, July, 1908.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — A rare Victorian shtll, Haliotis con'ica-
pora, Peron, with specimens of the common Haliotis iLCbvosa,
Mart., with which it is sometimes confounded ; also Siphonalia
dilalata, Quoy and Gaimard, from Frankston.

By Mr. J. T. Hamilton. — Flowering spike of orchid Dendvo-
bium speciosum.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — Branchlet with flowers of
" Native Beech " or " Myrtle," Fagus Cuitninghami.

By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley. — A live lizard, Amphiholurus
iiiuricatus, White, commonly known as " Bloodsucker," from
Ringwood.

By Mr. O. A. Sayce. — Specimens of fresh-water crustacean,

100 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

Koonunga cursor^ Sayce, collected at Lake Wendouree, Ballaral,
by Mr. J. M. Edgar (new locality).

By Mr. H. W. Wilson. — Crustaceans from pools near Garden
Vale railway station, North Brighton, viz. : — Branchinella austra-
Liensls, " Fairy Shrimps," male and female (those obtained from
one pool were quite red); Estheria ijackardi^ and Lynctita
inacleayana.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB CONVERSAZIONE.

The following details of the exhibits in Microscopical Section
were unavoidably omitted from last Naturalist : —
Microscopical Section. — Microscopical exhibits were made by —

Miss F. Bage, M.Sc, and Miss Buchanan — Chick Embryos (alive). »

Miss Raff and Miss O. Davies — Microscopic Section-Cutting.

Dr. Georgina Sweet and Miss Rees — General microscopic objects.

Mr. H. H. Baker— Diatoms, &c.

Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., F.R.M.S.— Fry of Oysters and Mussels (shells
moving under polarized light), Salt Crystals from drop of water from
Dead Sea, Crumpled Glaucophane Schist, from Piedmont, Italy ;
Artificial Avanturine ; "White Coal " (spore coal from Tasmania),
<S:c., &c.

Mr. J. Gabriel — Circulation of Blood in tail of Tadpole.

Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., F.R.M.S.— Freshwater Algae; Cyclosis in
Nitella, and cells of Vallisjieria spiralis.

Dr. J. C. Kaufmann — Brachionus ; Hydra (mounted), showing stinging
cells.

Mr. W. Stickland — Protozoon Clusters; Synura ; Volvox globator^ show-
ing currents pi'oduced by ciliary movement.

Mr. J. Stickland— Z/w/z^aj- ceratophylhis (with dark ground illumination) ;
Stoiior rosehi. Ehi". ; Polycystinge (dark ground illumination).

Mr. J. Wilcox — Vorticella ; Limnias ceratophyllus (direct illumination).

The inaugural meeting of the recently-formed Microscopical
Society of Victoria was held in the upper hall of the Athenaeum
on Friday, 9th October, when the president, Rev. W. Fielder,
delivered an exhaustive address, entitled " Contributions of the
Microscope to Human Welfare." There was a good attendance,
and a fine display was made of microscopes and objects.

Potatoes and Cockatoos. — " F. R.," in a recent Aualralaman^
says that Western District farmers are finding that cockatoos
have taken a liking to potatoes, and will quickly destroy any
tubers showing above the ground. The King Lory, Aprosmictus
cyano2oygius, Vieill., has lately developed the same taste, but so
far has not learned to dig for the tubers.

Platypus. — Nature lovers will be pleased to learn that several
of these shy animals have been seen recently in the Yarra, near
Kew, where they appear to be increasing in numbers. — F. G. A. 13.

Xov., 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 101

RECORDS OF VICTORIAN BOTANISTS.

By J. H. Maiden, Government Botanist and Director of the

Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

(Communicated by Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc.)

{Read he/ore the Field NaturalisW Club of Victoria, \Wi Oct., 1908.)

In the following records I have used the term "botanist" in a
somewhat wide sense, having included collectors of note whether
they described their finds or not, notable horticulturists, and, in
my general list (5) botanists who have described Australian plants
whether they visited this land or not. I have included no living
man so far as I am aware. Some notes on South Australian
botanists will be found in 4, of New South Wales ones in 5, and
I am taking steps to publish my notes on the botanists of other
Australian States in their respective States. It will be seen how
imperfect is the record of some who have worked amongst us and
who have not been very long removed by the hand of death.

Records of departed botanists form a branch of Australian
history of practical value to working botanists. They afford a
guide to their published works and indicate where their observa-
tions were made. The lists of species named after the various
botanists and collectors are valuable (so I have often found) for
tracing particulars of botanical journeys, biographical notes, and
other useful information.

Select Bibliooraphy Quoted.

1. Bailey, F. M. "A Concise History of Australian Botany"

(Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland, viii.)

2. Hooker, J. D. " Introductory Essay to the Flora of Tas-

mania," cxii.-cxxviii. ("Outlines of the Progress of
Botanical Discovery in Australia.")

4. Maiden, J. H. Address of the President. Section D, Biology,

Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science,
Adelaide Meeting, 1907. Contains biographical notices
of South Australian and some other botanists.

5. Maiden, J. H. " Records of Australian Botanists — (a)

General, {b) New South Wales" (Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S.W.,
xlii., 1908).

6. Britten and Boulger. " British and Irish Botanists."

7. Mennell, Philip. " The Dictionary of Australian Biography

from the Inauguration of Responsible Govern-
ment down to the Present Time (1855-1892)." London,
1892.

8. Barnard, F. G. A. " Some Early Botanical Explorations in

Victoria" (with map of Mueller's explorations in Victoria,
1852-5), {Vict. Nat,, xxi., 17).

102 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

Adamson, Frederick M. ( ).

In 2 at p. cvi. is a " Catalogue of Some of the Naturalized
Plants of the Australian Colonies (chiefly compiled from the
Melbourne collections and notes of F. Adamson, Esq.) " Mr.
Adamson's notes refer to Melbourne. Hooker further states that
he " formed very extensive and excellent collections there between
the years 1840 and 1855, and these have all been sent to Sir W.
Hooker."

He was a member of the Philosophical Society of Victoria,
1855, and his address was given as in Little Lonsdale-street
west, but I can find no further particulars concerning him.

Allitt, William ( ).

Of Pordand, Victoria, where he had charge of the local Botanic
Garden (1863). He sent many interesting specimens to Mueller
from the district. See Fragm., iv., 103.

Styphelia Allittii, F. v. M., = Leucopogon Allitiii, F. v. M., was
dedicated to him.

Arthur, John (i 804-1 849).

Born at Dunkeld, Scotland ; arrived in Melbourne per ship
David Clark on 3TSt October, 1839. Died January, 1849, in
his official residence, Melbourne Botanic Gardens.

He was a trained landscape gardener in his native land, and on
his arrival in Melbourne engaged in farming pursuits in the
Heidelberg district.

When the Botanic Gardens site had been determined upon,
principally through the pronounced opinions and foresight of Mr.
C. J. Latrobe, then Superintendent of the Province of Port
Phillip, the area was taken over in February, 1846, and ivlr.
Arthur was appointed first superintendent of the garden, and
began by fencing in 5 acres on the east side of the present
garden, bordered by Anderson-street and declining towards the
lagoon (present lake). During the short period he was in charge
he performed excellent work, and a number of trees planted by
him are vigorous at the present day.

I am indebted for most of the above information to Mr.
Ambrose C. Neate, late of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, who
obtained it from Mrs. W. Barr, one of Mr. Arthur's daughters,
who is still living.

Backhouse, James (1794-1869).

An admirable observer who botanized in most of the Australian
colonies (1838-41). He was a Quaker philanthropist engaged
on a religious mission. See 5.

Barker, Mrs. ( ).

Of Cape Schanck ; a collector of algse. Ehodophyllis
JBarkerice was named after her by Harvey, and figured in his
" Phycologia Australica."

Nov.. 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 103

Becker, T.udwig ( -i86t).

Died near Cooper's Creek. Artist, naturalist, &c., of Burke
and Wills Exploring Expedition, i860. He collected plants at
different times. Not to be confused with Herman Beckler,
medical ofificer of the same expedition, who left it owing to some
dispute. See 5.

He was a member of the Council of the Philosophical Institute
of Victoria for 1857.

Meteorological, astronomical, and zoological papers by him
will be found in Trans. Phil. Inst. Vict., i., iii., v. He is repre-
sented by paintings in Nat. Gall., Melbourne.

Speaking of Eremophila Beckeri, Mueller (Fragm., i., 156)
states : — " Speciem designavi nomine amici Ludovici Becker, qui
plures observationes in regnum animalium et vegetabilium terr?e
australis instituit, et nostras faunae et florae cognitionem delinea-
tionibus pulchris et fidelissimis auxit."

He is commemorated by the following plants : — Hovea Becheri^
F. V. M. = H. longifolia, R. Br., var. lanceolata ; Disoon Beckeri^
F. V. M. = Eremophila Beckeri, F. v. M. = Myoporuin Beckeri^-
F. V. M, ; Ptilotus Beckeri, F. v. M. = Trichiniwn Beckerianwn,
F. V. M.

BosiSTO, Joseph (182 7-1 898).

Born at Cookham, Berkshire, 21st March, 1S27 ; died at
"Richmond, Victoria, 8th November, 1898.

He was a pharmaceutical chemist, and arrived in Adelaide in
1848. He was probably the earliest manufacturer of essential
oils in Australia on a commercial scale, and gave special attention
to the manufacture of eucalyptus oil, building up a large business
in this article. He took to politics, and was in the Victorian
Legislative Assembly from 9th April, 1874, to nth March, 1889,
and from 20th April, 1S92, to 4th September, 1894, and, by
means of Exhibition Commissions and Royal Commissions, he
exercised considerable influence in the direction of the manu-
facture and utilization of products from Australian indigenous
vegetation.

For useful biographical details, see 7, and also " Men of the
Time in Australia, Victorian Series" (2nd edition, 1882).

His contributions to scientific literature include ; — " Abstract
of a Paper on the Yield and Uses of Volatile Oils from Native
and Imported Plants in the Colony of Victoria" (Proc. R.S.
Vict., vi., 52) ; " Some Notes on the Culture of Opium in Gipps-
land" {ih., x., 39) ; '' On the Culture of Mentha piperita, or True
Peppermint, in ^^ictoria, <S:c." («&.. x., 116); "Is Eucalyptus a
Fever-destroying Tree?" (ib. xii., 10).

BuNCE, Daniel (1813- ).

Born 1 8th March, 181 3. (See his " Australasiatic Reminis-
cences," p. 154.)

104 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

On Leichhardt's second expedition he tells us that he collected
upwards of one thousand plants, in triplicate where practicable,
and these were placed in the National Herbarium, Melbourne.

In Leichhardt's " An Account of a Journey to the Westward of
the Darling Downs, undertaken with the View of Examining the
Country between Sir Thomas Mitchell's Track and My Own,"
and on his expedition to Peak Range, he speaks highly of the
seeds and plants Bunce collected.

Bunce also collected " in the neighbourhood of the Darling
Downs, and especially in the dense brushes of Moreton Bay and
northerly ranges of Wide Bay."

He reached Melbourne (St. Kilda) after an absence, with
Leichhardt and on his own account, of nearly three years.
" After recruiting, we resumed our travels down the Murray
River, which we followed till it joined the sea through Lake
Alexandrina and Encounter Bay — having by this means followed
the Great Western system of waters from their upper sources in
the tropics." An account of this excursion was published in the
Melbourne Argus under the title of " Journal of a Naturalist."

Mr. William Sangster, of Melbourne, has favoured me with the
following information : — " Daniel Bunce, who was designer and
first curator of what used to be designated the Geelong Botanic
Gardens, claimed the honour of being Victoria's first botanist.
In 1852-53 he was manager of a Bendigo mining company, and
used to send interesting contributions to the Melbourne Argus
descriptive of the flora of the Bendigo Ranges. Mr. Bunce, with
whom I was intimately acquainted, was a botanical enthusiast,
and managed, with little money help, to establish a collection of
trees and plants in Geelong almost equal to that of the Melbourne
Botanic Garden."

Bunce wrote the following works : — "A Manual of Practical
Gardening for Van Diemen's Land" (Hobart Town, 1838) ; " The
Australian Manual of Horticulture," by Daniel Bunce, author of
" Hortus Tasmaniensis ; " " Guide to Linnean System of
Botany;" " Manual of Tract. Gardening, &c." (2nd ed., Melb.,
1850); "Languages of the Aborigines of Victoria and other
Australian Districts, with Parallel Translations and Familiar
Specimens in Dialogue" (i2mo, Melb., 1851); "Wanderings
in the Australian Colonies " {Journ. of Australasia, i., 1856) ;
" Australasiatic Reminiscences of 23 Years' Wanderings in
Tasmania and the Australias ; including Travels with Dr.
Leichhardt in North or Tropical Australia" (Melbourne, 1857).
(This work contains many autobiographical notes.) "Languages
of the Aborijrines of Victoria and other Districts ; Dialogues,
Parallel Trans., &c." (Geelong, 1859.)

He is commemorated by Panicum Buncei, F. v. M.

I am indebted to Messrs. William Sangster and W. R. Guilfoyle
for some of the information concerning Mr. Bunce.

N"ov., 1908 ] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 105

Charsley, Fanny Anne ( ).

Beaconsfield, Victoria. Daughter of a Melbourne solicitor.
Author of "The Wild Flowers around Melbourne" (London,
1867 1, which consists of 13 large quarto coloured litho. plates of
excellent drawings.

CuRDiE, Daniel (i 810-1884).

Born at Slidderie, Arran, Scotland, 9th January, 1810, the sixth
son of Daniel Mac Curdy. Received his preliminary education at
the town of x\yr, and took his M.A. degree at Glasgow in 1832 ;
then proceeding to Edinburgh, he graduated M.D. there in 1838.
Amongst his class-mates were David Livingstone and Archibald
Campbell Tait.

He left in the ship Caledonia, arriving in Sydney on the 29th
September, 1839. Mitchell had recently discovered "Australia
P^elix," and after inspecting portions of New South Wales and
deciding that squatting would pay better than the medical profes-
sion, Dr. Curdie and his nephew overlanded to Port Phillip, and,
on reaching Melbourne, camped with their stock on the site of the
present Botanic Gardens. On Sth October, 1840, Dr. Curdie fixed
his homestead at " Tandarook," 12 miles south of the present
town of Camperdown. "Tandarook," in aboriginal language,
signifies a place where the "native bread" fungus {Polyporus
Mylittce) is to be found. For 1 1 years Dr. Curdie combined
squatting with the practice of his profession.

He was distinguished by his uniform kindness to the blacks.
In 1845 ^''^ followed Curdie's River down to the sea, and the
estuary was called Curdie's Inlet after him.

He left for Europe on "Black Thursday " (7th February, 1851),
and in Scotland, continuing his studies of sea-weeds, he was so
fortunate as to discover a new one. He returned to Melbourne,
with a wife, on 14th January, 1854.

He was an enterprising pastoralist, who unselfishly devoted
time and means to many objects for the public good.

Dr. Curdie frequently exchanged letters with the great Robert
Brown, and also with Sir Joseph Hooker, on matters of Victorian
botany. He was a correspondent for many years of Mueller's,
who often visited " Tandarook."

He took a great interest in the Melbourne University, and was
for many years a member of the Senate. He was admitted ad
eundeni gradnAn on 23rd April, 1870. He was a member of the
Government expedition sent to observe the total eclipse of the
sun at Cape York in 1872 in the steamer Governor Blackall. The
trip enabled him to study sea-weeds under favourable conditions ;
this was the branch of botany to which he devoted special
attention. Mrs. Curdie was also a highly educated woman, and
her tastes lay in the direction of botany and horticulture.

106 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV,

Dr. Harvey, the great algologist, who visited Victoria in 1855,
collected sea-weeds with Dr. Curdie at the mouth of the Glenelg
River and other places. He figured in his " Phycologia
Australica " the following sea-weeds, by which he commemorated
Dr. Curdie : — Curdiea laciniata, C. obtuscUa, and JVitophylluin
Curdieannm.

Dr. Curdie died on 22nd February, 1884.

I am indebted for most of the above details concerning Dr.
Curdie to Mrs. M. L. Tangye, one of his daughters, who has
favoured me with a most interesting account of the life of this
grand old Victorian pioneer, and I only regret it is not in my
power to print it in full,

Dallachy, John (1820 (?)-i87i).

Born in the north of Scotland, about 1820. As a young
gardener he was at Haddo House, the Earl of Aberdeen's place.
Sir William Hooker, the Director of Kew, being on a visit to
Haddo, Dallachy applied to him to be put on at Kew, and Sir
William granted the request. In a few years he returned to
Haddo as head gardener, the grounds being at that time the
most extensive and the finest in Scotland, the Earl being "an
eager and enthusiastic botanist." New Holland plants were
especially cultivated. Mr. Wm. Sangster, of the Toorak and
Macedon Nurseries, served under Dallachy at that time.

Dallachy left Scotland in 1847 to fill an appointment as
manager of a coffee plantation in Ceylon, and bore a letter of
introduction from Lord Aberdeen to the Governor. After the
gold discovery in Australia, Dallachy asked the Governor of
Ceylon to give him a letter to Mr. Latrobe, who, on the death
of Mr. Arthur, appointed him, in 1849, Superintendent of the
Melbourne Botanic Gardens, the title being later changed to
that of Curator. Many of the trees he then planted are still con-
spicuous on the south-eastern slope.

On his arrival in Victoria he had been engaged as gardener by
Consul J. B. Were, at Brighton.

He used to make frequent botanical expeditions in Victoria
(see 8) on behalf of the Gardens — e.g., he is stated to have been
the first to follow up the River Yarra to its source in the Baw-
Baw Mountains.

tie introduced Baron von (then Dr.) Mueller to Governor
Latrobe, and recommended him as a suitable person to be
appointed plant collector and botanist.

Through various causes Dallachy lost his position in the
Gardens, and went as botanical collector in Victoria and Queens-
land, while Mueller (in 1857) succeeded him in charge of the
Gardens.

On leaving the Gardens he started a nursery at Mt. Erica
(now East Prahran), but failed to make it a success.

Nov., 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 107

He died in his tent, near Rockingham Bay, Queensland, 4th
June, 1871.

He was one of the best botanical collectors, perhaps the best,
ever employed by the Botanic Gardens, and he discovered a
large number of new species, particularly in Queensland, and
especially at Rockingham Bay — a celebrated locality of his.
Certain volumes of Mueller's " Fragmenta " teem with references
to his finds, and the herbarium labels in the Melbourne Herb-
arium testify to his zeal and discrimination. I have seen some of
Dallachy's letters, and the following notes on these letters show
a portion of his itineraries : —

First as to Victoria —

{a) Mt. Murchison (Mr. Jamieson's station), Murray River,
1858.

(6) Tyntyntha station. Swan Hill, 25th July, 1858.

(c) Darling, 8th November, 1858. " I am very pleased with
Mr. Goodwin ; he is a very excellent man and good company.
He is well informed on all subjects, and is highly respected on
the Murray." {Eremophila Goodivini was named after this
gentleman.)

Some of the specimens collected on the above trip or trips are
referred to in the " Flora Australiensis " as " from the Darling
Desert.'"'

Eventually — I do not know the date — Dallachy left for Queens-
land, and he returned to Victoria no more.

I have seen letters from him from —

(d) Rockhampton, 23rd March, 1863.

(e) Rockingham Bay, 15th IMarch, 1864. In the latter letter
he stated that he went with Messrs. Dalrymple, Scott, and
Kennedy as far as the Herbert River (42 miles from Rockingham
Bay). He was at Rockingham Bay up to 31st August.

(/ ) Then he writes from Rockingham Bay, 14th October,
1868 (written to Mr. Heyne, of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens).

(g) I have seen a letter from him dated Card well, 26th
August, 1S70.

For most of the above particulars I am indebted to My.
William Sangster, Mr. W. R. Guilfoyle, Director of the Melbourne
Botanic Gardens, and Mr. Ambrose C. Neate.

This botanical worthy, to whom justice has not been done
either in Victoria or any part of Australia, is commemorated by
the following species : — Acacia i)allachiana, F. v. M. ; Casearia
Dallachiiy F. v. M. = C. tomentosa, Roxb. ; Eugenia Dallachiana^
F. V. M. ; Psi/chotria Dallacliiana, Benth, ; Webera Dallachiana,
F, V. M. ; Jasminum Dallachii, F. v. M. = J. didymum, Forst.,
\a.r. jyubescens ; Solanum Dallachii, Benth. ; Chenolea Dallachyana,
Benth. ; ConosjMi'mum Dallachyi, F. v. M. = C. Mitchellii,
Meissn. ; Grevillea Dallachiana, F. v. M. = G. alpina, Lindl. ;

1^8 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV

Fremna Dallachyana, Benth. ; Amanoa Dallachyana, Baill. =
Gleistanthus Dallachyanus, Baill. ; Amomum Ballachyi, F. v. M. ;
Antidesrna DallachyaniMn, Baill. ; Echhius DaUachyanu)i, Baill. =
Mallotus Dallachyi, F. v. M. ■- Macara7iga Dallachyl, F. v. M. ;
Muphorhia Dallachyana, Baill. = E. Druminondii, Boiss. ;
Exccecaria Dallachyana, Benth. ; Phyllanthus Dallachijanus,
Benth. ; Pogonia Dallachyana, F. v. M. ; Fimhristylis Dallachyi,
¥. V. M. '^ F. disticha, Boeck.

Hannaford, Samuel, Junior (as he called himself), (1828-1874)-

Born at Totnes, Devonshire ; died at Hobart, 3rd January,
1874.

He emigrated to Melbourne in 1853; became at once an
honorary coadjutor of Mueller in Victorian botany. He resided
in Warrnambool in 1855 and 1856, then removed to Geelong
till 1863. For a time he edited the Victorian Agricultural and
Horticultural Gazette. He became editor of the Launceston
Times, and in 1868 removed to Hobart. In 1870 he was
librarian of the Public Library there.

He industriously botanized for nearly the whole of his residence
in Australia, sending largely to Mueller. Some of his specimens
have fallen into my hands, and the labels show him to be most
neat in his methods and scientifically accurate in his details.
Mueller named the genus Hannajordia (Sterculiaceae) after him.

He co-operated with the Rev. John Fereday in collecting
algae at the Tamar Heads, Tasmania, for Harvey, who in his
" Phycologia Australica " figured Ptilota (?) Eannafordi, Harv.

He published four works, viz. :—" Flora Tottoniensis . . . .
Flowering Plants and Ferns .... of Totnes " (Totnes,
185 1) ; •' Jottings in Australia : or. Notes on the Flora and Fauna
of Victoria" (1856); "Sea and Riverside Rambles" (i860);
" The Wild Plowers of Tasmania ; or, Chatty Rambles Afloat
and Ashore, amidst the Sea-weeds, Ferns, and Flowering Plants,
with a Complete List of Indigenous Ferns and Instructions for
their Cultivation " (8vo, pp. 188, 1866).

The last three works were published in Melbourne. See
also 7.

Harvey, William Henry (1811-1866).

Professor of Botany, Trinity College, Dublin, and a well-
known authority on algae. He visited Victoria and other colonies
in 1855. See 5.

Heyne, Ernest Bernhard (1825-1881).

Born in Meissen, Saxony, 15th September, 1825, the son of
Dr. Carl August Heyne. Died in Adelaide, i6th October,
1881.

Nov.. 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 109

He was educated at the University of Leipzig, taking up
chiefly botany and languages. On leaving the University he was
appointed to a botanical post in the Royal Gardens at Dresden,
and was chosen botanist for an expedition to Spain, but, the
original plan having been abandoned, he left Germany and came
to Victoria in 1849.

From 1854 to 1867 he was employed in the Melbourne
Botanic Gardens under Mueller. He was secretary to Mueller
and also his principal plantsman (Mr. Ferguson succeeded him).
He possessed considerable botanical knowledge, and formed a
large herbarium, which unfortunately came to grief after his death.

Early in 1868 he went to Adelaide, where he carried on a busi-
ness as florist and nurseryman in Rundle-street until his death.

He was author of " The Amateur Gardener," greatly enlarged,
of the fruit, flower, and vegetable garden, with plates. It reached
a 4th edition (Adelaide, 1886, p. 210). He also translated
various pamphlets on viticulture and botany from the French
and Spanish. In Adelaide he was secretary of the Vinegrowers'
Association and one of the founders of the Gardeners' Association,
still in existence.

He is commemorated by Aster Heynei, F. v. M. = Olearia
xerophila, F. v. M. ; and Cyperv.s Heynei^ Boeckel = C. ornatus,
R. Br.

I am much indebted for biographical details to his children,
Miss Laura and Mr. Carl F. Heyne.

HowiTT, Alfred William (1830 1908).

Explorer, ethnologist, petrologist, geologist, botanist (Euca-
lyptus), and eminent in each pursuit.

An admirable obituary notice from the pen of Prof. W.
Baldwin Spencer will be found in this journal (with portrait)
for April, 1908 (xxiv., 181). See also Nature^ 2nd April, 1908,

p. 515-

An earlier biographical notice will be found in 7-

He is commemorated by the genus Hovnttia, and in the species

Marsilea Hoivittiana,, A. Br., Rapanea (Mymine) Hoivitliana,

Eucalyptus Hotvittiana, F. v. M.

Latrobe, Charles Joseph (1801-1875).

Born in London, 20th March, 1801 ; died in London 2nd
December, 1875.

Arrived on 30th September, 1839, as Superintendent of Port
Phillip, and left Melbourne in May, 1859.

For biographical notices see 7.

It is only just to enumerate this gentleman in a list of Victorian
botanists. He founded the Melbourne Botanic Gardens,
selecting the site and educating public opinion on the subject.
He took the warmest interest in the early development of the

110 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

Garden, visiting it frequently — " several times a week," says one
of my informants. He appointed the first three Curators —
Arthur, Dallachy, and Mueller. His interest was not merely of
the official kind ; he had a real knowledge of plants, exotic and
native ; some who know him personally agree on this. Mr.
John G. Robertson, writing to Sir William Hooker, at Kew, in
November, 1854, has a charmingly egotistic touch when he
remarks : — " With the exception of the late Mr. Robert Lawrence,
Mr. Ronald Gunn, and our much-respected ex-Governor, Mr.
Latrobe, I never met any individual resident who knew any-
thing more about Australian plants than myself."

He is commemorated by Glycine Latrobeana, Benth.

Layard ( ), " of Melbourne," collector of algce (2).

LUEHMANN, JOHANN GeORG (1843-1904).

He was born at Buxtende, near Hanover, Germany, and died
at Melbourne, iSth November, 1904.

A short obituary notice will be found in this journal (xxi., 108).

Luehmann was an excellent botanist, who entirely effaced
himself during the lifetime of Mueller, and after that botanist's
death began the publication of " ReliquDs Muellerianse," in the
first paper of which he modestly stated that he was but dealing
with specimens that had been accumulated by his distinguished
predecessor. The sentiment does honour to him, and is an
illustration of his innate modesty, but it is not generally known
that for 30 years before Mueller's death he was the latter's right-
hand man, and his services in the building up and critical
examination of the National Herbarium, Melbourne, were very
great. It would be impossible to write the history of that
herbarium without giving Luehmann very great credit. He knew
every handwriting on the labels, and there died with him a vast
amount of valuable information in regard to it, for he had a great
reluctance to put the results of his knowledge upon paper.

Following is a list of his publications (he published nothing
during Mueller's lifetime) :—" Reliquise Muellerianse : Descrip-
tions of New Australian Plants in the Melbourne Herbarium " —
Vict. JS^at., xiii., Acacia T/jsoni, m; Acacia C'lUhhertsoni and
A. ijalustris {ib., 117); Eucalyptus torquata (ib., 147) ; Eucalyptus
corrugata {ib., 168). " Observations on Xei'otes sororia, F. v. M."
{ib., xiv., 147) ; " Description of a New Australian Labiate
Plant {Hemigenia Macphersoiii),'^ {ib., xv., 20) ; " Some Observa-
tions on Pre-Linnean Botanists " {ib., xv., 50) ; " Description of
a New Lobelia from W.A. {L. Toppii)," {ib., xvii., 169) = L.
gibbosa, Labill. ; " A Short Dichotomous Key to the Hitherto
Known Species of Eucalyptus " (Proc. A. A. A. S., vii., 523).

The following species commemorate him : — Eugenia Luehmayini,
F. V. M. ; Eucalyptus Luehmanniana, F. v. M.; Casuariua

Kov., 1908.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Ill

Luehmann% R. T. Baker; Pullencea Luehmanni^ Maiden (this
journal, xxii., loo).

Mallard ( ).

Mrs. Captain Mallard, " who collected many interesting algae
in a short visit to Port Phillip."

Polysiphonia Mallardue, Harv., in Harvey's " Nereis Aus-
tralis " and " Phycologia Australica," commemorates this
collector.

Morton, WilliaxM Lockhart ( ).

A Victorian resident for many years, who used to collect
largely for Mueller, and whose writings contain many references
to the indigenous vegetation.

He wrote : — " Notes on a Recent Personal Visit to the
Unoccupied Northern District of Queensland " (with a map;,
(Trans. Phil. Inst. Vic, iv., i88) ; " Remarks on the Physical
Geography, Climat-e, &c., of the Regions lying between the
Rivers Lachlan and Darling" (Trans. Roy. Soc. Vict., v., 128),
which contains references to a number of plants. " Suggestions
for the Introduction of Animals and Agricultural Seeds into
Victoria " {ib.^ v., 15).

Mueller, Ferdinand von (1825-1896).

Mueller was not a Victorian botanist, but an Australian one,
and a brief sketch of him will be found in 5. (See also Vict. Nat.,
xxii., p. loi ; also xiv., p. 94; and 8 for details of his journeys
in Victoria).

Ralph, Thomas Shearman (1813-1891).

He was M.R.C.S., Eng., and an Associate Lin. Soc. Lond.

He was an ardent microscopist and botanist, and mainly
devoted his attention to the exotic flora of the Melbourne
district. He resided for more than 20 years at Kew, and was for
many years president of the original Microscopical Society of
Victoria, afterwards a section of the Royal Society of Victoria.

Author of " Elementary Botany • for the Use of Beginners "
(Australian edition, IMelbourne, 1862) ; " On Some Remarkable
Changes which have Taken Place in the Flowers of the Plantago
major " (Trans. Roy. Soc. Vict., vi., i) ; " On the Structure of the
Flower of the Mignonette '' (i6., 8) ; " On the Coccus affecting
the Orange" (i6., 10); "On Dry Rot-" (i6., 29); "On the
Structure of two Plants — Nitella and Chara " {ib.^ 26) ; " On the
Qicidium affecting the Senecio vulgaris, or Groundsel " ( Vict.
Nat., vi., 18).

Rawlinson, Thomas E. ( ).

Mr. Rawlinson, of Melbourne, collector of algae (2).

I assume that this gentleman is identical with T. E. Rawlinson,

112 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, [Vol. XXV,

Civil Engineer, of Queen-street, Melbourne, bon. sec. Royal
Society of Victoria in 1865, member of Council for some years
previously, and a frequent contributor of papers to its journal.

Richardson, John ( ).

Collector of natural bistory specimens in Mitchell's expedition
in New South Wales and "Australia Felix" in 1836. See 5.

Robertson, John George (1803-1862).

There is a letter from this worthy to Lieut. -Governor Latrobe,
dated Waiido Vale, 26th September, 1853, giving an autobio-
graphical account of himself. He arrived in Van Diemen's Land
in 1 83 1 and went to Portland Bay in February, 1840. See
•' Letters from Victorian Pioneers," edited by T. F. Bride (pub-
lished by Trustees of the Public Library, Melbourne, 1898).
Governor Latrobe was a guest at Wando Vale on more than one
occasion, as " he and Mr. Robertson had similar tastes in botany."

He was born at Glasgow, 15th October, 1803, and died at
Baronald, Lanark, Scotland, in 1862. He was "botanist and
naturalist with an Indian expedition for two years before 183 1 "
(Mr. William Moodie, in a letter to me). He was long engaged
in pastoral pursuits, and was at one time owner of Wando Vale
station, near Casterton, Victoria. He was in Tasmania for nine
years, during the last seven of which he managed Formosa Farm
for Mr. R. W. Lawrence, the botanist, who died in 1833. He
arrived at Portland Bay in 1840, following the Hentys, bringing
stock, &:c., valued at about ^'3,000.

He sent his dried plants to Sir \Villiam Hooker, but they were
acquired just before the foundation of the oflicial herbarium at
Kew, and Mr. Hemsley tells me there is no formal record of the
extent of the collection. Mr. William Moodie says : — " Before
my uncle left for the old country I helped him to pack 4,000
botanical specimens which he had collected at Wando Vale and
elsewhere, and which he presented to Kew." I have a number of
specimens collected by Mr. Robertson at Wando Vale, Rivoli
Bay, and Portland, and it is very likely some are in the National
Herbarium, Melbourne, although the date of his leaving the colony
was about the time that Mueller founded the National Herbarium
of Melbourne. He is referred to by Hooker in 2.

He was a regular correspondent of Ronald Gunn, and 1 have a
" List of Plants received from Mr. J. G. Robertson " in Gunn's
neat handwriting. All the plants are numbered. There are ten
and a half closely written pages, with critical notes.

I have also a " List of Plants of Van Diemen's Land " in
Robertson's handwriting, three pages foolscap, double column.
Also a long list of plants supplied to his order by Mr. George Fry,
nurseryman, of Launceston, dated 25th May, 1846, showing that

Nov., 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 113

Mr. Robertson was an ardent cultivator of plants. Mr. Moodie
says his first care at ^Vando A'^ale was to form a garden.

These documents were presented to me by Mr. Moodie.

I am much indebted to Mr. J. Clancy, shire secretary of the
Shire of Glenelg, Casterton ; Airs. M'Conochie, of Hurstville,
Sydney, whose husband's brother-in-law Mr. Robertson was ; but
especially to Mr. William ^Moodie, of Mona Vale, Coleraine, a
nephew.

He is commemorated by lianunculus Eoherfsoni, Benth., and
Calochihis Rohertsoni^ Benth.

Sullivan, D. ( -1895).

He died 2nd June, 1895, ^^ Moyston, near Ararat, Victoria,
where for 27 years he had been in charge of the local State
school.

An obituary notice is to be found in vol. xii., p. 36, of this
journal.

Following is a list of his papers, so far as I can ascertain
them: — "On the Victorian Ranunculace^e " (abstract), {Vict.
Nat.., i., 19) ; " The Epacridacece of the Grampians '' {ih., ii., 23) ;
" Native Plants of the Grampians and Vicinity " (six papers in
vol. -ii. and four papers in vol. iii.); " Droseracese — Sundews "
(ii., 202); "Victorian Leguminosse" (Wing's Southern Science
Record, ii., 249, 275); "Mosses of Victoria, with brief
Notes" (i6., iv., 106).

He is commemorated by Caleya SuUivani, F. v. M., and
Dicranum SuUivani, C. M. (a moss).

SwAiNSON, Willia:^! (1789-1855).

Born at Liverpool, 8ih October, 1789; died at Fern Grove,
New Zealand, 7th December, 1855. Zoologist. F.L.&., 1816 ;
F.R.S., 1820. "Instructions for Collecting" (1808); "Natur-
alist's Guide" (1822). Studied Iris, Sweet, "Flower Garden,"
2nd series, iii., 254. "Botanical Report on Victoria" (1853);
" Greek Plants in Herb. Liverpool Bot. Gardens" (Pritzel, 309 ;
Jackson, 218 ; Roy. Soc. Catalogue, viii., 893 ; Proc. Linn. Soc,
1855-6, xlix. ; Naturalist, iv., 397 (1839)). Water colour por-
trait by Harrison at Kew.

The above from 6. See also 7, where it is said that his death
took place on the 6th December, at the Hutt, Wellington, N.Z.
See his obituarv notice by Prof. Thos. Bell in Proc. Linn. Soc ,
1856.

There are two zoological papers by him in Proc. Roy. Soc.
Tas. for 1855.

In my Presidential Address before the Linnean Society of New
South Wales (P.L.S. N.S.W., xxvi., 796) will be found an account
of Swainson's extraordinary " Victorian Botanical Report," the

114 JHK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

result of Governor Latrobe having appointed him to study and
report " on the timber of the colony, chiefly Eucalypti and
Casuarineae." He made 1,520 species or varieties of eucalypts,
201 pines, and 213 species of Casuarinete. Surely this is one of
the most remarkable of all Australian botanical documents ! The
genus Swainsona (Leguminosre) commemorates him.

TiSDALL, Henrv Thomas (? 1 836-1 905).

Born at Waterford, Ireland. Arrived in Melbourne in 1858.
He died 10th July, 1905, aged 69 years. Buried at Heidelberg
. Cemetery. There is an obituary notice in this journal, vol. xxii.,
c^6. See also the Australasian for 22nd July, 1905.

Following is a list of his papers : — *' Fungi of the Country East
of Mt. Baw Baw" {Vict. Nat., i., 169)— this is Part i. of the
succeeding paper ; " Fungi of North Gippsland," Part ii. {ih., ii.,-
106); "Victorian Agarics" {ih., iv., 203); "Fungi of the
Season " (v7)., vi., 107) ; " A Curious Fungus (Cordiceps), (ib., vi.,
T19); "A Winter Journey in the Mountains" (ib., vi., 139);
Victorian Fungs New to Science " {ih., vii., 96) ; " On a Species
of Isaria " {ib., x., 90) ; "Notes on the Genus Calocera" (ib., x.,
T27); "Symbiosis between Fungi and Phanerogams" (ib., x.,
T15) ; " Under F.astern Baw Baw : a Botanical Trip in Gippsland
Mountains" (ib., xi., 93); "A Botanical Peeji into the Rocky
Pools of Sorrento and Queenscliff" (ib., xiv.. 7 (2), xiv., 86) ;
" Algoe of Kerguelen's Tand " (*6., xvi., 23); "Plants of Prey"
(ib., xv\., 107); "A Trip to Angelsea River" (ib., xvii., 24);
" Notes on the Native Bread (Polyporv.s Mylittce),'" (ib., xxi., 57) ;
" On the Fungi Growing in Mines " (Proc. Roy. Soc, Vict., xxiv.,
41, 46) ; "Tlie Algte of Victoria" (Proc. A. A. A. S., vii., 493) ;
also author of a text-book, " Botany Notes," which I have not
seen.

Walter, Carl (? 1831-1907).

Born in Mecklenberg, (Termany ; died iith October, 1907.
See an obituary notice of him in this journal, xxiv., 110. He did
a vast amount of botanical collecting in Victoria and south-eastern
New South Wales during many years for Baron von Mueller,
securing many new species, and assisted in getting together the
collection of vegetable products in the Technological Museum,
Melbourne. He well deserves a place in a list of Victorian
botanists. He published l)ut little, and his papers include : —
" Records of Plants New to Victoria and New Districts for
Victorian Plants " ( Fict. Nat., xvi., 98) ; " A New Variety of an
Orchid (Diuris punctata, vnr. D'Altoni, Walter), (ib., xxiii., 240).

Some of his records in later years are Hiulty, which T attribute
largely to his defective eyesight.

Prosianthera Walteri, F. v. M., was named after him.

Nov., 1908] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 115

Watts, Henry (1828- 1889).

Died at Melbourne, i6th December, 1889. He was a good
microscopist. His botanical studies were chiefly devoted to algte,
both fresh-water and marine, and while living for many years at
Warrnambool he was a contributor of algae to Harvey, who figured
Wrangdia Wattsii, Harv., and Crouania Wattsii, Harv,, in his
" Phycologia 4ustralica."

See an obituary notice, with other biographical notes, in Vicf.
Nat., vi., 138.

He was the author of " On the Fresh-water Alg?e of Victoria "
(Trans. Roy. Soc. Vict., 1 861-4, 67) ; also a paper " On Fossil
Polyzoa " {ib., 82) ; "A Trip to Mt. Macedon in Search of Fresh-
water Algae" (Wing's S. S. Record, iii., 252; ; " On a Species of
Fresh-water A]g?c from Victoria ' {Vict. Nat., i., 21); "Some
Recent Additions to our Knowledge of Microscopic Natural
History " {ib., iii., 133) — (includes lists of fresh-water algae and
Desmidieae).

First librarian (188 1-2), also a vice-presideiU of the Field
Naturalists' Club of Victoria. He is further commemorated by
Acacia Wattsiayia, F. v. M.

Whan, William Taylor (1829-1901).

Born at Ballinderry Bridge, Moneymore, County Derry,
Ireland, 30th October, 1829, and died at Skipton, Victoria, 2nd
April, 1 901 ; buried at Skipton.

He was a Presbyterian minister, licensed by tlie Presbytery of
Tyrone in i860, and arrived in Victoria and was inducted into
the charge at Skipton the same year. He remained there till
1884, when he resigned, and became minister at Port Fairy in
September, 1885, where he resided up till three weeks before his
death.

He was M.A. of Queen's College, Belfast, Ireland, and F.R.M.S,
He won the University Gold Medal in Natural History, and a
Senior Scholarship in the same subject. He was an old member
of the Field Naturalists' Club of \'ictoria, and contributed to the
earlier numbers of the Victorian Naturalist, but no botanical
papers. He is referred to in the "Flora Australiensis " as
having contributed plants to that work, and he collected for
Mueller for many years.

After he went to reside at Port Fairy he took a great interest
in both conchology and algae, and formed considerable collec-
tions. It was at Skipton and in the Mt. William districts that he
mainly made collections of Phanerogams. Besides contributing
largely to the Melbourne Herbarium, he sent many specimens to
the botanical professor (Dr. Dickie) at Queen's College, Belfast.

He is commemorated by Acacia Whanii, F. v. M. = A. lanigera,
A. Cunn., var. Whanii.

116 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

I am indebted for most of the above biographical details to his
daughter, Miss Whan.

Wilson, Francis Robert Muter (i S3 2-1 903).

A Presbyterian minister, long in charge of the church at Kew,
Melbourne.

He devoted his attention to lichens, and his herbarium,
purchased by the New South Wales Government, is in the
National Herbarium, Sydney.

In addition to Australian and New Hebrides lichens, he
personally collected at Matlock, Derbyshire, England, in August,
1884.

Following is a list of his papers, for which I am indebted to
Mr. E. Cheel : — "Notes on a Few Victorian Lichens" {Vicf.
Nat., iv., ^7,, 1887) ; " Description of two New Lichens, and a
List of Additional Lichens New to Victoria (i6., v., 29, 1888) ;
" An Hour on a Coral Island, by a Student of Lichenology "
{ih., v., 141, 1888); " A Hunt for Lichens in East Gippsland,
Victoria" {ih., vi., 57, 1889); "An Additional List of Lichens
New to Victoria" {ih., vi., 60, 1889) ; " A Description of Forty-
one Victorian Lichens New to Science'" {ih., vi., 61, 1889); " An
Additional List of Lichens New to Victoria" {ih., vi., 76, 1889) ;
"Notes on Lichens in New South Wales" (Proc. Roy. Soc. Q.,
vi., 85, 1889); "List of Lichens Found in New South Wales"
{ih., vi., 89, 1889) ; " Notes on a Remarkable Growth in Connec-
tion with a New Species of Sticta, with Description of both " [ih.,
vii., 8, 1889) ; "Lichens from the Victorian Alps" {Vict. Nat.,
vi., 178, 1890); " Lichens from Western Australia" {ih., vi., 180,
1890); "Australian Lichenology" (Trans. A. A. A. S., ii., 549,
1890) ; "A List of Queensland Lichens New to Science" (Bailey's
Botany Bulletin, No. 7, 28, 1891); "On Lichens Collected in
Victoria, Australia" {Journ. Linn. Soc. (Botany), xxviii., 353,
1891) ; " The Climate of P'.astern Tasmania as Indicated by its
Lichen Flora" (Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasmania, 131, 1892); " Tas-
manian Lichens" {ih., 133, 1892) ; "The Lichens of Victoria,
Part i. " (Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria, vol. v., 2nd Series, 141, 1892) ;
" On Mr. Robert Hall's Collection of Lichens from Kerguelen
Island" {Vict. Nat., xv,, 41, 1898); " Lichenes Kerguelenses a
Roberto Hall, Anno 1898, prope Royal Sound in Kerguelen
insula lecti, et in Herbario National!, Melbourniensi, depositi "
{Mem. de VHerhier Boissier, No. 18, 87, 1900).

Wilson, John Bracebridge (1828-1895).

Born at Topcraft, Norfolk, the only son of the Rev. Edward
Wilson, rector of that place. Died 22nd October, 1895, at
Geelong. There is a brief obituary notice in this journal, xii., 81.
M.A., F.L.S. ; also member of the Kgl. Bayer. Botanische Gesell-

Nov., 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 117

schaft (Regensburg). See also the Geelong Advertiser for 23rd
October, 1895.

He was at first intended for the diplomatic service, and with
this view he entered St. John's College, Cambridge. His ability
was sufficient to have enabled him to take a high place on the
mathematical or classical tripos ; but botany and geology had
such a strong attraction for him that he was content with the
ordinary pass degree. Late in the fifties he came to Australia,
and, after a little press work, he joined the staff of the Geelong
Church of England Grammar School, of which the present Dean
of Melbourne (Dr. G. O. Vance) was then head. In 1863 he
was appointed to succeed Dr. A^ance, and occupied the position
of head-master until his death.

Mr. Wilson's name will perhaps be remembered longest in con-
nection with his official position, for no "old boy" of the Geelong
School in his time can think of him otherwise than as the ideal
Christian scholar and gentleman. But his work for science was
far more important and extensive than is generally known. He
encouraged a love for natural science amongst his boys to an
unusual extent. To learn botany and geology from him was —
even to boys — far more of a pleasure than a task. He was,
moreover, in correspondence with scientific men all over the
world on those subjects, like the algse and the sponges, on which
he was a recognized authority. He was much associated in his
scientific work wilh the late Baron von Mueller, and with Professor
W. Baldwin Spencer, of the Melbourne University. He was an
enthusiastic dredger of Port Phillip Bay and Western Port, and
the greater part of his fine collection of algae, mounted and
arranged with that neatness which was a characteristic, is in the
National Herbarium, Melbourne.

He published several small scientific works, amongst which
were " Plorula Corioensis " (excursions near Geelong in search of
plants) ; " Comparative Methods of Digestion, Circulation, and
Respiration in Fishes, Amphibia, and Mammals," and " Catalogue
of Algae collected at or near Port Phillip Heads and Western
Port" (Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict., iv., New Series, 157, 1892):
published an earlier systematic list of the marine algae collected
by him, chiefly dredging, at Port Phillip Heads and Western
Port — about 300 {Vict. Nat., lii., 128, 1887); "Discovery of
Catenicella in the Miocene Tertiary Beds near Geelong " (a
Polyzoon), {Jour. Micr. Soc. Vict.,\., 1880 ; ^Ving's S. S. Rec, 1.,
46).

For the accompanying photograph, by Massingham, Geelong,
the only one known, and for most of the above notes, I am
indebted to his nephew, the Rev. H. M, H. Rupp, rector of Yea,
Victoria, and formerly rector of Warialda, N S.W., himself an
excellent botanist.

118 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

A NEW FORM OF PAPILIO FOR AUSTRALIA.
By G. a. Waterhouse, B.Sc, B.E., F.E.S.

(Read he/ore the Field Naturalists^ Club of Victoria, Vlth Oct., 1908.)

It is but seldom that an entomologist has the pleasure of record-
ing a new butterfly of large size from Australia, especially a new
form of Papilio. It has long been known that Papilio ormenus,
Gue'rin, of New Guinea, is a polymorphic species. In addition to
the typical male and typical' female, no fewer than two other
forms of male and three other forms of female have received
distinctive names. For several years I have suspected a similar
condition of things in the case of Papilio cegeus, Don. (so long
known in Australia as P, ereclheus, Don.) though probably in a
lesser deg'ree. I have now the satisfaction of describing a second
and very distinct form of the female of Papilio ccgeics, from the
extreme north of Queensland. This new capture corresponds to
the female form nmanga of Papilio ormenus.

For this important and highly interesting form. I propose, in
honour of my wife, the name of

Papilio Beatrix.

Female. — Length of costa of fore-wing, 70 mm.

Above. — Fore-wing creamy-white, with veins and interneural
streaks marked with dark-brown ; costa towards the base very
dark-brown, that colour extending into the upper part of basal
end of cell ; a dark spot at upper distal end of cell ; apical area
broadly brown, extending as a sinuous brown band along the
termen ; on termen between the veins, a row of pale yellowish
semicircular spots, diminishing in size towards the apex, and a
double spot between veins i and 2. Hind-wing. — Base and
central area white, extending as an obscure pale band above vein
7 ; costal area brown ; termen broadly darker brown, marked
with two series of pale spots ; the first pale yellowish, l^mi-
circular, interneural on the termen ; the second subterminal, con-
sisting of a large yellow anal spot, three paler yellow elongate
spots barely separated by veins 3 and 4, one spot (joined to the
white central area), upper half orange, lower half white, between
veins 5 and 6, an orange spot between veins 6 and 7, and
another between veins 7 and 8 ; the large dark areas above spots
between veins 2 and 3 and 3 and 4 sprinkled with blue scales.

Jjelow. — Fore-wing whiter than above, the dark apical area less
extensive ; basal third of wing dark brown. Hind-wing as above,
except that the white area extends as a broad white band between
veins 7 and 8 ; the costal area is darker, the upper two spots of
the subterminal band are darker, the third spot is not connected
with the white central area, and there is a complete discal series
of blue scalings.

Thorax brown : abdomen above buff, below dark brown, with
a central paler line.

Xov., 1908.] THE VIGTOKIAN NATURALIST. 119

The type specimen in my collection was captured on Cape
York by Mr. H. Elgner during February of this year ; both in
size and shape it is similar to the ordinary female form of Fapilio
cegeus, Don. A second specimen from the same locality during
the same month is much darker above ; the terminal interneural
spots of both wings are much smaller ; the subterminal series of
spots of hind-wing is represented by deep orange spots between
veins 7 and 8 and 6 and 7, with a faint orange splash below vein
6, and an orange anal spot, thus leaving the outer third of wing
almost wholly dark-brown. Below, this specimen is much as in
the type, but the subterminal spots of hind-wing are deeper in
colour, and do not approach each other so closely. A second
example of this beautiful form (Prince of Wales Island, June,
1908) is in the collection of Mr. G. Lyell. A third specimen
(Prince of Wales Island, June), in my own collection, has a dis-
tinct series of pale lunules on the hind-wing both above and
below, and the extension of the white central area below between
veins 7 and 8 is much narrower.

So far I have knowledge of but six specimens of this form.
Three of these, as mentioned above, are in my own collection ;
two others, from Prince of Wales Island, are in the collection of
Mr. G. Lyell. The sixth specimen is in the Miskin collection of
the Queensland Museum, and is one of the two specimens (the
other I am unable to trace) recorded by Miskin in his catalogue
as P. ormemis. By the courtesy of the trustees and the Acting-
Director of the Museum I have been enabled to examine this
specimen in Sydney, and I find that the white area of the hind-
wing below is extended to the costa.

The distinctive point that at once separates this form from the
corresponding P. onnenus form, amanga, is the presence of the
white bar joining the central area and the costa, as in the normal
form of female P. cngeus.

Miskin's error in recording his specim.ens under the name of
P. onnenus, Guerin, does not remove the latter species from our
Australian lists. I have examples of P. onnenus from Darnley
Island and from Murray Island (both within Austrahan territorial
limits). I have examined a number of specimens from these
islands, and in addition to the typical form of male and the
typical form of female (the so-called "aberration " polydorinus),
I have in my collection a single male form pandion, several of the
female form amanga, including one all pure white above, and a
single female very close to the form inornatus.

In his "Revision of the Eastern Papilios " (1895, p. 305),
Rothschild remarks that Papilio ormenus, from the Woodlark
Islands, may be different from P. ormenus, Guerin, from New
Guinea. I have lately examined two small series from the
Woodlark Islands, and the following notes should therefore be of

120 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

interest. The first collection comprises three males and five
females. The males hardly differ from some New Guinea males,
on the under side of the hind-wing they have scarcely any
markings, except the orange anal spot. Four of the females
belong to the white amanga form ; ihey are variable in their
markings, and, on the whole, of a purer white than any I have
from New Guinea. The remaining female (Rothschild's so-called
" typical " female) is marked somewhat as in the male, but has a
complete series of subterminal spots on the hind-wing above and
below, and the smaller white central area of hind-wing is repre-
sented below. The second collection contains seven males and
five females. The males are very similar to those of the first
coUecUon except one specimen, which has the whitish discal
scales of hind-wing below better developed. Four of the females
are white amanga forms, very variable as usual, with the light
area of the fore-wings in three of the specimens very much
reduced. The fifth specimen is also of the so-called " typical "
form, and only differs from the single specimen of this form in
first collection in having the white central area of hind-wing

larger.

The absence of the polijdorinus form of female, and the
predominance of the while amanga form of female, should be
noted. It is probable that the white atnanga form is much
commoner on the islands surrounding New Guinea than upon the
mainland itself.

We have received the first number oiThe Microscope, a monthly
journal edited and published by Messrs. H. and F. Baker, 78
Swanston-street, Melbourne. It is brightly wTitten, and will, no
doubt, assist in the advancement of microscopical science. The
subscription rate is 3s. 6d. per annum, post free.

Frogs. — Among my exhibits at the recent conversazione were
two frogs (Crinia?) which lay their eggs away from water; also a
number of tadpoles hatched from eggs laid away from water.
Some of the eggs were merely kept moist, and the tadpoles
emerged in about forty-eight hours, but from a number of the eggs
which were dropped into an aquarium on ist June last the
tadpoles did not emerge till 29th July and later. Why should
there be so great a difference between the hatching in air and in
water?— H. W. Wil.son.

Entomological. — The valuable collection of Australian
Coleoptera formed by Mr. C. French, F.L.S., Government
Entomologist, as the result of many years' study, and which
contains a number of type specimens, has been purchased for the
National Museum, Melbourne. With this addition the Museum
will now* possess the most complete series of Australian beetles in
the world.

Cbc Utctorian naturaltsi

Vol. XXV.— No. 8. DECEMBER 10, 1908. No. 300.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

A SPECIAL general meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, i6th November, 1908, to con-
sider a proposed alteration in the rules.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 55 members and visitors were present.

In accordance with notice given at the previous meeting, Mr.
O. A. Sayce, moved — " That the following rules be added after rule
21, and that rules 22 and 23 be altered to numbers 26 and 27
respectively : —

" 22. Any Society organized for a special branch of Natural History study,
or any Society meeting outside the Metropolitan area which is organized for
general Natural History study, may apply for affiliation. The Committee
shall draw up the conditions of affiliation, and shall submit them to a Special
General Meeting convened for the purpose. A majority of two-thirds of the
members voting shall be required to pass the agreement, including the said
conditions, with or without amendment.

" 23. Affiliation shall confer only such powers as are defined by the original
agreement of affiliation, or such amendment as may from time to time be
passed by a two-thirds majority of members voting at any Special General
Meeting called for the purpose.

" 24. An affiliated Society may withdraw from affiliation by its members
paying all arrears, returning all books or other property which may have been
borrowed from the Club, and giving a properly signed notice to the Secretary
of its desire to resign.

" 25. The Club may remove from affiliation any affiliated Society by a
resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of members voting at any Special
General Meeting called for the purpose."

Mr. F. Wisewould seconded the motion.

Mr. A. D. Hardy supported the proposal, and the alterations
were carried unanimously.

The business of the ordinary meeting was then proceeded with.

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to Melton on Saturday, 24th October,
was given by the leader, I\Ir. G. A. Keartland, who reported a fair
attendance. The district seemed still to be suffering somewhat
from the drought of previous years, and natural history objects
were rather scarce ; a female Black-eared Cuckoo was perhaps the
most notable specimen collected. However, a very enjoyable
day was spent.

A report of the excursion to the You Yangs on Cup Day,
Tuesday, 3rd November, was given by the leader, Mr. F. G. A.
Barnard, who stated that a very interesting day had been spent,
though no very important finds had been made. The mountains
had been well traversed, and the members were surprised at the
park-like appearance of the western slopes.

122 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. LVol. XXV.

A report of the two-days' excursion to Plenty Ranges on 7th
and 9th November (King's Birthday) was given by the leader,
Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., who gave an interesting account
of the rambles made in the vicinity of Toorourrong Reservoir.

A report of the excursion to Frankston on Saturday, 14th
November, was given by Mr. J. Shephard, in the absence of the
leader, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc. He said that there had been a
good attendance, and, though no very noticeable flowers were
seen, a very interesting afternoon had been spent. Prof Ewart
had discussed the various plants found, and drew attention to the
importance of preserving bits of the local flora in its primitive
condition in places conveniently situated with regard to
Melbourne.

A report of the junior excursion to the Zoological Gardens on
Saturday, 7th November, was given by the leader, Mr. G. A.
Keartland, who stated that about 20 juniors were present, and
seemed considerably interested in what they saw and were told.
The party were fortunate in seeing the Tallegalla, or Scrub-
Turkey, forming its egg-mound. This the bird accomplished by
standing with its tail towards the heap, and, grasping the sand
with its feet, throwing it rapidly backwards, the presence of the
large party close to the aviary seeming to make no diff*erence to
the bird.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

The following persons were duly elected members of the Club :
— As ordinary members — Miss S. de Mumby, " Burton," Watts-
street, Box Hill ; Mr. A. Rutter Clarke, Orrong-road, Toorak ;
Mr. Adolph Cohen, 380 Lonsdale-street, City ; Mr. J. G.
O'Donoghue, Bambra-road, Caulfield ; Mr. P. R. H. St. John,
Mason-street, South Yarra. As junior members — Miss Lucy
Bryce, Victoria-avenue, Canterbury ; Miss Lizzie Demaine,
" Monomeith," Canterbury ; Master Martin Berry, Victoria-
avenue, Canterbury ; Master Cyril Collis, " St. Edmunds." Can-
terbury-road, Camberwell ; Master Robt. Demaine, " Mono-
meith," Canterbury ; Master Wilfrid Thomas, Burke-road, Haw-
thorn ; Master Neville Armytage, " Alta Vista," Punt-road, South
Yarra ; Master Gerald Armytage, " Como," South Yarra ; Master
Jos. H. Davies, 4 Westbourne-terrace, Grey-street, St. Kilda ;
Master Fullerton Mollison, Melbourne Mansions, Collins-street ;
Master Geo. Ormrod, " Moorkyne," Heidelberg ; Master Jas. G.
Gillespie, " Toolang," St. Kilda-road ; Master Auster O'Dowd, 43
Robinson-street, Moonee Ponds ; Master Amergin O'Dowd, 43
Robinson-street, Moonee Ponds ; Master Arnold Spooner, Fair-
field.

PAPER READ.

By Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., F.R.M.S., entitled "A Sketch
of the Life-History of the Foraminifera."

Dec, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 123

This took the form of a lecture in explanation of a fine series
of lantern illustrations, in which the more salient points regarding
our present knowledge of the life-history of this lowly but im-
portant group of organisms were dealt with. The Foraminifera,
not long since regarded as having a body of almost structureless
protoplasm, have been shown, by the careful studies of workers
like Williamson, Max Schultze, Alunier Chalmas, Schaudinn, and
Lister, to exhibit a wonderfully beautiful series of changes during
their existence, chiefly connected with their reproduction. Each
type-form is fitted to reproduce its kind in two ways — first, by
asexual division ; second, by the formation and conjugation of
zoospores. In the first case the resultant form commences with
a large chamber (form A) ; in the second, with a small chamber
(form B). From observation it is known that form A can give
rise either to form A or form B, but form B can only reproduce
the form A. The latter is characterized by a single nucleus,
excepting during the phase of reproduction, when the nucleus
divides by simple fission, and the resulting nuclei, each taking up
a thick coating of cytoplasm, is invested with a shelly covering,
breaking away as a separate entity of the megalospheric type.
Usually this reproduction is carried on in the multiloculine forms
in the peripheral chambers, which are known as '•' brood
chambers." In a similar manner megalospheric young are
reproduced by form B. The formation of microspheric young,
on the other hand, is carried out in the following way : — The
nucleus of form A disintegrates, the chromidia derived from the
nucleus create numerous little centres, each with a covering of
cytoplasm. These vesicular nuclei then divide twice by the
method of karyokinesis or mitosis, the resulting four cells being
each furnished with two flagellse. They thereupon conjugate with
other swarmers outside the shell. The fusion of their nuclei takes
place after some delay, and, lastly, the nucleus of the conjugated
body divides, and a shell is then formed. This constitutes the
microsphere. The phenomenon of "dimorphism" was first
suspected to indicate different reproductive stages of the same
species by Munier Chalmas, in regard to the coin-like Foraminifera
of Eocene age known as Nummulites. Earlier observers, how-
ever, as de la Harpe, von Hantken, and Rupert Jones, were well
aware of the existence of " couples " of Nummulites, in which one
of the forms had a large central chamber and a small test, whilst
the other had a small central chamber and a large test. Schlum-
berger, working in conjunction with Munier Chalmas, and later
by himself, was able to prove, by means of skilful section-cutting
of the tiny shells, the existence of dimorphism in practically all
the genera of the Miliolidse. There was one exception, however,
in the genus Alveolina, about which there was only a provisional
record of the occurrence of Form B (with the microsphere), by

124 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

Munier Chalmas. This has since been clearly shown to exist in
specimens occurring in considerable numbers at the present day
on the Barrier Reef, at Cairns Reef, Queensland. It has a
special interest for members of the Club, since the examples were
collected by Mr. C. Hedley and our fellow-member, Mr. J-
Gabriel.*

Plastogamy in the Foraminifera was also briefly described as
the union of two or more tests of similar species, observed in such
genera as Discorhina, Patellina, Textiilaria, and Bulimina. The
apertural surfaces of the tests come into contact, and the contents
flow out and intermix. Following upon this the nuclei break up,
without subsequent fusion, and the newly-formed nuclei gather
around themselves a zone of cytoplasm. These young forms
then secrete a shelly investment, comparable to the megalosphere,
separate, and leave the old parent shell perfectly empty. This
process only takes place, according to Schaudinn's observations,
when both individuals have their nuclei in the same phase or
condition.

Mr. O. A. Sayce congratulated the lecturer on the interesting
nature of his remarks, and Mr. F. G. A. Barnard expressed his
surprise at the possibility of cutting sections of such delicate
objects as foraminifera.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., F.R.M.S.— Nummulites from the
Eocene, to illustrate dimorphism ; dimorphic Alveolinae, and
Orhitolites complanata with brood cells, from the Great Barrier
Reef, North Queensland, collected by Mr. J. Gabriel ; models of
Foraminifera, by Reuss and Fritsch, in illustration of lecture.

By Mrs. Cudmore. — Quandongs (fruit of Santalum acumina-
tum) from Avoca station, Wentworth, N.S.W.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., F.R.M.S.— Desmids, Closterium
lanceolatum, Kutzing, collected from a rock pool in the You
Yangs by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard on the recent excursion.

By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — Black-eared Cuckoo, Misocalius
palliolatus, Lath., from Melton, and egg of same species taken
at Oakleigh.

By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. — Root of elm which had grown
through and almost enclosed the neck of a bottle, found while
excavating the National Museum grounds.

By Mr. C. Oke. — Insects collected during excursion to Plenty
Ranges.

By Mr. J. Shephard. — Flowering spike of Grass-tree,
Xantliorrhcea australis, about six feet in length, from the
Wimmera.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

* Sec Jourii. Roy. Micr. Soc, Lond., 1908, p. 151.

Dec, 1908.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 125

EXCURSION TO THE YOU YANGS.

The You Yangs have never proved a very prolific collecting
ground, and as the last excursion party from the Club, which
visited the mountains some years ago, brought back such a dismal
report of destruction by rabbits, our excursion committees have
feared to put the locality down again until the present season.
The day before Cup Day was so unpleasant, and the forecast for
Cup Day so unpromising, that those who had made up their minds
to take part in the excursion feared a repetition of former
experiences at these hills. However, when the party of ten
reached Little River at 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 3rd November, they
found a fresh breeze blowing from the south-west, and though the
horizon in that direction looked somewhat ominous, the storm
passed over Geelong, and only the merest trace of it reached the
You Yangs.

From Litde River station the hills appear to be little more than
mile away, but in reality they are nearer four miles distant, and
more than an hour passed before we set foot on the genUe slope
of granite detritus with which they are surrounded. On our
way across the lava plain much energy had been expended in
turning over stones in search of beetles, but without results,
except some very ordinary species, and some members of the
cockroach tribe. A few birds were seen, but these will be dealt
with in a separate note, for which I am indebted to Mr. J. G.
O'Donoghue.

Three species of plants are noteworthy as characteristic of the
You Yangs — viz., Prostanthera nivea, which should be called the
" Snowy Mint-bush"; the Rock or Parsley Fern, Cheilanthes tenui-
folia, which occurs in great patches everywhere ; and the Blue
Gum, Eucalyptus globulus, a species of eucalypt one would not
expect to find in such an exposed situation. The Prostanthera
was almost the first flower met with, and, though just past its best,
the sight it presented in places was alone well worth the trip.
The flowers are larger than most of our Prostantheras, and on
some of the bushes were of quite a lilac shade. It is also worthy
of remark that the plant does not appear to be inconvenienced by
cultivation and clearing, for in the forest plantation, where the
ground had been ploughed, it is again springing up; and in
another part, where a fire had passed through it, the bushes are
again branching out at the ground-level, and making good growth.
Some time before we reached the foot of the range the sweet
perfume of a wattle was borne along by the wind, and ^ on
reaching the slope we noted some fine trees of Acacia mollissima
in full bloom. Why should not such a fine blossoming tree be
alive with birds and insects when in that state ? But now there
was little life about them. An introduced shrub, Nicotiana
glauca, is here somewhat common, and a litde further along

126 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. IVol. XXV.

quantities of a garden Linaria were very evident. Our way led
over the south-eastern flank of Station Peak, as we wanted to find
a large mass of granite which is marked on the Geological Survey
map (19 S.E.) as existing a little to the south-west of that
peak. We passed through a line lot of Prostanthera, and I
might say acres of the Native Tobacco, Nicotiana suaveolens ;
also such shrubs as the large, smooth-leaved form of Correa
speciosa, with Clematis microphylla trailing over it ; Aster
glandulosus, Cassinia aculeata, with Sheoaks, Banksias, Black-
woods, Native Cherries, Bursarias, &c. The well-known Hedge
or Kangaroo Acacia, A. armata, is here in one of its natural
habitats. A few eucalypts occur, principally one we took to be
the Red Box, Eucalyptus 'polyantliema.

Presently the rock mass came in view, and on reaching it we
were astonished at its extent. It must be nearly 100 yards in
diameter, and at its southern edge rises about 80 feet above the
hillside, the northern edge being flush with the mountain side.
Some one with a penchant for figures has calculated that it
contains about 4,000,000, cubic feet of stone, and would weigh
about 300,000 tons. An interesting account of this rock occurs
in a paper descriptive of the geology of the You Yangs read by
Professor E. W. Skeats, D.Sc, at the Adelaide (1907) meeting of
the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, but
as yet only advance copies of the paper are available for reference.
In the centre of the mass is a large depression filled with soil, the
result of ages of weathering of the granite, and in this soil are
growing many small trees and large shrubs, such as Acacia mol-
iissima, Bursaria spinosa, &c. Some fine Kangaroo Apples,
Solayium aviculare, were here in full bloom, and, from the wealth
of flowers, at a little distance presented quite a purple tinge. In
the surface of the granite several rock pools exist, which at the
time of our visit were full of water, so that the tourist, except in
the height of summer, should generally be able to secure water
here, for as a rule the ranges are rather short of that commodity.
A good spring also exists directly under the southern face of
Station Peak.

From the largest of the pools I skimmed what I took to be a
floating scum of fresh water algae, and, the situation being rather
remarkable, I submitted it to Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.R.M.S., who
has given me the following note : — '' The material had unavoid-
ably been much shaken up in transit, and appeared when
received as a soapy green fluid with darker clots. Microscopi-
cally examined, it proved to be a mass of desmids of a single
species only, Closterium lanceolatum, Kutzing, and, excepting
numerous protozoa, no other organisms were present. This
species occurs in various parts of Victoria, and was recorded
from the weedy margin of Lake Colac a few years ago {Vict. Nat.,
xxii., p. 66)."

Dec, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 127

The occurrence of an alga in such a remarkable position is
most interesting, and shows that the most unlikely localities are
often productive of unlooked-for results in both zoology and
botany.

From the summit of the " rock basin," as Prof. Skeats calls it,
we had a good view of the plantations made by the Forest
Department some years ago. These amount to some hundreds
of acres, and in the distance appear to consist of various species
of eucalyptus, acacia, pines, &c., but I understand the result of
the experiment is not considered very satisfactory. We now
turned northwards through a park-like growth of Banksias,
Casuarinas, Native Cherries, Blackwoods, &:c. ; one Bursaria had
a stem diameter of fully 12 inches. Among the herbaceous
plants seen were Arthropodium strictum, Bmxhardia uinhellata,
Diuris macidata, &c., till we came to the southernmost gorge of
the range, which we ascended to the main ridge. From the
saddle we followed the crest of the range to the south, which rises
sharply to the trig, station. The track wound between immense
masses of granite of all shapes and sizes, and among these grow
numerous trees of the Blue Gum, Eucalyptus glohidus. Though by
no means stunted, the trees assume a more branched habit than
those we are accustomed to see in plantations about Melbourne.

The topmost stone was reached soon after mid-day, when a great
panorama presented itself to our view. An hour was pleasantly
passed in refreshing the inner man, and admiring the distant
landscape. Some fifteen miles to the south Geelong was plainly
visible, and, further still, the sand-dunes at Barvvon Heads. Close
at hand were cultivated fields and crops in every direction, but to
the north-east, towards Melbourne, the powder magazines at
Laverton were the extent of our view, Melbourne and suburbs
being enshrouded in haze. How different the prospect from that
seen by the first white man who ascended the peak, Captain
Flinders, on ist May, 1802. Wonderful to relate, neither tourists
nor fire have yet destroyed the tripod erected by the trigononiet-
rical surveyors in the early sixties, marking the highest point,
1,154 feet above sea level. While lunching under the shelter of
the rocks, a couple of black and white butterflies, probably Delias
harpalyce, fluttered above the tree-tops, and it is somewhat remark-
able that I noted the same fact {Vict. iYa^.,iii., p. 102) on my last
visit to the peak, more than twenty years before. Presently we saw
the first of the white migratory butterflies, Belenois Java, of the sea-
son. A few dragon-flies occurred at this high elevation, but beetles
were very scarce. The rock basin we had visited earlier was plainly
visible from the summit, but so dwarfed as to be almost unrecog-
nizable.

Having spent about an hour on the top, we descended to
the saddle again, and climbed the next peak, on the sides of

128 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

which are granite rocks of all shapes and sizes reminding one
of the Buffalo Mountains. In fact, the tourist who cannot afford
the time and cost of a visit to the Buffaloes can see here, in half a
day from Melbourne, but on a smaller scale, almost all the features
of those mountains, at a cost of about five shillings. An
article in the Leader of 7th September, 1907, with illustrations
from the camera of Mr. E. O. Thiele, conveys a good idea of the
geological features of the You Yangs. On reaching the next
saddle we decided to descend again to the western slope, and
visit the forest plantations. Here we again found a strong growth
of Prostanthera, and on it was taken the only buprestid beetle
of the day, Stigmodera hicolor. Continuing through the planta-
tion northerly, a little spring was passed, where Utricularia
dichotoma was flowering in the boggy ground. The country
hereabouts was very park-like, dotted with eucalypts, sheoaks,
&c., but searching under the bark and shaking the branches
revealed few insects worthy of mention. Another high hill was
ascended, and afternoon lunch partaken of while admiring the
distant prospect.

We then turned stationwards along a ridge, and finally descen-
ded on to the plain again, and passed through a thicket of Swamp
Tea-tree, Melaleuca ericijolia. A three-mile walk across paddocks
brought us to the station, where we found another member, who
had come down by the mid-day train, and reached Station Peak
just as we ascended the next hill, but was unfortunately unable to
attract our attention, so we missed the benefit of his company and
he had to finish the day by himself

In former reports of visits to the You Yangs {Soutliern Science
Record, ii., p. 8; S.S.R., iii., p. 17; and Vict. Nat., iii., p. 99),
little mention was made of the ornithology of the district, Mr.
O'Donoghue's notes will, therefore, be of value as indicating the
character of the bird4ife likely to be met with. He says : —
" The first bird noted on leaving Little River railway station and
proceeding along the line towards Geelong was the Nankeen
Kestrel, which was observed circling among the red gum trees
margining the river in the vicinity of the bridge. It is very prob-
able that the bird had its nest thereabouts. On the plain between
the railway station and the Peak the White-backed Magpie, the
Ground-Lark, and the Black-breasted Plover were observed. On
reaching the base of the mount a number of Nankeen Kestrels
were noted soaring near the summit ; but on the party attaining
the trigonometrical station some hours later they were not to be
discerned, having possibly withdrawn to another locality on the
advent of a pair of Brown Hawks, which were observed circling in
the neighbourhood of the crest for a lengthy period. No other
birds were noted by the party during their ascent and descent of
the Mount, although there was ample cover and abundance of

Dec, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 129

insect life. Among the Casuarinas, Native Cherries, and wattle
trees flourishing on the southern slopes of the Mount, the Black
and White Fantail, the Harmonious Thrush, the Yellow-rumped
Tit, and the Mountain Thrush were noted. In a slight depression
on the western slope a company of Scarlet-breasted Robins
comprising eight individuals, was observed amongst a growth
of Senecio. In the neighbourhood of the large rock basin which
is a prominent feature in the landscape of the western slope, the
Yellow-rumped Tit, Mountain Thrush, White-backed Magpie,
White-shafted Fantail, Babbler, and Warty-faced Honey-eater
were met with. The White-shafted and Black-and-White Fantails
were often encountered amid the Snowy Mint-bush which thickly
clothes this portion of the Mount. Although the Red Wattle-
bird was not seen, its harsh note was repeatedly heard. The
presence of this bird and the Warty-faced Honey-eater was
undoubtedly due to the number of flowering Eucalyptus and
wattle trees, and to the Snowy Mint-bush, acres of which were
thickly invested with blossom. To the north-west the country
is park-like for the most part, free from boulders, and timbered
by Casuarina quadrivalvis and Eucalyptus pohjanihema. Here
the White-backed Magpie, Blue-faced Honey-eater, Rosehill
Parrakeet, Yellow-rumped Tit, White-fronted Chat, Garrulous
Minah, Ground-Lark, and Black-and-White Fantail were noted.
A nest of the last-mentioned was discovered in a Casuarina.
Several pairs of what were assumed to be White-shouldered
Caterpillar-eaters were seen, but, owing to the excessive shyness
evidenced by the birds, a close inspection was rendered im-
possible. They may have been Hooded Robins. Their bulk
only influenced me to assume otherwise. In the immediate
neighbourhood of the hills to the north-west of the peak, the
Ground-Lark, the Grallina, the Crow, and the Flame-breasted
Robin were met with. A pair of Yellow-tufted Honey-eaters was
observed in a flowering Eucalyptus, E. polyantliema, situate on the
margin of the plain. On being disturbed they directed their
flight towards a stunted but dense growth of Melaleuca ericifolia,
through which the party a short time previously were obliged to
force a passage. The Melaleuca was in bloom, but no birds
were seen or heard in it or its vicinity. At different times during
the journey to Little River numbers of Crows and Magpies were
discerned on the plain to the west of the line. Stubble Quail and
Brown Song-Larks were often flushed by the approaching train
from the long grass within the railway reserve.^'

The granite of the ranges seems to offer a great variety of
composition, details of which will be found in the paper by
Professor Skeats previously mentioned. On the whole, we
enjoyed the outing thoroughly, and though the You Yangs
cannot be considered a good collecting ground, still, as I have

130 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

pointed out, they have their characteristic plants, &c., while the
geological features are totally unlike those to which we are
accustomed in other excursions around Melbourne. We have no
hesitation in recommending the locality as one that should be
occasionally visited in the spring or early summer, and if the
route we followed be adopted the visitor will not be disappointed
at the scenery presented to him. — F. G. A. Barnard.

EXCURSION TO PLENTY RANGES.

This year the Plenty Ranges were chosen for the usual King's
Birthday excursion, and permission having been courteously
granted by the Metropolitan Board of Works to explore the
watershed of the Toorourrong Reservoir, a tract of about 10,000
acres of uninhabited country embracing the southern slopes of
Mount Disappointment, it was confidently hoped that a profitable
trip would follow, but, as will be seen, the results were somewhat
meagre, owing to the severity of the bush-fires of past years in
that region.

Five members left Melbourne by the mid-day train for VVhiltle-
sea on Saturday, 7th November; four more journeyed by the
evening train, and another joined us the following morning,
bringing our party up to a total of ten. Whittlesea (27 miles) was
reached after an excessively weary train journey of 2^ hours —
about half an hour late. Having seen our luggage safely packed
in the vehicle awaiting us, we started on the four-mile walk to
" Wild wood," the farm-house of Mr. J. L. Coulthard, where
arrangements had been made by our hon. secretary to accom-
modate the party.

Shortly after leaving the township by the Yea road the aque-
duct from Toorourrong to Yan Yean was reached. This we
decided to follow in preference to the road. It was not long
before we were all engaged in an active search for objects of
interest. A number of the commoner wild-flowers were noted,
but a diligent search under logs, bark, and in the branches of the
acacias, &c., for wood^boring beetles failed to reveal anything of
interest. " Wildwood " was reached about six o'clock. We found
it well situated close to the foot-hills of the ranges, on the western
side of the eastern branch of the Plenty River, about a mile
south-west of the Toorourrong Reservoir, and was, therefore,
within comfortable distance of the locality we desired to work.
The house being too small to provide sleeping accommodation
for our party, arrangements had been made to have the use of the
barn ; this we found had been made as comfortable as possible,
with a plentiful supply of clean straw on the floor, covered with a
tarpaulin. There was ample room and we at once set to work to
make ourselves comfortable for our short stay.

Dec, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 131

About eight o'clock we met the four members who had come
up by the evening train. After a short rest a moonHght visit was
made to the Toorourrong Reservoir ; this is about 30 acres in
extent, and is prettily situated at the junction of the eastern
branch of the Plenty River and Jack's Creek, and in the bright
moonlight, so clear as to reflect the adjacent hills in the placid
waters, presented a beautiful sight, which well repaid us our walk.
On the return journey, in the stillness of the night, the clear,
lively whistle of the Black-and-White Fantail was repeatedly
heard close by, accompanied occasionally by the mournful note
of the Boobook Owl. In the evening a Podargus was seen to
perch on a tree close to the house. When first seen it was resting
in a crouching position, but when approached it stretched itself
up in a vertical position, with its bill pointing upwards in a line
with its body, and then might easily have been mistaken for a
broken branch of the tree on which it was resting.

Thoroughly satisfied with our trip so far, we turned in for a
good sleep, in anticipation of a long day among the hills on the
morrow. Sleep, however, was out of the question. The night
had turned very cold, and with every hour it seemed to become
colder. Mutterings, groans, and long-drawn sighs were heard all
round, accompanied by rustling straw as one after another twisted
and rolled about in a vain endeavour to find a warmer spot.

Relief was felt when at four o'clock the Laughing Jackass, fol-
lowed shortly by the melodious Magpie, announced the coming day.
Five o'clock saw most of our shivering party astir. The morning
was cold, and the grass wet from the heavy dew which had fallen
during the night, but a sharp walk on the adjoining hillsides,
turning logs, stripping bark, &c., soon helped us to forget our
long night's experience. A special search was made for the
larv3e and pupse of the rare blue butterfly Ogyris olane. The
larvae feed on the Mistletoe, Loranthus ^^'^ndulus, and when fully
grown travel down the tree-trunk (often a considerable distance)
to near the base, pupating under the loose bark. We were
early rewarded by the discovery of a pupa, which led to an
active search on every tree trunk on which the Mistletoe could be
seen, and two or three additional pupae were taken. One of these
has since emerged. The larvae of one of our skipper butterflies,
Hesperilla do7i7iysa, feed on the Sword Grass, Cladium, sp., the
pupae being securely concealed between two leaves neatly bound
together. A few of these were also found, and one has since
emerged. Birds were fairly numerous, one of the first to attract
attention by its beautiful note being the Hooded Robin,
Melanodrijas hicolor. The Magpie- or Mud-Lark, Harmonious
Shrike-Thrush, White -throated Tree-creeper, White-throated
Thickhead, Pallid Cuckoo, Butcher-bird, and many others were
noted during our morning's ramble. The Blue Wren, Malurus

132 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV

cya7ieus, was everywhere seen, and a nest containing three eggs
was found close to the farm-house.

Returning for breakfast, we were joined by our botanists, who
had gone further afield. About nine o'clock a start was made
for the ranges. The river and adjacent flats are bordered with
tine blackwood and other acacias, &c., affording splendid harbour
for various kinds of small birds, such as Tits, Robins, Fly-
catchers, Honey-eaters, &c. Our attention was drawn to the
somewhat unusual sight of a Pelican flying heavily overhead.
Insects were particularly scarce ; very few Lepidoptera were seen,
and these only of the commonest species. A few isolated patches
of Leptospermum were eagerly searched, but yielded nothing but
a few of the commoner beetles. The arrival of another member,
who had made an early start and cycled from town, now com-
pleted our party.

Following the western margin of the reservoir, we entered
what promised to be some better country, in the valley of the
Running Creek. This is the principal stream entering the Plenty
River above the reservoir from the west. Here we took our first
planarians, Geoplana mediolhieata and G. hoggii. We followed
the creek for some distance, but were soon greatly disappointed
to find that the greater part of the valley had been burnt out by
bush-fires during recent summers. Collecting, as far as zoology
was concerned, was almost out of the question, though our
botanists fared better, and collected, among other plants, a
number of fine examples of orchids. Birds were numerous
along the bed of the creek, and among those seen were
the Rufous and White-throated Thickheads, Sacred Kingfisher,
Orange-winged Sittella, Scarlet and Flame-breasted Robins,
Masked Wood-Swallows, Leatherheads, and others. Wombats
were evidently numerous, judging by the large numbers of their
burrows and upturned soil along the hillsides. At mid-day we
lunched at a spot evidently used in the early days as a crossing
place by timber-cutters, whose overgrown track we had traversed
for some distance. About half a mile further on we decided to
leave the valley, and, turning eastwards, crossed the ridge at the
back of Cleeland's Hill, close to the granite boundary, and, enter-
ing the Plenty Valley, passed through some rather rough, scrubby
country back to the reservoir, where we spent a short time among
the timber on the eastern bank.

Some of our party proceeded along the track towards the Cas-
cades for a mile or so, while the remainder returned home.

Sunday evening turned particularly cold, and a roaring fire
engrossed our attention until bed-time. The possibility of sleep
was anxiously discussed, and it was finally decided to make the
attempt. A careful selection of the warmest looking corners was
made, and the majority unanimously elected to lie amongst the

Dec, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 133

Straw wrapped in their rugs, with the tarpaulin on top. Some
managed to obtain a fair amount of sleep, but the others passed
another most uncomfortable night, and gladly welcomed the
dawn. Two of our party having to return to town by the 7.30 a.m.
train, had to turn out soon after five o'clock. Our entomologists,
wishing to indulge in more bark-stripping, &c., managed to put in
a couple of profitable hours before breakfast.

After breakfast a start was made for the Cascades along the
Jack's Creek track, a walk of about 4^ miles. The day promised
to be warm, and we looked forward to better results than those
of the previous day. We took our time, and thoroughly searched
any likely-looking spots. The commoner butterflies, such as the
Painted Lady, Australian Admiral, and the little blue, fairly
scarce on the previous day, were now particularly numerous. A
fair number of moths were also noticed before we left the flats,
such as Philohota catachrysa^ Antidica pilostilus, but all were
well-known species. A full grown Blue-tongue Lizard, Tiliqua
scincoides, the only one seen during the trip, was found basking
in the sun. Some time was devoted to a careful search among
the timber along the margin of the reservoir, and several more
larvae and pupse of Ogyris olane and some bombycid larvae were
taken. Beetles, however, were particularly scarce, notwith-
standing the energy displayed by at least one of our party. As
we proceeded wild-flowers became more plentiful and varied, and
in marked contrast to our experience of the previous day. A fine
clump of the Mountain Ash, Panax sambucifolius, was passed
close to the track, the largest of which was fully 12 feet high.
Our first white butterfly, Belenois Java, was noticed shortly after
passing a bend in Jack's Creek known as Smith's Gully, and a
little further on up the spur another species, Xenica hohartia,
always welcome to the collector, was captured. Bordering the
track some fine bushes of Grevillea alpina in bloom were admired.
A steep and rather hot climb brought us to the top of the
Cascades. After a little time here we descended to the fern glade
at the bottom, where we enjoyed our lunch while admiring the
rush of water into the basin at our feet.

On our return journey we followed the narrow track bordering
the creek, the opposite side of which was a dense mass of vegeta-
tion. Here the Coachwhip-bird was heard and the Flame and
Yellow-breasted Robins seen. Two more specimens of the small
brown butterfly, Xeiiica hobartia, were also met with. The
magnificent group of King Ferns, Osmiuida barbara, remembered
from a previous trip, were again admired. Nothing worthy of
special mention was noticed on the remainder of our trip, and
we reached home in ample time to partake of early tea and pack
up our belongings. A pleasant walk to the station in the cool
of the evening terminated our visit to the Plenty Ranges, which.

134 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV,

if not as profitable from a naturalist's point of view as was
expected, proved a most enjoyable one. But our homeward train
journey proved the reverse of pleasant. Although announced at
the station to start at 8.30 p.m. the train did not leave until
9.30 p.m., and when, after a weary journey of over tv/o hours,
with every compartment crowded to the utmost, we arrived at
Spencer-street at 20 minutes to 12 p.m., we had to hurriedly
disperse to catch our midnight trains for the suburbs.

Close attention was paid by Mr. G. Anderson to the birds seen.
He records just fifty species for the outing, and, in addition to
those already mentioned, the following were noted : — Crow,
Sooty Crow-Shrike, Rosella Parrot, King Parrot, Brown Hawk,
Kestrel, White-breasted and Black-breasted Cormorants, Dab-
chick, Black Duck, Black Swan, White Cockatoo, Fan-tailed and
Bronze Cuckoos, Yellow-rumped Tit, Reed-Warbler, Brown Tree-
creeper, Yellow-tailed Tit, Fire-tailed Finch, White-shafted and
Rufous Fantails, White-fronted Char, Welcome Swallow, Stubble
Quail, Brown Song-Lark, and White-plumed and White-eared
Honey-eaters.

For some remarks on the botany of the outing I am indebted
to my co-leader, Dr. C. S. Sutton, who, however, was only able
to be with us on the first day. He says : — " The botanical
results of the excursion were disappointing. Many plants
which were confidently expected to occur were not seen,
and there were absolutely no surprises, nothing out of the
ordinary being collected. In the course of an early morning
ramble the fine, conspicuous yellow flowers of Hihhertia ohtusi-
iolia were fairly common on a dry hillside. We had decided
to traverse the valley of the Running Creek, but, after pro-
ceeding some distance, found that unfortunately the country
had been swept by bush-fires some time previously, and, owing
to continued dry seasons, was but slowly renewing its floral
covering. Had we continued a couple of miles further into the
granite country plants of greater interest would probably have
been met with. Quite the most persistent and prevalent species
was Stellaria pungens ; its white star flowers appeared everywhere.
The flowers of the purple fringed-lily, Thysanotus tuberosus, were
frequent in one part. The broom tea-tree, Leptospermum
scoparium, was just about to blossom, but L. Ianigeru7n, which
occurred sparingly along the margin of the lake, was in full bloom.
While descending the ridge which separates the creek from its
neighbours several fine bushes of Grevillea alpina, covered with
their singular red and yellow flowers, were noted. Among the
orchids seen perhaps the most uncommon was Gastrodia
sesamoides, the long, horizontal tuber of which seemed to terminate
in the root of a bracken fern. Prasophyllum Australe and the
pretty Caladenia Menziesii were fairly common in one locality,

Dec, 1908.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 135

but C. Patersoni was quite scarce. A few specimens of the
usual form of Caladenia carnea were seen, but the variety
possessing the musky odour occurred rather plentifully in
two forms — the one slender and single-flowered, the other more
robust, with, in some cases, as many as five flowers ; among
both forms were several with pure white flowers. Belated
specimens of Glossodia majoi\ Pterostylis cucullata, Diuris macu-
lata, and Thelymitra longifolia were also seen. Passing round
the reservoir Mazus pumilio, Rammculus 7'ivularis, and very
robust plants of Ejnlohlum glahellum were met with. During a
hurried visit to the lower part of the Jack's Creek valley Come-
sperma ericinum, Pultenoia Gunnii, Pimelea linifolia, and
Dampiera stricta were found, all in very good condition, and
there is no doubt that we would have fared much better had we
confined our attentions to this creek rather than the one we had
just before left. However, the Jack's Creek district is easier to
get at, and can be readily worked on some future occasion.
Altogether nearly loo species of plants were noted in bloom. All
of the dozen species of ferns seen were ordinary species, and do
not call for special mention."

Notwithstanding the miserable train service on the Whittlesea
line, it is to be hoped another excursion will be put down at no
distant date for the Toorourrong district, for, having learned
something of the geography of the locality, and with *' Wildwood "
so convenient for headquarters, we feel sure there yet must be
some interesting collecting to be done on the southern slopes of
Mt. Disappointment. — J. A. Kershaw.

[Some interesting notes on the geology of the Whittlesea district,
with a map, will be found in a paper read by Mr. J. T. Jutson before
the Royal Society of Victoria, and recently published in its proceed-
ings (vol. xxi. (new series), part i., page 211). — Ed. Vict. Nat.^

A New Protozoon ? — The protozoon shown at the October
meeting of the Club alive under the microscope on the branchiae
of a living specimen of the crustacean Koonunga cursor, Sayce,
is one of the Tentaculifera or Suctoria. The Suctoria are
characterized by the possession of suckers or tentacles which
have the power of stunning or paralyzing and then holding fast
comparatively large infusorians which come in contact with them.
The protoplasmic contents of the prey then pass in a liquid
stream through the suckers into the body of the suctorian. These
minute creatures live epizoically on various marine and fresh-
water organisms. Lankester states that very frequently a
particular species is found on only one genus of host. It is
possible that the suctorian exhibited, which seems on examina-
tion to have affinities with both the genera Trichophrya and
Solenophrya, may be new to science. — R, W. Araiitage.

136 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE SPECIFIC NAME OF THE INTRODUCED

ROMULEA.

To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist.
Sir, — I have much pleasure in forwarding for your perusal a
copy of the latest Kev) Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, in
which there is a note upon " Rornulea as a Pest in Australia."
In this journal for January and February, 1908 (xxiv., 138, 154)
the question was raised as to the correct scientific name of the
so-called " Onion Weed," and a letter of inquiry sent to Kew by
Mr. Jas. Tovey was the immediate cause of the subject being
referred to in the Bulletin. It may be regarded as settled, as far
as the comparison of authentic specimens and the details of leaf-
sections can make it, that the Australian introduced plant is
Rornulea bulbocoditim, Seb. and Maur., as originally determined
by the late Baron von Mueller. R. rosea, Eckl., is regarded as a
synonym, and in referring to these two species the writer
remarks : — " The leaf-sections of these two species and of the
Australian plant are identical, and show the leaf to be twice as
broad as thick, while the outline of the leaf is linear, and quite
unlike that of R. cruciata, Eckl."

The Field Naturalists' Club is specially concerned with the
fauna and flora and with the correct determination of both
indigenous and introduced forms. While it seeks to popularize
the study of natural history by means of expressive common
names, it has always aimed at scientific accuracy, for, as it was
happily expressed in the presidential address for 1907 (Vict. Nat.,
xxiv., 49), " in a new country, until your objects have been
collected in fairly large numbers and dealt with from a systematic
point of view, it is difficult to see on what lines to investigate the
steps in their individual life -histories." — I am, yours, &c.,

D. M'ALPINE.
Pathologist's Branch, Department of Agriculture.
Melbourne, 26th November, 1908.

[Among the remarks in the Kew Bulletin in connection with
this subject it is stated that in Western Australia the plant is
known as " Guildford Grass " ; also that while the leaves are
indigestible and have been known to cause the death of animals,
the corms, on the contrary, are highly nutritious, and have been
found to contain 75.3 per cent, of starch in the dry substance —
a greater percentage than in the potato ! — Ed. Vict. Nat.'\

The next meeting of the Australasian Association for the
Advancement of Science will be held in Brisbane in January,
1909. Intending members should communicate with the hon.
secretary for A'^ictoria, Dr. T. S. Hall, University.

the Uictoria n naturalist.

Vol. XXV.— No. 9. JANUARY 14, 1909. No. 301,

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting was held at the Royal Society's
Hall on Monday evening, 14th December.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 50 members and visitors were present.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From Dr. Kaufman n, hon. secretary of the Microscopical
Society of Victoria, conveying the Society's fraternal greetings
and hearty good wishes. The president said he appreciated and
reciprocated the Society's good wishes.

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to the Botanic Gardens on Saturday,
2ist November was given by the leader, Mr. F. Pitcher, who
reported a good attendance of members. Special attention was
paid to characteristics in foliage, and the flowers of the banana
were examined and dissected. The fine display of blooms of the
Japanese Iris in the new lake was greatly admired.

A report of the excursion to Carrum on Saturday, 28th
November, was given by Mr. W. H. A. Roger (who acted as leader
in the unavoidable absence of Mr. C. French, jun.), who said the
attendance was rather small, and little of interest was noted.

A report of the excursion to Willsmere, Kew, on Saturday,
1 2th December, for pond-life, was given by the leaders, Messrs.
W. and J. Stickland, who reported a good attendance, and, owing
to the fine weather, a very enjoyable outing. A large number of
interesting captures were made, but owing to shortness of time a
full examination of the material had not yet been made. Very
fine growth of fresh-water sponges was noted, also the customary
Polyzoa and Hydras. The strange-looking tube-building rotifer,
Cephalosipho7i limnias, was very plentiful, and it was noted that,
though the full-grown specimens had an enormous dorsal antenna,
there was scarcely any sign of it in the young specimens. Some
clusters of Lacinularia socialis were found to have apparently
died in an extended condition, and in some of them, although no
other sign of life could be detected, the flame cells were seen to
be vibrating in full vigour.

A report of the junior excursion to Black Rock on Saturday,
5th December was given by the leader, Miss Freda Bage, B.Sc,
who reported a fair attendance of juniors. Though almost low
tide, a strong wind from the sea prevented much wading from
being done, therefore attention was paid to objects picked up
along the shore, and the main features pointed out. An interest-

138 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

ing talk ensued on methods of preserving the captures, and
altogether a very interesting afternoon was spent.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. C. L. Plumridge, 8 Gordon-
avenue, Kew, and Mr. R. N. Walcott, F.G.S., National Museum,
Melbourne, were elected ordinary members ; and Miss Marian
Booth, 25 Rathdown-street, Carlton, Miss Amy Gregory, Black-
street, Middle Brighton, Miss M. M 'Donald, 100 Kerferd-road,
Albert Park, Miss Vera Scott, 30A Council-street, Clifton Hill,
and Miss Daisy Searby, 58 North-street, Ascot Vale, were elected
junior members of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, referred to a letter in the current
(December) Naturalist with regard to the correct specific name of
the introduced Romulea, and said that, though he personally dis-
approved of controversy, he was compelled to reply, and read a
statement he would hand to the editor of the Naturalist for
publication.

PAPERS READ.

I. By Prof A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, entitled " Biological Survey of
Wilson's Promontory," part i.

The author summarized the results of a visit paid to the Prom-
montory in September by Messrs. J. W. Audas, of the National
Herbarium, and Mr. P. R. H. St. John, of the Botanic Gardens
staff. The former, who devoted himself to the flora, collected
over 300 species of plants, and brought the total number of plants
recorded from the Promontory up to 364. It was found that the
abnormally dry season and the great fires of last summer had
seriously damaged the plant-life in many parts. Mr. St. John,
besides assisting with the plants, took particular notice of the
bird-life, and added about ten species to those noted by the
Club excursion party in December, 1905.

Mr. A. D. Hardy congratulated Messrs. Audas and St. John on
the results of their explorations, and said with regard to their
statement that they had not seen the Native Beech, Fagus Cun-
ninghami, the purple orchid, Glossodia major, or the bulrush,
Typha angustifolia, which he had included in his list of the
Promontory plants, that, though he had not seen the first-named
species, he had been assured on good authority that it occurred on
the eastern side of the Promontory. He had no doubt about
Glossodia major, and in this he was corroborated by Dr. T. S.
Hall. As regards the bulrush there was some doubt, as the plant
was not in bloom at the time of his visit, but the late Mr. Walter
had confirmed his identification.

Mr. St. John, in referring to the fauna of the Park, said that
there were still a large number of Koalas, or Native Bears, Phasco-

Jan., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 139

larctos cinereus, Goldf., in the southern part of the peninsula,
while many thousands of Black Swans were seen on Shallow Inlet.

The president said that the presence of the Rose-breasted
Cockatoo, as mentioned by Mr. St. John, was an interesting fact,
as it rarely occurred so far south.

Dr. Hall and Mr. D. Best expressed some doubt as to the
number of swans reported to have been seen, but Mr. Armitage
confirmed the author's statements.

Mr. J. Kershaw, F.E.S., asked if foxes had been seen, and the
locality where traces of lyre-birds were noticed, and was informed
that no signs of foxes had been met with. The lyre-bird traces
had been seen near Mount Latrobe. Mr. St. John added that
neither kangaroos nor true dingoes had been met with.

Dr. Hall mentioned that applications had been called for
a ranger, and it was expected that an appointment would be
made shortly.

2. By Dr. C. S. Sutton, entitled " Botanical Notes of a visit to
the Snowy River."

The author gave an interesting description of the flora of the
country around Orbost, and more particularly of a piece of jungle
country about six miles on the road towards Mario, at the mouth
of the Snowy. Here occur a number of climbers not to be
found further west, and the author suggested that some effort
should be made to have this spot properly reserved.

Dr. Hall remarked on the curious incursion of tropical plants
down the south-eastern coast of Australia, gradually decreasing in
numbers as they approached the south, and mentioned the marked
resemblance between Eastern Australian jungle vegetation and
the flora of Malaysia.

Prof. Ewart said that this was an instance which showed that it
was not temperature alone which determined the distribution of
plants, but a combination of temperature and moisture, supplied in
this case by the humid easterly sea breezes.

Mr. F. Pitcher and Mr. G. Coghill referred to the interesting
description given by the author of jungle near Orbost, and
suggested that steps be taken to secure its reservation.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Mr. F. Pitcher mentioned that a few days previously he had
seen in the Botanic Gardens a bird in company with some
Thrushes which, though resembling them in other ways, was
entirely fawn in colour. Mr. Keartland said the bird was prob-
ably a Thrush, the fawn colour being due to deficiency of colour-
pigment in the skin.

Mr. C. J. Gabriel drew attention to his exhibit of a curious and
interesting mollusc — a bivalve shell belonging to the genus
Gastroch^na, obtained dredging off Point Cook, Port PhilHp Bay.
During the Club's excursion to Stony Point last Easter specimens

140 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

of two genera of " tube shells," known as Aspergillum and Clava-
gella, were dredged up, the former having its valves firmly incor-
porated with the calcareous protecting tube and visible from the
outside, the latter with the valves in the interior, one imbedded in
the tube, the other capable of movement, while in the Gastro-
chsena the valves are entirely free.

The two specimens from Point Cook were associated with
Barhatia fasciata, Rve., and Cardium tenuicostatum, Lam.

There was also exhibited a specimen from South Australia found
on Chlmnys bijrons, Lam,

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. R. W. Armitage. — Specimens of Bladderwort, Vtricu-
laria flexuosa, obtained during Willsmere excursion.

By Miss Cochrane. — Large gum-leaf from North-Eastern
district.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — A new weevil, Desiantha nociva, Lea,
at present very destructive to tomato and other plants near Mel-
bourne.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — A rare shell, Gastrochcena tasmanica,
Woods, dredged off Point Cook, Port Phillip Bay ; the first
specimen obtained during fifteen years' dredging.

By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — An albino specimen of the White-
backed Crow-Shrike, Gymnorhina leuconota.

By Mr. C. Oke. — Dried flowers from Western Australia, col-
lected by Mr. W. Du Boulay.

By Messrs. W. and J. Stickland. — Specimens from Willsmere
excursion — Fresh-water sponge, and, under microscope, the tube-
building rotifers, Melicerta ri7igens and Cephalosiphon limnias.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

A Rare Victorian Butterfly. — The appearance of the
butterfly Papilio sthenelus, Macleay, in our State is so seldom
noted that a recent capture seems worthy of record. Anderson
and Spry record it from Bacchus Marsh, Melbourne, and Moe,
but their most recent date is November, 1890. I have not heard
of its capture in recent years till this month it has been sent me
by Mr. Frichot, of Dimboola, who took it on the wing on 8th
November. Mr. G. A. Waterhouse, of Sydney, saw a specimen
flying in the streets of Adelaide on nth of this month, but it is
known there as a rare visitor only. He tells me he has only
once seen it flying in Sydney, but several single specimens have
been captured there in recent years. Such a conspicuous insect
could hardly be overlooked if at all abundant. I have records
of it from Tennant's Creek, Port Darwin, Wyndham, Somerset,
Cairns, Kuranda, Esk, Brisbane, and Richmond River. It is
not plentiful near the coast, but occurs freely on the Darling
Downs, in Queensland. — G. Lyell. Gisborne, 18/11/ 1908.

Jan., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 141

EXCURSION TO MELTON.
Eleven members, including one lady, journeyed to Melton on
Saturday, the 24th October, to participate in this excursion,
which is generally regarded as an ornithological one, but on this
occasion botany was a strong element. As the train approached
Rockbank several Black-breasted Plover were observed, which
appeared to be family groups, as these birds are early breeders.
Then Ravens, Brown Hawks, Kestrels, &c., were passed. On
arrival at Melton we at once sought the route taken on previous
occasions to Mr. Raleigh's farm, where a country member,
Mr. F. L. Billinghurst, of Bacchus Marsh, had arranged to join us.
To our surprise nearly all the paddocks we usually crossed were
under crop, which, together with numerous barbed-wire fences,
somewhat retarded our progress. Here Restless and Brown
Flycatchers, Brown Tree-creepers, Pied Grallinas, Pipits,
Acanthizae, Wood-Swallows, and other birds arrested our attention.
At Mr. Raleigh's farm we found Mr. BiUinghurst awaiting us, and
we soon made a start for the mallee scrub, passing on our way
through a patch of ideal country for birds, but few were seen.
We anticipated finding many species nesting, but young White-
browed Pomatorhinus among the saplings, and some Pardalotes
inspecting their burrows conveyed the impression that either the
birds were breeding late or perhaps may not breed at all this season.
Whilst enjoying our lunch the note of the Harmonious Thrush was
heard, and in response to our call he came and hopped about the
bushes and branches overhead, calling and whistling whilst we
mimicked him. Next a brood of young Hooded Robins indulging
in their first flight was observed. Yellow-faced and Yellow-tufted
Honey-eaters were numerous. A Sacred Kingfisher, apparently
disturbed from its nest, perched near us. But a surprise was
awaiting us. On skirting the outside of some dense scrub, a
Black-eared Cuckoo, Alisocalius palliolaius, Lath., was seen
hopping about a small dry tree. It was shot, and proved to be a
female. In its oviduct was an egg complete all but the shell, and
there were a number of other large yolks. The inference to be
drawn from this is that, although it is usual to find only one
cuckoo-egg in the nest of the foster-parent, the same cuckoo may
lay in a number of different nests. Three of the party interested
in botany and entomology went further afield through some
scrubby country as far as the Coimadai Creek, but did not get
much for their extra walk. Nice specimens of the fern Grammitis
rutifolia were found growing in some rock crevices, and a
specimen of the little yellow butterfly, Terias smilax, was
observed. Early in the day a few specimens of the orchid
Pterostylis mutica were found not far from the station, but just
past their best. Though in better condition than on the occasion
of our visit twelve months before, the country was still suffering
from the succession of dry seasons, which probably accounts for
the scarcity of birds, &c. — G. A. Keartland.

142 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WILSON'S PROMONTORY.
First Report by Alfred J. Ewart, D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S.

{Read hefore the Field Naturalists* Cluh of Vidor^ia, I'ith Dec, 1908.)
With the consent of the Minister for Agriculture, the National
Herbarium has undertaken to make a complete botanical survey
of Wilson's Promontory, and, as a first beginning to that end, Mr.
J. W. Audas, of the National Herbarium, and Mr. P. R. H. St.
John, of the Botanic Gardens, spent a fortnight in the
Promontory in October last exploring its botanical and other
treasures. They confined themselves to the south and south-
west of the National Park, leaving the north-east portion for a
second visit. As can be seen from the appended map, prepared
by Mr. A. D. Hardy, their route was a very extended one, and
as a result the number of plants collected, named, and deposited
in the National Herbarium amounts to well over 300.

In the report of the Field Naturalists' Club excursion party
to the Promontory in December, 1905 {Vict. Nat.., vol. xxii.,
p. 217), Mr. Hardy records 181 flowering plants and ferns,
a number of which, however, had already been collected
by Baron von Mueller, who was probably the first to make
a botanical trip through the Promontory. On the appended
list any names given in Mr. Hardy's list, but not collected
during the present excursion, are marked with the letter (H.)
Mr. Hardy informs me that, owing to his portfolio having
fallen into the sea, his collection of specimens was much
damaged, so that it is not possible to verify the list thoroughly,
but specimens of five of the eleven plants not seen have since
been sent to the Herbarium.

In a few cases it is possible errors may have crept in. Thus,
neither Mr. Audas nor Mr. St. John saw a single specimen of
Fagiis Cunninyhami,''' Hook., or of Typha angustifolia, L. The
former may have been destroyed by the fires, but hardly the
latter, which is either absent or very scarce. The orchid
Glossodia major, R. Br., recorded as in flower at Christmas time,
seems doubtful, being at least a month later than usual. Hence,
following the usual Herbarium practice, only those records can
be accepted in such cases as definitely established which are
supported by actual specimens, so that the accuracy of the
naming can be verified in case of need. Again, " Calocephalus
fastigiata'" is evidently intended for Calostrophus fastigiatus.

The total number of plants recorded for Wilson's Promontory
now amounts to 364, and probably nearly a fourth of the flora of
Victoria will be found represented in the National Park. It
includes some fairly rare plants. Thus Fieldia australis, A.

* Mr. Hardy informs me that this plant was not actually seen, but that it
may be found on the eastern side.

THE VIC TOR I A N NA TURAL IS T. — Vol. XXV.

Plate 6.

Febrtiary, 1909.

MAP OF NATIONAL PARK. WILSON'S PROMONTORY.

Jan., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 143

Cunn., is only recorded from two localities in Victoria in
Bentham's Flora, one of these being Sealers' Cove. Again,
Xanthosia tridentata^ D.C., which was found at an elevation
of 1,000 feet, is only recorded from Wilson's Promontory in
Victoria.

Although the present list is by no means a complete one, it is
interesting to note that of the whole of the Natural orders repre-
sented in Victoria thirty-one so far appear unrepresented on
the Promontory. The orders are, however, all small ones —
Ceratophyllese, Nymphaeaceae, Magnoliacese, Menispermeae,
Capparideoe, Elatinese, Zygophylleae, Celastrineae, Sapindacese,
Plumbaginese, Amarantacese, Frankeniaceae, Phytolaccaceae,
Nyctaginese, Lythrarie^e, Ampelideae, Olacineae, Callitrichaceae,
Loranthaceae, Passifloreae,Cucurbitaceae, Jasmineae, Asclepiadaceae,
Orobancheae, Ericaceae, Coniferae, Palmae, Alismaceae, Phil-
hydreae, Eriocauleae, Rhizospermae. Of these, however, repre-
sentatives of the Ceratophyllepe, Lythrarieae, and Rhizospermae,
as well as others also, are sure to be found on careful search, but
it is curious that no Grevilleas appear to occur in the Park,
although many localities would be suitable for them.

Unfortunately the list also includes eleven naturalized aliens
(Nos. 16*, 41*, 56*, 90*, 175*, 237^ 245^ 286*, 292^ 309*,
326*), which are distinguished on the list by an asterisk. The
spread of these weeds has been favoured by the fires and by the
presence of stock, among the commonest and most widely spread
being Picris hieracioides (Hawkweed Picris) and Fapaver
hyhridum (Hybrid Poppy). So far only one plant (Cape Weed)
which is a " Thistle under the Act " appears to have obtained
entry. The abundance of sorrel wherever the carcasses of dead
cattle have rotted is worthy of note, the seed having probably
been carried by birds or by the animal itself, and flourishing in
the soil enriched with humus around the carcass.

A few observations made upon the flora and fauna of the
Park by Messrs. Audas and St. John are given beneath, together
with a list of the birds noted by Mr. St. John, the total amounting
to d>T„ whereas during the excursion in 1905-6 only 72 were
noted. On the whole, however, the avian fauna does not seem to
be increasing, but rather the reverse, especially as regards the
numbers of individuals. The recent fires appear to be partly
responsible for this, and also for the destruction of much valuable
timber, all the trees on Mt. Wilson, for instance, having been
destroyed. Over the older burnt portions a dense scrub has
sprung up, making locomotion difticult, and it will probably be
many years before the Park is restored to its pristine grandeur.
The urgency of the appointment of a ranger is well indicated by
the fact that over 200 head of cattle and a few horses were found
enjoying iUicit grazing in the Park. To some extent the

144 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV-

numerous poison plants of the Park have meted out a just retri-
bution, but unfortunately on the helpless accessories instead of on
the real transgressors.

Botanical Report by J. W. Audas.

Though the great fires of last summer and the abnormal dry-
ness of the season had left some of the mountains almost denuded
of vegetation, and plant-life generally was not at its best, never-
theless the whole region was full of interest. One can therefore
conclude what charms this great district would manifest under
favourable conditions.

A curious feature noted was that " soaks" on top of the
different hills contained such plants as are usually met with in
swamps in other districts, viz.: — SprenyeUa^ Ejmcris ohtusifolia,
E. lanuginosa, Juncus, Schcenus. A very noticeable feature was
the presence of mountain plants on flats, such as Diplarrheyia
Morcea, " the Butterfly Flag," while Platylobiuin formosum,
FuUencea mollis, Cassinia spectabilis, Leucopogon ericoides were
found on the beach growing in sand close to the sea.

On all the wind-swept points of the Promontory the vegetation
is very dwarfed, and covers the ground like a carpet. The gullies
and creeks are very similar to those in the Healesville district, the
vegetation being almost the same, in spite of the fact that granite
is more in evidence. We noticed in some of the creeks fine
specimens of Eugenia Srnithii, one measuring no less than 20 feet
in circumference ; also some magnificent specimens of Eucalyptus
globulus, E. amygdalina, and E. obliqua, &c., besides F7'osta7i-
tliera lasiantha, Acacia nielanoxylon, Hedycarya G unninghami.
The specimens of the tree-fern Cyathea Cunninghayni seen were
particularly fine. The bracken fern in some of the gullies was fully
12 feet high, and in one gully the scrub was mainly composed of
an almost impenetrable mass of bracken, mixed with Pultencea
daphnoides and P. scah^a. The red variety of Correa speciosa was
seen fully 15 feet high, and covered with most beautiful and showy
bloom. The other plants comprising the scrub were seedling
Eucalypti, Musk-wood, Blanket-wood, &c. In contrast to the
above, the flora also includes such minute plants as Drosera
pygmcea and Stylidiuin despectuni. A striking feature was the
almost total absence of vegetation on the western sides of most of
the hills, while the eastern sides were clothed with dense scrub.

One specimen of the so-called " Honeysuckles," Banksia serrata^
was observed fully 6 feet in circumference. These handsome trees
give to the scenery quite a park-like appearance, and in the dis-
tance a group of them very much resembles an orchard plantation.
The swamps are very dangerous. Three bullocks got off the
usual track, and disappeared m the water and treacherous mud at
the bottom immediately.

Jan., 1909.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

145

List of Species, Alphabetically Arranged.

(H.) = species recorded by Hardy. (*) = naturalized alien.

lO.
II.
12.

13-

14.

15-

16.

17-
18.

19.
20.
21.

22.

23-
24.

25-
26.

27.
28.
29.
30.
31-
32.

34-

35-
36.
37.
38.

39-
40.
41.
42.
43-
44.
45-
46.

47-

48.
49.

Acacia decurrens, Willd.

,, melanoxylon, R. Br.

,, myrtifolia, Willd.

,, oxycedrus, Sieber

,, retinodes, Sch.

,, stricta, Willd.
AcLcna ovina, A. Cunn.

,, sanguisorbfe, Vahl.
Acrotiiche serrulata, R. Br.

,, ,, var. ventricosa

Adiantum aethiopicum, L.
Adriana quadripartita, Gaud.
Ajuga australis, R. Br.
Alsopliila auslralis, R. Br.
Alyxia buxifolia, R. Br.
Amperea spartioides, Brongn.
(*) Anagallis arvensis, L.

,, ,, var. ctcrulea

Anthistiria ciliata, Linn. f.
Aotus villosa, Sm.
Apiuni prostratum, Labill.
Arthropodium strictum, R. Br.
Arundo phragmites, L.
Asperula conferta, Hook f.
Aspidium aculeatum, Swartz.

,, capense, Willd.
Asplenium bulbiferum, G. Forster

,, flaccidum, G. Forster
Aster Huegelii, F. v. M.

,, myrsinoides, Labill.

,, ramulosus, Labill.
Astroloma humifusum, R. Br.
Atriplex crystallinum, Hook. f.
Australina pusilla, Gaud.
(H.) Avicennia officinalis, L.
Banksia collina, R. Br.
,, integri folia, Lin. f.
,, raarginata, Cav.
,, serrata, Lin. f.
Bartlingia sessiliflora, F. v. M.
Bauera rubioides, Andr.
Bedfordia salicina, D. C.
(*) Bellis perennis, L.
Billardiera scandens, Sm.
Blechnum cartilagineum, Swartz
Boronia parviflora, Sm.

?> polygalifolia, Sm.
Bossirea prostrata, R. Br.
Brachycome diversifolia, Fisch.

and Mey.
Brachyloma ciliatum, Benth.
Brunella ( Prunella) t vulgaris, L.

50. Brunonia australis, Sm.

51. Bulbine bulbosa, Haw.

52. ,, semibarbata, Haw.

53. Burchardia umbellata, R. Br.

54. Burnettia cuneata, Lindl.

55. Bursaria spinosa, Cav.

55^. ,, var. Pantoni, Guilfoyle

56. (*) Cakile maritima, Scop.

57. Caladenia carnea, R. Br.

58. ,, Menziesii, R. Br.

59. ,, Patersoni, R. Br.

60. Calandrinia calyptrata, Hook f.

61. Callistemon laiiceolatus, Sweet

62. Calocephalus Brownii, F. v. M.

63. Calochilus campestris, R. Br.

64. „ Robertsoni, Benth.

65. Cardamine dictyo>perma, Hook.

66. Carex pseudo-cypeius, L.

67. „ pumila, Thunb.

68. Cassinia aculeata, R. Br.

69. ,, spectabilis, R. Br.

70. Casuarina distyla, Vent.

71- ,, quadrivalvis, Labill.

72. ,, suberosa, Otto & Dietr.

73. Cassytha pubescens, R. Br.

74. Centrolepisaristata. Roem. & Sch.
75- j> strigosa, Roem. & Sch.
76. Cladium glomeratum, R. Br.

77- 5> schcenoides, R. Br.

78. Clematis aristata, R, Br.
79- ,, microphylla, D. C.

80. Comesperma calymega, Labill.

81. ,, ericinum, D. C.

82. ,, volubile, Labill.

83. Convolvulus marginatus, Poir.

84. Coprosma Billardieri, Hook. f.

85. Correa alba, Andr.

86. ,, speciosa. Ait.

87. Cotula coronopifolia, L.

88. ,, reptans, Benth.

,, ,, var. major

89. (H.) Cryptandra Hookeri, F. v. M.

90. (*)Cryptostemma calendulaceum,

R. Br.

91. Cyathea Cunninghami, Hook. f.

92. Cymbanotus Lawsonianus, Gaud.

93. Cynoglossum australe, R. Br.
94- J J suaveolens, R. Br.

95. Cyperus lucid us, R. Br.

96. Dampiera stricta. R. Br.

97. Danthonia penicillata, F. v. M.

,, ,, var. setacea

t Known in the old Herbals and to Bauhin and Clusius as Brunella. Changed by
LinnEeus to Prunella. Changed by Mueller, by Engler, by Bentham and Hooker back to
Brunella ; but according to the Congress law.i Prunella must stand.

1:46

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXV.

98.

99.
[OO.
[OI.
[02.
[O3.
[O4.
105.
[06.
[07.
[08.
109.

10.

11.

12.

13-

14.

15-

16.

17.

19.

[20.
[21.

[22.
[23.

[24.

125.
[26.
[27.
[28.
[29.
[30.

[31-

[32.

^33-

134-

135-
[36.

137-
138.
[39-
[40.
[41.
[42.

[43-
[44.

145-
146.

147.
148.
149.
150.

151.
152.

Daucus brachiatus, Sieber
Davallia dubia, R. Br.
Daviesia ulicina, Sm.
Deyeuxia quadriseta, Bentb.
Dianella longifolia, R. Br.

,, revoluta, R. Br.
Dicksoiiia antarctica, Labilb
Dillwynia cinerascens, R, Br.

,, ericifolia, Sm.

,, floribunda, Sm.
Diplarrhena Mora;a, Labill.
(H,) Dipodiumpunctatum, R.Br.
Diuris longifoHa, R. Br.
Drosera auriculata, Backh.
,, binata, Labilb
,, pygmaea, D. C,
,, spathulala, Labilb
Echinopogon ovatus, Beauv.
Ehrharta stipoides, Labill.
Epacris impressa, Labill.

,, ,, var. rosea

,, lanuginosa, Labill.

,, obtusifolia, Sm.
Epilobium glabellum, For.^t.
Erechtites arguta, D. C.

,, prenanthoides, D. C.

Erodium cygnorum, Nces.
Erythrasa australis, R. Br.
Eucalyptus amygdalina, Labill.

,, globulus, Labill.

,, Gunnii, Hook. f.

,, Muelleriana. Howitt

,, obliqua, L'Herit.

,, viminalis, Labill.

Eugenia Smithii, Poir
Euphrasia ccjllina, R. Br.
Exocarpus strictus, R. Br,
(H.) Fagus Cunninghami, Hook.
(H.)Festuca Hookeriana, F.v.M.
Fieldia australis, A. Cunn.
Geranium dissectum, L.
Gleichenia circinata, Swartz
(H.) ,, dicarpa, R. Br.

,, flabellata, R. Br.
(H.) Glossodia major, R. Hr.
Glycine clandestina, Wendl.
Gnaphalium japonicum, Thunb.
Gompholobium Huegelii, Benth.
,, ,, red flowered

,, ,, pale yellow

(H.) ,, minus, Sm.

Goodenia ovata, Sm.
Goodia lotifolia, Salisb.
Hakea acicularis. Knight
,, nodosa, R.. Br.
,, pugioniformis, Cav.
,, ulicina, R. Br.
Ilalophila ovata, Gaud.

53-
54-
55-
56.

57.
58.

59-
60.
61.
62.
63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

67A

68.

69.

70.

71-

72.
73.

74-

75-
76.

77.
78.

79.
80.

84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.

92.

93.
94.
95.

96.

97-
98.
99.

200.

201.

202.

203.

Haloragis micrantha, R. Br.
,, tetragyna, Hook f.

Hedycarya Cunninghami, Labill.
Heleocharis acuta, Tul.

,, sphacelata, R. Br.

Helichrysum apiculatum,D. Don.
,, Baxteri, A. Cunn.
,, cinereum, F. v. I\L
,, ferrugineum, Lessing
,, leucopsidium, D. C.
,, lucidum, Henck.
,, ,, white var.

,, obtusifolium. F. v. M.
and Sond.

,, scorpioides, Labill.
Hibbertia acicularis, F. v. M.
,, Billiardieri, F. v. M.

,, ,, var. parviflora

,, fasciculata, R. Br.
,, sericea, Benth.
,, stricta, R. Br.
Hydrocotyle laxiflora, D. C.

,, also a variegated form
Hymenophyllum nitens, R. Br.
,, javanicum, Spreng.
Hypericum japonicum, Thunb.
{*) Hypocheeris radicata, L.
Hypolaena fastigiata, R. Br.
Hypoxis glabella, R. Br.
Indigofera austraUs, Willd.
Isopogon ceratophyllus, R. Br.
Isotoma fluviatilis, F. v. M.
Juncus communis, G. Mey.

,, pauciflorus, R. Br.
Kennedya prostrata, R. Br.
Kunzea corifolia, Reichb.
(H.) ,, peduncularis, F. v. M.
Lagenophora Billardieri, Cass.
(H.) Lemna minor, L.
Lepidosperma concavum, R. Bi.
., exaltatum, R. Br.

Leptocarpus Brownii, Hook. f.
Leptorrhynchos tenuifolius, F. v.

M.
Leptospermum la^vigatum, F.
V. M.

,, lanigerum, Sm.

,, myrsinoides,Sch.

,, scoparium, R.

and G. Forster
Leucopogon australis, R. Br.
,, ericoides, R. Br.

,, virgatus, R. Br.

Lindsaya linearis, Swartz
Linum marginale, Cunn.
Lobelia anceps, Lin. f.
,, gibbosa, Labill.
,, rhombifolia, Dc Vriese

Jan., 1909.]

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

147

204. Lomaria capensis, Willd.

205. ,, discolor, Willd.

206. ,, lanceolata, Spreng.

207. ,, Palersoni, Spreng.

208. Lomatia Fraseri, R. Br.

209. Lotus australis, Andr.

210. I.ycopodium densum, Labill.

211. ,, laterale, R. Br.

212. Lyonsia straminea, R. Br.

213. Lyperanthus nigricans, R. Br.

214. Marchantia polymorpha, L.

215. Marianthus procunibens, Benth.

216. Mazus Pumilio, R. Br.

217. Melaleuca ericifolia, Sm.

218. ,, squarrosa, Don

219. Mentha australis, R. Br.

220. Mesembryanthemum eequilater-

ale, Haw.

221. Mesomel^na sphxrocephala,

Benth.

222. Microtis atrata, Lindl.

223. ,, porrifoHa, R. Br.

224. Mitrasacme polymorpha, R. Br.

225. Muehlenbeckia adpressa, M eissn.

226. Myoporum viscosum, R. Br.

227. Myriophyllum varisefolium.

Hook. f.

228. Myrsine variabilis, R. Br.

229. Olearia argophylla, F. v. M.

230. ,, axillaris, F. v. M.

231. ,, stellulata, D. C.

23 1 A. ,, ,, var. lirata

231B. ,, ,, ,, quercifolia

233. Opercularia ovata, Hook. f.

234. ,, varia, Hook, f.

235. Oxalis corniculata, L.

236. Panax sambucifolius, Sieber

237. (*) Papaver hybiidum, L.

238. Parietaria debilis, Forst. f.

239. Patersonia glabrata, R. Br.

240. ,, glauca, R. Br.

241. ,, longiscapa. Sweet

242. Pelargonium australe, Jacq.

243. Persoonia juniperina, Labill.

244. Phyllanthus Gunnii, Hook. f.

245. (*) Picris hieracioides, L.

246. Pimelea axifloia, F. v. M.

247. ,, coUina, R. Br.

248. ,, glauca, R. Br.

249. ,, humilis, R. Br.

250. ,, Hgustrina, Labill.

251. ,, linifolia, Sm.

252. Pittosporum bicolor. Hook.

253. Plagianthus pulchellus, A. Gray

254. (*) Plantago lanceolata, L.

255. (H.) ,, varia, R. Br.

256. Platylobium formosum, Sm.

257. ,, triangulare, R. Br.

258. Poa Billardieri, Steud.

259. ,, caespitosa, Forst. f.

260. Podolepis acuminata, R. Br.

261. Podosperma angustifolia, Labill,

262. (PL) Polygonum minus, Hudson

263. Polypodium australe, Metten

264. ,, Billardieri, Willd.

265. Pomaderris apetala, Labill.

266. ,, racemosa. Hook.

267. Poranthera microphylla, Brongn.

268. Potamogeton natans, L.

269. Prasophyllum australe, R. Br.

270. ,, brevilabre, Hook. f.

271. ,, elatum, R. Br.

272. ,, fuscum, R. Br.
273- 55 patens, R. Br.

274. Prostantheralasiantha, Labill.

275. Pteris aquilina, L.

276. ,, comans, G. Forster

277. Pterostylis barbata, Lindl.

278. Pulteinea daphnoides, Wendl.
279- 5? mollis, Lindl.

2S0. ,, paleacea, Willd.

281. ,. scabra, R. Br.

282. ,, stricta, Sims

283. Ranunculus aquatilis, L.

284. ,, hirtus. Banks and Soland.

285. ,, lappaceus, Sm.

286. (*) ,, muricatus, L.

287. ,, rivularis, Banks and So-
land.

288. Restio tetraphyllus, Labill.

289. (H.)Rhagodia Billardieri, R.Br.

290. Ricinocarpus pinifolius, Desf.

291. Rubus parvifolius, L.

292. (*) Rumex Acetosella, L.

293. Sambucus Gaudichaudiana,D.C.

294. Samolus repens, Pers.

295. ScKvola microcarpa, Cav.

296. ,, suaveolens, B. Br.

297. Schizaea bifida, W illd.

298. Schoenus brevifolius, R. Br.

299. Scirpus lacustris, L.

300. ,, nodosus, Rottb.

301. Scutellaria humilis, R. Br.

302. Sebffia ovata, R. Br.

303. Siegesbeckia orientalis, L.

304. Selaginella uliginosa, Spreng.

305. Senecio lautus, Soland.

,, ,, variegated

306. ,, odoratus, Hornem.

307. ,, vagus, F. V. M.

308. ,, velleioides, A. Cunn.

309. (*) Silene gallica, L.

310. Slum latifolium, L.

311. Solanum aviculare, G. Forster

312. Sphaerolobium vimineum, Sm.

313. Spinifex hirsutus, Labill.

148

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXV.

314-

315-
316.

317.
318.

319-
320.
321.

322.

323-
324-
325-
326.

327-
328.

329.

331-

332.

333-
334-
335-
336.
337.
338.
339-

Spyridium pavvifoliuin, F. v. M. ' '^
Stackhousia linarifolia, Cunn.

,, spathulata, Sieber

,, viminea, Sm.

Stellaria flaccida, Hook.
Stenopetalum lineare, R. Br.
Stipa flavescens, Labill.
,, teretifolius, Steud.
Stylidium despectum, R. Br.
,, graminifoliiim, Sw.

Stypandra caespitosa, R. hr.

,, also a pale yellow form
(H.*) Suaeda maritima, Duni.
Swainsona lessertifolia, D. C.
Tecoma australis, R. Br.
Tetrarrhena juncea, R. Br.
Tetratheca ciliata, Liiidl.

,, ,, var. alba.

,, ericinum, Sm.
Thelymitra aristata, Lindl,

,, pale coloured

,, flexuosa, Endl.

,, ixioides, Sw.
Thomasia petalocalyx, F. v. M.
Threlkeldia diffusa, R. Br.
Thysanotus tuberosus, R. Br.
'Jillaea recurva, Hook. f.
,, verticillata, Steud.

340. Tmesipteris tannensis, Bernhard.

341. Todea barbara, L.

342. Trichomanes humile, Forst.

343. Triglochin procerum, R. Br.

344. ,, striatum, Ruiz, and
Bav

345. (H.) Typha angustifolia, L.

346. Urtica incisa, Poir.

347. Utricularia dichotoma, Labill.
,, ,, white flowered.

348. Veronica calycina, R. Br.

349. ,, Derwentia, Andr.

350. ,, gracilis, R. Br.

351. ,, notabilis, F. v. M.

352. Villarsia reniformis, R. Br.

353. Viminaria denudata, Sm.

354. Viola betonicifolia, Sm.

355. ,5 hederacea, Labill.
,, ,, var. Sieberiana

356. Wahlenbergia gracilis, Schrad.

357. Wurmbea dioica, F. v. M.

358. Xanthorrhcca australis, R. Br.

359. ,, minor. R. Br.

360. Xanthosia tridentata, D.C.

361. Xerotes longifolia, R. Br.

362. ,, Thunbergii, F. v. M.

363. Xyris gracilis, R. Br.

364. Zieria Smithii, Andr.

Natural Orders Represented.

Dilleniaceae— 166, 167, 168, 169, 170.
Ranunculacea;— 78, 79, 283, 284, 285,

286, 287.
Monimiaceae — 155.
Lauraceae — 73.
Papaveracese — 237.
Cruciferae — 56, 65, 319.
Violaceae — 354, 355.
Pittosporeae— 42, 55, 215, 252.
Droseraceae— III, 112, 113, 114.
Hypericineii: — 174-
Polygaleae— 80, 81, 82.
Trcmandreae — 330, 331.
Rutacea^— 44, 45, 85, 86, 364.
Linacea.' — 200.

Geraniaceae— 123, 137, 235, 242.
Malvaceae — 253.
Sterculiaceae — 335-
EuphorbiaceK— II, 15. 244, 267,

290.
UrticaceK— 32, 238, 346.
CujuiliferK — 134.
Casuarineit; — 70, 71, 72.
Stackhousieae— 315, 316, 317.
Portulaceae— 60.
Caryophyllea:— 309, 318.
Chenopodiacege— 31, 289, 326, 336.
Ficoidea:;— 220.
Polygonacex' - 225, 262, 292.

Thymelere— 246, 247, 248, 249, 250,
251.

Leguminosaj — I, 2, 3, 4, 5? 6, 18. 46.
100, 105, 106, 107, 142, 144,
145, 147, 178, 183, 209, 256,
257, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282,
312, 327, 353.

Rosaceae — 7, 8, 291.

Saxifrages — 39.

Crassulacccx— 338, 339.

Onagreas — 120

Haloragea^— 153, 154, 227.

Myrtaceoe — 61, 125, 126, 127, 128,
129, 130, 131, 184, 185, 192,
193, 194, 195' 217, 218.

Rhamnacecx:~89, 265, 266, 314.

Araliacete — 236.

Umbellifera^— 19, 98, 171, 310, 360.

Santalaceae — 133.

Proteacea2— 34, 35, 36, ^7, H^, I49,
150, 151, 179, 208, 243.

Rubiacei\: — 22, 84, 233, 234.

Caprifoliacea^ — 293.

Composita.' — 27, 28, 29, 40, 41, 47,
62, 68, 69, 87, 88, 90, 92, 121,
122, 143, 158, 159, !6o, 161,
162, 163, 164, 165, 175, 186,
191, 229, 230, 231, 245, 260,
261, 303, 305, 306, 307, 308.

Jan., 1909. j

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

149

Campanulaceae — i8o, 201, 202, 203,

356.
Candolleacese — 322, 323.
Goodeniaceie — 50, 96, 146, 295, 296.
Gentiane^e — ^124, 302, 352.
Loganiacece — 224.
PlantagineK — 254, 255.
PrimulaceK — 16, 294.
Myrsinacece — 228.
Apocyneae — 14, 212.
Convolvulacea; — 83.
Solanacese — 311.
Scrophularinae — 132, 216, 348, 349,

350, 351-
Lentibularinae— 347.
Gesneriaceae — 1 36.
Bignoniacese — 328.
Labiatae— 12, 49, 219, 274, 301.
Verbenaceoe — 33.
Myoporinae — 226.
Boraginece — 93, 94.
Epacrideae— 9, 30, 48, 117, 118, 119,

196, 197, 198.
Orchidece-54, 57, 58, 59, 63, 64,

109, no, 141, 213, 222, 223,

269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 277,

332, 333, 334-
Hydrocharideae— 152.
Amaryllidere — 177.
Tridea^— 108, 239, 240, 241.
Liliaceoe— 20, 38, 51, 52, 53,

102,

103, 324, 325, 337, 357.

Typhace^— 345.

Lemnacece — 187.

Fluviales— 268, 343, 344.

Xyrideae — 363.

Juncacese— 181, 182, 358, 359, 361,
362.

Centrolepideoe — 74, 75.

Restiacese — 176, 190, 288.

Cyperacepe— 66, 67, 76, 77, 95, 156,
157, 188, 189, 221, 298, 299, 300.

Graminese — 17, 21, 97, loi, 115, 116,
135,258, 259, 313,320.321.329.

Lycopodinx -2TO, 211, 304, 340.

Filices— 10, 13. 23, 24, 25, 26, 43,
91, 99, 104, 138, 139, 140, 172,
173, 199, 204, 205, 206, 207,
263, 264, 275. 276, 279, 341, 342.

Hepaticae — 214.

Report on Zoology by P. R. H. St. John.

No rabbits, but a few hares, were seen, as well as more than
a score in all of native bears, some bandicoots, and a fair number
of wallabies. Both deer (introduced many years ago) and lyre-
birds were distinctly heard, but not seen. Dingo tracks were
very abundant, but snakes appear to be comparatively scarce.
On the whole, the vertebrate fauna was scanty, as compared with
what it should be, and with what it will undoubtedly become
under proper management.

Among the birds seen the Black Swans were particularly
numerous and interesting, but as regards individual numbers the
bird-life of the Park is scanty, and requires fostering. On the
appended list any birds observed during the 1905-1906 trip, as
well as on the present one, are marked with an asterisk.

*Acanthiza chrysorrhoa ...

,, lineata

*Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
*Acanthochcera carunculata
*Acrocephalus australis ...

jfEgialitis melanops

Anas gibberifrons
* ,, superciliosa
*Anthus australis

Aprosmictus cyanopygius

Artamus sordidus

Biziura lobata

Burhinus grallarius
*Cacatua galerita

Yellow-rumped Tit

Striated Tit

Spine-billed Honey-eater

Red Wattle- bird

Reed Warbler

Black-fronted Dotterel

Grey Teal

Black Duck

Pipit

King Lory

Wood-Swallow

Musk Duck

Stone Plover

White Cockatoo

150

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

[Vol. XXV.

Cacatua roseicapilla
Cacomantis flabelliformis
Callocephalon galeatum ...
*Calyptorrhynchus funereus
Cerchneis cenchroides ...
Chalcococcyx basalis

* ,, plagosus ...
*Chenopsis atrata

Cheramoeca leucosternum
Circus assimilis

* Colly riocincla harmonica
Corvus coronoides

*Coturnix pectoraiis
*Cracticus destructor
*Cuculus pallidus
*Dacelo gigas ...
*Eopsaltria australis
*Ephthianura albifrons ...

Falco melanogenys

Fulica australis

Gallinula tenebrosa

Glycyphila albifrons

Graucalus melanops
*Grallina picata
*Gymnorhina leuconota ...
*Halcyon sanctus
*H3ematopus longirostris ...

* ,, unicolor
Hieracidea orientalis

*Hirundo neoxena
*Larus novae-hollandise ...
,, pacificus

Lobivanellus lobatus

Malacorhynchus membranaceus
*Malurus cyaneus

Meliornis novae-hollandice

, , australasiana . . .

*Melithreptus lunulatus ...

Menura superba

Nanodes discolor

Neophema elegans
■*Ninox boobook

Numenius cyanops

Nyroca australis

Pachycephala gilbertii ...

* ,, gutturalis ...
,, olivacea

Pardalotus ornatus

* ,, punctatus
Pandion leucocephala
Petroeca bicolor

,, multicolor

Peltohyas australis

*Phalacrocorax carbo

* J J gouldii
Phaps elegans

*Platycercus elegans (Pennantii)
Podiceps cristatus

Rose-breasted Cockatoo

Fan-tail Cuckoo

Gang-Gang Cockatoo

Black Cockatoo

Kestrel

Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo

Bronze Cuckoo

Black Swan

Black and White Swallow

Spotted Harrier

Grey Shrike-Thrush

Crow

Stubble Quail

Butcher-bird

Pallid Cuckoo

Brown Kingfisher, "Jackass"

Yellow- breasted Robin

White-fronted Chat

Black-cheeked Falcon

Coot (Darby River)

Moor-hen (Darby River)

White-fronted Honey-eater

Black-faced Cuckoo- Shrike

Magpie Lark

Magpie

Sacred Kingfisher

Pied Oyster-catcher

Black Oyster-catcher

Brown Hawk

Swallow

Silver Gull

Pacific Gull

Spur-winged Plover

Pink-eared Duck

Blue Wren

New Holland Honey-eater

Crescent Honey-eater

White-naped Honey-eater

Lyre-bird (gully near Mt. Latrobe)

Swift Lorikeet

Grass Parrakeet

Boobook Owl

Curlew

White-eyed Duck

Red-throated Thickhead

White-throated Thickhead

Olive Thickhead

Striated Pardalote

Spotted Pardalote

Osprey or Fish- hawk

Hooded Robin

Scarlet-breasted Robin

Dotterel

Black Cormorant

White-breasted Cormorant

Brush Bronze-wing Pigeon

Red Lory

Tippet Grebe (Darby River)

Jan., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 151

Porphyrio nielanonotus ... ... Bald Coot (Derby River)

*Psophodes crepitans ... ... Coachwhip-bird

Ptilotis leucotis ... ... White-eared Honey-eater

*Rhipidura albiscapa ... ... White-shafted Fan-tail Flycatcher

,, rufifrons ... ... Rufous Fan-tail Flycatcher

*Sericornis frontalis ... ... Scrub Wren

Stipiturus malachurus ... ... Emu Wren

*Strepera cuneicaudata ... ... Grey Crow-Shrike

*Sula serrator ... ... ... Gannet

*Trichoglossus novce-hollandice ... Blue Mountain Parrakeet

*Zosterops ccerulescens ... ... White-eye or Wax-eye.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE SPECIFIC NAME OF THE INTRODUCED

ROMULEA.
To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist.

Dear Sir, — I note in your last issue a letter from Mr. M'Alpinc
quoting extracts from the last Kew Bulletin purporting to show
that the name R. cruciata given to the "Onion Grass" is incorrect.
I must frankly confess that I consider it unfortunate that Mr.
M'Alpine, instead of doing some work or investigating this matter,
prefers to quote the opinions of others.

The error on the part of the Kew authorities has arisen from
the fact that there are two B. cruciatas — the original one of
Ker-Gawl, at first placed under Trichonema, and a later one of
Ecklon, which is invalid for priority reasons, but which could
hardly be expected to agree with our Australian B. cruciata.

I may mention that the Cape Herbarium identified our plant
as Romulea rosea, Eckl., var. parviflora, and that we followed
Ker-Gawl in raising this variety to specific rank as R. (Triclionema)
cruciata, Ker-Gawl. The British Museum identified the plant as
R. longijolia, Baker, which is a synonym to R. cruciata, Ker-
Gawl, following the rule that when species are shifted en bloc
from one genus to another, the original names and authorities for
the species must be retained in the absence of any reason to the
contrary.

This irid was recorded under the name oi Trichonema ochroleuca,
Ker, in Bentham's " Flora Australiensis," vol. vi., p. 399 (1873) ;
as Trichonema hulbocodiu7n, Ker, by Mr. Reader, in the Journal
of Pharmacy, 1887 ; and as Romulea hulhocodium, Sebast.,
in the "Key to Victorian Plants," 1887-8, by Mueller. In
Tasmania and New South Wales it was known as R. rosea, Eckl.
{Trichonema rosea, Ker-Gawl), whereas we have shown that it is
the plant distinguished by Ker-Gawl as Romulea (Trichonema)
cruciata, mainly on account of its short style. The Kew Her-
barium follows Battandier (Bull. Soc. Bot. de France, 1889) in
considering this character to be a variable one, and the species

152 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

therefore invalid. Kew also considers 7^. rosea and R. hulho-
codium to be conspecific, while the confusion is further increased
by the fact that the plant formerly known as B. bulhocodium in
England is now called R. columnce, Seb.

Faith is an admirable quality, but to place implicit faith in a
human institution is mere childishness. I doubt whether
any institution has as low a percentage of errors as the Kew
Herbarium, but many instances could be given in which the
dictum from Kew has differed from that of other authorities
equally good, and the same institution is not likely to be right in
every case. If we can find specimens of our Australian plant in
which the length of the style in regard to the stamens — a most
important character — varies, then it will be necessary to consider
our Australian plant as a variety, cruciata or parvijlora, of Rotnulea
bulhocodium, Seb. ; until that is the case it must remain under its
original name as a valid species. Remarks based on second-
hand information without any inquiry into the facts will not ad-
vance us in any way. — Very faithfully yours,

ALFRED J. EWART.
National Herbarium,

South Yarra, 13th December, 1908.

Recording Census of the Victorian Flora. — This skeleton
catalogue of Victorian plants has been prepared by the Govern-
ment Botanist, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc.^ and issued by the Depart-
ment of Agriculture, primarily with the view of facilitating the
recording of the popular names of our native plants. In addition
to this space is provided for recording other data, viz. — " Dura-
tion and Height," "Time of Flowering," "Colour of Flowers,"
" Soil and Habitat," and " Use or Character." The catalogue
extends to 97 foolscap pages, and is ruled to simplify the insertion
of entries. The arrangement and naming is that of Mueller's last
census. We trust full advantage will be taken of this scheme by
all who are capable of assisting. Such persons are desired to
apply to the Government Botanist for copies, which, when filled
in as far as can be, are to be returned to the National Herbarium,
where the lists will be collated. It is hoped that the information
so obtained will ultimately be incorporated in a popular work on
Victorian botany — a desideratum badly needed both by the
teacher, the student, and the mere lover of plants.

Mr. Charles M'Lennan, familiar to readers of the Argus
"Nature Notes" as " Mallee-Bird," has been appointed ranger of
the National Park, Wilson's Promontory, and, accompanied by
the Committee of Management, left for the scene of his duties
on the 13th inst.

CDe Ulcforlan naturalist.

Vol. XXV.— No. 10. FEBRUARY 4, 1909. No. 302.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, i8th January, 1909.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 50 members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

It was reported that the excursion to Beaumaris on Saturday,
19th December, under the leadership of Mr. O. A. Sayce, had
been well attended, but, owing to rough water, the results were
not very satisfactory.

It was reported that the excursion to Heidelberg on Saturday,
9th January, under Dr. Kaufmann, had been fairly attended.
The usual lagoons were visited, and numerous specimens of pond
life collected, but nothing of remarkable interest was noted.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. M. Morris, Biological School,
University ; Mr. W. J. Reid, 66 Smith-street, Kensington ; and
Mr. Alex. L. Scott, 27 EveHna-road, Toorak, were duly elected
members of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

The president welcomed as a visitor Mr. Robert Hall, C.M.Z.S.,
Curator of the Tasmanian Museum, Hobart, and said that
members were pleased to have Mr. Hall with them once more,
which was a reminder of the many interesting communications he
had made to them from time to time when a member of the Club.

Mr. Hall, in reply, said that he greatly appreciated the welcome,
and in his present position had found congenial employment, and
trusted if any members visited Hobart they would not fail to call
upon him at the Museum, when he would endeavour to make their
visit interesting.

Mr. A. H. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., called attention to the serious
danger to the reservation at Gembrook of damage by fire, and
suggested that the attention of the authorities should be called to
the matter.

PAPERS READ.

I. By Mr. A. J. North, C.M.B.O.U., entitled '' Notes on
Newton's and the Tooth-billed Bower-birds."

In the absence of the author, this was read by the chairman.
It described the finding, in November last, of the first nests and
eggs of these bower-birds in the dense scrub, about 30 miles
from Atherton, North Queensland, where, after a prolonged
search by Mr. Geo. Sharp, with the aid of a number of abor-

154 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

iginals, several nests of Newton's Bovver-bird were met with. The
fact of the nest being placed in an unusual position for that of a
bower-bird has probably tended to make the search for them
fruitless during the twenty-five years the bird has been known to
science, while the eggs are quite unlike those of typical Ptilono-
rhynchidae. Only two nests of the Tooth-billed species were
found, the eggs of which resemble the eggs of the Cat-bird,
though the nest is totally different.

Photographs of the nests and eggs were exhibited in illustration
of the papers.

The chairman congratulated Mr. North in having, through Mr.
Sharp, cleared up another of the oological uncertainties of
Australian ornithology, and remarked on the general character-
istics of the bower-bird family.

Mr. J. G. O'Donohue stated that he had noticed in Gippsland
that the Satin Bower-birds generally construct their bower or
playing place near a low, stout limb of a tree, as if to obtain some
measure of protection from it.

2. By Mr. J. W. Audas, entitled " Notes of a Trip to North
Queensland."

The author detailed his experiences during a visit paid to
North Queensland in July and August last, more particularly as
regards the flora and introduced plants of the Kuranda district,
where he succeeded in making a number of interesting observa-
tions.

Some discussion followed, in which Messrs. Hardy, Coghill, and
Mattingley took part.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTE.

Mr. F. Pitcher drew attention to his exhibit of a specimen of
Poa {G/yceria) dives, Victorian Sweet Grass, commonly known as
" Wild Oats," from Sassafras, Dandenong Ranges, over nine feet
in length ; also a frond of the Bracken Fern, Pteris aquilina, from
same locality, over ten feet long.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. J. W. Audas. — Specimens of twenty Queensland forest
timbers ; Balanophora Jungosa, R. and G. Forster ; two varieties
of cotton ; fruits of EUeocarpus Bancrojtii, F. M. and Bail. ;
*' Johnstone River Almond," gnawed by scrub rats to obtain the
kernel ; nuts of Helicia Whelani, Bail., used by the aboriginals for
food, in illustration of paper.

By Mr. F. G. A. Birnard — Growino; specimen of fern, Lomaria
Patp.rsoni, from Falls Creek, Upper Yarra.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — Ten specimens of the buprestid beetle,
Cyria imperia/is, from Mordialloc, showing variations in mark-
ings , also, polished aboriginal stone tomahawk, from Port
Fairy.'

Feb., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 155

By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley.— Skin of Spoon-billed Kingfisher,
Clytoceyx rex^ Sharpe, from New Guinea.

By Mr. A. J. North, C.M.B.O.U.— Photographs of nests and
eggs of Newton's and Tooth-billed Bower-birds, in illustration of
paper.

By Mr. F. Pitcher.— Large specimens of grass, Poa (Glyceria)
dives, and fern, Pteris aquilina, from Sassafras, Dandenong
Ranges ; also, wings of buff-plumaged form of English Thrush,
from bird killed by cat, Melbourne Botanic Gardens, December,
1908.

By Mr. A. O. Thiele. — Droserabmaia,hom Fitzroy Falls, New
South Wales ; and syenite with crystals of triclinic felspar, from
Bowral, New South Wales.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

BOTANICAL NOTES OF A VISIT TO THE SNOWY
RIVER DISTRICT.

By Dr. C. S. Sutton.
(Bead before the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, lAth Dec, 1908.)
Never yet having visited the eastern part of Gippsland, it will be
easily understood how eagerly I seized the opportunity, which
most unexpectedly presented itself in the early part of last
October, of paying a visit to Orbost, on the Snowy. Here was a
chance at last of making acquaintance with some of the many
climbing plants in which the flora of the eastern district is so
strong, all but half a dozen of them occurring there, and nearly
half of them being strictly confined to that quarter. Now, too,
perhaps, if the fates were very kind, would I get to where the
Waratah grows, and the Livistona australls, our sole representa-
tive of the noble family of palms, gives tropical flavour to the
landscape.

The weather was dull, cold, and threatening when I com-
menced my journey, and from the train the country had a very
drab appearance. So few flowers were to be seen that it seemed
as if spring had arrived only in the calendar and not in strict
reality. Indeed, until Moe was passed very little else than
Ranunculus lappaceus and Craspedia Richea was noted. At the
Haunted Hill, however, things began to improve somewhat, and
a section of the railway reserve was quite gay with low bushes of
PuUencea glabra, flowering profusely, Glossodia major, Diicris (sp.),
Leptorrhynchos tenuifoUus, and others. Still, nothing new to me
was seen until between Sale and Bairnsdale, when a Callitris,
presumably C, calcarata, began to make its appearance, and
occasional other unfamiliar plants were noticed, arousing in me
the desire to be out of the train, so that I could make closer
examination.

156 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

Arriving at last at Bairnsdale (171 miles) the steamer was
boarded, and we were very soon making our way down the
Mitchell— quite a fine stream here, as streams go in Victoria, and
about as wide as the Yarra at Kew. After passing Eagle Point the
river turns due east, and in a little while is running between two
narrow tongues of land, apparently not more than twenty yards
wide in places. These silt jetties, as they are called, project
straight out into Lake King for a distance of three miles, separat-
ing the river from Jones Bay in the north and Eagle Point Bay in
the south, and are continued still further by shoals, in which snags
are stranded and rushes are sparely growing. The jetties are
made use of for farming and grazing purposes to the very end,
and carry some low gums. Melaleuca tenuifolia was here very
prevalent, and just breaking into flower. One could not but be
surprised to see here so many fishing parties on both banks.
Men, women, and children were in dozens, but as far as one
could see they were having no luck, not even a nibble coming to
them while we were passing. After leaving the channel at the
end of the river Shags and Black Swans were seen in great
numbers as we made across to Paynesville. The low shores of
Raymond Island, covered apparently with thick tea-tree scrub,
were passed in the dusk, and it was pitch dark and between 8 and
9 o'clock before we at last reached Cunninghame, at the Lakes'
Entrance.

The coach for Orbost was taken the following morning, and,
Lake Tyers having broken out into the sea on account of recent
heavy rains, we had perforce to go by Nowa Nowa, on the
Boggy Creek, which runs into the northern end of the lake. This
detour increased the distance to 47 miles, which the coach takes
just nine hours to do, on account of the badness of the roads.
For some distance beyond Nowa, in fact, the roads are mere
tracks, and it was not until we were well on towards the Snowy
that a real road made its appearance.

The season being a late one, flowers were not yet much in
evidence. The most prevalent species was Platylohiumformosum,
and Prostanthera hirtula extended over a stretch of several miles
beyond Nowa. All the Acacias — stricta, melanoxylon, veo'ticellata,
and discolor were recognized— except decurrens had done flower-
ing, though some still bore the remains of blossom. The country
passed over consisted of low ridges of loose, dark, sandy soil,
and did not appear to be made much use of, as no stock was
noticed and evidence of cultivation only seen in four or five
localities. The timber was of moderate size, and of the Eucalypts
only amygdalina was in flower. Quite the most interesting
moments of the day were spent in a hurried scramble from the
bridge down the rocky banks of Boggy Creek, which here, at
least, does not deserve the name. In the short time at my

Feb., 1909,] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 157

disposal Prostanthera rotundifolia, in very fine flower ; Pomaderris
elliptica, bearing masses of dark orange-coloured blossom ; Lasio-
petahtm dasypht/llum, Zieria Smithiiy the ubiquitous Correa
speciosa, Dodoncea viscosa, with unusually small leaves and seed-
cases, and Marianthus pr'ocumbeois were collected.

From my short experience of it I should imagine this creek
would be well worth investigation on the part of the plant-lover,
and I very much regret I did not stay over here on my return
journey to explore it and Mount Nowa Nowa, a few miles up on
the eastern bank, instead of spending the time at Cunninghame.
The hotel is situated right at the bridge, looks clean and
comfortable, and is usually visited by tourists from Lakes'
Entrance, who walk or drive along the coast to Lake Tyers,
which they traverse by boat, returning from Nowa by the coach.
Of the other flowering plants noticed on the way, it will be
sufficient to say only that Hibhertia Billardieri, with its small,
yellow, sparse flowers, and Indigo/era Australis were the most
frequent, and that Kennedya ruhicunda was not met with until
just before reaching the Snowy. Here, too, I might perhaps
mention that singularly few orchids were seen, the tally for my
whole trip only amounting to Caladenia latifolia, C. carnea,
C. Pater soni, and Glossodia major.

After the long and tedious journey, cooped up uncomfortably
in the coach, it was a decided relief to come to the end of the
high country and descend the steep bank of the Snowy River
valley, with Orbost at last in sight, and it was not long before we
were crossing the bridge spanning the fine river, here quite a
hundred yards wide. At Orbost and in the immediate vicinity
there is not much of floral interest. All the rich river flats, which
were once covered with dense jungle are now cleared, and yield
immense crops of lucerne and maize. Just previous to my visit
12 inches of rain had fallen within a fortnight, and the flats had
not yet nearly freed themselves of the deluge. In a bend of the
river just opposite the town some scrub seemed worth investiga-
tion, but the result of a visit proved it to consist entirely of
Hymenanthera Banhsii and Panax sambucifolivs, the former in
flower, with nothing but high bracken beneath. Just away from
the river were some very fine specimens of the Mahogany Gum,
E. botryoides, fine, tall trees, with clean, bright foliage like that
oi E. corynocalyx.

It did not take me long to conclude that if I wanted to see
anything characteristic of the locality I would have to go much
further afield. On inquiry. Mount Buck, thirteen miles away,
was mentioned as a likely place, and there I decided to make an
excursion on the last day of my stay. Cabbage Tree Creek,
where the Waratah and Livistona might possibly have been seen,
was eighteen miles off, and, the road being a bad one, I had

158 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. I Vol. XXV.

regretfully to put it out of my mind, it being quite out of the
question for a one-day trip.

Meanwhile, having one precious afternoon to spare, it was to
decide whether to spend it at Mario, at the mouth of the river,
among the coast plants, or in a visit to the one piece of original
jungle yet remaining on the further bank of the river, about six
miles down. Mr. J. Rowe, an old resident, and long interested
in the local flora, whose name was familiar to me as the collector
of specimens received from Mr. H. B. Williamson, having kindly
offered to accompany me to the latter place, the question was
settled. Crossing the bridge, the delightful prospect down the
river was again admired, the gums, willows, Eugenia Smithii,
Acacia melanoxylon, and A. decurrens fringing the banks making,
with their varied shades of green, a most charming picture. On
the way the road keeps close to the river, with wide, bare flats on
the other side, and occasional huge two-storied barns, through
the boards of which could be seen the corn cobs harvested in the
previous season.

As we go the valley narrows, and at last the high ground
closely approaches the river, and ends in a low ridge known as
the Devil's Backbone ; it is between this and the river that the
jungle has been left more or less undisturbed. Mr. Rowe
informed me that the strip is reserved, but right in the middle of
it some neighbouring land-owner has cleared and cultivated a
patch. Although there is doubtless other similar scrub existing
on the Brodribb and other rivers to the east of the Snowy, it
seems very desirable that this piece, being at ])resent the most
accessible, should be preserved from further encroachment.

The first plant of interest met with was JSmilax Australia, a
stout, woody climber, armed with unmistakable prickles, and
bearing globular black berries and umbels of many minute
greenish-white flowers. Very soon an almost impenetrable tangle
of vegetation bounded the track. The foundation or framev,^ork
of the jungle appeared to comprise comparatively few species.
Eugenia Smithii, Acacia melanoxylon, Hymenanthera Banksii,
Pittosporum undulatum (in full bloom), and Panax aamhucifolius
were most prevalent, with occasional other shrubs, such as
Hedycarya Cunninghami, Acacia longi/olia, and Pomaderris
apetala. Among these, and rioting luxuriantly, were a round
dozen of lianes, and beneath in the shade that fine fern Adiantum
Jormosum, with glossy black stems standing up quite two feet
high, had the field almost to itself.

Of the lianes, Clematis aristata, covering square yards of the
tree-tops with its snowy efflorescence, and Tecoma Australis, the
only widely spread member of the Bignoniacese, its masses of
creamy-white purplish-dotted flowers making a magnificent show,
were by far the most noticeable. Kubus parvifolius and P.

Feb., 1909] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 159

rosi/oUus, similar in appearance, except that the flowers of the
latter were larger and white, and the leaves without the investiture
underneath, were in association with Solanum pungetium and
Urtica incisa — all plants of a prickle, and as such appropriately
found in company. Sarcopetalum Harveyanum, another tall,
woody climber, with huge ovate-acuminate leaves, some measuring
nearly six inches across, but without flower, was next noticed, and
Rliipogonum album, also only in leaf. Eustrephus Brow7iii,
with narrow lanceolate, yellowish, many-veined leaves, another
representative of the Liliaceae, was bearing orange-coloured
berries. Still another lily, and somewhat resembling the
last-named, but much more graceful, with slender leaves of
similar shape, was Geitonoplesiicm cymosuni. This was just
commencing to blossom, and we were able to gather specimens
with the buds of the loose cymes just opening into small white
flowers. Still another climber, but not yet showing any sign of
flower, was Vitis hypoylauca, one of the Gippsland grapes.
Like the Smilax, its digitate leaf-stalk bore tendrils, and its leaf-
buds were curiously protected by wing-like outgrowths of the
petiole. To complete our list of lianes, Convolvidus marginatus
and Kennedya rubicunda, though growing on the outskirts of the
scrub, may be mentioned. With them were found DavaUia dubia,
Pterisfalcata, Lomaria discolor, and Aspidium aculeatmn. The
only epiphyte seen was the little Polypodium serpens, clinging
closely to the bark of a giant Blackwood.

It will be seen, even from my very imperfect description, that
there is in this little patch of sub-tropical vegetation, alive as a
part of it is with Bell-birds, Oreoica cristata, Lewin, something
very well worth careful preservation. When the railway is built
it will be only a day's journey from town. A few pounds would
suffice to fence it in, and it could very easily then be made to
contain such other plants peculiar to East Gippsland as do not at
present occur there, and would be a veritable botanical garden
for the district. I commend it in all confidence to the considera-
tion of the committee for the preservation of our fauna and flora.

On the night before my last day in Orbost the heavens opened
again, and in the morning it was raining so hard that any idea of
an excursion to Mount Buck was abandoned, and I returned
instead to Cunninghame. The following day, the weather having
picked up, I decided to spend collecting in the vicinity. In
the morning I crossed the water to the sand-hills, and visited the
Signal Station and the Entrance, where the Shags and Cormorants
were fishing in the troubled waters with much more success than
the people on the silt jetties of the Mitchell. The vegetation of
the sand-hills somewhat resembles that at Sandringham, but the
species are not so numerous. Beyond a fine specimen — the only
one seen — of Stackhousia spathulata, with long spikes of fragrant

160 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

blossoms, Calocephalus Brownii^ Sccevola suaveolens, and Lor-
anthus celastroides, I did not meet with anything of special
interest.

Having soon exhausted the possibilities of the sand-hills, I
returned around the end of the water separating me from the
hotel, and, crossing over to the high ground, where I gathered
another climber bearing umbels of unopened flower-buds, which
proved to be Marsdenia rostrata, Phyllanthus Gunni% and
P. thynwides, returned through a fine grove of Banksia serrata to
the town.

In the afternoon I crossed the bridge over the water on the
north of the Cunninghame peninsula and ransacked the high
ground behind which Kalimna is situated. Here there were only
a few plants in flower, such as Aster stellulafus, Pultencea daph-
noides, and Indigofera australis ; but in the thick scrub fringing
the lake-side were Clematis aristata, Tecoma Australis, Geitonople-
sium cymosum, and Smilax Australis, with Pteris falcata, growing
very freely, and Pteris arguta, and last;, but by no means least,
one fine bush of Howittia trilocularis, which I had previously
unsuccessfully sought for at Mount Arapiles, in western Victoria.

NOTES ON NEWTON'S BOWER-BIRD, PRIONODURA
NEWTONIANA, De Vis, AND THE TOOTH-BILLED
BOWER-BIRD, SCENOP(EETES DENTIROSTRIS,
Ramsay.

By Alfred J. North, C.M.B.O.U., C.F.A.O.U., Ornithologist

to the Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales.
(Read before the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, \^th Jan., 1909.)
Every ornithologist and oologist usually has some favourite
family in birds, or their eggs. From the time when as a boy I
first read the accounts of the bower-building habits of the family
Ptilonorhynchidce, of Australia, the various members of it have
never once ceased to attract and interest me. Here we find a
group of birds, not content with following out their ordinary
natural instincts in building nests, laying eggs, and rearing their
young, but who form bowers or play-grounds, which they more or
less decorate with various articles, as suits the tastes of the differ-
ent species. In the genera Ptilonorhynchus and Chlamydodera
bones form a great portion of the objects carried to the bowers,
and to a less degree shells, small stones, fruits, berries, and
metallic substances ; the decorations of the bowers of Sericulus
consisting mainly of land-shells and berries. Prionodura orna-
ments its bower entirely with floral decorations, and in this respect
comes closer to the Gardener-birds of New Guinea, belonging to
the genus Amblyornis, than it does to the typical members of

THE I VC TOR I A IV NA TURA L IS T. — J'ol. XX i

Plate 7.

Fcbi'uary, 1909.

Fro. 1. NEST OF NEWTON'S BOWER-BIRD (EXTERIOR VIEW).

(iVboul Yi nat. size).

Fig- 2. NEST AND EGGS OF NEWTON'S BOWER-BIRD

(About j^ nat. size).

7 HE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. — Vol. XXV.

February, 1 909.

Plate 8.

NEST AND EGGS OF TOOTH-BILLED BOWER-BIRD

(About % nat. size).

Vhoto. by A. J. XORTH.

Feb., 1909] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 161

the Australian Ptilonorhynchidce. Scenopoeetes, as I have pointed
out elsewhere,* in habits appears to form a connecting link between
the true bower-builders and the Cat-birds, the single representative
of this genus contenting itself with clearing a rounded space in the
scrub and placing leaves thereon, and usually with the under-side
uppermost. The Cat-birds, which are also included in the family
Ptilonorhynchidce, so far as is known do not form bowers, or even
amuse themselves like Scenopceetes with leaf decorations.

Little wonder, then, that the subject of my first contribution to
a scientific society should be " Notes on the Bower-birds of
Australia,"t and which I read at a meeting of the Linnean
Society of New South Wales on the 26th December, 1886. At
that time our information, except on Ftilonorhynchus violaceus
and Chlamydodera maculata, was, comparatively, meagre in the
extreme, and only the eggs of these two species had been
described, both by Dr. E. P. Ramsay. Prionodura newtoniana
and Scenopceetes dentirostris were, too, then each known only
from single mutilated specimens. Some additional light was
thrown on the subject at that meeting by Dr. E. P. Ramsay and
myself separately describing an egg of the Regent Bower-bird,
Sericulus melinus, Latham, taken from the oviduct, also by my
description of an egg of the Fawn-breasted Bower-bird, Chlamy-
dodera cerviniventris. In illustration of my paper Dr. Ramsay
exhibited the eggs of these two species, among those of other
species of Bower-birds. Including the Cat-birds, there are
altogether eleven representatives of the family Ptilonorhynchidce
in Australia, of which I have had the pleasure of since describing
and making known the nests and eggs of the following species : —
The Eastern Bower-bird, Chlamydodera orientalis, Gould ; the
Guttated Bower-bird, Chlamydodera guttata, Gould ; the Cat-
bird, uEluroedus viridis, Latham; the Spotted Cat-bird, jElurcedus
maculosus, Ramsay ; and leaving only those of Prionodura and
Scenopceetes to be described.

Let me now digress for a little while. In order to fully study
the habits of the Satin Bower-bird, I kept a pair of these birds in
confinement for several years, and occasionally giving them the
run of a large confined place, before presenting them to Mr. J.
H. Maiden, the Director of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney, who
had an aviary especially erected for their reception, in which was
enclosed a thickly-foliaged and wide-spreading low tree. I have
seen it stated more than once that the adult male of this species
evinces a decided preference for anything of a blue or violet
colour, but it is contrary to my experience, for the old male when
in my possession would as freely pick up and carry about in its

* North, Nests and Eggs Austr. Bds., vol. i., p. 69 (1901).

t Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. (2nd sen), vol. i., pp. 1,155-62 (1887).

162 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

bill a stalk and head of brilliant double-flowering scarlet geranium
as it would a blue or any other flower. I also tried it with
difl"erent-coloured ribbons, and it would pick up a red or brown
piece as often as it would a blue one. About their bowers, both
in Victoria and in New South Wales, I have generally found one
or two blue or partially blue feathers stuck up in the walls of
most of the bowers I have examined, but this was due solely to
their being the rigid quills or tail feathers of Platycercus elegans
and P. eximius, which are usually found frequenting the same
haunts.

In captivity I have had many opportunities of watching these
birds construct their bowers, and at all times that duty was per-
formed alone by the male. In fact, the male drives the female or
any other bird in the aviary away from the vicinity of the bower
during the operation. It is remarkable how quickly the male
works, the walls at first being built, which consist of long, thin
twigs stuck upright in the soft earth, and the platform or floor
being filled in afterwards. I have seen a bundle of twigs thrown
in and loosely scattered about an aviary, and in less than two
hours the bower would be built and completed.

Prionodura newtoniana, Newton's Bower-bird.

Prionodura newtoniana, De Vis, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.,
vol. vii., p. 562 {1883); North, Abstr. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.,
p. ii. (27th November, 1908).

Our knowledge of the habits of Prionodura neivtooiiana and
Scenopceetes dentirostris was largely increased by the labours, in
1888, of Mr. Kendal Broadbent, collecting in the Bellenden-Ker
Range, North-eastern Queensland, on behalf of the Trustees of
the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, and during the same and
the following year by Messrs. E. J. Cairn and Robert Grant,
performing similar duties in the same part of Queensland on
behalf of the Trustees of the Australian Museum, Sydney. The
late Mr. W. S. Day also collected a large number of specimens of
both species during a nine years' residence at Kuranda, about 21
miles by rail from Cairns. Many private collectors, too, have
searched for their nests and eggs. Ail attempts, however, to gain
any knowledge of the nidification and eggs of either species were
fruitless. Since the return of the expeditions from Bellenden-
Ker Range, sent out by the Trustees of the Australian Museum,
I have made every effort to obtain the nests and eggs of these
two species, and more especially in 1900, when I was preparing
the MS. of Part I. of the second edition of " Nests and Eggs of
Australian Birds," in which the Bower-birds are included. My •
endeavours were ably seconded by Mr. Robert Grant, Taxider-
mist of the Australian Museum, Sydney, and entirely by his
instrumentality they have at last been crowned with success,

Feb., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 163

furnishing Mr. G. Sharp with a coloured oil-painting of Newton's
Bower-bird, which he had prepared, and which the aborgines of
the Atherton district. North-eastern Queensland, instantly recog-
nized by the name of " Coleman."

At a meeting of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, held
on the 25th November, 1908, I exhibited and described the nest
and eggs of Prionodu7^a newtoniana, and also exhibited a skin of
the female shot close to its nest.

The first nest of Prionodura newtoniana was found by one of
Mr. George Sharp's blackboys on the 9th November, 1908, in
dense scrub about thirty miles from Atherton. It is an open
cup-shaped structure, formed externally of dead leaves and
portions of leaves, including fragments of stag-horn ferns and a
small quantity of dried mosses, and is lined inside at the bottom
with thin dead twigs. Externally it measures five inches and a
half in diameter by two inches and a half in depth, the inner cup
measuring four inches and a half in diameter by one inch and a
half in depth, and contained two fresh eggs, the female also being
secured. The nest was built about the centre of an irregular-
shaped perpendicular aperture in a tree trunk, about four feet
long and six inches wide, and was three feet from the ground.
Another nest, also containing two fresh eggs, was found in a cleft
in the side of a rotten, hollow tree-trunk, and above it at equal
distances in the same cleft w^ere two old nests of the same
species, the highest one being ten feet from the ground. A third
nest, containing also two fresh eggs, was built between the
buttresses of a tree about three feet from the ground. Sketches
showing the positions of these nests were made by Mr. Sharp and
sent with the eggs. Another nest, found on the 20th December,
1908, is externally triangular-shaped at the rim, and is much
deeper in form, and in addition to the leaves, portions of and
skeletons of leaves, is further strengthened on one side by several
small sticks, which are adhered together apparently by a fungoid
growth, now dead and dried, the inside of the structure being
deep, cup-shaped, and lined with thin twigs and fibrous rootlets.
It measures externally six inches in diameter by three inches
and a half in depth, the inner cup measuring three inches and a
half in diameter by two inches and a quarter in depth. This
nest was built about three feet from the ground in a buttress
of a fig-tree, and was supported by a number of small sticks
placed crosswise from the ground to the base of the nest, and
contained a single recently hatched young bird, which Mr. Sharp
took and made into a skin a week latter. Most of the nests
found were built in fig-trees, and contained each two eggs, but in
some only an incubated egg or a young bird.

The eggs vary in form from oval to an ellipse and compressed
oval, the shell being finely granulate, lustrous, and typically of a

164 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

uniform faint creamy or warm white. One set is almost dead white
and lustreless, and all could easily be mistaken for pigeons' eggs
except for the texture of the shell. Of fifteen sets now before me,
two sets measure respectively — (a) 1.4 x 0.98 inches, (b) 1.38 x
0.97 inches ; (a) 1.29 x 0.99 inches, (b) 1.25 x 0.95 inches.
Six eggs measure — 1.32 x 0.98 inches ; 1.4x1 inches ; 1.4 x 1.02
inches; 1.4 x 0.97 inches; 1.4 x 1.03 inches; 1.31 x 0.94
inches.

The eggs of Newton's Bower-bird are totally unlike those of
the typical Ptilonorhynchidce, which are noted for their strikingly
contrasted colours and peculiarity of their markings. The nest,
too, more resembles that of a Cat-bird or Rifle-bird, but differs
from either in the position in which it is built. Probably when
the nesting habits and eggs of any species of the New Guinea
genus, AmblyorniSy become known, Prionodura may be found to
be more closely allied to that form.

A nestling about a week old is olive-brown above, or as much
of the feathers as are visible from the ends of their sheaths ; on
the crown of the head some smoky- brown down; the forehead,
sides of the head, and the throat bare ; fore-neck and breast light
olive-brown ; thighs with a slight covering of smoky-brown down.
Wing, 1.85 inches. Another specimen slightly older has a
golden-olive wash to the quills, and the entire plumage is soft
and downy. Wing, 2.5 inches.

I know of no species in the Australian avifauna that is affected
so much by light as skins of the adult male of Newton's Bower-
bird. Specimens that have been mounted and placed on ex-
hibition for a few years, especially in hot climates, when compared
with recently procured examples, have a faded and washed-out
appearance, particularly of the golden-yellow under parts and
portion of the tail feathers. The collection brought back con-
tained about forty fully adult and richly coloured males.

The following information was verbally supplied to me by Mr.
Sharp : —

" During our travels in different parts of the tropical jungle we
found many play-grounds of the Tooth-billed Bower-bird and
bowers of Newton's Bower-bird. I was more interested, however,
in Newton's Bower-bird, and never tired of watching the actions
of them at their meeting-places. Some of the bowers on the
one side were over eight feet in height, and several of these
stick-formed walls were beautifully arched over the lower side.
It was amusing to watch a bird perched on the bough or stick
that runs crosswise near the bottom of these structures stretch out
as far as it could to ornament the inside of the higher wall with a
flower, usually an orchid. Several times I removed pieces of
moss, which is of one kind only, and hung them on shrubs close
by, and then drew into concealment and watched, and each time

Feb., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 165

the birds showed every kind of resentment at my actions, and
they were quickly replaced by one of them on the stick across the
bower and close to the lower wall. At the larger bowers the males
only assembled, and rarely a female, doubtless being engaged in
the duties of incubation or tending their young. My blackboys
informed me that these birds bathed every day before assembling
at the bower, which was always about mid-day, also that if one
set fire to their bower they would come round and pick off the
pieces of moss before they were consumed. The former I
verified one day when my boys informed me that several were
bathing in the creek. Hastening to the spot, I saw five males
disporting themselves in the shallow water. After a time they
left it and flew into a tree, shaking out their feathers and drying
themselves, as they slowly flew from tree to tree until they reached
the bower. To see what they would do, although much against
my will, I one day set fire to their bower. Immediately a male
came and perched on a tree close by, and, with his head bowed
down and drooping wings, remained motionless for nearly half an
hour. I set fire to two more bowers, and the male in each instance
acted in a similar dejected manner. The female builds a bower
for herself, generally about twenty yards away from the one at
which the males assemble. It is in every respect similar to that
constructed by the male, but is much smaller, not being half the
size."

ScENOPCEETES DENTiROSTRis, Tooth-biUed Bower-bird.

Scenopcetts dentirostris, Ramsay, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1875,

p. 391-

^cenopoeetes dentirostris, North, Abstr. Proc. Linn. Soc.

N.S.W., p. iii. (27th Nov., 1908).

Thirty-three years ago last November Dr. E. P. Ramsay described
the present species in the '' Proceedings of the Zoological Society
of London " from a mutilated specimen, the bird being killed by
Inspector Johnstone, of Cardwell, with a bullet, in the Sea View
Range, North-eastern Queensland. It was not until thirteen
years after that much knowledge was gained of its habits and
a large series of specimens procured. Frequenting the same
situations as Newton's Bower-bird, the history relating to its
haunts and habits is so precisely similar to the preceding
species that it is needless here to repeat it. Suffice to state that
Mr. K. Broadbent, on behalf of the Queensland Museum, and
Messrs. E. J. Cairn and Robt. Grant, on behalf of the Australian
Museum, Sydney, were again instrumental in obtaining a fine
series of these birds, and made us better acquainted with their
play-grounds; no information, however, was gained of its nest
and eggs.

During the latter half of 1908 Mr. G. Sharp undertook

166 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

to clear up the mystery surrounding the nesting habits of both
this and the preceding species, and, as a collector in many parts
of Australia and New Guinea, no one was more likely to meet
with success. Having interests, too, in that part of Queensland,
the leisure to search for these nests and eggs, a knowledge of
how to treat and deal with aborigines, and ample means at his
command, were undoubted factors in his eventually securing the
nests and eggs of Newton's Bower-bird and the Tooth-billed
Bower-bird.

At the same meeting of the Linnean Society of New South
Wales, on the 25th November, 1908, when exhibiting and
describing the nest and eggs of Newton's Bower-bird, I also
exhibited the nest and eggs of the Tooth-billed Bower-bird,
as well as the female, shot near the nest. The first nest
of Scenopwetes dentirostris was found by Mr. G. Sharp, about
five miles from Evelyn, on the 7th November, 1908. The
nest of Scenopceetes dentirostris is a frail structure, formed
throughout of twigs, coarser ones below and finer ones above, as
a resting-place for the eggs ; it is most flimsy and loosely built,
and resembles a nest of one of the smaller pigeons or that of a
dove, and averages five inches in diameter by two inches in
depth. It was placed in a small, thickly-foliaged tree, about
seventeen feet from the ground, and in the most dense part of
the scrub. The nest contained two eggs, which are oval in form,
the shell being very finely granulate, lustrous, and of a uniform
creamy-brown colour, resembling very much the eggs of ^^luroedus
maculosus, but of a more distinct brownish hue, measuring —
(a) 1.63 X 1. 12 inches; (b) 1.64 x i.i inches. Another set,
taken by Mr. Sharp, on the 8th November, 1908, in the same
locality, measures — (a) 1.68 x 1.13 inches; (b) 1.63 x i.i
inches.

The eggs are typically those of a Cat-bird, but the nest is the
reverse, resembling that of one of the Chlamydoderce, but scantier,
and formed of finer materials. Strictly speaking, Scenopceetes is
not a Bower-bird, for it does not form a bower ; on the other
hand, it is not a true Cat-bird, for it forms a play-ground, which
these birds do not. As I have stated before, it is a connecting
link between these two groups, and might be more aptly called a
leaf-turner. There is nothing, however, to be gained by altering,
the vernacular name which it has long been known by, that of the
Tooth-billed Bower-bird. I have photographed the nests and
eggs of both species, which are here exhibited.

The following information has been extracted from voluminous
notes made by Mr. Sharp, or received verbally from him by the
writer : — " I arrived at Atherton, North-eastern Queensland, on
the 15th September, 1908, and, having finished my business there,
left on the 23rd inst. for Herberton, where I stayed a few days.

Feb., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 167

exploring with a party of aborigines the neighbourhood for
Newton's and the Tooth-billed Bower-birds, but without success.
Hearing that the birds were to be found in the vicinity of Evelyn,
I proceeded there on the ist October, and some miles distant,
with the aid of local blacks, found the haunt of Newton's
Bower-bird, also one of their bovvers. We all searched for nests,
the boys climbing the trees to find them, but, not knowing where
to look for them, failed to obtain any. On the 8th October I
walked to Cedar Creek, and got another party together, consisting
of members of the Glen Alice tribe, of whom the best were the
brothers Jack and Dick Gerambie, Toby, Jimmy, and ' King '
Billy, and of the little boys Norman, Tommy, and Billy, and
arrived at Glen Alice on the 14th inst, when I had by tact gained
the complete confidence of the men. I was upon the point of
starting out when a message-stick was received that the Cedar
Creek and Tully River blacks were to fight the Glen Alice and
Herberton tribes, and I gave them permission to leave ; they re-
turned three days later, after the fight was over. From that time up
to the first week in November diligent search was made for the nests
of both Bower-birds. On the 7th November we all left the camp
together, and had not gone 200 yards before a little boy, Norman,
caught sight of a Tooth-billed Bower-bird sitting on her nest, and
called out ' Werimber,' which is the native name of the Glen Alice
tribe for this species, and on his doing so the bird flew off the
nest. It was in a tree in the thickest part of the scrub, and about
17 feet from the ground, and we could hardly discern the nest,
it was so small. We sat quiet, waiting for the bird to return,
which she did in a little while, when I went up as close as
possible, shook a vine, and again the bird left the nest. Then I
sent the boy up to the nest, who reported that there were two
' bambo ' (eggs) in it. The bird sat close and was frightened off
the nest several times, when I determined to shoot it after it had
got some little distance away from the nest, but although I tried
five cartridges they were all damp and proved useless. Night
coming on, the bird was left, and, returning the following morning,
I secured both the female and her eggs. Later on the same day
we found another nest of the same species, also with two
eggs.

" I now turned my attention to Newton's Bower-bird, and on
the 9th November, as three of the boys and I were returning
to camp about 4 p.m., fairly tired of hunting, and looking forward
to a good tea, as we had shot two Scrub-hens, the boys singing
and beating time with sticks, Toby, one of the best collectors,
suddenly called out ' Coleman,' the native name for this species,
also ' bambo ' (eggs). The nest was built about three feet from
the ground, in a cavity in a tree-trunk, and contained two eggs,
which the bird was loth to leave ; in fact, I could have caught

168 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

her on the nest with my hand, but there was the risk of breaking
the eggs. When frightened off the bird would return to the nest
within a minute or two, but eventually I drove her about fifteen
yards off and then shot her. I was now satisfied, for after nearly
two months' search in all directions, and many heart-breaking
failures, with the aid of my boys I had successfully discovered the
nests and eggs of the Tooth-billed Bower-bird and Newton's
Bower-bird. I returned at once to civilization and despatched
my finds to Sydney.

" I had a surprise visit one day while at Evelyn from a collector
who had been staying at Atherton for some time, and who also
was in quest of Tooth-billed and Newton's Bower-birds' nests
and eggs, but who had failed to locate either. I gave him one of
the nests of the Tooth-billed Bower-bird, and gave him all
information how and where to look for them. Later on he
photographed my blackboy Norman half-way up the tree in which
the first nest of this species was found, and then I took him out
to a bovver of Newton's Bower-bird, which he had hitherto never
seen, and, after our felling trees to obtain a good light, he photo-
graphed it with a group of my boys in the background.

" Knowing now where to look for the nests of the latter
species, it was only a matter of detail to search for and find others
from then on until the 20th December, when I finally left the
scrubs. During the latter part of my stay I had sixty-three
members of various tribes on one of my expeditions, but few real
workers among them, the boys from eleven to sixteen years being
the best. Deluging tropical rains day after day, ticks and leeches,
and living on damper made it very disagreeable for the time, and
it was the reverse to a pleasure trip. During my expeditions I col-
lected from the Tully River to Nigger Creek, and traversed parts of
the country that even some of the aborigines were lost in for some
days. My regular good working boys I paid a stipulated sum every
week, and also rewarded them when finding a nest, and gave them
presents of tobacco. The one also who obtained the most eggs
during the week received an additional reward. I was alone
during my trips, the only white man of the party, and when
saying good-bye to me, although only blacks, some left me in
tears."

Mr. Sharp will doubtless receive the thanks of all oologists in
now completing our knowledge of the nests and eggs of all the
species of Australian bower-birds, and all credit and honour is due
to him in obtaining the nests and eggs of Newton's Bower-bird
and the Tooth-billed Bower-bird. Were it not, however, for the
strong inducements of his friend, Mr. Robert Grant, they would
have probably still remained undiscovered, and the eggs now
described would have been hatched, and the young birds flying
about the bush.

the Uiciorian naturalist

YoL. XXY.— No. 11. MARCH 4, 1909. No. 303.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal
Society's Hall on Monday evening, 8th February, 1909.

The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and
about 60 members and visitors were present.

The chairman introduced to the meeting Mr. T. Iredale, of
Christchurch, New Zealand, who had recently been studying
mollusca at the Kermadec Islands ; and Mr. J. C. Martin, of
Berlin, who is visiting the Australasian States for the purpose of
studying their marine fauna.

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to the Zoological Gardens on Satur-
day, 23rd January, was forwarded by Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S.,
who acted as leader in the unavoidable absence of Mr. D. Le
Souef, C.M.Z.S. The excursion was well attended, and many
interesting observations made.

A report of the excursion to Healesville from Saturday, 30th
January, to Monday, ist February (Foundation Day), was for-
warded by Mr. R. Kelly, who reported a rather small attendance,
but two interesting days' rambling resulted, and, though nothing
absolutely novel was collected, the members seemed well satisfied
with the outing.

A report of the junior excursion to Port Melbourne beach on
Saturday, 6th February, was given by the leader, Mr. J. A. Leach,
B.Sc, who reported only a moderate attendance. However,
several interesting objects were met with, and an instructive after-
noon put in.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following
donations to the library : — " History of the Birds of New
Zealand," by Sir W. L. Buller, K.C.M.G. (2nd edition), 2 vols.,
presented by - Melbourne University ; Journal of Agriculture^
Victoria, October and November, 1908, from Department of
Agriculture, Melbourne ; " Report of Trustees Public Library,
Museum, and National Gallery of Victoria for 1907," from
Trustees ; " Records of Geological Survey of Victoria," vol.
ii.. No. 4, from Department of Mines, Melbourne ; " Proceedings
Royal Society of Victoria," vol. xxii. (new series), part i, from the
Society; The Emu^ vol, viii., part 2 (October, 1908) from the
Australasian Ornithologists' Union ; " Forest Flora of New South
Wales," by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Government Botanist, vol. iv.,
parts I and 2, from the author ; Agricultural Gazette of New
South Wales^ October, 1908, from Department of Agriculture;

170 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

" Mineral Resources of New South Wales, No. 12— Report on
Drake Gold and Copper Field," by E. C. Andrews, B.A., from
Department of Mines, Sydney ; •' Report of Board of Fisheries
of New South Wales, 1907," and " New Fishes from New South
Wales," by D. G. Stead, No. i, from Department of Fisheries,
Sydney.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. B. A. L. Jardine, Somerset, North
Queensland, was duly elected a country member of the Club.

PAPERS READ.

1. By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., entitled " Further Notes on
the Flora of Wilson's Promontory."

The author justified the inclusion in his report of several plants
the existence of which was not supported by the list prepared by
the Herbarium party, and referred to others mentioned by Messrs.
Gregory and Lucas as seen by them during their visit in 1885-6.
He also referred to the difficulty workers would have in identify-
ing species, owing to the names used in the " Recording Census "
issued by the Herbarium differing from those in Mueller's " Key,"
and thought that a list should be published showing those species
the nomenclature of which it had been deemed necessary to alter.

Prof Ewart, in replying to the author's criticisms, promised to
compile a list of the alterations for publication in the Naturalist.

2. By Mr. E. B. NichoUs, entitled " Notes on the Teeth of
Australian Animals."

This took the form of a lecturette illustrated with lantern
slides. The author briefly referred to the various types of
teeth occurring in the different forms of Australian animal life, and
pointed out the modifications which teeth assume in some cases.

Dr. Hall congratulated the lecturer on the interesting way in
which he had brought the subject before the meeting, and referred
to the succession of teeth in the marsupials.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

The chairman read a note by Mr. A. J. North, C.M.B.O.U.,
Australian Museum, Sydney, describing a pair of live parrakeets
.from the Northern Territory recently purchased by the Museum
authorities, which differed in some respects from typical examples
of Psephotus dissimilis, Collet, and for which he proposed the
name P. ciccuUatus, Black-hooded Parrakeet.

Mr. J. Booth called attention to the use of the word
*' triantelope " for the spiders belonging to the genus Voconia,
but discussion was postponed owing to the lateness of the hour.

EXHIBITS.

By Miss F. Bage, M.Sc, and Miss J. White, M.Sc— Large

March, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 171

land snails (alive), Ilelix^ sp., collected near Gympie, Queens-
land.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Flowers and foliage of Grevillea
repens collected during Healesville excursion ; piece of bark of
tea-tree (Melaleuca, sp.), from the Wimmera, used for printing on
instead of cardboard.

By Miss C. Cowle. — Dried plants from Launceston, Tasmania.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Shells of following species, taken alive
near Sydney Heads : — Septa riibicunda, Perry, Cymatium parkin-
sonianum, Perry, C. spengleri, Chem., Gadinia angasi, Dall.,
Aslralium fimhriatum, Lam., Gena nigra, Q. and G., Placu-
naiiomia tone, Gray, and Chlamys lividus, Lam. ; also Pecten
dentata, Sow., California ; P. keppelliana, Sow., Cape Verde
Islands ; P. zigzac, Linn., West Indies ; Chlamys piirpuratus,
Lam., Peru ; C. crassicostatus, Sow., Japan ; C. iiodosus, Lam.,
West Indies ; and C. ventricosus, Sow., Panama.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — Specimen of Native Beech,
Fagus Cunninghami, Hook., collected at Sealers' Cove, Wilson's
Promontory, by Mr. King, of Metung, in illustration of paper.

By Mr. E. B. Nicholls. — Dentitions or teeth of Port Jackson
Shark, Little Australian Saw-Shark, True Ray, Porcupine Fish,
Crocodile, Platypus, and Tiger Cat (King Island), in illustration
of paper.

By Mr. C. Plumridge. — Specimens of larvae and perfect insects
of a lantern-fly, Scolypoha australis, attacking ferns in a fernery
at Kew.

By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Dried Orchid, Calochilus paladosus,
from S.W. district, new for Victoria.

By Dr. C. S. Sutton. — Dried specimens of Stenopetalum lineare
and Xanthosia piisilla, from Black Rock.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

EXCURSION TO HEALESVILLE.

The usual Foundation Day excursion was this year fixed for
Healesville, and extended from Saturday, 30th January, to
Monday, ist February. As some eight years had elapsed since
the last visit of the Club to the Healesville district — the three
days camp at the Maroon dah Weir in November, 1900 {Vict. Nat.,
xvi., p. 131) — it was confidently hoped that there would be a fair
muster of members, but such was not to be, and only three
members joined me on the Healesville platform on the arrival
of the mid-day train at 3.30. p.m. The afternoon looked threaten-
ing, and as the hour was somewhat late it was decided to send the
luggage on to " Mernda," the boarding-house where accommoda-
tion had been secured for the party, and adjourn at once to the
grounds of Mt. Yule, ray country home, for the purpose of in-

172 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

specting the various indigenous and introduced trees and plants
which find a home there. The property is bounded by the Watts
or Maroondah River, and opportunity was afforded of seeing some
magnificent Silver Wattles, Acacia dealbata, in seed; several fine
Manna Gums, Eucalyptus viminalis, some of which were in bloom
and some had just shed their bark and presented beautiful clean
white trunks, hence the vernacular name "White Gum; " many fine
Blackwoods, Acacia melanoxylon, bearing masses of reddish-brown
seed-pods, which are particularly persistent in this species.
Younger plants of this acacia showed several interesting stages of
phyllodization. On some of the larger Blackwoods the Mistletoe,
Loranthus Quandang, had found a footing, and was surely killing
its host. This parasite was in the flowering stage. On the banks
of the river were the Native Currant, Coprosma Billardieri^ the
Tree Violet, Hymenantheo-a Banksii (both in fruit), and a beautiful
specimen of Lomatia longijolia. In the grounds, among many
other fine plants, were noticed the Tulip Tree, Liriodendron
tulipijera, and Catalpa hignonioides of the United States, a most
useful timber tree. The Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus glandidosa,
was covered with the red-coloured seed-pods, and presented a
fine sight. Among the other trees were oaks, sycamores, elms,
lindens, willows, many acacias, with rhododendrons and other
garden species. A fine Acacia Baileyana was pointed out, the
trunk and branches of which are perfectly riddled with the borings
of the larvae of the Wattle Goat-moth, Zeuzera eucalypti, while, as
if to complete the work of destruction, Loranthus Quandang had
taken possessson of the smaller branches. Birds find the grounds
quite a sanctuary, and are much more plentiful there than in the
surrounding bush. After paying a visit to the orchard and
sampling various kinds of edible fruits, the waning day told us it
was time to adjourn homewards.

On Sunday morning an early start was made for the new weir
on the Coranderrk or Badger Creek, distant about five miles
from the town. Our party was augmented by another member,
who had come up by the evening train on Saturday, and my two
boys, who are both keen observers. Passing through the town-
ship to the Don road we passed a small quarry in the silurian
formation in which the strata are almost vertical. Our route
was now south-easterly tcnvards the magnificent cone-like range
of Mt. Riddell. Along the road were seen many species of
eucalypts, mostly dwarf and scrubby, such as E. Stuartiana,
eleophora, amygdalina, with the larger E. ohliqua in bloom —
the earliest here flowering, and reminding one that it was the first of
the genus discovered and described, I'Heritier giving to it the
generic name in allusion to the calyx-lobes of the flowers forming a
lid or covering to the stamens, &c. ; previously it had been slightly
known by the name Aromadendron, given to the genus by Dr.

March, 1909] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 173

Anderson, of Captain Cook's expedition. Here the tree is
known as Messmate, the boon companion of our Stringy-bark,
E. macrorrhyncha, whose vernacular name it bears in South
Australia and Tasmania. Finer specimens were seen in the higher
land later in the day. Scattered about were several fine E. vimin-
alis and E. goniocalyx, their beautiful white boles in some cases
stained pink. The former, though the Manna Gum, had no manna,
but paradoxically that substance was plentifully noticed on E.
amygdalino.. Along the road our lepidopterist caught several nice
specimens of the golden-barred day moth, Agarista latinns, and by
the way were seen many plants easily identified but not in bloom.
In about 3^ miles we crossed the bridge over the Badger, and
close by at Sloss's farm could not but admire a group of splendid
Blackwoods, tall and pyramidal, ideal shade trees. We now left
the road and followed up the stream, examining many well-known
shrubs by the way. Here was the Christmas Tree, Prostanthera
lasiaiitha, with its last delicate labiate flowers just falling and the
seed-cases well formed. This was quite the appropriate place to
see it, for, from its native name, " Coranderrk," the creek and
district were named ; some of the aboriginals, however, call it
"Gheringadah." Perhaps one of these might be adopted when
fixing the vernacular names of our plants. As we proceeded we
noticed the Elder, Samhucus Gaudichaudiana^ and the Mountain
Ash, Panax sambucijolius, both in fruit. We were getting
higher, and ferns of many species occurred. The stream was
crossed, and presently the weir was reached, at about
two miles from the bridge. When the newly made scars
on the hillside are hidden by the touch of Nature
this will be one of the choicest of the nearer beauty
spots of Healesville. The tall, white-stemmed specimens of
Eucalyptus regnans up the slopes, with E. viminalis below, and
the wealth of shrubbery and ferns along the stream, form a
charming scene. The Metropolitan Board of Works, through
whose courtesy we were enabled to visit this portion of the water
reserves, has replanted many of the tree ferns about the new
works, and consequently the necessarily artificial appearance of
the weir will ere long be somewhat removed. After lunch, while
some of the party more or less successfully struggled through the
thick growth along the creek, in search of ferns, I, equally
unsuccessfuly, searched for epiphytal orchids below the
weir. Your hon. secretary was very pleased with the results
of his search for ferns, and recorded about twenty species
for the locality ; among them were Pteris Jalcata and P. arguta
{tremula). The specimens of Lomaria Huviatilis were some
of the largest 'he had ever seen, the fronds being fully 18 inches
in length. We half-expected two members, who proposed to
come up by the Sunday train, to pick us up here, but they did not

174 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

appear, so we started homewards along the new pipe-track, in-
tending to visit the Graceburn Weir, on the other side of Mt.
Riddell, but time scored against us, and we had to be satisfied with
reaching the Fernshaw road just beyond Gracedale House. The
new track is rather uninteresting to the naturalist, especially at
this time of year, except just at either end, the middle distance
over the western slope of Mt. Riddell being poor soil
timbered with Eiicalyi^tiis macrorrliyncha and E. ohliqua. In the
gully at the back of Gracedale the track passes through a
very fine brake of Melaleuca squarrosa and Leptosperrnum
lanigerum, with the Coral Fern, Gleichenia circinata, scrambling
up them to the height of ten or twelve feet. Our way was now
home along the Fernshaw road, with the valley of the Watts and
the purple slopes of Mt. Monda on our right, the tree-clad
hillside of Riddell, which we had just traversed, appearing across
the Graceburn on our left. The day, perhaps a little windy for
our lepidopterist, was an ideal one for botanizing, and we reached
the township quite satisified with our jaunt of some twelve miles.
For the Monday the Chum Creek district was cliosen— exactly
the opposite direction to our trip of the previous day. This is
far the best spring collecting ground near Healesville, and not
without interest even at this time of year. The road leaves the
Yarra Glen road just across the Watts, and keeps not far from
the creek until the bald hills and grass-tree country at the foot of
Mt. St. Leonard is reached, and then proceeds through the Yea
River gap towards Toolangi. Along the road are quantities of the
lycopod Selaginella uliginosa, and the fern Lindsaya linearis ;
the gums are principally E. Stuartiana, ohliqua, amygdalina,
virninalis, and eleophora, in more or less dwarf or stunted state.
This is to the Napoleon of eucalyptography — well, perhaps, not
Waterloo, but Moscow — to conquer it a toil, to find fire had been
before him, and to return dejected. If there is a case of
intercrossing of species it is here ; there seems to be a bar
sinister over the whole group, but it is interesting. I do
not infer that this crossing is the cause of the want of size —
that is due to the soil. The banks of the stream afforded us
opportunities for getting ferns, among which were some not
noted on the previous day, such as Woodivardii caudata and
the Umbrella Fern, Gleichenia Jlahellaia. At the State school a
halt was made for lunch. Here was noticed Grevillea alpina
bearing its last blooms. Leaving the rest of the party to while
away the time to their individual tastes — and which they did very
successfully, adding several beetles, notably a prettily marked
buprestid, Stigmodera, sp., and numbers of the Diamond Beetle,
Chrysolophus spectahilis, in its many varieties, to the collections —
your secretary and I pushed on for another couple of miles to a
barren spot, where, two years previously, I had found a peculiarly

March, 1909] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 175

isolated patch of a Grevillea, which I take to be G. repens. In
the next gully to the west, Long Gully, was found some years
ago the beautiful Clematis aristata, var. Dennisii, named and
described by Mr. W. R. Guilfoyle in the Naturalist of December,
1898 (vol. XV., p. 97). This apparently was its only habitat, and
though it survives in cultivation at the Botanic Gardens, it has,
I believe, been lost from this district from repeated burnings and
clearings. From these two instances of isolation, complete or
partial, it seems to me that on these botanically unexplored
slopes other unique specimens might be found, and that it might
be worth while on future expeditions to give them a trial in pre-
ference to those more gorgeous spots which persistently attract.
We duly reached the hill, situated in section 90 of the parish of
Tarrawarra North, and after searching perhaps acres of the plant,
which is quite prostrate, we were fortunate enough to find one in
bloom — a month later than I found it in full bloom in 1907.
Spurred on by our good luck we eventually succeeded in getting
several more specimens, some of which I hope will retain their
freshness sufficiently for exhibition at to-night's meeting. As we
returned, late specimens of Comesperma ericinum were added to
our list, and later -on Goynjjholohium Huegelii and Persoonia
junij)erina were met with in bloom. Several lizards were seen
as we passed along, and a Black Snake was killed, while another
was too quick for us. The day was another delightful one for
rambling, and we got back to Healesville in ample time to pack
up for the evening train, my companions telling me it was a most
enjoyable outing, and not without its results. As for myself,
being a country member, and unable to attend the Club meetings,
it was quite an event to have some kindred spirits with whom to
roam the bush. — Reginald Kelly.

NOTE ON SOME LIVING EXAMPLES OF PSEPHOTUS

DISSIMILIS.

By Alfred J. North, C.M.Z.S., Ornithologist to the Australian

Museum, Sydney.*

While examining a number of live birds in Sydney, in the
possession of Mr. Fritz Kruger, who had recently brought them
from the Northern Territory of South Australia, my attention was
immediately attracted to a cage of parrakeets of a species I had
not seen before. Although differing in several respects from
Professor Collet's description of Psephotus dissimilis, I had little
hesitation in referring them to that species, particularly as they
were obtained in the same locality — Pine Creek, 200 miles south-
east of Port Darwin. There were 16 birds altogether — five fuUy-

"^ By permission of the Trustees of the Austiahan Museum.

176 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

plumaged adult males, the remainder females and young males —
and an adult pair was secured on behalf of the Trustees of the
Australian Museum. While, however, Mr. Kruger was removing
them from one cage to another, opportunity was taken of
critically examining them and taking the measurements of the
adult male.

From Professor Collet's description of the adult male of
Fsephotus dissimilis, the living bird differs in the following
respects : — The feathers from the sides of the base of the lower
mandible, extending in a line immediately below the eye on to
the sides of the nape and upper portion of the hind-neck, are
black, and gradually pass into a dark greyish-brown on the upper
portion of the back and the scapulars ; the lesser, median, and
greater wing coverts are entirely golden-yellow ; the under tail
coverts are pale scarlet with whitish margins ; bill faint bluish-
horn colour, cere slightly darker ; legs and feet rich fleshy-grey
brown ; iris black, eyelid dark greyish-black. Total length,
10.5 inches ; wing 4.9, tail 6, bill 0.5.

Professor Collet describes the adult male of Psephohis dis-
szmi^^ls as " forehead, lores, and crown dark chestnut," and Dr.
E. Hartert,t of P. dissimilis {?), " crown of the male is dark brown,
not at all chestnut," and again Professor Collet states that the
greater wing coverts of P. dissimilis are black, and the lower
(under) tail coverts orange.

The female agrees fairly well with Professor Collet's descrip-
tion, except that the cheeks are pale blue, not grey, as are also
the ear coverts, and that the under tail coverts are paler than in
the male.

Young males resemble the adult females, but the feathers of
the cheeks and sides of the throat and neck are pale verditer blue,
and some of the feathers at the base of the bill, and on the fore-
head, are black. Although these birds are fairly tame, one young
male was so quarrelsome, attempting to bite any others that came
near it, that eventually it was removed from the cage.

What I regard as the chief point of difference is that not only are
the lores, forehead, and crown of the head of the adult male 6/ac^,
but that this colour extends down the anterior portion of the
cheeks to the sides of the base of the lower mandible. Viewed
in front, the bird appears to wear a black mask or cowl. Should
it prove to be distinct, I propose to distinguish it under the name
of Psephotus cucullatus, and vernacularly as the Black-hooded
Parrakeet. Owing to the larger golden-yellow wing-patch, and
greater extent of black on the head, it is a more showy and
attractive species than its ally, the Golden-winged Parrakeet,
Psephotus chrysopteri/givs, which is also found in the Northern
Territory of South Australia. Sydney, 6th February, 1909.

+ " Nov. Zool.," vul. xii., p. 214 (1905),

March, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 177

NOTES OF A TRIP TO NORTH QUEENSLAND.

By J. W. AuDAS, Assistant, National Herbarium, Melbourne.

(Read before the Field Naturalists^ Club of Victoria, 18th Jan., 1909.)

A VISIT to Queensland cannot fail to be interesting to the nature
student at whatever time of year it may be undertaken, and
therefore, when I left Melbourne in July last for a four weeks'
holiday, I determined to make an effort to collect such informa-
tion and specimens as would prove of value in future years.
The steamer arrived in Sydney in the midst of heavy rain, which
continued during the two days of our stay, consequently nature
study there was out of the question. However, on arrival in
Brisbane more genial weather prevailed, and I was enabled to
see a great deal of the city and its surroundings. Here, though
17 miles from its mouth, the River Brisbane is ample enough to
allow large vessels to come right up to the city wharves. A
prominent feature near at hand is Mt. Coo-tha, where one can
get a glance at the indigenous vegetation, and admire the broad
stream wending its way to the sea.

Taking a short train journey of eight miles to Nudgee, I got
my first glimpse of a pineapple plantation, hundreds of acres of
which were to be seen in full bearing. Two principal crops are
picked during the year, but the fruit is obtainable in lesser
quantity at all times. When in cultivation the pineapple plant
bears one pine for the first crop. When this is removed the
plant sends up several shoots, which in their turn also fruit, but
successful pine growers do not allow these shoots to fruit, as
their crop would be inferior, but snip them oft' and use them for
young plants, which in that sub-tropical climate can be planted at
any time of the year.

I paid a visit to the Brisbane Botanical Gardens and inter-
viewed the director, Mr. J. Bailey, who kindly showed me through
the .conservatories, and pointed out for my admiration the many
beautiful orchids and other hot-house plants. Crotons and
Acalyphas were doing particularly well in the open. The
gardens contain some very fine palms, among which were notice-
able the Royal Palm, Oreodoxa regia, H. B. et K., Date Palm,
Phoenix dactylifera, L., and Archontophoenix Alexandrce, H.
Wendl. and Drude, a Queensland palm.

At the Agricultural Department, in George-street, overlooking
the river, which is spanned by a magnificent bridge fully a quarter
of a mile long, and where most of the public offices are situated,
I renewed my acquaintance with the Queensland Colonial
Botanist, Mr. F. M. Bailey, and was pleased to find him well, and
(though now at the age of 8i years) still able to carry on his
duties with interest and energy.

In and around Brisbane, and in fact throughout all of northern
Queensland, I noted that many of the houses are built on piles

178 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV.

some 12 or 15 feet above the ground, the reason for which I did
not discover, but it would probably be to escape the ravages of
the termites or white ants, which are very destructive to buildings
and furniture throughout the State. It was very rarely that a
chimney could be seen in any of the private dwellings, the climate
being so warm as to render fires unnecessary. After leaving
Brisbane, on the ist of August, and before passing Lady Elliot
Island, situated just below the tropic of Capricorn, we were
fortunate in seeing a shoal of Flying Fish, a species of mackerel
which abounds in these waters. It was a lovely sight to see them
rising clear out of the water and " flying " for a hundred yards or
more, the sunlight turning their wings to silver, gold, and many
iridescent colours. I was not able to visit Rockhampton, for,
on arrival at Keppel Bay, from which communication is made
with the city by lighter and launch, there was not sufficient time
available to go ashore, as the city is some 40 miles up the Filzroy
River.

Mackay, although on the coast, is also communicated with by
lighters, which ply to the vessels at anchor about a mile and a
half from the shore. It seemed rather unfortunate that a city of
such big industries should be handicapped by lack of ship'ping
facilities, the water being shallow for such a long distance from
the shore as to make the construction of a jetty a matter of very
considerable expense. It is the principal centre of the sugar
trade of Queensland — '* Sugaropolis," as it is called — and all the
products of its huge sugar mills have to be taken to the vessels
f