'*^''^\y^ ^^ ■^^"^m^ '■^-^M FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY U^ €m^mmi W?^. C THE Victorian Naturalist: THE JOURNAL & MAGAZINE OF THE t^Iri Jattiplbb^ 4^"^ ^f "t^^l^^^ta, APRIL, 1895, TO MARCH, 1896. The Author of each Article is responsible for the facts and opinions he records. iHbelbourne: WALKER, MAY & CO., PRINTERS, MACKILLOP-STREET (off 390 LITTLE COLLINS STREET). 1896. i3-J(\ v^lM^OA-d^ X(S INDEX TO VICTOKIAN NATURALIST, VOXi. XIII. Ayaricus campestris, Note on 47 Ants and Orchids - - 108 Ants as Fungus Growers - 108 Antarctic Notes - - - 1 Articles of Interest - - 67 Australian Plants, Descrip- tions of New - 06, 124 Psoralea - - - - (MS Velleya - - - - 124 Basalt Caves, Skipton - 53 Birds of Box Hill District 127, 143 Brown, Memorial to Robert 108 Butterflies of Castlemaine - 91 Calendars, and Indexing Natural History Obser- vations - - - 120 Cidiiptorliynchus Banksi - 136 Castlemaine, Biitterflies of - 91 Chlumydddera orieidalis 107, 139 Dispersal of Mistletoe - - 51 Echidna, Egg-shells of - 35 Entomogenous Fungi - - 63 Erythrodryas rosea - - 137 Extraction of Friable Fossils 67 Fertilizers, A Ramole Among 87 Field Naturalists' Club — Annual Report - - 25 Excursions — Cheltenham - - - 62 Marine Dredging - - 39 Melton - - - 100 Heidelberg - - - 115 Wilsmere - - - 4 Proceedings, 1, 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85, 97, 113, 125, 141 Flowering Times of Orchids 31,82 Formal - - - -06 Formalin as a Preservative - 101 Fossils, Extraction of Friable 67 Fowl, Language of Domestic 147 Fungi, Entomogenous - 63 Fungi and Phanerogams - 115 Gippsland Trip, Notes on a - 42 Glaciers ~ - - - 68 Hosts of Liver Fluke 123, 139, 146 lalmenus myrsilus - - 135 Indexing Natural History Observations - - 120 Insects, Mounting for Cabinet 64 Isaria surmatodes - - 64 Ladybirds - - - - 8 Lepidoptera, New Victorian 8 Life-History of lalmenus myrsilus - - - 135 Life-History of Xenica Hohartia - - - 94 Liver Fluke, Hosts of 123, 139, 146 Magpies - . _ 68, 98 Mallacoota Inlet, Trip to - 76 Microscopical Test Rulings 8, 30 Mildew of Wheat - - 96 Mistletoe, Dispersal of - 51 Moa Bones, A Rich Find of - 48 Moths, A Catalogue of Vic- torian 9, 13, 57, 69, 109, 149 Pyralidina - 9, 13, 57, 69 AlucitidfB - - - 70 Botydidee - - - 12 Conchylidae - - - 112 Crambidse - - - 57 Galleriadse - - - 59 Grapholithidfe - - 111 Hydrocampidfe - - 11 Macotrinidfe - - 10 Oxychirotidse - - 70 Phycitidse - - 59, 69 Pterophorida; - - 70 Pyralididaj - - 9, 13 Scopariadse - - - 24 Tortricina - 71, 109, 149 Tortricidje - - 71, 109 Xyloiyctidse - - 149 Mushroom, Note on an Edible- - - - 47 Obituary Notices — Dobson, Hon. Dr. - 19 MacGillivray, Dr. P. H. 48 Sullivan, D. - - 36 Taylor, Dr. J. E. - - 107 Wilson, J. B. - - 81 Orchids and Ants - - 108 Orchids, Habitats and Flower- ing Times of Victorian 31, 54, 82 Orchids of Sale District - 45 Pasteur, Louis - - - 74 Phanerogams and Fungi - 115 PAGE Plants, New Australian 66, 124 Preservative, Formalin as a 101 Sandblast - - - - 8 Select Extra-tropical Plants 84 Skipton, Basalt Caves at - 53 Sj'mbiosis Between Fungi and Phanerogams - 115 Townsville, Natural History Notes from - - G, 15 Victorian Lepidoptera, New 8 Victorian Moths 9, 13, 57, 69, 109, 149 Wheat, Mildew of - - 96 Xenica Hohartia, Life-History of - - - - 94 ILLUSTRATION Eggs of Chlamydodera orientalis 107 THE Vol. XII.— No. 1. APRIL, 1895. No. 137. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 8th April, 1895. Professor W, Baldwin Spencer, a vice-president, occupied the chair, and some 90 members and visitors were present. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Mr. G. E. Shepherd, of Somerville, asking if the reported finding of the eggs of the Curlew on Robin Island, Bass Strait, was authentic. Dr. W. Macgillivray remarked that he had seen the eggs on which the report was founded, and that they were, in his opinion, those of the Sooty Oyster-catcher. As is well known, the Curlew breeds in Siberia, and migrates through China and Japan to Australia every year. REPORTS. Reports of the recent excursions to Willsmere and Maribyrnong were received from the respective leaders, Messrs. J. and W. Stickland and Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A. ELECTION OF MEMBER. On a ballot being taken Mr. Pratt was duly elected a member of the Club. VISITOR. Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G., introduced to the meeting Mr. C. Egeberg Borchgrevink, the scientist who accompanied the whsder Aritarctic on her recent voyage to the South Polar regions. In his introductory remarks the Baron laid great stress on the importance of Antarctic exploration for commercial as well as for scientific reasons. Although the land lies under our own regions it must be remembered that South Africa has also facilities for reaching it. The importance of Antarctic research to geology and geography cannot be over-estimated. In the North there are no less than three expeditions engaged under far less favour- able circumstances, the most notable being that of Mr. Borch- grevink's daring compatriot, Nansen, which has now been out for nearly two years. Mr. Borchgrevink, who was well received, then proceeded to give an outline of the zoological results of the voyage as follows: — " I have not prepared any set lecture for this evening, but am 2 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. asked to give my views on animal life down south. As to whales, we went to get right whales and did not find any. Do they exist ? It is very difficult to say. We did not go as far down as Ross ; still, in my oj^inion, Ross has mistaken finned whales for right whales. The finned whale was seen in large numbers, spouting about in all directions. It is very strong, and is the last of the animal kingdom to be conquered by man — a conquest chiefly due to the enterprise of the late Captain Svendfoyn, of Norway. We did not have the proper appliances to catch them, but I have no doubt that in the near future expeditions will be sent out to secure them. We were not sorry to fall in with a small kind of whale, also found in Norway, which affords a splendid meat. I regard it as of great importance as food for the coming scientific expedition. We met with five kinds of seals. One, which has not previously been described, had absolutely no ears, inside or outside. I regret very much that the skull, which I prepared, was accidentally crushed. The seals had cuts and scars about their skin resembling greatly the cuts given by the Polar Bear in the north, so that old sealers concluded that there were bears in the south too. I do not agree with Sir James Ross that these wounds have been inflicted in battles amongst themselves, as there are no scars about the head ; nor are they caused by grampuses. I have no doubt that a large animal, hitherto un- discovered, exists on the Antarctic Continent, and this may explain the great scarcity of seals in these regions. " Of birds, we saw many of the White Petrel ; it is a sure sign of ice. I was asked by members of this Club to observe how far the Mutton Bird extended. It was only met with on our return in latitude 54°. On Campbell Island the Albatrosses had young at the time of our visit, but no eggs were to be found. While shooting ducks, which were very numerous there, I secured also several Godwits. We landed at Possession Island, which is covered with myriads of Penguins. Near a conspicuous Cape, to which we gave the name of Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, I was fortunate in finding a lichen. This is the first recorded instance of vegetation in such southern latitudes. Pdssibly the tempera- ture of the island has changed since the time that Ross visited it. I go to London immediately to ur^e the sending out of an ex- pedition. I will offer myself for the land party, for which my ability in the use of the Norweigan snow shoe will be of great assistance." On behalf of the members, the Chairman thanked Mr. Borchgrevink for his address, and remarked that when we re- member that there were absolutely no conveniences for collecting, and that Mr. Borchgrevink had practically to go before the mast in order not to miss the opportunity, it must be admitted that far more had been done than could have been expected. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. PAPERS. 1. By the Rev. E. Halford Hennell, entitled " Notes of a Gippsland Trip." Taking the form of a diary, the paper dealt with a camp-out expedition through the Gippsland Lakes. At Metung and on the Tambo good shooting and fishing were obtained, but insects were scarce. At Lake Tyers the collecting results were better, numerous fossils being obtained in the Nowa Nowa arm. An enjoyable trip was brought to a conclusion in the Morwell district, where several tiger snakes were obtained. 2. By Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, entitled " The Dispersal of Mistletoe." The agent in the dispersal of the Australian mistletoes, belonging to the genus Loranthus, was declared to be a small bird — the Swallow Dicseum — which extracts the seeds from the capsules in which they are enclosed. The discarded shells are found in great numbers under gum-trees. The bird is so small that when the seeds are passed they stick to the bough on which it sits, and in course of time germinate there. Experiments made by the author show, contrary to popular opinion, that it is not necessary for germination that the seeds should first pass through the bird's body. Specimens of the bird and of the mistletoe in various stages of growth were shown in illustration of the paper. EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening: — By Mr. C. E. Borchgrevink. — Specimens of the White Petrel, Procellaria navea, and Wilson's Petrel, Procellaria Wilsoni, from the Antarctic ; also, Godwits from Campbell Island. By Mr. C. French. — Rare moths, comprising Pie^us imj^erialis, from Victoria, and the following Queensland species, viz. : — Charagia splendens, C. Lewini, Ghcerocam2)a Cleopatra, C. Tryoni, Panacra Turneri, P. Joanna, and P., sp. ; Macroglossa, n. sp. ; Dianassa stiff'usa, and Exotrocha liboria. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Eggs of the following Queensland birds, viz. : — White-throated Gerygone, Black-breasted Cincloramphus, Black-throated Crow Shrike ; also, curious Cactus flower (Stapelia stellulala), from Cape of Good Hope. By the Rev. E. H. Hennell, in illustration of paper. — Fossils from Nowa Nowa arm. Lake Tyers ; corals, Cellepora Gambierensis, various corals belonging to the family Turbinolidse, Echinoderm, Clypeaster Gippslandicus ; shells, viz., Pecten coarticus (?), P. Yahle7isis, and two other species, ffinnites Corioensis, H. sp. ; Spondylus pseudoradula, Ostrea, four species, the largest weighing 2 ^ lbs. ; species belonging to Terebratula, Limopsis, &c. ; Polyzoans, not determined ; Coleoptera, Arachnidse, and shellfish from Gippsland Lakes ; reptiles, viz., two Tiger Snakes, Hoplocephalus curtus, and skin of same tanned ; Uinulia Quoyi, Liolepisma, sp., &c. By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Eggs of the Red-backed Kingfisher, Halajon jryrrhopygius. Crested Wedge-bill, Sphenostoma cristaticm, Yellow-tinted Smicrornis, S. Jlivesce7is, Black-backed Warbler, Malurus melanosis, Banded Xerophila, A", pectoralis, Large Striated Wren, Amytis macroiirus, Striated Wren, A. striatus, and several others not yet identified, all from Central Australia. By Mrs. W. Martin. — Two extra large old shells (Carris cornuta). The meeting terminated with the usual conversazione. EXCURSION TO WILSMERE. Those members of the Club who had made up their minds to visit the picturescjuely situated pools at Wilsmere Park were much disappointed when Saturday, i6th March, turned out showery. However, the leaders and a small party met at the Kew station at the appointed time, and after a walk of rather more than a mile, during which shelter had to be taken from another shower, the entrance to Wilsmere was reached, and work soon commenced in earnest. Naturally, when banks, grass, shrubs, &c., are wet and sloppy the conditions for pond-life hunting are not the best, and consequently the party soon showed signs of the nature of their occupation. Good spoil, however, was obtained. The ponds abound in Entomostraca, water-mites, water-boatmen, and many kinds of larvae. Amongst these was a remarkable form having six disc-like gills on each side of the body. Numerous quaint, transparent young shrimps attracted attention. Sponges were found in great numbers ; almost every stick yielded several. Many of these showed interesting phases of develop- ment, numerous statoblasts or gemmules being present. Similarly interesting re]iroductive stages were seen in several of the hydras taken. Polyzoa were abundant, and can be obtained in one of the ponds, growing on reeds, in an unusually clean condition, suitable for mounting. A jar of weed and water, taken from the first pond, supplied the greatest variety of microscopic objects. The sessile forms of collared monads were noted, and especially a Rhipidodendron which is very abundant at Wilsmere. It closely resembles, if it is not identical with, the R. Huxleyi of Saville Kent. This remarkable animalcule builds an elaborate brown-coloured structure, branching densely like a tree. Each branch, examined closely, is seen to consist of four parallel tubes ; at the tips of these are the tiny zooids, which require a very high power for their study. Ciliata were comparatively scarce. One noted was the very odd-looking Trachelocerca olor ; this has a neck as long as its name, and so flexible that its owner could without any difficulty tie it in a knot. Many examples of the tube-building Stenlor lioeselii were taken. This is dis- THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, tinguished from the ordinary form not only by the presence of the tube, but by the projection of long setse, three or four times the length of the cilia, from the cuticle down the whole length of the body. These setse are well seen with a i-inch objective under dark ground illumination. Other Protozoa taken belonged to the genera Vorticella, Epistylis, Vaginicola, Acinita, and Pyxicola. The last named deserve a word. They build a small vase-shaped sheath as a dwelling, and have, just beneath the head, a round disc attached. Upon any alarm they retire into their tube in such a manner that this disc is drawn down over its mouth, closing all up snugly. Sun animalcules, Acinetadae, and Amoebae complete our list of these hinnble forms of life. In the botanical side were noted the strangely twisting and coiling Oscillatorice, Closteria, and diatoms. Of the last a long, narrow species of Pleurosigma was swimming about freely. Some good rotifers were taken. The lovely rolling clusters of Lacinularia nutans were caught by dozens. Of tube-builders we noted handsome specimens of Floscularia coronetta. Cephalosiphon limnias and Limnias ceratojohylli were plentiful. Many compound tubes of the latter were noticed, two groups containing eight individuals each. Oecistes longicornis, with its two long arm-like antennae, were found, but no Melicerta. Asplanchna Ihightwellii and its near relative, Sacculus viridrcs, were taken. The latter uncommon rotifer, when extended, as its name implies, resembles a little green bag. The usual forms of the genera Brachionus, Dino- charis, Scaridium, Mastigocerca, and Euchlanis were observed, as also Pterodina rejlexa, and a form apparently identical with Taplirocampa Saundersice, but differing in colour ; the English one is yellow, but all we have seen here green. The great capture of the day, however, was the strange Pedalion mirum, a rotifer of which our friend Mr. Shephard had a tan- talizing glimpse a short time ago. On this occasion, however, we had ample opportunity of observing a specimen. The peculiar interest attaching to this little creature arises (according to Dr. Hudson), from its affording a connecting link between Rotiferaand Arthropoda. Added to the usual organization of its class it possesses six hollow limbs, very muscular, each terminating in eight symmetrically curving spines. By the aid of these limbs it skips, and between the skips it swims, like its congeners, with its ciliary wreath. This rotifer's unique structure necessitated the establishment of the fourth order of Rot if era for its accommoda- tion. It has already been reported from Brisbane. A start was now made for home, and tliough a rough street toilet slightly improved the appearance of the party, they were not sorry that night's kindly shades to some extent concealed their mud-bedaubed condition while homeward bound. — W. and J. Stickland. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, SOME NATURAL HISTORY NOTES FROM TOWNS- VILLE, QUEENSLAND. Compiled ta' H. Kendall. ( Rend before Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, WthMarch, 1895. j The following notes, mostly written by Mr. E. M. Cornwall whilst residing at Roseneath, near Townsville, consist of extracts from a "journal," into which I have worked portions of later letters referring to the same subjects. After alluding to the wildness of his surroundings (as quoted in a previous paper), Mr. C. says :— " I often go and sit on the bank of the waterhole at the bottom of the garden. It is deep, broad, and long, and when the creek bed is dry for miles and miles water is abundant there. The banks, except at each end, are steep, and present a mass of tangled roots which press down to obtain the moisture necessary to sustain the trunks above. Huge native fig trees grow around ; the Leichhardt Tree, or Canary Wood, Sarcocephahis cordatus, with large paired leaves and yellow globes of flower, besides many strange to me. Those who have never seen a forest creek within the tropics can have no idea of the luxuriance of the vegetation. During October many of the trees and shrubs along the streams round here were in bloom, and looked really beautiful — some a perfect blaze of scarlet and gold. When out riding at night one can always tell when near a creek, by the perfume, which at blossom time is almost overpowering, long before the dark fringing belt comes into view. The odour is like that of orange, cestrum, daphne, amaryllis, gardenia, &c., blended together — at a distance delightful, near at hand positively unpleasant. By the pool, however, in the daytime, one does not long to get through the belt of trees, but rather to linger and drink in the beauties of the place. The water lilies seem here to have found an abiding place safe from the despoilers, and flourish amazingly. White, blue, and pink, and through the many shades between — it is hard to find two flowers of exactly the same shade. In one corner, overshadowed by a Leichhardt Tree, quite a patch of blossoms is seen. One is a delicate mauve, another a deeper shade ; that one almost white ; a fourth is lovely flesh pink. They all spring from the one cluster of roots, but, like a family of fair women, no two are alike. Over yonder, where the sun holds power for almost the whole day, the colours are more defined. Some blossoms are deep purple blue, with a clear white centre ; others are pink, but far more ruddy than those grown in the shade. The broad green leaves of these lilies nearly cover the surface of the pool, making it apparently safe to walk upon. Here and there the crimson under surface of a leaf is shown, veined with THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. purplish lines. There is no doubt the colours of these lilies (grown on one plant) vary according to the age of the flowers. When they first expand they are of a pale indefinite blue, which gradually intensifies, and fades through changing tints of pink. I think that in Queensland we have three distinct species of water-lilies. In the Ross River a pink one is quite plentiful." (I may here remind members that Mr. Bayley catalogues three Nymphseas as growing in Northern Queensland — a pure while- flowered species, a smaller one of purplish colour, and a third — blue — which he takes to be JV. ccerulea. There is also the pink water-lily, Nelumbium speciosum, the Lily of the Nile.) "The flower stems grow to an almost incredible length, and I look shudderingly back to a day when one entwined its slimy folds about my legs whilst bathing, and gave me a hard struggle to gain the bank. Careful measurement showed that stem to be 15 feet long. "At almost any time of day an Azure Kingfisher, Alcyone azurea, may be found on one of the lower branches of the spreading fig tree. He watches for fish, and when one is secured betakes himself to a shelving bank beneath the Leichardt Tree, between whose roots fishbones fairly litter the bank. Several half-eaten fish prove that food is not scarce to-day. A White- breasted Sea Eagle, Haliaetus leucosternus, with bright chocolate back and throat, used often to sit upon the topmost bough of the last-named tree, but disappeared for some time. One day, about Christmas time, when my patience had become exhausted by the continuous rain, I wandered down by the brown, swollen waters of the creek, and spent some time in following a specimen of this bird for nearly a mile through the sodden grass. The chase was unavailing ; but the bird looked so handsome, sitting on the very top of a very tall gum, that the memory of his appearance almost compensates for the loss of his skin. The wild flowers were some compensation also. Amongst the tall grass the scarlet Hibiscus shone like a ball of fire, whilst white ("Wild Rosella," H. heterophyllus) and yellow (//. tiUaceus) varieties were also noticed. The great cup-shaped blooms of the Native Convolvulus were abundant, and seemed to have gained a waxy appearance from the rain. The orchids on the giant titree had already thrown long arms into the moist air, Dendrobiuvi undulatum being the most common sort here. Over a stunted Melaleuca a climbing pea, whose perfume (reminding one of daphne) made its presence known before the blooms were visible, was growing and flowering luxuriantly. The flower is very pretty — light pink, with a tendency to mauve, and streaked with hair-like white lines. A beautiful yellow blossom, like a gaillardia, showed star-like from the grass on every side." (To be co/itiiiucd.) THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. CORRESPONDENCE. MICROSCOPICAL TEST RULINGS. To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist. Sir, — I regret to have to request space for a personal matter with reference to an article entitled " Note on Microscopical Test Rulings," and signed H. J. Grayson, which appeared in the last number of the Naturalist (vol. xi., p. 163). VVhen the note was read I pointed out that Mr. Grayson had omitted to mention that, as was well known to several members of the Club, I had been associated with him for several months in the production of test plates. This was admitted by him ; nevertheless he has allowed the note to be printed with a sentence allotting the whole matter to Mr. Stone and himself. I may add in explanation that the project was entered into and carried on by Mr. Grayson and myself, not as a scientific enterprise, but as a commercial one, and in applying scientific usage to the note in question I take it in the light in which Mr. Grayson apparently desires it to be read. On retiring from the partnership I pursued the project alone, and through my firm was able to announce test plates and other rulings as commercial articles prior to the reading of the note in question. Regretting having to trouble you, I am, &c. J. SHEPHARD. Practical Geology. — The Geological Magazine for December, 1894, contains a short article by Mr. H. M. Bernard, M.A., F.L.S., entitled " Application of the Sand-blast for the Development of Trilobites." The article records the results of some recent experi- ments, and throws out hints which may be of use to other pal^eon- tological workers in getting at hidden parts of their specimens. Practical Uses of Ladybirds. — The San Francisco Ex- aminer of 8th January, 1895, contains a long report by Mr. A. Craw, Entomologist to the State Board of Horticulture, on the benefit resulting from the colonization of the Australian ladybird, RJiizobius ventralis, among the orchards of that State. Scale- insects disappear rapidly before their advance, while their rate of increase is so rapid that in one orchard over a million beetles have been collected for further distribution. Victorian Lepidoptera. — Mr. G. Lyell, Gisborne, reports the following entomological captures : — Callidryas lactea, Butler (first record for Victoria), taken at Pjendigo, March, 1895. Received from A. Purdie, Esq., M.A., B.Sc. Jlesperilla peronii, Latrielle (once previously recorded from Victoria), Ocean Grange, Lake Victoria, Gippsland, February, 1895, by Miss May Wise, Sale. Clauca struthias^ Meyrick (first record for Victoria), taken near Sale, 4th April, 1895, by Miss May Wise. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. A CATALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA. By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S. Part XIV. PYRALIDINA (continued). VITESSA. Moore. ANEMOSA. Walk. *435. A. iSADALis, Walk, {isadasalis, Walk., 849 ; Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc, 194, 1887). Melbourne. DRYMIARCHA. Meyr. *436. D. EXANTHES, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 441, 1885). Kew. PERSICOPTERA. Meyr. 437. P. PULCHRINALis, Gn. (Bndotvicha jndchrinaMs, Gn., 220, pi. iii , 7 ; Persicoptera jiulclhrinalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 284, 1884). Sandringham, Gisborne, Melbourne, Windsor, &c. On page 284 of the "Transactions of the Entomological Society of London," 1884, Mr. Meyrick makes Scopula gavisalis (Walk.) synonymic with this species. In the Melbourne Museum col- lection there is a specimen of Mecyna rhodochrysa (Meyr.) labelled in Walker's own liandivriting as Ebulea gavisalis, and described by him in " Characters of Undescribed Lepidoptera," p. 73, 1869, consequently Meyrick's name becomes synonymic ; but it would be interesting to know if Scopula gavisalis and Ebulea gavisalis are identical. I have not the description of the first-named at hand, but I may say that the two species — i.e., ptdchrinalis and gavisalis {rhodochrysa) — are superficially some- what similar. CEDEMATOPHAGA. Meyr. 438. CE. ^GALis, Walk. {Pyralis cegusalis, Walk., B. M. Cat., 912 ; (?) Gauna suhferralis, ib., Supp., 1,253 j (Edematophaga cegalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 74, 1883). Melbourne, Gisborne, Healesville, &c. CENOGENES. Meyr. 439. CE. FUGALis, Feld. {Botys fugalis, Feld., Reis. Nov., pi. cxxxiv., 37; (Enogenes fugalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 75, 1883). Melbourne, &c. 10 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. SCENEDRA. Meyr. 440. S. DECORATALIS, Walk. {P^jralis decoratalis, Walk., B. M. Cat., Supp., 1,242 ; P. contentalis, ib., 1,242 ; Scenedra decoratalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 76, 1883). Melbourne. *44i. S. EXTERNALis, Walk. (Curena externalis, Walk., B. M. Cat., Supp., 1,253; Scenedra {?) externalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent Soc. Lond., 77, 1883). Toorak. ENDOTRICHA. Zeller. *442. E. HELiOPA, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 78, 1883). Melbourne. 442A. E. PYROSALis, Gn. (Pyr., 219, male; E. ignealis, ib., 220, female; Pyralis stilbealis, Walk., B. M. Cat., 913, female; P. docilisalis, ib., 913, female; Messatis sablrusalis, ib., 918, male ; Paconia albifimbrialis, ib., Supp., 1,255, iiiale ; Tricomia auro7-alis, ib., i, 259, male ; Rhodania robina, Bull., Ann. Mag., N. H. (5) ix., 96, male). Melbourne, Stawell, &c. *443. E. yETHOPA, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 79, 1883 ; E. obscura, Butl., loc. cit., 427, 1886). Melbourne. 444. E. AGLAOPA, Meyr. {loc. cit., 196, 1887). Victoria. M YRMID ONISTIS. M ey r. DIPLOSEUSTIS. Meyr. 445. D. MINIMA, Butl. {Cymoriza tninima, Bull., Proc. Zool. Soc, 684, 1880 ; Diploseustis minima, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 285, 1884). Melbourne. 446. D. PROPHETICA, Meyr. {loc. cit., p. 19S, 1887). Warragul. Family— MUSOTI MI D/E. TRICHOPHYSETIS. Meyr. *447. T. CRETACEA, Butl. {Ilydrocampa cretacea, Butl., 111. Het., iii., 75, pi. lix., 8; Trichophysetis neophyla, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 287, 1884). Melbourne. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 11 MUSOTIMA. Meyr. 448. M. NiTiDALis, Walk. (Isopteri/x nitidalis, Walk., Supp., 1,417 ; Diat.hrausta iimaralis, Feld., cxxxv., 23 ; Miisolima nitidalis, Mevr.. Tr. P>nt. Soc. Lond., 290. 1884). Melbourne, Gisborne, &c. 449. M. oCHROPTERALis, Gn. {Isopteryx ochropteralis, Gn , 230 ; Musotima ochropteralis, Mcyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 291, 1884). Gisborne, Fernshaw, Cape Oiway Forest, &c. Family— HYDROCAM PI DyE. ANYDRAULA. Meyr. 450. A, GLYCERlALis, Walk. {Cataclysta gli/cerialis, Walk., 450 ; Anydraula glycerialis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 428, 1885).' Melbourne. CATACLYSTA. Hb. MARGAROSTICHA. Ld. PARAPONYX. Hb. *45i. P. POLYDECTALis, Walk. (Cataclysta polydectalis, Walk., 451 ; Paraponyx polydectalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lend., 430, 1885). Melbourne. 452. P. NITENS, Butl. (Cist. Ent., ii., 556 ; Hygraula nitens, Meyr., Tr. N.Z. Inst., 122, 1884). Melbourne, Mount Macedon. HYDREURETIS. Meyr. *453. H. TULLiALis, Walk. {Ilydrocampa tullialis, Walk, 462 ; Hyd^'euretis tidlialis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 436, 1885). Melbourne. 454. H. EURYSCIA, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 435, 1885). Sale, Gisborne. SCHCENOBIUS. Dup. 455. S. IMPARELLUS, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 176, 1878). Melbourne. SCIRPOPHAGA. Tr. 456. S. PATULELLA, Walk. {Tipaium patnlella, Walk., Tin., 522 ; Scirpophaga exsanguis, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 161, 1882). Melbourne, &c. 12 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Family— BOTYDID^. MARGARODES. Gn. PACHYARCHES. Ld. GL YPHODES. Gn. E UCLA ST A. Ld. SYNCLERA. Ld. MOROCOSMA. Ld. LEPYRODES. Gn. PHALANGIODES. Gn. CIRRHOCHRISTA. Ld. PHACELLURA. Lusd., Gld. SIRIOCAUTA. Ld. RHIMPHALEA. Ld. SAMEODES. Snell. LONCHODES. Gn. HYDRIRIS. Meyr. SPANISTA. Ld. EI LODES. Gn. DR.ECENURA. Meyr. PLEONECTUSA. Ld. SCELIODES. Gn. *457. S. CORDALIS, Dbld. {Margaritia cordalis, Dbld., DiefF., N.Z., ii., 288 ; Sceliodes inucidalis, Gn., 400 ; Darala extensalis, Walk, Supp., 1,311; Eretria ohsistalix, Snell, Tijd., v., Ent., 206, 1880; i6., 1883, pi. vi., 12; Sceliodes cordalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 303, 1884). Gisborne, Melbourne, &c. CNAPHALOCROCIS. Ld. *458. C. MFDiNALis, Gn. (Salbia medinalis, Gn., 201 ; Botys riitilalis, Walk., 665 ; B. iolealis, ib., 666 ; B. mer- sciaiis, ib., 724; B. acerumnalis, ib., Supp., 1,449; Cnaplialocrocis iolinalis, Ld., pi. xii., 7; C. onedinalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 216, 1887). Melbourne. DOLICHOSTICHA. Meyr. *459. VENiLiALis, Walk. {Asopia venilialis, Walk., 373 ; Botys marisalis, ib., 717 ; Dolichosticha venilialis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lend., 304, 1884). Melbourne, Gippsland. THE Victorian $1 a t u r a I i 1 . Vol. XII.— No. 2. MAY, 1895. No. 138. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th May, 1895. The president, Mr. H. T. Tisdall, F.L.S., occupied the chair, and some 80 members and visitors were present. REPORT. A report of the excursion to Beaumaris on Saturday, 20th April, was received from the Rev. W. Fielder, who acted as leader. MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. The hon. secretary reported that a meeting for practical work was held on the 24th April, when a second meeting was devoted to the Tunicata, under the direction of the Rev. W. Fielder. GENERAL BUSINESS. After the nomination of office-bearers for the ensuing year had been made, Messrs. D. Best and H. R. Hogg were elected to audit the accounts for 1894-5. PAPER READ. By the Misses May and Lilian Wise and Muriel Bennett, entitled " List of Orchids collected near Sale." This paper was communicated by Mr. Alex. Purdie, M.A., and written by three of his pupils, contained valuable notes on the flowering times of many orchids rare in other parts of the colony. POND LIFE, The rest of the evening was devoted to a microscopic examina- tion of pond life collected from the lake in the Botanical Gardens. A special visit had been made by several members of the Club, and the objects procured were shown by the aid of about twenty microscopes. Mr. J. Shephard delivered a few introductory remarks, de- scribing the methods employed in collecting and preparing for examination under the microscope, also touching briefly upon the different classes of objects and their place in the animal kingdom. The Rev. W. Fielder then gave an interesting description of the fresh-water sponges and hydroids, and subsequently demon- strated the method of making permanent preparations for the microscope. 14 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Microscopical exhibits of pond life, from lake in Botanical Gardens, were given by Prof. Spencer, supplying microscopes from Biological School, Melbourne University ; Rev. W. Fielder, who also gave a demonstration of cutting sections of sponge ; Messrs. Stickland, living Rotifers ; Mr. R. S. Sugars, who took Spirogyra ; Mr. M'Caw, living and mounted Cordylophora ; Messrs. G. J. Page and Gabriel, Diatoms ; Messrs. Stone, Hill, Hayes, Scott, Cox, Shephard, and others showing Hydra, Entomostraca, insect larvae, &c. The living objects especially were examined with evident interest by those present, and the general opinion was ex- pressed that an agreeable innovation on the usual procedure had been made. EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening: — By Miss Cochrane. — Painting of rare Victorian orchid, Pterostylis grandiflora. By Mr. A. Coles. — White Goshawk, Astur Novcju- Ilollandioi and hybrid between Lady Amhurst and Golden Pheasant. By Mr. J. E. Dixon. — Orchid in bloom, Liparis rejlexa, from New South Wales. By Mr. W. E. Ellemor. — 36 species of mosses, including Fissidens leptoloma, Weissia flavipen, Cryphce, Folytrichum ( Muelleri) and Cyathophorwm (Hookeri). By Mr. C French, F.L.S. — 39 species Australian Hawk Moths, including Macrosila severince, M. Edwardsi, Panacra Turneri, F. Joanna, P. automedon, Melittia chalybescens ; also Victorian Lepidoptera, including Heteronymplia paradelpha, Xenica correal, X, orichora, X. HobaHi, Hesperilla Doubledayi ; also rare Vic- torian orchid, Pterostylis grandiflora, collected by exhibitor at Cheltenham. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Pecten and other shells from the sewerage works near Port Melbourne, found at a depth of 52 feet from the surface. By Mr. H. J. Grayson. — Slides of micro, rulings (improved mounting). By Mr. R. Hall. — Albino specimen of Dasyurus from the Dargo plateau. By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G. — Elacholoma Hornii, F. v. M. and Tate, a minute annual, constituting a new genus of Sesameas, characterized by bistaminate flowers with very short and slender almost lobeless corolla and capillary stigmas. This remarkable plant was discovered by Professor Tate at Carmichael's Creek, Central Australia, during the Horn expedition. By Mr. G. J. Page. — Two slides of Diatoms. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. Just as we are going to press the death is announced of Mr. D. Sullivan, F.L.S., of Moyston, an old member of the Field Naturalists' Club. A notice of his work will appear in the next Naturalist. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 15 SOME NATURAL HISTORY NOTES FROM TOWNS- VILLE, QUEENSLAND. Compiled by H. Kendall. (Continued from page 7.) "A pair of little Mangrove Bitterns built near the pool, and a couple of Crested Hawks lingered about the gardens for many weeks, but vanished without nesting — I fear the gardener could tell why. He takes a practical view of things, and reckons chickens far ahead of science. By the edge of the pond at night Southern Stone Plovers, (Edicnemus grcdlarius, hold revels, making the bush ring with their yells. They often come close to our door, but morning drives them to their haunts among the grass." Orioles also frequent the pool : " A nest hangs on a Sheoak bough, and a few weeks ago — this would mean October- November — was tenanted by three young Orioles. They have since taken to their wings, but the old home remains, with that appearance of loneliness about it which one finds in an empty house. There is now no clamour of hungry little ones, no angry cry of anxious mother as the men working in the garden approach to what she considers dangerous limits. In times of drought the White Ibis, Threskiornis strictipennis, comes here — in company with the Yellow-Legged Spoonbill, Platylea Jlavipes, and the White Crane — to feed about the margin of the water. Their snow-white plumage contrasts well with the dark shadows and the bright colours of the water-lilies. A Black-eared Cuckoo, Mesocalius pcdliolatus, lives in the top of the Leichardt Tree. Day and night his melancholy voice is lifted up, and if he sleeps at all it must be just when I do ; at all other times he may be heard. The Spotted Bower Bird comes to the garden to feed upon small tomatoes and the chilies. The latter are grown as food for fowls, and when swallowed whole are not hot, so the meal is not so strange as it sounds. The Bower Bird also loves the guavas and other fruits, especially those of a bright colour, so war is declared against him. Some half-mile from here these birds have, like the legendary Bessie Bell and Mary Gray, ' biggit a bower on yon burn-brae ' — the ' burn-brae ' being on a small branch of this creek. " On the other side of the pool, affixed to a branch over- hanging the water, but very high up, is the mud nest of the Pied Grallina, Grallina picata. The mud hereabouts contains so large a proportion of sand that the birds have had to use an unusual quantity of grass to bind it together, the ends of which stick out on every side. The complaining cry of these birds is almost incessant. When the Melaleuca was in bloom I noted many honey-eaters by this pool, amongst them one, Myzomela sanguinoJenta, with bright crimson head and shoulders ; the 16 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Yellow Honey-eater, Ptilotis Jlava, whose nest of bark and grass and spiders' webs one sees about September, the white eggs tinged at the smaller end with blotches of light red ; also P. Jlavescens, and others, of whose identity I am yet in doubt. My knowledge is all too limited, particularly as to the habits of birds. In the garden beside the pool the mangoes were recently eaten off the trees. We suspected those gardeners' enemies the Flying Foxes, which come in towards nightfall in enormous numbers, sometimes darkening the air, and accordingly watched ; but the depredators turned out to be a pair of Pale-headed Parrakeets, whom we caught in the morning eating the fruit." The Flying Foxes play havoc with both fruit and blossoms in the garden. In June they were amongst the Acacia and Sheoak blooms in the bush. " The ground beneath these trees was carpeted with the flowers which the foxes had thrown down in their quest for honey. Among the birds present on this occasion were a large dark honey-eater (unidentified), the Sanguineus Honey-eater, Friar Birds, &c. But I was surprised to note the almost total absence of honey-loving lorikeets. There were a few ' Blue Mountains ' about, but flying high, and I only saw two or three among the blooms." Some undesirable neighbours were " a pair of White Goshawks, who nested and reared a brood near the pool. I was tender- hearted and spared the young ones too long, as loss of chickens told, but at last shot one old bird, and put a bullet through the branch on which the nest was built. In it were the remains of a fair-sized Brown Snake. Are goshawks in the habit of feeding on such reptiles ? " When the streams cease running many animals come to the pool by night to drink. The tracks of the Great Black-faced Kangaroo, or Wallaroo, Macropus robustus, sink deeply into the sandy margin of the waterhole. Smaller kangaroos and wallabies come too. The wallabies, after drinking, pass on into the garden, where sweet potatoes offer a luxury not to be missed. The tracks of the Kangaroo Rat, Bandicoot, Native Cat, Opossum, and sometimes of the Dingo, are also to be seen. The Dingo never comes close to, and even into the water, as other animals do, but stands well back and never lingers long. Whilst drinking the neck is stretched well out, and when thirst is quenched the dog turns tail at once, like the coward he is, and slinks away amongst the trees. His tracks are always straight to water and straight back ; he never wanders up and down as though loth to leave it. If one wanted to get amongst the marsupials he should have been here in September, when the old grass had been burnt and a nice young growth was springing. One Sunday all sorts and sizes were seen during a ride which I took. There were over 20 very large kangaroos in one mob, besides several twos THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 17 and threes. Had it been a week day some skins, scalps, and tails would possibly have parted from the remainder of the animals. " All my attempts to capture a huge lizard who has his home amongst the roots of the fig tree have proved abortive, and I shall have to try what a cunningly-devised snare will do. " Occasionally a Cormorant, Graculus melanoleucus, makes his way into tliis sequestered corner, and finds good living too, for the pond is full of fish. He sits upright on a stranded log until a fish is seen. Then — a splash, a gleam of silver, and he is back on his perch, spreading his wings and pluming himself in the sun. But if the gardener sees him the gun comes out, and the Cormorant dies." Birds are not the only anglers in this pool. Our friend casts his own line therein at times, and has drawn from this and other waters a problem which often confronts naturalists, accounts of which are often received doubtingly, and concerning which some of the explanations given do not always meet the case. Mr. C. says : — " The variety and number of the fish are amazing. Before the rainy season there was only the one permanent water- hole in the creek near me, and at that time there did not seem to be many fish in it. But within a fortnight from the time the creek started to run, in every hole for miles up (where they could not apparently have travelled because of obstacles in the shape of rapids and falls) there were multitudes of tiny fish. How they come is somewhat of a mystery. Is it possible that before the water dried up the ova were deposited, and that they remain in the dry bed of the creek until the fresh flow of water causes them to hatch ? This hardly seems possible, since, if such be the case, the eggs must sometimes remain unhatched for years. Very long intervals — several yeais sometimes — elapse without the creeks running." In another letter he says : — "Here is another puzzle : Castle Hill is the eminence overlooking Townsville — a mountain, we call it. During the wet season many little streams run down its sides, forming here and there small pools, which, however, are dry for nine or ten months of the year — sometimes for several years together. But when these pools have only been filled a few days small fish appear, which grow rapidly for the few weeks the water remains. Some years ago a man took up land over the range, but there was no water on it, nor any creek or river within miles. A dam was made, but as no rain fell for more than two years, this remained dry. One night a thunderstorm — a very local one — broke over the place and filled the dam. In a few days many fish were noticed in the bywash of the dam. This is vouched for by a most observant naturalist friend — a member of the literary staff of the local Bulletin. "In the waterlily pool I caught, the other day, eight distinct varieties of fish, and noticed three, if not four sorts which 18 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. disdained to bite. Amongst those caught were eels 4 ft. long and quite 3 in. in circumference, and Garfish as large as and very like the saltwater variety — excellent eating, save for the many bones, and having mouths armed with sharp teeth. An- other species is known locally as the Jew Fish ; it has a smooth skin, and is armed at each side with sharp spines, while several flabby appendages hang from its lips. It is good eating, though repulsive to look at. There is a Cat Fish here ; also a pretty little fish of light silvery colour, much like the English herring. Some of the many smaller species are beautifully barred and striped with colours — one resembling very much the ' Cowfish ' so common in Westernport Bay, but less in size, and not so robust. The ' Bony Bream ' (one of the Clupeidse) well earns its name — it is so full of bones that it is almost impossible to pick them out. It is certainly not the food a hungry man would choose. Altogether there are some fifteen difierent sorts in the pool. Tortoises are here, and shrimps, and water-beetles great and small. There are many small molluscs, too. on the water weeds which grow so thickly." In the Ross River, of which the stream spoken of is an affluent, crocodiles sometimes appear, concerning which Mr. C. writes: — " There was a great outcry here the other day, when it was reported that an alligator had scared a man nearly into fits over by the Ross. Some of Townsville's crack shots sallied out to deal destruction to this monster of a few feet in length. They report having bombarded him thoroughly, but forgot to bring his body home." On a subsequent occasion my friend had a close view of one. Whilst near the mouth of Armidale Creek he and his wife " saw an immense alligator, which was fully 16 ft. long, and as it swam across the creek several times and in a very leisurely manner we had ample time to note its ugliness. I had my rifle, but the alligator would not remain quiet long enough for me to get a sure shot." Armidale Creek is described as a paradise for collectors. There are big snakes, alligators, kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies, birds and insects galore, and plentiful material for the botanist too. But the whole district seems rich in " specimens." On the ranges towards Mount Elliot (separated from Townsville by " miles of untrodden fast- nesses ") adiantums were found amongst the grass with fronds quite, five feet high ; and on a mountain between the heads of the Bluewater Creek and Black River (ascended last May) " the heads of splendid specimens of the Hoop Pine, Araucaria Cimning- hami, rose high above the surrounding timber in a spot where the gully became precipitous." As the party mounted upwards, on this trip, ferns and orchids (chiefly Dendrobiuras) became more plentiful, the ferns much battered by the torrent which during the recent rainy season poured down the mountain side. The summit was reached after " a scramble over moss and lichen- THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 19 covered rocks and rotten logs, and through a perfect maze of vines and creepers which twined round one's legs and became twisted round one's neck in an unpleasantly suggestive manner. Here every rock and stump carried its crown of ferns and orchids, whilst nearly every tree sustained a load of Bird's Nest and Stag- horn ferns, some of the former being of gigantic proportions." Time was too brief and other circumstances did not favour collecting. Believing the peak to be unnamed, the travellers called it " Mount Langlon," in honour of a member of the party who was certainly the first lady to reach the summit. The ascent of Mount Langton is the last expedition of which I have any record, and my supply of notes from Townsville district has (I trust temporarily) ceased. THE LATE HON. DR. DOBSON, F.L.S. We regret to have to record the death, on Saturday, ist June, of the Hon. Dr. Dobson, M.L.C^ for many years a member of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. Having a natural taste for botany, the hon. gentleman became a member of the Club in 1881, and succeeded Prof. M'Coy as president for the year 1883-4. Though a frequent attendant at the earlier meetings of the Club, he was the author of only one paper, entitled "Some Remarks on the Term 'Fruit,'" read in April, 1886 {Victorian Naturalist, iii., page i). He also took part in several excursions where botany formed the chief object of research. In his presidential address, delivered at the Royal Society's Hall, at the fourth conversaziofie of the Club, on 30th April, 18S4, and which appeared in the first volume of the Club's journal, he advocated the publication of a Victorian Botany for students, on the plan of the Rev. W. W. Spicer's " Handbook to the Plants of Tasmania," which was drawn up as a dichotomous key. The suggestion was taken up by the Club, and at the instance of the Government of the day, urged by Dr. Dobson, as a member of the Legislative Council, Baron von Mueller (the Government Botanist) was instructed to carry out the work, which it is need- less to say was done with that thoroughness which characterizes all his work, and resulted in the publication of the " Key to the System of Victorian Plants," a much more elaborate work than we venture to think Dr. Dobson had in his mind when throwing out the suggestion. The learned doctor's services were always at the disposal of the Club when it was desired to approach any of the Government departments on such questions as the extension of the protection of native birds, the reservation of Wilson's Promontory as a national park, &c., while his position for many years as a trustee of the Public Library, National Museum, &c., enabled him to assist in the advancement of natural science by those institutions. 20 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. THE GANNETS OF MALDEN ISLAND. In placing these few incomplete notes on the Gannets which frequent Maiden Island before the members of the Club, I have not thought it necessary to enter into any description of the island itself, as those who desire to know more about it may find a description of it in a previous number of the Club's journal (Victorian Naturalist, vi., p. 123). Through the kindness and energy of my cousin, Mr. John M'CuUough, who holds the position of field overseer on Maiden, i am enabled to exhibit to-night the eggs of the three species of Gannets which resort there for the purpose of nidification, viz. : — Masked Gannet, Snla cyanops, Brown Gannet, S. fiber, Red-legged Gannet, aS'. piscator. As far as I am aware, the egg of the latter has not been previously exhibited here, and for that reason I have shown the eggs of the whole four species which inhabit Australia, for purposes of comparison by those who care to do so. The egg of the Red-legged Gannet is the smallest of the four species, is of a dirty white colour, and in size and shape closely resembles an ordinary hen's egg — measuring roughly 2|- in. in length by i j V in. in breadth. The shell is slightly rough, but is smoother than any of the other three. The nest consists of twigs or stems of hibiscus, built just high enough to be clear of the water in the lagoon at high tide, and situated on a ledge of rock or coral. Eggs have been taken as early as i8th August, and as late as the end of November, but I have not yet ascertained definitely whether the birds raise more than one brood in the year. Their period of incubation is 45 days, in the instance which I have caused to be observed the egg being laid on the 17th November and the young bird hatched out on the 31st December; and as eggs are laid in the middle of August, it gives ample time for this to be a second brood. Of the habits of the Masked and Brown Gannets I have not obtained so full particulars. The former builds a rude nest composed of a few twigs of pig's face weed laid around a slight depression in the guano, and raises very decided objections to her eggs, of which she sometimes lays three in a clutch, forming a subject of examination by the naturalist, whose wily endear- ments and suspicious approach she vigorously resents. The eggs in my possession were taken on the i8th August. The Brown Gannet usually lays two eggs, making no further attempt at nest building than the scraping of a slight depression in the guano. I hope to be able at some future date to add to these notes further particulars as to the habits of these and other birds which constitute very nearly the entire fauna of Maiden Island. My cousin has furnished me with a few extracts from his diary relating to his feathered friends, which I shall anticipate his permission to read, but I cannot, of course, publish them. — R. S. Sugars. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 21 A CATALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA. By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S. Part XV. PY R A L I D I N A (continued). MARASMIA. Ld. SYNGAMIA. On. AGATHODES. Gn. DIA THRA USTA. Ld. DIASEMIA. Gn. ■*46o. D. RAMBURiALis, Dup. (Gn., 334; Z., Caff., 30; Isopteryx melaleucalis, Walk., 402 ; Diaseniia reconditalis, ib., Supp., 1,325 ; D. leucophcealis, ib., Supp., 1,326 ; Lineodes leodocuscdis, Walk., 947). Melbourne. ISCHNURGES. Ld. *46i. I. ILLUSTRALIS Ld. (418, pi. XV., 12; Nesolocha autolitha, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 240, 1886). Melbourne. PESSOCOSMA. Meyr. *462. P. lOLEALis, Walk. (Lepi/rodes iolealis, Walk., 466 ; Pesso- cosma iolealis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 301, 1884). Kewell. B^TARCHA. Meyr. ARCHERNIS. Meyr. ZINCKENIA. Zeller. 463. Z. RECURVALIS, F. [Phaloina recurvalis, ¥., E. S., 407 ; Z., Caff., 55 ; Gn., 225 ; P. angustalis, F., Mant., 309 ; P. fascinlis, Stoll., pi. xxxvi., 13 ; Hydrocampa albi- fascialis, Bdv., Mad., 119, pi. xvi., \. ; Zinckenia recurvalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 308, 1884). Melbourne, Sandhurst, Gisborne. *464. Z. PERSPECTALis, Hb. (Pyralis perspectalis, Hb., Exot., loi ; Gn., 226 ; Zinckenia primordialis, Zeller, Caff., 56; Spoladea expor talis, Gn., 227; Zinckenia per- spectalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 309, 1884). Springvale, Melbourne. SEMIOCEROS. Meyr. *465. S. MURCALIS, Walk. {Nacoleia murcalis (murcusalis), Walk., 935 ; Isopteryx sordidalis, ib., Supp., 1,317 ; Botys hypsidesalis, ib., 1,006 ; Semioceros murcalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 319, 1884). Gisborne, Ararat, Sandringham. 22 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, PROTERINA. Meyr. CERATOCLASIS. Ld. EREBANGELA. Meyr. STREPSIMELA. Meyr. CEDIODES. Gn. TETRACONA. Meyr. AGROTERA. Schrk. NOSOPHORA. Ld. i'^Z-e C YNTIS. M ey r. COMPSOPHILA. Meyr. PYNCARMON. Ld. NOTARCHA. Meyr. *466. N. CLYTALis, Walk, (^sittra clytalis {clytusalis), Walk., 550; Botys clytialis, Ld., pi. x., 16; NotarcJia clytalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 312, 1884). Melbourne. APHYTOCEROS. Meyr. CONOGETHES. Meyr. AlOLYBDANTHA Meyr. STEREOCOPA. Meyr. /'^ C^y YZANCLA. Meyr. BOTYODES. Gn. PTERIGISUS. Butl. HELLULA. Gn. 467. H. UNDALis, Fab. {Phakena undalis, Fab., E. S., 362 ; Gn., 416; Ilellula hydralis, Gn., 416; Scopula criasusalis, Walk., 1,016 ; Scoparia optatusalis, ib., 1,018 ; Pyralis suhtrigonalis , ib., 1,244 j Leucochroma phidi- lealis, Walk., 972 ; Leucinodes exemptalis, ib., Supp., 1,313)- Gisborne, Melbourne, &c. DYSALLACTA. Ld. ATELOCENTRA. Meyr. 468. A. CLORASPis, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., :^2t^, 1884). Fernshaw. ISOCENTRJS. Meyr. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 23 BOTYS. Tr. *469. B. PHiEOPTERALis, Go., 340 {B. otreusalis, Walk., 637 ; B. triarialis, ib., 639 ; B. nelsalis, ib., 643 ; B. abstrus- alis, ib., 663 ; B. pharaxalis, ib., 725; B. immundalis, ib., Supp., 1,448 ; B. licarsisalis, ib., 686). Melbourne. GODARA. Walk. HYALOBATHRA. Meyr. SCOPULA. Sck. *47o. S. DiCEALis, Walk. {792 ; Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lend., 325, 1884). Melbourne, Gisborne. MECYNA. Gn. {nee Staph). 471. M. POLYGONALis, Hb. {Mecyna omithapteralis, Gn., 411). Melbourne, Gisborne, Fernshaw. *472. M. GAViSALis, Walk. {Ebulea gavisalis, Walk., Char. Und. Lep., 73, 1869 ; Afecyna rhodochrysa, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 447, 1885). NOMOPHILA. Hb. 473. N. NOCTUELLA, Schiff. {Stenopteryx hybridalis, Hb. ; Scoparia itysalis, Walk., 828). Gisborne, &c. MY RIOT IS. Meyr. MIRESICTENA. Meyr. MYRIOSTEPHES. *474. M. MATURA, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 32S, 1884). Melbourne. DEUTERARCHA. Meyr. *475. D. XANTHOMELA, Mcyr. (loc. cit, 313, 1884). Brighton. METALLARCHA. Meyr. *476. M. DiPLOCHRYSA, Meyr. {loc. cit., 332, 1884). Grampians. PROTER^CA. Meyr. EURYCREON. Ld. *477. E. FAMILIARIS, Meyr. {loc. cit., 336, 1884). Gisborne, Melbourne. *478. E. CAPNOCHROA, Meyr. {loc cit., 338, 1884). Melbourne, &c. *479. E. MASSALis, Walk. {Scapula massalis. Walk., 792 ; Dosara ccelatalis, ib., 829 ; Eurycreon viassalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 338, 1884). Moonee Ponds. 24 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. *48o, E. APHRARCHA, Meyr. {loc. cit, 239, 1887). Caulfield, Melbourne. Meyrick has recently merged his genus Eurycreon into Metasia (Gn.) I adopt the latter name. CRIOPHTHONA. Meyr. ''481. C FiNiTiMA, Meyr. (loc. cit., 340, 1884). Melbourne. SEDENIA. Gn. 482. S. RUPALIS, Gn. (Sedenia rupalis, Gn., 250). Melbourne, &c. 483. S. CERVALis, Gn. {Sedenia cervalis, Gn., 250, pi. lii., 3 : Ld., pi. viii., 4; Scopula itonusalis, Walk., 794; S. pictoralis, ih., 1,016). Wimmera, Gisborne, Caulfield. TRIT^A. Meyr. 484. T. uSTALis, Walk. (Scopula tistalis, Walk., Supp., 1,477 ; S. tvrbidalis, ib., Supp., 1,477 j Botys affinitalia, Ld., 475, pi. xii., 4 ; Nymphula sordida, Butl., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 432, 1 886 ; Tritrea ustalis, Meyr., loc. cit., 342, 1884.) Melbourne, Gisborne, &c. Family— SCOPARIAD^. ECLIPSIODES. Meyr. *485. E. CRYPSiXANTHA, Meyr. (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 343, 1884). Fernshaw. 486. E. DROSERA, Meyr. (loc. cit., 245, 1887). Melbourne, Gisborne, Windsor, Toorak. NYCTARCHA. Meyr. ■^487. N. PERSUMPTANA, Walk. (Orosana presumptana, Walk., Tortricina, 459 ; Nyctarcha, persumptana, Meyr., Tians. Ent. Soc. Lond., 344, 1884). Healesville. SCOPARIA. Hw. 488. S. EXHiBiTALis, Walk. (Scoparia exhihitalis, Walk., 1,500). Melbourne. 489. S. OXYGON A, Meyr. (MSS.) Gisborne. 490. S. CLEODORALis, Walk. (Scopula cleodoralis, Walk., 793 ; Scoparia cleodoralis, Meyr., Tr. Ent, Soc. Lond., 348, 1884). Mount Macedon. THE Vol. XII.— No. 3. JUNE, 1895. No. 139. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The fifteenth annual meeting of the Club was held in the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, loth June, 1895. The president, Mr. H. T. Tisdall, F.L.S., occupied the chair, and some 70 members and visitors were present. REPORT. A report of the dredging excursion in the Bay, on 24th May, was received from the leader, Mr. J. Gabriel, F.L.S. The steamer Firfifly and the yacht Starlight were kindly placed at the disposal of the Club by their respective owners, Mr. E. F. Cooke and Mr. C. J. Cottell, the former being in charge of Mr. Gabriel and the latter of Mr. J. Shephard. Excellent results were obtained off Beaumaris and towards Rickards Point. The dredges and grapnels brought up many molluscs, diatoms, foraminifera, and sponges. Tow nets were also used for securing some interesting medusoid forms. A valuable report by Mr. G. B. Pritchard on the shells obtained was appended. On the motion of Mr. Gabriel, seconded by Professor Spencer, it was decided to send the thanks of the Club to Messrs. Cooke and Cottell for their repeated kindness in placing their boats at the disposal of the Club. ANNUAL REPORT. The hon. secretary (Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth) then read the fifteenth annual report, 1894-95, 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 fifteenth annual report of the Club's work, being for the period ending 30th April, 1895. " It is a matter of regret that the accessions to our ranks during the past year have not been sufficient to compensate for the large number removed from the roll, chiefly on account of non-payment of subscriptions. Twenty-one new members have been elected, and the membership may at the present time be reckoned at about 180, including life and honorary members. " Your Committee would urge the members to use their best endeavours to induce any friends interested in natural history to join the Club, bearing in mind that an extension of our member- ship will enable us to enlarge the sphere of our actions in many directions from which we are at present debarred for want of funds. 26 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. " Sixteen papers were read during the year, of which six were zoological and two botanical, while four dealt with general subjects and four with trips and excursions. Several new contributors have come forward, and the success attending their efforts will, we hope, encourage others to follow their example. This number shows a falling off as compared with previous years, but we trust renewed activity will be shown in this direction, and also that a more hearty response will be made to the invitation to bring forward natural history notes. " The attendance of members at the ordinary meetings has been very satisfactory, the average attendance being about seventy. Members are reminded that they enjoy the privilege of in- troducing a visitor at each meeting. This might be more freely used to the advantage of all. The exhibits at the monthly meetings have been unusually good, and the thanks of the Club are due to those members who have taken the trouble to thus interest and instruct their fellow-workers. "The excursions have, on the whole, been well attended. Your committee would point out, to new members especially, the value of attending these excursions, and thus gaining the benefit of the experience of older members in practical field work. No extended Club excursion was held, but among those under- taken by individual members may be mentioned those to Central Australia by Professor Spencer, and to Albatross Island by Messrs. Ashworth and Le Souef. The descriptions of both of these trips were illustrated by limelight views prepared from photographs taken by the members mentioned. " The meetings for practical work have been continued and supported with unabated interest. They have been devoted mostly to microscopic work, but a few evenings were usefully spent in imparting instruction in taxidermy, a departure which was much appreciated, and was noted by an English journal as an example for similar societies in the old country. The course in structural botany was completed early in the year, and it is hoped that a course in systematic botany will be carried out during the ensuing spring, " The eleventh conversazione of the Club was held at the Athenaeum Hall on T4th and 15th June, 1894, and, notwithstand- ing the inclement weather prevailing, was a pronounced success. The experiment of holding it on two evenings and the intervening afternoon was greatly appreciated, and by making a charge for admission to the general public the expense was considerably reduced. The display of natural history specimens in the body of the main hall was one of the best yet brought together, special mention being due to the microscopic section. The conver- sazione was opened by Sir F. M'Coy, ably supported by Baron von Mueller, and during its currency lecturettes were delivered THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 27 by Messrs. C A. Topp, F.L.S., A. J. Campbell, F.L.S., and Rev. W. Fielder. In former years the work of the conversazione has fallen principally to a few members, but on this occasion a much larger number shared in the work, and deserve the thanks of the Club for so doing. " The event of the year for Australian naturalists was the despatch of a scientific expedition to Central Australia by Mr. W. A. Horn, M.L.C., of South Australia. Two members of the Club, Professor W. Baldwin Spencer and Mr. G. A. Keartland, were selected to accompany it, and the valuable results obtained in the zoological section have been due in no small measure to their exertions. The results are to be recorded in a volume to be published shortly, so that we were precluded from publishing in our journal the descriptions of their experiences, which were so graphically presented to the Club. "We are glad to be able to congratulate members on the improved state of the finances. The receipts for the year amounted to ;!^i68 7s. i id., and the expenditure to ^178 14s. 6d., leaving a credit balance of ^16 7s. id. This balance is somewhat less than that carried forward last year, but it will be seen that £,2^, 2s. 6d. has been paid off the account for printing the Naturalist, owing from previous years. The receipt of a dividend from the Metropolitan Bank reduces the amount at present locked up in that institution to :£^-^ 2s. 8d. As this amount is not at present available, it has not been taken into account in the balance-sheet. The only liability existing is about ;£^() for printing the Naturalist, which, however, is more than covered by arrears of subscriptions, which we trust will be received at an early date. " The eleventh volume of the Club's journal, the Victorian Naturalist, has been completed, and the thanks of members are due to Mr. F. G. A. Barnard for continuing to act as editor. Among other useful contributions, the " Catalogue of Victorian Moths " has been continued. A noteworthy feature has been the increase in the number of illustrations presented, for which we have to express our thanks to Messrs. Anderson, Ashworth, Le Souef, and Stickland. The journal is now sent free or in exchange to 44 libraries, societies, &c., in all parts of the world, and also to the leading natural history periodicals. This circula- tion, coupled with the fact that it is the only monthly natural history magazine published in Australasia, should induce persons desirous of publishing their observations in natural science to become members of the Club. During the year the library has received numerous donations from various scientific societies, &c., and in order to make the publications easily accessible it was found necessary to purchase a third bookcase. " In conclusion, your committee would once more urge their 28 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. fellow members not to relax their efforts towards making member- ship of this Club of real value to all who may join its ranks. " Signed, on behalf of the committee, " Henry Thos. Tisdall, Chairman. " H. P. C. AsHwoRTH, Hon. Sec. " loth June, 1895." FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The hon. treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., then read the financial statement for 1894-95, which, condensed, was as follows: — Receipts. To Balance, 30th April, 1894 •■• •■• •■■ ;^26 13 8 ,, Subscriptions ... ... .^113 IS 6 ,, Victorian Naturalist — Subscriptions and Sales £() 16 o Advertisements ... 7 10 o Sundries... ... 8 i^ 6 Conversazione — Donation ... 100 Sale of Tickets ... 16 18 6 25 19 6 „ Donations, Juvenile Prize Fund ... i 5 ,, Dividend Metropolitan Bank ... .. 9 9 5 17 18 6 168 7 II ^195 Expenditure. By Victorian Naturalist — Printing, on account 1892-4 ^^23 2 6 1894-5 ••• 71 14 o — ^94 16 6 ,, Rooms — Rent and Attendance . 15 19 6 ,, Library — Bookcase ... 3 Periodicals... 9 15 Binding, &c. 3 13 6 16 8 6 ,, Conversazione — Rent of Hall 12 Printing, Advertising, &c. 12 9 6 24 9 6 ,, Prizes, Juvenile Competition ... ... i 11 o ,, Postages, Stationery, &c. ... ... 18 10 o „ Printing ... ... ... ...516 ,, Collector's Commission ... ... i 18 o ;^I78 14 6 Balance ... ... ... ... ... 16 7 i ;^I9S I 7 C. FROST, Hon. Treasurer. \si June, 1895. Audited and found correct. H. R. HOGG,\ . ,., Melbourne, "jth Jime, 1895. D. BEST, ^^uauors. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 29 On the motion of Mr. C. French, F.L.S., seconded by Mr. F. Wisewould, the report and financial statement were received and adopted, OFFICE-BEARERS FOR 1895-96. The following office-bearers for 1895-96 were declared duly elected, being the only nominations received : — President, Pro- fessor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A. ; vice-presidents, Mr. C. French, F.L.S., and Mr. J. Shephard ; hon. librarian, Mr. O. A. Sayce ; hon. treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S. ; and hon. secretary, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth. A ballot for five members of committee resulted in the election of Messrs. D. Best, J. Gabriel, F.L.S., T. S. Hall, M.A., F. Wisewould, and Dr. W, Macgillivray. A vote of thanks to the retiring office-bearers was carried with acclamation. The retiring president, Mr. H. T. Tisdall, F.L.S., then delivered a short address, after which he vacated the chair in favour of Professor Spencer, the newly elected president. PAPERS. 1. By Mr. C. French, jun., entitled " Observations on the Flowering Times and Localities of Victorian Orchids." As the result of observations extending over nine years, the author was enabled to compile a list comprising 72 out of the 90 species of Victorian orchids, which should be of great value to the many members interested in these beautiful flowers. 2. By Mr. R. J. Fletcher, entitled " Notes on a Recent Visit to Some Basalt Caves near Skipton." These caves, situated on the side of Mt. Widderin, contain a large deposit of guano of some commercial value, said to have been produced by bats. A list of the different minerals and deposits was given and samples exhibited on the table. In the discussion which followed, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., referred to the importance of a thorough exploration of these and similar caves for the bones of extinct animals. As to the formation of caves in basalt, he thought they were accounted for by the liquid larva flowing away after the crust had hardened. NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. Mr. G. E. Shepherd, of Somerville, contributed a note on the occurrence of a variety of the White-backed Magpie in that district, distinguished by the possession of a black band or saddle across the back. The Black-backed Magpie is never found in the district, and is a much smaller bird. Mr. D. M'Alpine read a note on a specimen of the edible mushroom, Agaricus campestris, with a second smaller inverted pileus on the top. This curious double development of gills, as in the specimen shown, has so far as known not been previously recorded. 30 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., drew attention to the fact that the migratory spiders may now be observed on every point of vantage, letting out their threads and drawing them in again until a ball of web is formed, on which the spider floats away. The spiders which have the migratory instinct at this time of the year mostly belong to the genus Lycosa. EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening: — By Mr. A. Coles. — Specimens of White-backed Crow-Shrike, Gyvmorhina leuconota, and three specimens of variety with black saddle on back. By Mr. F. J. EUemor. — Pair of New Holland Honeyeaters, Meliornis Novce-Hollandim ; pair of Lunulated Honeyeaters, Melithreptus lunulatus, and pair of Warty-faced Honeyeaters, Meliphraga phi't/gia. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — New and rare beetles from the Congo : Cetonidse — Goliathus, viz., Choslorhma Savagei, Megalorhina Harrisi, Mephista Berto- lonii, Ccelorhina ruficeps, Astenorhina Turneri, Uccoptocemis superba, E. Thoreyi, E. relucens, Taurina nereas. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Eggs of Ephthiamira tricolor from Central Australia, E. aurifrons and E. albifrons from Victoria ; also, egg of Acanthiza magna from Tasmania. By Mr. J. C. Mitchell. — Minerals, comprising Limonite, composed of hydrous sesquioxide of iron, from Broken Hill (this specimen is a pseudomorph, or " false crystal," after siderite crystals) ; Pyrolusite, composed of manganese dioxide, from Gordons, South Australia ; also, Metallic Aluminium, not found in a metallic state in nature, extracted from clay by aid of electricity in Switzerland, Europe. By Mr. G. J. Page. — Two malformed Primrose flowers ; slides of Foraminifera and Diatoms from dredging excursion. By Rev. W. Fielder. — Lizard, Hinidia Quoyii, with two tails. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. Microscopical Test Rulings. — The following extract from a report by Mr. E. M. Nelson, F.R.M.S., on some micro, rulings forwarded by Mr. H. J. Grayson is taken from the Journal of tfie Royal Microscopical Society for February last. Mr. Nelson says: — '•'The ruling seems to be very perfect, and inequalities in spacing, often seen in Noberts's plates, could not be detected. The tenth band on the closer ruled plate was resolved. Another similar plate was too faintly ruled for resolution in the higher bands. Both the closer ruled plates were, of course, completely resolved, but one was stronger than the other. I think the lines might be cut deeper with advantage. The very faintly cut plates are not of much use for microscopical purposes ; even the coarse bands are too faint for micrometrical work." THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 31 OBSERVATIONS ON THE FLOWERING TIMES AND HABITATS OF SOME VICTORIAN ORCHIDS. By C. French, jun. (Read before Field Naturalists^ Club of Victoria, lOth June, 1895.^ As many members of the Field Naturalists' Club have from time to time asked for information regarding the flowering times and localities of Victorian orchids, I desire to submit a list of my observations, extending over nine years, in the hope that they may be of some use to lovers of these interesting plants. The flowering time of our native orchids varies but very slightly, according to the seasons. My father, in volumes i.-iv., 1884-88, of the Victorian Natimdiat, described the Victorian Orchidese then recorded, with the best modes of cultivating them, and although he gave many localities, as well as the flowering times, since then our knowledge in these respects has been con- siderably extended. I desire to express my thanks to Baron von Mueller for his kindness in naming the specimens, and for other information afforded me. This list comprises about 72 species, the total number of species of orchids found in Victoria, according to Baron von Mueller's " Census of Australian Plants," being about 90. It is hoped, therefore, that other members of the Club will, at some future time, make the list complete by recording their observations as to localities and times of flowering of the few remaining species. To avoid too much repetition I give first a systematic list with habitats, using such obvious contractions in the names of places as Chelt. for Cheltenham, Oak. for Oakleigh, Dand. for Dandenong, Sand, for Sandringham, H'ville for Healesville, And. Ck. for Anderson's Creek, &c., and then a monthly calendar of the flowering time of each species, alphabetically arranged according to the genus. orchid. localities. Sarcochilus parviflorus, Lindley Yarragon, Dandenong Ranges DiPODIUM punctatum, R. Br. Box Hill, Croydon, Healesville, Ander- son's Creek, Greensborough Gastrodia sesamoides, R. Br. Box Hill, Croydon, H'ville, And. Ck., Dand. Ck., Moondara Spiranthes Australis, Lindley Cheltenham, Frankston Thelymitra ixioides, Swartz ... Box Hill, Croydon, Oak., Dand. Ck. epipactoides, F. V. M. Sandringham, Cheltenham aristata, Lindley ... Sand., Chelt., Box Hill, Croyd., Werr. 32 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Thelymitra — continued. longifolia, Forster carnea, R. Br. flexuosa, Endlicher antennifera, Hooker Macmillani, F. v. M DiURIS punctata, Smith ... maculata, Smith ... pedunculata, R. Br. sulphurea, R. Br.... longifolia, R. Br. ... alba, R. Br. Orthoceras strictum, R. Br. ... strictum (var.) Calochilus Robertsoni, Bentham Cryptostylis longifolia, R. Br. ... leptochila, F. v. M Prasophyllum Australe, R. Br. datum, R. Br. patens, R. Br. fuscum, R. Br. nigricans, R. Br. despectans. Hooker alpinum, R. Br. ... Archeri, J. Hooker intricatum, C. Stuart Frenchii, F. v. M. Dixoni, F. v. M. ... Microtis porrifolia, R. Br. ... atrata, Lindley Corysanthes pruinosa, Cun'gham unguiculata, R. Br. Pterostylis concinna, R. Br. ... curta, R. Br. acuminata, R. Br. Werr., Box Hill, Spg. Vale, Band. Ck. Box Hill, Blackburn, Croyd., Spg. Vale Spring Vale, Croydon Sandringham, Cheltenham Oakleigh, Castlemaine, Bendigo Dandenong Ck., Spring Vale, Berwick Sand., Chelt., Box Hill, Berwick Sand., Chelt., Spring Vale, Band. Ck. Albert Pk., Sand., Chelt., Frank., Berwick Sand., Chelt., Oakleigh Box Hill, Upper Murray Sandringham, Cheltenham Sandringham, Cheltenham Oak., Spg. Vale, Berwick, Moe, Croyd., Upper Murray Sand., Mord., Oak., Lilydale, H'berg, Greensborough Dandenong Ranges, Mt. Mueller Healesville, Moondara Sandringham, Cheltenham Werribee, Sand., Chelt., Dand. Creek Werribee, Dandenong Creek Sand., Chelt., Croydon Box Hill, Frankston Mt. Mueller, Mt. Hotham Oakleigh, Frankston, Croydon Frankston Spring Vale, Dandenong Creek Oakleigh Studley Pk., Albert Pk., Sand., Chelt, Box Hill, B'field, Werribee, &c. Cheltenham, Oakleigh Sand., Chelt., Mordialloc Oakleigh Sand., Chelt., Carrum, Frank., Oak., Queenscliff, &c. Sand., Chelt., Oak., Dand. Ck., B'field, Box Hill Sand., Oakleigh THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 33 Pterostylis — continued. nutans, R. Br. pedunculata, R. Br. na.n3, R. Br. cucullata, R. Br. ... cucullata, var. alpina praecox, Lindley ... obtusa, R. Br. parviflora, R. Br. ... barbata, Lindley ... mutica, R. Br. rufa,v.Mitchelli,R.Br. longifolia, R. Br. ... vittata, Lindley ... aphylla, Lindley ... grandiflora, R. Br. pedaloglossa, Fitzg. Mackibbini, F. v. M. Caleya major, R. Br. ACIANTHUS exsertus, R. Br. ... Cyrtostylis reniformis, R. Br. Lyperanthus nigricans, R. Br. ... Burnettii, F. v. M. Eriochii.us autumnalis, R. Br. fimbriatus, F. v. M. Caladenia Menziesii, R. Br.... Patersoni, R. Br. ... latifolia, R. Br. ... latifolia, v. alba, R. Br. suaveolens, Reich, carnea, R. Br. ccerulea, R. Br. ... deformis (var.), R. Br. deformis, v. alba, R. Br. Cairnsiana, F. v. M. testacea, R. Br. ... Sand., Mord., Oak., Dand. Ck., Drouin, Moe, Lilydale Sand., Chelt., Dand. Ck. Sandringham, Cheltenham Sand., Chelt., Mord., Frank., Dand. Ck., Beaconsfield Dandenong Ranges Cheltenham Anderson's Creek (Warrandyte) .Sand., Chelt., Oakleigh .Sandringham, Cheltenham ])unolly, Upper Murray .Anderson's Ck., Pine Mt. (Up. Murray) Sand., Oak., Dand. Ck., Berwick, Box Hill, Croydon Sandringham Sand., Chelt., Oakleigh Cheltenham Cheltenham, Sandringham, Oakleigh QueensclifF Oakleigh, Spring Vale Sand., Chelt., Mord., Oak., Q'cliff Sand., Chelt., Mord., Oak., Q'cliff Sand., Chelt., Oakleigh Frankston, Oakleigh Sand., Oakleigh, Box Hill, Croydon, Lilydale, Healesville, &c. Sandringham, Cheltenham Sand., Chelt., Spring Vale Sand., Frankston, Spring Vale, Q'cliff, Bendigo, Wodonga, &c. Sand., Chelt., Mordialloc Sandringham Croydon, Upper Murray Werr., Berwick, Pakenham, Dand. Ran., Anderson's Ck., Plenty River, &c. Sandringham, Cheltenham Sandringham, Cheltenham Sandringham Healesville Box Hill, Croydon 34 the victorian naturalist. Chiloglottis diphylla, R. Br. ... Oakleigh Gunnii, Lindley ... B. Hill, Doncas., And. Ck., B'field, Werr. Gorge, Myrniong, Mt. Blackw'd, &c. Glossodia major, R. Br. ... Sand., Chelt., Mord., Spg. Vale, Box Hill, &c. Calendar of Flowering Times. January. — Cryptostylis leptochila, C. longifolia, Dipodium piinc- tatuni, Spiranthes Australis. February. — Chiloglottis diphylla, Cryptostylis le|nochila, C longifolia, Dipodium punctatum, Prasophyllum alpinum, Spiranthes Australis. March, — Chiloglottis diphylla, Cryptostylis leptochila, Eriochilus autumnalis, Prasophyllum alpinum, Pterostylis grandiflora. April. — Eriochilus autumnalis, E. fimbriatus, Prasophyllum Archeri, P. despectans, P. Dixoni, Pterostylis acuminata, P. aphylla, P. curta, P. grandiflora, P. nana, P. obtusa, P. parviflora, P. pedaloglossa. May. — Acianthus exsertus, Eriochilus autumnalis E. limbriatus, Prasophyllum Archeri, P. Dixoni, P. intricatum, P. nigricans, Pterostylis acuminata, P. aphylla, P. curta, P. nutans, P. parviflora, P. pedaloglossa, P. prsecox, P. vittata. June. — Acianthus exsertus, Corysanthes pruinosa, C unguiculata, Cyrtostylis reniformis, Eriochilus fimbriatus, Prasophyllum Archeri, P. Dixoni, P. intricatum, P. nigricans, Pterostylis aphylla, P. barbata, P. concinna, P. curta, P. Mackibbini, P. nana, P. nutans, P. parviflora, P. pedaloglossa, P. praecox, P. vittata. July. — Acianthus exsertus, Corysanthes pruinosa, C. unguiculata, Cyrtostylis reniformis, Lyperanthus Burnettii, Pterostylis barbata, P. concinna, P. curta, P. longifolia, P. Mackibbini, P. nana, P. nutans, P. pedunculata, P. praecox, P. vittata. August. — Acianthus exsertus, Caladenia carnea, C. Patersoni, C. testacea, Caleya major, Calochilus Robertsoni, Corys- anthes pruinosa, Cryptostylis longifolia, Cyrtostylis reni- formis, Diuris longifolia, D. pedunculata, D. sulphurea, Lyperanthus Burnettii, Microtis porrifolia, Pterostylis barbata, P. concinna, P. cucullata, P. cucuUata, var. alpina, P. curta, P. longifolia, P. nana, P. nutans, P. pedunculata, P. prsecox, P. rufa, var. Mitchelli, P. vittata, Thelymitra Macmillani. September. — Caladenia carnea, C. coerulea, C. latifolia, C. Patersoni, C. testacea, Caleya major, Calochilus Robert- soni, Cyrtostylis reniformis, Cryptostylis longifolia, Diuris longifolia, D. maculata, D. sulphurea, D. pedunculata, D. punctata, Glossodia major, Lyperanthus nigricans. Microtis THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 35 atrata, M. porrifolia, Prasophyllum datum, P. Frenchii, P. patens, Pterostylis barbata, P. concinna, P. cucullata, P. curta, P. longifolia, P. mutica, P. nana, P. nutans, P. pedunculata, P. pr^ecox, Thelymitra antennifera, T. aristata, T. carnea, T. epipactoides, T. flexuosa, T. longifolia, T. Macmillani. October. — Caladenia Cairnsiana, C. carnea, C. coerulea, C. deformis, C. deformis, var. alba, C. latifolia, C. latifolia, var. alba, C. Menziesii, C. Patersoni, C. suaveolens, Calochilus Robertsoni, Chiloglottis Gunnii, Cryptostylis longifolia, Diuris alba, D. longifolia, D. maculata, D. pedunculata, D. punctata, D. sulphurea, Gastrodia sesamoides, Glossodia major, Lyperanthus nigricans, Microtis atrata, M. porrifolia, Prasophyllum Australe, P. elatum, P. Frenchii, P. fuscum, P. patens, Pterostylis barbata, P. concinna, P. cucullata, P. curta, P. longifolia, P. mutica, P. nana, P, nutans, P. pedunculata, P. rufa, var. Mitchelli, Thelymitra antennifera, T. aristata, T. carnea, T. epipactoides, T. liexuosa, T. ixioides, T. longifolia. November. — Caladenia carnea, C. deformis, C. Menziesii, C. Patersoni, C. suaveolens, Caleya major, Calochilus Robert- soni, Chiloglottis Gunnii, Cryptostylis longifolia, Dipodium punctatum, Diuris longifolia, D. pedunculata, D. punctata, D. sulphurea, Gastrodia sesamoides, Glossodia major. Microtis atrata, M. porrifolia, Orthoceras strictum, O. strictum (var.), Prasophyllum Australe, P. fuscum, P. patens, Pterostylis cucullata, var. alpina, P. pedunculata, P. rufa, var. Mitchelli, Thelymitra antennifera, T. aristata, T. carnea, T. flexuosa, T. ixioides, T. longifolia, Sarcochilus parviflorus. Deceiniber. — Caleya major, Calochilus Robertsoni, Chiloglottis Gunnii, Cryptostylis leptochila, C. longifolia, Dipodium punctatum, Gastrodia sesamoides, Microtis porrifolia, Orthoceras strictum, Prasophyllum Australe, Pterostylis cucullata, Sarcochilus parviflorus. Egg-Shells of Echidna and Other Vertebrates, by R. Neumeister ( " Zeit. Biol.," 1894, 31, 413-420). — The egg- shells of Echidna aculeata (E. hystrix) consist of a keratin-like substance containing 5 per cent, of sulphur. It is, however, digested neither by gastric nor by pancreatic juice. Some other keratins are similarly resistant. In invertebrates the organic basis of egg-shells is chitin or some other skeletin. Keratin appears to be only present in the egg-shells and membranes of vertebrate animals. In the frog only has mucin been described. The eggs of some birds and reptiles are briefly referred to in this connection. Calcium carbonate is the principal inorganic constituent. — Jour Chem. Socy. Ahs., 1895, Ixviii., 54. 36 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. THE LATE D. SULLIVAN, F.L.S. The death of Mr. D. Sullivan, F.L.S., as mentioned in the last Naturalist, removes another of the comparatively small band of Victorian field botanists. Mr. Sullivan occupied the position of head master in the State school at Moyston, a village situated midway between Ararat and Mount William, the highest peak of the Grampians. Here, living in a district noted for the beauty and variety of its flora, and having previously done a little botanical work, he was encouraged by the Government Botanist, Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G., to devote his spare time to working out the plants of the Serra and otlier ranges from Mount Sturgeon in the south to Mount Zero in the north ; the result being that — having been elected a member of the Field Naturalists' Club in July, 1881 — in August of that year he contributed "A Census of the Grampian Plants" to the proceedings of the Club, and which, enumerating about 600 species, was published in vol. ii. of the Southern Science Record — at the same time pre- senting a set of the dried specimens for the Club's herbarium. In December, 1883, he contributed a supplement to the census. In August, 1S82, "The Droseracese of Victoria" was the subject of a paper from his pen, followed by " The Leguminosse of Victoria," in October and November ; these also appeared in the Southern Science Record. In February, 1884, he read a paper on "The Ranunculacese of Victoria" [Victorian Naturalist, i., 3) ; and in August and October, 1887, two papers on "The Mosses of Victoria," which were published in the Victorian Naturalist, iv., 7. Since which time he has not contributed to the pro- ceedings of the Club, though continuing to take great interest in his favourite study. He was the means of adding many new habitats for Victorian plants, and was the discoverer of an orchid of the genus Caleya, at Hall's Gap, which Baron von Mueller named " SuUivani," after him ; also a species of Calycothrix (Myrtacese), and many new mosses and other of the lower crypto- gams. He was elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society (London) in 1885. Although he had not reached the age of 60 years, he was compulsorily retired by the PZducation Department in 1894, which seemed to greatly affect his health and spirits, and he passed away on 2nd June, after a few weeks' illness, deeply regretted by his family and the many friends made during a residence of about 27 years at Moyston. Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., has been appointed a trustee of the Public Library, National Gallery, and Museum of Victoria, in place of the late Hon. Dr. Dobson, F.L.S. Victorian natural history is being further popularized by a series of illustrated articles in the Australasian from the pen of Mr. E. Anderson. THE ^ictovxan ^atixvali^t. Vol. XII.— No. 4. JULY, 1895. No. 140 FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 8th July, 1895. The president, Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the chair, and some 80 members and visitors were present. REPORT. A brief report of the excursion to Flemington Bridge, on Saturday, 22nd June, was received from Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A. The excursion was well attended, and was devoted mainly to an examination of the geological features of the railway cutting. MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. The monthly meeting for practical work was held on Monday evening, 24th June, when Mr. J. Shephard gave a demonstration on the measurement of objects under the microscope. The different methods of executing measurements were described, and stress laid on the fact that the simplest, and the one needing the least apparatus — camera lucida and stage micrometer — gave good results. A simple method of constructing a camera lucida was shown. Afterwards those present practically carried out measurements of a number of microscopic objects with their own apparatus. VISITOR. Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., B.Sc, of Newington College, Sydney, formerly editor of the Victorian Naturalist for many years, was cordially welcomed by the chairman, and briefly responded. PAPERS. 1. By Professor Baldwin Spencer, entitled " Notes on the British Museum." The author's remarks referred to the natural history department of the Museum at South Kensington, and, opening with a brief history of the Museum, the rapid development of this fine institu- tion, now the largest and most complete in the world, was described. A beautiful series of limelight views from photographs of the buildings and specimens gave a better idea than words could convey of the extent and variety of the collection. Not the least interesting were the groups of birds mounted in their natural surroundings — a department which might be considerably extended in our colonial museums. 2. By Mr. R. Hall, entitled "The Birds of the Box Hill District." 38 THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Records of the birds noted in this district for the past two years show a total number of 94 species, of which 75 were found breeding. The paper was illustrated by lantern slides from drawings of the birds described and photographs of their nests. In the discussion which followed, Mr. J. Cox called attention to the tendency of young naturalists to shoot every bird they came across. His remarks were endorsed by the chairman, who urged that bird-life should be studied with as little indiscriminate destruction as possible. A unanimous vote of thanks was accorded Mr. J. Searle for his kindness in showing the views illustrating the two papers read. NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. A note was contributed by Mr. T. S. Hart, M.A., giving additional localities of Victorian orchids and referring to 45 species. Mr. R. S. Sugars read a newspaper cutting referring to the curious discovery in the Port Darwin district of an inscription on a baobab tree. EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening :— By Mr. A. Coles. — Subcrested Honey-eater, Ptilotis cassidix, and Death Adder, from New Britain. By Rev. VV. Fielder. — Glass- rope Sponge (Hyalonema), with parasitic Palythoa, from Japan. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Butterflies — Nyctalemon monoctus, Bindahara sugriva, and Ismene Doleschalli, from Queensland ; Centra Australis, from New South Wales; and Ornithoptera Urvilleana, from New Ireland. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Eggs of the following birds, viz. : — Little Bittern, from Victoria ; Aus- tralian Egret, from New South Wales ; Northern Swamp Quail, Spotted Nightjar, White-shafted Ternlet, Double-barred Finch, Harlequin Bronzewing Pigeon, and Sordid Kingfisher, from North Queensland. By Mr. J. Gabriel. — Eggs of Spotted Bower Bird, Chl'iviydodera maculata. By Mr. A. E. Kitson. — Paper Nautilus, Argonauta oryzata, fish, ova, and shell, from Spring Creek, near Geelong. By Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, M.A. — Live lizards, from Sydney — Gytnnodactylus platyurus and Siajihos cequalis ; spirit specimens from New Zealand — Naultinus elegans (three varieties) and Liolepismn grande. By Mr. Jas. Mitchell. — Specimens of Opal and Silica, comprising Siliceous Sinter, Hydrated Opal, from Rotorua, New Zealand ; Wood Opal, Hydrous Silica, from Snowy River, Gippsland ; Silicified Wood Silica, from Queensland; Silicified Wood, from Ross River, Tasmania ; and Brazilian Agate Silica, from Brazil, polished. By Mr. J. Shephard. — Ephra stage of Medusa. By Mr. G. E. Shepherd. — Owlet Nightjar, JEgotheles Novce Hollandim, Spotted Owl, Ninox maculata, and Southern Stone Plover, (Edicnemus grallarius. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 39 MARINE DREDGING EXCURSION. The large number of members of the Club who took part in the dredging excursion on Queen's Birthday (24th May, 1895) were favoured with beautiful weather, which, however, strange as it may seem, led to an alteration of their plans. The intention was to try the vicinity of Altona Bay, on the western side of Port Phillip Bay, the contingent from Williamstown in the steam yacht Firefly to meet the party from Brighton in the yacht Starlight about midway across the Bay and proceed in company to the scene of operations. However, the absence of wind prevented the Starlight from carrying out her share of the plan ; consequently the Firefly had to steam right across to Brighton, when after a council of war it was determined to again work the eastern shore. Taking the yacht in tow, we headed for Beaumaris, and during tile run down lunch was disposed of, so that on arrival off Rickard's Point about i p.m. all were ready for work. During the run down several kinds of birds were noted. Off Brighton beach a large flock of Musk Ducks, Biziura lobata, attracted attention by their frantic efforts to get out of our reach. Numerous specimens of the Little Penguin, Eiidyj)tula minor, were seen. These birds are not nearly so timid as the Musk Ducks ; in fact, when fishing off the mouth of the Yarra 1 have frequently seen them within a few yards of the boat. Overhead two species of the ubiquitous shag were to be seen — Graculus strictocephalus and G. melanoieacus ; Silver Gulls, Larus Novce-Hollandioi ; Richardson's Skua, Lestris Richardsoni ; and the pretty Bass Straits Tern, Sterna poliocercus. The dredges soon brought a large quantity of material for the naturalist on board, such as sponges, tunicata, Crustacea, mollusca, sea-urchins, algcX, polyzoa, hydrozoa, &c., so that we were kept busy bottling up specimens for future examination. On board the steamer we were again successful in obtaining two perfect specimens of the rare mollusc, Nucula Grayii. It is singular that perfect specimens have never been reported from the adjacent beach, though single valves have been occasionally found, and it has been obtained on each of the three dredging trips in this locality. For further details of the molluscan fauna obtained by dredging I am indebted to Mr. G. B. Pritchard, who reports as follows : — " The principal work done was off Beaumaris and towards Rickard's Point, with a couple of casts off Brighton, but owing to the lateness of the hour when at the latter place there was not time to do much, and what was brought to the surface consisted mostly of dead shells. The deepest dredge was about five fathoms, off Beaumaris, where the bottom was a fine sandy mud, containing a large number of dead shells of Cardium, tenuicostatiim, while a few examples were still living ; also Nucula Grayii, 40 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. D'Orbigny — two very fine living examples were obtained and six single valves of dead specimens. Other shells seemed scarce, Macoma Marice, T. Woods, being the only other obtained alive at this spot, while dead shells of Dosinia grata, Chione striatissima, Tellina (Arcopagia) deciissata, Cytlierea J)iemenensis, Cardita biniaculata, Chione lamellata, Natica conica, and Ferisiernia Paivce were also to be seen. Coming in closer to the land vve left the muddy bottom and got on to a rocky bottom, on which we remained until some distance round Rickard's Point. From the dredging here a very fair number of living examples of several species were secured. By far the commonest shell in the dredge from this ground was Mytilus cltorus, and though specimens of this shell were not much sought after, it not infrequently had attached to it several more interesting forms of molluscs, the com- monest being Crepidula unguiformis, Galyptroia calyptraj'ormis, and Hipponyx Australis. A large number of Turbo aureus were attached to the pieces of stone brought up, as also were specimens of Clanculus plebems. A few fine examples of Fasciolaria coronata were hauled up, and one dead example of this species had no less than ten specimens of Crepidula xinguiformis in the mouth of the shell, while the inside was tenanted by a fair-sized Hermit Crab, and the outside acted as a basis of attachment for Hipponyx Australis. Murex triformis was also found living, and an interesting feature in connection with this was that the operculum was covered by an almost exactly equivalent-sized Crepidula unguifo7'mis. The other living species obtained were : — Rapldtoma anomala, Ceritliiiim dubium, lUialoiia (?),sp., Haliotis ncevosa (?), Chamostrea albida, Barbatia Carpenteri, Modiolaria Cumingiana^ Venerupis (?), sp. We then went about a mile or so further from the shore, and again the dredge showed a muddy bottom. In the molluscan line nothing of special note occurred ; a few living examples of Cytherea Diemejiensis and dead shells of Pecten laticostattis were to be seen. Nothing worthy of note was obtained off Brighton, though dead shells were extremely numerous." We were successful in obtaining more of the diatomaceous material mentioned in my report two years ago, and from which Messrs. W. M. Bale and H. Grayson have now obtained over ICO species, thus proving it to be by far the richest deposit of these interesting forms on the Australian coast. Mr. H. Grayson has promised to read a detailed account of the deposit before a meeting of the Club, and as much of the other material obtained requires time for working out it is proposed on an early date to make a special exhibit of the results of the dredging. The Brighton contingent of the party were accommodated on board the yacht Starlight, kindly placed at their disposal by Mr. C. J. Cottell, and were under the leadership of Mr. J. Shephard, who reports as follows : — TflB VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 41 " While waiting for the yacht some free-swimming larval ascidians were picked up on the beach, and a small grapnel brought by Mr. Page, used from the Middle Brighton pier, broui^ht up seaweeds to which were attached small sponges of the Sycon type. " On arriving off Beaumaris the dredge was used about half a mile from shore, and the bottom was found rather muddy ; however, molluscs and echinoderms were fairly plentiful. Going in closer with a view of obtaining forms from near low-water mark oft" the beech, which, worked from the shore, has yielded good results on former excursions of the Club, the dredge showed the bottom to be less muddy, and attached to the rocks and shellfish brought up were living polyzoa and ascidians, also echinoderms and a number of sponges, including some apparently in the Olynthus stage. It was intended to try the deeper water some distance from the shore for the finer mud deposit, but a signal from the steamer had to be obeyed, and the homeward trip commenced. Off Black Rock several hauls were made, the dredge showing the bottom to be of a promising character and worth attention at a future time. Every stone brought up was thickly encrusted with animal growths, and among them was noted the sponge Sycandra gelatinosum. Here the grapnel before mentioned was used with good results, bringing up one of the most perfect specimens of sponge obtained during the day. Unfortunately the grapnel was lost, but a device for saving future ones was suggested, and with such an addition this instrument appears likely to yield good results as a supplement to the dredge. A tow-net was tried for a short time off" Beaumaris, and among the captures were several young Medusoid forms, which Professor Spencer has identified as Ephyree soon after their release from the strobila or nurse stock which is the early form of development of the common jellyfish. " The following genera of Diatomacere and Foraminifera were recognized by Mr. G. J. Page in the material taken home by him : — Diatomaceas — Actinocyclus, Actinoptychus, Auliscus, Amphiporora, Biddulphia, Coscinodiscus, Cocconeis, Campy- lodiscus, Climacosphenia, Euphillodium, Fragiliaria, Gon- phomena, Gramraatophora, Hylodiscus, Melosira, Navicula, Nitzschia, Orthosira, Pleurosigma, Podosira, Podosphenia, Rhabdonema, Surirella, Synedra, Tabellaria, Triceratium, &c. Foraminifera — Gaudryina, Lagenia, Planorbulina, Polystomella, Rotalina, Textularia, Truncatulina, &c." Soon after 5 p.m. a start was made for home, and a westerly wind having sprung up, the yacht merrily followed in our wake, get- ting to her moorings about 6 p.m. We delayed for a short time dredging the " Brighton shell bank," without much result, then heading for Williamstovvn, passing through a ram-squall on the 42 • THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. way, we arrived soon after 7 p.m., and were hospitably entertained at tea by the captain and crew of the Fireflij, thus pleasantly winding up a most enjoyable day. Much of the pleasure of the day's outing is attributable to the unselfish attention of the respective owners of the steamer and yacht, Messrs. E. F. Cooke and C. J. Cottell, who so willingly again placed their vessels at our disposal. We have now had the use of the Firefly on five occasions, and the yacht Starlight twice. Jos. Gabriel. NOTES ON A GIPPSLAND TRIP. By Rev. E. Halford Hennell. (Read he/ore Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 8th Api-il, 1895. J Our party, consisting of Rev. A. Maxwell, his son, my brother, and myself, having decided on a "camping-out expedition" in Gippsland for the various purposes of shooting, fishing, reptile and insect hunting, collecting fossils, &c,, left Melbourne by an early train for Sale on ist January last, with the necessary luggage, made up of tents, guns, ammunition, and provisions. After a somewhat uninterestmg journey we arrived at Sale in due course, and transferred ourselves and luggage to the s.s. Bargo, for the Lakes journey. This proved a welcome change after the monotony of the train travelling, and although the time (six hours) occupied in the trip is long, still the scenery is rather pretty after leaving Sale, the river being fringed with wattles and other foliage, though the lakes are not quite so picturesque, being chiefly fringed with ti-tree. About 9 p.m. we arrived at Metung. Here we decided to make our first camp, having pre- viously arranged for a boat to meet us, intending to cross the lake and go into camp, but we were met by the Rev. G. Poyndcr, who with kind forethought had obtained permission for us to occupy the local school building, which we were glad to do, as we should have had great difticulty in effecting a landing, owing to the shallow water and the darkness. Wednesday, 2ND. — After breakfast we rowed across the lake and made our way to what is locally known as the " back lake," a very beautiful though small sheet of water in a basin. Flying over the lake and towards us a large eagle was seen, and coming within range, was fired at and wounded, yet it continued its flight as if nothing unusual at all had taken place. Game of all kind was scarce ; two pelicans were seen in a small creek quietly feeding, tracks of wallaby visible here and there, insects nil. Going through the scrub and tall rushes we were very much troubled with the webs of spiders, which were spun chiefly by two spiders, specimens of which are exhibited. On returning, we made arrangements with the owner of a yacht to take us up the River Tambo the next day. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. "43 Thursday, 3RD. — After breakfast we started in the yacht with our boat in tow for the River Tambo, leaving the choice of a camping ground to the boatman, who knew the locaHty. We sailed about one mile up stream from the mouth, and found a suitable spot for our tents under some "boobyallas." So, landing, we soon had the billy boiling and some lunch, after which our boatman left us, with instructions to return on the following Monday to take us back. Tents were pitched, our beds being made of tussocks of grass, which surrounded us in abundance. One large tent fly made a comfortable dining room, with the boat boards fastened up to ti-tree for a table. The afternoon was spent in fishing, but with no luck, and exploring the locality, which appeared favourable for collecting, &c. — swamps on both sides of the river, and just behind us a strip of land separated us from Tambo Bay. We stalked some swan which were feeding in the shallow water, and after crawling through tussocks, thistles, &c., reached the edge of the bay, but to our disgust found the birds were out of range. In the evening we tried fishing again, but without success. Friday, 4TH. — We pulled down the river and round into Tambo Bay, where black swan were feeding and swimming in hundreds. After lunch the swamps were tried for game, while I went after coleoptera, &c. I took several species of beetles under the bark of the gum trees, and some scrub being in flower 1 also tried it, but without result. Then we again embarked, but had a difficulty in making the land again, as both wind and tide were against us ; however, camp was reached at last, but rain coming on our diningroom had to come down and take its own place, and trenches had to be made round the tents. Saturday, 5TH. — Up before 5 a.m. A lovely morning. Clothes lines were soon up, and wet garments hung out to dry. After dinner we divided into two parties, the one going across the river for game, and my brother and I going round the bay. In turning over a log a Tiger Snake was discovered asleep, but was rudely awakened, and soon bagged. Not a single insect was taken. In the evening the others returned with another Tiger Snake, which was captured after a lively fight. Both snakes are exhibited here to-night. In the evening fishing was tried again, with the result that an eel turning the scale at 11 lbs. was caught, and afforded some excitement when trying to land it. When it was being prepared for a meal a piece of beefsteak about half a pound weight was found in its stomach, and appeared quite fresh. Boiled in salt water and then fried the eel was very good eating. The next day we rowed up the river towards Swan Reach, and seeing a saw-mill, landed and inspected it. The caretaker informed us it had been deserted for nearly three years, and that there was still a great deal of valuable limber in the locality, but like other mills it is now a relic of the " boom " period. 44 Me vici?or1an lifAtuRAList. Monday, 7TH. — Our yatchsman was up to time, and we were soon on board and returned to Metung. Landing, we tried the scrub for wallaby, game, and insects, but were not successful. In the evening we went by steamer to the Lakes' Entrance, and made arrangements to go on to Lake Tyers in the morning. Wednesday, qth. — Arriving at Lake Tyers after a pleasant drive of about an hour and a half, we hired the only boat available and rowed over to the Aboriginal Mission Station, over which we were courteously shown by Mr. Bulmer, the superinten- dent, who also gave us some vegetables and a barrel of fresh water. Rowing across the lake, we landed for lunch, and here we found two ticks — the only ones seen during the trip. Resuming our journey, we rowed up the Nowa Nowa Arm for a distance of lo or 12 miles, when we landed in the moonlight, pitched tents, had tea, and turned in. Next day bream fishing was tried. We could see the fish swimming about in the clear water in numbers, but as shrimps were the best bait and few were to be obtained, we were not very successful. Of different baits tried, the gizzard of the plover seemed to be appreciated most by the fish. We afterwards rowed down the arm and up Spring Creek to the selection of Mr. Bulmer, jun., who made us welcome. Tea over, accompanied by Mr. Bulmer, we tried duck shooting, but after a long wait succeeded in getting only one, so we made our way back to camp, after bidding farewell to Mrs. Bulmer. Friday, iith. — Up and had the billy boiling before 4 a.m. After a hasty snack all were aboard, and we rowed down to Spring Creek again, and arrived just as the sun was beginning to rise, but as no ducks were seen, fishing was tried, with our usual non- success. After breakfast I landed to collect fossils, the others fishing; soon they espied a snake swimming across the arm, which was shot and hauled into the boat. It proved to be a Tiger Snake over four feet long. I cut its head off and skinned it. After being opened, the heart was seen beating regularly, and the pericardium was still distended ; this continued for some minutes. I subsequently tanned the skin, and it is now on the table for exhibition. Saturday, i 2TH. — We struck our tents and made our way back to Lake Tyers, collecting fossils as we went. These are to be found in great profusion, being exposed in great numbers in the weathered surface of the rocks, and easily accessible, the stone in which they are embedded being soft, and consequently easy to work. The Rev. A. W, Cresswell, M.A., has kindly given me the names of some of those obtained, which I give at the end of these notes. We arrived at our destination about 5; p.m., and had a bathe in the open ocean. Our coachman being \\[> to time, we were soon back at the Lakcb' Entrance. I THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 45 did not take a single beetle near Lake Tyers, while I saw but one butterfly. Several specimens of the lizard Hinulia Qitoyi were noticed. ]\IoNDAV, 14TH. — Our party broke up after a most enjoyable holiday, although the sportsmen did not obtain much game of any kind — my collection, though not large, being most satis- factory. I then came back to Morwell, but found nothing interesting to naturalists there. Next day I went to Boolarra on my way to a place called Budgeree. In one of the gullies I took the only beetle I obained here. This locality should be a good collecting ground for the botanist, as ferns and mosses, besides other plants, grow in the greatest profusion. At the house where I was staying two snakes had been seen going under the house about three weeks previously. Soon after my arrival, a gentleman who was also on a visit called out, " A snake here I " Going out I found he had dispatched a Tiger Snake. I went inside, and soon after heard him call out, " Another snake ! " Going out I found he had another Tiger Snake at bay, which was also killed. Within an hour I saw another basking in the sun, which also proved to be a Tiger Snake. This was not a bad record for less than two hours. Singular to say, they were the only snakes that had been seen on the selection. My holiday was now over, and I returned to Spring Vale on Saturday, the 19th. The following are the fossils collected at the Nowa Nowa Arm, Lake Tyers : — Corals. — Cellepora Gamhiere^isis, also several species of the family Turbinolidce. Echinoderms. — Clypeaster Gippslandicus, Psaininechinus Woodsii. Shells. — Pecten coarticus, /'. Yahleusis, and two other species ; Ilinnites Corioensis, and one other species ; Spoudijlus pseudoradula ; Ostrea, 4 species (the largest weighing 2}^ lbs.); Terebratula, Limopsis, &c. ; also several species of Polyzoa not determined. LIST OF ORCHIDS COLLECTED NEAR SALE, By the Misses May and Lilian Wise and Muriel Bennett. (Communicated by Alex. Purdie, M.A.) fRead he fore the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, I3th May, 1895.^ The following orchids were collected by us in the neighbourhood of Sale, Gippsland, during the years 1894 and 1895, ^^'^'^ ^'""^ exception of Caladenia latifolia, which was found at Ocean Grange, Gippsland Lakes. Several of the plants are now for the first time recorded from this district, and one, Ccdadenia Cairnsiana, found somewhat plentifully, has hitherto been a rarity, having been found only once before in this colony. We have to thank heartily the Govern- ment Botanist, Baron von Mueller, for his great kindness in identifying and naming all the specimens for us. The months 46 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. given after the names of the plants show the time in which the respective orchids were most fully in flower. Besides these orchids collected by ourselves, Orthoceras strictum has been found by Mr. Alex. Purdie near Merriman's Creek, and Cryptostylis longifolia is said also to occur in that locality. Caladenia Cairnsiana occurs also at Ocean Grange, as well as near Sale. ACIANTHUS exsertus Caladenia carnea coerulea Cairnsiana latifolia Patersoni C A LEVA major Calochilus Robertsoni Chiloglottis Gunnii diphylla CORYSANTHES pruinosa Cyrtostvlis reniformis DiPODlUM punctatum DiURIS longifolia pedunculata maculata sulphurea punctata Eriochilus autumnalis Glossodia major Lyperanthus nigricans Microtis porrifolia Prasophyllum patens luscum Pterostylis prrecox curta April, May October, November September, October, November September, October October September, October, November October, November November October June, October August, September August, September December, January September, October, November September, October September, October September, October, November October, November March, April September, October November November October, November November April July, August, September TTIK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 47 Pterostvlis — conlinued. concinna nutans mutica cucullata rufa parviflora Thelymitra longifolia ixioides August, September August, September October, November September, October, November November May October, November October, November. NOTE ON AN EDIBLE MUSHROOM, AGARICUS CAMPESTRIS, L., WITH A SECOND SMALLER INVERTED PILEUS ON THE TOP. This mushroom was found by Mr. Stewart Neilson, in the grounds of the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens, on 2nd June, and although he has gathered scores of pounds of mushrooms, this is the first of the kind ever seen by him. The cap of the normal mushroom was 3^ inches across, and about half an inch from the margin on the upper surface there was a large wart-like pro- jection about one inch in diameter. The upper surface of this wart-like projection, which stood out about one-quarter of an inch from the general surface, was very rough, and covered with irregularly arranged and much convoluted short gills. On examination they were found to produce abundance of spores, which resembled the normally produced spores in being oval to elliptical in shape, an average size of 9.5 fx. long by 5.5 fi. broad, but decidedly paler in colour, being of a greyish-brown compared with the nut-brown shade of the other. The specimen grew amongst tall grass, and not in an open meadow, and this may have been an "effort of Nature" to produce spores where they might have a better chance of being spread to a more congenial spot. Dr. Masters, in his " Teratology," p. 53, refers to a case, and gives an illustration where one mushroom carries another on its back, as it were ; but they are two adherent mushrooms, and not a double development of gills on the same mushroom as in the present instance. The description of it is short, and may be quoted : — " A not uncommon malformation in mushrooms arises from the confluence of their stalks, and when the union takes place by means of the pilei, it sometimes happens during growth that the one fungus is detached from its attachment to the ground and is borne up with the other, sometimes even being found in an inverted position on the top of its fellow." The twin-like arrangement here is quite distinct from the other, where it was an excrescence — an outgrowth from the mushroom itself — and there was not the slightest indication of the production of a stalk. — D. M'Alpine. 48 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. THE LATE DR. P. H. MacGILLIVRAY, F.L.S. By the death of Dr. P. H. MacGillivray, M.A., LL.D., F.L.S., of Bendigo, on 8th July, Victorian natural science has lost one of its most brilliant workers. Dr. MacGillivray's papers on the Polyzoa of Victoria contributed for a number of years to the proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, and his descriptions of Victorian Polyzoa in Sir F. M'Coy's " Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria," entitle him to rank with such European authorities as Hincks and Busk. He was for many years a member of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, and took an active interest in the working of the Bendigo Science Society, the Bendigo School of Mines, and other institutions, in con- sequence of which it is proposed to erect a memorial to him in that town. We are pleased to learn that Mr. C. French, jun., has been appointed to the vacancy in the Entomological Branch of the Department of Agriculture, which is in charge of his father, Mr. C. French, F.L.S. The Christchurch (N.Z.) Press of 12th June reports that Mr. H. B. Coles, son of Mr. A. Coles, taxidermist, of Melbourne, has purchased two deposits of moa bones from Mr. M'Donald, of Kapua, Waimate. One of these deposits was partly worked by Captain Hutton, who obtained a number of bones from it, and the other, about six chains distant, is now being opened out by a man in Mr. Coles's employ. This new deposit proves to be a very valuable one, and already Mr. Coles has obtained sufficient bones to make up from sixty to seventy complete skeletons. The bones are in an excellent state of preservation, some of the pelvis and breast bones and tibias being exceptionally good. From this deposit has also been obtained bones of the extinct species of swan, the same as was dicovered by Mr. H. O. Forbes in a cave at Sumner. Mr. Coles hopes to find enough of the bones to enable him to complete a skeleton. He has also found some of the bones of an extinct species of large weka. This deposit of bones was found in an old quicksand, and Mr. Coles is of opinion that the birds on going there to feed were drawn in, and so lost their lives. The sand is still dangerous in parts, and the man who is engaged in getting out the bones had some diffi- culty on one occasion in freeing himself from it. Entomologists are notified by advertisement on the cover that Messrs. Cherry and Sons, of Gisborne, are prepared to supply all requisites for the ensuing season, having just landed a ship- ment of natural history apparatus. THE ^ictoviaxx ^atnvali^t Vol. XII.— No. 5. AUGUST, 1895. No. 141. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 12th August, 1895. The president. Professor VV. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the chair, and some 70 members and friends were present. REPORT. A report of the recent visit to the Entomological Branch of the Department of Agriculture, under the direction of Mr. C. French, F.L.S., Government Entomologist, was read by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. There was a large attendance of members, who evinced great interest in the specimens, &c., on view. Special attention was given to the splendid series of life-histories of destructive insects prepared in England and obtained by the Government for comparison with the injurious insects of this colony. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. On a ballot being taken, Mrs. Cherry and Messrs. A. Lord and R. J. Dawes were duly elected members of the Club. PAPERS. 1. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S., entitled " Notes on Some Newly-described Australian Buprestid Beetles, Part I." The paper called attention to the large number of recent additions to the favourite family of Buprestidae, and gave brief descriptions of some 42 species, including several Victorian. 2. By Mr. D. M'Alpine, F.C.S., entitled " Entomogenous Fungi." The author dealt with a iew species of fungi growing upon insects which had come under his observation, and advocated a patient study of these growths, which might become of great economic importance in checking the increase of injurious insects. An entomophyte, probably a species of Botrytis, on a cockroach was described, but further information is required before it can be determined whether it is the cause of death or merely an after-growth ; also, a new species of Isaria, found growing on a grub of a beetle belonging to the Melolonthidre, which it is proposed to call Isaria surmntoiles. In the discussion which followed, Professor Spencer referred to the actual results which had been obtained in France and 50 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. America by cultivating such fungi. In Kansas the Chintz Bug plague has been effectually kept in check ; and in France it was estimated that 70 per cent, of a very destructive pest, second only to the Phylloxera, was killed by this means alone. NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. Professor Spencer announced that, as the result of experiments by Professor Fraser, of Edinburgh, and Dr. Martin, of Sydney, it has been satisfactorily demonstrated that the serum of animals which have been injected with small doses of snake poison is a powerful antidote to snake-bite. The new remedy is therefore analogous to anti-toxin for diphtheria. The blood has the power •of putting out the antidote and this property can be cultivated to such a degree that an injection fifty times greater than would be ■necessary to cause death may be administered with impunity. EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By the Department of Agriculture. — Proof plates of part iii. of the '' Handbook of Destructive Insects of Victoria," By Mr. A. Coles. — Specimen of Powerful Owl {Ninox strenua), with opossum. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — 45 species of Buprestid Beetles new to science, in illustration of paper, including Calodeina plebeijtts and Metaxymorpha gloriosa, Megacephala cylindr-ica, Howitti, and Frenchi, the latter being new ; also Cetonias, Iscliiopsopha Bourkei and Dilochrosis Frenchi, both new. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Rare Que-Tisland eggs, \\z.— Pitta similvma, Grauculus hyperculuc9is, Podurgns Papuensis, Mimeta Jlavocintra, Philemon buceroides, C ollyriocincla parvissinia ; also the very rare eggs of the Pink- naped Bower Bird, Chlamydodera orientalis, first time exhibited in Victoria. By Mr. J. Gabriel. ^ — Egg of Calyptorhynchus Banksii, Banksian Black Cockatoo, from Western Queensland. By Mr. James Mitchell. — Specimen of Older Basalt, showing Cmelenite, Analcite, and Natrolite ; Victorian Zeolites from Flinders, also another specimen showing Natrolite ; specimen of Newer Basalt, showing Phacolite and Calcite, from neighbour- hood of Melbourne. By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G. — Specimens of Ilelichrysum apiculalum from more than 400 localities, demonstrating the geographical distribution of the species through all Australia ; specimens of Dodonoea viscosa from more than 200 Australian localities, to show variability of this species ; specimens of Australian plants collected and named by R. Brown, 1802-1805 ; specimens of Australian plants collected by Professor Kerner, to show perfection and elegance of preparation ; specimens showing dissections of plants ; medicinal plants, prepared by Mr. Buysman in Holland, accompanied by tubes containing dissections in alcohol ; specimen o{ Carex agas- THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 51 tachrys, named and collected in the last century by Ehrkart, one of Linnaeus' disciples at Upsala ; plants recently collected in the Malayan Peninsula, and described by Brigade-Surgeon Dr. G. King, Director of the Botanical Gardens of Calcutta ; new species from S. W. Australia, Eucalyptus Ivruseana, named in honour of Mr. J. Kruse, remarkable for its small orbicular apposite leaves ; Claytonia Battii, discovered lately by Mr. J. D. Batt (new for Victoria) ; Olax striola, obtained on the Cann River by Mr. John Cameron, the first of an order of plants, Olacinese, new to Victoria. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. THE DISPERSAL OF MISTLETOE. By H. p. C. Ashworth. (Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 8th April, 1895.^ The wide prevalence of parasitic mistletoes high up in the branches of even our loftiest eucalypts is noteworthy, and although it has long been known that birds are the agents in dispersing the seeds, still the extent to which one small bird contributes does not seem to have been recognized. The bird referred to is the pretty little Swallow Dicoeum, Dicoeum hirun- dinacetim, which, so far as my observations go, seems to be the exclusive agent in Australia. The general facts of the inter-relation of plants and animals are now fairly well understood, the broad deductions being that by the process of variation and natural selection all our brightest flowers have been evolved to attract insects to fertilize them, and our most delicious fruits to entice birds and mammals to eat them and disperse their seeds. As an instance of the latter, Wallace cites the case of the nutmug. which is eaten by Fruit Pigeons for the sake of the mace surrounding it, this latter being merely an adventitious growth to attract attention. The nutmeg passes through the bird's body and germinates where it falls. In Europe the chief agent in the dispersal of mistletoe appears to be the Mistletoe or Missel Thrush, Turdus viscivorus, the specific name of which, signifying " mistletoe-eating," was given to it by Linnaeus on that account ; indeed, it was long thought that this bird was a sort of foster-parent to the mistletoe, and that the seeds would not germinate unless they had first passed through its body. The European mistletoe (Viscus) has a soft skin, and is eaten by the birds whole, but our mistletoes belong to the genus Loranthus, the seeds of which are encased in a hard capsule, and the wonderful adaptation of the Swallow Dicoeum to the role of extracting them is remarkable. The fruit of the mistletoe ripens about the month of May, and the Swallow Dicoeum then appears in large numbers. Intent on observing them, I set off one day with a telescope to the junction of Gardiner's 52 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Creek with the Yarra, where there is a fine clump of box trees, covered with mistletoe. After watching the birds for some time through the telescope, I found that they first plucked a berry, then repaired to a larger bough, whence after a few moments the berry was dropped. I had always thought that the berry was eaten whole, but on picking one up the mystery was solved, for it was empty ; the seed, with its glutinous covering, had been abstracted through an opening in the top, formed by biting it nearly through, leaving a lid. Nor is this all, for in the act of picking the fruit, a small hole is left where the stalk joined it, and this must greatly facilitate the sucking or squeezing out of the contents. During the whole process the bird uses only its beak. The ground underneath each of the trees was strewn with several hundreds of these discarded berries, each with its lid at one end and the small hole at the other. The bird is so small that when the seed is passed it sticks to the bough on which it sits, and is glued there by its viscid covering. On climbing the trees I was surprised to find what a large number of seeds were sticking to the branches. Consul Layard, writing to Nature from Noumea (see Victorian Naturalist, vol. v., p. 72), speaks of the Indian species of the genus Dicoeum as the agent of dispersion of the banian, and says that the seeds require to pass through the bodies of birds to enable them to germinate. To determine whether this holds with our mistletoes I planted and marked a number of seeds on several trees. Two months afterwards, in July last, they began to sprout, and send their roots into the wood of their hosts, and continued to grow equally as well as those passed by the birds. School- boys are fond of the berries for the sake of the glutinous covering of the seeds, which is very sweet, and suck them in exactly the same way as the birds. The Swallow Dicoeum is recorded from all parts of Australia, and its migrations are probably regulated by its food supply. I am convinced that in Victoria, where it only stays in any number for three or four months, it is the exclusive agent in the dispersal of mistletoe, and should be glad to hear from observers in other colonies the time of its appearance, and the extent to which it is noticed feeding on the berries. Surrey Hills Boys' Field Club. — This society has now completed the third year of its existence. The hon. secretary's report states that during the year just closed the members have shown considerable interest in its proceedings, both in the fort- nightly outings and the monthly evening meetings. These latter have on several occasions been addressed by members of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, to whom the committee express their gratitude for the aid so freely given. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 53 NOTES ON A RECENT VISIT TO SOME BASALT CAVES NEAR SKIPTON. By Richard J. Fletcher. {Read before the Field Naturalists'' Club of Victoria, 10th June, 1895.) On the side of Mount Widderin, and in that vicinity, are many funnel-shaped depressions, and at the bottom of one of these is the entrance to some locally well-known caves. After crawling for about 15 feet, the visitor enters the main cave, the roof of which rapidly rises to a height of 70 feet. The walls and roof are of rough basaltic rock, generally free from incrustations, no stalactites being observable, except a few diminutive specimens, an inch or so in length. The main chamber is roughly circular, with a length of 48 yards and extreme breadth of 40. At its widest part is the entrance to a second cave, as long as the former, but with a maximum widih of only 25 yards, nor is the roof quite as lofty ; fibrous roots have penetrated the ceiling and hang down in switches a few feet long. The main cave narrows off mto a corridor, which leads into a small oval cave, 27 yards in the longest diameter, the floor being much more elevated than that of the main cave. A still narrower passage than that by which it is approached leads to a hole down which you can drop, though generally at the risk of tearing one's clothing on the rocks in transit. Here the visitor is confronted by a cool, clear pool of water, which bars further progress. The floors of all the caves are covered with a deposit varying from a few inches to 15 feet in thickness, and which I classify as "organic" and "non-organic," and may be said to be guanos. In many parts of Australia caves have been found containing guano, but as far as I am aware, in none but this is it of any commercial importance. The organic deposit in the main cave contains abundance of nitrogen as ammonia, nitrates, and what is termed by agricultural chemists organic nitrogen, together with phosphates of lime and magnesia, which indicate its value as a plant food. Bats are credited with being the producers of this deposit, with what truth I cannot say, as " the oldest inhabitant" has never seen a bat in the caves. A few of these animals are to be found, however, in the hollow trees about Skipton. Signs of an opossum were observed, and near the entrance a small brown owl conscientiously kept guard; he was in his sentry- box every day of the week we spent at Mount Widderin. The only insect life noticed during our visit was a few mosquitos. A mould (or fungus) was observed presenting distinctly the cabalistic characters which spell " Jennie." We could not under- stand this at first, but subsequently noticed that it occurred only 54 TJIE VICTORIAir NATURALIST. where visitors had inscribed their names with chalk upon the walls ; it is a delicate fungus, and grows somewhat trumpet- shaped, white, light, and what I daresay ladies would call in " open work." On handling its beauty departs and it assumes the appearance of a damaged piece of white kid. In regard to minerals, three or four rather uncommon ones occur in the organic deposit. This is in the centre of the main cave, where a black, loose and friable matrix carries thickly studded white, colourless, and buff-coloured crystals. The largest ones are known as Struvite, and consist essentially of phosphate of ammonia and magnesia. Adhering to these and also in the non-organic deposit are found small more or less needle-shaped crystals, probably produced by alteration of the Struvite, and consisting also of magnesia, ammonia, and phosphoric acid, which have been named Hannayite. Three other minerals — Newberyite (named in honour of the late Mr. J. Cosmo Nevvbery, C.M.G.), a phosphate of magnesia; Dittsmarite, and Muellerite — are also found in the cave. Below the "organic" deposit is a thin bed of brown rock, which is easily powdered, and looks like powdered basalt ; this contains white specks and small crystals, probably some nitrates. The " organic" deposit gradually merges into the " non-organic," which latter contains about 77 to 88 per cent, of mineral matter, a small quantity of organic matter, and water. Through this brown earthy bed are found nodular concretions of magnesia and lime phosphates, with occasional pencilings of a white phosphatic mineral. In most places, at a depth of from half an inch to perhaps 8 inches from the surface, a whitish layer is found of varying thickness, averaging the width of a chalk mark, occa- sionally increasing into a fairly large pocket, from which a lump as big as a loaf of bread can be taken of this phosphatic mineral — sometimes white, often yellow. Samples of the different deposits are exhibited on the table; and in conclusion I might say that, although we turned over some six or seven tons of stuff, no bones or fossilized forms were met. ADDITIONAL LOCALITIES FOR VICTORIAN ORCHIDS. As Mr. C. French, jun., expressed a wish that other members of the Club would from time 10 time publish their observations on the flowering times and localities of Victorian orchids, I have much pleasure in recording the following species, with some additional localities, which, in many cases being distant parts of the colony, may not have been visited by Mr. French : — THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 55 ORCHID. DiPODIUM punctatum Gastrodia sesamoides Thelymitra ixioides aristata longifolia flexuosa antennifera DiURIS punctata maculata pedunculata sulphurea longifolia alba palustris Orthoceras striatum Calochilus Robertsoni Prasophyllum Australe datum patens (?) fuscum Microtis porrifolia Pterostylis curta nutans . pedunculata nana cucullata praecox ... obtusa ... barbata mutica ... localities. Carrum, S. Gembrook, Hall's Gap (Grampians) Darlimurla, Monbulk Ck. St. Albans, Keilor Plains Darlimurla Preston Sandringham Ringwood Preston, Mentone Ringwood Nar-Nar-Goon, Connewarre, Fairfield Park, Balmoral, Stawell Portarlington Nar-Nar-Goon St. Albans, Keilor Plains Bayswater Clyde Darlimurla, Monbulk Ck., Doncaster Darlimurla, Grampians (Hall's Gap) Ringwood ■ Darlimurla, Keilor Plains Sandringham Darlimurla, S. Warragul, Keilor Pins., Monbulk Ck., Clyde, Grampians (Hall's Gap), Brighton Fairfield Park Frankston, Nar-Nar-Goon, Colac, N. of Greensborough Nar-Nar-Goon, Wandong, Mt. Corran- warrabul Stawell Burwood, Kooyongkoot Ck., Spring- vale, Mt. Corranwarrabul Lakes' Entrance Nar-Nar-Goon, near Ferntree Gully Ringwood, Oakleigh N. of Stawell 56 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Pterostylis — continued. longifolia Mackibbini Cryptostylis reniformis Eriochilus autumnalis fimbriatus Caladenia congesta Menziesii Patersoni suaveolens carnea ... ccerulea deforrais Chiloglottis Gunnii ... Glossodia major ... Nar-Nar-Goon, Lilydale, N.of Riddell's Ck.,Wandong Near Brighton Beach Stawell, Black Ranges, S. of Stawell Pakenham, Eltham, Barnedown, Cam- paspe R. Stawell Darlimurla ; a small variety, Oakleigh Ringwood, Nar-Nar-Goon, Frankston, Colac Ringwood, Nar-Nar-Goon, Polkemmit, Balmoral, Wandong, Stawell Ringwood Sand., Stawell Stawell Ringwood, Polkemmit, Stawell Darlimurla, South Warragul, Mount Corranwarrabul Nar-Nar-Goon, Lower Ferntree Gully, Balmoral, Wandong, Ledcourt Quarry (Grampians). T. S. Hart. Formal as a Preserving Fluid. — A thoroughly reliable pre- serving fluid is a desideratum to the ordinary collector as well as the museum curator, therefore any additional information on the subject is welcome. In the January number of the American Naturalist, Mr. F. C. Kenyon describes Prof. T. Blum's employ- ment of formal, the usual name of a forty per cent, solution of formaldehyde in water. It is a clear opalescent fluid with a sharp odour. It has the advantage of being cheaper than alcohol, of having a more penetrating action, and in many cases preserving colours and microscopic details. Whole mammals, reptiles, fishes, &c., placed in a ten per cent, solution of the fluid were hardened, and after nine months' immersion were unchanged, though the fluid had not been changed. — Natural Science, April, 1895. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 57 A CATALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA. By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S. Part XVI. PYRALIDINA (continued). 491. ScoPARiA CHiASTA, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 246, 1887). Melbourne. *492. S. SPEL/EA, Meyr. {lor. cit., 247, 1887). Gisborne, Stawell. *493. S. HOMALA, Meyr. Gisborne. *494. S. GOMPHOTA, Meyr. Melbourne. 495. S. Meyrickii, Butl. {Tetraprosopus MeyricMi, Bull., Ann. Mag. N. H. (5), ix., 1887, 97). 496. S. LEUCOMELA, Lowcr (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 165, 1893). Melbourne, near Prahran. *497. S. PHiLONEPHES, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 247, 1887). Melbourne. EROTOMANES. Meyr. 498. E. EUSPILELLA, Walk. {Canuza eusjnlella, Walk., Supp., 1,771 ; Anerastia mirabilella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 213, 1878 ; lb., 333, 1879 ; Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 451, 1885). Melbourne. Family— CRAMBIDvE. DIATR.^A. Guild. CALAMTOROPHA. Zeller. PTOCHOSTOLA. Meyr. 499. P. MiCROPH^ELLA, Walk, {Grmnbus microphceella., Walk., Supp., 1,758; Ptochostola dimidiella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 190, 1878; ib., 154, 1882). Melbourne, Gisborne. THINASOTIA. Hein. 500. T. CLAViFERELLA, Walk. {Aquita claviferella, Supp., 1,765 ; Aphomia strigosa, Butl., P. L. S., 1877, 398, pi. xliii., 10 ; Crambus strigosios, Meyr., Tr. N.Z. Inst., 31, 1882). Melbourne, Sandringham. 501. T. LATiviTTALis, Walk. {Crambus lativittalis, Walk., B. M. Cat., 171 ; C. halterellus, Zeller, Crambites, ^t, ; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 183, 1878). Gisborne, Melbourne, &c. 58 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. TALIS. Gn. *502. T. PEDIONOMA, Meyr. {Thinasotia pediono^na, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 453, 1885 ; Hednota pedionoma, ib., 249, 1887). 503. T. TOXOTis, Meyr. (Hednota toxotis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 249, 1887). Melbourne. *504. T. PANTEUCHA, Meyr. (Hednota panteucha, Meyr., loc. cit., 453, 1885). Melbourne. *5o5. T. PANSELENELLA, Meyr. Melbourne. 506. T. RELATILIS, Walk. (Crambufi relatilis, B. M. Cat., 172; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 191, 1878). Melbourne, Gisborne, &c. 507. T. OPULEN'TELLUS, Zeller [Crambus opulentellus, Zeller, Cr., 46 ; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 192, 1878). Gisborne, Melbourne, &c. *5o8. T. HOPLITELLUS, Meyr. (Crambus hoplitelhis, Meyr., loc. cit., 188, 1878). Gippsland. 509. T. PLENiFERELLUS, Walk. (Crcimbus j^lemferellus, Walk., B. M. Cat., 173 ; Crambus aurosus, Feld., Reis. Nov., 31, taf. 137 ; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 187, 1878). Melbourne. *5io. T. MILVELLUS, Meyr. (Crambus milvellus, Meyr., loc, cit., 181, 1878). Melbourne, &c. 511. T. BiviTTELLUS, Don. (Crambiis trivittatus, Zeller, Cr, 34; C. vivittellus, Walk., B. M. Cat., 171; C. trivittatus, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 185, 1878). Melbourne, &c. 512. T. GRAMMELLUS, Zeller (Crambus grammellus, Zeller, Cram., 46; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 213, 1878; C. enneagrammas, Meyr., loc. cit., 194, 1878). Melbourne, Mt. Macedon, &c. 513. T. ARGYRONEURUS, Zeller (Cr., 47). Melbourne, &c. 514. T. LONGIPALPELLUS, Meyr. (Eromene longipalpellus, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 196, 1878; Crambus longi- palpellus, Meyr., loc. cit., 212, 1878). Melbourne. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 59 515. T. ACONTOPHORA, Meyr. *5i6. T. IMPLETELLUS, Walk. {C r ambus impletellus, Walk., Cat., 175 ; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1,210, 1878). Melbourne. 517. T. CRYPSicHROA, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 166, 1893). CRAMBUS. F. 518. C. CUNEIFERELLUS, Walk. (Cramb., 175 ; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 189, 1878). Sandhurst. EUCHROMIUS. Gn. {EROMENE. Hb.) DIPTYCHOPHORA. Zeller. 519. D. oCHRACEALis, Walk. {Gataclysta ochracealis, Walk., Suppl., 1838 ; Eromene prceniaturella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.VV., 198, 1878; E. dilatella, ib., 199). Gisborne, &c. ARGYRIA. Hb. Family— GALLERIAD^E. ACHR^A. Hb. 520. A. GRISELLA, F. Melbourne (introduced). GALLERIA. F. 521. G. MELLONELLA, Linn. HETEROMICTA. Meyr. 522. H. PACHYTERA, Meyr. Melbourne, Gisborne. APHOMIA. Hb. *523. A. LATRO, Zeller. Melbourne, &c. MELISSOBLAPTES. Zeller. *524. M. .EGiDiA, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 252, 1887). Melbourne. Family— PHYCITID^. CEROPREPES. Zeller. *525. C. ALMELLA, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 210, 1S78). (irampians. CONOBATHRA Meyr. CANTHELEA. Walk. 60 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. MYELOIS. Zeller. 5 25 A. M. FENESTRATA, Meyr., MSS. Mell)OUrne. EUZOPHERA. Zeller. 526. E. SUBARCUELLA, Mcyr. [Myelois subarcnella, iVIeyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 211, 1878 ; Etizopltera suharcuella, ib., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 255, 1887). Gisborne, Melbourne, &c. 527. E. ENSIFERELLA, Meyr. {Encarphia ensiferella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 208, 1878). Melbourne, Oakleigh. CATEREMNA. Meyr. ■''528. C. MICRODOXA, Meyr. {Euzophera micro'hxa, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 231, 1878). Healesville. EUCARPHIA. Hb. 529. E. TRiTALis, Walk. [Ilypochalcia tritalis, Walk., Cranib., 47 ; Cr ambus vetustellus, ib., 176; Eucarphia vulgatella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 207, 1878; E. Cne- 2yhceella, ib., 227, 1879). Melbourne, &c. TETRALOPHA. Zeller. ETIELLA. Zeller. 530. E. CHRYSOPORELLA, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 206, 1878). Melbourne, Kewell. 531. E. BEHRii, Zeller (Is., 883, 1848). Melbourne, &c. EPICROCIS. Zeller. SALEBRIA. Hein. 53 1 A. E. GYSOPA, Meyr. Melbourne. '"532. E. DiGRAMMELLA, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.\V^, 223, 1878). Melbourne. 533. E. OCULIFEKELLA, Meyr. {Pempelia oculiferella, Meyr., loc. cit., 222, 1878). Gisborne and Melbourne. PEMPELIA. Hb. 534. P. HKMiCHL^NA, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 260, 1887). Melbourne, Kewell. TYLOCHARES. 535. T. COSMIELLA, Meyr. (Mijelois cosmiella, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 212, 1878). Melbourne, &c. I'HK ^i eta via It |tatttralt$t. Vol. XII.— No. 6. SEPTEMBER, 1895. No. 142. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 9th September, 1895. The president, Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the chair, and there was an attendance of some 80 members and visitors. REPORT. A report of the excursion to Cheltenham was received from Mr. C. French, jun. A pleasant ramble over the heath ground resulted in the collection of a large number of orchids and other ])lants in flower. librarian's report. The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following dona- tions to the library : — " Report of Secretary for Mines, Victoria, for 1894," from the Department ; Geelong Naturalist for June, from Gordon College Natural History Society ; " Transactions Royal Society of South Australia," vol. xix., part i, from the Society ; " Report of Trustees Australian Museum, Sydney," 1894, from Trustees ; " Proceedings Royal Society of Queensland," vol. xi., part I, from the Society; "Proceedings Natural History Society of Queensland," vol. i., 1892-3-4, from the Society ; " Journal of Bombay Natural History Society," ix., No. 3, from Society; "Nature Notes," May, 1895, from Selborne Society; •'Proceedings Academy of Natural History, Philadelphia," 1893, parts 2 and 3, from Academy. VISITOR. Mr. E. D. Atkinson, an honorary member of the Club, former!) of Tasmania, was introduced to the meeting by the chairman, and received a hearty welcome. paper. By Mr. Dudley Le Soucf, entitled "Trip to Mallacoota Inlet." The paper gave an interesting account of an overland trip to this beautiful spot during last March, and was illustrated by limelight views prepared from the photographs taken. The discovery of gold-bearing reefs has greatly stimulated settlement, and with the increased facilities for ocean communication now ^2 THK VICTORIAN NATL'KALIST. available it was contended that it would well repay the Club to organize a camp-out in the spring. The views, kindly shown by Mr. J. Searle, certainly showed that the locality is not wanting in beautiful scenery. NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., read a note on a new method for the extraction of friable fossils in sandy strata. Mr. D. Le Souef exhibited portion of the stomach of an eel, showing where a crayfish which it had devoured had perforated the lining of the stomach of its captor. The fish was caught by Mr. Macgregor at Macedon on a night line, showing that the injury did not prevent its feeding. EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By Mr. A. Coles. — Five bones forming complete toe of the extinct New Zealand Moa, Moa giganticus. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Exotic moths: Actiasluna, from North America ; A. selene, from Himalayas; A. miiaosce, from South Africa. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Eggs of the follovving Australian birds, viz. : — Yellow-necked xMangrove Bittern from Queensland, White Tern from Norfolk Island, Princess of Wales Parrakeet, Red-backed Kingfisher, and Wliite-breasted Turnix (new) from Central Australia, Australian Jabiru and Cat Bird from New South Wales. By Mr. W. H. Ferguson. — Photograph of Rock Wallaby on trees. By Mr. J. H. Gatliff. — Struthiolaria pajjulosa. Mart., ^S". inenuis, Sowb., from New Zealand, and S. ( Pelecaria) scutulata, Dish., from New South Wales. By Mr. S. A. Masters. — Orchid, IHerostylis vittata, from Healesville (new locality). By Mr. James Mitchell. — Specimen of Dendritic markings on Gneissose Rock from Broken Hill. .After the usual conversazione the meeting: terminated. EXCURSION TO CHELTENHAM. This excursion took place on Saturday afternoon, 17th August, its principal object being the collection of botanical specimens. The route taken was down Charnwood-road to the beach. Among the first plants found in the ti-tree were the little hooded orchid, Corysanthes pruinosa, and Gyi'tostylis reniforniis, in flower. On the track down to the " fossil beds " splendid specimens of Pterostylis curta and the beautiful Clematis: inicropliylla were collected, specimens of the latter measuring several yards in length. Proceeding further along the ti-tree towards Sandringham, the following orchids were collected, either THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 63 in flower or in bud : — Acianthus exsertus, Pterostylis nutans, P. pedunculata, P. nana, P. concinna, Caladenia latifolia, Caladenia Patersoni ; also a large specimen of Pterostylis longifolia, this orchid being now very scarce in this neighbourhood. Returning towards the station across the heath ground, the following plants were noticed in flower : — Hibbertia densiflora, H. stricta, Acacia oxycedrus, /Styphelia virgata, S. huviijusa, Craspedia Pichea, Microseris Fosteri (the native edible yam), Hypoxis glabella, Aotus villosa, &c. — C. French, jun. ENTOMOGENOUS FUNGI. By D. M 'Alpine. fRead hefore Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 8th Jidy, 189,5.^ Entomogenous fungi, or fungi growing upon insects, have already been brought under the notice of the Club, so that it will be unnecessary to dwell upon their general features. They seem to have reached their highest development in Australia, and are therefore worthy of our special attention and study. During the month of May I received from Mr. French, Govern- ment Entomologist, the larva of a moth, Darala (sp.), obtained by the Rev. E. H. Hennell, as well as a cockroach, Panesthia Australis, with fungi growing upon them. I propose in this paper giving a general account of the latter, together with the descrip- tion of a species of Isaria kindly handed to me by Mr. Kershaw. I. — ENTOiMOPHYTE ON COCKROACH [Pauesthia Australis). The insect is covered on the under surface of the body and sides as well as on the legs and slightly on the back with a white felty mould, inclining to cream colour. Under the microscope this is seen to consist of innumerable delicate threads or hyphaj, which are very fine, colourless, repeatedly branched, septate, and on an average about 2.5 to 3 p. broad. The conidia, or re- productive bodies, are borne in tufts at irregular intervals along the hyphae, and are also colourless, spherical, and averaging from 3 to 4 /x. in diameter. From the above description the fungus is seen to belong to the group of what are popularly called " moulds," or scientifically, Hyphomycetes. Next, it belongs to the order Mucedinacece, because the hyph?e are finely filamentous, pale in colour, lax and crowded, but not agglutinated together. Then it belongs to the section Amerosporece, because the conidia are spherical, continuous, and colourless ; and to the sub-section Macronemece because the hyphse are elongated and distinct from the conidia; to the tribe Botrytidm because the conidia are inserted on simple or branched hyphse. It is probably a species of 64 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Botrytis, but I prefer to leave that point for the present un- determined. A similar fungus was found on larvae of the Codlin Moth at the School of Horticulture, Burnley, by Mr. Hill, and if it should turn out to be a parasite preying upon the living and causing their death, then it might become of great economic importance if the spores were used to propogate the fungus upon the larvae of injurious insects. 2. ISARIA SURMATODES, M'Alp. (u. Sp.) A fungus growing upon a grub belonging to one of the Melolonthidae was handed to me by Mr. Kershaw, of the Natural History Museum, Melbourne, for determination. The entomophyte proceeded from the under surface of the head, just immediately behind the mouth, and a specimen grew out on each side. They were slender, stiff, and strong, curving out- wards like a horn, and of a dirty fawn colour. One specimen forked at the end of the horn-like curve, one of the branches projecting forward and downward relatively to the grub, about ^ of an inch, twisting about in worm-like fashion and ter- minating in a blunt end of equal thickness with the rest. The other branch curved over the twisted one to the other side of the grub and terminated bluntly. The second specimen was com- paratively short, projecting forward only about ^/^^ of an inch, and resembling a miniature antler of which one branch was broken off, leaving a knob. Microscopic examination revealed minute spherical, colourless conidia at the tips of the hyphse towards the blunt ends, averaging about 3 /n. in diameter. There is a Cordyceps described by Tulasne on a species of Melolontha — viz., Cordyceps melolonthce (Tulasne," Select. Fung.," carp, iii., p. 12, pi. i., fig. 32, 1865) — and popularly known as the Cockchafer Club, but the clubs are simple, and swollen above into a clavate head. This may be a conidial condition of some species of Cordyceps, but we have only evidence of its being an Isaria, and I propose to call it Isaria surmatodes, the specific name from the Greek, on account of its slender, stiff, wiry nature. It was found at St. Kilda (a suburb of Melbourne) about twenty years ago. ON A METHOD FOR MOUNTING SMALL INSECTS FOR THE CABINET. The method of mounting small insects set on fine pins which is known as staging has been adopted by most of our leading systematic entomologists. Briefly, it consists in fixing the pin passed through the specimen into a block of soft substance mounted at some height up a stout pin, by means of which the THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 65 Staged insect is pinned in the collection. In this way very fine and short pins can be employed to transfix the insects. There is no risk of bending them by forcing them into the cork of the drawer or by subsequent handling ; the insects can be brought as near as desired to the glass, and the necessary label can be put on the stouter pins. Staging has been but little adopted by collectors of British insects, who have less often to remove specimens from their collections for comparison, and who are sometimes remiss about labelling their specimens. Its neglect is perhaps due to the want of satisfactory material from which to make stages. Pith (usually that of the Jerusalem artichoke), cork, pasteboard, and felt have all been tried. At a recent meeting of the Entomological Society of London I exhibited a substance for staging which appears to be entirely satisfactory. My attention was called to it by examining the blocks on which were mounted some Goleophora laricella sent out by Herr Fric, of Prague. In answer to an inquiry, Herr Fric told me that his curiosity had also been aroused, and that he had vainly tried to learn their nature from the collector, an old man who, from his silence, was now probably dead. It was therefore necessary to make out the nature of the substance from examina- tion of the blocks, and tliis investigation has proved successful. The stages were made of the felted mass of a fungus fructifica- tion (strictly, the hymenophore of Polyporus hetulinus). This material is as nearly as possible perfect. When of good quality it is pure white, dense, and even in texture, without holes, flaws, or hard places. It can be cut into any desired size, and when smoothly cut has a surface almost resembling that of fine plaster. It admits the very finest pins without turning the points, and it holds the pins firmly, which pith will not do. If fresh or slightly moistened by a sojourn in the relaxing box it is tough and cuts smoothly ; when quite dry it is harder to cut and is slightly friable, though not materially so ; when wetted it becomes soft and spongy, and a pin fixed in it can be easily released by applying a brushful of water round the insertion. As to its lasting qualities, pieces used in Zeiler's collection, which must be many years old, show no signs of deterioration, nor have they corroded the pins in any way. It has been suggested that the fungus may encourage the growth of mites or mould. This there is no reason to suspect. Though it absorbs moisture and will grow mouldy if kept damp, it does so only under conditions in which the insects themselves would be injured. As it is not obtainable everywhere, and special apparatus and some skill are required to cut it uniformly and without waste, Messrs. Watkins and Doncaster, Strand, London, have under- 66 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. taken to supply it. The difficulty of cutting has been fairly well surmounted, and the material will be sent out in strips, which can be divided transversely into the required lengths with a very sharp knife (such as an okl table knife well ground). An ounce of strips will mount from 750 to 1,500 or more specimens, according to the size of stage required. They should be handled as little as possible, as they easily show finger marks or forceps dents. The latter will come out if the strip is placed for an hour or two in a relaxing box, after which it cuts better, but it must not be allowed to touch the moist surface or it will be spoiled. A drawerful of micro-Lepidoptera carefully staged on this material looks extremely neat. That the specimens are more secure against injury, and that the value of the collection is thereby increased can hardly be disputed. It may be interesting to note that the fungus affords an excellent surface on which to print, so that it is perhaps possible to combine label and stage in one. — Walter F. H. Blandford, M.A., F.Z.S., in Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, August, 1895. [Perhaps it would be possible to use one of our Victorian Polypori for the above purpose. We shall be glad to hear of experiments in this direction. — Ed. Vict. Nat.'\ DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW AUSTRALIAN PLANTS, WITH OCCASIONAL OTHER ANNOTATIONS; By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M. & Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S. (Continued.) Psoralea Walkingtonl Shrubby, erect, glabrous ; leaves conspicuously petiolated, mostly trifoliolate ; leaflets large, narrow-lanceolar, entire ; flowers very large, on rather short peduncles ; bracts small, as broad as long, acuminate : pedicels of very considerable length ; calyx divided to the middle into deltoid-semilanceolor lobes ; petals pale-lilac and partly white, all very much longer than broad, the two lateral petals somewhat shorter than the others ; nine of the stamens high-connate ; fruit much surpassed by the calyx, oblique- ovate, compressed, glandular-dotted. Near Frew-Creek ; W. B. Walkington. Branchlets slightly streaked. Petioles to i^ inches long; rachis to i inch. Leaflets to 5 inches long, to 73-inch broad, pale-green on the underside and also on the surface, minutely and copiously dotted, faintly venulated, on very short stalklets. Racemes to 3 inches long and remarkably broad. Pedicels THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 67 yi-yi-vnch. long. Bracts about ^-inch long. Calyx measuring about ^-inch in length. Petals to fully i inch long ; the two lowest white except near the summit, producing a singular con- trast in the colouration of the whole flower. Style as long as the stamens. Fruit about ^5 -inch long. A highly ornamental plant, in its affinity nearest to P. leucantha, but with very much larger flowers, in which respect it surpasses all its numerous congeners. A NEW METHOD FOR THE EXTRACTION OF FRIABLE FOSSILS. In the Compte- Rendu of the Geological Society of France, 7th May, 1894, M. Charles Janet gives an ingenious method for the preservation and extraction of decomposed fossils in sandy strata. The beds at which he was working contained a great number of Turritellas, which were decomposed to a very friable condition, so that their extraction was impossible. He says that he obtained sufficient consolidation by pouring a fairly large quantity of boiled water over the rock in situ. The water was very slightly acidulated with sulphuric acid, and saturated with sulphate of lime. The sulphuric acid changed the carbonate of lime into the sulphate, and as the water, having been recently boiled, had no gas in solution, the relatively small amount of carbonic acid liberated in the process was readily dissolved. As, moreover, the water was already saturated with sulphate of lime, no more could be taken up. The fossils were superficially transformed into gypsum, and were then firm enough to be released by simply washing the sand. As M. Janet points out, this process of transformation of shells into gypsum takes place in nature under certain conditions, the sulphuric acid being produced by the decomposition of pyrite. The chief requisites for success seem to be very dilute acid and a fair length of time for the operation. T. S. H. ARTICLES OF INTEREST TO VICTORIAN NATURAL- ISTS IN RECENT PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. In '' Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia" vol. xix., part i : — " Correlation of the Marine Tertiaries of Australia," part 2 (Victoria continued), by Prof. R. Tate, F.G.S., and J. Dennant, F.G.S. Contains special notes on the Eocene beds at Cape Otway and River Aire, with lists of species and numerous illustrations. 68 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. In " Transactions of New Zealand Institute" vol. xxvii., 1894 :— " Synoptical List of Coccidse reported from Australasia and Pacific Islands up to December, 1894," by W. M. Maskell, F.R.M.S. Contains many Victorian species of Coccus. Glaciers. — An interesting article, entitled " The Discovery of Glacier Bay (N.W. America)," by John Muir, appears in the Century Magazine for June, 1895. It is well illustrated, and gives much information in a popular way on the progression and effects of glaciers. Magpies. — During the last 20 years I have noticed from time to time a species of magpie which I am at a loss to understand. I at one time thought them to be the Black-backed {Gymnorhina tibicen), but during 1893 I had the pleasure of observing the true Black-backed bird in the Goulburn Valley, and they are decidedly smaller, besides which their song is very different to the birds I wish to draw attention to, and whose notes resemble those of the White-backed {G. leuconota). I am unaware if anyone has previously drawn the attention of the members of the Field Naturalists' Club to the existence of this particular magpie, and in doing so myself I would like to state that the birds are by no means rare, hence I cannot think them a freak, and, failing this, they must be either a cross between the Black-backed and White-backed, or another species altogether. My friend, Mr. A. Coles, has kindly promised to exhibit three of the Black-backed birds I am speaking of, also one White-backed one, all shot by myself in this district (Somerville), the latter bird for comparison as regards size. I would like further to say that the true Black- backed Magpie {G. tibicen) is never found here, and never, apparently, gets so far south. Though the three birds exhibited are, I believe, all males and old birds, I have seen many females, and also younger birds, though I never found them nesting at any time. They are not solitary in their habits, and I have always found them in company with the White-backed. Between Cranbourne and Dandenong, in the Lyndhurst district, they are fairly numerous during the autumn and winter months. As will be easily noticed, the amount of black on the back varies con- siderably, from a complete saddle to little more than a ring. Probably some members of the Club may be able to give some information regarding them. — Geo. E. Shepherd, Somerville, 3rd June, 1895. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 69 A CATALOGUE OF VICTORIAN HETEROCERA. By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S. Part XVII. PYRALIDINA (continued). LASIOSTICHA. Meyr. 536. L. ANTELiA, Meyr. (Lasiocera antelia, Meyr.) Victoria. HEOSPHORA. Meyr. 537. H. PSAMATHELLA, Meyr. (Anerastia psamathella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. See. N.S.W., 234, 1878 ; A. nitens, Butler, Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 440, 1886). Fernshaw. ANERASTIA. Hb. *538. A. DiSTiCHELLA, Meyr. (Homceosoma distichella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 215, 1878). Melbourne, Mount Macedon. CROCYDOPORA. Meyr. 539. C. CINIGERELLA, Walk. (Nephopteryx cinigerella, Walk., Supp., 1,719; -A^. stenopterella, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 200, 1878). Fernshaw, Melbourne, &c. ERNOPHTHORA. Meyr. HYPOPHANA. Meyr. 540. H. HOMOSEMA, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 264, 1887). Melbourne. BALANOMIS. Meyr. HOM^OSOMA. Curt. 541. H. VAGELLA, Zeller (Is., 863, 1848 ; Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 214, 1878). Melbourne, &c. *542. H. FORNACELLA, Meyr. {Nephopteryx fornacella), Meyr., loc. cit., 219, 1878). Gisborne. EPHESTIA. Gn. 543. E. ELUTELLA, Hb. Melbourne. 544. E. DESUETELLA, Walk. {ficuUlla, Barrett). Melbourne. 545. E. INTERPUNCTELLA, Hb. Melbourne, &c. 70 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. Family— OXYCH I ROTIDyE. OXYCHIROTA. Meyr. Family— PTEROPHORID^. COSMOCLASTJS. Meyr. TETRASCHALIS. Meyr. TRICHOPTILUS. Wlsni. ♦546. T. scRYTHRODES, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 13, 1886). Kevvell. *547. T. CERAMODES, Meyr. (loc. cit., 14, 1886). Melbourne. *548, T. XERODES, Meyr. (loc. cil., 1886). Gisborne, Ararat, Sandhurst. SPHENARCHES. Meyr. *549. S. CAFFER, Zeller {Oxyptilus caffer, Z., Lin., Ent., vi., 348 ; Caff., 118 ; 0. anisodactylus, Walk., 93 ; 0. Walkeri, Wism., 'I'r. Ent. Soc. Lond., 279, 1881 ; Sphenarchen synophrys, Meyr., loc. cit., 17, 1886). Windsor. PLATYPTILIA. Hb. *55o. P. EMISSALIS, Walk. (Platyptilus emissalis, Walk., 930). Dandenong Ranges. ACIPTILIA. Hb. *55i. A. APTALIS, Walk. {Aciptilus aptalis, Walk., 950; AcipUlia aptalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 425, 1885). Melbourne. DOXOSTERES. Meyr. *552. D. CANALis, Walk. (Pterophorus canalis, Walk., 948; Doxosteres canalis, Meyr., Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 425, 1885). Gisborne, Melbourne. MIMESEOPTILUS. Wallgr. CE NO LOB A. Wlsm. AGDISTIS. Hb. Family— ALUCI'TID^. ALUCITA. Zeller. *553. A. PHRicoDES, Meyr. (Tr. Ent. Soc. Lond., 20, 1886). Prahran. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 71 TORTRICINA. Family— TO RTRICID^. MICTONEURA. Meyr. 554. M. PLEXANIMANA, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 490, vi., 1881). Sale. PROSELENA. Meyr. 555. P. PHiLERis, Meyr. (MSS.) Melbourne. PAL.4^:0T0MA. Meyr. 556. P. .STYPHELANA, Mevr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.. 423, vi., 1881). Gisborne, Castlemaine, Melbourne, &c. ISOCHORISTA. Meyr. *557. L PANyEOLANA, Meyr. {loc. cit., 425). Melbourne, Gisborne. ATELODORA. Meyr. ARISTOCOSMA. Meyr. ADOXOPHVES. Meyr. THRINCOPHORA. Meyr. ACROPOLITIS. Meyr. *55S. A. MAGNANA, Walk. {Tort.rix. ma(jnana,\. A. DOLOSANA, Walk. {I'oitrix dolosana, Walk., B. .VI. Cat., 331; Acropolitis dolosana, Meyr. Proc. i.inn. Soc. N.S.W., 435, 1881;. Gisborne, Melbourne, &c. *:;6o. A. LIGNIGERANA, \N3\k. {PcHdisca Ugnigerana, W aXk.. \\. M. Cat., 380 ; Acropolitis lignigerana, Meyr., Proc. Linn Soc. N.S.W., 437, 1881). 561. A. .siGNlGERANA, Walk. {Tovtvix signigerana, Walk., B. M. Cat., 332 ; Sciaph.ila riidisana, ib., 377 ; AcropoliUs signigerana, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 43S, 1881). Melbourne, Gisborne, Kew, &c. PYRGOTIS. Meyr. 562. P. i.NisiGN.\NA, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 440, 18S1). Melbourne, (lisborne, Stawell. 72 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. CAPUA. Stph. 563. C. DECOLORANA, Walk. (GraphoHta decolormia, Walk., B. M. Cat., 392 ; Capua decolorana, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc, 447, 1881). Gisborne, Mt. Macedon, Melbourne. 564. C. VACUANA, Walk. {Gonchylis vacuana, Walk., B. M. Cat., 367 ; {GrapJtolita tnutatana, ib., 393 ; C'npiio vacuana, Meyr., Proc. T.inn. Soc. N.S.W., 448, i88t). Melbourne. 565. C. HEMicosMANA, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 449, 1881). Warragul. *566. C. MELANOCROCANA, Meyr. {Joe. cit., 450, 188 1). Melbourne. *567. C. CHiMERiNANA, Meyr. (foe. cit., 452, 1881). Melbourne. 568. C. .-^ORDiDATANA, Meyr. (loc. cit., 452, 1881). Melbourne. *569. C. OBFUSCATANA, Meyr. {/oc. cit., 453, 1881). Gisborne. 57c. C. OPHTHALMIAS, Meyr. (MSS.) Melbourne. ACROCEUTHES. Meyr. ASTHENOPTYCHA. Meyr. ANATROPIA. Meyr. ANISOGONA. Meyr. 571. A. siMiLANA, Walk. [Teras similana. Walk., B. M. Cat., 300; Pandemis mcdiana, ib., 311; Anisogova similana, Meyr., Proc. I>inn. Soc. N.S.W., 466, r88i). MelI)Ourne. DICHELIA. Gn. 572. D. isoscELANA, Meyr. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 471, 1881). Gisborne, Richmond, &c. 573. D. cLARANA, Meyr. {loc. cit., 475, 1881). Melbourne. 574. D. cosMOPis, Lower (Tr. Roy. Soc. S.A., 97, 1894). Gisborne, Melbourne. 575. n. SOLANA, Walk. {Teras solana, Walk., B. M. Cat., 300; Dichelia solana, Meyr., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 476, 1881), Melbourne. THE ^ictovian ^atnvali^t. Vol. XII.— No. 7. OCTOBER, 1895. No. 143. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, T4th October, 1895. The president. Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the chair, and about 80 members and visitors were present. REPORTS. The hon. secretary reported that the first meeting of a course of practical meetings for systematic botany had been held on Monday evening, 23rd September, when there was a good at- tendance. Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A., LL.B., F.L.S., who had kindly undertaken the duties of demonstrator, briefly pointed out the main divisions of flowering plants, and then the distinguishing features of several orders, such as Ranunculaceoe, Dilleniaceae, Tremandrese, Myrtaceae, Leguminosae, specimens of each being dissected by those present. A report of the excursion to Sandringham on 14th September was received from the leader, Mr. C. French, F.L.S., who reported a good attendance of members and an interesting afternoon spent on the heath ground towards Cheltenham, which was almost a mass of wild flowers, some 60 species of plants in flower being collected, though nothing of any great rarity was obtained. ELECTION OP MEMBERS. On a ballot being taken, Messrs. S. VV. Jackson, G. Mowling, D. Le Souiif, and Webb were duly elected members of the Club. PAPERS. I. By Mrs. W. Martin, entitled " Notes on Fertilizers." This paper referred to the parts played by fungi and earth- worms in fertilizing or otherwise improving the soil for agricul- tural purposes. In the discussion which followed. Professor Spencer, in referring to the influence of earthworms in opening up the soil, questioned whether, for example, the Giant Earthworm of Gippsland was of especial use in this respect. He was rather of opinion that, as had been suggested to be the case in Africa by Professor Drura- mond, so in Australia, ants were of greater service than earth- worms for the purpose. Mr. D. M'Alpine complimented the authoress on a very sugges- 74 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. tive paper, and hoped that other ladies would follow her example and share in the scientific work of the Club. 2. By Mr. F. L. Billinghurst, communicated by Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., entitled, " Notes on the Fauna of the Castlemaine District — Butterflies." The author pointed out the necessity and desirability of all collectors recording their observations, as an aid to other workers in the same fields, and as a means of working out the geographical range of animals and plants. He then gave a list, with notes, of the butterflies he had met with in the Castlemaine district, com- prising some 23 species. NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. Mr. H. T. Tisdall, F.L.S., read a brief note on the occurrence of a white substance, evidently thistledown, which had fallen like snow at the Barwon River. LOUIS PASTEUR. Baron Sir F. von Mueller, K.C.M.G., who had been detained by another engagement, then addressed the meeting with refer- ence to the death of the great French scientist, Louis Pasteur, as follows : — " It behoves us in a union like ours, when a great leader in scientific thought has passed away, to offer our mournful homage. Now it is Louis Pasteur, whose luminous career has come to a close. As an original thinker, as a close investigator, and as an operator of the most practical tendencies, he has earned the admiration of the human universality, and has ' left his footprints on the sands of time.' The light he shed on what we might call the organized atoms must call forth the most grateful recognition also within our own circle here, where the individually vitalized cellules become so often objects of research. Whether we consider these minutest of beings in their action on the human and animal organisms, or in their relation to technical industrial pursuits, mankind will ever remain under a deep obligation to Pasteur. Well do the elder of us remember, how he, nearly thirty years ago, unbound the spell, which paralyzed, through the Nosema- and Botrytis-diseases, the great silk-industry far beyond France, Baron Dumas drawing his illustrious disciple into those lines of restorative measures, which Pasteur independently laid out. But it was long before, that he whose loss we now lament arose on the horizon of knowledge in youthful brightness, as at the age of 23 he was called to a prominent professorship, and at the age of 32 he was chosen to organize, in the elevated position of dean, one of the greatest science faculties in a land celebrated for its learning. At 36 he commenced those memorable inquiries on fermentive germs, which exercise such important bearing on one of the largest of rural efforts, and will ever continue to do so. His star rose still THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 75 higher when late in life he led in many directions the way, by adopting a great hygienic principle, emanating empirically in Britain precisely loo years ago, with strict scientific application and with unequalled exactitude, to subduing maladies, which might decimate the human population and threatened to deprive it of a chief share of its sustenance. To such a man the triumphs of his achievements are his greatest rewards ! But his compatriots remain not unmindful in recognizing the worldly blessings con- ferred. It seems out of place to draw into this public eulogy individual feelings of my own, yet emotions of gratitude, especially at this moment of sadness, do prompt me to allude to a gracious act of Pasteur's scientific influence, of which I must remain ever conscious and proud. It signalizes the sense of such a hero in science, when, as a last wish, he desired his worldly rest within the precincts of his own institution, when his tomb could have been in the Pantheon — the Westminster Abbey of the French — while the significant fact that the President of the Republic followed as a national mourner the remains to their last resting-place. EXHIBITS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By Miss Cochrane. — Wild flowers from Ringwood and Sandringham ; also, paintings of Victorian orchids. By Mr. J. Gabriel. — Wild flowers from Western Australia, including Anigozanthus Manglesii (Kangaroo Paw). By Mr. R. Hall. — Skins of Spotted Rail, from Box Hill, and White-breasted Swallow, from Swan Hill. By Baron F. von Mueller, K.C.M.G. — A new Psoralea, dis- covered by Mr. W. B. Walkington at Frew's Creek, with larger flowers than any of its congeners, numbering fully one hundred, from all parts of the world ; very minute specimens of Plantago coro7iopus, variety Husseyana, found by Miss Hussey near Encounter Bay : from the weight of a number of dried specimens, with flowers, roots, &c., it is estimated that it would take 5,280 to make up half an ounce, the weight of an ordinary letter ; such a minute form is never produced in the British home of the species, where a single specimen will average ^ oz., our winter- less climate causing it to appear as an early spring plant ; Pimelea Husseijana, from Encounter Bay ; a Caladenia of the series C Cairnsiana, approaching C. d'datata, found by the Misses Wise near Sale ; also specimens of Glossodia major with double labellum, found near Mt. Alexander by Mr. F. L. Billinghurst, of Castlemaine ; a collection of wild flowers from Sandringham, and local wild flowers on behalf of the Field Ramblers' Club, Castle- maine, Mr. G. Knight, J. P., of Bendigo, Miss Henley, of Beechworth, and Miss May Wise, of Sale. By Mr. G. Sweet, F.G.S. — Types of scales, neural spines, and vertebrtB of Cladocyclus Sioeeti, figured and described by Mr. A. S. Woodward, F.G.B., 76 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. British Museum, in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History (6th series, vol. xiv., p. 445, pi. x., figs. 2-6), from the Cretaceous rocks of Flinders River, Central Queensland. By Mr. H. T. Tisdall, F.L.S. — Flowers of Ilakea gramniatophylla, a rare species, grown by Mr. Adcock, Highton, near Geelong. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. . TRIP TO MALLACOOTA INLET. By D. Le Souef. fBead before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 9th September, 1895.^ We left Melbourne on Monday, 4th March, by the first train, and on arrival at Sale went on board the steamer for the Lakes' Entrance. On passing down the Thomson River we noticed that Coots (Fulica Australis) were very numerous on the banks, quite flocks of them in places, and the tops of the rushes along the water's edge were in many places broken and bent together by the birds to enable them to secure a foothold. The swamps about here were mostly quite dry, which accounted for so many birds being on the river banks. Several Whistling Eagles were also noticed, and we saw some of their old nests situated high up in the redgum trees. When passing through the Lakes many hundreds of Black Swans were seen on their favourite feeding grounds in the shallow water close in to the shore. The steamer passed very near to one lot of about 150 birds, and with a great deal of noise, caused by their running on the surface of the water when getting under way, they took to flight, and it was a beautiful sight, the white on their wings showing in contrast against the dark back- ground. There was nothing very beautiful about the Lakes themselves, the water being muddy and the shores low, but when the narrower parts were reached, not far from the entrance, the scenery became much more interesting. Very few ducks were seen. We arrived at the Lakes' Entrance at 8 o'clock in the evening. The following morning we left in a buggy and four horses for Orbost, on the Snowy River, a distance of thirty-five miles, over a very bad road. Fortunately it was dry and dusty when we passed over it, but, judging from the numerous dried-up holes and deep ruts, we could easily see what it must be like in the winter. While driving along we noticed or heard the Coachwhip Bird, Gang-Gang Cockatoo, Grey Crow-Shrike, Shining Fly- catcher, Fire-tail Finch, Harmonious Shrike-Thrush, White- backed Magpie, Laughing Jackass, and the Bell Bird, with its clear note. A spider's nest was noticed. There were 16 cocoons, and the one I opened had 256 young spiders in, and if each of THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 77 the cocoons had the same number in it would make a total of 4,096 young spiders — not a bad brood. At one place on the roadside the scrub was on fire, and we had some difficulty in getting our horses past. The scenery was for the most part very monotonous, with heavy timber more or less all the way, and most of the country had been recently burnt, which did not add to its beauty. A few tracks of lizards and snakes were seen on the dusty road, but they were not numerous. Bush rats and mice were plentiful, and their footprints often seen. Although a considerable distance from the ocean we could occasionally hear the noise of the surf breaking on the shore. We arrived at Orbost at 5 o'clock. The town is situated on the banks of the Snowy River, which we had imagined as being a clear, pellucid stream, but found on the contrary that it was very muddy. Every now and then a heavy flood comes down and submerges most of the river flats, destroying any crops that may be growing there and covering the soil in many places feet deep with sand. The occurrence of these floods is a great drawback to the prosperity of the place. There were wonderful crops of maize and flax growing here. The latter especially looked well, and although a recently-tried plant, seems to be a thriving one. We were shown some plants 15 feet in length, and the average height of the crops vyas about 12 feet. We were told that it grew about one foot a week. When ready it is cut and made into bundles and then steeped in water for about eight days ; it is then dried and crushed to get the bark and pith oft". We left Orbost again for Mario at 6 o'clock, on horseback, a pack-horse carrying our luggage. As the punt over the Brodribb River was not working, we had to go over the bridge along a very rough road, which made the distance 15 miles, and we reached Mario about 10 o'clock p.m. The situation of this place is very fine, overlooking the valley of the Snowy River on one side and the open ocean on the other, both being but a short distance away. Early next morning a start was made for the Bemm River, a distance of 25 miles. On the way a detour was made up the Cabbage-tree Creek to see some of the Cabbage-tree Palms, and we found a specimen, some 60 ft. in height, growing on the banks of the creek. Continuing our journey along a fairly good road, the Bemm River Hotel was reached during the evening. The country passed through was mostly very poor and covered with Bayonet Grass and Eucalyptus. Shortly after leaving Mario we passed close to the ocean beach, but on high land, and on the unruffled surface of a backwater, separated from the ocean by a low sandbank, numbers of Musk Duck, Black Duck, and Teal were enjoying themselves. The first named were generally in small companies of about seven birds, possibly the young with 78 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. their parents. In the neighbourhood of Bemm River we were told that Dingoes were very numerous, and also Platypus in the waterholes. Emus are also seen in the open country, as well as Kangaroos, but they are not numerous. The last flood in this river rose to a height of 30 ft., and occurred in January, 1894, and must have destroyed an immense number of birds' nests and their contents, which were built near the river bank — a favourite place for birds. We left next morning for the Cann River, 20 miles distant, and during the day noticed the Black Cockatoos, Gahfptorhynchus Leachii, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, I^eather- heads, Philemon cortiicidatus, Coachwhip Birds, White Goshawks, Reed Warblers, Emu Wrens, Ground Thrush, Little Grass Bird, Gang-Gang Cockatoos, White-throated Nightjar, Bell Birds, Superb Warblers, Pipits, Flame-breasted Robins, Lewin's Honey- eater, King Parrots, and other birds, and at the various stopping places we generally saw, fastened up on the wall, the tail of the Leach's Black Cockatoo, with the red bars across. At the Cann River there is an accommodation house, where we stayed for the night, and left again in the morning for the Genoa River, 35 miles This part of the journey was by far the most interesting. The road was for the most part over a roughly and newly cut track, which in some places went down a steep hillside and up again on the other at an equally acute angle. Now the track lay over a hill of granite, then again over another hill of slate and quartz, and so on. In many places there was every indication of gold-bearing country, but being difficult of access it is mostly untried. Splendid forests of ironbark and other trees were passed through, and fern trees were plentiful in the deep beds of the creeks, and we heard the clear call of the Lyre-Bird on several occasions in such localities, and every now and then we had beautiful glimpses of distant views from our mountainous track, as it wound along the crests of the hills. Occasionally we passed through belts of stunted timber on swampy ground, but not often. Black Cookatoos were seen on several occasions among the tall timber, but only one snake was seen and despatched, a Copper-head, though, as the weather was very hot during our journey, we had expected to have seen more of them. Lizards were numerous, and two Iguanas, Vara7ius Gouldi, were noticed, and one Copper-head Snake killed ; also the tracks of an Echidna and many holes were seen in Termites' or White Ants' mounds which these animals had burrowed in their search for food. Near the house at the Cann River was a large blackberry hedge, which was in full bearing at the time of our visit. Numbers of Grey Crow-Shrikes came to it to eat the fruit, and I watched a little Collared Sparrow Hawk, which was sitting on a neighbouring willow tree, suddenly swoop down and fly along the hedge on one side and return to his willow tree along the other side, upsetting THE ViCTOKIAN NATURALIST. 79 and disturbing all the Shrikes that had settled on the hedge to feed. They were all driven ofif, and one or two that the little hawk had struck in passing called out loudly in their fright, yet the Sparrow Hawk was not nearly as large as they were. He seemed to disturb them for amusement, as I watched him do the same thing several times, and it evidently was not for the purpose of procuring food. Tiiese Shrikes took other fruit be- sides the blackberries, in the same way that crows occasionally do, and being large birds, soon destroyed a good deal. We noticed a few Harmonious Shrike-Thrushes, Spur-winged Plovers, Southern Stone Plovers, White-fronted Herons, Brown Hawks, Brown Tree-Creepers, Yellow-breasted Robins, and Black-faced Graucalus. Bell-Birds were numerous, and it is puzzling why they should be so local, as you come across large numbers of them in a certain place — of course, always near water — both in low and high timber, and yet you may pass many other such places and not hear a bird, and then come across them again, generally a good many miles away. Not only do they appear to be very local, but they seem always to live in large flocks, and you rarely, if ever, come across a single pair of birds far away from the others. The beautiful nest of a Flame-breasted Robin was noticed, snugly built between the interstices of a rough piece of bark. We reached the accommodation house at Genoa at sundown, and turned all our horses out, as the rest of the journey was to be by boat. On the river flat here were large crops of maize, and when nearly ripe store pigs were turned into them, where they rapidly became fat, rooting up the maize plants and feeding on the corn. The pigs were then sent to Twofold Bay, a distance of 60 miles, to be shipped to market — it paid better than selling the grain. Black, Tiger, and Copper-head Snakes are found here, and the Water Lizard is often seen lying basking in the sun on the rocks or logs close to the water's edge, but directly they are disturbed down they go into the water, and consequently are difficult to capture alive. In the river eels are plentiful, and we were informed of some having been caught weighing 28 lbs. each — a large size — and if set nets are used many of the fish caught are eaten by the eels before the morning. On one occasion a Water Lizard, which had been partly disabled, jumped into the water, and while it was swimming on the surface a large eel seized it and dragged it down, and it did not reappear. Platypus were also numerous, and one large specimen was caught in a net during our visit, but escaped from captivity during the night. They will climb out of almost anything, and Echidnas are equally as proficient in the same art. The Platypus are generally caught here in nets, and as far down the river as CJipsy Point, where the water is quite salt ; and in times of flood they have 80 THE VICTORIAN NATUKALIST. gone down the river to the Upper Mallacoota Inlet in fresh water, and when the river returned to its normal condition they have been caught in the salt water ; they were plentiful enough where the water was brackish. We left the next morning by boat for Mallacoota Inlet, a distance of 25 miles down the Genoa River. The stream for the first few miles was narrow, occasionally partially obstructed by fallen timber, but as we got further down it widened out considerably, and gradually became brackish as it neared the Upper Mallacoota Inlet. When being rowed down the river we occasionally disturbed some Black Ducks, but very few, and we passed a colony of small Black Shags resting over the water on the exposed limbs of an old dead tree which had fallen into the river. Some swallows were noticed high in the air chasing a hawk, when the latter bird took a rapid dive almost in a perpendicular Une towards the earth and alighted on a tree near the river. A pair of Ospreys watched us as we passed by, and further on we saw a pair of the beautiful White-bellied Sea Eagles, which let us pass comparatively near them, and within easy shooting distance, but they were not disturbed. A few Nankeen Night Herons were also seen, and several specimens of the Little Black and White and the Australian Cormorants, but waterfowl were not plentiful. When in the salt water we trailed a line behind the boat and caught a few Skipjack. The Upper Inlet was about three miles long and two broad, and was con- nected with the Lower by a passage about a mile in length, with fairly high land on each side. On passing through this we came to Mallacoota Inlet, which is about seven miles long by four broad. We had often heard of its beauties, but it far exceeded our expectations. The water is salt and very clear, and the banks covered with timber to the water's edge. Many of the gullies that ran down to the inlet were clothed with thick, dark scrub, often festooned and matted together with creepers, and their dense shade afforded a cool retreat for the birds. It has various arms running inland some distance, and the coast line is very broken, making numerous little bays, some with sandy shores, others rock or gravel. Quartz and sandstone reefs are to be seen in places on some of the steep banks running into the inlet, and some of these are now being worked and proving highly gold-bearing, and Mallacoota, at no distant date, will be doubt- less the centre of a large mining district. The clear waters teem with fish of various kinds, Mullet, Skipjack, Schnapper, and Flat- head being especially plentiful. On the shore the Brush-tailed Wallaby and Red-bellied Wallaby are abundant, as well as Wonga-Wonga and Bronze-wing Pigeons. Some parts of the inlet are shallow, and at low water sandbanks are left exposed THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 81 here and there, and on them are generally to be seen Black Swans, Ducks, Gulls, Sec. Near the bar are several islands of various sizes and shapes, and they are the favourite haunt of the Spur-wing Plovers and White-fronted Herons. Away in the distance all round may^be seen various ranges of mountains, the highest point being Genoa Peak, over i,ooo feet high, the Howe Range, Table-top Mountain, Nad-gee Range, &c., &c. ; and the views over the inlet, being backed by these mountain ranges at varying distances, are very beautiful, of which photographs give a very faint representation. The bar has a high cliff on one side, and a long range of low sandhills on the other. The depth of water at low tide is about 9 feet, and small steamers and schooners can go in and out, weather permitting. All the coast line about here appears to be rising, and various old sea beaches, now covered with scrub, can be seen. There is a comfortable hotel here, which is situated on a high point overlooking the inlet, and boats can be hired by visitors. The inlet can be reached by schooner from Melbourne (Orhost) or by a weekly steamer from Bairnsdale, the Lady Harriet, or overland the way described. We spent the whole day there, returning on the afternoon of the next day to Genoa, and so on back to Mel- bourne by the same route we had come by, after having had a most enjoyable and interesting outing. [The paper was well illustrated with lantern slides from photo- graphs taken by the author. — Ed. Vict,. Nat.'\ THE LATE J. BRACEBRIDGE WILSON, M.A., F.L.S. It is with great regret we record the death of another Victorian naturalist — the fourth such loss during the current year. Mr. Jno. Bracebridge Wilson, M.A., F.L.S. , passed away at the age of 67 on the 22nd October. In his position as head master of the Church of England Grammar School, Geelong, for the past twenty-two years, he had made hosts of friends all over Australia, who will deeply feel his loss. Among biologists his name will long be remembered as an enthusiastic collector of the sponges and alga; of the vicinity of Port Phillip Heads, where he was accustomed to spend all his holidays dredging for fresh material to be forwarded for working out to such friends as the late Dr. Macgillivray, of Bendigo, Baron von Mueller, Professor M'Coy, F.R.S., Melbourne University, or Dr. Dendy, now of Christ- church, New Zealand ; or through them to the leading specialists of England or the Continent. He was for a number of years a member of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, and took considerable interest in the work of the Geelong Field Naturalists' Club. 82 TliK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. FLOWERING TIMES OF ORCHIDS. By C. M. Maplestone. In a recent paper on the above subject by Mr. C. French, jun., the hope was expressed that other members of our Club would publish their observations on the flowering times of the Victorian orchids. This order of plants has been a favourite study of mine for many years past, during which I have accumulated a quantity of notes respecting their flowering times, and have thus been enabled to draw up an " Orchid Calendar." My notes having been made in various parts of the colony consequently give a greater range of flowering times than those recorded by Mr. C. French, whose observations were chiefly confined to the Melbourne district. As these additional records might be some- what misleading by themselves, in the table herewith is given the whole of the Victorian orchids, with their flowering times, principally from my own observations, but including also all records of such in the Victorian Naturalist to date. It will be seen from the list that there are still several species whose flowering times have not yet been recorded in the Naturalist, and the attention of the student is thus directed to its deficiencies. Orchid Calendar. Dpndrnhinm snpnnciiin 1— 1 < 2 a, < > < Z 1 — > > 1— i 6 D < H Ph H O O > o ■6 * * Dipodium punctatum Gastrodia sesamoides * * * * * * * * * Calochilus Robertsoni * * * Spiranthes Australis Thelymitra aristata * * # * * * * * * * * * * * * * ixioides ... * * * * longifoha ... ... antennifera ... Macniillani .. * * » flexuosa * Eli/abethse ... fuscolutea * M'Kibbini ... * * Diuris maculata ... * ■X- * * * palustris * THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 83 Diuris punctata ... < 03 < h-l a, < > < w z 1— > 1 — . 6 < U O * * * * * > o * * * d c * alba longifolia * * * * sulphurea * pedunculata M'Kibbini aurea Orthoceras strictum * * Cryptostylis longifolia leptochila ... Prasophylluni datum * * * * * •X- * * * * * * * * * flavuni Australe * * brevilabre Frenchii * * * * * patens nigricans ... * * * * * fuscum * # alpinum rufum ... * * * * * * * * * * * * despectans ... Archen * * * intricatum Dixoni fimbriatum ... Microtis porrifolia minutiflora ... * * ■it * * * * * * * * Corysanthes pruinosa * * * * * * * unguiculata Pterostylis concinna curta M'Kibbini ... *■ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * acuminata ... * * * * nutans * * * * * * * * pedaloglossa pedunculata * * * * * * * * * * * nana * * * •* cucullata * * * grandiflora ... reflexa * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * praecox obtusa parviflora aphylla barbata * * * * * * * * * A^ 84 THE VICTORIAN NATURALISI Pterostylis mutica rufa 2 < < 2 < > * S ^ * < fa: en * b O * * 5r > O * * * * w longifolia vittata Caleya major minor * * * * * * * * * * * * -\cianthus caudatus * exsertus * * * * * * * * Enochilus autumnalis fimbriatus * Lyperanthus nigricans Burnetii * * * * * a- * * * •* * Cyrtostylis reniformis Chiloglottis Gunni diphylla Glossodia major ... minor * # ■'■ "• -::■ Caladenia Mer/iesii * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Patersoni ■» * latifolia suaveolens . . * carnea * * congesta coerulea * * * * * * * deformis Cairnsiana ... Drakea irritabilis Select Extra-Tropical Plants. — Owing to an oversight we have omitted to announce the recent publication of the ninth edition of this well-known work, one by which the author, Baron F. von Mueller, K.C.M.G., Government Botanist of Victoria, has, if possible, added further lustre to his name, and at the same time conferred great benefits on the pioneers of agricultural and allied pursuits throughout Australasia. The present edition extends to 655 pages, exceeding the eighth (issued in 1888) by some 140 pages. The articles have received considerable revision. Particulars of several new economic plants have been included, together with notes of the experience gained with regard to others recommended in previous editions. Merely as a work of reference oil botanical matters the book is a valuajjle addition to any library, while to any persons desiring to turn their attention to the productions of the soil it is simply invaluable, as the fact that it has run through so many editions amply proves. THE ^ictovian Jlatttralt^t Vol. XII.— No. 8. NOVEMBER, 1895. No. 144. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth November, 1895. The president. Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., occupied the chair, and some 60 members and visitors were present. REPORTS. Reports of the recent Club excursions to Melton and Berwick were received from the respective leaders, Mr. G. A. Kearlland and Mr. D. Best. The hon. secretary reported that the second practical meeting of the course in systematic botany was held on Monday evening, 4th November, under the direction of Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A. The attendance was good, and some useful work was done in dissecting plants, illustrating various orders. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. On a ballot being taken, Messrs. J. Harvie, A. Mattingley, and W. H. Terry were duly elected members of the Club. PAPERS. I. By Mr. O. A. Sayce, entitled " Formalin as a General Pre- servative for Animal and Vegetable Structures." The author drew attention to the advantages of this newly introduced preservative over alcohol — namely, its cheapness, port- ability, and better results in the preservation of natural history objects with their original colours, and especially for those required for microscopical examination. The chemistry of the subject was briefly explained, and some original methods for increasing its penetration were also given. A large number of plants and animals preserved in formalin and in alcohol for comparison were shown in illustration of the paper. Some discussion ensued, in which Professor Spencer and Messrs. J. Shephard and D. M'Alpine took part. Professor Spencer advocated a mixture of alcohol and formalin, as it had ])een found that formalin alone swelled up the tissues of some animals. Mr. D. M'Alpine remarked that he had found glycerine and kerosene very useful in preserving fruits. The author, in reply, stated that he was inclined to think that 86 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. the ie[)orted failures with formaHn arose from the fact that a too- diluted solution had been used, as it should be borne in mind that " formalin " is tlie commercial name for a saturated solution of formic aldehyde in water. 2. By Mr. H. T. Tisdall, F.L.S., entitled '• Symbiosis between Fungi and Certain Dicotyledons." After referring to the well-known symbiosis between alg^e and fungi in the constitution of lichens, the paper dealt with the recently discovered partnership between many flowering plants, including not a few large trees and the hyphse of fungi, which take the place of root hairs, and supply the tree with sap. The paper concluded by exhorting some of the members of the Club to follow up this line of research. In discussing the paper, Mr. D. M'Alpine stated that they should not lose sight of the fact that many fungi are parasitic, and cause the destruction of their hosts. NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. Mr. G. Lyell, jun., of Gisborne, contributed a note on the life- history of the rare butterfly Xenica Hobartia, with detailed obser- vations by Mr. E. Jarvis, of Macclesfield. EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Newly described beetles, Ceratognathus Gilesi, from Victoria, and Rhyiiphora Frenchi, Fornax coloratus, btigmodera alternata, and a moth, Spilosoma Frenchi, from North Queensland ; also life-history of Xenica Hohartia, from larvce, taken recently for the first time in Victoria by Mr. E. Jarvis, Dandenong Ranges. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Nest and eggs of Orange-winged Sittella, from Werribee. By Mr. W. H. F. Hill. — Fungus, Is'iria surmatodes, M'Alpine, from South Van Yean. By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — Skins and eggs of Western Black Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus stellatus ; Black-backed Superb Warbler, Malurus melanotus ; Red-lored Pardalote, Pardalotus rubricatus ; Crested Wedgebill, Sphenostoma cristatum ; Port Lincoln Parrot, Platycercus zonarius ; Keartland's Honey-eater, Ptilotis Keartlandi ; also eggs only of Yellow-collared Parrakeet, Platycercus semitorqicatus, Swift-flying Lorikeet, Lathainus dis- color, Yellow-bellied Parrakeet, Platycercus Jiaviventris, and Brown Red-throat, Pyrrholcemus brunneus. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw. — Top of Tree Fern stem covered with the orchid Ghiloglottis Gunnii in flower ; third year of flowering since taken ; grown by Mr. W. Kershaw, at Narracan, Gippsland. By Messrs. P. J. Ryan and W. H. F. Hill. — 31 specimens of rare butterfly, lalmenus myrsilus, with ova of same, from Gordons. By Mr. F. Spry. — Larva of butterfly, Epinephile abeona, Don. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 87 A RAMBLE AMONGST FERTILIZERS. By Mrs. Flora Martin. (Read le/ore the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, ^^th October, 1895.) Amongst the various means or ways of fertilizing the land we may commence with weeds, which play a prominent part wherever overstocking has been done. If it were not for many plants noxious to animals the soil would be all washed away by the rains or blown away by the winds. The dictionary meaning of the word is misleading — namely, a useless or troublesome plant ; a misplaced plant is more exact, as they can be turned to use when their various peculiarities, and even diseases, are studied — even those condemned by our laws, such as some of the thistles, brambles, Bathurst burr, and many plants of ill fame at present. Frequently the more noxious or offensive to stock the better the fertilizer when used in the proper manner and in the right time and place. The so-called Scotch thistles, having long tap-roots, feed deeply, and bring to the surface much that is required for herbaceous plants ; also, as it is an annual, when the plant dies, where the long tap-roots have been the autumn rains penetrate quicker and to a greater depth ; also, when thistles have been planted thickly and ploughed under, the spiny leaves do not collapse readily, so they aerate the soil as well as feed it with mineral matter nicely prepared for herbaceous plants, especially wheat. In ploughing under green plants for fertilizing, it is desirable to sow a plant causing fermentation in the land. After many experiments, straw, after having been used for animals' bedding, has always been found to give a quicker fermenting series. Thus sowing suitable fermenting plants before turning over the sod is the same as putting yeast in bread, and with care inducing a degree of warmth. This accounts for the great differ- ence of opinion in the time to plough, some liking the warmth of autumn, others waiting for the spring heat ; and it is important to turn under a warmth and a ferment with green herbage to have the greatest benefit in causing the so-called nitrification in the soil. Many of these invaluable plants (though microscopic) are very touchy in having alkalies, or even too much acid (they frequently produce acidity) applied, and in this lies the want of success of many mineral fertilizers sold to feed plant life — often, as the farmer says, giving the best return in the second season. They have been too strong for the ferments to flourish, and thereby aerate the land, instead of which they, the " fertilizers," have to lose part of their strength before being of service. It does not follow that these ferments belong to a particular family. Though rust on straw quickly causes fermentation, other plants have accompanying plant-life, often causing disease in them, which 88 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. also cause fermentation in suitable nutrients. This is one reason for rotation of crops, as by changing the host-plant the spore of the disease-plant cannot live the next season on the new host-plant. If a spore of the wheat rust plant is sown with the wheat seed, and obtains a suitable amount of moisture and heat for its wants, but not sufficient to start the wheat seed into growth, the rust spore vegetates, and not finding the wheat plant ready for it, dies, and it then actually feeds instead of injuring the young wheat plant ; so wheat seed from a field which has suffered from rust sometimes produces actually a crop free from disease. The slimy disease of potatoes also causes fermentation, but at this I have not worked much, but have seen sufiicient to see in it a great source of animal diseases. As these so-called lower orders of plant life play such an active part in preparing food for the higher plants, we can only call these rusts or slimy diseases weeds when they are misplaced plants. Many common plants belonging to the Compositse, such as the daisy, flat weed, &c., are liable to fungus disease, and offer a large field for work. If thick stems of roses (brambles), chopped short (not too woody, a mistake made by the writer of this paper, using rotting — not rotted — wood as a fertilizer), are placed in the ground down too deep for ordinary cultivation to reach them, they form a source of good to the plants growing over them for many years. There is no doubt much of our scrub could be used advan- tageously in the same manner, instead of, as happened around the house where this was written (Drouin), last autumn, when quantities of plants, full of good oils, flamed around in all the grandeur and beauty of a forest fire, even appreciated in spite of the dread feelings it engendered. Grass seed quickly sovm after these bush fires starts rapidly, as the fires bring up moisture from beneath, but also leaving it drier; they are often followed by light showers, seemingly attracted by the smoke ; but, though six months ago, the hills before the window are black, and only the strongly protected seeds, or the lightly blown seeds from unburnt places, and the mosses, which prefer carbon, are starting into growth with the warmth of spring (August), and the waste of burning is written on the page of Nature. Though these fires consume much that is valuable, the result — -wood ashes — are a most serviceable fertilizer on a farm. They can also be very profitably used, either there or on board of a ship where there are stock, in the feeding of pigs, horses, and fowls, but must be kept dry and clean for this purpose. Fire, of course, cleanses the land from objectionable animal and plant life as well as destroying useful life. Many of the diseases of our fruit trees and vines are plants which cause fermentation — yeasts belong to these ; and the well- THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 89 being of the trees is greatly benefited by keeping the trees clean and free from all their own decaying matter. This is best done directly all the leaves are off deciduous trees, or flowers and fruit are over in evergreens, dusting with dry ashes, lime, or sulphur — before syringing them with water, hot or cold — instead of using poisonous chemicals, while judiciously fertilizing them with the ferments necessary ; the fermented foods, usually vegetable matter, but containing mineral ingredients also, if possible, and suitably prepared, are most readily used in a liquid state, and given frequently, but not too much at a time. This, however, is far too expensive for ordinary crops for market; still there are times when it can be profitably made and used. In our dry land we have to replace, as far as we can, the work of the earthworm. In part of a paddock fertilized by the burrowings of the Giant Earthworm, ten tons of potatoes were dug. Where no earth- worms have been found, not three tons grew : so, ploughing in either spiny or herbaceous plants with tap roots, seems the nearest approach to aerating the land after the manner of the worms, and adding vegetable matter in a moist state, as well as a ferment plant, while alternating with the cultivation of peas and beans to improve the growing capabilities of the land. Thirty years ago the attempt to turn into a garden a small piece of ground where the original surface soil had been covered with yellow clay gave an insight into the folly of burying the rich soil under air-tight clay, as when the soil was brought up to the surface it was positively injurious to plant life. If the same quantity of clay had been worked into the soil it would have been beneficial. This shows the want of success in trenching soils too deeply without any means for the air to penetrate. If the air can penetrate, then trenching is most valuable, provided the summer rains do not run down too deep too quickly, as in some of the deep rich forest soils, after the forests are removed, when they soon deteriorate. From this perpetual motion is necessary for the fertility of a field or garden. This is to be seen in a forest constant replacing, by fallen leaves and other fermentable matter, the nourishment derived from the soil. The value of trees as fertilizing agents is often not fully appreciated, for immediately under the trees, except in forests or dense jungles, it is often very dry and barren — some think from too much tannin or other injurious droppings from the trees, but more probably from an insufficiency of moisture for plant life. In a field the benefit of a tree with the pendulous or easily moved leaves of our Eucalypts, or Aromadendrons, can be seen on a still, scorching day in gently agitating and thereby cooling the air, or on a still, chilly day in warming the air, with the slightest breath of wind, at the same time drawing up by its roots mineral matter from the subsoils and scattering it over the fields by its leaves ; so amongst fertilizers 90 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. trees must be classed, and like all good servants deserve their wages — a small portion of a field for themselves, and proper attention to their wants : not all the grass eaten bare around them, as in our parks near Melbourne ; the gum-trees near Dande- nong are fast going from this treatment. After many years' work at the diseases of our Aromadendrons we plead for their wants to be thought of, for they serve us well — indeed, we cannot guess at the dire results there will be if we continue to neglect their wants as we are doing — we may say cheating them out of what is due to them for their services as fertilizers alone. The remarkable manner some fern-trees (Alsophila) rapidly recover their luxuriant growth by young saplings of the eucalypts being allowed to grow near and shelter them, shows a fellowship between two remarkably different plants— we might almost say fertilizing each other. This good fellowship of one plant to another will be, most probably, more used every day, and can be classed as a fertilizing factor. This is put in practice by growing maize and pumpkins in alternate rows in some parts, and will be probably put into service in order to grow, say, root crops in our hot districts, by alternating peas or beans with roots ; and as these are removed before the roots are ready, the cultivator can be run through — another fertilizer — the soil keeping more moist through stirring. Water, as a fertilizer, means only a sufficiency of moisture is required, and my axiom, which applies to plant or animal life, comes in here — " Enough is health, more is disease," and, in using water there must be fermentable matter about, or water gives alone a poor return. Weeds do very well, as the Nile when it overflows is full of decaying matter, and has fertilized the land for thousands of years, man assisting as far as his means and knowledge went. The use of inorganic matter, such as lime — for even the slimiest or most gelatinous of fungi requires for its well-being lime. When lime is scattered in our- drains to kill germs, there are some germs, in little corners where the hot lime has not reached, which will feed on the slacked lime and thrive by-and-by. Charcoal used in filters is the home of some germs after it has been clogged with vegetable matter to suit tliem. Arsenic after a time feeds plant-life ; salt, of course, if not applied too strong ; and a midge of a plant I have kept alive for years on sulphide ores. When the sulphur has been appropriated by this midge the ores fall into fragments, and this midge, in its turn, will provide food for some other plant-life requiring sulphur daintily prepared. It would take too long to mention the various mineral matters that are used in cultivation, and the plants which require them or do not use them. Zinc is known to be where the violet grows a pale lavender. This can be seen near Sale. Some years, after very dry seasons there, a creek, when winter THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 91 rains come, overflows, and wherever its waters reach the violets are very large and pale. It has been the greatest pleasure of my life, feeding plants, toiling early and late at it, growing plants in all situations, and often, for years, being beaten — to succeed at last, when the right plant was found out for the place. This paper would not do without drainage, especially underground, being mentioned. It is the gardener's best friend — half the quantity of water or fertilizers are required. THE FAUNA OF CASTLEMAINE DISTRICT- BUTTERFLIES. By F. L. Billinghurst, President of the Castlemaine Field Ramblers' Club. Communicated by T. S. Hall, M.A. fRead before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 14.xia. £. Correspondence and Reports. Report of Excursion to Beaumaris, from the Rev. W. Fielder. 2. Election of Members. 3. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. General Business. Nominations (to be in writing) for Office-bearers for year 1395-96. Election of Two Auditors. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By the Misses May Wise and Muriel Bennett. — "List of the Orchids found near Sale." '" Pond Life " (illustrated by living and mounted specimens obtained from the lake in the Botanical Gardens). Introductory remarks by Mr. J . Shephard and the Rev. W. Fielder. 6. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested 10 furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their Exhibits, for record in Minutes and Naturalist. ^I< EXCUI^SIOTiS. ^ Saturday, iith May. — Botanical Gardens, under the leadership of the Rev. W. Fielder and Mr. J. Shephard. Meet at Office at 3 p.m. Object : Pond Life. Friday, 24TH May. — Altona Bay, under the leadership of Mr. J. Gabriel, F.L. S. Start from the Gem Pier, Williamstown, at 10 a.m. Object : Dredging. i f iekmi Jldiiwlist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE fijg fidh naturalists' Chib of Victoria. ptj:bi:iXsiie:i> jxtdne: 6, isss. Editor : F. G. R. BflRfifll^D, Esq. ( The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions ' he records. { coiENCE.^^ Melbourne : WALKKR, MAY & CO., Printers, 9 Mackii.i.op Streei 1895. Field Nafypalists' Club of Vietopia. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA ST., MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR MONTHLY MEETING IVIosmdELy, lOAIm ifvi.xa.&i X895, s»,± 8 i>.Ka.. 1. Correspondence and Reports. Report of Excursion to Altona Bay, from Mr. J. Gabriel, F.L.S. 2. Election of Members. 3. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. General Business. 1. Consideration of Annual Report and Balance Sheet, 1894-95. 2. Election of Office-bearers for 1895-96 The following gentlemen have been duly nominated as Office-bearers for he coming year : — President — Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A. Vice-Presidents — Messrs. C. French, F.L.S. , and J. Shephard. Hon. TREASLTRER-Mr. C. Frost, F.LS Hon. Librarian — Mr. O. A. Sayce. Hon. Secretary— Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth. Committee— Messrs. D. Best, J. Gabriel, F.L.S., T. S. Hall, M.A., G. R. Hill, Dr. W. Macgillivray, Messrs. R. S. Sugars, G. Sweet, and F. VVisewould. 3. Presidential Address by Mr. H. T. Tisdall, F.L.S. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By Mr. C. French, Jun. — " Observations on the flowering times and localities of Victorian Orchids." By Mr. R. J. Fletcher. — " Notes on a recent visit to some Basalt caves near Skipton.'" 6. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested to furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their Exhibits, for record in Minutes and Naturalist. ^ EXCURSIOrf. ^ Saturday, 22nd June. — Flemington Bridge, under the leadership of Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A. Start from Spencer Street Station at 2.27 p.m. Object : Geology. MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. The Monthly Meeting for Practical Work will be held on Monday evening, 24th June, when Mr. J. Shephard will give a demonstration on " The measurement of objects under the microscope." Members are requested to bring their microscopes and appliances connected with measurement. 1#^ Vol.. XH.— No. 3. Junk, 1895 THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OF — mn Tidb ^laturalists* Olhib of Htrtoria. Editor : p. G. R. BARNARD, Esq. |,J The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions Hi , he records. HAfiK 'iiiK FiEi.i) NAirKAiJSTs' Cluh of Victoria ... ... 25 OusKKV.VTioN.s o\ iiiE Flowkki.nc; Ti.mes and Hauitats of .'^OMK \'i(i(iKiAN Orchids. By C. Frkncii, Jun. ... 31 'I'HK Laik I). Sn.i.ivAN, F.L.S. ... ... ... ... 36 ^JF»RICE SIXF>ENCE.ii» DULAU & CO., 37 §oli^ Sq^maiir^t I,ondon. IHeHjourttE : WALKER, MAY & CO., Printkrs, 9 Mackili.oi- Strekt. 1895. Field Natypalists' Clob oF Victopi^. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA ST., MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR MONTHLY MEETING IVIoxiLCla,V9 8^1% •Tvalyj X895, s».-t 8 i>.vn. 1. Correspondence and Reports. Report of Excursion to Maribyrnong, from Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A. 2. Election of Members. 3. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. General Business. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A. — " Notes on the British Museuni," illus- trated by lime-light %'iews. By Mr. R. Hall-" The Birds of the Box Hill District," illustrated by lime-light views. 6. Reading of Natural History Notes, Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest to Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested 10 furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their Exhibits, for record In Minutes and Naturalist. «}» EXCURSION. I^ Saturday, 20TII July. — Entomological Department, under the direction of Mr. C. French, F.L.S., Government Entomologist. Meet at New Law Courts at 2.30 p.m. MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. The Monthly Meeting for Practical Work will be lield on Monday evening, 22nd July, when Mr. O, A. Sayce will give a demonstration on staining methods for microscopic preparations. Vol. XII.— No. 4. July, 1S95. t fiekriw JldHwlist: || THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OF — mn FiHb naturalists' Club of Btctarta. pu^il.ishe:i> a.ugxjst' s, isss. Editor : p. G. fl. Bfll^rifll^D, Esq. „i ; The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions ) j|| "i r he records. |ii| ; GOnSTTEHiTTS. JimJ ; The Field Naturalists' Clud of Victoria IJ ; Marine Dredging Excursion ■'"■ ' Notes on a Gippsland Trip. By Rev. E. Halford Hennell iliif ) List of Orchids Collected near Sale. By the Misses i';'J - May and Lilian Wise and Muriel Bennett in'l ', Note on an Edible Mushroom ... i'i ; The Late Dr. P. H. MacGillivray, F.L.S. FAGR / =,„= 37 39 ( l"'f 42 \ i:\ 45 V iuii 47 ) ,„i •S*P»¥*ICE SIX¥»EWCE.*{» ^(^enie fav prcsi&ent: PROFESSOR B.^LDWIN SPENCER, M.A. ^I»iCC=pl■esi^cnt6 : MR. C. FRENCH, F L.S. MR. J. SHEPH.\RD. ■fljon. XTi-casuiCr : MR. C. FROST, Mont Victor Road, East Kew. 13011. Ulbrarian : MR. O. A, SAVCE, Harcourt Street, Hawthorn toon. Sccrctaiv: MK. M. P. C ASHVVORTH, 0.xley Road, Glenferrie. Ifjon Esitov of tbz " IDictodan IWatuialist : " MR. F. G. A. IJARNARD, Bulleen Road, Kew. ilommittec: MR. D BEST, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. J. GABRIEL, DR. W. MACGILLIVRAV, and MR. F. WISEVVOULD. ^ O B^ ECXS. ^ This Ccijb was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording o'lservers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussmg those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the E.vhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations: in the Field by means of E.xcursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICES. Memliers are reminded that the Club's year endel 30th April last, and that subscriptions (15s.) for 1895-96 are now due. Suljscriptions should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. PVost, F. L. S. , East Kew. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains the proceedings of the Field Naturalists' Clnb of Victoria. MOST of the Numljers from the commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, Oxiey Road, Glenferrie, at Si.vpence each, or in sets (except Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. .Sec. will pay full price for clean copies of Vol. IV., Nos. 2, 3 ''^"tl 4- FELTON,CRIMWADE&GO., IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES, MICROSCOPICAL ACCESSORIES, GALVANIC BATTERIES, CHEMICAL AND SCIENTIEIC APPARATUS, &C., &C. BECK'S "STAR" MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE, with rack and pinion coarse adjust- ment, iris diaphragm, double mirror, fine adjustment by screw, i eye-piece, i in. and % in. objective, in case, £^ 12s. 6d. BECK'S "ECONOMIC" MICROSCOPES, from £7 6s. to £11 iis. BECK'S "POPULAR" MICROSCOPES, from £12. ss. to £27 5s BECK'S "NATIONAL" MICROSCOPES, from £17 5s. to £-i?, los. Particulars of yarioiis other Microscopes, by best Eiig-lish anri Forei;?n Makers, may be had on application. --soO> Presi^ent: PROFESSOR BALDWIN SPENCER, MA. ^Dicc=ple9i^cntS : MR. C. FRENCH, F.L.S. MR. J. SHEPHARD. Ijon. ■Cl-casui-cr : MR. C. FROST, Mom Victor Road, East Kew. Ibon. libravian : MR. O. A. SAVCE, Harcoun Street, Haivthorn. fJOn. Secretary: MR. H. P. C. ASHWORTH, Oxley Road, Glenfeirie. Uion lEsitor of tbc " Uictoiian matuialist : " MR. F. G. A. BARNARD, Bulleen Road, Kew. Committee: MR. D BEST, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. J. GABRIEL, DR. VV. MACGILLIVRAY, and MR. F. WISEWOULD. This Cliiu was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the E.\hibition of Specimens; and for promoiiu;; Observations in the Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICES. Members are reminded that the Club's year ended 30th April last, and that subscriptions (15s.) for 1895-96 are now due. Subscriptions should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F. L. S. , Fast Kew. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains the proceedings of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. MOST of the Numbers from the commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. .Sec, Mr. H. P. C. .Ashworth, Oxley Road, Glenferrie, at Sixpence each, or in sets (except Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. Sec. will pay full price for clean copies of Vol. IV., Nos. 2, 3 and 4. FELTON,CRIIVIWADE&CO., lllinUsak Dntg Slmbants, IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES. MICROSCOPICAL ACCESSORItS. GALVANIC BATTERIES, CHEMICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS, &C. &C. STIIFBl^lOR STPDBMTS5 MICROSCOPES. BECK'S "STAR" MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE, with rack and pinion coarse adjust- ment, iris diaphragm, double mirror, fine adjustment by screw, i eye-piece, i in. and % in. objective, in case, £/[ 12s. 6d, BECK'S "ECONOMIC" MICROSCOPES, from £y 6s. to ^n us. BECK'S "POPULAR" MICROSCOPES, from ;£r2 5s. to £27 5s. BECK'S "NATIONAL" MICROSCOPES, from £12 55. to £-i'& los, Particul.irs of various other Microscopes, by best English ami Foreisrn Makers, may be had on application. 342-6 LITTLE FLINDERS ST.. MELBOURNE. PAVIES, SHEFHikRO & CO., Manufacturers of Water Meters, Turret Clocks, &c., &c. Repairs and alterations undertaken. Men sent to any suburb to tike out Meters for repair. Microscopes and Scientific Instruments repaired. Wheels and Racks of all kinds cut to order. Circular Dividing. Stage Micrometers Eye-piece Micrometers, and Test Plated stage Micrometer, ICOths and l,OCOths of an incli, or lOths and lOOths of a millimetre • 5/- each Do. both systems on one slide ...... 7/6 „ Test Plate for Medium-power Objectives, 7 bands, varying from 500 to 2,000 per mm. (^-ISjVOO to 50,800 per inch I ......... is/- „ Test Plate for High-power Objectives, finest band, at the rate of over 100,000 per inch • To order. These rulinys are executed by Mr. J. Shepliard, on S- Corked and Papered in lengths. 14 inches— Under 2 Inches wide, Is. ; up to 3-inch, Is. 3d. ; up to 6-Inch, Is. 6d. TRAVELLING CASE, WITH ONE DOZ. ASSORTED SETTING BOARDS, 20s Samples to he sent iil Field Xntianliit Ciiitt's Librar'i. Write for fiifther farticulars. Field NatiiPalists' Olub oF Victoria. patrons : BARON SIR F. VON MUELLER, K.C.M.G., M. & Pii. D., LL.D., F.R.S. SIR FREDERICK M'COY, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. ■'i OFFICE-BEARERS, 1894-S. i"- IPvesiCent: MR. H. T. TISDALL, F.L.S. Wicespiestbcnts : MR. F. G. A. r.ARNARD. PROF. W. B. SPENCER, MA. Ibon. •ai-easui-CV : MR. C. FROST, Mont Victor Road, East Kew. ■fJOn. Uibl-arian: MR. E. ANDERSON, 17 Cunningham Road, Toorak. Ifton. Scci-etars : MR. H. P. C. ASHWORTH, Oxley Road, Glenferrie. •ffijon. Eoitor of tbe " Ifktoifan IRatuvalist : " MR. F. G. A. BARNARD, Bulleen Road, Kew. (lommittec: REV. W. fielder, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. G. R. HILL. MR. J. SHEPHARD and Mr. G. SWEET. ^ OB«f ECTS. Ifr This Club was founded ui iSSo for the purpose of aflfording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the E.^hibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations in the Field by means of E.xcursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICES. Member.s are reminded that the Club'.s year ended 30th April last, and that subscriptions (15s.) for 1895-96 are now dite, and must be paid on or before loth June, in order to entitle members to vote at the Annual Election of Office-bearers, which takes place on that day. Subscriptions .should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., East Kew. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains the proceedings of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. MOST of the Numbers from the commencement, January, 1884, can be obtahied from the lion. Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, Oxley Road, Glenferrie, at Si.vpence each, or in sets (except Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. Sec. will pay full price for clean copies of Vol. IV., Nos. 2, 3 and 4. FELTON,GRIMWADE&CO., IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES, MICROSCOPICAL ACCESSORIES, GALVANIC BATTERIES, CHEMICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS, &C., &C. S1JFER1©R STUDEMTS" Ml€R@SC'©FBi. BECK'S "STAR" MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE, with rack and pinion coarse adjust- ment, iris diaphragm, double mirror, fine adjustment by screw, i eye-piece, i in. and '% in. objective, in case, £\ 12s. 6d. BECK'S "ECONOMIC" MICROSCOPES, from £7 6s. to £ii us. BECK'S "POPULAR " MICROSCOPES, from £12 5s. to £27 ss, BECK'S "NATIONAL" MICROSCOPES, from £12 5s. to £-iZ los. Particulars of various otlier Microscopes, by best Englisli and Foreign Maliers, may be had on application. 342—6 LITTLE FLINDERS ST.. MELBOURNE. I^A.^1ES, SHEFSfi^KB «e €0., Manufacturers of Water Meters, Turret Clocks, &c., &c. Repairs and alterations undertaken. Men sent to any suburb to take out Meters for repair. Microscopes and Scientific Instiuments repaired. Wheels and Racks of all kinds cut to order. Circular Dividing. Stage Micrometers Eye-piece Micrometers, and Test Plates. stage Micrometer, lOOtlis and l,OCOths of an inch, or lOths and lOOths of a millimetre • S/- each Do. both systems on one slide ...... 7/6 „ Test Plate for Mediiim-power Objectives, 7 bands, varying from 500 to 2,000 per mm. (=12,700 to 60,800 per inch) ......... 16/- „ Test Plate for High-power Objectives, finest band, at the rate of over 100,000 per inch - To order. Tliese rulings are executed by Mr. J. Shephard, on a machine specially designed and constructed by D , S. & Co. Comparison with micrometers issued by leading opticians of England and America shows the imported article to be less accurate. 135 CITY ROAD. SOUTH MELBOURNE. tfl«^phone 848. E- CMERRY A. SOMS, -^Ic G I S B O FS^ N^ S . n^ lEntonioIooical S, microscopical Cabinet flDal^ers. Jlatufal JlistoJ»y Requisites of every deseniption. srrORE: :box:e:s— Corked and Papered both sides— 10 X 8, 4s. 6d. I 12 X 10, 5s. ] 15 x 12, 5s. 6d. SE^rrmx^TG :BOA.X%r>S- Corked and Papered in lengths. 14 inches— Under 2 inches wide, Is. ; up to 3-inch, Is. 3d. ; up to 6-inch, Is. 6d. TRAVELLING CASE, WITH ONE DOZ. ASSORTED SETTING BOARDS, 20s Samplea to he seen at Field Naturalist Club's lAbrary. Write for furtlier particulcD-s. ^-kld Naturalists' Olub oF Victoha. pations : BARON SIR F. VON MUELLER, K.C.M.G., M. & Pii. D., LL.D., F.R.S. SIR FREDERICK M'COY, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. '^ OFFICE-BEARERS, 1894-5. -S" lPresl^cnt: MR. H. T. TISDALL, F.L.S. Uice=pie8i6ent8 : MR. F. G. A. BARNARD. PROF. W. B. SPENCER, M.A. fbon. Zvcnswev : MR. C. FROST, Mont Victor Road, East Kew. ■fton. Xibl-arian: MR. E. ANDERSON, 17 Cunningham Road, Toorak. IbOH. Secretary: MR. H. P. C. ASHVVORTH, O.xley Road, Glenferrie. Iboti 3EBitor of tbe " IDictoiian IKlatmalist : " MR. F. G. A. BARNARD, Bulleen Road. Kew. Committee: REV. W. FIELDER, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. G. R. HILL- MR. J. SHEPHARD and Mr. G. SWEET. ^ O B*l ECXS. ^ This Ch;b was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussuig those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the Exhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observationr. in the Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICES. Members are reminded that the Club's year ended 30th April last, and that subscriptions (15s.) for 1895-96 are now due, and must be paid on or before 9th June, in order to entitle members to vote at the Annual Election of Office- Bearers, which takes place on that day. Subscriptions should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer Mr. C. Frost, F. L.S. , East Kew. Any person desirous of resigning his membership is requested to notify the Secretary to that effect and return this Naturalist. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains the proceedings of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. MOST of the Numbers from the commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, Oxley Road, Gienferrie, at Si.xpence each, or in sets (except Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. Sec. will pay full price for clean copies of Vol. IV., Nos. 2, 3 and 4. FELTON,CRIMWADE&CO., IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES, MICROSCnPICAL ACCESSORIES, GALVANIC BATTERIES. CHEMICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS, &C. &C. 5IIJFERIOR STIJBBMTS' MICROSCQ'FES. BECK'S "STAR" MONOCULAR MlCRpSCOPE, with rack and pinion coarse adjust- ment, iris diaphragm, double mirror, fine adjustment by screw^ i eye-piece, i in. and J^^ in. objective, in case, £4 12s. 6d, BECK'S "ECONOMIC" MICROSCOPES, from £y 6s. to ;£n us. BECK'S "POPULAR" MICROSCOPES, from £12 5s. to ^27 5s. BECK'S "NATIONAL" MICROSCOPES, from £17. 5s. to £^5 los. Particulars of various other Microscopes, by best English and Foreign Makers, may be had on application. 342-6 LITTLE FLINDERS ST., MELBOURNE. Manufacturers of Water Meters, Turret Clocks, &c., &c. Repairs and alterations undertaken. Men sent to any suburb to take out Meters for repair. Microscopes and Scientific Instruments repaired. Wheels and Racks of all kinds cut to order. Circular Dividing. Stage Micrometers Eye-piece Micrometers, and Test Plates. stage Micrometer, lOOtlis and l,OCOtlis of an incli, or lOths and lOOths of a millimetre ■ 6/- each Do. both systems on one slide ...... 7/6 „ Test Plate for Medium-power Objectives, 7 bands, varying from 500 to 2.000 per mm. (=12,700 to 50,800 per inch) ......... 15/. ,, Test Plate for High-power Objectives, finest band, at the rate of over 100,000 per inch - To order. These rulings are executed by Mr. J, Shephard, on a machine specially designed ,-ind constructed by D , S. & Co. Comparison with micromelers issued by leading opticians of England and America shows the imported article to be less accurate. 135 CITY ROAD. SOUTH MELBOURNE. TruEPHONE 848 E- CMERRY al^er6» fiatufal History f^equlsltes of evet«y desepiption, S^FORE: :^OX:e:s— Corked and Papered both sides— 10 X 8, 4s. 6d. I 12 X 10, 5s. | 15 x 12, 5s. 6d. SE:rrTIIiIGr :BO>HLI«r>S-Corked and Papered in lengths, 14 inches— Under 2 Inches wide, Is. ; up to 3-Inch, Is. 3d. ; up to 6-Inch, Is. 6d. TRAVELLING CASE, WITH ONE DOZ. ASSORTED SETTING BOARDS, 20s Samples In be seen ill Field Natuialkl Club's Lihninj. Write for /wilier particulars. Vol. XII.— No. 5. fietsriw JtdiiMlisl: mI THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE me IFiHb liaturaUats' Club of Itictorta. pu^il.ishe:i> SE^prrEiwiiSEze 5, isss. Editop : F. G. fl. BflRfifiRD, Esq. The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions ; he records. ; The Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria The Dispersal of Mistletoe, By H. P. C. Ashworth .. Notes on a Recent Visit to Some Basalt Caves neai Skipton. By Richard J. Fletcher Additional Localities for Victorian Orchids ... A Catalogue of Victorian Heterocera, Part XVI. Bv Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S. PAGE ' =^^ = 49 ; |;:| 51 ; H 53 ; tl 54 : ;:; 57 ( i"l •}*y»f?ICE SIX F>E N C E . *«♦ ^gettta for (Bxxvope', > Ittclbournc : WALKER, MAY & CO., Printers, 9 Mackillop Streei'. 1895. . - ^.^^ . ^^m ^ Field Natopalists' Club oF Victopia. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA ST., MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR MONTHLY MEETING IVIon^da-v, 9<;li Sei>ten:«.l3ex', 1S9S, sl± 8 i>.n:i* [. Correspondence and Reports. Report of Excursion to Cheltenham from Messrs. O. A. Sayce and C French, jun. 2. Election of Members. 3. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by haiiJing the full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. General Business. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By Mr. D. Le Souef — '' Mallacoota Inlet'' illustrated by limelight views. 6. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrenci;, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested 10 furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their E,xhibits, for record in Minutes and Naturalist. ^ EXCURSIONS. W Satukuay, 14TH September. — Sandringham, under the leadership of Mr. C. French, K.L..S. Meet at Flinders Street station at i p.m. Object : — " Botany." Saturday, 28Tir Sei'Te.muer. — Ringwood, under the leadership of Mr. 1''. G. A. Barnard. Meet al Prince'.s Bridge station at 1.35 p.m. Object : — " Botany." MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. The Committee have much pleasure in announcing a course of demon- strations on Systematic Botany, under the direction of Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A. The first meeting will beheld on Monday evening, 23rd September, when tlic characters of the principal orders of the Victorian Flora will be considered. Members should provide themselves with a simple magnifying lens, sharp knife, glass slips, &c., and are invited to bring specimens of the following plants : — Buttercup, Ilibbertia, Tetratheca, Violet, Sundew, some Composite, Acacia, Peatlower, Fpacriii, Lily, Orchid and Crass. SEl'TKMliKK, 1895. X? \\t f tekrkit Jtdiiwlist: :' THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — ( ) K — ®hi? ^uib tlatmalists' ilhxb oi iUctoria. pu^i^ishe:i> ocnro^BE^Fc 10, isss. Editor. F. G. fl. BflRNARD, Esq. The Author of tach article is responsible for the facts and opinions he records. PAGK The ViELU Nai ukalist.s' Club ok Victoria ... ... 61 EXCURSION TO Cheltenham ... ... ... ... 62 Entomogenous Fungi. By D. M'Alpine... ... ... 63 On a Method for Mounting Smali, Insects for the Cabinet ... ... ... ... ... ... 64 Descriptions of New Australian Plants, with Occas- ional other Annotations. By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G., M. & PhD., LL.D., F.R.S. 66 A New Method of Extraction of P'riable Fossils ... 67 Articles of Interest to Victorian Naturalists in Recent Publications Received ... ... ... 67 A Catalogue of Victoria.v Heterocera, Part XVII. Bv Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S. .. ... ... 69 •>JT^f?ICE SIXl»ETiCE.*«» DULAU & CO., 37 Soha Sq|[m€ir@, i«oa<&€>a iHelbournc : \ WALKKK, MAY & CO., Printers, 9 Mackillop Stkeki. 1895. Fi^ld Natypalists Club oF Victopia. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VIOTORIA ST., MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR MONTHLY MEETING. WIon.€lst.y, 144:li Oo«ol>ex>, X895, a«,« 8 p.nr*. r . Correspondence and Reports. Report of Excursion to Sandringham from Mr. C French, F.L.S. Report of Excursion to Ringwood from Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. 2. Election of Members. 3. Nominations for Membership. Proposer Seconder Mr. S. W. Jackson ... Professor .Spencer ... Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth Mr. G. Mowling ... Mr. D. Best .. Mr. C. French. P'.L.S. Mr. Dudley Le Souef ... Professor .Spencer ... Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth Mr. Webb ... ... Mr. A. Coles ... Mr. J. Haase. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. (ieneral Business. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By Mrs. Martin — " Notes on Fertilizers." By Mr. F. L. Billinghurst— " The Butterflies of Castlemaine." Communicated by Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A. 6. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or sec anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested 10 furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their Exhibits, for record in Minutes and Naturalist. ^ EXCURSIONS. ^ Saturday, izth October. — Clayton, tmder the leadership of ^Ir. T. S. Hart, M.A. Meet at Prince's Bridge station at 1.30 p m. Objects: — " Botany and Entomology." Saturday, 26th October. — Melton, under the leadership of Mr. G. A. Keartland. Meet at Spencer Street station at 7.0 a.m. Object : — " Orni- thology. Tuesday, 5J'ii November. — Berwick, under the leadership Mr. D. Best. Meet at Prince's Bridge station at 7.50 a.m. Objects :— " Botany and Ento- mology. " Saturday, qtm November. — Korkuperrimul Creek, z//« Bacchus Marsh, under the leadership of Mr. C. C. Brittlebank. Meet at Spencer Street station at 7.0 a.m.— Object : " Geology." EXHIBITION OF WILDFLOWERS. Special exhibits of wild flowers are solicited for tlie meeting on 14th inst. The exhibits will be under the charge of Messrs. E. G. A. Barnard, C. French P'.L.S., C. Frost and D. Best. The re(iuirements of intending exhibitors should be sent to the Hon. Secretary as early as possible. MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. The second meeting of the course of .Systematic Botany will be held on Monday evening, 28th October, under the direction of Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A. Members are requested to bring plants illustrating as many orders as possible, and to provide themselves with hand or watchmaker's magnifying glass, sharp knife, &c. XII.— No. 7. October, 1895 \t f ielsrkit Jt^tiwtist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OK — mn fidh jaatitralists' Club of tirtoria. pu^iliISHE:x> i«oi2'e:ivkibe:xs 7, isss. Editott : p. G. R. fifil^r^flRD, Esq. The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions he records. GOlsTTZEnSTTS. The Field Naturalists' Club ok Victoria Trip to Mallacoota Inlet. By D. Le .Souef The Late J. Bracedridge Wilson, M.A., F.L.S. ... Flowering Times of Orchids. By C. M. Maplestone 73 76 8r 82 •Jf^Pl^ICE SIXT»ENCE.^ £ll7£rAU & CO., 37 Solid Sq[maix:@, X^oncLoa. iHclbournc : WALKER, MAY & CO., Priniers, 9 Mackillop Street. 1895. Fi^Id NafiiPalisfs' Olub of Vicfopis. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA ST., MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR MONTHLY MEETING. lVIon.cta,y, X14:li No-u-en-i.1»ex«, X89S, aft S p.xYa. 1. Correspondence and Reports. Report of Excursion to' Melton, from Mr. G. A. Keartland. Report of Excursion to Berwick, from Mr. D. Best. Report of Excursion to Korkiiperrimul Creek, from Mr. C. C. Brittlebank. 2. Election of Members. Proposer Seconder Mr. J. Harvie ... Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth ... Mr. C. Frost Mr. A. Mattingley ... Mr. D. Le Souef .. Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth Mr. W. H. Terry ... Mr. J. Haase ... Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth 3. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing I he full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. General Business. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By Mr. O. A. Sayce— " Formalin as a Preservative for Museum Specimens." By Mr. H.T. Tisdali, FL.S.—" Symbiosis between Fungi and certain Dicotyledons." 6. Reading of Natural History Notes. Memljers who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested to furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their Exhibits, for record in Minutes and Naturalist. «^J EXCUFJSIONS. ^ Saturday, 9TH Novkmber. — Korkuperrimul Creek, via Bacchus Marsh, under the leadership of Mr. C. C. Brittlebank. Meet at Spencer Street station at 7.0 a.m. — Object : " Geology." Saturday, i6Tn November.— Springvale, under the leadership of Mr. C. French, F.L.S. Meet at Prince's Bridge Station at 1,30 p.m. Object : Entomology. Saturday, 23RD November.- — Botanical Gardens. Meet at the Museum at 2.30 p.m. (The Director has kindly consented to show members the new sheds, illustrating the orders of plants. ) Saturday, 30TH November. — Warrandyte, under the leadership of Mr. C. French, F.L.S. Meet at Prince's Bridge Station at 7.0 a.m. Object : General Collecting. Saturday, ,7TII December. — Plenty River (via Regent Street Station). Under the leadership of Mr. D. Best. Meet at Spencer Street Station at 12.32 p.m. Object : Entomology. MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. The next meeting of the course on Systematic Botany will be held on Monday evening, 2nd December, under the direction of Mr. C. A. Topp, M. A. The generic distinctions of the principal orders will be considered, and members are invited to bring specimens illustrating the Legumin£e, Composit?c, Liliacefe, and Orchidaceae, and to provide themselves with hand or watchmaker's magnifying glass, sharn knife, &c. Vol. XII.— No. 8. November, 1895. m ." \t f ietsriw JtdiiMlist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE n^ Tuih iaaturalists* ®Uib of Victoria. PUJBX^xsiaEZD i>E:cE:i»^E:Et 5, ises. Editop : F. G. A. BAl^fiAl^D, Esq. The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions ) [|| he records. ' i"? PAGE V The Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria ... ... 85 [ A Ramble amongst Fertilizers. By Mrs. P'lora Martin 87 . The Fauna of Castlemaine District. By F. L. Billing- v HURST Life History of Xenica Hobartia 91 ; / 94 ) ^ I «)»v>rioe: six¥»e n c e . *{♦ Agents fov ifixxvope : ; ■ ( 1^^ WALKER, MAY & CO., Printers, 9 Mackillop Street, 1895. Field Natopaliste' Club of Victopia. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA ST., MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR MONTHLY MEETING. WS.<»-nLAst,-y, 9«li X>eoexn'K>ex>, 1895, st.'t 8 p*Kn.« 1. Correspondence and Reports. Report of Excursions to Springvale and Warrandyte, from Mr. C. French, F.L.S. Report of Excursion to Plenty River, from Mr. D Best. 2. Election of Members. 3. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. General Business. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By Mr. C. M, Maplestone, ''Calendars, and the Indexing of Natural History Observations." 6. Reading of Natural History Notes. The discussion on the advisability of removing Magpies from the protected list will be reopened by Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S. All interested are invited to contribute to the discussion. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested to furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their Exhibits, for record in Minutes and Naturalist. ^ KXCURSIOTMS. » Saturday, 7TH December, 1895. — Plenty River (via Regent Street Station). Under the leadership of Mr. D. Best. Meet at Spencer Street Station at 12.38 p.m. Object : Entomology. Saturday, iith January, 1896. — Heidelberg. Under the leadership of Mr, J. Shephard. Meet at Collingwood station at 2.15 p.m. Object: Pond Life. TAe excursion to Fern Tree Gully, fixed for Saturday, 14th December, has been abandoned oiving to the dry season. MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. There will be no meeting for practical work this month, on account of the Christmas holidays. As the course in Systematic Botany is now completed, suggestions are invited for other lines of study. Field Nafu Pali si's' Club of VicfoHa patrona : BARON SIR F. VON MUELLER, K.C.M.G,, M. & Ph. D., LL.U., F.R.S. SIR FREDERICK M'COY, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. ->* OFFICE-BEARERS, 189S-6. ■5'- prcsiSent: PROFESSOR BALDWIN SPENCER, M.A. Wice=pie6it>cnt6 : MR. C. FRENCH, F.L.S. MR. J. SHEPHARD. fjon. treasurer: MR. C. FROST. Mont Victor Road, East Kew. "fcon. Xtbrarian: MR. O. A. SAVCE, Harcourt Street, Hawthorn. Don. Secretary: MR. H. P. C. ASHWORTH, O.vley Road, Glenferrie. fjon lE&itor of tbe " Wictodan IRatuialist : " MR. F. G. A. BARNARD, Bulleen Road, Kew. Committee: MR. D best, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. J. GABRIEL DR. VV. MACGILLIVRAY, and MR. F. WISEVVOULD. ^ OBJECTS. *«♦ This Club was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natura History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they ' are mutually interested ; for the Exhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observatioa'5 in the Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropoli.s. SPECIAL NOTICES. Members are reminded that the Club's year ended 30th April last, and that subscriptions (-15s.) for 1895-96 are now due. Subscriptions should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F. L.S., East Kew. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains tbe proceedings of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. MOST of the Numbers from the commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, Oxiey Road, Glenferrie, at Sixpence each, or in sets (except Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. Sec. will pay full price for clean copies of Vol. IV. Nos. 2, 3 and 4. FELTON,CRIWIWADE&CO., Mbnl^sak Irttg gl^rrbants, IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES, MICROSCOPICAL ACCESSORIES. GALVANIC BATTERIES. CHEMICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS. &0.. &C. SUPERIOR STUBBMTS* MI©R©S€©FES. BECK'S "STAR" MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE, with rack and pinion coarse adjust- ment, iris diaphragm, double mirror, fine adjustment by screw, i eye-piece, i in. and ]^ in. objective, in case, £^ 12s. 6d. BECK'S "ECONOMIC" MICROSCOPES, from £^ 6s. to £ix us. BECK'S "POPULAR" MICROSCOPES, from £12 5s. to ^627 5s. BECK'S "NATIONAL" MICROSCOPES, from £ia 5s. to £iZ los. Particulars of various otlier Microscopes, by best English and Foreign Makers, may be had on application. 342—6 LITTLE FLINDERS ST., MELBOURNE. Manufacturers of Water Meters, Turret Clocks, &c., &c. Repairs and alterations undertaken. Men sent to any suburb to take out Meters for repair. Microscopes and Scientific Instruments repaired. Wheels and Racks of all kinds cut to order. Circular Dividing. rro ]VIICX£OSCOPIsrrs.— ]VIi.cx>oxY&e«ex> f&ulixi^s. Stage Micrometers. Eye-piece Micrometers, and Test Plates. stage Micrometer, lOOths and l,OCOtlis of an inch, or lOths and lOOths of a millimetre ■ 6/- each Do. both systems on one slide ...... 7/6 „ ■ Tgst Plate for Medium-power Objectives. 7 bands, varying from 500 to 2,000 per mm. (=12,700 ■ to 60,800 per inch) ......... 15/- „ Test Plate for High-power Objectives, finest band, at the rate of over 100,000 per incb ■ To order. Tliese rulini,'S nrL- executed bj' Mr. J. Shephard, on a machine specially designed and constructed by D., S. & Co. Comparison with micrometers issued by leading; o])ticinns of lini,^land and America shows tlie imported article to be less accurate. 135 CITY ROAD. SOUTH MELBOURNE. telephone 848. Supplied by E. CHERRY & SONS, Gisborne, Victoria. Cane ring Nets, - 3, 6 and 4 6 Zinc Pocket Killing- (Laurel) Boxes, 1/6 and z/- Forceps, z, '6 Cane or wire folding Nets, 6/- Entomological Pins (best^ 1,6 per oz. box. Brass Y's, i 6 Zinc larvae Boxes - z- Cyanide Bottles, z'- CORK SETTING BOARDS, length, 14 inches— all grooves Ji deep-papered. I and ij'2 wide, i/- each. 2 and 2}4 inch, 1/3. 3 inch, 1/6. 4 inch, 1/9. 6 inch, 2/6. (Any of above sent by post any part Australasia at trifiing cost). TRAVELLING SETTING CASE, (15 x 13 x 4 over all) with 12 assorted boards, 20- CORK LINOLEUM (specially imported, soft,_ 3/3 thick), 10 x 8, 6d. 12 x 10, gd. 15 x 12, I'l- 16 X 20, 2/- 20 X 24, 3/- Any size to suit. STORE BOXES, 14 x 10 x 4, cork' il and papered both sides, hinged and fastened with hook and eye, 7/- each. CABINETS (10 to 40 drawers) for Insects, Eggs or Micro. Slides, in Cedar, Walnut, or Mahogany, from latest English patterns. For samples of our work visit Melbourne University and Government Entomologist. Field Nafupaliste'- tllii&> o^ f fctoarf l-r pations : BARO>J SIR F. VON MUELLER, K.C.M.G., JJ. & Pn. D.., LL.U.^ F.Jtl.S^ SIR FREDERICK M'COY, K.C.INI.G., M.A., DiSc. F.R.S. "" ' * ■^ OFFICE-BEARERS, 189S-6. ^j- Ipl■C3i^ent: PROFESSOR BALDWIN SPENCER, MA. l1icc=pl•Csl^cntS : MR. C. FRENCH, F.L.S. MR. J. SHEPHARD. Ibon. XTiC.lsmCf : MR. C. FROST. Mont Victor Road, East Kew. 1I30I1. lilH'avian : MR. O. A. S.AVCE, Harcourt Street, Hawthorn Hjon. Seci-CtaiV! : MR. H. P. C. ASHWORTH, Oxley Road, Glenferrie. Iljon Esitor of tbc " Wictoiian IRatuialiet : " •MR. F. G. A. BARNARD. Biilleen Road, Kew. Committee: MR. D BE.ST, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. J. GABRIEL, DR. W. MACGILLIVRAY, and MR. F. WISEWOULD. 4J OBJ ECXS. *6» Thi.s Club was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the E.xhibition of Specimens ; and for promotin;; Observations in the Field by means of E.xcursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICES. Members are reminded that the Chib's year ended 30th April last, and that subscriptions (15s.) for 1895-96 are now due. Suljscriptions should lie forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F. L. .S., East Kew. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains the proceedings of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. MOST of the Numbers from the commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, O.xley Road, Glenferrie, at Si.\pence each, or in sets (except Vols; I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. Sec. will pay full price for clean copies "of Vol. IV., Nos. 2, 3 and 4. FELTON,CRIMWADE&CO., MbnUsak Brttg Skrcbants, IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES. MICROSCOPICAL ACCESSORItS. GALVANIC BATTERIES. CHEMICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS. &C., &C. SHJFERIOH STUBBMTS'^ M1C.R@SC©FES. BECK'S "STAR" MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE, with rack and pinion coarse adjust- ment, itis diaphragm, double mirror, fine adjustment by screw, i eye-piece, i in. and % in. objective, in case, £^ 12s. 6d. BECK'S "ECONOMIC" MICROSCOPES, from £^ 6s. to ^n iis. BECK'S "POPULAR " MICROSCOPES, from ;£i2 5s. to £27 5s. BECK'S "NATIONAL" MICROSCOPES, from ;£i2 5s. to ^£38 los. Particulars of various otlier Microscopes, by best Englisli and Foreign llaliers, may be had on application. — oc^>^>.Ooe^ 342—6 LITTLE FLINDERS ST.. MELBOURNE. 13lik'\riES, SHEFHARO & CO., Manufacturers of Water Meters, Turret Clocks, &c., &c. Repairs and alterations undertaken. Men sent to any suburb to take out Meters for repair. Microscopes and Scientific Instiuments repaired. Wheels and Racks of all kinds cut to order. Circular Dividing. Stage MiCROMtiERs. Eye-piece Micrometers, and Test Plates. stage Micrometer, ICOths and l.OCOths of an inch, or lOths and lOOths of a millimetre - 5/" each Do. both systems on one slide ...... 7/6 „ Test Plate for Kedium-power Objectives, 7 bauds, varying from 500 to 2.000 per mm. ( = 12,700 to 60,800 per inch) ......... 15/- „ Test Plate for High-power Objectives, finest band, at the rate of over 100,0C0 per inch • To order. These ruliii.£is are executed by Mr, J. Shephard, oil a machine .specially designed and constructed by D , S. & Co. Coniijarison with niicronieiers issued by leading opticians of England and America shows the imported article to be less accurate. 135 CITY ROAD. SOUTH MELBOURNE. telephone 848. Supplied by E. CHERRY & SONS, Gisborne, Victoria. Cane ring- Nets, - 3 6 and 4 6 Zinc Pocket Killing- (Laurel) Boxes, 1/6 and 2/- Forceps, 2,6 Cane or wire folding- Nets, 6/- Entomological Pins (best), 16 per 02. box. Brass Y's, i 6 Zinc larvae Boxes - z,'- Cyanide Bottles, 2- CORK SE'JTING BOARDS, length, 14 inches— all grooves ->^ deep-papered. I and 1% wide, i;- each. 2 and 2^ inch, 1/3. 3 inch, 1/6. 4 inch, 1,9. 6 inch, 2/6. (Any 0/ above sent l>y post any part Australasia at tri/ting cost). TRAVELLING SETTING CASE, (ts x 13 x 4 over all) with 12 assorted boards, 20 - CORK LINOLEUM (specially imported, soft, % thick), 10 x 8, 6d. 12 x 10, gd. 15 x 12, i/i. 16 X 20, 2, - 2o X 24, 3 - Any size to suit. STORE BOXES, 14 x 10 x 4, corkfd and papered both sides, hinged and fastened with hook and eye, 7 - each. CABINETS (10 to 40 drawers) for Insects, Egcs or Mtcro. Slides, in Cedar, Walnut, or Mahogany, from latest English patteins. For samples of our work visit Melbourne University and Government Entomologist. Field Natu pa lists' Olub of VictoHs, Ipations : HARON SIR F. VON MUELLER, K.C.M.G., M. & Pn. D., LL.D., K.R.S. STR FREDERICK M'COY, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. ■J OFFICE-BEARERS, 1895-6. •^' Pve3l^ent: PROFESSOR BALDWIN SPENCER, M.A. UiCC=lpl■CSi^cnts : MR. C. FRENCH, F.L.S. MR. J. SHEPHARD. Ibon. vlicaeurci- : MR. C. FROST. Mont Victor Road, East Kew. IbOll. libl-avian : MR. O. .A. S.AVCE, Harcourt Street, H.Tathorn. 1!30n. ScCVCtaiv;: MR. H. P. C. ASHWORTH, Oxiey Road, Glenferrie. Ifjoii £6itoi- of tbe "IDictoifan IHatuialist : " MR. F. G. A. BARNARD, Bulleen Road, Kew. ^lommittce: MR. D BEST, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. J. GABRIEL, DR. \V. MACGILLIVR.AY, and MR. F. WISEWOULD. 4* O B J ECXS. *«♦ Tms Cll:u was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the E.'chibition of Specimens ; and for promoun(» Observation-; in the Field by means of E.vcursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICES. Members are reminded that the Club's year ended 30th .\.pril la.^t, and that subscriptions (15s.) for 1895-96 are now due. Subscriptions should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., East Kew. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains the proceedings of the Field Naturalists* Club of Victoria. MOST of the Numbers from llie commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, O.xley Road, Glenferrie, at Sixpence each, or in sets (except Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. .Sec. will pay full price for clean copies of Vol. IV., Nos. 2, 3 and 4. FELTON,CRIMWAOE&CO., lllicksak Irug llmliants. IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES. MICRCSCflPICAL ACCESSORIES. GALVANIC BATTERIES, CHEMICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS, &C.. &C. SUPERIOR STUBEMTS* MI(5R©S€©FES. BECKS "STAR" MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE, with rack and pinion coarse acljuM- ment, iris diaphragm, double mirror, fine adjustment liy screw, i eye-piece, i in. and ^ in. objective, in case, £^ 12s. 6d. BECKS "ECONOMIC" MICROSCOPES, from £7 6s. to ;^ii us. BECKS "POPULAR" MICROSCOPES, from ^.2 5s. to £27 5s BECK'S "NATIONAL" MICROSCOPES, from £17 5s. to £-i?, 10s. Particulars of Aarioii.s other Microscopes, Ity best Enjrlisli and Foreifrii Makers, may be had on aiiplication. —00^ 342—6 LITTLE FLINDERS ST.. MELBOURNE. Manufacturers of Water Meters, Turret Clocks, &c., &c. Repairs and alterations undertaken. Men sent to any suburb to take out Meters for repair. Microscopes and Scientific Instruments repaired. Wheels and Racks of all kinds cut to order. Circular Dividing. nrO IVIICfSOSCOf'IS'X'S.— IVEicx>ome4iex> ISulmxi^s. Stage Micrometers Eye-piece Micrometers, and Test Plates. stage Micrometer, lOOtlis and l.OCOths of an inch, or lOths and lOOths of a millimetre - 5/- each Do. both systems on one slide ...... 7/6 ,. Test Plate for Medium-power Objectives, 7 bands, varying from 500 to 2,000 per mm. (=12,700 to 50,800 per inch) ......... 15/- „ Test Plate for High-power Objectives, finest band, at the rate of over 100,000 per inch - To order. 1 lic>c rulings arc executed by Mr. J. Shepli.ird. on .'i machine speci.illy designed and constructed by D . S. & Co. Comparison with micromeiers issued by leadinc; fppticians i^l llni,'l;ind and America sliows the imported article to be less accurate. 135 CITY ROAD. SOUTH MELBOURNE. telephone 848. NAirtJRAi< HISTORY AFFARAT^S, Supplied by E. CHERRY it SONS, Gisborne, Victoria. Cane ring Nets, - 3 6 and 4 6 Zinc Pocket Killings (Laurel) Boxes, 1/6 and 2/- Forceps, z 6 Cane or wire folding: Nets, 6 - Entomological Pins (best), 16 per oz. box. Brass Y's, i 6 Zinc larvae Boxes • z- Cyanide Bottles, 2- COKK SETTING BOARDS, length, 14 inches— all grooves ^3 deep-papered. I and 1J2 wide, 1/- each. 2 and 2% inch, 1/3. 3 inch, 1,6. 4 inch, 1,9. 6 inch, 2/6. (Any 0/ above sent by post any part Australasia at trijling cost). TRAVELLING SETTING CASE, (15 x 13 x 4 over all) with 12 assorted boards, 20- CORK LINOLEUM (specially imported, soft, % thick), 10 x 8, 6d. 12 x lo, gd. 15 x 12, i i. 16 .\ 20, 2 - 20 X 24, 3 - Any size to suit. STORE BOXES. 14 x 10 x 4, corked and papered both sides, hinged and fastened with hook and eye, 7 - each. CABINETS (10 to 40 drawers) for In.sect.s, Eggs or MfCRO. Slides, in Cedar, Wahuit, or Mahogany, from latest English patterns. For snjiiples of our work visit Melbourne University and Government Entomologist. Field Naf-uraliste' CAub of VictoF-ia Ipati'one : BAROX SIR F. VON MUELLER, K.C.M.G., M. & Pn. D., LL.D., F.R.S. SIR FREDERICK M'COY, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. ■>* OFFICE-BEARERS, 1893-6. -> pVCBi6cnt: PROFESSOR BALDWIN SPENCER, M.A. WiCCspl-CSilientS : MR. C. FRENCH, F.L.S. MR. J. SHEPHARD. fbon. ■CvcasiUCl : MR. C. FROST, Mont Victor Road, East Kew. Hion. libiavfan: MR. O. A. S.AVCE, Harcoun Street, Hawthorn. iDOn. SecrCtaiV : MR. H. l". C. ASHWORTH, O.xley Road, Gleiiferrie. •fljon Eeitor of tbc " Wictoiiau IHatuialist : " MR. F. G. A. BARNARD. Bulleen Road, Kew. Committee: MR. D. BEST, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. J. GABRIEL, DR. W. MACGILLIVRAY, and MR. F. WISEWOULD. ^ O B J E CX S. a^ This Club was founded m i8So for the purpose of affording ijbservers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the Exhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations in the Field by means of E-xcursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICES. Members are reminded that the Club'.s year ended 30th April last, and that subscriptions (iSs.) for 1895-96 are now due. Subscriptions should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, f, L, S., East Kew. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains the proceedings of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. MOST i)f the Numljers from ilie commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. .Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, Oxley Road, Glenferrie, at .Sixpence each, or in sets (except Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. Sec. will pay full pv\c.c for clean copies of Vol. IV., Nos. 2, 3 and 4- FELTON,CRIMWADE&CO., ]\J[.^IVTTF'Ac^^rTF^Il^c^ cheiviij*;ts, IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES, MICROSCOPICAL ACCESSORIFS. GALVANIC BATTERIES, CHEMICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS. &C. &C. ^UFBRIOR STUDENTS' MICROSCQFES. BECK'S "STAR" MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE, with rack and pinion coarse adjust- ment, iiis diaphragm, double mirror, fine adjustment by screw, i eye-piece, i in. and J^ in. objective, in case, ^4 12s. fid. BECK'S "ECONOMIC" MICROSCOPES, from £^ 6s. to £,x\ iis. BECK'S "POPULAR " MICROSCOPES, from ^12 ss. to i■2^ 5s. BECK'S "NATIONAL" MICROSCOPES, from lii ss. to £,^% los. Particulars of various other Microscopes, by best English an«l Foreign Makers, may be had 011 application. — ei©^>.0»*O0<^ 342—6 LITTLE FLINDERS ST.. MELBOURNE. PATIE^, SHEPHARP & CO., Manufacturers of Water Meters, Turret Clocks, &c., &c. Repairs and alterations undertaken. Men sent to any suburb to take out Meters for repair. Microscopes and Scientific Instruments repaired. Wheels and Racks of all kinds cut to order. Circular Dividing. rro IVIXCXSOSCOPIsnCS.— IVIlo^onieteiX. RvalixK^s. Stage Micrometers Eye-piece Micrometers, and Test Plates. stage Micrometer, ICOths and l,OCOths of an inch, or lOths and lOOths of a millimetre • 5/- eacK Do. both systems on one slide ...... 7/6 „ Test Plate for Medium-power Objectives, 7 bands, varying from 500 to 2,000 per mm. (=1?,700 to 50,800 per inch) ......... 15/. „ Test Plate for High-power Objectives, finest band, at the rate of over 100,000 per inch • To order. These rulings .ite executed by Mr. J. Shepliard, on a machine specially designed and constructed by D , S. & Co. Comparison with micrometers issued by leadintj opticians ot England and America shows the imported article to be less accurate. 135 CITY ROAD. SOUTH MELBOURNE. telephone 848. HA^IJBAI. HISTOHir j^FFAltATlJS, Supplied by E. CHERRY & SONS, Gisborne, Victoria. Cane ring- Nets, - 3 6 and 4/6 Zinc Pocket Killing (Laurel) Boxes, 1/6 and 2/- Forceps, 2/6 Cane or wire folding Nets, 6/- Entomological Pins (besti, i/6 per 02. box. Brass Y's, i 6 Zinc larvae Boxes - 2- Cyanide Bottles, 2- CORK SETTING BOARDS, length, 14 inches— all grooves Ji deep-papered. I and iYq, wide, i/- each. 2 and 2Vj inch, 1,3. 3 inch, 1/6. 4 inch, 1/9. 6 inch, 2/6. (Any 0/ above sent by post any part Australasia at trifling cost). TRAVELLING SETTING CASi"., (15 x 13 x 4 over all) with 12 assorted boards, 20 - CORK LINOLEUM (specially iirported, soft, ^-a thick), 10 x 8, 6d. 12 x 10, gd. 15 x 12, i/i. 16 .\' 20, 2, - 20 .\ 24, 3 - Any .size to suit. STORE BOXES, 14 x 10 x 4, corked and prpered both sides, hinged and fastened with hook and eye, 7 - each. CABINETS (10 to 40 drawers) for Insects, E(;c;s or MfCRO. Slides, in Cedar, Walnut, or Mahogany, from latest English patterns. For samples of our work visit Melbourne University and Government Entomologist. THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OF — ^\]£ fifltJ llaturaltsts' Club of Victoria. PU1BILiISXIE:I> Or.AI>I^UA.IC^V 9, 1896. HditoP : F. G. R- IBRV^fiRIRD, Esq. The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions he records. GOIsTTIEIsrTS. The Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria Excursion to Melton Formalin as a General Preservative for Animal and Vegetable Structure. By O. A. Sayce Notes on Chlamydodera Orientalis. By A. J. North, F.L.S. The late Dr. J. E. Taylor, F.G.S. A Catalogue of Victorian Heterocera, Part XVIII. By Oswald B. Lower, F.E.S. PAGE 97 I GO 104 107 109 •SJ T»f«ICE SIXT»E N C E . *?» WALKER, MAY & CO., Printers, 9 Mackillop Street 1896. Fkld Natu pal isles' Club of Victopia. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA ST., MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR MONTHLY MEETING. IVIonda.y, 134:li •Jst.xs.u.Sk.a^ys 1896, a.4: 8 %».rr%.. 1. Correspondence and Reports. Report of Excursion to Heidelberg, from Mr. J. Sliephard. 2. Election of Members. Proposer Seconder Mr, G. C. Goudie ... Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth ... Mr. F. G. A. Barnard 3- Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. General Business. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By Messrs. J. Gabriel and H. P. C. Ashworth, " Notes on a Second Trip to Albatross Island," illustrated by limelight views. By Mr. Dudley Le Souef, " Trip to Mallacoota Inlet," illustrated by limelight views. By Mr. R. Hall, " Notes on the habits of Victorian Wood Swallows." 6. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested to furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their Exhibits, for record in Minutes and Naturalist. ^f EXCUI^SIOWS. ^ Saturday, iith January. — Heidelberg. Under the direction of Mr. J. Shephard. Start from Collingwood station at 2.15 p.m. Object: Pond Life. Monday, 27TH January. — Nar-Nar-Goon. Under the leadership of Mr. H. Giles. Start from Prince's Bridge station at 7.50 a.m. Object : General Collecting. MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. The next meeting will will be held on Monday evening, 20th January, and not on the 27th as previously announced. Mr. O. A. Sayce will deal with " Killing and Fixing Agents for Microscopic Work." Members attending the meeting are requested to provide themselves with microscopes and as many living microscopic forms as possible. ^■rarrrsMiBjiiHiMainaiiiBiiiBiiiauiBMiaiiiatiiBiiiBiiianiBii^ ^^ ^'^ Vol. XII.— No. io. THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OF — mt IFt^lb llaturaUsts' Otlub of Victoria. pu^iiiISxie:i3 Fx>ua,x*y, 1896, Eit; 8 p.m.. 1. Correspondence and Reports. 2. Election of Menabers. 3. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. General Business. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By Mr. R. Hall, " Notes on the habits of Victorian Wood Swallows." By Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, " The Flight of the Albatross." By Mr. H. BuUen, " Note on the Use of Turpentine for Microsopic Purposes." 6. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested to furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their Exhibits, for record in Minutes and Naturalist. ^ EXCURSIONS. W Saturday, 15TH February. — Ringwood. Under the leadership of Mr. D. Best. Start from Prince's Bridge station at 1.30 p.m. Object: Entomology. Saturday, 22nd February. — Beaumaris. Under the leadership of Rev. W. Fielder. Start from Flinders Street station at 1.40 p.m. Object : Marine Zoology. Saturday, jth March.— Willsmere, z^/a Kew tram. Under the leader- ship of Messrs. W. and J. Stickland, Meet at Town Hall, Collins Street at 2 p.m. Object : Pond Life. ANNUAL CONVERSAZIONE. It has been decided to hold a Conversazione in the Athenseum Hall at the end of May. It vv'ill be on the lines of the last, and will extend over two days. The committee will be glad to receive offers of assistance as early as possible. February, i f tetiriw Jfd-HMtist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OF — m^ IFi^lb jaaturaltsts' Club of ITittoria. PXJ1B]1iISHE:I> IMKA-RCK 4, 1896. Editor : F- O. R. BflRJ^fiRD, Esq. < !■■'? The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions he records. HACK The Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria ... ... 125 Notes on the Bird Fauna of the Box Hill District. By Robert Hall ... ... ... ,. ... 127 Some Notes on the Life History of Ialmenus Myrsilus 135 Notes on the Nesting of Calyptorhynchus Banksi and Erythrodryas Rosea. B\ A. J. North, F.L.S. ... 136 Intermediate Hosts of Fluke — First Note. By Rev. W. Fielder ... ... ... ... ... ... 139 «»^T«ICE SIX¥»ENCK.*«» ') ©UlcA,'^ & CO., 37 Sob® m^mskTr^i E^osdon. IHclboitrne : WALKER, MAY & CO., Printers, 9 Mackillop Street. 1896. Field Natupalists' Club of Victopia. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA ST., MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR MONTHLY MEETING. IMIo3n.d£k,sr3 94:1m IVl£i,x>cIi., 1896, a^-t S p.xKi* 1. Correspondence and Reports. 2. Election of Members. 3- Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. General Business. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., " The Weathering of Rocks." By Rev. W. Fielder, " Further Notes on the Intermediate Hosts of the Liver Fluke." (Promises of papers for future meetings are desired.) 6. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested to furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their Exhibits, for record in Minutes and Naturalist. «3f EXC U 1? SI O W S . 1^ Saturday, 7TH March. — Willsmere, via Kew tram. Under the leader- ship of Messrs. W, and J. Stickland, Meet at Town Hall, Collins Street at 2 p.m. Object : Pond Life. Saturday, 2IST March. — Studley Park. Under the leadership of Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A. Meet at Johnston Street bridge, via Carlton tram, at 2.30 p.m. Object : Geology. ANNUAL CONVERSAZIONE. It has been decided to hold a Conversazione in the Athenseum Hall at the end of May. It will be on the lines of the last, and will extend over two days. The committee will be glad to receive offers of assistance as early as possible. ^'"^ Vol.. XII. — No. 12. March, 1896. kt f iettmn Jl^tiiwlist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OK - mt ftplb laaturalists' Club of Victoria. pu^]L.isH:E:r> tlpi^iil. 10, isee. Editor : F- G. fi. Bflf^JSflRD, Esq. The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions he records. G02f?ICE SlXf»ETMCE.^ ^i^entfi fov Orttvove DULAU & CO., 37 Soho Square, ton ■fe :(^^. iHclbournc : Prin 1896. Field Natupalists' Olob of Victopis. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA ST., MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR MONTHLY MEETING. IVIoxidELyj 134:11 J^px*il, X896, SLt 8 xi.sYk. 1. Correspondence and Reports. 2. Election of Members. 3- iVominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to Hon. Secretary. 4. General Business. 5. Reading of Papers and Discussions thereon. By Rev. \V. Fielder, "The Intermediate Hosts of the Liver Fluke— Third Note." By Mr. J. Shephard, "A New Rotifer." (Promises of papers for future meetings are desired.) 6. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to mention the same at our meetings for the purpose of discussion. 7. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members exhibiting specimens are requested to furnish the Hon. Sec. with written particulars of their Exhibits, for record in Minutes and Naiuvalist. ^ EXCURSIONS. ^ Saturday, iSph April. — Black Rock, via .Sandringham. LTnder the leadership of Rev. W. Fielder. Start from Prince's Bridge Station, at 1.40 p.m. Object : Marine Zoology. Saturday, 2nd May. — Biological School. Under the leadership of Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A. Meet at the University Gardens, at 2.30 p.m. Object : Biology. ANNUAL CONVERSAZIONE. The Conversazione will be held at the Athenjeum Hall on Thursday and Friday, 28th and 29tli May. Members are earnestly requested to make the exhibition of specimens as complete as possible, and to send in to the hon. secretary a list of exhibits on or before nth May, to ensure their insertion in the catalogue. The allotment of space will be strictly under the control of a sub-committee. Tickets will be available by next meeting. The price of admission for non-members will, as before, be one shilling, and the success of the conversazione will depend on the number sold. Field Natapalists' Club of Vicfopia, patrons : BARON SIR F. VON MLTELLER, K.C.VI.G., M. & Pic. D., LL.D., K.R.S. SIR FREDERICK M'COY, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. ■^ OFFICE-BEARERS, 189S-6. ■55- B>re8^^ent: PROFESSOR BALDWIN SPENCER, M.A. Wice=|piesi&ent8 : MR. C. FRENCH, F.L.S. MR. J. SHEPHARD. Ibon. tXi-casui-er : MR. C. FROST, Mont Victor Road, East Kew. Ibon. librarian: MR. O. A. SAYCE, Harcourt Street, Hawthorn. Ibon. Scci-Ctar^ : MR. H. P. C. ASHVVORTH, O.xley Road, Glenferrie. Ibon. )£^itor of tbe " Wictovian IRatucalist : " MR. F. G. A. BARNARD. Bulleen Road, Kew. Committee: MR. D BEST, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. ]. GABRIEL DR. \V. MACGILLIVRAY, and MR. F. WISEVVOULD. ^ OBJECTS, i^ This Club was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the E.xhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations in the Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICE. Members are reminded that the Club'.s year ends on 30th April next, and that any subscriptions (15s.) for 1895-96 unpaid, should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F. L. S., East Kew, as early as possible. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains tbe proceedings of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, MOST of the Numbers from the commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, Oxley Road, Glenferrie, at Sixpence each, or in sets (except Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. Sec. will pay full price for clean copies of Vol. IV. Nos. 2, 3 and 4. PELTON, CRIMWADE & (0., IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES, GALVANIC BATTERIES, Chemical and Scientific flppat^atus, 6te. STUDENITS' MilCROSCOPES. LEITZ MICROSCOPES, With Slidirii/ Conrgft Adjustment, Sfreiv Fine Adjustment, Micrometer, Objectives Nos, 3 and 7, Eye-pieces 1 and 3, Maguift/intf S4-600, Olahof/utiy (.'uses. With Sliding Coarse Adjustment, Screw NACHET'S MICROSCOPES, Fine Adjustment, Double Mirror, Side Condensing Lens, Eye-pieces Nos, 1 and 3, Ohjectices Nos, 3 and O, Glass Slip, Cover Glasses, Mounted Object Forceps, Magnifying S0-350. In Mahogany Cases, Microscopic Glass Slips, Sin. x lin.. Extra Thin, Ground Edges and Hough Edges, Microscopic Cover Glasses, Nos, 1 atid 3, I4i»., J^'t". and %t»i. Circles. 1 square, %iu. and yiin, ; No, 3 square, Yiin, and J^t»«. 3^2-6 LITTLE FLINDEBS STEEET, MELBOUENE. D ARTIES, SHEFHAR13 & CO., Manufacturers of Water Meters, Turret Clocks, &c., &c. Repairs and alteratinns undertaken. Men sent to any suburb to take out Meters for repair. Microscopes and Scientific Instiuments repaired. Wheels and Racks of all kinds cut to order. Circular Dividing. TO IMIICfeOSCOPIsarS.— IVIic:x«ome«ex> JRvilixx^gs. Stage Micrometers. Eye-piece Micrometers, and Test Plates. stage Micrometer, ICOths aud l,OCOths of an inch, or lOths and lOOtlis of a millimetre • S/- each Do. both systems on one slide ...... 7/6 „ Test Plate for Mediiun-power Objectives, 7 bands, varying from 500 to 2,000 per mm. (=12,700 to 50,800 per inch) ......... 16/. „ Test Plate for High-power Objectives, finest band, at the rate of over 100,000 per inch ■ To order. These ruliiig.s cire executed by Mr. J. Shephard, on n machine specially designed and constructed by D , S. & Co. Comparison with micrcmeter.s issued by leading opticians of England and America shows the imported article to be less accurate. 135 CITY ROAD. SOUTH MELBOURNE. tflephone 848, l^A^XJRAI. HISTORY APFARikirUS, Supplied by E. CHERRY & SONS, Gisborne, Victoria. Cane ring Nets, - 3 6 and 4.'6 Zinc Pocket Killing (Laurel) Boxes, 1/6 and 2/- Forceps, 2/6 Cane or wire folding Nets, 6,'- Entomological Pins (best), 1/6 per oz. box. Brass Y's, i 6 Zinc larvae Boxes - 2- Cyanide Bottles, 2- CORK SETTING BOARDS, length, 14 inches— all grooves J^ deep- papered. I and \% wide, i,- each. 2 and 2% inch, 1/3. 3 inch, 1,6. 4 inch, 19. 6 inch, 2/0. (Any oj above sent by post any fart Australasia at trifling cost), TRAVELLING SETTING CASE, (15 .\ 13 x 4 over all) with 12 assorted boards, 20 - CORK LINOLEUM /specially iirported, so<"t, % thick), 10 x 8, 6d. 12 x 10, gd. 15 x 12, i/i 16 X 20, 2 - 20 X 24, 3- Any size to suit. Store boxes, 14 x lo x 4, corked and papered both .^iides, hinged and fastened with hook and eye, 7 - each. CABINETS (10 to 40 drawers) for In.sects, Eggs or Micro. Slides in Cedar, Walnut, or Mahogany, from latest English patteins. For samples of our work visit Melbourne University and Government Entomologist. F-klil NatiiPalists' Club of Victoria. patrons : BARON SIR F. VON MUELLER, K.C.M.G., M. & Pii. D., LL.D., F.R.S. SIR FREDERICK M'COY, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. ^ OFFICE-BEARERS, 1895-6. -S*- presiOent: PROFESSOR BALDWIN SPENCER, M.A. lDice=pl•e8i^cnt6 : MR. C. FRENCH, F.L.S. MR. J. SHEPHARD. Ibon. tlrcasmec: MR. C. FROST, Mont Victor Road, East Kew. Ibon. librarian: MR. O. A. SAVCE, Harcourt Street, Hawthorn. fjon. Secretary: MR. H. P. C. ASHWORTH, Oxley Road, Glenferrie. Ibon. lEeitor of tbe " UJictovian IRaturalist : " MR. F. G. A. BARNARD, BuUeen Road, Kew. Committee: MR. D BEST, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. J. GABRIEL DR. \V. MACGILLIVRAY, and MR. F. WISEVVOULD. This Club was founded in 1680 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the Exhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations in the Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICE. Members are reminded that the Club's year ends on 30th April ne.xt, and that any subscriptions (15s.) for 1895-96 unpaid, should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F. L.S., East Kew, as early as possible. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains the proceedings of tbe Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. MOST of the Numbers from the commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, Oxley Road, Glenferrie, at Sixpence each, or in sets (except Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. Sec. will pay full price for clean copies of Vol. IV. Nos. 2, 3 and 4. PELTON, CRIMWADE & (0., IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES, GALVANIC BATTERIES, Chemical and Scientific Apparatus, &c. STtJDENTS* MiCROSCOPES. T rTT"7 l\/FTnr) Ann ArMT) with Sliditifl Coarse Adjiisttnent, Screio Fine Lei i Z MlunUuUUr ho, Adjustmeut, Micrometer, Objectives Nos. 3 and ' 7, Kye-piecea 1 and 3, Maynifijin!/ 84-0OO. In Mnhoi/oxne«ex> XSulln^s. Stage Micrometers. Eye-piece Micrometers, and Test Plates. stage Micrometer, lOOths and l.OCOths of an inch, or lOths and lOOths of a millimetre ■ B/- each Do. toth systems on one slide • • .... 7/6 „ Test Plate for Medium-power Objectives, 7 bands, varying from 500 to 2,000 per mm. (=1?,700 to 50,800 per inch) ......... 15/. „ Test Plate for High-power Objectives, finest band, at the rate of over 100,000 per inch • To order. Tliese rulings .ire executed by Mr. J. Sliephard, on .1 machine specially designed and constructed by D , S. & Co. Comparison with micrometers issued by leading opticians of England arid America shows the imported article to be less accurate. 135 CITY ROAD. SOUTH MELBOURNE. telephone 848. Supplied by E. CHERRY &. SONS, Gisborne, Victoria. Cane ring Nets, - 3 6 and 4 6 Zinc Pocket Killing (Laurel) Boxes, i 6 and 2/- Forceps, 2,6 Cane or wire folding Nets, 6,- Entomological Pins (best), 1/6 per oz. box. Brass Y's, i 6 Zinc larvae Boxes - 2'- Cyanide Bottles, 2- CORK SETTING BOARDS, length, 14 inches— all grooves % deep-; papered. I and il4 wide, t/- each. 2 and 2V5 inch, 1/3. 3 inch, 1/6. 4 inch, 1,9. 6 inch, 2/0. (Any oj above sent by post any part Ajtstj-atasia at irijlini^ cost) . Travelling setting case, (15 x 13 x 4 overall) with 12 as.sorted boards, 20 - CORK LINOLEUM (specially in ported, soft, % thick), 10 x 8, 6d. 12 x 10, gd. 15 x 12, i/i :6 x 20, 2'- 20 X 24, 3'- Any size to suit. STORE BOXES, 14 x 10 x 4, corked and papered both sides, hinged and fastened with hook and eye. 7 - each. CABINETS do to 40 drawers) for Insects, Eggs or Micro. Slides in Cedar, Walnut, or Mahogany, from latest English patterns. For samples of our work visit Melbourne University and Government Entomologist. Field Natupalisfs' Club of VictoHa. Ipatrona : BARON SIR F. VON MUELLER, K.C.M.G., M. & Ph. D., LL.D., F.R.S. SIR FREDERICK M'COY, K.CM.G., M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. •J OFFICE-BEARERS, 189S-6. ^• Pre3i^^nt: PROFESSOR BALDWIN SPENCER, M.A. IDiccspieeiSentS : MR. C. FRENCH, F.L.S. MR. J. SHEPHARD. ■fcon. tCicasuicr : MR. C. FROST, Mont Victor Road, East Kew. Ibon. Xibl-arian: MR. O. A. SAVCE, Harcourt Street, Hawthorn. Ibon. Secretary : MR. H. P. C. ASHWORTH, O.xley Road, Glenferrie. Ibon. !E^itor of tbe " IDlctoilan matuialiat : " MR. F. G. A. BARNARD, BuUeen Road, Kew. dommittee: MR. D. BEST, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. J. GABRIEL DR. \V. .MACGILLIVRAY, and MR. F. WISEWOULD. ^ OBJECTS. ««► This Club was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the E.\hibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observations in the Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICES, Members are reminded that the Club's year ended 30th April last, and that subscriptions (15s.) for 1895-96 are now due. Subscriptions should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. Frost, F. L.S. , East Kew. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains the proceedings of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. MOST of the Numbers from the commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, Oxley Road, Glenferrie, at Si.xpence each, or in sets (e.Kcept Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. Sec. will pay full price for clean copies of Vol. IV. Nos. 2, 3 and 4. FELTON,CRIMWADE&CO., JjnUsak IB rug P^rrbants, IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES, MICROSCOPICAL ACCESSORIES. GALVANIC BATTERIES, CHEMICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS. &0.. &C. SUF3ERI©R STPDBltT§» M1€R@SQ©FES. BECK'S "STAR" MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE, with rack and pinion coarse adjust- ment, iris diaphragm, double mirror, fine adjustment by screw, i eye-piece, i in. and % in. objective, in case, £^ 12s. 6d. BECK'S "ECONOMIC" MICROSCOPES, from £j 6s. to £ix us. BECK'S "POPULAR" MICROSCOPES, from £,2 ss. to £27 ss, BECK'S "NATIONAL" MICROSCOPES, from £i^ 53. to £3% los. Particulars of various otlier Microscopes, by best English and Foreign Makers, may be had on application. 342-6 LITTLE FLINDERS ST., MELBOURNE. Manufacturers of Water Meters, Turret Clocks, &c., &c. Repairs and alterations undertaken. Men sent to any suburb to take out Meters for repair. Microscopes and Scientific Instruments repaired. Wheels and Racks of all kinds cut to order. Circular Dividing. rro IVIICXeOSCOJPIS'X'S ]yiicx>oxxietiex* I%i;&liir»^s. Stage Micrometers. Eye-piece Micrometers, and Test Plates. stage Micrometer, ICOths and l.OCOths of an inch, or lOths and lOOths of a millimetre ■ 5/' each Do. both systems on one slide ...... 7/6 „ 'Test Plate for Medium-power Objectives, 7 bands, varying from 500 to 2,000 per mm. (=12,700 ' to 60,800 per inch) ......... 16/- „ TestlPlate for High-power Objectives, finest band, at the rate of over 100,000 per inch ■ To order. These rulini;s arc executed by Mr. J. Shephard, on a machine specially designed and constructed by D, S. & Co. Comparison with uiicrcnieurs issued by leading opticians of England and America shows the imported article to be less accurate. 135 CITY ROAD. SOUTH MELBOURNE. TELEPHONE 848. Supplied by E. CHERRY & SONS, Gisborne, Victoria. Cane ring Nets, - 3 6 and 4/6 Zinc Pocket Killing- (Laurel) Boxes, 1/6 and 2/- Forceps, 2/6 Cane or wire folding- Nets, 6/- Entomological Pins (best), 1,6 per oz. box. Brass Y's, x,'6 Zinc larvse Boxes - z,'- Cyanide Bottles, 2- CORK SETTING BOARDS, length, 14 inches— all grooves Yi deep-pspered. I and 1% wide, 1/- each. 2 arid 2i« inch, 1,3. 3 inch, I/6. 4 inch, 1,9. 6 inch, 2/6. (Ajiy oj above sent by post any part Aitst7-alasia at trifling cost), TRAVELLING SETTING CASE, (15 x 13 x 4 over all) with 12 assorted boards, 20 - CORK LINOLEUM (specially iipported, soft, % thick), 10 x 8, 6d. 12 x 10, gd. rs x 12, i/i. 16 X 20, 2/- 20 x 24, 3- Any size to suit. STORE BOXES, 14 x 10 x 4, corked and papered both sides, hinged and fastened with hook and eye, 7'- each. CABINETS (10 to 40 drawers) for Insects, Eggs or Micro. Slides in Cedar, Walnut, or Mahogany, from latest English patteins. For samples of our work visit Melbourne University and Government Entomologist. Field f^atupalisfs' Club of VictoHa. patrons : BARON SIR F. VON MUELLER, K.C.M.G., M. & Ph. D., LL.D., F.R.S. SIR FREDERICK M'COY, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. ■>* OFFICE-BEARERS. 1895-6. i> presi^cnt: PROFESSOR BALDWIN SPENCER, M.A. ©ice=:pcesi^ent8 : MR. C. FRENCH, F.L.S. MR. J. SHEPHARD. tJOn. Urcasuccr: MR. C. FROST, Mont Victor Road, East Kew. Ibon. librarian : MR. O. A. SAYCE, Harcourt Street, Hawthorn. Don. SccvetariC! : MR. H. P. C. ASHWORTH, Oxley Road, Glenferrie. Ibon lEaitor of tbc " IPictorian maturallst : " MR. F. G. A. BARNARD, BuUeen Road, Kew. Committee: MR. D. BEST, MR. T. S. HALL, M.A., MR. J. GABRIEL DR. \V. MACGILLIVRAY, and MR. F. WISEWOULD. ^ OBJECTS, i^ This Club was founded in 1880 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of Natural History regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested ; for the Exhibition of Specimens ; and for promoting Observation.s in the Field by means of Excursions to various collecting grounds around the Metropolis. SPECIAL NOTICES. Members are reminded that the Club's year ended 30th April last, and that subscriptions (15s.) for 1895-96 are now due. .Subscriptions should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer, .VI r, C. Frost, F. L.S., East Kew. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST Contains the proceedings of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. MOST of the Numbers from the commencement, January, 1884, can be obtained from the Hon. Sec, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, Oxley Road, Glenferrie, at Si.\pence each, or in sets (except Vols. I. and IV.), with title page and index, 6/- per set. The Hon. Sec. will pay full price for clean copies of Vol. IV. Nos. 2, 3 and 4. FELTON,CRIMWADE&CO., IMPORTERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF MICROSCOPES, MICROSCOPICAL ACCESSORIES. GALVANIC BATTERIES, CHEMICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS, &C., &C. SUPERIOR STUBBMTS'J mi