294 



NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 



Dr. Cox exhibited an albino specimen of Dacelo gigas, ob- 

 tained by Mr. Caley ; also a very fine example of the base of the 

 stolon of a fossil plant {Equisetum) from a road-cutting in the 

 Hawkesbury Sandstone at North Shore. He also made some 

 remarks on a plague of mice of at present undetermined species 

 recently infesting his premises at North Shore ; they first 

 attracted attention in the garden by their depredations on the 

 flowers of Hibiscus ; then in the house, where they exhibited 

 great partiality for fruit, but avoided such articles as cheese ; 

 ultimately becoming a nuisance through their nesting in drawers 

 and destroying papers for the purpose of making their nests. 



Mr. Maiden exhibited some of the specimens referred to in his 

 paper, viz., fruits of Drimys aromatica and dipetala ; yellow 

 powder on the fruits of Lomatia ilicijolia ; essential oil of 

 Eucalyptus maculata var. citriudora, the citron-scented gum of 

 Queensland; and the Coumarin-containing bark of CeratoppAalum 

 apetalurn. He also showed a native truffle {Mylitta australis) 

 from the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria, in situ on the decaying 

 root of Messmate {Eucalyptus amygdalina) ; together with a slab 

 of the true stem of Xanthorrhcea arborea. 



Mr. Etheridge exhibited the aboriginal implements referred to 

 in his paper. 



Mr. Skuse exhibited specimens of the Coccid Ilytilasjns p)0- 

 morum, Bouch6, known in America and elsewhere as the "oyster- 

 shell bark-louse" or the " apple mussel scale," which had been 

 received from Goulburn, N.S.W. This destructive insect has for 

 some time been doing serious damage in New Zealand and Tas- 

 mania, but does not appear to have been yet lecorded as established 

 in any of the other colonies. Also specimens of the Coccid Ccelos- 

 loma australe, Mask., and some parasitic flies belonging to the 

 genus Phora which had been bred from the female of that insect. 



