NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 109 



fourteen individuals of an undescribed species of Degeeriella 

 (Mallophaga); also a Hippoboscid forwarded by Mr. A. S. Le 

 Souef, taken upon a Regent ~Bird(Sericulus chrysocephalus Lewin), 

 from the Nambucca River, with a single individual of Degeeriella 

 hectica Nitzsch, attached to the hairs on the right side of the 

 abdomen. Sharp(Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1890, p. 30) records the 

 capture of several specimens of a mallophagous insect from an 

 Omithomyia taken on the wing. Mjoberg (Arkiv for Zoologi, 

 Band vi., 1910, p. 10) records taking specimens of I'hiloj^erus 

 leontodon Nitzsch, attached to Hippoboscids from a Starling 

 (Sturnus vulgarus Linn.). Both these authors have suggested 

 the possibility of Mallophaga habitually making use of dipterous 

 parasites to effect transfer from a dying, or dead, to a new, host. 

 The additional examples now brought forward, would appear to 

 strengthen this possibility. But Degeeriella and Philopterus are 

 genera, the individuals of which die a few hours— at most, two davs 

 — after the death of their host, first attaching themselves, by their 

 mandibles, to some part of the feathers. Death appears to be 

 due simply to the fall in temperature, following upon the death 

 of the host. There is thus another possibility, namely, that the 

 mallophagous insects which find a Hippoboscid upon the body of 

 a dead host, fasten upon it, as its body temperature is above that 

 of the defunct bird, without any intent, conscious or otherwise, 

 of seeking transport to a new host. This would seem the more 

 reasonable view to take, and it still allows the possibility of 

 infection of a new host by parasites carried by a Hippo boscid. 



Dr. Dodd reported the deaths of some animals tethered near a 

 garden plant of the South African Acokanthera spectabilis Benth. 

 [N.O. Apocynaceie] which showed symptoms of poisoning; and he 

 asked for information as to the toxic properties of this plant. 



Mr. Lucas showed a beautiful series of marine algae, collected 

 and mounted by himself. 



Mr. Maiden exhibited photographs of (a) a female cone of 

 Macrozamia Moorei F.v.M., from Springsure, Q., rather more 

 than 2 ft. long; (6) illustrating syncarpy (3 fruits) in M. Perow- 

 skiana Miq., in a plant in the Botanic Gardens, Sydney; (c) a 



