218 NOTES AND EXHIBITS. 



determine even the genus of this ancient fish ; but pointed out 

 that it appeared to have some points of resemblance to Macro- 

 petalichthys of the North American Devonians. 



Mr. Macleay exhibited specimens of a small Moth (Tineidae), 

 the larva of which was creating great havoc in the vegetable 

 gardens in and about Sydney, completely eating up the leaves 

 of the cabbages and cauliflowers, and rendering the entire crop 

 utterly useless. The Caterpillar, a number of which were ex- 

 hibited, is an active, slightly hairy, green worm ; the pupa is 

 also green and is fastened on the under side of the leaf on 

 which it has fed, by a cocoon of beautiful open lace work. 

 The rapidity with which this insect seems to reproduce itself is 

 most astounding, and accounts for the short work it makes of a 

 bed of cabbages. The insect was, it is said, first noticed last year, 

 and then not in destructive numbers, so that it will probably be 

 found to be an importation. 



Mr. Macleay also exhibited the foetus of Halmaturus ruficollis, 

 taken from the pouch of the mother, with the umbilical cord 

 attached, illustrating the extremely early age at which the 

 young leave the uterus. 



Mr. H. A. Gilliat exhibited a collection of cretaceous fossils from 

 the Mount Brown diggings. With reference to this exhibit the 

 Vice-President made a few remarks on its value and interest. He 

 said that the cretaceous formation was known to extend through- 

 out the whole eastern interior of the Continent, and probably 

 through the centre, but not much was known of the fossils. The 

 abundance of Avicula alata, Eth., in this collection showed such a 

 wide-spread prevalence of this fossil, thai he considered it the most 

 characteristic species of the formation. The rock was curiously 

 like the G-reensand of Europe. The collection contained valuable 

 additions to our knowledge of the fauna. 



Mr. J. J. Fletcher exhibited (1.) A specimen of a Giant Earth- 

 worm, 25 in. long, from Burrawang, N.S.W. It probably belongs 

 to Prof. M'Coy's genus Megascolides, and its existence in this 

 colony is now recorded for the first time. (2.) The plates Den- 

 drolagus inustus and D. ursinus from Profs. Schlegel and Miiller's 



