THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 79 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



The meeting terminated with the usual exhibition of specimens, 

 of which the following is a list : — By Miss Cochrane. — Paintings 

 of Victorian wild flowers. By Mr. C. Duncan. — Four species of 

 ferns — Dicksonia antarctica, D. davallioides, D. menziesii, D. 

 squarrosa. By Mr. F, J. Ellemor. — Mounted specimen of 

 Jameson's Gull. By C. French. — Specimen of new Marsupial 

 Mole (Xotoryctes typhlops), from Upper Finke River, Central 

 Australia ; new Fungus (Stilhum formicarium, Cooke, Messer), 

 found on body of ant ; illustrations of butterfly life-history, 

 executed in 1793-4; group of rare Australian Longicorn 

 Beetles — viz., Enneaphyllus ceneipennis (Tasmania), Enneaphyllus 

 rossi (Victoria), Petalodes laminosus (new for Victoria), Petalodes 

 sp. (Western Australia) ; feather boots of native rain-maker 

 (Central Australia). By Mr. H. Grayson. — Microscopic slides 

 in illustration of paper, together with living specimens of diatoms. 

 By Mr. T. S. Hart. — Species of Pterostylis (probably new), and 

 specimens of minerals — quartz containing zincblende, galena, 

 iron and arsenical pyrites, &c; arsenical pyrites, crossed crystals 

 (Maldon) ; iron pyrites in sandstone, brown spar in quartz 

 (Fryerstown) ; coarse granite with white mica and copper pyrites 

 (Harcourt) ; quartz and white mica (Expedition Pass). By Mr. 

 G. E. Hill.— 18 Victorian Whip Snakes. By Mr. J. Mitchell.— 2 

 cases of minerals, containing about 50 specimens. Exhibited by 

 Baron von Mueller. — Orchid (new to science), Pterostylis 

 JPKibbini, from King's Island and Swan Island, and also from 

 Brighton, collected by Mr. M'Kibbin and T. S. Hart; also 

 Eriostemon stenophyllus, from Mallee, St. Eloy D' Alton (new for 

 locality). By Miss A. E.Roberts. — 21 varieties of wild flowers, 

 collected at Blackburn. By Mr. F. Spry. — Reared specimens of 

 Ogyris olane (Hew.), Delias harpalyce (Don.) ; larva, chrysalis 

 with Ichneumon, and butterfly, Heteronympha merope (Tale.) 



In connection with Mr. French's exhibit of the boots of native 

 rain-maker from M'Donnell Ranges, it may be interesting to 

 note that it is believed amongst the natives of certain tribes in 

 Central Australia that droughts are caused by the swallowing up 

 of all moisture by a rain-devil. If, however, this personage can be 

 captured and made to disgorge, rain follows at once. The 

 feather boots are worn by the native rain-maker in order that he 

 may steal noiselessly and unawares on the author of the drought 

 and consequent misery. Mr. A. W. Howitt is having drawings 

 made of these boots, which he considers to be one of the most 

 valuable and interesting additions to aboriginal ethnology yet 

 brought to light. 



