THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. H7 



and larva and imago of Xenica lathionella. By Mr. A. Coles. — 

 Stuffed specimens of Hoary-headed Grebe, Black-throated Grebe 

 (with young), Great Sandpiper, and Little Sandpiper. By Mrs. 

 Flatow. — Magellus ajiticus, from Mauritius ; Trochus imperialis, 

 with serpula, also Trochus imperialis, with lepas, from New 

 Zealand. By Mr. C. French, sen. — Minute Coleoptera (collected 

 during season of 1892 by C. French), and Stigmodera fortunei 

 (male and female), with eggs. By C. French, jun. — Eggs of 

 Singing Honey-eater, N.S.VV. ; Black-capped Honey-eater, Tas. ; 

 Yellow-throated Minah, S.A. ; Orange-winged Sitella, Vict.; Little 

 Water Crake, Vict. ; Spotted Water Crake, Vict. ; also Lesser 

 Noddy Tern, W.A. (collected by Mr. A. J. Campbell, F.L.S.) 

 By Mr. J. Gabriel. — Eggs collected at Benjeroop, and photo- 

 graphs taken by Mr. A. J. Campbell, and shown in illustration of 

 paper. By Mr. H. Grayson. — Specimen of the elytra of the 

 Diamond Beetle (Eatimus imperialis), mounted for the micros- 

 cope. By G. A. Keartland. — Crocodile (three weeks old), from 

 Queensland. By Mr. J. Shepherd. — Living Sponges (Grantessn 

 hirsuta, &c.), exhibited under the microscope ; and Legless Lizard 

 and Earthworms (Horsham). By Mr. T. Steel. — Peripatus (novce- 

 zealandiai) and abnormally thick-shelled hen's egg. 



REMARKS ON SOME ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



By Thomas Steel, F.C.S. 



(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 12th 

 December, 1892.^) 



During a recent trip to Britain and America I was interested in 

 visiting, amongst other places, the Zoological Gardens of the cities 

 through which I passed. 



In the great London gardens there have been carried out sun- 

 dry alterations and additions within recent years, which consider- 

 ably add to the interest and educational value of the institution. 

 Notably are the new insect and reptile houses of great attractive- 

 ness. The insect house is a fine, handsome, well-lighted building, 

 kept at a suitable temperature by means of artificial heat. It is 

 devoted to the display of insects in the various stages of their 

 growth. The living insects are in glass cases, or vivaria, in which 

 are placed earth, &c, and the plants on which the larvce feed. 

 Here are displayed beautiful moths and butterflies, both British 

 and foreign, and many of these are the produce of successive 

 generations bred in the cases. Above each case is a smaller one, 

 in which are placed preserved specimens of the insects in the 

 main cases, all the stages, from the egg to the perfect insect, being 

 represented. This department is a most popular one, and inter- 



