THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 163 



distinctness of Pyrantels kershawi, M'Coy, from Pyrameis 

 cardui, Lin., showing that the characteristic blue spots of the 

 former were not always to be relied upon to distinguish the two, 

 and coming to the conclusion that a study of the early stages is 

 probably the only course whereby we may settle this question. 



Taking one of the swifts (Porina fusco-maculata, Walk.) as his 

 next example, the results of rearing a brood from ova were 

 tabulated, showing a wide range of variation ; the remarks on 

 this species being supplemented by drawings. Finally, the 

 author gave an account of his experience in breeding Sjrilosoma 

 obliqua, by which he had confirmed the results arrived at by Mr. 

 E. Anderson, as given in a paper previously. The paper was 

 cordially received, and in the subsequent discussion the President, 

 Mr. Anderson, and Dr. Dendy were the chief speakers — the 

 latter laying stress upon the necessity of a more complete 

 examination of the structure and anatomy of insects, as well as 

 the mere wing markings, before giving specific rank. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



The Rev. R. Poynder contributed a note on an alleged Snake 

 Tree found in Mexico, in the neighbourhood of the Sierra Madre 

 Mountains; Mrs. Cochrane furnished a cutting in reference to 

 " Digging for Fish" during the dry season in some parts of 

 India; Mr. A. Coles read an interesting note on the "Food of 

 the White-bellied Sea Eagle," showing that it usually took the 

 food which lay nearest to hand, not exclusively confining itself to 

 a fish diet ; and Dr. Dendy recorded the " hatching out" of an 

 egg of the Victorian species of Peripatus some sixteen or 

 seventeen months after it was laid. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



The meeting terminated with the usual exhibition of specimens, 

 of which the following is a list : — By Mr. A. Coles. — Specimens 

 of White-bellied Sea Eagle [Halicelus leucogaster), New Holland 

 Snipe (Gallinago australis). By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Life- 

 history specimen of Victorian Psyllidse ; illustrations of four new 

 species of Victorian Coccidse, or Scale Insects (in illustration of 

 paper, part ii.) By Mr. C. French, jun. — Large fossil shark's 

 tooth in stone, from Cheltenham. By Mr. R. Hall. — 18 species 

 of land and freshwater shells, from New Britain ; e?gs of Fantail 

 Cuckoo, and Red-eyebrowed Finch, from Box Hill. By Mr. G. 

 F. Hill. — Four White-lipped Snakes from Gippsland, and 26 young 

 Copperhead Snakes from a snake killed lately at Cheltenham. 

 By Mr. H. Kendall. — Case of butterflies collected near Towns- 

 ville ; nest of Sun Bird, Townsville. Also the following snakes : — 

 Morelia variegata, Gray (Carpet Snake) ; Nardoa, sp. (Rock 

 Snake) ; Vermicella annulata, Gray (Black and White Ringed 



