30 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., drew attention to the fact that the 

 migratory spiders may now be observed on every point of 

 vantage, letting out their threads and drawing them in again 

 until a ball of web is formed, on which the spider floats away. 

 The spiders which have the migratory instinct at this time of the 

 year mostly belong to the genus Lycosa. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



The following were the principal exhibits of the evening: — 

 By Mr. A. Coles. — Specimens of White-backed Crow-Shrike, 

 Gyvmorhina leuconota, and three specimens of variety with black 

 saddle on back. By Mr. F. J. EUemor. — Pair of New Holland 

 Honeyeaters, Meliornis Novce-Hollandim ; pair of Lunulated 

 Honeyeaters, Melithreptus lunulatus, and pair of Warty-faced 

 Honeyeaters, Meliphraga phi't/gia. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — 

 New and rare beetles from the Congo : Cetonidse — Goliathus, 

 viz., Choslorhma Savagei, Megalorhina Harrisi, Mephista Berto- 

 lonii, Ccelorhina ruficeps, Astenorhina Turneri, Uccoptocemis 

 superba, E. Thoreyi, E. relucens, Taurina nereas. By Mr. C. 

 French, jun. — Eggs of Ephthiamira tricolor from Central Australia, 

 E. aurifrons and E. albifrons from Victoria ; also, egg of 

 Acanthiza magna from Tasmania. By Mr. J. C. Mitchell. — 

 Minerals, comprising Limonite, composed of hydrous sesquioxide 

 of iron, from Broken Hill (this specimen is a pseudomorph, or 

 " false crystal," after siderite crystals) ; Pyrolusite, composed of 

 manganese dioxide, from Gordons, South Australia ; also, 

 Metallic Aluminium, not found in a metallic state in nature, 

 extracted from clay by aid of electricity in Switzerland, Europe. 

 By Mr. G. J. Page. — Two malformed Primrose flowers ; slides of 

 Foraminifera and Diatoms from dredging excursion. By Rev. 

 W. Fielder. — Lizard, Hinidia Quoyii, with two tails. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



Microscopical Test Rulings. — The following extract from a 

 report by Mr. E. M. Nelson, F.R.M.S., on some micro, rulings 

 forwarded by Mr. H. J. Grayson is taken from the Journal of tfie 

 Royal Microscopical Society for February last. Mr. Nelson says: — 

 '•'The ruling seems to be very perfect, and inequalities in spacing, 

 often seen in Noberts's plates, could not be detected. The tenth 

 band on the closer ruled plate was resolved. Another similar 

 plate was too faintly ruled for resolution in the higher bands. 

 Both the closer ruled plates were, of course, completely resolved, 

 but one was stronger than the other. I think the lines might be 

 cut deeper with advantage. The very faintly cut plates are not 

 of much use for microscopical purposes ; even the coarse bands 

 are too faint for micrometrical work." 



