76 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



British Museum, in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History 

 (6th series, vol. xiv., p. 445, pi. x., figs. 2-6), from the Cretaceous 

 rocks of Flinders River, Central Queensland. By Mr. H. T. 

 Tisdall, F.L.S. — Flowers of Ilakea gramniatophylla, a rare species, 

 grown by Mr. Adcock, Highton, near Geelong. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. . 



TRIP TO MALLACOOTA INLET. 

 By D. Le Souef. 

 fBead before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 9th September, 1895.^ 

 We left Melbourne on Monday, 4th March, by the first train, and 

 on arrival at Sale went on board the steamer for the Lakes' 

 Entrance. On passing down the Thomson River we noticed 

 that Coots (Fulica Australis) were very numerous on the banks, 

 quite flocks of them in places, and the tops of the rushes along 

 the water's edge were in many places broken and bent together 

 by the birds to enable them to secure a foothold. The swamps 

 about here were mostly quite dry, which accounted for so many 

 birds being on the river banks. 



Several Whistling Eagles were also noticed, and we saw some 

 of their old nests situated high up in the redgum trees. When 

 passing through the Lakes many hundreds of Black Swans were 

 seen on their favourite feeding grounds in the shallow water 

 close in to the shore. The steamer passed very near to one 

 lot of about 150 birds, and with a great deal of noise, caused 

 by their running on the surface of the water when getting 

 under way, they took to flight, and it was a beautiful sight, the 

 white on their wings showing in contrast against the dark back- 

 ground. There was nothing very beautiful about the Lakes 

 themselves, the water being muddy and the shores low, but when 

 the narrower parts were reached, not far from the entrance, the 

 scenery became much more interesting. Very few ducks were 

 seen. 



We arrived at the Lakes' Entrance at 8 o'clock in the 

 evening. The following morning we left in a buggy and four 

 horses for Orbost, on the Snowy River, a distance of thirty-five 

 miles, over a very bad road. Fortunately it was dry and dusty when 

 we passed over it, but, judging from the numerous dried-up holes 

 and deep ruts, we could easily see what it must be like in the 

 winter. While driving along we noticed or heard the Coachwhip 

 Bird, Gang-Gang Cockatoo, Grey Crow-Shrike, Shining Fly- 

 catcher, Fire-tail Finch, Harmonious Shrike-Thrush, White- 

 backed Magpie, Laughing Jackass, and the Bell Bird, with its 

 clear note. A spider's nest was noticed. There were 16 cocoons, 

 and the one I opened had 256 young spiders in, and if each of 



