THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 99 



land and H. Giles, who were in favour of protecting the birds, 

 and from Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, of Myrniong, stating that one- 

 third of his crop of forty acres of oats had been destroyed this 

 year by magpies. 



On the conclusion of the discussion Mr. H. R. Hogg moved 

 — " That the Club request the Customs Department not to 

 remove magpies from the protected list." This was seconded by 

 Mr. D. Le Souef, and carried, with one dissentient. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. R. Hall read a note on a curious egg of the Laughing 

 Jackass, Bacdo gigas, being evenly marked with light greyish- 

 brown streaks and small blotches. The egg was one of three, 

 the other two being normal white; also a note on a Sulphur- 

 crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita, which succumbed to an 

 internal complaint last month, after being in domestication nearly 

 forty years, the principal feature of the bird being its enormous 

 proportions. From tip to tip of the wings measured 46^ in., 

 total length 21^ in., anterior crest-feather 6}^ in., and middle 

 rectrice 9 in. 



Mr. W. H. F. Hill read a note on the life-history of the butter- 

 fly lahnenus myrsilus. 



Mr. C. Frost drew attention to Professor Ray Lankester's 

 article in the Argus on Dr. Chalmette's discovery of an anti- 

 venine perfectly effective against snake-bite. Professor Lankester 

 advances the theory that snakes are immunized owing to the 

 absorption of poison from their own glands, but this would not 

 account for lizards and non-venomous snakes not being affected. 

 Mr. 1). Le Souef confirmed Mr. Frost's remarks, and stated that 

 snakes always hold and do not let go frogs, lizards, &c. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By 

 Mr. A. Coles. — Specimens of New Zealand Bell Bird, Anthornis 

 melanura ; New Zealand Yellow-Head, Clitonyx ochrocephala ; 

 pair of New Zealand Huias, Ileteralocha acutirostris ; and New 

 Guinea Parrakeet, Chamiosgna paynenis ; also, pair of pictures 

 made of Victorian birds' feathers. By Mr. J. Gabriel. — Eggs of 

 the following rare birds : — White-fronted Falcon, Falco lunu- 

 lalns ; Grey Falcon, Falco liypoleticus ; and Little Eagle, Aquila 

 morphnoides. By Mr. D. Le Souef. — A clutch of three eggs of 

 the White-headed Osprey, from Western Australia. By Baron 

 von Mueller, K.C.M.G. — Plants new for Queensland, Drymopliila 

 Moorei and Fieldia Australis, found by Messrs. Collins and 

 Taylor at the sources of the Logan River ; neither of the genera 

 having been previously recorded from that locality. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



