126 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



when there is sufficient wind. Various other theories were 

 discussed and shown to be unsupported by the actual facts. 



Some discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Barnard, Shephard, 

 Frost, and T. S. Hart, M.A., took part. 



3. By Mr. H. Bullen, entitled " Note on Turpentine as a 

 Clearing Agent." 



The author remarked that having lost several carefully prepared 

 specimens of insects by using as a final clearing agent the 

 ordinary turpentine of the shops he was induced to make 

 inquiries as to the turpentine referred to in microscopic text- 

 books, with the result that he found it was the natural balsam, 

 which is recommended as having the power of rendering the 

 chitinous textures of insects transparent. 



In reply to Messrs. Sayce and Fielder it was recommended to 

 obtain the natural balsam flowing from the trunks of Pinus 

 palustris and allied species. Mr. Sayce mentioned that he had 

 obtained perfectly satisfactory results with the use of oil of 

 bergamot as a clearing agent. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. 



The Rev. W. Fielder brought under the notice of the meeting 

 some new hosts of the intermediate stages of Flukes. Varia- 

 tions in the structure of the different stages indicate that they 

 may not all be the true Liver Fluke. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



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

 Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Rare Australian Lepidoptera, comprising 

 Phyllodes (sp.) and Panacra testacea, from Cape York ; Crypto- 

 pltaga flavolineata, Xantliodes flava, Pilostibes enchidiai, and 

 lodis rhodocosma, from Queensland ; Monoctenia dictyodes, 

 collected by Mr. E. Giles in Victoria ; drawings of Australian 

 insects, including those of life-history of Xenica Hoharti, by Mr. 

 C. C. Brittlebank. By Mr. C. French, jun.— Eggs of. Blood- 

 stained Cockatoo, from South Australia, and of Pacific Heron, 

 from Victoria ; also, rare nest and eggs of Short-billed Honey- 

 eater, collected by Mr. G. E. Shephard at Western Port, January, 

 1896. By Rev. W. Fielder, Messrs. Howard Cummins and W. 

 J. O'Neill. — Shells of freshwater snails which form the inter- 

 mediate hosts of Flukes — viz., Ancylus Tasmanicus, Segmentina 

 Victories, Planorhis (sp.), Isidora gibbosa, var. Jusiformis, Isidora 

 texturata, Limncca lessoni. By Mr. J. H. Gatliff. — Shells of Bulinus 

 tenuistriata and B. Newcombi. By Mr. G, A. Keartland. — A young 

 Echidna, taken from pouch of mother. By Messrs. R. S. Sugars 

 and J. Shephard. — Octopus, living and in formol ; Hydrozoa ; 

 species of Diphyes, living and in formol ; and Medusre in formol. 

 By Messrs. VV. and J. Stickland. — Starfishes, from Sandringham. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



