THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



promise arrived at by the late conference of sportsmen, field 

 naturalists, &c., and was at all events an improvement on 21st 

 December. 



Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., called attention to the Pacific Gulls 

 in the Zoological Gardens, which at present showed their different 

 stages of plumage. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Pot-grown orchid, Pterostylis 

 grandijiora. 



By C. French, jun. — Orthopterous insect, Acridopeza reticulata, 

 from Hamilton district ; also set of three eggs of Rainbow Pitta, 

 from Port Darwin, showing blotches of brown colour, instead of 

 the ordinary markings. 



By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Shells, Dolahella gigas and D. 7'umphii, 

 from Mauritius ; I schnochiton conspicuus, North America ; and 

 Victorian species of the family Naticidae, from Western Port. 



By Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A. — Specimens of recent and fossil 

 Cephalopoda, including a Spirulirostra from Torquay, in illustra- 

 tion of his paper. 



By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — Skins of Nanodes discolor, Glossop- 

 sittacus piisillus, G. jwrjjhyrocejjhalus, G. concinnus, Ptilotis 

 Jlava, Meliphaga phrygia, and Melithreptus lunulatus, all shot 

 from one tree, near Eltham. The first-named Lorikeet is a very 

 young specimen, thus indicating that these birds probably breed 

 in the district. 



By Mr. D. M'Alpine. — Specimen of the so-called Petrified 

 Mushroom, in illustration of his paper. 



By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Fourteen species of dried plants, 

 showing normal and abnormal types, with short explanatory 

 notes, viz. : — Cassinia acideata, R. Br., var. adpressa ; Cypcrus 

 vaginatns, R. Br. ; Distichlis maritima, Rat. ; Polygoyium lainus, 

 Hinds. ; Stackliousia Jlava, Hook. ; Carduiis lanceolatus, L. ; 

 Deyauxia forsteri, Kunth. ; Hypochoiris radicata, L. ; H. glabra, 

 L. ; Plantago major, L. ; Polygonum aviculare, L. ; Rumex 

 acetosella, L. ; Sonchus oleraceus, L. ; Verbasciim hlattaria, L. 



By Mr. C. Walter. — A new species of Acacia, A. d'altoni, Walter, 

 from the Wimmera district, collected by Mr. St. Eloy D'Alton, of 

 Dimboola ; and Acacia sclerophylla, Lindley, for comparison. 



After the usual conversazione, the meeting terminated. 



Correction. — The letter "S." (south) should be substituted 

 for " N.W." in Mr. Walter's exhibit in April Naturalist. 



It is announced that the control of the Government Botanist's 

 branch (Victoria) has been transferred from the Chief Secretary 

 to the Minister of Agriculture. 



