12 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



to pack up and make our way back to Porepunkah township, in 

 order to catch the 5 a m. train on Monday morning, reaching 

 Melbourne again about mid-day, after an absence of almost five 

 days, during which we had covered nearly 500 miles. 



Regarding the bird and insect Hfe met with during the trip we 

 have little to say, as our time was so fully occupied by the flower- 

 ing plants. However, among birds, an Eaglehawk was seen 

 soaring some hundreds of feet above the summit of Mt. Hotham, 

 and several King Parrots were seen between Harrietville and St. 

 Bernard. Some fine specimens of Orthoptera, belonging to the 

 Locustidae, were noticed at Mounts Blowiiard and Hotham, but 

 were, unfortunately, not fully developed, so were not collected. 

 A collector of this order should do well there about March. 



If it were possible to arrange for one of the periodical extended 

 excursions of the Club to be held in the Bufi"alo Mountains, we 

 feel sure that no member who took part in it would ever regret 

 the expenditure of time and money necessary for the outing. 

 We have not attempted in this paper to describe the scenery of 

 the district ; that must be seen to be understood, but from the 

 maps and photographs exhibited to-night some idea may be 

 gained of its character. 



In conclusion we may say, for die benefit of future visitors, that 

 our expenses for the trip did not amount to ^4 per head, and 

 then, owing to the holidays, we were obliged on three occasions to 

 hire special conveyances. From a health-giving point of view, 

 our trip was delightful, and we returned to town greatly 

 invigorated by the pure mountain air. 



BOOK NOTICE. 

 Nests and Eggs of Birds Found Breeding in Australia 

 AND Tasmania.— Another part of this catalogue, issued by the 

 Trustees of the Australian Museum, Sydney, has just been 

 published. In this, the third part, the author, Mr. A. J. North, 

 C. M.Z.S., deals with the greater part of the family Muscicapidae, 

 and in the course of 80 pages deals with some 45 species of 

 Fantails, Fly-catchers, Robins, Scrub-Tits, and Bush-Warblers. 

 Several exquisite drawings are ii'.serted in the text, and three full- 

 page plates are given, depicting the nest and eggs of the Rose- 

 breasted Robin, the nest of the Yellow-breasted Robin, and the 

 nest of the White-throated Bush-Warbler, each of which are 

 excellent reproductions. 



The retirement of Sir James Hector, K.C.M.G. (hon. member 

 F.N.C.), from the directorship of the Geological Survey of New 

 Zealand and of the Colonial Observatory is announced. Sir 

 fames retires on a pension, after a long period of service in 

 various scientific positions. 



