48 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. A. Mattingley mentioned that a number of Echinoderms 

 collected by Mr. A. G. Campbell at King Island, Bass Straits, 

 had been handed to him for identification. They all proved to 

 be common forms on Victorian shores, and are probably common 

 on Tasmanian shores also. They comprised representatives of 

 the Phanerozonate and Cryptozonate groups of the Asteroids, 

 distinguished respectively by the large marginal plates, or the 

 absence or inconspicuousness of the marginal plates. Belonging 

 to the former were Asterina calcar and A. gunnii, while Stichaster 

 polyplax, some specimens being only three-rayed, represented the 

 latter group. 



Mr. A. G. Campbell drew attention to his exhibit of the 

 flowering branches of a Red Gum tree. Eucalyptus rostrata, 

 gathered in May last on the Werribee Plains. The branches 

 were covered with immense numbers of red and green coloured 

 galls, which gave the trees the appearance of being heavily loaded 

 with fruit of some kind. On some trees about 80 per cent, of the 

 flower buds were turned to galls, while on others not a single 

 normal bud could be found. Each gall is found to contain 

 about ten or twelve larvae, probably of some hymenopterous 

 insect. As is well known, the Werribee Plains are of basalt 

 formation, and not adapted for tree-growth, the gum trees being 

 confined to a few depressions where water lodges in wet seasons, 

 consequently the production of seed by the trees in any quantity 

 would be wasted energy, hence the flower buds become the homes 

 of insect larvae. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. R. A. Bastow. — Two specimens of Hepaticae, Trigo- 

 nanthus dentata, Spruce, and Zoopsis argeritia, Hooker, f. et 

 Tayl., both plants in fruit, collected at Macedon, November, 

 1902. 



By Mr. A. G. Campbell. — Specimen of Eucalyptus rostrata 

 with normal buds, and others showing galls formed by hymenop- 

 terous insect. 



By Mr. A. G. Campbell, on behalf of Mr. A. W. Milligan, 

 Perth. — Two new birds, described in the last number of the Emu, 

 Xerophila castaneiventris, Mill., seemingly a Western represen- 

 tative oi X. leucopsis ; and Acanthiza rohustirostris, Mill., a very 

 distinct and interesting Tit. Both species are from the Murchison 

 district of Western Australia, and are the property of the Perth 

 Museum. 



By Mr. Perceival C. Cole. — Four " Churinga " or Bull-roarers 

 from Western Australia, North-West Australia, North Australia, 

 and Central Australia respectively. 



By Mr. A. Coles. — Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater, Acanthogenys 



