THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 115 



that A. macroimis, of Gould, will prove synonymous with A. 

 texiilis, Quoy and Gaimard. 



Mr. R. Hall and the Chairman made some observations on the 

 paper, and congratulated Mr. Keartland on the value and useful- 

 ness of his work. The former stated that the genus was, however, 

 preoccupied, and would not therefore stand. 



REMARKS ON EXHIBITS. 



Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., drew attention to and made some 

 remarks on a rare colour-variety of the common eel, which he 

 exhibited on behalf of the National Museum. The specimen 

 was recently presented to the Museum by Mr. H. Quiney, of 

 Mortlake. 



Mr. C. French, jun., drew attention to the specimen of the 

 orchid Fterostylis mackibboni, exhibited on the table. 



Mr. J. Gabriel called attention to a small collection of Polyzoa 

 and shells, recently dredged at Western Port Bay, exhibited on 

 the table. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. F. Wisewould remarked, regarding the recent wreck of the 

 tank vessel Petriana, off Point Nepean, from which large quanti- 

 ties of oil escaped, that mussels collected near Wiiliamstown, 

 nearly 50 miles from the scene of the wreck, were found to be 

 strongly impregnated with kerosene. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland drew attention to the reports in the news- 

 papers of the enormous quantities of caterpillars which were 

 doing great damage to the grass and crops in various parts of the 

 State. 



Mr. C. French, jun., stated that they were the larvae of the 

 well-known moth Heliothis armigera. 



Mr. J. Gabriel stated that the European Starlings were eating 

 large quantities of the caterpillars, and that the farmers recom- 

 mended their protection on that account. 



Mr. A. Coles endorsed what Mr. Gabriel said regarding the 

 value of the Starling. He also furnished a newspaper cutting re- 

 garding the destructiveness of sparrows to grain. 



Mr. D. Best remarked on the enormous quantities of the com- 

 mon white butterfly, Belenois Java, Spar., usually known as Pieris 

 teutonia, Fab , on the Buffalo Mountains, where they appeared 

 in thousands. 



Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., stated that these butterflies were 

 unusually numerous this season almost all over the State. They 

 were to be seen almost every day flying along some of the 

 principal streets in the city and suburbs. Sydney entomologists 

 had also remarked on the large numbers in that State. In answer 

 to a question, Mr. Kershaw stated that the larvae of this species 

 feed on the leaves of Capparis initchel/i. 



