THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



elongated in form. They appeared to correspond best with 

 Berkeleya fragilis, of Smith's " Synopsis." A handsome Pleuro- 

 sigma, measuring - r f'5'^ n - was noted, but its species not deter- 

 mined. Some earth and shell fragments, taken from the side of 

 the stony pool abovementioned, were found by Mr. F. Barnard to 

 contain an interesting variety of Foraminifera. 



A fair number of plants in bloom were noted, several of them 

 being of interest to those members of the party who had not 

 previously collected on the western side of the metropolis. 

 Among those noticed may be mentioned Mimulus repens, Glycine 

 tabacina, Craspedia chrysantha, Myoporum insulare, Convolvulus 

 sepium, and Mesembrianthemam Australe. 



The results of this trip show, we think, the advisability of 

 varying the locality of our excursions as much as possible. — W. 

 Stickland. 



THREE RARE NESTS AND EGGS. 

 By A. J. Campbell. Communicated by D. Le Souef. 

 (Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 8th March, 1897.) 

 Edoliisoma tenuirostre, Jardine (Jardine's Caterpillar-eater). 



The first authenticated nest and egg of this interesting bird 

 were discovered in Queensland, 1882, by Mr. C. C. L. Talbot, 

 and subsequently described by Mr. A. J. North, F.L.S., in the 

 Records of the Australian Museum, 1891. Other nests of this 

 species have been found in Victoria this season. 



For several seasons Mr. George E. Shepherd noticed these 

 birds in Oliver's Gully, at the back of Mt. Eliza, Mornington 

 Peninsula. During a visit of my son and self to Mr. Shepherd, 

 who lives in the locality, we took the opportunity of exploring 

 the gully, and were fortunate in finding a nest (the second on 

 record) on the 20th November, 1896. But we were singularly 

 unfortunate in losing the egg, which the hen bird broke as she 

 was startled off her shallow nest. However, through Mr. Shep- 

 herd's untiring exertions other nests were found (notes of which, 

 I understand, he has placed before this Club), and an egg taken 

 by him on the 12th December now enriches my collection. 



Nest. — Small and shallow, composed of very fine twigs (in- 

 cluding Casuarina needles) and a few pieces of bark stuck 

 together with spider's web, and outwardly decorated with portions 

 of silvery-grey lichen, a few bits also being inside. Dimensions 

 in inches overall, 3^ ; egg cavity, 2^ across by ^ deep. 



Egg. — Large, compared with the size of its parent ; lengthened 

 in form, with a sharp-pointed apex, like some of the Thickheads' 

 eggs, notably Pachycephala olivacea ; shell fine and slightly 

 lustrous; colour pale or light green (the colour being more 

 beautiful and intense when a specimen is freshly blown), spotted 



