110 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



forming a new committee to carry out the proposal. Professor 

 Spencer, M.A., stated that a public meeting had been held that 

 day, which had been very enthusiastic. Numerous promises of 

 support had been given, and an executive committee elected, by 

 whom the various proposals for perpetuating Baron von Mueller's 

 labours will be considered. It is hoped that sufficient funds 

 will be available to provide (i) for the erection of some 

 form of statue, and (2) for the endowment of a medal, prize, or 

 scholarship, to be associated with Baron von Mueller's name, and 

 to be awarded from time to time in recognition of distinguished 

 work in the special branches in which he was most deeply 

 interested, and which shall be open to workers throughout the 

 Australian colonies. 



PAPER. 



By Mr. D. Le Souef, entitled " Ancient Animal Life." 

 The author gave an interesting epitome of the various dis- 

 coveries which have been worked out, and by means of numerous 

 limelight views of restorations of the larger forms of animal life 

 enabled those present to obtain some idea of the shape and size 

 of the creatures inhabiting the earth in primeval days. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. 



Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S., stated that among some plants 

 recently forwarded to him by Mr. W. H. Williamson, of Lillimur, 

 was the male plant of Xerotes juncea, F. v. M., of which only the 

 female plants had hitherto been found ; also a Tillasa, which, 

 along with T. adscendens, Nees., had been included by Bentham 

 under T, verticillaris. He, however, considered them to be three 

 distinct species. 



EXHIBITS. 



The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — 

 By Mr. A. Coles. — The Little Australian Eagle, Aquila morph- 

 noides, Gould, with four eggs. By Mr. C. French. — Fine speci- 

 men of Eaglehawk, Aquila audax, Lath., from Wimmera ; 

 drawings of life-histories of Queensland Lepidoptera. By Mr. 

 C. French, jun.— Rare eggs of Australian Dottrel and Pratincole, 

 from interior of New South Wales and South Australia. By Mr. 

 J. Haase. — Larvae of butterfly Xenica achanta. By Mr. F. M. 

 Reader. — Dried specimens of Shcenus nanus, Benth., from 

 Arapiles, new for Victoria. By Mr. G. E. Shepherd. — Masked 

 Barn Owl, Strix Novce-Hollandice ; eggs of Swamp Harrier and 

 Black-throated Grebe. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



Australian Grasses. — Mr. F. M. Reader, Dimboola, Victoria, 

 is working up the genera Stipa and Aristida, and is desirous of 

 obtaining specimens of any species of them, or of any grass, from 

 all parts of Australia, in order to obtain material for complete 

 comparisons. 



