138 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



This consisted of the technical description of an orchid dis- 

 covered and named by the author, as new to science, Prasophyl- 

 lum fusco-viride. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. 



Mr. D. Best read a note on the life-history of the longicorn 

 beetle, Scolecobrotus Westivoodii, in connection with his exhibit of 

 the beetle and the branches in which the larvae had grown to 

 maturity. 



EXHIBITS. 



The following were the principal exhibits : — By Mr. F. G. 

 A. Barnard. — Bifurcated irond of Tree Fern, Dicksonia Antarctica 

 (cultivated), also portion of frond of Queensland Ribbon Fern, 

 Ophioglossum pendulum, Linn., showing fructification. By Mr. 

 D. Best. — Specimens of beetle, Scolecobrotus Westwoodii. By 

 Mr. A. Coles. — Egg of the Black-breasted Buzzard, Gypoictinia 

 melanosterna, from New South Wales ; also four specimens of 

 the cuckoo Eiidynamus Flindersi, from Queensland. By Mr. 

 C. French, F.L.S. — Exotic butterflies (Papilionidse), including ten 

 species of the genus Omithoptera. By Mr. C. French, jun.— 

 Rare eggs of Sterna melanauchen, Black-naped Tern, from North 

 Queensland. By Mr. J. Haase. — Victorian skippers, Hesperilla 

 Donnysa and H. flammeata, Trapezites idothea, and the scarce 

 T. Andersoni ; also larvae of the butterfly Xenica Hobarti, reared 

 from eggs. By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Orchid, PrasophyUum fusco- 

 viride, in illustration of his paper. By Mr. G. E. Shepherd. — 

 Rare eggs of Crested Hawk from New South Wales, and White- 

 eyed Duck from Macorna, and also egg of Brush Cuckoo found 

 in nest of the Scarlet-breasted Robin with two of the latter's ; 

 also adult and young male specimens of Brush Cuckoo. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



EXCURSION TO BLACK ROCK. 



This excursion, which took place on Saturday, nth December, 

 was fairly attended. On arriving at Black Rock we were 

 rather disgusted to find that it was almost high tide. However, 

 by means of long sticks we were enabled to get a fair lot of repre- 

 sentative sea-weeds. The commonest was the green, thin Ulva 

 latissima ; its broken lettuce-like leaves were strewn all along the 

 shore, as well as lining the few tide pools that could be reached. 

 Two distinct species of Cladophora were also found growing on 

 the rocks. Mixed with these were the slimy masses of Entero- 

 morpha ; this is a curious plant, forming tufts of long, green, hollow 

 hairs. The attention of the party was next directed to the long, 

 soft fronds of Caulerpa Brownii and C odium elongata. These are 

 apparently alike, but their structure is very different, the caulerpa 

 being really unicellular although so very complex ; it is easily dis- 



