140 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



this seaweed is common on the shores of the Bay, as it may 

 become a useful article of commerce ; it is very plentiful at 

 Barwon Heads after a storm. Some of our party turned their 

 attention to zoology. Several egg bags belonging to sharks and 

 dogfish were obtained, and a rather uncommon specimen of 

 nudibranch mollusc was found on one of the rocks, as well as 

 several varieties of Diatoms and Hydroids. 



After thoroughly working out the narrow fringe of shore that 

 could be reached under the circumstances, the party turned its 

 attention to the maritime plants growing at the bases of the steep 

 rises towards Beaumaris, where the following plants were found 

 in flower : — Lobelia pratiodes, Apium proslrata, Goodenia geni- 

 culates and ovata, Calocephahis Brownii, and A triplex cinereum. 



Altogether it was a most enjoyable and interesting trip, and 

 the members returned to town thoroughly satisfied with their 

 outing. — H. T. Tisdall. 



NOTES ON THE NIDIFICATION OF THE EMU WREN. 



By G. E. Shepherd. 

 (Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, lAth December, 1897 J 

 As but little is known concerning the nidification of that beautiful 

 and most interesting bird the Emu Wren, Stipiturus malachurus, 

 Lath. (V.), I shall endeavour to give some information regarding 

 its nesting habits, some of which, at least, I hope will be new to 

 members and others taking an interest in oology. 



In the first place I may say that the birds are far from rare, 

 though the eggs are exceedingly so — a fact no doubt, due to the 

 extreme difficulty experienced in finding the nest. In October, 

 1892, I found my first nest in the following curious manner. I 

 had noticed a White Egret flying along the ed;^e of the tide on the 

 shore of Western Port Bay, and being anxious to secure the 

 bird, I commenced stalking through the scrub fringing the fore- 

 shore. Whilst so engaged I flushed an Emu Wren from a thick 

 Salonica bush, and discovered the nest, situated in the thickest 

 part of the foliage, and containing three eggs, which were nearly 

 hatched. Possessed of the knowledge thus obtained, I made 

 repeated and persistent efforts to again find a nest, but without 

 success until September, 1895, on the 14th of which month I 

 succeeded in finding a nest containing two fresh eggs. This nest 

 I also found accidentally through riding across a shallow swamp 

 fringed with stunted ti-tree, from amongst which I saw the bird 

 flutter, and after a short search discovered the nest. Two days 

 afterwards I discovered another nest in a patch of thick, low 

 scrub. In this instance three eggs were taken, somewhat in- 

 cubated, one of which broke when being blown. Unfortunately 



