18 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



«e 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. G. Lyell, jun., of Gisborne, read a note on the specific 

 distinctions between the various butterflies commonly known as 

 " blues ; " and Mr. H. Bullen contributed a cutting from the 

 Therapist on the advantages of formalin as a preservative. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By 

 Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Group of exotic Buprestida;, including 

 new species from the Congo. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Eggs of 

 the following rare Australian birds, viz.: — Western Black Cockatoo 

 and Striated Wren, from Central Australia ; Red-backed Superb 

 Warbler and Long-billed Shore Plover, from Northern Queensland; 

 also skin of Tiger Snake, four feet long, and Black Snake, six feet 

 long, from Paynesville, Gippsland, lent by Mr. Maynard for 

 exhibition; and plants in flower: Epacris microphylla and 

 several varieties of Epacris impressa ; and variegated leaves of 

 Eucalyptus Gunni, from Dandenong Ranges. By Mr. J. A. 

 Kershaw. — Nest of Water Spider, from Queensland. By Baron 

 von Mueller. — Polygonum orientate, from Lake Cowal, near 

 Lachlan River, N.S.W., in order to draw attention to this so far 

 southern locality for this plant, as it would be desirable to search 

 for this species on the Murray River, and if shown to exist there 

 would be new for Victoria. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



A TRIP TO MALLACOOTA. 

 By D. Le Souef. 

 (Read before. Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 13£A January, 1896.,) 

 I left Melbourne on 2nd November for Lakes' Entrance, and then 

 went on overland on my bicycle, and propose now to mention a 

 few natural history notes I observed on my way, as a redescription 

 of the country is unnecessary. When near Traralgon a Laughing 

 Jackass (Daclo gigas) was noticed sitting on the telegraph wires 

 as the train passed by, showing it had grown accustomed to them, 

 but in any case a telegraph wire must have been a difficult resting- 

 place for a bird of that size. I broke my journey for a short time 

 at Rosedale, and while there found nests and eggs of the Yellow- 

 breasted Robin, White-throated Thickhead, Black-throated Grebe, 

 Garrulous Honey-eater, and Pallid Cuckoo. One Copper-head 

 Snake was passed by, but as it remained perfectly still, although 

 close to us, was taken for dead, but when disturbed soon 

 made for a patch of scrub, which, however, it never reached. 

 A flock of about seventy Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were seen feed- 

 ing on the ground. White and the Roseate Cockatoos seem to 

 feed far more on the ground than anywhere else. When passing 



