THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 33 



A ballot for five members of committee resulted in the election 

 of Messrs. H. P. C. Ashworth, D. Best, J. Gabriel, F.L.S., T. S. 

 Hall, M.A., and W. Stickland. 



On the motion of Mr. E. T. Carter, seconded by Mr. C. 

 French, jun., a vote of thanks to the retiring hon. secretary was 

 passed with acclamation. 



PAPER. 



By Mr. H. R. Hogg, M.A., entitled "The Flight of Sea Birds." 

 The author showed how, in flying against the wind without 

 Mapping their wings, the motive power is obtained chiefly by 

 utilizing the momentum gained by force of gravity, and offered 

 some remarks on the methods of regaining vertical distances lost 

 in the process. 



In the discussion which followed Professor Spencer and Mr. 

 H. P. C Ashworth took part, the latter holding that Mr. Hogg's 

 explanation amounted to perpetual motion, since a bird on enter- 

 ing the air formed part of it, and no movement of the whole of 

 the air could therefore be of any advantage. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



A note was received from Miss Agnes F. Kenyon, recording 

 the occurrence of Voluta Roadknighti, a shell hitherto supposed 

 to be confined to Victorian waters, from the east coast of Tasmania. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



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

 Mr. F.G. A. Barnard. — Queensland moths and flowers of Melaleuca 

 squarrosa grown by exhibitor. By Mr. G. Coghill. — Young 

 Copper-head Snake, alive. By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Rare 

 Australian butterflies, Epinephile Joanna, E. Helena, Atella pro- 

 pinqua, Libythea myrrh, Holoclula cyprotus, II. albosericea, 

 Pseudodipsas Digglesi, P. Brisbanensis, Hypoclirysops Ollijfi, 

 Lycama oranigra ; also insects from Duke of York Island, 

 collected by Rev. E. Brown. By Mr. C French, jun. — Orchid 

 in flower, Pterostylis vittata, collected at Sandringham, 6th June, 

 1896. By Mr. R. Hall. — Bird, nest, and eggs of Little Chthon- 

 icola. By Baron von Mueller, K.C.M.G. — Struvea plumosa, 

 found by Mr. O'Halloran at Spencer Gulf. This alga is new for 

 South Australia, having previously been known from near the 

 estuary of Swan River and from Champion Bay ; Claudia elegans, 

 also from Spencer Gulf, and obtained by Mr. O'Halloran, the 

 locality being the sixth from which this magnificent seaweed is 

 known ; Alysicarfms vaginalis, sent by Mr. Joseph Harris, 

 F.R.H.S., who obtained it from Fiji, where it has been intro- 

 duced and is rapidly supplanting the original pasturage. It is 

 remarkable that stock are passionately fond of it, and that neither 

 this nor any other Alysicarpus has been previously recorded as a 

 rural plant. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



