58 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



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

 Mr. A. Coles. — Specimen of Tiger Snake, 6 feet 10 inches long, 

 killed at Mildura, the largest known Tiger Snake ever killed. 

 By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Cylas formicarius, a new insect pest 

 introduced from Mauritius. This beetle has by some means 

 been introduced into Queensland, where it is spreading rapidly, 

 and specimens have also been found in Victoria, having been 

 detected in some sweet potatoes imported from Queensland. By 

 Mr. C. French, jun. — Orchid, Pterostylis concinna, with two 

 flowers on one stem, collected at Sandringham by Mr. Wauer. 

 By Mr. Haase. — Orchids in flower, viz. : Pterostylis pedunculata, 

 P. longifolia, P. curia, Acianthus exsertus, A. caudatus, 

 Chiloglottis diphylla, and Cyrtostylis reniformis, collected by 

 Mr. Paul at Grantville. By Mr. G. E. F. Hill.— Long-tailed 

 Cuckoo, Eudynamis tartensis, Tui Tui or Parson Bird, Phos- 

 t/iemadera Novm Zealandite, from New Zealand ; also, Red-tailed 

 Tropic Bird, from Chatham Islands. By Mr. A. Mattingley. — 

 Striped Phalanger and Cattle Ticks from Herbert River, 

 Queensland. By Mr. F. Spry. — Silurian Fossils from sewer, 

 Domain-road, South Yarra, obtained 90 feet below surface. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM CENTRAL 

 AUSTRALIA. 

 By G. A. Keartland. 

 Part I. — Raptores. 

 (Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, Uth May, 189G.) 

 In noticing the various forms of bird life in any part of the 

 globe, it is always advisable to note not only the geological and 

 botanical surroundings, but also the effect of climatic influences. 

 Whilst the cold icy region of the Arctic Circle is undoubtedly 

 the home of Grallatores and Natatores, the complete list of 

 which it is impossible to enumerate, the equally inhospitable dry, 

 sandy portions of Egypt and Australia appear to be the favourite 

 haunts of the Raptores. This thought was emphasized on my 

 mind during the journey of the expedition despatched to Central 

 Australia in 1894 by Mr. W. A. Horn. Frequently when we 

 were travelling for days over dry sandy or stony plains, and scarcely 

 seeing a bird of any species on either the ground or the stunted 

 bushes, high overhead several species of Raptores might be seen 

 soaring at ease, and evidently on the lookout for prey of some 

 kind. The absence of many short-winged birds is accounted for 

 by the scarcity of water and their inability to find suitable food. 

 The distance from shelter may also have an important bearing on 

 this point, but when we consider the immense power of flight, 



