THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 103 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Rev. W. Fielder gave some further particulars with reference 

 to the life- history of the Fluke embryo, which he had noted as 

 remaining in snails in the same stage for more than six months. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Amblyomis Macgregori, n. sp. 

 (malej, Macgregor's Bovver Bird from New Guinea; Chlamy- 

 dodera Orientalis (female), Large Bower Bird from N. Queensland ; 

 also, a snake, Furina bicucidlata, Two-hooded Furina, from the 

 Mallee, Victoria. By Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S. — Plants from the 

 Wimmera, forwarded by Mr. F. Reader, Eremophila gibbosifolia 

 and Goodenia amplexus, new for N.W. Victoria ; also, Sjjergularia 

 media (introduced). By Mr. J. Gabriel — Nest of White-backed 

 Grow-Shrike, Gymnorhina leuconota, partly built of wire, and taken 

 off a stone-wall at Werribee. By Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S. — 

 Acacia Tysoni (n. sp.), from Upper Murchison River, W.A. ; 

 Boronia alata, Sol., from Endeavour River, Queensland 

 (Persieh) ; and B. subsessilis, Bentham, from near Lake Lefroy, 

 W.A. (J. D. Batt). By Mr. C. M. Maplestone.— Orchids, 

 Pterostylis curta (with two flowers on stem), P. mutica, and 

 P. rufa, from Eltham. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



BOX HILL BIRDS IN JULY, 1896. 



By Robert Hall. 



(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 10th August, 1896.^ 



While on the weekly rambles, which are so beneficial to one's 

 health, during last month I had occasion to notice that spring 

 signs are early this year, and have been noticeable on many sides. 

 Nature favoured the botanist with its tiny grass-lily (Wurmbea 

 dioica) as early as 5th of July, at the quiet, though once 

 prominent, watering place, Altona, and I daresay our botanists 

 could tell us of similar early finds elsewhere. 



That beautiful creature of the air, the Welcome Swallow 

 (Hirundo neoxena), was again content, on account of a second 

 moderately mild season, to remain with us, although the rainfall 

 and low temperature of last month must have been rather pro- 

 nounced for it. 



In March last the birds assembled in hundreds in Elizabeth- 

 street, City, and I was inclined to conclude one contingent was 

 preparing to make a journey. These birds settled on the 

 projecting mouldings of the third floor of a five-storied building, 

 each uttering a single note, which collectively constituted a din 

 of weak voices. In this month there are three features observable 



