126 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



with ferruginous matter, but Mr. Stickland stated that he had 

 also observed diatoms. Mr. J. Shephard said that from the rough 

 drawings sent the diatoms appeared to be species commonly 

 found in Victoria, and would give no clue as to the origin of 

 the dust. 



EXHIBITS. 



The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — 

 By Mr. A. J. Campbell. — Nest and egg of Rifle Bird, Ptilorhis 

 paradisea, from New South Wales. By Master A. Campbell. — 

 Nest and egg of Rose-breasted Robin, from Dandenong Ranges. 

 By Mr. A. Coles. — Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus axillaris; 

 egg of Australian Rhynchsea, taken from bird ; Lizard, Moloch 

 horridus, from Western Australia. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Bom- 

 bardier Beetles, Pheropsophus verticalis, from Murray River, 

 Victoria. By Mr. D. Le Souef. — Nest and eggs of Sordid Friar 

 Bird, Trojndorhynchus sordidus ; also, nest and eggs of Yellow- 

 tinted Honeyeater, Ptilotus Jlavescens. By Mr. F. M. Reader. — 

 Specimens of new Acacia, in illustration of paper. By Mr. G. E. 

 Shepherd. — Two nests and eggs of Jardine's Campephaga, in 

 illustration of paper ; also, nest and eggs of Warty-faced Honey- 

 eater and Orange-winged Sittella, from Western Port. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



On the Change of Plumage in Some Exotic Finches. — 

 In the Zoologist for December, 1896, Dr. A. G. Butler, F.L.S., 

 contributes some notes on the above subject. He says : — " Just 

 now (29th October) I have in my aviary some young Gouldian 

 Finches in the middle of their change from nestling to adult 

 plumage. It must be warm work, for the new feathers come 

 over the old, which do not drop out at the time. One died on 

 28th October, and I sent it on to Sir William Flower for the 

 Natural History Museum, as it is very interesting to see how it 

 is done. A few of the feathers at the union of the violently con- 

 trasting colours seem to alter in tint, the colour growing in the 

 feather itself. This is known to be the case in the crimson 

 colouring of the variety Porphila mirabilis, which, when it first 

 acquires its adult plumage, closely resembles P. Goiddice, but 

 subsequently the black feathers of the head become rusty, red 

 brown, and finally crimson. The little Indian Amaduvale is 

 always changing ; I should think it must have half a dozen 

 plumages in a year, but it only moults once. The Fire Weavers 

 ( Pyromelana ) only moult the flank feathers and upper tail coverts, 

 so far as I can judge, at the assumption of the breeding plumage, 

 these feathers being replaced by long soft plumes which cover 

 the short tail. All the other feathers change very gradually at 

 first, and then rapidly, the full colour appearing first along the 

 centre of the shaft, and spreading forwards and laterally." 



