{ 



23 



and blotched Avith irregular patcliy markings, and a few dots of nmber and 

 sienna brown of different tints, in some almost approaching blackish brown, 

 in others of a yellowish color ; the larger markings are as usual on the thicker 

 end, but a few appear with the small dots on the thin end. In this, the usual 

 form, the irregular short wavy lines previously mentioned seldom appear ex- 

 cept where the larger spots or blotches are confluent ; as if beneath^the sur- 

 face of the shell are a few irregular shaped faint markings of slaty grey or 

 pale lilac. The following are the measurements of two normal sets: — 



A. length 1-75 inch, breadth 1-15 inch, 



B. - 1. 7 - - 1-16 - 

 1-82 - - 1-18 - 

 1-76 - - 1-15 - 



(2) Rhynchœa australin (Gould) . I have always had grave doubts as to the specific 



distinction of the Australian painted snipe from the Rhynchœa of India, and a 



study of the eggs of the Australian birds, compared with those from India, 



does not weaken my conviction. A few weeks ago Mr. George Masters 



drew my attention to the fact that the egg I had described and figured as that 



of GalUnago [Scolopax] ous traits from Mr. Whittell's collection (see 



P. Linn. Soc. of N. S. W., 1882. Vol. VII., p. 57, pi. III., fig. 15), was 



not sufficiently authentic. After examining large collections of eggs in Eng- 



lang during 1883-84 and comparing those of the European, American, and 



Indian specimens of Gallinago with the Australian specimens, I had come 



to the same conclusion, but was not then in a position to give a definite 



opinion on the subject; quite lately however on communicating with Mr. K. 



H. Bennet of Mossgiel, that gentleman was good enough to send me the 



set I have the pleasure of exhibiting to-night ; these are authentic eggs of 



the Australian painted snipe Rhynchœa australis, and, as will be seen, are 



identical with the egg I erroneously described as that of Gallinago [Scolopax) 



australis. Mr. Masters exhibited a beautiful set of the eggs of this Rhynchœa 



at one of our recent meetings ; the present set are similar in every respect, 



and were taken by Mr. K. H. Bennet himself, at Ivanhoe, on October 



11th, 1885.« — Mr. A. J. North exhibited eggs oi Mentirà Victoriœ, Gould, 



from S. Gippsland, and of Geronticus spinicoUis, Jameson, from Hillston, 



N.S.W. — Dr. Hurst exhibited two specimens of Sphenœacus yramineus, 



together with a nest and three lots of eggs obtained from a mangrove swamp, 



near Newington, and stated that during the last few weeks he had succeeded 



in shooting the birds on the nest, thus establishing the identity of the eggs. 



At the August meeting when he exhibited some of the eggs it was suggested 



that they were those of Glyciphila ocularis. The eggs of the three takings 



present some difi'erences among themselves, both as to their markings and 



dimensions. — Mr. Ogilby exhibited a small fish, belonging to the genus 



Apogon of which he had picked out large numbers from among prawns caught 



in the Parramatta River ; it belongs to the subgenus Apogonichthys, but seems 



to be very distinct from any yet described. He proposes to call it Apogon 



roseigaster. Attention was drawn to the curious black lobe on each side of 



the tongue. — Mr. Masters exhibited some very handsome butterflies from 



Cairns, Northern Queensland, comprising specimens of the following species: 



— Ornithoptera Cassandra, Papilio Erectheus, P. Polydorus, and a new species 



allied to P. Ambrax, Pieris Mysa, P. Argenthone, P. nigrina, Cethosia Cy- 



dippe, Cynthia Ada, Doleschallia Bisaltidœ, and Diadema Alimena. 



