Nov., 1907.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 107 



create not only a new genus, hut a new family, for its reception, 

 In general form and structure it resembles the Tasmanian stalk- 

 eyed species, Anaspiden tasmania\ G. M. Thomson, but differs, 

 among other important characters, in the eyes being sessile, 

 the absence of the antennal scale, and in the coalescence of the 

 first thoracic somite with the head. This species, the largest of 

 which only measures 9 mm., was obtained in fresh-water reedy 

 pools at Ringwood, near Melbourne, and is regarded by the 

 author as the most primitive sessile-eyed Malacostraca at present 

 known. The author illustrated his remarks by diagrams on the 

 blackboard. 



2. By Professor A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S., entitled 

 " Victorian Plant Records," 



In a previous paper the author drew attention to a number of 

 erroneous or unnecessary records of native plants as new to 

 Victoria, and in the present paper similar instances arc given 

 regarding naturalized introduced plants. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr, R. W. Armitage drew attention to his exhibit of a large 

 yam, Dioscorea hutatns, from the Trobriand Islands, Papua, The 

 specimen measures 33 inches long and 5 inches in diameter, and 

 weighs 20 lbs. It is the edible root of a tropical climbing plant, 

 and forms, with taro, the principal food of the islanders, being 

 used in a similar manner to the ordinary potato. 



Mr. C. F. Cole mentioned as new bird arrivals in the Hawthorn 

 district the Rufous Song-Lark, C'indorhamphiis rv/ei^rens, Vig. 

 and Hors. ; the White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater, Lalnge. tricolor, 

 Swains. ; and the Rose-breasted Robin, PpArieca rosea, (lid. 



EXHIBITS, 



By Mr. R. VV. Armitage. — Specimen of yam, Dioscorea hnlatus, 

 from Trobriand Islands, Papua. 



By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard.— Growing fern, Lomarin alpina, 

 from Mt. St. Bernard, December, 1902 ; and nest of Oriole, 

 Oriolus viridis, from Doncaster. 



By Mr. H. J. Coles.— Orchid, in bloom, from Blackall Ranges, 

 Queensland ; also triplet nest of Scarlet-breasted Robin, Petroica 

 leggii, Sharpe, built in spouting of shed ; locality, Mt. Dandenong. 



By Miss Lillian Horner. — Stone used in fire-walking ceremony 

 in Suva, stone axes from Fiji, whale's tooth (weight, i lb. 3 ozs.), 

 and cannibal fork dug up on site of old native village, Naitisiri, 

 Fiji. 



By Mr. C. Oke. — Insects collected on Wheeler's Hill excursion 

 on 1 2th inst., including female and egg of beetle, Euops falcata, 

 with rolled tip of gum leaf, inside which it had deposited its 



egg- 

 By Mr. O. A. Sayce. — Living specimens of the new crustacean, 

 Koonunga cursor, in illustration of his paper. 



