Dec, 1907.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 123 



the same could not be said regarding zoology. He was sure 

 that the large majority of zoologists would be opposed to the 

 proposal. 



Both the president and Mr. J. A. Kershaw thought the motion 

 unnecessary, and not likely to be carried out by the majority of 

 members if adopted. 



After the mover had replied, the motion was put to the meeting 

 and declared lost. 



PAPERS. , 



1. By Mr. A. J. North, C.M.Z.S., entitled, "Description of a 

 new species of Chalcophaps from North-Western Australia." 



This pigeon, to which the author has given the name of Chalco- 

 phaps occidentalis, was recently collected at Port Keats, N.W. 

 Australia, and is allied to the well-known Little Green Pigeon, 

 C. chrysochlora. It is distinguished by the lilac-mauve colour of 

 the head, hind neck, and upper back, the more pronounced 

 bronze colour of the wings, and [the larger white shoulder-patch. 

 The author proposes the vernacular name of " Lilac-mantled 

 Pigeon " for the new species. 



2. By Mr. A. J. North, C.M.Z.S., entitled " Note onParadisea 

 granti, North." 



The author had been afforded an opportunity of examining a 

 second specimen of this species, an adult male, obtained from 

 German New Guinea, and added some further notes to his former 

 description. 



3. By Mr. J. R. Tovey, entitled " Remarks on the National 

 Herbarium of Melbourne." 



The author gave a brief history of the collections contained in 

 the National Herbarium, commencing with the collection formed 

 by the late Government Botanist, Baron F. von Mueller, prior to 

 the year 1857. The various collections since obtained were 

 enumerated, some of which are especially valuable from the fact 

 that they include plants named by many well-known botanists, a 

 list of whose names were quoted. The number of plants now in 

 the Herbarium was estimated by the author at over one million. 



The paper was discussed by Messrs. F. G. A. Barnard, G. Cog- 

 hill, and A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., who expressed the hope that further 

 notes regarding this valuable collection would be published. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, said members would be 

 interested to learn that a pair of Green-Leek or Barraband's 

 Parrakeets, Polytelis barrabandi, Swains., had started to breed in 

 his aviary. The female was now sitting on eggs. He stated that 

 this is the first record of this species breeding in captivity in 

 Australia, and he remarked that the female does all the sitting. 



Mr. C. J. Gabriel, who was present for the first time since his 



