April, 1908.] THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 179 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Musk Lorikeet. — Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., referred to a dis- 

 cussion on a natural history note by Mr. A. D. Hardy at the 

 previous meeting, during which some doubt was expressed as to 

 the Musk Lorikeet, Glossopsittacus concinnus, being known in 

 some districts as tlie " Green-Leek." Mr. Hall stated at the time 

 that he believed the Musk Lorikeet was referred to in the Geelong 

 dstrict some years ago as the " Green-Leek," and his statement 

 had recently been confirmed by Mr. Mulder, of Geelong, and 

 Mr. Johnson, of Lancefield, as regards the Goulburn Valley. 



Mr. R. W. Armitage submitted several notes, which proved of 

 considerable interest : — 



1. Bronzewing Pigeon. — When a mile or so south of Cape 

 Schanck, at 7.45 p.m. on 21st December last, I saw a Bronze- 

 wing Pigeon, Phaps chalcoptera, fly past the steamer towards the 

 south-east, no doubt making for Tasmania. I kept a sharp 

 look-out, but did not see any other Bronzewings fly past. 



2. Mutton Birds. — When off Wilson's Promontory at 7 a.m. 

 on 30th January last enormous numbers of Mutton-birds could 

 be seen flying out to sea, as far across the water as the eye could 

 distinguish. There must have been some hundreds of thousands, 

 for they flew past the steamer in one continuous flight for more 

 than half an hour. Occasionally large flocks would settle on the 

 water, making immense dark-looking patches. Then all would 

 rise at the one moment, appearing in the distance like a huge 

 swarm of bees. 



3. Scorpions. — When at Mount William, Lancefield, on 22nd 

 February last, numbers of Scorpions were found on turning over 

 the loose or partially embedded stones on the top of a hill. 

 These, on examination, appear to agree with Urodacus abritptus, 

 Pocock, described some years ago in the " Annals of Natural 

 History." Many of them were accompanied by young ones, 

 which in every instance were crowded on the back of the mother, 

 who defended her young when threatened by danger. The 

 female Scorpion exhibited this evening had twenty-two young 

 crowded on her back. These were pure white, with black eyes, 

 when captured, but have since turned a brownish colour, and 

 though fed while in captivity, have not grown much. 



4. Pennant's Parrakeet. — -^When near Mt. William, Lance- 

 field, on February last, a flock of about a dozen Pennant's 

 Parrakeets, Plaiycercus elegans, were observed busily engaged at 

 some plants of the Native Cranberry, Styphelia humifusa. Close 

 examination showed that they had nipped off the flowers just at 

 the base of the corolla, doubtless to feast on the nectar stored 

 therein. 



