THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 49 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland made some remarks regarding the plant 

 Euphorbia drummondi poisoning stock, a matter which he had 

 previously brought before the Club, and stated that he had 

 recently received a communication from a gentleman in Central 

 Australia, complaining of the loss of horses through eating this 

 plant. Subsequently a valuable horse was found suffering in a 

 similar manner, and the treatment as recommended in the paper 

 which he had read on the subject was adopted, with the best 

 results. 



The President and Messrs, O. A. Sayce, F. Wisewould, and 

 F. Pitcher also discussed the matter. 



Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., stated that a small flock of the 

 little Swallow Dicseiim, Dicceum liirundinaceum, was at present 

 frequenting the Zoological Gardens, this species being rarely seen 

 so near Melbourne. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. A. G. Campbell. — Pair of Black-chinned Honey-eaters, 

 Melithreptus gularis, from Werribee Plains, June, 1902 ; also a 

 small race of White-eared Honey-eaters, Ptilotis leucotis. 



By Mr. A. Coles. — Four specimens of Cyprcea decipiens and 

 one of C. thersites, from Western Australia. 



By Mr. C. Coles. — Four gizzards, and contents of five others, 

 taken from specimens of Magpie Lark, Grallina picata. These 

 birds were found by Mr. A. J. Smith, of Burwood, under one 

 tree, having evidently been poisoned by wheat laid to kill 

 vermin. 



By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Specimens of Verius lamellata, dredged 

 from Port Phillip Bay. 



By Mr. R. Hall. — Flock Pigeon from North-Western Australia, 

 showing sky and ground colours as a protection against hawks 

 flying above or beneath them ; also recognition marks for others 

 of the species ; also Brown Quail, showing an almost total loss of 

 brown and black pigments, with a strong development of greyish- 

 purple — locality, near Melbourne. 



By Mr. A. D. Hardy. — European Mole, Talpa europcea^ from 

 Northumberland, England. 



By Messrs. G. A. Keartland and C. French, jun. — The following 

 rare eggs from Northern Territory, South Australia, described in 

 Victorian Naturalist for June by Mr. A. J. North, C.M.Z.S. : — 

 White-eyebrowed Water Crake, Burdekin Duck (Radjah Shiel- 

 drake), Eyton's Tree Duck, Whistling Tree Duck, Pigmy Goose, 

 Great Bower-bird, and Rainbow Pitta. Also, the following since 

 received : — Royal Spoonbill, Jabiru, White-quilled Pigmy Goose 

 and skins, and skin of the Masked Owl. 



By Mr. H. B. Williamson. — The following dried plants from 

 new localities : — Helichrysum rutidolepis, De C, new for N.E. ; 

 locality Murray River, near Rutherglen, 12/01. Kochia hrevifolia, 



