THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 55 



Hobson's Bay, ofFWilliamstown, and gave a detailed account of the 

 habits and distribution of the species. The specimen measured 

 a total length of 12 feet 11 inches, and was pecuHar in tliat the 

 front of the head was greatly extended, and formed a thick, fleshy 

 snout, the extremity of which terminated in a fleshy hook. It is 

 the second specimen of the species recorded from Victoiian 

 waters. 



Some photographs of the fish and of some of the teetli (enlarged) 

 were exhibited in illustration of his remarks. 



The chairman, Mr. O. A. Sayce, and Mr. A. D. Hardy made 

 some remarks on the paper. 



2. By Mr. A. J. North, C.M.Z.S., entitled "Note on Ere- 

 miornis carteri." 



The author stated that he had forwarded examples of Carter's 

 Desert-bird to Dr. P. L. Sclater, secretary of the Zoological 

 Society, London, who, when exhibiting them before the British 

 Ornithological Club, remarked : — " The genus is closely allied to 

 Schcenicola of India, and perhaps hardly distinct ; but the 

 specimen is not in very good condition, and I am unable to 

 decide definitely upon it." Mr. North stated that after com- 

 paring specimens of the two genera he was strengthened in his 

 opinion that although Schcenicola and Eremiornis bear a close 

 resemblance to each other they are quite distinct, and described 

 the diiferences in detail. A photograph of the two birds was 

 exhibited to illustrate his paper. 



3, By Mr. Frank Madden, M.L.A., entitled " Notes on the 

 White Ibis," communicated by Mr. G. A. Keartland. 



The author gave a very interesting account of the habits of 

 the White Ibis, Threskior7iis strictipennis, emphasizing its 

 value in keeping in check the swarms of locusts and other insect 

 pests, as the Sacred Ibis does in Egypt, and stated that farmers 

 should do everything in their power to protect and encourage 

 these birds to increase and multiply. He stated that though on 

 the list of protected birds permits can be obtained to allow 

 keeping them as pets in gardens, where they would do infinite 

 service in keeping down injurious insects. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland mentioned that a new Grass-Wren, named 

 Amytis housei by Mr. A. W. Milligan, of Perth, had been dis- 

 covered by Dr. House while on the recent Kimberley Exploring 

 Expedition in North-Western Australia. A White Cockatoo was 

 also taken, which had been referred to as doubtfully new on account 

 of its smaller size as compared with Cacatua galerita. Mr. Keart- 

 land remarked that he obtained a specimen of this bird when at 

 Derby, North-Western Australia, and drew attention at the time 

 to its smaller size. 



