THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 85 



why plovers and similar birds laid dark-coloured eggs on dark- 

 coloured, damp soil, while, excepting pigeons', white eggs were 

 laid in hollows of trees ; the wonderful way in which many birds 

 built their nests to escape observation ; how many birds remain 

 perfectly still when a hawk passes over ; also, why certain birds 

 had their protective colouration on the back, while others had it 

 on the breast. The lecturer was followed with great interest, and 

 his remarks were illustrated by numerous lantern slides. 



In the evening Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A., F.R.S., gave 

 an interesting lecturette entitled " Scenes in Central Australia," in 

 which he explained, by means of a fine series of lantern slides, 

 the different types of country to be met with in the centre of the 

 continent, and graphically illustrated the difficulties which beset 

 the explorer in that region. 



The Club was again indebted to Mr. J. Searle for placing his 

 lantern at its disposal, so that the lecturettes might be suitably 

 illustrated. 



A fine display of objects under microscopes was made by 

 members who take up that method of studying nature, and some 

 twenty instruments were fully occupied during the whole time of 

 the conversazione. 



A number of specimen plants for platform decoration were 

 kindly lent by Mr. R. Cheeseman, of North Brighton, while 

 Messrs. Watson and Sons had an interesting exhibit of the latest 

 improvements in microscopes, choice mounted microscopic 

 objects, spirit specimens showing the metamorphoses of reptiles, 

 &c., and collecting materials. 



EXHIBITS. 



The following is a list of the exhibitors, with particulars of 

 their principal specimens : — 



Anderson, E., Toorak — British and Victorian Lepidoptera. Living Larvae 

 of Victorian Moths. Drawings of Larvae of Victorian Moths. 



Best, D., Hawthorn — Five cabinet drawers of Australian Beetles (Cole- 

 optera). One drawer of Australian Wasps, Hornets, &c. (Hymenoptera). 

 One drawer of Victorian Butterflies. 



Campbell, A. G., Armadale — Bird Architecture and Live Opossum. 



Chapman, F., A. L.S. — Collection of Foraminiferal Limestone from Egypt, 

 Sinai, and India. Collection of British Fossils. 



Cochrane, Miss S. W. L., Melbourne — Paintings of Wattle Blossom, &c. 



Coles, A., Melbourne — ^ Kangaroo, Emu and young, Pair of Wedge-tailed 

 Eagles, Black Eagle, English Badger, Platypus, Group of Entellus 

 Monkeys, White-faced Monkey, Giant Penguin, case of Royal Spoonbills, 

 New Zealand Huia, case of Grass-Finches, covey of Brown Quail, covey 

 of Stubble Quail, case of Golden Plover, Snowy Owl, Schnapper, King 

 Schnapper, Murray Perch, Spotted Ling, Parrot Fish, Pike, Yellow-tail, 

 Red Mullet, Bream, John Dorey, and Blackfish. 



Department of Agriculture, Entomological Branch — Five cabinet 

 drawers of Life- Histories of Insects. One drawer of Scale Insects 

 (Coccidse). 



