134 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Gardens, together with some notes thereon. An interesting 

 discussion ensued, chiefly relating to any effect the altered con- 

 ditions of the snakes through being confined would have, in 

 which Messrs. F. G. A. Barnard, G. A. Keartland, D. Best, O. A. 

 Sayce, W. J. Morgan, and others took part. 



2. By Mr. G. B. Pritchard, entitled " Geology of Flinders." 

 The author described at some length the geological features of 

 the district around Flinders, his remarks being illustrated by a 

 large series of lantern views, showing the more interesting portions 

 of the coast line from Shoreham to Cape Schanck. 



Mr. Pritchard's remarks were discussed by Messrs. D. Le 

 Souef, F. Wisewould, and the President, the former stating that 

 " Pulpit Rock " was so called from the fact that for many years 

 there was on the rock a White-bellied Sea-Eagle's nest, which at a 

 distance looked like a pulpit. 



A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. J. Searle, on the motion of 

 Messrs. G. Coghill and D. Le Souef, for again placing his lantern 

 at the disposal of the Club. 



3. By Mr. J. G. O. Tepper, F.L.S., communicated by Mr. C. 

 French, F.L.S., entitled "Notes and Remarks on the described 

 Genera and Species of Australian and Polynesian Phasmidse." 



Owing to the lateness of the hour, this paper was taken as read 

 and ordered to be printed. 



A paper by Mr. J. F. Haase, entitled " Records of Victorian 

 Entomostraca," was postponed until next ordinary meeting. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard read the following paragraph from 

 Bunce's '-'Travels with Leichardt " : — "The River Yarra Yarra 

 was then (October, 1839) densely covered on both banks with 

 Melaleuca or Tea-tree and the Monomeeth Parbine. This latter 

 was called ' the good mother ' by the aborigines, from the seed- 

 pod, or receptacle for the developing process of the seeds, being 

 attached in whorls to the stems or branches on which they are 

 produced years after the trees at those parts have shed their 

 blossoms. The long, heavy branches of the Monomeeth Parbine 

 hung in massive, graceful arches over the river's side ; " and asked 

 if any member could tell him what shrub was referred to as the 

 " Monomeeth Parbine." 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard also read a paragraph from Mrs. Campbell 

 Praed's recently published book, " My Australian Girlhood " (page 

 .109), as follows: — "Bad times come, with the scab among the 

 sheep, and the treading down of those green thick-leaved fat-hen 

 plants (of which very good spinach could be made) in an access 

 of activity round the disused boiling-down pots," and asked for 

 information as to what plant was known as the " fat-hen 

 plant." 



