158 ■ THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



that the crabs mentioned were probably a species of Hetero- 

 grapsus. 



2. By Mr. D. Goudie, entitled " Notes on the Larvae and 

 Pupee of Birchip Heterocera," part iii. 



The author gave an account of the life -history of the moth 

 Hyleora dihioida, Felder, and exhibited a water-colour drawing 

 of the moth, larva, and pupa. 



Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., in speaking on the subject, drew 

 attention to the close resemblance between H. caustopis and 

 H. eucalypti, the latter of which is one of the rarest of our Vic- 

 torian moths. So far as he could find, the National Museum 

 collection is the only Victorian collection which contains Victorian 

 examples of H. eucalypti. These specimens were collected by 

 the late Mr. W. Kershaw about thirty years ago, and, as far as he 

 could ascertain, this species had not been taken in Victoria since 

 that time. He mentioned that Dr. Turner, of Queensland, was 

 at present engaged in revising this group, and the results of his 

 work would shortly be published. 



3. By Dr. C. S. Sutton and Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, entitled 

 " Among the Alpine Flowers." 



The authors gave an interesting account of a visit to the Vic- 

 torian Alps (Mt. Hotham) and the Buffalo Mountains at Christ- 

 mas time, mentioning the principal plants and shrubs then in 

 bloom, their observations resulting in several additional species 

 being recorded for the N.E. district of Victoria. The paper was 

 well illustrated by maps, photographs, and specimens. 



Messrs. H. T. Tisdall, J. Shephard, and the President 

 congratulated the authors on the splendid results of their trip, 

 and spoke highly of the great trouble they had taken in placing 

 such a large and interesting exhibit, consisting of the plants, &c., 

 collected during their trip, before the meeting. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. F. C. Christy contributed a note on the English Blackbirds, 

 Turdus merula, feeding their young on the larvae of the Vine 

 Moth, Agarista glycine. Mr. G. A. Keartland remarked that the 

 Pallid Cuckoo, Cuculus pallidus, was one of our most useful 

 birds for destroying these larvae. 



Mr. Kearthmd also mentioned that he has four different species 

 of birds sitting on eggs at the present time, and stated that it was 

 rather remarkable that they should be nesting at this time of the 

 year. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Living fern, Lomaria alpina, from 

 Mt. St. Bernard ; geological specimens from summit of Mt. 

 Hotham and the Buffalo Gorge ; also maps and photographs in 

 illustration of paper. 



