14 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Tlie author gave some particulars of the bird — its note, the 

 finding of its eggs, and the names of its various foster parents so 

 far known. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., gave a short account of the structure of 

 Hydrocorallines, illustrated by diagrams, with the object of in- 

 teresting members in the specimens exhibited by him. Mr. J. 

 Shephard and others joined in the discussion that followed. 



Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S., drew attention to a paper, almost 

 the last by the late Baron von Mueller, on the genus Wailzia, 

 published in a German pharmaceutical journal ; and, by the aid 

 of drawings and specimens, showed the mam features of difference 

 between this genus and other closely allied Composilre. Mr. 

 Luehmann also exhibited, and read a note on, a new labiate plant, 

 Hemigenia llacphersoni, collected by Mr. W. S. Macpherson near 

 Mount Magnet, Western Australia. 



Mr. D. M 'Alpine drew attention to an edible fungus, Coprinus 

 cornatus (exhibited), and described the growth of the Fairy-ring 

 Puff-ball fungus (also exhibited), which has this year been very 

 plentiful, and especially so in one of the suburban bowling greens. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. A. J. Campbell. — Eggs of the Australian or White- 

 rumped Swift, Cypselus Pacijicus, taken in Japan, 8th July last. 

 By Mr. A. Coles. — White-fronted Falcon, FaJco limtdatus, shot 

 near Moonee Ponds. By Mr. C. French. — Plates of two new 

 Birds of Paradise, from German New Guinea. By Mr. G. A. 

 Keartland.— Skins of Pink-naped Bower-bird, Sordid Friar Bird ; 

 eggs of Black-eared Cuckoo, Chestnut-backed Thrush, Sordid 

 Friar Bird, Keartland's Honey-eater, Pied Honey-eater, and 'i'extile 

 Wren, from North-West and Central Australia. By Mr. J. G. 

 Luehmann, F.L.S. — Six species of Waitzia and four plates of 

 Victorian grasses. By Mr. D. M'Alpine. — Maned Coprinus, 

 Fairy-ring Puff-ball (Lycoperdon), and Giant Earth-worm, Megas- 

 colides, sp. (alive), sent by Mr. Eraser, from near Derby, in Tas- 

 mania. By Mr. F. M. Reader. — -Botanical specimens showing 

 abnormal colouring. By Mr. A. £. Rodda. — Corals, attached to 

 a shell, from Queensland. By G. E. Shepherd. — Eggs of Swamp 

 and Painted Quail, from New South Wales. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



Yellow-tufted Honey-eater. — When out for a ramble 

 yesterday I secured a specimen of Plilotis auricomis, which, on 

 examination, proved to be a young male, only just fledged. As 

 this seems to me an extraordinarily late occurrence, 1 send the 

 specimen in verification of my statement. — F. L. Billinghurst, 

 Castlemaine, nth May, 1898. 



[The specimen will be on view at the June meeting of the 

 Field Naturalists' Club. — Editor Victorian IVaium/ist.] 



