46 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



The author continued his remarks on the early botanists, deal- 

 ing with the period from the end of the sixteenth century to the 

 time of Linnseus, and exhibited many of their publications in illus- 

 tration of his remarks, 



The president, Mr. H. T. Tisdall, and others expressed their 

 thanks to the author for the trouble he had taken in bringing so 

 many books, and hoped that further oj)poriunities for inspecting 

 such interesting volumes might be afforded to the members. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. A. E. Kitson forwarded a clipping from the Argus of 6th 

 August, recording an attack made by an eagle upon a cattle dog, 

 near Dandenong. The dog, which weighed about 25 lbs., was 

 -taken up ofif the ground, but mana^^ing to seize the bird by the 

 wing, caused them to fall to the earth, when the eagle was 

 despatched by a boy who had witnessed the atlack. The bird 

 measured 7 ft. from tip to tip of the wings. 



Mr. G. Lyell, jun., forwarded a note recording the occurrence 

 of the butterfly Atella 'phalanta, Diury, at Palmerston, Northern 

 Territory. 



Mr. D. Best brought under the notice of the meeting the great 

 destruction caused to the wattles by the wholesale and careless 

 manner of gathering the blossoms during the present season, and 

 suggested that the press be asked to call attention to the matter. 

 He was supported by Messrs. Sayce, Coghill, Sweet, Tisdall, and 

 others, and on the motion of Messrs. Shephard and Wisewould, 

 the hon. secretary was directed to communicate with the daily 

 papers, asking their assistance in checking the wanton destruction 

 at present taking place. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. A. J. Campbell.— On behalf of Mr. J. B. Mason— Great 

 Sandpiper, Trinya crassiroslris, collected at the Gippsland Lakes, 

 new for Victoria ; on behalf of Mr. S. W. Jackson — pair of eggs of 

 the White Goshawk, Astor NovcK-IIoUandue, taken in North 

 Queensland. By Mr. C. French, F.LS.— Group of Australian 

 Phasmidte from North Queensland. By Mr. C. French, jun. —Eggs 

 of Lewin's Rail from Tasmania. By INIr. R. Hall. — Dajila Eatoni, 

 Kerguelen Teal ; Cliionarchaa minor, adult and young ; Neophefina 

 venusta, adult and young. By Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S. — Books 

 in illustration of his paper. By Mr. J. Paul, Grantville. — 6 

 species of orchids, including Pterontyiis yrandijiora ; also, Acacia 

 suaveolens and Sprenr/elia incarnatd, all in blocm. By Mr. F. M. 

 Reader. — Dried specimens of plants: Aolus villosa, Smith ; Scler- 

 mithus diander, R. Br. ; M ijriophyllum pediinculalum, J. Hook. — 

 all new for north-west of Victoria. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



