THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 63 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. J. Shephard by means of diagrams described the formation 

 of the colonies of a rare species of rotifer, Lacimdaria joeduncu- 

 lata, and exhibited under the microscope the first male specimen 

 which he had obtained, recently, near Caulfield. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland drew attention to his exhibit of the egg of 

 the Gang Gang Cockatoo, which, so far as he knew, did not exist 

 iti any other collection. The specimen referred to was taken from 

 the spout of a living eucalypt, near Warragul, Victoria, on 20th 

 October, 1897. Description: — Surface dull, chalky white; 

 dimensions, 1.25 by 1.06 inch. 



Mr. R. Hall read a note in reply to the question. Does the 

 Curlew eat fungi ? in which he stated he had good authority for 

 saying that the Sea Curlew, Numenius cyanojnis, Vieill., damages 

 mushrooms, but whether for the sake of the vegetable food or for 

 the insects they may harbour was uncertain. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Fruits of Papaw and Granadilla, 

 roots of Sweet Potato and Yam, and flowering stalk of Sugar-cane, 

 from Queensland. By Mr. D. Best. — Longicorn beetle, Agapete 

 carissima, larva and perfect insect, in the wood ; also, specimens 

 of some of the largest Australian Hymenoptera — Hornets — of the 

 genus Pompilus. By Mr. Geo. Coghill. — Orchids in bloom, from 

 Ringwood district. By Mr. J. Gabriel. — Eggs of five species 

 of black (including Great Palm Cockatoo) and of five other 

 cockatoos. By Mr. J. G. Luehmann, F.L.S. — 16 coloured 

 plates, illustrating the native grasses of Victoria. By Mr. G. A. 

 Keartland. — Eggs of 12 species of cockatoos, including the Great 

 Palm and Gang Gang, also of the Red-winged Lory, King 

 Lory, and Yellow-tufted Smicrornis. By Mr. J. A. Paul, Grant- 

 ville. — 15 species of orchids in bloom — Plerostylis longifolia, P. 

 grandiflora, P. cucullata, var. Jlpina, P. curta, P. nana, P. 

 barbata, and P. pediinculata ; Caladenia Patersoni, G. deformis, 

 and C. carnea ; Diuris pedunculata, and D. longifolia ; Praso- 

 phyllum patens, Acianthus caudatus, and Glossodia major. By 

 Mr. F. M. Reader. — Dried plants, Caustis pentandra, R. Br. ; 

 iSti/phelia serrulata, Lab. ; and Cassytha pubescens, R. Br., all 

 new for the N.W. of Victoria. By Mr. J. Shephard. — Living 

 specimens of rotifer, Lacinularia pedunculata, and mounts 

 showing the formation of the colonies. By Mr. J. Stickland. — 

 Protococcus pluvialis. By Mr. J. A. Wood. — Plants, including 

 several orchids, from Ringwood excursion. 



After the conversazione, for which a longer time than usual was 

 available, the meeting terminated. 



