126 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



from ihe destruction caused by the bush fires of last summer in 

 the surrounding country. This is specially noticeable in the 

 lower forms, many kinds of which in a more favourable season 

 would no doubt have been seen, but which are either later in 

 appearing or through the destruction of the food plants much 

 scarcer than usual. 



Besides those already mentioned, the following rarer kinds 

 were collected: — Coleoptera. — Pelecotomoides sericea, Gerstk., 

 Olesterus Bakewelli, Westw., IStigmodera Wilsoni, Saund., Sap- 

 rinus Uetus, Erich. Lepidoptera. — Eoch-ois protoplues, Meyr., 

 Ueliocausta inceptella, Walk., H. triphce^iateila, Walk., Palparvi, 

 uncinella, Zell., Exiphiltra eroticella, Meyr., Oceranica Isabella, 

 Newm. Diptera. — • Plalystoma Australis, Wlk., Amjjhibolia 

 Valentina, Macq., Erislalis agno, Walk. Hymenoptera. — 

 Prosopis violacea, Smith, Odynerus /iavocioictus, Smith. Orthop- 

 tera (Blattidse). — Periplaneta Harpuri, Tepp. 



Regarding the rest of the party, who devoted themselves to 

 working the Upper Gully, and who seem to have made good use 

 of their time, Mr. A. J. Campbell has furnished me with the 

 following notes : — 



The gully is looking well after the fires of last summer, and 

 has quite recovered itself, but the Lyre-birds unfortunately have 

 all disappeared. This fact was verified by the caretaker. A 

 specimen of the tree orchid, Sarcochilus parvijlorus, was taken, 

 and among the birds and nests noticed, some of the latter 

 of which were examined for cuckoos' eggs, were : — Rufous- 

 fronted Fantail and nest, with two fresh eggs ; White-throated 

 Thickhead, two nests containing eggs ; three Rose-breasted 

 Robins building : the birds were observed for some time, and 

 only the female was seen to be working at the nest. This fact 

 has not been recorded before. Coachwhip-bird — a nest found in 

 a bunch of nettles ; a rather extraordinary position. Mr. 

 Campbell thought the position of the nest would be interfered 

 with by the growth of the nettles. Little Brown Acanthiza 

 observed feeding a young Bronze Cuckoo. The Leaden Fly- 

 catcher was seen, and Jardine's Campephaga and the Pilot 

 Bird were heard several times during the afternoon. A nest 

 of Lewin's Honey-eater was found, containing a number of the 

 feathers of the bird and the broken eggs. It had evidently been 

 robbed by an owl or Butcher Bird, and, as Mr. Campbell 

 observes, showed evidence that other creatures besides field 

 naturalists rob birds' nests. 



The party, on reuniting again at Lower Ferntree Gully, 

 returned to Melbourne by the 8 p.m. train, all being well pleased 

 with their outing. — Jas. A. Kershaw. 



