134 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



The paper gave rise to some discussion on seaweeds in general, 

 when Mr. R. Wood asked if any poisonous Algae were known, 

 as his hands were only now recovering from the effects of 

 handling the seaweed, &c., at the dredgmg excursion on 14th 

 January. Mr. O. A. Sayce and Mr. J. Shephard stated they had 

 also experienced the stinging sensation, but not to the same 

 extent; the former attributed it to Medusse. Mr. Tisdall said that 

 he could not recall any poisonous or defensive alga, but would 

 inquire into the matter and report at next meeting. 



2. By Mr. R. Hall, entitled " Birds of the Box Hill District." 

 The author gave a short summary of his previous papers, and 

 concluded the series with a few notes on the introduced birds of 

 the district, which include the Thrush, Blackbird, Goldfinch, 

 Greenfinch, Starling, Indian Myna, and Sparrow. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland read an interesting note describing the 

 actions of some Swamp Quail, which bred while in his aviary. 



Mr. A. Coles called the attention of members to a newspaper 

 paragraph stating that at Rylstone, N.S.W., the destruction of 

 lambs had been traced to iguanas, which hitherto had only been 

 supposed to molest the poultry of settlers. 



Mr. J. G. Luehmann exhibited the shells of an extra large 

 fowl's egg with an ordinary-sized egg inside. Mr. Coles said he 

 had recently had a similar specimen, except that the inner egg 

 was much smaller. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. A. Coles. — Two Banded Stilts, Cladornychus pectoralis, 

 one a young bird without a band ; also, a Spotted Goat-sucker. 

 By Mr. C. French. — First authenticated eggs of Scrub Robin, 

 Drymaoedes bric7ineopi/gius, from Mallee, Victoria ; also, eggs of 

 Spotted Sericornis, S. maculatus, from Central Australia. By 

 Mr. R. Hall. — Eight species of Tits (Acanthizfe). By Mr. F. M. 

 Reader. — Dried specimens of plants — Scirpus crassiusculus, 

 Veronica plebeja, and Sagina procumbens, new for the north-west 

 of Victoria. By Messrs. W. and J. Stickland. — The rotifers 

 Melicerta ringens and Limnias ceratophylli. By Mr. H. T. 

 Tisdall. — 40 specimens of Alg^, from Kerguelen's Land. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



EXCURSION TO LILYDALE. 



The Foundation Day (26th January) excursion was this year 

 arranged for Lilydale. On arrival, it was decided to follow the 

 tracks of former excursions, and explore the valley of the Olinda 

 Creek, and, if time permitted, the adjacent slope of the Dande- 

 nong Ranges, We started off through the township, and then, 



