10 fHE VICTORIAN NATURAtlSt. 



Sea Eagle, Halia'ef.us leucogaster, was observed hovering over the 

 tops of the tall Red Gum trees, Eucalyptus rostrata, and after a 

 search its nest, a huge structure, was discovered. Fully a couple 

 of cartloads of material must have been used in its construction. 

 It was composed of dried sticks, was lined with dried eucalyptus 

 leaves, and was ready for eggs, while close by was a nest of the 

 White-fronted Heron containing two young birds. 



Insects were exceedingly scarce, owing to the exceptionally dry 

 season. The beetles captured were Bolbaceras sloanei (being new 

 for Victoria), ScarapJiites assimilis, S. hirtipes, Epilectus fortis, 

 Neocaretium elovgatum, Carenum antliracinum, C. gracile, C. 

 cordipenne. C. scaritioides, Euryscaplius minor, Hypharpax 

 dei/rollei, H. niierioris, Dromius crudelis, Clivina melanopyga, 

 Chlcenius australis, Leptopodus iridipennis, and Sariicus obesula. 

 At night many specimens of " Frog Hoppers," Membracidse, 

 representing a fair number of species, were attracted by the light. 

 By placing a piece of newspaper on the ground they would alight 

 on it, and were then captured. These specimens have been 

 forwarded for naming to Dr. Coding, a specialist, who is at present 

 engaged on a work on the Membracidas of Australia. Lepidoptera 

 right through the Mallee were conspicuous by their absence, 

 though now and again a straggling specimen of Ileliolhris 

 arinigera, one of the most destructive of moths, was met with, 

 and was the commonest species seen by us. Probably later in 

 the year this part of the country would yield some rare species. 



Amongst the red gum trees bordering on these Mallee lakes 

 is the home of the parrots, parrakeets, and cockatoos. The first 

 species generally met with is the Ring-necked or Barnard's 

 Parrakeet, Barnardius barnardi, which is the commonest. The 

 adult male is a very handsome bird, the combination of green, 

 blue, yellow, and crimson being very striking. The Rose Hill 

 Parrakeet, Platycercus eximins, is rathtr rare in these parts, only 

 a couple of specimens being noticed. The Black-tailed Parra- 

 keet, PohjteHs melanura, which is also known as the " Rock 

 Pebbler " — though how it obtained this name I cannot imagine, 

 for where these handsome birds abound there are no rocks what- 

 ever, and no pebbles, the nearest being over a hundred miles 

 away — is only found in the timber bordering on the lakes. Other 

 species met with were the Redrumped Parrakeet, Psephotus 

 hcemntonolvs, Cockatoo Parrakeet, Calopsittacus novce-hollandioi, 

 Warbling Crass-Parrakeet, Melopsitiaais uiidulaii(s\ and the hand- 

 somest of all, the Many-coloured Parrakeet, Psephohis miiUicolor. 

 Many of their nests were found in the hollow spouts of the gum 

 trees, but the eggs in most instances were heavily incubated. 

 Cockatoos were very numerous, the Leadbeater's, Cacatua lead- 

 beateri, Great Sulphur-crested, Cacalua galerita, and the Black 

 Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchusfunereus, being the three species. A 



