THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 71 



Mr. Tisdall called attention to some fungi exhibited by him 

 which had been treated by the glycerine method recommended 

 by Mr. O. A. Sayce for the preservation of Crustacea, and which 

 he found acted very well with some of the specimens. He 

 thought it well worth experimenting with for the preservation of 

 fungi, and strongly recommended other members to give it a trial. 



Mr. F. E. Grant mentioned that a large quantity of sand, 

 containing a quantity of shells of various kinds, brought as ballast 

 in a ship from Durban, had been thrown out on the beach near 

 Williamstown, and conchologists would therefore need to be very 

 careful not to confuse these with the Victorian species. 



The President mentioned that a similar case had occurred at 

 Portland. 



Mr. F. Wisewould said, as showing the effect of protecting 

 kangaroos, that a small mob of about thirteen could now be seen 

 about three miles from Pakenham. 



Mr. Le Souef stated that the kangaroo had been nearly exter- 

 minated, but, as the result of protection, they were largely 

 increasing, especially in various parts of Gippsland, wliere the 

 farmers were complaining of the destruction caused by them to 

 their crops. 



The President read some extracts from a letter he had just 

 received from Professor Spencer, dated from Barrow Creek, 

 Central Australia, giving some details of the work he was engaged 

 on, and mentioning some of the specimens met with. 



EXHIBITS. 



By M. C. L. Barrett. — Ethnological specimens from Derby, 

 North-West Australia. 



By M. A. Coles. — A variety of the Rosehill Parrakeet, Platy- 

 cercus eximiics, having canary colour on back and breast, and 

 tail and wing feathers partly white ; shot at Rupanyup by Mr. 

 T. H. Skene. 



By Messrs. J. E. Dixon and C. French, jun. — Destructive 

 longicorn beetles, Uracanthus bivitta, collected at Spring Vale. 

 These insects were breeding in the introduced broom, Cytisus 

 scoparius, this being a new food plant for these longicorns. 



By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Coloured plate of Australian 

 longicorn beetles, with pectinated antennae, including four new 

 species ; drawn by Mr. C. C. Brittlebank. 



By Mr. C. French, jun. — Coloured plate of "Cape Tulip," 

 Homeria collina. 



By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Fern, Lomavia discolor, var. bipennata, 

 from Dandenong Ranges. 



By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — Sand shoes as worn by natives of 

 North-West Australia during hot weather. Made from the bark 

 of Croatalaria cunninghami. 



