50 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXVI. 



natural history notes in the public press, and thought an efifort 

 should be made to have them corrected, but it was generally- 

 considered that individual action would be the better way of 

 calling attention to the mistakes. 



PAPER READ. 



By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., entitled " In the Heart 

 of the Mallee." 



The author's remarks were well illustrated by a fine series 

 of lantern views depicting the scenery and the many interesting 

 birds, &c., met with during a visit to the Pine Plains district, 

 some 35 miles north-west of Hopetoun. He pointed out that, 

 instead of being, as most people thought, a treeless, sandy waste, 

 the country known as the "Mallee" was really one of the best 

 parts of Victoria for studying natural history. Though com- 

 paratively level, cind at only moderate elevation above the sea, the 

 Mallee contained an infinite variety of vegetation, ranging from 

 Murray pines forty to fifty feet high to the smallest herb, and 

 consequently the bird-life was also very varied. His friend, Mr. 

 C. M'Lellan, who had spent a number of years in the district, had 

 recorded 175 species, among which were included several almost 

 confined to the locality. Open grass plains, often dotted with 

 red gums, occurred at intervals, and provided nourishment for 

 the pastoralists' stock. Many of the pictures were obtained under 

 considerable difficulties, but, notwithstanding, they proved of great 

 interest, and clearly demonstrated that the Mallee is very different 

 from the general impression which prevails in the ordinary mind. 



The chairman expressed his pleasure at the author's descrip- 

 tions, which recalled many scenes familiar to him during a resi- 

 dence of some months in north-west Victoria. 



Mr. C. French, jun., who had collected in the same district 

 some years before, also spoke in support of the author's statements. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. 



Spiders. — Mr. R. Kelly forwarded a note calling attention to 

 an extraordinary occurrence of quantities of spiders' webs at 

 Healesville in June last, which seemed to have been spun to enable 

 the spiders to escape from the flood waters then prevailing. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Marine shells, Spondylus gcederopus, 

 Linn., from the Mediterranean ; S. aurantiics, Lam., from 

 Philippine Is.; S. imperialis, Cham., from China ; and S. 

 Atnericanus, Lam., from West Indies. 



By Mr. R. Kelly. — Photographs of spiders' webs at Healesville. 



By Miss Lazarus. — Ivory nut from Solomon Is. 



By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S.— A snake-lizard, Lialis 

 burtoni, from the Mallee, in illustration of paper. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting closed. 



