Oct., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 63 



the more prominent species of Australian acacias, giving some 

 particulars of their habit of growth, time of flowering, &c., and 

 illustrated his remarks with a series of lantern slides showing 

 typical specimens of each species. 



The paper gave rise to some discussion, in which the chairman 

 and Messrs. Pitcher, Hardy, Coghill, C. J. Gabriel, and Barnard 

 joined. EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. R. W. Armitage. — Specimens of a Sea-pen, or Pennatu- 

 lid, from the island of Sudest, near New Guinea. 



By Mr. A. J. Campbell. — Blooms of acacias, in illustration of 

 paper. 



By Mr. C. French, jun. — Specimen of Epacris impressa, 9 feet 

 in height. This plant is probably the tallest ever recorded, and 

 was growing amongst tea-tree at Bayswater, 9th September. 



By Mr. C. J. Gabriel, — Rare marine shells — Valuta kreuslerce, 

 Ang. ; V. verconis, Tate ; and V. fidgetrum, Swain., from South 

 Australia ; also varieties of Chlamys glaber, Linn., from the 

 Mediterranean. 



By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — Fruit specimen of the Mistletoe, 

 Loranthus pendulus, found growing on a Swamp Gum, Euca- 

 lyptus gunnii, at Kew. 



By Mr. H. W. Jeffery. — Marine shells — Triton chlorostomus, 

 Lam., from Hilo, Hawaii ; and Potamides sulcatum, Born., from 

 Yule Island, New Guinea. 



By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., for National Museum. — A 

 photograph of rare fish, Lophotes cristatus, Johnson, in illustration 

 of paper. 



By Mr. F. Pitcher. — Blooms of Victorian acacias grown 

 at Melbourne Botanic Gardens — Acacia acinacea, Lindl. ; A. 

 juniperina, Willd. ; A. leprosa, Sieber ; A. longi/olia, Willd. ; 

 A. hmata, Sieber; A. montana, Benth. ; A. oxycedrus, Sieber; 

 A. pravissima, Cunn. ; A. pycnantha, Benth. ; A. sclerophylla, 

 Lindl. ; A. verniciflua, Cunn. ; and A. verticillata, Willd. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



Bird Day. — The Hon. the Minister for Education has directed 

 Friday, 29th October, to be set apart as Bird Day throughout 

 the State schools, and we hope the idea will be taken up by the 

 private schools and colleges also. The Edvcatiori Gazette and 

 Teacher's Aid for September contains the details of the programme 

 to be carried out. It has been suggested that a league be estab- 

 lished among the pupils, to be called "The Gould League of Bird- 

 Lovers," as a means of fostering a love for the birds around them. 

 In the same number of the Gazette Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc, 

 continues his illustrated articles on the Victorian birds, dealing 

 with the ground-birds, thrushes, chats, and honey-eaters, giving 

 figures of nearly fifty species. 



