Jan., 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 139 



larctos cinereus, Goldf., in the southern part of the peninsula, 

 while many thousands of Black Swans were seen on Shallow Inlet. 



The president said that the presence of the Rose-breasted 

 Cockatoo, as mentioned by Mr. St. John, was an interesting fact, 

 as it rarely occurred so far south. 



Dr. Hall and Mr. D. Best expressed some doubt as to the 

 number of swans reported to have been seen, but Mr. Armitage 

 confirmed the author's statements. 



Mr. J. Kershaw, F.E.S., asked if foxes had been seen, and the 

 locality where traces of lyre-birds were noticed, and was informed 

 that no signs of foxes had been met with. The lyre-bird traces 

 had been seen near Mount Latrobe. Mr. St. John added that 

 neither kangaroos nor true dingoes had been met with. 



Dr. Hall mentioned that applications had been called for 

 a ranger, and it was expected that an appointment would be 

 made shortly. 



2. By Dr. C. S. Sutton, entitled " Botanical Notes of a visit to 

 the Snowy River." 



The author gave an interesting description of the flora of the 

 country around Orbost, and more particularly of a piece of jungle 

 country about six miles on the road towards Mario, at the mouth 

 of the Snowy. Here occur a number of climbers not to be 

 found further west, and the author suggested that some effort 

 should be made to have this spot properly reserved. 



Dr. Hall remarked on the curious incursion of tropical plants 

 down the south-eastern coast of Australia, gradually decreasing in 

 numbers as they approached the south, and mentioned the marked 

 resemblance between Eastern Australian jungle vegetation and 

 the flora of Malaysia. 



Prof. Ewart said that this was an instance which showed that it 

 was not temperature alone which determined the distribution of 

 plants, but a combination of temperature and moisture, supplied in 

 this case by the humid easterly sea breezes. 



Mr. F. Pitcher and Mr. G. Coghill referred to the interesting 

 description given by the author of jungle near Orbost, and 

 suggested that steps be taken to secure its reservation. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. 



Mr. F. Pitcher mentioned that a few days previously he had 

 seen in the Botanic Gardens a bird in company with some 

 Thrushes which, though resembling them in other ways, was 

 entirely fawn in colour. Mr. Keartland said the bird was prob- 

 ably a Thrush, the fawn colour being due to deficiency of colour- 

 pigment in the skin. 



Mr. C. J. Gabriel drew attention to his exhibit of a curious and 

 interesting mollusc — a bivalve shell belonging to the genus 

 Gastroch^na, obtained dredging off Point Cook, Port PhilHp Bay. 

 During the Club's excursion to Stony Point last Easter specimens 



