186 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV. 



I presented to the National Herbarium of Victoria, viz. : — Alpinia 

 ccerulea, Benth., Native Ginger; Brassaia actinophylla, Endl., 

 Umbrella Tree ; Bryonopsis laciniosa, Naud. ; Buckiyighamia 

 celsissima, F. v. M. ; Clematis glycinoides, D. C. ; Cordyline 

 terminalis, Kunth. ; Diploglottis Gunninghami, Hook., f.. Native 

 Tainarind ; Eugenia grandis, Wight, White Apple ; Flagellaria 

 indica, L. ; Linospadix monostachya, F. v. M., Walking-stick 

 Palm ; Macaranga Tanarius, Muell. Arg. ; Mackinlaya macro- 

 sciadia, F. v. M. ; Melastoma malabathricum, L. ; Mollinedia 

 Wardelli, F. v. M. ; Pittosporum rubigi7iosiim, Cunn. ; Euhus 

 roscefolius, L., Native Raspberry ; Tricholobus connaroides, F. v. 

 M. 



A visit to this untrammelled region would prove interesting to 

 bird-fanciers. Although my knowledge of ornithology is limited, 

 the abundance of beautiful bird life compelled my admiration. 

 Pigeons predominated. L noticed Bronze- wing, Brown, Pink- 

 head, Small Green, Squatter, and Wonga, besides others which 

 were unfamiliar to me. It is stated by residents of the place that 

 the Torres Strait Pigeon flies thither from its home at the furthest 

 point of Cape York Peninsula in the morning, and returns again 

 at night, but this statement is disputed by ornithologists, who 

 aver that its stay in the forest extends over a longer period. 

 Scrub-Turkeys are numerous. They are similar to any ordinary 

 fowl in size, though differing in plumage, being covered with 

 smooth black feathers, drooping tail, and red head. Black 

 Magpies, cockatoos, and Scrub-Hens are plentiful, the latter 

 exhibiting a striking resemblance to a Guinea-Fowl. 



A particularly novel sight occasionally met with is that of a 

 huge forest tree, whose upper limbs are almost covered by the 

 nests of the Native Starling (as they are called in Queensland), 

 which flock about together, building their nests in close proximity, 

 and forming quite a noisy bird colony in places. 



Another novel sight to be met with is the invasion of the 

 quarters of the white ants by a parrakeet, which selects their 

 mounds as a spot in which to nest, commencing operations by 

 boring through the honeycombed exterior and forming a com- 

 partment to receive its eggs in the interior without exciting the 

 original tenants. But these harmonious relations do not prevail 

 between the birds and the scrub rats, the latter being very 

 destructive to bird life. I noticed one devouring a pigeon, 

 which, as I approached, quickly decamped, taking his quarry 

 with him. In a decayed log I burst open I found some of the 

 native land shells, Helix (sp.) But all this natural beauty is not 

 without its drawbacks. Many dangerous reptiles abound— the 

 Deaf Adder, whose bite is generally fatal, and others — and there 

 are also many snakes which are non-venomous, and one of the 

 latter, the Saltbush Snake, drab coloured, with pink eyes, I 

 secured by coaxing it into a bottle. 



