April, 1909.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 191 



and stated that as a rule they take at least three years to attain 

 adult plumage, which in many cases was very different from that 

 of the young birds. 



Mrs. A. D. Hardy referred to the difficulties she had 

 experienced in keeping the Blue Bonnet Parrakeets, Psephotus 

 xanthorrhous, in an aviary with other parrots, on account of their 

 pugnacious habits, and eventually had to place them in a separate 

 cage ; and asked if any member could say at what age the King 

 Lory attained its adult plumage, but without response. 



Mr. A. D. Hardy asked whether any member had observed 

 parrots feeding on the tubers of the native orchids. 



The chairman briefly referred to the different points 

 mentioned, and considered that the innovation had been well 

 supported. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. R. W. Armitage drew attention to his exhibit of a 

 specimen of the Ant-house Plant, so named from the fact that 

 the bulky, gall-like stem is tunnelled throughout, and in these 

 tunnels a small brownish-black ant takes up its abode and forms 

 colonies. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. R. W. Armitage, for Captain W. C. Thomson, s.s. 

 Arawatta, specimen of the Ant-house Plant, Hydnophytum 

 Jormicarium, from Leper Creek, near Cooktown, N. Queensland; 

 also a ground-spider, dug up with egg-case at Footscray on 

 25th February, eggs hatched on ist March, since when the 

 young have remained with the mother, illustrating the maternal 

 care evidenced by most Arthropoda. 



By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Dense black basalt from crater of 

 Mt. Franklin ; " Witches' broom " on cone of banksia, from Mt. 

 Franklin. 



By Mr. C. F. Cole. — Larva and cocoon of Gum Emperor 

 Moth, Anthercea eucalypti, Scott, from Mont Albert; specimens of 

 Gang Gang and Black Cockatoos, King Lory, Pennant's, Rosella, 

 Red-shouldered Grass, and Cockatoo Parrakeets, and Scaly- 

 breasted Lorikeet, different sexes and ages, in illustration of 

 discussion. 



By Mr. H. J. Coles. — Large series of pigeons, cockatoos, parra- 

 keets, &c., in illustration of discussion. 



By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Rare Victorian shells, dredged off Point 

 Cook, Port Phillip Bay — viz., Gastrochcenrx tasmanica, T. Wds. ; 

 Diplodonta glohularis, Sam. ; Myodora hrevis, Sow. ; Erycina 

 acupuncta, Hedley ; and Le^ndopleurus inguinatus, Roe. 



By Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley.— A Blue Mountain Lorikeet, 

 Trichoglossus novce-hollandice, from Gippsland. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



