8 Hardy, Notes on Ramsden's Cave. [^^^^Ma^^*^' 



For some of the photographs used for the lantern sUdes I am 

 indebted to Messrs. Carter Bros., of Skene's Creek, and three 

 have been reproduced, by courtesy of the Mines Department, 

 from Mr. Stirling's geological report, and I have to thank Mr. 

 Ramsden and Mr. Taylor, of Mt. Sabine, for their assistance in 

 exploring the cave, as without their help it would have been 

 impossible to obtain even rough measurements. As it was, a 

 combination of chattering teeth, stiff fingers, poor torchlight, and 

 wet note-book caused many interesting details, such as a search 

 for fossil layers, to be neglected. 



Birds and Dragon-flies. — Mr. Re'ne Martin, tlie great 

 French authority on Odonata (Dragon-flies), is making a study of 

 birds which eat these insects, and has asked me if I can give him 

 any Australian notes on the subject. During the whole time I 

 was collecting for Mr. Martin I cannot call to mind a single 

 instance of a bird chasing or eating a dragon-fly. If any readers 

 of the Naturalist have noticed such a thing, or should notice it 

 in future, I would be glad if they would communicate with me, 

 giving me the name of the bird, and, if possible, the kind of 

 dragon-fly eaten. — F. L. Billinghurst. Bacchus Marsh, 5th 

 April, 1 9 10. [In the Australasian of 23rd April, page 1059, Mr. 

 T. Tregellas, a well-known bird observer, mentions seeing a 

 Sacred Kingfisher capture a large dragon-fly at Wonga Park, near 

 Warrandyte. during a recent outing. — Ed. Vict. Nat.] 



Natural History at Shepparton. — The Minister of Agri- 

 culture was recently requested by the Shepparton branch of the 

 A.N. A. to allow an officer of the department to visit that town 

 for the purpose of giving a lecture on '* Natural History " in further- 

 ance of a movement to start a Field Naturalists' Club in the 

 town. Mr. C. French, jun., xlssistant Government Entomologist, 

 was deputed to go,^ and, at the request of the Government 

 Entomologist, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard accompanied him, and 

 shared in the demonstration. The latter, in an extremely practical 

 address, pointed out Vv'hat natural history means, and what 

 might be done in the district towards increasing the interest in 

 tiiat branch of science. Mr. French gave a number of valuable 

 notes in explanation of a fine series of lantern slides illustrating 

 many of the useful birds found in the district. The lecture 

 attracted an audience of about 350 persons, a large proportion 

 being young people, who seemed greatly interested in the subject, 

 while the fine series of specimens exhibited by the Entomological 

 Branch added greatly to the value of the demonstration. It is 

 confidently hoped that the formation of a local natural history 

 society will follow at an early date. 



