io 6 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [ V( J 



Vict. Nat. 

 XXXV. 



Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., exhibited a bamboo ruler (made in 

 Japan) which was received in Melbourne infested with the 

 larva? of the Dermestes beetle. When the package was opened 

 this particular ruler was almost black with the pest, while the 

 others were unaffected. He also called attention to the flowers 

 of the Bottle-brush Tea-tree, Melaleuca ericifolia, grown at 

 Balwyn, which would be a useful shrub in any garden. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard called attention to his exhibit of travertin 

 limestone, used as ballast on the Trans-Australian railway, 

 obtained at Tarcoola, about 250 miles west of Port Augusta, 

 South Australia. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. H. B. Williamson exhibited a live larva of a moth, and 

 asked for information about it. Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., said 

 that it was the larva of Porina (Oxycanus) fusco-maculata, one of 

 the Swift moths. It lives underground, making tunnels under 

 the surface of the soil, and feeding on the roots of various grasses. 

 The tunnels are lined with silk. When fully grown it pupates, 

 and awaits a favourable time for emergence, usually after 

 sundown, on the occurrence of the first autumn rains. They 

 often emerge in large numbers, and after a few hours' flight 

 disappear as mysteriously as they arrive. 



Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., read a note on the rapid growth of 

 a Sugar Gum, Eucalyptus cladocalyx, in his garden at Balwyn, 

 and exhibited a photograph of the tree, which, in eleven years 

 and two months, had attained a height of 53 feet, with a stem 

 circumference at the ground of 43J inches, and, at six feet, 

 41 inches. 



Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., read a note forwarded by Mr. G. J. 

 Flood, recording young white swallows in a nest at Moorooduc 

 (Mornington Peninsula). On two occasions two white birds 

 had occurred in the brood reared from this particular nest. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Travertin limestone from Tar- 

 coola, South Australia. 



By Mr. F. Chapman. — Flowers of Melaleuca ericifolia, Swamp 

 Paper-bark, grown in his garden at Balwyn ; a desirable garden 

 shrub. 



By Mr. F. E. Wilson. — Eight species of Curculionid beetles, 

 from various localities. 



By Mr. H. B. Williamson. — Flowering specimens of epiphytal 

 orchid, Sarcochilus falcatus, sent by Mr. N. H. Herbert, of Cann 

 River. These were distributed among members for cultivation. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



