^"^•'l Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 115 



referred to a specimen of a bandicoot, Perameles obesula, which 

 had been forwarded to the University for examination, as the 

 sender thought he had found evidence of communication between 

 the uterus and the pouch ; but a critical examination proved 

 this not to be the case. 



3. By Mr. J. C. Goudie, entitled "Notes on the Coleoptera 

 of North- Western Victoria," Part V. 



The author said that three families — viz., Silphidae, 

 Trichopterygidae, and Scaphididae — were unrepresented (or, at 

 least, unrecorded) in the insect fauna of the Mallee. He found 

 it difficult to account for the absence of some of these ** missing 

 links " from the entomological chain. For example, the species 

 of an interesting blind genus, Rodwayia, of the Trichoptery- 

 gidae, are found abundantly both in Tasmania and New South 

 Wales, where they occur as inquilines in the nests of several 

 species of ants, one at least of which, Ectatornma metallicimi^ 

 is evenly distributed over the Eyrean sub-region, of which this 

 district forms a part. The author then dealt with the species 

 he had collected of the families Histeridse and Phalacridse. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard said that, whilst collecting specimens 

 for the exhibition of wild-flowers in the Narre Warren district, 

 a ** rocking stone " had been pointed out to him. It is situated 

 about two miles north of Narre Warren township. The bottom 

 stone is about 10 feet high and 8 feet through, while the rocking 

 stone is 15 feet long and 5 feet high, and weighs probably 

 several tons. This is so well balanced that by exerting a little 

 strength the stone may be rocked. 



The president remarked that the committee should keep 

 this interesting stone in mind, and arrange an excursion to 

 the spot, 



Mr. J. G. O'Donoghue said that he had been informed by a 

 friend residing at Bacchus Marsh that when competing in a 

 sparrow-shooting match in that town on 27th September he 

 was much amused at the behaviour of a pair of " Laughing 

 Jackasses." These birds stationed themselves in trees in close 

 proximity to the traps, and on the sparrow falHng dead or 

 wounded at the discharge, they would immediately pounce 

 down upon it and bear it away. So eager were they to secure 

 the sparrow that on several occasions they almost beat the 

 gun. Altogether, my friend considers the '' Jacks " secured 

 fully two dozen sparrows. 



EXHIBITS. 



The exhibits, which were confined to wild-flowers, are 

 detailed on another page. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



