^ e ^'l Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 141 



their brood. They have now built in a branch of a fig-tree, 

 about five feet from the ground, and are sitting on eggs. The 

 nest is an open structure like that of the Goldfinch, and, although 

 exposed to sun and wind, there appears to be every prospect 

 of another brood. The birds are fed on plain canary seed and 

 thistles, besides what they pick up amongst the grass. 



Mr. H. W. Davey, F.E.S., forwarded an interesting note on 

 the occurrence in immense numbers of the plant bug, Nysius 

 vinitor, known as the Rutherglen Fly, in high alpine regions 

 during the early part of December, and recording the fact that 

 snow seemed to have a fatal attraction for them. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. J. W. Audas, F.L.S. — Herbarium specimens of 

 A sterol a si a Muelleri [Eriostemon correifolius, F. v. M.), Benth., 

 Lemon Star Bush ; Oxylobium alpestre, F. v. M., Mountain 

 Shaggy Pea ; Notofagus (Fagus) Cinininghamii, Myrtle Beech, 

 &c, collected at Mount Beenak, October, 1915, in illustration 

 of paper. 



By Mr. T. S. Hart, M.Sc. — Base and roots of Exocarftos 

 cuprcssiformis, Native Cherry, showing roots parasitic (or 

 partially so) on themselves. 



By Mr. J. G. O'Donoghue. — Cabinet specimen of schorl, or 

 black tourmaline. 



By Mr. D. J. Paton, Bendigo. — Flowering specimens of 

 Eucalyptus uncinate/,, Hooked Mallee, Eucalyptus viridis, Green 

 Mallee, Acacia retinodes, and Huiuca squamea, from Whipstick 

 Scrub. Bendigo. 



By Mr. F. Pitcher. — Specimen of the white-flowering form 

 of Erythrcea australis, R. B., Australian Centaury, from Belgrave 

 district, Christmas, 1915. 



By Mr. J. Searle. — Interesting and rare crustacean. Koonunga 

 cursor, from North Portland (previously only recorded from 

 Ringwood and Nyora). 



By Mr. P. R. H. St. John (on behalf of the Curator, Mel- 

 bourne Botanic. Gardens). — Samples of crude oil of Melaleuca 

 nesophila, F. v. Mueller, Western Australia, distilled 19th 

 November, 1915, and Eucalyptus macrandra, V. v. M.. Western 

 Australia, distilled 12th January, 1916 (with fresh specimen 

 in bloom) ; material obtained from cultivated trees in Melbourne 

 Botanic. Gardens, the samples of oil prepared by exhibitor. 

 Also specimen of timber <>l Eucalyptus obliqua, L'Heritier, 

 Messmate, obtained by exhibitor from Forrest district, 

 20/12/15. 



By Mr. E. R. Webb. — Fourteen varieties ol freshwater shells 

 from the Upper Richmond River, N.S.W. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



