96 Proceedings. 



light crimson and blue ; but its congener, P. Pennantii, 

 which I liave met with in the large-timbered districts of 

 Victoria, far surpasses the above species in the richness and 

 harmony of its colouring, the mature male being of a uniform 

 ground-colour of rich velvety red, the feathers of the back 

 fringed with black, and the wings and tail blue. 



All the Australian Parrakeets nest in hollows in trees. 

 Nearly every Gum-tree has suitable holes ; those usually 

 chosen are at a great elevation, and therefore since the 

 extermination of the expert-climbing aborigines the Parra- 

 keets have few enemies. Unfortunately the Tree Parrakeets 

 of the genus PlaUjcercus and the Honey Parrakeets of the genus 

 'rriduKjlossus have contracted a taste for fruit, which brings 

 them within range of shot and shell. The strangest of all 

 the birds of the bush is, perhaps, tlie Laughing Jackass 

 [Dacelo gigantea), one of the Kingfishers. In the twilight of 

 evening many couples may be heard laughing in united dis- 

 cord from all points of the compass, no doubt outwardly 

 rejoicing over an inward sense of comfort and repose, the 

 effect of some Snake or small Mammal pounced upon and 

 eaten during the day. 



Mr. Ashby's paper was illustrated by a fine series of skins 

 of Australian birds. 



Evening Meeting. — November 18th, 1887. 

 The Proceedings of the Croydon Microscopical and Natural 

 History Club were presented by that Club. 



Mr- Tyndall read a paper on ' Marine Biology and Sea 

 Fishing,' in which he called the attention of the Club to a 

 society lately formed, called the " Marine Biological Associ- 

 ation of the United Kingdom," the head-quarters of which 

 are at Plymouth. After alluding to various aquariums, he 

 described in detail tlie various kinds of fishing carried on 

 upon our coasts, and enumerated forty different species of 

 fish which are caught off Plymouth. 



