82 THK VICTOEIAN NATURALIST. 



decided on his proposition that a deputation consisting of Rev. 

 J. J. Halley, Dr. Dobson, Messrs. Lucas, Best, and the Hon. Sec. 

 should wait on the Minister of Lands, and draw his attention to the 

 matter. 



Mr. Best mentioned tlie recent telegrams about the platypus, but 

 pending further particulars, the question was postponed. 



1. Dr. Lucas read a paper entitled "Notes of a Recent Trip to 

 New Caledonia and Fiji.' He described the scenery of the coasts, 

 and of the Rewa River which he ascended for 60 miles, and gave 

 many interesting notes on the Natural History, especially the 

 Entomology, of the Islands. He illustrated his paper by several 

 cases of exhibits. 



2. Mr. A. J. Campbell read a paper, " Notes on Lyre Birds," 

 being a record of his observations with regard to these birds. He 

 described the construction of tlie nest and exhibited a photograph of 

 one recently discovered by him in the Gipps Land Ranges. He 

 stated that the present close season did not afford sufficient protec- 

 tion to the birds, and that it ought to commence at least a month 

 earlier. 



3. Mr. Reader's j)aper on the " Early History of Botany," was 

 postponed till the next meeting. 



The principal exhibits of the evening were : — By Mr. F. G. A. 

 Barnard, three orchids from Studley Park, Pterostylis curta, 

 Caladenia pulcherrima, and C. carnea • by Mr. D. Best, Australian 

 Buprestis beetles ; by Mr. A. Borthwick, a fine mounted specimen 

 of the Sooty Owl (^Strix tenebricosa) ; by Mr. N. J. Caire, landscape 

 photos of haunts of Lyre birds, and nest ; by Mr. A. J. Campbell, 

 splendid pair of Lyre birds ( Menura VictoriiB) with eggs, in illus- 

 tration of his paper ; by Mr. A. W. Coles, skin of Python, from 

 Queensland, also pair of King Quail (mounted) ; by Mr. P. Dattari, 

 three orchids in bloom, Caladenia latifolia, Pterostylis curta, and 

 P. pedunculata ; by Master Dombrain, Skins of needle-tailed swift, 

 and flame-breasted robin, also nest of orange-winged sitella ; by Mr. 

 C. French, diploma and gold medal awarded to him for insects ex- 

 hibited at Amsterdam ; by Mr. J. H, Gatliif, eleven species of shells 

 of genus Ricinula, including R. biconica, Victoria ; by Masters H. 

 and R. Hill, two cases of lepidoptera ; by Mr. G. R Hill, barbed 

 specimens of the sting-ray ; by Mr. T. Hylaud, Valonia nuts from 

 India : by Mr. T. A. Forbes-Leith, eight species of British birds — 

 viz., the Knot, the Red-shank, the Land-rail, the Water-rail, 

 Starling, Thrush, Black-bird, Ring Ouzel ; by Dr. Lucas, six cases 

 of Lepidoptera, etc., (in illustration of his paper) ; by Mr. F. Reader, 

 mounted New Zealand mosses, collected by Sir. J. Hooker, during 

 the Antarctic expedition, also fungus, Polyporus cinnabarinus, in 

 different stages of growth ; by Mr. H. Watts, 42 species of Micro- 

 fungi, mounted for the microscope. 



After the usual conversazione the meetini;' terminated. 



