118 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 



spores) appear first, and serve as a rapid means of multiplication, 

 whilst the teleutospores (winter spores) are not visible till the 

 autumn, to tide over the winter and serve for reproduction in the 

 spring. 



2. " The Swimming Birds of Australia," by Mr. Robert Hall. 



Concise descriptions of distinctive species of seven famiUes of 

 swimming birds were given by Mr. Hall, and photographic illus- 

 trations of the same were thrown upon a screen by Mr. J. Searle. 

 The lantern slides thus exhibited numbered nearly loo, and the 

 audience was enabled by them to follow with ease and interest 

 the distinguishing features of the birds selected for description. 

 Typical specimens of the seven families were also exhibited by 

 Mr. Hall — an exhibit which greatly enhanced the value of a very 

 interesting and useful paper. 



Mr. Searle's kindness in again placing his lantern at the 

 disposal of the Club was alluded to in fitting terms. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Baron von Mueller forwarded a very interesting note on " The 

 Furneaux Group of Islands," written by Mrs. Maclaine. The 

 note had reference to the natural features, population, and ])ro-^ 

 ductions of these Bass's Straits Islands, and being well written 

 and filled with interesting details, proved very acceptable to 

 members. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland is desirous of settling the vexed question 

 as to the number of the species of the group Corvus inhabiting 

 Australia. For this purpose, in company with Mr. J. Gabriel, he 

 visited a rookery on the Werribee Park estate of the White-eyed 

 or Raven Crow, and his note embodied the results of their visit. 

 It was written with a view to awaken observation on this point. 



Mr. C. French, jun., recorded the finding of white flowers of 

 Patersonia longiscapa and Dianella longifolia, near Spring Vale. 



Mr. W. Stickland called the attention of members to a note in 

 the Illustrated London News of 14th October, 1893, in reference 

 to the office performed by blackbirds in accompanying cattle 

 and removing the ticks, which form a veritable pest. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By 

 Mr. A. Coles. — New Zealand Kiwi {Apteryx Oweni), Black-cheeked 

 Falcon {Falco melanogenys), Black-faced Falcon from Melton. 

 By Mrs. Flatow. — Frog from Fiji. By Mr. C. French, sen. — 

 Group of Australian Longicorn Beetles, genus Tragocerus — viz.,. 

 T. formosus (male and female), T. Spencei (male and female), T^ 

 fasciatus (male and female), T. hidentatus (male and female), T. 

 lepidopterus (male and female) ; also, coloured drawings of same 

 by C. C. Brittlebank, Myrniong, Victoria ; also, specimen of a. 

 fungus growing from the body of dead larva of Tetralohus Gun 



