166 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Le Souef for his interesting 

 paper, and to Mr. J. Searle for his services with the lantern. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



A note was read by Mr. J. Shephard on " Microscopical 

 Preparation of Sponges." Specimens of Sycon raphanus and 

 Sycandra echinata treated with osmic acid, and embedded 

 without staining, showed the collared cells and fiagellee perfectly, 

 but no trace could be seen of Sollas's membrane in these species. 



Dr. W. M'Gillivray contributed a note recording the Green- 

 shank {Totanus incanus) for Tasmania. The specimen is in the 

 collection of Mr. T. Carr, and was shot on the mud-fiats of the 

 Tamar. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



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

 Mr. J. Gabriel, — Eggs of birds of the order Grallse (Waders), and 

 14 species of eggs obtained during the Furneaux Group expe- 

 dition. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw. — Eggs of Menura Alherti (Gould), 

 Halcyon Madeayi (J. and S.), H.'pyrrho'pygius (Gould), Colluris- 

 clncla rufigaster (Gould), with nest, Platalea regia, Dendrocygna 

 ragans (Eyton), Botaurus poecilopterus (Wag.), Butoroides Jiavi- 

 collis (Lath.), B. macrorhyncha (Gould), and Ardetta mimUa 

 (Linn.), all from New South Wales. By Baron von Mueller, 

 K.C.M.G. — Sida Wilkinsoni, new to science, discovered by 

 Mr. Wilkinson at scources of the Flinders River, remarkable 

 for its large depressed fruits : the specimens obtained had sprung 

 from seeds which had germinated without shedding and pierced 

 the axis of the fruit, the latter, unbroken, encircling the already 

 leafy plant ; Daviesia Croniniana, a remarkable new species 

 found by Mr. Cronin, near Lake Lefroy ; and Haloragis alata, 

 a plant brought recently by Mr. Williamson from Curdie's River, 

 and only once before recorded for Victoria. By Mr. A. Coles. — 

 New Holland Goshawk {Astur cinereus) from Somerville, White 

 Goshawk {Astur Novca-Hollandice), pair Australian Goshawks 

 {Astur apj^roximans), and pair of Goshawks not mentioned by 

 Gould, and proposed to be called the Spotted-fronted Goshawk, 

 shot at Studley Park, Kew. By Mr. G. E. Hill. — Soldier Ant with 

 fungus growth, from Horticultural Gardens, Burnley. By Master 

 H. F. Hill. — A case of Victorian Lepidoptera, including Eolochila 

 erinus (Fab.), H. moerens (Ros.), Rypochrysops delicia (Hew.), 

 Ogyris olane (Hew.), Anther cea Heleoice (White), Gosmotriche vitu- 

 lina (Don), G. exposiia (Lew.), C. sp., GryjJtophaga ruhescens 

 (Lew.), and Selidosema chionomera (Lower). By Mr. C. French, 

 jun. — Eggs of Macleay's Kingfisher, Northern Sphecotheres, and 

 Pheasant Coucal, from Northern Queensland. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



