106 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



the length of its tail, which measures 6^2 inches, while the body 

 from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail is only 5^ inches, 

 and for the skin of the flanks not being expanded into a parachute 

 as in the flying squirrels. The fact of this being only the third 

 specimen obtained might be accounted for by its small size and 

 nocturnal habits. The specimen had been presented to the 

 National Museum by Mr. A. Coles. 



In a short discussion which followed, reference was made to 

 the National Museum, now in course of removal to its new 

 location in the Public Library buildings, and Prof. Spencer stated 

 that he is extremely anxious to make the collection of the 

 Australian fauna as complete as possible, and donations of speci- 

 mens, however common, would be gratefully acknowledged. 



2. By Mr. A. Campbell, jun., entitled "Field Notes from the 

 Lower Wimmera." 



The author gave a number of interesting notes, principally 

 descriptive of the bird life noticed while making a collecting trip 

 through the central Mallee, northward from Hopetoun, in 

 October, 1898. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. C. French, jun., recorded the finding of the orchid, 

 Pterostylis grandiflora at Kewell, in the Wimmera, by Mr. J. A. 

 Hill, being new for the N.W. district. 



Mr. A. J. Campbell read a note describing for the first time the 

 nest and eggs of the Wattle-checked Honey-eater, Ptilotis cratitia, 

 Gould, obtained near Nhill, in the Wimmera. 



EXHIBITION OF WILD FLOWERS. 



The evening was principally devoted to an exhibition of wild 

 flowers, and a special vote of thanks was passed to Messrs. 

 Walter, Luehmann, and Gabriel for their efforts in connection 

 with it. 



The following were the principal wild flower exhibits : — 



By Miss Cochrane, about 50 species from Tunstall and 

 Sandringham, including Thelymitra ixioides, T. Jlexuosa, 

 Melaleuca squarrosa, and Aotus villosa. 



By Misses Wise, about 20 species from Sale, including Caleya 

 major, Caladenia cairnsiana, Danipiera stricta, Correa S2}eciosa 

 (red variety), and Boronia polygalifolia, var. anemonifolia. 



By Mr. G. Coghill, about 80 species from Croydon and 

 Point Lonsdale, including Utricidaria dichotoma, Zygophyllum 

 hillardiera, Sivainsona lessertifolia, Spcerolobium vimineum. 



By Mr. J. G. Luehmann, about 40 species from Cheltenham, 

 including Thelymitra aristata, T. epij^actoides, Epacris obtusi- 

 folia, &c. 



By Mr. J. R. Tovey, about 30 species from Mentone, including 

 Thelymitra aristata, Isojjogon ceratophyllns, &c. 



