34 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



until the next monthly meeting." This was seconded by Mr. 

 R. Hall, and carried. 



A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the sub-committee, 

 consisting of Messrs. C. French, F.L.S., D. Le Souef, O. A. 

 Sayce, and F. G. A. Barnard, who had so successfully carried out 

 the annual conversazione. 



Several members then brought forward interesting natural 

 history questions. 



Rev. C. M. Yelland related a case of cannibalism among mice 

 in confinement. 



Mr. S. H. Wintle, F.L.S , read some notes on a piece of 

 limestone, containing fossil shells, said to have been obtained 

 in the Wellington caves. New South Wales, and which furnished 

 a striking example of fossils standing out in prominent relief 

 from the matrix under the action of weathering agencies. 



Rev. C. M. Yelland introduced a discussion as to the 

 usefulness or otherwise of the common sparrow, maintaining 

 that it was productive of more good than harm. Messrs. Hunt, 

 Roberts, Coles, M'Kibbin, Wisewould, and others took part in 

 the controversy, but with no definite result, the two views being 

 about equally taken by the various speakers. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard drew attention to his exhibit of two 

 specimens of the introduced butterfly, Dcuiais archippus, which 

 is yearly becoming more plentiful around Melbourne, and is a 

 grand addition to our lepidopterous insects. This butterfly is 

 said to be a native of America, and, for the first time, during 

 the summer of 1885 several specimens were taken in the south 

 of England. It has, however, been known in Australia for 

 many years. 



Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., drew the attention of members to 

 the publication of Mr. Caldwell's embryological work on the 

 "Australian Marsupials and Monotremes," in the Proceedings of 

 the Royal Society, England, and summarised the results of 

 more general interest. 



The following were the principal exhibits of the evening ; — 

 By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, butterflies, Danais Archippits, taken 

 at Kew. By Miss F. M. Campbell, water-colour drawings of 

 Victorian fungi ; also a copy of " Plants injurious to Stock," by 

 F. M. Bailey, F.L.S., Brisbane. By Mr. G. Coghill, orchid, 

 Pterostylis praecox, in bloom, pot grown ; also coloured draw- 

 ings of orchids. By Mr. A. Coles, a water-snake, from Fiji. 

 By Mr. P. Campbell, orchid, Pterostylis vittata, in bloom. By 

 Mr. C. French, F.L.S., a rare Victorian fern, Botrychium 

 ternatuin. By Mr. C. French, jun., a wood-boring longicorn 

 beetle, Uracanthus triangularis. By Master G. French, orchids, 

 Acianthus exsertns, in bloom. By Mr. H. C. Grover, skins of 

 hoary-headed grebe, bronze cuckoo, crested shrike, and spine- 

 billed honey-eater. By Mr. H. Kennon, shells ; an American 



