98 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



preserving botanical specimens in as nearly as possible their 

 original shapes and colours. After a long series of trials, he 

 had adopted a modification of the dry sand process, with the 

 addition of a subsequent coat of thin transparent varnish, as^ 

 giving the most satisfactory results. He exhibited a number of 

 specimens prepared in different ways, and in different stages of 

 preparation. The paper gave rise to some little discussion' 

 among those present. 



2. By Mr. P. H. Anderson — "Notes on the Culicidse, or 

 Mosquito Family." The author gave a brief account of the 

 various stages through which these well-known insects pass 

 before they arrive at their fullest development, and illustrated 

 his remarks by references to a series of well-executed drawings, 

 on a large scale, of the various parts, &c. He referred to the 

 principal species of the family found in different parts of the 

 world, and stated that he had taken several specimens about 

 Melbourne, which were probably undescribed species, as they 

 differed in several particulars from the species described by 

 several authorities he had consulted. 



Owing to the length of the papers, several interesting natural 

 history notes had to be postponed. 



The following were the principal exhibits : — By IMr. P. H. 

 Anderson, several parts of Brown's " Forest Flora of South 

 Australia," also drawings in illustration of his paper on the- 

 mosquito ; by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, native orchid in bloom,. 

 Caladenia stiaveolens ; by Mr. G. Coghill, bird's nest and &g^: 

 (species unknown) from Cheltenham, also orchid in bloom,. 

 Diuris punctata, grown by exhibitor; by Mr. P. Dattari, a frond 

 of the fern, Pttris tremula, five feet nine inches in length, from* 

 Lang Lang, near Drouin ; by Mrs. Flatow, seaweeds, polyzoa, 

 and hydrozoa from Queenscliflf ; by Mrs. Friederich, portion of 

 a skull found in the catacombs at Rome ; by Mr. W. Jennings,, 

 fossil shells from Fisherman's Bend, fossil shark's teeth, &:c.,. 

 from Cheltenham, obsidian from Limeburner's Creek, near 

 Hamilton ; by Mr. G. A. Keartland, eggs of rufous-capped 

 sandpiper; by IMr. H. Kennon, specimen of carving on an emu 

 egg by an aboriginal ; by Mr. H. Watts, a fine collection of 

 marine algae, mounted in an album and on cards, also speci- 

 mens of marine algae mounted for the microscope ; by Rev. W, 

 T. Whan, M.A., pumice stone from Diego Garcia, drifted 2000 

 miles westward ; by Mr. J. Wing, lichens, fossils, gold-bearing 

 quartz, &c., from Rushworth ; by Rev. C. M. Yelland, 126 

 specimens of wild flowers collected at Oakleigh, Brighton, and 

 Cheltenham on three excursions. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



