Nov.. 1905.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 135 



Amaryllidae — 



Hypoxis glabella 

 Liliacese — 



Dianella revoluta 



Wurmbea dioica 



Burchardia umbellata 



Bulbine bulbo.sa 



Chamaescilla corymbosa 



Stypandra glauca 



Liliaceae — 



Arthropodium strictum 



minus 

 Xanthorrhcea australis 



Restiaceae — 



Calostrophus lateriflorus 



Cyperaceae — 



Cladium tetraquetrum 



Hawthorn and Camberwell Microscopical Society. — 

 This society, which is the only one of its kind in the State, held 

 a most interesting conversazione on the T7th October last, when 

 there was a very large attendance of members and friends. The 

 president, Mr. O. A. Sayce, gave a lecturette, entitled " On 

 Popular Forms Exhibited," and the Rev. J. Gibson one entitled 

 " Eyes." There were a large number of exhibitors, many of 

 whom are well-known members of the Field Naturalists' Club 

 of Victoria, and their efforts to enlighten and instruct were 

 greatly appreciated. 



"A Key to the Birds of Australia." — This work by Mr. 

 R. Hall has the distinction of being one of the first Australian 

 scientific works to reach a second edition, and so proving that it 

 must have filled a want in our ornithological literature. While 

 the main text is the same as the previous edition, the new 

 volume differs in two features from its predecessor. A number of 

 illustrations, reproductions from the plates in Gould's " Birds of 

 Australia," have been added, and, though on a rather small scale, 

 will doubtless prove of service to the student. The second 

 feature, and one which will commend itself to the non-scientific 

 reader especially, is that, wherever possible, the derivations and 

 meanings of the scientific names are given. To the 763 species 

 of birds listed in the first edition 52 species and sub-species are 

 added as having been recorded for Australia during the seven 

 years' interval since the publication of the first edition. Owing to 

 the manner of republication adopted nearly two pages and a 

 half have to be devoted to notes and corrections of the original 

 descriptions. In its present form the " Key " will doubtless prove 

 even a more useful companion to the bird-lover than it did 

 before, though it is to be regretted that the index was not 

 rewritten so as to include the additions and corrections. 



Malleson's Glen. — It will be learned with satisfaction that, 

 as urged by the Field Naturalists' Club, 722 acres in the parishes 

 of Gracedale and Yuonga have been permanently reserved as a 

 site for public purposes. 



English Bird Life. — For a charming glimpse of this subject 

 bird-lovers should read an article on the subject, from an 

 American point of view, by Mr. Frank M. Chapman, in Scribner 

 for June, 1906, and which has the merit of being splendidly 

 illustrated. 



