144 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIlt 



By Mr. J. E. Dixon. — Specimen of rare longicorn beetle, 

 probably a new species, from Merri Creek, Campbellfield, taken 

 6/10/06 ; also a specimen oi Distichocera kirbyi, from Moorooduc, 

 Vic. 



By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., for National Museum. — Birds 

 of paradise, in illustration of Dr. Simson's paper — Astrarchia 

 stephanice, Finsch and Meyer (male and fem.), Farotia lawesi, 

 Rams, (male), Lophorina superba, Penn. (male), Drepanornis 

 albertisi, Scl. (male and fem.), and Paradisea raggiana, Scl. 

 (male). Also on behalf of Dr. C. C Simson, a series of New 

 Guinea photographs, in illustration of paper. 



By Mr. E. Lees. — Three sections of Silky Oak Tree, Grevillea 

 robusta, one cut transversely and two longitudinally ; one of the 

 latter showing a piece of a flower pot which had become 

 embedded in the substance of the trunk. 



By Mr. J. P. M'Lennan. — Four specimens of seedling Acacias 

 in illustration of note. 



By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Dried specimens oi Acacia pycnantha, 

 Benth., var. diglandulosa, Reader, new variety ; locality — Little 

 Desert, County of Lowan ; collected 12/8/94. RanunculiLS 

 parviflorus, L., a form with smooth achenes ; locality — County 

 of Lowan ; collected 11/9/9S. Pterostylis obtusa, R. Br.; a 

 new locality — County of Follett ; collected 26/8/06. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



Acacias with Leaves and Phyllodes. — I am sending by 

 same post four specimens of seedling acacias bearing true leaves 

 as well as phyllodes. I have noticed that all the acacias in 

 this district have true leaves when in a young state. Some 

 have leaves only, and no phyllodes, in the very early stages, the 

 phyllodes developing later. The acacias noted are — A. linearis, 

 A. oxycedrus, A. verticillata, A. myrtijolia, A. diffusa, A. stricta, 

 and A. melanoxylon. The last-named I have noticed occasionally, 

 when fairly tall trees, bearing more leaves than phyllodes. It 

 seems to me to be an indication that in a former period of their 

 evolution these acacias all bore true leaves. It would be interest- 

 ing to know whether these facts have been noticed in connection 

 with other species that now bear phyllodes. — J. P. M'Lennan. 

 State School, Emerald, 8th November, 1906. 



A Rare Orchid. — Among the specimens collected during the 

 Bayswater to Ringwood excursion of the F.N.C. on Saturday, 

 27th October, was Prasophyllum frenchii. This orchid was 

 named by Baron von Mueller alter the finder, Mr. G. French, 

 from a specimen obtained near Dandenong Creek in November, 

 1889 {Vici. Nat, vi., 126). It was found on the same day by 

 an excursion party of the F.N.C. at Tooradin, Western Port 

 {Vict. Nat., vi., 121), and has not been recorded again until 

 the present specimen. 



