Jan., 1907.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 167 



kinds of fruit in their crops and sometimes a tree grasshopper, 

 with the exception of a large longtail, Epimachus meyeri, whose 

 crop contained what looked like moss. Another large longtail 

 had berries in its crop almost exactly resembling the common 

 English blackberry. 



The Raggiana has a special tree where the males congregate to 

 dance. The Six-plumed and Magnificent have dancing grounds, 

 which I have already described. I believe the other species of 

 birds of paradise in this district do not congregate in one tree, 

 but dance and display their plumes in any tree. 



Many of the rarer birds of paradise appear only to have one 

 egg. Anthony once found in a pandanus tree the nest of the 

 Twelve-wired bird, Seleucides nigricans, which contained only 

 one egg. The nest of Prince Rudolph's Bird of Paradise, 

 Paradisornis rudolphi, which we found contained only one 

 young one. One of my boys, Marria, once found the nest of 

 the Magnificent containing only one egg, which the bird hatched. 

 I believe the Raggiana, which is very common, has three eggs. 

 We were fortunate in having a drought while in the mountains, as 

 these regions have a terrible reputation for rain. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



To the Editor oj the Victorian Naturalist. 



Sir, — The paper by Mr. F. G. A Barnard, " Are Popular Names 

 for our Native Plants Desirable?" which appeared in the November 

 Naturalist, touches on a question of some Httle interest and 

 importance. Why should not our native plants (at least the 

 common ones) have recognized common names ? A name-label is 

 required by every natural history specimen, and is necessary alike 

 to the teacher and the beginner. Folk in either of these positions 

 would be greatly benefited by any definite action of the Club to 

 determine vernacular names for common plants, for it is generally 

 recognized that scientific names are unsuitable, or even meaning- 

 less. However, though Latin names may be cumbrous, there are 

 some of the shorter ones that could easily be of general use. 

 Bursaria, Cladium, Juncus, Carex, Pimelea, Xerotes, Acsena, &c., 

 are as short and pithy as Geranium, Dahlia, Oxalis, Ixia, &c., 

 already in cornmon use for Old World plants. Mr. Barnard's 

 paper is full of good propositions, but I would suggest that the 

 club take the lead in this matter, and not be at the mercy of 

 school children's wit by inviting specimens from them with names 

 attached. The vernacular names of Australian birds were deter- 

 mined by a select committee of competent men acquainted with 



