168 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIII. 



both the scientific and popular aspect, who said this or that shall 

 be the name, and it was readily taken up by the public. — Yours, 

 &c., A. G. CAMPBELL. 



Armadale, December, 1906. 



To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist. 



Sir, — Referring to the question of popular names for our native 

 plants, I had a good opportunity of noting many of these at the 

 late State Schools Exhibition. All the flowers that were exhibited 

 (some thousands of specimens) passed through my hands. I 

 regret that I did not keep a record of every name that was sent, 

 but I have a list of a good many of them, which will be available 

 for future use. I may say that very often the same popular 

 name referred to a number of different plants, and of course, too, 

 one plant often masqueraded under many popular names. 

 Epacris, Styphelia, Thryptomene, Tetratheca, Calycothrix, and 

 Cryptandra amara were all " heath flowers." Wurmhea dioica 

 was known as Lords and Ladies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Cats 

 and Dogs, Hen and Chickens, and about ten other names, but 

 did not once bear the label "Victorian Snowdrop" or 

 " Harbinger of Spring." Most of the Pultenseas and Dillwynias 

 were " Wild Wallflowers." One name that struck me was 

 " Elephant's Trunk " ; it was given to a Grevillea, and seemed a 

 very suitable one. The movement by the Club towards collecting 

 the popular names is a good one, but I think there will be many 

 difliculties in the way. — I am, yours truly, 



J. P. M'LENNAN. 

 State School, Emerald, gth November, 1906, 



Flycatchers Worrying a Laughing Jackass. — After leav- 

 ing the F.N.C. party at Olinda Creek on Saturday evening, 8th 

 December, I had what was to me a very singular ornithological 

 experience. My attention was attracted by a snipping noise not 

 far away, and on looking in the direction I saw a Laughing 

 Jackass being worried by two Black and White Flycatchers. The 

 Jackass was perched on the top of a burnt tree stem, with a Fly- 

 catcher on either side, each of which repeatedly exchanged 

 positions, and as they passed and repassed the Jackass pecked at 

 it, the Jackass at the same time snapping at them, and making a 

 loud noise with his bill. He had his feathers ruffled up, and 

 through my field-glass looked an object of abject misery. I 

 watched this performance at a distance of about 10 yards for some 

 40 or 50 seconds, when he flew ofl^, pursued by the two Fly- 

 catchers, and I heard the same performance going on again, but 

 this time too far off" to get a sight of.— F. G. A. Barnard. 



