THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 155 



The hon. secretary reported that the excursions to Heidelberg 

 and Whittlesea had been comparative failures, owing to the 

 extremely hot weather prevailing. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. W. T. Shanasy was duly elected 

 a member of the club. 



PAPERS READ. 



r. By Mr. F. C. Christy, M.I.C.E., entitled "Notes on the 

 Apple Moth." The author gave a brief resume of his observations 

 on the Codlin Moth, which he stated lays its eggs in the calyx of 

 the blossom, and the grub as soon as fully developed eats a vital 

 part of the apple, causing it to fall, when it emerges from the fruit 

 and forms a chrysalis under the rough bark of the tree, or some 

 other sheltered, dry situation, and there remains till the following 

 spring. He exhibited specimens of the moth, the identity of 

 which with the English Codlin Moth was questioned by several 

 members, it being considered to be an indigenous species, but 

 with habits quite as destructive, if not more so, than those of the 

 English type. The paper gave rise to considerable discussion. 



2. By Mr. E. D. Atkinson, C.E., of Tasmania (hon. member), 

 entitled " Notes of a Short Trip to the Islands of Western Bass 

 Straits." This was a most interesting account of a collecting 

 trip to the islands off the north-west coast of Tasmania, which, 

 with the exception of one, are uninhabited. The author remarked 

 on the scarcity of mammals. Of birds (sea birds naturally pre- 

 dominating), some 50 species were noted, and some of their 

 peculiarities mentioned ] a few snakes were seen, and several rare 

 plants were obtained. 



Natural History Notes. — Mr. C. French, F.L.S., contributed 

 a note on the so-called " fly pest " in the Rutherglen vineyards, 

 and exhibited specimens, and also enlarged coloured drawings, 

 by Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, of the insect, which belongs to the 

 order Hemiptera, sub-order Heteroptera, and is at present un- 

 named. Mr. French also contributed a few notes on a case of 

 poisoning from the bite of the red and black spider known as 

 the Victorian Katipo. 



The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By 

 Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Euryscaphus titan (Sloane), a new 

 carabid beetle, from Central Australia ; specimens and drawings 

 of a destructive insect from Rutherglen. By Mr. C. French, jun. 

 — Eggs of following Victorian birds, viz., Gilbert's Thickhead, 

 Chestnut-backed Ground Thrush, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, 

 Spotted Bower Bird, Black-tailed Tribonyx, Leadbeater's Cocka- 

 too, and Barnard's Parrakeet. By Master G. Hill. — A case 

 of Victorian and other Coleoptera, including Schizorrhimis bake- 

 welli, recently taken at Sandringham. By G. A. Keartland. — 



