60 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION. 



The prize schedules of the horticultural shows to be held in 

 connection with the above exhibition have just been issued, 

 and contain the following items, which may be of interest to 

 members of the Field Naturalists' Club : — 



Class A. Open to all comers. Pot grown plants. — i. Col- 

 lection of indigenous plants named. 2. Twelve indigenous 

 plants named. 3. Collection of terrestrial indigenous orchids, 

 distinct species. 4. Six terrestrial indigenous orchids. 6. Col- 

 lection of native grasses most suitable for forage. 18. Collec- 

 tion of ferns indigenous to Victoria. 



Class B. Open to all comers. Cut flowers. — 61. Collection 

 of wild flowers. 98. Bouquet of native Victorian flowers. 



The dates of the shows are 15th and i6th November, 1888, 

 and in January, 1889 (dates to be fixed). Full particulars can 

 be obtained on application to the secretary. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist. 



Dear Sir, — I believe I can corroborate the letter in your last 

 issue as to the food of " Planarians " I first observed one with 

 the empty shell of a slater clasped in its folds ; and again, on 

 lifting a cabbage leaf, I saw a cluster of young leeches round and 

 on a dead slug. They were only about a third of an inch long, 

 and dark coloured, and I could not be sure how they fed. 

 Three or four were fastened to the slug, which was partly eaten, 

 and they seemed to be sucking the substance out of it. I have 

 further been told by a gardener that when a dead slug or worm 

 is left on the walk at night these leeches will be round it in the 

 morning, sucking the juice out of it. He does not think they 

 kill for themselves. Another thing about slugs has been noticed 

 here — that is, that in the early morning they may be seen eating 

 or sucking the common earthworm, leaving only a skin. Perhaps 

 some other observer may throw light on the subject. 



Yours truly, 



J. A. H. 

 Merrang, 30th July. 



EXCHANGE. 



Mr. F. a. a. Skuse, the Linnean Hall, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, 

 is working up the Australian Diptera, and will be glad to send 

 insects of other orders, or, if preferred, named species of Diptera, 

 in exchange for Victorian Diptera. 



