THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



from Mt. Wellington district ; also photographs and lantern slides 

 illustrative of the visit to the Mt. Wellington district. By Rev. 

 W. Fielder. — Land planarians from Mt. Macedon {Geoplana 

 alba, G. adce, G. sugde7ii, G. hoggii, G. Jletcheri, G. medio- 

 lineata, and G. qtcadrangulata), and a peripatus (insignis). 

 By Mrs. Flatovv. — A Queensland bean. By Mr. C. French, jun. 

 — Nest and eggs of Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater, taken near 

 Bacchus Marsh. By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — Eggs of Little Eagle 

 (Aquila morphoroides), Allied Kite {Milvus affinis), Rose-breasted 

 Cockatoo {PlictoloijJius roseicapilla), Black-tailed Tribonyx (Tri- 

 honyx ventralis), and another Tribonyx. By Mr. A. H. S. 

 Lucas. — Rare species of lizard (Amphibolurus angulifer), new 

 frog (Limnodynastes nigro-lutea), fish {Galaxias lacustris), crayfish 

 (Astacopsis serratus, var. wellingtonensis) ; and some dried speci- 

 mens of plants from Mount Wellington district. By Baron von 

 Mueller. — A plant new to science from Western Australia (Anthro- 

 troche healiana, F. v. M.) By Mr. D. Le Souef — Insects from 

 Plenty River district. By Mr. F. Spry. — A case of Queensland 

 and Victorian butterflies, and seven specimens of Queensland 

 birds. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the 

 Royal Society's Hall on the 9th March, Mr. D. Best occupying 

 the chair. 



The minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed, Mr. 

 F. G. A. Barnard brought forward a report of the excursion to 

 Heidelberg, which took place on 4th February, and which suffered 

 in every respect from the exceptionally hot weather experienced 

 on that day. 



The usual reading of papers then took place, the first being 

 contributed by Mr. J. Lidgett. This had reference to the 

 " Sagacity of Insects," the Ichneumonidse serving as types, and 

 the habit of depositing their eggs in living caterpillars, which act 

 as hosts till the young Ichneumons can shift for themselves, was 

 specially dwelt upon. Next came a paper by Mr. C. French, 

 F.L.S., on " The Australian Bustard," the first of a series on " The 

 Insectivorous Birds of Australia." In introducing his subject, 

 the author referred to the indiscriminate destruction of insect- 

 ivorous birds, and showed how nature maintains a balance 

 between the numbers of birds, beasts, insects, and plants in any 

 district, and if by artificial means this balance is destroyed, 

 intolerable numbers of some kinds remain to work their ravages, 

 and necessitate expenditure of money and labour to restore the 

 balance again. Then means by which this wholesale destruction 

 may be checked were discussed, and amongst others the follow- 

 ing were advocated : — The formation of a collection of stuffed 



