THE WOMBAT. 



15 



Habitat — On Casuarina suberosa at Myrniong, Victoria. 



In the colour and size of the female puparium this species 

 approaches Mytilaspis casuarina', Mask. Trans. N.Z. Inst., 

 p. 209, 1892, although it is slightly smaller. The faint cari- 

 nation of the male puparium clearly separates it, and prevents 

 it entering that genus. It is smaller than Poliaspis exocarpi, 

 Mask, and the pellicles are by no means yellow in the female 

 puparium as in the latter species. 



So far there is only one other Australian species attached 

 to this genus — viz. P. exocarpi, Mask, a New Zealand species. 

 P. media, Mask, and P. pina, Mask, from Japan, in addition 

 to one or two American species constitute the genus Poliaspis. 

 The characters of this genus are vague, and its establishment 

 in 1879 by Maskell was probably one of the few errors to be 

 found in his magnificent classification of Coccidce. However, 

 so long as it is desirable to retain the genus Poliaspis, little 

 confusion can follow by attaching such species as the present 

 to it, and although complaints have come from America con- 

 cerning its needless construction, less confusion will follow by 

 leaving it undisturbed. Out of respect to Maskell and his 

 life-long work, future systematists should avoid disturbing it 

 by all means. P. casuarinoz is a showy species and not 

 uncommon. 



LIST OF BIRDS. 



SEEN OR OBTAINED IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 

 OF CASTLEMAINE. 



By F. L. Billinghurst. 



1. 



Aquila andax 



19. 



2. 



iEgotheles nov. holl. 



20. 



3. 



Podargus cuvieri 



21. 



4. 



Cypselus pacificus 



22. 



5. 



Hirundo neoxena 



23. 



6. 



Hyloclielidon nigricans 



24. 



7. 



Merops ornatns 



25. 



8. 



Dacelo gigas 



26. 



9. 



Halcyon sanctus 



27. 



10. 



Artarnus sordidus 



28. 



11. 



„ superciliosus 



29. 



12. 



Pardalotus punctatus 



30. 



13. 



,, ornatus 



31. 



]4. 



Strepera cuueicaudacuta 



32. 



15. 



Gymnorhina tibicen 



33. 



16. 



,, leuconota 



34. 



17. 



Cracticus torquatus 



35. 



18. 



Grallina picata 



36. 



Graucalus melanops 

 Lalage tricolor 

 Pachycephala gutturalis 

 „ rufiventris 



Collyriocincla harmonica 

 Falcunculus frontatus 

 Oreoica cristata 

 Rhipidura albiscapa 

 Sauloprocta motacilloides 

 Seisura inquieta 

 Micrceca fascinans 

 Smicrornis brevirostris 

 Erythrodryas rosea 

 Petroica legpii 



„ goodenovii 



,, pboenicea 

 Melanodryas bicolor 

 Eopsaltria australis 



