34 THE WOMBAT. 



The flame-breasted robins (P. phcenicea) made their appear- 

 ance about the middle of April near Somerville, the first being 

 noticed on the 13th, and each succeeding day adding slightly to 

 their numbers, though all were females ; it was not until the 22nd 

 that a male was noticed. At the date of writing (May 12th) 

 many males are to be seen on the uncultivated lands or on the 

 plains wherever the land is cleared and the soil is of a damp loamy 

 nature. In the thickly timbered tracts there are none to be seen 

 though one meets with an occasional pair of the scarlet-breasted 

 species. (P. leggii) I have long wondered how it is that so many 

 more females than males are in evidence ; and why the females 

 always lead the way. These birds retire about the end of August 

 from this part, presumably to breed in the mountain ranges. I 

 once saw a pair making their nests on the Dandenong Ranges in 

 October. — Geo. E. Shepherd. 



Mr. J. F. Mulder reports having obtained Cypraea gigas 

 from the Western Beach. 



Mr. J. F. Mulder reports having observed the black-faced 

 Cuckoo Shrike {Graucalus melanops) at Highton, on April 29th, 

 and the Painted Quail ( Turnix varia) at the same place. 



Mr. C. F. Belcher reports having obtained the nest and eggs 

 of the New Holland Honey eater {Meliornis novce hollandice) at 

 Airey's Inlet, on March 31st. 



Mr. G. H. Adcock reports on a remarkable odour, like rotten 

 fish, given off by the saltbush (Ragodia hastata.) 



Mr. H. K. Hill reports having observed the Pink Robin 

 (Petrceca rkodinogastra) at Bream Creek. They were plentiful 

 and very inquisitive, following him for some distance through 

 the scrub. 



Mr. C. F. Belcher reports that the magpies are building at 

 Batesford. 24/5/02. 



Crimson Prints. The first of a series of notes, by Edward 

 W. Newcomb, in the Professional and Amateur Photographer, 

 reads thus : — " Crimson Prints are a new thing, that is, as far as 

 anything can be new in this land of second hand discoveries. The 

 toning bath is made up just when wanted, and used at once, and 

 is as follows : — 



Sulphocyanide of Ammonia ... ... 76 grs. 



Iodide of Potash ... ... ... 20 ,, 



Water ... ... ... 3 ozs. 



Chloride of gold, dissolved in 2 drms. of water 4 grs. 



" Wash the Prints well before toning, and see to it that they 

 are not but proof deep. Fix full fifteen minutes, as silver iodide 

 dissolves less freely in hypo, than silver chloride. Toning to a 

 bright crimson with the above bath takes from half to three- 

 quarters of an hour. There is your formula ; now if you want to 

 print the town's portraits red, go ahead i " — A.P.J. 



