110 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
case with the peanut. After fertilisation has been effected, 
the yellow petals of the blossom drop off, the flower stalk 
elongates and bends over, and as a result, the tip of the stalk, 
together with the remaining portions of the flower, is buried in 
the soil. If the stem fails to reach the ground no pod is 
formed, but once the tip of the stalk finds its way into the soil, 
the pod developes rapidly. The peanut is therefore an under- 
ground legume—hence its specific name hypogsea (under the 
earth). 
- Birp Norss.—The droughty conditions prevailing brought 
down breeding flocks of the two Wood Swallows, Artamus 
superciliosus and A. personatus, to the coast, though in smaller 
numbers than is usually the case. ‘These birds visited Sydney 
in 1905, and also in 1902. They are valuable insectivorous 
birds, and, in spite of the evil reputation which clings to them 
because they devour a few bees, should be rigorously protected. 
On 13th October last, while out at Manly with Miss Mack and 
my brother, a nest of the White-shafted Fantail, Rhipidura 
albiscapa, was taken, containing two eggs of the Fantail, and 
in addition the very much larger creamy egg of the Pallid 
Cuckoo (Cuculus pallidus). This Fantail has not, as far as I 
have been able to ascertain, been previously recorded as a host 
for the Pallid Cuckoo, though I have heard indirectly that 
some Melbourne friends took a similar clutch in 1906. The 
honour of actually discovering the nest belongs to Miss Mack. 
On 28th September, 1906, I took a clutch of the Spine-billed 
Honeyeater (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) at Flemington. The 
nest also contained an egg of the Bronze Cuckoo (Chalcococcyz 
plagosus). This also constitutes a record, and is especially 
interesting as the egg of this Cuckoo is so rarely placed in an 
open nest.—L, Harrison. 
Screnriric Expepition.—The expedition to the Auckland and 
Campbell Islands has been most successfully accomplished, and 
whilst it is, at present, too early to speculate as to ultimate 
results, there can be little doubt but that much valuable in- 
formation has been gained, Indeed, considering the personnel 
of the party, this is only what was anticipated from the start. 
The party was a strong one, and, in order to accomplish as 
much as possible in the time at its disposal, it was divided into 
two sections, one of which explored the Auckland Islands, and 
the other, Campbell Islands. That of the first-named islands 
included Dr. Farr and Mr. H. D. Cook, magnetic observers ; 
Professor Benham, and our old friend and member, Mr. H. R. 
Waite, zoologists ; Mr. Hudson, entomologist; Dr. L. Cockayne, 
Messrs. J. S. Tennant and Aston, and Captain Dorrien-Smith, 
botanists; Messrs. Speight and Finlayson, geologists. The 
Campbell Islands contingent included Messrs. Skey and Kidson, 
magnetic observers; Dr. Chilton, Professor Kirk and Mr. J. B. 
Mayne, zoologists; Messrs. R. M. Laing and J. Crosby Smith, 
