THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 33 
Among the fishes there were the fan-tailed goldfish—a species 
which has been altered almost cut of recognition under the 
patient care of Chinese and Japanese breeders. The Fighting- 
fish, Betta pugnaa, and the Paradise fish, Polyacanthus oper- 
cularis, whose interesting habits have recently been described by 
Mr. BE. R. Waite in’ the Records of the Australian Museum, 
were also on view, while of our native fish-fauna we noted the 
Striped Gudgeon, Krefftius australis; Gale’s Carp Gudgeon, 
Carrasiops galii ; Wel-gudgeon, Galawias sp.; and the Blue-eye, 
Pseudomugil signifer. Plant life was represented by Myrio- 
phyllum, Ceratophyllum; Vallisneria, Nitella, Anachyris, Marsilia, 
and Lemma. Kyen more beautiful were the marine aquaria, 
bright as a fairy garden with expanded anemonies, corals, and 
tube-dwelling worms. Saucy little hermit crabs paraded fear- 
lessly in and,out the miniature forest of weeds, and grappled 
with prawns for toothsome morsels. Quite.a number of pigmy. 
leatherjackets, Brachalutores trossulus, were seen daintily pick. 
ing minute food particles from the mouths of the anemonies 
and the peculiar movements of the Seahorses, Hippocampus’ 
nove-hollandiz, and Pipe-fishes, Stigmiatophora argus, showed 
to advantage as they glided phantomlike from weed to weed. 
Among the specimens we noted a rare species of Petrocirtes, 
which was so tame as to feed from the hands. In addition to 
these, there were several other species, the enumeration of 
which is precluded out of consideration for space. Hven frogs 
were included in the list of captives, and Miss Pearl Finckh 
drew attention to the interesting fact thatif the land-loving 
species, Pseudophryne libronii accidentally jumps into water, it 
becomes quite helpless, and if not soon rescued drowns. During 
the afternoon Mr. Krefft gave an exhibition of the correct 
method of handling deadly snakes, and used for his purpose 
a lively specimen of the Tiger snake, Notechis sentatus, which 
with the aid of a forked stick he controlled and secured with-. 
out danger to himself or his auditors. After partaking of 
afternoon tea on the lawn, Mr: Finckh gave a short address on 
the establishment and management of an aquarium, his 
remarks being listened to with inverest. At the close of the 
afternoon, the President, on b,half of the Club, and all those 
present, thanked Mr. and Mrs. Finckh for their entertainment. 
Fenian a Th 
A aale NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
» Lapypiros.—Mr. W. B. Gurney contributes the following :— 
At Richmond, N.S.W., specimens of Coccinella repanda, one of 
our common aphis-eating Ladybirds, were found feeding on. 
some tiny glands on the stalks of Cowpea, but no aphis. were 
seen on the plants. This andan»ther, Lezs conformis, are found 
on Wattles on which I know no aphis though several coccids’ 
are common on aca¢ias. Is it possible the glands on stalks or 
leaves of some plants supply food. for the predaceous ladybirds. 
in/the absence of scale or aphis.? 
