100. THE AUSTRALIAN. NATURALIST. 
marsupials have a decided tendency to throw white offspring; 
and that these will breed true; cases in the Gardens: have oc- 
currred in the Red Kangaroo, the Nail-tailed Wallaby (Ony- 
chogale unguifera), and the Vulpine Opossum. 
Very curious local variations in the skin pattern of the. 
Carpet Snake (Python variegata) were pointed out by Mr. 
le Souef, the marking being less definite in specimens found 
in the vicinity of Sydney than in those occurring along the- 
northern coasts and highlands. It is Mr. le Souef’s inten- 
tion to bring the results of his observations before the Lin- 
nean Society of N. S. Wales, and from what the visitors saw 
on this occasion there can be no doubt that his paper will. 
bo most interesting and valuable. 
It was explained that owing to the practical difficulties. 
of getting suitable food for the Platypus, and the probability: 
of its dying if kept longer in captivity, the surviving speci- 
men had been liberated in the Sydney Botanic Gardens, in 
the hope that the ponds will prove a suitable habitat. Mr. - 
' le Souef intends trying to get Platypus to breed in the large 
ponds in the Centennial Park, and all lovers of Nature will 
wish him success in his experiment. 
Very great interest was taken in the new large aviaries, 
in which were living examples of the Bird of Paradise (Para-. 
disia Finch |), the Yellow-tufted, White-cheeked, Lunated: 
and Spinebilled Honey-eaters; also Lamberts and the Superb 
Wrens, the Hooded, Scarlet-breasted: and Yellow-breasted: 
Shrike Robins; also pairs of White-fronted Hphthianura and 
White-eye-browed Wood Swallow, and a Bee-eater. Tho 
Bird of Paradise is fed on bananas and other fruit; the 
Honey-eaters on syrup made from brown sugar, it having 
been found that they do not thrive on bees’ honey, while the 
Bee-eaters get chopped meat. 
On the invitation of Mrs. le Souef, the. visitors were en- 
tertained at afternoon tea, when Mr. Steel, on behalf of the 
party, thanked their hosts for the very instructive and en- 
joyable afternoon. This excursion was one of the most suc-. 
cessful in every way which the Club has had. 
T.S. 
eo (UE 
= 
EXCURSION TO COMO, 
Between 30 and 40 members attended the excursion to Como. 
on 9th September. In the absence of Mr. G. A: Waterhouse, 
through sickness, the leaderslitp was undertaken by Messrs, 
Gurney and Cheel. Wild flowerssvere particularly plentiful, 
' 
