ST ee 
be an unrivalled destroyer of mosquitoes. 
THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 119 
NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
PLATYPUS.—We were exceedingly pleased to notice 
the following report in the Sydney ‘Daily Lelegraph, 
oS silage 
September 23rd :— 
“YASS, Friday. 
“At the Barren Jack Police Court, James Fallon was 
proceeded against by Senior-constable Gibson for having four 
duck-billed platypus skins in his possession. Fallon pleaded 
guilty, and was fined £1 per skin, and costs. Mr. FB, A. 
Ridley, P.M., commenting on the case, said the platypus was 
rapidly becoming extinct, and had rightly been protected by 
the Government.”’ 
It would be well if more of those responsible for the ad- 
ministration of the laws applying to the protection of the 
native fauna, had as keen a sense of duty as Senior-constable 
Gibson. The action of this officer will meet with the warm 
approval of all lovers of nature. 
Mosquitors.—The following paragraph from an Ameri- 
can paper, shows how readily entirely erroneous statements 
may become current. It formed the subject of a letter of 
inquiry to Mr. Froggatt :— 
“The Drosera binata, an Australian plant, is claimed to 
The glands on its 
branches contain a fluid limpid at night mucilaginous and 
sticky and as sweet as honey. The flavour attracts the mos- 
quito, the mucilage holds it, and the poisonous property of 
the liquid kills it. This plant has been imported into the 
United States.—The Barbados Standard.” 
Birp Arrackine Burrerriirs.—In August, 1911, I ob- 
served a ‘‘Jacky Winter’? chasing two of the blue 
black butterfly (Lapilio Sarpedon) about a camphor 
laurel tree. The bird was several times within 4 or 5 inches 
of the butterflies, which flew close together, and were scem- 
ingly much excited. They only escaped the bird by their 
erratic flight. Dodging and doubling, they at last suddenly 
dashed over the top of the tree and were followed by the bird, 
but I saw no more of them. WM. B. GURNEY. 
and 
I have much pleasure in reporting that I observed a 
“Water Wagtail’’? capture and devour a // eteronympha 
Merope and also a Junonia Vallidia butterfly. The bird 
stood on the body and tore off the wings, which were dis- 
carded, the body only being eaten. B. H. WICKHAM. 
Birp Day. It was with much pleasure that we read in 
the newspapers of the manner in which Bird Day was held 
and the encouragement to this important movement, which 
