216 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
DistrisutTion or Burrerriies.—Mr. G. A. Waterhouse 
gave an account, at the June meeting, of the variation and 
geographical distribution of Australian Butterflies. He 
pointed out that there were two very definite elements in the 
Australian Butterfly Fauna. One of these is centred in 
South Eastern Australia, where its maximum. development 
occurs; this element gradually decreases to the northwards, 
and is very feebly represented at Cape York. A. similar 
decrease takes place along the Southern Coast of Australia. 
The other element in the Australian Fauna is a tropical 
one, and is derived via New Guinea across Torres Straits. 
This element is at its maximum at Cape York, and gradu- 
ally decreases along the Hast Coast, and has almost disap- 
‘peared in Victoria. It was pointed out that the Hast Coast 
of Australia could not be divided into definite faunal regi- 
ons, as both the faunal element overlapped. A small in- 
vasion from Timor was shown to exist in the Northern Ter- 
ritory and N.W. Australia. Mr. Waterhouse’s remarks were 
illustrated by numerous specimens of butterflies. 
OSPREY PLUMES. 
The Duchess of Portland writes to ‘‘The Times,’’ ‘August 
23:—‘“My attention having been called to the fact that 
mounts of real osprey were recently advertised for sale, I beg 
that you will allow me through your columns to implore my 
countrywomen to refrain from purchasing this particular kind: 
of headdress. I am afraid ladies are not generally aware of 
the dreadful suffering caused in procuring these feathers. The 
milliner’s osprey (French aigrette) grows on the back of the 
white heron or egret, and then only in the breeding season, 
when their nests are congregated together in large numbers. 
Thus the birds, although alarmed on the approach of the hun- 
ters, are unwilling to leave their offspring, and fall easy prey 
to the guns, after which the coveted feathers are plucked from 
their bodies ; but what of their young? They, cruelly deprived 
of their parental support, and having themselves no feathers 
of any value, are left to die the horrible death of slow starva- 
tion. These are the circumstances I wish to point out, and 
why I would ask all men and women to discourage the wear- 
ing of osprey plumes, for if there were no demand, the supply 
would soon cease. I am glad to read in a leading London 
newspaper, commenting on the millinery taken to India by 
Queen Mary, in the recent tour, that her Majesty had never 
worn a real aigrette, and had given special instruction that 
nothing of the kind should be employed in her millinery. This 
example will, I earnestly hope, be followed when the facts are 
known.”’ 
Several articles held over.—Kd. 
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