THE GEELONG NATURALIST. 9 
mallee scrub, commencing near the municipal boundary of Eaglehawk, 
(Victoria), and extending in a northerly direction for mcre than 
twenty miles, by a breadth, in some parts, of five or six miles. In 
and around the scrub I met with several species of birds, respecting 
the nidification of which Gould’s recently-published handbook fur- 
nished little or no information. To search for their nests was, 
therefore, a very pleasurable task. 
“Of the Hylacola I obtained only one nest containing eggs, and 
I sent the nest and an egg to the National Museum, and there they 
are still, no doubt, stowed away somewhere along with hundreds of 
other valuable things that cannot be displayed for want of space.” 
I have recently received from Mr. H. E. Hill a bird from the 
Bendigo district which is undoubtedly H. pyrrhopygia, and which 
would appear to throw doubt on the indentification of Mr. 
Nancarrow’s species. 
The eggs above described were a clutch taken on Kangaroo 
Island, 14th October, 1895, by Mr. W. White, of Adelaide. 
ET ES 
BARON VON MUELLER. 
Wrrz profound regret we have to chronicle the death of our esteemed. 
friend, Baron von Mueller, who was one of the most distinguished. 
Scientists of the present age. 
Only a few hours before his death the writer had sent hima message 
congratulating him on the improved condition of his health, and wishing 
him a speedy recovery. But a sudden and unexpected relapse had a’ 
rapidly fatal termination, and the deceased gentleman passed quietly 
away at 1 a.m. on the 10th ult. 
y his lamented death we have lost a kind friend and a valued helper. 
€ portrait and valued scientific literature presented to the Club were 
practical evidences of his sympathy. As individuals, none of us ever 
appealed in vain to him for help in identification of species, or advice as 
to studies, &c. 
In botanical science, adorned as it is by so many brilliant men, Baron 
von Mueller stood unrivalled. His love for his favourite study began at 
an early age, for in 1840 he commenced a careful, independent investiga- 
tion of the Danish plants. He arrived in Australia in 1847, so that for 
nearly half a century he steadily worked at our flora, as the worthy 
successor Of the illustrious Robert Brown. Of his work in connection 
with Australian botany it is impossible to speak too highly. He made 
for himself a reputation that is unique—“ None named him but to 
raise.” His literary contributions to botanical science are represented 
y over 40 volumes, all bearing unmistakable evidences of his life- 
devotion to his work. He collected and supplied most of the data for 
the “Flora Australiensis,” 7 large volumes, edited by Bentham, and 
published under the auspices of the colonial Governments. The 
“Fragmenta Phytographiw Australia” (13 vols.) presented from time 
to time the latest information on indigenous plants. Splendid mono- 
graphs on Eucalypts, Acacias, Salsolacew, and Myoporums, all ad- 
mirably illustrated, reveal his marvellous capacity for scientific research. 
"Several works on Vietorian plants eame from his prolific pen, and 
