THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST, 31 
destroyed by a parasite, while the other appeared healthy. ~ 
The two remaining cocoons were left, and on 20th Feb- 
ruary, 1918, a fine male moth emerged from one. The 
other | am keeping under observation. As fourteen months 
seems a long time for emergence, I am bringing the obser- 
vation before the Society. About -50 of the school boys 
made the observation along with me. 
Mr. Froggatt supphes the following comment :—This 
is an interesting note, because, as a general rule, the cater- 
pillars that pupate in December come out in the follow- 
ing February. We have had instances of their remaining 
over the second year, and Mr, Milligan’s accurate record 
of long-delayed development is worth noting. 
Narpoo (Marsilea drummondi)—At Hay, on the 
banks of the Murrumbidgee, after the floods of October 
last, a great many patches of Nardoo sprang up and grew 
luxuriantly. 
‘ 
ty 
In the olden days the seeds were gathered in large 
quantities, and Nardoo stones for grinding the seeds were 
common in the blacks’ camps. This is the food upon whien 
poor Wills, of Burke and Wills’ expedition, tried to live 
when he reached Cooper’s Creek. 
W. W. Froaaarr. 
Birp Norre.—An interesting observation by my friend, 
Mr. EH. Booth, is worth recording. On 16th December, Mr. 
Booth noticed a young bird in his father’s garden at 
Chatswood, which was perched on a branch, and being fed 
with worms and insects by three different birds. From 
Mr. Booth’s deseription, which was quite clear, Mr. Bassett-— 
Hull considers that.the young bird was probably the Pallid 
Cuckoo (Cuculus inornatus), and that the birds feeding it 
were yellow-breasted Shrike Robin (Hopsaltrina australis), 
Silvereye (Zosterops coerulescens), and Sparrow (Passer 
domesticus). The young bird kept up its incessant charac, 
teristic ery, and drooping and shaking its wings, whilst 
the three foster birds were industriously searching for and 
bringing it food.—Kditor. 
Eopysis or Spiper (/sopoda Sp.).—This is one of the 
large brown spiders common under bark, about out-houses | 
and in flat crevices generally, and popularly but erron- 
eously called ‘‘Tarantula.’’ 
