^i^''-] Field Natuvalists' Club — Proceedings. 151 



Mr. F. Pitcher detailed a visit to Loch Valley, referring prin- 

 cipally to the fern life of the district, and to the destruction 

 of the tree-fern flora owing to the removal of the' timber trees. 

 He stated that Mrs. Prescott, of Loch Valley, via Neerim North, 

 was prepared to receive a limited number of visitors who 

 wished to explore the district. 



Some notes were read from Miss G. Nethercote, who had 

 visited East Gippsland and Mallacoota. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard mentioned that during a one-day trip 

 to Britannia Creek, commencing about 2|- miles from Yarra 

 Junction, he had seen wonderfully fine fern scenery, and also 

 much fine timber. Seedling ferns of many kinds abounded in 

 the tramway cuttings, and he had noticed a seedling of the 

 Leather Fern, Aspidium coriaceum, as being somewhat unusual 

 in such a position. Seedling beeches were also plentiful. 



Mr. C. Daley, B.A., reported on a tour from Alexandra 

 through Taggerty and Marysville to Healesville. Bird-life was 

 stated to be abundant, and grasshoppers very prevalent. Six 

 Wedge-tailed Eagles were seen, and the boundary-line of 

 locality between the Black-backed and the White-backed 

 Magpies was noted. 



Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., gave an account of a recent holiday 

 in the Dromana district, which he said should prove interesting 

 to the Easter excursion party. 



Mr. H. B. Williamson gave an account of his visit to Malla- 

 coota, recording the more uncommon flora. He also exhibited 

 samples of grass-tree resin from Xanthorrhcea hastilis, and fruits 

 from a banana grown in the garden at Doran's Hotel. The 

 " singing sands " of Mallacoota were described and discussed, 

 specimens being exhibited. 



Mr. F. Chapman said that the phenomenon of these 

 " singing," " shrieking," or " musical " sands had been studied 

 in England and reported in the Geological Magazine in 1902 

 (see also Victorian Naturalist for February, 1903, vol. xix., p. 

 135). Mr. F. G. A. Barnard said that Dr. T. S. Hall had read 

 a short paper on the question befox^e the Club some years ago, 

 recording his experiences at Phillip Island (see Victorian 

 Naturalist for June, 1892, vol. ix., p. 39). 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard said on the previous day he had visited 

 Malleson's Glen (the head of the Don River), between Heales- 

 ville and Launching Place, and had been surprised to find that 

 Selaginella stolonifera, the ordinary Selaginella of our green- 

 houses, a native of the West Indies, had established itself 

 there in such quantities that it might fairly be considered an 

 introduced plant. It had probably originated by wind-borne 

 spores from the well-known garden of Mr. A. Agnew, not far 

 away. 



