Cbe Uictorian naturalist 



Vol. XXXVI.— No. 8. DECEMBER 4, 1919. No. 432. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, loth November, 1919. 

 the president, Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., occupied the chair, 

 and about fifty members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to Eltham and St. Helena on 

 Saturday, i8th October, was given by the leader, Mr. E. S. 

 Anthony, who reported a large attendance of members. The 

 afternoon was spent in viewing in situ a number of nests of 

 various birds, to which the party was kindly guided by Mr. W^ 

 Tonge, a resident of the district. Among these was that of 

 the Tawny Frogmouth, and it was hard for visitors to believe 

 that they were looking at a bird on its nest rather than a pro- 

 jecting broken branch, so well was the deception carried out. 



On the motion of Messrs. Barnard and Robertson, a hearty 

 vote of thanks was passed to Mr. and Mrs. Tonge for their 

 kindness on the occasion. 



A report of the excursion to Evelyn on Saturday, 25th 

 October, was given by the leader, Mr. W. T. C. Kelly, who said 

 that a fair party took part in the visit to his country home 

 near Evelyn, of the natural surroundings of which he at present 

 knew but little. He hoped, however, at a later date to be in 

 a position to make such a visit more interesting and instructive 

 than the recent one. 



Mr. F. Keep said that Mr. Kelly's home garden was an inter- 

 esting study in itself, and that the party was very much indebted 

 to Mr. and Miss Kelly for their hospitality on the occasion. 



A report of the excursion to Mont Albert and Balwyn on 

 Saturday, ist November, was, in the absence of the leaders, 

 Messrs. Chapman and Searle, given by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, 

 who said that, probably owing to an unpleasant day, the 

 attendance of members was smaller than the interest of the 

 district warranted. 



A report of the excursion to Emerald on Tuesday, 4th 

 November (Cup Day), was given by the leader, Mr. E. E. 

 Pescott, F.L.S., who said that about twenty members and 

 friends took part in the outing, which had been arranged for 

 the purpose of visiting the famous tree nursery of Messrs. 

 C. A. Nobelius and Sons. Here were found many beautiful 

 exotic trees and shrubs, together with much native vegetation 

 in the fern gullies on the estate. An opportunity to see the 

 process of manufacture of New Zealand flax fibre from plants 

 grown on the adjacent hillsides was availed of, and great 



