Cbe Uictorian naturalist. 



Vol. XXXIIL— No. 1(>. FEBRUARY 8, 1917. No. 398. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, the 15th January,. 



The president, Mr. F. Pitcher, occupied the chair, and about 

 fifty members and visitors were present. 



The president regretfully announced that the hon. secretary, 

 Mr. J. G. O'Donoghue. was still in a precarious state of health. 

 He had seen him the previous day, when he expressed his 

 appreciation of the letter of sympathy sent to him by direction 

 of the last monthly meeting, and desired to thank those 

 members who had \'isited him and inquired after him during" 

 his illness. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



From Mr. W. J. Stephen, suggesting that the Club should 

 urge that the 137 acres of land near Burwood, recently acquired 

 by the Hawthorn Tramways Trust for the purpose of a public 

 park, should as far as possible be kept in its natural state, and 

 if any replanting is required preference should be given to 

 native trees and shrubs ; also that, if possible, it be declared ^ 

 a sanctuary for native fauna. 



The chairman said the area was large enough to provide 

 both space for recreation and a sanctuary for native fauna 

 and flora, and that it would not he advisable to ask for too 

 much restriction in its use. This view was accepted by the 

 meeting, and it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs. Coghill 

 and Wisewould, to communicate with the Trust, and express 

 the desires of the Club with regard to the future of the park. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



Mr. F. Wisewould referred to the splendid monetary result 

 of the recent exhibition of wild-flowers, by which, as announced 

 in the current Naturalist, the fine sum of £"131 6s. lod. was 

 handed to the Y.M.C.A. as a donation to its National Appeal 

 for funds to carry on its war work. The result, he said, was 

 highly creditable to all concerned, and members should regard 

 the efforts made in obtaining flowers as having been thoroughly 

 appreciated. 



REMARKS ON EXHIBITS. 



Mr. H. B. Williamson drew attention to his exhibit of 

 thirty-six species of Mallee plants found in bloom between 



