2 Field Naiuialists' Club— Proceedings. [^ vi^,^'^^'''' 



be almost in its original state, and especially the eastern portion 

 should afford good shelter for native birds. The little Autumn 

 Orchid, Eriochiltis autumnalis, was blooming freely, but neces- 

 sarily wild -flowers were scarce. He suggested that the Club 

 should consider the question of endeavouring to get a small area 

 set aside to which native shrubs, &c., might be introduced from 

 other districts. 



A report of the excursion to the Dee Valley on Saturday, 7th 

 April, was given by the leader, Mr. C. A. Nethercote, who said 

 that owing to the very bad weather only four members left town 

 for Millgrove. Owing to the sodden state of the groimd it was 

 found impossible to ascend Ben Cairn as had been intended. 

 The party therefore returned to West Warburton, and spent the 

 following clay in the Britannia Creek district. 



ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 



On a ballot being taken, Miss G. V. Buchanan, D.Sc, Biology 

 School, Universitj', was duly elected an ordinary member ; Mr. 

 Wm. D. M'Phee, State school, Rochester, a country member ; 

 and Mr. Dudley Dickison, Rock Brook-road, East St. Kilda, an 

 associate member of the club. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



The chairman stated that, as president of the Club, he had 

 been invited to attend the opening of Wattle Park, Riversdale, 

 on Saturday, 31st March, and plant a memorial tree. He stated 

 that Acacias had naturally been selected for the purpose, and 

 some fifty specimens, comprising about eighteen varieties, had 

 been planted. 



Mr. St. John suggested that the land offered a good op- 

 portunity for the formation of a suburban forest on similar lines 

 to those of France. 



Mr. St. John read a letter from Mr. Geo. French, of Queen- 

 street, Melbourne, with regard to the destruction of palms, more 

 especially the seedlings, at Cabbagetree Creek, East Gipi)sland. 

 The reservation was made at the instance of the Club many 

 years ago. 



It was resolved, on the motion of Messrs. Barnard and Rosen- 

 hain, to forward a copy of the letter to the Lands Department, 

 with a request that steps be taken to secure the protection of 

 the seedling palms. 



Mr. St. John read a newspaper paragra])h stating that some 

 persons had been fined at Benalla for shooting quail out of 

 season. 



Mr. J. Shephard stated that he had recently been along the 

 Donnabuang track, and spoke enthusiastically of the splendid 

 forest growth in the vicinity of Cement Creek. He mentioned 



