THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



PAPERS. 



The first paper was contributed by Mr. James Lidgett, and 

 treated of "Some Transformations of Australian Lepidoptera." 

 The paper was divided into two parts, the first of which served 

 as an introduction to a systematic treatment of the subject, which 

 embraced the life-history of nearly a dozen separate forms. 



Mr. A. J. Campbell, F.L.S., then gave an oxy-hydrogen lantern 

 exhibition illustrative of a recent trip through a dense tropical 

 jungle in the Richmond River district of New South Wales — a 

 paradise for a naturalist, but scarcely for a photographer. Never- 

 theless, Mr. Campbell proved the camera to be a valuable adjunct 

 to his field work, and managed to bring back about four dozen 

 negatives, from which, with the assistance of two members of the 

 Working Men's College Photographic Club, he was enabled to 

 make a series of very effective slides, remarkable not only for 

 their clear and crisp outlines, but also as illustrations of valuabje 

 natural history subjects and typical scrub scenes. Mr. R. S. 

 Sugars very successfully worked the apparatus, kindly lent for the 

 occasion by the authorities of the Technical College. 



The following may be mentioned as amongst the most success- 

 ful views of the series : — " In the Pine Ranges," " Still Life," 

 "Marshall Falls," "Palm Scene," "Botanical Studies," " Bower 

 of the Regent Bird," and coaching scenes, especially the one 

 " Under the Shadow of a Great Rock." 



DEPUTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT. 



The chairman announced that a deputation from the Royal 

 Society and the Field Naturalists' Club waited on the Chief 

 Secretary on Thursday, 7th April, and asked that the allowance 

 for the department of the Government Botanist, which has been, 

 reduced by the Cabinet from ^2,750 a year to ^1,200, should 

 be increased to ^1,500, as this would enable Baron von Mueller 

 to more effectually carry out the work pertaining to his office. 

 Mr. M'Lean, in replying, said the Cabinet had only decided on 

 the reduction after having made careful inquiry into the depart- 

 ment and its utility, and they came to the conclusion that ^"1,200 

 would be ample to devote to the purpose. However, as the 

 deputation had asked him to again bring the matter under the 

 notice of the Cabinet, he would do so on the first opportunity. 

 The Club was represented by Professor Spencer, Rev. W. Fielder, 

 and Mr. F. Wisewould. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



The meeting terminated with the usual exhibition of specimens, 

 of which the following is a list : — By Mrs. Flatow. — Spondylus, 

 from California ; fossil fish, from Lebanon ; Nautilus (fossil) 

 and Ammonite, from England. By Mr. C. French, sen. — A 



