98 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



tions, these small plants have been almost entirely overlooked. 

 The best method of collecting was referred to, together with full 

 details as to the mounting of mosses in glycerine jelly, the 

 success of the method pursued being fully borne out by the 

 specimen slides exhibited in illustration. Mounted and dried 

 specimens of Fissidens tenellus were distributed to each member 

 present. The fruit case of this moss is very minute, yet Mr. 

 Shephard succeeded in cutting a good many sections of one case, 

 which showed its internal structure admirably. These sections 

 were also distributed to members for future examination at 

 home. At. least twenty microscopes were set up, and drawings 

 were made, then and there, of the specimens provided so freely 

 by Mr. Bastow. 



ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 



On a ballot being taken, Messrs. J. Wilson, A. Black and M. 

 Black were elected members of the Club. 



The only paper of the evening was contributed by Mr. C. 

 French, F.L.S., and had reference to the Coccidse, or scale 

 insects, of Victoria. The classification and life-history of this 

 family of insects were chiefly dealt with, and coloured drawings 

 of three new genera and twenty-six new species found by him in 

 Victoria were shown in illustration. A list of the above genera 

 and species, with their food plants, was also given. A hope was 

 expressed that Mr. French would, at no very distant date, bring 

 this subject under the notice of members at one of their practical 

 meetings, when these destructive forms of life might be examined 

 microscopically, and their structure and habits noted, together 

 with the best methods for their eradication. 



EXHIBITS OF WILD FLOWERS. 



Owing to the success which attended the exhibits of wild 

 flowers held by the Club last year at the October and November 

 meetings, the committee decided to follow the same plan 

 this year. Accordingly exhibits were solicited, and, considering 

 that the stormy weather of Saturday and Sunday not only 

 made it somewhat difficult to gather flowers, but also robbed 

 the flowers of much of their beauty, a very good display indeed 

 was made. The following is a list of the exhibitors : — Miss 

 Cochrane, Mrs. Flatow, Mrs. Martin, Miss Roberts, Baron von 

 Mueller, and Messrs. E. R. Hammett (Alexandra), T. S. Hart, 

 W. Scott, and J. West (Phillip Island), some of whom also 

 exhibited flowers collected by non-members of the Club. Thus, 

 amongst those who contributed to Baron von Mueller's 

 exhibit were : — C. Walter and C. D'Alton (Wimmera), W. H. 



