114 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



many years, was received with great satisfaction, and will prove of 

 extreme value to the Victorian lepidopterist. The descriptive 

 portion of the subject, which is promised at an early date, will be 

 eagerly looked for. 



The second paper treated of " The Structure, Collection, and 

 Mounting of Mosses," and was contributed by Mr. R. A Bastow. 

 It was illustrated by means of a large diagram, containing the 

 parts of inflorescence and varied forms of fructification, as well as 

 some beautifully mounted specimens, and some fine examples 

 recently gathered in some of the gullies near Croydon. Great 

 interest was manifested in Mr. Bastow's method of presenting the 

 subject, and, doubtless, some of the members will be encouraged 

 to pursue the study of these forms of vegetable life, constituting 

 as they do a "glad luxuriance of humble beauty in niche, on 

 bank, on rock, and everywhere." In concluding his remarks, the 

 author alluded to the very complete collection of mosses in the 

 Herbarium at South Yarra, which is always open to those anxious 

 to inspect it. 



EXHIBITS OF WILD FLOWERS. 



The committee had hoped that a good collection of wild 

 flowers would have been on view, but exhibitors did not come 

 forward in any numbers, and the display was disappointing. 

 Amongst those who did exhibit, however, should be mentioned 

 Mr. T. S. Hart, who had a fair gathering frem the Keilor Plains 

 (including the rare orchid Diuris alba), also an orchid in flower 

 (Cryptostylis longifolia) from Cheltenham ; whilst Mr. J. West 

 sent some interesting forms from Phillip Island ; Mr. H. T. 

 Tisdall exhibited some from Portland, collected by Miss Wingrove; 

 and Rev. R. Poynder also sent specimens. Mr. F. G. A. Barnard 

 exhibited the flower of the Native Iris (Diplarrhena morea), 

 grown at Kew, and Mr. C. French, jun., sent in three varieties of 

 the orchid Prasophyllum fuscuvi, from Dandenong Creek. 



The following is the summary of Miss Cochrane's exhibit at 

 the October meeting. About 30 species were displayed, the 

 following being the most important : — Diuris peduncidata, Praso- 

 phyllum patens, Tlielymitra elizabethii, Microtis minutiflora, 

 Oomesperma ericinum, Ranunculus rivularis, Utricularia dicho- 

 toma, Euphrasia broionii, Tetratheca ciliata (white specimen), 

 Drosera glanduligera. Ringwood was the collecting ground. 

 Mr. T. S. Hart's exhibit at the same meeting consisted of 55 

 species from Sandringham, and included : — A peculiar growth of 

 Epacris impressa, with a solitary large flower on the end of stalk ; 

 Chamcescilla corymbosa, with white variety; Correa speciosa, very 

 late in the season ; Caladenia menziesii, some with three flowers ; 

 also Brachycome diversifolia, Myoporum viscosum, Podolepis 

 acuminata, LasiopeAalum baueri, Thelymitra fiexuosa, and 

 Pterostylis mackibbini. 



