26 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



" Sixteen papers were read during the year, of which six were 

 zoological and two botanical, while four dealt with general 

 subjects and four with trips and excursions. Several new 

 contributors have come forward, and the success attending their 

 efforts will, we hope, encourage others to follow their example. 

 This number shows a falling off as compared with previous years, 

 but we trust renewed activity will be shown in this direction, and 

 also that a more hearty response will be made to the invitation 

 to bring forward natural history notes. 



" The attendance of members at the ordinary meetings has 

 been very satisfactory, the average attendance being about seventy. 

 Members are reminded that they enjoy the privilege of in- 

 troducing a visitor at each meeting. This might be more freely 

 used to the advantage of all. The exhibits at the monthly 

 meetings have been unusually good, and the thanks of the 

 Club are due to those members who have taken the trouble to 

 thus interest and instruct their fellow-workers. 



"The excursions have, on the whole, been well attended. 

 Your committee would point out, to new members especially, 

 the value of attending these excursions, and thus gaining the 

 benefit of the experience of older members in practical field work. 

 No extended Club excursion was held, but among those under- 

 taken by individual members may be mentioned those to Central 

 Australia by Professor Spencer, and to Albatross Island by Messrs. 

 Ashworth and Le Souef. The descriptions of both of these trips 

 were illustrated by limelight views prepared from photographs 

 taken by the members mentioned. 



" The meetings for practical work have been continued and 

 supported with unabated interest. They have been devoted 

 mostly to microscopic work, but a few evenings were usefully 

 spent in imparting instruction in taxidermy, a departure which 

 was much appreciated, and was noted by an English journal as 

 an example for similar societies in the old country. The course 

 in structural botany was completed early in the year, and it is 

 hoped that a course in systematic botany will be carried out 

 during the ensuing spring, 



" The eleventh conversazione of the Club was held at the 

 Athenaeum Hall on T4th and 15th June, 1894, and, notwithstand- 

 ing the inclement weather prevailing, was a pronounced success. 

 The experiment of holding it on two evenings and the intervening 

 afternoon was greatly appreciated, and by making a charge for 

 admission to the general public the expense was considerably 

 reduced. The display of natural history specimens in the body 

 of the main hall was one of the best yet brought together, special 

 mention being due to the microscopic section. The conver- 

 sazione was opened by Sir F. M'Coy, ably supported by Baron 

 von Mueller, and during its currency lecturettes were delivered 



