THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 27 



by Messrs. C A. Topp, F.L.S., A. J. Campbell, F.L.S., and Rev. 

 W. Fielder. In former years the work of the conversazione 

 has fallen principally to a few members, but on this occasion a 

 much larger number shared in the work, and deserve the thanks 

 of the Club for so doing. 



" The event of the year for Australian naturalists was the 

 despatch of a scientific expedition to Central Australia by Mr. W. 

 A. Horn, M.L.C., of South Australia. Two members of the 

 Club, Professor W. Baldwin Spencer and Mr. G. A. Keartland, 

 were selected to accompany it, and the valuable results obtained 

 in the zoological section have been due in no small measure to 

 their exertions. The results are to be recorded in a volume to 

 be published shortly, so that we were precluded from publishing 

 in our journal the descriptions of their experiences, which were 

 so graphically presented to the Club. 



"We are glad to be able to congratulate members on the 

 improved state of the finances. The receipts for the year 

 amounted to ;!^i68 7s. i id., and the expenditure to ^178 14s. 

 6d., leaving a credit balance of ^16 7s. id. This balance is 

 somewhat less than that carried forward last year, but it will be 

 seen that £,2^, 2s. 6d. has been paid off the account for printing 

 the Naturalist, owing from previous years. The receipt of a 

 dividend from the Metropolitan Bank reduces the amount at 

 present locked up in that institution to :£^-^ 2s. 8d. As this 

 amount is not at present available, it has not been taken into 

 account in the balance-sheet. The only liability existing is about 

 ;£^() for printing the Naturalist, which, however, is more than 

 covered by arrears of subscriptions, which we trust will be received 

 at an early date. 



" The eleventh volume of the Club's journal, the Victorian 

 Naturalist, has been completed, and the thanks of members are 

 due to Mr. F. G. A. Barnard for continuing to act as editor. 

 Among other useful contributions, the " Catalogue of Victorian 

 Moths " has been continued. A noteworthy feature has been 

 the increase in the number of illustrations presented, for which 

 we have to express our thanks to Messrs. Anderson, Ashworth, 

 Le Souef, and Stickland. The journal is now sent free or in 

 exchange to 44 libraries, societies, &c., in all parts of the world, 

 and also to the leading natural history periodicals. This circula- 

 tion, coupled with the fact that it is the only monthly natural 

 history magazine published in Australasia, should induce persons 

 desirous of publishing their observations in natural science to 

 become members of the Club. During the year the library has 

 received numerous donations from various scientific societies, &c., 

 and in order to make the publications easily accessible it was 

 found necessary to purchase a third bookcase. 



" In conclusion, your committee would once more urge their 



