74 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



flowers, was secured. A number of micro-fungi were also col- 

 lected. Both birds and insects were scarce, only a few common 

 species of the former being seen. About forty species of plants 

 in bloom were collected. 



The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following 

 donations to the library : — " Bulletin of the Geological Survey 

 of Victoria," No. i, and "Reports of Geological Survey of 

 Victoria, No. i : The Chiltern Goldfield," from the Department 

 of Mines, Victoria ; Joi^rnal of Agriculture, Victoria, vol. ii., part 

 2 (July, 1903), from Department of Agriculture, Victoria; Agri- 

 cultural Gazette of New South Wales, vol. xiv., part 17 (July, 

 1903), and "Geological Reports, No. 3 : Kerosene and Shale," 

 from the Department of Mines and Agriculture, Sydney; "A 

 Critical Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus," part 3, and " Forest 

 Flora of New South Wales," part 4, by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., 

 Government Botanist of New South Wales, from the author ; 

 " Proceedings of Linnean Society of New South Wales," 1903, 

 part I, from the Society ; " Proceedings of Royal Society of South 

 Australia," vol. xxvii., part i, from the Society ; Minnesota 

 Botanical Sttidies, part 2 (July, 1903); Nature Notes, ]une and 

 July, 1903, from the Selborne Society, London; and Knowledge, 

 July, 1903, from the proprietors. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., mentioned that a Natural History 

 Society had been formed in Perth, Western Australia (with which 

 was incorporated the Mueller Botanical Society), under the title 

 of the West Australian Natural History Society. He desired to 

 move — "That the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria congratulates 

 the West Australian Natural History Society on its formation, 

 and wishes it a successful career." 



The motion was seconded by Mr. T. Wisewould, and carried 

 unanimously. 



PAPERS READ. 



I. By Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A., F.R.S., entitled 

 " Across Australia." 



The author, who has made several visits to the centre of 

 Australia, first gave a general account of the geography and 

 physical features of the central portion of the continent, illus- 

 trating his remarks with a fine series of lantern slides of the more 

 striking scenes. Some notes of the zoology and botany met with 

 during his expedition with Mr. F. Gillen to study the habits and 

 customs of the natives in the country north of the Macdonnell 

 Ranges were also given, as well as a brief account of the natives 

 and their habits, each being fully illustrated by lantern slides. 



Mr. J. Searle again kindly placed his lantern and services at 

 the disposal of his fellow-members. 



