THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 97 



of too strong a personal and self-regarding nature to deserve 

 encouragement or commendation ; but surely such a view is 

 inconsistent with observation of the life and writings of the most 

 eminent of mankind. As the poet, who perhaps of all poets had 

 the highest aim in life and the strongest sense of duty, says — 



" ' Fame is the spur which the clear spirit doth raise 

 That last infirmity of noble minds, 

 To scorn delights and live laborious days.' 



" The love of fame, as well as a strong sense of duty, was no 

 doubt a guiding motive in the life and work of the famous 

 botanist whom we commemorate to-night ; would that such an 

 ardent desire for the praise of those who have earned, by their 

 own distinction, the right to award it were more common 

 amongst us, provided it led to and were accompanied by the 

 same high ideal of life, the same unwearied industry, the same 

 temperance and self-denial, the same liberality to the needy, the 

 same love of country and mankind as the Baron exhibited and 

 carried out in his life ! 



" Here among the wild flowers, which von Mueller loved so well, 

 some of which would no doubt bring back memories of his early 

 hardships when he was winning his spurs by his botanical ex- 

 plorations of the dry north-west of this colony, and the adjoining 

 territories of South Australia, others of which would bring to 

 mind his solitary wandering over the alpine and sub-alpine 

 plateaux of the Australian Alps, and the more luxuriant valleys 

 of East Gippsland, we shall do well, forgetting the foibles which, 

 like all of us the Baron no doubt had, and which the very 

 simplicity and openness of his character rendered perhaps more 

 conspicuous — we shall do well, I say, to treasure the fine 

 example he set (when so many were engaged in a mad rush to 

 gain wealth, and to squander it on ignoble pleasures) of single- 

 minded devotion to science, and of enthusiasm to utilize its 

 teachings for the benefit of his fellow-colonists, and to cherish the 

 memory of the first Government Botanist of Victoria." 



The president and Mr. J. G. Luehmann referred to the ex- 

 cellent way in which Mr. Topp had spoken of Baron von 

 Mueller's life-work, and, on the motion of Messrs. Barnard and 

 Luehmann, a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to 

 him. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. G. E. Shepherd read a note on the actions of a White-eared 

 Honey-eater, Ptilotis leucotis, Lath., which had followed him 

 while riding, and plucked hair from his horse's back to use in the 

 construction of its nest. 



Mr. A. E. Kitson reported having seen a large rabbit a few 

 months ago on the Kosciusko Plateau, at an elevation of nearly 



