THE 



Qxjctovxan U a t n v a 1 1 # L 



Vol. XIV.— No. 11. MARCH 10, 1898. No. 171. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th February, 1898. 

 Mr. J. Shepherd, a vice-president, occupied the chair, and 

 about 50 members and visitors were present. 



REPORT. 



A brief report of the excursion to Nar-Nar-Goon on 26th 

 January was given by Mr. D. Best, who stated that, doubtless 

 owing to the exceptionally hot and dry season, insect life, usually 

 very plentiful in the district, was exceedingly scarce, and nothing 

 of note was captured. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



In pursuance of notice, Mr. A. J. Campbell moved — "That the 

 Tasmanian Government be approached with a view to having the 

 Albatrosses on Albatross Island protected by law." This was 

 seconded by Mr. D. Best, and, after some discussion, carried. On 

 the proposition of Mr. D. Best, Messrs. Campbell, Le Souef, and 

 Coghill were deputed to interview the Premier of Tasmania, at 

 present in Melbourne, and represent the Club's wishes to him. 



PAPERS. 



1. By Mr. W. H. F. Hill, entitled " Notes on the Terrestrial 

 Isopod, Phreatoicopsis terricola, Spencer and Hall/' 



The author supplemented the description of this crustacean 

 recently read before the Royal Society of Victoria with some field 

 observations on its colour, habits, and localities where found. 



2. By Mr. G. A. Keartland, " Ornithological Notes from 

 Central Australia," part ii. 



The author continued his interesting notes on the birds seen 

 in Central Australia while travelling with the Horn Exploring 

 Expedition, pointing out the localities of their occurrence on the 

 map, and in many cases exhibiting the eggs in illustration of his 

 remarks. 



The paper gave rise to some discussion as to the distribution 

 of some of the birds mentioned, in which Messrs. Campbell, 

 Coles, Le Souef, and others took part. 



3. By Mr. A. J. Campbell, entitled " Discovery of the Nest 

 and Eggs of the Australian Snipe, Gallinago Australia." 



The author gave a brief account of the bird, which has been 

 known to science for nearly a century, but its nest and eggs were 

 unknown until last year, when, through his instigation, Mr. Allan 



