THE 



Victorian tyatnvali&t. 



Vol. XI.— No. 12. MARCH, 1895. No. 136. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth March, 1895. 

 Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, a vice-president, occupied the chair, and 

 some 70 members and friends were present. 



librarian's report. 



The hon. librarian acknowledged the following donations to the 

 library : — " Proceedings of Linnean Society of New South Wales," 

 vol. ix., parts 2, 3, 4, from the Society ; " Transactions of Royal 

 Society of South Australia," vol. xviii., from the Society ; " Pro- 

 ceedings of Royal Society of Queensland," vol. x., from the 

 Society : " Journal of Bombay Natural History Society," vol. viii., 

 No. 5, and vol. ix., Nos. 1 and 2, from the Society ; " Report of 

 Missouri Botanical Garden, 1894," from the Director; "Smith- 

 sonian Report on United States Museum, 1S91 and 1892," from 

 Smithsonian Institute ; " Monthly Lectures at School of Horti- 

 culture," from the Department of Agriculture, Victoria ; " Geo- 

 logical Survey of Victoria," from Mr. C. French, jun. ; " Descrip- 

 tive Account of Field Columbian Museum," from the Director. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the geological excursion to the Moonee Valley, 

 received from the leader, Mr. G. Sweet, F.G.S., recorded a well 

 attended and very profitable outing. 



MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. 



The hon. secretary reported that a second evening was devoted 

 to the Hymenomycetes on 25th February by Mr. H. T. Tisdall, 

 F.L.S. After a preliminary discussion of the classification by 

 means of the colours of the spores, the practical dissection of 

 various forms was proceeded with. The identification of the 

 edible species was also dealt with, this part of the subject being 

 illustrated by coloured drawings. Many kinds which are usually 

 classed as " toadstools " were declared to be excellent eating. 

 These species are generally very distinctive, and on the Continent 

 of Europe are preferred to the common mushroom, which is 

 discarded owing to its resemblance to allied poisonous forms. 

 The lecturer proposes in the coming autumn to test the edible 

 qualities of some of those described. 



