34 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB CONVERSAZIONL 



The twelfth conversazione of the Field Naturalists' Club 

 Victoria was held at the Athenaeum Hall, Collins-street, M< 

 bourne, on Thursday and Friday, 28th and 29th May, 1896. 



The arrangements of the conversazione were practically the 

 same as of that held in June, 1894. It was inaugurated on 

 Thursday evening, in the presence of a large number of members 

 and friends, with a brief address by Baron Sir F. von Mueller, 

 K.C.M.G., M. and Ph. D., &c, one of the patrons of the Club, 

 who called attention to the aims and objects of such organiza- 

 tions, and the opportunities they afforded for working out the 

 geographical distribution of both animal and vegetable life. He 

 expressed his pleasure at seeing so many ladies interested in the 

 subject, and hoped that some of them at least would become 

 prominent workers in natural science. 



A vote of thanks to Baron von Mueller was proposed by 

 Professor Sir Frederick M'Coy, K.C.M.G., D.Sc, who referred 

 to the great help field observers could be to the scientific 

 specialist, who was perhaps unable to devote sufficient time to 

 working out the life-histories of such animals or plants as he 

 might require to complete his investigations, and spoke with 

 great appreciation of the prominent position held by Baron von 

 Mueller in the scientific world, and especially in Victoria. The 

 motion was briefly seconded by the president, Professor Baldwin 

 Spencer, and carried by acclamation. 



A lecturette entitled "Some Notes about Spiders" was then 

 delivered in the upper hall by Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S. In the 

 course of his remarks, which were well illustrated by limelight 

 views, he pointed out the principal groups into which spiders are 

 divided, and gave many interesting particulars as to their habits, 

 method of web-spinning, &c, many of the audience being sur- 

 prised to learn that spiders should be regarded as friends rather 

 than foes to mankind, owing to their usefulness in keeping insect 

 life in check. 



On Friday afternoon Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., delivered a 

 lecturette entitled " An Australian Ice Age." The lecturer 

 briefly indicated some of the factors in the formation of glaciers, 

 and described the effects of moving ice on a land surface. The 

 glacial beds at Bacchus Marsh and Derrinal were then dealt 

 with, and their characters were fully illustrated by lantern views. 

 The discussion of the age of the beds, their geographical extent, 

 and probable source, brought the proceedings to a close. 



In the evening Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A., gave an 

 illustrated lecturette on " Life in a Central Australian Water- 

 hole " to a numerous audience. He briefly described the 

 characteristic physiographical features of that region, and the 

 situation of the principal permanent and temporary waterholes, 



