70 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



A report of the excursion to Cheltenham on Saturday, 5th 

 September, was furnished by the leader, Mr. C. French, F.L.S., 

 when, accompanied by a party of members of the University 

 .Science Club, an extended exploration of the heath-ground 

 towards Cheltenham was made. Spring flowers were in abundance, 

 and a number of plants of Phylloglossum Drummondi were 

 collected. A fine patch of the orchid Lyperanthus nigricans, in 

 flower, was found, being some three weeks earlier than usually 

 noted. During the afternoon a halt was called and an examina- 

 tion made of the specimens collected, the names, &c, being 

 furnished by the leader. 



ELECTION OF MEMBER. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. J. Paul was duly elected a member 

 of the Club. 



PAPERS READ. 



i. By Mr. A. E. Kitson, entitled " Geological Notes on the 

 Toombullup Goldfield and Adjacent Country." 



The author described the main characteristics of the locality, 

 which is situated about the centre of the county of Delatite, and 

 the methods used in the gold mining. The origin of the gold 

 was somewhat obscure, and the district required further ex- 

 ploration before it could be determined whether it originally 

 occurred in a basaltic or granitic formation. He noted the 

 occurrence of gem-stones, such as sapphires, zircons (hyacinths), 

 Oriental emeralds, and topazes, some of which were large enough 

 to be of commercial value. 



During the discussion which ensued Baron von Mueller spoke 

 of his experiences when collecting botanical specimens in the 

 district some forty years previously. Messrs. G. Coghill, T. S. 

 Hall, M.A., H. R. Hogg, M.A., H. T. Tisdall, and G. B. 

 Pritchard also spoke. 



2. By Mr. J. H. Wright (communicated by Mr. T. S. Hall, 

 M.A.), entitled " Notes on the Mode of Wood Petrifaction." 



The paper referred to a specimen of fossil wood found in a 

 block of ferruginous quartzite at Darlimurla, South Gippsland. 

 On examination under the microscope it was found to consist of 

 silicious casts of the tracheides of a woody tissue. The author 

 then gave some account of how this condition may have been 

 produced. 



3. By Lieutenant-Colonel Legge, F.L.S. (hon. member), 

 entitled " Notes on a Sericornis from Kent Group." 



The author described a Sericornis collected by the Field 

 Naturalists' Club expedition to the Kent Group, which, having 

 certain differences from Sericornis frontalis, might be considered 

 as a sub-species, and proposed for it the name S. gularis. 



Some discussion ensued, which opened up the question of the 



