2 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [^'""ili-.^'^'' 



southern side a cut was being made, in which the old river 

 bank, consisting of black loamy soil, was exposed. This was 

 found to contain quantities of charred sticks and roots, as 

 well as a trunk of a tree, which was also completely charred. 



ELECTION OF MEMBER. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. S. B. Abbot, Mines Department, 

 Bendigo, was duly elected a country member of the Club. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



The president referred to the advancement of Messrs. D. 

 McAlpine and O. A. Sayce, A.L.S., in their respective positions, 

 and to the death of Mr. F. M. Reader, a well-known botanical 

 worker. 



Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M-.Z.S., said that he had received 

 a letter from Mr. J. Buckland, of London, with reference to 

 the efforts being made to secure the passage of the Plumage 

 Bill, and soliciting subscriptions towards propaganda work. 



PAPERS READ. 



1. By Mr. G. W. Robinson, C.E. (communicated bj^ Mr. C. 

 French, F.E.S.). entitled "In -the Dandenong Ranges Sixty 

 Years Ago." 



The author briefly described the conditions under which 

 enormously tall specimens of Eticalyptus regnans had flourished 

 in the Dandenong Ranges in the early sixties, and gave the 

 measurement of the tallest which had come under his notice. 

 This was a felled tree, and measured 342 feet to where the top 

 was broken off, which, judging by the diameter of the stem 

 there, must have been from 15 to 20 feet in length, giving a 

 probable total of 360 feet. From what he had heard and seen, 

 he believed that it was quite possible trees of 400 feet in height 

 had existed when splitting commenced, but that they were 

 soon picked out and utilized for commercial purposes. 



In reply to Mr. Barnard, the author said that the figures 

 often quoted as his for trees on Mount Baw Baw were estimated, 

 not actual, measurements. Dr. Hall expressed the hope that 

 the author would be able to place further records before the 

 Society. Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., said that the official records 

 of the Forest Department showed no authentic records of 

 over 326 feet, and though years ago the Government had offered 

 rewards for trees of 400 feet, none were ever reported. 



2. By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., entitled, " Notes of a 

 Contest between Diamnia bicolor and Gryllotalpa coarcta." 



The author drew attention to the great economic value of 

 the Hymenoptera to orchardists, graziers, &c., and gave an 

 account of the stinging of a mole cricket by the apterous female 



