Cl)e Uictorian naturalist. 



Vol. XXVIII. —No. 6. OCTOBER 5. 1911. No. 334. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth September, iqii. 

 The president, Mr. F. Wisewould, occupied the chair, and 

 about 50 meml:)ers and \'isitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to Bayswater on Saturday, 26th 

 August, was forwarded by the leader, Mr. C. F. Cole, who re- 

 ported an attendance of about fifteen members. The afternoon 

 was devoted to ornithology, and several interesting species were 

 met with, such as a flock of Flame-breasted Robins, among 

 which there were several of the Scarlet-breasted species of both 

 sexes ; opportunity was therefore taken to point out the 

 differences between the two species. A pair of Yellow-tailed 

 Tits was noticed seeking for insects on the ground, and, on a 

 search being made, a nest was found among the branches of a 

 native cherry close by. A beautiful specimen of the Golden- 

 breasted Whistler (formerly known as the White-throated 

 Thickhead), Pachycephala pectoralis, was seen devouring the 

 larvae of some leaf-eating insect. A flock of the Red Wattle- 

 bird (Wattled Honey-eater), Acanthochcera cayuncnlata, was 

 seen flying overhead. Altogether, some seventeen species of 

 birds were noted during the short time available for the 

 ramble. 



A I'eport of the excursion to Ringwood on Saturday, 9th 

 September, was given by the leaders, Messrs. A. H. E. Matting- 

 ley, C.M.Z.S., and J. W'. Audas. The former, dealing with the 

 birds, said that, the locality being so close to that of the 

 previous excursion, the ornithology was practically the 

 same, no remarkable species being noted. Mr. J. W. Audas, 

 dealing with the plants, stated that about forty species were 

 met with in bloom. A north-westerly direction was taken 

 from the station over the prevailing grey loamy sofl of 

 the district. The Native Heath, Epacris impressa, was 

 everywhere, while a number of the smaller spring flowers 

 carpeted the ground. A particularly fine specimen of the 

 Kangaroo Acacia, .4. armata, in full bloom, was a pretty sight, 

 but too prickly to handle. The white variety of Comesperma 

 ericinitm was met with. A hillside studded with PuUenaa 

 stricta, var. Gunnii, covered with its orange flowers, had a 

 charming effect. In the shade of some eucalyptus saplings 



