Vol. XXVIII. 



IQII 



] Field Naturalists' Club — Conversazione. 125 



he trusted would be interested in the various objects displayed, 

 and that some of them at least would show their appreciation 

 of the objects and aims of the Club by becoming members, 

 and as members he could assure them a very hearty welcome. 



Notwithstanding heavy showers on each evening, there was 

 a very good attendance of the general public, while for the 

 afternoon opening on Wednesday the attendance was considered 

 a record. 



Just three years had elapsed since the last conversazione, 

 and it was gratifying to find that most of the former exhibitors 

 were again represented by exhibits of various kinds, and that 

 some new names appeared on the programme to fill the place 

 of those who, from various reasons, were unable to contribute. 

 The display of wild-flowers was a leading feature in the ex- 

 hibition, and was by many considered the best which has yet 

 been made. All parts of the State were represented, and, 

 among others, the Club is greatly indebted to a number of 

 teachers of country schools who were good enough to forward 

 flowers from their respective districts. Several members had 

 gone to considerable trouble in visiting distant localities likely 

 to be productive of attractive results, and, owing to a favour- 

 able spring and good weather, their efforts were well rewarded. 



As usual, those members who set themselves to display the 

 wonders of nature by means of the microscope had a busy 

 time in answering the numerous questions put to them, and 

 in showing the various objects which they had brought for the 

 instruction and amusement of the visitors. 



A very fine display of Australian plants and cut flowers grown 

 at the Melbourne Botanic Gardens was made by the director, 

 Mr. J. Cronin, and contained some noteworthy specimens. 

 Among the pot-plants were Cabbage-Palms, Livistona ans- 

 tralis (with spikes of bloom attached), Queen Alexandra's Palm, 

 Archontophcenix Alexandra, and the Giant Fern-Palm, or 

 Burrawong, Macrozamia Perowskiana. Growing specimens of 

 twenty-seven species of Victorian ferns, including fine plants 

 of the Slender Tree-Fern, Cyathea Cunninghami, Black Tree- 

 Fern, C. medullaris. King Fern, Todea barbara. Prickly Tree- 

 Fern, Alsophila australis, and Common Tree-Fern, Dicksonia 

 antarctica. The collection of cut flowers numbered about 

 forty species, among which were the Waratah, Telopea 

 speciosissima (N.S.W.), Rock-lily Orchid, Dendrobium speciosum 

 (N.S.W.), Clematis aristata, var. Dennises (Vict.), Bauera 

 ruhioides, var. alba (Vict.), Chorizema cordahmi (W.A.), Ani- 

 gozanthus Manglesii (W.A.), and Epacris longiflora (N.S.W.) 



On Tuesday evening a lecturette, entitled " The Birds of 

 Australia," illustrated by lantern views, was given by Mr. 

 J. A. Leach, M.Sc, who called attention to the many dis- 



