Cbe Uktorian naturalist. 



Vol. XXVIII.— No. 8. DECEMBER 7, 1911. No. 336. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th November, 1911. 

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

 about 40 members and visitors were present. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



From Dr. Douglas Mawson, leader of the Australasian 

 Antarctic Expedition, thanking the Club for its donation of £5 

 towards the funds of the expedition, which, he said, was 

 especially welcome, coming as it did from fellow-scientists. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to Sandringham on Saturday, 14th 

 October, was given by the leader, Mr. C. A. Topp, LL.B., who 

 said that there had been a good attendance of members, and 

 an enjoyable afternoon had been spent, but no novelties had 

 been reported, the usual spring flowers being fairly plentiful. 



A report of the excursion to the Metropolitan Farm at 

 Werribee on Saturday, 21st October, was given by the leader, 

 Mr. G. A Keartland, who said that there had been a good 

 attendance of members, who. besides studying the natural 

 history of the farm, had the opportunity of seeing how the 

 sewage of Melbourne was disposed of. The bird-life, though 

 numerous, was not very varied, and he had been somewhat 

 disappointed in the results of the afternoon. It was interesting 

 to find the little Grass-bird, Megalurus gramineus, nesting quite 

 close to the shore-line. Regarding the botanical aspects of the 

 excursion. Dr. Sutton reported that the flora was very similar 

 to that on the eastern side of Port Phillip. The principal plants 

 noted were : — Atri-plex cinereum (tree form), Salicoinia arbuscula, 

 S. Australis, Snceda maritima, Afuim -prostratum. Mesembry- 

 anthemum australe, Frankenia IcBvis, Samolus repens, Wilsonia 

 "' rotundifolia, W. hiimilis, and Cotula filifolia. 



A report of the excursion on the Upper Yarra on Saturday, 

 4th November, was given by the leader, Mr. A. D. Hardy, 

 F.L.S., who said that, favoured by splendid weather, a most 

 enjoyable outing had resulted, but the date was found to be 

 rather late for the flowering of the majority of the shrubs, &c., 

 along the river banks. 



A report of the excursion to Nyora on Cup Day, Tuesday, 

 7th November, was given by Mr. J. Searle, who said that. 



