Che Uictorian naturalist 



Vol. XXVIII —No. 10. FEBRUARY 8, 1912. No. 338. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 15th January, 1912. 

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

 about 40 members were present. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



From the Railway Commissioners, acknowledging receipt of 

 the committee's complaint with reference to the covering of 

 certain rock exposures in cuttings with vegetation, and, in 

 reply, stating that " renewed instructions are being issued to 

 preserve, within a reasonable limit, the conditions prevailing 

 at the various railway cuttings referred to." 



From the hon. secretary of the projected Educational Con- 

 gress (Dr. J. W. Barrett), announcing the dates fixed for 

 meeting, and inviting one representative of the Club to attend. 

 On the recommendation of the committee, the meeting un- 

 animously appointed the president to attend in the interests 

 of the Club and education. 



From the Minister of Lands, in reply to a letter from the 

 Club protesting against the giving-up of any portion of the 

 public reserves, especially the Domain, for a wireless tele- 

 graphic station. The president said that, on receipt of this 

 reply, he had again written, saying that, even if the structure 

 being erected did not offend as an eyesore in the principal 

 approach to the city, it was still a distinct encroachment on a 

 public reserve which .should have been considered inviolate. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the whole-day excursion to Mount Donna-Buang, 

 Warburton, on Saturday, i6th December, was given by the 

 leader, Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., who said that a party of eight 

 members and friends went to Warburton by the evening train 

 on Friday, but the Saturday turned out to be most unsuited 

 for the excursion, frequent heavy showers rendering the track 

 slippery and the vegetation too wet to ramble amongst. 

 Advantage was taken of portion of the new track in course of 

 construction by the Public Works Department, which follows 

 an easy grade towards the head of the Yithan Creek. The 

 summit, 4,080 feet above sea level, was reached about mid-day, 

 but driving showers obscured the view in every direction. 

 The feature of the outing was the wonderful floral display made 

 by the small ivy-leaved violet, l^iola hederacea, which, on the 

 summit of the range, was blooming in countless numbers, the 



