2 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIV. 



partment of Mines, Melbourne; Emu, vol. vi., part 4, from 

 the Australasian Ornithologists' Union ; Victorian Geographical 

 Journal, vols, xxiii., xxiv., 1905-6, from the (Geographical Society 

 of Victoria ; Geelong Naturalist, January, 1907, from the Geelong 

 Field Naturalists' Club ; " Forest Flora of New South Wales,' 

 vol. iii., part 2, by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., and " Critical Revision 

 of Genus Eucalyptus," part 8, by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., from the 

 author ; " Proceedings Linnean Society of New South Wales, 

 1906," vol. xxi., part 4, from the Society ; Nature Notes, February, 

 1907, from the Selborne Society, London ; " Useful Birds of 

 Southern Australia," by Robert Hall, F.L.S., from tlie pub- 

 lisher. 



ELECTIONS. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. Arthur E. Stenning, 459 Collins- 

 street, Melbourne, was elected an ordinary member, and Masters 

 Archie Chase Browne, Lawrence G. Travers, and Eric Harbison 

 as junior members of the Club. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



The hon. secretary read a communication from the Inspector 

 of Fisheries, Melbourne, requesting the opinion of the Club as to 

 whether it is considered necessary that the Black Swan should be 

 further protected by extending the close season for the whole 

 year, and stating that it had been ascertained that the destruction 

 of these birds is not excessive. 



The matter was discussed by Messrs. G. A. Keartland, G. 

 Coghill, and J. A. Kershaw, and it was finally resolved, on the 

 motion of Professor A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, seconded by Mr. T. S. 

 Hall, M.A. — " That the matter be postponed for further consider- 

 tion, with a view to obtaining further evidence as to whether there 

 was any noticeable increase or decrease in the number of the 

 birds." 



The president, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, announced, regarding 

 *.he proposal to recommend the imposition of a gun tax, that the 

 question had been carefully considered by the committee at their 

 last meeting, but in view of the small majority by which the 

 motion was carried at the last general meeting, and the attitude of 

 the department, as evidenced by the letter read regarding the 

 destruction of wild duck, it was thought desirable not to proceed 

 further in the matter at present, but await a further expression of 

 opinion from the Club. 



PAPERS. 



I. By Professor A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, Ph.D., entitled "New or 

 Rare Australian Plants in the National Herbarium, Melbourne." 



The author gave a brief resume of his paper, illustrating his 

 remarks by specimens of the plants. 



