82 THK VICTORIAN NATUKALIST. (Vol. XXIV. 



great many of the members were opposed to the motion, which, 

 if adopted, might result in their work being published elsewhere. 

 He suggested that one specimen of each plant exhibited or 

 recorded be loaned for examination by the Herbarium authorities. 



Mr. J. Shephard said he would be obliged to oppose the 

 motion, which he thought far too stringent. The object of the 

 Club had always been to encourage members to assist the cause 

 of science, and any attempt to use compulsion, as suggested in 

 the proposed rule, would be apt to do the Club harm. He agreed 

 that it was very necessary for workers to be as accurate as possible, 

 and suggested that some provision might be made by the 

 committee to prevent as far as possible inaccurate records being 

 published ; and he was also strongly opposed to the amendment. 



Professor Ewart, in reply, said he quite expected that his 

 suggesti^on would be subjected to criticism. His object was to 

 endeavour to obtain, for the purpose of future reference, specimens 

 of such plants as were exhibited and recorded in the Club's 

 journal, and he thought that if such a rule had been adopted at 

 an earlier date there would now be available a good collection 

 for reference. In view of the inaccuracies \n the past, the matter 

 was becoming a very serious one to botanical workers. He did 

 not think anything would be gained by further postponing the 

 matter, and was quite ready to abide by the result. He desired 

 to see the Club's journal retain its high plane of excellence, and 

 he could see very little difficulty in carrying out the suggested 

 rule. 



Both the amendment and the motion were then put to the 

 meeting and declared lost. 



The business of the ordinary meeting was then proceeded 

 with. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the Club's visit to the National Herbarium on 

 Saturday, 13th July, was given by Mr. F, G. A. Barnard, who 

 stated that there was a good attendance of members, and a very 

 interesting and instructive afternoon was spent under the guidance 

 of Professor Ewart. The arrangement of the Herbarium was 

 pointed out, and the methods of working demonstrated, while an 

 examination of some of the valuable botanical works in the library 

 was made. 



A report of the excursion to Blackburn on Saturday, loth 

 August, was given by the leader, Mr. G. Coghill, who stated about 

 sixteen members attended. Although rather early in the season, 

 several interesting plants were found in bloom, among them being 

 Styphelia serrulata, notable for its peculiar greenish flowers. 



Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., stated that about 35 junior members 

 attended the Biological Laboratory at the University on Saturday, 

 27th July, when Professor Baldwin Spencer, C.M.G., gave an 



