Cbe Ulctorian naturalist 



Vol. XXIV.— No. 8. DECEMBER 5, 1907. No. 288. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, iSth November, 1907. 

 The president, Mr. G. A. Keartland, occupied the chair, and 

 about 55 members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to Wheeler's Hill on Saturday, 12th 

 October, was given by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who reported an 

 enjoyable outing. The locality had been chosen as much for its 

 scenic attractions as for its natural history, and was reached by 

 driving out from town (sixteen miles). The party numbered 

 twenty-six, and was joined at Wheeler's Hill by six more. After 

 viewing the landscape from the end of VVaverley-road, the 

 majority of the party rambled through the paddocks towards 

 Gesner's Hotel, where all reassembled for tea. After tea a little 

 time was spent in naming specimens, and then seats were re- 

 sumed in the drag and a return made to town. The botanists 

 had little to record for the day, flowers, owing to the unpropitious 

 season, being very scarce, and only common species were seen. 

 Some notes on the ornithological results were given by Mr. G. A. 

 Keardand, who reported the finding of several nests, among 

 them those of the Silver-eye, Zosterops ccerulescens, the Giant 

 Kingfisher, Dacelo gigas, with three eggs, and the Yellow Robin. 

 Great interest was evinced in watching, at short range, a Spotted 

 Pardalote clearing the scale-insects, &c., off the leaves of a 

 young sapling, and altogether a profitable afternoon was spent. 



A report of the Club excursion to Melton on Saturday, 26th 

 October, under the joint leadership of Messrs. G. A. Keartland 

 and J. Gabriel, was read by Mr. G. A. Keartland, and some 

 brief notes on the botanical results of the trip were furnished 

 by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. 



An interesting report of the excursion to Werribee Gorge, 

 which took place on Monday, nth November, under the leader- 

 ship of Mr. F. L. BilUnghurst, was read by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, 

 who said that there was a good attendance of members, who 

 made a very successful exploration of the Gorge. 



A report of the juniors' excursion to Cheltenham on Saturday, 

 2nd November, under the leadership of Mr. C. French, jun., was 

 submitted by the leader, the object of the trip being beetles. 



Mr. T. S. Hall remarked on the poor attendance at some of 

 the recent junior excursions, and urged members to assist as far 



