THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 41 



" During the year a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. R. 

 Hall, G. A. Keartland, and D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., was appointed 

 to organize a representative committee of naturalists, sportsmen, 

 agriculturists, and bird dealers, to inquire into and report on the 

 working of the Game Act. The matter was carefully gone into, 

 and a detailed report, with a list of suggested alterations, 

 particularly with regard to the date of opening the shooting 

 season for quail and ducks, was submitted for your con- 

 sideration, and, having been endorsed by the Club, was then 

 submitted to the Minister of Lands by a representative deputation, 

 with the result that there is every prospect of the list as amended 

 being adopted. 



" We desire to thank the various authors of papers, leaders of 

 excursions, and others who have contributed their aid in for- 

 warding the work of the Club ; and also Messrs. T. R. B. Morton 

 and G. Coghill for so generously continuing to place their offices 

 at the disposal of the Committee for their meetings. To Mr. J. 

 Searle the Club is also much indebted for his continued kind- 

 ness in placing his lantern and services at the disposal of the 

 Club. 



" The hon. librarian reports that the library has been mater- 

 ially increased by the addition of a number of valuable works, 

 parts of proceedings, &c., while the binding is being proceeded 

 with as funds permit. The use made of the library shows a 

 slight increase, but members cannot be aware of the value of the 

 collection at their disposal or it would be more freely availed of. 

 A properly arranged card-catalogue in connection with the library 

 is greatly needed, and would be much appreciated by members. 



" It is with much pleasure that we are able to report the 

 financial position of the Club as most satisfactory. Starting the 

 year with a credit balance of jQ-j 8s. 3d., it concludes with one 

 of ^21 7s. 3d., with all accounts paid. The receipts for the 

 year amounted to ^131 3s. yd., while the expenditure was ^117 

 4s. 7d. 



" In conclusion, while congratulating members on the con- 

 tinued steady improvement of the Club, your committee would 

 like to draw the attention of our new members especially to the 

 opportunities that exist for doing good work, which, besides 

 benefiting themselves, would forward the interests of natural 

 science. Splendid possibilities are awaiting those who are 

 willing to devote their leisure time to systematic work. Plenty 

 of material is ready at hand, and it is greatly to be regretted that 

 these opportunities are being allowed to slip by, only to be 

 eagerly availed of by the scientists of other countries, the import- 

 ance of which we shall only realize when too late to remedy. 



Only those who know from experience the value of being able 

 to refer to the original types can estimate the enormous dis- 



