Cbe Uktorlan naturalisi 



Vol. XIX.— No. 9. JANUARY 15, 1903. No. 229. 



FIELD NATURALISTS" CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the Royal 

 Society's Hall on Monday evening, 8th December, 1902. The 

 president, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., occupied the chair, and about 45 

 members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the Club excursion to Cheltenham on Saturday, 

 22nd November, was given by Mr. C. French, jun. The 

 members divided into two sections, one for pond life and the 

 other for general collecting. The latter went in the direction 

 of Oakleigh, and noted altogether about 25 species of plants in 

 flower, among which were Drosera hinata (plentiful) ; the orchid 

 Cryptostylis longifolia, in bud, some plants being taken for home 

 cultivation ; Xyris gracilis, Epacris ohtusifolia (some of which 

 were fully 7 feet hiuh) ; Viminaria denudata and Epilohium 

 glabellum. On the leaves of the orchid Cryptostylis longifolia 

 was found a fungus, which, on being submitted to Mr. D. 

 M'Alpine, was found to be new to science, and will shortly be 

 described in the Naturalist. Several species of scale-insects, 

 Coccids, were collected, one species in particular, Aspidiotus 

 bossice, being fairly plentiful. A pair of Blue-tongue Lizards 

 Tiliqua nigrolutea, Gray (?), were met with, and on the male 

 some large ticks, a species of Ixodes, were found and bottled. 

 Beetles were scarce, only a few common species of Buprestidse 

 being captured. 



Mr. VV. Strickland reported that those members who devoted 

 the afternoon to pond life were unfortunate is discovering but 

 little water in which to prosecute their search, while the material 

 collected was not very rich in life. Even the Entomostraca were 

 scarce, while the few Rotifers noted were all of common species. 

 The chlorophyll-bearing Vorticella, of which specimens were 

 obtained in this district several years ago, was, however, found 

 again, but the most interesting animal form was one of the 

 Testaceous Rhizopods, Lecqueureusia (sp.), which was altogether 

 new to those present. Among the more interesting Desmids 

 noted were Micrasterias denticulata, Doeidiur)i nodosum (being 

 new to those present), and species of Spirotsenia and 

 Tetmemarus. 



The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following 

 donations to the library : — " Fungus Diseases of Fruit Trees," 

 by D. M'Alpine, Government Vegetable Pathologist, from the 



