Che Uictorian natura list 



Vol. XXII.— No. 8. DECEMBER 7, 1905. No. 264. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 20th November, 1905. 

 The president, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, occupied the chair, and 

 about 90 members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to Ringwood on Saturday, 28th 

 October, was forwarded by the leader, Mr. C. French, jun., who 

 said that there was a large attendance of members and friends. 

 The party rambled for about two miles along the railway line 

 towards Bayswater, and then turned to the right to a series of 

 hills, which were searched for flowers, with very good results. 

 Altogether during the afternoon some sixty species of plants were 

 found in bloom, of which no less than twenty-three were orchids. 

 Among the latter may be mentioned Thelymitra carneM, T. ixioides, 

 Caladenia suaveolens (very fine), C. cairnsiatia (usually rare, but 

 here a patch of thirty-five specimens was found), and Praso- 

 phyllum fuscum. Other noteworthy plants were — Phylloglossum 

 drummondi, Utricularia dichotoina, Stackhousia linarifolia (with 

 pink flowers), Bossicea prostrata, and Acacia juniperina. Ento- 

 mological specimens were scarce, doubtless owing to the recent 

 exceptionally cool weather. Three Copper-headed Snakes, 

 Hoplocephalus curtus, were seen during the afternoon, two of 

 which were killed. 



A report of the three-days' excursion to Warburton, on Satur- 

 day, nth November, and following days, was given by the 

 leader, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who said that the attendance was 

 rather small, and, owing to the wintry weather, plants and insects 

 were very backward. A number of interesting planarian worms 

 were secured, and, under the guidance of a geological member, 

 some attention was devoted to the geology of the district. 



A report of the junior excursion to the Botanic Gardens on 

 Saturday, 4th November, was given by the leader, Mr. F. Pitcher. 

 Owing to threatening weather the attendance was not so large as 

 was expected. However, about forty-two members put in an 

 appearance. Many of the useful trees and plants were pointed 

 out, and their various uses explained. Among the interesting 

 plants noticed was a fine specimen of the Banana, Musa erisete, 

 bearing flowers and developing fruit — i.e, seeds — the leader 

 explaining that, though not the same species as the edible 



