THE 



Vol. XV.— No. 4. AUGUST 4, 1898. No, 176. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



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

 Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth July, 1898. One of the 

 vice-presidents, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., occupied the chair, and 

 about 35 members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A short report of the excursion to the Biological School 

 Museum on Saturday, i8th June, was given by the chairman, who 

 stated that Professor Spencer had altered his programme owing 

 to the exceptionally large attendance (between 40 and 50), and 

 had given a short lecturette, after which the visitors inspected the 

 collection in the Museum. 



The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following in 

 exchange for the Naturalist : — " Geological Publications and 

 Maps of the Department of Mines, N.S.W.," from Mr. E. F. 

 Pittman, Government Geologist, Sydney ; Botanical books and 

 papers, from Mr. J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Director Botanic Gardens, 

 Sydney ; " Minnesota Botanical Studies," from the University of 

 Minnesota ; " Transactions of the Linnean Society," from the 

 Society ; " Proceedings of the Royal Society, Victoria," from the 

 Society ; " Geelong Naturalist," from the Geelong Field Club ; 

 " Catalogue of Australian Birds in the Australian Museum," parts 

 i. and ii., revised by A. J. North, from the Museum. 



ELECTION OF MEMBER. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. Wm, Morton, of Myrniong, was 

 elected a member of the Club. 



PAPERS. 



I. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, entitled " Notes on Holochila suh- 

 pallidus, Luc, and Areas marginata, Don." 



The author mentioned the uncertainty prevailing as to whether 

 the former was or was not a synonym of //. erinus, Fab., and 

 gave his verdict in favour of its being a distinct species. With 

 regard to Areas marginata he expressed great doubts as to the 

 correctness of classing certain specimens collected by him under 

 this species name, and, to induce further investigation, gave a 

 description of them. 



Messrs. Spry, Best, and the chairman joined in the discussion 

 that followed, which mainly turned on the difficulty of determining 

 species. 



unv-H 



