(I CENTRAL PARK, 

 A O^ NEW YOlSK^ 



V^OL. XV.— No. 8. DECEMBER 8, 1898. No. 180. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary montlily meeting of the Club was held at the Royal 

 Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th November, 1898. Mr. 

 T. S. Hall, M.A., one of the vice-presidents, occupied the chair, 

 and about 50 members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



Mr. Chas. French, jun., reported that about ten members attended 

 the excursion to Clayton on Saturday, 22nd October, when the 

 orchids Calocldlus Robertsoni, Caladenia Menziesil, Diuris 

 sulf)hurea (very fine), and several other interesting plants, were 

 collected. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard stated that the annual picnic, held at 

 Blackburn on Saturday, 29th October, had been a great success, 

 those who went by the early train having had an enjoyable 

 ramble. About fifty sat down to tea, and afterwards spent a 

 pleasant evening, enlivened with songs, music, and recitations. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland read a report of the excursion to Melton 

 on Wednesday, 9th November, when a pleasant day was spent, 

 and over 30 species of birds were noted, among them being the 

 Leaden Flycatcher and Fuscous Honey-eater, both new records 

 for the district. 



PAPERS. 



1. By Mr. A. J. Campbell, entitled " Notes on the Fiery 

 Parrakeet, Platyc.ercus ignitits." This contained a record of this 

 bird from Victoria, but the author doubted whether the bird 

 should not be considered as a variety of the common Rosella, 

 not a separate species. 



In the discussion that followed Mr. A. Coles said he regarded 

 P. Ignitus as a good species, and three had passed through his 

 hands previous to the one mentioned as being in Dr. Ryan's col- 

 lection. Each of these had been obtained in the district between 

 Kyneton and Heathcote. 



Mr. F. Spry said that he had had a specimen since 1869, 

 obtained in the Whipstick country, north-west of Bendigo. 



2. By Mr. F. M. Reader, communicated by Mr. G. Coghill, 

 entitled " Contributions to the Flora of Victoria," No. 7. 



The author described a new plant belonging to the genus 

 Tillaea found by him at Lowan, which he had named Tillaea 

 acuminata. 



