Cbe Uiciorlan naturalist 



Vol. XXI.— No. 4. AUGUST 4, 1904. No. 248. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 

 A SPECIAL general meeting of the Club was held at the Royal 

 Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth July, 1904. 



The president, Mr. O. A. Sayce, occupied the chair, and about 

 60 members were present. 



ALTERATION TO RULE. 



In accordance with notice given at the previous meeting, Mr. 

 J. A. Leach moved — 



" That in rule 4, line 2, after ' country ' add ' (d) associates' and ' {e) junior 

 members.' 



"Delete section (d) and in its place put — 



" (d) Associates shall be under the age of 20 and over the age of 16 

 years. They shall not be entitled to vote or to the Club's 

 journal, and shall pay an annual subscription of five shillings. 

 " (r) Junior members shall be under the age of 16 years. They shall 

 not be entitled to vote or to the Club's journal, or to borrow 

 books from the library, and shall pay an annual subscription 

 of one shilling." 



Mr. Leach said that his main purpose in proposing the altera- 

 tion in the rule was that, as so much attention is now being given 

 to nature study in our schools, it would be advantageous to the 

 children if they could be afforded greater facilities for carrying 

 out their observations under the direction of experienced leaders, 

 and he thought that if it were made possible for them to become 

 members of the Club at a nominal expense, many would seize the 

 opportunity to do so. Should the movement grow, as he hoped 

 it would, the Club could then arrange special excursions for 

 junior members under the guidance of members having special 

 knowledge of the localities chosen, and who would doubtless be 

 assisted by school teachers in maintaining order. Such outings 

 would tend to cultivate habits of correct observation, increase in 

 the children a love for rural things, and thus, perhaps, to some 

 extent counteract the growing desire for city life now existing. 



Mr. W. F. Gates, M.A., seconded the motion, and stated that 

 he believed the movement would have the sympathy and support 

 of Mr. F. Tate, the Director of Education. 



A considerable amount of discussion followed. Mr. E. E. 

 Barker, F.R.M.S., mentioned that a Students' Natural History 

 Association had recently been formed, and if the motion was 

 carried he would endeavour to bring them into the Club as junior 

 members. 



Mr. J. Shephard moved, as an amendment — "That a committee 

 be appointed to go fully into the matter and bring up a more 

 detailed scheme, and report at the next meeting." 



