tbe Uictoridti naturalist 



Vol. XXL— No. 6. OCTOBER 6, 1904. No. 250. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



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

 Society's Hall on Monday evening, 12th September, 1904. 



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

 75 members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A brief report of the Club excursion to the Yarra, near Wills- 

 mere, Kew, on Saturday, 20th August, was given by the leader, 

 Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who stated that there was a good 

 attendance of members, although the afternoon was showery and 

 unpleasant. The object of the excursion was to see the Silver 

 Wattles, Acacia dealbata, Link., so plentiful on the banks of the 

 river there, in bloom. Many of the trees were found to be 

 covered with quantities of their golden-coloured blossoms, present- 

 ing a glorious sight, and members were able to get some good 

 specimens. Two or three members devoted their attention to 

 the pond-life of the neighbouring lagoons, with fair results. 



A report of the Club excursion to the Botanical Gardens on 

 Saturday, loth September was given by the leader, Mr. F. 

 Pitcher, who said that, favoured by a beautiful afternoon, over 

 40 members and friends were present. The party was fortunate 

 in seeing the Magnolias near the office in full bloom. A brief 

 inspection was made of the seed collection and economic pro- 

 ducts, &c., in the museum. The shrubs, &c., in the Australian 

 border were next visited, and then some time was spent in the 

 system sheds. Many of the interesting specimens in the fern 

 gully and the palmetum were pointed out, and a visit paid to the 

 Latrobe memorial and adjacent rock work. The conservatory, 

 containing many rare and choice plants, was next inspected, and 

 afterwards the view from the reservoir mound was greatly 

 admired. 



At the conclusion of the ramble the members were invited by 

 Mrs. Pitcher to afternoon tea in the rotunda. 



The hon. secretary reported that the first of a series of practical 

 evenings, devoted to structural botany, had been given by Mr. 

 H. T. Tisdall on Wednesday evening, the 17th August. A fair 

 number of members attended. The subject, Vicia faba, proved 

 very interesting, and a profitable two hours were spent by those 

 present. Commencing with the seed, Mr. Tisdall described the 

 various parts, while the several kinds of cells and tissues 

 necessary for the building up of the plant were lucidly explained. 



