THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 79 



present to try and secure the permanent reservation of the land 

 and the vesting of it in trustees. 



It was resolved to join with the other societies, the President, 

 Mr. T. S. Hall, and Mr. F. Wisewould being deputed to act on 

 behalf of the Club and report at the next meeting. 



PAPERS. 



1. By Miss Freda Bage, entitled " Notes on Phosphorescence 

 in Plants and Animals." 



In an interesting paper the author briefly dealt with some of 

 the various forms of luminous plants and animals, and pointed 

 out the different groups in which phosphorescence is exhibited, 

 and remarked that the phenomenon had been known since the 

 times of Aristode, and still excited the interest of scientists. 



The paper was illustrated by a number of lantern slides and 

 microscopic preparations, also by a collection of deep-sea fish from 

 the National Museum, exhibited by Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. 



Mr. H. T. Tisdall remarked that for many years he had 

 observed the luminosity of fungi in the mines at Walhalla, and so 

 bright was the light emitted that he could read with ease pages 

 from a book. 



Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., said that when in the Malay 

 Peninsula he had noticed Fire-flies in thousands among the 

 bushes at night, a peculiar feature being that they possessed tlie 

 power of emitting and shutting off the light in unison ; and 

 during a trip off the coast of Java he had seen the sea so 

 luminous at night that it was possible to read a newspaper on the 

 deck of the steamer. 



Mr. J. Shephard mentioned that one evening, while walking on 

 Brighton Beach, his attention was drawn to the phosphorescence 

 of the sand. On examination he found that it emanated from 

 a number of ostracods. On taking a few home he was enabled 

 to view them under the microscope by their own light. 



The President congratulated the author on her excellent paper, 

 and said that the subject opened up a new field to the members, 

 and hoped that further contributions would follow. 



In reply to Mr. Shephard, Miss Bage said that she had never 

 noticed any freshwater plant or animal which gave out phos- 

 phorescence. 



2. By Messrs. G. A. Waterhouse, B.Sc, F.E.S., and R. E. 

 Turner, entitled " Notes on Hesperidae Described by Mabille, 

 and Reputed to be Australian." 



Owing to the lateness of the hour, this paper was postponed 

 until next meeting. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Indian Violets. — Mr. S. W. Fulton drew attention to his 

 exhibit of specimens of the wild violet from the Pamirs, N.W. 



