Che Uictorian naturalist 



Vol. XXVL— No. 7. NOVEMBER 4, 1909. No. 311. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 

 The ordinary monthly of the Club was held at the Royal 

 Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth October, 1909. 



The president, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, occupied the chair, 

 and about 90 members and visitors were present. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



A letter was read from Mr. H. H. Newton, secretary to the 

 Parliamentary Committee on Daylight Saving, asking for an 

 expression of opinion from the members on the subject. The 

 chairman briefly explained the details of the proposal, and it was 

 resolved, on the motion of Messrs. Barnard and Keartland, that 

 the Club support the proposal. Prof. Ewart and thehon. secretary 

 being deputed to represent the Club's views before the committee. 



VISITOR. 



The chairman introduced Mr. A. L. Deane, C.E., an ardent 

 worker in the botany of New South Wales, as a visitor to the 

 meeting. Mr. Deane briefly replied. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to Eltham on Saturday, 25th Sep- 

 tember, was given by the leader, Mr. G. A. Keartland, who 

 reported a fair attendance of members. The day was not too 

 favourable for birds, owing to a fairly strong wind blowing. The 

 party proceeded towards the river, where, amid the wooded 

 slopes, several interesting birds were noted. Among these may be 

 mentioned the Brown Flycatcher, Micrceca Jascinans, the 

 Fuscous Honey-eater, Ptilotis Jusca^ the Fan-tailed Cuckoo, 

 Cacomantis flabeUiformis, and the Striated and Yellow-rumped 

 Tits, Acanthiza lineata and A. chrysorrhoa. Many Orioles were 

 heard, but only one pair seen. It was remarked that the 

 locality, once so full of indigenous birds, was becoming more and 

 more the home of such introduced birds as sparrows, starlings, 

 goldfinches, and minahs. The entomologists of the party 

 reported finding several larvae and chrysalides of the scarce 

 mistletoe blue butterfly, Orgyris ahrota, Hew. Several mem- 

 bers devoted themselves to botany, and were successful in 

 noting many interesting plants, among them the beautiful 

 Grevillea rosmarinifolia, which is very abundant in the local 

 cemetery. Here, also, fine specimens of the everlasting ffeli- 

 ehrysum lucidum and of Daviesia corymhosa were seen. Towards 

 the river the orchids Galadenia carnea, C. Patereoni, and 

 Pterostylis nutans were obtained. Taken altogether, a very 

 satisfactory outing resulted. 



A report of the excursion to Frankston on Saturday, 9th 



