Jan., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 127 



proof is there of the spawning of the latter in fresh water ? Can 

 anybody find the ova in the water, then see the newly-hatched 

 young, and trace the stages of growth. We want facts, not opinions 

 based on what occurs somewhere else. 



The European eel breeds in the depths of the sea below 500 

 fathoms. Perhaps our eel does so too, but does anyone know 

 that it does ? Give us facts. Anyone who will settle either of 

 these questions will gather much that is of value on other subjects 

 by the way, and add at least one important stone to the cairn of 

 knowledge. 



There is a good deal to be learned of the breeding of our land 

 frogs. Do they require water during their metamorphosis or not ? 

 Our reptiles are well known,- but the recent discovery close to 

 Melbourne of several specimens of a snake new to Victoria shows 

 that we should take nothing for granted. The same may be said 

 of our birds and mammals, but no one would be surprised at the 

 finding of a new species in the Gippsland ranges or in the Otways. 

 Our rats, be it remarked, are still very imperfectly known, and 

 are passing away, and our bats are probably in the same unsatis- 

 factory condition. We want lists and named collections of all 

 these things, and we will have to hasten if we are to get them. 



I will just cross the threshold of botany and indicate a few 

 places in which enthusiasts may aid the cause of science. We 

 want a good series of photographs of all our plants — trees, shrubs, 

 and herbs. We want pictures of our wild flowers — the single 

 plant in flower. Don't aim at pretty pictures ; aim at represent- 

 ing the typical plant. Then we want plant-grouping studied and 

 photographed. What plants are associated together in certain 

 situations and on certain soils ? There are long names for these 

 studies, but you need not know the names in order to do good 

 work. The studies are older than the names, and will continue 

 when the names are forgotten. 



One other fruitful field of research in regard to our native 

 plants may be drawn attention to, and that is the methods by 

 which insects transfer the pollen from anther to stigma. What a 

 delightful exhibit at our meeting would be a photograph of the 

 visit of an insect to a trigger-plant. If you can't get a photograph, 

 will you describe what happens ? What actual insect is in the 

 habit of visiting this flower, and how does he work ? But the 

 trigger-plant is one of many. Who will do for Victorian orchids 

 what Darwin did for the English ones ? We know practically 

 nothing of this great question of pollination among our plants. 

 It is field naturalists' work. 



Still another botanical question suggests itself. What are the 

 effects of changed conditions on our native plants? Why, for 

 instance, are some specimens of Bursaria more spinose than 

 others ? Why does the character of the bark of some of our 

 eucalypts change with change of locality ? Read Schimper's 



