Feb., 1910.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 143 



By Mr. F. Spry. — Australian ants belonging to genus Podo- 

 myrma ; rare beetles from Western Australia — Megacephala black- 

 hurni, Fleutiaux, M. castelnaui, Sloane, and Cunipectus frenchi, 

 Sine. ; rare butterfly, Dodonidia helmsi, Fereday, from New 

 Zealand. 



By Mr. P. R. H. St. John. — Plant of fern Lindsaya trichoman- 

 oides from Wilson's Promontory, recently recorded as new for 

 Victoria. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



The late Rev. J. J. Halley. — It is with great regret we 

 record the sudden death of the Rev. J. J, Halley, who was one 

 of the first vice-presidents of the Field Naturalists' Club of 

 Victoria (1880-3), ^"d for three years (1884-7) its president. 

 Mr. Halley's presidential addresses were greatly enjoyed by those 

 privileged to hear them, and general regret was expressed when 

 the increase of his denominational duties necessitated him setting 

 aside his love for natural science. 



We are pleased to record that Mr. O. A. Sayce, Demonstrator 

 in Bacteriology in the University of Melbourne, has been awarded 

 an Associateship by the Linnean Society of London, in re- 

 cognition of his valuable research work. 



" A Quarter-Century of Technical Education in New South 

 Wales " is the title of a quarto volume of 320 pages recently 

 issued by the Education Department of that State on the occasion 

 of the exhibition of students' work held at the Sydney Technical 

 College, Easter week, 1909. A brief introduction is given by the 

 Minister of Education, Hon. J. A. Hogue ; then the Superinten- 

 dent of Technical Education, Mr. J. W. Turner, in an article of 

 142 pages, entitled " Technical Education," gives a general view 

 of the subject as dealt with in other countries, what has been 

 achieved in the twenty-five years in New South Wales, the 

 present condition and its future in New South Wales. Statistics 

 for 1908 show 18,490 students, paying fees of ;^i4, 176. Botany, 

 zoology, and geology are included in the lecture courses. In his 

 optimistic remarks on the future he is so carried away by the 

 wonderful advantages he sees in the position, &c., of Sydney as 

 " the London, New York, Glasgow, Athens, and Rome of the 

 southern hemisphere," that he quite overlooks the fact that other 

 great and prosperous cities exist in South America, in South 

 Africa, and even in Australia. The volume concludes with a 

 detailed description of the various departments of the Sydney 

 Technical College and its adjuncts, which is very fully illustrated 

 with a fine series of plates, and shows it to be well up to date. 

 The volume is a highly creditable production, and was printed at 

 the Government Printing Office, Sydney. 



