Cbc Uictonan naturalise 



V^OL. XXVI.— No. 12. APRIL 7, 1910. No. 316. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th March, 19 10. 



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

 and about 80 members and visitors were present. 



VISIT OF MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 



The Chairman said that the Committee of the Club had 

 invited the members of the Microscopical Society of Victoria to 

 be present that evening, and take part in the usual conversazione. 

 He therefore took the opportunity of extending a hearty welcome 

 to the members, and pointed out the necessity of co-operation 

 between scientific societies, advocating closer touch and sympathy, 

 lest a drifting apart might tend to weaken their influence. 



Dr. J. C. Kaufmann, President of the Microscopical Society, 

 thanked the Club for its invitation, and trusted there would be a 

 long continuance of friendship between the societies. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the visit to the Zoological Gardens on Saturday, 

 19th February, was forwarded by the leader, Mr. D. Le Souef, 

 C.M.Z.S., director of the gardens, who reported that the day 

 turned out extremely hot, consequently the attendance was 

 small. However, a number of interesting animals and birds were 

 inspected. The nesting mound of the Scrub Turkey, Catheturus 

 lathami, was examined, and its temperature found to be about 

 98°. Several young birds recently hatched were seen. An 

 adjoining enclosure contained several Mallee Hens, Lipoa ocellata, 

 Gld., but they do not breed in captivity. Several Plumed Egrets, 

 Mesophoyx plumijera, Gld., have recently been added, and their 

 spotless plumage was very attractive. Some clutches of Brown 

 and Stubble Quail were on view. An inspection of the large 

 flight aviary showed that numbers of Honey-eaters, Wood- 

 Swallows, Yellow-breasted Robins, Magpie Larks, &c., lived 

 together in perfect harmony. Many recent additions from 

 foreign countries were seen, and a little time was spent in 

 inspecting the Brown and Loch Leven Trout in the hatching 

 ponds. 



A report of the excursion to Alexandra-avenue and South 

 Yarra on Saturday, 26th February, was given by the leader, Mr. 

 F. Chapman, A.L.S., who reported a good attendance. Attention 

 was called to the geological features of the lower Yarra, then the 

 localities of certain fossils were pointed out, and some attention 

 paid to the large igneous dyke exposed in the cutting near the 



