Nov., 1908] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. ^3 



the hall that at any rate it was a very interesting display. It was 

 an exhibition that he was personally very anxious to look at, and, 

 presuming that to be the wish of all present, he would not occupy 

 more time in speaking than he could help. For himself he felt 

 certain that the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria was an 

 extremely useful institution. Nothing could be more important 

 than the encouragement of young people especially to use their 

 eyes, and nothing made young people use their eyes more 

 accurately than the study of the fauna and flora of their own dis- 

 tricts. He therefore thought the work which the Club was doing 

 was certain to be valuable work, and he hoped before long to know 

 more of that work. He trusted that some of the results members 

 had attained would be communicated to him, and so add to the 

 pleasure he would derive from his residence in Victoria. He 

 declared the exhibition open. 



His Excellency then made a close inspection of a number of 

 the exhibits, in company with the president and other office- 

 bearers, and was introduced to several of the exhibitors, who 

 readily afforded further information regarding their specimens. 

 Lady Carmichael evidenced considerable interest in the wild- 

 flowers, which were brought under her notice by Prof. Ewart. An 

 adjournment was then made to the lecture-room, in order to hear 

 Mr. C. L. Barrett's lecturette on bird life, after which some further 

 exhibits were inspected before the vice-regal party departed. 



Three years had elapsed since the last exhibition, and though 

 the ardour of some of the older members was not so keen as 

 perhaps it was twenty years ago, the display was a very fine one, 

 quite equal to, if not surpassing, previous attempts. Again 

 the exhibition of wild-flowers was a feature of the conver- 

 sazione, and though it was anticipated that the present season, 

 owing to the unusual dryness of the summer and coldness 

 of the early spring, would prove detrimental to a fine display, 

 no fault could be found with this section of the exhibition. 

 Members had visited distant parts, or induced country friends to 

 forward collections, so that it was possible to compare at a 

 glance the wild-flowers of the Mallee with those of the coastal 

 country, or of the mountains with the plains. Considerable help 

 in this direction was also given by the teachers of several country 

 State schools, for which the Club is deeply grateful. 



It may be remarked that perhaps finer exhibits of such flowers 

 as Kennedya monophylla and the many acacias were made on 

 this occasion than usual, owing to the lateness of the spring, and 

 the fact that the exhibition was held on a somewhat earlier date 

 than for some years past. 



A new feature of the conversazione was the large series of jars 

 containing pond-life, both animal and vegetable. These proved 

 a constant source of interest, viewed either with the naked eye or 

 by means of the microscope. 



