Vol. XXVII, 

 1910 



1 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 



2. By Mr. D. McAlpine, entitled " Notes on the Smuts of 

 Australia." 



The author said that just four years ago he had given some 

 notes on the Rusts of Australia, and having now finished a work 

 on the Smuts, desired to bring a few facts concerning them under 

 the notice of the members. He pointed out the importance of 

 the study of all the forms of fungi occurring in Australia, and 

 stated that the stinking smut of wheat causes a loss in Victoria of 

 at least ;^5o,ooo a year. He briefly described the main differences 

 between a rust and a smut, and stated that 68 species had been 

 recorded for Australia, of which 46 had been found in Victoria. 

 He also mentioned the modes of infection and the means of 

 prevention, and exhibited a fine series of illustrations of the 

 different species. 



The Chairman congratulated the author on the results of his 

 investigations, and remarked on the great importance of the work 

 yet to be done as regards the fungi. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. 



Rev. F. W. Ramsay, of Samarai, Papua, described a model 

 outrigger sailing sea-canoe and other objects exhibited by Mr. 

 R. W. Armitage, giving particulars as to their methods of con- 

 struction, uses, &c. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. R. W. Armitage.— Model of a Test Island (Papua) 

 outrigger and platform sailing sea-canoe, made by the natives, 

 and for comparison a model of a river and sea outrigger canoe ; 

 tapa cloth, string netted bag, necklace of banana seeds, 

 necklace of sea-shells, necklace of shells and seeds, clay cooking 

 pot, and New Guinea money, from Samarai, Papua. 



By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Aboriginal mill-stone from Syden- 

 ham ; fruits of Gooseberry Cucumber, Cucumis myriocarpus, 

 Naudin (introduced African plant), from Jackson's Creek, 

 Sydenham. 



By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Marine shells — series of Olivaornaia — 

 from N.W. Australia. 



By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — Gypsum crystals (selenite), from 

 "frosting" of walls of Ramsden's Cave, Cape Patten, and fresh- 

 water algcC, PleurococcKS, sp., and empty frustules of diatom, 

 Hantzschia amphioxys, from water of cave, in illustration of paper. 



By Mr. H. Jeffery. — Specimen of bracken. Pier is aquilina, 

 9 ft. in height, from Sassafras Gully, Dandenong Ranges. 



By Mr. D. McAlpine. — Specimens of stinking smut of wheat 

 and flag smut of maize ; nine frames of illustrations of the smuts 

 of Australia, in illustration of paper. 



By Mr. C. L. Plumridge. — Blooms of orchid Eriochilus autum- 

 oialis, from Blackburn. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



