I02 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [^''^Oct^^^' 



sophora, in full bloom, was the most conspicuous. The reasons 

 were pointed out as to why the Mesembryanthemum had de- 

 veloped a thick skin containing few stomata. Nearly fort}'' 

 species of plants were noted in bloom, among which may be 

 mentioned the orchids Pterostylis ciicullata and P. pedtinatlata. 

 Interesting features connected with the mistletoes and sundews 

 were commented on, and several fine specimens of the Climbing 

 Sundew, Drosera Menziesii, were examined, and found to have 

 many minute insects imprisoned by their leaves. A brief 

 inspection was made of the old historic " Black Rock House," 

 built by the Hon. Chas. Ebden between sixty and seventy 

 years ago of stone quarried from the sea-cliff close by. In the 

 grounds were noticed two magnificent Moreton Bay Fig-trees, 

 probably the largest in the State, and general regret was 

 expressed that this fine sanctuary for birds and plants would 

 soon pass into the hands of the builders. The ornithological 

 leader, Mr. E. B. Xicholls, forwarded a few notes, in which he 

 stated that the destruction of the shelter at Black Rock would 

 render at least a thousand birds homeless. Some might find 

 other homes in the district, but the majority would disappear 

 entirely, among them fifteen to twenty pairs of the Ground- 

 Thrush, Geocichla lunulata, which for many years had frequented 

 the spot. During the afternoon a flock of some two hundred 

 Cormorants had been noticed chasing the pilchards in the 

 Bay. They kept just above the water, in a straight line, at 

 right angles to the shore, and extending for fully three hundred 

 yards, the birds being about a yard apart. 



The hon. secretary reported that, owing to the stipulated 

 number of names not having been handed in, the excursion set 

 down for Whittlesea for Thursday, ist September (Show Day) 

 had lapsed : and that, owing to very inclement weather, the 

 excursion to Croydon for Saturday, loth September, had been 

 abandoned. 



ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 



On a ballot being taken, Miss Thelma Hill, Beaconsfield- 

 parade, ^liddle Park, was duly elected as an ordinary member ; 

 Mr. Daniel Ingle, Healesville, and Dr. Alfred E. Shaw, M.R.C.S., 

 F.E.S., of Healesville, as country members ; and Miss Edith 

 Twyford, " Kardella," Elsternwick, as a junior member. 



LECTURE. 



An interesting and instructive lecture, entitled " The Birds 

 of Victoria," was then given by Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc. The 

 lecture had been announced to be illustrated with lantern slides, 

 but. owing to a misunderstanding on the part of the emergency 

 lanternist, who did not attend, these were unable to be shown. 

 The lecturer, however, was not dismayed by the inconvenience, 



