Cbc Uictorian naturalist 



Vol. XXIX.— No. 11. MARCH 6, 1913. No. 351. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, loth February, IQ13. 

 The president. Dr. J. A. Leach, occupied the chair, and about 

 60 members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



Mr. J. T. Hamilton, F.L.S., stated that the projected 

 excursion to Gilderoy, which was to have taken place during 

 25th to 28th January, lapsed, owing to the small number of 

 names handed in. 



In the absence of the leader, Mr. E. C. Joshua, a report of 

 the excursion to Beaumaris on Saturday, 8th February, was 

 given by Mr. J. Stickland, who said that there was a fair 

 attendance of members, but the tide was, unfortunately, too 

 high to allow of much collecting amongst the rocks. 



Miss E. Bury, leader of the junior excursion to Elwood on 

 Saturday, ist February, reported a small attendance of 

 juniors. Many objects of interest were found along the shore, 

 and those present spent a profitable afternoon. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland stated that he, in company with Dr. 

 J. A. Leach, attended a conference respecting the close season 

 for quail at the office of the Chief Inspector of Fisheries and 

 Game on Monday, i6th December, at which it was decided 

 to recommend that the opening of the quail season be altered 

 to ist March. He thought, however, that the date was a 

 month too early, and strongly favoured an extension to ist 

 April. Ducks were to have an additional fortnight's pro- 

 tection, the date being altered to 15th February. 



Mr. P. R. H. St. John mentioned that there were at the 

 present time two broods of Black Ducks — one a week and the 

 other a fortnight old — on the lake at the Botanical Gardens, 

 and he also thought that more protection was necessary. He 

 drew attention to the sub-leader on this subject in the Argus 

 of 5th February. 



ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. C. P. Conigrave, Argus Office, 

 Melbourne, was elected an ordinary member, and Miss M. 

 Harris, 73 Droop-street, Footscray, a junior member of the Club. 



PAPER READ. 



By Mr. G. A. Keartland, entitled " Zoology of the Great 

 Desert of North-Western AustraUa." 



The author, who was a member of the Wells Exploring 



