tfte Ulctorian naiuralisi 



Vol. XXXIII.— No. 6. OCTOBER 5, 1916. No. 394. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday, nth September, 1916. 



The president, Mr. F. Pitcher, occupied the chair, and about 

 45 members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



In the absence of Mr. Geo. Coghill, Mr. T. S. Hart, B.Sc, 

 acted as leader of the excursion to Cockatoo on vSaturday, 26th 

 August, and reported that a party of twelve members and 

 friends took part in the outing, and, favoured by a fine ' day, 

 thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Though too early for the 

 bulk of flowering plants and shrubs, several acacias were noted 

 in bloom, and trees of the Silver Wattle were met with having 

 an estimated height of 95 feet. During the course of their 

 ramble the party passed over ground that had been swept by 

 fire about three years previously. Upon this Banksia collina 

 was very abundant, but the most remarkable feature of the 

 area was the prevalence of fasciation in the species of plants 

 it nourished. This malformation was possibly due to un- 

 balanced nutrition promoted by rich soil conditions which 

 result after the devastation of an area by fire. 



A report of the Bayswater-Ringwood excursion on Saturday, 

 9th September, was received from the leader, Mr. J. W. Audas, 

 F.L.S., and read by the hon. secretary. Mr. Audas stated 

 that the excursion was well attended, and a large number of 

 spring-flowering plants were met with, including several species 

 of orchids. 



ELECTION OF MEMBERS, 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. Wilfrid B. Alexander, Queen's 

 College, Carlton, and Mr. H, Clinton, 605 Flinders -street, 

 Melbourne, were duly elected as ordinary members, and Mt. 

 T. O. Murphy, Charlton Road, St. Arnaud, and Mr. J. F. 

 Thomas, Tenterfield, New South Wales, as country members 

 of the Club. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



The president briefly referred to the progress made since the 

 previous m.eeting in connection with the wild-flower display 

 in the Melbourne Town Hall on 3rd October. From the 

 promises of support extended to the committee, he had reason 

 to believe that the show would be a huge success. 



