^°^g'] Exci^rsion to Cheltenham. 95 



spawn was hatching in masses everywhere. In the yellow waters 

 of a small dam the elongated bug, Ranatra, sp., was found 

 covered with the nymphs of a water-mite, Hydrachna, sp." 

 It is to be regretted, from a naturalist's point of view, that 

 this splendid collecting-ground, so close to Melbourne, is yearly 

 becoming more circumscribed by the advance of building 

 operations, and in the course of a few years will practically 

 be lost for ever. — J. R. Tovey. 



EXHIBITION OF WILD-FLOWERS. 



When the announcement was made that the committee of 

 the Field Naturalists' Club had decided to hold the 1916 

 exhibition of wild- flowers at the Melbourne Town Hall on 

 Tuesday, 3rd October, many members were disposed to regard 

 the determination with misgivings. Yet, in recalling the 

 wealth of flowers displayed in the hall, and the enthusiastic 

 and appreciative concourse that surged round and about them, 

 and later vied for their possession, how little occasion there 

 was to fear that the undertaking would prove what members 

 and their friends willed it to be — an unqualified success. 



Preparations for the reception of the flowers were begun at 

 the Town Hall on Monday afternoon, 2nd October, by Messrs. 

 J. Gabriel, F. Pitcher, and J. Searle, and by 10 p.m. the 

 decorative scheme and the arrangement of the display tables 

 and kiosks were satisfactorily completed. Shortly after 

 9 o'clock on Tuesday morning a number of skilled workers began 

 operations on the floral consignments as they arrived, and by 

 noon had burdened the tables with an infinite variety of our 

 native flowering plants and shrubs. 



The Lord Mayor, Sir David Hennessy, in formally declaring 

 the exhibition open, at 3 p.m., congratulated the Club on its 

 fine display of Australian wild-flowers, which were a revelation 

 to him, and undoubtedly to many others. The proceeds arising 

 from the display were to be devoted to a commendable object 

 — the Y.M.C.A. National Appeal — and he hoped the result 

 would be alike satisfactory to the Club and to the Association. 



The president, Mr. F. Pitcher, in outlining the aims and 

 objects of the Club, expressed the opinion that but for the 

 unfavourable weather that had prevailed during the week 

 preceding the exhibition a brighter and a much more repre- 

 sentative display of the native flora would have resulted. 



All of the exhibits contributed by members or forwarded 

 by their friends were admirable, and it is to be regretted that 

 lack of space precludes according them individually the 

 measure of praise their beauty and variety claim ; yet it would 

 seem a grave omission to refrain from reference to the chief 



