Che Uictoridtt naturalist 



Vol. XXXIII.— No. 12. APRIL 12, 1917. No. 400. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 12th March, 1917. 

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

 forty- five members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to the Richmond Quarries on 

 Saturday, 24th February, was given by Mr. J. Stickland, one 

 of the leaders, who said that there had been a good attend- 

 ance of members. Before examining the contents of the pools 

 for pond-life, the attention of the members was directed to 

 the interesting geological features presented in the quarries. 

 Regarding the pond-life, quite a number of interesting speci- 

 mens were secured, comprising alga;, protozoa, Crustacea, and 

 insect larvae. 



A report of the excursion to the Burnley Horticultural 

 Gardens on Saturday, loth March, was given by Mr. J. P. 

 M'Lennan, the director, who acted as leader. The attendance 

 was very good, numbering nearly sixty. The objects of the 

 institution and the new scheme of instruction were first of all 

 pointed out ; then the party was conducted round the grounds, 

 and various matters of interest explained. Mr. F. Pitcher 

 said that about twenty-five members and friends had pro- 

 ceeded to the Gardens by motor-boat, which added greatly to 

 the enjoyment of the outing, and expressed the appreciation 

 of the members for the hospitality extended to them by Mr. 

 and Mrs. M'Lennan. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



The president reported that Mr. J. G. O'Donoghue's health 

 was still very unsatisfactory, and that he was still in the 

 hospital. 



PAPER READ. 



By Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A., LL.B., entitled " Impressions of 

 the Wild -Flowers of South- Western Australia." 



The author referred to the flora of an area of about fifty 

 square miles in the vicinity of Bunbury as he observed it in 

 mid-spring, and noted the principal points of difference between 

 it and the flora of south-eastern Australia, remarking that, 

 though the difference was striking, there were yet sufficient 



