J ^''l Excursion to Bclgiavc; lie; 



still retaining a few flowers. The Striped Helmet Orchid, 

 Pterostylis refiexa, and the Common Bird Orchid, Chiloglottis 

 Giinnii, represented tlie Orchidcce. The rare filmy fern, 

 Trichornanes parvuliim, was pointed out on the stem of a tree- 

 fern. I am indebted to Mr. P. R. H. St. John for the list of the 

 liirds seen, which includes the Spotted Pardalote, Rose-breasted 

 Robin, Scarlet-breasted Robin, Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin, 

 Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Pallid Cuckoo, Pilot-Bird, White- 

 shafted Fantail Flycatcher, White-throaled Thickhead, 

 Crimson Parrakeet, Rosclla, King Parrot, Silver-eye, and 

 Crescent Honey-eater. Mr. A. N. Burns, who devoted his 

 attention to entomology, reports that, as the result of recent 

 heavy rains and boisterous weather, insects were rather scarce. 

 Only three species of butterflies were seen — ^the blue-spotted 

 Painted Fady, the Australian Admiral, and the Imperial White 

 — all common species. The latter was seen fl>'ing round a plant 

 of mistletoe (Loranthus) on a Blackwood. The outing is one 

 that can be easily taken by anyone desiring to see a sample 

 of our forest scenery, and it was gratifying to see how, in many 

 places, the young forest growth of E. regnans is asserting itself. 

 Many of these young trees, though only about ten years old, 

 are quite forty feet high, with stem diameters of from four to 

 nine inches. — F. Pitcher. 



EXHIBITION OF WILD-FLOWERS. 



For the 1017 exhibition of wild-flowers the Melb(nu-ne Town 

 Hall was again secured, and again a patriotic purpose — the 

 Y.M.C.A. National Fund — was chosen as the object to which 

 the profits should be devoted. Governed somewhat by " Show 

 Week," Tuesday, 2nd October, was fixed for the display. 

 I'ortunately, the weather during the preceding days was almost 

 all that could be desired, consequently many fine exhibits were 

 received from all parts of the country, and even the distant 

 States of Western Australia and Oucensland were represc-nted 

 in the exhibition. His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir 

 Ronald Munro Ferguson, G.C.M.G., in opening the exhibition, 

 referred to the eflorts that arc being made in the various 

 States to protect the native flora, and said that Australians 

 possessed great advantages over many other parts of the world, 

 for, the seasons not being so sharply divided, some plant was 

 to be found in bloom almost any day in the year, while an all- 

 pervading love of wild-flowers would greatly assist in the desire 

 for the preservation of our timl)er, which was so essential to 

 tile progress of the country. The exhil)ition was well })atron- 

 i/,ed by the general pul)lic, and it was with difficulty that many 

 of the tables could be approached by those interested. 



