J^'j^' 1 Field Naturalists' Cluh — Proceedings. 45 



ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. 



There being no other nominations, the following office- 

 bearers were duly elected : — President, Mr. J. A. Kershaw, 

 F.E.S. ; vice-presidents, Dr. C. S. Sutton and Mr. F. Pitcher ; 

 hon. treasurer, Mr. G. Coghill ; hon. librarian, Mr. W. G. 

 Mackintosh ; hon. editor, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard ; hon. secretary, 

 Mr. J. G. O'Donoghue ; hon. assistant secretary and librarian, 

 Mr. H. Whitty. 



On a ballot being taken for five members of the committee, 

 the following were duly elected :— Messrs. F. Chapman, A.L.S., 

 J. Gabriel, A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., J. Searle, and P. R. H. St. John. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard moved a vote of thanks to Mr. J. R. Tovey 

 for his services to the Club during his term of office as hon. 

 secretary. The president said that Mr. Tovey had performed 

 his duties conscientiously, and during the past year had 

 devoted a great deal of time to the Club's interests. The 

 motion was carried by acclamation. 



On the motion of Mr. D. Best, a hearty vote of thanks was 

 accorded to the retiring office-bearers and auditors. 



PAPER. 



Owing to the lateness of the hour, Mr. R. A. Bastow's paper 

 on Victorian Hepaticge was held over till the next ordinary 

 meeting of the Club. 



SPECIAL APPEAL FOR EXHIBITS. 



Mr. C. J. Gabriel drew attention to the paucity of the e.xhibits 

 at the meetings, and expressed an opinion that an effort should 

 be made to induce the members to take more interest in the 

 monthly exhibitions of specimens. 



The President expressed himself in accord with Mr. Gabriel's 

 views, and urged members to say something relative to their 

 exhibits, and thereby cause members to examine them after 

 the adjournment. 



Mr. F Pitcher suggested that, instead of the secretary, each 

 exhibitor should read out the particulars of his or her exhibit. 



Mr. Barrett said he was in favour of a special appeal being 

 made to members to exhibit specimens. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. H. W. Davey, F.E.S. , forwarded a note regarding 

 maternal instinct exhibited by a beetle, Notonomus chalyheus 

 (Carabidffi). He said it seems strange to find evidence of the 

 maternal instinct to protect its young among such predatory 

 creatures as centipedes, scorpions, and some carab beetles. 

 In the first and second groups the maternal instinct is well 

 shown, but not nearly so frequently with beetles. In May 

 last, when in the Apollo Bay and Beech Forest district, he 

 was turning over old rails and logs, under which it was almost 

 certain to find a female Notonomus chalybeiis, Dej., sitting over 

 a small hollow dug out of the ground, and in which about 



