Cbc Uictorian Daturalisi 



Vol. XXXI.— No. 12. APRIL 8, 1915. No. 376. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF \TCTORL-\. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at tiie 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 8th March. 1915. 



In the absence of the president. Dr. C. S. Sutton, one of the 

 vice-presidents, occupied the chair, and about qo members and 

 visitors were present. 



CORRESPONDENXE. 



From Mr. W. S. Bowman, hon. secretary Flinders Statue 

 Committee, intimating that the St. Kilda Foreshore Committee 

 had offered from £700 to ;^8oo towards the erection of the 

 Flinders statue on condition that the site to be chosen shall 

 be one upon the St. Kilda foreshore. As this would entail a 

 departure from the original plan of a national memorial in 

 the city of Melbourne, the Executive Committee did not feel 

 entitled to take such an important step without consulting the 

 whole body of subscribers : a general meeting of subscribers 

 would therefore be held at the Town Hall, Melbourne, on 

 Monday, 15th March, at 4 p.m., to consider the matter. 



On the motion of Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, seconded by Mr. A. D. 

 Hardy, F.L.S., Dr. C. S. Sutton, vice-president, was delegated to 

 represent the Club ; and on the resolution of Mr. F. Wisewould, 

 seconded by Mr. E. E. Pescott, F.R.H.S., he was directed to 

 urge that the statue be erected somewhere in Melbourne, in 

 a more central position than at St. Kilda. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to the Botanic Garden on Saturday, 

 13th February, was made by the leader, Mr. F. Pitcher. The 

 chief feature of interest noted was the presence of flowers on 

 the Japanese ^Magnolia, M. conspicita, var. SoHlans,eri. whilst 

 the shrub was with leaf. These magnolias usually flower only 

 when in the deciduous state, but, owing to the abnormal 

 season, a departure from the customary habit had taken place. 

 This peculiarity had not been noticed during the thirty years 

 or so the " Tuhp-trees " have been under cultivation in the 

 Botanic Gardens. The reservoir was visited during the 

 course of the afternoon, and the scheme by which the Garden 

 was reticulated explained in detail. Mr. F. G. A. Barnard 

 referred to the hospitality accorded by Mr. and Mrs. F. Pitcher 

 to the twenty members constituting the party, and moved a 

 vote of thanks to them for the kindness and consideration 

 displayed. 



A report of the excursion to Croydon on Saturday, 27th 

 February, was presented by the leader, Mr. C. French, jun.. 



