CDe Uictorian naturalist. 



Vol. XXX.— No. 8. DECEMBER 4, 1913. No. 360. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, loth November, 1913. 

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

 vice-presidents, occupied the chair, and about 60 members and 

 visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to Alphington on Saturday, i8th 

 October, was given by the leader, Mr. J. Searle, who said that 

 the attendance was rather small, the threatening aspect of 

 the sky doubtless deterring members from joining, but any 

 fears regarding the weather were groundless, for the afternoon, 

 though at times overcast and gloomy, kept fine. The water 

 in the ponds was teeming with aquatic life — vegetable as well as 

 animal — and the party was soon busy at work filling tubes, 

 &c., and discussing the various items of interest that came 

 under their notice. The genus Brunella is recorded for the 

 first time from these ponds, two species, B. viridis and 

 B. longicornis, being taken. Entomostraca were especially 

 numerous, and amongst the dozen species of Copepoda secured 

 the most conspicuous in point of numbers was the species 

 recorded as new on the Club's excursion to these ponds in 

 October, 1912, and, though not yet described as such, it has 

 been known for some time to collectors as Boeckella asym- 

 metrica, and is a well-defined species. After securing from the 

 ponds sufficient material for home study, attention was turned 

 to some logs lying near the river-bank, under which were found 

 Isopods of several genera, which are commonly called " wood- 

 lice " or " slaters." Altogether, a pleasant and instructive after- 

 noon was spent. 



A report of the excursion to Ringwood on Saturday, 25th 

 October, was, in the absence of the leader. Dr. J. A. Leach, 

 given by Mr. W. J. Stephen, who said that eight members took 

 part in the excursion, and an enjoyable afternoon was spent. 

 Thirty-one species of birds were noted during the outing, and 

 he considered the locality one of the best in the neighbourhood 

 of Melbourne for studying bird-life. 



A report of the excursion to Werribee Gorge on Tuesday, 

 4th November (Cup Day), was given by the leader, Mr. A. L. 

 Scott, who said that nineteen members and friends participated 

 in the excursion. Though the weather was very cold and 



