194 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [v^oT^'xxx 



In view of the ver^^ great interest aroused by the address, he 

 ventured to bring the matter before the Clul). 



PAPER READ. 



By Mr. T. S. Hart, M.A., B.C.E., F.G.S., entitled "Some 

 Coastal Plants : their Shelter and Fire Danger." 



The author said that the prevalent coastal tea-tree scrub is 

 well known to be highly imflammable, but to eradicate it from 

 the sea-shore would lead only to the sand drifting and becoming 

 a serious nuisance. There were, however, certain native plants 

 of a fire-resisting character which could be substituted for the 

 tea-tree. Of these the Boobialla, Myoporum insulare, and the 

 Coast Acacia, Acacia longifolia, var. sophorce, were the most 

 useful ; to these might be added the introduced shrub Coprosma 

 lucida. At one place at Chelsea, where the Coast Acacia was 

 growing, he noticed the fire had been considerably lessened, and 

 he had come to the conclusion that the danger of fire in such 

 areas could be greatly decreased by encouraging the natural 

 growth of such plants. He suggested that they should be 

 planted in strips among the tea-tree of sufficient width to check a 

 fire. Thus a diversified scrub much more pleasing to the eye 

 than pure tea-tree would be produced, and the requirements of 

 shelter and sand binding be at the same time secured. 

 Boobialla would take first place, as it is was easily grown, and 

 would carry foliage to the ground. There was no reason why 

 paths through the scrub, or fire-breaks, should not be bordered 

 with these fire-resisting trees. 



The chairman said that Mr. Hart should be congratulated on 

 his most interesting and useful paper. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard said the Club was indebted to the 

 author for bringing such a useful and interesting subject before 

 them. He suggested that copies of the paper, when printed, 

 should be forwarded to the various Progress Associations and 

 other interested bodies. 



Messrs. A. D, Hardy, F.L.S., and F. Pitcher also spoke, and 

 agreed as to the great value of the experiments conducted by 

 the author. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., asked whether Bell-birds, Manorhina 

 melanophrys, were shy. He had heard from many folk that 

 they were ; but a week ago, when north of Pakenham, he found 

 the scrub full of them and they were so tame as to be approach- 

 able within a few yards. 



Mr. P. R. H. St. John said that his experience in Gippsland 

 was that Bell-birds were very fearless and would approach quite 

 close to strangers. 



