CIk Uictorian naturalist. 



Vol. XXXTI.— No. 5. SEPTEMBER 9, 1915. No. 381. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 9th August, 1915. 



The president, Dr. C. S. Sutton, occupied the chair, and 

 about 40 members and visitors were present. 



REPORT. 



A report of the visit to the Economic Museum, Melbourne 

 Botanic Gardens, on Saturday, 24th July, was given by the 

 leader. Mr. F. Pitcher, who stated that about a dozen members 

 were present. Considerable interest was evidenced in the 

 examination of the fine specimens of Australian and exotic 

 timbers, carpological collection, gums, resins, fruits, &c. 

 Interesting particulars respecting some of the more noteworthy 

 exhibits were given, and the methods adopted in preserving, 

 pressing, and mounting specimens were briefly outlined. A 

 ramble along the Australian border was then taken, and half 

 an hour or so devoted to the classification shed, thus making 

 a profitable and enjoyable afternoon. 



ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 



On a ballot being taken. Mr. Charles Daley, Clarinda-street, 

 Caulfield, and Mr. John Dow, 9 Ford-street, Brunswick, were 

 duly elected as ordinary members of the Club. 



PAPERS READ. 



i. By Messrs. J. Shephard and J. Searle, entitled " A Trip 

 to the Colac and Camperdown Lakes." 



The authors pleasantly described the incidents of a brief 

 collecting trip in June last to the lakes in the neighbourhood 

 (it Camperdown and Colac, made for the sake of investigating 

 their microscopic fauna and flora. A striking illustration oi 

 the severity of the drought just terminated, and through which 

 the State has passed with such disastrous consequences to the 

 pastoralist and his flocks, was evidenced by the condition of 

 Lake Colac (which has an area oi aboul ten square miles), and 

 which was more than six feet below its normal level. The use 

 of a tow net revealed the fact that the waters of the lake 

 teemed with various species of Cladocera. Ostracoda. Copepoda, 

 Rotifera, and other small forms of life. Lakes Gnotuk and 

 Bullen-Merri, near Camperdown, were next visited. The 

 shores of the former were found to be covered in parts with 

 the small shells oi Cociella striatula, bu1 its waters were not 

 very prolific in microfauna. From Bullen-Merri large numbers 

 oi two speci,^ oi rotifers bi the genus Brachionus and a copepod 



