THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 41 



multiply and record the necessary out-of-door observation, is the determina- 

 tion, descriptions, and figuring of all the galls and their contents in the 

 colony, and the settling "the fact of whether each gall insect forms its galls 

 on only one, or also on other, and if so, what plants ? The galls are often 

 singularly beautiful in form, imlike those known elsewhere, and, as in 

 other countries, the different sorts are usually marked with peculiar colours, 

 often contrasting remarkably and beautifully with the leaves on which 

 they are developed. This requires the formation of water-colour sketches 

 from the fresh objects, which should then be dried until the contained 

 insects come out, whether those forming them, or parasites, which I find 

 very numerous, which must in this way be connected with the peculiar 

 galls. They form a work not yet even begun in this colony. The follow- 

 ing out Sir J. Lubbock's researches on the habits of ants would be only 

 possible in this colony, where they are so numerous, by the members of the 

 club. The time has arrived when the members should make a determined 

 effort, this year, to settle the question of whether the platypus lays eggs in 

 its burrow or not. Coming to the end of my paper reminds me that I must 

 not, like the brook, '• go on for ever," with my suggestive remarks, cur- 

 tailing the time of your eagerly- expected presidential address. — Ever, my 

 dear sir, vcrj' faithfully yours, 



" Frkderick M'Coy. 



"The Hon. Dr. Dobson, LL.D., President Field Naturalists' Club of 

 Victoria." 



And now for a few remarks from myself personally. Many of yon 

 will have read in the newspapers that our distinguished member, 

 ]\lr. A. H. S. .Luoas, lias established a field naturalists' club at the 

 Wesley College, at which he is mathematical master, and the first 

 expedition of the cLass to the seaside was eminently successful. 

 This is an example well worthy of imitation, not only in our private, 

 but also in some of our state schools. Cricket, football, and rowing, 

 where it is possible, are very valuable in their way, as muscular 

 exercises, which involve more or less skill ; but it is extremely 

 desirable that some other means of intelligently occupying leisure 

 hours should be available to our young people, and Mr. Lucas 

 deserves a high meed of praise for initiating this system in his 

 school. The high honour of being made a Fellow of the Linnean 

 Society has been recently conferred upon one of our members, whose 

 1-abours among the flora of the Grampian s have deservedly attracted 

 the attention of the leading botanical society of the world. It is to 

 be hoped that this distinction will stimulate Mr. Sullivan to increased 

 effort-, and that our club will be from time to time informed of what 

 he is doing, Mr. French, who has been such an active worker and 

 reader of papers in the club, has met with some recognition of his 

 scientific attainments by being appointed as an assistant to the 

 Baron von Mueller, in the department of the Government phyto- 

 logist. It is to be hoped that in his new position he may have more 

 opportunities than in his old one of increasing his knowledge of his 

 favourite sciences, and share with us the benefit which he himself 

 receives. I would allude with regret to the small number of lady 

 members on our roll. Botany, is beyond all others a science for 

 ladies. What laily is there Avho does not love flowers, or who walks 

 through tlie bush in spring and does not gather a bouquet ? But 



