IS THE VICTORrAN NATURALIST 



THE INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION 



Exliibits by the Members of the Field Club. 



As has been pointed out in one of the daily prints, the Annual 

 Conversazione of the Club is practically being now held on a mag- 

 nificient scale in the Exhibition Building. Four members have 

 each had an entire Court allotted to them, and have succeeded in 

 making their Courts amongst the most attractive in the E xhibition, 

 ^hile several others are represented by effective, if smaller 

 contributions. 



Baron von Mueller has a goodly display of native woods, the 

 grain and colour of which are shown in a novel manner in a large 

 number of specimens prepared as mock volumes, and neatly ai'rangjd 

 in a book-case. Their suitability for cabinet work is shown in a 

 multitude of fantastic forms obtained by the turner's skill. A large 

 collection of Edible Australian Fungi, and a charming album of 

 European Fodder Grasses, show also how practically our great 

 scientific botanist can consider the needs of the colony. 



One of the Vice-Presidents, Mr. T. A. Forbes-Leith, devotes his 

 space chiefly to 'Birds and Eggs. Although his unique case of 

 Victorian Parrots is yet on its way from Amsterdam, he has a good 

 series to exhibit. A case of Australian nests and eggs, one of eggs 

 of parrots and another of those of sea-birds, illustrate indification 

 and oology. Of birds he shows the falcons, the bower-birds, and 

 the bee-eaters of Australia, and the parrakeets of New Zealand. 



Mr. J. F. Bailey's collections of shells are exhibited in a manner 

 worthy of 'their numbers and beauty. His cases of gorgeous 

 tropical shells, mostly named specimens, which he has collected in 

 the Indian and Paciiic Oceans, are of great value as illustrating 

 geographical distribution. His series of Victorian univalves and 

 bivalves is probably by far the most complete in the world. 



Dr. Lucas shows 14 cases of Australian Birds' Eggs, with 

 from 300-400 species. The Eagles' and Hawks' eggs, as usual, are 

 most attractive. The collection is a strong one in parrots, honey- 

 eaters, cuckoos, and Avading-birds eggs. He also has 31 cases of 

 Lepidoptera : 4 contain large butterflies, from the Duke of York 

 I. and New Britain, and the remainder, above 1000 Australian 

 species. 



Mr. C. French shows a large case of gigantic Beetles and Lepid- 

 optera. Mr. J. E. Dixon, a number of Victorian Coleoptera. Mr. 

 A. J. Campbell, a case containing 100 species of Australasian eggs, 

 including the Tasmanian Swamp Quail, White-footed Heron, and 

 Superb Warbler. Mr. A. Cole, a number of stuffed specin^eas of 

 native quadrupeds and bii'ds. 



