48 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



It is with regret we have to announce that the Geelong, as also 

 the Sydney Field Naturalists' Clubs have apparently ceased to exist, 

 as no reports have been received from them for some time past, 

 neither have any from the Dunediii Club, but whether it has collapsed 

 or not we are unable to state. As against these failures, we have to 

 record that a, Field l!^ataralists' section of the Eoyal Society of 

 South Australia was inaugurated at Adelaide some few months 

 since, and, judging from the reports regularly forwarded to us by the 

 hon. secretary, is displaying wonderful energy, particularly as regards 

 its excursions, from its manner of conducting which, we think, our 

 own club might well take a useful lesson. 



Our excursions have, in the main, been fairly well attended, but 

 we think, that if for the future the member who has charge of one 

 of these excursions were to furnish a list of those attending, and a 

 report of the work done, they would greatly extend in popularity, as 

 there can be no doubt much practical information is to be derived 

 from them. We therefore strongly recommend the adoption of this 

 suggestion. 



Our repeated applications to the Government for a small money 

 grant to enable us to extend our usefulness, more especially in the 

 direction of carrying out a previous resolution of offering prizes to 

 the pupils attending the schools in and around Melbourne, for 

 collections of, and essays on, the Natural History of the Colony, 

 have, we are sorry to say, been unsuccessful. Certain we are that 

 our Club far more deserves support than many other institutions, 

 and we therefore hope that our successors will perscTere in tlie 

 determination to obtain recognition, and be more fortunate than we 

 have been. 



The Library is gradually becoming more and more valuable, not 

 only from the additions of the periodicals to which the Club 

 subscribes, but also from the donations made to it by members and 

 others. 



During the year, finding that the proprietor of the S.S. Eecord 

 was evidently unable to bring it up to date, and it being fully six 

 months in arrears, your Committoe decided, after very careful 

 consideration, and with the approval of the Club, to start a journal 

 on the Club's own account, and Mr. A. H. S. Lucas consented 

 to undertake the arduous duties of Editor. The name adopted 

 was the " Victorian Naturalist," four numbers of which hav« so far 

 appeared, and although at present of humble pretensions, it will no 

 doubt shortly be the recognised journal of the natural history of the 

 Colony. So far, it has not repaid the cost of publication, but if 

 only all, or even the greater number, of the members would subscribe, 

 it would quickly do so, and we therefore appeal to yon for assistance 

 in the endeavour to make it self-supporting. The public, as evinced 

 by the increasing sales at the booksellers, are beginning to recognise 



