THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 57 



FIELD :N"ATUEALISTS' club of VICTORIA. 



The July monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal 

 Society's Hall, on Monday evening, the 14th inst. There was a 

 very large attendance of members and friends, and the Rev. J. J. 

 Halley, president, occupied the chair. 



The hon. secretary, for the librarian, acknowledged the receipt of 

 the following publications since the last meeting, viz. : — "Proceed- 

 ings of the Royal Society of Queensland, Part I. ;" " Prodromus of 

 the Zoology of Victoria, Decade IX. ;" and from Baron F. von 

 Mueller, a copy of " Forest Culture and Eucalyptus Trees," by 

 Elwood Cooper. 



The hon. secretary reported that the excursion to Oaldeigh on 

 June 14th, Avas rather poorly attended, and that the only plant of 

 any note seen was the curious fern Scliizcea bifida. The excursion 

 to Frankstonon July 1st was well attended, and the results were very 

 satis Factory, and Avere reported in full by Messrs. French and Best. 



The following ladies and gentlemen were unanimously elected 

 members of tlie club : — Mrs. Robert Simson, Miss J. Clarke, 

 Mrs. Jno. Simson, Miss Simson, Rev. Wm. M. Mackay Alexander, 

 Mr. A. Christie, Mr. T. K. Marshall, and Master Dombrain. 



Papers Avere read as follows : — ]S"otes on the Genus Utricularia, 

 by Mr. C. A. Topp, M. A. The Avriter described the peculiarities of 

 this genus, of Ayhich there are three Victorian species, and by means 

 of illustrations and drawings on the blackboard, demonstrated the 

 s fracture of the utricles on the underground branches. These 

 serve as traps for minute insects, crustaceans, &c., and thus give 

 the plants the character of being carnivorous. The species more 

 particularly referred to in the paper, was U. lateriflora, Avhich is to 

 i)e found in damp heathy spots about Caulfield, Oaldeigh, efec. He 

 also exhibited the utricles, &c., as mounted objects, under the 

 microscope. 



Dr. Dobson kindly read a paper by Messrs. French and Best, 

 ^' ISTntes on the Club Excursion to Frankston on July 1st." This 

 gave a very interesting description of the various Ornithological 

 and Botanical specimens seen or obtained during the day. Dr. T. 

 P. Lucas made a few remarks on his recent trip to ISTew Caledonia 

 and Fiji, and promised a paper on his experiences for next meeting. 



The exhibits of the evening Avere as follows : — By Mr. P. Dattari, 

 ■draAving of a gigantic cactus groAving at Frankston ; by Mr. J. E. 

 Dixon, ten species of birds collected at Beaconsfield on Separation 

 Day, Viz., Myzantha garrula, (Garrulous Honey-eater) ; White- 

 eared Honey -eater (^Ptilotis leucotis); Tasmanian Honey -eater 

 {^Lichnera Australasiana); Pied Robin, male and female, 

 ,(MeIanodr'i/us picata); Flame-breasted Robin (Petroica phamicia); 

 Scarlet-breasted Robin {^Petroica multiculoi'); TaAvny Shouldered 



