THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 81 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The monthly meeting of tlie Club was held at the Royal Society's 

 Hall, on Monday, 8th September. 



The President, Rev. J. J. Halley, occupied the chair, and there 

 were about 50 members and visitors present. 



Dr. 0. Finsch, Sydney, wrote thanking the Club for his election 

 as an hon. member. Mr. G. Iloldsworth, Chilwell, Geeloiig, wrot^' 

 for information about an insect pest which had appeared there, ami 

 forwarded specimens for examination. These proved to be a minute 

 species of Hemipterous insect of the family Scutelleridae. 



The hon. librarian acknowledged the foUomng donation to the 

 library since last meeting : — " Proceedings of the Linna^an Society 

 of New South Wales," vol. ix., part 2, from the Society. 



The hon. secretary reported that the monthly excursion, held at 

 Studley Park, was well attended, but that the results were rather 

 poor, as on account of the ruthless destruction of trees and shrubs, 

 natural history objects are becoming very scai'ce. 



The following ladies and gentlemen were elected members of the 

 Club :— Mrs. Eden Bage, Miss Smith, Miss Maude Smith, Rev. A, 

 W. Cresswell, Messrs. R. Hall, A. Lukey, Jno. Melville, G. H. R. 

 Osborn, D. F. Riches, E. M. ^ymonds, and J. Vievers ; whilst 

 three ladies and three gentlemen were nominated for election at next 

 meeting. 



Papers for future meetings were promised by Messrs. French, 

 Best, and Datiari. 



Dr. Dobson, M.L.C., brought under the notice of the members 

 present the great want felt by botanical students of a handy work 

 on Victorian plants. He stated that he had seen Baron von 

 Mueller, Prof. McCoy, Hon. J. Service, and others, with regard to 

 the best means of preparing and publishing such a work. He 

 referred to the usefulness of a little work by the Rev. W. Spicer, on 

 Tasmanian plants, in the form of a dichotomous key, and suggested 

 that the Victorian publication should be in the same form. He was 

 so strongly impressed with the need of such a work, that he was 

 prepared to carry it out at his own expense, but thought that first 

 the Royal Society might be asked to join this Club in urging the 

 Government to undertake the work. He therefore moved a resolu- 

 tion embodying the above views, which was, after a few remarks 

 from Messrs. Lucas and Watts, and the Chairman, carried unani- 

 mously. The President, Dr. Dobson, Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, and 

 the Hon. Sec. were deputed to wait upon the Royal Society. 



The hon. sec. (Mr. F. G. A. Barnard) drew attention to the great 

 destruction of native trees and shrubs daily taking place in Stuilley 

 Park, aud suggested that some steps be taken to bring the matter 

 ,more prominently under the notice of the atithorities. It wa- 



