THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 83 



[We have learnt since, that Baron von Mueller has made ar- 

 rangements with the Government printer for the publication of a 

 Dichotomous Key for Victoria, such as Dr. Dobson proposed to be 

 prepared, under the Baron's own direction. The deputation to the 

 Minister of Lands was received on September 18, and after drawing 

 his attention to the destruction of trees, asked that they should be 

 afforded more efficient protection, that the haunts of birds and insects 

 might be preserved. Mr. Tucker promised to consult with the 

 police department, and to ask them to pro^dde adequate protection.] 



EXCURSION OF THE FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB 



Thk usual monthly excursion of the Club took place on Saturday, 

 September 13th, the locality being the district between Brighton 

 and Cheltenham. There was a good attendance of members, 

 including several ladies, who left town by the mid-day train for 

 Cheltenham, whence they rambled across tlie heath to the Red Bluff 

 near Brighton. Wild flowers were very abundant, the botanists of 

 the party being kept fully at work noting the various species, the 

 principal of whicli are mentioned below. The Entoinologists had 

 little to do, that beautiful beetle Xylonyclius eucalypti, together with 

 the butterfly Vanessa Kershaioi, being almost the only insect life 

 seen, it being so early in the season. Several fine larvae of moths 

 were however taken for rearing at home. Lovers of pond life 

 also had opportunities for making captures, and altogether a most 

 enjoyable outing was spent. The party returned to town by the six 

 o'clock train. The following were the more important flowering- 

 plants seen : — Gleichenia circinata, Ophioglossum vidgatum, Schizcea 

 (ItcJiotoina, and variety, Pterostylis barbata, Sprengelia incarnata, 

 Pulteiicpa paleacea, &c. 



NOTES ON TASMANIAN SNAKES. 

 By F. H. Reed. 



Having read in the Victorian Naturalist, a paper on Victorian 

 Venomous Snakes, by Mr. D. Le Souef, I thought it might be 

 interesting to give an account of a few of my own experiments with 

 snakes, and the conclusions I have arrived at. 



I have noticed the same peculiarities of colouring in snakes as are 

 mentioned by Mr. Le Souef, and am inclined to think that this is 

 greatly due to the locality and nature of soil frequented by the 

 reptiles. I have noticed that snakes inhabiting low, marshy ground 



