THE 



^ictovian ^atnvali^t. 



Vol. X.— No. 2. JUNE, 1893. No 114. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Field Naturalists' Club was 

 held in the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 8th 

 May. Mr. C. Frost (one of the vice-presidents) occupied the 

 chair, and there was an attendance of about fifty members and 

 friends, 



REPORTS OF EXCURSIONS. 



Reports of recent excursions to Keilor (8th April) and Oak- 

 leigh (22nd April) were received from Mr. C. G. W. Officer, 

 B.Sc. (see page 21), and Mr. H. R C. Ashworth, who acted 

 as leaders on those occasions. The latter reported good weather 

 but moderate attendance, and owing to time of year specimens 

 of interest were scarce. Among plants, Styphelia scoparia and 

 S. humifusa were obtained in flower, also the orchid Eriochilus 

 autumnalis, the tubers of which seemed to have been able to 

 withstand the summer fires. The curious ferns Schizcea fistulosa 

 and S. dichotoma were found. Among birds, Ephthianura 

 albifrons, Petrceca phcenicea, also imported Goldfinches and 

 Thrushes, were noted. 



MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. 



The hon. secretary reported a good attendance at the meeting 

 for practical work held on Monday evening, 24th April, when Mr. 

 Frank L. Baker dwelt at some length upon "Photo-Micrography." 

 When it is stated that Mr. Baker is an enthusiast in this subject 

 it will readily be understood that the advantages of this means of 

 presenting the beauties and intricacies of structure in natural 

 history specimens were enthusiastically set forth. Then followed 

 detailed descriptions of apparatus used and methods employed, 

 reference being made to the best kinds of microscopic stands and 

 accessories to use, together with definite directions as to focussing 

 and amount of exposure required to produce satisfactory photo- 

 graphs of objects mounted under different conditions. Valuable 

 hints and formulae were also given for developing the plates after 

 the image had been obtained. At the close of an exhaustive 

 paper Mr. Baker photographed a slide of selected diatoms, thus 

 practically demonstrating the methods set forth in the paper. 

 Photographs of previous labours in this field were distributed to 

 members as souvenirs of an interesting meeting. 



