46 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, 



series of microscopic slides, showing every stage of that dreaded 

 scourge of the vigneron, Phylloxera vastatrix, lent to Mr. French 

 by Mr. J. Bosisto, C.M.G., were explained. It is pleasing to 

 report that Part II. of the " Handbook to the Destructive Insects 

 of Victoria," by C. French, is now in the hands of the Govern- 

 ment Printer — the plates, 22 in number, being ready and on 

 view on the occasion of our visit, while many of the drawings for 

 Part III. are well forward. Mr. French expressed his regret that 

 a large collection of type-specimens, duplicates of those in the 

 South Kensington Museum, London, had not yet arrived, but 

 would soon be available for students. As a collateral branch, 

 the collection of Victorian Insectivorous Birds, with their nests 

 and eggs, is steadily increasing, and is made much use of by 

 farmers, fruit-growers, &c., who, it may be remarked, are taking 

 much interest in this branch of the Department of Agriculture. 

 Several of the newest kinds of spraying machines and other 

 appliances offensive to insect life were on view, and their actions 

 explained. It had been the intention of the Secretary for 

 Agriculture (Mr. D. Martin) to be present, but he was called away 

 to the country on Departmental business at the last moment. 



In order to make the visit as complete as possible, at the sug- 

 gestion of Mr. French the Exhibition Trustees invited the 

 members to view the economic collections being formed in the 

 permanent arrangements ; and, under the guidance of Mr. G. R. 

 Fincham, one of the trustees, we first of all paid a visit to the 

 crocodiles, seals, and those comical specimens of bird life, the 

 King Penguins. A glance at the contents of the Aquarium tanks,, 

 with a few words on the method of keeping their inhabitants in 

 good health, brought us to the new Egyptian Court, with its 

 mummies and mummy cases. Great astonishment was exhibited 

 when viewing the quantity of mummy cloth removed from one 

 of the bodies, and, as a memento of their visit, each of the mem- 

 bers present was presented with a small piece of the ancient fabric. 

 We were now conducted to the Cyclorama of Old Melbourne, and 

 its features pointed out. As no guide to this has yet been pub- 

 lished, it may be of interest to mention that the spectator of the 

 panorama is supposed to be standing on the top of the unfinished 

 walls of a church which previously occupied the site of the present 

 Scots Church, at the corner of Collins and Russell streets, the 

 greater part of the picture lying to the southward and westward 

 of that standpoint. A brief inspection was then made of 

 the economic collections of minerals, botanical productions, 

 zoological specimens, &c., all being arranged for educational 

 purposes, the number and excellence of the exhibits quite sur- 

 prising the majority of the visitors. 



The afternoon's inspection now came to a close, and the office- 

 bearers of the club present were invited into the Trustees' room. 



