134 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



PAPER READ. 



By Mr. N. T. M. Wilsmore, M. Sc, F.C.S., entitled "The 

 Food of Plants." 



The paper opened by a reference to the properties of the 

 various food stuffs of plants and of the elements of which they 

 are mainly composed, and then treated briefly of the assimilative 

 apparatus by means of which nutrition is effected. A strong 

 case was made out in favour of increased attention to the 

 artificial feeding of plants with proper nutrient material — a matter 

 which could be decided by means of a few simple experiments. 



The paper was illustrated throughout by experiments which 

 enabled the audience to follow the theoretical portions of the 

 subject with ease and profit, and regret was expressed on all sides 

 that the full programme of experiments which had been prepared 

 at considerable expenditure of time and labour could not be dealt 

 with in the time at the disposal of the lecturer. Altogether the 

 subject formed a fitting introduction to the course in structural 

 botany which is proposed for the practical meetings during the 

 early months of the coming year. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By 

 Mrs. Bage. — Ammonites and other fossils from the Yorkshire 

 coast, England. By Mr. A. Coles. — Pair White-eyebrowed Wood 

 Swallows (Artamus s7iperciliosus), Australian Roller Bird (Euros- 

 tomus Padficus). By Mr. C. French, sen. — Actias McBnas (male 

 and female), India. By Mr. C. French, jun. — Nest and eggs of 

 Lineated Acanthiza, from Oakleigh. By Mr. H. Grayson. — 

 Mounted specimens of vegetable cells for microscopic examina- 

 tion (illustration of paper). By Mr. E. R. Hammett. — Lizard 

 (abnormal). By Mr. T. S. Hart. — Abnormal growth of Foxglove. 

 By Mr, G. E. Hill. — Longicorn beetle in Golden Willow, from 

 R.H.S. Gardens, Burnley. By Mr. G. A. Keartland.— Yellow- 

 tufted Honeyeater (Ptilotis auricormis), with nest and eggs, 

 taken at Melton ; also egg of PaUid Cuckoo found in same nest ; 

 skins of Black-faced Grauculus (G. melanops) and Varied Grau- 

 culus (Q. mentalis), shot at Sandringham ; Singing Honeyeater 

 (Ptilotis vittata), from Werribee. By Baron von Mueller, 

 K.C.M.G. — A specimen of the extremely rare Isopogon Fletcheri, 

 recently discovered by J. Fletcher, Esq., on the Blue Mountains, 

 allied to the West Australian Isopogon longifolius as regards 

 leaves, yet in floral characteristics more allied to /. anetnonifolius, 

 but with whitish flowers, glabrous outside. By Mr. G. Sweet. — 

 Specimens of fossil fish from the Hawkesbury Sandstone 

 (Triassic) at Gosford, New South Wales — Cleithrolepis granu- 

 latus, Dictyopyge ilhcstrans, Pristisomus (sp.), and Semionotiis 

 Australis. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



