150 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



OFFICE-BEARERS. 



The chairman reported that Mr. C. Frost, F.L.S., had been 

 elected to fill the vacancy on the committee caused by the 

 resignation of Mr. D. Best, 



On the motion of Mr. C Frost, seconded by Mr, G, Coghill, it 

 was unanimously resolved — " That this meeting receives with deep 

 regret the announcement of Mr. Best's retirement from the com- 

 mittee with which he has been associated almost without inter- 

 mission since the foundation of the Club." 



There being no other nomination, Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth was 

 declared duly elected to fill the position of hon. secretary. 



The chairman then announced that Dr. A. Dendy, M.Sc, had 

 resigned his position as one of the vice-presidents, and invited 

 nominations for the vacant office, when that of Professor W. 

 Baldwin Spencer was the only one received. 



At the request of the chairman, Baron von Mueller here made 

 an interesting presentation to the retiring hon. secretary, the 

 Rev. W. Fielder, as recorded in a subsequent page. 



REPORT OF ANNUAL EXCURSION. 



The report of the expedition to the Furneaux Group, Bass 

 Straits, by Mr. J. Gabriel', F.L.S., was then read by Mr. J. F. 

 Bradly, and illustrated by limelight views by Messrs. Campbell 

 and Ashworth. The party visited about twenty islands of the 

 Group, their head-quarters being on Flinders Island. They were 

 the first to ascend Mt. Strzelecki, the highest point in Bass 

 Straits, from which a magnificent panoramic view was seen^ 

 embracing about forty islands and a long stretch of Tasmanian 

 coast. While cruising around in a cutter they touched at 

 numerous islets, where seabirds were breeding, and secured 

 photographs ■ of their haunts, those of the Gannet rookery on Cat 

 Island being especially interesting. The half-caste settlement on 

 Cape Barren Island and the extensive Mutton Bird rookery on 

 Chappell Island were also visited. 



Notes of the ornithological and oological work done were then 

 read by Mr. A. J, Campbell, F.L.S., which will appear in an early 

 Naturalist. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



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

 Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth. — Mounted birds and bird skins, birds' 

 eggs, and photographs from Furneaux Group. By Mr. A. J. 

 Campbell, F.L.S. — Birds' eggs and photographs from Furneaux 

 Group. By Mr. D. Le Souef. — Egg of Yellow-tinted Fly- 

 catcher (Micrceca flavigaster), new to science ; egg of Northern 

 ?)'ph&co\h&xts(S2)hecotheresJlaviventris); egg of Spalding's Orthonyx 

 (Orthonyx Spaldingii). By Mr. A. Coles. — Pair of Little Water 

 Crake (Forzana palustris), with nest and eggs, from Somerville ; 



