THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



After some discussion it was resolved to have the whole matter 

 of protection for native birds brought up for further discussion at 

 next meeting. 



Mr. F. Pitcher, as an ofificer of the Lands Department, men- 

 tioned the steps taken by the Department to prevent the destruc- 

 tion of the Wattle. 



PAPERS. 



1. By Mr, C. Walter (communicated by Mr. C. French, jun.), 

 entitled, " Records of Plants New to Victoria and New Districts 

 for Victorian Plants." 



The author drew attention to the fact that many new plants 

 and new localities for others had been recorded, principally by 

 himself and Mr. St. Eloy D'Alton, of Nhill, since the last supple- 

 mentary list in the Victorian Naturalist, and submitted additional 

 records, which were taken as read. 



2. By Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., entitled '-'Descriptions of 

 Some Australian Birds' Eggs." 



The author gave descriptions of the eggs of the Lesser White 

 Goshawk, White-quilled Honey-eater, White-tailed Cockatoo, and 

 Gang Gang Cockatoo. 



Messrs. Keartland and Campbell took part in the discussion 

 which followed. 



3. By Mr. R. Hall, entitled " Notes on the Habits of the Blue 

 Wrens." 



The author's remarks were based on several seasons' observa- 

 tions, and their economic value as insect destroyers was proved 

 by the report of the numbers of beetle larvte consumed by a bird 

 kept in confinement for over two years. 



Some discussion followed, in which Messrs. Barnard, Campbell, 

 Le Souef, and Keartland took part. 



4. By Rev, W. Fielder, F.R.M.S., entitled " Recent Researches 

 in the Structure of Protoplasm." 



In introducing the immediate subject of his communication, the 

 author dwelt at some length on the structure of protoplasm as 

 viewed in the light of the alveolar theory of Biitschli and the mesh- 

 tvork theory of Flemming and others, the elements of a single cell 

 being taken to illustrate each theory. A short digest of a paper by 

 Mr. W. B. Hardy, of Cambridge University, recently published 

 in The Journal of Physiology, vol. xxiv., No. 2, was then given. 

 As the result of extensive experiments on white of egg, gelatin, 

 and other substances, Mr. Hardy concludes that the meshwork 

 appearance ot protoplasm in a dead condition is owing, either to 

 coagulation of some part of the cell-substance during the process 

 of dying, or, where fixatives are used, to the effect produced 

 by these fixatives upon the colloidal substance of the cell, 

 the network-figure varying, other things being equal, according to 

 the re-agent used. The fixatives employed were principally 



