14 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



paid tlieir subscriptious for the past year; the papers read had been 

 of an interesting character, and the montWy meetings had been 

 well attended. The exhibition of wild-flowers had been a sviccess, 

 and warranted greater efforts next year. The Victorian Naturalist 

 had been regalarly issued to the members, and up to the present 

 had baen published at a loss of about one pound per month, which 

 was not considered unreasonable. J\Iention was made of the new 

 Victorian botany, and members were urged to conti'ibute notes on 

 natural history for the meetings, or for publication in the Naturalist. 



The report was unanimously adopted. 



The hon. secretary then read the balance sheet for the past year, 

 1885-6, showing total receipts £157 14s., and expenditure 

 £140 18s. 6d., the credit balance having increased from £18 183.3d., 

 to £35 lis. 8d. This was also adopted. 



The following office-bearers for 1886-7, were re-elected without 

 opposition: — President, Rev. J. J. Halley; Vice-Presidents, Mr. T. 

 A. Forbes-Leith, and Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, M.A.; Hon. Treasurer, 

 Mr. E. Bnge; Hon. Librarian, Mr. C. French, F.L.S.;Hon. Secretary, 

 Mr. F. G. A. Barnard; and Hon. Assistant Secretary, Mr. Gf. 

 Coghill. 



The ballot for members of committee, resulted in Messrs. D. 

 Best, A. J. Campbell, G. R. Hill, D. Le Sonef, 0. A. Sayce, 0. 

 A. Topp, M.A., and F. Wisewould being elected. 



Votes of thanks to the retiring office-bearers, and to Mr. A. H. 

 S. Lucas as Editor of the Victorian Naturalist, were carried 

 unanimously. 



The following were the principal exhibits: — By Mr. C. French, 

 group of exotic Cetonidoe; by Master C. French, dried specimens of 

 19 species of orchids, genus Fterosti/lis; by Master G. French, eggs 

 of wild doves from Brighton; by Master G. E. Hill, a case of 

 moths; by Mr. H. Kennon, sea-weeds and cuttle-fish, also an 

 American bear's claws; by Mr. F. Reader, phanerogamous plants 

 from France; by Mr. H. Watts, recently collected micro-f'Higi; by 

 Rev. C. M. Yelland, a shark's mouth. 



After the usual conversazione the meetine; terminated. 



DRY PREPARATION OF ANIMAL SPECIMENS 



FOR MUSUEM & TEACHING PURPOSES. 



By D. IMcAlpine, F.C.S. 



Read before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 12tli April^ 1886^ 



It will be evident to every naturalist, that dried preparations of 

 animal speciinens, if they could be made conveniently, rapidly, and 



