THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 71 



speech. The first excursion list, as now in use, was issued for 

 this year. 



" 1888-9.— The report for this year (V.N., vi., 75) records the 

 membership as being about the same as previous year, owing to 

 a number of resignations. Owing to its being Exhibition year, 

 a number of distinguished visitors were present at several 

 of our meetings. Twenty-three papers were read, and the 

 credit balance increased to ^^63. The exploring trip to 

 Croajingolong (East Gippsland), in December, 1888, was 

 {V.N., vi., i) the outing of the year, and was fully reported on 

 by Prof. Spencer and Mr. C. French, F.L.S. The last of the 

 annual conversaziones was held at the Masonic Hall in May, 

 1889, when the president, Mr. Lucas, delivered an address 

 (F.#., vi., 46), and the Rev. J.J. Halley a lecturette, entitled 

 " Short Stories of Strange Lives." In January, 1889, the printing 

 of the Naturalist was transferred to our present printers, and the 

 number for May, 1889, contained the first illustrations attempted 

 — lithographs of the palms at Cabbage Tree Creek, &c., from 

 drawings by Prof. Spencer. Owing to representations made by 

 the Club, the Minister for Lands added 8,500 acres to the forest 

 reserve at Cabbage Tree Creek, so as to include the principal 

 groups of palms. The inaugural meeting of the A.A.A.S., held 

 in Sydney in August, 1888, was attended by several members, 

 whilst others forwarded papers. 



" 1889-90.— Mr. C. A. Topp, M. A., occupied the presidential 

 chair during our tenth year. The membership was set down at 

 215, the total number elected during the ten years being 550. The 

 number of papers read showed a slight falling-off, numbering only 

 nineteen {V.N'., vii., 29). The funds showed a further increase of 

 ;^7. The year seems to have passed off rather quietly. No ex- 

 tended excursion was held, but the appointment of Mr. C. French 

 as Government Entomologist, and the promise of the Government 

 to temporarily reserve Wilson's Promontory, are referred to with 

 satisfaction. The presidential address (V.N., vii., i) was delivered 

 at the annual meeting, when Messrs. D. Le Souef and J. S. Hart, 

 M.A., took up the position of secretaries in place of Messrs. 

 Barnard and Coghill, Mr. Barnard being the recipient of a 

 valuable clock, &c., as a memento of his six years' work as hon. 

 secretary (V.N., vi., 90). 



"1890-1. — The report for the year {V.N'., viii., 51), shows 

 renewed activity on the part of the members. The roll was 

 increased to 220; thirty papers were read; while the finances 

 show a falling-off, evidently on account of non-payment of sub- 

 scriptions, though an additional bookcase was purchased. Two 

 extended excursions were held, both in November, 1890 — the 

 first to the Kent Group, in Bass Strait {f^.N., vii., 121), and the 



