74 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



as the last appearance of Baron von Mueller and Prof. M'Coy 

 on the same public platform, in their special branches — two of the 

 greatest naturalists then living. Lecturettes were given by Mr. 

 C. Frost, F.L.S., on 'Spiders,' Mr. T. S. Hall, on 'An 

 Australian Ice-Age,' and by Prof. Spencer, entitled ' Life in a 

 Central Australian Waterhole.' The conversazione was carried 

 out on the lines of the previous one, and resulted in a profit of 

 about j£,2. The funds showed little improvement at the end of 

 the year. 



"1897-8. — For this and the following year the Club honoured 

 one of its founders, Mr. C. French, F.L.S., by electing him to the 

 position of president, and Mr. G. Coghill having been persuaded 

 to take the position of hon. secretary, it was confidently hoped 

 that the turning point in our retrograde movement had been 

 reached, but it was not till the next year that any material 

 progress was evident. The membership was the lowest since 

 1882-3, being recorded as only 118 {Y.N., xv., 21), Twenty- 

 eight papers were read. The liabilities were nearly liquidated, 

 and it was decided to sell the locked-up deposit receipts at a loss 

 of some ;^3o, so as to start the next year with a real credit 

 balance. The exhibition of wild flowers, held on nth October, 

 1897, was regarded as a memorial of the late Baron von Mueller, 

 and friends sent contributions from all parts of Victoria, and some 

 from New South Wales and Western Australia {V.N., xiv., 93). 

 At the same meeting Mr. C. A. Topp gave an excellent address 

 in memory of the late Baron, dealing with his many notable 

 works. (See also F.iV., xxi., 17.) As an assistance to the social 

 side of the Club, a picnic was held at Beaumaris in the spring, 

 and was a great success. 



"1898-9. — At last your committee were able to report a 

 year of progress in many ways {V.N., xvi., 33). The membership 

 showed a slight increase. Thirty-two papers were read, and 

 having paid all liabilities there was a credit balance of ;^ii. A 

 social picnic was held at Blackburn and much enjoyed. Atten- 

 tion was given to the destruction of wattle blossom, then 

 becoming very prevalent. 



"1899-0.— Mr. J. Shephard replaced Mr French as 

 president, and Mr. Coghill continued as secretary. This year the 

 Club reached its twentieth birthday. The members' roll had 

 risen to 147. Thirty-four papers were read. Owing to a heavy 

 expenditure on a bookcase the credit balance was reduced to 

 ;^4, but nothing was owing. Natural history lost a prominent 

 worker on 13th May, 1899, by the death of Sir F. M'Coy {V.N., 

 xvi., 19), famous for his palgeontological researches and the 

 production of the well-known ' Prodromus of the Zoology of 

 Victoria.' His death led to several important changes at the 



