76 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



time in May or June to 23rd and 24th September, so as to be able 

 to include the exhibition of wild flowers, and with very good 

 results (F.iV., xix., 84). Lecturettes were given by Mr. D. Le 

 Souef, on " The Protective Colouration of Birds, their Eggs and 

 Nests," and by Prof Spencer, " Scenes in Central Australia," 

 with lantern views. The financial result was satisfactory. Several 

 standard works were purchased for the library. At the annual 

 meeting (June, 1903) Mr. T. S. Hall delivered an address, 

 " Whence Came our Australian Animals?" (V.J^., xx., 39). 



" 1903-4. — Mr. O. A. Sayce, one of the original members, 

 occupied the president's chair during the year, with Mr. J. A. 

 Kershaw as hon. secretary. The report {V.N., xxi., 29) records 

 a membership of 184, and mentions the death of Mr. H. P. C. 

 Ashworth, a former secretary {V.N., xx., 83). Twenty-five papers 

 were read, and ;^i2 added to the credit balance. An extended 

 excursion was held at Launching Place {V.N'., xx., 116), and a 

 ten-days' ' camp-out ' by a very large party at the Buffalo Moun- 

 tains, at Christmas, 1903 (F.iV^., XX., 144), which was most suc- 

 cessful. Attention was given to the destruction of flora and to 

 the Game Act. On 21st April, 1904 {V.N., xxi., 4), a joint 

 meeting with the Royal Society was held, to present the Mueller 

 medal to Mr. A. W. Howitt. At the annual meeting in June, 

 1904, Mr. Sayce delivered an address on "Collecting Natural 

 History Specimens" {V.N., xxi., 34), and rules admitting juniors 

 at IS. and associates at 5s. were proposed, and subsequently 

 adopted. 



" 1904-5. — Mr. Sayce filled the chair, with Mr. J. F. Haase as 

 hon. secretary. The membership showed 206, with 16 associates 

 and 94 juniors {V.N., xxii., 38). The death of Mr. J. G. 

 I^uehmann, F.L.S., Government Botanist, removed one of the 

 original members {V.ISf., xxi., 108). Thirty-one papers were 

 read, and the credit balance increased to almost ;^9o. A three- 

 days' outing at Warburton took place in November, 1904 

 {V.N., xxi., 136), and ten days at the Otway Forest at Christmas 

 (F.iV., xxi., 149). Further steps were taken re the reservation of 

 Wilson's Promontory {V.N., xxi., 128), and the Game Act and 

 other public questions considered. 



" And now, perhaps, our twenty-five years' work may be 

 reduced to figures in the following way : — 



"Papers read — 664. Volumes oi Naturalist published — 21, 

 containing 3,800 pages. 



" A rough balance-sheet for the period shows : — 



Receipts. 

 Subscriptions ... ... ... £z,(i\'] 



Victorian NaturaliHt ... ... 443 



. Interest, &c. ... ... ... 20 



;^3,o8o 



