Cbe Uiciormn naturalisi 



Vol. XXIII. —No. 5. SEPTEMBER 6, 1906. No. 273. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th August, 1906. 



The president, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, occupied the chair, and 

 about 60 members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the Club's visit to the National Museum on 

 Saturday, 14th July, was given by the leader, Mr. J. A. Kershaw, 

 F.E.S., who stated that between twenty and thirty members 

 attended. It was decided to devote the afternoon to the in- 

 spection of the Australasian mammals and birds exhibited in the 

 new Australian Hall. The leader gave a general account of the 

 habits, distribution, &c., of some of the principal groups, devot- 

 ing particular attention to the Monotremata or egg-laying 

 mammals. Their structure was explained and some of their chief 

 characters pointed out by means of both skeletons and stuffed 

 specimens. A young Echidna and a pair of eggs of the Platypus 

 were shown, and excited much interest. Some brief remarks 

 were also made on the structure of the kangaroos and wallabies, 

 wombats, &c., the skeletons shown serving to illustrate the points 

 mentioned. Among the rarities shown was Leadbeater's 

 Phalanger, Gymnohelideus leadheateri, the only three known 

 specimens of which are in the Museum collection. Among the 

 birds, the fine case containing the Birds of Paradise, which 

 includes many rare species, was greatly admired, while the bird 

 groups, mounted with their nests and natural surroundings, 

 attracted much attention. A brief inspection of part of the 

 reference collection of birds' skins completed a pleasant after, 

 noon's visit. 



A report of the excursion from Fairfield to Kew on Saturday, 

 nth August, was given by the leader, Mr. E.G. A. Barnard, 

 who said that, despite threatening weather, which finally 

 broke up the outing, there was a fair attendance of members, who 

 all expressed themselves delighted with the scenery along the 

 Yarra in the Kew Asylum reserve. The leader pointed out 

 some of the more noticeable shrubs and plants to be found there, 

 and particularly directed attention to an isolated patch of 

 Styphelia strigosa just coming into bloom, stating that, so far as 

 he was aware, it was the only occurrence of that plant in the 

 vicinity of Melbourne. 



x'\bout 40 junior members and a few adults attended the junior 

 excursion to the Zoological Gardens on Saturday, 4th August. 



