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THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIII.. 



The committee decided to invite tenders for the catering 

 for the large party. We were fortunate in securing an 

 offer from Mr. Cumberland, the well-known caterer, of 

 South Melbourne, to manage camp at 3s. 8d. a day, with 

 a minimum of sixty guaranteed for each meal. He also- 

 tendered for erecting knts, &c. , and returning same to the 

 Defence Department, at a total of about ;^8. This re- 

 lieved us from a great deal of anxiety. As the_ catering 

 throughout was excellent, and the meals supplied were 

 of a far higher class than we had dared specify, this 

 formed a very prominent factor in the success of the 

 whole. The chef (Mr. F. 'Brooks) excelled himself. Each 

 meal was a decided success, and was admitted to be better 

 than a higher-priced meal at a hotel. 



For the instruction of the campers, it was decided that 

 a different branch of nature-study should be treated each 

 day, and that the club's recognised leader for that branch, 

 should be invited to take charge of that day's work. Thus, 

 the programme was — First day, birds, Mr. G. A. Keart- 

 land, leader; general life, the president, INIr. F. G. A.. 

 Barnard; second day, fossils, Mr. G. B. Pritchard;. 

 third day, plants, Professor Ewart and INIr. J. P. McLen- 

 nan ; fourth dav, insects, Mr. C. French, jun. ; fifth day, 

 tocks, INIr. T. S. Hall; sixth day, shore life, Mr. O. A. 

 Sayce ; seventh day, pond life, Mr. J. Shephard ; eighth 

 day, trees and timbers, Mr. E. Lees; each evening, astro- 

 nomy, Mr. R. J. A. Barnard. 



This insured great variety of work ; and, in addition, 

 the young members and the teachers saw an expert 

 in the different branches working in a recognised scientific 

 manner. Thus the members of the party will now be able 

 to set to work on satisfactorv lines in each branch. This 

 programme was carried through without alteration, the 

 leaders responding magnificently to the club's call. The 

 field work was a revelation to one and all, and it was 

 interesting to note how each branch impressed itself on 

 the campers. First, birds got hold of them, and they^ 

 were enthusiastic followers of Mr. Keartland. Then fos- 

 sils engrossed every thought, and the audience hung on 

 Mr. .Pritchard's every word; and soon with each day's- 

 work. It was most satisfactory to see that each branch 

 thus took full possession of the students as they saw the 

 enthusiast lover of that branch at work. 



To occupy the evenings, it was intended that each 

 leader, as far as practicable, should supplement the effect 

 of the day's field work by a lecture on a kindred topic. 

 Unfortunately, Mr. Tate was recalled to town, and ^Ir. 



