March, 1907.] THE VICTORIAN NATURxVLIST. 233 



was pleasing to note the deep interest taken by members 

 in the work of education. They cheerfully gave up a 

 portion of their holidays to lead the excursions, and to 

 deliver lectures, and, at all times, showed the utmost 

 willingness to impart information to inquiring teachers. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' WORK: ITS VALUE 

 TO TEACHERS. 



By J. Hocking, B.A., Principal, Melbourne Continuation 

 School. 



It was a happy suggestion that brought field naturalists 

 and teachers together. The former are graduates in 

 Nature's school, the latter are beginning to learn her 

 ways. A common interest gave to the campers a sense of 

 comradeship, and out-of-door life a holiday zest to the 

 proceedings. Teachers had an opportunity of seeing the 

 experts of the Field Naturalists' Club at work, and there 

 is no doubt that, in their particular branches, it would be 

 difficult to surpass them. 



In contact with the Field Naturalists, one feels instinc- 

 tively that a Nature student is such from desire. He is 

 full of sympathy, and glows with his subject. There is 

 about him a self-forgetfulness and an abandonment which 

 electrifies his hearers. Though in close sympathy with 

 Nature, he does not fall into mere sentimentality. He 

 deals with facts ; his aim is to gather data, not collections 

 of curios. Here is a fact, this fact has some meaning, 

 and the discovery of the meaning gives pleasure. 



This method was clearly illustrated by Mr. French, the 

 Assistant Government Entomologist, as we sat resting 

 under the branches of a casuarina (she-oak). An exami- 

 nation of the galls on the tree showed that, in an early 

 stage of their growth, they resembled the flowers, and 

 that, later, they became like the fruit. Altogether it was 

 an admirable example of mimicry. The wonder-po'nt 

 being reached, various theories were advanced as to their 

 development. The lecturers were ready at all times to 

 clear up difficulties, and to put teachers in the direction 

 which may lead to correct solutions of unknown problems. 



Mr. T. S. -Hall, in his lecture on " The Geological 

 History of Port Phillip," pieced together scraps of evi- 

 dence obtained in various localities. An examination of 

 2761. d 



