THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 47 



Murray. Mr. Barnard and Mr. Brittlebank have furnished 

 interesting observations on the habits of insects, and the former 

 also read a paper giving a succinct account of our Victorian 

 butterflies. A similar paper by Mr. Lucas dealt with the Victorian 

 sharks. Mr. F. R. Godfrey gave an account of the delicate 

 pelagic organisms met with and preserved by him during a long 

 voyage in a saiUng vessel. In " Recollections of my Residence 

 in N.W. Australia " the customs and manners of the aboriginals 

 are delineated. Two of our members have visited neighbouring 

 colonies during the year, and we have the result of some of their 

 observations in Mr. Topp's botanical and geological notes on a 

 visit to New South Wales and Mr. Barnard's vivid description of 

 the Jenolan Caves. 



The important excursion of the year was that to Eastern 

 Gippsland. The party was small, only five members taking part, 

 as compared with the 26 who explored King Island last season. 

 Those who went to Croajingolong were Prof Baldwin Spencer, 

 Mr. Charles French, F.L.S., and Messrs. Frost, Searle, and 

 Jackson. A narrative of the trip, containing full particulars of 

 the objects noted in this picturesque and but little known district, 

 appears in the current number of the Victorian Natufalist, the 

 journal of our Club. I am happy to be able to add that the 

 issue, which is a double number, is illustrated by a double-page 

 map, and by five lithographed plates. We are especially indebted 

 to Professor Spencer for enabling us to realize from his beautiful 

 pencil and water-colour sketches some of the features of this 

 romantic corner of Victoria. The physiognomy of the vegeta- 

 tion, to borrow a phrase from Humboldt, is to be conceived from 

 the occurrence of cabbage palms " running up to a height of 

 more than 100 feet," of waratahs to a height of 50 feet, and of 

 the elegant composite, Humea ekgans, to 15 or even 20 feet. 

 The importance of preserving portions of the district from 

 occupation, in order that this gorgeous native vegetation might 

 gladden the eyes of posterity, was so strongly felt by the 

 members of the Club that a deputation was appointed to wait 

 upon the Minister of Lands, and to urge him to make a suitable 

 reservation. In response to this application, Mr. Dow has been 

 pleased to add about 8,500 acres to the forest reserve in the 

 parishes of Jirrah and Tabbara, in the Cabbage Tree Creek 

 district. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the noble palm trees, 

 the only specimens of their order which are indigenous to 

 Victoria, will be secured from destruction. 



The year has shown very greatly increased activity amongst 

 workers in biology and geology in Victoria. Our veteran Pro- 

 fessor M'Coy has brought out Decades XVI. and XVII. of the 

 " Prodromus of Victorian Zoology," and amongst other forms 

 elucidated are five species, representing as many genera, of those 



