THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 91 



esteem and friendship, which we hope may remind you, in years to come, of 

 the many pleasant meetings of the club which you have attended, and of the 

 many friends which you have made among its members during the five years 

 you have been its honorary secretary. 



As one of the original members of the club, and for so many years its 

 secretary, you must feel gratified at its great success and continued expansion, 

 which have been largely due to the time and energies which you have un- 

 grudgingly given in its service, for which we take this opportunity of recording 

 our sincere appreciation. 



On behalf ot the office-bearers and members of the Field Naturalists' Club 

 of Victoria, 



CHARLES A. TOPP, President. 



Melbourne, 9th September, 1889. 



(Cheers). 



In thanking the members of the club, Mr. Barnard said that 

 for whatever time and trouble he had devoted to the service of 

 the club he had been more than repaid by the many friendships, 

 which, through its means, he had formed, and the stimulus which 

 it had given to him as well as to many others in their natural 

 history work. 



A HOLIDAY EXCURSION TO NORTH MIRBOO. 



By D. Best. 



( Contmued from Page 2>2.) 



On Monday, the last day of our stay, there was every appear- 

 ance of more rain ; but being informed that the road we had 

 intended taking, and which is known as the Mardan-road, was 

 far and away the prettiest of all, we decided that, rain or no rain, 

 we could not leave without seeing it ; and must say we were glad 

 we so decided, for the local opinion was more than justified. 

 Pretty it certainly was, and our feeling, on returning, was one of 

 great pleasure that we had not allowed ourselves to be dissuaded 

 by the rainy prospect from venturing along it. Moreover, we 

 were further rewarded by securing numerous specimens, some 

 being especially good and rare, notably the beautiful, sparkling, 

 golden-red Buprestis Beetle, Strigoptera Frenchii, named after 

 one of our oldest and most respected members — Mr. C. French, 

 who was the fortunate finder of the first specimen. This Mardan- 

 road, if road it can be called, takes a southerly course from the 

 township, and, from the nature of the soil, which is a good deal of 

 a clayey nature, must be a very heavy one for vehicles of all descrip- 

 tions, and in wet weather almost, if not absolutely impassable. 

 About a mile out we came across a bogged bullock dray loaded 

 with timber, and which, from its appearance, had been there since 

 the previous day, the driver having evidently been unsuccessful 

 in persuading his team of bullocks to put forth the lequisite 

 energy to extricate it. Still another mile further was a second 



