14 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



address on the work and results of the past year, which appeared 

 in last month's journal. 



Baron F. von Mueller, in moving a vote of thanks to the 

 president for his address, referred to the intimate relations of 

 natural science to agriculture and kindred pursuits, and, in 

 speaking of the rust fungus in wheat, said that, when lecturing in 

 Sandhurst in 1865, he had stated that wheat crops near the coast, 

 or on somewhat saline soils, were not nearly so liable to the 

 attacks of rust as those in apparently more suitable positions, and 

 his remarks had since proved to be to a great extent correct. 



The evening was set apart for exhibits of birds'-eggs and 

 insects, and the following were the principal exhibits : — By Mr. 

 F. G. A. Barnard. — A case of the more uncommon Victorian 

 insects of different orders, mostly from neighourhood of Melbourne. 

 By Mr. D. Best. — Three cases of beetles, principally Victorian. 

 By Mr. C. French, F.L.S.— Case of Lepidoptera from Central 

 America ; case of Australian and other beetles (Buprestidae). By 

 Mr. C. French, jun. — Case of rare eggs of Victorian birds ; eggs 

 of New Guinea and Australian Cassowaries. By Mr. E. E. 

 Johnson.— 60 species of Victorian birds'-eggs, including that of the 

 Gang Gang Cockatoo, exhibited for first time. By Mr. G. A. 

 Keartland. — About 200 kinds of Victorian birds'-eggs, including 

 40 rare ones. By Mr. G. Lyell, jun. — Butterflies from Tamworth, 

 N.S.W. By Mr. J. Searle. — Butterfly, Papilio erectheus, from 

 Wangaratta, Victoria. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



THE CLUB EXCURSION TO OAKLEIGH. 



The ordinary monthly excursion of the Field Naturalists' Club 

 took place on Saturday, 19th April, under the leadership of Mr. 

 Ch. French, F.L.S. The members mustered in fair force, and 

 the number was considerably increased by several of the students 

 from the College of Pharmacy, under their instructor, Mr. D. 

 M'Alpine, Lecturer on Biology at Ormond College, taking part 

 in the proceedings. 



The season being far advanced, the time (2 p.m.) seemed much 

 too late for a start, the spot chosen being around Oakleigh, on 

 the main Gippsland railway line, and g}( miles from Melbourne. 

 Arriving at Oakleigh, a start was made in a direction of about 

 S.E. The day was warm and very pleasant for travelling, and 

 this locality having quite an evil reputation as being infested with 

 snakes, a sharp look-out was kept, as few, if any, of the party 

 wore leggings; the lateness of the season, it was thought, rendered 

 matters in this line comparatively safe. The party (16 in all) 

 now spread themselves out, so that as much ground as possible 

 might be traversed in the limited time at their disposal. 



