7/7 THE 



Victorian tyatxxtali&t. 



Vol. V*&.— No. 9. JANUARY, 1891. No. 85. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Field Naturalists' Club of 

 Victoria was held on the 8th ult, at the Royal Society's Hall, 

 when the president, Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A., LL.B., F.L.S., 

 occupied the chair. 



There was a large attendance of members and visitors, in ex- 

 pectation of receiving a full report of the Kent Group expedition, 

 but owing to the short time which had elapsed since the return, 

 only a short preliminary report could be presented. Upon the 

 proposition of Professor Spencer, it was decided to hold a special 

 meeting to receive the report, and after some discussion Monday 

 evening, December 15, was fixed upon as a suitable date. Some 

 points worthy of note, however, were touched upon in reference 

 to the Kent Group — notably, Mr. A. J. Campbell's graphic notes 

 on a visit to Mutton Bird Island, and Mr. D. Le Souef's allusion 

 to the marsupials. 



Then came a report from Mr. F. G. A. Barnard of an excursion 

 to Lower Fern Tree Gully, the entomological results of which were 

 not very satisfactory. 



Mr. A. H. S. Lucas, M.A., B.Sc, brought under the notice of 

 members two " floral monstrosities," the tulip and foxglove 

 furnishing examples. His remarks were illustrated by diagrams, 

 which considerably increased the interest in the subject. Addi- 

 tional examples were supplied by the president and Mr. J. S. 

 Hart. 



Mr. C. French had prepared a paper, " A Spring Day amongst 

 the Wild Flowers," and in his unavoidable absence it was read by 

 Mr. D. Best. An intimate knowledge of the country around Mel- 

 bourne enabled the author to select a pleasant spot near Frankston 

 for his excursion, and to it the audience was guided and beguiled 

 by reminiscences of the old days before the open country had given 

 way to the march of bricks and mortar. Once there we rambled, 

 in thought, amidst a flora in many respects quite equal to that 

 of an English meadow and. wood, and the impression left was that 

 many of us miss like opportunities of reviving memories of days 

 spent amidst such surroundings in the home of our birth. 



The Rev. J. J. Halley brought under notice of the meeting an 

 interesting reference to the appearance of two specimens of the 

 parrakeet known as the " Princess of Wales." They were seen by 



