THE 



Vol. v.— No. 1. MAY, 1888. No. 53. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIELD NATURALISTS' 

 CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



ANNUAL CONVERSAZIONE. 



Address by the President, A. H. S. Lucas, Esq., M.A., B.Sc. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Field Naturalists' 

 Clnb of Victoria, 



In rising to speak of the work and progress of our Club 

 during the past year, I am at once reminded of the eloquent 

 address you have become accustomed to listen to at our annual 

 conversazione from my genial predecessor. Mr. Halley has 

 retired, after three years' occupancy of the presidential chair, 

 and we miss the familiar voice and presence of our able and 

 popular chairman. It is, however, a great pleasure to me that 

 we are still able to rely upon his counsel and hearty co- 

 operation in the important work of the Club. 



The Club is in a highly prosperous condition. Our numbers 

 keep up. Happily, our ranks have not this year been invaded 

 by death. Two of our prominent members — both former Vice- 

 Presidents of the Club — Dr. Lucas and Mr. Forbes-Leith, 

 have left the colony, but both continue to send us communica- 

 tions — the former from Queensland, and the latter from Britain. 

 On the other hand, we have to record the accession of several 

 valuable workers. Our finances are in a healthy condition. 

 Unlike some other societies, we have net the benefit of a 

 Government grant. But we are able to pay our way, and 

 especially to support the expense of the journal by means of 

 which we endeavour to spread abroad the information we 

 acquire. I am glad to say that we are not without recognition 

 of our work from England and from the other colonies. But 

 we could wish for a wider circulation, and for ampler means to 

 extend and to illustrate our publication. 



Our meetings have been well attended, and there is no evi- 

 dence of the interest in them falling ofi". The papers have 

 shown that members have been actively working and thinking 



