THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



of paper) and the Comb-crested Parra. By Mr. C. French, jun. — 

 A rare orchid (Spiranthes australis), from Cheltenham. By Mr. 

 E. H. Hennell. — Locusta virgentissima, from Macorna. By Mr. 

 J. Kershaw. — Collection of Australian longicornia. By Baron 

 von Mueller. — Botanical specimens from Mt. Bartle Frere, N. 

 Queensland, adding three genera to the records of the flora of 

 Australia, and two being new to science — Drimys semecarpoides, 

 Haplostichanthus johnsoni, Ceratopfetalum virchowi, Quintinia 

 quattrefagesi, Schisto-carpgea johnsoni, Voacanga roweniana, 

 Bladhia pachyrrhachis, Hemigenia croniniana, Smilax chartin- 

 ophylla, Schelhammera pedunculata; also an Atlas of Diatomacese, 

 by A. Schmidt. By Mr. J. Searle. — Lizards, spiders, and insects, 

 collected on the Yarra Falls excursion ; also a snake from W. 

 Australia. By Mr. F. Spry. — -Some rare butterflies — lahnenus 

 myrsilus, from Healesville ; Ogyris obiota and larva, from Oak- 

 leigh. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Field Naturalists' Club 

 took place in the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th 

 April, Professor W. Baldwin Spencer occupying the chair. 



A report of a recent excursion to Ferntree Gully was read by 

 Dr. Arthur Dendy, F.L.S., and referred to the success of the party 

 in obtaining a good many specimens of land planarians (a new 

 species being recorded), a large number of a somewhat rare 

 nemertine worm, and the Australian representatives of the inter- 

 esting genus Peripatus found by Mr. E. H. Hennell, who also 

 obtained a few lizards. 



The first paper was communicated by the Rev. Dr. Woolls, of 

 Sydney, and treated of " The Destruction of Eucalypts." Having 

 discussed the various agencies of destruction, both natural and 

 artificial, the writer proceeded to urge the need of the future 

 preservation of this class of timber on account of its economic, 

 medicinal, and hygienic value. Messrs. A. T. Campbell, F.L.S., 

 G. S. Perrin, F.L.S. , D. Le Souef, T. Steel, H. T. Tisdall, 

 F.L.S., and F. Wisewould joined in the discussion which 

 followed, and many facts of interest were brought forward, 

 Mr. Perrin especially alluding to the destructive action of frost 

 upon eucalypts, as instanced by a track extending from Mount 

 Gambier (South Australia) across the border to Portland and 

 Warrnambool, and from Baw Baw to Rosedale, then into Tas- 

 mania, from La Perouse to Lake St. Clair, which has suffered from 

 this cause. 



Mr. R. S. Sugars was the author of the second paper, which 

 gave an account of " A Trip to Sassafras Gully," A track through 

 the gully, recently cut by the conservator of forests for the con- 

 venience of tourists, proved of immense service to the excursion- 



