THE 



tyictovian Uatttrali^t* 



Vol. XVIL— No. 3. JULY 5, 1900. No. 199. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 

 The twentieth annual meeting of the Club was held at the Royal 

 Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth June, 1900. Mr. T. S. 

 Hall, M.A., one of the vice-presidents, occupied the chair, and 

 about 50 members and visitors were present. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to Somerton on 24th May (Queen's 

 Birthday), which, owing to unfavourable weather, was poorly 

 attended, was forwarded by Mr. C. C. Brittlebank. The object 

 of the excursion was to visit Aitken's Hill, about 16 miles almost 

 due north of Melbourne, and the nearest extinct volcano, or 

 volcanic vent, to the city. The hill was reached after a rather 

 wet tramp across the paddocks from Somerton station. Ascend- 

 ing the hill a zone of dense black soil, marked by a luxuriant 

 growth of thistles, was noted about a third of the distance up, 

 which probably represents an ancient lip of the crater. Above 

 this the soil was of a more or less red or chocolate colour. The 

 top was found to be nearly circular, with a slight slope to the 

 west. Numerous blocks and fragments of vesicular basalt were 

 strewn on the summit, several greatly resembling the figure given 

 by Darwin of a volcanic bomb. A wall of dense purple-grey basalt 

 from a few feet to nine feet in height crops out round the lip, and 

 can be distinctly traced round three sides of the summit. The 

 distance from lip to lip was found to be about two hundred yards 

 across, with dense black soil filling the crater, and judging from 

 the country the lip was most probably broken down on the 

 western side. To the west, north, and east basaltic plains stretch 

 away from the foot of the hill for many miles, while on the 

 southern side granite approaches within a quarter of a mile. The 

 hill stands well above the surrounding country, and from its 

 summit a splendid view of the Dividing Range was obtained. 

 From Aitken's Hill a return was made vid Craigieburn and 

 Campbellfield to Coburg, various sections being inspected on the 

 way, and altogether an interesting day was spent. About 

 fifteen species of birds were noted, and large numbers of English 

 Starlings were seen. 



The hon. librarian acknowledged the receipt of the following 

 additions to the library : — " Aquatic Insects," by Prof. Miall, 

 purchased ; " Birds of Kerguelen I.," by Robert Hall (reprint 

 from the Ibis), from the author ; " Monthly Progress Reports, 

 Geological Survey of Victoria " (new series), Nos. 8, 9, and 10, from 



