36 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



" The meetings of the Australasian Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, held in Melbourne in January last, 

 were well attended by members of the Club, and at the January 

 meeting of the Club we had the pleasure of welcoming several 

 well-known naturalists from other colonies. 



" An attempt was made by the Club to alter the close season 

 for Quail by making the opening day a month later in the year, 

 but the Minister for Customs declined to make the proposed 

 alteration. 



" We have to thank the various authors of papers, contributors 

 of illustrations, leaders of excursions, and demonstrators of prac- 

 tical work for their aid in the work of the Club ; Mr. E. H. 

 Swan, of the Triumph Engraving Co., for supplying half-tone 

 blocks ; and Messrs. Morton and Coghill for the use of their 

 offices for committee meetings. 



" We extremely regret that the health of your hon. treasurer, Mr. 

 J. T. Gillespie, has necessitated his visiting Queensland for a 

 time, and he has consequently had to refuse nomination for his 

 office. We desire to thank him for the good work he has done 

 for the Club, and hope he will return at no distant date with 

 renewed strength. 



"The financial statement shows receipts for the year, including 

 the balance brought forward, of ^127 9s. iod., and expenditure 

 ^123 7s. 7d., while the statement of assets and liabilities shows 

 no outstanding debts. The year was commenced with a balance 

 of ;£n os. iod. in hand, ^10 15s. of which was expended on a 

 new bookcase, and now, with no liabilities, there is a credit 

 balance of ^4 2s. 3d., which we consider very satisfactory. 



"While congratulating members on this sound position, we would 

 remind them that the library suffers owing to lack of funds, there 

 being very little money for the purchase of modern text-books. 

 We would, therefore, ask each and all to introduce from among 

 their friends as many new members as they can, and to endeavour 

 to keep these by making our meetings as attractive as possible 

 with their papers and exhibits. 



" For the Committee of the F.N.C., 



" J. Shephard, President. 

 " G. Coghill, Hon. Secretary. 

 "Melbourne, 4th June, 1900." 



The report was received, and, subject to the insertion of a 

 paragraph recording the last conversazione, adopted, on the 

 motion of Mr. D. Le Souef, seconded by Mr. G. A. Keartland. 



financial statement. 



In the absence of the hon. treasurer, Mr. G. Coghill read the 

 financial statement for 1 899-1 900, which was as follows : — 



