THE 



tyictovian statural i^t. 



Vol. XVIL— No. 4. AUGUST 9, 1900. No. 200. 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal 

 Society's Hall on Monday evening, 9th July, 1900. The 

 president, Mr. J. Shephard, occupied the chair, and about 50 

 members and visitors were present. 



REPORT. 



A report of the visit to the National Herbarium, on Saturday, 

 1 6th June, was given by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who said that an 

 interesting afternoon had been spent there. The Curator, Mr. J. 

 G. Luehmann, F.L.S., had pointed out the general arrangement 

 of the herbarium, and given some valuable information as to the 

 acquirement of many of the specimens, several of particular 

 interest being displayed for the inspection of the members. 

 Afterwards a hurried glance was given to the many valuable 

 works contained in the library. 



ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 



On a ballot being taken, Messrs. A. A. Brown (Victorian Rail- 

 way Department, Spencer-street) and G. H. Robinson were 

 elected members of the Club. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



The President referred to the great honour done to natural 

 science in Victoria by the nomination of Professor Baldwin 

 Spencer, a past president of the Club, for the fellowship of the 

 Royal Society of Victoria ; and on behalf of Mrs. E. Bage, who 

 was unavoidably absent, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard moved — " That 

 the congratulations of the Club be offered to Professor Spencer 

 on his having been nominated for the distinction of F.R.S., and 

 that this meeting trusts he may be one of the selected recipients." 

 This was seconded by Mr. J. Gabriel, and carried by acclamation. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard drew attention to the approach of the 

 flowering season of the wattles, and moved that the secretary be 

 directed to write to the daily papers, and also to the Minister of 

 Lands, asking their assistance m preventing the great destruction 

 of the trees which usually takes place. The resolution was 

 seconded by Mr. H. T. Tisdall, and carried unanimously. 



PAPERS READ. 



1. By Mr. O. A. Sayce, entitled "Some Peculiar Habits of 

 Crabs." 



The author drew attention to the ability of the sharp-snouted 

 crabs (Oxyrrhynchus) to clothe themselves, as a means of protec- 

 tion from their enemies, with materials similar to their surround- 



