August i, 1885.] The Australasian Scientific Magazine. 31 
Dr. F. D. Bird was elected an honorary member of the society, and 
several others were elected members. Two members were proposed for 
the position of assistant-secretary, and, after a ballot, Mr. Millar was 
elected. Indignation was expressed at the way in which the students’ 
petition with regard to clinical lectures had been treated by the council. 
This petition, which was sent to the council more than seven weeks ago, 
embodied the students’ views as to clinical lectures, but since it had been 
handed to the registrar nothing had been heard of it. It was resolved 
that the secretary should write to the registrar, and inquire about the 
petition. 
Mr. C. P. Dyring read a paper on sputa, their varieties and indications, 
describing the physiology of expectoration, and detailing the microscopical 
structure and chemical composition of sputa of different diseases. After 
mentioning the various diseases which were characterised by special 
varieties, he showed how diagnosis and prognosis might be influenced by a 
careful examination of the sputa. 
Field Naturalists’ Club. 
The ordinary monthly meeting of the Field Naturalists’ Club was held 
at the hall of the Royal Society, on Monday evening, the nth of July. 
The Rev. J. J. Halley (President) occupied the chair. The following 
persons were elected members of the Club: — Dr. Wigg, Mr. C. Casimer, 
Mr. J. Searle, and Master Coles. Dr. J. E. Taylor, F.G.S., F.L.S., and 
Honorary Member of the Geological Society of Australasia, was unanimously 
elected an Honorary Member of the Club. Mr. F. Wisewould read a 
paper on “A Visit to the Chudleigh Caves, Tasmania,” in which he 
described the curious formation of the district. An interesting note on a 
tortoise found in the solid rock on the Great Northern Railway, New South 
Wales, in 1859, was contributed, by Mrs. J. Simson, from papers left by 
the late William Keene, F.G.S. Mr. C. A. Topp described a tabular form 
of “ Botanical Key,” constructed by Mr. P. Dattari, which gave rise to 
much criticism as to the value of such means for teaching Botany. A 
good collection of exhibits in Natural History and Geology was shown 
by the members. 
The Victorian Institute of Architects. 
The Victorian Institute of Architects held their usual Quarterly Meeting 
at Selborne Chambers, Little Collins Street, on Monday evening, the 13th of 
July. Mr. Thomas Watts, the President, occupied the chair, and Mr. E. J. 
Henderson was duly elected an Associate, and Messrs. W. Pettit and 
Charles Cuthbert were nominated as Associates. The sum of ^5 5s. was 
voted to the Gordon Memorial Fund. 
