THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 79 
of Mr. Finckh, of Sydney. A special treat was the lantern 
lecture on the ‘Great Barrier Reef, by Mr. M‘Millan, to 
whom the Club owes a debt of gratitude; and in this connec- 
tion the best thanks is due to Rev. H. S. Buntine, for lend- 
ing and working the lantern. Mr: J. Newbery lectured 
on ‘The Bee,’ from a natural history standpoint, and showed, 
by means of microscopic slides, the wonders of structure of 
this marvellous little insect. 
“The Club has by no means confined its work to papers and 
lectures, but field work has been a prominent feature. Two 
excursions were organised by Mrs. A. H. Perrott—one to Bald 
Knob, where geological observations were the chief feature. of 
the outing, and another, which started from “Woodleigh,’ for 
the investigation by night of the cicada, these insects at the 
time being in actual process of quitting the earth prior to 
bursting forth as perfect creatures. On both occasions much 
useful information was gleaned. Another well-attended out- 
ing was one to the local water-works, where the day was spent 
in observing and collecting botanical and entomological speci- 
mens. During the afternoon of March 2nd last, members 
were given the opportunity of viewing Mr. A. BE. Hunt’s col- 
lections, and at the same time examining a set of microscopic 
botanical slides kindly lent by the Sydney Technological 
Museum for the purpose. Members are indebted to several 
local residents for the loan of microscopes. 
‘Financially, the Club is sound.” 
AUSTRALIAN INSECT GALLS. 
(Abstract of Lecture by W. W. Froggatt, F.L.S.) 
AurHoucH this paper is entitled“ Insect Galls,” there are, 
nevertheless, many true galls occurring upon plants that are 
produced by bacteria, nematode worms and mites. These are 
produced chiefly upon the foliage; but many abnormal ex- 
crescences are due to fungus spores Then, again, aborted 
flowers and branchlets are frequent, which have heen pro- 
duced by injuries received in a natural manner. ‘These fan- 
tastic growths are not galls in the strict sense of the word as 
applied in these notes. 
Dr. H. Ross, of Munich, ina paper on ‘“ Gall Formation of 
Plants: Their Development, Structure, aud Form,” Says: 
“ Wxcept for the abnormal growth of gall cells, gall formations 
ave distinguished from the peculiar diseases of plants by the 
fact that strict biological relations, often of a very complicated 
nature, exist between the galls and the parasites which cause 
them. The gall formations, however, are quite at the service 
of the parasite, and through them only disadvantages accrue 
to the plant which shelters them, either through consumption of 
nourishment, or unfavourable development, or obstruction of 
