Wm THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. VOL. XXXV., 1918-19. THIE Victorian Natdralist: THE JOURNAL & MAGAZINE OF THE ^U JaJupIbt^' 4^^^ ^f ^f J^J^fta. Toi.. mm^'w. MAY, 1918, TO APRIL, 1919. IbOn. BDttOr : MR. F. Q. A. BARNARD. The Author of each Article is responsible for the facts and opinions recorded. /Bbelbounic: WALKER, MAY & 00., PRINTERS, 429-431 BOURKE-STREET 1919. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. MAY, 1918, to APRIL, 1919. CONTENTS. Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria : — page Annual Report - - - - - 34 Exhibition of Wild-flowers - - - 103, 124, 157 Proceedings 1, 17, 33, 57, 73, 85, 101, 121, 133, 145, 157, 165 Reports of Excursions 1, 4, 5, 17, 18, 22, 33, 57, 73, 74, 85, 86, 87, 101, 121, 122, 133, 135, 145, 157, 165 ORIGINAL PAPERS. AuDAS, J. W., F.L.S., F.R.M.S.— Nature in the Serra Range, Grampians - - - - 171 AuDAS, J. W., F.L.S., F.R.M.S.— Notes on the Character- istic Vegetation of the Yarram District - 62 Chapman, F., A.L.S., F.R.M.S.— A Sketch of the Geo- logical History of Australian Plants : The Mesozoic Flora - - - - 148 DoDD, F. P. — A Naturalist in New Guinea - 127, 137 Gabriel, Joseph — On the Destruction of Mutton-birds and Penguins at Phillip Island - - 178 Hardy, A. D., F.L.S.— The Tall Trees of Australia - 46 Kershaw, J. A., F.E.S. — Two Snakes New to Victoria - 30 Shephard, J., Searle, J., and Stickland, J. — One Year's Collecting Micro-Fauna, Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne (with graph) - 79 Spencer, Sir Baldwin, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., D.Sc— What is Nardoo ? - - - - _ § Spencer, Sir Baldwin, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., D.Sc. — Kitchen Middens and Native Ovens (with two plates) - - - - -113 Steel, T., F.L.S. — Tracks of the Garden Snail - . - 91 Wilson, F. E. — An Ornithological Trip to the Nhill District - - - - 93, 111 VI INDEX. INDEX. Agriculture, Department of, Visit to Alphington, Excursion to Altona Bay, Excursion to Antarctica, Science in Armistice, Signing of Audas. J. W., F.L.S.— Characteristic Vegeta- tion at Yarram W., F.L.S.— in the Serra PAGE 73 101 17 123 121 62 Audas, J. Nature Range - - - 171 Australian Birds, Re- naming - - - 84 Australian Forest League 4 Australian Tall Trees - 46 Balwyn and Bulleen, Ex- cursion to - - 16.5 Barnard, F. G. A.— Notes of Visit to Western Australia - - - 168 Barnard, Mr. F. G. A., Presentation to - 42 Bayswater, Excursion to - 85 Bendigo, Excursion to - 107 Berwick Quarry, Excur- sion to - - - 4 Bird Life at Macquarie I. - .59 Birds of Nhill District - 111 Black Rock, Excursion to 87 Botanical Gardens, Visit to ,57 Botanic Gardens Lake, Micro-Fauna of - 79 Botany at Lake Coranga- mite - - - - 29 Brittlebank, The late Private C. C. - - 21 Buchan Caves, The - - 132 Burnley Quarries, Excur- sion to - - 18, 78 Butterflies, Prevalence of 144 Caladenia angustata, Lindl. 123 Calochilus cupreus, Rogers 123 Caves, The Buchan - 132 Chapman, F., A.L.S. — Sketch of Geological History of Australian Plants : The Mesozoic Flora - - - 148 PAGE Clayton, Excursion to - 86 Crustacea of Lake Colac, &c. - - - - 26 Denisonia nigrostriata, Krefft 31 Destruction of Mutton- birds - - 167, 178 Dodd, F. P.— A Naturalist in New Guinea - 124, 137 Elephant, A New - - 45 Eucalyptus platyphylla - 11 Evelyn, Excursion to - 34 Ferns, Mutilation of Tree 134 Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria — Annual Report - - 34 Excursions — Alphington - - 101 Altona Bay - - 17 Balwyn and Bulleen - 165 Bayswater - - 85 Bendigo - - - 107 Berwick Quarry - 4 Black Rock - - 87 Botanic Gardens 57, 166 Burnley Quarries 18, 78 Clayton - - - 86 Corangamite, Lake - 22 Department of Agri- culture - - - 73 Evelyn - - - 34 Heyington - - 57 Korkuperrimul Creek (Bacchus ]Marsh) - 5 Labertouche - - 122 Marysville - - 157 National Museum - 33 Oakleigh Golf Links - 101 Portarlington - - 165 Richmond Quarries - 167 Ringwood - - 135 Riversdale - - 17 South Morang - - 121 Warrandyte - - 74 Zoological Gardens - 133 Exhibition of Wild-fiowers 103, 124, 157 Financial Statement - 38 Honour Roll - - 40 Office-bearers - - 39 INDEX. Vll Presentation Proceedings, 1, 17, 33, 73, 85, 101, 121, 133, 157, Fish, Shower of - - Fossils at Bald Hill Fungus, Cytharia Gunnii - Gabriel, J. — On the De- struction of Mutton- birds and Penguins at Phillip Island - Geological History of Aus- tralian Plants - Grampians, Natvire in Hardy, A. D., F.L.S.— The Tall Trees of Australia Hatch, J. — Bird-Life of Macquarie Island Heteronympha merope, Fab. Heyington, Excursion to - Honour Roll, Unveiling of Household Pests Kangaroo Island Kershaw, J. E., F.E.S. — Two Snakes New to Victoria - - - King Parrots - and Kitchen Middens Native Ovens - Kitson, Mr. A. E., C.B.E. Korkuperrimul Creek, Ex- cursion to - - Labertouche, Excursion to Lake Corangamite Dis- trict, Excursion to - Lizard, The Blue-tongued Lyre-Birds - . - Macquarie Island, Bird Life of - - - Maps, Commonwealth Mili- tary - - - - Marysville, Excursion to - Melbourne District, Physi- ography of - - Micro-Fauna of Botanic Gardens Lake - Moth, Porina fusco-macu- lata - - - - Mutton-birds, Destruction of - - - 168, Nardoo, What is ? - " - PAGE 42 57, 145. 165 3 7 160 178 148 171 46 59 144 57 40 7 122 30 43 113 32 5 122 22 15 164 59 119 157 180 79 106 178 8 PAGE National Museum, Visit to 33 Nature in Serra Range - 171 New Guinea, A Naturalist in - - - 124, 137 Nhill District, Ornith- ology of - - 93, 111 Oakleigh Golf Links, Ex- cursion to - - 101 Orchids in the North-East 177 Orchids, Reproduction of Terrestrial - - 56 Ornithology of Nhill Dis- trict - - - 93, 111 Ovens, Native, and Kit- chen Middens - - 113 Park, The Tasmanian National - - - 120 Penguin Oil Industry 60, 88 Phillip Island, Destruction of Mutton-birdp at 167, 178 Physiography of Mel- bourne District - - 180 Place Names, Victorian - 119 Plants, Rare Victorian 169, 170 Plants, Useful Vic- torian - - 112, 147 Plesiastrcsa urvillei - - 166 Pitcher, The late Driver E. A. - - - 100 Plants, Geological History of Australian - - 148 Rhynchelaps austvalis, Krefft - - . 30 Richmond Quarries, Ex- cursion to - - 167 Ringwood, Excursion to - 135 Riversdale, Excursion to - 17 Scenery Preservation - 180 Searle, J. — Micro-Fauna of Botanic Gardens Lake 79 Seeds of Native Plants, &c. 136 Serra Range, Nature in - 171 Shephard, J., Searle, J., and Stickland, J. — One Year's Collecting Micro-Fauna, Botanic Gardens Lake - - 79 Shower of Fish - - 3 Snail, Tracks of Garden - 91 Snakes New to Victoria, Two - - - - 30 till INDEX. PAGE PAGE Somers, The Late Private " The Australian Environ- G. E. 119 ment " 170 South INIorang, Excursion "The Gum Tree" - 144 to - - - - 121 Trees of Australia, Tall - 46 Spencer, Sir Baldwin, Vegetation at Yarram 62 , F.R.S.— Kitchen Mid- Victoria, Snakes New to - 30 dens and Native Victorian Place Names - 119 Ovens - - - 113 Victorian Plants, Rare 169, 170 Spencer, Sir Baldwin, Victorian Plants, Use- F.R.S. What is ful - - - 112, 147 Nardoo ? - 8 Victorian Snakes, List of 31 Springtails, Raining 15 War Casualties 21. 100, 119 Steel, T., F.L.S. Tracks Warrandyte, Excursion to 74 of Garden Snail 91 Water-beetles, Migration of 90 Stickland, J. — Micro- Western Australia, Notes Fauna of Botanic of Visit to 168 Gardens Lake - 79 Wild-flowers, Exhibition Sugar Gum, Rapid Growth of - - 103, 124, 157 of - - - - 106 Wilson, F. E.— Ornith- Swallows, White 120 ological Trip to Nhill Swans, Colour of Young - 134 District - - 93, 111 Tall Trees . . - 78 Wilson's Promontory, Min- Tasmanian National Park 120 ing at - 75, 88, 104 Taylor, Dr. Griffith- Wood-lice, Migration of - 76 Science in Antarc- Yarram, Vegetation at - 62 tica - - • - 123 Zoological Gardens, Ex- cursion to - - • 133 ILLUSTRATIONS. Colac District, Map of Kitchen Middens, Wilson's Promontory Micro-Fauna, Botanic Gardens Lake, (graph) Native Ovens, Koondrook - Prevalence of PAGE 22 112 79 113 ERRATA. Page 11, in note — For "entomological" read ethnological."- Page 20, line 21 — For Parrots." Roso-breasted Cockatoos " read King ■ llfk-||IBIIIBIMBIIIfllNaill» 11^ yssr SSs Ir ■ilia Hip iiiii 7l ■ 1MB ' 9 !1IB \ •lira -^ •'"i ; ■ IIIB iiiis ; C t-" aiiiB / 1 ■ Ilia 1 iiiii f ?iii! N r aiiia ^ = v.:= \ = ■: - \ ■!!!■ / irtii V iiiii ( ania iiiii iii'i iiBiiiaiiiaiiiBiiiaiiiiiiiviiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiBiiiaiiiiliJiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiBiiiiiiiii Vol. XXXV.— No. 1. May, 1918. (le Victorian K- THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OF 7he Shield XaturoUsts' eiub of Vietorio. Published pth May, ipiS, Hon. Editor : F. G- fi. BARr^flJ^D. Esq. The Authpr of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions recorded. aiifi iit[i Bllill iiiii The Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria Excursion to Berwick Quarry . . Excursion to Korkuperrimul Creek (Bacchus Marsh) What is . Nardoo. By Sir Baldwin Spencer, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., D.Sc. The Blue-Tongued Lizard . . ' . . Raining Springtails . . . . .... FAQK 1 4 5 8 15 15 •Jf THRICE SIXI^EWCE. *!• Obtainable irom — Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, or Hon. Editor. (For Addresses see Page 3 of Cover. Ip by Post Jd. expha.) ^nenifi for (&nv0pe -. ]^1iJZ,ikli7 St CO., 37 Soh® Square, X.®zidoii. iit£lbourn£ : WALKER, MAY & CO., Printers, 25 Mackillop St. 1918. / !'!!! Bjiia iiiii iiiii ■ Nil '<*- -^- ll!!BlllflJIIBMIBII|BI|IB|liaillBIPIH||jBIIIBI|IBIIt«MrBMiailiaillBIIII iiiBiiiBiuamaMiiiiuaiiiiiuaiuiuiBmiiiiaiu^iiiaiiiiiiiaiiiiiUiiiiiiiiiiiii ijaijiaHtBiitBinBjiiaMiBjiiBjMajiiBiiiBiMajnajiiBHiBittBiiiaiui iiBiiiBiiiaiiiaiiiiiiiBiiiaiiiBiiiwiiwiiwiiBiiiiiiiaiiriiiiiiiiiiiii iiiBiitaii.=-:= Ijaiia iiiatiiwti Field /Naturalists' Club of Victoria. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA STREET, MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR ORDINARY MEETING. MONDAV BVJBNING, 13th MAY, igi8. 1. Correspondence and Reports. 2. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to the Hon. Secretary. 3. Election of Members. As Oedixaky membek — Proposer. Skcondkk. Mr. Percy H. Bond, Scotch College, Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S. Mr. W. J. Stephen. Hawthorn. As Country members — Mr. Walter Mann, " Eockmount," Mr. J. A. Ker.?haw, F.E.S. Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. Narracan, Gippsland. Mr. Thos. Smith Savige, Narracan East. do. do. 4. General Business. Election of two Auditors. Nominations (in writing) of Ofilce-bearers for 1918-19, 5. Remarks by Exhibitors, relative to their Specimen.s. Ten minutes' adjournment for examination of Exhibits. 6. Reading of Papers and Discussion thereon. 1, By Prof. Sir Baldwin Spencer, K.C.M.G. — "Notes on certain Kitchen Middens on Wilson's Promontory." 2. By Mr. Tho.s. Steel.—" Tracks of Garden Snail." 7. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to inform the Secretary of the same that he may arrange for their bringing them before the meeting, such notices should, however, be brief. 8. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members are invited to exhibit objects of interest, and to furnish tiie Hon. Secretary with written particulars for record in Minutes and Naturalitl. Brief descriptions should accomnauy the exhibits for the benefit of fellow members. F-IWAW CIAL YEAR. The Club year closed on 30th April. Any un])aid subscriptions should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer at once. Subscrip- tions for 1918-19 become due on 1st May, and must be paid on or before 10th June in order to qualify for voting at the Annual Meeting on that date. CDc Uictorian Damrdlist Vol. XXXV.— No. 1. MAY 9, 1918. No. 413. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 8th April, 1918. The president, Mr. F. Pitcher, occupied the chair, and about fifty members and visitors were present. CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr. F. P. Dodd, Sydney, intimating that he would shortly have on view in Melbourne an extensive collection of Queensland and New Guinea insects, principally butterflies, together with some large photographs of scenery. REPORTS. A report of the excursion to Korkuperrimul Creek (Bacchus Marsh) on Saturday, 23rd March, was given by the leader, Mr. R. E. Luher, B.A., who reported a fair attendance of members. The excursion was devoted to geology and physi- ography, and the members had been successful in securing some of the characteristic fossils of the district, and, notwithstanding the somewhat warm day, had been greatly interested in the extensive views obtained from several points on the walk. A report of the excursion to Lake Corangamite and the Colac district at Easter was given by the leaders, Messrs. J. Shephard and J. Searle. The former gave a general account of the outing, which he said had been very successful, and referred to the rotifers obtained, while Mr. Searle gave some account of the micro-crustaceans collected. Further notes were given by Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., on the algae met with, and Mr. F. G. A. Barnard on the salt industry connected with Lake Beeac. ELECTION OF MEMBER. On a ballot being taken. Miss E. Perry, High School, Geelong, was duly elected a country member of the Club. REMARKS ON EXHIBITS. Mr. J. Shephard made some remarks on a probable new species of Pedalion from Lake Corangamite, where it existed in large numbers. Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., referred to some specimens of a Springtail (Collembola) which appeared recently in countless numbers after a storm. The insects, however, appeared to differ in some respects from the recognized species. 2 Field Naturalisls' Club — Proceedings: rvT"^'xxxv Mr. F. G. A. Barnard called attention to his exhibit of a globular, water-worn granite pebble extracted from the glacial till during the Korkuperrimul Creek excursion, which, he understood, was somewhat unusual in shape, and expressed his intention of presenting the specimen to the National Museum. PAPER READ. By Mr. J. W. Audas, F.L.S., entitled "The Characteristic Vegetation of the Yarram District." The author dealt with the results of a botanical collecting trip in the Yarram (South Gippsland) district last October, when he was successful in finding a number of interesting plants in bloom, including Kennedya ruhicunda, Prostanthera rotundi- folia, Fieldia anstralis, &c. He added some notes about the early history of the district, which included the one-time busy port, Port Albert. The chairman said that the author was to be congratulated on the results of his trip, which indicated a good wild-flower district. Mr. C. Daley, B.A., said that the reason of the original Port Albert being abandoned was that, it being on Crown lands, the occupiers were called upon to pay a yearly license fee, and rather than do this they abandoned the site and bought free- hold land at the site of the present Port Albert. NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. Mr. J. L. Robertson, M.A., said that he had been given the description of a strange fish, measuring over eleven feet long, which had recently been washed up on the Elwood beach. He hoped to have further details to place before the next meeting. Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., said that from the description given he was unable to connect it with any known species. EXHIBITS. By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Round water-worn pebble of granite, weighing i^- lbs., extracted from the glacial till at Korkuperrimul Creek, Bacchus Marsh ; fossiliferous rocks from same locality, obtained at recent excursion ; also specimens of rocks, volcanic ash, cinders, &c., from Colac district ; alga, Entomorpha intestinalis, and shells, Cociella striatiila, as thrown up on shore of Lake Corangamite ; foliage and fruit of Eucalyptus Behriana, F. v. M., Bull Mallee, from Anthony's Cutting, near Bacchus Marsh. By Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S. — Victorian Springtails, Lipura, (?) sp., collected at Balwyn in garden drain after a storm, in illustration of note. By Mr. A, D. Hardy, F.L.S. — Cladophora flavescens, a fresh- '^^y-'l Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 3 water alga from Lake Colac ; Entomorpha intestinalis, an alga from Lake Corangamite. By Mr. R. E. Luher, B. A. — Fossil leaf impressions of. Laurus werriheensis , M'Coy, and Cinnamomum polymorphoides, M'Coy, in Cainozoic ironstone, Korkuperrimul Creek, Bacchus Marsh ; fossil frond impressions of Gangamopteris spatulata, M'Coy, and Taeniopteris, sp., from Permo-Carboniferous beds of Bald Hill, Bacchus Marsh ; also glaciated stones, all collected at excursion on 23rd March, igi8. By Mr. F. Pitcher. — Flowering branches of Acacia discolor, Willd., Sunshine Wattle, from Melbourne Botanic Gardens. By Mr. P. R. H. St. John, on behalf of Director of Melbourne Botanic Gardens. — Flowering branches of Hoheria populnea, A. Cunn., " Hohere," N.O. Malvaceae, native of New Zealand, grown at Melbourne Botanic Gardens. By Mr. J. Searle. — Micro-crustacea under microscope, col- lected during Corangamite excursion, Easter, 1918 ; also salt from Lake Beeac. By Mr. J. Shephard. — Plankton gatherings from Lakes Colac and Corangamite ; rotifer, Pedalion, sp. (under microscope), from Lake Corangamite ; map of parts visited, compiled by Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., and photographs in illustration of excursion report. By Miss A. H. Skinner. — Flowers of Banksia serrata. By Mr. H. B. Williamson. — Robust specimen of Hymen- anthera Banksii, F. v. M., Tree Violet, with photograph of bush, illustrating the tendency of plants to arm themselves as a defence against grazing animals. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. Shower of Fish. — In the Argus " Nature Notes " of 26th ult., Mr. J. V. Mack, of Berrybank, Lismore, confirms a statement made in a previous issue as to a shower of fish during a rain storm near Cressy. Mr. Mack says : — " In 1879 one of my men was collecting odd fence-posts in that district, and came home with his pockets filled with the ordinary creek minnows, about three inches in length. He told me he had tilted the dray during an awful storm, and afterwards found the fish. I rode out in the afternoon, and saw that the storm area was only about 100 yards wide and half a mile long. The crab-holes were then half- full of water, while the rest of the plain was quite dry. There were thousands of minnows in the pools, and no other surface water of any kind within three miles." This statement seems to be a clear confirmation of the belief that frogs, fish, &c., can be trans- ported from place to place by the action of wind and rain in the form of a so-called waterspout ; in this case minnows were plenti- ful in streams, at no great distance, running into Lake Coran- gamite, 4 Excursion to Berwick Quarry. [vo["^'xxx.v EXCURSION TO BERWICK QUARRY. The wet forenoon of Saturday, 23rd February, doubtless prevented several members from taking this trip. Early in the afternoon, however, the clouds disappeared, and a delightful afternoon was the result. The party proceeded straight to the quarry, where it was found that the exposure worked by the members of the Club on their visit in April, 1916 {Vict. Nat., xxxiii., p. 4), was covered with debris, which had to be cleared away before any specimens could be obtained. The exposure consists of a small vertical face of fiuviatile clays underlying the Older Basalt. The actual bed of the old stream was not visible, owing to the amount of water in the well which has been sunk through the clays. We were greatly indebted to Messrs. A. H. Blake and J. L. Robertson for their exertions in removing the debris and so enabling us to split many fine specimens out of the material, including a legume — the first evidence of the Leguminosas in these beds. The species collected include Tristanites angustifolia, Deane, T. Muclleri, Deane, Lomatia perspicua, D., L. Bosistooides, D., Eucalyptus Kitsoni, D., L. Hermani, D., L. Houtmanni, D., L. Mitchelli, Ettinghausen, Atherosperma Berwickense, D., Fagus, cf. Luehmanni, D., Aristotelia, sp., Mollinedia, sp., Pittosporum, sp., and a legume, (?) Acacia, sp. The species of Pittosporum is not the same as that obtained from the leaf-beds at Morning- ton. Eight of these species were obtained during the Club visit in 1916. Later in the afternoon the party proceeded to the summit of One-Tree Hill, and studied the physiography of the wide area observable from that vantage point. I desire to place on record the Club's indebtedness to Mr. Wilson for his courtesy in permitting the members to visit the quarry and open up the leaf-beds. — R. A. Keble. The Australian Forest League. — The fourth annual meeting of the Victorian Branch was held at the Melbourne Town Hall on the 29th ult., when an encouraging report of the progress made during 1917 was given. On the conclusion of the formal business, the retiring president, Prof. A. J. Ewart, D.Sc, Government Botanist, gave an address, the keynote of which was the approaching timber famine in Victoria as well as in other Australian States, which he considered not more than thirty years off. He urged that no further settlement be allowed on land bearing timber of any value. The Hon. F. Clarke, M.L.C., Minister of Lands, who occupied the chair, said that he recognized the truth of Prof. Ewart's remarks, but it must be shown that timber-growing was a payable proposition. An interesting discussion followed on the points raised. Mr. W. Russell Grimwade was elected president for the ensuing year. ^QT^s'l Excursion to Kovkuperrimul Creek {Bacchus Marsh). 5 EXCURSION TO KORKUPERRIMUL CREEK (BACCHUS MARSH). Quite a large party, including several ladies, met at Spencer- street station on Saturday, 23rd March, in order to take the 7.40 a.m. train to Bacchus Marsh. During the train journey the immense level plains of Newer Basalt over which we passed, and the almost circular hollow in which the town of Bacchus Marsh has been built, were duly noted and commented upon. The weather was ideal, and as the party walked through Maddingley Park towards the township, and afterwards along the Ballan road, the sunshine, tempered by a slight breeze, enhanced the outlook and rendered the outing decidedly pleasant. The early part of the excursion was along the route of an excursion taken some two years ago by University students under Professor Skeats. At a suitable point a halt was called, and the geological history of the district, with the resulting physiography, studied. The dark, densely-wooded hills in the distant north-west were pointed out as the bedrock of the district, being composed of shales and mudstones of Ordovician age, and of the Castlemaine horizon. In striking contrast were the nearer treeless slopes of Bald Hill, the material of which was deposited in Permo- Carboniferous times. The bedrock, during the great Devonian earth movements, had probably been folded, faulted, and pierced by igneous dykes, followed afterwards by a long period of erosion. Next, in the Permo-Carboniferous period, an immense ice-sheet moved northwards over the area from a hypothetical point in the Antarctic, and deposited the argillaceous sediment of Bald Hill. Turning more to the west were the sloping yet steeper hills of Older Basalt. In Mesozoic and Cainozoic times the district had probably remained a land area, and the great volcanic activity which followed was shown by the immense thickness of the floor as indicated by the hillsides. This outpouring disturbed the drainage system of the area, and a huge fresh-water lake was created, on the banks of which grew trees similar to the cin- namons and laurels now growing in Queensland and New South Wales. After this lacustrine period the Newer Basalt flows connected with renewed volcanic activity of Pliocene age once more overwhelmed the area, filling up the old streams. Thus, where we stood in the road-cutting we could see the old river sands and gravels exposed, whilst as far as the eye could see — east, south, and west — ^were the Newer Basalt plains, with their steep edges towards the Bacchus Marsh basin. Then further changes took place. A big fault-scarp occurred in the Ordovician series, which was visible along the eastern slopes of Bald Hill, and extended a considerable distance either way. 6 Excursion to Kovkupervimul Creek (Bacchus Marsh). [vj."^'xxxv. The formation of this scarp diverted the Werribee and Lcrder- derg Rivers, and in the process of cutting through this im- pediment to its course the Werribee River formed the famous gorge, the entrance to which was just visible to the south-west. The union of the two rivers gradually formed an alluvial flat, now very many acres in extent, and known throughout Victoria for its wonderful fertility, the soil in many places being upwards of twenty feet in depth. The party then proceeded towards the Korkuperrimul Creek, which, flowing from the north to the Werribee River, crosses the Ballan road just bej^ond the junction of the road to Bald Hill. Here, on the side of the road before reaching the bridge, an ironstone outcrop occurs, in which may be found leaf impressions of two trees which at one time grew in the neighbourhood. On splitting some of the pieces of stone, fairly good specimens of Cinnamomitm polymorphoides, M'Coy, and Laurus werribeensis, M'Coy, were obtained. We then proceeded northwards, and on the slope of Bald Hill inspected the upper beds of Permo-Carboniferous origin which are there exposed in a ravine. Although fossils were obtained here on the previous excursion, time prevented the party seeking for them on this occasion. Further north, in a somewhat damp depression, a number of fine mushrooms were gathered, some of which measured six and eight inches across. A little further north an intrusive dyke was pointed out, from which some large orthoclase felspar crystals were obtained. It was now time for lunch, so, obtaining water from a neighbouring farm-house, we selected a shady spot near a big red gum, and boiled the billy. The pools marking the course of the creek teemed with animal life and algge, but unfortunately the microscopists of the party had not brought their collecting apparatus. Feasting and resting over, we resumed our walk up the stream, such as it was, and at a bend inspected a cave- like hole hollowed out of the glacial till. One of the party took a fancy to a rounded pebble partly exposed in the face, and succeeded in extracting it without much damage. It proved to be a water-worn granite stone deposited in its recent position many thousands of years ago ; now it is to rest in the National Museum collection as a somewhat unique specimen, the included stones in the glacial till being generally angular. The fault line between the Permo-Carboniferous beds and the Older Basalt was seen at several points along the creek. The hills composed of Older Basalt were also more closely inspected, when the different terraces marking succeeding layers or flows of lava were seen to stand out prominently at places, making an imposing sight, and seemed to indicate that the Older Basalt had here a thickness of nearly i,ooo feet. Further along the course of the creek some monchiquite dykes were pointed ^,^^^1 Excursion to Kovhuperrimul Creek (Bacchus Marsh): 7 out. We then climbed the slopes of Bald Hill, on the way obtaining a fine view of the meanders of the stream, and in one of its tributaries noting some large boulders, which had been deposited by glacial action, exposed in the cut-down bank. The Bald Hill freestone quarries were then visited, and some of the rejected blocks of stone split open in search of impressions of the ferns Gangamopteris spatulata, M'Co}^ and G. angusti- folia, M'Coy, nice specimens of which were found. This free- stone was glacially deposited, and has a binding of argillaceous cement. It was used in the construction of the Chief Secretary's office, Melbourne, but has not stood the city atmosphere well ; however, in sheltered positions it wears better. Some of the party then walked to the summit of the hill, where a temporary trigonometrical station has recently been erected, probably in connection with the military survey of the State. From this flat, dome-shaped height a fine panoramic view was obtained, mellowed by the waning day- light. To the south the You Yangs and the nearer Brisbane Range were visible ; in the west, over the Pentland Hills, were Mounts Egerton and Steiglitz ; to the north-west the wooded summit of Mount Blackwood stood out prominently in front of the hills of the Dividing Range, while nearer at hand were the Lerderderg Ranges ; to the north, between Mounts Bullen- garook and Gisborne, could be seen Macedon and the Camel's Hump ; to the east, in the foreground, was the Bacchus Marsh basin, with the basaltic plains beyond, on which stood numerous points of eruption. Mount Kororoit or Misery being the most prominent. Returning to the quarry, a pause was made to watch the Adelaide express laboriously climb the incline from Rowsley towards Inghston — part of the big fault-scarp already referred to — and then the return walk to the township was commenced. It was almost dark by the time the town was reached, when all were ready for tea, which was partaken of in the park by moonlight. Leaving by train about 9 p.m., Melbourne was reached in due course, all agreeing that a most enjoyable and instructive day had been spent. — R. E. Luher. Household Pests. — In the Journal of Agriculture, Victoria, for April, Mr. C. French, jun.. Government Entomologist, gives some account of the depredations which may be caused to the timbers of houses, furniture, &c., by the Furniture Beetle and the Pin-hole Borer, two insects which have unfortunately become very common in recent years. Bamboo furniture is especially subject to their attacks, and should be watched. He gives some hints as to the precautions to be taken to secure immunity from attacks, and means to be adopted when the trouble is present. Spencer, What is Nardoo. [vd.'"': Nat. XXXV. WHAT IS NARDOO. By Sir Baldwin Spencer, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., D.Sc. {Read before the Field Naturalists' Club oj Victoria, wth Feb., 191 8.) In the Victorian Naturalist of January, 1915 (vol. xxxi., p. 133), there appeared a short but interesting article by Mr. E. H. Lees under the above title. In this communication Mr. Lees very briefly discussed the subject of " Nardoo " from two different points of view — (i) what actually is nardoo ; is it a name applied to one single plant or product of the same, or is it a name applied to the products of several plants that are, or were, used as foods by the aboriginals ; and {2) is the nardoo, so often referred to in connection with the Burke and Wills Expedition as forming the staple food of the explorers during their last days on Cooper's Creek, the sporocarp of a species of Marsilea, or did they give the name to and subsist not only on this but on seeds of grasses and leguminous plants to which they applied the same name.* The matter is one of considerable interest both from a natural history, an ethnological, and, as connected with the Burke and Wills Expedition, an historical point of view. As one who has seen and gathered nardoo where it grows in profusion, has had long and intimate intercourse with the natives, watching them grinding and pounding the various " seeds " that they use as food, and, above all, in regard to this special question, has frequently discussed with the late Dr. Howitt this and other matters connected with the Burke and Wills Expedition, it has seemed to me to be of some interest and importance to arrive at a definite decision as to what is nardoo. In the endeavour to do this I have made as complete an examination as possible of all the available evidence, including the accounts of the expedition as published in book form, and in the daily Melbourne papers for 1861, 1862, and 1863, the Report of the Parliamentary Commission in 1 861-2, the records of the term nardoo as dealt with in scientific journals, ethnological and botanical works, and more especially the manuscript journals and papers referring to the expedition, which for many years have been preserved in the Melbourne Public Library. It would occupy far too much space to record the mass of evidence derived from these original sources, but I have selected what appears to me to be of primary and sufficient importance to decide the question, which I propose to deal with under the two heads already indicated. * Mr. Lees, in his article, mentions the fact that there have been many specific names applied to various forms of Marsilea in Australia. It is now recognized that, though there may be local varieties, there is only one species, which retains the name of Marsilea qitadrifolia. May-I Spesckk, What is Nardoo. 0 1918 J ^ (i) What is Nardoo. In the Australasian of 12th February, 1910, Mr. E. J. Welch, under the title of "The Explorer — Dietary Experiences," referred to nardoo. Mr. Welch was a member of the Howitt contingent rehef party, and, on being communicated with, he distinctly asserted, in the Victorian Naturalist, the identity of nardoo with the plant Marsilea.* In reply to this Mr. Lees says t : — " According to Mr. Welch, and, in fact, to every writer on the subject, it is identified with Marsilea, or with some other specific plant. I maintain that this is not so. Nardoo is not a plant at all ; it is a food obtained from several plants." Experience in Central and Northern Australia, whilst living amongst various tribes, has enabled me to gain some insight into native matters. In the first place, one has to be very careful in regard to words such as " nardoo." A white man living for a time in one locality hears a native name applied to some special object. When he travels on to another place he carries this name with him, and, as likely as not, applies it to some other thing to which, either in general appearance or in regard to its use, it is apparently similar, and the native, wishing to please the white man, adopts the new name, with the result that confusion arises in consequence of the same name being apphed to two different objects. Or, again, a name that is applied originally in one special tribe to one special object may become widely used for the latter, because it is carried on from tribe to tribe by white men, or even by natives working for them, as the country is opened up or settlement extends. The name nardoo, nardu, gnardu, or ardoo is a case in point. The word belongs to the language of the Yantruwanta tribe, in the Lake Eyre district ; but, thanks to white men, it has been widely spread over Central Australia, and for many years past has been used by native tribes to whom it was quite unknown before the advent of the former. So, again, the same is true of the word " munyeru," used in connection with the seeds of species of Claytonia and of cakes made from them by natives in many parts of Central Australia. At Alice Springs, for example, the real native name is " ingwitchika," but the name " munyeru " has been adopted from the white men, and is, or was, almost universally used. It may be noted also that mistakes are liable to arise because, if a native be asked by a white man a question, such as "Is this nardoo ? " and he thinks that the answer " Yes " will please the former, he will as likely as not return what is the wrong answer, just because of his anxiety to please. * Vict. Nat., May, 1910, vol. xxvii., p. 16. t Vict. Nat., January, 1915, vol. xxxi., p. 135. lo Spencer, What is Navdoo. [vlr'xxxV Many scores of times I have watched the natives of various tribes, from the Urabunna, in the south, on the west side of Lake Eyre, right across the continent to the Kakadu, on the Alhgator River, in the Northern Territory, grinding and pounding the various seeds that they use for food. In addition to grass seeds, they use those of various species of Acacia, " shelhng " them when they are fresh and green, just as we " shell " peas, and eating them in large quantities, either raw or after warming them in hot ashes. When dry and hard they are pounded and made into cakes, to which the name nardoo is certainly not applied in the Urabunna or the Arunta tribes — the latter inhabiting the country from the Macumba River to the south of Charlotte Waters and away to the north of the Macdonnell Ranges in the centre. In regard to these two tribes I am speaking after having made careful investigations, and, as I know from Dr. Howitt, the same is, or was when he knew them well, equally true of the Dieri and Yantruwanta tribes of the Lake Eyre district. On the other hand, it is important to note that, as indicated later, the natives have a special name for each form of plant food. In the far north, for example, cakes are made from the seeds of the water-lily, but the name nardoo is never applied to them ; they are called either " worki " or " porijilili " by the Kakadu natives. Mr. Lees writes, in regard to his experiences, that on one occasion when returning from " a western exploration trip in the neighbourhood of Giles's ' ever-flowing Ferdinand ' . . . we faced the return journey of six days with barely sufficient stores to last two days. On the second day we struck water, and, notwithstanding the commissariat shortage, we had to spell the camels for a day. During this time ofir camp black (a Macumba River native) collected a supply of leguminous seed, from which we made nardoo." Again, in regard to his experiences near Charlotte Waters, Mr. Lees writes :— " On one such expedition I was accompanied by Mr. Gillen, and we have partaken of leguminous nardoo in aboriginal restaurants, where at that time English was unspoken and the white man little known." One cannot help thinking that the term nardoo was mistakenly applied by the white man in all good faith to the leguminous cakes, or, if by the natives, simply because they knew that nardoo was a name well known to the former. I have spent very many months with my late friend and colleague, Mr. Gillen, working amongst the aboriginals. Over many a camp-fire between Lake Eyre, in the south, and Borro- loola, on the Gulf of Carpentaria, we have discussed most things connected with the natives, but he never suggested and we never found any evidence to show that the word nardoo ^^^y-l Spencbr, What is Nardoo. ii 1918 J was used in connection with anything except Marsilea, its fruit, and the cakes made from this. The above are the only two references that I can find in numerous accounts of nardoo written by those who have had actual experience amongst the natives, in which it is suggested that the name is given to the product of any plant except Marsilea, and even here the evidence can only be described as very vague and most unconvincing. When Mr. Lees says " We made nardoo " and " We have partaken of leguminous nardoo," one naturally wants to know what exactly is his authority for calling it by this name. The Arunta tribe, in whose country Mr. Lees was travelling when he was accom- panied by Mr. Gillen, does not (except possibly in its most southern part, where it is in contact with the Urabunna) use the sporocarps of Marsilea as a food, and the word " nardoo," except as a borrowed word, does not exist in its language. So far as my experience goes, every plant, the leaves, stems, roots, or seeds of which are used for food, has its own special name. Nardoo, munyeru, parakilia, tjainda, itata, erlipinna, ingwitchika, tiritipaua, kurangula, kudnagertikati, katnungara, are a few of those known to me by personal experience, but each of these names is applied to one and only one plant and its product. So far as I can find out, also, every investigator who has made a special study of the natives and has had first-hand experience in the field is in complete agreement on this point. Dr. Roth,* for example, gives pappa as the " generic " name for all seed- foods in the language of the Pitta-pitta tribe in Queensland, but, in addition, he records the native names of many in- dividual food plants, and, without any exception, each such name applies to one plant only. Amongst many different forms he mentions " the hard-shelled seed of the ' nardoo ' (Marsilea), easily and speedily collected from the plant when growing in marshy swamps." So, again, Gason,f in his account of the " Manners and Customs of the Dieri Tribe," gives the names of various seeds, &c., describing nardoo as " ardoo." He writes : — "In a dry season they subsist mainly on ardoo, but in a good season, with plenty of rain, they have an ample supply of seeds, which they grind or pound, make into small cakes, and bake in the ashes." He thus very clearly distinguishes between ardoo and other vegetable foods. In Brough Smyth's " Aborigines of Victoria," when speaking * Roth, "Entomological Studies Amongst the Natives of N.W. Central Queensland," 1897, p. 92. f "The Native Tribes of South Australia," Adelaide, 1897, pp. 259, 288, 12 Spencer, Whai is Nardoo. [vJ'*^''xxxv of the Cooper Creek tribe, Dr. Howitt says * : — " Nardoo is well known. It may be called their stand-by when food is scarce. In many places miles of the clay flats are thickly sprinkled with the dry seeds. Seeds are generally called ' Bowar,' of which Portulac, the Manyoura ' bowar,' is the most prized." At a much later date, in " Folk Lore," Miss Mary E. B. Howitt t published "Some Native Legends from Central Australia." These were selected from a large number collected by the Rev. Otto Siebert. In a note on one of these. Miss Howitt says : — " Nardoo forms a staple article of food with these tribes, and has been well known to the natives since the unfortunate explorers Burke and Wills tried unsuccessfully to live on it, when Wills wrote in his diary that it was ' not un- pleasant starvation.' Some of the seed actually collected by them, and afterwards found by Mr. A. W. Howitt's rescue party, is before me now. The so-called seeds are spore-cases of a species of Marsilea, a genus common to m-any parts of Australia." It is important to note that Dr. Howitt states that " bowar " is a term applied to seeds in general. The Rev. Otto Siebert, in charge of the Aboriginal Mission Station at Kopperamana, on the Barcoo, says that " Paua is food made from the seeds of various plants. It is collected, cleansed, and stored away in pits, which are closed by a cover made of rushes and smeared on each side with clay to hold them together. . . Nardoo is not ground, but pounded to a fine powder and made into a kind of cake." Dr. Howitt's name " bowar " is clearly the equivalent of " paua," and both of these are general terms applied to plant food, of which nardoo is clearly only one kind. (2) What was the Nardoo of the Burke and Wills Expedition. There can, fortunately, be no doubt in regard to this. It is made absolutely certain by reference to the original sources of information previously indicated. The earliest reference to nardoo, though under a name spelt somewhat differently, occurs in the diary of Dr. Herman Beckler.J After Burke had broken up his party at Menindie, and was proceeding northwards to Cooper's Creek, despatches arrived for him from Melbourne. Two men — Lyons and Mac- pherson — attempted, without success, owing to the dry season, to follow him up. Beckler succeeded in rescuing them on their * "Aborigines of Victoria," Appendix, vol. ii., p. 302. t " Folk Lore," vol. xiii., 1902. X Diary of Herman Beckler's journey to relieve Lyons and Macpherson, from 2ist December, i860, to 5th January, i86i. — MS. May,"! SPKtiC'B'R, What is Nardoo. 13 1918 J return journey to Menindie. Writing on 27th December, i860, he says : — " At about 6| o'clock a.m. we met with numerous tracks of the natives. . . All at once Peter called out, ' Hye ! hye ! ' and sure enough there was Macpherson at a short distance from us, apparently searching for something on the ground. . . Lyons was at the camp engaged in baking cakes when we came up to him. The seeds of which they pre- pared a warn (?) meal, and out of that either cakes or porridge, is not properly a seed, but the sporangium and the spores of a small plant, the leaves of which are very like clover. It is, I beUeve, a Marsileana, and everywhere to be met with where water stagnates for a time. . . The plant which saved Macpherson and Lyons' s lives is called by the natives Gnadunnea." It is important to note that this is clearly distinguished from other seeds, &c., used for food, because Dr. Beckler adds : — " Here I may as well say that the Portulac * abounds . . . and just now ... it begins to blossom. They (the natives) call it ' dungerow,' and they use the seeds in the same way as the sporangiums of the Marsileaceous plant to make flour." In Wills's journal we read (I am quoting from his manuscript) — " Camp No. 9, Thursday, 7th May, 1861. — On our arrival at the camp they (the natives) led us to a spot to camp on, and soon afterwards brought a lot of fish and bread, which they call nardoo." Later on, whilst still at the same camp, he says : — " Mr. Burke and King employed in jerking the camel's flesh, whilst I went out to look for the nardoo seed for making bread. In this I was unsuccessful, not being able to find a single tree of it in the neighbourhood of the camp. I, however, tried boiling the large kind of bean which the blacks call padla." This may be taken as evidence that leguminous seeds were not called nardoo by the natives. Whilst still at the same camp. Wills writes : — " On approach- ing the foot of the first sand-hill King caught sight in the flat of some nardoo seeds, and we soon found that the flat was covered with them." Lastly, at a later date, Thursday, 20th June, 1861, he writes : — "I cannot understand this nardoo at all — it certainly will not agree with me in any form. We are now reduced to it alone, and we manage to consume from four to five pounds per day between us. It appears to be quite indigestible, and cannot possibly be sufficiently nutritious to sustain life by itself." In John King's narrative f he says : — " We had not gone far before we came on a flat, where I saw a plant growing that * Claytonia balonnensis and other species. t Report of the Commission (Appendix L.) presented to Parliament, Victoria, i86j-2. 14 Spencer, What is Nardoo. [ Vict. Nat. Vol. XXXV. I took to be clover, and, on looking closer, saw the seed, and called out that I had found ' the nardoo ' ; they were very glad when I found it." It may be noted also that the explorers, in addition to the bean called padla, already referred to, were well acquainted with at all events one other vegetable food quite distinct from nardoo, as will be seen by the following questions put to and answered by the survivor King when giving evidence before the Parliamentary Commission : — " No. 899. And about that time the provisions began to get short ? — Very short. " No. 900. And the allowance was on a very small scale to match ? — On a very small scale ; our prin- cipal ration was the portulac. " No. 901. Which is a kind of vegetable ? — Yes, a kind of vegetable. " No. 902. A leafy vegetable ? — ^Very leafy. " No. 921. How did you cook the vegetable ? — Boiled it." Dr. Howitt is perfectly clear on the matter. In his journal,* on 2nd September, Camp 20, he writes : — " On some of the flats I observed quantities of the plant growing from the seeds, of which the natives make their bread. It appears to choose a loose, blistered, clayey soil, subject to be flooded, such as is generally found in polygonum ground. The leaves resemble clover, but with a silvery down, which is also found on the seeds when fresh ; these grow on short stems springing from the roots, and are flat and rather oval. In places where the plant has died down, these seeds quite cover the ground ; they are gathered by the native women, and, after being cleaned from the sand, are pounded between two stones and baked as cakes." The above evidence at first hand from Dr. Beckler, Wills, King, and Dr. Howitt is surely conclusive, and, moreover, as I write this I have in front of me, amongst the records of the expedition, two little packets, described as nardoo, and both containing a few sporocarps of Marsilea quadrifolia. One contains nardoo actually brought down by King from Cooper's Creek ; the other f is accompanied by a copy of a note made by Dr. Howitt, as follows :— " Nardoo collected by Burke and Wills and King at Cooper's Creek, found by A. W. Howitt at their camp." * " Diary of Burke and Wills, Howitt's Journal and Despatches, King's Narrative, &c.," Melbourne, published at the Age office, 1861. I I am indebted to Miss Mary E. B. Howitt for this. Miss Howitt writes : — " I have a small quantity of the actual seeds found in a little heap, as gathered by one of the fated party, somewhere near the remains of one of them." ^^y-l Spencer, What is Nardoo. ic 1918 J ' To sum up the evidence in regard generally to nardoo, it may be said that — (i) Nardoo or gnardu is the native name in the Yantruwanta tribe for the plant Marsilea quadrifolia and the food product derived from it. (2) The name nardoo is applied to this plant and its product only. There is no real evidence of its ever having been applied by the natives to any other plant or its product. (3) The nardoo referred to in connection with the Burke and Wills Expedition is the plant Marsilea quadrifolia, its sporo- carps, and the product derived from these, on which the sur- vivor King lived until he was rescued by Dr. Howitt at Cooper's Creek in 1861. The Blue-Tongued Lizard. — A friend, Mr. G. A. Heumann, of Sydney, who has kept Blue-tongued Lizards in captivity for years, was fortunate not long ago in seeing some young born. He says within an hour and a half the female dropped seventeen young. Supporting the front part of the body on the ground, she raised her back legs and body above the ground, and dropped the young at short intervals. These were encased in an oval- shaped skin bag, the tail being bent along the body towards the head. After a few moments the young lizard pushed its head out of the bag, halted, evidently to take its first breath and a view of the world, and then wriggled right out. The skin bag being attached to the abdomen, the young made short work of getting rid of it by eating it ; this was their first feed. Still many of them were not satisfied, and at once ate three or four meal- worms in addition. Then they walked straight away under cover, and took not the slightest notice of the mother, or she of them. On several occasions young Blue-tongued Lizards have been born in the Melbourne Zoo, but fewer in number at a time. Mr. Heumann's interesting account agrees with what I have seen here. — D. Le Souef, Parkville. Raining Springtails. — On the morning after the storm of Saturday, 2nd March, 1918, my attention was arrested by a black deposit in the tile gutters at the side of the garden path at my house at Balwyn. At first sight it looked like menac- canite or iron-sand ; but, probing it with the finger, it yielded, and not only yielded, but began to jump in all directions. An examination with a lens showed it to be composed of myriads of tiny insects, measuring about .7 mm. in length, since found to be related to the order Collembola, Lubbock, of which Lipura is a well-known genus. Mr. F. Spry informs me that t6 Notes r ^''='- Nat. lo iMoies. I^Y^i XXXV. this particular species is unknown to him, and is probably new. There being no lack of specimens, I collected a tubeful, some of which are in the National Museum collection. To gain an idea of their excessive abundance, the cubic contents of one patch (out of three or four within a length of ten yards of gutter) worked out at one million and twenty-five thousand individuals. The morning was dull, but after the sun came out for a few hours there was a marked stampede of the little insects, probably to the bases of the grass tufts, from whence they seem to have been washed, the expanse of grass being only a few inches above the level of the gutter. This particular form is shaped like an elongated wood-louse, with three pairs of thoracic legs, six body segments, a pair of short, unequally- segmented antennae, and two short, stout appendages near the hinder extremity, used for jumping. No sucking disc was visible on the under side of the body. The feet are terminated by a sharp, curved claw. The last abdominal segment carries either a pair of elongate, triangular cerci surrounded by long, curved bristles, or a pair of sharp, backward- curving claws. Scattered bristles are seen covering the general surface of the body and appendages, and these seem to serve in an efficient way to entrap air so that in flood waters the insects float calmly on the surface buoyed up by a silvery film. To a palae- ontologist this little creature is of especial interest, as it shows many features of an archaic type, which, so to speak, have been borrowed from more than one extinct group of arthropods. Such are the terminal joints of the antennae, which end in pad- like structures suggestive of the swimming paddles of the sixth pair of feet in the extinct water-scorpions, Eiirypterus, and probably used for the same purpose. The specimens somewhat resemble Lipura amhiilans, Linn., but differ in having a tapering rather than broadly-rounded extremity to the abdomen. Lubbock, however, states that in the family Lipuridae there is no saltatory appendage and the body is cylindrical, so that it is probable that the present form repre- sents an entirely new group of family rank. Mr. F. G. A. Barnard has drawn my attention to the determination of one of our Collembolas by Lubbock (now Lord Avebury) from specimens sent to him by the late Mr. H. Watts {Vict. Nat., vol. iii., 1887, p. 135) as a Degeeria, but the present form is not of that genus, which has a cjdindrical body, club-sha^^ed hairs, long saltatory appendages, and fairly long antennae. — F. Chapman, Balwyn. Erratum. — In vol. xxxiv., page 123, line 14, for Thrasymene read Trachymene. Field /Naturalists' Club of Victoria. ** OFFICE-BEARERS, 1917-1918. ^^ piesiBent : MR. F. PITCHEB. Vicespieeibents: MR. A. D. HARDY, F.L.S. MR. J. GABRIEL. t)Oi\. Xlieaeuiei- : MR. G. COGHILL, 79 Swanston Street (Tel. Central 2794). •ben. libianan : MR. P. R. H. ST. JOHN, 54 Mason Street, South Yarra. l3on. S6itot of tbe "Wictoiian MatucaMat": MR. P. G. A. BARNARD, 167 High Street, Kew (Telephone Hawthorn 443). Uon, Secvetarig : MR. E. S. ANTHONY, 443 Collins Street (Telephone Central 355). Ijon. assistant Secietai\! .ma Xibiaiian : MR. W. GLANCE. dommittee : MESSRS. F. CHAPMAN. A.L.S., C. DALHY, F.L.S., J. A. KERSHAW, F.E.S. J. SEARLE, and DR. C. S. SUTTON. ELXCUI^SIOTi S. Saturday, 25th May. — National Museum. Object — Palaeontology. Under leadership of Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S. Meet at Eussell Street entrance at 2 p.m. Special attention will be directed to common Australian Fossils and where to find them, Monday, 3rd June (King's Birthday). — Evelyn to Montrose. Objects — Heaths and General. Leader — Mr. G. Coghill, who will join party at Evelyn. It is proposed to walk via Lilydale water race across Linda Creek to Reservoir and then catch coach at Montrose. Distance for walking about 6 miles. Lunch should be taken. Tea, sugar, and milk will be provided by leader. Book second return excursion fare to Evelyn. Meet at Flinders Street Station (opposite Mutual Store) for 8.7 a.m. train. ANNUAL MEETING, June loth, 1918. EXHIBITION OF NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS. The following members have been appointed to take charge of the Exhibits in the various sections : — Botany.— Dr. C. S. Sutton and Mr. P. E. H. St. John. Entomology.— Mr. E. G. A. Barnard. Geology .—Mr. F. Chapman A.L.S. and Mr. C. Daley, F.L.S. Conchology.— Mr. J. Gabriel. General Zoology. — Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. Forestry.— Mr. A. D. Hardy. Ornithology.— Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. and Mr. G. A. Keartland. Physiography.— Mr. C. Daley, F.L.S. and Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S. Microscopy. — Mr. J. Searle. Ethnology. — Mr. E. S. Anthony. Exhibitors are urgently requested to notify above leaders at the May Monthly Meeting as to their Exhibits, otherwise sufllcient space may not be allotted to ■show them to advantage. 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FIELD COLLECTING BOOK (FOR BOTANY), hardwood boards, blotting paper, and straps .. •• •• •■ •• |'" BUTTERFLY NET, with folding ring, 4 joints 6/- INSECT STORE BOXES, of Corked Pine . . 10 x 8, 4/6 ; 14 x 10, 7/6 ; 17* x 12, 11/- INSECT COLLECTING BOXES, of deal, corked and papered .. 1 -, 16, and 21- INSECT RELAXING BOXES, of zinc, oval shape, corked .. .. 1/6, 2/9, and 3/6 GLASS FRONT SHOW BOXES, corked and papered .. 14x10,8/-; 16x12,11/- INSECT-KILLING BOTTLES 16 and 2/- ENTOMOLOGICAL PINS, assorted per box of 1 oz., 2/- INSECT FORCEPS, with broad gauze jaws 3/6 ' SETTING FORCEPS, finest nickelled steel 2/- GEOLOGICAL HAMMERS 3/- and 4/6 POCKET ACID BOTTLE, in boxwood case 1/6 THREE-POWER POCKET MAGNIFIER */6 W. WATSON & SONS PTY. LTD., 78 SwANSTON St., Melbourne, And al Ocean House, Moore St., Sydney. ENTOMOLOGICAL APPARATUS. CHERRY & SONS PTY. LTD., GISBORNE (VIC), and 231 SUSSEX STREET, SYDNEY. ENTOMOLOGICAL PINS (KiRBY Beaxd'S), in 10 sizes, 1/3 to 2/6 per box; Mixed, 6d. per packet. STORE BOXES.— Dovetailed, hinged, corked and papered. Size, 14 x 10 x Si, 7/- each. SETTING BOARDS.— Corked and papered. Flat. Length, 14 inches ; depth of groove, J inch» 1 and n in. wide, l/-each; 2 and 2J in., 1/3; 3 in., 1/6; 4 in., 1/9; 6fn., 2/6. CORK LINING (Best), Very Light. Size, 13 x 9, 1/-; 18 x 13. 2/-; 26 x 18, 3/6 per sheet. BUTTERFLY NETS.— Best English folding, 7/6 each. KILLING BOTTLES (CYANIDE), 1/B CURVED FORCEPS (thfi Bntomologisfs most indispensable Tool), 4/- ZINC RELAXING BOXES, 1/6 to 3/6. •«• *,• CABINETS.— From £2 upwards. NEWMAN RELAXING TIN, readv charged, overcomes all dangers of mould, 3/6. POCKET BOXES, 1/- to 2/6. INSECT CEMENT, tor repairing antennae, &c., 1 /- per botU». Write for onr Price List and Sample Slieet of Pins. ■ inati«iiiaiiiHi)iaiit«>iiHlliBiliaiiiaiill iitBiiiBiiiaiiianiaiiiaiiiBiriaiiiHiiiariiaiiiBiiiai laiiraiiiaiiiaiiiaiiiaiiiBiiiaiiiaiiiBiiii 11 f IH ) i'i "^ •'"! ( i.l.i ( !'!'! ' iiiii iiiii '' iliii \ iiiii ^ "I / ■ r.ii / •ilia iiiii • Mia iina Vol. XXXV.— No. 2. June, 1918, The Victorian K^turalist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OF — Jhe ?ield XaturoUsts' eiub of Victorio. ( iiii ( III ( iiii < m \ iiiii \ !!!!! ( ill ( iiiii ( i: Published 6th June, 1918. Hon. EditoF : F- O. R. BflRjSlflRD, Esq. ■ lljB fiiii ■yil iiiii iiiii iiii The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions recorded. COlsTTEllNrTS; : PAOE The Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria .. .. 17 ExcuESiour TO Lake Corakgamite and District . . . . 22 Two Snakes New to Victoria. By J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S . . 30 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 32 4$ 1»1«ICE SIXI^EWCE. *!• Obtainable irom — Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, or Hon. Editor. (Foe Addrbssks skb Page 3 op Cover. If by Post Jd. exiea.) 3C0ent«r for (fbuvope : M'Ut^Jk^ & CO., 37 Sob® Square, £<<»zi(i<»n. ( Iiii / iiiii ( ill / !!!!! / !JJ!! V iiiji \ iiiii ( iiiii { m ( iijii / iiiii \ iiiii ( iilll X iiiii / iiiii ( lit ) iiiii V iiiii < iiii ( iiiii / iiiii / ijiji / iiiii / i'i'i ^ iiiii ( iiiii iKElbonrne : WALKER, MAY & CO., Printers, 25 Mackillop St. 1918. '*!!!i!!!i!!!!H!*!!!*!!!i!!!!!!!i!!!i!!!i!!!i!!!i!!!i!!*i!n!!!!i!Mi!!li!!!i!Mi!!!!!!!!'Mi!!'i'!'i'i'ii"i'''"''ii"'ii*)'i'iiii<'''''^ iBiiiiiiiSiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiBiuiiiiiiU^iiiBiiiiiiiwUiiiiaiiiaiiraiit Field /Naturalists' Club of Victoria. ROOMS-ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA STREET, MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR ORDINARY MEETING. MONDAY EVENING, xotb JUNE, 1918. 1. Correspondence and Reports. 2. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to the Hon. Secretary. Proposer. Mr. F. E. Wilson. Mr. C. Daley, F.L.S. Mr. J. "W. Audas. Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. do. Seconder. Mr. F. Spry. Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.3. Mr. P. R. H. St. John. Mr. E. S.Anthony. do. 3: Election of Members. A3 Ordin'art member — Mr. C. E. Cole, Tooronga Road, Caulfield. Mr. Hugh Hughes, off Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick. Mr. Frank P. Morris, 54 Millswyn Street, South Yarra. AS COtTNTRY MEMBERS — Mr. James Firth, Beech Forest. Mr. A. W.Grainger, West Warburton. AS Associate Members — Mr. Malcolm Hewlett, 34 Chapman Street, North Melbourne. Mr. Pavid Oldmeadow, 171 Park Street, Park vi lie. 4. Annual Report and Balance Sheet. 5. Election of Oiiice-bearers for 1918-19. 6. General Business. Unveiling of Honour Roll by His Excellency Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, K.C.M.G. (Governor-General of the Commonwealth). The Business Meeting will be held in the upper room of the Hall from 8 to 9 p.m. The Exhibition will be open from 7 to 8 p m., and from 9 to 10 p.m. in the lower rooms of the Hall. Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S. Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. do. do. FINANCIAl- YEAR. The Club year closed on 30th April. Any unpaid subscriptions should be forwarded to the Hon. Treasurer at once. Subscrip- tions for 1918-19 become due on 1st May, and must be paid on or before 10th June in order to qualify for voting at the Annual Meeting on that date. Che Uictorian naturalist Vol. XXXV.— No. 2. JUNE 6, 1918. No. 414. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th May, 1918. The president, Mr. F. Pitcher, occupied the chair, and about sixty members and visitors were present. The president introduced to the meeting Miss D. Philpott, a member who had volunteered to take shorthand notes of the proceedings by means of the stenotype machine. A report of the excursion to Altona Bay on Saturday, 13th April, was given by the leader, Mr. E. S. Anthony, who stated that there had been a good attendance of members. A visit was first made to the aboriginal shell-mounds, usually known as kitchen middens, situated near the shore-line to the east of the station. An examination of these revealed quantities of broken shells of mollusca of kinds still common in the locality. Several of the mounds showed signs of fire having been used in preparing the feasts, and some fragments of the bones of birds were also noted. Some pieces of ochre used by the aboriginals for decorative purposes were also obtained. Returning to the western side of the jetty and traversing the hollows between the sand-dunes, search was made for further signs of the former inhabitants of the place. Here members were rewarded by finding numbers of quartzite flakes of various shapes and sizes, also some of the cores from which the flakes had been struck. These flakes were the primitive instruments which the aboriginals used for cutting, preparing animal skins, &c. The botany of the district is not remarkable, but a number of introduced plants seem to thrive there, about which Mr. H. B. Williamson would say a few words. Mr. Williamson remarked that the most interesting of the endemic plants were the useful sand-binding grasses, Spinifex hirsuhis, Hairy Spinifex, and Cynodon dadylon, Couch-Grass. The Rosy Stork' s-bill, Pelargonium Rodney anum, was blooming in many places. The principal introduced plants were Solanum SodomcBinn, Apple of Sodom, Glaucium luteitm, Horned Poppy, Atriplex patula, Common Arache, and Silene cticuhatus. Bladder Campion ; the latter, though a troublesome weed in some places, was showing a mass of thick roots, holding the sandy soil together and preventing erosion. A report of the excursion to Wattle Park, Riversdale, on Saturday, 27th April, was given by the leader, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who said that the excursion had been well attended. The afternoon proved very enjoyable, though the park is not 1 8 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [yj' Vict. Nat. XXXV. a prolific hunting-ground. A visit was first paid to tlic wattle plantation formed last June, where it was gratifying to see that nearly every tree was doing well. Some had made fine growth, while Acacia retinodes and A. discolor could each boast of a few flowers. Rambling through the wooded portion of the park towards the eastern boundary, few plants were seen in bloom, Styphelia {Astroloma) humifusa being perhaps the most uncommon. Diligent search was made for the little orchid Eriochilns autmnnalis, so abundant on the previous visit in March of last year, but not one could be seen. A few birds of the commoner kinds were seen or heard, and, in addition, some quail were disturbed by our presence, and quickly made for cover. Members who devoted themselves to microscopic life were successful in finding a fair variety of aquatic objects in a small creek in the south-eastern corner of the park. Another object collected was the larva of the syrphid fly, Microdon daveyi, which, although not an un- common insect, is interesting from the fact that it selects the nests of ants under the bark of trees as the place in which to live and pupate. Little is known of the reasons for this way of living, or whether its presence is of any benefit to the ants, or the ants to it. Among some fungi collected a polyporus was found to be infested with some minute insects, apparently of the springtail group (Collembola). A report of the excursion to the Burnley Quarries on Satur- day, nth May, was given by the leader of the pond-life section, Mr. J. Stickland, who said that most of the excursionists had followed Dr. Pritchard, and devoted themselves to geology. The recent rain had somewhat interfered with the pools in the quarries ; still, a number of interesting forms were met with, among which were some fine colonies of the infusorian, Zoothamnimn (?) dichotomum. In the absence of Dr. Pritchard, Mr. A. L. Scott said that the geologists, after the general character of the basalt flow in which the quarries are situated had been explained, crossed the river by the Heyington bridge, where the principal features of Silurian formation were pointed out. The time, however, proved to be too short, and Dr. Pritchard offered to repeat the excursion on a date to be arranged. [An extra excursion to Heyington, under Dr. Pritchard, has been arranged for Saturday, 15th June.] ELECTION OF MEMBERS. On a ballot being taken, Mr. Percy H. Bond, Scotch College, Hawthorn, was duly elected an ordinary member ; and Messrs. Walter Mann, Rockmount, Narracan, and Thos. Smith Savige, Narracan East, as country members of the Club, •J""g'J Field N aturalisis' Club — Proceedings. 19 GENERAL BUSINESS. Nominations were made for office-bearers for 1918-IQ, and Messrs. F. Keep and F. Wisevvould were elected to audit the accounts for the current year. REMARKS ON EXHIBITS. Dr. Sutton called attention to his exhibit of the fruits of Eucalyptus pyriformis , one of the largest fruits of the genus, collected by Mr. H. Deane, M.I.C.E., near the track of the East- West railway in South Australia. Mr. F. Pitcher called attention to his exhibit of flowering branches of Alyxia ruscifolia, R. Br., Ruscus-leaved Brushland Box, a native of New South Wales and Queensland, a useful garden shrub, having pleasing foliage and bright berries ; also to Pledranthus parviflorus, Willd., Small Cockspur Flower, a Victorian plant, useful as a trailer for hanging baskets, &c. PAPER READ. By Professor Sir Baldwin Spencer, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., D.Sc, entitled " Notes on Certain Kitchen Middens on Wilson's Promontory." The author said that great interest is attached to the kitchen middens, or shell-heaps of the aboriginals, the investigation of which helps to throw light on the life and customs of the former inhabitants of our State. During a recent visit to the National Park he had taken the opportunity to make a thorough examination of a number of shell-mounds which had been laid bare by some heavy gales, and exhibited a large col- lection of marine shells, flint and bone implements, &c., as the result. Portions of a human skeleton had also been collected, but he did not consider it any proof of the existence of cannibalism among the natives at any time, as it was the custom in some parts to bury the dead in old shell-mounds or " ovens," as they are termed in the northern districts. A number of stone implements were also exhibited, which must have been brought from considerable distances, as no stones of similar kinds are to be found within many miles of the Promontory. In the discussion which followed, the president, Messrs. Keep, Daley, Keble, Anthony, Keartland, and Chapman took part. Mr. G. A. Keartland said that the natives carry articles of use to them for vast distances. He had found a large marine shell at a native well in North- West Australia, four hundred miles from the sea. At one place he knew of there were several drayloads of fresh-water mussel shells, showing that the natives had used the place for many years. 20 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [vJ"^''xxxV Professor Spencer said that, with regard to the question of cannibahsm, the Australian aboriginals could not be accused of cannibalism as usually understood. They did sometimes eat human flesh, but it was purely in a ceremonial way. Owing to the lateness of the hour, the paper by Mr. T. Steel, F.L.S., " Tracks of the Garden Snail," was postponed until next meeting. NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. Mr. J. Searle said that he had kept several of the larvae of the flies referred to in the Wattle Park report, along with ants, until they turned into the perfect insect, but he had been unable to determine anything as to their food. Mr. F. Spry said that similar flies are found in different parts of the world, but their life-histories are as yet unknown. He had tried on several occasions to discover what the larvae live on, but with- out success. Mr. F. Keep read an extract from the Scientific Australian, stating that a kangaroo had kept up a pace of forty miles per hour for at least two miles against a motor-car. Mr. G. A. Keartland said that recently large numbers of Rose-breasted Cockatoos had visited the Preston district, where they had not been seen for years. Mr. F. G. A. Barnard said that he had seen a few days before a female " Imperial White " butterfly, Delias harpalyce, Don., flying at Kew. This, he thought, was an unusual occurrence for May, but Mr. F. Spry said it had also been recorded as having been seen in June. EXHIBITS. By Mr. J. W. Audas, F.L.S. — Thirty species of flowering plants collected at Yairam, South Gippsland, October, 1917, including Boronia anemonifolia, Cyathodes acerosa, Pultencea faleacea, P. juniperina, Choretriim laterifolium , Helichrysum hracteatum, H. rosmarinifoUmn, Acacia Howittii, Leptocarpos Brownii, L. tenax, Caustis pentandra, Epacris lanuginosa, SccBvola hispida, and Gompholohium latifoliuui. These should have been recorded for the April meeting, having been ex- hibited then in illustration of paper on plants of Yarram district. By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Growing fern, Asplenium flaccidum, collected at Wilson's Promontory, December, IQ14. By Mr. C. Daley, F.L.S. — Stibnite, antimony ore from Coster- field, Victoria, and Numeaite, nickel ore, from New Caledonia. By Miss A. Fuller.— Papuan butterflies. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. — Large specimen of marine shell, Valuta mammilla, found on beach, National Park, Wilson's Promontory, by Mr. W. J. Cripps. ( J""^'1 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 21 By Mr. F. Pitcher. — Flowering specimens of Acacia discolor, Willd., Sunshine Wattle, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania ; Alyxia ruscifolia, R. Br., Ruscus-leaved Brushland Box, New South Wales and Queensland ; Hakea cristata, R. Br., Crested Hakea, Western Australia ; H. verrucosa, F. V. M., Warty-fruited Hakea, Western Australia ; and Plectranthus parviflorus, Willd., Small Cockspur Flower, Vic- toria, New South Wales, and Queensland, from Melbourne Botanic Gardens. By Miss Rollo. — Mineralogical specimens from Trans- Continental Railwa5^ including manganese, barytes, oxide of copper, carbonate of copper, and crude salt ; also bean of African tree, Afzelia africana. By Mr. A. L. Scott. — Granite under microscope — [a] in ordinary light, {h) between crossed nicols. By Sir Baldwin Spencer, K.C.M.G. — Portions of aboriginal skeleton, two bone awls, and collection of marine shells, flint, and other stone implements, from aboriginal kitchen middens, Wilson's Promontory ; photographs of middens, and of the middens or " native ovens," near Koondrook, Murray River. By Mr. J. Searle. — Salpa, a pelagic tunicate, showing alterna- tion of generations. By Mr. P. R. H. St. John. — Herbarium specimens, in bloom, of Paiersonia glahrata, R. Br. (Iridaceas), Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland; Mitrasacme montana, J. Hooker (Loganiaceae), Victoria and Tasmania, collected by exhibitor at foot of Mount Riddell, Healesville, 5th May. 1918 ; also specimen of Panax samhucifolius with variegated foliage, collected by exhibitor at Warburton, 20th April, igi8 ; sample of crude oil of Eucalyptus Sieheriana, Silver-top Gum, Vic- toria and New South Wales, prepared at the Botanic Gardens laboratory by exhibitor from tree cultivated in the Gardens. By Mr. H. Whitmore. — Ladybirds, Orcus australasicB, hiber- nating under bark of wattle tree ; specimen of Thorn Apple, Datura stramonium, an introduced noxious plant, common at East Malvern. By Mr. H. B. Williamson. — Dried specimens of the intro- duced plants, Glaucium liiteum, Scop., Horned Poppy, and Atriplex patula, Common Arache, from Altona Bay. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. The Great War. — Another of our members, Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, Vegetable Pathologist, Department of Agriculture, Victoria, has suffered bereavement by the death of his only son, Private Cyril C. Brittlebank. He had seen over three years' service in the Field Ambulance Brigade, and his death in hospital in France has just been reported. 22 Excursion to Lake Covangamite and District, [voi."^' xxxv. EXCURSION TO LAKE CORANGAMITE AND DISTRICT. This excursion took place at Easter, and covered from 28th March to 2nd April. Accommodation being unobtainable nearer, quarters were taken up at Colac, about ten miles from the lake. The party consisted of Messrs. Searle, Shephard, Barnard, Eaton, and Hardy, four arriving on Thursday night and the remaining one on Friday. Next morning collecting was commenced at Lake Colac. The water in this lake is fresh, and covers an area of io| square miles. Boats are readily procurable, and the party engaged in securing plankton Gefl'hrAnd Lakes near Red Rock. — i, L. Gnalincgurk ; 2, Twin Lakes; 3, L. Werowra ; 4, L. Coragulac ; 5, L. Purdiguluc. by means of a tow-net. The weather was very fine, and the surface perfectly smooth. Micro- fauna was abundant, and a floating alga, recognized by Mr. Hardy as a species of Botryococcus, was also present in great quantity. This separated out very well when formalin was applied to the gathering, as the animals sank to the bottom while this representative of the flora rose to the surface. It was noticeable that furthest from the shore Entomostraca (chiefly Copepoda) predominated, J^""g'] Excursion to Lake Corangamite and District. 23 while closer in more species of Rotifera occurred. Among the Rotifera was the well-known species Triarthra longiseta ; an Anuraea frequently observed from other localities but probably unnamed ; a Brachionus (unidentifiable) was also in plenty. It will be difficult to say whether this latter form is new, as this genus comprises many species, which in some cases are very variable. This form, however, was quite unknown to any of the party. A very interesting and pleasant morning was spent here. In the afternoon a journey was made to the well-known Stony Rises, of which much has been said in the past that need not be repeated now.* One of the "aims was to find out the means of access to Lake Corangamite at some point where a boat was available. In the Rises it was dis- appointing to find all the hollows dry ; evidently the summer had been drier in this district than about Melbourne. A chance meeting with a resident gave information of a good road to Corangamite, and, pursuing it, a point was reached on the southern shore (A on map). This lake is given in the " Victorian Year-Book " as covering an area of 90 square miles, and is of very indented outline, about 18 miles long by 6 miles wide. At this position the shore is a basaltic floor sloping very gradually into the water. The soil covering the basalt is washed away, but deposits of rather fine sand occur in the hollows. The univalve shell Cociella striatula occurs, and there are consider- able accumulations here and there. As only stick-nets could be used, wading was resorted to in order to get out as far as possible. Examination on the spot of the gathering revealed the presence of a very interesting rotifer, a species of Pedalion, occurring in great numbers. Returning to Colac, the party was added to by the arrival of Mr. Searle, and a very inter- esting evening was spent examining the material obtained by means of the microscopes the party was provided with. On Saturday, as no information had come to hand regarding a boat on Lake Corangamite, it was determined to visit Coragulac Hill and the adjacent hill known as the " Red Rock." This has been made a picnic resort, and the shire council has provided facilities for visitors in the shape of roads, paths, water supply, and on the summit of Coragulac, 768 feet above sea-level, a cast- iron dial giving the direction and distances of the land-marks all round the horizon. The view here is scenically very fine and of great interest, as affording a view of the distribution of the lake system. Corangamite extends to the very limit of the horizon, while close below is Coragulac, covering 90 acres. There are also surrounding the eminence Lakes Werowra, Purdiguluc, Gnalinegurk, two known as the " Twin Lakes," * Searle and Shephard, "Visit to the Lakes near Camperdown and Colac," Vict. Nat., October, 191 5 (vol. xxxii., p. 87). 24 Excursion to Lake Corangamite and District, fvoi"^' xxxv the " Blue Lake," and several smaller unnamed. The name " Red Rock," which is applied locally to the whole district, evidently arises from the pile of weathered volcanic rock capping one end of the ridge of which Coragulac Hill is a part. This ridge partly encircles the small lake known as the " Blue Lake." The appearance of several of these small lakes is suggestive of volcanic craters filled with water. Four of these crater-lakes were visited and worked witli stick-nets. This involved some hard climbing on the part of at least one member of the part3^ as the depressions are of considerable depth, and ridges occur between each of the lakes. Coragulac was found to contain a Copepod, and, in great numbers, a rotifer of the genus Brachionus, which was, for a members of this genus, of large dimensions, and may also prove new. The small " Blue Lake " was practically monopolized by two species of rotifers — one occurring in immense numbers, a Brachionus closely resembling B. mulleri, a form often found in brackish water ; the other, not so plentiful, being a Pedalion, differing from the Pedalion of Corangamite. After spending some hours at the spot a move was made beyond Alvie, and, keeping on an excellent road, the shore of Corangamite was reached at a point (B on map) about five miles north from the place visited the day before. Plying stick-nets, it was soon found that here also Pedalion was the predominant form. On returning another interesting evening was spent in looking over the day's results. The following morning a visit was paid to the hills on the south of Colac, just reaching the fringe of the forest country stretching down to the Otway district. Here the botanist of the party put in some tree-climbing in order to reach the flowers of the eucalypts. Later in the day a start was made for Lake Beeac, which lies about twelve miles to the north. This is a salt- water lake, and it was with interest that preparations were made to examine the water in search of its inhabitants. The apparently prosperous town of Beeac is hard by the shore, and a good road nearly encircles the lake. The first point approached showed a very smooth and flat expanse of whitish mud, with apparently water in the distance. Leaving the shore the mud became rather soft, but, undeterred, one member of the party removed his boots and attempted to reach the water, but the foothold became too treacherous, and he had to return without reducing the apparent distance of the water. Looking towards the north end, the lake appeared to have a higher bank, with the water in contact. Over to the west a number of white mounds were visible, which also seemed near the water. On reaching these shores the mud flats were found to extend just as far as at the first position, and it was with reluctance concluded that water was entirely absent from J""g'"] Excursion to Lake Covangamite and District. 25 the surface, and that mirage was accountable for the illusory appearance which for a time duped even the experienced members of the party. This lake — or, rather, lake-bed — covers 2\ square miles, and is nearly circular in outline. The white mounds proved to be heaps of salt, apparently scraped off the surface of the mud flat as it became firm enough to bear man and horse. Disappointed in the search for aquatic life here, a line was taken to return through Cororooke, passing the hamlet of Warrion on the way. Here the outlook west- ward is very picturesque, the Warrion Hills, Little Warrion, and Coragulac Hill rising boldly from the plain. So as not to return without some collecting, a call was made on the way home at another point (C on map) on the shore of Corangamite, and the same forms as before were obtained at a position between those already worked. During the evening communication was fortunately established with Mr. H. V. Vaughan, of " Te Aro," Larpent, who owns a boat on the west shore of Corangamite, and this gentleman kindly agreed to the party using it. On Monday morning Mr. Barnard was obliged to return to town, to the regret of the remainder, who proceeded by the Camper- down road, calling on the way at Mr. Vaughan's for instructions as to the exact locality of the boat. In the " Rises " a turn was made to the right along a very rugged track for about four miles, reaching a farm, to the owner of which we carried a letter of introduction. The position is on the west shore of Corangamite (D on map), near a peninsula which connects a hill, jutting out into the lake and known as " The Island," with the mainland. Some searching was necessary to locate the boat in a sandy bay near " Swan Point," at the mouth of a good stream of fresh water flowing into the lake. This position was very interesting. The springs feeding the stream come out under- neath piles of basalt, and in a few hundred yards combine to give quite a considerable flow. Low ridges of weathered basalt run down to the lake, and lines of detached points mark the continuation of the ridges into the water. A flock of Black Swans added to the interest of the scene. These masses of low, rough, basaltic hillocks and ridges extend to a consider- able distance on each side of Corangamite, and occur in detached areas throughout the whole district traversed. The shore here shelves very gradually, and the boat had to be pushed out about a hundred yards before it floated. The four occupants were soon fully employed in rowing, baling, and plying the tow-nets. The value of the tow-net for collecting plankton was well exemplified, as, besides the rotifer Pedalion, great quantities of Copepoda were found at the first cast. Indeed, had the party returned with only the product of netting from the shore there would have been liability of a very wrong 26 Excursion to Lake Corangamiie and District. rvoT"^'xxx'v conclusion in regard to the relative prevalence of the different forms. About an hour's work sufficed to fill the receptacles provided, and the party returned to the shore. Before leaving the botanist collected on the marshy land near the springs, securing a number of aquatic plants. On Tuesday morning another visit was made to Lake Colac. The weather was unfavourable, the water being rough, but material was secured in the hope of bringing it while still living to Melbourne, but this was not a success, as all the more delicate animals had disappeared when examined on arrival. The return to town was made in the afternoon, and the members separated with the feeling of having spent a profitable time. The accom- panying map of the locality, kindly drawn by Mr. Hardy, shows the tracks taken during the excursion. The appended reports do not represent the full results of the collecting, as further work is necessary to deal with the material gathered, and it is very probable that several new species will be established. Crustacea. — ^By J. Searle. Between Red Rock, Coragulac Hill, and Lake Corangamite there is a group of small lakes of a very interesting character. Some are strongly mineralized, while others adjoining them are fresh. They are formed at the bottom of steep declivities, and their investigation proved extremely strenuous, as one had to be continually climbing the steep hills, varying from fifty to two hundred feet in height, and then clambering down the other side to another lakelet. The micro-fauna of the lakes was as various as the lakes themselves. At the foot of Coragulac Hill are three lakes, known locally as " The Basins." The lake on the eastern side of the hill is Lake Coragulac, and its water is fresh enough for domestic purposes. On the western side is Lake Werowra, or the Red Lake, as it is known locally ; its water is brick-red in colour, thick, and " soupy." This is caused by an alga of the Anabcena or Nostoc group, consisting of short, beaded filaments. Animal life appeared to be totally absent from this lake, though in a small pool formed by a fresh-water spring a few feet from the lake a few water-beetles were captured, and, fioating on the surface of the water, the pupal skins of a species of Chironomous were noted. In Lake Werowra, a few feet from the eastern shore, is a pile of scoriaccous rocks forming an islet. On these rocks were growing lichens of the most brilliant colours. The third lakelet has no official name, but is known as the Blue Lake. It is perfectly circular, and the local name of " The Basin " fits it exactly. Hand-netting proved that it was densely crowded with rotifers of two or three species and a few small worms, not yet identified, that wriggled along the surface skin of the water ; no other J"'J^'l Excursion to Lake Covangamite and District. 27 organisms were found in it. In the depression over the ridge to the south of the Basin the water had dried up. Samples of the mud from its bed were secured for " hatching " pur- poses at home. Further south is the largest of this group of small lakes — Lake Purdiguluc. It appears to be very shallow, and the effect of the dry spell was marked by the shrinking of its surface, leaving stretches of mud-flats along its shores. The fauna of this lake consisted of a Copepod, Boeckclla sym- metrica, and a few rotifers, the muddy shores making collecting very difficult. To the west of Purdiguluc is Lake Gnalinegurk, and, though the distance separating the two is not great, it is of considerable height and steepness, and, after the climbing already undertaken, I did not feel physically fit to negotiate it when I remembered I was a mile and a half in direct line from the lunch camp, and between it and me were a number of ridges to be crossed, with a final climb of two hundred feet over Coragulac Hill ; so reluctantly I retraced my steps. The general impression formed of these lakes was that, though their waters contained great numbers of specimens, the number of species was small. A visit to the lakes in early spring might furnish a greater number of species. The most interesting of the lakes was the one to which the excursion owed its origin — Lake Corangamite — for in its waters was taken a Copepod which will be the type of a new genus, of which there are probably two species. The specimens captured near the shore were slightly smaller, and on the fourth thoracic segment, on the dorsal side, the females have a short projection. Those taken with the tow-net half a mile or so from the shore were deeper in colour, slightly larger in size, and the females did not possess the dorsal spine already alluded to. It is proposed, provisionally, to call this genus Heterotemora, and a full description, with figures, will be furnished in due course. Another interesting " find " in this lake was an Isopod, certainly undescribed for Victoria, and probably new to science. Its capture was the result of inductive reasoning. Along the lake shore and in the shallow water Dottrel were observed. As the netting operations captured nothing larger than Copepoda, and the algfe on the rocks sheltered Ostracoda and the little univalve mollusc Cociella striatula, curiosity was aroused as to what the Dottrel found to eat. Selecting a rock on the shore where one could kneel without getting unduly wet, the muddy bottom of the lake was scrutinized for any appearance of living creatures. Finally our patience was rewarded by observing a movement just under the surface of the fine silt, and the quick insertion of the fingers resulted in the capture of an Isopod. Twenty minutes' close search was rewarded by the capture of eight or 28 Excursion to Lake Corangamite and District. [v^"^''x^xv ten specimens. When next there is an opportunity of visiting this lake apparatus will be taken for the special investigation of this class of animal life, and perhaps further new species may be secured. On a previous visit to this lake the Brine Shrimp, Parartemia zietziana, was found in great ^umbers on the rocky shore on the eastern side of the lake. Not a vestige of these was observed on this occasion, though it was only a few weeks earlier in the year than the occasion on which they were found. The Entomostraca of Lake Colac did not differ from that described on a former visit, though they were not nearly so numerous as on that occasion. On this visit, Hymenosoma laciistris, the Fresh-water Crab, was taken. The following is a list of species as far as observed : — Cladocera — • Moina auslraliensis Pseudomoina leninse Copepoda — Boeckella symmetrica ,, oblonga , , asymmetnca Heteiotemora, gen. et sp. nov. Cyclops albidus ,, serrulatus Harpactocoida, sp. Ostrocoda — Three species, not yet determined. Isopoda — Probably new. Brachyura — Hymenosoma lacustris Moliusca — Cociella striatula At some distance from the shore of Lake Corangamite shells of a species •of Limnaea were found embedded in the soil. Insecta — A few water beetles, not yet identified. Botany. — ^By A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. I. — En Route. — -The indigenous flora, especially the trees of the volcanic plains between Melbourne and Colac, having for the greater part vanished, the botanist may reach the lake area almost with as little diversion as the microscopist in search of microzoa. Suffice it to say that, beyond a few Yellow Gums, Eucalyptus leucoxylon, near Lara, and Red Gums, E. rostrata, and Swamp Gums, E. ovata, between Geelong and Colac, the only plant of arboreous habit is the Drooping Sheoke, Casuarina stricta, a remnant of much that grew on rising ground and rocky hillocks. The sheokes have been cut out for fire- wood and for fodder in drought time for stock ; the gums, too, have been heavily " pruned " for stock feeding, and cut out for fencing and firewood. (Here I may mention that I have seen well-fed cows in a good grass paddock rush up to and greedily devour the leaves and twigs of a large branch of E. ovata that had suddenly crashed to the ground.) In the Stony Rises — a weird area of tumbled basalt — ^the exclusive gum-tree is the Manna Gum, E. viminalis, and this is supported by small Blackwoods, Acacia melanoxylon, and Native Cherry or Ballart, Exocarpos cupressiformis, with a ground cover of common bracken and " Prickly Moses," Acacia verticillata, &c. June,! Excursion to Lake , Cor angamite and District. 29 2. — ^The Lakes. — Aquatic botany is better studied earlier in the year than Easter, but only folk of a leisured class can fit their excursions always to appropriate seasons. In respect of material to be gathered, the zoologists were more fortunate than the botanists in the excursion from a seasonal point of view. The lake flora was collected from several places, and has not been exhaustively examined, yet enough has been gathered and specifically determined to give a good idea of the algo- logical condition of the two lakes at the date of our visit, so that the outstanding features of the lakes Colac and Coran- gamite may be stated as follows : — Lake Colac. — Fresh or slightly brackish water, containing a floral plankton and a few attached species. No visible water- weeds, excepting a solitary plant of the introduced dock, Rumex, sp. (fl) Plankton consisting almost exclusively of Botryococcus Braunii, but with an occasional Closterium cynthea, and with a few species of diatoms present. (b) Attached Algae. — The only conspicuous growth was Cladophora flavescens, which was attached to jetties, posts, unused boats, &c., and to the aforesaid dock. The Cladophora bore sparingly sterile filaments of a species of QEdogonium, and less of Bulbochseta, and also Hydrianum heteromorpkum and ChamcBOsiphon incrustans, the latter being seen occasion- ally also on Copepoda. Oscillatoria, sp., was associated with the Cladophora, but only isolated filaments were found. The smooth mud bottom of the lake was barren. Lake Corangamite. — This is a salt lake with a marine atmosphere — the large expanse of salt water, the rock-bound coast with shelly beaches, and littoral ulvaceous fringe of characteristically smelling "seaweed" contrasting well with the smaller, less exposed, and fresh-water Colac ; more so when, as at irregular periods, such weeds as Heleocharis sphacelata, Triglochin procera, dec, make their appearance in the latter. (a) Plankton plants absent. {b) The littoral alga flora consisted almost exclusively of Enteromorpha Ralfsii, Harv., and this almost encircled the lake with a high level mark of dry and white bleached felt, which covered the basaltic rocks and rendered walking on them with bare feet a matter of comfort. At the water's edge, and for a considerable distance " seawards " along the gently sloping bottom, this weed formed flocculent masses, sometimes waving upwards from the rock base, or floating in large gas- borne masses that made wading difficult. The only associated alga was Oscillatoria {littoralis ?), in isolated filaments. (c) Shore Macrophytes and Algae. — On the western side of 30 Excursion to Lake Covangamite and District. [voT"^'"xxxv the lake, where fresh water from the springs makes marshy ground and enters the lake by soakage and shallow surface film almost without current, holes made by hooves of cattle, &c., contained water covered with Azolla filicidoides and Lemna minor. Other plants of the vicinity were Isoetes fluviatilis, Nasturtium officinale, Cotula {coronopifolia ?), Cyperus, sp. ?, the introduced flat-weed, Hypochceris radicata, and Triglochin striata. Among or attached to some of these were sterile filaments of Spirogyra, Zygnema, Mougeotia, CEdogonium, Volvox globator, Closteriiim Ehrenbergii, Closterium cymthea, several species of Navicula, and Arcella vulgaris, &c. On the eastern side of Corangamite the shelly beaches overlying basalt extend inland, interspersed with Salicornia australis, &c., which lead on to the dry-land grasses. Among the rocks, and within reach of salt spray, Senecio lautus and thistles grew sparingly with Chenopodimn album, and the flat-weed was plentiful beyond high-water mark. The results of the excursion are on the whole very satisfactory, and it is hoped that further investigations will be carried out before long at a different season of the year. Intending visitors to the Red Rock district can obtain at the Tourist Bureau a large scale map of the locality, which will be more serviceable than the small sketch map herewith. — J. Shephard. TWO SNAKES NEW TO VICTORIA, With a List of the Victorian Species. By J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., Curator of the National Museum, Melbourne. {Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 14th Jan., 1918.) Two species of snakes not previously recorded from Victoria have been recently added to the National Museum collection, both of which were captured in the Mallee, in the north- western portion of the State. These I have been able to identify as Rhynchelaps australis, Krefft, and Denisonia nigrostriatu, Krefft. The former was described from specimens obtained in the neighbourhood of Port Curtis, Queensland, and on the Clarence River, northern New South Wales, and the latter has been recorded from Rock- hampton, Queensland. Rhynchelaps australis, Krefft. This is a small species measuring 11 inches long, of a bright red colour, with a series of narrow cross-bands of whitish, black-edged scales, extending half round the body. These bands, of which there are 55 altogether, each occupy one row J""t'l Kershaw, Two Snakes New to Victoria. 31 igi8 J ^ of scales, except on the neck, where they are broader and cover four rows of scales, and towards the tail, where they occasionally embrace two rows. On the head is a broad dark brown band extending from the anterior edge of the frontal to the posterior edge of the parietals, and spreading on either side to the upper edge of the labials, enclosing the eyes. On the hind neck is a similar, though broader, band, the scales on the posterior half of which are white-centred. The single example was taken at Speed, west of Lake Tyrrell, and forwarded to the Museum by Mr. Donald Macdonald. Denisonia nigrostriata, Krefft. This is of a yellowish-white colour, the scales of the sides narrowly edged with grey, and a similarly coloured vertebral line extends from the necK to the tip of the tail. The head is grey above, the upper lip and lower parts white. A single specimen, measuring 13J inches, was taken at Ouyen, North-Western Victoria, by Mr. A. S. Kenyon, and a second specimen, from South Australia, is in the Museum collection. The total number of snakes recorded from Victoria, including the Typhlopidffi (Blind Snakes) and excluding two doubtful Vic- torian species — viz., Dendrophis pnnctatus and Denisonia signata (recorded by Mr. D. Le Souef in vol. i., 1884, p. 86, of this journal) — is now twenty-six. Of these, Denisonia nigrescens, Krefft, recorded for the first time in Victoria in the Vict. Nat., vol. XXV. (1908), p. 91, has since been taken at Cunninghame and Bruthen, in Eastern Gippsland, and at least four speci- mens of the Yellow-bellied Sea-Snake, Hydrus platiirns, Linn., are known to have been taken in Victorian waters. In view of the additions and changes in nomenclature of our Victorian snakes which have been made since the list published in the first volume of the Naturalist was compiled, I take the opportunity of adding a complete list of the Vic- torian species : — Family TYPHLOPID^. Typhlops proximus, Waite. T. polygrammicus, Schleg. T. unguirostris, Peters. T. ligatus, Peters. T. pinguis, Waite. T. broomi, Blgr. T. wiedii, Peters. T. bituberculatus, Peters. T. australis. Gray. Family B0ID.E. Python spilotes, Lacep., Carpet Snake. 32 Kershaw, Two Snakes New to Victoria. [v^.'"'xxxv Family COLUBRID.^. Sub-family Hydrophiin^. Hydrus platurus, Linn., Yellow-bellied Sea-Snake. Sub-family Elapin.e. Diemenia textilis, Dum. and Bibr., Brown Snake. syn. D. superciliosa, Fischer. Furina hicucullata, M'Coy. D. nuchalis, Gthr., Shield-fronted Brown Snake. syn. D. aspidorhyncha, M'Coy. Pseudechis porphyriacus, Shaw, Black Snake. P. cuprcus, Blgr. syn. P. australis, Krefft. P. microlepidotus, M'Coy, Small-scaled Brown Snake. Denisonia superba, Gthr., Copper-headed Snake. D. nigrescens, Gthr., Black-headed Snake. D. gouldii, Gray, Gould's Snake. D. coronoides, Gthr., White-lipped Snake. D. flagellum, M'Coy, Little Whip Snake. D. nigrostriata, Krefft. Notechis scutatus, Blgr., Tiger Snake. syn. Hoplocephalus ciirtiis, Sclil. Acanthophis antarcticus, Shaw, Death Adder. Furina occipitalis, Dum. and Bibr., Black and White Ringed Snake. Rhynchelaps australis, Krefft. [While the foregoing paper was in the printer's hands I received from Mr. E. R. Waite, Director of the South Australian Museum, Adelaide, a copy of his article, " A Review of the Australian Blind Snakes," which constitutes the first part of the Records of the South Aitstralian Museum, vol. i., No. i, igi8 (issued 24th May, igi8). During the preparation of this con- tribution Mr. Waite examined all the specimens of Australian Typhlopidse in the National Museum collection, and I am therefore enabled to include a complete list of the Victorian species. — J. A. K.] DiSTiNXTiON FOR A MEMBER.^ — Members will be pleased to learn that one of their number, Mr. Albert Ernest Kitson, C.B.E., F.G.S., F.R.G.S., director of the Geological Survey Department, Gold Coast (West Africa), has recently had conferred upon him the distinction of Commander of the British Empire (C.B.E.) Beginning as a clerk in the Victorian Mines Department, Mr. Kitson qualified himself for scientific investigations, ultimately becoming the senior field geologist on the Geological Survey of Victoria. In 1906, on the recommendation of Prof. J. W. Gregory, F.R.S,, D.Sc, a former director of the Survey, Mr. Kitson was appointed to the mineral survey of Southern Nigeria. Field Maturalists' Club of Victoria. •* OFFICE-BEARERS. 1917-1918. ^ pvesieent : ME. P. PITCHER. IPicespiestbents: ME. A. D. HAEDY, F.L.S. ME. J. QABEIBL. Uon. ttieaeucec : ME. Q. COQHILL, 79 Swanston Street (Tel. Central 2794). tJou. libianan : ME. P. E. H. ST. JOHN, 54 Mason Street. South Yarra. t)on. £^itot: of tbe " Wictotiau 'Maturalfst": ME. F. a, A. BAENAED, 167 High Street, Kew (Telephone Hawthorn 443). 130U. Secretary : ME. E. S. ANTHONY, 448 Collins Street (Telephone Central 355). t»oii. assistant Secietai:>j anc I,ibi*anau : ME. W. GLANCB. iXomnuttee : MESSES. F. CHAPMAN, A.L.S., C. DALEY, F.L.S., J. A. KEESHAW, F.E.3. J. SEAELB. and DE. C. S. SUTTON. EXCURSIONS. Satukdat, 15th June. — EXTRA EXCURSION— Heyington. Object- Geology. Dr. Pritchard has kindly consented to lead an excursion as above. Members will meet at Burnley Railway Station at 2.15 p.m. Satubday, 22ni) June. — Economic Museum, Botanic Gardens. Leaders — Messrs. F. Pitcher and Mr. P. R. H. St. John. Meet at office gates at 2.30 p m. Satuedat, 13th July.— Entomological Museum. Objects— Ento- mology and Vegetable Pathology. Under the leadership of Messrs. C. French, Jr. and C. Brittlebank. Those taking part are asked to meet at the entrance to Museum, Flinders Street Extension (just past Spencer St.) at 2.30 p.m. NOTE : — Members are asked to notice ihe interchange of dates in these two excursions. ANNUAL MEETING, June loth, 1918. EXHIBITION OF NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMENS. The following members have been appointed to take charge of the Exhibits in the various sections : — Botany.— Dr. C. S. Sutton and Mr. P. R. H. St. John. Entomology. — Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. Geology.— Mr. F. Chapman A.L.S. and Mr. C. Daley, F.L.S. Conchology. — Mr. J. Gabriel. General Zoology. — Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S, Forestry.— Mr. A. D. Hardy. Ornithology.— Mr. J. A. Eershaw, F.E.S. and Mr. Q. A. Keartland. Physiography.— Mr. C. Daley, F.L.S. and Mr. F, Chapman, A.L.S, Microscopy. — Mr. J. Searle. Ethnology. — Mr. E. S. Anthony. WATSON'S il!f?H!?!I?L?.9i!.J!l?i:R.!!fJJJi5^^'^'^^- JOINTED COLLECTING STICK, with bottles, drag hooks, line and reel, net ring, spoon and cutting hooks .. .. .. .. . 30/- CORKED GLASS- COLLECTING TUBES, from ' ". '.*. 1/6 doz FIELD COLLECTING BOOK (FOR BOTANY), hardwood boards, blotting paper, and straps . . . . . . . . . . 5/6 BUTTERFLY NET, with folding ring, 4 joints .. .. .. 6/- INSECT STORE BOXES, of Corked Pine . . 10x8, 4/6 ; 14 x 10, 7/6 ; 17^ x 12, 11/- INSECT COLLECTING BOXES, of deal, corkei and papered .. 1/-, 1/6, and 2/- INSECT RELAXING BOXES, of zinc, oval shape, corked .. .. 1/6, 2/9, and 3/6 GLASS FRONT SHOW BOXES, corked and papered ,. 14x10,8/-; 16 x 12,11/- INSECT-KILLING BOTTLES 1/6 and 2/- ENTOMOLOGICAL PINS, assorted per box of 1 oz., 2/- INSECT FORCEPS, with broad gauze jaws 3/6 SETTING FORCEPS, finest nickelled steel 2/- GEOLOGICAL HAMMERS 3/- and 4/6 POCKET ACID BOTTLE, in boxwood case '. .'. . 1/6 THREE-POWER POCKET MAGNIFIER 4/6 W. WATSON & SONS PTY. LTD., 78 SwANSTON St., Melbourne, And at Ocean House, IVIoore St., Sydney. ENTOMOLOGICAL APPARATUS. CHERRY & SONS PTY. LTD., GISBORNE (TIC.)* and 231 SUSSEX STREET, SYDNEY. ENTOMOLOGICAL PINS (KiRBY BBAED'S),in 10 sizes, 1/3 to 2/6 per box; Mixed, 6d. per packet. STORE BOXES. — Dovetailed, hinged, corked and papered. Size, 14 x 10 x 3i, 7/- each. SETTING BOARDS.— Corked and papered. Flat. Length, 14 inches ; depth of groove, I inch, 1 and 1 J in. wide, 1 /- each ; 2 and 2} in., 1 /3 ; 3 in., 1 /6 ; 4 in., 1 /9 ; 6 ia., 2 /6. CORK LINING (Best), Very Light. Size, 13 x 9, 1/-; 18 X 13, 2/-; 26 x 18, 3/6 per sheet. BUTTERFLY NETS.— Best English folding, 7/6 each. KILLING BOTTLES (CYANIDE), 1 /B CURVED FORCEPS (the Entomologist's most indispensable Tool), 4/- ZINC RELAXING BOXES, 1/6 to 3/6. •,• •,• CABINETS.— From £2 upwards. NEWMAN RELAXING TIN, ready charged, overcomes all dangers of mould, 3/6. POCKET BOXES, 1/- to 2/6. INSECT CEMENT, for repairing antenn», &c., l/-per bottl©- Write for onr Price list and Sample Sheet of Pins. nviiiaiiiBinBiiiBiiiBMiKHiBMianiBniaiHBiimiiiaiMaH iifiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiijiiiiiijiiiiiiiiiiiiiiu iliii Vol. XXXV.— No. 3. July, 1918. Tfie Yictorian Naturalist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OF — Jhe Jield jTaturaUsts' Club of Vietorio. Published 4th July, 1918. Hon. Editor : F. O. A. BARNARD, Esq. The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions recorded. The Field Natubalists' Club of Victoria The ,Tall Tkees of Australia Notes Correspondence . . 4* I»f«ICE SIXF»EWCE. fh Obtainable from — Hon. Treasurer, lion. Secretary, or Hon. Editor. (Foe Addresses see Page 3 or Cover. If by Post io. hxtra.) ^{lenie for <&uvo:pe : OWXrA.li7 St. CO.) S7 ^oho Square, X^cis&dom. iit£lbourn£ : WALKER, MAY & CO., Printers, 25 Mackillop St. 1918. iaiiiBiitHjiiBiiiBi{tainBittaiir«iiiB>iiBtiiBiiiaiiiaMifliiiBiiiBiiiBiiiBiiiarttB ilBuiiiiiBUiiiuiiiiau^Biiii'u^iiiiuiiiMiiiiBiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiMian I!!!!!!!!!!!!!*!!"!!!!*!!!!!!!!''"!'!'!"''!!' iliiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiEuiaiiiaiiiiiitil Field /Naturalists' Club of Victoria. ROOMS— ROYAL SOCIETrS HALL, VICTORIA STREET, MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR ORDINARY MEETING, MONDAV EVENING, 8th JVL,Y, zgiS. 1. Correspondence and Reports. 2. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing tiie full name and address to ttie Hon. Secretary. 3. Election of Members. As Obdi:7art Mehbek — Miss B. S. Chisliolm, 64 Henry Street, Windsor. Mr. T. Dunbabin, Elwood. Mr. W. T. C. Kelly, LL.B., 432 Collins Street, Melbourne. Mr. Philip Morrison, 1 Bowen Street, Hawthorn. AS Associate Member — Master Alex. H. Dennett, 286 City Hoad, South Melbourne. 4. General Business. Pbopossb, Mr. C. Daley, F.L.S. Mr. F. Pitcher. Mr. C. French, Jr. Mr. J. Stickland. Seconder. Mr. E. S. Anthony. Mr. E. E. Pescott, F.L.S. Mr. P. R. H. St. John. Mr. J. Wilcox. Mr. R. E. Luher. B.A. Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S, 5. Remarks by Exhibitors, relative to their Specimens. Ten minutes' adjournment for examination of Exhibits. 6. Reading of Papers and Discussion thereon. (a) " Tracks of Garden Snail." By Thos. Steele. (Postponed from May Meeting). (b) " Bird Life on Macquarie Island." By Joseph Hatch. (Illustrated by Lantern Slides). 7. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to inform the Secretary of the same that he may arrange for their bringing them before the meeting, such notices should, however, be brief. 8. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members are invited to exhibit objects of interest, and to furnish the Hon. Secretary with written particulars for record in Minutes and Naturalitt. Brief descriptions should accomoany the exhibits for the benefit of fellow members. (lARDSN Cbc Uktorian naturalisi Vol. XXXV.— No. 3. JULY 4, 1918. No. 415. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The thirty-eighth annual meeting was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, loth June, 1918. The president, Mr. F. Pitcher, occupied the chair, and about one hundred members and visitors were present. The chairman, in welcoming the members and visitors, said that, in view of it being the annual meeting, and as he was on the eve of retiring from the presidency, he would take the opportunity of saying a few words about the aims and objects of the Club, which, he considered, was accomplishing valuable work in many l')ranches of natural science. The importance of the society might l)c gathered from the fact that it included within its membership His Excellency the Governor-General, University professors, heads of Government scientific depart- ments, the curators of the National Museum, Botanic Gardens, and Zoological Gardens, as well as heads of educational establish- ments, &c. The value of the monthly meetings, the wild- flower exhibitions, the excursions, and its monthly journal were strongly emphasized as means for nature students to acquire special knowledge of the various branches of natural history, and he therefore appealed to any present of similar tastes to become members of the society. He had the pleasure also of announcing that His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, G.C.M.G., would be present later in the evening to unveil the Club's honour roll. CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr. A. J. B. Haldaine, secretary of the Medicinal Plants Board of Victoria, asking the Club's assistance in procuring supplies of indigenous plants reputed to be of medicinal value, for investigation. It was proposed to deal first with Clematis microphylla and Daviesia latifolia. The hon. secretary stated that the best method of helping in the matter is under consideration by the committee, who would be glad to have offers of assistance from members knowing of considerable quantities of the plants named. REPORTS. A report of the visit to the National Museum on Saturday, 25th May, was given by the leader, Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., who said that a good party of members had attended, and a couple of hours or so were spent in examining the palaeontological department, where a number of interesting Australian fossils 34 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [vJ"^'xxxv had been pointed out, and some time j^ivcn to discussing their occurrence in the various ideological formations. A report of the excursion from Evelyn to Montrose, on the King's Birthday, Monday', 3rd June, was given by the leader, Mr. G. Coghill, who reported a good attendance. The day turned out very hne, and an enjoyal>le ramble resulted. The Native Heath, Kpacris iiiiprc'ssa, in white and wirious shades of red, was found to be blooming freely, and many bunches were gathered for home decoration. Not many other plants were in bloom, while no plants of the Broad-leaved Bitter Pea, Daviesia latifolia, were met with. It had been intended to procure, if possible, a large quantity of this plant as material for chemical experiments to be made regarding its medicinal value. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. On a l)allot being taken, Mr. C. E. Cole, Tooronga-road, Caulfield ; Mr. Hugh Hughes, of^ Glenhuntly-road, Elsternwick ; and Mr. E. P. Morris, 54 Millswyn-street, South Yarra, were duly elected ordinary members ; Mr. James Eirth, Beech Eorest, and Mr. A. W. (irainger, West Warburton, as country members ; and Mr. Malcolm Howlett, 34 Chapman-street, North Mel- bourne, and Mr. David Oldmeadow, 171 Park-street, Parkville, as associate members of the Club. ANNUAL REPORT. The hon. secretary, Mr. E. S. Anthony, read the thirty- eighth annual report for the year 1917-18, which was as follows : — " To THE Members of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. ."Ladies and Gentlemen, — Your committee have pleasure in presenting for your consideration ' the thirty-eighth annual report, giving a general survey of the Club's activities for the year ended 30th April. " It is gratifying to find that, notwithstanding the distracting influences of the Great War, the Club has, throughout another twelve months, maintained its operations and work ; its ability to carry on being due to the continued enthusiasm and support of its members and officers. " Commencing the year with a membership of 224, the additions by election of new members just exceed the resignations and losses by death, so that the total membership at the end of the year was 229, composed of 2 life, 155 ordinary, 65 country, and 7 associate members. One honorary member was elected, His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, G.C.M.G., having expressed his willingness to become a member ; while the list of honorary members was -'"'jgj Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 35 reduced b}' the death of Colonel W. V. Legge, R.A., who was elected in 1889. Your committee desires to place on record the great loss to the Club by the death of Mr. 0. W. Rosenhain, who died at sea while on a voyage to Japan. The late Mr. Rosenhain was a regular attendant at the Club's monthly meetings and excursions, and had held office as a member of committee, always taking an active interest in all that concerned the Club. His efforts in connection with the protection of our native birds are especially worthy of notice, and the sympathy of the Club is extended to his widow and family. " To four members of the Club, Messrs. F. G. A. Barnard, C. C. Brittlebank, J. H. Gatliff, and C. Vincent, each of whom has lost a son on active service abroad, your committee desires to convey the deep sympathy of fellow-members in their sad bereavement. Much concern is also felt at the continued illness of Mr. J. R. Tovey, for a time hon. secretary of the Club, and sincere hopes are expressed that a permanent and speedy recovery may be granted to him. " The financial statement to be submitted by the hon. treasurer shows that the ordinary receipts and expenditure for the year were £159 17s. 6d. and £151 8s. 2d. respectively, the year thus closing with a credit balance increased to £61 8s. 8d., with no outstanding accounts. " The regular monthly meetings have been well sustained by an average attendance of about 60. The papers read at the meetings numbered twelve, and were in most cases of great interest. The authors and titles were as follow : — Mr. D. J. Paton, 'The Buffalo Plateau in January'; Mr. G. F. Hill, F.E.S., ' A Naturalist in the Northern Territory ' ; Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., ' A Sketch of the Geological History of Australian Plants : the Palaeozoic Flora ' ; Mr. E. E. Pescott, F.L.S., ' Notes on the Reproduction of Australian Orchids ' (illustrated) ; Mr. C. Daley, F.L.S., ' A Visit to the Grampians ' (illustrated) ; Messrs. J. Shcphard, J. Searle, and J. Stickland, ' The Result of Twelve Months' Collecting of the Micro-Fauna of the Botanic Gardens Lake ' ; Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., ' Two Snakes New to Victoria ' ; Mr. A. N. Burns, ' Notes on the Butterflies of the Wandin District ' ; Prof. Sir Baldwin Spencer, K.C.M.G., ' What is Nardoo ? ' and ' Notes on Some Aboriginal Kitchen Middens at \\'ilson's Promontory ' ; Mr. A. I). Hardy, F.L.S., 'The Tall Trees of Austraha ' ; and Mr. J. W. Audas, F.L.S., ' The Characteristic Vegetation of the Yarram District.' The papers were in most cases accompanied by specimens, illustrations, maps, &c., explanatory of the statements made. " Considerable interest is attached to the exhibits shown by the meml)ers at the monthly meetings, and of these there has 36 Field Naiuralisls' Club — Proceedings. [voi^^'xxxv been a fine display throughout the year. The explanatory notes which are frequently given by the exhibitors have added considerably to the interest in the exhibits. " Numerous half-day excursions to localities of interest and of easy access to the metropolis have been made during the year, the attendance of members and friends in almost every case being excellent. In addition, several whole-day trips, visiting places further afield, have been made, and these also have attracted a goodly number, His Excellency the Governor-General on one occasion honouring the Club by taking part in the outing. One week-end excursion was made to Toolangi in January last, while a five-days' visit was made to the Colac district at Easter. These were productive of much material for investigation, and proved delightful naturalists' outings. Several Club members took advantage of the Government Tourists' Bureau excursion to the Grampians in September, and greatly appreciated the wealth of floral beauty for which the district is deservedly famous. " Perhaps the most important evt*nt of the year was the exhibition of Australian wild-flowers, held in the Melbourne Town Hall on the 2nd October last. Such a collection of native floral beauty, representing every State in the Common- wealth, had never been brought together before, and it is gratifying to know that the effort was appreciated, as is evidenced by the net cash result — £212 5s. id. — which the committee was enabled to hand over to the Y.M.C.A. National Fund for the benefit of the soldiers on active service. Great credit is due to the members wlio ungrudgingly gave of their best in time, labour, or material to the effort, but much of the success is attributable also to the many kind friends of the Club, scattered throughout the metropolis. State, and Common- wealth, who readily assisted in ways too numerous to mention. We accord them our thanks. Apart from the worthy object of augmenting the fund before referred to, .the wild-flower exhibition of 1917 resulted in the creation of a greater general interest in the study of our native flora. The numerous similar exhibitions organized by various societies and bodies in the suburbs and elsewhere in the State give at least some witness of this interest. " While the study of botany is always a popular subject with many of our members, valuable research work has been con- ducted l)y mem])ers interested in microscop}^ especially as regards the micro-fauna of our lakes and streams, of which more will probably be heard later. Other branches of natural history have not been overlooked, and in conjunction with the Eislieries and Game Department the CIuIj has rendered valuable support in such important matters as the protection •','g,''s] Field Natuvalisls' Club — Proceedings. 37 of the Mutton-bird, the preventing of the extension of the Quail season, and similar matters coming under the jurisdiction of that Department. " The National Park at Wilson's Promontory, in which the Club takes a kind of maternal pride, is more and more con- tinuing to prove its worth as a sanctuary for our native fauna and flora. I " The Plant Names Committee has met regularly, and is proceeding quietly with its arduous task, and is now re- considering the provisional pubhshed list of vernacular names. " The Club's library continues to increase, mainly by donations from kindred societies and Government Departments. Your hon. librarian is deserving of hearty thanks for the attention he has given to his duties during the year, and it is gratifying to learn that its constant use by members is some criterion that it is more than a mere appendage of the Club. " The Club's journal, the Victorian Naturalist, so eagerly looked for by members and others, is also no mean asset of the Club. The numbers comprising the thirty-fourth volume have been regularly issued to members, and for its continued success the Club is again indebted to the kindly offices of the hon. editor, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who this year completes a quarter of a century in that capacity. " With the view of obtaining a correct and concise report of the remarks made by members at the monthly meetings, which are often of great importance, your committee invited the assistance of some member in recording these by shorthand. We are pleased to state that Miss D. Philpott has voluntarily undertaken this duty, and we trust that in future the reports of the monthly meetings will contain a complete record of the statements made. " Occasion will be taken at the annual meeting to do honour to those from our ranks and from the homes of our members who have enlisted in the Empire's service. The honour roll to be unveiled is the least we can do to enshrine their sacrifice and heroism. It is pleasing to record that quite recently the distinction of C.B.E. (Commander of the British Empire) has been conferred upon one of our members, Mr. A. E. Kitson, F.G.S., F.R.G.S., who is now engaged on geological work in West Africa. Mr. Kitson, it may be mentioned, served for a period on the committee. " The thanks of the Club are due to those who, by leading excursions, contributing papers, &c., have helped in the success of the Club, and your committee is deeply indebted to Messrs. Coghill and Haughton for kindly placing their conveniently- situated offices at its disposal for committee meetings. " The continuance of the Club's growth and operations 38 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. \yo\^"'- Nat. XXXV. depend largely on the interest evinced by all the, members, and we trust that in the coming year no effort will be spared to further in every possible way so invalual:)le and instructive a study as that of natural history. " On behalf of the Committee, " F. PITCHER, President. " E. S. ANTHONY, Hon. Secretary. " 29th May, 1918." On the motion of Mr. E. Cox, seconded by Mr. J. Wilcox, the report was received and adopted. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The hon. treasurer, Mr. G. Coghill, read the financial state- jCS^ «9 4 ment for 1917-18, which was as follows : — ReCEH'TS. To Balance, 30th Apiil, 1917 • • • , n Subscriptions — Ordinary Members Country Members Associates 23 J6 2 0 9 0 0 > J Victorian Naturalist — Subscriptions and Sales Advertisements 10 8 3 15 9 0 139 2 9^ Reprints 2 19 3 17 2 ^ > 1 Sales of Badges, Photographs, &c. ~ J 2 0 0 )> Interest, Savings Bank and \V Wild-flower Exhibition — ar Loan I 9 9 ) 5 Admissions • • • ... 164 0 0 Sales of Flowers ... ... 79 12 2 Refreshments ... ... 10 17 0 159 17 6 254 9 2 .^467 6 o ♦Subscriptions: — Arrears, ^2i 17s. 6d. ; 1917-18, ^114 12s. gd. ; 1918-19, £2 I2S. 6d. — total ;^I39 2s. 9d. EXPE.NDITURE. By Victorian Naturalist — Printing ... ... ;^92 12 o Illustration ... 0 16 0 Free Reprints Reprints charged '5 0 17 15 9 0 1 f Victorian Naturalist — -L lOO 0 9 Wrapping and Posting Rooms — Rent and Attendance . 14 9 10 7 0 >> Library — Periodicals ... •• 5 0 0 Insurance .. 0 7 0 5 7 Carried forward ../ 'zi 7 4 July, uly,-| 1918J Field Naturalists' Club- Brought for ward By Hire of Lantern ,, Badges ., Printing and Stationery ,, Postages, &c. ,, Wild-flower Exhibition — Rent of Hall, &c. ... Expenses ... Cheque to Y.M.C.A. Fund ,, Balance in Savings Bank London Bank G. COGHILL, Hon. Treasurer. \\th May, 1918. Audited and found correct. Proceedings • .- £133 I 7 10 4 0 2 2 0 7 7 0 8 0 10 151 8 2 22 II 0 ... 19 ... 212 13 5 2 I 254 9 2 ... 16 12 8 ... 44 16 0 61 8 8 ^ C467 6 0 39 22nd May, 191 8. F. KEEP, "4 F.' WISEWOULD, j"^'"^''""' The following statement of assets and liabilities was also read : — Assets. Balance — Savings Bank and London Bank ... War Loan Bond ... Arrears of Subscriptions (;^6o), say... Library and Furniture (Insurance Value) £ei 8 8 20 0 0 40 0 0 150 0 0 £211 8 8 £2 19 0 Liabilities. Subscriptions paid in advance ... «. On the motion of Mr. G. Coghill, seconded by Mr. J. Stick- land, the statement was received and adopted. A vote of thanks to the officers for the past year was proposed by Mr. C. C. Plante and seconded by Mr. F. Wisewould, and on being put to the meeting was carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS, IQlS-ig. The following office-bearers, being the only hominations received, were declared duly elected : — President, Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. ; hon. treasurer, Mr. G. Coghih ; hon. librarian, Mr. P. R. H. St. John ; hon. editor, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard ; hon. secretary, Mr. E. S. Anthony ; hon. assistant secretary and librarian, Mr. W. Glance. On a ballot being taken for two vice-presidents, Messrs. F. Chapman, A.L.S., and J. Gabriel were duly elected. On a ballot being taken for five members of committee, Messrs. C. Daley, F.L.S. , J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., F. Pitcher, J. Searle, and Dr. C. S. Sutton were duly elected. 40 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [voV"xxx'v The chair was then taken hy the newly-elected president, Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. UNVEILING OF HONOUR ROLL. At this stage His Excellency, Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, G.C.M.G., attended by Major Kerr-Pearse, arrived, and was introduced to the meeting by the chairman, Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. , who said that the Governor-General's presence was a great honour, for, although Sir Ronald was already an honorary member of the Club, his time was so occupied that he could not be expected to attend many meetings. His reputation as a forester was sufficient to give him a welcome among field naturalists, and without further words he would ask His Excellency to proceed with the function of the evening — the unveiling of the honour board, bearing the names of those members who had felt the call of duty, and had gone across the sea to take their places by the side of the defenders of justice and freedom in the Great War. The Club was indebted to Mr. J. Gabriel, one of the vice-presidents, for the construction of the honour board, which was made of Victorian blackwood and Queensland maple, and to Mr. P. R. H. St. John, the hon. librarian, for the lettering. The following are the names on the honour board : — S. B. Abbott, A. O. Archer, E. O. Armytage, C. L. Barrett, L. G. Chandler, F. Cudmore, S. Herriot, D. J. Mahonv, W. Mac- gilhvray, W. J. Searle, Harvey Sutton, (Rev.) f. Webb, H. Wilson, and L. P. Winchcombe. The names of the sons and daughters of members who are serving in various capacities were also read. Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, on rising, was greeted with applause. He said : — ■" Before proceeding to perform the ceremony which I have been invited to do this evening, I should like to express the great pleasure with which I find myself in the Royal Society's Hall in Melbourne, and to find also the Field Naturalists' Society in temporary occupation of it and making use of other space in the same building. I remember attending, some little time ago, a conference in the Town Hall, when I advocated closer union between societies like the Royal Society, the Field Naturalists', the Wattle Society, and the different forest and horticultural societies, in view of my favourite pursuit of growing timber. It is, I am sure, a great matter to have these different societies, all interested in common objects, closely affiliated, and possibly making use of one another's property, to their mutual advantage. I had often wished to be in this hall, but I have never been able to get in before. It is worth coming here to see the bookcases — not only because of the books, but because it would be difficult to find "'"'isl Field Naturalists* Club — Proceedings-. 41 a better example of good Australian cabinet work, making good use of our splendid Australian timber. The Royal Society at home was presided over for many years by Sir Joseph Banks, whose name is so well known to all field naturalists. He did more than any other man to make Australia known in England. He himself was well known in England, and commanded so much respect as a scientist and a man, as well as a botanist and field naturahst, that what he said of Australia carried more weight than anything said by anybody else. He was a great friend of my great-grandfather. He introduced a Black Swan from Australia, which sailed about one of the ponds at home until about the year 1830, when it was killed as a natural pastime by some of the youths of the neighbour- hood. At that time a Black Swan was a most remarkable thing in England. No man was more closely associated with the Royal Society than was Sir Joseph Banks, and it is an in- finite pleasure to me to find myself in this hall, which shelters a long-established society, and I trust that the Field Naturalists will remain closely afhliated with that and other societies pursuing similar interests. Your field excursions here are very delightful. In all British towns, in all parts of the world, the tendency is for the town population to segregate in masses, and those of us who are country bred have always felt that the town people would be better off than they are if they knew more about the country. A society like this, with its ex- cursions, its many interests, its power of making Nature known to all who are members, and the greatly awakened interest in life which follows from that knowledge, can do much good, which cannot be over-estimated, especially when, as in modern society, the town is crowded, and its people know so little of the country. Townspeople look down upon us country folk, but we know that certainly a man who is at home in the country has two strings to his bow, and is the better fitted to serve his king and country in time of war. The ceremony that I have to perform to-night is the unveiling of this memorial of the members of the society who have gone to the front. They have done their duty ; they have done what was best worth doing, and which those of us even who have not been able to get to the front can estimate at its true value. Those of us who have not been at the front will never feel on the same level with those who have been there. Those who have gone have suffered many hardships ; they have suffered pain ; many of them have suffered death ; but, on the other hand, for all the time they have been there they have never been worried by any of those small cares that afflict most of us in our daily life. They have, at a time of great crisis, when everything that is worth having — our country, and the future of our race — is at 42 Field Naluralis.'s' Club — Proceedings. [voi''^''xxx'v stake, been able to play their part like men, and to take their share in warding off the evils that menace our country. The news received this evening reminds us all again that there is only one way of doing one's duty, and that is by following the example of the men whose names appear before us to-night. It is a responsibility, no doubt, to assert public duty, but it is a duty that is plain — it is a duty that members of a society like this, and, indeed, members of any society, can assist in the doing of ; and until this war is over, and until Australia and the rest of the Empire is made safe, and our Allies in the cause of freedom and the world, there is only one thing that counts, and that is, doing everything we can — by giving our lives, our money, our work — to secure victory and freedom. All honour to these men ! It is a great privilege to come here to-night in order to unveil this handsome board, which, I hope, may have additional names added to it yet, which will go down to posterity as the most honourable record of a very honourable society." On the Union Jack being drawn aside by His Excellency, the National Anthem was sung. A cordial vote of thanks to His Excellency for honouring the Club with his presence was proposed by Mr. C. Daley, F.L.S., seconded by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, and carried by acclamation. PRESENTATION. The chairman announced that, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard having now completed a quarter of a century as hon. editor of the Club's journal, it had been decided b}' a number of the members to present him with a small token of the Club's esteem and good wishes. He would ask the past president, Mr. F. Pitcher, to make the presentation. Mr. Pitcher briefly referred to the various ofR.ces Mr. Barnard (who was an original member of the Club) had occupied since its inception, and said that he was of opinion that the regular appearance of the Naturalist, greatly due to the editor's efforts, was one of the principal means of maintaining the Club as a live society. He then handed to Mr. Barnard a pocket aneroid bearing the following inscription :—" F. G. A. Barnard, Esq., from the F.N.C. of Victoria, in recognition of 25 years' valuable services as hon. editor. June, 1918." Mr. Barnard, in replying, said that he had been quite taken by surprise by the presentation, and, though the instrument would not be so useful to him now as it might have been when he was some years 3'ounger, still, he greatly appreciated the kindness of his fellow-members in making him the recipient of such a gift. He had at times felt inclined to resign his position, owing to lack of time to give the work the attention it J"'5'^"j Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 43 needed, more especially after the severe loss he had sustained a few months before, but on further consideration he had resolved to try and carry on a little longer. NATURAL HISTORY NOTE. Mr. G. A. Keartland said tl^at the note in the June Naturalist (page 20) with reference to Rose-breasted Cockatoos visiting the Preston district recently should read " King Parrots." EXHIBITS. The exhibit? had been tastefully displayed in the lower hall, and on conclusion of the business of the evening Sir Ronald Ferguson spent some time in examining them and hearing their stories from the exhibitors. The following is a brief list of the principal exhibits : — By Mr. E. S. Anthony. — Collection of aboriginal stone knives, from Tasmania ; stone knives with handles and bark sheaths, carved wooden and stone churingas, death-bones, &c., from Northern Territory ; mill stones, from New South Wales, &c. By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Pair of Flying Mice, Acrobates pygntcBus (mounted). By Mr. D. Best. — Case of rare or striking Victorian beetles. By Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, on behalf of Vegetable Path- ologist's branch of Department of Agriculture. — Fungi affecting the potato, vine, peach, plum, and apricot ; collection of phalloides. By Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S. — Lantern slides of characteristic Victorian scenery ; Victorian fossils ; photographs of character- istic land formations of Great Britain. By Mr. H. Clinton. — Insect preparations under microscope. By Mr. J. Cronin. — Nine species of growing Victorian ferns, from Melbourne Botanic Gardens ; also branches of Lilly-pilly, Eugenia Smithii, and leaves of Victorian Cabbage Palm, Livistona australis, for decoration of hall. By Miss C. Currie. — Branch and wood of Myall, Acacia pendula, from New South Wales. By Mr. C. Daley, F.L.S. — Representative collection of rocks and minerals from Maldon, Victoria ; types of stone axes, hammer stones, knives, grinding stones, chipped and flaked cutting and scraping implements, &c., of the Victorian aboriginals ; about fifty characteristic photographs of Victorian lake, mountain, and ocean scenery (lent by the Government Tourist Bureau). By Mr. E. Fischer. — Collection of about 300 species of minute Victorian beetles. By Mr. C. French, jun., on behalf of Entomological branch of Department of Agriculture. — Cabinet drawers of Victorian insects destructive to fruit, fruit trees, garden plants, seeds, 44 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [vd"^'xxxV &c. ; cabinet drawer of Australian Phasanidae (stick insects) ; cabinet drawer of Victorian beneficial insects ; cabinet drawer of Victorian scale insects (Coccidae) ; twelve Victorian insect- ivorous birds (mounted). By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — The largest Victorian volute shell, Voluta vtamilla, Gray, showing different stages of growth ; examples of rare Victorian shells ; ship-worms, showing destruc- tion caused to marine constructions ; and a common cowry and its varieties. By Mr. J . Gabriel. — Collection of Victorian seaweeds (mounted). The greater part of the collection was made by the late Mr. H. Watts, one of the founders of the Club. By Mr. W. Glance. — Auriferous quartz specimens from Western Australia. By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. — Specimens of nests of trap-door spiders, from Queensland ; collection of timbers of Victorian trees ; honey from twelve species of eucalypts ; forest fungi destructive to timber ; and other exhibits relating to forestry, on behalf of the Forest Department of Victoria. By Mr. J. H. Harvey. — Stereoscope, with views of Yarran- gobilly Caves, N.S.W. By Mr. R. A. Keble. — Minerals occurring in basalt at Rich- mond and Clifton Hill quarries. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. — Platypus and young ; Echidna and young ; case of common Victorian shore crabs ; Paper Argonauts, Argonauta nodosa, with animal and eggs ; case illustrating life-histories of common Victorian insects ; Bot-fly, Gastrophilus equi, and portion of stomach of horse with larvae (" bots ") attached ; large silken bag constructed by the larvae of the Bag-shelter Moth, Teara contraria. By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — About forty Australian bird-skins, including Alexandra Parrakeet, Spathopterus alexandrce, Yellow- collared Parrakeet, Platycercits semitorquatiis, Keartland's Honey-eater, Ptilotis keartlandi, Crow-Shrike (albino), Gymnor- hina leuconota, and Painted Finch, Emhlema pida ; also abor- iginal stone axes, glass and quartzite spear-heads, hair girdles, string made from wild cotton, and bag made from palm-leaf fibre. By Mr. J. P. M'Lennan. — Aboriginal stone axes, wedges, hammers, and mill stones. By Mr. E. E. Pescott, F.L.S. — Series of aboriginal spear- points, from North-West Australia. By Messrs. E. E. Pescott, F.L.S., and C. French, jun. — Sixty lantern transparencies of Victorian orchids (exhibited by electric light), also living plants of the orchids Pterostylis reflexa, P. nutans, P. concinna, and Acianthus exsertus. By Mr. F. Pitcher. — Mounted specimens of Victorian ferns, grasses, sea-weeds ; flowering specimen (female) of Stunted ■'"'j'g'l Pield Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 4_t Sheoke, Casiiarina distyla, Vent., from Belgrave ; young and mature specimens of fungus known as Native Bread, Polyporiis mylitta, from Warburton and Somerville ; dried specimen of foliage of Long-leaved Box, Eucalyptus elceophora, F. v. M., some leaves measuring lo inches in length, from Beechworth. By Mr. A. L. Scott. — Granite under microscope — (a) ordinary light, {h) under polarized light between cross nicols. By Mr. J. Searle. — -Drawings of fresh-water Crustacea ; fresh-water Crustacea, &c., under microscope. By Mr. F. Spr3^ — Cabinet drawer of Australian ants ; also moth, Stathmopoda melanochra, Meyr., the larva of which is very destructive to scale insects ; Victorian aboriginal weapons. By Mr. J. Stickland. — Various objects under microscope. By Mr. A. C. Stone. — Aboriginal implements, &c. By Mr. P. R. H. St. John. — Essential oils prepared from Victorian trees and shrubs. By Dr. C. S. Sutton. — Flowering examples of the " Sandring- ham Flora " from Langwarrin, including Correa alba, Melaleuca squarrosa, &c. By Mr. J. Wilcox. — Under microscope, tube-building rotifer, Melicerta ringens. By Mr. H. B. Williamson. — Fifty photographs of Victorian trees, also drawers of fruits of eucalypts. By Mr. F. E. Wilson. — Case of Victorian Coleoptera. By Mr. F. Wisewould. — Flowering specimens of Native Heath, Epacris impressa, pink, &c., from Pakenham. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. The Dodd Insect Exhibition. — It is gratifying to know that Mr. F. P. Dodd's enterprise in bringing his splendid collection of North Queensland and New Guinea insects to Melbourne has been appreciated by southern folks, the attend- ance having been so good that Mr. Dodd has arranged, after a visit to Adelaide, to reopen the exhibition on the 5th August next. So unique a display has never been seen in Melbourne before, and should certainly not be missed by any nature-lover, A New Elephant. — The Illustrated London News of 2nd February last contains an illustration, from a photograph taken on the spot, of an unidentified species of dwarf elephant recently shot in the Congo State by Mr. J. R. Evans. Two specimens, a male and female, have been received in London by Messrs. Rowland Ward, the famous taxidermists, for mounting. They stand between 5^ feet and 6 feet high, being thus only half the height of the ordinary African elephant, while the tusks are very much smaller in proportion. They are called by the natives the " swimming " or " water " elephant. 46 Uk-r-dw Tall Trees of Australia. [voV"xxxv THE TALL TREES OF AUSTRALIA. By a. D. Hardy, F.L.S., State Forests Department. {Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, nth March, rgiS.) " The Sequoia is not only the oldest of trees, but the mightiest, and, while from time to time there have been reports of rivals in Australia, yet these rivals, when brought to the ultimate test — that of the tape-line — have shrunk before it, leaving the Sequoia the monarch of them all." Thus the American Museum of Natural History expresses what might be taken to be the last word on the question of tall tree sizes. It is not the intention in the present paper to challenge the claim quoted above, but I propose to give, among other notes, some tape-line measurements, and introduce some survey figures, in order to raise the Austrahan record to the point of respectful competition, without boasting. If reports be true, the greatest girth record belongs to neither Sequoia nor Eucalyptus, for a Cypress at Santa Maria, Mexico, according to F. Starr, has a circumference of i6o feet at 4 feet above ground. In " Les Merveilles de la Vegetation " (F. Marion, Paris, 1866) we may read of some old trees of enormous girth, many of them oaks. The old Dragon Tree, near the summit of Teneriffe, with height 24 metres and dia- meter 15 metres, and others, are apt to be lost sight of. The circumference of the Mount Etna Chestnut is said to be 180 feet. Knight and Stepp give 50 feet as the diameter of an Oriental Plane near Constantinople, while a Lime (Tilia) in Lithuania has an unchallenged girth record of 87 feet. And since the height of a tree is also its length, we may note that neither Eucalyptus nor Sequoia is anything like champion among long plants, the reputed length of the Great Sea-Wrack (Macrocystis) being up to 900 feet (one writer gives " 500 metres " !) ; and one of the Climbing Palms (Calamus) is stated by Gosse " to be found almost a quarter of a mile in length," which astonishes even Knight and Stepp, who quote his statement (from " Omphalos "). Schimper, however, states that Treub measured a torn-down portion of one of these climbers, and found it to be 240 metres (788 feet). American publications treat mostly of hving trees that can be viewed to-day by anyone visiting the Sequoia country in California, and this is wlierc we must take second place. We can produce some fine records and some very tall trees, but probably nothing quite so huge as the giant conifers. The great Sequoias have been preserved as objects of national pride and as of wide interest ; our giants have vanished, and by this time have rejoined the lunnic layer, and, unrecognized, stare July.-I Hardy, Tall Trees of Austvalia. A7 at us from the naturally regenerated forest in the juvenility of a succeeding cycle. Trees of over 300 feet are not plentiful, but while we have unexplored forests in inaccessible places it would be unwise to say that finality has been reached with our present best record. Although accounts in scientific prints are not necessarily perfect, those of popular journals, judging by some that we have read, should be accepted with caution. Here are some height figures, given at various times, some of which have been referred to without enthusiasm by Mr. Maiden : — 415 521 480 480 471 500 Dandenongs Blacks' Spur Cape Otway Blacks' Spur Baw Baw Heaton as 420 feet . . Dandenongs . . D. Boyle, 1862. 420 ,, . . Blacks' Spur . . Reported by H. measured by F. v. M. F. V. M., " Select Extra-Tropical Plants." D. Boyle. Klein, quoted by F. v. M., Jour. Bot. H. Heaton (measured by F. v. M.) " G. W. Robertson " (F. v. M. in " Extra-Tropical Plants "). " W. G. Robinson " (F. v. M.) The last two probably refer to the same tree, and the name of the surveyor should be G. W. Robinson. In the Lone Hand in 191 1 an article appeared in which the writer deplored the incredulity of the times, and stated that " the Baron " (F. v. Mueller) " made a practice not only of estimating the heights of the tallest trees which came under his notice, but of having them actually measured." The value of the article may be measured by Victorian botanists and sur- veyors in terms of the following extract : — " In this district (Gippsland) a great number of trees measuring 300 feet have been found, while specimens of 400 feet are not uncommon. . . . Mueller is stated to have said that our gum-trees attain a height of 500 feet, but the tallest tree even the Baron ever measured was 480 feet ! " (The italics and the exclamatory note are mine. — A. D. H.) Although we are not seriously concerned with estimates, the following extracts from tables of " certified estimates," pre- pared by Kerner, are of interest : — Height.— Peppermint Tree, Eucalyptus amygdalina Mammoth Tree, Sequoia gigantea Diameter. — Mammoth Tree, Sequoia gigantea Peppermint Tree, Eucalyptus amygdalina 140-152 metres. 79-142 ., II „ 8 .. 48 Hardv, Tall Trees of Australia. [vc)["^''xxxv which, being interpreted, means that Kerner's accepted maximum height and circumference of the White Mountain Ash, E. regnans, are respectively 500 feet and 82^ feet, and corresponding figures for the Big Tree, Sequoia gigantea, are 466 feet and 113^ feet approximately. Kerner probably accepted F. v. M.'s figures, but this point remains. Anton Kerner von Marilaun was professor of botany in the University of Vienna, and his " Natural History of Plants " was translated by Professor Oliver, of London University, assisted by two graduates in science; and Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, M.D., &c., was Government Botanist of Victoria, and a botanist of world-wide repute. They were not Australians, nor even Britons, and unlikely to be swayed by unconscious bias in favour of Australian trees, but . Search for Tall Trees Enxouraged. An attempt was made to gather reliable information about our tall or big trees in order to place it on show at the Centennial Exhibition, Melbourne, in 1888. A reward of £20 was offered to anyone w^ho would guide the authorities to a tree of 400 feet in height, with an additional reward of £^ for every 5 feet in excess. The Hon. James Munro personally offered :£ioo in addition to the foregoing. We may be sure that land sur- veyors, cattle men, forest rangers, paling splitters, miners fossicking for tin along the mountain forest streams, and others, were on the look-out for tall trees. Then, if ever, was the time for the fabulous giants to materiahze ; but, although Government surveyors and others were instructed to report, and the money reward widely advertised, the tallest tree found was only 326 feet i inch in height, with the small girth of 25 feet 7 inches at 6 feet from the ground. This tree was discovered on a spur of Mount Baw Baw, Gippsland, about 90 miles from Melbourne. The tree of greatest girth was found near Neerim township, about 80 miles easterly from Melbourne ; it measured 55 feet 7 inches round at 6 feet from the ground, and 227 feet up to where the top was broken off. The seven trees of note were photographed and measured, and the record shown at the Exhibition was an atlas, folio size, entitled " The Giant Trees of Victoria," the survey and photography having been effected by a party including Mr. J. Duncan Pierce, civil engineer and photographer, and Mr. C. R. Cunningham, surveyor ; Mr. W. Davidson, late chief engineer of the Public Works Department, was associated with these. The work cost £600, the cost being borne by the Lands Department, the Public Library trustees, and the Exhibition Commissioners. The following tabulation is an extract from the State Forests Department's annual report 1910-11, in whicli a summary of J"iy.l Har-dy, Tall Trees of A iis/i'alia. 49 191SJ the giant tree investigation up to that date appeared, the hst being one referable to the plates in the album : — Species. Height. Girtli. Locality. I. Eucalyptus amygdalina 307 feet 22 ft. 8 in. measured Mt. Monda, Fernshaw, 52 regnaiis 6 feet from ground miles from Melbourne II. Eucalyptus amj-gdalina 227 feet 55 ft. 7 in. measured Neerim Township Reserve, regiians (top broken 6 feet from ground 79 miles from Melbourne off) III. Eucalyptus amygdalina 326 ft. 1 in. 25 ft. 7 in. measured Spur of Mt. Baw Baw, regnans 6 feet from ground Gippsland, 91 miles from Melbourne IV. Eucalyptus amygdalina 303 ft. 6 in. 25 it. 7 in. measured Stony Creek State Forest, regnans tt feet from ground Narbethong, 60 miles from Melbourne V. Eucalyptus amvgdaUna 290 fe^t 32 feet measured Forest of the Otway regnans " (top broken 6 feet from ground lianges, 113 miles from oft) Melbourne VI. Eucalyptus amygdalina .. .. .. ..Head of Sassafras Gully, regnans Dandenong Ranges, 29 miles from Melbourne VII. Eucalyptus amygdalina 219 ft. 9 in. 48 ft. 6 in. measured Sassafras Gully, Dandenong regnans 6 feet from ground Ranges, 31 miles from Melbourne For extra- Victorian and non-botanical readers a short descrip- tion of our giant tree par excellence may be given. The White Mountain Ash, Eucalyptus regnans, F. v. M., is one of about 230 species of the genus, which, as most folk know, is a member of the Myrtle family, and is therefore distantly related to the Pomegranate (Punica), the Monkey Nut (Lecythis), and more closely to Melaleuca, Calhstemon, Tristania, and Eugenia. The White Mountain Ash, often referred to in old publications as E. amygdalina, but later as E. amygdalina var. regnans, F. v. M., was raised to specific rank by Ferdinand von Mueller. It is an evergreen tree, with a gently-tapering trunk,* though old trees, especially in more exposed positions, often have considerable short-length buttresses. The profile of an old, buttressed eucalypt approaches the curve known as cissoid. The tree is thin-skinned and susceptible to scorching by fire, the greater portion of the trunk decorticating in long, thin flakes or ribbons, which taper in thickness from one- eighth or one-tenth of an inch to nothing where they run off above, while about the base and often on the lower fifth, fourth, or even third part of the trunk the rougher bark persists. This butt bark may be an inch or so in thickness just above the buttresses, and to this is due a vernacular synonym, " Blackbutt," a name properly applied to E. pilularis. The giant stem supports a comparatively scanty canopy, which, even in old age, is not so ungraceful as that of Sequoia. The leaves are stalked, flat, curved, lanceolate, coriaceous, with pages equally green and shiny, and contain an aromatic oil of a smell akin to peppermint. The flowers * I have measured five 20-foot logs from one tree, and found the middle section to be of same diameter at both ends — cylindrical. 50 Hardy, Tall Trees of Austyalia. [voi"^''xxxV grow on short stalks radiating from a common peduncle, and form an umbel in the leaf axil. Because the timber resembles European Ash the tree was called Mountain Ash, and, later, White Mountain Ash, in contradistinction to Red Mountain Ash or Victorian Woolly Butt, E. delegatensis, the wood of which has a pinkish-brown tinge. It is the chief lumber-tree of Vic- toria, and luxuriates in the eastern and Otway forests. The fissile, porous wood is used largely for house construction, furniture, and fittings, and for a variety of other purposes, while chemical products such as acetic acid, acetone, formalin, and creosote, charcoal, &c., are obtained by retorting timber of no use to the sawmiller. Defective trees are not milled, but split up into palings, over 10,000 broad palings 6 feet in length having been obtained from one giant. Such, in short, is the tree which we offer as a not unworth\' competitor with the Sequoias. In his " Forest Flora of New South Wales," J. H. Maiden, I.S.O., F.R.S., gives space to the question of giant cucalypts, and is as modest in his claim for the eucalypt as his con- temporary, Sargent, in America, is in recording the Sequoia. Maiden is sceptical concerning stories of trees of 400 feet existing in Australia to-day, though he does not go so far as to suggest that such giants never existed. Measured Heights. The following are three measurements which exceed those in the atlas of giant trees referred to above : — (i) In the fifth progress report of the Royal Commission on State Forests and Timber Reserves, in 1889, it is stated that the Engineer of the Shire of Colac had measured a Mountain Ash, E. regnans, in the parish of Olangolah, which was 64 feet 6 inches in girth at a height of 8 feet, and that the same surveyor measured a prostrate Mountain Ash in the same parish, the latter being 329 feet to a point at which the top was broken off by the fall ; the diameter 4 feet at 16 feet from the base end ; and the girth 3 feet 6 inches at a height of 255 feet, and 2 feet 5 inches at 328 feet. (2) Mr. G. W. Robinson, civil engineer and surveyor, was engaged in the Dandenong forest over 60 years ago. Even then, he says, the tallest and straightest trees had been taken out by the shingle-splitter. The present writer's father (the late John Hardy, Government Surveyor) said a few years ago that he never measured a 400-foot tree, and, though trees of 300 feet were common enough, and up to 350 feet not in- frequent, the bigger trees had already been felled and removed by the paling-splitter. Mr. Robinson, however, records as his best big tree measured one which was " 342 feet to the com- J"'>"'1 H\RT)Y, Tii/l Trees of Australia. qi 19 10 J - •' mencement of the ' die-back ' portion of the tree," and, as the stem there was from 6 to 7 inches in diameter, he estimated the " die-back " portion to have been from 15 to 25 feet, thus giving an approximate length of 360 feet. " The last of the big trees in that district," he says, " were cut down in 1862." (3) The third is our best measurement, by a legally-qualified measurer. I sent out many inquiries drawing attention to Mr. Robinson's contribution to the Victorian Naturalist, seeking evidence as to a taller tree. The replies were, with one excep- tion, in the negative, and the exception was that fi^om Mr. G. Cornthwaite, licensed surveyor, Colac. In response to my further inquiry, I received a letter from Mr. Cornthwaite, and of which, with his permission, I am recording the part appro- priate to the subject in hand : — " Colac, I2th June, 1916. " Dear Sir, — In reply to yours of the 6th inst., in reference to the big tree measured by me in Gippsland, I beg to say that 1 cannot find the old notes taken at the time, but I am quite sure as to the measurement of the length. The tree was growing on allotment No. i, parish of Narracan South, about 2 miles from Thorpdale, and was in a dense forest of tall trees, but this one was manifestly taller than the surrounding trees. The measurements were taken during the Christmas holidays of 1880. I measured the tree as it was standing by means of a clinometer and chain, and made it 370 feet. Afterwards, when it was chopped down, I measured it — 375 feet, allowing for the stump. The tree was a Victorian Mountain Ash or ' Blackbutt,' and, where it was spring-boarded, about 12 feet from the ground, was about 6 feet in diameter. About 240 feet length of the barrel was worked up into palings, &c., and all the material for a six-roomed house was obtained from it. My brother also worked a paling tree in the same locality after- wards, which was regarded as the champion paling tree of Gippsland. The palings were worth £100 at the stump. . . My brother had the stack of timber photographed. " (Signed) G. Cornthwaite." The greatest recorded girth of a eucalypt is that given by the Conservator of Forests (Mr. Hugh Mackay), with photo- graph, in the " Handbook to Victoria," prepared for the information of the British Association meeting at Melbourne in 1914. The tree pictured is " King Edward VII.," and is an imperfect specimen of E. regnans growing near Marysville, on a slope of the main Dividing Range. The girth of 80 feet was measured at about 10 feet from the ground, thus avoiding the greater spread of the buttresses. But the old fire-scarred stumps of larger stems exist in the Otway region. " King 52 Hardy, Tall Trees of Austyalia. [voT"^''xxxV Edward VII." measures about 112 feet rouud at the ground line ; present height of the tree is only 200 feet. The general slimness of our trees has been animadverted on by at least one American writer, which reminds me of having, with Dr. Eames and Mr. Synnott, M.A., of Harvard University, visited the forest on the slopes of Donna Buang during an official visit for the Forests Department. There (the American visitors assisting) I measured E. regnans, of average sawmilling girth, in the locality. One was 242 feet high (by clinometer and tape) and innocent of buttresses, with a diameter of only 4 feet b inches at 5 feet from the ground. Another, which I personally measured with clinometer and tape, in the Beenak Ranges, was 290 feet, with girth of only 18 feet at 5 feet from the ground. This tree had very slight buttresses. Near the source of the Bunyip another tree had only 4 feet diameter and a height of 260 feet. Usually old trees are buttressed. American Tree Records. In California there are two species of Sequoia. There is the Big Tree, Sequoia gigantea (also called S. Wellingtonia), and the Redwood, S. sempervircns. Both are evergreens, with persistent, rough, thick bark, conforming to the fiutings of the stems. The Big Tree is the bulkier of the two. Redwood is the taller, and, while the former has stiff greyish-green foliage something like that of a Cypress or Araucaria, the latter has its small linear leaves flattened out, and the general appearance of a twig is like that (^ a Yew. Big Tree grows at higher altitudes — 5,000- 8,000 feet — and remote from the sea ; Redwood grows nearer the coast, and below the zone favoured by the Big Trees. Sargent states that Sequoia Wellingtonia reaches, at maturity, 275 feet, with trunk diameter of 20 feet near ground, occasion- ally becoming 320 feet high, with diameter 35 feet. For Sequoia sempervirens the same authority records 300-340 feet, with a slightly tapering and irregularly-lobed trunk rarely 28 feet in diameter at the much-buttressed base, and with bark 6 inches to 12 inches thick. In " Silva of North America " Sargent gives 325 feet for a Big Tree as the tallest of two measured, and of Redwood says : — " 20 to 28 feet at the much-buttressed base and 350 feet tall. The Redwood, which is the tallest American tree, probably occasionally reaches a height of 400 feet or more. The tallest specimen I have measured was 340 feet high." According to the Southern Pacific Railway Guide, the Big Tree (there called S. gigantea) has specimens that tower nearly 400 feet to the sky, and one is said slightly to exceed this, while many measure from 70 to 90 feet round. The largest, recently discovered, has a base circumference of 109 feet. i'^'V'! H AV-Viw , Tall Trees of Australia. 53 " The trees," says the writer, " are not mere poles or slender shafts, such as the eucalypts of Australia, but proportionate and symmetrical in girth and height. The bark varies from II to 40 inches in thickness. . . The beauty of the tree is enhanced by its flutings, which traverse the trunk from base to apex." Several trees are specified as being 300 feet high, and one with a girth of 90 feet. The Department of the Interior (U.S.A.), in " The Sequoia National Park," tells of S. gigantea only, and in this park trees of dimensions as follow exist : — Height. Diameter. General Sherman . . . . 279.9 ^^^t . . 36.5 feet General Grant . . . . . . 264 ,, . . 35 Abraham Lincoln .. .. 270 ,, .. 31 California . . . . . . 260 ,, . . 30 The American Museum of Natural History (from a publication of which was selected the quotation that introduces this article) says of the Big Tree, Sequoia gigantea, after belittling the eucalypt, that the Kauri Pine of New Zealand, so far as size goes, is a really dangerous rival, and two examples are on record having respective diameters of 24 feet and 22 feet. In a list of fourteen specimens particularized by the Museum are two worthy of special note — viz., specimen " C," of King's River Grove, has a height of 276 feet and a circumference (near the ground) of 116 feet, while specimen " G," of Calaveras Grove (dead, without bark), has diameter 23 feet 2 inches at 3 feet from the ground, and height to present top 365 feet (estimated former height, 400 feet). Other heights mentioneil' are 302, 321, 325, 319, 315, 311, and 270 feet, the diameters running up to 96 feet. By the courtesy of the Conservator of Forests I am enabled to quote from the Department's copy of American Forestry (June, 1916), wherein Sequoia is described, but in this case it is not the Big Tree, but the tall tree — the Redwood, S. semper- virens. The writer of the article (S. B. Detwiler) says : — " There are a few trees in the world that have attained greater diameters and some that grow to greater heights, but no other tree with a trunk of huge size rises so gracefully to the majestic height of the Sequoias." He quotes from John Muir as follows : — " Trees from 10 to 15 feet in diameter and 500 feet [a misprint for 300, obviously. — A. D. H.] high are not uncommon, and a few attain a height of 350, or even 400, with a diameter (at the base) of 15 to 20 feet or more, while the ground beneath them is a garden of fresh, exuberant ferns, lilies, Gaultheria, and Rhododendron. This grand tree, Sequoia sempervirens, is sur- passed in size only by its near relative Sequoia gigantea, or Big Tree, of the Sierra Nevada, if, indeed, it is surpassed. The 54 \\\\iv\. Tall Trees of Ausivalia. [voV'^'xx'x'v sempcrvircns is certainly the taller of the two. . . The greatest size of the Big Trees is 300 to 330 feet in height, and a diameter (10 feet above the base) of 30 to 37 feet. Excep- tionally large specimens of the Redwood are 325 to 350 feet high and 18 to 20 feet in diameter 10 feet alwve the base. Ordinarily the Big Tree does not exceed a height of 250 to 280 feet and a diameter above the swollen base of 12 to 17 feet. The usual size attained b}' the Redwood is 8 to 12 feet in diameter and 190 to 280 feet in height." Sequoia sempcrvircns and Eucalyptus regnans have some points in common, however, and a few may be stated. They are the tallest trees in their respective countries. They are valuable timber trees — each, perhaps, the most useful its country produces. They are both evergreens, the old leaves remaining more than one season. The greater part of the seed is infertile. The seed is exceptionally small for such large trees — in E. regnans less than that of a gooseberry. The^^ both rejoice in climatic conditions wherein the temperature rarely falls below 15° F. (30° for Eucalyptus), or rises above 100° F. (90° F. for this Eucalypt), with a rainfall of 20-60 inches. Their woods are fissile. Having stated their points of agreement, a few differences may be mentioned. The Redwood is immune from fungoid and insect pests. E. regnans is subject to longicorn and other borers, termites (" ants "), and fungoid disease such as the bracket-like Xylostroma, with mycelium like a sheet of chamois leather conforming concentrically to the heartwood -rings. The wood of Redwood is non-porous, and easily seasoned ; that of E. regnans has large pores visible to the naked eye, and requires careful seasoning and filling before final dressing. Redwood is a soft, brownish-red colour, and light ; E. regnans is a pale straw colour, hard as oak almost, and com- paratively heavy. The former resists decay in contact with the ground ; the latter has not such endurance. Redwood is a conifer ; E. regnans is of the " Myrtle blooms," to use Lindley's old term. The former has rough, persistent bark, and the latter decorticates annually, leaving the greater part of the trunk smooth ; and finally- -not to make too long a tale — this point of difference, important in forestry : Sequoia sempcr- vircns suckers freely, while Eucalyptus regnans reproduces by seed only, so far as 1 am aware. Both Sequoia gigantca and sempervirens are cultivated as ornamental trees in parks and gardens of south-east Australia, especially in the belt between the summit of the Dividing Range and the sea, in Victoria. At l-Jallarat the Big Tree is doing well, many trees being planti^l in i\\v park near Lake ^^'endouree : and fine young specimens al)()u( 100 feet high are on Mount igiSj Hardy, Tall Trees of Aiisiralia. 55 Maccdon, at 2,250 feet altitude. The Redwood may be seen in Melbourne Botanic Gardens, with the Big Tree (both small), and also at Macedon and Daylesford. Bentham, G., F.R.S. Caire, J. Chamier, G., M.Inst.C.E. Cooper, Ellwood Ewait, A. J., D.Sc, Ph.D. Guilfoyle, W. R., F.L.S. ,. Hardy, A. D. ... Harris, W. K. ... Howitt, A. W., F.G.S. .. Kerner, A. [tran?. Oliver].. Mackay, H. Maiden, J. II., F.L.S. F.R.S. Mueller, Baron F. von Perrin, George Pierce, J. D., C.E., and Cunningham, C. R. Robinson, G. W., C.E. Rodway, L., F.L.S. BIBLIOGRAPHY. " Flora Australiensis," 1866. In the Victorian Naturalist, January, 1905. " Australian Timber — Karri " " Forest Culture and Eucalyptus Trees." San Francisco, 1896. In " l\eport of Department of Agriculture," 1907-10. In " Phil. Trans. Royal Society, London," 190S. " Australian Botany," 1884. An. Rep. State Forests Department, Vict., 1910-11. In the Lo)te Hand, 191 1. In "Trans Royal Society of Victoria," 1890. " Natural History of Plants," 1894. In "Handbook Vict. B.A.A.S." " A Critical Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus," 1905. " Useful Native Plants of Australia," 1889. " The Forost Flora of New South Wales," 1905. " Eucalyptographia," 1879-84. " Second Census of Australian Plants." Gardener^ s Chronicle, 1862. Journal of Botany (Seenians), 1862. " Select Extra-Tropical Plants," 18S5. " Introduction to Botanic Teachings," 1S77. " Fragmenta Phytographia; Australiix?," 1858-81. In the Australian Builder and Contractor's News, 1893. " The Giant Trees of Victoria," I J In the Victorian Naturalist, June, 191 1. " Tasmanian Flora," 1903. Royal Commission on State Forests and Timber Reserves, Fifth Progress Report, 1899. " Silva of North America," 1896. In " The Australian Bush," 1899. In " Treasury of Botany," 1866. " Australian Timbers," 1892. Sargent, Charles S. Semon, Richard ... Smith, A. Warren, W. H., Wh. Sc, M.I.C.E., &c.... Woolls, W., Ph.D., F.L.S. " The Plants of New South Wales," 1885. Australian Meteorology and Geography. — A series of lectures on this subject, by Dr. Griffith Taylor, Physiographer in the Commonwealth Weather Service, especially for the benefit of teachers, was commenced at the University on 21st June. Particulars can be obtained from the Registrar. 56 Correspondence. [voV*^''xxx'v THE REPRODUCTION OF FERRESTRIAL ORCHIDS. To the Editor Victorian Naturalist. Sir, — In the Victorian Naturalist for February and March last (vol. xxxiv., pp. i6o and 176) is a paper on the above subject by Mr. E. E. Pescott, F.L.S., F.R.H.S. Being interested in the cultivation of orchids, and having had some experience in their growth from seed, I would like to make a few remarks on Mr. Pescott's paper. There are few terrestrial species of the genera dealt witli by Mr. Pescott that are worth growing except from a purely scientific point of view. In my collection, beside half a dozen or more exotics, I have three Australian — Phaiiis grandifolius, Calanthc veratrifolia, and SpathogJottis Souteri. The Phaius and Calanthe are referred to in Mr. Pescott's paper. Undou]:)tedly terrestrial orchids — and in this all others may be included — very rarcl}' grow from seed in a state of nature. Personally, I think this is a wise provision, considering the immense number of seeds ordinarily produced. I cannot endorse the following statements : — " Little is known regarding the seeds of these plants. . . Whether they are germinable ... or whether they are all abortive is not known. Apparently there is no necessity for the pro- duction of seed, owing to the tuberous increase, and apparently the elaborate apparatus or arrangement of the organs is to some extent but a survival of the pollination and fertilization operations of other days." It was Darwin's work on orchids that so fascinated me many years since that when I had the opportunity I commenced to grow a few, and since then have largely added to my stock. Though I have not been able to devote as much attention to the subject as I would have liked, I have, however, been successful in raising three varieties of terrestrial orchids from seed, the onl}' ones tried. As a matter of fact, a good deal is known about the seeds of orchids — how to raise them, that they are germinable, and that there is a distinct necessity in the economy of the plants for the production of fertile seed. The first orchids raised arti- ficially from seed were terrestrial ones. That orchids are very largely reproduced by tubers below the gi-ound (or by stems or bulbs above ground) is perfectly correct ; but that will not account for the wide distribution of the same species where it is not possible, in the course of nature, for the tubers to reach. Then they must grow from seed dis- tributed by natural agencies. — Yours, &c., HUGH DIXSON. " Abcrgeldie," Summer Hill, N.S.W.. 4th June, 1918. Field /Naturalists' Club of Victoria^ -* OFFICE-BEARERS. 1918-1919. > pvestaent: MR. A. D. HARDY, F.L.S. 19tcespi;e9i&ents : MB. F. CHAPMAN, A.L.S. MR. J. GABRIEL. tJOU. XLieaeuiec : MR. G. COGHILL, 79 Swanston Street (Tel. Central 2794). Uon. libcatian : MR. P. R. H. ST. JOHN, Botanic Gardens, South Tarra. t)on. £&itoc of tbe " Uictoiian 'natuialist " : MB. F. G. A. BABNARD, 167 High Street, Eew (Telephone Hawthorn 443). ton, SecretaciB : - MB. B. 3, ANTHONY, 448 Collins Street (Telephone Central 355). t)on. Bsaistant Secretary and Xibrai-ian : MB. W. GLANCE. ilommittee : MESSRS. C. DALEY, F.L.S., F. PITCHER, J. A. KERSHAW, P.E.S. J. SEARLE, and DR. C. S. SUTTON. EXCURSIONS, Saturday, ISth July. — Entomological Museum. Objects — Ento- mology a.nd Vegetable Pathology. Leaders — ^Messrs. C. French, Jr. and C. Brittlebank. Members to meet at entrance Flinders Street Extension (just past Spencer Street) at 2.30 p.m. Saturday, IOth August. — Warrandyte. Object— Wattles. Leaders — Misses Fuller and Nethercote. The journey will be made by motor provided sufficient names be handed in to the Hon. Sec. by 31st July. Car to leave Cathedral corner at 1.30 pm. NOTICE. The Hon. Librarian attends at the Club Room, Eoyal Society's Ball, on the 4th Monday Evening of each month for the purpose of receiving and issuing books. SPECIAL NOTICE. The Excursion programme is now being prepared and the Committee will be pleased to receive suggestions from members as to suitable localities to visit. These should reach the Secretary not later than 20th July. Leaders for Excursions are also needed and voluntary assistance in this direction will be welcomed. Wild Flower Show.— It has been decided to hold the Wild Flower show this year on Tuesday, 1st October, for which the Melbourne Town Hall has been secured. In addition to the many features of last year, it is proposed to conduct a stall for the sale of native plants growing in pots, and this notification is given early in order that members may make the necessary preparations. WATSON'S REQUISITES for field naturalists. JOINTED COLLECTING STICK, with bottles, drag hooks, line and reel, net ring, spoon and cutting hooks .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30/- CORKED GLASS COLLECTING TUBES, from 1/6 doz. FIELD COLLECTING BOOK (FOR BOTANY), hardwood boards, blotting paper, and straps .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5/6 BUTTERFLY NET, with folding ring, 4 joints 6/- INSECT STORE BOXES, of Corked Pine .. 10 x 8, 4/6; 14 x 10, 7/6; 17i x 12, 11/- INSECT COLLECTING BOXES, of deal, corked and papered .. 1/-, 1/6, and 21- INSECT RELAXING BOXES, of zinc, oval shape, corked .. .. 1/6, 2/9, and 3/6 GLASS FRONT SHOW BOXES, corked and papered ,. 14x10,8/-; 16x12,11/- , INSECT-KILLING BOTTLES 1/6 and 2/- ENTOMOLOGICAL PINS, assorted per box of 1 oz., 2/- INSECT FORCEPS, with broad gauze jaws 3/6 SETTING FORCEPS, finest nickelled steel 2/- GEOLOGICAL HAMMERS 3/- and 4/6 POCKET ACID BOTTLE, in boxwood case 1/6 THREE-POWER POCKET MAGNIFIER 4/6 W. WATSON & SONS PTY. LTD., 78 SwANSTON St., Melbourne, And at Ocean House, IVIoore St., Sydney. ENTOMOLOGICAL APPARATUS. CHERRY & SONS PTY, LTD., GISBORNE (VIC.)* and 231 SUSSEX STREET, SYDNEY. BNTOMOLOGICAL PINS (KiKBY Beard's), in 10 sizes, 1/3 to 2/6 per box; Mixed, 6d. per packet. STORE BOXES. — Dovetailed, hinged, corked and papered. Size, 14 x 10 x 3i, 7/- each. SETTING BOARDS. — Corked and papered. Flat. Length, 14 inches ; depth o£ groove, i inch, 1 and li in. wide, 1/- each ; 2 and 2} in., 1/3 ; 3 in., 1 /6 ; 4 in., 1 /9 ; 6 i'n., 2/6. CORK LINING (Best), Very Light. Size, 13 x 9, 1/- ; 18 x 13, 2/-; 26 x 18, 3/6 per sheet. BUTTERFLY NETS.— Best English folding, 7/6 each. KILLING BOTTLES (CYANIDE), 1/6 CURVED FORCEPS (the Entomologist's most indispensable Tool), 4/- ZINC RELAXING BOXES, 1/6 to 3/6. *,• *,* CABINETS.— From £2 upwards. HEWMAN RELAXING TIN, ready charged, overcomes all dangers of mould, 3/6. POCKET BOXES, 1/- to 2/6. INSECT CEMENT, for repairing antennae, o Further on we reached the North Devon State school. Calhng on the head-master, Mr. Evans, I was pleased to find that he took a keen interest in wild-flowers, and on learning the nature of my visit he readily (with the children of the school) took advantage of the opportunity to collect some local plants. Upwards of fifty species were gathered during the outing, chief of which was a large blue-flowering orchid, Thelymitra canaliculata. It proved a new addition to the Victorian list, but had been previously recorded from Western Australia. Other orchids collected represented seven species, .among them being Caladenia Pater soni, which was common everywhere on open ground, and presented at least four well- marked varieties in colour and form. C. deformis was seen in colours pink and blue ; Caleana major in rich maroon ; Diuris piinctata, purple ; Thelymitra carnea, red ; T. flexuosa, yellow ; and T. pauciflora, white. The latter has only recently been recorded as new for Victoria. The most interesting among the other plants collected were Hibbertia diffusa, Stylidium graminifolitiM, Sprengelia incarnata, Brachycome scapiformis, RfUidosis pumilio, Helichrysum rosmarinifolium, PultencBa villosa, Lobelia rhombifolia, Lagenophora Billardieri, Cymbonotus Lawsonianus, Microseris Forsteri, Mitrasacme polymorpha, and Wahlenbergia gracilis. The typical form of the latter is generally fifteen or eighteen inches in height, with a blue flower often about half an inch in diameter ; but here a form two inches high, with a minute floweret, was found. On the hills further onward the timber became heavier and the undergrowth more luxuriant. Here I noticed for the first time growing in their natural habitat Pittosporum undulattim and Acacia Howittii ; the latter is endemic to Victoria and peculiar to this district. It is a beautiful species, well worthy of cultivation, and, like the former, makes a useful hedge plant. As the road approaches the Tarra Valley the signs of practical improvement brought about by the early settlers increase, and the general contour of the country improves. The natural richness of the soil, not only along the hillsides, but right over the tops of the Strzelecki Ranges, proclaims itself by the dense covering of grass. From here to the summit the road winds on hillsides, with the river on one side and hills with giant Mountain Ash on the other. In some places it is hewn out of the rocky cliffs rising sheer from the river. As we ascend we gratefully accept the sitting accommodation provided by a large gum stump to rest awhile, as the atmosphere is close and sultry. From this vantage-point the Christmas Bush, Prostanthera lasianthos, and Tree Lomatia, Lomatia Fraseri, in full bloom, obtruded themselves on our notice, also the dainty 72 AuDAS, Characteristic Vegetation about Yarram. [yY ict. Nat. XXXV. bronze-coloured foliage of the Myrtle Beech, Fagiis Cunning- hami ; growing on a branch of the latter I discovered the rather peculiar edible fungus Cyttaria Gunnii, which greatly resembled a bunch of grapes. Advancing, the pretty flowers of Prostanthera rotiindifolta and Goodia lotifolia met our eye at almost every turn. On a clayey cutting we came upon some nice patches of that interesting little moss, Dawsonia superba. It is an erect plant, from nine to twelve inches in height. Its dark green fohage and short, thick fruit-stalk, tipped with woolly-looking capsules, give it, as its name implies, a superb appearance. Accompanying it was a very pretty little lichen, Bceomyces heteromorphits. This lichen may easily be mistaken for a fungus, but it is a true lichen, and resembles somewhat a tiny mushroom with a rose-pink head, the whole plant not being more than half an inch high. As we proceeded, each step revealed a vista of increasing beauty, and the valley became more clothed by the dense vegetation, comprising Blanket-wood, Sassafras, Silver Wattle, Musk, Mountain Pepper, Hazel, Mutton-wood, Christmas Bush, with the tree-ferns Dicksonia and Alsophila. After ascending a steep incline a sudden bend in the road revealed a picturesque waterfall, with a drop of eighty feet or more. Near it the Valley Tree-ferns grew luxuri- antly, and clinging to their brown trunks by adventitious roots were some fine specimens in flower and fruit of the rare shrub Fieldia australis, the only representative of the Gesneriaceae in our State. About a mile further on the head of the gully was reached, and from our elevated position a splendid view of the valley and wooded ranges was obtained. Working our way through the tangled vegetation for a short distance our path was strewn with fallen trees— the result of decay and storm. Many of the trees were much decomposed, and mosses and fungi had taken possession and beautified them with their varying colours of green and gold. One of the first mosses to attract our attention was Cyathophorum pennatum, which had thrown its mantle of feathery greenery over some fallen tree-ferns. Another moss, Hypnodendron spininervum, in splendid fruit, and about four inches high, was collected. This plant has a minute palm-like appearance, and makes beautiful herbarium specimens when pressed. Further on we found Ptychomnion acictdare and Thuidium furfurosttm in fruit, besides Plagiochila, Lepidozia, Lejeunia, Frullania, and other hepatics. During the trip a wide area of country was gone over. About 100 species of the more uncommon flowering plants and 25 species of Cryptogams were collected. The flora was varied and interesting, the outing, on the whole, being a very pleasant one. Field /Naturalists' Club of Victoria. *» OFFICE-BEARERS, 1918-1919. i" preeibent : MK. A. D. HARDT, F.L.S. Viceapceetbents : MB. F. CHAPMAN, AJ,.3. MB. J. QABBIBL. Don. Ureasucec : MB. G. COGHILL, 79 Swanston Street (Tel. Central 2704). *on. Xlbcarian : MR. P. B. H. ST. JOHN, Botanic Gardens, South Tarra. tjon. SDitoc of tbe "IPictocian •Waturaltat": MB. F. G. A. BABNABD, 187 High Street, Kew (Telephone Hawthorn 443). Don. Seccetat;^ : MB. B. 3. ANTHONY. 443 Collins Street (Telephone Central 356). \ tjon. Il36i0tant Seccetat^ anS librarian : MB. W. GLANCB. dommittee : MB33B3. C. DALBY, F.L.S,, J. A. KEB3HAW, P.B.S., F. PITCHEB, J. SBABLB. and DB. C. S. SUTTON. EXCURSIONS. Sattjbdat, 24TH AroTJST. — Bayswater. Object— Wattle*. /Under leader- ship of Mr. J. W. Audas, F.L.S. Meet at Flinders Street Station for 1.35 pjn. train (Fern Tree Gully line). Second class return fare, 1 /7. Satttrdat, 31ST AUQUST.— Clayton. Object — Botany. Leader — Mr.H. B. Williamson. Excursionists will travel by the Dandenong train leaving Flinders Street Station at 1.30 p.m. Second class return fare, 1 /li Saturday, 7th September. — Black Rock. Object — Botany. Leader — Mr. J. P. M'Lennan, Meet at Flinders Street to catch 1.45 p.m. train to Sandringham. Saturday, 14th September. — Bendigo. Objects — Geology and Botany. Leaders — Messrs. C. Daley, F.L.S. and D. J. Paton. (Excursionists will avail them- selves of the special excursion trains to Bendigo, of which full particulars will be given at ordinary monthly meeting). WOXICE. The Hon. Librarian attends at the Club Room, Royal Society's Ball, on the 4th Monday Evening of each month for the purpose of receiving and issuing books. SPECIAL NOTICE. Volunteers willing to render assistance at the forthcoming Wild Flower Show on 1st October (especially on the Ladies' Committee) are requested to communicate with the Hon. Secretary at the earliest possible opportunity. WATSON'S REQUISITES FOR FIELD M JOINTED COLLECTING STICK, with bottles, drag hooks, line and reel, net ring, spoon and cutting hooks .. 80/- CORKED GLASS COLLECTING TUBES, from 1/6 doz. FIELD COLLECTING BOOK (FOR BOTANY), hardwood boards, blotting paper, and straps . . . . . . . . . . • • . . • • • • 5/8 BUTTERFLY NET, with lolding ring, 4 joints 6/- INSECT STORE BOXES, of Corked Pine . . 10 x 8, 4/6 ; 14 x 10, 7/6 ; 17i x 12, 11/- INSECT COLLECTING BOXES, of deal, corked and papered 1/-, 1/6, and 2/- INSECT RELAXING BOXES, of zinc, oval shape, corked .. .. 1/6, 2/9, and 3/8 GLASS FRONT SHOW BOXES, corked and papered .. 14x10,8/-; 16x12,11/- INSECT-KILLING BOTTLES 1/6 and 2/- ENTOMOLOGICAL PINS, assorted per box of 1 oz., 2/- INSECT FORCEPS, with broad gauze jaws 3/6 SETTING FORCEPS, finest nickelled steel 2/- GEOLOGICAL HAMMERS 3/- and 4/6 POCKET ACID BOTTLE, in boxwood case 1/6 THREE-POWER POCKET MAGNIFIER 4/6 W. WATSON & SONS PTY. LTD., 78 SWANSTON ST., MELBOURNE, And at Ocean House, Moore St.^ Sydney. ENTOMOLOGICAL APPARATUS. CHERRY & SONS PTY. LTD., GISBORNE (TIC.)* and 231 SUSSEX STREET, SYDNEY. BNTOHOL06IOAL PINS (KniBT BBABD'S), in lO'slzes, 1 /3 to 2/6 per box ; Mixed, 6d. per packet. STORE BOXES.— Dovetailed, hinged, corked and papered. Size, 14 x 10 x 3i, 7/-each. BETTING BOARDS. — Cksrked and papered. Flat. Length, 14 inches ; depth of groove, J inch, 1 and U in. wide. 1/- each; 2 and 2i In., 1/3; 3 in., 1/6; 4 in., 1/9 ; 6 fa., 2/6. CORK LINING (Best), Very Light. Size, 13 x 8, 1/- ; 18 x 13, 2/-; 26 x 18, 3/6 per sheet. BUTTERFLY NETS.— Best English lolding, 7/8 each. KILLING BOTTLES (CYANIDE), !/• CURVED FORCEPS (the Entomologist's most Indispensable Tool), 4/- ZDIC RELAXING BOXES, 1/6 to 3/6. •»• *,• CABINETS.— From £2 upwards. NEWMAN RELAXING TIN, ready charged, overcomes all dangers of mould, 3/6. POCKET BOXES, 1/- to 2/6. INSECT CEMENT, for repairing antennae, Ac, 1/- per botti*. Write for our Price Hat and Sample Sheet of Pins. i ■iimitiBiiiBiiianiBiuHiiiBiiiBHiaiiiaiiiaiKaiiiaitiBiiiBiiiBiiiBii September, 1918. 1) ;= \ !■ / ii ) i ) I. < - / \ if) Ttie Victorian K^turalist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OF — Jhe ?ield XaturoUsts' Club of Victorio. Published 5th September, 1918. I! ^ " / Hon. EditoP : F. O. R. BHRfiHRD, Hsq The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions recorded. Obtainable Irom — Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, or Hon. Editor. (Foe Addresses see Page 3 of Cover. If by Post Jd. Kxrr.A.) ^0eni& for (fiuvcpe : - ^^lLJk,\S &. CO.) S7 ^obo Square, £,<»nd@m. iijii' irjii' ijit» iiiiB' iirii ■iiiv BIIIV C?OJSrT:E2SrT£3 : PAGE ( iiiil The Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria . . . . 73 Excursion to Burkley Quarries . . . . . . . . 78 One Year's. Collecting Micro-Fauna, Botanical Gardens Lake, Melbourne By J. Shephard, J. Searle, and J. Stickland . . . . . . . . . . , . 79 ( ill Notes , . . . . , , . . . . . 73, 84 ■ IMf -a THRICE SIXF>EWCE. » \M \ !!'!*' WALKER, MAY & CO., Printers, 25 Mackillop St. 1918. ^::~l:!="!=!!!=!!!"'"--!!-!'!'!-'''''!"'-'V^!U!!!!!!!|!!!!'!!!*!!!!V!'! iuiiiitiiiiiUiitiiiiriiiiiii»iiniiMii.iiui5iuiULiiimiiiiiii^iiiiiiiiiiiftiii...iH,i,.iiiiiiiJiiii,i«ii,Mi,i^ Field /Naturalists' Club of Victoria. ROOMS-ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA STREET. MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR ORDINARY MEETING. MONDAY EVENING, Qth SEPTEMBER, 1918. 1 1. Correspondence and Reports. 2. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by handing the full name and address to the Hon. Secretary. 3. Election of Members. AS Ordisaby MBMBEKS — Peofoser. Miss K. Heam. Mr. E.S. Anthony. Uiss K. Eearn. Secokder. Mr. J. Wilcox. Mr. W. Glance. Mr. J. Wilcox. Miss W. Gill, Hawksbum Eoad, • Hawksburn. Mr. William Miller, St. George's Road, Croxton. AS Associate member— Miss Elsie Heam, 64 College Parade, Kew. 4. General Business. 5. Remarks by Exhibitors, relative to their Specimens. Ten minutes' adjournment for examination of Exhibits. 6. Reading of Papers and Discussion thereon. " An Ornithological Trip to the Nhiil District." By Mr. F. Erasmus Wilson. 7. Reading of Natural History Notes. 8. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. EXCURSIONS. Satxtrdat, 14th September. — Bendigo. Objects — Geologry and Botany. Under the leadership of Messrs. C. Daley, F.L.8. and D.J. Paton. Excursionists will proceed from Spencer Street by train about 6 a.m., and shortly after arrival at Bendigo will proceed by tram, and then on foot to Spring Gully and One Tree Hill, returning by another route through the bush. Members intending to join this ex- cursion should notify their intention at the September meeting. A second trip can be arranged for those desirous of remaining till Monday. Excursionists should take lunch with them, and, if stopping over, should also make early arrangements for accommodation. Saturday, 21st September. — Oakleigh. Object — General. Leaders — Messrs. E. E. Pescott, F.L.S. and C. Plante. Excursionists will visit the Metropolitan Golf Links (by invitation), where various native flowers grow luxuriantly. Meet at Flinders Street Station (opposite Mutual Store) for ] .55 p.m. train. September 2ist to 2Sth. — Excursion to Grampians. Full particulars at Tourist Bureau. Saturday, 5th October. — Frankston. Objects — Botany and Orni- thologry. Leaders — Messrs. J. G. Mann and J. Gabriel. Meet at Flinders Street Station (opposite Mutual Store) to catch 1.10 p.m. train. Saturday, 12th October.— Aiphingrton, Object — Aquatic Zoologry. Under leadership of Mr. J. Searle. A short walk from the station leads to the interesting ponds close to the Yarra. E.xcursionists leave Prince's Bridge Station by 2.10 p.m. train. Cbe Uictorian naturalist - - -_ -.,■■■ - ■- ■ ■■ - _ t: 1 . ' '- Vol. XXXV.— No. 5. SEPTEMBER 5, 1918. No. 417. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, i2th August, igi8. The president, Mr. A. D. Hard}^ F.L.S., occupied the chair, and about seventy members and visitors were present. CORRESPONDENCE. From Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union, intimating that Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley and Capt. S. A. White, of Adelaide, had been appointed as its representatives to visit Macquarie Island and report on the alleged cruelty practised there in the obtaining of penguin oil, and asking for the Club's- endorsement of the appointment. Professor Sir Baldwin Spencer, K.C.M.G., thought that, as- thc {question had been brought before the Club originally, the Club should take the matter up. It was important to know whether the gentlemen named were going as the guests of Mr. Hatcli or independentl}^. Mr. F. Keep drew attention to a paragraph in the Herald of that evening quoting the conditions under which the island had been leased to Mr. Hatch's company by the Tasmanian Government, one of which was that the lessees should provide free transit and sustenance to a representative of the Govern- ment who would be authorized to investigate the method of \\-orking. Professor Spencer moved that the president and Mr. J. A. Kershaw be appointed a committee to watch the interests of the Club, and to communicate with the Tasmanian Government on the matter. The motion was seconded by Mr. G. A. Keart- land, supported by Messrs. D. Best and J. A. Kershaw, and. carried. REPORTS. A report of the visit to the Science Branch of the Department of Agriculture on Saturday, 13th July, was given by Mr. C. French, jun., Government Entomologist, who acted as leader so far as his branch was concerned. He reported an attend- ance of about twenty-five members and friends, who evinced considerable interest in the collections. A number of life- histories of various injurious insects were explained. The cabinets contain, besides Australian species, representative specimens of various kinds from other parts of the world, numbering several thousands, and have been largely added to during recent years, the collection of scale-insects alone 74 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [voi'"^'xx'x XXXV. amounting to fully five hundred named species. Those inter- ested in fungus and allied pests were guided by Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, Government Vegetable Pathologist, who pointed out the life-cycles of several diseases affecting agricultural and horticultural products. A number of spirit specimens were examined, also portions of mycological herbarium, including the grain smuts and the various fungi causing disease in garden flowers, fruit and forest trees, potatoes, &c. A report of the excursion by char-a-banc to Warrandyte on Saturday, loth August, was given by the leaders, Miss A. Fuller and Miss G. Nethercote, who reported an attendance of about forty members and friends. The weather had been per- fect, and the object of the visit — to see the silver wattles in full bloom — was attained, for the trees along the river-banks were at their best. Making the outward route through Kew and Doncaster, the country was found to be fresh and green every- where, while the return journey through Templestowe and Heidelberg was equally charming. A fair variety of eucalypts was seen, many of which, especially the trees of Red Box. /:. polyanthemos, were bearing burdens of the Mistletoe, Loranthus pendulus, which was also noticed on a Tagasaste, commonly known as Tree-Lucerne. Several other acacias, such as the Spreading Acacia, A. diffusa, Golden Wattle, A. pycnantha, Prickly Acacia, A. verticillata, Hedge Acacia, A. arniata, were noted, in addition to the Silver Wattle, .4. dealhata. On reaching Warrandyte a halt was made at the bridge, and the stream crossed to the northern side, where a ramble of a few hundred yards was taken to a vantage spot, from whence was obtained a lovely view of wattle, river, and woodland. Being early in the season for most flowering plants, but few species were found in bloom, among them being the Native Heath, Epacris impressa, Common Hovea, Hovea heterophylla, Purple Coral-Pea, Hardenhergia monophylla. Scented Sundew, Drosera Whittakeri, Dusty Miller, Spyridiiiin parvifoliiini, Snow-bearded Heath, Leucopogon virgatiis. After partaking of afternoon tea a start was made for town, which was reached shortly after six. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. On a ballot being taken. Miss Irene Hearn, 64 College-parade, Kew, Mr. Edward Dakin, Mount-street, Kew, and Mr. Leonard Thorn, 69 Wattletree-road, Malvern, were duly elected ordinary members ; Mr. F. P. Dodd, Kuranda, North Queensland, a country member ; and Miss Alice Hearn, 64 College-parade, Kew, as an associate member of the Club. GENERAL BUSINESS. The chairman stated that the caretaker of the Royal Society's premises, Mr. Laurence, had enlisted, and was about ^'P'g'l Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 75 to proceed to the front, leaving his wife and young daughter to keep the home together. His brother had come from New Zealand to take up the duties of caretaker, and he desired, on behalf of the Club, to congratulate Mr. Laurence on the step he had taken, and to wish him " God-speed " and a safe return. The announcement was received with acclamation. Mr. Laurence, who was in khaki, thanked the meeting for the endorsement of the chairman's kind words, and said that he greatly appreciated the goodwill of the members. Professor Sir Baldwin Spencer, K.C.M.G., said that since the last meeting of the Club a matter of some importance had arisen about which he desired to say a few words. For many years past this Club has taken a very great interest in the National Park at Wilson's Promontory ; as a matter of fact, it is due to the efforts of this Club some twenty years ago that steps were taken to try and secure Wilson's Promontory as a National Park for Victoria.* During the last few weeks there has been a determined attempt made to have certain portions of the reserve thrown open to tin-mining. Should such an attempt succeed it would practically be farewell to the National Park, and all the work done so far in enclosing, stocking, and planting the Park would be so much labour wasted. He hoped that it would not be necessary to make more than a formal protest to the Government in the matter ; but, in order to be ready for any occasion that might arise, he would move — " That the president, hon. treasurer, and hon. secretary be the official representatives of the Club to act on any deputation which might be arranged before the next meeting of the Club." The chairman said that Prof. Spencer's plan would doubtless commend itself to all the members, many of whom of recent standing were not aware of the long struggle made in securing the reservation, which he thought began nearer thirty than twenty years ago. Prof. Spencer had himself been one of the leaders in the movement, and had put a deal of strenuous work into the matter. The only ground for the present menace to the Park could be that, owing to the war, things have to be done now in the interests of industrial affairs which would not be thought of at any other time. The motion was seconded by Mr. P. R. H. St. John and carried unanimously. The hon. secretary announced that the Canterbury Horti- cultural Society purposed holding, in connection with their ordinary show, an exhibition of wild-flowers in the Camberwell Drill Hall on Tuesday, 3rd September, in aid of the Highton (Balwyn) Rest Home for Soldiers. * A full account of the movement will be found in the Naturalist for January, 1905 (vol. xxi., p. 128). — Ep. Vict. Nat. 76 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. \ ^rV'^^-Ji^b- r The chairman reminded members of the opportunity of seeing the Grampian flora afforded by the Railway Depart- ment's excursion from the 21st to 28th September. He also said that there was a httle difficulty as to what object the proceeds of the wild-flower exhibition, to be held by the Club in the Melbourne Town Hall on Tuesday, ist October, would be devoted, as, to prevent overlapping, the authorities had set aside October for hospital collections, while the Club desired to help the Y.M.C.A. war funds. He hoped to be able to make a definite announcement at the next meeting. There would, however, be no doubt about the holding of the exhibition, and the hall had been secured for the date mentioned. REMARKS ON EXHIBITS. Mr. E. S. Anthony called attention to a case of New Guinea insects illustrating the paper to be read later by Mr. F. P. Dodd on his experiences in that island. Miss A. Fuller exhibited a number of dried Indian flowers, and read some notes concerning them. Prof. Sir Baldwin Spencer, K.C.M.G., called attention to his exhibit of a number of specimens of wood-lice, collected in the Northern Territory, where he came across a procession of these crustaceans, evidently migrating, which was about thirty yards broad, and took an hour and a half to pass a given spot. The effect of the sight was that the ground seemed to be moving rather than that the creatures were moving over the ground. It was impossible to estimate the countless millions contained in the moving mass. Mr. A. L. Scott drew attention to his exhibit of a specimen of _ aventurine felspar, so named from the peculiar sparkle which it shows, due to foreign inclusions in the crystals. Mr. C. L. Plumridge called attention to his exhibit of a flowering specimen of Epacris longiflora, now in full bloom. The plant was obtained by him some five years ago at Went- worth Falls, N.S.W., and was then about one inch in height. He said that the Epacrids should commend themselves to flower-lovers, as they flower at a time when other flowers are scarce. The cultural requirements were very simple — a light, peaty soil, thorough drainage, firm potting, and no coddling. ' At this stage the president requested Mr. F. Chapman, vice- president, to take the chair, as he desired to leave early. PAPER READ. By Mr. F. P. Dodd, entitled " A Naturalist in New Guinea." In the absence of the author, the paper was read by his son, Mr. F. W. Dodd, and gave a most interesting account of some ^^'=P*g'"| Field Naturalists^ Club — Proceedings. yj six months spent in New Guinea — from May to October, 1917. The trip was made principally with the view of making collec- tions of butterflies and moths, but other insects were also taken. Some notes were also given about the bird and plant life of the Astrolabe Range, some twenty miles from Port Moresby. The author said that six months was far too short a time to exhaust the novelties of even the limited area visited, while in the higher Owen Stanley Range there should be inexhaustible treasures for naturalists of every taste ; but time and the proper season must be at the disposal of any who desire to thoroughly explore any given district. The chairman said he had been greatly interested in the paper, especially the remarks about the " Fever-bird " — a name given to the Long-tailed Nightjar, on account of its " Chop, chop, chop " note being kept up at intervals during the night, and so annoying patients suffering from fever. He had been told by a doctor recently that if one shifted camp frequently there was not so much danger of malarial fever as when living permanently in one place. Mr. H. B. Williamson expressed his pleasure at the author's statement that he had killed only two birds in the course of his thirty years' collecting, one of these being a Butcher-bird that was destroying his specimens. Mr. F. Pitcher asked whether Eucalyptus platyphylla is truly deciduous or whether the condition of the tree might not be influenced by some obscure cause. Mr. Dodd said that the same species, known around Kuranda as the " Poplar Gum," lost its leaves regularly during October and November. EXHIBITS. By Mr. J. W. Audas, F.L.S. — ^Fresh flowers of Spreading Acacia, Acacia diffusa, Edwds., from plant grown by exhibitor ; the species seems to do well in cultivation, and is free of insect pests. By Mr. F. P. Dodd. — Butterflies, moths, &c., from New Guinea, in illustration of paper. By Miss A. Fuller. — Dried flowers, &c., from India. By Mr. C. L. Plumridge. — Pot-grown specimen of Epacris longiflora, in bloom. By Prof. Sir Baldwin Spencer, K.C.M.G. — Specimens of wood-lice, from Northern Territory, in illustration of note. By Mr. A. L. Scott. — Specimens of aventurine felspar. After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. Grampians Excursion. — Intending excursionists are re- minded that the list at Tourists' Bureau will close in a few days. 78 Excursion to Burnley Quarries; [v^'^^'jcxxv EXCURSION TO BURNLEY QUARRIES. Of the large number who visited these quarries on Saturday, nth May, only three proved to be pond-Hfers. After the departure of the geological section, these three set to work under somewhat disadvantageous conditions, by reason of the rain. Material was collected from several of the pools for home examination, and proved to be fairly good. As some description of the quarries was given after the last Club excursion to the locality (see Vict. Nat. for April, 1917, vol. xxxiii., page 176), it need not be repeated here. Concerning the flora and fauna of the pools taken on this occasion, we may say that some forms noted were of considerable interest. Special mention may be made of some fine colonies of Zoo- thamnium, in which the muscle band running down the centre of the pedicle did not reach the point of attachment thereof, so that when the group retracted part of the pedicle folded up and part remained rigid. One very remarkable diatom taken — ■ viz., Bacillaria paradoxa — is an object of perennial interest. Of this organism it may be remarked that it seems to do equally well in salt, brackish, and fresh water. The rare alga Monostroma, sometimes to be obtained in these pools, was not found this time. The following is a list of the forms noted : — Algae. — Zygnema, sp., Spirogyra, two sp., Lyngbya (? sp.), Entero- morpha intestinalis, Synedra, sp., Eunotia (? sp.), Bacillaria paradoxa, Pleurosigma, sp. Protozoa. — Sarcodina : Difflugia, sp. Mastigophora : Euglena viridis, Anisonema grande ; Infusoria : Vorticella, sp., 'Zoothamnium (?) dichotomum, Stentor Roeselii, Paramoecewn atirelia, Stylonichia mytilus, Vaginicola, sp., Pyxicola (?) affinis, Thuricola (?) operculata, Chilodon cucullulus. Worms. — Rotifera : Rotifer vulgaris, Floscularia ornata, Brachiomis hakeri, B. (?) nrceolaris, Pterodina (?) patina, Philodina (?) citrina, Gastrotricha : Chcetonotus (?) larus. Arthropoda : Xiphocaris, sp. (?), Chydorus, sp., and a few insect larvae. Included in above are some kindly identified by Mr. J. Wilcox. — J. Stickland. Tall Trees. — In connection with Mr. A. D. Hardy's most interesting paper in the July Naturalist (vol. xxxv., p. 46), I would like to call the attention of readers of the Naturalist to a valuable paper by Mr. T. F. Cheeseman on " The Age and Growth of the Kauri," in vol. xlvi. of the Trans. New Zealand Inst. Besides giving information on the height of trees, in- cluding Australian, Mr. Cheeseman deals in a masterly manner with the determination of the rate of growth of the Kauri Pine, and describes very clearly the necessary precautions to be taken in making observations of this kind. — ^Thos. Steel, Sydney. ¥ ' i ! r 1 i ■ 1 ' if 3 c ^ ^1 ' ! 1 M 1 1 ! I |J : ! i ^'^ . -. Uu. ,, . 1 1 ; 1 i M y;.^.!^!: .-.^m^4 1 ^I-^U-I- Iji H' 1 1 1 I . j ' 1 1 «c 1 ' ' ' ■ ' t iPlT^ 1 -tiiu , ' ' i 1 1 1 1 : 1 1' 1 ^ ■ ' 1 1 ni-v - 1 ^'■■44-U^U-li . 1 ^ Mi; 1 T 1 ; 1 ?i ll 1 L : ' 1 1 i ^= r^{ ': ! i 1 1 1 1 i ' 1 1 ♦ 1 1 , 1 , J i 0 1 \ \ 1 1 S'^ 1 ! '' ^9 1 i 1 J ' ' ^ II i i-^ i ■ «5 1 1 1 1 - 1 , 1 §» 1 1 ^ , 1 1 1 Jlf m 1 1-.:3 1 1" X I t ■^ 1 1 11 h -> - n-*4 i 1 - nimliiiiii 1 — 1—1 1 — I 1 1 Ill Ml li-l-. ?-i-l II !|i 5 !l ■'4-i ' II yjy^js-oivojivj t^t/JJ/JO^ Sept.,1 Micro-Fauna, Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne. 79 191S J ONE YEAR'S COLLECTING MICRO-FAUNA, BOTANIC GARDENS LAKE, MELBOURNE. By J. Shephard, J. Searle, and J. Stickland. This investigation was undertaken as a result of a discussion by the members of the council of the Microscopical Society of Victoria. It was intended that members generally should take part in it, but this was not found practicable ; but the three members deputed to manage the scheme persevered, and suc- sceeded in making periodical visits for a whole year. The visits were made mostly between the hours of one and three in the afternoon, and approximately fortnightly. Stick nets were used, but the chief instrument was the tow-net, of the " Kofoid " pattern. The boat on the lake was made available by the courtesy of the Director of the Gardens, Mr. Cronin, and the attendant concerned materially helped by his wilhngness to meet the wishes of the workers. As the plankton was the chief aim of the work, on each occasion the net was towed by the boat along open water of different portions of the lake, care being taken to observe nearly the same track on each visit. The resulting gatherings were brought away in jars in living con- dition, preservatives not being used. The towing was mostly done near the surface, but occasionally in the deeper parts of the lake vertical hauls were made, which gave at times very interesting results. Visits were also paid to the shady parts, and differences in the plankton between them and the open parts were found to occur. Collection from the shore by means of the hand net were made. Mr. Stickland largely devoted his efforts in this direction, the other members paying more attention to the gatherings from the lake by means of the boat and tow net. The lake has been formed from what was originally a swamp covered with tea-tree, some of which may still be seen growing near the eastern arm of the lake. Part of the scheme for the prevention of floods in the lower reaches of the Yarra was the straightening of the channel of the river. During the course of this work a bend in the river bordering the Gardens was cut off, and when the new boundaries were made this piece of water was enclosed in the Gardens, and made part of the lake, which now covers an area of several acres. The easterly extremity is shallow, being only three or four feet in depth ; but the western end, being part of the old river, is considerably deeper, being in places over twenty feet deep. There is a very dense growth of weed, which keeps the Gardens staff well employed in keeping it within reasonable bounds. The interesting plant Vallisneria is the most plentiful. The lake is supplied with 8o Micro- Fauna, Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne. rvoy"^'xxxv water from a reservoir in Studley Park, which is filled from a pumping station on the Yarra, near Dight's Falls, and there- fore it must receive from time to time importations from the reaches of the river higher up. The first visit of the series was made on 26th June, 1915, when an excursion of the Microscopical Society was held. Afterwards the visits were made approximately fortnightly for a year, the last of the series being on gth June, 1916. The dates of the visits only varied a day or two either way from the exact fortnightly interval. It was early noticed that the better swimmers among the plankton were found diffused throughout the lake, and special attention was given to these in order to find indications of periodicity of occurrence. The examination was largely directed to this aim. The material was taken home and searched over as soon as possible — Mr. Searle specializing on the Ento- mostraca, Mr. Stickland the Protozoa, and Mr. Shephard dealing with the Rotifera. Early examination is specially necessary in the two last-mentioned groups, as, when crowded in the jars, it was found that forms extremely plentiful on collection would disappear in a few hours and leave no trace. As already stated, preservation of the material was not attempted to any extent, attention being focussed chiefly on recording the occurrence of the various forms observed. Estimates of the relative prevalence of the forms were made. The material obtained would have occupied the whole time of several workers to fully deal with it, and, as the work was effected in the leisure time of those concerned, it will be under- stood that the list of actual identifications of the groups mentioned by no means represents the whole of those to be found in the lake. It is manifest that sedentary forms collected round the margin from a few positions could not be relied on to give accurate results as to their prevalence at a given time throughout the whole lake, the number of such found on a given occasion being more dependent on the diligence of the collector than the actual occurrence of the animals themselves. A sedentary form cannot spread rapidly, and may occur on the plants at one part of the shore and be entirely absent at another. If, however, a sedentary form is found in every place tried, and on a number of successive visits, it must then be regarded as prevailing throughout the whole area. Such a case would be an exception, and such were found. Vorticella campanula was on several occasions found on every bit of stick or weed examined over a large area. Cordyllophora lacustris also occurred in this way. This latter form, known for many years as an inhabitant of this lake, seemed to disappear for something like fifteen years, but was, during the whole ^i^ii'l Micro-Fauna, Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne. 8i time of this examination, very plentiful, the growth of colonies on small branches secured to stakes in shady positions being watched for months. Very large aggregations were found on willow roots and floating branches. The sexual stages of this hydroid were not seen, although carefully looked for. Some years ago a sedentary rotifer, Lacinularia elongata, occurred very plentifully over a large area of the lake, but no member of this group occurred similarly during the period of this investigation. Megalotrocha alhoflavicans came nearest to it, being nearly always noted. Polyzoa of the world-wide species, Pliimatella repens, occurred in great quantity in separated colonies. Another form, Fredericella sultana, was found, but was not nearly so plentiful. The free-swimming forms must be regarded as the best subjects to reveal indica- tions of periodicity of occurrence. Volvox — claimed by botanist and zoologist alike — although a slow swimmer, is certainly a diffusible form, and was noted on every visit ; two species were found — a monoecious form, closely resembling descriptions of V. globator, and a dioecious species, which is probably V. aureus. This latter greatly preponderated in number. Warm weather evidently favoured the growth of this organism, for it was found in the summer in enormous quantity. A relation was established between Volvox and the parasitic rotifer Proales parasita. Whenever Volvox was plentiful, then Proales was found in numbers. Two of the workers were able to settle for themselves the question as to how the rotifer finds its way inside the hollow sphere of Volvox, for they were repeatedly observed eating their way through the walls of their temporary cage and swimming away in search of another victim. The converse operation of entering another host was not witnessed, but sufficient of the process was seen to leave no doubt that entrance was similarly effected. Developing ova of Proales were found in Volvox on several occasions. Regarding the three groups, Entomostraca, Rotifera, and Protozoa, the two former were chiefly obtained by the system- atic use of the tow-net, and the results in the case of the species occurring with sufficient frequency are shown graphically on the appended diagram, drawn up with the kind assistance of Mr. A. D. Hardy. Besides the forms thus indicated there were many others, the complete list of forms certainly identified comprising twenty-two species of Entomostraca, forty-eight Rotifera, and fifty Protozoa. The most noticeable feature in the list of Entomostraca is the absence of Daphnia carinata, found in most of the ponds around Melbourne. It is a large and variable species, and, when present in a pool, is generally found in considerable numbers. On a visit to the lake some two years prior to starting on this investigation, another — and. 82 Micro-Fauna, Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne. [vj"^''xxx"v till then, rare — species of Daphnia, Daphnia Imnholtzi, was found to be extremely numerous ; this disappeared very quickly, and during our year's collecting not a single specimen of it was taken. The almost complete absence of the Ostracoda was also noticeable. A few specimens of Cypridopsis minna were taken on one or two occasions, but species like Cypris leana, that delight in weedy pools, were absent from every gathering we made. The Copepoda in the list are found in all the pools around Melbourne, and one would expect to find other species common to the Yarra valley represented in the lake ; but they were not seen throughout the year under notice. All the great groups of Protozoa were represented in the material collected, with the exception of the Sporozoa, which, being endo-parasitic animals, were, of course, not noted. Fixed and free-swimming forms were nearly equally numerous. Of the genera comprised in the former, nearly half consisted of Vorticella and its allies ; one of these latter — a Vaginicola with an annulated tube or lorica — being probably new to science. It is not, however, confined to the Botanic Gardens lake. Protozoa, with few exceptions, were not taken in great numbers at any one time. The times of occurrence of several species, however, seem to indicate that the appearance of many, at any rate, is not confined to special seasons. Of the Rotifera, the absence of new forms is noticeable. Three forms are, however, possibly new — a species of Anuraea, an Asplanchna, and a Conochilus. The Anurasa was first seen by one of the party some time previously at Laanecoorie, and obtained later by Dr. Kaufmann near Box Hill, and it has been observed in other localities, occurring plentifully. In the lake it was fairly numerous. None of the literature referred to shows any figure at all like it. The genus Asplanchna is a puzzling one to divide into species. Mr. Rousselet endeavoured to make several common species clear, and pointed out some mistakes of identification ; yet with his paper at hand it was impossible to certainly identify the form found at the lake, for the characters relied upon by that authority to separate the respective species appeared to occur simultaneously in the form in question. The Conochilus appeared very interestingly in a collection made in Great Lake, Tasmania, during the progress of this work. It was found in immense numbers, and ample opportunity for examination was afforded. Years ago this form was seen in collections from Heidelberg. Mr. Rousselet, to whom drawings were submitted, was inclined to regard it as C. unicornis, the species it nearly resembles ; but fuller opportunities of examination strongly lead to the decision that it is not identical. In this connection it may be mentioned that Pterodina trilohata, a form included in the Sept.,-! JylS J Micro-Fauna, Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne. S3 appended list, was doubtfully regarded at first, but has since appeared in South African collections, and is now fully accepted. A full list of the forms identified is given below : — - ExNTOMOSTRACA. Boeckella symmetrica. oblonga. asynimetrica. tenera. minuta. Ceriodaphnia rotunda. Simocephalus gibbosus. Bosmina longirostratus. (sp.) Cyclops leuckarti. albidus. Cyclops australis. Ilyocryptus (sp.) Chydorus globosus. Alonella (sp.) Brunella viridis. longicornis. Camptocercus australis. Atheyella australica. Pseudomoina lemnae. Pleuroxis inermis. ROTIFERA. Rhizota. Melicerta ringens. conifera. Floscularia coronetta. campanulata. Lacinularia elliptica. elongata. socialis. reticulata. Cephalosiphon limnias. Qicistes (sp.) Limnias ceratophylli. ,, natans. annulatus. JNIegalotrocha alboflavicans. Conochilus (sp.) Bdelloida. Philodina megalotrocha. Actinurus neptunius. Ploima. Syncheta pectinata. tremula. Notops hyotopus. brachionus. clavulatus. Sarcodina. Arcella vulgaris. Centropyxis aculeata. Difflugia pyriformis. Actinophrys sol. Actinosphaerium eichornii. Anuraea aculeata. ,, cochlearis. .. (sp.) Asplanchna (sp.) Rattulus carinatus. longiseta. Diurella stylata. Triarthra longiseta. Polyarthra platyptera. Euchlanis macrura. dilatata. Brachionus urceolaris. angularis. ,, pala. , , bakeri. Monostyla bulla. Noteus quadricornis. Salpina macracantha. Proales parasita. Metopidia acuminata. Scaridium (sp.) Stephanops (sp.) Pterodina trilobata. patina. Dinocharis pocillum. Pedalion (sp.) Protozoa. Mastigophora. Anthophysa vegetans. Astasia tricophora (?) Dinobryon sertularia. Euglena viridis. Codosiga (sp.) 84 Micro-Fauna, Botanic Gardens Lake, Melbourne, [y^,' ict. Nat. xxxv. ISIonosiga (sp.) Phacus triqueter. Khipidodendron huxleyi. Stylobryon petiolatum. Peridinium (sp.) Spongomonas intestinalis. Trachelomonas lagenella. „ hispida. (sp.) I'vella virescens. Infusoria. Carchesium polypiimm. Coleps hirtiis. Chilodon cucuUuUis. Euplotes patella (?) Epistylis flavicans. Litonotus diaphanus. Loxophyllum meleagris. Paramecium bursaria. aurelia. Platycola dilatata. longicollis. P3"xicola affinis (?) cartcri. Pyxidium inclinans. Opercularia nutans. Ophrvcliuni sessile. Ophryoglena atra. Trachelius ovum. Trachelocerca olor. Stentor polymorpluis. roeselii. barretti. Stichotricha secunda. Stylonichia mytilus. Thuricola operculata. Urocentrum turbo. Vaginicola crystal! ina (? (sp. nov. ?) grandis (?) Vorticella campanula. \'olvox globator ( ? ) ,, avireus (?) Crustacea. Xiphocaris (sp.) Hydroids. Hydra oligactis. Cordyllophora lacustris. POLYZOA. Plumatella repens. Fredericella sultana. Re-xaming Australian Birds : Is it Necessary ? — ]\Ir. A. J. Campbell, C.M.B.O.U., &c., has issued in pamphlet form an address delivered at a conversazione of the Royal Australian Ornithologists' Union on 3rd July last. The object of the address is to call attention to the hopeless confusion into which the list of Australian birds is being thrown by those energetic literary ornithologists who are engaged in searching obscure and scarce literature for chance references and earlier names for many of our birds. He contends that the greater number of Gould's names are scientifically correct, and should remain as the basis of an Australian bird-list. Many of these names have been in use for upwards of seventy years ; why replace them with names which, in many instances, are totally inapplicable ? And we think most naturalists will agree with his contention. Mr. Campbell promises, after the war, a volume descriptive of his experiences in various parts of Aus- tralia, which should have a ready sale. Field NaturaliSs' Club of Vidoria EXHIBITION OF WILD FLOWERS MELBOURNE TOWN HALL Tuesday, 1^ October, 1918 OPEN AFTERNOON AND EVENING Members and friends are requested to make a strong effort to secure Wild Flowers for the Annual Display, to be m held as above, in aid of the National Fund of the Y.M.C.A. Large quantities of flowers will be required for display and for sale. It will greatly facilitate handling at the Town Hall, where little time is available for setting out the flowers, if each species is kept separate and, if possible, forwarded in bunches. The stems should be well wrapped in damp paper or cloths, and enclosed in wooden or tin boxes, lined with paper. DO NOT SPRINKLE WATER OVER THE BLOOMS. Consignments from Country friends should be timed to reach Melbourne by last trains on Monday, 30th September, addressed — " Field Naturalists' Club, " Town Hall, " Melbourne. " Cut Flowers— Perishable." with name of sender marked thereon. Qummed printed labels will be supplied on application. Railway freight will be arranged at this end. Notification should b? given to the Secretary, Mr. E. S. Anthony, 448 Collins Street, Melbourne, that packages have been despatched. SPECIAL NOTICE. Wild Flower Show— Ladies' Committee.— Ladies willing to assist at the forthcoming Exhibition of Wild Flowers in any capacity are desired to communicate with Miss A. Fuller (convener), 20 Berkeley Street, Glenferrie, as soon as possible in order that plana may be promptly arranged. WATSON'S ^^9^^^*'^'^L!5!l»™iP*»!l^Ji^5^-kl^^^^^^^ ■ JOINTED COLLECTING STICK, with bottles, drag hooks, line and reel, net ring, spoon and cutting hooks .. .. .. .. .. 30/- CORKED GLASS COLLECTING TDBES, from 1/6 doi. FIELD COLLECTING BOOK (FOR BOTANY), hardwood boards, blotting paper, and straps . . . . • • • • • • ■ ■ • • 5 /ft BDTTERFLY NET, with folding ring, 4 joints 6/- INSECT STORE BOXES, of Corked Pine . . 10 x 8, 4/6 ; 14 x 10, 7/6 ; 17} x 12, 11/- INSECT COLLECTING BOXES, of deal, corked and papered .. 1/-, 1/6, and 2/- INSECT RELAXING BOXES, of zinc, oval shape, corked .. .. 1/6, 2/9, and 3/6 GLASS FRONT SHOW BOXES, corked and papered .. 14 X 10, 8/-; 16 x 12, 11/- INSECT- KILLING BOTTLES .. .. 1/6 and 2/- ENTOMOLOGICAL PINS, assorted per box of 1 oz., 2/- INSECT FORCEPS, with broad gauze jaws 3/6 SETTING FORCEPS, finest nickelled steel .. .^ 2/- GEOLOGICAL HAMMERS 3/- and 4/6 POCKET ACID BOTTLE, in boxwood case 1/5 THREE-POWER POCKET MAGNIFIER 4/6 W. WATSON & SONS PTY. LTD., 78 SwANSTON St., Melbourne, And at Ocean House, Moore St., Sydney. ENTOMOLOGICAL APPARATUS. CHERRY & SONS PTY. LTD., GISBORNE (nc.)» and 231 SUSSEX STREET, SYDNEY. ENTOMOLOGICAL PINS (EJEBY BEAfiD'S), in 10 sizes, 1 /3 to 2 /6 per box ; Mixed, 6d. per packet. STORE BOXES. — Dovetailed, hinged, corked and papered. Size, 14 x 10 x 3i, 7/-each. BETTING BOARDS. — Corked and papered. Flat. Length, 14 inches ; depth of groove, I inch, 1 and li in. wide, 1 /- each ; 2 and 2i in., 1/3 ; 3 in., 1 /6 ; 4 in., 1 /9 ; 6 la., 2/6. CORK LINING (Best), Very Light. Size, 13 x 9, 1/- ; 18 x 13, 2/-; 26 x 18, 3/6 per sheet. BUTTERFLY NETS.— Best English folding, 7/6 each. KILLING BOTTLES (CYANIDE), 1/8 CURVED FORCEPS (the Entomologist's most indispensable Tool), 4/- ZINC RELAXING BOXES, 1/6 to 3/6. •,• *,• CABINETS.— From £2 upwards. MEWMAN RELAXING TIN, ready charged, overcomes all dangers of mould, 3/6. rOCKET BOXES, 1/- to 2/6. INSECT CEMENT, for repairing antennse, ic, 1 /- per bottle. Write for onr Price List and Sample Sheet of Ptns. MMiiiiiiJiriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiMiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iii«iti«iii«tii5iii5iii«iiiim«iiiim^^^ ^ Vol. XXXV.— No. 6. j. October, 1918. Tfie Victorian Naturalist: THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE — OF — Jhe Srield yaturalists* eiub of Vietoria. Published loth October, 1918. The Author of each article is responsible for the facts and opinions recorded. ill ; GOIsrTElsrTS : "8B iiiil I The Field Naturalists' Club or Victoria . . . . 85 iiiti ) III / Excursion to Bayswatbr . . . . . . ' . . . . 85 iiiii \ Excursion to Clayton . . . . . . . . . . 86 Excursion to Black Rock . . . . .,. . . 87 Tracks of Garden Snail, By Thos. Steel, F.L.S. . . . . 91 An Ornithological Trip to the Nhill District. By F. Erasmus Wilson . . . . . . . . . . 93 ^ F»FfICE SIXf^EWCE. *► Obtainable from — Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, or Hon. Editor. (FOS ADDBESSBS 8EB PAOB 3 OV COTEB. If BT POSI ^D. IXIBA.) ■gts ( ii itjfii ■jHi* / IS? ( Bill •in* Hon. EdltoK : p. G. A. BHI^riAI^D, Esq. ) ||§ ) PI ifui> m \ W it ) 11 ' / iMJi- / !!!'? \ iiiii \ livSm ) ==IS ^aentft for (&ut:o)?e : BUI«ikI7 & CO., 37 Soho Square, I^ondon. WALKER, MAY & CO., Printers, 429-31 Bourke St. )W 1918. ^ ^^iB!jiatHBUiBWBM[Biiiaiimiii«iua|MBn MiuS M aTiiS Mta ii i ■ iiianii i i is i i i fi tu« i i >■ iHB iuB itis ttia i uv^ Field /Naturalists' Club of Victoria. ROOMS-ROYAL SOCIETY'S HALL, VICTORIA STREET, MELBOURNE. BUSINESS PAPER FOR ORDINARY MEETING. MONDAY EVENING, I4tb OCTOBER, 1918. 1. Correspondence and Reports. 2. Nominations for Membership. Members making nominations will oblige by banding the full name and address to the Hon. Secretary. 3. Election of Members. AS Obdinaet membeks— ^ Pbofoskb. " Skoondkk, Mr. John Henry Ring, " Bolewin, Burke Road, Mr. C. C. Plante. Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S. East MalverC. Mr. F. B. Sutherland, Vauxhall Eoad, Mr. E E. Pescott, F.L.S. Mr. C. French, Jr. Canterbury. 4. General Business. 5. Remarks by Exhibitors, relative to their Specimens. Ten minutes' adjournment for examination of Exhibits. 6. Reading of Papers and Discussion thereon. "A Sketch of the Geological History of Australian Plants (second paper)— The Mesozoic Flora." By Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.3. 7. Reading of Natural History Notes. Members who may note any unusual occurrence, or see anything of interest in Foreign or Colonial papers, are requested to inform the Secretary of the same that he may arrange for their bringing them before the meeting, such notices should, however, be brief. 8. Exhibition of Specimens and Conversazione. Members are invited to exhibit objects of interest, and to furnish the Hon. Secretary with written particulars for record in Minutes and NaturalUt. Brief descriptions should accomnany the exhibita for the benefit of fellow members. NOTICE. The Hon. Librarian attends at the Club Room, Royal Society's Hall, on the 4th Monday Evening of each month for the purpose of receiving and issuing books. CDc Uictorian naturalist Vol. XXXV.— No. 6. OCTOBER 10, 1918. No. 418. FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on 9th September, 1918. The president, Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., occupied the chair, and about 60 members and visitors were present. CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr. A, H. E. Mattingley, stating that pressure of departmental duties made it impracticable for him to leave the State during the near future, and withdrawing his offer to go to Macquarie Island in connection with the oil industry. — Received. From the Microscopical Society of Victoria, offering to show micro-exhibits at the wild-flower show on ist October.— Received. REPORTS. A report of the excursion to Bayswater on Saturday, 24th August, was read by the leader, Mr. J. W. Audas, F.L.S., as follows : — Owing to the rainy conditions prevailing, only four members took part in the excursion to Bayswater. The party included two ladies, who expressed themselves pleased with the outing, notwithstanding the unfavourable weather. On leaving the station we proceeded along the railway reserve, and came across many early spring flowers in bloom, but nothing of any great rarity was noticed. On reaching the Dandenong Creek we diverged a short distance from the railway enclosure in a westerly direction, and obtained a good view of the Silver Wattle, Acacia dealbata, displaying its annual wealth of beautiful bloom along the banks of the stream. Other Acacias, such as A. stricta, A. melanoxylon, and A. myrtifolia, were in full flower — the latter, a pretty little shrubby plant with its glorious j^ellow blossom and beautiful scent, being worthy of special mention. Everywhere the dwarf shrub, Hovea heterophylla, was met with displaying its bluish flowers, while its relative, the climber Hardenbergia monophylla, with liright purple flowers, was equally conspicuous. About twenty- five species of plants were seen in flower, of which the more interesting were : — Euphrasia Collina, PiiltencBa stricta, var. Giinnii, Spyridiitm parvifoliiim, Acacia tenuifolia, A. jnniperina. Stackhoiisia linarifolia, Lepforrhynchos teniiifoliiis, Pimelea humilis, Dillwynia cinerascens, Hakea acicularis, and the orchid Pterostylis longifolia. We returned from Ringwood, which 86 Field NaturaHsts' Club— Proceeding's. [voV"xxxV. was reached at about () p.m., after an iiiterestin;^" walk oi about four miles. The botanical excursion to Clayton on Saturday, 31st August, was reported by the leader, Mr. H. B. Williamson. Fifteen members, including the president and assistant secretary, spent a pleasant and profitable time in the afternoon around Clayton, and were favoured by fine weather. Although rather early for most of the spring flowers, the number of species recorded was very fair. From Clayton railway station the party walked in a north-westerly direction for half a mile into a patch of Manna (iums growing on a sandy ris(\ and sheltering tea-tree, heaths, and various scrul) plants. Tiie form of Eucalyptus viminalis growing here and elsewhere on tliis coastal region is rather puzzling to one accustomed to the smooth-barked form which grows to such a fine tree, and it takes a good deal of inspection to distinguish it from /:. Stuayiiana. Among the scrub. Silky Tea-tree, Leptospcrmum myrsiiioides. Wedding Bush, Ricinocarpus pinifolitis, and Common Heath, h'.pacris impressa, were most conspicuous, the first nc^t yet blooming, the second just coming out, and the last rather past its best. Three Hibbertias — " Guinea-flowers " — made a good show, especially H. densiflora and H. fasciculata. Grey Bossea, BossicBii cinerea, Gorse Bitter Pea, Daviesia nlicina, Common Hovea, Common Flat Pea, Platyiobium obtusangiihtm, and Scarlet Coral Pea, Kennedya prostrata, were the only leguminous plants found in bloom, except the Acacias, the JBossea being by far the most attractive. Of Acacias in bloom, .4. oxvcednis, A. strida, A. juniperina, and A. armata were the only ones noted, the first-named being the most abundant, and the last chiefly along the fences as a hedge plant. One tree of Light- wood, Acacia implexa, was seen badly infested with galls, but not in bloom. The search for orchids was rewarded by the finding of Pterostylis nutans, Nodding Greenhood, P. concinna, Trim Greenhood, the little Acianthus exsertits, Common Gnat Orchid, and the larger Glossodia. Of lilies only one was noted in bloom — Chanucscilla corynibosa, Blue Squill. This patch of timber and scrub is near the Clayton school, and the leader stated that it formed a favourite collecting-ground for his puj^ils, who had brought to school and ]:)ressed about 360 species since October last, i)robal)ly ioo of which were gathered in this scrub. With the help of his pupils he intends to make a census of the locality, which comprises about 80 acres. Leaving this area, the party proceeded along the North-road to the railway crossing, and there made a detour to the south into the heath scrub, which was found to contain small areas of depression where water lodges, and which are difficult of access at this time of the year. These areas are worth searching in the lat(^ P*^j'g'"j Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 87 monlhs of the year. Swamp Daisies, Brachycome cardiocaypa, in bloom, were found by our party. After loading themselves with wild-flowers, the excursionists walked by the shortest route to Oakleigh, where they entrained for home. A report on the botanical excursi