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	FOR THE PEOPLE 1 FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE
	LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

t^ TIECli]

Victorian Naturalist:

THE JOURNAL & MAGAZINE

OF THE

-wot.. XM.

MAY, 1903, TO APRIL, 1904.

1bon. jEDitor : MR. F. Q. A. Barnard.

The Author of each Article is responsible for the facts and opinions recorded.

/IR e I b 0 u r n e : WALKER, MAY k CO., PRINTERS, MAOKILLOP STREET

(off 390 LITTLE COLLINS STREET). 1904.

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INDEX TO VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

	^TOXj.	2^:^.
		1908-4.
	1	■AGE 1	PAGE
Acacia inoidanu, A ]	N'ew		Field Naturalists' Club-
Variety of -	-	13	Excursions —
Alpine Flora of Australia	and		Cheltenham - - -	13
Europe, Coiuparison	of -	IH	Clifton Hill Quarries -	33
Alpine Flora, Origin of	-	142	Dr. Home's Aviaries	88
Alpine Flowers, Among	the	4	Greensborough	73
Ainytis (jiyantura	-	138	Launching Place -	116
Amytis (/oydcri -	-	137	Ring wood _ - _	73
Arnytis house i	-	13S	8andringham	100
Amytis laurruiirus	-	138	Wandong - _ _	103
Amytis modesta -	-	137	Yan Yean - - 1 59,	165
Amytis striatus -	-	13(5	Exhibition of Wild Flowers	i 87
Amytis ti'xtilis	-	13.3	President's Address	39
Anopheles in Victoria -	-	162	Proceedings, 1, 13, 33, 45,	61,
Ants. The Bull-, of Victoria -	104	73,85, 97, 113, 129, 141,	161
Australia, Across	-	76	Flowers, Among the Alpine	4
Australian Animals, "Whence		Fossils at Hexham, Cainozoic	; 91
Came Our -	-	39	Grass-Wrens, The	133
Bogong, Visit to Mount	■-	156	HesperidiB, Descriptions of
Buffalo Mts. Camp-Out	-	144	Australian - - -	52
Botany - - -	-	152	Jli'teranyinjiha 'iiieropt -	174
Cryj)togaiiiic Botany	-	loi)	Jlcteroiiymjilia philerope	175
Entomology -	-	150	Melbourne Dust - - -	30
Ornithology -	-	148	Minerals in Red Rain -	23
Pond-life	-	151	Mollusca, Victorian Marine	89
Buffalo Mts. , Flora of	9,	152	Mosquitoes - - 162,	176
Butterflies, Colour Varia-		Mount Hotham, Flora of -	7
tions of Victorian	-	173	Mount Roland, Tasmania,
Cainozoic Fossils at Hexham	91	Visit to - - _	70
Close Season for Game	113,	162	Mushroom, The So-called
Cuttlefish, An Extinct	-	2	Petrified - - -	14
(Jythcrclla punctata	-	163	Mutton-birds - - -	166
Diatoms in Red Rain -	-	26	Mynnecia forjicata	105
Dromicia on Australian		MyrriK'cia sanguinea	105
Mainland	-	176	National Forests Protection
Eels, Notes on -	-	46	League - - 4.':	i, 45
Field Naturalists' Club-	-		Notes—
Annual Report	-	34	A.A.A.S. - - - 128,	140
Excursions —			Acanthornis mayna -	140
Beaumaris -	-	165	Anyuilla australis	132
Buffalo Mts.	-	144	Auloiiorella tubuli/era	99

INDEX.

	PAflE		PAGE
Xotes—		Notes —
Australian Spiders -	140	Ptotifer Record, A -	43
Bclenois Jtina - - -	11. J	Starlings - _ _	115
Birchip Heterocera -	42	Swallow, The White-backed 75
Boys' Field Club of South		Timber-growing in South
Australia - - _	oS	Australia - . _	112
Brachiunus falcatita -	43	[yna (Kjricola - - 63	, 96
Capusa senilis - - -	42	Vine Moth, Enemy of	43
Cicadas (Locusts)	16	Obituary Notices —
Colour Variety of Common		Ash worth. The late H.
Eel - - - -	140	P. C. - - - 72	, 83
Daisy. The - - -	57	Cayley, The late N.	13
Diatom, A Fossil	G3	Origin of Alpine Flora	142
" Do Snakes Swallow their		Phillip Island, Visits to	166
Young ? " -	132	Publications — *
Dromaiis ati-r - - -	o~	Agricultural (fazdte of Neiv
Echinoderms, King Island	48	South Wa/rs - - 16	, 60
"Emeu," The Black	.57	Australian Nature Stories
Exchange _ _ _	95	for Children	112
Galls on Eucalypts -	48	Emu, Tlie _ _ _	59
Granite Monolith, A	83	Jourmd of A<jriciilture,
Hdiotlirls ariniycra -	115	Victoria _ _ _	44
How Mushrooms Grow -	139	Nests and Eggs of Birds
Marsupials, Destruction of 112	Found Breeding in Aus-
Microscope _ _ _	131	tralia and Tasmania	12
Mueller Medal, The -	128	Notes on Natui'al History
Mushroom, A Giant	43	of Western Australia	59
Mussels - - - -	li5	Records of Geological Sur-
Nature Study - - -	128	vey of Victoria	44
Personal —		Red Rain in Victoria 17, 42	, 84
French, F.L.S., Mr. C.-	140	Siberia, Summer Journey in	131
Hall, Mr. E. 43, 72,	111	Spirulirostra _ _ _	2
Hector, Sir J. - -	12	Telesto mdania .- - -	54
Searle, Mr. J. - -	86	Telesto moittirolu - - -	52
Spry, Mr. F. . -	175	Trapezitt'S muhcbt	54
Fieri s tcutonia	115	Tree-line in Australian Alps	84
Pimthn sjMitJiuJ'atft -	96	Victorian Bull-Ants -	104
Polyzoa, A New Genus of	99	Victorian Marine Mollusca,
PrusophijUum archeri	62	Additions to - -	89
Present-day Cave-dwellers	60	' ' Whence Came Our Aus-
Ilomitlca hiiUiocodimn	63	tralian Animals ?"	39

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Diatoms, &c., from Red Rain Sediments, &c. , from Rod Rain -

23

99

the Uktorian naturalist

\^0L. XX.— No. 1. MAY 7, 1903. No. 233.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA,

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 20th April, 1903. The president, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., occupied the chair, and about fifty members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the excursion to Sydenham on Saturday, 14th March, was given by the leader, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., who said that there had been a good attendance of members, who spent a very pleasant afternoon in examining the extremely fine basalt columns on the Saltwater River {Victorian Ifaturalist, xvii., p. 120). Some fine photographs taken on the occasion were exhibited.

A report of the excursion to Heidelberg on Saturday, 28th March, in the absence of the leader, Mr. J. Shephard, was given by Mr. W. Strickland, who said that, notwithstanding the very unpropitious weather, the members had been successful in secur- ing specimens of the Rotifer, Pedalion sp., which was the principal object of their search.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following donations to the library : — " Geological Survey of Victoria," New Series, vol. i., part i, from Department of Mines, Victoria ; The Finn, vol. ii., part 4, April, 1903, from the Australasian Ornith- ologists' Union; "Proceedings Linnean Society of New South Wales," vol. xxvii., part 4, from the society; "Forest Flora of New South Wales," part ii., by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Govern- ment Botanist, -from the author ; " Critical Revision of Genus Eucalyptus," part i., by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., from the author; " Sydney Botanic Gardens — Biographical Notes concerning Ofiicers in Charge," parts i. to iv., by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., from the author ; The Agi-iculturcd Gazette of New South Wales, March, 1903, from the Department of Agriculture, New South Wales ; " Proceedings Royal Society of Queensland," vol. vii., part 2, from the society; Nature Notes, February and March, 1903, from the Selborne Society, London; Knowledge, March, 1903, from the proprietors.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken. Miss Maud M. Clark, " High Wycombe Lodge," Fernhill-road, Sandringham ; Messrs. E. A.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Anderson, " Clovelly," Kintore-street, Camberwell ; W. F. Coles, 33 Little Smith-street, Richmond ; J. F. Corben, State school, Moonee Ponds ; B. Nicholls, 80 Story-street, Brunswick ; and J. B. Swan, " Alma," Selborne-street, Coburg, were duly elected members of the Club.

PAPERS READ.

1. By Mr. D. M'Alpine, entitled "On the So-called Petrified Mushroom."

The author described an object which was recently found at Bridgewater, Western Victoria, and regarded locally as a petrified mushroom. In general appearance it somewhat resembled a mushroom, even to the stalk. However, after a microscopical examination, he had decided it to be a woody excrescence, popularly known as a burr, gnaur, &c., found on various kinds of trees.

The president, Mr. T. S. Hall, was of opinion that the specimen was a root of Kelp, which, when dry and exposed, becomes extremely hard, and the tissue of which closely resembles that of wood.

Mr. H. T. Tisdall agreed with the opinion expressed by Mr. Hall, and stated that he had seen pieces of the root of Kelp almost identical with the specimen dealt with.

Mr. R. A. Bastow stated that he had recently seen large numbers of pieces of Kelp roots at Flinders, which were very similar to the one dealt with by Mr. M'Alpine.

2. By Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., entitled " An Extinct Cuttlefish." The author described a very rare fossil Cephalopod,

" Spirulirostra," which he found at Torquay, near Geelong, and, with a view to making his remarks more easily understood, gave a general outline of the Cephalopoda, both recent and extinct, aided by several large diagrams and specimens of typical and well-known genera of this group.

He was thus able to clearly demonstrate its affinities with the better-known species of both living and extinct Cuttlefishes. The only other representative of the genus, the author stated, was found in the Miocene at Turin, Italy, and is extremely rare.

The author's remarks were listened to with much interest, and discussed by Messrs. O. A. Sayce, F. VVisewould, J. H. Gatliff, D. Le Souef, and G. Coghill.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. F. C. Christy contributed a lengthy note dealing with the protection of the Black Duck, in which he advocated an extension of the period (ist February) during which the ducks are protected.

Mr. G. A. Keartland, whilst endorsing some of Mr. Cliristy's statements, pointed out that ist February was practically a com-

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

promise arrived at by the late conference of sportsmen, field naturalists, &c., and was at all events an improvement on 21st December.

Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., called attention to the Pacific Gulls in the Zoological Gardens, which at present showed their different stages of plumage.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Pot-grown orchid, Pterostylis grandijiora.

By C. French, jun. — Orthopterous insect, Acridopeza reticulata, from Hamilton district ; also set of three eggs of Rainbow Pitta, from Port Darwin, showing blotches of brown colour, instead of the ordinary markings.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Shells, Dolahella gigas and D. 7'umphii, from Mauritius ; I schnochiton conspicuus, North America ; and Victorian species of the family Naticidae, from Western Port.

By Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A. — Specimens of recent and fossil Cephalopoda, including a Spirulirostra from Torquay, in illustra- tion of his paper.

By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — Skins of Nanodes discolor, Glossop- sittacus piisillus, G. jwrjjhyrocejjhalus, G. concinnus, Ptilotis Jlava, Meliphaga phrygia, and Melithreptus lunulatus, all shot from one tree, near Eltham. The first-named Lorikeet is a very young specimen, thus indicating that these birds probably breed in the district.

By Mr. D. M'Alpine. — Specimen of the so-called Petrified Mushroom, in illustration of his paper.

By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Fourteen species of dried plants, showing normal and abnormal types, with short explanatory notes, viz. : — Cassinia acideata, R. Br., var. adpressa ; Cypcrus vaginatns, R. Br. ; Distichlis maritima, Rat. ; Polygoyium lainus, Hinds. ; Stackliousia Jlava, Hook. ; Carduiis lanceolatus, L. ; Deyauxia forsteri, Kunth. ; Hypochoiris radicata, L. ; H. glabra, L. ; Plantago major, L. ; Polygonum aviculare, L. ; Rumex acetosella, L. ; Sonchus oleraceus, L. ; Verbasciim hlattaria, L.

By Mr. C. Walter. — A new species of Acacia, A. d'altoni, Walter, from the Wimmera district, collected by Mr. St. Eloy D'Alton, of Dimboola ; and Acacia sclerophylla, Lindley, for comparison.

After the usual conversazione, the meeting terminated.

Correction. — The letter "S." (south) should be substituted for " N.W." in Mr. Walter's exhibit in April Naturalist.

It is announced that the control of the Government Botanist's branch (Victoria) has been transferred from the Chief Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

AMONG THE ALPINE FLOWERS. By F. G. a. Barnard and C. S. Sutton, M.l]. {Read he/ore the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, dth March, WWi.) Ever since hearing Mr. C. Wallet's paper on his trip to the Alps and Buffalo Mountains {Vict. Nat., xvi., p. i8), and the concluding sentence of Mr. J. H. Maiden's paper on his visit to Mount Hotham, &c. {Vict. Nat., xvii., p. 47), in which he urged every Victorian botanist to visit the Alps, and thereby gain expansion of ideas, we had longed for the opportunity to follow in their footsteps.

This came at Christmas time, when our fellow-member, Mr. G. Weindorfer, asked us to join him in a short holiday in the Alps. We therefore left town on Christmas Eve, fully equipped for four days' collecting in the Bright district. Reaching Bright in the small hours of Christmas morning, we had a few hours' rest, and then started on the sixteen-mile drive to Harrietville, the first stage on the way to the Alps.

Of course the first plant to attract our attention was the introduced plant St. John's Wort, Hypericum 'perforatum, Linn., which, escaping from a cottage garden, has overrun the district, and in many parts entirely taken possession of the soil. Along the water-races for mining purposes, so numerous in the district, was noticed a tree acacia, Acacia pravissima, F. v. M., somewhat like A. armata, R. Br., bearing large quantities of seed-pods. Some fine plants of Typha anyustifvlia, L., were passed, and near Stony Creek some fine bushes of the Prickly Box, Bursaria spiiiosa, Cav., in full bloom.

The vegetation along the road was of the ordinary slringy-bark ranges character, and it was not until we left Harrietville, and commenced the ascent of the range leading to Mount St. Bernard, that we began to find a somewhat different flora. A twelve-mile walk was now before us. By mistake we passed the turn-off of the Omeo-road, so took a short cut straight up the spur. Here Fersoonia coifertiflora, Benth., F. cJiavioipuce, Shot., and F. juniperina. Lab. (in fruit), formed our first specimens. Fine spikes oi Lomalia ilicifolia, R. Br., were fairly abundant, and tiie orchid, Dijjodiuvi pu')ictatum., R. Br., was also noted. ALiking for the old (up|)er) road, we passed numerous leguminaceous shrubs, but all past their flowering period.

An elevation of some 3,000 feet is gained in the first tiiree miles of this road, and we were not sorry to reach a spring by the roadside, which made a welcome halting place tor our mid-day meal. Continuing on, numerous familiar plants were seen growing in the roadside cuttings. At about six miles we reached a small quartz battery connected with a mine upon the hillside. Here lliere was another welcome spring. From here the vegetation began to improve, from a botanist's point of view.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST,

The Native Pepper, Drimys aromatica, F. v. M., and Persoonia arhorea, F. v. M., were obtained as fruit specimens. Presently we were attracted by the bushes of Helichrysum stir- lingii, F. v. M., bearing their corymbs of pure white flowers — a really handsome shrub, but its viscid leaves make it an awkward plant for the collector. Helichrysum rosma7'inifolium, Less., was also an attractive shrub, laden with masses of small white flowers, densely crowded into compound corymbs like so many miniature snowballs. Near here specimens of Gaultiera hispida, R. Br., one of our only two representatives of the true heaths (Ericaceae) was obtained in fruit ; these when ripe are snowy-white. Now the hillside was covered with Veronica derwentia, Little, inter- spersed with Pimelea linifolia, Smith, both in full bloom, while another white-flowered shrub, Aster megalophyllus, F. v. M., was also very attractive. Presently the splendid orange pea-shaped flowers of Oxylobium alpestre, F. v. M., were very prominent amongst the vegetation lining the road. The Blue-bell, Wahlen- hergia gracilis, D. C, was abundant, but much larger and of a deeper blue than in the lower country. The flowers of the Trigger Plant, Candollea {Stylidiuia) serridata, Lab., were of the deepest shade of pink — in fact, they might have been termed crimson. Down in the valley towards the Ovens an occasional tree fern, Alsophila australis, R. Br., could be seen rearing its head above the undergrowth, while in the road cuttings Aspidium actoleatum, Swartz, was the dominant fern, only a few Lnmaria discolor, Willd., being present.

The scenery as we ascended was very fine. The road is cut along the eastern side of the range, which runs almost due north and south. Far down in the valley was the Ovens, while on the other side about four miles away is another parallel ridge known as the " Razorback," connecting Mounts Feathertop and Hotham, both of which were now in view, but considerably higher. Presently, from the end of a spur jutting out somewhat further than usual, we got our first glimpse of Mount St. Bernard, our destination for the day, but still some miles away. Goodenia hederacea, Smith, with deep orange flowers, is noticed trailing over the rocks, and ArtJbrojiodinm panictdatum, R. Br., with pale lilac flowers, is added to our list. The eucalypts met with have been dealt with so fully by Mr. Maiden in his paper that it is not necessary to say much now ; however, we could not help noticing a change in the tree vegetation which occurred about half a mile before reaching the hospice, when the tall straight stems of Eucalyptus amydaliria, Lab., gave place to the several twisted and spreading stems of E. coriacea, A. Cunn., known as the Snow Gum, and probably marking the limit of the winter snow line. These trees have very white bark, and grow up the hillside at the back of the hospice, and all over the summit of St. Bernard.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

The last mile of the road was both steep and rough, but we thoroughly enjoyed our walk, which had taken us just six hours, the invigorating nature of the mountain air making the task an easy one. After tea, arranging the specimens in blotting paper and tracing out the unfamiliar ones by the aid of the " Key " occupied the greater part of the evening, and, the air being sharp and bracing, we enjoyed a good night's rest.

During an early morning ramble next day we visited the spring just below the hospice, which forms the source of the Ovens River, and collected fine specimens of the little fern, Lomaria aljnna, Spreng., with its spore fronds. Here also were fine bushes of Helidirysiim rosniarinifolium, Less., laden with flowers, as also Leptospermum myr.nnoides, Schlecht., and Fimelea ligustrina, Labill.

After an early breakfast we started off for Mount Hotham (locally known as " Baldy " ), some five miles distant, and about I, ICG feet higher. Just past the hospice a road descends on the right into the Dargo Valley, and so on to Gippsland, but our road was along the main ridge of the Alps in a north-easterly direction. The views' as we proceeded were very fine, now down into the Ovens valley, then down into the Dargo, and so on.

We soon began to add to our botanical collections. Our friend of the lowlands was here, Euphrasia brownii, F. v. M., but so much larger and whiter. Of that aromatic shrub, Drimys aromatica, F. v. M., our only representative of the Magnoli- ace?e, we were destined to see several forms during the day. Colour was lent to the scene by quantities of the orange Oxylobium aljjestre, F. v. M., another solely N.E. plant. Just below the road grew magnificent specimens of Craspedia richea, Cass ; some of the flowers must have been at least an inch and a half across, and of the deepest orange colour. In contrast to them were the deep blue flowers of Dianella. tasmanica, J. Hook. The daisies, Brachycome scapiforniis, D. C., and B. ciliaris, Less., grew on the slopes. The fern Aspidium acnJeatum, Swartz, grew in quantities in the crevices of the rock cuttings as we ascended, while Helipterum incanum, D. C. (var. aui'iceps), was abundant.

On a hillside grew Daviesia ulicitia, Smith, well known on the heath ground at Sandringham, but as vigorous as ever here over 5,000 feet above sea-level. Two shrubs, peculiar to the N.E., now attracted our attention, growing among the rocks and seeming to cling to them for protection from the strong wind so prevalent in this region. The one, Borunia algida, F. v. M., crowded with pretty pink flowers ; the other, Weslringia senifolia, F. V. M., with white or very pale lilac labiate flowers.

We now came to Mount Blowhard, and from our experience on a comparatively calm day we can quite understand how the

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

mount got its name, for the wind seemed to rush up out of the valley at a great rate, and the Snow Gums are bent over at a very sharp angle with the hillside. The road used to go round the Gippsland side of the mount, and was then very exposed, but a new road has been cut out of the northern face, the silurian rocks, here of a very slaty character, easily splitting into very thin layers. On the southern slope of the mountain were growing numbers of an herbaceous aster, Astei- celmisia, F. v. M., with large, hand- some daisy-like white flowers and silvery leaves, forming a very attractive sight. Among them grew Stackhousia linari/olia, Cunn., and a few specimens of the curious umbellifer, Aciphylla ylacialis, F. v. M.

Further on a slight soakage below the road was gay with Everlastings, Daisies, Blue-bells, Craspedias, &c. Passing a patch of dwarf eucalypts, we came upon some fine masses of Orites lancifolia, F. v. M., a proteaceous shrub restricted to the N.E., bearing masses of sweet-smelling creamy-white flowers, somewhat resembling a Grevillea. This was sufficiently abundant in places to make patches of pale yellow on the distant hillsides. Another shrub attracted us by the colour of its buds, which were of a deep maroon colour, gradually becoming lighter as the flowering time approached. This completely puzzled us, but we afterwards learned that it was a dwarf form of Ilelichrysum rosmarini/olium, Less., which we had admired so much on the road to St. Bernard.

Finally, turning a corner, the bold mass of Mount Hotham loomed up before us, with a large flock of travelling sheep feeding on its grassy slopes. We made a slight detour to a spring in Glen Loch, one of the sources of the Dargo ; here among the moist rocks were the ferns Aspidium aculeatum, Swartz, and Lomaria alpina, Spreng., while around on the adjacent slopes grew fine specimens of Fimelea ligustrina, Labill., Aster celmisia, F. V. M., &c. A curious form of Drimys aromaiica, F. v. M., grew here also. The different forms some plants assume in these high regions are very confusing to the collector on his first visit.

Returning to the road, we followed round the northern face of the mountain, getting a fine view of the " Razorback," Mount Feathertop, and the Diamentina Spring, the head of the Kiewa River. Conspicuous among the flowering shrubs, towards the summit of the mountain, was Kunzea nmdleri, Bentham, a myrtaceous shrub with pale yellow flowers, growing in large hummocky masses. Eriostemon inyopoi'oides, Candolle, and Epacris ser2)illi/olia, R. Br., were also collected here.

We were now within a few hundred yards of the cairn marking the highest part of mountain (6, loo feet above sea-level), which without the cairn would be difficult to locate, owing to the slightly rounded form of the summit. Leaving the road, we

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

wandered over the treeless bald top of the mount, little thinking, as we afterwards learned (Lendenfeld, " An Exploration of the Victorian Alps," Reports of Mining Registrars, Victoria, March, 1886) that we were traversing one of the oldest land surfaces on the earth. The panorama from the cairn was magnificent, and surely must be hard to beat in Australia. Mountains of all sizes and shapes in every direction. The peculiar peaks of Mount Buffalo away to the north-west at once attracted attention, while the bold mass of Mount Kosciusko was plainly visible about 75 miles away to the north-east. What must have been the feeling of our late patron, then Dr. F. Mueller, when he stood on this mount nearly fifty years before, the first white man to tread its grassy top and gather specimens of its singular alpine flora.

Round about us grew the rare umbellifer, Aciphylla glacialis, F. V. M., and the pincushion-like patches of the Victorian Edelweiss, Leontojiodium catipes, F. v. M. ; but what a tiny flower in comparison to the European Edelweiss, the delicate daisy-like headlets only about j^V of an inch across. The wind was very boisterous on top of the mount, and made collecting very unpleasant ; we therefore made our way down the southern slope to the highest source of the Dargo, trying to find a sheltered spot in which to boil our billy, but finally had to make for the spring we had visited in the morning. Near the higher spring we collected Epacris heteronema, Lab., Slyphelia montana, F. v. M., and Brachycome nivalis, F. v. M. Fine patches of Oxylobium alpestre, F. v. M., grew around on the hillsides, brightening the scene with its orange flowers. Among other plants collected in this vicinity were Cardamine dictyosperma, Hooker ; Epilobium glabeUicm, L. (very fine specimens) ; also Epacris mucronidata, R. Br. ; Slyphelia macraei, F. v. M. ; and Gnaphalium alpigenum, F. v. M., all N.E. plants.

We returned to the hospice late in the afternoon, thoroughly pleased with our first visit to the Victorian Alps, greatly regretting that our brief holiday would not allow of further exploration round about. The rocky pinnacle of Mt. Smyth close at hand, or the deep gorge of the Wongungarra on the Gippsland side of St. Bernard, seemed to ofter opportunities to the botanical collector, but we could not avail ourselves of them. The evening was again spent in arranging the plants, and as we had to leave soon after daylight in the morning, in order to catch the coach from Harriet- ville at 9 a.m., it was necessary to make up our packages as far as possible overnight.

Leaving the hospice at the early hour of 5.30 a.m., we had a glorious walk down the road, but our packages were heavy and needed frequent adjustment, and little could be done in the way of collecting, except to secure a few seed specimens of shrubs as we passed. These were principally acacias, including A.

THE VICTORIAN NATUllALIST. 9

penninervis, Sieber, A. ammna, Wendland, A. alpina, F. v. M., A. prominens, and A. vermicifltta, Cunn. Acacia alpina, F. V. M., was obtained at Mt. Blowhard. We did not see any grasses in bloom. We were back in Bright by midday, and late in the afternoon got a conveyance to drive us out to Porepunkah, from which we intended to visit Mount Buffalo. Making Manfield's Temperance Hotel, within sound of the Eurobin Creek, our headquarters, we were soon enjoying a dip in the clear stream, and admiring the bushes of Breckea crenatifolia, F. V. M., covered with sprays of beautiful white flowers, along the banks of the creek — a shrub well worth trying in the Botanical Gardens, if not already there. Lomatia longi/olia, R. Br., was found in full bloom, as also Leptospermum atteniiatum, Smith.

Next morning during an early stroll we were delighted to find growing in a boggy piece of ground only a few yards from the house a splendid spike of the somewhat rare orchid, Spiranthes aitstralis, Lindley, its delicate magenta and white flowers being particularly attractive. Careful searcii revealed two others, but not quite so fully in bloom as the first. These were carefully placed in blotting paper before starting on our hill-climbing.

The Buft'alo Mountains, which do not belong to the Alps proper, were first seen and named by Hume and Hovell, on thtir memorable exploring trip to Port Phillip in December, 1824. This range presents greater difticulties to the tourist than the Alps, and the usual route for the ascent, known as " Staker's Track," is a good test of one's athletic powers. For the first mile or two the track is very steep, with no reward for the botanist — that is, nothing uncommon, if we except a fine specimen of Bxocarpus stricta, R. Br., then bearing its pale lilac fruits, just at the foot of the track.

In about two miles we passed from the silurian to the granitic formation, which was immediately marked by a change in the flora. Lomatia ilicifolia, R. Br., was very fine, and at the first water, one of the sources of the Buffalo Creek, we collected specimens of Astrotricha ledifoUa, D. C, Hibbertia hillardieri, F. V. M., Grevillea parvijlura, R. Br., and the fern Cheilanthes tenuifolia, Swartz.

'i-. The track now takes a north-westerly course for some distance, finally turning up the gorge between the main range and the False Buffalo, winding about between huge blocks of granite. Tracliy- mene billardieri, F. v. M., was very plentiful here, and is a pretty little umbelliferous shrub. A solitary specimen of the fern Davallia duhia, R. Br., was noticed growing in a crevice of the granite. A little further on we came to a spring, which we named " Osmunda Spring," from the characteristic feature of its vegeta- tion. A few hundred yards further Gleichenia ch-civala, Swariz,

10 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

occurred in sufficient abundance to give its name to another spring. Some beautiful specimens of Goodenia elongala, Labill., grew alongside the track. The next spring we have called " Grevillea Spring," on account of the bushes of Grevillea parvi- Jiora, F. v. M., growing alongside. We then came to a little flat, which bore quite a crimson tinge from the quantities of Gandollea serrulata, Lab., growing on it ; in fact, so plentiful was this plant that we considered the spot well worthy of the name " Gandollea Flat." Bosskua Joliosa, Cunn., a brilliant-flowered species, grew here also in quantities, along with Gompholobuim huegelii, Bentham, and altogether the scene was very gay. When the tourist reaches this flat he can consider his troubles nearly over, for in another hundred yards the top is reached, when, though you may have read all the guide-book descriptions of the scene, you are quite unprepared for the sight which bursts suddenly upon you. At Christmas we seemed to emerge suddenly upon an apparently grassy meadow, dotted witli everlastings and daisies of different hues, here and there brilliant flowering shrubs, with a deep, clear stream winding through it. On the further side is Carlisle's Buffalo Hospice, backed up by the singular pile of rocks known as the " Look-out," while all around is a sort of enclosing wall of granite rocks, among which grow numerous eucalyptus trees.

Descending a little on to this plateau, as it were from the edge of a saucer, we leisurely made our way to the far-famed gorge, admiring the many floral novelties alongside the path. The view from the gorge must be seen to be understood, and as it was now past midday we determined to have lunch and admire the view at the same time, and botanize afterwards. We were here about 4,500 feet above sea level, or about 3,500 feet above our starting point in the morning. The highest peak of tiie Buffalo, known as the " Horn," about five miles to the south-west, rises to the height of 5,645 feet, and affords a magnificent view of the surrounding country. This also Dr. Mueller, as he then was, was the first to ascend, early in 1853. But one requires to spend at least a couple of days on the summit to visit all the curious rocks, and climb the Hump and the Horn, and see the other notable sights. The mountain has a grandeur of its own totally different to any other range in Victoria. We were pleased to find, on returning to town and referring to the parish plan (Wandiligong), that 2,880 acres, including the Eurobin Falls, the Gorge, "Look-out" rocks, and the meadow-like depression mentioned, have been permanently reserved as a National Park.

Now for some of the botanical treasures within easy reach of a one-day visit. Close by the gorge, growing in every crevice of the granite where there was a little soil, was the pretty pink and white everlasting, Ilelichrysum leucopsidium, D. C., while

THE VICTORIAN NATDRALIST. 11

Oxylohium alpestre, F. v. M., seemed more brilliant than ever. Not far away we secured a great rarity in Prostauthera tvalteri, F. V. M., curious on account of its large greenish flowers. This shrub had only been recorded twice before, originally by Mr. C. Walter, on Mount EUery, East Gippsland, and subsequently in New South Wales. Kunzea 7nuelleri, Bentham, was here much finer than on Mount Hotham, probably through not being so exposed to the wind. Only one or two plants of Kunzea corifolia, Reich., with purple flowers, were met with ; this has not previously been recorded from the N.E. Another yellow-flowered shrub was Eriostemon alpinis, F. v. M., while Comesperma retusum, Lab., was much dwarfer and of a deeper magenta than C. ericinum, D. C. The curious Epacrid, Richea gunnii, J. Hooker, with singular yellowish-white flowers, grew in large patches in the swampy ground. A large composite, Podolepis longipedata, R. Br., was not quite open. The rare Veronica nivea, Lindley, with pale lavender flowers, was not very plentiful. Perhaps one of the most charming flowers met with on the summit was Epacris heteronema, Lab., with clusters of flowers of the purest white ; this grew principally along the banks of the stream. Spren- gelia incarnata, Smith, was quite at home in the boggy ground. The Eriostemons, E. trymalioides, F. v. M., E. j^hulicifolius, F. v. M., and E. myoporoid es, F. v. M., were all met with ; but then more than half our Eriostemons are found in the N.E. division, while several are peculiar to it only. Bceckea gunniana, Schauer, with minute flowers, and B. diffusa, Sieber, the leaves of the former having a very pleasant odour, were added to our list. Gaultiera hispida, R. Br., was found in fruit. The umbellifers, Oreomyrrhis andicola, Endlicher, and Daucus brachiatus, Sieber, were found in fruit only. Sccevola hooJceri, F. v. M., belonging to the Goodeniaceae, was fairly common. A very small plant was Pidtencea fasciculaia, Benth. Amongst the orchids were found Prasophylhim foiscum, R. Br., P. patens, R. Br., P. alpinum, and Thelymitra longifolia, Forster. The only Drosera found was D.peltata, Smith. Claytonia australasica. Hooker, was growing almost in the water. The leaves only of Caltha introloba, F. v. M., a beautiful member of the Ranun- culacese, were found, also a yellow-flowered variety of Diane/la revoluta, R. Br. Diligent search was made in the numerous depressions containing water for specimens of pond life for absent members of the Club, but nothing was found visible to the naked eye.

Having spent a most enjoyable afternoon wandering about this botanist's paradise, about five o'clock we commenced the descent, which was accomplished much more quickly than our climb in the morning, and soon after seven we were having our final dip in the Eurobin. Tea having been disposed of, it was necessary

12 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

to pack up and make our way back to Porepunkah township, in order to catch the 5 a m. train on Monday morning, reaching Melbourne again about mid-day, after an absence of almost five days, during which we had covered nearly 500 miles.

Regarding the bird and insect Hfe met with during the trip we have little to say, as our time was so fully occupied by the flower- ing plants. However, among birds, an Eaglehawk was seen soaring some hundreds of feet above the summit of Mt. Hotham, and several King Parrots were seen between Harrietville and St. Bernard. Some fine specimens of Orthoptera, belonging to the Locustidae, were noticed at Mounts Blowiiard and Hotham, but were, unfortunately, not fully developed, so were not collected. A collector of this order should do well there about March.

If it were possible to arrange for one of the periodical extended excursions of the Club to be held in the Bufi"alo Mountains, we feel sure that no member who took part in it would ever regret the expenditure of time and money necessary for the outing. We have not attempted in this paper to describe the scenery of the district ; that must be seen to be understood, but from the maps and photographs exhibited to-night some idea may be gained of its character.

In conclusion we may say, for die benefit of future visitors, that our expenses for the trip did not amount to ^4 per head, and then, owing to the holidays, we were obliged on three occasions to hire special conveyances. From a health-giving point of view, our trip was delightful, and we returned to town greatly invigorated by the pure mountain air.

BOOK NOTICE. Nests and Eggs of Birds Found Breeding in Australia AND Tasmania.— Another part of this catalogue, issued by the Trustees of the Australian Museum, Sydney, has just been published. In this, the third part, the author, Mr. A. J. North, C. M.Z.S., deals with the greater part of the family Muscicapidae, and in the course of 80 pages deals with some 45 species of Fantails, Fly-catchers, Robins, Scrub-Tits, and Bush-Warblers. Several exquisite drawings are ii'.serted in the text, and three full- page plates are given, depicting the nest and eggs of the Rose- breasted Robin, the nest of the Yellow-breasted Robin, and the nest of the White-throated Bush-Warbler, each of which are excellent reproductions.

The retirement of Sir James Hector, K.C.M.G. (hon. member F.N.C.), from the directorship of the Geological Survey of New Zealand and of the Colonial Observatory is announced. Sir fames retires on a pension, after a long period of service in various scientific positions.

Cl)e Uktorian HaturalUi

Vol. XX.— No. 2. JUNE 4, 1903. No. 234.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA, The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, nth May, 1903. The president, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., occupied the chair, and about thirty members and visitors were present.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. P. C. Cole, Napier-street, Fitzroy, and Mr. O. A. Thiele, Williamstown, were elected as ordinary members, and Mr. E. H. Lees, M.I.C.E., F.R.A.S., "Fairhaven," Mallacoota, and Mr. J. R. Murdoch, Mortlake, were elected as country members of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Nominations for office-bearers for 1903-4 were received, and Messrs. D. Best and A. D. Hardy were elected to audit the accounts for the past year.

The president mentioned with regret the death of Mr. Neville Cayley, of Sydney, well known to ornithologists as one of the most successful delineators of Australian bird-life.

PAPERS READ.

1. By Mr. C. Walter (communicated by Mr. C. French, jun.), entitled " A New Variety of Acacia montana, Benth."

The author stated that, on examination of specimens of this shrub received from Mr. D' Alton, of Nhill, he at first came to the conclusion that it was a new species, and exhibited it as such at the April meeting of the Club. He was led to this conclusion by the fact that Acacia montana, Benth., is placed by Baron von Mueller, both in the " Key to Victorian Plants" and the "Census of Australian Plants," in the section '' Uninerves," while the specimens under notice are distinctly " Plurinerves." On further consideration, however, he decided that it should be recorded as a variety of A. montana, with the name of (Taltoni, after the original finder. Specimens of this and allied species were exhibited for comparison.

2. By Messrs. Chapman, F.R.MS., and H. J. Grayson, entitled "On Red Rain, with Special Reference to its Occurrence in Victoria. With a Note on Melbourne Dust."

The authors, in an exhaustive paper, described the phenomenon known as " red rain," and mentioned its occurrence in various parts of the world. The origin of the recent falls in Victoria was discussed, and details given of the microscopical examination of the sediment collected, as well as the chemical analysis and results of a bacteriological examination. A note on Melbourne

14 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

dust from the roof of the National Museum was appended for the purpose of comparison. The paper was well illustrated by a series of lantern slides.

A short discussion ensued, in which the president, Messrs. Barnard, Hardy, Walpole, and Keartland took part.

On the motion of Messrs. J. Stickland and Barnard, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. J. Searle for again placing his lantern at the service of the club.

Owing to the lateness of the hour, Mr. G. Weindorfer's paper, " The Physiognomy of the Australian and European Alpine Floras Compared," was postponed until next meeting.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Fertile frond of Elk-Horn Fern, Platycerium alcicorne, of Queensland.

By Messrs. F. Chapman and H. J. Grayson. — Lantern slides, photographs, microscopic slides, and red-rain sediment, in illus- tration of their paper.

By Mr. A. Coles. — A young Wombat.

By Mr. J. A. Kershaw. — ^A " twin Mushroom," found at Mordialloc by Mr. F. W. Baillie.

By Mr. F; M. Reader. — Dried specimens of the following plants: — Aira minuta, Loefl., and Trifolium parviflorum, Erh., naturalized and new for Victoria ; also, specimens of the Egg- pla!it, Solamtm melongera, L. ; Safiflower, Carthaimis fiiictorius, L. ; and Cape Gooseberry, Pliysalis peruviana, L., grown in the Wimmera.

By Mr. G. Sweet, F.G.S. — Red rain, caught on sheets of paper at Brunswick, 28th March, 1903.

By Mr. C. Walter. — Enxalyj^tus liemijoldoia, from Somerton district, previously recorded from N.W. and E. of Victoria; Persoonia chamcepeuce, from Dandenong Ranges, previously recorded from N.E. and E. of Victoria ; also, in illustration of paper: — Acacia microcavpa, F. v. M., Wimmera District, October, 1900; A. stricta, Willd., Watts River, August, 1899 ; A. leprosa, Sieb., Dandenong Ranges, October, 1900; A. montana, Benth., Bacchus Marsh, September, 1899 ; A. moiUana, Benth., van d'alto'iti, Wimmera District ; A. sclerophylla, Lind., Wimmera District.

After the usual conversazione, the meeting terminated.

ON THE SO-CALLED PETRIFIED MUSHROOM. By D. M'Alpine.

{Head before the Field Naturalists'' Club of Victoria, 'IQth April, li)0;3.) In January of this year I received from Mr. M. B. Gray, of Hamilton, a specimen supposed to be a petrified mushroom, and

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 1 5

on that account was asked to report upon it. It certainly some- what resembled a hardened mushroom, consisting of a stalk and an expanded rap-like portion ; but appearances are often very deceptive, and in this case it proved to be so.

The specimen was found at Bridgewater, Western Victoria, about a mile from the local hotel, between the beach and the cliffs, on a kind of irregular path frequented by numerous visitors. The whole is of a brownish-black colour, and the cap-like portion is roughly round, measuring 4)^ in. in diameter, convex and broken up into numerous blunt tooth-like parts, somewhat re- sembling the overlapping scales of a pine cone. On the under surface it is slightly concave and relatively smooth compared with the upper, which has evidently been the side most exposed to weathering. The stalk is inserted in the centre rather obliquely, more or less compressed, and tapering slightly towards the base, being a little over 3 in. in length and 1-13^ in. across. It is very rough, and has a dark ashy-grey aspect. The whole weighs 8^ ozs., and was certainly of a sufficiently striking character to be picked up as a ' curio.' In order to get at its true nature, it is essential to see the interior and make, say, a longitudinal section right through the centre of it, but as the finder wished it to be preserved intact, that could not be done. However, by a lucky accident, the stalk was broken across near the base, and the woody core was revealed, of a creamy colour, while the outside was dark-coloured and very irregular. Professor Gregory, of the Melbourne University, to whom the specimen was sub- mitted, had determined it as a woody callosity, and not a fossil at all.

I had already examined the woody portion under the micro- scope, and found it to consist, not of fungus filaments, but of cellular tissue. Hence the specimen could not possibly be a fungus. A small portion was also thoroughly soaked with iodine and then treated with sulphuric acid, when it became of a deep blue colour, thus giving the well-known cellulose reaction. This proved that the substance had neither become petrified nor fossilized, but was perfectly normal, In some portions of the woody tissue there was found a perfect network of fungus filaments — elongated, branched, and closely septate. These filaments were the only traces of fungi found, and were pro- bably parasitic. Thus the specimen turned out to be interesting — not, however, as a petrified mushroom, but as one of those peculiar excrescences found on various trees, and known as "burrs," "gnaurs," "wens," or "exostosis." These ex- crescences are usually very irregular and woody, with gnarled and warted surfaces. They occur on a number of different trees, very commonly on the elm, and vary in size from that of a pea to that of a cocoa-nut or larger. It has been as-

16 TIIR VICTOlilAN NATURALIST.

certained that they are not due to insect agency, and they may start from old tree trunks, or where a branch has broken off, and probably arise from clusters of adventitious buds. A bud under these circumstances tries to develop a shoot, but owing to im- perfect nourishment it soon dies at the top, then new buds at the base of this repeat the process next year, and so on until quite a cluster is formed. This compact mass of suppressed shoots may form a hard, rounded boss-like structure, and become more or less disconnected from the parent trunk.

Berkeley — in the Gardeners' Chronicle, at p. 756 (1855) — states that gnaurs occasionally, though freely developing above, may adhere by a strong peduncle or stalk of the wood, and this leads us to consider the form of the present specimen. We may imagine that the cluster of buds grew out at first as a relatively slender projection, owing to a scarcity of nutriment ; then, subsequently, there was sufficient nourishment provided to enable the expansion to take place at the top. However this may be, there is no doubt of the woody nature of the specimen and of its being one of those lusns naturce so frequently met with in different departments of science. Every credit is due to Mr. Gray — or rather, I am informed, to Mrs. Gray, who actually picked up the specimen — for bringing it under notice, and this short account of an interesting form may be the means of leading field naturalists to observe any examples of such excrescences on our native trees. No doubt the size, the shape, and the situation all tended to suggest the idea of a mushroom, and when we remember that Bridgevvater — on the coast, about nine miles from Portland — is noted for the natural curiosity known as the " petrified forest," we can easily understand how this hard, woody, mushroom-like body came to be regarded as a petrified mushroom, although, of course, the meaning intended is lignified rather than petrified.

It would be interesting to visit the locality and explore it for one's self, in order to see if any similar specimens may be found still attached to their parent trees.

The Agricultural Gazelle of Netv South Wales for April contains several articles of interest to naturalists. Mr. W. W. Froggat, F.L.S., Government Entomologist, contributes some notes, with illustrations, on the Cicadas, " Locusts," and their habit? ; also on the Potato Moth, Lita solaiiella, Boisd. Another interesting article by Mr. C. T. Musson, of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, shows how the rainfall often varies in adjacent localities, and, as the result of practical experiments, shows the variations recorded by a series of rain-gauges set about 70 yards apart, each representing an area of one acre.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 17

ON "RED RAIN," WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS OCCURRENCE IN VICTORIA. WITH A NOTE ON MELBOURNE DUST.

By F. Chapman, F.R.M.S., and H. J. Grayson.

{Read he fore the Field Naturalists' Cluh of Victoria, llth Mai/, 1903.)

Jntroductort/ Remarks. — Natural phenomena, meteoric or other- wise, which happened to be beyond the common order of things were regarded by our forefathers with mingled feelings of awe and superstition. Many of the mysterious phantasies of the past have been dissipated by the growth of accurate knowledge, and not least among these is the phenomenon, common enough in certain districts, and under peculiar conditions, of the so-called blood-rains. This appearance, which was regarded by the credulous and unscientific mind in a more or less literal sense, and presaging calamity in one form or another, is to us merely a dust-laden shower, brought about by the rain falling during a dust storm.

Although showers of red rain, when particularly dark in colour, are referred to as blood-rain, it is rare to find the colouring material so vivid as to cause the name to be merited, mud -rain being often more appropriate.

Other similar appearances, produced in a different way, and by the agency of Protophytes, are variously known as " gory dew " {Pahnella cruenta), found on damp walls, and resembling in colour coagulated blood ; and the " red snow " found in the arctic and alpine regions colouring extensive tracts of country, which is either a species of Palmella or possibly a Protococcus. These latter appearances, however, are distinctly due to organic growth, and have nothing in common with red rain.

The "yellow rain," or "sulphur showers," which, by the way, are not due to sulphur, are frequent in some countries, and not confined to any in particular. They are caused by an exceptional quantity of pollen, chiefly coniferous, being included in the condensing moisture and brought down with the rain.

The physiographical conditions required for the production of mud-rains are, obviously, a desert tract of country, where fine impalpable dust may be caught up by the wind, and the inclusion of this dust in a moisture-laden stratum of air. The result is a shower of muddy rain, which often takes place at distances far removed from the source of the dust. It is possible that the process of condensation may be hastened by the presence of dust particles, as seems to be the case during volcanic outbursts.

In many regions dust storms are so generally prevalent as to result in the deposition of layers of fine sediment, which mantle

18 Tllli VICTORIAN NATUUALIST.

everything, and eventually form strata of very great thickness. A notable example of such a deposit is the Loess of China and Central Asia, which is an accumulation of blown dust often as much as i.ooo feet in thickness. In this way the ancient cities of Nineveh and Babylon have probably been covered up. Showers also might occasionally fall in these districts, often as mud-rains, and this moisture would furnish the necessary con- ditions of life for the land and marsh-loving shells which are often met with in great abundance in these subaerial deposits.

The phenomenon of mud showers frequently observed in connection with volcanic eruptions is obviously related to that of red rain, differing only in the source and nature of the dust. The sediment in the former consists usually of crystalline par- ticles and triturated volcanic material, whilst that of the latter contains both mineral and organic particles. Upon both the winnowing action of air currents may be observed, the finer and lighter portion naturally being carried farthest from its source.

The terrigenous deposits which occur off the west coast of Africa, notably round Cape Verde, and contain much fine sandy material, may in a large measure owe their origin to dust storms, which carry a burden of fine material off the land, as exemplified in the " sea dust " often collected from the decks of vessels in that part of the Atlantic.

The Red Bains of the Mediterraneaii Area and Their Com.2')osition. — In the Mediterranean area showers of red rain are very frequent, the south wind or sirocco bringing dust with it from the Sahara Desert and meeting with the moist air of the Mediterranean. In Sicily, around the harbour of Messina, a curious illusionary effect is sometimes seen, which, accordmg to some writers, appears to be directly connected with the advancing dust-laden clouds. It is known as the Fata Morgana, and supposed by the Sicilians to be the work of the fairy Morgana. It presents the appearance of a screen extended over the still, clear water, and reflections of edifices and other objects are seen against it to a height of about 30 feet above the water's level. (For sketches of this phenomenon, see Nature, 26th February, 1903, p. 394.)

The colour of the sediment from the red rain of the Mediterranean coast regions and elsewhere is mainly due to the ferruginous constituents of the soil which yields the dust, and it varies greatly in degree according to its source.

The composition of the sediment of red rain is often largely silicious, due to the large proportion of quartz particles, and this is frequently considerably increased by the presence of the silicious frustules of diatoms which have been caught up from freshwater lakes, or even from sub-fossil deposits which lay in the path of the wind. This latter feature in the constitution of red

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 19

rain was pre-eminently brought under notice by the elaborate work of Dr. Ehrenberg, published in 1847.* That author gave a detailed account of the falls of blood-rain or sirocco dust at Genoa, Lyons, and elsewhere, and of the "sea dust" collected near the Cape Verde Islands by Darwin and Lyell ; all of these contained many species of diatoms, chiefly of freshwater habitat. Ehren- berg also recorded the contents of sediment from a " red snow fall" in the Tyrol, which appears to be of the nature of red dust, in which he found numerous diatoms, sponge spicules, some doubtful forms of foraminifera, pollen of Pinus and spores of ferns, vegetable fibres and hairs, and fragments of insects. There is also in this work an historical record of falls of red rain, amounting in all to 340, up to the date of the publication of Ehrenberg's memoir. In addition to silicious particles in the sediment there will naturally be a variable quantity of desic- cated material derived directly from the soil, the result of the decomposition of basalt and other rocks lying in the track of the wind.

To take one or two recent instances of red rain falling in the Mediterranean area, we may refer to Prof. Judd's examination! of some sediment collected by Prof Sir A. W. Riicker, at Taor- mina, Sicily, which fell during March, 1901, and was noticed as far north as Hamburg. This material, Prof. Judd says, con- tained " chips of quartz, micaceous and other minerals. A few diatom frustules, but these were not so common as in that which was examined by Ehrenberg in 1S47."

Referring to the same series of showers, M. Stainslaus Meunier J gave the composition of red rain which fell in Palermo on the night of the 9th to loth of March, 1901, as follows: —

In 100 parts of powder —

Water ... ... ... ... 5.20

Organic matter ... ... ... 3.17

Sand .. ... ... ... 59.I4

Carbonate of lime ... ... ... 23.91

And by difference — clay ... ... 8. 58

The sand referred to would be chiefly silicious ; its per- centage is curiously identical with that determined for Victoria by Mr. Walpole (see p. 29).

An analysis by M. Barac of red rain sediment which fell at Fiume, Hungary,§ shows a great variety of substances to be present, which were due to local conditions. The presence of

■' " Passatslaub und Blutrcgcn," Abhancllangen K. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, pp. 269-460, 6 plates.

t Nature, 28th March, 1901, vol. l.xiii., p. 514. X Nature, iSth April, 1901, vol. Ixiii., p. 604. § IbuL, 1901, vol. l.Niv., p. 4S9.

20 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

soot, for instance, would be accounted for by the proximity of manufactories. The material in this instance consisted of coloured particles (mainly irregular), angular fragments, mineral particles, silicious organisms, particles of soot, rhombohedra of calcite, and cubes of salt. The quantitative analysis given by M. Barac is as follows : —

Silica ... ... ... ... 49-49

Iron sesquioxide ... ... ... 9.96

Alumina ... ... ... ... 12.10

Manganese peroxide ... ... 1.99

Lime ... ... •.. ... 11.46

Magnesia ... ... ... 0.40

Carbonic acid ... ... ... 8.96

Organic matter ... ... ... 5.48

Traces of soda, sulphuric acid. Hydro- chloric acid, &c. ... ... 0.16

Red Rain in England. — The mud-rains so frequent in the Mediterranean area occasionally extend, as we have seen, far into Europe. It is extremely rare, however, in the British Islands, so that it is the more interesting to note its, occurrence in January of last year in the neighbourhood of the Bristol Channel. This fall occurred in the night or early morning of the 22nd and 23rd at Chewton, Henbury, and Lawrence Western,* and it appears, according to some authorities, to have had a quite local origin in that part of the south-west of England. It has been suggested by Clement Reid that the dust of this particular fall of mud-rain originated in the alluvial flats of the Cornish area.t

Occurrence of Red Rain in Australasia. — When we turn to Australasia we find nearly similar conditions prevalent to those on the coastal areas of the Mediterranean. The hot, dry north wind, passing over the sterile region of the centre, frequently brings down a great quantity of dust across tlie southern states. These dust clouds mix with the southerly moist winds, and in some measure, as already remarked, assist in the condensation of the moisture, which results in a downfall of khaki-coloured rain. These showers are recorded from time to time, and form one of the ordinary features of the Australian climate, although ihey are not of great frequency, for very often the dust subsides before it is caught by a moist stratum of air.

A note on a shower of red rain was published in the Eield Naturalists' journal in 1897, J in which the writer, Mr. C. C. Brittlebank, mentions that he had observed diatoms in the red

* Nalure, 1902, vol. Ixv., p. 317.

+ J bid, p. 414.

J Vol. xiii., p. 125.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 21

rain which fell over a large area of Victoria on ihe 2'j[h. December, 1896.

Towards the end of last year a few local showers were recorded in Victoria from the districts of Heathcote, Traralgon, and Cunninghame, bringing down a quantity of tine red dust, which formed a coating of mud upon everything on which it fell, leaving mud-stains on people's clothes and contaminating the domestic water supplies.

A further sample of rain sediment, collected in South Gipps- land by Mr. W. H. Ferguson of the Mines Department, has been kindly placed at our disposal by Prof. Gregory, F.R.S. We found it differed only slightly from the material obtained by us, and mainly in that it contained a rather larger percentage of mineral matter, principally of quartz fragments. Mr. Ferguson, we are informed, secured the sediment toward the end of last year, and was careful to form an estimate of the total fall per square mile from data available, and this amounted to 50 tons.

A similar estimate made by us with respect to the fall on 28th March gives an approximation to over 35^ tons per square mile for I inch of rainfall ; or, more precisely, 20 grains per squaie foot for I inch of rainfall. Of this total about 397 lbs. would consist of the frustules of diatoms, to which we shall presently refer.

One of the recent widely-spread dust storms has been noticed in Nature * by Mr. W. A. Dixon, of Sydney, namely that of nth, 1 2th, and 13th November, which visited New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. That writer remarks on the obscuring of the sun by the great quantity of dust present in the air, whilst the sea had a peculiar leaden colour. The latter appearance he compares with the blue colour of the New Zealand hot lakes, and supposes it to be due to a like cause, that of fine particles in suspension.

From Tasmania Mr. H. S. Dove f described the dust storm on the afternoon of 12th November, 1902, when the sky to the north and north-east was of a chocolate-brown tint. The whirled-up dust was afterwards caught by the rain, which, when it fell, dis- coloured people's clothes. This writer compares the appearance of the sky during the dust storm with that of " Black Thursday," when the fearful bush fires raged over so great an extent of country.

This same occurrence took the form of a very dense dust storm in Victoria, which lasted during the greater part of the day, and in some places necessitated the use of lamps in the daytime, on account of the darkness.

* 1st January, 1903, vol. Ixvii., p. 203. f Loc. supra cit.

THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

One of the most remarkable, perhaps, of red-rain showers, as regards the quantity of sediment brought down, occurred in Vic- toria and parts of the neighbouring States on 14th February, 1903. Early in the day the weather was fine and bright, but a northerly wind springing up caused the streets in Melbourne to be partly obscured by dust. The warm and oppressive north wind con- tinued steadily blowing until about 3.45 p.m., and the suspended dust at last imparted a copper colour to the sky. The highest shade temperature in Melbourne was 91.6. At the lime men- tioned an instantaneous change took place, the wmd quickly veering round to the south-west, and in a moment a cool, damp, and almost icy wind from the Southern Ocean took the place of the oppressive north wind which had until then been blowing. The south-west wind blew with increasing force, and at one time had a velocity of 67 miles per hour. The change in the direction of the wind was emphasized by a sudden darkening of the sky, and far above in an east and west direction the dust clouds could be seen as a dense purplish bank being driven northward, followed by patches and flecks of snow-white clouds marking the progress of the south wind, which was forcing its way beneath and against the heated dust cloud. At this time it was so dark as to make it necessary for lamps to be lighted to enable one to read. At 5 p.m. rain, saturated with fine dust, commenced to fall, colouring everything upon which it fell of a chocolate tint. Upon holding out a sheet of writing paper the rain would quickly discolour it with reddish-brown spots. We collected the sediment from this fall for detailed microscopic examination, at Camber- well, 5 miles east of, and at St. Kilda, 4 miles south-east of Mel- bourne respectively. Five fluid ounces of rain were collected by one of us at Camberwell, and this yielded 17 grains of dry sediment.

This cyclonic disturbance appears to have spent its force mainly on the coastal areas, and does not seem to have gone far beyond the Divide.

Still more recently, on 28th March, a red-rain fall occurred, on a Saturday as in the previous instance, and at nearly the same time ; emphasizing the general rule that a cycle of weather in Victoria takes about 7 to 9 days to complete. Material from these two falls yielded both diatoms and various minerals, and these will be presently enumerated and described. Wc have already referred (see p. 21) to the probable amount of sediment which fell per square mile on this particular date.

It may be mentioned incidentally that on the 15th of February a storm of hail passed over Camberwell, the hail-stones having a curious shape, like a depressed mushroom. One of their surfaces was convex, the opposite conical, and having a short stalk ; the

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

June, 1903. PLATE 1.

^1 -

f

^.''c

i^.r

-'t'

Si -^ A t, Ci:

II. J. G. I'hnto.

SEDIMENTS AND SILICIOUS

Process: Block, TltlUMPll Eng Co. RESIDUES FROM RED RAIN,

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

yiine, 1903. PLATE II.

■■
	4';		,».
€
S?		4	M

1

'' '\

n. J. G. and F. C. Photo. Process Block, Triumph Eng. Co

RESIDUES, DIATOMS, AND MINERALS FROM RED RAIN.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

periphery was acute. Both surfaces were rough and pitted, as though etched in a regular manner and having relation to some inherent crystalline strain. These hail-stones averaged lo mm. in height.

In connection with the following notes on the sediment of the red rain an opportunity has been taken to examine a sample of dust which had drifted on to the skylight of the National Museum, Melbourne. The material, in some respects, was comparable with the ordinary sediment of the mud-rain, but of a somewhat coarser nature, the greater part being mineral grains, and only a few fragments of diatom frustules were seen. It differed also in containing minerals of a distinctly local character, presumably derived from the powdering of the road metal in the district, such as basalt and limestone.

The Minerals found in the Two Samples of Red-rain

Sediment.

Sediment in the mass reddish-brown.

Quartz. — This is by far the commonest mineral in both samples of red-rain sediment. The particles are usually quite angular, a small proportion only being sub-rounded ; and these latter are not so smooth and polished as in the case of the desert sands of the interior, typical examples of which, obtained during Professor Gregory's recent expedition to Lake Eyre Basin, we have compared for the purpose. Some of the grains from the sediment are indeed sharply angular as if freshly crushed or broken, as would be the case if some of the material were derived from dried tailings and sluicings, such as occur abundantly in the mining areas to the north and north-west of Victoria.

The thickness of the quartz grains may be judged by their polarization colours ranging from iron grey to straw yellow of the first order of Newton's colour scale. Some of the quartz fragments are clear, but the majority are more or less crowded with cavities and bubbles.

()])al is represented by a flake of a pale-brownish colour giving a dark extinction cross, due to inherent strain.

Orthoclase felspar is rather rare ; some perfect crystals, how- ever, were met with, one being twinned on the Carlsbad type. A good specimen of a zoned Orthoclase occurs in the St. Kilda sediment. Fragments of larger crystals of Orthoclase are fairly abundant, showing schiller structure developed normally to tlie pinacoid faces.

Sanidine is frequent in the St. Kilda material (28th March).

Alhite is not common, but occurs in small angular chips in both samples (from St. Kilda and Camberwell).

Anorthoclase is rare in the St. Kilda sample (28lh March), It

24 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

gives the characteristic extinction-angle measurement on the face ooi.

Augite. — Fairly frequent in both samples as broken crystals or shapeless fragments. A few perfect crystals were found, which give oblique extinction, are feebly pleochroic, and show the approximate right-angled cleavage, tjsually of a pale or dull green colour, but sometimes greenish to smoky-brown.

Actinolite. — A crystalline aggregate of this mineral, which approaches Tremolite in its pale colour, was found in the St. Kilda material. It is fibrous, pale green, and faintly pleochroic.

Tourmaline. — This mineral occurs in both samples of the sediment, and the crystals are frequentlv perfect and doubly terminated. They are easily recognized by their strong absorption and straight extinction. One crystal from the Camberwell fall is of a pale indigo-green ; the others are usually smoke-brown to greenish-brown.

Olivine is somewhat frequent in the St. Kilda material of 28th March. The grains are sharply broken, and show a conchoidal fracture. Amongst other characters their polarization colours serve to distinguish this mineral from quartz.

Garnet. — A single isotropic granule of a pale pink colour occurred in the St. Kilda sample of 14th February.

Cordierite. — An angular piece of this mineral species was found in the St. Kilda sample, and is the only specimen met with after a careful search. It gives the characteristic colours of blue to yellow when examined with the polarizer only. It is met with in both granites and gneisses in Victoria.

Butile. — Occasional, in the St. Kilda material. Crystals some- what rare, varying from dark yellowish-brown to deep red-brown. No twinned forms observed.

Zirco7i. — A rounded crystal of colourless Zircon, measuring .04 mm. in length, was found in the Camberwell sediment. Found more commonly in the St. Kilda material.

Apatite. — A crystal measuring .06 mm. in length occurred in the Camberwell sediment.

Epidote — A doubly-terminated crystal from the Camberwell fall, measuring .09 mm. in length ; viewed through axis c it gives greenish-brown. Also strong refraction, with edges in high relief. Incipient fractures nearly at right angles to ortho- diagonal.

Nalrolite (?). — A fragment of a radially-grouped mineral, from St, Kilda, giving straigiit extinction, and resembling Natrolite in its general characters.

Limonite. — Numerous rounded flakes of a reddish-brown or yellow colour are seen to be disseminated through the mounted material, and to which, together with the more powdery or

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 25

amorphous brown particles of a similar nature, the brown colour of the sediment is apparently due.

A possible explanation for the presence of much of the Limonite may be due in this instance to the fact that in the process of denudation and weathering of the tertiary basalts the iron usually leaches out and forms extensive concretionary or cemented gravelly deposits, locally termed " buck-shot gravels." The auriferous drifts also from the north-western districts supply a large proportion of limonitic or other ferruginous material. Asso- ciated with the minerals described above there is also a flake of amber-brown glass, with numerous gas-cavities, from the Camber- well sample.

The mineral fragments and crystals from the Victorian red-rain sediment, as recorded above, have undoubtedly been derived from the disintegration of the rocks ordinarily met with in the Victorian area in the cotmtry to the north and west. The mineral con- stituents of Dolerite and Basalt, which are so much in evidence in the Melbourne dust, are not at all common in the red-rain sediment, the latter material presumably originating farther to the north. The accessory silicates and the other rarer and heavier minerals were most likely derived from granitic and gneissic rocks, and from the disintegration of lodes and veins.

We may mention, en passant, that in his examination of the sirocco dust Prof von Lasaulx noticed that the mineral con- stituents consisted of the ordmary rock-forming minerals, with the addition, curiously, of metallic iron particles. These latter he refers to a terrestrial origin.

Prof Silvestri, of Catania, found not only metallic iron in the Sicilian sirocco dust, but also nickel and various silicates and phosphates such as are found in meteorites, which led him to believe that a portion of the dust was either derived from the abrasion of those bodies or existed as cosmic dust, which was attracted to the earth on penetrating the citmosphere.

The terrestrial origin of the sirocco dust is now admitted on nearly all sides. Prof Tacchini, who also supports this view, found the specific gravity of the dust to vary from 2.3 1-2. 71, and due to the invariably large proportion of silica in its composition.

In addition to the diatoms, to be presently dealt with, there are numerous pieces of vegetable tissue, more particularly fragments of leaves and stems, and also numerous traces of the silicious elements present in grasses, sedges, and other plants structurally allied. Besides these there were numerous spore-like bodies and pollen grains in samples from both localities. The most striking and abundant plant remains are, however, the silicious valves and frustules of the Diatomacese. Their presence has been recorded in Australia on several occasions previously, as we have already incidentally stated, more particularly in the

26 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

red rain of 1896, by several observers, but as the sediment was almost invariably collected on the roofs of greenhouses or from the channelings of dwellings, positions in which it was very liable to contamination, it was not clearly demonstrable that they had been carried and deposited by atmospheric agencies. This element of doubt has been eliminated in the case of the deposits under review, as they were collected in perfectly clean vessels at stated intervals, and as all the glassware, chemicals, and water used in the subsequent cleaning processes were certainly free from similar organisms, the possibility of their accidental introduction need not be entertained.

The number and variety of these organisms is fairly consider- able, though to obtain this distinction they need not, and in fact do not, form any very large percentage of the total sediment. Certainly it would be well within the mark to state that they do not represent more than one-half per cent. Yet in a sample of dried material weighing not more than 20 grains they number many thousands.

Fragments of sponge spicules, probably of Spongilla, are not infrequent in most of the samples collected.

Dried remains of the lorica of a rotifer, probably of the genus Euchlanis, were occasionally met with, and the wing of an insect occurred in that from Camberwell.

The Diato:\is in the Red-Rain Sediment.

The generic and specific forms present are in the main repre- sentative of freshwater types. Species usually found only in brackish water occur, but not to the same extent, while the occurrence of purely marine and estuarine representatives of the group is extremely rare, only one example of the former having been noticed, namely, a species of Cymbosira, from the fall at Camberwell.

The number of the Diatomacese known and described is so enormous, and the literature concerning them so voluminous and scattered, that any attempt to enumerate all the specific forms present is next to impossible to any but specialists in this group. We have consequently only endeavoured to draw up a provisional list of some of the more prominent species. This, of course, might be greatly extended and modified by more complete examination and research.

List of DiatomacecB from lied Rain collected at St. Kilda '2Sfh March, 1903. — Amphora, sp., Cymbella, sp., £ncijonema luiiula, Grunow, Navicula nohilis, Ehr. (fragments), N. major, Kutz. (fragments), N. lata, ^V. Smith, N. borealis, Ehr. (not quite typical), N. brauniana, Grunow, JV. termes, Ehr., var. stauronei Jormis, N. commutata, Grunow, JV. amhujiia, Ehr., N., sp., Stau- roneis acuta, W. Smith, Stauroiitis, sp., Amphicampa mirabilis,

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Epithemia zebra, Ehr., Eunotia, sp., Synedra, sp. (fragments), Feronia, sp., Diatoma, sp. (some examples still sliowing the gelatinous envelope), Hanlzschia amphioxus, Grunow, Hantzschia, sp., JVitzschia, sp. (several), Melosira, sp. (several).

The question of the derivation, as also the destination, of so many species of diatoms, and other organisms much more potent in their consequential effects, and such as it appears must he regularly carried by these periodic cyclonic storms, is one of great interest. This is so, not merely because of its bearing upon the distribution of one particular group of microscopical plants through a given area, but rather because of its relation to questions affecting the welfare of communities separated by hundreds of miles of land and sea For it must be perfectly clear that if individual organisms so large as the frustules of the diatoms we have enumerated can be carried from the northern areas of Victoria to New Zealand, of which more anon, it is equally clear that the organisms in their embryonic state, infinately smaller, but more potent in their effects upon other organisms — to wit, ourselves — may be, and indeed are, carried in the careering dust storms with which the Melbournians are, alas ! only too familiar.

In order, if possible, to derive definite information upon this point, we submitted samples of the material obtained to Dr. Bull, Lecturer on Bacteriology at the University, who generously undertook to prepare cultures from the several tubes of sediment. Unfortunately these could not be immediately dealt with ; so that, according to Dr. Bull's appended report, only the more resistant organisms were capable of development. In addition to the saprophytic and allied organisms alluded to by Dr. Bull, numerous protozoan forms of life, chiefly of the flagellate type, quickly developed out in a tube of material left for a few days exposed to the light. Of course the usual precautionary measures to ensure isolation and freedom from contamination other than such as was unavoidable at the time of collection had been taken.

Report on the Bacteriological Examination of Two Specimens of "Red-Rain" Water. By Dr. R. J. Bull. The samples were labelled as under : —

1. " Red rain," collected St. Kilda, 14/2/03.

2. "Red rain" ,, „ 2S/3/03.

Mode of Examination. — Small measured quantities of the turbid water (from -\j to ^V cubic centimetre) were inoculated into plates of sterile gelatine and tubes of nutrient agar, and the colonies of bacteria present were studied as they developed.

liesults. — No. I, although containing more than twice as much sediment as No. 2, contained considerably fewer micro-organisms.

28 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

No doubt this result is in part due to the length of time elapsing before a bacteriological examination was undertaken.

The majority of the micro-organisms growing in sample No. 2 consisted of a rapidly liquefying bacillus, which slowly produced a green pigment {Bacillus Jluorcscens liqtiefaciens). This organism is commonly found in fresh water.

Sample i differed from 2 in containing considerable numbers of white and green moulds {Oidium albicans and Penicilliinn glaucum). There were also present a few members of the " Hay bacillus" group, and a very limited number of Bacillus Jluorescens lique/aciens, the pigment in this case being produced more slowly than in sample 2.

Each sample also contained a few members of the "colon" group.

Remarks. — It is characteristic of the common "air organisms " that many of them produce varieties of red, pink, yellow, and brown pigments. It is noteworthy that these pigment-producing bacteria were entirely absent from the sample examined, and this fact would seem to indicate that the atmospheric dust on the occasions of the " red rain " phenomenon was not of the character usually found. This abnormality was further indicated by the presence of the colon group in each sample. Extensive laboratory experiments have shown that the colon bacillus is rarely found normally in the atmosphere.

As to the origin of solid material in the samples, the bacterio- logical results in the case of sample 2 would seem to indicate that the locality had not been subjected to drought of a recent date, owing to the numerous water bacteria present. Such, however, does not appear to be so markedly the case in sample I.— R. J. Bull, M.D.

We had. however, no particular desire to endeavour to discover what might be present in an " everyday " sample of Melbourne dust, though that is by no means unimportant. Hence we purposely waited until the whole of this had been swept away in order that our sample might contain only material carried from afar. It would, we think, be safe to say that none of the material we are describing had been derived from an area within 30 miles north or west of Melbourne. It would be equally safe to affirm that much of it was derived from areas ranging from that distance up to 300 or more miles north and west. The Diatomace?e were most probably mainly carried from the low-lying swamps and salt lakes which fringe the River Murray and other waterways throughout northern and north- western Victoria, and beyond the South Australian border. That they live and grow in profusion under conditions such as are known to obtain within the area in question is a matter of observation. During abnormal seasons of drought, such as have

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 29

unfortunately of late been prevalent, the waters of the marshes and billabongs are often completely evaporated, and the accumulated sediments, full of diatom valves, are quickly dried to an almost impalpable powder, which is readily gathered up and carried by the wind at a considerable elevation for hundreds of miles.

We have in this instance been so fortunate as to receive confirmatory evidence from New Zealand that red rain, which is beyond doubt identical with the samples we are describing, fell at Otakia, in Otago. A slide of this material has been kindly placed at our disposal by Professor Gregory. We find it only differs from ours in that the dust particles, as may be seen by reference to the photographs, are smaller than the bulk of the material collected by us. This, as may be supposed, is no doubt due to the larger mineral fragments having been filtered out by gravitation in transit. But the diatom valves, owing to their greater superficies as compared with their specific gravity, are present in abundance, and serve to place the identity of the deposit beyond question. We have, therefore, in this circum- stance undoubted proof that relatively large objects — for some of the valves are o. i mm. long and proportionately wide — are carried by atmospheric agency considerably over i,ooo miles. In all probability they would be conveyed over still greater distances by varying air-currents, provided they were not thrown down by condensation in the form of rain.

Analysis of the Victorian Samples of Sediment.

It was deemed desirable to have an analysis made of one of the samples, and as the amount of material forwarded by Mr. Ferguson was sufficient for this purpose it was handed, by the courtesy of Professor Masson, to Mr. G. S. Walpole, of the Chemistry Department, Melbourne University, who very kindly undertook the work, and whose report is subjoined : —

" The analysis of samples of dust from red rain collected by Mr. Ferguson, of the Mines Department is as follows :—

" The dust was passed through a sieve (80 meshes to the linear inch), whereby some small pieces of straw, &c., were removed, and then dried at 100° C. fer 6 hours. Finally it was dried for one hour at 200"^ C. Two analyses of the material were made, one by fusion and one by the hydrofluoric acid method.

"Si O, ... ... ... ... 59.23

Loss on ignition ... ... ... 10.28

Al_, O, (containing Zr 0,) ... ... 14.01

Total iron weighed as Fe, O3 ... 7 68

Ca O ... ... ... ... 2.40

Mg O ... ... -. ... 1. 91

95 5^ Alkali metals ... Trace only, not determined

30 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Tlie sediments from red niiii were collected at St. Kilda 14th February and 28th March, 1903, and at Camberwell 14th February, 1903.

Samples collected at St. Kilda, 14/2/03 : —

No. I. — Obtained at 4.30 ]).m., rain having been falling over 20 minutes. Lower atmosphere clear, with low drifting clouds. Wind about due west, and blowing strongly.

No. 2. — Collected at 6.30 p.m. \

No. 3 ,, at 7.30 p.m. ^Conditions as above.

No. 4 ,, at 7.45 p.m. )

No. 5. — Collected at 8.30 p.m. Rain falling steadily. A further sample obtained after 9 p.m. contained no appreciable sediment.

Sample collected 28th March, St. Kilda (one only), treated for Diatomace?e.

Sample collected at Camberwell, between 6.15 p.m. and 7.15 p.m., examined especially for minerals, but diatoms as numerous as at St. Kihla.

With respect to the series of sediments obtained on 14th February, those collected between 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. were found to contain the largest proportion of mineral and organic material, and do not differ appreciably from a sample secured on 28th March under almost precisely similar conditions. This latter sample was preferably treated for Diatomace^e alone, as the total amount of sediment was somewhat greater than that collected on the first-named date. As the February samples were obtained at definite intervals they afford a comparison both as to the amount and nature of the sediments. They also point to a gradual diminution in the size of the contained particles. This is first noticeable in the 7.45 sample, while that obtained at 8.30 p.m. is almost entirely free from the coarse grains characteristic of the earlier gatherings. Most of the sediment collected from 8.30 p.m. on to past 9 p.m. was so fine as to remain in suspension for some hours. From this it would appear that the heavier particles are carried down during, say, the first two hours' rain. After this, assuming a continuation of similar conditions, the amount of sediment is greatly reduced, and consists only of particles in a minute state of subdivision.

Minerals in the MELrsouRNE City Dust from the Roof OF the National Museum.

Quartz. — Numerous sub-angular chips.

Orthoclase rare ; frequently schillerizetl ; one minute crystal showing twinning on the Carlsbad ty[)e.

Sanidine variety rare, in clear fragments ; one specimen with characteristic cleavage cracks.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 31

Alhite rare, witli fine repeated twinning.

Lahradorite frequent, with extinction angle about 32°.

A fragment oi Anorthite\va.s found having a maximum extinction angle of 58°.

Augite. — A pale green variety very common ; the majority in fragments, but several perfect crystals present. Two pieces of brown Augite with inclusions of magnetite crystals, showing the occurrence of parallel grouping of octaliedra. One Augite crystal of a purplish-brown colour.

Tourmaline. — Common. Some good slender prismatic crystals.

Olivine. — Irregular granules, with rough surfaces and strongly refractive edges, very common.

Garnet very rare. Pink, isotropic granules.

Rutile. — Frequent, generally fragmentary or in short rounded crystals ; also as included crystals in quartz.

Cassiterite (?). — Cleavage fragments yellow or yellowish-brown, and showing an anomalous interference figure, are frequent. They agree most in character with the above mineral. The fragments, when imperfectly cleaved, show a curious rippling of the surface, like that of amethystine quartz. Their colouration is too strong for citrine.

Zircon. — Frequent, more or less rounded.

Epidote. — As an alteration product in felspars, frequent.

Zoisite. — Penetrating fragments of felspars as Labradorite.

Calcite in rhombs, rare.

Magnetite. — Irregular granules frequent.

Limonite. — In less proportion than in the red rain sediment ; also as included crystals of octahedral form in Augite.

Besides the minerals enumerated, occasional exanijiles of opaque spherical bodies were met with, resembling those found in deep sea deposits, and referred to as cosmic dust.

There were also numerous translucent greenish-brown glassy spheres, with granular inclusions and bubbles. These latter measure about .05 mm. in diameter.

Numerous particles of soot were present, undoubtedly of local origin.

By far the larger part of the Melbourne dust consists of particles having a distinctly local origin. Among the minerals the con- stituents of basalt and other rocks, and possibly limestone, are very much in evidence.

Among the organic constituents remains of rotifers and a ^ew broken valves of diatoms of the larger species were noticed.

32

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

A Distribution Table of the Minerals Recorded Ahove.

Name.	U	St. Kilda, 14/2/03, 4.30 p.m._	2 d.	Ditto, 7.15 p.m. Ditto, 7.40 p.m.	Ditto, treated with H, SO4.	2?l .00	Roof of National Museum.
Quartz - Opal - Orthoclase	f. v.r, r.	f.' 1	v.c.	f.	c. r.	v.c. f."	c.	v.c. r.
Sanidine		...					f.'	r.
Albite -						r.	r.	r.
Anorthoclase-					■		r.
Labradorite -					1 '"			f."
Anovthite		...			• -•			v.r.
Augite - Actinolite	r.	::: i	f.'				f.' v.r.	v.c.
Tourmaline -	v.r.				v.r.	r.	v.r.	c.
Olivine							f.	v.c.
Garnet -		v.r.						v.r.
Cordierite			....				v.r.
Rutile -						f.		f.'
Cassiterite (?) Zircon -	v.r.					f.		f. f.
Apatite Epidote Zoisite -	v.r. v.r.						....	f." r.
Calcite -		'						r.
Natrolite (?) -			v.r.		1 ...
Magnetite							...	f.
Limonite	c.	c.	c.	c	c.		c.	r.
Opaque spheres Glassy spheres								f. f.

Explanation of Plate I.

Fig. I. Red-rain sediment, Camberwell, 14/2/03. x 70.

,, 2. Ditto, St. Kilda. x 65.

,, 3. Ditto, Otago, N.Z. x 65.

,, 4. Dust from roof of National Museum. x 65.

,, 5. .Silicious residue from red-rain sediment, St. Kilda.

,, 6. Ditto, containing silicious vegetable tissue, x 70.

X34-

Explanation of Plate II,

Fig. I. Silicious residue of red rain, St. Kilda. Scale, o.i mm.

,, 2. Diatoms from red rain, .St. Kilda. Scale, O.I mm. x 63.

,, 3. Diatoms from red rain, St. Kilda. x 63.

,, 4. Diatoms from red rain. x 140.

,, 5. Zoned plagioclase felspar from red-rain sediments. x 500.

,, 6. Augite, Melbourne dust. National Museum. x 500.

,, 7. Tourmaline from red-rain sediment, St. Kilda. x 500.

,, 8. Magnetite in augite. x 500,

,, 9. Cordierite. x 332.

65.

Cbe Uictorian Haturaltsi

Vol. XX.— No. 3. JULY 9, 1903. No. 235.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA,

The twenty-third annual meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday, 15th June, 1903. The president, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., occupied the chair, and about forty-five members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the Club excursion to the Clifton Hill Quarries on Saturday, loth May, was furnished by the leader, Mr. G. B. Pritchard. The Club members were joined by the field geology students from the Working Men's College, making altogether a party of twenty-eight. The general geological features of the neighbourhood were first pointed out by the leader, and a sum- mary of the minerals obtainable, with their mode of occurrence, was given. The quarries were then inspected, and very fair examples of Phacolite, Mesolite, and Phillipsite, all members of the Zeolite group, were obtained. Among other minerals noticed were Calcite, Arragonite, Magnesite, Vivianite, Psilomelane, and Halloysitic Clays. Some of the party then proceeded further up the Merri Creek for a closer investigation of the interesting geological features disjdayed in its valley.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following donations to the library : — " Records of the Geological Survey of Victoria," vol. i., part 2, from the Department of Mines, Melbourne ; Journal of Agricultur-e, Victoria, May, 1903, from Department of Agriculture, Melbourne ; Agricultural Gazette 0/ New South Wales, April, May, and June, 1903, from Depart- ment of Mines and Agriculture, Sydney ; " Annual Report, Department of Mines, New South Wales," 1902, from the Depart- ment ; " Forest Flora of New South Wales," part iii., and " Critical Revision of Genus Eucalyptus," part ii., by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S , Government Botanist, New South Wales, from the author ; " Notes on the Natural History of Western Aus- tralia," by M. A. C. Eraser, F.R.G.S., from Dr. A. Morrison, Government Botanist, Perth; "Annual Reports Smithsonian Institution," 1900 and 1 901, from the institution; "Proceedings Nova Scotia Institute of Science," vol. x., part 3, from the institute; "Proceedings Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia," vol. liv., part 2, from the society ; Nature Notes, April and May, 1903, from the Selborne Society, London; Knowledge, May, 1903, from the proprietors.

34 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Miss Emily M. Fisher, " Wyoming," Lisson-grove, Hawthorn, and Mr, H. Dowling, 20 Gellibrand- street, Kew, were duly elected as ordinary members, and Mr. John S. Kitson, Branjee, Euroa, as a country member of the Club.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The hon. secretary, Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.L.S., then read the twenty-third annual report for 1902-3, which was as follows: —

" To the Members of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria. Ladies and Gentlemen, — Your committee have much pleasure in presenting to you the twenty-third annual report, embracing the work of the Club for the year ending 30th April 1903.

" It is a source of much satisfaction to us that we are able to report that the condition of the Club is most satisfactory, while the prospects for the future are decidedly encouraging.

"The membership of the Club is still on the increase, 37 new members having been added to the roll during the year, while 20 names have been removed on account of resigna- tions and death, leaving us with an increase of 17 over that of the previous year.

"The total membership is now 181, comprising 9 honorary, 2 life, 157 ordinary, and 13 country members.

" Our usual monthly meetings continued to attract good attendances, and there is no evidence of the interest in them falling off, while the exhibition of specimens, which have been good and varied, continues to be a source of much interest to members generally. This feature of the Club's programme might, with advantage, be still further extended, and your committee would urge individual members to assist in adding to the interest of our meetings by bringing forward such objects as would tend to increase our knowledge of the various forms with which we are surrounded.

" The papers read show a slight increase, numerically, over those of the previous year, and the subjects are well distributed over the various branches of natural history. These have, in most instances, been well discussed, while several have been illustrated with lantern views. Thirty-three papers were read, of which 17 related to zoology, 6 to botany, 3 to geology, 3 to general subjects, and 4 to tri[)S. Of the zoological papers, 3 were devoted to birds, 2 to fish, i to reptiles, i to molluscs, and 9 to insects.

" The authors were Messrs. E. Anderson, F. G. A. Barnard and Dr. C. S. Sutton, M.B., F. L. Billinghurst, A. G. Campbell, J. H. Gatliff, D. Goudie, E. Green, F.E.S., T. S. Hall, M.A., R. Hall, A. D. Hardy, J. F. Haase, G. A. Keartland, J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., S. A. Le Souef, F. Madden, M.L.A., U. M' Alpine, A. J. North, C.M.Z.S., G. B. Pritchard, F.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 35

M. Reader, Miss G. Sweet, M. Sc, and Messrs. J. G. O. Tepper, F.L.S., S. P. Townsend, and G. Weindorfer.

" In addition to these, articles were contributed by Messrs. J. C. Goudie, A. J. North, C.M.Z.S., D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., and H. B. Wilhamson, which were printed in the Naturalist without being read.

"The 19th volume of the Club's journal has been completed and duly distributed, and the thanks of the Club are again due to the editor, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, for the large amount of valuable work which he has devoted to the successful issue of the journal.

" The fourteenth conversazione of the Club was held in the Athenaeum Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 23rd and 24th of September last, and proved a decided success, both financially and as an illustration of the nature of the Club's work. The fine display of natural history objects was probably better than that of any previous event of the kind, and taxed the capacity of the large hall. An interesting feature in this event was the introduction of wild flower exhibits, and the fine collection shown spoke well for the energy and enthusiasm displayed by the exhibitors. The attendance, particularly of the outside public, was large during both evenings, and the great interest taken in the various collections well repaid the trouble attached to such an undertaking. The proceedings were opened by the president, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., in the unavoidable absence of His Excellency the State Governor, Sir George S. Clarke, K.C.M.G., F.R.S. During the course of the conversazione interesting lecturettes were delivered by Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., F.R.S., and Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., both of which were illustrated by lantern slides, and attracted large attendances.

" The series of short excursions have been fairly well attended, but it is to be regretted that more of our members do not avail themselves of these advantages to do more active field work. The programme embraced two extended excursions, one of which was held at Launching Place, from Saturday to Monday, 24th to 26th January, where some interesting field work was accomplished, particularly in botany. The other, which was held on 7th to loth November, took the form of a camp-out at Shoreham, the scene of the camp held on the previous Easter. The splendid results achieved on the earlier visit to this fine collecting ground was no doubt responsible for the large attendance on this occasion, when some equally good work was accomplished, as shown by the report published.

"As stated in our report for last year, a sub-committee appointed by you submitted a list of suggestions for the guidance of the Minister of Public Works when amending the Game Act.

" This report, as already stated, was submitted to a conference consisting of representatives of the Royal Agricultural Society,

36 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

sportsmen, bird dealers, and fruit-growers, together with the Club's representatives, when the list and suggestions were adopted. It was finally arranged, at the instance of the Club, that a deputation should wait on the Minister to present the report. The deputation was well received by the Minister, who promised to favourably consider the recommendations made, and we are pleased to state that the alterations suggested have since been adopted.

" At the ordinary meeting in May last a communication was received from the Inspector of Fisheries regarding the wholesale destruction of native birds through eating poisoned grain laid for the destruction of rabbits, and asking for the Club's opinion on the matter. A sub-commiitee was appointed by you to furnish a report, which was later on submitted to and approved by you and forwarded on to the inspector.

" The thanks of the Club are due to the various authors of papers, leaders of excursions, and others who have helped in a practical manner to forward the work of the Club. To Mr. E. H. Swan, of the Triumph Engraving Co., the Club is much indebted for continuing to gratuitously provide process blocks as required for illustrating our journal ; as also to Mr. J. Searle, who has been ever ready to place his lantern and services at our disposal. Our hearty thanks are also due to Messrs. T. R. B. Morton and G. Coghill, who have again most generously placed their office at the disposal of your committee, a concession which is highly appreciated.

"Thehon. librarian reports that the Club's library has been considerably increased during the past year, both through ex- changes and donations, while several useful works have been added by purchase. These include such works as the Cambridge Natural History Series, " The Introduction to the Study of the Foraminifera," by Chapman, Kerner's " Botany," &c. Members have made fair use of the books and periodicals at their disposal, but not to the extent that might be expected. Some progress has been made during the latter part of the year in rearranging the books on the shelves, with the object of com|jleting the data for the introduction of a card catalogue. The binding has been well advanced, but it will probably be necessary to increase this ex- penditure in the near future, so as to allow of all the Australasian scientific periodicals on the shelves being bound, to preserve them from injury.

" Regarding the financial position of the Club, we were pleased in our last report to show a substantial balance to our credit ; this year we are in a still hai)pier position. Starting the year with a credit balance of ^21 7s. 3d., we conclude with one of ;^4i 14s. 3d., with all accounts paid. The receipts amounted to ;^i53 17s. 5d., while the expenditure was ^{,133 los. 5d.

" In conclusion, your committee, while congratulating you on

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 37

the number and value of the papers read during the past year, would take this opportunity to again urge more of our members to come forward and give some of the results of their observations. Our knowledge is growing, and the number of workers is in- creasing, but there is plenty of scope for further hands to help in forwarding the objects of our Club.

*' T. S. Hall, President.

" J. A. Kershaw, Hon. Secretary. " Melbourne, ist June, 1903."

The report having been received, Mr. D. Best congratulated the members on the satisfactory position of the Club and the value of the work accomplished during the year, and, on the motion of Messrs. C. Coles and R. A. Bastow, the report was adopted.

financial statement.

The hon. treasurer, Mr. J. F. Haase, read the financial state- ment for 1902-3, which was as follows : —

Receipts. To Balance, 30th April, 1902 ... ... ... ^21 7 3

Subscriptions			£^o-j 18	6
Victorian Naturalist —
Subscriptions	£s	16	8
Sales	0	14	3
Reprints ...	I	0	6
Advertisements	II	5	0	S
Sale of Club's Badges			... I 8	0
,, Tickets, Conversazione ...		... 25 14	6

153 17 5

;^I75 4 8

Expenditure. By Victorian Naturalist —

Printing ... ... ^T^ 10 7

Reprints ... ... 176

,, Rooms — Rent and Attendance ... ,, Library — Books

Periodicals ...

Binding

Insurance

,, Postages, &c.

,, Expenses Conversazione

,, Balance carried forward

^76 18 I

7 4	9 8	II 6
3 0	7 6	0 6	IS	II	II
			. II	15	3
			. 21	0	2	5
			Aj'JJ "-'
					41 14	0

^175 4 8

J. F. HAASE, Hon. Treasurer, zolh May, 1903.

Audited and found correct.

D. BEST, \ . ...

29//^ May, 1903. A. D. HARDY, j^""^""^-^-

38 THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

The following statement of assets and liabilities was also read : —

Assets. Balance in hand ... ... ... ... ... ^41 14 3

Arrears of Subscriptions (^42 7s. 6d.), say ... ... 27 o o

Library and Bookcases ... ... ... ... 120 o o

^188 14 3

Liabilities. Subscriptions for 1 903-4 Paid in Advance ... ... ^^3 6 o

In moving the reception of the statement, Mr. D. Best spoke highly of the work of the hon. treasurer, which he considered reflected great credit on Mr. Haase, and his remarks were endorsed by Mr. A. D. Hardy. It was pointed out that the services rendered by Mr. J. Gabriel during the last conversazione had materially reduced the expenditure on that occasion, and on the motion of Messrs. Best and Shephard a special vote of thanks was accorded to him, and on the motion of Messrs. Shephard and J. Stickland the financial statement was adopted.

The opportunity was taken by Mr. O. A. Sayce to refer to the valuable services rendered to the Club by the hon. librarian, Mr. S. W. Fulton, who had devoted a considerable amount of his spare time to the rearrangement of the library, with a view to the compilation of a card catalogue.

OFFICE-BEARERS FOR I903-4.

The following office-bearers were duly elected, being the only nominations received : — President, Mr. O. A. Sayce ; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. F. Haase ; hon. librarian, Mr. S. W. Fulton ; hon. editor, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard ; hon. secretary, Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. ; hon. assistant secretary and assistant librarian, Mr. C. L. Barrett.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. F. G. A. Barnard and Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., were elected as vice-presidents for the ensuing year.

A ballot for five members of committee resulted in the election of Messrs. G. Coghill, J. Gabriel, T. S. Hall, M.A., G. A. Keart- land, and J. Shephard.

A vote of thanks to the retiring office-bearers was moved by Mr. G. Coghill and seconded by Mr. F. Pitcher, and was carried with acclamation, the hon. secretary briefly returning thanks.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

An interesting note relating to the destruction of Vine Moths by cats was read by Mr. F. Chapman.

Mr. J. Shephard recorded the finding of an interesting Rotifer at Heidelberg which seems to be new to Victoria.

the victorian naturalist. 39

president's address. The retiring president, Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., then deUvered an address, taking for his subject, " Whence Came our Australian Animals ?" of which the following is an abstract : —

One very striking feature of the Club's work is the publica- tion of lists of animals and plants from different districts. We recognize the fact that there are changes in the life of different localities. The inhabitants of the Keilor Plains show a marked contrast to those of Oakleigh or of the valley of the Watts. These differences are due to various factors, an important one being rainfall. However, when we turn our gaze further afield we see differences that cannot be explained by climatic influences. With a similar rainfall and temperature, Western Australia and Victoria yet show many points of divergence in their plant and animal inhabitants. The West has no Platypus and no Native Bear or Lyre-bird in its forests, and no Eel or Blackfish in its streams, while we have no Banded Ant-eater or Tarsipes and no Spotted Emu in the East.

When we glance at the rest of the world we find in the same way great differences, and we are able to divide the land areas into regions marked by the groups of animals they contain. Australia and its adjacent islands, in its great wealth of Mar- supials, in its Platypus and Echidna, its Honey-eaters, Birds of Paradise, and Mound-builders, as well as in the almost entire absence from it of mammals higher than Marsupials, of Vultures and many other widely-spread birds and animals, differs so markedly from the rest of the world that we might divide the earth into the two regions, Australian and non-Australian. What is true of the fauna is to a certain but much smaller extent true of its flora.

The success that has attended the efforts of man to transfer animals from one country to another, as in the case of horses, cattle, and sheep, shows us that climatic influences are not the main ones that lead to the differences in distribution, and we are bound to ask why the differences exist. Why, for instance, are there no Kangaroos in Asia ? Why are there Tapirs in Malaysia and in South America, and nowhere else ? Why are there Bears throughout the Northern Hemisphere and none in Southern Africa ? Did Tapirs come into existence twice over? Did those most gorgeous of all birds, the Trogons, spring into existence in tropical America, Africa, and India ? Now, one of the funda- mental truths that modern biology insists on most strongly is that close agreement in structure means relationship — means blood relationship and descent from common ancestors. All the Tapirs and the Trogons sprang from the same stock, and must have migrated from a common centre, and have died out in the

40 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

intervening tracts, and it is one of the tasks of the modern zoogeographer to trace out not only the route by which they spread, but the date of their march.

Some groups of animals are ancient, others are young. The Pigs are old, but full of vigour, while the Tapirs are also old, but dying out, while, on the other hand, the perching birds, or Passerines, are still in their vigorous youth. The connecting links are still so abundant that we see relationships for every bird in half a dozen different directions, and this it is that inai<es the successful classification of the group such an insoluble puzzle.

The grouping of the lands of to-day is but a passing phase, and geologists talk freely of land-bridges across what is now deep sea, and of deep and wide seas extending over what is now dry land. Mammal and bird, snail and earthworm, frog and fresh-water crayfish, all find the sea, even a narrow strait, an impassable barrier ; yet they are found in all lands, for

" He hath made the deep as dry, He hath smote for us a pathway to the ends of all the earth."

We ought, then, by a study of the present distribution of animals, and without the aid of geology to be able to plot the outlines of many of the ancient continents with a considerable amount of accuracy. Merely by studying the animals and plants of Tasmania, we can assert with confidence the presence of a former land-bridge, which recently, as geologists regard itj allowed a free intermingling of all forms of life. Comparing again our fauna with that of Southern Asia, we can assert, though with less certainty, that there was a connection, but that it broke down before the present Australian animals could spread into Asia, or Asiatic into Australia.

Seeing, then, that these land connections formerly existed in various places, we may consider the relationships of our fauna to that of the rest of the world. One of the earliest facts that struck botanists when they began to investigate Australia v/as that the floras of Australia, South Africa, and South America are but divided parts of one whole. This points to a former land connection between the parts and isolation from the rest of the world. The animals tell the same tale, though perhaps not so plainly. Marsupials are now found only in America and Australia, and the American opossums are so closely allied to the family containing our native cats that their separation as a distinct family is but barely justifiable. Extinct marsupials have been found in Patagonia, which emphasize the relationship to our fauna in a marked degree. Then an extinct horned lizard has left its remains in Queensland, Norfolk Island, and Patagonia. The group of Cystignathid Frogs, which comprises our Sand Frog (Limnod'i/nastes), the Burrowing Frog of Central Australia, and others, is elsewhere found only in South America.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 41

Among insects the Buprestidas and Longicorns are more extensively developed in these two countries than elsewhere. The freshwater crabs and crayfish tell the same tale of alliance with South America and distinctness from Asia. On the other hand, the evident alliances with Asia are practically confined amongst mammals to the rats, which seem capable of finding their way almost anywhere.

It has been objected that if there was this former connection, the agreement between Patagonian and Australian animals should be greater than it is, for there are many groups represented there which are absent here. The explanation given, the truth of which is vouched for by many independent lines of research, is that the central and northern part of South America, which then contained these forms, was divided from the south by a sea, which was only bridged after the connection with the now vanished " Antarctica " had broken down.

The present address professes only to give in rough outline, with the omission of the large number of small facts which afford cumulative proofs, and which exigencies of time and space forbid my quoting, the now generally accepted idea that the bulk of the Australian fauna reached us by way of South America from an almost vanished equatorial continent where it had its origin.

Messrs. F. G. A. Barnard, J. Shephard, and F. Pitcher con- gratulated Mr. Hall on the interesting character of his address, and after he had replied to several questions a vote of thanks, moved by Mr. D. Best and seconded by Mr. C. M. Maplestone, was accorded to him and carried by acclamation.

The newly-elected president, Mr. O. A. Sayce, then took the chair, and in welcoming him to the position Mr. Hall referred to the sound scientific work which Mr. Sayce had been carrying on for some time past.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. G. Coghill. — Specimens of Banksia collina (flowers) and Lycopodinm de7isum, from Warburton.

By Mr. A. Coles. — Three specimens of young opossum taken at Woodstock from the pouches of three females on ist June, the first day of the open season.

By Mr. C. Coles — Pink-breasted Robin, Petrcecarhodinogastra; Olive Thickhead, Pachycephala olivacea ; Yellow-eared Honey- eater, Plilotis lewini, from the fern gullies on the Don Valley, Launching Place.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — Specimens illustrating the life-history of the moth Eulechria melesella, Newm., from Oakleigh, a de- structive pest to lawns, &c. ; also. Native Cucumber, Melothria muelleri, collected near Laverton, new for southern part of Vic- toria, and only previously recorded from the N.W. of Victoria.

42 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Shells from N. America, including Fasciolaria distans, Fasciolaria itdijxi, Cyprcea spadicea, Oliva Utterata, and Chorus helcheri.

By Mr. J. Gabriel. — Cuckoos' eggs, with those of the foster parents : — Brush Cuckoo and Rose-breasted Robin ; Bronze Cuckoo and Superb Warbler ; Bronze-Cuckoo (two eggs) and Superb Warbler ; Narrow-billed Bronze-Cuckoo and Superb Warbler ; Pallid Cuckoo and White-eared Honey-eater ; and Fan- tail Cuckoo and White-fronted Sericornis.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy. — Blackfellow's tomahawk and splitting wedge, from near Casterton.

By Mr. D. M'Alpine. — A new Gastromycete, Anthurus sepioides, n. sp. ; and, on behalf of Mr. W. S. Brownscombe, drawings in oil of the same.

By Mr. J. Stickland. — A fungus, apparently a species of Lysurus, from Hawthorn.

After the usual conversazione, the meeting terminated.

BiRCHiP Heterocera. — In my " Notes on the Larvae and Pupae of Birchip Heterocera," published in the Naturalist, vol. xix., p. 132, the species spoken of as /)esto/??iia luieata, Walk., should be recorded as Capusa senilis, Walk. I am indebted for this correction to Dr. Turner, of Brisbane, who states he has re- ceived many specimens under the former name, and it is probable that the moth which has been taken near Melbourne is also referable to Capxisa senilis. — U. Goudie, Birchip.

Red Rain in Victoria. — In our paper on the above subject in the last issue of the Naturalist (vol. xx., p. 17), we in- advertently omitted to refer to the paper on " Red-Rain Dust," by Mr. Thos. Steel, F.L.S., F.C.S., read before the Sydney meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, 1898 (see " Report," vol. vii., p. 334). The paper contains an analysis of some sediment which fell in the Moonee Ponds district on 27th December, 1896, and agrees in the main with the results given in our paper, but shows a higher percentage of silica. Mr. Steel also directs our attention to papers in the Chemical News bearing on this subject, one of which, by Dr. T. L. Phipson, vol. Ixxxiii., 190 1, p. 159, is based on an ex- amination of some red-rain sediment collected at Melbourne, 1 2th December, 1896, in which Dr. Phipson expresses his opinion that, owing to the presence of nickel in his sample, " this dust is partly, if not wholly, of cosmic origin, and not merely desert sand uplifted by the wind." It has, however, been shown by means of spectroscopy that nickel is present in minute quantities in ordinary atmospheric dust of undoubted terrigenous origin. — F. Chapman and H. J. Grayson.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 43

A Rotifer Record. — On the occasion of the recent trip to " Springbank," near Heidelberg (28th March), the material brought from the lagoon there furnished a Rotifer of the genus Brachionus of very striking character in the form of the lorica. As is common in the principal species of this genus, the spines are conspicuous features, and in the species found on this occasion there were two pairs of great length projecting fore and aft respect- ively, the hinder pair curving round like the handles of a pair of watchmaker's pliers. It was rather a coincidence that by the mail arriving the week of the excursion the writer received from Mr. C. F. Rousselet, F.R.M.S., London, some specimens for com- parison which failed to present any discoverable disagreement with the Springbank form. The specific name was B. Jalcahis, and the specimens were from Hungary. This is a curious example of wide distribution, and perhaps suggests incomplete- ness of knowledge of the occurrence of these little animals. However, for the present the record for this species is Victoria and Hungary.— J. Shephard.

An Enemy of the Vine Moth. — Among the agents which help to keep down the destructive Agarista glycine may be numbered the "harmless, necessary cat." Last summer my son frequently noticed one of our cats, a tabby, lying in ambush in our garden, and pouncing on the Vine Moths as they fluttered by. After giving thern a pat, and playing a little, the cat would eat them. This character for sport was also shown by its mother. Another cat of the same brood, mainly white, with a little tabby marking, early evinced a preference for milk, and does not share to such an extent in the carnivorous habits of her sister. As the moth-hunting cat is a tabby it would be interesting to know whether such show a stronger sporting tendency than those less appropriately marked. — F. Chapman, A.L.S.

A Giant Mushroom. — Mr. W. A. Luhrs recently found at Netherby, in the Wimmera district, a large Mushroom, which weighed 13^ lbs. The diameter of the pileus was 18 inches, and its thickness 4^ inches, while the stem was 8 inches in diameter.

Personal. — Mr. Robert Hall writes from Japan, reporting an interesting trip so far. He had spent fourteen days in Ceylon, a similar period at Singapore, and a week each in Japan and Corea, and, when writing, expected to reach Vladivostock, Siberia, in the course of a couple of days. The full account of Mr. Hall's trip will, no doubt, be interesting reading.

National Forests Protection League. — Through the enthusiasm of Mr. J. Blackburne, late Chief Inspector of Forests for Victoria, a league has been formed at Maryborough, with Mr. Blackburne as its secretary, for the purpose of bringing before the people of Victoria the urgent necessity for taking greater interest in the forest lands of the State, and securing the permanent

44 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

reservation and proper scientific management of such areas. To carry on its work and keep its aims before the public money is needed, and all nature-lovers are invited to become members of the League, the annual subscription to which is one shilling. The hon. secretary of the Field Naturalists' Club has expressed his willingness to receive and forward subscriptions and donations from sympathisers, and we hope that members will do all in their power to further the objects of the League.

Records of the Geological Survey of Victoria. — The second part of this new publication of the Victorian Department of Mines, edited by the Director, Professor J. W. Gregory, F.R.S., D. Sc, is devoted to a " Catalogue of the Described Species of Fossils (except Bryozoa and Foraminifera) in the Cainozoic Fauna of Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania," by Messrs. J. Dennant, F.G.C., F.C.S., and A. E. Kitson, F.G.S. The species are grouped under the three headings — Eocene to Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene and Pleistocene, for the first of which thirty-four localities are given, and about i,ioo species listed, but why on the map appended the numbers of the localities do not agree with the numbers in the lists, or why the reference list to the map itself is not arranged numerically, instead of alphabetically, and so help a worker at a distance who is ignorant of the geography of South-Eastern Australia, is one of those puzzles which authors so often set the general student. Under Miocene nearly 400 species are listed, and about 250 under Pliocene and Pleistocene. A good bibliography of the published papers, &c., is included, in which the late Professor Ralph Tate, F.G.S. , naturally figures largely. In a brief introduction the authors state their reasons for the grouping adopted, but these are completely nullified by the editor's footnote: — "The classifi- cation and correction in the Catalogue are the authors', and not necessarily to be generally adopted for the use of the Geological Survey. — J.W.G." Such a note seems out of place in an official publication. No mention is made of any plant remains in the catalogue.

"Journal of Agriculture of Victoria." — This publication was resumed with the May number as the first part of the second volume, and is now edited by Mr. D. M'Alpine, the Government Vegetable Pathologist. Among other articles it contains a report on the St. John's Wort pest by Mr. C French, F.L.S., who states that about 8,500 acres are more or less overrun with the plant. Mr. French also furnishes an article on one of our insectivorous birds, the Babbler, Pomatorhinus temporalis, Vig. and Hors., which is illustrated by a coloured plate drawn by Mr, C. C. Brittlebank. Mr. D. M'Alpine contributes an article on an in- jurious fungus, known as the Tomato-leaf Spot, Septoria lyco- persici, Speg., which is also illustrated by a coloured plate by Mr. Brittlebank.

Cbe Uictoridtt Haturalisi

Vol. XX.— No. 4. AUGUST 6, 1903. No. 236.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA,

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 13th July, 1903. The president, Mr. O. A. Sayce, occupied the chair, and about fifty members and visitors were present.

REPORTS.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following donations to the library : — *' Proceedings Royal Society of Tasmania," 1902, from the Society ; The Emu, vo\. iii., part i, July, 1903, from the Australasian Ornithologists' Union; " Bulletin of American Museum of Natural History," vol. xvi., 1902, from the Museum; "A Biological Reconnaissance in the vicinity of Flat-head Lake, U.S.A." by Morton J. Elrod, from the author; Knowledge, June, 1903, from the proprietors.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

On a ballot being taken, Mr. S. Cooper, 113 Coppin-street, Richmond, was duly elected a member of the Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., brought under the notice of the meeting the destruction of our forests, and called attention to the recent founding of the National Forests Protection League, having for its objects the protection of our forests, the encouragement of tree planting, &c. He pointed out the results likely to ensue from the indiscriminate cutting up and throwing open of our forest reserves, and thought that this ought to be rendered impossible, except by a special Act of Parliament, and said that, as this Club is specially concerned in the preservation of the indigenous fauna and flora, members should individually give all the practical assistance in their power in forwarding the objects of the League. He suggested that the hon. secretary might receive and forward subscriptions from members who desired to help in the movement, and in conclusion moved — " That the Club express its sympathy with the objects of the National Forests Protection League, and the co-operation of the members in forwarding its aims be invited."

Mr. F. G. A. Barnard seconded the motion, which was strongly supported by Messrs. D. Best, J. Shephard, and F. Wisewould, and carried unanimously.

46 THE VICTORIAN NATUUALIST.

PAPERS READ.

1. By Mr. G. A. Waterhouse, B.Sc, B.E., F.E.S. (commun- icated by Mr. G. Lyell), entitled " Descriptions and Notes of Australian Hesperidse, Chiefly Victorian."

The author described a new species of " Skipper " butterfly from Cairns, North Queensland, and the female of Telesto mon- ticolce, Olliff, from Walhalla, Victoria, hitherto unrecorded. He also gave some notes on the synonymy of Trapezites maheta, Hew., with descriptions of two well-marked varieties of that butterfly.

Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., congratulated the author on the excellent work he is doing in Australian butterflies, and alluded to some of the recent work done in the Skippers, particularly by Messrs. E. Meyrick and O. Lower, whose monograph on the Hesperidae will form a valuable foundation upon which future workers could base their studies. He thought, however, that Euschemon rafflesue, notwithstanding its possession of a frenulum, should still be included at tlie end of the family.

2. By Mr. VV. Hopkins (communicated by Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A.), entitled "Notes on Eels."

The author related a number of circumstances in connection with eels which had come under his notice during a residence of several years in the Winchelsea district, and made several suggestions as to where eels breed.

Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., said the notes by Mr. Hopkins were of interest as raising again the whole question of eel-breeding, which, despite what has been done, cannot be regarded as definitely settled. It has long been known that no sexually mature eels have been found in fresh water, and since the days of Aristotle, and probably before, the question as to how they bred has been a mystery. It was known that eels at certain seasons went out to sea, and that young eels a couple of inches long passed up the rivers from the sea, and the natural assumption was that breeding took place in the sea. But what is the young eel like when it is less than a couple of inches long ? This question appears to have been settled by Professor Grassi in papers published some time ago (Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond., Nov., 1896, and Quart. Jour. Micros. Sci., vol. xxxix., p. 371). Briefly, sexually mature eels — that is, the common river eels of Europe — have been caught off Messina at a depth of about 300 fathoms. Their ova produce ribbon-shaped transparent fish, which grow to a couple of inches in length. These had long been known as Leptocephali, and are deep sea forms, only reaching the surface by accident. These change into elvers, or young eels, actually decreasing in bulk during the process. In this form we know them well, and now see why elvers under a couple of inches are un- known : there are none. Professor Grassi's work appears to be

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 47

beyond cavil, but the difificulty is that there seems to be a steady supply of eels in inland places to which it is difficult to imagine elvers or more fully grown eels are able to find their way. Mr, Hopkins gives some instances which have come under his own notice. Dr. Imhof {Nature, June, 1896, p. 134) gives a more remarkable case. Eels were introduced into some Alpine ponds over 3,000 feet above sea level, where none were known previously. In some ponds all died, while in others they flourished. The ponds are fed by springs, and have no apparent outlet. The eels were put in in 1882 and again in 1887, so that at the time of writing the youngest of the original eels must have been 8 or 9 years old, and some of them are over 4 feet in length. Yet in 1895 young eels were found in the lake. Evidently we require further information on eel-breeding. Can anyone produce a sexually mature eel from land-locked waters, and what is the size of the smallest eel known from such a spot? I hope that the remarks of Mr. Hopkins will lead to careful attention being paid to the question, and that we may soon be in a position to speak definitely on a point which should be capable of elucidation.

Mr. F. Wisewould mentioned that on one occasion, when the mouth of the Powlett River was blocked by a sandbank from communication with the sea, the water at the mouth of the river was alive with eels, evidently prevented from continuing their journey to the open sea. He also mentioned the occurrence of large numbers of young eels in the waterholes about 3 or 4 miles from Cardinia Creek. These, he thought, came from the Koo- wee-rup Swamp into the Cardinia Creek, and then followed up the low-lying swampy country between the hills. He had never found eels in the waterholes on the hills.

Mr. J. Shephard stated that eels were very frequently taken out of the water fittings of the Metropolitan Board of Works, notwithstanding that strainers are placed at the commencement of the reticulation pipes, showing that the eels must get into the pipes when of very small dimensions. One specimen taken from a pipe at Albert Park, he stated, was quite as large as a man's forearm.

The president, Mr. O. A. Sayce, and Mr. G. A. Keartland also spoke on the subject.

3. By Mr. G. Weindorfer, entitled " Some Comparison of the Alpine Flora of Australia and Europe."

The author pointed out the characteristics of an Alpine flora, and stated that, though the European Alps are 10 degrees further removed from the equator than the Australian Alps, the tree- growth extends to much higher altitudes there than here, probably due to the marked difference in the prevailing vegetation. The European Alps are also much richer in the number of orders and genera represented, and the flowers generally are of a more brilliant character.

48 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. A. Mattingley mentioned that a number of Echinoderms collected by Mr. A. G. Campbell at King Island, Bass Straits, had been handed to him for identification. They all proved to be common forms on Victorian shores, and are probably common on Tasmanian shores also. They comprised representatives of the Phanerozonate and Cryptozonate groups of the Asteroids, distinguished respectively by the large marginal plates, or the absence or inconspicuousness of the marginal plates. Belonging to the former were Asterina calcar and A. gunnii, while Stichaster polyplax, some specimens being only three-rayed, represented the latter group.

Mr. A. G. Campbell drew attention to his exhibit of the flowering branches of a Red Gum tree. Eucalyptus rostrata, gathered in May last on the Werribee Plains. The branches were covered with immense numbers of red and green coloured galls, which gave the trees the appearance of being heavily loaded with fruit of some kind. On some trees about 80 per cent, of the flower buds were turned to galls, while on others not a single normal bud could be found. Each gall is found to contain about ten or twelve larvae, probably of some hymenopterous insect. As is well known, the Werribee Plains are of basalt formation, and not adapted for tree-growth, the gum trees being confined to a few depressions where water lodges in wet seasons, consequently the production of seed by the trees in any quantity would be wasted energy, hence the flower buds become the homes of insect larvae.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. R. A. Bastow. — Two specimens of Hepaticae, Trigo- nanthus dentata, Spruce, and Zoopsis argeritia, Hooker, f. et Tayl., both plants in fruit, collected at Macedon, November, 1902.

By Mr. A. G. Campbell. — Specimen of Eucalyptus rostrata with normal buds, and others showing galls formed by hymenop- terous insect.

By Mr. A. G. Campbell, on behalf of Mr. A. W. Milligan, Perth. — Two new birds, described in the last number of the Emu, Xerophila castaneiventris, Mill., seemingly a Western represen- tative oi X. leucopsis ; and Acanthiza rohustirostris, Mill., a very distinct and interesting Tit. Both species are from the Murchison district of Western Australia, and are the property of the Perth Museum.

By Mr. Perceival C. Cole. — Four " Churinga " or Bull-roarers from Western Australia, North-West Australia, North Australia, and Central Australia respectively.

By Mr. A. Coles. — Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater, Acanthogenys

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 49

rufigularis, shot at Ascot Vale ; also specimen of African Box Thorn, seeds of which were found in its gizzard.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — Two fine specimens of Obsidian (volcanic) bombs from Hamilton, Victoria.

By Master C. French. — Orchids — Pterostijlis parvijlora, with two stems of flowers, and one stem showing basal leaves, on the one plant, from Sandringham ; Pterostijlis rejlexa, showing basal leaves, from South Gippsland.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Shells, Tellina staurella, from Medi- terranean.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy. — Loranthus celastroides, growing as a parasite on L. pendulus, which in turn is parasitic on Eucalyptus sideroxylon, Ironbark, from Whroo, Victoria.

By Mr. A. Mattingley. — Echinoderms from King Island, Bass Strait — Asterina calcar, A. gu7inii, and Stichaster polyplax.

By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Dried specimens of Xerotes elongata, Benth., new for Victoria, from Little Desert, Lowan, To/io/97 ; and Trifolium fragifer^hm^ L., from Wimmera, 21/10/95. Nat- uralized, and new for Victoria.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

NOTES ON EELS.

By W. Hopkins.

(Communicated by T. S. Hall, M.A.)

{Read he/ore the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, ISthJuly, 1903.)

The statement was made some little time ago that eels breed only in the sea. As I think this is incorrect so far as our Victorian eel is concerned, I purpose putting on record a few facts which have come under my observation during recent years.

The Angahook River, which flows into Airey's Inlet on the eastern side of the Otway peninsula, has a sand-bar across its mouth for from six to ten months in the year, the water soaking through the sand and flowing into the sea at about the level of high tide. There are plenty of eels in the river, and it seems to me that if eels breed in the sea there should be at times numbers of eels waiting to get out, and later on trying to get back to the river; also young eels should be observed endeavouring to get in from the sea. Now, I have had occasion to be there at all times of the year, and have never seen an eel trying to get in or out, nor yet young eels in the sea. There is a shallow bay just at the mouth of the river, in which fish can easily be seen.

A fevv years ago we drained a swamp at Gherang. When the water ran out, large numbers of young eels a few inches long went down the drain. As this swamp had not overflowed for several years, these eels must have been bred in the swamp.

50 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Again, we are told that eels with ripe ova have never been obtained in rivers, and if they don't breed in the sea, where do they breed? The answer must be either that they have no ova like fish, or else that they retire somewhere at a certain period to breed.

When a large swamp goes dry "we find regular patches of eels occurring in burrows several yards in length, and you can dig out a patch of burrows, generally getting one to three eels in each burrow, with a total of five or six dozen in the patch. Then for some distance there will be no eels, then another patch, and so on. Now it seems most likely that the eels breed in these burrows.

On draining a swamp near the Barwon River, a lot of weeds were put in the drain to keep back the fish, etc. At the end of the swamp were found a few very big eels, and a large number of white, worm-like things just about an inch in length and about as thick as a thread. These were very eel-like in their movements, and though I am not sure that they were eels, still it is possible that they were the second stage of an eel's life.

There is another phase of the eel question which puzzles me. Many years ago my attention was drawn to the presence of eels in waterholes difiicult of access from any river. The explanation usually given is that eels leave the streams and go across country at night to the waterholes; but to prove that this view is in- correct I wish to record the following facts : —

Near Airey's Inlet there is a swamp, which I happened to visit when overflowing. A man had fixed an eel net across the over- flow, and at the sides stakes laced with brushwood, so that no eels could get by. He caught large numbers of eels in the net, but none came up the overflow, which ran across loose sand, and only a small portion of it reached the river. Some years later this swamp was cleared out. The last time it overflowed was seven years ago, when the water ran into the sand and did not reach the river. When that swamp went dry last summer one man dug eighty eels out of their burrows in one day, while others got large numbers. Now, how did these eels get there ?

On the plains on the west side of the Barwon River, over tens of thousands of acres, eels are found in nearly all the waterlioles, and these holes are in all sorts of situations. For eels to go across country to all these holes thousands of eels would be necessary, and numbers would be stranded in small swamps and crab-holes. I have had occasion to ride over this country before, and just as these holes were drying up, and except just near the overflow of a waterhole I have never seen an eel so stranded. Many people whom I have questioned tell me the same thing.

Lake Murdeduke, in the Winchelsea district, has an area of about 2,800 acres, and has not overflowed for at any rate two

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 51

generations. The water is salter than the sea, and in a wet season large numbers of eels are washed into it from neighbouring waterholes, and die there. How did these eels get to the holes they had just left ?

All over the parts of the Murdeduke and Turkeith estates that have tanks and dams flowing into the lake on the south- west side eels are found, but farther on to the west, on the Mount Side estate, no eels are found.

Now, I think we can take it as proved that eels must either go overland in some form that we do not recognize, or else they must be carried as ova or young in the mud on the feet of birds. Just close to the southern corner of Lake Murdeduke are a series of dams, which, though dry of late years, were for years before fully stocked wiih eels, and there is every indication that eels bred there. Birds coming from the lake would generally make to these holes, especially at night, and would then go on to other holes, and, if they carry eels, might in this way distribute them to various holes. I may mention that a small hole was excavated near these dams, and two years later no less than four dozen young eels were found in it.

Another curious fact is that whenever a hole goes nearly dry the young and half-grown eels invariably bury themselves in the mud, as also do most of the large ones, but there are always a few large eels which seem unable to do this. Has this anything to do with the breeding question ?

On one dam built on the end of a swamp, when the water got low the eels retired as usual. The eels left in the water were taken out, but every day or so a large eel seemed forced to make back into the water again. While standing on the bank I saw a large eel act in a singular way. It rushed across the water, seemed dazed, lashed the water with its tail, and tried to swim on when it got to the bank ; after a while it turned and rushed to the opposite bank, then in a little while seemed to calm down, and swam slowly into the centre of the water. On one occasion lime was put into a hole whicli contained a great many eels, the water being fairly low. After a while an eel just showed itself ; next day this eel was found lying on the bank, exposed to a hot sun, gazing at the water. On cleaning out that hole a few weeks later large numbers of eels were found in the mud.

On the Murdeduke estate it was decided to excavate a tank on a site where there was a small hole about three feet six inches in depth, which for two years had never had more than a few inches of water in it, and which of course soon dried up, yet in making the tank the men found numbers of eels at a deplh of about six feet in solid clay, all standing straight up, with their tails downward, all seemingly in good condition.

In Queensland stockmen are in the habit of driving cattle

52 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

into waterholes when they are only a few feet deep, and, keeping the cattle a short time in the water, they stir up the mud, and cause the fish to come to the surface, when the men can catch as many as they want. I have forced eels to come to the surface in the same way by making a hole muddy, and it can be seen that the places eels would prefer for their burrows would be where the water was salty, so that it would not carry mud in suspension, or else in sandy soil.

The Wurdieboluc Swamp had been dry for some time, but after the first rains thousands of young eels appeared in the swamp. In another swamp close by eels grow to a large size, and several over seven pounds in weight have been taken in the overflow.

DESCRIPTIONS AND NOTES OF AUSTRALIAN HESPERID^, CHIEFLY VICTORIAN.

By G. a. Waterhouse, B.Sc, B.E., F.E.S.

(Communicated by G. Lyell.)

(Read hefora the Field Naturalists^ Club of Victoria, I3th Jidij, 1903.)

In offering this paper to the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria I have to thank Mr. G. Lyell for the loan of the Victorian species under consideration.

From the following remarks two conclusions will, I think, be obvious. Firstly, that in the Hesperidae the spots of the fore- wing are far from being numerically constant. Secondly, that no author should sink a species as a synonym without indicating his reason for so doing, or, at least, quoting the description of the species sunk. In further support of the first conclusion I may say that I have examined over one hundred male specimens of Telesto donnysa, Hew., in which I found a range of {xoiYifour to nine spots on the fore-wing, while in males of Mesodina halyzia, Hew., I have found specimens with one and sometimes even two sub-apical spots.

Telesto monticol^, Ollifif. — Ilesjyerilla monticolce, Oil., Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1889, p. 624; T. monticolce, Meyr. and Lower, Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., 1902, p. 63.

Male, 11-12 mm. Head, thorax, abdomen, and palpi above dark brown, below yellowish. Antennae above very dark brown, below yellow. Fore-wing with costa straight ; outer margin convex ; apex acute ; inner margin straight. Hind-wing rounded.

Upper side. — Fore-wing dark brown, basal area suftused with yellowish, a small orange spot at end of cell, three imperfectly divided sub-apical yellow spots, differing in size in all three specimens ; discal stigma short, whitish surrounded by black.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 53

from sub-median to end of cell, outwardly from its upper end a small elongated orange spot, in one specimen (and also in type) a smaller spot below this last. Cilia brownish-yellow spotted with dark brown. Hind-wing dark brown, basal area yellowish, an indistinct orange spot at end of cell in one specimen ; in all specimens a broad orange suffusion beyond end of cell, below which are two oval orange spots, separated by second median nervule. Cilia as in fore-wing, longer and paler.

Under side. — Fore-wing with basal two-thirds of costa and whole of cell orange-yellow, apical area brownish-yellow, rest of wing almost black, spots of upper side reproduced, but much larger, sub-apical paler, rest darker. Cilia long, as on upper side. Hind-wing with a conspicuous broad longitudinal yellowish band through cell, interrupted near end of cell by a dark brown spot, in some specimens centred with yellow, and again by a brown bar near outer margin, below middle of this band two pale yellow oval spots, reproductions of those above, and above it a pale yellow patch ; abdominal area pale yellow ; anal area dark brown ; rest of wing lighter brown. Cilia as on upper side.

Female, 12 mm. Shape much as in male, with apex rounder. Head, thorax, abdomen, palpi, and antennae as in male.

Upper side. — Fore-wing dark brown, somewhat lighter than male ; the spots of male all present, but larger, the discal series consisting of four yellow spots — first and second elongated, third smaller, lowest large, wedge-shaped, just above sub-median. Cilia long, yellowish, spotted with brown. Hind-wing dark brown, with a large cartridge-shaped yellow spot just beyond end of cell, below which are two similar but smaller darker- yellow spots, divided by second median nervule. Cilia as in fore-wing.

Under side. — Fore-wing with basal two-thirds of costa and whole of cell rich yellow, spots of upper side reproduced, larger, and, with the exception of sub-apical series, darker ; on outer margin below apex a pale yellow suffusion ; rest of wing dark brown. Cilia as on upper side. Hind-wing as in male.

Locality. — Near Walhalla, Victoria (3,000 feet). Captured in February by collector (Mr. H. Jarvie-) of Mr. C. French, F.L.S.

This species is compared by Olliff to Hesperilla (Cyclopides) cynone, Hew., and by Meyrick and Lower to Tra2)ezites (Pam- phila) gracilis, Tepper, which are undoubtedly conspecific. Both former descriptions were taken from the co-types (two males) in the Australian Museum, from Moonbar (3,000 to 3,500 feet), near Mt. Kosciusko, N.S.VV. These specimens are faded, and not in the best condition, which accounts for the spots being described as white. This species bears a general resemblance, on the upper side only, to Telesto crypsargyra, Meyr., from New South Wales, which is also a mountain butterfly.

This constitutes a new record for Victoria, and the female (now

54 THK VICTOHIAN NATURALIST.

for the first time described) in the collection of Mr. G. Lyell is the only known specimen.

TeLESTO INIELANIA, Sp. nOV.

Male, 15 to 17 mm. Head, thorax, abdomen, and palpi above blackish-brown, below whitish. Antennge above black, club below yellowish-white. Fore-wing with cosla straight, except just at base and apex ; apex acute ; outer margin slightly convex, inner margin straight. Hind-wing rounded.

Ujrper side brownish-black, without markings ; discal stigma, from below sub-median nervure to lower end of cell, narrowly whitish, bordered with black Cilia of fore-wing dark brown, of hind-wing white, spotted with dark brown.

Under side. — Fore-wing brown, lower portion of cell much darker, inner marginal area much lighter ; usually without any spots, but sometimes a small whitish spot just beyond lower end of cell. Cilia brownish. Hind-wing light brown, often suffused with grey, usually with a curved discal series of seven whitish interneural spots (sometimes absent). Cilia whitish, spotted with brown.

Female, 17 mm. Head, thorax, abdomen, palpi, and antennas as in male. Shape nearly as in male, with outer margin of fore- wing more convex.

Upper side. — Fore-wing dark brown, with a discal white spot just above second median, and in some specimens another below it. Cilia dark brown. Hind-wing uniformly dark brown. Cilia dark brown.

Under side. — Fore-wing as in male, with spots of upper side reproduced. Cilia brown. Hind-wing as in male, but the discal series very often wanting. Cilia brown.

Locality. — Cairns, Queensland. Captured by Mr. R. E. Turner, who has sent me specimens for description, the males being in perfect condition, the females slightly rubbed.

This si)ecies is allied to T. batlirophora, Meyr. and Lower, but is considerably larger, darker above and lighter below ; the male has a longer and narrower discal stigma, and in the female the three sub-apical spots are absent. It has somewhat the appear- ance of an unmarked Eri/nnisjuliginosa, Misk., but the narrower fore-wing and the conspicuous pure white cilia of the hind-wing are marked features of the latter species.

Trapezites maheta, Hewitson. — Uesperla maheta, Hew., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1877, p. 80, male; Telesto praxedes, Plotz, Stett. Ent. Zeit., 1884, p. 379, male ; I'el. phla^a, Plotz, Stett. Ent. Zeit., 1884, p. 378, female ; Tra]>. mahHa, Meyr. and Lower, Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., 1902, p. 89, male and female. This variable species shows such constant differences in various

localities that a desciiption of the varieties appears necessary;

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 55

also a note on the synonymy, which has not been made clear by Meyrick and Lower.

Hewitson's description refers undoubtedly to a male ; he gives the under side as — " Pale rufous grey, except the lower half of the anterior wing and anal angle of posterior wing, which are dark brown. Posterior wing marked by four silvery white spots — two before the middle and two below these, one of which is minute — and by a less distinct white spot and several brown spots. Habitat, Queensland. Exp., i/^ inch " (= 32 mm. double measurement. — G. A. W.)

P15tz describes the under side of his Tel. praxedes as — " Reddish-grey. Hind-wing with four white spots encircled with black, two close together in central cell and cell ic, the other two in cells ic and 2, towards the outer margin, a black dot in cells 6 and 7. 16 mm. Port Jackson."

These descriptions agree with Meyrick and Lower's male T. maheia, excepting only that they make seven silvery spots on the under side. This is a form very rarely met with, the four con- spicuous spots being usually present, and the other much smaller ones being represented by dark dots, and only very rarely by silvery spots.

Meyrick and Lower sink Tel. praxedes under Trap, symmonuis, Hiibn., without assigning any reason for so doing. This cannot be correct, for T. symmomus could scarcely be described as " reddish-grey on the under side," and has more large spots than given by Plotz ; the size also is a telling character, being the same as given by Plotz for ornata, and less than that given by him for picta, iacchus, dirphia, and peronii ; so Meyrick and Lower could only be correct on the very unlikely supposition that Plotz had in his possession only a remarkably undersized specimen of symmomus.

Again, Meyrick and Lower sink Tel. phlcea under Traj). jjhigalia (= Trap, phillyra), and here again they must be wrong. Plotz describes ^^/iic/a^ta with references to Hewitson's description and Herrich-Schaetifer's figure on the same page with his de- scription of phlcea. The sexes of phigalia are anything but markedly different, so I cannot believe that Plotz would give descriptions of both, on the one page, as separate species ; besides, his description of phlcea agrees very well indeed with the female of maheta. Plotz describes his specimen as a female, 17 mm. ; locality, Melbourne.

There is no doubt that Meyrick and Lower are quite correct in assigning the name j^higalia to Miskin's species ^jAiZ/^/^-a, as can be at once seen by an examination of Hewitson's description and Herrich-Shaeffer's figure.

It is not quite easy to decide which of the many forms is the typical T. maheia, but as Hewitson describes the under side as

56 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

"reddish-grey," I conclude it to be the form extending from Twofold Bay, N.S.W., to somewhat north of Brisbane, with a sHght variation as we get farther north to Cairns, where a whitish suffusion extends over the under side in the male — the only sex of the Cairns variation I have yet seen,

I consider the following forms worthy of separate varietal names : —

Trapezites maheta, var. phigalioides, var. nov.

Male, 15 to 16 mm. Shape much as in typical T. maheta, but with outer margin distinctly more convex.

Upper side with the spots arranged as in maheta, except that the lowest sub-apical spot is only half the size of the other two, and is placed beyond them towards the apex ; the colour is less shining, and the cilia of hind-wing are grey, spotted with brown at termination of veins.

Under side with apical area of fore-wing and hind-wing greyish, sometimes faintly tinged with brown, the spots of fore-wing as on upper side, but larger, the spots of hind-wing as small brown rings, never centred with silver. Cilia grey, spotted with brown.

Female, 16 mm. Shape as in typical female, T. maheta.

Upper side as in T. maheta, except that the lowest sub-apical spot is nearest apex and the orange band of hind-wing is broader.

Under side as in T. maheta, except that tlie apex of fore-wing and whole of hind-wing are greyish. Cilia grey, freely spotted with brown.

Locality. — Gisborne, Toora, and Wandin South, Victoria.

This variety is described from types (male and female) in the collection of Mr. G. Lyell, from whom I have received duplicates. It is superficially very like the allied species T. phiyalia, which, however, is of different shape, and always has the cell of fore- wing on under side orange. It can be easily recognized by the peculiar position of lowest sub- apical spot in fore-wing, and the absence of silver spots on the under side of hind-wing. Had Plotz mentioned in his description of j)hlcea the misplacement of the lowest sub-apical spot in fore-wing, and had he not described the colour as " reddish-grey," phlma might have been considered as indicating this variety, which is figured in Anderson and Spry's "Victorian Butterflies," p. 119, under the name of T. phig/dia, but that name rightly belongs to the species figured there as T. 2->hilli/ra.

Trapezites maheta, var. iacchoides, var. nov.

Male, 17 mm. Shape ?s in male T. maheta, but apex of fore- wing very acute, and outer margin quite straight.

Upper side as in typical male T. maheta, with the band of hind- wing broader and deeper orange. Cilia greyish.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 57

Under side with the reddish-grey replaced by sahiion colour, and the silver spots of hind-wing (usually six in number) of moderate size, that of apex being equal in size to that of anal angle. Cilia yellowish, spotted with brown.

Locality — Corao and Blue Mountains, N.S.W. (F. Brown). Type in author's collection.

The colour of the under side readily distinguishes this variety. I was at first inclined rather to think it a hybrid of iacohus and maheta, but now that several males have been taken in two localities it is best regarded as a marked variety.

The Black "Emeu." — Mr. Graham Renshaw, M.B., who has on several occasions contributed articles to the Zoologist on rare animals, &c., which are known only as museum specimens, devotes the latest of his essays, in the March (1903) number, to Dromceus ater, the extinct emu of Kangaroo Island. Mr. Renshaw, after diligent search, can record only six specimens, but the where- abouts of th^ee of these is at present unknown. He figures the only stuffed specimen known, that in the Jardin des Plantes Museum, Paris. It will be remembered that an account of the finding in the Florence (Italy) Museum of a skeleton of this bird appeared in the Victorian Naturalist (vol. xvii., p. 114) some time ago, and gave rise to the query (Naturalist, vol. xvii., p. 128) as to whether any remains of the extinct Tasmanian Emu survive in museums, so far with no response. Mr. Renshaw regards Dromceus ater as one of the rarest of the rare birds, but expresses no opinion as to whether it and the Tasmanian are distinct or identical species. This is a point which seems to require clearing up, for, if the same, it is rather singular that the same bird should exist on two islands at least 500 miles apart with no trace of the species, or of a connecting link, on the mainland of Australia, from which the islands are separated, in the case of Kangaroo Island by a strait of only 10 miles across, and Tasmania of 135 miles. Dr. Latham, the eminent ornithologist, in his " General History of Birds," published in 1822, mentions having seen a pair of " Van Dieman's Cassowary," one of which he figures under the specific name of D. ater, but as these are now among the missing specimens, it seems impossible to be certain as to the identity of the Emus of the two islands.

The Daisy. — Mr. R. L. Praeger writes in Knowledge for July on wild flowers of the most familiar and best-loved kinds, among them the Daisy, of which he says : — " The yellow button- like disk is composed of a myriad of small perfect flowers, with yellow five-cleft tubular corolla, and ring of fused stamens surrounding the pistil. Of calyx we find hardly a trace ; the close packing of the flowers leaves no room for it, and renders it un- necessary as a protective structure. In the Compositae the calyx is

58 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST.

usually reduced to a few hairs, which often play a valuable part in aiding seed-dispersal, as we shall see, by growing as the fruit ripens into a feathery plume or pappus, which acts as a parachute. The marginal or ray flowers of our Daisy have no stamens — are female ; and their corolla is white, and greatly expanded in an outward direction — the only direction in which there is room for expansion. These ray flowers, in fact, are largely useful in advertising the otherwise inconspicuous flower-head. Similar devices we have already noted in the wild Guelder-rose ; and we may compare with these such flower-heads as those of the little Cornel, Cornus suecica, and the Astrantias, in which the flowers are surrounded by a ring of coloured leaves, which serve the same purpose. Finally, our Daisy head is surrounded by a close- fitting double ring of small leaves, the involucre, which encloses the whole in bud, and plays the part that a calyx usually plays in a single flower. . . . It is perhaps among some of the larger members of the Daisy group that the composite inflores- cence attains its greatest beauty and perfection. Examine such a flower-form as the Ox-eye Daisy. First we have the close- lapping scales of the involucre, securely enclosing the whole, and protecting it when in bud. Then the splendid ring of ray-flowers, whose object is to render the inflorescence more conspicuous. Thus we find these enormously expanded corollas often assuming a tint other than that of the main mass of flowers — white when the disk is yellow, as in the Ox-eye ; in other species blue, or purple, or yellow, accompanying a yellow or greyish disk. These ray-florets have sacrificed their perfection as flowers for the purposes of advertisement, and are usually devoid of stamens, or sometimes devoid of both stamens and pistil. Finally we have the dense mass of disk-florets, all perfect, producing a quantity of minute fruits. As for the fruit of the Corymbiferse, a large number rely on wind carriage, and the calyx-segments take the form of hairs, which grow into a more or less perfect parachute to aid in transporting the comparatively large fruit to pastures new."

Boys' Field Club, South Australia. — We have received a 48-page pamphlet recording the doings of the above club during the years 1893 to April, 1902. This society, which owes its foundation to the enthusiasm of Mr. W. C. Grasby, its present president, was founded in August, 1887, has for its motto — "The naturalist loves life," and its objects — (ist) to encourage nature study, and (2nd) to provide healthful recreation. The members are principally boys of 10 to 18 years of age. Regular meetings and excursions are held for purposes of study, but the great feature of the club has been the Easter encampments, of which thirteen have now been held, lasting from seven to nine days each. These camps are usually attended by some thirty to fifty

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 59

boys ; in fact, so eager are the boys to take part in these outings that restrictions have had to be made, so that members must qualify for the right to attend. The work of the members is chiefly in geology, botany, and conchology, and several new or rare specimens have been secured in the latter department, and the club has a cabinet of type specimens. The pamphlet is illustrated with numerous camp scenes, and is well worthy of perusal by all interested in directing the attention of young people to nature study.

"The Emu." — The current (July) number of The Emu, forming the first part of the third volume, is to hand, and contains a number of interesting articles bearing on bird life in its various aspects. " A Trip to the Stirling Range, W.A.," by Mr. A. VV. Milligan, of Perth, is well illustrated, but the palm in the way of illustrations must be given to our old friend Mr. E. M. Cornwall's photograph of a rookery of the Sooty Tern, Sterna fuliginosa, on the Upolu Bank, Great Barrier Reef. This has been excellently reproduced, and affords one of the finest pictures of an animated scene it is possible to conceive. In his notes on his visit Mr. Cornwall remarks : — " I have often wondered how, on a great rookery like this, the birds are able to identify their eggs, and after carefully watching for a considerable time have come to the conclusion that they are not at all particular whose egg they sit on. Although the rookeries of different varieties are well defined, the whole are so jumbled together that along the fringes where two varieties meet the eggs are much intermingled, and in very many cases Sooty Terns had taken possession of Lesser Crested Terns' eggs and vice versd." This remark is in opposition to the ideas usually associated with bird rookeries, and seems to be a probable explanation of the doubts which have arisen in many people's minds as to the birds' knowledge of their own nests in such gatherings. In Mr. Thos. Carter's notes from South- Western Australia is included the following note about a tame Emu, communicated to him by Mr. R. Gale, of Fairlawn : — " The bird was allowed its liberty on the Margaret River estate, and apparently formed an attachment for a horse there, for when Mr. Gale drove this horse from Margaret River to his house near Busselton, a distance of 40 miles, the Emu arrived early the following day, in spite of having had to traverse cross roads and negotiate several fences of barbed wire and post and rails. Did the bird follow the horse by scent?" The part contains many items of interest to bird-lovers.

"Notes on the Natural History, &c., of Western Aus- tralia."— This volume consists mainly of the scientific chapters contributed by specialists dealing with the geography, geology, climate, flora, fauna, &c., published from time to time in the Western Australian Year-Book. These have been collected into

60 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

one volume by Mr. Malcolm A. C. Fraser, the Government Statistician, and with the addition of maps and illustrations form an excellent handbook to the natural history of Western Aus- tralia. The maps comprise a general map, and one combining the rainfall records and the zoo-geographical divisions N., N.W., S.W., and C. (central or desert). The chapters deal with — i. Physical Features ; 2. Geography ; 3. Geological Features, with a census of the Minerals, the South-west Cave District, &c. ; 4. Climate ; 5. Aborigines ; 6. Fauna, including lists of Mammalia, Birds, Reptilia, Batrachia, and Pisces ; 7. Entomology ; 8. Flora, with a list of plants; 9. Forest Resources; 10-13. Scientific Institutions ; and 14. Report on the Lake Yanchep Caves.

" Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales." — In the May (1903) number Mr. W. W. Froggatt, F.L.S., Government Entomologist, contributes an article on "Some Wood-boring Beetles and Their Habits," in which four minute but de- structive beetles are dealt with. A plate is given showing the insect natural size and greatly enlarged. Mr. Froggatt continues his notes on the Cicadas ( " Locusts " ) and their habits, men- tioning eight species and giving figures of six, and concluding with a good bibliography. In the June number Mr. Froggatt writes on " Insects that Damage Wheat and other Foodstuffs," in which he briefly describes nine beetles and five moths, all of which are very destructive in grain stores, &c. Seven of these are illustrated, natural size and enlarged. References to literature complete the paper.

Present-day Cave-Dwellers. — In an article published in Knowledge a few years ago, Mr. Lydekker drew attention to the evidence in favour of an Asiatic origin for the aborigines of Australia, whose nearest relatives then appeared to be the Veddas of Ceylon. " In a letter from Macassar," says that monthly, " the Messrs. Sarasin, who are travelling in Celebes, announce the discovery in the mountains of that island of a primitive people — the Toala — presenting a remarkably physical resemblance to the Veddas. Although these people have now been considerably influenced in the mode of life by contact with the Buginese of the coast districts, there is decisive evidence that a short time ago they were cave-dwellers (as indeed are some of their number now), while within a century or so ago they were in the habit of using chipped stone arrow-heads and other weapons and imple- ments. There can be little doubt that the Toala were the primitive inhabitants of Celebes, and that they were driven to take refuge in the mountains by the Malay invaders, with whom, however, they now hold a certain amount of intercourse. Assuming their affinity to the Veddas to be true, and it is scarcely likely that such a remarkable resemblance can be merely accidental, we have much stronger evidence than before as to the probable Asiatic origin of the Australian aborigines."

the Uktorian HdturaHst

Vol. XX.— No. 5. SEPTEMBER 10, 1903. No. 237.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA,

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in tlie Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, loth August, 1903. Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, one of the vice-presidents, occupied the chair, and about 65 members and visitors were present.

CORRESPONDENCE.

From the National Forests Protection League, thanking the Club for the support given by members, and urging unrelaxed attention to the reservation of timber country.

REPORTS.

In the absence of Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., Mr. F. G. A. Barnard gave a short report of the Club's visit to the Zoological Gardens on Saturday, i8th July, when there was a good attend- ance of members and friends, who availed themselves of the opportunity to inspect the various animals, birds, &c., under the guidance of the Director, Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S.

Additional interest is given to these visits by the information imparted by the Director concerning many of the animals on view. Among other items of interest may be mentioned the Black Swans, some of which were then sitting on their eggs, while several young ones were seen running about. The Emu was also sitting on her nest, containing several eggs. Altogether a very pleasant after- noon was spent, and members left well pleased with their visit.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr, A. J. Campbell drew attention to the destruction of game on Lake Moodemere. He exj^lained that the lake was reserved some yeais ago as a resort for wild fowl, but, owing to the drought, the sheet of water has been somewhat reduced, and the waterfowl are therefore congregating more in the limited area, and so offering greater facilities for their destruction. Under cover of shooting foxes and other vermin unscrupulous persons are also destroying the ducks, &c. He therefore moved — "That the attention of the Minister of Public Works and the Rutherglen Shire Council be directed to the destruction of game on Lake Moodemere."

Mr. G. Coghill, in seconding the motion, stated that some years ago the attention of a former Minister had been successfully directed to the matter.

The motion was carried unanimously.

.cX

62 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Mr. J. Stickland drew attention to the necessity of again taking some action for the protection of the wattles. Mr. J. Shephard also spoke on the subject, and the Chairman undertook to send a letter to the newspapers drawing attention to the matter.

PAPERS.

1. By Miss K. Cowle, entitled "Notes of a Visit to Mount Roland, Tasmania."

In an interesting paper the authoress mentioned the various specimens of natural history met with during her visit, and gave some account of the geology of the district. A number of the botanical specimens collected were exhibited, together with photographic views and other objects of interest from the locality.

Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., congratulated Miss Cowle on the interest- ing and useful work she had accomplished during her visit. Messrs. R. A. Bastow, G. Coghill, and F. Wisewould spoke on the paper, and the latter mentioned the difficulties to be met with in collecting in such rough country.

2. By Mr. J. H. Gatliff, entitled " Additions to the List of Victorian Marine MoUusca."

This paper consisted of a list of additional species of Victorian Gastropod shells, which have been identified during the publica- tion of the " Catalogue of Marine Shells of Victoria," by Messrs. G. B. Pritchard and J. H. Gatliff, in the " Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria." The author explained in detail certain characters in several species of shells, by which they could be readily identified, and illustrated his remarks with specimens of the shells.

Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., in complimenting the author on his work, mentioned that Mr. Gatliff, in conjunction with Mr. G. B. Pritchard, had been working for some time on a " Catalogue of the Marine Shells of Victoria." They had finished the Gastropods, and were now working on the Lamellibranchs. He spoke of the close resemblance of many of the shells exhibited by Mr. Gatliff to fossil species, and stated that their work will throw much light on the identification of our tertiary fossil shells. He stated that there were now about 800 recent Victorian shells described, while of our tertiary shells there were quite 800 described, and yet not half had been dealt with.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. T. S. Hart, M.A., writing from Ballarat, says :— " It may interest some of the members of the Field Naturalists' Club to know that the rare orchid Prasophylhim archeri was collected in flower about ist May by Mr. R. Copeland in the Ballarat New Cemetery, Ballarat North. I only remember it being recorded in Victoria from near Maryborough, though, of course, it may be

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 63

commoner than I supposed. A Pterostylis, apparently praecox, is now flowering in the ranges south of Amherst."

Mr. G. Coghill stated that P. archeri had been found at Ringwood by Miss S. W. L. Cochrane. Mr. C. French, jun., stated that he had collected it at Oakleigh.

Mr. G. A. Keartland mentioned, as a result of protection, that kangaroos were greatly increasing in numbers in the country around Whittlesea.

Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., made some remarks on his exhibit of Australian Lycgenid butterflies, chiefly Victorian, which were labelled in accordance with Mr. G. A. VVaterhouse's recent revision of the family, in order to call attention to the many changes proposed in the nomenclature. In referring to many of Mr. "VVaterhouse's determinations chiefly concerning the Victorian species, he drew attention to that author's remarks expressing his doubt as to the correctness of Messrs. Anderson and Spry's record of March for the time of appearance of U^ia agricola. Mr. Waterhouse says that he has "caught many hundreds near Sydney, but none later than November." Mr. Kershaw stated that he has a specimen taken as late as 30th January.

Mr. F. Spry, in speaking on the subject, slated that the record of March for this species published by Mr. Anderson and himself was quite correct.

Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A, referred to the spread of the Cape irid, Romulea bulbooocliwa, at Inverleigh, and stated that members would be interested to learn that the White Cockatoo, Cacatua galbvita, had discovered that the bulbs afforded excellent food.

Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., remarked on an exhibit of a valve of a Diatom (Arachnoidiscus) which he obtained from the oldest tertiary strata (Thanet beds) of Pegwell Bay, England. The peculiarity of this fossil lies in the fact of its replacement, by iron pyrites, of the original silica ; the surface markings of the valve are also faithfully reproduced. These pyritized Diatoms were first discovered by W. H. Shrubsole in the London clay of Sheppey, and one of the reasons for exhibiting the specimen was to draw the attention of microscopists to the possibility of their occurrence in the Victorian tertiary clay beds where iron pyrites is found replacing fossils.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. R. A. Bastow. — Two Ophiuroids and Asterias calamaria from the Ninety-mile Beach, Victoria, and a King Crab from Singapore.

By Mr. F. Chapman, A.LS. — A valve of a tertiary fossil Diatom, Arachnoidiscus, replaced by iron pyrites, from Pegwell Bay, England.

By Miss S. W. L. Cochrane. — Wild flowers from Sandringham.

By Mr. P. C. Cole.- -Two specimens of the fruit of the Baobab

64 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

tree, Adansonia gregorii, showing aboriginal carved designs, from North- Western Australia.

By Mr. A. Coles. — Specimen of Little Falcon, Falco lunu- latus.

By Miss K. Cowle. — Photographs, botanical and rock speci- mens, &c., from Mount Roland, Tasmania, in illustration of her paper.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — Life-history of Longicorn beetle, Strongylurus cretifer, which is very destructive to the Native Cherry trees in Victoria ; also, aboriginal stone knives (polished), from Swan Hill, Hamilton, Heidelberg, &c.

By Mr. J. H. Gatliff. — Marine shells from Victoria, including Modiola victorice, Prit. and Gatl. (type) ; Zenatia victorice, Prit. and Gatl. (type) ; Chioiie strigosa, Lamk. ; C. scallarina, Lamk. ; and 41 additional Victorian marine shells referred to in his paper.

By Mr. A. D. Hardy. — Two specimens of Hepaticse — Riccia natans, a floating plant, from BuUeen, and Fimbriaria australis (in fruit), a terrestrial plant, from Malvern.

By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. — Case of Australian Lycaenid butterflies, including type of Miletus meleagris, Waterh.

By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Dried specimens of Brachycome ciliaris, Less., var. glandulosa, Benth., new for Victoria ; and specimens of the rare coniferous shrub, Pherosphcera filzgeraldi, F. v. M., hitherto found at the Katoomba Falls only. Collected by the Rev. W. VV. Watts at Leura Falls, Blue Mountains, N.S W.

By Mr. F. Spry. — Case of Victorian Lycsenid b\itterflies.

By Mr. J. Tarrant. — Specimens of the bark of the Paper-barked Ti-tree, Melaleuca squarrosa, Donn., Gippsland.

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

SOME COMPARISON OF THE ALPINE FLORA OF AUSTRALIA AND EUROPE.

By G. Weindorfer. {Read he/ore the Field Nuturalists' Chih of Victoria, I3th July, 1903. The remarks which I purpose oftering under the above title are based upon observations of the Alpine flora of Victoria and the Eastern Alps of Europe, the altitudes of which are practically alike.

Whoever has once ascended a mountain cannot fail to liave observed how the vegetation gradually changes, so that the tourist presently finds himself amidst new and strange surround- ings, in which the vegetation of the lowlands is replaced by one of a totally different appearance. It is well known that in the

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 65

upper regions of the mountains the tree-growth ceases, and a belt of stunted bushes and herbs continues, occasionally covering large areas with unbroken vegetation, or forming patches amongst rocks. The term generally applied to this region is the " Alpine region," and the vegetation thereon is known as the " Alpine flora." This paper deals exclusively with the " Alpine flora" and not with the " flora of the Alps," by which expression a flora is understood whicli would comprise plants growing in all eleva- tions of the Alps in question. It must not be understood, how- ever, that the Alpine flora forms a distinct geographical or systematic class of vegetation, for this is not the case in either of the Alpine flora.

It is generally accepted that the lower border of the Alpine regions is formed by what is known as the tree-line ; but, clear as this definition may appear, it cannot be strictly accepted as such, for the following reasons : — The tree-growth does not cease abruptly, but gradually becomes more and more stunted, and in the shade of these bushes grow plants which decidedly belong to the Alpine flora. In every case there is a considerable over- lapping of the Alpine and the lowland flora.

The most important characteristic of an Alpine flora in general is therefore to be found in its habit — its physiognomy — which is the product of many and varied factors, such as soil, temperature, air, moisture, situation of mountains and their incline, and other influences.

A striking difference between the Australian and European Alpine vegetation is noticed as regards the tree-line. Careful examinations and records have established the tree-line of the Eastern Alps of Europe at 5,700 feet approximately (in the western part of the Alps even 6,400 feet), whereas, in my estimation, the tree-line in the Victorian portion of the Australian Alps is at 5,300 feet approximately — that is, 400 feet lower than in the Eastern Alps of Europe. Mr. J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Government Botanist of New South Wales, in his pamphlet, " A Second Contribution towards a Flora of Mount Kosciusko " (1899), says: — "The height of the tree-line is fairly constant (about 6,500 feet)." I have taken the tree-line in the Victorian portion of the Australian Alps to be where the normal growth of forest trees ceases, at 5,300 feet, and have not taken into con- sideration the dwarfed tree-growth into which the normal growth is transformed. Mr. Maiden, however, does not explain in his pamphlet the basis adopted by him for his statement. No doubt the greater height and possibly more favourable conditions in the Kosciusko group may explain the difference in the tree-line.

The diff'erence between the European and the Victorian Alps is all the more striking when we consider their respective geographical positions. The high plains of Bogong and Omeo

66 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

are situated under the 37th degree of south latitude, while the Eastern Alps of Europe lie in 47 degrees north latitude. The last-named mountain-chain is therefore ten degrees further removed from the equator than the first-named, and must, there- fore sliow a proportionate decrease in the j'early temperature, yet the tree-growth extends to higher altitudes in the European Alps than is the case in our Alps.

An explanation of this fact may be that in the European Alps the forests consist, in the higher elevations, ex- clusively of Conifers, whose dense growth resists more effectively the encroachment of the heavy snowdrifts, and thus affords more protection than is the case with the Australian forest, where the Eucalyptus trees, with their high, slender trunks and open crowns, are further apart, thus providing no mutual protection against the ravages of wind and snow storms. It is this general external difference in the forests which un- doubtedly contributes a great deal to the changed characters of the respective floras. Let us further take into consideration the meteorological conditions in both Alpine regions. Mr. James Stirling, F.G S , F.L.S., in a paper — "The Physiography of the Australian Alps " — read before the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, held at Sydney in 1889, says : — • " Snow falls at heights above 2,000 feet, but at the lower levels seldom remains longer than a few days, thawing quickly as it falls unless in the shaded hill sides, where the frost hardens the crust." The height at which snow remains during the winter months begins with 5,000 feet. From here upward the first snowfall appears about the month of April, and melts in the month of No- vember. The snow, therefore, remains in these elevations during a period of seven months, thus leaving a vegetative period of five months. In contrast to this are the meteorological conditions of the European Alps in question. There snow melts, at the same altitudes as in the Australian Alps, about end of May, in less favourable situations not till the end of July. The snowfall commences often in the middle of October, thus giving the vegetation a winter rest of 7^^ to 9^ months, and a vegetative period of only ajS^ to 4^ months.

A similar difference will be observed in the respective tempera- tures. The average mean summer temperature of Mount Hotham is 55° F., in the European Alps it is 59" F., while the average mean winter temperature for the Australian Alps is 41° F., and for the Eastern European Alps 30° F. According to these records there is in the Eastern European Alps a shorter time available for the development of plants, though with a greater range of temperature than in our Alps.

The result of this short vegetative period is that in neither of the Alps can annual species find the favourable meteorological

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 67

conditions necessary for their growth, for it is obvious that such plants would absorb so much time in forming their stalks and leaves that the time of flowering and maturing the seed would be so close to the commencement of the cold season as to endanger their chances of reproduction.

The number of annual species in the European Alps is there- fore limited to a great extent ; besides this, all the annual species show a very diminutive growth, being almost without stalks and leaves, in order to use as little time as possible for the develop- ment of their structure, and to have the use of the warmest days for the development of their flowers and fruit.

Although the plant-growth in the Australian Alps extends over a considerably longer vegetative period than in the European Alps, annual species seem to be entirely wanting. Mr. J. H. Maiden remarks in the abovementioned paper : — " Without going so far as to say that there are no annuals growing in the upper regions of Mount Kosciusko, I do not call to mind any plants from the tree-line upward that are not perennials."

However, it must not be forgotten that the relative frequency of the species in the two floras is i to lo; that is to say, there are ten times more species in the European than in the Australian Alps. If, therefore, in our Alps some annuals may exist, their number will consequently be very few. I may mention that during a short visit to the Alps last Christmas time in company with our fellow-members, Dr. Sutton and Mr. Barnard, we did not observe any annuals at the elevations in question. In the European Alps it is not uncommon for plants which are annuals in lower levels to turn, in ascending to higher altitudes, into perennials.

A further peculiarity of Alpine plants in Europe is the develop- ment of the flowering organs before the leaves appear. There the plants must make the most of the short vegetative period, and in order to mature the fruit without loss of time, have to start flowering immediately after the melting of the snow. During the flowering time the old leaves play an important part as reservoirs of foodstuffs. During winter stiff and leathery, and filled to repletion with nutriment, they provide the flowering part of the plant with the necessary food, and dry up on the budding of the new leaves, which take over the same role as their predecessors. In the Australian Alps, with a longer vegetative period, there is no such necessary hurry, and the plants, without the danger of losing time, may, in most cases, after the snow melts, start with the formation of their stalks and leaves.

The number of species with bulbs in the European Alpine flora is limited to two, belonging to the order Liliacege. In the Australian Alps bulbiferous plants are entirely missing. This fact may be explained as follows : — In the sphere of the Alpine

68 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

flora, for want of sufficient warmth during its short vegetative period plants cannot devote their time to building up bulbs, for which purpose, on account of the necessary chemical changes and transformations, a high degree of warmth is required. The role which bulbs play with plants in lower elevations is in Alpine plants taken over by their leaves, which, as before mentioned, serve the plants as reservoirs of foodstuffs for the coming season. All characteristic Alpine plants therefore show, as a peculiarity, the thickness of their leaves, and are consequently greatly in contrast with their nearest relations of the lowlands. In the Australian Alps we may observe this fact in certain plants, as Eucalyptus coriacea, the Acacias, many Compositse, Drimys aroniatica, Pimelea ligustrtna, Dianella tasmanica, Orites lanci/olia, Westringia senifolia, and others.

A special mark of Alpine plants is their dense hairiness, the purpose of which is exclusively to protect the plants against extensive evaporation. I am under the impression that the number of species with vestitures is proportionally greater in the European Alps than here.

A further peculiarity in Alpine plants is in the crowded grassy growth, with little stalks and small leaves. This circumstance is explained by the fact that the plants of high mountains commence with their vitality at a time when daylight already lasts from 15 to 16 hours. Now, as plants assimilate during daytime and grow during the night, there is more time available for assimila- tion, and plants with greater dimensions will therefore not have such favourable chances ; m addition to this, of course, lower temperature and other different circumstances, as wind and poor soil, play an important part. As examples of this may be men- tioned Slackhousia pulvinijera, Sccevola hookeri, Leontopodium catipes, Gnaphalium alpigineuni.

For the same reason lofty trees in Alpine regions are entirely absent. On the other hand, the branches of the low Alpine shrubs are, by the weight of snow masses, mechanically pressed down on the soil, an appearance which is especially characteristic in the European Alps. To take one instance, the depressed bushes of Finus muyhus, or the Knee-wood of the European Alps, with which Eucalyptus coriacea of our Alps may be com- pared.

Climbing plants, also, cannot find the necessary conditions for their life, for the production of tendrils would occupy too much time, which could be more profitably utilized for the production of seeds. Of this kind of plant the European flora has only one representative (Atragene alpina), while in the Australian Alps climbing plants are entirely wanting.

We have now arrived at a feature by which Alpine plants are mostly distinguished from the related species of the lowlands —

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 69

that is, the colour and the perfume of their flowers. Without a doubt the plants of the European Alps are, in this respect, in advance of those of the AustraHan Alps, and once more I quote Mr. J. H. Maiden's words: — "A greater brilliancy and size of the flowers has been observed in the European Alps. I do not think that is specially true in regard to Mount Kosciusko plants, perhaps because of the inferior height of the latter mountain. The increased brilliancy of the flowers would certainly, I think, apply to some species of Ranunculi, which are so brightly yellow that one cannot fail to remark it. As will be seen presently, there is not that variety of colour in Mount Kosciusko flowers that obtains in the European Alps. If we consider the plants I have enumerated from tree-line to 7,000 feet, we find the colours of the flowers distributed approximately as follows : — White, 36 ; green and inconspicuous, 10 ; yellow, 13 ; dull yellow, 6 ; purple and pink, 7 ; blue, i. (Restiacese, Cyperaceae, Gramine^, &c., have been excluded.)" According to this, the red and violet colours among flowers are not to be found in our Alps ; on the other hand, the blue colour, with one, and the pink colour, with seven, are very poorly represented. This want of contrasts in colour (which want is also found with regard to perfume) is no doubt due to the already mentioned unequal proportion of the species represented in both Alps. It is suflicient to point out that the European Alpine flora possesses 63 orders and 280 genera (Phanerogamse and Acotyle- donese — vasculares), while the Australian Alps have only 37 orders and 75 genera.

A striking feature of the Australian Alps is the deficiency of insect life, which is of such great importance as an agent in the fertilization of phanerogamous plants. This will probably account for the want of variety in colour and perfume.

Further, let me allude to some other peculiarities which both Alpine floras have more or less in common, as compared with the flora of the lowlands. With the proportionate paucity of larger animals in Alpine regions is going hand in hand the deficiency of spinescent plants, which find it necessary to protect themselves against the extensive attacks of herbivorous animals. There are in the European Alps only a few species, belonging to the genera Rosa, Rubus, Cirsium, and Juniperus, with spines, but the armature of these is not of a very formidable character, while in the Australian Alps this class of plant is represented by Hymenanthera dentata (Mount Kosciusko) and Daviesia ulicina (Mount Hotham).

Finally I would refer to the richer green of foliage, and the tendency to form rosettes of leaves, and with this I think that I have mentioned most of those peculiarities by which both of the Alpine floras determine their physiognomic character.

70 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

In conclusion I would say that, although the Alpine flora of Australia does not compare in beauty with that of the European Alps, yet it presents its visitor with an indelible picture, which every Australian may justly regard with pride and speak of as " the Alpine flora of Australia."

NOTES OF A VISIT TO MOUNT ROLAND, TASMANIA.

Bv Miss K. Cowi.k. {Read he/ore the Field Natural isW Club of Victoria, lOth Augvsf, 1903.) The following notes of a visit to Mount Roland in January last may be of interest to members of our Club. The mountain is a familiar landmark to everyone living in and around Uevonport, on the north-west coast of Tasmania. It stands away in the south, distant son)e twenty miles from the coast, and forms the south-eastern boundary of the great bend at the Mersey.

Mount Roland is bold and rugged, its northern end being an almost perpendicular escarpment ; its height is 4,047 feet, and in winter it is often snow-capped. The northern and eastern sides are composed principally of an ancient conglomerate, the pebbles, milky white and water-worn, being embedded in a reddish-coloured matrix. Some of the boulders at the foot of the mountain are smooth and rounded, and look like inlaid work. This smoothing of the rocks may have been the work of an ancient sea, which left in the lower levels, between the base of the mountain and the sea coast, the upper Paleozoic marine beds, in which occur fossils, such as Spirifers, Aviculopectens, &c. We did not find any traces of fossils in the stones brought from the mountain.

For the first thousand feet the track winds up through a forest composed of such trees and shrubs as the Stringybark, Eucalyptus ohliqua, L'Her., Peppermint Gum, E. amygdalma, Lab. ; Dog- wood, Fomaderris opetala,h3ih. ; Musk. Aster (Olearia) argophylla, F. v. M. ; Silver Wattle, Acacia dealbata, Link ; River Wattle, A. diacolor, Willd. ; the Prickly Acacias, A. diffusa, Edw., and A. veriirillata, Willd. ; Prickly Box, Bursaria spinosi, Cav. ; Sassafras, Aiherosperma moschatu7n, Lab. ; Stinkwood, Zieria smi'hii, Andr. ; Honeywood, Bedfordia salicina, D.C. ; Cassinia aculeata, R. Br. ; ]\Iint-tree, Prostanthera lasiantha. Lab. ; Tea-tree, Leptospermuni I'ujjestre, H. ; and Guitar Plant, Lomaiia tinctoria, R. Br. Among these were such smaller plants as Pimeleas, Clematis arisiata, R. Br. ; the Purpleberry, BiUiardieri longijiora, Lab. ; the Blueberry, Dianella longifolia, R. Br. ; and the beautiful White Iris, Diplarrhena inorea, Lab.

Our first halt was near a spring, in the shade of some fine specimens of the Valley Tree Fern, Dicksonia billardieri,

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 71

F. V. M., whose brown trunks were covered with masses of the little filmy fern, Trichomanes venosum, R. Br. Other ferns noted were Lomaria capensis, Willd., Lindsaya linearis, Swartz, Pteris tremula, R. Br., and the Oak Fern, Pteris incisa, Thun. The rocks were covered with many beautiful mosses and lichens, the most conspicuous mosses being — Bryum altisehwi, C. M. ; Leucobryum candidum, Hampi ; Dicrtmium hillardieri, Bridel ; Hypnum cupressiforme, Simm. ; Lepidozia alothrin, Hook ; and Ptycho)nnion aciculare, Labill.

The last two thousand feet are climbed up a ravine, over a sort of cataract of loose blocks of reddish sandstone, the walls on either side being masses of conglomerate some hundreds of feet high, and on one side almost perpendicular. This ravine had evidently been an ancient watercourse, but all that was left of the stream was a small spring which trickled from under the moss- covered boulders, into a sort of basin, and disappeared again under the rocks.

From here to the top of the mountain we added to our collections the Gordon Lily, Blaadfordia marginata, Herb. ; the singular epacrid, Richea gunnii, H.; the Solomon's Seal or Turquoise Berry, Dryynophila cyanocarpa, R. Br. ; the Swamp Tea-tree, Melaleuca ericifolia, Sm. ; the Native Pepper, Brimys aromatica, F. v. M. ; the Snowberries, Gaultheria hisplda, R. Br., and G. lanceolata, H. ; the Asters, Olearia {Eitryhia) hdifolia, Benth., 0. pini/olia, Benth., and 0. gunniana, H.; SprengeUa in- carnata, Sm. ; and the Golden Rosemary, Oxylohium ellipticitm, R. Br.

From the top of the mountain there is a fine view of the surrounding country and hills, and even the most ardent botanist or geologist must pause to admire it, with that silent outreach of the soul towards eternal beauty. The surface geological forma- tions can almost be traced by the vegetation, especially where the decomposition of the tertiary basalt has resulted in rich agricul- tural land, with its fields of green potato-tops or golden corn, backed up by virgin forest.

The centre of the mountain is flat, and around the edges are great masses of stone, to the south all sandstone, contorted and tilted aUnost perpendicularly. This sandstone is composed of rounded grains of ancient rocks, and contains much iron, the protoxide and peroxide compounds colouring the rocks various shades of green and red.

Among the trees and shrubs growing on top of the mountain may be mentioned Eucalyptus gunnii, H. ; Honeysuckle, Banksia marginata, Cav. ; dwarf specimens of the Beech, Fagu,s cwa- ninghami, H. ; the Purple Botde-brush, Melaleuca squaivea. Lab.; the Native Heath, Epiacris impressa, Lab. ; E. longiflora, Boronia, gunnii, H. ; B. rhomboidea, H. ; the Purple Heath, Tetratheca

72 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

gnnnii, H. ; the Artichoke, Astdia alpina, R. Br. ; Bceckia gunniana, Schau. ; Gentiana saxosa, Forst. ; the Eyebright, Euphrasia hrownii, F. v. M. ; the Yellow Thyme, Hibberlia serpillifolia, R. Br. ; Cehnisia longifolia, Cass. ; with the Coral Fern, Gleichenia dicarpa, R. Br., and a Lycopodium.

Of animal life we have but a poor record. A Black Snake caused some excitement by crossing the track between our party. We saw a few parrots and robins. Two long-haired caterpillars attracted attention, one chestnut-brown with a golden band round the middle, the other dark brown with golden spots.

On the 28th of March we again visited the top, but encountered a terrific thunderstorm. The thunder echoed from crag to crag with a deafening roar, the rain came down like a torrent, and in the dense mist we lost the track coming down, and so missed all the specimens we had gathered and put in the shade when going up. At that time GanUheria hispida was looking beautiful with its clusters of snowberries.

I should advise anyone intending to visit Mount Roland to go the day before to the little village called Sheffield, which is some five or six miles from the mountain ; or to Mr. Perkins's farm at the foot of the mountain. Our party will never forget the kindness and hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Perkins.

I am greatly indebted to Messrs. J. G. Luehmann and R. A. Bastow for the identification of some of my specimens.

The late Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth. — It is with very great regret that the death of Mr. H. P. C. Ashworth, a former hon. secretary of the Field Naturalists' Club, is recorded. Owing to want of space, an account of his work in the interests of natural science must be held over for the next Natturalist.

Personal. — During the month the editor received a charac- teristic memo, on a post card from Mr. Robert Hall, as follows : — "Yakutsk, Siberia, 30/6/03. I have truly set foot in the wonderful tundra country ; full of birds, teeming with mosquitoes, and covered with flowers. Every place greets my eyes with a new plant ; first a field of forget-me-nots, as large as those we cultivate, then a paddock of Iceland poppies. Our common onion occupies swamps, and most lovely orchids border them. Buttercups and blocks of ice line the banks of the Lena River, and flowering willows densely cover the numerous islands of the broad stream. Everything is done on a grand scale, and Nature in May wakes quickly from her snowed repose. Insects are varied and numerous. The whole is a wonderland and a surprise."

Cbe Uictorian naturalist.

Vol. XX.— No. 6. OCTOBER 8, 1903. No. 238.

FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA,

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in the Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th September, 1903. The president, Mr. O. A. Sayce, occupied the chair, and about 100 members and friends were present.

REPORTS.

A report of the Club excursion to Greensborough on Saturday, 15th August, was read by the leader, Mr. G. Coghill, who stated that over twenty members and friends attended. The main object of the visit was to see the Silver Wattles, Acacia dealbata, in bloom, and members were not disappointed, for many lovely specimens were seen along the banks of the Plenty River. Masses of Clematis microphylla, in full bloom, festooned the smaller shrubs, &c., and added beauty to the scene. The Mistletoe, Loranthus pendulus, was found in bloom on many of the gum-trees, and closer examination disclosed several seeds just germinating on the branches of the trees. Though the district is not a particularly good one from a botanist's point of view, still several interesting species of plants were met with, among which may be mentioned GreviUea rosmarlnifolia, somewhat rare on the rocky banks of the river ; Hovea heterophyUa, Styphelia serrulata, Veronica calycina, and Aster stellulatus. The fern, Woodwardia caiidata, was also obtained.

A report of the excursion to Cheltenham on Saturday, 29th August, was given by Mr. G. Weindorfer, who acted as leader of the botanical section. He stated that, being early in the season, only about twenty species were obtained in bloom. Of these, Euphrasia brownii, Acacia oxycedrus, and Sprengelia incarnata were in the most perfect condition. The country was very swampy, and prevented much investigation. Mr. J. Stickland reported that the pond-life section of the party obtained a fair variety of species characteristic of the district, but one rotifer obtained does not seem to have been recorded before, and will probably prove new to science.

A report of the excursion to Ringwood on Saturday, 12th September, was given by the leader, Mr. C. French, jun., who reported a good attendance of members. A number of interesting plants were met with, such as Ophioglossum vulgatum (in fruit), Phylloylossum drummondi, Utricidaria dichotoma ; the orchids Galadenia deformis, Pterostylis harhata, Diuris maculata, and the rare Prasophyllum archeri (in seed). Acacia myrtifolia was beautifully in bloom, and a novelty in Wurmhea dioica, with pink

74 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

flowers, was secured. A number of micro-fungi were also col- lected. Both birds and insects were scarce, only a few common species of the former being seen. About forty species of plants in bloom were collected.

The hon. librarian reported the receipt of the following donations to the library : — " Bulletin of the Geological Survey of Victoria," No. i, and "Reports of Geological Survey of Victoria, No. i : The Chiltern Goldfield," from the Department of Mines, Victoria ; Joi^rnal of Agriculture, Victoria, vol. ii., part 2 (July, 1903), from Department of Agriculture, Victoria; Agri- cultural Gazette of New South Wales, vol. xiv., part 17 (July, 1903), and "Geological Reports, No. 3 : Kerosene and Shale," from the Department of Mines and Agriculture, Sydney; "A Critical Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus," part 3, and " Forest Flora of New South Wales," part 4, by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Government Botanist of New South Wales, from the author ; " Proceedings of Linnean Society of New South Wales," 1903, part I, from the Society ; " Proceedings of Royal Society of South Australia," vol. xxvii., part i, from the Society ; Minnesota Botanical Sttidies, part 2 (July, 1903); Nature Notes, ]une and July, 1903, from the Selborne Society, London; and Knowledge, July, 1903, from the proprietors.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Mr. D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., mentioned that a Natural History Society had been formed in Perth, Western Australia (with which was incorporated the Mueller Botanical Society), under the title of the West Australian Natural History Society. He desired to move — "That the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria congratulates the West Australian Natural History Society on its formation, and wishes it a successful career."

The motion was seconded by Mr. T. Wisewould, and carried unanimously.

PAPERS READ.

I. By Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A., F.R.S., entitled " Across Australia."

The author, who has made several visits to the centre of Australia, first gave a general account of the geography and physical features of the central portion of the continent, illus- trating his remarks with a fine series of lantern slides of the more striking scenes. Some notes of the zoology and botany met with during his expedition with Mr. F. Gillen to study the habits and customs of the natives in the country north of the Macdonnell Ranges were also given, as well as a brief account of the natives and their habits, each being fully illustrated by lantern slides.

Mr. J. Searle again kindly placed his lantern and services at the disposal of his fellow-members.

THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 75

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

Mr. G. A. Keartland explained, in connection with liis exhibit of specimens of the White-backed Swallow and their eggs, that although these birds are so frail in structure, they tunnel from 2 to 3 feet into the wall of a sandbank to breed. The eggs exhibited were taken from a hole 2 feet 6 inches in the bank of the Finke River, which required over an hour's hard work with a large screw-driver to dig out.

The President drew the attention of members to the Mueller medals exhibited on the table, which are to be awarded by the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science.

EXHIBITS.

By Mr. E. E. Barker, F.R.M.S.— Two nests of living Bull Ants, Myrmecia fortijicata and M. sanguinea.

By Mr. P. C. Cole. — A small ornamented " Churinga" from North-Western Australia, and a pair of Corrobboree Sticks from the Western District, Victoria.

By Miss K. Cowle. — The following fossils from New South Wales : — Spirifer duodecinicostahts, Black Head ; Spirifer convolutus ; Martiniopsis, sp. ; Platychisma, Permo-carboniferous, Black Head ; Terebratula, sp., Permo-carboniferous, Black Head ; Mourlonia pleurotomata, Permo-carboniferous, Black Head ; M. morrisii, Permo-carboniferous, Black Head ; Stenopora, sp., Permo-carboniterous, Black Head ; Fenestella, sp. ; Glossoptens, sp., Permo-carboniferous coal measures, Belambi ; Halysites, sp., Silurian Limestones, at Molong ; Stomatopora, sp. ; petrified wood. New South Wales, and Caulfield, Victoria ; and Tasmanian aboriginal flints.

By Messrs. J. E. Dixon and C. French, jun. — Fungus (Microcera), parasitic on Mussel Scale Insects (Mytilaspis, sp.), on Hymenanthera banskii, Yarra River, near Fairfield Park.

By Mr. C. French, F.L.S. — Butterflies — Morpho rhetenor, Peru; M. aurora, Bolivia ; and 3f. adonis, Amazons — not previously exhibited in Victoria.

By Mr. C. French, jun. — Aboriginal stone tomahawk, measuring 8^ inches long, ploughed up at Warragul, Gippsland; also, a stone found under the skull of an aboriginal, from near Hamilton. These stones are fairly common in the Hamilton district. This specimen is peculiar, being hollowed on both sides ; usually only one side is hollow.

By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Marine shells, Ranella albi-varicosa and It spinosum, from South Sea Islands.

By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — A pair of White-backed Swallows and eggs, from Finke River, Central Australia.

By Mr. A. Mattingley. — An aborginal message-stick, from North-Western Australia.

76 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

By Mr. B. NichoUs, on behalf of Mr. Knight. — Four snakes, including two White-lipped Snakes, Hoplocephalus coronoides, Giinth., from Thornton, Vic.

By Mr. F. M. Reader. — Dried specimens of Erysimum repandum, naturalized and new for Victoria ; and a series of dried mosses from Westland, New Zealand, from the herbarium of and collected by Mr. T. W. Naylor Beckett.

By Mr. A. 0. Thiele. — An Obsidian Bomb, from Balmoral, Vic.

By Mr. H. B. Williamson. — Dried plants, Lepyrodia scariosa, new for Victoria, from the Grampians, January, 1902; Gratlola nana, from Hawkesdale, Vic, 1885, new for S.W. of Victoria; and Rumex pulcher, Linn., introduced from Europe, naturalized in Victoria, from Curdie's River, January, 1903.

[Correction. — The plant exhibited as Xanthosia atkinsoniana (misprinted atkinsonia) recorded in Vict. Nat., xix., p. 136, proves to be a form of Xanthosia dissecta, J. Hooker. — H.B.W.]

After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated.

ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

By Professor Baldwin Spencer, M.A., F.R.S.

(Delivered before Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 1th Sept., 1903.)

[The following is an outline of Prof. Spencer's remarks, delivered vivd voce in explanation of a large series of lantern slides. — Ed. Vict. Nat.\

To many present there will be little new in what I have to tell you to-night, but as in many minds there is a vague uncertainty as to what the centre of Australia is like, I propose, with the aid of the lantern slides, to give you some idea of the appearance of the country passed over by Mr. F. Gilleii and myself during our journey from south to north, which occupied slightly more than twelve months, in 1 901-2.

After a three-days' train journey north from Adelaide the traveller reaches Oodnadatta (688 miles), the present terminus of the proposed transcontinental line. Further travel northwards depends entirely upon the nature of the season. In the central part of the continent you are very liable to meet with bad seasons. In fact, it is sometimes quite impossible to travel with horses, and camels must then be taken.

On our expedition we were able to get right through with horses, of which we had twenty with us — eight for use in the dray, and the rest as riding and pack horses. We sent ahead sup- plies of food, &c., to last a year, to certain depots, and picked these up as we advanced, always carrying a working supply with us in the dray, as well as various articles to barter with the natives. The journey is very monotonous and uninteresting, from a scenic point of view, but there is really no serious difficulty in crossing the continent.

THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST.

Some notes on camel travelling may be interesting. Of course the great advantage of camels is that they can go for so long without water, whilst carrying a supply of this for the travellers. A record of 24 days without water is, I believe, the longest one in Australia. The camels always travel in single file, tied together by a string from the tail of one to the nose of the one following, and so on. An ordinary loading camel only travels about three miles an hour, but a good, well-lrained riding camel is just as pleasant to ride as a good riding horse. In regard to the comfort of riding there is just as much difference between camels as between horses. The camel moves both legs on the one side at the same time, which gives a pleasant ambling motion, and gets along at a rate of about ten miles an hour. A camel when angry is very vicious, and has a happy knack of reserving its breakfast for you, and spitting this out when you come within range. It also contrives by some means or another to force air in behind the uvula so as to form a bladder, which conies out at the side of the mouth. The beast makes a bubbling sound, while the bladder grows larger and larger until it is as big as its head, after which it is gradually withdrawn.

Regarding the physical features of the central area of the Con- tinent, the following are briefly the more important ones. North from Adelaide there runs a range of hills reaching in parts an elevation of nearly 3,000 feet. Its course is at first parallel to the eastern shore of the Spencer Gulf. From the head of this it is continued northwards as the Flinders Range, and then branches off to the north-west, separating the basin of Lake Torrens from that of Lake Eyre, The railway crosses this range into the Lake Eyre basin, running along close to the southernmost point of the lake, where it is actually 39 feet below sea level. From this point the land gradually rises until in the centre there is a plateau 2,000 feet high, forming the higher steppes. Across this plateau run the Macdonnell Ranges, which have the form of a series of parallel, rugged, mainly quartzite, ridges, and stretch almost due east and west for between 300 and 400 miles. The rivers which drain southwards from them into Lake Eyre actually take their rise to the north of the ranges, and cut their way through them by means of deep and often narrow gorges, which afford the only