26 Excursion to Lake Corangamiie and District. rvoT"^'xxx'v 



conclusion in regard to the relative prevalence of the different 

 forms. About an hour's work sufficed to fill the receptacles 

 provided, and the party returned to the shore. Before leaving 

 the botanist collected on the marshy land near the springs, 

 securing a number of aquatic plants. On Tuesday morning 

 another visit was made to Lake Colac. The weather was 

 unfavourable, the water being rough, but material was secured 

 in the hope of bringing it while still living to Melbourne, but 

 this was not a success, as all the more delicate animals had 

 disappeared when examined on arrival. The return to town 

 was made in the afternoon, and the members separated with 

 the feeling of having spent a profitable time. The accom- 

 panying map of the locality, kindly drawn by Mr. Hardy, shows 

 the tracks taken during the excursion. The appended reports 

 do not represent the full results of the collecting, as further 

 work is necessary to deal with the material gathered, and it 

 is very probable that several new species will be established. 



Crustacea. — ^By J. Searle. 



Between Red Rock, Coragulac Hill, and Lake Corangamite 

 there is a group of small lakes of a very interesting character. 

 Some are strongly mineralized, while others adjoining them 

 are fresh. They are formed at the bottom of steep declivities, 

 and their investigation proved extremely strenuous, as one 

 had to be continually climbing the steep hills, varying from 

 fifty to two hundred feet in height, and then clambering down 

 the other side to another lakelet. The micro-fauna of the 

 lakes was as various as the lakes themselves. At the foot of 

 Coragulac Hill are three lakes, known locally as " The Basins." 

 The lake on the eastern side of the hill is Lake Coragulac, and 

 its water is fresh enough for domestic purposes. On the 

 western side is Lake Werowra, or the Red Lake, as it is known 

 locally ; its water is brick-red in colour, thick, and " soupy." 

 This is caused by an alga of the Anabcena or Nostoc group, 

 consisting of short, beaded filaments. Animal life appeared to be 

 totally absent from this lake, though in a small pool formed by a 

 fresh-water spring a few feet from the lake a few water-beetles 

 were captured, and, fioating on the surface of the water, the pupal 

 skins of a species of Chironomous were noted. In Lake Werowra, 

 a few feet from the eastern shore, is a pile of scoriaccous rocks 

 forming an islet. On these rocks were growing lichens of the 

 most brilliant colours. The third lakelet has no official name, 

 but is known as the Blue Lake. It is perfectly circular, and 

 the local name of " The Basin " fits it exactly. Hand-netting 

 proved that it was densely crowded with rotifers of two or 

 three species and a few small worms, not yet identified, that 

 wriggled along the surface skin of the water ; no other 



