4 Excursion to Richmond Quarries. [v(^."^xxxvi . 



EXCURSION TO RICHMOND QUARRIES. 



The excursion to Richmond quarries on Saturday, 22nd Feb- 

 ruary, announced for aquatic zoology and geology, was attended 

 by about a dozen members, who were favoured with a pleasant 

 afternoon. It was found that by the cessation of quarrying 

 the holes had become filled with water to a greater depth 

 than usual, and consequently the shallow pools, which were 

 usually so prolific with minute life, had disappeared, and 

 with them the unique alga, Monostroma expansa, West, which 

 has been found nowhere else. A very uncommon and 

 interesting phenomenon, known as plastogamy, was seen in 

 the hehozoan Actinophrys sol, of which many groups of 

 two, and others up to eight in number, were seen uniting. 

 Diatoms were found in myriads, apparently of about six 

 species, including Bacillaria paradoxa, which never fails to 

 excite interest, on account of its extraordinary powers of 

 movement. Among other forms found were the protozoans, 

 Arcella, ^p.. Astasia tricophora, Vorticella, sp., Pyxicola, sp., 

 Vaginicola, sp., Urocentrum turbo, and Trachelocera olor. Among 

 the rotifers were Floscularia ornata, Pterodina patina, Rotifer 

 vulgaris, and Brachionus, sp. Entomostraca were conspicuous 

 by their absence. Those who were interested in the geology of 

 the locality were somewhat disappointed to find that on 

 the side nearest the railway quantities of rubbish are 

 being deposited with the view of in time filling up the 

 excavations. The quarries nearer the Yarra are, however, 

 still fruitful of interest to the observer, and an effort 

 should be made rather to beautify them for the sake of the 

 geological features which they possess. To the geologist the 

 basaltic flow exhibits several instructive features, the result of 

 variable cooling, tabular blocks, columns, and concentric masses 

 being easily apparent, whilst on the face of the quarries the 

 weathering effects of atmospheric and chemical agencies are seen 

 in the gradual passage of dense basalt upward to the derived 

 clay or bleached product of disintegration. A pleasing feature 

 of the quarries was the number of aquatic birds in the water, 

 seemingly quite at home. About a dozen Black Swans and a 

 small flock of Australian Coots swam about. Several Black and 

 one or two Black and White Cormorants flew restlessly from place 

 to place. Other birds were a Tippet Grebe and a Little Grebe, 

 ceaselessly diving and reappearing, while a Silver Gull completed 

 the feathered company. The birds seemed by their habits to be 

 unmolested. If the quarries are falling into disuse, as appears 

 to be the case, those adjoining the river, containing a consider- 

 able expanse of water, could with advantage be reserved for 

 recreative purposes and as a sanctuary for water birds. — 

 J. Stickland, J. Wilcox, and C. Daley. 



