'^ll^l'] Field Naturalisis' Club — Proceedings. 163 



The author referred to this formation as being very rapid 

 in 1919, owing to the Hght rainfall and the abnormal evapo- 

 ration. The springs are, as a result, highly charged with lime, 

 and, the water flowing over a mass of moss, roots, and other 

 plants, is quickly evaporated, leaving the organic matter coated 

 and cemented with the porous limestone. 



By Mr. J. W. Audas, F.L.S., entitled "Through the Murra 

 Murra Country (Western Grampians)." 



The author described a visit to the Western Grampians in 

 company with Mr. C. D'Alton. The bird and animal life were 

 mentioned as very abundant and the flowers in profusion. 

 Fine forests of Red Gum, Messmate, and Stringybark were 

 traversed, the beauty of the scenery being emphasized. Fifty- 

 one additional plants had been added to the list of the Gram- 

 pians flora by his various trips in the district. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., asked, in reference to an inquiry 

 from the Western District, whether Black Swans had ever 

 been found destructive to grass in the vicinity of lakes and 

 watercourses. 



Mr. C. Daley, B.A., remembered that at Sale complaints 

 were made that the Swans did such damage on th*e shores of 

 Lake W^ellington. 



The president referred to a Bald-Coot in the Botanic Gardens 

 holding biscuits in its toes and eating them as a Cockatoo 

 would do. 



Mr. P. R. H. St. John confirmed the occurrence. 



Mr. J. Gabriel remarked that the birds at the Botanic Gardens 

 were different to any other birds in the world. There, also, the 

 Black Ducks were seen walking among the visitors, and Brush 

 Wattle-birds were noticed taking sugar out of the sugar-basins 

 on the tea-house tables. He was not surprised at anything 

 unusual in the ways of the birds at the Gardens. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Various types of pebbles from 

 Djerriwarrh Creek, Melton, collected at excursion on 6th March. 



By Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S. — Specimens of travertin 

 encrusting mint, water-cress, sheoke, and eucalyptus leaves, 

 from Oaky and Ravenswood Creeks, near Yass, New South 

 Wales, collected by Mr. A. J. Shearsby, F.R.M.S., in illustration 

 of paper ; also nest of Ring-tailed Possum, Pseitdochirus 

 ■peregrimis , Badd., found on cutting down a Sugar Gum at 

 Balwyn. 



By Mr. C. Cox. — Fry of Galaxias (?), apparently diseased, 

 from Lake Nagambie. 



