Il6 Exctirsion to Eltham and St. Helena. [vj["xxxvi 



nests of the Striated Tits of this district are usually built of 

 shredded stringybark and cobwebs and lined internally with 

 feathers. The lesson of the excursion was that even so close 

 to the city — sixteen miles — there is still scope for the study 

 of ornithology, and if residents in localities accessible for a day's 

 or half-day's visit could be induced to provide a similar outing, 

 very much more impetus would be given to this interesting 

 branch of natural history by city dwellers and lovers of our 

 native fauna. — E. S. Anthony. 



EXCURSION TO MONT ALBERT AND BALWYN. 



A PARTY of about eighteen, including several members of the 

 Microscopical Society, met at Mont Albert station on Saturday 

 afternoon, ist November, for a ramble round the district. After 

 examining the Tertiary outliers of Kalimnan sands on the Reser- 

 voir Hill (420 feet), and securing samples of the sand for washing 

 out heavy minerals, we descended Elgar-road toM'ards the Surrej- 

 Dive, noting the conduit for surface and subterranean water from 

 the heights, which keeps the ponds and brick-pit water-hole 

 continuously supplied. Pond-hunters were soon busy. The 

 first dip of the net showed that that variable species of 

 Cladocera, Daphnia carinata, was present in great numbers,' 

 and, as is commonly the case when ponds are contaminated 

 with sewage, nearly every specimen was densely covered with 

 a parasitic growth — probably an algae — carapace, antennae, and 

 limbs all being covered wdth the parasite. The other Cladocera 

 noted were Bosmina and Alona. The Copepods, Bceckella 

 ohlonga and Cyclops alhidus, also occurred. The only Ostracod 

 noted was Cypridopsis minna. Some beautiful Stentors w^ere 

 seen, also numerous Diatoms. The deep, clear water in the 

 Surrey Dive was a pleasant contrast to the pond we had just 

 left, and we found its water swarming with that elegant little 

 Copepod, Briinella ampulla, first described by one of the 

 leaders from the Yan Yean Reservoir. Less numerous was a 

 Rotifer, Pedalion, sp., while near the banks of the Dive 

 Cypridopsis minna was in evidence. Leaving the Surrey Dive 

 and crossing the Box Hill railway line, we descended to the 

 White Horse-road and began our w^alk towards the Mont Albert 

 tram terminus, noting on the way the great basin of the 

 Koonung Creek and the higher and shallower valleys of the 

 W. Creek, divided by the watershed at Union-road. Steps 

 were then turned westward to Mr. Maling's ground, where, at 

 the sides of a large pond in an old quarry, the aquatic-life 

 students were again busy. Here we found Ottclia ovalifolia 

 and an introduced N^^mphaea growing in patches at intervals 

 around the pool. Owing to the steepness of the banks at the 

 place where tlic latter grew, its large, round leaves were out 



