M 



l^^j"^'] Excursion to Lily dale Quarry. 173 



and other forms, some perforated by " Caunopora " tubes. 

 The nature of these latter is still a matter of doubt. Perhaps 

 the best explanation is that they represent the corallites of a 

 form allied to Aiilopora, whicli lived commensally with the 

 stromatoporoid and became enveloped in its stony skeleton. 

 Crinoids. — Numerous joints and stem ossicles. Gasteropods.— 

 Fragments of Euomphalus northi, Eth. iil., sp. Some inter- 

 esting points were raised and discussed, such as the relation of 

 the dolomitization to the bedding layers ; the immunity of 

 corals, in certain cases, to dolomitization, perhaps owing to 

 " fixation " by bitumen from the organism ; the presence and 

 significance of ripple-marks, several good examples of which 

 were seen on the south-eastern face of the quarry ; and the 

 sphseroidal structure of the basalt consequent upon flowing 

 over swampy -ground as evidenced by the section seen in the 

 quarry. The party then walked to the top of the hill to 

 examine the quartzites and to satisfy themselves as to its 

 original sandy nature. Crossing the line by a bridge, the 

 depression or tuff-cone on the Melbourne road was next visited, 

 where the former vegetable garden in its centre is now trans- 

 formed into a small orchard. Although some doubt has at 

 various times been expressed by geologists as to the nature of 

 this depression at Crater Hill, this point can be easily settled 

 by examining the red beds on the adjoining road-cutting, 

 which are seen to contain adventitious pellets such as would 

 certainly be absent from a bed of lava decomposed in situ. 

 A coccus pest, determined by Mr. F. P. Spry as Lccanitim 

 hesperidmn, L., sp., was found covering the younger twigs of 

 the neighbouring hedge of Osage Orange, which somewhat 

 marred its usually rich foliage at this season. The afternoon 

 proved to be pleasant and profitable, and the return to the 

 station was made in good time to catch the 5.35 train to town, 

 a few members remaining for tea and a later train. — F. 

 Chapman. 



[Reports of previous visits to the Cave Hill Quarry will be 

 found in the Naturalist for May, igog (xxvi., p. 7), and Novem- 

 ber, igi4 (xxxi., p. loi). — Ed. Vict. Nat.] 



EXCURSION TO TOOLANGI. 



This excursion was arranged to extend from Saturday, 26th 

 January, to Monday, 28th, so as to include the Foundation Day 

 holiday on the latter date. We were promised the hottest day 

 for sixty years on the Saturday, owing to the fact that the 

 sun would be nearer the earth on that day than it had been 

 at any time during that period ; however, though it certainly 

 was a hot day, it did not prove exceptionally so, and the heat 



