Proceed I nr/.'i of the Royal Socicfij of Victoria. 209 



Dr. Dkndy said it seemed strange it did not form permanent 

 burrows. It could hardly be conceived that the animal was 

 blind, uiiless it lived underground. 



Professor Spencer said the animal apparently lived in sandy 

 soil, in which it would be hard to form permanent burrows. 



A paper, " Notes on the Alkaloids of Strychnos psilosperma," 

 by Professor Kennie, M.A., D. 8c., and G. Goydek, Jun., F.C.S., 

 was tlien read by the Secretary, Professor Spencer. 



Professor W. C Kerxot then read some "Notes on the Recent 

 Flood on the Yarra." 



Mr. W. P. Steane thouglit that although it might be advisal)le 

 to improve the portions of the river referred to by Professor 

 Kcrnot, it certainly would not be desirable to improve it above 

 the Johnston Street Bridge. In fact it would be far better to 

 create rather than to reduce obstructions on the upper reaches of 

 the river. To remove obstructions would have the effect of 

 increasing the velocity of tlie water, and improvements on the 

 upper portion of the ri\'er would have tlie effect of flooding 

 Melbourne more seriously. He therefore thought that improve- 

 ments sliould be made only in localities likely to be flooded, and 

 that where the amount of damage would be inconsidei-able, the 

 obstructions should be allowed to remain. Professor Kernot had 

 put down the rainfall in Melbourne at three inches. He had 

 been informed that at the head of the Yarra it was seven or 

 eight inches. If this water were allowed to run down freely, it 

 would have the effect of flooding Melbourne even more seriously 

 than had been the case. He thought that in 1863 the water had 

 taken flfty hours after leaving the head of the Yarra to reach 

 Melbourne. The more its velocity could be impeded, tlie less 

 danger would there be of a flood. Therefore nothing should be 

 attempted beyond tlie improvements at the places pointed out by 

 Pi'ofessor Kernot. 



Mr. R. G. Haig said he had noticed at the time of the flood, 

 when the water was flowing over the road on the south side of 

 Queen's Bridge, that on the south side of the woodwork of the 

 wharf, the water was level with the surface, while in the river, 

 only a few feet north of this point, the water was nearly a foot 

 below the woodwork. In fact, the water was flowing over tlie 

 road on the south side of Queen's Bridge at about a foot higlier 

 level than the river adjoining. Would that be caused by the 

 untinished state of the river between Queen's Bridge and Prince's 

 Bridge ? 



Professor Kernot replied that Mr. Haig's observation was 

 perfectly correct. At 2 p.m. on the day of the flood, the water 

 in Normanby Road was as near as possible level with the South 



