62 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



to be composed of newly-hatched caterpillars in Indian file, 

 each having its head close up to the tail of its forerunner, and the 

 whole line moving simultaneously with mathematical precision. 

 The Noctuae next claimed the author's notice. This group having 

 developed a taste for lettuce and green peas is very obnoxious to 

 the agriculturist. Cannibalistic tendencies also exist amongst the 

 larvae, and encounters take place, which generally end in leaving 

 one master of the situation — a true case of survival of the fittest. 

 Anyone anxious to obtain specimens of the group may easily do 

 so by a search amongst the pea pods and lettuce delivered in 

 Melbourne and suburbs. Details of the effort to clear up the 

 mystery surrounding the classification of the ermine moths 

 were also given. At the present they are divided into two species 

 — light and dark forms — (Spilosoma obliqua and S. fulvohirta). 

 Observation extending from October to August upon one set of 

 ova obtained from a light form gave specimens of both light and 

 dark forms (8 per cent, of the latter), whilst larvae of the dark form 

 only produced the dark form, thus almost marking it out as a 

 distinct species. The paper concluded by a short description of 

 the Victorian Lepidoptera as contrasted with those of Europe, 

 summer here taking the place of the winter of colder latitudes. 

 Excellent coloured illustrations, drawn from life by the author, 

 and shown by Mr. J. Searle, added considerably to the interest of 

 the paper. Professor Spencer and Messrs. F. G. A. Barnard and 

 G. A. Keartland spoke in complimentary terms of Mr. Anderson's 

 work. 



A short paper was then read by Mr. T. S. Hart, M.A., on "The 

 Kerrie Conglomerates." Two sections — one in Riddell's Creek 

 and another on the neighbouring range, at a height respectively 

 of 1,240 ft. and 2,000 ft. — were described in detail. The con- 

 glomerate consists of a hard, cemented mass of pebbles of a grey 

 sub-crystalline and brown micaceous sandstone, with a little 

 quartz, the pebbles being for the most part rounded, with many of 

 the smaller ones angular. Joints intersect the deposits, which, 

 acting as aids to weathering, have materially influenced the 

 natural features of the hills and valleys. Owing to the absence of 

 organic remains it is difficult to set down the formation to any 

 particular age. Further examination is desirable, not only to 

 determine the direction of the range from which the conglomerate 

 was derived, and its relation to the granite and trap rocks of the 

 vicinity, but also to establish its relation to the conglomerates of 

 more northern localities. Messrs. F. G. A. Barnard and J. 

 Shephard spoke upon the paper. 



MEETING FOR PRACTICAL WORK. 



Professor Spencer called attention to the fact that a special 

 evening, 22nd August, had been set apart for general practical 



