64 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



stream of water passed through, carrying the animals to the 

 muslin screen. From time to time the glass tube was detached, 

 and the captures, with as much water as desired, poured into 

 jars. In use it was found that the most minute objects were 

 readily secured by this contrivance, which was slightly modified 

 by Mr. Shephard after a description by Dr. Giles in " Science 

 Gossip for 1886," page 52. 



The deeper water did not yield very satisfactory results either 

 for dredging or trawling, so a turn was made for home. On 

 reaching shallower water larval forms were in abundance, but 

 time did not permit of extended operations, and as the land party 

 were awaiting our return we reluctantly put in to shore. 



Once at home the microscope revealed a good many interest- 

 ing forms, amongst which may be mentioned some three species 

 of Medusse, echinoderm larvae, crustacean larvae, fish ova, and a 

 Radiolarian. Two small specimens of Hippocampus were also 

 secured, and, taken altogether, the trip was indicative of what can 

 be done in this direction by members of the Club. — W. Fielder. 



EXCURSION TO MERRI CREEK, COBURG. 



The excursion to the Merri Creek, Coburg, for geology, on 

 Saturday, 24th April, had the misfortune to fall on an afternoon 

 which had been preceded by a wet morning, the afternoon threat- 

 ening a repetition of the morning's rain, consequently the party 

 which met at Coburg railway station was rather small. However, 

 we decided to carry out the afternoon's programme, and made 

 a start towards the creek, which we struck a little to the south-east 

 of the Deanery. The basalt shown in the creek, hereabouts, is 

 of a massive character, the upper parts exhibiting a decided 

 tendency towards stratified structure; and it occupies a depression 

 in the Upper Silurian rocks, probably caused by their erosion or 

 denudation previous to its deposition. The Silurian rocks are 

 still observed to bound the basalt a little lower down the creek. 

 The dip, strike, and general characters of the Silurian rocks were 

 noted, but no fossils were, however, observed in them. Con- 

 tinuing along the course of the creek to near the Newlands Bridge, 

 where the basalt again reposes on what was, at the time of its 

 outflow, surface soil, it was observed that this soil had assumed 

 a columnar form for a depth of from a few inches to two feet on 

 the under surface of the basalt flow, and this was observed to be 

 continuous for several yards — indeed, as far as the undisturbed 

 stratum was seen. These miniature columns were found to be 

 approximately vertical, and about the size of an ordinary writing 

 pencil, having four and five sides. From here, the party pro- 

 ceeded to the east of the boundary wall of the Pentridge Stockade, 

 along the course of the creek, where an excellent example of the 



