74 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Mr. Frost explained that he had visited Mitcham in company 

 with the hon. secretary on the previous day, and on inquiry they 

 had found the complaint to be founded only on the non-appear- 

 ance of a small crop of maize some three years ago. This was 

 put down to the Magpies, but the evidence is discounted by the 

 fact that the soil for miles round is too poor for crops ofany 

 description. 



Mr. A. Coles stated that magpies occasionally eat grain, and 

 that large numbers were being killed by the poisoned wheat laid for 

 rabbits ; the stomach of one containing several grains of wheat was 

 exhibited by him at the July meeting of the Club. 



The discussion was all in favour of the continued protection of 

 the birds, as any slight damage is more than compensated for by 

 the immense amount of good done in destroying insect pests. 



EXHIBITION OF SPECIMENS. 



The following were the principal exhibits of the evening : — By 

 Mr. F. Barnard. — Microscopical Slides of Sponge Spicules and 

 Foraminifera, from Newport coal shaft. By Mr. A. Coles. — 

 Sheet of 101 eggs of the insectivorous Birds of Victoria, hand- 

 painted in life colours, suitable for State schools. By Mr. C. 

 French, jun. — Pair Mallee Hen eggs, also abnormal egg of same, 

 collected in the Wimmera. By Mr. J. Gabriel. — Eggs of the Great 

 Skua (Stercorarius antarcticus) from Kerguelen Islands ; the birds 

 are occasional visitors to Victorian waters. By Mr. T. A. 

 Masters. — Specimens of Orchid Pterostylis longifolia. By Mr. 

 G. J. Page. — Microscopic Slides of Foraminifera from Port 

 Phillip Bay, transparent and opaque, and from coal shaft near 

 Williamstown, opaque. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



THE VOLCANIC ROCKS OF THE MELBOURNE 

 DISTRICT. 



By T. S. Hart, M.A. 

 (Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, IZth 

 March, 1894J 

 The prevailing rock formation of the country to the north and 

 north-east of Melbourne for some distance is volcanic, forming 

 extensive plains from the Plenty River and the upper parts of the 

 Merri Creek and Deep Creek, in a south-westerly direction. 

 They are bounded by and occupy hollows in the Palaeozoic rocks, 

 spurs of which reach down into the upper parts of the plains, but 

 in the lower parts they are completely covered, except a few small 

 areas where they reach a higher level or where the streams have 

 cut through the basalt. The underlying rocks also include 

 extensive deposits of Tertiary age in the lower parts, frequently 



