50 Field Naturalists Cluh — Proceedings. [^"^ji,i^^'* 



frequent the hollows of logs and tree-trunks, or in open country 

 the crevices of rocks. Stone walls are favourite hiding-places, 

 no doubt on account of the secure shelter they afford. They are 

 easily distinguished from the ordinary house-rat when running 

 about on account of their rufous-grey colour, sometimes of a 

 yellowish tint. The limbs and feet especially being of a dull 

 yellowish shade, there is no difficulty in identifying the animal. 

 It has a wide distribution, and is exceedingly active, ruHning 

 very quickly for short distances, and it is remarkable how 

 easily they can hide in a small crack or fissure in a tree, which 

 apparently seemed too small to accommodate them. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard. — Zeolites, &c.. from Clifton Hill 

 Quarry excursion. 



By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Marine shells found on south-west 

 corner of Coode Island, viz. : — Cytherea kingii, Gray, Chione 

 nitida, 0. and G., C. sirigosa. Lam., Spisula parva. Petit, 

 Area trapezia, Desh., Nassa lahecula, A. Ad., and Natica 

 conica, Lam. ; also the following shells from an excavation on 

 the island : — Tellina deltoidalis. Lam., Pectcn medius. Lam., 

 Mytilus planulatiis, Lam., Solen vaginoides, Lam.; Trophon 

 paivce, Crosse, and Diloma odontis. Wood. 



By Mr. F. Pitcher. — Remarkable growth of Bathurst Burr, 

 Xanthosium spinosum, L., from basalt near Melbourne ; also 

 fresh specimens of the introduced weed Euphorbia pephis, L., 

 the Petty Spurge, a native of Europe, Western Asia, and Africa, 

 referred to in the current Naturalist. 



By Mr. P. R. H. St. John. — Specimens of " Blue Peppermint 

 Gum," Eucalyptus dives, Schauer. collected about three miles 

 west of Mount Blackwood, 2gth May, igii. 



By Mr. J. R. Tovey. — Specimens of Globe Chamomile, Matri- 

 caria globifera, Fen^l., Mesembryanthemum angidatum, Thunb., 

 and Tetragona decumbens, Mill., all natives of South Africa, 

 collected at Coode Island : also of Solanum elceagnifolium, Cav., 

 from tropical America, collected in railway reserve. North 

 Melbourne. 



By Mr. H. B. Williamson. — Photographs of palms at Cabbage- 

 tree Creek in illustration of paper. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



The many friends of the late Mr. 0. A. Sayce will' regret to 

 learn that his widow passed away on the 24th June, just eight 

 weeks after her husband's death. Her death was to a great 

 extent due to the shock occasioned by the loss of her husband. 



