Vol. XXVTII. 



1 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 171 



By Mr. C. J. (ial)riel. — Rare Victorian mutton-fish shell- 

 Haliotis conicopora. Pcron, from Flinders, with the commoner 

 species, H. ncBvosa, Martyn. for comparison. 



By Dr. T. S. Hall. M.A. — A gigantic fossil echinoid, Liutlna 

 moorahoolensis, Pritchard, from Batesford, near Geelong. 



By Mr. J. Searle. — Drawings of new species of Copepoda. 

 in illustration of paper : also living specimens of Boeckella, 

 Daphnia, &c. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



EXCURSION TO FAIRFIELD. 



The selection of Fairfield for a pond-life excursion for Saturday, 

 9th December, was evidently not popular with the dozen 

 or so enthusiasts who usually attend such excursions, for only 

 three members accompanied the leader on that day. We had, 

 however, a very pleasant afternoon, and succeeded in recording 

 a very fair variety of pond-dwellers. Taking train to Alphing- 

 ton, we proceeded along Yarra-street towards the river, visiting 

 several ponds on that side of the stream, and then, crossing 

 by the Outer Circle railway bridge, continued our investigations 

 on the Kew side. The ponds were found to be in good con- 

 dition, and aquatic life (including insect larvae) very plentiful. 

 Entomostraca were very numerous, while some fine clusters of 

 the rotifer Megalotrochus were taken from the branches of 

 Nitella and other pond weeds. Colonies of Vorticella, of 

 enormous size, were common, and a few specimens of the blind 

 isopod, Janirella piisilla, and the amphipod, Chiltonia, were 

 taken. In addition, the following species have been identified : 

 — Crustacea. — Daphnia carinaia (very numerous), Seinocephalns 

 gibhosits, Monia, sp., Cypridopsis, sp., Boeckella symmetrica, 

 B. mimita, B. ohlonga, Cyclops leiickarli. C. albidus, and 

 Attheyella australica. Rotifera. — Megalotrochus albo-flavicans, 

 Hydratina senla, Brachionifi, sp., and what was thought to be 

 Pedalion niiriim, owing to its erratic mode of progressing 

 through the water ; but on reaching home the specimen could 

 not be found, so its identification is doubtful. Hydra were not 

 numerous, but two species of Hydrachnia were noted. 

 Planarians were very numerous, and a few Mollusca were also 

 secured. — J. Searle. 



Nature Notes. — The weekly page of " Nature Notes " in 

 Every Saturday (Melbourne) appears to maintain its popularity. 

 The information is nearly always of a useful character, and, 

 being illustrated, though sometimes rather roughly, is all the 

 more valuable and easily understood. Those lovely native 

 shrubs, the prostantheras. or mint-bushes, were dealt with last 

 week, and their cultivation in our gardens urged. 



