THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



in the covered cab awaiting us (after draining the water off the 

 seats) and started on our eleven-mile drive through a heavy 

 driving rain, with the water forcing itself in through every crevice 

 and saturating everything inside. The roads were in many 

 places completely covered in water, while the creeks which we 

 passed on our way were transformed into rushing torrents. 

 Fortunately it had been decided to camp in an empty house, 

 which had been secured for us through the kind services of our 

 fellow-member, Mr. S. W. Fulton, in preference to living under 

 canvas, and this forethought was greatly appreciated under the 

 circumstances. On reaching our destination a start was 

 immediately made to make things comfortable. With the 

 assistance of a few tools, some stray pieces of timber, and a door, 

 a table and seats were soon constructed, and by nightfall every- 

 thing was in readiness for our party, who we were trying to 

 persuade ourselves would not consist of our two selves only. 

 However, we determined to make the most of our time during 

 our stay, and notwithstanding the storm, which threatened to 

 leave us roofless, we had a good night's rest. Rising early on 

 Good Friday morning we were much relieved to find the rain 

 had ceased, and there was a prospect of fine weather after all, 

 which gave us an opportunity to view the surrounding country. 



Shoreham is a small farming district situated on Western Port 

 Bay, about 53 miles S.E. of Melbourne, and is reached by train to 

 Bittern, 42 miles, thence by coach about 1 1 miles along the main 

 road to Flinders. The spot secured for our camp was most 

 happily chosen, the house, containing 8 or 9 rooms, being situated 

 on the side of a steep hill immediately overlooking and com- 

 manding a beautiful view of the bay, showing Phillip Island just 

 opposite, with French Island away to the left, while standing out 

 prominently at the entrance to the western passage to the bay, 

 some 4 miles to the right, was West Head. The Nobbys and 

 Seal Rocks were plainly to be seen off the western point of Phillip 

 Island, while the position of Cape Woolamai could just be made 

 out away to the south-east. 



Two or three minutes' walk down the hill brought us on to a broad 

 sandy beach near the jetty, on either side of which was exposed 

 at low water a broad low-lying reef, running out into the bay for a 

 considerable distance. Here we decided to devote as much of our 

 time as the tide would allow us, and, after a few minutes' work 

 among the loose boulders, were delighted with the prospect of 

 having a really good time among the innumerable marine animals 

 which were to be found under the loose rocks and in the small 

 pools left by the receding tide. 



Among the first specimens collected were the broad, flat marine 



Planarians, which occurred plentifully on the under side of the 



rocks near the shore, while the common speckled crab, Chas- 



