54 



THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



PAPERS READ. 



1. By Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., entitled, "The Distribution of the 

 Fresh-water Eel in Australia, with Remarks on its Means of 

 Dispersal." 



The author said that in view of the comparatively recent 

 conclusions that the fresh-water eel breeds in the sea, it was 

 somewhat remarkable that our only Australian species was 

 confined to the east and south-east coasts of Australia. It had 

 been recorded from Cape York, the northernmost extremity of 

 Queensland, through New South Wales and Victoria, and into 

 South Australia as far as Lake Bonney. Up to the present no 

 authenticated specimen had been received from the Murray 

 basin, though that river entered the sea only some two hundred 

 miles further north than Lake Bonney. This absence from the 

 Murray basin was very remarkable when we recollect that in 

 Victoria the head waters of the streams flowing to the Murray 

 and direct to the sea were often separated by only a few yards. 

 The presence of eels in isolated swamps and lakes was by many 

 persons considered to be a proof of their breeding in such places, 

 but it was now generally conceded that it was possible for eels in 

 their early life to reach such localities by means of the merest 

 trickle of water, or even across wet grass land. He also 

 mentioned having witnessed many years ago at Buckley's Falls, on 

 the Barwon River, near Geelong, what is known as an " eel-fare," 

 i.e., the ascent of thousands of young eels from the salt water to 

 the fresh, and asked for records of other cases of the kind. 

 Finally, he pointed out the differences in the structure of the 

 mouth in the eel and the lamprey, the latter being found in the 

 Murray River, as well as other streams. 



Mr. A. E. Kitson remarked that when in New Zealand in 

 January last with Mr. E. O. Thiele they had witnessed an 

 " eel-fare " in the River Mataura, South Island, when thousands 

 of young eels were steadily climbing a rocky barrier some .10 or 

 12 feet in height in the face of a strong current. 



Mr. F. VVisewould remarked that fresh-water eels were very 

 numerous in Tasmania. 



Mr. G. A. Keartland stated that at Heidelberg he had noticed 

 an eel some distance from water. 



Mr. J. Shephard said, with reference to the large eels that 

 are occasionally found in the Van Yean water-pipes, that they 

 must have entered the pipes when small, as all the water entering 

 the pipes passes through strainers, which would prevent an eel of 

 any size passing through. 



2. By Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., entitled " A Lizard Mimicking a 

 Poisonous Snake." 



The author exhibited a lizard which he had received from 

 Queensland a little time ago, and which at first glance seemed to 

 agree completely with the description of the young stage of the 



