42 THB VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



that Linstowia is older than the marsupial genera, it is older than 

 the families, and it seems probable even that it is older than the 

 sub-orders Diprotodontia and Polyprotodontia, into which the 

 marsupials are divided. It is likely then that the genus antedates 

 tertiary times, and ranges back into the mesozoic period. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. C. L. Barrett. — A nest of the common Ring-tailed 

 Opossum, Pseudochirus peregrimis, taken recently at Black Rock. 



By Mr. C. Coles. — A specimen of Bush Rat from Whittlesea. 



By Mr. C. J. Gabriel. — Specimens of the following marine 

 shells : — Meretrix planatella and Crassatella kingicola, from 

 Western Port, Victoria ; and Murex brassica, M. radix, M. 

 bicolor, and M. regius, from North America. 



By Mr. J. F. Haase. — Microscopical sections of leaf and wood 

 of Eucalyptus amygdalina. 



By Mr. A. Mattingley. — A specimen of an Ophiuroid — 

 Ophioinyxa australis — from Western Port, Victoria. 



By Mr. W. Scott. — An early map of Victoria, date about i860, 

 showing Mt. Leichardt in Australian Alps. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



EXCURSION TO YARRA GLEN. 



Only a small party left town by the early train on Easter 

 Saturday, 2nd April, for Yarra Glen, distant some 30 miles, on 

 the Healesville line. The locality was almost a new one for a 

 Club excursion, and had been chosen for the good opportunities 

 it afforded to the pond-life worker, it being the off season for 

 almost all other branches. A reedy swamp close to the River 

 Yarra was first visited, and the microscopists were soon at work. 

 The shrubs along the river and its backwaters afforded shelter 

 for numerous individuals of the Blue Wren, Malurus cyaneus, 

 the Black and White Fantail, Rhipidura tricolor, the White- 

 shafted Fantail, R. albiscapa, and the Little Tit, Acanthiza nana. 

 Hundreds of the introduced Starlings, Stemiis vulgaris, were 

 feeding hereabouts on the marshy ground, rising in perfect clouds 

 at our approach. The large eucalypts, acacias, &c., bordering 

 the stream were almost destitute of insect life. Two species of 

 frogs, Hyla ewingii, Dum. and Bibr., and Pseudophryne semi- 

 mar morata, Lucas, were found concealed under the bark and 

 amongst the tussocky grass. Leaving the pond-life workers here, 

 the rest of the party recrossed the river and ascended the hills 

 beyond the township. Numerous logs were turned over, and 

 loose bark removed from the trees, but insects were scarce. The 

 Coleoptera taken belonged principally to the families Carabidse, 

 Curculionidae, and Elateridae, among the latter being Lacon 



