20 



THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



[Vol. XXVI. 



LAMELLIBR.A.NCHIATA. 



Myodora albida, T. - IVds. 



Anatina creccina, Rve. 



Mactra jacUsoniensis, E. A. Smith 



Gari zonalis, Lam. 



Chione peronii, Lam. 



Montacuta .semiradiata, Tate 

 Mylitta tasmanica, T. - Wds 

 Lissarca rhomboidalis, Verco 

 Limopsis tenisoni, T. - Wds. 



— J. Gabriel. 



EXCURSION TO VVILLIAMSTOWN AND ALTONA BAY. 

 A FAIR number of members met at Flinders-street station on Satur- 

 day, 24th April, and proceeded by train to North Williamstown, 

 where, on gathering together, we found our party numbered 18, 

 and comfortably filled the drag which was in waiting to convey 

 us to our destination. The Kororoit Creek road, along which we 

 proceeded as far as the Williamstown Racecourse, is somewhat 

 uninteresting, and the innovation of driving instead of walking the 

 distance, some two and a half miles, was voted a great improve- 

 ment. Here we halted and examined the newer basalt and 

 marine shell-beds of the . locality, and discussed their probable 

 origin. However, there is no necessity to enter into details here, 

 as I am dealing fully with the question in a separate paper. 

 Members were able, however to secure specimens for after 

 examination, ^^''e then drove on some two or three miles to the 

 Altona Bay estate, and viewed the location of the sand-pits, the 

 basalt quarry, and the new brick shaft of the Altona Bay Coal 

 Company. This shaft is thirteen feet in diameter, and is being 

 put down by a new company to test the value of the large deposit 

 of brown coal which has been proved to exist beneath the basalt 

 of this area. Underneath the basalt, which varies from about 25 

 to 60 feet in thickness, several feet of fossiliferous clays of Bal- 

 combian or Eocene age intervene before the brown coal occurs. 

 Good specimens of fossils from this formation, excavated when 

 sinking a previous shaft, were also secured. As the work 

 advances it will be advantageous to again visit the locality. We 

 then drove back to North Williamstown, having spent a pleasant, 

 and I think profitable, afternoon. — G. B. Pritchard. 



THE RECENT SHELL-BEDS OF WILLLAMSTOWN. 

 By G. B. Pritchard, B.Sc, F.G.S. 

 (Read be/ore the Field Naturalists' Gluh of Victoria, lOth May, 1909.) 



In order to reach the beds in question it is best to go by rail to 

 the North Williamstown railway station and proceed westerly 

 past the Rifle Ranges to the neighbourhood of the Williamstown 

 Racecourse. Upon reaching the Racecourse station, adjoining 

 the Kororoit Creek, it will be noticed that the railway line is 

 continued for some distance further, and this represents the 

 remnant of the old Altona Bay line. 



The Kororoit Creek has a shallow course, which meanders 



