124 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXV. 



Munier Chalmas. This has since been clearly shown to exist in 

 specimens occurring in considerable numbers at the present day 

 on the Barrier Reef, at Cairns Reef, Queensland. It has a 

 special interest for members of the Club, since the examples were 

 collected by Mr. C. Hedley and our fellow-member, Mr. J- 

 Gabriel.* 



Plastogamy in the Foraminifera was also briefly described as 

 the union of two or more tests of similar species, observed in such 

 genera as Discorhina, Patellina, Textiilaria, and Bulimina. The 

 apertural surfaces of the tests come into contact, and the contents 

 flow out and intermix. Following upon this the nuclei break up, 

 without subsequent fusion, and the newly-formed nuclei gather 

 around themselves a zone of cytoplasm. These young forms 

 then secrete a shelly investment, comparable to the megalosphere, 

 separate, and leave the old parent shell perfectly empty. This 

 process only takes place, according to Schaudinn's observations, 

 when both individuals have their nuclei in the same phase or 

 condition. 



Mr. O. A. Sayce congratulated the lecturer on the interesting 

 nature of his remarks, and Mr. F. G. A. Barnard expressed his 

 surprise at the possibility of cutting sections of such delicate 

 objects as foraminifera. 



EXHIBITS. 



By Mr. F. Chapman, A.L.S., F.R.M.S.— Nummulites from the 

 Eocene, to illustrate dimorphism ; dimorphic Alveolinae, and 

 Orhitolites complanata with brood cells, from the Great Barrier 

 Reef, North Queensland, collected by Mr. J. Gabriel ; models of 

 Foraminifera, by Reuss and Fritsch, in illustration of lecture. 



By Mrs. Cudmore. — Quandongs (fruit of Santalum acumina- 

 tum) from Avoca station, Wentworth, N.S.W. 



By Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., F.R.M.S.— Desmids, Closterium 

 lanceolatum, Kutzing, collected from a rock pool in the You 

 Yangs by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard on the recent excursion. 



By Mr. G. A. Keartland. — Black-eared Cuckoo, Misocalius 

 palliolatus, Lath., from Melton, and egg of same species taken 

 at Oakleigh. 



By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S. — Root of elm which had grown 

 through and almost enclosed the neck of a bottle, found while 

 excavating the National Museum grounds. 



By Mr. C. Oke. — Insects collected during excursion to Plenty 

 Ranges. 



By Mr. J. Shephard. — Flowering spike of Grass-tree, 

 Xantliorrhcea australis, about six feet in length, from the 

 Wimmera. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



* Sec Jourii. Roy. Micr. Soc, Lond., 1908, p. 151. 



