1 86 Excursion to Kew. [^"^Feb^^'' 



In addition to some of the shrubs already mentioned, 

 Mr. St. John noted the following species among the 

 smaller plants as being in bloom : — Aspenila oligantha, 

 Brunonia australis, Convolvulus eruhescens, Cygnoglossum 

 suaveolens, Arthropodium strictum, Echinopogon strichts, Goodenia 

 ovata, Hypericum japonicum^ Helipterum diniorpholepis, 

 Kennedy a prostrata, Lagenophora Billardieri, Leptorrhynchos 

 squamatus, Poranthera microphylla, Pimelea curviflora, P. 

 humilis, Vittadinia australis ^ and Viola hederacea. To the 

 same observer I am indebted for the names of the birds seen 

 during the afternoon — viz., Reed-Warbler, Acrocephalus aus- 

 tralis ; Masked Wood-Swallow, Artamiis personatus ; W^hite- 

 browed Wood-Swallow, A. superciliosus ; Wood-Swallow, A. 

 tenehrosus ; Sacred Kingfisher, Halcyon sanctus ; Black-faced 

 Cuckoo-Shrike, Coracina rohiista ; Mud-Lark, Grallina picata ; 

 Rufous-breasted Thickhead, Pachycephala riifiventris ; White- 

 plumed Honey- eater, Ptilotis penicillata ; and Black Fantail 

 Flycatcher, Rhipidura tricolor. 



It is proposed to repeat next season the aquatic excursion 

 of last year, for by means of boats only can the variety of hill 

 and dale, of fiat woodland and shrubby cliff, be seen in one 

 afternoon. — A. D. Hardy. 



EXCURSION TO HEIDELBERG. 



This excursion took place on Saturday, nth January, when 

 a small party of seven assembled at Heidelberg to investigate 

 the ponds. The small, dark pond near the river is a favourite 

 resort, but is difficult of access, the land being jealously 

 guarded by private owners. It is reported that on one occasion 

 the owner, with a loaded gun, stopped a University professor 

 and a number of leading scientists, and forced them to beat 

 a hasty retreat. Profiting by experience, and through the 

 courtesy of Mr. Shephard, we were enabled to pay a friendly 

 visit to the owner and obtain his permission to visit the pond, 

 under a promise not to stray. We visited three waterholes, 

 all of which were teeming with life. In the dark pond every 

 dip gave numerous clusters of Conochilus dossiiaris, and from 

 a fallen tree, projecting some distance into the water, some 

 fine patches of fresh-water sponge with statoblasts were col- 

 lected. Returning, a muddy waterhole was examined, and 

 from the weeds fringing the margin numerous colonies of 

 Megalotrocha alho-fiavicans were obtained, and a sweep of the 

 net showed Daphnia carinata largely developed, and numerous 

 other forms of Entomostraca with larvae, Water Mites, Ptcro- 

 dina patina, several forms of beetles, diatoms, and desmids. 

 We then tried the lagoon near the bridge, and there obtained 



