Sept., 1 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings-. 67 



PAPERS. 



1. By Miss J. W. Raff, M.Sc, " Notes on the Isopod Phreatoi- 

 copsis terricola, Spencer and Hall." 



The author said that, at the time of the description of this 

 species by Prof. Spencer and Dr. T. S. Hall, in i8c)6, only male 

 specimens had been obtained. Since then specimens had been 

 forwarded to the University from the Grampians and also from 

 the Otways, and a careful examination of these had revealed 

 the presence of five females. Seeing that the characteristic 

 features of the female could not be given when the species was 

 originally described, she had decided that it was advisable to 

 place on record the points of difference. 



Mr. J. Shephard asked if anything is known of the early 

 stages in the life-history of Phreatoicopsis, such as whether 

 they occurred in water or in the earth. 



Dr. Hall, in reply, said that, unfortunately, nothing is known 

 of the early life of this isopod. 



2. By Mr. J. C. Goudie, entitled " Notes on the Coleoptera of 

 North-Western Victoria," Part IV. 



In this part the author dealt with the Pselaphidae, Paussidae, 

 and Scydmaenidae. The first-named group were of very small 

 size, and were usually found in ants' nests. Seventeen species 

 were recorded for the district. Of Paussidae, only three species 

 had been met with. They are easily recognizable from their 

 curious broad, flat antenna\ They also have the power of 

 discharging, when irritated, an acrid fluid or vapour, accom- 

 panied by a slight report. The Scydmaenidse were very similar 

 to the first-named group, and are found in similar situations. 

 Only two species had been collected in the Birchip-Sea Lake 

 district. 



In a discussion which followed, Mr. D. Best stated that he 

 had visited the district referred to in April, but did not consider 

 it a promising locality for the entomologist. He asked if any 

 member could inform him why Sea Lake and Green Lake were 

 so named. It had been suggested to him that the latter name 

 was due to a green haze that frequently hung over the lake. 



Dr. Hall : What else could it be named ? 



Mr. Best, continuing, said that he had found Lake Tyrrell 

 with no water in it, but full of sand. 



Mr. J. A. Leach, M.Sc, said that he had seen water in Lake 

 Tyrrell, but its position in the lake depended on the direction 

 of the wind. The lake being very shallow, the water was 

 usually found at the end towards which the wind blew. 



3. By Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., entitled " Notes on tlu- 

 Breeding Habits and Young of the Platypus, ()niif/io)'/iy)iclti(s 

 anatinns, Shaw." 



The author recorded the discovery of several burrows of the 



