^P"''] Excursion to Deepdene. 185 



spicuous l:)y their absence, but a few free-swimmers were taken. 

 Protozoa were more plentiful, Epistylis fiavicans being very 

 numerous in large clusters, as also what we took to be Vorticella 

 nehitlifcra, and the heliozoan form, Actinophrys sol. The most 

 noteworthy captures, however, were a Suctorian with a very 

 long stalk, which we have been unable to identify, and a flagellate 

 animalcule, almost certainly Spongomoiias intesti)ialis, Cienk. 

 This tiny creature, which measures only about .juVo ^^ ^^ inch 

 in length, forms a large con\'oluted and intertwined filamentous 

 zoocytium of a brown colour, which is large enough to be seen 

 by the naked eye. In the surface of this the animals are 

 embedded close together, their flagella projecting into the water. 

 The flagella are very hard to distinguish, owing to their almost 

 continual movement. As this was the first time we had noticed 

 this protozoon, we felt amply repaid for the afternoon's work. 

 Several species of desmids were also noted. Some of the 

 members who had not visited this locality before were greatly 

 interested in the Nardoo plant, Marsilea qnadrijolia, Lin., which 

 ^rows freely near the Kilby Lagoon. — J. Stickland. 



Eagle and Fox. — Shortly after daybreak on Monday, 24th 

 January, whilst shooting on the rocky and precipitous slojies 

 margining the Werribee River about a mile and a half above its 

 confluence with the Myrniong Creek, T observed a fox intently 

 rc^garding me from a coign of vantage between 300 and 400 yards 

 distant. A huriicd aim resulted in the .32 cahbrc bullet slightly 

 wounding the animal, which at once made off into a growth of the 

 Shore Thistle. A large Wedge-tailed Eagle, that was circling 

 around on widesjM'ead and motionless wings, on observing the 

 disabled condition of the fox, immediately attacked it. The 

 bird repeatedly swooped at its prey, and on several occasions 

 alighted on the ground beside it with wings half ojicn and neck 

 extended. The fox invariably sprang ujnvard to meet the 

 eagUi's swooj"), and by this mancruvre ai)i)eared to disconcert 

 the bird. At times, however, it avoided the eagle's onslaught 

 by crouching low, and, when capture seemed inevitable, 

 twisting its body out of danger by an agile movement. The 

 eagle was attacking with great vigour and determination when 

 the fox reached a deep, narrow ravine leading to the river, and 

 escaj^ed. For a short time the eagle circled over and around 

 the spot where its quarry disajij^eared, and then settled down 

 on to a rabbit that had the misfortune to break cover, and 

 bore it, scpicaling and struggling, to a eucalypt growing on 

 the opi^osite slope, wherein ])roi)ably it had its nest, for the bird 

 had l)cen observed in the same tree late the previous evening. — 

 J. G. O'DoNOGHUE. loth iMarch, 1913. 



