176 The late Mr. J. G. O'Donogkue. [voY'xxx^iii 



he became hon. secretary, and continued in that office, 

 devoting much time to its duties, until stricken with severe 

 ilbiess in November last. An attack of pleurisy, accompanied 

 by an extreme temperature, lasting for many weeks, appears 

 to have so weakened his heart that his naturally fine con- 

 stitution was undermined, and he had not the power of recovery 

 when normal temperature returned. After several weeks of 

 patient suffering he passed peacefully away at his residence, 

 Thanet-street, Malvern, on Friday, 6th April, at the com- 

 paratively early age oi 44, his remains being interred in the 

 family grave at Traralgon. By his death the Field Naturalists' 

 Club has lost one of its most enthusiastic workers, and one 

 who never spared himself if he could be of service to it in any 

 capacity. 



EXCURSION TO BURNLEY QUARRIES. 



About fifteen members of this Club or the Microscopical 

 Society visited the Burnley Quarries on the afternoon oi 

 Saturday, 24th February, mainly in search of pond-life. As 

 it is probable that many of those present have not visited the 

 quarries, it may be as well, in the first place, to say a few words 

 about them. They are situated on the north bank of the 

 Yarra, and extend from Burnley-street, Richmond, in a westerly 

 direction for about a quarter of a mile, covering an area of 

 several acres. Like all quarries which are practically 

 abandoned, the excavations contain numerous pools, some 

 probably of great depth, while others are very shallow. Until 

 recently 'the river had free access to some portions, and there 

 the water is probably brackish. Judging by that now 

 exposed to view, the bluestone obtained here was of a very 

 dense type. The lava flow which covered this and adjacent 

 districts to varying depths here filled an old river-bed. In 

 places this layer of rock has been removed by the excavation, 

 exposing the old river mud, and, buried in this, one or possibly 

 more old tree-trunks have been found. A small portion of 

 one, which apparently belonged to the genus Casuarina, is 

 shown here to-night. How long it is since it was buried under its 

 basaltic covering would be an interesting problem. The rock 

 which has been exposed by the quarrying operations presents 

 some features worthy of notice. A small isthmus between 

 two pools at the western end is a nice example of columnar 

 formation. Not far from this the way in which the basalt 

 disintegrates may be seen, the outer portions of the separate 

 pieces of rock flaking off like the coats of an onion, leaving 

 rounded nodules. At the other or eastern end of the quarries 

 a rock face is exposed in which the basalt is also columnar, 



