^^^'1 Field Naturalists' Cliih — Proceediniis. ■? 



The author considered that the site of Healesvihe had once 

 been covered by an extensive lake. He traced the occurrence 

 of many of the larger forms of vegetation through the different 

 parts of the district, some species occurring in quite isolated 

 positions, while others seemed to be influenced by the direction 

 of the minor ranges. 



Dr. Sutton said the paper was most interesting, and could not 

 have been written except as the result of many years' observa- 

 tions. He desired to know if there was any marked difference 

 between the vegetation growing on the Silurian and on the 

 Volcanic. 



Mr. Hardy said he desired to add his tribute of appreciation. 

 He considered that the Field Naturalists' Club had done good 

 work in mapping out the floras of various districts in Victoria. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard also congratulated the author on his 

 paper, which showed a good acquaintance with the district. 



The author, in reply, said that in the Healesville district there 

 was no marked difference in the vegetation on the two geological 

 formations. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



Mr. C. J. Gabriel referred to his exhibit of mollusca from 

 Portsea. During a recent holiday he was spencUng at Portsea 

 the jetty happened to be under repair, a number of the piles 

 being withdrawn and replaced by new ones. The old piles were 

 found to be teeming with marine life, and many crustaceans, 

 isopods, bryozoa, mollusca, and these numerous creatures 

 which are so frequently relegated to the scientific rubbish-heap 

 — the worms — were collected, and have been handed over to 

 specialists for examination. The mollusca were particularly 

 interesting and numerous. Three of our rarest chitons, Acan- 

 thochites maiighani, Torr and Ashby, A. speciosus, Adams, and 

 A. kimberi, Torr, may be mentioned. The Victorian cowries 

 were well represented, but as the contractor and his men were 

 equally keen in the search for them, they were difficult to 

 obtain. All of the piles showed the destructive work of the 

 ship-worms ; one burrow, having a diameter of an inch, measured 

 two feet in length, and the animal is exhibited on the table 

 to-night. 



Mr. J. Booth forwarded a note stating that recently, when 

 driving between Omeo and Glen Wills he noticed a " procession " 

 of caterpillars crossing the road. It was injured by a wheel of 

 the vehicle crushing some of them. The procession only 

 recommenced to progress when the hindmost caterpillars, which 

 had been cut off, were placed in contact with the foremost ones. 

 Moving the leader to the hindmost position also stopped 

 progress, and the " procession " made no attempt to move until 

 the leader was replaced, when movement was resumed. 



