Cftc Uktorian Haturalisi 



Vol. XXX.— No. 4. AUGUST 7. 1913. No. 356 



FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 



The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held at the 

 Royal Society's Hall on Monday evening, 14th July. 1913. 



Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., one of the vice-presidents, 

 occupied the chair, and about 50 members and visitors were 

 present. 



REPORTS. 



A report of the excursion to Monegatta North on Satiu-day, 

 I2th July, was given by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, who said that 

 the Club was poorly represented on the ioint excursion with 

 the University students under Professor E. W. Skeats, D.Sc, 

 for which perhaps the early start necessary was to some extent 

 responsible. The day turned out all that could be desired. A 

 north-easterly direction vras taken towards Brock's Hill and 

 the valley of the Deep Creek, or Saltwater River, where on 

 the edge of the stream an exposure of diabase of Heathcotian 

 age was examined. Further up stream an exposure of Ordo- 

 vician shales was seen in contact with the diabase. During 

 the ascent of a neighbouring hill a piece of shale showing 

 remains of sponge spicules was picked up, which the leader 

 was pleased to record as evidence of the age of the formation. 

 From the top of the hill, in the midst of a huge meander of 

 the stream, the geology and physiography of the district were 

 fully demonstrated. An igneous dyke was next visited, and 

 then at another bend of the river a fine Silurian section was 

 explained, from whence a return was made to the station, the 

 outing having covered some eight or nine miles. The botany 

 of the district was not striking. Some large sheoaks, 

 Casiiarina quadrivalvis . were seen, and near the first halting" 

 place the rare fern Gnunmitis leptophylla was found, and 

 close by a stunted form of the Sickle Fern, Pteris falcata. 

 Three other ferns often associated with rocks — viz., Gram- 

 mitis riitcufolia, Chcilanthcs tenuifoUa, and Asplenium flabel- 

 lifoliuni — were afterwards met with. 



A report of the junior excursion to Maribyrnong Bridge 

 on Saturday, 5th July, was given by Mr. A. L. Scott, who 

 said that, in the unavoidable absence of the leader, Mr. A. 

 James, he had been asked to lead the excursion. The weathe^ 

 was dull, and rain had made roads in the district very sticky, 

 possibly accounting for the rather small attendance. 

 Quarry Hill was first visited, where the origin of 

 the basalt, and its weathering, were discussed, while 

 the difference between the past and present courses of 



