02 Searle and Shepharp, Visit to Lakes. [voi°x 



Vict. Nai. 

 XXII 



which may prove to be the type of a new genus. Near 1 In- 

 shore was a flock of Pelicans, and the remains of a nesting-place 

 was noted. 



Tims ended our collecting trip, and. though time was short 

 and the weather bad, we succeeded in securing several new 

 species as* well as other interesting and rare forms. The fact 

 that so much exists in the odd places we touched on induces 

 the belief that a systematic search of any of the lakes we tried 

 will reveal many more new forms of life. Many of the numerous 

 lakes in this district dry completely at times : some have done 

 so permanently ; others may do so as agricultural develop- 

 ments go on : and this must result in the loss of aquatic 

 inhabitants, which will thus remain for ever unknown. 



Wild-Flowers. — Further stimulus to the increasing interest 

 in our native flora will be given by an exhibition at Ballarat 

 on Saturday, 16th October. This will be held at the School oi 

 Mines, and Mr. H. B. Williamson, Mair-street, Ballarat. will 

 be glad of offers of assistance from town or country friends. 



The Kew Horticultural Society is also offering liberal prizes 

 for exhibits of limited collections of wild-flowers at its show 

 on Thursday, 21st October. Though rather late in the season. 

 it is hoped that several entries will be received. Particulars 

 may be obtained from the hon. sec. Mr. R. Hodge-. Mercury 

 office, Kew. 



Opalized Fossils of New South Wales. A descriptive 

 paper on "Mollusca from the I retaceous Opal Deposits of New 

 South Wales," by Mr. R. Bullen Newton, of the British Museum, 

 appears in the Proceedings of the Malacological Society, vol. xi.. 

 1915, and should be of especial interest to students of Aus- 

 tralian fossils. The collection on which the paper is based was 

 obtained during the recent visit of the British Association to 

 Australia. A complete list oi opalized fossils from the Aus- 

 tralian I retaceous is included, and foui nev\ species are added 

 to those already known. There is a slight eiTOl in the locality 

 of the Ceratodus tooth lately described by the presenl writer, 

 which should be Walgett, county Baradine, New South Wales, 

 ind not Baradine. A furthei corroboration oi the age oi the 

 opal deposits is afforded l>v the evidence oi the belemnites, 

 H. diptycha, M'Coy, generally known as B. canhami, rate, 

 Mr. G I . Crick, an authority on the cephalopods, refei 

 them to the ■ tin ictinocamax, stating " thai without question 

 they denote a ( retaceous age." F ( h u-m v.. National Museum, 

 Melbourne. 



