io6 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [voi^xxxi 



A report ot the excursion to Nyora on Cup Day. Tuesday, 

 2nd November, was made by the leader. Mr. I'. R. H. St. John. 

 wlu> said that the outing was poorly attended. The weather 

 was all that could be desired, and the flora of the locality was 

 at the height of perfection. During the day [67 species ol 

 wild-flowers, &c, were noted, and. with the expenditure oi a 

 little more time and care, this total could easily have been 

 increased. The most conspicuous and brilliant of the flowering 

 plants met with was Dampiera stricta. Mr. J. Searle, who 

 formed one of the party, devoted his attention to an investiga- 

 tion of the micro-fauna of the various water-holes that were 

 met with in the railway reserve and adjacent properties. 

 In detailing the results of his investigations, Mr. J. Searle said 

 that, owing to the recent rains, water was lying in every 

 depression, so that at times it was difficult to determine whether 

 one was investigating permanent swamps or merely surface 

 waterthat had not yet had time to get away. In some of the 

 permanent pools, notwithstanding the recent dilution of their 

 contents, life was very plentiful, whilst many of the newly- 

 filled depressions contained the nauplius and larval forms of 

 many species of pond animals. The most numerous species 

 of copepod taken was Brunella longicomis, Searle, which 

 appeared to be the sole inhabitant ol several pools, and was 

 present in nearly every pool tried. Search was made for that 

 very striking species, Boeckella nyoraensis, originally described 

 from this district, and not since found elsewhere, but only 



six oi' seven specimens were secured. It was described and 

 figured in the Naturalist for February, 1912 (xxviii., p. im<>) 



and seems to be a rare and very local species. In addition 



to these, Brunella australis, Searle. Hemiboeckella searli, (.. 0. 

 Sais. and Cyclops albidus were taken. Mosquito larvae were 



numerous in all the pools, and swarms ol the mature insets, 

 t nle\ and Stegomyia, took trom our party a heav\ toll in blood 

 and left our hands, necks, and laces covered with red and white 



swellings. Anothei larva belonging to the Culicidae, probably 

 that ot the little-known genus Mochlonyx, was very plentiful. 

 They have a pair of air sac at eithei end oi the body, which 

 enable them to remain undei water in a horizontal position foi 

 ; , very greal length oi time. Live specimens ol all species 

 mentioned were on exhibition. 



II h 1 [( >\ 1 ,\ mi- WBE RS. 



(in .i ballol being taken. Miss Howard, Methodisl Ladies' 

 College, Hawthorn Mi Myrtle T. Johnson. [16 Bridge-road, 

 Richmond; Miss Aldyth P>. Longmore, 184 Bourke-street, Mel- 

 bourne; Miss ' ). Wolfe, Bruce-street, Toorak ; Mrs. M. C. 

 Miller. " Moyston," Burke-road, Melbourne; Mrs. Winspur, 

 14 ( ambridge-street, Camberwell ; Mr. Francis Keep, " Mount- 



