;64 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



species) in the Conchylien Cabinet Monograph " Physa," p. 364, 

 pi. li., fig. 8. In the National Museum, Melbourne, are unnamed 

 specimens labelled — " Locality, Gunbower." 



Ancylus australicus, Tate. — This little limpet form is 

 plentiful at Expedition Pass, and I also found it in the Yandoit 

 stream, but nowhere else yet. All my specimens were on the 

 stalks of bulrushes. 



Unio (^probably australis). — I have not had this shell identified 

 yet. I took a specimen and a half in the Harcourt Reservoir, 

 but since learned that a number were brought down a few years 

 ago from the Murray by some disciples of the rod and line and 

 thrown into the reservoir, in the hope that they would breed and 

 provide bait for fishing there ; but these hopes do not appear to 

 have been fulfilled, as I waded about in the water for over an 

 hour looking for them, with the result above mentioned. I have 

 since heard that Unios, or, as my informant termed them, 

 " Mussels," are plentiful in a stream about twelve miles from town, 

 so shall go out there shortly, I hope. 



Besides the foregoing we have an imported Helix, U. aspersa, 

 Linn. Specimens of this pest were brought up from Melbourne 

 some time back by two local residents, who let them loose in their 

 gardens, " because they reminded them of home." At present 

 their neighbours, who grow peas, &c., are reminded too forcibly 

 about home, and use unparliamentary language on the sub- 

 ject. 



We are also pestered with three imported slugs — Amalia gagates, 

 Limax agrestis, and Limax flavus. The two former seem to 

 have spread themselves all over the district, and are to be found 

 under stones, &c., on all the hillsides and in the gullies far and 

 near. Limax Jlavus I have, so far, only taken in my own fernery, 

 converting choice ferns into slug. 



En passant, I might say that a good way to get rid of slugs in 

 a garden is to lay little heaps of bran or pollard about and go 

 round with a light after dark. They will be found feeding on the 

 heaps, and can be collected into a receptacle and killed with 

 boiling water or given to the ducks, who are very fond of them. 

 Curious to say, the pollard heaps in my garden appeared to attract 

 a number of specimens of a planarian worm — GeoiAanus alba, I 

 think. What for I don't know, as I always understood they were 

 carnivorous. 



In conclusion, I would like to say that I am very anxious to 

 get land and freshwater shells from all parts of Victoria, and if 

 any members of the Field Naturalists' Club, or others, would 

 kindly send me notes or specimens I should be exceedingly obliged. 

 For the latter I can offer good exchange in foreign shells, or 

 would endeavour to send specimens of any branch of local natural 

 history which might be preferred. 



