THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 89 



uustralis, or dwarf scrub Honeysuckle. Of boring larvae we found 

 many, and these were brought home by the Masters Hill for 

 rearing purposes. The so-called " New Springs" are about half a 

 mile west of the " Old Springs," and were first opened out for 

 cattle in 1855. In these springs there are many aquatic plants, 

 as : — Chara, Myriophyllum, Ottelia, besides many species of Con- 

 fervse, &c. Beetles were scarce, and very few species were found, 

 and of Lepidoptera six or seven kinds were collected, together 

 with larvae of Entometa, Metura, Clenia, &c., &c. — about ten (10) 

 species in all. As the afternoon was short, and some of the party 

 having to catch the train back to Melbourne, we faced towards 

 the station, and on our way flushed the Little Grass Bird, with a 

 nest of three eggs, the latter being brought home for the col- 

 lection. Mr. Hart having elected to walk to Brighton, found, as 

 we afterwards learned, a Copperhead Snake. Orchids were scarce, 

 it being too early for most kinds. Plants in flower were fairly 

 numerous, and in this connection it may be interesting to learn 

 that at Sandringham a wild flower show was being held, but our 

 time was too short to permit of our party honouring the show 

 with their patronage. Melbourne was reached about dark, and 

 all agreed that a pleasant and fairly profitable afternoon had been 

 spent. It is very gratifying to be able to report such a good 

 attendance of members, which it is hoped will continue to be the 

 case during the season, as field work was one of the principal 

 objects for which our club was started. 



Mr. J. Shephard remarks that " two members were drawn by 

 Mr. French's promise to conduct them to the 'Springs,' and found 

 them quite an ideal place for their purpose. The first one visited 

 is used as a local water supply, and is in the form of a circular 

 bricked tank. Through the interstices in the brickwork Myrio^ 

 phyllum and other water plants projected into the water, and on 

 them were subsequently found Rotifers of the genera Limnias and 

 Eocistes. As is often the case in deep, permanent water, free 

 swimming forms were not numerous. The next spring is in a 

 natural condition, and is a charming litde pool, with clear water, 

 and filled with a luxuriant growth of Conferva and the higher aquatic 

 plants. The overflow at this season forms a large, shallow pool, 

 and in this Volvox was at once seen. Later examination of the 

 material did not yield a lengthy list, as at the outset a puzzling 

 Rotifer of the genius Anurgea was met with. This genus is com- 

 posed of small loricate species,, and there are quite a number of 

 Australian forms which do not agree with any published descrip- 

 tions. The one in question has a shield-shaped lorica, prolonged 

 in front into six spines and posteriorly into one central spine. 

 The lorica possesses characteristics intermediate between the 

 British form Anurcea cochlearis and A. stipitata (Ehrenberg), but 

 there is a central prominence on the corona not shown in the 



