THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 121 



were chiefly conspicuous by their absence. Nearly the first find 

 was the pretty little coloured frog {Bana, sp.), of which a few 

 specimens were transferred to the bottle. Proceeding on a little 

 farther we found one of our visitors, Master Frost, had rolled 

 over a log, under which a very small member of the snake tribe 

 had taken up its abode. This proved to be the first and only 

 one seen all day ; it was a Copperhead ( Hoplocephalus sujjerbus ),., 

 which we were told is known locally as the Black Snake, though 

 of course that is quite a distinct variety, and in fact does not 

 occur in the locality. Being too small for a specimen, we 

 decided that it should not grow into one ; it was therefore 

 ruthlessly despatched and left for friend Jackass, who, as is usual 

 with these ever curious birds, was taking observations from a 

 neighbouring tree. 



After this deed we resumed our search, but, with the exception 

 of ants, very few indeed were the objects we found. However, 

 b^ steady working, the common Longicorns (Epithora dorsalis, 

 Goptocercus aberrans, and C. rubripesj, together with a host 

 of Elateridse, were found under the loose bark of the gums. 

 Shortly after our best capture of the day in Coleoptera was made, 

 a splendid specimen of the Buprestidse ( Astrceus navarchis) 

 being found resting on one of the shrubs. This promptly 

 disappeared into Mr. Best's bottle. 



As we neared the Ararat Creek we found a species of jumping 

 spider, with its sac of eggs, of a rich raspberry colour, quite 

 different, Mr. Frost informed us, to any he had taken before. 

 After crossing the creek we came to what would have been a 

 good collecting spot on a more suitable day, but we got nothing 

 of note for some time, being finally rewarded with the rare ant- 

 like iongicorn, Aphneope sericata. A few Buprestidae were also 

 taken, but they were of the common sorts, the most abundant we 

 noted being Stigmodera macularia, of which numbers were 

 bottled. Here, too, we noted our young enthusiasts were busily 

 engaged boxing some of the cryptozoic forms of life — viz., Plan- 

 arian worms. Several kinds in fine condition were noted, 

 including Geoplana munda, G. Sugdeni, G. Steeli, G. dubia, G. 

 quadrangulata, and G. alba in endless variety of colours. We 

 particularly noted that it ranged from pale fleshy white to a deep 

 brownish white, and several were observed of quite a soft peach 

 tint. Two varieties we did not feel sure of were taken by Mr. 

 Frost for identification. 



Having arrived at the spot chosen for our luncheon ground, 

 supposed to be the Back Creek, but which was only visible in a 

 small pool or two on account of the dense vegetation, we 

 camped down to appease our hunger and slake our thirst, though 

 some members suggested that the water seemed far more suitable 

 for the investigations of Messrs. Fielder and Shephard than for 



