THE VICTORIAN NATUIIALIST. 127 



On being touched, it folds in its legs, and coils into a ring. On 

 wet days it frequents the passages and bedrooms in a most 

 uncalled-for manner. I was horrified one time by a little chap 

 ■ of three years old coming to me with a " See what I've got for 

 zoo !" His face was beaming with delight, and his two little 

 grubby hands held out, and full of glossy rings, of what I, in my 

 ignorance, took for centipedes. Poor little fellow ! He was 

 much disappointed that his efforts in the pursuit of natural 

 history were so little appreciated, and he looked down with a sad 

 and wondering face at the wet mark — all that remains of these 

 creatures after a squeeze with the foot. Herein is an essential 

 difference from the real centipede, which is particularly hard to 

 -dispose of. 



IV. — Another creature the Northern children delight in is the 

 big green frog, and 1 have heard litde mites of three or four 

 imitate its cry to perfection. Whenever its churk ! churk ! is 

 heard there is a rush for the spot. Of course a good deal of the 

 pleasure is in putting the slimy gentleman in the bedroom of 

 some one who does not share the children's affection for him. He 

 as not a nice companion at night. Even if so obliging as to 

 settle himself on the edge of the water jug, one has an uneasy 

 impression that he may not stay there. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



To the Editor of the Victorian Naturalist. 



Sir, — I am surprised to learn from the last number of the 

 JVaiuralist that the occurrence of Wolffia near Melbourne is now 

 for the first time noted. I used to obtain this plant abundantly 

 about eight or nine years since in a small swamp in Studley 

 Park, opposite Johnston-street. I have seen this swamp covered 

 for half its area on the lee side with a continuous sheet of the 

 Wolffia, no Lemna being present. For several years I had always 

 more or less of the plants growing in aquaria, where they 

 increased slowly by budding, but finally died off. Specimens 

 were exhibited at meetings of the Microscopical Society, some 

 of which were collected, I believe, by Dr. Ralph, but I am not 

 aware whether these came from the same locality. The swamp 

 to which I allude at that time usually contained a foot or two of 

 water, which abounded in pure water organisms, such as 

 Volvox globator, Conochilus volvox, etc. ; but of late years I have 

 found it either dried up or muddy, and the Wolffia seems to have 

 ■disappeared. 



