82 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



zens of the pools and swamps in that locaUty. About 20 

 members answered his summons, and some good finds were 

 recorded, amongst which may be mentioned Volvox globator, two 

 or three species of Entomostraca, and no less than eight species 

 of Rotifera. Mr. C. French, jun., who headed the botanical 

 section, reported nine varieties of orchids in bloom. 



The gathering at the Government Entomological Department 

 at the Exhibition Buildings on 29th August was a great success, 

 more than 20 members and friends being present. Mr. C. 

 French, F.L.S., Government Entomologist, personally conducted 

 the party, and pointed out the most prominent objects of interest. 

 Perhaps the most interesting and instructive of all the specimens 

 there are those which represent the life-histories of our insect 

 pests. They are systematically arranged to show at a glance not 

 only the successive stages in the growth of the " beasts," but also 

 to give some idea of their habitat and the nature of their ravages. 

 Mr. French has also initiated what will eventually be a leading 

 feature in his department, namely, the mounting of dissected 

 insects on cards to show clearly the external anatomy. It is 

 proposed t o furnish the State schools with different sets of these 

 cards for teaching purposes. The Algerian system of dealing 

 with the locust pest was explained by Mr. French, who also 

 exhibited the screens used in connection with that system. A 

 very pleasant afternoon was brought to a close by a visit to the 

 economic collection, a large portion of the exhibits here being 

 supplied by Baron von Mueller. 



The botanical excursion to Cheltenham, under the leadership 

 of Mr. J. S. Hart, M.A., B.Sc, took place on 5th September, and 

 ■was patronized by about a dozen members, some of whom, how- 

 ever, were bent on ornithological researches. Nothing new or of 

 special importance was added to collections, but all enjoyed the 

 fresh air and free intercourse which are the usual attendants of 

 such outings as these. 



PAPERS. 



The first paper was read by Mr. C. G. W. Officer, on "The 

 Supposed Human Footprints on^olian Rocks at Warrnambool." 

 In introducing the subject, Mr. Officer described in detail the 

 formation and nature of the sand dunes and their connection 

 with the underlying strata, as shown by the similarity of the stone 

 now being quarried there. From an analysis of the stone made by 

 Mr. Avery, of Queen's College, it appears that it contains about 

 94 per cent, of carbonate of lime. Last December a slab was 

 discovered in one of the quarries bearing impressions which 

 suggested that they were made by human beings. This slab was 

 secured by Mr. Archibald, and placed in the Warrnambool 

 Museum. The determination of the age of the rocks is of 

 importance, and from the evidence of subsidence and elevation 



