86 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



swampy ground. The first halt was made at a depression filled 

 with storm water, the recent heavy rains having created a 

 miniature lake. Here the first dip revealed the presence of the 

 charming Volvox globator, and a little further on in the same 

 swamp the fine free-swimming rotifer, Notojys davulatus, was 

 found in great abundance. This rotifer is very widely dis- 

 tributed, and is to be met with at all seasons, but on this 

 occasion it was unusually plentiful, and subsequent examination 

 showed it to be feeding on the young spheres of the Volvox, and to 

 this plentiful food supply the great number of the rotifer 

 was no doubt due. Phials of various sizes and shapes were 

 produced, and samples of the water taken for examination at 

 home. Moving on in the direction of Sandringham, one or two 

 pools were tried, one yielding a large supply of the common 

 Stentor, *S'. polymorphus, which was in such vigorous growth that 

 on being placed subsequently in a trough a few days sufficed to 

 change a single individual into a group the eighth of an inch in 

 diameter and numbering scores of animals, and the colony in the 

 meantime secreting a gelatinous mass which housed the whole 

 party. Another pool yielded a few specimens of the common 

 leech. Going further towards the high land immediately above 

 Sandringham railway station, duly appreciating the beautiful 

 view obtainable, the party reached a swamp lying in a depression 

 on the somewhat elevated table-land of heath country. Here 

 Volvox was again plentiful, and a large water beetle was noticed, 

 the very ferocious-looking larvge of which had been earlier seen. 

 Gatherings were taken from all likely places. A little diversion 

 was created by one of the leeches previously captured escaping, 

 with manifest intentions of making a meal off the person of the 

 Club's secretary. Mr. J. S. Hart and a few members here rejoined 

 the party, after a short detour for botanizing purposes, and 

 reported having made several interesting observations. 



As the sun was now fast sinking, a move was made for the 

 railway station, and train taken for Melbourne, after a pleasant 

 afternoon, of which not the least enjoyable factors had been the 

 fresh spring air, blue sky, and pleasant views of sea and land. 



Examination of the material, made later, in the brief time I was 

 able to give to it, enabled me to recognize, in addition to the 

 forms previously mentioned : — Entomostraca. — Dioptomus 

 castor, Daphnia vetula, D. pulex, Cyclops quadricornis, Roti- 

 fera. — Anurcea aculeata, Polyarthra platyptera, Notommata naias, 

 Diaschiza seviiaperia, Mastigocerca carinata, Noteus quadri- 

 cornis, Melicerta ringens, Limnias ceratophylli. 



Mr. C. French, jun., reported that the botanical section were 

 very successful, the following orchids being obtained in flower :— 

 Pterostylis nana, P. curta, P. nutans, P. concinna, P. pedun- 

 culata, P. vittata, Corysanthes pruinosa, Acianthus exsertus, 



