82 On Fossil Polyzoa, 



the benefits of improved mail communication. But even if 

 Victoria assumes the whole cost and the whole responsibility, 

 it is an undertaking, like her railways, which will amply 

 repay the country the outlay, in increasing security, and 

 assured prosperity and peace at home. 



Sale, 10th October, 1862. 



Art. XXL— On Fossil Polyzoa. By Henry Watts, Esq., 

 of Warrnambool. 



[Read 29th June, 1863.] 



Having for some years devoted a considerable portion of 

 my leisure time to the study of the microscope and its 

 attendant sciences, it is perhaps but a duty to place before 

 you some account of my endeavours in forming a collection 

 of plants and animals of microscopic growth. A catalogue of 

 fresh-water Algas and Desmidiacese was some time since laid 

 before you, and, when leisure permits, one of Victorian 

 Diatomacese will be compiled. 



The portion of miscroscopic study to which I have lately 

 devoted much time, has been the preparation of Polyzoa, 

 collected in Lady Bay, between the mouths of the rivers 

 Merri and Hopkins, over a distance of one and a-half miles, 

 such locality having come under my particular attention as 

 being nearest to the town of Warrnambool. I have, at the 

 present time, over one hundred distinct species of Polyzoa, 

 besides numerous specimens which, as it were, come between 

 distinct species. Some thousands of specimens have passed 

 through my hands, collected in all weathers, at all times, 

 and various seasons, with, and on, Marine Algse, shells, and 

 pieces of stone, &c. ; the most abundant source of supply is 

 obtained from the large roots of kelp, cast ashore after storms, 

 on fronds of Peyssonnelia Australis and shells of Haliotis. 



Often have I gone down to the low-lying reefs on the west 

 of the River Merri, and, watching for the retreating tide, 

 suddenly made a dash after some weed, and as rapidly as 

 possible returned for fear of some treacherous wave, hastily 

 searched for these beautiful microcosms, placing them in 

 bottles, and returned home to see them under the microscope. 

 After a little while what a sight appears, all is life and 

 activity, the protruding tentacles waving in all directions, 



