156 Proceedings, &c, for 1885. 



He would expect that in such a case the streams would cut their 

 way down to the softer sedimentary rocks, but Mr. Howitt said 

 that they cut down to the igneous rocks. He could understand 

 this if the Silurian strata were horizontal with the igneous rocks 

 underneath. 



Mr. Howitt had not meant to convey that the summits of the 

 hills of Ensay were capped with metamorphic sediments. The 

 metamorphic rocks are not in the low valleys where the streams 

 cut deepest. He described the relative positions of the strata in 

 different parts of the district, and said the igneous masses from 

 below have eaten their way up gradually. If you have igneous 

 rocks, you have a portion of the rocks at the surface alternating 

 with portions of sediment. 



The further discussion of Mr. Howitt's paper was postponed to 

 another occasion, when he could arrange to be present. 



The President called upon Dr. M'Gillivray to read part of his 

 series of papers on " New, or Little-known, Polyzoa." 



Dr. M'Gillivray explained that the paper, being purely 

 technical, was scarcely adapted for reading. He said he intended 

 to complete a list of those polyzoa found in Victoria, and to 

 publish the series of papers in Professor M'Coy's "Prodromus." 



The President then called upon Mr. Lucas, who read his 

 paper on " The Habits of Hermit Crabs," of taking possession of 

 the shells of molluscs, illustrated by a particular case which came 

 under his own observation. 



The President asked if these habits were peculiar to the 

 Victorian hermit crab. 



Mr. Wilson thought the crab in question appeared to be in 

 quest of a good dinner as well as a house. He had had one given 

 to similar predatory habits, and related it proceedings. 



Mr. Marks remarked on the great advantages of direct observa- 

 tion instead of relying upon books. 



Mr. Griffiths inquired whether Australian crabs have their 

 pincers of equal size, as stated by Mr. Lucas of his crab. 



Mr. Lucas thought it likely that many hermit crabs have claws 

 of equal size, but they can secure their food with equally or 

 unequally sized claws. He had desired to show that these crabs, 

 instead of being harmless and weak, as supposed, are crafty and 

 ferocious. They appropriate the shell as a disguise in attack, and 

 not for defence. 



December 10th, 1885. 



Present, the President (in the chair) and 18 members and 

 associates. 



Mr. F. Harding was duly elected an associate. 



