180 
XiCHOLLS — Two New Phreatoicids. 
there or uiuler similar conditions in the -waters of the New Reservoir. 
They were discovered, however, quite abundantly, partly embedded in 
almost dry mud wliich had formed the floor of a shallow y)uddle, at 
a spot where, in wetter seasons, a small creek discharged into the 
Lake. Here, under one quite small piece of decaying bark, nearly 
forty specimens were found curled up and motionless.* This creek, 
on investigation, was found to serve, in normal seasons, as the drain 
for a peat bog, under the mossy surface ofl which and in a small 
spring-fed hollow yet other specimens were taken. On the following 
day, the ‘‘Crystal Brook” was followed to its source, near which, 
in tiny hollows between clumps of sphagnum, as well as in a narrow 
runnel emptying into the Brook, other, lighter-coloured specimens 
were captured. Another trip, this time to the “Horn,” for the 
most ])art following the course of a small creek which proved to have 
its origin in a considerable bog that partly encircled the foot of the 
peak itself (where this rises abruptly from the Plateau), was equally 
successful. On this occasion Plireaioicus was taken at a number of 
different spots, as well as quite freely in the bog at the foot of the 
“Horn,” practically at the highest part of the Plateau. Indeed, 
several of the localities must have been at altitudes closely approach- 
ing five thousand feet. 
The specimens taken from black peaty mud or from beneath the 
surface of the bog were much darker in colour and for the most 
part were densely infested with attached Rotifers, as ■\vell as by 
disc-shaped bodies which I fail to identify. In some cases a single 
seta may have its half-dozen attached forms, and these may largely 
oliscure the actual outline in setose regions. Others, taken from the 
open, are lighter coloured and much less heavily infested. 
8o ]flentiful as Avas this animal, of such conspicuous size (ex- 
eeeding II mm.), and Avith so Avidespread an occurrence, it seemed 
almost incredible that it could haA-e escaped earlier observation. 
Accordingly, on my return to Melbourne, I made enquiry at the 
Museum, Avhere I learned that there Avere apparently no records of 
specimens of Phreatoivus from the Buffalo region. I aa’us, Iicaa'cauu', 
very kindly pei'initted to examine the iluseum Collection of Fresh- 
water Crustacea and satisfy myself of the absence of any such 
material from that part of Victoria. While engaged upon this 
search I happened upon a tube containing another Phreatoicid, un- 
named, but, beyond all peradA^enture, uoav. This bore a locality 
label whiCi indicated that the contained specimens Avere collected in 
*Soine of these, kept under similar conditions, in a small Avooden box, 
survWed until my return to Perth, nearly three Aveeks later, 
Avhen, on being placed in Avater, they shortly unrolled and re- 
sumed actiA’e existence. 
