208 ( THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
NOTES AND COMMENTS. — 
Kerosene Suave.—At the October meeting, Miss H. R. Drum- 
mond exhibited a specimen from Lithgow, showing remarkably 
good chonchoidal fracture. [Kerosene shale occwrs on the edges 
of the coal basin, and is believed to be formed of the spores and 
oil-bearing parts of the vegetation which have accumulated 
through drifting to the edge of the ancient marsh. When a 
fragment is held in a flame it gives off the odour of kerosene. 
Fomus ausrratis.—A fine large specimen of this fungus was 
exhibited at the October meeting by Miss Drummond. ‘The 
specimen was the result of about 18 months’ growth on a dead 
gum-tree. It first appeared as a smali yellowish growth, which 
every few months became covered with spores on the ventral 
surface. After each shedding of spores, a layer of new growth 
was added round the outside’ edge. The specimen was kept 
under observation at Kurraba Point during its entire develop- 
ment. ‘ 
: ; 5 
é 1 ‘ 
