VOLUME 27, NUMBER 4. JUNE, 1953. The South- Australian NATURALIST A Quarterly Journal of Natural History published by THE FIELD NATURALISTS' SECTION of the ROYAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA (INC.) # * # Hon. Editor - - - NOEL LOTHIAN Club founded 1883 — S.A. Naturalist 1919 The author is responsible for the facts recorded. # # # CONTENTS: PROCEEDINGS HARDINESS OF AUSTRALIAN PLANTS AUSTRALITES AND OTHER TEKTITES— C. Fenner NEW SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FLORA RECORDS Argemone mexicana var ochroleuca Corybas unguiculatus AN INTERESTING MARINE SPIDER— H. Womersley EXCURSIONS Port Gawler Aldinga — Easter Camp Gawler Ranges RULES AND BY-LAWS LIST OF MEMBERS # # * Page 49 53 55 62 63 65 70 77 PRICE 3/-, post free Obtainable from Hon. Magazine Secretary— 3 Martindale Avenue, Toorak Gardens, South Australia. Registered at the G.P.O., Adelaide, for transmission through the post as a periodical. Specialty Printers Limited, 155 Waymouth Street, Adelaide FIELD NATURALISTS’ SECTION OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA (Inc.) OFFICE BEARERS 1952-1953 Chairman : MR. A. C. MOLINEUX, 31 Coorara Avenue, South Payneham; FA 1364 (or L05 ext. B 350 9-5 p.m.) ViceChairmen: Miss C. M. Eardley, Mr. S. A. Rowe. Honorary Secretary: Mr. K. Dunstone, 9 Constance Street, Cottonvillc. (J2257 between 1-2 p.m.) Hon. Assist. Sec.: Miss M. Lelliott, 22 West Street, Torrensville. (LU48G1; LA3811 between 9.30 and 5 p.m.) Hon. Treasurer: Miss G. L. Gregor, 86 Kintore Avenue, Prospect. (W1771 between 10 and 4 p.m.) Hon. Editor: Mr. T. R. N. Lothian, Botanic Garden (W1487). Hon. Librarian: Miss G. R. Waterman, 24 Hewitt Avenue, Rose Park (F5402). Committee: Mrs. A. B. Daley, Miss V. Reimann, Miss O. D. Waite, Miss S. Worthley, Mr. C. G. G. Engel, Mr. P. M. Harrison, Mr. Schirmer, Mr. C. Tilmouth; and the President anc Vice-Presidents of the Royal Society of South Australia (Inc.) — ex officio. BOTANY CLUB: OFFICE BEARERS 1952-1953 Patron: Professor J. B. CLELAND, C.B.E., M.D., Ch.M. Chairman: Mr. S. E. Rowe. Vice-Chairmen: Mr. H. Woodlands, Mr. E. W. Pritchard. Secretary and Treasurer: Mrs. N. L. Harry. Committee: Mrs. A. B. Daley, Mrs. J. J. Turnbull, Miss H. M. Stockham. GENERAL No special knowledge necessary to be- come a member, only a keen interest in natural history and a willingness to further the aims of the Section. This Section was founded in 1883 for the purpose of affording observers and lovers of natural history regular and frequent opportunities for discussing those special subjects in which they are mutually interested; for the exhibiting of specimens; and for promoting observa- tions in the field by means of excursions to various collecting grounds in and around the metropolitan area. The Monthly Meetings of the Section for lectures, reading of papers, and exhi- bition of specimens are held on the third Tuesday, at 8 p.m. at the Royal Society’s Rooms, Institute Buildings, North Ter- race, Adelaide. Visitors are welcome Subscri ptions — Life Membership £7/7/- Ordinary Members . 10/— per annum Student Members 18 — 21 years .... 5/— per annum Junior Members under 18 years .. 2/6 per annum Corresponding Mem- bers .... INFORMATION Excursions — For excursions by train meet on trait) after obtaining ticket. For excursions by tram meet at T. & G corner. Bus Trips (unless otherwise stated) leave from the corner of Kintore Avenue and North Terace; at 8.30 a.m. for all day trips, and 1 p.m. for afternoon trips Persons desiring to attend should contacti the Treasurer, Miss G. L. Gregor, at the School of Mines (W 1771) at least seven days ahead. Members can take receptacles for the carrying of specimens, for at each outing members may desire to make collection: of items for further study. Committee Meetings are held on tint second Tuesday of each month. Postal address of the Section — Box M 1594, G.P.O., Adelaide; or — C/o Royal Society’s Roo^is, Insti tute Building, North Terrace Adelaide. “The South Australian Naturalist” — The Journal of the Section. Free to mein i bers. Exchanges may be arranged. Extra* copies 3/- each. Address communication? to Hon. Editor, T. R. N. Lothian, c/o.. Adelaide. 5/- per annum Botanic Garden. Line, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Forty-nine PROCEEDINGS MARCH MEETING The Flora of Western Australia differs idely from that of the Eastern States lasmuch that it is a remnant of a lora that existed ages ago, when Aus- alia was divided in a north and south irection by an inland sea. Western Aus- ralia was then a portion of another con- nent now disappeared. This was ointed out by Mr. Lothian on the vening of 17th March, when he showed iat the central and now dry portions f our Continent, prevented further itermingling of plant types. So we have n Australia two distinct groups of flora, iiat of Western Australia, which gives le Australian element, while the group )und in the mountainous east coast area f Australia, is related to types in the ndia-Malayan area. Mr. Lothian with □loured slides, gave his talk concerning le eastern group, which on account of s habitat in the mountain area, enjoyed high rainfall not experienced elsewhere i Australia. The following were elected as ordinary lembers: — Mrs. L. E. Horder, Stirling ,ast; Miss Joan Smith, 9 Lorraine Ave., litcham; and Mr. B. Finch, 29 French 't., Galway Estate. The Chairman ex- mded a very warm welcome to these ' ew members. The financial statement was presented y the Treasurer as follows: — £ «• d- 1 General Account 249 10 1 Colour Plate Fund 11 11 2 Conservation Fund 41 15 7 Life Membership 83 19 2 General business included a report by he Editor on the next issue of the “S.A. Naturalist,” and Arbour Day to be held t National Park on 2nd May. The meeting closed approximately 0 p.m. A.C.M. APRIL MEETING On April 21 the Chairman and 13 members listened to Mr. J. kVindle and saw some more of his xcellent coloured slides. Taking or his subject “Landscape in Colour” members and their Fiends heard how these photos lad been taken and learnt more ibout the many pitfalls which be- set the would-be-photographer who endeavours to “take” the per- iect “shot.” All present enjoyed the lecture and showed their appreciation to Mr. Windle, for the time and trouble he had taken over the preparation and selec- tion of his slides. The meeting decided to sup- port the nomination of Mr. Charles Barrett, Melbourne, for the 1953 Natural History- Medallion. The chairman extended a warm welcome to the following newly elected members: — Mrs. L. E. Horder, Stirling East. Miss J. Smith, 9 Lorraine Ave., Mitcham. Mr. B. Finch, 29 French street, Galway Estate. The meeting was closed at 10 p.m. SPECIAL MEETING Prior to the General Meeting the special meeting called for, was held at 7.30 p.m. on 21st April to discuss and approve of the new Rides and By-laws. The Chair- man stated that the parent body had requested the insertion into the Rules of a clause dis- allowing any alterations to them or the By-laws until the Coun- cil of the Royal Society had approved of them. F urther an additional Rule and By-law gov- erning the affiliation of any organisation with the Section. The meeting approved of both these additional clauses. The Chairman announced that the revised Rules and By-laws would be printed in the forthcoming issue of the S.A. Naturalist and closed the meeting at 7.55 p.m. Fifty THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1955 MAY MEETING On 19th May the Section held I its general monthly meeting when over 40 members and friends attended. Also present were rep- resentatives of the South Austra- lian Ornithological Association and of the Royal Society of South Australia. The Chairman wel- comed members from other organ- isations and especially two mem- bers of the Arrarat Field Natura- list Club, Misses Banfield and Mitchell. The important business of the evening was the presentation to Professor J. B. Cleland of the 1952 award of the Australian Natural History Medallion. The Chairman in presenting the award, men- tioned the long association Pro- lessor Cleland has had with the Section, the wide-spread interests and knowledge which he has al- ways made available to any who sought information, and the other awards which had been given to him, culminating in the award of the O.B.E. by the late King George VJ. In reply Professor Cleland thanked members of the various organisations present for forward- ing his name to the Committee. In his remarks he mentioned attend- ing an excursion to Oakbank over 60 years ago, and other incidents connected with the early history of the Section. It was in 1896-97 when it was necessary for the Ade- laide medical students to go either to Sydney or Melbourne to do their training, that natural history commenced to play a big part in Professor Cleland’s life. Dr. Pulleine mentioned to the Pro- fessor that “the birds were more interesting in and around Sydney.” The Professor told us of making a collection of birds in the heavy scrub around Rose Bay, the asso- ciation between natural history and the plague in Sydney, of lep- rosy and house burning, and of the mysterious “X” disease which occurred in 1919 and 1924 and was identified in the late 1940’s as encephalitis. The Chairman then asked Pro- fessor Cleland to give his lecture for the evening on Fungi. As was expected, Professor Cleland gave us a most interesting account, first touching on the scientific side, then the gastronomic and finally on the general side of his subject. He warned all from attempting experiments in eating other than the common mushroom, but if ex- periments were to be made, make certain that a portion of the “fungus” was left uncooked so that “in the case of a atastrophe those left would have a chance to identify the species concerned!” He further drew attention to the danger of the Flyaagaric, a scarlet- topped white-dotted species which is now extremely common through the Mt. Lofty Ranges, but norm- ally associated with introduced trees. Because of its brilliant col- ouring Professor Cleland thought that at same stage a youngster may eat it; it is extremely poisonous and there is no known remedy. At the conclusion of Professor Cle- land’s talk he was thanked by the Chairman, and members showed their appreciation. The Chairman, on behalf of all members, presented Mr. Lothian with Stan Kelly’s “Forty Eucalypts in Colour” as a token of their appreciation for his assistance in June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Fifty-one the Wild Flower Shows. Mr. Lothian thanked the Chairman and members for this wonderful gift and expressed surprise that he should have been singled out, for the success of Wild Flower Shows has been due entirely to team work. He hoped that this year’s Show would be equally successful. The following members were elected as ordinary members, anti welcomed: — Mr. D. Krachenbuehl, 23 Angas st., Goodwood Park. Mr. P. G. Palfrey, Harrow Ave., St. Marys. Mrs. M. G. Smith, 26 Dwyer Rd., Oaklands Park. Miss G. D. Glasscoe, “Hunt- leigh,” Daisy Ave., Ascot Park. Miss E. W. Wardlow, 71 First St., Prospect. A letter was read from the Preservation Section of the Forests Products Division, C.S.I.R.O., Melbourne, seeking specimens of wood destroying fungi. Members are asked to forward such speci- mens direct, and in return officers of the Section will name the speci- mens to enable members to build up a collection themselves. Postage will be refunded if required. The Chairman mentioned that the Council of the Royal Agricul- tural and Horticultural Society had suggested that the Section should make an exhibit at the forthcoming Royal Show. The matter was left in the hands of Mr. Lothian. The Chairman announced that nominations for offices and com- mittee for the year 1953-54 would be called for at the next monthly meeting, and these would be accepted up to 13th July. To permit members a few min- utes to discuss matters of mutual interest amongst themselves, in future the formal business of the evenings would finish at 9.45 p.m. It was particularly appropri- ate at the present meeting as it permitted members to inspect the large range of exhibits which Pro- fessor Cleland had brought along to illustrate his lecture. The Sec- retary also had managed to obtain one or two extremely interesting examples of “sea life.” The meeting was closed at 10 p.m. SPECIAL The American Government has put into effect what is known as die “Ful bright Plan,” which provides lor the exchange between America and Australia of scholars and lead- ers in various fields of science. Dr. Stirton, Professor of Palam- tology in the University of Cali- fornia, has been chosen to do important work in connection with fossil remains which are to be found in Central Australia. MEETINGS During his stay in Adelaide, Pro- fessor Stirton gave a lecture: “The Phylogeny of the Horse,” to a com- bined meeting of the Royal Society and its Field Naturalist Section. This was held in the Public Library Lecture Room on the even ing of 9th March, and approxi- mately 150 persons attended. The lecturer described a small, flat footed, four toed animal tiic size of a cat, which lived in the Fifty-two THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 early Eocene period and which was the ancestor of the horse. Its re- mains have been found in the clav's of England. This creature devel- oped into a larger and more power- ful animal, but still kept quietly to type until the Miocene period, when it disappeared. During this period there was intense volcanic upheaval and vast alteration to the earth surface. When the fossil remains of this creature are found again in a later period it had commenced to de- velop into diverse types. The Professor traced these types to those many types extant today. The whole lecture was excel- lently illustrated with colour films and the audience showed great appreciation at its conclusion. Another Fulbright Scholar, Pro- fessor H. Creighton of the Univer- sity of Massachusetts, U.S.A., has come to Australia to do research work at the Waite Research Insti- tute, where she is studying Plant Genetics. She addressed a com- bined meeting of the Royal Society and the Field Naturalists’ Section, held in the Public Library Lecture Room on the evening of 25th March. She chose as her subject “The Plants and Trees of America” and illustrated her address with coloured slides. Specimens were chosen from not only those areas favoured by a heavy rainfall, but from the less favoured desert por- tions of the Continent, but all were striking in their beauty. The vivid- ness of the trees in their autumn tints were very striking. The latter part of the programme was devoted to the Wildflowers of Western Australia. Dr. Creighton was most impressed with the beauties of the native flora and showed a number of slides from the large collection she had made for lecturing purposes in America. Those present showed their ap- preciation at the end of the meet- ing. — A.C.M. 70th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SECTION In 1883 the Section was estab- lished. In the next issue of the S.A. Naturalist it is proposed to record the happenings (some at least) of the “good old days.” The Committee w T ould welcome con- tributions from any member who has any notes or anecdotes con- cerning the history of the Section, and so ensure that this issue will be a successful one. KANGAROO ISLAND FLORA AND FAUNA CLUB The following is the list of office bearers of the above mentioned Club. Chairman : Dr. A. W. Burnell. Secretary-Treasurer : Mr. K. Mc- Kenzie. Committee : Mrs. G. Jackson, Messrs. K. Keane, A. F. C. Lashmar. A warm welcome to the Club is extended to any member of the Section who visits K.I. LIBRARY The Librarian wishes it to be known that the library is open in the evening when the General Monthly Meeting is held, from 7.15 p.m. until 7.50 p.m. It cannot remain open longer otherwise it will interfere with the conduct of the General Meeting. June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Fifty-three Hardiness of Australian Plants In the last issue of “Lasca Leaves”! 1 ) an extremely interesting and pertinent article appears by Vernon T. Stoute- meyer, “Cold Resistance of Suptropical Ornamentals.” While dealing with a wide range of garden plants it contains some interesting observations on the hardiness of Australian plants growing under Californian conditions. These observations were recorded during the winters of 1947-48, 1948-49, 1949 -jO, in the vicinity of West Los Angeles. Temperatures ranged from above freezing point to the lowest, which was 24 °F. during the 1947-48 winter (20-21 °F. in low lying areas), whilst in 1949-50 winter the ireeze occurred in early December following a period of warm weather with rain in November. Under these conditions growth had com- menced, therefore damage was severe. The following details are taken from the above mentioned paper. Eucalyptus. — Most of the Eucalyptus species commonly grown were not seriously affected by temperatures down to 20 °F. Eucalyptus pci folia lost much wood of the tops at this minimum in January 1949, but recovered well. E. cladocalyx (E. corynocalyx) was observed to be frosted noticeably at this temperature. Some injuries were observed on E. citriodora, E. Lehmanni and E. cinerea, although E. cinerea was untouched below 20° F. Acacias. — Except in the colder areas, all species of Acacias kept blooming or were undamaged during and following the January 3-4 freeze of 1949. Recorded damage only on A. podalyriae folia at approximately 20 °F. Ferns . — These were in an unheated lath-house where the temperature fell to 20°F. The damage would have been con- siderably greater had the plants been in the open. Ferns showing severe injury or killed at 20°F. were Alsophila australis and Cyathea medullaris. Those showing slight injury were Platycerium alcicorne and Platycerium grande while those showing no injury were Adiantum altadena, Dicksonia antarctica and P ter is tremula ( 3 ) Lasca Leaves — Quarterly journal of the Los Angeles State and Country Arborteum, Vol. II, No. 3 (July, '52). Vines. — Most of the evergreen and flowering vines were severely damaged or killed at temperatures between 30 U F. to 20 °F. Hardenbergia comptoniana no injury at 25 °F. Hibbertia volubilis slight injury at 26 °F. Pandorea pandorana no injury at 21 °F. Sollya heterophylla no injury at 21 °F. Shrubs. — Observations indicate a par ticularly adverse influence of frost accom- panied by low dewpoints on tender sub- tropical and tropical plants. However, this may be a relatively unimportant factor with plants in other groups such as many of the Californian native plants or Mediterranean plants, particularly those having sclerophyllous or grey- tomentose foliage. This is an unworked field for ecological study. The use of controlled laboratory techniques would present considerable mechanical diffi- culties. The following Australian shrubs arc- reported upon: — Chamaelaucium uncinatum no injury at 21°F. Chorizema varium no injury at 24°F. Correa alba no injury at 21 °F. Correa speciosa lowest temperature resisted 18°F. Grevillea Banksii lowest temperature resisted 20°F. Kunzea sericea no injury at 25 °F. Leptospermum laevigatum no injury at 21 °F. Leptospermum scoparium no injury at 21 °F. The recovery of many plants injured by the 1948-49 freeze was often slow. In some instances, new growth did not appear until late in the following summer. The best recovery was made when plants were left unpruned and un- fertilized with minimum irrigation until new growth was well started. Freezing w r eather early in the autumn may be much more serious than the same temperatures would be later in the season. Materials recently planted in the ground or shifted to larger containers were especially vulnerable. All through the two most severe winters, losses of nursery plants were large, but although Fifty-four THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 well established ornamental plantings | were damaged severely, most plants eventually recovered. Active shoot growth should be restrained as much as possible during the winter. This can be aided by with holding fertilizer and water in the autumn. However, in California, which I has a typical Mediterranean climate, the j autumn and winter rains when accom- < panied by periods of warm weather may j start growth in spite of such precautions. I Some colder regions with dry winters are known to be safer for certain plants than California. On the other hand, when freezing weather comes, it is some- times advantageous to have moist soil since this accumulates more heat. Many striking instances of the influence of ground radiation were observed in West Los Angeles during the freezes of 1947-48 and 1948-49. Since low temperatures in southern California are usually of short duration, ground radiation of heat is frequently an im- portant factor in mitigating the effects of low air temperatures. After prolonged low temperatures this reserve may become depleted, however. On the night of January 3-4, 1949 (temp. 20° F.), plants under lath usually fared better than those fully exposed. In the West Los Angeles area, plants under overhanging eaves of houses or under trees often escaped serious injury only a short distance from locations where fully exposed plants were killed to the ground. Plants against masonry walls or stones were often much less injured than those against wooden walls. Although drying out of the soil is used as a means of conditioning plants against cold, the soil should be moist rather than dry in advance of the freeze, as the moist soil will store more heat. Trees. — The following records are of interest: — Agonis flexuosa severe injury 21 °F. Brachy chiton acerifolium slight injury 25 °F. Brachychiton populneus no injur\ 21 °F. Callistemon speciosus no injury 21 °F. Castanospermum australe no injury 25 °F. and lower. Eugenia paniculata australis slight injury 24° F. Grevillea robusta no injury 21 °F. Hymenosporum fiavum no injury 21 °F. Lagunaria Pattersonii no injury 21 °F. Pittosporum. rhombifolium slight injury 26 °F. Pittosporum undulalum severe injurs 21 °F. Stenocarpus sinuatus no injury 25°F. Some general recommendations are made at the end of this article. They are: — The following species should not be planted when cold temperatures are likely to be prolonged during the winter (or in low lying areas), Eucalyptus citriodora, E. ficifolia, E. Lehmanni, Eugenia paniculata , Melaleuca leuca dendon, Pittosporum undulalum, Tris- lania conferta and Harpullia pendula. Some trees likely to be destroyed when temperatures drop to 20°F. are Cupania anacardioides and Hymenu- sporum fiavum. Some trees which appear to be entirely safe at temperatures below 20°F. are Callistemon , Casuarina, Grevillea robusta, Hakea saligna, Lagunaria Pattersonii, Melaleuca genistifolia and Pittosporum phillyraeoides. Editor’s Note It would appear that this important field is untouched, for papers of a similar nature have not been noted in any Australian journals. Further obser- vations would be welcomed and members are asked to forward them to the Editor, giving details regarding species, degrees of cold endured and conditions prior to the frost. NATIONAL PARK HANDBOOK Advice has been received from the Commissioners of National Park that a new edition, com- pletely re-written of the Handbook lias been prepared. It is expected that this will be available in Aug- ust or September, and the cost will be 5/- per copy. Members wishing to secure copies should apply either to Secretary, National Park, Belair, or the Secretary of the Section. June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Fifty-five Australites and Other Tektites by Charles Fenner , S.A. Museum. Research Associate of the Institute of Meteorites, University of New Mexico. The name “Tektite” was given by the late Franz E. Suess, of Vienna, to blobs of natural melted glass, variously shaped, found on the surface of the earth or in alluvial deposits. The word simply means “melted” and was wisely chosen, since that is a definite characteristic common to all tek- tites. These small objects consti- tute one of Nature's puzzles. Scientific enquirers over more than 150 years have been unable to agree as to the exact nature of their origin. Not that there has been any lack of skilled enquirers, nor of theories. For instance, in 1940, Virgil E. Barnes, of Texas, published a list of references to scientific publications about tek- tites, and even at that date the list included 285 different papers. The earliest recorded tektites, and possibly the oldest geologically, were those found in Moldavia, called Moldavites. Beyer (Manila) considers that the Rizalites, etc., of the Philippine Islands fell in the Mesolithic to Neolithic periods 8000 b.c. to 2000 b.c. It may be asked why similar objects have not been found in the older rocks of the earth. Since they fell in late Tertiary and in Recent times, one would expect that similar objects would have fallen on the earth in earlier periods. Perhaps they have fallen, and been missed by geologists. Another theory is that they have become devitrified and thus unrecogniz- able. The earliest recorded Austral ite was found in Western New South Wales, and was given by the ex- plorer, Major Mitchell, to Chanes Darwin, when that great scientist visited Sydney. Darwin figured and described it in his “Geological Observations,” 1844. Darwin thought it to be of volcanic origin, but that theory has been discarded. Tektite swarms have been found in Moldavia, Billiton, Australia, Tasmania, Ivory Coast (Africa), Indo-China, Java, Phillipine Islands, Borneo, Libyan Desert, Colombia (South America), Texas (North America) and other places. The material called Darwin Glass and that called Libyan Glass are some- what different, both in composi- tion and appearance, from that of the other groups, but their origin is even more mysterious; perhaps we should not class these two groups as tektites until we know more about them. Moldavites have been found in thousands and may be seen in large numbers at Prague; they are of a beautiful translucent green or brown colour. Apart from Libyan glass and Darwin glass, most tek- tites when broken look like black bottle-glass. Libyan glass is in larger masses and yellowish. Dar- win glass is of frothy irregular character, light in colour. Indo- chinites are very numerous, as may be seen in museums. Philippinites and Javanites are also very abun- dant. It has been estimated that Fifty-six THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 from one million to ten million Austral ites were strewn across the southern hall of Australia and Tas- mania. Each group has a characteristic different shape or series of shapes, also a different chemical composi- tion, mostly silica, but the mem- bers of any one group have closely related types of shape and peculi- arities of chemical composition. So much so, that with practice one may usually identify the group to which any individual specimen be- longs. Nevertheless, it must be remembered that the tektites of south-eastern Asia and those of the Philippine and East Indian islands have much in common. Otley Beyer (Manila) suggests the name lndo-Malaysianites, to include the Indio-Chin ites, Billitonites, Riza- lites, Javanites, etc. Theories regarding their origin vary greatly, for instance: (a) relics of at primitive glass factory, (b) volcanic bombs or bubbles, (c) obsidian pebbles rounded in the gizzards of emus, (d) formed by lightning fusing the dust of the air or the rocks of the ground, (e) splashes from the impact of meteorites, (f) blobs dropped from a flam- ing meteorite, (g) “Chips from the moon,” etc. (h) swarms of definite glass meteorites, (i) blobs thrown out “when the moon left the Pacific Ocean.” (j) Doubtless, other theories will be forthcoming in the future. Notwithstanding the variety ol theories, they are generally accep- Ala 7 Alb Fig. 1 . — Shapes of Auslralites. Flanged buttons. June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Fifty-seven ted as glass meteorites, that is, that they come in swarms from a source outside the earth. This appears to be so for the following reasons: (a) The occurrence of each group in a separate restric- ted locality. (b) The general similarity of form types in each group. (c) The almost uniform com- position of the members of each group. There are still a few people who do not believe that tektites fell from the sky. But one may recall that as late as 1665 the dis- tinguished scientist, Robert Hooke, did not believe that iron meteorites fell to the earth from outer space! “On one occasion,” says Dr. F. A. Paneth, “a whole (French) village, backed by the mayor, sent in a written and signed statement about the fall of a meteorite. The Paris scientists were deeply shocked at their credulity, and simply declared the described facts as ‘physically impossible’.” The most striking of the Aus- tralites are the “flanged buttons,” as shown in Fig. 1. The top row, Nos. 1 to 6, are perfect shapes, like a “pudding in a saucer.” The second row. Nos. 7 to 12 shows the same Australites as seen from the side. The third row. Nos. 1 to 6, are buttons from which part of the flange has been chipped off. Nos. 1 and 2 are back side up as in the top row; Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the front side, with flow ridges. No. 6 shows a small burst gas bubble. As already stated, the flanged button is the rarest form; lenses and lens cores are the most common; broad ovals, narrow l ovals, and dumb-bells, usually abraded, are fairly common. Of over 17,000 specimens in the South Australian Museum collection, there are only 0.6% of flanged buttons. In 1938 Lincoln La Paz, of New Mexico, recorded that: “Tektites are exhibited occasionally in placer (alluvial) mining camps in the United States. However, it is the author’s opinion that such speci- mens come originally from the tektite-sprinkled goldfields of Aus- tralia.” There may be some sym- pathetic magic in this idea, for the flanged button resembles a miner’s panning-off dish full of wash-dirt. Giving special attention to the Australites, we may note that they are all recorded from an area of 2,000,000 square miles of Australia, south of a line joining Kyogle (N.S.W.) and I)erl}y (YV.A.). Al- though they appear to be strewn sporadically — more abundant in some places and less abundant in others — the evidence suggests that they could be found in any closely searched area within the region mentioned. Maybe they occur in clusters, as suggested by one of Sergeant Ken- nett’s keenest aboriginal collectors, who said: “Supposem you find more big fella stone, alright, you look around properly fella, and you findem mob little fella.” The general composition of Aus- tralites is as follows: SiO_- 68 to 79%; Ah Os, 10 to 15%; FeTT, 0.4 to 0.8%; FeO, 3.11 to 4.3%; MgO, 1.3 to 2.5%; CaO, 1.4 to 3.5%; Na,0, 0.9 to 1.5%; K.O, 1.2 to 2.5% with traces of Manganese, Titanium, etc. Other groups are somewhat similar, but with detec- table differences and with some Fifty-eight THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 A. i| LENS V BUTTON Button. Oval CORE Boat, Dumbbell. Teardrops. ? Button. Fig. 2 . — Most common overlap. Libyan Glass and Darwin Glass are much more siliceous, varying up to 89% SiCL for the latter and 97% SiO* for the former. In Figure 2 an effort has been made to suggest the development of the commonest forms of Aus- tral ites. The lens and the lens core are by far the most abundant, the “flanged button” is the most rare and most beautiful, and there are many aberrant forms, few in num- bers, such as ladles, helmets, flat discs, pine seeds, etc. A large num- ber are broken and nondescript fragments. It was for some time the writer’s opinion, following Suess, Michel, and others, that Australites com- menced as spheres or blobs of glass, shed in a vast shower from a flam- ing light-metal or stony meteorite, or swarm of meteorites, passing right across southern Australia, possibly from N-W to S-E. There is evidence that they all reached the earth as cold bodies, at a time “geologically recent but historically remote.” Graphic analysis has shown that the largest round forms were cores, shapes of Australites. sometimes called “bungs”; the nexty largest were medium to small cores; the next largest the flanged buttons, and the smallest the more perfect lenses. While a great num- ber still preserve their original perfect form, the majority have llaked as well as eroded by sand- blast in semi-arid areas, or by alluvial wear in the moister areas. They are found on all types of surfaces, irrespective of the kind of rock, the amount of rainfall, etc., and all appear to have spun in their flight, rotating rapidly in a plane at right angles to their direction of movement. Unbroken and unabraded specimens usually show pitting or other marks on the rear surface and concentric or spiral flow ridges on the front sur- face where that surface has not been flaked away. The Australian aborigines were the first to find Australites, and used them at times to make small cutting and scraping implements, or as objects of magic, medicine, and mystery. They were given different names by different tribes; a collection in the British Museum is recorded as being called map- THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Fifty-nine June, 1953 pain. Tindale states that the Dieri tribe called them ooga and mura- mura, meaning ‘‘eyes that stared hard at you/’ while the Wadikali tribe called them rnindjimindjil- para , with something of the same meaning. This graph (Fig. 3) is included in support of the writer’s theory of the genesis of Australite forms. The group (A2h, lenses and lens cores) is the largest in the South Australian Museum collection. The series was firstly arranged according to weights, from the 8 that averaged 39 grams, then to the maximum number of 613 averaging 5.3 grams, down to the minimum of the 54 smallest speci- mens, averaging 2 grams. The graph of weights is a gently curved line. That of sizes in milli- metres is an almost straight line. The significant fact is that the line showing the numbers of each weight-size group is a normal dis- tribution curve, as found in the graphs of varying factors in most natural objects. The largest known specimen is 218 grams, and the smallest .15 grams. Assuming that they all started as spherical or oval forms, still hot, spinning as shown in Figure 2A, the forward part may have been further melted by the friction of the air, flowing backward to form a flange. All Australites show evidence of two distinct periods of melting. Where the flange was developed, it later, in most cases, melted and disappeared, and thus we get the lens, the commonest form. The Sixty THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 smallest lens is one-sixth of a gram, but there may be smaller ones too difficult to find. In the larger lenses the rim was often fractured off, being brittle because of its rapid cooling in the lower atmosphere, and thus we get the lens “core,” second commonest in form. The largest are “bung- shaped,” and in rare cases are over 200 grams. It is thought that the oval or elongate types may have grown longer as they spun, sometimes be- coming dumb-bell or pear-shaped types; in some cases perhaps these finally flew into two pieces form- ing “tear-drops.” Some elongate forms developed flanges, and even in rare cases this was so with tear drops. Since, as Suess has emphasized, and the present writer has shown by a detailed analysis of several large collections of form types, the Australites are confined to a “rather small number of well- defined types of shapes” (Suess), apparently developed by their flight in semi-liquid form through a gas, and since also their distri- bution, their internal and external structures, chemical composition, and refractive indices, are well known, it would appear that the next appropriate step in the en- quiry as to their origin should be a mathematical analysis of their shapes, as indicated by the writer in Australites, Part III, pp. 197- 206, etc. (Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., vol. 62 (2), 1938.) Many contain gas bubbles, often minute, and mostly burst. One specimen (Melbourne Museum) is a large hollow sphere, about 11- inc.hes in diameter. The interior was originally occupied by a gas. When this specimen was cut in two the gas was not collected, but workers on other specimens have asserted that the gas is mostly carbon dioxide and carbon mon- oxide. The specific gravity is fairly constant, but on its variations Baker considers they all fell in one swarm, moving from NW to SE. Large numbers must have fallen into the adjacent seas. In June, 1939, the writer pre- pared an article on Australites, entitled “Blackfellows Buttons.” This appeared in “The Sky,” New York, and concluded with the fol- lowing paragraph: “Tektites have now been reported from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America. It can scarcely be doubted that one or more showers await discovery in North America.” in June, 1940, Virgil Barnes pub- lished his first paper on North American tektites (Bediasites, Texas). Probably there are more swarms yet to be discovered. With all that we know of Aus- tralites, and of other tektites, no positive proof is available as to their origin, except that they are glassy, were molten, and that they came from outside the earth. Naturalists, keeping in mind the known facts, can therefore theorize about them to their heart’s con- tent. As was said long ago of the fly in the amber: “The wonder is not why nor where. But how the deuce the thing got there.” The facts and theories in this paper are based on forty years’ study of australites and other tek- tites, including the weighing, measuring, and classification of many thousands of these objects, June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Sixty-one together with microscopic observa- tion of thin sections. The writer has also discussed the matter with authorities, either personally or by correspondence, in all the Aus- tralian States, as well as in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. I beg to acknowledge assistance either by personal conversations and exchange of papers and speci- mens, or in other cases by extended correspondence and exchange of papers and specimens with the fol- lowing authorities: L. J. Spencer and Campbel 1-Smith (London), Leonard (California) , La Paz and Cassidy (New Mexico) , Paneth (Durham) , Barnes (Texas for Bediasites) , Nininger (Arizona), Oleszkowicz (Michigan), Douglas Johnson and Clyde Fisher (New York), Lacroix (Paris, lor Indo- Chinites), von Koenigswald (Java, for Javanites), Shelton (Malay, for Billitonites) , F. E. Suess and Michel (Vienna) , Otley Beyer (Manila, P.I., for Rizalites), Young (Cape Town) , also Summers, Kerr Grant, Skeats, Dunn, Glauert, Whitehouse, Scott, David, Geo. Baker, Walkom, Mahony, and others (Australia). Some of these workers have passed on, and some may have been overlooked, but I am grateful to them all. My special thanks for inspiration are due to Dr. Summers, and Franz Ed. Suess, and Fritz Paneth. F. A. Paneth, in “Endeavour”, January, 1953, gives accounts of the detection and quantitative analysis of rare gases contained in iron and stone meteorites. He has elsewhere dealt similarly with glass meteorites (tektites). Paneth and his fellow workers reach some astonishing conclusions, namely, that some iron meteorites solidified less than 1,000,000 years ago. The age of the earth is generally taken as 2,000,000,000 years, and the age of the solar system as about 3,000,000,000 years. Several other meteorites gave ages of 7.000. 000.000 years, “several times the supposed age of the earth and very close to the supposed age of the Universe.” Hoyle (Cambridge) says the Galaxy “cannot yet be as old as 50.000. 000.000 years.” (Hoyle is a keen astronomer). Harrison Brown (Chicago arid California) has recorded that “in meteorites scientists posses a Rosetta Stone that may well prove to be a major key in answering some of the problems of the solar system, and perhaps of the universe itself.” This would not exclude the glass meteorites (tektites) though Brown does not specifically men- tion them. Professor George Gamow of the George Washington Museum— a brilliant astronomer— says “Astron- omical evidence clearly indicates that the multitude of stars we see in the sky— our own Sun among them— could not have existed eternally and were probably formed earlier than some 2.000. 000.000 years ago from the hot primordial gas that previously filled all the universe.” It is not possible to discuss glass meteorites (tektites) without wandering into the realms of astronomy— hence these astronomical references. It is clear that the study of australites and other tektites leads us deep into human knowledge. The writer’s belief is that tektite swarms rate equally with iron and stone meteorites, and should be thus classified in collections of meteorites, and in publications concerning meteorites. Sixty-two THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 THE OCCURRENCE OF ARGEMONE MEXICANA VAR OCHROLEUCA IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA A. 11. li. Higginson , Pt. Augusta. Black's “Flora of South Aus- tralia’' gives this plant as occurring in ‘the country north-west of Cock burn,' but as Cockburn is situated practically on the South Australian-New South Wales bor- der, an element of doubt remains as to whether he intended to con- vey that the plant did occur in this State. Some years ago two unknown plants appeared in the writer's garden and were allowed to mature in order to establish their identity. When they flowered there was no difficulty in recognising them as the Mexican or Prickly Poppy — Argemone mexicana var ochro- leuca (Sweet) Lindl and this identification was later confirmed by Professor J. B. Gleland. As this plant is a declared noxious weed in the Eastern States, both plants were then destroyed to prevent seeding, and no further occurrence has been noted. During the winter of 1951, a fairly extensive colony of these plants was found growing in the Railway yard at Port Pirie Junction and this was immediately reported to the De- partment of Agriculture. No action was taken to bring it under the notice of the botany branch of the Royal Society as at that stage it vas not known if the plant would per- sist. The colony was kept under observation during 1952, and it was noted that it flowered and seeded freely and a recent inspec- tion showed that the colony has extended considerably and that the plants are again growing vigor- ously. The plants have therefore now been under observation for thiee seasons and it is evident that it is thoroughly established in this locality and the occurrence should now be recorded. Field identification of this plant can be readily made by the strip of white which follow's the veins of the leaves and by the fact that it exudes a chrome-yellow sap copi- ously w r hen plucked. CORYBAS UNGU ICULATUS (R. Br.) Reichb. New Locality Record Black’s Flora 2nd edition 1943 gives Mount Compass and be- tween Mount Gambier and Glencoe as South Australian localities for the above species. It is therefore of considerable inter- est to record that the writer found this orchid in flow'er at Bridge- water in July, growing in black gritty soil under small Tea-Tree bushes on the southern slope of a hill lightly timbered with Stringy - bark. The number of plants in the group found w r ould be at least fifty and it was only after three years observation of the leaves that four plants were found in flower. The grouping of plants suggest vegetative rather than seed reproduction. M. A. Lower. (Editor’s note:— The author of the above note w r ould welcome correspondence with others inter- ested in Orchids. The address is: — 7 Playford Street, Glen Osmond, S.A.) June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Sixty-three AN INTERESTING MARINE SPIDER, DESIS KENYONAE POCOCK FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA by H. WOMERSLEY , South Australian Museum Spiders of the genus Desis are not common. They are to be found on low rocky reefs crawling over the rocks when exposed at low tide. Closely allied to the European water spider Argyroneta aquatica, they have somewhat similar habits, but instead of making an inverted silken bell attached to weeds, they live in the crannies of the rocks which they apparently fill with air, as does Argyroneta with her bell, when submerged by the tide. They are quite at home in the water itself. Recently J have been indebted to Mr. S. E. Rowe for a male speci- men of Desis kenyonae which he found walking over the rocks on a small island off Pondalowie Bay, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, on 5th January, 1953. Although the present account is the first published record of this spider for South Australia, it has been known to me for some years from specimens collected by my son (J. S. Womersley) on the reef at Noarlunga, 25th December, 1935, while in the Museum collec- tion are several specimens from Sellick Beach, March, 1936, col- lected by Mr. H. M. Hale. The species was originally col- lected from San Remo, Western- port Bay, Victoria, by Miss Ken- von. j In his description in the Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1902, vol. 2., I p. 102 Pocock quotes from Miss Kenyon the following: “During a recent stay at San Remo, while turning over stones at low water in search of Mollusca, I noticed what seemed to be the sea-worn shell of a Crepidula. Upon detaching the shell from the partially submerged rock to which it adhered, I found underneath it the spider with its legs drawn back- wards and its head concealed un- der a sheet of web which exactly resembled the septum , of the valve of a Crepidula although the shell itself was that of an Anomia. The spider was conspicuous from the intense blue of its abdomen and the vivid red of its cephalo- thorax. The shell was apparently fixed to the ground by means of a silken attachment, since the shell had to be removed by the inser- tion of the point of a penknife/’ Mr. Pocock (loc. cit.) also gives a key for the separation of the known species only two of which, marina Hector and kenyonae , are Australian. Since then a third species hartmeyeri was described bv Simon from the Michaelson and Hartmeyer Expedition to South West Australia. The three known Australian species may be separated as follows: 1. Eyes of both anterior and posterior rows very unequally spaced, the distance between medians and laterals far greater than between them- selves; protarsus of legs II, III, and IV with a pair of spines on proximal side of Sixty four THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 scopula as well as at apex; distal tooth on anterior mar- gin of fang-groove nearer to base of fang and remote from rest of series. D. kenyonae Pocock. Eyes of posterior row sub- equally spaced. 2. Tibia and protarsus of posterior legs strongly splined. Eyes of posterior row about 3 diameters apart. Teeth of posterior border of fang- groove far apart, separated by a space equal to 3 times length of proximal tooth, the distal tooth much the larger of the two; teeth of anterior row starting well away from base. D. marina (Hector). Posterior legs unarmed. Eyes of posterior row equally about 3 diameters apart, medians smaller than laterals. Posterior fang-groove with 2 unequal teeth, apical conical and oblique, the other half the size, straight and acute; anterior margin with 6 acute teeth, basal not near base of fang. D. hartmeyeri Simon. 0 o B o 0 ^ o o & Text figure. Desis kenyonae Pocock A. Male, in dorsal view, with- out legs; B. eyes viewed from front; C. lower side of left mandible (B. and C. after Pocock). COURSE OF SECOND CREEK On 8th June, 1952, when the E. 8c W.S. Department were making excavations along Sidney Place (off Burnside Road and opposite St. David's Church) in the direction and towards Hazelwood Park they unearthed large numbers of water worn stones up to 12 inches in size. These were found at a depth rang- ing from 2 to 4 ft. This is evidently the old water course of Second Creek which, at that time, probably made a junc- tion with First Creek in the neigh- bourhood of Hazelwood Park. J. B. Cleland. June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Sixty five EXCURSIONS TRIP TO PORT GAWLER 26.1.53. Leader: Brian Glover. The trip was attended by a full buS load of members, and the various habitat types in the area (excluding the man- groves) were searched tor bird life. The day being unpleasantly hot there was little activity amongst the birds, and apart from Singing Honeyeaters ( Meliphaga mrescens), Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters ( Acanthagenys rufogularis) and White-browed Babblers ( Pomatos - tom us super ciUosus) very few birds were seen in the Melaleuca pubescens scrub, where an hour or so was spent during the morning. One interesting record in this area was a single Spotted Harrier ( Circus assimilis), a rare bird this far south. The afternoon was spent at the lake on the property of Mr. E. A. Brooks. Although the water-level was falling there was not enough mud exposed to attract many wading birds, the only migrants seen being Greenshanks (Tringa nebularia) and the Sharp- tailed Sand- pipers ( Erolia acuminata). The bird-life on the lake itself was rather disappointing. None of the species w r hich had invaded southern South Aus- tralia during 1951-52 U) and which were so conspicuous at the Buckland Park lake at that time, was to be seen, and many of the usual residents — Spoonbills, Ibis, Egrets, etc., were also absent. However most members appeared to enjoy their trip to this area, anti those interested in birds seemed to be satisfied with what was seen. As a point of interest, the leader, with several other bird observers again visited the lake on 8.2.53, this time under per- fect weather conditions, but the bird-list was still disappointing. However, a number of interesting additions were made, including: — Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus )- — ■ several small flocks. Avocet ( Recurvitostra ii(wae-hollandiae ) — flock of over 100. Black-tailed Goclwit (Limosa limosa ) — 3, and several other ducks and migratory waders. Reference: (f 1 ) Glover, Brian, “Movements of Birds in South Australia.’’ South Australian Ornithologist, Vol. XX, pp. 82-91, 1952. EASTER CAMP, 1953 The Field Naturalists spent Easter at the Youth Hostel, Aldinga Beach. A smaller party than usual attended the outing but in some ways this was an advantage for it was possible to squeeze most of the party into the utility and travel to more distant places of interest. Unexpected patches of rain on the Friday afternoon restricted our move- ments but eventually the weather became cool and remained fine for the rest of the camp. Warm weather tends to create a “can’t be bothered attitude” especially when you’re well fed, and believe me some of these Field Naturalists were fed! Saturday afternoon we crowded into the utility for a run along the beach northwards to the Fish Tower where a search was made among the sandhills for blackfellows remains. Several kitchens were found with the familiar round fire- blackened stones, and several places where stone chipping had been done when making their stone implements. A black- fellows’ burial ground is known to exist about here but no remains were found, probably because they are a little further east than where we were. A windmill near the beach is now the only indica- tion where the blacks used to have a soak of fresh water. Sunday morning meant church service in the Methodist Church at Aldinga, and in the churchyard is a memorial to the sailors who were drowned in the wreck of the “Star of Greece.” In the after- noon we made another trip along the sea-beach to the cliffs on the south side of Sellicks. This was an afternoon out for the shell and seaweed collectors and also for those who were interested in pebbles. Having the utility handy a number of them were brought home and dumped around the camp site “all the same blackfellow”. Monday morning the camp had a pre- liminary dean up so that in the after- noon we were again able to make a trip — per utility — along the cliffs to Port Willunga, where an inspection was made of the fossils contained in the Miocene limestone cliffs. In the evening after signing the log- book, camp was left at dusk to catch the Adelaide-bound bus. Here, with a tinge of regret, I once again parted from friends who share a common interest “in the birds, the bees and the wild flowers of nature”. Geo. Hazel. Sixty-six THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1955 An Excursion to the Gawler Ranges by A. R. R. Higgins on , Port Augusta Mr. A. J. Gray, officer-in-Charge of the Victorian State Forestry Commission’s nursery at Wail, who is an accepted authority on raising and propagating our native flora and who has done much to encourage the planting of shade and shelter trees in the Victorian Wimmera, had been on a visit to Port Augusta. In consequence every endeavour was made to let him see as much of our district as time would permit. Mr. Gray had made some profit- able trips into the Flinders Range and it was thought that by way of contrast he should also visit the Gawler Range. These are less than 25 miles distant from, and run- ning roughly parallel to the Flinders Range, but carry an en- tirely different flora, due no doubt to the difference in rainfall. The Gawler Range receiving about 10 inches per year against more than 15 inches for the Flinders Range. It was mentioned to Mr. Gray that the plants of the area West of the Flinders Range and from a point south of Port Augusta and extending into the interior fell largely within two family groups, namely, the Chenopodiaceae and Leguminosae, the former provide ground cover and the latter most of the arboreal specimens. It was with the intention of checking this rather uncommon occurrence that Mr. A J. Gray, Mr. Roy Gray of Dept, of Works Arboretum and myself set out along the Why all a Road on Saturday morning. While proceeding along the road it was noticed that there were large numbers of caterpillars crossing the road, all travelling from North to South. One won- dered what urge was driving them southward as there did not appear to be any lack of herbage in any direction. Our first stop was made at a field where it was known that the red flowered Swainsona (S. stipu- laris) usually occurs; we found the plant growing in large numbers but as they had been recently grazed, they did not provide the magnificent sight that they usually do.' The open country between the gulf and the range is the home of that most elusive little bird, the Rufus Field Wren. One seldom sees them as they seldom rise above the top of the blue bush and salt bush which grows here very thickly, but one is always aware of their presence by their twitter- ing call which seems to keep a constant distance and in front. Our next stop was at a dry watercourse where the usual Red Gum trees ( Eucalyptus carnal dnl- ensis) is replaced by River Box (F. intertext a). This is the only place in South Australia from which this tree is recorded and it is an everlasting puzzle as to why this tree should occur in this one creek only. There is no other of its species within 500 miles and it is probably a survivor of a much earlier period. From this point we diverged from our main route to let Mr. Gray see a large patch of the June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Sixty-seven Coonamore Daisy ( Erodiophyllnm Elderi) which was in full bloom. This plant would appear to have all the characteristics that are re- quired in a popular garden sub- ject as it has form, colour, per- fume, and is easy to raise from seed and keeps well in water. Mr. Gray was very enthusiastic about its possibilities and we had to promise to send him a good supply of seed later be lore we could get him back to the car. From here we returned to the Whyalla road and proceeded to a point which was reasonably close to the hills. The car was run off the road and we proceeded on foot. This part is typical Myall ( Acacia Sowdeni) country and this tree was growing here at its best and was just beginning to flower. The Myall is not a tall tree, usually growing to about 20 feet, but its dense, spreading branches often cover an area of more than 80 ft. diameter. It mostly attains a rather formal shape and has been given the com- mon name of “Umbrella Tree” which rather aptly describes it. It was noted that plants growing right underneath the Myalls were growing much more vigorously than those growing in the open. This seemed a contradiction as soil moisture is usually considered to be the limiting factor of plant growth in this region. Plants growing underneath densely loliaged trees would obviously re- ceive less rainfall than those grow- ing in the open, although the thick mulch of fallen leaves would tend to retain the moisture that did reach the ground. As there had been no shortage of soil j moisture in this area for some i months prior to our visit, it was considered that this was not the solution. Nitrogen enrichment was also considered but as this would be expected to be at a maximum in the area of the greatest root activity (which would occur out- side the ioliage area) this also was discounted. 1 his left only the pos- sibility of increased bacterial activity due to a higher humus content of the soil and as a solu- tion and we left it at that! Continuing our way we passed rather abruptly from the Myall into a Blackoak ( Casuarina lepi- dophloia) clump. A search was made for cones and it was some time before one was found. It was noted that the trees were produc- ing large numbers of root suckers and this fact together with the absence of fruiting cones and also that these trees are usually found in tight clumps led us to the be- lief that propagation is from these suckers rather than from seed. Passing out of the Blackoaks we entered onto the foothills of the range. This is open country where the dominant plants are Kochia species, K. sedifolia and K. pyra- midata being much in evidence. The breaks in the bluebush are clothed with Atriplex and Bassin species amongst which Atriplex vesicarium, A. stipnlatum, A. spongiosum , Bassia paradoxa and some clumps of spear grass— Stipa mtida — were noted. The Kochia-Atriplex plant asso- ciation continues to the foot of the hills where it gradually gives way to Triodia irritans and this plant continues without an appreciable break up to the top of the hills. The Gawler Range consists largely of shale and rather soft Sixty-eight THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 red sandstone with a horizontal cap of hard igneous rock (Porphyry). It is this caprock (varying in thickness up to about 30 ft.), which gives the range its typical “Tabletop” appearance and is preventing the erosion of the underlying softer rock. Were it not for this layer of rock the Gawler Range would long ago have disappeared. The tops of these hills, which are compara- tively flat, vary in width up to 150 yards, carry very little soil, and much to our surprise the only trees of consequence that we saw was Melaleuca pubescens , which we had previously found growing in the salt creek on the plain. On looking back over the route traversed in reaching the hills we were struck by the clearly defined dividing line between the Myall and Black Oak trees. It was noted that the actual point of division was a small watercourse, the Myalls growing in the strongly alkaline soils to the west of the creek and the Black Oaks in the more acid soils formed by the weathering of the rocks from the hills. And so we made our way back to the car, not much richer in botanical specimens. Still we had seen much to interest us and to give us thought and to speculate upon for we had satisfied our- selves that the two plant families first mentioned provide at least 90 per cent, of the plants of this area. OLIVE TREE ON ST. PETER In “The Advertiser” of 15th March, 1951, is a photograph of a small tree, said to be eight or ten feet high, which could be seen waving over the stone rampart at the pediment of the spire on the south-west tower (the bell-tower). The accompanying legend stated that there “a windblown seed came to rest and sprouted.” As the shrub shown in the photograph looked to me rather like an olive, 1 made an inspection of it with field-glasses a few days later. It was growing on the northern aspect of the tower and was as ex- 'S CATHEDRAL: ADELAIDE pected an olive. Several domestic pigeons were on the parapet be- side it and there was considerable fouling with their excreta. I do not know whether domestic pigeons ever eat olives with stones. I think it almost certain that starlings were responsible for the seeding. At a similar height on the South-East tower a sowthistle could be seen, and this was un- questionably from wind-blown seed. J. B. Cleland. June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Sixty-nine BOOK “Illustrations of the Fruits ( and Buds) of Eucalyptus Species with Alphabetical and Numerical Indices ” Leaflet No. <33. Forestry and Timber Bureau, Coin- month wealth of Australia, 1952. The first paragraph of the Foreword reads: — “This leaflet has been produced in the hope that it may assist foresters and botanists in field identification of eucalypt species,” but it is doubtful if this would be the case. The illustrations have been taken from Maiden’s “A Critical Revision of the Genus Eucalyp- tus” and each has been brought to life- size. The nomenclature is based on Blakely’s “A Key to the Eucalypts” but unfortunately the illustrations are NOT in the natural sequences decided upon by Blakely. The result is merely a jumble of illustrations not only showing little relationship one with the next one, but REVIEW frequently separating the varieties from the parent species which adds to the confusion. Further, proof reading has not been good, for at least five (Nos. 16, 94, 98, 596 and 171) are upside down — the last number, 171, is still upside down although placed as would normally be accepted as the right way up! Today, when anything published on Eucalypts of a critical and comprehensive nature is of value, it is to be regretted that the present "leaflet” cannot be in- cluded in this category. To make this leaflet workable it is suggested that you follow the lead of a local forester, namely, spend 24 evenings cutting out the illustrations and re- arranging them in numerical order by sticking them on to foolscap sheets. Then, and then only, will this leaflet fulfil the hope of the first paragraph. N.L. ROADSIDE VEGETATION The retention of natural vegetation along roadsides adds very considerably to the scenic effect, and it is particularly desirable that such vegetation should be maintained in its integrity along the tourist main roads, as, for instance, to- wards Victor Harbour. In addition these are some of the last strongholds of native plant and animal life. An addtional ad- vantage of retaining the vegetation is that wind erosion is lessened and a cer- tain amount of protection may be given in wind-swept areas to stock in adjacent fields. The members of the Flora and Fauna Committee were unanimously of the opinion that every effort should be made to retain this natural vegetation and trust that an approach to local Councils may be successful in emphasis- ing the value of this retention. * J.B.C. (Two other sites where original native vegetation can still be seen is along rail- way lines and in country cemeteries. The latter is an invaluable collecting area! Editor). CULTIVATION OF When going down the street the other day my wife saw a patch of blue on the footpath above the railway station, and on stopping to investigate found it was a fine patch of Scaevola aernula growing through at least 3 ins. of compac- ted limestone rubble and also in the cracks of the stone paving in the gutter. How these plants got there and how they exist I do not NATIVE PLANTS ! know, but there it is and flowering profusely too. This is a fine little plant and is very showy as it is a mass of lavender flowers. I was afraid that the Corporation em- ployees might take it into their heads to clean out the gutter and so I dug up a few small plants and they look as if they will survive the shift! (Extract of letter from Mr. A. R. R. Higginson, Port Augusta). Seventy THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 Field Naturalists' Section - — of the — Royal Society of South Australia ( Incorporated) RULES (Amended May, and effective 1st July, 1953) I. The title of the Section is the “Field Naturalists’ Section of the Royal Society of South Australia Incorporated” (hereinafter called the Section). II. All the rules of the Section heretofore in force are hereby repealed. III. In the construction of the rules of the Section, unless the subject or context requires a different meaning, “prescribed” means prescribed by by-law. Words denoting the singular number only shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa. Words denoting the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine. IV. The objects of the Section are: — (1) The promotion and diffusion of scientific knowledge by meet- ings for the reading and discussion of papers, by publications and by such other methods as the Committee may from time to time determine. (2) The preservation of the native flora and fauna of South Australia. (3) To afford lovers of nature and those interested in natural history the opportunity to observe and discuss the subjects in which they are interested by holding regular excursions to places of interest, and by the showing of films and the exhibition of specimens. Title Repeal Definitions Objects V. (1) The Section shall be constituted of persons enrolled as Constitution members. Members shall be classed as honorary members, life mem- Members bers, country or corresponding members, ordinary members, associate members and junior members. (2) Members shall be persons elected to membership as pre- scribed by these rules. Life members shall be members who have compounded for their future annual subscriptions by payment of such sum as may from time to time be prescribed. (3) Honorary members shall be persons distinguished for their attainments in science, or who shall have rendered signal service to the Section. (4) Junior and associate members shall be entitled to all the privileges of members except that they may not debate or vote upon questions dealing with the management of the Section’s business or affairs or the election of candidates but while associate members shall receive the publications of the Section free of charge junior members shall not. (5) Junior and associate members who wish to be elected to full membership shall follow the procedures laid out in Rule VI for the election of members. June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Seventy-one VI. (1) Every candidate for membership shall be nominated on the prescribed form by two members. (2) The nomination form shall be lodged with the secretary and shall be submitted to the Committee at their next following meeting and the election shall be held at the next meeting of the Section thereafter. (3) No person shall be eligible for election as an honorary mem- ber unless recommended by the Committee. (4) Elections shall be by ballot or show of hands of those mem- bers present in person at the meeting; one negative in six or part thereof excluding. (5) Every person elected shall be forthwith notified thereof by the secretary; the notification shall be accompanied by a copy of the rules and by-laws of the Section. (6) Within one month of his election, a member shall be notified by the treasurer of the subscription due and upon payment of the amount shall be enrolled as a member of the Section. VII. (1) The secretary and/or treasurer shall keep an official roll of the members of the Section. (2) A member may tender his resignation from the Section at any time by notification in writing to the secretary who shall bring the matter to the Committee at its next following meeting. With the approval of the Committee he shall thereupon cease to be a member but shall not thereby be released from any indebtedness to the Section. (3) The Committee may, at its discretion and upon such terms as it thinks fit, re-enrol any person who has ceased to be a member. (4) If elected within three months before the end of the financial year a member, if he wishes, may defer taking up his membership until the following year. VIII. (1) Subject to the control of the Section and the general meeting the management of the business affairs and funds of the Section and the custody of its property shall, subject to any. by-laws for the time being regulating or prescribing conditions as to the same, be vested in a Committee, composed of a chairman, two vice- chairmen, treasurer, editor, assistant editor and/or magazine secretary, librarian, secretary and assistant secretary, all being members of the Section, and such other members as may be prescribed, who shall be elected and hold office for such periods as may be prescribed. (2) The Committee shall act by resolution of the majority of the Committee present at its meeting. (3) The Section acknowledges the authority of the parent body and agrees to the conditions under which it may exist (Royal Society of S.A. (Inc.) By-law IX (1)- (10) ). IX. The Chairman, if present, shall preside at all meetings of the Committee or Section. In his absence, his duties shall be carried out by such other officer or member denoted or elected in the manner prescribed. X. (1) The financial year of the Section shall end on the last- day of June in each year and the annual meeting shall be held in the month of July or in such other month and upon a date and at a place to be appointed by the Committee. (2) At the annual meeting the Committee shall submit a report and a duly audited financial statement, and the meeting shall elect the officers and members of the Committee to take the place of those who are due to retire and shall also transact any other business that may be permissible in accordance with the by-laws provided, Election of Members Membership Management . Chairman Meetings of the Section Seventy-two THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 always, that officers and members of the Committee due to retire shall continue in office until their places have been effectively filled subject to their previous cesser of office or membership. (3) The Committee may convene an ordinary meeting of the Section at any time. (4) The Committee may at any time and shall upon the requisition in writing of at least seven financial members specifying the purpose for which the meeting is required, convene a special meeting of the Section. The special business for which the meeting has been convened and no other shall be transacted at such meeting- Seven members shall constitute a quorum. XI. Two persons, not being officers or members of the Com- mittee shall be elected at each annual meeting to audit the financial statement for the following year. XII. The Section may enter into affiliation with any organisation having similar objects to those of the Section but only if there is a two-third majority of a vote taken at an annual or special meeting- held to consider such an application and if no objection is raised by the Council of the Royal Society of South Australia (Inc.). XIII. The Committee may make, repeal, alter or vary any by-law not inconsistent with these rules for the effective carrying out of the objects and purposes of the Section, and such altered by-law (s) shall be ratified by members at the next following general meeting. XIV. The Section may, by a resolution approved by not less than two-thirds of the members voting at an annual meeting or at a special meeting duly convened for the purpose, repeal, alter, add to or vary any existing rule, and these rules will become operative only after approval by the Council of the Royal Society of South Australia (Inc.) (Royal Society By-law IX. (fi) ). BY-LAWS. I. Any person having an interest in the study of natural history and who is prepared to further the objects of the Section shall be eligible for nomination as a member. II. (1) The Committee shall consist of fifteen (15) members, viz., eight officers and seven other members. The officers may be a chairman, two vice-chairmen, a treasurer, an editor, assistant editor and/or magazine secretary, a librarian, a secretary, assistant secretary, the retiring chairman of the Section and President and Vice-Presidents of the Royal Society of S.A. ex officio. Any five members of the Committee present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum. (2) At each annual meeting all officers of the Committee shall retire but all retiring officers and members may be eligible for re- election. The senior vice-chairman shall retire each year, but is eligible for re-election. (3) The vacancies on the Committee for the ensuing year shall be filled by election by those members present in person at the annual meeting. If so required by any two members the election shall be by ballot. (4) Nominations for the position of office must be in the hands of the secretary seven days before the date of election, but the chair- man will accept further nominations if those present decide this shall be done. (5) The secretary shall keep a record of attendance of the members at all meetings of the Committee and present it at the annual meeting. (6) If any member of the Committee who has received notice of the meeting absents himself from three consecutive meetings of Auditors Affiliation Alteration i)f by-laws Alteration >f Rules Membership* Committee June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Seventy-three the Committee without its permission granted by resolution of the Committee before the expiration of such third meeting his position as a member of the Committee shall become vacant. (7) Every casual vacancy in the Committee shall be fdled at the next meeting of the Section (by ballot, if demanded by any two members). Such member of the Committee shall retire from the Committee at the end of the period when his predecessor would have retired. (8) Committee meetings shall be held at least once in each month from February to November inclusive, and at such other times as the Committee or the chairman may decide. (9) Authority to make public statements, either orally or in writing, on behalf of the Section shall be restricted to the chairman, vice-chairman and secretary of the Section and such other member or members as the Committee from time to time may authorize. III. (1) Nomination for membership shall be submitted on the Section’s “Application for Membership” form on which shall appear a summary of its objects and on which shall be entered the name and address of the nominee, the category of membership to which the application refers, reference to the particular branch (if any) of natural history in which the nominee is interested, and the signatures of the nominee, his proposer and his seconder; and in the case of a nomination as a junior and associate member in addition the nominee’s age next birthday shall be stated. (2) Members of the Royal Society automatically become mem- bers of the Section upon payment of the Section’s subscription. (3) Honorary members, and country or corresponding members residing beyond a 25-mile radius of Adelaide shall be elected by the procedure as given in by-law III (1). (4) Both the proposer and seconder of a nomination for member- ship shall be financial members of the Section. IV. The annual subscription of a member shall be due and payable (a) immediately on election of, (b) on the first day in July in each year as the case may be. The rates are as follows: — £ s. d. (i) Ordinary Members 10 0 (ii) Country or Corresponding Members 5 0 (iii) Associate Members, 18-21 years 5 0 (iv) Junior Members, under 18 years 2 6 (v) Life Member 7 7 0 V. (1) Each life member, ordinary member, associate member, country member, and honorary member of the Section shall be entitled to receive without extra charge one copy of each South Australian Naturalist published during the currency of his sub- scription. (2) A non-member of the Section on payment in advance of the sum of 9/- shall be forwarded, post free, one copy of each South Australian Naturalist published during the currency of his sub- scription. Posting shall be discontinued at the end of this term and not resumed until the subscription has been renewed. (3) Four (4) numbers of the S.A. Naturalist shall comprise one volume. (4) At the direction of the Committee the South Australian Naturalist shall be made available without charge to approved institutions, organisations and individuals if possible on an exchange basis. (5) A record of the Exchange List and Free List shall be kept by the librarian. Such lists shall be reviewed at least biennially by Nomination Annual Subscription S.A. Naturalist Seventy- four THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 the Committee. Recommendations arising out of such review shall be considered at the June meeting of the Committee. (6) The editor will be entitled to 12 copies of each number for distribution or any other purpose he sees lit providing his action furthers the aims of the Section. VI. (1) A member who fails to pay or renew his annual sub- scription within three months of the due date may have his name removed from the South Australian Naturalist mailing list, and the treasurer shall report to the next Committee meeting the names of all members so removed. (2) A member whose annual subscription is in arrear for more than twelve months shall be regarded as unfinancial and liable to have his name removed from the register of members and from the mailing list. The treasurer shall table a list of unfinancial members at the Committee meeting in June of each year. (3) The Committee may delegate to the treasurer the task of issuing to members a formal reminder regarding overdue subscrip- tions. Failure to issue such a reminder shall not be a valid reason for non-payment by a member who is in arrear. VII. Changes in time and places of any general meeting shall be announced either at a general meeting or by publication in the South Australian Naturalist or daily press or radio. VIII. (1) The premises for the time being occupied by the Section and the property of the Section housed therein including the library shall be available for the use of members only at such times as such premises or property are available for an authorised meeting of the Section or of one of its clubs or when one or more officers of the Committee are in attendance or at such other times as may be authorised by the Committee. (2) No property of the Section including library books and publications shall be removed from the Section’s premises without the knowledge and approval of the librarian or other authorised person. (3) The maximum period of retention of library books by bor- rowers without renewal shall be two months after which a fine of 2/- per month shall be payable to the librarian. The maximum period of any Joan shall be six months. (4) The librarian, upon approval of the Committee, may be entitled to spend up to five pounds (£5) in any one financial year on the purchase of books for the library providing that the expendi- ture of any one item shall not without the sanction of the Com- mittee exceed two guineas (£2/2/-). Such purchases shall be approved at the next following Committee meeting following such purchases. IX. (1) The contributor of a paper to the South Australian Naturalist shall be entitled to a maximum of three (3) free copies of the Journal which contains his contribution. Application for such copies shall be made to the librarian. (2) Unless specifically authorised by the Committee, the Section shall not be responsible for the payment for reprints of any papers or articles contributed to the South Australian Naturalist. (3) If the Committee decides not to publish a paper it shall be returned to the author. (4) Unless the Committee otherwise permits all contributions intended for publication by the Section shall be typed (double spaced) on one side of the paper and be in accordance with the "Instructions to Authors” published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia (Inc.). Unfinancial Members Meeting Place CJse of Section's Premises Papers june, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST* (5) The loan of any block used for the reproduction of illustra- tions in the South Australian Naturalist shall be on such conditions and at such fee as shall be fixed from time to time by the Committee. No block shall be loaned for publication without the approval of the owner of the copyright. (6) A record of the receipt, despatch, use and disposal or loan of such blocks shall be kept by the editor and/or librarian. X. (1) All cheques, pay-in slips and endorsements drawn by the treasurer shall be counter-signed by the chairman or secretary or any other person so authorised by the Committee. (2) Accounts for payment approved by the Committee shall be initialled by the chairman of the meeting at which they are approved. (3) Out of pocket expenditure by any member of the Committee so authorised by the Committee to make such expenditure shall before reimbursement is authorised by the Committee submit a properly detailed statement of expenditure to the Committee for approval. (4) The books and accounts of the Section’s transactions shall be available on demand for inspection by a financial member of the Section only at a general meeting. The demand for inspection shall be signed by the member making a demand and counter-signed by two other financial members. Such demand shall be delivered to the secretary of the Section at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of such meeting. XI. (1) The library shall be supervised by the librarian. Subject to control by the Committee he shall be responsible for the issue of books to members, the receipt of publications, the distribution of the Section’s publications and the general care and maintenance of the library. (2) The Committee may appoint an assistant librarian under such conditions and with such duties as the Committee may deter- mine. XII. (1) Unless the Committee decides otherwise meetings of the Section shall be held on the third Tuesday in each month from February to November inclusive at 8 p.m. in the Section’s rooms, for the reading of papers dealing with natural history and related subjects more particularly of South Australia, exhibits of a like nature, etc. (2) In the absence of the Chairman, one of the vice-chairmen shall take the chair; and in the event of their absence the members present shall elect one of their number as chairman. (3) At all meetings of the Section or Committee the chairman shall have both a deliberative and a casting vote. (4) The business may be transacted in the following order, unless it be specially decided otherwise by the meeting: (a) reading and confirmation of the minutes of the previous general meeting; (b) business arising out of minutes; (c) election of members; (d) nomination of candidates for membership; (e) papers and discussions; (f) correspondence; (g) financial report; (h) editor’s report; (i) report of excursions; (j) general business; (k) exhibits and specimens. Seventy-live Accounts Library Meetings of Section Seventy-six THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 XIII. A member causing wilful damage to any property belong- ing to the Section or for which the Section is responsible shall incur such penalty as may be decided upon by the Committee. The Com- mittee may require such damage to be made good in default of which recourse may be had to the process of Law and the offender may be suspended or expelled. XIV. Any person, whether a member or not, participating in an official held excursion shall not wilfully destroy wild plants and flowers. XV. (1) On the joint representation of not less than six financial members of the Section the Committee may authorise the formation of a Club or Study Group within the Section for the purpose of its members meeting periodically to pursue the study of a particular branch of natural history or to further any one of the objects for which the Section is established. The members of a Club shall be governed by the Rules of the Section and these By-laws insofar as they may apply. (2) Minutes of any meeting of a Club shall be kept by a secre- tary appointed for the purpose and such minutes shall be made available to the Committee on demand. (3) The secretary of the Club shall submit an annual report to the Committee not later than the date of the general meeting of the Section immediately preceding the annual general meeting. (4) All financial transactions of a Club shall be subject to the approval of the Committee. (5) The Committee shall be informed of the names of the officers of a Club immediately following upon their election or appointment. (6) The Committee may make available a meeting place for the members of a Club upon such conditions as it may think fit. (7) A Club shall consist of members of the Section only. XVI. The Committee may from time to time agree to the application for affiliation with the Section of any organisation, club, association or other body having objects similar to the Section. The Committee may bestow upon such affiliated body such rights and privileges of membership it thinks fit on the full understanding that such rights and privileges may be withdrawn at any time by the Committee. XVII. At the annual meeting the following reports shall be presented: (a) The Committee’s report on the year’s activities, by the secretary. (b) Financial statement, duly audited by the auditors appointed at the previous annual meeting, by the treasurer. (c) Librarian’s report. (d) Reports of Clubs. Following acceptance by members at the annual meeting the first two above reports shall then be presented to the Royal Society Council on or before 15th September of each year. XVIII. The Section as one of the participating and nominating bodies shall consider such nominations at the May meeting. Nomina- tions for the Award duly seconded and with supporting statements and indicating that the nominee has agreed to his name going forward as the Section’s nominee shall be in the secretary’s hands not later than seven (7) days before the May meeting; and if more than one the nominee shall be selected and endorsed at the Com- mittee’s next succeeding monthly meeting. Protection of Section’s Property Nature Protection Clubs Affiliation Bodies Annual Meeting Australian Natural History Medallion June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Seventy-seven FIELD NATURALISTS' SECTION OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA (INC). LIST OF MEMBERS, MAY, 1953 Honorary: Bellchambers, Mr. R. F., Humbug Scrub, S.A. Cleland, Prof. J. B., Dashwood Road, Beaumont Fenner, Dr. Chas., 42 Alexandra Avenue, Rose Park Fulton, Lt.-Col. D., Emu Flat, S.A. Ising, Mr. E. H., Mt. Barker Road, Stirling West. Symonds, Miss S. D. P., 21 Fairfax Avenue, Millswood Estate. White, Capt. S. A., “Wee-tun-gar,” Fulham. Life : Betts, Mrs. L. C)., 16 South Terrace, Kensington Park. Daley, Mrs. A. B., 29 Parade, Norwood. Drzymalik, Miss A. E., 10a Wellington Square, North Adelaide Dutton, Mrs. H. H., Anlaby Station, Kapunda Elliott, Mrs. L. A., 1 Marden Road, Marden. Engel, Mr. C. G. ()., 38 Aroona Avenue, West Croydon. Fryer, Mr. E. H„ 21 Whyte Street, Somerton Havard, Mr. F. J., 38 Hillview Road, Mitcham. Lothian, Mr. T. R. N., Botanic Garden, Adelaide. Page, Mrs. L. E., Wattle Flat, S.A. Pattison, Mrs. Geo., 68 Partridge Street, Glenelg Waite, Miss O. D„ 23 Church Street, Norwood Ordinary, Counfry or Corresponding, Associate and Junior: Adcock, Mr. L. C., 7 Barnard Street, North Adelaide Allen, Mrs. M. A., Box 1701M, G.P.O., Adelaide. Anderson, Miss R., 30 Wattle Street, Fullarlon Estate. Angel, Mr. F. M., 34 Fullarton Road, Parkside. Ashby, Miss A., Wittunga, Blackwood. Axarlis, Mr. D. O., Box 1513M, G.P.O., Adelaide Baack, Mrs. P., 60 King Street, Alberton Barbour, Dr. C. S., 25 Marlborough Street, College Park Barclay, Mrs. A., 11 Macpherson Road, Clapham Barclay, Master John, 11 Macpherson Road, Clapham Barlow, Mrs. E. V., 140 Grant Avenue, Toorak Bartlett, Rev. H. K., 15 Claremont Avenue, Netherby Bean, Mrs. C. M., 45 Godfrey Terrace, Leabrook Beck, Mr. E. L., Poochera, West Coast Beck, Mrs. E. L., Poochera, West Coast Beckwith, Miss E., 16 First Avenue, Sefton Park Beevor, Miss H. G., 20 Vauxhall Street, Erindale Bennett, Mr. A. W., 28 Sussex Street, Glenelg Black, Mrs. E. Couper, 379 Magill Road, Tranmere B lizard. Mr. A. J., 22 Ellen Street, Semaphore B lizard, Mr. W. L., 22 Ellen Street, Semaphore Blundell, Miss M„ c/o. District Hospital, Captain's Flat, N.S.W Boehm, Mr. E. J., Sutherlands, S.A. Bottrill, Mr. B. D. E., Hope Valley, S.A. Bourne, Mr. M., 18 Church Street, Norwood. Bowden, Mr. L. L., 11 Gurney Street, Edwardstown Seven tv-eight THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 Bowden, Mrs. L. L., 11 Gurney Street, Edwardstown Bowden, Miss S., 11 Gurney Street, Edwardstown Brickmann, Mrs. A. E., 10 Verdale Avenue, Linden Park Brooks, Miss E. M., 17 Gurney Road, Dulwich Brown, Miss T., 16 Mvall Avenue, Kensington Gardens Buick, Mr. W. G., 311 Henley Beach Road, Brooklyn Park Callanan, Mr. J., 20 Trinity Street, College Park Garter. Mr. A. N., Box 2, “St. Ronan,” 10 Berklev Street, Hawthorn, E.2, Victoria. Caulfield, Mr. H., c/o. Botanic Gardens, Adelaide Chamberlain, Mr. A. W., 22 Irving Road, S.E.2. Gichon, Mr. R. S., Verdun, S.A. Clark, Miss F., 43 Monmouth Road, West bourne Park Clement, Mr. R. A., Leigh Creek, S.A. Colley, J. H. P., 16 Parker Avenue, Seaton. Collins, Mrs. E., 24 Mawson Street, Nailsworth Colvin. Miss Daphne, c/o. Girl Guides’ Association, 138 Gawler Place Cordon. Mrs. L., 15 Davies Terrace, Nailsworth Cornelius. Master Brian. 48 Goorara Avenue. South Payneham Cornell, Miss E. R., St. Andrews, Springfield Cossey, Master Desmond, 3 Foote Avenue, Kilburn Culver. Mrs. L. H.. 13 Rutland Avenue. Brighton Davis, Miss M., c/o. Botanic Gardens, Adelaide Deland, Mr. E. C., 325 Payneham Road, Payneham Denny, Mrs. M., 33 Shelley Street, Firle Dodd, Mrs. B. M., Honeysuckle Flat, Myponga Drage, Master Kevin, 87 Port Road, Southwark Drummond, Miss K., 45 Fisher Terrace, Mile End Duncan. Miss G., 43 Aver Avenue, Colonel Light Gardens Dunstone, Mr. K. W. T., 9 Constance Street, Cottonville Durie, Dr. R. A., 44 Dee Street, Woodville South. Dwight, Mr. H. T., c/o. Botanic Gardens, Adelaide Eardley, Miss C. M., 68 Wattle Street, Fullarton Estate Edquist. Mr. A. G., 19 Farrell Street, New Glenelg Eland, Miss M., 29 Lily Street, Goodwood Park Farsch, Mr. J., c/o. Caldwell’s Wines. Ltd., P.O. Box 29, Camperdown, N.S.W. Filsell, Mrs. P., “Myrtle Bank,” Williamstown Finch, Mr. B. H., 29 French Street, Galway Estate, Mitcham Ford, Mr. N. A., 4 East Parkway, Reade Park Franklin. Master Ian. 16 Kandahar Crescent, Colonel Light Gardens French, Mr. I., Catherine Street, Strathalbyn Gale, Mr. A. E., 12 Mawson Street, Prospect Gardens. Gale, Mr. C., 391 Carrington Street, Adelaide Gallasch. Miss T. E., 14 Fashoda Street. Lnley Glasscoe, Miss G. D., “Huntleigh,” Daisy Avenue, Ascot Park Glover, Mr. B., 62 Seafield Avenue, Kingswood Godfrey, Miss C. M„ Henley Beach Road, Fulham Godfrey, Mr. F. K., Box 95 1H, G.P.O., Adelaide. Goldsack, Mr. H., Coromandel Valiev, S.A. Gore, Mrs. H. E., Summertown, S.A. Gratton, Master Louis, 15 Russell Terrace, Woodville South Gratton, Mrs. M. F., 15 Russell Terrace, Woodville South Gray, Mr. F., 14 Hanson Street, Adelaide Gray, Mr. R. G., Flinders Nurserv, Augusta Terrace, Port Augusta Gray, Mr. W. S., Halidon, S.A. Green, Mrs. G., Kulka, Millicent Green, Miss P., St. Ann’s College, Brougham Place, North Adelaide Gregor, Miss G. L., 86 Kintore Avenue, Prospect Grix, Mrs., 22 Minn SLreet, Seaton Park vGunter, Mr. D. J., 16 Coglin Street, Adelaide June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Hamilton, Mrs. H. M., Box 5, Cleve, S.A. Hamilton, Mrs. I. D., 113 Edward Street, Norwood Hancock, Mrs. A. W., Modbury, S.A. Hardacre, Master Brian, 8 Garland Street, Glandore Harrington, Mr. K. H., 349 Marion Road, Plympton Harrison, Mr. N. C., 5 Minney Street, Broadview Harrison, Mrs. N. C., 5 Minney Street, Broadview Harrison, Miss Dorothy, 5 Minney Street, Broadview Harrison, Master Graham, 5 Minney Street, Broadview Harrison, Mr. P. M., 70 Addison Road, Rosewater Gardens Harrison, Mrs. P. M., 70 Addison Road, Rosewater Gardens Harry, Mr. A., 8 Fife Street, North Walkerville Harry, Mrs., 8 Fife Street, North Walkerville Hartley, Mrs. T. J., (551 Port Road, Kilkennv Hazel, Mr. Geo., Hawkers Greek, Kapunda Heathcote, Mrs. G. M., Maple Avenue, Home Park, MagiJl Hedenstroem, Mr. B., Waterfall Gully Road, Burnside Hergstrom, Mr. E. H., Bridgewater Hergstrom, Mrs. E. H., Bridgewater Heritage, Miss E., 40 Avenue Street, Frewville Heron, Miss M., 36 Marlborough Street, Malvern Higginson, Mr. A. R., Box 114, Port Augusta Higginson, Mr. A. R„ Box 114, Port Augusta Hill, Mr. H. L., “Koorianda,” 27 Vine Street, Prospect Hill, Mr. R., 7 Murray Street, Hove Holesgrove, Mr. W. A., Sheoak Road, Be I air Holesgrove, Mrs. W. A., Sheoak Road, Belair Hood, Mr. J. B., Private Mail Bag 26, Joanna, via Naracoorte Horder, Mrs. L. E., Stirling East Houston, Miss M. H., 156 East Terrace, Henley Beach Hudd, Lady, Pier Street, Glenelg Hughes, Miss L., 25 Russell Terrace, Woodville Humble, Mr. D. S. W., 64 Payneham Road, Payneham Ifould, Mr. P., “Kurralta,” 14 Wyatts Road, Burnside Jackson, Miss K., c/o. Dalgety’s, Currie Street, Adelaide Jeakings, Mr. W. 119 Leinster Road, Christchurch, N.Z. Johnson, Mr. T. V., 50 Park Road, Kensington Park Johnstone, Miss M., “Pine Hill,” via Wollesley, S.A. Jonas, Mr. O., 2 Pembroke Place, Colonel Light Gardens Jordan, Mr. R., William Street, Norwood Kalatzis, Mr. 1). A., c/o. Botanic Gardens, Adelaide Kelsey, Mrs. M. O., c/o. Giles Magarey Sc Lloyd, 40 Piric Street, Kelsh, Mrs. O. J., 26 Kyre Avenue, Kingswood Kempson, Miss J., 9 Gertrude Street, Glandore Kennedy, Mrs. O., 182 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide Kennett, Mrs. R. M., 46 O.G. Road, Klemzig Kentish, Miss R., 694 Port Road, Beverley Kimber, Miss R., Yeelanna, West Coast Kinnear, Miss H„ 35 Netherby Avene, Nethuerby Korner, Mrs. C. M., 38 Brooker Terrace, Richmond Krachenbuehl, Mr. D., 23 Angus Street, Goodwood Park Kumnick, Mr. D., Lenswood, S.A. Larcher, Mr. E. J., 16 Charles Street, Adelaide Leask, Mr. R., 107 George Street, Ihebarton Leditschke, Miss J., 9 South Terrace, Adelaide I.editschkc, Mr. J. I-., 9 South Terrace, Adelaide Lelliott, Miss M., 22 West Street, Torrensville Limbert, Miss L. E., 35 Austral Terrace, Malvern Lomman, Miss Y., 17 Richmond Road. Westboume Park Lower, Mr. M. A., 7 Play ford Street, Glen Osmond Lyons, Mrs. J. A., 17 St. Andrew’s Street, North Walkerville Seventy-nine Adelaide Eighty THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953 McCartney, Or. J. E., Inst, of Med. and Vet. Science, Frorne Road, Adelaide. McDonald, Mrs. W., 150 New Street, Queenstown. McD mgall, Mr. H. V., Nyabing, W.A. McEntee, Mr. C. M. Maitland, S.A. McNab, M ss M. I)., la The Avenue, Medindie. S.A. Machin, Mrs. J.. 117 Allinga Avenue, Glenunga Mann, Miss E. (.., 4 St. Andrew’s Street, North Walkerville Martin, Miss A., 5 Henry Street, Croydon. Martin, Miss M. E., c/o. Miss M. G. Caseley, 172 Cross Roads, Malvern Mason, Mrs. A. M., 4 Gertrude Street, Norwood Masterman, Mrs. E. M., Undalya, S.A. Mathieson, Miss M. J., c/O. Waite Institute, Adelaide Mercer, Mr. A., 17 Russell Street, Adelaide Messenger, Mr. S. B., 1 Dulwich Avenue, Dulwich Miles. Dr., Inst, of Med. and Vet. Science, Frome Road, Adelaide Miller, Mr. J., 55 Torrens Street, West Hilton Molineux, Mr. A., 31 Coorara Avenue, South Payneham Moyle, Mrs. L. J., Watervale, S.A. Murdock, Mrs. Geo., Box 43, Robe Nash, Mr. R., Coromandel Avenue, Blackwood Naylor, Miss Y. E., Box 1701M, G.P.O., Adelaide Nelson, Mrs. B. M., 23 Hill Street, Mitcham Nembach, Mr. G., 2 Hawkins Avenue, Flinders Park Newberry, Mr. A. K., 1 Carruth Road, corner Fife Avenue, Torrens Park Ninnes, Mr. A. R., 62 Sheffield Street, Malvern Norton, Mrs. C., Anderson Avenue, Mitcham Oakes, Mrs. M. F., 30 Coppin Street, Semaphore O’Connor, Mrs. R. F., 8 Tyson Street, Ashford Palfrey, Mr. P. G., Harrow Avenue, St. Mary’s Palmer, Master L. G., 206 Childers Street, North Adelaide Pater, Mr. A. R., 53 Manton Street, Hindmarsh Pater, Mrs. A. R., 53 Manton Street, Hindmarsh Paterson, Mr. E. S., Athelney Avenue, Brighton Paton, Miss H. M., 80 William Street, Norwood Payne, Miss J. M., 221 Portrush Road, Glenunga Pearce, Miss A. C., 74 Castle Street, Parkside Pearce, Mr. A. S., Maitland, S.A. Penn, Mr. W. H., 12 Foundry Street, Goodwood Park Peterson, Mrs. I.. 29 Paxton Street, Semaphore Powell, Mrs. S., 14 Coles Street, Brayville, via Plympton Prescott, Prof. J. A., c/o. Waite Research Institute, Private Bag, Glen Osmond Pritchard, Mr. E. W., 31 Yaronga Avenue, Kensington Park Pritchard, Mrs. E. W., 31 Yeronga Avenue, Kensington Park Radcliffe, Mr. I). W., 25 Fourth Avenue, Klemzig Raggatt, Miss M., 16 Coombe Road, Allenby Gardens Ralph, Mr. G. R., 72 Rose Street, Mile End Rasch, Mr. J., Belair, S.A. Reimann, Miss V., Trinity College, Kandv, Ceylon Reynolds, Mrs. L. R., 229 Glen Osmond Road, Frewville Richards, Miss B., 11 Glen Avenvie, Finley Park Rieger, Master Anthony, 1 Giles Street, 1 oorak Ritson, Master Robert, 43 Monmouth Road, Westbourne Park Roberts, Miss H. L., 60 Fifth Avenue, St. Peters Robertson, Mrs. E. R., 21 Portrush Road, Toorak Gardens. Robinson, Mrs. J. M., Jamestown, S.A. Rogers, Master Peter, 6 Foote Avenue, Kilburn Rowe, Mr. S. A., 22 Shelley Street, Firle Rowe, Mr. S. E., 19 Crozier Terrace, Oaklands Rowe, Mrs. S. E., 19 Crozier Terrace, Oaklands Roy, Mr. W., Swan Reach, S.A. Roy, Mrs. W., Swan Reach, S.A. June, 1953 THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST Salvano, Miss F., 178 East Terrace, Adelaide Sandow, Mrs. M. A., 52 Third Avenue, St. Peters Saunders, Miss M. I., Box 131, Murray Bridge Scherer, Miss L., Coromandel Valley Schirmer, Mr. A. J., 15 Clarke Street, Glandore Schneider, Dr. M., 175 North Terrace, Adelaide Scrymgour, Miss K., 25 Dutton Terrace, Medindie Sellers, Miss A., 70 Peroomba Avenue, Kensington Gardens Sexton, Mrs. C., 18 Giles Street, Magill Shaw, Mrs. E. L., Railway Bag, Upper Sturt Shelton, Mr. J. B. L., 38 Wootoona Terrace, St. Georges Shelton, Mrs. J. B. L., 38 Wootoona Terrace, St. Georges Shelton, Master John, 38 Wootoona Terrace, St. Georges Shinkfield, Mr. R. C., Wiltshire Street, Salisbury Shuttleworth, Mr. C. G., 50 Grenfell Street, Adelaide Shuttleworth, Mr. L. B., 50 Grenfell Street, Adelaide Simmons, Mr. J. P„ Town Hall, Port Adelaide Sinnott, Miss P., 19 Hewitt Avenue, Rose Park Sinnott, Mrs. S. E., 19 Hewitt Avenue, Rose Park Skinner, Mrs. G. E., Longwood, S.A. Smith, Miss Jean, 9 Lorraine Street, Mitcham. Smith, Miss M. D., 39 Marion Street, Unlev Smith, Mrs. M. G., 26 Dwyer Road, Oaklands Park. Snodgrass, Miss A. L., 118 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville Snodgrass, Miss F. T., 118 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville Snowden, Mrs. A. E., 17 Oleander Street, Brighton Snowden, Mr. F., 17 Oleander Street, Brighton Snowden, Miss Janette, 17 Oleander Street, Brighton Somerville, Mr. J. D., 279 Goodwood Road, Kings Park Standen, Mr. W. F., 9 Edgeworth Street, Prospect Park Steadman, Rev. W. R., 1 De Saumarez Street, Kensington Park Stockham, Miss H. M., 12 Kyre Avenue, Kingswood Swann, Mr. F. J. W., Box 156, P.O., Burnie, Tasmania Tilmouth, Mr. C., 26 Warren Avenue, Enfield Tilmouth, Mrs. C., 26 Warren Avenue, Enfield Tilmouth, Mrs. R., 108a William Street, Norwood I indale, Mr. N. B., c/o. S.A. Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide Tootell, Miss M., 11 Victoria Avenue, Rose Park Topliss, Dr. J. G., 18 Ranelagh Street, Woodville Tough, Mr. W. A., c/o. Tourist Bureau, 18 King William Street, Adelaide Truman, Miss H. L., 339 Wakefield Street, Adelaide Turnbull, Mr. J. J., 41 Glynde Road, St. Morris Turnbull, Mrs. J. J., 41 Glynde Road, St. Morris Veal. Mrs- M-, 1 Thornton Street, Dulwich Walker, Miss L. J., Snows Road, Stirling East Waltham, Mr. J. C., c/o. Mr. J. B. Stinson, P.O. Box 240, Suva, Fiji Wardlow, Miss E., 71 Farrant Street, Prospect Waterman, Miss G. R., 24 Hewitt Avenue, Rose Park Watson, Miss M., 87 Stanley Street, Kilkenny Weiss, Mrs. C. B., Moules Road, Magill Weiss, Mrs. K. B., Derwent Avenue, Rostrevor Wharmby. Miss M.. 24 Wellington Terrace, Fullarton Whittaker- Miss M., Aldgate, S.A. Wicks, Mr. L. J., Highbury East Wicks, Mrs. L. J., Highburv East Williams. Mr. L. D..' Duniosa.'* Meningie. S.A. Wollaston. Mrs. H. 91 Hutt Street- Adelaide Womersley, Mr. H., c/o. S.A. Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide Woodlands, Mr. H., Box 989H, G.P.O., Adelaide Worthley, Miss S. E., 92 Woodville Road, Woodville Yeatman, Mr. W.. 47 Leslie Street. Woodville THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST June, 1953- 1953. THE FIELD NATURALISTS 7 SECTION EXCURSIONS : June 6— Henley Beach. Subject: Seaweeds. First tram after 1 p.m. to terminus 21— (Sunday)— National Park. 10.45 a.m. train to National Park Station, thence to the North-East corner. Ji'Ly 4— Sturt Gorge. Subject: Geology of a Glacial Age. Leader: Mr. Molineux. Train to Eden Hills Station leaves Adelaide 1.15 p.m. 19— (Sunday)— Paracomb and Inglewood areas. Leader: Mr. Schirmer. Bowmans bus at Victoria Square East at 10.30 a.m. August 1— Grange North. 16— (Sunday)— Bridgewater to Graters. 10.45 a.m. train to Bridgewater. N.B.— Suggestions for the 1953-54 Excursion Programme will be welcomed by the Committee. MONTHLY GENERAL MEETINGS: June 16— Subject: Coloured Films. July 21— Annual Meeting of the Section. Aug. 18— Lecturettes by Members. COMMITTEE MEETINGS : June 8 July 14 August 1 1 CONCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY: June 17— Subject: Genotypes of South Australian genera. July 15— Subject: South Australian Tertiary fossils. Aug. 19— Subject: Members’ Ex- hibits. BOTANY CLUB STUDY CIRCLE : June 13— Meet in Museum at 2 p.m. June 22— Sapindaceae and Rham- naceae. July 11— Meet in Museum at ' 2 p.m. July 27— Study. Sterculiaceae and Dilleniaceae. Aug. 24— Study Circle. Violaceae and Thymelaeceae. Special Meeting, 9th June, Society Rooms Dr. L. E. Richdale, N.Z. orni- thologist, will speak on matters of general interest. Members are invited.