July"! 

 '917 J 



ToPF, Wild-flowers of Soulh-]\'t'stfni Australia-. 43 



seven identical species, and only two Victorian ones absent), 

 one Diuris, several Prasophyllums, Caladenias. and Glossodias, 

 though the last-named are not of the Victorian species. In 

 fact, the " Census " shows that only two Mctorian genera of Aus- 

 tralian orchids are absent from south-west Australia (Dipodium 

 and Orthoceras). and only one Western Australian genus 

 (Epiblema) is not represented in Victoria. The common Vic- 

 torian liliaceous plants, such as Dianella, Wurmbea, Burchardia, 

 Bulbine. Thysanotus, Chamrescilla, Stypandra, Arthropodiam, 

 are found in the south-west : but, being early spring flowers, 

 only odd examples were in bloom in October. A large number 

 of the grasses are common to the south-west and south-east 

 of Australia, but these I did not collect. 



Silver Wattles. — Mr. F. Wisewould reports early flowering 

 of the Silver ^^^attles, Acacia dealbata, at Pakenham Upper, many 

 blossoms being fully out on iSthJune. It may be mentioned 

 that Acacia Baileyana was noticed in bloom in the eastern 

 subiirbs on 1st June. ' 



Nature and War. — In the " Science Notes " in the Austral- 

 asian of 30th June, " Tellurian " gives a few notes which show 

 that Australians abroad have an eye for nature study. Is this the 

 result of their early training in our schools ? He says in a 

 letter recently received from Palestine, written by a soldier 

 during a lull in an engagement, the writer describes the battle- 

 field as " beautiful green fields, with blood-red poppies. There 

 were larvae of all descriptions crawling in the grass, and swarms 

 of butterflies, just emerged- These did just what other butterflies 

 do on such occasions. No matter where you stooped you saw 

 a pendant chrysalis flipping its tail, or a butterfly just emerged 

 clinging to a stem, its wings not unfurled, or a perfect insect 

 with wings fully expanded, but yet too weak to face the world." 

 . . . "The funnel traps of the ant-lion larva were all over 

 the place, and one of our wounded pointed out to me a small 

 grasshopper gripped and held in the bottom of the pit by one of 

 the ant-lions, and just as the poor grasshopper was taking things 

 as a matter of course, so were our poor chaps taking the 

 machine-gunfire, shrapnel, high explosives. I don't say for a 

 moment that either enjoyed the situation, but, with the men, 

 until one is cracked, he always reckons it will be the other 

 fi'llow who will get it. I can't speak for the grasshoppers, but 

 that's how they feel about their chances with the ant-lions." 

 These notes were written in the neighbourhood of Gaza, that 

 ancient city of Palestine, which has had many masters in its 

 time. 



