14 The South Australian Naturalist. 



bridge, traversing ground which had not been previously covered by the 

 members. Hoary cress, charlock, turnip w^eed, soursop, couch and nut 

 grass, fumitory, rough poppy, and many other annual and perennial 

 weeds v.-ere seen and discussed. 



October 26th, 1918.— An excursion was made to Messrs. Pitman 

 Bros.' orchard, at Gilles Plains. The leaders were Mr. W. J. Kimber, 

 who spoke on Fruit Culture, and Mr. A. G. Edquist, on Physiography. 

 A very prolitable afternoon was spent. Note was made of havoc caused 

 to peach trees by the black aphis {Mysus cerasi). This aphis is found 

 occasionally on trees in winter. The eggs are laid on rough bark and 

 hatch in early spring, increasing amazingly unless destroyed by spraying 

 trees with red oil or tobacco wash. 



November 30th. 1918. — An excursion to Marino was led by the 

 President, Mr. W. J. Kimber. He spoke on shells and marine life. The 

 marvellous forms, their methods of living, and the manner in which 

 the various fish get their food and digest it, formed the subject of some 

 of the leader's most interesting remarks. About a dozen botanical speci- 

 mens were collected by Mr. E. H. I sing, and exhibited to the members. 



January 18th, 1919. — A most interesting dredging excursion was held 

 in the North Arm, Port River; leader, Mr. W. J. Kimber. Among the 

 many interesting specimens brought up by the dredge was a small octopus, 

 a triton with a hermit crab, and a camoufiaged crab hidden by the 

 sponge held on its back by two modified claws. Mr. W. Ham spoke on 

 the star-fiashes which were dredged up. 



February 8th, 1919. — A visit was paid to the Blackwood Experimental 

 Orchard, when Mr. G. Quinn, the Government Fruit Expert, assisted 

 by the Blackvvood manager, Mr. R. Fowler, conducted the party through 

 the garden. The method of propagating the different fruits was shown, 

 and interesting manurial, cultural, and stock tests were pointed out, and 

 the results clearly seen. Mr. Quinn was heartily thanked for the pleasure 

 he had given the members during the afternoon. 



March 15th, 1919. — A second dredging excursion was held, and the 

 Port River v.as the scene of operations. Mr. E. R. Waite, Director of 

 the Museum, was the leader. He spoke of the fishing frog and the pipe- 

 fish, which has protecting scales. A peculiar property of this species is 

 the brood pouch of the male, into which the ova are injected and are 

 there hatched. Among other catches were Pecten bifrous, the ancient 

 scallop shell ; sea cucumbers and trepang. Mr. Matthews gave an interest- 

 ing chat on the Ascidians, which appear to be a connecting link between 

 vertebrates and invertebrates, 



April 5th. 1919, — A trip was made to Mrs, Caley Smith's nursery, at 

 Aldgate. Dahlias were at their best, and some glorious blooms were 

 admired by the members. 



Easter, 1919. — A small party, under the leadership of Mr. E. H. 

 Lock, spent the Easter vacation in camp at New Era, a Murray settle- 

 ment a few miles above Morgan. Interesting excursions were made 

 therefrom by land and water, and the plants, insects, fish, fossils, and 

 land forms provided varied interests for the excursionists. 



April 26th. 1919. — A most enjoyable afternoon was spent in Mr. T. C. 

 Wollaston's garden, at Bridgewater. The owner, an enthusiastic natural- 

 ist and landscape gardener, has with eminent success undertaken the 

 cultivation of the native flora, and has shown that even these delicate 

 plants readily respond to loving and intelligent attention. Mr. Wollaston 



