52 The South Australian Naturalist. 



noted on a previous excursion in the neighbouring ranges. 

 The native trees and plants in this neighbourhood were^ very 

 scanty, cultivated areas having taken the place of the original 

 vegetation. As leader of the Botanical Section, Mr. E. H. 

 Ising pointed out a colony of Aster (Olearia sp.) growing along 

 the top of the cliff, and another patch of grass tussocks on the 

 southern slope at the mouth of Field's River. A few sheoaks 

 (Casuarina sp.) and peppermints (Eucalyptus odorata) Avere 

 found in a protected area. In one cultivated paddock of two 

 or three acres about twenty original teatrees (Melaleuca parvi- 

 flora) were still growing. 



Excursion, July 10. — A visit was paid to the Botanic Gar- 

 dens. Owing to the very wet weather only a few members 

 attended, and the original intention of studying Australian 

 trees was abandoned. Instead, the members were conducted by 

 Mr. J. F. Bailey (Director of the Gardens) over a number of 

 glasshouses not available to the general public. The party had 

 the opportunity of seeing a large variety of maidenhair ferns 

 (of which there are over sixty species), from the largest to the 

 smallest, a considerable number being raised at the Gardens, 

 some new varieties resulting. Some very rare and interesting 

 plants were brought under the notice of the members. In one 

 instance some beautiful leaves of jewelled appearance belonged 

 to a plant which had to be protected by a glass cover within 

 a glass-house, so delicate was its nature. The method of raising 

 the new plants of the Victoria Regia lily was shown, its first 

 appearance resembling a threadlike structure. Some useful 

 hints were given as to the best methods of striking cuttings, 

 as well as of rearing ferns from the spores. Begonia, orchids, 

 and many rare and beautiful plants were shown, and a visit 

 paid to the Victoria Regia House. 



Excursion, July 24. — A good number of members visited 

 the Museum, where they were received by Mr. Edgar R. Waite, 

 F.L.S., the Museum Director. Mr. Waite first directed atten- 

 tion to the remarkable animal, the axolotl, an amphibious form 

 that becomes sexually mature while still in the "tadpole" 

 stage of its existence. From the original pair brought to the 

 Museum by Mr. Waite a good number of offspring have been 

 reared, but of the third generation there are only three, all 

 of which are albinos. The newer cases of Australian mammals, 

 in their natural settings, were next inspected, attention being 

 specially given to the bats and the flying fox, which latter 

 animal has put in a somewhat unexpected appearance in this 

 State — at Loxton and Williamstown. The Director next 

 showed some of the birds and animals that had been recently 



