T^he South Australian Naturalist. 



Lectures, 5/10/20. — Three lectiirettes were delivered at the 

 Field Naturalists' evening", on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The first was 

 given by Mr. A. E. Ridley on "Bees." Mr. Ridley spoke of the 

 honey bees, as we know them in Australia, and explained tho 

 kinds of bees in a liive, and the differences between the queen, 

 worker, and drone. Tlie queen was the mother bee, of which 

 there was only one in a hive, except at swarming time, when 

 there may be one or more hatch out at the same time. There is 

 then a battle royal, and it is the only time that a queen will use 

 her sting. The workers Avere described, and their work outlined 

 from the cradle to the grave. The drone was a necessary insect 

 in the hive, but when his work of mating with the queen is 

 accomplished and the season js closing he is turned out to die. 

 Excellent i^hotographs, depicting scenes outside and inside the 

 hive, were admired. 



Mr. AV. Champion Hackett, F.R.H.S., next gave an illus- 

 trated lecturette on "Brazil." Mr. Hackett dealt with his sub- 

 ject from a natural history standpoint, and mentioned that the 

 country was a yery large one, and comprised tropical and tem- 

 perate climates. The rainfall was heavy and vegetation was 

 exceedingly luxuriant. The Botanic Gardens at Rio de Janeiro 

 were considered to be without a rival ; royal palms and orchids 

 were two of the leading plants. Views showing sea and land- 

 scape were A^ery fine. 



Mr. J. M. Black gave a talk on native names for some of 

 the plants growing at Ooldea and Tarcoola. The native had one 

 name for the everlastings (although there are many different 

 species in a locality) just the same as we have one common 

 name for them. But j^lants having a food value were given 

 separate names. In a humorous manner Mr. Black told of vari- 

 ous experiences with the blacks during his recent visit to Ooldea, 

 and of the eft'orts made to discover aboriginal names for the 

 plants. We hojie to juiblish his notes on these native names in 

 a future issue. 



Lecture, 19/10/20. — Dr. E. Angas Johnson lectured on 

 "Microbes, the Smallest Plants," before the field naturalists, 

 and there was a large attendance of members and friends. The 

 lecturer dealt with his subject in a popular and interesting way, 

 and pointed out how microbes or germs grew, likening them to 

 their bigger relations, the garden plants, in that they need 

 certain conditions for living. He also showed a slide giving 

 the classification of the various germs known. Not all the 

 germs are harmful, and the lecturer mentioned hoAv the germs 

 on the roots of peas, beans, and other members of that big 



