The South Australian Naturalist. 73 



Excursion, June 6, 1921. — Defying the rain, a large party 

 of naturalists proceeded to explore the Torrens Gorge. The 

 excursionists were under the guidance of Dr. Fenner and Mr. 

 W. Ham, and although the weather conditions ^vere so 

 inauspicious, they spent a pleasant time amid the striking and 

 beautiful scenery. Wooded crests, broken by rugged outcrops 

 of rock, rose almost vertically to a height of some hundreds of 

 feet. The winding course of the stream, which curved like a 

 snake around the base of the precipitous crags, was explained 

 as due to the varying texture of the rocks through which it had 

 to cut its course. The softer slates and limestones offered little 

 resistance to the grinding action of the river sediment, but on 

 encountering the harder quartzites the course of the stream 

 was deflected at a sharp angle, producing the graceful curves 

 which added so much to the charm of the landscape. Another 

 striking feature was the varied outlines of the hills — sharp 

 ridges where the harder rocks had withstood the eroding action 

 of wind and water, and beautiful rounded domes where the 

 softer material occurred. A conspicuous example of rock 

 folding was observed, plainly showing a syncline followed by 

 an anticline and another syncline, suggesting the sinuous folds 

 of a serpent. The whole country gave evidence of extensive 

 and repeated disturbance. 



Lecture, June 21, 1921. — Three members gave lecturettes 

 on the subject of "Nature-lovers on the East-West Line." 

 Captain S. A. White, in a general description of the country 

 between Port Augusta and Ooldea, on the edge of the Nullarbor 

 Plain, spoke of the difficulties overcome in constructing the 

 line, such as the lack of good water for engines, men, and 

 animals, negotiating sandhills, labour troubles, and heat. The 

 greatest trouble was perhaps the first, although the labour 

 troubles Ave re constant and serious. Many views shown de- 

 picted the progress of the line, and the topography, botany, 

 and animal life of the region traversed. Mr. A. M. Lea, F.E.S. 

 (Government Entomologist) showed beautiful and curious 

 insects which he had collected along the line. Among them 

 were moths rare and common, beetles large and small, weevils 

 with hard wing cases, and katydids with beautifully coloured 

 and delicate wings. Mr. Lea considered the district a poor one 

 for insects, although some of those obtained were remarkable 

 and several new to science. Mr. E. H. Ising dealt with plants 

 seen along the route from Kingoonya to Hughes, near the 

 Western Australian border. Photographs illustrating the types 

 of country, and specimens from each series w^ere shown through 

 the episcope. The flat or undulating country of the Tarcoola 

 district formed one section; the sandhill portion (about 50 



