The South Australian NataraUst. 



flowers nearl}^ a foot long and of a delicate blue shade. The 

 others, T. pauciflora (few-flo^vered) and T. antennifera, a beau- 

 tiful yellow, sweet-scented flower, were also observed. Only 

 one of the Greenhood family was seen, Pterostylis barbata, the 

 bearded variety, which has a tongue which, by its constant 

 movement, attracts insects, so ensuring the fertilisation of its 

 flowers. The Greenhoods are winter flowering plants. The 

 common leek orchid, Prasophyllurn patens, with its pretty white 

 pink and green flowers, all turned upside down, was sparingly 

 distributed. An all-green flowered orchid. Microtis porrifolia, 

 with very small flowers in a dense spike, was seen in plenty. 

 The beautiful and common tongue orchid, Glossodia major, 

 from white to dark purple, was seen to advantage where it grew 

 in the shelter of teatree bushes. Two tiny plants were seen in 

 flower, and vrere a surprise to the party. The plants were only 

 one inch high, and each had one flower. One of them, Stylidium 

 despectum, belongs to the trigger plant family, and has white 

 flowers. The other, Leewenhoekia dubia, is a close relation 

 to the trigger plant species, but the "trigger" in this flower 

 does not spring. 



Excursion, November 5, 1921. — A large party of members 

 travelled to Burnside, and were shown over the beautiful gar- 

 den of Mr. P. Ifould. The trees were planted by the late Dr. 

 W. Wyatt at about the same time as our Botanic Gardens were 

 first -aid out, from seed sent by the late Mr. F. M. Bailey from 

 Queensland. At this time of the year the trees present a charm- 

 ing appearance. Late as the season was, a number of wattles 

 were then in b'oom. and Mr. Ifou-d stated that he has wattles 

 flowerino- the whole year round. The members enjoyed their 

 visit and great-y appreciated the kindness of Mr. Ifould in 

 entertaining the party at afternoon tea. 



Lecture, August 16, 1921.— Captain S. A. White, CM., 

 B.O.U., gav"^ an instructive lecture on "The Economic Value of 

 Native Birdr." The lecturer kept his aurlience interested while 

 he spoke of the many birds which were of immense value in the 

 economic life of the community. Among these he instanced 

 the crow, which kept in check the grasshoppers and blowflies, 

 the latter a most serious pest, causing an annual loss in the 

 pastoral industry alone of over three millions of pounds ster- 

 ling ! The eagle was also praised as a carrion eater, and hence 

 helping to keep the blowfly pest in check. Swallows, that 

 lived on flies, mosquitoes, and other troublesome insects, as 

 well as the barn owl, living as it did on mice, rats, and 

 sparrows, were , also jnstanced a^. the friends of man. The 



