. . The . . 



South Australian Naturalist 



VOL. III. ADELAIDE, FEBRUARY, 1922. No. 2 



Excursion to Barossa, October 12, 1921. — A lai-cre party 

 visited the Barossa Reservoir under tlie leadership of Mr. W. 

 Champion Haekett. The party enjoyed the trip througph the 

 hills in the ideal weather. Camping' near the Barossa Weir, 

 the members found the serub near the old Barossa diggings a 

 mass of flowers and flowering shrubs. Summer orchids were 

 abundant, and the beautiful ))lue blossoms of cheiranthera 

 were especially noticeable. The leader gave the party an 

 account of the cost, holding capacity and catchment area of 

 the dam, the cement wall of which is made in the shape of a 

 curve, forming a very eflVctive whispering gallery. 



Lectures, October 18, 1921. — Mr. A. 0, Edquist gave an 

 interesting lecture on "Crystals." dealing with their forma- 

 tion, growtli and classification. The lecture was illustrated 

 by specimens, models and lantern slides. Mr. J. ^[. Black 

 lectured on "Some Recently Introduced Weeds of K.A, " his 

 remarks being sjilendidly illustrated by the aid of the episcope. 

 The lecturer dealt very interestingly with the wild turnip, 

 oxalis, Convovulus arvense, stiiikwort (Inula graveolens), the 

 pest pear (Opuntia monocantha), the white goosefoot (Cheno- 

 podium album j. the prickly jack (Emex australis), the rocket 

 (Sisymbrium orientale), the English dandelion (Taraxacum 

 ofiicinale), meadow grass (Poa annua), hedge mustard (Sisym- 

 brium officinale), castor oil (Ricinus communis), and many 

 others, specimens of each being obtained that afternoon in and 

 around North Adelaide. 



Lecture, November 15, 1921. — Mr. W. Champion Hackett 

 spoke on ''Plant Curiosities." With the aid of the episcope 

 he dealt with many of the wonders of the plaut world, such as 

 the ''Elephant's Foot." Rafllesia arnoldi, the gingko tree, that 

 relic of a dim past (some specimens of which are to be seen 

 in our park lands), the candle tree of Panama, the Victoria 

 Regia, the travellers' tree of Madagascar, the pitcher plant 

 of Albany (W.A.), and many others. Dr. Pulleine followed 

 with a talk on spiders. Admirable slides illustrated the 

 speaker's remarks as he dealt with the habits and defences of 

 various species, more particularly with the trap-door spiders, 



