ihe South Australian Xaturalisi. 



ORCHIDS. 



Among the native fioAvers brought by Miss L. E, Page (a 

 valued member of the Section) from Myponga to our meeting 

 on November lo. were several specimens of the rare orchid, 

 Caleana major (R. Brown). It is pictured and described in 

 Dr. Rogers's ''Introduction to the Study of Soutli Australian 

 Orchids." The flower bears a comical resemblance to a duck, 

 and when touched the "head" bends slowly down and bashfully 

 hides itself. Few specimens of this exceedingly quaint orchid 

 have been taken. 



TRAGEDY. 



By ''Phasma.' 



They mated, and were as happy as mantids could be. 

 Wherever she roamed in search of food, there he was to be 

 found. He was devotedly attentive to his partner, and fre- 

 quently assmued the attitude of prayer when she refused his 

 attentions. 



They lived for the moment, and gave no thought of the 

 morrow, for their actions were governed by instinct, or, as 

 Professor McDougall would say, *'by innate tendencies to act 

 and to feel." 



From what transpired, we may feel certain that their feel- 

 ings and actions were governed by instinct, and not by the 

 exercise of the higher governing influence — reason. 



It was the afternoon, and in the privacy of a shrub they 

 were accepting each other's caresses, when they were rudely 

 shaken from their seventh heaven into a paper bag by one 

 of those mortals gifted with reason and all that it means, and 

 yet prone to destroy that which he can never hope to create. 

 In the "cause of science" it was decided that the newly-wed 

 couple should be given to the entomologist at the Museum next 

 morning. Owing to the fact that thoughts of trams and busi- 

 ness matters must always occupy one's mind to the exclusion 

 of others less closely connected with the getting of bread and 

 butter, they were forgotten. Next day they were carefully 

 carried to the Museum and delivered to the entomologist, who, 

 on opening the bag, started with horror and disappointmerit 

 at the spectacle which filled his gaze. Had they quarrelled 

 so soon after marriage, and after such prayerful protestations 



