The Sovth Australian Naturalist. 39 



the moist banks Avliioh are oeeasionally submerged. Many 

 spiders' webs were observed, and there is no doubt the spiders 

 captured many flyinof insects that were attracted by the water. 

 The cliffs showed a series of strata, some of which were of 

 gravel, indicating the level of the river-bed at some former 

 period. A number of large bushes of tlie native rush (Scirpus 

 sp.) were noticed on tlie north bank, which sloped gradually to 

 the water. One red gum (Eucalyptus rostrata) grew in the 

 water several feet from the bank, and its trunk, which was 

 about two inches thick, was erect and strong. It is (piite com- 

 mon to see this species of gum growing in water on the River 

 Murray. Iiitroduced plants were present in some numbers — 

 the so-called Bambojo (a Danubian reed), fennel, castor oil, 

 and what appeared to be a twining convolvulus. Not many 

 aquatic animals were seen, but the yabbie proved an interesting 

 find in the hands of Mr. W. II. Baker, who is an authority on 

 the Crustacea. Some boys had caught (piite a number of this 

 fish, whicli is called Chieraps bicarinatus. ^Ir. Baker men- 

 tioned that he has sometimes found a snuill leech parasitic on 

 the yabbie. Several species of dragon-fly were seen skimming 

 the water. The innovation of boating on the lake j^roved of 

 great interest. 



Lecture, "A Public Aquarium," by Mr. Edgar R. Waite, 

 F.L.S., March 21, 1922. — The meeting on March 21 Avas a com- 

 bined meeting of the Aquarium Society and this Section. The 

 President of the Aquariiim Soeiety (Mr. Edgar R. Waite, 

 F.L.S.) delivered his presidential address on the subject of "A 

 Public Aquarium, " in the course of Avhich he spoke of some of 

 the most noted of the world's aquaria, at Monaco, in Italy, in 

 England, at Honolulu, and in P^lorida. His remarks were illus- 

 trated by beautiful lantern views. The lecturer took his audi- 

 ence behind the scenes and exi)lained how the public aquaria 

 were managed and how the inhabitants of the tanks were kept 

 in health. In the course of his lecture he said :^" Coming to 

 South Australia Avith a lifelong interest in, and practical asso- 

 ciation Avith the subject. 1 soon sought to establish a public 

 aquarium in Adelaide. The Zoological Society placed a room at 

 my disposal for the purpose, and plans and specification for the 

 fittings Avere prepared. This Avould, I belicA-e, have borne fruit, 

 but, like many other projects, had to be abandoned on the out- 

 break of the Avar. Later came the foundation of the Aquarium 

 Society, and Ave hope in time to move the poAvers that be to do 

 something better for the State in the direction of establishing 



