The South Australian Naturalist. 49 



BOTANICAL NOTES. 



By E. H. Ising. 



Candlebark Gnm (Eiicalijptus riihida, H. D. et J. H. M.) 



The bark is shed from these trees at Mount Lofty in flakes 

 or larg'e strips. It is a light grey in eolonr when shed, leaving 

 the trnnk a very beantil'nl ]iale eream. This decortieation takes: 

 plaee here in the middle of Febrnary. 

 Manna Gnm (Eucalyptus viminaUs, Labill.) 



This gum was in flower at Long Gidly on February 12, 1922, 

 and bloomed for over three weeks. 



BLIND SNAKES. 



By Edgar R. Waite, F.L.S. 



Most people in Australia are interested in snakes, but it is 

 the kind of interest they have in dangerous sharks and the 

 Red-baeked spider : eonsequently all snakes are usually given a 

 wide berth, but not beeause they are neeessarily dangerous. 



There is unfortunately no instantly reeognisable eharacter 

 by which the dangerous and innocuous snakes can be identified, 

 so it is well that they should be generally avoided. There are no 

 venomous lizards in Australia, but certain of the legless lizards 

 are very snake-like and are popularly regarded as snakes. Many 

 of these are however striped, that is the.y have colour lines run- 

 ning from head to tail. Some of our snakes are ringed or banded, 

 but none is striped. 



When once seen and identified as such, there can be little 

 hesitation about the recognition of blind snakes, the subject of 

 this article. 



