60 The South Australian Naturalist. 



tree), with its delicate fern-like foliage, was admired. Several 

 varieties of hemlock (Tsiiqra) were observed, and the false 

 hemlock, commercially known as oregon (Pseudotsuga Doug- 

 lasii). This tree in its jrrowth rapidly outstrips most of the 

 conifers, making about three feet in a year under favourable 

 circumstances. The Sequoias (redwoods), the gigantic trees of 

 California, were represented by two varieties — S. sempervirens 

 and S. gigantea. Among cedars the three varieties were noted, 

 C. Libani (the cedar of Lebanon), C. Atlantica (grow^n on 

 Atlas Mounts), and C. deodara (from India). The cypress 

 tribe comprised the following: C. sempervirens, C. Lambert- 

 iana, C. torrulosa (a good hedge, constantly reverting to the 

 common type), C. Auranti (golden tipped). The common 

 Juniper berries, which are used to flavour gin (so-called from 

 Juniper) appeared to thrive. The thuga (Arbor vitae), the 

 Sciadonitvs verticillata (Japanese umbrella tree), and the 

 Taxodium distichum (a deciduous conifer) were among the 

 most singular specimens. 



Excursion to Kinchina, June 5, 1922.— A party of fiield 

 naturalists made a trip to the mallee at Kinchina, about five 

 miles west of Murray Bridge, under the guidance of Mr. E. H. 

 Ising A verv interesting dav was spent observing the botany, 

 bird life, insects, and geological formation. The leader pointed 

 out the peculiar botanical features of the mallee, and about 

 fiftv species of native plants were recorded, but only about a 

 doz'^en were in flower. The native hopbush (Dodonaea sp.) 

 was seen in full flower; the male and female flowers of this 

 plant are usuallv on different bushes. The bush with the male 

 flowers presented a beautiful picture with the numerous red- 

 cased anthers and bright-green shining leaves. The bush carry- 

 ing the female flowers is not showy until the fruits develop, m 

 about two months. Another hopbush of different habit (Dodo- 

 naea hexandra ; i.e., of prostrate growth) was also found in 

 flower (male onlv), and the leaves were shining, sticky, and 

 very narrow, and the flowers cream. The broom of this 

 district (Baeckea Behrii) is plentiful. It is a very erect 

 shrub of about seven feet high, and makes excellent fences. 

 None of the wattles were in flower, but there was much pro- 

 mise of a profusion of flowers in the spring. One of the mallees 

 was in flower, and the bees were busy among the blossoms. 

 Four species of this plant were observed, and seven of the 

 wattles. A species of bottle-brush (Callistemon coccmeus) 

 was found growing along the creek-ways, but its flowering 

 period was just over. This is a shrub of seven or eight feet 

 in height, and is a beautiful sight when in bloom. Two species 



