The South Australian Naturalist. 83 



garoo Paws of West Australia fAnigozaiithus sp.), the flannel 

 flower of New South Wales, and many waratahs and the spear- 

 lily (Doryanthes excelsa), with J^turt peas from Broken Hill. 



From Tasmania came boronias, Tetrathecas, and Conos- 

 perma. Victoria forwarded orchids and pink boronia. 



There was keen competition in the flower paintings. Tht- 

 judge (Mr. John White) awarded the prizes for water colors 

 to Miss M. Rob Johns and Miss A. D. Oiiver, and in oils to 

 Mrs. N. Tamblyn (a daughter of Mr. T. P. Bellch ambers, tht 

 South Australian naturalist). 



The short lecturettes given were greatly appreciated. 

 Mr. J. F. Bailey spoke on **The Propagation of Native Plants," 

 Mr. Kimber on ''Shell Study," and Mr. Tindale spoke on his 

 recent trip to Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Avhere 

 he was successful in collecting a large number of tropical 

 insects, many of which he showed. He also spoke on his 

 experiences with the natives of this interesting island, which 

 had been visited by very fe\^• white men previously to the visit 

 of his party. 



Certificates have been forwarded to the various schools 

 who forwarded floAvers and book prizes to the schools sending 

 the best collections. 



TRICTINA LABYRINTHICA. 



When the postman handed me the box he said, "It con 

 tains something that moves. Probably it is one of your pets. 

 I listened, and sure enough a movement of the contents of the 

 box warned me to be careful when removing the lid. Care- 

 fully raising a corner of the cover and peering into the dark 

 interior, I was surprised to see two luminous spots glowing likf 

 precious carbuncles. This unusual appearance caused me tg 

 let in more light upon the subject, and to my surprise I dis. 

 covered the inmate of the box to be a male moth of the specie^ 

 Trictina labyrinthica. 



This experience was new to me, and set me thinking. 

 Here was a moth with luminous eyes. This moth is a night 

 flier. Could it be possible that self-luminous eyes make it 

 easier for an animal to see well in the dark and be able to movi 

 about swiftly without accident? Some deepsea fish have 

 luminous eyes, and they are able to swim, without accident to 

 themselves, at depths to which sunlight never descends. 



Cats and dogs have luminous eyes, and they see very wel) 

 at night time. 



Can it be possible that self-luminous eyes enable animals 

 to see distinctly in the dark, and that the sense of sight is ngt 

 entirely dependent upon light received from the sun and from 

 other extra terrestrial sources? 



M 



