146 The South Australian Naturalist. 



moloch from this cause. Feeding greedily, and apparently in 

 the best of health, the animal has been left for half an hour 

 without shelter, and on returning was found dead, the body 

 blazing hot to the touch, although in life perfectly cool. Sprink- 

 ling the body with cold water was tried, and although the skin 

 still retained its absorbent properties the animal showed no sign 

 of life. Placing the body in a cool spot indoors, I was hopeful 

 some spark of life might still be present and recovery ensue; 

 but the rapid process of putrefaction soon dispelled that idea. 

 Entirely diurnal in habit, retiring immediately the sun dis- 

 appears, the head of the animal being partially buried in the 

 sand; easy to cater for (no food being taken during the winter 

 months) ; perfectly harmless, although of somewhat formidable 

 appearance, the little moloch lizard makes a charming pet. 



ITEMS OF INTEREST TO THE F.N.S. 



On our man\^ trips to the seaside, members have often 

 picked up a dark-green globular object which, on inspection, 

 is seen to be made up of long cells filled wdth a watery fluid. 

 Through Dr. Waite, Dr. Tiegs, of the University, has kindly 

 identified this for us as an Alga or tree seaweed belonging to 

 the family Codium. 



Captain White is truly indefatigable in his advocacy of 

 bird protection. Since his return from his trip across Aus- 

 tralia he has delivered no less than 172 lectures. 



The neighbouring State of Victoria has gazetted an area 

 of 16,000 acres in the extreme north-west of the State as a 

 National Park, in order to preserve some of the wild life of 

 the mallee country. Ought not something of the kind to be 

 done in our State before it is too late? 



The moth taken at Ambleside has been indentified by Mr. 

 Lea as Aenomnda hoisduvalli. The little balls so often noticed 

 on the guinea flowers are made by the larvae from off a weevil, 

 Cassythicola echinata Lea, first described by Mr. Lea. 



The ''Argus" of July 28, 1923, contains the statement that 

 another consignment of Australian birds and animals (including 

 about 150 kangaroos) had left Sydney recently for New York. 



