116 



especially ou the eastern flanks, ferns, lycopodiums, and otlier 

 plants characteristic of humid stations abounded. With res- 

 pect to the geological age of these formations little had as yet 

 been forthcoming to replace conjecture with certainty. It was 

 often thought by the inexperienced that the underlying slate 

 rocks contained plant remains, and these were appealed to as 

 affording conclusive proofs that the series contained coal. 

 These plant-like markings are produced by the infiltration of 

 oxide of manganese, and are not of organic origin. 



Though the striugybark country was not rich either in animal 

 or vegetable life, yet in the course of the day many 

 characteristic species of this tract were found — notably Aster 

 ISonderi, with its large oak-like leaves and glorious white 

 flowers supported on stalks a foot in length, the only known 

 locality for this plant being the striugybark forests of the 

 Mount Lofty Ranges ; the graceful Marianthus bignoniaceus,. 

 with pendulous, yellow and orange flowers ; and the Stylidium 

 (CandoUea) graminifolium. The last-named, being a sensitive 

 plant, amused and interested many of the party on testing it& 

 irritability. The style, crowned by two anthers, hangs down 

 through a notch in the corolla. "When touched by an insect, 

 or anything else, it assumes an horizontal position with great 

 rapidity, and then rests upon the corolla. The object to be 

 gained by this action was stated to have remained a mystery,, 

 in spite of the earnest attention which scientific men have 

 given to the matter, and that its discovery would be hailed 

 with satisfaction by botanical students. 



An al fresco business meeting was then held. Professor Tate 

 presiding, when eighteen new members were elected unani- 

 mously, after which the meeting terminated, and the i)arty 

 returned to Crafers. 



TiiTED ExcL'ESiox — New Teae's Day. 



About 90 ladies and gentlemen proceeded by three coaches- 

 to Hallet's Cove for a whole-day excursion, noting by the way 

 the thinly bedded slaty rocks and limestones interstratified by 

 thick quartzites which compose the ascent to Tapley's Hill, and 

 the highly crystalline arenaceous marbles occupying the higher 

 levels. Drawing up at a house on Mr. Eymill's estate the 

 party walked down to the valley of Field's Eiver, a small rivu- 

 let with high and steep banks, except near the mouth where it 

 enters the sea at Hallett's Cove, named after Capt. Hallett^ 

 who had an interest in the now deserted Worthing Mine, about 

 a mile inland from the shore. 



After lunch Professor Tate led the way to the shore. The 

 river empties itself into the sea between two bold headlands 



