121 



nion (Hemicliroa) pentandriim. Approaching the level o£ 

 ordiuary tides, thickets of Aviceuuia ofEcinalis were met with, 

 now in full bloom. Prof. Tate explained that the seeds mature 

 in November, and germinating before shedding, the young 

 plants were wafted by the wind to the mud flats, where they 

 rooted at once. A large number of these, with their remark- 

 ably large embryonic leaves, were gathered by the party. 



Among the samphire shrubs near high water mark some 

 novelties peculiar to this station were obtained, viz., the pul- 

 moniferous snails, Alexia meridionalis, Brazier, Plecotrema 

 ciliata, Tate, and Ampullarina Quoyana ; also, an undescribed 

 Assiminea and a 3Iodiola, the latter anchored in the mud by 

 its byssal threads or beard. 



Eeturning from the powder-magazine the party followed 

 the railway loopline to Dry Creek. Along the line and inter- 

 secting the sandhills, at a low elevation, fragments of shells and 

 sea pebbles were observed, and the Professor stated that about a 

 quarter of a mile from the Dry Creek Station the margin of 

 the elevated sea- bed was tracealjle as a white earthy limestone 

 highly charged with Ampullarina Quoyana, Blandf ordia striatula, 

 Truucatella^, and other estuarine species of moUusca. 



The ground here being comparatively dry the difference of 

 vegetation w^as most marked. The Salsolace?e were most con- 

 spicuous, such as Kochia brevifolia, Iv. sedifolia, K. aphylla, 

 Bassia diacantha, Atriplex semibaccatum, Chenopodium cari- 

 natum, Salsola Kali, and Angianthus tomentosns, the latter 

 being very rare here. A quantity of the fruits of jSTitraria 

 Schoberi, the Native Grape bush, was gathered, and Euphorbia 

 Drummondi, a spurge, specially pointed out by Professor Tate 

 on account of its poisonous qualities. 



Eeaching Dry Creek the party retnrned in a reserved car- 

 riage by the 6.52 train to town. 



Seyextti Excursiox — Easter Moxday, April 14, ISSi. 



At half-past eight a.m. 60 ladies and gentlemen started in 

 two coaches for Xoarlunga jetty, which was reached near noon. 

 After luncheon a meeting was held, when one member was 

 elected, and then a start made for Whitton Bluff. On the 

 road along the beach a dead specimen of the cuttle fish was found, 

 considered as undescribed by Prof. Tate, who had attached 

 the M8. name — "Sepia brevimana" — to it on account of 

 its short tentacles. The tide prevented a near approach to the 

 Bluff, which is very picturesque, and presents a grand and 

 complete section of the older Tertiary rocks. The beds of the 

 -detached islet, known as the Gull Hock, were stated by the 

 Professor to have the same dip as at the Bluff, and it was not 



