171 



Miscellaneous Contributions 



TO THE 



Natural History of South Australia, 

 zoology. 



Unio Sturtii, Adams and Angas, " immense quantities o£ 

 which are found in the rainwater holes at Umbuin, 40 miles 

 south from Peake ; natives eat them, but they are anything 

 but palatable." (J. Chandler.) The species was described 

 from specimens collected at Newcastle Waters by the Stuart 

 Trans-continental party. 



Physa texturata, Beeve ; 20 miles from Peake, towards 

 Lake Eyre. (J. Chandler.) (E. Tate.) 



Cyrena Angasi, Prince ; as large as those obtained from the 

 Reedbeds, exhibited before the Society January 7, 1879. 

 Physa Alicje, Beeve, and Unio vittatus, in the River Onka- 

 paringa, at Noarlunga (Master Molineux). (R. Tate.) 



BOTANY. 



Plants collected by Mrs. Richards, Corr. Memb., at 

 Fowler's Bay : — 



Plagianthus glomeratus, Benth. ; previously known locali- 

 ties are " south coast" and near Lake Eyre. 



Acacia homalophylla, A. Cwmi. Reported widely dif- 

 fused about Bowler's Bay. The ripe pods which accompany 

 the specimens contain seeds attached by a very long and bright 

 red funiculus. The funiculus is doubly folded on the sides of 

 the seed, and is detached with it • and from its brilliant colour 

 is supposed to serve as an attraction to birds, and so assist in 

 the dissemination of the species. The seeds are largely fed 

 upon by Cacatua Leadheateri. The species extends to the oasis 

 of the Bunda Plateau, and northward to the Musgrave Ranges. 



Solanum hystrix, B. Br. Baron F. von Mueller writes : — 

 " I never saw this rare plant before, as it was only once found, 

 i.e., in 1802, at Petrel Bay, by R. Brown." Some of the par- 

 ticulars he asks for I have supplied from personal observation 

 made during my exploration aroxmd the Great Australian 

 Bight. It is confined to the sandy ridges covered with mallee 



