690 



in cutting down their beds and forming flood plains and 

 deltas, thus producing most interesting scenic effects as well 

 as being of great economic value. The lecture was illustrated 

 with many diagrams and view9 of Australian river scenery, 

 etc. 



On October 11, 1916, a small party, under tlie leadership 

 of Mr. E. H. Lock, visited Sibley's marble quarries, at 

 Angaston. A large number of members, under the leadership 

 of Mr. W. H. Selway, collected native flowers in the scrub 

 between Williamstown and Kersbrook, securing a good number 

 of 6pecies, orchids being especially abundant. 



An excursion was made on October 21, 1916, to the 

 National Park, Belair. Professor Osborn led the botanists, 

 who secured a large number of specimens, while Mr. A. M. 

 Lea secured some interesting insects and addressed the 

 members on the subject of the food of birds. 



The next excursion was to the Marino Rocks, on Novem- 

 ber 11, 1916, under the leadership of Mr. W. J. Kimber. 

 The few members who braved the elements had an interesting 

 time, and secured several kinds of shells. In the afternoon 

 Mr. Kimber addressed the members on the living inhabitants 

 of the shells found. 



On December 22, 1916, the President (Professor Osborn) 

 met a large party in the Botanic Garden and spoke on the 

 Pitcher Plants (Wepenthes) and the Cycads, illustrating his 

 remarks by specimens and by the plants growing in' the 

 Garden, after which an adjournment was made to the 

 Classification Ground, where many interesting plants were 

 observed. The party afterwards rambled through the Garden, 

 noting amongst other things the rubber tree, the banyan, and 

 the collection of wattles. 



The first excursion of the year 1917, held on January 

 20, was a dredging trip. Starting from the Outer Harbour 

 the party made a few casts of the dredge at the Semaphore 

 anchorage, and then returned to the Port River, where 

 dredging was resumed in the North Arm, where a few 

 specimens were obtained. Mr. Edgar R. Waite spoke on the 

 Oyster, referring especially to the diseases Which attacked it. 

 Mr. Kimber spoke on the life history of some shell fish, and 

 Mr. W. Ham drew attention to the adaptation of the 

 mangrove to its surroundings, referring especially to the work 

 of the pneumatophores. 



On January 29, 1917, members joined in an all-day 

 dredging trip in* Gulf St. Vincent. The party spent 

 the night on board, and at dawn the vessel was well out in 

 the Gulf. Several hauls were made during the day, and some 

 interesting material was gathered. A new shell, of the genus 



