when domestic animals are allowed to eat 
off the young shoots and seedlings while in 
the soft, tender stage. On the other hand 
there is considerable evidence to show that 
after such land has been cultivated, and then 
abandoned, the native flora has gradually 
taken possession again. This is probably be- 
cause the introduced species cannot grow on 
such poor soils without fertilisation. 
CONCLUSION 
To sum up: If this plan were carried out 
systematically it appears that we would kill 
four birds with one stone. We would pre- 
serve the whole of the native flora, we would 
prevent the harmful effects of bush fires, we 
would stop erosion, and we would also give 
the native animals a better chance to escape 
from the fires. 
MORIALTA RESERVE EXCURSION 
MAY 19, 1951 
By O. M. W AITE 
A fine day enticed a larger number of 
members than usual to join the party on a 
five or six mile walk in the Torrens Gorge. 
They were reminded that on the first visit of 
the Field Naturalists to the area on 3rd 
April, 1886, it was known as Glen Stuart, 
and the Section paid 2/6 for the privilege of 
going over the estate, then privately owned, 
and taking specimens on condition that the 
sheep w'ere not disturbed. 
Passing the savannah woodlands on the 
low foothills, the party ascended the path 
near the Kiosk, whch leads up Reade Gully 
and along the hillsides to the second 
fall. On the w r ay many she-oaks ( Casurina 
stricta) were noticed, on some of which the 
mistletoe ( Loranthus Exocarpi) was seen 
growing. The cotton bush ( Asclepias rotundi- 
folia) , the feeding plant of the Wanderer 
butterfly, grew r in abundance. A few of the 
butterflies and their caterpillars were seen. 
Acacia rupicola made a green bank on either 
side of the path at one place. The coppery 
tips of the new growth were of interest. A 
natural scree on the hillside to the right of 
the track w'as topped by numerous plants of 
A anthorrhoea quadrangulata in grotesque 
shapes. 
Plants in flower growing along the way 
w'ere Olearia tiibili flora, Kennedya prostrata. 
Astroloma conostephioides and Correa rubra. 
At the second fall billv-tea was enjoyed. 
In the vicinity grew Leptospermum pubescens, 
Callistemma purpurea and Cheilanthes tenui- 
folia. The walk was continued on the north- 
ern hillside, known as Hikers’ Hill. Many 
bushes of the lovely Anthocercis an gusty folia 
were seen. Once rare, this plant now grows 
abundantly in the Reserve. Other plants 
noted were Banksia marginata , Hybanthus 
floribundus, Spyridium spathulatum and 
Epacris impressa in shades of red, pink and 
white, 
Among the birds observed were robins 
(Petroica multicolor ), yellow-winged honey- 
eaters ( Meliornis novae- holla ndiae) and Syd- 
ney waxbills (Aegintha temporalis) pecking 
at the small, hard cones of she-oaks. 
A male specimen of the trap-door spider 
( Missulena occatoria) , w hose bite can be 
serious, was found in a comatose state. 
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