278 The Queensland Naturalist. Vol. 1 
EXCURSION TO CURRUMBIN. 
Report on Pond and Shore Life. — By W. R. Colledge. 
The little Currumbin rocks at low tide, furnished an 
interesting field for the naturalist. Various sea plants 
formed miniature gardens in the rock pools. Purple and 
grey mottled anemones lay in the fissures, some with e.xtended 
tentacles fully iustifying their popular title of “ Sea Flowers." 
Small fish flitted among the green fronds of the Ulva, while 
variegated crabs sought to shroud themselves beneath the 
leaves of the Peacock’s tail. One crustacean was in the 
grip of a young octopus ; seven prisoning bands encircled 
him, while the eighth tentacle anchored the creature to the 
rock. The poor crab’s case was hopeless until a member of 
the club detached the limb, when the octopus, deeming 
discretion the better part of valour, renounced his prey, 
and lashing the water disappeared beneath a dark rock 
shelf, while the crab scudded away to a safe shelter. Several 
young Sea Urchins {EchinodermuUe] Sea Stars {Asteroidee), 
and the Ophiuroidee, or Brittle Stars, furnished delicate but 
fragile specimens of lovely marine architecture. Some of 
the Gephyrean worms, Genus Sepunciilus . and a little crusta- 
cean of the Idotheida family were secured. Families of 
Ascidians, left dry by the retreating waves, spurted jets of 
water across to their comrades. Living Cowries, Tritons 
and Patellas clung to the steep rock faces, and some were 
whitened with the contorted tubes of serpulas, whose 
occupants had long since passed away. 
Not many fresh water pools were seen, and only about 
a dozen Rotifers were observed. 
ASHGROVE excursion, OCTOBER 12th, 1912. 
Report on Pond Life. — By W . R. Colledge. 
On our excursion to Ashgrove we found in the bed of 
the creek, notwithstanding the dry condition of the neigh- 
bourhood good water holes containing fair quantities of 
clear water, and, especially near the edges, good clusters of 
growing Nitella. A minute green alga was also noticed, 
with filaments whose cells were about twice as long as they 
were broad— probably Microspora floccosa Of Desmids 
Closteria lunula and Micrasterias denticulaia were seen, 
also specimens of the sun animalcule, Actinophrys etchornu. 
Stentor polymorphus were swimming about among 
dense colonies of stalked vorticella. 
