The South Australian Naturalist. 
H 
moisture. Along the roads wild flowers were in profusion — TeU 
ratheca pilosaj Platylobium obtusatigulum with its dainty corolla 
of variegated petals, red, brown, and yellow; Hakea rostrata, 
Pimelea and others. 
EXCURSION TO FULHAM, OCTOBER 31. 
A large party accompanied Mr. E. H. Ising to Fulham sand 
hills and were successful in securing some of the orchid, Microtis 
porrifolia (leek-orchid). 
Fulham, as Mr. W. Ham pointed out during the field natur- 
alists’ visit, occupies the site of an ancient sea beach, which ex- 
tended from Brighton Rocks to the neighbourhood of Dry Creek. 
The ridges of yellow sand that mark the limits of the waterfront 
are the result of the action the wind and tide, and the Stockade 
is built on the seaside cliff. The sea has invaded this part on 
many ocasions, and has relinquished its prey only after a des- 
perate struggle. A gradual uplift of 8 ft. has recently reclaimed 
these flats from the inroads of the water. Not only the geological 
formation, but also the prevailing vegetation, bears witness to 
these vicissitudes. The plants observed are, according to Mr. 
E. H. Ising, those usually found in tidal swamps, viz., samphire, 
This characteristic plant, covers an extensive area in these flats, 
with Arthrocnemum sp. and Threlkeldia diffusa. A plant 
observed near the road was the rare native Pittosporum. Many 
chipped flints were picked up by members of the party, evidently 
the cutting tools of aborigines. Shells of cockles and other mol- 
lusca were also found. Another curious relic of the anciei t days 
was observed — a number of tree stumps of the Casuarina^ which 
had undergone the process of so-called petrifaction. Lime, silica 
and other mineral matter in solution had entered the interstices 
in the decaying trunk; the wood had mouldered away, and the 
solid mineral had formed a perfect cast or mould of the trunk 
The finding of a sleeping lizard led to a discourse on that peculiar 
organ, the “pineal gland.” The curious little pits of the “ant 
lion” were noticed and one little brown creature was found. He 
lies in wait at the bottom of his little pit for ants or other insects 
that may tumble in: but, when alarmed digs rapidly through the 
sand, and is accordingly difficult to capture. After an hour or two 
on the flats an adjournment was made, by invitation, to the resi- 
dence of Capt. S. A. White, where members and friends were 
hospitably entertained at afternoon tea. The host’s extensive 
collection of natural history objects were next inspected. Mr. 
W. J. Kimber discoursed in his usual lucid manner on the num- 
erous land and water shells. Attention was drawn to the subfossil 
of a species of Paludina in a block of limestone in the outer wall 
