18 . The South Australian Naturalist. 
EXCURSIONS. 
EXCURSION TO SLAPE^S GULLY, AUGUST 15. 
Under the guidance of Mr. J. A. Hogan about 20 members 
traversed Slape^s Gully. The going was rough, as in many places 
the track was ill defined. Slape’s Gully is one of the most at- 
tractive gorges in our hills, the winding stream, walled in by preci- 
pitous hills, being rich in native vegetation. Several species of 
leptospermum and acacia were observed and the wattle was com- 
ing into bloom, but in this secluded ravine It was somewhat early 
for native flora. The imported wild cotton bush Gomphocarpns 
pubescens , is getting a firm hold in our hills, and is a noxious 
shrub. It is the resort in the spring of swarms of brown butter- 
flies, the larvae of which came here with the bush. There were 
also many bushes of Brachylo7na ericoides just coming into flower 
An enthusiastic shellman was delighted to find very rare speci- 
mens of the two Australian snails Helix Gawleri and //. Bednalli, 
which many collectors have hitherto sought in vain. The party 
reached the waterfall, and scaling the hill, came back by an easy 
track. From the top of Green Hill a magnificent view of a gor- 
geous sunset and the shimmering waters of the gulf, with the roofs 
and spires of the city In clear relief, compensated for the arduous 
climb. 
EXCURSION, SEMAPHORE BEACH, AUGUST 29. 
A party of members under the leadership of Messrs. Kimber 
and Trigg, explored the beach from the Semaphore southwards, 
in search of the remains of marine life cast up by the recent storm. 
Some Interesting specimens were found. Certain patches of mar- 
ine wash were especially rich in molluscan forms. A Haliotis 
albicans (ear shell) was found adhering to a Pinna or razor fish. 
The flesh, though edible, is rather coarse, but is much liked by 
savage tribes. In a recent lecture, Dr. Pulleine showed photo- 
graphs of mounds of these shells, many feet in thickness, In spots 
where the Tasmanian aborigines had camped. As is common 
with many molluscs the shell was Infested with many forms of 
minute marine organisms. The lustrous nacreous interior Is iri- 
descent, as also Is the exterior when the foreign accretions are 
removed by hydrochloric acid. The glittering vari-coloured shells 
of Phasianotrochus may be strung into daintily tinted necklaces. 
An egg-case of the Port Jackson dog shark, resembling a pine 
cone, was found. Embryonic sharks are often found in these 
peculiar receptacles. The mother leaves the tiny creatures to 
their own devices. This*species Is quite harmless. The elongated 
shell of the hammer headed oyster Malleus albus (white ham- 
mer), so named from its shape, is provided also with a nacreous 
