102 
The South Australian Naturalist. 
wealth but the reverse. When hard up the organism throws 
up those defences against the attacks of foes and calmly retires' 
lo sleep. When it has oeen sufficiently restored these ridges 
are dissolved by acid secretions from its body. These seams often 
assume fantastic forms, such as foliations, spines, and such like, 
Mr. Kimber then spoke on the sepia (commonly known as the cut- 
tlefish) belonging to the important family of cephalopods( head- 
footed). Their modes of progress are threefold — by lateral fins, by 
the waving of their long feelers, or by alternately absorbing and j 
ejecting water through their syphons. A beautiful little shell S, 
Braggi not so long as the index finger gave occasion to the remark 
that the living 'creature has never yet been taken. A shell of the 
Fasciolaria coronata, with its living inhabitant, might have been 
20 years old. Algae growing in profusion on the shell afforded 
ctmple protection from marine organisms. A hipponyx and 
several surpulae found a comfortable home in this accumula- 
tion. The Haliotis cyclobates is not found in the northern hemi- 
sphere, its habitat being restricted to the cool waters of our 
southern coasts. Haliotis was a favorite food of the aboriginals, 
and great mounds of the shells are to be seen on the north-west 
shores of Tasmania. On a lump of brain coral two species of 
serpulae and tubes, the work of annelid worms were noted. A 
slipper limpet {crepidula ivimersa) rewarded the researches d 
Mr. Godfree. 
[lies 
ie-U 
Even 
ipice 
itlO' 
lltl' 
— Research Under Difficulties. 
A correspondent writes: — The investigations of the field nat^o 
uralists have often to be conducted under circumstances of con- 
siderable hardship. But neither the inclemency of the weather ; 
nor the roughness of the terrain to be explored can quench the |] 
ardour of these indomitable votaries of the Muse of Science. Un - 
the Largs Beach, on Saturday afternoon, a small party ot held 
naturalists, listening to Mr. Kimber’s lucid descriptions ot the 
wonderful life of the shallow seas, and wrapt in admiration ot 
these marvels, temporarily forget, like the philosopher ot o . 
that while their thoughts soared to empyrean heights, not onJ) 
their feet but their bodies rested on the treacherous sands, 
warnings of a more prosaic and practical member passe 
heedeer until a black and lowering sky suddenh' began opj 
out a deluge of pelting rain and hail, and a bercc ga e Aung 
sand and spnn into the faces of the company. i i * 
across shifting banks of sand and sea-weed die not 
tect their rash conduct from the rage of the elements, 
were contemptuously whisked about, and “U ^ j ],ush 
inside out and smashed. Shelter was sought behin 
hifting sand dune, but with little mitigation from the tu y 
or s 
