58 
The South riustraUan NotnraUst. 
A vote was also taken on certain other plant-names regard- 
ing the use of which there has been a divergency of opinion among 
Australian botanists, d’lie result, in most cases by a large majori- 
ty, w'as in favor of retaining the following names, which have the 
right of priority in date of publication: — Themeda. Forsk, (1775) 
as against Avthistena, L.f. (1779); Stemona. Lour. (1790) as 
against Roxbiirghia, Banks ( 1795); Lomavdra, Labill. (1804) as | 
against Xerotes, R.Br. (1810); Lmdernia. All. (1762-65) as i 
against Vandeliia, I.. (1767). ' 
It was also decided to oppose any attempt which might be 
made to displace Bassia, Allioni (1766) in favor of Bassia, Koenig 
( 1771 ). ; 
j.M.B. 
SHELL COJ.LECTIXG AT MIDDLILLOX 
Middleton Beach has been well explored by the Conchologist. 
This quiet little village, situated on the shores of Encounter Bay, 
has long been noted for the profusion of shell)' treasures whicli 
are being continually cast up on its shores. Being fully exposed 
to the ocean swell from the south, which breaks in serried ranks 
on rock and beach, most shells washed up. necessarily, are well 
beach-rolled and broken. If fortunate enough to be there on a 
low tide day man)^ living specimens may be taken from under 
the loose flat stones, and on the barnaclc-clad rocks. To the 
eastward shallow water runs far out, and on the beach — which 
extends in a long curve tq Kingston — myriads of bivalves make 
their home. Donax deltoides (Lamarck) — much favoured by 
anglers for bait — is in countless numbers. 'They apparently live 
in restricted patches, following the tide in and out, and are easily 
found just under the surface of the sand covered by the tide 
wash. The beautiful pink bivalve — TeUhia albineUa (Lamarck), 
which, by the way, is rarely white; the rayed Chione paucila- 
■mellata (i)unker), and Mactra riifescens (Lamarck), are also to 
be found. An examination was made one early morning of a 
stretch of beach (not exceeding 25 yards in length), between 
Middleton and Coolwa. On this patch six distinct Scaphellae 
(Voluta) were obtained. South Australia is credited with ten 
Scaphellae, and to find representatives of more than half in one 
spot, certainly indicates the richness of Encounter Bay in this 
genus. The specimens taken were mostly well beach-rolled or 
broken in some way or other. The familiar S. undidata (Lam- 
arck) W'as plentiful, and probably fifty were obtained of yarious 
sizes and condition. When in good order this shell is very 
