The South Australian Naturalist. 
98 
Volume XLMI. of the Proceeding-s of the parent Society, 
just issued in an enlarg’ed form, proves one of the most interest- 
ing volumes yet published. Members of our Section are well 
represented in the list of authors. Our Chairman (Dr. J. B. 
Cleland) collaborates in an article on Australian Fungi, illus- 
trated by two excellently-produced colour plates. Professors 
Wood-Jones, T. Harvey Johnston, T. 6. B. Osborn, and Messrs. 
Lea, LoAver, Elston, Ashby, Wood, Black, Waite, Tindale, and 
Dr. Rogers all appear as contributors to this fine volume. 
Members are earnestly requested to book early for 1he 
charabanc trip on March 1st. 
DREDGING EXCURSION, FEBRUARY 2nd, 1924. 
The Aveather i>roved almost ideally calm for the trip, and 
the party Avere able to go out into the Gulf for about six miles. 
Many hauls Avere made during the afternoon, generally on a 
Aveedy bottom, the dredgings bringing up no sand and but little 
true seaAveed. Sponges AA’ere especially common, and a great 
many Ecliinoderms Avere taken, as Avell as crabs and a variety 
of Crustaceans. Various members of the j)arty collected speci- 
mens of the various families, Mr. Hale collecting the crusta- 
ceans, Mr. Kimber shells, Prof. Harvey Johnston sponges, 
X>olyzoa, and Avorms. 
Prof. H. Johnston, in addressing the members, spoke on 
some of the material collected that afternoon. Dealing first 
Avith the sponges, he referred to the part played by the spicules. 
Specimens of polyps Avere made the occasion for short refer- 
ences to the formation of colonies of animals. Then came the 
Potyzoa, Avirh colonies of independent individuals. Some of the 
AA’orms caught Avere next described, most living in tubes made 
of sand, shells, and other material, still others living in the 
flesh of sponges. Of these latter, there Avere many specimens 
taken. The lar\^al stage of the AA'orms Avas described as being 
closely akin to that of the mollusca, though their subsequent 
developinejit was so different. The sea squirts, or Ascidians, 
Avere briefly described, and their retrogression from; the pro- 
mise of their larval stage, with notochord and free movement, 
to the final ^J)aglike^’ stage, AAdien the animal is a mere little 
stomach with tAvo openings, having lost its incipient backbone, 
along Avith all poAver of locomotion. 
Mr. Kimber spoke on the shells taken. A note by Mr, H. M. 
Hale on the various crustaceans folloAA's. 
