Nov., 1928 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
91 
racks or trays. This system of maturing oysters has 
developed enormously in New South Wales during recent 
years, and probably no better method of maturing has 
yet been devised. 
The many pests which continually harass the oyster, 
concluded Mr. Roughley, included the mud worm, which 
collected heaps of mud inside the oyster’s shells and 
eventually killed it; boring whelks or tingles, which, by 
means of a rasp-like tongue’ or radula, bored small,, 
cylindrical holes through the shells, and then fed on the 
flesh ; fish, sucli as the mullet, which consumed enor- 
mous numbers of swimming larvae ; the bream, toadfish, 
and ray, which crushed the shells of oysters; crabs, which 
also crushed the shells between their powerful nippers,, 
and many others. One of the most persistent and haras- 
sing pests, not only in Queensland, but also in New South 
Wales, was the human oyster thief. So prevalent, so exas- 
perating, was the oyster thief to the culturist, that it was 
high time that severe steps were taken to crush him, and 
that would only be done by the infliction of much more 
severe penalties than had been customary in the past. 
A vote of thanks to the lecturer was passed on the 
motion of Mr. H. A. Longman, seconded by Mr. Barber. 
EVENING MEETING, 17th SEPTEMBER, 1928.— 
The president (Mr. J. E. Young) presided. Mrs. Baddi- 
ley, Miss Smith, and Miss Woolnough were elected mem- 
bers. Reports on recent excursions to Eight Mile Plains 
and Belmont respectively were given by Dr. E. 0. Marks 
(geology), Mr. G. II. Barker (ornithology), and Messrs. 
J. E. Young and J. C. Smith (botany). Specimens of (1) 
an exceptionally large bacterial nodule from the root of 
a bean, and (2) a feather starfish were shown by Mr. J. 
IT. Simmonds. Several interesting exhibits from the Great 
Barrier Reef were staged by the president (Mr. J. E. 
Young). 
WILD FLOWER SHOW and GENERAL NATURAL 
HISTORY EXHIBITION, SATURDAY AFTERNOON 
and EVENING, 29th SEPTEMBER, 1928.— The exhibi- 
tion was officially opened by the Governor (his Excellency 
Sir John Goodwin). 
There was a very fine display of wild flowers from 
different parts of the State. Especially fine district ex- 
hibits were staged by Mr. Rudder (Springbrook), Mrs. 
E. S. Curtis and Mr. and Mrs. D. Curtis (Upper Albert 
River), Mr. Thos. Welsby and Miss Welsby (Stradbroke- 
