123 
fruiting-bodies are produced rapidly; the fructifications 
shown in fig. 1 were collected five days after rain had 
fallen in a previously dry district; the largest of them 
was then more than nine inches tall. 
It is not clear why this particular species of fungus 
grows in this unusual position. It is found on mounds 
of termites other than Eutermcs magnus ; Podaxis is 
reported to be quite common on termite mounds in 
South Africa, where E. magnus is unknown, but the 
writer has not been able to find out which species is 
involved in that country. Obviously nutritional factors 
are of importance, hut the significant factors involved 
in the association are not yet known. The fact that the 
fungus grows readily in s'oil indicates that it is not 
quite dependent on materials obtainable from the mound ; 
however, the very obvious difference in size' of the fruit- 
ing-bodies from those found in the termite mound 
suggests that there is some factor supplied in that habitat 
which is not otherwise obtainable. Perhaps at some 
later date physiological and nutritional studies of the 
fungus will be made, and will enlighten us as to the 
nature of this factor. 
ALGAL POLLUTION OF SURF JN SOUTHERN 
QUEENSLAND 
A. B. CRIBB 
From time to time bathers and fishermen on some 
South Queensland surfing beaches are troubled by heavy 
pollution of the surf by algae, popularly referred to as 
“mo-s", “slime" or “weed". Heavy pollution may give 
the surf a dirty and unattractive appearance and fi be ■ 
men are inconvenienced when the “moss" becomes caught 
on lines and quickly accumulates at sinkers and hooks, 
making fishing almost useless at times. 
There appeal' to be only two main species causing 
trouble in this way. though after storms the surf may 
contain a variety of both large and small algae torn 
away from rocky substrata. 
One of these two algae occurs in the form of small 
brown or fawn-coloured irregular flakes varying in size 
from a few mm. to about 5 cm. in diameter. When 
exceptionally heavy pollution occurs, as it did on some 
days during the 1952 Christmas period, tin 1 alga may 
give the water a distinctly brownish tint when seen from 
