The stomata or breathing holes are 
sunk deep into the grooves of the 
branches, and by preventing excessive 
transpiration ouable the tree to stand 
the effect of drought. 
In the gully running up to Bear 
Mountain was found a good number of 
ferns, the wire fern (Gleichenia) being 
abundant, whilst a few roots of the 
heath fern (Lindsaya linearis), and 
Schizia, were also obtained. A few 
specimens of earth stars (Gcastcrs) wore 
gathered. 
These are formed in the shape of a 
round ball, and when ripe the outer coat 
breaks into segments, which turn back, 
leaving the spores in a central sac. 
As the sac gets quite dry the spores 
arc disseminated through h small hole 
at the top. 
The beach at Schouten Island does not 
seem an attractive place for crabs, as 
none were noticed there, and very few 
butterflies were seen. Only one kind of 
ant was noticed, this being what is 
usually called the sugar ant. 
On the way home, before we reached 
Maria Island, a large rock was passed, 
known as White Rock. On the end of 
this numerous seals were lying, and at 
the sound of the ship’s whistle they made 
their way into the water by a series of 
awkward hops and rolls. 
Maria Island being reached, a visit 
was paid to the once famous Fossil 
Cliffs, now a scene of desolation. A 
number of fossils had been collected 
by the workmen, and several members 
of the F.N.C. obtained some of these. 
A GROUP OF THE MEMBERS AT SCHOUTEN ISLAND. 
17 
