THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 89 
Cheel (President Floral Society), David G. Stead (erentent 
Aquarium Society), 8. J. Johnston, B.Sc. (Sydney Univer- 
sity), and L. Harrison (Ornithologist). These were all kept 
busy during the four days at Wamberal and Terrigal, and 
the collecting gear of the party was continually requisitioned. 
Many fine specimens in various departments of nature study 
were secured, and the trip may be set down as a valuable, come 
at all times, an interesting experience. 
Mr. Stead used a fine net to sieve the lake, and found 
some flounders, hardiheads and other marine creatures, and 
showed how dexterously a flounder could efface itself in a 
sandy pool by a lateral action which threw sand particles over 
its body. He also explained that one could pick out young 
hardiheads from young mullet by the dorsal fin. In ie mullet 
the dorsal fin had four rays. 
Mr. EK. 8. Edwards, M.A., found aaa the bracken near 
the beautiful Australian cotton-bush some cocoons of the in- 
troduced Wanderer butterfly (Danaus - menippe), and had 
some of the cocoons develop into butterflies in his tent. “Tt 
has a definite and easy flight,’’ said Mr. Edwards, - 
“and 1s 
not a pest.”’ 
The horror of a marine tragedy witnessed by a young lady 
member deserves to be recorded. ' The attacker wasa richly- 
coloured five-pointed starfish, which advanced with felonious 
intent upon a harmless chiton which shut its scutes tightly 
and clung to the rock with a suctorial pressure equal to about. ;. 
28 pounds, and resisted the murderous starfish passively. It 
was a one-sided struggle, and the-lady who watched it did 
go as if mesmerised. The inexorable irritating pressure upon 
the chiton caused it to let go its hold; and the starfish was 
just preparing to absorb its white flesh when the fair witness 4 
interposed. She secured both despoiler.and despoiled, and 
placed the two in her collection. It was one of those hap- 
penings which rarely falls to the naturalist to witnegs, but 
the party was singularly fortunate in that respect. Ce 
Mr. L. Gallard, of the State Insectarium at Narara,.was 
amongst the party, and he brought from, the establishment 
several studies of the life history ‘of. various) fruit flies, which 
Mr. Gurney subsequently explained. Collectors often have 
difficulty in getting suitable pinning boards for beetles, flies, 
and butterflies, owing to the cork supply running: out. - Mr. 
Gallard solved this problem capitally by utilising the dried 
stems of the cactus for the purpose. Thése, when grooved 
for the reception of the bodies of specimens, afforded a good 
hold for the pins used to display wings. 
As the naturalists began to settle down to collecting, their 
excursions covered more country, and their special carrying 
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