18 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
Mr. T. Steel delivered an interesting lecture entitled :— 
“Tava and kava drinking.” Mr. Steel demonstrated the Fijian 
native method of preparation from the grated or pounded root, 
and gave the audience an opportunity of tasting this famous 
South Sea Island drink. 
The Hon. Secretary announced that the Council had de- 
cided to hold an exhibition of Wild Flowers and of Insects in 
September, 1922, provided a suitable hall could be secured. 
It was also announced that an Entomological branch of the 
Royal Zoological Society is being formed. Persons desirous of 
joining such should communicate with Mr. Goldfinch, Box 2399 
G.P.O., Sydney. 
February 7th. The President, Miss A. A. Brewster, in the 
chair, and 35 members present. Misses Beatrice and Bertha 
Macauley, Winsome Hall, and Mrs. J. Walker-Jones were duly 
elected members. The Hon. Secretary read a card from Miss 
May Brown, who is at present in New Zealand, sending frater- 
nal greetings to the members. Miss TT. Harris exhibited the 
Bird’s-nest fungus (Cyathus stercorarinus) collected at Glen- 
brook, November, 1921. The President, specimens of Brunonia 
australis from Clarence Siding. 
Mr. T. Steel communicated a note on the Mound Ant, and 
Arehdeacon Haviland notes on “Evidences of Insect intelligence.” 
Miss Winter exhibited plants identified by Mr. Cheel as 
Hryngium rostrata. 
Mr. Cheel gave an interesting lecture, “Notes on the Weeds 
of Civilization.” . 
NOTES ON THE “SCARLET” AND “BLUE” PIMPERNEL. 
By Epwin CHEEL. ' 
Both the “Scarlet” and “Blue” Pimpernels have been found 
as naturalised aliens in many parts of the State, and we find 
them recorded as far back as 1867 by Woolls in his Ilora of 
Australia, p. 148, under the respective names of Anagallis 
arvensis and A. coerulea. 
In connection with the “Blue Pimpernel,” it is interesting 
to note that European botanists have abandoned the idea of re- 
garding this as a variety of the “Scarlet Pimpernel” and have 
taken up Miller’s name Anagallis foemina, published as far 
back as 1807 (Miller’s Gardener’s Dictionary, ed. viii., No. 2). 
