THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 29 
The leaders pointed out the ecological aspect of the flora, 
noting the tall straight trunks of the gums on the shale area, 
and the gradual diminution in size as the true sandstone area 
was reached with its more stunted growth. Collections were 
made of various types and bunches of red-tipped gums, and of 
flannel flowers were obtained on the sandstone ridges above the 
gully. A patch of swampy country was examined where the 
last of the sowerbeas and Epacris obtusifolia, sundews, etc., 
were observed. 
Miss Winter and Sigal were the active entomologists of 
the party, the latter finding the caterpillar of one of the 
cequosid moths, with beautiful markings blending with the leaf 
coloration of Banksia serrata. Miss Sigal is making a special 
study of life histories of moths and butterflies, and will be glad 
to get larvae, ete., from members, who will please noteh the food 
plant where possible. Such specimens could be brought to the 
meetings. ‘ 
Mx. Duckworth gave some interesting remarks on the culti- 
vation of native plants (especially orchids) in which he and his 
brother take great interest. After a rather hot walk the party 
was received by Mr. and Mrs. Parry at their home at Killara, 
who provided a much appreciated atiternoon tea. The President 
(Miss Brewster) thanked their hosts for their kindness, and 
Mr. Parry responded. 
NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
AMARYLLUS BELLADONNA, HORT. VAR. 
At the meeting in July, 1921 (Aust. Nat. 1V. 178) Miss 
Drummond exhibited flowers of this plant from her garden 
showing peculiar markings. Mr. Cheel remarks as follows on 
these:—These specimens, which he had not had an opportunity 
of seeing, had peculiarly marked petals instead’ of the normal 
pink. It is not easy to give a precise cause, but he would sug- 
-gest that the original bulbs had developed ‘a “sporting” off- 
shoot or bulbil, or cross pollination had occurred between two 
coloured forms and the resulting seedling had grown along- 
side the original bulbs and the flowers showed the results of 
the cross 
Iron Fyrites Crystals—Iron pyrites (sulphide of iron) oc- 
curs in many different forms. Its crystalline system is cubic 
