NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 19533, 14 April 1927, Page 2

NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB

LAST SATURDAY'S OUTISS Over twenty n.<infers attended ( the Saturday outing cf the Field Club, which was held in the vicinity ol Purakaum. The members took the train to the cliffs'and then, descended to the shores of the inlet, where a very interesting time was spent. The sand dunes, lagoons, and mud flat showed an interesting variety of plants. Very low of them were in flower, and probably'some, very interesting discoveries might bo made if the club could visit the locality in or January, tinder the cliffs the _ngaio and _ shore veronicas were conspicuous,, while_ in tho rocky crevices the ferns aspidium Richard i and a creeping polypodium grew freely. In tbo Jaguons were many rushes and sedges. Two of the funner were specially uoted, a very tall one sometimes bit in height and a small, reddish, one'with a short spike at the top of each stem. A peculiar rounded dark green alga, resembling beads, peas, or marbles, was picked up in handfuls front many of tiie pools. Species of .willowherb buttercups, hydrocotyle, crantzia, and myosotis (torget-me-not) were noted, while the introduced lupin and marram grass and the nativ© pinga© servo as sand binders on this inlet, as round Dunedin. Those who visited the old Maori/ccmetery were struck by the appearance of tho macrocarpa and hawthorn trees that surround it. Their roots in many places are laid bare, and the trunks if some of the hawthorn are well up out ot the sand. On the seaward side the large-leaved ice plant is also taking a tiharc in the protection of the graves. The pink centaury and the yellowflowered bartsia {both introduced plants) were gathered in tho hollow of the dunes.

The day was nob without interest to the entomological section. In the recesses of tim overhanging rocks of the headland wore immense masses of soft grey flics, much resembling mosquitoes, but they aro harmless. They belong to tho family chclopra, and tho larva teed on seaweed. In the pools among the sand dunes were numbers ot tadpoles and other lively btllo creatures'darting about, one of the more conspicuous c.l which is commonly knowit as water boatmen (Anisops lateralis). Another interesting specimen (not that it is rare, but that it varies so much.) was a moth (Selidosena panagrata) taken by lamplight whilst the warty was waiting on the train. Had tire night been warmer, in all probability a good variety of moths would have been taken from round the station lamps. Probably the most interesting object of the day’s discoveries, and one much larger than the club’s usual “ finds.” was a tawny yellow mottled sea lion, somewhat sickly-looking, which had sought a resting place close inshore under tho shelter of the rocks. The poor creature was very much scarred, and appeared to have been engaged in sonrn recent conflict. It proved a good subject for the photographer, rjid some fine snaps were secured. INDOOR AIEETLNG,

The subject under discussion at the indoor meeting held on Monday evening was ‘ Holiday Experiences,’ and several members contributed very interesting articles and many fine views of typical New Zealand scenery were shown on the screen. Mr H. Fowler described a holiday recently spent in tho Matuki-tuki Valley, and illustrated the journey from Niger Hut to the destination. Air Tily showed slides of mountaineering experiences on Mount Ruapehu, whilst Air G. Arras gave an illustrative account of his wanderings in the mountainous country of Western Otago.