THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST The Magazine of the FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA th which is incorporated THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA VOLUME 76 MAY 1959 to APRIL 1960 Editor: NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.Sc. Melbourne BROWN, PRIOR, ANDERSON PTY. LTD. 430 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, C.1 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 76 ae May 1959 mee Pe ree : es a Published by the Field Naturalists Society of Victoria Registered at the General Post Office, Melbourne, for tranamission by post as a periodical 2/6 Koala (Phascolarctus cinereus) in natural surroundings. By £. R. Rotherham, F.R.P.S., A.P.S.A. Exposure details: Rolleiflex camera, electronic fiash, Kodak Super-XX film, f/22. Naturally good...on KODAK (Australasia) PTY. LTD. Branches in all States 3 Vict. Nat.—-Vol, 76 Volt 76, No, | May 7, 1959 The Victorian Naturalist Editor; NORMAN WAKEFIELD CONTENTS Edttortul: The Victorian Naturalist—Past and Future .. af nat a | Articles: Toadstool Phantasy, hy Robert D. Lee .. Bs Li uw 6 Some Unusual Stone Artefacts, by A. Massola 4. a . &8 Features: ; Australian Wattles; Silver Wattle —fencia deatbata, by Jean Galbraith ot <3 . Along the By-ways with the Editar. 4 ay ‘4. 42 Nature Study for Schools, by Norman Wakefield = = -. 14 The Bogong High Plains, ‘py J, Ros Garnet .., es . -- 16 Field Naturalists Club of Viatoria: April General Meeting, Group Meetings: at tt a a Diary of Coming Events La a -_ os .. 21 Office-hearers, Membership ., tz ($F La to! chee BD News ond Nates + ble jis fe ay it ate te .. 17 Eront Cover: Ellis Tronghton’s book, Furved Animals of “Australia, tells us that this is the Brush or Red-necked Wallaby (Wallabia rufogrisea), and that the Tasmanian variely is known as Brush Kangaroo whereas in castern Queensland it has the sobriquet “Roany''. However, in parts of Fast Gippsland at least, countr ry folk know the little animal as Red Wallaby. It favours lightly forested, at or undulating country rather than the heavy sernbs and densely clothed mountain slopes, and the western distribution of the animal includes the southern corner of South Australia. The photograph which is reproduced on the cover Was taken one night in March 1936 by Mr. Ray Littlejohns, in the country to the north of Bendigo. The flash cquipment used in those days was what we would now regard as most primitive, nevertheless, many very presentable results were obtainéd from time to time, Some of these form part of an ilus- trated article entitled “The Bush by Night”, which appeared in the issue of the Victorian Naturalist (Vol. 55, pp. 3-11) of May 1938. Moy 1959 3 Editorial : The Vietorian Naturalist—Past and Future The Field Naturalists Club ot Victoria was established 79 years ago, in May 1880, and a few years later it decided to have 2 réevulay publication of its own, So in January 1884, there ap- pesred-the first issue of our jour- nal, the Victorian Natwuralast. The introdbction to the orig- inal issye told of the intention to publish "a monthly record of work and tesults, of original papers on Victorian Botany and ‘Zoology, and current notices of the occtirrences and habitats of interesting forms". This flavour was preserved for many year's, and contributions were made by prominent scientists of the day. During racent years the situa- tion hus changed, The scientists are no longer the prominent members of the F.N.C.Y,, and a number of more recently es- tablished journals provide the medium for publication of their researches, Vital objects of the club are now slated to be the stimulation of interest in natural history and the conservation of our fauna and flora. It has been decided that a Major step towards the achicve- ment of these aims ean be made by placing a popular nature Magazine in the hands of those who have « general, but not necessarily specialized, interest in the natural phenomena round about them. Tt presents readers with some- thing quite different from the previous format. There is a sec- tion for school nature study, a page or so fo! readers’ nature 4 notes and queries, aid the first units of two fealures which are to continue in serial form. We shall also have a selentifie sec- tion to accommodate the mater- ial whieh is of interest to the scientist and Lhé more serious- minded naturalist. As well, re- vords of the activities of the F.N.C.V. are still being published as a service to members, but this is being done onder an arrahge- ment somewhat different from that of the past. With its Lwenty-four pages. the May 1959 issue is a modest beginniny—because the financial resources of the Fielii Natural- istz Club are limiled, This time, we must depend on quality rather than quantity. We hope that you will recognize in these pages a sample of something worth developing. Until a little over five yeara ugu, there was the journal! Wilrd Iefe, the monthly nature maga- zine edited by the late Crosbie Morrison. Vhe Victorian Net- uvalist could become a successor to that. Increase in circulation should allow us ta maintain the quality and, from time to time, to increase permanently the size of our publication. We ask you therefore not only for your own continued support but for your active assistance in the matter of interesting others in the magazine. For, to a great extent, the publicity which readers can give ta the Vietorian Naturalist will govern its future growth and therefore the suecess of this venture. Vier. Nol.—Vol. 76 TOADSTOOL PHANTASY In this refreshing little story we are taken on a nature excursion that is different—into the world of fungi as it is seen by one young child. The narrative is put together and the photographs supplied by ROBERT D. LEE Mummy and Daddy, being Field Naturalists, were particu- larly interested in the different kinds of fungi which were to be found during an outing in the country or even an afternoon’s stroll locally, and they frequently brought home examples of them to he identified from books. Anne, of tender years, was al- ways anxious to look at the illus- trations, so, to save any argu- ment while the adults were busy identifying their spoils, she was given a copy, for her own use, May 1959 of J. H. Willis’s Victorian Toad- stools and Mushrooms. On the next trip to the near country with Mummy, the precious book was tucked tightly under her arm and the toadstools which were found had to be solemnly examined and compared with the illustrations. Being unable to read as yet, the printed word naturally meant nothing to Anne, and as each specimen needed a name, suitable ones had to be invented. For instance, when they came across the cumbersome Boletos overshadowing a group of the graceful little Lacearia, it brought to mind the old ditty, “Tm the king of the castle, vou’re the dirty rascal”. So each was named accordingly. Our young naturalist had her names for other specimens, too, as well as for illustrations and photographs she had seen. Most of them provided quite a new slant on this branch of botany, but all were strictly appropriate. There was her ‘Pusher-spoon Fungus”. This was from a photo of Flammala, a specimen which had been cut through the centre of the cap and down the stem to show the structure of the fruit- ing body. It bore a striking re- “Tt can’t be Lacearia, if must be Boletus.” semblance to the pusher-spoon in the infants’ set that she used three times a day, at meal times. Would an adult have thought of the connection? An adult of in- quiring turn of mind would be more interested to know that flammula is a Latin word mean- ing “‘a little flame”. Not that the “Pusher-spoon Fungus’ looked very flame-like; they were a tawny colour and were found growing on the ground among fallen leaves and twigs. The scientific name, incidentally, is Flammula californica, presum- ably so called because of a close resemblance to a species in that State of the U.S.A. During a trip to the hills, a group of another kind of “little flame”, this time Flammula ea- centrica, Was growing on a decaying log. This gave her the idea of oranges; the caps were the right colour and looked just like orange peel, and it re- minded her that she had forgot- ten her drink of orange juice that morning to keep the doctor away, and so they were named “Orange Juice”. Her “‘Ring-a-rosie” was an im- pression of the “Fairy Ring Mushroom”. One can well imag- ine a large ring of children romping round, some wanting to move faster than others, bunching up in some parts of the circle and thinning out in others. The scientific name for this mushroom is Muarasmius areades and it is one of the sev- eral kinds that form “fairy rings” on lawns and open grassy spaces. Notable examples of such growths can be seen on the lawns surrounding the Shrine of Re- membrance in Melbourne. It is also common in Britain and Europe where it is used for cook- ing in various ways or added as flavouring to other dishes. An uncommon earth-star, known as Geaster hygrometri- cus, gave her a more pleasant impression than that which Mummy and Daddy received. To them, it suggested some sinister creature standing on tip toes waiting to pounce on an unsus- pecting victim; but Anne in- sisted that it was the “Flower Fungus”, and who could argue against that when those marked rays spread out like petals? However, she exercised 2 femin- ine prerogative and changed her mind later on. On seeing the photograph, she dubbed it ‘‘Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet’’. These earth-stars belong to a large and interesting group called Gasteromycetae (actually meaning “stomach fungi’) which includes the common puff- balls, earth-stars, basket-fungus “Little Misa Muffet sat on a tuffet.’ An unusual earth-star. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 76 and others of varied shapes, some even resembling sea ane- mones and starfish. Anne, of course, had not seen any of those as yet, but it is certain she would have had an appropriate name for each. Several photographs of toad- stools were printed in oval masks. These were the shape of the hall mirror at home, so they all became the “Mirror Fungi’. And her description of the Para- sol Mushroom, Lepiota graci- lenta, really hit the right spot when she called it the ‘Umbrella Fungus”. This is another “toad- stool” that is quite as delicious as any real mushroom, a fact that is well known to people who come from Britain or Europe. Anne’s specimen was found amongst debris on the forest floor at Kallista in the Dande- nong Ranges. We decided to “hand her the belt” when she described a photo- graph of Collybia radicata, the “Rooting Shank’, a specimen which had been cut down the centre, as the “Whooping-cough injection”, If you have memories of visits to the doctor and of the hyperdermic syringe he used, look at the picture on page 42 of Willis’s book, and see what you think! So we have a child’s outlook on what some folk regard as a very unattractive subject. Act- ually, it is a phase of nature study that would be most suit- able to bring to a child’s notice; in fact, the interest should be there already. Do not most of the pictures in fairy tales have the tiny creatures seated on toad- “Im the King of the Caatle,.” Boletus and Laccaria, May 1959 stools, or else these are in the surroundings somewhere? Fur- thermore, the bright colours and unusual shapes of various fungi must surely give a child pleas- ure. We certainly have experi- enced it and could hardly claim to be unique in this respect. We must warn you, however. Although many toadstools (or mushrooms if you like; there is no basic difference) make good eating, a few are poisonous; and as children cannot be expected to differentiate, they should be taught not to eat any unless under the guidance of adults who know. When and where does one find toadstools? Although autumn produces by far the most on account of the generally humid conditions, they can be found after rain throughout the year. We have found them from our suburban back-yard to the dry inland of Victoria, and from the cliffs overlooking the sea to the densest parts of the forest. May we suggest that you get to know them better? SOME UNUSUAL STONE ARTEFACTS By A. Double-Edged Axeheads On page 360 of Volume 1 of The Aborigines of Victoria, Brough Smyth states, ‘The Natives of Victoria, according to the information I have ob- tained, appear to have used the one-edged tomahawk — exclus- ively. I have not found a single example of the two-edged toma- hawk in Victoria.” Sinee the publication of this work in 1878, innumerable papers on stone im- plements have appeared, but, to the present writer’s knowledge, not a single reference to a double-edged axehead was ever printed. Two of these imple- ments are now known to exist. Figure 1 is a natural flake of basalt, 44 inches long, and 1} inches wide at its thickest part, which happens to be the centre. From the centre the flake abruptly thins down to the two ends, forming two cutting edges, one 3} inches and the other 1} inches long. Both these edges have been ground, thus giving rise to a double-edged axehead. There is no indication of the mode of hafting, if it were hafted at all. It was found close to the Maribyrnong River, at Braybrook, and is now in the F. Smith Collection, Mount Dande- nong, Victoria. Figure 2 is a pebble axe, of sedimentary rock, water worn, the two ends of which have been ground into very serviceable cut- ting edges. The implement is 43 inches long by 24 inches at its widest point, maximum thick- ness being about 4 inch. Again, 8 MASSOLA it is impossible to say if it were ever hafted. It was found close to the head waters of the Olinda Creek in the Dandenong Ranges, and is now in the R. Wishart Collection, Kew, Victoria. Fish-hook File While in East Gippsland re- cently, Mr. N. A. Wakefield, editor of this journal, visited Clinton Rocks, about six miles west of Cape Everard and two miles east of Tamboon Inlet. Here he discovered an aboriginal coastal midden which yielded portion of an aboriginal’s skele- ton, several stone implements, and a bone awl. Amongst the stone implements was a fish- hook file. (See Figure 7.) These are small, flattened cones of sandstone or other abrading stone, used by aborigines in fashioning their shell and bone fish-hooks. Prior to this discov- ery, they had only been reported as having been used by the coastal aborigines of New South Wales. This one, to the writer’s knowledge, is the first found in Victoria, and as such is quite im- portant. It is a connecting link between Twofold Bay, in New South Wales to the east, and Lake Tyres, Victoria, to the west, the two localities nearest to Clinton Rocks from which fish-hooks have been recorded. The present specimen is a flat- tened fine-grained granite cone 2 inches long, just under one inch wide and } inch thick at the base, tapering to a blunt point, The finding of this specimen Vict, Nat—Vol. 76 gives rise to the hope of more being found along the East Gippsland coastline, and I would be glad if any such discoveries were reported to the National Museum. This is essential for the completion of distribution maps. Perforated Stones The classical example of the perforated stone is the Churinga of Central Australia. These have been described at some length by several writers, and both their technique of manufacture and functional use are well known. It is possible that other suitable stones, not necessarily of a simi- lar form, could have been used for analogous purposes in other regions of Australia; or simi- larly shaped stones could, con- versely, have been used for very dissimilar reasons. They could, for example, have been used as pendants, stone replicas of the well-known bailer shell orna- ments. Although none of these stones has ever been described, May 1959 an occasional one has been re- ported. Ferguson, for instance, as far back as September 1894, mentioned in the Victorian Nat- uralist (Vol. XI, p. 89) a frag- ment of basalt which “had in- dications that the perfect stone had had a hole drilled through it”. It was found by him in a hole blown by the wind in the sand near Glenthompson, in the Western District of Victoria. Only four examples of these per- forated stones are known to the writer, of which three are in the collection of the National Museum of Victoria and the fourth in the Mildura Art Gal- lery. Two of the National Museum’s specimens are part of the Lind- say Black Collection, the most extensive of stone implements and artefacts ever assembled from the Darling River region. The fact that there were only two perforated stones in this assemblage of many thousands of specimens proves their rarity. 9 Figure 3 illustrates an ex- ample made from a_ naturally shaped fragment of micaceous schist, measuring 45 inches by 24 inches. It was found at Toor- alle, Bourke, New South Wales. As in all the specimens in this series, the hole was artificially made, and shows the “hour- glass” shape, which is peculiar to all aboriginal-made perfora- tions. Figure 4 represents the other Lindsay Black specimen. This is a fragment of chlorite schist, originally oval in shape, but now much battered. Its original dimensions were probably the same as in the previous example, Again it has been pierced by an hour-glass hole. It was collected at Bililla. The third example in the National Museum is part of the S. F. Mann Collection. The late S. F. Mann collected assiduously in his home district, Caramut, near Glenthompson, and _ the majority of his specimens are labelled as having been found there. He did, however, take a trip along the Darling River in 1917, and it is possible that the perforated stone in his collec- tion (Fig. 5) came from there; but it was not labelled. Still, as it is a waterworn pebble of finely grained granite, it is more likely to have originated in western Victoria than the Darling. It measures 2 inches by 1? inches, and again the hole is hour-glass shaped. This hole, however, has not been drilled at the end of the longer axis of the oval, as in the other three examples, but on the shorter one. This was possibly to take advantage of a natural cross formed by two quartz vein- 10 lets traversing the specimen and thus ornamenting it. The fourth example illustrated (Figure 6) belongs to the Mil- dura Art Gallery, where it was noticed by the author, and is described here by permission of the Director of that Institution (Mr. Van Hattum). It is a pear- shaped fragment of micaceous schist reduced to its present size by grinding. The measurements are 2! inches by 1} inches. The hour-glass hole is drilled at its apex. It was presented to the Mildura Gallery by Dr. G. Mur- ray Blair, President of the Gal- lery Society, having been ob- tained by him at Pooncarie, on the Darling River. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 76 Australian Wattles — No. | By Jean Galbraith Silver Wattle—Acacia dealbata “Grey winter hath gone like a wearisome guest And behold, for repayment September comes in with the wind of the west And the spring in her raiment.” In Australia, that spring raiment is wattle bloom, espec- ially the blossom of Silver Wattle, touching the stream-side trees with gold in July, casead- ing over them in August and September, and in October reach- ing the mountain gullies where this wattle grows into tall trees. Yet Silver Wattle is only one of over eighty species which are native to Victoria. Every one of these is beautiful, every one is worth knowing, and during the coming months we shall meet some of them and get to know them by name. It is not very difficult to recog- nize most of our wattles, because they can be separated into sey- eral easily-distinguished groups. Silver Wattle belongs to the group with feathery or bipinnate (twice divided) leaves. In Vic- toria there are seven feather- leaf species, three of them are trees, three are tall shrubs, and one is quite dwarf. One of the trees is Acacia decurrens, with bright yellow blossom and dark green leaves with widely-spaced leaflets; and the second tree is Black Wattle, which has pale primrose blossom in late spring. The third is our Silver Wattle, lover of streams and cool gullies and hillsides, with dusty-green leaves and the leaflets almost touching edge to edge, <— Silver Wattle at Cann River. May 1959 Silver Wattle leaves are min- utely downy, and the down, which is visible with a magnify- ing glass, gives a silvery dusti- ness to the foliage. One can hardly call it silver, and the name may possibly come from the silvery patches on the tree’s otherwise dark green bark. In blossom time the leaves are hidden by clouds of living gold, for the finger-like racemes with their “bobbles” alternately on this side and the other, are so abundant that one rarely sees their slenderness. Every golden ball is a cluster of minute yellow flowers, each with a halo of stamens tipped with their sacs of pollen; and after the flowers have gone, the tree is hung with clusters of straight purple-brown pods, lumpy with the seeds within, Silver Wattles are husky trees of twenty, thirty or forty feet in the lowlands, but they may be a hundred feet high in the moun- tain gullies amongst blackwoods and columnar gums. They are found in all districts of Victoria except the dry north-west, and also in New South Wales and Queensland. The colour of the blossom varies from clear lemon-yellow to bright gold on different trees. It is September’s colour, Septem- ber’s flower, that comes with the first cuckoo’s song, waking spring in the heart. WW These columns are available each month for your nature notes and queries. Address your correspondence to the Editor, “Victorian Naturalist”, You might consider that your observations are of no import- ance, but in many cases they would be very interesting to others, and sometimes they might even provide a definite contribution to general nature knowledge. We can give you a very good illustration: The story dates back to 1938, and its setting was beyond Orbost, at a small rural school in the far-eastern corner of Vic- toria. It was winter and there had been a fall of snow. One of the pupils picked up a bird which had perished and brought it along to school, It was looked up in a reference book and found to be a species called the Spangled Drongo, then it was discarded. Many years later the teacher found out that the species had been noted in this State only three or four times before, and that the only Victorian specimen 12 P.O. Box 21, Noble Park, Victoria. of it in existence is one which was collected in 1885, Alas! Your editor was that school teacher. The moral, of course, is to send along specimens and notes that you think could be of some inter- est or value. Mimicry of Bower-bird From Mrs. Joyce Hodge of “Poorinda’’, W Tree, via Buchan, comes this account of visitors to the garden: “Probably owing to the dry season, the Satin Bower-birds have flocked to feed on the white berries of Notelaea ligustrina in our garden and we have had plenty of opportunity to listen to them mimicking other birds. We noted the calls of the Kooka- burra, Crimson Rosella, King Parrot, Crescent Honeyeater, Lyrebird, White-eared Honey- eater, Grey Thrush, Magpie, White-browed Scrub-wren, Red Vict. Nat.—Vol, 76 Wattle-bird and White-throated Tree-creeper,” In the Victorten Naturalist of December 1956, you may read of a Satin Bower-bird that visited a Melbourne suburban garden, and #ts repertoire included the calls of Gang-gang Cockatoo, Australian Raven and Koala, Bower-birds are certainly mas- ter mimics. Notes from Mount Hotham The Hodges are an observant family, with a desire to really understand what they see. Peter, one of the boys, provides us with these notes from the eastern highlands of Victoria: “We had an interesting trip over Hotham Heights last week. 1] was surprised to find that a ridge of volcanic rock ran right up to the tap. Most of the top was ¢ovéred in dense, small- growing shrubs—Orites, Bor- onia algide, Prostanthera cune- ata, Pleurandropsis, Westringia sentfolia, Mountain Hoyea, E'ne- tris paludosa, a few grevilleas and so forth. I am enclosing specimens of twu previlleas as we are not sure which ones they are. “T saw only a few birds there, one being the Olive Whistler, which I didn't expect to see so high up." There are several isolated oc- eurrences of volcanic rock to the west of the Omeo area; it Is what is known as Older Bagalt, the same formation as the eoun- try between W Tree and Wulgul- merang. The greyillea which has small “needle-pointed leaves with three parallel ribs is 2 Tasmanian var- lety of the Alpine Grevillea. This form is known as G. australis Moy 1959 var. montane, and it has been found on Mount Feathertop, teo. The other specimen is of one of the many variations of Royal Grevillea (G. vietoriag). Powerful Owl at Mallacoota From Mr. W. Hunter, a sur- yeyor of East Gippsland, we re- ceivé some interesting notes from time to time, Here is sn extract from one of his recent letters. from Mallaceota - “Late one morning, towards mid-day, I was strolling slong the bank of Davis Creek not far from here-——certainly not a scrubby nor a heavily-shaded place, And in a light patch of low black-wattle trees I sud- denly came almost face lo face with a big ow] perched less than ten feet above the ground and not tauch more than that away from me, I am pretty sure that it-must have seen me thongh it remained quite still, It wasn’t until I eventually moved closer to it that it flew away. I ar quite sure that it was a Powerful) Owl, As well as its size—almost if not quite two feet loing—ita colour and markings were just as des- eribed |1 Leach’s Australian Bird Book, the blackish-brown bar- ting of the whitish underparts being a bit uneyen though defin- ite. The strongest impression I got of the tird | saw—in full daylight, of course—was the size of its greeny-yellow eyes; they seemed to me to be enormous even for an owl." Yes, there is no doubt that the bird was the Powerful Owl, a species inhabiting the heavy forest areas of the State and un- common enough to make your observations of more than pass- ing interest. 13 Nature Study for Schools By NORMAN It is most appropriate that there should be liaison, through this magazine, between the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria and those teachers who are con- cerned with the development of nature study as a subject of the school curriculum. One of the major objects of the Naturalists Club is to stimulate interest in natural history, and it is the presence of this feature that determines the success of the subject at school. In many cases, nature study is the “Cinderella” of the curricu- lum, mainly perhaps because a proportion of teachers feel that their lack of extensive know- ledge in this field makes it dif- ficult-pr impossible for them to develop the subject satisfactor- ity. The purpose of the series “Nature Study for Schools” is first to present some considera~ tions that may assist in the ap- proach to the subject, then fo go into matters of organization, and finally to provide. monthly notes on seasonal and general topics, The New Nature Study Course Several years ago, the Victor- izn Education Department con- vened a small revision commit- tee to consider the subject, and the results were published re- cently under the title, Course of Study for Primary Sehgols, Nature Study, 1936, The "General Notes on. “the Course" give a concise statement of the aims and then set out in both theoretical and practical 14 WAKEFIELD detail the methods by which the subject should be developed. The fundamental! principles are best indicated by quoting four sen- tencées from the Genéral Notes: “The learning of facts is in- cidental to the creation of the proper attitude to nature study, “This attitude is developed through contimuity of observa- tion in the child's immediate en- vironment, “Education of children's cur- losity in their natura! environ- ment and fostering a love of nature cannot be achieved through a series of set lessons, systematically arranged and taken indoors. “What the child finds out for himself is the vital feature of any observation, and care should be taken to avoid telling him something that he has a right to discover for himself.” The main body of the course sets out a suggestion of basic ideas which it is considered should form part of a child's gen- eral understanding at the various gtade levels. That this is not a prescriptive list of matters to be taught is indicated by such in- structions as: “Establishment of these ideas should come about through ob- servation of many examples, not through direct teaching.” The first appendix to the course lists again sections which appear under grade headings and provides specific references to sources uf information and also suggestions for individual and group activity in connection Vict. Nat.—Vol, 76 with observations. Finally, iists of reference books ate set out, with a precise indication of the utility of each, The 1956 Nature Study Course has been compiled as a4 practical handbook on the subject, not simply as an indication of what should be treated, The Teacher's Role Although it {s stated that “the jearning of tacts is incidenlal to the création of the proper atti- tude’, it is not only true but quite understandable that de- velopment of the observational approach results in a much wider knowledge in the Geld of nuture study than would a series uf formal lessons on the subject. This is not a new idea. In Aws- trudian Nature Studies, published in 1922, Dr. J. A. Leach ad- dressed this remark to teachers : "Tf pupils discover things you know nothing about, be happy _-. for... the best teacher of nature study is the one whose pupils furthest outrun him, En- joy the work, and let your pupile ran on.” Leach said, too, that “if the work is a pleasure to all ¢con- cerned, it cannot be wronsr; if not 4 pleasure, it cannot be right". Lf nature study is to bea success, it is essential that pupils have 4n enthusiastic interest in the natural phenomena round about them; and the initiation and/or the fostering of this is the-major task of the teacher. When this approach is estab. lished, and observational contact with the environment is produc- ing abundant material upon iwhieh discussion and activity May 1989 work ¢an be based, there comes the problem of provision of com- lon names for the things with which the pupils and teacher are dealing, This introduces the se- cond phase of the teacher's rile. Few teachers are experts in branches of natural history, and therefore the 1956 Nature Study Course was compiled partly as a reference, to point to sources of infermation on the various topics. The two appendices in particular are designed to serve this purpose. The funetion of any nature study reference book should not he to teach children the ehar- acteristics of animals or plants, for these are things that they have a right to discover by ob- servation. The teacher, however, may profit by such book informa- tion and thus be better able to guide his pupils’ observational work along profitable channels. Other than this, the function of a reference book should be to provide popular (or vernacular) names for species or groups so that they can be discussed with facility. It is pointed out in the gan- eral notes on the course that specimens for identification and other queries may be aildressed to the Science Departments of Primary Teachers’ Colleges, This magazine provides like facilities through its columns. At the end of each volume of the Naturalist there will be an index covering the contents of the twelve parts, so keep each month's issue as a contribution towards a set of useful reference books for your school library. Next mowh: The organization of reference collections. 15 TUE BOGONG HIGH PLAINS Over the Christmas-New Year period of last summer, forty meanders of] the Piel! Naturalists Club of Vieloria took path im an eameatsion ta pine puts of north-eastern Vietaria. With thew experiences aa the brisis, tr account of this areca will appear im monthly instabnents inp the Naturalist. Jize appropriate that the warrator should be both the leader of thea excxrsion and the president of the elteb, Here is what amounts ta a prefaw to the series told by J. Ros GARNET The account of the F.N.C.¥. trip to the Bogong High Plains is being written with an ulterior motive. As well as recording a day to day journal of events in the Club's 10-day excursion dur- ing thé summer holidays of 1958- 59, it should serve to focus the attention of those to whom the region is terra incognita on a supremely scenic and seientific- ally as well as, yes, economically interesting region of Victoria. Some vears ago the Parlia- mentary State Development Committee, on completion of a long enquiry into the national parks of Victoria, included in its report a recommendation that an alpine national park should be established in the State. The committee envisaged the pro- posed park as including the whole of the north-castern high- lands and extending north-vast to the border to link it with Kos- ciusko State Park of New South Wales. The proposal was imag- inative but possibly not alto- gether practicable. An alpine national park is, none the less, ' an asset which Victorians should strive to possess and now is the time when they should be plan- ning for its establishment. A glance at a map will show that most of Victoria’s highest mountains are concentrated in a relatively small area, Here is a 16 list of them showing the alti- tudes in feet above sca level as determined by the most recent survey: Bogeng ,- .. -. - .- BOlB ‘Featherton , -- bane Nelson Novth ., ,- ,- 6181 Nelaon ,. -. -. = -. BLTh Fainter South .. .. .. 6147 Loch ., 4. ey) p- -) -- «8152 Hfgtham .. -, ,-., .. 6102 Niggerhead - .. §048 MeKay -. -. -_ _. 6045 Fainter - ..--.... fies Cope... 6) ye ey oe =66DRE Spinn Kopje -, ,- .. 8026 Hither mingled with or not very far from this nest of alps are other, mainly lesser emin- ences: Cobborus ,- -, ,- ., G030 Buller ., -- 4. .4 -, SOR Jim .- 4). var |) BG Stirling .. .. 500 Higginhortham 5E70 Gibbu .. - .. 5764 Willg o. oe -y ve s) BTRB Howitt .. 1.1 ., 8708 Butidacrah .. .. .. ., S658 The Hom (Buffalo) 565g The Blut -. -. .. .. 3650 Sneculation . ., S650 Basalt Hill... oi ie 5625 Magdala ..-...-... S800 Blowhard . .. - . 8505 Little Bogonge .. -. .- 5460 Koonika .. ,-.,...- &400 Oebbler 2. + ss «sy «BRAG Some of these highlands -are Sevoepieg Crown land, others are included in large reserves of stale forest under the control of the Forests Commission; yet ethers are water supply cateh- Viet. Not.—Vol, 76 ments administered by Lhe State Rivers and Water Supply Com- mission ot else the Metropolitan Raard of Works. Perhaps it is fortunate that the Bogong High Plains came under the jurisdiction of the State Electricity Commission, for this part of the State could be the gateway to the proposed great Alpine National Park. Through the 8,E.C. the people of Victoria have invested & huge sum in developing the region— fine access roads have been laid dawn as well as plenty of easily negotiable tracks. Tourists and visitors are already catered for at Bright and adjacent tawne in the valleys below, at Mount Reauty at the foot of Bogong and, nuar the tops, al the Falls Creek ski village. When the §.E.C. has finished its pro- stamme of works it should be feasible foy it ta hand aver to the National Parks Authority re- sponsibility for the management and further development of the High Plains, The power genersting instal- tations would, naturally enough, remain in the control of the Commission, but there seems no reason why the people of the State and a potentially vast army of tourists from further afield should not be tree to enjay the magnificent scenerv which is, even now, available to a limited number. These High Plains are but one of several such “plains’' to be found in the north-eastern high- lands of Victoria, but they have a special Interest jnasmuch as their altitude exceeds that of all Uthers in the State, No other region of the alps is so easily May 1959 ateessible to visitors and tour ists; in few other plates is there sich putential for an easy iran- sition from a land cf winter sports to summer recreations, The Rocky Valley lake, which is to come intu existence before the end of thia year, can he viewed as an enhancement tao the scene just as Lake Catani on Mount Buffalo adds charm to ab already famous beauty spot Let us hope that, in a time nut fay ahead, the trails along the ridges of the mountains and into their loveliest valleys will be well defined and furnished with well- kept huts and hostels for the use of those who would see, bevond the sphere of urban settlement, something findamental of the lund in which we live. News and Notes Natural Nistory Medallion Congratulations are extended to our veterah member, Mr C. 4. Gabriel, on his being awarded the Australian Natura] Mistery Medallion for 1958 Mr, Gabriel joined Lhe F_N-C.V_ in TS0U, and he wrote one of the club's earlier booklets, Vieturtan Sea Shells, now unfortunately out of print. The medallion will be presented at one of the forthcoming club meelings. Crosbie Morrison Memorial On April 24 last, the Trustees af the National Museum launched an appeal aimed at raising at least £20,000 to eatahlieh a mem- orial to the Iste Philip Crosbie Morrison. Club meimbers may receive circulars about this, and a further stutement will appear in the June Natwralist, W Field Naturalists General Meeting—April 13, 1959 About 12{) members and friends gathered im the lecture hall of the National Herbarium on the occasion of the club's April general meeting, Visitors incloded Dr. H, Eichler of the Adelaide Botanic Garden and Mrs. Grosbié Morrison, Those present stood and observed a minute’s silence as a tribute to the memory of an old member, Mrs. S&S I, Bayley, who passed away recently. Mr A. J. Swaby was ap- pointed a delegate to the A.N.Z. A A.S, conference to be held in Perth in August next, but two more representatives ure needed from the club. It was reported that, faollaw- ing the discussion last month of possible resumption of sealing on Macquarie Island, letters had been sent to various newspapers, politicians and natural history societies. However, it is prob- able that the Tasmanian Govern- ment will not allow such opera- tions, Mr. Garnet mentioned that a new arganization had been formed, the *'Fauna Protection Couneil”, ta attempt. to carb the destruction and export of native animal life. Members are asked to infarm the council of any relevant matters that may come to their notice. Honorary Membership of the F.N.C.V, Was conferred on Mr. P, F. Morris in recognition of his forty years’ membership, and on Miss dea Galbraith, authoress of Wildflowers af Wic- turia, for her services to natural history and to the club. 18 Club of Victoria Following the approval of their nominations by council, the following were elected as mem- bers of the F.N.C.Y.: Mrs. Winifred Wilkins, Mr. Alan Dowse, Mr. D. E, Briggs, Mr. P. Ewer and Miss Jean Fitz- gerald (metropolitan), Miss C. C. Currie (country) and Misses Jane and Clara Elizabeth Wil- kins (junior). The main item of the evening Was an illustrated talk on Mac- quariec Istand by Mr. N. J. Fava- loro of Mildura. The speaker described its physical features, the A.N.A.R.E. base, the island's vegetation and the species of seals, penquins, albatrosses and other bird life. The colour slides of the penguin rookeries in par- ticular were excellent. Mr. Fava- lore was thanked enthusiastically for his informative Jecture. Kotany Group— B.N.C.VY. Excursion to Point Henry af — Fay t.,. 87 Seventy-ninth Annual Report, 1958-59 .. rly Ab on CT Financial Statements, 1958-59 ted “4 “. 1. .. 80 Diary of Coming Events .. vt + ; vk ., 85 Office-bearers, Membership .. vt \z 5 5x .. B46 Miscellaneous - _ Sherbrooke Survey... an ack ia 3 . .. 63 Bendigo Field Naturalists Club ~_. rs A if .. 63 Natural History Books for Sale .. “s > o. -, &9 Front Cover: , The Southern Blue-tongue, Tiliqua nigrotutea, is found in Tasmania and the three south-eastern mainland states of Australia, It is one of the several mémbers of this genus of large skink lizards. This picture _ Appeared first in the Victorian Naturalist of May, 1981 (Vol. 48, pp. 9— 10), actompanying an article by David Fleay. After he had obtained the parent lizard from the Snowy River area, it gave birth to its family of _ three. Mr. Fleay wrote that “the young lizards, being thrown on their own resources at birth, are extremely pugnacious, and, though measuring only three inches in length, snap and hiss vigorously at all comers”,, July 1959 55. Editorial ; Wildlife Management and Common Sense In the daily press and other periodicals there regularly ap- pear reports, articles and letters touching on facets of nature con- servation and wildlife manage- ment. Koala, kangaroo, possum and lyrebird each receive their share of such attention, the poison 1080" crops up peried- ically. and now we have the ex- otic gamebird question and game reserves. In analysing these bursts of publicity one usually notes a gen- eral similarity of pattern. This may be illustrated by a resumé of the latest controversy. The Victorian Field and Game Association held a meeting on May 10 last at which a suggest- ion was made that mallards and pheasants should be established as wild game birds in Victoria. Next day the Age reported: Pheasants and mallards are to be raised by members of the association for release in Victoria by members of the Victorian Fisheries and Game Department, This tmis-staterhent was offset, by a note in the Age on May 15: In a statement on this proposal yesterday, the director of Fisheries and Game (Mr. A. Dunbavin Butcher) sald that until such time ag the pres- ent game bird potential has been de- termined and the department knows the result of a suryey now being made and expanded the department is nat prepared to undertake the very costly experiment of introducing additional game birds. Nevertheless, én May 16, the Age published this: A propesal hy the Fisheries and Game Department to bet loose mallards 56 ald pheasants itt Victoria—seems just foolishness, said Mr. J. Garnet, presi- dent of the Field Naturafists Club yesterday .. ." We do not know how accu- rately Mr. Garnat’s actual com- ments were reportéd in the press, but the misapprehension was not to rest for, on June 6, again in the Age, there appeared an art- icle, “No Room Inside Gur Ark” by Alan Bell, criticizing Mr, Gar- net and recording this comment: The department's suggestions are vetoed because two new birds would take up—in Australia’s three mjlfton square miles—too much room...” That this strife of words was “full of sound and fury, signify- ing nothing", is apparent when we turn up the Fisheries and Game Department Newsletter of April 1959. The “Director's Col- umn", headed “Introduction of Exotics’, dealt with “an oft raised request that the depart- ment should introduce game birds” and it get out “a reply to these requests”. . Those seeking enlightenment in this matter are recommended to’ obtain the Newslet€er and to study the six points explained by the director, One of these con- ‘tains the sentence: Also the question of possible conflict with native fauna, agritulture and forests would have to be investigated. A government departments eoncerned with the conservation and utilization of natural re- sources Wave their trained scien- tists—full-time specislists— who are more than familiar with the Viet. Not—Vol 76 numerous facets of the prohiems that often worry the man in the street, As well, the departments have their pubile relations per- sonuel and Haison officers whose task is education in matters of conservation and the publicizing of departmental activities. The: Fisheries and Game Department is no exception, and if one is not familiar with its operations, it is not for lack of available infor- mation. On May 3, the Acting Premier of Victoria made 4 radio state- ment concerning game develop- ment and consideration being given to the settlng up of Strite Game Reserves. Following this, the usual crop of misapprehen- gions grew up in the minds of many who heard or saw reports of the Information, There was even talk of gnlimited shooting of any and all fauns in such places! Actually, a full-scale and high- ly scientific investigallon of game birds’ numbers, breeding places and movements has heen pro- gxressing fol many years. Based on the findings, the department has drawn up a detailed plan not only for game reserves but also for collateral inviolate sanc- tuaries. Some of the latter are already estublished and many sreatr—ineluding very extensive ones—are under consideration. The reserves weuld be for wildlife only, not to be used for any other purpose the year round. Most of the proposed sites are at present deteriorating from the fauna point of view due to their ase by lessees. During open seasons, there would be shooting of game birds, to bag limit only, and, of course, no destruction of duly 1959 protected fauna would be a!- lowed. As the areas concerned would be mahaged and timproved as breeding places for game birds, many other species would bene- fit: egrets, herons, |bis, trakes, grebes, ete, and, in fact, no shooting even of unprotected species of birds and mammals would be allowed during close seasons, Obviously, Hothing is to be lost but a great impreve- ment in fauna conservation and beestablishment would result, ‘The final part of Mr. Rylah's statement included the points that “the Fisheries and Game Department , _. expects that the apparent decline in the species of game birds will be halted —_." and “as the programme proceeds the status of all game bird species wil) be raised”, Perhaps the most useful thine that the Fleld Naturalists Club could do in connexion with these problems of nature conservation, would be to help keep the public informed—hy lectures, news- paper articles and such—of what is being aimed at and achieved by those sections of our govern- tnent departments whose chjects . are the same as ours, This would tend to offset much existing pub- lie apathy and opposition to de- partmental operations and te de- velop instead an enthusiastic and interested co-operation. With a solid backing of knowledgeable public opinion, the task of carry- ing out the many conservation projects would be facilitated in a great many Ways. This is an approach to these “controversial” problems that is worth, serious consideration by naturalists. 57 On the Roof of Aastralia. Mount Kosciusko with its sat- ellite peaks of Ramshead, Towns- end, Mueller, and Carruthers Peak, is nowadays quite easily accessible, although it is Aus- tralia’s highest point—vyery rug- ged and in a remote area of New South Wules. During the sammer months a well-graded road enables one to drive from Jindabyne right up to the surimit, About three years ago the Snowy Mountains Auth- ority opened up a very scenic road, affording access to the area from Corryong and Khanecoban to Geehi, Tom Groggin and Deadhorse Gap and thence down the Crackenback Valley to Jinda- byne. In January 1954 the writer vis- ited the Koseiusko-Lake Covta- patamba area on 4& day visit from Cooma. In January 1958 we camped on the Crackenback River just below Deadhorse Gap, and in January 1959 again visited the summit and also walk- ed from Charlotte Passa to the glacial lakes of Headley Tarn and Blue Lake. Gach trip to the area proved most interesting from the point of view vf natural history and scenery. The Geology Geologists inform us that these eastern highlands of Australia were formed by the uplifting of $8 By Pauw Fisci # ctompuratively low and mat- urely worn landseape. This uap- lift, which occurred In the Plio- cene era, attained its maximom elevation in the Kosciusko area and therefore is termed the 'Kos- ciusko Uplift’. As the term “Al- pine Mountsins” applies.to folded mountams where lateral forces warped and folded landmasses upwards as in the European Alps, Ilimalayas and Andes, this term cannot be applied to the Australian highlands. Mount Kosciusko is composed of a dense granite which is very re- sistant to erosion, and this has preserved its elevation, while other parts of the hizhland com- posed of softer materials have been worn dowm more rapidly, One of the most interesting features of this mountain area iz the clear evidence of recent glaciation: smooth trough-shap- ed valleys, typical cals on ridges, morainc-dammed lakes (Coota- patamba, Headley Tarn) and lakes aceupying cirques auch as Blues Lake. It is believed that during the last great ice-age, warmer intervals occurred dur- ing which the evidence of work of the preceding ice sheets was obliterated. So it was mainly the work of the last “big freeze", ending about 15,000-10,000 years ago which is mostly in evidence, although that ice-sheet was prob- ably the least extensive. Viet, Nat.—Vol, 76 Looking North from Kosciusko The Flora A visit to the Kosciusko high- lands offers opportunities to study and observe our most fas- cinating flora. As one gains alti- tude the change in the forests is noticeable. On the well water- ed slopes of this tableland, up to 4000 feet altitude, we find the home of our largest euca- lypts—Mountain Ash (KE. reg- ans), Alpine Ash (E. delegaten- sis) and Candlebark Gum (F. rubida), Above that we enter the domain of the Snow Gum (Ff. pauciflora) which peters out as dwarf, gnarled trees at approx- imately 6100 feet altitude, From there on the herbaceous plants of the alpine-meadows take over. To illustrate the adaptability of trees, the Mountain Plum-pine (Podocarpus alpina), which in some East Gippsland scrubs July 1959 grows to some fifty feet and on Echo Flat near Lake Mountain is several feet high, in the Kosciusko area at 6000 feet is a prostrate shrub growing Espalier fashion over granite boulders. Similarly, along the Crackenback River just below Deadhorse Gap, a low shrub sprawling over rocks revealed its identity by its numerous red “cherries” as Exocarpus (wild cherry). Exocarpus of the low- lands is a small tree, and when one compares it with the moun- tain dwarf the effects of altitude, snow cover and harsh weather conditions are very evident. Cootapatamba Just beneath the granite sum- mit of Kosciusko (7316 feet) lies the small lake with this picturesque aboriginal] name, lit- 59 erally “place where the eagles drink”. During the last ice-age, when glaciers occupied the de- pressions of Kosciusko, the val- ley floor at this point was over deepened and morainic material dammed up the small lake. At an altitude of 6740 feet, this is fed by the melt-water of snow- drifts which last well into the summer. On January 23, 1954, we noticed quite a large snow- drift on the right-hand side of the lake. From a distance it gave the appearance of a small glac- ier. At the time it was melting fast, leaving around its edges a black turf, continuously soaked by melt-water. At these altitudes snowfalls may occur any month of the year, and by May perman- ent snow cover is usually there again. Soil that is free of snow for only a few months one would naturally expect to be rather barren of plant life. But far 60 from it! Here we have a typical example of the Schneetaelchen- flora. On the very edge of the melting snow the white stars of the Mountain Marsh-mari- gold (Caltha wntraloba) unfold- ed. Many Anemone Buttercups (Ranunculus anemoneus) were straightening themselves from the prostrate position to unfold their white flowers within a day or two, though stems and leaves were still a pale yellow. Act- phylla glacialis is also able to produce its strongly scented um- belliferous flowers as soon as the snow cover is gone. Assoc- iated with this plant community were extensive mats of moss and two fern species: Mother Shield-fern, Polysichum proli- ferum and Alpine Water-fern, Blechnum penna-marina. On the upper end of the drift the snow was melting faster on the ground than above it, thus producing an over-hanging lip. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 76 Silver Daisy, Celmixia lonyifolia, above Lake Cuotapatamba — —-> Anemone Buttercup, <—— Ranunculus anemoneus, near Lake Cootapatamba It was here that we noticed a colony of flowering Caltha up to three feet under the snow-lip in snow-reflected sunlight. These observations show that the plants of the Schneetaelchen (=‘‘snow- patch” or ‘“‘snow-bed’’) possess the ability to develop under snow cover with a minimum of light and to produce flowers and seeds within a few weeks after the snow cover has melted. Directly after the flowering of Caltha, dense patches of dark green leaves are produced, which man- ufacture the necessary plant foods to ripen seeds and to form buds for the following season. According to Professor C. Schroéter in his Alpen Flora the term “Schneetaelchen-flora” was coined by Oswald Heer in 1836 in his Plant Geographic- al Description of the Sernftal (Switzerland). This occurs in depressions on mountain slopes where the snow remains for a long time and the soil is con- tinuously saturated with melt- water. Tne melting snow leaves a dark soil, rich in humus, top- dressed with mineral dust and organic debris that has accumu- lated on the snow, J. Braun-Blanquet, in Pflan- zensoziologie, classifies the snow- bed associations of the Euro- pean Alps into three sub-asso- ciations: July 1959 Arabidion coeruleae—on alka- line snow-bed soils, a defin- ite basophil association. Salicion herbaceae—on con- tinuously wet humus-soils, an acidophilous association (pH 6.5—-4.6), Androsacion alpinae—on mod- erately moist and lime-de- ficient soils, also an acido- aes association (pH 6.4-— 4.7). Our snow-patch community on Lake Cootapatamba would repre- sent the counterpart of the sub- association Salicion herbaceae. The writer has observed snow- patches on Mount Hotham and Loch in the Victorian highlands, but there is extensive summer grazing in both localities result- ing in much destruction by trampling of cattle which congre- gate there for feeding and water- ing. Lake Cootapatamba on the 6] other hand is situated in a national reserve. Stone Axes Unexpected finds were made of aboriginal stone artefacts at Deadhorse Gap and at No. 1 Creek along the Crackenback River, showing that the original inhabitants of this land used to visit the highlands in summer. The purpose no doubt was the hunt for game that would be attracted by the lush mountain meadows in midsummer when the lowlands were parched. Also, the occurrence of the Bogong Moth in large numbers among the crags was a source of food for aborigines. Some interesting information about the visits of aborigines to the highlands is given on page 207 of Aborigines of Victoria, by R. Brough Smythe. This is quoted in an article entitled “Aborigines on Mt. Buffalo”, by S. R. Mitchell, in the Victorian Naturalist of March 1940 (Vol. 56, p. 185), The artefacts found in the Kosciusko area are shown in the accompanying illustration, with descriptions of them be- neath. Artefacts from Kosciusko Area (Right). Ground-edge axehead, Deadhorse Gap: A waterworn pebble of Micacious sandstone; 23 lb. weight, 73 in. long, 43 in. wide. (Left). Chipped hand-chopper, Deadhorse Gap: Of altered sandstone (low-grade metamorphic), a dual purpose implement, with a definite grinding groove; 1 lb. 14 oz. weight, 7 in. long, ¢ 4 in. wide. (Centre). Hand-chopper, No. 1 Creek: Fashioned from a waterworn pebble of altered shale by skilful chipping of one side of edge; 14 oz. weight, 4 in. long, 3 in. wide. 62 Vict. Nat.—Vol. 76 SHERBROOKE SURVEY [This statement has been submitted for publication following a request for information on the matter of banding lyrebird chicks in Sherbrooke Forest.] The Lyrebird has been studied for many years by many people. Much is known of its life history; much still remains to be learnt. It has been known that the lyrebird population of Sherbrooke has been dwindling over many years in spite of the young birds which are bred there each season. Identification of individual birds is essential for solving some of the prob- Jems (particularly that of the move- ments of the birds), and banding is the only satisfactory method. A complete knowledge of the life history is the only proper basis for conservation. The Sherbrooke Survey Group was formed under the auspices of the Bird Observers Club in 1958. The aims of the group, the programme and rules under which the group would work, were written out in fuil and submitted to the director of the Fisheries and Game Department at a preliminary meeting with the group leaders. All aspects of the programme (including public relations) were considered be- fore full permission to undertake the work was given to the group by the director (Mr. A. Dunbavin Butcher). Similarly, approval was obtained from the Sherbrooke Committee of Management and the Forests Com- mission. Six senior members of the group {all experienced workers, holding banding Heences from the Fish- eries and Game Department and the C.8.1,.R.0.) have special written per- mission to band lyrebirds, and all working members of the group are registered with the Fisheries and Game Department. It is not intended to band chicks at all nests in Sherbrooke. Banding will be done, either in Sher- brooke or elsewhere, by the six band- ers working in pairs, and only at nests approved by the group. The chicks are handled once only, just before leaving the nest, and neither parent nor chick suffers any harm. Members are rostered and on duty (not necessarily in Sherbrooke “prop- er’) for observation of the birds each weekend, Full records of the work are kept and reports will be published from time to time as circumstances warrant. Dr. L. H. Smith is author of publications. INA WATSON, Convener RALPH KENYON, Secretary BENDIGO FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB Members of the F.N.C.V. who visit Bendigo are invited to participate in the activities of the Bendigo Club. Syllabus of Meetings and Excur- sions—July to December, 1959, 1cEe. Meetings—Start at 7.15 p.m. at Bendigo Technical Co July 8—Coloured Slides (Mem- bers). August 12—Botany Weeds (J. Kellam). September 9—Annual Meeting. October 14—Trip to Kangaroo Island (J. Ipsen). Talk on November 11—Specimen Night (Members). December 9—Shy Ground Wren (R. Eddy). July 1959 Excursions—Start from Gold Jubi- Tee Statue (half-day at 2 p.m., full- day at 10 a.m.). July 19 (full-day)—Lyall Glen: General (J. Ipsen). August 30 (full-day)—Sedgwick: Birds (R. Eddy). September 27 (full-day)—Tarna- gulla: General (A, Ebdon). October 18 (full-day )—Inglewood: Botany (R. Eddy). November 1 (full-day )—Wychi- tella: Botany (W. Perry), November 15 (half-day)—Spring Gully: Birds (R. Eddy). November 29 (full-day)—Met- ealfe: General (F. Robbins). December 13 (full-day )—Egerton: General (J. Kellam). A. C. Espon, Hon. Sec., 45 Luean Street, Bendigo. 63 ALONG fe , cD *_#e* These columns are available each month for your nature notes and queries. Address your correspondence to the Editor, “Victorian Naturalist”, A Pollen Tree in Winter Mr. Tarlton Rayment keeps a watchful eye on the activities of bees. He writes: Winter is here and I listen to the murmuring music of the trees. A few blooms linger still among the chrysan- themums and the garden tea-trees are beginning to clothe their branches blood-red. Lemon and cumquat bear a few flowers to attract the honey-bee, and the ageratum still graces the modest borders of heliotrope. Late in the season, the midday sun, with its reviviscent warmth, will waken the wattles to gold from their slumbers, but it is as yet too early for the harvest of pollen. Bees rise later in the winter and retire to their hives before the touch of frosty fingers. It is early June, the frost has melted from the long spears of grass and the sun calls the bees to labour. The ash trees have shed their leaves, and black beads of buds are strung along the twigs. Listen! There is murmur of a new music, a melody of industry. A veil of tiny reddish-claret blos- soms drapes the trees and the bees rejoice; the pale creamy pollen will soon mould the Lilliputian puddings 64 P.O, Box 21, Noble Park, Victoria. for the combs. Under the microscope, the grains—the flour, the living male cells—resemble subspherical sago, but the bees pack it into a pudding of pale buff, The ash is peculiar, for the minute flowers arrive long before the buds burst to clothe the tree with leaves. The ash seed, the samara, has a dry membranous wing, and clusters of these “keys” will hang throughout the winter months to unlock at length the stream of new life. Echidna and its Young The Australian Spiny Ant- eater or Echidna is widespread on the mainland, and there is a Tasmanian species, too, and an- other in New Guinea. These, to- gether with the Platypus, com- prise the group of mammals known as monotremes, which show the remarkable combina- tion of the young being hatched from eggs and then suckled— that is, fed on milk—by the mother! Vict. Nat.—Vol. 76 Peter Hodge, of W Tree, sends this story of an echidna family: “Early in December a few years ago, Ben (my brother) came across a large, rotten log in the bank of the creek in our paddock. A mound of soil had been scratched out of an opening under the log, and there were signs that some of it had been freshly dis- turbed. Thinking that a rabbit or some other kind of animal must be living there, he smashed the log up, it being too heavy and rotten to roll over, and found at the end of a tunnel about four feet long a large, smooth, padded cavity containing a full-grown echidna and a young one. “The baby echidna was about three inches long with smooth, black fur or hair, and we could feel where the quills were starting to prow underneath. These must have been slightly less than a quarter of an inch long. “Ben brought the echidnas home, and after having their photo taken, they were put in an old, burnt-out stump, not far from the house, for observation. They both stayed for two days, and after that the mother went off, leaving the baby in the stump. We thought that perhaps she had deserted her baby, but it stayed there, fat and healthy, for about three weeks, so she probably came and fed it each night.” Echidnas develop a kind of pouch—actually two thick folds in the skin of the abdomen—to carry the egg and later the young, We have often wondered if the youngster was accommo- dated thus until its quills became too long for the mother’s com- fort, but the above observations indicate that these do not grow appreciably until the young one is too big to be carried about in any case, July 1959 Wattle-birds and the Heat Wave Mr. A. E. Brooks, of Chelt- enham, sends us these obser- vations: Very late in the nesting season a pair of Little Wattle-birds began to display an unusual interest in a Red Flowering Gum which grows on our front lawn. There was much fluttering to and fro among the branches, ac- companied by numerous not very musical noises. Then within a day or two they brought the first pieces of material for nest-building. The efforts at building might be described as about the same standard as their attempts to make. musical sounds. When the nest took on some semblance of a finished article, the bird we believed to be the female tried fitting her breast into it and turned around to test it for size. Believe it or not, the poorly-built nest was re- garded as complete and the female took up her position. Whether one or two eggs were laid we did not dis- cover, but in due course the beak of a young bird was seen occasionally above the rim of the nest. Then the temperature soared above the century mark towards the middle of January, and the mother had to decide how best to care for the fledgling. First she tried sitting firmly on top as if to suffocate it. The youngster suffered this for some time, but it was eventually seen sitting on a branch near the nest, indicating that the mother might have decided to force it to leave the nest. Later in the day the fledgling flut- tered to the ground, but by nightfall was called by the parents to a safe place under a tree. It was still unable to fly properly and we were somewhat concerned when about three days later it was nowhere to be found. However, we are pleased to record that about a week later the two adult birds and the youngster, now a toler- ably good flier, paid a visit to our garden, Indeed, the three birds are frequently to be seen plundering the honey from our flowers; and the flimsy nest has withstood the elements, up to date, anyway. <—— — Echidna and Young 65 Australian Wattles — No. 3 By Jean Galbraith Blackwood — Acacia melanoxylon Golden Wattle to light the dry hills —Blackwood for the sheltered valleys and kinder soils! Blackwood is a king amongst the wattles, a forest tree of the higher rainfall areas, where its dark green phyllodes are a foil for creamy white or primrose bloom in clusters of large heads. It belongs to the group of wattles which has several] long veins in each phyllode, and there is no other that one could mistake for it. Perhaps its closest relative is the recently-des- eribed A. frigescens, but this is much more shrubby, with greyish foliage and bright yellow flowers, Blackwood has sober green phyl- lodes, two to four or even six inches long and up to an inch wide, rather stiff, blunt-ended and narrowed to the base. It is a large and stately tree, beginning to flower after the Silver and the Golden Wattles are in bloom. Perhaps that is why Frank Wil- Hamson spoke of Blackwoods_ that “|. , robed by tardy spring, in star- like beauty shone”. Starlike indeed with their delicate pale bloom, but erect and holding their bloom erect, iat sturdy trunks and furrowed grey ark, 66 There is an atmosphere of strength and permanence about them that does not belong to the earlier-flowering species with their lovely evanescent gold. In summer they ripen clusters of half-curled, light-brown pods and, des- pite their name (a literal translation of melanoxylon), the beautifully-pat- terned, close-grained wood is brown. Perhaps that is why the tree is often misnamed “Lightwood”, although that name belongs to the summer-flower- ing, sickle-leafed Acacia implexa. I know of few trees as shapely as a well-grown Blackwood, and groups are often left for shade on Gippsland farms, where clover will grow in a thick sward right up to the trunks. Solitary trees are not always long- lived, but several together may out- last generations of men and still in- crease in vigour and beauty. Blackwood is seen at its best in the rain-forests, such as in gullies of the Otways and the Dandenong Ranges. In south-eastern New South Wales and far-eastern Victoria, it is dominant in sub-tropical “jungle” pockets and the limbs are often fes- tooned with lianas. Blackwood extends toe to Tasmania and South Australia. Shapely Blackwoods provide shade and shelter on farmlands at Cann River in Gippsland. Photo: N, A. Wakefield Vict. Nat.—Vol. 76 Nature Study for Schools BY NORMAN WAKEFIELD ORGANIZATION OF REFERENCE COLLECTIONS (continued) Although the animal kingdom is. classified into about twenty main groups (phlya), the insect species, comprising but one class of the “joint-lezged anima!s” (phylum, arthrogoda), are ac- tually more numerous than all the other animal species pul to- gether. Moreover, insects are practically universally distribu- ted and many kinds occur in great numbers. For thesé rea- sons this group commands con- siderable attention in school nat- ure study. As a result, and be- cause insects in general presant a substantial problem in the mat- ter of common names, a refer- ence collection of these is prac- tically essential. Towards the end of Chapter XVII of Léach’s Austratian Nat- ure Studies, there is a section on “Breeding, Collecting and Pre- serving Insects”, iit whieh some useful general instructions are given. Similar details may be found in MeKenwn’s Australian inseets. Some modifications of the procedures suggested in these books are desirable when it comes to the building up of a _callection-at-schuals ~~ 7 For killing insects and other small animals, do not use potas- sium cyanide ws suggested—il is tao deadly a poison to have in a school, Obtain a amall bottle af ether—ethyl ether is preferable, but acetic ether will do—and, as this is very volatile, it must be kept very tightly corked or lid- ded. The bottle should not be July | 959 opened near an exposed flame, for the vapour is highly inflam- mable and, being heavier than air, will flow along a surface such as 4 table top. A suitsble killing bottle is a broad-mouthed jer fitted with either a cork or rubber stopper or a washered screw lop. To the under suface of the stepper ur lid, a smafl wad of cotton wool is fastened by means of a plece of wire threaded through smal] holes or by a tack. Liquid adhesives should not be used as ether is solvent for many such. The killing bottle should be reas- onably small so as to allow a high concentration of vapour to build up. The apecimen ig introduced into the bottle, a small quantity of ether is dropped or poured on- to the cotton wool and the lid or stopper placed in position. The amotunt of ether needed depends on the size of the subject, but | the latter should not come in contact with liquid or it may be spoiled. By this method the specimen ig paintessly gnaesthet- ized and_it shoula—-then- be eft fur a considerable time until one ia sure it is dead, otherwise it may revive after being taken out. Specimens may be preserved fue any required length of time in an alcohol solution, and this can be done with insects ard such if it is not convenient to mount them as soon as they haye been killed, The ideu) medium is GT a TO% ethyl alcohol (and 30% Water) solution, for this keeps the specimens pliable, Methyl- ated spirits, which is almost wholly methyl alcohol, causes hardening of legs and other parts so that these cannot be arranged in position when 2 specimen is finally mounted, so, if this must be used, a amall quantity of glycerine should be Mixed with it. The main collection is finally housed In boxes. These should be quite shallow, as specimens are “lost In deep containers, and it is preferable that the top be tratisparent—of glass or a plastic such as celluloid. To the foor of each box should be fast- ened.a layer of something like cork, fibre board or thick straw- board, into which pins may be stuck, and aver this a sheet of white paper is pasted. For school purposes, most specimens may be put-inte boxes immediately after killing, being fastened there with household ping. However, many will choose to nbtain the more appropriate fine entomological ping for the purpose, ‘The method of pin- ning is illustrated in Australian Nature Studies (see reference above). A pair of forceps is used for handling fine pins, the latter being grasped below the insect when being forced into the floor of the box, It. is most desirable to have each specimen in a collection as life-like as possible, so care should be taken for matance to piace the legs in Tlatural posi- tions, To do this, fine forceps, a darning needle or some sach pointed instrument may serve, and it is remarkable what a diff- 68 erence this small attention can take to the final appearance. Moths, butterflies and similar Insects Tequire an intermediate step—drying with the wings held in position by strips of paper— before being finally mounted {n the boxes. This is Uhistrated adequately in Australian Natwre Studies. Many large moths have in the abdomen much fatty material Which is likely to exude and even- tually spoil the specimen. If one feels inclined, the abdomen may be slit open with a razor blade and its contents removed and replaced by a rolled wad uf cot- ton wool. Some insects, and most spid- ers, have large sott abdamens which would shrivel up if an attempt were made to treat them by the method outlined, above. These need to be permanently preserved if aleohol solution in small glass tubes ox jars. If one Wishea to preserve a large spider for display pur- poses, it may be tied to a rect- angle of glass or rigid plastic by means of a fine cotton, then immersed in alcohol solution i a transparent screw-top jar. The cotton should stretch reasonably tightly across the specimen be- tween the abdomen and cephalo- thorax and thence right. round the supporting rectangle. An éven more satisfactory result. is obtzined by drilling two small holes in a rectangle of suitable plastic and tying the spider by means of a cotton passing through these. ; With these general hints as a basis, teacher and pupils should be able to decide how best to pre- serve specimens of Various other _ Vick Not—Vol 716 animal groups When such are considered to be desirable sd- ditions to school reference collec- Lions. The stashore yieliis much of interest: soft-bodied animals gd inte alcohol, Some crustaceans {tiny crabs, shrimps, ete.) are Dinned in hoxes, sea-urchine anc largé crabs are kept in individ- ual boxes, and so forth, A seore or so of match-box trays may be packed together, with or with- oul permanent fastening, over the bottom of a shallow box, ne containers for samples of a8 Maty species of small sea shells. One does nut normally kill and keep vertebrate animals in ref- erence collections, but if a speci- men, auch as a snake, has heett killed and it is desired tv keep it as a novelty, it is placed in a jar of alcohol aolution. To ensure that deterioration will not oveur, it is advisable to first make @ small incision in the abdominal wall to allow fluid to penetrate round the organs. Most native species of mam- mals are protected by law, and it is legal not only to kill them hut aleo to have them in one’s possession éither dead nr alive, However, childven sometimes bring to school small mammals that have been found dead or have been killed accifenl|iy, auch as (during clearing operations, These sheuld he placed in aieo- hol, with the abdeminal wall plereed, for several days, then packed, still moist, in s plastic bag and that placed in atm and senl Lo some appropriate auth- ority, By such action, knowledge of distribulion of species may be auxmented and in some cases valuable diseoveries are brought io light. For further details July 1959 in this connexion, see 'Callect- ing Iinta', the last chapter of Troughton's Fuiréd Animals a] Austeytlin, As with all reference coilec- tions, 3L is essential that the rele vanl data be recorded, ¢cither with the specimens or in a sub- stantial notebook, These com- prigé name of species or group, place and date of collecting, hame of collector, and any general flutes about the example, Finally, it must be empha- sized that the compiling af col- lections must not be looked up- on as an end in self, As Leach said, “Haphazard collecting is harmful and cannot be recom- mended", Only judiciously se- lected material should be pre- served, and this not as a basis for study but as a reference set, Effective nature study is con- eerned not with the classification or physical characteristics of specimens in bottles or pinned in boxes, but with obsaryation of the activities of living things in their nateral environment, Nest Month: Sources of In- formatian. NATOAAL WISTinMyY BOOKS FHI SALk Prom the library of the late L. W, Grover, the Zollowiaw ate available: Victorian Nalwrabet—Vnle. 44 to 05 (beund) 7 vols. $6 lo 68, and 95 Cunbownd), . Hntioh Mewertty Hesse (vuluer WI sy— “WH vole, with 300 colony plntes. Irenopnaphy of Awstration Sulyolicvrux Pineta (Mueller, 1900-91)—Docades 2S, sue paner batnd (lates 21-90). Avetrulien Sideish af €oactan CMveller. 15877 —Vel t, dee t-6; vol, 2 dec. 9 Notfce Zea of Avatrutia | Andes}_ Mlormc: of Fur Morih-wesi Véetenu (Zimmer, 1947). Deatructive dnwerds af Vireloria (Preurt, 1591) -Matt 1 plaints ef New Senth Wels (Dixon, M06). Fier of Santh Avatedia 4iilark, 3924-297 —Parts 1-4, sevond edition, purt 1 1194) Wargpowers of Weelern Ansfratia (Pelloe, 19412, Application May be ittade to Me, W, Wy Cooper, 9 Valeney Road, Glen Ins (HL i251 69 THE BOGONCG HIGH PLAINS This continues the story of the I-daw eweiirseon by poermhern of he FING VY, ta the Booong High Plains, By J. Ros GARNET EXCURSION DIARY The main party left Melbourne early on Decemher 26, travel- ling via the Hume Highway to Wodonga, along the Kiewa yal- ley to Tawonga and, from there, high. into the mountains of north-eastern Victoria, reaching Falls Creek about six in the evoning. There they were greet- ed by the leader who, with his Wife and son, had arrived a few hours earlier. After some ten hours of travel over the plains of the north- east In the heat of summer, what delight it was i reach the haven of the mountain chalet tn the coolness of the closing day. There were no tents to erect, no meéals Lo prepare, no camp chores to fret the weary; the party had merely to lounge about waiting for the dinner bell to call ali together again. Standing on the baleony, one gazed at Spion Kopje, with its large N-shaped snow-drift, due north of the ski village. To the south-east, hut out of sight, war Rocky Valley, and to the west- ward, Pretty Valley—all places to be explored. Behind us was the Frying Pan, 4 tair, prasay plain, to be found by thmbing the mountain hard by. On the eastern end of the Spion Kopje range, across the deep valley, was Roper's Look- out, a basalt plug, treeless and almost bare of shrubs, perched on the side of the mountain top. 790 Saturday, December 27, 1958 We chose to call this “an easy day", one devoted to a leisurely trip by bus onta the plains and and into Pretty Valley. It was designed to give the party an idea of the general topography and a taste of the clean alpine air away from the turmoil of dusty highways. From. the ski village the road winds up the mountainside, fi'st through snow gums and hickory wattle snd, al. higher altitudes, threugh masses of Leafy Bos- sigea and Alpine Orites, both of which. were in full bloom, Above Rocky Valley, we seemed to be on top of the world. Around us were the Bugong High Plaina, al- most treeless, undulating grass- Jand and moor, stretching east, south and west and contained by deep valleys. Beyond rose the giants of the Victorian acene: Buffalo, Festhertop, Fainter, Niggerhead, Hotham, Cope and other eminences which have drawn generations of hikers away from the urgency of city life. Nearby, on the western edge of the plain, was Mount McKay. We saw, Loo, the massive basall, ‘yeaiduals of the Ruined Castle and Basalt Till, and the network of roads, serving the great Kiewa hydro-electric stheme, like rib- bons along the slopes. Below to the east, was Rocky Valley, peaceful during the brief holiday luil but shewtng horrible Vict. Wot—Vol 76 sears of engineering: autivities- A few mote vears will heal the gears and the summer-time visi- tors will see a lovely lake filling the valley with 23,000 acre-feet of water. On the higher ground, the characteristic alpine wild- flowers will remain. Each will add its quota to the wealth of fragrance and blossom. The party could see around them a text-book illustration of chapters on plant associations and communities. On the ex- posed, wind-swept slopes were tangled Jow shrubs such as Phe- balium phylketfolium, Pleuran- dropsis trymalinides and Kunzea muellert which merged into col- onies of Hovea longifolia or Gre- vitlea australis, Where the depth AMt Fatnter 6020" & Me. fainter South ose” ‘Bt Nigger hese saga" of soil was inadequate for such shrubs one could see alpine tus- sock grass and hosts of herb- aceous plants such as Braechy- come nivalis, Graphalium eol- linum and Ewartia nubigena spreading between the rocks and fissures. Where the snow lingers longest were plants which pre- fer extra moisture: Claytonea, Rununculus, Cotula, Veronieu, Celmisia and so on. Tn the valley we halted briefly to wander beside the streams which meander across it from the east before it turns south into the narrower confines of Pretty Valley. In this idvllic spot tiny Galaxias sped from sheltered pool to sheltered pool, tadpoles innumerable browsed in the Adpion Kopje €o25° Locality Plan—Bogene High Plains * July 1959 il warmth of the sunlit, water, and dragon flics and stone flies join- ed the murmuring throng of other Winged creatures. Natur- lists rambled shout, gleaning entomological trivialia, or not- ing the profusion of plants which grow only in alpine mesdows, among them Caltha intrulabe, Ranunettlea raillanti, Prasophyl- lum alpinum, Stackhousia pal- vinuris, Hpacris petrophile and | Carey buathaumel. Among the more interesting objects added to David Wood- ruff’s collection was a recently- deceased White-lipped Snake, Which was examined with some attention before we boarded the bus and returned to Falls Creek and lonch- Then we set out to some snow- drifts to the south of Rocky Valley and, in passing, inapected one of the fenced experimental eanservation plots about whith comment is made elsewhere. Here the Snow Aciphy!ll was seen in fiower, A few sturdy folk essayed the stiff climb ta the Scout Hut while the main party headed for the snow where some time was spent in light-hearted frolics. A row of three of these persistent drifts. oecurs on the southern precipi- tous slopes of Rasalt Hill, be- tween Rocky Valley and Middle Creek. A longer stay might have been rewarding to the botanists, for in the vieinity have been found such plant rarities as Chlorophytum alpin- um?! Lycopodium selago, Paran- lenmeria uniceps aud Pimelea inflore. The Alpine Caladenia, an orchid which favours altitudes above 4000 feet, was there in bleom and, unexputtedly, plenty Tz of Creamy Slavkhousia, whose range from sea level to GO00 feet betokens considerable adapta- bility. Snow sports and serub bash- ing. made. must of us feel the need of a rest, but afler it we made our way over to Basalt Hill to examine some almost perfect examples of basalt. val- umns. The day’s march was con- cluded by a ramble across the windswept flats of the Leeelese mountain ton, from which we had an Uninterruyted view for miles in all directions. Fitz- gerald’s “Shannonvale’ lay to the south-east, a landmark famil- iar to those who tramp the track to the high plaiss from Omeo and beyond. : Cope Hut and Redbank Creek {one of the headwaters of the Bundarrgh River) excited the fancy ¢f a amall party of keen men. On the hanks of this creek were reported ta be certain lig- hite deposits well worth closer | inspection, TL was resolved that this trip should be made at al] costs, While many were examining the ground flora of Lhe Basalt Hill grasslands and studying rock specimens, Dan Melnnes and Eyre Swarhreck were down in the valley, one hammering assiduously at rock Yuces, the other seizing spiders or captur- ite in colour seénes of unusual constructional works and the equipment used for them. Back at Hyman's chalet, the dust of the day washed wway, dinner-Lime could not come soon enuugh. At its conclusion the leader announced the prozramme for the morrow. and members dispersed to sort and pore over Vict Nor—-Vol, 76 Photo: Mra. K. Parkin Snow-drifts on Southern Slope of Basalt Hill specimens or to enjoy the rest due after their first day in the rarer atmosphere of the high mountains. Sunday, December 28, 1958 Through the good offices of Mr. H. H. C. Williams, construc- tion engineer of the 58.E.C.’s Kiewa project, our party, guided by the amiable patrol officer, inspected the No. 1 power station in course of construction. An un- usual experience was the descent by cage, 180 feet below the sur- face of the western slope of Mount McKay, to the landing above the vast underground vault where six power generators will be installed. The water from Rocky Valley storage dam, after July 1959 passing through the turbines, will flow into the Pretty Valley branch of the East Kiewa River and then through the two power stations in the valley far below. Later we journeyed by road to the entrance and were taken by electric trolley through the tunnel to the vault. As a finale, we heard three mighty deton- ations from blasting within the vault which we had just vacated. We made our way by circuit- ous roads to the mountainside far above, to enjoy our picnic lunch beside the huge surface pipeline through which will flow the Rocky Valley water after it passes through the three-mile tunnel in its descent of 1700 feet to the No. 1 power station. 73 After lunch we moved up on- to the high plains where the afternoon was spent among the natural “ruins” of the Ruined Castle between Mount McKay and Rocky Valley. Hexagonal and pentagonal columns of basalt of all dimensions were to be seen in an exposure resulting partly from quarrying and partly from natural causes. There, too, were tuffs and other evidence of the Tertiary lava flows which have resisted weathering to a far greater extent than the wide- spread granodiorites. Monday, December 29, 1958 John Garnet and David Wood- ruff, two younger members, made an independent resolve to track down whatever marsupial fauna might inhabit the country- side between Mount Cope and Rocky Valley. They departed be- fore sunrise and returned in time for breakfast. Although no mar- supials were observed they did see a fox and enjoyed the sight of a sunrise in the alps, a phe- nomenon which, for sufficient reason, eluded most of us. This was a day when all were free to wander wheresoe’er they listed. Some set off in search of interesting geological material and others spent the time bird- observing, special attention be- ing given to a nearby Spotted Pardalote’s burrow situated con- veniently at eye level on the bank of the road. Most of us, how- ever, each with a tremendous lunch in his (or her) knapsack, climbed up the mountainside above the village and followed its aqueduct for a mile or so before plunging into a thick tangled scrub of snow gums from which we eventually emerged into the more easily-negotiable terrain which led us over the crest of the mountain onto the Frying Pan. (Continued next month) Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Annual General Meetine—Jane 8, 1959 The lecture hall at the Nationel Herbarium was comfortably filled, and Mr. J. RB. Garnet presided at the open- ing of the club's annual general ineet- ing- Members stoad for one minwte 1 silence an a mark of respect for Miss Helen Bowie who passed away re- cently, The minutes of the last annual meeting were read aud confirmed, ANNUUNCEMENTS—The Bird Obser- vers Clob will hold & sereening of films on Australian birds at the Nat- tans! Museum on July 10 at B15 pn, in atd of the Crosbie Marrisun Mem- ors] Appeal, The Australian Natural History Medallion for 1958 will be presented to Mr, C. J. Gabriel by Mr. GC. W, Brazenor at the eclyb's general mect- ing on Joly 14. Dr. M.M. Chattaway, Mr. KR. T. M, Pescott and Mr. A.J. Swaby will be the elub’s delegates at the A.NZA.A.S eonference in Perth next August, Reporats—The secretury read the annual report of council, and this was adopted by the mecting, The treasurer reported that the financial statements would be published in the Naturalist. for review and discussion at the July venereal meeting. Both these items are elsewhere in this issue. On behalf of the avditere, Mr. W. J. Evans statad thet the books had heen #xamined and fo\ind correct, Evection oF OFrrce-Bearera—The following positions were filled; President ,, .. Mr. D, BE. McInnes Pice-presidents .. ., Dr. W. Gere Mr, E, S. Wanks Seerstary .. -. Mr. B, H. Ceghill Asst, Seevetory faeting) Miss LM, White Tyedswrer ,. ., Mr. A. G. Hooke Axst, Treasurer . Miss M. Hutohart Kifttor ., .. Mr. N. A. Wakefield Asst, Edito . ». Mc. W, F. Seed Librarian .. -. Miss M Argo Asst. Librearium ,. Mr. J, He Quirk Excursiwn Secretary Mies M. Allender July 1959 Auditore __ Mr. R. Davidson Mr, W-. J. Evans Counctil—Mr. A, J. Pairhall, Mise M J. Lester, Miss F, Ebillips, Miss K. Thomas, Mr. W_L. Wil- liam. Mr. Garoet weleomed Mr, MeInnes 45 president and vaemted the choir in his favour, Mr. McInnes in tush prais- ed My. Garnet's work as president of the club, and this was emphasized by 4 vote of appreciation which was mov- ed by Mr, Hopke. PRESIDENTIAL Appress—Mr. Garnet eave a west interesting illustrated talk on the chab's summer excursion to the Bogeng High Plains. He out- lined the physical festures, the unique flora, the question of cattle grazing and the development by the S.C, ELECTION 6F MEMEETS. -Mrs. Eulatic Bennett became an hongrary oiember, having joined the club in 1918, New members elected were Mrs. James Craig, Mr. A. Ingeme, Mr, W. A, Stubbs, Mrs. @illah Lee, Mr, H- Vitalis, Mr J. H, Scott (ordinary members); Mrs, D, E, MeInnea (joint terdinary member); Mr. K. M. Nash, Mr. E. V. Barton, Mr, A, F, Baxter, Mr. C. K, Ingram, Mr, H, R. Hobson, Mr. L A. Robertson (country mene Bers) and Kenneth G. MeInnes (junior member), Exttisits—Mr. C, Gabriel showed a tange of Victorian cowrie shells, from juvenile la adult. Mr. H. Stewart ex- ibited Blue Olive-berry (Mlicacerpus cyanews), diniper Watlle and Mas- git Orchid from Sperm Whale Head, the Grsi being a new reeord for the Lakes National Park, Mr. BE. Coghill Hitrodgced small land snails and shells oevopied hy spiders, collected at Point Heory. Mr. D. McInnes showed @ naut- Hus shell, the animal aud eges, found lil Lhe sea at Brighton, Mr, R. Burbury had a fruiting specimen of Waxterry SSuplineren hienida) fren Mount uflal0; and Mr, A. Swaby exhibited Barden-prown, nalive shrubs. : Mr. Mefnnea reported that a change of sea water had imlused mussels in tus aquarium toe release dense vloude of ava and sperm, readily identifiable under a microseape with Meh power. 3 Eatomology and Marine Biology Group Mexting—Jame 1, 1959 Miss Macfie gayé an interesting taik on octopuses, dealing with their varying size, colour and, in some caxes, phoSphorescehce, She dealt, too, with eh repeeNaticg of squids and cittle- 5 Pa Many species of shells were ax- hibited, all having been collected by Miss White during the club exeursion to Point Henry; they wete identified by Miss Macfie. Miss Winte showed also speclmens of & marine Howerin dlant, 4 ¢cunjevol and somg sand- hoppers, \ Melnnes provided a high-hght with the exhibition of a large nautilus “shell” ar egg-case, the veg Masses. young which had hatched and Parent animal, The last was alive when the specimen was fold at Middle Brighton, It was interesting to ses, ufider the microscope, colour change? taking place in the hodies of the young anes, Microscopical Growp—lune 17, 1959 The meeting was devoted to talks on “Tube-worms”, led be Mr. R. MétInnes. Beveral inicroseopes displayed differ- ent species of living marina worms. Mrs. Freame had a comprehensive catlection uf preseryed specimens in boitles, snd also projected several lantern, slides of the creatures. Her comments pn tht subject Wore very interesting and informative, and were deserving of a lerger audience. Or. Susan Duigan, of the Botany Department, University of Mellourne, will be the guest speaker at the meet- ing an July 14, ber subject being ~'The Stricture of Pollen Grains and Their Pussible ¥alue te Genlogr”, Dr. Durgan has bten engaged jin Veseatch inte pollen of brown séoal and, more recently, peats and living spores, She has siudted at Cambridge niversity, working with Dr. Godwin exclusively on Quaternary pollen stud- les, Geolugy y449 The monthly meeling Was altended hy seventeen members, with Mr, Dav- idson in. the chair. Miss Carolan gave a report ol) the oxcursion to the Anakiez on Sunday, May 10 (to be published text issue). Te Uisenssion Group—dJune 6, the, The subjech for the evening wns “The Geology of Victoria”, discursed by Mr. Paul Fisch, atid illustrated with two movie filme he had prepared, This ig the first of q series of diz cussions on the geology of Australia, After introducing the geological time scale and the palaecbatanical relation. ships o7 the rock types, the speaker sut-lined the physiographic divisions and described topographic features with the help of cross-sectional dia- gTams. Victorian rocks af service to man, the coal deposits, glacial periods and voleanie avuptions were described next, and, finally, the ocentrenee of gold in Palaeozoic rocks, and the ad- vent of the aborigines. Exhibits Were volcanie bombs frum the Anakie excursion (Mr, Davidson) , arigonite In lava Jrom Spatswoad, zeolites from Plinders (Mr, Black+ horn); a collection of rocks of Port Pholip Bay (Mr. Baker): Glacial woeks from Speinvhurst, and fram Moybu, near Wangaratia, showing polishing and similarity to Beech- worth agate (My. Watts}; Silurian vock With calelte (fram a depth ot 100 fect); vesicular basalt, and gyp- sum farming on ai Area trapesie chell, fron: the excavations for the King Street Bridge, South Melbourne side (Mv, A. B. Seott)s specimen of ns aie fram Mexico (Mr. Bairn- stow), Botany Croun Meeting—Tune 12, 1959 The subject of conifers has Yor some time interested members of the §topp and they have locked for- ward to heating a leetare art the sub- ject. Miss L. M. White addressed the ETOUP on this topie at the last meeting at the Herbarium, She exhibited a large number of specinens of cones to illustrate the subject and, by the com- Pieueits Made and the questions asked, there is no doubt of the Interest of memberz. Those preset weee moat grateful for a porcielariy good lec- ture and, to durther pursue the subject, an excursion Itae been arranged to the Footaeray Gardens, where a varlety of the species grows, Miss White will be the leader. he spring hatlare show was dis. cussed and progress i= reported, Pov the July meeting en interesting Members’ night has been arranged and 4 welcome is extended to all club Wermbers co offend. Vict, teah—Vol 76 F.N.C.Y, Excursion to Point Henry On Sunday, May 31, a busload af members journeyed to Point Heary, about six miles from Qeelong., This headland is at the entranee to Corio Bay and the signal station there con- trals all shipping ta and from the Port of Geelong. As the party ate Junch wear the beach, numerous Sea birds, iiecluding vormorants, silver gulls and Pacifie gulls, were seen. Two pelicans glided across the water close ilishore, while a group af aboul nine rested on the sand-bur, their size einphasized by the many smallev specics. Millions of min- ute shells formed much of the beach, and larger ones were collected by some members. In the early dave, cattle were driven across Corio Bay, ond it may he vecalled how the shallow entranes piovented Geelong being made che capital of Victoria. A visit to the Rastern Park nars- ery before lunch was instructive and the extensive collection uf Australian plants aroused preat interest. The variegated Sugar Guin attracted at- tention, while Cate’ Paws ¢Awige- zauthes hunts) and Green Kanga- rao paws (A. rirtdia) were in boom, (in the way to Point Henry, salt- pans afd stacks of tiewly-harvested salt Were adjacent to the road. Sea- water from Gorio Hay is circulstud ta Lhe pane and evaporated unlll a thick Inyer of crystals Torms at the bottom. At this stage the mother liquid becomes dark red due to the rapid development of mivroseopic shrimpJike crustaceans, After hat- yesting, the stacks nf salt are covered with metal foil and thateh-grass rom Lake Coniewarbe, Later, the salt is conveyed ta the works to te purified by washing and packed ready for sale. On the way Lrom Melbourne ta Gee- long the features inchided the lava plain with Lhe granite peaks of the Vou Vangs projecting above it. A brief halt was made at bhe manament ti Matthew Flinders, sud there was reference to his journey when he climbed Minders Peak and to thal oft Hume and Huvell when they trav. eile from Lake George te Part Phoip y. On the return jonrney the Geelong Botanic Gardens were visited, and a halt was made far tea ut thu Easteru Beach. A, E, Brooxa TThe feforence to “stiramps which eon live end craltiply ee rapidly in cemeentested Deine %* caecpcinnally mteresting Obveuwdy Lhere are other orgunisme present, which also live it detiance ul the aiyparentiy Jothal crviran- mem and on whith the ceupteeratie feed, Whether direealy er nel Perhaps the Micm- ecopitul Group will be able t cell us the whole of thle intersting stars. RidaterJ SEVENTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT, 1958-59 This year saw the fruition of twa important schemes, beth foreshadowed in last year’s report, ahd the initiatton of twa mere, The suggestion that the club should buy Uhe uneold atocks of Miss Gal- braith’s book WilttRowers uf Vintoria was finally caryied through, ‘The arrangement agreed upon with Miss ° Galbraith |s that she should have a royalty of 105% gn sales and that the yemainder, after deducting the club's initlal outlay, should he directed one- third ty the Native Plants Preser- vation Society, and the remainder to this club. Obviously, this represents a anb- stantial denation on Miss Galbvaith's part, and many shauld press her to take contre! of Chese stacks for her own benefit, Howe ever, the majority both of council and July 1959 members fel we: of the last annual meeting, thought that we should accept ber offer in the spirit in which je was made, and the final arrangement wis as nlready stated. Ib muy be added that the amount of the club's uullay has been recouped atid the first payments of royalty to Miss Galbraith and of jts share to the Native Plants Preser- vation Soviety, have been made, The other project is the gift by Mrs, Nowlan of a block of land, 2 Fittle vavar 12 acts, near Maryborough, to be preserved as a wildlife sanctuary in memory of her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. W, Gogstick. Thu trans— fur of this lund to the club has been signed and Sodged for reeiatration, and it is hoped to hold a club exeur- sion there in the spring and to ask Mrs. Nowlan to attend and formally hand aver Ghe lille to the club, 77 The two new projects are both af- great importance. With the May issue, the Natnratict Waa enlatged and ibs appearance alter ed. This has cost Inoney and will cost. tore, but is is hoped that more yeaders and mare members will he attracted, and that the club will reap great benefit fyom Lhe change, ia in- creased interest, and will not lose financially, Tra this cannection, council feels that lar too much is left to our enecpedic editor, Mv Wakefield, and \¢ hopes that something will came of Troent appeals far members to assist, loth with editerial materlal and with gales ikrrangenyents . The other yew project may also develop inta something important, bub it is still very jrehulous. Lhe National Museuin authorities are conducting an appeal for a memorial to the Jate Mr. Crashie Marrisan, and hepo lo raise enough £6 establish a memorial hull to house scientife sovieties such as ours. 1 this appeal is sucessful te the extent preposed, it will, we hope, give this club a home of its own after so jaany years. We must step warily, but eouneil ts wutehing the position ‘closely and will, of course, eonsulr members before committing the club tu any specific course, Affiioted Rodiest, During the veur the Portland FNC. and the newly- fooned Mamilton FNC, affiliated with this club, bringing the cotal of societ- jos alfiliated with us to eighteen, Sun- tayaia PNG. has made a similar application, but this will be dealt with in the cuming year. Membership on April 30 was 821 metropolitan, l46 extra-metropolitan, 18 junior, and 24 honorsry and life mermhers, 4 total of 509, This time last vear lhe total was 491, Also there are 2 Tumibes ot ton-member subscribers to the Netwralist. Duritig the year Miss Joan Galbraith was admitted to honorary mambership lor ter ouut- shanding services to the sturdy of hos- aty and to this club, and Miss BR. Chisholwi aod Mi, PB, Morrie for Jong service, As 1s ta be expected in) 1 vinb as large as ois, we euffered several losses through death, including: Siv Frederick Mann, a former Chief Justive of Victoria, Messrs. Charles Barrett, G N. Hyam ar) A 2). Hardy former presidents of the club, ard Mer, J. K. Moic, 78 The Glul) participated in Lhe nature show beld as part of the Moomba Peatival last Mareh, and mach interest was aroused by living exhibits, snakes and lizards, spiders and mavine life. Preparations are going forward brisk- y for the elub's own nature show in cteber, sirrangehents have been made to aye Bnnincements «af this club’s westings fserted manthly in the Aye. The club has consiztently advocated the protection of native fauna and flora. It joined in the suceessful prt- teet agallist the resumption of sealing ov Macquarie Island, and the un- auccessful protest against the oxpiort of koalas, att has jotted the recently formed Faina Protection Council. Ib has watched with interest efforks ta extend national parks, and eongran- ulatud the Guyvermment on its adoption of the pink heath as the toral emblem - af Victoria. ' As he anvounced at the last annual meeting, aur immediate past-presi- dent, Mr. Swaby, has haa leave at absence From tle council dtiring the whole of laat year, Our senior vice resident, Dr. Gerce, bas alac beeu on exnve sittee Mureh bn & trip te Murope. He w}ll retire ln a few months and has bern renominated for his position. During most of the year, the clob has been Witllout an assistant seergrary Becently Mins 1, M, White waz elected ta the position, Miss White insists tnt her acerptianee of the aflice is only tempoyary, so we tugt still lock for an assiscant seeretary, though the Teed TS Heb th present so werent. The question of finance is always with us. Thatiks to the supparting membership introduced last year, we have felt more free to spend qiane this year, ond have made some grail but asélul additions te library equip- ment, With the vearganization at the Noturadst it was felt that junior members should make a larger sub- scription towards an attractive peri- odical, and juniays membership, with the Notwraliet, has been increased tn B5/-. Club pRblicalume continue to sell steadily, but no major jublication, other than the rtorgunization of the Nitrurativt, hae heen undertaken, Per- wap it is thme te publtsh something se, ; Coaneil dnd the club must thank those who have lectured to us through- Vicl. Nat—Voel, 76 oul the year, alzo those who have provided and operated projectors- Ewecnvsions: Dalinge the year exdur- signs, numbering twa or three a mouth, have been well attended. Many places Were visited and various aspects of natural history studied, one excur- sion to Campbelltown was led by the Ballarat and Creswick F NO. mem- hers who choWed a finw stand of wax- flower, this pateh being the only known accurvence of this spesies in the dis. trict. The feature of the year Was the excursion to Falls Creel fer ten davs during the Chrisimas—New Year hoh- days. This excursion was led by the president and attended by 4)? members. Visils were paid to the power stations and works ta the Kiewa scheme ond to the Hume Reservoir as well as to the Bogong High Plains, Geology Disexssion Group: A satis- faclory year has been experienced by the Gevlogy Group, attendances at hoth meetings and exéursions having almost doubled, and it is felt that this 18 partly thie bu the monthly ve- port appearing in the Natwrafist but mainly to the sharing of gealogical kniwiledge ly the members taking part. AC twalthy eempetitive thirst ov this Knowledge still exists despite the varied subjects presented through- cut Ure year. Mievorcopleal Croup; In June, Mr. AH, B. Engiis. {aur only “outside” apeaker far the year) of the Forest Products Division of the C.S.LR.0. lectured on the use pf the microseope im forestry research, he talk was well attended and amply illustrated by mesne of both camera and mierp- scype slides, Tn August, Mid of OU OWN Membets, Mr, W. Evans lectured on the subject af pholomicrography