The Victorian Naturalisi The Magazine of the FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA in which is incorporated THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA Vol. 88 January — December, 1971 Editor: G. M. WARD Assistant Editor: G. DOUGLAS @ MELBOURNE: JENKIN, BUXTON & CO., PTY. LTD. 1-13 Abbotsford Street, West Melbourne, 3003 ficto iaturalist a ‘ sot “laa Sah Magnificent stand of White Mountain Ash, Eucalyptus regnans, in the Marysville State For FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA preserving the beauty of our forests for your enjoyment. Vict. Nat. Vol. The Victorian Naturalist Editor: G. M. Ward Assistant Editor: E. King Vol. 88, No. 1 CONTENTS Articles: Notes on Tasmanian Rat Kangaroos. By Ron C. Kershaw The Last Madimadi Man. By Luise A. Hercus and Isobel M. White The Discovery of the Lizard Genus Carlia in Victoria. By A. J. Coventry Winter Collection. By J. C. Le Souef Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Diary of Coming Events. Front Cover 6 January, 1971 John Wallis took this photograph of the Little Northern Native Cat (Dasyurus hallucatus). The colour treatment of the cover has been introduced to improve the appear- / ance of the Victorian Naturalist. Whether the objective has been successful or not depends on readers’ comments, January, 1971 Notes on Tasmanian Rat Kangaroos by Ron ©. KerRsHAWw (Honorary Associjite, Queen Victoria Muscum, Launceston) INTRODUCTION There are two species of “Rat Kangaroo" in Tasmania, They are Bettonula cuniculus Gray and Poto- rous tridactylouy Kerr. These animals will be referred to below as the Betlong and the Potoroa respectively. These notes are a record of observae tions made between the years 1950 and 1956 in an area near the Tamat River, North ‘Tasmania, Compari- sons between the animals and the types of habitat in which they are found have been made, The terrain in Tasmania is very mountainous and ad abrupt rise of several thousand feet within a few miles is got uncommon, ‘The climate ranges from super-humid in the west to sub-humid in the east coastal area. Rat Kangaroos are found over a great deal of the State and in a wide ringe of conditions, ‘Phe area studied herein consists of a lew square miles in the vicinity of Clar- ence Point on the west bank of the Tamar River, near the river mouth, North Tasmania. In this area the climute is rela lively drys the average rainfall being less than 25 inches annually with considerable = fluctuations over a period. The terrain is undulating to hilly, the highest elevations heing in the vicinity of 200 to 250 feet, The Vegetation consists of — sclerophyll forest in purl associated with heath spp. grass sward, or with tea-tree scrub. Very little of the area can be said to be a natural bush environ- ment. Burning and clearing with re- growth have been the order for many 4 years, Since the observations yoy made u more vigorous clearing ppp sramme has been conducted, Chest areas tire given over to orchard pasture, Both the Bettomg and {hp Potoroo were common in the ary during the period of observation DISTINGUISINNG FPEATURRS Rat Kangaroas are small Kangaroo, like marsupials, which, Owing fo thes small size and rat-lke gait Or Vikige have been compared to the my, According 1 Troughton (1943b) {he nume “Kangaroo Rat’ was Use when the wnimal was first describes and iMustrated in 1789 in the "Vo ave of Gavernor Phillip te Botuny Bay", because of — kangarao-dihy limbs and rablike visage, Another similar aninjal is the Brush Wallaby or Pademelon, a bulkier animal, The Potoroo is not unlike the Ber tone, bur tt has no erest Ol the til, the white tip of which is much longer, ‘The hair is grey-brown Ww brown, The hind foot is shorter thir the head (Lord and Scott, 1924), I is the short hind [oot which & responsible for the gat which in valves the fore-limbs as well as. the hind (Troughton, 1943b), This. gta is rallike and the animal scurric but does not hop. This is a useful field recounition factor as the Bettong hops like a kangaroo, The Poto: roo a also a plumper animal. Pear son (1945) and Finlayson (1938) list important points of distinction, Further detail of externals is given by CGuiler (1961) from excumination of funerous specimens i Soutl! Viel, Nat, Vol, 88 yasmina. Pearson (1946) has con- 4yded that Rat Kangaroos are dis- “et from Kangaroos. He describes incl : od : tet as uw highly specialized off- shoot from. the primitive phalanger. jyne und MeMahon (1951) studied the surface structure Of bair im these guimuls. Descriprives Observations were made in the field of as many animals as possible. Whenever 3 dead animal was en- quntered = measurements and des- fipfions. were made, Of the hazards which these animals are exposed vehicles und dogs take toll. Rabhit poisoning campaigns also are respon- ible for deaths, tenoneia cunienluys Gray. The male of a pair of Bettongs gilled by stryehnine, sul} im figor wortis, was carefully examined for ihe following description, [1s typical ol those observed, Fur dense, smoky grey al base to pale grey at lip, dorsal interspersed hairs. barided with black, with grey ips giving a darker appearance but paling laterally to greyish-white ventrally. Tail fur grey, darker above, funtly dusted brown. Interspersing hairs of tail black, forming a distinet crest for two-thirds the length, Tip of tal with w small white tuft—a somewhat variable feature. Pes grey, wale nuked, granular, dark grey, Manus grey, soles naked. granu- lir. flesh pink. Rhinariuny rounded, naked, granular, dark grey. Lars rounded, siightly brown, head faintly brown, eves brown with blue irs, eyelashes black, Mystical bristles well developed, dark coloured. the longest 46 mm., supra-orbitals dark, fow, 40mm,, wenals dark, lew. 25mm, Body length 340 mm, Hind foot HWUmm, Tal 290mm, Ear 40 mm January, 1971 The measurements of a juvetule mile. examined in July 1952, were body length 275 mm,, tail 205mm,, hind foot 85mm., ear 45mm. This animal was paler ventrally and the dorsal fur was shining suggesting a young healthy animal. A later imspee- tion revealed that the sheen had gone. Cause of death could not be ascertained. The small white tip of the tuil was almost devoid of hair. Presumably the white tuft develops with age. The mystical bristles mea- sured 45m, The animal was evidently very nearly mature. These animals are typical of those observed and appear to represent a uniform population, However, one pale grey animal was observed, some 3 mile distant from the area. No murked colour differences were ob- served between the sexes although the female is of shghter build. The tail of the Betlong seems generally lonver in proportion to body the bi ti. Plate 1. Betrongia cuniculiy Olay, than is the case with the Potoroo. Guiler (1961) notes that head length is slightly greater in the male Potoroo, Potorous tridactylous Kerr. Fewer dead animals of the Pot- eroo have been encountered. It ix thought that this is due to the animal living in less accessible places. The Potoroo is similar in general appearance to the Bettong but is much more obese and hence is not so graceful. The tail has no crest and the white tip is longer enabling it to be seen at a distance, Wood Jones (1924) describes a uniform darkening to black at the tip of the tail. He seems to regard a while tip as rare. He gives eye colour as brown, The fur is grey-brown to brown, rather variable throughout the popu- lation, but not apparently over a wide range, An old male was found dead probably within the previous twenty-four hours. Fur dense, long, soft, grey brown on dorsal surface, paler brown later. ally, smoky grey ventrally. Tyij dusty brown at first passing into shor black hairs for 140 mm., then dirty white to tip for 45 mm. Pes dusty brown, darker on sides; manus palo; with pink soles, Interspersing hair grey at base, then white, but oftey with brown or black tip. Ears dark brown, rounded: rhinarium naked, granular, black, rather elongated, nostrils lateral, slit like, Eyes and eyelashes blackish. Mystical — bristles dark, developed, 40 mm, supra-orbitals dark, 25 mm,, genals poor, Head and body length 370 mm, tail 265 mm,; hind foot 90 mm.: ear 45 min. The Habitat (a) Environment: The area under observation is 4 triangular patch bounded by thy West Arm, the West Tamar Highway, and the Tamar River, The climate is Plate 2. Potorou tridactylous Ker. Viet, Nar. Val 88 mild. sub-humid, with relatively low uinfall reliability. There are no per- manent streams und tew springs, Walercourses. Thay remain ary for jon periods when rainfall ts insuf- fent to induce run-off. There ts it iow lying area of marshy ground where surface water may persist for some time except under very dry condiions. The terrain. is undulating to hilly with sore fat terrace surfaces. These jatter have been cleared for fuming achivities for a long period. Orchards ore frequent along the West Arm, Al the time of observation rather more than half was not cleared ibough used for rough grazing. Oreh- ard blocks were separated by nature arips. ald hedges. Several hills of jolerite rock have a thin brown-red, wr black clay soil, The remainder of jhe grea is occupied’ by sandy loam tu tine Sandy lowin in part on ferriace suriaces and hill slopes above the River and West Arm, or gravels and sandy gravels on ridges at 200° feet shove Water level, passing down to 1A0 feet. Heavy wet sandy loams oceue iy hollows and imarshy areas, Podzols und padzolic soils with clay “f" forizon tre present. Areas of poor drainage, or congre- qutcd driinage support dense Melu- leuea scruh, which has been almost impenetrable. Some guns are present liere. In somewhat less dense areus grouml cover is commonly of large clumps of long-hroud-hladed species curving to the grounmt to form natural tunnels. A thick mat of leaves, sticks and litter cover the sur- faee. On funy soil Slopes There as a peppermint (Lucalypiey aeryydiuling)- sheake (fC usuurinad-blackwood (dec a) aasocaten, With an understorey a) shrubs purely including Mefulenen, This is very dense at tow levels, January, VFI forming an almos} closed canopy bu thinning with ¢levation, In one part of the area the selerophyll forest changes fo a stringy-bark (Baculyp- tus vhliqua) dominated association, Here a large hedge of Crpressuy trees Fringes an orchard vod forms a dense shade. On the gravel ridges the sclero- phyll forest thins, and the ground cover 1s dominated by healh species, Suntizht penetrates readily 1 the ground, and the observer may move readily. The dolerite hills support a similar forest, with scrub under- storey on lower slopes, Here the open areas are covered with « nitive gross ground cover. In some ares the scrub understorey may be fairly dense, bul it is hot continuous gid sunlight penetrates readily. This wm im sharp contrast to the lower aureus of dense cover Where shade ts permu- nent. tt is neticeable thar two types of cover are available. The one ot foore or less low levels of dense scrub fringed by dense forest where there rs virtual permanent shade. wnd ground cover is a foot or moore deep, The seeond is of open forest on higher Well drained areas. with sround cover of heath or grasses where sun- light penetration is high, The difler- ences are due ro factors of soils jimd Jriinage with height being of minor stenificunee ‘There are therefore Iwo types of habitat available in the area. Gradtiations in constiturion of ttese seem al Jitthe importance and are ignored. (b) The habitat of the Bettona: The Bellung is apparently less common in the area than the Pote- rao, hut is mare sinelly noetumal in bahit. This tiay account [or the reduced number observed. Subse quent observanans seeny to Support his. The relationship in numbers is 7 variable, Fires have had a serious effect on the habitat, Approximately Iwenty animals were observed dur ing the period 1950-1953, The Bettong has been observed only in the opeo sclerophytl forest, ether with heath or grass ground cover, or i nearby orchard and pus. ture, Th may penetrate areas of light scrub cover, ‘There seems every reason to beheve that the habitat normally has a high degree of sun- light penetration, The animals hive not been observed in hollows or guilies where vegetation is dense and sunlight penetration very low, It does not, however, follow that the habitat is purely of hills, Suitable flat ureas are also popular; however an animal has been observed skirting a marshy area more densely yege- tated. A nest of the Bettong previously described (Kershaw, 1952) was situated on « dolerite hill slope of westerly aspect in open forest. It wis fashioned of grasses in a shallow hollow in the surface. with a -bark floor, Nests of these unimmls are always completely covered and con- sequently difficult to see, The site muy have beet chasen on the busis of suitability of material availible to contrive aw stall tunnel Such nests may be temporary. Ih some Ciisey, vlihough Bettongs were observed jy uy area, HO unmount of Searching revealed a True nest structure. They iniy make use of SULAbIe available cover m general, and cotiline nes building (o periods Of tating geri vity. Nests in any Case are destroyed readily by stock praving through the area ahd by fires. After fires the uniinals repopulate an ured quickly when enough cover returis, The ubiquitous bracken term serves alinost us Well i providing cover for foray- ing expeditions, Although shy and difficult to observe the Bettonge will appear in quiet places early in the evening when observations are pos- sible, Torehlight observations have been made when the animals appear fascinated by the light or even ignore it, Pouch young have been observed in autumn and spring. Since these observations were made, Guiler (1960) has found that breeditiy tikes place throughout the year, but there is More activity in spring and late summer tronths, Obseryutions seen © suggest also that mild, relatively dry conditions as Well as the local environment may favour the Bettong, Plate 3, Typical habitat af the Betiong on a dolente hil onewe |= -Chirence Poms, Taner River ‘Tasnmunnt Viet. Nat, Vol. 88 ic) The habitat of the Potoroa: Greater Numbers of Potoroo have heen observed than Bettong. In day- ght hours Poteroo have been ob- served only 1m areas of maximum shade. Or closely nearby. At night it has been observed on rowds and racks in the vicinity of Suitable ureas, rarely ul any distance. The enviruament favoured by the poworoo is one of dense scrub or forest, Where increase of moisture uasuces prolific ground cover. Most jyvoured nesiing sites occur where ihe ground is entirely covered and natural tunnels are formed between vod under overhanging blades of grass clumps. Nesis are difficult, or impossible to tind even when an animal has been disturbed. Those found by the writer have been found hy accident. ‘ The nest deseribed by the writer (1952) was found in the stringy bark (E. abliqua) formation already described, on the bank of West Arm, The animal took advantage of over- hanging shrubs, grass tufts and rub- hish which formed a tunnel at the foot of a tree. Earth was banked up io close one end and a rough lining of soft grass was used, The nearby hedge oof = Cupressus lambertiana wecentuutes the density of cover and Plate 4. Fringe of habitar of the Potoroo, near Weal Arm. Tamar &, January, 1973 shade, Hence i is in keeping with other sites noted. On foraging ventures from the nesting area the route laken may be circuitous in order to take advantage of thickly vegetated drainage ditches or “nature strips’. An animal ob- served escaping from a rabbit trap left a considerable portion of leg, and a trail of blood. To follow the trail it was necessary to crawl for more than one hundred yards. Only once was the animal in the open when crossing a narrow track. Finally it was lost in dense scrub near a spring. A number of animals have been seen in this rarely disturbed urea. Discussion The Potorow has been observed more frequently in daylight than the Bettong, This may be due to the nature of its habitat which provides greater security. No animals have been seen outside this habitat in full day-light. Because of difficulty of penetration few opportunities occur for observing completely undisturbed unimals. However, on one occasion two Bettong were observed for at least an hour. The animals scampered about under shrubs and tufts of grass, around jogs und other cover, cononually emitting shrill squeaks us though of excitement. The purpase of the display was not apparent, In the area studied the Potoroo has been found to favour a closed canopy with dense ground cover habitat, The habitat in Vietoria and New South Wales 1 recorded as similar. No evidence has been seen ty suggest that the habitat elsewhere in ‘Tasmama differs in any essertial feature. The observations — ithistrate how. these animals have adapted to an area where falucal cover ts greally reduced, In a normal habitat the animals would move about with greater confidence probably over a wider ringe of conditions, The Bettong hus been observed in open forest where sunlight penetrates and grass or heath is the ground cover. The two types of habitat approximate and Potoroo haye been disturbed in densely vegelated hol- Jows within fifty yards of a heathy ridge where Bettongs hive been seen, In the Asbestas Range, West from Frankford, Potoroo have been observed in gullies. No Betlong have been seen here, The nature of the habitat {rom the point of view of Vegetative cover and effectiveness of drainige in relation to this appears most significant. The tope- graphy geems jmpertant only i so far as it has a bearing on these multers. The Betlong appears able to with stand some degree of dryness. The area studied commonly has a dry summer season which muy he pro- longed into the autumn. Little witer may be available and the question of how much water these animals may require arises. Troughton (194344) remarked that Bettongs in the fam- don Zoo were reported to huve cone sumed a good deal of water. In the present area water is ayailahle in 10 farm water troughs, Roadside excayy. tions may also hold water for lonp periods, A comparison has heen made between the habitat ocenipred by the Betlang and that of the Petorog jy a small area near the Tamar River, Northern “Tasmania. REEERLN CIS Finlayson, Hy UE. 1938. On a New Species of Potoroo (Maryupialia) from & Cuve Deposit on Kangaroo Istand, Soult Australi, Travis. Rey Soo, SN. atu, 62 (bos 132140, Guile, E.R. 1957 Lengevity in the Wild Potorvo, Paferaus tridagtylauy iKerr), ase, J Ser 20 (1b: 26. -— — 1940, The Breeding Sea- son of Pororeus tridaerylous (Kerr), Aust, do Noi, 23 (4h) D6-1287, a - 194). Notes on the Externals of the Potoroo, Potoray, tridaewviows, (Kerr), Pap Prop, Roy. Sec, Taym,, 25" 41-48: Pl |, Figs ty. Kershiuw, BR. C,, 1952, supials at the Tartar mania, Vret Nab, 69 (8B) 102-105 Lord, EC. and Seotl, HA, 1924 A Synopsis of the Vertehralte Animals of Tasmania. Hobart, Lynn. A. G. and MeMahon, T, S, 1951, Observations on the Surlace Struc. ture oof the Wats of Tisnvaniia Monotremes aml Mursaninls, Prec Roy. Soe. Tas, for Ne TLR, Pearson, J. [045 The Female Grp genial System of the Marsajilalia with special Reference to the Vag ral Complex. Pra Rey Ser, Tas for 1944: 71/-96, Pearson. 1. b4d6. The Affinities of the Rat Kangaroos (Mureipialin) as Reveuled by a Comparative Stidly of Notes on Mar Riven, Tits the Female Urogenital System, For, Ruy, Soc, Tasm, top Yas 1130125. Troughtan, Eo Le G., 1943q, Furned Animals of Australia Ind Ed. Suk ney. —_——————, 943b. The Family, Rat. Kangaroos 1, May. 8 (S92 171-174, Wood Jones, F., 1924, The Mammals of South Austealia. Part ji, Brit, Sa. Guild Sth. Austr. Branch Ciovi, Print Adelaide Kangaroo dist, Muss, Vict, Nat. Vol. 83 The Last Madimadi Man Luise AJ Hircus® or thereabouts, Jack jong’, also known as Jack Edwards. hay jived at Point Pearce Abori- oinal Settlement, Which ts between Port Victoria and Moonta on Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, Point Pearce was established ay a Mis- son to the Aborigines in 1868, and taken over by the South Australian Governmicnt in 1914, the reserved Jand having by then been jncreased wo over 17,000 acres. Farming this jund now gives employment to many of the able-bodied men at the settle- ment, which is governed by a council of the inhabitants. These inhabitants, ot whom there are about four hun- dred, are nearly all of part-Aboriginal, parl-European descent with a hansl- ful who are pure Aboriginal, Though housing has been much improved ever the fast few years, it is sull below the standard of an ordinary ewuntry town. Jack Long lives in one of the older, smaller houses, and uo kindly womun neighbour ts paid a small sum to keep his house and his clothes clean, and to provide meals for him in her own house. Por Wis age of about a century he is remarkable for his physical acti- wily and lively intelligence He can reeall vividly and accurately events in lis life up to ninely Years ago. Since he lives fight m the middle of the Settlement, he is not cut off from everyday happenings among his neighbours, whe call hin “Mate” or “Matey", This contrasts with the Since 191! SAmallen National Loniversine oot Auxtrallin insseute tel Abetpegumal Srediee January, 1971 by AND ISOBLL M. Win! * cure commonly given fo very old Australiuns, whether they be white or Abortginal, which all too often involves complete isolation from the lWe of the community. There are men af Point Pearce Who rite as “old and yer ean remember Jack Long as u diddle-aged man When they were boys, and some say he must be a hundred and six. He thinks he is about a hundred and from checking his memories we cil- culate that he was born no later than 1872, After learning that he has lived the last sixty years of his life al Point Pearce, among the descen- dants of Nariagga speakers who in- habited the surrounding area al ihe time of European settlement, i is surprising to discover thal he was born some four hundred tniles away near Balranald in New South Wales. He is of pure Aboriginal descent and helongs to the Madimadi people, whose territory was on the north bunk of the River Murray, and whose languaye is of the "Kaolin™ group’. He is of the Maegwara moiety and his totem is kangaroo (bugumunaina) Jack Long's father was a Madimadi man, whose native name wis Lalupu; his mother, called Bigdul, was part Madimadi and part Dadgidags, The Da ine lunguage belongs, fogether wih Jidajida, to un isolated group with closer relationship to the jen- guages of the Murray mouth than to those of the immediate viciiity’, Bingul was born on Kulkwng Station, e8Monath Cniversiey and Aweaian teletute ol A®oyigoml Studies " and in his childhood Jack lived on the stations on both sides of the Murray near its confluence with the Murrumbidgee, namely Kulkyne (on the Victorian side), Canally, Yanga, Moulamein (on the New South Wales side), As a boy his main language was Madimadi, but he could also speak Dadidadi, learnt from his mother’s people. It ts usual for Abori- gines to speak more than one Jan- guage, particularly where marriages occur across linguistic boundaries, In addition Jack Long learnt English, Plate 1. Jack Long in January 1970 near Point Pearce Settlement. 12 Vict. Nat. Vol. 88 and today not only speaks it fluently and with an extensive vocabulary, but can also read and write. He makes no more grammatical errors than a white Australian of equivalent educa- tion. When L. Hercus first discovered him in 1965, on the advice of Dr. Catherine Ellis, as a valuable infor- mant for Madimadi, he had for- gotten all but a few words of Dadi- dadi perhaps because, as he recounts— “| Jost my mother when I was a little fellaw baby; she got poisoned in them early days, They used to poisean the potatoes, fruits and all that, and put them out for the rabbits; it killed a lot of rabbits too, rabbits were so bad; and she happened to eat one somehow or other and she passed away”. That the rabbits were a serious pest south of the Murray in the ‘seventies and across the Murray by 1880 is a matter of record, and the method of extermination he describes was commonly used®, The most usual poison was strychnine and one wonders how many other unwarned Aborigines met an untimely and horrible death. Plate 2. January, 1971 The Last Dadgidagi Man: photograph taken about 1932 of Dinny Myers and his dog Briggo, who helped Dinny Myers and the Day family to survive the depression by his skill in getting foxes for scalp money, (Ry courtesy of Hubert Day) 13 His father took another wife, Char loue MeDall, who came fron further west fotvanls the Flinders Ranypes. She already had a grown son, Tsane, and fielped him to bring up the matherless Jack, bis brother ind hes sister, Maria, Who eventually married John Pearce’. ( Neither Juck Long nor his brother Were ever jnarricad,) Later Isaue MeDutl and his son, Paddy, went off to settle at Lake Condah, and Juck saw tite more of theny Others of his comlenmporarics in the Balranald distriet were Oeorge Ivanhoe, Jimmy Morris and Ree Wise i Madimnadi), Angus and Dinny Myers (Dagidagi), Peter Bonney (part Madimadi, part Dadidiwh) and Sid Webber (part Madinadi, part Narinari). Gearge lvanhee, whose totem was pelican (bagayal), and Jimmy Morris lived to be the last of the Madimad: “clever men’. Dinny Myers died at Moonacullah im the Hineteen-forties, the last ODygidagi speaker, hut tragically his language died with him, except for some infor- mation given to RO Ho Mathews in the cightecn nineties by Anes Myers at Cunarieunga, and fragmentary word fists published by Curr and Brough-Smyih*, OF Peter Bonney and Sid Webher we shall hear more in Juck Leng’s story. When Jack Long was old enourh he aot Work on neighbouring stations as a sfockman, and later became 4 drover. He tells us that he held a Dalgety drever’s licence, and i em phatic that in those days, the eighleen- eighties, cighteen-ninetics and nine. teen hundreds, Aboriginal and white drovers Were paid and treated equally and that “we were jusl as [ree as other men”. Later they suffered under what he calls “The Act", which was “wery hurd on us". (As he had by then moved into South Australia, this is presumably the Act of 191] which gave the Chief Protector the 14 right to order an Aboriginal to sta, on a particular peserve,) He rementbers the voys of thy Really Gang, and Knew some of dy Abotiginal police trackers. who ware employed t9 track the bust-rangers, particularly be mentions old Afi. wide’, However, he may be echoiny the opine of Aberrgines and less privileged white peaple of ihe tije when he suvs, “Tho was a very wrong allain. 1b wy the lawepeople Was dong the danp age, the liw way the foundation ob adl those busiitesses, they didn’ iat peaple property at all, ny proper jalvice. nO Proper statemen wd all that, TE Kiraw a lot of cise, amd those people, same of then, Slled gaudy. und) cider de The story of Jack Lone’s droying dive Hes in elosely with the bile img of The rmubwavs i fort wester Victor. ble and his miates wold drove mobs of cattle, horses imi sheep Team The stations on the Mur. may to the nearest fail-heads. ther journeys getting shorter us the line extended, (The line from Keratie wv Swan Hill was being built tram 1882 to 1890, the Warracknabes) Beululh le was extended to Hope. oun by L894.) Saumetimes they drove a mob into the Western Dis- trict “ta Dunkeld, Casterton, Hamil ton und them plices”, the drovers then returning to Swan Hill by train, changing at Benihgo. Once when the) were on belidyy, Jick Long util George Tvanhoer and Sil Webbe packed their borses and rode on . vistl lo Cummoragunga Settlement. Jack, Long remembers thar many of the stations were taken over by the hig companies — he mentions “Auy tralian Land Mortgage and Finance Corporation and the London Bank (which miy have been the London Finance Corporation), This hip pened ta Kulkyne, Yana and Cun Viel, Mat. Vel, 88 Subscriptions Now Due The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria ts administered by a relatively «mall number of honorary oftice-bearers. The growth of the club and the expansion of its activities, particularly in connection with the production of the Vicrorian Naturalist, are con- \inually adding to the burden of work. 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Details relating to supporting members and their payments are regarded by the treasurer as confidential, and no distinc- tion or extra privilege is bestowed on the members concerned. (To be removed) Field Naturalists Club of Victoria FORM FOR RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP OR OF SUBSCRIPTION TO THE “VICTORIAN NATURALIST” (To be used by existing members or subscribers for payment of fees) Name(s) Address......... (Please indicate if there is a joint member) Mr. D. E. McINNES Hon. Treasurer, F.N.C.V. 129 Waverley Road, East Malvern, 3145 Dear Sir. Please find enclosed the sum of $ . to cover annual membership fees subscription to the Victorian Naturalist enter this sum as follows: for the year 1971. Membership fees Supporting membership .. -. «. +. =: $ Subscription to Victorian Naturalist... .-. $ Yours faithfully, Please Field Naturalists Club of Victoria APPLICATION FORM To be used by new members or subscribers. (Cross out parts which are not applicable) I wish to subscribe to the Victorian Naturalist for 1971. Please post it monthly to the address below. Ordinary I wish to apply for Country membership of the Field Naturalists Club Junior of Victoria. My full name and address is: Mr. UY, I Sts, een ee ; Papen. a mhces Miss I enclose the sum of $ in payment of the year’s fee. Date / /1971. Signature Field Naturalists Club of Victoria AN INVITATION TO PERSONS INTERESTED IN AUSTRALIA\ FAUNA, FLORA AND COUNTRYSIDE If you have not already an affiliation with the F.N.C.V., you may apply to the club either for membership or for regular subscription to the Victorian Naturalist. ; These are some of the club’s activities: @ General meetings each month, with informative, illustrated talks by prominent naturalists. These are held on the second Monday of each month, at the Nationa) Herbarium, South Yarra. | @ Meetings of study groups comprising those with specialized interests such a — geology. hotany, microscopy, entomology, native fauna, etc, @ Organized excursions Jed by nature experts, to places of interest, both near and far. e The maintenance of a large lending library of nature books and magazines, @ The publication monthly of the Vicrerian Naturalist, a well-illustrated nature magazine produced for the general reader as well as the expert, This is issued free to all members. Membership is available to any person interested in nature: IL ts Not necessary to have any specialized knowledge. . Membership Fees for the year 1971 are: | Ordinary members (living within 20 miles of G.P.O. Melbourne)... $7.K | Country members (living over 20 miles from G.P.O., Melbourne) .. $500) Junior members (under 18 years of age) .. .. .. ning! 2 4: $210 Non-members may subscribe to the “Victorian Naturalist” for $5.00. If you are interested in either membership of the club or subscription to the Victorian Naturalist, please complete the appropriate parts of the form on. the reverse side of this leaf and post it to: Honorary Secretary, F.N.C.V., National Herbarium. South Yarra, Victoria 3141. (To be removed) _— ily, “TE was there when they took over — Aborigines, stock, stations ani overyihing™. This was presumably th the depression ol the ‘nineties when many Mortgages were foreclosed and muny stations were tuken over by the finance COMPANles, He left the Balranald distriet lin- ally in about 1896, und has never heen back there since. Perhaps his draving work fell off with the exten- gions tO the railways and the tuke- over of the stutions. He left with his male, Sid Webber, and suys, »We eame to Mildura first, we worked at Mildura garden, Chat- fey Brothers, and after the gardens we uscd to go down into them stations, stock, shearing and one ihing and another, working in the woalsheds”. He iso curned some morey as a professional sideshow boxer, He hid quile @ reputation as 4 boxer, and. for a while was (. member of a well- known (roup, Once he and Sid Web- her took the train from Mildura to Woolelaitgs “and when we go to Woomelang on thar line, We lenve the Ine and go south-west to Hopetoun, Little work in Hopetoun, come down to place culled Beolah, going towards Warracknabeal then, We got work here anal there through farmers and that. feventualy we went inte Antwerp (Ebenezer Moravian Mis- sion), and met some of our peaple and children — mixed children they were, We stayed there unnl we come down to Bordertown and gol Additional 1, Mother sard: mada qindi jiyeagi warlbadi wegada hot you te play (imperatives) Don't go and play a long way off, January, 1971 work there, T left Sid Webber at Bordertown and came on to Tib- linara, and T eventually come down to Twilem Bend, Murray Bridge and ull those places ynd come right into these paris” He jwined up with Sid Webber again and they decided lo try {or work m the Renmark gardens, They went first to Adeluide to the “company office” and then straight up to Ren- mark where they worked lor IWo oF three years. Sid Webber left him and he never saw him again, Prom Ren- mark, Jack Long Went to the soulh- east of South Australia, Arst to Porm MeLeay und then to Point Pearce. and never went buck fir live in Vie- toria, though he travelled up and down the Murray as fat as Boundary Bend, before finally settling to live at Point Peuree. After the Act of (O11 he Says that he had to live at the reserve, though “we could still come and go and didn't bother much, never worried much as long as we had something to do, and plenty food and stuff”. Aboul forty years aga Peter Ban- ney, an old childhood companion and draving mate, stayed for some ume at Point Pearce, working oo the dam wud in the stane quarry. Peter Bon- ney, like Jack Leng, could speak Miadimadi and Dagidagi, This was the fast time that Jack’ Lang spoke his own Janguages wilh a native speaker, Jack Long gave us the following aduitional information on the Madi- madi Janguage: sentences long-way off gima wagada bermilada bunani Straight away comes sneaks evil-spirit Straight away there comes and sneaks about an evil spirit. nagadi gigi buindi see this darkness Look it is getting dark. bunani gawanadin gini buindi evil-spirit follow-will — this darkness The evil spirit will follow this darkness. gagadin, = yinan mangadin qinan giaga-minu grab-will you take-will you altogether It will grab you and take you away altogether. 2. When there was a flood: gadini waiwulada, gewadin qalan, qurgadin jalan water rises overtake-will us swallow-will us The water is rising, it will overtake us and drown us. wigadin. yali gadinan perish-will we water-in We'll perish in the water. bai, pagadi _nini dani gegada, jingadi yindi gegada guragay, hey! see this ground above, go you up sandhill-on Look at this high ground up there, go up to the top of the sandhill. dari gaiu nagadi gima dirilay ground there = see here sky-in Look at that place up there, it’s right up in the sky. nagadi ini didi jingada ganun gadinuy see this animal goes that water-from Look at the animals coming away from the water. bambada puni gima gadinuyn, wuguni bambada fears that-one here water-from, man _ fears Those animals are frightened of the water, and the people too. 16 Vict. Nat. Vol. 88 giadin gini wudwnt: baigadi indi, mangadi~ gujunin, lenin, banemi said this man get-up you, take spear-yours, camp-yours, food One man said: get up, take your spear, your camp and your food. mangadi gima wanabi take here fire take the fire here. nengadin yali gegada, niwi-ma hagiladia banema, winmuru sit-will we above, close-by look-may food-for, — sow-thistle We'll step up there, and you can look for food around there, such as sow- thistles. gadini nengada, bai nuni buigadin water stops oh! this fall-will The water has stopped rising, oh! it will drop soon, mada-ma indi bambadia, winagada ‘alan gini gadini not-indeed you fear-may, leaves us this water Don’t be afraid, the water is leaving us now. bai vyindi wegadi, waribadi, wanjiladi Now! you laugh play sing Now you can laugh and play and sing. ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY AND MORPHOLOGY bai exclamation of surprise and of encouragement. This word shows the characteristic final -ai which is common in exclamations not only in the Kulin languages, but over much of Australia. Cf. Madi- madi gai “hey you”. bed-bed owlet nightjar. This was a bird of ill omen: it brought news of death. While discussing noc- turnal birds Jack Long recalled seeing the night parrot long ago, but he had forgotten its. name in Madimadi. buindada at night. January, 1971 7 huindt —-— duni panagal gan, gewada gUurugt jilelilburi jilelburi (shortened form) “nd waiwulada wawal wegada winmuru 18 night. These are variant forms of the previously recorded Madimadi word buirgada, buiggi. This whole group of Madimadi forms ts cognate with the Djadjala bugunj and Wemberwemba hbuyin “night”, and shows the usual loss of r in Madj- madi, , the wood-pecker or brown tree-creeper. It too was a kind of news-bird; it could understand what people were saying and would repeat jt elsewhere. shrimp. from that one. Like other adverbs of time and place gaiu “over there, not far away” must have corresponded to a demonstrative pronoun: ganuy is the ablative of such a pronoun gain. to overtake, magpie. Cf. Djadjala gurug, Wembawemba guru- lug. a bird “almost the same as the Willie Wagtail (diri-diri),” Probably the restless flycatcher, enclitic particle, used for emphasis, probably very much like the Jodajoda -ma and the Wemba- wemba and Djadjala -min which generally fol- lowed the imperative and adverbs of place; Madi- madi niwi-ma “close by (indeed)" and mada- ma “not (indeed)". (Cf. also the fixed locution madawa “oh don't’ which was previously attested). to rise. This is a variant form for waiwilada “to rise”, and it shows that Madimadi resembled Wembawemba in the optional use of a frequen- tative sufix -v/a alongside -i/ag, particularly when the verbal root ended in a labial consonant (e.g., Wembawemba enbila, gubula “to drink”). night hawk. a long way oft. this plant with edible leaves has now been iden- tified by Jack Long as the “sow-thistle” (a native species of Sonchus"'). Vict, Nat. Vol. 88 LMeRATURE CITED the Royal Australian Historical Sveiety, Vol. XXXVUTL, 1-30. Kenyon, A. S, 1914-1915. “The Hercus, Luise A, 1969, The Lan- 6 Buxton, G. L 1967, The Riverina, gnages of Victoria: A Late Survey, 1861-1891) An Australian Regional Australian Institute of Aboriginal Study, Melbourne University Press, Studies, Canberra, Part [, Ch. 4, Melbourne, 208-209, 248-249, Part I, 323-358. Fennessy, B. V, 1962. “Competitors 1970, “A. Note on with Sheep: Mammal and Bird Madimadi”, Viet, Nat, Feb., 1970, Pests of the Sheep Industry”, in A, 43-47. Batis (es 10m, Simple Fleece, Gale, Fay, 1964, 4 Study of Assi Phen aR ee Press, Mel- milations: Part-Aborigines in South Radcliffe. F. N, ¢ dusiralia, Libraries Board of South Radctiliey Fare. rig ay prvlewht Sa et aan 155-156, (65- Encyclopedia, Vol. 7, 340-347. < ke 4 i 7. K AS, 4.1915 ‘i _ Hereus, L. A, 1969, op, cit., 141- rai Bo STENT OP SE: 142, ' 4 Tindale, Norman B. 1940. “"Dis- 8 sienna os H. 1898. Unpublished tribution of Australian Aboriginal anuseript, Tribes: A. Field Survey”, i Brough Smyth, R, 1878, The Abori- Rov, Soc. S.A. Vol, 64, 192. gines of Victoria, Government : ; Printer, Melbourne, Vol. If, 72. ret L. A. 1969, op, cit, 14+ pelts BE. M. 1887. The Australian . : we, Govern t Printer, s\- Tindale, N, B, 1940, op. cil, 198, bonicnel Vol, iL, 285-289, — Jervis, Jumes. 1952, “The Western 9. Hercus, L. 1969 nit 255 Riverina: A History of Its Develop- " xl ns; BOS ae AL ese ment. Journal and Proceedings of 10, Harrigan, Leo J, 1962, Wietorian Railways ta ‘62, Victorian Ruail- ways, Melbourne, Chs, 14 and 15. and 283-285. Cleland, J. B, 1966 in Aboriginal Man in South and Central Aus» tralia, Adelaide, |3? Story of the Mallee”, The Victorian 11. Historical Magazine, Vol. TV, 23- 86, 57-74, 121-150, 175-200. Index to Victorian Naturalist. An index to the volumes of the Wicrarian Naturalist is being compiled, and advice would be Welcome, if given soon. The compiler would also like help from volunteers who would be willing fo either write clearly on system cards under direction; or check cards done by others; or place cards in order. The writing of cards would be done at home: and if anyone found the work too great, he or she may give it up without causing any inconvenience, Any person interested should ring 81-2147, or write to— Miss K, FE, Hall, 79 Kooyong Koot Road, Hawthorn, 3111 January, 1971 19 The Discovery of the Lizard Genus Carlia (Scincidae: Lygosominae} in Victoria by A. J. Coventry® On 6 Tune, 1970, Mr. P. Robson of ‘Tatong collected two specimens of a scincid lizard near ‘Taminick Gap, in the Warby Ranges west of Wangaratta, Victona, Mr. W, Os- borne subsequently brought one of these specimens tw the National Museum of Victoria (Regd No, D14399), where Wo was identified as Carllaniacconeyt (Ramsay and Ogilby), Since this date, Mr. Robson has kindly donated the second specimen to the National Musewm (D14616), while two additional specimens have been collected from the same area (014563 and DI4576), Another two speeimens have been collected from 4 granite outcrop approximately LO miles north of Albury, N.S.W. (D14636-7), while Mr. Po A, Raw- linson of Latrobe University has donated NSW. specimens from ‘Tarcutts. (1014522-1), 4 miles N-E, of TVarcutta (D14525-6), 10) miles NLE, of Turcutta (D14527), 14 miley N.E. of Tarcutts (914525), 7 miles S. of Lyndhurst (D14530-1), and Coonabarabran (114529). All of these lizards were collected in the vicinity of rocky onterops. The National Museum isa has speci mens from the type locality, Brawl, N.S.W, (1D4152-4), donated by Mr McCovey. The genus Carlia Gay, L845. was removed from the symonymy ot Lei opis Dumeril & Bibron, 1549, by Mittleman, 1952, to conta those species with four fingers and five toes Which had been referred to Leialopigna. Me says: “Dillers essetl- tially foom Leiolapisena as follows: A 20 single well developed frontoparietal, interparietal very small or absenr digits 4-5. Distribution: Malticeas, New Guinea, Australia and Papu, asia’. The only previously published recom of a species referable to this genus ia Victoria appears fa be Lucas & Frest, 1893, when they listed Lelolopismé tetradacrylunt (OShaugh- nessy), with distribution (within Vie- tori) os Brown's Plains and Bama. wartha, (The Nations! Museum has two specimens of paceooey! labelled Letolopisma tetradactyla trom. Vie toria, Rep'd. Nos. D652 and DL723, donated by Mrost, and probably at least part of the material before Lucas & Frost). Both of these localities are within 25 miles of Albury, N.S.W. Lucas & Frost say “Habits! . . . 0 found amongst the grass and herbage ou the dry open plains near the Murray”. “This contrasts with the habicac where recent specimens have heen collected, There is some confusion as to the rekutionship ol — terradaeryla and maccooeyi. Ramsay and Oxilby, 1890, when desenbing pidecoeevi com- mented that dhe two could well be synonyms, and listed seven points in which they differed. They were thil in fefradactyla; \, Vhe head is much turger, 2. The prefronlals wre in con- tact, 3. The frontal ts mueh shorter than the frontepanelil, 4, The seales huve no truve of curination. 5, New enlargernent of the preanils, 4 Shorter tul, aud 7. Dilkerent cplow *Nalirial Muscat uf Wletaria Vict. Nab. Vol. 8B pater, Mr. A. F. Stimson, of the pnitish Museum (Nat. Hist,), has kindly compared the types of the wo txa for me, and comments {pers vomm.), “By direct compart son of the types I have checked jhese differences and most of them appear 10 break down. All three of ou synitypes of maccooeyi have smooth scales and T can only assume (hut Ramsay and Ogilby were misled by the striated colour pattern on some of the scales. The preanal scales are yery slightly enlarged in both species jas in your Specimen), and J can lind no significant difference in colouration, both agreeing with your specimen, although the type of telra- quctyla is a Jittle faded, The largest yf our syntypes of #aecooeyi has the frontal nearly as long as the fronto- parietal compared with a frontal 3 the length of the fronfoparictal in the type of perradacryla. However. in one of the smaller syntypes of mueccooeryi the frontal is Only 70% the length nf the fronteparictal, although it this specimen the minute interparietal is absent. presumably fused with the {rontoparietal, This leaves only two propor- significant differences, the Plate | Carlia HL Cooeyve (Ramsay & Oily) from Taminick Gap, Victorta. IDi4616) Total fength 119 mm. Phorw: rR Retheriam January, 19771 fionally Jarger bead and shorter (ail of terradarryla™. All eleven complete specimens of iiaccooeyi in the National Museum have been measured, and the tal length was found to vary from $2.9 to 65.9% of the total Jength, with a meat of 59,3. Prom the measure- ments quoted by Boulenger, | 887, for the type of rerruducrvla, and by Ram- say and Ogilby for the types of maccoaeyi, the percentage of uril to total length respectively are 33 and 57.3. None of our specimens has @ head as large as thal reported for the type of rerradactyla, From the above, it would seem thal further specimens will prove that the Iwo species ure im fact synonyms, and will be known as Carliq tetra- dactyla (O'Shaughnessy). The discovery of this genus within Victoria raises interesting points on its distribution. With the exception of the species under discussion. Curlia is apparently contined to humid and subhumid tropical or subtropical climates. Storr, 1464, says that ir has spread south and west from the well- watered northern and eastern fringes of the continent. inte subhumid and semi atid hubitats. In Western Aus: tral (Storr, pers, comm.) this genus is rare south of the Kintberleys. Cogger, 1967, says that Carlia ts most plenuful in northern Australia, and hat munda is found in New South Wales and Queensland. Keasi, 1962, draws attention to the distribution of four-fingered Leiolopisma species, and vives distribution maps of the Aus tralian species, Mitchell, 1953, gave localities of all specimens of four fingered Leiolopisma which he had seen, and fisted a specimen from Dubbo, N.S,W, Apart front the record hy Lucas & Frost. this ts the southernmost record of the genus which T have been able ty locate. Acknowledgements: I thank Mr. Robson for drawing aliention to this species in Vic loria, Mr, Rawlinson for donating his collection of ©, muaceapeyi ta the National Museum, assisting with field work, and reading the manuscriyy, Miss J, M, Dixon of the Nations) Museunt for reading the Manuseriyy, und Mr. &, R. Rotherham fer phow, araphy, Rp pReseks Boulenger, G, A, 1887. Cat. Lizards the British Museum, ii, p. 288 Coneer, H. G,, 1967. Austritiin Reptile in Colour. p, 66, Keast, A,, 1962. In Leeper, OW, The fivolution of Living Organisms. Me bourne Universily Press. p. 402. Lucas, A. HOS, & Prost ©, (894, The Lizards Indigenous 1a Victoria. Proc Roy, Soe, Wier tz: 79-80, Mitchell, F, J, (953. A Briet Revision of the Pour-Pingered Menrbers of the Genus Lerolapisynd CLavertilia) Ree S. Aust. Mus. 11) 75-90L Mittleman, M. By 1952, A) Gener Synopsis of the Livurd+ of the Sub family Lygosemmnac Sridi Mise Coll WAT: 135. Ramsay, IE. P, & Opgilby, J- D.. [89h Re-descriptian of an Australian Skink, Rec. Aust Mas. 1s 8-9, Storr, G, M., 1964, Some aspects of the geoxraphy of Australian Reptiles Senck, bred, A8$ 357-58 nn F.N.C.V. PUBLICATIONS AVATLABLE FOR PURCHASE FERNS OF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA, by N. A. Wakefield, The 116 species known and described, and illustrated by fine drawings, and 30 photographs. Price 75c. VICTORIAN TOADSTOOLS AND MUSHROOMS, by J. TL. Willis. This describes 120 toadstool species and many other fungi, There are four coloured plates wnd 31 other illustrations, New edition. Price 90c. THE VEGETATION OF WYPERFELD NATIONAL PARK, by J. R, Garnet. Coloured frontispiece, 23 halftone, 100 line drawings of plants and a map. Price $1.50. Address orders and inquiries to Sples Officer, F.N.C.V.. National Herbarium, South Yarra, Victoria. Payments should include postage (1c on single copy). i Flowers and Plants of Victoria in Colour Copies of this excellent book are still available, and of course would mike a wonderful gift. They are obtainable from the P.N.C.V, Treasurer, Mr, Dy. Melnncs ? Viel. Nat, Vol, 88 Winter Collection by JC. Le Sover Although winter months are not ihe generally accepted time of the year for collecting in the tropical north of Australia, there are always specimens to be taken Which are worth recording, With variations in seusonal conditions from year to Fruit A new experience to me was the tuking of a number of species of moths feeding on fruit near Cairns iv June last. While waiting for in- sects lo be attracted to the mercury vapor light at The Intake, T noticed a large moth flying to a small guava year the roadside. Closer investiga- tion showed that ft was feeding on one of the ripe fruits on the trce. Searching further with u torch, | was surprised to find a number of moths feeding on ripe fruit in the scrub. A sidelight was that there were Two species of bats feeding on fhe moths und a large python probably preying on the bats. The following is a list of the moths taken, the nomenclature being that of similar specimens in the National Museum, Melbourne. Mecodina semaphora Lower Mecodina pravcipua Walker. Corcthrabela melanaphaes Vurner Achtea janata Linnaeus lychvja porphyria Turner Erehneia evilard Crampton Cosmophila erosa Hubner Caymophily tatinuarga Walker January, 1971 year, it Would seem that at least the insect fauia in a given locality at the same date differs each year. One ot the great attractions of field ento- mology is that one is never quite sure What is gome to furn up. Moths Phylladey mertéeer Olitte Ophideres tyrannus Crampton Nyctipaa dentifascia Walker. New Locality for Trapezites macqueeni Kerr and Sands This recently deseribed buttertly, originally taken from the Mareeba area of the Atherton Tableland, was recorded from Musgrave. It was taken in open eucalypt forest coun- try with short grasses and occasional small flowering plants. Noticing Pimelea (akin to humilis) in flower neur the road, [ stopped to look for Trapezites skippers as one does in Victoria. | was not disappointed with the taking of this specimen feeding oo a foot high blue flowering plant. The first specimen of the Family Hesperiidae, the Skippers. was taken by Banks at Cooktown during his sojourn there. It was of great interest to take a specimen of this species, Trapezites lacchus (Fab.), al almost the same date and probably in the same locality, two hundreds years later. All the other species taken by Banks at this time afe still to be found ity the vicinity of Cooktown. 23 General Collecting and Observing As a centre for the study of a To the south towards Daintree i, wide variety of wildlife, Cooktown the magnificent rain forest vf the is without peer, Within a few miles Bloomticld River while to the north of the town there is rain forest, the — P&st the acrodrome is the Melvo; formal open eucalypt forest of the River country With its surprising north, large tructs of mangroves, both patches of “wallum™ communitics: of Banksias, Gahnias and Nanthorrhovys sandy und rocky shore lines, a8 Well cheek by jowl with tropical veger- as a good coral reef easily reached jion, Cooktown is also the jumpin by foot, although it is a bil further off place for roads to the BY ik afield being some cighteen niles from northern selilements and the Cape the town, iself, The main object of this visit was exceed thirty-live with many hours to again look for the rare Virachola searching and no sign of Virachulo democles (Misk), one specimen Of at all, With these diferent conditions, which L took in 1964. On that occa wo other rather fare species made sion there had heen a “normal” wet season with forty-one species noted ee i if ~~ ina small sunny gully. These were titira wildel wildet (Misk.) the Small seen in a half hour of very active Oak Blue. and Hypochryxops poly flight at midday, But this year with cles revena Deuce the Roveng 4 much drier season the number of Jewel, neither of Which we had seen species noted would probably not here before at this lime. their appearance, “They were Narw- ’ * , During this last visit. twelve species camped on ihe Hann River sever of snakes Were taken, and other rep- days apirt, Here wnaplognathus, tiles seen. There were fewer beetles scarabs, dyliscids and a number ot on the wing than usual, Several were inicrocoleoptera as Well us other taken south of the Archer River, i tsects, small and large, came to the few at Coen: but there were two dif- — light, Most of these have gone to the ferent emergences on the might we National Museum Colleetion, r . . Each year there is a re-enactment lation it Was able to produce a cast of the landing of Captam Cook on able ta take the parts of Cook 18 June, but this being the bi- Banks, Solander. Parkinson and 4 centenary year, there were week-lolg number of others with the help ot celebrations with # re-enueuneni the Liade! Dancers fram Mornington each morning depicting the events of Island. This fascinating show, with that particular day two centuries able commentary, was indeed a benus ago. It is of great eredit fo Cook- to the pleasure a visit to Cooktown town that with ils very small popu- always brings. 24 Viet Nat. Vol. 88 Field Naturalists General Meeting 14 December, 1970. The final General Meeting al the year was well attended by approximately LIU quemnbers 1nd guests, whe were welcomed py the President, Mr. T. Sault, Guest speaker for the evening was Mr. Joh) MeNally, Director of the National Museum’ of Victor, whose subject, “Muse logy TU, proved aq most interest ing and unusual one. Mr, McNally chawed an excellent selection of slides \lustrating buildings, layouts and cone ‘ents of muscums which he had visitud sa recent workl tour. Combined with an informative commentary, the subject was covered 1 a Most comprehensive manier Ancient and modem concepts of musctims were shown in England, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Canada, is\ and Mekwo, Mr MeNally said that the role of museums varied aevord- jig to type and status but wll were con- cerned with dhe storage ul collections, rescatelt and education, Lhere were new eas af what eanstituted @ museum, for aumple Disneyland in Las Angeles, the Viking Ship and Marine Museum in Sovkholm and the Cruggenheim Muiseunt pl Medern Art in New York. Countncs wh as Greece and Mexico hud pre- aived ther apiiquifes as museums and foe csamples ware shown, panicubirly se Agtee and Mayan crvilisatians of Mesicuy Mr. ‘{ Sanit thapked Mr McNally snd said the cluk appreciated the talk, as was a subpeet cil much interest ty all, hot knowledge was oot easily available, Aq Iuonorary Members Certificate was presented to Mr. | Hammett. who eid that he was honoured o receive it fom a clwb which had kept Wim ine jeested for over 40 years, ' The President said assistance was still ryuired with the colleelien af mon mune mollusca and wrged members to he on the Jookout fer specinmens while on holidays. Me also spoke af a recently weated reserve at Balnarting where sickle greenhands (Prerostyliy fulcatal wav flowering profusely and of the sight ing of & placy pues in Ue river ar Werrihee Lure by members af the Creology ox cirsien on 13 December. Mr, Sault ed a Curmor of Blocks was necded. as fe storage problem al the Herhanun nas hecormune celtrest January, 1971 Club of Victoria Correspondence tabled by the Scere- tary covered the following items: A reply from Lysaghts Ld. to a letter secking help to conserve an area tear thicir property at Tyabb, where the New Holland mouse was diseovered, They expressed jnterest atid requested Purther detuils af the area concerned. As a resull of & letler from Mr. N. Wakeficld, a letter was sent to the Minis- ter Of Environmental Protection in West Australia requesting consideration for the conservation of the district in which the numbat is found. Proposed development is regarded as a Uhreal to this rare any mals habitat From the Secretary of the Mucedon Range Conservation Society, a report of the revent koala survey (20) koalas sighted) and a letter of thanks Lor assist- ance rendered by members, Pyhibits; A. J. Swabyv—Oreen Kanparoo Pay (Anivosuntius flavida, Blue Daisy (Lugenophara sripiian), Praia 2 spp LOL-PI (Evgenia seni} var. form), Melaleuca (MW. fivperietfalia), Qld Bleed- we Heart Vree (Mematernihes popill- follas), Liverwort (Marelinia spp Mazus 1M. parnilio), R. Riordan—Stick Insect (Crenamiorplia murein(penals) Mrs. Bennetl-Cup Moth Curterprllar. sinypley of silk and cocoons supplicd by the Japayese Embassy. A Parker-'Bullseve" agates fram Victoria River, Wave Hill. N.T. Mrs. North Glass Spunge () Mrs. Woollard--Red Kangaroo Paw (oh, riefal) Mrs K. Meehan- -Galls on Ejlli-Pilli, K, Strong—tialls on Black Wattle Flower Spider under suvroscope, P_ Curlis -Callistemon flowers show- ing fasciation, Ur, Beadnell Case Math, Asitonomy Churt. lL. Bammett Eremaca (B- violucue) Melalewea (M_ fifolin & ML conlalal ), Ros Camet—Cullectton of Cone Shells From Barner Reef near ‘Lowns- ville {1 Camwron Cluster! Everlasting (Helichrysum seenipappesmn, web. of moth Larvae on Boneseed. 25 V.N.C.V. DIARY OF COMING EVENTS GENERAL MEETINGS Notice is given of an Extra-ordinary Meeting to precede the February Gener Meeting. It is to consider the application from the Mid-Murray Field Naturalis, Trust for affiliation, Monday, 11 January-—Al National Herbarium, The Domain, South Yarra, commencing at 8 p.m. “a 1. Minutes, Reports, Announcements. nw Nature Notes and Exhibits. 3. Subject for the evening ~ Members’ Night. 4. General Business. 5, Correspondence, Monday, 8 February — Mr. J. H. Willis; “New Guinea, Scenic and Biotic Wonderland”. | GROUP MEETINGS (8 p.m. at National Herbarium unless otherwise stated) Wednesday, 20 January — Microscopical Group, Wednesday, 3 February — Geology Group, Thursday, 11 February — Botany Group, F.N.C.V. EXCURSIONS Sunday, 17 January — Marysville. The coach will leave Batman Avenue at 9.30 am Fare $2.00, bookings with excursion secretary, Bring two meals. GEOLOGY GROUP EXCURSIONS | Sunday, 7 February — Maribyrnong River Terraces—upstream from railway bridge Albion-Broadmeadows Line. Leader: Mr. D, McInnes. Sunday, 14 March — To Bulla-Deep Creek Gorge. Transport by private car. Spare seats are usually available for those without their own transport. Excursion leave from the western end of Flinders Street Station, opposite the C.T.A Building at 9.30 a.m. No excursion is planned for January, 1971. 26 Vict. Nat. Vol, 88 AVAILABLE NOW! The Wild Flowers of the Wilson’s Promontory National Park by J. Ros. Garnet This is the publication which we have been eagerly awaiting PRICE: $5.25 Members are entitled to discount Contact local Secretary or write direct to Book Sales Officer Mr, B. FUHRER 25 Sunhill Avenue North Ringwood, 3134 Postage; 20 cents ENTOMOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT Butterfly nets, pins, store-boxes, ¢tc. We are direct importers and manufacturers, and specialise in Mail Orders (write for free price list) AUSTRALIAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SUPPLIES 14 Chisholm St., Greenwich Sydney 2065 Phone: 43 3972 | 20,000 lines per inch, $29.50. | Genery’s Scientific Equipment Supply 183 Little Collins Street Melbourne one door from Russell Street) Phone 63 2160 Microscopical slains and mountants, Magnilying lenses and insect nets. Excellent student powers from 40X with resolution: microscope to 300X Standard laboratory equipment, experi- mental lens set, etc. January, 1971 27 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Established 1880 OBJECTS: To stimulate interest in natural history and to preserve and protect Australian fauna and flora. Patron; His Excellency Major-General Sir ROHAN DELACOMBE, K,B.E., C.B., DSO Key Office-Bearers, 1970/71 President: Mr. T, SAULT Vice-Presidents: Mr. J. H. WILLIS; Mr. P. CURLIS Hon. Secretary: Mc, D. LBB, 15 Springvale Road, Springvale (546 7724). Hon. Treasurer & Subscription Secretary: Mr. D. B. MelINNES, 129° Waverley Road, East Malvern 3145 Hon, Editor: Mr. G. M. WARD, 54 St. James Road, Heidelberg 3084, Hon. Librarians Mr. P. KELLY, c/o National Herbarium. The Domain, South Yarra 3141. Hon, Excursion Secretary: Miss M. ALLENDER, 19 Hawthorn Avenue, Caulfiell 3161. = (52.2749), Magazine Sales Officer: Mr. B. FUHRER, 25 Sunhill Ay., North Ringwood, 3134 Group Secretaries: Botany; Mrs, R, WEBB-WARE, 29 The Righi, South Yarra (26 1079) Microscopical: Mr. M. H. MEYER, 36 Milroy Street, East Brighton (96 3268), Mammal Surveys Mr. P, HOMAN, 40 Howard Street, Reservo 3073. Entomology and Marine Biology: Mr. J. W. H. STRONG, Plat 11, “Palm Court’, 1160 Dandenong Rd., Murrumbeena 3163 (S6 2271). Geology: Mr. T. SAULT. MEMBERSHIP Membership of the F.N.C.V. is open to any person interested in natural history. The Vierorian Naturalist is distributed free to all members, the club's reference and lending library is available, and other activities ure indicated in reports set oul in the several preceding pages of this magazine. Rates of Subscriptions for 1971 Ordinary Members Country Members Joint Members . “> ' . Junior Members ...... 4 Sa . - Junior Members receiving Viet. Nat. Subscribers to Vict. Nat. : AMiated Sacieties - 4 = a, Life Membership (reducing offer 20 years} —. ..- = The cost of individual copies of the Vict. Nat. will be 45 cents. All subscriptions should be mode payable fo the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, and postes to the Subscription Secretary- @ JENKIN, BUXTON & CO. PTY, LTD., PRINTERS, WEST MELEQURNE { Pe | tlIq Vé 9 ol. 88, No. 2 FEBRUARY, 1971 et Published by the FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA In which is incorporated the Microscopical Society of Victoria Registered in Australia for transmission by post as a periodical. Category “A” ee. ee P.N.C.V. DIARY OF COMING EVENTS GENERAL MEETINGS Monday, 8 February- At National Herbarium, ‘The Domam, South Yarra, gy 8 pants to be preceded by ain Bxtrivordinary Meeting at 7.55 punt. tO Covsider the Affiliation of the Mid-Murray Field Naturalists ‘Prust, |. Minutes, Reports, Announcements, 2. Nature Notes and Exhibits, 3, Subject for the evening — "New Guinea, Scene and Biotic Wonderhind’ Mr. J. HW, Willts. 4, New Members. Ordinary) Miss Cataline Davy, 240 Bhat Rd), Sandringhani, AVL, (Literests—Marrimal Survey ang Marine Biology) . Mr. Geoffrey A, Christopher, 21 Madden St, Neb, Malwyr, SLM interest Spiders.) Mi. Andrew HWaffenden, SL Grosvenor St. Bilachiva, 3143, (Untyrestee-Reptiles, Mare thats, Beetles. Geolmey ) Mr. Peter Charles Wiliams, SC Sulltertand Ray, Armadale, S144 (inte rest)—Marritnal Birds, Reptiles, Plans.) : Mis, 4 Burleigh, 7 Lawes Sty Fo Urighion, 4187 Unteresieo—Borny, Geology, Phiten grequiy.) Mins Surah Wetvel, 50 Williamson Rd... Maribyrnong, 3032, (interes! —Patomalopy } Mi doar Simunonds. Plat |, 233 Orrong Ka, Bast St Kite, SISA (interests) Botany lire, ." bag Te Teevers, 1S Dempster Ave. North Witleytt 3104, Hioterexty Botany, Marine ology.) Mr a JR. Usborne, 38 Moushall Ave Niddrie, $042. TTnterests— Maniiniat Survey, crn . Mi, Ala TMeCathim. #) Foulds Court, Montrose. Mind. (ltitereste Animal Navigation and Migration) Miss No Wisin, 4/13 Lintithmaw Ave. Sth Caullield Chntupewle-Botany } Mrs, Andrey Geyson, 6X Morris Rd, Upwey, 3158 Unterest General | Mr C Randell Chamoion, PO Bax 70, Pant Metlunirne, ED Mr Ross Unulton, Hox 34, Heidelberg, 3094, Miss Margaret MeKenvic, 75 Wellairs Ave., Yarraville, 3013. (ntereste Binds, Grotugy Miss Misian Ukvabeth Upton, 5/4 Gordon Grove, South Yarra, ql) Mr. Alberto Colonna, Rox 2666X% G.P.O., Melbourne, yoo Mrs. Jeati Yourn, Ll Acheron Ave. Camberwell, 4124, Country, Mr. Henry Sulikbury, Blivaheit Ave), Portyes, 344 §, General Business, 6, Correspondence, Wednesday, 10 Mareh — Annual Mectins and election of Council Members and Officebearers. EN.CYV, EXCURSIONS Surday, 21 February—Geelong-Anglesea, Marine Biology and general. Leader Mr. J, Strong. The couch will leave Batman Avenue af 9.30 am, Fare $2.0) Bring two meals. PRELIMINARY Novices Easter, Friday, 9 April» Monday, 12 April—Hamilton. Accommodation has heen hooked and a crmach chartered for this excursion, Pare $12.00 to be paid when hooking. Accommodation $7.75 daily D.. B. & B. to be patd individually. GROUP MEETINGS (8 pm. at National Herbarium: unless otherwise stated | Thursday, 11 February—Botany Group. Mrs. M. Cortrick will speak on “Plants of the Victoria Range”. Wednesday, 17 February—Microscopical Group, Friday, 26 February—Junior meeting at 8 pam. ar Hawthorn Town Hall. Monday, 1 March—Entomology and Marine Biology Group meeting at National Museum in small room next to theatretie at 8 p.m. Wednesday, 3 March—Geology Group, Thursday, 4 March—Mammual Survey Group mecting al & p.m. in Arthur Rylah Research Institute, Heidelberg, Friday, 5 March—Junior mecting ul 8 p.m, at Rechahite Hall, 281 High St.. Preston, General meetings in March, April and June will be on the second Wednesday instead of second Monday because of Public Hohdays. 30 Viet. Nat. Vol 88 — The Victorian Naturalist Editor: G. M. Ward Assistant Editor: E. King Vol. 88, No. 2 3 February, 1971 CONTENTS Articles: Studies of an Island Population of Rattus fuscipes. By R. P. Hobbs 32 Notes on the Small Black Wallaroo Macropus bernardus (Rothschild, 1904) of Arnhem Land. By S. A. Parker 4] Naturalists in Bass Strait. By A. H. Chisholm 43 Victorian Non-marine Molluscs — 3. By Brian J. Smith 45 Obituary: A Tribute to Noel F. Learmonth 39 Book Review: A Guide to the Native Mammals of Australia 46 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: Reports 50 Diary of Coming Events 30 Front Cover: John Wallis photographed this fine study of Tachyglossus aculeata, the Echidna, February, 1971 31 Studies of an Island Population of Rattus fuscipes by R, P. Horns Very little is yet Known about the vcology of the small mammals on the islands of Bass Strat, Some islands maintain only a population of rabbits while others support mative species. Two species of small mam- mals inhabit Greater Glennie Island: the murid rodent Rertus /useipes wnd the dasyurid Antechinus — miititnics mantis, In December 1967, the Monash University Biological Society began a study of R. fuseipey which had four hasie aims:— 1. To compare the morphological characteristics with those of two mainland populations of R. /is- Cipes. 2, To establish the density of the population and to compare it with that normally occurring on the maintand. 3, To determine the effect of the high population density ou honte range. 4, To establish the age structure of the population with a view fo finding out when the breeding season Was, VEGETATION The majority of the trapping area was covered in low scrub, varying from two to six feet in height and forming a dense canopy. the ground cover in this area was nol very dense but was composed of decaying pliant material. “This was quite dry in the summer. Interspersed among the scrub were patches of tussock grass. The south-western section of the trapping area was at a higher eleva- 32 tion, The vegetation there Was Cysu. aring. In this section the pron cover was also light. ToWard ihe lower section in the porthewest of the trapping area, were exposed rocky patches with a mixed cover of tussock grass, low serub ald some pig-face succulent, ‘The western section was exposed to strong winds carrying salt spray However, only the extreme Westen irapping stations could be affected by this as the scrub formed such a conse canopy. Meriops The trapping area lor estimation of population density and home range was 3.6 acres (14,600 square metres) Fighty trapping stations were marked out, in ten rows of eight, cach station being fifty feet distant from ils nearest neighbour, Vhe traps used were sitmilar To National collapsible cage — traps, Twenty (raps were used each trapping night and were distributed over the grid in three different ways;— 1, The traps were evenly buted, cach being two. stations distant from the next. Every night, they were rotated so that after four successive nights, ull stations hod been trapped. 2. One quarter of the grid was trapped in u block. The traps wers shified as a block sO ‘at al stations had been trapped in four nights, 3. Random cumbers were choses! each night. distr Vict Nat Vel 8A Rats were transferred from the trap to 2 polythene hag in which they were angesthetised with ether, While in the bay, they were weighed. They were then ear-tagged with Monel (ingerling lags. Afler recovery, they were released. ywenty-one rats. trapped away from the grid, were killed in order jo obtain skins and skulls, Body measurements of these were alsa wade. Twenty skulls collected at Nogjee in Gippsland, by Mr. R. M, Warneke of the Fisheries and Wild- life Department, were measured and compared with the measurements of the skulls of the island population. Another ten skulls loaned by the National Museum of Victoria, col- fected at Portland, Western Vic- juria, Were also measured and com- pared with the Glennie population Two live tals, one of each sex, were removed from the island to be used in breeding experiments. but in fact they never bred in captivity, for musols unknown, RESULIS 1, Density extimales The trapping programme was de- signed for estimation of home range and populition density, Trap sue- cess Was calculated by dividing the total nuruber of rats caught by the number of traps set and expressing this as a percentage. Any trap which was found empty, with the — bait removed, Was nol counted as a sel trap, Any trap found sprung, with the bait still inside was counted as half a set trap, because it would probably have been Open, on the average, for half a night, Traps con- taming other species were not counted as set traps. Thus; 100N lrap success = T—feht ty] N = total individuals caught, T = total [raps set, au = traps found without bait, bh = traps with other species, ¢ = empty traps, sprung, with bait inside, By this method, the overall trap success for the 1967-1968 period was 101%, In some cases, two rats were found in a trap. The trap success Was so high ta each period that it could not be used as a method of deter- mining population density changes. The population density was cal- culated by a method outlined in Ehethardt (1969). The formula used is giver. below. ris-l). where N “population size s=total captures. retotal individuals caught. The fitst estimate (See Table 1) wis made using data collected over only three nights. This resulted in an inaccurate estimation because (s-F) is small. Consequently, a small error in (s—f) results in a large error in N. The estimates for later periods are probably more rehable. ‘ s-l Taste tL. Population density, Dete Number captured Estimated — | Individuals L M EF 1 Juv populition size] per acre December 19A7 70 18 1 216 UI lanuary 1968 au 48 14 02 25 ehmiary LISS 18 4% a 07 27 (early) Febfuary 1968 32 25 (7 21 33 (lure) Devemher 19n8 3 1k 6 "2 25 Fobruary, 1971 33 2. Home range Home range is here defined as the area encompassed by the trap sites of capture, Each trap site, as the basis of tabulating home range, was a square of sides 50 fect, or an area of 2,500 square feet. Home range TABLE was estimated by multiplying — thi, area by the number of trap sitey within the area of capture. Only those rats which were trapped nine or more times were used in this estimation, The results are shown jy Table 2. 9 os Home range. lag number Sex | Number capts.| Number sites |Home 806 $12 RI3 817 825 838 n44 — ant me Mowe zentans 844 4.170 6,110 2,780 4.170 3,060 1,390 ee i a 3. Comparisons of morphological features, (a) Sex differences. Body measurements of males of the island population were compared to those of females by means of a TABLE “Student’s t-test’, As is shown in Table 3, a difference was found only in body weight. Skull measurements were compared in the same manner, There were no significant differences between sexes for all skull measure- ments taken. 3. Body measurements of tsland population. Mean Result Female Male Weight (gms.) 189.6 213.4 Difference at 5% level of significance Head-body 174.4 178.0 No significant difference. length (mm.) Tail length 181.2 186.9 i (mim.) Hind-foot 37.9 37.4 ” length (mm.) Ear length 24.1 23.4 (mm.) (b) Comparison of skull measure- ments used are shown in the dia- ments between Glennie, Gipps- land and Portland populations. The results of a statistical com- parison of skull measurements are shown in Table 4. Skull measure- 34 gram. Since the Glennie population has larger skulls than the other two populations, a similar comparison of some ratios of skull measurements was made. This is summarised in Table 5, Vict. Nat. Vol. 88 Wilson's 6 Promy, Nat. Park 8 Glennie Group & - LOCALITY jygomatie wdth Cranium width Int -parietal . nba 7PseV/ Nasal A—Inter- parietal i . woe Sth 6-— Inter- orbital width porRsAn View of skull February, 1971 Study Area Greater Glennie é i PLAN Ae GLENNIE GROUP & 3 Oo as ° 3 2. tre ms ° 4 ' me — a nm yw we es oo [= - - - ri J ” v4 Sor ro > me c— Palatal foramen fae VENTRAL VIEW of skull 35 TaBie 4, Skull measurements. Lengths of Comparison with Glennie level of significance, population Mean ~ —_—_———. in mm, Gippsland | Portland Range population | population 1. Total length 40,0 - 44.9 42.24 larger 1% larger 1% 2. Condylo-basal length 38,7 - 43.2 40.74 >» %I% * LK 3. Basal length 36.4-41.1 38,39 ip ©% so hh 4, Zygomatic width 20.7 - 23.2 21.78 » 1% 1% 5. Inter-orbital width 62- 69 6.49 . 1% » 1% 6. Inter-parietal length 10,8 - 12.3 11.66 » 1% A 1% 7. Inter-parictal width 4.7- 5.9 5.34 » «=6L% ‘ 1% 8. Cranium width 16.1 - 17.5 16.73 ny Ts 1% 9. Nasal length 16.3 - 18.8 17.43 i «= : 1% 10. Nasal width 46- 52 | 4.94 6% 1% 11. Palatal length 21.7 - 24.0 22.73 as 1% 1% 12. Palatal foramen length 7.2- 8.2 7.76 no sig. dif, 1) le 13. Palatal foramen width 2.7- 3.4 1 3.02 larger 1% aie We, 14. Width inside M1-M1 4.0- 4,9 4,36 gq 1% w 4% 15, Width outside MI-M1 8.3- 9.7 8.83 si 1% 1 %, 16. Bulla length 63- 7.0 6.67 no. signif, no signif, difference difference 17. Length of crowns M1-M3 6.0 3 6.92 larger 1% larger 1% 18. Length of alveoli MI-M3 7.7- 89 8.29 i 1% a l® 19, Length of crowns M1-M2 5.2- 6.0 5.60 me TK » =1% 20. Incisor width (each) L4- 1.6 1.46 1% » 1% TABLE 5, Ratios of skull measurements. Means Result Ratio : = s Glennie | Gipps Portld, | Gl-Gi | Gl-Por 1. Zyg. wid./tot. leng. 0.516 0.510 0.51] NSD* | NSD 2. Inter-pariet, leng./tot. leng. 0,267 0.251 0.273 1% NSD 3. Cranium wid./ tot, leng. 0.396 0,402 0.420. NSD 1% 4. Nas. leng./tot. leng, 0.412 0.368 0.381 1% 1% §. Palatal leng./tot. leng. 0.538 0.543 ().524 NSD 1% 6, Inter-par. leng./Inter-par, wid. 2.191 2.192 2.284 NSD NSD 7. Nas. leng./nas. wid. 3.522 3.364 3.308 1% 1% 8. Pal. foram, leng,/pal. foram wid.| 2.572 | 3.417 2.725 1% NSD ano significant difference 36 Vict. Nat. Vol. 88 The results lend to show that the nwo mainland populations are more gmilac to each other than to the Glennie populution, Also, the Glen- pic population does not appear to have more affinities with one main- jand population than the other. 4 Breeding season Only one juvenile animal was rapped in December 1967. (See fable 1.) Many were crapped in January L9GRL bul only one new juvenile was tripped in late Febru- ary, Muting must therefore take place from Navember to late December, lowing a gestation periad of 2] days und a weaning period of four weeks. A nore detailed study of the reproductive conditiog of the rats by Mr, R. M. Wamreke during the perlod 27 Seprember to 3 October (968 indicated that the breeding sexsan Was about to begin, Pour vnimals which were matule in January 1968 were sull alive in December 1968. Et is not known if any animals live any longer than Iwo years, CONETUSIONS AND DISt USSTION ‘There hay recently been a revision of Rati species in Australia, based on efoss breeding experiments. Hor- ner and Taylor. 1965), The populi- lion of rats in Pertland was once revarded as a sepirale Species trom the Gippsland population. the former being called Ro grevi, and the latter R, asstiniis, These two species, and a Westem Australian species called R, fuveloes have now been grouped togelher ws the one species R. fiiy- vipes. Was almost certain that the ropulation on Greater Glennie Island can he aseribedd ly the species &, lucipey, nh spite of dhe oarphe- lavical differences here dleserbed, 1 would be unreghsne ac this stage to cull fhe Glennie ral a mew sub- spewes, As ws seen itt Tables 4 and Februury, 1971 $, there are not many morphological differences heiween the Glennie, Gippsland and Portland populations. The most striking difference is the large overall size of the Glennie population. Vhis is of interest as it scems tO be a common feature of island races of small mammuls to be of large size. (Corbet, 1963), The Glennie population alse has rela- lively longer nasal bones, bul few other siznificant differences exist. The density of the population 1s yery much higher than is normally found on the mainland, One source (Wuarneke. unpublished) quores a figure of 4,8 individuals per acre. The high density on Glennie may be due to all or any of a number of factors, There is a peneral Jack of predators on the island, Natural pre- dators on the ntainkind, but absent on Glennig, include snakes and many species of predatory birds. There are some predatory birds Crom the main- land feeding on Glennie, but very few anhubit the island, due tw a shorlage of suifible esting sites, Other predators absent on Glennic are feral cats, ad foxes. The intro- duction of these to the mainland may haye had considerable effect on the small mammal fauna of Australia, Greater Glennie Island does meat support a rabbit popalation, Alihough it iS Mot suggested that cdireer cont petition takes plice, rabbits have seriously affected the tatural hatritat on other Bass Strait islands. [ft appears, fram the little informa- fiom on home range obtained, that there is no appreeble chiference from thet occurring in less dense ropuladons. the skulls and skins which were collected from the island i Devcem- fer 1967, have been deposited in the museum of the Department of Zoo- Jovy anal Compirative Physialogy. Monash Urtiversity, Melbourne. 37 SUMMARY The density of the population of R. fuscipey on Greater Glennie Island is approximately 30 rats/ucre, which is unusually high compared with populations elsewhere. Size of home range does not seem to be affected by this. By comparing skull measurements with those of two separate populs. lions on the mainland, it was. found (hat the Glennie population is yer) probably R, fuseipes. Tables of sku and body measurements of the islan population are given. The breeding season ts carly sum. mer, and individuals were observed to live for two years. Acknowledgements The author Wishes to thank Dr. D. F. Dorward of the Depariment of Zoology and Comparative Physio- logy, Monash University, for his encouragement, assistance, and help- ful criticism. Thanks are also due Lo the many members of the Monash University Biological Society, why collected the field data, and to Mp R. M, Warneke of the Fisheries ani Wildlife Department, Victoria — fur most of the mainland skulls, and for his repotting of some of our marked wiimals vtrapped, REFERENCES Corbet, G. B. (1961). Origii of the British insular races of small mam- mals wnd of the “Lusitania” fauna. Nature, Lond., /9/, 1037, Corbet, G. B, (1963). An isolated popu: lation of the bank-vole Clethrionomys alareolus with aberrent dental pat- tern. Proc. zool. Soc, Lond. /40, 316. Corbet, GB, (1964), Regional varia- ton in the bank-vole Clerhrianomys vlarvalus in the British Isles, Proc. rool, Soc. Lond., /43, 191, Eberhardt, L. Lb, (1969). Population estimates [rom recapture frequencies. J}, Wildl. Mgnt. 3% (1), 28-39. Green, R, Ho (1967). The murids and small dasvurids jp Tasmania. Pie. 1 & 2 Reeords of the Museum, 28, Green, R. Ho (1968), The murids and small dasytirids in Tasmania. Pts, 4 & 4. Records of the Queen Victoriy Museum, #2. Horner, B, Blizabeth & Taylor, J. Mary (1965). Systematic relationships among Rains in southern Australia: Evi- Queen Victoria dence from cross breeding exper- ments. C.S.LR.0O, Wildl Res. 1! 1O1-9. Tate. G. Ho H. (1936). Muridae of fhe Indo-Australia region. Bull. Amer Mus, Nat, ist. 72. 501-728. Warneke, RM, (unpublished) Lily history and ecology of Rattns ja milis, GEOLOGY GROUP EXCURSIONS Sunday, 14 March—Deep Creek Gorge, Bulla Leaders Mr George Carls Transport is by private car. Spare seats are usually avarlable for those within! their own transport. Excursions leave from the western end of Flinglers Sires! Station, opposite the CLT.A, Building, at 9.90 aan 38 Vict. Nat. Yel, #8 A TRIBUTE TO NOEL F. LEARMONTH The death of Nocl F. Learmonth, which aceutred at Portland on 9 September, 1970 at the age of 90, fas tefl a very big gap in the ranks of Field Naturalists, Conservalionists and Historians. In those YO years Noel established jevions of friends and admirers, and he amassed a knowledge of the his- wry aad natural history of the south- west of Vietoria, Which is unsur- pussed. Noel Fulford Learmonth wis born al Ettrick, near Portland, in the far south-west of Victoria, His furmily urrived shortly after the Hentys, and his grandfather was the first Mayor of Portland. Noel attended Geelong Grammar School from 1895 to 1898, and maintained his connection with jis nld school right to the last. On leaving school his first work was with a Government survey team sent out Lo survey the Jast connect- ing rail link with Mildura, Novl was the Jast surviving member of this teum. Their experiences in this use- less and wlmost desert county, as it was considered then, ire well told in his latest hook Four Towny and a“ Survey. Next he was private secretary to ite Minister for Lands, M, K. Mc- Kenzie, and about 1905 selected fand i Queensland. After a auniber of yeurs he left this property, because of the prickly peur menace, and returned to Tyrundarra where he and his wife made their home at “Carre mar’ In L951 they retirest to live in Portlated, Noel Learmonth wrote extensively, February, 1971 Por many years he was a contribu to “The Bulletin’, writing under the name of “Leo”, He contributed nature notes to the “Portland Crard- jan” and several nutural history jour- nals. In the last two or three yeurs he wrote many articles and letters on the Little Desert und Kentbruck controversy. His dry humour and ubility to assemble words enabled fim to strike at the yery core of problems in & most telling manner, In 1934 he Wrote The Portland Bay Settlement (now out of print). in [960 The Story of a Port (also out of print); and in 1967 The Birds vo! Portland (almost sold out), He donated this book to the Portland Field Naturalists Club. His last book Pour Towns and w Survey has just becn released Unfortunately Noel did not see i. Noe! was interested in most sport, with ericket as his favourite. As a member of the Melbourne Cricket Club he always attended Test matches on that ground. Outside his home and grazing interests his greatest loye was the bush, From eurliest days he seemed to have a strong leaning towards birds. He has made many valuable contributions to the ornithology of this far south west of the State. His recordings of sea birds, particularly heach wished specimens, samelimes im collaboration with Cliff Beaugle- hole. deserve particular mention, A nuriber of rare finds have been Te- corded, the last one heiie the Broad- billed Prion (?, virfata), recorded in Bird Observer Notes in August 1970 39 With one or two helpers he carried on the World Bird Day counts atter this observation had been started, His diaries and notes of all his observa- tions were meticulously kept In 1945, with a few other enthu- siasts, he was imstrumental in form ing the Perthind Field Naturalists Club, « Club which is still flourish ing, In 1946 Noel Learmonth initiated a move for an 80,000 aere borest Park on the lower Glenelg river. Afier many years of effort and trus- Irution & 22,000 acre National Park was finally created by act of Partie ment in late 1969, Learnienth Creek. one of the ctecks of the Moleside system, within. the Park, beurs his oame, In 1955 he started another move to have Mount Richmond reserved as a National Park. This. 1,500 acre (now 2,000) National Park eontain- ing 450 species of flowery plants was created by act of Parliament in late 1960. A lookaut tower with a round-the compass view has been erected on the sunumit and named Learmonth Lookout in his honour, He was one of the prime movers it having small areas reserved at Heathmere and near Cape Nelson, More recently he did an extensive survey for a south west coast plane ning scheme, extending from Tyran darra to Nelson, for the Town and Country Planding Authority. Noe) has faithfully recorded much of the early history of the Portland area. This is to be found im his books Portland Bay Serplement The Story of a Parr, and Four Tawns and a Survey. To travel in the Portland district. with Noel, whether it be for un hour or 4 day, Wis an experience and an education. He had # running commentary for the properties, the old homesteads, an endless ourmber 40 of features with Istorical assoc. tions, the wrecks along the coasi where the rugged coastline had taken a heavy toll in sailing boat days, und fast bul not least, the personalities who have contribuled so much to the history and the humour of this par of Victoria, Noel Learmonth was a pertce) gentleman and a pertect hast, He was at bome in any company. An hour or two spent mi his company was always a refreshing and rewarding experience. His home at 45 Musi Street, both betore lis wife passed away in 1964, and since, bas been open to friends anc strangers alike, As would he expected, his home was placed in a bush setling with: every encouragement to visting “featheres friends” About eighteen months ago, my wife and 1 gave Noel a lift to Meh hourme, aml in the evening were his guests for dimer During the dinner Sir James Darling, former head master of Geelong Grammar, walked passed: and on seeing Noel his guip “What! are you soll walking around! illustrates perfectly Che timeless inst tulion whieh Noel Learmonth hail become. Sorrow wis no stranger fo the house of Learmonth, One son died in mifaney, and the other two sons gave thelr lives in the Second Wari’ War. Jolin as a prisouer of war after Crete, and Charles. who was it the Air Porce, in rechifving a technical fault in a particular make of un cratt, near Perth, in Western Aut tralia, Charles was awarded — the D.F.C. wand Bar, and the air base of Learmonth in the north west of Western Australia bears his (ime. Noel Learmonth is survived by 4 daughter, Mrs. Don Baulch, fe erandchildren, und a brother, Creer Pren Davies Vicl. Nat. Yo! fa Notes on the Small Black Wallaroo Macropus bernardus (Rothschild, 1904) of Arnhem Land. by S. A, Parke’ Ifroduciien Ride (L970: 198) writes of little-known species; this — Jast collected in 1922 when ihree specimens were obtained by Mrs. P, Cahill at Oenpelli for the Navonal Museum of Victoria, Farlier, in L918, Mr. Cabill pre- sented five specimens to Taronga Park Zoo, Previously it had been collecied in Arnhem Land by J, . Tunney in 1903 and K, Dahl in }B9S". The followmg observauions are nreliminary to the treatment of this species in a forthcoming checklist of the native land-maninmals of the Northern Territory (Parker, in press). Lierormonite Steins Frith & Calaby (1969; 32) while. OM. bernardus is syoypatrie with M- wittlopinuy — LAntilopine Wallarao} over probably all of the former's range, but its relationship with nearby M. robuytus Euro] has not been suusfuctoritly cleared up, M. rabus- my is Known to occur in the South Alligator River area near the range of lwrnurdus and collections and observutions should be made in the Sitiecal aren 10 determine the possi- hiliies of overlap or inter-breeding™. During Seprember-Oerober 1¥969, 4. I, Bolton, D. Howe and PF under took 4 tive-week launal survey of the waubstone escarpment coantry of the Deut Adder Creek valley SS miles due south of Ovnpelli, Here we ob- TArnl Zone NV, 37S) Resenrchy Thisnitiit, suite Spyrinis, February, 1971 served and collected both M. ber nurdus and M, robuytus in the same rocky areis; Of one occasion a female of euch with pouch-young was ablained on the same hillside within & few minutes. Wilkins (1928; 168) observed hernardus in sand- stone runges fifteen miles up the King River north-cast of Qenpelli in 1924: he collected a specimen of rohusrus in this area (BMNH 26.3.1) 69) wid another further east on the upper Goyder River (BMNH 26.3,1168) fsee Map 1). This evi- dence of sympatry, together with the clear and constant morphological differences berween bernardyy and rohustas (see Table 1), justifies the recognition of bernurdys as a Separute specics. Field observations Although M, berriardus has heen found so fur only in the escarpment country of western and north- western Arnheny Land, it is by no reeans rare there, In the sandstone vorges of Deaf Adder Creck valley we encountered this small, blackish. thickset. Wallaroo several times, al- ways on boulderstrewn — hillsides, singly and in pairs (once in a group of three). In the daytime i Was wary, but a female (NIM 4748) located by eyeshine at night allowed « close approach, Qur observations were too limited to detect uny cco- logical differences between this species and M. rahusties, which oecurred It) the same rocky habitat, In the same area M, antilopinus was recorded only on the flat valley foor, In the National Museum of Vic- toria there is a note From Mrs, Marte Al Cahill to Professor W, Baldwin Spencer dated 9 April, 1923, per- iaining to five specimens purchased of Mrs. Cahill the previous year: “Kakadu name — Barr-ark, Pood -egrass and herbs. Lives in caves on Ranges. When frightened goes into dark caves. Killed by natives tor food thus—-spinifex set on fire causes dense smoke When animal can be approached quite casily, as smoke partly blinds animal, which stands rubbing its eyes”. Specimens examined National Museum of Victoria: CO380-4, labelled “Oenpelli” (4) and “near Last Alligator River” (1), collected in 1912-1914 by P. Cahill and purchased of his wile, Marie Cahill, in 1922 (not collected in 192? as stated by Ride) South Australian Museum: M2S2- 4. collected on the [upper] Mary River in December 19/3 by W, D Dodd. Northern Territory Museum, NTM 4737, 4748, 5413, collected 55 miles due south of Oenpell) on Deaf Adder Creck in September 1969) by B, L, Bolton, D. Howe and S. 4 Parker, the first) specimens — taken since 1918, a lapse of SI years, Acknowledgements Tum indebted to Miss Joan Dixop, Curator of Vertebrates, National Museum of Victoria, and Mr. Peter Aitken, Curator of Mammals, South Australian Museum, for the loan of specimens and for helpful comments: aso to Mr, John Edwards Hill, Mami! Section, British Museu (Natural History) for information on the two hitherto unreported speci mens of M1, robustns collected by 6 H, Wilkins on the King River and the Goyder River. REFERENCES Frith, Hy J, & Calaby, J. H,, 1969 Kangaroos. Melbourne: PF. W. Cheslr- ive, Ride, W, D £,, 1970 A Guide to the Native Mammals of Australia, Mel- bourne: Oxford University Press. Wilkins, G. IL, 1928, Undiscovered Australia, being an account of ap expedition to tropical Australia to collect specimens of the rarer nativy Fauna for the British Museum, [924- 1925, London. TasBle 1. Vertical groove in outer face of i! Sides of rostrum seen from ubove Length of nasal overhung Length of nasal overhang | Length of entire nasals Angle subtended by outer edges of nasals at tip M. rabtistas (Arnhem Land) ML hernearedits Pronounced Faint or absent | Straight or Slightly convex vy. slightly concave 14-17 mm (6) 9-15 mm 14) 0.24-0,.29 (6) O.18-20 (64 + 40" +; 60" Some cranial and dental differences between Macropus hernarduy avi M. robuytus. 42 Vict. Nat Vol 88 . MactobuS bernacdus o M. rm bustns Darwin fa) Distribution of Macropus bernardus and M, robnsiis in the northern N.V. Naturalists in Bass Strait by A, H. CHISHOLM Although The Literarure of Aus- tralian Birds, by H. M. Whittell (1954), is an extremely useful biblio- yraphy, and although its compiler un- covered numerous worthwhile items that had fallen into obscurity, it has at least one entry that is remarkably inadequate. This relates to the work of Donald Macdonald, who for many vears was a distinguished nature and general writer on the staff of the Melbourne Argus. Very surprisingly on the part of such a diligent and conscientious worker, Major Whittell not only over- looked Macdonald’s books Gum Boughys and Wattle Bloam (1887) and the posthumous volume The Brooks of Morning (1933), each of which contains significant references to birds; but he failed also to record the many oarithological — articles which Mac wrote—in addition to the highly useful columns of Nature February, 1971 Notes—from year in the Argus. I am reminded of this matter by the fact that, as in the case of Whittell, the authors of a recent sub- stantial paper on certain islands of Bass Strait (Vict. Nat,, Dec. 1970), also appear to be unacquainted with relevant articles written by Mac- donald in the Argus during 1908. Their author obtained his material as a member of the Ornithologists’ Union party. which from 24 Novem: ber (1908), spent a rewarding fort- night touring Bass Strait in a special steamer. The titles of the Macdonald articles are: “The Life of the Sea”. “Gannets of the Bass’, and “An Island Race”, All three are lengthy and, as a matter of course, all are thoroughly readable and informative. Indeed, they fired my youthful en- thusiasm so strongly that T carefully to year 43 pasted then in a serapbook of natural history | was then assembling, and here they are to this day, Regrettably. 1 did pot attach dates to the articles, but references in them suggest that they appeared in December, soon after the party te turned to Melbourne, and therefore some three months before SS, A, White's report on the outing appegred ny the Eni, In recommending attention to these writings by anyoue adding to the records of visits to Bass Strait islands, I should mention that two further articles in point, "Bass Strait Islands Excursion” and “Cat [sland”, appeared in the Argus soon after- wards. Their author was J. W. (later Sir James) Barrett, who had led party of 1S, including 10) medical men, on a trip that began on | Jan, 1909, and which was eurried out in the Manaware. the vessel ised for the Ornithologists’ Union expedition. There are many informative obser. vations in both of Barrett's articles. notably in relation to the gannets of Cat Island, then estimated at aboul 4000 birds-—-a sharp contrast with the unhappy situation now obtaining. Moreover, wlongside the five articles mentioned above, my scrapbook pre- sents another intormatve — Arypyy feature: one dealing with (he they newly estiblished reservation on Wi son's Promontory, Unutled “The Promontory Park: a National Sune. tuary’\ i carries the tnimals “T.S.h1" (probably indicating the geolayis T. S. Wall), and in the course of y general review of the area it says roundly, “There is no part of the Victorian coast that approaches the Promontory in beauty”, Perhaps J should add, too. that ye other cutting in this seehen al ony venerable seraphook. one dated 29 Ocoler, 1909, ts wv Melbourne [Her ald report that opens with this sen- lence, “Bird Day was celebrated tor the first Give in Vietona by the children attending the Stale schools today (Friday). Sponsors of the obser. vinee were the Ornithologists’ Union. the Bird Observers’ Club, the Field Naturalists’ Clab, and the Gorld League of Bird Lovers, Further details regarding — thar historic celebration may be found ii wun article entitled “First Bird Day in the Commonwealth’, by Ho W Wilson, published in the fen in lan LYlb. ee nen Re F.N.C.V. PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FERNS OF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA, by N. A. Wakefield. The 116 species known and described, and illustrated by line drawings, and 30 photographs. Price 75c. VICTORIAN TOADSTOOLS AND MUSHROOMS, by 4. H, Willis, This describes 120 toadstool species and many other fungi, There are fot eoloured plates and 31 other illustrations New edition, Price 90c. THE VEGETATION OF WYPERFELD NATIONAL PARK, by J. R. Garnet. Coloured frontispiece, 23 half-tone, 100 line drawings of planis and a tap Price $1.50. Address orders and inquiries to Sales Officer, F.N.C.V., Natlonal Herbarin, South Yarra, Victoria. Payments sheild include postage ( l1¢ on single copy). i 44 Vict Nat Vel 88 Victorian Non-Marine Molluscs — 3 by Brian J. Smeri There are four or five species of yytroduced snails of the family Heli- vidae Which look very much alike and which are often confused, They gre all sandhill snails and, where they occur, usually reach near plague proportions. Theha pisana (Muller) This is a medium sized globular shell about 15 to 20mm in diameter usually bearing numerous dark brown spiral bands on a white background. The inside of the aperture is often pink but the most obvious character to separate this species from the other similar species is nearly closed umbilicus or hole in the centre of (he spiral under the shell, In all the species described below the umbilicus is open and obvious to a greater or lesser extent. This snail is found very commonly on coastal sand-dunes long the entire Victorian coast-line where it can occur in very great numbers. However recently — this species has also been recorded along the Murray. so may occur in other dry sandy areas. Genus Helicella Species of this genus have white shells with concentric brown bands of varying thickness. These are globular to flattened discoid in shape and all have a prominent wide um- hilicus. They live jm sandy, fairly dry situations along the coastal fringe wnd inland, associated with places frequented by man, Helicella vir- vata and Flelicella neglecta are loo very closely similar species inhabit ing mainly the drice areas im cen- tral Western Victoria. They can be ven clinging in clusters to the fence poles in many Of the drier areus of February, 1971 this part of the State. These seem largely confined to inland areas, They can be separated with difficulty chiefly by their spire shape, that of H. neglecta being mach flatter) A small species of this genus, Heli- cella caperata ts found diving with Theba pisana in coastal dunes, and 1s often confused with the juveniles of the latter species. However, it can he readily separated by the presence ol a large umbilicus. There may be other Helicella species introduced into the State but only more collect- ing can elucidate this. Figures. Aperture tal and Ventral tb} _ views of i, Thebe pisana (note lack of urmbitions ). Helicella virgata, Nelicella Caperata (small size) (Prawings by Mies Rhyllis Plane) whl 45 book review ly No AL Wakerieyp A Guide to the Native Mammals of Australia by W, DL. Ride, with drawings by Ella Pry, Published by Oxford University Press. Melbourne, L970. $7.50. “This guide to the manimals of Australia, about the mammals of wa altered and altering continent, ts as much an introduction to the prob- lems of conserymg the mammals as it is au guide to the kinds of mam- mals themselyes”. This introduetory statement may indicate an important theme in Dr. Ride'’s hook, but the major value of the work lies in ifs presentation of an up-to-date summary of the Aus- tralian mammal faut. For the past 30 years, naturalist and student have had to rely on books such us Troughton’s Furred Animals of Australie, & work which ingluded 161 “species” of marsupials and 86 native members of the mouse family. In Ride's book. marsupials number 124 species and native murnds only 48. This 30° percent reduction in species is not indicative of omissions but represents a more ralional system of classificution uris- ing from work of many mammalo- visis during recent decades, It is an interesting thought that this rational- ization is by no means conplete, and further reduction in recognized species may be anticipated in the future. In the meantime we have a much-needed up-to-date list oof species names, as a standard both for those wha write and for those who read about Australian mam- mals. The book begins with discussion of patterns of natural distribution and habitat of our mammals, and of changes brought ahout by the intru- sion of man into their realm, This 46 is fallowed by an intensely interest ing chapter which outlines the his tory of rediscovery or rehabilitation of several species, such as Koals and Parma Wallaby, and, as the author stiles, “faseinating human Stories und romance lic behind each one Of these’. There js brief out line af aspeets such as evolutionary history, Zoogeography, adaptive radia- tion ound convergenee, that have brought about patterns which we see now In the Australian mammia! fauna; and problems of the scientific and popular numing of our species are discussed, Its granfying te oote thar “many fumilar, ant mach quoted, state ments have heen emitted . . . be couse many of these observations are anecdotal und . . . are found to be based upon unreliable und unsub- staniiated identifications, or even first appear in the literature a! secondhand”. This. priaciple cannot be ieconimended too strongly tw writers of those colortul natural his tory books which are new being pub- lished in ever-increasing numbers. Dr, Ride ayoids the problem of standard populat names by simply wiving a series Of alterivatives for each Species. and he has “tried to avoid introducing new ones”. A netuble departure from the last principle, however, is the innovation of the rather clumsy S-syllable “antechit- uses" for what eastern Australians know us phascogales. (As aw popular name, phascogale is short and cupho- nous, and ih is as appropriate for members of the genus Anfechinuy as Viel, Nat, Vol. 88 ewallaby” is for species of Macro- pus!) With growing public interest iy the conservation of our rarest species, it 1s becoming Imperative thal popular names should be standard- ved, for meatingful use by the mass jews media, Ornithologists succeeded quite well in this field, with their Official Checklist af Australian Birds. in 1926. Two-thirds of the book (Chapters 5s to 12) ure devoted to the treat- ment of the 229 currently recognized species Of native Australian mam- mals, These are arranged into 53 jatural groups, aad there is a full- page plate tw illustrate cach group, General information is given about each group, and a list is appended wl wl species of the group together wilh precise data about each species The subject is thus covered exhaus- lively and yo most informative census of our mammals is presented, The plates comprise drawings im hluck and White executed by Elk Fry, They huve aimed to depict denuls of form, pose and habitat of the species chosen, and in most cases the uim is achieved admirably. Haw- ever, details in some portrayals are not true te life, Toes often appear 10 he somewhat enlarged tor ex- ample, the head of the Echidna dees aot haye correet proportions. «nd (he softness of the tail of the Fairy jor Leadbeuter’s) Possum bas cluded the arlist's pen. In the preparation of the hook, there has beeh strong bias towyrds Western Australia, Forty-one of the sixty-two plates depict Western Aus- tralian «= $peeimens, The Western Australiin distributions are mostly seL our in detail, but ina number of cases ithe erven for distrihurions in oiler States are vague ar imaseur- ules In the pain body of the hook february, 1971 (Chapters 5-12), the distributions given for mammal specics are those Which applied to the carly years of European settlement, and. with few exceptions, modified presentuay dis tributions are wor tidiested. Im number of cases this matter is sone what veetified by dats in Chapters 13 and J+. in whieh there iy discus sion of rare or eXtinel species and of certain others with changed status. The tact that the distributions giver are Original ones could well have been explained io the introduction 16 the book, or the word “formerly” could have been inserted in appro- priate places in the statements of distribution. There is lack of definition and uniformity with regard to the use of terms such as “southern” and “‘'east- em” ip connection with mammal dis- tributions in Victoria. Por example. for the Brown Bandicoot (/seadon ohesulus) “southern” may he imter- preted. correctly, as a general dis- tribution trom fur SW. Victaria to the extreme east; bul the term means something else in the “southern and south-eastern” given for the White footed Durmart (Sninthapsis len. copus). Chapter 13 (The Rare Ones) sets out duta of species Which have become very mre or extinct, and Chapter 14 (Those with Changed Status) deals with additional species which have had their distributions reduced = substanually in modern limes. However, further species, such as the Red-hellied Pademelon (7 hela vale hillurdiert). which have equal cluim to inclusion in -Chupter 14 hive been omitied. Chapter 13 ts a plea lor conserva- lion, and it should be read carefully by the lay conservatianisc us well as the specials! The author sums up his philosophy with these comments. a7 “Each species is the product of aver six hundred nulhon yeurs of evolution, and we ourselves are one of these. In destroying uny one of these species, we are destroying a facet of our potential understanding of the world about us—we owe a responsibility to cach ollrer to see that this does not happen". The book has three appendixes, The first (Suggestions for Further Reading) lists 202 references, sel oul 4 under a sequence of headings whieh comprise groups of chapters of the hook. Secandly, there are 125 pefyp, coces “for the student und profes. sional reader”, pointing to detailey descriptions of the morphological characters of euch Australian mam mal speeies, Thirdly, there is) infor mation about the aoimmals and back. grounds comprising the book's ™2 plates, DsTRivuriow DAA OF VievoRtin MAMMALS As 4 supplement to the foregorny review. the following demils of distritie tion are presented for Victorian users of the Guide te the Nulive Maninaly of Australia. These details amplify and amend disttibutional dita given in the book for certain Victorian mamiials. References are cited when the details are bused On published articles, 1 most other cases, the data are hised on specimens in the mammal colleetions of the National Museum of Victoria umd the Victorian Fisheries and Wild- life Depariment. In o few cases, the data are from the present writer's observational records. p.44 Black-faced Kangaroo, Macropus Jalluinasus, Areas of Vic adjoining S. Aust, from far NW. to southern Grampians, Wallaroo, Mrerruypits relnestinn, For Vic, only in: NE, Gippstond fupper Snowy River area), Red Runguroo. Mevaleia rau Fur Vic, valy ia far NW p46. Voolache, Maorepis greyi, No confirmed fiving record for Vic. Fin luyson (1927) provided af ufsub- staitianid secondhand report of ib dne-lime wecurrenee in Vie p47, Swamp Wallaby, Wallahia bi- colar, Not recorded, living, any where West of Otway Ritiecs area. SW, Vic. or 1a S, Aust. p. 48 Red-bellied Pademelon, Tievle- gale billardier’. No longer in Vie~ The former Aust, mainiam! population is now extinct. 48 fp, St. Crescent Walluby. Onyelrogauley lunata, Mot recorded living in Vie The sole Murray-Darling recerd way in NSW. (Wakefield 1966)- Brilled Wallaby, Onvelwsatey fruenata. NW. and SN. Vie. (Mildure arey and near Mt, Hope) should le mided te the original shstribution both here and oo p. 207, Not now jn Vint possibly quite exunet, (Wake field 1940), 58. Brown Warewallaby, Lago chestes leporides, No lohwer in Vic probubly quite extinet. (See po 198). Bt Brosh-tailed Rock-wallaby, Perro pole penicillatd, In Vie, recorded only fren NE. and & (upper Mure ray OR. afea to Buchan district] (Wakefield 1963), and from Gram- plans in SW. (Audus 1925, p. 127). 667, Rufous Ratkalparaa, Aepy pevinns rifesceny Formerly in S Vie. (Violet Town, Gunbewer!, 16 longer extant in state (see Wakefield 1066). Brish-tailed Bettone, Berrange penicillam. See atso p. 207, but the SE. Aust population (formerly ex tending 10 NE NUS.W.t os presun ably now extinct. Kastern Bettong, Aerrmpia ga mardi No longer in Vig the Ave miiniand population is pressmalty extinet (sce p, 207)- 68 Potoroe, FPertoraiis —reyducrvlin Authentic Vic. records are north central (near Kinglake) and far eastern (SW, of Bonang). Viet, Nal, Yol, 88 gv, Squirrel Glider, Petanrus nor- “fuloensis. Scattered from Dadswell’s Bridge (W, Vic.) across N. Vic. to near Benalli. 42 Fairy Possim, Gyninahelittens fendieatert Originally in esst-centrat and NE, Vie. (Wilkinson 1961), p94, Common Wombat, Vorharis urinay. AS Well as “southern” (fram far SW, to extreme [E.), comman in norttecentral and NE Vie, p. 100, Long-nosed Bandicoot, Peri meley nesuta, Extends west to Otway Ranges, SW. Vie. Tasmanian Barred Bandicoot, Perameles punali, Former Vic. dis- tribution Was SW. only; survives now year Hamilton, Marl. Peramneles — hangainville. The KB, Aust. population ts presum- ably now extincl, The slalement of p. 207, that “i has only been tecorded in recent limes from smull pockets in Victoria’, arises from other authors misidentifications of P. gut- ni—for example, the “RP. faselata of Bravenor CE ab), pd? Piv-fooled Bandicoor, Chaero- pay ecaudatis, Not now in Vic. pos- sitly whally extiner (see p. 200). 10h Chuditeh, Dasyurus geolfroi. See p, 206: but the EL Aust. popula- don is presumably now quite extinet p10, Tasmaman Devil. Surceplitus Awois. The “possibly southern Vic.” is evidenty based on the capture of aA spécinven, considered To be oon a=] wscapee from captivity, near loos hoorac, north-central Vic. in 1912 tsee Proughton 1941, p. 47), pli2. ‘Tuan, Puasengale tapentula. Besides “southern Vie.” (far SW_ to far Fol. it extends across NW, and NE. Vie. Red-tailed Wambenger. Phrasen- cole valu Not now an Vacs the & Aust, population is presumably now extinct (Wakeficld 1960), p19 Dusky Phascogale. A vteclinius swatisont, Distribution includes nerth- central and NE. Vic. Not recorded living in S. Aust: The “coastal south: castern S.A. afises from confusion with 4, miiavans. (See Waketicht and Warneke 1064)_ mt22, Common Dunngrt, Serierlrer ve vung AML Vie repords ure western pitt Fatetailed Dunnart, Sranthep- ay eravurandata. Also ventral, aorth- centre (cast to Alexendrs) and N- Wwe February, 1979 p. 126. p. 136, p. 140, Water-rat, Kultart. Anmrechinomys laniger, Recornled in Vic. only from far NW, in 1837: not now jn the state. (Wake- field 1966). Swamp-at, Rarus lurrealus. As well as “cousuil Vie", the species extends up to |00) miles inland (Grampians. west of Maryborough, north of Nooijce)- Hiydromys clveywa- gaster, Als frequents freshwater Jakes aigd salt-waler estuaries und lakes in Vic. p. 142. White-footed Rabbit-rat, Coni- lurus albipes. Original range inchided View Las indicuted on p. 202), but ner now in state und peabably quite ex- tinct. p. 148-52. Browd-toothed Rat, Masti comys Tuscus. Besides occurring al coinparalively low elevations (Otway Ranges. Dandenong Ranges, W. Gippstand), the species is found near ML St. Bernard (NE. Vic.) at S00 tf, pol54. Pebble-mound = Mouse, dans Jermeannshurgensty extant in or near Vie. New Holland Moise. Pseudoriys Hovarliollandiae Discovered recently at Tyabb, central Vie, (Seebeck and Beste 1970)- po, 166, Eastetn Horseshoe Bar Aline- luphas megaphylius, In Vic. restricted fo Buchan-Nowa Nowa area, E. Crippstand, p.168. Linle Flar Bat Tedarhda plani cepy. In Vic. restricted to west (Wakefield 1966), po176, Tusmanian Pen Not now Pipistrelte. — Pipis- sirellus tasitanieasis, Nor recorded living in Vic, There are subfnssil specimens from EE, Vic. (Wakefield T1867). p.l77? Lorse-footed But, verwis, In Vie. two Warrandyte teentral) (BE. Vie.). Liwle Brond-nosed Bat, Nyeti- erly greyi. For Vic. western only (Wakefield 196n1. pol78, Ret Frule-bat, Prenyyies scape latus. Not resident In Vie; the two stile reoonls represent Sportidte als, Groy-headed PFrinebat, Plerapirs poliorephalas. Not resident am Vie. byt reenlar summer visitor to B, and rare Visitor to central areas, Myotis ud- uwreas only und = Buchan 49 pIS86, Dingo, Carnie Jailer dice, Matane in north-central, NU and & Vies absent now from northern and western regions of state p, 190 Australian Sealion. Neophoca cinerea. Sporadie visitor to Wo Vie seas and Lady Jolia Perey fs, New Zealand For Seal, drey, coplialas forsteri. Sporadic visitor q View seas. p. 203. Suoky Mause, Prendoniyys fim. eux, Only one colony i Anown ip KEEPRENC HS Andas, J, We. (1925); One of Nature's Wonderlands. The Victorian Gram- plans. Ransay Publishing Pty. Ltd, Melbourne Brayenor, C. W. (1950): The Manunals of Vieloria. National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne. Finlayson, H, H. (1927): Observations on the South Australian species of the subgenus “Wallabri. Trans. R. Soc, S. Aust, Si: 363-77, Seebeck, J, H.. and Beste. H. 1, (1970). First Record of the New Halland Mouse (Pseudomys novachollandiae (Waterhouse. 1843))) in Vietoria. Vier, Nat, 87 (10); 280-87, Troughton, EO LeG, (89410): Purred Animals of Australia, Angus & Rob- erison, Sydney Gramphins, The report of “yp localities wis dle to un etre iq Museum recards. Wakefield, NA, f1963), Netes gp Rockewallabies, Wier Nat. 77 (Ui 322432, (1966) Mammals Recordat for the Miullee, Victoria, Proc. Ruy Noe. Viet, 7 (2 627-36, (1967). Mammal Boge in fhe Boehan Disteiet Vier Nap. B4(7h 21lel4, . ind Warneke. RL M1965) Some Revision in Aateeliines (Ma supialia)—1, Bien Nat. S@(7): 194 219. Wilkinson, E, 1. (1961); The Rediscoy. ery of Leadbeater’s Possum, Gymne helideus leadheateri MeCoy. Vir, Nat., TH (4y 97-102, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Due to unforeseen circumstances, the report of the Tunuary General Meeting could not be included in this issue, but will appear in the March Victoria Naturalist. Marine Biology and Entomology Group : 7. December, 1970 The meeting was chaired by Mr R Condron, fifteen members heing in ultendance, Mr. Melnnes spoke of the pha taken by Mr P. Kelly of the proposed new site for the National Museum, and suid that he had forwarded it to Me, Messer, Environment writer for the Age newspaner. hevlulity: Mr tL. Selford—some pond life fram the Little Desert area which included an) unidentified aquate larva, Mes Melnnes—o small species of snail, and a species of spider both as yet unidentified. Master Stephen Condron showed a live lizard. Mr. R. Condron gave q short talk on its anatomy, explaining that jt Was in process of losing tts legs, Mr. R. Condran —- a small case of bullertlies and other insects collected on a recent imp to the Little Desert. In- 50 cluded if the Lepideptera were prpat of a species of the Lycaenidae family of butterflies, Ogvras amarriley, whieh he bred onl, Also he showed beetles from Salt Lake. Dimboola, 4 cicada, and some species of bugs, : Mr, P, Kelly gave a short talk on a) snecaes of beetle. family Chrysomelidac— GenusParrupsls, This apecies has yery shoor life cyele, in wll two weeks Mr. K. Strong. under a stereoscope microseape, shuwed a species of wasp which emerged from 4 pall taken from the Black Wattle. Tts body length was 34 mm, also a flower spider taken on the club ouling to Toolebewore in th: Healesville area, Mr. J. Strone—a moth, tamil! Anchelidae — species Anthela oe ell taken af Murriimbeena, Victoria Mr. D. Melnnes, under hie binocu lay microscope, showed a species of noise and smells, but not the ansmiane protozoan Jovodes, We pave a shor talk con this. Vict Nat Vol 88 - Magnificent stand of White Mountain Ash, Eucalyptus regnans, in the Marysville State Forest FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA preserving the beauty of our forests for your enjoyment. February, 1971 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Established 1880 OBJECTS: To stimulate interest in natural history and to preserve and protect Australian fauna and flora. Patron: His Excellency Major-General Sir ROHAN DELACOMBE, K.B.E. ©.B.. DS. Key Office-Bearers, 1970/71 President: Mr. ‘1. SAULT Vice-Presidentsy; Me. J, WH. WILLIS; Mr. P. CURLIS Hon, Secretary; Mr. D. LEE, 15 Springvale Road, Springvale (546 7724). Hon, Treasurer & Subscription Secretary: Mr. D, EB, McINNES, 129 Waverley Road, East Malvern 3145 Hon, Editer: Mr. G, M. WARD, 54 St. James Road, Heidelberg 3084. Hon. Librarian: Mr. P. KELLY, c/o National Herbarium. The Domain, South Yarra 3141. Hon, Excursion Secretary: Miss M. ALLENDER, 19 Hawthorn Avenue, Caulfiel) 3161. (52 2749). Magazine Sales Officer: Mr. B. FUHRER, 25 Sunhill Av , North Ringwood, 3134 Group Secretaries: Botany: Mr. J, A. BAINES, 45 Eastgate Street, Oakleigh 3166 (57 6206), Microscopical: Mr. M. H. MEYER, 36 Milroy Street. East Brighton (96 3268), Mammal Survey: Mr. P. HOMAN, 40 Howard Street, Reservoir 3073. Entomology and Marine Biology: Mr. J. W. H. STRONG, Flat 11, “Palm Court’, 1160 Dandenong Rd., Murrumbeena 3163 (56 2271), Geology: Mr. T. SAULT. MEMBERSHIP Membership of the F.N.C.V. is open to any person interested in natural history. The Victorian Naturalist is distributed free to all members, the club's reference and lending library is available, and other activities ure indicated in reports set out in the several preceding pages of this magazine. Rates of Subscriptions for 1971 Ordinary Members ; $7.00 Country Members — a * 3 , . $6.0 Joint Members - : $2.00 Junior Members 2. ao | ~~ ae — : $o i” Junior Members receiving Viet. Nate nn wun - it; = , . $4.8 Subscribers to Vict. Not. ahet ove ca, $5.0 Affiliated Societies —— = — -. ~ .- 5 POPE ; in $7 0 Life Membership (reducing after 20 years) cc mm me stent _ $140.0 The cost of individual copies of the Vict. Not. will be 45 cents, All subscriptions should be made poyable to the Feld Naturalists Club af Victoria, and posted to the Subscription Secretary. w JENKIN, BUXTON & CO. PTY. LTD., PRINTERS, WEST MELBOURNE ~ r > “- sre if | fn 88, No. 3 MARCH, 1971 — amie —— OGICAL | CERINGTON TON y MAAPRE TIQ7® a a VA 4 wer FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA In which is incorporated the Microscopical Society of Victoria Registered in Australia for transmission by post as a periodical. C t “4" E.N.C.V. DIARY OF COMING EVENTS GENERAL MEETINGS Wednesday, 10 March —— Annual Meeting at National Herbarium, The Domajy South Yarra, al & pam, we {, Minutes, Reports, Announcements, 2, Nature Notes and bxhibits 3 Subject for the evening-— “Beetles”: Mr, P. Kelly. 4, New Members, Ordinary: Miss Mary Ciriiiith, 1S Shoohra Koad, Eisternwick, 3185 Mr |} TF) Lewis, Phat 28, 34-50 Neil St, Carlton, S054 Mrs. Gwynneth | Holmes, 74 Centre Rand. Binightorn Bust, 4Lst Mr. Tan KR Mebeod, 43 Kotlvay Crescent, Willinmstown, a) Mes Th Duey, 7 Bolton St, Box Hill. Vid, Mr. 1) C. Long, 68 Abbegote St, Oakleigh. S16 Jivani: Mr. and Mry. BD. M. Barwon. Plot 2, 94 Gillies St, Parrtetd, wy™ Country: Mr. Alfan M. Hurse. IK Railway St, Seymour, Sont Me oA Lt Marto. | Harbour Drive, Sebastapal, 4456 Juntor: Mi Leslie Crus, ZA Maud Si, Nth Balwyn, V1 5, General Business, 6, Correspondence, Wednesday, 14 April — “Wilson's Promontory": Mr, J. Ros Garnet, B.N,C.V. EXCURSIONS Sunday, 21 March Brishane Ranges. Subjeer: Entomology. Leader: Mr. P, Kelly, The coach will leave Batman Avenue at 930 a.m, Fare $1.60, Bring two meals. Friday, 9 April to Monday, 12 April (Easter) — Hamilton, led by mentbers of the Hamilton F.N.C, A coach has been chartered for this excursion anil accom. modation booked at $7.75 per day for dinner, bed and breakfast, The coach will leave Flinders St. from outside the Cras and Fuel Corp. at 8.45) am, Bring a picnic Iunch, Fare $12.00 including day trips, to be pan to the Exeur sion Secretary When booking, cheques to be made out to Excursion Tras Saturday, 21 August to Sunday, 5 September — Vlinders Ranges, the coach will leave Melbourne Saturday morning and travel via Bordertown, Adeluide, Quorn, Wilpena (2 nights), Arkaroola (4 nights), Wilpena, Port Augusty (3 nights), Renmark. Swan Ell, Melbourne. Most of the accommodation will be on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis but at Arkarooh there will be bunks in hits, bed only, but meals are aVailable in the dining or food can be obtained a store, with a certain amount of motel accommodation as well. Cost will depend upon numbers going but shonld be in the vicinity of SISO with bunks at Arkaroola of $195 with motel accommodation, Deposit of $50.00 to be paid when booking, cheques being made out to Excursion rust, Easter Cumpout to Mt, Becles and Glenelg Anyone desiring further jntormarion please contact Mr. D Melnnes or Mr. B, Cooper. GROUP MEETINGS (8 pm, al National Herbarium unless otherwise stated) Thursday, 11 March — Botany Group — “Uncommon Native Plants” by Mr # Ajan Morrison. Wednesday, 17 March — Microscopical Croup, Friday, 26 March — Junior meeting at 8 p.m. at Hawthorn Town Hall Thursday, 1 April — Mammal Survey Group Meeting in Research Institute build. ings, cnr Brown St, and Stradbroke Ave, Heidelberg, at 8 pun Friday, 2 April — Junior meeting at K pm, at Rechabite Call, 281 High Street, Preston. Monday, 5 April — Entomology and Marine Biology Ciroup meeting at 8 pm. gd! Nouenal Museum in small room next \o theatretie Wednesday, 7 April — Geology Group. Thursday, 8 April — Botany Group — Mr. FQ Woodman will speak on “Sone aspects of Natural History in South Afnca’ 54 Vict. Nat. Vel, 88 The Victorian Naturalist Editor: G. M, Ward Assistant Editor: E. King Vol. 88, No. 3 CONTENTS Articles: Fossil Podocarp Root from Telangatuk East, Victoria. By G. Blackburn The Grinding Rocks at Stratford. By Aldo Massola The Mammals of the Brisbane Ranges. By J. W. F. Hampton Northern Strzelecki Heathlands. By Jean Galbraith Feature: Readers’ Nature Notes and Queries Book Review: Birds of Victoria 2 (The Ranges) Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: General and Group Meeting Reports Diary of Coming Events Front Cover: Last month, the Echidna was featured on the cover This month it is feat variation in colour and density of hair between spines This photograph is of form. Last month's was of a Victorian form March, 1971 3 March, 1971 61 in oo ured again to show a Central Australian Photo: John Wallis 55 Fossil Podocarp Root from Telangatuk East, Victoria hy G. Buackuurn® During percussion drilling — for water in the Telangatuk East dis- trict, pieces of wood were found in sandy spoil brought up from a depth of 65 {1 (20 m), They were retained by the lundholder, Mr. Fo W, Dune stan, Who told me of this in May 1963 when L was at his farm; hat he was unable to show me the spect- mens, My first response was lo mene tion the possibility of establishing their age by radiocarbon dating. Weeks later. one specimen several centimetres long, approximately 1 sq. cm. in cross-section and woody, wis brought to me in Adelaide, Larger pieces had accidentally been broken up after discovery — the fragments were not sent, There were then two considerations apart from expense, to discourage an attempt at radiocarbon dating, Firstly, the specimen sent to me weighed less than 10 gm, the minimum quantity of wood then required for dating. (There was a possibility of acquiring the other fragments and 1 wrote to Mr, Dunstan fo warn him against discarding them). Secondly, the wood was collected from sediments which possibly were as old as Pliocene, judging by the lstest geological mtormition then tviilable, (Victorian Resources Survey for the Wimmera Region (1961) ). Considering this indication and whe depth of the specimens, radiocarbon dating was considered unlikely to establish an age within the limit—for this method—of approxr mately 35,000 years. [1 also appeared 56 that if dating was vndertaken, the largest remaining specimen might be weeded for the requisite combustion, along with other pieces Of [fp material. Due to these circumstances, sn alternative was to tind oul if us examination of the specimen would indicate the plant species it repre sented, The wood was accepted for examination by the Wood and Fibre Structure Section of the CSIRO Divi- sion of Forest Products, Melbourne. The report on the sample (H. D, Ingle. personal communication 1963) stated that tt was coniferous, belonged ia the Podocarpaceae, could hot be matched with any other Australian species, came from root rather than stem wood, and was regarded as reminiscent Of Podocarpuy auidre {row Queensland. The fiilure to match the specimen With another Australiun speetes imd- cales that it is. fossil mutertal, The possibility of the roat beige part of a tree grown on the present surface requires that there was a rooting depth far greater than uswal A mini mum depth of 5 to 6 metres is indi- cated for roots of Pins growing m deep sand in Soulh Australia (J. W Holmes, personal communication), the maximun depth reported by Kramer and Kozlowski (160) fot ree foot penetration is “over 3) feet" (9 m). The podocarp specimen therefore appears to represent & tree grown on soil now buriesd, "CSIRO Miviswin vl Seat. Cie Oeneent SA wt Viet Nat Vol, 88 Fossil podocarps occur in Tertiary prown coals of Victoria (Cookson ynd Pike 1953) and in buried soil near Hamilton, as recorded by cull (1964). He found stumps of Pioylle- cladus, identified by H. D, Ingle, in soil developed on Lower Pliocene marine rocks and sealed off by basalt, The ‘Telangatuk site (Hamilton. mili- tary map 1: 250,000 (SJ 54-7) ret. 4v0436) 1% approximately SO miles (80 km) north of the site near Hamilton, but it shows no evidence of basalt lows or of marine fossils in ts sandy sediments, and no buned soil hus been recorded there, ‘The sedimentary rocks at the Tclangaluk site. Were sapped, provisionally in \960, by Spencer-Jones (1965) as ‘Naierttes On Palaeazoie rocks, some- umes including gravel and sand”, and were allotted to Pliocene-Miacene ) ape. The geological survey map of Vietoria (1s 1,000,000, 1963) shows Pliocene sedimentary rocks at the locality, but does pot distinguish non-niarine fram marine sediments, The podocarp speciiten js terrestrial in origin and appears to be the sole fossil recorded for the Cainozoic deposits news Telangaink, In view of the geological information, it is not alder than Pliocene. The Telangatuk sie les in a revion containing widespread evidence of Nerth-south-trending ridges con- siMing of sandy sediments Which near the surface occur as ferruginous sandstone, Peulures of these ridges suggest that they were formed wt cons! tines (Blackburn, Bond, and Clarke 1967), The pattern of ridges in the Telangatuk East district is not distinctive—there are gaps associated with valleys of the Glenele River system—and the podacarp specimen was not embedded in un Unmistak- able portion of a ridge. The specimen therefore fails to provide evidence on the origin of the ridges—one of the main reasons for interest in ie= but knowledge of its diseovery and botanical features may be useful to others with opportunities tor collect- meg in the region. The podocarp root is one of the terrestrial fossils found in westertt Victoria jn nyaterials which generally show no organic remains—others include a fossil tor- toive and a feather found m lateritic ironstone from Carapook and Redruth (Gill L965). Rr ences Blackburn, G., Bond. R. B.. and Clarke, AR, P, (19671. Soj) development in relation to steanded beach ridges om County Lowan. Victoria. CSIRO Aust, Soil Publ. No. 24, Cookson. 1. C., and Pike, K. M. (1953). The Tertiary oceutrence and disin- bution of Pedocarpuy (section Duaery- carpus) in Anstralia and Tastnania, Aust. J, Bot. V2 71-82. Gui. BE. BL (1964). Rocks contiguous with the hasultic cuirass of western Victona. Proc. Rey. Soc. Vie, 7: 331-355. Gill, E. D. (19651 Vicloria. pp. _Bauk No, 79, Kramer, P. J.. and Kozlowski, T. 7 (1960), “Physiology of Trees” (Me- Graw-Hilly N.Y) SpencerJones, D. 11965), The geology and structure of the Cirampians area, western Vicloria. Meni, Geol, Surv. Vic. No. 25. Palaeontology of (24 in Victorian Year CHANGE OF MEETING NIGHTS The General Meeting nights for the months of April and June, 1971 have been changed from the Monday to Wednesday, March, 1977 57 The Grinding Rocks at Stratford by Abo Massoua® This paper reports the discovery of rocks bearing grinding grooves At the Kaa Reserve, which 1s located on a prominent bend of the Avan River, fo the south-tay of und close to Stratford, Gippsland. On its way to Luke Wellington, the Avon River meanders through the Great Plain slowly cutting down- wards into the alluvial filling of the pluin, its erratic course caused both by the presence of patches of more resistant terrain and by the scour ing action of the strong current dur- ing Noods; a process most active on the outer banks of the bends. This shifting of the stream's bed gives rise to ulluvial flats and swampy terraces; the former generally growing a good crop of grass which im the past altracted kangaroos and other herbi- vores, and the latter soon becoming the home of a yaricty of amphibious animals and birds. Both conditions were taken advantage of by the Aborigines. To them a stream of this nature becomes 4 highway, since, besides supplying food and water, it is also a Well defined path, In a former paper, and in my book Journey to Abariginal Victoria, t have stated that one of the teasons for the Aborigines of the lake's country leaving their confortable camps by the lakeside and braving the hidden terrors and hidden dan- gers of the inland was the need of raw materials of a Kind fiot obtain- able at their usual haunts, In this case this commodity was the ready- made axe-shaped pebbles lying 1 their thousands on the banks of the upper reaches of the Avon River, only Wanting to have one edge ground to be ready for use—or barter, 58 Barter was inost important an thy soviology of the tibes, Since It ey. abled contuct to be maintained wi distant groups; and it was also the means by which new ideas and tech. niques were circulated between one tribe and the west. Por this reasoy | certain raw ommaterlals or manufac tures Were ulways olyatined by barter, even if they could be Obtained locally ' with much less trouble It is almost certain that a loce group inhabited the country abou Stratford. It will be recalled thy! soon after Angus MeMillan, — the explorer, formed whe Nuntin Statior in the early part of 1840, it bad icf he abandoned becwuse of fierce anc continual attacks hy the Aborigines — it was nol tint! December of tha year that he wus able bo re-oocupy the station, and even then the attacks upon jt did not eease for some months. This points to the Aborigine having permanently oceupied — this country, und pot just to a group hen there on walk-about, Also, the Morayiin Missionary, Rey. F, A, Hagenauer's first choice | of sie for his Mission Staton was near Mallra, which meas that the Aborigines niuut have bee nunierow there: and although he was fol able fo establish himself at that jocality because of opposition Tram local squatters, his second choice which hecame Ramahyuck Aboriging e418 Wolauley Sie, Mont Allert Veo 318) Vict. Nat, Vol 88 Sation, Was stil on the Avon, although close to its mouth. The oiticial reason given for this second choiee Was that “the Aborigines were in the habit of congregating there”. All this points to a fairly large Aboriginal population, not only on the shores of Lake Victorta, but along the Avon River and its tribu also (artes. jy a former paper C have attempted io reconstruct the scene im the \lunro District, but the same activity could have taken place anywhere alang the upper Avon before the coming of the white men, Groups of Aborigines, having collected suit thle pebbles from the river bank. dispersed through the compuritively qpen forest of red gum, stringy bark and tect box, There Were large mobs af kangaroos ¢nd many emus about wid this meant plenty of food for them and for the visiting whe would barter lor sroups mver to from the sounm come up uway und ARCS; Plute J Showin some of ihe grooves discovered at Stratford Piven Acatty March, 1971 river surface-water was available everywhere. Scattered over this land of plenty were many smallish ferru- vinous sandstone outerops, the more fine-grained of which made perfect whetstones for grinding the river pebbles into axes. Vhe grinding process however, leuves un impression of groove, roughly the width of the edge of the pebble being ground upon the rock, and by this meuns we are now able to tell which rock was so used. lo the south-cast of and qnile close to Stratford the current of the Avon River met a resistant obstacle in a rocky hillock, which caused the river to vo around tt, thus forming a prominent bend. This hillock, Wlthough in itself not much higher than 300 feet, is never-the-less high enough ahove the Greal Plain lo be a very good Observation point. This Knob Lookoul, which the Elders of Stratford, in their wisdom, hive long since declared u Reserve is the From it there is an unuiterrupted view over the surrounding plains: to the West Bern Cruacham, 22 miles; and Mt. Lirica 44 miles fwuy, are plainly seen with the naked eye, ML Wellington, 35 miles away, dominates the north-west horizon, Naturally, because of its clevation and neafiess to water the Knob must have been an Abonginal camp. site, bul fhe Reserve has become a picnic ground, visited annually by perhaps fhousands of people, Over the years the already flattish top of the Knob was bulldozed, a gravel roud, lately asphalted over, was laid to give fccess to it, and a wooden railing to prevent cars from falling over the steep edges into the river below was erected, Signs of in Aboriginal camp cunnot remain under these conditions, It was to this spot, that a few weeks ago, Mr. and Mrs, Campbell Fletcher, of Munro, (to whom we are already indebted for [heir dis- eovery of dhe Miinro grindmg rock site) took w Visitor to show him the points of anterest in the district, Leaning agrinst the rail while talkmg to his frend. Mr, Fletchers eyes wandered upon the rocky outcrop marking the cdges of the Knob’s lop. What he saw were grinding grooves. 1 should have explained that the Knob is edged by sandstone oul crops, Which Tay almost iyined around its north, west und south sides, consolidating its edges. Grind- ig groaves appesr fo be well scat- tered upon these outcrops, but have a larger concentration on the soutl side, where the sandstone is finer grained, At least 1S) provves Were counted, mast ot which Were cof pletely buried by the soil and had to be dug ott, The majortiy of the grooves measure either 6" long by 2° wide or 8” Iong by 3° wide, 60 The depth is fairly uavform sy between 4" and 4. The grinding grooves tire Wy Such a prominery position of those rocks that ib is y wonder they have Hot been potived before. Grinding rock Sites ure pare jp Victoria, and nowhere else do we meel with the wide Mung distribution found on the Avon River watershed, The whole district was obviously ay axe factory, und aside trom pinpoing ing a new sile, the importance of Mr, Fletcher's discovery Jay in ity establishing this faet Fleven sites have been reported in the vicinily of Munro, and the present discovery connects them with the Boisdate site, whieh i of a similar mature sind has the same geologic) history, Voisdale sife is about & miles aluny the river from Stratford, and af is abour 8 miles from Stratford to the Munro sites, There is every possibility that mtervenine sites between these three points will be found, Loaeal Field Naturalist and Mistovical Socrefios should, in fact, organise fell days with this object in view. Once again to wish to thank Mr. and Mss, Cacpbell Pletcher for their companionship and hesprratity, and tor nmuikine it possible for me to record these new adilitions 10 the fist of Aboriginal antiquities in Victor REPLATNEDS Mussola Aldo, The Cirtndine Rocks wl Boisdule. Vier. Nat, 82, 1965. . The Grinding Kocks al Munro. Fiet. Nae 84, 1967 Lerier to the Editor Viet Nal, 46, 1969. - More Gninding Kocks # Munro, Vier Nav 86, 1469, ——. Jourmey to Aboriyinal Vie tonua Rigby, Adelaide 1969. ee Aboriginal Mission Stators in) Victoria, Hawthorn Press, Meh bourne, 170. West, Alon Lt Axe-grinding Rob near Munroe, Central Gippstand, Vie toria, Wier Not 86, 1969, Vict. Nal. Vol 52 Readers’ Nature Notes and Queries Maternal Mugpies? This inleresting note cames from Mrs, Hilary Rei, of Somers in Vic- tana, A fortnight age 4 yollbg man I know well was driving to work along i COuUf- iry road, He suw a young magpie in trouble in the grass. lis piarents were watching [rom # pinetree where he concluded there must be a fest, He stopped and took it home for his chil- ren who were not yet about, He told his wile lo keep unm cye on it and hut red away, Very soon after, two adull magpies appeared. and perching on a shed find fence, considered the situ tion. Through the window of the kitchen the following scene wits quite sisible. One bird few down, It pecked and pecked at the back of the baby’s neck ay though attacking it, The other bird watched until the first one got i silis- factory hold oo the seruff of the neck. irying to lift it into the air. OF course the squawking lithe one shot out its wings. Whereupon the other parent seized the nearest wing and they lifted off the ground ind carried it away. The nest Was about a mile away by air, | wish 1 had seen it. Have any other “Field Nats” such Tuck’ Anteater’s Diet? Ellen Lyndon of Leongathi in Vie- joria, supplied these two maliire Hotes, in aw patch of jow scrub hy the road- ade near Konuwak. m Soyth Gipps- had land, last uutumn, we disturbed an Echidna, a big one. It had been poking in loose Soil Under a dark object in the undervrowth, a furry patch that presenuy resolved itself into the car case of a very defunct domestic cat, lying half out of the carton in which it had been hurled into the bush. The Anteater’s rootings had scattered bie white blowfly larvae all around. Al- though it did not diz in if ceased operations and did not -restnmie them during the ime we were watching. so we did not actually see if pick up any- thing. The question is, did Tachyplossus mistake those while grubs for termites or does he enjoy u lithe variation in his diet when (he opportunity offers? Bird Behavior Walking home from {he shops one bright sunny afternoon recently, a faini cheeping from the sky made me look up to see two White birds resembling seagulls coming in from the south, a little higher than the power lines. ‘Che leader appeared (to be fiearly exhausted and somewhat battered, with feathers missing here and there. tt called regu- larly and weakly. As they passed over 1 saw they were a pitir of Black- shouldered Kites. They proceeded over the town. the rearmost bird diving often at the lead- ing one Which managed to evade it Finally they grappled and tell, locked together, and rolled over and over out of the sky just us if they bad heen shot down. and disappeared from view among the rooffops amt shrubbery, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting will be held in the National Herbarium on WEDNESDAY, 10 MARCH, 1971 March. 1971 é| Mammal Survey Group Contributions—V1. The Mammals of the Brisbane Ranges J, W. PF. HAMPTON® INTRODUCTION Ihe Brisbane Ranges, which ate the broken and eroded cidge of a plateau of Ordovician rocks, clearly mark the western boundary of the plain which extends eastwards to the coast of Port Phillip Bay in Vie toria, At this boundary the bills rise sharply, in places to [200 ft, then gradually merge westwards with the tablelands of the Meredith district. This range is bordered in the south and west by the Moorabool River and in the north by the Parwan Creck. As little seemed to be known of the mammal fauna of these hills the Matnmal Survey Group carried ou three sample surveys during 1965 whd 1969, the results of which wre presented in this paper. The .cames of the members of the Group whose work provided the data upon which this feport is based are given in the authors acknowledgements. Description or Pil ARLA Histary The history of European penetrit. tiod into these hills is essentially the history of the gold mining that went on from 1853 to aboul 1900, This activity Was centred on Steighite (formerly Stieglitz, which accounts for its present pronunciation) where the populahbon exceeded 1000) m 1856 when there were six schools, four hotels wad four churches in use. It again reached this level in 1894 when over forty reefs were being worked. (Anon. 19351: MeKinlay, 1964), While very feW sighs of such 4 Town remain at the sight of Steig- 62 litz, the surrounding bush conceals the remams of extensive mining activity. The dependence of such q population upon wood for fuel and power, mine-timbering and building for over forty years, and the pros. peching of almost every yard of the district in the search for new reefs, must have had a devastating effec on the waturit habitat. Unfortunately ne records have been found which deseribe the natural surroundings or the animal life at the time of the first discover ies of gold on the property belonging to Churles von Stieglitz. The lack ol apriguliural development, in marked contrast tO that in the vdjoming areas along the eastern boundary of the Ranges, around Anakie and Staugh- rou Wale, indicates the poor value of the sails, The results of the surveys presenced in this paper tend to con- firm this, Part of the area is used asa water cutchment and, while there ure some lenesil properties, its only other uses appear to be as a plenic area, as a source of firewood snd for shooting, Rainfall Official rainfall figures ler Durdid- warrah = (1928-1968 average) und fur Anakie (1889-1968 average) are given in Table [, logether with the average mimber of days on which more than (L01" of rain. fell, No data fs available for Sterglit2 but & appeared ty be a drier prey than Durdidwarrah. oManiial Suevey Grp, PONOUV aor Bert tary. AU Hoawant Se Rewerraiz, Viewonia, bt Vict Nat Vol, 88 Pegelation ; In the seventy years sitice the major rects were worked out, the sustt has partly recovered from the ravages of those times but com- parison with the forest within the water reserve (which was ereated in 1975) shaw how tar short of full recovery this hits been, Jn campar- able areas within the reserve, trees are mature and dense, often 70-80 fl. high with a well-established = shrub javer, Outside the reserve the forest is largely open dnd immature and has suffered severely from felling and burning, Nevertheless, i considerable yiriety of tees is present and, in yidition, the watural habitat varies from a dense ta an open type of forest with considerable variation int shrub and ground cover. Anas surveyed Three sites were chosen for surveys Which represented, i density and variety of vegetation, the averige (Survey |), the richest [Survey 2), und the poorest (Survey 3) that wats found in these hills. The first survey was centred on Sutherland’s Creek, north of Steiglitz, m August 1968, ihe second on Aeroplane Road, in February 1969 and the third at the junction of Sutherland's Creck una Manners Crully. sauth of Steiglitz, in September, 1969, These are shown i) Figure 1- Survey 1; Vrappiag was carried out in three distiner types of Halitat. On the plateau there was wn Open forest of Meéssmate (Eucalyprus oblique). Broad-leaved Peppermint (2, dives), Red Stringybark (E. macrorrhyneha) and Scent-bark (#. aromaphloia) i areas of varying density, in which the canopy al 20-35 ft. gave from 1) to S0% cover. The shrub layer was equally uneven and consisted mainly of Mekea, Bankyta and Grass-tree (Xanthorrhovw australis). Ground cover was fairly dense in some swampy areas, being made up of Flat Pea (Plarylobium — oltusangulum), Guinea-lower (Aibbertia strieta) aod grasses, bul was elsewhere very thin, showing signs of ihe recent severe drought, On the slopes there was an open tree cover of 20ft-high regrowth Messmate and Peppermint with less than 1% matute trees. The only ather component present was Grass-(rec which was generally sparse but also occurred in dense patches. There was virtually no ground cover (the survey notes written at the lime describe a a thin sheen of young grass, moss and ground plants a few mm, high, no cover for anything taller than ints"). The creek bed was devoid of a shrub layer and had a ground cover of Poa australis up to 12” tall, giv- ing an $0-100% cover downstream and about a 20% caver upstream from the survey cump. There was un open canopy of eucalypts not difter- ing from that on the slopes, TAscLe | Officil rainfall Figures (in inches) for Durdidwarrah (40-year average) and Amikie (79-year average) together with the average number of days of rain | jan | Feb.) Mar, Ane |May/|June| july|Aug.lSept.! Oct, !Nov. | Dee. Year Durdidwartalt 1.55.1, 88 al Lan oat Days of rai 9 9] Wl 16) 17 Anakie (34) 1,71 1.83) Days «f rain] 7, & & 13) IA) March, [971 2.09 1,98) 42 1.89) 2.18 2,43 248) 204 2.05) 23.91 2.28) 2.4 23S) 2.72 2.65) 2,23) 209] 26.56 18, 20) 20 | 17 97 | FS) Pa} TR le| ir) 17 | 18 15] 12 10] 4152 63 Part of the water reserve (due west of Durdidwarrath), which was surveyed in ditylight, consisted ol i Mil farly uniform, nid-dense to open forest of Swamp Gum (E, ovat). Manna Gum (2. wimntnelis) and Snow Gum for White Sallee) (4. paucijlore) with isolated dense clumps of Red Stringybark, Mess- mate and Narrow-leaved Peppermint (E. ratdtata) and one or two single Wild Cherries (A avecernuy eupresyi- formiy). There was vittually ne shrub layer, exeept near a water channel, abd the gromid laver cone sisted of a close cropped caver of erass with a few snmiall herbs. This gave 4 park-like appearance with tong views through the trees There Were many signs of pig-rboting, though no feral pigs were seen. Survey 2: The survey camp was situated on the main plateau which at this point carted a fairly uniforn cover of mid-dense to dense forest with the canopy wt 40 to 60 TL This was dominated by Red and. Brown Stringybark UE. mucrerrhynctia and L. hoxteri) with seuttered Messmate, Read fronbark (A. siderovvion) nl Long-leaved Box (2) ganjoelvy). A amxed [tussock grasslanudseleroptry tl shrub stratum oceurred below the tree canopy, domimited by Crass tve and Silver Tussock (Denrhonta pallida), Will Daviesiv corvmbase, Avratricly — serrilate, — Plarvlabinm ebturcnilum, Epacris iepressa and Puttendea vunnti. There were a tew thickets of Silver Wattle suplings (Aeucin dealbaty) with a few mature trees. Ground cover wus of smull herbs and grasses, not wiveng a very dense cover. The yegelalion of the gully slopes was complex and diflered on the north und south facing slopes. In general, This was a grassy woodland to open forest co-dammated by Red Stringy- od bark and Longdewved Box with up understorey Of Danthonia pallida Poa aistralis, Haloratis tetragyng and Senecio quadridenrers, nvassey aud lichens. On the southem aspect this chllered in’ that Messmate ang Long-leaved Box occurred wilh 9 mixtune of Red [ronbark, Brown Stringybark tnd Red Box (FE. poly. anthemos), covering a dense ground layer dominated by Pea australis, Gully floors were eovered by a mid dense to open canopy of Messmatw wu Long-leaved Box wih oeea sional Manna Gun and Red Box, with u dense herbaceous sward don. dated by Poa australis (broad deal form) with patches of Wiregrass and some Swornbsrass. A detailed accoun of the vegeranon of this area is available ia the Groups files. There Was no tunnning water within the area al the time of the survey but recent rains hac fled all depressions, Survey 4: This Survey was centred at the junciion of Mariners Gully and Suthertand's Creek (named pfter Robert Sutherlam! who camped here iy L846) in the driest part of the Brisbane Ranges where there was a vey thin cover of sandy gravel an the plateau wad rocky slopes lending down te the marrow creck hed and i the open bed of the guily, The area Was much mined and pitted and there wete a number of back an stove house foundariow. On the plateau Red Suingybark was domi am. growing to alout 34 fh. with White Tronbark (A, lenenaylon). Red Box, Narrow-leuved Peppermint. an occasional Wild Cherry and Sheoke (Crsnenna litterais). copether forn- img uo mid-dense to open canopy of tnmature jiml stmted trees, The shrub layer was composed alps corely ob Cirasstree which was very dense in places but was limited to the flat top of the plateau, Crround Vict. Nat, Yel 88 MAMMAL SURVEY BRISBANE RANGES 1968-1969 WATER RESERVE > SOURDIDWARRAR i RESERVOIRS 9) Ww, = ZX STAUGHTON VALE SCALE IN MILES Fig. 1. The Brisbane Ranges. Areas surveyed in detail are shown stippled. March, 1971 65 cover was eXtvemely sparse, there being some species of heaths, tiles and orchids and some legtimes. On the slopes the tree cover was similar except that some Red Tronbark occurred and the shrub layer eon- sisted only of some patches of spindly Golden Wattle (Acacia pye- nontha) with an occasional Crold-cust Waitle (a. weinacea), The ground vover consisted solely of dry lorest debris, Wilh some mosses Gn the lower slopes. In the creek bed [he forest ineluded an occasional Manna Gum and there was a sparse shrub layer of Black Wattle saplings (4. mearnsii), a few Hazel (Pomuderriy sp.) and some patches of Bracken (Preridium eseulenrum) with a thin ground cover of mosses and tufts of grass. Sutherland's Creek was running well at the (ime, METHODS ‘Vrapping and spotlighting methods were the same as those previously described (Hampton and Seebeck, 1Y70). While trappitg was confined fo the areas that are deseribed in some detail above, spotlighting ecoy- ered urcas further afield, up ta 2 miles from the survey camps, the distance travelled usually varying inversely with the number of aninials encountered. RPSULTS The total survey effort, together with the total number of animals seen and caught is summarised im ‘Table Tanhd Survey effort, with total trapping and spotlighting results, LE and a systematic list of the seven native and two introduced species that were recorded iw given in ‘Table WW. An unalysis of the resulis js given in Table TV oan which the tiumibers of specimens recorded are given jt relation to the survey effort, ie, the numbers of animals Cumht per LOO trap-nights and the numbers seen per spotheht-hour, Resulls are presented in this way so that data obtained in differeny surveys may be compared. The apparent populanon af native species, when compared with thal found in surveys of other regions using the same methods, was low J The comparative figures are given in Table V, Nores On THE Species RECORDED (Reference specimens that were retained are designated by — thei registration purbers in the collection of the Fisheries and Wildlife Depart ment, Victoria, | Brown Antechinus, Anreedtints start. This was the only small ground- living nitive species recorded. Sur veys | and 3 yielded one specimen ench and & were caught in Sur- vey 2, This number represents about an overage qitch for Chis species comipared with similar surveys else- where, The specimens caught in February were all juvenile or im- mature und obviously torn am that nN Survey Date BLE \ "Aug. 1968 74 2 Feb. 1969 70 3 Sep, 1969 | A9 Total 213 Num ber of Spotlight. Speernens . . species hours recorded identified on | 24 4 20.5 23 h [24 iat 4 42.0) 63 4 66 Vicr, Nat. Vol 88 TABLE Ill Systematic list of mammals recorded in the Brisbane Ranges Order MARSUPIALIA Family Dasyuridae (1) Brown Antechinus Antechinus stuartii Macleay Family Phalangeridae (2) Brush-tailed Possum Trichosurus valpecula (Kerr) (3) Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus (Boddaert) (4) Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps Waterhouse (3) Koala Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss) Family Macropodidae (6) Black Wallaby Wallabia bicolor (Desmarest) (7) Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus Shaw Order RODENTIA Family Muridae (8) Black-rat Rattus rattus (Linnaeus) Order LAGOMORPHA Family Leporidae (9) Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus) TasL_e IV Apparent abundance of species. (a) Numbers of animals caught per 100 trap-nights, (b) numbers seen per spotlight-hour and (c) animals seen in daylight. survey |= 2 Sie (a) Trapping | Antechinus stuartit 1.35 114 | 1.45 10 Rattuy rattus | — St 2.90 2 (b) Spotlighting } Pseudocheirus peregrinus — 0.05 — i Peraurus breviceps — 0.05 — i Phascolarctos cinereus 0.11 0.29 | 0.56 14 Wallabia bicolor ie OS ae — 3 Oryctolagus cuniculus 0,33 0.05 0.08 5 (c) Daylight sightings Phascolarctos cinereus 5 2 — 7 Wallabia bicolor oe 1 — 1 Macropus giganteus 17 — | «— 17 Oryctolagus cuniculus 2 — — 2 March, 1971 67 season, ‘The one caught i September was at adult female with young. The specimen caught in August, however, was a young female, about halt- grown, its age not fitting what 1s believed to be the normal breeding season for this species (Woolley, 1966). Specimens were caught where jeaflitler and trash was the only ground covers on dry slopes amongst heaths; under a mid-dense, low shrub layer of Grass-tree and Hakeas on dry, bare, rocky slopes and in damp moss and Bracken near a creek. Specimen: D.8809, 22 Feb, 1969. 2, Brush-tailed Possum, Trichasurts vulpecula. No specimens Were seen during these surveys though Brush-tail seats were found during Surveys 2 and 3. However, both tive and roud-killed specimens were reported by Group members near Anakie and near Steiglitz at other times during 1968 und 1969. 3. Ringtuil Possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinuy. One specimen only was recorded, in Stringybark, during Survey 2, when ao Ringtail mandible was also found, Specimen: P.801, mandible. One specimen only was recone in Messmate, during Survey 2, Yqj, species is generally considered to 4 widespread and common in Victory though in our experience it is seldoy, seen, A single sighting ts | 4, Sugar Glider, Petaurus brevien torpy assumed to indicate that this speeig, is established in this. area. 5. Koala, Phascolurcros cinere tis, This appeared to be the most plep tiful of the species recorded and was seen at all survey sites. Anetrals wer seen at mht in Long-leaved Bos, Messmate, Red Stringybark — and Peppermint, Withilt the water reserye they were seen in daylight in Manuy Gum, Swamp Gun and feeding |p Snow Gum, A total of 21 specimen) were seen and a further 8 Wer heard at night, li is not known whether Koals was present in the Brisbane Ranges prior to 1944 when large numbers were jotroduced by the Fisheries and Wildlife Department, In 1944-5, 155 animals from Quail Island and 258 from. Phillip Island were released in the Durdidwarrah water reserve, A further 177) from French — Islan were released in 1957, (Records oi the Fisheries and Wildlife Depart ment, Victoria). The apparent tun dance of animals at the time of these surveys showed that the species bad become well established. TABLE V Compurative abundance of aninials (native species only) OYhis dala is taken Irom Group records and ingludes both publistred and Unpribtietindt obsorestions Specimens caught | per 100 pel Specimens seen irup-nights Brisbane Ranges Mean, !1 other areus * 18.47 spotlight hear 469 0.45 1.43 68 Vict. Nat, Vol. 88 Specimens K.190, skull. 25 Aug. 96S, é, Black Wallaby, Hiallebia hieolor. Four animals were seen during Survey 2 and what Were possibly wallaby Were heard on a number of aceasions at night. Some skeletal ynaterial Was collected. Specimens: M.2045, mandible; M2046, femur; 22 Feh. 1969. 7. Grey Kangaroo, Maerapus gigen- TEMS, The water reserve hus become a refuge for these animals and seems fo be well suited to them. Twelve, of all ages, were seen in daylight in (hs ceserve, two other pairs and one juvenilé were seen in the afea cov- ord by Survey 2, all in daylight. Specimens: M.1992-1998, skulls, 25 Aug. 1968. & Black-rat. Ratrus ratius. Two specimens Were caught on very baré ground along Mariner's Gully in Survey 3. Ground cover was such that both could be seen in the traps from a distance of about 50 yards, There were extensive remains of mining activity and foun- dations of old huts in this particular urea and it ts possible that this species his survived here since its probable introduction during the gold mining deys. Specimens: RA0419. Sept. 1969. Rid043 6: 20 4 Rabbit, Orvetalagay cuniculis A few rabbits were seen, 5 in Sure vey | and one each in Surveys 2 ane 3, so that even this species was not conmmoen, Discussion These sample surveys detected the presence of relatively few nitive species in the Brisbane Ranges ind, insofar as Our survey methods yicld comparable quantitative data, the wumbers of animals recorded was yery low compared with simular sul veys in other districts, While specific reasons for this could not readily be identified, the lack of variety in the shrub layer and the veneral luck of physicul cover in the vegetation, especially at ground fevel, appeared to be the main reasons, Whether ius was duc to the poor soils or to cxolojtation, or both, is vat known. fhe use of a large part of the area for uncontrolled, illegal shooting, must also have hal an effect on the population of Black Wallaby, Grey Kangaroo amd possibly Koala, for which the area should provide ade. guale Support, The flourishing popue lation oof the latter Iwo species March, 1971 withitt) the relative seeurily of the water reserve showed what the whole area might support under similar protection. The presence of other species, nol ably Echidna, Tuan, Pigmy Possum and Water Rat was reported to us by the Geelong Field Naturalists Club (Pescott, T. personal contmuni- cation) bul, except that what were thought to be signs of Echidna were seen, we were unable fo confirm the presence of the others in these sur- Veys. Many years ago (Mallingley. 191L) Antechinus flavipes was caught “near Parwan” but neither this species nor A, swainseni were recorded in this senes of surveys, One interesting observation was the apparent complete absence of the Southern Bush-rac (Karis fuscipes), In our experience this 15 the most common tative mammal in Victoria 69 und tm only five out of 40 individual surveys carted oul in other districts have no Bush-rats been caught, In three ol these the Black-rat (Kaltus rattuy) Was present, In seven different regions simi- larly surveyed by the Group (See- beek, Frankenberg and Flampton, 1968; Fryer and Temby, 1969, Hampton and Seebeck, 1970 and ute published dala) Ry fuxcipes has oceu- pied 12.836 of all traps set and has gecounted for 75.5% of all native animals caught, In the Brisbane Ranges the Black-ral was found only in one, very inhospitable area and as (here were no indications of severe predation, (no Foxes and only one Boobook and one ‘Tawny Frogmouth were recorded) it is supposed thut some key ecological factor has pre- yented colonisation by R. /iseipes. This might be the absence of an essential nutrient, the presence of toxic plants or merely the lack of sufficient damp and well-covered habitat. Thus, in general, the Brisbane Ranges wppear to be more hospitable to kangaroo, wallaby and Koala than they gre to most other species of native mammal. Acknowledgments The following were the members of the Mammal Survey Group whose work provided the data upon which this paper is based: R, Dale, G. Douplas. R, Fryer, D. Hackett, J. Hampton, P. Homan, A. Howard, C. Hutchinson, A, Lewis, D>. Munro, D. Polson, D, Reeves. A- Simon, M. Taylor, I. Temby. und J, Wolfenden. From the Geelong Ficld Naty, lists Club, G. Carr, Gr. Giivner aq, 1. Pescott also assisted with thes. surveys and considerable help wind analysis Of the vegetahon Was. gives by N. Seatlert of the School of Botay of the University of Melbourne, | The Group wishes to thank qh Geelong Sewerage and Water Trus | for permission to enter the wary reserve. Equipment used in they surveys was pureliased from a gray) wade by the M, A. Ingram Tru Native mammals were handled undy the provisions of a permit issued by the Fisheries and Wildlife Depa | ment of Victoria and our thanks yp expressed to the still of that depan | ment for their assistince and 9 operation in this work, Liki Mucey ekas drew the map and d, Ry Demp ster, J. Hy, Seeheek and D. Munro read the manuscript, RiP RESCES Anon, (1951) “Phe History of Sty jity, (S83S-19SL", The St Atna "Mercury, ND, ' Fryer, Ro and Temby, 1. (1964), "4 Mammal Survey of Stockman’s Re wand, Mirek Nal. 86, 48. Hampton, I, W. B. aml Seebeck. I. |! (1970), “Mammals of the Ride! District’ Mies Nat, 87, 192-204, § Matlingley, A, H, 6, (18tt) Note! Vier, Net 28, 49°50, MeKinlay, B, IP (1969). “Steiglilz — Geelong's Eldorado”, The Geelon: “Advertiser, 27/12/1909, p, 19. Sevheck, J, HL, Frankenberg, J. ate Hampton, J Wo FP, (1968), The Mammal Faynu of Duarlimurta’ Vie t Nat. 85, 184-193, Woolley, P. (1966). “Reproduction | Antechinus spp. and other Dasyurk marsupials”, Sympes. Zool, So Lon. No 1S. pp. 261-294- Flowers and Plants af Victoria in Colour Copies of this excellent book are still available, and of course would make 4 wonderful gift, They are obtainable from the P.N.C.¥. Treasurer, Mr. D. Melnines 70 Vict, Nat, Vol 83 Northern Strzelecki Heathlands by Jea~ GAvuRatrH Berween Longford and Willung ike heuthlands of the Gippsland Likes meet the first low thrust of the castern (wothills of (he Surzeleckt Ranges. The heathlands are divided jive a stream by the mcreasing height af the ridge. Westward from that point it becomes two streams, one owing south along the coast, and one flowing along the base of the northern foothills until it fades out in the plains west of ‘Traralgon. What we might call the southern stream is Fairly well known, although | know i only here and there. ‘The northern stteam which we in the Latrobe Valley know well, seems. to be little Known to others, although none Of our heathlands is more colourful of jnteresting. Only frag- ments remain unspoiled, and al- (hough there are four small wald- flower sanctuaries there is no national park or other large reserve To protect « sample of what is there. Thousands of acres of pines have blotted out the wildflowers except im broken patches and one [irge urea near Chersum Road (Rosedale South), the best part of which is also threatened. The Latrobe Valley ENC, is now hoping to obtain a large reserve in what remains. Most, possibly all, the species known in the Rosedale South heathlands, grow there, although not in such colourful abundance. This northern stream is bounded on the worth by the red gun plains of the Latrobe Vulley, and on the soullr it washes up the lower foothills of the Streeleckis. Without giving @ Marek, 1971 complete recon of all plone, ihe following notes give some idea of (he flora. The commonest eucalypts are F, nitide (east of Rosedale South only. $0 fal as 1 know), &. radiata, E. vinii- nalix, BE, dives, BL obliqua, EB, glob- oidea, I. bridgesiana, ky considenia, and #. cephalecarpa (tainly to the vast). While the commonest Acacias gre A. oxycedrus, A. diffusa, AL verti- villata, A. botryeerphala, A, muere- neta, with A. mitehellii ac Providenee Ponds, Leptospermunt myrsinoides forms i lower slorey over most of these heath- lands, with patches of L. pliylicoides and L, juniperinum. Through these is a bright interweaving of Lencaposan erivoides, Le virgatus, iepucris tm pressa, Acratriche serrulaia, A- pras- trate. Terrarheca pilava and Hibbertia srrieta, all abundant and widespread There are hirge, often pure, stands of Banksia serrate, and B. marginare grows over the whole area, Wedding Bush (Rieineearpos ginifaliuy) and Red Correa (€, reflexu) are also widespread though eoormoner in some parts than others. There are patches of Dotted Heath- myrtle (Thriplomene micraptha) as fur west as Dutson Downs lthough it is mast abundant on Sperm Whale Head (Lakes National Park). The flora ot the Lakes Park has been fully recorded by Mr, Fred Barton, for years the park ringer, and almost all heathland species Known there extend westward through Loch Sport uct least as lar as the Dutsan Downs afea, Where bowever Borania «ane- v1 monifolia, Leucopogen erievides, and often Damplera stricta are much more abundant and colourtal than I iave ever seen them ain the Lakes Park, while Bosstaea abeordata and Astroloma pinifalinm do not seem iy oceur west of Loch Spor and Providence Ponds. The dwarf pink- flowered form of Calin ferrugenir will) downy grey foliage does nel appear TO grow west Gf Dutson Downs, but is replaced near Rosedale South by the taller pale flowercel form with smooth, bright green leaves, Also at Rosedale South is ihe only gecurrenee | have seen in the heathland of a beauuful ghibrous form of Prasranihera — dentieulat with long terminal leafless racemes of Jarge wide-open purple flowers The goldfields form of this Rough Mint-bush is hairy with leaves | to J} im long and small deep purple iwo-lipped Mowers, but the Rosedale form is neurer to that Tasmanian form with 4 to goin. leaves and lighter purple ¢ in, flowers, very wide open wod only slightly two-lipped. The 3 to 6 ft. bushes amongst 2 to 3 ft bushes of bright pink Borentia unemonifalia and a Ayasaic of other flowers make the Rosedale Sauth heathland outstandingly colourful. Here too 18, apart from a smull “island” north of Moe, the most western occurrence Of Sowerhaed juncea and it as also the western limil of Bossiaea heterophylla. and (yo these heathlands) of Brauchyloma dapti- noides and Calyrix. There is a patch of the chiefly Mallee Cryprandra tomentose at Rosedale South, another Mallee species, Zreria veroniced neat Longford and Mibbertin virgata (Mal- lee and desert species) grows between Dutson and Rosedale where it 4s abundant. The Zieria is also a form characteristic of the area, with larger leaves, and smaller paler flowers than 72 in the north, with Mowers cupped op almost hooded instead of wide open In the North Stezeleeki heathland Hihbertia faseieulata also reaches jy western lirml near Meeriman’s Cree), south-west ol Rosedale, but 22. siriey und Af, weieulariv ytow Mhroughout the whale length, Tlayed heteroplivlla | have noticed only at Traralgon Souq) yt it is probably widespread, Aaryy vricoidey ws common cast of Long. ford, but farther west I kriow it oly on ane hill near Willing South, where there is also gn isolatech putch pf Leneopogon eollinuy. Corren réftexa var, cdrdinalls grows throuphout these heathlunds, with an especially fine form at ‘Traralgon South in the north and Hedley in the sonth, Seaevola raprosissina ahd Gompholohiine tatlaliam wraw ness Giormatidale, as western “islunds” a sustery species, camparable to the Senerhuca horth of Mae, Grevillea chirwwaphewa (var canescens) grows at Sperm Whale Head, but the typieul, much less hairy form ts fairly common at Longford, Rosedale, wae Traralgon South. Teltratheca pilava «6 common, but 7. ciliata and 1. erici- folia var. rubaeotdes. alihtogh scale tered through the heaths are com moner in the forests fo the north ind south. Other species ubundant in this heathland strip aré Pimelea linifolia, Persoania juniperina, Basxieve vin- vrea, Palreneea ganni, Dillwynia seriow!, D wlaberrinw, Kennedy prestrata, Hardenbereig — yfalucea, Conosperma voalubile (with CL cre vinea and ©, calymega less con mon), -tsfralama hiunitusae, Mene- tony scaparia, Srickhousta manage, Murtunthus procumbens and dainty little Poranthera picroplylla Four Hakes species, AL, verteea. Ht wlicina, H. pugeoniformis ant H, nodasa grow ih seattered patches: and Vict Nat Vol. 88 seven of the nine Victorian species of Drosera are found in one part or another. . areturi, being alpine, docs not grow here, and although D, spathnlata grows in the slightly dif- ferent heaths of Yallourn North, 1 have not seen it in the northern Strzelecki. heaths. Platysace lanceo- lata also is scattered through these heaths and Sechizea asperula, the Rough Comb-fern grows in Lwo places south of Rosedale, once with Bushy Club-moss (Lycopedium deutroden- yum), und there are many small species like Centrolepis and Crassula, ax well as lilies, irtds, and orchids which | have not mentioned. I have listed sixty orchid species but many more have been recorded, These will book review March, 1971 be published by others in a wider survey sO are not mentioned here. Composites are rather less common than in most places, although QOlearia ramulosa, Helichrysum obtusifolium, H, scorpioides, and Senecio lauiny are common and widespread (the Qlearia mainly where heath and forest flora meet), and there is one lowland occurrence of Helichrysum thyrsoideum at Traralgon South. Goodenia humilis, common near Yallourn, is uncommon here, and | have seen G. paniculata only near Providence Ponds. Many grassland plants, like Stvlidium graminifolium grow also in the heaths, but not more commonly than in the surrounding country. Birds of Victoria 2 (The Ranges) Published by the Gould League, Price: $1,50, The second of these excellent pub- hications is available. fo those who have ulready seen Book 1, anything said here would be trite: but to others, interested in bird study, this series of books should not be overlooked on any xwecount, In Book 2, five pages. including 4 colour plate of Victorian Forest Areas are given over to some valu- able information on Bird-Forest association. Margo Kréyer-Pedersen’s paintings ire again of a high standard, although the Cirey Shrike-Thrush does perhaps lack the dark bead-like eyes of the species. Every bird observer must have this book! 73 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Mrs. Edna King Another tragi¢ loss to the F.N.C.Y, occurred on Tuesday, 23 February, when Mrs, Edna King, the Assistant Editor, died suddenly. Hearilelt sympathy goes oul lo her husband and relatives, from ¢ members. Mrs. King was active in a number of fields connected with the Club not he least of these being Assistant Editor, in which she was of tremendon help, Runa’s bright and cheerful personality will be greatly missed frany Ciy) meetings and excursions iike.—Eprror, a General Meetings It is regretted that we are unable to publish the report of the January General Mecting; and can only give a brief report of the February meeting: Mrs, King, our late Assisant Editor, was preparing this report at the time of her death. General Meeting —8& February Poor to the meeting, an Pxtra- ordinary Meeting was held to consider the application for affiliation of the Mid-Murray Field Naturalists Trust. A motion approving of this was carne Mr. and Mrs, McFarlane, and Miss Irvine, three members of the Chib were present, The area represented by the ‘Trust was between Swan Hill and Robinvale on both sides of the river: and they were coneentrating on conservation. The General Meeting was chaired hy the President, Mr, T- Sault. and approximately 160 members Were pre- sent, including three new members. and Mr. E Allan (the immestiate past President) who has recently returned from overseas. ty was with regrer that the deaths of wo members were unnoiinced Mr. William Hunter, aml Mr P, J, Hemmie, Mr. Willis spoke of the viest amount of botanical work done im E, Gippsland by Mr, Hunter who wis A surveyor in the area, amd discovered many new species of plants, Mr. Hemime was well knewn for his knowledge of place names, and Was an aithority on building stones. His work mainly concerned the Grampians area, aod he Jed many excursions is éeology. Correspondence was received from M; J. Baines seeking nominations for a4 the Natural History Medallion awa 1 be in by May next, Also, the recently formed Warringy and Distrier Conservation — Society requested support in their effort to. con serve the marshland carey near the Banyule Flomestead, which ts bein threatened by over-developnicot, Notice was received from the PM« that the Pierormn Naturalist hid bees reclassified into Calegory A, insteat of B. A motion was carried to the ees that the Seeretary be notified before « meeung, of uny other business ie listed on the Agenda, and that such business be placed on the Agents Eahibitss N. MoParlane-—Seaevala sp, vathny ties with 8. fineariv) The Herbariin states that it wa new fecord for Vie | tora. collected in sand dune coun | near Annuello. south west af Rohr | vale. A. J, Swaky—Cushion Bush (Cul rephalis browmi), Leptesnenenin “Wer | ena”, Mrs. BK. Taylor two summer Hove | ening watlles 1-0. rerfiades ant Ae ter minalis) 'T. Saule—hanies’ Aprogs (1 reiculart dichatomeay, Mrs. Bennett Barly photographs of lower Hill and Warmumbooal areas: | A. Morrisurhe-Qleania eames and Nertera depre san | R. Condron «Ai iseuet Phe subject of the evening wis ttle! “Scenic ans Biolie Wonderland" —— lr address on an excursion IHrough New Guinea. given by Mr, J, H, Willis. Viet. Nat, Vol. 88 Murine Biology and Entomology Group d February, (971 the meeting was chaired by Mr, R. Condron; 18 members being in atten- tt Zilluh Lee announced {hat the Preston Junior Club would be staging a nauure show a Northlands Centre Court shopping centre at some date in ihe new future, and asked for help with exhibits from the Group, Help was offered by several members, and Mrs. Lee said that. provided the show was u success this year, it will he a reeular feature in the years to come. Dr. Brian Smith announced — that Museum Memoirs” as from the next publication. would go on sale, A repart of the Westertiport Survey will be pub- shed shortly (Part 2 No. 32); the pnee ta he announced. Dr. Briao Smith also unfounced that the first Museum ework-in” for this year would be on Saturday, [3 February at 10.30 a.m. Subsequent meetings to be held on 13 March, 24 April, 22 May, 19 June, and 17 July Uchibits: Missy McLaren—larva of a moth of the Anthelidae family from her garden in East Malvern, Misys White—Some slugs taken from Hickory Wattle al Lake Mountain— Crusader Bugs on Acacia from Edith- vale wand some leaf hoppers also from Edithvale. Wr. Kelly. some drowned — beetles from Bis swimming pool at Ivanhoe on which some small aquatic larvae appeared to be feeding, Vr MeInnes—what he thought might be a species of Ostracod taken from water at Cann River, Mr, McInnes said that these, if they were Ostracods, were larger than those he knew of, Mr, K. Strong—microscope slide of a small wasp which emerged from a gall tuken from a Silver Wattle trec. Mr. Godward—a tiger moth, family Arctiidae, probably Ardicey Glatignys, found resting on conerete at Parkville. Mr, Condran—same snails which Mr, Setford had given him from Dimbooli. Mr. Lone identified these as Helicella Virgauy an intwoduced snail from Fupope- found in West Victor and South Australia. Also two species of butterllies—Macleay's Swallowtail (Giru- phiwn = Macleayanis) taken oar Mt, Bonne Buans. und Anaphaeis Jave Tettonia (Caper White) taken at Box Hill. Mrs. Lee -a Molothurian washed uy on the beach at Somers in early Nov- ember. Dr. Brian Smith thought it was a deep water species. Mr. Kelly showed a series of colour transparencies. of the beetle fairly Chryvomelidac—leal-eating beeues. Mr, Kelly pave an interesting talk on these, explaining that there were approxi- mately 1,000) species in the famuly. Slides shown were of the Genus Perop- six, Close ups of several beautiful species Were shown, and also its lite cycle. Dr, Smith showed slides af a Gents of shells. He explained that 16 species of these were anmginally listed. bur that they had now been re-classified leaving only two species, This is the Triton family which is prediceous on star- fish. and us such is important as at helps bo reduce the numbers of the Crown of Thorns starfish. Taking of these shells is now banned, Geology Group Exeursions Sunday, 14 March — Deep Creek Gorge, Bulla, Leaders Mr. George Carlos. Sunday, 1 April — Eildon District, Leader; Mr Tom Sault. Transport is by private cur. Spare seats are usually available for (hose withour ie) own transport. Excursions leave from the western end of Flinders Street Sition teppei the COA, Building) ab 9.3\b ah March, 197) °5 cir ses OSOT 1809 JH Spuog YIRaMUoLULIOT) —junorsy yoog Jano[f r soo 18 — ysnor1oghinpy — adsasay Yyanssoy ys0o Je spuog yIRanuowwo) TAM UoLRP aeIsq Aovsay JsQD JB Spuog YIfRanuoWWO —puny Areigry] OF | o0Ts O01 (Ole I : yueg ye ysED j . 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Nat. Vol, 88 wy serandiwesy ey) JO su pur iaays aour(eg Burdurduivooe Pt} uormide Ino Ul pei) yodas AA tLe STS E9b' bT$ €10°L saiiqer] Jaco sjassy jo snjding Leg's LEO'R1 ra vane junorsy yood 1aK0]4 996'1 060't ‘ayY Waloig adoosos1y 090'I iiiya Aoviay] xouy ‘4 “T SSH, 21vSq O0T Sir Aonfay simay ‘y Aqny aieisg RIP Livs AoeSay WYysuAA UoLRI 91eisa LIt’s OT " yunor9y woOIsANX” 0? OEL qunossy jWawasoidiwy gn[D LE’! OOL ‘ puny Aapiqry OO OLL+ pung suoneoygnd 91S OOTES pun. suipym¢g COVE —slunossy pur spuny yeads _ pury ul juris ysniy, weiduy “VY “IN S8t — : sioupag Aypung — TUS aourape ut pred suonduasqns fOr$ SOUPEGEry 6961 POA 76 VINOLOIA JO A019 SLSVIVYOLYN OTA F6L'9$ TTL Is 908°PS 77 LSEL$ F6L'9$ LSELS avak a10j snjding — douminsuy = ¢¢ Ageigry pue [PH JO Woy PRC 90F WUBIQA YsNI~, WeIsUy ssa‘T (Sg) gop sasuadxq dnoin Asaing jRWwURyy re Os upay OS £99 aouRIsIssy [ROH P surdd | 691'I ZL sosuadxy uOTITEPIIN AsOWSIA [RAMNIVN IPl Fn Ipoh 10J WOYyaqd +69 (xd way qnj[D towns UoIsc1g 6l rd saspreg jo yooIg — snydung IZ suonRruog OLT quay JO yuaWARd ied pue suondriosqng ‘soa. uonRIyy Itl puny Sulpjing wo poiiaysuny junowuy Cc] 89 sasuadxq |R19uay 1s 6 awoour Aupung ¢o OP asRIOIg JOJ WOOY JO JOY OF Sor = ec 66£ 901 Ad AIQUONRIS FY SuNULidg 6LT 9¢] spuog JO uoldwopay uo WNW 6LI$ suoydajay. wy asRISOg LLI LeTZ Ando] TWA “JA UO JUaWySaAUu] —sasuadxq SUlyIOAA L& : junossy yueg S$ : puny Aseiqry LS6 quBIny SNL weIsUy Ssa‘] (808) —poalaoay W919} U] gor’ v7l ISIPANIVN URYOPIA UL SuIsHiaapy £1 Lee ; ISIBINIBN UPMOPTA JO SAIPS ele Os [eHoupy OT (me TLE suryoyedsiq] 6le trl © Sunsoddng v€l LTL sunesny|y s10'l LPR'S , WoL) Lees sie rs Sululld Spr’ r$ cSIg ; SIvOILY 79S —4syeinyeN UPLODIA —Ppaarasay suondiuosqns syamArd sydia99y 6961 6961 IPIA IPI A ‘OL6l ‘MAAWAOAC ig GAGNA UVAA AHL YOA SLNAWAVd ¥ SldIFDIA AO LNAWALWLS ILNNOSDSIV TWYANHD VIAOLOIA AO AND SLSTIVAHOLYN OTA March, 197] FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA BUILDING FUND Amount of Fund at 31st December, 1969 |. $3,103 Interest on Investment and from Bank Account 168 oe =~ 3,27] Less Amount transferred to General Account for payment of rent 170 Amount of Fund at 31st December, 1970 ; $3,10) PUBLICATIONS FUND Amount of Fund at 3lst December, 1969 $4,516 Surplus for the year from— Ferns of Victoria and Tasmania . ; $34 Victorian Toadstools & Mushrooms : 37 Vegetation of Wyperfeld National Park 63 Interest on Special Bonds and Bank Account 120 Amount of Fund at 31st December, 1970 $4,770 CLUB IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT Amount of Account at 31st December, 1969 $1,037 Nature Show Profit : A. . 108 Profit on Booksales ray 3) $1,175 Less Purchase of Library Books, Binding, Furniture and Equipment 44§ Amount of Fund at 3lst December. 1970 $730 78 Vict. Nat. Vol. 88 A Wide Range of Microscopes | including Biological Microscope 1500 X Oil immersion, Condenser and | Mechanical Stage $95.00 and Stereo-binocular Microscope $61.33 | feta 2 te ENTOMOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT \A Guide to Australian Spiders | ; by Densey Clyne $4.95 tutlerfly nets, pins, store-boxes, etc. eX a We are direct importers and . manufacturers, Also a full range of Astronomical ; and Tetrestrial Telescopes and specialise in Mail Orders from (write for free price fist) ' Genery s | Scientific Equipment |_| AUSTRALIAN | ENTOMOLOGICAL SUPPLIES Supply 14 Chisholm St., Greenwich F i ' 183 Little Collins St., Melbourne | Sydney 2065 Phone: 43 3972 PHONE: 63-2160 a E.N.C.V. PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FERNS OF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA, by N. A. Wakefield. The 116 species known and described, and illustrated by line drawings, and 30 photographs. Price 75c. VICTORIAN TOADSTOOLS AND MUSHROOMS, by J. H. Willis. This describes 120 toadstool species and many other fungi. There are four coloured plates and 31 other illustrations. New edition. Price 90c. THE VEGETATION OF WYPERFELD NATIONAL PARK, by J. R. Garnet. Coloured frontispiece, 23 half-tone, 100 line drawings of plants and a map. Price $1.50, Address orders and inquiries to Sales Officer, F.N.C.V., National Herbarium, South Yarra, Victoria, Payments should include postage (IIc on single copy). aS March, 1971 79 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Established 1880 OBJECTS: To stimulate interest in natural history and to preserve and protect Australian fauna and flora. Patron: His Excellency Major-General Sir ROHAN DELACOMBE, K.B.E., C.B. DSO. Key Office-Bearers, 1970/71 President: Mr. T. SAULT Vice-Presidents: Mr. J. H. WILLIS; Mr. P. CURLIS Hon. Secretary: Mr. D. LEE, 15 Springvale Road, Springvale (546 7724). Hon, Treasurer & Subscription Secretary: Mr, D. BF. McINNES, 129 Waverley Road, East Malvern 3145 Hon, Editar: Mr. G. M. WARD, 54 St. James Road, Heidelberg 3084, Hon. Librarians Mr. P. KELLY, c/o National Herbarium. The Domain, South Yarra 3141, Hon, Excursion Secretary: Miss M. ALLENDER, 19 Hawthorn Avenue, Caulfield 3161. (52.2749), Magazine Sales Officer: Mr. B. FUHRER, 25 Sunhill Av , North Ringwood, 3134 Group Secretaries: Botany: Mr. J. A. BAINES, 45 Eastgate Street, Oakleigh 3166 (57 6206). Microscopical: Mr. M. H. MEYER, 36 Milroy Street, East Brighton (963268) Mammal Survey: Mr. P. HOMAN, 40 Howard Street, Reservoir 3073, Entomelogy and Marine Biology: Mr. J. W. H. STRONG, Flat 1t, “Palm Court” 1160 Dandenong Rd., Murrumbeena 3163 (56 2271), Gealogy: Mr. T. SAULT. MEMBERSHIP _ Membership of the F.N.C_V. is open to any person interested in natural history. The Victorian Naturalist is distributed free to all members, the club's reference and lending library is available, and other activities are indicated in reports set out in the several preceding pages of this magazine. Rates of Subscriptions for 1971 Ordinary Members $7.00 Country Members a) $5.0 Jomt Members : = $2.00 Junior Members ._. . $7,0 Junior Members receiving Viet. Naf, : § . $40 Subscribers to Viet. Nat. - ; : $5.4 Affiliated Societes uw. = = 7 $7.0 Life Membersnip (reducing after 20 years) 22 ee et =. = $1409 The cost of individual copies of the Viet, Nat. will be 45 cents, All subscriptions should be made payoble fo the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, anc posted to the Subscription Secretary. 7) JENKIN BUXTON & CO. PTY. LTD., PRINTERS, WEST MELBOURNE |. 88, No. 4 APRIL, 1971 Published by the FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA In which is incorporated the Microscopical Society of Victoria 45-c Registered in Australia for transmission by post as a periodical. Category “A” Vp P.N.C.V. DIARY OF COMING EVENTS GENERAL MEETINGS Wednesday, 14° April — Al National Herbarium, The Doman, South Yarra, cop meneing at & p.m, I. Minutes, Reports, Announcements, 2, Nature Notes and Exhibits, 3, Subject for the evening — “Wilson's Promontory”; Mr, J. Ros Garnet, 4, New Members, Ordinary: Miss Linda Barraviowell, Plat 4, 104 Riversdale Rd. Hawthorns, 3122 Mies Susam Meer, 73 Cirey St., Bust Melboucniy 3002, Dr P Brideewater, Howin Mall, Monash University, Clayton, 316s Mi. Gralan) Willan, Wyeherley, Flot 6, 492 Barkers Ra, bast Hawthorn, 2123 Mis, bdith Ann Pedeana, 28 MoCiregor St, Middle Park, 7206, Joints Mr Alan Gros and Mre Joseplune Gues, 43 Chapel Rd), Moorabbin, 3169 Country: Mr. Geo W Caer, 19 Mighview Pde, Hamlyn Heights, Geelong, $715 Joint; Mesure Robite and Ivan Sparge, Spdrge Ski Lodge, Walls Oreck, 3659 §. General Business. 6, Correspondence. Monday, 10 May — “New Guinea Highlands’: Mr 1. EL Willis. PNA.Y. EXCURSIONS Sunday, 18 April—Barfold Columns, leader, Mr. F. Robbins. The coach will leave Batman Avenue at 9.30 am, Fare $1.80, Bring two meals, Saturday, 21 August to Sunday, 5 September — Flinders Ranges. The coach wil leave Melbourne Saturday morning and travel via Bordertown, Adelaide, Quom, Wilpena (2 nights), Arkaroola (4 nights), Wilpena, Port Augusta (3_ nights), Renmark, Swan Hill, Melbourne. Most of the accommodation will be on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis but at Arkaroola there will be bunks in buts, bed only, but meals are available in the dining or food can be obtained at store, with a certain amount of motel accommodation as well. Cost will depend upon numbers going but should be in the vicinity of $150 with bunks a Arkaroola of $195 with motel accommodation. Deposit of $50.00 fo be paid when booking, cheques being made out to Excursion Trust. GROUP MEETINGS (8 pam. at National Herbarium unless otherwise stated) Thursday, 8 April—Botany Group. Mr. F. Woodman will speak on “Some Aspects ‘ of Natural History in South Africa’, Wednesday, 21 April Microscopical Group. Friday, 30 April—Junior Meeting at Hawthorn Town Hall at 8 p.nt. Monday, 3 May—Entomology and Marine Biology Group mecting at & p.m. ii National Museum in small room next to thewtrelte, Wednesday, 5 May—Geology Group, ‘Thursday, 6 May—Mammal Survey Group Meeting in Arthur Rylah Research Institute building; corner of Stradbroke and Brown Sts., Heidelberg. at § p.n), Thursday, 13 May—Botany Group, GEOLOGY GROUP EXCURSIONS Lt) April — CANCELLED. % and 9 May—A weekend excursion to the deep lead munes in the Creswick ares is being arranged in conjunction with the Creswick Field Naturalists, Campity facilities and hotel accommodation are available, 6 June — To Waurn Ponds in search of sharks’ teeth. 82 Vict. Nat. Vol. 88 The Victorian Naturalist Editor: G. M. Ward F.N.CNV, Vol, 88, No. 4 7 April, 1971 CONTENTS Articles: The Aborigines and Lady Julia Percy Island, Victoria. By Edmund D. Gill and Alan L. West ..., set . , one: 846 The Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby in Western Victoria. By N. A. Wakefield it P 7 92 Rediscovery of the Large Desert Sminthopsis on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. By Peter F. Aitken . 4) g OS Personal: William Hunter (1893-1971), Doyen of East Gippsland Botanists 88 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: Diary of Coming Events . Front Cover: Thorny Devil, Mountain Devil, Moloch horridus—these names all belong to this, one of ‘Australia’s most bizarre lizards. Inhabiting the desert areas of most States of the mainland, it feeds solely on small black ants; eating many thousands in a meal. ‘ Photo: John Wallis. April, 1971 83 The Aborigines and Lady Julia Percy Island, Victor; by Bomuno D. Givi! Fron Cape Reamur, The Craigs, ar the jop of the dunes at Yambuk, west of Port Fairy. Western Victoria, wn ishund ean he seen five rmiles off Ihe coast, Tt is roughly triinguher om outline, aver a mile long and over half w mile wide. With vertical vliffs, it Startds 100 to 150 feet out of the seu (See Plute |), When seen tron at (listanee, it intrigues peaple by reason of tts high steep walls and flit top, The usdul reaction is 16 gaze in sur prise aid ask "What on earth is that?” fist as our curiosity ts aroused by the sight of the istiund, so was that of the Aborigines. Jt held an iipor tant place in their mythology, und we now have evidence in the form of a flint seraper that Aborigines may have visited the island Lady Julia Perey is the nume of this uninhabited ishund. Only seals and seabirds (and more recently rabbits) live there. The seas ure commonly rough in the vicinity, which, combined with the lack of water and sandy beaches. and the presence Of steep cliffs, makes il rather inhospituble, Liewtenane James Grunt named the island in TSS8O, Wlinders chanted it im LSO2 (ear menting on tts cliffs and fat top), and the Frenchman Baudin sighted it in the same year (referring to its treeless. condition, being “covered only swith low heath"), Sixty years later, Surveyor Allan described the thick scrub as ai impediment to his work, but this has all gone new duc to the rabbits, Th the 1800's the island hud a lurge coluny of seals. However, fhe sealers who worked this enast almost wiped out the seal popula- gs ant Anan L, West® Hons, id tad to leave when the industry became unprofitable. ‘Thy established no settlement on Syl, Perey, but it ts recorded that yp were burled there in the 1820's. \ wivall aanount of guana wits collects Iheres aml the island Was used href) for ple Larming, Probably the longee period for which the ishind wy inhabited Was in 1935, when fy) three mouths the MeCoy Society oe, ned oul scientific research — they (Wood Jones et al. 1997). | Sire of a Voleano The MeCoy Socicty report describe the island as a voleunic complex of boulder tuft and some six lava flows. The headland called Pinnacle Poin is the neck of a voleano where the Jaya congealed to form solid) basalt, The flatness of the island is due to fava flows, while the steep chills are due to marine crosion of the boulde: jut! causing vertical breakaways of the averlving basalt. The tufts and inchuiled ejected rocks are evidence | of an explosive volcano, while the lava flows are evidence of a subse guent milder phase of activity in the form of an effusive yent, UW is inter esting to enquire whether Aborigines suw the island volcano in eruption, Quite possibly they did. ‘The MeCoy researchers noted the shallow soil oi the ishurd and the lack of a drammage pattern, concluding from this that the island 1 young. The lava flow on which Port Pain is built is Penul timate Glacial in age (Gill 1967), while the ‘Tower Hill voleane north: east Of Port Fairy is bout 740 vears old on the latest dating, To the *National Museuii of Vietori Vict, Nat Val $2 west, a peat immediately over a lava low from Mt, Napier dated about 4235 years old, so probably is of the same order Of age as Tower Hill, perhups the volcano at Lady Julia percy Island belongs to this group: { so, it erupted oul of the sea. Hf iv is older, it probably erupted when cea level was much lower, in which rase the Aborigines would have been able fo Walk out to it aboriginal Mythology James Dawson was a land bolder in the Western District m the nine- wenth century. From the pen of this keen = recorder of Aboriginal lle (Dawson JS81) we learn that the Guiditjmara Whe lived on the main- jand opposite the island regarded it as a place of considerable import- ance, Dawson states that when the bodies of the dead were buried they were wrapped in grass. Should grass be found in the mouth of a maintund eave facing the island, following a Plate 1, April, 1971 lady Julia Perey Island, Dinghy Cove, death, this was regarded as a good omen. It signified that the body of the deceased had been removed through the cave to the island by a good spirit. Front the island the spirit of the dead was conveyed to the clouds, Should a meteor be seen ut about the same time, this was interpreted as fire, being taken up with the spirit of the dead. Daw- son records the name of the island #8 Deen Maar. R. H. Mathews (1904) spelt the name slightly differently as Dhinmar hut his account of the significance of Julia Percy Island jn Aboriginal myth is largely in agreement wih ihal of Dawson. He added the jiter- esting comment thar the dead were buried with their heads pointing towards the island. As far as We know this proposinon has. fo date, not been tested, Contrary to Dawe son, it was Mathews’ view that in Aboriginal belief hyman spirits uWaited re-incarnation on the island. Photo: & Warneke 85 A centre associated in the minds of Ahonyines with departed spirits. would hold few attruetions, Vor this reason the absence, in the past, of signs oof Aboriginal visitation has aroused litte comment, Artefacts In Faiuary, 1968, Mr. Trevor Pes- cou. of Geelong forwarded several pieces of [lit to the National Museum of Victoria, He reported having found them on Julia Perey Istared and added that they looked rather like Aborigmal artefacts, One of the authors (A,L,W,) examined — the flakes and agreed that they appeared to be the waste products of an Aboriginal craftsman, The view was expressed (hat the flakes could more assuredly be associated with Abori vines if an undoubted artefact were found on the island. This discovery has now taken place. When «n Australian Broadcasting Commission party visted the island in July 1970, Mr, Robin Hill picked up a well-formed Aberiginal flint scraper on the southern part of the island (Pigure |). At the same time. Mr. Robert Warnecke found at Dinghy Coye on the NE shore, a small Hint core und u flake, The lutter fied back perfectly om to the core. It is possible thal the flake could have been struck by a geologist, but the scraper is an indubituble Abori- einal implement, lt was mide on a disc-shapest thike roughly 4.4 em. in diameter, and is secondarily trimmed all around the circumference. As the druwitrg shows, there is a clear colour demarcation through the material, indicating 4 difference in Composition, The stippled urea i the drawing represeits that part of the scraper which is a light grey-fawn in colour gad which in compansen with the other area 86 appears to be of coarser lexture. Tp remaining tWwoethirds consists of ' fine-grained slightly = mottled {\yp runging in colour from dark grey 4 light grey with a yellowish tint, Ny bulb of percussion is clearly visib) on the inner surface and this surfay is also typical in having two differoa curves af right angles to one another In the drawing the vertical cry. section shows the conyex curve While the concave surface is apparent in the horizontal cross-section. Tt is no Suggested that this opposed curvature is other than fortuitous, but it as oe umusdal feature. Aborivinal Vistts? The core and flakes, probably made by Aborigines, found in recent years on the istund, and im particular, the Aboriginul semper, present jt chal- lenge to the generally held view that Aborigines did not visit Juha Peroy Island, There are at least two reasons for Aborigines wanhng to visit Jul Perey and one, the island's place in mythology, to explain their possible reluctance fo do so. We have no knowledge of the antiquity of the legend which explyins the ishind as a spirit centre. HW could be that the stone material was left by Aborigines when they visited the istand betore ihe creation of the legend. On the other hand even at the time of first European contact the Gunditjmara may occasionally have gone ro the istand even though they regarded 7 as a Spit contre. The Abongimes’ curiosity and. the promise of food in the form ot seals, exps amd seabirds would have provided a strange incennve for them io Brave ihe tongh waters On the isind are small pebble beaches where Jandings can be made whes the sea is not too rough, The pebbles are mostly af basalh fs one would Vict, Nar Vel HS expect): but of other kinds, those of fint being the most numerous (Stach \y37). The Aborigines found flint an ileal material tor their purposes, and x may be that if they visited Jufia percy they did so as much for the supply of flint as for food, ‘Most of the flint found in Wes- wr and Northern Victoria came from the Mount Gambier Limestone, gs the fossils bear witness. The Mount Gambier area was outside the tribal territory of the Cuinditjmara, so the stone would have to be traded. ts wide distribution (Gill 1957) shows how strongly it was favoured, so the trade “price” could have been appreciable, There would theretore Tiguie 1. | ae AS is 4 A aA : UA BS ; | Draun loss ; - SNe! he real point in haying (heir own supply from the island, The Mount Gambier Limestone passes out under the sea, so probably during times of lower sea level nodules were eroded from the formation and were moved about by currents and the surf, The European sealers who hunted on the island in the early decades of Jast century were offen accom- panied by Aboriginal (mostly Tas- manian) women, [t is possible that one of these may have dropped the flint scraper hut the weight of evi- denee, we think, indicates that some Aborigines visited lady Julia Perey Island possibly searching for food, flint or both. Flint Scraper (No. X75383 N.M.V.). Lady Julia Perey Island. (Full size), April, 1971 87 REPERESCES Dawson, £, L881. ebiivtraluin Aharigines, $) 52. OU © DD, 1957. the Australian Abor- vines and fossils, Piri Nat, 74; 93-97, Gil, E. 1D, 1967. Evolution of the Warrnambool-Port Fairy coast and the Tower Hill Eruption, Western Vietoria, Chap, 15 in’ Landlorn Studies in Australia and New Guinea, Ed. Jennings wad Mabbutt, AJN.U. Gill, E. D., and Gibbons, F R., 1969. Radiocarbon date related to yaleao- ism atid Jake depasits im Western Vic toria, Anat, Je Scr 32s 109, Jones, F, Wood, et al, [937. Lady dij) Porey Island, Reports of the Expggj. on . 2. Prov, Roy. Sec. Vien 44, 327-437 Mathew, By Ha, 1904 Ethnologio. Notes on the Aboriginal tribes of Ney South Wales and Victoria, J, Roy, Sy. NSW. 297, Stuch, [, W., 1937, General fevlogy (McCoy Soe Rept.). Ubid. 49: 32% 343 William Hunter (1893-1971) Doyen of East Gippsland Botanists On 21 January, at the Gippsiind Home and Hospital in) Barnsdale, life ended for a fine, accomplished, helpful and lovable old oaturalist m his 78th. vear, William Hunter was born at Tatura in the Goulbura Val- ley, Vic.. on 16 July, 1893. His Presbyterian father, also William Hunter who owned a drapery and general store there, had migrated with a younger brother from Millport on the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, dur ing the 1860's. . One of six children, young Hunter was educated at the local Vatura State School until 12) years old, when be continued at Mr 4ercho’s Deaconesses’ High School (Anglican) for another three years. Wishing for tim (o ge inte business at the fumuly store, his father was eventually per- suaded—by Mr. Campbell at the Working Men’s College—to let Wil- liam come to Melbourne and take a Junior Teehnieal Course. Atter his first year at College, the boy wen scholarship for senior technical train- ing over the Next three years; but in his second yeae he became w suryey- ing apprentice to W, P, Steen (who Was a lecturer on the College staff). at the age of 18, 88 When 22, and with apprenticeship completed, he enlisted in the A..F during November, 1915, as an infantryman — although he would much have preferred the engineers He joined a mining and tunnelling company, dnd went abroad in Sep- tember 1916 in the Second Pioneer Battalion, While in camp on Salisbury Plain he was able to visit Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. In March 1917 he went on service to France uotil the end of World War 1. Within a month of his return to Victoria, Hunter apphed for a sur veying posifion and worked under Mr. J. D. Hope in Gippstand, but early in 1921 he went surveying in Tatura district so as to be near his family. Mir. Moit, destrict surveyor in Exst Gippsland, recommended him for feature surveying in that district and he went there in 1923. Except for qecasional jobs in the Cioulburo Valley, Bill Hunter's acuvities hence- forth were virtually restricted to East Gippsland for the remainder of his lite. As ou leewsed surveyor he worked yurlously for government isirimen- talits and shire ¢éminicils, His plans were models of peathess und Thorough- ness, while his faultless copperplate Vict Nat Vol. 88 jeterimge Weoame almost legendin een long letters and reports were qencilously seripted! During tHe great depression of the eotly [9320's his father was forced aut of business, and both parents came to live with their son at Buirns- Wyle. Hunter semior died ty 1937 and \ys wife in 1949—at a private hos- wihal mn Melhourne where she had seen invalided for two years: Mrs, Hunter was formerly a keen gar- dener wid eroguet player. Bill never marricel, Soon alter his purents retired in Baunsdiule. W. Hunter met Mr, fhony a former mijet in the British Army who had been educated at Heidelbere (Germany) and had trvelled widely. Thom gave Hiiter ap interest in’ the local flara, having himself acquired Ewart’s Flora of Victoria (1931) to help him identity the Vegetation uround his selection on the Cann Valley Highway, near the N.S.W. border. Mrs. Agnes Thom become a country meritber of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (elected 13/5/1935), and she soon proposed =Hunter for membership also; he was duly elected on 20 April, 193h, but his name was inadvertently omilled From the list of new members published next month in ihe Victorian Nanwraliv. The Thoms persuaded Hunter to get his own copy of Fwart's Flora, then selling for $3, and they encouraged many bush animals to Trequent their property. About this time, Hunter alsa came wo know Prank Robbins who ‘was leaching science at Bairnsdale Higher Elementary School, and the two went on several hetanical excursions. Bill Hunter Subsequently sent a long series Of specimens for identificatian to TS. Hart (which, on Mr, Hart's death in Tune, f960. exme to the Melhourne Herbanum) ahd orchid specimens fo the Lite W.-H. Nicholls, April, 1971 Later in 1936 he vowipiled an anno: tuted census of all the plants known to dale for Bast Gippshind, followed aver succeeding years by severl suipplenieots as new records came fu light, These beautifully written tees ure mow in the writer's library. as is also his “List of the Suggan Bugyan Flora", presented by the late Georve N. Hyam im Apni, 1944. By 1997 systemulic bolany was almost Hyn- ter’s colsuming ubsession. bis enthu- siasm heivhtened through acauisi- tontion of » good set of Bentham’s Flora Aystralieusis (purchased for £17/17.-), While surveying along the Ded- dick River for the Tubbut to Wulgul- mierang road, in December, 1936, W, Hunter found a solitary bush (8 ft of the very rare Myoporiny flor Auadum, (hus substantiating FL Muel- ler's premature record in the Key Sure Mier. Plunts (1888) — Mueller himself had collected this plant in Feb. 1854, but along the Snowy River just inside New South Wales. This is the most graceful and heau- uful of all Boobialla species. Hun- ter’S surveying companion at the Deddick River was Clem Heather who, for amusement, would often earve human faces on conspicuous trunks and tree stumps. The name “Old Joe's Creek" was bestowed by Bill Hunter after a black-painted efligy that Clem, had cut nearby: they christened the carving “Old Black Joe”, but it has long since dis- appeared, During his surveys of potential selliement blocks at Suggan Buggan and Ingeegoodbee, for about two years in 1938 and 1939, opportunity was taken to mike extensive botanical collections, As 4 result, many old recordings of F. von Mueller were confirmed and a nomber of tew records made for Vietorig. It was through the finding of Cryplosiylis 89 liumierana Nicholls (Mareh 183s) an Marlo thal Bill first came ute contact with N. A, Weketield, Orcht- dologist Wo oH, Nicholls had tele- erammed Marlo, saying “Send more Cryprosnyliy leptoaelila (whieh Hun- te? had called 1), but the latter failed to rediscover the unusual orchid in that district. Nicholls then commis- sioned the Wakefield family of Orbost io make aly intensive Search, Norman Wakefield and his futher succeeded in lacaling more material which became the type far this new and remarkable species. Many years Jater Waketicld named adeacia lunterana (Snowy River Wattle) in honour of his friend, unaware that the same species had previously been deseribed in New South Wales under the name Acucia hoormanii. With all his tmmense store of field knowledge, Bill Plumer published astonishingly little, He seems to have made only three contmbulions to the Mictorian Naturalist, vir 1, “List of orchids recorded far Last) Gippsland” (Dee, 1935) with Valuable notes on dts- tnibulion, “The Mountain of Goonmirk, East Gipps- land” (May (941) —- teeord dimensions are piven for this usually sprawling conver which at Goonmirk (300011, all.) altuined 20-25 fi, with teuks up to L ft. in diameter al the hyse.t “Hubs of Eust Gippsland Curmiwongs™ (fan, 1954), Early in 1950 he moved from Buirnsdule to Marlo (at the Snowy River mouth). and during [954 he built a collage on The northern ot iN Plum Pine tot Vonter® qemeneements are Coupecd Vy Md of ee coceytivnally Sig specie cot Po lociet mi iuasired in the few are ay 13 Mey Ie Te Tj Shoot aot aomier of Ty time pf FE 99 ale AN been Jhiowe Ule projuiel! skirts of Mallieoot: there he casi wun impoverished circumstances apy failing health demanded his remova) to Bairnsdale Home and Hospital yy 1969, The local bush hurse at Matly cool, Sister Dickerson, laberly Rep) a kindly eye on his welfare: hy nothing delighted the old suryeyor more than a call trom some visiting botanist — with, perhaps, a ramble in the nearby bush that he knew gq Well, ‘The writer's Eriendship and corres. pondence with Bul Hunter covey more than 26 years, from ¢arly in 1943, when he became very enthiu siashc in collecting and idenpfying Bast Coppsland flung to his fast letter (still in the neatest script) of 16 March, 1969. One remembers hint as a stacky man with round faee, pale blue duncing eyes, white bristly “prison-cut" hair and a loud penetrating voice. | well recall travel- ting with fim once on uy Melbourne tram, when he began deseribing one af his recent botanical trophies, and how distiner ip seemed from spevies so-uimbso, Phrases like “ealyx split to the bettam', “anthers with a hairy appendage” and “ovary quite infer ior’ shouted in oa crescendo of excitement abeve the rattle of the tram —soon had the heads of curious tind Stiurtled fellow-passengers crancd i our direetian! Bill was most preeise, punctilious and at times @ litte stubhbom. Same umusing stores are told about his e- ploits: the time his laden pack- horse, rot very suecessfully Strapped, bolted up Wulgulmering way and left a trail of camping supplies dis- tributed for many chains along the mountsin wack: the time he reaches! wingerly fOr an apple while stecring his old car and ran off use road mle the bush, Onee he brished with puliceman about his {oilure to brave Vict Nat, Vol. 58 ——$—$_ SS OEOEEOL).0OY el windsereen wipers on his car: In vain Reluctantly, Bill confessed “Well, pill explained that, whenever visibility... what would you do if someone was impaired — by mud Or insect spilt (obacco ash in your porridge?” eploulges, be simply wiped the glass Such foibles only serve to throw in clean with a handkerchief — surely contrast the sterling qualities of a that Was sufficient? “Mr. Hunter’, character that is becoming annually iysisted the ollicer, “ihe Law reguires scarcer, Our Club is grateful for one that you instal windsereen Wipers’, of Victoria's most — distinguished Al) Bill could snort was “Then J naturalists and amateur botanists, a definitely consider the Law is an man who did so much in a4 busy iiss". decade to elucidate the floristics of On another occasion, when break- East Gippsland. He is fittingly com- fasting with @ camp-mate, he suddenly memorated by a small wildflower japsed into silence and refusec to reserve that he helped to establish speak for Several days. At last his near Marlo Racecourse, to protest unhappy companion could bear the rare orchids including his own tension No longer and said: “Look — Cryptostylix hunterana, here, Bill, we can’t go on like this. What's the trouble? If T've offended you mm any way, then out with it’. J. AH. Wiis Vale, William Hunter! en nn ee een ee se, ae ae a ae, F.N.C.V. PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FERNS OF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA, by N. A, Wakefield. The 116 species known and described, and illustrated by line drawings, and 30 photographs. Price 75c. VICTORIAN TOADSTOOLS AND MUSHROOMS, by J. H. Willis. This describes 120 toadstool species and many other fungi. There are four coloured plates and 31 other illustrations. New edition. Price 90c. THE VEGETATION OF WYPERFELD NATIONAL PARK, by J. R. Garnet, Coloured frontispiece, 23 half-tone, 100 line drawings of plants and a map, Price $1.50, Address orders and inquiries to Sales Officer, F.N.C.V., National Herbarium, South Yarra, Victona. Payments should include postage (1! c on single copy). i THE WILD FLOWERS OF THE WILSON’S PROMONTORY NATIONAL PARK by J. Ros Garnet PRICE: $5.25 Contact local Secretary or write direct ta; F.N.C.V, Magazine Sales Officer Postage 20 cents April, 1971 9] The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby (Pefrogale penicillota| in Western Victoria hy N. A, Wakifiinb: ABSTRACT Lvidence is presented of past oecirr ences of Petragale penicillauri in W, Vic, — fossil remaims at Byaduk Caves. fucces al Mowat Arapiles, and. old hterature relerenees fo living animals in the Granrpians, Details are given of the discovery af a sucviving colony in the Grampians, dud of observations of three members of the colony The habitat is deseribed, and resilts are given of wn assessment of food of the jacal rovk-wallubies, based on study ot sumples of faeces, Other manrmils occurting in the colony area ate noted, und assessment is made of the extent and numerical strength of the rock- wallaby occurrence, Suggestions are mide for conservauon of the Granipians rock-wallabies, INTRODUCTION The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby was thought to have disappeared from Victoria over 50 years ago, and it was rediscavered in the Snowy River valley in NE. Gippsland by Mr, Keith Rogers of Wulgulmerang in about 1938 (Wakelield 1953). Sub. sequently if Was ascertained that the species survived in abaut nine small colony areas i that region, and thal it was apparently limited to a tract of country approximately 25 miles long and 20 miles wide (Waketicld 1961, 1963b)- An additional one-ame occurrence of the species is documented by Lin- gard (date unknown), wha describes a rock-wallaby colony which he visited in the Currawong area, near the Snowy River in SE, New South Wales, in 1842 (see Fig. 1). During the past several years the NE. Gippsland colonies have been 92 reduced in number ‘The one at Wal laby Rocks, Wulgulmerang, tas: died out, and the colony near Moun; Seldom-seen appears to have been eliminated in the severe bushfire of 1965. Other of the smaller oceutr- enees may also huve succumbed, by, the species should survive indefinitely both in the Linthe River Gorge. Wul- gulmerang, and in the Snowy Rive Gorge to the cast of Butchers Ridge, Subfossil remulns of single individual of Perragale — penicillayy were found m one of the Byaduk Caves. SW. Vie, by Me. Lionel Elmore of Hamilton, in 1961. This material was considered to be pre- historic (Wakelield 1964a), and \ represent “the sole indication that the species ever occurred in W. Vice toria” (Wakefield 1964b).. However, the latter opinion overlooked repork by Thomas (1868) and Audas (1925, 1950) that the species lived in the Grampians. Figure 1 shows past and presen occurrences of Pelrogale penicillata in and near Victoria, The localities are Whose discussed in previous fe ports (Wakefield L953, 1961, 19634) and im the present article, Yue Byapux SPECIMILN This was found in the Bridge Cive, Byadak, “on racks in cavern behind bat chamber”, and it comprises mos! of u skull, with adult dentition un one side, and large pieces of post cranial bones. It is lodged un the *Bistogy Bepartent, Morotst ‘Peachere ee Teve, Clayton, Vietoria Vict. Nat, Vol. 88 National Muscum of Victoria, regis- tered number P21009. Following are some dimensions of skull and teeth: Basal length 93.6 mm. p4 length 6.8 mm. Ps length 5.6 mm, MI length 20.0 mm. No feature of the Byaduk speci- men differentiates it from the Petro- gale pentcillata of eastern Victoria. OccuRRENCR AT Mount ARAPILES On 6 November, 1969, a small deposit Of bones und debris was {yund on 4 Sheltered ledge of a cliff at Mount Arapiles in far-western Vic- loria. In the deposit were several typical rock-wallaby faecal _ pellets. These were light grey in colour and appeared lo have been preserved in ihe deposit for at least several decades, Associated bone material included specimens of Conilurus ulhipes and Pseudomtys spp.. which evidently disappeared from W. Vic. some time last century, as well as The Ure Gramgueow y 79 ‘ 1 ‘ ‘ ' i] ' ‘ ' ' f snl ret ' 4 i} ‘ ' ' 4 ' ' ' . Figure J, @~ Extant wiinny oO 1 —- Matt Arapytes 2- See Tintuldra 6 ! area *—Soerp of Comet Range Ivadok Cares April, 1971] ¥ICTORIA of the introduced mouse (Mus jnus- culus) and rabbit (Oryerolaguy cunt- euluy). Further search brought to light about 25 similar rock-wallaby faeces, located in crevices in other parts of the cliff system, The extensive broken outcrop of Devonian sandstone which comprises much of Mount Arapiles, appears fo be ideal rock-wallaby habitat, and the species probably lived there until the general reduc- tion if status of the species about 50 years ago. There is litthe doubt that the species which occurred at Mount Arapiles would have been the same as that in the Grampians und the Byaduk Caves, OCCURRENCE IN “THR GRAMPIANS Early recards Thomas (1868) made the following statement in teference 10 the Gram- plans: The light and graceful rock wallaby abound among these hills as we see by numerous traces of their presence in the caves formed by the falling together Occirrence of Prtrogale penicillara in and near Victoria. Oneslime Ooeutrente, BU lutiger extant 3— Red Rock, Vecteris Renee Past ancitiresenit Oysurrenices if Snowy River valley, Vierors. 4— Oneo area 7 Currawnne 93 ot detached fragments of rock. Shoot- ing wallaby with the fle ought to be good sport here; bul we never wied i, as we always thought thal we canned weight enough if our Own proper per son, taking ito consideration the posi- tion of the rocky ascent, which in mast places ts perpendicular, and in same leans over on top of you in w most perplexing, manner, Audas (1925, p. 127) included this comment in a summary of Wildlife in the Grampians: Rock Wallabies, though rare, gan always be seen by anyone wha wishes to do so. Inquisitiveness is their chief characterisic, and uo is only necessary to seat one's self in a prominent post- tian ip some rocky section and wait Patience is soon rewarded, for the monkey-tike black face, encircled by light-coloured hair, will be quickly seen peering at the intruder from some adjacent boulder, In the preface, Audas stated that his book was “entirely the result of personal observation . . , covering a period of years”, No information was given as to when or where the tock- wallabies concerned had occurred However, the behaviour which he describes is similar to that of the NE Gippsland rock-wallabies sixt or more years ago, before they became scarce. Today, members yf the surviving Victorian colonies arp extremely timid and not al gi) miquisitive, Auidas (1950, p. 318) repeated fis 1925 s(utement without variation, Rediscovery Credit for the rediscovery of rock- Wallabies in) the Grampians belongs to Mr. Ellis “Tucker of Brit Brit in W. Victoria, who has systematically explored sectors Of (hose ranges over a period of years in quest of Abori- ginal paintings, On 12 September, 1970, he sent me a packet contain- ing several typical rock-wallaby faecal pellets, with these comments: 1 think I remember you saying once that there cithet could be, or should be, rockewallabies in the Grampians. Until recenuy, | had no reason {0 thiok there were, but after collecting these speci mens on ledges ad shelves in caves in the Red Rock areca last weekend, I can- not think of any other animal which could have been responsible. Red Rock is On the western side of the northern end of the Victorla Range, and ts a very Figure 2. Rock-wallaby tracks, Red Rock arew Oemypenal oath avec ef mist clier tera upodels, rrck=- allio” toe) Ave feld wide apoel te tt foupr ohriye 1 \Weeisthes thaberal (ee rly Sererd piece | 94 Viel Mal, Vol 88 Figure 3. Rock-wallaby habitat, Red Rock area. Wallabien live under Uhe large fallen blocks seen in the riddle of the lower part of the picture, and they climb about on ledges of the elfi which overhangs their home April, 1971 rugged spot, high, with hangs. ledges and caves, many over- On 22 October, a small party, in- cluding ‘Tucker and myself, went to the aren concerned and explored several hundred yards of cliffs and rock outcrops which were certainly the focus of an extant colony of rock- wallabies. No animal was sighted, but footprints were found in patches of soft. soil, faeces were present in abundanee, and same living places (rock piles With crevice systems) were identified, (See Figures 2, 3, 4, 5,) Later that day, and on 23 October, I examined the colony area further and, in particular, identified a typical basking place, where animals might be expected to be out warming themselves when the morning sun struck the spot. A concealed vantage point was selected some 60 yards away, and a route was noted by which the point could be reached without disturbing any animals which might be basking. Observations of rack-wallaby family From 19 to 22 December, My. Russell Bathard® and T carried oy further work in the colony area; ang on the morning of the last day, 45 weather conditions were suitable, we went 10 the vantage point selected previously, Two rock-wallabies were in the basking place—a_ half-groywn joey and, presumably, its mother— and shortly afterwards a third speei- men, presumably the mate, joined them (see Fig. 6). We had the three under observation from 8.45 to 9.15 am., and for the latter part of this period the mother and joey had moved down to a rock shelf a few yards away while the male remained above. On 4 January, 1971, Bathard and | observed the three rock-wallubies, in the same area, from 9 to 10.30 am. The female was located first, on a broad recessed ledge several yards from the original place. Later she sSutence studen!, Monust Teachers’ College Figure 4, Typical rock-wallaby facees. lying on the surtace of a sandstone block i Red Rock area (natural size) 96 Vict Nat Vol, 88 tok cover quickly, as if alarmed, About the same lime, the joey and jhen the male appeared ut the original place, and soon afterwards ihe female joined them (see Fig. 7). On 16 January, Mr. Keith Demp- wer, research officer of the Fisheries and Wildlife Department, accom- panied Bathard and myself to the vantage point, and we observed the male and the joey at the original hasking place. Later, one of us moved round and observed that the female was again on the broad recessed ledge (see Fig, 8). Eventu- yllv she took cover, as before, and af the same time the other two left their basking place. Then the three were seen moving down together jhrough # Narrow declivity between wo rock masses, und finally one of the adults jumped up to the original hasking place, paused a moment to jook at us, then passed out of sight into the dark erevice system beyond. Those observations lasted from 9.15 to 10.15 am, The female and joey were bluish- carey in general body colour, with hands, feet and tail black. The male was similar but with a strong rufous infusion about the lower narts of his hody. Backs of curs, lonvitachnal head Stripe, and a patch hehind each shoulder, were also blyck. Inside the ears Was fawn, and the chest as well as the lower sides of the face were whitish. The male was larger than the female. and each of the adults appeared to he very plump, due + least partly to the long fur of the body, The general colouration, wid the very long hair of the tail, idenuly the species as Perragale penicillate. While busking, the Wallabies spent vonsiderable time grooming them- selves, both with the chiws of the ands and with the small conjoined Int and 3rd digits on the innet April, (971 side of the foot. After using one of these “twin toes’ as a comb, the unimval would lick the organ, evidently to clear if of accumulated fur Precisely the same procedures are characteristic of a number of iiacre- podid species—the Brush Wallaby. Maecropus rufogriseus, tor example. Habitat The rock-wallaby colony area is on a northern aspect in Devontan sandstone formation, and it extends for approximately a quarter-mile (400 m.). The elevation is from about 1300 to 1600 feet (400-500 m.) above Patt of crevice system of rock-willaby home, Red Rock ufea part «al the olf Figure 4 ive upper lit tach ts while the lower rocks, and that un the meht. are detadtiesd roses wiaeh Nove falles trom above 77 Figure 6. Family of Grampians rock-wallabies, 22/12/1970, (Enlargement x20 from 35 mm, Ilford Pan F negative taken with 135 mm. lens at 50 m. range.) 98 Vict. Nat. Vol. 88 Wallahies live in three jqces aT the Aci, each home being ymorgst and under detached rock- masses. Which have fallen together sgainst or pear the hases of perpen- dicular or overhanging cliffs (see Figs. 3 and 5). This is precisely the kind of habitat deseribed by Thomas i 1867. Much of the outcropping rock shout and ubove the actual hontes irregularly weathered to form projections and ledges. Herbage and shrubbery grow Where soil has accumulated, and a sparse scattering of facces indicates that the wallabies range widely over these outcrops to eraze and browse On the vegetation. ~ Longleaf Box (2ucalyprus gunto- calyx) grows amongst the rock masses, and numerous small speci- mens of Oyster-bay Pine (Cullitris rhomboidea) form thickets. Myrta- ceous shrubs such as Totem-poles (Melaleuca decussata), Thryptomene iT. calyeina) and Fringe-nyrtle (Calytrix letragyna) are in wssaciat- tion, as well as Wedge-leaf Hop-bush (Dodonaea euneata) and Hop Good- enia (G. ovata). Three grasses grow about the racks: Fibrous Spear-griss (Stipa semibarbatt). Bristly Wallaby grass (Danthonia setaced)- und wssock-grass of the Pea aiéstralis complex: but none is plentiful, On somewhat deeper soils. above wad below the main outcrops, Brown Stringyhark (Euealypins baxter?) pre- dominates, and there is an ahundance af heathlund shrubbery, including Silky Tea-tree (Leprasperniitt (avrit naides) und Hakea $pectes, sel level. Anulests of food Facces were collected at random from throughout Me colony aren both in amd abour living places iid oy) open rock oulerops, Small as well as hurge pellets were seleered. April, 197) ave uhout one-third of the sample tuken Were grey if colour, indicating that they were comparatively old- Forly pellets were trestted. eae being broken upart and 4 sample taken of the contents, The fragments comprising eych sample were sorted out under a binocular dissector and as many Friigments as possible were identified at specs level hy conte parison with samples of vegetation found growing in the colony area. Grass fragments comprised approxi- mately 90 percent of the [otal sample of [aecal material analysed. These fragments, representing both Stems and leaves of grass, were mostly about 3 mm, long, and it is this material which is responsible for the flecking of lighter colour appar- ent on the surface of comparatively fresh faceal pellets. Mast grass frag- ments Which wete specifically identi- fled were of Sijpa semibarbata, the most abundant grass in the colony arey. A few specific identifications were made of Danrhonia setaceu but none of the Poa species. It was noted that the Danthonia, though cumparatively scarce, was closely cropped in parts of the colony area, Fragments of foliage of myrta- ceails shrubs were found In two thirds of the faecu! pellets. Most of them Were of Rosy Heath-myrile (Baeckea ramosissima), a species quite uncommon in the colany area but heavily cropped wherever 1 grey. Only a few fragments each of Lepraspermum —mevesinnides, Mela june decassara and Cylytrie tetra- vvng were found iw the feces, des- pite their all being ahwndant in the Ureul Seeds und fragments af the city sules of Pigmy Parshine (Cylao- eiie nesvona) were found i more than half the (veces examined. Eyrd- ently the wallabies are partial ley tty 99 tiny succulent plant, Fragments of moss, seeds and glumes of Seirpus anareticus, and similar to those of Hydrocotyle callicarpa, each oceurred in a few pellets. As these three, und the purslane, grow only about an inch in height, the indica- tion is that the wallabies occasionally crop very short herbage. Plants of Germander Raspwort (Haloragis teucrivides) and Variable Stinkweed (Opercularia varia) were scen to be cropped in the colony area, and several fragments of each were found in the faeces. Fragments of twigs of Callitriy rhomboidea occurred in eight of the 40. pellets which were sampled, and floral bracts of Thread Rapier-sedge (/ epi- dosperma — filiformis) several pellets. The dioecious Dodoaea was represented in several pellets by seeds occurred = in cunedty Figure 7, Folareement x14 from 35 tim Pan F 100 either male flowers or by seeds and fragments of seed capsules. Seeds oj Goodenia ovata were tound in three pellets, and the flower. heads of unidentified species of the pieces of Compositue occurred in several of the samples. These detutls indicate that shrubs consti. tule a Significant item in the rock. inflorescences of wallabies’ dict. Fragments of — arthropod : J eX0- skeletons were found in almost halt the samples analysed. Accidental ingestion of such unimals would oecur when shrub foliage — and inflorescences were caten and when very low ground herbage — was cropped, In the carly European settlement, sheep were grazed on the days ol Victoria Range, but now the original parkland grassy has been replaced The rock-wallaby family, 4/1/1971. The female’s tail is protruding from the shadow above the negative taken with 300 mim yory lens at Som range) Vict. Nat. Vol. 88 | Figure 8 (Folargement x4. from by dense tough shrubbery (Wakefield 1963a). Presumably, that change in vegetation has been general in the Grampians, and it is probable that ihis has been a major factor in the almost complete elimination of rock- wallabies from the region. Associated mammals Possum (Tricho- surus. Vulpecula) js co-existent with the rock-wallabies, and it is evi- dently abundant. It lives if similar rock crevices and, on the evidence of its faeces, ranges over the high exposed outcrops just as the walla- bies do. Also on the evidence of faeces, the Common Ringtail (Psendo- Cheiruy perégrinus) is present but scarce. and an insect-eater, probably the Yellow-looted Phascogale (Anle- The Silver-grey chinus flavipes), is present, too. Digginys of the Echidna {Jaely- vlossuy acnleatus) tire abundant, even on high cliff ledges, and the Brush April, 1971 negative tukea With JOO min The female rock-wallaby basking on recessed ledge, 16/1/1971. ‘Somen leny af 69 om, tanee.) Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) in- habits contiguous heathland tracts. Tracks and faeces indicate that the introduced Ship Rat (Ratius rattuy) is in the colony area, and feral goats (Capra hircus) have camped in two rock shelters there, though not recently, A single set of faeces indi- cates that the European fox (Vulpes vulpes) is an occasional visitor to the area. The rabbit (Orycrelagus cant- culus) is present in some heathland tracts, and the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) visits these too, but there is not abundant evidence of either, Extent of occurrence Following reports by naturalists, of the observation of faeces thought to be those of rock-wallabies, a number of exploratory excursions were made to other parts of the Victoria Range, The loci were (a) near the head of Honeysuckle Creek, & miles south of Red Rock, (b) the 101 Mount Thackerny area, 7 miles St, of Red Rock, (¢) below the Goat Frock, & miles ESE. af Red Rock, and (dd) uhove Red Rock Criek, 2 miles south of Red Rock, No evi ence wits found of rock-wallubies in any of these areas ‘The rock fori lions above aud ta the south of Red Rock Creek appeared lo he ideal habitat, but, on the evidence of faeces, ey contained no Perrogale though J rieliosiniy Was Obviously abundant. The faeces reported trom hear Mount Thackeray proved to be of the Koala (Phascolietos ciner ens), und at Honeysuekle Creek only lacces of Tyichasmmus were found, Al present, the roek-wallahies it) the Red Rock jrea comprise the only extant! colony kivwn in western Vie- toria. There tppear to be only the three fivinw places in the colony avea, und one of these is evidently occupied hy no more than the family of three individuals which we observed. Thus, the population of the whole colony may he only several annals, Conservation Most of the Grampiins is reserved forest, under the jurisdiction of the Forests Commission of Victoria, and the urea is a sanctuary for wildlife. The rock-wallaby colony is within the reserved forest and sanctuary, but by only a few hundred yards, Closely adjacent areas are Crown Lands, and two small pieces of these should be added to the reserved forest so us to afford the rock-wallaby colony a greater measure of per- manent protection. Because of the probable very low numerical status of the rock-wallaby colony ut Red Rock, its immediate environs should be kept as free from human intrusion as possible. Dis- turbance of the animals, even by a small number of zoologists or hatura- 102 lists Who might be genuinely inter ested In observing them. Could upses the delicate balanee of their survival there, We observed this principle jy far as possible during our assess meat of the rock-wallaby colony, and in particular we refrained {rom enter Ing (he broken opterop Which house the three Unitas that we observed, thouwh it would have been mos) interesting to have examined they home. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Forests Commission officers 4! Suwell ussisted in many Ways, and Mr. fun Smith in particalar Was sos! co-operative anid helpful. The quant, tative part of the analysis Of foo of the Grampians fock-wallabies way carried out by Russell Bathwrd, anv he assisted also with general work during three field excursions to the region, REFERENCES Avdas. J. W., 1925, Que ol Natite's Weanderlunds. The Vietartan Gren pany, Ramsay Publishing, Melbourne 1950. The Australian Bush Nited. Wo AJ Mamer, Melhourne. Lingard, J, date voknowny Narrative ©! y Journey ta und from New Sovri Iales. J, Taylor. Printer, London, Thomas, M., 1868. Outs. A Cuide for Exeursionists front Melboirne. Edited and published by H. ‘Thomas. Mel- bourne, Wakefield. N. A, 1953, Phe Rediscovery of the Rock-wallaby in Vietoria, Viet. Not, 70 (1): 202-6, ~~ 7961, Victoria's Rock wallabies. (oii, 77 (11) 322-32. - -, 19632, Maromal Remains from the Grampians, Vigtoria, [hid 80) (5): 140-33, ~, 1962b, Notes on wallabies, Thid., 80 (6): 169-76. 1964. Mammal Sub-fossils from Basalt Caves in South-western Victoria. Did, 80(9): 274-87, », 196dh- Recent Mammalian Subossils of the Basalt Plains of Victoria, Proc. Roy. Soe, Viet, 77 (2h 419-25 Rock- Vick. Nat Vol 88 Rediscovery of the Large Desert Sminthopsis (Sminthopsis psammophilus Spencer) on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia by Prerer Fo AtrKEN’ INTRODUCTION Spinthopsts — prantntophilus, The jarge Desert Sminthopsis, (Plate 1) was orginally described from it unique specimen taken in TRU4 amongst porcupine grass tussocks on ihe sand-ridge desert near Lake Amadeus in the Northern Territory of Australia. The single example wus captured by Mounted Trooper Fr. Cc, Cowles, then stationed at the Hiamurta Police Post, and presented io members of the Horn Scientific Expedition to Central Australia, for whom he Was acting as guide. Subse- quently in 1895, the specimen was described as & new species by Sir W, Baldwin Spencer, then Professor af Zoology at Melbourne University, for 75 years no further example was discovered and the species was feared ty be extinet Rr pisCovERY (m 28 February. 1969, 4 second specimen Was captured by Mr. Mer- vyn Andews, a cereal farmer, on his property at Section 10. Hundred of Mamblyn. Eyre Peninsula, South Australlu} approximately 630 miles south-east af the Type locality, The vapture area, situated in a one of j2-T4 deh rainfall, feanues a topa- craphy of roughly parallel sande dunes, between 20 ancl 40 Teet in teighl, sepanited by wide interdune valleys, Originally the systent tid a hiirly veifornt eeverne af inpilee- hoombush vegeniian wilh span April, 1974 ground cover. Mallees (dnealyptuy spp.) tended to predonynate im the valley Hals, bul became more heavily admixed with broombush (Mela- lenca uneinaa), plus other herba- ceous and ephemeral plants, on the dunes. Examples of native cherry (Exoecurpus spartels) and native pine (Calliiris canescens) occurred spora- dically throughout, and semi-open areas of porcupine griss (J rindia landla) appeared intermutently on the dune slopes, Im recent years however, considerable ucreages of natural scrub have been cleared from the inter-dune valleys and the land developed fer cereal growing. The sand-dune vegetuhou. on the other hand, has remained largely m- tact, or has been permitted to re- generate following Initial logging and burning activibes. The Large Desert Sminthopsis: was taken in daylight. while escaping from a blazing porcupine griss tussock, crowing at the base of a re-vegetated dune adjacent to a cleared tter- dune valley, Clearing of both dune und valley had been completed 3 years previeusly, but the developed valley paddock had remained fallow dhirmg this period. The capture spot was at the extreme corer of the paddack, which itself represented the limit of clearing, Teu yards beyond, the dune vegetation continued int 4 virgin state ans the interdune valley renwuned unelewred, although the esoutl AWM lian Museo, \03 undershrub had been degraded by sheep grazing. Following presentation of — the Mamblyn specimen to the South Australians Museum, the arca was immediately examined by the Author with members of the South Australian Field Naturalists Society Mammal Club. The search failed fo reveal ether additional examples of the Large Desert Sminthopsis, or further data on the habits of the species, Numerous Mitchell's Hopping-mice (Notomys mitehelli) were collected nearby however, and — introduced house-mice (Mus musculus) were found to be abundant throughout the surrounding district. As a result of this failure, an inten: sive campaign for more specimens was initiated throughout northern Eyre Peninsula, and, on 23 April, 1969, Mr. Dennis Eichner, a clearing contractor of Bailey Plains, collected four further specimens while logging and burning mallee-broombush scrub on Section 45, Hundred of Boon- erdoo, This area was of identical topography and vegetation to the Mamblyn locality, but situated some Plate 1. Sminthopsis psammmophilus, Mamblyn, South Australia. (Photo by Korman Kuehle), 104 50 miles to the south-east. One of Mr. Eichner’s specimens — subse. quently escaped, but the remainder Were deposited in the South Austra. lian Museum, Discovery of the Boonerdoo. colony not only confirmed that the Large Desert Sminthopsis was a viable species of Eyre Peninsula, but pro. vided additional evidence that mallee broombush serub with porcupine prass, was a preferred habitat, The discovery served also to allay fears that the species would disappear again soon aller rediscovery. Such could well have been the case at Muamblyn, where clearing of the habitat is proceeding rapidly. At Boonerdoo, on the other hand, all four specimens were collected from an area inimediately adjacent to the Hambidge Wildlife Reserve, where the topography and yegetation is essen- tially the same as that of the capture locality. [t is reasonable to assume therefore, that the Large Desert Sminthopsis as represented on the reserve, Where, with proper manage- ment, its chances of survival are good. Viet. Nal Vol. 88 — Large Desert Sminthopsis NoMENCLALURE Synirel pests prunnnaphilus Spencer 895, Proe Roy. Soe. Victoria, new ser, 7) 223. 1896, Report ou the Horn Scr, Exped. la Central Australia, 2 (Zool): 35-6, pl. 1. fig. 2, Zach. Sminthapsis traerura psammophila Tate. 1947, Bull. Anter, Mus, Nat. His, 88 (3): 123, Sminthopais psdmmoplhila Troughton, 1964, Proc, Lin, Soe, New South Wales, &9 (3) 317. MATERIAL The original description of Spun- thopyis psdinmophilus included no cranial details. since it was based on a single spirit preserved specimen with the skull in simu. An expanded account of the species is appended, based on the Holotype in the Natonsl Museum of Victoria; no. C6203, adult =. (spirit body with skull now removed) “Sand Hills near Lake Amadeus C.A.. [894, EB, c Cowle’. Plus 4 specimens from the South Australian Museum: pos M7662, adult 4, (puppet skin and skull) See. 10, Hundrect of Mamblyn, SA, 28 Feh. 1969. M, Andrews; M7663, adult ¢, (spirit) M7971 and M7972. adult 9 9, (puppet skins und Skulls) See. 45, Mundred of Boonerdou, 23 Apr. 1969, 1D, Eich- ner, Peluge colour nomenclature fol lows the Stundards of Ridgeway, (19)2) and all meusurements are in millimetres with the terminology, un- less otherwise stated, after Cockrum (1989), Skull meusurenients were nade with Hebos dial calipers under a binocular microscope. Flesh dimen- sine were oblamed from trest material i The case of South Aus- tralian Museum speeinm amd Tron Apnl, 1974 spint preserved specimen in the case of the Holotype (Spencer. 1895 up. cil), hrecb IDES TLFINATION An exceptionally hirgze and robust Sminthopsix, clearly — recognisuble from other members of its genus by the laterally thin, dorso-ventral, feather-like crest of still hairs on tbe distal quarter of the tail (Plate 2), EXTERNAL FEATURES Dorsally the fine, dense fur is approximately 14 mm, long, of Which the basal LO mm. are dark mouse grey, the medium 3 mm. are drab grey and the terminal | mm. is fus- cous black. Interspersed with the fur are spines 18 mm. long, of which the basal 8mm. are dark mouse grey and the thickened, apical JO mm, are fuseous black. The back is thus im- parted with a drab. brindled appear- wice that is continued forward on the head in a wedge shaped patch with is apex between the eyes, Elsewhere on the dorsal surface of the heal, the fur is shorter and more bristly, with less pronounced fuscous blick tps and fewer spines, giving a Jighter, less brindled cllect. A fuscous black ring of hair ts present around the eye.’ Mystical vibrissac number approximately 25 on cach side, dre up 10 35 mm. in length and are predominenty fuscous black. Other vibrissae per side are; orbjtal, 2. fuscous black; facial, 2, fuscous black; and carpal, 2, white. On the cheeks. flanks, shoulders, hips and thighs, the fuscous black tips of the fur are markedly redaced, the median shaft colour alters to Vinacvous boll) and spines (ne vit- eSpetee; came cr eter in Nis LA) areesuttit i ibe Heeervewy mm while he elated — "There Is 4 whee Hine OC fre arcu dine aye”. Sse vile eto of tle Pivitetivens reverent nc frame ve sieht 4 (oui. sé Was it ippareste an ow of Wee Hien Meterial yo bart 105 tually absent, A pronounced vinaeeous bull colouration is thereby produced in these areas. The membranous, ovate ear has a well developed, rounded tragus, 3,5 mm, long, by 3 mm. wide, an anterior fringe of vinaceous bull and white hairs, and an antero-cxternal patch of fusecous black bristles. The re- mainder of each ear ts sparsely covered, inside and out, with short, white bristles, Ventrally the fur is fine, with no spines. and is approximately 10 mim, long, of which the basal 4 mm. are dark mouse grey and the apical 6 mm. are white. On the chin the fur is sparse, short and white throughout. Both fore and hind teet are clothed with short, white — hatrs extending to the bases of the pads on the fore-foot and covering the sole of the hind-foot, except for the pads plus a bare, median area of fuscous black, granular skin, which extends forwards from 3 mn. behind the base of the hallux to the bases of the interdigital pads. Apart from this latter area, the soles and pads of both fore and hind feet are ivory Plate 2, Sminthopsts psanimophilts showing details of the diagnostic Lail crest. (Photo by Roman Ruchle) 4 106 yellow in colour, ‘The approximately 4.5 mm. broad ang has six semi-coalescent pads, of which three are interdigitaly one jx at the base of the first digit, ung two are plantar. Each pad ts covergy with uniform, fine granulations, and is surmounted by a smooth, enlarged lore-foot jy granule, equal to two granulations in size. The hind foot is approx. mately 5 mm, broad across the bases of the digits and has three inter digital pads, of Which the mos external is horseshoe-shaped, No hallugal pad was discerned. Each interdigital pad is covered with un) form, tine granulations and — sur. mounted by a longitudinal row. of smooth, enlarged granules, four oy five in number, each granule being approximately equal to two granula. tions in size. The tal is extremely muscular and iapers towards the up, but has no sign of secondary flattening or basal incrassation, Tt ts tr-coloured and covered with stiff hairs 3 mm. long, Dorsully the colour is brindled, drab grey with vinaceous bull toning, laterally it is pale smoke grey and ventrally it is fuscous black. On the Vict. Nat, Vol, 88 gistal quarter of the tail a laterally thin, dorsorVentral, pennate crest of stil hairs i8 present, These hairs are from 4-3 mm. in length und coloured fuscous black in two specimens; drab grey with fuscous black tips in two aihers; and = vinaccous bull with fucous black tips in the fifth speci- men, Dorsally the crest Is approxi- mately 25 mm. long and is weakly developed, ventrally however, it is some 30 fim, long and strongly developed with densely packed, erect hairs. Table | provides data on the flesh dimensions from all Known specimens of Sminthopsis psamnmophilus, Spen- cer, 1895 (op. cir.) when tabulating the tail measurement in his original description of the Holotype, stated; “Very tip broken off". 1 calculate that approximately 5 mm. are missing, Tanhe | Flesh Dimensions of Sminthopsis psummophilus Measurement | Holotype * 4 a Py ry C6203 M7662 M7663 M7971 M7972 Lake Amadeus | Mamblyn | Boonerdoo| Boonerdoa| Boonerdoa (Ex. Spencer) Body length 105 114 112 9] 9] Tail length 116 129 114 116 126 (Very tip broken olf) Length of 25 26 25.7 25.2 25.5 lind foot (ue) Height of 24.5 26.8 25.1 23.1 23,3 ear (from notch } SKULL, CHARACTERS An elongate skull, with an excep- tionally high crowned cranium, pro- duced by the exaggerated, bulbous inflation of the anterior portions of the parictals. ‘This results in a diag- nostic cranial depth of at least 12 mm. (Plate 3), Nasals attenuate, tapering slightly towards the front from 4 minimal, postero-lateral expansion. Post-orbital processes poorly defined as broad, blunt points without constnetions behind. Sagittal crest minute, but noticeable on the posterior third of jhe median parietal suture. Lamb- doidal crests af similar appearance, A pair of supplementary palatal openings between M44, Alisphenoid April, 1971 _— bullae fractionally Jess inflated in proportion to skull length than those of §. crassicaudata (genotype species). In comparison with adult skulls Of S. crassicandata in the South Australian Museum, the ratio for greatest length of skull to greatest breadth of alisphenoid bulla of s- psammaphilus, compared with 8. erassicandara, is 1.06:1, The periotic bullae appear slightly more swollen than those of S. crayssicavdata, due to the absence of median longi- tudinal depressions. Dentul formula, PT} 2 Ch + PAs M}. Teeth, upper Jaws \! promin- ent. set apart from 124, which are smaller and increase in size to the rear by crown length, bul not crown 107 height. C! more than twice as high as I4 and separated from it by a diastema of approximately 1) mm. Minute posterior cingula are present on the canines of two out of the four specimens examined. PI! 4.4 well spaced, not separated by a diastema from the canine, and increasing evenly in size to the rear by both crown height and crown length: P! being approximately half the size of 108 P4, Small anterior and posterior gip. gula are normally present on qj premolars, but vary considerably jy development, In one specimen exam. ined, both cingula were apparently absent from P! and were particy. larly distinct on P33. Molars high cusped, : Lower jaw: I, not set apart from I, and fractionally superior to it jy both crown height and crown length, Plate 3A, Skull of Sminthopsis psanumophilus Dorsal view of cranium and upper jaw. Plate 3B. Skull of Sminthopsis psammophilus: Ventral view of cranium and upper jaw. (Photos by Roman Ruehle) Vict. Nat. Vol. 88 smaller than I, in crown height, put greater than either I, or I, in crown length, through the possession of a minute postero-labial cusp. C, approximately twice as” high as I, with a small posterior cingulum, and not separated from hes by a dias- tema. Pian well spaced, with no digstema between P, and the canine. In general P, and Ps are of approxi- mately equal dimensions, although Plate 3C Lateral view of cranium and upper jaw. Plate 3D Lateral view of mandible. (Photos by Roman Ruehle) April, 1971 Pl-1 are noticeably smaller in one specimen examined. Both P; and P, are inferior in size to Ps. All premo- lars possess small anterior and pos- terior cingula. Molars high cusped. Table 2 provides data on the cranial and dental dimensions from the Holotype and three other skulls of Sminthopsis psammophilus, all hitherto undescribed, TABLE 2 —a— _ Holotype 4 é Fal A C6203 M7662 M7971 | M7977 Greatest length of skull (from anterior tip of premaxilla) Basilur length Zygomatic breadth Cranial breadth Least interorbital constriction Rostral breadth Greatest width across upper molars Depth of cranium Palatilar Jength (inc. spine) Greatest breadth of alisphenoid bulla Length of incisive foramina Length of anterior palatine foramina Length of posterior palatine foramina Width of posterior palatine foramina Length of nasals Greatest width of nasals Dorsal length of pre-maxilla Length of mandible (exc, teeth) Crown length of Tt I Crown length of [2-4 (ne) i Crown lengths of pt ~— i — ANH HSS WANH-FDAYWES Nalowt> Ro PG 4 I, Crown heights of P45 4 Crown length of M1! (Ine) Crown length of M!-4 (Inc.) DwwweoNwol 3 1.8 6.2 71 1, Amadeus | Mainblyn | Boonerdoo| Boonerdy, — 34.9 32.5 33.3 iS 30.4 27.8 28.9 0 (eal.) | 17.8 17,3 17.6 13.7 13.3 14.0 6.7 64 6.2 4.5 4.5 44 11.2 10.6 10.6 12.2 12,0 12,0 18,2, 17,1 17,5 5.0 4,9 5.0 4.4 41 4.0 4.6 44 4.6 1.6 15 Id 1.8 1,8 1.7 (cal.) 13,0) 12.0 13.0 2.6 28 2A (cal,) 8.8 7.6 8.2 25.9 24,2 24.8 ).9 0.8 0.7 5 2,25 2.3 2.35 1.4 1.5 4 14 1,5 15 L.8 1.8 1.7 1.8 1,8 1.8 19 1.9 1,9 1? 1.65 1.7 1.0 ine 1.0 1.1 1.05 1,05 AA 14 1,2 1.5 4 1.3 I) 1.85 1.5 14 1.3 il 64 6.5 6.5 74 7.5 71S Skull Dimensions of S. psammophilus. Specie RELATIONSHIP Tate, (ap. cit.) in the only modern attempt to evaluate phylogenetic relationships in the genus Sminthop- sis, separated the known species into two divisions, A “primitive” division characterised by striated foot-pads and P* very large with P! (and sometimes P*) considerably reduced; and a more “advanced” division com- prising forms with granulated foot- pads, no extreme enlargement of P4, and P! subequal to P3. Tate also 110 stated that those species in the “primi- tive” division possessed strongly built skulls with well formed, low sagittal erests and relatively small bullae; and that for those species in the “advanced” division, the defining characters could) be accompanied variously, by partial coalescence of individual toot-pads, narrowing of the feet, caudal incrassation and enlarge- ment of the cars and bullae, Troughton, (op. cit.) pointed out that members of the Sminthopsis Vict, Nat. Vol. 88 uring COMpICK, included by Tate im his *primilive” division, do nol possess SU jated foot-pads, Neverthe- ess under “Tate's defined arrange- ment, S. mearitta could haretly be yransferred ta the “advanced dlivi- gion, dug to its enlarged P¥, relatively emall bullae and low sagittal crest, A nyuiber of other anonyvalies are appar- ant in Tate's arrangement, S. froe- ui (or example, (=$. frogatn and & furapinta of Tate) included in the “advanced” division, possesses granu- jaied = Foot-pads, moderately = large egrs and am inerassuted tail, bul has relatively small bullue, a low sagittal crest and io enlarged PY Similar difficulties acer with SS, hirtipes, which has harge cars, specialised, eoalescent, grannlated foot pads, and huge bullae, but an exceptionally large P* and a reduced P#, It is thus apparent that the com» bination of characters defined by fate do not separate the species of Sminthopsis into clear phylogenetic divisions, nor, in faet, should such divisions be considered realistic until the characters of the genus have been reexamined within a broader family and palacontological context, to deter- mine which are primitive. which are seneraised and which are derivative. In view of this no attempt has been nade to place Sminthopsis psammo- pluilus in a phylogenetic position within the genus, Ride, (1970) however, in a popu- lar account of Sminhepsis divides the genus for convenience into two sections: those with fat tails and those with thin tails. Under such mn arrangement Srinthapsis psammoa- philus falls naturally into the thin- twied section, where it may be pliced adjacent to S. nuirina, with which it shares a distinct similarity of foot-pad structure, dental develop- mient and overall cranial conforma- tion, REFERENCES Cockrum, E. L., 1955, Manual of Manimalogy, Burgess. Minneapolis: Ride, W, DB, L,, 1970. A Guide to die Native Manimals of Anstralia, Oxford University Press, Melbourne. Ridgway, R., 1912, Colour Srandards and Colour Nomenelamre, author's publication, Washingtan, Acknowledgenients 1 am particularly indebted to Mr, Mervyn Andrews of Mamblyn, Mrs. J. Luscombe of Kyancutta, Mr. Den- nis Eichner of Bailey Plains and Pastor Ivan Wiitwer of Cleve, without whose co-operation the recent innt- enial of Sminthapsis psammaphilus would never have reached the South Australian Museum. I am also extremely grateful fo Mr. Tohn Me- Nally. Director, and Miss Joan Dixon, Curator of Vertebrates al the National Museum Victoria, for Wlowe ing me to examine the Holotype. ——_ CORRECTION “In Vier Nat. 882 74 (March 1971), under Exhibits, Seaevolia sp. all. linearis is mentioned as a new record for Victoria, being found near Annuello. Further, more complete material, of this plant hus now been received at the National Herbarium, and full exarninution shows that the identifeation given above is incorrect, The Annucilo material and also some from Hattah Lakes National Park, should be placed with S. aemula. In Vietoria this species 1s more commonly known trom southern ant eastern localities.” April, 1971 W Field Naturalists Club of Victoria | Established 1880 | OBJECTS; To stimulate interest in natural history and to preserve and protect Australian fauna and flora. Patron: His Excellency Major-General Sir RONAN DFELACOMBRE, K.B,E,, C.B., DS.0, Key Office-Bearers, 1971-1972. President: Mr, T. SAULT Vice-Presidenis; Mr, J, He WILLIS; Mr, P. CURLIS Hon. Secretary: Mr, D, LEB, 15 Springvale Road, Springvale ($46 7724). Hon. Treasurer & Subscription Secretary: Mr. D. E. MeLNNES, 129 Witverley Road, Eust Malvern 3145 Hon. Editor: Mr. G, M. WARD, 54 St. James Road, Heidelberg 3084. Hon, Librarian: Mr. P. KELLY, c/o National Herbarium. The Domain, South Yarra 3141. Hon, Excursion Secretary: Miss M, ALLENDER, 19 Hawthorn Avenue, Caulfield 3161. (52 2749), Magazine Sales Officer; Mr, B. FUHRER, 25 Sunhill Ay,, North Ringwood, 3134, Group Secretaries: Botany: Mr, J. A. 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