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QUEENSLAND NATURALIST

JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS' CLUB
AND NATURE-LOVERS’ LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING, 17th FEBRUARY, 1936.—
The Chair was occupied by the President, and about forty
members were present. Mrs. Lethbridge was elected to
membership of the Club. Dr. W. IT. Bryan stated that
he had received inquiries from a Californian correspon-
dent, Mr. J. Smith, asking to be put in touch with any
naturalists in Queensland interested in diatoms. Any-
body having diatom material or interested in the subject
is asked to communicate direct with Dr. Bryan at the
Queensland University.

The attention of members was drawn to the proposed
open season for opossums. It was proposed by Dr. D. A.
Herbert and seconded by J. IT. Simmonds and carried
unanimously that a letter be sent to the Minister for Agri-
culture (the Honourable F. W. Bulcock) suggesting that
careful enquiries be made before action be taken, and that
the law forbidding the use of spotlights be enforced if the
season was opened.

Annual reports were read by the Honorary Secre-
tary, the Honorary Librarian, and the Honorary Treas-
urer. The Financial Statement showed a credit balance
of £100/1/9. Officers for 1936 were elected as stated on
the inside page of the cover of the present issue.

Exhibits included shells from Phillip Island by Mrs.
Williams, case-hardened clay pebbles by Miss Bumstard,
a series of photographs showing the opening of a spider
lily ( Hymenocallis ) by Mr. J. Nebe : and a cone of a
Bunya pine by Mr. G. H. Barker. Mr. Tilse showed a
series of marine specimens obtained from Japan arranged
in small glass jars for the use of students.

The retiring President delivered an address on “The
Mammals of Australia. ”

EVENING MEETING. 16th MARCH, 1936.— The
Chair was occupied by the President, Mr. J. G. Young,
and about fifty members were present. Mr. I. W. Helm-
sing was elected a member of the Club. Reports on the
excursions to Aspley were given by Dr. E. 0. Marks
(Geology) and Mr. C. T. White (Botany). The principal

VOL. X

SEPTEMBER, 1936

No. 1

PROCEEDINGS.

2

The Queensland Naturalist Sept., 1936.

business of the meeting was an interesting lantern lecture
on “ Giants of the Past” by Mr. H. A. Longman, Director
of the Queensland Museum.

Reference was made to the destruction of the largest
plant in the Macrozamia Denis oni grove on Tambourine
Mountain, and it was hoped that a notice would be
erected indicating that the area was a reserve specifically
for the preservation of these wonderful plants.

EVENING MEETING, 20th APRIL, 1936.— The
Chair was occupied by the President, Mr. J. E. Young,
and forty-two members were present. Mesdames Davies,
Ringrose and Stoker and Messrs. Salkeld, Wetherell and
Love were elected to membership of the Club. Reports
on the excursions to the Upper Albert River were given
by Ur. W. H. Bryan and Dr. E. 0. Marks (Geology)., and
Mr. G. H. Barker (Ornithology). In commenting" on the
report on the birds, Mr. Herbert Curtis stated that poss-
ibly shortage of food supply might cause large flocks to
be driven into a new and more suitable locality. For
instance, last winter had been a hard one, and satin birds
had been more numerous on Tambourine Mountain than
usual. An interesting lecture dealing in a general way
with the excursion was given bv Miss H. Clarke.

Exhibits included: (a) lantern slides by the Presi-
dent from photographs taken at the camp, including those
of a large beech tree (Nothofagus) , a Grass Tree (Xanth-
orrhaea) forest, a Hoop Pine ( Araucaria Cunningliamii)
21 feet in girth, Red Cedar tree ( Cedrela ) 45 feet in cir-
cumference, (b) specimen of coal from the Upper Albert
River by Dr. E. 0. Marks, (c) specimen of a brush-tailed
marsupial rat from Tambourine Mountain by Mrs. Herbert
Curtis, (d) shells from the Upper Albert River by Miss
James, (e) stone tomahawk found near the Upper Albert
River camp site by Mr. J. E. Young, and (f ) photographs
of the camp by Messrs. G. R. Rowley and J. Nebe.

EVENING MEETING, 18tli MAY, 1936:— Dr. D. A.
Herbert (Vice-President) occupied the Chair, and about
60 members were present. The principal business of the
meeting was an address by Professor Francis E. Lloyd,
Emeritus Professor, McGill University, Montreal, Canada!
The lecturer, who is the world’s leading authority on car-
nivorous plants showed a series of slides and moving pic-
tures of insectivorous plants from all parts of the world.
Professor Lloyd is an accomplished lecturer, photo-
grapher, and artist, and some of the slides were beauti-
fully and richly coloured.

Sept., 1936. The Queensland Naturalist

3

EVENING MEETING, 15th JUNE, 1936.— The Chair
was occupied by the President, Mr. J. E. Young, and about
sixty members were present. Mr. E. France was elected
a member of the Club. The President extended a welcome
to the Honorary Secretary of the North Queensland Nat-
uralists’ Club, Mr. J. A. Wyer, who stated in reply that
his club has a membership of approximately one hundred,
and was endeavouring to protect native plants and
animals and to educate the public generally of North
Queensland into the value of preserving, as far as poss-
ible, the native flora and fauna.

Mr. T. Gedda gave a most interesting and instructive
lecture on Sweden, illustrated by a very fine series of
lantern slides. The lecturer took his audience bv word
and picture from the industrial southern part of Sweden
through the agricultural centre to the forests of the far
North,

QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB.

ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING
JANUARY 31st, 1936.

The Council of the Queensland Naturalists’ Club has
pleasure in submitting the 30th Annual Report of the
work of the Club.

MEETINGS. — Ten Council Meetings, nine evening
meetings, a Wildflower Show, and eleven Field Excursions
have been held during the year.

The attendance at evening meetings has been good,
the average being 40. Interesting lectures and papers on
many branches of Natural History have been given dur-
ing the year, many being illustrated with lantern slides.
The lecturres included : Mr. E. W. Bick, Dr. F. W. White-
house, Mr. J. Nebe, Mr. J. E. Young, Mr. S. T. Blake,
M.Sc., Mr. H. W. Hermann, Mrs. Estelle Thomson, Mr.
G. H. Barker and Dr. W. H. Bryan.

Reports of Excursions have been given and Exhibits
shown by various members.

The Wildflower Show was held on September 14th in
the Albert Hall. Flowers were excellent in quality but
not in as great quantity as on some former occasions.

MEMBERSHIP. — Ten new members have been
elected during the year ; the membership list is now 126.

NATURE LOVERS’ LEAGUE.— A series of lectures
have been given in State Schools by Mrs. White of Wood-
hill, and a number of certificates sold through her efforts,

4

The Queensland Naturalist Sept., 1936.

“QUEENSLAND NATURALIST”— 1 Two issues of
the journal were published. The Hon. Editor appeals for
more material.

EXCURSIONS. — Eleven field excursions were held
during the year. The Annual Easter Camp was held at
Numinbah, when a most interesting and profitable time
was spent by 57 members and friends. Week-end visits
were made to Bald Knob (Labour Day) and Maroochy-
dore (King’s Birthday), but the attendance was poor.

Eight afternoon outings were held during the year
and visits made to Bishop Island, Dawson Road, Sher-
wood Arboretum, One Tree Hill, the Blunder, Sunnybank,
Enoggera Waterworks, and the Museum. Many branches
of Natural History were served by these trips. Those to
the Blunder and the Museum were the best attended.
Members were hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs.
Nixon at their home at Sherwood after the visits to the
Arboretum, and by Mr. H. A. Longman (Directors) and
Mrs. Longman at the Queensland Museum.

BIRD AND ANIMAL PROTECTION.— After a
strenuous effort, Mr. P. L. Berney, the well-known ornith-
ologist of Central Queensland has succeeded in having the
Bustard placed on the list of fully protected birds, and
this club congratulates him on this fine achievement.

During the visit of Club Members to Enoggera Water-
works, the shyness of birds suggested that shooters were
operating on the Reserve. In response to a request from
the President, information was sent to him which con-
firmed the suspicion. A protest was sent to the Water
and Sewerage Board, when a promise was given that en-
quiries would be made and the offenders dealt with if dis-
covered.

From time to time the Club has had occasion to draw
the attention of the authorities to various acts of vandal-
ism on the islands off the coast of the State, and it is most
pleasing now to be able to report that most of these islands
have now been proclaimed sanctuaries for bird and animal
life. This in itself w T ill act as a deterrent against wrong-
doers, but it is hoped that the Government will not rest at
the declaration but will take effective steps in the matter
of policing these areas and make them actual sanctuaries.

LTBRARA . — The Hon. Librarian (Mrs. G. L. Jack-
son ) reports : —

The Magazine Section of the Library still continues
to be well patronised by Members.

About 150 magazines were lent during the year, which
number is slisrhtlv below’ that of last year, probably owing
to the fact that the usual monthly meeting was omitted

Sept., 1936.

The Queensland Naturalist

o

in July in favour of a lecture given at the University by
Dr. Jiri Baum.

The number of books lent during that period has de-
finitely declined, owing perhaps to the fact that few new
ones have been added to the Library. During the year
only 30 volumes have been lent as against 80 the previous
year.

There have been a few donations of books made to
the Library. Miss G. Wood (a past member) sent a num-
ber of works on Conchology, and Mr. J. Nebe and Mr. G.
H. Barker have continued their contributions of magazines.

I would suggest that, as magazines seem to be by far
the most popular form of literature borrowed, the Club
adds the English “ Geographical Magazine”, and the
” Walkabout” magazine to the Library. These would, I
am sure, be a most welcome and popular addition to the
Library. We cannot, owing to lack of space, add too many
books to the Library, but a large number of magazines
can be accommodated in a space occupied by but a few
books.

G. H. BARKER, President.

(Miss) E. E. BAIRD, Hon. Secretary.

EXCURSION TO UPPER ALBERT RIVER,
EASTER. 1936, GEOLOGICAL NOTES

By E. 0. MARKS , B.A., M.D.

From the geologist's point of view the great attrac-
tion of the excursion to the Upper Albert was the oppor-
tunity it gave to investigate further the problem of the
age or ages of the volcanic rocks of south-east Queensland.
This problem has already been discussed in the notes on
the previous excursions to Canungra and Numinbah.

For those who are not familiar with the local geology
or have not the previous notes at hand, it may be recalled
tnat the mountainous region of the Lamington National
Park and its vicinity, is formed by the remnants of a for-
merly continuous plateau of volcanic materials resting on
a basement of mesozoic sandstones and shales, and on the
still older schist series. This volcanic plateau has been
cut into by . the streams, the resulting valleys in many
places exposing the underlying sedimentary rocks. The
streams have "dissected” the formerly continuous plateau
into the mountains and smaller plateaus as we now know
them. In some places denudation has gone so far that
only a comparatively low ridge separates the adjoining

6

The Queensland Naturalist Sept., 1936.

valleys, as was found to be the case near the camp where
only a low divide separates the Albert waters from Widgee
Creek which is a tributary of the Logan.

The sedimentary rocks exposed in the valleys of the
Upper Albert, and Widgee and Christmas Creeks belong
to the Walloon coal measures of Jurassic age, and we say
some outcrops of coal characteristic of the Walloon series.
The volcanic rocks are mostly lavas and fragmentary
materials of the dark basaltic types but light-coloured
trachytic or rhyolitic rocks are also prominent.

The determination of the period in which these vol-
canic rocks were extruded has long been a controversial,
perhaps one might say, a burning, question to geologists.
The earlier geologists, Dr. R. L. Jack and Mr. W. H.
Rands thought all the volcanic rocks belonged to the then
termed Trias- Jura period, that is, that they were more or
less contemporaneous with the sediments now classed as
Jurassic. Dr. H. I. Jensen considered that they were all
of much later age — Tertiary. In 1909 the writer of these
notes, after working between Brisbane and Beaudesert,
was inclined to a contemporary age for some, but not for
all of the volcanic rocks encountered, but had not found
any unequivocal evidence. Certain basalts near Brisbane
and Ipswich had then long been accepted as definitely
proved of Tertiary age. A flying, or rather a hurried
equestrian visit to Christmas Creek, with a hurried
before-breakfast examination of a certain outcrop shown
to him by Mr. Buchanan, seemed to show quite definite
evidence that some of the volcanic material was contem-
porary with the coal measures. A vertically tilted shale
arid sandstone had, so he recorded, rounded fragments of
volcanic rock included in the sandstone.

Mr. R. A. Wearne, in another area, and for other
reasons at about this time came to the same view that part
of the volcanic rocks were of Walloon age,

In 1916 Professor H. C. Richards took up the study of
and came to the conclusion that all the volcanic rocks were
later than the Walloon, regarding them all as of Tertiary
age. He especially visited the section on Christmas Creek,
and described the vertical sediments as being a mass of
shale many feet in diameter, included in a volcanic agglo-
merate. The shale contained characteristic mesozoic fos-
sils, and the section demonstrated clearly to him that the
agglomerate was of later age than enclosed shale. He did
not refer to having observed any sandstone in the section,
but on the other hand mentions that it was remarkable
that the previous observer should have regarded the vol-
canic material as sandstone.

Sept., 1936. The Queensland Naturalist

7

With such divergent interpretations of the one ex-
posure, it was delightful to be able to re-examine it in con-
junction with Professor Richards and Dr. Bryan. Though
not a large section it is certainly very remarkable, if not
unique, for it gives a clear “ proof” that two opposing
views are correct. We found the shale to be covered by a
soil slip, but, beside the position of the shale is typical
mesozoic sandstone with vertical dip, and beside this again
is volcanic fragmentary rock of which there is an exten-
sive exposure.

Following (1) along the line of the sandstone strata
to near the water’s edge the volcanic rock appeared to
have been injected into and to have flowed round the
broken end of the strata. By following another line (2)
across the stratification the sandstone was found to become
less typical, and to change gradually — that is not suddenly
— though rapidly into the volcanic aggregate. Starting
from a pure sandstone it contained more and more vol-
canic material and less and less sand. Some of the vol-
canic fragments appear waterworn. A line of demarca-
tion between the two rocks was sought for but not found,
samples from either side of the only suggested line leaving
no doubt, on examination, that they were the same rock
of sand and volcanic material.

This second line of section shows, therefore, quite
clearly that the volcanic rock is continuous with the
mesozoic sandstone, and contemporaneous with it, while
the first no less clearly shows it to be more recent.

We like to think that Dame Nature never lies, but at
Christmas Creek, within a few yards, she tells two plain
and convincing, but utterly inconsistent, stories. There
seems to be some room for complaint on the part of the
simple geologist who seeks only the truth.

As well as the section at Christmas Creek, we were
able to visit on Widgee Creek an occurrence recorded by
Mr. C. C. Morton, where a basalt flow or sill dips parallel
to the strata. As exposed now there seems no reasonable
doubt that the basalt is a sill, or dyke, intruded between
the layers of sedimentary rock. It is necessarily later than
the strata it is injected into, but might be only a little
later in the Mesozoic, or much later in the Tertiary period.

# Perhaps future excursions will elucidate the problem
which so far has become more complicated the more we
see of it.

8

The Queensland Naturalist Sept., 1936.

AN ADVANCING ANTARCTIC BEECH FOREST.

By D. A. HERBERT, D.Sc., BIOLOGY DEPART-
MENT, QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY.

Eorests of Antarctic beech ( Nothofagus Moorei)
fringe the Queensland border in the highest parts of the
Macpherson Range, reaching their eastern limit at Mount
Ilobwee. Favouring the southern sheltered slopes as they
do, the}" extend over the New South Wales border, which
runs, roughly, east and west along the watershed of the
range. In New South Wales they are found in the upland
brushes bordering the New England Tableland, at the head-
waters of the Bellinger, McLeay, Barrington, Manning,
and Gloucester Rivers. In the Dorrigo forests (NS.W.)
the trees attain a height of 100 to 140 ft., and a girth of
9 to 10 ft. In the Macpherson Range forests, such as those
of Mount Ilobwee and Mt. Wanungara, the beeches do not
attain this stature; they are usually well under 100 ft. in
height, and often not much more than 30 or 40 ft. They
have a peculiar habit of growth, a ring of trees surround-
ing a central decayed trunk, from which they have sprung.
Such a clump might be described as a caespitose tree,
though it commenced as a normal single-stemmed tree.
This type is the rule in the easily accessible beech forests
of South Queensland. Seedlings and saplings are rare.
The forest is composed of gnarled old trees, and the im-
pression they give is of great age and decay.

The heavy investment of epiphytes-— mosses, lichens,
filmy ferns, Cyclophorus serpens , Polypodmm pustulatum ,
A.splenium falcatum, Asplenium nidus, Plat y cerium
grande , and Dendrobium falcorostrum — and the climber
Fieldja australis, which creeps up the stem, rooting and
branching amongst the decaying bark and mosses,
heighten the impression of age. Even the fructifications
of some of the fungi, which are the agents of decay, are
moss-covered. The brackets of Pomes lucidus are par-
ticularly noticeable for their thatch of moss; shorter-lived
fructifications, such as those of the luminescent Panus
concliatus, of course, do not present the opportunity for
epiphyte colonization.

No other rain forest tree in South Queensland has
such a load of epiphytes.

Popular descriptions of the beech forest stress the.
great age of the trees, and often suggest that they are
relics of an ice age, surviving in the moutains, but mori-
bund and out of their element. Such ideas are far from
the truth. The beech forests of South Queensland occupy

Sept., 1936. The Queensland Naturalist

a similar environment to that in which beeches grow, not
only in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, but in
New Zealand, and the south of South America. They
grow in what would be described under Thornthwaite’s
system as an AB ’r. climate, or, in other words, wet, mild
mesothermal, and with moisture abundant at all seasons.
They occupy the moister parts of the Macpherson Range,
particularly where the cloud-belt maintains damp con-
ditions. Surrounded by rain forest of the usual South
Queensland type, the beech forests are infiltrated with
many of its species. Quintinia Sieberi , the possum tree,
Weinmannia lachnocarpa, Alsophila Leiclihardtiana, the
prickly tree fern, Dickso'nia antarctica, Bacularia
monostachya, the walking-stick palm, are found in both
types of rain forest — the scrub and the beech. The out-
standing difference is the dominance of the single species,
Nothofagus Moorei, coupled with the fact that only ex-
ceptionally do isolated specimens occur away from the
main beech forest. In these mild temperate rain forests
the beeches represent the most, hygrophytic community.
At the other end of the series, such trees as Tristania con -
ferta, the scrub box, dominate their associations, as at the
Giant’s Garden on the Upper Coomera.

Widgee Mountain is on a spur of the Macpherson
Range. On its exposed northern side it is cloth pd by an
open Eucalyptus forest, in which Xantliorrhoea arborea
is conspicuous. This open forest runs right along the
ridge, but some yards down on the southern side the rain
forest rises up sharply. It consists partly of the typical
vine scrub, but largely, and especially in the gullies, of
beech forest. Big old gnarled trees are common, but in
contrast to most of the other beech forests of the Range,
there are a large number of young trees. Some of them
are fine, straight specimens, with no sign of decay. Seed-
lings and saplings are common. At some points there is
definite evidence of the recent advance of the beech
forest into territory formerly occupied by the open forest.
At the highest point on the ridge the beech forest actually
comes up over the top, and young beeches are found sur-
rounding trees of Eucalyptus Banksii. The most remark-
able thing, however, is the fact that Xantliorrhoea
arborea persists under the new canopy. All round the
grass trees are beeches with epiphytes, mosses and ferns,
and the habitat is about as unlikely as it could be for
Xantliorrhoea. Yet these plants have survived the chang-
ing environment, and are growing there with epiphytic
mosses, ferns, and orchids on their trunks. The epiphytes
are of the same species as are found in the beech forest.

lo

The Queensland Naturalist Sept., 1936.

On one grass-tree, about four feet in height, Asplenium
falcatum, Dendrobium speciosum, Cyclophorus serpens ,
and Polypodium pustulatum are associated. Another
had the climber, Fieldia australis, rooting on its trunk.
The trees surrounding the Xanthorrhoeas and Eucalyp-
tus are about twenty feet in height, and are all young,
vigorous trees. Beyond the edge of the thicket, the van-
guard of the advancing forest is represented by seedling
beeches in all stages up to about six feet in height. They
were scattered through the open forest for a distance of
some twenty yards down the northern slope, and are
strong, vigorous young plants. There seems no reason
why they should not grow to maturity, provided bush
fires do not sweep the area before they form a closed com-
munity. It will be interesting to see how long it is be-
fore the Xanthorrhoeas and Eucalyptus are finally sup-
pressed in the area that has already been effectively
colonized.

EASTER EXCURSION, 1936.

UPPER ALBERT RIVER.

LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK.

BIRDS.

By Geo. H Barker , R.A.O.A.

The weather during the outing was fine, and, al-
though cold at night, was quite warm, by day. A number
of birds were seen, though very few were counted in any
numbers, at least as far as my own observations were con-
cerned. One exception must, however, be mentioned, and
that was the Sulphur-crested White Cockatoo, of which
as many as fifty were seen at one time. Morning and
evening this noisy, screeching nuisance would be seen and
heard, sometimes on the hill side, sometimes in wheeling
flocks, often after sundown, before settling down for the
night. Magpies and Magpie-Larks and Crimson Roscllas
were also much in evidence at all times, and with a small
dock of Dusky Wood Swallows were about the only other
birds seen in companies.

Of the fifty-eight species appearing on my list for
the holiday, most of them were the ordinary species one
v ouM see on any general excursion on a Saturday after-
noon in the Brisbane district.

Among the unusual specimens might be mentioned
the Fruit Pigeons, of which we saw two species, The

Sept., 1936. The Queensland Naturalist

11

Wampoo and Brown Pigeon. Next come the Cockatoo,
the White mentioned above, and the Black. Of the latter
Mrs. Mayo identified the Red Tailed and the Yellow
Tailed species. The Noisy Pitta was not seen personally,
but Mr. Helmsing reported it calling at night on the hill-
side near us, and this is the third record I have of this
curious nocturnal habit of the Dragon Bird. The Spec-
tacled Ply- Catcher and Rose Robin were also among, the
unusual finds, and Bell Miners, Bower Birds, Cat Birds,
and Rifle Birds were the other uncommon items recorded
for the four days.

Appended is the full list : —

1. Purple-Breasted Pigeon — Wampoo ( Megaloprepia

magnified ) .

2. Brown (Pheasant) Pigeon ( Macrophygia phasian -

ella ) .

3. Peaceful Dove ( Geopelia placida ).

4. Bar-shouldered Dove ( Geopelia humeralis).

5. Spur-Winged Plover ( Lobibyx novae Hollandiae) .

6. White-faced Heron ( Notophoyx novae Hollandiae ).

7. Nankeen Night-Heron ( Nycticorax caledonicus) ,

8. Wedge-tailed Eagle ( TJroaetus audax).

9. Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo ( Calyptorhynehus

Bank si).

10. Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo ( Calyptorhynehus

funereus) .

11. White Cockatoo ( Kakatoe galerita).

12. Crimson Rosella ( Platycercus elegans ).

13. Pale-headed Rosella ( Platycercus adscitus).

14. Azure Kingfisher ( Alcyone azurea).

15. Laughing Kookaburra ( Dacelo gigas).

16. Noisy Pitta (Dragon Bird), ( Pitta versicolor) .

17. Welcome Swallow ( Hirundo neoxena).

18; Grey Fantail ( Bhipidura flab ellif era).

19. Wagtail ( Bhipidura leucophrys).

20. Restless Flycatcher ( Seisura inquieta).

21. Spectacled Flycatcher ( Monarcha trivirgata).

22. Jacky Winter ( Microeca fascinans).

23. Rose Robin ( Petroica Rosea).

24. Northern Yellow Robin ( Eopsaltria chrysorrhoa) .

25. Golden Whistler ( Pachycephala pectoralis).

26. Grey-Shrike-Thrush ( Colluricincla harmonia).

27. Magpie Lark ( Grallina picata).

28. Eastern-Shrike-Tit ( Falcunculus frontatus).

29. Eastern- Whip-Bird ( Psophodes olivaceus).

30. White-browed Babbler ( Pomatostomus superciliosus) .

31. Little Thornbill ( Acanthiza nana).

12 The Queensland Naturalist Sept., 1936.

32. Yellow-tailed Thornhill ( Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) .

33. White-browed Scrub-Wren ( Sericornis fontalis).

34. Wren (?) (M alums Sp.) ?

35. Dusky Wood-Swallow ( Artamus cyan opt erics) .

36. Tree Creeper (?) ( Climacteris f Sp.)

37. Spotted Pardalote ( Pardalotus punctatus).

38. Black-headed Pardalote {Pardalotus melanocephalus) .

39. Silver Eye ( TiOsterops lateralis).

40. Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta ) .

41. Eastern Spinebill ( Aconthorhynchus tenuirostris ) .

42. Lewin Honeyeater ( Meliphacja Lewini) .

43. Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Melipkaga chrysops).

45. Noisy-Miner (Myzantka melanocephala) .

44. Bell-Miner ( Manorina melanophrys) .

46. Blue-faced Honeyeater ( Entomyzon cyanotis).

47. Noisy Friar Bird (Leatherhead), ( Philomon cornicu-

latus ) .

48. Austn. Pipit (Ground Lark) ( Anthns Australis)

49. Double-Bar Finch (St egano pleura Bichenovii) .

50. Red-Browed Finch (Aegintha temporalis) .

51. Green Cat-Bird (Ailuroedus crassirostus ) .

52. Satin Bower Bird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus).

53. Paradise Rifle Bird ( P'tiloris paradiseus) .

54. Australian Crow (Corvus cecilae).

55. Currawong (Black Magpie) (Strepera graculina).

56. Pied Butcher Bird (Cracticus nigrogularis) .

57. Grey Butcher Bird (Cracticus torquatus) .

58. Black-Backed Magpie ( Gymnorhina tibicen ) .

GOULD’S MONITOR (VAR ANUS GOULDIAE) .

By F. L. BERNE Y (Barcarolle, Jundah, Western
Quensland) .

My attention was drawn, 14th October, to one of
these, a full grown individual, that appeared unusually
interested in an excavation it was scratching out on sandy
ground. Having made a slanting hole, ten to twelve
inches long, with the far end five or six inches below the
surface, it appeared greatly taken up with something it
had there. I went to see what it was, and found nothing,
but loose slightly damp sand, however, digging this out
with my fingers unearthed three “goanim” eggs. Push-
ing the sand over these again, I drew back to watch. The
goanna had retreated a few yards only, and on my mov-
ing away, returned at once to its treasures.

Annoyed apparently with their having been inter-

13

Sept., 1936. The Queensland Naturalist

fered with it picked up the three eggs, one at a time, and
swallowed them.

There was no mistaking its action. I was too close
for that. Picking up an egg with its front teeth, so to
speak, it drew back its head and neck out of the hole, gave
its head a toss, and the egg was swallowed. Bach egg was
served the same. The jolly old cannibal ! I thought.
Then, moving a few feet away, it excavated a new hole,
showing as previously more than usual interest in the
bottom of it. Half a dozen times it drew back, and half
a dozen times it dived its head into the hole, and ap-
peared to push and tramp the sand about some object.

This done it filled the hole by scraping in the loose
sand, and, with a final look round, walked off. To satisfy
my curiosity, 1 cleaned out the hole, and found five eggs,
Evidently the three that I had seen it swallow, and two
more than it had not had time to bury when I first dis-
turbed it, but which must have been somewhere down its
throat at the time, the eggs having evidently been laid
elsewhere, and carried about until a spot suitable for an
incubator could be found.

I do not molest the Monitors, as they are undoubt-
edly useful in keeping down rabbits, of which there are a
few in the neighbourhood. But at times I have to read
the “Riot Act,” and take a gun to some individual that
develops bad habits.

I shot one that raided the fowl ’s quarters, and clean-
ed up five new laid eggs, swallowed the lot without break-
ing one, leaving the nest bedding as clean as if there had
never been an egg there; a postmortem disclosed the eggs
inside the reptile, but in a somewhat crumpled condition.

This was a big specimen, measuring 4ft. 8|in., and
weighed 141bs., which would be about the maximum size for
these parts. Though longer ones are reported, I am lure
I have never seen one of five feet. They are much more
terrestrial than V. various , though doing so at times, they
seldom climb trees, and are much cleaner feeders than the
relative mentioned. I do not remember ever seeing them
eating a putrid carcase.

They don’t have things all their own way, for on open-
ing an eight-foot black-headed Python (Aspidites melano -
oephalus ) that was killed close by here, I found its last
meal had been a. three-foot V. gouldiae, which had been
swallowed, tail first ; its shape, and being devoid of feathers
oi fur, making it immaterial, I suppose, which way it went
down.

The goannas swallow china nest eggs without hesita-
tion, and then, after unavailing attempts to digest, re-

14

The Queensland Naturalist Sept., 1936.

gurgitate them, no doubt, as crows and many birds dis-
gorge the indigestable parts of their food.

These notes refer to country on the Thomson, 140
miles below Longreach.

ROSE ROBIN.

By N. Jack.

Most naturalists would be familiar with that type of
country vaguely known as “Scrub,” the “Rain Forest”
of the Botanist. Should the traveller in these places stand
and listen awhile he will hear many strange voices, the
agonising wail of the Cat Bird, the “whirr” of the Satin
Bird, the crack of the Whip Bird, the dialogue of the
Noisy Pittas (“Want to work! Want to work!” they seem
to sav), are among a few of the noisiest, and a host of
others not so fortunate provide their own particular ac-
companiment to the general ensemble, while his Majesty
King Menura challenges them all.

So when, admist all this clamour a certain elusive
note fell upon the writer's ears, he had some difficulty in
recognising it. It seemed that he had heard that same
note many times before, though in quite a different set-
ting, so he imitated it to the best of his ability, and pre-
sently, with a flurry of wings, and a flash of a rosey breast,
the owner appeared for long enough to convince the ob-
server that he had met the Rose Robin in his summer re-
treat. Hidden away among those forest giants he had
built his lichen covered nest, a masterpiece of bird archi-
tecture. I had no wish to disturb his mate in her domestic
duties, much less poke my fingers into her nursery, so I
pursued the matter no further.

Now, the writer does not present this as an original
discovery, because any one can pick up a Bird Book, and
satisfy himself with the bald statement that the Rose
Robin ( Petroica Rosea) frequents the open in winter, and
retires to the mountains to breed in the summer, but I
have often thought that it would be a good thing for all
concerned, if some of our budding Ornithologists had their
Bird Books confiscated, and were made to find out a few
tilings for themselves.

Rosie is a fascinating creature once you get to
know him. To meet him in the tangle of a Queensland
jungle is one way of making his acquaintance, but I first
had the pleasure of meeting him in the Mt. Cootha dis-
trict, and gradually pursued his range over a large area

Sept., 1936. The Queensland Naturalist

15

of surrounding country. He is a bird that clings ten-
aciously to the creeks while on his winter sojourn here.
Suddenly appearing from nowhere in particular generally
about April, perhaps late in March, a pair of them will
select a length of creek, and confine their activities to that
particular spot, seldom venturing any great distance
away. If you go quietly along, perhaps the female, the
more daring one of the two, will flash across your path to
snap up an insect. She is a plain brownish bird, with
conspicuous white wing bars. If you watch her as she
settles, you will see that she never packs her wings, but
hangs them at her side with a constant twitching motion,
jerking her tail up and down as she does so. The male
Rose Robin, as though conscious of his brighter colours, is
not so enterprising, but prefers to lurk in the under-
growth, only coming forth occasionally to capture his prey.
He is not a brilliant bird, but is clothed in soft grey and
delicate pink, with a conspicuous white coral spot. If you
can overcome his timidity, you will see that he is also ad-
dicted to this wing and tail shaking. He can’t keep still,
a characteristic Rose Robin habit.

Occasionally you will come across a lone creature
with the plumage of the female, but with a suffusion of
pink on the breast, an immature male.

“ Rosie” is classified with the Flycatcher family.
Having the title “ Robin” inflicted upon him might sug-
gest relationship with the European Robin, but such is
not the case. The term “ Robin” has no Ornithological
significance, being merely used as a term of endearment
for the British Redbreast, just as we use the term “Willie
Wagtail” or “Jacky Winter” for some of “Rosie’s”
family relations.

He captures his prey in the traditional Flycatcher
manner, and though by no means a strong footed bird,
may be observed occasionally clinging sideways to the
trunk of a tree after the manner of the more familiar
yellow Robin.

The observer will soon become familiar with his cal)
note, and be guided by same. It is a hard note to describe.
Very low, and short, but quite distinctive. Just before
he leaves for his mountain seclusion, late August or Sep-
tember, the male becomes more active in courting the
female, and develops quite a pretty little song of his own.

Although somewhat played out as a bird resort, in
and around, the Mt. Cootha Reserve will be found to be a
happy hunting ground for lovers of this species, who, with
experienced eyes and ears, are almost certain to find quite
a number of these pretty little creatures about. Since writ-

16

The Queensland Naturalist Sept., 1936.

ing this article, recently (July 8th), I noted a pair of
Scarlet or White Capped Robins, a bird not generally ob-
served in that district. He is a more handsome member
of the Australian Robin family than “Rosie,” and not
quite so restless in his habits, but that, of course, is an-
other story.

OBITUARY.

MR. P. G. SYLOW.

Since the last issue of the “Queensland Naturalist,”
one of the oldest members, in the person of Paul Ludwig
Peter George Sylow, died at a private hospital in Bris-
bane, at the age of 77 years. For 19 years, until his re-
tirement at the end of 1927, he was manager of the
Colonial Sugar Refinery Co.’s mill at Brisbane. He was
born in Kossor, Denmark, in 1859, and was educated as
an engineering chemist at the Copenhagen University.
He was then one of a party of a Danish expedition to
Greenland, this expedition taking the place of military
training, which was then compulsory in Denmark. He
first became closely associated with the sugar industry
when, on his return from this expedition, he joined the
staff of the Copenhagen beet sugar refinery. In 1885 he
went to Fiji, where he joined the C.S.R. as mill chemist.
Later he was transferred first to Auckland, and then to
Sydney, as chief chemist. After 17 years service in
Sydney he was appointed manager at New Farm.

Mr. Sylow was always keenlv interested in scientific
subjects, and was a member of the Royal Society of
Queensland. For some years he acted as hon. treasurer
of the club, and before that as a Councillor, giving valu-
able advice, particularly as to localities for the club’s ex-
cursions. He was a great walker, and very well pre-
served and athletic for his age.

He will be much missed, and our sympathies are ex-
tended to his widow and family.

THE

QUEENSLAND NATURALIST

JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB
AND NATURE-LOVERS’ LEAGUE

VOL X FEBRUARY 1937 No. 2

PROCEEDINGS.

EVENING MEETING, MONDAY, 20th JULY,
1936. — The chair was occupied by the President (Mr. J.
E. Young), and about 40 members were present. Mr.
G. II. Barker gave a report on the birds seen on the
excursion to Mount Coot-tha. Dr. E. 0. Marks spoke
briefly on the geology of the area, and Mr. C. T. White
on the plants. The principal business of the evening was
a lecture by Mr. S. L. Everist on the flora of Western
Queensland. By means of a large series of lantern slides,
the lecturer dealt with the vegetation observed on a
journey by car from Brisbane to Cunnamulla via Goondi-
windi, St. George and Boll on, thence to Charleville,
Tambo, Blackall, Longreach and Winton. A vote of
thanks to the lecturer was given by Dr. D. A. Herbert,
who described the pictures as among the most interesting
he had seen dealing with the flora of Queensland. Mr.
Harold Young exhibited a seedling mistletoe attached to
an orchid. Parasitisation of orchids by mistletoe is
rare. Mr. Dornbusch, of Warwick, forwarded specimens
of a knotted wood growth, which was determined as a
root nodule of pi*ickly-pear (Opuntia inermis).

EVENING MEETING, MONDAY, 17th AUGUST,
1936. The President (Mr. J. E. Young) occupied the
chair, and about thirty members were present. Mr. G.
If. Barker spoke of the movement being made in some
quarters for permission to cut trees in National Parks,
particularly Hoop Pine trees in the Lamington National
Park, and moved that a letter be sent to the Minister for
Lands (Hon. P. Pease), stating that members of this Club
noted with great satisfaction that- he had publicly stated
that under no circumstances would permission be given
for commercial exploitation of timber standing in National
Parks. Mr. J. F. Bailey gave a most interesting lecture
on palms . illustrating his remarks by a large series of
lantern slides of Australian palms growing in their natu-
ral habitats, and of native and exotic palms growing in
the Botanic Gardens of Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and

18

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

Adelaide. Mr. H. E. Young exhibited a number of native
orchids showing variation in size and colouring of the
flowers.

WILD FLOWER SHOW AND NATURAL HIS-
TORY EXHIBITION, SATURDAY, 12th SEPTEM-
BER, 1936. — In spite of the dry weather, the supply of
flowers was good and of excellent quality. Representative
collections of flowers from the North Coast were received
from Miss H. Makepeace, Tewantin; Mrs. Yabsley,
Coolum; Mrs. J. Waraker, Caloundra; Mrs. J. E. Holmes,
Maroochydore ; and Miss R. Davies, of Bribie Island. A
collection of specimens of wild flowers from North
Queensland was received from the Hon. Secretary of the
North Queensland Naturalists’ Club (Mr. J. Wver). A
collection of flowers from Stradbroke Island was re-
ceived from Mr. M. Ahlberg. Representative collections
from the South Coast were received from Mrs. G. Rankin,
Beechmont; .Miss M. Birt, Southport; Mrs. Latimer,
Nerang; Mr. W. Rudder, Springbrook; Mr. and Mrs. Den -
sil Curtis, Upper Albert River; and Mr. and Mrs. Her-
bert Curtis, Tambourine Mountain. The only collections
of plants received from the Granite Belt, exclusive of the
State School exhibits, came from Mrs. S. E. Slaughter,
Thulimbah. Specimens from inland parts were received
from Miss K. Morris, Bourke, N.S.W., and Mr. Ken Jack-
son, Quilpie. Interstate exhibits included a collection
from Kogarah, N.S.W. (Miss S. Y. Harris), South Aus-
tralia (Mr. Ising), and Western Australia (Miss W. Ded-
man). A large collection of Australian plants, particu-
larly Western Australian varieties, was received from
Mr. W. Burdett, of Basket Range, Adelaide, from his
large garden of Australian plants. Of native flowers
growing in gardens, specimens of Waratah and Geraldton
Wax Flower were received from Mr. J. E. Young, Sturt’s
Desert Pea from Mr. W. Mathieson, Chorizema from
Mrs. H Love, and Callistemon from Mr. J. H. Simmonds.
The Statd School Competition attracted six entries. Prizes
were awarded to Mullimbimby (1), St. Bernard’s (2),
and Thulimbah (3). There were seventeen entries in the
Floral Display Competition, prizes being awarded to Mrs.

G. L. Jackson (1), and Mrs. D. Williams (2). Natural
history photographs, particularly of wild flowers, were
shown by Mr. R. L. Higgins, Mrs. Herbert Curtis, Miss

H. Clarke, Mr. R. W. Helmsing and Mr. Howard Tilse.
A number of stereoscopic views of scenic and natural his-
tory subjects were display by Mr. J. Nebe. Other ex-
hibits included shells by Miss M. Clark and Mr. J. H.
Simmonds, insects by Mr, F. A, Perkins and Mr. D.

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

19

Curtis, a case of love birds, showing variety in their
colouring by Mr. H. A. Longman, Director of the Queens-
land Museum, mosses by Miss E. B. Garrick, and fossils
by Miss D. Williams. Owing to insufficient public sup-
port this year, the Wildflower Show showed a loss of 13/-.

SPECIAL MEETING, MONDAY, 5th OCTOBER,
1935 — The President (Mr. J. E. Young) occupied the
chair, and about 17 members and visitors were present.
Some bird notes (see p. 37) were read by the Hon. Sec-
retary on behalf of Mrs. W. M. Mayo. A report on the
birds seen during the Bribie Island excursion was given
by Mr. N. Jack who specially noted the presence of the
Satin Fly-Catcher. A most interesting lecture on the
work of patrol officers in the Mandated Territory of New
Guinea was given, by Mr. J. A. Plough* The lecture was
illustrated by an excellent series of lantern slides and
moving pictures.

EVENING MEETING. MONDAY, 16th NOVEM-
1936. — The chair was occupied by the President (Mr. J.
E. Young), and about 40 members were present. A re-
port on the geology of the excursion to Sandgate was
given by Dr. W. PI. Bryan. Specimens of a Cymbiclium
from Cracow were displayed by Mrs. Williams. The
principal business of the evening was a lecture on the
Becuanaland Protectorate, South Africa, by Mr. E. H. M.
Drury, M.B.E., who had spent 25 years in the Territory.
The lecture was illustrated by a number of sketches and
photographs of the country, particularly of the wile 7
animals. A number of rugs and other articles made by
the natives were shown.

EVENING MEETING, MONDAY, 19th OCTOBER,
BER, 1936. — The chair was occupied by the President
(Mr. J. E. Young), and about 35 members were present.
A copy of the book, “ Wonders of the Great Barrier
Reef,” by Mr. T. G. Roughley, was presented to the
library by Mr. G. II. Barker. The principal business of
the evening was a most interesting address by Mr. J. E.
Freeman, Instructor in Fruit Culture, Department of
Agriculture and Stock, who gave a talk on his studies in
agricultural methods, particularly in fruit growing in
Hawaii and the United States.

*We regret to state that Mr. Hough was fatally
speared by natives soon after his return to duties in New
Guinea.

20

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

NORTH QUEENSLAND— A NATURALISTS ’
PARADISE.

THE ACTIVITIES OF THE N.Q. NATURALISTS ’

CLUB.

By DR. H. FLECKER (Cairns).

Presidential Address delivered at Annual Meeting of
North Queensland Naturalists’ Club, Cairns, on Monday,
12th October, 1936.

I would have preferred to have addressed the club
on some more useful and informative topic, taking, for
instance, as a subject, the naming of objects of natural
history, vernacular and biological, but your committee is
of the opinion that such a subject as has been chosen
above might prove more acceptable.

That North Queensland is a particularly favourable
locality for the natural history student is probably well
understood, and has been so frequently stressed in numer-
ous directions that I fear that any further emphasis on
my part of this fact would lead to considerable boredom.
There are, too, a limited number of people—evidently
very limited, indeed, who take advantage of this fact, in-
cluding some visitors from remote parts of the world, but
it seems that the vast majority of the people, especially
those resident in these parts, although taking this fact
for granted, are quite indifferent, and if they visit the
Reef at all, and many living all their lives in the North
have not, would just as soon see the coral reef even at low
tide from the deck of the steamer than wander over the
Reef itself, and personally explore the magnificent range
of material which can always be found at low tide. Such
people are just as indifferent to the bush, whatever
treasures it may contain, and these are quite content to
remove every vestige of natural vegetation to make way
for a garden, perhaps of crotons and acalyphas, nrecisely
similar to that of almost every other householder and
public body. The wonderful treasures then to most
people are not at all appreciated.

The various tourist bodies, no less than the numerous
public authorities, are surely to blame for much of this
state of affairs. The general impression is a desire to re-
move the natural and to substitute the artificial, and the
contempt for the bush flora is exceedingly widespread.
Note the rarity of native vegetation in the public gardens
and streets, and the general desire of local authorities to
introduce trees already exceedingly well known in other
parts. Look through the tourist literature and note the

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

21

frequent references to cocoanuts, frangipanni, weeping
figs, etc., of other parts, and the absence of mention of our
own peculiarly interesting flora. Bright exceptions are
Lake Barrine, The Maze and Fairyland at Kuranda, and
the Jungle at Malanda, where guides are available. Most
tourists would prefer to visit sights which they cannot see
elsewhere, but in other places, particularly at Atherton,
the tendency is to wipe out the whole of the natural feat-
ures and substitute therefor alien plants. The proposal,
fortunately over-ridden by the Government, was made by
the Cairns City Council, to devote portion of the very
limited area of 30 acres of Green Island for accommoda-
tion purposes, including a tennis court, despite the fact
that this is almost the only true coral island readily ac-
cessible to tourists. I will only just mention in passing
the absurdity of referring to native trees as ‘‘oaks,”
“maple,” and “walnut,” when in reality the proper
trees bearing these names do not grow in Australia, where
one would expect that the natural pride of those con-
cerned would lead to the bestowing of some decisive and
distinctive names to such ornamental and distinctive
timbers of North Queensland. Surely it is a reflection
on the intelligence of those concerned to persist in such
false, and certainly fraudulent, names.

It is practically impossible in the short time avail-
able to do justice to the subject of the treasures of these
parts — briefly, it can be said that the Great Barrier Beef
alone offers opportunities for the study of coral forma-
tion, and its unique animal and vegetable inhabitants
superior, perhaps, to any other locality in the world, and
it is exceedingly sad that no concerted action is made by
any tourist agency to provide properly trained guides.
One has but to observe the extraordinary interest taken
by those in the company of a competent guide to appreci-
ate the value of such a service, and given suitable weather
and tide conditions, it is rare indeed that any visitor does
not go away enthralled and with a permanent impression
of the wonders of the Reef. Yet the Tourist Office still
fails to warn visitors of the necessity of wearing suitable
clothing, and that the reef cannot be properly seen ex-
cept at appropriate tides.

Of the plants, the botanist has a better field, both with
regard to variety and number of species, than any other
part of the Commonwealth with every class of soil and
climatic condition from the arid west to the wettest dis-
trict in Australia. The number of new species being add-
ed as they become known is perhaps greater than that of
the whole of the rest of Australia. The marsupials and
other mammals still engage the attention of numerous

22

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

authorities in a group almost unknown outside Australia.
The foreshores around Cairns attract that large group of
migratory and sea birds in search of food as the tide ebbs,
which, with the numerous other feathered creatures else-
where, give abundant scope for observation by the orni-
thologist.

Reptiles and chelonians of considerable variety are
to be found, including the large handsome pythons, and
besides the coastal crocodile, the interesting Crocodilus
Johnstoni is met with in inland streams. Only those who
have seen the fish on the Great Barrier Reef can realise
their exquisite beauty and coloration, not encountered to
such an extent in other than! coral seas. The mudskippers
will abundantly repay investigation to those who care to
do so. The insects include some particularly large forms
as stick insects, the largest and also the heaviest moths
known, beetles, etc. The butterflies are remarkable for
their bright colours. The green tree ant, common along
the coast and, some distance inland is noteworthy for the
curious nest which it builds. An outsize in the Peripatus
has likewise been found.

The sea also has its ample share of invertebrates,
especially the Crustacea, of immense number and variety,
unequalled in more temperate regions, whilst molluscs
are numerous and likewise the archaic brachiopod, Lin-
gula is readily found at Mission Bay, quite close to
Cairns. The corals likewise are of great interest in study-
ing the formation of the reef itself. The eehinoderms and
the lower invertebrates of the Reef provide enough
material for a life study.

To the geologist numerous interesting studies are pre-
sented. Around Cairns the effect of recent volcanic, activ-
ity can be noted, and inland are larger areas of limestone,
and also highly mineralised country of considerable
variety. The inland fossil deposits of the giants of a
former age, dprotodons, ichthyosaurus, etc., are available
to all who care to seek them.

This club was established in 1932 at a meeting con-
\ ened by the Mayor of Cairns, with a view to attracting
the attention of visitors to the natural glories of North
Queensland, and I think it can be truthfully stated that
the club has done much in this direction. Meetings have
been held regularly every month, without any recess, and
many distinguished lecturers from other parts, as well as
numerous local people, have addressed the members on all
sorts of subjects dealing with natural history. A great
deal of publicity has been brought about on the different
topics. Many erroneous conceptions have been modified,
mistaken identities corrected, and bogeys removed. The

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

23

Press can be relied on, to report much more accurately on
subjects of natural history than was formerly the case.

Perhaps the greatest advertisement is provided by
our Annual Wild Nature Shows, which have been invari-
ably well attended, and the Club has, as far as possible,
limited the great majority of the exhibits to North Queens-
land material, for it has been felt that to admit material
from elsewhere would greatly detract from our objective
of showing up our own objects. Incidentally, this show
has provided the major portion of the revenue of the
Club. Here may be seen the brilliantly coloured butter-
flies and many other insects, orchids, palms, and other
plants, aboriginal handicraft, and numerous other
material, abundant enough to fill the largest halls which
we have been able to secure, and of great variety.

Our monthly journal started from the inception of
the Club, and has continued without intermission ever
since. Though regarded by many as a luxury, it has pub-
lished many original articles, again limited, where pos-
sible, to North Queensland material. A number of new
plants, including new orchids, have been described, as
well as new descriptions of life histories of insects, and
writers of considerable repute have honoured this Club
by contributions to its pages. A census of North Queens-
land plants, with their respective localities, flowering
months, etc., is being prepared, and about half the
dicotyledonous plants have already been dealt with, these
being kept up-to-date with additions and alterations.
The journal is not merely the means of contact with other
similar bodies in different parts of the world, but serves
as an excellent medium for the exchange of other journals,
etc. Our activities are thus certainly already well known
in numerous other centres within and without Australia.
Besides, the journal serves as a permanent record for the
news items described therein.

Our library is being slowly built up, and is proving
particularly useful for the purpose of reference, especially
in the entire absence of any other reference library in this
city.

Owing to the absence of a herbarium and museum in
this city, extra responsibilities in these directions are be^
ing undertaken by this Club in taking charge of the
North Queensland Herbarium, which it is expected will
ultimately become national property. In the two years
since it started, already more than 1,200 different species,
besides many duplicates, have been labelled, mounted and
duly classified, and these include over 900 indigenous to
North Queensland, amongst which are also mosses, lichens,
algae, etc. These are being rapidly added to. Lack of

24

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

facilities, such as a suitable storeroom, has prevented any
considerable collection of material for a museum, and the
difficulties of keeping such free from vermin and decay
from moisture, etc., are very great. However, efforts are
being made with the assistance of the Member for the
district, and already a suitable block of land has been
made available to the Cairns City Council free of charge,
for a museum, if this body will make application for a
loan for this purpose. Meanwhile, our Club is being ap-
pealed to for all kinds of information concerning the
identity, etc., of numerous plants and objects of natural
history.

In the “Cairns Post” has appeared in each Friday’s
issue rather more than a column of ‘ “ Current Nature
Notes,” in which various subjects of natural history of
particular interest at the time are dealt with. Incident-
ally, this column is a source of revenue to the Club, be-
sides being of considerable interest to the readers of the
paper. Similarly, this Club has contributed in a smail
measure to the production of “Viewpoint,” an illustrated
quarterly newspaper published in Townsville, which feat-
ures many interesting natural history studies of North
Queensland.

There are numerous other directions in which the Club
has interested itself. A number of new species of plants,
insects, crabs and crayfish have been discovered by its
members and described. One member is actively engaged
in cinematography of the Reef which promises immense
success; with the aid of this Club, another has achieved
such success at numerous photographic exhibitions abroad
that he has gained the very high distinction of F.R.S.A.
Still another member is pioneering the art of colour photo-
graphy as applied to natural history objects. The Club
has contributed to exhibitions in the other States as far
as Adelaide. The Cairns Annual Show has been induced
to make a special sub-section for native flora in its horti-
cultural section. The Cairns City Council, half-heartedly
perhaps, has been induced to label somo.of the trees in its
streets. The dynamiting of fish has been limited, and the
spearing, etc., on Green Island has been lessened. Cer-
tain geographical names have been fixed as the result of
representations from the Club. The Rhododendron
Lochae has been placed on the list of protected plants,
and the exodus of the Cuscus from Cape York Peninsula
has been checked.

The above does not exhaust all the activities which
the Club has done, but surely it can be claimed that it
has achieved a fair deal in the four years of its existence,
and it is anticipated that much more will be done in the
future .

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

25

TWO, NEW DENDROBS FOR NORTH QUEENSLAND

By REV. H. M. R. RUPP (Raymond Terrace, N.S.W.)
and C. T. WHITE (Government Botanist, Brisbane).

DENDROBIUM FLE^KERI sp. nov.

Caules breviter serpentes, pseudobulbi numerosi,
gracillimi, striati, 25-40 cm. longi. Folia 2-3, late lanceo-
lata, 7-10 cm. longa. Flores pauci, comparate magni.
Sepala fulvoviridia, acuta, 2-24 cm. longa: sepalum dor-
sale, late lanceolatum, lateralia latiora: calcar obtusum
gibbosumque. Petala breviora, angusta. Labellum 12-15
mm. longum, prominente trilobatum: lobi laterales erecti,
purpureorubri, lobus intermedius latissimus cum mar-
ginibus tomentosis incur vis; lamina cum jugis tribus.
Columna longa curvaque, anther parvissimus.

An epiphyte, with shortly creeping stems. Pseudo-
bulbs numerous, very slender, furrowed, 25-40 cm. long.
Leaves 2 or 3, terminal, broad-lanceolate, 7-10 cm. long,
clearly veined. Flowers few, rather large. Sepals pale
yellowish-green, acute, 2-24 cm. long. Dorsal sepal broad-
lanceolate, the laterals broader, forming at the base an
obtuse fibrous spur. Petals a little shorter than sepals,
and much narrower. Labellum 12-15 mm. long, promin-
ently 3-lobed ; lateral lobes erect, deeply stained or
splashed with purplish-red, mid-lobe red-spotted and
streaked, broader than long, but with incurved white-
tomentose margins. Lamina more or less red-spotted,
with three parallel longitudinal ridges ascending from
the base forward, the middle one not quite as long as the
others and yellow-tipped. Column rather long but much
curved, sometimes red-spotted. Anther very small.

Mount Spurgeon, Cairns district, per Dr. H. Fleck-
er, September, 1935 : Messrs. C. T. White and T. Carr,
September, 1936.

Dr. Flecker sent me a dried plant, with three flowers,
collected by Mr. Carr. My first impression was that of
an exceptionally large flowered D. Adac Bail., but the
acute sepals raised doubts which were soon justified. I
could not identify the specimen with any described species
known to me, but I judged it best to wait and see whether
living flowers might be available next season. Early in
October, 1936, I received a plant with living flowers from
Mr. C. T. White, who, in company with Mr. Carr, had
found this orchid a week or two earlier on Mt. Spurgeon.
It is certainly a new species, and a decided acquisition to
our known orchid flora. The affinities are chiefly with
D. Adae, which was growing in the same locality. There
is scarcely any appreciable difference between the two

26

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

plants when not in bloom ;
tinct, as may be seen fro:
made between two flowers
D. Adae.

Flowers white.

Dorsal sepal 14 mm. long,
obtuse.

Labellum 10 mm. long.
Lateral lobes with faint
purple bars.

Mid-lobe cordate, densely
tomentose.

Column white.

Anther not small.

D. Fleckeri.

Flowers pale yellowish-
DENDROBIUM

>ut the flowers are very dis-
i the following comparison

green.

Dorsal sepal 22 mm. long,
acute.

Labellum 14 mm. long.

Lateral lobes heavily stain-
ed with purplish red.

Mid-lobe reniform, with in-
terned tomentose mar-
gins.

Column green, or densely
spotted with red.

Anther relatively very
small.

IARRII, sp. nov.

Caules serpentes, teretes, cum radicibus crassis.
Pseudobulbi pauci, 3-4 cm. longi, striati. Folia duo,
graeilia tenuiaque. Racemi foliis breviores cum floribus
paucis. Sepala petalaque angustissima, circiter 14 mm.
longa; calcar obtusum, 6-7 mm. Labellum fere 14 mm.,
aureum, supra canaliculatum, trilobatum; lobi laterales
breves, lobus medius longus acutusque. Columna brevis
lataque.

Stems elongate, creeping, terete, with rather thick
roots radiating from beneath the pseudobulbs. Pseudo-
bulbs few, 3-4 cm. long, deeply furrowed. Leaves term-
inal, two or one, slender and of thin texture. Raemes
shorter than leaves, with several pale flowers. Sepals
and petals very narrow, equal, about 14 mm. long ; spur
obtuse, half as long as the sepals. Labellum nearly as
long as the other segments, bright golden yellow, chan-
elled above, trilobate; lateral lobes short, median lobe
long and rather acute. Column short and broad, but de-
tails obscure in the material available.

MOLLUSCAN NOTES.— No. 1.

By HERMANN J. BERNHARD (Rockhampton).

HUNTING THE ELUSIVE COWRIE IN
KEPPEL BAY.

No doubt many people' have picked up Cowrie shells
;both dead and alive, but; how many have seen the beauti-
ful animal that lives in them ! When making observations
on these molluscs, ! take a large size specimen jar with me
and half fill it with sea water. Cowries are shy animals,

PTjATE I

DENDROBIUM FLECKERI, Sp. Nov.

1. Portion of Plant, about half

natural size.

2. Flower from side, natural

size.

3. Labellum, from side.

4. Labellum flattened out and

viewed from front.

5. Column, front.

6. Laminal ridges of Labellum.

PL. ATE II.

DENDROBIUM CARII, Sp.N.

(a) Portion of plant, three-
quarters natural size.

(b) Flower enlarged.

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

27

but if put into a glass of sea water will come' out of their
shell in all their glory and try to get away to another
hiding place; that is the time when I get a magnifying-
glass on them to study them, make sketches, colour notes,
etc., on the spot. When once they have the water well
slimed up and find they cannot escape, they retire into
their shell and nothing on earth will coax them out of it
again.

The coastal fauna here is distinct from the island
fauna or the Reef fauna. Coastal shells are mostly larger
than the Reef ones of the same species. At low fide Cow-
ries are found hiding under large stones and coral lumps
on the reefs, though in some cases you can find them
clinging and moving over the surface of the rocks or coral
lumps.

Following along the beach from Emu Park round
Boyd Point to Shoalwatefi Bay, at low or nearly low tide,
one can walk to the shoal of rocks off the beach. One
Sunday I waded out into the fast ebbing tide and started
the hunt.

I got some Gratiadusta xanthodon Sby., a dark blue
shell, reddish base and brown spots on it. The mollusc
has a transparent pale-green mantle, giving it with the
darker shell below a light khaki hue; when dry it has red
dots on the mantle which, when in water and viewed
under the magnifying glass, are seen to be branched hairs
or feelers of a bright brick-red colour, waving to and fro
in the water. Along the edge of the mantle is a pale red
stripe. Feelers or tentacles are red, siphon pinkish, mouth
red, foot pale green and creeping disc a yellowish white
(usual colour).

Another shell is “ Erronea” (unnamed — Iredale).
It has been reported under a dozen or more names. The
shell is dark blue, with two or three broad paler strioes,
white base. Some shells have a dark brown patch on the
back. The mollusc is pure white, covered all over with
black dots which give it a grey mottled appearance. The
top of the foot is white, with fewer black dots on it raised
more at the back then at the front. The feelers and
mouth are red and the siphon white. Paulonaria macula

{ which has a brick-red mantle, is also occasional! v
found.

At the Keppel Islands I have found and collected: —

Lyncina vanelli L. (late lyn ) .

Ponda carneola L. A jet black mouth.

Mystaponda vitellus L.

Pavitrona caput serpentis L.

Erosaria erosa L.

28

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

Erosaria metavona Iredale. (late miliaris ). A rare
shell.

Staphylcea staphyloma L.

Purpurosa facifer Iredale. (late limacina). Pale
blue and red ends.

Derstolida fluctuans Iredale.

Erronea asellus L.

Solvadusta sp. (Qy. vaticina Iredale or subviridis
Reeve. )

Melicerona melvilli. Hidalgo.

Palakigerosa cylindrica Born.

Erronea cawrica-langion Iredale.

Erronea caicrica-oblongata Melv.

Arabica westralis (Type) Iredale.

Mostly at Emu Park I got a fair number of unnamed
species for the Australian Museum: —

P ellasimnia. — Some are near bullata or semperi , and
two others are unnamed. These belong to the
Amphijeratidae.

Phenacovolva neetarea Iredale.

Margouula pyriformis Sby.

Diminovula cavanaghi Iredale.

Prionovolva brevis Sby.

Volva volva L. (Weaver’s Shuttle).

The study of the coloration of living molluscs is only
of recent date, and I cannot at present give more details
than I have, as the opportunity to study the animals
under suitable conditions does not always present itself
when out collecting.

BOTANICAL NOTES FROM ROSEDALE.

AN EXCURSION TO MURCHTE’S SCRUB.

(OCTOBER, 1935.)

By L. G. DOVEY, Rosedale.

For a number of years I have been on the lookout
for flowering or fruiting specimens of several species of
trees and shrubs which, though fairly common with other
rain forest trees on the creek sides, have up to the present
failed to supply material for their precise determination.
In the hope of finding representatives of these, I decided
on Sunday, the 6th October, to make an excursion with
two of the local boys to a rain forest known as Murchies*
Scrub, situated on Walsh’s Creek, some six miles from
Rosedale in an easterly direction, and some two miles from
Watalgan. It owes its name to the fact that an old
pioneer named Murchie selected a small area on its north-
ern boundary in the late ’sixties or early ’seventies, and

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

29

planted an orchard of various fruits — oranges, mangoes,
pineapples, etc. — which thrived remarkably well, and
proved a source of income to the owner, who spent the
rest of his life, some fifty odd years, on the home carved
out of the jungle.

For the first three miles, the road runs alongside the
railway line, and a few features of interest on this sec-
tion may be recorded, for great alterations have taken
place since closer settlement of this area followed on the
completion of the railway to Rosedale some forty-three
years ago. When I first rode along this road some forty
years ago, I was impressed with the appearance of the
narrow-leaf ironbark ( Eucalyptus crebra ) forest, con-
taining many large and in some cases 100 feet high trees
in spite of the fact that many had been utilised in build-
ing the railway. Beneath these, waving fields of luxuriant
Kangaroo Grass ( Themeda oustralas ), among which were
to be found numerous herbaceous legumes of several
species, clothed hill and dale. A few of the ironbarks
yet remain, the best specimens being seen on the road, yet
these are not to be compared with those now gone for
ever; their reduced numbers have enabled other Euca-
Ivpts to become dominant. In one instance the clearing
of the ironbark forest favoured a succession of Gum top
box (Eucalyptu shemiphloia) . Generally, however, the
second growth forest is Yellow Messmate (Eucalyptus
exserta) or Scented Gum (Eucalyptus citriodora). None
of these, however, favours the growth of grass and other
ground species like the ironbark. The timber-getters and
now the cattlemen, have in the past, and at the present
time, have done and are doing much towards exterminat-
ing Eucalyptus crebra , partly because it is one of the best
hardwoods, and partly because it grows on a better class
of country than the other species of Eucalypts.

The smaller trees and shrubs which are associated
with the ironbarks are as yet in evidence. Mimosa Wattle
(Acacia Bidunllii) and White Hickory Wattle (Acacia
Cunninghamii) being the most common. Although the
Bat’s Wing Coral Tree ( Erythrina vespertilio) was plen-
tiful, yet, on one or two limited areas it was at one time
becoming rare owing to its being utilised for brakes for
timber waggons until replaced by grass trees. The waving
fields of Kangaroo Grass ( Themeda australis) have com-
pletely disappeared— it is hard to find a healthy tuft of
this valuable grass in any of the numerous paddocks ad
joining the railway line. Some distance back in the
rough hilly country and on the mountain it is yet com-
mon, a glaucous form being found on the higher parts,
in the vicinity of 1,000 feet or more above sea level. On

30

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

the low ridges where the soil is derived from andesitic or
amphibolithic, rock detrital, its place is taken up by bitter
blue grass, ( Bothriochloa decipiens), a very poor sub-
stitute for the Kangaroo Grass, with small areas of Bunch
Spear Grass ( Heteropogon contort us) , and another rather
tall species, Hyparrhenia filipendula. On the acid soils
of a rather sandy nature, Paddock Love Grass ( Erayros -
tis leptostachya) in the open, and Eriachne Armittii, with
several species of three awned spear grasses in the thickly
timbered country. On the fiats where a few Blue Gum
trees ( Eucalyptus tereticornis) are yet left standing, and
the soil is of a calcarious nature, the native violet, Viola
hederacea on the drier parts, and Juncus spp. on the
lower and better moisture holding spots, is striving with
Paspalum with some degree of success. On the more
sandy flats where Red Blood wood (Eucalyptus corym-
bosa) and Swamp Mahogany ( Tristania s uaveolens) are
the forest dominants, Blady Grass (Tmperata cylindrica
var. Koenigii) with patches of Barb-wire Grass (Cymbo-
pogon refractus), and a few tufts of Sporobolus diander,
are the principal grasses. Banksia int eg ri folia, Grevillea
Banksii, Casuarina torulosa, Acacia aulacocarpa, and
Acacia Maideni are also common on these flats. Thei most
striking contrast, however, is the great differences be-
tween the ground flora of the roads and the adjoining
paddock, and that found growing within the confines of
the railway fences, which has proved a' refuge for many
species of herbs which could not withstand the altered
conditions brought about by closer settlement. Within
these fences, Kangaroo Grass (Theme da australis) grows
in profusion, and Capillipedium parvif Jorum , and Sorg-
hum fulvurn are in some parts very common. Among the
leguminous herbs, Vigna vexillata- and Vigna lateola.
Glycine foment osa . G. tabacina , Mimosa pudica , Indigo-
fera hirsute , anrl several others' are all very common here,
but are seldom seen in the adjoining paddocks. Within
these fences are also found representatives of species
found in, the north and west of the State, the seed having
been introduced by stock trains.

We now leave the railway and enter on the second
and last stage of our journey through the State forests,
which present new features in several ways. The first
part of our trip was through country which had been
flooded by andesitic lava in late Tertiary times, and the
soil and flora reflected in a way its influence. We now
pass through country where conglomerate (apparently
Cretaceous Eoceme) contributes most of the soil bulk,
hence we have a very different association of trees, etc.,
to that already passed through. Yellow Stringy Bark

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

31

(. Eucalyptus acmenioides) and Yellow Bloodwood (Euca-
lyptus trachyphloia) are dominant. Where the soil is of
an open sandy nature on low hills, Sugar Gum (Ango-
phora lanoeoiata) is common. On the flats Swamp
Mahogany ( Tristania suaveolens) is found in numbers
with tea tree ( Melaleuca leucadendron) var. viridiflora
fringing the water holes. Among the smaller trees, Acacia
falcata (not common), A. c-onferta , A. complanata, and
Tristania conferta, numerous dogwood (Jacksonia
scoparia) in flower on the higher parts ; on the lower
ground Melaleuca leucadendron var. minor was very
numerous, as was Acacia Cunning hamii. Grass Trees

(X author rhaea minor) were very numerous on some parts
of the area traversed. On the creek banks, hundreds of
Melastoma malabathricum are in full bloom; with these
were associated a number of Dianella revoluta, also in
flower. Later in the season many species of under shrubs
and herbs are to be found in flower. The principal grass
is Themeda australis , with Eremochloa maculata, Aristida
queenslandica , A. ramosa , Entolasia spp. Cymbogon
refractus, Arundinella sp and Imperata arundinacea,
the last two being very common on the flats.

On the ridges and rougher ranges the Stringy Bark
forest is replaced by an association of Red Tronbark
(. Eucalyptus siderophloia) ; in most parts the run-off is
rapid, the period of moisture deficiency longer, with less
leaching of plant food, and in places the ancient (Palaeo-
zic) slates, porphyries, tuffs, and thick beds of volcanic
ash have been exposed. All these have helped in the pro-
duction of a ground flora, which differs in many ways
from that recorded from the Stringybark, Pultenaea
ternata and Acacia amblygona , from almost pure patches
of up to an acre or more. Oxylobium aciculiferum is al-
most as numerous. A golden wattle, Acacia fimbriata ,
is found in the more open spots with plants of Monotoca
scoparia and Daviesia ulicina to represent the more scat-
tered species. Acacia falcata forms a wattle scrub in places
20 feet high, with brush box ( Tristania conferta) as an
associate as we approach the outskirts of the rain forest.
We. prefer' to strike the rough country crossing over the
Divide which separates the Baffle Creek catchment area
from that of Mullet Creek, and which is an offshoot of the
Watalgan Range, rising up to over 1,000 feet in altitude
a mile south of where we descend to Walsh’s Creek, our
destination (that is, as far as we can ride) being where
this creek enters the scrub on a rather picturesque flat,
where one can watch the struggle for existence between

32

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

the jungle and forest. As 1 have known and visited this
spot many times during the last thirty-five years, it may
be of interest to record that on the right or eastern bank
the jungle has advanced something like a hundred yards,
whilst on the opposite bank it has remained stationary.
One would certainly be justified in expecting the oppo-
site, as where the scrub has advanced it is rough hilly
country ; on the other hand, the left bank is a deep allu-
vial sandy loam with bloodwood ( Eucalyptus corym-
kosa) and Glochidion Ferdinandi (this latter is to some
extent a fire resister, i.e., it shoots out from the roots
after the stem has been killed by bush fires), and a dense
growth of Blady grass ( Imperata arundinacea) , which
is fired every year. These fires have evidently prevented
the rain forest species from occupying this area. The
grass of the hillside is principally Clitoris unispicea, with
Aristida gracilipes, which produce much less herbage,
and thus a weaker fire. The Paper-bark tea trees are
also giving way, as only large aged trees are seen, the
juveniles of the rain forest species apparently receiving
the greater position of nature’s favours. Prominent
among these is pink Kamala (M allot us philippinensis)
with Grey Birch or Scrub Ironbark (Bridelia exaltata ),
Canthium ( C . coprosmoides) , and Diospyros australis , the
two last being drought resistant to some extent and very
common on higher ground.

The rain forest is between three hundred and four
hundred acres in extent, very irregular in outline, with
the creek traversing it in an oblique direction. High
ridges — in places far above the tops of the trees in the
rain forest — penetrate the rain forest on the western
side. These are covered with a fairly dense forest of
Red Ironbark ( Eucalyptus siderophloia) , with a thick
undergrowth of Acacia f dicat a. The creek which twines
and turns, only equalled by the lianas which grow on its
banks, travels over a mile in what would be less than a
third of the distance in a direct line. Having reached its
bare level, it wanders from side to side until some flood
cuts a new channel, filling up the old bed with sand and
debris to provide a nursery for some future generations
of trees, shrubs, etc. At the beginning of this century,
numerous water holes could be found, but mose of them
at the present time are filled with sand, so that very little
water is available for the birclsf and mammals which make
their homes here. Tt may be of interest to note here that
during the severe drought of 1902 several water holes
could be found where birds of many species congregated,
yet now we find, in spite of several years of more than

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

33

the average rainfall (also that within the last three
months thirteen inches of rain has fallen), the water has
disappeared, and probably most of the birds, for during
the two and a half hours spent wandering around in this
scrub we saw no birds, and only noticed the cooing of a
single bronze-wing pigeon, yet we were compensated for
this in a way by disturbing a number of scrub turkeys
from a half-built mound. This mound, contrary to their
usual custom of building on the hills when the under-
growth is dense, was on a rather open flat in the midst
of the scrub. For many years these birds were excep-
tionally rare, but during the last few years they are
again common. The Wonga pigeon has, however, become
scarce to what it was a few years ago.

A feature of interest is the numerous trees of all
sizes of gum -topped Ironbark ( Eucalyptus decorticans)
found growing up to 100 feet high or more from the mar-
gin to well within the scrub. There is a marked contrast
in the differences between this and the Red Ironbark,
which keeps to the open forest ranges and to the unprac-
tised eye appears as sound as the gum-top Ironbark, yet
fully 95 per cent, of the Red Ironbarks, i.e., trees over a
foot or so in diameter, have pipes, and probably in some
parts of the bole, a white ant’s nest. On the other hand,
aged trees of the Gum-topped Ironbark are invariably
sound, and are much sought by timber-getters. As a
rule, the leaves of the Gum-topped Ironbark sapling or
juvenile are smaller than those of the adult; on the
other hand, the Red Ironbark has much larger leaves in
the juvenile than in the adult tree. There is also a dif-
ference in the bark and wood, apart from the specific
difference in the flowers and; fruit.

The following list is the names of those trees and
shrubs found growing in or on the outksirts of the rain
forest : —

Anonaceae. Fitzalania hetropetala—a small shrub-
Jike tree up to 8 feet high. Common.

Capparidaceae . Capparis nobilis — a large shrub or
small tree, rather neat in appearance ; not common.

Capparis sarmentosa— a straggling shrub; rare.

Flacourtiaceae Scolopia Brownii — farily common

where the creek enters the rain forest. Up to 10 feet

high.

Pittosporaceae. Pittosporum revolutum — shrubby
form; rather scattered.

Rutaceae. Zieria Smithii- — a very common shrub on
the edge of the rain forest. 4 feet high. Acronychia laevis
—common on low parts near the creek. Citrus australis
trees up to 30 feet high and 1 foot in, diameter are found

34

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

on the creek banks. Flindersia australis; F. tichottiana,
up to 40 feet high and 18 inches in diameter, are now and
again met with on ridge sides. F. B&unettiana — rather
smaller than the two last-named and not so common ;
found on the lower parts or hill sides.

Oelastraceae. Celastrus dispermus, up to 35^ feet high
and 9 inches in diameter. Not common on flats.

Sapindaceae . Cupaniopsis Wadsworthii — widely

spread, being common both on ridges and flats. Shrub,

6 feet. Ellatostachys xylocarpa — a small tree not com-
mon on flats.

Anacardiaceae. Pleiogynium Solandri — Several
small trees on low ridge slopes up to 20 feet or so in
height. Most of these have fruited last year as shown by
the number of ‘‘putamens” found on the ground.

Myrtaceae. Eucalyptus decorticans — previously al-
luded to. Tristania conferta — only on hill near the out-
skirts. Myrtus racemulosa — rather common on the dry
hills within the rain forest, its copper coloured, smooth
trunk being rather conspicuous.

Araliaceae. Mackinlaya macrosciadia — a tree-like
shrub, 5 feet high, common in sunny spots on sides of
gullies in lower parts of the rain forest.

Rubiaceae. Pavetta indica — in some parts common
near margin of scrub. Ixora Beckleri — small trees up to
15 feet high, not common on low flats. Canthium copros-
moides — small tree on the outskirts o£ scrub in dry places;
very common. Canthium lucid-urn — in moist and more
sheltered situations than the last named ; common.
Psychotria loniceroides — small shrub, common both in-
side the scrub and on flats in open forests. Randia chart -
acea — small tree or large shrub, very common on creek
in well sheltered spots. Leaves of this vary considerably
both in size and general form.

Myrsinaceae. Rapanea variabilis — common on hills
on outskirts. Ardisia pseudojambosa — small tree 10 feet
high. Not common.

Ebenaceae. Maba fasciculosa — near margin. Biospy -
ros australis — very common and widely spread in drier
parts.

Apocynaceae. Alyxia ruscifolia — very common near
outskirts. Tdbernaemaniana orient alis — not common ; 6
feet high.

Boraginaceae. Ehretia acuminata — fairly common,
up to 30 feet or more in height.

Verbenaceae. Vitex lignum vitae — very common,
trees up to 40 feet high, and 14 feet in diameter. Calli-
carpa pedunculate — shrub 3 feet high, common outside
scrub on open flats on creek.

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

35

Lauracea e. Lit sea dealbata and L. reticulata-, both
fairly common as small trees, as was Cryptocarya iripli -
tier vis.

Monimiaceae. Kibara macrophylla — common as a
shrub-like tree on sides of gullies in rocky places.

Euphorbtaceae. M allot us philip pine nsis — small tree
up to 35 feet, forming communities of up to 50 individu-
als on flats near margin of scrub. Bridelia exalt at a —
same locality, but not as numerous; 10 feet high. Alchor-
nea ilicifolia — scattered here and there on drier parts.
Cleistanthus Cunningham# — small tree with slender
branches, common in several parts. Homalanthus popu-
lifolius — rather rare on creek outside rain forest. Some
young growth of this had flower spikes a foot in length.
Glockidion Ferdinandi — very common on creek outside
rain forest, as also is Breynia oblongifolia, a shrub grow-
ing up to 4 feet in height.

I Imacea-e. Aphananthe philipp i jiensis — some small
trees of this were seen up to 15 feet high.

I rticaceae. Lapovtea pivot iniphyUa — up to 30 feet
high, and nearly a foot thick. -Juveniles of this were
very common on the edge of the rain forest in sheltered
spots.

Santalaceae. Exocarpus latifolia — a few of this
species now and again seen up to 10 feet.

Podocarpaceae. Podocarpus elata — a few very

small trees of this found on the banks of gullies.

Ihis list is far from being a complete census of the
arborescent and shrubby species to be found in this
jungle complex. The families Sapotaceae and Moraceae
are well represented, but specimens suitable for a pre-
cise determination were not found. Woody climbers are
also represented by a number of species, one, the Burning
T \ ine (Malaisia tortuosa), being very common. A mono-
cotyledonous climber, the Palm Lily ( Cordyline ter -
mmalisj grows in profusion. Wild Ginger (Alpinia
caerulea ) has become rare. The only Orchid seen was
Dendrobium tetragonum , which was fairly common, and
D. tereti folium , which was also very common some years
ago.^ appears to have been exterminated, as I have been
unable to find plants of this for some time now.

Ferns were represented by large and very small Elk
horns {Plat y cerium aleiootne) , the medium sized plants
which were in considerable numbers just before last
L hristmas having disappeared apparently by human
agency. A Blechnum in some places covered the ground
usually on hills where numerous juveniles of various rain
forest species of trees intermixed with SmUax australis ,
and an odd Wax flower vine. Hoy a australis , which is

36

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

rarely found far within the rain forest. Doodia aspera
was also common. It was too early yet, however, to find
this class of plants numerous.

With regard to the other branches of natural his-
tory, the younger of my companions (they were two
brothers — sons of a timber-getter), a lad aged about 15
years, was keen on collecting beetles and naturally was
on the look-out for these subjects. Unfortunately, the
loliage species were very rare, and we had forgotten to
bring an implement for digging them out of dry logs,
and so our collection was rather meagre, comprising
several species of Tenebrioneds and one large Passilid,
black, and about If inches in length, determined by Mr.
II. Hacker as Mastochilus australasicus — Perch. Ttiey
were in considerable numbers in a decayed log. On ex-
amining the dead tree we found that many wood borers
had been at work.

These two boys proved very helpful in finding many
of the specimens I was in search of, numerous fruit or
remains of fruit, of which I have many yet to examine,
I certainly would not have found without their help. I
was very gratified at the way they showed their keen
interest in natural history by the intelligent questions
asked regarding various phenomena and their anxiety to
know when we would make another excursion to this
spot. Yet these lads knew nothing about natural
science, but were anxious to learn something of the habits
and the mutual relation that exists between organic be-
ings, and if ever I wished for a conversational system of
vernacular names it was that day, for I knew from ex-
perience that if given the scientific name it would very
likely destroy their interests in the organism or subject
under discussion.

Before many more years there will be very little rain
forest left standing within a considerable distance of
Rosedale, and it is most gratifying to know that this in-
teresting spot that we have visited and hope to visit-
many times yet, is part of the State forest which covers
many square miles in the neighbourhood of Watalgan,
and is within easy reach of that small township. It
possesses little, if any, attraction for tourists — there are
no palms, tree-ferns, or waterfalls, yet to the naturalist
it holds many features of interest from an ecological
viewpoint. It is built up on a floor of acid volcanic tuff
and ashes — a xerophytic form of the monsoon type of
Malayan Flora dependent on the deflections of the
south-east trade wind by the 1000ft. high double sloping
humocks during a period of drought.

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

37

In concluding this account, I desire to express my
sincere thanks to Mr. C. T. White and Mr. W. D. Fran-
cis, who have rendered me valuable help in identifying
for me many of the plants named in this paper.

RANDOM BIRD NOTES.

By MRS. W. M. MAYO.

MANGROVE CANARY (GREY GONE CANT AT OR).

During a stay at Brunswick Heads (N.S.W.) in the
last week of August, 1936, I found many mangrove
canaries among the mangroves at the river mouth.

The birds were in fine song, and the school children
of Brunswick Heads called them, “Jacky Mangrove,”
and described the nest as “a little round cup with a
long tail.”

The range of the Cantator is given as South-eastern
Queensland in all ornithological books, so it is of interest
to know that the bird’s range extends well into New
South Wales.

Another bird whose range extends beyond the limit
fixed by ornithologists is the White-eared Fly-catcher
( Carterosnis leucotis). I found the bird in the coastal
scrub at Burleigh last year.

The Sacred Kingfisher ( Halcyon sane (us) does not
seem to have migrated further north during the last
winter, for in all my field excursions in those months I
saw many of the birds in Queensland and northern New
South Wales.

A visit to Sandgate lagoons in September proved
disappointing. A dry spell such as we have lately ex-
perienced, usually means that the wild fowl flock to the
lagoons at Sandgate, but the observer found little of in-
terest there in September. The scarcity of numbers of
the different species came as a shock to the habitual ob-
server.

A few Black Duck, one Whistling Tree Duck, a
counle of pair of Teal, the same of White-eyed Duck, a
hall dozen Lotus birds, one Black-fronted Dotterel, a
small number of Black-throated Grebes, Eastern Swamp-
hens, Coots, and a Moor-Hen or two, with a pair of little
Black Cormorants, and another few of the small Pied
Cormorants (the fresh water species) were the sum total
of the birds seen. The only unusual bird was the Spotted
Crane (Porzcma flaminea), one specimen of which proved
not at all shy, for a wonder, but picked about well away
from the reed bed, and allowed us a very good look at a
beautiful bird,

38

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

BIRD NOTES.

By G. H. BARKER.

QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB OUTING,
ASHGROVE, NEAR THE ONE-TREE HILL SUMMIT,
18th JULY, 1936.

A bright, sunny afternoon, almost a dead calm —
occasional slight drift from the west. Birds were
scarce and mostly silent. The one most in evidence was
the yellow-cheeked Honeyeater ( Meliphaga chrysops),
which was heard in the flowering eucalypts all the after-
noon. This bird has been very plentiful around Brisbane
for weeks past, more so than usual, though every year it
moves up from, the South. My observations led me to be-
lieve that if the winter is a mild one in Southern Queens-
land, it stays with us, but if we have early frosts, it must
go further North. Possibly also the seasons for flowering
eucalypts vary. Just now many are blooming, but I have
no records of this fact occurring regularly or not, and we
must ask the question of our botanists. Another bird
that was frequently heard during the ramble, and like
most of those seen and heard, was a lodger in the tall
tree-tops, was one I am not even sure of, though I could
guess it in two. Either it was the Scarlet Honey-
eater or the Mistletoe Swallow. Not once was I able to
get a glimpse of the bird, nor did either of them utter
the distinctive note that would have catalogued it at
once, but there is a note that is common to both, and this
was the only one I heard at any time. I am obliged,
therefore, to let the matter rest at that. Little that was
outstanding was noted by me, though I heard the note
of the Pallid Cuckoo two or three times late in the even-
ing, but was unable to see the bird. If I was not so sure
of this bird’s call note, I could hardly have believed it, as
usually it does not come from the North till the Spring.
As this is one of the many storm-birds our bush lawyers
will, now be prophesying the end of the Winter. Perhaps
the most interesting note of the afternoon was that of
the Crested Tit (Falcunaulus front atus ). It is only on
heavily timbered ranges such as we find about the Sum -
mit that we ever find this bird, and even then it is scarce
and shy. We had a regular hunt for it after hearing its
note, and if I had not had the service of two Scouts to
track it down, hardly had we placed it when away it
went to the next ridge. Of the rank and file to go down
on our list were Kookaburras, Scaly -breast Parrakeets,
Noisy Miners, Wagtails, Grey Thrush, Silver-Eyes, Mag-
pies, Butcher Birds, Gracalus, Swallows, Grey Fantail,
Leatherheads, Rufous Whistler Wren, Pee-wee^

PIjATE III

PTEROSTYLIS

(a) Typical specimen.

(b) Flower from front.

(c) Column from side.

(d) Stigma.

HILDAE, Sp. NOV.

(e) Labellum from side.

(f) Labellum from above.

(g) Conjoined sepals from rear.

(h) Petal.

February, 1937 The Queensland Naturalist

39

Mention should be made of the very interesting col-
lection of birds and animals at the Kiosk at Mt. Coot-tha,
most of which can be inspected at close quarters' by visit-
ors, who are admitted to most of the cages. One won-
ders, however, how these birds and animals will fare dur-
ing the hot summer months, shut up in an enclosure con-
structed with the idea of keeping outsiders from viewing
the contents rather than the convenience or health of the
inmates. The Club should keep an eye on this possible
defect.

A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS
PTEROSTYLIS, R.Br.

By W. H. NICHOLLS.

PTEROSTYLIS HILDAE, sp. Nov.

Plant a glabra, gracillima, circa 10-15 cm., alta, Folia
ad basem, 2-3 ovata vel oblonga, longinuscule petiolata;
caulina bract eat a parva, 2-4.

Flos solitarius, viridis, parvus; galea erect a, incurva,
sub -acuta; labium inferius, erectum, cuneatum, apice
subulatum ; labellum elliptico-oblongum, irritabile

mobile-unguiculatum, fere strictum, apice obtusum;
lamina circa 9-11 mm. longa, in medio linea, elevata,
longitudinaliter ; basi appendix linearis, penicillata.

Columna erect a, circiter 12-15 mm. longa, lobo
superiore subulato; lobo inferiore anguste oblusta; mar -
grnibus introrsis ciliatis; stigma angustum, prominens.

A slender glabrous species about 10-15 cm. high,
leaves basal, 2-3 (in my specimens) ; rather large, ovate
or oblong, on long petioles; stem-bracts small, 2-4.

Flower solitary, small, almost wholly green, apex of
galea tinged with light brown, galea about 1.7 cm. to
2 cm. long, erect, incurved, sub-acute; conjoined sepals
erect, sinus acute, the finely subulate points embracing
the galea, but not exceeding it; labellum oblong-elliptical,
comparatively large, almost straight; irritable on a short,
movable claw ; the apex shortly obtuse, and protruding
through the sinus of the lower lip ; lamina about 9-11
mm. long, traversed by a central raised longitudinal line,
with a linear penicillate appendage at the base.

Column about 12-14 mm. long, the upper angles pro-
duced into long, erect subulate processes, the lower angles
somewhat narrow, obtuse, inner margins ciliate ; stigma

narrow, prominent ; anther prominent with a very short
point.

This small, but shapely-flowered species appears to
be well-distributed throughout the forest areas of North-
ern New South Wales and Southern Queensland.

40

The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937

It bears a superficial likeness to Pt. foliata, Hk.f.,
but differs chiefly in the absence of leaf-] ike stem-bracts;
in the less erect galea and in the short points to the con-
joined sepals.

Its closest affinity is Pt. curt a, s R.Br., but in this case
we have (in Pt. curia) a much larger flower, and a
strangely-twisted labellum, etc.

I have named this plant after Mrs. H. G. Curtis (nee
Hilda Geissmann), of Tambourine North, South Queens-
land, the original re-discoverer of the plant, and one who
has done, and is still doing, much for nature study in
Queensland.

The new species appears to be identical with the form
figured by FitzGerald in his work G), and there referred
to as a hybrid, curta X pedunculata , but there is little
doubt it is a very good species — long established, and
quite easily distinguished from all other described forms.
It grows in small colonies in the rich black humus soil,
associated with “rain forests,” favouring shady places
on the edge of thick scrub, hence easily overlooked.
Flowering: August to early October.

DISTRIBUTION.

The following habitats in Queensland have been
courteously supplied by Dr. Ledward: —

Queensland . — Tambourine Mountain (scrub-covered
plateau, 1,800 ft. alt.), Mrs. Curtis, Dr. Ledward. Prior
to 1936, Gunanaba Creek (on edge of rain forest, 500
ft. alt.). Dr. Ledward (1936). Springbrook Mountain
(on border, scrub-covered plateau, 2,000-3,000 ft. alt.),
growing in sheltered spots. Dr. Ledward (1936).

New South Wales . — Brunswick (scrub-covered places
adjacent mangroves). Mr. F. Fordham, Miss Thistle
Harris, W. H. Nicholls (Aug., 1936).

(1) Australian Orchids. Vol. 1.

THE

QUEENSLAND NATURALIST

JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB
AND NATURE-LOVERS’ LEAGUE

VOL X AUGUST 1937 No. 3

PROCEEDINGS.

EVENING MEETING, NOVEMBER 16th, 1936.—
The chair was occupied by the President (Mr. J. E.
Young). Thirty-five members were present. Miss Walsh
was elected a member of the club. Mr. TI. J. Freeman
gave a most interesting address on his experience in New
Zealand, Hawaii, and the United States. He had recently
visited these countries studying various phases of the fruit
industry. Miss Williamson exhibited specimens of Oeno-
thera longiflora, a species of Evening Primrose that was
quite common in some parts of south-eastern Queensland.

ANNUAL MEETING, FEBRUARY 15th, 1937.—
The chair was occupied by the President (Mr. J. E.
Young). Fifty-three members were present. Miss E. A.
Grant and Miss I. J. McCallum were elected members of
the club. Reports on the recent excursion to Enoggera
by Mrs. W. M. Mayo (Birds), Dr. W. H. Bryan
(Geology), and Mr. C. T. White (Plants), were read.
Annual reports were read by the lion. Secretary and Hon.
Librarian. The financial statement as read by the Hon.
Treasurer (Mr. F. Kunze), showed a credit balance of
£94/10/11. Officers for 1937 were elected as set forth on
the front page of the current issue. The retiring Presi-
dent (Mr. J. E. Y r oung) gave a most interesting and in-
formative address on the fauna of the Lamington National
Park.

EVENING MEETING, MARCH 15th, 1936.— The
chair was occupied by the President (Dr. W. IT. Bryan),
and about 30 members were present. Miss D. A. Goy and
Mr. W. R. Petrie were elected members of the club. A
letter from Mr. J . 0 ’Neil Brenan was read, drawing atten-
tion to the destruction of birds by foxes in the Mt. Cootha
Reserve. The principal business of the evening was an
account of the vegetation of New Zealand by Dr. D. A.
Herbert. Dr. Herbert had recently acted as the club’s
representative at the meeting of the Australian and New
Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science held
in Auckland of January of this year.

42

The Queensland Naturalist. August, 193?,

SPECIAL MEETING, THURSDAY, APRIL 1st,
1936. — The chair was occupied by the President (Dr. W.
Ii. Bryan), and about thirty members were present. Mr.
G. II. II. Tait, M.A., of the American Museum of Natural
History, New York, gave a most interesting account of the
work of the Archbold expedition on the Middle-Fly region
of Papua. Mr. L. J. Brass showed a series of beautiful
photographs of the region. Mr. W. R. Petrie exhibited a
specimen of the fruit of the Omphalea queenslandiae grown
on his property at Petrie. The vine was known in North
Queensland as “Blackfellow’s Magic,’' and the fruits
regarded by both natives and whites as delicious eating.

EVENING MEETING, APRIL 19th, 1936.— The
chair was occupied by the President (Dr. W. H. Bryan),
and thirty-five members were present. Miss Heales and
Dr. A. II. Richards were elected members of the club.
Reports on the excursion to Canungra were given by Dr.
E. 0. Marks (Geology). Dr. D. A. Herbert, and Mr. S. T.
Blake (Botany), Mr. F. A. Perkins (Entomology), and
Mr. J. E. Young (General Zoology). Reports on the ex-
cursion to Gold Creek were given by Dr. W. H. Bryan
{ Geology), Mr. S. T. Blake (Botany), and Mrs. W. M.
Mayo, and Mr. N. Jack (Ornithology).

* EVENING MEETING, MAY 17th, 1936.— The chair
was occupied by the President (Dr. W. II. Bryan), and
about forty members were present. Mr. A. E. Reuter was
elected a member of the club. Short talks on the geology
and botany of the recent excursion to Mt. Mee were given
by Dr. E. 0. Marks and Mr. S. T. Blake, respectively.
The principal business of the evening was the delivering
of a number of lecturettes on the study of Queensland
natural history, Fungi, by Dr. D. A. Herbert; Queensland
Ferns, Miss D. A. Goy; Sedges and Grasses, Mr. S. T.
Blake ; and Minerals, Dr. W. II. Bryan.

EVENING MEETING, JUNE 21st, 1936.— The chair
was occupied by the President (Dr. W. H. Bryan), and
33 members were present. Mr. A. Phillips was elected a
member of the club. The principal business of the even-
ing was a lecture on the Birds of Tasmania by Mr. G. H.
Barker, based on observations made by him on a recent
visit there. Dr. W. H. Bryan gave a few notes on the
geology of Cape Moreton, and Mr. S. T. Blake spoke on
some of the botanical features of the area, and exhibited
specimens of some unusual grasses and sedges. Exhibits
included sandstone from Cape Moreton, and pumice and
ash from Rabaul by Dr. E. 0. Marks. Photographs show-
ing vegetation types at Cape Moreton and Mt. Mee were
shown by Mr. S. T. Blake, and yam-like growth from De-
ception Bay by Mr. F. Kunze.

August, 1937.

The Queensland Naturalist.

43

ANNUAL REPORT.

The Council of the Queensland Naturalist’s Club sub-
mits the 31st Annual Report of the work of the club.

Meetings , — Ten monthly meetings, a Wild Flower
Show, eight Field Excursions, and ten Council Meetings
were held.

The attendance at monthly meetings was good; the
average being 40. Interesting lectures and papers on
many branches of Natural History were given by mem-
bers and visitors. The lectures were as follows: —

Mr. H. A. Longman, Director of* the Queensland
Museum, i ‘ Prehistoric Monsters. ’ ’

Professor F. E. Lloyd, lately of the McGill Univer-
sity, Canada, “Carnivorous Plants.”

Mr. T. Gedda, “Sweden.”

Mr. S. L. Everist, “Botanising in Western Queens-
land.”

Mr. J. F. Bailey, one time Director, Botanic Gar-
dens, Brisbane and Adelaide, “Palms.”

The lat n Mr. T. A. Hough, “New Guinea.”

Mr. G. IT. M. Drury, M.B.E., “Beehuanaland.”

Mr. IT. J. Freeman, “Experiences in Hawaii and the
United States.”

Patrol Officer Hough, whose extremely interesting
lecture, illustrated by Kodascope films and still pictures,
was much enjoyed by club members, was fatally wounded
by natives shortly after his return to duty, and died in
hospital on December 9th.

The standard of exhibits has been well maintained,
and thanks are due to those members who contributed
exhibits and reports on excursions during the year.

The Wild Flower Show was held in the Albert Hall,
Saturday, September 12th. The exhibits were quite as
beautiful and varied as usual, but as the attendance of the
public was not very good a small deficit resulted. If has
been decided in consequence, that the show be allowed to
lapse for a year.

Excursions . — Attendance to excursions on the whole
has not been very good, and the Council is faced with the
difficulty of finding satisfactory places to visit on Satur-
day afternoons. Afternoon excursions may have to be cur-
tailed in favour of week-end or whole days owing to the
extension of the city, many places previously available
have now been built on or taken up in suburban farms.
The places visited were: — Cash’s Crossing, Mount Gravatt.
Acclimatisation Society’s Gardens, Lawnton, One Tree
Hill, Ashgrove, Bribie Island, Sandgate, and Upper Albert
River,

44

The Queensland Naturalist. August, 1937.

The Easter Excursion to the Upper Albert River was
one of the most successful we have held, and was attended
by over 60 members.

Attendance at Council meetings has been as follows:
Mr. Young, 10; Mr. Barker, 9; Dr. Herbert, 6; Dr. Bryan,
5; Miss Baird, 10, Mr. Kunze, 9; Mrs. Jackson, 7; Dr.
Marks, 7; Mr. Jackson, 7; Mr. Rowley, 4; Mi*. Jack, 8;
Mr. Sanderson, 6; Mr. White, 6.

Membership . — It is with great regret that the death
of an old and valued member, Mr. P. Sylow, is recorded.
He served the club for some years as Honorary Treasurer,
and will be much missed at meetings and outings.

The membership now stands at 126; of whom 7 are
honorary members, 97 town, and 22 country members.
Resignations have been accepted from four members, and
eight have been elected.

“The Naturalist . ” — Two issues of the journal have
been published during the year.

General . — It was noted with pleasure that a request
to remove timber from a National Park had been refused
by the Secretary for Public Lands (the Hon. P. Pease),
the Minister administering the National Parks Act.

Library . — The Honorary Librarian (Mrs. G. L. Jack-
son) reports that the library still continues to be well
patronised by members.

About 62 books and 132 magazines have been lent
during the year to members attending the Monthly Meet-
ings. By this it can be seen that the Magazine section is
the most popular, and the addition of the English Geo-
graphical and Walkabout Magazines has been much appre-
ciated.

Thanks are extended to Mr. J. Nebe and Mr. G. IT.
Barker for their generous donations of magazines. In
addition to these, Mr. Barker has also presented three very
•fine works, viz., "Red Centre/ ’ by IT. IT. Einlavson,
"Birds of Cape York Peninsula, ” by Donald F. Thom-
son, and "Wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, ” by F. C.
Roughley.

As in the past, any future donations of books dealing
with subjects of interest to the Club, will be gratefully
received.

The Secretary reports that the requests for pamph-
lets and magazines from country members have decreased,
so that fewer parcels are being despatched.

Finanee . — The financial statement as read by the Hon.
Treasurer (Mr. F. V. Kunze), showed a credit balance of
£94/7/11.

J. E. YOIJNG, President.

(Miss) E. E. BAIRD, Honorarv Secretary,

V V

August, 1937.

The Queensland Naturalist.

45

AUSTRALIAN FERNS OF THE GENUS
CYCLOPHORUS.

By D. A. Goy (Botanic Museum and Herbarium, Brisbane)
In Bentham and Mueller’s “ Flora Australiensis ”
and Bailey’s “Queensland Flora,” this comparatively
small but very interesting group of ferns was placed under
the large and polymorphic genus Poly podium. It is one
of the genera separated from Poly podium, and regarded
as distinct by practically all modern workers. In F. M.
Bailey’s “Handbook of the Ferns of Queensland,” 1874,
the first work on Queensland ferns, the generic name
Niphobolus was employed, and in the two comprehensive
works quoted above this name is used as a subgenus under
Polypodium. The name Cyclophorus has a priority of
thirteen years, the genus having been described by Des-
vaux in 1811, and Niphobolus by Kaulfuss in 1824. A
distinguishing feature is the presence of numerous stel-
lately-branched scales or hairs on the surface of the fronds.
The species are characterised by having the rhizomes
clothed with scales of various types, and the structure and
mode of attachment of these scales constitute rather an
important factor in specific determination.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GENUS.

Rhizome creeping, clothed with brown scales. Stipes
articulate to the rhizome near the base, the short persis-
tent portion densely covered with shorter and broader
scales than those of the rhizome. Fronds coriaceous,
simple or rarely irregularly lobed in Australian speci-
mens; surfaces more or less densely covered with stellately-
branched, scale-like hairs attached by a central point,
which tend to disappear from the upper surface of older
fronds ; veins anastomosing but concealed in the thick tex-
ture. Sori exindusiate, round or oblong, oblique or
parallel to the midrib, mostly confined to the upper por-
tion of the frond.

KEY TO SPECIES.

A. Sori round or oblong, rather
small (under 2 mm. long), irre-
gularly crowded between the mar-
gin and midrib and often con-
tiguous.

B. Fronds usually 5 cm. or less
long, obovate or linear-oblong,
densely covered on the under
surface with stellate hairs. Sori
rather small, confluent and

indistinct when old 1. rupestris C. Chr.

46

The Queensland Naturalist. August, 1937.

BB. Fronds 15-60 cm. long*,
narrow linear-lanceolate, scales
minute. Sori very small,

densely crowded, but distinct 4. acrostichoides Presl.
AA. Sori large (always over 2
mm. long), oval or oblong, often
contiguous, confined to the mar-
gin with sometimes a few scat-
tered on the blade.

C. Sori in 1 row on each side of
the costa and parallel to it ;
usually at length confluent and
indistinct.

D. Fronds linear to linear-
lanceolate, entire, 3-20 cm.

long 2. confluens C. Chr.

DD. Fronds irregularly

lobed, usually larger confluens Chr. var.

lobatus (Bail.) Domin

CC. Sori very large (up to 0.5
cm. long), often oblique to the
midrib, irregularly scattered
between it and the margin or
sometimes in 1 row on each side
of the midrib, often contiguous
but usually distinct. Fronds
obovate, 2-8 cm. long, very

thick 3. intermedins ,

D. A. Goy

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES.

1. C. rupestris (R. Br.) C. Chr. Ind. 200.1905.

Cyclophorus serpens Forst. var. rupestris Domin, Biblio-
theca Botanica XX, p. 187, 1915.

Poly podium serpens auct. Austr. non Forst. Benth. FI.
Austr. VII., 767 (1878), Queensl. FI. VI. 1984 (1902).
Rhizome slender, long-creeping, densely covered with
spreading long, narrow, acuminate, pale brown fugacious
scales. Fronds small but growing in large matted patches,
coriaceous, obtuse, contracted into a rather long stipes,
densely covered on the lower surface and more loosely on
the upper one with stellate hairs, the barren ones obovate
or oblong, 1-3 cm. long, the fertile ones linear or oblong-
linear, 2-6 cm. long. Venation reticulate but concealed in
the thick texture, and the dry frond even rugose with
indented lines not connected with the veins. Sori not very
large (usually under 2 mm. long), irregularly crowded
over almost the whole frond, somewhat immersed, usually
confluent and indistinct when old.

PLATE IV.

Cyclophorus rupestris C. Chr.

PLATE V.

Cyclophorus confluens C. Chr.

PLATE VI.

Qvclophorus intermedins. D. A. Qoy,

PLATE VII.

Cyclophorus acrostichoides Presl.

47

August, 1937. The Queensland Naturalist.

Distribution. — Eastern Australia (Queensland, New
South Wales and Victoria).

Domin in Bibliotheca Botanica XX. p. 187, 1915,
states that the typical C. serpens does not occur on the
mainland of Australia, but is confined to New 7 Zealand,
New Caledonia and Norfolk Island. He places the Aus-
tralian plant under 0. serpens , Forst. var. rupestris (R.
Br.) Domin. Christensen in his Index, p. 200 has, and
I think rightly so, elevated our plant to specific rank.
Cyclophorus rupestris C. Chr. has a fairly wide distribu-
tion in Queensland, being recorded from Moreton Bay, Mt.
Perry, Rockhampton, Rockingham Bay, Bellenden-Iver,
etc., and its southernmost limit in Australia, as far as is
known, is in the vicinity of the mouth of the Snow 7 y River
in Victoria.

2. C. confluens C. Christensen Ind. Fil. 198 (1905).

Poly podium confluens R. Br. Benth. FI. Austr. VIT. 767

(1878) , Queens! . FI. VI. 1984 (1902).

Cyclophorus spicatus Domin Bibliotheca Botanica XX.

p. 189, (1915).

Rhizome slender or rather robust, long-creeping,
branched, densely covered with adpressed scales, the
scales peltate, dark brown, lanceolate, acuminate, fimbriate
with soft v r hite hairs when young. Fronds linear-lanceo-
late or linear, or the sterile ones oblong to obovate, apex
obtuse, tapering into a stipes |-2 cm. long, the fertile
fronds longest, usually 7J to 10 cm. but sometimes up to
23 cm. long, 14 cm. broad, coriaceous, pale green above
and sparsely covered with dark-coloured, fugacious, stel-
late hairs, the hairs very dense on the lower surface. Veins
reticulate but concealed in the thick texture. Sori large,
oval or oblong, in one row on each side of the costa, usually
contiguous or densely confluent and indistinct when old.

Distribution. — Queensland, New 7 South Wales, Lord
Howe Island, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, New Zea-
land, and New Guinea.

In Queensland this species has a distribution very
similar to that of the preceding species. In New South
Wales it extends as far south as Newcastle.

Var. lobatus (Bail.) Domin.

Polypodium confluens R, Br. var. lobatum F. M. Bail.

Queensl. FI. VI. 1984 (1902).

Fronds deeply and variously lobed and larger than
in the normal form.

Distribution. — Queensland : Main Range, Helidon :
Pearson’s Waterfalls, Helidon.

Polypodium confluens R. Br. forma liberatum Bail. Com-

prehens. Cat. Queensl. PI. 849 (1914).

48 The Queensland Naturalist. August, 1937.

The single specimen in the Queensland Herbarium is
characterised by being soriferous over a much greater
portion of the frond than in the normal form (nearly
half), and the sori are well separated with the exception
of those at the apex, which are fused into a short con-
tinuous ridge on each side of the costa. I consider it
only to represent an occasional variation and scarcely
worthy of a distinctive name.

With regard to Domin’s G. spicatus (Bibliotheca
Botanica XX, p. 189, 1915), after a careful examination
of the material in the Queensland Herbarium, it is con-
sidered that this represents a form of C. conflucns C. Chr.
Extreme forms of C. confluens, with its large oval, some-
what confluent sori covering a large part of the frond, and
of Domin’s C. spicatus, with its compact confluent sori
confined to the, apex of the frond, as well as numerous
intermediate forms, are frequently to be found on one and
the same plant.

3. C. intermedins sp. nov.

Poly podium serpens Forst. var. grande F. M. Bail.

Queensl. Agric. Journ. XXXI., 115, PL 101 (1913).

Rhizoma longe repens, ramosum, 2.5 mm. crassum,
paleis adpressis primo fimbriatis demum nigrescentibus
margine hyalinis dense vestitum, radices numerosas emit-
t.ens. Frondes steriles fertilesque similes, obovatae ad
lineari-oblongae, apice retusae vel rotunda tae saepe emar-
ginatae, basi cuneatae in stipitem 1.5-2 cm. longum angus-
tatae, crasse coriaceae, cum stipite 2-8 cm. longae, 1-2
cm. latae, supra atro-vi rides pilis stellatis paucis vestitae.
saepe demum glabrae, subtits cano-tomentosae, lepidotis
vel pilis stellatis dense vestitae, raro demum glabrescentes ;
costa media subtus elevata venae obscurae in lamina
carnosa occulta. Sori pauci magni ad 0.5 cm. longi, ovales
vel oblongi saepe oblique ad 6-20 ad marginem in seriem
imam in parte superiori frondis dispositi, contigui sed
distinct!, subinde 1-2 inter seriem marginal em et costam
mediam.

Rhizome branching, long-creeping, thick, 24 mm.
diam., copiously rooting, densely clothed with closely ad-
pressed scales. Scales peltate, acuminate, dark in centra
with hyaline margins, fimbriate with soft whitish hairs
when young. Fertile and sterile fronds similar in shape,
obovate to linear-oblong, retuse or emarginate at apex,
cuneate at the base and tapering to a rather long stipes
(l-J-2 cm.), including the stipes 2-8 cm. long and 1 to 2
cm. broad, thickly coriaceous, dark green above with a
few scattered stellate hairs, canescent with numerous
stellate hairs beneath. Costa prominent below, otherwise
the veins concealed in the texture. Sori extremely large

August, 1937. The Queensland Naturalist.

49

(up to 0.5 cm. long), not numerous, oval or oblong, more
or less oblique to the costa, in some fronds forming a
close row of 3-10 sori on each side of the midrib at the
margin, in others irregularly scattered between the mid-
rib and margin, often contiguous but fairly distinct in all
specimens seen.

Closely related to G. confluens and with very similar
rhizome scales. The latter species differs, however, in its
much longer, narrower fronds of thinner texture, the
fertile ones longer than the sterile, and in its smaller sori
usually parallel with the costa and forming 1 regular
row on each side. Also in C. confluens the sori, when
contiguous, become quite indistinct.

Queensland'. Atherton, E. W. Bick, June, 1913
(type); Kairi, E. W. Bick, June, 1913; Yungaburra, C.
T. White, Jan., 1918; Malanda, C. T. White, Jan., 1918;
Gadgarra Reserve, Atherton Tableland, S. F. Kajewski,
No. 1159, July, 1929.

4. G. acrostichoides Presl. Epimel. bot. 130 (1849).

Poly podium acrostichoides Forst. Prodr. 81 (1786),
Queensl. FI. VI. 1984 (1902).

Rhizome rather robust, creeping, branched, the 1
scales on younger parts spreading, long, narrow-acumin-
ate, brown with pale margins, fringed with soft white
hairs; on older parts short, adpressed, rhomboidal, pel-
tate, dark with pale margins. Fronds linear-lanceolate,
15-60 cm. long and 2 cm. broad, contracted into a stipes
14-3 cm. long, coriaceous, midrib prominent beneath,
venation concealed in the substance of the frond ; upper
surface glabrous or nearly so, and sometimes shining,
lower surface densely covered with minute, pale, stellate
hairs. Sori very small, punctiform, densely crowded (but
distinct) between the margin and midrib on the upper
1/3 to 2/3 of the frond, slightly immersed, the im-
pressions scarcely prominent on the upper surface.

Distribution : — Queensland, Ceylon, Malesia, Poly-
nesia, New Hebrides, Philippines, New Guinea. In Aus-
tralia confined to the tropical coast of North Queensland.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Mr. C. T.
White, Government Botanist, for much valuable advice
and helpful criticism in the preparation of this paper, and
especially for his Latin translation of the description of
the new species.

50

The Queensland Naturalist. August, 1937.

TWO NEW DENDROBS FOR NORTH QUEENSLAND.

ADDITIONAL NOTE.

By an oversight no locality was given under the de-
scription of Dendrobium Carrii Rupp and White, pub-
lished in the last issue of the “Queensland Naturalist”
(p. 26). This should be Mt. Spurgeon, T. Carr and C. T.
White (flowering specimens), Sept., 1936.

In reference to the other species described:

D. Fleckeri. — Dr. Flecker has written to the Rev. H.
M. R. Rupp to the effect that his first specimens were col-
lected in the jungle at Platypus Creek, Upper Mossman
River in September, 1935, and that Mt. Spurgeon proper
does not extend eastwards into the heavier rain-forest
belt at Platypus Creek, wherei the orchid was collected. —
Editor.

THE FAUNA OF THE LAMINGTON
NATIONAL PARK.

By J. EDGAR YOUNG.

When the Government of Queensland decided to re-
serve the land for the Lamington Park, they performed a
deed which will long be appreciated by the people for pre-
serving to the public for all time a glorious piece of
country in its state of natural beauty.

It is owing almost entirely to the efforts of two men
that this is so.

The late Mr. R. M. Collins, M.L.A., visited it in 1896.
and considering it an ideal place for a health resort and
scenic reserve, urged its reservation (but not success-
fully) until his death in 1913. In the meantime, Mr.
Romeo Lahey had also been working to the same end for
some years, and it is undoubtedly due to his untiring
efforts that the park was eventually gazetted in 1915.

Mr. Lahey was the first president of the National
Parks Association, and still holds that position.

The park is no doubt one of the finest in Aus-
tralia, having great scenic beauty, many fine water-
falls in rugged gorges, a wealth of vegetation, including
its ancient Antarctic beeches, and glorious floral attrac-
tions in season. Its animal life, and its undoubted number
of rare and beautiful birds, etc., all help to make its
47,000 acres of scrub or rain forest, its grass and timbered
mountain sides, and even an area of swamp and heath, one
of the most interesting areas of its kind in Australia.

It is with the various forms of the fauna, or animal
life that I wish to deal for a short time in this article,

August, 1937. The Queensland Naturalist.

51

Ornithology. — In regard to its birds the park takes a
very high place, not merely for the number of the species
included in it, which is in itself large, but in respect of the
rarity or interesting characteristics of a number of the
denizens of its scrub or rain-forest.

Commencing with the lyre birds, the champion mimics
of Australia, if not of the whole world. One or two
observers of my acquaintance, who should be in a position
to know, say that both species, Menura novae hollandiae
and alberti, are to be found here, one in the denser scrub,
and the other around its thinner margins ; at all events
alberti is there in considerable numbers, though being
extremely shy, they are not seen by everybody.

These beautiful ground birds, with their wonderful
powers of imitating any sound or call, and who build a
large nest on a rock ledge or in a tree fern are now too
well known to need any lengthy description.

Then the rufous scrub bird, Atrichornis rufescens ,
quite a mite in comparison with the last, but resembling it
in some of its characteristics (Chisholm describes it as al-
most a miniature lyre bird). It is also a scratching ground
bird, has a bristly tail, which it carries wrenlike, upright
on its back, is extremely shy, builds a domed nest on or
near the ground, and darts rapidly about under bushes
and windfalls, calling chit-chit-chit loudly, and has, con-
trary to early observers’ statements, been known to fly
several yards at a time. First seen in 1865, and found in
the park by Chisholm in 1918-19, the species is confined to
a small area in south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern
New South Wales. One other species, A. clamosus, the
first found was in a small area in south-western Australia
and is- now believed to be extinct. It seems strange that
these birds should be only found in two small areas so far
apart, possibly isolated by climatic or other changes of
long ago.

The log runner, Orth onyx temmincki, the bird with
straight claws, is essentially another ground bird, having a
spiny tail. The colour is brown, the male having whitish
undersurface and the female the throat and chest rust red.
Its noisy call quick-quick, is typical of its movements
which are very rapid. The spiny tail is used as a rest
when scratching, in which Chisholm says it lies almost flat
on its breast at times with wide spread feet. The nest is a
domed structure on the ground or on a convenient log. Like
the Atrichorni this bird in its two species is only known in
two places nearly 1,000 miles apart, the species in question
and O. spaldingi in a small area in North Queensland.

Pitta versicolor , known as the noisy pitta, is a beau-
tifully coloured bird, in green, black, buff, blue and scarlet;

52

The Queensland Naturalist.

August, 1937.

lias a loud call resembling “walk to work,” is a ground
bird, and an inveterate enemy to land snails, which it eats
after carrying for breaking purposes to a convenient stone
or root.

The regent bower bird, Sericulus chrysocephalus , a
most beautiful bird in gold and black, the female being
grey with a black cap, makes a playground and occasion-
ally a bower, decorated with land snail shells, leaves and
berries, lives on insects, berries, wild and garden fruits.
The males do not attain full plumage for some years.

The satin bower bird, Ptilonorhynchus viola reus, is
quite numerous and builds a bower ornamented by any
articles of blue, such as feathers, glass, blue bags and
berries, and even blackens the inside walls by means of
charcoal moistened in its mouth. It is a fruit eater and
is not liked by orchardists.

The rare olive whistler, Pachycephala olivacea , was
first identified in the park in 1919 by Chisholm, though the
strange voice had been noted for some years previously.

The golden whistler, P. pect oralis, is a beautiful bird,
with a fine voice and appreciates the thicker areas rather
than the open forests.

The eastern shrike tit, Fulcimculus front atus , is a beau-
tiful crested bird with similar colours to the last,
usually keeps high up in the trees, and has a powerful beak
for tearing bark when searching for insects. It is not par-
ticularly numerous.

The eastern whip bird, Psophodes olivaceus, is a great
favourite but rather shy, frequently heard in scrubs or
about jungly gullies. Its whiplike call and the reply being
distinctive and unique. It tears bark off trees, and turns
over bark and leaves in search of insects. I see that this
bird has recently been credited with a quite good imitation
of other bird voices. I hope to hear it doing so ere long.

The paradise rifle bird, Ptiloris paradisea , is beautiful
in shot green and black, lives on insects secured under the
bark of tree trunks, fruits, &c., and ornaments its nest
with green ferns and discarded snake skins. Tt is fre-
quently seen about the edge of the rain forest, but not in
the open.

The foregoing birds alone, all more or less inhabitants
of the scrub, are sufficient to place the Park in a high posi-
tion amongst such places; there are. however, many more
scrub dwellers as well as those of the more open spaces.

Amongst these are the green cat bird, Ailuroedus cras-
sirostis , which ranks with the bower birds, but builds no
bower, it is very common in places and its call closely
resembling the “miaou” of a cat is well-known to visitors
to the scrubs,

August, 1937. The Queensland Naturalist.

53

The Australian ground thrush, Oreocincla lunulata, is
widely distributed in rain forests generally, and is a some-
what shy ground bird ; its plumage is much marked by
half-moons on the feathers.

The rufous shrike thrush, Colluricincla megarhyneha,
is usually a scrub bird. It has a splendid note, thought by
some to excel that of its relative, the grey thrush, C. har-
monica, which is found in the more open forest country.

The scrub turkey, Alectura lathami, the well-known
mound builder, whose eggs are incubated by the heat of the
decaying matter of the mound. The chicks are able to fly
when hatched.

The yellow shrike robin, Eopsaltria chrysorrkoa , vs
frequently seen perching or clinging to the trunks of trees,
as if listening for insects under the bark.

The white browed, buff breasted, large billed and yel-
low throated, scrub wrens may often be seen amongst the
undergrowth.

Of the honey eaters, the “lewin” is the noisiest, while
the brown sticpnatops , the “chickup,” and perhaps the
spinebill may be seen in the openings, while other small
species mostly keep to the tree tops.

There are places also, usually on the margins of scrub,
where eucalypts of only a few years ’ growth occur, where
the bell miner’s tink-tink may be heard in every direc-
tion. Their food seems to be obtained from the under-
sides of the leaves.

The rufous fantail and its relative, the grey fantail,
or “cranky fan,” respectively, like the thick brush and
somewhat more open forest.

The black-faced flycatcher, which builds a nice moss
nest with whitish trimmings, may be seen here and there

Turning to the pigeons of the scrubs we have the top-
knot, the old “flock pigeon” of the coastal scrubs, Lop-
holaimus antarcticus, once known in immense flocks, the
roar of whose wings could be heard a mile or two away
when “banking” to a scrub or perhaps to avoid a hawk.
They are no longer very plentiful, as most of the old feed-
ing grounds have been felled, and they are frequently
taken by hawks now, when going from scrub to scrub for
fruit and berries. They are tree-top feeders.

The wonga, Leucosarcia melanoleuca, that splendid
grey pigeon of the ground, is found in scrubs and sur-
rounding brushes.

The red crowned pigeon, Ptilinopsis regina, a small
but beautiful pigeon.

The wompoo or painted pigeon, Megaloprepia mag-
nifica, a fine pigeon beautifully coloured,

54

The Queensland Naturalist. August, 1937.

The brown pigeon, also known as pheasant or long-
tailed pigeon, eats berries about the borders of scrubs,
and is sometimes seen in small flocks.

There is also the white-headed pigeon, and the little
green pigeon which has white shoulders.

Of the birds belonging purely or mainly to the forest
there are: —

The brown quail and the stone curlew. The bronze-
wing pigeon, Phaps chalcoptera. The peaceful dove and
the bar shoulder dove may be found in suitable places,
and their familiar voices, cloo-oo and wock-a-woo, may be
often heard.

Strangely enough, there is a colony of the western
crested pigeon, Ocyphaps lophotes, either escapees from
an aviary or driven down by drought, now established
some two or three years at one spot right adjacent to the
park, and probably crossing the boundary. They are in-
creasing in numbers and will probably be seen in parts of
the park before long. Some of these were seen at our last
Easter camp.

Cockatoos are represented by the white cockatoo,
Caeatua galerita. This, when farm crops are not avail-
able, feeds about the ground on the borders of scrubs on
various bulbous roots, grain, seeds, etc.

The red-tailed black cockatoo, C. banskii, and the
yellow-tailed, C. funereus, may both be seen at times.
They are slow of flight and live on wood-boring larvae,
caterpillars, casuarina, and other seeds.

The king parrot and the crimson rosella or mountain
lowry, also the pale-headed rosella, the musk, and scaly
breasted lorikeets, as well as the rainbow lorikeet, all find
their living in their various ways. There are also the
magpie lark, pied and grey butcher birds, black-backed
magpie, scrub magpie, and crows.

The boobook owl and the frogmouth also add their
distinctive voices at night.

The kookaburra, Dacelo gigas, can always be seen, as
can the forest and sacred kingfishers, Halcyon macleayi
and IT. sanctus, while the blue kingfisher, Alcyone azurea,
shows its bright colours flitting about the streams.

Some other birds of the forest, though not a full list,
are : —

The brown gervgone, silvereye, black and white fan-
tail, restless flycatcher, brown flycatcher or “Jacky
Winter,” leaden flycatcher, rose robin, blue and red-
backed wrens, brown thornbill, weebill, mistletoe bird,
pardalote sp., white-throated and brown tree-creepers,
white-headed sitella, and red-browed and double-banded
finches.

August, 1937.

The Queensland Naturalist.

55

The Flinders cuckoo, koel, the fantail, pallid and
bronze cuckoos, and pheasant coucal in season.

The wedgetail eagle is often seen, also the letter-
winged kite, crested hawk, and a species of falcon, also
the grey goshawk, while in the open spaces the kestrel is
usually hovering around.

There are also the welcome swallow, tree martin,
masked wood swallow, sw r ift, cuckoo shrike, dollar bird or
roller, caterpillar eater, leather-head, soldier bird, san-
guineous and white-naped honey eaters, and a number of
others.

As no complete list has yet been published, I cannot
here mention a number of probables but yet doubtfuls.

Marsupials of the Parle . — The number of species of
these is perhaps somewhat greater than might at first be
expected. Unfortunately, the large grey kangaroo is no
longer to be seen there owing to hunting in the past, and
I am afraid that the graceful whiptail, Macropus parryi,
is also lacking though not far away, as is certainly the
wallaroo, which, I believe, was there at one time, though
I have no definite information on this point.

Those remaining comprise occasional specimens of M.
ualabatus, the so-called swamper, though it inhabits hilly
country in places, and there are parts of the park in which
it would do quite well.

M. ruficollis, the red-necked wallaby, is perhaps the
commonest species now in the grass and brush areas.

M. dorsalis was formerly very common and is still
fairly so, and is readily recognised by its dorsal black
stripe.

M. thetidis is the common brown wallaby of the
scrubs. It is reddish about the neck and shoulders, is
frequently heard but rarely seen.

Petrogale penicillata, the rock wallaby, exists in fair
numbers on the cliff tops and rugged faces, where it is
quite at home and may be seen by patient watchers.

The rat kangaroo is fairly plentiful, lying in grass
nests made in thick clumps by day, and when alarmed
darting off and making for a hollow for safety. It collects
grass which it manages to carry under its tail, which
seems to be partly prehensile for this purpose.

There are two bandicoots recorded, the long-nosed
Perameles nasuta, and the short-nosed Isoodon obesulus.
These live on insects, earthworms, etc., while the rat
kangaroos live on grasses, roots and underground fungi.

Of the opossums there are the common silver grey
Trichosurus vulpecula of the forest trees, so greatly in
demand during the all too frequent open seasons, and un-
fortunately, at other times also. This is one of our best

56

The Queensland Naturalist. August, 1937.

friends of the bush, and every effort should be made by
naturalists to see that it is protected as far as possible.

The black opossum of the scrubs, Trichosurus caninus
nigrans, is not so frequently seen but is nevertheless very
interesting.

The eastern Australian ring-tail opossum, Pseudo-
chirus laniginosus, also occurs frequently, and is recog-
nised by its white tail' tip and its habit of making a large
domed nest of leaves, etc., amongst the branches in the
scrub trees.

The dormouse opossum, Dromicia unicolor, Krofft, is
a pygmy variety of opossum, having a head and body of
only some three inches in length, and is found occasionally
living in small hollow pipes in trees.

There is also an even smaller pygmy flying phaianger,
named Acrobates pygmaeus, Shaw, whose head and body
is only about 2 inches in length and tail similar, the latter
being feathered.

Unfortunately these wonderful little creatures rarely
live long in captivity, probably lacking either special food
or company.

The greater flying phaianger. Petauroides volans, is
found in most forest country in South Queensland and
New South Wales. Their screeches may be heard at night
in places, such as “Binna Burra, ’ ’ where they have not
been destroyed by civilisation

The lesser flying phaianger or squirrel, Petaurus
sciureus, is also to be found throughout this district. T re-
cently saw one which a lady had kept as a pet for some
years : it was particularly well nourished and had a won-
derful coat.

The large spotted tailed tiger cat, Dasyurus macu-
latus, lives in the scrubs. I have the skull of one which
T found dead on a main track in the park. The common
spotted native cat is also common in all such unsettled
districts; they live on birds, eggs, etc., and both species
sometimes do much damage amongst poultry.

Two other predatory dasyures, are to be found here
namely, Phascogale penicillata and P. flavipes. The
former, a specimen of which was shown last year at one
of our meetings by Mrs. Curtis, is said to have also
entered hen roosts for fowls The latter, yellow-footed
species, has no brush on its tail. All this family are very
active, and live in holes in the rock, or occasionally in tree
hollows.

The native bear or koala, Phascolarctus cinereus, mar
rarely be found amongst the eucalypts. This is the great-
est of our favourites amongst the Australian wild animals,
and should be more plentiful in South Queensland, but T

August, 1937.

The Queensland Naturalist.

57

fear many are killed during the open opossum seasons,
when the illegal spotlights are in use.

Mammals . — There are at least two bush rats to be
found. One is probably Rattus assimilis, but without the
actual specimens one cannot say for certain.

The native dog, Canis dingo, is too well known to de-
scribe. It roams the park at will, living on any other
forms of animal life it can find.

Of the fruit bats or flying foxes, the common Pteropus
poliocephalus, or grey-headed flying fox, will always be
seen and heard when the trees are in blossom or edible
fruit is available.

Of the insect-eating bats, I have no record, but when
such is written I believe there will be at least four species
to add to the list.

Monotremes . — The Echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus
aculeatus Shaw, is reported from, the park areas.

The Platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus anatinus,
Shaw, is, I am informed by two authorities, to be found
in the park streams.

Both of these survivals of a past age lay eggs and
suckle their young, but not quite in the usual manner.

Reptiles . — The carpet snake, Python spilotes var.
variegata, is found almost anywhere, but usually where
there is some shelter, is non-venomous and kills its prey by
crushing and then swallowing it,

The green tree snake, Dendrophis punctulatus, and
the brown tree snake, Boiga fusca, are both excellent
climbers, living on birds and small animals, etc.

The tiger snake, Notechis scutatus, usually brownish
or olive coloured, is highly venomous and also fierce. It
grows to 5 or 6 feet. It is as 1 well not to mistake this for
the harmless carpet snake. It may sometimes be found
about the rocky cliff edges and other places.

The red-bellied black snake, Pseudechis porphy-
riacus, is the commonest one of its kind, and grows to j 7ft.
in length; it is venomous and is rarely found far from
water.

The ringed snake, Purina annulata, said to be venom-
ous, but is inoffensive and not dangerous. It has black
and white bands and averages 20 inches in length.

The death adder, Acanthophis antarcticus, has at
times been known in the district, and may probably range
into the park. It is venomous and dangerous, and has a
habit of lying about on a track, frequently in a loop with
head and tail together. Usually brown or greyish. It is
usually supposed to be camouflaged to suit the locality.

Another venomous species is the banded broad head,
Iloplocephalus Stephens! This is sometimes mistaken for

58

The Queensland Naturalist. August, 1937.

the real tiger snake.

A brown-headed snake, Denisonia signata, is also
found. This is one of the smaller venomous species.

To a novice this list may look dangerous, but should
not deter visitors to the park, who use reasonable care, as
snakes are not frequently seen, and then usually glide
away.

The common black goanna is well known ; it lives on
birds and their eggs, etc. 1 myself found one burrowing
in a scrub turkey’s mound, which at the time contained
eggs, and no doubt the goanna gets young turkeys as well.

The handsome skink, Lygosoma tryoni, is to be found
here; also the blue tongue, Tiliqua scincoides, and the big
black “mullet” lizard, Egernia bungana; also the com-
mon jew lizard.

The smaller lizards are present in numbers, includ-
ing many geckoes, the best known being the harmless grey
or whitish lizard which catches insects on the walls or
ceilings.

There are also the water or dragon lizards, which
drop into the stream at a person’s approach, a rare one
being Gonyocephalus spinipes, of which very few speci-
mens have been found.

Crustacea , Etc . — A rather fine freshwater crayfish,
Astacopsis serratus, Shaw, is found in the rocky streams
having holes in the rocks. A tale is told of a party of boy
scouts which was stranded in the ranges for two or three
days, with the result that the crayfish being in demand,
disappeared in that locality, let us hope, only for a time.

A small prawn is also living about the pools.

In addition to eels, and perhaps catfish in the lower
holes, there is another unidentified fish in the pools but in
small numbers, being more or less solitary, and up to 9
inches in length.

Mollusca . — Of land snail shells there are a number,
the larger ones being Pedinogyra cunninghamii, Panda
falconeri, and Helix richmondiana, there being a number
of smaller species.

Insects , Spiders, Etc . — The insect species of the area
are very large in numbers, and many are of extreme in-
terest. There are many beautiful butterflies and moths,
lacewings, beetles and grasshoppers, bugs, mantids, flies of
all descriptions, such as dragon flies, demoiselle flies, stone
flies, robber flies, march flies, and many other flies, spiders,
scrub ticks, and the queer-legged Peripatus leichardtii.

These are all now being studied by scientists, who will
probably publish full lists later on.

The full list of any branch of the fauna has never yet
been written, and the writer hopes that the foregoing

August, 1937.

The Queensland Naturalist.

59

lines may be of interest to naturalists and others, and
particularly any of those who may be thinking of a few
days’ holiday in the locality.

I have to acknowledge the use of a list of birds from
Mr. I. W. Helmsing, which was of considerable assistance
to me in compilation. I must also thank Mr. II. A .Long-
man, Director, Queensland Museum, for details concern-
ing reptiles.

RECORDS OF QUEENSLAND FUNGI.— II.

By D. A . HERBERT, D.Sc., Department of Biology,
University of Queensland.

This list is supplementary to Records of Queensland
Fungi I., '‘Queensland Naturalist,” IX. (3), 44-46. In
that list, Puccinia aucta is recorded from Pratia excelsa;
a correction is necessary, the host being Pratia erecta.

Basidiomycetae .

Pucciniaceae —

Puccinia calendulae, McAlp., on leaves of the English
marigold, Calendula officinalis. This species de-
scribed by Me Alpine in 1896 is common in the
southern States, but has only within the last
three years become a pest in Queensland. The
aecidial stage is common at all seasons, but the
black teleutosori are not uncommon.

Puccinia calotidis , McAlp., on Calotis hispidula. Coll.:
S. T. Blake, Windorah, 12/7/1936. McAlpine
records this from New South Wales from C. cunei-
folia and Calotis sp. In the Queensland
material the aecidial stage only is present.

Puccinia cinerariae, McAlp., on leaves of cultivated
cineraria. Coll.: F. W. Blackford, Brisbane,
1318/36. Aecidial stage. This rust is not com-
mon in Brisbane.

Puccinia coronaia, Corda, on Lolium rigidum. Coll.:
D. A. H., Brisbane Botanic Gardens, October,
1934. As the aecidial stage is not found in Bris-
bane, I have followed Arthur and Fromme in as-
signing the fungus to P. coronaia.

Puccinia distincta, McAlp., on Beilis perennis. This
fungus was found on seedlings of English daisy
exposed for sale in Brisbane in 1924, and was
not noticed again until 1935, when all stages
were found in various suburbs of the city. It is
now a fairly common disease of the daisy.

Uromycladium a J pinum, McAlp., on Acacia decora.
Coll.: D.A.H., Gayndah, August, 1935. This

60

The Queensland Naturalist. August, 1937.

has been recorded on Acacia lini folia from Ner-
bool Creek, Rockhampton, by McAlpine. This is
probably Acacia clecora.

V stilaginaceae —

Cintractia crus-galli (Tr. & Earle) Magn. on Eclii -
nochloa crus-galli (Barnyard Grass). Coll.: R.
F. Newton Langdon, Lawes, May, 1937.

Cintractia iseilematis, n. sp.

Spores globular , sub-globose or somewhat angu-
lar , 10-12 micra diameter , smooth with granular
contents , the immature colorless spores held to-
gether in masses which disintegrate as maturity
is attained.

Sori at first enclosed in a sheath disintegrating
from the apex exposing the black mass of spores.
Attacked spikelets lose their awns.

Hosts: Iseilema spp. Hughenden, S. T. Blake
11564, 20/5/36. North of Hughenden. S. T.
Blake 12654 A, same date,

Iseilema vagimflorum Domin. North of Ilfra-
combe, S. T. Blake 11360 A, 3/5/36.

Cintractia leucoderma (Berk.) P. Henn, on Ryncho-
spora aurea. Coll. : F. W. Blackford, Cairns,
6/7/34. Not previously recorded from North
Queensland.

Cintractia spinifids (Ludw.) "M^Alp., on Spinifex
paradoxus. Coll.: S. T. Blake, south of Betoota,
16/7/1936.

Sorosporium consanguineuni , Ell. and Ev., on
Aristida sp. Coll.: S. T. Blake, Noondoo, near
Dirranbandi, 29/2/36.

Sorosporium paspali, McAlp., on Paspalum dilata-
tum. Coll. : F. W. Blackford, Lawes, 30/8/33.

Tohjposporium muellerianum (Thuem.) McAlp.,
on Gahnia aspera. Coll. : II. St. J. Pratt, Stan-
thorpe, May, 1937.

Melanopsichium austro-americanum ( Speg.) Beck.
McAlpine, describing material collected near
Brisbane by Bancroft in 1879, remarks that the
galls are formed in the stem in the Queensland
specimens; in North America they are chiefly in
the inflorescence, and in South America chiefly
on the leaves. The fungus is common on the
various species of Polygonum of the water pepper
type by the creeks and rivers round Brisbane,
and galls are commonly found in inflorescences,
more rarely on leaves.

August, 1937. Tlie Queensland Naturalist,

61

MOLLUSCAN NOTES No. 2.

A TYPICAL COLLECTING TRIP TO TAMPIAN
BEACH, NEAR EMU PARK, CENTRAL
QUEENSLAND.

By Herman F. Bernhard.

Most of my trips to the seaside are made on Sun-
days, between train times, and as specific dates are of
no concern here I have not bothered to quote.

Having equipped myself with lunch and a flask of
black coffee, also shell collecting gear (empty tins,
specimen jar, sticking knife, and shell bar for levering),
1 took the 9 a.m. train for Emu Park from Rockhamp-
ton, alighting at Phillip Street Siding and cutting across
the causeway to Fisherman’s Beach, struck north towards
the neck and head of Tampian Heads, thence across the
neck on to Tampian Beach, heading for the rocks half
way up the beach towards Boyd’s Point, named after
Mr. Boyd, of Mt. Morgan Ltd., at the southern end of
the beach. The rocks along Tampian Beach at low tide
are part of the beach, and in 1934 between August and
December proved a profitable hunting ground for me. I
did a lot of limpet hunting there, especially the tiny
ones ; incidentally limpets prefer smooth rocks free from
coraline or other marine growth of a hard nature. To
lift limpets off easily, one must not handle them with
the fingers first. The limpet will try and move closer to
the rock, making an airtight seal. Push the point of a
knife between the shell and rock, and it cannot do this.
It is thus easily lifted off the rock. When lifted and
wanted for study, plunge each species in a separate jar
of sea-water and leave them till they extend and come
out of their shell, when they can easily be studied by
magnifying glass as to colouration, shape, etc.

NOTES ON THE SPECIES.

(S.M. = Sydney Museum)

Fissurella lanceolata Sby. — Keyhole oblong.

Fissurella elaborata Sby. — Keyhole like a cross; rare.
Montfortula conoides Rve. — Two small northern forms.
Montfortula nigrosa Rve.

Emarginula variegata Ad. — Body and siphon white, no
markings. Creeping disk dirty blackish brown.
Fissurella (Glyphis) Jukesi Rve. — Keyhole Limpet.
Patelloida (unnamed), S.M. 593, etc. — Dark sap green,
creeping disk or bottom of foot with pale whitish

62

The Queensland Naturalist. August, 1937.

blue mark in centre ; body pale bluish white to col-
our of creeping disk, no markings visible.

Cellcina sp. S.M. 23-26, 582, 583 and 594. Creeping disk
dirty blackish brown, body white. Top of foot dark
khaki-green. At head mantle forms a recess wherein
siphon reposes when not feeding as in species of
Acmea. Siphon pale coloured.

Cell-ana tramoserica Martyn. — Golden shell and black
marking internally.

Sc-utus (species unnamed). — The black and the variegated
animal — Elephant Snail.

Acmea submarmorata. — The Queensland form. (A. mar-
morata , is the Tasmanian form). Names refer to
geographical distribution. Creeping disk dirty
white, also sandy coloured. Blackish blue mark at
back and sides of siphonal recess in front (at head^
and centre of siphon, brown speck at foot of siphon
which may be the mouth, pure white elsewhere.

Notoacmea — like scdbriuscula , Aug. — Shell inside ; black
centre and around outer edge with broad pale blue
band in between. Creeping disk pale greenish col-
our, foot pale green, body white, with a dark purple
line at back. Siphon same colour as foot and speck
of black or dark purple in centre and around outer
and inner edge near shell, may be the shell itself.

Notoacmea near flamex-dimunita Iredale. — (Not stuided
yet).

Siphonaria — like denticulata , unnamed, S.M. 580, 581. —
Creeping disk a dirty yellow, sandy colour. Top of
foot white to column of creeping disk with black
markings and irregular spots, faint black dotting
on upper side of feelers and mantle and body
white ; brownish red mouth. Top of shell heavy, a
cover of fur-like epidermis that matches its environ-
ment as to colouration.

Siphonaria atra. — Only the black inner shell is atra, the
coloured ones are unnamed; animal colour studies
not conclusive as yet.

Siphonaria Baconi, Eve. — Furthest north recorded yet — a
light coloured shell.

CalUstelama antiquata , Eve. — Ts common under stones,
about a quarter inch long.

Leiolophora queenslandicus. — Ts found clinging between the
two tide marks.

Onithochiton quercinus Old. — Is found at dead low spring
tide adhering to stones, etc., only.

Of other shells there are: —

Nerita striata Burrows, N. albiciJJa L, N. cost at a Gmelin.

Turbo mespilus Gml r — Common,

August, 1937.

The Queensland Naturalist.

63

Monodonta, M. labio L., M. abtusata Dillw.

Planaxis sulcatus Lamarck.

Euchelus atratus Gmel. — Very small.

Area afra . — Under stones.

Coming home along high tide mark a few other forms
were gathered.

Austromactra caloumdra Iredale,

Mesodesma elongata Reeve.

Donax fetba Gmelin.

Area A. tortuosa L. very common. A. pilula Reeve.
Natica conica. — Lk. the Sand Whelk, very common.

I caught the 5 p.m. train home for Rockhampton
after a successful day’s' collecting.

MACROBIOCARP Y IN AUSTRALIAN PLANTS.

Fraulein Charlotte Kliem, Botanical Department of
the University of Breslau, Gopperstrasze 6-8, Breslau,
Germany, has written me to the effect that she is studying
the phenomenon of macrobiocarpy.

According to Delpino, who first studied the subject,
macrobiocarps are those fruits that keep closed and fixed
to the parent plants for a long time after the ripening of
the seed without scattering them. This condition occurs
particularly in the Australian flora, especially in the
Myrtaceae, such as many species of Leptospermum, Calli-
stemon, Kunzea, etc., and Proteaceae: Ilakea, Banksia,
Dryandra, etc., and Casuarinaceae.

Miss Kliem is very anxious to get hold of specimens
from Australia and particularly notes from persons who
have made any observations on this question. If they
would write to her she would be very much obliged.

C. T. White, Government Botanist, Brisbane.

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6/2/37. Hon. Treasurer 11/2/37. Hon. Auditor.

THE

QUEENSLAND NATURALIST

JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB
AND NATURE-LOVERS’ LEAGUE

VOL X FEBRUARY 1938 No. 4

PROCEEDINGS.

EVENING MEETING, MONDAY, 19th JULY,
1937.- — The chair was occupied by the President, Dr. W.
H. Bryan, and about forty members were present. Misses
M. P. and T. Hawken were elected members of the club.
The principal business was a lecture by Mr. H. J. Free-
man of the Dept, of Agriculture and Stock, who gave an
interesting address on “North Queensland as we Should
Know It.’ 7 It was illustrated by lantern slides from
photographs taken by Mr. W. J. Sanderson and others.

EVENING MEETING, MONDAY, 16th AUGUST,
1937. — The chair was occupied by the President, Dr. W.
H. Bryan, and about forty members were present. Mr.
H. N. Love was elected as an ordinary member of the
Club. Reports on the excursion to Beechmere were given
by Dr. E. 0. Marks (Geology), Mr. N. Jack (Birds) and
Mr. C. T. White (Botany). Reports on the excursion to
Nursery Road were given by Dr. W. H. Bryan (Geology)
and Mr. C. T. White (Botany). The principal business
of the evening was a lecture by Mr. T. King on the
natural history of the Antarctic. Mr. King was a mem-
ber of a Norwegian whaling expedition to the Ross Sea,
and gave interesting notes on birds and sea-life of the
region. The lecture was illustrated by a number of lan-
tern slides of pictures taken in the field. Exhibits were
tabled by Miss Ernshaw (flowering specimens of Portu-
guese Elm-Celtis sinensis), by Miss Williamson (some
miscellaneous specimens from Beechmere), and by Mr.
Ken Jackson (aboriginal stone axe-heads).

EVENING MEETING, MONDAY, 20th SEPTEM-
BER, 1937. — The chair was occupied by the President,
Dr. W. II. Bryan, and fourty-four members were pre-
sent. Dr. J. B. Henderson was elected a country mem-
ber of the Club. Reports on the excursion to Mount
Tibrogargan were given by Dr. E. 0. Marks (Geology),
Mr. N. Jack (Birds), and Miss Clark (General). Dr. F.
W. Whitehouse gave a lecturette on sea-shells. lie illus-
trated his remarks with specimens and pictures. Mr. G,
H, Barker gave a lecturette on bird observing.

66

The Queensland Naturalist January, 1938

EVENING MEETING, MONDAY, 18th OCTOBER,

1937. — The chair was occupied by the President, Dr. W.
H. Bryan, and fifty-seven members were present. Re-
ports on .the excursion to Castra were given by Dr. E. 0.
Marks and Dr. W. H. Bryan (Geology), and Mr. C. T.
White (Botany) and Miss E. N. Baird (Birds). The
President extended a hearty welcome to visiting members
of the Royal Australian Ornithologists’ Union who were
present. Miss Wigan, of the Union and of the Bird Ob-
servers’ Club of Victoria, gave a lecture on the lyre bird,
and showed lantern slides taken by Mr. Tom Tregellas
of the lyre bird in its home. Mr. Tregellas for seventeen
years spent week-ends and holidays in a hollow log
which he called “Menura Log” to study and photograph
the birds in their natural habitat. A series of pictures
showing bird life at Moree observed on the location
of the union’s camp there was also shown. A gramo-
phone record of the song of the lyre bird was
played. Exhibits were shown by Mr. J. E. Young (speci-
mens of a number of Northern and Central Queensland
birds), Miss Wigan (land shells from the Lamington
National Park), and Mr. Ken Jackson (specimens of
columnar basalt).

EVENING MEETING, MONDAY, 15th NOVEM-
BER, 1937. — The chair was occupied by the President
Dr. W. II. Bryan, and fifty-five members were present.
An appeal by the purchase of literature and moral sup-
port in every way for the protection of the Koala was
read from Mr. Noel Burnett, of Koala Park, Sydney.
Reports on the excursion to Lone Pine were given by
Dr. E. 0. Marks (Geology), Mr. S. T. Blake (Botany) and
Mr. J. E. Young (Birds and Animals in the Lone Pine
Zoo). A lecture on a recent visit to Europe and illustra-
ted by a very fine series of lantern slides was given by
Mr. j. Nebe. Mr. J. E. Young showed specimens in
flower of a rare orchid (Liparis Simmondsii), Mr. K.
Jackson showed specimens of stone axe-heads, and Miss
Clark various natural history specimens.

SHIELD FERNS:— THE GENUS POLYSTICHUM
IN AUSTRALIA.

By 0. A. GOY, Botanic Museum and Herbarium , Brisbane.

In the old method of fern classification as outlined
in Bentham and Mueller’s “Flora Australiensis ” and

January, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

67

Bailey’s “Queensland Flora,” Polystichum constituted a
subdivision of the comprehensive genus Aspidium. It was
separated as a genus by Roth in 1799. The genus is
readily distinguishable from its nearest relative, Dryop-
teris, by the very unequal-sided pinnules, the more coria-
ceous and rigid texture and the usually scaly stipes.

Polystichum is a large genus comprising over a
hundred species (108 according to Christensen’s Index
Filicum), which are widely distributed over all the con-
tinents of the world. The Australian species number only
six, five of which occur in Queensland, the remaining one
(P. hispidum) being confined in Australia to New South
Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, One of the species
(P. fragile ) is restricted to North Queensland in the
vicinity of Ravenshoe. New South Wales also records
five species, including four of the Queensland ones and
P. hispidum ; Victoria has three species — P. adiantiforme,
P. aculeatum and P. hispidum , while South Australia has
only one — P. aculeatum.

Ferns of this genus are popularly referred to as
Shield Ferns.

GENERIC DESCRIPTION.

Sori roundish, dorsal or terminal on the veins. In-
dusium round and peltate, or rarely reniform and at-
tached by the sinus.

Rhizome creeping or erect. Stipes not articulate
to the rhizome, usually more or less densely clothed with
scales at least at the base. Fronds tufted or distant,
2-4-pinnate in Australian species, coriaceous and rigid,
the leaflets unequal-sided, either with the lower side less
developed or the upper base broadly truncate and the
lower obliquely cut away; margins often spinulose; veins
free.

KEY TO THE SPECIES.

A. — Margins of the fronds acutely toothed or spinulose.

B. — Fronds 2-3-pinnate, ultimate seg-
ments broad. Rhachis (except
for the scales) smooth or
minutely scabrous.

C. — Stipes and rhachis coarsely
scaly and fibrillose, Seg-
ments acutely toothed .... 1. aculeatum

CC. — Stipes and rhachis more or
less scaly with fine narrow

68

The Queensland Naturalist January, 1938

scales. Segments aristate-
toothed.

D. — R hizome creeping.

Scales pale, twisted

and hairlike 2. aristatum

DD. — Rhizome tufted. Scales
dark, flat, linear-lan-
ceolate 3. carvi folium

BB. — Fronds 3-4-pinna te, finely div-
ided into narrow segments.

Rhachis exceedingly scabrous
and hispid with spreading hair-
like scales 6. hispid uni

AA. — Margins of the fronds obtusely toothed or lobed.

E. — Costae of pinnules elevated
on upper surface. Fronds
coriaceous, not brittle
when dried 4. adiantiforme

EE. — Costae of pinnules elevated
on lower surface. Fronds
subcoriaceous, very brittle
when dried 5. fragile

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES.

1. P. aculeatum (L.) Schott Gen. Fil. ad t. 9. 1834.

Aspidium aculeatum Sw. ; Benth. FI. Austr. VII. 757
(1878), F. M. Bailey Queensl. FI. VI. 1977
(1902).

Rhizome erect or suberect, short and stout, scaly.
Stipes robust, tufted, 10-20 cm. long, when young densely
clothed, especially at the base, with large ovate-lanceo-
late, dark-brown, shining scales intermixed with paler
fibrillose scales. Fronds without the stipes 15-30 cm. long,
7-20 cm. broad, 2-3-pinnate, deltoid-lanceolate, acuminate.
Texture coriaceous; surfaces naked or the under surface
sparsely fibrillose. Rhachis clothed with deciduous scales
(as on the stipes). Primary pinnae numerous, close,
linear-lanceolate, the basal pair longest (5-10 cm.), the
rhachis fibrillose. Secondary pinnae shortly petiolulate,

January, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

69

numerous, close, often again pinnate or pinnatifid at the
base, ovate-lanceolate to rhomboidal, the upper base trun-
cate and parallel with the rhachis, the lower side cut
away; margins prickly toothed. Sori in 1 row on each
side of and close to the costa, about 6-10 per pinnule.

Distribution: — Widely spread over most of the tem-
perate and sub-tropical regions of the world.

Queensland : — Rare, confined to the southern portion
of the State : Toowoomba, Mistake Range, Blackall

Range, Mt. Ballow and Lamington National Park (Mac-
pherson Range).

N.S. Wales: — Port Jackson, Clarence River, Rich-
mond River, Macleay River, lllawarra.

Victoria: — Common everywhere except in the north-
western portion of the State. ,

South Australia: — South-eastern portion — almost cos-
mopolitan.

Tasmania : — Derwent River.

2. P. aristatum (Forst.) Presl Tent. Pterid. 83 (1836).
Aspidium aristatum Sw. ; Benth. FI. Austr. VII., 757

(1878); F. M. Bailey, Queensl. FI. V!, 1978 (1902).

Rhizome creeping, densely hairy-scaly. Stipes scat-
tered, 20-60 cm. long, densely clothed with pale brown,
fibrillose scales towards the base. Fronds 30-60 cm. long
without the stipes, ovate-deltoid, apex acuminate, 2-3-pin-
nate, glossy, subcoriaceous, glabrous except for the de-
ciduous fibrillose scales on the rhachises. Primary pinnae
deltoid-lanceolate, the basal pair the largest (8-20 cm.
long), pinnate or bipinnate at the base. Ultimate seg-
ments ovate-rhomboidal, upper base truncate, lower base
obliquely cut away, the margins spinulose dentate. Sori
small, in two rows close to the midrib.

Distribution: — Australia, New Zealand, India,

Malaya, China, Japan, Polynesia, Natal.

Queensland : — Recorded in ‘ ‘ Flora Austral iensis
from Rockingham Bay (Dallachy) and Port Denison
(Fitzalan) ; collected from Mt, Spurgeon, N.Q., by C. T.
White, 1936. The only other specimens represented in
the Queensland Herbarium are from the southern part of
the State (Brookfield and Enoggera Creek, Brisbane;
Candle Mountain; Conondale National Park).

N.S. Wales: — New England, Hastings River, Tweed
River, lllawarra. (These localities, taken from the “ Flora

70

The Queensland Naturalist January, 1938

Australiensis, ” probably also refer to P. carvifolium ,
which has since been separated as a distinct species).

3. P. carvifolium (Kze.) C. Chr. Ind. Fil. 580 (1906).

P. aristatum Presl var. carvifolium Maid. & Betche.

P. coniifolmm Presl. Domin in Bibliotheca Botanica
XX, p. 57 (1915).

Rhizome tufted, clothed with lanceolate scales. Stipes
tufted, 20-60 cm. long*, more or less densely clothed at the
base with dark, linear-lanceolate scales. Fronds as in
P. aristatum , except that the scales on the rhackises and
stipes are dark, flattened and linear-lanceolate, not
fibrillose.

Distribution 1 —Eastern Australia, Malaya, Polynesia,
Japan, China, North India, Natal.

Queensland: — Recorded from Mt. Lindesay and Lam-
ington National Park on the southern border, to Rocking-
ham Bay.

N.S. Wales: — No data is available as to distribution
in this State, but the localities listed under P. aristatum
probably also apply here.

The last two species are very closely allied, but hav-
ing seen both plants growing in their natural habitat, I
have no doubt that they are specifically distinct. In the
former the base of the stipes is furnished with pale, fine,
narrow scales which are twisted towards the apex, appear-
ing fibrillose, and the fronds are scattered along a creep-
ing rhizome. The latter species, on the other hand, has
dark-brown, narrow, flattened and rather stiff: scales on
the stipes, and the fronds are tufted on an erect rhizome.

4. P. adianti forme (Forst.) J. Sm., Hist. Fil. 220, 1875.

Aspidium capense Willd. ; Benth. FI. Austr. VII, 758
(1878).

Folystichum coriaceum Schott, llandb. Ferns Queensl.
46 (1874).

Rhizome stout, long-creeping, densely covered with
large, soft, brown, lanceolate-subulate scales. Stipes
robust, 7-35 cm. long, more or less clothed with brown,
spreading, deciduous scales. Fronds scattered along the
rhizome, without the stipes 14-35 cm. long, 8-18 cm. broad,
lanceolate to deltoid-lanceolate, apex acuminate, rigidly
coriaceous, both surfaces glabrous except the deciduously
scaly rhachises, bipinnate or tripinnatifid at the base.
Primary pinnae erecto-patent, stipitate, deltoid-lanceo-
late, more or less decurrent on the rhachis, bipinnatifid at
the base, the lowest pair the largest; ultimate segments

January, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

71

oblong, coarsely and broadly lobed or almost entire, ob-
tuse; veins free, pinnate, simple or forked, the costae
flexuose and elevated on the upper surface. Sori large,
usually in two rows close to the midrib but more numerous
in larger pinnules. Indusium large, orbicular, peltate,
entire, persistent.

Distribution : — Australia, Polynesia, New Zealand
South Africa, America (Antilles to Southern Chile).

Queensland : — First recorded for this State from
Tamborine Mountain by Domin (Bibliotheca Botanica XX,
p. 57, 1915), with the note that this probably represents
its most northern limit. No further record has since been
made.

New South Wales : — Coast District and Dividing
Range from Macleay River to Victoria.

Victoria: — North-eastern, eastern and southern por-
tions of the State.

Tasmania : — Derwent River.

5: P. fragile W. Watts, Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., XXXIX,
Pt. 4, p. 775 (1914).

Epiphytic. Rhizome thick, creeping, densely clothed
with brown, narrow and flexuose, acuminate scales, stipes
40-60 cm. long, flexuose, clothed at the base with pale
brown scales, naked above, scarcely muricate. Fronds
broadly lanceolate, 60-80 cm. broad at base, loosely bi-
pinnate, lower pinnae opposite, upper alternate, narrow-
lanceolate, 10-40 cm. long and 10 cm. broad; texture sub-
coriaceous, colour pale green, scarcely shining, glabrous.
Pinnules lanceolate, equal on both sides, lower ones 2-3
cm. broad at the base, pinnatifid to the winged rhachis,
upper ones subentire, pinnately nerved but nerves indis-
tinct, very brittle when dried, pinnules with the costae
distinctly elevated on the under surface, depressed above.
Sori medial, up to 8 per pinnule, solitary on the lobes;
industrium rotund, deeply incised, soon shrivelling and
fugacious.

Distribution : — Recorded by Watts from Major’s
Homestead, near Ravenshoe, North Queensland in 1913,
but not found since as far as is known.

6. P. hispidum (Sw.) J. Sm., Journ. Bot. IV, 195, 1841.

Aspidium hispidum Sw., Benth. FI. Austr. VII, p. 760,
1878.

Rhizome stout, long-creeping, densely covered with
dark subulate scales. Stipes 15-50 cm. long, rather slen-

fciXN

72 The Queensland Naturalist January, 1938

der, muricate, densely clothed, especially at the swollen
base, with long 1 , slender, spreading, dark-brown scales.
Fronds without the stipes 20-40 cm. long, 15-25 cm. broad,
ovate-lanceolate or deltoid in outline, subcoriaceous, 3-4-
pinnate, the primary and secondary rhachises muricate
and clothed with stiffly spreading, dark, hair-like scales.
Primary pinnae 8-20 cm. long, oblong, lanceolate, acumin-
ate, the lower ones at least bipinnate, upper ones pinna-
tifid to the winged rhacliis, shortly hispid beneath on the
main nerves. Secondary pinnae numerous, the lower ones
at least bipinnatifid, uppermost ones pinnatifid or
toothed. Ultimate pinnules 1-1.5 cm. long, 3-4 mm. broad,
deeply and sharply toothed or pinnatifid almost to the
midrib. Sori rather large, copious. Indusium orbicular,
attached by an indistinct lateral sinus or subpeltate, per-
sistent but shrivelling.

Distribution : — New Zealand (abundant in forests
throughout) ; Tasmania; rare in New South Wales and in
southern and eastern Victoria.

This species does not occur in Queensland, but as it is
the only remaining Australian member of the genus it has
been included here for the purpose of making the article
complete.

Acknowledgments : — 1 wish to express my indebted-
ness to Mr. S. T. Blake, of the Queensland University, for
the loan of his carefully collected specimens, which were
used for some of the accompanying illustrations, and to
Mr. C. T. White for his ready advice on all problems.

* THE EUCALYPTUS OR GUM TREES OF THE
BRISBANE DISTRICT.

By C. T. White, Government Botanist.

(Concluded from the “ Queensland Naturalist,” Vol. IX.,

p. 115.)

23. Eucalyptus Curtisii } Plunkett Mallee.

Description . — A Mallee-like shrub or small tree, 6-20
feet high, with several stems from a common stock, mostly
2-3 inches in diameter and clothed with a grey-silver bark.
Leaves on coppice or stump shoots linear-lanceolate, 2^-4|
inches long, one-twelfth of an inch to one-quarter of an
inch wide, paler on the under surface, midrib slightly

PIRATE VIII.

Pnlvstichum aculeatum Schott

T*Ij ATTC TX.

Polystichum aristatum Presl.

Polystichum adiantiforme J. Sm.

XI

PLAT K

Eucalyptus Curtlsii.

Group of trees near Mt. Gravatt. Average height, about 12 feet.

n

January, 19.38 The Queensland Naturalist

sunk on the upper surface, elevated on the lower, reticu-
lations (veins and veinlets) obscure on the upper surface,
rather distinct on the lower ; intramarginal vein \ line in
the narrower and \ line in the wider leaves distant from
the edge. Ordinary (secondary or adult leaves) usually
straight, but sometimes falcate, markedly coriaceous,
green and shining above, paler and more opaque beneath,
petiole or leaf -stalk about J inch long, blade 4-5 inches
long, -J-l inch wide, midrib slightly sunken above, raised
beneath, lateral veins rather obscure and irregular,
smaller veins and veinlets very numerous, discernible
under a lens; intramarginal vein sometimes plain on the
under surface, at other times obscure, \ to i line distant
from the edge. Flowers in umbels forming panicles in the
upper axils, the whole forming a large terminal corymbose
rather showy inflorescence. Individual umbels 4-6-fiower-
ed, peduncle or panicle branch about one inch long,
angular, somewhat compressed towards the top ; pedicel
angular, about \ inch long. Calyx tube campaniolate,
about i inch diameter at the top ; operculum broadly
conical, 2 lines high. Stamens in several series all per-
fect, longer filaments nearly \ inch long, anthers dehiscing
by longitudinal parallel slits. Seed capsules broad-cam -
panulate, about a third of an inch in diameter, 4-6 celled,
valves very deeply sunk. Seeds small, narrow, dark
chestnut colour, sterile and fertile ones very similar, about
one line long.

Distribution . — So far as known confined to two
localities in South-eastern Queensland, sandstone hills
near Plunkett (Albert River) and near Mt. Gravatt,
about eight miles from Brisbane.

Common Name. — Mr. W. F. Blakely in his book “A
Key to the Eucalyptus’’ proposes the name Plunkett
Mallee for it.

Botanical Name. — Eucalyptus (see under No. 1) :
Curtisii after Mr. Densil Curtis of Upper Albert, who first
drew attention to the plant.

Botanical Reference. — Eucalyptus Curtisii , W. F.
Blakely and C. T. White in “Proceedings of the Royal
Society of Queensland,” Vol. XLII., p. 82 (1931).

Note . — When this series was commenced, Eucalyptus
Curtisii had not been described and was unknown in the
Brisbane District. It is not, therefore, included in the
key m the introductory part.

74

The Queensland Naturalist January, i938

DESCRIPTIONS OF A FEW NEW PARASITES OF
PESTS, AUSTRALIAN MOSTLY.

By A. A. GIRAULT, B.Sc.

I have in the following pages given descriptions of a
few new Chalcididae parasitic upon pest insects. The
first species is an entedonine from New Guinea, also in-
teresting because it so closely resembles its Australian con-
geners ; and represents a distinct though as yet little
known genus. Pleurotropis is better known ; but this Aus-
tralian genus bears a prong-shaped median carina (propo-
deon) and a median groove distad on the scutum. So it
is different from the mentioned European and extra- Aus-
tralian genus. From the 7-8 Australian species it is dis-
tinct mainly in bearing the legs half metallic (to the
knees), the scape white.

EN TEDONItiAE.

Apleurotropis lalori nov .

Metallic blue and as the other species. Coxae and
femora concolorous. Peticle square , white, the scape
white except at apex wings hyaline. Scape dilated, widest
at distal two-thirds, thrice longer than wide, long; pedicel
twice longer than wide at apex, equal to the second club
joint but thicker (the pedicel is even a little longer than
stated) ; first and second funicle segments equal, about
thrice longer than wide, No. 3 slightly shorter, the first
(dub segment longer than the second and still shorter than
the third funicle segment, the second club segment bearing
a curved spicule nearly as long as itself.

Median groove of the scutum at distal half. Eyes
hispid (more densely than in the genotype). Segment
No. 2 of the abdomen a fourth part of the surface, the
longest segment, then the penultimate or seventh, the rest
transverse. Stigmal vein short, curved, its neck as long as
the knob, the postmarginal elongate. Antennae inserted
between the eye-end and the middle of the face. Hind
femora swollen, the hind tibial spur stout, short, but ex-
ceeding the dorsal length of the metatarsus. Prong of
the median carina (propodeon) with the space between
twice longer than wide, a third the length of the rest,
whicdi consists of a solid, strong carina; the lateral carina
is also strong. Hind tibiae short. Mandibles as in the
genotype. Face, vertex hispid. Lateral ocellus over its
diameter from the eye, still further from the median and
still further yet from each other. The lateral carina is

January, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

75

nearly perpendicular at less than the basal half, then
gently curves far disto-laterad ; the small, round spiracle
is not right on to it and is cephalad. Sunken part of the
parapside glabrous, its bristle meso-sephalad of its
centre. Scutum and parapside transverse-reticulate; pro-
podeon glabrous. Pronotum at caudal half glabrous,
divided at the half. Scutellum scaly longitudinally, its
apex and the postscutellum glabrous. Inner margin of
the eye concave.

As compared with the genotype (types) stouter
slightly, the sculpture of the scutellum coarser slightly,
and the hind femur is slightly stouter; the outer palpus
is darker, its terminal seta exceeding the part. No other
differences are seen. The basal and cubital nervures form
the usual ciliated V in the wings of both species.

Six females reared out from the larvae of Prome-
catheca, a leaf-miner of cocoanut fronds, September 28,
1936, Manus, Terr. New Guinea, B. A. O’Connor. Types
in the foreign department of the Queensland Museum.
Pseudacrias aspidomorphae nov.

This species may be known from the seventeen or
eighteen other species of the genus as found in Australia
by the following characteristics: Legs and scape concolor-
ous; meson of the propodeon bicarinate only, the carinae
separated at base; spicule normal; mandibles bidentate;
median carinae of the propodeon diverging from base;
funicle joints sub equal to or exceeding the pedicel, at
least the first oval or longer than wide ; scutellum entirely
sculptured; hind tibial spur elongate; of usual size; first
funicle segment equal the pedicel ; spicule bifurcate.
As quadricarinatus as depicted in revised tables in respect
to the parapsidal impression. Second segment of the
abdomen two-thirds of the surface, nearly its distal half
sculptured; first segment of the club equal to the pedicel.
Close to livida.

The female has never been seen, the species being
founded upon six males reared from the pupa of
Aspidomorpha found upon a convolvulaceous plant at
Brisbane, October 10th, 1929 ; the collector was Mr. A. R.
Brimblecombe, as also the rearer.

EUPELM1NAE.

Eupelmus scarabaei nov.

In my synopsis of the Australian species, this one
runs to lavoirsieri Girault, but differs in the following

The Queensland Naturalist January, 1938

/()

particulars: The middle white part of the ovipositor is
nearly twice the length of either black part ; segments
Nos. 2-3 of the funicle each slightly exceed the pedicel;
hind tibiae metallic only above.

The palpi are black. Segments Nos. 2-4 of the funicle
are slightly over twice longer than wide, No. 6 square.
Teeth Nos. 2-3 of the mandible are formed of a wide
truncation of a second tooth with an emargination. Scape
slender. Metatarsus long, slightly exceeding Nos. 2 plus
3. Fore tibiae rather widely yellow apically upon the
sides. Eyes naked. Spiracle of the abdomen at the apex
of the penultimate segment. Middle tibial spur subequal
to the ventral length of joint No. 1 of the second tarsus.

In the male the fore tibiae, t lie apices of the others,
the tarsi and the knees are noil-metallic. The male antennae
have not been seen and this sex is considerably smaller.
Aeneous. Two pairs reared from a weevil, “York Road
Poison Plant Weevil,” Perth, West Australia, L. J.
Newman.

I'Jupelmus ma-wsoni Girault soils nov.

This species has the ovipositor not or barely extruded;
and there are several varieties, one of which is described
herewith. The species is paired with incredibHis Girault,
but that species has the second segment of the funicle
equal to the pedicel.

The legs are entirely citrous or lemon colour except
the fore and hind coxae, no traces of metallic; ovipositor
brown widely at apex. The lateral ocelli are distinctly
closer to the eye than to the median. The males are all
blue except the middle of the sides of the fore tibiae, the
base of the third tarsus and the fore tarsus for the most
part. Scape compressed, a true ring-joint present, the
club solid or unjointed, the first funicle segment a bit
smaller than the rest, which are subequal to the pedicel
and a bit longer than wide. Two males and one female
from Callitris, Moreton Island, September 12, 1908, E.
Jarvis.

PTEROMALIDAE.

Muscideopsis lecanii nov.

From the genotype: Segment No. 2 of the abdomen
is over four-fifths of the surface; dorsal thorax coarsely
reticulate (excluding propodeon), glabrous distad of the
cross-f urrow of the scutellum ; abdomen dark red-brown
or black su f. M with reddish; flagellum dark brown, the

January, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

77

funicle segments Nos. 1 and 4 square (Nos. 2-3 smallest,
somewhat wider than long, No. 5 largest, still somewhat
wider than long). There is a weak, scanty tuft of longish
hairs upon the base of the abdomen dorso-laterad, the
second segment occupying practically the whole surface.
Else the same but the venation pallid dusky. A female
reared from Lecanium persicae, Perth, W. Australia, L.
J. Newman.

NATURE IN RELENTLESS MOOD.

By J. EDGAR YOUNG.

Some time ago it was suggested by one or two of our
members that I might write a commentary in our journal
on the results to our wild life of various phases of Queens-
land weather during the latter part of 1936 and early part
of 1937.

As this may be useful as a record not merely of the
weather, but of matters concerning our birds, fish and
other life, I will endeavour to record briefly the incidents
as well as I can with the information to hand.

In the latter half of 1936, owing to the comparative-
ly poor wet season and following lack of winter rains of
much value, it was quite natural that the country began
more and more rapidly to feel the consequences in the
drying up of grass and water, which caused increasing in-
convenience to various forms of wild life, forced migra-
tion being necessary in some cases, and inevitable death in
others.

I have two reports from Mrs. L. M. Mayo, one of our
enthusiastic ornithologists, regarding Lake Clarendon, a
newly created wild life sanctuary near Gatton.

The first is one regarding her visit in October, 1936,
in which she says that the water of the lake — a shallow bed
— bad at that time greatly receded, and it was difficult to
get near the birds in the centre, owing to the black, sticky
mud left on the margin.

Amongst the birds seen, she mentions the following:
Nine Egrctta alba , many spurwing, plover with young
chicks, many white headed stilts, several black s’V' ans, a
pair of marsh terns, some black ducks, some white-eyed
ducks, white-necked herons.

Tringa glareola, and what appeared to be sharp-tailed
Stints wading in the water,

78

The Queensland Naturalist January, 1938

In the paddock around the lake were some kooka-
burras and sacred kingfishers, noisy miners, nankeen kes-
trels, butcher birds, magpies, magpie larks, chestnut-
crowned babblers, crows, sordid wood swallows, starlings,
welcome swallows, also greenies and rosella parrots.

It is possible that the numbers of birds listed were
greater than would usually be the case owing to the
general scarcity of water.

The lake was again visited early in February, 1937,
when not a drop of water was to be seen. On the dried
mud of the lake lay the carcases of cattle, and only a
couple of pairs of spur-winged plovers remained where a.
few weeks before so many score had been, and about 30
straw-necked ibis fed on the myriads of grasshoppers
which now infested the paddock. Desolation reigned, for
with these exceptions, the lake bed and paddock were bare
of wading and forest birds. Similar scenes were to be
found in a number of other places, but the above will
serve as a typical example.

In the Logan River, at the pumping station near
Beaudesert, the water had dried up to such an extent that
a large number of fish died in the heated water
(“Courier-Mail,” Brisbane, about January 23rd, 1937).

I received the following information from Mr. C.
Fenton, of the pumping station: — “The date on which the
fish died was January 21st, 1937. The water was running
and was from 1-J inches to 12 inches deep (readings taken
daily).

There were mullet and catfish to 9 inches long, and
eels to 30 inches long, and any fish that got into the
shallower water that day surely died, but those in deeper
water survived.”

Again on 26th and 27th January, as reported in
“Courier-Mail” with photographs, hundreds of mullet
were floating dead in the shallow water of the partly-dried
up Nudgee Lagoon, near Brisbane, while many others
floated gasping in the over-heated water. Many fish
weighed up to 3 lbs. and hundreds less. An insanitary
condition was feared by residents.

As the rain did not come for a week or two, there was
probably little left of either water or fish by that time.

Turning from birds and fishes to plants, it may be
reported that in November, 1936, the beautiful imported
pest plant, the water hyacinth, (Eichhornia speciosa) had,
owing to the lack of floods or freshes to clear it out, been

January, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

79

increasing until it had formed immense masses in the
upper reaches of the Bremer River, a tributary of the
Brisbane, and completely blocked navigation. It is said
to be an ill wind that does nobody any good, for the local
farmers who were now very badly off for fodder for their
stock, commenced to recover this river pest and carted it
away to feed their cows.

The Harbours and Rivers Department now took a
hand, endeavouring to clear the way for navigation, and
at the same time assist the farmers. The hyacinth was
removed to the bank by machinery, whence it was quickly
carted away.

The ‘ ‘ Mourilyan ’ ’ was towed as far as possible, and
then warped further, until she was completely stopped,
and operated from her then position.

In February, 1937, another report tells us that owing
to the drought, the salt water penetrated further up the
river, with the result that in such places the hyancinth
died, and at the same time crabs and salt-water fish had
appeared in the upper reaches of the Brisbane and Bremer
in the now brackish waters.

Our Museum ichthyologist, Mr. T. Marshall, says
that sea-fish sometimes penetrate to the fresh water to
rid themselves of parasites such as sea lice.

Later on, in mid-March, are accounts of heavy rains
causing river freshes, which carried large quantities of
the hyacinth down the river.

Photographs of the flood water and hyacinth ap-
peared in the local Press, also of the first boat to reach
Ipswich for twelve months.

So at last the conditions became more normal ; rivers
and lakes were filled, and the remaining wild life was
enabled to recuperate, which it does in most remarkable
fashion if not too severely damaged.

80

The Queensland Naturalist January, 1938

THE ORIGIN OF THE ELECTRIC POTENTIALS OF
ORGANISMS IN IRON ; ELECTRO-MAGNETIC
PHENOMENA AS THE COMMON BASIS OF THE

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND OF THE LIFE
SCIENCES.

The above is the title of a paper and is the seventh
of a series by Mr. W. D. Francis, of Brisbane, dealing
with the functions of iron in the generation and mainten-
ance of life. The paper, like some of the earlier ones, has
been published privately by the author. An electric and
magnetic interpretation of chromosome movements is put
forward on the basis of the spiral structure of chromo-
somes and their similarity to the short solenoids of ex-
perimental physics. The author concludes that function
and structure in the organic world are extensions of force
and matter in the inorganic world. It is pleasant to note
that this extremely important biological work linking the
inorganic with the organic world is receiving some atten-
tion abroad. Our best wishes go out to the author for the
successful continuance of his experiments.

LIFE HISTORY OF HEMIODOECUS YE ITCH I
(Family Peloridiidae) .

A paper of considerable interest to Australian
naturalists was published in the “ Annals and Magazine of
Natural History” of May, 1937, on the above subject by
Messrs. I. W. Helmsing and \V. E. China. The insect is
one of the small family Peloridiidae, which contains three
genera, most of the species very imperfectly known. The
present species was first discovered in Australia by Mr.
H. Hacker, and named by him after Mr. R, Veitch. In
October, 1933, Mr. I. W. Helmsing, who had illustrated
Mr. Hacker’s description of Hemiodoecus veitch t, was
spending his vacation in the MacPherson Range studying
bird life. Finding himself in the neighbourhood of the
Antarctic Beeches ( Nothofagus Moorei ), he was tempted
to search for Hemiodoecus , and was successful in captur-
ing 17 specimens in twenty minutes. Further specimens
were collected later, including males and nymphs, which
had not previously been known. The paper deals exhaust-
ively with the life-history of the insect, and is copiously
illustrated by excellent photographs and line and wash
drawings.

THE

QUEENSLAND NATURALIST

JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB
AND NATURE-LOVERS’ LEAGUE

VOL. X MAY 1938 No. 5

PROCEEDINGS.

ANNUAL MEETING, MONDAY, 21st FEBRUARY,
1938. — The chair was occupied by the President, Dr. W.
H. Bryan, and 44 members were present.

The Annual Report on the work of the Club for 1937
was read by the Hon. Secretary, Miss E. E. Baird. A re-
port by the Hon. Librarian, Mrs. G. L. Jackson, showed
that the Library was making good progress and that the
books and periodicals were borrowed in fair numbers by
the members.

The audited statement read by the Hon. Treasurer,
Miss H. Clarke, showed a credit balance of £86/6/8.

Office-bearers were elected for 1938 as set out on the
inner page of the front cover.

An address by the retiring President, Dr. W. H.
Bryan, ‘‘Pebbles from my Garden Path,” was read. The
lecture was illustrated by a model of the Brisbane River
made by Mr. Elliott Bolland and by various samples of
pebbles and gravels.

Exhibits were tabled by Mr. H. E. Youngs — Bark of
Bunya Pine ( Araucaria BidwMii) showing marks repre-
senting probable axe marks made by aborigines for climb-
ing; Mr. K. Jackson — Samples of aboriginal grinding
stone, chips and shells from a kitchen midden; Miss Walsh
— Photographs of volcanic activity in Rabaul ; Miss
Williams — Flower of native passion vine ( Passiflora
aurantiaca ) .

EVENING MEETING, MONDAY, MARCH 21st,
1938. — The President, Dr. D. A. Herbert, occupied the
chair, and 30 members were present.

The business of the meeting comprised two short lec-
tures, one by Mr. A. Brimblecombe on Important Insect
Pests of Queensland Forests, and the other by Mr. H. E.
Young on Fungus and Allied Pests of Queensland
Forests.

Exhibits were tabled by Mr. H. Try on — A recently
introduced destructive insect ( Pseudococcus virgatus) ; by
Mr. K. Jackson — Stone axes from Cooper’s Creek, Western
Queensland ; by Dr. W. H. Bryan — Fossils from Tool-
burra collected by Mr. C. Dornbusch; and Dr. D. A.
Herbert — Pearls found in freshwater mussels.

82

The Queensland Naturalist May, 1938

QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS ’ CLUB.

ANNUAL REPORT, 1937.

The Council of the Queensland Naturalists' Club
submits the 32nd Annual Report of the work of the Club.

MEETINGS. — Ten monthly meetings, a special
meeting, nine field excursions and ten Council meetings
were held.

Attendance at Council meetings was as follows: — Dr.
Bryan 7, Mr. J. E. Young 4, Dr. Herbert 6, Mr. Jackson
7, Miss Baird 10, Miss Clarke 8, Mrs. Jackson 9, Dr.
Marks 9, Mr. Barker 9, Mr. Jack 9, Mr. White 7, Mr.
Sanderson 5, Mr. II. E. Young 6.

The attendance at monthly meetings was good, the
average being 42. Interesting and instructive lectures
have been given by members and visitors. The Lecturers
included Dr. Herbert, Miss Wigan, Messrs. Barker, King,
Freeman and Nebe.

Exhibits with interesting comments have been tabled
by many members. To try to interest members more
closely in the study of the Natural History of Queens-
land, lecturettes were given on “ Fungi" by Dr. D. A.
Herbert, " Queensland Ferns" by Miss Goy, " Sedges
and Grasses" by Mr. Blake, "Minerals" by Dr. Bryan,
"Sea Shells" by Dr. Whitehouse, and "Bird Observing"
by Mr. Barker.

At a special meeting held on April 1st, Mr. G. H. H.
Tait, M.A., of the American Museum of Natural History,
New York, gave a most interesting account of the work
of the second Archbold Expedition to Papua.

No Wildflower Show was held this year.

Excursions have been held to Enoggera and Gold
Creek Waterworks, Mt. Mee, Nursery Road, Castra,
Beechmere, one of the Glass Houses (Tibrogargan), and
Lone Pine. The Easter Camp was held at Canungra.
Thanks are again due to Mr. Frankling who, for the
third time, has permitted the camp to be held on his pro-
perty. Thirty-seven members were present.

MEMBERSHIP. — The membership now stands at
135, of whom 7 are honorary members, 98 town and 30
country members. Resignations have been accepted from
7 members, and 13 have been elected.

"THE NATURALIST." — Two issues of the journal
have been published this year.

"NATURE LOVERS ’ LEAGUE."— At the Museum,
many children have been interested and signed the
Nature Lovers' Pledge.

May, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist 83

LIBRARY. — The Hon. Librarian (Mrs. G. L. Jack-
son) reports as follows: —

The Library has been fairly well patronised by
members during the year, about 60 books and 170 maga-
zines being lent.

There is, as usual, rather a big discrepancy between
the number of books and magazines lent, accounted for,
no doubt, by the fact that it is some years since books
were purchased by the Club, and the only new additions
have been those presented by members. 1 would suggest
that a selection of suitable volumes be purchased.

Thanks are extended to those members who have so
generously donated books and magazines to the Library.

FINANCE. — Appended hereto is a Financial State-
ment, showing that at the end of the year the Club had
a credit balance of £86/6/8.

W. H. BRYAN, President.

E. E. BAIRD, Hon. Secretary.

QUEENSLAND FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS BY AY. H. BRYAN,
M.C., D.Sc.

(Delivered February 21st, 1938)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As the name of our Club indicates, our interests and
activities lie in the field rather than in the library or in
the laboratory. But field work does not necessarily con-
note distant journeys. Our field commences right at our
doorstep. It is good to remind ourselves of this from
lime to time, and to remember, when the distant hills
look attractively green, that quiet, systematic work on
the things that lie to hand may give more valuable re-
sults than more spectacular ventures farther afield. If
you are in agreement with me on these points, then I
claim that it is permissible for me to talk to you about
“The Pebbles on my Garden Path.”

At the outset I should confess that these pebbles are
not in their natural habitat. They have been carted
there from the Brisbane River, and it might be argued
that a natural historian should not concern himself with
such an obviously unnatural deposit. But I hope to be
able to convince you that although they are not in situ
naturale , they may form a convenient starting point for
an adventure into natural history — as indeed the path
to the front gate forms the mild beginning of most ad-
ventures.

84

The Queensland Naturalist May, 1938

At first glance the path gives a false impression of
uninteresting uniformity. This is due in part to the high
percentage of dark pebbles and the consequent grey
appearance of the whole, and in part to the fact that,
before it was sold, the gravel was passed through screens
to ensure a rough uniformity in size.

But a closer examination showed a wide variety
within this apparent sameness, and I was able to recog-
nise many old friends among the pebbles, reminders of
numerous geological excursions to different parts of
South-Eastern Queensland.

Perhaps the most striking, although far from the
commonest pebbles, are the jaspers. In contrast to most
of their fellows, these are red or reddish brown in colour.
Nor are they nearly so well rounded and polished as the
other pebDies, and it is these exceptional features in
colour and form that attract the eye.

Some of these jaspers, when examined with the lens,
show numerous minute spherical spots. Each of these
lepiesents the skeleton of a radiolanan, and they are so
pientuul m some cases that more than a million are con-
tained in a cuoie inch of the jasper. And yet so small
are these primitive organisms that they are by no means
crowded.

Far more numerous, if individually less interesting
than the jaspers, are the cherts. These are for the most
part dark grey or black in colour, and give to the gravel
its characteristic grey colour. They are almost without
exception well rounded, and often are highly polished.

Forming an interesting contrast with the black
cherts, although less abundant, are cream quartzites.
These, together with colourless and pink pebbles of
quartz, form the majority of the lighter coloured con-
stituents.

Banded quartzites are also found, but these are
usually flatter than the other pebbles and less rounded
than most.

One of the commonest groups is made up of ande-
sites. These, although they vary very considerably in
colour and texture, have so many other characteristics
in common that they fall naturally into an easily recog-
nised group. Perhaps the most striking feature uniting
all these andesites is their porphyritic character due to
the presence of phenocrysts of plagioclase that have
weathered into conspicuous white crystals. Again, the
andesites, although rounded like the other pebbles, differ
from them in lacking their smooth polish and having

May, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

85

instead a rough, somewhat pitted appearance.

In addition to the above types, all of which are
plentiful enough, one sees here and there pebbles of an
exceptional kind. The more interesting of these rarities
that I have noticed, is an angular fragment of chalcedony
and a highly polished specimen of fossil wood.

From the petrological point of view, we see that
the pebbles display considerable variety, and it is a
reasonable assumption that they originally had a wide
distribution. But in spite of such patent diversity, the
pebbles constituting the gravel have one all-important
factor in common: they are all exceptionally durable.
They have all undergone the ordeal by water and have
emerged battered and worn but triumphant.

The factors necessary to ensure that durability with-
out which a pebble would soon cease to exist are hard-
ness, or toughness, or insolubility, or some combination
of these three. Any rock which is soft or easily broken
or readily dissolved is unsuitable for pebble formation,
and is abraded, broken, disintegrated or dissolved be-
fore it has travelled very far along the bed of the stream.
As it happens, the most insoluble of the common rock
materials is silica (Si02). Not only that, but silica in
its several mineral forms is also the hardest of such
materials. It is to be expected, therefore, that siliceous
pebbles of one kind and another should be prominent
members of most gravels, and this expectation is height-
ened by the knowledge that silica is the commonest
material on the crust of the earth.

We have here a simple explanation of the prepon-
derance in the gravel path of such substances as cherts,
jaspers, and quartzites, all of which are very highly
siliceous.

An explanation of the common presence of ande-
sites is somewhat different. These rocks are not highly
siliceous, but on the other hand they are so extremely
tough that for many years andesites (or blue metal, as
they were commonly called) have been selected by
engineers for use in making macadam roads. The
durability of these rocks is largely due to the toughness
of the mineral hornblende, which is one of their chief
constituents. The other mineral (plagioclase felspar) is
not nearly so tough, and it is this difference that causes
the andesitic pebbles to have a somewhat rough, pitted
appearance, quite distinct from the uniform smoothness
of the cherts.

Having considered very briefly the chief character-

86

The Queensland Naturalist

May, 1938

isties of the pebbles making up the path, let us now go
back one step in the history of the gravel and examine it
as it emerges from the bed of the .Brisbane River.

Through the courtesy of Messrs. William Collin and
Sons, and their Supervisor, Mr. 0. J. Voller, I have been
able to inspect samples of the gravel as it is dredged from
the river, and to compare them with the gravel on which
the above generalisations have been based. The “raw
material” consists of an admixture ranging from coarse
boulders twelve inches in diameter to the finest mud.
But the extreme members of the series constitute only a
very small part of the whole, tlie bulk of the material
being made up of intermediate gravels and sands. After
it has been unloaded from the barges, the occasional
large boulders are removed by hand, the fine mud is
washed away (and the product thereby cleansed) in a
stream of water, and the remainder is separated by
screens of suitable mesh into gravels of several grades of
coarseness, “coarse sand” (which is, in fact, a very fine
gravel), sand and fine sand. It was a medium grade of
gravel cleansed and graded in this manner that found its
way after a long and complicated history to my garden
path. I was particularly interested to note that in spite
of their artificial separation, this was clearly repre-
sentative of the gravels as a whole. I did not notice any
strange pebbles in the barges, and the proportions seemed
much the same. It would seem that the quantitative
separation of the pebbles did not bring about a qualita-
tive separation, too.

Although occasional large loads have been brought
from higher up the river, nearly all the gravel used in
Brisbane has been obtained from the bed of the scream
between Six-Mile Rocks and Seventeen-Mile Rocks.
Tremendous quantities have been gathered from these
eleven miles, and the reach below the indooroc pilly
Bridge has been particularly prolific. Mr. Voller in-
forms me that at the peak of production a few years ago
as much as 3,250 cubic yards were removed by the several
operating companies in a single week, and that an
average week at present produces about half that
amount. When it is added that this activity has been
proceeding steadily for many years, one can realise what
a stupendous figure the total must be, and one can
readily understand that suitable gravel banks are be-
coming more and more difficult to find.

In the early days of the industry many of the banks
were emergent, in the form of small islands, and it was

May, 1938

The Queensland Naturalist

S7

the custom to collect the gravel above river level by
wheeling it in barrows across planks from island to barge
When this method was no longer possible, owing to the
complete removal of the islands, recourse was had to the
use of grab and clam type dredges which filled accom-
panying barges. (It is noteworthy that one of these
craft, still called the “Gayundah,” once constituted
almost the entire Queensland naval fleet.)

More recently the practice has been introduced of
combining the dredge and the barge into one quick-
acting unit. These, on account of their draught, are
unable to operate above the Seventeen-Mile Rocks. One
result of this has been further to intensify the operations
between that point and the city.

Let us now consider as far as we may the distribu-
tion of the gravels of the Brisbane River. I suppose a
strict field naturalist, who wished to obtain information
on this point, would don a diver’s helmet and personally
explore the bottom of the river, but I must confess that
my enthusiasm for the cause was not quite as fervid as
that. Instead I did the next best thing, and consulted
Mr. D. Fison, the Engineer for Harbours and Rivers,
whose knowledge of the bottom of the Brisbane River
from Mt. Crosby to Moreton Bay must be unique.

As one might have anticipated, there is, on the
whole, a decrease in the size of the pebbles constituting
the gravels as one proceeds downstream. Thus at the
Upper Shoal, below Ugly Gully, the boulders average
about eight inches in diameter. Heavy gravels are com-
monly found between this point and Seventeen-Mile
Rocks. From there to Six-Mile Rocks are the somewhat
lighter gravels which are so valuable commercially. As
we approach the city, the size of the pebbles becomes
smaller, until in the neighbourhood of Victoria Bridge,
the so-called “pea-gravel” is met with. This can be
traced as far as the New Farm reach, which may be re-
garded as the lowest point of the stream in which pebbles
are deposited. From there to the mouth of the river the
bottom deposits are sands of varying coarseness and
mud.

While this outline gives a rough idea of the general
decrease in the average size of the pebbles encountered
as one proceeds downstream, I do not wish you to think
that the change is uniform and regular, far from it.
There is an apparently haphazard distribution of coarser
and finer material in every reach of the stream, and
indeed in nearly every individual bank, as is shown

88

The Queensland Naturalist May, 1938

clearly if one compares the logs of the many bores put
down in the neighbourhood of the Grey Street and Story
Bridges. Thus a dredge may have to move only a few
\ards in order to procure gravel of a different consist-
ency or a higher proportion of sand. Mr. Fison cited
one particularly interesting contrast in the bottom de-
posits. At the point known as The Race (the Moggill
Ferry is close by), the river flows through a deposit of
almost pure sand, while both above it and below at no
great distance are heavy gravels. Again, Mr. Voller in-
forms me that there is a bank of very large boulders near
the right bank of the river, opposite the Indooroopilly
Golf Links, that is almost in the heart of the area from
which the commercial gravels are obtained.

One other point concerning distribution should be
noted, namely, that the content of mud suddenly in-
creases below the junction of the Bremer River with the
main stream. This will not be surprising to those who
have compared the pellucid waters of the Upper Bris-
bane with the dirty opacity of the tributary stream.

Now let us consider for a moment the depth of these
deposits. Naturally, our knowledge of this aspect is
most definite in that part of the river that flows through
the city. As a result of the building of bridges, wharves
and warehouses, a good deal of information has aecumu
lated. Thus it is known that the piers of the Grey
Street Bridge penetrate unconsolidated river deposits ta
a maximum depth of 105 feet below low water before
encountering solid rock, while those of the Victoria
Bridge extend nearly 90 feet to their foundations from
!he same datum Similarly, in boring for foundations
on which to rest the main southern pier of the Story
Bridge at Kangaroo Point, incoherent semi-consolidated
material was pierced to a depth of 133 feet below low
water level before rock b ottom was obtained. Such
thicknesses seem to be normal for the river in this part
of its course. Here and there the scour of the stream
has been sufficiently strong to keep the bottom free from
silt, and in these places a great depth of water is found.
Thus at the sharp bend opposite the Botanic Gardens,
near where the South Brisbane Coal Wharves stand, the
river is 78 feet deep, while at the next sharp bend oppo-
site Kangaroo Point, the rock bed is exposed nearly 100
feet below the river level.

With regard to the thickness of the deposits farther
upstream, we have less definite information, but we do
know that the central pier supporting the Indooroopilly

May, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

89

Railway Bridge penetrated thirty-five feet of sediments,
the rock bottom lying 75 feet below the surface of the
stream.*

It might be thought that more information with re-
gard to the thickness of these gravel deposits would be
available through the activities of the commercial
dredges, but , constructed as they are for relatively
shallow dredging, mechanical difficulties and added cost
have virtually confined their operations to depths within
30 feet of low water. Hence the majority of the gravel
banks are abandoned before rock bottom has been
reached.

Let us now inquire into the relationship of the Bris-
bane River gravels to the other features presented by the
stream. In particular, let us endeavour to trace their
development in the history of the river, and thus assign
them to their proper place in the present stream regime.

Several facts go to show that gravels are not being
deposited below the Seventeen-Mile Rocks as a normal
activity at present, but that their accumulation is due
almost entirely to occasional large floods. The normal
deposit at present in these reaches is a river mud. This
can be demonstrated from the facts, first that the
dredges have to clear awav a thickness of some 6 to 12
inches of mud before reaching the gravel deposits, and
secondly, that, when dredges return to examine the holes
previously dredged in the hope that, thev mav have been
partially filled with new gravel, thov find instead that
the holes have been filled with river mud. Still another
piece of evidence bearing on this point is that before
they were removed by dredging, a number of the banks
reached well above the normal surface of the river, and
could only have been built up during heavv floods, when
the river was much higher than usual. It would seem
that normally the net effect of the alternation of some-
what sluggish ebb and flow separated by two periods of
slack water is the gradual accumulation of a muddy
sediment. Most of this almost certainly comes from up-
stream, but it is the considered opinion of Mr. Fison
that sand banks such as that removed bv dredging from
the Botanic Gardens are replaced by mud banks built up
from material derived from the bar at the mouth of the

*Since preparing this address, added information
has come to hand as a result of the putting down of trial
bores at the proposed site of the St. Lucia Bridge. These
show that, the sands and gravels extend to a maximum
depth of 80 feet below low water,

90

The Queensland Naturalist May, 1938

river and brought upstream by the tide in times of
drought.

During heavy floods the first effect would be the
stripping and removal of these superficial mud deposits.
This would be followed by modification of the under-
lying gravel banks. In some places they would be
eroded, in others aggraded, according to vagaries in
strength and direction of the currents in the flooded
stream. But the algebraic sum of these changes would
be a definite increase in the amount of gravel. As each
flood subsided, a fresh deposit of mud would be smeared
over the gravel banks, and this would gradually be added
to during normal conditions.

To what extent the present stream may be regarded
as strictly normal, and to what extent it has been in-
fluenced by human activities, such as deforestation,
deepening and regularising the river for shipping pur-
poses, and the removal of gravel, can only be guessed at,
but Mr. Bison’s observation recorded above suggests
that the effect of man-made modifications may be far
from trivial. Tn order that members may appreciate how
different the lower reaches of the stream now are from
their original state, T have brought here to-night a model
o? the Brisbane River from St. Lucia to the mouth pre-
pared by Mr. Elliott Bolland. and based on the earliest
systematic survey of the river bed.

If we wish to trace the history of our river back
beyond these latest man-made changes, we must have re-
course to physiographic inferences, and as Dr. Marks
has pointed out in an address to you on a similar occa-
sion to this, physiographic inferences are apt to be mis-
leading. But at lease we can. in this case, deduce a story
in which the several episodes are mutually consistent, and
a story that is in close agreement with the geological his-
tory of Eastern Australia as a whole.

It would seem that the Brisbane River was once a
sluggish stream similar in many respects to that of to-
day, and following a course almost identical with its
present sinuous curves, but in those distant days it was
a hundred or more feet above its present level. Later,
as a result of some influence that may be only guessed
at, the torpid stream became rejuvenated and began to
cut downward into its bed with renewed energy. Gradu-
ally, the bed was carved deeper and deeper between its
rock walls until instead of being a hundred feet above,
it was a hundred feet below its present level. Then a re-
versal took place. The whole eastern coast of Australia

May, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

91

was inundated by an ever rising* sea, possibly due to the
melting of the extensive Antarctic ice cap which followed
the Great Ice Age. As a result of this rise in sea level,
the Brisbane River, among others, was invaded by sea
water to an ever increasing depth. The velocity of the
stream was slackened and its energy sapped. No longer
could it scour out and deepen its bed. Instead it began
to fill its channel with the rock detritus that it could no
longer carry to the sea. And it was in this way that the
gravel deposits we are considering came into being.

This great and important submergence was succeed^
ed by, and its effects in small part counteracted by, a
succeeding movement of emergence, as a result of which
sea level appears to have been lowered several feet.
This brings us to that point in the river ’s history repre-
sented by Mr. Bolland’s model, the subsequent modifica-
tions being due not to nature, but to various activities
of man.

Having dealt in rather sketchy outline with the
nature of the gravel deposits, their distribution and their
place in the history of the Brisbane River, let us now
endeavour to trace the pebbles to their place of origin.

A practice common among geologists is the attempt,
from a consideration of the nature of a conglomerate, to
interpret the geological structure of the hinterland from
which it was derived. The interpretation is based on a
study of the assemblage of pebbles in the conglomerate,
the proportions of different rock types represented in
these pebbles, and their relative sizes and degrees of
rounding. The value of the inferences based upon such
practice is doubtful. In some cases they may approxi-
mate the truth very closely, in others they may tel! only
part of the complete story, while in others they may be
distinctly misleading.

It might be of interest in our case, knowing as we
do both the content of the gravel and the nature of the
hinterland from which it was derived, to match the in-
ferences against the facts and measure their degree of
correspondence.

In the first place let us recollect the assemblage of
pebbles present in the river gravel. Earlier in this
address, I spoke of recognising many old friends among
the pebbles, bur just as notable are the friends who are
conspicuous by their absence. Thus, not one pebble of
basalt is to be seen, although the main stream and most of
its tributaries head in basaltic tablelands. Again, al-
though the Stanley River flows through several areas of

92

The Queensland Naturalist May, 1938

granitic and allied plutonic rocks, there is no hint of
this.

Could one reconstruct the extensive shales and sand-
stones of the Esk Series, the Ipswich Series, the Bun-
damba Series and the Walloon Series by an examination
of the sands associated with the pebbles of our gravel?

I am sure one could not. In a search through several
tons of pebbles, I have discovered only one fragment of
carbonaceous shale — sole representative of several large
coalfields. Could one visualise the great thickness of
Bunya Phyllites from those occasional schistose frag-
ments in the gravel which, having been reinforced by
quartz veins, are sufficiently durable to form pebbles?
I think not. Almost inevitably the softer, less coherent
rocks would be under-estimated and misunderstood, and
conversely, the hard and resistant rocks would be as-
signed too great a thickness and too extensive an area.

A study of the several degrees of rounding of the
different pebbles would lead to similar half truths. Thus
the relative angularity of the jasper pebbles points, quite
rightly, to a not-distant origin. But it would be quite
wrong to infer that the other more rounded pebbles
come from a more remote source. Consider the position
on the river a few miles above Mount Crosby. At this
point the Fernvale Series, on the left bank, is shedding
sharply angular fragments of jasper, while on the oppo-
site bank the basal conglomerates of the Ipswich Series
are providing the river with well-rounded pebbles ready-
made.

And yet in spite of such confusing things as these,
the assemblage of pebbles found in the Brisbane Biver,
or in any other river, has an individuality, a character,
of its own, dependent on the history of the stream and
the geological nature of the country drained by it.

We are in a position to make a very strict test of
this principle in the case of our own river.

One of our field excursions last year was to Lone
Pine, on the left bank of the Brisbane Biver. T was so
interested in the geology of the spot, as seen on that
occasion, that I returned there a few days ago. There I
stood on a deposit of gravel some fifty feet above the
present river, and watched a dredge at work bringing
up other gravel from the river bottom. Surely one might
be forgiven for thinking that two gravels so closely
adjacent must be very similar, in spite of any difference
in age or origin. But such is not the case. The Lone
Pine Gravel (which is now mentioned for the first time

May, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

93

in geological literature) is quite distinct from the Bris-
bane River Gravel, although they lie almost side by side.
There are, it is true, some points of resemblance. For
example, jaspers and quartzites occur in each, but the
similarities are altogether outweighed by the differences.
In the first place, the Lone Pine Gravel is much coarser,
many boulders being from six inches to twelve inches in
diameter, and some measuring as much as thirty inches
through. But this is the least important of the differ-
ences. Of far more moment are the facts that the two
suites of pebbles are in general quite different, and that
in particular, certain very striking and prominent types
in the Brisbane gravel are missing from the Lone Pine
deposit, and vice versa. Thus one of the most striking
groups of pebbles in the Brisbane gravel are the porphy-
ritic andesites mentioned in the earlier part of this
address. These are common enough in the lower reaches,
and as one follows the river up towards its source, they
become more and more prominent until at the point
where the Monsildale Creek enters the river, they are in
an overwhelming preponderance. During a long and
careful search 1 was unable to find one representative
of these pebbles in the Lone Pine Gravel.

On the other hand, the most arresting feature in the
Lone Pine deposit is the presence of large boulders of
quartzite rounded and polished and with curious embay-
ments or dimples. The quartzite itself is of an unusual
type, and is known to Queensland geologists by the
homely name of 4 ‘Billy. ” Its occurrence in the curiously
shaped boulders to which reference has just been made
renders it doubly remarkable and equally conspicuous.
These boulders are quite unrepresented in the gravels of
the Brisbane River, although in addition to the Lone
Pine occurrence, they have been found by Professor
Skertchly in Sherwood (in what he whimsically termed
The Higeldy Gravels), and by Dr. Marks at Eagle Farm.

We may conclude from these facts, I think, that
while the gravels of the Brisbane River, as exemplified
by the pebbles of my garden path, are not truly repre-
sentative of the area drained by the river, they neverthe-
less form a distinctive assemblage that is unlikely to be
duplicated in Queensland or indeed anywhere else in th§
world,

94

The Queensland Naturalist May, 1938

THE KEPERRA BORA RING

In dealing with a. subject, such as the Keperra Bora
Bing, one might do well to say a word or two concerning
tlie aboriginals, who made and used these grounds for
initiation of their young men, into the state of manhood.

The Turubul, or Brisbane tribe, applied to these rings
the name “kippa,” meaning young man, and they were
known locally as kippa rings. The word Keperra is prob-
ably derived from this source.

The kippa ground comprises two rings. A large one,
and a small one, connected originally by a well defined

May, 1938

The Queensland Naturalist

95

pathway. The object of the raised circles was to enable
the initiates to lie with their heads on the crest of the
mound, and their feet pointing towards the lire in the
centre of the circle.

The large ring is situated near the crest of a hill, on
the northern side of the railway line, and within a short
distance of the Ferny Grove Golf Links. Its circumfer-
ence is 247 feet, while its diameter is 71 feet.

The centre has been hollowed out, while an outside
mound of 12^ feet in diameter has been raised above the
level of the surrounding country. This mound is broken
by a gap nine feet wide on the southern side, where the
pathway leads off to the smaller ground.

The pathway, although it leads roughly in a
S.S.W. direction is by no means straight, owing prob-
ably to the interference of large granite boulders, and
trees which originally clothed the spot. In its best
parts, it, too, is hollowed out in the centre with a slight
mound on either side.

On nearing the railway cutting, it suddenly peters
out, and on the opposite side of the line is again totally
obliterated. This leads to the assumption that the rail-
way was built right through the centre of the ring. How-
ever, it seems unlikely that tliese people would build one
ring on a hill crest, and the other in a depression. The
more natural course seems for each circle to occupy a re-
spective summit in such undulating country.

Continuing roughly in a S.S.W. direction, one is
again rewarded by isolated signs of the pathway, which
eventually link together, and lead to the smaller ring,
covering a distance of about 500 or 600 yards.

This one is in very bad condition, and might easily
be passed without anything exceptional being noticed.
It is roughly half the size of the former, being 116i feet
in circumference and 37 feet in diameter. The diameter
of the mound itself is 7 feet, while the gap for the
entrance of the pathway is 5 feet.

Once the spirit of these grounds promoted mystery
and awe in the hearts of their black guardians.

Now it is still ! While each drop of rain melts its
contours to the surface of its mother earth, and leaves
the past to misty silence and forgetfulness.

G. K. JACKSON,

96

The Queensland Naturalist May, 1938

A NEW FERN RECORD FOR QUEENSLAND

(By D. A. Goy, Botanic Museum and Herbarium,
Brisbane.)

On a recent collecting trip to North Queensland, Mr.
C. T. White (Government Botanist) was handed specimens
of a fern by Mr. M. J. Manski. Mr. Manski is a member
of the North Queensland Naturalists’ Club and is keenly
interested in ferns. These particular specimens were col-
lected on Jackson’s Creek, Happy Valley, Babinda, by
Mr. R. Giddens. The plant was not previously known to
occur in Australia, but was recognised by Mr. White as a
common New Guinea one. On examination it proved to
be Diplazium cordifolium Bl., formerly known as Asplen-
ium integrifolium Mett., also as Anisogonium cordifolium
Bedd. The fern is widely spread over Malesia, the Philip-
pine Islands, Polynesia, Madagascar and tropical Africa,
and it is therefore not surprising to find it growing
naturally in tropical Queensland.

Diplazium cordifolium is easily distinguished from all
other Australian representatives of the genus, being the
only species with undivided fronds. These are densely
tufted on the rhizome, with robust stipes up to about 35
cm. long. The fronds on the specimen illustrated (which
is a New Guinea one, the only Queensland specimens avail-
able being somewhat crushed and torn) measured from
14-24 cm. long and 4-6 cm. broad ; but the specimens from
Babinda measured 25-26 cm. long and 9-10 cm. broad,
were oblong-lanceolate in shape, cordate at the base, acum-
inate towards the apex, and coriaceous in texture. In
some plants 1-2 pairs of lateral pinnae may be developed
below the usual one, but all the Queensland specimens had
simple fronds. The veins anastomose towards the outer
part of the frond and bear sori from the midrib to the
margin or nearly so.

Diplazium cordifolium Bl.

May, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

97

BIRD NOTES FROM BINNA BURRA,

LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK

(By MRS. COMRIE-SMITH.)

In October, 1937, several Queensland and Victorian
members of the R.A.O.U. held a camp-out in the Laming-
ton National Park, and the following notes are taken from
my field notebook of that time.

Near the main track, through the scrub or rain forest,
1 found a nest of Gerygone richmondi hanging from a
lawyer vine. It was being built and was very long and
narrow, with a long tail, and the birds were carrying tiny
scraps of lichen and sticking them on. A week later the
nest was much bulkier. They appear to build the whole
length of the back first, including the tail; they then add
the actual hollow part of the nest, finishing off with the
hood and the lining, which takes a considerable time to
complete to their satisfaction.

I watched one of them going into the nearly completed
nest several times and while she was busy inside the whole
nest shook and trembled violently with her exertions.

The nest of the yellow throated scrub-wren (Seri-
cornis lathami) situated near but just below the other is
the greatest contrast, very bulky and untidy and built of
dark materials such as fibrous roots, so that it looks in the
shadow, almost black. This bird also seemed to be finish-
ing the lining of her nest ; she went in three times in as
many minutes and each time she said “tchut.”

Further along the track I watched a pair of yellow
robins ( Eopsaltria chrysorrhoa) flying back and forth
across the path at a rather open sunny spot. One alighted
on a big log in the sun and called gently, and shivered her
wings, and her mate came and fed her. I thought there
must be a nest near, though it seemed hopeless to look for
it in that thick scrub. However, I noticed that the birds
crossed the tracks nearly always at the same spot, so I
crept nearer and watched carefully, and all at once saw
one of them fly on to a nest and feed young ones. The nest
was on top of a leaf of lawyer vine about five feet up and
on the next leaf below was the remnant of an old nest.
The nest was a beautiful one decorated with bits of white
lichen, and in it were three half -fledged young ones.

While watching this, I heard some lewin honeyeaters
( MeUphaga lewini) scolding excitedly, and suddenly, with
a great swish and rush, a large goanna (Varanus varius)
went up a small tree like a steam engine ! He went up the

98

The Queensland Naturalist

May, 1938

tree at a great pace for the first 20 feet or so, and then
more slowly, and as he did not see me at first, he was in
full view. The lewins were joined by a pair of rufous fan-
tails ( Rhipidura rufifrons ), some brown warblers, two
scrub wrens (Sericorms front alia) and the robins, and
what a noise they made ! The little rufous f antails were
the bravest, but even they kept at a very safe distance from
the ugly creature who turned liis head and darted out his
tongue, but otherwise clung as tightly to the tree as if
growing there.

Then another bird came up, a female rifle bird
( Ptiloris paradiseus) with dark markings and long curved
bill, and the excitement gradually died away. Just as 1
was moving off, on to the sunny log near me lighted a
beautiful little green backed bird with a barred breast —
a golden bronze cuckoo ( Lamprococcyx plugosus) shining
brightly in the sun.

THE SATIN BOWER BIRD.

One day I found the bower of a satin bower bird
(Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) ; it was in an opening among
thick bushes, and was very neatly made, the sticks meet-
ing in an arch about nine inches high. It was about seven
inches through, and it had a carpet of dried grass and
small twigs spread in front of it, and laid on this were five
heads of the blue flower of the wild tobacco, and a dozen
or more of the bright blue feathers from the wing of the
crimson rosella (. Platy cents elegans).

At this time there were great numbers of parrots to
be seen, mainly crimson rosellas and king parrots (Apros-
mictus scapular is) with a few Blue Mountains among
them. They look most lovely seen at close quarters feed-
ing on wild raspberries and the berries of the wild tobacco.
The bower birds and cat-birds ( Ailuroedus melanotus)
feed with them, and to see a blue-black satin bower bird
with a big black raspberry in its bill is a common but beau-
tiful sight.

There are a few regent bower birds ( 8 eric-ulus clwyso-
cephalus) too. I stood at the top of a gentle slope covered
with wild tobacco bushes which were alive with dozens of
these parrots and bower birds. The leaves of the bushes
are of a soft velvety, almost whitish green, and the bril-
liant reds, blues, and greens of the birds were shown up
by this neutral background, especially the black velvet
and gold of the regent birds. I was so near to some of
them that 1 could see the colour of their eyes.

May, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

99

A NEW BOOK ON QUEENSLAND BOTANY

PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY FOR QUEENSLAND
FARMERS

By C. T. White, Government Botanist

Issued by Direction of the Hon. F. W. Bulcock.

Minister for Agriculture and Stock

Government Printer, Brisbane, pp. 232, plates 103,
price 2/-.

W 7 hen a series of articles on “Principles of Botany
for Queensland Farmers” were appearing in the Agricul-
tural Journal last year, numerous requests were received
to know when they would appear in book form. They
have now been issued in the form of a book, and are
available at the price of two shillings per copy.

Botany is one of the most fascinating and at the
same time useful of the natural sciences, a little know-
ledge of which makes every place of interest. It also
helps towards a proper understanding of the needs of
plants.

The present work should go far in assisting Queens-
landers towards a knowledge and proper appreciation of
the rich native flora of the State. The book is divided
into five parts. The first part deals with the Morphology
or the study of the form and external appearances of
plants ; the second with the Anatomy or the internal
structure of the plant organs; the third part with
Physiology or the study of the various life processes of
the plant, particularly the two great factors of nutrition
and reproduction; the fourth with the classification of
plants or their arrangement into groups according to
their natural affinities, and the fifth with distribution
and the various plant associations of Queensland.

The book is profusely illustrated, the illustrations
being taken from common Queensland plants, either
native or cultivated. It is obtainable from the Under
Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Stock (price
2/-). It is the standard textbook set for the examina-
tion for the appointment of Inspectors under the Dis-
eases in Plants Acts.

QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS' CLUB
Annual Receipts and Expenditure year ending December 31st, 1937.

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CLARKE, Hon. Treasurer.

W. HOLLAND, Hon. Auditor.

THE

QUEENSLAND NATURALIST

JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB
AND NATURE-LOVERS’ LEAGUE

VOL. X AUGUST 1938 No. 6

PROCEEDINGS.

EVENING MEETING, 18th April, 1938.— As the
usual monthly meeting date fell on Easter Monday, no
meeting was held. During the Easter encampment, how-
ever, meetings were held during the evenings to discuss
the various natural history features of the district, and
specimens were exhibited.

EVENING MEETING, 16th May, 1938.— The Presi-
dent, Dr. D. A. Herbert, occupied the chair, and forty-
seven members were present. Reports on the Easter
Excursion to Coolangatta were given by Professor H. C.
Richards (Geology), Mr. S. T. Blake, and Mr. C. T. White
(Botany), Mr. F. A. Perkins (Insects), and Mr. J. E.
Young (Birds). Reports on the Excursion to Holt’s Hill
on Labour Day were given by Dr. D. A. Herbert (Botany N ,
and Mr. N. Jack (Birds). Miss Cock showed a specimen
of a case of Leaf-Cutting Bee, and flower of a rose show-
ing proliferation, one flower growing from another.

EVENING MEETING, 20th June, 1938.— The Presi-
dent, Dr. D. A. Herbert, occupied the chair. The prin-
cipal business of the meeting was a lecture by Mr. C. T.
White — “Botanising on the Overland Route from Bris-
bane to Cairns.” Reports on the excursion to Whiteside
on the King’s Birthday were given by Dr. D. A. Herbert
(Botany), Dr. E. 0. Marks (Geology), Mr. N. G. Jack
(Birds). Mr. Ken Jackson tabled specimens from White-
side, consisting of a Mat Rush ( Xerotes longifolia ) , which
was used by the natives for making dilly-bags, and seeds
of the Moreton Bay Chestnut (Castanospermum ) , used by
the aborigines for food. Mr. H. Tryon tabled fragments
of the tree, the Red Stringy Bark, ( Eucalyptus resinf era ) ,
which had been cut down at Dutton Park. Dr. E. 0.
Marks reported that the sign had been removed from the
Bora, Ring at Nudgee. It was decided to refer the matter
to the Council of the Society for action.

102

The Queensland Naturalist August, 193&

GEOLOGY OF THE COOLUM AREA
(By Professor II. C. Richards, D.Sc.)

GENERAL SUMMARY

Some thirty-two years ago, Dr. H. I. Jensen, as a
Linnean MacLeay Fellow, worked on the area and pub-
lished his results in the Proceedings of that Society for
1906, Part I, in a paper dealing with the “Geology of
the Volcanic Area of the East Moreton and Wide Bay
Districts, Queensland’" (pp. 74-173).

Apart from occasional visits from geologists since
that time, the region of Coolum does not appear to have
been studied especially, although a few years ago Mr. C.
C. Morton, of the Geological Survey, studied a nearby
region when reporting on the auriferous deposits of the
North Arm Goldfield some eight or nine miles to the
west.

The basal rocks of the area are sedimentary in
character and form portion of the Mesozoic fresh-water
deposits which were so widely deposited in what is now
South-Eastern Queensland. These in their turn have been
intruded by a series of igneous masses, which probably
did not reach the surface until exposed by denudation.

The igneous rocks are acid to intermediate in
character, ranging from aplites to diorites, and are seen
on the cliff faces and shoreline between Coolum Beach
and Point Arkwright.

Subsequently volcanic activity took place in the
area and Mt. Coolum and Peregian or Emu. Mountain
now remain as volcanic plugs.

The region is characterised by much low-lying and
swampy country which, until the last emergence of
several feet, was in all probability below sea level. At
that time Mt. Coolum, the Point Arkwright and Eurun-
gunder mass and Peregian were islands, the coastline
proper being several miles to the west of its present
position.

The accumulation of coastal sand dunes has barred
the openings to the sea of these swampy areas, and they
now drain with difficulty. Quite considerable peaty
accumulations also have taken place, and just to the
north of the Coolum Beach settlement, dark brown to
black peaty sandstone of recent age, containing tree
roots and stumps, outcrops on the foreshore. No doubt
at the time of its formation the strand line w r as some-
what more easterly.

Altogether distinct from this organically formed
brownish black sandstone are deposits of loosely
coherent heavy black metallic sands mixed with the

August, 1938

The Queensland Naturalist

103

beach sand, especially at and above the high tide mark.
These perhaps are residual products from the old
Palaeozoic rocks of South-Eastern Queensland and
Northern New South Wales, and contain rutile, mag-
netite, ilmenite, together with minute amounts of gold
and perhaps platinum.

Jensen ascribes the source mainly to the dis-
integrated igneous intrusions.

The geology, as indicated above, is of considerable
interest, and although more varied, is similar in many
respects to that of the Noosa Headland some 10-12 miles
further north.

MESOZOIC SEDIMENTS

These are sandstones, grits, fine conglomerates and
shales, very similar lithologically to other occurrences
in South-Eastern Queensland. At Points Arkwright and
Perry, they appear to be more or less horizontally dis-
posed. Sandstones predominate and often show very
much current bedding, suggesting deposition under
estuarine conditions. Most of the sandstone, and
especially the shaley material, has been much impreg-
nated with limonite.

Recognisable fossil plant remains were not seen, but
petrified wood is common along the foreshore. At
Petrie’s Creek, Nambour, the sediments contain Thinn-
f el dia odontoptcroidcs , associated with a thin coal seam,
while between Cooroy and Tewantin shales containing
Elatocladus planus have been found. The sediments in
the opinion of some are to be assigned to the base of the
Walloon, rather than to the Ipswich, series and, if so,
would have to be regarded as Jurassic in age.

Some of the sandstone layers at Points Arkwright
and Perry have in them rounded to subangular patches
of carbonaceous shale or shaley sandstone incorporated
in a breccia-like manner. This occurrence is not un-
common, and is rather striking, so that the question of its
origin excites the interest of many. Perhaps it results
from the deposition of layers of mud on a loosely coherent
sandstone stratum. The former, after desiccation and
compaction, becomes submerged by a further deposit of
sand, and then becomes broken and brecciated under the
load. . Ultimately, the whole lot is cemented into the
brecciated mass which is exposed to-day.

PEAT SANDSTONE

North from Coolum Beach, along the foreshore is a
development several feet thick of recent sand, cemented by
a peaty material. This outcrop on the strand line may at

104

The Queensland Naturalist

August. 193S

one point be traced continuously under the sand dunes
to the peaty material in the swamps behind the dunes.
In type the brownish black sandstone is similar
to that at Tweed Heads, and at so many
places along the coast of South Eastern Queens-
land. It may have preserved in it well developed
roots of trees which once grew in it, and people
speak of these as being remnants of a fossil forest. They
are merely the roots of trees which once grew in the
swamps. The black peaty cementing material in the
Tweed Heads area has been analysed, and its organic
nature definitely established.

IGNEOUS INTRUSION.

Of the greatest geological interest is the intrusion of
porphyrites and aplites into the Mesozoic ( Jurassic )
sediments. In New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and
South Australia major igneous intrusion is not known to
occur after the Palaeozoic era. . In South-Eastern Queens-
land we have at Enoggera, Stanthorpe, Cedar Creek, Sam-
i'ord and elsewhere late Palaeozoic intrusions, and it is
important therefore to find at Coolum and at Noosa de-
finite evidence of intrusion into the still younger Mesozoic
:sediments.

At Pofnt Arkwright, sandstones which have been
baked by heat into quartzites are seen resting immediately
on top of the porphyrites and sections in the wave -cut
platform show the intrusion of the porphyrite right into
the sediments. The evidence is beyond question here, as
at Noosa.

Where the heat of intrusion has been greatest the
sandstone has been altered to quartzite, but the thickness
of affected material is a few feet only. In the intruding
porphvritic rocks are many inclusions, and one agrees
with Jensen as to the laccolitic character of the igneous
mass. Many undigested fragments are incorporated in
the upper part of the intrusion, but in addition there are
many Xenoliths which have been brought through from
below — notably amongst these are fragments of (a) coarse
pink granitic rock of a type which is unknown to
geologists in S.E. Queensland nearer than Stanthorpe;
(b) coarse grey granitic rock similar to those exposed in
the Mary River Valley near Conandale. The evidence of
coarsely crystalline deep-seated intrusives having been
penetrated by the porphvritic mass on its upward path is
clear, and in this way some insight of what may exist at
depth in this area is furnished.

The porphyrite is rich in well-developed phenoerysts
of plagioclase and hornblende, the latter being occasion-

August, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

105

ally up to an inch in length. The rock is not holocrystal-
line, as there is a certain amount of glassy base. The
minerals present in order of abundance are plagioclase,
hornblende, orthoclase, biotite, quartz, magnetite, sphene,
calcite and apatite.

The rock has been very fully described by Jensen*
who also gives a complete chemical analysis. This latter
shows the rock as containing a little less than 60 per cent,
of silica.

The northern part of the intrusion at Point Arkwright
on the foreshore is a fine grained pink aplite, which quite
clearly has intruded the porphyrite. It is holocrystalline,
and the order of abundance of the minerals) is, pink ortho-
clase, quartz and a small amount of hornblende, which is
often altered into chlorite. Frequently the orthoclase
and quartz are intergrown owing to their being present
in eutectic proportions. It is named by Jensen a grano-
phyric aplite*, and the name is well merited.

In comparison with the Noosa. Head intrusions we do
not find the dyke-like bodies so characteristic of that
place, also at Noosa the diorite mass is much more acid,
but there is nothing corresponding to the massive grano-
phyric aplite near Coolum Beach.

*Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., 1906, Pt. 1, pp. 122-124; also p. 169.

VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.

At Mt. Coolum , which is some 600 feet high, the vol-
canic plug of comen dite is in the nature of a huge flat-
tened dome. Like the several plugs of the Glasshouses,
the Coolum mass is destructive and is a bluish grey in
colour, fine-grained with dark blue-black specks of amphi-
bole, probably riebeckite.

Jensen** has described several specimens from about
Coolum, and under the microscope the rock is finely holo-
crystalline, is made up of idiomorphic, lath-shaped
crystals of sanidine, deep blue almost black rods of soda-
rich hornblende (riebeckite), and small masses of inter-
stitial quartz.

On analysis the rock yields somewhat unexpectedly
nearty 75 per cent, silica, and is rich in alkalies, having
4.77 per cent. Soda and 3.99 per cent. Potash. Its specific
gravity is 2.70.

To one familiar with the alkali rich Kainozoie vol-
canic plugs of the Glasshouses and elsewhere in this area,
the Coolum mass clearly is one of the family. Columnar
structure is quite common in the mass and fluxion struc-
ture is displayed well, quite frequently.

*Op. cit. p. 126.

**Op. cit. pp. 155-156.

106

The Queensland Naturalist August, 1938

At Peregian a biotite trachytic rock with well de-
veloped fluxion structure occurs. This mass which is
about half as high as Coolum, is in type almost indentical
with that at Mt. Timbeerwah, 3 miles or so west of
Tewantin.

The rock is composed essentially of sanidine, but
there are also crystals of hornblende, probably soda-rich
and occasional large flakes of biotite. The rock may well
be termed a Biotite Trachy-Rhyolite.

At Eurungundcr the Trachy-Rhyolite is according to
Jensen of a similar character.

THE PLANT COMMUNITIES IN THE NEIGHBOUR-
HOOD OF COOLUM.

The Botanical Report of the Easter Camp of 1938.

By S. T. Blake, M.Sc., Department of Biology,
University of Queensland.

A great deal of interesting variety is to be found in
the neighbourhood of Coolum, a small township situated
on the coast about 65 miles north of Brisbane, and pos-
sessing an average annual rainfall of about 65 inches.
The details for Coolum itself are lacking, but at Caloundra
about 15 miles further south, the driest months are July-
October inclusive, in which the average monthly rainfall
is 23 inches. The plant-communities are varied, and there
is a noticeable mingling of northern and southern species.
Specimens collected during the camp provide the most
northerly records for some species, and the most southerly
for others. A few are known to extend a little further to
the south in the neighbourhood of Buderim or Caloundra.

A great deal of the country is low-lying and often
swampy. Bold sandstone cliffs about 50 feet high with
narrow sandy beaches between the headlands fringe the
shore for some distance to the south of the township, while
to the north is an extensive broad sandy beach with dunes
on the landward edge. Dunes also occur on the top of
some of the cliffs. An occasional sandstone ridge occurs
back from the coast, while two isolated trachytic peaks,
Mt. Perigian and Mt. Coolum, are at no great distance
from the township. The former is about. 200 feet high,
and lies to the north, while the latter is rather over 600
feet high, is much bolder with some fine precipitous rock-
faces, and lies to the south-east. The soil throughout is
distinctly sandy in nature, often without any clay content
at all, while at the time of our visit water was in abund-
ance, and springs and seepages were very numerous, par-
ticularly near Mt. Coolum.

August, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

107

On the coastal dunes the usual strand flora of our
southern beaches is to be found. Most of the species are
long-creeping plants and many are widely spread in
tropical and sub-tropical regions in similar situations. The
outstanding plants at Coolum are Ipomoea pes-caprae
(goat’s foot convolvulus), with its flimsy pinkish-lilac
flowers, Oenothera Drummondii , with its beautiful though
delicate lemon-yellow flowers, the less conspicuous Lippia
nodiflora, the less distinctly creeping Mesembrianthemum
aequilaterale (pig-face) with its thick, fleshy, tapering,
tliree-edged leaves and deep pink flowers, the three
grasses, Spinifex inermis, Sporobolus virginicus, and
Zoisia macrantha (coastal couch) and the sedges Car ex
pumila and S\cirpus nodosus. . The last differs from the
other plants in being densely tufted and rush-like, 1-2 feet
high. It is much more characteristic of the southern
states, and this is the most northerly locality yet recorded
for it. Hibbertia volubilis and Stephania hernandiae folia
also occur. The Spinifex and the Ipomoea are the first
plants to colonise the dunes. They bind the sand, making
it more stable, and then other plants follow. On the top
and towards the landward side, on the most stable parts
of the dunes, the sparsely-foliaged tree, Casuarina egvAseti-
folia var. incana (costal she-oak), is common with its long
pendulous somewhat glaucous slender branchlets with
their whorls of minute scale-leaves (figs. J and 4).

South of the township, where the sandy beaches of
the little bays meet the masses of boulders at the foot of
the cliffs, the Ipomoea persists in places, and occasionally
the creeping grass, Lepturus repens , was seen scrambling
over the rocks. Though characteristically a tropical
species this grass is to be found on islands in Moreton Bay,
in the latitude of Brisbane. Most interesting, however,
was the discovery of a small society of the convolvulaceous
plant, Calystegia Soldanella, on and between the boulders.

On the rocks between tide-levels is a rich growth of
seaweeds. While the majority of these are Brown Algae
( Phaeophyceae ) the beautiful pale-green sea-lettuce {Viva
sp.), nearly covered some of the rock slabs. A rich and
interesting field awaits any one who will take up the
study of this (for Queensland) poorly known group of
plants.

Above high-water mark the cliffs carry more or less
scattered small trees of Pandanus pedunculatus (pan-
danus, or sometimes wrongly called “bread-fruit”), with
its characteristic stilt-roots, and the equally familiar
Banksia integrifolia (honeysuckle). A low, dense, spread-
ing, shrubby form of Myoporum acuminatum is fairly

108

The Queensland Naturalist August, 1938

abundant. (When growing on flat ground, and particu-
larly when at all sheltered, this species forms shapely
small trees or tall single-stemmed shrubs.) Between the
trees and shrubs is a dense growth of Themeda australis
(kangaroo grass) with occasionally other smaller plants.
Vincetoxicum sarmentomm and a variety of Parsonsia
longifolia scramble over the rocks in less grassy places,
while the somewhat fleshy herb, Lobelia anceps, with its
pale blue flowers occupies the crevices.

On the tops of the headlands is usually developed a
low scrub with the seaward side shorn by the force of the
wind (fig. 2). The plants are mostly dense, usually dark
green shrubs, 6-10 feet high or so, usually with small, often
narrow (ericoid) leaves. Among those present are
Petalostigma quadriloculare, Leucopogon Richei, Ricino-
carpus pinifolius, Phebalium woombye and Banksm in -
tegrifolia. . In open patches between the edge of the scrub
and the edge of the cliff is usually a low growth of
Trachymene ericoides, very stunted Phebalium woombye ,
and stunted kangaroo grass. On the hills arising behind,
the scrub becomes more open and Callitris columeUaris
(cypress pine) and Tristania confcrta (scrub box) enter
into the community with Banksm (as trees) and the
Callitris tending to form separate stands. Under the
often dense canopy is developed a characteristic ground
vegetation, of which the most characteristic plants are a
dwarf grasstree, Xanthorrkoea sp., the sedges Lepido-
sperma later ale, Track ystylis foliosa, Cy perns cnervis, C.
stradbroJcensis, and Schoenus ericetorum var. ornithopo-
dioides, and the grasses, Paspalidium flavidum and a tall,
broad-leaved form of Cymbopogon refractus (barb-wire
grass). Where the Banksia dominates the slopes, a more
open canopy is produced, and the shrubs tend to dis-
appear. The grass thickens, predominantly kangaroo grass
and barb-wire grass, with Eulalia argentea , D'igitaria
parviflora, Eriachne Muelleri, E. rara, the sedges
Cyperus leiocaulon , Scleria Benthamii and forms of
Fimbristylis dichotoma , Centranthera hispida and

Mitrasacm.e alsinoides.

On still higher ground and on many slopes sheltered
from the sea-breezes normal Eucalyptus forest develops.
The chief trees are Eucalyptus gummifera (bloodwood),
E. micrantha (scribbly gum), E. paniculata (grey iron-
bark), and Casuarina suberosa (forest she-oak), sometimes
with Tristania suaveolens (swamp mahogany), Acacia
Cunninghamii (wattle), Alphitonia excelsa ■ (red ash),
and, near .the highest parts, Eucalyptus carnea (red
stringy-bark) . Kangaroo grass usually forms the greater

FIG. 1. — View from the top of Mt. Perigian looking south. Across
the centre is a large wallum flat, beyond, are tall Melaleuca swamps,
to the left of these are open swamps with a belt of Phragmites and
dwarfed Melaleuca between them and the flat, in the right middle
distance is Melaleuca forest, at bottom right is Banksia forest. Along
the coastline are sand-dunes with Casuarina to the left, while in the
distance the cliffs to the south of the township Can be seen, rising
behind into a hill partly cleared of timber. Mt. Coolum is in the
extreme right distance.

FTG. 2. — Low scrub on top of sea-cliff showing wind-shear. The
shrubs are chiefly Petalostigma quadriloculare, and under and in
front of these are chiefly Themeda australis, Cymbopogon refractus,
and Cyperus enervis.

—(Photos by S.T.B.)

FIG. 3. — Scene within a tall dense forest of Melaleuca viridiflora
with dense undergrowth, chiefly of Blechnum serrulatum. Lyonsia
reticulata can be seen twining round some of the trees, while the
broadish leaves in the upper centre are those of Ficus stephanocarpa.

FIG. 4. — Coastal dunes with Casuarina in distance, Phragmites
and dwarfed Melaleuca swamp across centre, and in the foreground
is a dense growth of chiefly Melastoma, Ischaemum australe, Pas-
palum orbiculare, Fimbristylis nutans, and some Blechnum serru-
Jatum.

— (Photos by S.T.B.)

August, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

109>

part of the undergrowth, sometimes with Chrysopogon
sylvaticus present. Dense patches of Lantana camara
(lantana) occur in places. Exocarpus cupressiformis
(wild cherry), a small tree parasitic on roots of other
trees, is occasional.

In depressions and on the lower ground generally,,
either near the coast or inland, we find three distinct
trends. Where water lies for any length of time swamps
of some kind or other are to be found. In a few places
just behind the coastal dunes, where a break in the latter
has allowed some influx of sea-water during gales or high
tides, communities of the maritime rush, J uncus mari-
tinius var. australiensis, are to be found. Beyond the
influence of salt water, the J uncus is replaced by sedges
of somewhat similar appearance. Cladium junceum and
Schoenus brevifolius form such communities, those of the
former frequently bordering on those of the rush. In yet
another case, a community of the flat-stemmed, flat-leaved,
Lepidosperma exaltatum occupies an area of about an
acre.

Where there is more or less permanent water, the
reed, Phrag mites communis , tends to dominate the situa-
tion. More often tea-tree ( Melaleuca viridiflora) is pre-
sent. This tree dominates three rather distinct com-
munities, or in other words, occupies a large area with
varied drainage conditions, and with corresponding varia-
tions in the ground vegetation. In its extreme develop-
ment the trees are stout, straight, and tall, and very close
together.

With Phragmites are commonly associated many other
plants, including Lepironia articulata, Chorizandra cym-
baria, Cladium tereti folium,, C. rubiginosum, Cyperus has -
pan, Fuirena glomerata, Philyclrum lanuginosum, and
Tltricnlaria spp. The four first-mentioned plants are
more or less rush-like, and together with Phragmites, pro-
duce creeping rhizomes. Phragmites, Lepironia (both
these attaining 6 feet in height), and Qhorizandra, fre-
quently tend to produce pure communities of their own.

Where free water does not lie for any length of time,
there is to be found a community of quite a different
aspect (fig. 3). Occasionally other small trees occur in the
forest, such as Ficus stephanocarpa (sand-paper fig),
while the liana, Lyonsia reticulata (monkey-rope), is also
to be found. At the edge, Casuarina glauca (swamp she-
oak) occurs, and is sometimes abundant. Between the
trees is a fairly close growth of the bungwall fern
( Blechnum \ serrulatum), with scattered large clumps of
the tall sedge, Cyperus lucidus var. sanguinolentus, plants

110

The Queensland Naturalist

August, 1938

of the much smaller Car ex neurochlamys , and often a close
growth of the creeping grass, Ottochloa gracillima. Where
seepages enter the forest the handsome Panicum melanan-
thum may be found.

On slightly higher and better drained ground the
trees are more distant and not so tall or straight, and here
we find a community reminiscent of some of the more
northern Melaleuca forests. Grasses and sedges form the
chief ground cover, which is fairly close and relatively
low, the individuals (chiefly perennials) being rarely
more than 3 feet high, and often much lower. Eremochloa
sp. is the dominant grass, with Digit aria orbata , Paw, cum
sp., the northern Ischaemum fragile and Fimbristylis
furva , the widely-spread F. nutans and a characteristic
broad-leaved form of F. dichotoma , and others.

Quite a large area is occupied by Wallum flats (see
fig. 1), often with patches of Banksia serratifolia (wal-
lum), or B. integrifolia.. The soil is a rather loose, deep
sand, and the vegetation heath-like in nature. Trees are
typically absent, while in the wetter places bog-moss
( Sphagnum sp.) sometimes occurs. X author rhoea minor
(grass-tree), though stemless, is one of the most striking
plants by reason of its dense tufts of long, hard and very
narrow leaves, and its stout flowering or fruiting scape
about 2^ feet high. The other dominant plants are chiefly
small shrubs and undershrubs with small hard narrow'
leaves, and belong particularly to the families Legu-
minosae, Myrtaceae, Rutaceae, Epacridaceae, and Protea-
ceae, while Restiaceae, Cyperaceae, and Orchidaceae
(ground orchids) are usually abundant. The flats here
do not differ appreciably from those further to the south,
except that the shrubs are unusually low, often scarcely 18
inches high. How much of this dwarfing is due to fire
and how much to -wind is difficult to say. Among the
plants on these flats at Coolum are Gompholobium virga-
tum, Dillwynia floribunda , Baeckia crenulata , Lcptosper-
mum parvifolium , Boronia le difolia, B. fold folia, Erioste-
mon scaber , Epacris pulchella, Sprengelia Ponceletia,
Leucopogon virgatus , Conospermum taxi folium , Strang ea
linearis, Petrophila Shirley ae, Banksia integrifolia var.
palud osa, Pimelea linifolia (shrubby plants) ; Schoenus
brevifolius , S. ericetorum var. ornithopodioides, Cladium
Muelleri, Costularia paludosa, Caustis recurvata, Scleria
rugosa , S. laxa, and a form allied thereto, and Fimbri-
stylis pauciflora (Cyperaceae). The last-mentioned, a
species little known in Australia, is here very abundant,
particularly along the tracks. The Restiaceae include,
among others, llypolaena lateriflora, Leptocarpus tenax,

August, 1938

The Queensland Naturalist

111

and Restio complanatus. Grasses are relatively few, and
practically restricted to Aristida aff. heterochaeta , The -
meda australis , Eremochloa sp., Eriachne vara, Schiza-
chyrium obliquiberbe , and Panicum fulgidum . • Other her-
baceous plants include Drosera spp., Mitrasacme paludosa ,
and Sowerbaea juncea.

In the wetter places there is a tendency to the forma-
tion of the swamps described above, often with Melaleuca
viridiflora present. This frequently occurs flowering as
a small shrub, partly at least as the result of fire (see
fig. 4). Sphagnum is fairly abundant in such places, like-
wise the bungwall fern, Blechnum serrulatum. . Other
plants usually occurring in such places are Melastoma
malabathricum , Pultenaea paleacea var. grancliflora , Vil-
larsia reniformis, Restio tetraphyllus, Ischaemum aus-
trale , and i Utricularia. Gahnia erythrocarpa , usually

common in such situations elsewhere, is here only occa-
sionally seen.

On the higher places the restiads tend to disappear,
grasses become more abundant and Banhsia ser rati folia
and B. int eg ri folia occur. In a modified form this type of
vegetation extends up the slopes of Mt. Perigian, and on
the eastern side of Mt. Coolum. The commonest plants
are Xanthorrhoea minor , stunted bushes of Banhsia in-
tegrifolia var. paludosa , Casuarina suberosa , Exocarpus
cupressiformis, Petrophila Shirley ae , etc., with kangaroo
grass. At the foot of the former peak occur a few trees
of the rather dwarf, very scraggy Eucalyptus Seeana var.
constrict a , associated with Melaleuca viridiflora and other
plants.

The tops of both mountains are open and without
any continuous layer of soil. Aristida jerichoensis (a rare
spear-grass) occurs on both peaks, while the yellow-flower-
ed composite Rutidosis Murchisonii is particularly abund-
ant on Mt. Coolum, though it occurs also on Mt. Perigian.
On the rocks of the latter are to be found Dendrobium
speciosum (king orchid), and the rambling Hoy a australis ,
"with its broad, fleshy leaves and white strongly-scented
flowers. A solitary plant of Mesembrianthemum aequi-
laterale (pig-face) was also seen, a most unusual habitat
for this species. The peculiar little grass Tripogon lolii-
formis occupies patches of soil between the rocks. The
rock faces on Mt. Coolum are commonly occupied by the
curious Xerotes confertifolia , with its small, dense tufts of
narrow rigid curly leaves with two pungent points at the
end, and its inconspicuous flowers. In the Eucalyptus
forest near the top the rush-like sedge, Scho&nus vagi-
natus, was observed. On the banks of a small creek near
the foot occur the ferns, Culcita dubia (mountain

112

The Queensland Naturalist

August, 1938

bracken), Adiantum hispidulum (lady's fingers), and
Doodia heterophylla , with the grasses OttocJiloa nodosa
and Oplismenus aemulus , and the sedge Sderia hebe-
carpa.

Particularly near Mt. Coolum there occur swampy
tracts different in nature from the swamps described
above. Some occupy low-lying ground, others occupy
seepages or shallow streams, often on relatively high
ground. The dominant plant is the sedge Ehynchospora
aurea , which forms rather large dense pale green tussocks,
2-4 feet high, with large bunches (corymbs) of golden
brown spikelets. Associated is the very rare sedge, Eleo-
charis tetraguetra, the grasses Leersia hexandra (rice
grass) and Isachne australis, and Ammannia pentandra,
while Paspalum orbiculare and Eleocharis minuta occur
at the edges. On open, marshy ground facing the sea the
common plants are Fimbristylis dichotoma var., Cyperus
poly st achy os, Eleocharis minuta , and E. caribaea . • The
latter is also to be found in rock crevices facing the sea
near the mouths of small streamlets.

Patches of rain-forest occur in places near the coast
in gullies or on the sides of them. Formerly these areas
were much more extensive, but the greater part has been
cleared for agricultural purposes (bananas and sugar-
cane).

Considerable areas of forest have also been cleared
for artificial pastures. These were chiefly Paspalum dila-
tatum, but they are being actively invaded by the inferior
Axonopus compressus (carpet grass). Desmodium tri-
florum and Trifolium repeals (white clover) are two
legumes common in these pastures.

Occasionally a curious mixture of types occurs. In
one shallow gully for instance, there occur Araucaria
Cunninghamii (hoop pine), a few other rain-forest species
such as Mischocarpus pyriformis, Eugenia cyanocarpa,
Alyxia buxifolia , and Pittosporum revolutum, together
with Callitris, Melaleuca, Pandanus, and Tristania con-
ferta. Exocarpus latifolius parasitises the roots of some
of the trees. The ground vegetation is that characteristic
of the open forest or dwarf scrub, comprising Xanthorr-
lioea , Lepidosperma laterale, etc.

Of the species mentioned above, the following here
reach their most southern or almost their most southern
limit: — Fimbristylis furva, F. pauciflora, Eleocharis cari-
baea, Scleria hebecarpa, Ottochloa nodosa, Ischaemum
fragile, Eriachne rara; also Freycinetia propinqua. The
following here reach their most northerly limit, so far as
at present known : — Cyperus stradbrokensis, Schocnus

Acianthus Ledwardii sp.n.

1. Plant, natural size.

2. Labellum from above, much enlarged.

3. Lateral sepals, showing variation in
length of middle “prong.” Much en-
larged.

-August, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist 113

ericetonun var. ornithopodioides, Cladium Muelleri ,

Chorizandra cy mb aria , Stir pus nodosus , Calystegia Soldo-
nella , and Sphagnum.

Some other species are only known from a very few
localities.

A NEW ORCHID FOR SOUTH QUEENSLAND
Acianthus LedwardU, sp. nov.

By the Rev. H. M. R-. Rupp, Raymond Terrace, N.S.W.

Planta A. fornicato similis, circiter 5 cm. alta, folio
supra pallido. Flores 2-6. Sepalum dorsale cucullatissi-
mum, mucronatum: sepala lateralia linearia, directa, in-
signiter ad apices trifida: petala late lanceolata, acuta:
labellum ovatum, infra convexum, cum marginibus incur-
vatis serrulatisque. Discus posteriore levis, anteriore
papillosus. Columna flexa cum apparato reproductivo
sicut in A. fornicato.

Plant resembling A. fornicatus R. Br., about 5 cm.
high, leaf pale green above. Flowers 2-6, somewhat de-
pressed. Dorsal sepal deeply hooded, mucronate at the
apex, with a short depressed point. Lateral sepals linear,
parallel (not divergent as in A. fornicatus ), near the apex
shortly and prominently trifid, the outer divisions shorter
than the middle one. Petals broadly lanceolate, short.
Labellum ovate, convex below, with incurved serrulate
margins. Disc smooth towards the base, papillose towards
the blunt apex, lacking the papillose longtiudinal ridges
of A. fornicatus. Column bent, reproductive apparatus
as in A. fornicatus , but stigma less prominent.

Burleigh Heads, South Queensland, June, 1934, and
June, 1938: Dr. C. P. Ledward.

Some doubt has been felt, both by the discoverer and
myself, whether this interesting little orchid might not be
included in A. fornicatus , to which it is very obviously
related. The gynostemium is identical in almost every
particular. But the labellum is so strikingly different,
and other features of the flower give it such a distinctive
appearance, that it could only be placed in A. fornicatus
by extending the description of the latter to cover far
greater variability than seems desirable. A. fornicatus
is an exceedingly common terrestrial from Southern
Queensland to Southern New South Wales, and in the
latter State is found as far west as Molong. Among the
thousands of plants I have seen over many years, there
was never one with a labellum like that of Dr. Ledward ’s

114

The Queensland Naturalist

August, 1938

plant. A tabulated statement will show the distinctive
character of the new species better than narrative :

A. Ledwardii.

Dorsal sepal abruptly mucro-
nate, with a short depressed
point.

Lateral sepals parallel, not
much longer than the label-
lum, each sepal prominently
trifid at the apex.

Petals short and broad.

Label lum convex below,
above concave nearly to the
blunt apex; ridges absent, but
the anterior part of the disc
very papillose; margins in-
curved and irregularly serru-
late.

A, fornicatus.

Dorsal sepal acuminate with
a long, fine point, straight or
upturned.

Lateral sepals connivent
under the labellum, then
diverging into long, fine points.

Where the sepal becomes fila-
mentose, at the base of the
filament, are two small teeth,
but sometimes these are rudi-
mentary or absent.

Petals short and usually nar-
row.

Labellum concave below,
above with a median channel
between two high papillose
ridges; margins recurved; apex
acute.

These are the main differences, and they seem to me
sufficient to justify specific separation.

Dr. Ledward states that the new plant is rare, and
has so far only been seen in one locality. He discovered
it in 1934, but we both felt that further material was de-
sirable before deciding on its status. During the next
three years, owing to unfavourable seasons and other
circumstances, he did not see it. It has now reappeared
in June, 1938, precisely identical in form with my draw-
ings of the 1934 specimens. I am glad of the privilege
of naming it after its discoverer, who has done so much
in recent years to add to our knowledge of the orchid
flora of Queensland south of Brisbane.

The colour of the flowers may be described as chiefly
a deep purplish or reddish brown. A. fornicatus varies
from a pale translucent green to dark red-brown, but I
have never seen it with the suffused purplish tint of the
newcomer. The basal tubercles of the labellum are as in
A. fornicatus.

ORNITHOLOGY OF THE MT. COOT-THA RESERVE
TAYLOR RANGE

By N. Jack.

In presenting the following article, which is the. re-
sult of observations made over a period of seven or eight
years, I am not assuming that this district has not been
explored and checked up by more competent ornitholo-
gists than myself before now. An attempt has been made,
however, to present as full a list as possible and to ascer-

August, 1938 The Queensland Naturalist

115

tain the number of species that can be found in a certain
area. In this case, it is not a very large one, so that the
following total of approximately one hundred species
would apear to be a fair average for this type of country.
A careful check of their movements as far as the district
is concerned has been kept over this period, and I hope
these observations may be of interest for comparison with
previous lists that have been made, for probably the
ornithology of the district has changed considerably with
the years.

TYPE OF COUNTRY

The range itself is open forest country, with a certain
amount of undergrowth, consisting mostly of lantana, in
the gullies which, in normal times, are generally dry, with
a series of isolated pools in the lower levels. These be-
come swollen with the heavy rains and flow directly into
Enoggera and Ithaca Creeks. In continued dry weather
conditions in the reserve become uncongenial for bird life,
due to the drying up of this water supply which, to make
matters worse, generally coincides with the periodical out-
breaks of bush fires, so it is quite obvious that the
presence of bird life is influenced to a great extent by the
weather conditions. The surrounding country is sparsely
settled and well watered with Enoggera and Ithaca
Creeks, so that quite a number of birds are to be found
along the watercourses and in the open paddocks and
cultivated land adjoining them.

CLASSIFICATION

For the sake of convenience, I have adopted the some-
what unscientific method of dividing the species into four
groups. The first consists of those that are more or less
permanent residents of the range. These are to be found
at any time of the year, and have no definite migratory
movements. A second group consists of local birds that
make no definite migration but are noted a sufficient
number of times to rule out any possibility of their
presence being accidental. A third group consists of birds
that are definitely known to be nomadic and migratory,
while last but not least I have created a fourth group con-
sisting of birds that are definitely strays and accidental
to that area.

PERMANENT RESIDENTS

The Stubble Quail appears to be the only representa-
tive of that order to be found in the reserve. He is not at
any time too plentiful or fond of showing himself, but
generally waits until you are almost upon him, whereupon

116

The Queensland Naturalist

August, 1938

lie is off with a “whirr” so that any accurate observation
or close study regarding his habits appears to be out of
the question. The Peaceful Dove is fairly common, al-
though not as plentiful as his introduced Indian relative,
of which the less said the better. The Curlew or Stone
Plover can be disturbed occasionally during the day, but
is mostly heard at night in the open paddocks adjoining
the range. Only two birds of prey have been definitely
identified, the Nankeen Kestrel and the Brown Hawk.
Experiences of night observing in search of nocturnal
birds of prey have been disappointing, the Boobook Owl
being the only species definitely identified. Due allow-
ance must be made, however, for the writer’s inexperience
in this branch of ornithology, which is a test of skill for
even the best of bird men. Incidentally the reserve is not
without its Marsupial population, this conclusion being
forced upon the writer in no uncertain manner by sundry
grunts, howls, and other indescribable noises which could
not by any stretch of imagination be attributed to any
species of night flying bird.

Strangely enough, three species of Rosella — the East-
ern Crimson, and Pale-Headed — are to be found in the
reserve, the local species, the Pale-Headed, being the com-
monest, No other species of Parrots have been observed,
with the exception of the Lorikeets, which I have classified
as nomadic, to be dealt with later. The Tawny Frogmouth
is to be found on the range, but his method of camouflage
is so effective that only the experienced eye can locate
him. This cannot be said of the Dollar Bird, who seems
only too anxious to advertise himself and his nesting site.
However, as he invariably nests in the most inaccessible
places, all his antics and weird cackling may not be as
foolish as they appear to be at first sight.

Four species of Kingfisher — the Kookaburra, Sacred,
Forest and Azure — are all well represented. Apparently
“Old Jack’s” outbursts of ribald mirth are not confined
to the daylight hours. At times he is overcome with his
sense of humour after darkness has set in, and the results
can more than favourably compare with the best efforts
of the Curlew, Boobook Owl, Koel Cuckoo and other noc-
turnal disturbers of the peace. This also applies to the
Sacred, and possibly the Forest Kingfisher, as the piping
of one of these birds can sometimes be heard at night. I
have caught the Sacred in the act, but am not cer-
tain of the Forest, Both nest in termites’ mounds, and
are very vicious in defending their home. The Azure
Kingfisher is a mysterious creature who darts along the
surface of the creek with his shrill piping cry.

August, 1938

The Queensland Naturalist

117.

In this part of the country the Swallows do not leave
us during the winter, so that the Welcome Swallow and
Fairy Martin are to be seen all the year round. At cer-
tain times of the year they congregate in large flocks,
apparently augmented by migrants from other parts

Our smallest bird, the Brown Weebill, is much in
evidence among the sapling growth and low bushes. He is
generally found in small parties, and can be easily dis-
tinguished by his short, stumpy bill, his general restless-
ness and his call, a loud one for such a small bird, which
sounds something like “We need it. ” He is fond of
associating with other small birds, and more often than
not, the Buff-tailed Thornhill appears to be his choice.
The dainty little white-throated Warbler is also a station-
ary species in this part of the country. He is a bird of
the treetops, where he will sit and sing his half a chromatic
scale (with extemporisations) by the hour. He is prettily
clothed in yellow and olive, and builds a neat little bag-
shaped nest to rear his young. Altogether a charming
little fellow.

The familiar Willie Wagtail needs no introduction.
He is everywhere. He is also to be heard with his
“Sweet Pretty Creature” at all hours of the night, and
appears just as lively next day in spite of the fact that he
must get very little sleep. Almost as common is the
Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, which is reputed to be a
migratory bird, but can always be found at any time of
the year in Brisbane. His relative, the Varied Triller, is
one of the distinctive birds of Mt. Coot-tha. He is to be
found in pairs along the creeks and gullies, and is very
quiet and unobtrusive in his ways. Apparently he has
not the vocal abilities of his relative, the White-Winged
Triller, or if he has he does not display them very often.
The thick growth of lantana in places around the reserve
affords excellent cover for our old friend, the Whip Bird.
If you are up early enough in the morning or out late
enough in the evening, you will surprise him out on his
foraging expeditions, which he regularly takes into the
open. Besides the usual whip call, he has other notes.
He is capable of a series of whistles, and when he is
scratching among the dead leaves and other debris that
afford him his food supply, he indulges in a most peculiar
call that sounds as though he were chuckling to himself
over some huge joke.

Probably the most eccentric of our small birds is that
little fellow we call the Golden-Headed Fantail Warbler.
A digression upon him and his peculiarities would con-
stitute an article on its own, so we will content ourselves

118

The Queensland Naturalist

August, 1938

by stating that lie is to be found around the reserves in
uncultivated paddocks, crops and swampy country; in
fact, anywhere where there is plenty of rank grass and
weeds, and plenty of blue sky overhead. Four species of
Thornhill are well represented. The Brown and Striated
are closely associated and some difficulty is experienced
in identifying them. The Striated is more strikingly
marked, and much more yellowish than the Brown,
although the presence of immature birds complicates
matters. The Brown Thornbill lias a note peculiar to
himself, a short musical trill, which is quite unmistakeable
once heard. The Buff-tail is a merry little fellow and a
lover of mountain ranges, in comparison with the Yellow-
tail, a creature of the open and a. ground-loving bird,
although he seems to prefer a convenient pine-tree in
which to build his double-storied nest. The mysterious
white-browed Scrub Wren is well domiciled along the
shady creeks and undergrowth where he builds his nest,
well hidden from the chance passer-by, but strangely
enough not so well hidden to prevent him from being
occasionally imposed upon by some maurauding Cuckoo.
The genus Malurus is represented by the Variegated and
Bed-backed Wren.

The Peewee, or Magpie Lark, is much in evidence.
The Grey Thrush is the prima donna of the range, but is
occasionally challenged by her relative, the Rufous
Thrush, who is of a more retiring disposition and who
prefers to scratch for a living among the undergrowth.
Occasionally she will be seen out in the open, and has a
habit of climbing up the trunks of trees to pry out any
insects from the rough bark. A species that would be
very easily missed in a casual examination of the bird life
of the district.

The Magpie carols in the dawn from the neighbour-
ing paddocks. So also is heard the sweet note of the Grey
Butcher Bird. I have frequently noticed, however, that
where a colony of Butcher Birds have established them-
selves, all other forms of bird life seem conspicuous by
their absence. The Pied Butcher Bird is rarer and pre-
fers the more open country.

Two gifted vocalists are the Golden and Rufous
Whistlers. The Golden prefers the more thickly timbered
country, and has a voice of exceptional power. “Be
quick ! Be quick ! Be quick ! ’ ’ he cries, to be answered by
his plainer coloured mate in similar strain. The Rufous
has a song that is well sustained and brilliant, only rivalled
bv that of the Gray Thrush. He is found in the more
open country. He is very quiet in the autumn, but sings

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119

vigorously throughout the winter months, and is heard at
his best in the courting season, early spring. Their
relative, the Northern Yellow Robin, is one of the first
birds we learn to associate with Mt. Coot-tha ; in fact, we
instinctively look for him whenever we approach that area,
and we are seldom, if ever, disappointed. Like his south-
ern representative, he heralds in the dawn with his soft
piping note, although what time he commences I am un-
able to say — I have never been up early enough to beat
him.

Birds of the tree trunks are the White-headed Sitella
and Brown and White-throated Tree Creepers. The
Sitellas go in small parties and work in all directions, in-
variably head down. The Tree Creepers are found in
pairs, and ascend the tree trunks in a spiral course, and
always manage to be on the wrong side when you try to
get a glimpse of them. The Silvereye, with his plaintive
note, busies himself among the Lantana and Inkberry
{Phytolacca) . Likewise the beautiful little Mistletoe Bird
finds much to occupy his time, for the district is heavily
infected with Loranthus.

Of the number of Honey-eaters to be found in the
district, only a few are permanent residents. Chief among
these are the acrobatic White Nape, a species inordinately
fond of bathing, the loud-voiced Lewin, the Noisy and
Little Friar Birds, and, of course, the Noisy Miner.

Tn the open spaces around the reserve is found the
Pipit, while the two representative Finches are the Chest-
nut Breast or “Bullie,” which frequents the grass country
and cultivated areas, and the Red-browed Finch which
associates in large flocks and is found all over the reserve.

Much patient stalking has been necessary to certify
that the Australian Raven is present at Mt. Coot-tha.
Possibly the Crow is also there, but the identification of
these two birds is always a problem in the field, and is
not rendered any easier by their excessive wariness.

OCCASIONAL VISITORS

In continued rainy weather along the creeks are to
be seen the following species: — Black-fronted Dotterel,
Spur- winged Plover, White and Straw-necked Ibis, Little
Pied Cormorant, and White-faced Heron. The Black-
fronted Dotterel is unusual, and is only seen along the
creeks. As he is one of the migratory waders, it is
possible that he is only breaking his migratory flight, but
as his visits are only periodical, he is not classed as a
regular migrant to the district. The Spur-winged Plover
is very active and noisy in rainy weather, and can be

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heard flying overhead at night. The White-faced Heron
and two Ibis visit us, particularly when there are plenty
of grasshoppers and other insects about. The White-
breasted Sea Eagle can be seen overhead occasionally.
This may appear strange, but when one remembers that
this sea-bird follows up the Brisbane River for a consider-
able distance, and is known above the Enoggera Reservoir,
his passing over Mt. Coot-tha can be easily accounted for.

That strange creature, the Pheasant Coucal, can be
heard booming away on the lower and swampy portions of
the reserve. He is a non-parasitic Cuckoo, and has no
fixed migratory movements like the rest of his family.
The Little Cuckoo Shrike is a rare visitor. The Spotted
Quail Thrush is at present somewhat of a mystery. This
year (1937) he appeared in the spring and built his nest,
a neat little afair in a hollow at the foot of a tree. I have
previous experience of him in the district, but only of odd
birds. He is a strikingly-coloured bird, with more of the
habits of the Quail and the Pipit than the Thrush, and is
going to be kept under strict observation next time he
appears in the reserve. The Gray Crowned Babbler has
been seen, but does not nest in the reserve. It is a
peculiar fact that over on the Enoggera Rifle Range and
Ferny Grove side of the range, there are plenty of them,
and their stick nests are everywhere, but over on the town
side he is only an occasional visitor.

That dainty little fello-w, the Double-Bar Finch, is
not too plentiful at any time in this part of the country.
He is mostly seen in odd pairs and does not stop long.
Furthermore, one is always faced with the possibility that
he may be an escapee from captivity, as many of them
are trapped and caged every year.

The reserve at any time is liable to suffer from an
influx of Currawcngs, who take over control for a while,
and then disappear as mysteriously as they came, which
must be a great relief to the other feathered denizens if
some of those tales we frequently hear about the Curra-
wong’s evil habits should happen to be true.

NOMADIC AND MIGRATORY BIRDS

With the seasonal flowering of the eucalypts and
other honey-bearing plants come flocks of Lorikeets, of
which I have identified the Rainbow (“Bluey”), Scaly-
breast (“Greenie”) and Little (“ Jerryang”). These
are enthusiastically followed by the various species of
Honeyeaters. That brilliant little gem, the Scarlet
Honeyeater, or Blood Bird, as we usually call him, is
generally looked upon as a harbinger of spring in the

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The Queensland Naturalist

121

southern States, but here, if the winter is mild, a few of
them stay, and feed upon the Loranthus until the early
spring when they will descend upon us in full force,
and the air will be full of their brilliant high-pitched
notes. Their arrival generally coincides with the bloom-
ing of the Callistemons, and no more beautiful sight
could be imagined than a flock of Blood Birds feeding
among the scarlet blossoms of this plant. The declama-
tory Brown Honeyeater is a wayward creature, who will
be found wherever there is a feast of blossoms among
which to disport himself, and there you will find him
much in evidence. Likewise the Yellow Face or “ Chick
Up,” as he is generally known because of his loud in-
sistent note. He is a bird that is to be found generally
in the winter months. Some years he is very numerous
and usually stays until the spring, and then disappears.
He is a very active and noisy bird, and inordinately
fond of bathing. The Spinebill is another winter
visitor. His short staccato trill is a feature of the colder
months, and he generally leaves with the approach of
warm weather. The Blue-faced Honeyeater seems to
specialise in the flowering of the Moreton Bay Chestnut,
because you are almost certain to find him on this tree
and very seldom anywhere else, although he has a taste
for cultivated fruits. He is not seen very often.

Spring migrants include the four species of
Cuckoos, or “Storm Birds ’ 7 as they are usually called
irrespective of species, because they are accepted as
reputable weather prophets by otherwise well-informed
people. The Pallid prefers the open to wail his plaintive
semi-tones. The Fantail, a very tame creature, prefers
the forest. The Horsfield Bronze Cuckoo persecutes the
smaller birds, and is a valuable destroyer of caterpillars;
he is sometimes seen during the colder months. The
Koel is that black-feathered scoundrel who, not content
with persecuting his fellow creatures during the day-
light hours, proceeds to make the night hideous with his
“Coo-ee” or ^ Koel 7 7 or “Toowong , 77 or whichever way
you like to interpret it. In this he is aided and abetted
by the lady of his choice, who answers with her own
particular note.

No more interesting or delightful visitors to the
reserve can be found than the migratory Flycatchers.
Early in spring come the Rufous Fantail, Leaden, Black-
faced and Spectacled Flycatchers. The Rufous Fantail
flits cheerily along the shady creeks. The handsome
Black-Face is to be heard with his loud whistle as he
takes an occasional dive out into the open to snap up

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some unfortunate flying insect. The Leaden Flycatcher,
with quivering wings and tail, can be heard grating
away up above in the loftiest tree-tops, occasionally
interspersing with a beautifully soft whistling note,
■“ Pretty! Pretty! Pretty!” The Spectacled Flycatcher
is rare and of a more retiring disposition. With the
approach of warmer weather these charming creatures
leave us, with the exception of the Leaden Flycatcher
who sometimes stays for the summer, to visit us again
on their return journey in autumn. Reluctant as we are
to lose them during the colder months, we are just as
anxious to renew the acquaintance of our winter visitors.
Appropriately named Jacky Winter, though not strictly
a migratory bird, he is more plentiful in the city and
suburbs during the winter months, as he sits on a con-
venient post or stump swinging his white tail feathers,
suddenly making a dive to capture some passing insect
to return to his post and sing his charming song just to
show how pleased he is with himself. Also the fussy
Grey Fantail, with his tinny song and aerial acrobatics,
as he takes over the duties of his departing Rufous
relative. One of the most fascinating feathered creatures
to visit the reserve is the Rose Robin who, with the Grey
Fantail, leaves with the approach of the springtime
migrants, though Jacky Winter, if conditions are con-
genial, will sometimes stay and build his tiny nest and
rear a family.

Among other migrants is included that beautiful
creature with the bad reputation, the Rainbow Bird, or
Bee-Eater. Also somewhat of a nuisance to the apiarist
is the Dusky Wood Swallow, a creature whose move-
ments are hard to follow, but who is generally seen in
large flocks during the winter months. This bird is one
of the most graceful of flyers, and aside from his bee-
eating proclivities is a valuable destroyer of noxious
insects.

A spring visitor who is most erratic in his move-
ments is that delightful canary-like songster, the White-
winged Triller. Some seasons there will be dozens of
them all over the place; other times you only see odd
pairs. More reliable is his relative, the Cicada Bird,
who visits us in the summer months when the Cicadas
are most active. Besides devouring numbers of these
insects, he mimics them so closely that his note is only
known to the experienced ear. He, like many other
birds, has a sweeter note that he utters occasionally,
though it is not generally known. Closely, associated
with this bird is the pugnacious and attractive Drongo

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August, 1938

123

who always seems to appear about the same time as the
Cicada Bird. Whether this is because he also preys upon
the Cicadas 1 am unable to say, but the appearance of
these two birds always seems to coincide with the appear-
ance of these insect hosts.

An occasional springtime visitor is the Reed Warbler
who, as his name implies, is a creature of watery country,
where he may chortle day and night to his heart’s con-
tent. He sometimes takes it into his head to make
excursions round the countryside, so is seen at times
along the creeks and watercourses of the reserve.

Another springtime migrant is the Oriole, whose
continual call can be heard all through the day. He
also has some powers of mimicry. The Fig Bird is
found in large flocks whenever there are some species
of fig in fruit. In Brisbane he seems very numerous
in the winter months.

The two species of Pardalotes, the Spotted and
Black-headed, always visit the reserve in large numbers
to nest in the winter. The Spotted, a brilliant little
fellow, generally keeps to the tree-tops during the rest
of the year, but resorts to the banks of the creeks to build
his nest, and is very tame and easy to approach. The
Black-headed nests in similar situations, and his loud
“Chip! Chip! Chip! ,, is a familiar sound during the
autumn and winter months.

ACCIDENTAL BIRDS AND STRAYS

Strolling through the reserve in the vicinity of the
Dams, I was astonished to see a male Regent Bower
Bird fly overhead, and some time later I noted the
Green-winged Pigeon on two occasions, and the Brown
Pigeon once. As these birds are habitually residents of
rain-forest country and would be totally unable to
secure an existence in the type of country offered by
Mt. Coot-tha. I can only account for their appearance
by the fact that bush fires were raging in the neighbour-
ing ranges, where rain forest would be found, and these
creatures had been driven out of their natural haunt
into strange territory.

Strange visitors also were a pair of Scarlet Robins,
a species totally foreign to these parts, noted on one
occasion in the winter of 1936. I am unable even to
give a guess as to how they got there. About the same
time I came upon a large flock of Yellow-tipped or
Striated Pardalotes, a bird not usually seen in this part
of the country, and they were in such large numbers
that a mistake in identification was impossible, and

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August, 1938

apparently were on the move, as I went a couple of days
later to renew their acquaintance and found no trace of
them. As the Museum is in possession of several skins
of this species shot in the Moreton Bay district, it would
seem that its presence here is not unprecedented.

Experiences of this description are familiar to all
observers of wild life, and are interesting in that they
serve two purposes, one of which is to warn the observer
against jumping to conclusions, and the other is to re-
mind ornithologists, who invent geographical and ether
boundaries to confine our birds, of the somewhat obvious
fact that these delightful and interesting feathered
friends of ours have wings — and frequently use them.

THE “CRITIC A BOTANIC A” OF LINNAEUS

Translated by the late Sir Arthur Hort, Bt., M.A.

Revised by Miss M. L. Green, B.A., F.L.S., Botanist,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The present translation was finished at the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, after Sir Arthur Hort’s
death, by Miss M. L. Green, and has been published by
the Ray Society. Lady Hort arranged through the
Director of Kew Gardens, Sir Arthur W. Hill, who writes
the introduction, to have a certain number of copies to dis-
tribute to botanists who might like to have the work. A
copy has been presented to the Queensland Herbarium.
The published price is 12/6.

Before the time of Linnaeus there was great con-
fusion in botanical nomenclature. Every botanist was a
law unto himself and chose his own way of giving names
to plants.

Quite apart from the importance of the Critica
Botanica as a basis of modern nomenclature, some of it
makes quite interesting reading, and many of the names
of early botanists mentioned are familiar to us in generic
names in Australia, such as Tournefortia, Dillenia,
Oldenandia, Lippia, Plumiera, and others.

In Linnaeus’ opening chapter on Generic Names, he
has the following: — 4 ‘ Even a rustic knows plants, and
so maybe does a brute beast, but neither can make any-
one else the wiser. . . . The botanist is distinguished
from the laymen by the fact that the former is able to
give a name which fits one particular plant and not
another, and which can be understood by anyone all the
world over.” We wish sometimes we could repeat his
definition of a botanist at the present day.