THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST The Magazine of the FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA in which is incorporated THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA VOLUME 77 MAY 1960 to APRIL 1961 Editor: NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.Sc. Melbourne BROWN, PRIOR, ANDERSON PTY. LTD. 430 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, G.1 N. H. SEWARD Pty. Ltd. 487 BOURKE STREET, MELBOURNE, Ci - MU 6129 Specialists in Optical and Seientific Instruments and Books WE SEARCH THE WORLD SUCCESSFULLY FOR RARE AND OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS WE RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING BOOKS THE BIRD WATCHER'S ANTHOLOGY (Roger Tory Peterson)—Ilustrated with 100 drawings by Peterson. £2/5/6, post 4/6. A REVIEW OF THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INSECTS AND WEEDS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW GUINEA (Frank Wilson), £1/11/3; post 1/3. WHAT. BIRD IS THAT? (Neville Cayley).—New edition, illustrated in colour. £2/5/-, post 1/9, RU POGY & NUTRITION (Charles P. Mountford), volume 3—Records the American-Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land, illus- trated. £6/6/-, post T/-. FOSSIL COLLECTING (R. Casanova)—An illustrated guide. £1/9/9, post 1/6. ESCAPE TO ADVENTURE (Noel Monkman)—Naturalist, mieroscopist and ian ads from Northern: Queensland, illustrated, £1/5/-, reduced to 0/6, post 1 Inspect or write for lists of our large stocks of new and secondhand books on Astronomy, Art, Australia, Pacific, Natural History,- Botany, Gurdening, Entomology, Pond Life, Géology, Biography, Fiction, Sex and Marriage, Anthro- palogy, Penguins and small inexpensive novels stocked. FROM OUR. SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT DEPARTMENT MICROSCOPES for: young people and schools; 50 magnifications, £2/15/-; 110 magnifications, £5/5/-; 5 magnifications, £7/15/-, Also Universit and Research Microscopes up to ry rite for lists new and secondhsan BINOCULARS, suitable for bird observing, ete., 8 magnifications, £16/ 10/- and £20/15/-. Better instruments to £50. TELESCOPES, Riflemen's model, 20 magnifications, £11/10/-; othars, 12 mag- hifications, £5/12/6, up to £22, Astronomical Telescopes, £70 and £125, Also Metis, Mathematical and Surveying Instruments, Curta Calculators, ete NATURALISTS’ REQUISITES. Entomologica) Pins, Store Boxes, Ent. For- ceps, Butterfly Nets, etc, Full particulars of any.of the abgue on application 10% British Achromatic Folding Magnifiers—of great use to Nature Lovers, £4/2/6. Write for tists, N. H, SEWARD PTY, LTD., 457 Bourke St.. Melbourne - MU 6129 Brown, Prior, Anderson Pty, Ltd, 440 Little Bourke Street, Melhonroe The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 77 (I) | May 1960 Published by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria In which is incorporated the Microscopical Society of Victoria Registered at the General Post Office, Melbourne, for transmission by post as a periodical 2/6 “Now you can i) take colour snaps with any camera!” Kodacolor Film is here! If your camera is 127, 120 or 620 size, you can now take glorious, full colour snapshots. No tricks . . . simply load your camera with Kodacolor Film, aim and press the button as you've always done . . . but now, instead of black-and-white a pictures, everything you take will be in glorious natural colour! Your Kodacolor Prints are Super-Size, too . . . from cameras producing oblong negatives, Kodacolor Prints measure 3% x 5 inches; from square negatives, 3% x SMa gor? 3% inches. Get out the family camera — load it with Kodacolor — and enjoy the thrill of full in colour photography — NOW! Ci KODAK (AUSTRALASIA) PTY. LTD BRANCHES IN ALL STATES KODAK DEALERS EVERYWHERE! gy 2 Vict. Net.—-Vol. 77 Val. 77, No, 1 May 5, 1960 The Victorian Naturalist Editoy: NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.5c. CONTENTS Articles: Forlorn Hepe and Reedy River, by Norman Wakefield ot 4 Hateonite Bay —A Classic Area for Victorian Geology, by . M. Dawes .. vA l4 i Flowers and Hoitkyontabs, by Narn Wakefleld 1 Features: Along the By-ways with the Editor is 12 National Parks and National Monuments — Churehill Park, by J. Ros Garnet 4 19 Australian Wattles : Sallow Wattle — Acacia Tongifetia; by Jean (Calbraith aie te ¥ 3 M0 3.5 .. +422 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: April General Meeting, Group Meetings, ete. .- -, TAS Diary of Coming Events .,. a as re y a.) Miscellaneous: An Invitation to Readers .. a4 ba a hu ve 4a Notes on the Apollo Bay Excursion ue ve -. 13 Sets and Back Numbers of “Victorian Natur alist” le .. 20 Front Cover: This is the Barn Owl, Tyto alba, in an attitude of defence, The species is world-wide in distribution, and it is one of our common nocturnal birds of prey. Beeause of the soft colours of the plumage, it used to he known as the Delicate Owl. The photograph was taken by David Fleay and it appeared in the Victorian Naturalist in January 1942 (Vol. 57, page 164) accompanying an article “Notes on the Barn Owl’ by D. J. Dickison. May, 1960 ‘ 3 FORLORN HOPE AND REEDY RIVER Twenty miles cast of Omeo lies a hundred or more square miles uf subalpine tableland known as the Nunniong Plateau. It is the catchment area of tri- butaries and headwaters of the Tambo River on the west, and of the Buchan on the east, The foeal point of the plateau is Nunniong Plain, a square mile of natarally treeless mea- dow through which meanders the main head of the Tambo River, there a tiny stream only a few feet wide. Southward from the plain runs a Forests Commission jeep track which links with two tairly good Com- Mission roads, one coming up from Buchan and the other from Ensay. The latter serves the fire lookout on Mount Nugong and passes the spotter’s house on a picturesque little clearing known’ as Bentley’s Plain. North of Nunniong Plain the jeep track eventually crosses the Great Dividing Range to link with a similar road which connects the Benambra area with Wulcul- merang. Besides these vehicle routes there is a neétsvork of bridle tracks. One ascends the scarp of the tableland from the Tamho valley at Kindi and reaches Nunnieng Plain. Another runs westward from Gelantipy, seross the Buchan valley and up onta the plateau (o a cattleman's hut on the slopes of Mount Nun- niong. This mountain ig little 4 By NORMAN WAKEFIELD higher than the surrounding country, but if reaches 45300 feet above sca level and is the highest point of the plateau. North of Mount Nunniong the main tableland is terminated by the valley of the Reedy River, which hegins at a 4500-feet watershed and runs easterly for aleyen miles, ae the crow flies, to meet the Buchan River at a spot Jess than 20() feet ahove sea level. It is the deep Reedy River valley in varticular that euts the Nunniong Plateau off from the highlands of .the Wombargo-Cobberas area far- they north. In the early days the Reedy River area was used a grvat deal for the forest grazing of cattle, and it still comprises part of a lease held by a country member of the Field Naturalists Club, Mr. Keith Rogers, of ‘“Kock- hank”, Wulgulmerang. However, few or no cattle have been run there in recent years. People familiar with the Nunniong country refer to the “upper Reedy" and the “lower Reedy”, for the two parts of the valley are separated by a tract of cliff country which has always been skirted by horsemen. Some years ago IL discussed with Mr. Rogers and his son John the idea of exploring the rocky central tract of the Recdy River, and plans were made to visit: it. On January 13, 1959, I accompanied John in hia Land Viet. Sot.—Vol, 77 Rover, with equipment and pro- visions, from ‘“Rockbank” to Buchan, then via the forestry ruad to the tableland, across the Timbarra River, past Numniong Plain and north to a small glade known as Clovery Flat. The gear was unloaded there and John took the Land Rover on, across the Divide to the Benambra- Wulgulmerang track which was then followed back to ‘“‘Rock- bank”. This was 4 round trip of about 110 miles, In the meantime, Mr. Rogers hud undertaken a twenty-mile Vide across country, bringing a spare horse, He arrived towards Clover , ent! Ts Flat a * Mt y) Nugong 3 a OF To Ensayy Bi ed evening, the horses were yarded and camp made for the night in the open under the stars. Clovery Flat is at about 4300 feet eleva- tion, where the jeep track crosses a head of Bentleys Creek!, the next main tributary of the Buchan north of Reedy River. Tt had been chosen as a depot because there was a pole yard there where horses could be left, of a night Along the creek are typical alpine sphagnum moss-beds, and the surrounding forest is mainly of Snow Gum (Lucalyptus patu- cijlora), In the ereekgide vege- tation there were runways of tt = 4829",,. orlara Hape 4} Lua f Sees 1 REEDY, NS ang ms Locality Plan ef Nunniong-Cobberns Area May. 1960 small animals, and twa which were vaught and examined proved to be the Allied Rat (Rattus asainalis), A second small native mammal may be recorded for the spot, for the remains of three Yellow-footed Marsupial ~ mice (Antechinus flavipes) were foand in a large metal chaff hin which had been left there probably by road- eonstruction workers. Next morning we rode east for about five miles along the Bent- leys Creck-Reedy River water- shed. A brumby track followed the top of the spur through pleasant open Snow Gum forest and wild horses were enconh- tered here and there. Then cameé a descent through a good stand of Alpine Ash* (Hueakyptus delegatensis) and Candlebark Gum (£. rubide) to a delightful open area which is commonly called Forlorn Hope Piain for some long-forgotten reason. A creek of the same namé flows placidly through the plain, but less than a mile away it cascades and falls dawn preci- piteus reck faces before making its way to the Reedy River, a further mile away and aimost 2000 feet below, Near the creek above the cliffs there was an example of the rare Moonwort* (Botrychinm lunaria), and 2 second one was found later be- low the scarp a little farther vast. The cliffs were followed westward until a break occurred and the horses were led down, often sliding on theie haunches amonpst loose rocks. With the constant risk of a major cul-de- sae, the jumble of rock outcrops was eventually negotiated, the descent was continued through 6 a serubby forest of Cormmon Peppermint. (Bucalyptus rad- iate) and the river reached in time to boil the billy for lunch. We rode down the yalley then for about two miles, crossing the lower part of Forlorn Hope Creck on the way, to a point opposite an aiéa of steep cliffs. The mosi interesting plant on {he way was Alpine Bossea (Bossiae. hraetevsa) Which grew abundantly at little more than 2000 feet elevation, Alter tethering the horses we crossed the stream and explored the cliffs. They were of fine- grained quartzite and bore a preat variety of shrubs, promi- nent among which were Sticky Boronia (8. anemonifolia), Box Micrantheum {M. hesesrutrwm) and the tea-tree, Leptospermiem. séricatum', Two botanical rari- ties were present, too: a large spreading prickly pround-berry heath, Acretriche divaricata, which is seattered in the Snowy- Buchan ares though only re- cently added to the known cen- sus of Victorian plants®, and # species of Grevuillea of similar halnt which occurs also in the Omeo district but as yet has no scientific name. Then came the arduqus climb back to Forlorn Hepe Plain, by a route to the east of the more precipitous part of the escarp- ment averlovking the valley. Night fel! as we left the plain so a detour was made to ayoid the “woolly-butt" forest, and the six-mile ride back along the Forlorn Hope Top was atcom- plished in the dark. The general impression gain- ed from the day's excursion into the Reedy River valley was one Vict. Not.—Vol, 77 of disappointment. It seemed that the area between the upper and lower tracts did not contain anything of outstanding scenic interest. This idea, however, was due for drastic revision! For January 15 it was de- cided to carry out a thorough investigation of the flora of Forlorn Hope Plain. A leisurely ride was taken along Forlorn Hope Top; there was an abund- ance of interesting vegetation of which a few conspicuous spe- cies may be mentioned. In the wet soil of drying waterholes on some of the little flats, Dwarf Buttercup (Ranunculus — mil- lanit) and Mountain Velleia May, 1960 (V. montana) were prominent, and in one place there was a quantity of Tiny Violet (Viola sieberiana). In rock outcrops, Tree Violet (Hymenanthera dentata) grew as a dwarf shrub in crevices, Bitter Cryptandra (C. amara) and Diggers’ Speed- well (Veronica perfoliata) form- ed clumps, and there were occa- sional patches of Alpine Rice- flower (Pimelea alpina). Larger shrubs included Mountain Pep- per (Drimys lanceolata) and a recently recognized species of alpine beard-heath, Leucopogon gelidus®, In several places along the spur, ground had been dug over by wombats, apparently seeking edible roots. There was evidence that some areas had received much attention over a long per- iod. Wombats are very abundant in these highlands. The main part of Forlorn Hope Plain is an almost treeless flat, irregular in shape, over a mile long and about half a mile across at the widest part. It has a bewildering variety of vege- tation. Forlorn Hope Creek runs through the plain, winding here and there with hardly any fall in level. In places the waters are hidden by massed shrubs. Alpine Bottlebrush (Callistemon sie- beri) is the largest, and smaller ones include Mountain Heath- myrtle (Baeckea gunniana), Swamp Heath, Coral Heath and Short-flowered Heath (Epacris paludosa, FE. microphylla and E. breviflora respectively). Elsewhere the creek meanders between open banks with short Forlorn Hope Creek cascades and falls down the escarpment. grass and other small herbage. In such places there is a particu- larly large-flowered form of Mountain Gentian (Gentianella diemensis) and a showy blue- bell, Wahlenbergia ceracea’, which was officially named only very recently, Often the grass gives way suddenly to large mounds of sphagnum moss or even larger masses of Richea (R. continentis). The Richea, in full bloom with its myriad spikes of rich yellow obscuring its foliage, is certainly the floral show-piece of the area. Back from the creek, in the shightly higher and less moist areas of grass, are patches of a little matted coprosma® (C. nivalis), tufts of Mountain Cranes-bill (Geranium sessili- florum) and an uncommon al- pine rice-flower, Pimelea biflora®, only recently named. It was in- teresting, too, to note numbers of a primitive little fern, the Adder’s-tongue® (Ophioglossum coriaceum). A few wild horses had been grazing on the plain when we reached it and their wallowing places or ‘‘dust baths” were apparent here and there. Although Forlorn Hope is little over 4000 feet above sea level, its open grassy areas are brightened by the usual associa- tion of alpine composites. Among those blooming at the time were Silver Daisy (Celmisia longi- folia), Yam (Microseris scapi- gera) and Erect, Tufted and Field Daisies (Brachycome acu- leata, B. scapigera and B. deci- piens respectively). Several orchid species were noted: Alpine Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum alpinum), Swan Greenhood (Pterostylis cycno- 8 eephala) and Blunt-tongue Greenhood (P. obtusa) were flowering, and Golden Moths (Diuris pedunculata) had just finished. More interesting, how- ever, were a dozen spikes of the tiny Archer Leek-orchid (Pra- sophyllum archerit) in one grassy patch. The simultaneous flowering of two orchid species which normally appear in aut- umn and spring respectively, Archer Leek-orchid and Swan Greenhood in this case, brings to mind similar cases, recorded several years before on the Nunniong Plateau, where Par- son’s Bands (Eriochilus encil- latus), normally an autumn species, and Swan Greenhood each flowered in January’. That was a perfect day, the weather was pleasantly warm, the area was delightful with its peace and natural beauty, and we were able to enjoy it all un- hurriedly. On the morrow we returned early to Forlorn Hope Plain, I proposed to complete the bota- nical survey of the place and then to explore the falls where the creek went down the escarp- ment. Mr. Rogers, however, elected to go on and explore the Reedy River downstream from the spot we had reached on January 14, The census made during the two days, of vascular plants on Forlorn Hope Plain, stands at 187 native species and several introduced ones. This number is very interesting, for it is the same as the total listed just ten years before on Rocky Plain, a similar subalpine meadow area about ten miles to the north-east, near the Wombargo Range. Of Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 Rao ut 's me: =x S aE x ‘ * re 4 of the Richea 1960 ay M course there were many species not common to both lists, Where Forlorn Hope Creek begins to cascade down over the escarpment, there is a wealth of rock-loving shrubs. The tea-tree, Leptospermum —granudifoliums, typical of alpine streams, was dominant, while Royal Grevillea (G, victoriae) and Tree Lomatia (L. fraseri) were prominent. Further down there was an almost vertical waterfall of per- haps a hundred feet. Below this, on moist sheltered ledges, two unusual ferns were growing plentifully: Common _ Spleen- wort (Asplenium trichomanes) and Brittle Bladder-fern (Cys- topteris fragilis)*, The former is a world-wide species which is anything but common in Aus- tralia, and the latter is known from only four other Victorian localities. Snow Daisy (Brachy- come nivalis) and Royal Blue- bell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa)? were there too, though the eleva- tion of about 4000 feet is well below their usual habitats. Mr. Rogers reached camp very late that night having again made the ride along the Forlorn Hope Top after dark. He had a very exciting story to tell. of the discovery and ex- ploration of a spectacular gorge where the Reedy River made its way through a narrow chasm cut into what appeared to be an unbroken rock wall across the valley. He reported that the passage was no more than ten feet wide in places, with over- hanging walls, and that he had eventually climbed round to the top of the higher side and found it to be 600 feet almost sheer above the river, 10 It must be admitted that hear- ing all this filled me with a feel- ing of frustration, for the pur- pose of the expedition had been to discover and investigate such a place. I had missed seeing it though we passed within a mile of it two days before, and it was necessary to return to “Rockbank” the following day. As it turned out, almost a year was to pass before a second ex- cursion was organized and this matter rectified. The ride back was to be a long one, over about thirty miles of mountainous country, so an early start was made next morning. Instead of the direct track back, past Forlorn Hope and across the Buchan valley to Wulgul- merang, a route was taken northward across heads of Bent- leys Creek then along the main watershed. The Great Dividing Range ran north-easterly for a few miles at about 5000 feet elevation, and it had some very fine outlook points. To the east lay the valley of Rough Creek’, the next tributary to the Buchan, and to the west the valley of Limestone Creek, which is per- haps the true head of the Mur- ray River. We went down on the western side, then recrossed the Divide to the head of Native Cat Creek, which flows east to the Buchan. In that locality are patches of Richea but, though scattered in the Nunniong area to the south, this attractive heath does not seem to occur anywhere in the Cobberas-Wom- bargo area to the north and east of Native Cat. Thence it was three miles north-east to where the Ben- ambra-Wulgulmerang jeep track Vict. Not.—Vol. 77 traverses Native Dog Flat by the upper Buchan, and this road was followed, via Rocky Plain and other areas of subalpine meadow, to skirt the Wombargo Range and follow Omeo Creek and then Little River down to “Rockbank”’. Notes 1. On the Department of Lands and Survey topographical map “Cobberas C”, the name Bentley Creek has been applied to Rough Creek. The latter is a shorter stream, parallel to the former and further north. 2. Locally referred to as “woolly- butt”, 3. For illustrations and information ebout these species, see Ferns of Vic- toria and Tasmania. 4. Previously known as Slender Tea-tree (L. attenuatwm); but see Viet. Nat. 72: 44-45. 5. Ref. Vict. Nat. 72: 109. 6. Ref, Vict. Nat. 73: 59. 7. Ref. Vict. Nat. 72: 165-169. 8. Ref. Vict. Nat. 63: 120. 9. Ref. Viet. Nat. 73: 212. 10. Ref. Vict. Nat. v0: 28. (To be concluded next month, with details of a second expedition and a day in the Reedy River gorge.) An Invitation to Readers All readers are invited to contribute to the Vietorinn Naturalist. Here are some suggestions: (a) Major articles of 1000 to 3000 words, with photographs. (b) Short articles, preferably illustrated. of under 1000 words. (c) Nature notes, queries and specimens for identification. Three times in the past year, the Naturalist went to press smaller in size than was originally planned, because insufficient contributions were to hand. In the present issue, all remaining items suitable for “Along the By-ways” have been used up. Readers, if the editorial kettle is to be kept boiling, it is up to you! You can help PREVENT BUSH FIRES Remember this — “BY CARELESSNESS we have torn our forests apart BY CAREFULNESS we can put them together again.’ ! (Extract from Forests Commission film “The Hand of Man’’) We Rely on You! FORESTS COMMISSION OF VICTORIA May, 1960 K 1} These columns are available each month for notes and queries, Address your correspondence to the Editor, “Victorian Naturalist”, Modified Method of Mounting Qpaque Objects It is pleasing to have a con- tribution dealing with micro- scopy. We do not hesitate to include notes on this subject in “Along the By-ways’. The microscope provides a pathway to a fascinating world of nature study, one that is neglected by many. Dr. R. M. Wishart sends this interesting observation: Both professional and amateur mounters universally employ the con- ventional black background when mounting opaque objects for the microscope. This method is un- doubtedly excellent for all brilliantly coloured subjects and cannot be im- proved upon for the majority of slides of this type. But some very interesting and instructive objects are too drab or too dark in colour to stand out sufficiently on the commonly em- ployed black background. While , mounting the head of a “jumper” (or Hopper Ant) recently, to demonstrate the formidable jaws, it 12 P.O. Box your nature 21, Noble Park, Victoria. became evident that the normal mounting technique fell far short of expectations, Using a Jade Velspar lacquer to coat the inside of the cell, a light green base was substituted. With this innovation, and using a different top-lighting, the results ob- tained in selected cases fully justify this method. Spangled Drongo at Mallacoota In August last, in these col- umns, an outline was given of the several times this bird has been recorded in Victoria. A further report is included in a letter from Mr. W. Hunter, of Mallacoota, who writes: I am fairly sure that a strange bird seen early this month by one of the school-children, David Allan, was a Spangled Drongo. He borrowed my bird book (Cayley’s) to find out what it was, and when he told me that there was. no bird pictured in the book that was anything like the one he had seen, I asked him all about it. Knowing David as a really keen Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 younp nature student, 1 have pyse- tically no doubt that the biyd he saw was @ Spangled Drongp, from his description. By the rules of bird recording this report must be tevarded as unconfirmed; it is interesting nevertheless. Cayley’s illustra- tion is certainly wolike the bird in fe, and the time of this latest observation fits the season of the previous southern records of the species. The Spsngled Dronge has beer noted in East Gippsland in May 1885, May 1926, winter 1988 and April 1958. Perhaps it visits the Malla- eoota srea fairly regularly in the automn, Longevity of Chocolate Lily Here js « note from Miss Jean Galbraith, of Tyers, Gippsland: In the Naluretist (Vol. 64, p. 60) in July 2947. T wrote of a plant of the Choeulate Lily, Dichopogan strie- tus, which had come np and flowered in our garden path. Twelve years later (t is fowering still, and, as [ meéen- tioned in 1947, in is very likely that it has been flowering every year sinec the path was made, about 1917. [tis net ins position where increase ls easy, but three years ago a séed- ling did spring up, So thete are now two plants, the old one still much the larger and stronger. Specimens lor Identification From Roselyn Thompson, of Cam berwell Girls’ High School, comes a female example of Monuphighus craw. ford?, our largest specles of “imealy bug”. The grap is ¢o named because its members protect themselves with a white mealy or felty secretion in- stead of a hard covel'ing as is normal with scale insects, The specimen was found ‘lat Kyneton . - . underneath a gum-tree"; and “at first it had a whitish furry film over it’) Th is almost. three-quarters of an iiich long, vyal, wingless and with only May. 1960 minute Jegs, and deep orange it colour with purplish-brown Iark- ings. This species. favours smooth- barked evcalypts and often wtlaches itself half under loose bark. The fe- male produces fine Woolly strands to protect her eggs and herself, The imales of hlealy bags sre iwo-winged and usually have a woolly fringe of fine filaments at the end of the abdo- nen, From Jennifer Avis, also of Carm- berwell Givls’ High Sehool, there is an example of Kuryinela fitreatu, a jassid at leaf hopper, It is wedge- shaped, & centimetre long, and of it denniter writes, “It is most spee- tatular, huving md legs, purple un- derwings, and upperwings bronze splushed with white’. This insert be- loves to 4 group of genern which live an preen eucalypt branches and, like the tree hoppers ¢membracide), they are generally attended by ants, These hoppers, and the mealy bugs coo, oj} belong to the order Hemiptere- Notes on the Apollo Bay Excursion Mv, Trevor Pescott, of Lid Nicholas Sireet, Newtown, oeensy who is a country thembér of the NOV, and also a keen bird observer, writes seek- ing “all possible information” about the Fairy Penguin which nested at Apolle Bay, mentioned in Jast month's Victuyzan Naturalilfet (Vol. 76, page 318). Could any member who was on the excursion please supply addl- tional information and, if possible, the name of the “local who was- guarding the nest. carefully’? Mr. Pegcatt commented on the Pilat-bird, mentioned on the same page, As this species is not authentic- ally recorded from anywhere weat of Melbourne and the species is nei- ther migratory nor nomadic, it would he hest to regard this case as one of mistaken identity: Mv, A. G. Hooke asks that the loca. tion of Craytish Bay, mentioned in the March Naturalist (Vol, 76, paze £73, line 34), be corrected to read "two miles east of Cape Otway". 13 Balcombe Bay — A Classic Area for Victorian Geology Balcombe Bay is part of the cosst- tine of the Mornington Peninsula, whieh va unm off4hoot af the Southern Highlands, to the east of Port Phillip Bay, Alexander Beatson Haleumbe, after whom the bay was named, was the son of William Baleombe of the Bast Trvlia Crmpany William was purveyor to Napolean duting his cap- tivity onthe island ef St. Helena, but later he settled at Port.Jackson with tis Family. In 2840 Alexander in- upected Isrul mear what is now Morn ington, and be was granted a lease- hold by tha New South Wales gavern- ment, ‘The aborigines, of wham there were many, on account of the avail- aollity of sea-feod, culled the area *Cheo-Chen-Gurzuk", whieh meats “the noise of frogs”, However, Ral- tombe called his property “The Beiars’, afler the home where he was born on St. Helena, Tt was the custom that such tracts of jand as “The Briars" were seased fran the government for a certain period, after which 1000 seres re- mained the property of the lessee. There were practically no other oreu- pants on the Peninsula except the MeCraes on Avthur’s Seas and the Baxters on Baxter's Flat, the nearest necchhours on the north being at the site of Moovabhin, 28 miles away. In the literature, lelters ond nmtaps of that period, the Mornington headland and area was designated as either Snapper or Schnapper Point. Alexander Baleombe settled down on his property, whieh in his apie wat "Bad for sheep, fair for cattle, good horse country" (Brookes). He became one of the first trustees of the Church of England sehoolhouse, and nis gcuerosity ie evidenced by this plaque on his memorial at te ent- trance to Mornington Park: Memory of Alexander Beatean Balcombe Early Pioneer ond Benefitecter Where this fountnin te erected M4 By E. M. Davies Waa his ledschald atation, From the Crown in 1848 Then citlled Crcehingwrk A Commercial Enterprise Baicombe Bay lay Slways been of considerable interest to geologists, both here and overseas, as portion of il discloses horuntal strata of Ter- tiary age where excellent fosatls are abundant and easily accessible, This particular aréa is 14 miles south of orninglon township and 36 walled Fossil Beach, Previotsly it was known af Cement Beach, on account af welisx, walter vats, grinding mills, furnaces, a jetty and “some stone lwts for Habitation” being built there for commercial purposes, In 1941, the Rev, George Cox, who is remembered for his work in helping foster in children a love of nature, published in the Peninenla Post some interesting arhieles regnrding the cement works, On October 1, 1861, 6 Melbourne architect, James Robert- son, applied for a patent far “Ym. prayenee in the manufucture of hydraulic aud atker cements from reviain. indwrated male called sep- taria, indigenous ta tke ‘colony of Victovie” Three months later a pub- lt pole appearad warning parties against removing septaria from the roast at Mornington ar sauth of Gee- lone, “unless authorised’. It was signed by James Robertson, manager, Tn the Melbourne Argue of Ocliher [B, 1882, an aiticle stated that: The parent aepravin works at Schnapper Point . . are wow Tt Full work od gsuppiles of the cemant have this weele bean placed om the market, Four hundred barrels cam be supplied weekly ond if bhe Butlers and Contyretors can he antisfied with the vement, the wuporled wald speedily disappewr as an item in the mantfeste of slugs apriving Frowt Englund. En- souragement at the hands of the pebd- Ite tp all thué is weaeasary ba foster this (eserumy enterprise, Viet. Nat —Vol_ 77 The Rev. George Cox comments: But alas! encouragement was not forthcoming. There appear no adver- tisements oy records of sales in the Melbourne newspapers and our own esteemed townsman Mr. Thom. Green positively asserts that the material was never produced and put on the market, as the capital ran out before the works were completed. First Geological Report 1854 Just over a century ago, Selwyn, the first director of the geological sur- vey of Victoria, published a report with maps on the country between Western Port, Cape Schanck and Point Nepean. In it he stated that the best sections of the Tertiary for- mations were to be seen on the coast between Tangenong Creek (the first ¢reek south of Frankston) and Mt. SCHNAPPER PT " j i 4tovar fed 7° Se E CPAICIE AD - May, 1960 Martha, “exposed in cliffs, in places upwards of 200 feet in height. Both the clays and limestone are very rich in fossil remains and both in general lithological character, mineral and organic contents bear a striking re- semblance to the clays und associated culeareous nodules of the London and Hampshire basins’. In a later report he placed “the blue clay with selenite and characteristic fossils on the east coast of Port Phillip” as Eocene. Dur- ing Selwyn’s seventeen years as direc- tor, over sixty geological maps were issued. These were among the best of their period and compare very fav- ourably even with today’s standards. The Balcombe Bay section has been listed by early geologists under many names: east coast of Port Phillip, Mornington, Schnapper Point, Mt. Martha, between Mt. Eliza and Mt. Martha, and even Hobson’s Bay. In 1872 Brough Smyth, that despotic Secretary for Mines, mentioned that he gave some fossils to McCoy for classification and he placed them in the Upper Oligocene because of their similarity to species found in Bel- gium, northern Germany and_south- ern England. Although Brough Smyth did much work in connexion with our gold-bearing strata, he is mainly remembered for his monumen- tal work, The Aborigines of Victoria. Early Workers on Balcombe Bay Strata There is very little geological liter- ature, either scientific or popular, from the days when Victoria was be- ing opened up that contains no men- tion of Balcombe Bay and its wealth of fossils. In 1887, Murray of the Mines Department mentioned “some gigantic forms of Volutes and Cypraea, from the Oligocene grey clays with septaria”’, The fossils are mainly marine mollusca of which gastropods predominate, and there are many species of coral. Echino- derms and sponges are frequent—the spicules of the latter certainly make their presence felt. It was in 1854 that Frederick McCoy took up his duties at the Uni- versity of Melbourne as first Pro- Locality Mep of BKaleombe Bay District, Victoria, Australia. fessor of Natural Sciences. Not only was he an outstanding man in the scholastic field, but he also had vision and an untrammelled mind. Behind his courteous demeanour was the ability to get what he wanted. When he began his work at the University there were few students, and for many vears he took classes in chem- istry, mineralogy, botany, zoology, comparative anatomy, geology and palaeontology. His main interest was this last subject, and in spite of oppo- sition, and a trifle surreptitously one must admit, he managed to get trans- ferred to the University a small museum that was housed at the Crown Land Office. Later, the con- trol of the museum was vested in the trustees of the Public Library, and the collection was moved to its pre- sent site. As Government Palueontologist, McCoy decided that the Geological Survey Report should not be limited to maps as formerly, but should con- tain figures and descriptions of fossil organic remains that would assist in the determination of geological strata. He called this publication the Pro- dromus of the Palaeontology of Vic- toria, and in the earliest decade the first molluse figured was Voluta han- nafordi (McCoy) “from Warrnam- bool and the Tertiary Oligocene Clays near Mt. Martha”. In 1986 at this later locality, Cudmore found a simi- lar perfect specimen which is now housed in his famous tertiary collec- tion at the National Museum. The older tertiary marine deposits of Victoria were regarded by Tate and Dennant and by Hall and Prit- chard as referable to the Eocene, but from 1866 McCoy maintained that these beds were post-Eocene. The lat- ter was supported by Chapman and Singleton and many other geologists. The Balecombian Stage In 1902 Hall and Pritchard, in an effort to clear up many misconcep- tions both here and overseas, intro- duced the name Balecombian Stage. They wrote, The clays and limestones of Bal- combe Bay contain another distinct faunn. The beds are sometimes spoken of as at Mornington, but the locality we give is more exact. 16 In 1941 Singleton re-defined the Baleombian Stage as fullows: The richly fossiliferous marls are exposed chiefly between tide marks, but fossils become searcer and more fragile in the cliff section, tn which the marls have a thickness of about 35 feet. They are overlain by ferru- ginous sands and grits, with which the junction is sharp but even. Boring has shown. the calcareous marl to per- sist for #5 feet, and to be succeeded in depth by sandy clays, sands and ligneous elays, and this apparently non-marine series is in turn underlain by basalt. Fxtension of Balcombe Bay Beds The thin Balcombian beds of the type locality become thicker towards the coast as shown by the Sorrento Bore, where Chapman reported 383 feet “representing upper-most part of the Baleombian”. Precisely how much of this core is equivalent to the 72 feet (Singleton 1941) of the type Baleombian section has not yet been determined. At Balcombe Bay the top of the Balcombian strata is above sea level, while in the Sorrento Bore the top (according to Chapman) is 1310 feet below the surface. To the north, the Balcombe Bay beds outcrop at Frankston, while in the Melbourne area they are repre- sented by highly ferruginous strata of shallower water facies at Royal Park and Green Gully (Gill 1957, p. 179). The Balecombian is well repre- sented in the Geelong district. Farther inland the beds are largely buried under basalt, but are locally exposed by river erosion and have been proved by bores, In the Hamilton district blue elays and brown sandy marls, very similar to those of Balcombe Bay, ap- pear in Grange Burn, Muddy Creek and Violet Creek. Muddy Creek is one of the best known localities in the State for Balecombian fossils, par- ticularly mollusea and bryozoa, the former comprising more than 400 species. Fossils from Balcombe Bay Characteristic Baleombian mollusca include Limopsis morningtonensis, Cerithinm apheles, Volutispina anti- sealaris, Nautilus balcombensis, “Chalmys” dichotomalis, Eucrassa- Vict. Nat.—Vol, 77 tella dennantt, Turritella platuspira, Pterospira hannafordi and Soluto- fusus carinatus. That interesting pteropod, Vaginella eligmostoma, can be seen massed in various parts of the limestone. Amongst the larger foraminifera is Amphistegina lessonti and characteristic pelagic forms are Globigerinoides transitoria and Orbu- lina suturalts. “The section which has furnished the fauna of mollusca, foraminifera, etc., which characterizes the Balcom- bian Stage comes from the 10 feet of marl, 5 feet above and 5 feet below the top of bed “t? of Singleton’s sec- tron (1941 p. 27).” (Carter 1959). The upper 30 feet consists of sele- nitie and jarositic clays containing much quartz sand, in which the only fossils are Ammodiscus sp. and ocea- sional moulds of mollusea. Fish Otoliths An interesting aspect of the Ter- tiary stratigraphy of Australia is the study of fish otoliths. Considerable difficulty is encountered when sys- tematic identification of the Teleo- stomi is attempted owing to the al- most complete absence of skeletons. May, 1960 There are usually only odd vertebrae, fish spines, teeth, ete., which might be assigned to widely separated gen- era. The difficulty can be largely over- come by the study of the fish otoliths (“ear bones’), which are usually fcund associated with other isolated fragments. Frost (1928) and Stinton (1957) described a number of species from Victoria, the majority being from Balcombe Bay. Age of the Balcombian The long history of exploration of Tertiary strata in Australia is mark- e] by persistent controversy about the sequence as well as the age of the strata. The need for careful obser- vation, full description of stratigra- phic details and collecting from clearly described and measured areas was not always appreciated. It is still a debatable point as to whether the Balecombian is Lower or Middle Miocene. It is believed by some autho- rities that the first appearance of certain pelagic foraminifera will eventually form the basis for inter- continental correlation of Tertiary rocks and a reliable foundation for Tertiary geochronology. Progress be- Fossil Gastropoda from Balcombe Bay, Victoria. 1, Siphenalia lonygiresiris Tate, 2, Volutispina antiscalaris (McCoy). 3. Chicoreus lo phoessus (Tate). (About two-thirds natural size) Photo: Meredith Warren ing made with potassium—argon dat- ing gives promise that help in world- wide correlations can be expected. References Brookes, Mabel Galleries. Brough Smyth, R. (1876). Report of Progress. Geol. Surv. Vict. Carter, A. N. (1958). Pelagic Fora- minifera in the Tertiary of Victoria, Geol, Mag. 95: 4, —— (1959). Guide Foraminifera of the Tertiary Stages of Victoria. Rept. Aust. and N.Z. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 34th Congress, Perth. Chapman, F, 1928. The Sorrento Bore, Mornington Peninsula, with a Description of New or Little Known Fossils. ‘Rec. Geol. Surv. Vict. 65. Cox, G. (1941). History of Morning- ton Peninsula, The Peninsula (1956). Crowded Post. David, T. W. E. ed. Browne, W. R. (1950). The Geology of the Commonwealth of Australia. Frost, G, A. (1928). Otoliths of Fishes from the Tertiary Formations of N.Z. and from Balcombe Bay, Vict. Trans, N.Z. Inst. 59. Gill, E. D. (1957), The Stratigraphical Occurrence and Palaeoecology of some Australian Tertiary Marsupials. Mem. Nat. Mus. Viet. 21. Glaessner, M. F. (1953). Some prob- lems of Tertiary Geology in southern Australia. Journ. and Proc. Roy. Soc. NS.W. 87. T. S., and Pritchard, G. B. (1902). A suggested Nomen- clature for the Marine Ter- tiary deposits of Southern Aus- tralia. Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict. 14. McCoy, F. (1875). Prod. Pol. Vict., Dec. 1, Murray, R, A. F. (1887). The Geo- logy and Physical Geography of Victoria. Scarle, P. (1949). Dictionary of Aus- tralian Biography. Selwyn, A. R. C, (1854). Votes and Proc. Legist. Council, 1. Singleton, F. A. (1941). The Tertiary Geology of Australia. Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict. 58. Stinton, F. C. (1957). Fish Otoliths from the Tertiary Strata of Victoria, Aus. Proc. Roy. Soc. Viet. 70. Hall, “= Choose a suitable camera com- panion from the Voigtlander range now available from R. H. Wagner & Sons Pty. Ltd. PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS 43 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Telephone: MB 3114-5-6 => because the lens is so good! Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 National Parks and National Monuments—5 Churchill Park For Victorians, the era of the police trooper and _ black-tracker is little more than a memory, but in the closing decades of last century, those formed an important element in our civic organization and, in a way, we have to thank them for Churchill National Park, On the southern slopes of the Lys- terfield Hills, about eighteen miles east of Melbourne and less than three miles north-east of Dandenong, is the southern boundary of the last large piece of Crown land left near Mel- bourne, an area of little less than three square miles of unsettled bush and grassland. It is the former stud farm for police horses and the site of what were the headquarters of the Force’s black-tracker detachment. The easterly extension of Centre Road is known as Police Paddock Road, reminding us of its origin; and Stud Road, from Dandenong to Scoresby, is another reminder of the early days. In 1940, representatives of the several adjoining shires, supported by some private organizations, per- suaded the then Minister of Lands to 1960) May. By J. Ros GARNET have preserved a portion of the pad- docks as a sanctuary for fauna and flora. The north-eastern portion was chosen for the purpose, an area of 476 acres, and thus Churchill National Park was created. This part was cho- sen because it was relatively well timbered and so was better equipped to harbour the type of fauna which was once widely distributed in the district. The new park's committee of man- agement planned to develop progres- sively the whole of the 1720 acres of the Police Paddock, restricting its activities at first to the smaller sanc- tuary area where it hoped to establish a representation of the original en- vironment. The rest, undulating pas- ture land and_ sparsely timbered slopes, was envisaged as an outdoor recreation area complete with camp- ing grounds, golf links, sports arenas, open-air theatre, swimming pool, youth hostel, administrative buildings and other amenities and appurtenances of modern recreational activities. This was an unusual concept of the usage of a national park but, in view of its past history, it is doubtful if a better plan could have been evolved, It is well situated for these purposes and, now that Dandenong has attained the status of a city, local interest surely will be stimulated to an extent that some of these projects can be commenced. Public participation in develop- mental schemes for public recrea- tion is something which has never been highly organized in this country, but here, at Churchill Park, there is emple scope for an endless amount of voluntary work in directions such as tree-planting, surveying, track- making, and even attempts to obli- terate the defacements brought about by generations of cattle grazing, wood cutting, quarrying, and, of course, stud farming. Victorians will watch the growth of the schetne with con- siderable interest. It could be that the old Police Paddock will become something unique among parks and pleasuring grounds for the people of this fast developing State. The present attractiveness of Churchill Park lies not in any features of supreme scenic value or of special scientific interest of the kind that one expects to find in a national park, but rather in the rural serenity of its wide acres. There, close to densely settled urban areas. is a domain akin to Wattle Park, which is one of the very few places within Greater Mel- bourne where a semblance of a natu- ral environment remains. Churchill Park is a place for quiet family picnics, leisurely rambles and those other outdoor activities dear to the heart of youth. All this may be changed when the plans are realized. The 476-acre fauna and flora sanc- tuary, dedicated as a perpetual re- serve by Act of Parliament, cannot be lost, but the future of the re- mainder is not so certain. Will the pressing needs of an increasing popu- lation overtake it and cause it to be whittled away like Royal Park and certain other urban reserves? EPILOGUE {A footnote by the editor) The answer to the last question is “No”. Just over two years ago, fol- lowing some local conferences and a deputation to the Minister of Lands, the remaining 1232 acres of the old Police Paddock east of Stud Road were permanently reserved. The area was divided into three parts and the con- trol of each placed in the hands of one of the neighbouring municipali- ties: Ferntree Gully, 206 acres; Ber- wick, 355 acres; and Dandenong, 671 acres. Dandenong has allocated some loan mcney for the commencement of the development of its portion. Recrea- tion facilities are to be built on the 5385 acres of comparatively high ground, and in the low-lying portion along Dandenong Creek there is to be a 136-acre sanctuary. The latter will be for water-fowl mainly, the idea being to form embankments to retain lagoons and marshlands. The affairs of Churchill National Park are moving, too. A ranger has been appointed, a residence is about to be built for him, and tenders have been let for the first portion of an 8-foot chain-wire fence to encompass the whole park, Sets and Back Numbers of “‘Victorian Naturalist’’ The F.N.C.V. can supply individual bound volumes of the Vietorian Naturalist, from vol. 1 (1884-5) to vol. 29 (1912-13) inclusive (except vol. 4). The binding may be variously board, cloth or half-leather, and in some cases, two to four volumes may be bound together. Also available, from another source, are (a) vols. 17 to 57 inclusive, uniformly bound in cloth with spine lettered, and (b) vols. 19 to 74 inclusive, the series partly bound. From the above, it is possible to obtain a bound set of the Victorian Naturalist from vol. 1 onwards, excluding vol. 4. The price would be about £70. Note: It is the practice of the club to supply unbound copies of the Victorian Naturalist to members at half original price. Almost all back numbers are available, as far back as vol. 10, Enquiries: Editor, Victorian Naturalist, P.O. Box 21, Noble Park. 20 Vict. Noat,—Vol. 77 Australian Wattles—No. [3 By Jean Galbraith Sallow Wattle — Acacia longifolia This is the Sallow Wattle of the hills and heathlands, but in the sand- dunes it is the Coast Wattle. The two outwardly different plants are vari- eties of the same species. The ex- tremes, to which the two names apply, certainly seem to be distinct species, in spite of the features they have in common. But at Lakes Entrance, for example, you may find every grada- tion between the two, so we know that they are but one wattle. Typical Sallow Wattle is an erect bush, with rather erect phyllodes seve- ral inches long. The phyllodes are usually nearly a half-inch wide, rarely they are under a quarter-inch across, with clearly marked reticulate veins. The flowers form catkins—large, May, 1960 crowded flower-spikes, often over an inch long. Narrow-leaf Wattle, Acacia mie- ronata, often grows with Sallow Wattle, especially in sandy places, but even from a distance one can usually distinguish the solidly hand- some Acacia longifolia from the fairy- like A, mucronata. The latter has much narrower and often longer fol- iage, and the flowers are scattered along the spike, with each one sepa- rate from the next. The typical inland form of Sallow Wattle does in places extend to the coast, but usually as one of its broader-leaved forms, the most ex- treme of which is Coast Wattle (A. longifolia var. sophorae). Coast Wattle has the same thick light-yellow “catkins” and the same strongly veined leaves, but its habit is very different indeed from that of Sallow Wattle. Everyone who has even casually neticed the plants of the Victorian sand-dunes must know Coast Wattle. You cannot see the bases of the stems cr tell where the roots are, and it is impossible to determine by looking at a patch of it whether there is one plant or twenty, for sand-drifts cover the evidence. All you can see is a thicket, from a few inches to three feet or more high, of tough light- green foliage on stems pushing out of the sand. Often it appears to be creeping. You cannot mistake that strongly veined foliage for any other. A phyl- lode up to an inch wide, narrowed to the base but blunt or very bluntly pointed at the tip, well equipped to stand drought and exposure. It is a hardy sand-binder that has curled light-brown pods when you visit the beach in summer, but it breaks in mid-spring into a radiance of light sunshine-yellow. No wonder it was not at first recognized as a variant of our narrow-leaved inland shrub, though the dense catkins are similar. Eallow Wattle, Acacia longifolia 2) Nectar Flowers and Honeyeaters By NoRMAN WAKEFIELD In the garden at Noble Park there is a massive Green Kangaroo-paw, Anigozanthos viridis. In spring it has about sixty flowering stems, the tallest of which is eight feet high. Every day, White-plumed Honeyeaters give the garden the “once over”, probing into fuchsias as well as native flowers: grevilleas, banksias and other nectar producers. The kangaroo-paw receives a major share of attention. Early last December, I noticed one of the haneyeaters which was typically coloured except for a conspicuously yellow forehead; in fact, the whole of the front of its head was yellow. The problem was solved by close observa- tion of the bird as it fed. The yellow was due to a thick powder of pollen from the flowers of the kangaroo-paw. The flowers of kangaroo-paws are so perfectly shaped for pollination by honeyeaters that one suspects that flower and bird have been associated for a very long time, that they have evolved together. The corolla of the flower has a tube about an inch long, then a semicircle of six pointed spreading lobes. The tube is curved down a little and is split slightly on the lower side. This suits perfectly the curved beak of the honeyeater as it seeks the nectar that forms in the base of the tube. The six stamens have short filaments joined to the corolla tube near its mouth, and the anthers or pollen sacs are held in a half-circle. The anthers are about an eighth of an inch long and they split lengthwise along the lower or inner face. So the bird’s forehead must come in contact with the open sides of all six anthers. Finally, a long style holds the stigma where it too will touch the bird’s head just where the pollen has been left, and cross-pollina- tion is effected. The Australian flora is very rich in nectar-producing species. Eucalypts are the dominant trees in most of our forests, and gum-blossoms are often heavy with nectar. Other members of the myrtle family and many of the Flowers of Green Kangaroo-paw. showing shape of corvlia and arrangement of anthers. 22 protea family (Myrtaceae and Pro- teaceae) in particular contribute their share, too. The abundance and diversity of nectar-producing groups in our native yegetation are paralleled by the de- velopment of many species of honey- eaters. The Australian representatives of this family of birds number about seventy species. All have developed a bristly tip to the tongue, to brush the nectar from blossoms. It is remarkable that lorikeets, too, have brush-tongues, for they belong to the parrot-cockatoo order of birds, not the perching bird order in which the honeyeaters are classified. This is a case of parallel evolution. Both our honeyeaters and our lorikeets feed on nectar, and they have both “grown up” with the Australian vegetation. The White-plumed Honeyeater oc- curs in Western Australia as well as in the eastern states, but it is by no means the only member of the family that attends the kangaroo- paws. Spinebills and Yellow-winged Honeyeaters feed from these flowers in Victorian gardens, for instance. Hence, one would expect many species of honeyeaters to compete for the nectar of the kangaroo-paws in their natural tralia, habitats in Western Aus- Vict, Nat—Vol, 77 Field Naturalists Genezal Meeting —Anril 11, 1960 Mr. Th E. Meclnnes presided over the gathering of shout 180 members and visiturs. [It was antouneed that Mr. Keith A. Hiudwood, to whom the 1959 Natural History Medallion has been swarded, cannot come ba Male bourne for the presentation, and Mr, Alex H. Chisholin has been asked to perlorm the veremoany in Sydney. The followiig were elceted to men- hership of the club: Mr. and Mrs. R, J. MeLeod, Mr. P_ Birrell, Mr. Robert G. Taylor, Mr. Robert J. Kosky, Me, N. L. Lazar, Mrs, Patricia, Kaufman, Mjss Ane E. Lee, Miss Antoinétee Le Cren, Miss Joan E. Brockman and Miss Nancy KE. Bowman (metropoli- tan); Mr. Roper B, Smith, Mr. A, FB. Campbell and Miss Estelle McCumbe (country); and Christopher Kauf. an and Peter Helmes (junior) All were welcomed hy the president ta the raika of the F\N.OUV. The main item af the evemne was a talk on “Conducting Tissuet us Plants”, by Professor Vernon Cheadle of the University of Cali- fornia, This was illustrated by a series of projected transparenci¢s, In- cluding some «af electron microscope phatographs showing kleve areas vaagnified 75,000 times, Professor Cheadle stressed bhe bafiling probleme cuncerned with the trangport of manufactured food downwards in the phinem, Mr. 3. H. Willis, in mav- ing a vate of thanks, expressed apnre- ciation of the vast amount of work being accomplished in this field by ihe professor, The yumerous exhibits inchided 4 vluster of twenty-three egg cases OL the Orchard Spider (Colnewia exca- vote), sent by au anonymous donor, Mr. Eyre Swarbreck cammented that this would be a record number af eg casts for thi¢ species, Mrs 2%. Lee deserihed the behaviour of a four-inch spolled sou-slug she had kept far two monthe in aerated sea waler. The process of epy-laying was outlined, and excellent colour and plain photographs illustrated this previously wnrecocded performance. May, 1960 Club of Vietoria Combined Geology Exeursian io Heathcate On Sunday, Mareh 27, members of the geology group of the FING, tyvavelled ta Hratheote, where uo eom- bined excursion wus held with the Bendigo and Maryboraveh Field Nalurahesta Cluls, About forty per- sons attended, under the leadership of Mr. Frank Robbins of the Bendiga elub- As a preliminary, Mr Robbins pave a general survey of the area, ilustrated with a tomprehensive cal- lection of Specimens al fossils, nyine- reals ald rocks, he collection was the vesult of much time and labour, 7 was methodically arranged, and was a credit fo the owner A folder of Taps Was displayed, lidicating the thermugh surveys which had boen msde of the district. Aiter lunch Lhe party investigated the Silurian deposits behind the camping area. In 4 short time, a wide varieby uf shells wus ublained aed some echinod spines alse, These patticular beds are noted for their vich fossil content and are evidently an ol! sea coast, The party moved across the railway Tihe lO au atea of decotupoced granite, where epecimens in various stages of change were examiner The granite is wif a fine texture not alten 2een ald it was classified ay a “micro-granite”, Sniall quarts erystals were taken fram the rock, and the whole process of decomposition was traced from friahle yack through tu sand and fijally almost pure kaolin Erosion is Vigorous in the locslity, avid mem- bers were able to yiew in miniature the weathering effects that give auch variety to the scenery, The whole avea vould be elassed as “bad-lands”, Further along, the Cambrian ile- posits are exposed, and fulfs were ex- atiined in two stages: firel, as a natatal friable tuff, then where the stratu had been impregnated with silica and hardened to what appeared io be a bisek quartzite, Many quartz veins could be traced Lhrourh the deposit, Diabase was noted and the 23 abundance of megnoesite was most oO splevdus. From the higher greand, a view aver the township showed the Silurian hills on one side, Cambrian deposits in the low-bying area. and the Ordi- vician hills beyond, This lay-out ie what makes Hestheote district such a veolopical iyoseum, A quick trip~wns then made to Lady's Pase, some seven miles along the Colbinabbin road, to see some Cambrian deposits which show a great variety of contortions. The strata are shale with bands of chert proininent in every conccivable state of folding, Some prominently bailed cxamples were collected with the iter of polishing them later, A further stop was made at a small hill of voleanie sgglomerate where angular fragments af ignéous rock were plainly visible in the matrix. Evidently the denesit was close to rhe ald voleanie vent and was the re- sult, of explosive activity. ‘The last place of call was the “cop- per mine", which js really anly a shallaw hole in the ground, Speci- mens of azurite (a deep blue carbon- ate of eapper) atid malachite (the colnmon copper ore) werd obtained amonest the debris, Pieces of selwyn- ite picked Up on the surfa¢e near the roadside excited considerable com- ment: thie belangs to the ehronium group, is emerald green and is corm. posed of alurnina, magnesia and silica The minere) authoritics stabe that it is obtained only fh the Mount Ida Range at Heathcote, in the farm of dykes, and it is probably a decom- position pteduct of diorite. Rutley notes it im his 1899 edition of Miner- alvey us recentiy found in Australia. Other highlights of the ¢xeursion were tha despatch of a sizable hlark anake by Mr, Perry, of Bendigo, ably supported by Mr. Dodds, ef Mel- bourne, and hwo fests af a specics of paper-was}), The lather provided ine terest for some members at louch- time, but the observations were eny- ajed out at a distance, Seorpions were fnund under stones on Red Hill, bue ho specimens were collected, The excursion concluded with 1 vate of thanks bY Mr. Melnnes, the prest dent of the Melbourne club, te the Jeader of the excursion. Mr, Robbing, 24 Geology Group—April 6, 1960 Miss P, Carolan wus the speaker Jur the evening, and the 1 ae, gee he fe Wuckmore, 25 Helden St, Asnfiell, NSW. OR, Av Wakefield/ » Hooks) Mr. Alan J, Reid, Chudrew’s Scheol Camp, Someta (A. G, Hotke/N A, Wakeield). aa ak Seque, GOB Ss. oo Timbertoy™, Po. Mansield (N AY Wekofeld’ . OOS | - Mr John EF, Comtmey, “Ash Grove’, Swan Vale, Vie Glen lines, N&.W. 5 A. G. Hupke). Mr, Keith C. Hyfranicr, Box BO, Revlah (BE. H, Copnill/N. A. Wukefield) - Mr. 7, RB. Prentice, 129 ‘The Eyriz, Maglemone (BH. H. Coghill/A. G. Hooke). de aie “7 Beran, “Hskdale', BP. B, Gong Gong, Via Ballarat (N. a Wokefield/ » hee DOKe). (Mrs. Frances Gladstone, “Havenhome”, Bex 4d, Beechworth (J Gaibrairh/A, &, make). (Mys.) Freda Negrello, Po BW Cobden (NA, Wakefeld/A, G. Hooke). (Mrs.) Maxgaret M. Stone, “Duntroon, Bheluwurig, Vin Maldon (NL A, Weke- ifield/ A. G. Hoke) Migs L, M. Nou, "Graynot' {2 Binsronge Rd, Fraokstun (b. W Qihsan/A, GC. Heke), Junior Member: ; Juris Ozole, 6 Donlap St, Maribyrnong (0, W. H. Strona. 7. 1%, Paiekall 8 Nominations for Membership. 9, Presidential Addvess: “The Naturalist’s Third Eye". 10, Genera) Business. 11, Nature Notes and Exhibits, 12, Conversaztone. Monday, July 11—Members’ Night, GROUP MEETINGS (S pm, at National Herbariom, unless otherwise staled.) Thursday, June 1—Botany Group. “Succulents”, by Mr. A. Burke, Thursday, June 4—Fauna Survey Grovp. Business; Organization of Queen's Birthday week-end excursion; filling of observattins und records Wednesday, June 15-—Microscopical Group, “The Use of Micro-fossils in Geology", by My, Douglas, Department of Mines. Persons interested in botany or geology should attend. Monday, July 4—Marjine Biology and Entomology Group. At Mr, Strong’s rooms, Parliament Mouse; enter by private entrance, south end of House. Welln dads July 6—Geology Gronp. Subject: “What is a Possit?”, by My, effrey. F.N.C.V. EXCURSION Aumaey June 19—You Yangs. Leader: Mv. E. 5. Hanks, Subject: Birds, Trees, Aborigines, Coach te leave Batman Avenye, 9.15 am. Fare, 1G/-: book with exeursion secretaiy, Bring one nieal and a snack, June 1960 5! tS LL “PA — FON SIA FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, 1959-60 GENERAL ACCOUNT STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR 12 MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 1960 (Figtires adjusted to the nearest £1) Receipts . Payments Subscriptions received— Victorian Naturalist Arrears £16 Printing £1,196 Current 1,095 Illustrating 190 Supporting Members 60 Despatching 114 —— £1,171 Index 9 Sales of Vietorian Naturalist 157 Editorial Expenses 14 Advertisements in Victorian Naturalist 219 Interest received— 1,523 Library Fund 2 Working Expenses— Bank Account 19 Postage and Telephone £33 — 21 Printing and Stationary 23 Commission on Sale of Books 10 General Expenses 32 Sale of Cluh Badges 5 Library Expenses q Donations ’ 6 Subscriptions, Donations and Amount transferred from Building Fund Affiliation Fees 4 Account for payment of rent 43 Natural History Medallion Donations frorn Members towards Crosbie Expenses 10 Morrison Memorial Appeal 93 — 109 Rent of Hall and Library 43 £1,725 Crosbie Morrison Memorial Appeal, Deficit for the year 43 donations from Members 93 £1,768 £1,768 O96) PHOT €s BALANCE SHEET AS AT APRIL 30, 1960 (Figures adjusted fa the nearest £1) Liabilities Subscriptions paid in advance Donation in hand towards expenses of Show in September, 1960 Special Funds— Building Fund £1,550 Publications Fund 1,151 Library Fund 50 Club Improvernent Account 128 Excursion Aceount 166 Surplus of Assets over Liabilities £225 197 3,045 1,624 £5,091 Assets Bank Current Account and Cash— E.5. & A. Bank— General Account Petty Cash Advances Current Assets— Sundry Debtors £63 Arrears of Subseriptions estimated to realize 10 Badges an Hand at cost 27 Library, Furniture and Equipment Investment of F'unds— Building Fund— Commonwealth Bonds at cost 950 Inscribed Stock at eost— S.E.C. £500 84% 1965 420 M.M.B.W. £100 34% 1962 90 E.S. & A. Bank, No. 2 Account 90 Publications Fund— Stacks valued at cost— Wildfowers of Victoria 67 Victorian Ferns 422 Vietorian Toadstools 164 Other Publications 13 E.S. & A. Bank, No. 3 Account 57 Amounts owing by Booksellers 28 Commonwealth Special Bonds 400 Library Fund— Commonwealth Bonds at cost Cosstick Reserve— Maryborough—at cost £535 17 562 100 1,668 1,550 1,151 50 20 £5,091 BUILDING FUND Amount of Fund at 30/4/59 £1,535 InteresL on Investments and from Bank 5B 1,593 Less Ainaunt transferred to General Account for payment of Rent 43 Amount of Fund at 36/4/60, as per Balance Sheet, J £4,540 CLUB IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT Amount of Account at 30/4/59 £190 Donations received during year 6 195 Purchase of Aldis Projector £49 Gost of improvement ta Public Address System 19 ad Amount of Aecount at 20/4/60, as par Balance Sheet £128 PUBLICATIONS FUND Amount af Fund at 30/4/59 £1,030 Surplus for year from— Wildflowers of Vietoria 91 Feyns of Victoria and Tasmania 15 Victorian Toadstools und Mushrooms 2 Interest on Special Bonds and on Bank Aecount 10 Amount of Fund at 30/4/60, as per Balance Sheet £1,151 WILDFLOWER BOOK ACCOUNT Sale of 418 copies realized £284 Deduct — Royalty at rate of 10% thereon £23 Advertising and despatching costs 20 Ag £191 This amount hus been divided between— Native Plants Preservation Society 4rd £64 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria 34rds 127 #191 Number of copies still unsold--'769, vaiued at $67, FERN BOOK ACCOUNT Stock at 30/4/59, Sales, 173 copies $50 2,423 copies Stock at 30/4/60 Texpenses 2,250 copies 422 Surplus for yesr — 2,423 £472 54 Vict. Nat.— Val, 77 TOADSTNOL BOOK ACCOUNT Stock at 20/4/59 U63 copies E198 Expenses 3 Suvplus for year 2 S148 Audited and found cerrect, W.P. J. Evans? efor R, Davison i Mon, Auditors Sales, 143 eopies Sa Steck at 30/4/60 220 copies ifid 963 £192 A. G. Hooxr, Mon. Treasurer EIGHTIETH ANNUAL REPORT, 1959-60 At the end of the club's sightieth year of existence, we can lonk back and see a gradual change im the scope and armhitions af the ¥.N.G.V. The principal chjects Yremuin the sume to stimulate itarest In natars) history and to preserve and protect Australian fauna and flora — but today we appear to be doalig this, leas by foatering direct and cletailed research, and more by endesvyoutne to interest the less knowledgeable in the well known wonders of nature which they ean find sround them if they can be induced to look. The year coneluded waza the first one of the Naturalist in its new form, which is # deliberate attempt to spread qur influence aver a wider field, and to make that magazine 2 medium to tnterest beople in nature study generally and in this club's vctivitivs In particular, [it thes, we feel we have achieved a substantial degree of success, Membership has increased fron; 509 to 415, comprising N77 ordinary members, L&4 country, 23 juniors and 26 honorary ane lite members. In addition there are 108 individyal and institutional snb- scribers to the Naturalist, and about 40 copies per manth are being sold in Lookshops. This demand bas grown up turing the current year and ts still developing, We note that municipal libvaries as Well as primary end secondary schools are subscribing to the mhagazine. In anticipation of this trend, we increased the number of copes printed sach month by 300 in May last year, and in August we had to inerease it a further 100, Tt appears that we will shortly ran out of June 1960 atocks of he Naturalist for May, June, July and August, 1959, and we ask any members who hold these and da het need them to return them to us, At the cluh’s general wieeting cach Month hwo gevelapmienta are appar- ent; first, an increase in attendance — usually about 160 being present-— and secondly, a much greator percent- age of yvuunger penple in the gatherings, But we cannot ignore the fact that several mombers whose opinions we respect have expressed txtreme dis- approval of the new development with the Nuétwraltst. It is also true, how- ever. that a great amount of mast enthusiastic praise bas been received bath fram lay and seientific members, and it is clear that a “Gallup Pobl" of members would show them to be overwhelmingly in favour of the present set-up. That i not necessarily the only criterion but despite the criticism we ave received we feel that the new Naturalist, as well as having popular appeal, is maimtaining a definite suientifie value Contribu- tions such as Massvla’s anthropolog- igal papers, Melnnes's “Observations on the Paper Nautilus", Baker on “Teprisoned Racks", Fyett's “Polli- nation of the Nodding Greenhood" and Wakefield's report ‘'The Diseovery of Native Pigs in Victoria’ have eont- priscd over fifty pages af the year’s yalume. This shows that members and other2 are making dbservations of importance and recording Shem in the Mutuvatist. We therefore hope that those who disapprove of the change in appearance will come to appreciate the dual funetion of the 35 new Netiuratiet and Will learn to enjoy jt as they did the ald, In this: con- nection, we sre always willing and anxlous to receive papers anid serious articles, uf the ¢ype mentioned above, for publication in the jauroah Mem- bers who make interesting observa- tions or who undertake research, are urged ta Jet us know wbout them through the medium of Lhe Naturalist, Afiliated Bedies: During the year Sunvayaia, Ouyen and Horsham Naturalists Clubs have affiljated with us, bringing the total affiliated organ jsations to 17, The Stawell F.N,C. aleo deetded to join up aud affiliated in May, after the year under review had ended, A feature of elub activities this ear has been the member of excurs- ons held it combination wish affiliated country elubs, Maryvhorough was visited in September when we form- ally task possession of che Cosstick Rererve, there was a combined week- end at Frankston and Kinglake in Geteber. the Marine Bislozy and Entomology group wert te Frankston in November, and in Marteh our Ceclory group aud the Bendigo F_N.C, visited Heatheote. Membership: Daring the vear we suffered the loss of several friends and members, including 3 past-pres- ident, Mr. L, W. Cooper, Mr, David ewisand Mr. J, W, Audas. Honorary membership was conferred an Men- Eulalie ennets (formerly Misz Hill) for long service, and on Mrs. Joan Nowlan for her gic of the Coaz- tick Reserve to the Club, Natupwl History Medallion: During the yaat we learned with great bledeure that the Nature! Hostory Medallion for 1958 had been awarded to our esteemed member, Mr ©. J. Gabriel, and we parficipoted in [ts presentation. The award for 1959 went to Me Kelth Hindwood of Sydney, whom we congratulate mast heartily. Natur's Protectroy: During the year we were overjoyed tu learn thac the Federal Covemment had at last pro- hitited the export of native Tuuio. We wrote t& Senator Henty, who anhounced the jew policy, and to the State Attorney General, Mr. Rylah, why had long advoested the move, e-pressing our pleasure and apprecia-~ tion. We have raised the question 56 whether the depredations of wombats ave su serloug chat they should be classified ss “vermin'’ bus 30 far have had only an indefinite reply. The matter of National Parks— both those already gazetted and others that are proposed—is constantly ander review by your council and is alsa heing kept betare members and other Teaders of the Natwrahat, In January thers appesred the first of a series of articles on this subject, and it ls to be continued inte the forthcoming yolume also. Accunmlodations We had long real- jserl that our pasilion as rent-free tenants of the National Herbarium might be subject to revision, During the year the authorities decided ta make a charge for tha facilities prov- ided, and we now pay a guinea per meetiog, about £60 a year. nur jast anual report it was suggested that the Crosbie Mortison Memorial Appeal might achieve ths objective af providing a hall for sovicties such as ours. We have had no official news from this appeal for some time, but if it does succeed in fhat object it will not be for many years, Funda; ‘The finance domniittee supecabat that the income from the building fund wae the appropriate source tO meet the cost of accom. nodation, This was recommended by counci) to a general tneeting and the yesolution doly paased, At the same time, council recom- ménded and thé members resolved that the proceeds of sale of back numbers of the Neititralist should be paid inte the general fond (which had pald for their publication) instead of the pulilications fund. Equipment: Jn the past year we have provid an adequate public address system, the only difficulty now Is to persuade speakers to use it. The first substantinl ass¢h acquired by racans of the club improvernents account waz a new 85 mmm. projectar, for which & case was donated by Mr, Ling. The elub has also obtained & flew typewriter, Most of the cost of which was donated by another mem- ber, The epididscopo was camayed by another organization using the Herb. arium but it paid for the repaiv, and it shovld be yeturned goon, Fivavee: Your envncil has kept a close control on the fnanelal position, Viet Nat — Vol, 77 largely through the finance committee which meets quarterly, When we reorganized the Neturaliet we real- ized that it would cost us much more te produce than the old had done, Therefore we imitiated some advert. izing and other publicity, simed at increasing Club membership as well ae the circulation of the magazine. As already reported, membership and circulation haye increased very sub- stantially, but there is a slight deficit in the year’s accounts, Ey that con- veclion, we must speclally thank the M1 oof cur members who became “supporting members by yoluntarily increasing their subscriptions. Projects. The Ciub participated in the Moomba Nature Show, held this year in the Lower Melbourne Town Halt We had intended to hald a show of our owit in 1958 but decided to postpone it until September, 1960, when we hope (with the assistance of the M.A. Ingram Trust) to pot on something in keeping with our great traditions. Lectiees: We must once again thank those whe have Ieetured tu the eleb and tts groups during the past year, The addresses to the general jneetings were of warticularly high standard, and the speakers included Messrs. G. T. Thompson, Chairman ot the Soil Conservation Acthorily, f- RH. Willis of the Nattonal Herbarjum and D. Db, Lynch of the Fisheries and Game Department, Exrersions: The highlight af the year’s excursions was the clab outing to the Otways area Forty or so men- bers made Apollo Bay their bead- quarters for eight days and fram there they ranged aa far afleli as Purt Campbell. Daring the year, numerous other excursions were held, moat of them heing well attended, The import- ant anes have already teen mentioned. Study Grotwps; The Pavuna Survey group was formed late in the uhrb year, upon a request fram several acieneé students of the University of Melbourne. Mr. G. G. George, who initiated the ideas has been elected sarretary and Mr. Norman Wakefield group Jreader. The purpose of the group is ha collate toformation, mainly by ficld survey work, on the ver- ébrate atimnals of the state The Irth Pevject bemg undertaken is the investigation of donosits of June 196 inammal bones in limestone reresses and caver in the Buchsn district in East Gippsland. We shall await with interest, the publication of the resnits of such work in the Naturalist. [bt is gratifying to see the formation of a scientific research pyroup is our club, This year the Microscenteal group was fortunate i having two lectures delivered by eminent ontside epeakers_ These speakers, who Were experts in theif field, wore Dr, Susan Ouigan and Dr. Ethel McLennan, who spoke on pollen grains and flamentoog algae respectively. The remaining lectures for the year were all ziven by members of the zroup. The Botany group has had an active year, with talks covering a wide field. Many e&cursidns were beld, and o prajest fo ecarty out a botanteal survey at Cheltenham Park is onder way. The present Marine Biology and Fnatonilogy Griup has now been in action for three vears, and member- ship is steadily increasing, The aver- age attendance of members at cach monthly meeting Was heen fifteen. During the year the Gedoegy Group Meetings were attended by 15 ta 20 members. A orominent feature was the excellent range of colour slides with which members illustrated their lectures. A wide variety of specimens were exhibited, indicating keen field work and systematic eullecting. What is tt? The photograph on page 42 is of the column of «a hative suu-crehid, Vhelymitra antetnifere This organ, & combination ef stigma (belo) and slamen (above), distingaishes urchids fram other plant fantilies. ‘Che two dirk sppendayes ac the top give this particular Spates its Mmmon Hane, *“Rebhit-ears Correction ‘The Kunguros-paw discussrd and HHustrated on Page 22 of last month's Noterakist was Anigesaathos Aariele, Yellow Kangarvo-paw, not the Green Kangaroo-paw (A. vtridis) as stated, 57 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Established 1880 OBJECTS: To stimulate interest in natural history and to preserve and protect Australian fauna and flora. Patron: His Excellency General Stir Davnas BROOKS, K.0.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.¥.0,, D.8.0., K.-STJ. Key Office-Bearers, 1959-60 President: Mr. Db. E. McINNes 129 Waverley Road, Malvern (211 pa Vice-Pyesidents: Dr. W. Caron, Ma. E. S. HANKS Tnmediate Past President: Mr. J. Ros GARNET Hon. Seeretery; Mr. E. WH. CoGHity, 15 Baker Avenuc, North Kew (WL 4413). Hon. Treasurer: Mr. A. G. Hooke, 400 Collins Street, Melbourne, C,1 (MY 1919; after hours, WE 5080). Hon. Editor: Mr. N. A. WAKertTELD, P.O. Box 21, Noble Park (7468440). Hon, Librariun: Miss M. Arco, 25 Spray Street, Elwood. Hob, Femiraie Secretury; Miss M. ALLENDER, 19 Tawthorn Avenue, Caulfield, SOM i Hon. Sales Ofieer: Mr. E, R, ALoAN, c/o National Herbarium, The Domain, South Yarra, S.E.1, Group Secretaries: Botany: Miss M, ALLENDeER, 19 Hawthorn Avenue, Caulfield, 8.H.7. - Geology: Mr. R. R. Dopps, 5 Banchory Street, Essendon (FX 4309), Microscopical, Mr. J. WALSH, 4 Smith Street, North Coburg, Fone Survey: Mr. GRanAM GrorcE, 40 Maitland St., Glen [ris (BY 2134). Entomology art Marine Biology: Mr. J. W. H. Strone, Legislative Council, Parliament House, Melbourne, C.2. ‘MEMBERSHIP Membership wf the F.N.C.V. is open to any person interested in natural history. The Victoriwn Nuaturaliel is distributed free to all members, the elub’s reference and Jending library js available, and other activities are indieated in reports set out in the several preceding pages of this magazine. Annual Rates are: Ordinary Membership a Is - .. 40/- Country Membership (over 20 anites from G.P. O., Melbourne) a5 .. BOs- Junior Membership (under 18 years) =u 4 os -. Bb/- Subscription to the Victorian Naturalist (non- miembers) -. 80/- (post free) NOTE: The currency of the present club year and of Volume 177 of the Fietoriun Neturalist is from May 1960 to April 1961, 538 Vier Nat, — Yol. 77 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 77 (3) July 1960 Published by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria In which is incorporated the Microscopical Society of Victoria Registered at the General Post Office. Melbourne, for tranamission y post as a periodical 2/6 Australian Native Dog or Dingo, Zoological Gardens, Melbourne. Photographed by Edward R. Rotherham. F.R.P.S. A.P.S.A. Naturally good...on A KM1624 KODAK (Australasia) PTY. LTD. Branches in all States 62 Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 Vot. 77, No. 3 The Victorian Naturalist Editoy: NORMAN WAKEFIELD. B.Se. CONTENTS Editorial: The Victorian Naturalist , uf £3 at a tt Articles: Wandering Albatross—Fact and Legend, by Susan EB. Ingham Highlights of the Marysville Trip, by. Jean Galbratth ., Features: Nature Study for Schools ; Australian Wonder-birds—The ETS s bird, by Nerman Wakejteld Australian. Wattles + Wirilda—Acacia eRdeinddes, by dab Golbraith Along, the By-ways with the Editor : Air-borne Spiderlings, Luminous Spiders?, Kangaroo-paws and Tloneyeaters, Nesting of Black-shouldered Kites, Bpdcuinens for Identification, Rainbow-bird Migration National Parks and National Mibiuintersg : Bulga National Park, by J. Ros Gurnet oe 14 ¥ a, us ah Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: = = June General Meeting, Group Meetings, cte. .. = ae a F.N.C,V, Nature Show... sy mA at + is be Diary of Coming Events -. 2 be = os wi he IMttscellaneous : Title Page—Volume 76 .. ay be Obituary . Bendigo - F.N.C. _Syllabus Front Cover: July 7, 1960 This delightful photograph of a mother koala and her cub was taken by the late Fred Lewis. Tt appeared in the Vtectortun Naturalist, vol. 70, plate XI (March 1954), accompanying an article “The Rehabilitalion of the Koala in Victoria’. July 1960 63 Editorial The Victorian Naturalist Three months ago, readers Were presented with a summary of the past year’s developments in this magazine and ct agso- ciated trends in the Field Natu- ralists Club of Victoria. It is too early yet to obtain a elear pic- ture of what the present year will bring, but the indications are that there will be no lessen- ing of the trends of expansion which have been established in both club membership and acti- vities and in the circulation and quality ef the Victorian Natwur- alisé. As an indication of confidence in these trends, the F.N.C.V. couneil agreed, twa months ago, to inerease the numbers of the magazine printed each month by a further i5 per cent. Further- more, it is intended that the majority of this year’s issues will be larger than last year’s average, The enlargement of the maza- zine is the most significant move in connexion with its produc- tion since the initial launching of the “new". Netzralist in May last year. It ig steps such as this that can eventually take it to a size which, by general stan- dards, is compatible with its price. Before it ceased production. Wild Life magazine ran to 100 pages each issue, and the price was 2/-. That was possible be- cause the circulation was many thousands, It ig obvious that the future of this club's magazine preduction will depend on ability 65 to vastly inerease the circulation of our Victorian Naturalist. It Was With this in mind that, last April, we asked members and other readers to reconimend the club and its magazine to their friends. We thank those who acted upon that suggestion, for the result of their efforts has helped in the decision to budget for a larger Naturalist. As interest in the F.N,C.V. and its magazine continues to expand, the honorary officers of the club must cope with an in- creasing smount of work, For the treasurer in particular, this agpect is presenting a growing problem, In the Naturalist of April last, we published a “Re- newal ot Subscription” form. The purpose was to eliminate the necessity of making out and posting several hundred sub-, scription notices. Many members and subscribers used the form. If you have not yet paid a cur- rent subscription, we ask you to use that form and to do so. For those outstanding, it will he necessary to send “reminder' notices next month. Readers are reminded, too, of the invitation on page 11 of the May issue, An enlarged maga- zine requires an increase in the quantity of material submitted for publication. Ir is pleasing to note that more short items and queries are coming for the columns of “Along the By-ways". We look to you for a continua- tion of this interest. Viet. May. —Vol, 77 WANDERING ALBATROSS- Fact and Legend At sea off the coasts of Tas- Mania, as far north as Queens- land in winter, and all over the Southern Qeean, you may see the Wandering Albatross. Pure white except for black wing- tips, beautifully streamlined and up to eleven fest in wing- span, it floats along behind the ship or cireles it without a single wing flap, using up-draughts from the waves in its effortless gliding flight. Only when it sees food on the water docs it aud- denly become gawky and clumsy, as it shortens wings, brakes with enormous feel and comes down with a splash and commotion in the ship’s wake, Naturally, legends have accu- mulated round this largest of seabirds, such a¢ those credit- ing it with a wing-span of eizht- ecn feet, and the literary myth that it was unlucky to kill ene. (In fsaet, men on sailing-ships often caught and killed them, making muffs from the skin and tobacco pouches from the feet.) Yet the truth is quite as iMmler- esting, We are heginning to know how far an individual bird really travels, and we know the main facta about its breeding. In 1847 a Wanderer was capght by a whaler in New Zea- land waters, and released with a message, giving date and pest- TAntarclic Olvivias Department of Extere nal Affalis. duly 1960 By Susan PF. INGHAM tion, round ifs neck. It flew 3150 miles in twelve days before it war shot off the coast of Chile. In 1887 another flew 3500 mules, ftom the remote Crozet Islands te Fremantle, carrying a mes- sege from a party of shipwreck- ed sailors, in twelve daygs—a re cord rate of nearly 200 miles a day, Fov many years these were the only known examples of flights by marked albatrosses, but new the problem is being studied intensively. Since 1958 Australian amateurs have been catching and Jeg-banding Wan- dering Albairogses at Lwo places near Sydney, where abundant. - food attracts them near the shore in winter. These are the effluent of the main Sydney abattcirs at Malabar Head, and Bellambi, 50 miles to the south, where the sea is very rich in squid. In calm weather alba- troszes cannot take off easily and can be caught from small boats. Last year this work began to show results. he Bellamk: ban- derg caught a bird they had handed experimentally in 1956 and another which had heen banded as a fledgling on the far south Atlantic island of South Georgia the previous summer. Conversely, adults banded off New South Wales in winter have been found in summer at South Gs Georgia and on Marion Island in the southern Indian Ocean. These show that both young and adult birds may circle the world; both the English name “Wandering” and the scientific name evulans are well deserved. Ilowever, present-day banding has not yel produced a rival to the ninetecnth-century speed records. Breeding and care of the young are the subject of a legend which ts only now being disproved. The Wanderer breeds on remote southern islands with- out permanent human oecu- pants. Sealers and scientists, visiting in summer, saw the 66 birds courting and building nests and, at Christmas, laying a single egz which would not hatch until Mareh. But at the same time the previous year's ‘chicks were still sitting about, fully fledged, not to depart. be- fore the new year, Plainly, adults which were Jaying and incuhating an egg could not still be feeding their last chick; and sealers said they had never seen adults with their chicks in win- ter. So the legend grew up that the chick was fed intensively until July and then deserted, to live on its own fat until if could Hy itsclf. An immense amount of ‘fat would be needed to carry ' ‘ . : ., x ° i , kL ae Wict, Net —Vol. 77 the chick through the winter blizzards, to grow the new fea- thers and to supply energy for the vigorous wing-flapping ex- ercises of the fledgling! Over the past thirty years evidence to the contrary has been steadily accumulating. Chicks with full stomachs have been found or actual feeding seen, in all months from hatch- ing to flying. A member of A.N.A.R.E.* at Macquarie Island was lucky enough to see and photograph a fully fledged chick being fed in the middle of De- cember 1958. A.N.A.R.E. men have also weighed = several chicks at intervals throughout the year, and found that all grew *Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions, July 1960 A.N.A.R.E. Photograph by J. Béchervaise Wandering Albatross at Nest, Kerguelen Island steadily larger and heavier. Meals may have been hurried and irregular, but they must have been ample. As the chicks are not de- serted, there is only one other possibility — that adult Wan- derers do not breed every year. A.N.A.R.E. biologists at Mac- quarie Island have found this to be correct. Only ten or twelve pairs breed there in any year, and the nests are widely scat- tered. Even before any birds had been banded, it was clear that the same nest sites were occupied regularly but in alter- nate years. Banding has con- firmed that the same birds re- turn to the same nest site every other year, being faithful both to mate and to home, 67 In December, first the male and then the female Wanderers return to the island and build a new nest from moss, plants and peat, near the ruins of their old one, on flat or gently sloping ground exposed to the west wind. Both take turns in incu- bating the egg and, later, brood- ing the chick. At first the chick grows very fast, and in late April, when it is about six weeks old, it is too big to brood; then its parents leave it unattended except when feeding it. Muffled up in thick whitish down, the chick sits on the nest through howling gale, snowstorm or thick fog, doing nothing but eat, sleep and grow. From Septem- ber to December the down is gradually replaced by feathers, which are black except for a white face and the underwings. The chick now spends much of its time standing or walking about and flapping its wings. Still the parents keep coming Weavelersiw Albatross in Flight A.N.A.R.E. Photograph with meals. Finally, in Decem- ber or January, when the neigh- bours are settling in and laying, the chick is ready to take to the air. Its parents are free for eleven months, to fy anywhere in the Southern Ocean or even round the world. For several years the young birds never come to land, while their plumage gradually chan- ges from black to white. For a few more years they will visit the breeding grounds in sum- mer, courting and choosing a future mate and nest site, be- fore they breed for the first time, Many questions about the Wanderer’s life remain unan- swered. How long do the young birds stay at sea? Do they re- turn to their birth places? How long do they live? Do they ever change mates or nest sites? Long-term banding and obser- vation by Australian and British biologists is under way and in time will provide the answers. 68 Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 Nature-study for Schools By Norman Wakefield Australian Wonder-birds — The Lyrebird This feature ts included in the “Naturalist” mainly for the benefit of school pupils and as information for their teachers, in connexion with nature study in primary schools. It should be of use too to many older students as well as of general interest to the less-expert naturalists who seek to know more of the Australian environment. The lyrebird family contains only two species, and its natural distribution is limited to the south-eastern part of the Aus- tralian mainland, The Superb Lyrebird (Menura novae-hol- landiae) ranges from the ex- treme south-east of Queensland, through eastern parts of both New South Wales and Victoria, to within about twenty miles of Melbourne. The Albert Lyrebird (M. alberti) is confined to north-eastern New South Wales and border areas of eastern Queensland. The Superb Lyrebird is prob- ably Australia’s most famous species of bird. It is a talented songster and outstanding vocal mimic, and the male bird builds a playground where he sings while displaying his remarkable and beautiful tail. Besides these activities, lyrebirds have a num- ber of very interesting but less- known features and habits. Over the years, much infor- mation about lyrebirds has been published in the Victorian Natu- yalist, and some passages by the expert authors of these past articles will be used in this one. In Dr. J. A. Leach’s Austra- lian Bird Book—still the stand- ard reference in most schools— the lyrebird is pictured with its July 1960 tail in a quite unnatural posi- tion. This probably originated from a photograph of a mounted museum specimen and, unfortu- nately, it has been copied in other places. Many years ago, Miss M. L. Wigan (1) wrote: A tour round the world in 1930 re- vealed to me that of all those in many museums visited, no specimen is cor- rectly mounted. In the British Mu- seum . . . the bird is mounted in the stiff vertical position of that fig- ured on the Commonwealth shilling postage stamp. This sort of thing is very re- grettable, for it does not do our bird justice; with the tail fea- thers bunched upwards, the real beauty is quite lost. Nowadays, with the publication of many good photographs from life, the error is being gradually cor- rected, and people are learning to envisage the lyrebird’s tail as it is shown in the picture on page 70. Mr. W. B. Hitcheock (3) has written this description of the tail of our bird: The lyrebird is unique in having 16 tail feathers, and the form of these is quite remarkable—at least in the adult male Superb Lyrebird. The two outermost feathers have a_ broad inner web and a very narrow outer web, and their combined shape is suggestive of a lyre. The inner web, apparently, is notched at regular in- 69 tervals by spaces that, according to the angle at which they are viewed, seem to be black or transparent. This effect is actually due to the barbs at those spaces being devoid of barbules. The middle pair of rectrices} is like- wise unusual. These have no outer web and the inner web very narrow; near their base they cross each other and then diverge, bending round for- ward near their tip. The remaining 12 feathers, except near the base, have few barbs and appear hair-like. All the rectrices have very strong shafts. During a performance, the two large tail feathers point horizontally outwards, directly opposite each other. and the others fill in a semi-circle in a forward position over the bird’s back and head. The twelve fine feathers are then conspicuously silvery in colour, but that is due to the actual under-surface, so the feature is hidden when the tail is folded and trailed behind again after the performance is finished. }Tail feathers. Tail of Displaying Lyrebird, Sherbrooke Forest Photo: K. Hala fof 70 The male bird builds a display mound, usually about four feet across, in a secluded place. He tramples down herbage and ferns and scratches up earth and small rocks to form a raised area of ground. This stage is usually called a ‘dancing mound”, but Mr. Tom Tregellas, an expert early observer of the birds, in- sisted that the name was wrong. Tregellas (4) wrote this: I have never seen the birds “dance” on a mound. They merely strut about and turn around whilst giving voice to their mimicry, scratching about in a desultory manner and elevating and depressing their tails while per- forming all manner of evolutions. Occasionally they give a forward jump whilst ealling “pillick pillick” and take two steps backward to the first position, The particular eall is very far-reaching and the one designated by the blacks as “buln buln”, the name by which they knew the bird. This description of the bird’s performance is worth quoting, whether or not we choose to call it “dancing’’. Vict. Nat.—Vol, 77 The method of “scratching” is not like that of a fowl; rather it is a matter of grasping soil and debris with the long toes and actually lifting it back, In this Way, a feeding lyrebird works systematically over an area of ground much the same as a man digging a garden bed, with a shallow trench between the undisturbed part sand the avertutned soil. Thus it brings its food to light; worms, insects, small erustaceans, ete. The lyrebird's song includes loud melodious notes and other sounds of its own, but it is famous rather for the borrowed items which it usea. In particu- lar, it imitates the calls of bush birds, including such ones as Whipbird, Kookaburra. Gang- gany and Crimson Rosella, Al- though the male bird is the recoznized singer, the female also gives a good vocal perfarm- ance and she mimics well, tao, In late autiunn or early win- ter, the hen bird spends about a month building a bulky stick nest, hooded over with fern roots and fine twigs and lined with soft feathers. Her clutch is one egg only,” and it. usually takes about a month to hatch. Mr, K, A, Hindwood (2) has published detailed records of nesting, showing that the ineu- bation period is almost wholly in Winter (mainly June and July in New South Wales but July and August in Victoria). The chick remains in the nest for at “On n few vveasions, two eee have been reported In a nest, but evidence indtontes thar in sveh ences these were not true “twins, thr second being, laid some Weeks after he Niest ur by another hen. Lyrebird Newt, near Sydney Bhotes Ko A. Hindwood July 27960 least five weeks, usually longer, and so may be found there as late as mid-ODetober. When dis- turbed, the young bird gives 3 piercing: whistle which wsually brings a hen bird to the scene, It is said that, since the intro- duetion of the fox ta this coun- try, lyrebirds have learned to huild their nests in less avves- sible places, such as on cliff- ledves. treefern crowns, and even high in the forks of trees. It would be interesting ta knaw if foxes kill more lyvrebirds than Native Cats and Tiger Cats did when these carnivorous marsu- pials were abundant. Ilaving only short rounded wings, Ivrebirds cannot fly pre- perly. However, they can glide or volplane quite long distances downhill or across a gully. To roost safely, they ascend tall shrubs and trees, by jumping from branch to branch with a flap of the wings each time, often until they are a hundred feet or more from the ground. Victorians usually associate lyrebirds with the fern gullies of Sherbrooke Forest in the Dandenong Ranges. There, how- ever, many lyrebirds have be- come so used to humanity that they will feed about or perform within a few feet of a group of people. That is far from the birds’ natural behaviour. In Gippsland and north-east- ern victoria, one is very fortu- nate indeed to be able to watch a lyrebird performing, though their singing is often heard. They are quite plentiful in the forests and scrublands of the mountains, often far removed from fern gullies, and one some- times comes across their nests on rock ledges at elevations of 5000 feet or more. REFERENCES This is a list of the articles re- ferred to above, together with a few others, to which those interested may turn for further information about the lyrebird. 1. ‘Mounting of Male Superb Lyre- bird in Full Display’, by M. L. Wigan. Viet. Nat. 51: 140 (Sept. 1934). 2. ‘Nesting Habits of the Superb Lyrebird’, by K. A. Hindwood. Viet. Nat. 57: 183-8, 199-202 (Feb. and Mar. 1941). 3. ‘Classification of the Lyrebird’, by W. B. Hitchcock. Viet. Nat. 69: 52 (Sept. 1952). 4. ‘Mounds and ‘Dancing’”’’, by Tom Tregellas. Vict. Nat. 69: 67 (Sept. 1952). Both the May 1936 and the Sep- tember 1952 issues of the Victorian Naturalist (Vols. 53, part 1, and 69, part 5) were devoted almost com- pletely to articles on the lyrebird, Also, two pamphlets, Lyrebirds of Sherbrooke and Sherbrooke Diary, are available from the F.N.C.V. Female Lyrebird Approaching Nest on Treefern, Sherbrooke Photo: A. Halafoft Vict, Nat.—Vol. 77 Australian Wattles — No. [5 By Jean Gailbraith Wirilda— Acacia rhetinodes This is a wattle with pleasant names. Its systematic name means resinous, but does not refer to the foliage which is conspicuously smooth and non-resinous. Its musical aboriginal name Wir- ilda has been adopted as its “‘official” common name, but in some places it is called All-the-year-round Wattle, for there is no season when it does not bloom, I remember noticing, in Octo- ber, one small clump where there were bushes in flower, others in bud, and some fringed with slender green pods. It may be gold-powdered in July 1960 spring along the road to Cape Schanck, gold-clustered in summer and autumn at Tidal River, and it flowers in winter in my _ garden, though at that season its place is usually taken in the bush by the creamy Sweet Wattle with scale- enfolded buds. Wirilda is variously a shrub or small tree, the smooth firm foliage usually dull or bluish green, long and narrow and with one main nerve. It may be a quarter of an inch wide and six or eight inches long, or up to half an inch wide and barely two inches long, but the phyllodes are always con- spicuously but gradually narrowed toward the base and slightly sickle- shaped. When the phyllode is long, the apex is always narrowed to a soft point, but when short it usually broadens toward the tip. From the base of a phyllode spring's a short raceme of globular flower- heads. They are, for a wattle, rather dense and solid-looking, because the stamens are crowded and relatively short. The inflorescence is not unlike that of Hickory Wattle, but this latter and other nearly-related species have much broader phyllodes. The flowers, though varying a little, are usually a rather light gol- den yellow—a welcome brightness amongst the quiet colours of summer and autumn. The pods hang thickly in their sea- son, narrow, sickle-shaped, one or two inches long, straight-edged _ but slightly rippled because they are thinner (but not narrower) between the seeds. Wirilda is as varied in its distribu- tion as in its flowering season: at home on the coast, and inland; on hills and plains, but never a shrub of the mountain-tops or heavy forest; and it is unknown in the Mallee. It extends into South Australia. Wirilda, Acacia rhetinodes Photo: F. Bishop 73 7 | % } With the Editor. These columns are available each month for your nature notes and queries. “Victorian Naturalist”, Air-borne Spiderlings These comments came in a letter dated June 1, 1960, from Miss Jean Galbraith of Tyers, Gippsland: Last Tuesday we had the same showers of gossamer that we heard mentioned in news broadcasts. I was surprised that there was any ques- tion about its nature, as most of those pieces JI examined carried minute brown spiders. The falling of the gossamer was very beautiful—it caught the light in threads and flocks of silver drifting from a cloudless sky, rising to almost invisible heights then slowly drifting down. It was noticed in Morwell and Traralgon as well as here—but was not at all admired by a neighbour whose washing was coated with the threads! With their spinnerets, these tiny spiderlings let out stream- ers of minute threads, without weaving them together into normal strands of web. When there is sufficient to be borne 74 Addvréss your correspondence to the Editor, P.O, Box 21, Noble Park, Victoria. along by the air movement, the little animals take off on their “magic carpets’. In Australian Spiders, we are told that Charles Darwin observed “hoards of migrating spider- lings” when on the Beagle sixty miles from land, and a similar observation is recorded when a ship was two hundred miles out to sea. It is believed that one spider species migrated in this manner, from country to coun- try, right round the world. Luminous Spiders? Mrs. E. M. Davies passes on a problem given her by Mr. Colin Barrie of Cheltenham. She writes: One dark night he saw on his gar- den path two luminous __ spiders, one much smaller than the other. The bigger spider was brown to black and about #-inch in diameter. From the centre of its back a light glowed Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 whieh vould He seen mine Tvet away, The smaller spider had a much smal- ler spat but the light was 2s intense, K. C. McKeown, in Austra- lian Spiders, states that “there appears to he nn definite refer- ence to any particular spider as having juminous properties", though he quotes an unconfirmed report from Queensland of an observation of several spiders which were said to wive out light, like tireflies, at intervals of about a second. A reasonable éxplanation of the Cheltenham observation would be that the cluster nt eves towards the front of the spider’s cephalnthorax were gleaming by reflecting light from some out- side source, This is fairly com- monly observed with spiders, and those who ¢ollect funnel- web spiders about Sydney, for our serum laboratories, often find them by shining a torch light into dark crevices to pick up the reflections from their eyes, Kangaroo-paws and Honeyeaters This very informative note comes from Mr. R, H. Stranger, 44 Napier Street, Footscray: 1 Was very interested in your article “Nectar Flowers and Honeyeaters”, whieh appeared wt the May issue af the Vietorian Noturalist- 1 would like to add something more definite Khan “Bence, one would expect many spe- cies ete.” In Western Australia, the only birds which have beet observed feed- ing upon the kangaroo-paws’ nectar ave the Western Spinebill and the Brown iloneyeater. Dr. Serventy har also observed tre Red Wattle Bird and the Western Bilvereye on the plants bat not feeding on them, I fave several times observed the July 1960 Vellow-winged Honeyester in kan- zaroo-paw country but cannot recall ever having seen the birds taking any interest in the kangsroo-paws. Nesting of Black-shouldered Kites This ig a very ood example of careful observation. IL con- cerns the breeding habits of cone of our native hawks, and was submitted by one of the junior members of the #.N.C.V—Rob- ert Turner of Laura. Inhabiting onv district are some small hawks ealled Black-shouldered Kites. They aye only a font long and iheiy wing-3pan ss ahuut two feeb six inches. They are white except for black wing-tips and the hlick shoul- ders which give them their name. Their ¢all is a “peep” followed by a long rasping note. Except for the Nankeen Kestrel, they are about the commonest hawk iv mur district, They are found in open and lightly-tin- bered country. They hover over a paddock and wait for a mouse, ericket or prasshopper to ceme pul in the open, then they wil] just drop an it and kill it. These kites are nomadic birds which move from district to district. A few years ago they were not found near Lara, but this year a pair of them built quite elase td cur house. Their breeding seesen is Septensber to March. Before they started build- ing, one Wonld grasp a sniall stick and fly up with it, When he was esn- siderably higher than his mate he would drop it, The other one would turn on her back and cateh i in her talons. They chose a tree about thirty feet high, and in the topmost branches they tilt a very rough aest: larger Thal a magpie’s, but not as neat, for the stitks pointed out in all direc- tions. After they had finished with the twigs they started to line it with gum leaves, One bird would dy over to a eum tree, perch on @ hraveh and pull # leaf off with its beak, T netived it always returned to the samé branch Tor teaves, It would then fly over and pave Lhe JeaP in the west AU this 1S time her mate was sitting on a dead hranch néarby, bat if any magple or other hawk came near the nest he would instantly fly cif and swoop at it, Once when «4 magpic landed in the nesting tree he 2wooped and actu- ally Tit at. Three cygs were laid, white with brawn spots. While the Lenale was sitting on the eggs the male would eatch,a mouse and fly. towards the nest with it, When she saw him with the mouse she would glide off the nest and meet him. ‘The male would then turn an bis back and allow. the Temale to take the mouse, She would flv to s post and eat it while the male kéepr 2iard ever the nest. The young have Tink vet hacehed out (at the time of writing) but T expect they will soon. Specimens for Identification From Janet Dyson, Camberwell Girls' High School, a smail fawn moth with pointed, orange-atriped wings, which was hatched “from a8 green eaterpitlar found on the grass” The red pupa-case accompanied it, and also some scores of eggs it had laid. it is Oenochroma phyllomorpha of the tamily Oenochvomidac, It appar- ently has no common name, and gene- val reference boaks give no inForma- tion of its habits. From Elaine Smith, also of Catn- herivell Girls' High School, a speri-. men of the Pat-tailed Ponuched-mause (Stiinthansis crassicamla). It was collected on Muay 27, 1940, at McEvoy nene Echuca, on the property of Myx. Bruce Dench, having been inadver- tently cur yp and killed by a plough. Rainbow-bird Migration Mrs. Frances Gladstone has written this comment and query, from Beechworth in north-east- ern Victoria: Du Rainbow-birds niigrate any dis- tance? In November we found their turrows about the creek and paddock banks; and tn summer, up wntil March, flocks of the lovely multi- coloured birds were circling and rall- ing with soprano-shrill crics, day af- 76 ter duy. But naw they are all gone Do you know where they go? Rainbow-birds go north for the colder part of the year, Those that nest in Victoria tra- vel at least as far as Quéens- land, and some may cross to New Guinea and beyond, The actual extent of the mifratorsy movement is not known, for in northern parts of Australis, where ithe species is present the year round, it has not been de- termined whether the popula- tion is really static or whether the summer froups move north towards winter and are replaced by others from the south, F.N.C.Y, Nature Show The club's nature Show is ta be held on Septetnber &, 6 and 7, this year, in the Lower Melbovrne Town Hall. The show committee is organiz- ing exhibily on the plant kingdom, Vielorian and interstate wildflowers, mainmals and birds, It is intended to have rare Tasmanian shrimps on dis- play, an dtem not previously shown oubgide Use island State. Other exbi- bits are to includes ones by individual mambare af the club. Obituary On June 26, 1960, Thomas Stephen Hart, M.A., B.C.E., passed away. He Was in his ninetieth year and had been a wember of the F_N.C.V, since 188% and of the Royal Society of Victoria since 1804. A short account of his life is being prepared for publica- tion in the Natwraliat. Title Page — Volume 76 The centre leaf of this issue should be removed and used jn binding volume 78 of the Naturalist, Viet. Nat —Vol, 77 Seme Highlighis of the Marysville Trip These: jotes deal with the PNY, excursion ta Marysville on April ers this yeor. They were submitted by Jean Calbradth, The creaking notes of King Par- vols began at dawn and. their bril- liant read and green piade flecks of colour m the oak trees in gardens ind streets us they busily evarked acorns and nibbled the “meat! inside. lon a time of few flowers, berries delighted us, The curved wanils of Turquoise Berry (Urymophila oyane- carpe), with lance-shaped opposite lewves, babe frail like blue beads hang ing down tram the upper leaf-axils. Large purple-blue berries of Plax- lily (Dianella taymenien) and Apime- berry (8iflevaiern loneifores, the fist on ¢ract branching aprays, the zecond an clinhing or trailing stems, were aat less beuutiful beeuuse thoy ure familar, Less Familiar were the opaque pearlwlhite fruiting ralvers ot the Waxberry (Gandtberia hispidw) —lihn clusters of white berries abdve {heie net-vetned bright leaves—on sruwewieatled Mt, Arnold. There, iu, were big orange-red fruits of Rough Copresma (Coprasme. hirtelle), which when very ripe darkew ta the enlour af black coffee, and the oval soavlet beads of Prickly Currant-bush (Copresma guadifide) among tiny leaves. Part of a lreefern trunk, usat jn 4 bridge near Cumberland Falls. wos cut so that the veal cuthnes of the bases of ald fronds shawet alearly on the flat surface. One member pointed out thet every oval was oullined jn green, for countless prolhalle (sore With a first frond alieady developed) were growing there, in what had been the outside of the dead fronds. Bushes of Mountain Gorrea ((. favrenciana) grew thickly along all the esoler Mountain roads. Though these tall shrubs with big avate leaves, rather leathery and backed with 4, felt of white or brownish hairs, were not familiar to everyone, all who know the Common Correa (0. ruftexc) wuld recagnize the characteristic oval buds hanging from ealyees like brown suede. We did nob find the red dorm, but a few of the greenish bells were touched with pink. We were too July 1960 early for any but the first scattered flowers, One member was delighted by the picture mnagde a8 sb Kasrern Spinebill Hoyered before the pale preen hells. Here, as in similar places throoyh- put eastern Victoria, the lacy foliage of Elderberry Ash (Ttegtermopanax sawboectfolis) was conspicuous along the wads and, az asual, it varied from 4 graceful form with narrow- linear leaf segments low rather solid- \woking one with broadly ovate seg- tents, with every grudation between the two, Bushes of Aeneia fregeseenst were found Where the road dips down Mr, Arnall toward Cimberland Valley. Thik extends the knew) distribution ot this reecntly-described wattle, but it is councey where one would expect iO, wilh A heavy forest cover sonilar to that in the Baw Baw aren where it as commen, Its grey-green phyl- lives, with very strongly marked arallel veins. distinguish ib from lackwood (A, Meloiexylon) even when ic is net in flower and its smooth hark is wot visible. When T first saw ft near Tanjil Bren I was reminded nf the Jeayes of Hakow lourine, 30 4trongly that it seemed A yHty the name Hakea Wattle already belonged to another species. ; Because plants are warner (or less cold) than snow, it was inter- esting ta see them looking up through the cpund holes they had melted in a snow-blanket about six juehes deep. Tt reminds one of the holes melted around sitting Acelé penyning alrer an Antarctle bllzzard. Slender Clibmass (Leyecapurdinn foterals), liky » giant moss, up trea Fact high, with ereet little-branched stems and hairlike leaves, interested members wha found [L mar the Ste- venson River Perhaps one should melnde also cs 4 ttighlicght the tmany {and weil- deserved) remarks overheard about the arganization and friendly hetp- fulnoss of guy excursion serrerery- “See Viet. Nae 75° 155 Fen 19571- National Parks and National Monuments —7 Bulga National Park Tt is now almost a habit to speak of Bulge and Tarra Valley National Parks as if they were twin reserves. They are separated by several miles of roudway und they have a number of things in common. Both ave in the Strzelecki Ranges, within twenty miles of Yarran; both were dedi- ented to preserve samples of the rain farest which originally clothed those ranges: both are managed by the one corimutlee—the Alberton Shire Coun- eil and the local Forestry officer: and each is much too small to serve the real purpose of 2 national park, Both are, howsver, real gems of Virtoran hvehland scenéey. This month's art- icle will depart from custom and will deal with Bulga Park alone. As lang ago as 190d, a small por- tion af an especially heautiful fern gully at the head of Macks Creek, near Balook, was reserved for public Purposes, at a time when very exten- sive areas of the Strzelecki Ranges were being settled. Almost thirty- seven years later, the fifty-eight acres comprising this reserve was formally gazetted as a State reserve by Order in Council, and about eighteen months after that a further thirty-three seres was added. In 1957, when the National Parks Act was proclaimed, Bulga eame under the jurisdiction of the Natlonal Parks Authocity, atid the former “temporary” reserve became, incidentally, "permunent”. Tts actual Mgnagedent remained with the old committee, Throughout itz existence as @ ceserve for "the preservation of scenic Teatures and of native yerela- non" it has heen visited by countless theussnds of totiriste and hature overs, Along any approach to the Park one is gently cenditined iu the en— veronment ot mighty eucalypt forest which envelope Bulga lke a protect. ing mantle, Prom Yarram, one bravely nirthward from almost sea level 78 Ry J. Ros Gagner through opan pasture land and eradi- ally aseends into the ranges along the valley of the beautiful Tarra River, past timbered slopes of gradually in- créasing steepness, up on to the Grand Ridge Road. At Balook; 1900 feet above sca level, there id a turn-off to the famous gully, and a Short walk or drive brings dne to the entrance af the Park: Prom the north or east, the approach is alang the Princes Highway to Traralgon and thence over the ranges, ov else wig the South Gippsland Highway to Yarram and then Ralock, The finést of them all iz the Grand Ridge Road. which actu- ally traverses a portion of the Park, Th is a masterpiece of engimcering, providing panorantas diffeult to match anywhere. Vhichever road is taken, one recog nizes the roadside trees and shrubs as charactevishe of highland tempe- rate ruin Forests: White Mountain Ash, Blackwood, Christmas Bual, Mountain Pepper, Uazel Pomaderrisa, Musk Daisy-bush, Cessinla, Flder- berry Azh, Balm Mintbush, Clematis, Roveh Treefern, Mother Shield-fern and so ou—plante that withstand the warmth of summer sunshine aa well as cold winter winds and the snow which often mantles the Park and its environs. A conspicuous feature of Bulga Park iv the suspension foot-bridgc with its JG5-fees span across the creek gully. Prom it ane puzes with sheer admiralion on the crown: of inassed tieeferns and the tangle of Sassafras, Myrtle Beech, Blackwood and Ranyalla, and the glimpses of sparkling stream stxty feet of more below. éan recall ne other place whete one can stand so comfortably above a dense Victorian fern gully! Down below, there sre well-graded teacks for the svalker beneath the canapy of treeferns and forest giants, where it is delightfully cool on the Viet. Not.—Vol, 77 By courtesy: Tourist Development Authority The Suspension Bridge at Bulga Park hottest summer day and in winter sheltered from icy winds. In their season, birds enliven the quiet scene. Robins and wrens play hide and seek among. the _lichen- encrusted trees and creepers; a whip- bird calls or a lyrebird mimics; and perhaps, far above, a passing Black Cockatoo screeches. Those who know the native ferns will recognize many uneommon ones—lovely little epi- phytes which fairly smother trunks of treeferns and ancient flowering trees. Bulga is one of the few Victorian national parks which has escaped serious fire damage. There are several reasons. It is well buffered by State Forest, and the Forests Commission, in protecting the latter, has ensured the safety of te Park, The few fires that have occurred in the area have July 1960 swept over the deep narrow valley leaving the fern gully unscathed. (One recalls Alfred Howitt’s account of the holocaust which raged over- head while he and his two native companions were in safety, deep in the gorge of Deadcock Creek.*) Most settlers in those ranges are too con- scious of the consequences of bush- fires to lightly start something which man cannot control. Lastly, the com- mittee of management has caused a constant watch to be kept on what is known to be an adornment to the district and one of its premier tour- ist attractions. The history of Bulga Park is known best to one man—Frank Corrigan, one time Alberton Shire Engineer and later a member of the Country Roads *See “A Gippsland Beauty Spot’, Vict, Nat. 40; G7-82 (Aue. 1923). 719 Board. He was largely responsible for having the reserve brought under the control of his Shire Council, in 1927, and, as Engineer, he was able to ensure that it was looked after. Through him, grants from the Tour- ist Resorts Committee and from his Council were used to establish access roads, tracks and the picnic ground. His team built the famous foot-bridge, in about 1935 I think. For safety as much as for protection of the pro- posed bridge, several giant Mountain Ash trees were removed. Local axe- men assured him that they could easily fell the trees upstream and avoid damaging the treefern bower. But alas, they were less expert than they believed, for every tree toppled on to the ferns. Corrigan did his best with the shambles and, as he told me recently, little trace of the damage remained four or five years later. Such is Nature’s capacity to heal her wounds when conditions are favour- able. What is needed now to complete Frank Corrigan’s early plans is to extend the Park to include another magnificent gully called Fincks Gully, some of the adjoining Mountain Ash forest north of the Grand Ridge Road, and a stretch of Macks Creek with a series of small waterfalls down from the Park’s southern boun- dary. An additional few hundred acres would ensure the full protec- tion of the very delicately balanced ecological association which is the glory of Bulga National Park. Notes. The area mentioned at the foot of page 44 of Vict. Nat. 77: (June 1960) in referring to the pro- posed extension of the Lakes Nationa] Park, was inadvertently printed as 15,000 acres. It is actually 1508 acres. Early in June, the National Parks (Amendment) Bill, 1960, passed through both Houses of Parliament with only one major amendment— seventy-five years was substituted for the twenty-one originally proposed by the Government. Further comment is unnecessary. The Answer to— FOREST CONSERVATION Remember this — “BY CARELESSNESS we have torn our forests apart BY CAREFULNESS we can put them together again.” (Extract from Forests Commission film “The Hand of Man’’) We Rely on You! FORESTS COMMISSION OF VICTORIA 80 Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 Fieid Naturalists General Meeting —June 14, 1960 Mr. D. E, Melnnes presided over a meeting of about 100 members. The secretary, Mr, E. H, Coghill, directed members to the report published in the Inne Naturetat, After he had given an outline of some of ils sig- nifteant features, it was reesived and adopted, The Lreasurer, Mr. A. G. Havke, read a report on the accounts which had also been published, In sevonding the motion for their adop- tion, Mr. W. P,.. Evans, one of the club’s auditors, stressed the mietiqu- lous way in which the treasurer keeps the books, , ft was announced that there would be ah oXtraordinary meeting before the July general meeting, to consider ihe applications for affiliation by Cas- terton, Warrnambool and Gippsland Field Nateratists Clubs, The Univer- sity of Adelaide is ta hold a Spring school at Wilpina in the Flinders Ranges on September 12-17; aud there 15 to be a wildflower show at Portland on October 13-16, Preparations for the FNCV spring nature show were discussed. Many volunteer helpers will be needed for the setting up on Sunilay, Sep- tember 4. Members were asked be col- Jeet spiders for display in special boxes made by Mr, B. Swarbreck. Tt was announced that the Christ. mas-New Year excursion next sum- mer will centre on Yarram. Office-bearers, mumberr of council anid suditors, as listed on page 24 of the May Naturalist, wore olected for the ensuing year, and the president thanked past and present officers for their services, Mr. Mefnnes then delivered the presidential address. dealing with microscopes as “The Naturalist's Third Eve". He exhibited five kinds of instrufient, from an ould siraple iube to a modern binecwlar type, all using interchangeable standard opti. cal equipment in éye-preces and ob- Jeetives. Some photomicrographs, by Mr. W. Bvans, and photographs of eoloured plates, were shown on the ecreen, Illustrating many minute forms of life, Excellent micraphoto- July | 960 Club of Victoria graphs were shown toa of stained sec- tions of plant parts and other tbems. The merits of top lighting and black and colawred backgrounds were dem- onstrated. The tyenty-one persmms who names appeared an puve S1 of the June Naturalist wore elected to men- bership of the club, Geology Growp—June 1, 1960 Nineteen members were present, with Mr, Jeffrey in the chair. Aspects of the Chilean earthquake were dia- cussed, and Mr. Hemmy reported that the tide wauge at Port PhUlip Heads had nisen only four Inches, so no harards were caused along south- ern Vietoris. Attention Was drawn to an article in the Hereld by Mr, E. D. Gill of the National Museum, explain- ing the gedlogieal eavives vE the flood- ing of the Brooklyn sewer shaft, The subject for the evening was “The Geology of Sydney", by Mr. R, Tinckam. The history was traced af the variols formations and of signifi- cant land movements, to explain the oceyrrences of the sardstones and shales, gramtes, the coal measures and bazalis, and the topography of the drowned valleys and the Blue Mountains. Details of the Jecture were illustrated by 4 diagraim of an east-west section through Sydney and some geolégical maps compiled hy the New South Wales Department af Mines, Two shovt films were shown of stenery along the Nepenn and Hawkesbury Rivers, and also some serial shots taken from 2 Byisbanr- bound plane. Exhibits: Hornfels fram South Movang, showing laminations (Mr, MeTnnes); jasper, gabbro and ser- pentine from Waratah Bay, trilobites (Cenbrian?) from Digger Island, Walkerville, and bimestenes with forals, brachiopods and gastropods from Walkerville (Mr. Fisch}, agate from Springharst (Mr, Watts); and granite from Victor Harbour, §.A., and marl with fresh-water shells frum edge of dry lagnon, Coorung aves, S.A. (Mr Dodds). a] Fauna Surrey Group— June fi, 1960 About ten members atlended, and the evening was devoted tu reneral business. Mr, Wakefield reported an interview with Mr. Butcher, Director of the Fisheries and Witdlife Depart. meut. Mr, Butcher bad been inter- ested in the formation of the geoun and in ils proposed activities, and he had stated that he would consider issuing permits ta certain members for the handling of protected animals. Tt was decided to continue meetitig en the second Thursday of earh month, pending possible arrange- ment of a more suitable date. Mem- lars agreed to show. colour slides of inuinmals at the July meeting. Discussion centred round the re- cent excursion to the Buchan disbriet limestones and the distnveries and other observations made there, The possibility was considered of obtuin- ing financial assistance towards the éost of equipment for Lhe group and to meet the expenses of publishing adequate reports when important in- veshigatione were completed. Additional projects were listed For future attention: an investigation of the Victorian occurrences of rock- wallabies, a search in Uhe Sigreati Buggan area for the wallaroo, and a survey of the mammal] fauna about Cardinia Creek mear Upper Beacons- field, Plans were inade for an ¢xeur- sion to the Colac area over the fol- lawing weekend, The group its to gather dala about common names in wee for native mammals, with the idea of formulat- ing suggestions for the standardiza- tion of suitable replacemerits for cer- taim unatteactive or yery long yer= naculars given in some reference hooks, Fauna Sutvey Givoup Bxeursian to Buchan District The two car parties met at the Caves Reserve about midday on May 24 and preeecded ty Enst Buchan, Where mlnor caves were examined in twa areas of cliffs, The first revealed a cave with a population of hats, ond a few mamma! bones were found in recesses here and there. 8? The text day wag devoted to cal- leeting from major deposits of bones fron. old Native Cat dens at The Pyramids, near the Muorrindal River: These had heen porlly worked over by Mr. Wakefiekl a Yenr er so before. Ou May 26, the party examined a very jJarge cavern at Moirrindal ancl atudied the two species of bats which inhabit it. They then moved to East Buchan and spent the afternoon im an extensive cave system which had been missed before, The fatter contained the sume Lwo speelesx of bats and, an @ veeess high in a clit face, an extensive deposit of mammul skulls evidently of old disgorged owl pellets, Refore returning to Melbourne the next day, further work was done at. East Bucham Tb ts evident that the area needs more attention, partici lavly te determine what small mam- mul species still Wve in the aren. The bat populations und the hone deposits exantined each contain mauiu- inal specles Toit Jevinusly recorded in Vietoria, and it ie intended that inl reports of these will be published eventually in the Naterntise. Botany Group—May 12, 1960 Members spent the evening enn- sidering various aspects of the hots- nical family Liliaceae; of which Ewenby-seven genera, including forty- seven species, occuk In Victoria. Some of these—Diawellu (Ptax-lily), Gom- avira (Materush), NXanthorrkoow (Grass-ttee) and Parchardin unel- lata (Milkmaids)—were exhibited. Detailed characteristics of the Tamnily were given and it was shown how these could be used to identify \ts metabers and to relate them to ether groups of the plant kingdora, The latter aspect was illustrated with a chart, Readers interested in’ Victorian wildflowers might like to know that A Censes of Plante af Victoria is stil! available (unbound) from ss the PLN.G.Y., and that the club has stocks of Jean Galbraith’s Wild- flawers of Victoria. Mrs. % Lee showed coloured trans parencies of flowers, These were taken mainly in the Grampians, Esst Viet, Not.—Vol, 77 Gippstand, anid at Wilson's Pronjon- tory, and included many beautiful archiis, As a number of group members will be in Central Australia just be- tore the spring nature show, volun- teers are required to help gather inaterial for the group exhibit. Mem- bers prepared to assist are asked to contact Miss Allender. Microsvopica) Group—May 18, 1960 Before the talk began Mr. D, MeInnes, a5 leader of the proup, strongly suggested to members thar they should lodge protests with their Ines] parliamentary representatives uraingt the proposéd schemeé fot Sooging in Melbourne's catehment areas. He said, and all members agvewd, that since we have one af the purest Water supplies in the world, it would be foolish lo endanger it in any way, The speaker for the eyertng was Dp, R, Wishart, whose subject was “The Heads of Insects”, He began by projecting tnicro-slides of spiders to s4ow the appearance and function of thy principal head appendages. Pro- ivetion and discussion of insecta such ns beetles, fies, maths and thrips fol- lowed, and the lecture cancluded with un interesting account of the head- parts and habits of various ticks, lice and Aas. Microscopical Group—June 15, 1960 The group was fortunate in having Mr. Douglas of the Mines Depart- ment to lecture on “Micra-foasile and thelt Value to Geology”. He segan with a brief survey of the major Relds af micre-pelacontulogy, and descrited his awn and others’ works in this field. The projection of coloured slides of microscopical specimens followed, with commentary on each. The pre- paration ef microscopical slides from drillecores, ete., was outlined, and the lecture concluded with an sccaunt of the value af micros and index-fossils in the location ef off and water by drilling and in correlating widely distributed strata, The group mesting of July 20 is to he a “gadget night?. urd menibers und visitors should bring useful home-made, unusesal ar ohselete gad- gets which find application in micros scopy, The apeaker is to be Mr, Mid- dleton, and 2 feature will ba a bine- cular mitrescope constructed to give extreme stereoscopic relief at high magnification. Bendigo F.N.C.— Syllabus Members of the F.N.GY. and of other country cluhs who visit Ben- ‘igo are invited tu purtieipate in the local club's meetings and excursions. ere is the syllabus for the remainder of this year. Exeursions—Start from Gold Jubi- lee Statue (half-day at 2 p.m, foll- dav at 10 a.m.). July Ll? (full-day)—Lyall Glen; General (J. Ipsen). Aux, 13 (half-day)—Maiden Gul- ly; Botany (A. Ebdon), Sept. 4d (full-day) — Whipstiek! Hakea Wattle (R. Allen). Oct, 1 and 2 (weekend) —See "Pre. liminary Notice’, page 34, Oct. 9 (full-day)—Toeborac: Bot- any and General (W. Gilmore). July 1960 Noy. 12 (half-day)—Junortaun: Birds and Nests (J. Kellam). Nov. 26 (half-day) —Diumond Hill: Phebalkkkm jpungens (AH. Henkel), Dee. 10 (half-day) —Meadow Park: Birds (J, Ipsen}, Mectings—Start st 7.15 pm. at Bendigo Technical College. July 13—Botany (J. Kellam)- Aup. 10—Whipstick ({W, Percy). Sopt. 14—Blection of Officers; ex president's address. Ort. 10—Botany (W. Zimmer, Far- este Gomlnission). Nov, 9—Birds (R, DEddy). Dec, jd Specimen Night (Mem- bers}, A. G. Ebdon, Hon, Soc,, 46 Luean Street, Bendigo, BS F.N.C.V, DIARY OF COMING EVENTS GENERAL MEETINGS Monday, July 11, 1960—At the National Herbarium, The Domain, Zooth Yarra, commencing at & p.m. sharp, (Note: An Extraordinary General Metting will he held at 7.55 a.m. to consider applications by the Casterton, Warrnambool and Gippsland F.N.C\s for affiliation with the FLN.C.¥.) 4. Minutes, Reports, Announcements. 5 2. Correspondence. 3, Slides, etc,, by Memthers, 4. Election of Members: Ordinary Mumbere- Mr. Cyril Howden, 2) Eletene Ave, Niddrie (N. A, Waketteld/D. KB. Melones}- (Meee ate Read, St. Anne's, Warrien Rd, Croydon (N, A. Wakefield, Ee. H. Ceghill). Conntry Mumbera- Mr. Jonny Hastie, High School, Corryong (N. A. Wakefiell/A. G, Honkel. Mr GM. KR. Taylor, 27 Strachan St., Geelone Weal (A. G. Hooke/M. Butchart). Mr. C. P. Madden. RMB, 219, Milbyulong Ra, Gockhart, NVBW. (NAL Wakeficld/R H Corhill>- Mr ROW, Fulton, Sehocl of Fovestry, Creswick (£. H. Corhill/A. G. Hovked. Me, N. d, MoLetat, State School, Borune 4A, &. Hooke/E, WH. Curhill). Mr. FL N. Pitekerseill, Fovest Hanger, Gowes (1, H, Coghiti/N. A Waketicld). (Mes.) Lucey Larkin, 32 Moore St.. Gutro (NM. A. Wakutield/b. &. Mclones). Junior Member: Anne Selman, “Moroney, P.G.c.. Geelong (N. A. Wnakefielt/A, G. Mook). 5. Nominations for Membership. 6. General Business, G. Nature Notes and Exhibits. B. Convyersazione, Monday, August 8, 1960— “Control of Reproduction in Tropical Vertchretes”, by Professor A, J. Marshall. GROUP MEETINGS x (8 pm, at National Herharium unless otherwise stated.) Thursday, July 14—Botavy Group. Miss L. M. White will give brief outline of plant kingdom. ; Thursday, July 14—Fauna Survey Group, Members” slides. Wednesday, July 20—Microscopical Group. “Gadget Night”. Monday, August 1—Entomalogy and Marine Biology Group, in Mr. Strong's beh Parliament. House, at 8 p.m. Use privaie entrance at south end of ose, Wednesday, Angust 3—Geology Group. “Geology in Colour", by Members. F.N.C.V. EXCURSIONS Sunday, July 17—Sherbraake, Subject, “Lyrebirds". Leader, Mr. F. Pincken. Geach to leave Batman Avenue, 9.15 a-m. Pare, 14/-. Book wilh excur- sion setretary. Bring’ one meal, PRELIMINARY NOTICES Sunday, August 21—Combined excursion to Creswick, with Ballarat F.N.C, Details next roonth. Saturday-Sunday, October 1-2—Combined weekend, F\N.C.V, country Then- bers and members of country clubs are invited to join with Melbourne members. Saturday afternoon offers a choice of two ecxeursions: Organ Pipes, Sydenham, and Sherbrooke Forest. On Saturday evening, at 8 a'vlack, there is to be a meeting at the National Herbarium, when Mr. J. Béchervaise will speak on “Some Aspects of Antarctic Wildlife”. On Sunday, a full-day excursion is planned to the Brisbane Ranges. Country visitors needing transport on these exeursions should notify the excursion secretary a5 soon as possible. December 26-January 2—Yarram. A parlour-coach will be chartered for the excursion, for day trips to Tarra Valley, Bulga Park, Port Albert, etc. Hotel accommodation is available, £4 Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 77 (4) August 1960 Published by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria In which is incorporated the Microscopical Society of Victoria Registered at the General Post Office, Melbourne, for transmission by post as a periodical 2/6 SUE. PrloE eborrg. Printings , ? Forest Conservation This is the Answer “NEITHER the scientist oO nor the forester, the landowner, tourist nor camper, ACTING SEPARATELY, can en- sure the safety of our 1 forests... . It is only ta by the active co-oper- ™ to ation of ALL SEC- o TIONS of the commun- © mo ity that the forest © wealth of this State ci can be nurtured, pro- tected and harvested <4 not only for ourselves, © but also for the gener- © ations which will follow ca — usin the years tocome.” Oo (Extract from sound track of Forests Commission film, “Harvest of the Hills’) FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 Vol. 77, No. 4 August 4, 1960 The Victorian Naturalist Editor: NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.Sc. CONTENTS Articles: Feeding Associations Among Birds, by K. 4. Hindwood .. ., ». 92 Australians Abroad, hy @. Colline Muir . - fs. a ate .. (6M Discovery of Native Drawings, hy Frances Gladstone ote te aie 96 Native Painted Shelter at Beechworth, by A. Massola e. am “OF Features: Along the By-ways with the Editor; Gossamer Spiders, Waitenringed Chough Nests, Nest Appropriation. by Cuckoo-shrikes . . 4 100 Microscopists’ Corner: Microscope [llumination, by €. S. Middleton 102 Nature-study for Schools: Australian Wonder-birds—Satin RBower- bird, by Norman Wakefield 4 os a el a oly + .. 108 National Parks and National Monuments: Tarra Valley Barbera) Park, by J. Ros Garnet -_.- 106 Australian Wattles: Sunshine Wattle—A cacia 1 botrycephata, by Jan Galbraith ar 4 110 Personal: Thomas Stephen Hart (1871-1960), by J. HW. Willis... we BAD Field Neturalists Cheb of Victoria: F.N.C.Y. Nature Show... .- 5. ye =a -+ ove) ae) 108 July General Mecting, Group Meetings, etc. .. cm 2h ah ££. 115 Diary of Coming Evens... 6. ws ge ee ee a a ee 7 Front Cover: This is a male Satin Bower-bird, still in its immature plumage, at the playground it made in a garden at ast Malvern, an eastern suburb of Mel- bourne. The full story of this bird is told im an article, ‘‘Bower-bird Visits Melbourne”, in Vict. Nat. 73: 116-24 (December 1956), See also, “Nature- study for Schuols” in this issue. August 1960 91 Feeding Associations Among Birds The English ornithologist, Colone] Meinertzhagen, in his recent book, Pirates and Pre- dators (1959), uses the term “antolycism” ta denote the habit that birds have of making use of ran and his works, of other birds, of mammals, reptiles and fish to obtain either food or shelter. He considers that the expressions parasitism, symbio- sis and commensalism are inade- quate to cover such behaviour; thus the designation autolycism. In explanation of the other terms it may be stated that commensalism is that condition where one animal lives as the tenant of ancther and shares its food but does not get it directly from the host; symbiosis indi- cates the living together of two organisms each of which bene- fits the other: and parasitism is the living of one form of life at the expense of another. The word autolycism seems appropriate enough when ap- plied to birds that act in much the same way as Autolycus, a character in Greek mythology who, as it were, lived on crumbs from rich men’s tables. The name wse alyo used by Shake- speare for a witty rogue who described himself as a “snapper up of unconsidered trifles.” Most naturalists must have experienced, at one time or an- other, instances of expediency in the feeding habits of birds, Kockaburras are,drawn to pic- nic parties im anticipation of 92 By K. A, Hinowoon scraps. Years ago on Lord Howe Island the Bell-Magpies would gather near rat-shooters for the discarded bodies of the rodents, first being attracted by the sound of the guns, In South Australia, Black Kites have been recorded (1922, p, 311) accom- panyine a horseman and cap- turing disturbed grasshoppers. Wiltie-wagtails often feed about the heads of grazing horses and cows, ¢atehing insects put up by the breath of the animals, on which they also perch, Perhaps the word opportu- hism may better express the actions of several kinds of water- birds noted feeding in associa- tion with other, and generally larger, species near Sydney. On March 30, 1957, at Bush- el’s Lagoon, Wilberforce, Little Grebes were seen closely follow- ing Coots feeding amongst thickly-growing surface vegeta- tion, The Coots, largely vege- tarians, were taking their food from the surrounding growth, whereas the Grebes, either with their héads under the water or else swimming in the normal way. appeared to be catching aquatic insects and perhaps small fish disturbed by the movements of the Coots. Each Grebe attached itself to & Coat and was seldom more than a foot behind its benefac- tor; at times the head of a Grebe seemed to be under the tail and between the legs of a Coot, which bird did not resent Viet. Nat—Vel, 77 the nearness of the one that followed it so persistently. Now and again, when a partly-sub- merged Grebe happened _ to touch a Coot the latter bird would flutter a few feet in alarm. No matter how erratic the movements of the Coots, the Grebes would follow much the same course. Grebes were observed asso- ciating with both Coots and Moorhens in the same manner at Longneck Lagoon in April 1957. The tolerant attitude by the Coots to their smaller associates may be explained by the fact that there is little or no compe- tition for food between the spe- cies; the Coot is a vegetarian or largely so, while the Grebe is an eater of insects and fish. It was noticed that Coots feeding in open water did not attract any Grebes. Almost identical behaviour on the part of Coots and Little Grebes in England was reported in British Birds (1956, p. 501). It was stated therein that the association had apparently not been previously recorded. How- ever, other feeding associations among water-birds, such as that which obtains between the Wigeon and the Brent Goose, are well known, Wigeons follow the Geese and feed on debris of Zostera, a grass-like marine growth, left by the larger birds (1948, p. 261). It may be mentioned that in America the Wigeon robs the Coot of the weeds it brings to the surface to eat. The same spe- cies, which is largely a surface- feeding or dabbling duck, asso- ciates with Canvasbacks, Red- heads and Scaups in deeper water and snatches what plant food it can from those divers. In recent years feeding asso- ciations between Moorhens, Coots, Black Ducks, White-eyed Ducks and Black Swans have been noted at Eastlakes, near Sydney. Several thousand Coots and other water-birds were pre- sent in that locality on April 20, 1957. Four Black Swans were observed upending and cropping vegetation from the bottom of one of the shallow lagoons. Around the Swans were several Coots, some Moorhens, and a few White-eyed Ducks. As soon as the Swans raised their long necks from below the surface the smaller birds would eagerly gather within a foot or so of them and greedily grab at any piece of vegetation either dropped from the bills of the Swans or which may have bro- ken Joose as they raised their heads. Sometimes when one of the Coots obtained a piece of water-grass or weed other Coots would attempt to steal it and there would be a short scuffle. The dignified Swans did not take any real interest in such happenings, Only on a few occa- sions were they seen to resent the presence of the attendant birds, and then giving but a half-hearted peck at an over- presumptuous Coot. The White-eyed Ducks would often dive in the direction of the submerged heads of the Swans, presumably to obtain any water- weeds or aquatic life disturbed by those birds. Some of the other associations observed at Eastlakes between 1957 and 1959 are listed below. (a) One Moorhen, four Coots, and one Black Duck with two Black Swans. 94 (b} One Moorhen, approximately twelve Coots, and one Black Duck with one Black Swan. (c) One Moorhen, four Coots, and one Black Duck with two Black Swans. (d) Five Coots with one Black Swan. Mallards have been recorded (1957, p. 489) associating with Berwick’s Swans in England; Marsh Terns with Little Grebes in Western Australia (1949, p, 69); Silver Gulls with Pelicans in Victoria (1955, p. 12); and Little Grebes with Black Ducks in New South Wales (1959, p. 207). Some associations between birds and other animals are very close and could be rezarded as examples of semi-commen- salism, Cattle Egrets live much of their lives with both wild and domesticated grazing animals, as do Oxpeckers in South Africa. The instances of feeding asso- ciations mentioned above have been, for the most part, pur- posely restricted to water-birds. The habit also occurs with some frequency among land-birds. The subject has many curious aspects and it is obvious that the scope for investigation is almost unlimited, Apart from relevant books, such as Pirates and Predators (Meinertzha- gen), Fleas, Flukes and Cuckoos (Rothschild and Clay), and Birds and Men (Nicholson), many valuable and interesting observations, often incidental to a main theme, are scattered throughout ornithological litera- ture. Observations on feeding asso- clations noted near Sydney and other places in New South Wales have recently been pub- Vict. Nat. —Vol. 77 lished (1957, p. 351; 1958, p. 129; 1959, p. 207) by John Hobbs. REFERENCES 1922. McGilp, J. Neil. — “Black Kites”, Emi, vol. 21, p. 311. 1948. Witherby, H. F., ef al.—Hand- book of British Birds, vol. 3, p. 261, 1949, Robinson, Angus. — “Marsh Terns Feeding in Association with Little Grebes”, Western Australian Natiralist, vol. 2, p. 69. 1955. Wheeler, Roy.—‘*The Strange Behaviour of Birds”, The Bird Lover, vol. 8, p. 12. 1956. Ashmole, N. P., et al.—‘Feed- ing Association between Coot and Little Grebe”, British Birds, vol. 49, p. 501. . Hobbs, John N.—‘‘Feeding As- sociation between Coot and Little Grebe”, British Birds, vol. 50, p. 351. King, Bernard. sociation between Swan and Mallard”, Birds, vol. 50, p. 439. Hobbs, John N.—‘‘Some Notes on Grebes”, Emu, vol. 58, p, 129. Meinertzhagen, Colonel Pirates and Predators. Hobbs, J. N.—“A Feeding As-~- sociation between Little Grebe and Black Duck”, Emu, vol. 59, p. 207. 1957. “Feeding As- Berwick's British 1958. 1959, R,— 1999. Australians Abroad By E. CoLLiINnE Muir One of the delights of travelling abroad is the unexpected recognition of things Australian. Thus it was while in Ceylon recently, our eye was caught by many a familiar sight. Casuarinas (probably some _ island species) abound near Colombo, and are used largely for cut hedges. In the mountainous “wet zone”, where dark, shiny-leafed tea plants twine their knotty roots about the red soil, and cling to the steep hillsides, these fastidious plants receive the sparse shade necessary for their best growth from groves of silky oak (Grevillea robusta), Occasionally silver wattle, (Acacia dealbata) is used for the the same purpose. Eucalypts are much prized in Ceylon, and many acres are planted in some stringy- barked species, and several others are grown as well. Along a bumpy ridge road we travelled for miles with noth- ing but cuecalypts on each side of us, and clothing the hillsides beyond the valleys. How at home we felt among these trees who had never known the land of their origin! Among our pho- tographie records we find a scene in which are shown eucalypt planta- tions, silky oak tea-coyer, and silver wattle, all at once. At Horton Plains, a high, cloud- shrouded, 8000 foot plateau of rough grass plains and scarlet rhododen- August 1960 dron forests, some fallen leaves by the Government Rest House (the only habitation on the Plains) at- tracted attention. These, we found, had fallen from some huge and ancient lightwood trees (Acacia iniplexa). In Italy and Spain and southern France, blue gums looked much at home, but the dismal kookaburra in a small shady cage in a zoo made us want to steal him home to his land of sun and space. The most curious surprise awaited us in Madrid, at the famous art gal- lery there, the Prado. One artist who has a room devoted to his works is Jan Bruegel. A man of great obser- vation and attention to detail, he filled his paintings with a vast assort- ment of curious things. In two of these works was depicted, quite un- mistakeably, a sulphur crested cock- atoo. And Bruegel lived between 1568-1625! What intrepid Dutch sea- farer, we wondered, had, willingly or no, visited the western shores of Terra Australis Incognita at this early date, and while there captured a cockatoo. We have since learned, however, that sulphur crested cockatoos do not oc- cur in Western Australia, but do ex- tend to New Guinea and the Moluccas, so almost certainly the “Cocky” whose portrait had caught our eye was not an Australian after all. 95 Discovery of Native Drawings By FRANCES GLADSTONE We readily agreed to the sugges- tion of a brother fresh from a city office that we spend a day in the bush, penetrating into a remote val- ley, often admired from hill-views be- fore but never explored. Now it was possible to reach that previously in- accessible area by way of roads re- eently made by the Forests Commis- sion. Driving deeper and deeper into hills timbered with Apple Box (Eucalyptus bridgesiana) and Red Stringybark (E. macrorrhyncha), we began to glimpse the red of patchgs of Woolly Grevillea (G, lanigerd und the golden sprays of blossom of one of the bush peas (Pultenaea platyphylla), then joyously descried the little lustrous mauve faces of countless Waxlip Orchids (Glossodia major). The road twisted and turned among masses of Erect Guinea-flower (Hibbertia stricta) and clumps of Fringed Heath-myrtle (Micromyrtus ciliata) and then petered out into steep runs on one side and, on the other, a frowning hill-slope, remote and solitary, with huge boulders mounting to the fortress-like ridge. Deciding to explore, we heard, as soon as the car engine stopped, the Granitic Formation near Mount Pilot. Phote: R. Ladson 96 shy “native canary”} singing his wistful tune over and over, and the Rufous Whistler spilling golden syl- lables of summer song into the air. We pushed through acres of Nodding Blue-lily (Stypandra glauca) amongst which were enchanting patches of Leopard Orchid (Diuris maculata). In one tall tree we saw the enormous stick nest of an eagle’s eyrie, to which the noble bird came slowly down from the sky. After much climbing we sat down on a huge rock wall in which we saw a large crevice. We crawled in and found ourselves in a long nave inside the rock, It was about thirty feet long, arched and high, and about eight feet wide in places, We explored several caves, then clambered down the granite to an enormous rocky overhang guarded by large boulders on each side. The roof of the overhang was curiously dented and cracked, and our atten- tion was attracted by differences of colour. Amazement changed to awed wonder when we realized we were in the presence of aboriginal drawings, the crude artistic efforts, executed in red, of some primeval inhabitant of +White-throated Warbler, Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 this land of ors, We seemed like usurpery 48 Che silent markings yeemed La reproach us for taking the home hills and hunting grouhds of the long-gone tribes Ag a woman, T felt a guilty sense of uncuse, for Lhis was possibly the seene of sacred in- ittation ceremonies, on which na wo- man oould look with impunity. This was later conlirmed by Mr. A. Massola, of Lhe National Museum, who, when informed of the find, ac- compzinied us on our second visit to the site. Ie urged us to niake Sur- ther investigations in the hope of finding other authentic syidence of ahoriginal use of the area for seeret purposts. Native Painted Shelter at Beechworth By A, MASsOLA The finding of gold in Victoria sealed the fate of the aboriginal tribes in many parts of the Stale. Prior to this discovery, the country was ocenpicd in a relatively slow and orderly manner by the pastoral pioneers. When gold was found, however, many thousands of men arrived almost overnight, and the be wildered natives were literally swamped by the long and con- tinvous stream of fortune seek- era. As a result, tribes dis- appeared so quiekly that, in some places, no trace ar memory of the natives is found at all, and often the ethnologist finds it difficult even ta decide what tribe owned a ierritory. Beechworth iy an example. In 1839, part of this country was taken up by David Reid and added to his already large Car- raYa-gar-mungee Station. The following year, Dr. G. KB, Mac- kay camped in the area while looking fer cattle which the blacks had stolen from his Whorouly Station (then known as Warrvughly), For the next twelve years or 50, no white man, except perhaps aa occa- sional shepherd, disturbed the tranquility of the place or war- August |960 ried the natives. In February 1852, the Spring Creek goldfield was discovered by a party orga- nized hy a certain Meldrum, a former shepherd, who had been in the employ of David Reid and so knew a little of the vountry. By the end of the year, many thousands of diggers were camp- ed along the banks of Spring Creck. Within days, Penny- weight Flat and Reid’s Gully, Nine Mile Creek, Hurdle Flat, Eurepa Gully and Woolshed, all had their full complement of miners. By July 1853, the Spring Creek diggings (popu- lation 8000) had been surveyed, officially declared a town, and re-named Beechworth, What became of the native tribe? History is silent on that point, AN we know is that the Ya-itma-thang, the peaple who say Ya’ for ‘Yes, commonly known as the Omeo Tribe, were divided into two sections, one being the ‘hedduya-Mittung® who Were in occupation of this part of the country, By 1862, there remained but four sur- vivors of this tribe. From these remnants, men like Helms and Howitt were sble to piece to- PMiltcung moans "Ue -the people’. ST ~ EET ee Trsavings of Abesriginal Paintings at Beechworth Shelter. A.—? Goanua and Hunting Speer. gether a few threads of the evi- dence of their way of living. Naturally, from such small numbers many important phases could not be recorded. For in- stance, Howitt’s informant was a woman, and many items, par- ticularly those dealing with cerernonials, would have been hidden from her. These gaps will never be bridged new. A few wooden and stone imple- ments and weapons are pre- served in museums und private collections, but no camp-sites, burials, workshops or rock shel- ters were ever recorded from this locality. By definition, rock shelters are shallow, cave-like hollows of various sizes, large enough to accommodate one or more people, hut never deep enough to be dark inside. In granite country, such as at Beechworth, they are made by the splitting or amassing of huge tors left exposed by erosion, thus form- ing convenient. refuges. Sume of these were undoubt- edly utilized by the natives for sheltering. Others received painted or drawn decorations on the walls and ceiling, and 9E U—? Kanygarou became ceremonial places. Such designs are generally totemic and mythological, made in order to explain to the newly initiated the activities of the Dream Time Ancestors who were thought to have created the country as it is today. Often these painted shelters were supposed to repre- sent the actual home of the An- vestral Spirit, forming the re- servair in which spirit children and totem animals awaited re- incarnation. Because of the sac- red nulure of these places, no- body was allowed to camp near- by, hence no sign of occupation, such as middens or refuse heaps, is found in the vicinity, Further, no human or animal was per- mitted to be hunted or killed near these “sanctuaries”, so that they played a réle similar to that of European churehes during the Middle Ages. Not the least remarkable fea- Feel ture in the Beechworth district. is Mount Pilot, a mighty pile of granite rising to 1760 feet. There is a fire-spotter’s station on the suromit, which, being bare of vegetation, gives rise to the local name of “Pumpkin- head’. On the western side of Vict. Nat.—YVol. 77 the mount, where this yigantic mass meets the gently rising plain, two enthusiastic bush- walkers located a painted rock shelter, the first found in the district. The discovery was made by Mr. R. Ladson, now of Melbourne, and his sister, Mrs. D. Gladstone of Beech- worth. Later, Mrs. Gladstone and her sister kindly led us? to the spot. Structurally, this shelter is similar to many other forma- tions in the locality. It was formed by the fall of a huge block of granite on two others, thus providing roof and walls. These three rocks meet at the back of the shelter but are wide apart at the front, making a wedge-shaped shelter 21 feet deep and 25 feet wide, and high at the entrance. It faces north- west, commanding a view of the plain not far away. This advan- tage was no doubt exploited by the natives, as ceremonies could be held on the flat, which today is a beautiful spot, with its sparse covering of native pine, apple-box and stringybark. The shelter is conveniently situated to serve as an aboriginal sacred place. The outlines of two drawings in red ochre are visible on the southern wall. They are badly faded and hardly enough re- mains for a correct interpreta- tion. The reddish tinge of the granite increases the difficulty of following the faded design. Nevertheless, enough remains to show that they differ greatly from all other known Victorian examples, not only in style but also in being by far the largest so far reported from this State. +Mr. D. A. Casey and the writer. August 1960 The figure on the right ap- pears to represent a kangaroo. It is 4 feet 2 inches long, and 10 inches high just in front of its hind legs, of which only about 8 inches can be traced. It was completed with a rather unor- thodox tail about 11 inches in length. Behind this animal there is what may be a representation of a goanna with a spear em- bedded just behind its head. This goanna is faintly trace- able for 7 feet 4 inches; how- ever, the hind parts have com- pletely faded, and its full length cannot now be determined. It has a huge head, 3 feet 2 inches long and 18 inches high. If it is a goanna, it is represented in an unusual way, as it is shown in profile, for lizards and croco- diles in aboriginal art are gener- ally drawn in top projection. The vertical line seen in the accompanying illustration could be a spear. It is 2 feet 4 inches long, and to the right of it, just above the head of the goanna, are faint traces of what appears to have been a human figure. If it is the owner of the spear, it may represent the Successful Hunter, the Culture Hero, who gave the natives the food ani- mals and taught the ancestors how to hunt them. But all this is supposition. More sites must be found and examined before definite interpretations can be made. Somewhere in those hills other painted shelters exist. It is hoped that the example of Mr. Ladson and his two sisters will be followed by others inter- ested in the antiquities of this land. 99. These columns are available each month for your nature notes and queries. Address your correspondence to the Editor, “Victorian Naturalist”, Gossamer Spiders While last month’s Naturalist was in press, with its notes on ““Air-borne Spiderlings’’, the fol- lowing comments came to hand from Mr. A. N. Burns, Assistant Director of the National Museum of Victoria: Every few years an occurrence of “Gossamer”, or Angels’ Down as it is sometimes called, is noted and the one which occurred from May 23 to 27 of this year was one of the most wide- spread in Victoria for a long time. Actually, a few days before the soft white gossamer floated over Melbourne and the suburbs, it had been recorded all along the road between Tocumwal and Mulwala in New South Wales. Observers there reported strands fes- tooning telephone wires and fences, stretched across the roads in many places, and carpeting the grass and herbage over square miles of country. The first reports near Melbourne came from some of the outer suburbs: Ringwood, Clayton, Balwyn and others. People reported quantities of gossamer gently floating down from 100 P.O. Box 21, Noble Park, Victoria. the sky. Other reports came from as far afield as Horsham, Mount Eccles, Euroa, Ballarat, Nar Nar Goon, Drouin, and many places in Gippsland and the Dandenongs. Analysis of the webbing showed it to contain many impurities, no doubt added during its passage through the air. Webbing of many species of spiders was incor- porated in it. The young of the gossamer spider (Epeiridae) are very small and active, and on emergence from the eggs im- mediately begin to construct an irregu- lar type of web, usually on apical shoots of shrubs, ete. In this web the tiny spiderlings congregate and live for about two weeks. Then they be- come restless and, under the influence of some strong urge, seek a means of migrating as far as possible from their original home. They rush about in confusion and make for the extremities of the bushes; each one then spreads out its legs and commences spinning silk which is wound round the legs to form what is called a “foot basket’’. Next, fine long threads are spun into the wind and are carried upwards by the warm rising air; more and more silk is emitted until enough is spun Vict. Nat.—Vol, 77 to carry the tiny spider aloft. This process is known as “ballooning” and, when many millions of these tiny creatures are carried high up into the atmosphere, the long threads become interwoven or tangled together and result in long white flocculent strands which gradually become heavier than air and so fall gently back to earth, bringing many of the tiny spiders with them. It is a wonderful natural means of dispersal which may enable them to live the remainder of their lives many miles from their original homes. White-winged Chough Nests Dr. J. M. Agar of Geelong en- quires about some objects he saw along the Anakie-Ballan road a few months ago. He gave this description : On a branch of an ironbark, about 40 feet up, was a squat cylinder of mud about 18 inches in diameter and a foot tall, with a definite groove about a third of the way down. About 30 yards away, at a similar height, was a smaller one, about a foot in diameter, with the same groove around it, These were undoubtedly nests of the White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphus), variously nick-named “black jays’ and “happy family” by country folk. Their mud _ nests are usually under a foot in dia- meter though they may be up to ten pounds in weight. The choughs often use the nests in successive years, sometimes building a second storey on top of the original structure, thus providing the ‘‘groove” noted by Dr. Agar. (See photo, page 102.) Nest Appropriation by Cuckoo-shrikes These notes on the Black- faced Cuckoo-shrike are from Peter Miles, who is a student at Toorak Teachers’ College: August 1960 Lasl November, on one of my fre- quent trips to the Yarra at Ivanhoe, I came across a Mudlark’s nest with a bird sitting in it, and was sur- prised to see that it was not a Mud- lark but a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. The latter is a grey bird with a large black oval around the eyes, and a curved beak, as the name “shrike” suggests. The nest was a typical Mudlark’s nest, made of mud with the walls re- inforeed with grass and horsehair. It is stuck to the tree by the drying of the mud. In contrast to this the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike’s nest is stuck to the tree with a combination of saliva and cobwebs and it is decor- ated with cobwebs and small strips of bark. From the word “cuckoo” in its name, one might expect this bird to leave its eggs in other birds’ nests, but this one was sitting on them her- self. During the same season I found three more cases of the same thing happening, and each time the nest be- ing used was one from the previous season, so the Mudlarks’ eggs had not been ejected by the birds finally using the nests. I have looked in quite a number of books about birds without finding any- thing recorded about this behaviour of the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, al- though it seems that it must be a common occurrence. This matter is covered by N. L. Roberts in “‘A Survey of the Habit of Nest-Appropriation” in The Emu, vol. 55, part 2 (May 1955). On pages 123-4 he com- ments: When in a borrowing mood, the Black-faced and Ground Cuckoo- Shrikes seem to show a preference for mud nests, the Black-faced choosing the Magpie-Lark’s and the Ground either the Magpie-Lark’s or the White- winged Chough’s. Chisholm, who con- ducted a nature column in the Argus for some years, sent me a news item published about Black-faced Cuckoo- Shrikes which used a Mudlark’s old nest regularly. His contributor added: “A large red gum beside a creek con- tained no fewer than fourteen mud- 10) larks’ nests, and each year the cuckoo- shrikes chose a different ready-made home.” I have recorded the aggressive dispossession of Magpie-Larks by these Cuckoo-Shrikes, which bullied the parent birds and the young ones that were just ready to leave the nest. Both species of Cuckoo-Shrike in- variably re-line the mud nest and sometimes add materials to it. The picture below is of a dif- ferent type of nest appropria- tion. In this case, White-winged Choughs took over a magpie’s nest and used it as a base for their own mud structure. The disused nest had been brought down from a tree near Ararat by the then president of the Ararat F.N.C., Cr. H. J. Blackie, when F.N.C.V, members visited there in October 1930. 102 Microscopists’ Corner Microscope Illumination By C. 8S. MIDDLETON Despite two perfect lamps and the finest microscopes obtainable, I was puzzled at receiving excellent results with one microscope (A) and less sat- isfactory results with the larger one (B) when using dark ground illum- ination. The bench in my study is 20 inches deep, which allowed microscope A to be placed with its lamp in front of it but compelling me to place the lamp for B to one side when both micro- scopes were placed at right angles to the front edge of the desk. Both instruments were tilted. Both were fitted with high quality achromatic condensers, with patch stops at the back of them for obtaining dark field. Lamp condensers were also achromatic. Tube length in each case was correct. On microscope A lenses were achro- matic, while on B they were apoch- romatie, yet. the image on B was un- satisfactory with high power eye- pieces, All images on B had a flare on one side and would not focus sharply. This image could not be corrected by any juggling of lamp or condenser, so I tried changing over the condensers of the two instruments. There was no alteration of results. Next I changed objectives and eye-pieces, and _ still there was no alteration. This also ap- plied when I changed over the lamps. This left only the position of the lamps in relation to the microscope different. When I moved microscope B so that J could place its lamp in front of it, flare disappeared and the image became sharp. This only applies when the microscope is tilted and is only noticeable with dark field. This demonstrates the importance of the correct placing of the light source. Chough Appropriation of Magpie's Nest. (See text on this page.) Photo: A, H. Chisholm Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 Nature-study for Schools By Norman Wakefield Australian Wonder-birds: Satin Bower-bird The family to which our bower- birds belong comprises ten Aus- tralian species of birds. Seven of them build stick playgrounds or bowers, and they are the true bower-birds. Another clears a small area of ground to play in, and decorates it with leaves; and the other two, known as cat- birds, do not make playgrounds at all. In general structure, the play- grounds of the various bower- birds are similar. Small sticks, a foot or two long, and laid down to form a platform a few feet wide, then two walls of more-or- less erect sticks are added. These walls, up to two feet long and several inches thick usually, are made parallel so as to leave a passage between. —— The playgrounds vary in size, depending on the species and to a less extent on the individual birds which make them. The beautiful Regent Bower-bird of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland, often has a really massive struc- ture. Others, including the two species which extend south into Victoria, are less ambitious with their building. The males are the real bower builders, though a female may do some of the work occasionally. And when it is made, the birds decorate the playground with various articles that they collect in the locality. The Satin Bower-bird inhabits heavy forests and scrubs from Cape York Peninsula to eastern and southern Victoria. It is about the size of a magpie and has a strong, slightiy curved beak. Females and immature males are greenish in colour with a mott- ling of yellow on the breast and with the large tail and wing feathers brownish. After about five years the males change com- pletely to a uniform’ shining blue-black. It is usual to see only one or two adult males—the true satin birds—in a flock with a score or so of green ones. In Victoria the Satin Bower- bird is quite plentiful about the foothills of the north-east and in East Gippsland. One may find their playgrounds for instance on the banks of Boggy Creek, not far from the Princes High- way at Nowa Nowa, and along streams within a few miles of Orbost. There are colonies, too, in the northern parts of the Otway Ranges. A century ago Spotted Bower-bird at Playground, and its Collection of Bones and Tins. Phota; D. W. Gaukrodyer 104 large flocks were to be seen in central Victoria, in areas such as the upper Yarra, but they are practically unknown there now. However, there are occa- sionally visitors from farther east, and one such bird actually came and lived in a garden in East Malvern for a few months in 1955." The bird’s call, as it moves about, is a loud clear whistle, descending in tone, alternated a few times with a lower-pitched note. Its actual “singing” con- sists mainly of harsh notes and a remarkable sound which some- what resembles an old car’s starter-motor turning over for half a minute at a time. But most remarkable is the Satin Bower- bird’s mimicry, which may in- clude a long burst of kookaburra *Seo “A Bower-bird Visits Viet. Nat, 73: Melbourne’ in 116-124 (December 1955). Vict. Nat.—Vol, 77 77 laughter, the piping of a trec- eréeper, cawing of rayens and the calls af cockatons and honey- eaters. The borrowed sings are alternated with the boyer-bird's own harsh notes and the “starter- motor” call, This voeal perform- ance may be rendered while the singer is perched in a tree or. if may be given at the playground, On the platform in front of the stick passage-way, usually with something grasped in his beak, the hower-bird poses on tip-toe with raised wings ur crouches with feathers fuffed oul, sumetimes jumping up and down, giving voice to his singing and mimicry. We may keep this up for a quarter-hour at a time. The playground is decorated with items he bas gathered: blue flowers and parrots’ feathers, seraps of blue paper—in fact, anything that is wholly or partly blue, He has been known to steal blue-bags from country Jaun- dries for the purpose. All these are carefully placed on the stick platform, and if they. are inter- fered with by somecme, the owner restores them te their atiginal positions when next he comes to the bower. Alse, there are some brown or yellowish items scattered about, but these are playthings rather than dec- orations, As well as a builder and decor- ator, this amazing bird is also a painter or plasterer, He chews up chareeal and coloured flower petals, mixing them with saliva to make a paste which he then uses ta coat the standing sticks of the bower walls. The playground has nothing to do with the nesting of the species. The female lays her eggs August 1960 in a stick nest built quite high up in @ forest tree, The Satin Bower-birds’ nor- mal food includes the fruits of such plauts as pittosporum, lilly- pilly aud certain Jungle lianas. In season, tincka of them are Hikely ta visit orchards, and thar attention to ripening apples, figs arid such are must amwelcome to many residents in far-eastern Victoria, In the mallee serubs of the state, the Spotted Rower-bird ts found. It ranges Tram north- western Victaria, across the dry inlund, to ecéntral Queensland. Both male and female are brown with lighter spots and a pink frill on the nape. “Spotty” is as voted a mimic as his satin cousin, but when it comes to decorations for the bower, he aveaids blue things and, instead, aecumulates @ pile of white or silver articles. A similar spotted species—the Western RBower-hird oceurs in central and north-western Ans- tralia. In north Queensland there are several species. These include the Golden Rower-bird, the male of which is brown and golden, and the Fawn-breasted Rower-bird. The latter extends into New Guinea, and it decorates its play- ground with green berries. Foy further information, see "Birds that Build Playgrounds’, by A. H. Chishalm (Viet, Nat. 51; 125-81, Sept. 1984), Gippsland F.N.C, Correttian! This club meets on the fourth Wednesday of cach month, not on Pridays as stated on page 29 of the June 1960 Nelwraolist. {05 * National Parks and Natlonal Monuments —8 Tarra Valley National Park The Shire ef Alberton is the proud possessor of two small but very lovely National Parks—Balga Park near the top of the Strxelecki Ranges, and Tarra Valley Park at o lower eleva- tion. Much of last month's article on Bulga can be applied equally to Tapra Valley. A generation age Alberton’s Shire Engineer, Mr. Frank Corrigan, fell in love with G6 ducing bis rosad- surveying excilysions, and hig Council was eventually persuaded ta protect the bushland gem for the throng of tourists who were ta be attrac te the Yarram district. One of the happy twnemories of this natore-loving engineer was of the dignitaries, officials and a multitude of lesser folk assembled at the en- trance to the new parle to celebrate its formal opening, A band played mosic Suited to the occasion, and there were speecnes from selected politicians and countillors. ‘he whole show was eare- fully organized by the Shire's enter- prising engineer, who had prepared the way even fo the cuonsteucting of a teenie road up the Tarra River Valley, Tarra Valley Park was oten for the world to admire, About 1934 pr 19345, the Shire ac- quired a further forty acres to add to the original 18@-acre reserve, and it applied itself lo providing essential amenities for Lhe sleady siveam of visitors— tracks, shelters and conven- iénces With the completion of the Grand Ridge Road along the crest of the Straeleckis, tourists travelling to or from Warrant usally made the short detour into the park, where they could Vinger midst a scene of singular charm. Lute in 1944, the Tarca Valley re- serve became one of the several Nut- jomal Parks proclalinad wider dhe Lands Act Its excellent management remained with the Alberton Shire Council, and when it waa dedivaled a permanent National Park ynder the 1057 Act, this was wisely allowed to 106 By J. Ros GARNET continac, Now, there is strong hope that the Government will agree to extend tie park by purchasing about a hundred acres of private property upstream. That would provide an extra buffer to protect the fernery balow, The traveller slong the highways of the Strzeleckis. fine it dificult, to believe that a century ago ajmost. every valley ol those ranges was filled with rain-forest fern gullies, of whieh Tarra Valley Park is a mere remnant, Old identities of Korumbutra, Leore galha and olher towns in the region recall the Juxurianee of fern and epiphyte in the dense forests along streams which now flow through at- most open fields, A few forest areas still remain intact, but their future ia precarious. With many, the aesthetic appeal of Nature in her majesty and glory is apt to be dimmed by the thought of so many super feet of merchantable timber im such places, awaiting the moment and the man- Tarra Valley National Park is a monument—a national monwnent to Nature in her most gracious mood. Gently-graded foot tracks weave umung an ustonishing variety and density of ferns. There ure Slender Treeferns, sone hetween fifty and sixty feet high, Rough ‘J'recferns, an- cient Safll Treeferns, and even the rare Skirted Treefern. Smaller anes in- cludé seven species of water-Lern, Uhree spleenworts, four filmy-ferns. the Veined Bristle-fern sud a fork-fern. Tn all, tore than three dozen species of ferns have been recorded there, Overshaduwing them are venerable White Mountain Ash, Myvtle Beech, Sassafras, Silver Wattle and Black- wood, Pittosporum, Austral Mulberry, Elderberry Ash, Woolly Teu-tres, Sandfly Zleria and Myttonwood. A number of specimen trees have been labelled—a device much appreciated by the interested visitor. By good fortune the caretaker of Viet. Nat—YVol. 77 the park, Mrs. K. Healey, has a keen interest in its natural history. Over the years she has sent me for iden- tification specimens of almost every flowering plant and fern in the park. To date the total approaches 150 species. One which I have not seen is Fairy Lanterns (Sareosiphon rod- wayi), the curious little saprophyte first discovered on the mainland by Mrs. Edith Coleman in Sherbrooke Gully many years ago. (See Vict. Nat. 52: 163-166; Jan. 1936.) Last Easter I had the satisfaction of seeing the very place where the Tarra Valley specimens grew—in the fibre at the base of a massive old Soft Treefern. The specimen went to the Melbourne University Botany School for study. A previous visit several years ago was with Dr. R. Melville of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The park was reached too near sunset for more than a hurried inspection, but during the brief time Dr. Melville collected a number of epiphytic mosses, several of which subsequently were found to be undescribed species! It was in this same park in 1937 that I came upon a slender flowering specimen of our “emigrant orchid’, Gastrodia sesa- moides, growing in the fibre of a August 1960 Ry courtesy; Tourist Development Authority Treeferns and Sassafras in Tarra Valley National Park. fallen treefern trunk. The oddness was not only in the medium it had chosen but the subdued light in which it actually flowered. Trees and ferns are by no means the only attraction offered by Tarra Val- ley National Park. There are lyrebirds quite as tame as those of Sherbrooke Forest. During our Easter visit we watched a pair foraging beside a path as unconcernedly as fowls. Then, the Cyathea Falls are irresistible. There is something about a waterfall which induces a contemplative mood, and, in Tarra Valley, the means are there to enjoy that pleasure to one’s heart’s content—not in solitude, but sur- rounded by a host of living things which do not know our language but can teach us, if we so wish, a little more of the story of this fair land of ours, In this contemplative mood we may recall that. this was the land of a race now almost vanished. But the name of one of that race is commem- orated by a national park, a town, a river and a valley. Charlie Tarra was a companion of South Gippsland’s earliest explorers. May Tarra Valley Park long continue as a suitable mem- orial to him, 107 F.N.C.V. NATURE SHOW September 5-6-7, 1960 Lower Melbourne Town Hall The F.N,.C.V. Nature Show Commit- tee is pleased to announce that plans for the 1960 exhibition are now al- most complete. It will be open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on September 5, 6 and 7. Admission charges will be two shillings for adults and sixpence for children. The main theme for this year’s show is protection, and the necessity for caring for our natural heritage is amply stressed throughout. Special emphasis has been placed on methods of display, and in all cases the numbers of items exhibited have been kept to a minimum but their presentation has received very careful consideration. The Nature Show Com- mittee feels that the public will learn much more from fewer objects dis- played in an appealing way than from a large number crowded together or carelessly arranged. An entirely new method of exhibit- ing wildflowers will be used, About 160 species of popular native plants will be shown against a pale grey background and in such a way that all will be easily viewed. Several special displays of garden-grown species will be placed at strategic places through- out the hall. More than fifteen separate exhibits have been organized, covering a very wide range of Australian natural his- tory. Nearly all of these have been designed, constructed and assembled by members of the F.N.C.V. who have spent considerable time during the past two years planning their exhibits. One of the highlights of the show will be a large exhibit of native birds depicted in a natural setting, Those shown in this display have been chosen to illustrate the value of our birds from many points of view—economic, aesthetic and in nature’s own scheme. 108 Another exhibit which will be unique includes the reproductions of a number of bird calls, each being associated with the species respon- sible for it by earefully placed lights synchronized with the recordings, A series of sound films lent by cour- tesy of the C.S.I.R.O. includes “Mallee Fowl”, “Mutton Birds of Bass Strait’, “Penguins of Macquarie Island”, ‘Seals of Macquarie Island” and ‘‘Bio- logical Control of Insects”. These will be shown at regular periods through- out the exhibition. Unfortunately, space does not per- mit the enumeration of all exhibits. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The F.N.C.V. Council and Nature Show Committee wish to take this opportunity to thank the M. A. Ingram Trust for financial assistance, and the C.S.LR.O. for the loan of the films mentioned above. The recordings of bird calls have been lent by Mr. Peter Bruce to whom appreciation is ex- tended. All floral arrangements are by cour- tesy of the North Balwyn Garden Club. Finally, the committee wishes to thank all who have assisted in plan- ning, constructing and assembling the exhibits or who have helped in other ways. Special thanks is given to the Melbourne Town Hall authorities for the courtesies extended to the F.N.C.V. SUPPORT YOUR SHOW! If this show is to be a success, mem- bers of the F.N.C.V. should give sup- port by visiting it. Every member of this club is earnestly requested to tell friends about it and to spread the news as far and as wide as possible. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 PLAN OF EXHIBITS TICK eT x | - K = G H Fhe | SWANSTON STREET KEY TO EXHIBITS Marine Biology. . Publications. Victoria’s Floral Emblem, . Moths and Butterflies. August 1960 109 A. Films. J. Shells. B. Plant Kingdom. K. Birds’ Nests. _ Bees d Bird Calls, L. Gem Stones of Victoria. Be @rascae M. Orchestra Pit. F. Reptiles. N. Wildflowers. G. O H. P Australian Wattles — No. 16 Sunshine Wattle —Acacia botrycephala Sunshine Wattle is like a happy child playing amongst the sober aut- umn trees. It is sunshine in all weathers. You may see it in a bright “island” near Lorne and in another on the Woods Point road. From Tynong eastward it occurs intermit- tently: north of Moe, south of Traral- gon, and it is abundant east of Bairns- dale. The Princes Highway runs through forests alight with it—prim- rose, lemon or golden yellow—right on to Sydney, and irregularly beyond. It is in Tasmania, too. You are likely to find it in any sandy heathland in far-eastern Victoria, but I have never seen it on clay. It flowers in autumn mainly, but the season may extend well on into winter, according to the locality. Sunshine Wattle is usually from six to twelve feet high, and even the small specimens are gracefully treelike, lightly branched, and rarely with more Sunshine Wattle nist Bruthen, Photo: N. A. Wakefield By JEAN GALBRAITH than one trunk, It. has bipinnate leaves, dark and shining above but a dull pale green underneath. The pinnae are farther apart and have broader and more distant segments than in any other Victorian wattle. The rather large globular flower- heads are in spreading panicles above and amongst the leaves, as well as in solitary racemes, The habit of the tree is lacy and light, with leaves most often spread- ing horizontally; and the quadrangu- lar stems are greenish as a rule, with a brown ridge at each angle. Sunshine Wattle makes a most at- tractive autumn-flowering tree in cul- tivation. It is not too large for a small garden, but it must be watched for attack by borers. It is always decora- tive, with its broad fern-like leaves, its slim reddish pods that turn brown, and flowers that make its name as apt as a name could be. Vict. Nat.— Vol, 77 Thomas Stephen Hart (1871-1960) By J, H. Winnis Totroduction "There was no need for an ency- clopaedia in any house Where Tom lived.” Suvh was the tritite vevently paid by the sisters-in-law of bhe late r. T. S, Hart, who died at Croydon on June 26, in his 90th year, Hts erudition and extraordinary powers of memory—int the classics a8 well as in science—were, indeed, almost lengend- ary, With bis passing, Vieterla has Inst probably the last of the "nid- tiie’, oa Feasih, highly Lalented pat uralists whose Ike we shel! sever see aguin, and, except for Mr, H. Hest (iow almost 97), Hart must have beet the snly surviving correspondent of Baron Sir Ferdinand van Mueller, His father, John Hart, was a secre- tary ano anceuntant whe urcived m Melbourve trom London during [8fz, Most, of his work was with building societies; bat he becaine first secretary af the Caulfield Shire, where Thomas Stephen was born i March 30, 1A71— caw oF ten children, half being daygh- ters. Hart senior traced his anvesiry back ta one James Stephen of ‘“Arden- branght” (presumably m Seatland), who was born in 1670, aml so proud was he of this family connection that eaeh of his five sons received the second name “Stephen" Youle Tan athended the Bast St, Kilda Gramniar School wither the Rev, John Reid, and later Craig's Toorak College in its last year as a loys” school. He matriculated (with honours in English) at the end af 7886, em- barked at once Upon al Arte course at Melbourne Universily where he gained first-clags honours i Claseics and second in Matheniaiics during 1887, afso the Wyselaskie Scholarship in Mathamaties, and then graduated as B.A. in 1840 when only nineteen, Sub- saquently he received the degrees af Master of Arts (1892) ani Bachelor of Civil Engineering (1901). His was an alert, inquiring wind, with an astonishingly wide range of interests—Hiblicul Greek ane anti- quilics, philology, surveying and care tagraphy, road and railway routes, Jooomutive design, the history of early August 1960 settlement In Victoria, geography, geo- jogy, botany, shore-life and a modicum af entomology. Life was an inexitaus- tible adveriture and the whole world around him pregnant with oppertuni- ties of probing, vbserying, testing and recordmg what he found—like Charles Darwin list century, and Gilbert White the one before, he neglected few of the alluring avenues that opened up. When Hart decided to enter the teaching profession as ao scientist, Baron von Mueller wrote a very eulo- gistle testimonial (April 18945) in which he was deserited as “an we complished naturalist who, after px- tensive Wniversity studies, has ac: qui also praclical field -exporencd in our Catony, and who has evineed an ailent interest in original and pra- gressive réstarclevs”, He began work with the Education Department m 1296, taking geology and botany classes at the Ballarat School of Mines avd teamping over much of ocntral- western Victoria. There he remained jor 17 years until his appolntient as first principal of the new School of Forestry at Creswick in 1913. The school actually dates from 1916, but, for the first threa years students ibd ‘net “live in” and were taught tyr viaiting lecturers who came chiefly from the Ballarat School of Mines, Mr. Muct beings among Lem, Between 1901 and 1908 Hart had been appointed | Pepfessor af Geology and Mineralogy at Ballarat, and ¢his tithe stuck to him after he come to reside in Creswick; in fact, the townsfolk senued 4 digtinet prestige in having an Authentic pro- fessor in their mindst. Even Mueller, if prematurely, addvessed his friend as “Professor” Hart when writing Lo him for the last time, on August Lh, 1896: but the title gradually lupsed and of latter years its recipient Was knows to all as Plain “Mister”, Several aniusing stories emerged frony Principal Hart's theee years at Creswick, One of the roles at the School of Porestry was that all sbud- ent: must be indoors by a certain hour every night. The school slands aloof on a high hill above the township, Vi whither there would always be a fren- éral éxoulus on Saturday and Sunday woenings, Shorljy before Lhe dead-line time, our trusting head would appear in front of his eyrie, waving a lantern a5 @ signal for students tu ahandon extra-muatal activities ard resuyn ta theie dormitory! One year (1516-17) was spenb at Footacray ‘evkhnical Sehool, after which THavt became a teacher ob the Bairnsdale School af Mines atid fn- dustries (1917-30), There he did some if Ins best exploratory botanical! work, scouring the Lakes region for apeci- Hiens Gnd geting on the Gonipitree of Management for Sperm Whale Head National Patk from its establishment in May 1927, te laft Gippsland early in 1931 to teach geography for the Gorrespoudence School, living fiest ot Hampton, then Brighton, and retired as # public girvant at the shalutory aye af 65 in 1936. During ‘the first thive years of verivemenn he lived at Highett, and im 1939 ynoved for the remainder at his long Tite ti a eolkupge im Dorsct Road, Croydon. He eame ta knaw the ereek-Alats and ‘foothilly! country between Lilydale and DLatide- nong like the palm of his hand, very few plant species escaping his keen eyes in.that are of Silurian rovks anil ferivative soils. Apart Crom one shore visit to southern Tasnioniag and o shorter one ta Adelaide, he newer travelled outside his home slate Hart was elected an Associate Mem ber of the Royal Soemty of Vietorla in 1894 (when living ly Brighton}, and a Qountry Member upan appartment to Ballaeat in 1845, Between 1894 and 191% he conkvibuted ten geological papers that were published in rhe Socueta’s Pracdedings. Loug Association with tha Pieid Nuturatisis Club of Victoria Ibis nut known just How early Hart beeamne abtracted to nature study; but all Lhe male sade of duis faimily seems toe have had a leaning that way, In Aurust i886 the three brothers, Thomas, Geor#= and Gadfrey {(por- haps with a few athers). founded a small private body that they called the “Natural Histery Society and Sati. day Club", This enabled them to read papers on taatters of mulual mterest and to share experionees gained it their week-end excursions arownd the 112 heathlaids of Caulfield and Reighton, the beaches and forests farther afield, Two thin evereise books give hand- writte, accounts of theae meetings, the 15th (and presumably last) of whieh was held in March 1887 when ‘Tota wae just 16 veans of age. He anu George contribaled most of the papers) there iz ane each by Godfrey and M. §, Hart, but none by elder brother John who may have been too busy with his ubiversity course. Tam's paper on September 26, 1866, Was ou the “Genus Muealyptus, and this subject. wae destined to remain a Favourite, life-ftong study. He gradually acquired an amazing knowledge of the past vange of certain encadypt species, pare ticwletly around Melbourne, through studying the maps and field nolas of our earliest 2urveyors. Johh & Harb, born Becembur 27, 1866, and alsa a Moster of Arts (as well az a B.Se_}, sel Uotanieal papers for university examinations, exanined in botany at the Pharmacy College, Malhbourne, did o brillant Lheolopical courte? afd later béesme Anghean Titshop of Wangaratta, from 127 until retirement in 134u-—he died ot BF on May 28, 1952, Jobin ay Thoiqas joined the Field Nuturalists Club gn the aame evening, in Av@ast 1887, the former belne 4 joint searetary fur che year 1890-91, John led betaiieal ex- enrainng te Cheltenham in Nevember 188) ovd September IBG1, and was Very active i) the club's early affaizs; bet the younger hrether Thumas’s debut in the paxes af the Vaictoman Natitvralist—either hy exhifit, note or article—was nol until] Seplember LB92, whet his geological paper on "The Kerrie Gonglamieratcs” was published [Viet, Nat 9: 64-66), Why Wul T, 8, Bart wait just five years hefore appearing in print, wher he must have had « spate of obsciva- tions te pub on reentd? Perhays he Was preoccupied with an exacting University course or, what is more likely, his innate modesty and diffid- ence proved tao mach Jue him before such natural history “giants” 2s Baron yor). Mueller, Sir Baldwin Speeer, Sur Frederick MeCov, Hon, C, A, Topp, D. M'Alpine. F.8, Hall, 1. 'T. Tisd A, J, Campbell, C. French, ete., whose presence st TVN,C.V, mectings may have awed him. Latterly he tended riore and more toward phytologie ¥c- Vict, Mat.—Vel, 77 searches and his last paper, more than 61 years after the first, was on ‘‘Labil- lardiére’s Plant Names” [Vict. Nat. 70: 173-75 (Jan. 1954)]. Considering his vast knowledge, Hart wrote rela- tively little for publication in the interim, five of the more important botanical articles being: “Notes on the Distribution of Euca- lypts about Creswick and Clunes” [Viet. Nat. 34: 83-92, 99-107 (QOct.- Nov. 1917) ]. “Botanical Notes about Bairnsdale and the Eastern Lakes” [Vict. Nat. 40: 107-116, with map (Oct. 1923) ]. “The Victorian Mistletoes” [Vict. Nat. 55: 44-51, with key (July 1938) —see also “Mistletoe Fruits and Birds” in Vict. Nat. 57: 175-77 (Feb. 1941) ]. “The Yellow Box, and a Lost Vege- tation” [Vict. Nat. 56: 9-13 (May 1939) ]. “Notes on the Identification and Growth of Certain Dodder-laurels” [Viet. Nat. 63: 12-16 (May 1946)]. August 1960 The late T. S. Hart, during the opening of Memorial Gates at the entrance to the Vic- torian School of Forestry, Creswick, on October 10, 1952. Photv by cuurtesy Ballarat Courier These all serve to show his interest in the distribution of our vegetation. It was a proud day for Mr. Hart when honorary membership was con- ferred upon him on August 8, 1937, after 50 years as a worthy and pro- ductive member of the F.N.C.V.—this honour should have come to him ten years previously, He led numerous ex- eursions during the past quarter of a century, chiefly to localities in or near the Greater Melbourne area, and these forays were of a highly instructive nature to the participants. Not only did he carefully prepare his itinerary, fortified with sketches drawn from parish plans, but he would «always write a report on the main features observed, whether it were published in the Victorian Naturalist or not. He was a familiar figure at all wild- flower shows, until the last five years of declining strength, cheerfully giv- ing help in the identification of un- named specimens for exhibit and often taking charge of a special section devoted to “pygmy plants” (minute species of Crassula, Drosera, Centro- lepis, ephemeral Stylidiaceae and Compositae), which were one of his pet interests. Plant parasitism was another line of inquiry that afforded him special enjoyment, and he wrote several informative articles on our species of mistletoes and dodder- laurels. In days when the Club used to hold its monthly meetings at the old Royal Society’s hall, Hart was a fre- quent attender. Being hard of hearing for several decades, he preferred to remain downstairs, examining the ex- hibits and chatting to a few cronies of kindred tastes, while the lecture went on upstairs; but sometimes the enthusiastic “chatter” would reach such a crescendo that someone had to go below and mildly admonish the offenders! At the revival of the Plant Names Subcommittee, in May 1948, Mr. Hart’s presence was highly desirable, and he consented to act although it meant monthly journeys from Croydon to Melbourne Herbarium, Deafness pre- vented him from hearing much that 13 was being discussed and, to while away the times during which his opin- ion on this or that was not consulted, he would settle down with a volume of Mueller’s Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae (all in Latin) and chuckle intermittently as some phrase tickled his fancy. The classical mind of T.S.H. turned often to the etymology of plant names, to the reasons why their authors chose a particular Greek word. Works of the botanist J. J. H. de Labillardiére held great fascination for him, and staff members of Melbourne Herbarium often coaxed him to talk about that early French voyager—if only to hear the delightful way in which ‘“La-bill- ard-iere” would invariably roll off his tongue. Some ignoramus wrote a few paragraphs on “Chorisema” for Oriel’s column in the Argus of October 24, 1938; it was claimed that the word was of aboriginal origin, meaning “rejoice and dance, because there is water here”. Immediately two corres- pondents hastened to explain (Argus, October 26) that the word was derived from Greek—choros “a dance”, and zema “a drink’’—because Labillar. diére’s thirsty party danced with joy when they discovered a spring of water, while exploring the coast of Western Australia near Esperance. Neither explanation was anywhere near the truth, but the second absurd legend still persists in some writings on Western Australian flowers. Mr. Hart pointed out that the true roots of Chorizema were chorizo “I separate” and vema “a filament” (in allusion to the free stamens), Labillardiére hav- ine purposely shortened the spelling “Chorizonema” for the sake of euphony —as he did with Campynema, Calytrivx and other generic names, Conclusion Now this savant has gone to a well- earned repose, covered with honour, respected and beloved by all who knew him. In 1898 he had married Ethel Jane, daughter of the Congregational clergyman Rev. James Rickard, then stationed at Brighton. There were no children of the union, but they adopted three nephews and a niece who had been orphaned; Mrs. Hart died some ten years ago. T. S. Hart was a short stocky man 114 who changed little in 40 years, his white hair, beard and merry twink- ling blue eyes giving him a peculiarly venerable, “Santa Clausian” appear- ance. To many of us he seemed almost other-worldly, with his thoughts far in the clouds; but he was well aware of mundane happenings too, and a good sense of humour was apparent in his conversation (one could never call it “small talk’) as he spoke in a high-pitched rather husky voice, punc- tuated with little sniggers. By nature he was sensitive, self- effacing and most cautious, a simple- hearted happy soul who warmed and attracted people; one never heard him speak critically or disparagingly of others. All his work bore the hall- mark of meticulous forethought and thoroughness. His help was therefore sought by a wide circle of corres- pondents, and, in acknowledging their letters, he would often make one or even several drafts before phrasing a reply that satisfied him. If there were the slightest doubt in his mind about a plant’s identity, he would always say “this looks like such-and-such, but T will find out for you”. Difficult speci- mens went to experts for confirmation (e.g. eucalypts to Blakely, orchids to Dr. Rogers, Rev. Rupp or Nicholls), and he attached much importance to Bentham’s opinions as expressed in his own seven well-thumbed volumes of the Flora Australiensis. Proof of caution is evident in the fact that, al- though he must have handled many undescribed Victorian species in his lifetime, he never took the step of describing a single new plant. How- ever, he is commemorated in the name of a leek-orchid, Prasophyllum hartii Rogers, that he discovered at Bairns- dale in November 1925, Mr. Hart’s herbarium of dried speci- mens (containing a full set, with field notes, of those collected in East Gipps- land by W. Hunter), his district note- books, correspondence and few books on botanical science were given (July 7) to the National Herbarium where they will be of permanent value. It remains but to place on record the sympathy that all members of the Vic- torian Field Naturalists Club feel for his surviving sisters-in-law (Miss M. Rickard and Mrs. Turner of Croydon) and his various nephews and nieces. Vict. Nat—vVol. 77 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria General Mecting—July il, 1960 Mr, BD. E. Metnnes presided at the July general meeting of the club, and about 160 members and friends at- tended. An extraordinary meeting was beld first for the approval of applica- lions to the F.N.C.V. for affiliation hy tha newly-formed Casterion, Warr- namboo] and Gippsland Field Natural- ists Clabs, Members stood and observed 4 min- uto’s silunee in resptetful memory of Mrs. Alice Osborne and Mr. Thamas S, Hart, beth of whom hsd passed aWay recently. Mr, A_J. Swaby spoke of the |nterest shown by Mrs, Osborne in chub activities, especially those of the Botany Group, and Mr. J. H. Willis gave a brief outline of Mr, Hart's life during his seventy-three years’ ussociation with the club. A resolution Was passed that the FLN.C.V. considers the management of Melbourne’s water supply is a matter for the M.M.B,W., that it would be Wrotig for any outside body, however advised, to over-rule the Board’s views, and that the club jis therefore opposed to the proposal to allow logging in the Board's watersheds, It was decided to send copies of the resolution to the Premier and the Press. Mr, J, Wilson gave details of a proposed natural history survey, by members of this club and its study groups, of land at Warrandyte which is to be develapad by the National Fit- ness Coulscii, The latter proposes to establish a small museum there. Several members contributed items to the “Members' Night’ which had been organized by Mr. EB, S. Hanks. Mrs, P. Fiseh showed a colour film of the Eastern! Spinebill feeding young and practising nest hygiene, and shots, too, af the Long-eared Bat, Eastern Water-rat and Orchard Spider. Miss M. Lester ‘showed a color slide sequence of the emergence of a cicada, and slides by other members dealt. with native; birds, insects and othey animals as well as native flowers. The ten persons, whose names ap- peared in the agenda on page 84 of the July Naturadst, were elected tu August 1960 membership of the F.N.C.V, The pre- sident stressed the importance of study group meetings and gare de- tails of the times af them. My, W. Gaskilg showed living manna gam stems, op to two inches in diameter, srarred by cicadas laying eges in the sapwood, two or three aaes being left in each incision by the sharp ovipositor, These were brought from Heslesville ang were of special interest 45 Fabre und others had stated that anly small dry twigs were used in this way- Batany rroup—duly 14, 1960 Berause the theme of the group exhibit at the forthcoming Nature show will be “The Plant Kingdom", Miss L. M. White was asked to address members ot this subject. Miss White's talk was grestly appreciated and should be most helpdul to the proup in presenting a comprehensive exhibit. With the aid of specimens and charts the dealt briefty with the wiaon divi- siona of the kingdom and gave advice on what specimens should be collected. Apart from consideration of the show, the talk was thoroughly enjoyed by mémbers and the chairman expresset the pleasure of those present. Tt was agreed to combine with other club groups itn the survey of the National Fitness Council's site at Warrandyte, und ai wuting is to be plained to look over it, Geology Group—July 6, 1960 Sixteen members were present, with Mr. D. Jeffrey in the chair. A tribute was paid ta the memary of the Iste T. S. Hart who Was one of the pioneer gedlogists of Vietoria. Fayonrable comment was made of the proposal ta declare Tower Hill as & reserve, The volcanic nature of the area was discussed and the ash-beds considered in some detail, Mention was made Of the successful boring for water at Heywood in the Western Distriet and of its gealogica!l aspects. Mr, Jeffrey then gave the subject for the evening, “What is 2 Fossil?” 15 He outlined the history of fossils and varlous ideas, through two thousand years of history, uf their significance, Various kinds of fossil remains were discussed and it was chown how these could indicate past climates and the ages of depmits in which they were found. Tile speaker jllustrated with plasticine how on impression taken of a cast in the york will give an almost perfect replica of Lhe organism, The petrifaction of fossils was ex- plained, and examples shown of Lhe orighta] structure being replaced, cell by ecll, with silica. Exhibita jneluded a wide range of fosstis from yarious Victorian loeali- lies (Mr. Jelfrey), and aboriginal anu animal bones from ii midden at Ban- nica Creek, Kerang (Mr, R. Dodds). Fauita Survey Group—tuly 14, 1960 ‘I'wenty-one persons atiended the meeting, at Which members’ slides were shown. Mr. FR. Witkinson showed coloue shots of Allied Rats, gliders and possums ty the Healeaville dis- trict and various mammals at the sanetuary. Mr. K_ Simpson had slides of a seal pup washed ashore on Phillip Tsland, bats from Goelac, possums and koalas, As well as bats and native rats from Wast Gippsland, Mr. N. Wake- field showed a number of slides of various habitats, ineluding rovk-wal- laby country, and photographs of signs of activity of wambats and the Fluffy for Yellow-belhied} Glider, ‘Tho istoup was pleased to have Mr PB, Fisch along, as he re-sereened the short film shoWn at the general meet- ing, ef Eastern Spinehill, Lamg-eacal Bat and Bastern Water-rat. Mr, Wakefield reiul extracts of a letter from Mr. J. Mahoney of the Sydney University Geulagy Depart- ment, dealing with the identification of some wl Lhe bone material collected hy the group during the May exeur- sion to the Buchan district. The writer stressed the need to discover similar superficial bane deposits im western Vivtoria. A second excursion thy Buchan and Suggan Roggan is planned for about u week lale mm Aagust. An interesting repoct was received from Mr. Gtaude Austin of Casterton, telltne of a umber of mamiinals an his property and nearby, some of which ate rare species. 116 The weal group meeting Ta Lo be on Wednesday, August 17, al lhe Nat- nal Herbarions. Fauna Survey Groyp Excursion to Colac District, June 1960 Five members attended, principally to obtain information on che distrrbu- tion uf nalive cats im the Stony Rises country south and cast of Luke Cor- angamite, Few vecords came to light from kical residents, the most recent in the Dreeite district, between the Jake and the Warrten Hills, In- spection showed this area to be typical ‘stony rise” formation, considerably cleared for ernall farms, and suitahle for a full-scale search in the future. On Saturday, June 11, a long lava tunnel was inspected on the north side of the Porndan lava ving. LE contained a large enlony of hats, three of which were caught, examined and ater released. On the south side of Mount Porndon, in the lava rine ttsalf, smaller dunnedls were examined, and ane yielded a number of aniinal bones. Upon investigalion lster, the identity oY the cave bat and of some cf the mammal gpecies of the hone depasits proved very interesting, and these are to be*dealt with by members of the group in articles tn later tssues of the Notrrolest. Samples of olivine were collected from a scoria pit an Mount Porndon for the National Museum. At Lake Purvemhect aon Hastern Swamp-rat (Rettne Jutreoiys) was eauphh, then mleased, There was evid- ence of a colony with "bext-book” run- ways Frum the burrnn9s—overy vestize of vegetation having been nibbled Away from nlong then. At Lake Bollenmerri some fossil anintal bones were found and the tnoth of & Rine Pointer shark (fsierus fets- fifties}, washed out from wnderlylng Tertiary marine sediments. AL Little Bagle (Hieraaétus morph- noides) was seen al, Mount Leura, constituting, according te Dr. Graham Brown of Goluc, 4 new distrivt revered. At Camperdown thera was a flock of over sixty Lang-tlled Goretlas (Kaka- fof tenwrostris), and two to three (housand Crested Orebes (Padicens cristutus) at Lake Gnarputt, nrth- west of Lake Curangamite, Viet, Nat—Yol 77 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 77 (5) September 1960 Published by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria In which is incorporated the Microscopical Society of Victoria Regi tered at the General Post Office, Melbourne, for transmission by post as a periodical 2/6 ? Forest Conservation This is the Answer co “NEITHER the scientist co nor the forester, the © landowner, tourist nor Oo m camper, ACTING o co SEPARATELY, can en- o © sure the safety of our o © forests... . It is only o by the active co-oper- © cation of ALL SEC- o <> TIONS of the commun- © city that the’ forest O © wealth of this State a © can be nurtured, pro- a 11 tected and harvested o ci not only for ourselves, © but also for the gener- © ations which will follow ca © usin the years tocome.” Oo (Extract from sound track of Forests Commission film, “Harvest of the Hills’’) FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA 122 Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 Vol. 77, No. 5 September 8, 1960 The Victorian Naturalist Editor; NORMAN WAKEFIELD. B.Sc. CONTENTS Artreles: Nesting Habits of the Blue Wren, by Evan Rowlands |. - 124 Therapy and Natural Science, by H. Af. Davies — .. ae ae 127 New and Interesting Records of Butterflies for Victoria, by A, N. Burns _. 128 Notes on Ferns of Victoria and "Tasmania, by Normut Wakefield {42 The Range of the Lyrebird’s Voice, by K. C. Halafot os i 144 A Banksia Complex; hy Jean Galbraith -. be be 144 Features: Australian Wattles: Sweet Wattle, Acacim suaveolens, by Jean Galbraith +, bs re AP 34 ‘e Ma 131 Wature-study for Schools: Australian Wonder-birds — Mound Builders, by Norman Wakefield .. 1 Ae a tt 132 Along the By-ways with the Editor: Looper Caterpillars and Camouflage, Feeding Associations Amongst Birds, Wedge- tailed Eagles, The Case of the Wombat, Kangaroo-paws and Honeyesters, “The Stick Game" .. 136 National Parks and National Monuments: ‘Lind National Park, by J, Res Garnet 140 Microseopists’ Corner: Oblique Tumination, ‘by C. ‘S. and G. T. Middieton : ot 3 T' 145 - Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: : F.N,C.V. Excursion to You Yangs, by I, P. Hanks , - +4 ar 139 Genera] Meeting, Group Meetings .. Bo a ut 146 Diary of Coming Events .. me aei io VAT Back Numbers of Victorian Naturolist Available .- oe a 148 Miscellancous: Presentation of Natural History i to iis A, fe aisha 130 Wartnambool F.N. Chub > Ss, 143 Front Caver} _ This is a Black-headed Python (Aspidites melanocepkalus) devouring a Black Snake (Pseadechus porphyriacus) at the Sir Colin Mackenme Sanctuary at Healesville. The python came from Townsville in Queensland, and David Fleay, who took the photograph, wrote that it disposed of nearly thirty snakes in twelve months—copperheads, blacks and tigers. (Ref. “An Australian Cannibal Python”, Vict, Nat. 58; 23-4, Jume 1941.) Septernber 1960 123 Nesting Habits of the Blue Wren From December 27, 1959 to January 8, 1960, at Garden Gully, near Great Western, Vic- toria, the following observations were made on the nesting habits of the Superb Rlue Wren (Malurus cianeus). The nest was found on Decem- ber 27, in a small shrub of Sweet- briar (Rosa rubigiiesn) about two feet above the ground and just above the level of the high grass in the area. Unlike the usual dome with side entrance of this species, Lhis nest appeared as if decapitated, like a cup with a contracted rim. Within it were three nestlings, moutha agape, sparsely cavered with the be- ginnings of their first brown feathers. Assuming a nestling period of 12-18 days for this species' and from the observa- tion that these left the nest on the 30th or alist, it is probable that they were about nine days old on the 27th. Attending them were three adults—a male and two others. The latter were ap- parently females, although either could have been a male from an earlier brood and not yet in adult plumage. Initially, my presente closer than ten yards from the nest caused almost complete cessation of visits. Finally, I waa able to lie still in the grass six feet from the nest with little interruption to the nest routine, except that approaches to the nest were 124 By Evan ROWLANDS usually made more indirectly than when 1 was at a distance. The adults, ton, were willing to defend their nest. Qn my first examination of it, the male and a female flew several times at my face. In vol, 58, no. 4 of The Emu, the Bradleys in “Colour-ringed Blue Wrens” give a comprehen- sive study of nest routine. I only describe findings here which con. firm or supplement theirs. The nest was observed, at, var- ious intervals during December 27 and 28, for an aggregate of 4 hours 25 minutes, during which time feeding visits totalled 119 —an average interval of 23 minutes, in close agreement with Bradley's figures of 2-8, 3:3 and 2-5 minutes. The rate of feeding visits remained fairly constant throughout the day as far as was ascertained ; for example; §.42 a.m, to 8.03 a.m.—3) visits Average 2-6 min. 1.42 p.m, to 2.46 pan. 16 visits Average 3:6 min. 3.02 p.m. to 3.32 pan—t5 visits Average 2-0 min. 4,50 pom. te #37 pom --56 visits Average 2-0 min, Only on two or three occasions was the nest unvisited for more than 5 minutes (once an unex- plained 19 minutes). This rate was stepped up in remarkable fashion after I had been Within 3 feet of the nest, keeping the adults away, for 20 minutes, Upon my retiring, they Vict, Nat—-Vot, 77 responded by 13 visits in 10 min- utes. (Average 0°8 minutes.) The male bird was a consistent werker if tho cbhservations are representative. In different per- iods of observation, he made 5 visits in 30 minutes (average 6-0 minutes), 18 visits in 107 minutes (average 5:9 minutes). 14 visits in 81 minutes (average 5°8 minutes) and 7 visits in 58 minutes (average 8’°3 minutes). In all, he made 44 of the 119 food visits, only on one occasion ex- ceeding 10 minutes in his ab- sences. This energetic behaviour contrasts with that of the males described by the Bradleys. The females were distinguish- able, one being less plump and scraggier than the other, whose appearance was typically im- maculate. It took me some time to learn to distinguish these with certainty and so my record of the visits of each is probably un- reliable. From observations over a limited time it appeared as if each visited the nest quite regu- larly (about every 12 minutes). One fact established with cer- tainty was that as the females fed the young, each perched in a characteristic and different place on the nest rim to the other. From the Bradleys’ and the above observations, it appears that although each adult bird has its own and often apparently irregular food visit pattern, the combined efforts of the adults produce a remarkably consistent feeding rate (2-3 minutes per visit). Food was abundant and the adults found it with little effort. Between nest visits I often ob- served them eat a morsel them- selves and each often remained September 1960 perched on a post or wire, ap- parently resting, for 2 or 3 min- utes. Their day, however, was a lane one, dawn being ahout 4.45 a.m., and I observed them still foraging at 8.15 p.m. The nestlings always cried at the approach of an adult and | wondered what gave them the cue. I found that they did not ery if the shrub was gently shaken as if an adult had landed? nor if a shadow passed over their nest. I concluded that the flutter of wings was the stimulus. It was possible to identify much of the food brought to the nest. In 182 morsels brought, 52 were grubs which the wrens were finding in the grass, 10 were moths, 10 were spiders, 2 were blowflies, 2 were grasshoppers, 11 were other flying insects and 45 were unidentified. The grubs often received a_ preliminary mashing in the beaks of the adults. One large spider proved a difficult meal for the nestlings, and it was pushed down several mouths in succession before it was finally swallowed. Most of the food was captured in an area of grass, hedge and trees about 50 yards by 50 yards. Extrapolation of these data provides interesting figures, al- though to what degree this is justified is another matter. These 132 food morsels were brought in about 5 hours. If the wrens bring food at this rate (and it seems they did) for a 15-hour day, 396 morsels are brought in a day. On the propor- tions above, this means the des- patch of 156 grubs, 30 moths, 30 spiders, 33 other flying insects and 155 unidentified particles. In addition the adults feed them- 125 Atty wel ea wd Whi Wise “bn, ” selves. Multiply these figures by 12 and you have the total food despatched by the nestlings in their nestling period: 1872 grubs! 360 moths! What friends to the farmer and gardener! Furthermore, 396 morsels are distributed to three nestlings in a day. I found the average mass of a typical morsel to be about one-fifth of a gram. Hence, mass of food consumed per day is about 79 grams. Assuming the nestlings receive equal masses, each receives about 26 grams— about one ounce—daily! This must be a very substantial pro- portion of a nestling’s own weight! Nest hygiene was scrupulous. Each adult remained a second or two at the nest after giving food, alertly watching the nestlings. Frequently the vigil was re- warded and the encapsuled drop- ping was borne away in the beak of the adult. In the 4 hours 35 126 minutes of watching, droppings were removed 22 times; that is, every 12:5 minutes or one visit in five to the nest. I was not able to observe the nest on December 29 and 30, and on the evening of the 31st I found it empty. A quick search of the garden revealed the three adults and the three intrepid youngsters in Sweetbriar shrubs. The former scraggy, sparsely garbed and ill-proportioned nest- lings had undergone transforma- tion to a complete immaculate covering of light brown with. white bibs. Their tails had begun to grow, now being about half an inch long. The fledglings bal- anced uncertainly on branches and fluttered energetically but inefficiently on short flights, the longest being between five and ten yards. Most flights were at- tended by an encouraging adult. The fledglings lost altitude on the longer flights and sometimes Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 landed in the long grass from which they found difficulty in rising. Thecwyron family won last geen three days later, and the fledg- lings, whose Yapidly growing tails had reached one inch, were flying confidently. REFERENCES 1. Bradley, Bileen and Joan—" Notes on the Dchaviour-and Plumaye of Colour-ringed Blue Wrens”. Hy, vol, 38 (4), pp. BIB-B (Sepr. 19A8) 2, Hindwoud, K. A—'"Nates on the Nesting af the Blue Wren’. Ewen, vol. fil. (23, pp. 155-6 (Oct, 1951). Therapy and Natural Science By E. M. Davies Although most naturalists may not Take a very active part in scientific research they are helping breean- dously by their interest and co-opera- tlon in preserwinag out flora and fauna and thereby aiding natural science. However, there ts:a value in the atady of natural histovy that is seldom real- jzed—its creat therapeutic polentia), We all Enow the great gulf that may lit betweon what one wishes co do in iife and what one is achieving and if through il-health or advancing age we are unable to jead an active tife this problem beconies tutensifed, Much can be done to off-set despondent fecl- ings by the acquisiiton of Leesh in- terests. ‘Too thuch time in life can be spenl im silting passively before a radio or television eet and not cnough in éfeative pursuits, T foresec the day when the study of some forms of nabural science will take its pince beside the present study and practice of arl and havdi¢rafts in the Tejuvenatian of the not-se-fit, The study of natural hisbory offers a path into eelentific thinking by way of the plesaures of collecting and the develop- ment of observatian. The learner its 101 only fitting himself lo regsin his place in life, but to take his share in the development of human society. Science was once the concern of the specialist: bat now it ehters everyone's life. The wish to collect, to observe, to draw, ta take Spart and put tagether, is common both to the adult and the child, Thus, for instanes, a book on Victorian toadstoals, a drawing book, sone colouviNe pencils and a few fungi can bring hours of happiness in trying to depiel. these transient wan- ders, Happiness (eatis health, and one September 1960 may acquire che désire bo know more about the structure and habits of the object studied. The Sife history and behaviony ul the arganiams of the plant and animal kingdoms dio nat con cern only Lhe professional bivlogist, Professor Dohin’s book Austinlian Seushores readily introdures the ania- tour to the field of marine biology. With the help of a fiend whe delivhts in beacheombing. miuch material can be garnered From the jetssin of the beach, Seashells and their papery eggs, seuwerds, sea urchins, palowoal zrewths and su on, cay) wuifold a jew world even for those confined to an armehair. T think we constantly need to see science not as 4 collection but as an evolution of knowledge, 4 collection ef rocks and minerals, not so difficult ta, ohtain if the desire is there, augmented by books on the sub- ject from a muticipal library, ean teach us how insular we have allowed ourselyes to beromea. Sctenee is not just a set of tacts; it is a way of giving order and therefore of giving unity and intelligibility to the facts, and these mean most if they are allied to experience. Likewise the Study of inseets is 8 valuable hobby and a most rewarding ane. Entomolagy tomprises all the small, detailed, correctly correlated ob- servalions that fitm a basis for the solving of tha prablem of rsyolvtian, sod we are never toa ald to observe. Science is not a cold, dull thing that ly-giisses cultore: iL is en areaniza- tion of knowledge that gives meaning ty our world, Natura] scjente makes Nature anu intensely vital thing ton- tributing, by information and inlercet, to out well-being. \27 New and Interesting Records of Buttcrilies for Victoria Over the past century the hutrerflies of Vittoria have perhaps recelved pore attention from collectarz than any other fondly of insects and coanse- quently their distribution ig generally well known, But even at this late stage some species nol hitherto recorded tor this State have come to my attention, Reeently, Mr. A, May, who lives s few milez north from Cann River, has eolleeted somy apectas which normally ate inhabilants of New South Wules and Queensland. Na doubt one or two of them are iigranta that have wen- dered suuth under favourable weather conditions; ulhera, however, are defin- itely breeding in that area, Solve Years ago Mr. May recorded specimens of the “Rock Hinglet" (Aypocysta cuphemian Westwood, fam- ily Satyridae) and this information Was communicated thenugh Myr, N, B. Tindale of rhe South Australian Mus- eum The Rock Ringlet i¢ 4 common species about Sydney and it is found In coastal New South Wales and south- ern Qveensland, in rocky country Usually where sandstone formations occur, In Queensland it is a mountain insect anal T have taken it, at Spring- brook and Binna Burra at an altitude of 2000 feet. Tt, is also common abuut Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt. As |ts range extends for a tonsidecsble «is- tance south of Sydney, it is not really eastern Victoria, Another af Mr, May's interesting fiinls was 4 specimen of the “Blue Tiger” |Ponatdo -melisay hamata Macleay, fanuly Danaidae), a species which nuvmally ranges from about Port Stephens in New Bouth Wates northwards into Queensland, Northarn Territory and Torrés Strait Tslands. It is even quite «a rare visitor tu Syd- fey. Some of tha butterfiies in che family Danaidae ave long lived and capable of flights over great distances, su the aceurrerice of this insect in Vie- teria would be nurely migratory. The "Cotataur of CAsects alld Assletand Ulreetur, National Museum uf Victoria 128 Surpetainig for it lu be found in far- ° Ry A, N. Buns’ common “Wanderer or “Monarch” buttery (Danuidn plexinpra Lin- nacnus) bow almost world-wide im dis- tribution in tromeal and warm tem- perate legions, appears and hreeds ijt numbers each season fn Victoria, Its preity black and yellow ublriped larvae feed on the introduced ‘Swan plant?’ tAxclepins fruiticosay. The “Lesser Wanderer” [Danetla chrysippus pett- fia Scoll.) zometimes breads in Vic- toris on the same plant; it is, however, miieh more sporadic in Limes of ap- pearance, An interesting record of another Danaid butterfly, the “Com- mou Craw" (Buploea corimna corinie. Macleay), Wad made a few yeurs ago by Mr. A. Allaway of Yarrawonga, This pretty black and dream spotter buttery is sometimes coimmon about Sydney and normally it ranges from there Lo Cupe York ond Northern Ter- ritory, Wumeraiis Specipens were re- corned at Yarrawonga by Mr. Afla- Way and he fourd it breeding on the laenves of dleanders, Anuther reeordy and uo very Interest- ing ene, of Mr, May’s, near Cann River, is that of Lhe “Common Jeza- bel” (Oehes wagering Fabvicius, family Pieridsie). This pretty imsect ranges from near Sydhev aloe the coast ta Cape York, Tts dark tinwnish-black raterpillars feed on several species of nistletoe, uspally the gveen-ieaved ane which fayonrs shtoaks. Judging by their yood condition, the specimens taken by Mr, May had obviously bred in the ares, In northern Australia this hutterAg is mostly found in the cooler or dry-seazan months; Mr. May's re- cords are In January aad Pebruary- Even more interesling is Mr. May's veenrd of the “Nysa Jezabel" (Dehas wysir nua Fabricius, fonrily Pieridas). His specimens were in quite gond eon- élition, indieating chat they had bred tot far from where they were cap- tured. It, Loo, is.a butterfly which be- gins to show signe bP wear iuite soon after emergence, Its tormal range in from abyut Sydney tu the Cairns dis- trict th northern Queensland, Abimut Vict, Nat.—Vol, 77 Sydney it is never common, only iso- lated specimens being seen from time to time. In my experience it is only locally common. During many years’ residence in various parts of Queens- land, I saw it in numbers, for a limited time only, at Killarney, Mount Glor- ious (near Brisbane) and on parts of the Lamington Plateau. Its larvae feed on mistletoes but have been found only on a few occasions. The pupa is re- corded as being similar in shape to that of D. nigrina and olive brown with yellow and black spines on the abdominal segments. In addition to these new records, there are several other noteworthy species that Mr. May has taken in his wonderfully interesting area. The rare September 1960 1. Delias nysa nysa Fabricius Male. 2. Delias nigrina Fabricius. Male. 3. Heaperilla muastersi Water- house. Male. 4. Hesperilla mastersi Water- house. Female, (Natural size) Phote: BE. OR. Rotherham apparently very local and butterfly, Hesperilla mastersi Water- house (Hesperidae), is found between the months of January and April. This butterfly, which ranges from the south skipper coast of New South Wales to the Nimbin scrub in the north of that State, is apparently nowhere common, occasional specimens only having been taken even by collectors who resided in places where it occurred. I first observed this butterfly at Mallacoota in 1934; it has since been seen and captured there by Mr. D. Crosby of Balwyn, and a specimen was captured a few years ago at Merimbula in New South Wales, by the late F, E. Wilson. The “Maheta Skipper”, Trapezites maheta praxedes Plotz., is another 129 beautiful species apparently not un- common with Mr. May; it has been recorded sparingly from several other places in Victoria, mainly in the far east, but many years ago the late J. Kershaw captured a few examples on Wilson’s Promontory. The race praxedes occurs from Victoria to the Camden Haven-Port Macquarie area in New South Wales. From there northwards to Brisbane and at Kur- anda and Herberton in northern Queensiand the typical form maheta maheta Hewitson is met with. One more worth mentioning is the “Painted Skipper”, Hesperilla picta Leach, which is also not uncommon near Cann River. This pretty little butterfly breeds on the tall saw-sedge (Gahnia) that grows in swamps and along creeks. I have taken it at Nowa Nowa, Wingan, and Thurra River in Victoria, and its range extends to southern Queensland (where it is quite rare). It used to be very common near Sydney on the North Shore line and at Narrabeen, These interesting butterflies are not the least of Mr. May’s noteworthy re- cords, He has taken many fine species of moths, a number of which constitute new records for Victoria. At some fut- ure time I may be privileged to list them. Presentation of Natural History Medallion to K. A. Hindwood One of Australia’s leading bird- students, Mr. K. A. Hindwood, was presented with the Australian Natu- ral History Medallion for 1959 at a eeremony in Sydney on July 21. This was only the second time the trophy had been presented at a function in New South Wales, the recipient on the previous occasion having been the late Rev. H. M. R. Rupp, eminent orchidologist. The event in Mr. Hindwood’s. case took place at a largely attended meet- ing of members of the N.S.W. Branch of the Royal Australasian Ornitho- logists Union and the Ornithological Section of the Royal Zoological Soci- ety of N.S.W. Mr. A. R. McGill was chairman, and the presentation was made by Mr. A. H. Chisholm, first winner of the Medallion (1940) and a former president of the F.N,C.V. and of the R.A.O.U. Mr. Chisholm outlined the history of the medallion, from its institution by the late J. K. Moir, and gave a list of winners along the years. The trophy, he said, had become a notable feature of natural history activity in Australia, and it had been distributed through all states with the single ex- éeption of Tasmania. The award of the medallion to Mr. Hindwood had been widely approved, Mr. Chisholm said. From the time when as a young man, in 1926, he ty had contributed to The Emu its first detailed paper on the Rock Warbler, he had been one of the most consistent and informed writers in that journal. He had also written extensively on birds in other journals of natural history and was either author or co- author of three books on the subject. Between whiles he had given much valuable service as an officer of the R.A.O.U., the R.Z.S., and the Gould League of Bird Lovers, and at all times he had freely assisted colleagues. Not the least important aspect of Mr. Hindwood’s work was his research into early drawings of Australian birds (by convicts and others) and so the Royal Australian Historical Soci- ety cordially associated itself with the presentation. Mr. Hindwood, in reply, said he was naturally gratified at receiving the medallion, though it was not through any desire of reward that he had begun and continued the study of birds. This study had been for him the pleasant and uplifting recreation of a lifetime, and anything he had been able to do had been done purely in an honorary capacitv. He himself had been greatly assisted by colleagues in his younger days, and so he was glad now to be able to render similar aid to others. There was plenty of agreeable work in natural history awaiting attention in Australia. Vict, Nat.—Vol. 77 Australian Wattles—No. | 7 Sweet Wattle—Acacia suaveolens If Sunshine Wattle is the laughing child of autumn, Sweet Wattle is a shy child of winter days. The two grow in similar soils, though Sweet Wattle is far more widespread than the earlier species, It extends from South Australia right across south- ern and eastern Victoria, through east- ern New South Wales and Queensland, and it is in Tasmania, too. The flowering seasons of the two species overlap. In cooler districts Sunshine Wattle flowers until late May or into winter, In warm districts Sweet Wattle may begin flowering in late February or early March, but it is normally in full bloom in June and July. In all other ways these autumn- and winter-flowering wattles are very different. Sweet Wattle is a small stiff shrub, with linear phyllodes and very pale flowers, The stems are triangular, but often so flattened that they appear two-sided, with the phyllodes spring- ing from something like shoulders on September | 960 By JEAN GALBRAITH alternate sides, The phyllodes are thick and smooth, dull or bluish green, 3 to 4 inch wide; two to four or even six inches long’; usually angled sharply upward, with one main vein and gen- erally ending in a very small soft point, but occasionally blunt. The stiffly erect little bushes bear their creamy fragrant heads of bloom in short racemes, each in the angle of a phyllode and stem. This wattle is distinguished from all other Victorian species by the overlapping scale-like bracts which enfold the buds and are shed when the individual flowers burst out. Everything about this little bush— with its pale, sweet, winter flowers— is restrained, until fruiting time. Then Sweet Wattle really “lets itself go”, producing large, flat, oblong pods, usually 3 of an inch wide and up to two inches long, of a conspicuous bluish colour. It is probable that the pods are more often noticed than the flowers, delicate though the blossom it. Nature-study for Schools Australian Wonder-birds—Mound Builders Fossil remains have shown us that present-day birds developed from prehistoric reptiles. One stage is illustrated by the ptero- dactyl, a reptile which flew with bat-like wings. The archzop- teryx had feathers, so we may call it a bird; but it had teeth also and a long tail, and the first three digits (or “‘fingers”) of the front limbs were quite sepa- rate from the wing. Birds today are warm-blooded and so have an insulating body- covering of feathers, but they still retain certain reptilian fea- tures. The scales on birds’ legs show the relationship and, like all reptiles*, birds hatch from eggs. It is interesting to note that in both reptiles and birds there is an “egg-tooth” to help the young one break through the egg-shell. Normally, the egg-laying rep- tiles bury their eggs in the ground or hide them under sume kind of cover, and they are hatched by the heat of the sun. Almost all birds incubate their eggs by the heat of their bodies, but there are several species which retain the reptile’s prac- tice of burying their eggs. These birds are known as the mound- builders, for they accumulate heaps of soil and vegetable mat- ter in which the eggs are placed for incubation. When the young *In some reptiles, such as Tiger Snake and Blue-tongue Lizard, the eggs hatch inside the parent, so the young are brought fourth alive. 132 By NORMAN WAKEFIELD ones hatch, they are at once able to run about and fend for them- selves. The parents do not feed or care for them, and this is another feature of reptiles. The eggs ure therefore very large, to provide for the advanced de- velopment at the hatching stage. Like many primitive groups of animals, the mound-building birds are found mainly in the Australian region of the world. Scrub or jungle fowls belong to the tropical islands between south-eastern Asia and Austra- lia, and one species—our Scrub- fowl (Megapodius freycinet)— extends into tropical Australia. The Brush-turkey (Alectura la- thami) is wholly Australian, ranging from Cape York Penin- sula southward into eastern New South Wales, All these are inhabitants of tropical rain- forests, so the Lowan or Mallee- fowl (Leipoa ocellata) of south- ern Australia is exceptional in its habitat. Lowans live in the belt of dry mallee scrubs from north-western Victoria and wes- tern New South Wales, across South Australia to southern dis- trict of Western Australia. Like the lyrebirds, all mound- builders have large feet and poorly developed wings. The family name, Meganodiidae, is derived from words meaning “big feet”, and this characteris- tic is valuable in connexion with mound-building as well as forag- ing for food. Vict, Nat.—Vol. 77 Photo: L. G. Chandler Lowan on its Incubation Mound in the Mallee The Scrub-turkey makes a mound about a dozen feet in dia- meter and six feet high, but that of the Scrub-fowl is really huge —yperhaps twenty feet across at the base and fifteen feet high. Such structures are known to have been in use for over fifty years, so it is concluded that suc- cessive generations of birds use the one mound. With these two northern species, it is the heat of decomposition of the vege- table matter used in the mound that incubates the eggs. How- ever, the Lowan, which makes a mound mainly of sand and mea- suring about twelve feet wide and three feet high, depends more on the sun’s heat. Only in the early stages of incubation September 1960 does the plant material help much. Once laid, the eggs of mound- builders are not turned as are those of birds that brood their eggs. This is another parallel with reptiles, but unlike the lat- ter, the mound-builders take great care of the site of their eggs during the incubation. They periodically test the tempera- ture, with their heads or feet, and add to or open up the mound so as to maintain it at the re- quired heat. Early settlers gave the Lowan the name “thermo- meter bird” for this reason. Mound-builders spend much more time in connexion with the production of the next genera- tion than do birds that brood 133 Photo: C. L. Barrett Lowan’s Mound Open their eggs and feed the chicks. The latter procedure is evidently a more advanced development, involving smaller eggs and, from the beginning of nest-building to the getting of the young “off their hands’’, much less effort on the part of the parents. The Lowan is about two feet in overall length; it somewhat resembles a small turkey and is light fawn in general colour, with dark and light spots on the wings. The late Fred Lewis car- ried out an investigation of the species when he was Chief In- spector of the Fisheries and Game Department; and his ob- servations and records provide a very interesting picture of the 134 birds’ work in making and main- taining the mound. A pair of lowans clean out their mound during April and May, making a depression four or five feet wide in the top. Throughout the winter they gather sticks and leaves from over several acres, raking them along into a pile near the mound. Beginning in August, the debris is put into the hollow and finally covered up by mid-spring. The temperature of the mound then rises to over 90 degrees. Lewis found that during the whole of the incubation period a temperature of 94 degrees was maintained. The initial tempera- ture rise is due to decomposing vegetable matter but from late Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 November onwards all heat is provided by the sun. About twenty eggs are laid in a season, from late October to late January. As the average in- cubation period is about eight weeks, the last several eggs are laid while young are hatching. There is a maximum of about fourteen eggs in the mound at any one time. On sunny days the parents re- move sand to within a few inches of the eggs, at about 10 a.m.; they attend more or less all day, then close the mound at about 3 p.m. If the weather becomes too hot or cold or windy, they heap sand high and then leave it. Normally the eggs are buried under two feet of sand, and each chick takes about two hours to struggle through it to the open air. Usually it rests for half an hour, then runs off into the scrub. The chicks probably be- come acquainted with their par- ents, simply because they hap- pen to live in the same area, but the youngsters are quite inde- pendent as soon as they emerge. The last chick comes out about the end of March, and the indus- trious parents immediately be- gin to prepare the mound for the following season’s eggs. The three hundred square miles of Wyperfeld—-Victoria’s largest national park—provides protection for some lowans; so too does the Lowan Sanctuary near Kiata. The latter is a recent reservation, comprising 1735 acres and lying a few miles south of the town. Clearing operations, bushfires and the introduced fox all menace the Lowan. However, it is hoped that we will be able to ensure the survival in Vic- toria of this remarkable bird. Photo: D, Fleay Scrub-turkey Chicken September 1960 135 aha ity With the Editor These columns are available each month for your nature notes and quertes. Address your correspondence to the Editor, “Victorian Naturalist”, P.O. Box 21, Noble Park, Victoria. Looper Caterpillars and Camouflage This contribution comes from Mrs. E. M. Davies, who appar- ently takes note of phases of natural history other than her fossils and other geological in- terests. The ability of looper caterpillars to change colour according to their surround- ings never fails to amaze me. On my Muehlenbeckia creeper the grubs range from grey, through various shades of brown, to a light reddish colour. Against the fence the loopers resemble splinters of the palings when they stiffen themselves. They lie along the older stems of the creeper and look like part of it with their dull brown colouring. On the thin young tendrils, young reddish grubs deceive you with their likeness to the young twigs. My neighbour has or “measuring worms’’* a castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis) and her “brand” of loopers are not stick-like but are fat, green and with a texture very similar to the *Geometridae means earth measure. 136 leaf on which they are feeding. The moths of these caterpillars have marbled, flat wings of a greyish colour and are difficult to detect on the fence posts where they frequently rest. Feeding Associations Among Birds This note on bird partnership comes from Mr. EB. H. Coghill: To the examples of “autolycism given by Mr. Hindwood in the Natur- alist for August 1960 (page 92) may be added another very common ex- ample, the Lyrebird and the small birds of the scrub, especially the Pilot-bird and the Yellow Robin. These are nothing but thieves, snatching stray morsels turned up by the Lyrebird, nevertheless the lat- ter does not appear to resent their presence, I have seen a_ Lyrebird brush a Yellow Robin to one side with his foot, but this did not seem to be done in any angry spirit. Cer- tainly it was not regarded so by the robin, which was back in its place within a split second. Vict, Nat.—Vol. 77 ” Wedge-tailed Hagles Jn their zeal for the protec- tion of our flora and fatna, nat- ure lovers are apt to “put a cage” for a native species rather than look objectively on all sides of a problem We welcome this op- portunity to record some com- ments about the Wedge-tailed Eagle by Mr. Keith Rogers who is a cotintry member of the F.N.C.Y. and who has a grazing property at Black Mountain, about forty milea north of Bu- chan in East Gippsland. Mr. Rogers writes: Much as one admires the Wedge- tailed Eagle as a fascinating creature when it soars oVerhead, the bird is, Not. welcome when it comes to earth aml pays attention to a paddock of lambing ewes, On a property such as ours at Black Maunrsin, one of the mujor problems is the loss caused b eagles at lumhing time Not only will they feequenrly kill a awe that 1s down, by tearing a hole in her side, but some eagles take to killing lambs. If those particular birds ave not des- trayed, they will keep on killing until the lambs are quite big: and losses oan be very serious, I have at times keen an eagle acrike a lamb and then continue on to attack others, apps- gently for sport, Fagles. usually frequent a paddock in pairs, of perhaps three or four together. But if 5 warcese is left, their numbers increase greatly for the time itil the feast is wver. Nat sll eagles appear to become lamb killers. JE two or more eagles are destroyed, the quota that hunt a wad- dock -will immediately he made ug from the considerable but unaeen juumber in dhe surrounding hills. On one oecasion, when three of us wert working antong sheep in u tem- porary brush yard near some timber, 6 Wedge-tail flew into a sprerdine Candlebark Gum almost overhead, and just sat and Watched operations, One dogs were with vs working the sheep. Another unusual example af the boldness or curiosity of an eagle was September 1950 on one oecksion when my wife was riding home, with her dog following, from a place called Black Dog Fiat about ewe miles emst of Black Moun- tain. An eagle New quite clése to her, gametinies. only a Tew faet above her lead, for a distarice of over @ mile, At times che bird would fv a short distance ahtad and perch on o timb or a tall stump, only to resime its attentions when the vider came hy, Two interesting comments in these notes are that not all eagles kill lambs, and that those that learn to do so will continue with the habit, Exacthy the same ap- plies to the Australian Goshawk and’ chickens. The problem of the Wedge-tailed Eagle raises some questions. How numerous were these birds before settle- ment and the jntroduced fox éliminated moat of their original food animals? Did their num- hers increase when rabbits bhe- came so widespread and replaced much of the native mammal fauna? How has the reduction of the rabbit population by myxomnatosis affected the Wedge- tail's numbers, and its attention to jambs? And what will be the outcome if we sidceed in elimin- ating the rabbit from our coun- tryside? The Case of the Wombat Here ja a further set of com- ments from Mr. Keith HRogers, on another problem animal: in the elub's annual report, in. the dune issue of the Naticralist, I noticed, under the heading “Nature Pratec- tion”, that the question has been rajsed ss to Whether the depredutions of wombate warrant their beiny clas- sifted us vermin. AS a country niember of the club, and aa one who speake fram experi« cnoe, 1 should like to emphasize the need for the wombat to be kept, in check by every means available. For 137 some reason wombats appear to be increasing over wide areas of moun- tain and forest m East Gippsland. These animals are no harm in Lhem- Selves, but the damage they do to wire-netting fences 1s enormous; it has to he seen to be bellevedl A new wire-netling boundary Polite can cost az mutch as £600 a mile. No owner of a well-run property can afford to have rabbits ler in through the holes made by wombats Tam as keen as any other member of our club tu see anequate protee- tion for aur native animals, bot nab ta the extent thal a Species’ that has become a pest should sit be ade- duately controlled, Few eld pateraliats would disagree with Mr. Rowers’ final comment. If 2 native aiimal is a pest, as Lhe wombat undoubtedly is in certain circumstances, then it should be adequately eon- trolled, However, the question touched upon in the annual re- port of the F.N.C.V. was some- what different; it was whether or nol wombats should be classi- fied as verratm. It ig required by law that. animals elassed as such must be destroyed wherever lhey oecur in Victoria. Must al! wom- bats be destroyed, itovluding those in the remote fastnesses of places like Wilson's Promon- tory and the Mount Buffalo Nat- ional Park? An alternative is to have the wumbat as an unpro- tected animal, in. the same cate- gory as Lhe Wedge-tailed Eagle. In that case it could be ade- quately controlled where neces- sary but left unmolested in sanctuaries and other places far trom wire-netting fences, Ano- ther alternative, and a far hetter one, which we hope is not be- yond the realms of possibility, is to eliminate the rabbit and (he need for vermin-proof fences; ‘then give the wombats “which, 138 are no harm in themselves” a free pardon and add them to the list. of protected native fauna. Kangaroo-naws and Honey eaters Following the notes on this aubject in the issues of the Nagéuralist for May and Jol Jast, Mrs, [. P. Hunks of Biac Rork ( Vic.) adds this comment: Tn og gsrden we have several clumps of Yellow Kangaroo-paw (Amgozenthos flavide), hese are viaited frequently by the Little Wattle- bird (Anthochaera clerysoptern). They make o very attractive sight swinging on a stem wilh-Lthe hill deep in a flower There ean be fo doubt that they are Teeding. They alse visit and feed in the flowers of the Succulent that is variously called “Chinese Rose" and “Hen and Chickens”. . "The Stick Game” Mr, A. H. Chisholm writes from Sydney: Although Robert Turner, wiitins ih the Viet. Mat. for July, states that tm the Lara distrivth Black-shouldered Kites breed froya September to Mareh”, I would say that in most areas the period ts Lhe other way vound—trom Mareh to September. In apen-Paresh country immediately west of Sydney, for example, Ints of Nests of the spectes haye recently been found in atu and winter. That point aside, it is interesting ty read that when a pair pf kites were nesting near Lara one bird would grasp a small stick, ty alott, and Lhen drop it, open which “the other one would turn on ber hack and catch it in her Falone!. The sig- gestion here seems to be that the male was dropping sticks for the fe. mate to catel) and vse iy the nest Possibly this is sometimes the case. But, in fact, variaus hawks practise what we Imoew as "the stick game” in Lhe non-breeding seasons, and for no ulllitarian purpose, Our chief Reference to Rabert Turner's delter shows that he cave the season covreetly, the months Were \iieiyertentiy sevwrxed when the manu- revipt waa typed —Editor. Vict, Not —Vol_ 77 “player’’ appears te be Lhe great Wedge-toiled Eagle (which may tse either a stick or a dtied rabbit-skin), bot S., W. Jscksen reported in 1918 (Tie Hmea, vol. 18, page 166) that he had seen Black Kites in western Queenstand indulging in| the same type of game, In some Wastanees a bivd drops its plaything for anather bird te catch, and in other instances the game ts played singly the bird thal dyaps the shek swoops and eatches iL before it reaches lhe ground. The use by bivds of inanimate ob qeete as “Loole') or "nistroments”, of suuply as playthings, cariive many jnteresting implications, and all ob- servations on the subjpet are welcome. F,N.C.V. Excursion to You Yangs By I, P, Mare than forty niembers and friends took pars in the tlub extursice tu the You Yangs on June 19. On the way 2 shivt half was made at the ohelisk which stands near rhe or\ginal canfluence of the Yarra and Marcibyr- noug Rivers, This commemorates the discovery of the Yarra by Charles Srigiee, wile landed there m Februsry 3, At the You Yangs the frat point vistted was ta the north-aaat of Wlin- devs Peak, where there have been ex- tensive warkings for Lhe remuyval of travel foy sale, Some picturesque ald trees have heen searificed, buh the Forests Comimisgion has arranged that thy top soil will Ultimuicly be replaced and Lhe area replanted, Theti it jc expectad to support a better plant coverage than formerly. After a ramble there the party deoye through the reserve to Lhe picnic ground for Jonch. Mr. Marley, che forests olficer in charge, gaye an i- formative talk on the planting expari- weols carried oul atid on lhe qualities and \ises of the val'love timbers grown. These pointe wore amplified later when he accompanied the party throngh che plantations After luneh the parlour-coach drove to Lhe “turntable”, where the view was admived and some members went on to climb the weals. The remainder loale the downhill track to Big Rock, Much ipterest was shown in the rock-hole which contains water during most of the year. Evidenve that the shoriginus used this spot as 8 ¢amp--perhans a hunting caern—is stil] wvidenced by the artefacts to be found hore, These consist mainly of scrapers, points antl crescants, oF which the party found several. Some of these had heen un- covered by rabbits scraping ur patehes Seplomber | 360 HANKS of earth and debris accumulated m depressions on the Rock. | On the hill slopes the Kock fern, Chetlanthes tewwfolin, was. grawing luzuriantly, and on almost all rocks (hire wasa beautiful display of mosses and lichens. The indigenovs Yellow Gum, Swealyptus teucorylon, was in blosaon), aiid also the introduced Brown Yate of Weslern Avsiralia, Tn the plantation the Brown Mallet, Bacalyp. tus Astovyyend, was admied For the distinctive colouring of the trunks; this tree ia vullivatad for the high peveentage of Tannin in the bark. The day being cold and windy, bird life was not much im evidence, the tosk notable being a flock of White- winged Chotigh2, Correrae molaror- hampua, Tainiherme between twenty aud thirty. Oychids found an blond were the Mesquite Orchid, Aciauthus exeartus; the Striated Greenhaod, Pterowtytie agate: and the botanical highlight of the day the BiiléJe Greenhond, PF. truncata. ‘here were about half a dozen blooms of this orchid in a patch of rozettes estimated te nuinber many Uousands. These were prowine in a shallow veneer of soil on the granite Among the spiders noted were sev- eral specimens of Hebdilus swavbreeki, some nol full-yriwn. Appropriately enough, these spiders were found by the member in whose honour the spaci- fic name was given. Mr. Swarbreck temarked that so far, he has found this species anly in: gesnite country where it lives in fissures in the rack. Back at the picnic ground where the hillies were boiled, the president thanked the forests heer, und the leader, Mv, BE. Hanks, for their help, and the party set gut on the retarn to Melbourne a6 about 5 p.m. 139 National Parks and National Monuments — 9 Lind National Park That regian of Victoria east of the Snowy River ig the County of Cras- jingolong, favoured by wature with some of the mosh enchanting scenery in the State, Those who travel east along the Prince's Hiehway ta Orbost end beyond must frel that they are enlering a new World, Perhaps they have traversed the great valley of the Latrobe atyd the long plain be- tween Sale and Bairnsdale, past Pro- vidente Ponds and other places that remind one of pioneers puch as Angus MrMillan, They will have admired the Gippsland Lakes and the beauty of the wayside between Lekes Ent- tance asd Nowa Naws. The further east one travels the more fascinating does the Wayside be- come and the greater is the tempta- tion te explore side-tracks and branch roads, But we press on across the Snowy River — into Crosjingolong, perhaps stepping first to gaze down across the lush flats about Orbost from the magnificent lookout on the Newmereila cliff. The palaecntologist might be tempted to dally and glean sore marine toessils from the railway cutting just below, hut we must con- {inve vur journey castward. The Mahogany Gums lining the banks of the Enowy are a stately in- troduction to the far-eastern Victorian Rora, They sre a mere remnant af the dense vegetation which long aga clothed these bunks, We could jour- ney downstream to Marlo to look for some of the rare plants that grow there, or on further to Cane Conran, a place of notable scenic appeal. On the Way we might visit a well-can- cealed spot by the Brodribb River, where a few Cabbage Palms are known ta flourish, amidst a tangle of jungle vegetation. But we will move deeper into Croaiingolong, by-passing the road to the Murrungowar Moun- tains where the Incense Plant (Nw- teed elegans) thrives by the roadside and the track to the big colony of 140 By J, Ros Garner palms dawi along Cabbagetree Creek. Eventually we cross the Benn River and ceacth the yalley of Euchre Creek and Lind National Park. There, in January 1926, 2582 acres of Virgin forest and fern gully were permanently reserved for the protec- Lion abd preservation of scenery and of the dense suh-tropical vegetation which flourishes there The name of vhe reserve does honour to Sir Albert Lind, a former Mltuster of Lands and Forests, n prazier who has for very many year= represented the people of Hast Gippsland in the Vie- toviar Legislative Assembly and wha has always shown some under- stunding of his state's need foy a solr system of national parks. Thirty,or forty years ago, East Gippsland was known to relatively few trayellers—mostly those who ad- ventured slong the Prince’s Highway between Melbourne and Sydnev. Euchre Valley was chosen for a nat- ional park not because it furnished the supreme example of Gippsland’s forest and gully flora but because it was the best-known ane in those parts, The highway traversed jt for almost three miles, and the tovrist, in passing, could senreely fail ta be enraptured by its singular beats. Now, thousands trayel the highway but few stop ta explore the park. Ij. deed, there is itl need tg do soa. Ite special charm is In its acenery Viewed as a whole. Tracks. winding along the creek valley and inta the forested hills might tempt the natur- alist, although sueh folk seem to pre- fer plages where theré are no well- warn tracks. The value of Lind National Park lies in the parinanent preservation of a specimen of fovest euntaining an ecological association which in this state js peculiar ti Bast Gippsland, It is, and may well remain, a purely peluitive area without a network of tracks ov much else to rause the tour- Viet. Nor —Vol_ 77 ist to linger. A small picnic ground with car park, log cabin, fireplace and rustic seats near the creek among treeferns and tall trees is all that most ot us would need. I first passed through Euchre Val- ley more than thirty-five vears ago on a strenuous cycling holiday from Melbourne to Mallacoota. Six years later a similar adventure showed changes in this part of Victoria, Set- tlement had spread in many river and creek valleys, but Euchre Creek remained unchanged. In 1939 in the company of our edi- tor I gazed on Lind National Park once more—a sad scene of havoc wrought by the holocaust of that dreadful summer. We were amazed that a gully, almost wet with mois- ture even in midsummer, should have been burnt at all, but, like many an- other, it was wrecked. The surround- ing forest was blackened. There was little undergrowth to hinder the view through the maze of scorched tree trunks. Now, in 1960, it is restored to its former glory, Once again the hills are clothed with tall trees with their under-storey of lesser trees. Shrubs and treeferns again deck the banks of the rippling stream. The Lilly- pilly-Kanooka-Blackwood association September | 960 is green once more, and, reaching to the light above, are the massive water-vines and other lianas, Thanks to the warmth and moisture of the valley the scars have faded or are well concealed. The wallabies are back, Black Cockatoos screech overhead, and the others of the community seem to have re-assembled in their chosen haunts. May they long persist undis- turbed. Settlement may eventually crowd in around the park, the nearby state forest will be logged again and again, fires will menace it and may even burn it once more, but it is good to know that almost five square miles of terri- tory is now to enjoy a measure of in- tellizent management and determined protection from the avoidable dangers that beset every acre of primitive wilderness in that lovely County of Croajingolong. [Note: Lind National Park is des- tined to become a remote area, off the beaten track, for the new alignment of the Prince's Highway will by-pass it completely. However, the present road through Euchre Valley will probably be maintained for timber haulage and access to a few settle- ments.—Editor.] 14) Notes on Ferns of Victoria and Tasmania By NORMAN WAKEFIELD This article provides some supple- mentary distribution details and a few amendments to Ferns of Victoria and Tasmania, which was published by the F.N.C.V. in 1955. The page numbers after the species below are references to that book. Other references are indicated in the text by numbers in parenthesis and are then listed at the end of the article. Skirted Treefern cens), pp. 11-12: The Otways record of 1944 was at Mait’s Rest, and the species was re- ported recently by A. G. Hooke (3) in Paradise Gully, near the east branch of the Barham River, Apollo Bay. (Note: The lower picture, facing p. 11 in the fern book, is wrongly named in the caption. It is the Slender Treefern, not the Skirted.) (Cyathea amarces- Austral Ground-fern (Hypolepis ans- tralis), p. 25: This occurs in western as well as eastern Victoria. It has been found in the Otway Ranges, in the Calder River area about 6 miles west of Apollo Bay (N. A. Wakefield, 19/11/1955). Downy Ground-fern (Hypolepis pune- tata), p. 26: Within the political boundaries of Tasmania, the species was recorded only from Flinders Island. It has now been found in eastern Tasmania: by the Tasman Highway, 4 miles east of Myrtle Bank (N. A. Wakefield, 15/1/1960), and at Ferntree, by the Huon Highway near Mount Welling- ton (N. A. Wakefield, 26/1/1960). Brittle Bladder-fern (Cystopteris fra- gilis), p. 28: A fifth Victorian locality has been reported (5): Forlorn Hope Falls, 4000 feet, on granite faces and ledges (N, A. Wakefield, 16/1/1959). (Note: The locality for the lower picture, opposite p. 31 of the fern book, is Mount Buller, not Mount Bogong as in the caption.) 142 Shredded Spleenworth (Asplenium adiantoides), p. 30: As well as Darlot’s Creek, this plant is recorded from Byaduk Caves by Beauglehole and Learmonth (2). In 1920, Audas (1) recorded the fern— as Asplenium praemorsum—from the “gorge of the Wannon River below Mount William”. Beauglehole reports that it has been found on the other side of the Grampians, in two places on the west side of Victoria Range: Deep Creek, Billywing area (P. E., Finck and A. C. Beauglehole, 16/3/ 1957), and Cultivation Creek Gorge (L. K. M. Elmore and A. C. Beaugle- hole, 11/2/1960), there being in each case several plants on sandstone ledges, Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium hookerianum), p. 31: This little fern was included in the book as a “doubtful”, having been col- lected once only in Australia, prob- ably on the New South Wales side of the upper Murray River*, Early this year, several plants of it were found on trunks of trees and treeferns along the Hellyer River near the Waratah Highway (N. A. Wakefield, 29/1/ 1960). This constitutes a new record for Tasmania, Shield-ferns (Ctenitis), p, 46: M. D. Tindale (4) has revised the classification of these three species as follows: Shiny Shield-fern, Lastreopsis shep- herdi. Creeping Shield-fern, Lastreopsis microsora. Trim Shield-fern, Lastreopsis de- composita, Short-fruit Nardoo (Marsilea hirsuta), p. 56: Previously known in Victoria only from the north and west, this plant has now been found in Gippsland: Bairnsdale, in river lagoons (F. Drake, 11/2/1958). *The original River, 3-4000 ft., record was “Upper Hume F. Mueller, Jan. 1874", Vict. Nat.—vVol. 77 Long Clubmoss (Lycopodium varium), p. 61: In 1955 this plant was known in Victoria only from two granitic peaks in far-eastern Victoria, More recently it has been found by P. E, Finck and A. C, Beauglehole in three places in the Victoria Range of the Grampians, growing on sandstone ledges: 4 miles NNE. of Chimney Pot (25/2/1957), saddle between Mount Thackeray and Little Princes Highway Mount (18/3/ 1957), and SW. side of Indian Head Mount (3/3/1957). Finally the species was located in the Calder River Scenic Reserve, Ot- way Ranges (N. A. Wakefield, 6/9/ 1959), growing on the trunk of a treefern as it has been reported to do in places in Tasmania, Until 1940, the Long Clubmoss had been collected only once in Victoria— at Genoa Peak in 1860 by Baron von September 1960 Long Clubmoss (Lycopodium varium), on treefern trunk in Otway Ranges. Austral Filmy Fern (Mecodium auarale) is massed to the right. Mueller. The finding of it, during the past twenty years, in six places repre- senting practically three extremities of the State, is almost a parallel to the story of the Skirted Treefern. REFERENCES 1. Audas, J. W., “Through the Murra Murra Country”, Viet. Nat. 37: 63 (Sept. 1920). 2. Beauglehole, Cliff, and Learmonth, Noel, ‘Fern Flora of the Portland District”, Viet. Nat. 72: 41 (July 1956). 3. Hooke, A. G., “Excursion to Apollo Bay”, Vict. Nat. 76: 277 (March 1960), 4, Tindale, Mary D., “A Preliminary Revision of the Genus Lustreopsis Ching”, Wiet. Nat. 72: 180-85 (March 1957). 5. Wakefield, Norman, “Forlorn Hope and Reedy River”, Vict. Nat. 77: 10 (May 1960), Warrnambool F.N. Club The Warrnambool Field Naturalists Club, which affiliated with us earlier in the year, has now been in exist- ence for two years and seems to be in a flourishing state. Mr. John Edge is now president and Mrs. D. G. Col- lins secretary-treasurer. Like all naturalists, they look for- ward with hope to some improvement in the position at Tower Hill but re- gret the loss, at Goose Lagoon, of what they fear is the only ibis rook- ery in southern Victoria. A most interesting discovery was a tiger-cat trapped at Mount Eccles, but unfortunately it died of the in- juries. They also report the photo- graphing of a Powerful Owl. This club seems to range far and wide, having had combined excursions with the Stawell, Hamilton and Port- land clubs, while their former presi- dent, Rev. Keith Schrader, addressed a meeting of the Sunraysia F.N.C. We hope some of them will range as far as Melbourne on October 1 and 2. 143 The Range of the Lyrebird’s Voice By K. C. HALAFOFF Proceeding with the investigation of the frequency range of the Lyre- hird’s voice, further measurements have been made by means of an oscilloscope. The disc used was a new lacquer one made from a tape record- ing of Spotty’s song, taken by Mr. Peter Bruce with my assistance at Sherbrooke in 1959. The new tests were concerned with the upper limit of the frequency range and with the ratio between fun- damental tones and their harmonies. “Clicks” showed a frequency of 8 ke./sec., a surprisingly low figure for a percussion sound, especially in com- parison with 12 ke./sec. observed dur- ing trills concluding the “stanza”. One of the purest high tones proved to be an imitation of the Pilot-bird, though due to the incessant change of the picture on the screen it was hard to say whether it was still in a funda- mental range. Regarding the relationship between the fundamentals and the overtones, the following observations were made: 1. Whipbird call: fundamentals 9 ke./sec., harmonies 16 ke./sec, 2. Lyrebird stanza (without trills): fundamentals 6-7 ke./sec., over- tones 15-16 ke./sec. The results of the oscilloscope read- ing were in general agreement with the previously reported test, so that five and a half octaves (from F of the 5th octave to the top of the 10th octave) may be considered as a con- servative assessment of the total voice range of the Lyrebird. Full, accurate analysis of the range of frequencies and volume of the song would be possible only if photographs were taken of the oscilloscope sereen and carefully measured. As that sereen is small (2 in. to 8 in. dia- meter), and the shiny green sound curve is rather thick, and as the curves change shape in a fraction of a second, the distance between the peaks of the curve indicating the fre- quency become difficult to read by eye at or over 16 kc_/sec. There is reason to believe that the phenomenon called by some naturalists “telepathic message” may be nothing but a high frequency call beyond the human audible range. It is possible that a tape recording could be made and that riddle of the “telepathic message” solved. If there was a high frequency beam, the oscilloscope would clearly show it even if its fre- quency were inaudible to humans, provided the recording equipment was capable of registering frequencies considerably above 16 ke./sec. Note: The previous oscilloscope tests referred to established the range of fundamentals from 400 ¢./sec. to 12 ke./sec., with harmonics up to 14 ke./sec. They showed also that most fundamentals were accompanied by harmonics, and that single frequen- cies, indicated by a pure sinusvide, appeared very rarely in the song. See Viet. Nat. 76: 126 (September 1959). A Banksia Complex By JEAN GALBRAITH In a hollow on Wilson’s Promontory, between the road to Lilly Pilly Gully and the gate near the foot of Mount Oberon, there is an interesting banksia community. The first bushes I noticed there were typical Banksia collina, as we have known it in Victoria: foliage sharply serrated, flat and about 4 inch wide. But one bush stood out from the rest; 144 it had narrow leaves, with the revolute margins entire except for a trifid tip. This last had in fact almost the foli- age of B. spinulosa as described by Bentham—not quite so revolute, but definitely more so than B. spinulosa as J know it on the Sydney sandstones. An examination of many bushes showed that there was in that one hollow at Wilson’s Promontory every Vict, Net.—Vol. 77 gradatian between 8. colline and &. epinkloaa, abd fF began to wonder whether there was any reliable: dis- tinction between the two species; they are differsntiated on foliage only. A bax of specimens received through the courtesy of the Committes of Man- agement of the Wilson’s Promantory National Park proved so bewildering that 1 forwarded the material to the National Werbariunm in Melbourne. Later at was sent to Sydney National MICROSCOPISTS' CORNER Herbariua: in the heart of “spinulosa eountry", The final report from Sydney made jl clear that no consistent difference can be found between the twe, and, to quote Mr. J. H, Willis of the Melbourne Herbarium, “#. epmnuloaa, being an alder nume than RB. coiling, must take precedence for this species”. Bo our ad tend Banksia collinn R, Br. is replaced by (or, more correelly, is included in) SB. epinadesa Sm, By ©. 5. and G. J, MmpaLeton Oblique Illumination Nearly all present-day microscopists are iingware of the value of oblique Hlumination. Indeed, wfler beine des- evihed Ut one short paragraph in a recent publication an the effective nse of the niierascope, ib is dismissed in the following sentence: "Oblique light is used primary for the study of distems” Certainly the secondary eltructure of many diatonix cannot be resolved without it, but it has a much wider application, The structure of all transparent unstained living organ- isms, Including living cells of the lrigher animals, is more clearly seen with suitable oblique illuraination such as wWas demonstrated at the P.N.G.Y. Microsenpical Group Mect- jog in daly. People spend comparatively large suns of money On expensive Phase Coutrast equipinent, whereas results almost indistinguishable fron Pheac Contrast can be obtained with a suit- able arrangement of oblique light at prectically no expense Even an expensive microscope lamp is unneces- sary. In fact, better results ure ob. tained by Using a porlaon of a Power- ful apal globe as a light sovuree, A kerosene lamp, using the flat side af the flume, not the edge, will suffice, though results are¥ less brilliant. To obtain Lhe best results, an achro- matie sub-stape condenser is desirable but by no means essential. An ordinary Abhé cunilensear will serve reasonably well, Use low power objectives, such September 1960 as 16 iim, or 10X, and high bower eye-pieces—as high as can he ob- tained We use 14 im. apochramariv objective and a 27X seye-picee. The arrangement we have found best is ta place in Lhe sub-stage stay eurrior # cliuphragm having a centrol openng the same diameter as, or slizhtiy less than, lhe bask tens of the e«ondenser. This aaptraet is ynoved out of centae until the inner edge reaches approximately the optical centre of the condenser. The iis dig- phragm is now closed until the inter- nal structure such as the nucleus be- comes clear and sharp. Tf one now remaves the eye-piece and looks at the back lens of the objective, one shauld see a pateh of light the zhape of a gitbous moun on one side, the vest being davk. The best way to ex- amine the back lens of an objective ts tn have a 4 dioptre lens imounted te fit fh place of the eye-plece, A dia- phragm with 4-inch hole should be fitted on top of the lens. Microzcopes fitted with the contin- ental decentring diaphragm will pive on effect. nearly as good as the above method. Merely close the diaphragm and decentre it. Pond lite enthusiasts, and people working om tissue cultures especially, will find, this system of jluminatian of wreat value, aS they are often sEady- ing their specimens in the living state. Nate: Queries on Mictoscopy are invited, For persona] replies, please énelose slamped, addressed envelope, i945 Field Naturalists General Meeting—August 8, 1960 Ahout 180 tembers and friends attended at the Natiwnal Herbarium, and Mr. 1, RB. Melnnes presided. Merihers stood for a mitule in silenee ims eespect for the memory of Mr. P. Frasmus Wilson, who passed away recently, Mr. Cophill spoke of Mr, Wilson's. work as a former president of the club, as an ornithologise and entomolupist, and an honorary staff member of the Nativonal Museum, Profassor A, d. Marshall of the new Monash University spole on the factors that stimulate and control re- production In vertehrate animals in tvopical climates. The speaker gave details of biochemical changes in seeretions in brain and eclands, result- ing Rnaliy in the formation of repro- ductive cells and sex hormones. Cel- lular changrs Were illustrated hy pra- jected micrephotographs. The situa- tion in the tropics was fontrasted with that in lemperale parts where factors such as Increasing day length and white Yignt induce sexuality in Animals. A great mumber of tropical examples were cited together with data in each ease of What stimulates reproduction, - Joven new members were elected, and the president awelearmed them to the ranks of the FP.N.CV, Their ames appeared on page 117 of the Aupost Matiratiat. Exhibit= ineluded specimens of Cullitris exdlinkeri® fram Pldorado by Mrs. Webb-Ware, and thé seeond- largest Victorian ahell (Pterospins roadknightae) by Myr. Gabriel, Botany Group—August §1, 1960 The group mek at the IMerbarion, and Mr. G. Francis gave a talk on “Soil, Weeds and firosian”’. He showed the impurtance of weeds in the scheine af yriwing things, and their fonetion of feeding to the tovedil moisture and mineral elements fron the subsoil Me. Franeie attribuled ‘the failure of the “Operation Ground- nut” project ul the British Govern- ment In ‘anganylka to the rewlect af A erprese-plie larmorly knorn ae C. otk coratn. 146 Club of Victoria rutes which, to a hoetanist, appesr ehemeri lary A prelinuary visit Lo the National Fitness Park at Warrandyte fg to be Tnade hy a small party who will re- port ta the next mecling. Genlngy Growp—Angast 3, 19h Mighteen. members were present with Mr, Jeffrey! in the «heir Mr. Fisch gove @ condensed Lranslation of an article froma Swiss newspaper | on the trozen mammoths of Arctic regions. The subject fur the evening was “Geology in Colonr'. Slides were shawn by the follawing members: Mr, Hernmy—Lederdevg Gorge. Heathcote (Cambrian tuffs), Cape Woolamai, Morwell! and Yallourn open euts, Grampiane (Cave of the Hayds), Warrandyte, Mouth of Snowy River and WNooss (hedAch dépostts); Mr. MeInnes—Step Beach at Airey’s In- let, and Anzlesea (coastal depasits): Migs Byutchart—Heatheote, Lederderg | Gorge and Anglesea (coal mine). Two films were screened, Mr- Tinckam showed sea-scapes of New South Wales and shots from 4 plane _on 8 Lrip from I'erth to Darwin: Mr. Fiseh showed o film of Victorian sea- coasts, Nlastrating geological depnsits trom Cambrian to Tertiary. Rxebibts: Mr. Davidann— fossil wood (Cretaceous), agates (special), chaleedony pebbles and agate mate. rial; all from Muttaburrva, Queens- land. Meo Ken Shepperd—ammonites {location wiknown), Microscopical Group—July 20, 1960 The meeting took the form of a "Gadget Night", and wembers brought along unique, Unusual or asecful gad- gets and described how they were thade and for what they were osed. Mr. Burbury exhibited @ miero- lelescope, a very versatile stand and a blower for a projection lamp—all of his awi making. Mr, Dixon brought his Zeiss micro-camera and a miero- copying device for =o Leia camera, A. home-made binocular microscope, eonstructed trim old pur sights, was demonstrated by Mr. Genery. Viet Not.—Vol 77 The two most interesting exhibits were Mr. Middleton’s microsecepe showing a live amoeba onder oblique illumination, giving a more effective result than phase contrast, and Mr. mioroscype equipped to give excellent steregscopiv relief. By the use of spe- eial eye-piece caps, an excellent stereoscopic effect may be obtained at any power on any single objective von Gisycki's high-power binocular binocular microscope. F.N-C.V. DIARY OF COMING EVENTS GENERAL MEETINGS Monday, September 12, 1960—At the National Herbarium, The Domain, South Yarra, commencing ab & pm. sharp. 1. Minutes, Reports, Announcements. . 2. Correspondence, S$. Lecture: “Southern United States’. by Dr. M. Bilren Lowe, 4. Election of Members: Ordinary Afembere: Mr. Yondsay Tonkin, Furra St., Wiarrsndyte (FH, Corll’ 45 Honke). Miss Christins Redger. 11 Palerson St. Tlawthoyn, Fi fH, 1. Goghill/A. G. Hooke). Miss Valda C Treefberth, 15 Moffat St, Urieon, Sa (2 H. Corhien. A. Wakefield}. Cowittry Members - 2 Mr. A, H. Rishop, "Hwaiyin'’. Woodtbuuse Of. Wh. Mi Bimese/E, WH. Cophill). Mr. K, M. Walker, 6 Macpherson &t., Hamilton (tl. KX. M, Elmyre/E. A. Cog- Rite. . Mrs. M. Deropster. 14 Clarendon St. Hamilton (1) KR. M. Elmore/E. Hy Cophiln, Miss N, Pedrian, 4 Kitchescr St, Mamilgon ¢T.. K. M. Elmora/E. WH. Cagnitll 5. Nominations for Mambershiz. §. General Business. 7, Wature Notes and Exhibits, 3, Conversazjone, Monday, October 10, 1960—"Victorian Alpine Scenery". by Joan Lang. GROUP MEETINGS. ; (8 pm. at National Herbarium, unless otherwise stuted.) Wednesday, September 14—Geology Group. *Sediments", by A. A. Baker. Thursday, September 15—Faune Survey Group. “Heulesville Survey", by Bric Wilkinson, and eneral business. (8 p.m, at 7 Male Street, MiddJe Brighton,) Wednesday, September, 21—Microscopical Group. Munday, Qetoher 3—Emntomology and Marine Biology. At Mr, Strong’s rooms, Parliament House, at & p.m. Use private entrance, south end of Howse. Wednesday, October 5—Geolozy Group. “Some Aspects of Fossil Man", by . Dodds. F.N,G.V, EXCURSION Saturday-Sunday, Gectober 1-2—Combined weekend, F\N,C.V. country members and members ef country clubs aro invited to join with Melbourne members. Saturday afternoon offers a choice of two excursions: Organ Pipes, at Sydenhem, and Sherbrnoke Forest. On Sulurday evening, at 8 a’clack, there is to be a mecting at the National Herbaviura, where Mr, J. Bécher- vaise wil] speak on “Some Aspects of Antarctic Wildlife”. Qn Sanday, a full-day excursion is planned to the Brisbane Ranges. Country Fisitors needing transport on these occasions should notify the excursion secretary as soon as possible. PRELIMINARY NOTICE December 26-January 2—Yarram. A parlour-coach will be chartered for the exeursion, and day trips will be made to Tarra Valley, Bulga Park, Port Albeat, elec. Hotel accommodation is available, September 1960 }47 Back Numbers of “ Victorian Naturalist * Available The Natwraltist has been published taonthly since January 1884, and most of the DO00-oded back numbers are still in the club's stocks and ace available for purchase. Club members may ol+ tain any of these, up Lo the end of volume 75, for half original price Non-members may have lots for arig- inal face value. In the lists below, the bart nuynbers are placed jh parenthesis after the corresponding volume nutnber. Vol- ume 1 ran to 18 parts and all others had 12 parts eaeh. Following are the reduced prices per copy (i.e, half original price): 1 (1) to 41 rae Sd. cach 41 (4) tw 43 (5): 6d, each 40 16) to 49 (1); $d. each 49 42) to Gd (2): Bd, each 64 (3) to €B (2) 2 9d. each 68 (3) to 69 (2)= 1/- 2ach 6a (3) ta 75 (12): L/3 each Severad years ago, details were pul» lished af sets of issues of the Nedwr- alist dealing with specific subjects, ta cater for thosa who wished ta obtain reference sets about theiv particular interests. The sets covered the period from May 1928 to April 1953 {ive volurnes 46 to 7), These sets are now brolght up to date by the addition of appropriate parts of vulumes TE ty 7. These are the revised details, the prices quoted being for members, st half rates: Orchids Series A (wholly Victorian). Deal- with new species, new state records, ete. (mainly by the late W, H, Nich- ois), each with a full page or more’ of illustration; providing a coverage of the loca! work done on the subject subsequent to the Census of Victorian. Piemts (FN.C.V_, 1928), Flory of Vie- toria (Ewart, 1930), Gems of 4the Burk, ote. The series camprises 4 (2, 7, 9), 47 (8, 10, 11), 48 (A, 7, 10, TI, 1Y), 48 (4, 2,4, 7, 8.9. tL), 50 (3), Gt (6), b2 (9, 12), 58 (4, 8), 54 (10, 31), 56 (9), 56 (2, 4, 6, 8.12), 57 (4, 11, 12), 35 (6, 7, 3, 11), 59 41, 9, 12), 148 GO (4), BE (f, 12), 62 (4), B38, 16), 64 (6), 66 (0, Ll, 12), 67 (8), Fitty- two separate parts—£1/17/3, Series & (Victorian). Less impurt- ant articles atm notes, by various afithors, sane with very good ilus- trations, all of imterest fo the keen orchid student: suplementary to Series A and covering the came 30-year per- iod; 47 (7), 48 (3, 8), 40 (10), 50 (2, 5, 11), 52 (2, 11), o% (2). Ba (12), 5B (6, 7, &), BE (3, £0), 87 (8, 4, 5), 58 (12), 59 (4,4, 11), 80 (2), 64 (8), HS (1), OF (RV, BR (1), G9 G48, J), 70 (2,4), 73 (8/9). Thirty-three parts —41/ 1/6. Series (2 (not Victorian): A number of parts containing papers and xrticles hy various authors, an new species and recards, #tc., other Austrshan states, covering the sane period and supplementary to Series A and B vom- bined: 46 (1. 6, 10, 12), 47 (2, 12), 48 ¢t, 9), 49 (3), 50 (1, 4, 7. 8), 5) (3, 4, 7, 8), 62 41, 4, 7), 6S (4b), B4 (1, 4, 8), 56 44), ST (2, 6, or BS (2, 3, 9), 59 17, 8, 1b), 60 (11), Gi (2, 9,11), 62 (4), 63 (8, O), GE (9, 12), 65 (2,5, 6, 7, 11, 12), 66 (3, 4), 67 (1, 7, 10), 68 (5), 69 (3, 9, 42), TO (410), 71 (42), 72 CL, 7. 12), TA 43, 7), Td (5),.75 (10). Sixty-seven parts —£2/6/3, Anthropology and Ethnolury Set of 55 individual numbers, sel- ected ovey the 3D-year period, cantain- ing about 200 pages on Australian aborigines, including many text-fgures and with 28 plates additional, Price, £2/0/. This set comprises 46 11, 10, 12), 47 {h), 48 (2, 6. 8), BO (8, 8B), Gi (6), 52 (5), 53 (9), 34 (3. G, BY,- ph (8, 9, 82), 56 (a, B 7%, 21), ST (6, 7), BS (11), 59 (5), GO (3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 12}, 82 (1,°6), G4 (412), BF (10, 11, 12), GB (2), BY (2, 12), 70 (8, 12), 71 (8), 72 (2, 4,5), 74 (2, 3, 5, 6, 7), Fa (2, 5, 8)- Mammals - Two sets dealing almost wholly with Inval marsupials, ¢nvering the sare pariod of the journal, Vier, Nar—ol, 77 Series At Qver 170 pages, with hilmeravs text-figures, and with 52 plates. in addition, featuring in par- ticular David Fleay’s valuable con- tributions. Price, 18/6. This comprises 47 (1), 49 (3, 4, 5, 7), 30 (2, 6), 51 (4, 4), 52 {4 6, 8), 85 (1), 56 (8, 10), 458 (10), 59 (1, 7, 8, 12), 61 (1, 2 5, 4), 63 (6,7, 8, 12), 6 (12), 71 (25, Series B, Complementary to Sevies A, 67 pages, with (Wustrations, and lwo plates also, of articles of less aut standing macturve. Price 11/6, This com- priges 46 (6) dy? (5), 51 (10), 53 5, 7), 54 (4, 11, 12), 55 (6), ST (5, 8, Ll, 12), 58 (7, 2), 49 42). BL (11), 82 (6) 64 (10), 67 (4, 8, 9), Zi (1). Geology Set 4 includes about 160 pages of well-(Mustrated papers and articles of major geological interest, by such authors as Chapman, Keble, Pritehard, Colliver and Mitchell, dealing mainly with Vieterian subseets. This vantalns 47 (2), 48 (6, 7), 49 (19), 63 (11), 54 (10), 56 (5, 9), 56 121), 57 (2), 38 Ui. 9), 59 (7, 12), O2 (8,3), 65 42. B), 66 44,12), 87 (6), G8 1B), 69 (4), F1 (9, 10, IL). 72 (6), 73 (6), 74 (12), Torenty-nitie individual ~ numbers— l/3/-. Set # includes about 90 pages of material of fess moment bot which should be considered by those making a serious study of local geology. It vontains 46 (6, 7 10), 47 (4G), 48 (3, 10), 49 (3), 50 (1, 8 5, did, FS 7, % 12), 44 (3, 6. 7, 110. SB (2, 4, 10}, GO (1,4, 10,11), 62 (7), 64 (4), 66 (2), 67 (4), BB (1, 4,7), 89 (10), 70 63, 4), 72 (3), 75 (9, 10, 11). Thirty- seven individual numbers—s1/7/6, Birds Set 4 ip made up of major articles with copiogs illustrations, hy such noted ornlthologists and photographers as ©, L. Barrett, A, H. Chisholm, D. Dickisen, R, T. Littlejohus and R. RK, Munro; tt contains special issues deal- ing with Helmeted Honeyeater, Lowan and Lyvrebird. 16 contains 48 (11), Bb (5, 7. 8,8), SL (2, 4, 5), 52 (7, 8, Mh, 11), 53 (1, 2), 54 (4, 6, 11, 12), BF (5, 6), FG (4, 7,12), 57 13. 4, 5, 8, 4 10, 11). 60 (9), 62 41,10), 63 (2, 4, 4, 6, 9), G% (5), TE (5), 72 (5, 12), 72 (8/8), 7h (1, 20, 11, 12). Porty- seven numberse_£1/30/— September 1960 Set B eonsists of urticles and re- ports of less outstanding nature byt of vital intéyess to the student of bird- Jove, It contains 47 411, 12), 48 (7, 10}, 49 (1, 6, 9), 50 (3%, 11), 51 (8, 4D, 12), 52 (3, 6), 3 (3, B, 11), 54 (2), 65 (9), 56 (2, 9), 57 42. 7, 12), 68 41, 3, 4, 5, 5, 7, 8, S), 59 (4, 12), BO 44), B1 (4d, 8), 62 (2, 3), 63 (8, 7, 10), 64 (4, 9,10), 65 (4. 2, 10), 66 (1, 3, 6, 7), &7 (7), 7D 43, 6, 9), T2 (2), 74° (9. 11), 75 (5, 7). Sixty-one num- bers—£2/4/+, Those who have some coples of the Nuturalisé already, may supplement ther Ales by purchasing individual nuraibers or any section of the above sets. Members with general interests may purehase a complete set, from volume 16 (1884.57 to the present, with only oecasional napubers lacking, far lees than £20, Tt should be noted by new nvembera and subserjbers that the present format of the Victorian Nutyratiet began in May 19538, and before that dpte it Was 4 journal produced on scientific lines rather than a pdjular Wacure Wagazine ‘The festuves “Australian Wattles” and “Nature-study for S¢hools” com- meneed in May 195%, und so too did a series of articles on the Bogong High Plains. The feature “National Parks and Nations] Monuments” began in January 1960. - Those whe have not a complete set of the Naturalist iM bts new formar and whe wish to keep onc, may ebtatn the required individual issues, out of the last and the present volumes, i.e from May 1959 onwards, for the cur~ rent price of 2/6 per issue. Orders may be addressed to the PN.C.V. Sales Officer, Natignal Her- aera The Domain, South Yatra, B11. Note: Stocks of the Vietorian Nadweaiiet tor May, June and August, 1959, are verv low, and the librarian would appreciate the return of any unwanted eopies of these issues. Also, many numbers of the first nine vol- umes (1884-92) are urgently re- quired by various members to wom- plete thelr sete of the Netwreidst, and news would be welcome of any of these that might b= available. 149 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Established i830 OBJECTS: To stimulate interest in natural history and to preserve and protect Australian fauna and flora. Patron: His Excellency General Sux DALLAS Brooks, K.C.B,, K,.C.M.G., K.0.V.0., D:8.0., K.ST I. Key Office-Bearers, 1959-60 President: Mr. D, E, McINNES 129 Waverley Road, Malvern (211 2427) Viee-Presidents; Dr. W. Grror, Mr. B.S. Hanks Immediate Past President: Mr. J. Ros Garner Hon. Secretary: Mr. E. WH, Cocusra, 1h Raker Ayenue, North Kew (WI. 4413), Hon. Treasurer: Ma. A. G. Hoos, 400 Collins Street, Melbourne, €,1 (MY 1919; after hours, WF 5080). Hon. Editor: Mk, N. A. Wakerrevd, P.O. Box 2i, Noble Park (7468440), Hon. Librarian: Miss M. Arco, 25 Spray Street, P)wood. Hon. curation Seeretary t Miss M. ALLENDER, 19 Hawthorn Avonue,, Caulfield, Hon. Sales Officer: Mz. E, R. ALLAN, c/o National Herbarium, The Dorhatay, South Yarra, S.E.1 Group Secretaries: Botany: Miss M, AbvENpDER, 19 Hawthorn Avenue, Caulfield, S.5.7. Geology: Mr. R. R. Doons, § Banchory Street, Essendon (FX. 4308). Microscopical: Mr. J. Wause, 4 Smith Street, North Coburg. Fauna Survey; Mr. GRAdAM Georce, 40 Maitland St., Glen Iris (BY 2134), Entomology und Marine Biology: Mr. J, W. H, Strone, Legislative Council, Parliament House, Melbourne, (1.2. MEMBERSHIP Membership of the F.N.C.V. is open to any person interested in natural history. The Victoriwn. Naturalist is distributed free to all members, the club’s reference and lending library is available, and other activities are indicated in reports set out in the several preceding pages of this magazine, Annual Rates are: Ordinary Membership Bch See tee ce Cee BOs Country Menthership [over 20 miles fram G. Pi 0. er otrar) ra ». B0/- Junior Membership (ander 18 years) * es a .. 25/- Subseription to the Victorian Naburalist (adimernbes) ot 30/- (post free) NOTE: The currency of the present club year and of Volume 77 of the Victorian Naturalist is from May 1960 to April 1961, 150 Vict. Nat —Vol_ 77 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 77 (6) October 1960 Published by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria In which is incorporated the Microscopical Society of Victoria Registered at the General Post Office, Melbourne, for transmission by post as a periodical 2/6 ? Forest Conservation 4 This is the Answer c= “NEITHER the scientist c i1 nor the forester, the © landowner, tourist nor oO m camper, ACTING o ci SEPARATELY, can en- mM sure the safety of our O = forests... . It is only o OO by the active co-oper- © co ation of ALL SEC- ma TIONS of the commun- o = ity that the forest a m wealth of this State o ™ can be nurtured, pro- Oo c tected and harvested o not only for ourselves, o but also for the gener- o 2 ations which will follow o = usin the years tocome.”” Go (Extract from sound track of Forests Commission film, “Harvest of the Hills’) FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA Vict. Nat.—Vol, ¢/ Vol. 77, No. 6 October 6, 1960 The Victorian Naturalist Editor: NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.Sc. CONTENTS Baditorial: A Role for the Victarian Neturalist .. * ‘* te 45 .. 156 Articles: Wattle Time by the Snowy River, by K.C. Regers.. 2. ou, ua 1857 Recent Mammal Bones in the Buchan District—1, by Norman “ Wakefield ih i. a teas cepts ie aa a .- 164 eatures: National Parks and National Monuments—Alfred National Park, by J. Ros Gernet . - ae a ae be ste ti 3 .» 159 Along the By-ways with the Editor: Plastering the Nest, Spotted Harrier’s Meal, Australian Wattles, Identification of Specimens 162 Field Naturatiats Club of Victoria: September General Meeting, Group Meetings, ete. -. be - .. 179 Diary of Goming Events —. ae ain a's ty 4 we ~. 181 Front Cover: “The Banded Ant-eater—an animal whose exact origin is shrouded im mystery, a living but passing relic of the earth’s very early furred animals, a marsupial so different that it requires a special family name in zoological literature, and a probable Methuselah even among the kangaroos, possums and their kindred—this is the strikingly coloured, exquisitely dainty creature known to the aborigines as Numbat, and to the student of zoclory as Myrmecobius fasciatus.” This quotation is from an article (Viel. Nat. 59, pp. 3-7, May 1942) written by David Fleay when he was director of the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary, Healesville. The photograph reproduced on the cover is one of four which accompanied the original artie¢le, October 1960 155 Editorial: A Role for the “Victorian Naturalist’ Several months ago, the presi- demt, of this club was approached by the représentative of a num- ber of comparatively young members who wished to form a group te be concerned with the study of native fauna, The club council decided to agree ta the reqguesc. Most of the members of the newly-formed Fauna Survey Group are acience students who are taking second or third year Zoology at the University of Melbourne, They recognize the reed for much field work, in con- nexion with native mammals in particular, so that details of the ecology and distribution of var- ious species and groups may be recorded before it is too Tate. The group took over several ‘projects which had been begun in the Buchan district of East Gippsland. Skeletal remains of native mammals were known to occur in various places, and group members have been inves- tigating them. Much is to be learied of the cave bats in Vie- toria, and these are receiving at- tention too. The presént status of the Rock-Wallaby in Victoria is being investigated, and evid- ence is being accumulated of the original distribution of these animals in the state. The pos- sible existence of colonies of the Wallaroo in north-eastern Gipps- land is to come In for examina- tion shortly. Other projects of a like nature are envisaged for the next year or 69, The Director of the Victorian Fisheries and Wildlife Depart- ment is interested in the group’s (56 amongst field work, which is expected to proyide usefinl datz on native species, so the Department has decided to-permit group mem- bers to study some protected species, _ The Trustees of the M, A. Ingram Trust have made a grant of considerable size to defray expenses in conhexiot with group activities and to finance the publication of results of the researches. This issue of the Naturakst contains the first major contribution in what ts to be a series of papers on Vic- Lorian muatmmals. Acknowledge- ment is made of the valuable assistance given by the Ingram rust in méeting a Jarge pro- partion of the cost of the addi- tional printing and blocks which are invulyed in presenting the accompanying report on the Buchun bone devesits. It is gratifying to know that a section of the Vectorian Nat- uralist will be devoted from time to time to further original con- tributions to scientific know- ledge. That was the function of the journal many years ago, when the F.N.C.V. numbered its active members many field naturalists who were also prominent selentists and before there wag the present abundance of scientific periodi- cals to accommodate their find. ings, The Victorian Naturalist is now u magazine for the eduea- tion of the unscientific natural- fst, and it will remain so, but at the same time it will contain material of scientific vulue. Viet. Nor—Vol_ 77 Wattle Time by the Snowy River By K. C. RoGrers* Snowy River Wattle, in the river gorge. Ihoto: N. A. Wakefield On August 21, an excursion was made from our home at Black Mountain to MekKillop’s Bridge with the object of seeing the wattles in bloom along the Snowy River. There was some uncertainty as to whether they would be fully out by then, but we were not disappointed. Up here on the Wulgulmerang tableland there was only an oc- casional spray of Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata) even partially out; whilst the Red-stem Wattle (A. rubida) at Wulgulmerang Creek was merely in advanced bud, and so too was the less noticeable Dagger Wattle (A. siculiformis) by the Little River. For about a mile, as the road skirts the Little River Gorge before leaving the tableland, there is a considerable area of Kybean Wattle (A. hybeanen- sis), a very attractive and shapely wattle of shrubby growth. However, this was still only in the forward bud stage. From Langham’s Bluff, at an altitude of 2600 feet, the road © Of “Rockbank", Wulgulmerang, via Buchan, Victoria. October 1960 descends for the next five or six miles to an altitude of only 600 feet by the Snowy River at a point four miles downstream from McKillop’s Bridge. Soon after beginning this descent, we were in a thicket of Golden Wattle (A. pycnantha) which was just coming into bloom. The vegetation had changed entirely to a savannah of White Box (Eucalyptus albens), a striking example of the climatic effect of only a thousand feet drop in ele- vation and a change of aspect. Next, on the warmer granitic slopes, we encountered’ the Boomerang Wattle (A. amoena) with its small, bright green foli- age and less conspicuous flowers. Then, where the road finally des- cends, there is a large tree of 157 Currawang (A. doratoxylon) overhanging the high cut-away bank; this flowers much later, however. Along the four-mile stretch of road leading to the bridge there is a profusion of the lovely Snowy River Wattle (A. hunter- tana). This was just at its best, and so too were some typically graceful specimens of Golden Wattle on an open park-like area of ground, The crowning glory of all, however, first seen on crossing the bridge, was the Red Wattle (A. silvestris). It grows in pro- fusion along the river, particu- larly about high flood level, lining the stream for many miles in company with Snowy River Wattle, Silver Wattle and others. Near the water, Red Wattle grows straight and fairly tall; it is a sizeable tree with bright green “feather-leaves” and green stem. It bears a great abund- Red Wattle, Acacia silvestris, near Wulgulmerang. Photo: N, A. Wakefield ance of bright yellow flower- heads on the tips of the branch- lets and is, to my mind, the most showy of all our district wattles. Elsewhere, on the barest rock outcrops and cliff faces, Red Wattle grows in a stunted form. The sides of the gorges are often clothed with its bright gold, even when seen from a distance, dur- ing the short flowering season of this most conspicuous wattle. When it was time to return to our still wintry tableland, we felt that we had been amply re- warded by the great beauty of wattle time by the Snowy River. [NotE: Acacia silvestris Tindale was named scientifically in February 1957, in Vict. Nat. 73: 162, though in East Gippsland it has been known as Red Wattle for decades, The pinnules are large (mostly over 5 mm. long and about 1 mm. wide) and quite acute, and the latter feature distin- guishes Red Wattle from related bi- pinnate species in Victoria.—Editor.] Vict. Nat.—Vol, 7° National Parks Alfred National Park By J. Ros GARNET Water-vine, Lilly-pilly and a Profusion of Ferns in the Sub-tropical Jungle of Alfred National Park. Photo: N, A. Wakefield The journey east, beyond Lind Park, brings one to Tonghi Creek and, if one is sufficiently interested, a few miles walk upstream, following what be- comes an obscure foot track, will bring one to Tonghi Falls, where the rare Tonghi Bottlebrush (Callistemon subu- latus) grows in the fissures of granite rock. In some of the crevices one may be surprised to see the quill-like foli- age of luxuriating plants of the Streaked Rock-orchid (Dendrobium striolatum). A very pleasant spot is Tonghi Falls. Once upon a time, the spot where the Prince’s Highway crosses the creek was pleasant too. Now it is a recog- nized roadside fire-place and camping spot, liberally fouled with empty food- tins, soiled paper, fruit skins and such things that unsupervised travellers October 1960 and National Monuments — 10 and campers are apt to spread about in our beauty spots. Four miles further on is Cann River, a place which deserves more than a mere mention. but if one is to see the next of our series of National Parks, one must move twelve miles beyond the Cann. At a spot about 304 miles from Melbourne, the Highway enters Alfred National Park and for the next four miles traverses it as the road climbs over a shoulder of Mount Drummer and then winds its way down to the eastern boundary of the park above Karlo Creek. For many miles the highway has passed through changing scenes of singular beauty—forests of towering stringybarks and other’ eucalypts, dense fern gullies, patches of wattle, banksia and geebung, and streams 159 lined with Lilly-pilly and Kanooka, There has been a gradual change in vegetation as one moved east. On Mount Drummer one sees the Gippsland Waratah (Te/opea oreades) fiovrishing as tall trees. Many of them, above the road, were destroyed by the great bushfire of 19389, but happily those in that section of the park to the south of the highway were hardly touched. In tracing the history of Alfred National Park, two men come promin- ently to mind: Charles Daley and Ed- ward Pescott. Both were one-time presidents of the F.N_C.V. and, in their earlier years, ramblers in out-of- the-way places. Both had explored parts of Croajingolong and had noted the great patches of subtropical jungle at Mount Drummer. Through them the club’s committee sought the reser- vation of this vegetation in a national park, The Minister of Lands, Alfred Downward, M.L.A.. Member for Morn- ington at thal time, agreed to the club’s request, and 3,352 acres of jungle and forest on the south side of the highway were set aside for the preservation of scenery and native vegetation. This reserve was gazetted in January 1926, Later, a further 2,054 acres, on the north side of the road, was added to the reserve, mostly to preserve the fine waratahs. The park thus comprises almost 83 square miles, the jungle portions of which are several hundred acres. Downward was a modest man who refused to have his surname used, but he raised no objection to the park being named “Alfred” because (so they say) he felt there must be plenty of Alfreds deserving to have a nat- ional park named after them! Those who know the Croajingolong jungles consider that Alfred Park in- cludes the bst example of them. So far, fate has been kind to the Drum- mer jungle, for it has not been badly burned within the span of living mem- ory, although the surrounding forested parts of the park have suffered. In an account of this national park* N. A. Wakefield tells the story of the origin of the name of the mountain. Drummer was none other than a some- what wayward bullock whose claim to immortality arose when he managed to sabotage the progress of a team in * Viet. Nat. 7; 12 (April 1954). 160 its juurney over the old Noorinbee- Genoa track. He put his head around the wrong side of a tree, which resulted in his untimely death on the slopes of the mountain which now bears his name, My first view of Mount Drummer was in the early thirties when, after industriously climbing to the top in the heat of a summer day, I was grateful for the ice-cold water which gushed from a roadside spring. What I also enjoyed was the delight of sitting on the saddle of the bicycle and free-wheeling for five all-too- short miles down to Karlo Creek. Another memorable visit, in the terrible summer of 1939, was in the company of the present editor of this magazine. We set off with a pack- horse to follow part of the old and now almost vanished blazed trail from Noorinbee to Genoa. It crossed the Thurra River and then a_ branch wound its way through the bush to the Drummer saddle. During the leisurely journey we came across many things of interest: small mobs of kangaroos, a Satin Bower-bird's playground, an old settler on the Thurra who “hadn’t shot any pheasants” for quite a time, seedling waratahs in hundreds, a Tangle Orchid (Sarcanthus tridentatus) sprawling symmetrically on a granite rock. That was before we reached the highway and corralled the old horse in the yard of the old “tin hut’’, a building which has long since disappeared. Then we plunged down into the famous jungle and browsed about in its cool twilight for a few hours. Both of us had an eye for orchids, and we were im- pressed by the fact that the epiphytic Sarcanthius thrived best in places where a shaft of sunlight penetrated the canopy of foliage. It grew on Pittosporum, Coprosma, Lilly-pilly, Kanooka, Musk Daisy-bush, Blanket- leaf and Water-vine. Sometimes an ancient orchid would be suspended from its host by a single long slender root. Such a one might hang thus for years, for in the jungle there is little wind. During a day’s visit, J. H. Willis listed 74 flowering plants from Mount Drumnier, but this is but a fraction of the total number. Wakefield records about fifty ferns for this national park, and, as he mentions in his article, Vict, Nat—Vol, 77 several of them are known in Victoria only from the Drummer jungle. The average tourist may not be particularly interested in the names of individual species of plant and animal to be found in the park, but will for certain continue to be im- pressed by the contrasting character of the vegetation. As yet there is no recognized track to be followed through the jungle, but from the high- way there are several vantage points where one can gaze on its dark green roof and see it sharply separated from the grey-green of the surround- ing eucalypt forest. The adventurous will brave the barrier of secondary growth beside the road, and some blackberries, to find himself in a grotesque grove of tall trees, their trunks enveloped in epiphytic mosses and ferns and supporting massive vines and lianes with searcely a leaf within reach. Far above, in the full sunlight, are their flowers, fruits and Skirted Treefern in Alfred National Park. Photo; N. A. Wakefield October 1960 leaves. Underfoot there is little to impede one’s step—perhaps a trick- ling stream, tender ferns, rotting branches and logs of fallen trees, with their attendant fungi and, as our F.N.C.V. excursionists discovered in the summer of 1958, their attendant Funnel-web Spiders. The Drummer jungle is the last place where one would have expected to find Atraw robustus! Yet another curiosity of the place is a solitary old Gully Gum (Eucalytus smithii) in the middle of the jungle. Is it the sole survivor of a forest of its kind which has been smothered by the enveloping jungle? Apart from occasional wallabies, there is little evidence of mammals in the jungle, but a number of birds prefer its shady quietude. Brown Warbler, Rufous Fantail, Black-faced Flycatcher and Lewin Honeyeater comprise a typical jungle fraternity, and there are Satin Bower-birds and Lyrebirds, too. 161 ALONG These columns are available each month for your nature notes and queries. Address your correspondence to the Editor, “Victorian Naturalist’, P.O. Box 21, Noble Park, Victoria, Plastering the Nest Do any Australian birds, other than the mud-builders and the saliva-producing Grey Swift- let, use plaster of any kind (apart from spider-webbing) in the making of their nests? In particular, do any of the sittellas do so? In asking these questions, Mr. A. H. Chisholm (Sydney) says he read recently in the Aubudon Magazine (U.S.A.) an article in which Dr. A. L. Rand discussed “The Pitch-plastering of the Red-breasted Nuthatch”. Like its close relatives, this nuthatch nests in hollows but differs from most cavity-nesting birds in that it lines the chamber and lays coloured eggs. In addition, some members of the group use mud to close cracks in the wood and to reduce the size of the entrance hole; and the red-breasted spe- 162 cies consistently smears the face of the nest-hole with globules of pitch obtained from trees. This practice has been supposed to be designed to protect the nest against ants or other predators, but Dr. Rand thinks that it is merely ‘fa hangover from the days when it was part of a func- tional process” and now serves no useful purpose. Whether or not the Australian sittellas, or treerunners, are re- lated to the old-world nut- hatches, Mr. Chisholm says, they build a very different type of nest—an open, cup-shaped structure of bark and fibre placed in a horizontal or sloping tree- fork—and yet they do a certain amount of plastering. Their me- dium is, for the most part, spi- der-webbing, but it has been claimed they use either gum or saliva to stick the base of the Vict, Nat.—Vel, 77 nest to fits site and to attach amall pievés of bark (all neatly trimmed to size) to the outer walls of the structure. See The Emu for 1907 (vol. 7, p. 18). Adding that he thinks that the Painted Honeyeater some- times nses the sticky juice of mis- tletoe berries as binding mate- ria] for the fibre in Its slight nest, Mr- Chishulm reyerts to the sit- tellas to suggest that these smal] birds merit close study, both in regard to the nature of their nests and the sroblem why three or more birds often attend the one nest, Spotted Harrier’s Meal Through the good offices of Mr. A, H. Chisholm, we have veceived a number of notes writ- ten by Mr. J, A, Brayery of Atherton in north Queensland, The latter is deseribed by Chis- holm as “'a bush birdman”, and here 1s an example of hig obser- vations! A few weeks ago [ noticed from my dairy » Spotted Harrier tlying very low over a lucerne field, winding in-and out, relentlessly hunting some animal iowards a laneway which was fairly bare of grass. Eventually the animal was driven to the wire fence near the edge of the lanv, golnuy to ground near the fence. I wondered what was the - prey but was unable to leave the dairy for a couple of hours, and the harrier, being Under the fence, cubld nat be zeon, I thought he may have damaged a wing, for he didn't leave the ground. Later, when I was able to look, the harrier was still there, but flew off undamaged. Searching for the prey, T found the tail and a very smull por- tion of the rump of a medinm-sized bandicoot. The harrier was over two hovrs consuming the meal, which |n- eluded bones of the body and head ac well as fur, and he would have finighed the rest had he not been disturbed. 1 am at a loss to Imew how he man- Octeber 1960 aged to eat the bones, I hava seen the other harrier {Swainp Harrier) con- aumeé 4 Snake Aire feet long which had been thrown cover a wire fence, taking most of the morning to do to and alse leaving no hones, Australian Wattles These comments come from Mr. 4. EB. Brooks of Cheltenham : Having followed Jean Galbraith’s feature, “Australian Wuttles”, with more than passing interest, particu- larly the artacles dealing with Sticky Wattle and Wirilds, I feel disposed to make some comments, For some time several plants of Sticky Wuttle have been growing iu different parts of my garden, The “un- usual green” of the slightly weeping foliage Makes it attractive through. out the year but, when the trees are coversa with a wealth cf primrose bloom, tach iz a beauty to behold, The delicate colour of the blossom is a pleasing contvast to the decp gold of other species nearby, Phe most re+ marioble feature of this wattle in the garden is its hardiness. One ma- ture specimen, when cot to within theee feet of the ground, sent out so many new shaots that it wae snon more vigorous and bushy than ever. Wirilda is also worth cultivating, not only because its pale galden blos- sam if produced off and on through- out the year but because it is an easy species to deal with, Sometimes plants have a few sprays of bloom all through the year and a special dis- play in the spring. This wattle hag definite possthilities for planting around parks and sports grounds, where it could be alternated with 2 eucalypt such as Yellow Guim, Specimens for Identification An example of Basket Fungus, Clathrus gracilis, from Mr. Derek Stone of G.C.H,G.S, Timbertop, via Mansfield, This strange plant is com- mented upon on page 81 of Victurien Toadstsolg and Mushraoma (2nd ed.) by J, H. Willis. Twp specimens, sent some months aige, of Stately Helmet-archid, Cory- tae dlatotus, found at Genos by Fred Becker, 163 Recent Mammal Bones in the Buchan District—1 On May 25, 1958, the writer visited the limestone formation known as the Pyramids, near the Mutrindal River, about four miles NNR&, of Buchan in eastern Victoria, At the base of a cliff a little distance east of the four conspicuous pinnacles, a place was found where a wombat had scraped some earth from a small tunnel in the rock. Amongst this were numérous bones of small mammals, and a collection was made af jaw-bones and skull fragments. This material pro- vided remains of twelve kinds of mammal: six were smal! mar- supials such as Phascogales (Antechinus) and possum species still present in the area, but the six rodents included the rare Broad-toothed Rat (Mastacomys) ag well as a recently-extinet Rab- bit-Rat (Contlurus) and two un- identified small species. When disenssing this with members of the Speleological Society of Victoria, it was Jearned that similar remains were to be found in small caves in cliffs by the Murrindal River a few hundred yards down- stream from the Pyramids, This area Was examined on August 30-31, 1958, and sites were located in each of which there were many square feet of small bones to a depth of several inches. These were picked over 1G4 By NoRMAN WAKEFIELD and some hundreds of jaw-bones and small skulls were collected. Classification of the material did not add to the number of kinds of rodent but it brought the mar- supials represented in these de- posits up to a total of fifteen apecies. The additional ones were larger kinds such as Bandicoots, Rat-Kangaroos and Native Cats, Following the practice of the Speleological Society, the last two sites were given numbers, M 27 is 2 small cave not far up- Stream from where the under- ground branch of the Murrindal River finally comes out again, and M 28 is a recess at. the base of the cliff a little further nerth. The Murrindal cliffs were visited a third time on December 30-31, 1959, and more bone Material was collected from M 27 and M 28. On each of the three visits, 1 was accompanied by one or more members of the Hodge family of W Tree, which is sev- eral miles north of Murrindal. Mr. Leo. Hodge is a country mem- ber of the F.N.C.V., and his two sons, Peter and Michael, are also keen naturalists. The three as- sisted considerably in the rather arduous task of sorting and col- leeting by torch light in the semi-darkness ot the recesses in the cliffs. After the formation early this year of the Fauna Survey Group Vier, Nat—Yol. 77 The Pyramids, Murrindal The Pyramids Cave is under the main cliff, of the Field Naturalists Club, two excursions were organized to continue work on the Buchan bone deposits. On May 25, 1960, members of the group collected a quantity of material from both M 27 and M 28, and in it were fragments of an additional species of rodent and another small possum. Further reports had been received of two sites containing recent bones at East Buchan and both these were examined on May 26-27 by the group members. A system of passages and large chambers known as the Mabel Cave proved most interesting. On the floor of a tunnel-like recess in the cliff face, overlooking the Buchan River, there were innumerable rodent and small marsupial bones. A considerable number of these was collected. Mainly because one of the small rodents could not be iden- October 1960 tified, pending the collection of a more complete skull, I went back to the Mabel Cave on July 16, together with Mr. A. Triffett of the C.S.I.R.O. A small addi- tional amount of material was taken out and the required skull parts were obtained. Members of the Fauna Survey Group were in the Buchan area again on September 1-2, 1960. A sieve was used and more speci- mens obtained from the deep dust layer on the floor of the entrance chamber of the Mabel Cave, On September 1, I went with Mr. J. K. Dempster, a research officer of the Victorian Fisheries and Wildlife Department, to the original cave below the Pyra- mids, Being of sufficiently small build, Dempster was able to wriggle to the end of the rock passage and enter a large chim- nev-like chamber above it. Sev- 165 eral feet up, a narrow passage led out to the cliff face and it had a large amount of skeletal mat- erial on the floor. A rake was improvised from the forked stem of a shrub and used to collect a quantity of material from the upper tunnel. A further lot was bagged up from the end of the entrance tunnel below. The bags of dust and bones were left there to be sieved later. On September 4, I took Mr. R. M. Warneke (also a research officer of the Fisheries and Wild- life Department) to the Pyra- mids, and we treated the col- lected material as well as some more from the floor of the lower tunnel, A preliminary sorting on the spot yielded about a dozen mandibles (lower jaw-bones) of an unknown possum (sub-family Phalangerinae) as well as sev- eral which were suspected to be of the rare (or extinct) Lead- beater’s Possum (Gymnobeli- deus). Next day Warneke and I sieved and bagged large quan- tities of bones from the deposits in both M 27 and M 28; and on September 9, a similar task was performed in the Mabel Cave at East Buchan. Fly-wire screening was used and this retained all but the dust and minute bone fragments. The material ob- tained in this way was kept, and it has yielded large numbers of specimens of the very small rodents and marsupials, most of which had been missed before. Further examination of the bulk of bone material in these collec- tions from the Buchan district is being carried out in the Wildlife Laboratory of the Fisheries and Wildlife Department. Comparisons with specimens 166 in the National Herbarium of Victoria have shown beyond doubt that there is a number of mandibles of Leadbeater’s Possum in the collections from the Murrindal River area. The unidentified possum from the Pyramid cave proved to be an extinct species named Burramys parvus. The identity of the latter was suggested, from my descrip- tion to him, by Mr. J. A. Mah- oney of the Department of Geo- logy and Geophysics, University of Sydney. I wish to acknow- ledge the considerable help which Mahoney has given over the past two years in connexion with the identification of the skeletal re- mains in the Buchan district. ORIGINS OF THE DEPOSITS There is no reasonable doubt that both M 27 and M 28 were dens of the Eastern Native Cat (Dasyurus quoll), David Fleay (4) has given evidence of the habit of this animal of accumu- lating bones in stone shelters in the Colac district, and F. J. Buck- land (3) has published notes which indicate that they take in prey and leave it uneaten. Rabbits appeared in the Buchan district within a few years of the turn of the century but evidently not (or at least not in significant numbers) before the epidemic of 1901-3 which practically annihilated the Nat- ive Cat populations of south- eastern Australia. No rabbit skull has been found in M 28, and a single one in M 27 is of no more significance than the oc- casional rabbit remains found here and there amongst the Buchan limestones. Foxes, which are plentiful in the district, have left rabbits’ Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 limb-bones in many cliff recesses, but, after the style of dogs, they eat the whole head. Foxes cer- tainly did not accumulate the thousands of small animals whose skeletons comprised the deposits in question. Introduced rats (Rattus rattus) came later than the rabbits, and there is no evidence of their re- October 1960 Rabe fat Dun Ma8i in hi lin Bene ricealel Rlecn, mains amongst those of some thousands of native rodents. The introduced mouse (Mus mus- culus) came to the district quite early, but the only skeletal evid- ence found of this species was a single mandible amongst bones of a few native mammals in an- other cave at East Buchan. The skeleton of a domestic cat nearby 167 suggested the agent responsible for the mouse remains. There is little likelihood of M 27 and M 28 having been the dens of the Tiger Cat (Dasyu- rops maculatus). This animal is still present in the district though apparently uncommon. Again the absence of skulls and mandibles of rabbits and other introduced rodents indicates that the accumulations of bones ceased about sixty years or more ago. This idea is further sup- ported by the abundance amongst the relics of specimens of several marsupial and native rodent species which apparently died out in south-eastern Australia with the spread of settlement and the coming of rabbit and fox. The remains of Native Cats themselves were well represented in the two deposits by both adult and juvenile material, but there were very few bones of Tiger Cats and all the latter were very juvenile. Occupants of animal lairs would be expected to die in them occasionally, as Buckland (3) noticed in connexion with Native Cats in Western Austra- lia. The presence of remains of juvenile Tiger Cats, no bigger than adult Native Cats, may be explained by the habit of the latter of dragging the remains of large animals to their dens. When members of the Fauna Survey Group began working on the skeletal deposits at the Mabel Cave at East Buchan, the nature of the remains suggested that the bones had been incorporated oriinally in pellets disgorged by large owls, Many of the pellets were collected almost intact, and thus we obtained the component parts of many individual skulls with their respective mandibles 168 even though the sections had be- come detached from each other, In some cases a pellet contained the complete skeleton of a small rodent or marsupial. There was evidence that on occasion the en- tire head of a Rabbit-Rat had been swallowed and the skull— about two inches long—dis- gorged later. At the Pyramids cave on Sep- tember 4, the appearance of some of the skull material sug- gested that owls were respon- sible for that deposit too. This was confirmed when Warneke brought to light a well-preserved pellet containing the skull, man- dibles and other bones of a Broad-toothed Rat. The possible identity of the owl species responsible for the Mabel Cave deposits and those at the Pyramids has not yet been fully considered, but a discus- sion of it is to be included in the second part of the report on the Buchan deposits. It is evident that owls are no longer using either the Mabel Cave or the one at the Pyramids. No fresh pellets are to be found at either site, and the redent re- mains most abundant are of species which are now extinct or very rare. More than half the bones of most species represented in the Pyramid cave are brittle and have become more or less light brick-red in colour. A small per- centage of those in M 27, M 28 and the Mabel Cave show a slight approach to the same state. The development of this colour is evidently an indication of age, in which case the Pyramids cave deposit was accumulated over a much longer period than any of the other three. The status in the Vict. Nat,—Vol. 77 Pyramid cave of Burramys and Gymnobelideus confirms this. STATISTICAL DATA: MARSUPIALS With all species represented in the Buchan bone deposits, the mandibles or lower jaw-bones have given the most satisfactory evidence of the numbers of in- dividual animals in the accumu- lations. In most cases the man- dibles have been classified as right or left and adult or juven- ile; but where very large num- bers were involved, they have simply been counted and the totals halved in order to assess the minimum numbers of in- dividuals represented. For the eighteen species of marsupials the total count to date stands at over 2000 indivi- duals. Of the Native Cat dens, M 27 yielded over 600 and M 28 ace * October 1960 over 350. It is likely that the count for M 28 could be at least doubled, for most of the floor there is moist and cannot be sieved. When the Fauna Survey Group works in the area again, the wet material could be shifted, allowed to dry, then processed for collecting. It would be advis- able for that to be done soon, for the moisture is causing the bones to deteriorate, and furthermore the deposit is being encroached upon and gradually incorporated in the solid limestone of a large stalagmite. In early collections, some of the material from M 27 and M 28 was mixed, so for several species accurate comparisons between the two sites cannot be made. However, the proportion of this material was quite small and could not effect any of the num- bers set out on page 170 by more Part of Tee Depusir on Floor of M 28. 169 TABLE SHOWING NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS ACCOUNTED FOR To DATE IN COLLECTIONS FROM THE Four SITES (* The asterisk indicates that figure is approximate only.) Predators Native Cats Owls M 27 M 28 Mabel Pyramids Antechinus flavipes ( Yellow-footed Phascogale) 104 33 307 254 Antechinus swainsont (Dusky Phascogale) 39 18 20 39 Phascogale tapoatafa (Tuan) 8* 9* { 4 Dasyurius quoll , (Eastern Native Cat) 14* 8* v 1 Dasyurops maculatus (Tiger Cat) eed 2 = Tsoodon obesulus . (Short-nosed Bandicoot) 50* 26* 13 9 Perameles nasuta (Long-nosed Bandicoot) 55 30 17 14 Acrobates pygmaeus (Feathertail Glider) 26 4 82 62 Cereaertetus nanus (Pigmy Possum) 43 16 69 121 Burramys parvus . — = 11 Gymnobelideus leadbeateri (Leadbeater’s Possum) 2 — — 9 Petaurus breviceps f (Sugar Glider) 164* 113% 27 30; Petaurus norfolcensis (Squirrel Glider) 27* 20* 1 1 Schoinobates volans (Dusky Glider) 11* 8* — a Pseudocheirus laniginusus (Common Ringtail) 88* 67* 12 10 Trichosurus vulpecula (Brushtail Possum) 5 1 1 Bettongia gaimardi (Bettong) 1 1 Potorous tridactylis (Potoroo) 10* 11* TOTALS 647 367 560 568 170 Vict. Nat—Vol_ 77 than about 10 per cent. Where accurate records were kept, there is little deviation in the counts, for individual species, from the overall ratio of 5:3 for M 27 and M 28 respectively. Actually the two deposits show a remark- able parallel as regards the re- spective percentages of the var- ious species represented in each. As they are close together these two shelters were probably used by the same colony of Native Cats. In M 28, however, where the deposit is subject to moisture and exposure, bones of smaller species have apparently disin- tegrated. The respective compositions of the two owl cave collections October 1960 Dasyurops maculatus (Tiger Cat) a—juvenile mandible (P 20614) b—juvenile maxilla (P 20615) Dasyurus quoll (Eastern Native Cat) a—adult mandible (P 20616) b—adult maxilla (P 20617) [In 1 and 2, compare size of upper molars. ] . Phascogale tapoatafa (Tuan) a—mandible (P 20618) b—maxilla (P 20619) . Antechinus flavipes (Yellow-footed Phascogale) a—skull (P 20620) b—mandible (P 20621) . Antechinus swainsoni (Dusky Phascogale) a—skull (P 20622) b—mandible (P 20623) [In 4 and 5, compare shape of frontals, width of coronoid processes, and shapes of incisors and premolars. ] are remarkably parallel too. The few differences between them in the respective proportions of re- mains of particular species are attributable to differences in the two environments. East Buchan apparently carried more open forest than did the Murrindal area. To date, each owl site has yielded specimens of about 550 individual marsupials. It is un- likely that all the remains in the Mabel Cave and at the Pyramids were due to the activities of owls; probably a few of the specimens of larger species came there by other agencies. How- ever, the figures for these sites provide some quite definite evid- ence of the abits of the owls 171 and they allow some interesting comparisons to be made between the activities of these predators and of the Native Cats. It should be possible to sort the material from the Pyramids cave according to age, as in- dicated by colour change, and to determine what shifts have oc- curred with time in the propor- tions of species represented. If this can be coupled with radio- carbon dating of one or more samples of uniform colour, it should provide a valuable con- tribution to our knowledge of trends in the mammal popula- tion, at least of the Buchan dis- trict, before the coming of Euro- peans to Australia. Some mater- ia] remains to be collected in the Pyramids cave, particularly in the practically inaccessible upper passage. It is hoped that what is left can be taken out in sections and layers for careful analysis and study. Yellow-footed Phascogale (Antechinus flavipes) Of the marsupial specimens, this little animal comprises about one-eighth of those caught by the Native Cats and just half those taken by the owls. The species is still abundant in East Gippsland, KEY TO ILLUSTRATIONS ON OPPOSITE PAGE 1. Pseudocheirius laniginosis (Common Ringtail) : a—skull, from above (P 20623) ; b—skull, from below (P 20624); c—adult mandible (P 20625) ; d—juvenile mandible (P 20626) ; e—very juvenile mandible (P 20627). 2, Schoinobates volans (Dusky Glider): (P 20628) ; b—mandible (P 20629). a—part of skull, from below [Compare le and 1d with 2b and note that in Schoincbates the angle is more strongly inflected, more acute and with a flat inner edge the base of which hides the inferior dental foramen, In this species the coronoid process (when entire) is neither acute nor falcate.] 8. Petanrus breviceps (Sugar Glider): a—skull, from above (P 20630); b—skull, from below (P 20631); c—mandible (P 20632). 4. Petaurus norfolcensis (Squirrel Glider) : a—skull, posterior portion (P 20633); b—skull, anterior portion (P 20634); c—mandible (P 20635). 5. Gymnobelideus leadbeateri (Leadbeater’s Possum)—mandible (P 20636). [Compare with 5c and note that in Gymnobelideus the jaw-bone is narrower, the first incisor straight, the angle less divergent, the coronoid process shorter, and the inferior dental foramen elonzated and more posterior.] 6. Burramys parvus: a—posterior portion of mandible (P 20637) ; b—anterior portion of mandible (P 20638). [Note the comparatively large premolar.] 7. Cercaertetus nanus (Pigmy Possum): a—skull, from below (P 20689); b—mandible (P 20640). 8. Acrobates pygmaeus (Feathertail Glider): a—anterior portion of skull, from below (P 20641); b—mandible (P 20642). 9. Trichosurus vulpecula (Brushtail Possum): a—juvenile maxilla (P 20643) ; b—juvenile mandible (P 20644). | Note.—The numbers given here and also for the illustrations on pages 171 and 174 refer to the Palaeontulogical collection in the National Museum of Victoria. All specimens are shown natural size, and all eame from the Buchan bone deposits discussed in this article.] 172 Vict, Nat.—Vol, 77 Q ite} a . v 2 ° £ i= Oo Vict. Nat.—Vol. 77 ranging from coast to highlands and, with several young at a time, it has been able to maintain its numbers despite the activities of predators such as those of the past and the present-day foxes and domestic cats. The normal habitat of the Yellow-footed Phascogale is open forest coun- try, which accounts for the ease with which it was taken by owls and the fact that they obtained more at East Buchan than at Murrindal River. Dusky Phascogale (Antechinus swainsont) This is not plentiful in East Gippsland and apparently it never was, for it belongs rather to the heavy forests of west and south Gippsland and central Vic- toria. One was caught recently by Mr. Leo Hodge at The Basin, which is adjacent to both the Pyramids and East Buchan. Be- cause the Dusky Phascogale in- habits the forest floor amongst dense vegetation, it did not fall easy prey to owls, and there were apparently more of them in the Pyramids area than about East Buchan. It has been re- corded too from Wingan Inlet. Tuan (Phascogale tapoatafa) A few were caught by Native Cats and fewer by the owls. Most of the specimens were adult, and some were quite big for the species. The Tuan may still be in the district; one was seen by Mr. Alan Hodge twenty miles to the north in about 1940. Eastern Native Cat (Dasyurus quoll) The animals which had their lairs in shelters such as M 27 and M28 disappeared about sixty years ago, and they sur- vive in very few places in Vic- toria. A local resident reported seeing one at. East Buchan about ten years ago, but this is un- confirmed. Buckland (3) re- corded the species from Malla- coota comparatively recently, and reports are to be published shortly of its presence at Wil- son’s Promontory. Tiger Cat (Dasyurops maculatus) There are a few in the heavily forested areas to the north of the Buchan district, and there is KEY TO ILLUSTRATIONS ON OPPOSITE PAGE 1. Isoodon obesulus (Short-nosed Bandicoot) : a—skull, from above (P 20645); b—skull, from below (P 20646) ; c—adult mandible (P 20647) ; d—juvenile mandible (P 20648). [Compare with 2, and note large auditory bullae and broad coronoid process in Isoodon.} 2. Perameles nasuta (Long-nosed Bandicoot) : a—skull, from above (P 20649) ; b—skull, from below (P 20650) ; c—adult mandible (P 20651) ; d—juvenile mandible P 20652). 8. Potorous tridactylis (Potoroo) : a—juvenile skull, from above (P 20653) ; b—adult skull, from below (P 20654); c—adult mandible, showing large permanent premolar (P 20655); d—juvenile mandible, showing two pre- molar milk-teeth (P 20656). 4, Bettongia gaimardi (Bettong)—juvenile mandible, with the large perman- ent unemerged premolar extracted to show the diagnostic sculpture of about seven grooves (P 20657). October 1960 175 an unconfirmed sight record of one recently at East Buchan. Short-nosed Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) Many were caught by the Nat- ive Cats, and it is of interest that at least two-thirds of the victims were adult. animals. This bandi- coot is plentiful in coastal areas, where it favours sandy bracken country, and it was probably not plentiful in the Buchan district. Only a small number found their way into the owls’ deposits and of these about half were juvenile. Long-nosed Bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) Of those taken by Native Cats only about one-sixth were adult, and in the owls’ deposits only one-tenth. This indicates that the species was far better able to defend itself than the Short- nosed, But, as both the Native Cats and the owls took more of the former than the latter, the Long-nosed species must have been quite abundant in the dis- trict. A museum specimen was taken at the head of Basin Creek (east of the Pyramids) in 1951, and there was much evidence that this bandicoot had been working the ground under tea- tree scrub by the Murrindal River in September last. It is apparently still plentiful in the area, (It is possible that the adult bandicoot material found in the owl sites was not taken there by the birds themselves. ) Feathertail Glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) Native Cats took a few but, be- cause of their arboreal habits, 176 the owls took many more. The Feathertail apparently favoured the more open forest country of East Buchan; it is still plentiful in East Gippsland. Pigmy Possum (Cercaertetus nanus) The comments about predation on the last species apply equally to this, However, the Pigmy Pos- sum seems to have favoured more the heavier forest country about the Murrindal than the more open East Buchan vegeta- tion. It too is still plentiful in East Gippsland. Burramys parvus This animal was known only by the original series of fossils from the Wombeyan district in New South Wales. It was des- cribed in 1896 by R. Broom (2), and the material is believed to date back to the Pleistocene. Twenty mandibles, all old, re- presenting at least eleven in- dividuals, were found in the Pyramids cave and they match perfectly the illustrations pub- lished recently by W. D. L. Ride (6). We now have Burramys, not as a fossil perhaps ten thousand years old, but as free skeletal material contemporary with our possums and our mar- supial-mice. This discovery will be further investigated and re- ported upon fully at a later date.* *While this report was in press, the Pyramid cave was visited for the purpose of system- stically collecting the remainder of the deposit, This hus not yet been sorted, but a preliminary look through material being bagged brought tou light many more mandibles of Kurramys and Gymnobelidceus as well as some maxillary pieces of each. The whole deposit will now be analysed and its antiquity assessed. Vict. Nat—vVol. 77 Leadbeater’s Possum (Gyninobelidius leadbeateri) Seventeen mandibles, all ap- parently very old, were found in the Pyramids cave, and two re- cent ones (belonging to different individuals) came from M 27. Previously only five examples of the species were known: two from South Gippsland about a century ago, a third later from the same area apparently, and two from Mount Wills in north- eastern Victoria in 1909. Our skeletal records indicate that it was not uncommon originally about Murrindal and that it sur- vived there probably at least until towards the end of last century. Possibly the species is not yet extinct. Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) This was by far the most fre- quent victim of the Native Cats, comprising more than a quarter of their total of marsupials, The owls caught comparatively few. Despite their susceptibility to predators, including nowadays the domestic cat, the Sugar Glider is still very abundant in East Gippsland. Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) Enough of these were taken by the Native Cats to indicate that there was a significant popula- tion of them in the Murrindal area. Apparently nothing is known otherwise of either the past or the present status of the species in Gippsland. A speci- men is cited by Marlow (5) from near Bega in south-eastern New South Wales however. October 1960 Dusky Glider (Schoinobates volans) A small proportion of these animals was represented in each of the Native Cat dens but none in the owl sites. This large vlider-possum is quite plentiful in heavy forest, particularly to the north of the limestone area. It apparently sometimes des- cended to the ground to be caught by ‘cats’. Common Ringtail (Pseudocheirus laniginosus) Of the numerous Ringtails caught by the Native Cats, about three-quarters were juvenile, ranging from half to almost fully grown. Two or three tiny man- dibles apparently belonged to very young animals which were still being carried in the pouch when their mothers fell victim to the predators. The owls caught a small but significant number of well-grown young Ringtails. Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) The common “Silver-Grey”’ is abundant in East Gippsland, and in the Buchan area it inhabits holes in limestone cliffs as well as hollow trees, Several juvenile mandibles were collected, show- ing that the Native Cats oc- casionally took half-grown speci- mens. An adult skull found in M 27 would not be the respon- sibility of the Native Cats. [All specifically distinguish- able skull parts of Trichosurus have been of JT. vulpecula; but some of the mandibles found may be of T. caninus (Mountain Possum) which is known to occur in the district. ] 177 Bettong (Bettongia gaimardi) Two juvenile mandibles of Bettongia were found, one each in M 27 and M 28. Nothing is known of the original status of this genus in Gippsland, and the nearest Victorian record of it is an old National Museum speci- men labelled “Upper Yarra’, Local residents report that Rat- Kangaroos were plentiful in the early days, especially in the Gelantipy district, but at least the majority of them would be of the following species. Apparently settlement and foxes completely wiped out all Rat-Kangaroos in Gippsland many years ago. Potoroo (Potorous tridactylis) The remains of several well- grown juvenile Potoroos and also one adult were found in each Native Cat den. The few juvenile ones at the owls’ sites may not have been taken there by the birds. The National Museum has a specimen collected at Rosedale in Central Gippsland in 1900, and the animal, once abundant in Victoria, may still survive in the south-west of the State. [Note: Some of the vernacular names above are different from those given either by Bravenor (1) or Troughton (7), but they can be interpreted by reference to the scientific names in one or other of the books by these authors. } APPENDIX The seven species of native rodent were represented in the four deposits by large quantities of bones, Sorting and counting of these has yet to be completed 178 and a report on these rodents should appear in the Victorian Naturalist in the near future. Some skeletal material of bats has been collected too, and this is to be dealt with in a report on the bat populations of caves in the Buchan limestones and other areas. Remains of various birds, lizards and some insect material from the Buchan deposits have yet to be investigated and re- ported upon. Also there are other aspects of the original fauna of the Buchan limestones, including evidence of the occurrence of the Brush-tailed Rock-Wallaby (Petrogale penicillata), which should be published. Finally, a programme of live trapping is to be carried out, with the co-operation of the Fisheries and Wildlife Depart- ment, to determine the present status of several mammal species in the Buchan district. REFERENCES 1. Brazenor, C. W. The Mammals of Victoria (1950). 2. Broom, R. “On a small fossil mar- supial with large grooved pre- molars.” Proe. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 10: 563 (1896). 3. Buckland, F. J. “Notes on Native Cats.” Viet. Nat. 70; 210-11 (Mar. 1954). 4. Fleay, David. ‘Native Cats at Home.” Wild Life 7: 233-7 (Aug. 1945). 5. Marlow B. J. “A Survey of the Mammals of New South Wales.” C.S.1.R.O. Wildlife Research 2 (2): 71-114 (Dee. 1958). 6. Ride, W. D. L. “The Affinities of Burramys parvus Broom a Fossil Phalangeroid Marsupial.” Proc. zool, Soe. Lond, 127 (2): 413-29 (Nov. 1956). 7. Troughton, Ellis, Furred Animals of Australia (5th ed., 1954). Vict. Nat.—Vol, 77 Field Naturalists General Meeting—September 12, 1960 About 180 members and friends met at the National Herbarium for the monthly general meeting of the club. The recent nature show was dis- cussed; Mr. A. G, Hooke reported an estimated profit of £60, and a vote of thanks was carried to Mr. A. B. Court for his planning and to the show com- mittee and helpers. It was decided that the Lower Melbourne Town Hall should be booked for another show on September 4, 5 and 6, 1961. It was announced that A.N.Z,A.A.S. would meet in Brisbane from May 29 to June 2, 1961, and delegates from the club were called for. Each study group in the club is to be asked to appoint representatives to get in touch with the librarian to seek books and periodicals suitable for study. Dr. Eileen Lowe, an American Zoology Research Scholar at present at the Melbourne University, gave an illustrated lecture on ‘Southern United States”. She dealt especially with Louisiana, illustrating its four regions and their vegetation and fauna, A vote of thanks was carried for a very well presented and informa- tive lecture, The seven persons whose nomina- tions were set out on page 147 of the September Naturalist were admitted to membership of the F.N.C.V. The president welcomed them to the ranks of the club. Miss R. Chisholm reported an in- crease in the koala population at Macedon; many had come down to Lower Macedon, thus missing the fires. Exhibits included seven species of land shells from Central Australia (Mr. Garnet), a freak form of Ptero- stylis nutans with spreading petals (Mr. Hyett), deep-sea sponges col- lected at Shoreham (Miss Elder), and wildflowers from Wilson’s Promontory (Mrs. Coghill). Aspects of the kangaroo problem were discussed and it was decided to ask the Fisheries and Wildlife De- partment for a statement regarding protection of these animals in Victoria, An explanation was given to members October 1960 Club of Victoria of the club council’s considerations about the wombat. Geology Group—September 14, 1960 Fifteen members were present, with Mr. Jeffrey in the chair. Mr. Davidson commented on Anaspides, the Tas- manian “living fossil’, exhibited at the recent nature show, Mr. Fisch told of asimilar shrimp-like creature found years ago in a creek near Melbourne. Mr. Davidson reported receiving a letter from Mr. Cobbett who is touring overseas and is at present in Iceland. It was arranged for Mr. Baker to lead the excursion with the country clubs to the Organ Pipes at Sydenham on October 1. The main part of the evening was a members’ night. Mr. Tinckam showed slides taken from a plane over the alps of the South Island of New Zealand, Mr. Jeffrey showed views of places visited by group excursions, and Mr. Dodds the copy of a new paper-back from America depicting “History of Geological Sciences”, and the new geological map of Melbourne issued by the Mines Department. Exhibits included glacial pebbles (Mr. Davidson), meteorie iron from South Australia (Mr. Jeffrey) and greenstone from New Zealand (Mr. Tinckam). Fauna Survey Group—August 17, 1960 Ten members attended the meeting, and arrangements were made for a second visit to the Buchan district in late August, to coincide with the Uni- versity vacation. Further sifting of the bone deposits was planned to recover some of the smaller and rarer native mouse remains, and two days were to be spent looking for Rock- Wallabies in rough country about Suggan Buggan and the Little River Gorge. Plans for the publication of articles on various topics and reports on the group’s work were outlined. Mr. Wakefield then went on to dis- cuss the Buchan bone deposits, mak- ing interesting comparisons between species and relative numbers of in- 179 dividuals found in the Native Cat dens and those of owls. Some of the remains were exhibited and features pointed out which characterize the skulls and jawbones of various species. Mr. E. Wilkinson showed a series of slides of a Mountain Possum. (Tri- chosurus caninuns) and a Fat-tailed Pouched-Mouse (Sniinthopsis crassi- eaudate); and Mr. Wakefield showed a few slides of Sugar Gliders (Pet- aus breviceps) taken near Benalla. Fauna Survey Group Excursion to Buchan District Seven members travelled in two private cars from Melbourne, on Sun- day, August 28, and established camp in two bark huts by the Little River beyond Wulgulmerang beside the Snowy River road. Most went on down to MekKillop’s Bridge to enjoy the magnificent scenery from the road and the display of wattles along the Snowy.* In the meantime, Mr. Wake- field, who had arrived the day before with Mr. kK. Dempster of the Fisheries and Wildlife Department, had had a day in the valley of the Little River, below the Gorge, in the company of Mr, K. C, Rogers of Black Mountain. The three called in at the camp at about ten o'clock, after a gruelling three-hour trek hy moonlight along the side of a rocky scrub-covered ridge, to report the presence of Rock- Wallabies at the lower end of the gorge. The following day most of the party climbed up through the Stradbroke Chasm in the side of Rocky Range above the Suggan Buggan valley, and others went to the Lighthouse further up the river. Rock-Wallabies still live in the former spot but have long since disappeared from the latter. Tuesday was spent in the Little River Gorge. This involved a couple of hours climb- ing down a seemingly impassible saw- tooth ridge of rock to the river 1500 feet below. A small section of the valley was explored as well as the environs of the Wulgulmerang Creek Falls, near where the latter stream joins the river. There was ample evid- ence of more Rock-Wallabies along the river and about the cliffs above, The party climbed out on the other side * See pages 157-58, 180 of the gorge by way of a bare 40- degree slope of huge jumbled rocks. Members are of the opinion that this spot has scenic grandeur probably not equalled elsewhere in Victoria, and an illustrated report of it should erontielly be published in the Natur- alist. On Wednesday the Mabel Cave at East Buchan was investigated further and the bats in the inner chambers given some attention, This involved crawling through some passage-ways with several inches depth of ice-cold water flowing along the floor. On the Thursday, the party went into the Federal Cave (Murrindal) for a time to observe the bat colonies there before returning: to Melbourne. Other activities of the group on the occasion of this excursion are dealt with in the main reports on the Buchan bone deposits. Microscopical Group—