THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST The Magazine of the FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA in which is incorporated THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA VOLUME 78 MAY 1961 to APRIL 1962 Editor: NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.Sc. Melbourne BROWN, PRIOR, ANDERSON PTY, LTD. 430 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, C.1 ' 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! F.N.C.V. Publications Available WILDFLOWERS OF VICTORIA, by Jean Galbraith (2nd edition). The 176 pages of text deal with about 1000 species, and there are 185 photographic reproductians. Price 18/-. FERNS GF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA, by N. A. Wakefield. The 116 species known are described and ilfustrated by line drawings, and there are 30 photographs. Price 7/6. VICTORIAN TOADSTOOLS AND MUSHROOMS, by J. H. Willis. This describes 120 toadstool species and many other fungi. There are four coloured plates and 31 other illustrations. Price 6/-. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, Except for about half the numbers of the first nine yolumes (1884 to 1893), almost all back numbers of the journal are obtainable from the club. Assorted lots are available, dealing with particular subjects (mammals, birds, orchids, geology and anthropology). PAMPHLETS. Lyrebirds of Sherbrooke and Sherbrooke Diary, both by K. C. Halafoff (1/- each). Key to the Identification of Australian Snakes, by R. A. Hunt (2/6). . Address orders and inquiries to Sales Officer, F.N.C.V., National Herdarharn, South Yarra, §.£.1, Victoria. Payments should not include exchange, May 1961 27 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 78 (1) May 1961 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 transmiasion by post as a periodical 2/6 Vol. 78, No. 1 May 4, 1961 The Victorian Naturalist Editor; NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.Sc. CONTENTS Articles: Major Mitchell Plateau, in the Victorian Grampians, by J. R. McCann 4 Story of a Wagtail Family, by L. K. MW. Elmore ... +e 18 A Native Tobacco, Nicotiana gaddependtt, New for Vietoria, by Evan Rowlands ,- 10 The Surface Achitenldare ‘af Woablazmannte, iy A, Massola nA .. 16 Features: Along the By-ways with the Editor: Spider Orabs at Macrae, Tngerts that Eat Spiders .. <8 - -- 12 Australian Wattles: Narrow-leaf Wattle, by Jena Galbraith rey | Microscopists’ pornen Criticisms of the Modern abreroavepe Stand, by C, S, and G,. J. Afiddleton .. i ua th” gt 1§ National Parks and National Monuments: Mount. Eecles National Park, by J. Ros Garnet .. ea a b. o- 3 re || Field Naturaliste Chih of Victoria: April General Meeting, Group a sais ete... ., slew ae .. 23 Diary of Coming Events hs wk 1. 4 A rs -« /25 Miscellaneous : Book Review: “Where the River Ran, by R. H. Perry’ .- ne .. dl Entomological Saciety of Victoria , Aye ay of bd ba .- 83 Front Cover: The Australian Labyrinth Spider, Corasozdes avetralts, lives in a hole in the ground, It spins a tangle of strands between two bushes, then a fine- meshed net heneath, with a funnel leading to the Isir. Insects hit the strands, fall anto the net, and the spider rushes out to secure them. This specimen and its egg-sacs were collected at Cheltenham im_ 1939 and photographed by Mr. L. §. Butler, They were discussed in the Neturalist of March 1939 tol, 55, pp. 186-9). May 1961 3 Major Mitchell Plateau, in the Victorian Grampians The Major Mitchell Plateau takes its name from Thomas Mitchell, the explorer wha, in July 1836, ascended its majestic northern neighbour, Mount Wil- liam, and narned both that mountain and the series of rmg- ged sandstone ranges which comprise the Grampians, We had arrived one morning in November 1960, al a Forests Commission camp among tall messmates and atringvbarks. Tranks and limhs of these euca- lvpts were still black from the January fire, but adventitious foliage gleamed like copper in the morning annlight. High above, a cloud stil] rested upon the maszive southern wall of the plateau. Roads and snig-tracks, ereated in the course of the logging operations then in progress, and the bare slopes where the fire had raged, éencourayed us to attempt the long ascent. For years we had gazed from Mount William and wondered if the stately Silver Daisy (Celmisia lorgifelia) and the Mountain Pepper (Drimys lanceolata} still grew upon the distant heights of the plateau, Although record. ed as having been collected np- on Mount Willham, gue efforts Lo retiseover these two bhigh- land plants had been ia vain, Twice we had atietnpied ihe crossing from Mount William, only to be defeated by the rug- ged going on Boundary Gap. 4 By I. R. McCann We knew that we would find the Drimys in a certain steep wully for two observant brothers, while felling logs under con- tract to Stawell Timber Indus- tries, had noticed this “stranger” during the spring of 1959 and had brought a spray into Sta- well, We found it growing in profusion in association with the rare endemic beard-heath (Leucopogon nevrophyllus) Which had previously been eol- lected only from Mount William and Mount Thackeray*. We trac- ed these two interesting species right up tu the base of the cliffs where they shared the damp shady slope with Mother Spleen- wort (Asplenium bulbifernm) . To reach the platcau we fol- lowéd a rouyh logging track to the base of a lung spur which rose 16 méet the weslern end of the vange Yellow heads of countless Billy Buttons (Cras- pedin wniflom) and Curling Bverlastings (Yeveiirysum seor- pioules) waved on either side, The Common Bird-orechid (Cieatl- ogtattis gunndiy studded the ground, its twin leaves cradling brown and green tiowers. Stout Hower-stems of the Creat Sun- orchid (Thelaomitra grandiflera) rose high above the bracken. One, not the largest, was thirty inches high and carried thirty- seven flawers, A sleep islus of shatteréd sandstone led onte the Spor. +See Wiad. Mut 28 AD PAuiciet, JDSB), Vict. Nat —Vol, 78 + * ay — SS . — =— ._ = > 7 s* p > 4a» - & - - 7* S 7 Here we found tall specimens of the Musky Caladenia (Caladenia angustata), white inside and deep wine-red on the outside, and heavy with the character- istic musky odour. Higher up these yielded place to a smaller orchid with much the same form and colouring but bearing a May 1961 k , Ba j “ , * . a VA heavy ribbed leaf—the Moun- yionte veoh. hee Wajur echt "Type Pa ‘i tain Caladenia (Caladenia lyallit). Above an outcrop of broken sandstone, the spur levelled off and widened, forming a grassed meadow in which thousands of Ivy-leaf Violets (Viola heder- acea) were interspersed with 5 most only blackened stems, are no more than ¢chest-high, Milkmaids (Burchardia «am- hellata) there have shortened stems and some, without stems, have their umbels of flowers vrowing directly out of the basal leaves and resting on the soil. The Common Bird-orchid and the Mountain Caladenia were in bloom. The uncommon Dense- leaf Grevillea (Grevillea can- fertifolia), almost entirely pro- strate and hugging the rock, fisplayed strawhberry-like ra- cemes of blooms. Pinnate Boronia (Boronia lutipinvat) and Hairy Boronia (8. pilosa) were found in bloom —the former in the shelter of the taller pully vegetation and the latter in more exposed posi- tions, Pink Swamp-heath (Sprevgelia inearnata) shared the shallower gullies with the Mealy Honey-myrtle (Melaleuca sguaemeay and occasional shrubs of the Showy Bauera (Bauera sessiliflova) . The reptile fauna consisted mainly of skinks of various sizes but with uniform agility, A solitary blue-tongue provided an exception, A handsome speci- men of the White-lipped Snake 7See Viet. Nat. te: 102 (March, 1957). May 1961 fa Pa Per ay bay yoy, (Depisania carvonoides) was de- tained just long enough to re- veal the characteristic white lip- ine. Wedge-tailed Eagles soared overhead and a group of falvons engaped in uerobatics out over the escarpment. In a eully the moss-draped nest of a Mountain Thrush contained a well-gtown chick. A serabbling in a pile of sand- Stone slabs revealed an echidna, heaving with powerful shoulders but making no impression upon the massive rock. Everywhere we walked we found the bleached skeletons of the little two-inch-long vrust- acean (Phieatoicopsiz fer- ricola.). Wherever there was soil iis casts could be seen, and it was to be found crawling and flapping its tail when sandstone blocks were over-turned. This versatile creature has been found in the streams, in water at the bottom of “crab-holes’’, under rocks in damp soil and even in perfectly dry moss-beda. It appears to be quite comfor- table in all four habitats. The Major Mitehell Plateau amply rewards the naturalist who accepts the thallenge of its towering slopes «and tangled vegetation. t Story of a Wagtail Family Early in September 1959, a pair of Willie Wagtails (Rhép- idura leucaphrys} commenced building a nest in the Jemon tree a few feet from our kitchen wittdow. Cobwebs and grass, as well ss some wool from the nearby woolshed, were the main materials, and a verv neat and warkmanlike job was made, One bird at a time would sit in the nest so that. the shape would fit its badly In due course threé eggs were laid and ineuhation commenced. Two or three days later, a Noisy Miner (accompanied by an agit- ated White-plumed Iloneveater) arrived and proceeded ta wreck the nest, but [ succeeded in driv- ing it off. Later, hawever, the epys were missing. ‘Then two more were laid, and they dis- appeared also, Three more were laid, and these were hatehed on October 27, It was interesting tu wateh the parents feeding: the nest- lings. At one stage they were fiving a shuttle service between the nest and wrazing sheep about fifty yards away. Thev picked up flies with monotonous re- rularity and amazing speed, At fourteen days the young birds were fiyving, and a few days later they appeared as agile on the wing as their parents, One day I saw a hawk disap- pearing with something in its jalons. That may have heen eoincidence, but after that T saw only two young wagtails. By L, K. M. ELMore In the meantime the female had commenced to Jay ayain, using the old nest. As before, twe more clutches were destroy- ed before one solitary egg hatehed. The nestling ¢eame vut on December &, and next day it had disappeared. 1 thought that would surely be all for the seasun, Sparrows were seen carrying away pieces of the nest, and il was soon a complete ruin, However, on December 22 there was a half- cnmpleted nest about a foot be- low Lhe old one, at the point where two horizontal hranthes erossed. From Decernber 28 to 30, three eggs were taid. On January 1 the parents were still adding to the nest. One bird, returning with cob- webs, would replace its mate on the nest. Then, with a quick erochet-like action. it would bind the material round the structure and over the branches. Following is a diary wf sub- sequent events: Jan. 3—A pair of kooka- burras were feeding a very noisy young bird in a Lree about a hundred yards away. Jan. fi.—One of the young birds of the October hatching was fed by one of the prrents us the latter returned to the nest. Jan. 7.—The temperature was 104 degrees, but the eggs were never ahandoned, even though the sun played on the spot for at least two hours, One or other of the parents perched on the Vier. Nar.—Vol. 78 edge of the nest and shaded the eggs with outstretched wings, Jan, 8-—It was very hot again, with a northerly gale followed by hgehtning and torrential rain. At the height of the storm, sheets of roof-iron were blown from the house a few feet away, and the nest began to wrench loose with the violent motion of the two crossed branches. How- ever, the branches were cut back with secateurs and the situation was saved. , Jan. 9.—The day was calm, and the birds were busy making repairs, using cobwebs to bind the nest down firmly. Each took its turn at this while sitting on the epps. Janu, 11—QOne egg hatched in the morning, and another was seen to have hatched at 6 p.m. By next morning all three had hatched, Jan. 13.—The temperature was 100 degrees. The young birds. were again saved from the fierce heat by the parents’ wings. In the evening a kooka- burra was seen looking down May |961 W Uline Woaeee Vineet from a high tree nearby, but it was driven off fiercely by both wagtails. Jan, 14—It was very hot again. The young birds were feeling the heat but were grow- ing fast. Jan. 18,—A Sacred King- fisher came within a few feet of the nest and was attacked and driven off by one of the wag- tails. Jan, 25,—The three fledge- lings. were almost too big for the nest. The parents did not feed them so: heavily that day, The youngsters were trying their wings, and that night the parents slept away from the nest. Jan, 26.—In the morning the nest was uneccupied, Later one bird was located in a Ineerne hedge a few yards off, and another was in a cherry-plum tree a little further away. We do not keep a cat, and our two dogs keep strays away. It can be seen how these birds could be exterminated. It would be difficull to say how many 9 thousand flies the waytails raupht in the vicinity of the sheep. This ts something to think about. Land is cleared, birds dis- Appear, and the grazicr spends large sums on chemicals to kill flies. Flies become immune and scientists search for new chem- icals, We seem to be working against nattire, for 7 have yel to see the fly that has becume immune to the Willie Wagtail, A Native Tobacco, Nicotiana goodspeedii New for Victoria Eight miles south of Kobinyale, Vieturia, and a few hundred yards eusl of the Bannertan Railway Sts tion, lies a Crown land reserve of ahout forty acres. Although bordered on the west and north by the Murray Valley Highway, it remsins essen- tially in its virsin state. There it is pogaible, in the space of fifteen min- utes’ pret walk, ta pass through typical samples of three of the im- portanl yeoelation typee of north- western Victuria.' Firstly, belts of dark wreen Murroy Tine (@allitris vrefesti), highlighting their greyer, less dense associates, the Delar ((es- raring erjatatiy and the more di- minutive uinbrélla-canopied Cartle Bush (Helerodendron wleifalinm), ov- cupy areas of alkaline red sandy loams. with Sight clay and Lime tn the subsoils (Zimmer, Type 2). Thase line -Belar helts alternite with two differ- ent Mallee ussictations On cud sandy Joams, in general of slightly liyrirter nature, oecars the Tall Mallee asso- ciation (Zimmer, Tepe 3); Haealyp- tus oftosa, EB. tluplosa, BE. ineraesetfa and EF. gedeilis, with its undershrubs of Pimelea Dajay-bush (Oleerio pim- elenidex}, Dusky Daisy-bush (Ofearid moneller?) snd Pouimted Twin-leaf (Zygophyllum apientatumd, Other trees to be seen in this aasociation in- ¢lude Weait-d-while (Acacia __ col- fefioides), Striped Hakea (fakea vltiata) and eeping Pittosporum (Pit tusporien patignepiterts 4 The = seen olalles association (Type 4 of Zimmer) is distinctly marked by the appearance of Por- cupine Grass (Triedéa irritava). The Mallee species uecur as in Tall Mallee areas, bat the daisy-bushes and Point- ei Twutleaf disappear completely. 19 Ry Evan Row Lanps This association oceuples sandy soil of the east-west sand rides. In this drea, 1 have listed shout fifty pf the mmen — indigenous specins af north-western Yietoria. It is worth noting that no introduved species has encrasched on this area except where a shallow man-made channel vroszes the reacrve, and there Stinkwort (/nula graveolens) Hore- hound (Marritrieim welgare? and Tree Tobaceo (Nicofzana glance) huve Lheir first fouthold, On the eastern ple of this ve- serve on February 81. 1960, 1 col- lected the first Victorian specimen of Niedtiana goodapredii, Che identifica- tion was confirmed by the National Herbarium of Victoria (20/5/80, ref, 686/60). This specimen was growing in @ Tall Mallee area. Necotione goodspeerwa: was described o8 o new species by I. M. Wheeler? in 19365. The type specimen was cullected by Richurds at Fowler's Buy am 187 and is Taw kepl in the Natiwnal Mer- hariom, Systematically, the specyes in ¢loge lao Nicotiana exipia. No svaveilens. N. rotundifulia and N_ ingetba, and fertile segreguling hybrids, have been produced with the first three species N. goadspeedéi is distinguished from N. sumvectans and WN. vaguibu by its shorter mid hattower coraiia, Whe corolla length being characteristically 2.5 times the calyx length? {com- pared with WN. suaveolens: 3-23 times$}, and from N. rvtandifelie by its glabrous stem and leaves. An ex- cellent disgrani of the species is shown on page 474 of the CAronica Botanicn, Vol. 1h, No, 1-6 (1954), in "The genus Nicotiana" by Goodspeed. Vict, Nor —Vol, 78 \ Further Vielorian Records Probable ‘ ‘oa H wa t & ae ‘ RE AE rr aed a Rorrese 88 mie menfton jg NSW abe Ble > f m4 4 p oKoonamste Nymabee Zo" adhe: ved pe = <> tanh Tlisreibution Map of Nocefiana guudeprrdir Records of the occurrance of Niro titer guodapeedii show it to range in a narrow belt fram middle New South Wales to south-eastern Western Aus- tralia, un appreximately the southern margin of the arid centre of the Aus- tralian continent, with rainfall 8-12 inches. The rainfall of Rohinvale is abeut 12 inches annually. From the distribution shows on the diagram, ane would expert that this species would he found in north-western Vic- toria.* Its nearest reported occurrence tu Robinvale is apparently near Over- jand Corner (leg. Black, 1924) and the Jstitude of Robinvale, 35°5, probably represents its southernmost limit. It seems likely however, that there will be further Victorian occur rences of N.. goodspeedii in the ares shown by Zimmer! as Tall Mallee stretching westward fram Yatpool and Australian _ South horder, where rainfall, temperature and soi) vonditions are favourable, Carwarp to the REFERENCES Wimmer, W. 7. Flora of the Far North-weat af Vietoriu (Forests Commission of Victoria, Bulletin No, 2—Ed, 2), pp, 25-29 (1946), “Wheeler, H. M., “Studies in Nivo- tiana’, C'nie. Calif. Publ. Rot. PS (6). G8-d (198Bp, AGoodapred, T. H,, Phe Genus Nico- Gana {Chronica Botanica, Vol, 16), Pp. 472-5. (1954), ‘Black, Jo oM., Por of Santh Asse trefia, Kd, 2, Part 4, p. 769 (1957), ‘Burbidge, Nancy T., “Australian Species of Nicotiana", Avwst, J. Bot, & (2): VIS 41960). Book Review: ‘Where the River Ran, by R. H, Ferry” 8vo, 78 ph. To deseribe Something of the hfe story of otters, eels and ussociated speeies uf the wildlife that dwells in or Near a small stream in rural West England the aulhor of this little boak selects on utter as the principal character. He traces its development fruni orphaned babyhood, when it Wie udepted for a time by an un- usually or temporarily kind-hearted poacher, to maturity which it attained in a normal environment, . The story would he essay reading for yauungsters of an age which sees nothing very odd in the anthropomar- phic interpretation of the thought and May |S6T 7 Hlustrated emotions Of unimals. [Plenty of writers have used the same technique with our Australian fauna and, ane doubtedly, it. helps to encourage a more kindly feeling towarda bird and beast if one believes that they enjoy and suffer in moch the same way as we do, Our children, so far irom the Iand of otters, might profit mare frem reading tales of woombats, kanga- toos ard koalas, but this une is well told and parts of it convey an easily- digested picture wf some of the "facta of life’, (Qur copy from Hodder and Stoughton), ~—J. R. Garret “1 ah 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. Spider Crabs at Macrae The land has its animal plagues at times: mice, locust, phasmids and such; and in the sea, creatures such as jelly-fish appear in vast numbers. Here is the report of a crab plague, told by Mr. E. R. Allan: During Easter, unbeknown to the people of Macrae on Port Phillip Bay, a vast horde of creatures were slowly travelling along the sea-bed toward the local beach. By Saturday night, April 1, they were massed close to the shore so thickly that a boat owner wishing to paddle out to his craft decided to abandon the idea. Early next morning, I noticed a group of unusual objects on the beach just below the high water line. On investigation, they proved to be live spider crabs each about twelve inches wide, from the tip to tip of front legs, and with a carapace of five inches from mouth to tail and four inches in width. Looking into the sea I saw an amazing sight, for within a few feet of the shore were sluggishly moving hordes of crabs all 12 about the same size, I walked along the beach and found that they ex- tended for over half a mile, in patches extending from close to shore to where it was too deep to see further. As I counted fifty in an area only about nine feet square, there were obviously very many thousands of the crabs. Some had a clean red and yellow carapace but many had their backs covered with a slimy seaweed. Unlike many spider crabs their legs were smooth, not bristly. For the rest of the morning there were very few swimmers off that beach, as it was impossible to wade out far enough to swim without treading on crabs. A few enterprising lads went up on the highway selling them at sixpence each, and they were very sweet eating as I found out later. Gradually the crabs retreated into deeper water and by Monday morn- ing none could be seen other than a few dead bodies. On reference later to the publica- tion Crustaceans of South Australia I was able to identify this spider crab as Leptomithrax australiensis. It would be interesting to learn if any readers have observed similar massing of crabs at other places, and Vict. Nat.—Vol. 78 whether it is Known where these trahs would huve come from. for this Species if not normally seen at Maerac. Inseeis that Eai Spiders Observers of nature are quite fumiliae with the almost uni- yersal habii of spiders of prev- ing Upin insects. We are aware too that certain wasps reverse the general rule and provide a tartler of spiders Tor their young ones, There are some Jess-known examples of insects that eat spiders, and two such cases have been clescribed in letters received recently, The main report is from Mr. E, H. Coghill, secretary of the F.N.C.V., who has written this story: A few weeks ago [| received from Mrs. Hedgzaod, of the Ballarat F.N.C,, a specimen found on a wire fence, It was a black muse about the size of aw pea, and it had already started to disinterrate ta a smHy sub stunce very Itke the deposit left ufter sharpening a pencil, At # meeting of the Entomology Group, under a microscope, it; was found to consist of a large number of smooth ovals, about half a milh- metre long and half that wide, in Shape exactly like half dried grapes. This ruled out the possibility thut this wit A mineral substance, as the smooth ovals were obviously organic. The exhibit was broken up and some of it taken hame by Mr, D. FE, MetInnes. He alliwed tt to become moist, and at the March cenerul mect- ing of the FIN,GV., his microscope shuwer that a number of tiny larvae, not visible te the naked eye, had emerged. At the National Museum, the en- tomologist, Mr, A. NS. Burns, identified the specimen os the eves and larvae of a bladder-tiy, one of the genus Oreades, in the family Cyrtidae, De- scriptions, with drawings of the adult, may he feund on page 37d of Insects uf Australia and New Zea- fond (Tiyard) and Aaatratiaa fee rocte (MeKeown), These however give no indicutiun of the size of the May 196] adults, which are slightly thin hnuse-ftios. The fife history of a bhodderfly is most interesting. When the evga are lakl they remain afermant until the weather bevomes Humid. The lurvae then emerve, lack for the nesrast epider, swarm: on it and penetrate its body, usually where the skin is thin at the san he They live on it tad. when fully prown, ext their wily ut, fuit ta the ground and pupite there, The ty grubs seem too help- lesé Lo pursue and climb onto a spider, but apparently they do sn without undue diticulty. Rooks aay that the ese are lnid at the tips wf twigs, where spiders are mast likely to He found. Our speci- men was on foneing-wire. Appurently the species has learned that spiders are just as likely to he Sound on a fence ua on a twig Another note ot the subject came, in October last, from Elizabeth Bayne, of the Goal- burn Weir State School. This time it was an insect for ident- ification, with the covering com- ment: The insect with wines hatched out af a vocoun a spider was carrying, We fed it for several months on files before it died. The specimen is a mantispa (Mantispa strigipes)}, and Bliza- beth's astutéeness is to be com- mended, for her brief report covers, in essence, the insect’s life history, Tiny eggs are laid —on short stalks, Like those of lacewings in miniature — and the larvae penetrate the silken vuverinys of spiders eyg-sacs. Some mantispas favour the eggs of wolf-spiders, as was evidently the case in this instance, for species of the latter carry their egirs about with them, Although mantispas belong to the Order Neuroptera, they have forelegs very like those of mantis (of the Order Orthoptera): for species of eavh proup catch and eat flies in the same way_ larger 13 Australian Wattles No, 24 By JEAN GALBRAITH Narrow-leaf Wattle—Acacia mucronata “The bush was grey, a week today, Olive-green and brown and grey, But now the spring has come to stay With blossom for the wattle.” The poet who wrote these lines might weil have been amongst the early gold of Narrow-leaf Wattle; and when Dr. Floyd wrote his lilting tune for the verse, he could have had in mind the dancing lights and shadows on southern hills where, in very early spring, its pale gold shimmers and gleams—here primrose, there lemon-yellow—a cloud of bright- ness above the pink and white heath. Narrow-leaf Wattle makes its own sunshine, but it is sunshine through rain, for it begins to blossom in August and it is at its loveliest in September. By October it is fading, except in very sheltered places. It is a graceful bush, usually five or six feet but sometimes higher, with a few strong stems and many willowy branches clothed with narrow foliage. The phyllodes are often under an eighth-inch wide and may be twelve inches long, but they may be much wider and shorter—perhaps four inches by a quarter. They are smooth, not sticky, with from one to several Narrow-leaf Wattle main veins without any noticeable reticulation (connecting veins). Acacia mucronata belongs to the group of wattles which has the flowers in spikes, not balls; but its spikes are hardly catkin-like, as they do not hang down. Instead they spread and cluster, each one very slender, with widely-spaced flowers with a distinc- tive, almost unpleasant scent in which there is a suggestion of pear blossom or hawthorn fragrance, and a hint of sourness, No other species is likely to be mis- taken for Narrow-leaf Wattle. Sal- low Wattle (A. longifolia), in some of its forms, comes very close to it, but has foliage with fairly conspicuous reticulate veins; and A. floribunda, of eastern Gippsland, is a bushy tree with smooth curved phyllodes which are inconspicuously veined. Also, as the flowers are opening, the reddish sepals of A. mucronata are distinctive. Narrow-leaf Wattle is at home in sand, amongst rock and in clay. It grows chiefly in the forested country of southern and eastern Victoria, both on lowlands and hills, and its abun- dant flowering can literally turn miles of forest from olive-green to gold. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 78 Microscopists’ Corner Criticisms of the Modern Microscope Stand Three of our mictroscape stands in constant se were made by W. Wat- aon and Sons 28 yeare ago, James Swift 30 years azo and Powell and Tealand 75 yours aga, Unly the Powel! and Lealand stand has been modi- fied, hy fitting a. short Lube to take modern optics, All are giving superior service im several Téspects to any jwederp instrument. What happens to all the microscopes madé annually? A microscope should jast a life- time, if reasonable care is taken in use and jé (a serviced by 2 competent instrument maker. However, some stands leave the maker with much better chances of giving such satis- taerian to their owners than_others. Of the modern ones low being made, those made by W. Watson and Sons, London, are the anly anes we have seeti that are provided with com- pensating serows ta take up the wear oh all bearing surfaces, All others need considerable time and skill to Tet then onee the wear develops and the moving parts sre no longer smuoneb. Since the 1949-45 war, Mesars. R, & J, Bock, & very old Brelish fittn of mirroscope makers, have fitted their microscages with all stiding parks In a ticw shape which promises, with reasonable care, to give a life-time of s@cvide. The knots of the mechanical étare of both the Watson and the Reck mic- roscopes made today are also of a reaseunable sivé. These are consid rably jarzer than the continental de- sizus from which the British Science Guild copied their standards and and wive geester case and accoracy Mm Txnipulation, The small imnobs on most micruscones now bern made reduce the contry] one has of the mechanteal stage, especially when using high power. We see no advan- tuze in such small knobs. Larger knoby could still be used, even for those who wish to examine cultures on petri dishes, if the knohs were repusitioned, similar to those on the Watsan aad Beck microscopes. The May 1 P64 By (. 8S. anp G, J, Miopreton* position of those of the modern Leitz maicrosgope if also puod; they are uf reasonable size dind comfortable to use, hile all anoderii stands that we have seen and handled push the stide acress the stage in the horizontal direction, those made by Watson, Beck and Leitz ute the mast comfortahle te use, Only some of the modern mechanical stages are fitted with an adjustable clip to lake slides of different lengiks. Showld a slide break, it cunnot be used of & stage without such & clip. Some stages have such a large hole, apparently ta avoid scraping im- mérgion oil from the oil itmrersion dondenuser on to ibe slage, thet ane fannat use the fuil traverse of the horizontal movement without grave risk of breaking the slide when it drops through the stage opening. Where serial sections are being searched, hese are very serious dis- sdvantages. On the other hand, TF the openings tn the top share plate is nurruw encugh to avoid this danger, an_ immersion condenser can pe used only with dilficulty, a3 the slide with Immersion vit on its underside serapes the aif on ta the stape plates, and amears it all.ever the surface bf the Slaye. This necessitates washing the stuge with xylol after every vse, thus discalouring the bakelite-surfaecd stage and, due to the troutle in- volved, people avoid using an pil tm- mersion epideuser which should le used by get the hest results when using 4 high aperture ofl immersion objective. We cannot help feeling that a re- turn to the type of stages made for the pre-war mivros¢oue stands of Watson or Back, in which the whole top pluie moves in both directions, waultt he « great advantage. (To be continued > Nule: Queries, suggestions or articles invited. Fiease cnelose Stunined andressed envelope for personal reply. "SR Vieturm Street, Sandringham, AW ave. 15 The Surface Archaeology of Wooloomanata Wocloomanata is the mame of a pastoral property, now consisting of zome 35000 seres, situated on the east side of the Geelong-Buechus Mursh frond about fourteen miles from Gee- ag, The homestead was built in the early 1350’s hy F. W. Armytage, who t-an~ar-sa "a 4, > = + At WOULOOMANATA + Mile Larality Tlan ‘ 16 By A. MASsoLa had come from Tasmania. It ig anid that the bluéstone (basalt) used in building it had been quarried on the property, but an assiduous search has Tniled ta find the quarry. The timber used in the home and fenees was sup- osed to have come from Tasmania. fhe present tiniber in the homestead, however, i¢ Orecon, so that sither it is not the criginal timber, or if did core from Tasmania it did not origin- ate there. The fencing, at least, would no doubt have been froin local timber. The name Wooloomanata is a uor- ruption af Villamanata, first recorded by Tune and Hovell, as Willan- minater, as denoting the highest peak (Stution Peak of Flinders), of the nearby ranges, the You Yangs. The nearest native word to Willanmanater that T can find is Willam-gnuther, whieh in the local language meant “ng homey" or “no camps". It is very likely that when Hume und Hevell in- quired from, the natives the nam# of the place, they were told that on that hill there were no camps, that is, no- one Jived there, Australian nomencla- ture is full of such odd meanings, due to the itability of explorer and native Lo Dnderstond cach other's language, The aims You Yangs has also becn badly corrupted. Buckley, the runaway convict who lived for many years with the natives of this lucslity, is reported tn have called them Faweny, that is “BULL Lt would seem that the native uname Tor this range is actuglly Wardi- qyutoung, Lihat is, “Hie Bay", Wriluemonata is abont three and a half miles north-west of | Station Peak, un o gently undulating and picturesque pluin enlied by the natives Warrae-wurrasitll, the “barge Plain”, which, about four miles north«weat of Wooloomananta, rezches the foot-slopes of Anakie YVouung (Anakie Yawang), the “Little FiN". This locality was inhabited by the Corto section of the well-orranized and powerfyl Wod-do-wre tribe, con- sisting of many yroups which together uwned the whole of the territory now forming the County of Grant, atid purt of what is now Grenville. The Viet. Nat-—Vol. 7B njeaning of the tribal name has hut heen wscertained, but wre signifies lips, to speak; that is, this people spoke the Wad-do languace. In this territory there ws oan abundanee of game and edible routs of many kinds, and it was equally well supplied with surface water, Under these conditions the natives moved freely, and were able to camp almost anywhere on it, not being re- stricted to the water courses or the sea front. Like all coastal natives, however, they preferred ta camp on a sandy spot. One such place is about a mile north-north-west of Woolon- manata home station, and, by its characteristics, a5 a camping place it must considerably antedate the home. These sandy patches, on which no vegetation seems to prow, are fenerally referred to as “blows’’. This one has an area of between four and five acres, and is situated on the south-western slope of one of the. low undulations so prevalent, in this plain, Close to the southern and western sides of the blow there is a stretch of Jow-lying ground which has all the appeatance of having been «a swamp. In wet weather two nearby creck beds would help to drain the plain and feed what are now dams, but could well be the remains of this ancient swamp, The exceptions to the lack of vegetation on this blow are a few clumps of a species of Sejrpies, and same Coren appressa, This paucity of veretatiun forms a sharp contrast to the surrounding well-grassed country. The present owners of Wooloomanata have made persistent efforts to re- elaim the area, s0 far with little suc- May 195! cess. A litthe Veldt Grass, and a few luyps of Avapanthus growing here and there bear witness. to thigy en- deavour, The entire surface of the site is Almost covered with chips, flakes, and broken stones of all descriptions, mixed with the “regulation” imple- ments, a cross section of which is here tabulated; Fire-blackened and fire eravked stones are ‘seattered over the site. These of course, are not artefacts, but were used by the aborigines us “fire stones" for their camp fires, or for capking ovens, No well-defined hearths or fire pits were located. The aborigines continued to live in this area even after the building of Wovoloomanata. This is recorded by A. Henderson in Early —Pionerr Fomilies of Vietoria and Riverina, Where be states that 'Frederick Armytage and his wife took a kindly interest in the aborigines round Wouloomanata, especially in Rilly Leigh, who was King of the Tribe, and had been baptized and confirmed in the Church of England at Lars, , . - When he died in August, 1912, the Armytayes of Wouloomanata erected an upright cross on his grave in the Eastern Cemetery". The blow at Woocloomanata was first brought to my attention by My. Kingsley Sutton of Ballarat, the well- known collector of stone implements. In July 1957 he conducted a small party” to the site. Later, in March 1960, I was permitted by Mr. R, B. Shankley, the present cwher of *The tacty consisted uf Messrs. K. Satton and J. Jte of Hailarst, Mrs. ©. M, Todehupe, Mr, J, Mulvaney and the writer of Melbourne W Wiredlan Objects from the Wooloomanata Bluy. Wooloomanata, to lead an Anthropo- logical Society excursion to this blow. Between these two dates other col- lectors must have visited it, as the number of artefacts was found to have been greatly reduced. This paper deals with the imple- ments collected during the first visit. While this assemblage is represen- tative of the tools found on a site and used by the natives of the district, it must be remembered that, because of assiduous collecting in the past, it would not constitute the full com- lement. of what must have been left here by the aborigines. Stone Implements The stone implements found on the surface of this blow conform to the usual types found in this district. They are mostly scrapers, micro- scrapers, and cores, with an odd ham- mer, anvil, and grinding stone. The high incidence of “utilized pieces” is a feature. These do not conform to any recognised types, and, together with the very large number of flakes (not listed), could have been the im- plements used by the natives after the coming of the white man, when the native culture had broken up. No chipped or ground axes were found, which is natural enough, as these are so obvious they would have been col- lected long ago. With the exception of the sand- stone and_ stilt-stone axe-grinders, which came from St. Kilda and were probably obtained by exchange from the Bunurong tribe, the materials used in making these implements were all obtained locally. The quartz and 18 ferruginous quartz probably came from the You Yangs; the cherty flint, taxonite (ferruginous chert) and quartzite were probably obtained from the bed of the Little River, from a level underlying the basalt. Basalt is common on these plains, and it is strange that only one implement made from it should have been found. Apparently the abundance of quartzite in the vicinity accounts for this, In the accompanying table no at- tempt has been made to subdivide the implements into varieties. This prac- tice has, in my opinion, been carried much too far. I agree that they should be divided into general classes, but, in a series like the present, when the types merge so gradually into each other, it seems to me to be splitting hairs to subdivide them. Foreign Material A piece of iron, two inches long by five-eights of an inch wide, was found. It has a slightly-rounded outside edge, three-sixteenths of an inch thick, diminishing to a cutting edge on the straight inner side. All the characteristics of a crescentic mic- rolith, other than size, are present in this piece of iron. A small porcelain whistle-watch combination toy, of the type made in Germany and sold at fairs about the end of the last century and the beginning of this, was found on the site. The Roman numerals are still visible on its face. Food Remains No evidence was obtained concern- ing the food habits of this group. The only food remains on the site were a shell of Ostraca angasi, the native Vict. Nat.—Vol. 78 Table- Analysis of Stone Implements Py § & b=) * 3 z 3 = 3 5 gE ES 2 § a4 2 sf 4 Se Be G & F&F S&F © & & High back eore-planes + —>- = - WwW — —~ — il Utilized nieces - Coroid shaped Lo -e ig VN — — — HW Leaf shaped gE — — Ff» —~ — 1 Others =- —|— —- —- He — — 14 Semi-disesidal scrapers - &—& -—& & 82 — =] — WF End serapers Se &— Le =| = 4 Side scrapers Ss S-_—=— GY ise oe 4 Microlithic semi-discoidals 14 — 7 — 3 1 — — 3) Microlithtc end serapers $GeceeHe’ Ss =— 2 Microlithic geometrics 2 — t+ — RB > =e co Fil Microlithic points a 4, se es as a Fragments of axe grinders — — ce —_ 2 1 3 Hammer stores _ f= = = = —- ~&— 1 Anvil stone =—-_ — & & - = — 1 46 1 9 I oOo 1 2 t 152. oyster, which is common in Corto of being man-made. Some larger Bay, and some possum and rabbit bones, These bones need not, weees- sarily, have been aboriginal food re- mains, The oyster is of a species not generally eaten by Europeans, Be- eause of the distance of this blow frorg the sea, it is. possible that the oyster shell was used by its native owner us 4 Knife of seraper, aad need nat have been the shell of sn oyster used for fool. Wooden (Objects During the first excursion toa the Woolonmanata blow several double- pointed wooden objects were found, Mr. Sutton had already, duting an earlier visit, callected same of these. During the Anthropological Socicty’s excursiun more wtte picked up by members, Pifty-twe were collected during the three visits, Most of these range from one ta six inches in length and front one-cight of an inch ta ong inch jn diameter. They are all painted at beth ends, and took just like su many spexr-barbs, fish urges {tiucduks), nose-sticks. and heads of wit-wat (a game called rat-tail), Some of the specimens show a peculiar, keel-like longitudinal Hat- lening. hey all have the appearance May 186! Specimens were found, One, twenty- Sour inches long and one inack in Aiameter, looks just like » thrnwing stick; a broken piece of another, twenty-three inches long and two inches in diumetey, is like tle distal end of a digging stick, Other ex- amples are not quite raund wr syim- metrical in sectron, bub have the pointed extremities. These Jast ex- amjlct uppear to have teen shaped by nature and not by man, wherens others have a slight Jongitudinul curvature, which no rolling waruld cause, Why shoold all Wiese be found on this particular site und nowhere else? If their beantifully pointed ends were made by wind or sand why should this not happen to similar pieces. af wood on author blows? Yet, if thay are man-made, why ate hey sv plentis dul here and non-existent elsewhere? In reporting their ocvurrence 1 should like to point ont that if only one or two examples had been found on this site, they woul] winquestinn. ubly have heen referred to x8 abprig- inal relics, Paradoxically, it is their very sbundance in this one leeality Which makes one hosilate to identify them as aburigins] artefuete, 19 Conclusten Indications are that the made of lite of the aborigines frequenting this site coincides with that of ollter Waod- do-wro groups. They would have used this camping site for short perinds, and moved on to fresh grounds, Whilst here they would have hunted on the Plains and on the nearhy swamp and collected focd roots and seeds fram wild grasses: Fires would have been lib bath for warmth and for cooking. Judging by the amount of stone on the site, the men musk have sperit considerable time in making imple- mients. both in stotte and in wood, al- though there is no actual proof that the weklen objects found are man- made. Suitatle stone is plentiful in this locality, The wamen, na doubt would have made baskets, and netted head bands, bags and belts, as well as neta for hunting emus and kan- wares, from fibres of the rushes sriwingg on the swampy ground, No evidence of this, however, was found, duc to the perishable nature of the materials. The arti¢les af TMuropean origin confirm the statement of Henderson that the aborigines continned to occupy this site even after the advent of white men, Acknowledgements My thanks are due to Mr. R. B. Shankley for allowing me to collect an hia property, to Thre A. Reasley, Curator of Minerals, for identifying the materiala of which the stone implements are made, and t Miss Hope Macpherson, Curalor of Mol- juses, for the identification of the shell matertal. National Parks and National Monuments —I7 Mount Eccles National Park In the western part of Wietoria, the shallaw seas of Miocene times endured lonz enough ta aliow the building up of great masses of cal- cureous sediments. For «xaimple, the depth of limestone at Nelson—a small settlement. neae the estuary of the Glenelg River—is knuwn to exceed 500) feet, The river, for miles of its course, has cut deeply into such rock, and here and there, throughout that ragion, occur wonderful Jimestone UVES, An equally fascinating feature of the region is the extent of overlying basalt, indicating the yolcanic out- pourings which louk place in Pleis- toceno times, many millions of vears later. In a number of places, the lime- stone is overlain by a mere veneer of lava. Here and there one vomes upon holes in, the ground, of variaus depths and diacueters, where the basalt hus fallen into an underlying limestone cave. In soch places, one is likely tu find relics of the past, in the form af hones af animals—sometimes of species lung since vanished from the sfeie—the victims of incautian or accident, One jis also likely to find 20 By J. Ros GARNET these places the homes of a enm- munities of living things—bats, birds, beettes, moths, spiders, alpue, fangi and ferns—most of them peculiarly udupted ta their trogludyte existence. The caved of Terendarra, Portland and Byaduk are like that. Not all of them are walled with limestone though. Some are of tuff, that soft acrated rock derived from showers af voleanic ash, A cavern of that sort may be explored with Ittlle efforg at Mount Bevles. Ahout midway between Hamilton and Port Fairy, 18 the township of Macarthur, on the Eumeralla River. South of the townshtp, 2 road leads off for five or six miles te Mount Ecoles aid Lake Sitprise. The approach to the mount is de- cidedly unimpressive, One gazes at farmlands and cleared slopes, nehly carpeted with unallrachive weeds, he- fore climbing gently up the track through « dight forest of Manna Gum. But the end of the road provides what is indeed a surprise, At the stopping-place ja a stone fireplace and an iran shelter-shed with Tain-water tank. But the tani serves Viet, Nat,—Vol, 78 no useful purpose, as the guttering of the shelter is now incomplete. These objects catch the eye for a moment, but more enticing is the vlimpse of pellucid green waters of Surprise, the crater lake far below- The lake is about a mile long and, at its widest, four or five hundred yards across; and it is “very deep”. Its wills ure, for the most part, per- pendicular; but at the north-western end, where the shelter-shed is, an easily-neyutiated track leads down the hundred feet or so to the water's edge. The water is quite drinkable and palatable, though, like most of the water of the western part of the state, it is a little hard. Another track, further round to the north-west, leads to a sizeable tuff cave, in which is found any amount of the delicate Veined Bristle- fern (Polyphlebium venosum), prow- ing on the mojst walls. Mingled with it is a eurious alga which seems to exhibit a yellowish luminescence; little patches of it reflect the faint in- cident light from the entrance. May 1961 At the south-east end of the lake rises the main mass of Mount Eccles, surmounted by a trig. station, 584 feet above sea level, and from its treeless, grassy dome one may see for miles in almost any direction, Nearby are a minor crater and several holes in the mounds of lava. One of them is said to be over ninety feet deep und to represent the now-unplugged main volcanic vent. An investigation by members of the Speleological Society of Victoria, when completed, should yield some interesting infor- mation about the several curious for- mations at Mount Ee«les, The perpendicular walls of the lake are fascinating to look at through binoculars, but their mysterious ledges and caverns are, for most. of us, objects to be studied only from a distance. Unlike the mount itself, the crater walls are picturesquely studded with veretation—an ocrasional old she-oak and grags-tree, Blackwoods, Manna Gums, Bursaria, Cassinia or perhaps Tree Everlastings. Down be- low is an abundant cover of eucalypts, 7\ hush-peas, lilies, grasses and ferna. while at the water's edge, teu-Liree and rushes thrive. It is a charm- inns spot indeed, and one which has been included in this series on our national parks besause tt was de- divated as such by parliament — lese than twelve months ago, Although Tower Nill has been last from our tally of national parks, Mount Eecles ia un acquisition which fives sonté ideu of what the vezeta- tian of Tower Hill must have heen when first seen by explorers more than a hundred and thirty years apo, The reserve is a meré @ighty acres, and henee it scarcely vonforms to the wecented stundard of wu national park —-i term more appropriately applied tu extensive tracts of countryside like Walson’s Promontory, Mount Buffalo und Kinglake National Parks, Mount Eccles would be more aptly clussed sas a national scenic of realogical reserve but, until such time wus aur National Parks Act reeugnizes such terms, it will remain a “nutional park"; one Victorians are glad te have acquired, if only to provide for the pratection and preservation of a very interesting beauty spot, Until its recent dedication. it had THE IDEAL COLOUR ®A 35 mm. Voigtlander Vito C.L. Colour Camera, with F/2.8 lens and in-built exposure meter. ® Perkeo 35 mm, Slide Projector, serni- automatic, in the new modern low styling. “T HERBERT SMALL’S been reserved under the Lands Act as u flora and fauna sanctuary, managed by s committee af Joval vitizens and representatives of the Shire of Min- hamite, but its committee was unable ta stay the hand of progress, Grad- pally the timber frum it slopes and environs was whittled away so thaut sheep and cattle might erage more witels. The sheep still graze hy the erater Juke, but they are trespassers which, perhaps shortly, will be with- drawn to their folds in the farms nearby. Perhaps, too, from the nearby westerly forest, there will emerze to Frequevt the park thoge ative beasts and birds which im days yone hy lncded it over Moutit Fecles and Luke Surprise, Mr. N. PF. Learmonth, writing a brief avcount of the birds and wild- flowers of the reserve, in the Vieturims Naturretist of December 1951 ¢ V0). 68, p. 188), observed that the mount, when discovered hy Major Mitchell in 1836. was named Eels*, in honour of a companion of his Peninsular cam- paigns. How it hecame corrupted to Ee¢les, one can only guess, sAveuriling te Mitchells journsl and may, the name was Eeles.—Fditer, COMBINATION Price; £29/17/6 (With Case) Price: £226/10/- (With Case) 259 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE Telephone 63 7635 {Opposite Hetel Australia! View Nat—Vol 73 Field Naturalists General Meeting—April 10, 1961 Mr. D, E, MeInnes presided, and a large number of members and frends attended the Aprit general meeting of the «luh at the National Herbarium. Country members—Miss Jean Gal- heaith of Tyers and Mr, E, Harrison of Warrenbayos—and Miss Kepler fram New Zealand, were welea ta the itteeting The president asked for members wha wold act on cominittee for the nature show ut Sentember, or who Lould assist with transport of equip- tient ofvd exhibits; and suggestions were invited for exhibits on aspects af natural listory of the Little Desert area, There was discussion of a proposed jetter to the Premier, the Minister for Foresta anid State Development anf the Nationa) Parks Autirority, resard- jing the proposed hotel at Wilson's Promontery; and the aeeting decided te request that it be situated in the vicinity of Durby River. Mr, K. Simpson of the Fauna Survey Group spoke on “Whales and Dalphins", tractng the fossil history and orjgias yf the groups, ond their anaplutions for Lhe retuen to aquatic life, He gaye detaile of characteristics and. habits of various species. and some of the history of whaling and uf feeent conkérvalion niessturds. The talk was tllustrated with pletures of prehistoric apecies, present-day species and whaling operations, and exhibits of teeth and bones of members of the urder_ Nature Notes; Mr. A_ Fairhall re- gictat the jinstallution of a Spiny Snider that had adapted a postage MeLaren told of ai Leaf-eurling Spider that had adapted a postage stamp for its home. Mr. BL Coghill reparted that the saoot-like material discussed at the previcus meeting had proved to be eges of a biadder-fly, 4 species whose larvae prey upon Spdecy. Twenty new members were elected to the F.N,C.V., and the president wished them 3 lappy association with the club. Geolipy Group—April 5, 1961 Nineteen members attended, with Mr. LD. Meinnes in the chair, The May 1961 Club of Victoria Secretary read a report of the «x- corsion to the Yuroke and Wallan area, led by Mr. W, Hunks, lu atudy the various eruptive points of hasal- tic, Hows, _ Mr. R. Davidson brought to the at- tention Sf members « newspaper fe- pert pf the Anding in the TSA, by sckwol-hays, of a unique fossil reptile of probable Jurassic age and alsa the finding at Emerald, Queons+ land, of a fossil of huge dimensions, probably the remains of a dinosaur ur a fish-lizard. Mr Tf, Dodds discussed a science article which illustrated & machine to give pressures of yillions of pounds to the square inch, Under such pres- sures, combined with low lemperature, various pases may exist as solids, Mr, TD. Jeffrey quoted an article’ Time magazine about a project to advil] Wo great depths under the foor wf the Gulf of Mexico, The lewtare for the evening was “he Physiography of the Yarra”, by Mr. R. Hemmy. The speaker con- fined his Yerarks Lo the Upper reaches of the river and dealt exhaustively with the theiries of Grewory, Jutson, Hill2 and Gilh Excellent colour slides iltastrate the mnoin were used to pol nts, Library Report, 1059-69 A considerable amount of progress has been achieved during the past twa years. We have recently been for- tunate 3 aeguiting the services of an expericieed librarian, Miss &, Anpted, whi hus avvepted council ap- mointment «as honorary agsistant librarian. Deputy librarians for the study groups have been appointed: and tis hoped that regular meetings of thesé officebs ein be held to discuss plans for expansion and impedyement of the library, A large nuypber of interesting and valuable hooks and perioditals have been presented lo the library. Sources of these, other than those ocknow- led ptevinsly, ioelode the ful- lowing: eatute of the late Mr. A. D- Hardy; Mr, K, Halafeft; Mrs, Mar- Kay; and Mr, G HH, Fetherston, Periwienls presented iacladed many Tiumbers wb the Vielevien Naturoiat Which have teen inverporated in vluh stocks. Through the generosity ufone zi of our senior members, a road re conditioned typewriter has been ac- quited. We are deeply grateful to all who have eontributel towards the stock and upkeep of the library. The Clob improvement Fund was estublished some two years ago, and ona of its functions is ta mect cer- tain Hbrary expenditure. Membors were invited to contribute towards the fond, which i¢ being augmontad through sales, at meetings, of un- wanted publications. Recent sugges- tions fer book purchases are being considered, and mpre would be wel- come, The programme for binding period- icals is now being prepared for 1961+ 62, and it is hoped to bring this sec- tion af the library wurk Up-to-date during the coming year. A modern system of cataloguing and classifica- tion is being installed, to replace the original system in use. This will in- volve a classified subject catalogue, with author and title index, and shelf list, and complele recutalozuing and veclassclying of publications aecard- ing to the Universal Decimal classi- fication. Space is a major problem, and wars and means of at least partly overcoming this are heing con- sidered, The publivations stand at the recent Miombu nature show was dircetly under the carttral of Lie library, and ‘we de letsed La répurl vecy satis- Cactony resulta, Maria Te. Argo, Hox. Lahrariae Nominations for Office-bearers for 1461-1962 . Presilent—Mr L. Ey Mcinnes, Vtet-ureaidentis—Dr. W. tiaroc, Mr. WT, Williune. Treaxnerer—MWe. A. G. Hauke. Aash Trranerer—Minn M. Bulchuet, Seoretay—Mr, Be. TT. Coghill, Asst, Seeratary—Mr, J, KR, Hiukion, £dtter—Mr, N. A, Wakefield, Asst, Bditer--Mr W, F Seed, Lebrar.dai—Miss M, Argo, Asst Litrartiavi—Misg S. Apted- Kxowwion Séeretwry—Miss M, Si lender. Avdttars—Oin TR. Davidson and Mr, W_ I. Evans. Couneil—Messers. E.R. Alan, FE. Ryrne, TW. Deticuehy, HR. Dodds, A, J. 1b. Fauirhull, BE. 8. Hanks. J. M. Wilson und Biss F, Philips. 24 Botany Group—April 13, 1961 Twenty-four members were pres- ant to hear Miss A. Hooke present the second talk in the series on the plant kingdom. Her subject was “Algae and Pungi', The description pf these primitive forms of plants was made simpler by the number of specimens shown. Membera plain an excursion to Emerald on May 14, as a follow-up to this lecture. Next month, Mr, G. Thompson will speak on “Tjverwerts ond Mosses", Yond Life and How ta Collect [t A spevial night devoted to pond life hunting will be civen at the next Microsropical Group meeting ot the National Herbarium, at & p.m. on May L7. This will be a group eifort: most members will participate by de- sembing varicug gadgets snd their uses. There will also be shown numer- tia faictoscope accessories, many at which were designed and made by the members themselves. . All are invited to atlend this in- formative ¢vening. which will be im- Valuable to young and old slike, especially those whose inlerest in pond lite may have been aroused by the recent showing of the film “Tite ina Drop at Water”, Entomological Society of Victoria The Butomological Sariety wf Vie- turiu lapsed during the war years but, at a revenl mocting convened hy Mr. Mr, J, CG. LeSouet and attended by twenty persons, i, was decided to re- form the wuciely, Otfice-bearers were elected as Inllows: President —Mr, J. G- LeSouct. Vicepresidant—Mr, D, T. Crosby, Seerotary—-Mr, G, T. Rushworth, 29 Hedderwick Street, North Bulwyn (WL 9641), The re-formed Entomological Sori- ety will meet ut 8 p.m, on Friday, May 26, at the Natiujul Herbarium, Sonth Yarra, These ifterested in entomology 46 a sviemte or a fe- crestion sre invited tw allend, The meeting will he an “Open Night” and specimens may he liroujht fur dis- play, ‘here will also be a diseussion about the fytiire progrumme Wl Lhe society, Viet Mat—V¥ol. 78 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 78 (2) Junz, 1961 Published by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria In which is incorporated the Microscopical Society of Victoria Regiatered at the General Post Office, Gate, for transmission by post aa a periodical 2/6 30 ? Forest Conservation This is the Answer O “NEITHER the scientist co nor the forester, the o © ‘tandowner, tourist nor a GS camper, ACTING oO tm SEPARATELY, can en- Oo ci sure the safety of our Oo c forests... . St is only a — by the active co-oper- oO mation of ALL SEC- o mm TIONS of the commun- oO oO ity that the forest o a wealth of this State o ca can be nurtured, pro- oO tm tected and harvested 3 ci not only for ourselves, o c but also for the gener- oa co ations which will follow o ca usin the years tocome.” o (Extract from sound track of Forests Commission film, “Harvest of the Hills’) FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA Viet, Nat.—Vol. 78 Val. 78, No. 2 June 8, 1961 The Victorian Naturalist Editor; NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.Sc. CONTENTS Articles; Tongue-orchids and Ichneumonids, by Ina M. Watson .. .. -. Be Otoliths or Ear-stones, by EB. M. Davies Ra or .. Ba Two minerals from Cape Woolamai, by K. G- Simpaon wey a .. At F.N.C.V. Excursion to Yarram—1960-61, by Winifred Wilkirts .. 44 Features: Along the By-ways with the Editor: Trees that Animals Like, Mirrors Attract Birds, Ertan prising Sherri Tdentificarion of Specimen — > a 36 Australian Wattles: Hickory Wattle—Acacia penrninervis, ad Red- stem Wattle—A. rubida, by Jean Galbraith ., 4 38 Microscopists’ Corner: Criticisms of the Modern Microscope Stand, by CL S. and G. J. Middleton .. s. 42 National Parks and National Monuments: Visit bon Proposed National Park, by J, Ros. Garnet ia 5 df: a e% af .. 46 Field Naturalists Club of Vistoria; May General Meeting, Group Meetings, Library News, Affiliated Clubs 48 Eighty-first Annual Report, 1960-61 }re £4 e 1 be ie SBE" Financial Statements, 1960-61 ne =i z3 _ nt be a.) BS Diary of Coming Events ,. $4 te $4 be be spy .. 58 Book: Rewiews: Cyeud, Vol. 1, No, 2 (May, 1960), by L. M. White ., $4 4 ~. = 85 Allas of Burepean Birds, by A. R. MoBvey .. .. $4 ty ote 4G Front Cover: The Tasmanian Devil is one of the largest carnivorous marsupials. It dis- appeared from the Australian mainland many hundreds of years ago though itis still plentiful in Tasmania. The picture is of two young ones, nineteen weeks old, bred by Dayid Pleay at the Healesville Sanctuary. An article on the subject appeared in the Victorian Naturalist in October 1935 (Vol, 52, pp. 100-105), June 196] 31 Tongue-orchids and Ichneumonids In 1927 much interest was aroused when Mrs. Edith Cole- man described jhe pollination of the Small Tongue-orchid (Crp- taséylis leptechila) by an ich- neumonid wasp, (The generic name refers to the hidden style or éolumn.} During December 1960, a member of the Portland Field Naturalists Club, Mr. Bruce Fuhrer, told me he had noticed the wasps clustering around some specimens of the Large Tongue-orchid (C, subulata). I determined 16 photograph this and accordingly set up my equip- ment at the end of the swamp where the orchids were grow- ing on old tea-tree clumps pro- treding from the water, A long hot afternoon and an equally long hot morning the following day were spent beside the swamp; only Gne wasp flew around and did not stay. At luneh time E piled my equipment in my arms with the few speci- mens of orchids in their bottle of water, held out of sight in my hand, anc decided to “give it. away”. The car was a hundred vards away, and on reaching it I cdumped the equipment on the var barmet, and was amazed to find five of the wasps avidly altacking the orehids, just as described by Mrs. Coleman, They had evidently been attracted in the short juurney through the grass to fhe car. The wasps hang back down, firmly claspirg (he sides of the large “tongue” with their legs, 42 By Ina M. WATSON while they back inte the flower with the abdomen tncurved. Two wasps were often on the one flower together, and atayed on the orchil for several minutes. The pollinia appeared as a bright yellow horseshoe at the tip of the abdomen as the wasps flew away. i The insects were not disturbed by the careful spreading of the flower spikes for the purpose of photography, and indeed the eagerness of the wasps was the thing that impressed ane moat. As the original observations were published some thirty years ago, it might be of interest to summarise the articles here. In Victorian Naturalist, Vol. 44, p. 20 (May, 1927), Mrs. Coleman reported that her daughter had noticed a wasp visiting flowers of the Small Tongue-orchid (C. ileptochila) which were ¢comrmion in the Dandenongs. The thing which amazed and mterested them was the fact that the wasp entered the Hower backwards, although in the upright position, ‘The wasp was identified as one of the ichneumonids—ZLissoninypla semipunctade, Mrs, Coleman deduced that the scent of the orchid must lure the wasp from a distance and the shape of the flower conipletes the attraction, She stated the facts. of which she was certain, that is, that the wasp visited the orchid purposely and enters mw. Gtasepxmpla = sxceln Nat, 76: 18) (Feb. 1951). Vier Nar—Val, 78 Sy ( Coste} —Sre Viet. the Hower backwards and that it successfully effects pollina- tion, carrying the pollinia away on the tip of the abdomen, There was no sign of any collection of larvae or nectar in which the insects would be expected to be interested, This article was il- lustrated by two photos of the Wasp Which hited been tuken after the insects had been killed and the orchid and wasp preserved in formalin. Mrs. Coleman followed this up the following year with a longer and more detailed account of the procedure, in Viet, Nat., Vol, 44, p. 888 (April 1928). She lists other instances of insects ‘attueking” orchids, and for the first time stated the aysumption that only the male wasp visits the orchid: The most remarkable feature of this unusual partnership is its almost certain exclusiveness.. Were the same insect acting as pollinating arent for any other members of this genus, we should expect to find hybrids among them. Visits to the parents of differ- ent apecies would undoubtedly bring about aun interthanwe of specific dune 1961 Pulliiatton af Laree ‘Tonguc- vevhid by Ivhnenmianid. Twa insects wre al the Hower. Mheta Jina M, Wutnoo es characteristics, yel, though IT have found C. leptochila frowing in elose association with another member of the genus ((, subxlata, Labill.) I have never seen a bybrid between these two types. She then analysed the attrac- tion offered by the flawer ta the wasp dnd discussed this under the headings of mimicry and seent. She states, under mim- jery A glance at the strange labellum. modified out of ull proportion to the thin, almost thread-l1kée petals and sepals. with its dyuble row of dark glistening glands that gleam in the hot sunshine loved by the wasp, is perhaps sufficient to justify the theory of an attraction based on. the resemblance of the Hower to.a feniale wasp. Even to our eyes, the likeness is apparent. Ty the inferioe eyesight of the insect, the resemblance may be still more canvineing. Another observation was that the wasps Were more numeraus and eager in the early part of the season, and Mrs. Coleman postulated from this that the males of Lissopimpla sentpunc- teta emerge considerably in advance of the females. 33 In July 1929 (Vict. Nat., Vol. 46, p. 62) similar pollination of the Large Tongue-orchid (C. subulata) was reported by the same species of ichneumonid. In this orchid, however, the label- lum is inverted and the wasp has to hang ‘‘back down” while backing into the flower. ‘This is accomplished swiftly and ac- curately without any apparent hesitation.”” However as soon as the pollinia are collected the in- sect falls off the flower as soon as the legs release their grip. 34 Tehneumonid at Flower of Small Tongue-orchid. Photo; H R. Wakefield Experimenting with speci- mens of both species, Mrs. Cole- man found them visited freely by the wasps which entered the flowers indiscriminately, but, Mrs. Coleman said, no hybrid between the two species had been reported although they had been recorded growing close to- gether on many occasions. At that time Mrs. Coleman had a nearly faded specimen of C. ovata from Western Aus- tralia, which even in its faded state elicited interest from the wasps. While it could not be proved, Mrs. Coleman felt con- vinced that this western species was pollinated in the same manner. The next year this was con- firmed when Colonel B. T. Goad- by of Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia, reported that C. ovata was pollinated by L. semipunc- tata and declared himself en- tirely in agreement with Mrs. Coleman that the attraction of the wasp to the orchid was sexual. Later in January of that year (1930) Mrs. Coleman had the opportunity of seeing the re- moval of the pollen from the New South Wales representative of the genus, C. erecta, in the same manner by the same species of wasp. (C. erecta was reported in Victoria for the first time in 1936—collected at Marlo). Three years later, Mrs. Cole- man reported on the mating of the ichneumonid (Vict. Nat., Vol. 50, p. 41—June 1938) and further stated that an orchid placed in the jar with the insects seemed to attract Vict. Not.—Vol. 78 the males even more than the female wasps did. In this article Mrs, Coleman questioned whether some attraction other than scent could lure the insects to the flower from a distance, as their response was so im- mediate and compelling. A new species of Cryptostylis —called the Furred Tongue- orchid and given the specific name of hunteriana after its collector—was found at Marlo and reported in Vict. Nat., Vol. 54, p. 182, in March 1938. It was merely stated that L. semi- punctata was associated in its pollination. From the reports it is obvious Bonnet Orchid, Cryptostylis erecta, with Ichneumonid. Photo: H, R, Wakefield June 196] that the wasps are more eager in the early part of the season— early January—and that the male wasps probably hatch out first, and with the compelling urge for reproduction, are at- tracted to the orchids. Certainly anyone lucky enough to witness the wasps visiting the orchids can not fail to be aware of the singleness of purpose and deter- mination which they show. The orchids, of course, achieve polli- nation. Review: “Cycad”, Vol. | No. 2 (May, 1960) The Gosford District Fauna and Flora Protection Society’s publica- tion Cycad is a valuable record of some of the district’s plants and ani- mals, This issue contains “The Spine- tailed Swift” (D. Niland), “Plants of Gosford Ridges and Gullies” (O. K. and P. J. Parry), “Local Trees of Gosford District” (E. T. Dally), “Orchids of Gosford District” (D. Bronsdon), “Funnel-web Spider” (Eric Worrall), and “Plankton” (Hilton Chalmers). In addition there is a penetrating article by Mrs. L. Sourry on “Some Aspects of Conservation in the Kos- ciusko Area”, warning of dangers to it, deploring remedial attempts, and suggesting further activities and controls to preserve primitive areas, It would be an excellent thing for every district in Australia similarly to record the native fauna and flora, to spread information about them and to carry out researches before they are lost. The Gosford attempt is a very fine effort and deserves support. It is to be hoped that the future will bring financial success to the Gosford society so that Cycad may be pre- sented in a permanent and easily handled form. Note; On page 6 correct floribunda and on page 7 correct Adiantum formosum. L. M. WHITE 35 These columns are available each month for notes and queries. Address your correspondence to the Editor, “Victorian Naturalist’, Trees that Animals Like Some time ago, after com- menting upon how cattle chew the bark of stringybark euca- lypts, Mr. K. C. Rogers of Wul- gulmerang added these notes on the practice of horses chewing bark from the trunks of certain other eucalypts: Here at Black Mountain we have known the horses to chew at the bark of a Candlebark Gum (Eucalyptus rubida) in the winter months, until it was almost ringbarked. This may have been due to a deficiency caused by lack of green feed. In the Snowy River and Suggan Buggan areas, brumbies frequently chew the thick flaky bark from White Box trees (E. albens), and they leave teeth-marks on the sapwood. One cannot say whether the horses like the bark or whether there is something they need in either bark or sap. The answer is probably in the horses’ liking for the sweet sap 36 P.O. Box 21, your nature Noble Park, Victoria. or phloem of the trees concerned; and probably they remove areas of bark to enable them to lick the sappy wood. There seems to be a correlation between the at- tentions given by several animals to a particular group of trees. Whereas wombats habitually chew stringybark to wear their teeth down, they like to dig down and bare roots of Apple Box (E.. bridgesiana) from which they remove patches of bark, to obtain sap, and they leave teeth- marks on the wood, just as the brumbies do. The Fluffy Glider (Petaurus australis) chews bark from certain trees—Apple Box and Manna Gum (E. viminalis) for instance—for the sake of the sweet sap. Koalas favour the leaves of Swamp Gum (E. ovata) and Manna Gum — particularly the latter. It is interesting to Vict. Nat.—-Vol. 78 note that Candlebark Gum usually produced much more of the sugary exidation which we call manna, than does our Manni Gum; in fact, in New South Wales the rerognized popular name for #, rebida is “Manna Gum". Finally, in studying the ecology of the Helmeted Honey- eater an) obscured by wallaby grass and other herbacesys plants, were about the only unde sirables noted. Now, £54 an adc’e may seem & lot 41 ty (pay for the permanent protection and preservation of the property and all the things it harbours, Fifty years hence, Ocean Groye—indeed the rest of Bellarine Peninsula— may have little resemblance to the place we eee taday. Perhaps every avutlablé atre will be closelir settled or farmed; the ardinary municipal sports grounds, pavke and gardens will doubtless be kept spic and span for the recreatian of its throngs of citizens, But many will yearn for the casualness and charm of the natural bushland—as indeed they do now, Well, it seems that the “Square Mile” is the anty Piece left that can cater for this need, for those who travel west of Port Phillip Bay and who do not wish to zo az far as Anglesea. And how much natural bushland will be Jeft at Anglesea fifty years hence? Field Naturalists Club of Victoria General Meetine—May 8, 1961 A large gathering of members and friends attended the May méeting at the National Herbarium, with the president, Mr. D. EB, McInnes, in the chair. Members stood for 2 minute in silence jf respect to the memary of Mrs. Tarlton Rayment. whose sudden death came as o shock tw her many friends, Mr, H, Stewavt spoke of her long association with the elu and ber connexion with etirly pioneers of the Gippsland area. Country menibers Were Welcomed to the meeting: Mr. L. Elmore and Miss V. Boardman, secretaries of tha Hame ilton and the Geelong PYN. Clubs re- Spettively The president commented upon the re-formation of the Entomological Soviety of Victoria. A request’ was teczived from Mr J, Hyatt For FN, GV, members to assist in staging 4“ nature display at Lhe Lilydale show on November 18, (961. The secretary Announced that Messrs, J, H, Quirk and M. Houghton had been nominated for membership of the club cuuncil, thopeh their names Were Snadyer- tently omitted from the bist of momi- nations published Jast month, The secretary reported on replies received to the letter from the elub on the subject of the proposed hotel on Wilson’s Promontory. The Minister for State Development indicated that the matter was in the hands of the National Parks Authority and that the government would respect their decisions; and the NuP.A, had thanked the cleb for its interest, The secretary has written to the government, sip- porting the proposal far acqutaition and reservation in lte natural state 48 of the Cuthbertson property near Qeenn Grove. The cecretary has communicated to the show committee of the Adelaide nuturslists this clib’s objection to gathering wildflowers from the bush, and their request for material has heen passed on to jnembers of the Society for Growing Australian Plants, The application for affiliation with the F.N.C.¥, by the Geelong FN. Club will be considered at an extraordinary general meeting at 7.55 pan on June re. The subject for the evening was “Conifers”, by Mr, M, W, Page of tle C.S.1.R.0, He explained differences im structure of the wood of angiosperms and gymnosperms and consequent differences in quailty. He stressed the wounting 1 for timber, and out- lined plans far planting confer forests. of Pine radiata especially becuse of ite quick returns, He cave details of haproved techniques in pro- cessing pine timber, increasing its dirability and extending its nseful- ness, The lecture was iUlustrated by lantern slides and samples of timbers and at ite conclusion, a vote of thanks bo ihe speaker was carried. Nine new members were elected te the club: three metropolitan, fonr country and two junior; and the presi- dent weloomed them to the tanks of the P.N.C.V. Mr. W, Woollard brought greetings from the Bairnsdale FLN- Club, which he had recenth Visited, and there wes a request from the Warrnambool! FN. Club for speakers at their meetificgs. There was a vavied Iot of exhibits, ineluding leaf-hopper nymphs and adults, with attendant ants (Me, B. Coghill), Mr. C, Gabriel showed Vict. Nat—-Vel_ 78 samples of the introduced snail, Ruparyphre pisos, and many men- bers commented thay leaf-curling spiders seem to prefer their shells for hemes, rather than the normal curled leaves, Fauna Suryey Gronp—April 13, 1961 Thirteen mernbers were present, with Mr. N. A. Wakefield in the chair, Upon reecipt af a letter from Mr- A. Court, conmvencr of the P\N,CY, mature show committee, The proup decided to stage an exhibit at the September show, details of which are to be decided Ister. Group aquipment was discussed, Ib was decided that two mist nets were needed for bat-handingg and the in- vestigation ef species distributian; fifteen more fine-mesh whre bax traps showld he obtained; atid sone miners? cacbide Jamps are required for cave work, Mr. Wakefield reported receipt of a Weiter from Mr. t Calaby af the C.SLRK.O,, Canberra, reconimendie the Australian Marmal Society io members of the group. Mr, B- Harti- Son, & ViSLLAG coUnlry member Iram Warrenbayne, told of biindless unt Black Wallabies in the Strathbogies; this was diseussed with Mr, K. Demp- ster of the Fisheries atd Wiudllfe Department, and it was décided also to pass the information on ta Mr, Calaby, Lust year's Ingram Trust grant wis diseassed IL was noted Liat ail money allotted for equipinent and publication of articles had heen ex- pended, but there was still the sum of several pollnds tn hand for Working expenses. It was decided that a Tur- ther application should he made to the Trust for a grant towards case of equlpnicnt, 3 noted above, as well az for future Working expenses and the cost mf praducing avlequate illus- trations with articles to be published. The proposed discusston on pre- Wisteric niacsuplala dit out take place. Instead, Mr. E. Wilkinsoa gave detaile of his rediscovery of Leadbrater’s Fossum (iGumitobulidews inadheater?), a réport of whith will be pubtiphed in the Naturadiet shortly. On behalf of the group, Mz- Wakefield congratu- lated Mr. Wilkinson on his nportunt discovery. dune 1967 Microscuptcal Groupg—April 19, 1961 Twelve Wernbers Were present, with Mr. 1), B. MeInnes in the chair, A new book on practical microscopy has been published, and it was suggested that, since the tuivroscupy section of che club library consisted posinly of very old books, this woultl be a very useful additian. The prograrnme for the rest of the year was discussed and, although the abject far the next meting was de- rided, fuiure arrangements depended on bringing in some outside speakers, with club members filling in the re- maiming nights, The possibility alsa discusted wag of getting young people interested In microscopy, Dr, R. M, Wishart gave the talk Zor the evening on “Spiders”, and he covered same very interesting features of their anatomy. These were illus- tiated by Mr, C. S. Middteton whe projected micro-slides on to the screen, Mr. TI, @, Burrett exhibited an exeellent slide he had just nade of dialonis from Santas Montea. It is certsinly gratifying ts know that there are people stifl sble te prodice such sides, Osher exhibits ineludod the head of a Jumping spider, by Dr, R, M. Wishart; a pieee uf freshwater sponge from a pool at Cowes, wrth micri-slides pradueed from it, by Mr, }. Genery; and 4 rock section and o carab beetle, by Me. Dh, 2. Melnnes. Geology.Group—May 3, 1961 Thitty-six members attended, with Mr. A. Anjior in the chair, The see- yetayy reported upén a tegoest Crem the Boy Scouts Assoviation of Vin- tori, for asaistance in the idontiti- catiun uf rock specimens at their Enster cump ut Womhut Hill, Dasles- ford. Through Master Tom Darragh this request was mret with great suc- Fess, The fallawing itews of intezesat ware discussed: Mr, D, Jeffrey—Discovery of a diamond at Beechworth; it had Proved to be of pwor quality and suitable oaly for industrial uses. Mr, A. Hlackburn—Latost information on efforts to cope with flooding in Spots- wood sewer shaft; the water had been lowered by pumping from bores drilled close to the chaft. The lecture for the evening was “Some Gevlogieal Observations Over- 49 seas”, by Mr. A, Cobbett. Using an excellent series of colour pictures, the speaker vovered his travels m Nor- way, Spitzbergen, Iceland, United Stutes of America, British Colurtbia and Hawaii, and he dealt with tha autstanding geological features. Exisbite: Mr. A. Cahbett (to illus- trote his lecturej)—szelenite, =tilbite, jreduchite, azurite, pyrite crystal, hornblende, limonite, sphalente, barite rose, Kalena, opalized chrysolite, ruby (corundum), celestine crystals, Amu- gon-stone, amethyst quartz, téurma- line, murrasite crystals on palena, fcéland spar and fivorite, rybellite, opalized wood, petrified wood and apatite ¢rystal; sla minerals from Broken Hill and Glary¥. South Aus- tralia) Mr. R. Davidsen—fossi] arn- monite (Cretaceous), West Queens- land, Mr, D Jeffrey—quarts crystal, also nautiloid and trilobite specimens from Silurian deposits at Brunswick Streel ridge. Moonee Ponds Creek, Botany Growp—May 11 The chied talk in the series on the plant kingdam was given by Mr, G. K, Thompson, whose subject was “Liver- worts and Mossaes'", The speaker ex- plained the life history of this inter- esting group of plants, illustrating his Jectura with a variety of speci- mens. He pointed out that the bryo- phytes are not included in published floras in Australia, nor is there a opulsr reference bank simtlar to the club's handbooks on ferns aad fungi, A book euch as The Obeorver’s Book of Moxses aad Liverworl2 (for British species) would quicken interest in Australian bryslogy, Library News Carreclion: The periad covered by the library veport published In Jast jssue is 1954-61, not 1989-60 as was indicated. Library staffing; During tha past two years, progress has been retarded dye to the fact that the librarian was ranted JeaVeof.absenve by eotincil uring walversity tewnsa, and the ser- vices. of the askistant librarian were unforLunately not available, However, the present assistant librarian, Miss 5, Apted, will be in chatge of the Ubrary diving absences of the lih- 50 ravian iy 1261, Miss Apted replaces Mr. J. Quirk, who resigned from the position recently, Urgent Reminder: The following perindicals sre required immediately; members holding them wn loan are requested to rehurn them to the Nhrary ab once; Freceadings af the Linnaean Soviet of New Sewth Wales— Volume 66 (1941); Volume 81 (1856) Parts 1 and 2; and Volume 83 (1958} Parts i and 2. Copies of The Microscepa and Journal of the Quekett Microseapreat Club are also required, both Tor te-issue ta other members and for binding, tt has been found that meni- bers often put aside or misiay publi- éations borrowed from the library, and we appesl te all members to seatch through thelr bookshelves. Current periodicals; A Uist af these received regularly by the library— both Australian and from overseas— is being compiled and will be published shortly in these ¢olumns. [t Se planned ali to issue regularly lists of new books received, Marin E, Arco. Librarian. Reports from Affiliated Clubs Wimmera F,N.C.—This club, which is 3 foundation member of the West- érn Victotia Field Waturaltsts Clubs Association, held its annual meeting on February 16 7962. Mn KW. Jonian of Kiata i5 presideiec, and Miss A. M, Jorden is now secretary, Several excursions were held during the year, Usually in combination with the Horsham Club. Hamilton F\N,C.—The Hamilton club forwards a report which deals with its atmual meeting, held last year, Wr, A, H, Bishop is president, and Mr. L. K. MM, Elmore is secretary. Monthly excursions and rerular meet- ings have been held, and the secretary reported that an increasing munber of members take an active part in meetings. The club Was undertaken the management of a wildtlower re- Serve at Wannon, and is also inter- esting itself bn tree planting in the Nigretta Falls area aid in the ex- Piszeton of the Grange Creek fossil eal. Viet, Nor —Vol. 78 Maryborough F.N.C—The Mary- borough club has ag president for the coming yest Mr, G, Williams and as secretary, Miss “M, Haywnrd. This lub planned and macked the route tor a wattle drive im connexion with Msryborough's firet wattle and waol festival last year, As the result of publicity arising from the cxcursion with the F.N.C.V, Jast year, five acres of the Alma Road area has been reserved as a wildfiower sanctuary. [tis hoped that in 1961 steps will also be taken to protect the aboriginal wells, which we found so interesting. The club has forty members including three honorary members, Lorne League of Bush Lovers— The most important news from this elub is that its enthusiastic secretary- treasurer, Mr. 3, M. Callaghan, who wat, we think, the moving spirit in its formation, hag tendered his resig- nation, At the annual meeting, which was on March 21, Mr. J. 8. Hayes, alse of Lorne, was elacted in his place, We wish him a happy and fruitful term of office, Another item relates to a protest to the Shire of Winchelsea against the feiting of roadside euca- lypts. Last year the club beld eight monthly meetings, on the third Tues- day of each month from March until November, and it proposes to do the same this year, Bairnedale F.N-C.—This club (presi- dent, Mr, Murray Ellictt, secretary, My, B, M, Nicholson} is very accive. St usually holds a meeting on the third Wriday of each month and an excursion on the chird Saturday or Sunday, and (when suitable) the maet- ing and the exeursion deal with the same subject. Horsham F_N.C.—-This club reports some Very interesting meetings, in- cluding a talk on “Avstrelites’ by Dr, Baker of the €,S.1.R.0. minero- Staphic investigation. Meetings are well attended by members and yisitors amd there ig usually ae good variety of local exhibits, Latrobe Valley F.N.C.—The club based on the Latrobe Valley, which Started life as the Gippsland F.N.C,, has decided that title might cause confusion, and has changed its name to “Latrabe Valley P.N.C." Mr. Frank Maleelin, P.O. Traralgon, is secretary. Choose a suitable camera com-_ j} parion 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 sa good! ‘ duna 195) 5 EIGHTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, 1960-1961 This has been a wiliet yenr—a year ot consolidation and steady growth. Looking back over it there seem very few important events to record. The outstanding exception is the revival of our ancient practice of holding nature shows for the education of the citizens, This year we took our courage in both hands, ard booked the Lower Melbourne Town Hall from September B x0 7, 1960, With the financial assist- ance af the Ingram Trust, a most successful show was held, the xesults being so encouraging that ie at ance becked the hall for the corresponding three days of 1961, A nature show is also held in March each year as part o£ the Moomba celebrations, and this clab is mote and more taking the leading part in providing both ex- hibits and staff. So far this has been dene most satisfactorily, bot whether we can cantinué (in effect} to stage & show in the Town Hall every six months, remains to be seen Membership; Thin (and with It circdlation of the Naturalist) iz prow- ing steadily, having increased from 615 to 724, comprising 412 ordinary members, 248 Country, 39 juniors and 25 honorary and life members. fn addition there ara 98 Australian and 23 overseas subseribers (0 the Notu- rafiet, a5 well a5 23 affitated bedies, who receive copies—n total of 144 compared with 108 fast year—and about 60 coplea per month ara being sold in hook shops, Daring the year, Misa Florence Smith was made an honorary member for long service. As ts to be expected with a club the elze of onre, we had a number of losses through death, in- tlading Mr. F. E, Wilson {a former president), Mrs. ‘Turltow Rayrnenc (wife of a senior member and former frrealdent) Mrs, Osborne and Mr. . 5- Hart, The Victorian Naturalist! The mag- azine continues to maintain the stan- dard of |ast year (which wan its firat in ita new format), and tt continues to attract seriaus articles of acientific inmportahes, such as Dr, BE, Bird's "Real Growth in the Gippsland Lakes", BMr. A. Magzeola'a anthropl- 52 iogigal articles and the series repurt- ing researches of the Pauna Sar- vey Group—with the colour photo graph of the rock-wallaby, for the cost of reproducme which we most, thank the M. A. Engram Trust. In addition, Miss Jean Galbraith’s acri¢s on Acacia ts very useful, while the articles on national parks, contributed by Mr. Jd. R. Garnet, help to keep before members the necessity to guard and improve our Victovian parka. Affiltated Bodies; Par too long, thers was m6 field naturalist club east af Frankston. This year there was a break-through; 4 club was farmed in the Morwell-Traralzon area; at frst iL culled itself the Gippsland Fteld Naturalists Club but, to aveld con- fustea, changed its name to the La- trobe Valley F.N.G, Clubs nave also been formed, with the enthusiastic aid of Mr, N, Wakefield, at Warragul and Bairnsdale. At Casterton there is a new club coo, All have affiliated with the P.W.C.V, ag has the Warr- nambool F.N.C. which has been in existence some time. This brings the number of sovieties affiliated with our club ta 22. In addition, Geelong, which had a club forty years ago, has formed ane again, and will be affliated shortly, An interesting development waz the formation of a Federation of Western ¥ictoria Naturaliats Clubs, its present headquarters being at Kiata in the Wimmera. We anticipate that thix new organization will crow in jm- porcance ang be an effective influence tn the community. As in previous years, a nudiber of combined eXcorsions have been held, while the annual clubs' get-together, on the last week-end of the Royal Show, (3 developing into a yary worth- while gathering. Naturat History Medallion; We learned with the greatest pleastre that the Australian Natural History Medallion for 1960 had been awarded to our popular member, Mr I. H, Willis, 1& will be presented to him at our July meeting. j gard Projeotient: wt Falls Inte wo categories: National parks, and protection of fauna and flora, 7 Viet. Noar—Vol. 78 As do the former, we joined in the protests which quashed (we hope for ever) the project ta set up farms an Wilson's Prorontory!; und we sub- mitted to the autherities that the pra- pozed new hotel at the purk should be in the Darby River area, We wutehed with interest the recent amendment of the National Parks Act to include (among other things) part of the Kulkyne areas, and we joined in tha provest against (he smal}- neas of the urea set aside, We have recently affiliated with the Landscape Protection Council of the Nutional Trust, and hope that its slightly dif- ferent outlook may coniptemént ours in protecting the besuty of the Vie torian countryside, As to fauna protection, our mast important steceso wat in inducing the authorities to introduce a town plan- ning scheme for Phillip Island, thus, we bh protecting the penguins and mutton-bird reokeries Irom wholesale subdivision. Other efforts, which have consisted chiefly of réemindme the authorities that natnrsal history in- terests were beingg wutched, related to the poizoning of wells in Western Australia, the kangaroo meat Frade, and the position of wombats ag “yer- min” in Victoria. Loactzres: We yust onee agsin thank those who have lecturcd to 15 during the year, espectally Professor A, J Marshall of Monash University, an “Carntrol of Reproduction in Equa- torial Vertebrates”, Dr. D. Thomson on “The Bindiba Counters”, and Dr. Lowe of U.S.A. oo "Southern United States”, Pinance: Expenses aré rising a3 rapidly as membership. We are for- tunute in that they are rising no faster, This report met go to the press before final fiyures for the year are avuilable, byt it is expected that there will be a deficit of abvot 230, It i2 up te us to zee that the growth {mn membership, which haz been such a feature of the last two years, con- tinues So that this is liquidated in the New Year. Exctirsion Report; Excursions have been wall attended during the year, It waa decided to have regular ex- cursions on the third Sundsy in the June 1961 ~ £roup ionth, and this has worked well. Places yigited were Metropalitan Farm at Werribee, You Yangrs, Sherbrooke, Creawick, Plenty Ranjes, Marybor- qugh, Airey’s Inlet, Lake Moustain, Nromana, Plenty Gorge and Toordu- rong Regeryorr, and Bellarine Tenin- sula. Jn addition there were group excursions and extended trips, ean- sisting of a week-end at Apollo Bay with the Colac F.N.C., and Lhe Boxing Day 16 New Year's Duy at Yarra with visits to the surrounding aress and the opportunity of seeing mem- bers of the Gippsland and Warragul PN. Clubs. Seats for club mombers were reserved on ao trip to Central Australia and over twenty field natu- ralists attended. An enjoyable week- end was spent in (ctuber, when the cluh inviled country clubs and mem- bers to Welbourne; excursions td Sberbrooke and the Organ Pipee tock pine an Saturday afternoon, and on unday there waz @ Call day excursion lo the Briabane Ranges. Botany Group: Thie proup has fad a successful year. During LiG0 there were lectures on Faslous subjects, but it was decided to start a series on elementary botany in 1961, and this resulted Th an attendanet of over Twenty at euch meeting, OF the general lectures, perhaps the post outstand- ing was one by Dr, M, Chattaway an “Growth Habirs of Eucalypts", though all lectures were of great interest, The La grest deal of Une and thought into arranging exhibits for the F.N.C.V, nature show in Septem- ber and the Moomba Show in March The exhibits were on "The Plunt Kingdem" and "Seed Dispersal" and received mich favourable comment. The group is fortunate in having some enthusiashe members and looks for- ward to a eontived adyance in the future, Gealogy flroup;: The average atten- dance for the last year waa eighteen per mopting. which compares favour- ably with the Agure for the previous year. The attendance was maintained despite the absence throagh illness of some of the regular members and dther unavoidable troubles, A com: prehensive programme was followed throughout the year, covering many 54 aspeetn of geology. The lecliren were generaily profusely illustrated by the , speakers, which says much for their photographic skill. Nights devoted to discussion and exhibits only, disclosed the wide variety of interests and en- tusiasm of the memes for the acienee, The -excurmon programme for the Sear was considerably curtailed owing to transport reatrictiong, However, at the request of the Bendigo Club, an excursion was conducted to the Organ Pipes at Sydenham during the visit af the country clubs ta Melbourne. A vigit was uleo made to the Bayview Quarries, Tullamarine, to examine the Older Basalt formations, Dering Feb- Tuary, a comprehensive excursion under the leadership of Mr. W, Hanks was made to the Yuroke and Wallan areas to inspect the different eruptive points of the Newer Bazalt, Plans were made for other vinits to the area for more detailed wark, Durning the year assistance was piven to the National Fitness Council, in making a survey of arn ayea at Warrandyte. A requeslh from the Bcouting Movement for help in iden- Ufying specimens at their Easter camp at Wombat Hill, Daylesford, was at- tendqd to, Prospects for the coming year are promising and it is hoped a programme with more field work can be ondertakea, Miervscopical Group; This froup has met regolarly thronghout the year, inatruction seine larvely pro- vided by members, while a gadget night, led by My, C. Middletan, and an evening devoted te projection, at which Mr. Burbury showed huis pro- fecthon microscope, were very success: Speakers Included Mr. Douglas af the Mines Department on micre- Yosails, and among our own members, Tr, R, Wishart spoke of mouth-perts ot insects, on insect wonders and on spidora, Mr, W. Byans on the radola of a molluse, Me. P, Goflerr on aquatic insects, Me. D. Mefnnes on Bryozoa and Mr, &. Snell on pond life. In March o film nicht was held at which on important sod inveresting fitm on the story and constraction uf the inleruscope wns shown, as well as soveral nature filmu 54 Entomology and Martne Biology Group; ‘This group. which would per- heos be more appropriately named the Invertebrate Biclogy Group, meets regulasly by the courtesy of Wr. and Mrs, J. Stroug, im their private rooms in Pariiathent House. Meétings nor mally take the form of discussions of specimens brought by members, with the aid of a battery of microscopes mounted by Moesrs, D. McInnes and P, Genery. In addition lectures by . members on apecifie subjects are given from time w time. Fauna Survey Group: With the formation $f this group early last year, the F.N.C.V. regained o little of the stutus is had in former years, when its members were concerned with scientific held research into the natu- ral history of the state, The members of the FPauns Survey Group proposed to investigate the distribution and Wabite af Victoria mammals, and their werk has already added much to our knowledge in this field, The group’s activities fave been assisted greatly by a grant by the M, A. Ingram Trust, which provided funds for wirking expenses, equip- ment, and the publieatlon of results uf research. The Victorian Fisheries and Wildlife Department has recop- nized the group's potential by ieawiag ga permit fer the handling and «tody of certain protected species of maty- mal, Close liaison Was been maintained Setween the department and the praup. In the Buchan district of Kast Gipyrs- land, werk has been carried aut on bone depasits in the limestone area, ang on the rock-wallabies ftoarther north, A survey has been inade of Lhe cave bats of the state and of the mitmals of mountain areas nearth- east of Melbourne, The results of much of this reseavch have been pub- lished in the Vaturalies aver the past several months, ‘These publications have gained favonyable comment nat only within Australia but from as far Afieid as Bueopy and America, Plans are in hand for corcentrated attention to aspocts of the faunn of areas in the wost of the state, and there are indivalions that the coming year’s fesearch will produce results equally as valuable aa those of the past twelve montis, Vict Nat—Vol, 7B 1961 2aunL qs FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, 1960-61 GENERAL ACCOUNT ' STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR 12 MONTHS ENDED APRIL 40, 1941 (Figures adjusted to the nearest £1) ~ ny ; Receipts Payments Subscriptions received— Victorian Noturalist— Arrears £15 Frintin $1,452 . & ’ Current 1,308 ss fr : t 40 Supporting Members ( 84 bese team Ingram dyugt eran ae £1,412 21,407 ' Tilustratin £354 Sales of Victorian Naturalist : 310 re BS Advertisements in Victorian Naturalist 221 Epes from Ingram Trust pyran ; 196 Interest received-.- ' Despatching 137 itor 14 Library Fund 22 fo Editorial Expenses Bank Account 16 i ; £1,759 “vn 18 Working Expenses— Same oe ane Ot baakss 4 Postage and Telephone £56 ale of Club badges IW mys, : : Amount transferred from Building Fund eateat ane Stationery ot Account for payment of rent 61 Tittury Eacnensen * £2,036 Subseri plions, Donations and it far th Affiliation Fees : 9 Deficit for the year 28 Natural History Medallion Texpenses 1i Fuuna Group 63 £307 Lese from Ingram Trust rant on account of Fauna Group 68 24d Rent of Hall and Library 41 u,064 £2,064 9S ‘WPA AON IA BL BALANCE SHEET AS AT APRIL 30, 1961 Liabilities Subscriptions paid in advance M. A. Ingram Trust Grant—Amount in hand Special Funds and Accounts— Building Fund £1,551 Publications Fund 1,285 Library Fund ' 50 Club Improvement Account 102 Excursion Account 100 Nature Show Account 87 Surplus of Assets over Liabilities £247 19 £5,119 (Figures adjusted to the nearest £1) Assets Bank Current Account and cash— E.§, & A, Bank— General Account Petty Cash advances Current Assets— Sundry Debtors Arrears of Subscriptions— estimated to realize Badges on hand, at cost Deposit on Lower Town Hall, for Show in September, 1961 Library, Putniture und Equipment Investment of Funds— Building Fund— Commonwealth Bonds at cost Inscribed Stock at cost— 5.£.C, £500 34% 1965 M.M.B.W. £100 33% 1963 ES. & . Rev. Rona! 3. R. Lalty, 56 Exxmoaur Read, Bistéenwiek, S4 (4. GC, Hooke/ N, 4, Watotield). Ht. Russell Qerbridge, 49 OGurimbah Roasd, Mostnan, Sydney (G. G. George/ Bw. AW Wakotield). Migs Marilyn Jsohnson, 17 Mirtam Stree, Rosanna (A G. Hooka/h. A, Weketlald>, ’ Céumiry Afembere- . My, John B, Mllev, 52 Barnes Street. Stawell (1. R. MceCann/A. G. Hookel. Frenior dtuntiore. micherd f D'Abba, t98 Lalcobe Terrutd, Geelong (A. G. Heoube/N. Ay 3 . ~ Tan A. Spink, 46 Widdop Crescent, Moorabbin (4, G. Hogke/M. A, Wakefleld). 8. Nominations for Membership. ; 9. Presidential Addvesa: “A Natoralist at the Sea Shore”. 1). General Business. . 11. Nature Notes and Exhibits. 12, Conversazione. - (An extraordinary general meeting will be held at 7.55 p.m. to consider the application for affiliation with the P.N.G.V. of the Geslong F.N- tub.) Monday, July 1@—‘Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne”, by Mr. R. T. M. Peseott, F._N.C.V. EXCURSIONS Sunday, June 13—Sherbrooke. Subject; Lyrebirds. Leader: Mr. K. C, Halafoff, Bus leaves Batman Avenue at 9 a.m. Bring one meal and a snack, GROUP MEETINGS (8 p.m. at National Herbarium unless otherwise stuted) Wedneaday, June 21—Microscopial Group. “Fossil Miero-plankton”, by Dr. L. Cookson. Visitors welcome. i. Manday, July 3—Entomology and Marine Biology Group. Speaker: Misa F. Phillips: The meeting will be held in Mr. Strong’s rooms in Parliament Hause, Enter through private entrance af south and of House. Wednesday, July 5—Geology Group. Subject: “Geology of England", by Dr. M. Beadnell. Visitors welcome. Thursday, July 15—Fauna Survey Group, General business. PRELIMINARY NOTICES Octoher 21-27—Wilson’s Promontory. Lodges have been booked and a coach chartered for this excursion. Members will be reaponsible for their own meala, but supplies may be obtained from the camp store, Eating utensils are not provided but may be hired, and it will be necessary to take sheets. Please book at soon as possible with the excursion secretary, bookings to be accompanied by a deposit of £1. Combined fare and lodge accommo- dation will be approximately £6/10/0, December 26-Januury 1—Portland. Guest house accommodation is available, and we will take our own coach. Bookings with the excursion secretary. 5s Vict Not—Vol. 7& The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 78 (3) July, 1961 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 This ts the Answer ® oO “NEITHER the scientist o © nor the forester, the ao © landowner, tourist nor G co camper, ACTING ao co SEPARATELY, can en- o = sure the safety of our a mo forests, . .. It is only o o by the active co-oper- 3 ation of ALL SEC- © co TIONS of the commun- © co ity that the forest o co wealth of this State o i can be nurtured, pro- ce) tected and harvested & © not only for ourselves, co 9 but also for the gener- o 4 «ations which will follow o 4 usin the years tocome.”” o {Extract from sount track of Forests Commission film, "Harvest of the Hills’’t FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA Vict. Nat.—Vol, 78 Vol. 78, No. 3 The Victorian Naturalist Editor: NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.Sc. CONTENTS Articles: Tracks of the Thylacine, by E, Ceiline Muir .. Victorian Aboriginal Axe Stone, by S, BR. Mitehell .. Notes on the Lyrebird’s Song, by K. C, Halafoff F.N.C.¥. Excursion to Yer peri — HG) by Winged Wilkins, A. Gy Hooke and BE. H. Coghill . 2 — Features: Antarctic Wildlife: The Penguin Road, by Johw Béchervaise .. spepalien Wattles: Wools fetes, Acacia lanigera, by Jean Gal- ratth .. $4 i 7 Pe t, +? ot = fa Along the By-ways with the Editor: Popular Names for Native Mammals, Records of Bats, Piheeehionate Cate yeeea, Distri- bution of Fly Agaric... ve fay sf ety, Migroseoniate: Corner: Criticisms of the Modern Microscope * Stand, by ¢. S. and GJ. Middleton .. .. .. , os: & Field Naturalists Club of Vietoria: Annual General Meeting, Group Meetings .. ae a 8 Affiliated Clubs ., BGG aot Diary of Coming Events a, am a ha Front Cover: July 6, 196! 69 ves 919 82 64 16 85 This is the Lemon-breasted Flycatcher (Microcea flavigaster), phato- graphed by W. G. and R. C. Harvey, On the cover of the Naturalist of August 1959, there was a similar picture of the Brown Flycatcher (M. fascinans). The two photographs appeared first in the Naturalist of July 1946, to illustrate that, when brooding, each species screens the tiny nest with its bréast feathers. July 196) 63 Antarctic Wildlite—2 By JoH® BECHERVAISE The Penguin Road Heard island, Sunday, March 2, 1938 Had experience nol brought resolution to my rising I might have celebrated this first free marning’ on Heard Island hy sleeping longer. Before dawn on a holiday the winds sound hope- lesely intimidating; yesterday's good intentions may be blanket- ed before they sare tested by scurrying snow. Once out of the bunk, [| found the day better in prospect: windy and overcast but not very cold, After break- fast in sparse company, Peter, Arthur and I followed the black- gand are of Atlas Cove, crossed the stony plain of Windy City {as the area between the two bays haz long been called) and, in half-an-hour, could then see and hear the gloomy surf of West Bay slopping up the steep terraces. Every hour is still vividly contrasted with those of home — less than a month old. None of us, I am sure, fully re- alizes that there will be no physical link with Australia for a@ year; we only say we do, splashing in the shallows of in- experience. Seven immense Elephant Seal bulls, and twenty cows which had ceased to interest them, raised mild and bleary eyez to regard us. All refapsed to leth- argy except a young bull who struggled wildly down to the water, cuffing a black, woolly pup on the way. A number of these 64 “porkies” rolled indolently in the waah beyond the force of the breakers, The flesh of the bulls sagged and spread laterally 50 that the biggest were five or six feet wide and above twelve long, mountains of flaccid dis- interest. I did not see any with turgid noses; but this organ is probably only erectile under the proper emotional stimulus, Arthur discovered some “brands” (animals marked as pups in previous seasons} and carefully noted details. Many creatures may be sluggish in movement; these ponderous piles of blubber both act and look like Brobdingnagian slugs. It will be interesting to observe their behaviour through 4 year. This period seems to be one of sunken ennui; but soon the adults will become hungry and the pups will lose their torpor as they take to the water for their first season and face the neces- sity of foraging for themselves, 1 can well believe that some of them weigh four hundred pounds by the time they are weaned. It was wonderful to be free, We trudged through the peatd sand westward, along the sout coast of the Laurens Peninsula where the beach soon narrows to a desolate rim of rocks. The eold surf roared in and pounded the stones until they raced and clattered and one could hear the s@a’s incessant érosion; at times, as through a sudden silence, the Vict. Not.—Val, 78 ANARE MAHOTU: John Béchervatse *Porkies’—Elephant Seal Pups, newly weaned, Heard Island whole air was filled with a loud sighing of the ocean. All along the beach lay great whips and snakes of green and yellow kelp (Durvillea antarctica), and the expert evidence of the Leopard Seals’ diet — hundreds of pen- guin skins and _ skeletons, all blanched and empty. Obviously there must be an organic balance including this loss, for the de- predations, one assumes, haye been going on for thousands of years ... how many thousands of years’ ... yet it seems in- credible that the bird popula- tion can sustain such merciless slaughter. Heard Island was showing its July 1961 character. For a week, since the little Tottan sailed out of the Atlas Roads, we had been too bound to stores and_ station. Now, suddenly, I saw the Elephant Seals (Mirounga leon- ina, Linn.) of which I had read and been told so much. I felt in a sort of dream, watching the great recumbent. beasts, with the Schmidt Glacier misty in the background, We advanced through the fresh sea-smelling air and came upon a little parade of Gentoo Penguins, shapely, uncrested birds as I had imag- ined them, but more generally white-flecked about the shoul- ders, All the sub-Antarctic pen- 65 7 — - guins are larye compared with the Fairy Penguins alony the Victorian coast. The Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis pipua), the only year-long resident amongst the pernuins of Yeard Island, wouht outweigh a yond-sized domestic duck, Further on, a solitary Ringed or Chin-strap Penguin (Pygascelis anteretic) stood wearily at attention, un- kempt in the moult. This fellow, unecrested, with black eve and firmly lined chin-atrap, is a rare biril on Heard Island, although seen singly in most vears, Tis usual haunts lie three thousand miles west in the Weddell Sea and South Georyia, !¢ is possible that some occasional visitors raay fraternize with the Gentnos, or even, as polar cuckoos, take over their cougings' territory, The movement of penguins through the surf, in pay bounc- ins ares, is quite fascinating. They waddle down the sand and stumble over the rocks but, onee water-borne, are com- pletely in their element, diving expertly beneath the breakers and appeariney in momentarily calm watér quite unruffled, mas- ters of the treacherous surf. Much of their aquatics is doubt- less inatinctive evasive action, to foil the Cruising TLeapeard Seals just beyond the rocks. The couxst becumes a ramp of slippery stones and is arduous to the feet. Everywhere is drift- weal, presumably contributed from all over the southern hemi- sphere, A grey water-loggred trunk might have floated from Tierra del Fuego or from any of the great southern capes and vonlinenis, Mentally, I was eat- aloguing the spars _. . for on Heard Island timber is a prec- 6G ious exotic, and man is a wood- building animal, Next we came upon a rookery if Rock-hepper Penguins, with ved eves and orange, campnound beaks, wad iufts of vellow fea- thers like wisps of straw behind their #ars. They live untidy lives, especially now, when they are moulting. The snow of breast und jet of buck become foc culent with old loose feathers; adult birds could be mistaken for partly fledged chieks, The Macaroni Penguins (£Ludpptes chryselophus), dJarger, more stocky birds than the Ruck-hup- ners (Mudytes ehryeacome), also flourish round the precipitous western extremities of Heard Talaund. From the sombre wet rocks the land rises in magnificent bounds to snow-crowned peaks, hanging glaciers and frozen waterfalls. [owas reminded, flectingly, of Great Gable in mist. but the panorama here is continuous for miles and steeper than the far mountains of Cum- berland. While Arthur and I were ringing a Paddy (Sheath- biJI—Chionie miner nasicornis) -—the litle white fowl of Heard Island, and the only true land- bird in the Aniaretice—Peter managed in pass unseen below us. When we degeended we had no idea where he was. I walked back half-a-mile before 1 felt assured that he hat gone ahead. We found him beyond a large Muearoni Penguin rogkery ani thased the birds from a dry space beneath an overhanging rock, and ate Junech from army vations canned eight years he- fore, In one tin was a note wril- ten hopefully by a distant young woman at tandem, she thought Viet Nat Vol, 78 it might hearten a soldier in the far Pacific! Further on, below the terminal moraine of an unnamed glacier, there is a vast broken lava flow, extremely ditficult terrain, cov- ered with rookeries and some of the most brilliantly coloured vegetation I have ever seen. The deep green Azorella cushions combine with a bright yellow moss; rocks plated with a white lichen complete the unusual tonal pattern. It seemed almost unearthly. I could not have imagined such a combination, least of all on castaway Heard Island, for the yellows were those of wattles, seeming to re- flect sunlight on this grey, bitter dav; but the greens were metal- lic. There is an illusion of end- less soft dells and valleys but, in fact, the growth overlies hard, brittle and contorted lava, a tor- ture to the feet. I shall think of that colour often in arid days. July 196) As we stumbled along, from time to time through veritable fowlyards of squawking and braying penguins, all rather malodorous at the end of the season — there were moulting birds and a few late-developing chicks—we saw to landward, on rising ground, a most extra- ordinary sight. A footpath, per- fectly graded and appearing astonishingly man-made, sloped gently down the flank of a steep hill. A few little old men ambled up and down, following the pathway of many centuries. They and their ancestors, slowly, without conscious purpose, had knocked, brushed or worn away obstructions along the habitual route to their breeding ground. The distance these penguins travel on sodden webbed feet, from their landing beaches and platforms, is considerable; frequently they stumble a mile or more through the lava before Gentoo Penguin with Ere ANARE PHOTO: A. Campbell Drury J - ~~ ANARE PHOTO. Ts Young The Penguin Road, Laurens Peninsula, Heard Island their individual tracks become a purposeful road concentrating the streams of penguin traffic leading to the rookeries some distance up the screes. We rose onto the terminal moraine of the unnamed glacier, one of the few on Heard Island that does not quite reach the sea, Here lay piled mountains of broken stone, every edge sharp and fresh, rising hundreds of feet. Millions of tons of basalt were moving slowly before the gigantic bulldozer of the ice which also underlies much of the rock in a great tongue a few feet below the surface. Often, in clambering over the smaller stones, there is a sudden slide and the ancient ice is revealed. On the moraine we found the nests of several pairs of Antarc- tic Terns (Sterna vittata), ex- quisitely graceful black-capped 68 birds with red bills and plumage pied grey and white. Their nests are mere scoops marshalling a few fine stones against which the eggs are well camouflaged. The birds sweep in to brood their eggs when we are beyond the bounds of fear. Moving up to the ice face of the glacier, we traversed it for some distance, then wheeled round coastward for the home- ward journey. A stream seemed to offer a good way but, after a few hundred yards, it disappear- ed underground and left us stranded in a stony labyrinth through which we toiled wearily to the edge of the cliffs. A little snow fell, as it has on every day since the departure of the Tottan. At our lunching place we stopped for another snack then plugged on over the great stones, Half-submerged rocks to Vict. Nat.—Vol. 78 seaward resembled the heads of sex-vorgons, their streaming kelp-hair writhing like snakes. We passed through the muddy roukeries, and found the lonely yinged penguin and ail the Elephant Seals still dozing, the pups still playing in the bitter surf and up on the black-sand beach. The camp then lay only a mile away, and we were home in time to vhange comfortably for Ron’s. excellent dinner. I have typed for a couple of hours... and now I shall gladly go to my bunk. —From Log for Lorn, an tthus- trated diary adilressed to the awthor's wife, Tracks. of the Thylacine In Jannary 1958, [ was fortunate enough td he 2 member of oa sntall walking purty travelling from Port Davey to Maydena in south-western Tasmania, Port Davey is accessible in three ways—hy fishing vessel, by plane and by foot. We had come in by plane (a small Auster owned by the Hobart Aero Club}, landing on the liny ale strip built by Denis King, who lives with his wife and children in that wild and remole spot. We planned to walk north along the ald Davey Track, cut in the early days for the benefit, of mariners ship- wrecked on the south-western coast. Later it was need by prospectors, and remaing of thei activities are still to be seen, ln the last few years, watla- bies and snakes have again become used to the sight of human betne’s, as walkers carry thelr packs along the. lonely miles, to experience the wild beauty of the track, So northward we went from the Kings, up the Spring River, up onto the Lest World Plateau, across the Arthur Plains to Junction Creek, to the Buon Crossing, Mt. Anne, Damper Inn, Main's Clearing, then Maydena, with Mt. Field West towering béehind—some fifty miles in South of the Lyell Highway, the dolerite sill of the ventral highlands gives way to the underlying quartzite, ard parallel ranges run east and west, their ragged skylines glistening white, The wide flat yalleys between these ranges are filled with wluvium sand pealy deposits huilt up by the eternal bitten grass (Capmroschoenus sphae- yocephatus), aided by the encermous duly [961 By E. CoLumvr Muir run-off from the mountains, where the rainfall is measured jn feet? After ruin, the water us well a5 animals and walkers, use ihe narrow tack thvough the button grass, con verting jt into a ribbon of soft treacherous mud that will easily suck a boot From an unwary foot. Deep sheltered gullies often afford protec- tion for a thick luxuriant rain-forest flora, dominated by beech and Gelery- lop, King Rilly or Huon Pine. Under these Aare leather-woods and other thick shrubby trees, and “'pandanies” (Rickea pandevifolia), those trelve- foot heetha that give one an ant’s eye view. AS We passed through one of these areas of rain-forest, about half a day's walk south of the Huon Cross- ing, our attention was eaught by Foot- prints tn the mud, which was just the right consistency to hold them nieely. By carefn) observation we could re- construct the night’s activities, Here and there were tracks of a wallahy passing on to new grass, Later had come @ big Wwoynbat, her hind foet. making tracks abeurdiy like those of a fivman toditler. Superimpesed on theze were the tracks of a tiny litte wombat, which kad had a job to climb up the steep places after iis mother. Some time later had - are on the eastern fiank of the ridew. Te the worth is a Jorpe intrusion of Eranodiorjle, now forming low-lying country, North of Tooboorac, the old Heathcotian rocks “gain outerap as a pHininent ridge through Mt, Camel to Colbingbhin, On Mt. Camel are several aveas af diabase with auch broken store fn tle vicinity, Audording to Skvats (1024), "The rocks of this series const of base lavas and basiw ashes... The some- Tt what platy type uf dishase from Mes, William, due to the development of secandary actinulite may be produced ag n matamorphic effect of the granv- disrita intrusion of the Covaw to Pyolong massif. The selection af two sites for quarries fur making aborigi- nal implements jush north of Mt. Willlam mas be attributed to the spicial Loughness imparted to the rock the considerable development af fibrous sctinolite”, Norman Taylor (L887) describes this rock “as being very variable in its mineralogivs! character, some yaticties Seine greenish-black ane dense (aphanitic), others fight green and porphyritic and cthers nearly black, crystalline and Wery foro- blentic, This greenstone was once largely used by the aborigines for manufacture into stune tomnhawks and other implements. About a mite north-east of Mt. William .. . Ls the site lnenlly known as the native toma- hawk quarries, whence they princi- pally obtained the stenc.” None of the early settlers In Vie- lovin appears tn Have acen the aborigi- thal quarries in oporation, acre the aboriginal quarry mani, Hilli- Billiri, 2 headman of the Wueunjertt tribe, bad ceased operations before the settlers knew of thoir existence. Howitt {1904}, describing the tribal government of the native tribes of southeastern AustYalia and certain tights of tribes to procuve Food in particular tracts af country, gives some facts concerning the Mt. William Quarries. He status: “Rul thare were places which such a group df people aimed for some specia) reason, and iw which the whole tribe bad an in- terest, Suck & place was the stone quarry at Aft. William near Lance- field, from which the materis! fer making totaahawks was procured ., , Bot it was Billi Bilferi, the head of the family whose country included the quarry ,., who Iived on it; (it may be assumed) he cesupied himself in litting stone to supply demands. The enormous amount of broken stote tying sbont on this mountain shows that generations of the predecessors of Rilli Bille must have laboured at this work. When neighbouring tribes wished for some stone they sent o messenger to Billi Billett say- 72 ing they weuld send goods in uxchange fore |t, such as sken-tugs ., , If how- ever people came and took atone without leave, it caused trouble and perliaps a fight . . . aometimes men came by stealth and stole stone,” About 45 chains northeast of Mount Wilham, owmerous oulcrops of dlabase are to be seen in the form of tall piflars and smaller anes showing pronounced parallelism due to folia- tion, Tn snveral pltces are heaps of broken stone disearded by the natives as belne too hard and touxh to be ulitized for sxe making. Between these outcrops, where the stone occurs in thinner folia, it has evidently been levered out—probsably by means of scant digging sticks—and taken to the chipping grounds for final shaping. Te the north is a small gully, aot the head of which i¢ a permanent snoring of fresh water—the source of @ small creek trending north—and an ideal location for a camping place of Warrenjerri tribesmen and visiting natives. Following along the 1800- foot contour easterly for several hun- dred feet are the chipping grounds, With quantities of flakes and small chips of diabase, resulting from the shaping of rough blanks, together with much disenrded stone. On the hill sre several heaps of broken stone, many tons ih weirht, where a certain amoont of chipping has been done, Also small depressions surrounded by discards showing where guilable stone has been won, Owing bo the extreme hardness anc tovahness, only these platy pieces have been retained. No hanmmer-slones of any “art have been Found on those sites, 30 it is reasonable to assume that disbase axes were used in the chipping of the blamks. Many diabase axes Found show mach wear on the hammer end, as if they were used for this purpose, grusped tn the hand. Being much prized, hafted axes would naturally not be left behind on the sites, Also np wher- stones have heer: foun in the vicinity, indicating that the grinding of a warking edge was not done at the guarnmes, the blanks being taken away fur the final fashioning. Many blanks, particvlacls the larger sizea, collected on these sites, are broken aecrust, presumably in the process of reduction, It is possible that the block Vier, No} —YVol, 78 0 2 rn a0 ee if Chains NZ (ee r =v ta teaee o* «4 Avs ‘4 tee idtwrtere D ” (08 + eae ges ~ BLaniles le ~< es 1p ee Deo eae VEX J *LincwwFeld Se r c Hilinore} ‘iS LOCALITY PLAN \ o 2 4&4 Romecy Springhald Miles t , y i / ++ eet {Lost SA A dat fy Zw aa ore te ++ eer tie s \ + = ee Ke Yt us ‘ Loeatlon af Aborlitnal Quarriés ef Mount Wildam (From Porteh Tan, bu courtady of Dr. BG) Thomas Director of tht Geological Survey of Victoria? and anvil bechnique wus one methad used, that js, striking the blank on a Jarze mass of stone, The great pres- glye being applied was probably the cause of many breakages, Severs) aboriginal auarries are shown on the Geologiesl Survey map af the Colbinabbin Range One is situated on the southern flank of Mt. Camel, some twelve miles north of Heatheoste, and consists of a small area from which stone has been pro- cured, but as the diabase is not well foliated comparatively little work haa been done. Broken stone is spread over the ground, and a few blank- cuts only were found, together with some small flakes and chips, This stane did not possess the valuable properties of that irom Mt. William. Close to the Hopkins River, on duly 1961 Berrimu! Station in the Western Dis- trict, there aré diabase outcrops with several heaps of broken atone lying around, This rock is very hard and tough, of a greenish colour, showing porphyritic erystals of felspar in a greenish matrix. Axes, apparently made from this rock, have been found as far west as Portland, A cache consisting of six blank-outs, found at Lake Bolac by the writer, and another at Willaura, ate probably of this vock, Without petrographic investi- gation it is diffleuls to deterniine the ActWal sourets of axe-making stone. Teale {1929} describes disbases from the Howqua River in Central Gippsiand and alzo states that "some form of platy diabase appears to be due to a special development of joint~ ing ... this form was favoured by 73 the natives Sor making their stone axes and several small quarries gecur close to the tead about half a rile novth of the old road terminds", At Julyke, between Ararat and Stawell, an Hateley's property, is a small ouberop of » basic ruck from which atone has been vamoved. Many axes found in the Ararat district appesy to have heen made from thia stone: Axe stone also oceurs at the Dog Rocks at Batesford, and at Ceres, both near Geelong. It was formerly tlaussed at gabbro but, by petrographic examination, Skeats (1923). proved it to be an epidiorite, ovicinally a mix- ture of aucile and plagioclase felspar, ft has beer almost completely re- crystallized, owing to etrase during dynumic metumorohism, but it does net show foliation, Coulson (1930) ztules that “it is a coarsely grained yalvture of light green felapar and a dark green augitit mineral and be- longs to the Cambrian (Heatncotian) series, It ls a very tough and hard rock suitable for the purhose of axe making. [t occurs at the Dog Rocks ae five large masses [pn a discontinuons fine of bonlders along the ecustern flank of the hill. It autereps as a latge jnass sorie fatty miles to the south at Gleesons Hill, Ceres, im the Barrahon) Hill, as well as elsewhere in the vicinity, The bulk of this rock ts wedjum-grained- but varies from very fine to very Sdarsely crystallized and cah bé easily recognized by its colour and texture.” Wulder (1909) states that "the axes Jound at Bream Creek and Spring Creek are practically made nr thie rock"—j.«, from the Barrabool Hilts. Dealing with axes fuund in the Gee- jong district, he found that “they were mostly made fry diubase and mist have been cbtained try exchange, their source being Mt, William atid Mt. Camel, This seems to show that the Barcabool tribes were in the habit of exchanging products af this digtrich with tribes further north; the coastal tribes had to content themselves with sopterial closer at hand which thay could obtain from the Barrabool natives, Numbers of axes found on the coast west from Spring Creek and inland to Winchelsea end Inverleigh, have been idenkified as epidiorite from the Barrabool Hills. 74 Basallb was commonly used by the Victorian natives for axes, both the edge-ground and the faked pebble hand-chopper types, The basalts ara of two distinct ages, one being early Tertiary and the ather Pliocene to Recent. The former oocurs mostly as residaals capping some of the high- lands in the eastern and central parts of the state, whereas the litter fcrine the vast lava plains of tha Western District, The Older Basalt (early Tertiary) {y commonly a dense black frock but dots not flake wall Crudely faked pebble choppers of this variety arc found on the south coast camp- sites, on Ptallip Island and in the vicinity of Portisnd, Tmplements from the Newer Basalt have been collected in mumbers in the Western Lbistrict of Victoria, and in- clude plain and grooved types as well as large grooved wedges and elongate digging tools up to éne foot in length. When buried in wet ground they often show eunsiderable surface decompasi- tian. Many of the Axes found in the Cape Otway district were made fromm pebbles of a comparatively soft blyish- black sandstone of Jiirassic age, both - yiain and grooved types being plenci- ful, In Addition sorte were nade trans quartzite, indurated mudstone, breccia and porphyry, matoly as wniface flaked bebble choppers. Shingles containins these materials oeeur at Moonlight Head, same twenty miles west of Cape Otway. Porphyry river pebbles in the tributaries of the Upper Murray pro- vided ynaterial for axe ynaking, and examples are Usually well-finished. Almost any hard and fough rocks, particilarly those indurated by meta morphic agencies, such as indurated modstones and silistones, chiastolite Sates, nodulat-schists and other altered sedimentary tocks, have bees baed by the Victorian nativés for taking akes. Probably the majority of edge-ground axes found have been made from such msterinls RRFERENGES Coulson, Alan {1030}. On the Re lationship of the Epidiorite and the Granite at Earrabool Hills and Dog Rocks near Getlong. Froc. Roy, Soc Viet. (us) 4272) > 99. Howitt, A. W. (1904), Phe Netter Trikes of South East Aust alia, Vict. Nar—Vol 72 Mulder, J. F. (1909). Stone Imple- ments of the Natives of Victoria, and their Age. Geelong Nat, 4: 8-14. Skeats, Ernest W. (1923). On the Cambrian (Heathcotion) and Lower Ordovician Rocks. Proc. Pan Pacific Science Congress (Aust.), Vol. 2. Taylor, Norman (1887). In Geology and Physical Geography of Victoria, by R, A. F. Murray, p. 29. Thomas, D. E, (1953). Sources of Australian Wattles — No. 26 Victorian Rocks Used by the Abori- gines for Axe Making. Handbook Aust. and NZ. Fifth Empire Mining and Metallurgical Congress, Melb, Teale, E. O. (1919). The Diabases and Associated Rocks of the How- qua River near Mansfield, with Reference to the Heathcotian Prob- lem in Victoria. Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict. (n.s8.) 32(1): 33-66. By JEAN GALBRAITH Woolly Wattle—Acacia lanigera Woolly Wattle is a stiff erect little bush with stiff phyllodes, stalkless and dull, and woolly only when young. The nearly stalkless headlets of bloom nestling at the leaf bases rather em- phasize the rigidity of the whole ensemble. It belongs to the group of wattles globular heads. The phyllodes are rather dry-looking, with strongly raised, often netted, nerves, but the downy young growth, as well as giving the wattle its name, gives it a softer whitish-green appearance in late spring. Woolly Wattle grows in dry rocky places and is usually three or four feet high with phyllodes little over an inch long and about three-eighths inch wide, blunt except for an abrupt slightly sharp little point, which grows a very little toward the lower side of the blade. I have seen it in open forest near Mount Pilot in north-eastern Victoria, growing six feet high, with phyllodes from two to two and a half inches long and almost half an inch wide, tapering toward both ends, It always has very long narrow pods, constricted between the longi- tudinal seeds, and though the amount of woolliness on the young growth varies as much as the size of the phyllodes, the almost sessile globular flowers at the base of stiff phyllodes with raised nerves are always charac- teristic. It grows in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, as well as in eastern Victoria. many-nerved with flowers in Woolly Wattle Photo: N, A. Wakefield 15 ay Ww ith ithe Editor These columns are available each month for your nature notes and queries. Address your correspondence to the Editor, “Victorian Naturalist”, Popular Names for Native Mammals In a letter some months ago, David Fleay made these com- ments on the subject of suitable common names for some of our local marsupials: We have adopted the name Quoll for the “native cat”; it is distinctive and an excellent vernacular, in its own way quite as good as wombat, potoroo or quokka. I am also strongly of the opinion that Tuan for Phascogale tapoatafa and Bobuck for Trichosurus caninus would help immeasurably in popularizing our attractive small marsupials, In his excellent little book, Gliders of the Gum Trees, David Fleay used Dusky Glider for Schoinobates volans and Flufty Glider for Petaurus australis in- stead of the names generally used for these two species— Greater Glider and Yellow- bellied Glider respectively. In the same book Fleay used 76 P.O. Box 21, Noble Park, Victoria. Bobuck for what is usually re- ferred to as Mountain Possum or Short-eared Brush-tailed Pos- sum. The last is an example of a name coined by a scientist— very descriptive but hardly what the layman can be expected to use. Bobuck is a name that has been in use for generations in eastern Victoria, for the very dark phase of the species. Quoll is found in some dic- tionaries. It is an old aboriginal word for the so-called Eastern Native Cat. It is a pity that names of placental mammals— such as tiger, bear, cat and mouse—have been applied to Australian marsupials, and we should welcome the opportunity to escape from these names. Do any readers know of more suitable names for our ‘“Mar- supial Mice” (Antechinus), “Pouched Mice” (Sminthopsis) or Tiger Cat? Vict. Nat.—Vol. 78 Records of Rats In the Vietoian Nelasobst of Febraary 1961, the three Vie- torian species of cave bats were discussed and illustrated, A Te- quest was iheluded for further information from readers, io all to the rather seanty knewledre of this section uf mir mammal fauna. The following notes have been reteived from Mr. Murray Elliott, president af the Bairns- dale FLN. Club; (in April 9 and 10, T. J. Webster, A B. Waller and 1 observed about a dozen bats $4 a cluster in the Den of the Nareun in Deardgock Creek, The bats were first 3een late in the afternoun and were in the same place the following marning (7.30 a.m,)- They touk wing, ane by one, when closely approached, and flew about the cave, not returning te the original spot. One was photographed. The wine span was abouc Ten iecbes, the colour very uniform said of a brown shade, rather ehocolate-col- wired There were no Gutstanding features about the head. The ears were small und rownded. Other visitors to this area have not, found these bats as fur as we cnn asevrtuin, so T feel that they are probably not numerous. There is litvle doubt that the apecies ia the Bent-wing (Mini- apterus sehretherst), the com- mon cave bat in south-eastern Australia, The Fauna Survey Group of the F\N.C.V, is at present carry- ing out an investigation also of the forest bats of Vietoria, fo determine the apecies which oc- cur and their distribution, Read- ers may assist by forwardiny specimens of bats which are ip- advertently killed, such as by cals ur during tree-felling opera. tions. All smuail bats are now legully protected in Victoria, but the Fisheries and Wildlife De- July |96t pariment has issued a permit io enable the Fanna Survey Group to study them. It is apprepriate tu record here that. during Easter lust, a solitary Horseshoe Bat (fhinu- Tayhos imenaphylles) was ob- served in the mine tunne) above the Turnback Road near Mekil- lop’s Bridge. The spet is pbout fifiy miles north of Buchan, and this is the only Victorian reenrd to date of this species other than in the caves of the Buehan- Murvindal limestones. Processionary Caterpillars A recent letter from Mr. Graeme G. George of Sytiney pravided this observation : T saw a line of six or Seven hairy caterpillars the other day. crossing a conerete path at Masiian. The hairs near the head of each mingled with Che posteriar hairs ef the ane in front of it. Whe the Inst was stepped, all the ethers aepurated about an cighth- irich and then stupped too, When the last was alloveed lo proveed, if moved up, tmtehed the bristles of the une in front, and the line then hunched up again and moved off like a train What purpose weld sach a community spirit serve? These are the Processionary Caterpillar, the larvae of a moth known as Oel rogaster contraria. They normally live, as a com- munity, in 4 vemparatively large woven silken bag from which they doubtless emerge at night to feed. Occasionally a prowp Moves away, apparently to find a hew place tu live and feed, and they always progress in line as was ohserved in this case. Apparently the eommutrity spirit has been developed 1o en- sure that the family keeps to- svether. It is evident that the leader is conditioned differently W from the others, for he pioneers the way without contact with another caterpillar in front; and it seems from the experiment described here that the rear one may be the only individual pre- pared to move alony without another caterpillar touching its posterior bristles.. Distribution of Fly Agaric Since the publication of the Nefuralist of April this year, with its note on the deadly Amanita muscaria or Fly Agaric, readers have written giving de- tails of records of the species in other places. In April, Mrs. Vera Greaves of Lang Lang, South Gippsland, wrote: Several lovely specimens were brought. to me at schoo! in the autumn of 1959 and 1960, They were found at the golf course at Lang Lang, near which is an old garden with pines and deciduous trees. And Mr. Frank May, Forests Commission officer at Marys- ville, sent this information. in early June: At the week-end T lovk my family threugh the Forests Commissican's coniferous plantation at Narbethong, and they were delichied to see thou- sands of these beautiful toadstools brightening the dark gloom of the forest and hning the roadway for miles. Many of them were well past matu- rity, and it was probably from these there arouse a rather unpleasant musky odour, reminiscent of the bat colonies in the Buchan Caves. The twadstools were growing in large colonies under Pseudotsuga deotyulastit, Pinus radiata and Pinns ponderosa. Is the species spreading, ar is it that it has been passing un- neticed? The camera for the scientific photographer MICRO — MACRO AND TELEPHOTO A complete ) = 4 R. H. Wagner & Sons Pty, Ltd. ; panion from the Voigtlander range now available from PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS 43 Elizabeth Street. Melbourne Telephone: MB 3114-5-6 because the lens is so good! July 1961 3) F.N.C.V. Excursion to Yarram—1960-61 The drained wnoetume haunt of water birds noted to the left ul the road, and anmicke fron 4 small smouldering peat fire, such as are not yneommeon in the district, was seen 4 short distance away. This roule dewn the narrow neck of land leading te the promontory gave views of both Waratah Bay and Cerner In- let, and af Nedlands we descended to the waters of the inlet, where the seevery as excellent. The granite boulders shaded by Lea-tree, banksia. the beautiful Tasmanian mountain berry (Crathoties) and other coastal shrubs provided wn. ides] Suncheon shelier. After a swim in the clear blue water, members found pleassnt occupation for the afternoon. Derep- tively firm-fooking low-tide sands encouraged exploration in one direr- ljun, in another iiere were rocks with lichens and -ferns, whilst a little further up the low cliff face trees and shrubs provides interest wo members and shelter for elusive birds. The long anticipated Change in the weather pecured about mil-afternoun and Tainssoaked membres hurriwlly sought ehelter in the coarh, Mow Year's Ere was velebrated cfcer dinner with # tressure luo. (during which nuch time was spenb searebing Yarram for apparently mots- existent Lbeucken fronds} and several highly suceessfal games, followed by suppec, the traritional toast and Auid leary: Syne On Sunday, the firsh day of the New Year, a sliztuly Iater Start was made and after a» morning at Mat. Lauzhlin’s beach a ittarn was made toa the notel for midday ahaner, stop- ping onky to pick up Huse whe ba walked batk some miles ulonge the read. Une membec, investigating encalypts in the ures, discovered a heullixy-fookitne koala eccmfortably seated in a bree near the riud_ Th the wfternvon the party went,” tinder Mr. Kossiter’s care again, throuyh the Gelliondale area, where underground springs have been known to bubble up over-night and rom where the coal bed 13 believed tu Eo throuzh te Port Welshpool, The $2 By Wintrselh WILKLNS voach went al) past a blbe-stone quarry aid up Usrough high country, where it was stopped ty eoahte mem- bers tn photograph ihe view of Cor- ner [net aad ta fev eetiats the forests o€ Miona Gum, Blue Gum and Mess- mate whith sheltered many smailer species. Ragwort anid the related fireweed, krowing tn clase proximity, provaked some discossion, and the colouring ef the Florny Spider was admired. The route continued on throvgh Bingiwarri, past the tin mines of Woorarta East and the Shady Greek quarry, and finally descended to Port Welshpool, whers a short period was epent fn phate graphing the very eolourful scene. The substantial three-quarter-mile jelly there was an indtcution of the pussibplities of development of the port. where the sheltered and deep waters can be utilized when problems such as entrance shallows are over- come. AL qinvck return was made Cirectly alemz the South Gippsland Highway again. On our depariure morning, Mowluy, January 2, an evacly stavt was ataile alter bronkfast and the route theo the ranges up ty che Midland High- wuy und Ls Grand Ride Tow was TMVawed. The dew-laten peusses aad the songs of many birds (including the lyrebird), the sturdy trees and profise ferna and shrubs crowding the winding road provide rich metnories. 7 ; Luring off at Mirboo North, tunchoon was onjoyed on the 2rass beside the swimming pool with eur field naturalist clob friends from Leinyatha. Teauving the Geand Ridge Road we ame down from the Strez- lecki Range (throurh Thorpdale to Trufwgar on the Princes Tighwuy, wilh Warragul uppearime wl tou quickly and itteceasingg Leaflic em- phasing the hearness of Melbourne. Leavetaking amengsl the purty Was informal, as staall groups eft the coach st various poinrs in the suburbs near thelr homes, but all look ror. ward to many reunions at chub meetings, Viet, Nat—Yol, 78 Appendix I: Eucalypts The Following seventeen species of suvelypls were sed in the course sH the Wlaily ouclnes fram Yurram, MPSSMATE S&TRINCYBARK, FE, 66- hywva—lound througzhoul the district, from just above high tide wiark in Corner Talet to the Lop of the Strae- lecks Ranges. Tt ts approprrte for two reasons that this should be first on the list, a3 an the first place ib was the species upon which this gents was founded in the early days of botanical collecLing in Australia; and in the second place it-is said to have been one of the first Lrees found nsefyl in a strange land by the early settlers in south-eastern Australia, who bailt thetic huts of its timber, vooled them wilh its bark, and burnt it a4 firewood, and go Gnding the tree a good friend dubbed it the “‘moss- mate tree'’, and hence the madern ver- nacalar name. Swamp Gun, ££. oveta—Maiuily growing along the streams which flow into Carnex Inlet, and in other low- lying parts of the district, but ex- tending alsa into the foosr-hitls, GippsLAnp MALLER, E. kifsoniana—— Noticed around Foster, and beside the road to Wilson's Promontory, near Yauokie; generally only from six to twelve Feet high, cach tree ron érully havine several stems prowiny from commwoa lignatuber of mullee- root, 1t had been notiecd also doving the journey to Yorram. A, kilseweurne has a restricted range m castern Vie- tora, between the South Gippsland hills and the southorn coast, trom which fuct tts vernacular name arase, Tt has, since ils early disvovery there, heen found tn several districts jn south-western Victoria, including the Portland area, and near Blanket Bay in the Olway districc. Buus Gum, &. bicestefa—in many purls of the coastal plain. cxcending into drier pucts of Lhe hiycher yround, mostly amall und poor specimens of the species. Again the habitat is 2 restricted one, the species being found hereabouts and in the cnastal fringe of the Otway Ranges 100 miles to the Wet, Manna Gum, 2 ytrraudia—Fre- quently seen about the coastal plain, July 1961 By A, G, JlooKE and extending into the lower parts of he ranges, Ore specimen was found, complete with slumbering koala, be- side the roa! to Woodside [lis the leaves of this species which are gen- erally preferred by the Koala 4s Tomi, thaugh it does feed on sevevul others, Kev Gom, EB. camoddnfeuste --Seen dunly infrequently, alout some of the streams, und about the foot of the ranges, ajay further inland near Traralgen and Morwell. Nakgow-Lear PEerrensint, &, adt- tata—Distributed generally, th the inland parts of the district and up into the hills, with good-sized =pect- mens in the better soi) of the inland valleys, YRLLOW STRINGYBARK, £2. snicitor- juua—tn fair quantity, but often of poor quality, in some purts of the forest north-east «af Yarram, with sume lLebter-looking specimens on the lower slopes of the hills. Lt is of in- terest to note that seme of the best- quality hardwood of comumerce is vhrtained from this tree. Write Sremvereark, FE, scahra Seen only in one loeslity, about the top of the Heddle Range YrRYCHUK, EB. constdemiana—Point- ed ont to the party by the Porests Officer, growing on a sandy ridge sope miles to the porth-cast of Yalan, Meunraice Gywy Gum, EB gor ionulya- -Generally throughout the Tanges, in the moro sheltered parts ef which i grow? inte a pood-stutd Lres, Wire Muunwtan dsx, £. reg- yare—In the higher purts of the main range dnly, where jt is growing into the best trees noticed during the excursion. Ren Box, B. polsewlhemns—yY ew Box, 2&. mellindora—Bur But, £- ‘cidgesane—These Uwe species noticed only at Tyers, newer the home of Misa Jean Galbraith, SILVER STRINGYNARK, FL cephadoc arpa SILVER-TOP, &, gleberiana—A few vnily seen, unm the mirth side of the miaicn cane. BS Fy way of o genaral comment it might be pointed out that the hig trees of Gippsland, so much com- hHiented of in the early pioneering days, were Found growing in the niore fertile soil and kinder environment of Lhe central Gippsland plains and Appendix 2: Arthropods No athempt was mode to dist all species obeeryved, but some iiteresting Gnds were trade. At Seabank on Friday, December 30, we had a good itustration ef the saying that al! an entomologist needs is one tree and he will be interested for hours. On the tree wndey which we had lunch phery were numerous specimens of two speties of Jadybird (Coccincllidae), Lath the adult insect, the larvae 4nd the curious bag-shaped Pupae homg observed, while doubtless closer search would have rovesled the eggs also, The two 2pecies represented were Hoalyciat meliy: (Muls) and Leis conformie (Boisd), In addition there was a weevil of the genus Pelorrhi- us, & uumber of beautiful beetles of the families Histeridue snc Chrvso- melidac, another weevil, and several handsome flies of the Ortalidue Furnily. There wae alsa a large nutrber of the eurtous little reé mite Brythroeus celeripés, 25 alert as its specific name Suggests (celortpes means quick-foot), Those who were at Tarra Valley National Park will recall large num- bers of small white Lepidoptera. Despite their appearance in the day- time, these were not butterfles but one af the Tussock Moths, Parthesia chionikts (Turn)- Martids Were in evidence, and the curious egg sac of Archimantis latta- tyius, whieh looks like 8 ¢aconut meringtie, Was collected, Immature Fpecimens of the commen green man- tis, Orthndera aiintstralis, provoked a discussion one evening on the dis. tinetion between the two great divi- sions af winged insects—the Exctop- terygota—euch as grasshoppers, man- tids, cockroaches, dragonflies and cicadas, |n «hich the yoUng more or Jess resemble the adults, except for fhe absence of wines and the ability to reproduce—and the Endopterygota —such as flies, beetles, moths and 84 their bordering mountains, The caun- try un whieh the Yarram excursion was based, while it yields a fair variety of different kinds of eucalypts, produces very few individua) speci- mens even approaching fair average size at quality, Ey E, H. CogHILL butterflies, in which the young pass through a groWing stage entirely dif- ferent from the adult, a complete changa taking place in.an intermediate resting or pupa stage. A tiny cicada, Diomentenm swrona- tiawa. waa found in the coach at Yarram, It 5 nob knewn when or where it entered the vehicle, Among 2 sumber seen, two large flies Were collected tn Yarram. These were both speciniens of Rutile pet teeens (Macq), one of the Tachinidae, Its lurvae are parasitic on heetles- Other insects Found were Neteri- thone pallida ('Tilly)—one of the Nou- Yoptera, Lepyreaig conversa (Walk) ot the Hemiptera, a wasp—Hargacto- pus lnowa (SM) of the Sphecidae, # long thin grasshopper—vtisca pedestria (rich), another member of the Hemiptera—Gatvetus etistralis (Er.j—one of che assassin-bugs; whieh prey on other insects, Bul us is always the case, from theie great tuntbers and camparative ease of cupture, Coleaptera were more Ereqtnih tly collected than anything else, Perhaps the nigst spectacular and beautilu] was the Jewel Beatle, Stip- midera erythromelas (Mope), a mag- hiflcent red and black creation, Other insect gems were the Cold Beetle, Lamgrina fatreilii (Macl), and sear- abs, Andplognathns olivier? (Dalm) and Marshidius excisionlwie (Blkb), the latver being one of g Benue which lives in ants’ nests. Another scarab, the Goliath Beetle, Cheireplatys bifos- gus (Blkb), of which both male and female were eaollected, is a hairy monster, interesting rather than beautiful. Another interesting family, not co dull us their name suggests, ts the Tenebriogidae, of which Lopis- nilus suleicollis (Boisd) and an un- specified member of the genus Adefium Vict. Mot—Vol, 73 were callected, Other beetles were Bcxotagria grandis (Gyll), a species of Haltiea, and a weevil Poypis subtnborenulatus (Gylb). Other jnvertebrates were of course seen, but the only one of note was the Spiny Spider. Gasteracantha intmaz, This curjoys spider was found at Hedley and also on the Grand Ridge Road, It was also found at Microseopiscs' Corner Mount Eliza on February 19. While net very rare, ii is not common, ond these three finds withil such a short time suggest this is a good year for it, It will be seen thnt nothing really out of the ardimary wus found on the Yarram excursion, but that the ente- mologists and arachnologists found something to interest them. By C. 8, and G. J. VinduetoNn* Criticisms of the Modern Microscope Stand t The modern high power binocular bothy filted to most modern research microscopes is extremely comdfort+ uble in use where the highest reaclu- tion is not required, but they suffer from the disudvantage that the tube length catinot bé altered to compen- sate for varying thicknesses of cover glass. This does not matter with an vil immersion léns but it is disadyvan- tagecus with high power dry objec- tives, Bren when cover glassts of messured thickness sre always used ane cannot control the thickness of the mounting material over the ob- ject, and this sometimes exceeds the thickness of the No. 1 cover glass. An aeeessory to solve this problem —the Jackson tube length correctur— can he obtained from Messrs. W-. Watson and Sons, London, and fitted on to the nose piece of the micrasegpe- This. however, prevents the use ale together of very low power objectives, as there is net enough rack work on most micrascopes If this lens system were builk mto the lower end of the body tube as a standard fitting, beth problems weuld be eliminated, There js 8 tendency even in English microscopes to eliminate the centring screws ta the sub-stage, They have never been fitted ae standard equip- ment on Continental microscopes and yet. it is demonstrable that the con- denser out of centre masks very fine detail, While some of the best Conti- rental microscopes came from the makers with the condenser perfectly centred te al! objectives, it has been july 1964 our experience that this never remains perfect and one is limited to the lenses suppled with the instrumenc. These are not necessarily the faoat sujtable fer the werk in hand, while if a lens has t be replaced through breakawe oOo deteriovation., the Gin- denser will probably be out of centre tven though the grcatest care is taken vf the instrument. While our inain mterests have been concerned with the blologica) micro- scope, we would like to mention the petrological microscope invented by Allan Dick and made by Messrs, James Swift until at least 1920. This mieroscope had a fixed square stage and had the great advantage Lhat no eehtring waa necessal'y, The polarizer aad analyser being peared together and controlled by the one knob, gave the same effect as the rotating stage. Its wreatest disadvantage waa that the analyser wus placed over the eye- piece, severely restricting the field, especially when high power eye-pieces were used, With the modern tendency io use polaroid instead of nical prisms this disadvantage could be overcome and Would be a great time- saver in the geolowist's laboratory. Errata: In last month's issue (Vict. Nat, Wol. 78, p. 42), in line 22, for sides read slides; in line 36, for knob read knabs; in line 66, for of read on. Note: Queries and articles invited. For personal reply please enclose stamped addressed envelope. ‘08 Vietowin. St, Sandringham, S28 4%W $025) tContinued Trota Jest enonth 85 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Aurea General Mevting—June 12, 1961 Vbhere was a large attendance of membets amd friends al the National Herkuriom for the annual general mecting, presided over by My, D, E. Melnnes, At an extraordinary, meeting a; mediately before the generat business, the Geelong Field Naturalists Club was affliated with the F_N,C,¥. ‘The secretary, Me. &. H. Coghill, directed attention to the annual re- port published in the Nefiwralist, the dutstanding features for the vear being the nature show in the Mel- bourne Town Hall and the inerecase in alliliated naturalist clubs to twenty- threc. The treasurer, Mr, A, G, Hoake, explained some ttems of the published balance sheet and accvunts, The Noturatist had increased in size, and Uic numbers of members and sub- secibers and the sales of the Naturalist had greathy mcreased. The editor had borne the major part of the effort to pay for the Meturaltist, by taking copies Lo bewk shops and organizing sales of back numbers. The Ingram Trust had contributed sums for Lhe work of the Fauna Group. Mr, W. P. J. Evans, suditor, congratulated Lhe trpasuréer on the way the hooks were Kept. The meeting placed on record grateful thanks to the Ingram Trust for the help given tm the club and the hope that such assistance will con- tinue. Office-bearers elected for the coming Year were: President: Mr. I). E, McInnes, Vies-Presidents> Dr, W. Geroe, Mr. W. Lloyd Williams. Yreasurer> Mr. A. G. Hewke- Asrt, Treesurer; Miss M. Bulchart, Baditar’ We N, A, Wakefield. Seeratery: Me. B. WW. Coghill, Asst. Seerelary: Mr, J. XH. Hudson. Librarina: Miss M. BE. Anjo. Agst. Librarian; Miss S. Aptad. Eaxestrsioe Seeretary: Miss M. Al- Jemfer. 26 Council; Mr. Eric KR, Alan, Mr. BE. Byrne, Mr. RL R. Dodds, Mr A. J, We. Faithall, Mr. M, WB. Houghton. Auditors: Mro BR. Davison, W. Pd. Rvans, Ten new members were elected to the club. The president, in his addvess, “A Naturalist at the Seashore”, empha- sized the importance of knowing exact tide imformation, obtainable from a Harbour Trust Tide-book. Apparatus fer collecting and viewing specimens was demonstrated and useful refer- ence books were shown. The talk was illustrated by a large collection of live animals from various zones of the rocky ecashore, These creatures, in numerous acrated dishes, performed admicab)y Lo the delight aud for the instruction of merbers, Mr, C. Gabriel exhibited and com- nmiented an some interesting molluscs, Mr H, A. Morrison had a varied eollection of fungi, ahd Mr. Lublin the Female and eggs of a Stratiomyid fly, Boreotdes autaifus, Miss 1. Wool- lard reported tne appearance of Teawded Dettercls with Red-capped Dotterels at London Pridge, Portsea- She deseribed the photographing of Cascade Funget, by a twelve-haur ex- Mr, posure lo its luninosity, carried out by Mrs. Wealey of Tarra Valley. Me. Woollard bold of phascugales stealing and eating idablets fram under Mrs. Healey's pillow while she was usleep. Mr. H. Hause had scen a fox that had apparently hanged itself on a fomatia tree at DIL. Dom Dom. Mr. W_ Parmell noted that foxes ate yrsss- hoppers, and Mr. Begley explained a method of shooting foxes lured to Moths wm a spotlight beam. Geology Group—Jone 7, 161° Seventees) members attended, with Mr, L, Angior fn the chair. A report from 2 Tewspaper on ‘“iperation Moahole was discuused, ‘This drilling project in the sea-bed of the Gulf of Mexion is te explore cértain deposits fol readily available on the continents. Vict Net-—Vol, 73 An articie from the Saturday Hvening Post headed "The Five Billion Yeur Clock", explaining various methods of radio-active dating, was debated, as it contained many ideas of iMlerest to gealagists, Mr. A Cobbett, Mr D. Jeffrey and Miss P Curplan were appointed ta ar/|guge the yeraup's exhihit at the forthcoming tatlre show, The lecture for the evening was ‘Some Aspects uf Puliecontology", by My, G, Themas, The speaker, who is one of rhe few professional palaeuntologists in Vie- toria, prefaced his retiarks with sone historicul data ahout fossils and the eirly workers in the sdience, The great Rood of literalire on the sab- ject teday made if necessary to specialize to achlave any fasting re- sults, The metheds af sectioning, staining, setting in plastic, and the imaking of rubber monolis were ex- plained in detsil A series uf slides tlustrated the country in which the lecturer had worked in north-western Australia, &aehdute: Mr, G. Thontas—Brachio- pods and other specimens to shaw Various stages of museuyy preparation, anu jatest literature an fossils, from miuny diferent’ countries. Fauna Survey Grouji—May 11, 1961 Pourteen members attended, with Mr, N. Wakefield in the ehair, The jneeling was devoled mainly to general business, fubure activitics and equip- ment Reeds helnge diecussed, Mr. &. Wilkinson gave a progress. report o the study of the recently radiscoveret Leadbesater’s Possum. Mr. Wakefield mentiied the discuvery of new bone deposits if the south-west of the state, to be examined furiher at u future date. Fuuna Survey Group—lune 16, 19h) The mieeting was held at the Zoology School, Melbourie University. It was reported that the group's permit te trap and handle protected mammals had been extended by the Fisheries and Wildlife Department to cover all species of possums, a6 well as the small dasyurids and bats which the original permit covered, Mr. N, Walre- field described how Mr, R, Warneke and he had seonved a live specimen of Leadveater’s Possum, which Le how July 1961 unditr the vontrol of the Fisheries. and Wildlite Department, He wld alsa of a field trip ta south-western Victorix, where two speciipenus of Grey's Ral were caught, and to the western Wim- mera, where there was avidence af domestic Whee even in the heathlands of the Little Desert. [hawes decided to hold future meetings uf Lhe group on the third Thursday of cach month, to avaid clashes with meetings vf the Roval Society of Vivtoria. The meeting was curtailed co that members could attend a lecture by Professor Stirton, Palaeontologist of the University of Galifurnia, on Ter- tiary mammals of the Lake Eyre wrea of Seuth Australia. This was particularly interesting to the group, in vjew of its awn work Jast year on more recant bone deposits in East Gippsland, At supper, after the lec- ture, group members hud an jnterese- inv distussion with the professor and his party over a sample of the skeletal material from the Pyramid Cave neal’ Buchan, Microscopical Group—May Ly, 10fl At this mettings, whith was atlenderl by Afteen ienibers and three visitors Mrs. G. Middleton was elected to fll the vacancy uaused by ihe resignation of Dr. D. Molnges from the chair, ositton which be has held since 1966. embers expressed regret but under- stond thet he was already carrying great responsibilities as president of the BNWLY, Mrs, Middleton taok the chair and explained some fdeas she had for future activities of the group. These included the hutdingg of classes on Saturday aftornoons, when various phases of practical microscupy could be explained, especially to young people whd alizht be jntérested in this branch of science, It was derided to stage a display, for Cauntry Clubs Weekend pn Sep- tember M4, of the work of the group, and to vive a sliort talk to these interested, The subject for the ovening was a group one on pond life. It was besun hy Mr. Melnnes who explained what collecting equipment is necessary and how it is used, This was illustrated with 35 mm slides taken by Mr. W- Evans. He then demonstrated how aT this material js shown to best adtan- tage under the microscope and low individual! species can be isolated. Mr. C. Middleton showed an ex- tremely interesting tank far the examination of pond life, and 2 case containing the collecting equipeneat needled. At the bench were ten microscopes, an interesting array of paligets made from pdds and ends, and a lank through which water was continially circulated so 2s to keep alive forms of life which can survive anly in fust- running streaims. Slides tinder the microscopes showed Variona groups of desmids, duckweed, Nitella and oquatie insect larvae, Note: All persons interested in futigi are invited to attend the July meeting of the Miccuscupital Group, For dotails, see pase 89, under “Diary of Coming Events”, Botany Group—June 8, 1961 These office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mr. PF. Zirkler; Vice-President, Mr. d. AL Baines; Secretary, Miss M. Allencdor; Syllabus Planner, Miss M, Lester, The gecasion being members' night, three members gave talks, followed by same diseussion and quastions, Miss Lester, with the cifective use of two well-executed charts, spoke an systems of élassificulion of the plant kingutam, Mr. G, rancis explained the cause of fairy cine, while Mr. Baines im- parted some of his enthosiagm for the wildflowers of Wostern Australia, a flora tivhtest in number of endemic spectes in the world, being approached only by that of Cape Peninavla of South Afvien Affiliated Clabs Geelong FP.NO—The inwxugural meeting of the Geelénge Ficld Natural- ists Chih was held in Geelong on Tuesday, April i1, Un, in the presence of Mr, John Landy of the National Parks Awtharity and ninety prospective tivimbers. Mr. Landy ¢riu- merated places of interest in sur- rauntling: slictacts which make Gee- long an ideal centie for & Wield Naturalists Club. These included the as Brishane Ranges, You Vangs, mouth of the Little River, Bellarine Penin- sula, Anglesea, the Otway Ranges and the Stony Rises, Ile then pointed our that, in this field, +6 is preferable to know "a litlle about « lot! rather thatt to be a specialist m a particular branch of natural history. Mr, Landy conciuded by stressing the need to interest ynunp people and Form junior Proups, te have regular excursions and to exhibit specimens ut all meet- ngs. The follwing e¢ommittee was eleoted: Prestdent: My, T. Pescott. Vieo-Presidentss Mr. E. Bound, Mr. JI, Wheeler Secretary: Miss V, Bourdman, Treasurer: Mr. 0. Mackenzie- Committee: Messrs, R, Boddy, G- Farey, S, Rowe, E Tuylor and C, Tingste, 4 note of appreciation was recorded Tor the work undertaken and the example set by the pioneer members ef the Geelong Field Naturalists and Science Club, which was formed to- wards the end of last century. Colac FLN.C, Mr, Murray Iledzes is new presi- dant, and Dy. Graham Brown of Elli- Winyt eoritinues ax seorebacy. Lbhis chub is aiventarizing all hesd- masters within a radius of fifteen miles, a forward mpve which should have important results. This club hes shout sixty members, and about thirty juniors attend epecial munthly meetings srranged for them. Ararat F.N. We are pleased to noto that the auinual caport of this old-established club shows an inerease in meémber- shin, Miss A, G, Mitchell is president and Miss 4%. Banfield secretary, Tl is afiliwted with the Western Victona Federation of Ficld Naturalists Clubs, aa well as the FN-CLY. Warrnambool FLN.C. The Warrnambos] Field Naturalists Suciely bus nuw changed its name to the Wartnambool Field Naturalists Clak, We. R. J. Biter of Alisnsfrrd iy now president, and Mr. Ralph Midge secretary. Vict. Nat —Vol, 78 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 78 (4) August, 1961 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 by post asa a periodical 2/6 94 F.N.C.V, Nature Show — 1961 This vear's club nature show will be held in the Lower Melbourne Town Hall on Mondiy', Tuesday and Wednes- day, Seplember 4, 4 and 6. It will open al 14) a.m, and close al 10 p.m. each day. The exhibition is being stayed in conjunctian with the Society tor Growing Australian Plauts, which society will be entirely responsible for the display of gardeéen-srawn wild- flowers. Severn!) hundred different Howers, including some interstate material, will be displayed in the “Crush-space”, that is, in the southern part of the hall. A large exhibit showing our mallee-fowl, the Lowan, and its mound in a natural setting, will provide the focal point for the F.N.C.V. exhibits. Other selected birds will be shown besides the Lowan, and a specially selected series of slides will depict the same genera] scene, Considerable emphasis has been placed on the Lowan in this exhibil, beeause ils habitat has been considerably reduced in extent during the past half- century, and there is every likelihoad that it will be reduced further during the next few vears. An earnest plea is being made for protection of the Lowan and its habitats from further destruction. Live spiders, reptiles and selected marine exhibits will provide “something living” for the exhibition, but other aspects of marine life will be illustrated also, by preserved specimens, The F.N.C.V. botany group will stage an exhibit) showing the diversity of farm found in nur euealypts, and members of the group have vollected much material to illustrate this. Other exhibits will include a series of books relating to natural history atid a display of Moths and Butterflies, Further exhibits are planned by the peolosy group and the fauns survey group. A specially selected series of nature films will be screened at intervals during the exhibition. Club menibers will be asked al fhe August geaeral merting to fll in forms indicating when they will be able to help with the setting up and supervision of the exhibition, Members af the show committee, which designed this year’s exkibition, cannot look after it by themselves—they need much help, The suceess of the show will depend to a great extent on a foam of helpers from the ranks of the elub, Lt promises to he en interesting and educational exibition, and readers are requested fa inforn others of it and thus help ta assure that the greatest passible number of persons——both adults and vhildren—take advantage of the opportuntty to learn move of our Australian countryside and some of its unique inhabilaats. Wict. Not —Val. 78 Vol, 78, No. 4 August 10, 1961 The Victorian Naturalist Editor: NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.Sc. CONTENTS Editorial: Victorian Fauna Survey .. bes ais r Ie bs “4 4 96 Articles: The Rediscovery of Leadbeater’s Possum, Gymnobelideus Peadnantans, McCoy, by H. EB. Wilkinson .. wm $1 wm 97 Sacred Rocks of the Aborigines, by A. Messola, (foe ont gn, TDR Microfossils, by Bk. M. Davies .. be wt ea ~- Vid Features: Microseopists’ Corner: Microscope for the Entomologist, by C. 8, and G. J. Middleton ,, ree “4 4 7s v. 108 Along the By-ways With the Edilor: Habits of Skinks, Orchids of the Bepa Districl, A Snake Nole, Rainbow and GCockatoos -. 40a Australian Wattles: “Boxleaf Wattle.--Acacia buxifolia, by Jean Galbraith ,. mn oF al Ye nge gee eet aks, at. Tit Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: Generul Mecting, Group Measinee ba 7) 4 aq tle .. 7 BLN.C.Y, Library P ce ' os re = i at we «= 19 Diary of Coming Events 1... be i. -+ a fy -- 120 Miscellaneous. Wildflower Pictures “ete cee ote POE Notes on the Lyrebird's ; Song (K- i alufoff) - 7 rect a te UM “Victorian Aboriginal Axe Stone’ *_Gorrection -. 105 Native Plants Preservation Society of Vicvorie, by J, Ros Garnet 115 A.N.Z.A.A.S.--1961 3 Pa, ) vi cs tone Bendigo TN. Club—Sylabus : - es gs 2 Ly 116 Front Caver: The Western Blue-tongue, Tligua oveipitalis, ranges from far-western Victoria to central und western Australia, Tt 38 recupnized by the yellow. bands ucross the body. The picture is by David Fleay, and it appeared in the Victorian Naturalist of May 1951, together with some notes on several species of blue-tongue lizards. August 1961 95 Editorial: Victorian Fauna Survey In the “Director’s Column” of the July issue of Fur Feathers & Fins, the newsletter of the Fisheries and Wildlife Depart- ment, Mr. A. Dunbavin Butcher wrote: Very few organizations, particu- larly in the field of natural resources, are lane enough to meet all the de- mands inade wn them. The very veal assistance of lay groups such as the Altena. Survey Group of the Bird Observers Club ani the Fauna Survey Group of the Pield Naturalists Club, in the conservation of the wildlife of the State is grestly appreciated by the Department. However, uncoordinated lay groups da not always direct. their operations along the most eWfec- five lines, and it has been sug- peste that activities of all bodies such as the Fauna Survey Group should come more directly under the guidance of the Fisheries and Wildlife Department. We may look forward therefore to conferences on this aspect in the near future. The personnel and equipment ot the wildlife research group of the Department are being used at present mainly in the investigalion of matters of im- iste economic importance; but it ia felt by the Department and by naturalists alike, that more should be done towards ceneral conservation of native fauna. The Government ig there- fore considering a proposal that # section be added tu the wildlife research group, to study Vic- toria’s native animal life. Corn- 96 servation of any species can be implemented only if there is de- tailed knowledge of its distri- bution, habitat and habits. The greatest individual eon- tribution to our knowledge of local fauna is that mace by David Fleay during the "thirties and ‘forties. The record of his discoveries and observations 18 embodied in a valuable series of articles in issues of the Naturat- ist of that period, The rediscovery of Leadbeat- tr’s Pussum, reported in the present issue of the Netteralist, must. rank as one of the high- lights in the story of fauna sur- veying in Victoria. The species had been sought, without resull, for over half a century. Fleay spent much time in the quest, in distant parts of the state. It is appropriate to record here that, on learning that the little possum fad been found, David Fleay wrote these comments: Wonderful news about Gymuobelt- deus! To think that our strenuous efforts of thirty years age were ex- pended hundreds of miles away, when all the time the quarry was on the doorstep! What a splendid piece of work; T’d love ta hear the detaile Tn the meantime, plesse convey heartiest congratniations Lo the dizeoverer, who- ever he may be, We are sure these sentiments will be shared by readers; and we trust thal, as our mammals receive further aLltention, there will be other stories of redis- covery and some of rehabilita- tion. _ ~ Vict. Not.- Vol. 73 The Rediscovery By H, E, WILKINSON of Leadbeater’s Possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri McCoy Orily five specimens of this yery rare animal were known until this year, all of which are in the collections of the National Meseum of Victoris. Virtually nothing was known of its habits, and no trace of it had been found since 1909. Of recent years it has generally been considered to be extinct, bul ij has now been discovered living its the moun- tains near Marysville. This interesting little animal was discovered in July, 1867, in the Bass River valley of South Gippsland. The locality given is rather vague, being simply “the sceuh on' the banks of the Buss River, in Victoria", The species was described and named by Professor Frederick McCoy (8) as Gymnebelideus Leadbeater. This was a new genus, dis- tinguished from ils gliding rela- tives of the genus Peteurus by the absence of a ghding mem- brane. Petaurus was then known as Belideus, and “gymnus” means “naked”; so the namé re- fera to the lack of a membrane, but the derivation of Betideus is not clear. The specific name Was siven in honour of the then taxidermist at the National Museum, John Leadbeater. Me- Coy stated that “specimens of both sexes are preserved". but Rrazenor (1) found that the two specimens in the collevtions were males, Both are brown in colour. No other specimen was ob- tained until 1900, when Sir August |S] Baldwin Spermeer purchased «a mounted one from a Melbourne dealer, and presented it to the National Museum. The locality was nol known, but it was theugzht to have come from the Bass River valley also, It was a male, brown in colour like the type specimens (1, 2). Spencer found a further mounted speci- men in the office of &, ¥. Mason, a Melbourre accountant, who apreed to present it to the Museum (1, 2). Infermalion about: it was not obtained at Lhe lime, and it was assumed Lo have come from the Bass River. It is grever than the other three specimens, and also dilffers in having the apical half of the tail black, The fifth specimen was received at the Museum in 1969, but, strange to say, was not correctly identified, and = re- mained in obscurity for several years, It had been sent from Mount. Wills in north-eastern Vicloria by A. G. Wilson and was a female which differed from the other four specimens in being erey, In 1921, Spencer (10) wrote that “the destruction of the seruh and foreat in the Bass River has resulted in the com- plete extermination of one of our most interesting marsupials, the little opgsaum-like Gymno- betideus leadbeotert. There are actually only four specimens of this extant, and it is extremely unlikely, owing lo its very lim- 97 ited area of distribution, that gny more will be found’. This view was widely held, and be- cause of the apparent restriction to the Bass River, the species was generally referred tu as the “Bass River Opossum", No real éffort to obtain infer- mation about the species was made until 193], when C. W. Brazenor became Mammalogist at the National Museum. While eing through the collections, he found the Mount Wills specimen and recognized that this was the first indication that the species ranged outside the restricted locality of the Bass River, It was apparent that it had survived well into the present century at Mount Wills, and that it prob ably could be found in other areas of suitable habitat in north-eastern Victoria. Brazenor (1) poblished x re- description of the species in 1952, using all five specimens. He recorded that he had been able to contact F. V. Mason and had obtained the following in- formation regarding his speci- men. Tt had been taken “many years before”, nol from the Bass River a5 supposed, but “from the edge of the Koo-wee-rup Swamp (long before the swamp was drained) about three miles due south from Tynong railway station", He added: “We were felling a tree, and as it fell, the little animal came from a hollow bratich. — had never seén one before, although we had lived for many years on the place.” A search for the Wilson who had sent in the Mount Wills sprcimen had not been ao successful, though inquiries had extended from Orbost to Tallangatta (2). Howeyer, some time later, Tom 98 Hiimter, an old miner and trap- per from Tallangatta, wrote to the Museum. In 1909 he had been gold mnning at Sunnyside on Mount Wills, and had lived for @ while with Wilson, The Iaiter had seen a strange little pussum on the roof of their hut one wight, antl had shot it and sent it to the National Museum, Brazenor visited the spot with Hunter and although the hut had been burt, and only the base of the chimney remained, the locality was fixed as Sunny- side, Mount Wills, 4000 ft, abaye sea level (2). As the Bass River and Tynong localities had been cleared, the hunt. for Leadbeater's Possum was centred on the Mount Wills area, but it was not found, de- spite intensive investigation. David Wleay took an active part in the search, and records same of their experiences in his book, Gliders of the Gum Trees (6). Many other likely Tocalities in easlern Victoria were also searched, and reporta of the ani- mal from various localities were followed up, but ne evidence of its presence was found. As the years went by without any trace of the little posstim. the feeling grew that it was Probably extinct after all; in fact, it was placed on a list of marsupials “extinci, or almost certainly extinct’? by J. H, Cal- aby (5) last year, Most of those (nterested in our native mam- mals have honed for the re- discovery of the species, and Brazenor (2) expressed this view in 1946 in an article with the rather prophetic title, “Last Chapter to Come”. The only fossil evidence of former disteihulion is from re- Vict. Mat—Vol_ 78 cent bone deposits in the Buchan area, recorded by N. Wakefield (18, 14) last year. He recorded 57 individuals of Leadbeater’s Possum from an owl deposit in the Pyramids Cave near Mur- rindal, and two from a native cat den, also at the Pyramids. Only the two specimens from the native cat den and one of those from the Pyramids Cave are white, while the others, which he regards as older, are reddish. He commented: “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.”” Wakefield fur- ther suggested that the fossil phalangerid Palaeopetaurus ele- gans, described by R. Broom (4) in 1895, from Wombeyan in New South Wales, may be Gymno- belideus leadbeateri. The records August 196] aloe ! a | ‘leew iia ilerest eta ond Ahn othel Gale Lal : from Murrindal lend weight to the suggestion made by Brazenor (2) that Leadbeater’s Possum might be found ‘in the forested mountains of south-eastern New South Wales”. About two years ago, I began a mammal survey of the Heales- ville - Warburton - Marysville ranges. When the Fauna Survey Group of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria was formed, this became one of the group projects. On April 3 this vear, the Cumberland Valley, eleven miles east of Marysville, was visited.* About an hour after dark, a small grey possum was seen low down on the trunk of a Black- wood (Acacia melanoxylon). It turned and climbed quickly into the upper foliage, hesitated for a while, then jumped across to a neighbouring tree and dis- appeared from view. When first seen it was thought to be a Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) but, as it climbed, a very different kind of tail was seen. Instead of the broad, fluffy tail of Petaurus, it had a long, thin tail, bushing out towards the tip, and I sud- denly realized that it was pro- bably a Leadbeater’s Possum— not in some remote part of the state, but in a well-known tourist spot only seventy miles from Melbourne. Although the tail was the only diagnostic feature seen clearly, it was enough to suggest a very exciting possibility, one which I *The party included R. F. Lees and A. Son- nenberg. 99 had very much in mind while on the way to Marysville some three hours later. A nightjar flew in front of the ear and perched in a tree ai the sule of the road, It flew off as soon aa the ear was stopped, ta pet a better look at it, hut this did not matter in the least, becyuse a pair of eves reflected in the spot- fight beam proved tu belong to a small possum, very simular to the one seen earlier in the even- ing. This time u Very good view of the animal was obtained, and it was kept under observation for about ten minutes, Although brownish grey in colour, it closely resembled the first une, and the absence of a glidinyr membrane showed thal it was definitely not Petauvrys. Its size, build and markings readily dis- tinguished it from any other small mammals with whieh it could possibly have been con- fused, and it seemed very pro- hable that these two unimals were indeed the long-lost Lead- beater’s Possum, Te obtain further evidence, and photographs if possible, [ returned Lo the area on April 8, with David Woodruff of the Fatoa Survey Group. Concen- trating on ihe area where the second one had been seen, we were fortunate enough 10 see three, and, Since all of [hese were prey, they were obviously dis- tinct from ihe brownish one seen previnusly, The first of the Chree Was seen just after dark, de- scentling: a tall Mountain Ash (Rvealuptys requansy, When shout fifteen feet from the ground, it jumped to a sapling about five fect away, and quickly disappeared from view, Three hours later, and over a quarter 100 of a mile away, two more were seen in Silver Wattle (Acacio deathata). One disappeared with- in a few seconds, but the other jumped ta + Mountain Ash limb and “froze, It was kept under observition for about twenty- five minutes, antl several colour photographs were taken of it, using a 185 mm. telephoto lens, The closest the cumera could be taken was fonrlecn feet, and the photoyraphs are therefore not particularly clear. TTowever, they are the fieat pictures ever taken of a living Leadbeater’s Possum, and three of them are published for that reason. The half-tone enlargements were prepared from the original transparencies by F. E, Guy of the School of Photoyraphy, Reval Melbeurne Institute of Technology. Leadbeater’s Possum is Stmi- Jae in size and general appear- unce to the Sugar Glider (Pet- eurkes breviceps) but is readily distinguished by the tack of a fliding membrane, the structure of the feet. and the very vharae- teristic tail. Although the under- surfave is white in both species und sharply divided from the colour of the dorsal surface, Guimvobelidens does not show the folded black membrane edge so characteristic of the glider. One of the Marysville animals showed = tendency towurds the brown colour of the Bass River specimens, but all the others were clear grey, rather like Petaneas bereviceps, but without the bluish tinge usually exhi- hited by the latter, A very im- portant difference between the two species lies m the structure of the feet, Gyimnobelidews has “spatulate” «iits, with shart vlawa unm the hands and feet, Vier Ner—Voul 74 which contrast with the narrow digits and long claws of the glider. The tail is very charac- teristic in Gymnobelideus, and may be the same colour as the body, or darker, and have a more or less lighter tip. It is quite different in shape from that of Petaurus, which is broad and fluffy, almost as wide as the body at the base, and tapering towards the tip. In Gymnobeli- deus the tail is short-haired for the basal third of its length, but becomes increasingly bushy to- wards the tip, and on the under- surface there is a distinct groove which consists of a region of shorter hairs. The tail is notice- August 1961 Leadbeater’s Possum, photographed near Marysville The three pictures of this animal, reproduced here, were taken in Mountain Ash forest at an altitude of 3000 feet, Note the bushed-out terminal portion of the tail. ably longer than the length of head and body. Approximate measurements are head and body 5-6 inches, and tail 7-8 inches. Gymnobelideus has a_ dorsal stripe, but it terminates on the forehead, instead of continuing down to the nose as in Petaurus. The fur is much shorter than that of the glider, and one effect of this is to make the ears of Gymnobelideus seem very much larger, though in fact they are not much different. Fifteen sightings of Gymno- belideus leadbeateri have been made at the Marysville locality since the original discovery in April. A specimen was collected 101 Leadheater'’s. Possum, Marysville. Note the spatulate digits and the facial markings, in particular the termination of the dorsal stripe. by the National Museum shortly after the discovery was reported, and a live one was caught early in June by R. M. Warneke of the Fisheries and Wild Life De- partment, and N. A. Wakefield. This animal has settled down very well in captivity, and is being closely studied. It is too early yet to attempt to assess the status of the species in the Marysville area, but it is hoped that it will be found present in sufficient numbers to remove any fears of extinction. BIBLIOGRAPHY J. Brazenor, C. W., 1932, “A Re- examination of Gymnobelideus leadbeatecri McCoy”, Aust. Zoolo- gist, 7 (2): 106-9, 2. Brazenor, C. W., 1946, “Last Chapter to Come”, Wild Life 8 (11): 382-4. 8. Brazenor, C. W., 1950, The Mam- mals of Victoria, p. 40. 4, Broom, R., 1896, “On a small fossil marsupial allied to Petau- rus” Proe. Linn. Soc. N.S.W, 10: 568-70. 5. Calaby, J. H., 1960, “Australia’s threatened animals”, Oryw 5 (6): 381-6. 6. Fleay, D., 1947, Gliders of the Gum Trees (Melbourne). 7. Lydekker, R,, 1894, Handbook Mars. and Mon., p. 111. 8. McCoy, F., 1867, “On a new genus of Phalanger”, Ann. Mag. Nat, Hist. Series 3, 20: 287-8. 9. McCoy, F., 1888, Prod. Zool. Vict., Dee, 10, Pl, 91, 10. Spencer, Sir Baldwin, 1921, “The Necessity for an Immediate and Co-ordinated Investigation into the Land and Freshwater Fauna of Australia and Tasmania”, Vict. Nat. 37 (10): 120-2. 11. Thomas, O., 1888, Cat. Mars and Mon. Brit. Mus., p. 149. 102 12. Troughton, E., 1957, Furred Ani- mals of Australia, 6th Ed, (Syd- ney), pp. 93-5. 13, Wakefield, N. 1960a, “Recent Mammal Bones in the Buchan District—1”, Vict. Nat. 77 (6): 164-78, 14. Wakefield, N., 1960b, “Recent Mammal Bones in the Buchan District—2”, 227-40, Wildflower Pictures The third series of wildflower cards is available from the South Australian Museum. There are six “jumbo size” ecards, depicting the subjects three- fifths natural size, and the price of the set. is 3/5 posted. The following flowers are shown: Vict. Nat. 77 (8): road- and Eremophila maculata, from side between Wilcannia Broken Hill. Olearia ciliata, from roadside near Keith, S.A. Prostanthera aspalathioides, from roadside near Little Desert, Vic. Boronia filifolia, Waitpinga, S.A. Correa reflexa rubra, Mt. Compass, S.A. Acacia aneura, cultivated at Black- wood, S.A. Vict. Nat—Vol. 78 Microscopists’ Corner Microscope for the Entomologist We were recently wsket to recem- mend a suitable micrescope for the entomologist. This is not easily dune. as the type of mierostope anid equap- ment neetled is determined by the work to be undertaken. If the chief purpose is the collection and classification of insects, with np attempt at fime detail drawing, then a simple Greenough binocular, with marnification up to “100, is adequate. This gives a beuutifully stereoscopic effect and is suitable for freehand drawtngs of the insects. If, however, one desires to take necurate dvawings, with a camera lucida, of the external structure, then & simple monocular instrament with magnifications up to 100% should be olvained. i should be equipped with “2k, SS and 1M obsectives. and x5 and 10 oculars, A substae condenser is not npr- mally required with these low powers; the concave mirror is adequate. Pra- vision should be made for top hghting. The simplest is two electrvic Lorches simply mounted on two little stands, to diwect a beam of light from each torrh onto the object frem apposite sides. We stress this point as Lhe lwo sources will prevent heavy shadows which ereate fatse images, Light fram one direction, such us from a window or reading lamp, ts nol suitable. Fur- ther detains on ithuminating opaque objects can be found in past issues of The Minrascepe and nther publi- cations. Shpuld the entomologist desire to study the minute anatomy of the in- sect, then the finest microscope and aceessaries that the pocket will allow are desirable. A binovular is not necessary, thongh some find jit very confortable to use. It should also have an interchangeable monoculat lady fer use with the camera luckla ar fow photomicrography. Here again the quality of the micro- scope stand cannot be uver-empha- sized. We have recently tested some August 1961 By CLS, and G. J, MippLaton * new objectives which appeared un- satisfactory of the new microscppe with whith they were supplied. On our own English stands, the lenses performed adequately, while our per fevt lenses failed on the new stand— due in the mechanical inaccuracies of (hat. instrument, To cover the whale runge of ento- maloey, one should be equipped with both the Greenongh binocular and a yood research mreroscope, jus an adequate knewledve of microscopic Lechnique, Note: Quenes and articles ore in- Wited, For personal replies. please enclose stamped addressed envelope fie Vietoria AAW 40e0) Streel, Sandringham, Vieieiia Notes on the Lyrebird’s Song Tt is yeywetted that. when Lracing the note scove which appeared on page 30 of the Kiet, Naf. of June, 196L. the following «missions were made; L. Aeeuinpasiinent to jumps: The sign of a t (vretchety pause is miss- ings wt the end of the first and of the gecond tar in the top row asl al the beyinniny of the third bar in the hottem row; and the sien “8x6 2. 27, incicaling: w lift of three pelaves, was ormitted. ¢. Cymbals: Sign “f" is twissime at the bewinning of the first bar, and the fign of a 2 (minim) pause igs missing in both bars in the top raw after the crotchet, 3. Castanea; Sipn “mt is inissing ab ihe beginning of the har Rewlers are advised tu cnter these in their copies, to make the score right. —K. C. HALA 103 “ALONG ” € if. THE ~ BY-Wa ae + W ith: the Editor These columns are available each month for your nature notes and querics, Address your correspondence to the Editor, “Victorian Naturalist”, Habits of Skinks Referring to the notes on skinks in these columns of the Naturalist of June last, Miss Moira Pye of Croydon has made these comments: Skinks in these parts are extremely shy, so that, in five years of residence here, I have not come to know them; but those near Lorne, though similar in appearance, seem to have a dif- ferent outlook. One lived in the wall of an outdoor kitchen. If anyone slapped a march-fly, he was quick to collect it. Once he had twelve within an hour. When these flies were busy round my ankles one sunny day, I stretched out my foot to him and he, grasping the idea, took up a sentry position on my instep. Another time, he was under a low table, when a fly began to pace up and down the top of it. He fol- lowed its movement with his head, though it was invisible to him, and then made for the leg nearest its halting place. He was halfway up when I slapped a fly that had bitten me. He watched my hand, alert as a 104 P.O. Box 21, Noble Park, Victoria. dog waiting for a stick to be thrown, and jumped for it when I tossed it. A fly in the hand was worth two on the table to that shrewd fellow. I tried giving one of the skinks a small grub, such as were on the iron- bark leaves, in gruesome bundles like half-ripe bananas. He stalked it, lunged and caught it by the middle. Then he trotted off to a sandstone slab, and ground off first one end of his ghastly “spitter’’ and then the other. The rest he swallowed, It is noticeable that skinks ean learn by experience, which I suppose accounts for their behaviour differing in different localities. The skinks have more brains for size than most of us, as the note from Waite testifies. Orchids of the Bega District A letter from Mr. Ian Mat- thias of Bega, in south-eastern New South Wales, makes com- ment on some orchids which he has observed this year in the vicinity. Among them are Den- drobium speciosum (Rock Or- chid), D. striolatwm (Streaked Vict. Nat.—Vol. 78 Rock Orchid) and Sareanthus tridentatus (Tangle Grehid)— three of the five epiphytic species thal occur in Victoria. Ile men- tions also Avianthus fornicatus (Pixiecaps), Dendrobium jrig- toniformis (Dagger Orchid) and Cymbidium suave, One wonders if hotsnists will eventually locate any of these three in the Cape Howe Ranges or adjoining areas, to the east of Mallacoota Inlet, and so add them to the census of Vietorian plants, A Snake Note Snakes are sometimes vb- served in water, and they are able to swim quita well. Here is an observation on the subject, submitted by Mr. A. R, Tinckam of Cuonrord, New South Wales: On January 2 last, several mem- bers of the Bird Observera Club, on an excurajon to the Lerderderg River, Natical a snake in the water. The upper part of its bady rested against a small boulder, and its lead was slightly above the surface. It was a yery warm day, with a hot northerly breese, and the snake was apparently trying, to keep cool, On being disturbed, it awam 4 short distance under water, which was about en Iyot deep, remaitied still fur a Few minutes, then slowly swam ia the opposite bank and glided ints th uttdlargrcowth. - When one of the party-crossed the yiceam to Jotahe the snake for photo. graphic purposes, it slid slowly lack into water no more than several inches deep, wher# it remained with its body on the pebbly bed and part of tts head above water, apparectly t breathe. [n that position it was miQeh pllutographed, The streak of red on the underside of ite budy indi- cated that it was a Black Snake. Snakes do not need to breathe continually, as birds ard mam- mals do; and they sumetimes Aucgus! 194) remain completely submerged in water for long periods. Being so-called “cold-blooded" animals, reptiles become warm or cold internally, according to the tem- nerature of their surroundines, Perhaps the snake at Lerderderg found the day uncomfortably hot, and endeavoured to cool down by immersing itself in the stréam; but it may have been siinply a case of taking reTuge in the water, for concealment. Rainbow and Cockatoos This note comes from Mrs. 1. P. Hanks of Black Rock: On a misly aiternoun in March we were driving slong Ballarat Read, where it overleaks the Werribee Garge, when we saw an unusual and beauti- ful sight. At leas a thousand White CuckaLoos ware there, half feeding on a paddock of younsr preen crop, while the others hud settled on some tull trecs down the slope of the pete, fiving them the appesranee af having barst into blossem. Suddenly the birds on the crop tose in unison and joined the others on the trees. At the same mament, an are wf rainbow appeared on the mist and enveloped the whole fieck. We nat, foaking fount mm the rambaw, and waxed while it lasled, thinking of the ines by W, H, Davies! “A rainbow and a oueckoo's sone May never come together 4eain , . - “Victorian Aboriginal Axe Stone” — Correction In the Jist of references with the article of this name last month {rof, Viet. Net 78: 75), after "Thomas, T. &. (1993)", the title “Sonvees vf Ruck3 Used by the Aborigines for Axe Making” should be doletud, Sacred Rocks By A, Massoua of the Aborigines The impulse of singling out unusual natural features, such as caves or standing rocks, trees, or rivers as objects of sperial regard appears to be inborn in mankind. The Australian abori- gines were no exceplion to this rule, and believed such natural phenamena to be the special work of ancestral spirits. or the abode of the spirit itself. In Victoria many such places exist, but with very few excep- tions the legends or beliefs con- nected with them have not been recorded, Exceptions include a point on the mainland which is wbout opposite Lady Juha Perey Tsland, where the spirits of Lhe dead found transport to the land beyond: the cave near Cape Schanek, which was made by Runjil, the Creator; the Lal Lal Falls on the Moorabonl, where Bunjil lived: and the frighlening Lo-an's country, un the way to Wilson's Promontory, where the aborigines had to Lake all neces- sary Precautions and go through superstitious practices in order nat to be harmed by Lo-an (or Loo-errn), As a cunlinuation of the geries of articles dealing with the aboriginal antiquities of Vic. toria, 2 few of these sacred places will be described, In this paper two hitherto unrecorded rocks are brought to notice and their ussociated legends are retold, 1O6 The Red Rock of Metung At Shaving Point, close to the road skirting Lake King, and within sight of the picturesque little township of Metung, a large red rock protrudes from the water. Around it are a num- ber of smaller rocks, which originaliy must. have formed part of a porphyritic rock body from which they were probably detached by water action. Be- cause of its reddish colour, and as it is the only free atanding rock in the vicinity, ii atlracta the attention of the passing traveller. It is the Red Rock of Metung. Tlaw this rock got there is told in an interesting legend once current among the local tribe, the Kurnai (khwrnui = men). This lefend is connected with the deep-rooted belief existing amongst many of the seouth- easlucn tribes, that if a dog is heard speaking the hearer is immediately turned into stone. Rriefly it is as follows; A large mob of Kurnai was once camped at a place ualled Metung un the north shore of Narran, the Moon, as the abori- gines called Lake King. They were living on fish which they caught in grass nets by day, or speared in the shallows hy night with the light of great bark torches which the men carried with them as they waded about or stand upright Io the eannes. Viet Not—Vol 738 One morning they had a preat haul of fish, and shouted to the women in the camp across the bay to tell of their success. The woman shouted back "Yukha toon" (well said) and set about making fires of didybianga (seed cunes of the sheouk) and bark with which to cook the fish. Soon all were seated in a circle around the fires, enjoying the fish, for once forgeiful of their dogs, who shivered on their haunches and crept nearer, whining, in the hope that a stray head, at least, would come their way. The Kurnai took no notice of them, and kept feasting, when suddenly one of the dogs, who could not stand it any longer, heran to speak: “You greedy Kurnai, why have we no fish?’ it suid, and all heard it. Instantly the whole camp was turned into stone, and stands as a red rock in thut spot by the shores of Lake King to this day. Ever after, this rock was referred to as Walluny, ''The Rock’. and was pointed out to the children of the Kurnai as an example of what might befall them if they were vreedy and thoughtless. August 196! The Sacred Rocks at Clematis On page 400 of Native Tribes uf South Hast Australia, A. W. Howitt states that ‘near Dantle- nong there is a rock on which the Ngaruk-willam clansmen of the Wurunjerri tribe used to place Jeafy boughs when voing out hunting kangaroos to ensure a good catch”. In a manuscript published by J. G. Frazer in Native Races of Australasia, and no doubt referring to the same Joeality, Mary Howitt, A. W. Howitt's daughter, stated that TWO rocks near the Dandenong Ranges represent Djurt-djurt and Thara, the sons of Bunjil, and that native hunters would “break fresh boughs from the trees and strin the leaves off, and place them beneath the twigs in front of the rovks, after which they felt certain of a plentiful supply of kangaroos". The whereabouts of this, or these. rocks was unknown to me until I] chanced to see a passage in Karly Days at Berwick, by N. E, Beaumont and J, FP. Cur- van, These authors stated that “Att ald aboriginal named King Mirree used to visit Narre War- av rén North at odd times, and he spoke of Rakl Hill, near Mr. Kerr's property, a® being hal- lowed ground, No hunting was allowed there, for what reason is unfortunately not known". Bal! Hill is close to Welling- ton Road, not far from the Para- dise Hotel at what is now Clem- alis. The Mr. Kerr referred to by King Mirree was Patrick Kerr, an early selector on Wel- lington Road, father of Thomas Kerr, Melbourne City Courcil- Jor, and not Hamill Kerr, of Aurs, Narre Warren North, father of Ferntree Gully Shire Cyuuncillor R, H. Kerr, after whom Kerr Park was named, This somewhat ¢eomplicated my researches. Bald Hill is pow owned by My. H, J. P. Macipan, farmer, who bullt his house on the top of ihe hill, On the eastern flank of this hill the ground falla rapidly until, about two hundred yards from the house. it levels out inte a flat-topped Willock, only to fall aguin to the ereek after which it begins its rise to the top of the hill opposite. This flal-topped hillock is a conspiec- uous feature in the valley thus formed, and can be seen from all the surrounding countryside. In a very prominent position on this hillock a rock emerges from the round. [t is a roughly circular cone, measuring fifteen feet three inches at ifs lonzest axis by thirteen feet six inches at its shortest, and rising to a blunt point five feet three inches above ground level, Upon closer investigutiun tl is seen that it is ringed br a number of smaller stones, It is not known if these stones were (leposited by nature, ur jf they were brought by man 108 and placed ‘there, This cone is such 4 distinet Jandmark that it could net have passed unnoticed by the aborigines, I feel sure that this is the rock, referred to by Howitt, against which the Nearuk-willam® placed theil’ leafy boughs What then of Mary Howitt’s TWO rocks, Djurt-djurt and Thara? About halfway between the Madigan house and the conic rock there sre three slabs of yranite barely protruding above the surface of the ground. They are Jying side by side. The lar- gest is in the ventre, and mea- gures twelve feet in length by four feet ten inches in width. On the southern side of it lies the second-largest slab, measur- ing nine feet four inches in length by three feet ten inches in width. The smallest of the three ig on the eustern side of the largest. und measures four feet one inch in length by one Foot five inches in width. The peculiarity of these three rocks lies in the fuct that while the central and largest is just a slab of stone, the {wo smaller could, with a little stretch of imagina- tion, puss for two bodies Jying on their backs. This illusion is emphasized by each having a protuberance at one extremity which looks like a roughly hewn face. These are natural forma- tions and not man-made, The larger of these faces measures twenty inches by fourteen, and {he smaller eiyrhteen by fourteen. The larger is now broken in two, 4nd the pleces hive moved a little apart from eavh other I feel sure that the two smal- ler rocks represent Djurt-djurt PPerle oul the ) Keke Willem — camn), liar > yeethky, Wier Not —Vel, 7B and Thara, and the third and largest their camp fire, This then is the hill, and these are the racks associated with the legend of haw men obtained fire. re- eorded by Brough Smyth in The Aborigines of Victoria, as being current among the Wurunjerri, ay Yurra Tribe. It will be noticed that Djurt-djurt and Thara are hot spelled quite this way in the legend, and that they are not ssid to be the sons of Bunjil, but. simply “ood men". These dif- ferences are just tribal varia- tions, The legend states that u woman named Kar-ak-ar-ook was the only one who could make fire, which she kept tn her dig- wing stick. Waung, the Crow. induced her to kill some snakes with this stick, and when it broke he stole the fire which issued from it. However, he ws greedy, and kept it for himself. Now Bunjil, the Creator, gath- ered all the blacks and caused them to speak harshly to Waung. Waung became afraid, and threw the fire amongst the assembled blacks. Everyone picked up some fire and left. Techert-tchert and Trarr also took some, and with it set fire to the grass around August ISSI Waung to burn him. However, Waung, the Crow, flew away. Tchert-tchert and Trarr were burnt instead, and “are now two large stones at the foot of the Dan-den-ong mountain”, The version of this legend, by the Bunurong or Western Port tribe, is as follows: Two women were attacked by snakes and fought them with their digging sticks. At last one of the sticks. broke and fire came out of it. Waung, the Crow, snatched the fire and flew off with it. Two young blacks, Toordt and Trrar flew after the Crow and caught it. The Crow dropped the fire, and the whole country was burnt, Toordt and Trrar were burnt. Pund-jel came down from the sky and told the blacks, ‘now you have fire, do not lose it”. By and by the blacks lost the fire, winter came, the blacks were cold, the snakes multiplied. At length the woman Kar-ak-ar-ook came down from the sky. She started killing snakes with her Jong digging stick, In striking one the stick broke, and fire eame forth. Waung, the Crow, again flew off with it, Toordt and Trrar came down from the sky. They traced 109 the Crow and the fire to a moun- tain called Nunnerwoon. They took the fire and brought it back to the blacks. On the way they had to keep the fire alight by feeding it with bark pulled off trees, as is usually done by abo- rigines when they are travelling. Trrar returned safely. Toordt went to his home in the sky and came back no more. He was burnt to death on a mountain called Munnio, where he had kindled a fire in order to keep it alight. This fire he kindled close to a tree called Melloan. Not much can be added, al- though one point needs explain- ing. It is stated by the Howitts that leafy boughs were placed on or in front of the rocks, to ensure a good catch of kanga- roos. This is in keeping with primitive magic the world over. The Kangaroo spirit would have to be placated by an offering, so as not to incur his wrath by the destruction of one of his pro- geny. Examples of this nature can be quoted from all parts of the world, but one will suffice. Djurt-djurt lying in front of the fire: Thara is behind the fire. 110 In the eastern United States, the Huron Indians always made token offerings to the spirit of the sapling before it was cut down to make a bow. Another point of interest is that in the legend the name of Bald Hill on which Toordt was burnt, is given as Munnio. This, in the native language, means “‘Ashes”’. Close to the rocks the tree called Melloan must have stood. There is no trace of it now. It probably disappeared in a bush fire of long ago. The mountain called Nunnerwoon, where Waung, the Crow, hid the fire has not yet been located. Here is a chance for amateur investigators. Note: Howitt mentions ONE rock, but his daughter told of TWO (rep- resenting Djurt-djurt and Thara— who were apparently regarded as in- termediaries with the Kangaroo An- cestor), against which natives placed sticks before going hunting. I would accept the latter version, in which case the conic rock would seem to represent Waung, the Crow, not the Kangaroo Ancestor. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 78 MICROFOSSILS A yhidrefossil may be defined as “sny fossil fusaally smell) whose distinguishing chapneteristies are best studied by means of the micrascope” (Jones, 1954). The discovery a? the mictustope by Anton Leeuwenhoek in LOO lad ta the examination of tiny fossil shells fram various European Tertiary sediments. However, micry- paloeottoligy, ae reeognized today, is scarcely fifty years old Tho vse of mierofossils, in the search far econa- mic comoiodtties such aa water and wil, INereases as Knawkedgve progresses. In recent years a field of miiero- palaeantalagy has developed, in which extremely Jugh magnificalivns have been used to study foseil-bearing sediments, The use of the electron mirrosvope has shown that there ac- eur microfossils whase a¥crage size is less than to micron ("fi milli- metre}. Fossil Useteria have heen fyund in oil shales, iron ores, Tee- stones, fossi} plant remains, hones and unprolites. Preparation in the felel, the work uf the micrt- palaeontolugisL usually consists of vollecting, not fossils, but samples of Tock which he believes contin the required Fossils in suifiofenl oumbers and in 2 satisfaclory state af preser- vation, The wide variety of sediments eamtalning omicrofassily demands a quniber of diferent tresitinente in order to free the specimens fram Lhe KuETdUEding matrix, As 4 Tule, rocks vontainiie eaecrefessds have ta he broken up, and ¢laya and siltstones washed, im order to I'vee the fossils. Fluweverc, eare must be tuken, and the minimum of rushing, eolling, agitating, boiling and si¢ving dens, su that specimens are not troken, Claamificution Tr has recently been put forweed again -although criticized in some quartets--thitt simple. oane-eejled plants und animals should be placed ina pew kingelor called Protivte (Haekel, L866; Moore, 1959), This new kingdom includes single-celled oryanigms Lurmerly grouped with the Augusr 1961 By E. M. Davies plalils (in the phyiuim ‘Challophyts), and those forrterly classified with the animals in the phpylun: Protozas, as well as several problematical groups. Many of these organlsms,! havin theiy Fossil repltesentatives iq sedi- Mmentary rocks, such as the Spongio- Stromara (hme seerecting algae) chatuphytes (lime se¢reting stalked plants), Dagellates, diatoms, radio- latvia, and foraminifera, all of which raid both animal and plant charac- ers. Forwmini era Poraminifera o¢eur in great abun- dance in the sea, being found at all depths-and latitudes in the recent scas (Gluessner, 1945). As Tossils they aceur in marine sedimentary rocks of all periods from the Cambrian (7) ta the present. Maay important gea- logies! formations in the world con. sist largely of theie remains. Glibi- Becina vere covers 35°¢ of the ocean floor, and the sands af mary tropical beaches are made up almost entirely of foraminiferal teste Prraminifers constitute by far the midst tmpurtant ursup of microfossis, heir special imipurtauice in slratigraphie yvonation of rocks pahdtrated In deep borifigs has become especially recognized in the ctltse Of pelyoleuim axplivativen. The jiving foraminifer eousists of an amoeba-like cell which sends out pseudopadia through the perforations in 168 eWilinwus, arcnaeeous ur val- careous shell, The petidopodia BEYTG fer locomotion and for capturing food whith usually camaishs oF diatoms ane other algac, either alive or in a state of decay, Most Tamiles are marine, bub Some have beeame adapled to Jife ia brackish water, in lagoons and rertain takes, and seme sre found in the jomund water af desert wells in Aaia and Norih Africa, Envireument has 2 direct inflluenrs tn the distri- bation ot Cusamiirufers, the type af sea iloor often being an important fartar. Variations in the amount of Hight, unl the cheneal and pirysical propertios of sca water, also intiuence distribution. The effect of environs iment ypusl have been equally strony in past ages ina Ostracods Ostraceds or “water fleas" ave bi- valved arthvopods that live oth in marine and fresh waters, As mitro- fossils they are serond in importance to the foraminifera. They have efeat stratigraphic sleniGeance, Most genera and specles have short vertical ranges and wide geographic distribution, making them valuable index fossils. Their shells are common |r shales, matis arid limestones. from lower Ordovician to the present. The ostraznds, like all erustacesns, shed their culcareous-chitinous exo- skeleton several times curing growth. These melted carapaces [or instars) commonly occur with the adult akele- tans af microfosails, Some forms are free-swiniming, some bettom-dwellers, while others barrow in the pettem muds. The curupace tanges from C5 mm. to ¢ mm, in letgeth and con- sists of Lwo valves held together by tranverse adductor muscles. The vary- ing patterns of muscle scars are a diagnostic feature, The valves show diferent types and dererets of shape anid vf ornamentation. The shells are perforated by tiny pores. On ths female carapace there are hemispherical or ovoid bulges in which the unborn youne até éatried. These breed pouches are well devel- oped in certajn Palseozalc genera, and have been demonstrated, by means of thin 2ections, to contain embryonic astracods, Conrodartits Since their discovery in the Ordo vieian of Baltic Rusaia in 1856, pro- bably to single group of Mitrofossiis has been the subject of wreater con+ troversy than the conodonts, They are minute, toothlike and plate-like fos- sils found in racks renging from the Orduvician 40 Triassic. There is a wide diversity in the shape and size, the largest having a length of slizhtly over Zomm.. and they are uzually a traniglueent amber-browy colour, Warm mandibles, called sealecadonts, differ fram conodonts in being eam- posed of chitinows and siliceous mat- erial. Conadunts are pood index fos- sils in many Palaeozcic formatians, their smal] size and resistance to weather makes. them uaeful in the 12 correlation of surface and subsurface formations. They accur im greater abundance im shales riell in organic mintter than in atiy other rook type, buc ars found also In sandstones, lmestanes and cherts. The ‘zeological relatianships and function of conodonts are \ndeter- mined. They bave been considered bo belong to the fishes, gastropods, worms, crustaceans and cephalopeds. it is believed, however, that they are part of a vertebreate animal because they ure vompesed of phosphate of lime, are frequently attiched to bone- like material, and have been found in Bssociftion with remains of verte- brates, Conodants are capable of re- juvenating broken or lost parts, aod they may have functioned as internal supports for tissues within the bodies of certain fishes, such as gills (Moore, Lalicker and Fisher, 1952). They have two different types of internal struc tire: fibrous and lamjnar- The genera are gréuped into suborders and fami- lies according to the internal arranye- went and othér characteristics, Connadents have been found in the Ordivician of the Broome area, West- ern Avétralla, and in other placee in this continent, Diatons Diatome are minute solitary or colantal one-celled planta which secrete # «siliceous cess consisting of two valves or frustules, the epivalys fit- Ling elighthy over the hypevalve in the manner of a Ud Atting a pill-lox. The shape and ofnamentation vary considerably but, generally speaking, mazine diatams are circular aor dis- eoldal, while non-mavine fornis are elongate The oldest identifiable marine farms are fouud in upper Cretacenis rocks and the oldest non- marine in early Tertinvy Jseustrine sediments. The literature lists monerh and fossil diatoma as comprising 600 genera and 20,000 species. Whereas corals and moluses (animal life) are characteristic of the trupical seas, diatoms (plant life) are characteristic af the frigid seas, Modern diateme contribute hunyily to the secdtinentar cover of the ocean Haar in the Arctic and Antarctic desans, particularly Ehe jutter where there Is such a ne expanse of water. Diatomes also vecur Viet Nat—Vel 78 at great altitudes such as in the Himalayas, Andes and European Alps. When the water in which they live dries up, the diatoms form an im- palpable dust which may be dispersed over great distances by the wind. Diatomaceous earth is useful as a mild abrasive, and a filtering medium and absorbent. Victorian diatomites are of fresh or brackish water origin. Of several deposits associated with Cainozoic basalts in central Victoria, probably the largest is that of Lillicur, in the Avoca district. Diatoms in marine and non-marine sediments are of limited use for correlation pur- poses but are of considerable value in interpretation of the palaececology. Study for Naturalists Even though a microscope is de- sirable for studying microfossils, much interest and knowledge can be obtained from a handful of fossili- ferous mar! by simply using a X6 or X10 hand lens. Tiny echinoderms, worm tubes, otoliths and foraminifera ean be picked out, either before or Microfossils 1. Foraminifera: a—BSolivina, b—Retalia, c—Elphidium. 2. b—Straight blade, c—Platform type. 3. August 1961 Conodonts: a—Arched bar, Miscellaneous: a—Otolith, b—Echinoderm spine, e—Coprolite. after washing the marl, even by the Hamilton. Suitable clays occur at naked eye. Minute parts and frag- fossil beach, Balcombe Bay (Davies, ments of larger organisms—such as 1960). However, nearly all the un- sponge spicules, bryozoal fragments, lithified Tertiary sediments in Vic- echinoderm spines, and remains of toria, and many of quaternary age, erustacea—show up quite clearly will yield a rich microfossil fauna. under the lens. A fine camel-hair brush, slightly REFERENCES damp, will pick out the numerous Davies, E. M. (1960), “Balcombe Bay tiny forms, which can be conveniently —A Classic Area for Victorian mounted on a piece of black card- Geology”. Vict. Nat. 77; 14-18, board ruled into minute squares and Gill, E. D. (1953), “Palaeoecological painted with gum tragacanth. The Interpretation of Some Victorian dampness of the brush dissolves just Fossil Diatom Floras”, Mem. Nat. enough gum to make the microfossil Mus, Viet. 18: 141-153. stick, If the squares are numbered, a Glaessner, M. F. (1945), Principles list can be prepared, naming the of Micropaleontology. many types of microfossils discovered, Jones, D. J. (1956), Introduction to Marls eminently suited for such study Microfossils. can be collected at Batesford, near Moore, Lalicker and Fischer (1952), Geelong, or on Muddy Creek, near Invertebrate Fossils. Australian Wattles — No. 27 By JEAN GALBRAITH Box-leaf Wattle —Acacia Buxifolia Amongst the granite rocks of north- straight-edged or slightly indented eastern Victoria there is a blue-grey between the seeds, and often they are shrub with racemes of small bright two or three times as long as the golden flower-heads, which bring phyllodes. spring to the mountains. It is the Box-leaf Wattle, practically unknown in other parts of Victoria, but in its own area it is as common as the fringe-myrtle with which it often gZrows. Acacia buxifolia may be nine or ten feet high, but it is commonly six feet or less, with erect, often reddish branches. The phyllodes are usually about an inch long and a quarter-inch wide, evenly tapered to each end, and thick in texture. The globular flower- heads are small, and the axillary racemes are rather loose. At the height of flowering, in September, the blossom half conceals the foliage. The phyllodes are somewhat oblique- looking, for the main vein is usually a little to one side, and the pointed apex is inclined to curve a little too. In some cases, these leaves are only a half-inch long and an eighth wide. The flat narrow pods are either Box-leaf Wattle Photo; N. A. Wakefield 114 Vict. Nat—Vol. 78 Native Plants Preservation Society of Victoria The Native Plants reservation Society af Victoria is sometimes re- ferred to us 4 “small society". Llew- ever, an arganizatlon with a member- ship of several hundzed and an annual revenue aniqunting to nearly £600 is scarcely in this class. 1f the statare of o society i fled at all by its revenie, maby of Ys would wank that of the N.P.P.S, to te thousands of pourids—for several good reasons, [tis rum by a hard core of hanurury workers Top objectives that are en- tirely altruiatie and Which, accord- ingly, deserve all the support whieh the public can give them. Tts fine achievements have been governed by its ivenme, dnd that is a facter en- tirely dependent upon public suppurt. Its imfluence in shaping public opinion has been bath widespread and educational, although «4 greater field remains to be penetrated, Without Lhe sustained efforts of the N,P.PS, metropolitan Melbourne would have tittle remind its vitizens {hal iL ts their previlege Lo inhubil a region where there still persist elements of the original vegetativa—the kind af thing which reflects a piebure of the peculiarly Australian environment, Biven to malniain phe sft au fs ho smell task. To extend the systen) of amall wildflower sanctuaries in Virtorian municipalities at the present tine (whielt 7S Ue weir) and constant alm. of the Society) is a task requiring mary WForr and more money that can tmiw be provided by ils subseribers. The eociety’s Aunual Report for the year ended June 30, 1961, shows that, ducing (Che yeot under review, ten new wildflower sanctuarics hove bean estulilinhed anit fence, to exclude Prazing animals aml Jiuman ¢Arafie, These bave been secured by the do prerulive effort of cttr and shire councils, school eomiuriitties, The De- pariment of Railways, the usnmitters wl local wryantestions, a cemetery frost and the Suneaysla PLN, Gib. The society has spent more than £30) i owintribating te the oost wf the fencers whieh, ib its view, ae abso lutely essential, August 196) By J. Ras GARNET The N.P.P.S, continues to oijoy the cunfidence and support of such publie avtleriies as the Reiestian Pepartyent, the Lands Department, the Forests Commission and the Country Roads Board. all of which have lady done whet they could to assist, For example, eight weres of hushjand at Koonwarra, donated by Mrs. Raven, have been made 4 reserve under the Lande Act, and the Lands Department fas added crown land tp the ares, to provide a substantial twenty-one weres of natural bush, Mr. Wilton of Naringal has trans- ferred sever seres of his property to the Crowe, for dedicsiion as a Wild- flawer reserve, jost tn presenve an element of the type of vegetation which |b fast disappearing. The Forests Commission haz con- tributed three and @ half acres of is Heyfielt# Forest and this is aboul to be fenced hy the Maffra Shire Council. And, 30 the story poes on. The N.P FS. bas been in existence sintv# 19h2 and, in the opinuon of its members, has reached a stage im its growth which calls Jor wome change in its fovm, The chauge they envisugre js incarporation under the (Companies Ag as & Llimited-ishiliry, non-profit campany, By this device in will be enalleil to extend its activities by assihiing active responsibility for donated sanctuaries, and it should be while to give greater Assurance to its members und supporters that there Will be vorhinnity of supervision of the many wildiiwwer sanctuaries that have hyen already cetublished through- out the slate, _ Among ie several societies closely linked with, lie FLN,OV., none is Tor deserving Of all the support thet can be offered it, To mqnibers und Tends alike. we cumoend the Nw\P_S. as a hal whieh ieeds your help, Ar arnoal subseription of iw shillings to its honetury serretary (Miss W,. Waslkdell of @ Denham Place, Toorak, S.h.2) or te its heneraty treasurer (Miss M, Rider of 17 Adeluide Street, Armadalo, $.6.3) would be a worth- while awontyjbution tt a good caase. 175 A.N.Z.A.A.5.— 1961 The thirty-fifth A.N.Z.A.AS. con- ference, which las just taken place in Brisbane, was the largest ever held; it attracted 280 delegates There was a vecy wide propramine, covering stx- feet) sections and catering for all tastes. Although the congress was primarily for scientists, there was much to interest tho ordinary intelli- pent person; lectures were held jn the City Hall every day for the general public, and these were well attended, There were special lectures — far juniors, and 4 large variety of films ou popular science and nulural history wae shown daily. The University is a very beautiful and dignified building built of ao glorious ripple-marked local sanc- stone’ of Y¥ariegated pinkish huew There are many carvings; that over the geolowy huilding is of a group of prehistoric animals, and aver other bujidings great pioneers are honoured. The setting is magnificent, with #racious lawns and trees extending: to the river bank, Afler the congress was opened, by the Governor of Queensland, the nresi- dent, Sir Samuel Wadham, wave the inaugnrat address, which was on the future of Queensland from the spri- eultural poiutuf view. The presidential addresses in the various gections were arranged an iifferunt slays sa that delegates could attend several of tham; all wert extremely Interesting, The feological aif authrapological muse eins attracted many visitors, x5 did Uisplays v2 secenk mapping a Aus- tralia, architectural models, and a "Touly of Science’ exhibition. The lighter side was catered for by % number of parties, anid there were several excursions to places of interest ‘n and around Brisbane; before anid after the coleress thers were éx- eursiona to plases in other parts of Queensland. Field naturalists would have been fey intorested in the visit Lo eron Island--where there is te be seen much of peeub Ieuuty as well as of scientific interest—aond in the vaeipus butanieal exeursiuns: There was also a one-day trip alone the Gold Goast, including a wisit to a 116 fascinating nature reserve, an agua- Tium, and a bird sanctuary where \ipwards of F000 wild parrots and ether species. fly in for food twive dally. Allugether the congress was a most profitable experience and the arrange- ments were very well managed, the informal weeting; with interesting people From other states and frors overseas was no small part of the attractive programme, M, Bragneci, Bendigo F.N. Clab— Syllabus Members of the FLN.C.N. and af other country clubs who visit Bendigo are invited to participate in the local ‘ub's meetings and excursions. Here is the syllabus Eor the remainder of the year, Excursions—Stert from Gold Jubilee Statue (half-day at 2 p.m., full-day at 10 a.m,); August 13 (full-day)—Ftrathallan Bird Sanctuary: Birds (A, Ebdon), August 26 ¢half-day)—Whipstick Seruh; General (H. McMaster). September £7 (futldoy}—Campaspe River and Kimbolton: Botawy and General (J, Kellam). September 3) (hulf-day)—Sundy re Welsford: Botany (iF. Rob- sas}. Uctober 16 Cull Shy ]—Ropeheemoe ths General (A, Ebdon), Oectoher 29 (full-ctay)— Pilchers Bridge: General (J, Ipsen}- Navember if (half-dayj—Disinond Hill: Birds (R. Eddy). November 26 (Pull-day)— Coliban Fails: General (PF. Robbins). December 1% (falf-dsay)--Meadow Park: Swamp birds (RB. Allen). Mectings—Stark ab 7.15 p.m. af Ben- digo Technies! Mollee: September 12: Annnal mecting; presi dent's addraxs Detvher Ll; Plants of Bendign District {f. Rotihims). Novernher &: Bird Skins (J. lpsen). December 13; Specimen Night (Mem- bers), J. Tpaen, Hon, Sec, 16 Smith Street, Bendige, Vict. Nor—Val 7 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria General Meeting—July 16, 1961 Members and guests filled the Iec- Lure hall at the National Herbarium, and Mr, U, E. MeTnnes vecupied the chair, Me. J. IL. Willis was cresented with the Australian Natura) Elistory Medal- lion for 1960. In making the presen, tation, Mr. R, T. M. Pescott pointed duit that it was the twenty-first medal lion of the series, since the idea was instituted in 1939 by the late J. R- Moir. A letter was reat, in which Mr. A. H. Chishalm, the first recipient of the medallion, paid tribate to Mr, Willis’ Work in contributing § the botanical material in the Australian Encyclopsedia. Other attainments were noted: the authorship of Retaui- ent Pioweers of VFistoria, Victorian Toadstonis nal AMuehvooms and the forthcoming new key ta the Victorian flora. Mr. G. A_ Echberg, representing the Suciety of Growers of Australian Plants which sponsored Mr. Wiltis's nomination, added his tribute. Mr, Willis responded, expressing his deep appreciation of the honour, and he gave some jnteresting details of the striking: of omdals anil medallions bullt it aneieut times and In tho carly days of Australia, He exhibjtet two medals that hal heen uwarded te Bure vou Muciler in 18S and 1879, and one awarded to C. H, Hartmann in Queensland in 1270. A levture of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, wis giren by Mr. RL T. M. Peseoth, Government Butanist and Director of the Gardens. He outlined the carly history of the establishment of the vanlens, and their purjwee. The work of Yon Mueller anil Guilfoyle, and the debt we owe to Governor La Troht were emphasized, The speaker showed a series uf colour slides, demonstrating special fedlures of the panlens, their beauty, and vhanges that oecur with the seasoms, Mr. Pescott spoke of the remarkable suitability of the site, and the Far- sighted genius of Guilfoyle as a land- seape gardener, which have resulted im a botanic garden today uncqealled in the world Aucsusl 1961 Thirteen new paembers were elected to the FLNVO.W, Me. 5, H, Quirk ap- pested for ivereased menihership of the Victorian National Parks Asssoc- lation, anc spuke on the reSormmaz of the Fauna Protection Counvil. Specimens on exhibition included Arla filtcutoites, Leonie miator and Hii arvhize, shown by Mrs. Ches- tt. Botany Group—July 1%, 1961 Twenty-one members war present at the July meeting of the graup in the National Hertariam. The series “Botany for Beyanners" was continued, and Mrs. Webb-Ware spoke om “Ferns and Clubmosses’. With ihe help of dingrams the speaker explained clearly fhe. life cycle of ferns and clubmosses. With tie aid af the muny apeciniens displayed snd the fine coloar pictures shown, par- ticularly those of fern spores, Mrs. Webb-Ware anfolded the story of the Pléridophyts fn surh «a way thar all present obtained w xranp if Lhe fun- damental poinls, The echoirtian thanked the speaker for a particularly fine becture. Te supplement the tat and for Lae fidepose of seting ferns growing, an excursion will be held tu Kallista un Sunday, Aapust 27, undec the leader ship uf Mrs. Webb-Ware, Geulogy Group—dJuly 3, 1961 Twenty members attended, with Mr, T., Angior in the chair, Mr, K, Hommy drew attention to a repor; in the Kyneton Guardian, slwurk the openings up of Mitstells Falls, at Kyneton, as a touriet athraction, ‘he Kyneton Shire Council decided to take no action Lot one pass the matter aon ty the proper authorities, The followin topics af interest were discussed: find- ina of orelbes and sapphires in x evcuidun sniping area in inland, beryl and tantalite depesits at Yaleuo, Western Australia, and the bix alum- Thum projectal Pyint Clenry, Geelune. The Jecture far the evemne was "The Geology of Enyland"” by Dr. M_ WW Bentnell. The speaker discussed the varions deposits of Englund fram the Palaeozoic to the Tertiury. working from the south through Lhe Midlands to (he northern areas, The lecture was illustrated by pictares frum various hooks, Exlubilts; Obsidian from Rabaul {Mr. D. Jeffrey). Supposed aboriginal artafact from kitchen midden at Bar- won Heads (Mr, R, Dodds?. Girapto- lites in slate from McIntyre’s Quarry at Red Hill, slate showing cavities formerly occupied by pyrites, cub- sequently removed by weathering, Tertiary fossils from Fossil Beach ar Morninglon (Mr. 1. Angior)- Microscopical Groop—June 22, 1961 Eighteen members attended ihe meeting, which was presided over by Mrs. G. Middleton. [It was decided that a slide wiewer-. preferahly one operating on 249 valts—weuld be a useful acquisibion for the elub. The guest speaker for the evening. Dr. J, Caukson, began by 2explaining that her particular branch ef palacen- tology was the specialized study af the sniall acid-resistant remains of creatures found in various Hinty de- posits and the cores obtained from deep drilling. Originally European workers studied their appearances while embedded in polished pieres of Rint, but Dr. Cookson ynitiated the idea of dissolving the specimens in hydrofuoric acid then nitric acid and finaliy washing in ammonia. The re- mains of Uhes# minute crealures thus obtained are mounted in giyrerin jelly and examined mitrascupically. The appearance of these ereaiurez whose remains date back to the Cre- jaceous or even to the Jurassic period is diverse, und they are difficult to identify, bat some shown by Dr. Cook- son's lantern slides had definite simi- larities ta living species of dina- flagellstes, These fossil remains sre used for the correlation of peologicul strata and are most useful in the search fur oaiL Specimens discussed were from New Guinea and Western Australis, and varicus enes were on display under the microscopes. The camera for the scientific photographer MICRO — MACRO AND TELEPHOTO A camplele selection of ocdeessants and interchangcable lenses gives you iremendous scope with the PENTAX Single Lens Roflex Coreero. Eleven superb Takumar Lenses—amiong the finest in the warld today—rnonac Irom 35 mm. wide angic to 1,000 mm extreme telephoto, ,. ULTRA CLOSE-UP bellows units, inctude close-up lenses, extension tubos ena tings, Copy stends, micruscope adap- tur—all that’s needed for the scien- tis) photographer. PENTAX . . . Japan's forgest sedling Accessories single lens reflex dimera, Three models avaifab’e—oriced fran £65, asAnt PENTAX is perrection 1ts Vict. Not—WVoal, 7S The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 78 (5) . September, 196 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 by post as a periodical 2/6 a 5 ee : a “a” - at, wt ly . ~ ? ts te 5 a - a = Se ~ FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA J i} preserving the beauty of our / f} : forests for your enjoyment. 126 Vict. Nat.—Vol. 78 Vol. 78, No. S F.N.CN, The Victorian Naturalist Editor: NORMAN WAKEFIELD, B.Sc. CONTENTS Articles: Brush-tailed Possum—-A Request for Information, hy Jahn Thomson Key to the Past, by #. Af. Dawes _- ‘ Landferm Changes at Lakes Entrance, by E. C.F. Bird Js Features = Along the Ry-ways with the Editor: Rirds at Play, MWoneyeaters at Tyers _. Mierogcopists' Corner: The Impor Lance af Centering: the Condenser, by wand G, J. Middleton . ok Wattles: Ovens Watthe—Acaena pravissima, Ly Jeu Galbraith ‘a as in ts oar 4 ay {is a Fieli Nuturahsts Club of Victoria: August General Meeting, Group Meetings An a eh Club Improvements Account—A Gall [or Donations ba 4 ibs List of F.N.G.V, Members ., wd : be he Ht; Diary of Conung Events .. 4% * c: be we 4 ss MiseelHancous - “Australian Waterfowl’—Kevicew by A, K. SEE rt i is Sets of Vrelourvan Naturalist Available . a be ve Country Ficld Naturalists Clubs .. 2 Front Cover: 4 September 7, 1961 128 132 137 130 135 136 149 151 151 152 134 147 151 The Kock Orchid, Dendrobausm speciosum, grows abundantly in remate spouts m the extreme cast of Victoria, particularly on granitic outcrops along the Genoa River snd in the Howe Ranges. [tis the lariest: of the State's five species of cpiphytic orchids. The photograph wus Laken by Mrs. Hilda Curtis, of a cultivated specimen, snd iL appeared in the Victorian Naturalist of Octoher 1947, Seplember 1961 127 Brush-tailed Possum — By JOHN THOMSON A Request for Information To most of us, the familiar Australian animals are the kan- garoos, wallabies and the Koala, although few have the oppor- tunity to get to know these ani- tals intimately. Nearly everyone can claim first-hand acquaint- ance with the interesting but less spectacular Brush-tailed (Silver- grey) Possum. This animal has a wider range over the continent than any other masupiai. and, although the hand of the gar- dener, orchardist and farmer is often against it, the Brush- tailed Possum alone amongst our native mammals has withstood the large-scale alteration of en- vironment produced by agricul- tural and urban development, Such adaptability is rarely shown by any animal, althouch the Australian possum’s Ameri- can cousin, Didelphis, now spreading through the built-up eastern states of the U.S.A., has something of this resilience, We have, in addition te the common brush-tail, the Bobuck, or Mountain Possum, a closely related short-eared species living along the Great Dividing Range, ¥ven larger in size than the com- mon possum, and with a denser eoat, heavier tail-brush and rounded face, the Bobuck is re- stricted to heavily timbered hill country, except in south-eastern Queensland where it reaches to the corist. Becayse it is abundant and widespread, the common Brush- tailed Possum affords us one of 128 our best opportunities to exam- ine the development of peo- graphical races or varieties through adaptation to particular types of habitat, In overal) body size, in the rélative length of ears and limbs, in the degree of de- velopment of the tail-brush, and in ¢colour, there is remarkable variation from area to area. The large grey or black form of Tas- mania contrasts sharply for ex- ample, with the small narrow- faced Arnhem Land possum in which the tail-brush is reduced to a amall crest of hairs on its upper side. These external dif- ferences are of course paralleled by differences of internal ana- tomy, which are particularly well seen in the skull. Strangely enough, there are in our museums relatively few Specimens of the common brush- tail, and our idea of its diatribu- tion in some districts is some- what vasue, Thus there appear to be no réliable locality records for this possumt in central or northern New South Wales west of a line through Hay, Ningan and Walgett, although the species probably occurs widely in that area, particularly .along the Darling River. Any observations of the oe- currence of the Brush-tailed Pos- sum in northern.South Austra- lia, Central Australia, western Queensland, western New South Wales and the Victorian Mailee are of interest. Mr, B. J. G. Mar- low, of the Australian Museum, Vict, Nol —Vol_ 78 Photo: BR. T. Littlejohns Vietoria’s Common Brush-tailed Possum—the “Silver-grey"’. has recently shown me a photo- graph of a Brush-tailed Possum taken in 1982 near Lake Mackay in West Australian desert coun- try. This particular animal is in- teresting because the large ears are relatively much larger than is usual in other races of the species, Such increased ear size is often found in desert-dwelling mammals. Information of two kinds is needed for a detailed study of these races of the Brush-tailed Possum. First, reliable sight records of the occurrence of the species in the areas mentioned, and secondly the skulls of any possums accidentally killed—by cars, drowning or electrocution —in these districts. The head of September 1961 the dead animal should be saved only if the skull is intact, and it may be dried or preserved whole in methylated spirits. Each skull should be labelled with the sex of the animal, if this can be determined, the locality where it was found, and notes on pecu- liarities of colour, ete., and should then be forwarded to us for cleaning and detailed study. All the useful material collected will be placed eventually in the collections of appropriate state museums. Note: Specimens and information should be addressed to Mr. John Thomson, Zoology Department, Uni- versity of Melbourne, Parkville, N.2, Victoria. 129 » W ih the Editor These columns are available each month for your nature notes and querics. Address your correspondence to the Editor, “Vietorian Naturalist”, Birds at Play This observation is from Mr. A. G. Hooke, and it indirectly raises the question as to the reason for certain activities in the bird world: While an a bird-watching visit to Aireys Inlet in the early autumn of 1960, our party watched for some time an unusual exhibition of birds at play. It had been a warm day, with a late afternoon thunderstorm which had sent us hurrying back to shelter at the house. With only an hour or so of daylight left. when the storm had cleared, we drove a mile inland along the river valley, then went off on foot, intent on making the best of the brief occasion, and this was what we came upon. We were in low-growing forest, with a scatter of bushy undergrowth, By the roadside, a small depression had been Jeft after a scrape of soil had been removed for some _ road- making purpose, and this had partly filed with water to form a shallow pool a yard or so across. Disporting themselves at the pool were several honeyeaters — Yellow-winged and White-naped—and Golden Whistlers. 130 P.O. Box 21, Noble Park, Victoria. Usually in pairs, the birds would suddenly appear, fiy in rapidly and perch on the topmost twigs of one of the bushes beside the pool, pause there for a second or two, then swiftly crash-land on the water of the pool below. Taking off again immediately they then flew up into the top of another bush, paused to shake the water from their feathers, and then flew off out of sight. As each pair disappeared, its place was taken by the next, and the per- formance was repeated—all with obvious zest. One bird following an- other at intervals of a few seconds, the game was continued without a break. After watching all this, motion- less, from a distance of a few yards, for perhaps a quarter of an hour, we quietly moved away in the fading light. How long they had been at it before we saw them, or how many different birds were participating, I do not know. And while this lively sport was going on just above and beside them, a pair of White-browed Scrub-wrens paddled in the shallows at one side of the pool. It would be interesting to know if any of your readers have witnessed a similar performance, or have any knowledge of the purpose of the birds Vict. Nat—Vol. 78 other than What appedred to us ta be the motive just pure onjoyment. The phenamenon which Mr Hooke has deseribed is not un- comman. One iz likely to come upon it, during hot weather, at isolated wiiter in the bush, For instance, there is a Jittle rock poal tn & jungly gully near Mr. F. J. Buckland's “Sunny Cor- ner” at Mallacoota where, in dry hot Weather, one muy see several species of honeyeaters (invjud- ing the Yellow-faced and the White-naped in partivular} anit other small birds taking turn abuut for a sphish in the water, Probably thé prime réason for this behaviour is an endeavour to escupe from the heat and, When the season has been div. suituble puolsg may be few ani Tar between, so thut a great con- centeation of bird-life must use the same one. Honevealers at Tyers From time tw time. Miss Jean Galbraith sends slong notes on the birdlife of her district. Her home ts at Tyers, north of Traralgon, in Gippsland. First Chere is a record of the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, which is of particular interest in thal area because of the recent study, In the Bure (Val. 58, Part 3— July 1958), of the Gippsland sub- species. This is Miss Galbraith's report: On May tf last, saw Yellow-tufted Lloneyeaters ly the Tyers River-—the fivst time I had ever seon Meliphaga mevdneps—und, judging by the rich yellow dufta, IT have no doubt, that they were M. uw. géppslavedlich. There were Whiteeared Honeveaters and also the Yellow-fuced species ahout, “Thy roprlnt. compritee chivte pater vl Tekt, Wo mbes and