THE | VICTORIAN NATURALIST The Magazine of the FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB OF VICTORIA in which is incorporated THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA VOLUME 81 MAY 1964 to APRIL 1965 Editor: F. R. HUDSON, B.se., M.R.C.V.S. Assistant Editor: R. H. J. MCQUEEN, B.sSc., Dip.Ed. Melbourne BROWN, PRIOR, ANDERSON PTY. LTD. 430 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, C.1 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 81 (I) May 1964 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 Photo: P. C. Morrison Suspension Bridge, Bulga National Park, South Gippsland. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 Vol. 81, No The Victorian Naturalist Editor: J. R. Hupson, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S. Assistant Editor: R. H. J. MCQUEEN, B.Sc., Dip.Ed. CONTENTS Articles: Bird Life at the M.M.B.W. Farm, Werribee, by Frances N. Searle .. Tribute to the Naturalist, Amalie Dietrich, by G. Mulac-Teichmann .. Could Sow-thistles be Native? by J. H. Willis Records of New Shelters in the Black Range, by 4. Maxow Pent: aia ba Wattles: Wallowa, A. calamifolia, and Dwarf Nealie, . wilhelmiana, by Jean Galbraith sade Brushes: Birds at Genoa, Latrobe Valley Flora, ehawour of Starling Flocks, Morels The Naturalist and the Microscope: A Larger Field of View, by D. FE. Mcinnes The Water Bear or Tardigrade, by W. J. Genery Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: April General Meeting, Group Meetings Diary of Coming Events Diary of Coming Events .. F.N.C.V. Likrety = Missing Bouks Bt yo! Le DB ee Miscellaneous: Nature Notes from Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Front Cover: May 7, 1964 Wt op View of the Sydenham Organ Pipes. The Trustee of the A. E. Green Estate has donated this natural feature and an area of over 40 acres to the people of Victoria for a National Park. Block kindly lent by the National Parks Association. May, 1964 Bird Life at the M.M.B.W. Farm, Werribee The Metropolitan Farm at Werribee is a sanctuary for wildlife, and birds are particu- larly plentiful. It would be diffi- cult to find another place only 25 miles from Melbourne where there is such a variety of bird life and where it is so very easy to see them. You need only drive or cycle along the roads and you will see a hawk or a kestrel over the paddocks, a sleepy owl or two perched on a tree, or a blue wren balancing on a fence wire. But perhaps the birds that create the greatest interest are those which inhabit the marsh- lands and lagoons. Go along any road near the freshly irrigated grasslands in summer and you will see hun- Black Swans Photo: Cc. E. Bryant. Reproduced by courtesy M.M.B.W. Officers’ Journal, By FRANCES N. SEARLE dreds of ibises—both the white and the straw-necked species, They poke their long sickle-like beaks into the roots of the grasses seeking grubs and other insects. Very common in these areas are White-faced Herons— erroneously called “blue cranes”. These are graceful birds with lovely grey-blue plumage, and they step very elegantly on their long legs through the shallow water. When disturbed they give a loud croaking note and rise with a slow leisurely flight. The Cape Barren Goose is a rare visitor, but you may be fortunate enough to see one on the swampy grasslands. You may also see a Brown Bittern among the reeds and swampy Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 ponds or at Cherry Creek. This is quite a big bird of a streaked brownish colour and, when startled, it stands perfectly still, seemingly trying to disguise it- self as a stick. From the lonely roads through the lagoons you will see numbers of wild duck—Mountain Duck with their beautiful colours, Black Duck, Teal, and others. In the more inaccessible parts of the lagoons nesting boxes have been placed by bird- watchers who put bands on the legs of the young ducks so as to observe their migratory move- ments. Ducks banded at the farm May, 1964 Golden Whistler, male at nest, Photo: C. BE. Bryant. Reproduced by courtesy M.M.B.W. Officers’ Journal, have been found as far north as Townsville in Queensland. Also on the lagoons are Coots, which are expert swimmers and divers, and Swamp-hens. Further out on the clear open water are birds of the grebe family, probably better known as_ dabchicks. These dive quickly and, just as vou have decided they must have drowned, they suddenly pop up again some distance from where they disappeared. As the farm has a frontage of about 13 miles to Port Phillip Bay, there are many birds to be seen along the foreshore. There is little sand here; just piles of 5 broken shell which change with every tide. On the shelly beach from November to January you may find the eggs of the Fairy Tern. But you will need sharp eyes, There is no nest and it is difficult to distinguish the pair of speckled eggs from their shelly surroundings, Another beach resident is the Red-capped Dotterel. Sometimes Black Swans may be seen in hundreds along the shore, searching among the seaweeds for succul- ent morsels. Around the mouth of Little River are pelicans, usually fish- ing in the shallow water, while further out to sea, numbers of Cormorants or “black shags” are diving for fish on the shallow reefs. There are miles and miles of plantations at the farm. Some of these areas contain quite big trees and shrubs, while others Fastern Swamp-hen, Photo: C. E. Bryant. Reproduced by courtesy M.M.B.W. Officers’ Journal. have a close growth of bushes. These have been planted for wind-breaks but the birds have taken them over as their own. You cannot miss the rosellas and other parrots as they fly screech- ing through the trees, and you will hear the mournful six-note trill of the Fan-tailed Cuckoo. Among the smaller birds are blue wrens, honeyeaters, Golden Whistlers with their brilliant yellow breasts and black collars and throats, and parties of Little Thornbills. The Yellow - tailed Thornbill builds a most in- triguing nest—a domed struc- ture with the entrance near the top. But amongst all these peace- ful birds of the plantations there is an outlaw — the Goshawk — which preys on smal! birds and nestlings. Where the effluent channels run under the roads you can Vict. Nat.—Vi Uipraias & fr. hivant. Courtesy M.M.B.W. Officers’ Journal Red-capped Dotterel. often see the bottle-shaped nests of the Fairy Martin or “bottle swallow’. These nests, in rows or clusters, are made of hundreds of small mud pellets plastered together to form strange bottle shapes that project from the wall of the culvert. The same nests are occupied each season, repairs being made when neces- sary. Fairy Martins are usually migratory but here, where the weather is mild, they can be geen all the vear round. More than 180 different species of birds have been re- corded at the farm, and addi- tions are made to the list every few years. In 1962 an exciting addition was the Red-necked ?-halarope; it had never been ob- ‘erved in Australia before. Also May, 1964 in 1962 the Oriental Pratincole, inother migrant species from Asia, appeared on the farm and tliis was a first record for Vic- toria. As well as these temporary visitors there are other birds, formerly rare in the locality, that are establishing themselves and becoming more plentiful. For instance, several Red-kneed Dotterels (once considered rare south of the Divide) have been nesting at the farm and are probably on the increase. There are interesting discoveries here for the very keen observer as well as for the more casual one. There are several] public roads through the farm, and a written permit may be obtained from the M.M.B.W. to enter some of the other roads. A Tribute to the Naturalist, Amalie Dietrich It is just over one hundred years since the young German naturalist, Amalie Dietrich, landed in Australia. A hundred and one years have passed since the year 1863 and a lot of his- tory has been enacted; many of the events of that one hundred and one years have been forgot- ten, but one remains outstanding and unforgettable: the story of the young woman scientist who left one part of the world in order to help discover another, and a far distant, part. The little figure of Amalie’s daughter, Charitas, vanished into the mist lying over the old German city of Hamburg, as the sailing ship La Rochelle left the harbour on May 15, 1863. The ship’s destination was Aus- tralia, and Amalie Dietrich was travelling to Australia in order to enrich the private museum of the Hamburg merchant, J, C. Godeffroy, in Alt Wandrahm with new botanical finds from the new country. It was the first time that a woman had undertaken such a task, but Amalie was well suited for her mission. Equipped with her scientific books and tools, she made her- self at home on the ship. In the three months of the journey she diligently studied the English language, without which, during the ten years which she was to spend in Australia, any move- 8 By G. Mutac-TEICHMANN ment would have been impos- sible. The greater part of her fellow passengers on the La Rochelle were there for another reason— they wished to seek for gold. For three months the seas held the destiny of the ship and its inhabitants in their power. When a storm suddenly blew up, Amalie prayed not only for safety but also for the fulfilment of her life’s work. Then, under a favourable star, the ship made her way around the Cape of Good Hope and into the Indian Ocean, Amalie wrote often to her young daughter, Charitas, whom she had had to leave behind with strangers. She would write later to her dilatory husband, when she arrived at her destination in Australia. She had taken with her a small text-book on the algae to be found in the southern seas and during the long voyage she studied this also. The ever- lasting scholar! At long last land was sighted, first islands, then the mainland, but the ship had still to sail around half a continent before Amalie’s goal was reached. In August 1863 the east coast of Australia was sighted, then the ship sailed up the coast ta Brisbane, Queensland. Brisbane, on Moreton Bay and twenty miles up the Brisbane River, was only forty years old Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 at that time. The mysterious land of Amalie’s exile, six times larger than her homeland, Sax- ony, lay open before her eager naturalist’s eyes, arc she lost ne lime in seizing her opportunity. At once she started on her work. She did not sccept an jn- vitation lo go to an hotel, but looked around for cheaper auar- ters until she could find a home with other Huropeans. With the help of one of Godeffroy’s agents she rented a smal! houge near the Brisbane River, built on stilts to counter the depredations of white ants. Two Chimese hoys brought her few belongings from the ship Lo her new home — and what were those belongings? Specimen jars, spirits to pre- serve her finds, books, equipment fot her sciéntifie collections, and a few eooking utensils which she had bought in Brisbane, “Now, at last I can starfi on my work,” she wrote to Charilas on Anpust 20, 1863. A Chinaman demanded money from her for water, but she would net give if to him. She drank no tea until she found waterhole near her house; ashe wanted te rely on her own re- sources right from the start and ta learn to look after herself in the bush, in spite of its strange- Tess. With a little flour, salt, tea and matches in a knapsack, she left her hovse on her first collect- ing trip and had to carefully note the landmarks so that she could find her way home again, She wore a big straw hat with a veil to protect her from the sun and the persistent mosquitoes. In her letters ahe said that a feeling of fear eame over her on this, her May, 1984 firal, excursion into the primeval forest, but the zeal of the dedi- cated naturalist carried her throngh. As soon as she found water she made small, flat, damper cakes from fcur, salt and water, and baked them in the hot ashes of her fire; this sort of food was to be her main diet from tien on during most. of the next ten yeurs, She boiled her billy and had her first meal in the Aus- tralian bush, The plants she found were all completely new ta her and soon her collecting container was full. ‘To preserve the ingecta she ecol- lected, she had taken ulass jars and methylated spirits. Back in her house, she pressed the flow- ers and plants and prepared her collection for sending back to her sponsor, the omterchant Godeftroy in Hamburg, “T feel as if Mr Godeffroy has presented me with this vast con- tinent,"’ she wrote to her daugh- ter. In {he first eight months ehe stnt off twelve parcels of apeci- mens to Hamburg, Later, she went ta Rackhamp- ton and here misfortune nearly overtook her. On one of her ex- peditions a beautiful blue water- lily growing in a Swamp was an irresistible JIure, but she soon found, in her horror, that she was trapped in the quicksand. Whenever she Lried to move she sank deeper into the mud, and she could only stand atill. All that she could hear Was a kookaburra laushing in a nearby tree and frogs croaking in the swamp around her, Fortunately however, i, was a time of full moon und nesrby some aborigines were gathering % for a corroboree; they heard her eries for help and ¢ame jn a dug-out canoe to save her from the swamp. The results of this horrifying experience came Jater, when Amalia became ill with malaria; she developed a high fever ana was unable to work for several months. She treated herself with dnses of quinine from her medi- cine chest and eventually she recovered from the bout of malaria. Soon after this another oear- digaster occurred, Her house, with some of her precious collec- tions inside it, was burned down. She did not believe that the aborigines were the culprits; in a jetter to her daughter sho wrote “They (the aborigines) are not bad mteéntionally, but only uneducated, like children. I cannot say anything bad about them, as they saved my life not long ago’. While in Rockhampton, Amalie had news of the death of her husband, to whom she owed her scientific training in botany but with whom she had not been particularly happy. She had tried to bring him to her side, but he could ict make the decision, antl a last try for reconciliation had failed. At home in Germany, after Amalie went to Australia, her husband had read with in- terest about his wife’s work, par- ticularly as many of her finds were named after his family name — Dietrich —a family of well-known botanists, Among the plants which she sent home were Acacit dietrichiana and Bonumia dietrichiana, and among the insects were Nortonia amalice and Odynerus diet- to renianus, these were duly cata. Jogued in the museum by the turator, Kustos Schmeltz. Although Amalie had been trained In botany only, her in- terests soon spread to ento- mology and ethnology also, and in 1867 she was made a member of the Society for Entamology in Stettin. Germany, and won a gold medal for a collection of fifty Australian woods in an ex- hibitien there. At that ime, Amalie wag Wy- ing and working at Mackay. She had arrived there the year be- fore by steamship. “I am near Port Mackay,” she wrote. “In the settlement where I live there are some Europeans, who are mostly concerned with the culti- vation of sugarcane. They em- ploy natives as cane-cutters, be- cause the heat in the plantations would be unbearable for Euro- peans, The natives are called Kanakas and are well-built and powerful men, One thing “you don’t find here is gold! That ts why there are no gold-hungry Buropeans over-running the country," From Mackay, Amalie made 2 trip with a bullock team te Lake Elphinstoné, where she had to wait for a year until the bullock driver was returning with his team. She lived with a family nameéd Hesse and spent her time as busily as ever, She learnt more about the language of the aborigines, which at first was quite incomprehensible to her. There she also watehed a cor- roboree of the aborigines from behind 4 tree and wrote in detail ahaout this event to her daughter, It was similar to a corroboree she had seen in Rockhampton, Vict, Har—Vol 31 Amalie Dietrich From Mackay she moved on to Bowen and in one of her letters to Charitas, who was then in London, she gave her young daughter some typical advice. “That big city! Don’t you feel that you must use all your ef- forts to profit from that rich ex- perience? You must leave your destiny, your future, to God and Time. Don’t let yourself be beaten by anybody, but be true to your ideals and faithful to your work.” These were the very qualities which Amalie herself could call her own, so generously. She also wrote about the assistance she had received from a German settler, who had been living in the country for a long time and who could communicate with the aborigines. It was through him that Amalie ob- tained some of the natives’ uten- sils and weapons, in exchange for flour and tobacco. May, 1964 Soon afterwards, she went from Bowen to Port Denison, and visited the Holbrook Islands by canoe. She was enchanted by the colourful world of the Paci- fic marine life. She caught a swordfish and later sent the fish, with the “sword” in a separate container, to Hamburg, only regretting that she could not include the beautiful surround- ings! In April 1871 Amalie Dietrich went to Melbourne, where she met the well-known botanist, Baron Ferdinand von Mueller. After a short stay in Mel- bourne she returned to Queens- land and left in February 1872 for a trip to Tonga, where she met the King of Tongatabu, known as “George the First’. As a gesture of friendship the King presented her with his photograph. The Queen present- ed her with a powder-box made of a fruit like a big poppy-head. Ten years after she came to Australia, Amalie returned home to Germany, travelling in the ship Susanna Godeffroy and making the voyage around Cape Horn. Her daughter, now grown- up, was awaiting her on the wharf and it was a pathetic fact that the girl could hardly recog- nize in the old, bent woman, poorly dressed and with worn canvas shoes on her feet, the young mother whom she had last seen ten years before. Her mother had been called a hero- ine by scientists and by the Godeffroys. Was this the picture of a heroine? Amalie burst into tears as she took her daughter into her arms; never would she leave her again! Destiny however, decreed 1 otherwise. Charitas was engaged to be married to a young pastor who worked on the borders of Denmark. Amalie decided that she would not go to live with the young couple. Her road led her to the Alt Wandrahm, where o!d Mr Godeffroy welcomed her home; in recognition of her faithful work for him, he had arranged for a flat for Amalie to live where she would be able to be near her beloved collec- tions. Amalie also visited her home- town, Siebenlehn, in Saxony, and took with her, as a gift to the townspeople, duplicates of her collections of Australian ferns and mosses. She visited the Lower Town and went for walks through the Zellwald, the forest where her husband had taught her botany so many years be- fore. Her collections were shown at the Town Hall in Siebenlehn —on what difficult roads they had led her, right around the world! A March wind was enough to break the old tree. Amalie be- came very ill and in her feverish, fantastic dreams she went once more through the places of her wanderings. On March 9, 1891, she closed her eyes for ever. Her grave at the cemetery of the old town of Rendsburg on the Danish border is today over- grown with the mosses she had once loved so well. A simple stone holds her name. The words of her daughter about her live for ever: “Better a hard life than an empty one”, Some of the duplicates of her collections were sent back to Baron Ferdinand von Mueller in Melbourne and are today in the National Herbarium in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Mel- bourne. With respect I remembered the hardships and the faithful and dedicated work of the natur- alist who was one of the first white women in the North of Queensland. Even in the much easier conditions of today, there are not many exploits that can be compared with the pioneer work of Amalie Dietrich. Those who read of the life and work of this courageous scientist will learn patience, determination and devotion to duty. Could Sow-thistles be Native? Professor Sir John Cleland, in an interesting paper “Are the Sow- thistles indigenous to Australia?” [S. Aust. Nat. 23: 12-13 (June 1946)], surveyed the available evidence. In his opinion it. suggested that a form of Sonchus asper (L.) Hill, viz. variety gracilis, was truly indigenous to our continent. It is now widely agreed that the perennial Dune Sow- 12 By J. H. WiLtis thistle, S. megalocarpus (Hook. f.) J. M. Black, is endemic along the coasts of southern Australia, just as the related S. litroralis (Kirk) Allan is in New Zealand: but most botanists still regard the other two species oc- curring here (S. oleraceus L. and S. asper) as introduced aliens—see J. M. Black's treatment in Flora S. Aust. ed. 2, p 943 (1957). Vict. Nat.—Vol, 81 Cleland mentions that in May 1844 G. F. Angas had seen _black-soil swamps near Rivoli Bay (S.A.) pro- ducing “luxuriant sow-thistles and other rank vegetation”, and that 100 years later he himself observed “luxuriant examples of Sonchus asper” in the same area, As far as Western Australia is con- cerned, Dr Ludwig Preiss collected both S. asper and S. oleraceus near Fremantle during the month Dec. 1838-Jan. 1839 (his Nos. 116 and 117 respectively). But, even earlier than this, there is a reference to Sow- thistles by William Milligan in “Some account of the New Colony of Western Australia, more especially of the Swan River District, the Natives, Settlers, Climate, Soil, Productions, etc.” published in the Madras Journal of Literature and Science 6: 304-336 (Oct. 1837). Dr Milligan, as Assist- ant Surgeon with H. M. 63rd. Regi- ment, took part in the founding of Swan River Colony during June 1829, and he remained there at least until after Dec. 1833. Like his famous prototype in the east, Surgeon-General John White of Port Jackson, Milligan was no mean naturalist; he made detailed observations on the meteor- ology of the young colony, the ab- origines and their customs, and, to a lesser degree, upon the flora and fauna. On page 306 of his report are the words: Of the indigenous edible plants which were found most useful to the early settler, are the sow-thistle (Sonchus) . So Milligan considered Sonchus to be a native plant there at the begin- ning of the 1830's. True, it is con- ceivable that species so effectively adapted as S. oleraceus and S, asper for dispersal and rapid propagation in varying soils, might both have be- May, 1964 come quite widespread around settle- ments within two or three seasons of their fortuitous introduction; but the tantalizing question lingers — were they here before the first settlers? G. Bentham, in Flora Australiensis 3: 680 (1866), states that S. ole- raceus—with which he included §. asper as a variety—is “perhaps truly indigenous”. On page 678 he makes a similar comment under Picris hieracioides L., which species is given the benefit of the doubt in H. H. Allan's Flora of New Zealand 1 (Indigenous Tracheophyta): 759 1961. This Old World biennial cer- tainly occurs in many remote moun- tain habitats of eastern Victoria, giv- ing every appearance of an indigenous plant, while I have found it sparingly on isolated islands of the Recherche Archipelago, W.A., where few weeds are in evidence. Australia is extra- ordinarily weak in native represen- tatives of the vast tribe Cichorieae (in Composiieae); for, apart from a dubious acceptance of Picris and the two annual Sonchus species, our only others are Dune Sow-thistle (S. mega- locarpus), Japanese Hawk’s-beard or “Oni-tabirako” (Crepis japonica) in northern N.S.W. and Queensland, and the Yam Daisy (Microseris lan- ceolata) of such wide occurrence over temperate Australia, It is interesting that Dr Milligan should have placed sow-thistle at the head of his enumeration of native plants that were “most useful” to the pioneer colonists. The writer has often eaten tender shoots of Sonchus oleraceus as a cooked green: it has an agreeable flavour, quite up to the standard of garden spinach and cer- tainly superior to that of New Zea- land spinach. Yet, how few cooks make any use of this ubiquitous and extremely abundant weed! 13 Australian Wattles—No. 41 Wallowa, Acacia calamifolia, and Dwarf Nealie, A. wilhelmiana* These two Mallee wattles have much in common besides their habi- tat, but the musically named Wallowa is larger in every way than Dwarf Nealie. Wallowa sometimes grows to fifteen feet or more, while the other species is, in my experience, rarely as much as four feet high. The globular flower-heads of Wallowa are larger, and its phyllodes normally much longer. Wallowa is never sticky; Dwarf Nealie is always more or less so, Both shrubs produce deep yellow fiowers in September, and both have narrow foliage—sometimes so narrow that it is said to be terete (i.e. cylindrical—but in neither species is it ever quite cylindrical. Even when sO narrow as to appear needle-like, the phyllodes are distinctly flattened. Wallowa has phyllodes usually two to four inches long, each with a slender bent point, and its rich yellow, stalked flower-heads spring from the leaf-bases, one or several together. Later, the narrow, bright brown pods develop, nearly straight but with wavy edges. These are anything from two to six inches long. Though it can be tall, Wallowa is often dwarfed to three or four feet high. It grows luxuriantly at the foot of Mount Arapiles, and I shall never forget its bright gold, stretching in park-like vistas through the Manna Wallowa—A. calamifolia. Photo: N. A. Wakefield 14 By JEAN GALBRAITH Gums, with the short spring grass below. Dwarf Nealie usually grows in desert country, and its narrow sticky phyllodes are rarely more than an inch long, almost always with a slight curve out and upward at the base, then out and downward at the blunt apex, making a long “S” shape. The same shape is seen in the phyl- lodes of Rough Wattle (A. aspera) but that has hairy foliage and pods, and the leaves are usually broader. Like Wallowa, Dwarf Nealie has slender pods, but unlike those of Wallowa, its pods are usually much curled. *On the authority of Mr A. B, Court of the National Herbarium, Melbourne, the name A. wilhelmiana is used for the Dwarf Nealie, instead of A. bynoeana. Vict. Nat.—Vol, Records of New Shelters in the Black Range Rock shelters bearing aborigi- nal paintings are no longer rare in the western Grampians, The opening up of the country, the making of fire-breaks, and the pushing through of new tracks into the more inaccessible parts continually bring new examples to light. Nevertheless, the feeling ex- perienced in being one of the first white men to gaze upon a newly discovered symbol of the religious beliefs of the former occupants of this country is real and lasting. No matter how many new paintings are found this sensation will never be lost. The presence of the Unknown is felt; the very air vibrates with awe, and the stillness and silence of the place proclaims the rever- ence due to its forgotten cult heroes. The finding of a new shelter is a fateful moment even for the materialistic and the prosaic, as it could yield a clue to the dating and the understanding of earlier finds. When a painting has been discovered in a new locality, thorough searching generally produces others within a reason- able distance. However, this searching is extremely difficult, as all those who have “walked” in the western Grampians well know. It is almost as if the abo- rigines went out of their way to find the roughest, wildest, and loneliest spots on which to paint May, 1964 By A. MASSOLA their pictures. This impression is accentuated by the fact that, as well as the rugged, stony, and mountainous terrain, one has also to contend with the almost impenetrable thickets of under- growth, the exposed roots, the trees and thorny bushes, and the sword-like grass growing in pro- fusion in these localities: it is truly “blackfellows’ country”. To the natives however, the Grampians presented a very dif- ferent appearance. The tangled mass of vegetation which now so impedes progress did not exist then, and grassy slopes, inter- sected by open timber country, reached to the very base of the crags. This was because every so often the natives set fire to the bush in order to facilitate hunt- ing, The frequent burning-off would cause verdant and tender grasses to grow, which would attract the game the aborigines fed upon. The practice of burning-off was continued by the early set- tlers and they were thus able to graze their sheep in what is now impossible country. The latest locality to receive attention from that tireless group of field naturalists who have been responsible for so many earlier discoveries, is the Black Range, which runs paral- lel to, and about twelve miles west of the Grampians. In an earlier paper (see Vict. Nat. 79 [12]: 1963) I described the two 15 shelters which had been located. Shelter No. 2 was the more in- teresting of them, not only be- cause of the freshness of the paintings but also because two distinet occupational periods could be discerned. Contrary to the general situation in these wild ranges, this shelter was reached after a pleasant walk up a gentle slope through open tim- ber country. It is true that be- fore the open timber was reach- ed a stretch of country covered with low shrubs had to be tra- versed. However, these were in flower and their infinite variety of colour and form made the walking more pleasant. Upon reaching the shelter there was nothing to indicate that, although the climbing had been gentle, a respectable eleva- tion had been reached. The true picture was revealed only when one sealed the rocks behind the shelter and it was realized that the top of the mountain had been reached. From this point the terrain drops abruptly from the back of the shelter on to a wide, timbered valley, beyond which a second mountain rises. This is known as Double Head to the bush walkers. From where we were it looked interesting, as signs of erosion 16 could be discerned on its precipi- tous walls, indicating the pos- sible presence of shelters. How- ever, on this occasion there was no time for further exploring and Double Head was left un- disturbed. We contented our- selves with taking some long- range photographs. Not many weeks later I found myself once more gazing at the mount from the top of No. 2 Shelter. In the interval since my last visit a party from the Ham- ilton Field Naturalists Club, in- cluding Mr, E. Tucker of Brit Brit, who had been such a pro- minent figure in the discovery of No. 2 and earlier examples, had visited Double Head, and had ascertained the existence of three hitherto unknown shelters, hidden amongst the eroded crags which were visible from where we now stood. Our party includ- ed Mr Tucker, Mr I, McCann of Stawell and Mr E. Barber of Port Fairy. In due course, after having traversed the valley, we arrived at the first of these, which we named Black Range Shelter No, 3. It is an eroded overhang, about 12 ft 9 in. in width, facing almost due east. The designs were painted with red ochre on the walls, and consist of a cen- Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 tral group comprising a three- pronged object enclosed in a circle 9 in. in diameter, below which another circle encloses a “bird track’’. To the left of these another three-pronged object is enclosed in three concentric circles about 9 in. in diameter, the whole somewhat reminiscent of the Central Australian “spiral motif”. To the left again there is a double row of closely placed bird tracks, occupying a space 4 in. in length, again enclosed in a circle. Immediately below the last two motifs is a render- ing of the design known as “woman’s apron”, 123 in. long and having 15 strings 3} in. in length. A few feet away from this central design there are two 7- pointed stars and an exaggerat- ed bird track, 12} in. wide and 104 in. high. More bird tracks and several crosses are also painted here and there on the wall, and a stencilled human hand in a very faded condition is barely discernible in a shallow rock recess a few feet from the ground. The honour of discovering Shelter No. 3 belongs to Miss Susan Tucker and Mr B. Bell, who first sighted it during the Hamilton Field Naturalists Club excursion. Shelter No. 4 is about 100 yards from No. 3, to the north along the edge of the scarp. On the walls of this overhang there are two stencilled hands, in red ochre. Another stencilled hand Aboriginal Paintings in Shelter Ne. 3, May, 1964 was found on the wall of the scarp about 100 yards further north from No. 4. A further 300 yards, still travelling north, brought us to Shelter No. 5, which is at the northern end of the eastern scarp of the north head of Double Head. The paint- ings on No. 5 consist of two stencilled hands and two bird tracks, also in red ochre. It is difficult to fit these new examples of native art in their proper place and sequence in the totemic life of the local natives. Shelter No. 3 was certainly an important centre, while No. 4 and No. 5 are obviously com- plementary to it. The absence of lizards and of human figures is significant. Because of this the temptation to pronounce Double Head a separate Totem centre is strong. Bird tracks and stencil- led hands are common in rock art, but the grouping of the bird tracks in a circle, the concentric circles enclosing a three-pronged design, the woman’s apron, and the 7-pointed stars are unique in Victoria. Bush Brushes The fox brush was the traditional trophy of the chase. The Field Naturalist usually returns from an excursion into the bush with a differ- ent sort of “tale”. If vou have one worth mounting and preserving send it to the Assistant Editor, “Victerian Naturalist’, 102 Murray Road, East Preston, N.18, Victoria. Birds at Genoa Mrs L. Galbraith, writing from Traralgon in February, reports: Last month we camped for nearly two weeks at Genoa, beside the river, and found it a wonderful spot for birds. We listed over sixty species. One morning I saw a family of South- ern Emu Wrens (Stipiturus malachurus) in the tussocks of grass on the river bank beside the camping ground. I had never seen them before and was very thrilled. They are very dainty little birds and appear all chestnut from a distance. On closer observation both male and female are striped rufous on the back and head with paler rufous under-side and flanks and the male has a pale blue bib. The common Superb Blue Wren looked quite big and heavy compared with the tiny Emu Wrens. Another interesting experience was hearing a splendid concert of mimicry by the Satin Bower birds. They kept hidden in a thicket of Tree Violet (Hymenanthera dentata) and laughed like a distant chorus of Kookaburras. Then came the calls of White-winged Choughs, Rosellas. Blackbirds, the carol- ling of Magpies and the cry of a Cock- atoo. interspersed. with the sound a horse makes when blowing chaff out of its nose. There were two large horses near- by so I expect that the Bower birds had learnt the sound from them. I have never heard anything Jike it. I watched them on many days but never saw a fully fledged male Satin Bower bird. Do they breed in Victoria or do only the females and young visit here after the breeding season? We heard Bellbirds calling all day along the river and also frequent calls from several pairs of Eastern Whip birds. 18 [Satin Bower violaceus) are birds (Prilorhyncus widely distributed throughout the Eastern Australian coastal districts from the Atherton Tableland to the Otway Ranges. These birds demonstrate a flocking habit during the period from late summer to winter, but otherwise ap- pear to be a stationary species with the breeding season occurring from October to December throughout the distribution. The species has several “normal” call notes, and as well, is quite expert at mimicry, although not as versatile as the Lyrebird in this respect. —R. H. J. McQ] Latrobe Valley Flora The following notes have been sent for these columns by Miss Jean Gal- braith, of Tyers, in western Gippsland: A swampy patch of ground which had escaped the bulldozer near Yallourn North yielded a most interesting variety of flowers on January 20. Most spectacular were the Large Tongue-orchids (Cryptostylis subulata). There were hundreds. up to two feel high, and often with twelve flowers and buds. In one square yard IT counted nine tall plants. A few flowers of Tiny Green- hood = (Pterosivlis parviflora), almost withered. illustrated the habit of this normally autumn and winter flowering species of breaking into flower at un- expected times. Amongst the dense growth of Pouched Coral-fern (Gleichenia circinnata), Coral Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 Heath (Epacrs wicropliyila), Yellrw Hukea (ff, rodesu) ete, Sot Purple Fairy Aprons (Uirievlaria gichororiel and the Pouched Tiny Fairy ‘Aprons (2. laverifiora) were in bloems the latter wilh flowers usually pare way up the stem, ike flags at half-mast, bit sometimes lernmnal, There owas Nurrow Cumrbd-fera (Selnieen fistielosady and Slender Platy- sace (P, hetrranhvitaj, two species of vellow-eve Liyriv) and two kinds of Stindew (Drasera) were also in Miwer. Farther alone ihe road, Austral Lady's Vresses (Spiruveiex alnenats) showed bright pink: there were Horned Orchids (Oréhoceras stricfurn) eighteen Jnclies high, anuther Laree Tongaic-orchid, Hyacinth Orchids (Dipediwn punctate), and scmé rather dry Elbow Orchids (Spiewlaea hymanas Kebaviour of Starling Flocks Me writes: Ic was the last day of March. We had spent the afternuen on Phillip Island and the last point of our rapid jour was the castle-like Pyrmmid Rack, The mass of rocks, more like 4 cone than 4 pyramid, Js separated from the headland by a narrow stretch of water and is formed maiidy of massive, lone, brown elabs inclined inwards. Aroiind the base large, smooth, black, basalt boulders are seatiered. At ihe bottom anil extending partly up the slides of the cone was a fuss of hilmy vegetation that yave the Pyramid Rook an ethereal appearance Returning same three hundred yards inland, we Were brewing a pot of tea before selling aut for home when I vaguely perceived a flack of birds fiving overhead, then another and a third, My attention being now fully alested, T warched a fourth flock of sume hun- dred birds heading due south. They were dark. smallish birds and from their habil ‘of gliding wilh closed wings for shart distances, L identified them as Starlings. Were they folkwwing the earlier flocks? If so, Where had their predecessors gone? t used the binoculars ‘to scan the sky from west to east, looking very carc- Fully to jhe south where the fourth group trad flown. but not one berd uf any of the four flocks was to be seen. 1 was curious Yn SnxioNs te solve the mystery. May, 1964 Victor Fecebs of Doveton When the fitth flock flew over, I witched them and a5 they reached the end of (he fieadiand, I saw them go inte 4 sitep dive and disappear from view, A few more Mocks followed mm the same way aad as C stood where bf remembered the behaviour of starlings in the Enedish Midlands. Sorme of thess fed during the day in the outskirts of Birmingham and al desk flew in from all points of the Somipass to roost on the city buildings Many an evening in the Girminghom Town Hall bad been marred when their wittering bad imtercopted the slow movemems of 4 symphony, We tmadé a dash for the end of the headland, ove arrival coincided with the sexe wave of birdy and We were in 4 4004 posilion to view all that happened, First an almost vertical dive to Lhe waler's surface, then a swift zig-zag to avoid some socks pigyecune from the sea, a fit swoop aver the basalt Doulders and the new arrivals landed to be lost amidst the many stallings that had alréady arrived. These were far from: settled for the night. Amongst whe greenery and on Wie bare rock face many dark bodies jostled and manoeuvred [or posifian. At 6.15 p.m. the fast flock touched down und we estimated thal approximately a score aF flocks numbering many Iun- reds of bitds were perched in a very sate place for the night (Starlings have been recorded roost- mg iw cayes and on cliffs in the Seouulsh islands und flacks can be sexo und heard settling for the night on the Customs Howse buildiax, Flinders Streel, Melbourne. RB | Morels Mei, R. McCann's nore (Vict. Nar. (80) p. 341) has prompted Mr W. HH. King of Warrandyte Soumh to send us this further inlurmation on the di iribiltion oF the fungi: Lust September, Whelst im the Wyper- feld National Park. Mr F. Rugers and I found aud photugraphed several Morels in Maliec scrub about three miles beyond the Faslern Loakeut, Mr. J. 1. Willis suggested thal this could he 4 first record for this area, 19 Nature Notes from Ringwood Field Naturalists Club In spite of the many subdivision and building operations in and around King: wood thete were still six orchid species flowering during the Jast month, Three midge-orchids — Pragophylum. morrisii, the Bearded Midge-orchid; Prasopliyllant archeri, the Vaciable Midge-Orchid; and Pravophyllam despeciars, the Sharp Midge-orchid—have been scen in several areas, The attractive Eviechilus cucul- larus, the Parson's Bards, is also flower, ing. Of the Greenhoods, Prerostylis par- viffora, the Tiny Greenhood is in bloom. Reports af Prerastylis obtisa flowering have been received from Mount Evelyn and Kinglake. On the recent excursion, on Saturday, April 11, to the Beenak area there were abundant scratchings and sounds of the Superb Lyrebied. Jt was heard many limes and also seen among the ferns at ihe source of the Bunyip River. Among the many calls it gaye was an imitation of the Black Cockatoo, Which was pres- ent in the area. An item of attraction was the largé number of. Hairpin Banksia (&. spinulesa} and Silver Banksia 8. murginata) in bloom, The Yeliow-winged Honeveater entertained members with its Sony and feeding habs as it fimted from flower to Hower. Spine-tailed Swifts were obsecved milling over jhe sap and, as they have been seen here of previous occasions, it was [cle thae this has be- come a Tavourite feeding ground because of the concentration of insects duc to rising air Currents, The autumn invasion of Ringwood area bus started, Pied Currawongs sand Crimson Rosellts are down from the mounlain. Large numbers have been seen and they are expected to remain undi] their source uf food, the berries, has been exhausted, The White-plumed Honevyester has become very common particularly in Makea laourina (Pin- cushion Hakes)- Jt as mot uncommon to find these bieds apparently intoxicated by the nectar, They can be approached Very casily and are very slow and Utsuré in their movements, On the recent fauna survey exciirsion jo the Toolangi area, members were Startied by the screech of « Powerful Owl, This call ix very weird and un- netving and these members will fong remember it. The remarkable bitte Tailed Spider (drachnura Niggiass) has returned now that it is autumn or, possibly, il is only in the autumn that it is observed. This spider has the abdomen prolonged into an clongated “lal, tipped with three black points. Its form gives it 3 seorpion- hke appearance, but it is harmless. It has curious ¢longated grey sitken cee sacs which are suspended in a chain in euch snare. The spider usually takes up 4 pisition below the last ege sac. If one Inoks closely, a minute red creature may be seen around the net ue spider. ‘This as the male of the species. It looks more like a mite than the spider it really is. ‘The web is very tangled and untidy looking. 3 Subscriptions Now Due The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria is administered by a relatively small number of honorary office-bearers, The growth of the club and the expansion of its activities, particularly in connexion with the production of the Victorian Naturalist, are con- tinually adding to the burden of work. Membership fees and subscriptions to the Naturalist for 1964-65 were due for renewal by May 1- If you will not be paying your fees at one of the forthcoming gencrai meetings, please remit them by post. Reccipts will not be sent for payments by cheque unless requested This procedure will save office-bearers time, and expense, in sending out téminder hotices, 20 Vict. Neat—YVol, 87 The Naturalist and the Microscope A Larger Field of View When you look at an object through a microscope, you see a picture in the form of a circle which appears to be some inches in diameter. This is the field of view, and it is determined by the lenses of the objective and the eyepiece and by one other factor —the diaphragm of the eyepiece. Unscrew the top lens of the eyepiece, This is the eye lens, and between it and the bottom lens (the field Jens) there is a metal disc with a circular hole. This is the diaphragm. The field lens focus is a real image formed by the objective at the level of the diaphragm, and the eye lens magnifies this image to the eye. The purpose of the diaphragm is to restrict the image to the centre portion and so cut out the outer image which is not in sharp focus; also it stops the dif- fused light at the edge from entering the eye. However, when using low powers it is very often desirable to see more of the object, even if it is not at all sharply focused, and this can be done by remov- ing the diaphragm completely from the eyepiece. It is only tight fit in the tube and can be removed by unscrewing both the eye lens and the field lens (mark which end is which). The diaphragm is like a dished washer. Knock it out towards the eye lens end with a piece of wood dowel. Use care not to damage the internal threads of the eyepiece tube. May, 1964 By D. E. McINNES Replace the lenses and observe the increase in the field of view. In particular the Leitz 6B eye- piece will now give a field ap- proximately 50% greater. This is very handy when searching for an object or observing a large area. The diaphragm need not be replaced unless you want the best definition possible. Replace it from the field lens end and move it up until the hole is seen to be in sharp focus with the eye lens when the latter is screwed back into position. Then veplace the field lens. N. H. SEWARD PTY. LTD. 457 Bourke Street, Melbourne Phone: 67 6129 Specialists in Naturalists’ Requisites Pins, Forceps, Butterfly Nets, etc., Microscopes (Beginners’ to Research Models) , Binoculars, Telescopes, Survey Instruments, etc. BOOKS On Natural History, Australia, Art, General. New and Secondhand, Lists Free. State Requisites. 2) The Water Bear or Tardigrade Whilst going over some water that I had acquired from the Bellarine Peninsula, | noticed some unusual movements among a cluster of des- mids. I recognized at once the Water Bear or Tardigrade as it is called. This bear was engaged in making a meal from a desmid called Penis margaritacium and was sucking the endochrome from one end: it was almost wrapped around the Peniwn and working its legs in its endeavours io empty the one half completely. After about five minutes, when the Penium was empty, the bear ambled off with slow. ungainly movements putting its eight legs out and show- ing the four sharp. curved claws which are attached to each. The Water Bear, or Macrobiotus, 1s a very elusive microscopic organ- ism, about 0:375 mm. in length. and 1 believe that it has not been seen in Victoria for quite a number of years. Yet I had the good fortune to have three on the slide at once. This organism belongs to the Class Arachnida within the Phylum Arth- ropoda. Because of the pearly white iridescence of its body it is just vis- ible to the naked eye. It has an elongated oval shape and the rather flexible body is composed of nine segments including the blunt head. The round suctorial mouth leads to two parallel tubes which connect with the large oval gizzard situated behind the head; the tubes then continue to the stomach which can also be seen Water Bear, X 100. 22 By W. J. GENERY in the dorsal part of the body. Both of these organs are always full of food which the organism has ab- sorbed. The stomach is much darker in colour and about twice as large as the gizzard. The bear has four pairs of short, squat legs and each leg terminates in four long, curved claws, which are constantly opening and closing. The round suctorial mouth is re- peatedly pushed out in front and then withdrawn as if small particles of food are being sucked into the mouth. I noticed that when the bear came close to a Stentor, rotiter or any other organism, the organism approached would immediately turn about and swim in the opposite direction as if the bear had some strongly pro- nounced repellent property. This could explain why the tardigrade, which is slow moving, does not ap- pear to be chitinised, and having no mandibles or any other means of defence, has survived down to the present time. According to earlier writers, the herma- tardigrade is Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 phrodite and penadically produces a smal] number of ova. Proportionally To the pareot the ova are lange aod they have been found attached to the empty skin which the hear casts from time (© tinic, I saw one empty skin but there were no eggs attached to it The organism has been resuscitated after being completely dried up. This shows that it can withsland dry con- ditions in the same way as the ronifers which are often found with it. The most likely place for the Water Bear to be found 1s ta the Invd and decayed leaves in the gutters around the soofs of houses where jt is gene- rally in the company of rotifers, It is seldom fovwnd in ponds or open water. Field Naturalists Club of Victoria General Meeting—April 13, i964 About £50-200 otembers and Friends almost filled the Hall. ‘The president, Mr M. K. Houghton, was in the chan, and among the country members present was Miss L. Banfield fron) Ararat. Dr EF. H. Euley was ihe speaker for tbe evening. His siihyect was “The Fure", and the calk was illustrated by an excellent film. De Ealey had been able te sludy this marsupial whilst mms vestigating a situation that hud arisen in the Port Hedland area, where sheep intraduced onta the presperlies appeared unable to conipele with the indigenans animal Euros were marked by coloured plastic collars and by automatic dye- spraying appayaius jm order that thele movements could be followed. Observations had been made of the drinking habits of the animal, the effect af ambient toiperature changes on heat éantral by licking, and on the repro- ductive physialog . Judging by the fact that few animals lived more than xia years, the morality must be high, but litue Was Known of the main causes of death, In the area in question, tho animals could be destroyed in numbers without danger to the species. but this would not improve the situation of the sheep. Paully pasture manapemient, par- ticularly extensive burning at the wrong season, had caused pasiure deterioration tag level ut which, although stitl suitable for she Pura, it was not capable of sup- porling tmany sheep. After his ilk, Dr Falcy answered . imany questions from fis interested hudience, aml Mr aA, J. H, Fairhall then mnoved 2 vote wf thanks which was camied by aectimation, The president tnnounced that men Mey, 1964 bers Would learn walh regrot that Mr N- A. Wakefield, throdgh pressure of work, would be unable ta accep! renomination 4s editar of the Victorian Narteralis, and he expected that council would ap- point Mc J, R. Hudson to the post until the annusl general meeting In June. Mr J, A. Baines said that for over eleyen years Mr Wakefield had done a splendid job as editor af the Neruralise and it Would be very difficult to replace tim, In spite of his other activities, he had produced a consistently good journal, Mr Baines moved # vote of dhanks to Mr Wakefield for the work he had done in the editerial chair, The motion. was seconded by Mi E. Swatdreck and car- Tied with most enthusiastic applause. The twelve persons Jisted On pagé 381 of the April Nareralist were elected to membership of the Club. It was re- erétted that the jist contumed a mis- mrint: the Jast of the ordinary members should have read “Miss Lucia-A. Dalton, Box Hill” Ainong Ge exhibiis were specimens of the skipper butterfly, Tripeeites sym- moms, and two species of ant-lign’ adulis CR. Condrond. Mrs E. Bennett showed specimens of the introduceal nail, Melix pivana, which had been pres- ent in ereat wunbere on the exposed ctiff-top at Childer's Cave, Another member described how this snail hail been seen, and heard, esting « page trom 3 plossy magazine, possitly at tracted by the gypsum content of the pauper. Mesws D. BE. Meclinés and W, C, Wrollard showed, under e¢lub micro- scopes, same desmals and 4 rotiter colony Miss E. Rafl exhibited three green pupae of the Wanderer Butterfly (Dunaidn plexippas) 2h Mrs Bennett and Mr Grant-Taylor draw altertion to the uncontrolled ray- ages of bulldozers in the Hevtesbury and Tower Glenelg areas, In the former, some 7000 veres had heen cleared for settlement without leaving « single tree as sheller for stock or seitler's home In the latter, native vegetation had been cleared away to plant pines. Mise Jean Galbruith pointed out the desirability of leaving windbreaks wherever land was cleared, Mr J: R- Garnet mentioned thal 2% report had been drawn up hy the club and the R.A.O.U. in 1947, advancing a proposition that 80.000 acres of the Lower Glenelg aren should be kept un- changed as National Forest Reserve. Only about a quarter was now lett and it was mest desirable thal uction be laken at once to persuade the Forests Commission to stay its hand. The matter was referred to council. Hefure closing the meeting the prese- dent presented Miss Galbraith with ac- cessorles necded to vonvert her bridge und tube instrament into # complete E\N.C.N. microscope. In thanking the Club, Miss Galbraith said that the micro- scope wis in constant tse snd she was sure that the production of the instru- ment was a great help to members. Geology Group—Marcech 4, 1984 Twenty-three members and visitors were present, with Mr L. Angior in the chair. Master L. McLaurin reported on an australité collecting expedition to Port Campbell, Victorta, with Mr f. Gill and representatives of the Space Organization o& Ametican Actodynamics. The area was systematically plotied and in ‘one place excavation to a depih of Wo feet was carried out. The sustralites are heing given careful sciensifie case nation as an aid to space research, Fol- jowing on hig article in the Naturalist, Mr D, MeInnes tad rock secthous and pulishing tnatecial for sale, Mr Angior mentioned an excellent article in the Melbourne Walker, on the Building Stones of Melbourne, by Mr D, Hemmy. Arrangements were made for an cx- cursiun ta Bayview Quarties, Narre Wartren, on Sunday, March 22. Mr R. Dedds was ihe speaker for cvening, dealing with “The Geology of the Palaeozoic’. After outhning the structure af the Australian continent va it stands today, a Teturn was made to the béemnning of things. Various theories as to the origin of the earth were sum: marized, iolkowed by an eaplination of the geological time-scale. The story of CAMERAS ano SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER EXAKTA, PENTAX, PRAKTICA CONTAREX, BESSAMATIC .. . All the famous brands Telephoto, Wide Angle Lenses Close-up Equipment HERBERT SMALL’S 259 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE (Opposite Hotel Austraiia? HERBERT SMALL'S — AT YOUR SERVICE FOR OVER 10D YEARS Viet Nart—Vol BI the development of geology mi England and the labours and trlals of many of Whe early Workers, Were of considerable interes ‘Vo close: ihe lecture, the speaker then took each of the Palaeozoic pends in turn, explaining the fossils and ouut- sonding factors in each, with particular teference to Australia, Eaftibits: Fossils and large agate col- lected im Tasmania by Mr Harrison (OD. Melnnes); diabase aborigival axe fram North Queensland (N. Wigmore); banded mmud-stome. schist, chlorides and icon pyrite: Crum Tasmania (¥. Miller}; opal from Andsamooka (D. Collyer); Pascual sea-urctini, Ireart urchins, Jamp- shells from Point Addis (ff Sault}; brown coal from Anglesea, concre- tiodd from cliffs near Lorne (Miss V. Dickson); copper ore specimens fram smeliers, Mt Lyell, Tasmania (D. Heowy), » Gealogy Growp—Apeil 1, 1964 Mr L. Angior was wm the Chair, with iwenty-thiee members and visitors al- tending. Mr 1). McImes rtported on the excursion Lo ihe Bayvicw Basalt Quarries, Narre Warren, on Sunday, March 22. Twelve members attended, and in the quarry itsel€ the lava flows imd columnar jointing were examined. Specimens with olivine inchrsions were collected, Under “the basalt on the floor of {he quarry, in a dark-coloured clay. a comprehensive collection of fossil leaves was maide_ “The secretary Tead extracts of a e¢ological natore from letters writlemn by Mrs K- Cheslin, whe & making a tesurely tip around Australia, Arrandements were made for a weekend trip to Bendigo. on April’ 1% und 19, as guests of the local Field Naturalists Club- Snbject for the evening was “Dia- fomaceous Esmhs", by c Graham Shei], The speaker first mentioned the uses to which the earths were pul us filters far swimming pools, clariEying wine, assisting i the insulation of mpes, polishing amateral, aid uw) explosives. The structure of diatoms was explained as cidistitig af two minute shells of sites, Hiltiae one over the other. Detaits were given Of (he use of disioms to test the cesalving powers of lenses in microscopy, as well as of they ecology. Che quarry al Happy Valley, south of BaWarat, was explained in derail ated the methods of warking ovtjined, Many Questions aS fo the properties of he Moy, 1964 . Ural no ane of earths wert answered, anil Mr A, Cobhett explained the use of the ma- dertal in explosives. Mr TD MeTines moved a vote of ihanks to the speaker for his most intoresting anil mformutive talk. Exhibits: Senes of minerals from Asia Minor, to be Ideatified by Mr A, Cobbett (I_ Bairstow, per R. Dodds); opalized shells, sponges. corals, opal porch, from Lightning Ridge, fossil wood, Gilgandra, NS.W., inclusions m older basalt from Killy Miller Hay, Phillip Tsand, bones and teeth of Diproicdun from Queenslind (R. Davidson); The President advised thar (is was lhe date an whic hominations for group ollicers for the ensuing year were received. Mr. J, Strong was nom. nated, ji his absence, as Sucrstary, and it Was UNadiobously decsded (hal Mr, R. Condron and Mr. J. Strong cantinue as the gcoup’s President and Secretary re- spectfully Mr. 1D. Mcinnés then presented a sketch of the propased beach scene for the nature show later in the year. He ad- viseh omembers (thal assistance was réquired (rom cach ane in order te carry aut this prac, Members were urged to make individval displays as if was expected that more space would be avail- able this year, Mr. RK, Condran sug- gested that al exhibit of aqaatic. msects and termites would prove interesting. The subject for the evening wus “Poly: chaeie Worms’, and the address was given by My, D Melinnes, who is busily engaged at present Studying theye worms. Members’ interest was deld throughout the evening by this interesting sibject. Che speaker used menochrome trans- parencies of illustrations from text books on the subject. These were interspersed with colour irantparencies sone worms Jake on a Group outing 10 Philtipe island. At the close cf the tec- ture Mrs Lee showed some slides from other States that had been sent to Melbourne for a nature competition. $5 Exhibits: Mrs. Melnnes showed a small fly (unidentified) and some small pointed shell snails. . Mr. R. Condron showed a pair of crane-flies caught al Croydon, and a collection of various insects that had been trapped inside a light. Jt was decided that the group would visit Mrs, Lee’s property al Gembrook just prior to the mature show to look far exhibits. Geelong Field Naturalists Club Yane Geelong PFielé Naturalists (Club continues lo forge ahead. ‘Lhe third annual repart is included in Vol. 1, No: 1, of its new journal, the “Geelong Nuturalist”. This is a roneod 24-page quarterly, price 2/- per copy, most al- tractively prepared. We alsa have copies of the Clob's syllabus of mectings and excursions till April, 1965. Mr. J. Prescott is President. Mims. ¥. Boardman, Henoriuy Secre- tary (2624 Latrobe Terrace, Geelong). Mr. Do MucKenzic, Editor (16 Las- pels Avenue, Manifold Heights, Gee- ong). Australian Tastitute of Aborizinal Studies The Australian Institute of Abonyinal Studies jis a body set up by the Com- monwealih Government ty record basic knowledge before it is irretrievably last. Tt tas invited the help of members of - the F.N.C.V. in the collection of in- formation about Aboriginals. The kind of information desired in- cludes: {. Names and addresses of Aboriginals or part-Aboriginals in your area, together with any ayailable details o€ their knowledge of tribal Jan- guage or lore. 2, Information on the history of your area, 3. Names and addresses of any white people in your area who may have any spenal knowledge of Aborip- inals. f 4. Names and addresses of any sociclics or groups in your arca who might be willing to assist them. 56 Aboriginal 5, Identification of any Aboriginal sites in your area — carvings, paintings, cave deposits, middens, ceremonial grounds, butial grounds, etc. 6. Taformation as t any collections of Aboriginal implements im your area. 7. Information as to any manuscripts, pholography, or pictures.in your area dealing with Aboriginals, and in- formation as to the old homesteads or other places where these things are likely lo be found. 8, Any material relating to Aboriginal sungs, Musi¢ or ceremones im your urea, 9, Any information as to languages or susloms of ‘past or present Aborig- inals in your area. The above list is not necessarily com- plete, but will indicate the yeneral field of the enquirics. Even apparently dis- connected scraps of information may be valuable, Information should be sent direct to; the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Bax 553, City P.O., Canberra, A.C.T. ' N. HL SEWARD PTY. ETD. 457 Bourke Street, Mclbaurne Phone: 67 6129 Specialists in Moturalists' Requisite: Pins, Forceps, Butterfly Nets, éfc,, Microscopes (Beginners’ to Research Models), Binoculars, Telescapes, Survey Instruments, etc, BOOKS On Netural History, Australio, Art. General. New and Secondhand. Lists Free, Stote Requisites. Vict Nor.—Voal. SI Book Review: The Gum Trees of the Australian Capital Territory There ws a deplorable defclency in Avstralia of litcrature bearing on local natural history—e.g. geological fornta- liens, district plant-life, bifd lists, Buides to butterflies, heetles and other insects, This situation stands in*sharp contrast against the wealth of information readily avuilable to naturalists in Britain, where almost every County has tts published fiora. When one js constantly asked the question, “Where can T get an account of the wildflowers around so-and-so?-— we are holidaying there next week", it is frusiraany to have to reply; “Sarry, but there isn’t any” or “You'tl need to consul an article in the Victorian Maruralist of May 1898" Botanists and lovers of our naive plants welcomed De Nancy Buthidge'’s Warthes of zhe Australien Capital Territory, publisbed in 196i, a 16-leaved booklet replete with Sliinple key. babit notes and bold [ine (irawings for all the 20 Aenaciy species indigenuus to or nuturalized in the “NALD, By Nancy J, Bureinoe Al the cluse of 1963 Dr Burbidge brought out a cumpamon bavk on the Ternmtory'’s eucalypts ("gum trees), which wil] surely prove as pispular as its predecessor, The present work. im smaller type, is also considerably lareer- It ermbraces 20 pages of text and 12 beauliful full-page reproductions ol photographs by Colin ‘Totterdell, the latter portraying a selection of apevies in their natural habitat. The hey to 36 species is embellished by clear marginal sketches of buds and fruits—as in W. E. Blackall’s How to krow Western Ays- tralian WitéHowers Winle congratulating the avthoress, and expressing Hratitude for ber very Worthy contributions to regional plant-lore. may we hope that they will serve 10 stimulate similar effort in maoy parts of the contnent, Gum Trees of the Australian Capiial Territory retails at twelve shillings and i$ available from Angus & Robertson, EF, W, Cheshire and Verity Mewill (Canberra). ’ —1. H. Willis. Field Naturalists Ctub Library Library facilities are available to financial] members af the F.N.C.Y. and affiliated organizations. Loans are available for tau imenths, renewable for a Maximum of six morwths if mot required by other members; however, current issues of periadicals are available for one month only. Through the Inter-library Loan Organization, the Hbrarian ¢an often obtain publications not available at the club's library. Loans will be forwarded, on request, to borrowers oulside (he Melbourne mewopelitan areca, whe will then be responsible for their safe return to the library when the loan pertad has expired The library is open at approxirnately 7.30 p.m, Prier to general meetings aad meetings ot ,& ‘Moorehead quotes from Sturt, ap- parently on the Cooper. “la slraiye 74 scene—a group of seven men crying ditterly” fp 20). Were they mercly wailing or actrally shedding tears* Tn any case this would be “ceremonial crying.” King took the natives to see where Burke lay dead. “On seeing has remains the whole party wept bitterly, and covered them with bushes." (p 148)—erying:for sorrow. Sturt (Narrative of an Expedition into Central Ausiralin, T, p 162) wrote “The natives appeared really glad te sce us again, for I belleve they had given us up for lost. My old friend shed tears when he embraced us." Again (1, p 148) “The old bop- colo took leave of Mr Browne -and myself. according 1 suppose to the custom of his people, by placing his hands on uur shoulders, and bending his head so as to tench our breasts; in doing which he shed tears.” Sul further (11, p 9) “The poor: fellow cried, and the tears rolled down his cheeks, whet he first mei Mr Browne.” Our ostives thus certainly weep for joy, and perhaps ceremoniously, Sturt’s description of this scene (Vol il, p 69) is as follows: “We heard a most melancholy howling over an earthen bank directly opposite to us, and saw seven black heads slowly’ advancing towards us... . The group consisted of a very old blind man, led by a younger one, andl five women. They all wept most bitterly, and the women uttered low melan- choly sounds, but we made them sit down and managed to allay their fears . . , These poor crentures must have observed our coming, and be- ing helpless. had°L suppose thought it better to come forward . 2. We gave the old mun a great coat.” Moorvhead’s paraphrase is; ‘Here ik This" wilderness they interrupted a sttwnge Scene: a group of seven men crying bitterly. Nothing could make Vict. Nat—Vol. 91 them explain the occasion of their grief, they cmed and cried and would not stop, and in the end Srurt was obliged to go on his way, having left them a present of his greatcoat.” Parakeelya “On the orange-coloured sandhills the pink mesembrianthemum was in Hower” {p 136). Evidently para- keel¥a (Calandrinio bulonensis or C remota}. Red sand collected at Cor- dilla in 1924 was in colour -ocar Vinaceaus Rufous and Ferruginous, Plate XIV* in Ridgway's Color Standards aod Color Nomenclature. The First News of Burke and Wills Retarn This, a5 Moorehead points out, came through Adelaide, Dr Wills, father of the explorer, had come over ta Adelaide, Tt must have been oo September 25, 1861, That be re- ‘eelved [nant Major Warburton, Com- inissioner of Police, news from the police-trooper at Wirrulpe pear Mt Searle dated September (2) stating that a native, Sambo, had reported a-parly of white men io difficulties (p 134). The letter was read in the House of Assembly by the Com- missioner of Crown Lands and‘ pub. lished in “The Register” of Sep- tember 326. My father, then a boy of 14, was with his uncle, Alec Glen, whose station was near where Leigh Creek is now. He wrote to his futher in Adelaide from Blanthewater .on Scpicmber 6, giving the same news brought in by Sambo, This letter, wrillen six days before that of Trooper Howe, was published in the satne issug¢ of “The Register." The Desert Sound The Desert Sound has been heard by yarious explore’s, a noise like that of a great gun heing fired. Ir July, 1964 “Noises probably still is heard as frequently a in the davs of exploration but escapes notice, being attributed to human agency. Wills and King heard it on The Cooper on May 24, J R61, Moorehead quotes from Wills’ diary ip 121) as follows: “Whilst picking the seed (nardoo), about 1] am, ‘both of us heard distinctly the soise of an explosion, as if of a pln, at scine considerable distance. We sup- posed it. to be a shot fired by Mr Burke, ‘hut on retnrning te camp, found that he had not fired or heard the noise. The sky was practically overcus! with high cum. str. clouds, and a light breeze blew from the east, but nothing to indicate a thunder- slorm in any direction.” T have myself heard the Desert Sound on August 9, 1907, at $8.30 in the evening. near the Strelley River between Part Hedland and Marble ~ Bar in Western Australia. It sounded like a great gum being fired. I recorded my experience, and gathered infotmation on other and similar instances in a paper “On the Occurrence of Explosive or Boomioz (Barisal Guns) im Central Australi" (J. Proc. Rov-Soe. NSW ALY 1911, p 187}, Sturt heard it on Pebruazy 27. 1829 at 3 pm. near Bourke on the Dacling and twice in September about 9 a.m. on succeeding _days between his Stony Desert and Eyve’s ercek, The Sound was heard on the Efder Expedition and Dr Farnsworth heard it |'00 miles from Neullagine' in Western Australia. It has been suggested that it is due ta the splitting af great rock masses by changes in ten\peralure (“rock tumble down") ar that it cames “out of the eatin” (Csubterrsa¢an sources), Carrier Pigeons Howitt brought, four carrier pigeons 75 from Melbourne. Their tails were so abraded, that wild pigeons were shot and with waxed thread their tail feathers spliced on to the stumps {p L31t). When liberated they were at once attacked by kites (falcons presumably), Are tail feathers oeces- sary for flight? On the Adelaide University Anthropogical Expedition to Mount Liebig in Central Australia in 1932, an Adelaide newspaper sup- pited carrier pigeons to its represen~ tative, but falcons watching from the “‘mouatain heights above us, swooped down on them with terrific speed. Accidental Stips “The Mulgas skimming’ by in green flocks" (p 84) evidently refers lo budgerygahs. “The. spring was now well ad- vanced” (p 93), April, Autumn, probably written in’ the northern hemisphere, “Sturt's wild pea (which proved to be quite harmiess to the camels)” p. 58, Sturt's Pea is Chanthus. The Darling Pea (Swainsena) is the poisonous one. I doa not think camels would cat the prostrate Chanthus. “We proceeded in a car to the resi- dence of Dr Wilkie." p 155). “Good God!" T said, “jump into the cart" (p 155), Surely urese should be “gab”, Hansom cab. Oné could jump into a Hansom cab—I have often done so in Sydacy. bur in Adelaide they were considered ‘‘fast™. Onc would get into a growler [ igure whee) cab) or bugey. “Sturt, Mitchell, Konnedy and Gregory bad all been on Cooper's Creek”, (p 37). Mitchell and Kennedy had been on the upper tributaries ol the Cooper but £ would not consider they had beea on the Cooper proper. January 18, 1861 “Stull on the Tanges, the camels sweating profusely 76 fram fear” (Burke's Diary) {p 74). Do camels sweat? Would they do so from. lear? Cicndas Singing all Night Near Eyre's Creek beyond Birds- ville in January “Cicadas shrilled loudly in the branches all night long.” (p 76). This ts interesting and should be confirmed, The entomologists at the South Australian Museum have heard cicadas in the glouming. Centaurs, Did Sturt say (p 19) that the tribes On their way Wp from Menindie Were “yery primitive, on Seeing a herseman for the first lime they had thought that man and beast werc one creature like the mythical centaur, and they had run off in astonishment when the man had dismavated,"? Though the natives of Americi may have been astonished at such disjunction, our abongines secm “io have expressed very little surprise at, or even interest in, what must have been exceedingly novel to them at their first contact with Europeans Thus Dampier in 1688 off our North- West coast met with a “drove of these men swimming from one island to another. His people “took up four of them and brought them aboard. To these we gave boiled rice and with it tuctie and manatee boiled. They did greedily devour what we gave them, but took no notice of the ship or anything in it; and when thev were set on jand again, they ran away as fast as they could.” _ Hawdon [The Journal of a Jour- ney from New South Wales to Adel- aide performed in-1838 by Mr Joseph Hawdon, printed tp 1952) on Febru- ary 2L (p 34) wrote;— “Il was quite evident that the natives Jooked opor the oxen us rational beings, as they Vier Not —Val_ 41 . saluted them with their usual dgiendly exclamation "Bo, bo, Mar- .wood,” (and) wavitg green boughs at them in token of peace.” On March 2 “one of them asked me in perfect seriousness whether the heifers, point- ing 10 jhe cattle, were our wives.” Hawdon, of course, would be on horseback. Sturt?s Small Acid Berry May 1 take this opportunity of re- ferring to the “small acid berry”, ealen by the natives, which helped lO relieve the symptoms of scurvy from which Captain Sturt was suffer- ing vn the return journey when about 116 miles north-vest of the Darling. Mr Browne, "went into the hills and ealhered ime a large tireen fit" (Vol. TJ, p 108). T had been puzzled for same years as to the plant team which these came. Leptomeria (San- talaceae) has | believe been suggested but this is far beyond its range. The fruit of Ruby Salthush (/achylaena tomerilesa) is insipid, mot acid. Sola- nums are very bitter out would occur there. A visit in 1962 with Dr Eric Sims aod Mr Geoffrey Lithgow to Mootwingec, 76 miles N.E. of Broken Hill, solved the problem. The Native Currant Pleeirenia latifolia grows in the Ranges and there can be litle doubt but that the berries came from this Rubiaceous tree. Field Notes from Ringwood Ficld Naturalists Club During the last month several groups of members made the journey to a smal sanctuary near Yarram where Prerosiylis fiseié is found. The first group found but four specimens, but nearly a week tater the second party found about a dozen heads of this rare and beautiful greenhood. Si is 40 be hoped thal this _ species will continue te flourish Just cutside the sanctuary Were many tall plants of Aclgneius exsertys, the Gnat Orchid. Tt must have been a very good year for the late autumn and early winter orchids because the Superb Greenhood (Prerasrvliy grandifiera), the small Aul- unin Greenhood (Preresnylis reflexa) and the Trim Greenhooil (Pterastylis con cinna) were all found and photographed, Of the other orchids discovered three were of particular interest. These were all heimet orchids, Near Wurdtah Buy the Fringed Helmet Orchid, Corybas finibria- rae was found. Quite close to it were_ Corybas iniguivelates, the Small Helwet Orchid, and also the rare and Joculized Spurred Helmet Orchid, Carybas aconi- fierus. Same very goad photographs were shown to inembers of these three orchids. + AL, Wilson's Promuntory, the Black Cuckatoo and Rainbow Lorrikecty Wore duty, 1964 particularly common amongst the bank- sia5, Coast banksia (B. inteyrifeliay was af particular attraction to the lorrikeets, and i seemed a pity that some gnarled old specimens, in full blossom, has to be bulldoved out of existence. In all. four of Victoria’s bankias Were seen al Wilsons Promontory this trip. Adding beauty to the scene at Sealer’s Cove were large masses of Red Correa (Correa reflexa), Vow different these bushes appear to the dainty bushes of Correa reflera found in the Black Range, Telangatek East. Near Telangatuk East, at Balmoral, on a moonlight but very cold night during May, a Iwan (Pinasevgade tapoatata) was soon on a Red Gum (Ewedlypeus camal- dulensis): & Brush-tail Possum was. also seen, aid the Stone Curlews were mak- ing their cence sound just to add qo the thrill of such an excursion, An unidentified bandicoot was seen in the heathisnils to the north-west of Port- Jand. In the same aréa a Blue Boronia bush was found on the side of a bush track Tt was in full bloom. While in Porlland area the petrified forest near here Was brought io attention when u small piece of petrified ifce was dis- corpered, 77 Bat Mandible from Mt. Victoria Mt. Widderin’ Cave is simiated on the northern Munk of Mt. Widderin, a former effusive lava cone, on the sheep station “Widderin’. owned by Mr. C. Notman. It is four miles south of Skipton, and twenty-five miles south- ‘ wost of Ballarat, Victoria. The cave is a Pleistocene-Recent (Newer Basalt) lava tunnel, consisting of three cham- bers, the entrance being situated in a depression that presumably is a col- lapsed fourth chamber, (See deserip- tion by Ollicr, 1963.) During an iospection of the lava tunnel in May (961, the authors. col- lecied a sample of bat suano from the . south side of the mound of guano in the centre of the main (first) cham- her. After drying. and during sub- sequent sorting, we found the right mandible of a bat. The specimen is mineralized and stared dark brown. The three incisors and canine are absent, The second and third premolats ate broken off level with the dorsal syrlace of the dentary. The first premolar is complete, as are the three molars, The mandible is similar in afl re- spects to recent specimens of man- dibles from Miniopterix schretbersi (Kuhl), the Bent-Winged Bat, and is considered to be of this species. The mandible is from an adult individual, as judged on the basis of measure- ments, and the degree of wear to the molars. The amount of wear is con- sidered to be equivalent to stage 2 of the list by Miller and Allen (1928}, Le., wear obvious, but not obscuring the structoral characters of the molars, 78 Widderin Caye, Skipton, By K. G, Simpson and G. T. Sweivn The mandible has heen lodged in the National Museum of Victoria (Reg. No, P22760}, Accounts of rhe early history of dhe cave at Mt Widderin are somewhat confused. Ulrich (1875) quotes Sel- wyh (1866), saying “Thousands of bats inhabit these caves. hanging io clusters from the roof, like a swarm of bees, and on the floor are.Jarge conical mounds of a rich brown earthy matter. “The deposit consists entirely of the excrements of these animals.” A postscript ta the article is appended: “The deposit has since been used by the farmers. of the avighbour- hood to great advantage as a valu- able manure.” | ; Fletcher (1895) states: “Bats are credited with being the producers of this (guano) deposit, with what treth I cannot say, as the ‘oldest, inhabriant' has never seen a bat in the cave. “although we turned over some six Or seven tons of stuff, no ‘bones or fossilized forms were met.” It is not Known whereabouts in the cave Pletcher turned over the guano, nor fram where the local farmers removed it. The late Mr, S. R. Mit- chell reported séeing “great heaps of guano from this cave offered for sale in a warehouse in South Melbourne about the turn of the ¢entury,” (E. D. Gill, pers. comen.) Vier. Nat.—Vol. 81 Mitchell himself obtained guano for the National Museum collections about 1930. and other collections are known to have been made at various times since. We do not know, there- fore, if the mandible was in its car- rect stratigrapme horizon withia the cave. No bats have been recorded in Mt. Widderin cave at any time since the colony described by Selwyn. Only three normally cave-dwelling Micra- chiroplera are recorded from Vic- toria, OF these, Myatis adversis Hors- field is comparalively rare _in both Victoria and South Australia, and Ritinolophus megaphytlus (Gray } ap- pears fo be restricted im its present range to east Victoria. Congregations in existing colonies of the above Iwo species are not numerically great, Minlopreris schreidersi, on the other hand, is by far the most numerous cave-dwelling bat throughout south. em Quensland. New South Wales, Victoria aad eastern South Australia at the present time. The species accurs in groups aumbering several thousand or more individuals quite commonly, All extensive guano deposits {and many small anes} in caves so far discovered throughout the regio described above, have: been formed by these bats, The reason for the permanent desertion of thé cave by . bars ‘at some time berveen 1846 and 1895 has not-been determined. Pos sibly a change in the cave climate or human interference was to blame, From knowledge of the present day distribution and habits of the M- sehreibersi population, together with the identification of the mandible, the extent of the guano deposit, and from Selwyn’s description of thé layge bal colony in residence about 1866, the authors have little hesitation in attri- buting the large guano deposit of M1. Widderin: cave directly to Miniopieris schrelbersi. ~ In -age, the specimen necetsarily postdates the farmation of the cave and ils most recent limit is 1866. In the absence of other data, and due to its uncertain stratigraphic position within the cave, the mandible is considered to be a Recent subfossil__ Acknowledgements We wish to express our gratitude to Mr. P, DBD, Dwyer, Department of Zoology, University of New England, N.S.W., for [oan of comparative material, and to Mr EB. D, Gill (Curator of Fossils) and Dr. Beaseley (Curator of Minerals) at the National Museum of Victoria, for information. REFERENCES Olher, C, D. (1963). The Skipton Lava Caves. Vier. Nat. BO; (81-183. Mitlez, G, S., and Allen. G, M_ (1928). The American Bats of the Genera Myotis i Pizonya. U.S. Nar, Mus. Oxil. 144: Ulrich, W. F. Toten (1875). A Descrip-- tive Catalogue of the Specimens in tbe Industnal and Technological Museum (Melbourne), Dlustrating the Rock System of Victoria. Mason, Firth and McCutcheon, Avell, Selwyn, A. R. ©. (1866). List of Craters and Volcanic Cones. Eahibition Essay, Victoria, page 34, Fletcher, Richard J. (1895), Notes on a Recent Visit to some Basalt Caves near Skipton, Vict, Net, 22: $3, Subscriptions Now Due Membership fees and subscriptions io the Neruralist for 1964-65 were due for renewal by May J. JE you will not be paying your fees at one of the lortheoming general. méetings- please remit them by post, Receipis will pat be sent for payments by cheque unless requested. This procedure will save office-bearers time, and expense, In sending out reminder notices. July, [964 19 . Bush Brushes The fax’s brush was the traditional traphy 0) the vase, The Field Neturalivt usaally vettns fram an excursion into the bush with a different sort of “Yale”, If you have one worth mounting and pre- serving send tt ta the Assistant Editor, “Victorian Naturalist’, 102 Murray Read, East Preston, N78, Victoria, The Babbler Problem Twe Further notes an Behhlers have come to hand. The first is from My. N, F. Learmonth, of Portland, 1 have a simular bird problem to thal of Mr. 4. H, Chisholm, and it too con- cerns Babblers. In 1911, when 1 réturied io Victoria wfter several years in Queens- land, it was quite usual Jo sec Gray- crowned Babblers in Open forest tans near the Luke Condah Mission Station In S.W. Victoria. Their bir bitky nests Were # featufe of ihe landscape. They suddenly disappeared and tn my younds of stock-ciding I missed theic challer and scrubejumping. The Bridge- water Lakes country was another area favoured by these birds, but here also they faded out about 1914, in 1940 I made mention of these Facts to Mr. Les Chandler, and we made a vearch round the Mission country with- oui suceess, During the trip we met an aboriginal youth and asked hum about the birds, Oh, yes, he knew all abour them; they were “somewhere round here” T promised him ten shillings if he found them. [ still have the money! Now here comes the sequel. About Sunset on 3rd March, 1963. my nephew Jim and his wife, both keen nature lovers, Were driving alone a back road near the old Mission Station and saw hopping alone the roadside in” low serub. de timber and bracken a flock of Babblers. The birds were within three mii¢s of where I had fast seen therm in 1912, They must have been visitors as such a prom: inent species could hartly have been averlooked in the locality during 5] years. 1 have made several visits us the locality since that March eyening but no sign of a Babbler, In schnol-boy days Babblers were a feature of the Queenscliff Road anit You- Yangs country. What do residents know about them today? 890 Mrs. E, G. Bedggood, of Ballarat, reports on the reduction in numbers of White-browed Babblers from ME. Beckworth, near Clunes. During the past sik years that we have been observing birds at Mt, Beckworth, we also have remarked on tho sharp - decline of the Whitebrowed Habblers there, and wondered what might be the cause. Ip L958 there was quite a [urge population there, but during the last nesting senson only three records of nest- ing Were glade in the whole area, and a lolal diy count would not exceed thirty bieds Nesting and population of other species seem to be adequately manlained. How- ever, 1963. saw a marked increase in breeding of Pointed Quail, Rutous Song- lurks, Speckled Warblers, Dinmond Spar- rows, and White-browed Wood-swallows, Budgerigarcs, Black-eared and Arush Cuckoos were also observed, Total bird count for, the area as cam- piled by “Mec. J, Wheeler, Geolong, Js {14 species, Mutton-bird Mortalities These observations and questions have been received from Mr. Ellis Tucker, of Brit Brit, via Coleraine. On a trip to Cape Erijlgewaler on - January 72, in an area on a tissocky cliff-facs about half a mile south of the Blowholes, we Were surprised to find niany dead MUtton-Birds (Short-tailed Shearwaters) freshly dead and scemingly in perfect ‘conditiwn. We counted well over one hundred birds in about two hundred yards, ranging from approxi- mately fifty ia two hundred feet above the sea, We covered the aren thoroughly, but could find no sign of nesting burrows. The birds had apparently been Killed by flying into the hillside. | understand that Vict, Not —Vol, 3] this ecury also uk Cape Grant, Portland, each year, Can anyone give any explana. lion of the apparent’ mass suicide? One banded bird was found and the band Was sent to the CS1R,O,, Can- berra, We Were mformed thal the tind had been banded as an adule at Ciriffiths Asland. Port Fairy. by Miss G. Bowker on January 10, 1963- lt Was anteresiing to note ihal, in the wind-swept sand af old aboriginal avid- dens on the ¢cliff-tap, there were many _ burnt and broken pones which If believe were from miutton-birds. Did the aber- igines know of this yearly visitation and profit by ile Lyrehird Local Disleets This observation cames to us from Mr. K. ©. Halafoff, who has carried oul a exiensive squdy of Lyrebird sonys add the variations Which occur in the songs of these birds from uif- Ferent localities. Recording Lyrcbird songs in the areas fesenly set aside us Scenic Reserves by the Foresis Commission, namely Cement Creek ak) Mount Victoria. ft noticed a définite difference in the “stanza" melody in those tWo areas, Playing back the recorded (apes confirmed the impression obtained on the spor Like many ‘other birds, the Lyrebirds have their local dialects, but an this case, the Fringes of these ureas were only one und a half miles apart, and rhere was Aho naturul obstacle between them io pitverl intermigranon. How it came about that such close neighbours speak we different languages is a pezzle which May remain unsolved, . Probably the. first Lyretird families to settle in each of (hese arcas came from regions where the dialects differed, and they did not need to venture outside their new tervilories. New generations in cach of these forests were ratsed and taught to sing by the parents. So the traditional melody has been preserved in ils original form in each tnbe, although toth popu. | batvons have increased in the areas ac- cupied until nearly to the paint of touching. Elbow Orchids The following notes about oe of - Olir most inconspicuous orchid species have been sent by Miss Jean Galbraith, of ‘Tvers: Juty, 1964 The remark by I. 8. Willis, in 4 fisud- book to the Plants of Vieroria, that the Elbow Orched, Spicwlaca fruntiena, 1s ~. in some seasons Jocally abondant, bun usually overlaoked” jn Victoria was emphasized by its abundance in Gipps- Vand last seasan, Mr. and Mrs, 3. Peterson, of the La- trabe Valley FN. Club, who nutad this threud-like species in abundance above Walhalla, later shuwed me patches oF i shove Moondarra Reservoir, near ¥al- Journ North, ind agin in 2 proposed wildflower sanctuary along the Walhalla Road In every case, i should have suissed the little plants, inconspiclious against the dry leaves of (he forest floor, had they not been paimled oul to me. Mr, Peterson alta found twa patches during a club exciirsion 16 Bennison Plains. ‘The Nlowering season ic fairly jong. A spcumen Was scnt to me from dhe Tambo Valley early in Nevertber last, and there were newly-opened flowers on the Ben- nison Plains on January 25, In the Jalter case, the altitude would deiay flowering. but those newr Yallourn were suill How- éring on January 2). Western District Birds The following hird-notes have been sent in hy Mr. H, R. Hobson frans Roseberry in the Victorian Mallec. During the Labour Day long week- end fast March. I traversed part of the Western District in search of jlems of natural history interest to help Wreak Ihe monotony of fanm life. y . Shortly after. leaving Roseberry, 45 Black-showldered Kite was seen. ‘This species was again encountered near Port Fairy and then in the Colac district. an indication that these birds gre wide- spread in the weslern part of the State In the arca ‘between Hall's Gop and Dunkeld. both Yellow-twiled Black Cock- atoos and Gang Ganges were noted. From Dunkeld to Port Fairy, Targe Rocks of Long-billed Corelbas were seen feeding on the roadside. . On the beach at Port Bairy, a few Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and many Little Stints were observed, Hooded Donerels, Black-fronted and Red-cupped Dotterels, several Pied and Sodly Oystercatchers, and a beach-washed Gannet were all seen dlong the eastern section of the beach. Early on the Sunday morning, a Brown Bittern was’ flushed from veeds Into the open at a drainage swamp near Airey's Inlet. ‘The Bittern was deymesitately chased by three Eastern Swamp-hens. left without retahating and came Fees in teeds along a nearby river. Little Grébes and two Dusky Moorhens were also noted in the swamp and along the beach three beach-washed Fairy Pen- guins were found. As a fitting climax to an inieresting week-end, two Brolgas Were seen in u paddock gnite close to the wad just north of Derrinallum. NOTICE Nallarbor Plain Safari {December 27, 1964—January 12, 1965) - Mr. Bill Kennewell plans to conduct 4 safari fowr to the Nullarbor to explore several of the caves. The tour wil) leave from Melbourne and travel via Adelaide, Port Augusta, Ceduna to Nullarbor home- stead and the Ivy -cayes, on Lo Koonulda cave, thence to Abracurrie and Weebubbic caves. Camping geat and eating utensils are required, but meals are supplied. Fare is £49 and bookings, accampanied by £10 deposit, should be made with Mrs, R_ A. Sinclair, 22 Haldane Street, Beuu-* maris, Vie. Who will also supply full details of the tour, N. H. SEWARD PTY. LTD, 487 Bourks Street, Melbourne Phone; 67 6129 Specialists in Naturalists’ Requisites Pins, Forceps, Butterfly Nets, etc., Microscopes (Beginners’ to Research Models) , Binoculars, Telescopes, Survey Insfruments,. etc. BOOKS On Natural History, Australia, Art, Generol New and Seeondhand: Lists Free. State Requisites. CAMERAS ano SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER EXAKTA, PENTAX, PRAKTICA CONTAREX, BESSAMATIC . . . All the famous brands Telephoto, Wide Angle Lenses Close-up Equipment HERBERT SMALL’S 259 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE (Opposite Hotel Australia) HERBERT SMALL'S — AT YOUR SERVICE FOR OVER 100 YEARS RB? Viet, Not—Yal, 81 The Naturalist and the Microscope Light is Important How muny persons, as they place a 10% eyepiece in the microscope cube afier using a 5><' eyepiece, ever give thought to the Inverse Square Law of Illumination, even if they have heard of at in Basic Physics during school days? . The law may be explained in sitnpte terms by considering a source of light Uhat Hluminates an area of one. square foot al one foot distance. If pro jected tu a distance of two feet, the same light covers an area twice as long and twice as wide, Thus, as the amount of light ts the same, the intens- ity is spread over four square feet in- stead. of one square foot. So, when you double the magnification of an object, you increase the area seen by four times, and if the intensity of the lighting remains the same, the illumi- nation is one-quarter the previous in- tensity... ; This is why an object, when looked at with a higher power, very often ~ appears much duller than with the lower magnification. ‘This ts nol noticed so much when using bright field lighting, because there is usually more light than fs needed for the lower powers and the condenser on the substage ‘can be opened up to give more than enough light, but it is another story with top lighting. If the lighting is just suffici- ent to give adequate llumination with the lower magnification, any attempt ‘to raise the magnification with either objective or eyepiece wil] result in an image poorer in appearance in com- parison with the lower power image. duly, '964 : By W. C, Woolard The remedy is to increase the amount of light and this may be carricd out in any one of three ways. The first ts to increase the intensity of the light source, using higher volt- age if one has a low voltage lamp, or using twa lamps instead of one. The second method is to move the lamp nearer to the object, remember- ing the law: reduce the distance to half and you increase the intensity four times. ‘The third way is to use a Jens to focus light on to the object. But the smaller our fight source us focused, the greater the intensity. The Field Naturalists Club now has designs for two accessories for use with the F.N.OAW. Microscope. One } | ie | | 1 Rlanplarstert bo ott Lamp lens Bef | ! Elatensifier Lews i GK: wge , at uw pagpo | = | ly | fp et tA = Fin 83 is a small attachmert, as shown in the line drawing Fig. 1, for intensify: ing the light when viewing objects with top lighting using, a LO object- ive lens. This attachment has a small bulls-eye léns which increases the light considerably and allows:a clear view of objects at the increased magnifica- lison, A limited number of these attachments are available from the Cheb at 10/+ each, As the device at- laches by a spring clip to the light- tube, no alteration to the standard set-up is required, The second item, shown in Fig. 2, is a small stand to support the stand- ard Lamp Tube and Intensitying Lens shown in Fig. 1, thus giving greater flexibility in arranging top lighting of objects to be viewed on the stage of the F.NC.V. Microscope. The stand consists of a vertical pillar, +4 in- diameter and 34 ins, high, fixed to 4 solid ‘hase, Zins, square by 4 in, thick, with a sliding clip made from two +in. toa) clips joined back to back by a small yrin, metal-thread screw and nut. This sliding clip serves as 2 universal joint for carrying the standard lamp with of without the in- A Rewsesce Fide & Lens &, Loony tdi aon, fom pass ky 4 = Leggo Loves BaP : ba | OP iaten site hens io Stage oe: tensifier. Should you be Unable to make this stand yourself, a limited number will be available from the Club for 17/6. When the stand is set up with lamp intensifier a very bright spot of light is obtained for iNuminating microscopical specimens. Both the Intensifier and Lamp Stand are available by contacting Mr. W. C. Woollard, 24 Smythe Avenue, Mont Albert. F.N.C.V. Publications Available for Purchase FERNS OF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA, by N. A. Wakefield. The 116 species known and described and illustrated by line drawings, and there are 30 photographs, Price 7/6. VICTORIAN TOADSTOOLS AND MUSHROOMS, by J. H, Willis. This desctibes 120 Ipadsioal species and many other fungi. There are four coloured plates and 3% other illustrations, New edition. Price 9/~ ; THE ViCTORIAN NATURALIST. Except for about half the numbers of the first nine volumes: (1884 to 1893), almost all back numbers of the journal! are obtainable trom the club, Assoried lots are available, dealing with particular subjects (mammals, birds, orchids, geology and anthropology). PAMPHLETS, Lyrcbirds of Sherbrooke and Sherbrooke Diary, both by K. ©, Halafoff (i/- each). The Land Flora ef Victoria (from 1962 Wicrorian Year Buok) (2/-). The Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, by N. A. Wakefield (2/-), Address orders and inguiries to Sales Officer, F.N.C.V., National Herbarium, South Yarrs, S.E.1, Victoria. Payments should include postage. 84 Vict. Nat—-Vol. 81 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Annual Meeting, June &, 1964 About one hundred members were eeesents with Mr. MK, Roughtonin the chair Mr. E. H, Coghill presented the Secre- tary’s teport for the year, as printed in the Func Marvretist, bur dieected that the first part of the section on “Accamma: dation” be deleted, as the main hall of ihe Herbarium: would stij] be available. The financial statement as printed in the Naturalist was presented by ‘Mr. A. G. Hooke. He stressed the contribution, largely duc to Mr. Wakefield's efforts, nade by supporting members Subserig- Lions increased by £88, while sales of the Reateraist and back numbers were down The continued support of the: Ingram Trust sn improving the qualily of the Natureliss was acknowledued, and a much appreciated legacy of £2,600 from the estaic of Miss Marion Wright of Western Australia wis reported, the following uthcers were elected: President—Mr. M. K. Houghton, Vice-Presidents—Messrs, A. Fairhall and FE, Byrne. Treavurer—Mr. A. G. Hooke. ; Assistant Treasurer—Miss M, Butchart, Edite;—My. J. R, Hudson, Assistant Editer—Mr RK. H, J, Me Queen. Lihrariaun—Mr. P. Kelly. Assestant Librarian—Miss M_ Lester. ig Seerroiry—Miss M, Allen- ee, Couneii—Messrs. E R. Allen, R. Candon, J. Ras Garnet, F. L. Jetfs, TY. Saul Mr. W. P. J. Evans consented to act ns Honorary Anditor for the coming year. Mr. E, Hanks moved w vate of thanks to the renring Council The Secretary announced that the L6J Natural History Medallion had been awartied to Mrs. Thistic Stead (Harris), who hud agcemed an inviiation fo atead the November General Meeting lo receive the award, A volunteer was requested lo go to seven bookstalls each month to pick up the previous month’s-unsald capies of the Neturdiis? and deliver the new ones, duly, 1964 The President's sudress stressed the need for Nature Conservation, and ex- pressed apprehension concerning the fut- ure of Australian flora and fauna. In nrawy drsteicts of Victoria imercased planting of exonc pines was sweeping the natural plants aside, A special area af concern was Fishermen's Bend and the mauth af the river, a goad urea for shore birds and waders, Musk Duck, Pelicans and Crested Grebves, with Stilts and Avocets sf Appicton Dock. Two years app Young Sults were reared near the Princess of Tasmania Terminal and Pelicans could be seen drilling in unison. Bykes have betn formed criss-ccassing this country and soon the birds will have le eo elsewhere. Basic factors. must. be considered for ronservalion. Increasing -pressdre on the commaunity’s Jeuders will make for dif- feulty in peeserving such areas. |W Was 4 matter of concern Ww members that, graw- ing up in @ large city, there were toat- bers of young people who wold nevey know the beuuties or characteristics of Australian components of the country- side. Their senses. Were tuned only to loud sounds, quick movement and bright colours so that they were mol able to appreciate the quietly changing aspects of the countryside. The bush was as alien as lo the ¢arly settlers. It should concern > us that muny young people would never know the real pleasure, that we had, in birds’ calls and Manna Gums by’ moun- lain streams. Afier exvhly years of cxist- ence this Club could only show one Junior Club in a city of neatly two nil- lions. The Hawthorn Junior Club could be a blueprimt for many more sitar clubs throughout Melbourne, Miss J. Waollard saict thac parents often asked where ther children cold go. Mr. D. McInnes sand if mecded only two of dhrec enthusiasts in an area to sturt a new group, Mr. 2, Bames suz- gested (hal cirgulars about ite Club Microscope sent lo schools might slart a new croup. Miss M. Allender advised stlecting some localities widely spart and muking a start in such centres Mr, E, Francis pomted out that chil- dren showed interest in rocks, and Mrs, Salau supported this view, saying: that farents at the Natuie Shows often en- 85 quited where they could learn about them. Mr. A. Pairhall said that Teachers’ Colleges had god deachets, instancing Mr. Hyett and the Nature Club al Bur- workl, Mr. E. Byrne spoke of the lack of trme in the Watore Stody course at the Colléses. Misa J. Waolland sald that white Young chiklren were intercsted, especially in birds, marriculahon work interfered with the interest, She said that Somers Camp wth Mr A, Reid's work and paper was a bright spot in Hit outlook, Mr. J) Quirk wartied of 4 threat to txterminite seals aff southern Victoria in Uhe Interests of the Fishing industry. Ife moved 7 resolution that the FNCV nated with aluri rhe threal to seals arid requested the Eovernihent to take steps mat lo haem them, This Was supported Mr, J, Ros Garnet Me Stawell warned that the aithi was extéfminatiint and not just the destruction of a few sealsy. Mr, Garnet adytsed influencing members of parliament io help ro shape events. Mr. J. Baines deplored the tibbling at purks hy removing trees from the Fileroy Gardens, and said that Coun- cil should register a protest, Exhibits (n¢luded! rocks from HKeath- cee anil Beechworth (Mr. ©. Francis); Deesera binata Tron) Mt. Clyde (Mes. Sulfiectarid); a curiqus fichen from Bris- hone Ranges (Mr Jo R. Garnet). double Griattenei vermicotus (Mrs. & Ben- nett)! Wood sections from Forest Pro- duets (Mr. RB. Mcinnes and Mr. W, Wool- lard), longicorm beetles, genus Heselesis, wilh very short elytra. long hindwings and handed abdomen resembling flowei wasps, sion on microscopy in Austealia, and both have bequeathed to the Club a consid- erable amount of eqtupment, slides, yhemicals, and literature which, of course, bas been vary doceplable, On the credil side wis the gsin of a number of new meinbers. masily heginers, but also rhe ; duly: 1564 discovtry that we have in Victoria a most avtstanding mecrescopist and my- cologist of wortd-standing in the person of Mr. H. A. Dade of Benalla. ; Lectures were given by three outside speakers on the clfimate structure of the living cell as elucidaled by the electron microscope, on the laboratory techniquy of yeast extraction and on penicillin pro- duction. Five members of the group gaye falke full ef interest on diatom and opaque slide making, on desmius, butan- boul aectioh-cuttine am)- staining Two “Members Nights" were held, and two nights were devoted to the projection through a member's micro-projector of botames! and rock sections. The latter was of particular interest as polarised Jight was used and showed great pos- sibifities. En addition a film night attracted gonie forty ysiturs and mentbers. Altendances. at all of the above events wert consistenuly good. Because of she influx of members new 10 microscopy the grealest interest Was in talks devoted lo Practical microscopy, Faunn Survey This yeur the Fauna Group has ex: perienced @ continuation of the kind ca- operation of the Fisherles and Wildlife Department and monthly meetings are held under the auspices of this depari- ment. Active field work Involving the collec fign and examination of mammal bone remains has taken place, Much work has been done in the western parts of the Stale (his year, and a great deal of assist- ance and ca-opecation has been received from interested members of several coun- iry clubs. Some of the results of these Investigations have been already pub- - lished. in the Narueatisr and other papers are being prepared. Throughout the vear spotlighting ex- tursions have been made by small pares of group members, und the result af these have beeo maosi rewarding. Several new faces have uppesred at the group meetings, and membership con- tinwes to grow satisfactorily, Someé of the expenses incurred by the Fauna Suivey Group In field work and jhe purchase of equipment have again been met hy a generous grant from the M.A. Ingram Trust, F.N.C.V. Library—Missing Books Section: Vertebrate Zoology Cexcluding. fishes) Study Group Librarian: Mr D, Woodruit Book No. Author and title 1 ~ D2/12 Fitzsimmons: Snakes. | : D2/26 Kinghorn: Snakes of Australia {copy 1). D2/23 Waite: Reptiles and amphibians of South Australju. Ci/2 and Ct/3 Gould: Birds of Australia, vols, 1 and 2. Cis ~ Halk Key to the birds of Australia (rev. ed), C25 Gosse: Birds of Samuica. (2/12 Littlejohn and Lawrence: Birds of our bush. C213 Belcher: Birds of the district of Geclone. C3/) Coward: Migration of birds. c3/4 : Atkinson: British birds eggs Harrap: Wild animals of Australia, Brazenor: Mammals of Yociotia. This is merely a selection of books. missing from the section. Members holding any books or periodicals from the library are urged to return them as soon as possible, both oul of consideration for fellow-members, and to avoid the necessity of further action taken for recovery or replacement. Any information as.to the - whereabouts of missing books or. periodicals would he welcomed by ihe club librarian or, by the appropriate Group librarian. CALLING ALL Nature Photographers! Select your equipment fram WAGNER’S comprehensive stocks of Exakta, Leica, Pentax, Praktica, ete. also telephoto lenses, close up attachments, electronic ee ne) eee flash and accessories. { nee tek R. H. WAGNER & Sens Pty. Ltd. 43 Elizabeth Street (corner Flinders Lane} Telephone 62 3114 Also Chadstone Shopping Centre” so Viet Nat—Vol. 81 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 81 (4) August, 1964 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 Lariélan aberg. prindesg rock The Wild Flower and Nature Show, 1964 On Monday, August 31, and on Tuesday and Wednesday, September | and 2, the Lower Melbourne Town Hall will be the site for the annual Wild Flower and Nature Show, staged by the members of the Society for Growing, Australian Plants and by the F.N.C.V. The wild flowers, from all Australian States, are garden grown, There will be a comprehensive display from the Maranoa Gardens, Balwyn. The main display by the F.N.C.V. will be a realistic beach scene, feat- uring typical birds and flora of the foreshore, and fauna of the tidal zone. The birds in this scene are a special feature, and are the subject dealt with in the printed leaflets, which emphasize the need for their protection and pre- servation. The Botany Group will stage an exhibit depicting Australian conifers. For purposes of comparison reference will be made to some exotic species. The exhibit prepared by the Geology Group will explain and demonstrate the more important elements which constitute our earth. The Hawthorn Junior Branch of the F.N.C.V. will demonstrate methods used in making rock slides for view- ing under the F.N.C.V. microscope. LETTER TO Sir, In the article “Bird Life at the M.M.B.W. Farm, Vict. Nat. 1, 81, May 1964, it is stated that nesting boxes have been erected in the lagoons by bird watchers, who also band the young ducks. In case this should cause con- fusion. it should be understood that banding ducks in Victoria can only be carried out by the Fisheries and Wildlife Department. Birds other than ducks may 94 As a special feature, a number of these will be used for showing live specimens of marine and pond life, insects, and. various other slides. Mrs. Freame will exhibit her extensive col- lection of preserved marine specimens. The Entomology and Marine Biol- ogy Group will have a display of live marine life, shells, and a novel entomo- logical exhibit. The ever popular live spiders, snakes, and lizards will again be on view. The State Film Centre has made available an excellent selection of Nature Films, which will be shown free at frequent intervals. Members are asked to make this function known as widely as possible, and to assist with the setting up, and especially with the supervising of the show. At the August General Meeting of the Club, forms will be distributed on which members will be asked to in- dicate at what times they will be available to help. A great deal of assistance is needed, and those free to offer this would find it both interesting and rewarding. It will be noted that, this year, the Show will be held in the school holi- days. THE EDITOR of course be banded by licenced amateurs under permits from this Department and the C,S.I.R.O. Officers of this Department were also responsible for erecting the nesting boxes at the farm. Yours faithfully, A. DUNBAVIN BUTCHER Director of Fisheries and Wildlife 29 June, 1964 Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 Vol. 81, No. 4 The Victorian Naturalist Editar: J. R. Hupson, B.Sc., M.R.C_Y.S. Assistant Editor: R. H. J. McQueen, B.Sc., Dip.Ed. CONTENTS Articles: Native Pines, by Steve Marshall Some Notes on Babblers and Choughs, by Roy Wheeler The Grinding Rack at Earlston, hy Alda Massola Eucalyptus ageregaia in Victoria, by Patricia M. Carolan Features: Bush Brushes: Swimming of Bats, Eucalypius rubida and E. datrympleana, Superb Greenhoods, Aboriginal Quarries, A Harvest for Insects The Naturalist and the Microscope: How to Look at a Rock Section, by D. E. Mcinnes Victorian Orchids: No. |: Banded Greenhood, Pterostylis vittara, by 7. N. and W. H. King Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: The Wild Flower and Nature Show, 1964 - - July General Meeting, Group Meetings Affiliated Clubs 5 Diary of Coming Events .. Miscellaneous: Letter to the Editor Front Cover. August 6, 1964 96 106 109 117 104 113 116 94. 119 121 123 94 This is one of David Fleay’s photographs of a Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) eating lermites. It appeared originally in the May 1942 number of the Vict, Nat. (59: 4), August, 1964 95 Native Pines Pines belong to the flower and seed- bearing division of the plant kingdom known us Spermatophyta. This divi- sion has the further subdivisions, Gyntnospermae and Anviospermae, which latter is sometimes called the subdivision of true flowering plants. Gymnosperms are the naked-seeded plants, and are distinguished from Angiosperms by having flawers con- sisting of stamens and ovules without an ovary, without a style, and without floral design—that is, simple abd essen- lial flowers only. Since pines have these characteristics they ate gymoo- sperms or members of Gyninaspermae- Gymnosperms are further divided into 2 number of orders, only one of which concerns us. here, Coniferales, or conifers, This order is made up of seven families, three of whith, Cephalotaxaceae, Taxaceue, and Pine- ceae, do ot occur naturally in Ans- tralia and four of which, Cupressaceae, Araucariaceses, Porlocerpaceae, and Taxediacene, do. Tt would be wise to point out at this juncture, that othor systems of classification exist, duc to the adoption of diftereat criteria and varying emphasis on characteristics hy individual botanists. This is very con- fusing to the seeker of information but, it should be realized. has little practical effect on ihe recognition of species, there being generally a greater degree of accord at this level, The family Cupressaceae is repre- seoted in Australia hy the genera Callitris, Diselma and Actinostrobus. Thev all have very small sculetike leaves closely borne along the branch- lets, and carry many secds to the cone, the cones being valved and glibular in shape. 96 By Steve MagsHaLl Cailttris columeftaris—White Cypress Pine is often known os Murray Pine, occurring as it does in the Murray Valley as well as in drier areas of five mainland states, including rain-shadow areas Io East Gippsland and to the north and west of Mclbournc, Owing to the economic development of taod it is now much more restricted in distribution than it used to be. As in other members of the genus, C. columellaris has six valves to the fruiting cone, three long and three short, In this species, however, the comes are never warted and only finely wrinkled, and about 7 tn diameter. The leaves are whorled, averaging seventeen to the inch along branchlets, and their outer surface is rounded. Sometimes juvenile leaves are prevent, erect and prickly, and this churac- teristic also occurs in other species of the genus. This species is tree-Jike in form, occasionally reaching sixty feet. Callitris preissii—Slender Cypress Pine ranges through the Wimmera anil Mallee in Victoria, and occurs in three other mainland states, nol extending as fur as Queensland io the oorth, This species could be confused with C, columellaris, as it is similar in form, tn leaf-shape and arrangement. However, cones usually bear jJarge scaijlercdl warts, and the tree forms an alliance with a shenak, Casuarina cristata, on sand-ridges, Moreover, the cones are larger, the scales thicker, and the cones are borne on the tree long afler matunty- Calliivis, verrwcosa—Serub) Cypress Pine ranges from the Victorian Malice to all niainland states, and is stmelar in feaf detail to C. cafimeileris and Vict. Nat. —Vol, 8 FIGURE 1—Callitris columellaris. FIGURE 2—Callitris pressii. Ficure 8—Callitris verrucosa. C. preissii, but the cones are densely warted and the habit never exceeds a stunted tree. It is usually shrubby, spreading and branching. growing amid definite mallee types of vege- tation. Callitris rhomboidea—Oyster Bay Pine is chiefly near-coastal in distri- August, 1964 FIGURE 4—Callitria rhomboidea bution, occurring in all states except Western Australia. In Victoria it grows as far inland as the Little and Big Deserts, the Grampians and Mt. Arapiles. Whorls of leaves are more spaced than in the above species, about ten per inch, and the outer surface of the leaf is keeled. Cone-scales are 97 broadest towards the tip. and the cones are wrinkled, each scale bear- ing a very prominent backward-bent wedge-shaped structure in its Upper part. In form this pine is either a pyramidal shrub or a small tree. Callitris endlicheri—Black Cypress Pine is distributed from south-east Queensland through the tablelands of New South Wales to the Upper Snowy and the north-east of Victoria. Leaves are spaced and keeled as in C. rhom- boidea, but in the cones the scales are narrowed upwards, and each has a small prominence towards its tip. The cones are generally smallish and more oval than in most species, and the tree is small to medium in size. often about thirty feet in height. Callitris macleayana—Port Mac- quarie Pine grows in the north-coastal region of New South Wales to Queens- Jand. It is unusual in the genus by reason of its occurrence in subtropical rain-forest and its distinctive cones: unlike those of other species the scales are of equal length, forming six flat- tened sides tapering to a pointed apex. The tree can be very tall, up to 150 feet, but is usually smaller. Callitris muelleri—Ilawarra Pine is very restricted in distribution, being confined to the Sydney-Wollongong district. The leaves are rather longer than in most species, and the cones have a flattened top, due to the three larger scales being oblong and blunt, whilst the intermediate smaller ones are pointed and long-triangular. The tree is stiff and erect in form and occasionally up to fifty feet tall. Callitris oblonga grows only in Tasmania, and is there known as Native Cypress. The leaves are simi- lar to those of C. rhomboidea which also grows in the State, but the cones are rather longer than round. the tips 98 of the scales being narrowed and blunt with a small prominence, It ranges from about 6 feet to 10 feet in height, and is symmetrical in form. Callitris drummondii—Drummond’s Cypress Pine has a largely coastal dis- tribution in South and Western Aus- tralia, and is a shrub or small tree. The cones are small, rounded and smooth, occasional forms having a spur on the scale, but this is never prominent. Callitris morrisonii—Morrison’s Cy- press Pine inhabits rocky places in the south-west of Western Australia, and is similar in form and in fruiting cone to C. drummondii. However, there is a greater relative difference in size between the smaller and the larger scales, and the leaves are more grey-blue in colour. Callitris roei—Roe's Cypress Pine grows in Western Australia. but is rare. Twelve to fifteen feet high, its cones are quite distinctive, the scales meeting at the top of the cone along three lines which radiate from the centre at angles of 120 degrees. Each scale also has a distinct prominence on its surface. Diselma archeri grows only in Tas- mania, and is there distributed from the central plateau to the west and south-west in wet places more or less at 4,090 feet clevation. Shrubby and about six feet high, it is occasionally rather larger. It has very small leaves close to the stem, close together and keeled on the outer surface. The cones are borne on the ends of branchlets, and are usually less than 3” diameter. Actinostrobus — pyramidalis—Swan River Cypress Pine is near-coastal in distribution in the south-west of Western Australia. The leaves are small, scale-like and close to the stems, but it makes a dense-foliaged, upright bush about ten feet in height. The Vict. Nat.—Vol. 8] Figure 7—Cones of C, rhomhoidea. cones are distinguished from those of Callitris species by having scales of equal length which in turn are sur- rounded by outer scales and bracts which are shorter. In this species. the cones are rounded, about 3” diameter. Actinostrobus psammophila—Sand- plain Cypress occurs in Western Aus- tralia, also. It has more greyish foli- August, 1964 FictreE 8—Cones of Actinostrobus pyramidalis. age than A. pvramidalis and the cones are more conical than rounded. Actinostrobus acuminatus iS a pros- trate shrub from Western Australia, having smaller leaves than A. pyramtid- alis, and the cones taper to a neck near their top and then shortly spread. The family Araucariaceae is repre- sented in Australia by the genera 99 Agathis and Araucaria. All species are tropical or subtropical in distribution, being denizens of the rain-forest. Agvathis robuyta—Kauri Pine is dis- tributed through near-coastal ranges in Queensland, and is scarce. The leaves average four inches long by one or two inches broad, and are parallel-veined, thick and leathery. The seedlings, however, have different foliage; at this stage the leaves are stalkless and average one inch long by 4” wide. The cones are reminiscent of those of cedars, 3 to 5’ long and up to 4” in diameter, the scales are numerous and closely overlap, and being thickened at their ends project from the overall body of the cone in regular but rugged shape. The species is a very stout tree 50 to 150 feet in height, having a very robust trunk branchless for the major- ity of its height, giving a long column and canopy appearance. Agathis palmerstoni also grows only in Queensland with a more northerly distribution than A. robusta, the area moreover not being at all extensive. The leaves are similar to those of A. robusta but are smaller and nar- rower. The cones are also smaller and more oval. The shape of the tree follows the pattern set by Kauri Pine and, sometimes, this species is slightly larger. There is another northern species. Agathis mticrostachya, which is pre- sumably similar to the previous two, but details are difficult to discover in the literature. Araucaria bidwillii—Bunya Pine is another native of the Queensland rain- forest, being restricted to a fairly smali area in the south-east of the State. It is readily recognizable by its symmetry and dome-shaped crown. reaching up to 100 feet and more. 100 Leaves are in two forms, some being straight, narrow and 4” to #” long, others being lanceolate and about 14” long by 4” to 4” wide. Both forms are prickly and spirally arranged, although twisting of the leaf-bases in the larger flattened form makes them appear in regular alternate arrangement. The fruiting cones of this species are enor- mous, and superficially like pineapples in form. They are often up to one foot in length, and seven or eight inches in diameter, and commonly develop at the extreme top of the tree. Araucaria cunninghamii—Hoop Pine has a greater range than Bunya Pine, growing in similar habitats in New South Wales as well as in Queensland. Its distribution, however, could not be said to be extensive. Apart from its finer foliage, the tree achieves a lesser degree of symmetry than A. bidwillit, and the branches appear to bear foli- age in bunched or knotted growth. Again, the leaves are in two forms, the one being lance-shaped or trian- gular, up to 3?” long and sharp-pointed, the other shorter, crowded, over- lapping and short-pointed. The cones are ovoid, about 3” long and 2” to 3” in diameter. Regular indentations Tunning laterally in the bark produce the hoop effect which gives the tree its name, but it should be noted that this characteristic has more emphasis in the Bunya Pine, at least in garden- grown specimens. The family Podocarpaceae is repre- sented in Australia by the genera Phyllocladus, Dacrydium, Micro- cachrys, Pherosphaera and Podocar- pus. The distinguishing feature of the family is the absence of cones as ordinarily understood, the seed being solitary and borne either on scale- like bracts or on a fleshy coloured outgrowth from the seed stalk. Phyllocladus aspleniifolius—Celery- top Pine is restricted to Tasmania in Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 bidwillit. Ficgtr= 11—Foliage of A. wet forest from sea level to 2,500 feet. Its occurrence is mainly in the western half of the island. The leaves are straight, narrow and taper-pointed, but are only obvious in the seedling stage, being reduced to scales in the adult form when the leaf function 1s taken over by cladodes which spring from the axils of the August, 1964 FIGURE 12—Foliage of A. cunninghamii. scales. These cladodes are flattened, broad branchlets, rhomboidal in shape (almost diamond-shaped), but usually deeply cut. The seeding structures are borne directly on the cladodes and consist of a bract scale, a fleshy out- growth called an aril, and the seed surmounting but eventually surrounded by the aril. 101 FIGURE 13—Foliage of Agathia robusta. The trees range about 60 feet in height, some specimens having both male and female flowers, some having all male or all female flowers. Dacrydium franklinii—Huon Pine also is endemic to Tasmania, ranging through only the south-western por- tion of the territory of Celery-top Pine. This species grows about 70 feet high, and has two forms of leaf, the juvenile being straight, narrow and sharp-pointed, the adult about 49 inch long, sharply keeled on the outer surface, pressed close to each other and to the stem. Male and female flowers are on separate trees, and the fruiting body is borne on the ends of the pendant branchlets. This body consists of a number of bract scales separated by internodes, and within these scales sit the ovuliferous scales and the seed. Although the bract scales and inter- nodes are somewhat fleshy when ripe, the whole structure approaches a cone in form, if minute. The discovery of fossil pollen of this or a closely related species in land masses through a wide are of the Southern Ocean may be indicative of a wider distribution of Huon Pine in the early Tertiary. Microcachrys tetragona, the only species of the genus. is also restricted to Tasmania, Its range is from the 102 Ficure 14—Foliage of Podocarpus elata. centra! plateau to the west and south- west, and it has a preference for ex- posed sites in wet sub-alpine areas, where it is a prostrate shrub with very small, closely-pressed, keeled leaves. The seeding arrangement resembles that of the Huon Pine, but there is a greater aggregation of fertile scales as well as an increase in size, and this makes the approach to the cone form more obvious, despite the persistent fleshiness of the bract scales. Pherosphaera hookeriana has a similar distribution to Microcachrys, and the foliage is not unlike that of the latter, although it is not as regu- larly arranged. It is, however, a densely branched shrub and about three to eight feet high. Ovules develop on the upper sur- face of the bract scales, which are brown and aggregated, but few are fertile and the fruiting structure does not grow as large as in Microcachrys. Pherosphaera fitzgeraldi is restricted to damp situations in the Blue Moun- tains, New South Wales, and is a low, much-branched shrub with looser habit than P. hookeriana. The leaves are about 4o inch long, keeled, with their inner surface white. Podocarpus elata—Plum Pine in- habits rain-forest in near-coastal gullies in New South Wales and south Queensland. With favourable condi- Vict. Nat.—Vol, 8] liens if can attain LOO feet, bor is usually smaller. The leaves are usually about 3” long by 4” or more wide, lance-shaped with only a short stalk, The-fruiting body consists Of a swollen axis of the fertile shoot, surmounted by another berry- like body which enyelops the seed. Podocarpus sfrinuloses is called Native Plum in New South Wales. It is a shrub, densely branched, with anstalked Ieaves about one inch or more long. The seed is -borne on a deep purple receptacle. Pedocarpus- drovyniane jis called Native Plum in Western Avstralia. Tr has flat linear leaves, two to three inches long by Yo inch wide, sharp- pointed, sialkless, and the edges are strongly recurved. The fnmiiting body is black and Neshy with pale-green seed. Padocarpus — lawrencei—Mountain Plum Pine grows in three states, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, racely below 4,000 feet. Tt is usually a Jow shrub, sprawling over rocks. but in sheltered forest can be a (ree up ia about 20 feet. The leaves ure stalkless, tough and blunt-linear, about 4” by Yo’. The seed develops within a greenish-hlack covering, which is supported by a red and fieshy development ot the bracts around the stalk. Podecarpus-emarus Black Pine ac- curs in Queensland and has leaves averaging 34” long by 2% wide which laper lo a Sbarp point. Padocarpus parvifalivs ts a shrub or small tree with short, narrow, leath- ery, sharp-pointed lcayes. The family Tovedtacere is repre sented in Australia by one genus, Arhrotaxis, the three species of which are endemic to Tasmania. Alhrotasiy selayinoidés— King Billy Pinc grows from tre central plateau August, 1964 to the west and south-west ia cool rain forest, alluining a height of 80 or 90 feet. The Ieaves are $ 10 4" long with a slight keel, are more or less pointed and lap over each other in an open loose fashion, The cones are rounded, about 4 in diameter, and are made up of many broad, thick scales. Ashrotaxis cupressoides—Pencil Pine grows in the Same: regions as King Billy Pine, but is a shorter tree with the Ieaves Shorter, mure Closely pressed #od more strongly keeled. The cones are also smaller. Athroraxis laxifelia is rare and Zrows as isolated trees in company with the other cwo species. Being Intermediate in form it has been thought by some to be 4 hybrid, The author ts indebted to severil members of the Botany Group for advice, suggestions and corrections, and hereby expresses his sincere appte- ciation, REFERENCES Abercrombie, Hickman & Johnson, A Dictionary of Biology. Debenham, C. N. The Langnage of Har any. 3.G-A.P. publication. Willis, J. Ef. (1962). A Hendhaak rm Plants in Vieforia, The Audas, J, N, (1950), Bushland. Lord, E. E. (1960), Shrubs and Trees for Ausiralian Gardens. Black, I, M, (1948), Flava of Sayuri Australia. Vol. 1, 2nd editian. Blackall, Ww. (1984). How ta Western Australian Wildflowers. Curtis, W. M, (1956). The Srudenr's Flora, of Tasmania. Dallimore, W., and Jackson, A.B. (1991). AW Handbook of Coniferae, 2nd Edi- tion, Baker, R. T., and Smith, H. G. {1910)- Pines of Austrafia, Foresiry and Timber Bureus (19621- Forest Trees af Austretia, Willis, 3. H. (1962). Land Flora of Vic- tona in Commenweslth Bureau of Census and Stalistics, Vict, Yenr Book, 76: 1- Anstralian Kora 103 Bush Brushes The fox's brush was the waditional trophy of the chase. The Field Neturalist usually rerarns from an excursion inte the bush with a different sort ef “tale”. Tf you have one worth mourting and pre- serving send it to the Assistant Editor, "Wieterian Nateralist’, 102 Murray Road, East Preston, N18, Victoria. Swintming of Bats The paper an bats by McKean and Hall in the Wier. Nar. 81 (2): 36 has prompted Elery Harnilton-Smith of Monimorency. to send the following nutes. for these columns. While hand-netting Minfopferus selrel- bers for banding purposes during the evening emergence from the cifux of Duke's Cave, Buchan, on 24th Novem- ber, 1962, one specimen was knocked into the water, It Jay on the surface briefly with wings and tail membrins fully extended, then swans smoothly and rapidly for a distance of some eightcer inches, using what can best be described as a bat version of the butterfly strake- At the snd of this distance it took flight from the waler surface, apparently without difficulty. ‘This greater ability than that reported in Nyctoplilus geoff royi can be readily compared with the oweh stronger and faster Hiaht of this species in normal circumstances. It js perhaps algo worth noting that swimming has been reported previously m a number of species by Ryberg in Boss and Bot Parasites (1947), and by Borel in 4 paper in the Journal of Mam- malogy (1937). The latter showed also that certain spears were capable of swimming but nat of taking flight from water, while others could take Aight. On the other Hund, Ripley, also in the Jour- val of Mammalogy (1960) has reported the inability of flying foxes to swim, des- cribing how they Moated on the sea until carried ashore by a rising tide. Eucalyptus robida and FE. dalrympleana The following note on the field identification of these two similar specics has been sent in by Miss Jean Galbraith of Tyers. 104 Probably most of us who are inner esled in eucalypts have at one time or another Jooked fer a ficld distinction between Eucolyprus ratida and £, deat- rympleana. ‘The Latter is wormally a tall forest trec in cool or high rainfall areas, whilst the former ix relatively less tall and grows in sunnier places, but there is no clear- cut. distincuon in this respect. EB. rubida has leaves with straight margins and &, dalrvmpleara bas wavy exged Jeaves, butt do not know whether this character is invariable. The juvenile foliage of E. dafrympleara is very glaucous, while that of E, rebide is dull but not elancoys-— bur one cannoc always see puyemile leaves. T was very pleuseit therefore when a fellow member, Mr. K. C. Rogers of Block Mountain, pointed out the decided difference in overall foliage colour of the mature trees, T have not teied this means out except at Wuleulmerang, bul here the tops of &. ribida are dull green and those of £. dalrympleana are a brtebt yellow- ish green. Superb Greenhoods These observations on one of Vie- toma's Most uncommon orchids come from Mrs. Ellen Lyndon of Feon- gathi. On the coastal plain, neat the cond that Jeads from Koangwak across to Out trim and about two mites from the lormer village. we found Superb Greenhonils (Prerastylis prandificra} growing irecly in company with Nodding Greenhoods (Pi. nutans) and Aaituma Birds (Chilo- Slonim seflexa). They occurred amongst bracken jm rather open second growth Messmnte-peppermint scrub. The tallest plants Were nearly a foot in height, but the average height was much léss. Some plats were scattered through the ferns, bul there was one closely-spaced colony Vict. Not.—Vol, 31 of perhaps 2 dozen plants growing on an old track. JH, Willis, in 4 Handbook to Plants ia Victoria, noles that these orchids are “occasional in qear-coasral districts east from Port Phillip, where now very rare or extinet " O, Barrett, in Gems of the Heth, also notes this archid as com- paratively rare, It may be 1 good season for these orchifs aiid every etfort Will he made Wo check om their range and numbers. [Because of the gréat interest, shown in the family Orchidacese by many naturalists, the edlitars are pleased to iMtraduce a new feature article. This will deal with Vietorian Orchids aod will parallel dhe popular Australiaa Watrles serics which has been running for some time. The first article m the few secies appears on page [26 of this issuc.—R_-HSIMeQ_] Aboriginal Quarries The following note has been sent m by Mr. G, A, Crichlion of Alex. andra. Owing to the fact that the area has nut vet been properly surveyed by authorities in this fleld, the actual loca- hon of the qparmes will uot be indicated. Nal far from the Delalite River in vocthem Victoria, there ate two sites réputed to have been xbariginal quarties. Each of these is | stoney autcrop on a rather steep unclins. Although there is some evidence of excavation, the quasries consist principally of heaps af stone. The excavations sould hsve been maile by gold-saekers as thery ls ample evidence of their activity thrauehaut the area The quarry-sdane is 4 greenish-coloured intrusive material, very hard and fine- grained, There are many oulcrops of the sarhe stane in the district. but. apparently no others show the fragmentation found at these two sitcs, On the quarries themselves, Uhere are frazments of stone down tw the very sunallest particles, Dut none of these show the distinctive conchoidal cleaysge so typical of the Makings about middens. However, pieces with this charucteristic were to be Found in well-defined deposits about the edges of the quurries. It would seem that likely pieces were broken aut August, 1964 and then rensoved to a ntore comfarlable site for further fashioning. The first of these outer-lying deposits was found where a recent paisun furrow had exposed plentiful flakings and dis-~ cards, Working with this observation ac a Sasis, “workshops were also fanned ahout the other site. Here the Nakings were only lightly covered and had little Soll amonest hein. On ene of these depasils, the “rangh” of an axe was found and also another hand uwrteface wilh partly-graund edges. A Harvest for Insects The following note comes From Mr, KL C.. Rugers. a Club member living af Black Mountain jm north-eastern Gippsland. During dry summer weather on the tablelands of Esst Gippsland, it is quite sual fo find a copious sprinkling pf “mdnna” inde eertaim species of smmooth- harked cucalypls. The Jeaves aad brarichlets of these trees exurle 4 transparent substance that falls to the ground in drops asa sugary liquid. This soon congeals into the familiar White manna, so plessant 14 the Taste, fo the Wolvulmerung distrvet. at eleva- tions between 2,5004,000 feet, manna is usbally oly abundant under Candlebark Gum (Eucalypras ruhida) and its near relative, Mountain Gum (EB. adalrynt- pleana)s On this tableland, another mem- roof the same proup, the well-known Manna Guor (2, virinalis), seldom sheds manna, despite its mumo. . However, on January 4 this year, dur- ing a Yisit lo the Suggan Buggan River, a few miles to the east and where the elevation is only 1,100 fect, it was al once potted that the tall, straight Manna Gums lining the river were actually drip- ping manna. The bark and litter under the trees was spatiered with the liquid, which was congealing into while blotches over everything The substance appeared fo be coming front the higher leaves and branches, and was flowing down the trunks of the trees. it was a vecitable harvest for insects. Lining each sugary rivulet were numbers of the large black clezdas—pent of 4 great swarm then in the vicinity. Wilh them were, bees, butterflies, and many smaller insects, al) feasting on the rreal flow of manna. TOS Some Notes on Babblers and Choughs There ure four species of Babblers (Pomerestomus sp.), the Apostle-bird ar Grey Jumper (Struthidea cinerea) and the White-winged Chough (Corco- rex Meélanorhamphus) which all be- long 1 the community groups of Australian birds. They are most dis- finctive familtes ahout which very little is known. The Babblers move about in small parties of up to a dozen birds and are very local, living im the same areas for years. The Apostle birds of the drier inland areas. also move about in small groups, but their coi- onies are much more extensive than thase of the Babblers. The Chaughs will merge into parties of up to 40 birds or over in the winter months, but break up into smaller grotips in the breeding season. Strictly living in com- munities, feeding together, sleeping logether, nest building together and caring for the young together, cach individual sbird shares ih the com- munity life of the group. During twa hatidays ar “Lyal Glen”. the property of the Hon, Secretary of the Bendigo Field Naturalists, Mr. John Ipsen, at Lyal about six miles from Redesdile and on the edge of the Kimbolton State Forest, 1. spent ‘some time watching two of these ‘community species which occur in the ‘district, the White-orowed Babbler (P. superciliosus) and the White-winged Chough. During my first holWay in May $963 the party of Babblers, which inchided four birds. kept more or less to an old desertect orchard nearby with only occasional visits to the house ‘Block. Several of their bulky stick nests were io be seen in trees on the block bul were not visited. Several 106 ‘ By Ror WHEELER nests in the old quince trees in the orchard Were jn use as roosting nests, 4nd they Were constantly being re- paired and relined. as almost every time the parly was observed, one bird had a stick or other material in its beak On the second visit in April 1964, the party had increased to eight birds, and was about the heuse aod block several times a day, playing “follow the feader' and always follow- ing the same route—from their base, a big old plum tree near the front gate, on to the Red Gume along the creek. inte a waflle tree, on to a large Yellow Gum around the dam and back to the plum tree, This plum tree was. their shelter tree in the case of alarm, for they fed quite a lot beneath the road trees and the grass in the house block and at the slightest hint of danger flew to the tangled branches of the pluin tree, Where they sheltered. After the "all clear" they would be back feeding again, As they moved through the trees a constant low chatter could be heard, the leader's head would peep out from amongst the foliage and see. ing all was well, would fly on to the next tree, followed af intervals by the Test of the group. Follow the leader around the block andl back to the plum iree. Another circuit took them down the creek and through the old orchard and back again, Again nests were being constantly repaired and a new nest being built, and two of these were used as roosting nests each night. One evening I witnessed a strange (to me} petformance as the birds were feeding by the roadside just prior to Their retiting for {he nizht. In a small depression or Tut on the roadway two Vict, Not—Vol, BY August, 1964 ce LAN r at Nest. White-browed Babble 107 birds would sit and spin in a clockwise motion, another would join them, one would leave and the remaining two would spin around for about a dozen times before another took its place. From first appearances it looked like the domestic hen having a dust bath, but these birds were not dusting, they were spinning. The performance kept up for at least ten minutes until a car disturbed them. The hole in the Toad was about an inch deep and about 4 inches across. Sometimes as many as four birds tried to join in, but the spinning was performed by only two at a time. It was possible that the whole eight birds took part. The White-winged Choughs kept mostly along the roadway at the en- trance to the property and roosted each night in the large Yellow Box and Red Gums nearby. On both visits the party numbered from 30 to 40 birds, and their foraging took them much further afield than the Babblers, for they were often seen a mile or so away from their home area. Several old nests were to be seen in and around the property, large and very obvious mud bowls, usually placed on a bare horizontal branch at about 30 feet. The Choughs mainly fed on the ground, moving about together, the tails moving up and down and if an alarm note was heard, immediately with one accord they flew into the near- est trees. One day whilst watching them feeding in a nearby paddock, one gave an alarm and they all flew across the road into the house block trees. I couldn't see anything to alarm them unti! I swept the paddock with the field glasses and there, at least half a mile away. was a fox sneaking along a fence. The fox must have noticed me for it turned back and the birds returned to their feeding. Their calls vary from a rasping chatter to a rather flute-like note. 108 In November 1963, when on a short visit to the block prior to the Bird Observers Club visit, I found two young birds, not long out of the nest and unable to fly, being cared for by a group of eight birds. Magpies were continually swooping at the party, and it appeared as though a constant battle was in progress. The young birds were against a wire fence for protection. Miss Ina Watson and Miss Margaret McKenzie visited “Lyal Glen” on Australia Day week-end (January 1964) and they found a bare space on the ground about 2 feet in dia- meter where the ground was scored into cracks 3 inches deep by about half an inch wide and from 3 to 6 inches long. The soft dry dust was coy- ered in foot-prints and was the work of the Chough (see The Bird Obser- ver, No, 387). Miss McKenzie thought that it might have been a way to provide dust for a dust bath. However, in April 1964, after heavy rain, I found the same patterns on the ground both on the block and in the forest nearby. It appeared to me that where the ground had cracked in the dry weather the birds had enlarged the cracks, forming a series of grooves up to three inches deep and up to an inch wide and at times over a foot long over an area of about a square yard. Perhaps some reader may be able to throw further light on this apparently Chough habit and its purpose. Finally a word of warning regarding the Grey-crowned Babbler (P. temp- oralis), once a common bird in central Victoria, the Wimmera and other parts of the State. On a recent visit to Eden- hope. in the west Wimmera, I learned that this bird, once common in the district, had now almost completely vanished. Once common in the Morn- ington Peninsula and the Melton dis- trict near Melbourne, it is now rarely Vict. Nat.—Vol, 81 seen. A few birds still inhabit the Woodlands golf course near Mordial- loc, a few were recently seen, after an absence of several years, at Lascelles Dam, near the You Yangs. The ad- vance of civilization with all the dangers it brings cannot be withstood by some of our birds, and apparently the Grey-crowned Babbler is one of these. It is disappearing at a fast rate and becoming rare in a State where it once was regarded as common. The Grinding Rock at Earlston Early in October 1836 the explorer Major Mitchell traversed the country slightly to the north-west of the present site of Violet Town.* It is from his beautifully descriptive pen that we know the district was then a “level forest country. The wood throughout the forest consisted of the Box, or Goborro, species of Eucalyptus.” We read further that “the forest country traversed by the party this day was in general grassy and good, and was open enough to afford a prospect of about a mile around us”. The next day the Major encountered several chains of deep ponds, and encamped on the banks of a running stream, in which were also some deep ponds “and which from some flowers growing there, were named by the men Violet Ponds”. As a result of this description the district was soon colonized, and it is little wonder that when, in January 1840. the first sale of land at “Violet Creek” was held (in Sydney) the half- acre allotments were snapped up. “The site for a Village for the benefit of the overland travellers”, had been selected by the Colonial Secretary in September 1839, and “Violet Creek” was expected to become only second to Melbourne in importance. ‘Earlston is 8 miles north-west of Violet Town. August, 1964 By ALDo MASSOLA Mitchell, of course, was not the first white man to travel through this dis- trict. Some years previously, in 1824, the Hume and Hovell party had come through a few miles to the south-east of his route, and had also spoken highly of the country. Both parties, however, had some trouble with the natives, who appeared to be warlike and numerous. The forests and the aborigines have long since disappeared; but whereas the removal of the trees left extensive and well grassed plains, the removal of the aborigines left hardly a trace of their former occupancy of these plains. Originally numbering over a thousand people, the Taungurong were subdivided into a number of groups, or sections, the one inhabiting this district being known as Yuungal- lum. At the beginning of settlement the Taungurong gave some trouble, and a number of white men, as well as many of the natives, were mur- dered. Later on, however, they gave excellent service in the employ of the settlers. It is incredible that such a numerous tribe, who must have occupied the country for a considerable time, should barely leave a trace of their former presence. Yet with the excep- tion of some lists of words, a few place names, and two rock water-holes 109 (gnamma_ holes), situated on the Benalla-Yarrawonga Road, no relics of these people are known to exist. It is for this reason that the recent report received from Mr. A. W. Walker. of Essendon, of the existence of a grinding rock was investigated with alacrity.” Grinding rocks are outcrops of abrasive rock, such as sandstone, and were used by the aborigines in order to grind a sharp edge on their axes. They may be recognized by the grooves worn into them by the harder stone of which the axes were made, the soft sandstone wearing more quickly than the hard axe-stone. Grinding rocks must be differen- tiated from grinding stones. The former are immovable rocks, while the latter are pieces detached from larger blocks or outcrops, and traded by the +I owas accompanied on this trip by Mr. J. H. Pollitt, of Melbourne. 110 atk tribes on whose territory these occur, with tribes who are less fortunate in this respect. A good example is the trade which was carried on by the St. Kilda natives, who exchanged beach-front sandstone with the Mt. William people, or by the Grampian people who traded sandstone blocks with the Murray tribes. Tribes possessing grinding rocks were able to obtain axe blanks, i-e., un- finished axes, from the tribes on whose territory there were deposits of diorite and other axe-stone, and, after grind- ing them to a sharp edge, would ad- vantageously trade them with tribes who had neither the axe-stone nor the sandstone. At times both these stones were available in the territory of one tribe, such as at Gellibrand, which, of course, was a tremendous advantage to the tribe concerned. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 The grinding rock at Earlston is an outcrop of fine-grained sandstone, sit- uated on the southern slopes of a low hill, locally known as Murphy’s Hill. The rock measures about 20 feet in length by 10 feet in width and runs in an east-west direction, only pro- trudes a few inches above the ground, and presents a relatively flat surface. On this flat surface about 90 grinding grooves are visible, thus affording ample evidence that it was used by the natives for stone-sharpening purposes. However, the grooves only range from 3 inches to 5 inches in length, and only from 7 of an inch to 14 inches in width, and are about } of an inch deep. Judging by the narrowness and by the angle of the grooves, which, although weathered, can be clearly examined, the implements edge- ground, or sharpened, on this rock had a narrow cutting edge, and were not the ordinary stone axes commonly found all over Victoria. There can be little doubt, therefore, that the im- plements ground were the long and round-sectioned hand-axes which are August 1964 so often found in north-central Vic- toria. These axes are characterized by their lenticular form, and by having a round. or round-oval, cross section. They were made from _ suitable pebbles, pecked, or hammer-dressed, to shape and ground to a fine edge at one end. This edge, because of the lenticular shape of the axe, is much narrower than the centre of the axe, and conforms to the size and shape of the grooves on the Earlston grinding rock. Although both these pecked pebble axes and the coroid axes (i.e., axes prepared from quarried lumps, detached from outcrops, knapped and flaked into shape prior to grinding; they generally have a much wider cutting edge) are commonly found in north-central Victoria, the lack of dis- tribution maps precludes the possibil- ity of determining the greater preva- lence of either of the two types in any given locality. The finding of this grinding rock, with such narrow grooves, pinpoints the centre of an industry. We now know the type of axe made by the Taungurong at Earlston. On the southern side of the Earlston outcrop there are two man-made cavities worn into the sandstone by chipping and rubbing with some harder material. The holes thus formed meas- ure approximately 18 inches in dia- meter by 12 inches in depth. At the bottom centre of each there is a smaller cavity, about 3 inches in dia- meter and 4 inches deep. Each hole holds about 3 gallons of water, which was, no doubt, used to assist the grind- ing process. In the immediate vicinty of this grinding rock there are two other sandstone outcrops, which, however, bear no grinding grooves. That these two outcrops were not used by the aborigines may have been due to the poor quality of the sandstone, which, being heavily veined with harder im- purities, would have interfered with the grinding. The natives’ camp was probably 12 situated close to Murphy’s Swamp, about half a mile to the south of Murphy's Hill, one of a chain of such swamps stretching between Broken River to the north and Stoney and Honeysuckle Creeks to the south. This chain of swamps could have been one of the several noted by Mitchell, and described by him as a “chain of deep ponds”. The correctness of Mitchell’s des- cription was borne out by Mr. J. H. Bradshaw, the present owner of the property on which the grinding rock js situated. He stated that when, in 1876, his father occupied the land, it was heavily timbered with Box trees, and the swamps were teeming with ducks, swans, and other water birds. Mitchell also mentioned emus and kangaroos. Because of this abundance of food, and as the swamps would form an easy route between the per- manent water of the river and creeks, this locality would indeed have been a favourite spot of the Taungurong. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 The Naturalist and the Microscope How to Look at a “Rock Section” Tn the March Fectorian Naturalist {instructions were given on how to make your own rock seclions, and 4 package of materials sufficient (o make half a dozen slides was offered to members to help them get started on the interesting hobby of seeing of what rocks are made, ‘he ventare had quite sond results, More than fifty packages were sold to members and odd paris to other memtbers, As a further result the Hawthorn Juniors intend to have es working exhibit in the next Nature Show, demonstrating how ta make a rock section, Now, knowing that there have been plenty of rock sections made by mem- bers, these suggestions may be uscful io enable further information to be guined from these rock sections. A section of rock mounted on a slide can be viewed in several different ways through a microscope, including our F.NACV. microscope, and each method helps to show up the crystals of minerals that make up a particulat rock. The crystals will show up io different ways with the various methods of observation and various features of the minerals will be seen with one method and other features with other methods. What are the features we may sec in crystals. farming our rock section? It will be best if we run through the different lighting methods and note the features possible for each methoil. Let us assume that you have made a section of granite (granodiorie) and also @ section of basalr. What can we see in the two slides? August, 1964 by D. E. McInnes Set microscope up for low power, about 20%, First Method—Bripit field ilum- ination, Features that may be seen are: fa) Crystal form, the outline or part may he seen. (h} Colour is sometimes snown by minerals. Opaqueness: a few minerals ure opaque and are better viewed by other methiads. (d) Alteration: some minerals will show 8 more or less cloudy effect. (ec) Inclusiens: these, for example, bubbles or other minerals ate seen in various minerals. (f} Cleavage lines: minerals when thin in section tend to crack atong the crystal sides and parallel integular lines are seein. Place your sranodiorite section on the stage. Now granodiorite is com- posed of the minerals quartz, felspar and the black mica, biotite. What cao we see? First, the patch of yellow colour; this is the biotite and in it may be seer straight lines (cleavage lines) and perhaps some inclusions. Next, patches of cloudiness; these ore the felspar crystals, perhaps some crystal form can be scen, Then the remaioing crystals are probably quartz, clear with mayhe a fine of smail bubbles or an inclusion of small crystals, Try your basalt slide. Basals is com- posed of ollvine, augite, felspar and magnetite. What do we see this time? First, a large number of small opaque 113 (c) spots somewhat square or ragged; this ig the magnetite. Loak to see if there is any colour, a pale brown may indicate augite., What about crystal forms? There are plenty in this slide, most of them shaped like narrow sirsight sticks. These are felspar crystals. Some six-sided shapes with- out colour ate olivines or with a red- dish colour are altered? olivines, Look at the oltvine crystals and notice the itregular fracture lines, often showing signs of alteration along these lines. The felspars may show straight cleav- ape, Second Method—Dark Ground Ll- lumination. Alieration (cloudiness}in the pran- ite shde will be quite striking, Inclusions and colour will show up in a way quite different from the bright field method, and the various crystals are more apparent. The dark ground method, although not stressed in petrology books. will make rock sections mast inferesting to the be giouer. Third Merhod—Top lighting is used lo examine Opague minerals, so use it to look at your basult slide, Now ihe magnetite shows up alone, with a datk metallic sheen and the surface is quile pilted. (1ry a higher power.) Fourth Method —This method is 10 use plane polarised light. Ta do this a polarising disc must be placed he- tween the light source aod the rack section, In the F.N.C.V. microscope, arranged for bright ficld Wlumination, place one polazaid disc an top of upal slide. The depth of stage will allow the rock section lo be put on the Stage without touching the disc. The polaroid disc has the effect of only allowing the light to pass through in one verlical plane. A siniple com- parison wouk! be as though the hght passed through the teeth of a fine 114 comb. Now ertain coloured minerals have the property of allowing the light to pass wheo parallel with the light rays but absorb the light when ai right angles to the plane of the polarised light. This properly of the minerals is called “Pleochroism". Such a mineral is biotite, so let us Jook at our granite slide with planc polarised light. First noti¢e that some of the biotite crystals are gow cturk and same light, Now revolve the slide around, keeping 2 particular biotite crystal in the centre of the field. You will see that in one position the colour is guile bright, but al tight angles to that position the light is completely absorbed, Tt 18 interesting to note here that this ts the principle of your polarcid disg, It is cumposed of minute crystals that are all fined up in one direction and pass the light through in one plane but absorb it in the plane at right angles, A revolving stage top that will keep your slide in the centre of the field while being turned around would. be a great asset. See what you cun do. Pleochroism 3s a means of identify- ing Several coloured minerals. Try your busalt slide. Some forms of augite ase slightly pleochroic. Fifch Method—Crossed Polarised Light, To attain this method, in addition to the disc giving plane polarised light, another polaroid disc needs to be placed anywhere between the tock section and the eve. The chse can be placed just on top of the eye piece but the best place is to unscrew the bot- tom lens of the eye piece, insert the dise flat and replace the lens. What happens now? Without any slide, look down the tricroscope ang while looking, slowly revalve the cye- piece only; nofe that in one plane the light is not affected byt in a position Vict. Not.—Vol. aI at right angles the light is absorbed or nearly so, only a blue tint showing. This is when the polarisers are crossed. Leave polaroids crossed. take the granite slide and first put it under the microscope so that only the glass slide is seen and no rock section—notice that nothing happens. Now push the tock section into the field and we see a riot of colour. Why do we sec colour? Well, all that can be said here is that some minerals when seen with crossed polaroids cause interference to the light waves and this interference is seen as various colours by the eye, The colour is determined by the posi- tion of the crystal, the particular mineral and, thirdly, the thickness of the section. Try this experiment, Obtain some cellophane and with crossed polaroids look at a single thickness. Revolve cellophane and notice that at one position, colour is seen brightest. Now in that position. line up two thick- nesses of cellophane and observe the colour. Try three layers—what do you see? Three different colours, and if you twist the cellophane pieces around relative to one another you will see a variety of colours. All this ts to show that colour alone is no indication of a certain mineral. Quartz will look grey, yellow, red or blue, depending on the thickness of your rock section. What features can we expect to see when we look at our rock slides with crossed polarisers? First, the colour. This would be a help in identifying minerals if the section is of the stand- ard thickness, 30 microns (0:03 mm.) but otherwise it makes a thing of beauty and defines the boundary of the crystals. Now revolve the slide and you will see that the colour disappears from any particular crystal every 90°. This is called “Extinction” and by measur- ing the angle from a definite crystal August, 1964 side or cleavage line to the position when the crystal is dark will give the “Extinction Angle”. which is an im- portant character of certain minerals. Another aspect to notice is that the felspar crystals will usually show a definite division into two or many parts and that the parts show extinc- tion at different angles: while half the division is light the other half is dark. This is an indication of twin crystals. If the twinning is multiple. the felspar is called Plagioclase Felspar, and if just simple, it is probably Orthoclase Felspar. See if your granite section shows both types. A further interesting feature may be seen in the felspar crystals. This is called “Zoning”. As a crystal is cool- ing from the molten state the composi- tion gradually changes and this will be seen as a series of Jines around the crystal shape that outline the forma- tion of the crystal. One more point—look carefully at the junction of two crystals or the mountant and a _ crystal—there is usually a bright line that moves to or from a crystal when the objective is raised. This is an indication of dif- ference of refractive index which again is a help in finding what mineral it may be. The bright line moves to the mineral with the higher refractive index when the objective is raised. A nigher power objective is preferable when trying this. Examine the basalt slide. Notice the olivine crystals show most colour and the felspar lathes usually appear as multiple twins. Revolve the slide and see the extinction in the felspar. You may see Zoning in an augite crystal. Well, this is enough to show that your rock sections can be full of interest. These notes are only to give a very elementary idea of rock sections under the microscope, and if your 115 interest is aroused and you would like to know more of the theory and prac- tice of this procedure, a very good book to have is Minerals and the Microscope by H. G. Smith, revised Victorian Orchids—No. 1 by M. K. Wells. (Price 20/9 retail.) This will tell you all you need to know except one thing—that is, how to make a rock section slide, but you already know that. It’s easy, isn’t it? Banded Greenhood—Pterostylis vittata The Banded Greenhood, although relatively rare, has a considerable range throughout the State. It is found growing in well-drained sandy areas 116 By J. N. and W. H. Kine of coastal and Mallee heaths and light forest. Last year, this unusual green- hood was growing prolifically in the Little Desert, south of Nhill, and al- ready this year has been reported from Anglesea and Frankston. Although somewhat stouter, the plant is very similar in appearance to the better known Tall Greenhood (Prerostylis longifolia). The nodding flowers may be from one to ten in number and are a greenish or purplish brown colour with many prominent brown bands over the hood. The flowers also possess a very sensitive tongue, a characteristic of many green- hoods. The flowering stem varies from 6-15 inches in height and has no basal rosette, although flowerless leaf roset- tes may be present. This flower-stem bears many broad, pointed leaves, and leaf-like bracts project beyond each flower. The flowering season is from late autumn to winter. The specimen illus- trated was found early in June last year, growing in coastal heath-land on the eastern side of Port Philip Bay, where although apparently localized, the orchid was fairly abundant. Banded Greenhood, Pterostylis vittata. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 Eucalyptus aggregata in Victoria About ten mature trees, 30 to 40 ft. tall, and probably a few young sap- lings (or sucker growth), of Eucalyp- tus aggregata, a species not previously recorded in Victoria, occur about one mile south-east of Woodend station, beside the railway embankment. The bedrock of the area is Ordo- vician sandstone and shale, but the actual site is low lying and partly covered by alluvium from a small creek. Drainage is poor and the soil was waterlogged in May this year. Other trees in the immediate vicin- Eucalyptus aggreguta growing near Woodend. August, 1964 By Patricia M. CaRoLaN ity are E. ovata (Swamp Gum), E. radiata (Peppermint) and Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood). but the peppermints are on slightly higher ground. The E. aggregata have a bark somewhat similar to the peppermints but darker and rougher, extending to the small branches. The leaves are small, narrow (largest about 10 x 1-5 cm.), and rather thick, with a slightly bronze sheen, somewhat re- sembling E£. stellulata at a distance, but the longitudinal veining of the latter is very different. The fruit (only about 3 x 5 mm.) is particularly dis- tinctive, broader than long, with wide open valves which are usually three or four, but occasionally only two. E. aggregata has a widespread dis- tribution on the southern and central tablelands of N.S.W., and Blakely gives some scattered localities in Tas- mania. However, Johnson believes the Tasmanian populations to be a dif- ferent species and has renamed them E. rodwayi. Woodend’s climate would be about the middle of the range covered by the N.S.W. localities quoted by Blakely, which extend from Cooma to Orange. All have a comparatively uniform seasonal rainfall distribution, cold winters with frequent frosts, and the driest (Cooma) has the coldest winter. There is a remarkable cor- relation between Woodend and the furthest north locality, Orange, 400 miles away. Both towns have moun- tains (Macedon and the Canobolas respectively) nearby. However, frosts would be more severe at many of the N.S.W. locali- ties. The absolute minimum recorded at Otange is 12°F. and at Cooma 11°F. The lowest ever reached at Kyneton is 21°F. Woodend Orange 37° 2278, 33°17S. 144°32’K, 149°05E. Altitude Altitude 1850 it. 2846 ft. Average Annual Rainfall 32 in. 31 in, Mean Temperature, July 43°F, 41°F, Mean Temperature, January 65°R. 68°F, Wettest Month June* June Driest Month February* February “The monthly distribution is taken from Mt. Macedon (3 miles away) as Woodend figures are not available. There may well be other occur- rences of E. aggregata near Woodend and elsewhere in Victoria. A zone ex- tending from Lancefield to Kyneton, Daylesford and Ballarat would have a similar climate. Apparently the most likely places are small depressions (frost hollows) with bad drainage. I would like to acknowledge grate- fully the assistance of Mr. J. H. Willis in examining specimens and checking these notes. REFERENCES Blakely, W. F. A Key to the Eucalypts. Johnson, L. A. S. Studies in the Taxon- omy of Eucalyptus. Contributions from the N.S.W. National Herbarium, 3, No. 3: 105. F.N.C.V. Publications Available for Purchase FERNS OF VICTORIA AND TASMANIA, by N. A. Wakefield. The 116 species known and described and illustrated by line drawings. photographs. Price 7/6. and there are 30 VICTORIAN TOADSTGOLS AND MUSHROOMS, by J. H. Willis. This describes 120 toadstool specics and many other fungi, There are four coloured plates and 31 other illustrations. New edition. Price 9/-. THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, Except for about half the numbers of the first nine volumes (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. The Land Flora of Victoria (from 1962 Victorian Year Book) (2/-). The Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, by N. A. Wakefield (2/-). Address orders and inquiries to Sales Officer, F.N.C.V.. National Herbarium, South Yarra, S.E.1, Victoria. Payments should include postage. 118 Vict, Nat.—Vol. 81 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Generel Meeting—Suly 13, 1964 About 140 members and friends were presenl, Afier ning the meeting, the President, Mir, M. K. Houghton, referred to the depth, on June 17, in his 82nd year of Mr, Tarleton Rayment. Mr. 1, H, Willis spoke im appreciation. Mr. Ray- ment had been a good general naturalist of the type that in these days of increased specialization was becoming rare. Whilst still a boy, his interest in bees had been aroused when; on & Visit to the country, a farmer bid shown him gwo hives and, pullife oul some combs, had explained how the bees worked, More than forty years ago he had eatmed renown us an apierist, 2 prolific writer wid a pifted artist, Amongst his best known warks were A Cluster of Bees, published In 1935. and the novel that won in 1936 the All Nation Novel Conpetition, The Mafléy of tie Sky. During ife war Mr, Rayment had worked dn the malnueriion of bees. He contributed articles on hees and Wasps fo the Pietorian Nutterelist between $946-53 and was aiwarded the Natural History Medulllon In 1951. He concluiled his term of office as President of the FLN.CY, for the year 1955-6 with an address on "Dimerphism in Hahetine Bees” Mr Rayments wife and only 3an had predeceased: him, and for some years Miss Lynetie Young bad looked after him. Many of the older members of the F.MOV. would mourn the loss of a friend and a greal naturalist and wish to extend thei! sympathy to Miss Young. Members stood in silenes whilst a coloured pieture of Mr, Tarleton Ray- ment Was projected on the screen Mr, Len Robinson eave an interesting account of anjexpeditian that he and Mr. Don Taylor had made im October Inst veer to the Eyre Peninsula, the Gawler and ths Flinders Ranges. This wa4 illustrated by numerous fine colour slides of the bitds, Howers and scenery wf the ateas visled and by a colour Alm made by Mr, Taylor, wha came up from near Warrnantbool to ussist with rhe projection. ‘They Nail visited an island in Vermis Bay to photowragh Rock Parrots ai their nest wader a slab at the lop of 6 Umestowe cliff. and had oblained good shots of Sooty and Pied Oystereatchers afd 9 Caspial Teri Recuroie co the Eyre Highway they tad camped for five days dn the bush north of Minnipa Mere Ayguat, 1964 in coallce conniry they Fmd found Crim- son Chale and Budgerigucs mumerous. The former had been diffecule to capture en film, but |heir efforts had been suc- cessful. Many fine pictures were also obtained of nesting Budgerigars, Majur Mitchell's, Cockatiel, the ‘well-comou- flaged Litile Quail, Rufous Treecreepers und many other birds. Just before break- ing camp they had found a 4-ineh scar pion, Further in the Gawler Ranges birds had been less numerous, so ihey hed returned through Fort Augusta and pro ceeded through Howkey into the Flinders Ranges. The scenery there had been most impressive, and they had found many subjects for their cameras Galuhs bad heen present in large flocks among the Red Gums on the creek bunks, and Little Coreljas and Elegant Parrots were also photographed. In answer 10 2 question fram Mr. J Baines, Mr. Robinson described brrefly the expedition that he had made with Mr. David Morgan and others When the Eyrean Grass-wren had been redjssovered on the Macumba River to the narlh of Lake Eyre, Mr_ Bric Allan moved a vate of thanks to Mr. Robinson and Mr, Don Taylor for Wer éxcellent contribuuen, and this was carried with scclamanon Vhe President reniinded members that the August veneral mesiiig weuld be the lust before the Nature Show, ind called For volunteers ly stage lhe exhibits on August JO und man them during the fol: lowe three days, Mr, MeIpnes appealed for owners of station-wagans and utilities. lo asset in transporting the exhibits 10 the Lower Town Hall on August 3) Mr. Coghill announced (hat Mr, Baines had agreed to be the Secretary of Nutural History Medallion Curmniittee, and thut Mrs. Thistle Stead had ac- cepled an invitation to aliend the Movem- ber general meeting to receive the 196] award. Mr. Taylor had underlaken to distribute caples of the Nariralist to booksellers. Me pointed out that there were sull two positions which it was Urgently necessary ta fil. He would like to hear of 4 member who could wider lake regularly the duties uf Assistant Seeretury. Vhese entailed the waiting of minutes of the General and Council Meetings. The Club also needed some- one to Inok efter the blocks of iMustra. 119 tions in the Naturafist. After use, blocks had to be cleaned, greased and indexed so thar they could be found again easily when required. Mr, Ros Garnet had made great provress, but Council would like to find someone to continue this work. The Science Teachérs Association of Victoria had notified that it was holding its 21st Birthday Celebration im the Px- hibition Hall, and the Rendigo F.N.C., in forwarding a copy of its programme, had invited any members visiting Ben- digo to attend its meetings, Following the resolution at the June meeting, Mr. Coghill had written to the M.L.C, concerned on the subject of the “destruction of seals, but had received no answer. Ho had also writlen to the Pre- mier, who had replied that the matter had been referred lo the Chief Secectary and to the State Wildlife Reserves In- Vestigation Cuoumcriittee. The new members listed on page 91 of the July Naturalise were elected. Several interesting Nature Notes were given. Mr. F. Curtis mentioned sceing u Cockatiel im the gatden Mr J. UW. Willis reported on the rediscovery of the rare phalloid puffhall, Adwilaws ceri- laginens, in ihe Portland diswiet Mr. H. Stewart pointed out that the extensive destruction of old, dead trees meant ube disappearance of suitable nesting sites for many specics of parrots. kapkaburras and other bicds, Mr. Mclnnes reported that in: spiic of the action to destroy the weeds in Albert Park Lake, there was still plenty of pond life in the lnke to interest the milcroscopist. Samples of copepods and winter eggs. oF Pinmatelia were shown tundet F.NiC.V. microscopes. Other exhibits on the table were a Further collectien of photographs of wild- flowers coloured by the late Mr, Fred Bishup, shells from Gunbower Island jagoons, maale and female Mouse Spiders (Missulena oaccateria), the Quivering Fungus (Tremetla foliaeea) that grows on dead trees, and leaves and buds of Evcalyples aggreyate from Woodend. Mrs. Bennett spake on a specimen of wood with borer scribbles visible on the Svirface after removal of the bark. One of the late Mr. Tatleton Rayment's books, Eaqxles end Earthlings, was also on the table. Geolozy Group—ioly 1, 1964 Thirty-five members and visitors were present, wilh Mr. T., Angior as chairman. Me. R, Hemmy reported an the Group's eacursion 10 Bulla ond the Organ Piper et — flash and accessories, R. H. WAGNER & Sons Pty. Ltd. 43 Elizabeth Street (corner Flinders Lane) Telephone 62 3114 20 =| CALLING ALL Photographers! Select your equiptnent from WAGNER'S comprchensive stocks of Exakta, Leica, Pentax, Praktica, ete. also telephoto lenses, clase up attachments, electronic Also Chadstone Shopping Centre Nature Vict, Not.—Vol. 81 at Sydenham on June 7. Some iwenly-hve members attended, with the first stop at ihe pcm ground at Bulla, The pasty Moved along the river valley to view Eranite decomposed to kaolin, which is being exploited commercially, A fine ex- ample of xenoliths in the granite was carefully examined and photographed. Much interest was token in the old bridge carryisig the road across she river, as i is a classic example of early stone con- struction, The éxcursion then proceeded to the Organ Pipes, via Keilor. After a thorough wispection of the Pipes, ihe Party proceed upstream to examine ather formations, including a pavement formes! by basalt. Silurian deposits were searched for graptotites withoul success. Messrs. Wigmore and Davidson ex- plained the formations revested in an excavation at the new Spencer Street railway station. Using a pias of the formations, the Older Basalt flows were traced and their effects noted on the clays jm the conlact zones. A |etler from Mrs. Cheslin, relating geological experiences m Queensland, was read to imetmbers Mr. T. Sault stated that plans for the exhibit at the Nature Show were well ia band and asked for members to assist with more specimens, An excursion Was attanged for Iuly § to the limestone quarry at Lilydale. The subject for the evening was "Onin of Minerals" by Me. A, Cobbett, The speaker first mentioned the chemica? elemenis most prominent in aninerals, will the Silicate group the most plenti- ful. The earth has a mcke! core, partly molten, and parily solid, surrounded by a Mantle anit a crest, When dealing with 4 magma, its meting and cooling prints had wo be considered to reach the eutec- fic point for solidification. This wark, however, Was extremely intricate, owing fo the large number of substances in a mock. There was always a systematic ‘throwsout" of basic material first, then intermediate felspars, followed by acid types. Even this order can be cisturbed while cooling. Chemical mineralizers can also he at work, Such os heated water and Yanious vapours, These generally form dykes through the cowntry rock, Fam- eroles can deposit boron and sulphur with oiher }indred minerals, Replacement and slress can also operate Lo wie many minerals These mostly have long narrow erystils. The Grigin Uf secondary minerals Was dealt with af lenuth, dss specimens ta explain (he processes. Minerals of an organic orem were the caleie grap, Augutt, (oot aragonite, and muny in the silica group, etc. To Fmalize, the speaker used a large callection of minerals to explain the basic facts, thus making an iniricate Subject much easier. Exhibits: Large collection of minerals including tourmaline i quartz, Bamet, lepidolite, crocidolite, asbestos, born- blende, woolastinite, kyanite, staurolite, Fubelite, amethyst, monazite, copper car- bomales, pyrite, malachite, beryl, cor- rundum (Mr. A. Cobbert); large i crystals from Yackandandah (Mes. Salau); agates cut and polished from Agate Creek, north Queensland (Mr, R. Davidson}; vesicular lasalt and baked clays from excavation at Spencer Street railway station (Mr N. Wigmore); schists, pneiss, garnels in altered rock from Wilkes Base, Antarctica (Miss Spain) rock sections under micrasca (Mr, D. Metnnes); packages of molyb- denum and fossil wood for distribution to members (Mr. D. Damgerfield)- Botany Group—June 11, 1964 The main item of the evening, Chetr- pudiacese, a lecture by Miss White on the goase-foot or sallbush family, was full of mniecrest and most informative, World-wide distribution, habitat, flower- fore and systematics were dealy with in etaal. This being the annual meeting, the fol- Sowing were elected office-bearers for tle ensuing your, Chuirman— Mr. B. Fuhrer, Scererury—Mr F. Zirkler, Programme Srewurd—Miss M.- Allender- Praperty Siewards—Miss M, Bland, Mr EF. Dawes The remainder of the agenda was con- cemed with reports, the Nalure Show, excursions, and the slide bbrary- AFFILIATED CLUBS Warrrambool Ficld Naturulias Club Warrnamban] annual report discloses a year of activity and interest, with the regular round of excursions and lectures, mostly by members. Onc highlight was Lire visit of dhe FNC YY. over Easier, Anather is 2 new nesting record for Vietoria—the Rlack- cheeked Cormorayit Besides its self-inrposes! task of te- foresting Tawee Hill, the Club és adding its Voice ta those demanding protection of the lawer Glenelg, preferably by a substantial National Park, 121 Mr. W. Mathieson is President, and the former Prestdeni, Mr. John Edge, is Secretary-Tressurer. Ballarat Ficid Naturalists Club This Club reports reetlar meetings and excursions, somé of the latter jn conjunction with the Geclong and Mary- borough Clubs. Ballarat has. also linked up with the Western District Association of Field Naturalists Clubs, hoping thereby ty be able to help control the rage for pine. plantations. Mr. P. Day is President, and Mis. E, G. Bedggood, Honorary Sccretury. Benalla Field Naturalists Club This Club reports good PTOgTeSS. Tu addition to the ustal general meetings, the well-known English microscopist, Mr. H. A. Dade, has been having micro- scopicat evenines in his home. A most interesting development is the holding of combined excursions with the Ringwood F.N.C, Fauna members of bath these clubs have heen active ohsery- ing animals m the Strathbogie Ranges The club has also had Mrs. Gladstone, of Beechworth. as a leader on. an excursion to Mount Pilot, Mr. W. McCall Say is President. and Mr. E. Harrison is Secretary. N. H. SEWARD PTY. LTD. 457 Bourke Street, Melbourne Phone: 67 6129 Specialists in Naturalists’ Requisites Pins, Forceps, Butterfly Nets, etc., Microscopes (Beginners to Research Models) , Bincculars, Telescopes, Survey Instruments, ete. BOOKS On Natural History, Australia, Art, General, New and Secondhand. Lists Free. State Requisites. CAMERAS anp SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER EXAKTA, PENTAX, PRAKTICA CONTAREX, BESSAMATIC .. . All the famous brands Telephaots, Wide Angle Lenses Close-up Equipment HERBERT SMALL’S 259 COLLINS STREET, MELEOURNE (Gpposite Hotel Australia) HERBERT SMALL'S —- AT YOUR SERVICE FOR OVER 100 YEARS j22 Vict. Nat.—Vol, 8) The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 81 (5) September, 1964 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 y post as a periodical 2/6 a ““. 4 . gt ak Magnificent stand of White Mountain Ash, Eucalyptus regnans, in the Marysville State Forest FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA preserving the beauty of our Ares Ie your enjoyment. 126 Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 Front Caver: Vol. 81, No. 5 September 10, 1964 Editor; J. R. Hupson, B.Sc,, M.R.C.V.S. Assistant Editor: R. H. J. McQueen, B.Sc., Dip.Ed, CONTENTS Articles: The Eastern Australian Orchid, Diuris punctata, by A. W. Duckrill 128 The Name Mulga, by J. B, Cleland 145 Features: Australian Wattles: Mealy Wattle, 4. farinose.. and Hard-leaf Wattle, A. scleraphylla, by Jeun Gulbraith 139 The Naturalist and the Microscope: Cleaning Diatomaceous Deposits, by H. Barretz . . 140 Bush Brushes; Bulbuls, Fungi Notes 142 Field Naturalists Club of Victoria: "Visit to Mt. Buller—Christmas 1963. Part 1—Plants and Animals 146 Library: Lists of Missing Books 150 August General Meeting. Group Meetings _- 15] Affiliated Clubs 184 Diary of Coming Events 1355 Miscellaneeates: Nature Notes from Ringwood Field Naturalists Club . 144 This photograph of a Wedgetailed Eagle, Aguila audax, taken by Charles Barrett is reproduced from the June 1928 issue of the Vict. Nas. (45: 49). September, 1964 127 The Eastern Australian Orchid, Diuris punctata (A Critical revision of the complex originally figured and named Diuriy punctata by James E. Smith in 1804) Sumnarary of Nomenclarnral Changer in this Papers Diurit alba R. Br. is reduced to varietal rank under 0, pierctara, D, puneleta var, teagtssima Benth, is upheld, and 2, ereneata FitzG. is ce- duced to synonymy thereunder. D, punciata var, peactate forma blakneye FM, Bailey is amended to allow of a inuch Wider interpretation. }. punctata var. sulfured Rupp is reduced io a colour form of D. punctate var, Ppunctara. D. penciata variches afbo-vielicea and parvipetala are described as new, The need for a revision of this puzzling, polymorphic species has been felt by must students of Australian orchids, In fact, the late Rev. H. M. R. Rupp, in the light of the informa- tion he then possessed, did attempt the lask [Fict, Nar, 63; £78 (Dec, 1946)] aud several yeats before his death he was working towards a further paper on the subject. The present author is deeply indebted to Mr, J. H. Willis (Melbourne Herbarium) who, by re- search, review and suggestion, has con- tributed much to this paper—an at- termpt at the rce-definition of the Species, as occurring aver the whole of its range. Because of the very wide distribution, some entities may even yet await discovery, moreovet, the very nature of the specics will probably always militate against a completely satisfactory classification. The case of D. punciata emphasizes how inade- quate is a rigid framework of nomnen- clature for expressing the innumerable vanations that can occur within a single apecies. Genetical research in the group ts a desideratum, 128 By A. W. Docket In this paper the use of certain tenms calls for the following explana- tions (a) Labellom will consist of a central- basal disk, two lateral Jobes and an apical, expanded mid-lobe, To avoid vonfusion with the tax- onami¢ gunk of “form! {farma), the various foral shapes in speci- mens will be referred to as “fig- ures’ not “forms”. An indistingtly clawed petal will be one in which the petal is not sharply differentisted inta claw and Ismina, since the claw’ erad- ually dilates toward the lamina and the latter mmperosplibly nuar- rows toward the claw, (cl) When the colour of a flower is mentioned, it Will exclude the colour of the lateral sepals (which are in shades of green, brown or- dark purple), alsa the small amount of yellow oat the base of the column and on the disk of the Jabelluin. (b} tc) When measurements of segments are given, they are intended merely a: 2 puide to the usual flowers of a taxon and not as an inflexible rule, since most of the taxa are extremely variable m almost every segment. Very general terms such as long. sheri, medium, ete., are often the only ones (no matter how unsatisfactory) with any practical appheation. lt cannot be too sirongly stressed that, in atlempt- ing the identification of the taxa (even when using the Key at the end of this paper), reliance ghould not be placed on one or two characters, but upon the assemblage of charaters. Location, although not a delesmining factor, is nevertheless a frequent and vteful guide. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 8} Piare | A—Complete plant of Diuris punotata Sm. var, punctata Farma puactata (from Campbeiltawi, N.S.W.); B—Flower from front; C—Fflower from side; D—Labellum fram above; E—Labellym from side: F—Column from front; G—Columa frum sid#; H—Pollinia from front; I—Pollinia from side; K—Pollinia from front (when flower open to show viscidium attached) ; a—Anther; b—Bursiele: s—Stigma; w—Column wings; v—Viscidium, September, 1964 129 Two pages of the accompanying illusirations show the flowers tn a flattened, unnatural aspect, so that the basic shape of each segnient can be seen, In the malural position, the keeling of the mid-lobe of the lahellum {in some specimens), rolling of the ftargins of rhe dorsal sepal or even petals, angle which the labellum forms with the dorsal sepal. and eolumn- embracing habit of the lateral lobes af the labellum it, some specimens, all tend ta give a false impression of the actual outlines of variays segments, Dutrts puNcTATA Sin, Exot, Bort. 1; 13, t, 8 {1804}; Benth, Flos, 4use 6: 326 (1873); R, D. Fit2zG. (ined. 37 6); F. M. Bailey Od. Flor £- 1564 (1902); B.S. Rogers in Black Flor. §. dust. 1: 142 61922); E. BE. Peseott Grofiid, Vict. 68 (1928); H. M, R. Rupp Orchid. NSW. 12 9d6y. etiam Fier. Nat 63: 178 (Dec. An aggregate and cxceedingly com- plex species of striking polymorphy, embtacing atleast six major vatiations (distinguishable as ¥aricties}) and three minor (distinguishable as forms). Its flowers range in size from one of the largest in the genus Diuris—being rivalled only by some of the giant fistires of D. longifelige R, Br, and DB. sulpiurea RB, Br, —to one of the smallest. Thus, the combined length of dorsal sepal plas labellum ranges Mats 2 1-3. — DL prretita Sra, val. N.S. [e-16—2 aiertate vor, qantate forma 16 enciele var. ee forma t—Ditlo (Beaidwoud,, N.S.W, from alimost 5:0 cm. down to 1°25 tin. The diversity in colour is quite as striking as the range in segment-shape and size, Usually the flowers are Hot fragrant, but in some districts they are pleasantly scented. Each variety, herein listed, is widely disteibuted (with the exception of var, albo-violecea) ond possesses a dis- tinelive combination of characters. But, owing to the polymorphy, colour Variatton find range in size of some varieties {very noticeable in certain areas, while in other districts their features remain coraparatively stable), it is dificult to classify satisfactorily separated or sclected extrenves of variatron. Afother rather phzzling situation Is the development of small, isolated, aberrant populations (7 mutants) which do not warrant aay taxonomic tank, For example, a suite of spect- mens collected near Pittown on the Hawkesbury River, N.S.W.. by Dr W. Woolls in the 1530’s, has not been duplicated anywhere since then; this collection is incorrectly labelled “var. minor” in the National Herbarium at Sydney, Likewise, C, Walter, in Vict, Nat. 23, 240 (Marv. 1907), thus described D, pynctata var, daltonti from material collected al Mt. Arapiles ness Natimuk, Victoria; differs from the lypical farm of Diuris panctara Smith un having punctata Tocma dloekneyd FL M. Bailey (Near Cumplelliown. 4 —= DDS gl giamthoune, SE. Quand), 10—Oitte (Benalln, Vie.) Li-fliee (Kutrj Kuret, tertesard (Neat Che prbanenany) NBW.1. Aneyie (Casing, N.5,W,) 1s—D. rinclata vur, alba (Mt, "art Ho¢krill (South Molle Id, Q'landi, 19—D, purtctote Far. miner Benth. { Wallaigarrva, §.R. Q'la ad}_ 20-22—D. minctata var. punctate forma sulfwrea (upp) Dorkrili 23—D. punecteta var, neat fortne Sakneye (Tares, NSW 24—Pitto (Mt. Fox, N. Q'land). 25-28—D. punctate var. alba (Warnberal, W.S.W. (Groen Valley, Guerra WSW.). ). 27—D, punetata var. miner (Clifton, New England, N-S.W —from ‘Tyre specimen). ze—Ditio (Uralla, NvS.W-). 24—D, penetata, shervant fourm ePittoan, N-BOWI. 80—D. punctata var; alba CRacihamipton, OQ'land), '2—Dhtto (Shoat Passaxe, 33-t4—Ditte (Wamboral, N. owe 120 N—Ditte tlebellum of Nu. 30), Q'lond—ftom Erown's Trev specimen. we-k8—Ditia (Maryberough. Q'land), Vick Nat-—Yal, 31 ae on Seo. See BE SS, HOOF = oe ans shorter petals fonly $ inch in length), While the Jower jobes of the calyx are Vhread-like and much fonger (fully two inches in length) and of o pale green colour.” Walter's type epectmes has completely disappeared, so that iis identity is now guesswork, Many people have later searched in the locality given. without seeing anything Temotely re- sembling a Dinurls prnctata. This Variety ts better excluded from any evaluation of the present species as such. The distribution of D. punctate is from the coast to the western plains Of eastern Alistralia, from the Ather- ton Tableland in north Queensland, through central and southern Queens- land, New South Wales and Victoria fo MI, Gambier district in SE. South Australia. [t is essentially a plant of the natural fields, parklands and open grassy country generally, and has been exlerminated by grazing over much of its former territory, c.g. in Victoria, For those students unfamiliar with Diuris pufretata, the following detailed diagrjosls is provided: Plant terrestrial, Tubers ovoid or sometimes palmate. Roots few. Lerives 1-4, measuring 10-40 & Q-2-1-0 em., linear. channelled, grass-like. Flowers 210. messucing 2-6 cm, across ex- panded petals, usually (except for the luteral sepals) some shade of tilae or purple but sometimes white or reddish- mauve, very rarely pale cream, yellow or pale lilac with much darker spotting [often the labellum ts a darker shade than the dorsal sepal and petals, but sometimes it is paler], Derral sepal €-25 ™ §-15 mm, usilally Gvaic but sometimes almast orbicular,, eccasionully constricted ubout the middle and sometimes apic- Plate 2 tate, usually cucullate over the col- umn at the base. thereafter recurved into an almest upright position but occasionally molt recurved. Luaseral sepals 25-90 & 1-4 mm., green, brown- ish or dark purple, linear, acute, de- flexed, pendulous, sometimes crossed, usually at least twice as Jong as petals- Petalt 8-30 X 3-14 mm., distinctly or indistinctly clawed, the lamina ovate, orbicular,, cuneate or spalthulate. Labelunt 7-22 % 4-17 pam. teilobate; disk narrow, the twa ridues sometimes yellow, often ending (anteriorly) in tooth-like processes; lateral jobes [rom buse of disk very variable in size, usually oblong-faleate (but shape also variable), the apical margin 3ometimes crenulate; mid-lobe expanded into a lamina fram the apex of the disk, usually twice as lang as lateral lobes, ovate, orbicular, scutiform, fabelli- form or even trapeziform, occasionally apiculste or ermareinate, usually keeled. Colwnk short and broad: wings arising [rom the base, erect, extending usually as high as the anther, narrow, falcale or lanceolate. often crenulate and yellow in front. Stigara large, subs orbicular. Rosfelltin covered by an ovoid bursicle at apex of the stigma. Aner usually brown, rugose, firmiy ittached at the posterior af the column and ¢xtending just higher than the bursicle; potlinia 2, each deeply cleft, mealy, slender, hanging from the rostellum without stipe or caudicles; viscidium ovoid, not becoming at- tached to the pallinia until Mower has been open same time and is. reaching “maturity”, Arrangement of the Infra-specife Categories 1. Drris punctata Sm. var. FUNCTATA The most complex taxon within the species, with at least three colour forms, oné of which is extremely variable. ISH5—O, prnoteta vay. fongiesima Benth. (Dripstone, NSW), {419—L punctate var, alhovieltece Rupp ex Dockrill (Sunshine, Vie.), §0-52—Ditic (Sydenham, Wie-—Tyee loc }. S2-86—P. punetate var, warvrpedude Bockrill (Proston diéteiet, Qland! aAr-36—B, ponetata ver, punctate forma hlakncyw (from Bailey's illagtrstion of his Tyre form), 40—Diutte (from Bailey's ilizstration stated to purtesy the ugusl form wf the apectes) 61—Otlte (Ravenshde, N. Q'lomi—from Batley's Tren syetiment, 132 Vier, Nat—Vel, 81 September, 1964 133 {a} Forma PUNCTATA A form of quite variable structire, igs flowers of moderate ro very large size, pale mauve in colour, with much darker disUiact spotting on all seg- ments other than the lateral sepals. When J, E. Smith published his plate (t. 8 in Exotic Botuny, 1804), he gave oo locality record more cx- plicit than “New Hoiland”: but it is known that numbers of the other planis described by him came from the Hiverpoot-Camden area, N.S.W. Wea further specimens of this form were fecorded until P, A, Gilbert located it again near Campbelltown, WN.S.W.—more that 170 years later in September 1934. The present author was Shown this localion (hy Mr, Gil- bett}, where colonics of the spotted type form) occurred spasmodically throughout a lange scattering of 2D, punctate Var. purntéctale forma blak- neve (q.v.d. Their flowers were quite Variable and, excep for colour, utdis- tinguishable from some figures of the Jatter. There ara reports that forma pracieta also occurs in a few districts other than Campbelltown, hur the writer has not been able to sce speci- meas from these places. in view of the history and distinctive colour pattern of this form, it is con- sidered advisable to distinguish it nomenclaturally- TCONOTYPE: Searches im the lecbarra at Kew and British Museum (Nat. Hist.) have fsiled to revesl the specimen delineated by Smith, so presumably it has beer Just. Smith's illustvation (he) must therefore serve as un ICONOTYPE- Neotrve: Near Camphelitown, NS.W, (4. W. Dockrill, 26/9/1943—Herb. NSW, nm. $7121). Distaistron: Only Carmpbetliawn «lis- trict, N.SW., as fur as definitely known, bul palespotted specimens of the vars. longissinn: Benth., alta CR. Be.) Dockrill and parvipetala Dockrill have been seen from several widely stpacated localities; so perhaps forma puntata also awaits discovery in aveas far removed from Campbelltown. 134 (b) Forma BLAKNEY£ F, M. Binley Compr. Cat. Gd. Plants B47, fix. 973 A, B & E £1913), D, elongata Swartz in Schrad. Nenres J, Bor, 31. $9 (1805): R, Br. Pree. Flar. Nov. folt. 316 {1520}; Lind), Gen, & Spec- orchid, Plunts }08 €1240),; Reich- eabach f. Rete, syst, Pik. 13 C’87t); Ro DD, Fits, Ase. Orchied, 14 (1878), D. iitacina Fe Mucl, in Linnaca 26: 239 (1853). Bailey distinguished Kis form by a broad mid-lohe of the tabellurm (Figs, $7, 58 & 59 are taken from his lus- trations} and also figured (ic,}) a fabellun of what he considered ta be the usual form of the species [Fig. 40 is taken from this]. The present author has cxamined Bailey's holotype speci- men of forma fPlaknera [Pig. Ol was prepared From it], aod is tirmly con- vinced that there is nothing unusual or outstanding about it, his callection merely represents one figure of 4 variabic form—specimens duplicating Digs. 57, 58, 59, 60 & 61, and a range of intermediates, can be found in the field alongside one another aad they are obviously all tefcrable to a single taxon. ‘Phe writer sees #0 reason why one figure should be singled oul, fram others which are just as distinctive, for special treatment, Since ihe “forma Mlakneyce" must stand [see fnerrac. Code Bot. Nomenct. Art. 16, 6) & 70 (1952). it is now proposed that the circumscription of the form he broadened to includes the multiplicity of figures discussed hereunder. In its wmended interpretation, this becomes the “typical” oc most usual form ol the species (bit, of course, not the type form) and must of the ena finns given for the species probably apply to this form only. Tis Mowers are morpholgi¢cally ideatical with those of forma purtcture, but the colour is exceedingly variable; pale mauve to deep reddish-purple. occas- Vict. Mat.—-Vol. 81 o ionally white, and rarely pale cream [e7. W. H. Nicholls in Viet. Nat, 46; 182 (1930)]; specimens often have yvanous segments of differeot colours, and occasionally the labcilum is spot- ted, but never alf segments a% in the forma ptercrara. Its range of structure and size are little shor! of astonishing, ane It is possible to find a scattering of planis in a small area where the fol- lowing variations occur: flowers small to very large (combined length of dorsal sepal plus labeliuim 2-5 om.}i lateral sepals 2-4 times length of petals, usually Jax but some- times recurved or ever crossed; petals usually distincily awed but ogca- sionally obscurely so. the lamina mod- erile to large in size and ranging from suborbicular ta soblanceolate, occa- sionally apiculate; futeral fuabes of lohettem usually 4 ta 3 the length of mid-hybe, about twice as long as broad and oblong-faleate, bul sometimes they are either smaller or larger, varying from suborbicular and clawed to obovate-subtriangular or even linear, eullous plates Cor Tidges) of disk ov- casionally glandular; mia-lobe of labol- lum sometimes actitely keeled and sometimes fat, suborbicular. flabelli- fotin, ovate, subtfangular or even trapeziform, and sometimes apiculate or emarginate; codenmn-wiags from 1-5 mon. jower than apet of anther to 1:5 mm. above it, Sad apical halt of outer margin ranging from entire to crenulate or even serrate. Hotoryre: Ravenshoc. N. O'land (Miss a A. Slakney, 2/11/19)2—Herb. BRI). DistxipuTion: From ithe coast to the Western Plains of exstern Australia, from the Atherton Vablclund in north Quccrsland thronel: Qyeensiand, New South Wales and Victoria to Minint Ganvbice in South Austrabs. Some- times oon grasslund that is swampy during winter (e 8, Busrasdale distnet, Vic), (c) Forma SULFUREA (H. M. R, Rupp} A.W. Bockrill, stat. nov. BD. puncrara var, suljarea A.M, R- Rupp in Proc. Linn, Soc, N,S.W- 69 73 (1944). September, 1964 A careful examination of all speci- mens of this form in the National Hetharium of New South Wales has shown what their morphology is quite identical with that of forma penciata, the sole difference being that of colour. It is apparenily well-established ih its only kaown district, and the clear sulphur-yellow colour is so. outstand- me2ly distinct fromy the usual mauve, purple or white in flowers of this species thal recognition of a colour form (but not a varicty) is warranted, None of the specimens at Sydocy Herbarium bears a label (in Rupp's, ar any other, handwriting) to indicate thal a type is concerned; so the present author has chosen one of them as lectotype. Lecroryre: Green Valley, Guyra, NSW. (7. Po Shiner, Ocr. 19356—Herb. NSW, nw, $7122), DistrisuTioM: New South Wales only, where confined fo the ype Togality. 2, D. punerara Sm. var Aina (R- Br.) A. W. Dockrill, cons. nov. & stat. nev- 0, albo K. Bro Pradr. Flor, Nav, Holt, 324 (1810); Benth. Flor. Arse &, 325 (1873); F. M, Bailey Ud. Flor, S$; 1564 (1902), |Rupp, Orchid. NSW. 12 (1943), cloube fully refers ta this varicty,] Sit George Taylor (now Director, Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew) has kindly supplied .a scale sketch of the fabellum fram a saffened-aut flower of R. Brown's holotype specimen (Fig. 32 1s taken from thik sketch] and has supplied Lhe following informa- ton: Collected at Shoal Passage, Queensland, 26th August 1802, and housed at the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) under No, 5558; over-all lenath of Jabellum 7 mm.,; lateral sepals 23-35 mm, long; petals not yery acute. A vareful ¢xaminaiton of a number 135 of specimens belonging to this taxon has shown that the margins of the disk of the labellum will fotd over or tightly inrall on drying, giving the disk a very Narrow appearance, Anvone not familiar with this habit would find it cafficult to see the margins of the disk xr the callous plates (longitudinal tidges}. Therefore we can, with reasonable safety, assume that the disk in Brown's specimen was actually broader than that depicted hy Sir George Taylor, and that in the fresh State it would most prohably accord with Figs, 30 & 31. Dr. W. T. Stearn, in Endeavour 19 (n, 73): 33 (Jon. 1960), reproduced a beautiful drawing of D- alba R- Br- by Ferdinand Bauer, 1802-05. Since Brown's specimen was collected in 1802, we may also reasonably assume that Bauer’s meticulous itlustranan portrays either the type specimen or at least one Of the selfsame taxon. It shows 2. Jabellum disk that is not very narrow. This taxon has the following distin- guishing feulures: flowers small to medium in size (combmed lenath of dorsal scpal plus labellum 4-5-3'0 cm). white or white with purple suf- fusions o spois; lateral sepals ystally rather short, often Jess than Iwice the length of the petals; petals plus mrid- Jobe of labellum very vactable; Jareral lobes of labellum slender, ridges of disk 2, nut 3 as Stale by same authors (Bauet's illusication (/e.), on first appenrances, Seems fo lave a central tidze; however, examioatton of speci- mens shows rhis to be an area of colour and not a ridge]; column details are quite consistent with OD. puncteta, Bailey (/c.) stated that it is difficult lo separate D. alba from D, puricsata in the dried state. and so iL is; in fact, the former taxon is Jitthe more than a geographically distinct colour form. it is now proposed to reduce D. alba R. Br tea variely ol D, pustctate Sm 136 ~ HoOvLotree: Shoal Passage, N. Queens: lant (A. Brown, 26/%/1802—Herb, BM), Desrrinution: Neae-coastal districes froin Rockingham Bay, North Queensland, to Port Jackson ii central Wew South Wales, showing a preference for “Wallum" anil open heaths 3. D. punetara Sm, yar MING Benth, Flory, Ause, 6: 327 (1873). In Bntish herharia there are no specimens bearing the varietal epithet “miner’ jn Bentham's handwriting; but the specimens collected in the New England and Upper Ciarence River districts of New South Wales, and referred to by him (Cic,), are in the National Herbarivra of Victoria. The labels on these specimens give na indication of type material, so the present author has chosen one of them as lectotvpe, viz. from Clifton in New England fabout 19° miles west of TenterGeld, N.S.W.}; Pig. 27 was taken from u seftened-out flower of this specimen. Flowers in his variely are small (usual length of dorsal sepal plus fabelliign tithe more than LS om.); colour is usually deep pluish-mauve to purple, but occasional pale mauve of even white Alowers are seen; lateral sepals vary in length from moderate 10 very Jong (about 2-5 times the length of petals); petals rather small, usually with long, distinct claws and sub- orbicular laminae; labellum with rather large Jaterol jobes which are st right angles to the disk, and mid-lobe more or less Aabelliform. G, Beatham's description, “. . . mud- lube of labellum more rhomboidal. 1s puzzling bevaise none of the speci- mens quoted by him show this feature, Possibly bis impression was gained from a dned-up and faululy pressed labellumi Frona some flower, Lecrorvee and Paratyves: Clifton, New England, NSW, (C. Senate, about 1870—Herb. MEL.), Vict, Not —-Vol, Bl DrstRactTiow: Tablelands of the northern halt of New South Wales and of sauthern Queensland. 4. OvrorxctTatra Sy. var, LONGISSIMA Benth. Flav, Ausi. 6; 227 (1873), BD. ceneara R, DB, Fite, Aust. Orchid, 24: 1891); A.M. RB. Rupp Orelia. NSW. 12 (1943). J. A, Willis bas carefully examuned an ssotype specimen of this variety (from Mudgee, N.S.W,) and is quite satic fied that at is identical with D. cuneata R. D. FitzG., so alsa was Rey, Rupp, when shown the same specimen in May 1953. The cuneate petals, undu- Jate margins of the mid-lobe of the Jabellum and wlandilation of the cal- lous plates of the disk, features stressed by FitzGerald, have been found to be much more variable in this taxo than was known to him, Undoubtedly Ben- yham was justified in classifying 1b as merely a variant of D. punctaya, The usual form of jhis variety 1s characterized a5 follows; moderatc to large flowers {length of dorsal sepul plus tabeltum 2°25-3-5 om.) which have a celatively large dorsal sepal; long laterat sepals [even up to 9 om. or more); more or Jess indistinctly clawed petals; !abellum with broutl latecal Jobes (their breadth up to half the length of mid-lobe) which em- brace the column, and mid-lobe some- what flabelliform. However, Figs. 39- 45 indicate some of the variations within this variety. Les colour range is most pronounced—from white with purple suffusions lu deep reddish purple, some specimens being even spotted and reminiscent of the forma punciata [see also FitzGerald (fe-)], some Steiped or dark-coloured with the margios of segments outlined in while. Tsorvrc- Mudgee, NS.W. (Ferfar, [870 Herb, MEL). DistRieuTion; Northern Victoria (where now reduced to curity through the inroads of grazing, cte.J, southern New South Wales from suxast boy West- September, 1964 ern Plains and on the Central Western Slopes 3. D. punctata Sm. var. ALBO-VIOLa- co, JL M_ R. Rupp ex A. W, Dockrill, var. nov. DB. alba sens. auctt. Vict,, nom R Br, Flores mordlict suaveolentes, albi ef Violaceo-suflus(; sepala tateratic longissima; pefala mapa, saepe indistinete unyulata; labelleen lobis lateralibus maenis atgre lebo ttedin plerumaue — flabelliferni, wins disco anguste longissimogue Cob medium subaequanti), HoLotyre: Syilenham, Victoria (P.RLA. St. tnhn, Oct, 1912—Herb, MEL) Paratyres; Loo, cin CW. RR Raker, 6/11/1901— Herb. MEL) DIsterntron: Southem Victons where restricted to the Keilor and Werribee basulle plains (on dry grassland) and now extremely rare. Flowers of moderate size {com- bined length of dorsal sepal plus label- Jum usually a. little less than 3 cm.), fragrant, While with yrulck suffusions; fateral Sepals long (3-4 times the Jenath of petals). petals usually imdastinctly clawed: lateral lobes of labellum very large Coften as long us ihe mid-lohe); disk very Jone (about the fengih of mid-fohe) anu marrow; mid-lohe usually Dabelliform, The vanely albo-violacca has aifin- tics with var. longissina, from which il differs chiefly in the very tong and narrow disk—see Key and Figs. 46-52, The varietal epithet, referring to the colour of the Rower, was suggested by Rev, H. M_ R-. Rupp scyeral yeare before his death, MN would have been published in his revision of the D, punctaia Complex (never completed), 6. D. Puncrata Sm. var, WARVIPE- TALA A, W, Dockrill, var, ma, Flores parvale (sepalum dorsale ana cunt labella 1-73 tn, solu 137 metiens), Intea-albi, punetis macus lisque violeceis obliut; angudus inter lahellutre et sepalum dorsale acutis- sinus; sepala lateralia longissima {quam pefala sextupla longieray; daminae peraiorum variabiles ved seniper parvulae, breviter sea late unguiculatae (fotnn, petalum bre- vissimuil, mruncetayt, cuneaiuit)+ labetlurm labis lateralibus minimis argue loba medio parvula, usitate subvhomboidall, eius disca plerum- que cavinater (lobes medius a disca nan clare discriminatur) Hovotype: Brigoada, Queensland (MH. Power, Sept. 19S4—Herh. BRI), Distravriow: Queensland, where only occasional From the Atherton Table- land to the border of New South Wales, but occurring in fair naimbers in the Proston srea, It seents to Favour hivhec elevations ar areas nat close lo the Comat Flowers very small (combined lengtl: of dorsal sepal plus labellum usually about 1 75 cm.), except foc the lateral ¢epals coloured cream with mauye-spots and hlotches; dorsal sepal forming a very acure angle with the fabellum; lateral sepals. extranruinarily long, averaging about 6 times the length of petals; laminae of petals yariahle in shape but extremely small. tné claw short and broad so that the whole petal often appears truncate or cuneate; lateral lobes of labellum very small; mid-lobe small, usually sub- rhombojdal and with no sharp line of demarcation from the disk which is usually keeled, The vartely parviperaia has often been mis-identified either as var, alba ot Var. nitnor, but its merphology is quite distinct-ef. Key ancl Figs. 53- 56. KEY To WARCETIES AND Forms oF DB. puneratd 1, Larecal lobes of labellum at least + as long a5 mid-tobe, or, if stightly less, dhen very broad (3) Plowees usually dark purple (but variable): length of dorsal re plus lahellum seldom above 1-6 cm; lateral sepals 2-5 times fenpth o petals dystincly chawed tb} Flowers variable in colous; length of dorsal swpal plus fabellum 2 2-2-3. 5 cin.; lateral sepals 3-4 umes length of petals; petals indistinctly clawed: lateral Jobes of labelluen, very broad: disk not long and slender _ var. LONGISSIMA (c) Flowers white with violet suTusiens, fragrant, length of dorsal sepal plus Jabellum usually stightly less than 3 cm.; tateral sepals 3-4 times length of Petals: petals indistinedy clawed: lateral lobes of Isbellum often a5 Jong as mid-lobe; disk long ‘(often as Jane ax mid-lobe},, very narrow fo hulf, then very tarhow, ‘ Latera} bchies of tabclium Jess than 4 as reer var. ALBO-VIQLACEA emid-ibe. os, it approaching (d) Flowers cream with purple spots and suffusions, length of dorsal sepel plus Jabellum usually about l+7 em.; Jalecul sepals averaging 4 times length of petals: petals with very small jaminaes mikblobe of labeflum incistinctly separated from disk _ var. PARVIPETALA (e) Flowers white or white with ‘purple suffusions; length of dorsal sepal plus laveflum 1:5-3:0 cm.; lateral se on 12-24 times eaRth of petals; laminae of petals moderate in size 3 five varieties lies -, .. «-) Var. ALBA All segments extremely Variable, bit sosutoinartons afl charbelers not asin other . var, PUNCTATA (ff) Flowers nale mauve with much dukey s spotting 0 on alt BegMents (2) Flowers sulphus-yellaw | Forma pirricreare forma svifurea (h) Flowers variable ji colens (white to Neep purple), withoul spots er rarely so on labellum only . 138 - forma Sfakreve Vict. Nat- Vol &1 Australian Wattles—No. 42 Mealy Wattle, Acacia farinosa Lindl., and Hard-leaf Wattle, A. sclerophylla, Lindl. Mealy Wattle is named for its mealy (farinaceous) buds, flower-stalks and young leaves. It is a distinctive but rather undistinguished dull green, shrubby wattle of the dry country, stiff in some localities and somewhat weeping in others. The stiff, usually curved, leaves are shallaleigh-shaped, i.e. broad and blunt at the top and narrowed to the base, dull green, impressed with a fine mesh of longitudinal veins, and 1” to 2” long, with the broadest part #”’ to occasionally as much as 4” wide. There is sometimes a small thick point on the tip, sometimes a small notch. The relatively small, short-stalked flower-heads arise singly, in pairs or in threes, from the leaf-bases and are By JEAN GALBRAITH a rather light yellow. Both flowers and leaves are commonly well-spaced, and the pods are about the same width as the leaves, often curved, dark with lighter margins, 1” to 2” long and narrowed to both ends as well as slightly narrowed between the broadly oval seeds. They are inconspicuous amongst the leaves. A Western Wimmera variety, var. glabra, has larger. brighter flowers and typical leaves, but less mealy stems, Mealy Wattle extends from north- ern Victoria to Western Australia. A rather similar north-western species is Hard-leaf Wattle (A. sclero- phylia) but its phyllodes are less blunt and occasionally more-or-less sigmoid Mealy Wattle—A. farinosa September, 1964 Photo: N. A. Wulcpield 139 (like the old fashioned long {) with the fine veins less apt to run into each other. The two species cannot be con- fused because Hard-leaf Wattle is not at all mealy, and there is always only one of its little dark yellow flower- heads at the base of each phyllode. The Naturalist and the Microscope The heads are short-stalked and the stalks quite glabrous. The pods of both species are about the same size, but those of Hard-leaf Wattle are usually straight, and are veined like the foliage, though less distinctly. Cleaning Diatomaceous Deposits A fossil diatomaceous deposit was recently discovered in the Happy Jack mine near Ballarat, and a sample of it being given to the Microscopical Society it was passed on to me for cleaning and any particulars I could give concerning it. There has not yet been sufficient time to clean it thoroughly, but it has reached the stage where the diatoms can be recognized and a list of these is given below. The following is the method I use for cleaning this or any other fossil deposit. In fact, I gave it in an article in our Proceedings for February 1944 for cleaning the Oamaru fossil de- posits, and it can be used, with slight variations, for any others. 1. Break into pieces about 2’ square, place in an evaporating dish till about half full, then fill up dish with crystals of acetate of soda or hypo (the latter answers per- fectly) and boil over a spirit lamp for about 15 minutes, then allow it to cool and crystallize. Add water, then heat again. When dissolved pour the water with 140 By H. BaRRETY sediment into a container, such as. a tall preserving jar, and allow the sediment containing the dia- toms to settle for at least half an hour, then pour off the milky water. Repeat the crystallization till the earth is all broken up, adding the water with sediment to the first lot. 2. Keep washing the sediment in water, pouring off after half an hour, till the water remains clear. 3. Put the sediment containing the diatoms into the porcelain evapor- ating dish, and when settled care- fully pour off the water, removing the last few drops with a pipette, then about half fill the dish with commercial strength hydrochloric acid* and boil for about ten min- utes; this eliminates any iron or carbonate of lime. *In this and subsequent steps requiring the use of strong acids the greatest care must be exercised. Such acids are highly corrosive and should they come into contact with hands or clothes must be washed off at once. After heating, they must be allowed to cool before pouring into water, Never pour water into strong acid, Vict. Nat.—Vo!l. 81 4, Wash thoroughly as before to remove all traces of acid. This will take two days at least. Put in dish again, allow to settle, and remove all water. 6. Pour in nitric acid till dish ts about one-third full, and boil for abont ten minutes. All the acid boiling must be done in the open air, as the fumes are very cor- rosive. Allow il to cool, then pour it inte a jar about half full of water, then fill with water and allow it to settle for one hour- Wash repeatedly for two days. With some fossil deposits the boiling in nitric acid can be omit- ted, but I think it advisable to carry it out with this one, 7. Put in dish again, allow it te settle and remove all water. & Pour in sulphuric acid (about tea times the bulk of the sediment) and boil for about twenty min- utes, then allaw it to cool, then pour it slowly into a jar about half full of water, then fill the jar and allaw it to settle as before for ane hour. Wash repeatedly for two days. 9. Examine under the microscope, and if clean except for sand, place the cleaned deposit in a shallow concave vessel, and give tt. a very light rocking and rolling motion. The diatoms will thea gradually rise in a cloud in the centre, and can be drawn off wilh a pipetic, leaving the sand in the bottom. 10. If there js still floccylant matter present with the dialoms, place them in the dish again, fill with water about half full, and bring The waler to boiling potor, and drop in as much caustic soda as you can pile On a sixpence. Boil for one and o half minutes (no longer), then tip i into a jar of cold water and wash as before, Sepramber, 1965 aa The diatoms showld then be per- fectly clean. The undermentioned list shows all the species 1 have located so far in this deposit, and there are probably others I have not yet seen, Surirella hastata A.S. Pinauloria viridis Cleve P. nobilis Eh. Synedra sina WS. S. ulna var. lorteissliana WS. Synedra sp, Stauromeis phoenicenteron E.H. S. fulrien Bre Epithemia gihba Ke. Most. Cymbella delecta AS. Cacconcis placeninta B.H. Plentiful. Fragilluria sp. Gomphorema tnericanim KG. Navicula sphderophera K.G. N. inflexa Ralfs. Stanronels frauenfeldiana Grunow This method can also be used for the cleaning of some recent gatherings: the scrapings from. the surface of mud aid sand for tnstance. The material should be put through a strainer of abot SO meshes toa thé inch first, ta remove bits af weed, fragments of shell and any ather refise. It can then be dealt with in the same way as Jassit material. Diatoms erowing on weed, cither Jreshwater or marine, are trealed ditf- ferently. The weed! 1s first placed to a bhickel or other suitable container full of water, A handfyl of washing sodz ts theo added to the water, and the weed Ts then stirred frequently for about two hours. The diatoms will by then all have dropped off, and the weed can be removed, Allow the diatoms time to setile (about one hour), then deal with the sediment io the same way as the fossil material. Noiek—A sample of the diatomaceous earth from the Hacpy Jock Mine will he posted to any membet who wishes to try his shill at cleaning u fossil djatum depbait. Send 6A_ statip to cover postage to Mr D. &. Mehines, 1245 Waverley Road, East Malvern. 141 Bush Brushes The fox'y brosh was the traditional trephy of the chase. The Field Naturalist usually returns from oan excursion into the bush yaith a different sart af “lale’. If you have one worth mounting and pre- serving send it io the Assistant Editor, “Vinturian Naturalist’, 102 Murray Read, East Preston, N18, Victoria, Bulbuls After reading the oote about bulbuls hy R&R. D. Lee in the Viet, Nat, 80 (12); 369, Mrs, J. Campbell of Hast- ings has sent in the following obser- vation. In reply to Mr, Tee's note regarding Bulbuls, I may say that [ saw a few of these birds about 1930 in the Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. I wrote to the late Donald Macdonald about them ai the time, 1 remember Mr, Macdonald wus amused at my letter. I had evidently read something about hulbuls having been imported from India and asked him to describe them, I fol- lowed this up by asking for an identi- fication of the strange birds I had scen in the Gurdens, and of course, these were bulbuls! As far as I remember, there were only two of three of the birds; and as I have never heard of any being seen since, it is To be hoped they died out, JI is interesting to note that Leach in his Australian Bird Book Ed. 9, states that. the Red-whiskered Bulbul (Otocompsa emeria) is “a serious pest; should be eradicated now”. In addi- tion, these birds, which were iotro- duced from Mauritius, wete appar- ently common around Melbourne, as ‘ihis is one of the bovk’s noted local- ities, What has caused their decline 192 disease or tnahbilily to adapt thern- selves to a pew envitooinent?— R.H.I-McQ.] Bungi Notes ‘Thess notes come to us trom Mes, Filen Lyndon of Leongatha. _ Now that the fungi season is with us again, there are exciting finds Io be made in every gacden and paddock or patch of serubland, Towards the end of May, I wae. invited to go fungi fossicking on a sandy, scrub- covered hill adjacent to the little town- ship of Kyungwak, which fies inland ap- proximately halfway hetween Inverloch and Wonthaggi, Here we found several small specimens of JTygraphorus lewel- linae growing in the powdery remnants of a rotting fog. For years this toadstool has been considered very rare, but now that we ate familiar with it, it is turning up between May and August each year throughout the sandy coastal plain from Stany Creek to Corinella, and from Kongwak to Tarwin. The frniting body is an unusual colour, not rich purple, but tather a pale cold violet hue throughout. Old specimens fade to almost white in wet weather. Also at Kongwak, we found fine col- onies of Amanita ochrophyfla, ranging trom large specimens with a spread of len. inches down to quaint buttons. Young speciinens have the typical pyramidal warts on the cap, but these flatten out into an attractive pattern as the plant Vier, Nat—Vol, B! ages. The gills are a rich creamy colour and smell nutty and wholesome, Accord- ing ta Mr. J. H. Willis, this species may prove ta he edible. Ameriza ampbrneila grew miearby, this is « mare graceful fungus Wilh a saliny grey cap decara- ted with a few mealy patches anil white gills Were these two not of the genus Ayminita we would have papper them in the pan Jong aga, The Clavoriacea were well represented with pale Jemon spikes appearing amongst the leafy debtis and masses of the bul- coloured Ramaria. Rotting logs sprouted ecionics of other bushland gems which amateurs Hesitate ta name with cer- tainty. Schizepiiyilune and Byplaloma formed fan-like communities on old STUrps Anrangst the baldest colours of the ground-dwellers are the Rusvwulus. R. eiRerica hes a scarlet cap and R, airiae is a rich purple. Both have pure white gills and ithe stalks are usually tinged with the cep colaur, One thar abways pives me gtest pleasure to find js an- other of the Amenins. This is 4. ptl- cella, just 9s showy as the intraduced A, oruscéria, OUE BrOWINE singly and por in colonies. The scarlel-orange cap bears a few while warts towards the centre, the gills and stem beng o clear white, A delightful thing, seldom amore than three Inches dcrass- A, muscaria, the Fly Agaric. has been reported [this autuinn from humerous places around the pine plantatians in the Childers district im the Gippsland hills and tnder homestend pines fram hill tel further esst at Ryton and Beech At. Appeal ta ALL Naturattsts Lt seents quite remarkuble thac iu a club boasting approximately ovte rr sana members, all ot when aie o5- jensibly field naturalists, (here shoul he such a dearth of field observations shat during the past four months, orily five letters containing material for this feature, Bush Brushes, have come ta hand. Our stockpile bas mow ruir our. These Iwo pages can be contmued only if all members are wilhng 106 participate. The Field Nuinralists Clof is justifiably proud of this magazine because ibis the only monthly publi- September, 1964 cation of its natire available jy) the whole of Alistralla. Rut we Nave Teached a point where greatly io- creased co-operation from members 1s necessary if the hiph standard and nize of the magazive is to continue unchanged, Many of us make observations on different aspects of natural history quite regularly. Some are not so for- tunule, buL al the same ume, ure in- tensely inicrested in reading of others’ experiences. Usfurtunately, all too ofien we mistakenly consider our own observations 14 be commonplace, and of Jillle more than passing toferest to ourselves. Thus if is left to a few stalwarts [9 keep these cohimos “alive” with their observations. All of us should be aware of the value of independent observation. and When 2 medium such as these coltiyyes does exist for the dissemination of our eXperiences, we should take advantage of tt and share our good fortune with others. We ire tsuully willing to move our- selves if we are give sufficient cause. We are zealous in the support of campaigns to prevent the alienation of Nationy! Parks and ta restrict the collection of specimens by the British Museum, Although very necessary, the function of any group of Naiural- i818 18 NO only ihe conservation of habitat and the preservation of species thersit. Surely af 1s just as important to exrenil the recorded knowledge of eur natural heriage. ‘To this end [ earnestly implore all teaders Who are auficiently patient or whe are fartunate enough to make any observations which could he of interest to their fellows, ta send them i), Even if you are uncestain of the Implications involved, your abserva- tions can be of great value. TF year fee) thal these eolutmms are worth- while, then help Us 10 contintre them, R. HJ. McQ. 43 Nature Notes from Ringwo A new record for our aren was the sughting of a Powerful Owl Ninox strenud at South Warrandyic. The. bird was on a branch about 14 feet above the main Ringwood voad and was first seen in the car headlights. Fortunately it re- mained in the same place until we rolurned with a spotlight, This enabled pyitive identification to be made. Our auna survey group has observed the Powerful Owl un a mumber of occasians while spotlighting. Mrs. E. Moore reported another in- usual visitor, the Great Egret. Aererta aiba. Vhis solitary bird was seen feeding around the edge of a dam at North Ringwood Although we occasionally sec spoonbills in the area, this is ihe first time this egret hax heen noted. An interesting report from J. Pearson, was of a flock of pelicans which circled the Ringwood Lake and then flew away in 4 southerly direction. Me. J. Hyew reperted at sur July meeting that the Red-capped Robin Pe- od Field Naturalists Club roica goodenovii had been seen at Wan tirna South. ‘This is unusual as the bird is not usually found so far south. Nod- ding Greenhoods Pierestylis nutans were found in full flower at the Gurdies on May 24 this year. This was thought io be rather early as they were flowering profusely and still budding at North Warrandyle in srid-Suly. Tarly in June the Banded Greenhood Prerastyly vittata was fownk in the Franksion-Langwarrin area. Growing nearby were the Striated Greenhood, P. alan, the Trim Grecenhood PF, concinsa and the Nodding Greenhood P. ritany. The Guat Orchid Aciwthus cxsertvs has been Howering and the Mosquito Orchid Aciauthus reniformis was nearly in bloom, Signs af spring are the Scented Sun- dew Drosera whitiakeri in full bloam and the fiest flowers of False Sarsaparilla Rardenbergia vielatea appexnng. On Mr, Jack Truscott'’s property at Notth Ringwood the Bell Miners are busy buildine iheir nests. EXAKTA, PENTAX, PRAKTICA CONTAREX, BESSAMATIC . All the famous brands Telephoto, Wide Angle Lenses Close-up Equipment HERBERT SMALL’S 259 COLLINS STREET, MELEOU (Opposite Hetcl Austrolia) CAMERAS ano SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER , RWE HERBERT SMALL’S — AT YOUR SERVICE FOR OVER 100 YEARS 144 Viet Nat. -Vol, SI The Name “ Mulga” Why does Miss Jean Galbraith’, in her interesting accounts of the Acacias, use the term Grey Mulga for Acacia brachybotrya and Silver Mulga for A. argyrephylla (Kiet, Nat. 80 (iG), Feb. 1964, p. 321)—species not related in any way ta siuiga? Ac- cording to Professor Morris (.Ausrral- English, 1898, p. 305), the first use of the term “mulga™ is in | 864 in the ac- count of McDouall Stuart's Expedi- tions. This is understandable as he was probably the first explorer to meet with dense mulga thickets (“mulga scrub", Morris, p. 306) and might quite naturally ask a native whal the trees were called. As the tree would be of use to the aborigines in vanous ways ("mulga apples”"—edihle galls, “mulga sugar” from coccids, the wood for weapons), it would probably have i name of its own. Ip Central Austra- lia one may have open mulga plains with scattered trees, denser mula but room to negotiate 4 Land Rover casily through thé irees, and very dense tulga scrub requiring knocking much of it down—an alarming experience viewed from the cabin of the Land Rover. Plants botanically identified as Acacia aneura vary much in the field. The trees of mulga scrub on the plains may be considered as typical “mulga”, ptobably being the tree so called by the natives. It has slender phyllodes of uniform length, Bur even here differ- ences ogclir—some young plants are greyer than athers, some hall-growa © Mess Galbraith was no doubt fullowing the terminology of A. J. Ewart (1410) Flora nf Vietorsz, wv. 591, but this hardly affects Gir Jeha Clelond’s thesis —Kaditor September, 1964 By }. B. CLetann rees hayé horizontal branches, some have a beller food value for cattle than others and these can be recog- nized by bushmen; the trees on rocky hills differ, Occasional mulgas with broad phyllodes (4. aneura var. lart- folia) are easily recognized. The A. aneura complex wants careful study to see whether stable varieties can be hall-marked. In South Australia mulga appears at 36 miles from Port Augusta oo the Woomera road. Ic extends down to Tietken’s Well near Maralinga and to Ooldea in the west of South Ausira- Jia. On the Wentworth-Broken Hill road a mulga patch was noted 94-5 miles north of Wentworth (71 miles from Broken Hitl). Finally, may 1 express strong dis- approval of artificially coined vernacu- lar names which have no standing out- side Victoria. My old. frend, Dr. C. Sutton, spent so much time in helping to forge them, and did so wih so much enthusiasm, that T never tiked {Oo question their yaluc, but it has always sé¢emed lo me a real dis- service to science. It is a5 easy to say Hibhertia or Pinrelea as Geraniym and Pintosporikm. A native name of a Spontaneous name is allowable— blackboy or grase-tree—bul certainly not a mistake ltke “yacca’’. Addendum July 28, 1964. | think | have found why Acacia argyrophylla was given the vetnacular name of a mulgs, The mulgas belong to the Subsection JULIFLORAE with cy- lindrical or oblong spikes. J. M. Black 145 (1948) Flora of Sowth Australia places it in Subsection UNiNerves with olohular heads next to A, brachy- boirya where it clearly belongs. In South Australia the plant grows by the roadside on the Anpaston-Swan Reach Fiighway on the hill before F.N.C.Y. Visit to Mt. descending on ta the Murray Flals, I was to bud and flower on 18/7/64 and the buds were slightly elongated —one was 7 * 5S inm—though the flawers looked globular. LL was thus technically in othe Suborder Suu FLORAE, Buller—Christmas 1963 Part 1—Plants aod Anumals After Christmas activities a hus Joad of field naturalists left the city af 9.15 am oon Baxing Day, 1963, for Mt. Buller. The temperature was pleasant us we drove oue through Healesville and Alexundra. along the Maroondaly High- wey, We stopped for unch oo a bridge itcar Yarek and were interested to see men calling Phalariy tuberosa with a reaper and Winder, with two groups of three men slacking the sheaves inte stuoks As we looked downstream we were de lighted ta sec a Ruinbow Hird (Meropy ormatas) showing himself plainly on a dead branch which projected over the water. Passing the Tilden Weir, Hardhead (Nyrarca australis) were seen on an inlet and & number Of White-faced Heron (Notupheyx xovachollandive) and Little Black Cormorants (Phalacracerax eriel- anolercus), There were Spur-wiryed Plover {Lobibve novac-hotlandiag) in the puddachs. Neat Mansfeld River. Red Gurnis (ucolypias cemiwidilensis) were noticed, many almost defoliattd appar enlly by atick insects. Around Mersring were many Candlebarks (Eacalypins rubida), some showing beautiful red stecuks in Ue bark, and there Were some Red Rox (Ff polyanthemas). Tn the vicin- ity of Mirrimbah some Blue Gums (E- Dicastita) were noticed and a great quan- tity of Peppermint (&. radicfad, From about 3,000 tect Woollybults (E. aele- gafeasis) dominated the forest fa ubaut 4,000 feet when Snow Gums (6. pauet- Hore) took over to abuut 5,000 feet, while the top of Mt, Buller was Irecless. Soine Messmate (E&. ebtiqna] was seen on the road from, Mf, Stirling to Mirrimbah and E, viminalis was reeognized on the 146 Howgua. Prominent on fhe roadside ascending from Mitriinbah were Hop Bitts-pea (Darvicsia latifulia) as very large bushes, Feromen derwentia with bright mauve to white flowers, Clustered Everlasunz (Hellehrysumn semiipappor swe, Heneiath Orchid (Bipods pune- tefuere), Jarge Blne-bells {Wahlentersia counmilis), Oxylobicni alpestre in golden masses and Christmas Bush (Prostan- thera lastanthosy, Approaching the ska village the driver showed his skill 43 be nursed the full bus in the dark up the steep, stony road ta the Ivor Whittaker Memorial. Lodge. On the first morning the party divided up into small groups and in the bright sunshine wandered around the slopes neur the Lodge looking for Aowets. taking photos of Walching birds. Looking down tywards the new rand which had only recently becn completed i¢ was interesting to see the work which had beer done or the steeper banks ‘by the Country Roads Board, The surface haa been painted with tar, seed sown and the whole held in place with bundles of straw and wire-netting. "The grassland of the ski runs was made colourful with introduced plants, the red bloom of surrel and lush green of clover dotted with the bright yellow heads of dandetion (?arn- saeum officinale). The Yam (Micraserit scaptzera) and the fat weed (A ypocharis rodjcalt) Made polden masses, and many other natives bloomed in profusion. in- chiding White Purlane (Cloytona ass tralasic?) flat on the earth, open omly ir the warm sun, shrubby Aovea longifolia with purple peu-fowers, Mountain Pepper (Drinys fanceglata) with insignificant greenish creamy flowers, Alpine Mint bush (Prostanthera cuneata) with mauve Vict. Not—Vol 31 flowers. bright gold to orange Ivy Good- enia (Goodenia hederacea) in flat masses on the ground, Trigger Plants (Srylidium graminifolium) with vivid pink flowers, numerous clumps of Purple Violet (Viola hetonicifolia) varying from white to deep purple, grey-leaved white Olearia philo- xopappa var. subrepanda, Tall Rice- flower (Pimelea ligustrina) usually visited by many butterflies, moths and bees. White starry Prickly Star-wort (Srellaria pungens) and Poranthera microphylla with small white flowers were common. Wherever there was a cleared patch between the Snow Gums the golden pea- bush (Oxylobium alpestre) flourished and Pale Vanilla-lily (Arthropodium mille- florum) was beginning to flower. In the Snow Gums around the ski village Flame Robins (Petroica phoen- icea) showed flashes of bright colour and the beautiful Grey Shrike-thrushes (Col- luricincla harmonica) cocked their beady brown eyes. Thornbills, White-browed Scrub-wrens (Sericornis frontalis) and Grey Fantails (Ritipidura flabellifera) flitted «mong the bushes. High in the tree-tops Pardalotes were heard, while noisy flocks of Ravens (Corvus coron- vides), Grey Currawong (Strepera versi- color) and Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans) flew overhead. In the afternoon we ascended Mt. Buller. Leaving the Snow Gums behind we walked over blue-green snow-grass and over stones of metamorphic sand- stone where the great variety of plants resembled a huge rock garden. In addi- tion to the Hevea and Oxylobiin were found pink Pimelea alpina, yellow Com- mon Butter-cup (Ranunculus lappaceus) and Ranunculus gimianns with finely divided leaves. In damp patches Richea continentis was sending up its creamy spikes, mats of Fan-flower (Scaevola heaokeri) made low rosy patches, gleam- ing clusters of white Epacris paludosa shone among their dark green spiky leaves and the strange Alpine Everlasting (Helichrysum hookert) skirted edges of the wet places, a large pink willow herb, Epilobium sp., also flourished here. In the sphagnum bog the little flat Snow- wort (Diplaspis hydrocotvle) showed dry umbels of fruits and bright green mats of Scleranthus hiflorus were seen. Clumps of Alpine Leek-orchid (Prasophwvilum alpinum) and Green Bird-orchid (Chilo- vlottis conferta) were in damp areas. Veronicu serpyllifelia and Mountain Club-moss (Lycopodium — fastigiatum) September, 1964 Woullybutt forest in the Mt. Buller area. Note lack of undergrowth. Photo; J, Ros Garnet with clubs about two inches long, shel- tered under shrubs in damp spots also. Growing between the granite and sand- stone rocks were Mother Shield-fern (Polystichim proliferum). Alpine Water- fern (Blechnumt pennamarina) and Neck- lace Fern (Asplenium flabellifolinn) and, in the crevices of the basalt. Brittle Bladder-fern (Cvstupteris fragilis). Orites lancifolia with curly creamy flowers in spikes grew near the basalt columns. Alpine Plum-pine (Podocurpus lawrencit) showed pinkish clusters of staminal flowers on the male plants and bright red fleshy attachments to the seed on the female plants. The yellow-flowered Leath- ery Starbush (Plewrandropsis trymali- vides) and the related cream-flowered Phebahum phylicifolinm were prominent shrubs. as was Westringia sentifolia. Grevillea australis had tiny white flowers and the Rosy Heath-myrtle (Baeckea ramosissima) grew espaliated on the rocks. while yellow Bulbine bulbosa lily and orange Billy Buttons (Craspedia uni- flora) flourished on the slopes. Plantugo tasmanica with velvety leaves in starry rosettes and Aciphylla glacialis with palm-like pointed leaves were also con- spicuous. Daisies were numerous, including the little Bottle-daisy (Lagenophura stipu- fata). the Coarse Daisy (Brachycome dculeata) and Brachtycome rigidila and B. decipicns. The common. everlasting (Helichrysum scorpioides) and yellow Hoary Sunray (Helipterum albicans) were there. Podolepsis robusta was an- 147 other composite which looked like an everlasting. 4 On the summit the party sat in groups looking down on ridge after ridge of blue hills and watched Nankeen Kestrels (Falca cenchroides) hovering below and while descending heard Pipits (Anthus australis) calling as they perched on the tops of the low scrub, saw Welcome Swal- lows (Hirundo neoxena) circling after insects and flocks of Silvereyes (Zos- terops halmaturina) flying in gusts from one nectar-bearing clump of shrubs to the next. . On Saturday the party set out in the couch for Whitfield, Power's Lookout and Paradise Falls. Blackbacked Magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen). Mudlarks (Gral- lina cyanoleuca) and Willie Wagtails (Rhipidura leucophrys) were looking for food by the roadside. A group of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyp- torhynchus funereus) was seen and Eastern Rosellas (Platycercus eximius) flew past with a flash of bright green. Galahs (Kakatoe roseicapilla) and White Cockatoos (K. galerita) were seen in the paddocks. As we ate lunch on an outcrop of rock near Power's Lookout, we saw clumps of purple-mauve Rock Ysotame (Laurentia axillaris) at our feet and Little Skinks (Leiolopisma guichenoti) scuttling off into crevices. Growing among the rocks near the look-out was Common Fringe-myrtle (Calythrix tetra- gona) showing the reddish persistent, tailed calyx. Bursaria spinosa and Holly Lomatia (Lomatia ilicifolia) with its creamy flowers, Pale Wedge-pea (Goni- pholobium huegelii) with pale yellow flowers and Prickly Geebung (Persoonta juniperina) with flowers of bright gold. all made patches of colour. The Hop- bush (Dodonea cuneata) added beauty with the branches fringed with soft green lichen and its magenta fruits show- ing against the grey rock and the blue distance. In this area also there were the Burgan (Leptospermum ericoides) with long sprays of white flowers, Small-leaf Parrot-pea (Dillwynia parvifolia) in flower, Pultertea cunninghamii with its wide green leaves and orange-yellow flowers. also the Dogwoods (Cassinia longifolia) and C. aculeata and quan- lities of Wahlenbergia with bright blue flowers. Grevillea alpina was in flower and the tiny Boronia nana with slender stems and little pink flowers sheltered in tufts of grass. Blue Pincushions (Bru- 148 nonia australis) showed delicate blue heads among the rocks and the twining Hardenbergia violacea had finished flow- ering. The Tree Violet (Hymenanthera angustifolia) showed insignificant creamy flowers and round purple fruit. and Dwarf Rice-flower (Pimelea humilis) and pink Austral Centuary (Centaureum pulchellum) were there too. Healthy plants of Nodding Blue-lily (Stypandra glauca) were seen. but not in flower, Spreading Flax-lily (Dianella revoluta) was plentiful and flowering in big gen- erous sprays. The Yellow Autumn Lily (Tricoryne elatior) was flowering too. It was unfortunate that time did not allow everyone to make the long climb down below the sheer cliff face of pinkish rock from which the Paradise Fall dropped in a vertical silver ribbon. The few who did were torn between the need to return to the waiting party and the Wish to absorb the timeless atmosphere of the place with its giant monolith and the lush growth at its foot or to wonder what birds had perched on the whitened ledges of the cliff face where Cut-leaf Crane’s-bill (Geranium pilosum) main- tained a precarious foothold. Sunday morning was warm and sunny and was spent by us around the village. We wandered along the hillside over- looking the steep descent into the distant Howqua valley, tantalized by the swing- ing ropes of the ski-runs and charmed by the natural rock gardens. Here soft grass and mosses sheltered under rock ledges and overhanging lichened branches. Snow Daisy-bush (Olearia tyrata), Alpine Daisy (Brachycome nivalis) and Silver Daisy (Celmisia longifolia) grew in patches of sunlight and were visited by black and yellow striped beetles. Clumps of Eyebright (Euphrasia collina) grew along the track with sprays of Pale Vanilla Lily (Arthropodium milleforum) and Gorse Bitter-pea (Daviesia ulicina) was flowering and, in a depression, dense shrubs of Yellow Bottle-brush (Calli- stemon sieberi) were in bud. After a twelve o'clock lunch the after- noon walk to Little Buller began with a difficult trudge below an outcrop of fractured basalt. Walking became treach- erous when the uneven rocky surface was covered by springy grass and low bushes, and we were glad to stop to look at a young mountain grasshopper, which stayed just long enough to be photo- graphed. When the ridge of Little Buller was reached, the hardy were rewarded Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 by seeing a nataral gardec of Trigger Flaunt (Srydtiiom praminifalivend) and blue Digger's Speedwell (Veronica per- foliata) growing so profuscly thac it was dimost impousibic to take a step with- oud ireading on a plant, Here a healihy bush of Royal Grevijlea (G, vicrortac) tad scarlet flowers and strong plants of Tustin Flax-lily (Dienetla rarmanica) were glowing. Along the rocky ndge approaching the Little Buller summit Ihere was a strang wind blowing, and anis were in prafusian and if one stood if Une place even for a minute swarmed up the [egs and over any photographic equipment put on the proud A squrnm- ing niass of saw-fly grubs Whs ecen on a sttinted Snow Gum branch here. Ainong other flowers, Alpina Boronia (Barcaia algide) lad small pink flowers and Roveh Caprosma (Coprosma tire tela) had small gveenisi-cream ones. The small white Mowers of rrewllce australe were yery sweePsiaelling and Mirraathewm liexandrune had brown epsules. Retwiiling Wireagh 4 damp spot a mass of Murchantin showed quan- tities oF fernale heads. Carraway (Oven- enaerdify andicola) showed its characteris: te umbels of frujts. Gur friends from the ski villape, Mr- and Mrs. James, thoughtlully drove |q 9 jeep across to the track Iwading from the ride of Little Builer and met the Weary remnants of the party with wel- come cups of tea. This kindly act and the stalwart leadership of Mr. Doughty and Mr. Miller added greatly io the success oF the divy. On Monday, Mi. Buller was shrouded in. fog and the proposed bus inp had to be cancelled, Instead the party walked towards the Woollybuic Saddle along the jeep Hack which had been hijitr for fire- fighting. ‘I'he sun was shining a5 we walked along (his tack The white Culadenia jyallii was found and the Potato Orehid, oe Cimnaman Bells (Gas- (radia sesarnevdes), The fille pink flowers of Wild Raspberry (Rwdus porii- fotiees) were common, arid the most Showy shrub we saw was a Cascade Brer- lasting (HMNelirvowne tAyrseideer) with hanging branches covered with showers of tiny white flowers. Here we saw Acacia feleifanmis. which had Wide, flat pods and blue green phyllodes. A Hlacktaced Ouckoo-shrike (Curacina navde-feflan- diae) few wver while we were having lusch, and great flocks gf Ravens (Cur Wwe cearomeides) circled over Mt Sur September, 1964 ling adding in the aunusphere created by the black saorm-clouds which blew up aga i the afteroon. Vitesday was spent on a bus trip around Mt. Stirling first down to Mir- timbah on the Drelatite, then araund the Howdus Valley and back through the Delatite Valley, Passing eronnd Woolly- how Saddle, Blanket-leaf (Bed}oraia salicina), Musk Daisy-hush (Olearia argeprytla) and Mountain Hazel (Marie derris apetaia) were growing. There were also a line-leaved Elderberry Panax (Tieghemoapanix Sree Penni Bluck- Wood (Adah meloorvion), 4, deal beta, Banyalla (Piesporum — feolor} and Prickly Corrant-bush (Coprisenw guddrifida), which was common, and Sasafras (Alferospepiu masclutwn), The bus stapped nent a tributary of the Mowqua and the parry was led in single file through thick yrowth above the stream) to see the falls which tuimbled ja a sparkling silver shower against ihe dark ruck face to splash inte the stream below and be Jost amid the tree-Ferns. The lunch stop was made on the Howgua near a deserted timber camp. Berween the edge of the road and the thick growth by the stream a copperhead snske (Denisonio superia), about four feet lone, was found, There was Woolly Tea-tree (Lepre- spermuin lanigerain) averhanging the siren, and flirting along the branches catching insects was a Rufous Fantail (Nhipidiea ritiroas). Elderberry (Sai- hacus gauiichwndiana) was ia flower und Mawitai Cones CC. lamrertctuny) was plentiful, (ithe blue Forget-ene-nat (Myasolis iisiretis) Was pleanful, Bugte (Ahiga onsiralis), Selfheal (Prunella yulyoriy> and two species of Senecia were flowering, Warinhle Groundsel (8. fowtns} AAG Ausirat OS. Hrenrifolins). A white Glycine chiidestiny climbed om the shrubs, Leacopugan kowkern had mumer- os berries And 30 did the bith Woad- mf. The dainty blue Veroiice gracilis Yas Bowing profusely neat the slream, The return drive raund the Fool of ML. Stirling gave wonderful views of the Tunges beyond, inchwlme My, Ticvitt aiid ibe distinetive, sercated outline of Mt Cobbler On Wednesday the homeward journey was through Glenburn, where we had lunch hy the stream, Growing there we saw Forked Sundew (Droscry bteilay and Lomatie tungifelia woth its cream wrevillea-iike flawets. Our last stup was 142 Mt Mc. Slide where Fringe Lily (Thy- bright sunshine, warm companionship, sanatus tuberosis Was erowing, and the beauty of the flora and fauna of Here we looked down towards the the “high country” in summer. Dandenongs and Melbourne, and our ; thoughts turned to home and werk ahead. L. M. Wurte (Botany) We relurned etiriched with ménsorles of Joan M. Forsrer F.N,C.V. Club Library—Missing Books Section: Geology; Geography Study Groip Librarian: Mrs M, Saleu Book No. Author and Title A1/2 Origin of continents and oceans A1/4 Guide to collection of minerals in National Museum Al/é Ball; Story of the heavens A1/10 McCoy; Prodromus of palacontology in Victoria Al/i2 Wood: Geological observations in South Australia AL/14 Madigan: Central Australia At/13 Hills; Physiography of Victoria (copy 1) AL/1T High mountain catchments In Vieioria A2/4 Miller; Footprints of the Creator A2/¢ Maury: Physical geography of the sea A2/T Grew: Romance of modern geology A2/10 Jeans: Through space and time A3/6 Watts: Geology for beginners (copy 1) A3/6 Chapman: Avstralian fossils AB/1B Hall: Vietorian Will and Dale ftopy 2) A3/19 Woods; Palaeontology {copy 1) AS/21 Wood Jones: Coral und atolls David; Geology of Australia Seetion: Botany Study Group Librarian: Mr J. A. Baines Book Na. Author and Title Fi/s Mueller: Acacias—vopy 1 F1/10 Grove: Trees and their life history Fi/16 Grimwade: Anthography of the eucalypts Fi/1t Lord: Shrubs and trees for Australian gardens Pi/22 Hutchinson: A botanist in South Africa F2/10 Guilfoyle: Australian plants Fo/1a West: Algac—vol. 2 P2/18 Audas: Native trees of Australis. F226 Laurie: The food of plants F2/33 Lubbock: On buds and stipules P3/8 Bailey and Good; Plants poisonous to stork 3/9 Mueller: Botanic teachings F3/10 Weston's Ilora Pa/24 Revised list of fruit trees F3/16 Daley: Baron Ferdinand von Myeller 3/17 and 13 Classification of flawering plants, 2 vals, Pa/1s Flliott: Romance of plant life F4/22 Rupp: Guide to orchids of New Sorith Wales—capy 2 Fa/3l Covke: Introduction lo stody vf funpi 574 Macdonald: Introduction to mycotogy This is merely @ Selection of hooks missing from the section. Members holding any books or periodiculs from the library are urged to Telurn them 2s. soon as possible, both aut of consideration for fetlow-members and to avold the necessity of further action being taken for recovery or replacement. Any information as to the whereabouts. of missing books or periadicals Would be Welcomed by the club librarian or the appropriate group librarian. 150 Viet Not—-Vol. 81 Field Naturalists General Meeting—Angust 18, 1964 In spite of dhe cold wet weather there was a large atlendance of Meathers and fiends when the President, Mr. M-. K. Flowghton, opened the meeting at 3 p.m. He reminded those present that the Na- jure Show would te held August 31 -Sep- tember 2, before the mexe General Meeting, and asked the Chairman of the Show Conmummee Ate D. E. McInnes to speak. Mr. McInnes said that pre- porations by the committee were well ael- vanest. In regen to advertising the Shaw, leaflets, in packels of about 90), were available for discibatian through State Schools wot slreidy on the list and those taking a packet should add the Mame of the school to the list, Advertis- we cards flor shop windows and car stickers Were also available, He asked members © assist in the collection pf Jive exbihits shuctly before the Shrow. spiders, SQuatic tects and reptiles, and uppedled ta owners of ulilifies 16 assist with traesport ta the Lower Town Hall on Sunday, August 30, and io remove extubits fale an ember 2. The Presidenc circulated tester jorms fot those able to assist im canning the exhibits amd asked for them to be re- turned within 2 days. Work in mounting the show would cormmence at 9.4m. on the Sunday. Mr, Coghill mesioned that the Club had wece again de thank the Viera Trost for meeting Use cost of the Shaw leaflets. He reported thar A.B.C. Tele- vision had approached ihe Club for sorme- one to «ésistam the production af school nature-sindy lelecasts and asked anyone interesicd to contac! him. He appealed once agam for dn Assistant Secretary, Mr, Lloyd Williams was the speaker jor the evening, his subject “A Naturalist im Thailand", Although often regarded as a small counth), Thathaid ecxtended about 1,000 miles from is northern boundary woh Laos te its boundary with Malaya im Ure suuth. The vegetation of the mountwinouws country arpund Chieng- mart in the north, differed from that of the dey belt in the: north-east and both these differed again from these of the fal ceniral rice plain and of the narrow is- thmus of Kra. Mr Willaims described und showed excellent slides of many plaints growing in the different areas, pny- me particular attention to mose of cca- namic imperiance, In addition to sice, September, 1964 Club of Victoria bamboo, teak, knpok and palms, such as sugar palms, coconuts, Arece and (hated ing paling, fhe speaker mentioned hananas, papaya, mango and other fruits. The value of tbe Raw Trees Arreruke ditm sdame, in providing shade alung Toads uml pardens, was stressed and pic- tres of the Tlarne of the Forest Poirci- ane sp, Crepe Flower Laygerstroemia spp.. several species of Cassia, the Pradu Jree Prerocurpes crmbedianas and other ornamental ees Were shown. The story of the Bo Tree Picus retigiosus was told and Ate, Willlains concluded with or- childs, Water-lilies and the Water ltyacinth Pichhernia crarssipes. The President thanked Mr. Walliams fur Wis tmevst interesting talk and the audience showel its apprecistion with applause : The New Members listed Om page 123 of ihe August Notwratiy were elected an ihe motion of Mr. Coghill, seconded by Mr. Realey, and ut drwwing atrention tw the Group ‘Mectings, jhe President men- tioned thar the next meeting of the Fn- tomology and Marine Biolosy Group would fe at Mr, Strong's residence, Attention was drawn to the new book Anvroliun Muneyeaters by Brigadier Hogh Offteer which wis ubtainable fram The Hon Secretary, Bird) Obsecvers Chib, 5¥a Upton Koad, Windsor, 5,4, lor 19/- posted, / htc, Harrison spoke on an exhibit, an agule quartz stone weighme 12° Ibs, nat. he bad collected in the tidal zone east Of Devonport. Fasatania. Thre stone, which hore some resemblance in shape to the cranium of a skytl was very bard indeed bul Ind beon polished. Mr. Me- Jnnes showed how plare wien wsing ep lighting could be yeduced by a black cardboard cylinder attached by a nibber band to the objective lens. He mentioned (nat 105 F.N-C\Y, microscopes had now been made and sold. Mr. Woollard showed a réevulving siage that he had designed at the instigation of Mr. Mc- innes. Sori of ferns were shown under microscopes. Mr. Trieicis displaved a specimen Of the rare mineral, selwynile from Heathcote Buiany Group—luly 9, 1964, The Group mei al the Herbarium on the 2nd. Thursday of July. The Group Chairman, Me, Broce bul (51 rer, was jn the cha and 17 Méinbers were present. The subject of the Lichens. Mr. Rex Filson spoke on this wide- spread attd complex family, He explained the intetesting botanical makeup, the distribution, and fhe uses made of lichens. Specimens were exhibited and color slides, some of which were taken try Mr, Frison ia Antarctica, were shown Mr. Filson's Knowledge of the subjcct and his ability as a lecturer made this lalk an oulsianding contribution to the Ciroup’s activities. The next meeting will be held at the Herbariym at 8 pm, on Thorstay Av- gust 13, when Mir, Matchell of rhe Soil Conservation Branch will spewk on the use of plants in dhe conservation of soits, Visitors are welcome at all Botany Group meetings. evenmg was Botany Group—aAnpust 13, 1964 Mr. Bruce Fuhrer, the Group Chair- man, introcdicer Mr, Mitchell of the Soi Conservation Authority whe addres- N. H. SEWARD PTY. LTD, 457 Bourke Street, Melbourne Phone: 67 6129 Speciolists in Naturalists’ Requisites Pins. Forceps, Buftorfly Nets, efc., Microscopes {Bearnners’ to Research Models}, Binoculars, Telescapes, Survey Instruments, ete. BOOKS On NMotural History, Australia, Art, General. New ond Secondhond, Lists Free. State Requisstes. 152 sed members on the work being carried out to-combat erosion and, in particular, the plants being used for repencration of the soil. Many slides were shown and a most informative and interesting cvening resulled. An excursion is to be held to Rosebud in September and other excur- Sions by members are to be arrunged 10 Monbulk and to the Blackwood area Ciwd members are anvited to altend Croup excursians. Microscopical Group—June 17. 1964 Twenty-five memhers and visitors al- tended this meetine which was chairesi by Mr. LeMaistre. Members stood and observed one minute's silence as a mark of respect for the late Mr. Tarleton Rayment who wits a very active member of the Club and who had given the Group a nueober of talks. A letter from the Junior Group of the Ararat F.N.C.V. requesting help was discussed. Dr. A, Nichols from the Frherres and Bidlezical Control Section of the CSULRO, was guest speaker for the evening and gave the group a most in- teresting Lalk on Macine Plankton. With the aid of 35 mm. micraphotagraphs he deseribed the various types of plainkton commencing with phytoplankton such as diatoms. which are essentiaf as fool for the zooplankton. He them went on aud described dinoflagellates, the pro- lozoans such as nocteluca which are responsible for the luminosity of sea ut nivght, the larval stages of polychnete worms, Coelenterata, atrow worms anc the Crustaceas which ls one of the biggest zroups in the sea and is the form of Ife in which ‘the speaker specialized. Finally the Group was given much fac- iuw! information on the “vertical migra- tion” which takes place daily and is still ugeaplsained, Mr, LeMaistre on behalf of those present thanked the speaker for one of the Micro Group's most interesting falks. Microscopical Group—July 15, 1964 About 20 members alfended this mecime Witigh was chaired by Mr, B. te- Maistre. Mr. D. Mclnnes reported that fe had uilended 4 meeting of the Geelong F.N-CV, where he bad delivered 4% Club microscopes and bad been made most welcome. This brought the total of microscopes sold to 100 and, in recog- milion of their services, the Club had bg- Vict. Nat.—Vol. BI stowed Life Membership upon Mr WW. Woollard and Mr. DB, Melnnes. Jt was a “gadget nizht,” and canse- quently 2 most formidable battery af microscope accessaries Were of display, mostly home-made from various easily- acgiited odds and gnds. Mr, BE, LeMaistre bad ou display a écabinet made by the Jate Dr. Hoh Wishart, mide entirely of emply match- boxes, a most useful article for the storage OF all sorts of inicrascopic neces- sities, We then described tfie method that he used in the preparation of both glass and nylon mitra-pipettes, his expertences in having manufactured an anuwle eye- piece ancl he displayed tas records of the West and West book on desmids which were made entirely on 35 mm, slides, Mr. J. Daws displayed a most useful palr of binoculars which, because of rhe attachment of close-un lenses, take the search for specimens very easy for they can be examined manv feet away, Other members displayed a mic(o-rank a slide cabinet, a very Claburale verlical ittuminator and a warthmaker’s lowpe, while another member described the use of Durex tape for lide makipce and a Janior Member displayed and described # very noo Tock section. Mr. Wo Woollard informed the urqup that a micro-light-meter kir can now be ohlained for as little as £3 aid dhat ihe telescopic rifle-sights, which may be used for making a bimacular dissecting Microscope, are now available The aight was so fill of interest that members ran out of speakine (ime rather than gadgets to speak abour and all benetitied fram the new ideas, Geatogy Group—Aupum 5, 1964, Twenry-si¥ members were present with Me, L. Anwor im the chat, Mr, Dodds reported on the eacurston te the Lime stone Quarry af Lilydale, on Suily 5, Whea abouc thirty members and friends attended, Many fosstl corals and shelly were collected, also calcite crystals, copper die m veins and sheared pebbles, The Older Basalt Mows capped by Ter- tiary beds were exumined and wealher- ing effects noted Fram 9 vantage point near The Quarry, Mr, Hemnry Jocaied the varioils Jatid-marks and teu ped- logical oflzin The syllabus item for (he evening lack the form of a Tiiscurssian Nizttt. The. following members explained their eshibits, and showed cofour slides on # variely Of geological subjects: Mr. N September, 196% Wigmore. Series of Stered-photographs assembled by Mr, F, Robbins, Benchen, a Tlustrate the glaciat payementi mo he Eppalack area. im danger of being ob lirerated by the waters of the Weir Mr. A. Cobbett! Limestone with galcite ery- sluls and copper ore from Lilydale Quarry, noumeile (nickel magnesiuin silicate) fram Noumea, frssil wood, Master Ro Whatnougn. varius faring of caleit@ deposited jm limestone cavilies, corals in imestime and fossj| shells, ull from Tilydale Quarry, fossil froit Jn brown cost From Yalloum, senes of Photographs taken on cxcursions to shaw xenoliths in gratite. organ pipes (Syden- liam). basalt columns. Mrs. Sulau: Lime- stone coniposed Wholly af Sea-lilv stems from Loyola, Mt. L, Anwior (ger Mr Bairstow fron overseas), chrome ore, calcite, granite From Tephesus, aiidesite, building stone from Turkey, calcite nodules, varius sections of pulished marble and limestone. Mr WL. Quakes: Collection of gem-stones and polished material, box of specimens polished by tumbling. Mr. BD, McInnes; micro- scope exhibit of sections made from matensl supphed by Mr, D. Danger- field, inet in Fossil wood and silici- fied stones. Mr. Ho Hope: Opus and polished stance from Lightning Ridge, wguamartines, petrified wood, rhodonite, iasper and bloadstonc, Wr. J. Millers Felspar perphry frou Strvhan, Tas, colour slides af limestone cliffs in tte south-éatt of South Australia. Miss N Carstalrs! Tuinbled stones. jasper, lace Chalkedony and impure apal, Mr, R, Dodds: Collection of slides WMistrating some land-fermis in Tasmania Affiliated Clnbs Hamilion Field Nuturatists Clule This active Club reporis the Usual round of Jectures and excursions. high- lights beine discovery of several new series Of aboriginal cuve paintings. In- cidentally, they 8re attempting ta con- tro) vandalism in the famous Cave of Hands, bY providiie a Vieltors Book for sertpblars iq scribble im, Mr, BE. M. Tucker continues as Presi- dent and Mr. b K. M, Elmore as Honur- ary Secretary, Ararat Fiekl Naturalists Chitr Araral Preld Naturalists’ Club, ‘which had been im recess for a few years; was re-formed wl a recent meeting presided \53 over by the Mayor, Cr. E, W. James. Mr, R. Warnock, whose color ide of a White-headed Stilt feeding young on a swamp neac Willaura won an inter- national award earlier this year, was elec- ted president. Other office-bearers are vice-presidents, Rey, C. Burtt and Mr, A Hargreaves; secretary, Miss Z, E. Ban- field; committee Messrs C. Larmour, J. Stunwix and Miss L. L. Banfield. A number of junior members were enrolled at a nomindl subscription. The club has had talks by twe Stawell membecs, Mr, & R, McCann on “Fungi” and Mr, N. Bennett on “Crustaceans” and Mr. Warnock has created a good deal of interest in bitd life by his out- standing color slides, The first 6xcursions were ta Mount Langi Ghiran to study the aboriginal drawings in “The Cave of the Serpent", fungi and birds, and to Mount William Picnic ground to study orchids ad birds. The club is represented on the Gram- pians and District Tourist Association and McDonald Park Committee of Management and has undertaken ta make a survey of the flora and fauna of the park. Members are looking forward with pleasure to a visit by Miss ina Watson, of the Fisheries and Wildlife Depart- ment, on Monday, September 7. flash and accessories, R. H. WAGNER & Sons Pty. Ltd. 43 Elizabeth Street (corner Flinders Lane) Telephone 62 3114 Also Chadstone Shopping Centre CALLING ALL Photographers! Select your equipment from WAGNER’S comprehensive stocks of Exakea, Leica, Pentax, Praktica, ete. also telephoro lenses, close up attachments, electronic Nature Vict, Not—Vol, 81 The Victorian Naturalist Vol. 81 (6) October, 1964 3S 4- ' ; ; i 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 y post as a periodical 2/6 This 158 photograph of one of Edith Victorian Coleman's Echidnas Naturalist 5 taken fri m the Vol. 81, No, 6 October 8, 1964 The Victorian Naturalist Editor: J. R. Hunson, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S. Assistant Editor: R. H. J. McQueen, B.Sc., Dip.Ed. CONTENTS Articles; ; The Other Malice in Victoria, by G. Blackburn - , “4 Boa ‘ 160 The Trap-Nest or Sand Ant, by &, Slgane and A. 1, Staane .. -- .- 165 Victoria Range Shelters, by Aldo Masysala is an ba . 169 Featuress Australian Wattles No. 43: Three-nerved Wattle, deacia trineura, and A, dawsonii, by Jean Galbraith . . My 177 Bush Brushes: Babblers and Choughs wt er 7 — .. 178 The Naturalist and the Microscope: Things 10 sce under the F.N.C.V. Microscope, by Jean Galbraith .. 180 Victorian Orchids, No. 2: Caladenia clavigera, Plain-lip Spider Orchid, by J. M, and W. A. King 181 Field Naturalists Club of Victeria: Visit to Mt, Buller—Christmas 1963. Part 2. Notes on the Geology: of the Mt. Buller, Mansfield and. Tolmie Districts . . - 163 Sepiember General Meeting, Group Mectings bi vd - _. 182 Library Notices... = ‘ "7 _é . . .. 185 Diary of Coming Events F . . - 4 .. 186 Library: List of Missing Books i A, . ., 187 Miscellaneous: Retirement of Mr. A. N. Burns, by &, T. M. Pescott — - i . _. 167 Book Review: Australian Honeyeaters by _ is F _, 179 Pholoflora 1965 _. . . . 7 fs a ., 184 Front Cover: This picture illustrated an article entitled “The Rehabilitation of the Koala in Victoria” by the Jate Fred Lewis in the Match 1954 issue of the Victorian Naturalist (70. 197). It shows some Koalas being released on Quail Island. October, 1964 159 The Other Mallee in Victoria Mallee vegetation in Victoria jis. identified in so many ways with the norjh-west of the State that other tracts are apt to be overlooked or designated as “whipstick” scrub. The other mallee areas af Victoria estaps popular attention today but they Were crowded with gold-diggers about one hundred years ago. So far they have yielded mainly gold and eucalyptus oil, It is the poor quality of their soils rather than low raintall which has preserved these pieces af mallee from farming, but progress in agricultural research may stimulate a demand for this virgin mallee. tt ts peculiar thal so little interest has been taken in ihe other mallee during this century. Kenyon’s (1914) account of the miullee is concerned entirely with north-west Victoria; he mentioned only (wo nearby bute de- lached mallee areas: the Little Mallee between the Avoca and Loddon Rivers and the Little Desert south af Nhill. Patton (1944) referred briefly to the existence of mallee near several stands of the box-ironbark associa- tion In Victoria. The map of Austra- han Vegelaltion by Williams (1955) shows mallce only in the north-west aod in the Little Desert. Most atten- lion to the other mallee has come from field naturalists, as shown by the oveasional references in past issues of the Vietorian Naturalist. The term mallee has been applied occasionally to several eucalypts not normally associated with the dricr parts of Australia, This article is net concerned with such unusual referen- 160 By G, BLackeunn® ces as “wet mallee (Cosin 1954) or the Gippsland mallee (£ucalyptus kir- sonit) réferred to by Hooke (1959) and Willis (1962), nor with the small area of E. diversifolia in the far south- west of Victoria (Willis 1962). The more orthodox usage of mallee, ss of Blakely (1955) will be followed here. The approximate boundaries of known areas of mallee Vegetation in Victoria are shown in Fig. 1, The small patches outside the Mallee cis- trict lie mainly in northern Victoria and are separated from one another generally by wide valleys leading to- wards the Murray River. South of the main divide there is apparently: only one district with mallee, in which small scattered patches occur between Melton and Ballan, The various pieces of mallee out- side the main zone are: in the Little Desert {Willis 1962); near Tooan and Lake Carchap; at Darragan (Au- das 1928, Swaby 1936); St. Arniud (Patton 1944, Palmer 1935); Wedider- bhurn-Inglewood (Soil Conservation ‘Authority 1963); Tarnagulla (Whit- worth 1879); Bendigo-Kamerooka (Paton 1924, Audas 1936, Willis 19625; Rushworth-Whroo (Whitworth 1879, Paton 1924, Patton 1944); Go- wangardie (Vroland 1937, Downes 1949}; Melton-Bacchus Marsh (Pal- ton 1944), There are some indica- tions of mallee vegetation at Moorl Moor]. Yandoit, and Wehla but there is no definite information to justify their inclusion ‘here. * Division of Soils, CS [R.O., Adelaide, Viet. Nat—Vol $1 DISTRICT #OPE= Malies areas Sepacher £ nerassals,. £, virvols... LN 585 A 4 bgt rou a a heen . Meise ! @ 9 quenalls Le 6 @ wT 3 Somangurgie : lea #5 Fauneitn Hanolyo Whreo | Darrymyin rey lhe 1 iy | si j ~ i ‘ : ~ | Bacshue Marsh 8, Malboiirne ~. wits om | (O 40 ay 120 ies Ficyvne 1—The other malice in Victoria, showing distribution of thejy spories of Hrealyptua Some indication of the distribution of cifferent species of mallee eucalypts is Shown also in Fig. 1, based on vari- ous publications, on information kindly given by Mr. J. H. Willis (Na- tional Herbarium, Melbourne), and on identifications supplied by Mr. D. E. Symon (Waite Agricultural Research Institute, Adelaide). The records show that eight mallee species af Eucalyptus (&. belriana, E. caly- cogona, FE, dumosa, E, foecunda, E, gracilis, E. inerassate, E. eleosa, and E, viridis} are important in the north- west Mallee. Two of these (£. gracilis and E. wfeosa) appear to be confined to that part of the State; the others occuc in one oc more of the other areas. One specics, FE. froggatr, has not been recorded outside the southern areas. E. behriana and &. wridis are probably the most widely distributed mallee eucalypts in Victoria. A brief examination of A Key te Cctober, 1964 the Eucalypis by Blakely (1955) suggesis that approximately one fifth of the Australian species are charac- terized by mallee habi, a feature which occurs in many different sub- divisions of this genus. The species found jin the other mallee areas of Victoria are largely from the Poran- theroideae of Blakely and especially from the Subbuxeales (mallee boxes). ii is noteworthy ihat the specres mosi characteristic of the other mallee in Victoria have been recorded also for the most easterly mallee in N.S.W,. (Blakely 1955, Biddiscombe 1963). The other mallee clusters: near the main divide in Victoria. Its areas are separated from the north-west Mallec generally by wide expanses of river- ine plains of the Wimmera ani Northem districts, except near Boost and Horsham. Audas (1936) sug- gested that these scattered small areas may be ithe remnants of a once more lol extensive belt of maflee. In suppoze of this idea there are the indications that these other patches of mallee lie mainly on plateau formations associated with ironstone (laterite), which accur on many of the interfluve ridges along (the intand shapes of the Great Divid- ing Range. The soils of the other mallee are quite different from those predominat- ing in the north-west Mallee. In the latter district the soils are mainly al- kaline, often very calcareous, and the sand fraction is generally predomin- ant. Ta the other mallee the soils are mainly acid loams over acid clay sub- sails, ancl as ooe example of theic distinction from the conventional notion of “mallee” soils, there is the recent recammendalion by the Soil Conservation Authoriry (1963) that in using jhe mallee areas of the Wect- decburn-loglewood district for estaty- Ushing subterranean clover pastures, lime and superphosphate should be used in conjunction with molybdenum. Interest m the Victorian oceptren- ces of mallee vegetation should not be confined to their boluny and soils, which certatoly deserve [ac more at- tention than they have had so far. Ao additional field of interest Gongerns the animal life associated with the miles, an chvious example being the distriim- tion of mallee fowl (Leipoa ocellata Gould}. ‘This bird is not confined to mallee areas but the mallee habitat is most common (Frith 1962). In Vic- toria One expects to have to go toa the official] Mallee to sec this bird, or at feast lo the Lowan Sanctuary al Kiata, near the Little Desert But the mallec fowl used to jive in several ot the ether mallee areas and even now it is mor quite extinct in them. There are several relerences to mallee fowl in central Victoria, Whit- worth (1879) meolioned ils occur- rence in mallee al Tarnagulla, Camp- bell (1885) referred io eges tuken 162 from the Bendigo district and “from a species of mallee scrub between Mel- toa and the Anakies..' Dunn (1912) mentioned that scveral small gold nbggets have been found in mallee hen’s nests. O'Donoghue and St. John (i910) stated the former occurrence of mallee fowl in the Brisbane Ranges. Patmer (1955) quotes early references to the consumption of mallee ben's eggs by gold-diggers. isused mounds attributed to this bird have been re- carded from the Wrishane Ranges (A. R. McEvey, personal cominunica- tion) and accofding lo Mr, M. C, Downes (Fisheries and Wildlife De- partment), the mallee fowl Is sor ex- tinet in the scrub near Bendigo. It is very likely that a succeasSul re-int'o- duction of this spectes could be made io selected areas of mallee scrub in central Victoria, Acknowledgement The map was drawo by Mr M,C. Caulls. REFERENCES Audas, 1. M. (E928). Flora of the Black Ranse. Fier, Mor. 44: 341-345 Audas, TM (1936). Through the Whip- suck Scrub, Wier. Net. 32: IRs 14, Biddiscombe, E FP, (1953). A vevetation survey in the Macquaric Regitin, New Sourh Wales. C.55.R.0- (Aust 3 Tiv. PL Ind. Tech. Pap. No. 18. Blakely, W, F. (1955). at key ta the excalvypis, (Forestry and Timber Bur. Canberra). Campbell, “A, T. (1885). Mallee hens and their ege mounds, Kier New 124- (a Costin, A. B. (195d). A seuly of the eco-systenis af the Momire region of New Suet Wales, (Govt. Printer, Sytiney)- Downes, R. G- (2949), A soil, land-use amd erosion survey of parts of the Counties of Moira ang Delalite, Vic- toria. Coun. Sci Ind. Res. (Aust.) Bull No. 245, Bunn. FT (1912). Notes en nugrets, in eon Geol. Surv, Wie. No. 12 Frith, 4, J, (1962), Conservation of the mallee iow!, Leipou ecellata Gould Vict. Not.—Vol B1 (Megapodiidae). C.S.1-R.0. Wildlife Res. 7: 33-49. Hooke, A. G, (1959). The Gippsland mallee. Vict, Nat, 76: 212. Kenyon, A. S. (1914-1915). The story of the mallee, Vict. Hist. Mag. 4: 23-56, 57-74, 121-150, 175-200. O'Donoghue, J. G., and St. John, P.R.H. (1910). Through the Brisbane Range Vict, Nat. 26: 151-158. Palmer, Yvonne 8, (1955). Track of the year, (Melb. Univ. Press. Mel- bourne). Paton, D. J. (1924). The plants of the “Whipstick” scrub, Bendigo. Vict. Nat. 40: 189-204. Patton, R. T. (1944). Ecological studies. No. VII Box-iron bark association. Proc. Roy. Soc. Vic. 56 (N.S.): 35-80. Soil Conservation Authority (1963), 14th Annual Report (Govt. Printer. Melb.). Swaby, A. J. (1936). The Norton mallee. Vict. Nat. 52: 208-209. Whitworth, R. P. (1879). “Bailliere’s Victorian Gazetteer and Road Guide™. (F. F. Bailliere. Melbourne). Williams, R. J. (1955). Atlas of Aus- tralian Resources: Vegetation Regions. (Dept. Natl. Develpmt. Canberra). Willis, J. H. (1962). Land flora of Vic- toe Vict. Year Book No. 76, pp. 1-36. Vroland, A. W. R. (1936). Mallee in the north-east. Vict. Nat. §3: 143-144. F.N.C.V. Visit to Mt. Buller—Christmas 1963 Part 2—Notes on the Geology of the Mt. Buller, Mansfield and Tolmie Districts. The great variety of rock types and the complex geology of the Eastern High- lands of Victoria can be attributed to long periods of sedimentation in the Tasman Geosyncline, and to associated periods of mountain-building with fault- ing and tgneous activity. The Tasman Geosyncline is a composite structural belt. most active during the Palaeozoic Era when it constituted a vast, unstable trough extending over much of what is now eastern Australia. However, it is not the orogenesis of Palaeozoic times but the late Tertiary block uplift of a Mesozoic peneplain and vigorous stream erosion which has formed the present-day high country of eastern Victoria. Mount Buller District From Mt. Buller evidence of this post- Pliocene uplift, known as the Kosciusko Uplift, can be seen in the concordant summits of surrounding mountains. Mt. Buller itself is a composite peak: the great bulk of the mountain is an ex- posed area of discordant granodiorite, but the resistant, and noticeably more rugged summit, and Little Buller are composed of hornfels derived from folded Palaeozoic sandstones. Just above the Alpine Village on Mt. Buller is a rem- nant of a formerly extensive area of quietly extruded basalt. This basalt be- October, 1964 longs to the series known as the Older Basalts, of Lower Tertiary (Eocene to Oligocene) age, as distinct from the com- paratively recent flows around the north- ern and western suburbs of Melbourne and in the Western District. The Older Basalts were once widespread over the surface of eastern Victoria and south Gippsland. Notable outcrops of the basalt The Southern Searp of Mt. Buller. Tumbled masses of basalt with patches of Orites lancifolia, Photo: J, Ros (iarnet. 163 showing polygonally jointed sections occur on the southern face on the track to Little Buller. Also from Mt, Buller can be seen the arc of mountains extending from Mt. MacDonald in the south through The Bluff and Mt. Howitt to Mt. Cobbler in the north-east, stretching across most of the sandstone country of which these peaks are composed. This country is a NW.-SE. belt of conformable Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous sedi- ments resting unconformably on older rocks beneath. The sediments, which to- gether with the Grampians Sandstones of the same age, include the “red beds” of Victoria, and comprise sandstone, shale, and conglomerate of lacustrine and estuarine origin. Mt. Timbertop, to the west of Mt. Buller, has a small but conspicuous capping of this material. A rather gritty sandstone of this series was found in the upper reaches of the Howqua valley. The terrestrial nature and gentle dips of these rocks as a result of broad folding, apparent in the profile of Mt. Cobbler, are a reflection of the environ- ment of deposition in the Upper Devon- ian; the southern part of the Tasman Geosyncline was largely stabilized, and broad, shallow basins covered earlier folded and consolidated sediments. The neighbouring peak, Mt. Stirling, is composed entirely of granodiorite. The top is a very broad. exposed area and weathering has produced massive tors and boulders, An outcrop of acid volcanic rocks was found at a waterfall on a tributary of the Howqua River, en the Howqua road below Mt. Thorne. These rocks belong to the Cerberean Volcanics. an Upper Devonian series of dacites, rhyolites, toscanites. and more basic lavas, genetic- ally grouped with the lavas of the Dande- nong and Macedon Ranges. At the falls the rock is sub-porphyritic. It appears to be interbedded with the Upper Devonian sediments. The granitic rocks of the area range from a known occurrence of adamellite at Merrijig below Mt, Timbertop. through the granodiorite of Mt. Buller to a rock of more dioritic composition on Mt. Stirling where specimens of very well developed hornblende crystals were col- lected. Mansfield District The rocks which outcrop most exten- sively in the Mansfield district are the 164 arenaceous Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous terrestrial sediments, and the thick marine sediments of Upper Silurian to Lower Devonian age, similar to those of the Melbourne district. There is a tectonic break at Mansfield between these two series of sediments. Mansfield lies at the western end of the Sandstone Belt of terrestrial sedi- ments which extends south-east to Bria- golong in east Gippsland. At Mt. Battery (1,760 feet), two miles from the town- ship, the sediments are nearly horizontal, producing a flat-topped hill with sur- rounding benches at different levels. The presence of the Upper Devonian/Lower Carboniferous here at a much lower altitude than that further east is indica- tive of faulting tn the area. Silurian sandstones which puss into Lower Devonian are widespread west and south of Mansfield. In contrast to the continental deposits, no volcanics are associated with these rocks. The Mans- field district is also known for compound cauldron subsidences with ring dykes and fossil fish and plant remains. Tolmie District Most of the hilly country from Mans- field to Tolmie consists of comparatively shallow. low-level sediments of the Upper Devonian/Lower Carboniferous — series. Along the Whitfield road near Tolmie isolated patches of Older Basalt occur. A visit to Powers Lookout on the King River, midway between Tolmie and Whit- field. was rewarded by an impressive outcrop of coarse conglomerate. This conglomerate is considered to be of Lower Carboniferous age, and is prob- ably of estuarine origin, which would place it amongst the last deposits of the Tasman Geosyncline in central Victoria. The conglomerate is flat-lying and its strong jointing has enabled the forma- tion of precipitous valley walls. Many of the constituent stones exceed two inches in diameter, A considerable thickness of the con- glomerate was found at Paradise Falls, on a western tributary of the King River, where it eventually overlies the northern segment of the Upper Devonian acid volcanics. The falls are about 200 feet in height, and the valley below has the same steep sides as that of the King River, and revealing a varied history of deposition of coarse conglomerate, fine conglomerate. gravel and sandstone at different heights and thicknesses. Vict. Nat.—Vol, 81 Evidence of outcrops of the volcanic rock is seen in the fertile red loam of properties bordering the road at many places between Tolmie and Whitfield. The assistance of club members in drawing attention to the location of var- ious outcrops, and in their interpretation, and in the collection of specimens, is gratefully acknowledged. Bruce C, JONES The Trap-Nest or Sand Ant By Howarp SLOANE AND ALEXANDER I. SLOANE Among the most harmless creatures on Earth is the Trap Nest or Sand Ant, Nystalomyrma (previously A p- haenogaster) longiceps Smith, of Australia. It is an insect about two tenths of an inch in length without sting or other annoying characteristic. Jt is transparent, sandy tan in colour, and it matches well the habitat of granite sand in which it excavates its conspicuous holes. It was common in certain areas in the Riverina especially at Savernake, 18 miles north of Yarrawonga, but the removal of the Native Pine forest, and the growth of grass, along with the trampling of stock, is reducing its numbers each year. Its home is on the sheltered east slope of the sand dunes where the sand is softer and the ants get the morning sun. This ant is very persevering, with- standing the rigours of drought as well as the periods of cold in winter. It does not forage along tracks like the little black ant, and the meat ant, but wanders singly in search of food in the vicinity of its home. It depends on its trap-like hole for its food for it consumes whatever chances to tumble into its front door. The holes are usually about an inch in diameter and go straight down for eight inches. The sides are smooth and a cone of sand pellets surrounds the top. A fa- vourite site is at the base of a Murray October, 1964 Ficurrt 1—Sand Ant holes repaired after rain. Two ants are biting the stem of grass, show- ing the contrast between their size and that. of their holes. Photo: A. J. Sloane. Pine, and many nests are grouped in such places, the sand from one en- trance being inclined to fall into its neighbour. A sand hill some hours after a summer thunderstorm is a remarkable sight. The ants then clean out their nests, the darker coloured subsoil 165 Figure 2—Sand Ant holes repaired after rain, Native Pines Callitris, Savernake, N.S.W. 1963. Photo: A. I. Sloane. under rings being conspicuous. In thundery weather the winged males and fe- males fly aloft, and when this is taking place there is great agitation and ex- citement at the entrance. The presence of the mating ants in the upper air attracts Swifts and Woodswallows, and at such times hundreds of these birds often fill the sky. These ants are a food factor in Nature’s economy: they feed insectivorous birds pro- viding them with moisture. which the ants in turn secure from other insects and from the soil in which they live. The reduction by man of the vast swarms which once filled earth and air tends to upset the balance of Na- 166 ture by making life hard for some in- sectivorous birds which play no small part in controlling such pests as the grasshopper. The ant-lion with its conical sand- trap is fond of the Sand Ant, and should one tumble into its hole it is pelted with the dislodged sand until rolling to the bottom it can be seized. The Trap-nest Ant uses a similar idea for obtaining food, any unfortunate insect falling down its pit-like hole being seized and eaten. If a stalk of grass is inserted into one of their holes, it is usually found to be grasped in the jaws of a number of clinging ants. Our observations show that the entrances, or trap holes, are connected by horizontal passages, there being no FicurE 3—Cross-section of Sand Ant hole with grass inserted in horizontal passages. Pine roots below, Photo: A. I. Sloane. Vict. Nat.—Vol. 81 more than three Jeading from the bottom of each hole, situated at a depth varying from six to ten inches, The passages seldom go below the bottom of the conical entraace hole shown in the illustration. A very interesting point is that only the worker ants have been observed in the holes inspected, no queens, nor larvae, noy associated insects, being seen, It would appear that the food slorage, and nursery chambers must be concentrated iv a central position, possibly at the base of a tree where the holes are usually very numerous. We way thus visualize the organized cily with its numerous trap entrances in the care of their.quota of foragers, and its heart to which food is transported below ground. No doubt thcre ts united effort to repair the funacls after rain, and, since onty about ten ants appear when an object is inserted down a hole, a limited number of guards. ts stationed at cach entrance, These ants deserve further study and an ispection of their central home may reveal more secrets of Ansiratia’s native Jife. The species is found in all States: and is nocturnal in habit, Retirement of Mr, A. N, Burns Alexander Nobile Burns, Assistant Director of the National Museum of Victona was born at Melbourne on Juoc 20, 1899, He received his carly education ut Cuulfield Grammar School and Swin- turtne Technical College, . His earliest association with entomo- logy and the Nationa) Museum dates back tu July, 1914, when as a lad of 15 years, he became acquainted with Mr, F. P. Spry, then Entornologist at the Museum. Spry encouruged the enthu- siasm of this young Ind and instructed him in the fundanseatals of entomology and entomological collecting that were to stand Mr. Burns in good stead through- out his life, and leas to lis associations with such fomous entomologisis as Dr. R. J. Tillyard, Dr, G, A. Waterhouse, Mr. W. W. Frogean and Me, T. G. Sloane, From 1922/24 he was engaged on eco- nomic entomologcal problems with the Commonwealth Prickly Pear Board in Queensland, firstly under the direction of Professor Harvey Johnston and Jater with Mr. Alan Dodd, He then trans: ferred to the Queensland Bureau of Sugar Experiment Staticus, a section of the Department of Agriculinre, where until 1930, at Brisbane and Mackay, he October, 1964 undertook research wok in entomolory under the diréchon of Mr. H. T. Easter- by and Mr. Edmund Jarvis. At this stage Mr. Rurns realized the necessity of University training, and cum- menced, part time, stucies at the Uni- versity of Melbourne where he obtained his B.Sc. Later, about 1950, on submuas- sion of original pupers dealing with his studies in) Australian Entumulogy, he obiained his MSc. degree from Mel- bourne. On completion of his B.Sc., he travel- led overseas to further his studies, work- ime at both the British Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He was later admitted as a Fellow of the Lin- nean Society of London and the Royai Entomotusica? Socicty of London, Reiurning to Australia about 1941 and after) some national service in ircat Britain, he joined the Intelligence Corps of the Austealian Army, being concerned chiefly with mapping, and became 4 Commissioned Officer in this Section. In December 1944 he joined the stall of the National Museum as Entomploaist (Temporary) at a time when the ecnrlo- mofogical collections were ata very low ebb. With great pains, he comnrenced the gigantic task of rehabilitating the col- 167 lections, a task which was most success- fully accomplished as can he seen by ihe present state of the collections. In Au- Bust 1946. he was appointed to the per- manent staff as Entomologist, which po- sition Ne aceupied with distinction until 1959, when he was uppointed Assistant Director. Mt. Burns has always been un excel- lent field man, collecting extensively ja all groups of Tasects throughout Aus- tralia, particularly in| Queensland and Vicinria. His handling of such speci- mens has always been near to perfec- luon, and together with his documenta- jion of sach material, has been the sub- ject of most favourable commendation from all parts of the world, Not content with the collecting site only of ento- mology, he has, particularly over latter years, contributed greatly to the taxon- omy of certain groups of Australian insects, notably the Bulterflies (Lepidop- tera) and the Cicadas (Hemiptera), in which eroups he has published « number of papers both jn Australia and overseas. Hes clarification and iHustestion of the life history of a number of Australian butterfiies has been spectacular, and has contributed a great deal fa solving certain taxonomre problems, He bus also made a large private collection, beautifully housed, of insecis, chiefly Australian and South American. We has published an important book (in collaboration with C, Barrett) deal- ing with the Aurrerfliey of Australia arid New Guinea, and has, in manuscript form ready for publication, 1 book deal- ing with the Burterflles af Victoria, a publication which wall be must valuable to collectors. Mr, Burns’ private interests have evol- vel along the lines of the glasshouse culture of orchids and indoor plants, in which hobby he has excelled. His reiirg¢ment from active entomo- logical work on Junc 19, 1964, will couse B great gap m Australian entomo- logy. This, however, will be partially filled by a small group of amateur collectors whom he has traimed and encouraged over the years, in the same manner in which he was encouraged by ae ees entomologist half a century earlier. Mr. Burns 1s ane of the few Life Mem- bers of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria and has been a menyber for over 45 years. R. T. M, Pescott CALLING ALL Nature Photographers! Select your equipment from WAGNER'S comprehensive stocks of Exakta, Leica, Pentax, Prakti¢s, ete. also telephoto lenses, close up attachments, electronic flash and accessories. R. H. WAGNER & Sons Pty. Ltd. 43 Elizabeth Srreet (corner Flinders Lane) Telephone 62 3114 Also Chadstone Shopping Centre 168 Vict, Nal—Vol. 81 Victoria Range Shelters The greatest known Concentration of aboriginal paintings in Victoria is oo the walls of the rock-shellers on the Cultivation Creek watershed, in the Billywing arca of the Victoria Range, Westero Gramprans. Coltivation Creck (Billiminah Creek), risiay Jrom Mt. Thackeray, in the innermost chain of the Vic- toria Range, winds a loriuous and laborious course as it finds ils way through a number of deep gullies, sometimes rating, torrent-like, over rocks und cascading over boulders, at other times almost errested by a veri- lable embankment of tangled uncder- growth aod falleo timber; every pow and thea receiving new impulse fromm smallec affiuents, which, descending frum side gullies, help it ta drain that part of the Victoria Range. Eveatually these tormented waters find temporary peace in the stillness of the swamp, the north part of which Was know to the natives at Lootchook (Lo-djurk, reedy swamp) and the soulhern =pevtion as Woohlpooer ¢(Wol-poat, reflections of turtles on the waler), extending for some three tiles an a westerly direction, and about six miles porlh and south, on ihe flat couniry wo the west of the ranges. Here Cultivation Creck Joses is identity, as its waters mingle with those of other crecks, the most notable of which are Hur, Deep, Honeysuckle, Mosquito, Scouts, and Number Onc. The overflow from this swamp crosses the Henty Highway as Tea Tree Creek, on ifs westerly cuurse to the newly-built Rockhands Reservoir, In the old days Tea Tree Creek helped to swell the Glenelg River. Octoher, 1964 By ALbo MassoLa To the aborigines Cullivation Creek must have been more important than the others, al Jeast mythologically, for, with the exception of ‘The Cave of Hands’, the ‘Drual’ and the ‘Billy. wing’ shelters, which are on Deep Creek, all the Known sites in the area are along its course. The bush-walker who attempts to follow the creek up- Sircam $00n gives Up io despair, as almost impenetrable thickets of Swamp Tea-trec, sword grass, ferns, and other moisture-loving vesetation, present, themselves in never ending series, Jc is best, therefore, to farsaky the occasional glimpse of the rippling waters, and to attempt to follow the creek's course from along the higher ground. However, another difficulty soon arises, for here are dhe huge boulders, the massive lors and deep crags, which, together with the mees und scrub, make deviations (rom a planned course necessary; ihe result is that often Cultivation Creck is Jost and am affluent is followed instead, To miake matters worse no accurate map of the area exists, There is one advantage in walking nearer to the tops of the valleys: ail the paintings, so far, have been dis~ covered on the higher ground, There must be others awaiting discovery. Up to the end of 1960 five sites had been located along the creek, or its affluents. Following the procedule es- tablished by Kenyon, Barrett and ethers, pon location each new shelter received a distinguishing name, gene- rally of a descriptive nature. 169 The list stood as follows: Date of Name Symbols Colour Discovery Recorded by Red Rock Human figures Red §, Carter, 1859 J. Mathew, 1897 Kangaroos Proc, Ray, Soc. Emus Vic. {(N.S39 Lizards Strokes Small Rock Human figure Red Muirhead and J. Mathew (In vicinity Strokes Carter, 1866 ay above of last) Bird ‘Tracks Stencilled hand Cave of Human figure Red