PRICE 1/-. Vol. 14, No. 1. ^November 1949 THE Queensland Naturalist JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS' CLUB 1 The Poetry of Earth is never dead .” — Keats. The Author oi each Article is responsible for the Statements expressed therein: CONTENTS. Proceedings Annual Report Report on Excursions Report on Librarian Report of Treasurer Excursion to Dunwich Mosquito Fauna of Dunwich Orchids at Dunwich Page 1 4 5 7 7 8 9 12 The Gathering together of Migratory Birds 15 Further Note on the Cupid Blue 17 Australian Neuroptera — A Correction 17 Book Review 1® Financial Statement 20 ir Queensland Naturalists’ Club Official Journal — The Queensland Naturalist & OFFICE-BEARERS, 1948. President : Mr. G. Mack, Queensland Museum, Brisbane. Tire-Presidents : Mrs. G. L. Jackson, Mr. C. T. White Hon Secretary : Miss E. E. Baird, Kennedy Terrace, Red Hill Hon. Treasurer : Miss H. Clarke, C/- W. E. Peterman, 93 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane. Hon. Excursion. Secretary : Mr. G. H. Barker, Barker’s Book Stores, Adelaide Street, Brisbane Assista/nt Excursion Secretary : Mr. Ken Harley, University, Brisbane Hon. Librarian : Mrs. G. L. Jackson. Committee : Mr. J. H. Simmonds Miss M. Hawken Mr. G. L. Jackson Miss D. Coxon Mr. F. S. Colliver Hon. Lanternist : Mr. W. J. Sanderson Hon. Auditor : Mr. R.. E. A. Doolan Hon. Editor, Naturalist : Mr. S. T. Blake (Botanic Gardens, Brisbane) SUBSCRIPTIONS: Ordinary Members 10s. per annum Country Members 5s. per annum Junior Members 5s. per annum Nature Lovers’ Certificate, 2d. MEETINGS: Evening Meetings are held at the Brisbane Women’s Club Rooms, 148 Adelaide Street, on the Third Monday of every Month. Excursions are held once or twice a month from March to December. u THE QUEENSLAND NATURALIST JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB Vol. XIV. cNOVEMBER, 1949 No. 1 PROCEEDINGS EVENING MEETING, 21st June, 1948.— The chair was occupied by the President, Mr. J. H. Sinimonds and about 40 members were present. Dr. Marks reported on an excursion to Gamp Mountain and Miss Goxon and Miss Bandars on an excursion to Point Lookout. Mr. Roger Pair gave a lecture on India. A living funnel- web spider from Rathdowney was exhibited by Miss Marks. Mr. J. C. Smith tabled the nest of a wasp. A citrus gall produced by a wasp was shown by Miss Earnshaw. Miss MacCallum drew attention to the probable destruction of trees at Ipswich Road, and the lion. Secretary was instructed to write to the Lord Mayor with the request that they might be spared. EVENING MEETING. 19th July, 1948.— The chair was occupied by the President, Mr. J. H. Sinimonds and about 40 members were present. A letter from the Secretary to the Lord Mayor, stated that the possibility of saving the trees at Ipswich Road would be investi- gated. A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Sinimonds. Barker and Mack was appointed to wait on the Lord Mayor to stress the unsuitability of Albert Park as a site for a Zoo. The President congratulated Mr. C. T. White on his having received the honorary degree of Master of Science. Reports on the excursion to Hem- man t were given by Mr. J. C. Smith and Miss Hawken. Numerous exhibits were shown : Specimens of mistletoe from Hemmant, which were discussed by Mr. White; fossil molluscs, by Mr. C'olliver; land shells, by Mrs. Jackson; a bailer shell, by Mr. Barker; coral mushroom, by Mr. Campbell; several cases of shells, by Mr. Sim- nionds; a fossil shell, by Dr. Marks; and an orchid, by 2 The Queensland Naturalist November 1949 Miss Williams. A book “Backwash of Empire,” by M. K. Woodburn, was presented by Mr. White. A dis- cussion on the removal of shells from islands of the Great Barrier Reef was started by Mr. Barker; Dr. Marks, Mr. Bake, Mr. Colliver and Mr. Smith took part. EVENING MEETING, 16th August, 1048.- The chair was occupied by the Vice-President, Mr. G. Mack, and about 60 members were present. Mr. Barker reported that the proposal to protest against the estab- lishment of a Zoo in Albert Park was dropped, because the City Council had already rejected the site. The excursion to the Chermside hills was reported upon by Mr. White and Miss Ooxon. Mr. G. IT. Barker gave an address on his recent visit to New Zealand. Mr. White discussed some specimens of plants from Chermside; Miss Marks showed specimens of bugs known as snow- flies and of the harlequin bug: Mr. Colliver tabled some meteorites and spoke on them. Mrs. .Jackson asked for volunteers to assist at the Club’s display in the Creche and Kindergarten Floral Festival. EVENING MEETING, 20th September, 1948. The chair was occupied by the President, Mr. -T. TT. Sim- monds, and 45 members were present. A vote of thanks to Mrs. Jackson and Miss Baird for the work done in connection with the Floral Festival, was carried by acclamation. A letter from the Chief Administration Officer of the Department of Harbours and Marine was read, in which it was stated that the appointment of Inspectors to the islands of the Great Barrier Reef was under consideration. Mr. and Mrs. Colliver and Miss Blaxland were elected to ordinary membership and Air. and Mrs. Rahnsleben and Mr. Goodyear were elected to country membership. The excursion to Beerwah was reported on bv the President and ATiss Ooxon. The evening urns devoted largely to members’ exhibits of native flowers from various localities and gardens. They were discussed by Air. Blake. Air. Carlton also exhibited a small stone tomahawk which may have been a child’s toy. EVENING MEETING, 18th October. 1948.- The chair was occupied by the President, Air. -T. H. Simmonds, and about 55 members and friends were present. Airs. Williams ( Auchenflower), ATiss Finlay and Air. Hettrick, November 1949 The Queensland Naturalist 3 were elected to membership. Members were invited by the Entomological Society to attend a lecture on the late Henry Tryon. Mr. L. J. Brass gave a short address on a collecting trip to Nyasaland in 1946, chiefly for mammals for the United States Museum for Natural History and for plants for the New York Botanic Garden. Sir. G. Mack gave a short talk on the lyre- bird, illustrated by photographs taken by Mr. Lewis. The President reported on the week-end excursion to Ocean Beach, Bribie Island; plants collected were dis- cussed by Professor Herbert and Mr. Blake, and Miss Marks showed some ants and mosquito larvae which she had collected. Mr. Barker presented a copy of “Wild- flowers of Australia,” by Thistle Harris. EVENING MEETING, 15th November. 1918.- The chair was occupied by the Vice-President, Mr. J. C. Smith, and 57 members and friends were present. A motion of congratulation and good wishes to the newly- formed Rockhampton Field Naturalists’ Club was car- ried by the meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Oakman and Mr. Kent Keith were elected to ordinary membership and Mr. Le Fanu (Wetern Australia), to country member- ship. Mr. Barker reported on the club’s visit to the Queensland Museum. The main business of the evening was an address on Central Australia, by Mr. Arthur Groom, illustrated by numerous photographs. The speaker made a strong plea that a National Park be proclaimed in this area. Mrs. Jackson tabled some land shells. Mr. Mack spoke upon some geological specimens tabled by Miss MacCallum. Mr. J. C. Smith exhibited an emu’s egg. Supper was served after the meeting. ANNUAL MEETING, 21st February, 1949.— The chair was occupied by the President, Mr. J. H. Sim- monds and about 53 members were present. The Hon. Secretary of the National Parks Association, sent greet- ings for the New Year and a list of the Association’s proposed excursions for the year. Mr. White and Miss Ooxon reported on the Club’s excursion to Birkdale. The Annual Report was read by the Hon. Secretary, the Report on field activities by the Hon. Excursion Secretary, the Librarian’s Report by the Hon. Librarian, and the Financial Statement by the Hon. Treasurer. The Meeting passed a recommendation to the incoming Council to consider raising the subscription. For the 4 November 1949 The Queensland Naturalist first time for some years, a ballot was necessary to elect the non-official members of the Council. The names of the members of the Council for 1949, appear on the inside front cover of this number. During the counting of the votes, the exhibits were shown. Dr. Marks tabled some photographs and an aboriginal tomahawk; Mr. Colliver showed some trilobites and some models; on behalf of Mr. Bray, Mr. White exhibited plants of N'lmUawa from Thornlands. After the results of the ballot were announced, Mr. J. II. Simmonds delivered his Presidential Address on “Plant Diseases.” ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 8th, 1949. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Council of the Queensland Naturalists’ Club presents its report of the Club activities for the past year. Natural History pursuits have been carried forward during the year at evening meetings and field excur- sions. MEETINGS : — There have been ten (10) Ordinary Evening Meetings, ten (10) Field Excursions and seven (7) Council Meetings during the year. Attendance at Council meetings has been as fol- lows : — Mr. J. IT. Simmonds, 7; Mr. J. C. Smith, 6; Mr. G. Mack, 6; Miss E. E. Baird, 7; Miss H. Clarke, 6; Mr. G. H. Barker, 3; Mrs. Jackson, 4; Dr. E. 0. Marks, 6; Mr. G. L. Jackson, 6; Mr. C. 1’. White, 4; Miss Sander- cock. 4 ; Mr. Sanderson, 3 ; Mr. S. T. Blake, 6. Attendance at evening meetings has been good, the average being 49. Interesting and instructive lectures have been given during the year; many were illustrated by lantern slides. The lecturers included Messrs. F. A. Perkins, Wassail, Roger Fair. G. H. Barker, L. Brass, G. Mack and A. Groom. The April meeting was devoted to reports of the Easter Excursion, and the July and September evenings to exhibits. Assistance in the form of a display of native flowers was given at the Floral Festival held by the Creche and Kindergarten Association, The Queensland Naturalist November 1949 5 Reports of field excursions were given by various members; interesting specimens and photographs were tabled. MEMBERSHIP. — The loss of four members by death- — Drs. A. J. Turner and G. Croll and Messrs. H. Dean and Wetherell is recorded with regret. Twenty-seven new members have been elected and eight resignations have been received. There are now 1 90 members of the Club. NATURE LOVERS’ LEAGUE.— A few certificates have been sold. “QUEENSLAND NATURALIST.”— Two issues of the journal were published. GENERAL.— As is the custom of the Club, the Council has proposed that suitable areas be reserved and that worthy plants and animals be protected, when such proposals were considered necessary. The matter of the proposed transfer of animals from the Botanic Gardens to Wickham Park was dismissed and disapproval of the site expressed. As City Council Officers were also of this opinion, no further action was necessary. We noted with pleasure that the Government has extended the provisions of the Native Plants Protection Act in regard to the Cooktown Orchid ( Dcndrobiirm bigibbum and var. phalaenopsis) and the Torres Straits Orchid (T)endrobhm s uperbiens) to include plants growing on land held under leasehold irom the Crown. E. E. BAIRD. Hon. Secretary. REPORT ON EXCURSIONS, 1948 The Outing in February was set down for- the Nudgee Waterhole and Bora Ring, but few members were able to make the trip. Those who attended found few birds, but many mosquitoes. They were able to report that the fence around the Bora Ring had been restored and the notice re-erected, but the Ring itself had been damaged by soil-carters. Mr. Ken Hai lev drove to Cribb Island and reported many waders on the beach. 6 The Queensland Naturalist November The March Outing was a visit to Mt. Coot-tha Reserve. The ustial birds were seen, but some unex- pected terrestrial orchids were found. The Easter Excursion was to Dunwich, where the use of buildings had been granted by the Government. The party left Gibson’s Wharf near Victoria Bridge at about 8.30 p.m. on the Thursday and arrived at Dun- wich Wharf about midnight in pouring rain. The trans- portation of the camp gear was a wet and heavy task, but it was accomplished by Mr. Smith and his helpers. For the rest of the time the weather was delightful, and an enjoyable and profitable excursion resulted. Special reports of this excursion appear elsewhere in this issue. The May Outing was an all day excursion to Mount Glorious, in which 20 members took part. The King’s Birthday week-end was to have been spent at Point Lookout, but it was not possible to com- plete arrangements. Thanks to Dr. and Mrs. Marks, another enjoyable week-end at Camp Mountain was a happy substitute, though both birds and flowers were scarce. However, Miss Coxon did succeed in getting to Point Lookout and later gave an interesting description of the birds she saw there. Tt is remarkable that so many migratory waders were still about at that time of the year. Several species of honeyeaters were plenti- ful on the island, feeding on the flowers of the banksias. in July, Mr. J. C. Smith led an excursion to Ilern- mant. With its numerous swamps and backwaters, and the nearby meat works and bacon factories, this area is an ideal locality for ibis and such birds. In August, Mr. White led an excursion to the Chermside hills. A number of well-known plants were in flower, including Banksia colli na. Tlovca, Srnilax , and Kennedy a, and of the 30 species of birds observed, the rainbow-bird was the most noteworthy. In September, Dr. Harold Young led an excursion to Beerwah, to a patch of typical wallum country. A good display of wild-flowers can always be expected in this kind of country at this time of the year. Strangely, only 10 species of birds were listed. In October, Bribie Island was visited. Despite the lateness of the year, quite a number of plants were still in flower. November 1949 The Queensland Naturalist 7 In November, Mr. Mack conducted members of the Club through the Queensland Museum. Our members had the privilege of seeing specimens of some of the new birds and other animals recently collected by Mr. Vernon in Cape York Peninsula. They also saw a geo- logical collection made by a juvenile collector in north- west Queensland, as well as many other items of interest. From the ...above, it is quite evident that, despite handicaps, the Club enjoyed a successful year in the field, certainly the best since the war. GEO. H. BARKER, Hon, Excursion Secretary. LIBRARIAN’S REPORT FOR 1948 The Library has been well patronised during the year, magazines mostly being borrowed, as owing to lack of space it is not possible to keep a large variety of books. The magazines comprise National Geographic, Geographical Journal, Walkabout, and Wild Lite, all monthly publications subscribed to by the Club — also Natural History (American) received in exchange for the “Queensland Naturalist.” T take this opportunity of thanking Mr. Barker for several very desirable additions to the Library, Mr. White for Some interesting books of travel, and lastly the late Hr. Malaher, who bequeathed about 80 books to this Club. These books are nearly all particularly suitable to the needs of this Club, and they will be made available gradually, other books being removed from the library cupboard to make room for the fresh ones. A list of the new books is available to Members, and il a particular one is desired, it can be brought forward at next meeting. E. M. JACKSON. Hon. Librarian. REPORT OF THE HON. TREASURER In presenting the financial statement, the Hon. Treasurer stressed the rather unsatisfactory financial position of the Club, as expenses had increased without a corresponding increase in receipts. This retarded 8 November 1949 The Queensland Naturalist activities of the club, such as publication of the “Queens- land Naturalist” and the building up of a fund to buy camping equipment. She suggested that the incoming Council should carefully consider this question. EXCURSION TO DUNWICH — EASTER, MARCH 26th-29th, 1948 By J. COSSAR SMITH The Easter Camp was held at Dunwich, a well- known spot on the Western side of Stradbroke Island, Moreton Bay. For a week prior to the day of leaving, a gale had been operating on the coast, which brought very wet weather and rough seas and gave our members much concern. However, our Secretary was very keen on holding the excursion, so at 8.30 p.m. on March 25th, thirty-eight members left Brisbane in the Motor Boat “Ivanhoe,” with much baggage and provisions for four days, with very uncertain weather to accompany us across Moreton Bay. The four-hour trip was better than had been expected. Arriving at Dunwich Jetty at 12.30 a.m., in pitch darkness, in very heavy rain and a strong S.E. wind, our skipper was compelled to unload and leave us to make the best of it. With about two hundred packages of all kinds and no guides, reaching our barracks in slush and wind and continuous rain was an experience to be remembered. Before sunrise on Good Friday, the prospects looked like more rain, but about 7 a.m. the sun broke through, the clouds lifted and fine weather continued for the remainder of the trip. By permission of the Department of Health and Home Affairs, we were able to have the use of several of the buildings now not in use, and for this the Club was very grateful. Breakfast was relished and though some were late, no one was any the worse for the wet- ting. The roster and the suggested programme for the three-and-a-half days ahead were discussed and the mem- bers cut their lunch and formed groups, some to investi- gate the marine life on the mud flats at Myora about four miles away ; Mr. Dunn and Mr. Hunt in another direction hoping for a good day amongst the Orchids; The Queensland Naturalist November 1949 9 Miss Coxen and Ken Harvey and party to observe Bird life. A grand tea was enjoyed by everybody and the day’s experiences were discussed and specimens exam- ined afterwards. On Saturday, we had an early breakfast as every- one was eager to get a start on the track to the famous Blue Lake. About 25 made the trip along a track which was well defined and through the bush all the way. After reaching the Lake (the colour IS blue, as blue as the sky) some walked further, crossed the swamp and saw the site on the ocean beach where the black metallic sands are being investigated. The distance walked was about 16 to IB miles and all agreed it had been a very pleasant day. On Sunday, the majority of the party spent a full day visiting the Brown Lake (Lake Carroora) and appreciated the offer of one of the residents to act as guide. On Monday there was no planned outing, as pack- ings up had to be done in readiness for leaving at 1 p.m. The trip back across the bay was in daylight and in sunshine, when we could see all the points of interest including Peel. Ooochie Mudlo and St. Helena Islands, with Cleveland and Wynnum on the mainland. Reaching Brisbane about 5 o’clock brought to an end a profitable and enjoyable week-end. NOTE ON THE MOSQUITO FAUNA OF THE DUNWICH AREA By ELIZABETH N. MARKS The Dunwich area can be a rich and happy hunt- ing ground for the student of mosquitoes, but he must be prepared to be disappointed since on some occasions very few will be found. The summer months. Nov- ember-February. appear to be the most favourable for collecting, but it seems probable that this is influenced by rainfall, at least as much as by temperature. Twenty- eight species of mosquitoes are known to occur about Dunwich, some of them being common forms widely distributed elsewhere. The domestic pest species Aede s aegypti and Culex fatigans are found in the residential 10 The Queensland Naturalist November 1949 area. The latter species has been taken also from shal- low well-holes dug at the edge of the freshwater swamps, where it was associated with Anopheles annulipes and Culex ( Lutzia ) halifaxi. Larvae of Aedes notoscciptus have been found in undrained grave-tops (associated with C. fatigans ) , in tins in the bush, and in a cavity in a log where they were associated with Aedes trewula. A group of species, some very restricted in their distribution, others to be found also further afield, form the characteristic fauna of the coastal areas of South Queensland, where fresh-water sedge and tea-tree swamps, open heaths with scattered pools and patches of pandanus and vine-scrubs occur, often within a short distance of tidal flats and mangroves. The majority of these species are known to occur about Dunwich. One section of them, comprising a number of species of the genus Aedes, breed in shallow depressions in the ground which are filled by heavy rain, the adults often appearing in less than a fortnight after the pool is formed. It is thought that in many cases the eggs are deposited in the mud and undergo a period of dessication before hatching when the breeding place is filled by rain. A series of such breeding places is to be found in the Two-Mile Scrub between Dunwich and Myora when, after a dry period, heavy rain has fallen. This is the only location from which larvae of the rare large Aedes aculeatus have been collected so far, Mr. L. J. Callaghan, a former school teacher at Dunwich, being responsible for their discovery, and the only known males of this species are from here also, though the species ranges from Port Macquarie to Tewantin. Other species found breeding in casual pools in the Two-Mile scrub are Aedes funereus, Aedes similis, Aedes rabrithorax Aedes alboannulatus, Aedes vittiger and Aedes (Muci- dus ) alternans. Aedes vigilax larvae may occasionally be collected though they are more common in brackish pools nearer the beach, but this species, the black bush mosquito, does not appear to be as common here as on the mainland. Adults of all these species may be taken biting. A. aculeatus can be recognised by its large size, and. under a lens, the head and sides of the thorax are seen to be clothed with distinctive, flat, oval, yellow scales. Aedes multiplex is a rare species taken biting in the in the swamps and scrub, which is known to breed in November 1949 The Queensland Naturalist 11 ground pools in other localities. If a visit be made when the whole area of the Two-Mile Scrub is dry, or after prolonged wet weather has converted it into an extensive swamp, neither larvae nor adults of these species may be found. Dunwich was the first locality from which males and larvae of Anopheles atratipes were known, being collected by Mackerras in 1926.* He designated a Dun- wich male the allotype of this species. It is a black anopbeline. with a conspicuous white patch on the fringe at the tip of its wing. The freshwater sedge and tea-tree swamps between the sandhills and the bay. and peaty depressions along their margins are typical breed- ing places of A. atratipes, Uranotaenia pygmea (also found in the Brown Lake), Culex postspicaculosus and Culex sp. near cylindricus, though larvae are often widely scattered and difficult to find. Anopheles stigmaticus. which also breeds here, is, on the mainland, most com- monly found in shaded creeks and rocky mountain pools. Of these. A. atratipes an C. sp. near cylindricus will bite man, the latter being, both as larva and adult, probably the commonest species encountered in the Dunwich area. In the deep clear pools of the heath flats, such as that behind the pumping station, A. atratipes and Theo- baldia sp. near atra breed. This is the only species of Theobaldia known from Queensland and is of interest in that its closest relative, Theobaldia atra , is known only from Perth. Western Australia. Along the edge of the bay-side swamps and in the Two-Mile Scrub two small species of Aedes with spotted wings are vicious biters. These are Aedes kochi, a com- mon pest species in New Guinea, which at Dunwich has been found breeding in the water-holding leaf-axils of Pandanus and Crinum, and Aedes qahnicola, which is known only from the coastal areas of Moreton Bay, and in other localities has been found breeding in saw-grass ( Gahnia ). During the summer, one of the commonest biting species in the area, in swamp, scrub, heath and open forest is Taeniorhynchus linealis, the larva and male of which have never been discovered. Larvae and pupae of this genus attach their breathing-tubes to the roots of aquatic plants from which they obtain their oxygen without the necessity of rising to the surface of “ Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. Wales, Vol, 52, pp. 38-40 (1927). 12 November 1949 The Queensland Naturalist the water. Search for them may be prolonged and ted- ious. involving pulling up the plant and washing its roots carefully in a white tray, when the larvae may become detached and swim about. It seems highly prob- able that larvae of T. linealis will be found on the roots of one or more of the common acquatic plants in the extensive swamps about Dunwich, but to date, search for them has been fruitless. This species offers scope for an interesting life-history study for which the Dun- wicb area appears particularly favourable. Anopheles amictus hilli, a potential vector of mal- aria. has been taken in large numbers at Myora; it can breed in either salt or fresh water and the location of its breeding places in this area would be a useful contri- bution from any future visitor. Anopheles hanctofti, Culex annulizostcis and Culex sitiens have also been col- lected at Dunwich. The above account is based on collections made at Dunwich at the end of November. 1943 and beginning of March. 1946. On 27th-28th September, 1947, adults of A. atratipes, A. vigilax and Culex sp. near cyl- indticus were taken biting. During the Naturalises’ Club Easter Excursion to the area. 26th-29th March, 1948, A. vigilax, Culex sp. near cylindricus and T. linealis were the only adults collected, the latter two being scarce. A. notoscciptus was breeding in a fallen palm frond in a deserted garden. On 21st-22nd August, 1948, only two anopheline adults were observed. On none of these occasions could larvae be found in the Two-Mile Scrub, though water was present. ORCHIDS NOTED AT DUNWICH, EASTER, 1948 By TREVOR E. HUNT The type of open forest country occupying the bulk of Stradbroke Island is not generally rich in epi- phytic types, and at this time of the year very few of the terrestrials are above ground. Mr. Dunn and I searched the area as thoroughly as possible in the time available, and found only about a dozen species from eleven genera. The only epiphyte encountered was Den- diohium linguiforme. It was seen only once, on two trees a couple of miles south of the settlement. One The Queensland Naturalist November 1949 13 of the two trees supported the most magnificent col- only of this plant I have ever seen and I would give much to be able to revisit it at flowering time. The host is about four feet or so in diameter at the base, and branches into several large limbs some ten feet from the ground. These limbs, and most of their larger branches, are completely clothed with D. lingui- fotme. What a glorious sight it must be in the spring when the green mass of the plant would be hidden by countless thousands of racemes of creamy white, fragrant flowers. Unfortunately, someone chose this particular tree to camp near for some time, and used its base as a windbreak for the fire, so that now little but a shell remains. Some day a strong blow will destroy the colony. Now to the terrestrials. One sentence in Mr. C. T. White’s report on a previous Naturalists’ trip to Dunwich twenty-odd years ago is significant. He said that Phaius tankecvilliae ( P . grandifolius ) , was everywhere abundant in the swamps. Mr. Dunn and I walked some thirty odd miles, and searched every piece of swampland we could, and found just one small pocket containing a few plants. The Phaius has paid the price of its beauty and the area is stripped. A few plants of Calanthe veratcifolia were seen in one spot. This is the very lovely white relative of the more regal Phaius. Along one shore of the Brown Lake several colonies of two species of Pterostylis were seen. It is. of course, impossible to determine species unless flowers are present, but the leaves of one type sug- gested very strongly those of P. nutans. In several places beside the roads, small colonies of Geodotum pictum were met with. T wo cr three plants of a Dipodium were seen. They could have been the common D. punctatum or the almost unknown yellow D. hamiltonianum or the white D. punctatum var. album. Unfortunately none was in flower at the time. On the slope of one of the hills east of the camp, a colony of a species of Caleana was found flourishing in a grove of Cypress pine. An Acianthus formed very large colonies in sev- eral places, once in association with a robust colony 14 The Queensland Naturalist November 1949 of Spiculaea irritabilis and a few Thelymitra plants. It is an interesting point that other terrestrial genera, such as the two just mentioned, Pterostylis and some others are almost invariably to be found in or near a colony of Acianthus. By far the most interesting finds were two plants of a species of Prasophyllum. The first interesting point about them is that a close search of the area where they were found growing about a chain apart, failed to produce any more. This is not usual for the genus. The second is that they were the only orchids found in flower. The third, that at the time of writing. I believe them to represent a new species There is much research to be done before I can be sure on this point. The heath lands are always fascinating, as there, one never knows what will turn up next. Especially are they happy hunting grounds for terrestrial orchids. Although the orchids were strangely lacking in our travels, Boronia, Epacris, and the rest of the lovely heath plants, made pleasant consolation. Near the sea, one area which had recently been burnt was remarkable for the variety of its ferns just springing away to new life — T odea, Blechnum , Pteris, Glei- chenia, Selaginella, Lygodium scandens and so on and it was here that Drosera binata made a gallant show with hundreds of large white flowers against the young green of the ferns and the blackened earth. In a small vine-scrub, a few young Crow’s Nests (Asplenium nidus) and Elkhorns (Platycerium alcicorne) were noticed. The same patch was heavily infested with Lantana and wild raspberries. The lack of orchid material gave greater oppor- tunity to take notice of other families. Two among the many beautiful trees and shrubs stand out for me. The racemes of pale blue berries, which follow the frilly white flowers of the shrub Elaeocarpus cyaneus, make this plant a subject well worthy of cultivation. The shapely grace of Exocarpus cupressiformis make it equally as desirable, but as it is parasitic upon the roots of other trees, it might be difficult to establish. A small collection of seeds was made for the Botanic Gardens in Adelaide at the request of its Curator. November 1949 The Queensland Naturalist 15 THE GATHERING TOGETHER OF NON- MIGRATORY BIRDS By J. E. YOUNG Herewith are some observations on “The Gather- ing Together of Non-Migratory Birds,” but by this I do not refer to those which usually go in flocks or fam- ilies such as parrots, finches, etc. I have noticed over a number of years that there is a number of other species which I have seen assembled in groups, but so far as I could see, with no particular object, but to feed quietly together. 1. The earliest that I remember noticing was some twenty or more years ago. when I saw a ‘‘flock’ of peaceful doves (Gcopelia placida ) feeding quietly about 20 yards from my residence in the street at Gracevillc in which I still live. Bank Road. There must have been two dozen or more. They were in close formation and could not have covered a space of more than 12-15 feet. Up to the present time, I have never seen more than one pair and two young together. I think I should here add. that a pair of the same doves recently reared a pair of young in a Queensland Nut Tree about 30 yards away. As soon as they could well fly. they hunted the young away, laid again in the same nest and reared a second pair, which were also consistently hunted off and a third pair of eggs laid, hatched and reared. 2. A flock of perhaps two dozen Pratincole or ‘‘Swallow Plover,” was seen by my companion and self, on September 27th, 1937. when driving through to North Queensland. The locality was near “Tangorin. between Muttaburra and Hughenden. They were quietly feeding in an adjoining paddock in thick forma- tion. 3. The Brolga, Antigone rubicunda. A fair-sized flock of these was seen feeding near the road, I think south of Townsville, in low country, amongst timber, when my wife and I were returning from North Queens- land (by car). 4. The White Headed Stilt, listed as nomadic and rare we also saw in several dozens, in a flock on the 16 November 1949 The Queensland Naturalist swamp on the left hand side of the road after crossing a small creek and cutting (road) and perhaps 1 1 miles before reaching the Broadwater and turning towards Southport. 5. The Ground Grauculus Pteropodocys maxima. I once saw about 1 i dozen of these beside the old road between Roma and Chinchilla amongst some light scrub. 6. The Black-backed Magpie. I saw on one occasion on the Stephens’ property adjoining the Lamington National Park at least 3-4 dozens collected in the hol- low below the bouse. 2-300 yards distant. They were mostly quite idle. But occasionally one or two would fly off across the road, also about 300 yards from the mob, to where a man was ploughing, choose two or three grubs to eat and return to his own flock. I think they were gone next day. 7. I happened once to be stationed temporarily at a place called Orallo, on the Injune Line. Hearing that I might be able to shoot a Scrub Turkey in a scrub per- haps a mile distant. I borrowed a gun at the week-end and walked out. but not a turkey could I see, though I could see signs on the ground. On returning to camp. I heard a rather amazing tale. I was told that a large flock of turkeys had invaded the township, coming evidently from the scrub. In passing, two or three were caught in paling yards and were after- wards consumed: the rest carried on with their migra- tion. My luck was definitely “out.” but I believe that things happened as recorded. 8. One of the most remarkable gatherings I ever saw was at a place called Barakula, on a branch line from Chinchilla, which mainly consisted of a saw mill for cutting railway sleepers and bridge girders. Here one day, I noticed a great gathering of Leather- heads in about two tree tops over a waterhole in the local creek. They did not appear to have any desire to feed. There must have been about 200 of them and all they did was to chatter their hardest. I must say the noise they made was absolutely deafening, and strangely they were not flying about, only chattering. I went up and examined the pool and surroundings, but could find nothing at all ususual. It was a mystery to me. There was plenty of other water in the creek also. The Queensland Naturalist November 1949 17 9. The Crested Pigeon. Ocyphaps lophotes, I first saw in the coastal region on the Beaudesert Road in a rather noisy flock about, 15 or 20 miles from town, in trees by the roadside. Not very long afterwards, they appeared on Stephens Bros.’ property adjoining the Lamington National Park. Not long ago, I saw two dozen or more spread over the branches of a dead wattle tree near Mr. Ray Stephens' house, and they are all about the locality. I noticed that they are now cunning enough to make their nests in thick clumps of the very prickly Cudrania javanensis. One would think that the birds themselves could hardly get into them. A FURTHER NOTE ON THE CUPID BLUE BUTTERFLY By W. I). DICK The life-story of the Cupid Blue (Euchrysops cnejus cnidus Waterhouse and Lyell) was described in Queensland Nat., Vol. 13, pp. 79-81 (1947). The food-plant is Vigna oexillata (L.) Benth., a native olant closely allied to the Cow Pea. I have also noted the butterfly has adopted the Poona Pea for a food-plant. I have it under cultivation here and notice a few butter- flies on it laying their eggs and freshly emerged insects flying around. The attendant ant is Pheidole impres- siceps Meyrick. AUSTRALIAN NEUROPTERA—A CORRECTION In Queensland Nat.. Vol. 1 3, No. 6, the explana- tion to the plate facing p. 118. should reads as follows : Stilbopteryx sop. Fig. 1 : S. brocki, n.sp. (male). Fig. 2 : S. costalis (Newman). Fig. 3 : S. brocki. n.sp. (lateral view) . 18 The Queensland Naturalist November 1949 BOOK REVIEWS By S. T. B. When a book written by A. H. Chisholm is received, we can be assured of very pleasant and profitable read- ing. “Bird Wonders of Australia,’’ has just reached us in a revised and enlarged third edition, which con- tains the results of some very recent observations. The thirty chapters of the book are arranged in two approxi- mately equal parts. The first fifteen chapters deal with many groups of birds with detailed accounts of their habits. Bower-birds, cuckoos, lyre-birds, mound- builders, parrots, pigeons, birds with “long legs and long toes,” “masters of the ocean” and other birds are cheerfully described in intimate detail in a way that ever holds the attention of the reader. The second half of the book is concerned with various relations between bird and bird, and bird and other animals (including man), various types of habits, nests, wanderings, voices, etc., and miscellaneous observations. The book is pro- fusely illustrated by an extraordinarily fine series of photographs from various sources. An extensive index adds considerably to the usefulness of the book. It is published by Angus and Robertson Ltd., and is obtain- able at all booksellers at 15/-. “News from Nature,” by the same author (Georgian House, Melbourne) , is a series of chatty little sketches describing features of the. bushland, chiefly near Mel- bourne, characteristic of the four seasons of the year — twelve for each season. The book is well illustrated by numerous excellent photographs, chiefly of birds with some orchids for variety, and a few coloured plates including two pages of exceptionally fine reproductions of paintings of Mrs. Ellis Rowan, of crinoline fungi (frontispiece) and “vegetable corals.” It is a compan- ionable book which will be popular with all nature- lovers. November 1949 The Queensland Naturalist 19 “List of Birds Occurring in North Queensland,” North Queensland Naturalists' Club. Publication No. 5. prepared with the assistance of Major H. M. Whittell, O.B.E., Convener R.A.O.U. Checklist Committee. Obtain- able from the Hon. Secretary. N.Q.N.C., 253 Sheridan St.. Cairns; Price 2/-. A clearly printed list of birds occur- ring in the northern part of Queensland. The exact area covered is defined. The list is arranged in systematic sequence, with the official vernacular name followed by the technical name and authority. No futher information is recorded. T3 O 00 o o CO 00 £0 t-H CO o Cl CC LO «rtcoo CD LO O Cl tH tH 00 QO 4 05 OS a CO § a u a Q o X I— Q X W os a x os K 05 6 H 4 Q X a CL, X B a 05 £> H k-H Q X B CL, X a T3 t- t- Ui M O CO t- rH : >» : fa eS ; 43 : . : 3 : 00 o CO t- T— , CM tH : -a c cG _a ac 3 “ CO to a u cc H CO a ■*3) 05 6 H ◄ X Q 55 » 3 w eS 43 ~o eS M £ Z 09 S' 4 £ ^ a £ « 3h !>.04 C 4-o a, +-> as 09 x PhO Pl p 00 w eS Pa 09 cO 09 O £ "cO M TJCOOt-HlC tH l/JOOOHCOOO ^ CO 05 O 00 H O C- 50 TH <+9 02 h a HH w o H PS t> C* o CO H S3 4a CO 09 o _. 3 0 fl 03 **• 2 Ja - 09 _ K* , W 0 g U ^ o S- co a •1:5.2 3 15 9 00 09 wV. C6 -J 09 O X cO CO M O cn ® E M M T5 < ® os "2 tD c 3 W C3 o O CO CD CD 00 CD CO O 1 — 1 o co co m co CM CM ^ CO f— H CM LD W C 3 D H 3 W cu X P -1 3 o x -.3 3 U ' K 3 u CO u -a • T5 : D ; CQ -; w cw 3 O c/3 g .5 o S x to D Q, rn tn Q; <1) 2 H CO o CM CO : >•« : t- 0 m • xi i T« 3 . 0 3 "5 00 tS CJ> c ob O 3 O o CO •- «-• ^ c 0) C) 3 — X X C) o o X CQ o 0 cn in a cu X Q, o w O 0 0h . | C » 8 o |Li9 g ? c c -g J? ! o x 0 o ; K Oh CQ O -1 Q) M 3 "5 Cn 3 jD "a) .3 u O M C3 D 0 >H r— H C/3 LO O uo CM C-* CO -o 3 a) a x w T3 G a a) u 0 oc c 0 E 0 ■4-* a ■*-> m CO H Dh W o w C 3 T5 f-H 0 £ M O Cm . 0 . U 3 0 : cn X ' C3 U a T5 ; 3 0 : 5 D . a !-gi : 3 Q cn 0 3 CD 0 0 3 W SP - .2- g D „ 3 0 3 0 0 3 CC CO Q CQ co f ui rS 0) 0, ; w a w « oc £ — ] °g 42 Members are invited to contribute articles on Natural History subjects for publication in “The Queensland Naturalist.” Authors must use only one side of the paper, and articles should preferably be typewritten with double spacing, although good hand- writing is acceptable. In all cases a double margin should be left. THE Queensland Naturalist JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS' CLUB C. T. WHITE cMEMORIAL cNUMBER CONTENTS Page Obituary — Cyril Tenison White 43 A Previously Undescribed Pomaderris from South- east Queensland 48 A New Species of Pultenaea from South-east Queensland 49 Notes on Some Plants of Western Queensland 52 A Change in Name for a Timber Tree of the Rain Forest of Tropical Queensland 56 A New Orchid from North Queensland 57 A New Species of Dendrobium from North Queensland 60 Henslowia — an Addition to the Australian Genera of Santalaceae 62 A Little Known Parasitic Flowering Plant 66 The Queensland Naturalists’ Club Official Journal — The Queensland Naturalist <£> OFFICE-BEARERS, 1950 President : Mrs. G. L. Jackson. Vice-President ■. F. S. Colliver. Hon. Secretary : Miss E. E. Baird 32 Kennedy Terrace, Red Hill, Brisbane. • Hon. Treasurer : Miss H. Clarke. 32 Kennedy Terrace, Red Hill, Brisbane. Hon. Excursion Secretary : R. S. Harley. Hon. Librarian : G. L. Jackson. Committee : Miss- M. Hawken, S. T. Blake, E. 0. Marks, L. Simpson. Hon. Editor : J. T. Woods. Queensland Museum, Brisbane. Hon. 1 Muter nisi : W. J. Sanderson. Hon. Auditor : R. E. A. Doolan. SUBSCRIPTIONS : Ordinary Members 10s. per annum Country Members 5s. per annum Junior Members 5s. per annum Nature-Lovers' Certificate, 2d. MEETINGS : Evening Meetings are held at the Brsbane Women's Club Rooms, 148 Adelaide Street, on the Third Monday of every Month. Excursions are held once or twice a month from March to December C. T. WHITE cMEMORIAL cNUMBER C. T. WHITE (17th August, 1890 — 16th August, 1950) THE QUEENSLAND NATURALIST JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB Vol. xiv . JANUARY 1951 No. 3 CYRIL TENISON WHITE Our friend Cyril Tenisoti White, M.Sc., Government Botanist of Queensland, died suddenly at his home in Kangaroo Point on the evening of August 16th, 11150. lit* was born in Kangaroo Point on August 17th, 1890, and was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Henry White. When he was five years of age the family moved to Rockhampton for a short time and it was there that he began his schooling. On their return to Brisbane lie attended the South Brisbane State School, and in 1905 was appointed Pupil Assistant to his maternal grand- father, Frederick Manson Bailey, the Colonial Botanist of Queensland. F. M. Bailey was one of the outstanding figures in Australian science in the latter part of of the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries. He had arrived in South Australia from England in 1839 at the age of 12 with his father, John Bailey, a nurseryman who had been trained by Loddiges. On his arrival, John Bailey was appointed Colonial Botanist by Gawler but was* retienohed shortly afterwards when Grey reorganised the administration of the bankrupt colony. He estab- lished a private nursery and it was here that F. M. Bailey got his first botanical training. In 1858 the young man migrated to New Zealand and finally in 1861 came to Queensland where he set up in business as a nurseryman in Edward Street, Brisbane. His interests were, however, in botany, and he collected assiduously, paying special attention to the cryptogams, and main- tained constant correspondence and exchange with specialists overseas. It was not long before he joined the staff of the Queensland Museum. Tn 1881 the posi- tion was separated from the Museum and he was appointed Colonial Botanist, a title he retained even after 44 Federation. Bailey’s great work, the “Queensland Flora,” the six volumes of which were published from 1899 to 1902, remains the standard reference on the sub- ject, At the beginning of the twentieth century this Grand Old Man of Queensland botany was the central l’igme of an enthusiastic baud of amateur botanists and other naturalists. He was 78 years of age when C. T. White joined his staff. The young botanist's duties were many sided. At first they included the copying of let- ters for his grandfather, the collecting and despatch of plants of all descriptions, from algae to flowering plants, to overseas specialists, and the drawing of almost a thousand sketches for Bailey’s Comprehensive Catalogue of Queensland Plants which was published in 1909. Mr. White once told me of the great pleasure he had in those days when any mail from Europe might contain descrip- tions of new species that he had collected, and when any of his collections of the lower plants were almost certain to contain numbers of new records for Queensland. It was an excellent Gaining for the day when he was to occupy the official position that his grandfather had held and the same unofficial position of leader of the botanical naturalists of his State. In 1915 F. M. Bailey died and was succeeded by his son, John Frederick Bailey, who since 1905 had been the Curator of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. J. F. Bailey retained the two positions of Government Botanist and Curator of the Gardens, bill his interests were more with horticulture and forestry. Two years later he went to Adelaide as Director of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. His two sons, F. M. Bailey of the New South Wales Forest Service and J. R. Bailey, Curator of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, carried on the family botanical tradi- tion, Mr. C. T. White was appointed Acting Govern- ment Botanist when his uncle resigned, and in 1918 was appointed to the full position, which he held until his death. He already had a reputation not only in Queens- land but in the other States. In 1918 he accepted the invitation of Sir Hubert, Murray, the Lieutenant-Governor of Papua, to visit the territory of Papua, and the results of the trip were published as his first long paper in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland for 1919. This was the starting point for active work in 45 the South West Pacific. It attracted favourable atten- tion overseas and in 1923 he was approached by Dr. C. S. Sargent, Director of the Arnold Arboretum, Boston, U.S.A., to collect woody plants, especially conifers, in New Caledonia. The identifications were carried out by Dr. A. Guillaumiu at the Museum d’llistoire Naturelle at Paris where facilities were more suitable for the work, and the results were published in the Journal of the Arnold Arboretum in 192b. The New Caledonian col- lections were so valuable that Dr. Sargent asked Mr. White to return to New Guinea to make further exten- sive collections. This was, however, not possible. His duties as Government, Botanist had to have first con- sideration. The staff in those days, though enthusiastic, was small and there were problems of Queensland botany for his urgent attention. lie could actually spare only his official leave periods for such work — and his official leave was always spent on botanical work in any case. Oji his suggestion, therefore, the Arnold Arboretum appointed Mr. L. J. Brass, a former member of the Queensland Herbarium staff, as its collector. Mr. Brass spent from October, 1925, to June, 1926, in Papua, aud his very extensive and important collections were deter- mined by Mr. White in Brisbane. The results were pub- lished in the Journal of the Arnold Arboretum in October, 1929. Meanwhile papers on the Queensland flora flow’ed regularly from Ins pen. They appeared for the most part in local journals. The main series was Contributions to the Flora of Queensland, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland but there were papers in the Queensland Agricultural Journal with a more economic bias, and articles of a popular nature in vaiious journals. In January, 1939, he went to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. as a liaison officer for the various Aus- tralian herbaria. He was able to do a great deal of useful work there by the examination of type material of Australian plants and identification of doubtful specimens, but the outbreak of war in September of that year interrupted the programme and he left for Brisbane in November of the same year. In 1944 he spent six- weeks in the Territory of New Guinea as an Instructor 46 to Forest Companies of the Australian Army, and in 1945 spent six mouths in the Solomon Islands in connection with a forest survey. These two trips resulted in very extensive collections of plants, the examination of which is still incomplete. In 194(1, the year after the war. the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science held its twenty-fifth meeting in Adelaide. On that occasion the Mueller Memorial Medal was awarded to Air. White for his contributions to botanical science, in 1948 the honorary degree of Master of Science was conferred on him by the University of Queensland. Mr. White planned to re-visit the Kew Herbarium early in 1951 to extend the work started in 1939. and had actually made the necessary arrangements at the time of his death. The trend of most of C. T. White’s work was on taxonomic lines. Occasionally his papers prepared in collaboration departed from his usual theme, as in those written with F. B. Smith on cyanophoric plants, hut in such cases his contribution was on the taxonomic side. The same was true of most of his lectures, impromptu remarks at discussions or exhibits at scientific meetings. The physiology, ecology, histology and pathology of plants were mainly 0 f interest to him insofar as' they impinged on floristics. To those younger botanists whose interest in taxonomy was often confined only to the names of the plants with which they were working, his solid knowledge was of untold value. His help was always freely given and a constant stream of students of all branches of botany turned regularly to him for advice and collaboration. Often, though, their visits were mainly for the pleasure of a yarn with O.T. Mr. White was a Past President of the Royal Society of Queensland, the Queensland Naturalists’ Club, the Horticultural Society of Queensland, the Queensland Orchid Society and the Royal Geographical Societv of Australasia (Queensland Branch). For over twenty years he lectured on Forest Botany in the University of Queensland and for some years had been giving lectures on botany to Adult Education Classes in Brisbane. He lectured regularly to various clubs and 47 societies with botanic interests, and usually took charge of the botanical excursions of the Queensland Naturalists' Club. In private life Mr. White was a cheerful tolerant soul. He could relate anecdotes by the hundred, with never a trace of malice. There was the man who used to send him plants regularly and who received his answers addressed “The Harem,” until on one occasion his handwriting was a little better than usual and it was discovered that it was really “The Haven.” The address was corrected on the next envelope, and no further specimens were submitted; the incentive had gone. Again there was (he story of the old prospector who enter- tained him at his galvanised iron hut with black tea out of a jam tin remarking with old-world courtesy : “Ex- cuse the crockery, mister, but while I was absent on my vacation, the maid broke me teaset.” Or the man, who aghast at some sesquipedalian name on the label in the Botanic Gardens, muttered, “A man would have to be a blooming Frenchman to understand that.” Out on excursions C. T. White w r as in his element. Even in country that he had worked over thoroughly time after time, he could always find something of new interest. In his prime he could walk tremendous dis- tances, sleep where night found him, plod through rain and mire, climb rugged mountains, and not miss any- thing of botanical interest. Miss Henrietta Clark, whom he married in 1921, was a kindred spirit, a keen naturalist and mountain climber. She and her two sisters were the first women to climb Crookneck in the Glasshouse Mountains group. That in itself was an achievement, but they rode out from Bris- bane and back on that occasion on bicycles in the days when the road was appalling. Mrs. White has always been interested in the Naturalists’ Club, especially in the wildflower shows, and is a keen gardener and member of the Horticultural Society. They have two daughters, Mrs. C. C. Minty and Miss Heather White, B.A., and a small grandson. D. A. HERBERT. 48 A PREVIOUSLY UNDESCRIBED POMADERRIS FROM SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND By G. T. WHITE Pomaderris is a genus of shrubs or small frees found in Australia and New Zealand. Over twenty species have been recorded from Australia, and five from New Zealand. As far as Australia is concerned the genus has been badly in need of revision. Mr. N. A. Wakefield is at present engaged in preparing a mono- graph of the genus and all our material has been placed at his disposal. I had, however, drawn up a description of one Queensland species as new and Mr. Wakefield is anxious I should publish this so that he can use the name in bis revision. Pomnderris queenslandica sp. nov. F rut ex 2-3 m. alt us, ramulis junioribus dense fer- rugineo-pubeseentibus. Folia elliptica vel oblonga, apice acuta vel obtitsa, basi acuta vel subrotunda, supra glabra, subtus albido-tomentosa, 2.5-6 cm. longa, 1.5-2.75 cm. lata, ncrvis lateralibus et venulis transversis supra impressis, subtus elevatis et conspieuis. Flores m paniculas tenninales dispositi, bracteis late ovatis dense pubeseentibus extus costatis, 6 mm. longis, besim versus 4 mm. Jatis apice acutis. Calyx pilis sericeis longis dense vestitus, 2 mm. longus, tubo turbinato. Petala nulla. Stylus prof Unde 3-fidus, ramis crassis elavatis. Capsula ignota. QUEENSLAND. — Moreton District : Back Creek, Canungra, edge of light rain-forest, only a few plants seen, 22nd August, 1931, C T. White 7785 (TYPE — -buds and a few open flowers) (shrub 2-3 rn., rather straggling growth, leaves dull dark green above, whitish beneath, flowers pale ci earn, petals present but very fugacious); Yarraman, M, A. Cameron (buds) (a low straggling shrub, growing in "bastard" forest on hills, much worked by bees); Blackbutt Range. 1. Shirley. Wide Bay District : Gympie (obtained at Wild Flower Show, Queensland Natural- ists' Club), 9th September, 1933, C. T. White 9256 (rather old flowers), Darlinq Downs District: Eukey via Stanthorpe, Mrs. Goebels, per M. S. Clemens; Ballandean, November, 1944. M. S. Clemens. The present species comes closest to P. ligmlrina >Sieb., but in typical P. ligustrina the under surface of the leaves is densely silky-ferruginous, the main nerves scarcely perceptible and the transverse ones not at all. P. queenslandica approaches P. cinerea Benth. in foliage, but has the silky pubescent flower of P. ligustrina Sieb. This paper was written by C. T. White shortly before his death. A complete list of his works is to be published in a supplement to be included in Proc. Roy. Soc., Qland, Vol. 62. — Editor. 49 A NEW SPECIES OF PULTENAEA FROM SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND By S. T. BLAKE While visiting Mt. Maroon National Bark in Sep- tember, 1948, I was greatly attracted by some very beautiful, luilliantly yellow-flowered bushes of a species of Pultenaea growing among other showy lieath-like plants in the crevices of the rocks on the upper part of the mountain. It was surprising to find that the species appeared to be quite unknown, and I have associated with it the name of the late Mr. C. T. White who. be- sides his love for native flowers, was keenly interested in National Parks. Pultenaea whiteana, sp. nov. (sect. Podophyllum). F rut ex densus latusque circa 50 cm. altus. Itamuh plus minusve pilosi, stipulis obtecti. Folia eonferfa, patentia, linearia, acuta, rnutiea, plerumque recta vel fere recta, uninervia, supra concava glabra, subtus con- vexa viridia, basirn versus appresse pilosa vel omnino glabra, 15-22 mm. longa, circa 1.5 mm. lata; petiolus circa 1.5 mm. longus, pubescens. Stipulae usque ad medium uuitae, in apicem longum setaeeum recunuun attenuatae, in toto 6-7 mm. longae, parec eiliatae, ramulos tegentes. Flores in capitula terminalia congest!, pedicello 2 mm. Ion go pubescent! praediti. Bracteae ovatae, bifidae lobis subulato-acumiuatis. bicarinatae carinis breviter pilosis, circa 7 mm, longae. Braeteolae sub calyce insertae et ab eo solutae, membranaceae, ovate, bifidae lobis setaceo- acuminatis, prope medium dorsum laminam subulatam pilosam herbaceam gerent.es, in toto circa 4 mm. longae et tubo calycis subaequilongae. Calyx 6 mm. longus, bilabiatus, usque ad medium vel duas partes partitas, extus sericeo-pllosus, lobis intus puberulus; labium superum tubo adnrodum longius, ad medium bilobnm lobis oblique deltoideo-ovatis fere obtusis; labium inferum tubo aeqnilongum lobis 2 subaequalibus triangulari-lanceolatis acutis; tubus late infundibnliformis, basirn versus glaber. Vexillum circa 12-13 mm. longum ungue 3.5 mm. longo incluso, 9-10 mm. latum; alae circa 12-13 mm. longae; cariua circa 11 mm. longa. Ovarium villosum, sessile. Legunren ignotum. QUEENSLAND. — Moreton District : Mt. Maroon, more or less heath-like vegetation on the upper rocky slopes, 670-820 m., 50 19th September, 1948, Blake 18251 (dense green broad shrub about 50 cm. high; rich yellow flowers, the keel tinged orange) — fl. (TYPE in herb. Brisbane); Mt. Barney, North Peak, alt. about 1050 m., in shallow soil in moist gully, 25th September, 1949, Everist 4127 (sub-shrub with numerous erect stems with crowded leaves) — fl. Some years ago 1 lie genus Pullenticn ( Legitim uosae- Papilionatae — Podalyrieae) was studied by H. IS. Wil- liamson who published an illustrated account of the species in Proc. Uov. Soc. Viet, n.s., 32 : 210-224 (1919); 83:133-148 (1921*) ; 35:97-107 (1922): 37:125-129 Pultenaea whiteana S. T. Blake (from type). — 1, portion of plant; 2, transverse section of leaf; 3, stipule; 4, bract; 5, bracteoie; G, calyx with pedicel (a-b) and bracteoie (b-c); 7, calyx, opened out, from inside. 1, natural size; 2, x 10; 3-7, x 3, 51 (1925) ; and 40 : 57-61 (1928). The genus is restricted to Australia and about 100 species are known from Tas- mania and the southern and eastern parts of the main- land and adjacent islands. They are mostly small to medium sized, twiggy, erect or rarely depressed or prostrate shrubs with predominantly yellow flowers often marked with red near the claw of the standard and with orange, red or dark purple on the keel. Only about 18 species are known from Queensland, chiefly from sandy and sometimes swampy places or from rocky hillsides. They are usually known as “bush peas.” P. myrtoides and the varieties of P. paleacea are common plants of the wetter parts of the wallum country and occur in other swampy, sandy places; P. villom is a rather widely spread species in »S.E. Queensland on drier ground; P. euchila is a showy but less common species of dry, stony hillsides; and P. r si'll s a is fairly widely distributed from swampy wallum country to rather dry hillsides; very little is known of some species. P. whiteana is well distinguished by the following combination of characters : branches covered with long stipules with recurving points; densely arranged, alter- nate, long and narrow, concave leaves with incurving sides; dense heads of large, brilliantly yellow flowers Avith orange on the keel; inconspicuous bracts glabrous except for the shortly hairy keels; bracteoles free from tin; cal \ x, bifid and stipule-like with a small, subulate, hairy, green blade near the middle; hairy calyx, 2-lipped' to the middle, with more or less triangular and more or less acute (but not acuminate) lobes; and sessile, hairy ovary. In general appearance, P. whiteana closely re- sembles P. stipularis Km. from the neighbourhood of Sydney, but this has less concave, more pointed, more or less 3-nerved leaves, longer pedicels, longer bracts, linear-acute herbaceous bracteoles adnate to (inserted on) the calyx-tube, and less hairy calyx with longer, A'ery narrow and A’ery acute lobes. Among the species with capitate flowers and more or less stipule-like bracteoles free from the calyx, P. whiteana most closely resembles P. plumosa Sieb. ex DC. (from the neighbourhood of Sydney), but this has smaller, broader, much more hairy leaves, relatively longer bracteoles with a smaller stipule- like base, and smaller flowers with relatively longer, nar- roAver, subulate-acuminate calyx-lobes. 52 NOTES ON SOME PLANTS OF WESTERN QUEENSLAND By S. L. EVEREST The climate of Western Queensland is characterised by short periods of heavy rainfall alternating with longer periods without effective rain or with irregularly distributed light rain. Rainy periods are neither con- sistent nor reliable and plants must be adapted to survive in soils subject to violent fluctuation in moisture content. One of the most common structural adapta- tions to this environment is the development of dual root systems. There are many examples, but four plants will serve to illustrate the nature of this adaptation. Curly Mitchell Grass ( Astrebla lappacea), l’soralea cinerea and Glycine falcata all grow in pedocalcic clays derived from Cretaceous calcareous sandstones. Some of these soils are in situ with the parent rock below them at various depths and some have been developed on material deposited by the rivers on their broad, flat flood plains. Surface soils vary somewhat in colour and texture, but the profile follows the same general pattern. From surface to 6 or 9 inches there is a layer of loose friable soil, crumbly when dry, very sticky when wet. Below that, usually to a depth of 30 to 36 inches, there is a zone of massive clay. When dry this is hard and cracks into large, irregular blocks, the cracks often being two inches or more wide. Below the massive zone is a transition zone where the soil becomes yellowish in colour and more friable. This gradually gives place to a yellowish-brown friable clay which does not develop wide cracks on drying, but breaks up into shallow polygonal plates. In such soils. Astrebla lappacea forms tussocks com- posed of numerous culms, erect or obliquely ascending from an intricate system of short scaly rhizomes. The culms themselves are hard and finely fluted and the leaves stiff. At ground level, the tussocks range in diameter from about 1 inch to more than 6 inches. Even where Ashebla is the dominant species, it rarely occupies more than 4 per cent. of. the total surface area, though 53 considerably more than this is shaded by the culms. The interstices between tlic tussocks are occupied by other species, either annuals with shallow root systems and of snort life span, or other perennials. The root system of Astrebla is interesting. Figure l.A. illustrates diagranunatieally a tussock 6 inches in diameter at ground level growing in a dry soil. From the rhizomes, wiry roots arise. They spread obliquely outwards and downwards through the loose surface layer of soil and may reach a diameter of 36 inches at 6-9 inches below the soil surface. In this zone numerous small lateral roots are present. At the base of the upper lionzon the roots turn sharply and continue downwards unbranched through the massive clay until they reach me transition zone. Here they branch again, ramifying through the transition zone and extending into the yellow brown clay beneath. Most of the fine roots lie between 30 and 48 inches below the soil surface, and a few extend deeper than that. Obviously the surface roots are in a position to tap moisture from small showers which is absorbed by the surface soil but which does not penetrate far. In the zone of severe fluctuations in soil moisture, the roots are vertical and unbrauched. This allows of minimum damage by the large horizontal movement which takes place in this part of the soil. The great number of small loots present below 30 inches allows the plant to utilize water stored in the zone of accumulation. Psoralen cinerea has a short tap root which goes down almost unbranched for about 30 inches where it divides and ramifies through the soil (Fig. I.B.). In the surface layer, there are a few stout lateral roots, mainly horizontal and with numerous branches. The crown from which new vegetative shoots arise is just below the sur- face. The first shoots are stout, erect and branched only towards the top. Bach branch bears a raceme of flowers. After the seeds have ripened, the central stem dies, but if sufficient soil moisture is still available new branches arise from the crown. These branches are prostrate or obliquely ascending. Though many of them produce flowers, the racemes are neither so long nor so vigorous as on the first, erect, shoots. Because of this capacity to produce prostrate shoots, Psoralen cinerea is FIGURE I. 55 resistant to grazing, provided there is adequate soil moisture. Glycine falcata also has a deep tap root. In addi- tion, there are wiry rhizomes which spread horizontally 1 to 3 inches below the surface (Pig. I.C.). At intervals they give rise to new vegetative shoots. Within the soil at the base of some of these shoots there develops a soli- tary flower, followed by a single-seeded, indehiseent pod. The seeds in these pods are larger than those in the ordinary pods which are borne in a raceme on the aerial shoots. However, the subterranean seeds are viable and give rise to plants which appear in no way different from those grown from " normal” seeds. The purpose of these subterranean pods is a matter for speculation, but they are well placed to ensure the survival of the species iu a region where the drying influence of the environ- ment is very great and where ants carry away many seeds shed on the surface of the ground. Mulgu ( Acacia uncura) differs markedly from the three examples so far quoted. Whereas the others are herbaceous, Mltlga is a tree. The soils it grows in, too, are markedly different. Mulga soils are usually red brown loams or fine sandy loams with a hard pan be- neath them. The nature and depth of the hard pan varies from place to place, but it serves to retard the downward movement of soil water, and above it there is a zone of accumulation. The root system of mulga (Fig. 1.1).) has differentiated in much the same way as that of Mitchell Grass. In the surface soil there are numerous shallow roots, much branched and spreading widely around the tree. Below that, a tap root goes down nnbranchcd to about 12 inches above the hard pan. There, the roots divide and ramify through the soil overlying the pan and are favourably situated to utilize the water stored in the soil after soaking rain. Many other plants in the semiarid region have root systems similarly modified to utilize the erratic rainfall to the best advantage. 56 A CHANGE OF NAME FOR A TIMBER TREE OF THE RAIN FOREST OF TROPICAL QUEENSLAND By W. D. FRANCIS Tristania pachyspcrma new combination. Xanthostemon pachyspermus F. Muell. and F. M. Bailey, Occasional Papers on the Queensland Flora, Part 1, 4, 1886. Tristania odor at a C. T. White and W. D. Francis, Botany Bulletin No. 22, 22, 1920, with plate. In 1S86, F. M. Bailey published a description of a tree under the name of Xanthostemon pachyspermus, and attached the names of F. Mueller and F. M. Bailey as authorities for the species. The specimens were collected on the Johnstone River by Dr. T. L. Bancroft. No flowers were available and the description was drawn up from fruiting specimens. The most readily available desci iption of the species is in the second part of F. M. Baileys “The Queensland Flora.” While recently determining some specimens from North Queensland I noticed that this species is identical with that described and figured by the late C. T. White and tile writer under the name of Tristania odoraia. The specimens were collected on the Johnstone River by Mr. ti. (1. Ladbrook. Flowers only were available and showed the stamens shortly united in five bundles opposite tile petals. It has this peculiarity which led to the specimens being described as a species of Tristania. it would appear thjjt the species is to be placed in Tristania rather than in Xanthostemon, and the revised name is Tristania pachysperma new combination. The tree belongs to the family Myrtacea.e. In tiie second edition of “Australian Rain-forest Trees," which is now in the press, the species is retained under Mueller and Bailey’s name as it was considered desirable to publish as few new combinations as possible in that work. The common names used are Yellow Penda and Sour Hardwood. Fp to the present there are nn field description of the tree. It attains sufficient size for sawmill ing and the Sub-Department of Forestry ad- vises that the timber could be used for indoor building purposes. The wood is greyish yellow and is lighter and softer than the other Pendas. 57 A NEW ORCHID FROM NORTH QUEENSLAND By D. A. HERBERT and S. T. BLAKE Vanda whiteana sp. nov. (sect. Euvandra.) Caulis circiter 1.1 cm. crassus, circiter 30-50 cm. altus vel altior. Folia lorata, recurva, coriacea, viridia, supra nitidula subtus pallidiora, circiter 30-40 cm. longa, 3-4 cm. lata. Racemi laxe 6-7-flori, plus minusve 14 cm. longi. Flores circiter 3-3.5 cm. lati, odorati. Sepala petalaque subaequilonga, plus minusve spathulata ungue convexo, intus uitida, pro majore parte saturate cas- tanea vel purpureo-brunnea, dilute olivaceo-marginata, centrum vel basim versus varie flavido-maculata vel flavido-striata, extus opaca et multo pallidiora vel pro majore parte dilute olivacea. Sepalum dorsale (explana- tum) circiter 13 mm. longum, circiter 10 mm. latum, lamina suborbiculari, uugue transversim oblongo 3 mm. longo 4 mm. lato; sepala lateralia (explanata) fere obo- vata, apice rotuudata, basim versus attenuata, circiter 12 mm. longa et 10 mm. lata. Petala valde faleata, circiter 11 mm. longa ct, 10 mm. lata, lamina oblata in unguem circiter 4 mm. longum et 2 mm. latum assymmetre abrupteque contracts. Labellum cum cab-are circa 16 mm. longum; calcar retrorsim deemvum, suboblongum, obtusum, circa 4 mm. longum, albidum purpureo-suffns- uii) ; lobi laterales oblique quadrati. albi, circa 3.5 mm. longi et 3) mm. lati ; lobus anticus porrectus subpancturi- fonnis, trilobulatus, apice rotundatus profunde emar- ginatus, olivaceus, rufo- vel pnrpureo-lineatus et pur- pureo-suffusiiK, 5-costulatii.s, explanatus circa 10 mm. longus basi circa 9 mm. prope apicem 5 mm. latus, lobulis lateralibus oblique triangulari-ovatis obtusis circa 4 mm. longis et 3 mm. latis, lobulo antico supra convexo subtus concavo (i.e., lateribus recurvo), explanato circa 5 mm. longo latoque. Columns alba, circa 7 mm, longa et 3.5 mm. lata, basi in lobulos 2 rotundatos dilatata. Anthers convexa. Pollinia ovalia. Ovarium cum pedicello circa 4-5 cm. longum. Capsula cylindrica, alte 6-costata. 10 cm. longa, 1.5 cm. lata. QUEENSLAND. — Cook District : Near Coen, top of granite boulders in partial shade (rarely epiphytic) on bank of perman- ent stream, 4th November, 1950, L. J. Wassell (old plants grow outwards and downwards — presumably on account of the weight 58 Vanda whiteana Herbert and Blake (from type) — 1, plant; 2, ilower; 3, dorsal sepal, flattened out; 4, lateral sepal, flattened out; 5, petal, flattened out; S, column and labellum, from the side; 7, labellum, from above; 8, pollinarium. 1, x fig. 2, natural size; 3-7. x 2; 8, x 6. 59 of the foliage — but have a constant upward trend. Flowers (front view) striking shining chocolate brown flecked with yellowish green and finely margined with olive green; centre dull but very white, base of under surface of centre has a waved stripe of crimson lake surmounted by a light blush; tongue olive green longitudinally striped with chocolate brown; back of flower and flower-stem very light olive brown with patches and stripes (on stem) of chocolate brown). TYPE in Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane; living plants in Brisbane Botanic Gardens and at Botany Department, University ot Queensland. This orchid was collected by Mr. Wassell on a pre- vious trip lo Cape York Peninsula. Though not in flower, it was obviously a Vanda, and as this genus had not been recorded from Queensland, il was thought that it might belong to the species collected by P. Mueller in “Arnhem Land."’ (Mueller, Fragm. 7 : 135 (1871) gave a detailed description of Iris plant and referred it to V. saatis Lindl. (which is now usually treated as a colour-variation of I’, tricolor Lindl.) but mentioned a few differences between his plant and the “Indian” (really Javanese) plant. Bentham, FI. Austral. 6 :297 (1S7:I) referred it to V, hindsii Lindl. (originally de- scribed from Papua) with P. tricolor as a synonym; he saw only a leaf and a flower of Mueller's plant and his description was evidently drawn up from specimens of V. tricolor. V. tricolor is a common orchid in cultivation in Brisbane, and there are several horticultural varieties distinguished chiefly by colour. Since the plant from North Queensland resembled this species in vegetative characters, Mr. Wassell was asked to make a search for more plants in the flowering season (October-November) . Ib’ was fortunate in obtaining a small number this year (1950), and the flowers are quite distinct from those of any described species. Il is named in memory of Cyril Tenison White, M.Sc., late Government Botanist of Queensland. The outstanding characters of V. wliiteana are its medium-sized flowers with a ground-colour of rich chocolate brown fading to purplish brown and margined and somewhat flecked and striped with pale olive-green or pale yellow, (he dorsal sepal and petals with very broad laminae abruptly contracted into relatively short claws, the strongly asymmetrical petals, the indistinctly clawed lateral sepals, the labellum (excluding its spur) 60 about as long as the sepals and petals and deeply emar- ginate at the apex, and the relatively long and slender column about two-thirds as long as the blade of the label- lmn. The incurving of the sepals and petals shown in the figure may be due to incipient withering. Its nearest ally appears to be V. hiiuhii Lindl. (V. truncate i J. ,T. Sm,) from New Guinea, hut this has spotted young leaves, less strongly falcate petals, shorter column, and a paler ground-colour. V. tricolor and Mueller's plant from the Northern Territory have much larger flowers with a white or nearly white ground-colour conspicu- ously spotted with red, purple or brown on the sepals and petals, and tinged pink or red on the label! um, with sepals and petals very much alike and gradually taper- ing into longer claws, and with a much shorter and stouter column. A NEW SPECIES OF DENDROBIUM FROM NORTH QUEENSLAND By T. E. HUNT Dendrobhtm white-ana sp. nov. Pseudo-bulbi graciles, anfractuosi, teretes, pallide virides, penduli, circa 30 cm. longi solum usque ad matu- ritatem foliati. Folia lnnceolata 5 cm. x 1.3 cm. pallide viridia decidua. Flores singuli vel bini e nodis annotinis orti, fugaces, albi. Sepala lineari-lanceolata, acuminata, circa 15 mm. louga. Petala linearia, acuminata, circa 15 mm. longa. Labellum circa 15 mm. longnm longe tenuis- simeque stipitatum; lamina oblonga obscure tri- loba, circa 111 mm. x 8 mm., pellucida, parce eiliata, lineis coeeineis uotata. Columna brevis, lata, viridis; stigma magnum orbiculare, prominens ; pes colmnnae longus, tenuis, sulcatus. 61 QUEENSLAND. — Cook District : Portland Roads, Arnold Johnson (flowered in the author's glasshouse, 31st January, 1950), (TYPE plant growing in the author's collection.) Rhizome shortly creeping. Pseudo-bulbs e. 30 cm. long, very slender, terete, drooping, slightly zig-zagged, light green, carrying the scarious remains of the sheath- ing scales. Leaves lanceolate, the longest measuring 5 cm. x 1.3 cm., thick in texture, somewhat keeled, light shining green, deciduous. Flowers in ones and two from the nodes of the previous season's growth, fugacious, not widely expanding on the specimen examined, dull white. Sepals linear-lanceolate, acuminate, c. 15 nun. long. Petals as long as the sepals, linear, acuminate. Labellum c. 15 mm. long, very obscurely 3-lobed, lamina almost oblong, c. 12 mm. x 8 mm., not expanding, transparent white with a net-work of fine red veins, surface and mar- gins sparsely ciliate, base long and very slender. Column short, stout, with a slight depression on each side at the hack, green; column foot long, narrow, channelled. Anther cream. Stigma large, prominent, circular. Only two flowers have been produced and these were used in making the determination. It is hoped that the plant will produce further herbarium material dur- ing the summer and this will enable a plate to be made. This species seems to lie closely related to an exten- sive group of showy Indian and Burmese species of Dendrobium, including D. superlnun, !>. parisMi, I), pier- ardii and others well-known in cultivation. It is very dissimilar in habit from the Australian species of Den- drobiim. It shows its affinity with the Indian section by its habit of producing long, terete, drooping pseudo- bulbs which carry leaves, one at each node, only until the rapidly made growth has matured and “ripened.” The leaves then wither and sited their blades, leaving only their decaying, sheathing bases. After a prolonged resting period flowers are produced in ones and twos at the nodes and the next growth develops. A further af- finity is suggested by the shape of the labellum which is very obscurely lobed, if lobed at all, and the lamina, which is hardly expanded but remains furled. The species has been named in memory of the late Mr. C. T. White, botanist and lover of orchids “guide, philosopher, and fi’iend” to so many. 62 HENSLOWIA — AN ADDITION TO THE AUSTRALIAN GENERA OF SANTALACEAE By L. S. SMITH In his account of the family Santalaceae, in Engler- Prantl Natmi. Pflanzenfam. 2 A till. Band 16b. 52-91 (11)85) , Bilger recorded eight genera from Australia. Representative of seven of these occur in Queensland and are dealt with by F. M. Bailey in Queensl. Flora V. 1383-1:191 (1902), the remaining genus being known only from New South Wales and Victoria. Henslowia Blume, here recorded for the first time from Australia, raises the number of Queensland genera to eight and makes a total of nine for the whole continent. The tribe Os.vrideae, to which H endow) a belongs, includes four other genera represented in Queensland, namely Choretrum, Leptomcria, tantalum and Eucarya. From these Henslowia may be readily distinguished by its lall-climbing habit and apparently dioecious nature. The oilier genera comprise species which are shrubs or trees and appear to have bisexual flowers. Bilger states that some 30 species of Henslowia have been described and suggests that when better material is available fewer species will be recognised. They occur from s-outh-eastern Asia through the intervening islands to New Guinea, and are found mostly at higher eleva- tions. The Queensland specimens are here treated as belonging to a new species. Henslowia quccnslandiae sp. nov. Plantae unisexualcs (ut videtur), glabrae, siccitate brunneolae, eaitli alte seandenti ligneo usque ad 5 cm. diam. vel ultra sursum ramoso praeditae. Ratnuli sub insert ione foliorum tenuiter unicost uluti, eeterum laeves rotundatique vel demit m lenticellati. 1-5 mm. diam. Stipulae nullae. Folia alterna, articulata : petiolus modice robustus, ca. 0.2-0. 8 (-1. ip cm. longus, 1. 5-2.5 (-4,0) mm. latus, supra canal iculat us, subtus subrotun- dalus : lamina crassa, coriaeea vel fragilis, elliptiea vel iuterdum ovata vel obovata (2-)3.5-5.5 (-9.5) cm. longa, (l-)2-3(-6.9) cm. lata, apiee obtusa vel subro- tundata, basi angustata, margine anguste recurva; nervi 63 5, supra conspicuiores. duobus exterioribus excepto per- currentes, venulis paucis obscuris. Flores masculi raee- mosi vel interdum subumbellati, racemis axillaribus soli- tariis vel gemmatis (interdum plus tiumerosis) basi brae- teas plures min utas imbricatas persistentes gerentibus 2-7-floribus pedunculo incluso ca. 5-8 mm. longis; alabastra matura subglobcsa, ea. 1.75 mm. diam. ; pedi- eelli singuli in axillis bractearum eaducarum orti, ea. 0.75-2.0 mm. Iongi, basi artieulati; perianthii segmenta 5, valvata, triangulari-ovata, 1-1.2 mm. longa. 0. 8-1.0 mm. lata, apice incrassata vel subappendiculata, obtusa vel subacuta, intus praeeipue basin versus ± minute papil- losa, infra medium crista pilorum longorum ornata; stamina 5, segmentis perianthii opposita. filammtis compressis ca. 0.45 mm. longis usque ad 0.35 mm. latis apicen. versus angustatis, antberis oblique terminalibus ea. 0.5 mm. latis 4-locularibus ; discus erassus, concavus, 5-lobatus; stylus inchoatus, ca. 0.4 mm. longus, obtusus. Flores feminei axillares, fasciculati vel interdum solitarii, ca. 3.5 mm. Iongi, in alabastro clavati, pedunculati, pedimculis apice articulatis usque ad 2 mm. longis bracteis pluribus imbricatis 0.25-1.0 mm. longis ornatis; perianthii segmenta 5, valvata, deltoideo-ovata, ca. 1 mm. longa, obtusa, apice incrassata, intus ± minutissime papil- losa : staminodia plerumque nulla vel interdum usque ad 0.3 mm. longa; discus erassus, concavus, margine leviter 5-lobatus; ovarium inferum, uniloculatum, uniovulatum, ovulo 5-lobato ad apieem placentae basalis erectae erassae sita; stylus brevis, erassus, ca. 0.25 mm. longus; stigma 5-lobata, lobis stylo subaequilongis vel brevioribus. Fructus ignotus. QUEENSLAND.— Cook District: Danbulla, NNE of Atherton, near crest of Tinaroo Range in rain-forest, alt. 3,500ft., 7th September, 1943 S. T. Blake 15261 (male flowers) (tall liana with rouah grey fissured bark; leaves green above, paler beneath; flowers greenish); Mt. Edith, Lamb Range, ca. 15 miles NE of Atherton, in exposed low rain-forest at the summit, alt. 3,800ft., 23rd August. 1947, L. S. Smith 3394 (female flowers — TYPE) (Stem erect to 8ft., then trailing over small trees in the vicinity; leaves fleshy; flowers greenish); same locality, 15th August, 1948, L. S Smith 3752 (female flowers— a Merotype) (a scrambling and twining liana, stem 2pns diam. towards the base; outer bark greyish or brownish corkv fissured, ’-'ore or less tessellated in patches; inner bark l/8-3/16in. thick, very pale pink; wood pale yellow with a narrow pinkish pith; young shoots pinkish, open flowers greenish-white); same IocdUty 15‘h August, 1948, L S. Smith 3752A (male flowers) (a liana, open 64 flowers greenish white); The Crater, Hugh Nelson Range, ca. 11 miles S of Atherton, in rain-forest, alt. 3,150 ft., 23rd August, 1948, L, S. Smith 3829 (sterile) (a trailing vine). In addition a dead piece of the plant bearing male flowers was noticed by me during September, 1950 amongst fallen debris in rain-forest at an altitude of about 2,400 ft. adjacent to Koolmoon Creek, about 11 miles SSE. of Ravenshoe. The vine from which the piece had fallen was clearly seen to attain about 90 ft. in height, branching out and bearing leaves in the crown of the tree up which it had scrambled. This locality is in the North Kennedy District and extends the range of the species to approxi- mately 60 miles south of Mt. Edith. Henslowia queenslandiae L. S. Smith — a. portion of branchlet bearing male flowers; b, male flower-bud; c, side, front and back views of stamen before dehiscence; d, longitudinal section of partially opened male flower; e, stamen after dehiscence; f, por- tion of branchlet bearing female flowers; g. female flower-bud and peduncle; h, transverse section of female flower through ovary; i, longitudinal section of female flower. 65 The leaves at first sight are reminiscent of one of our fairly common Santalaeeous trees, Exocarpus lati- f alius, sometimes called Broad leaved (False) Sandal- wood. The hair-tufts on the perianth segments of the male flowers are to be found in a number of different genera of Santalaceae, but differ somewhat in degree of devel- opment and position. in II nislouiu queenslaudiae the hairs appear to pass through a narrow slit between the two upper or outer and larger cells of the anther behind which they arise and just project on the opposite face. When young buds are opened, the hairs are wedged so firmly in the anthers that they occasionally tear away from the attachment to the perianth and appear as a tuft of hairs on the back of the anther. In the partially opened flowers, however, if a perianth segment is forced open, the hairs at first cause the opposed stamen to bend outwards but finally slip out of the slit in the anther thus permitting the stamen to return to its former posi- tion. The function of the hair-tufts is not clear although it seems possible that they may play some part in ejee tion of the pollen by “springing” the stamens as the bud opens. As overseas species of Hcnslowia have been variously described as root-parasites or parasitic on the branches of trees in the manner of the Mistletoes, the root system of a plant growing at Alt. Edith was examined, admit- tedly in a rather primitive fashion, but no definite evid- ence of parasitism was found. A single graft between two adjacent roots, each about half an inch in daimeter, was observed but this may occur occasionally in almost any plant where the/ roots have been accidentally pressed against one another. 66 A LITTLE KNOWN PARASITIC FLOWERING PLANT By J. H. SIMMONDS Balanophora fungosa Forst. is an inconspicuous parasitic flowering plant which is not uncommon in Queensland coastal rain forests as far south as Gympie. The family to which it belongs is represented by a num- ber of species found cbieflv in the tropics of the Old World. The Queensland speeies occurs also in the New Hebrides, New Caledonia and Fiji. The plant consists of a tuberous base from which arise short stalks bearing imbricate waxy scales, creamy in colour when fresh but becoming brown to black with age. At the apex of the stalk are borne the flowers and these consist of separate male and female individuals. The female are minute, simple in structure and are borne in great numbers on a globular terminal bead. Between this and the scales the small male flowers are loosely clustered round the upper part of the stalk. The plant varies considerably in height and robustness but is seldom greater than nine inches high and is usually several inches less. Forms resembling both B. fungosa Forgt. and forma extra! ropica Bail, may occur in the one locality at the one time. B. fungosa is capable of parasitising trees through their roots. In Queensland it has been recorded on Ficus sp.. Acacia sp. and the two hosts mentioned below. The tuberous base of the parasite is almost completely below soil level and envelopes the root of the host and the distal portion of the root may then die. Intimate union is effected by interlocking tongues of tissue along the edges of which cells belonging to one and the other be- come fused. In the case of parasitism of the papaw, the host apears to lay down a cork layer along the line of union as the Balanophora ages. Normally the hosts of Balanophora are such that the parasite is of no economic importance. However, during 11)48 B. fungosa was found attacking papaw ( Carica papaya L.) and it is with the object of describing this unexpected occurrence that this note is written. The area affected was a plantation of about three acres 67 carrying approximately 1800 papaws situated on a hill- side north of Gympie. The land had originally carried rain forest and extending from the upper boundary was a thicket of secondary growth consisting principally of lan- tana, wild tobacco (i Solatium auricutatuni Ait.) and Macaranga tanarius Muell. Arg. Within the plantation 71. fungosa was distinctly more prevalent in the first seven rows, in a stony depression next to this boundary. A count here showed that 29 out of a total of 109 papaw plants had the parasite associated with them. Affected papaws exhibit a withering between the teins of the outer leaves which eventually die. The fruit cease growing, ripen prematurely, and are subject to scald. In most eases the papaw roots attacked were from a quarter to half an inch in diameter and were running within a few inches of the surface. Local observers , state that the parasite appears in the autumn and is active during the winter months. In Balanophora fungosa, complete plant on a root of Macaranga tanarius. Natural size from an abnormally small specimen. 68 September, 1948, the blackish oval heads were protruding several inches above soil level in clusters, varying from several inches to three feet in diameter, around the bases of the trunks or adjacent thereto. In December of the same year the Balanophora was generally drying out. The flower stalks were black and shrunken, and the basal tuber was either partly decayed or completely decomposed, leaving only the stringly, radiating vascular strands. The pa paw roots affected showed a tendency to callus over and the trees themselves at this time showed little effect of the earlier attack except for a slight stunting in some cases. In the following year B. fungosa again appeared but its distribution was more scattered throughout the plantation. Only a small proportion of those plants attacked in the first year appeared to have been affected in the second. It was assumed that the Balanophora had originated on naturally occurring trees in the vicinity, and a search in December, 1948, showed that it was parasitising the young regrowth of 31. lanarius growing immediately up the slope from the plantation. Roots from an eighth to a quarter inch in diameter were attacked and the Balanophora appeared to arise From further below the surface than in the case of the papaw. Except in two instances the basal tuber was still living, but the stalks and flowers were drying out. In this area parasitism appeared to be restricted to 31. lanarius although the roots of this plant are of a distinctly woody nature. Vol. 14 No. 4, July, 1952 PRICE 1/-. Queensland Naturalist JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS' CLUB Page C. T. White Memorial Lecture 69 Notes on Rocks, No. 2 77 A Plea for the Native Birds 80 Notes and Observations 83 Reports 86 The Queensland Naturalists’ Club Official Journal — The Queensland Naturalist & OFFICE-BEARERS, 1952 President F. S. Colliver, The • University of Queensland, St. Lucia. Vice-Presidents : G. H. Barker, G. Mack. Hon. Secretary : Miss M. Hawken, 5 Kidston Street, Albion. Hon. Treasurer : Miss K. Strong, Yilliers Street, New Farm. Hon. Librarian : Mrs. G. L. Jackson Committee : Mrs. H. White, E. 0. Marks, S. T. Blake, R, A. Squire lion. Editor : J. T. Woods Queensland Museum, Brisbane. Hon. Lanternist : W. J. Sanderson. Hon. Auditor : B. E. A. Doolan. SUBSCRIPTIONS : Ordinary Members 20s. per annum Country Members 10s. per annum Junior Members 10s. per annum MEETINGS Evening Meetings are held at the Brisbane Women's Club Rooms, 148 Adelaide Street, on the Third Monday of every Month. Excursions are held once a month from March to December. t THE QUEENSLAND NATURALIST JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND N ATU R A LI STS' CLU B Vol. xiv. JULY 1952 No. 4 C. To White Memorial Lecture THE BRISBANE BOTANIC GARDENS By D. A. HERBERT In October, 1823, Governor Brisbane sent Lieut. John Oxley to explore Port Curtis and Moreton Bay and to select a suitable site for a penal station. At Port Curtis he discovered the Boyne River and at Moreton Bay the Brisbane. On his return be reported favourably on Moreton Bay, where he had been greatly impressed by the rich scenery and the wealth of timber. Governor Brisbane considered that these outlying penal stations should be at points favourable to cultivation “as being the best way of paving the way to free populations.” In the following- year Oxley returned with a small party of convicts and their guards to establish the new settlement, and after a brief stay at Redcliffe moved to the bend of the Brisbane River, where the city of Brisbane was later to develop. The site Avas decided by the discovery of a chain of fresh water ponds in the area now bounded by George and Roma Streets. The pioneering work of plant introduction to Australia had already been carried out around Sydney, which for about 30 years had been self-supporting for its food supplies, and within a few years there was a considerable amount of cleared and cultivated land on both sides of the Brisbane River. The settlement, how- ever. was essentially a penal station under military supervision, for the punishment of transported convicts who had been found guilty of further crimes after arrival in New South Wales. No free person was allowed within 50 miles of it, except by special permission. Discipline was harsh in the extreme under the command- ant, Captain Logan. It was not a peaceful community 70 where agriculture and horticulture graced the smiling landscape. In Sydney, however, Charles Fraser, the Colonial Botanist, had been appointed as superintendent of the Botanic Gardens in 1816 and had introduced nearly 3,000 food plants and fruit trees. This was at the time considered, perhaps rightly, as the most important aspect of his work, and was so successful that special official notice was taken by the Colonial Office, which now required him to produce half-yearly reports on plants and vegetables of New South Wales and of other countries useful to the Colony. Fraser received seven shillings a day, and out of this had to pay Ids own travelling expenses and postages on seeds and plants sent to England. One of Ids important duties was t ho growing of vegetables for government officials, an assignment that resulted in the prompt resignation of Allan Cunningham when many years later (1837) he was appointed to the position of Colonial Botanist. Fraser, however, had proved the value, at least in some respects, of a botanic garden, and in 1828, after twelve years work in Sydney, he was instructed to proceed to Moreton Bay “to establish a public garden at Brisbane Town, to collect the vegetable products of the country, and to make observations on their uses and importance.'’ He arrived with Allan Cunningham at Amity Point on 20th June, 1828, and on 2nd July went with Captain Logan to the intended site, where the first step was the felling of a large Crow’s Ash tree. On the following day the boundaries of a 12 acre enclosure with a large pond in the centre were marked out. That, for the time being, was the end of the project as laid down in Sir Thomas Brisbane’s original instructions. Eight years afterwards, in 1836, James Backhouse, a Quaker philanthropist, visited Brisbane Town and described the planting as “22 acres of Government garden for the growth of sweet potatoes, pumpkins, cabbages and other vegetables for the prisoners.” So it remained until 1855, during the whole of the period when it was under military control. It was. however, the forerunner of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, which were established in 1855 under the supervision of Walter Hill and the general control of a committee with R. R. Mackenzie as chairman, Walter Hill was born at Scotsdyke, Dumfries- shire, Scotland, in 1820. He was trained as a gardener and spent two years at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh from 1811 to 1843, and from 1813 to 1851 was at Kew. He came to Sydney in 1852. He went to th Q gold diggings in Bendigo and elsewhere and later entered 71 into a partnership with Frederick Strange for the collec- tion of natural history specimens. Strange was speared by blacks during an expedition to Percy Island and Hill returned with the ketch to Sydney, llis appointment on 21st February, 18.35, was made by the Imperial Govern- ment, his title being that of Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens. The area allotted to him was nine acres and it did not reach to the river. Soon after Separa- tion, j n 185!). he was appointed the first Colonial Botanist. He retired on a pension on 1st March, 1881, and died at Eight Mile Plains on 4th February, 1904. It was Hill who built the gardens, lie assiduously collected and raised native plants, and imported ornamental shrubs and trees. The Department of Agriculture was not established until 1888, and in those early days Hill’s Botanic Gardens fulfilled the functions of plant introduction gardens, experimental grounds and an educational establishment. The years between 1824 and 1855 were far from being a period of horticultural inactivity. The records are scanty, but the early residents had established a great variety of economic and ornamental plants, and collectors were diligently Sending plants and seeds overseas. One curious mistake mentioned by Dr. Dunmore Lang was the abortive attempt to raise rice, using the processed article bought from a grocery store. Its failure was ascribed to unsuitability of the climate. In 1847 Governor Fitz-Roy appointed John Carne Bidwell, who had a wide reputation as a botanist, to the position of director of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, but by some misunderstanding Earl Grey, Secretary of State for the Colonies, independently appointed Charles Moore to the same position. Moore arrived in Sydney in Janu- ary, 1848, and his appointment had to be given precedence. Bidwell at his own suggestion was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands at Wide Bay. His disappointment must have been great, as he had been in Australia since 1838 and had done a great deal of botanical exploration and investigation not only in New South Wales (including Moroton Bay) but in New Zealand and Tahiti. He had collected specimens and seeds of the Bunya Pine and taken them to England in 1843; he is commemorated in the name of this species. Araucaria bidwiUi. In the brief period between his appointment to the Sydney Gardens and the arrival of Moore, he had been experimenting in the hybridization of Amaryllis and Hibiscus. It is not surprising therefore, that he continued his work at Mary- borough. He imported a great number of rare plants for 72 his garden on Tinana Greek. Hovenia dulcis, the Chinese raisin, was one of them, and it is said that the first mango in Australia was probably raised there. J. IT- Bailey records that most of the fruits now grown in Mary- borough were, according to an old resident (G. W. Bart), growing in Bidwili's garden. In 1853 he died, aged 38, at his home at Tinana, after suffering the hardship of being lost for eight days. After his death, many of his introductions were removed to the Sydney Botanic Gardens. J. V. Thompson had raised cotton at More t On Bay in the forties, though he did not make it a profitable crop. These were the days of private horticultural enter- prise and dates of introduction are vague. We know, how- ever, that there were well established orchards at Toowoomba and on the Darling Downs in the sixties, and that very much earlier, Patrick Leslie was growing a wide range of European fruit trees on the Brisbane side of Breakfast Greek. It was shortly after the establishment of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens that plant introduction became sys- tematized. The Gardens played a notable part. The Queensland Acclimatization Society, founded- in 1862, at first co-operated closely with them and for a few years their importations were propagated and distributed from that centre, hut after a couple of years the Society’s activities were transferred to Bowen Park, then of much greater extent than at present. A list of introductions is given by •). F. Bailey (Proc. Boy. Hoc. Qld., XXII., 77-102, 1910). The original plan was for the Society to introduce plants thought desirable (sometimes mistakenly, as in the case of Cryptosteyia grandiflora, the Rubber Vine, which became a weed in the north) and to distribute them to its subscribing members. This resulted in a wide spread of fruit trees, ornamentals and fodder plants. Many of them failed in inexpert hands, and large numbers of desirable species simply disappeared and had to he re-introduced later. Commercial exploitation by some members who resold their plants at a profit ultimately undermined Hie Society’s activities and membership was finally restricted. The obvious success of a well-organised Botanic Garden in Brisbane from which mangoes, pineapples, papaws, sugarcane, guavas, grape vines, pecans, walnuts and a host of other plants had been distributed led to the establishment of government, botanic gardens on similar lines at Rockhampton and Bowen to cater for different climatic requirements. Other centres had their 73 municipal gardens, but their objective was that of providing public gardens rather than centres of plant introduction, trial and distribution. from 1875 F. M. Bailey had been botanist to a Board set up to enquire into diseases of livestock and plants in Queensland, and in December, 1880 he was appointed Acting Director of the Queensland Museum. \v lien Walter Hill retired from the Gardens Curatorship in 1881, the Botanical Library that had been housed in his cottage was moved out to Bailey’s room in the Museum basement. The Gardens had now definitely ceased to be the botanical centre of Queensland. They were put in charge of a head gardener, James Pink, and after lie retired in 1886, A. M. Cowan took over until 1889. Some improvement in status was effected in that year, when P. McMahon was appointed Curator. The great flood of 1893 covered the lower parts of the Gardens and, apart from damage to the Bunya Pine avenue and other plantings, swept away a small building housing early records of introductions. In 1905, 3. F. Bailey, son of the Colonial Botanist, succeeded McMahon as Curator, and in 1912 was appointed Government Botanist as well. The Gardens again became the botanical centre of the State, the liebarium and Botanical Library being transferred to the building where they are still housed. When, in 1917, 3. F. Bailey went to Adelaide as Director of the Botanic Garden the position was divided. C. T. White, F. M. Bailey’s grandson, became Government Botanist and E. W. Bick, who had received his training with the Acclimatization Society at Bowen Park, became Curator of the Gardens. The Library stayed at the Herbarium. Though still under the control of the Department, of Agriculture, the Gardens had by this time more or less ceased to perform any of the special functions of the Department, In 1925 they were, handed over to the Brisbane City Council, and on E. W. Pick's retirement in 1910 they were handed to the administration of the Superintendent of Parks and Gardens, H. Moore. Under his regime and that of his successor, Mr. Barnsley, they were run on park lines. Trees considered superfluous were removed, and many were lopped or otherwise trimmed without regard to main- taining their natural form. There was considerable dis- satisfaction expressed at the time, and in 1946, their status was improved by the appointment of the present Curator, J. R. Bailey, son of J. F. Bailey, a former Curator J. R. Bailey had for some years been Curator cf the Toowoomba Botanic Gardens. 74 It was inevitable that the great wave of plant intro- duction in the last half of the nineteenth century should lose its momentum, even if only because of its initial success. The establishment of the Department of Agri- culture and State farms, the activities of the Forestry Department, progressive nurserymen and horticultural societies, the independent introduction and experiments by farmers, orchardists and gardeners, and more recently the plant introduction work of the O.S.I.R.O. have whittled down the importance, of the Botanic Gardens in such work. The Gardens at Bowen and Rockhampton were handed over to local authorities, and finally on the estab- lishment of Greater Brisbane, the Brisbane Gardens were handed over to the Brisbane City Council. It is often regarded as a matter of great regret that the Botanic Gardens should have lost their former import- ance in the agricultural and horticultural life of the State. Even in the early seventies in Walter Hill’s time an attempt was made 1o use the area for business purposes, and within the last twenty-five years we have had serious proposals to put a public road through them and to build a first class cafe. During the war a section was temporarily used as a fun park with merry-go-rounds and the like. Wholesale distribution and experimentation has been long abandoned. It might: seem that the gardens have become little more than a city park. This, however, is far from being the true state of affairs. It is necessary to decide what is a botanic garden, and what should be expected of it. It should contain a collection of plants that can be grown in the region in which it is situated, though not necessarily anything approximating to a complete collection, because limits are imposed by the area available. If the selection is restricted to woody plants it is an arboretum. The species should be accurately labelled. One botanic garden may have thousands of species; another, because of some such reason as rigorous climate, may have perhaps only a hundred. The size of the collection is not the limiting factor. The type of planting may vary. Plants may he grown in orderly beds with their contents grouped according to family, or according to economic use. That was the arrangement of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens in Baron von Mueller’s time. An alternative is land- scape gardening and the Melbourne Gardens to-day, the creation of W. R. Guilfoyle, are the best, example in Australia. Such a type is not inconsistent with scientific 75 arrangement, but involves ecological rather than taxo- nomic grouping. The functions of the garden may be purely economic, along the lines of introduction, testing and breeding of useful plants, or it may be something in the nature of a living museum with due provision made for plants of scientific interest. It may be restricted to some special types, such as conifers, drug plants or plants native to the region, and there are all grades in such gardens. The difficulty is to draw up a definition that will cover them all. The Brisbane Botanic Gardens with the portion of the domain taken over in 1916 have an area of about 50 acres. The State has outgrown the stage where such a piece of land is adequate for all the various demands that might be put on them. It is no longer enough to import plants and distribute them to interested persons without considering their possibilities as weeds or carriers of disease. Nor in an already small and well-furnished garden is there much room for further planting. Plant breeding, too, requires a skilled staff and adequate testing grounds. Experimental work on the use of fertilizers and control of disease is better done elsewhere. Much of the work originally done in the Gardens, or perhaps entirely neglected, has passed to the Department of Agriculture, of which the establishment was formerly a part. There is more and better . investi- gatory work being conducted all over the State in intro- duction, selection, breeding, weed eradication, disease control and methods of cultivation than could ever be done in even a large botanic garden. We might regard the Gardens as the pioneer institution that helped to make these activities possible. All this suggests, perhaps, that the day of the Botanic Gardens is past, and that the needs of the population can be catered for by specialist organizations such as the Forestry Department, the Department of Agriculture, and the C.S.I.R.O., leaving little more than the cultivation of ornamentals and the maintenance of an educational pleasure garden. TsTo doubt many of their functions have been shorn awav, but even if they lose all of their economic functions, the Gardens still hold a very special place in the cultural and recreational life of the community. Thev contain collections of plants, native and introduced, ornamental and otherwise, that give students, visitors and the general public an opportunity to study in the living state the species that can be grown in the country. 76 They contain individual trees of special historic interest, such as the first Jacaranda to he grown in the State, rarities such as the newly discovered orchid Vanda whiteana, uncommon trees such as Brownea grandiceps, the .Rose of Venezuela, and plants of special geographical interest such as Rhododendron lochiae, the only Rhodo- dendron native to Australia, besides such plants as Bauhinia, Azalea, and flowering annuals that add to the chann of Brisbane suburban homes. There are curiosi- ties such as Kigelia, the Sausage Tree, Hura, the Sand- box Tree, and the various species of banyan : fruit trees such as wampce, jakfruit and chicle; medicinal plants such as Strychnos nux-vomica , the Strychnine Tree, and Myroxylon peveirae, the Balsam of Peru; the ferns, orchids, bromeliads and Gesneriaceae of the glasshouses; oaks and pines growing with logwood and tropical palms. The collection is far from complete. An area ten times the size could not accommodate the species that could be grown in these latitudes. The gardens do, however, contain a rich and varied assortment that is not to be found in any other garden in Australia. As a future development, bearing in mind the limited area and the consequent restrictions on tree-planting, a considerable expansion could be made in the growing of our smaller native ornamentals. Queensland is extraordinarily rich in beautiful species and a native fern collection from tree ferns down to the pygmy species could be. assembled and brought to perfection in a very short time, and would constitute a unique feature in Australian botanic gardens. The present Gardens are the botanical centre of Queensland, as apart from their living plants they contain the Queensland Herbarium and the Botanic Museum. But they are in Brisbane and must necessarily be of more immediate interest to the people of Brisbane It is, therefore, perhaps reasonable that they should be a City Council establishment. The logical alternative, if they were a State responsibility, would be the State main - tenance of similar gardens in other parts of Queensland. Botanic gardens of varying size and quality are main- tained hv City Councils in other Queensland cities, and notable examples are those of Rockhampton and Maekay. In Brisbane, some of the parks are of par- ticular interest, but they are for the most part for public recreational purposes and have no botanical objective. An exception is the Sherwood Arboretum, established 27 years ago as a collection of native Australian trees, neglected for many years and planted with occasional 77 exotics, but the nucleus of a valuable ancillary to the Botanic Gardens. An arboretum such as that at Sherwood cannot, of course, aim at more than a representative collection of Australian trees, and is not intended for other types of plants. To that extent, it is limited in its objects. There are Council reserves of native vegetation in the immed- iate vicinity of the city, notably at Mount Coot-tba, but they have no educational pretensions . The great National Parks movement, which began with the declar- ation of the Witch’s Falls National Park of 324 acres on Tamborine Mountain has opened up a new develop- ment. Areas of natural vegetation have been reserved for all time in chosen localities throughout the length of Queensland, both on islands and the mainland. Some >f them are small, like Witch’s Falls National Park, hut some are thousands of acres in extent. It may be argued that these are not botanic gardens; they are reserves of native vegetation. In some of them, though, graded paths and labelled trees give the visitor the opportunity of seeing what is possible in few botanic gardens — plants growing in their natural habitat, in youth, maturity and old age, with all their associated species, animal and vegetable. Such national parks are natural botanic gardens of a type that can be never duplicated anywhere else. They are complementary to the botanic gardens of the cities. NOTES ON ROCKS, No. 2 SEDIMENTARY ROCKS By JACK T. WOODS Sedimentary rocks are derived from other rocks hv processes which operate at or near the surface of the earth’s crust. These processes are always going on and many may be easily observed. Sedimentation includes the breaking up of the parent rock mass (weathering) . the transportation and deposition of the products and their consolidation into rock. This sequence can cease temporarily at any point and parts of it may be repeated before the final product — the rock — is formed. Weathering. Weathering lias two inter-related aspects, physical disintegration and chemical decomposition. Several 78 agents bring about disintegration, among them wind, flowing water, and moving ice with their abrasive action; thermal contraction and expansion resulting in cracking; and frost with its wedging action. Some of these agents also effect most decomposition, tin* atmos- phere, water itself, and aqueous solutions being chemically reactive. The products of weathering vary considerably in such properties as grain size, density, and solubility in water and their subsequent history is dependent in part on these properties. Trn asportation. Transportation is brought .about, through the agencies of wind, water, and ice. Material is carried mechan- ically and in solution and while in motion is often subjected to further disintegration and decomposition. Erosion is the term applied to the beginning of transpor- tation. When the velocity of a stream of water or air is reduced, so is its transporting power and some of its load is dropped- Substances in solution are precipitated as a result of evaporation or by chemical reaction. The most rapid deposition of sediments in quantity occurs in the sea on the continental shelf, in the lower parts of the courses of rivers and in lakes. Particles laid down by water or wind tend to be sorted according to weight and size. This results in their deposition in layers and the terms bedding, stratification and lamination are applied to this structure. Thus one many see in a river denosit a bed of mud superimposed on a bed of sand. It follows that, the thickness of any bed of sediment depends on the length of time that deposition continues in that place. Consolidation. The deposited sediment may be consolidated and a sedimentary rock produced. This consolidation generally takes place long after the material has been buried under other sediments. It is brought about by compaction and cementation. Compaction, due to the weight of over- lying sediments, results in the loss of water and the particles are brought closer together and may interlock. Cementation involves the deposition from solution of adherent substances such as hydrated iron oxide, calcium carbonate, and silica, in the pore spaces of the sediments. The complexity of all these sedimentary processes is increased by the part played by organic materials. Animals and plants often supply much of the source 79 materials for sediments and they may also be involved in tlie disintegration and decomposition, transportation, and deposition of other material. Fossil remains of animals and plants are often incorporated in sedimentary rocks. Some Common Sedimentary Ttoclcs. The materials involved and the variety of processes operating in the formation of sedimentary rocks result in a great diversity of end products. However, some occur more commonly than others. Mudstone and shale are rather similar kinds of sedimentary rock. They are formed from the accumula- tion of the finest transported products consisting essen- tially of clay minerals, which are produced as decom- position products from most rocks. Shale is subjected to a greater degree of compaction than mudstone; it is harder and tends to split more readily along the bedding planes. Sandstones consist mainly of the mineral Quartz. Quartz, which is one of the most common minerals in the earth's crust, is not easily decomposed and is not readily reduced below the sand grain size by natural abrasion. The cementing material in sandstones may be clay, silica, calcium carbonate or iron oxide and the last of these is usually responsible for their yellow, red, or brown colour. Conglomerates are composed of large rounded rock fragments cemented with finer material. They are pro- duced under vigorous conditions of erosion and trans- portation, but because of the particle size, the distance of transport is not great. Tillite is the name given to the rock produced hv the consolidation of boulder clay, which is produced by glacial erosion. As the name implies boulder clay is an heterogeneous aggregate and this may he readily under- stood by consideration of the mode of formation. Limestone is a sedimentary rock consisting essen- tially of the mineral Oaleite, chemically calcium car- bonate. Much of this material is deposited chemically. However, some limestones are composed partly of the calcareous skeletons of organisms such as corals. In some- cases whole reefs may be buried. Coal is formed from vegetable matter which is de- posited in lakes and passes through a peat stage. The formation of black coal from peat involves chemical changes as well as compaction, after burial by other sedi- ments. Under the prolonged influence of heat and pressure, the carbohydrates of the buried vegetable 80 matter break clown to give the carbon and hydrocarbons which enter into the constitution of black coal. Soils. Most of the earth’s land surface is covered by a mantle of soil and this is produced by rock weathering. If Ihe weathering products are not subjected to immed- iate transport then the processes of decomposition and disintegration continue and the surface and subsurface material assume the characteristics of what are known as soil horizons. Soils are not usually uniform through- out their depth, but exhibit a number of horizons vary- ing in colour, texture and constitution. They may be eroded and transported at any subsequent date and many sediments go through a soil formation phase dur- ing their history. Alluvial soils are formed from uncon- solidated sediments deposited on a land surface or brought to the surface after being deposited in water. Organic matter plays an important part in soil forma- tion. especially in the top horizon. These remarks on sedimentation are only introduc- tory. The study of this complex subject has gained impetus in recent years as a result of economic investiga- tions dealing with some of its more specialised aspects, for example : the utilization and conservation of the soil : the search for coal, petroleum, and non-metallic minerals; the search for and conservation of natural water supplies, both surface and underground ; and the application of a. knowledge of sedimentary processes to civil engineering practice. A PLEA FOR THE NATIVE BIRDS By C. W. HOLLAND* The settlement of Queensland has had an unfortu- nate effect upon many of the native birds. Felling of timber, ringbarking of large areas and heavy stocking of grazing lands have all helped to drive the birds away. There has also been much senseless slaughter of birds, an ill reward for the good work they do, for example, in controlling insect pests. The (government has done a good deal in an effort to protect useful birds. “The Animals and Birds Acts. 1921 to 1924” and “The Fauna Protection Act of 19157,” which superseded it, were passed for this purpose. Under the latter Act, a number of birds have been fully protected, while others have been partially protected by # it is with profound regret that we record the death on 1 7th April, 1952, of Mr. C. W. Holland. Mr. Holland was for many years a prominent member of the Queensland Naturalists' Club. An obituary will appear in the next issue of the journal. EDITOR. 81 n close season. Tn addition numerous sanctuaries have been provided. It is, however, difficult to enforce the Act, especially in outlying parts. Even in the suburbs oj Brisbane birds are often shot and nests robbed. Nobody seems to worry much, except a few bird-lovers. Before the 1950 Christmas season, the Department of Agriculture and Stock did. however, issue a warning to holiday-makers. Officials of the Depot tment of Agri- culture and Stock said in the press, in July, 1949. that successful administration of the Act rested largely with honorary fauna protectors. More than a thousand of lliese were scattered throughout the State, in addition to some lull-time protectors. These protectors had cer- tain limited powers, but the usual custom was to report an offence to the police. It is quite possible, however, that people often hesi- tate to call in the police for fear of making “bad blood’’ in the locality. Birds can live without man, but it is extremely doubtful whether man can live without birds. The example ol Lord Howe Island, the home of the Kentia Palm, merits description. There were no lats on the Island until 1921. when a ship was wrecked on the coast. Rats gained access to the shore, multiplied and attacked the birds, wiping them out with the exception of a Kingfisher and the Pied Currawong. With the disappearance of the birds, insects attacked the native flora. Rats also ate the palm seed and the palm industry languished. The human population eventually con- trolled the rats and many of the island’s rare and lovely plants were re-introduced. Many native birds have been killed in Australia by the introduced foxes, while others have become victims of poison-baits laid for rabbits. More than 50 years ago. domestic cats were turned loose in Western Queens- land to kill rabbits and they have also destroyed many birds, particularly when rabbits have been reduced in numbers by climatic conditions. Aerial baits for dingoes have also caused the death of many birds. A writer in a locality where such baits have been dropped said. “Seldom, if ever, we hear the ‘Jaekoes' merry laughter now, the sweet-toned notes of the Butcher Birds or the carolling of the Mountain Magpies [Currawongs], They are being exterminated by the dropping of airborne baits. For every dingo poisoned by this method a hundred singing birds are destroyed.” Curiously enough, some of these birds have been ‘protected’ under the Fauna Protection Act of 1937. 82 The Wedge-tailed Eagle (Eagle-hawk), is a much maligned bird. Although it sometimes takes lambs, the good work it does in destroying small animal pests off- sets any harm that it may do. During a plague of rats in N.W. Queensland a short time ago, it did great work destroying these rodents. In rabbit country it lives almost entirely on rabbits. The Wedge-tailed Eagle is fully protected in Tasmania, while in Western Australia and Queensland a bounty has been placed on its head. Tn parts of Victoria also, it has been declared yermin. It would be interesting to know whether experts were consulted before this action was taken or whether it was done without full knowledge of the bird’s habits. Under the bonus system in Queensland, several thousand of these beautiful birds are being killed annually. Some years ago. an official raid was made on the Emu in Queensland by the offer of a bonus. From 1st February, 1926, to 1st Deeember, 1928, a total of 131.768 Emus and 109,345 eggs was destroyed. In “Birds and Green Places”, Alec. If. Chisholm wrote, “And while this holocaust was in progress, an entomologist found 2,991 injurious caterpillars in the stomach of one emu !’’ Even the despised Grow has its advocates. Giving evidence before the Commission on the Pastoral Indus- try, a retired stock inspector said that Crows should he protected by law. They were, the sheepmens’ friends and devoured millions of maggots, potential blow-flies, thus saving vast numbers of sheep. It is surely time that more drastic steps should he taken to conserve our useful birds, which would he regarded as national treasures in other countries. The remedies suggest themselves — greater stress should be laid on the value of birds in schools, more publicity should be. given to bird protection, and vigorous police action should he taken against offenders. ERRATA. Attention is drawn to the following orthographic errors in "The Queensland Naturalist," Vol. 14, No. 3. P. 57, line 3, for Euvandra read Euvanda. P. 60, line 20, for whiteana read whiteanum. These are "unintentional orthographic • errors" in the sense of Art. 70 of the International Rules of Botanical Nomenclature. NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS A NEW EEC OKU OE A CLCB-EUNGUS 83 Clavulina ciuerca (Er.) Sell met., previously reported as common in South Australia, has not previously been recorded from Queensland. It has now been found (21/6/51) in Kalinga Park, Brisbane. The plant is one of the Clavariaeeae, the Club Eungi or Coral Eungi, a family which is' cosmopolitan in its distribution. Clavulina is a terrestrial genus, rarely lignicolous, and contains thirty-two species in temperate and tropical regions. C. cinerea is generally much branched, appearing somewhat like a small, dark grey cauliflower-head .or mass of coral, reaching about 3-4 inches in height and the same in diameter. The round, colourless spores are borne on the surface of the “clubs” or branches. The specimens found in Kalinga Park were in the small patch of scrub that follows along Kedron Brook. They are, for the most part, much less branched than the ones described above, and measure 2-4 inches in height. This reduction in size may be due to the fact that they were growing in the hard-packed clay by the side of the track. C. cincrca is one of the four edible species of Clavulina. Some of the Clavariaeeae are very palatable when fried; this species, however, was not found in sufficient quantity for such experiments. J. HERBERT. an OCCURRENCE OF GEASTRIJM PECTINATUM PERSOON One specimen of this fungus (one of the Earth- stars) not previously recorded from South Queensland, was found at Alexandra Headlands, S.E. Queensland, in August, 1950. It was growing in pure sand under a Coastal She-oak ( Casuarina equiseti folia var. incana ) on the strand. This is a very unusual occurrence, as the genus is generally found in pasture lands or on the forest floor. The plant is brown, with a non-hvgroseopic exoperidium about 2 inches in diameter, split into nine rays; the stalked smooth endoperidium is globose, 0.5 inch in diameter, and bears a silicate peristome. J. HERBERT. 84 A PIED CURRAWONG IN THE CITY Dining 194!) and 1950 a lone Pied Currawong (Fircpera < jraculina ) wag constantly in the vicinity of the Botanic Gardens and the University grounds at George Street, Brisbane. During October, 1950, it attempted to build a nest at the top of one of the pine trees grow- ing outside the University office. It did not progress very far as it lacked a mate and was continually harassed by Crows. It had a habit of fighting its reflection in windows for an hour or so at a time. KEN. L. S. HARLEY. TWO COMPOUND TREE GROWTHS An example of the apparent welding together, as the result of contiguous growth, of a Blue Gum {Eucalyptus tercf icomis) and a Tea-tree ( Melaleuca leucadendron ; (Eigs. 1 and 2) was observed near the rifle range on the Noosa River opposite to and about half a mile north of Tewantin, S.E. Queensland. Horizontal and vertical sections through this weld would be of interest. A second compound tree growth (Eigs. 3 and 4) was noted at the water's edge beside the Noosa Road at Noosaville. A large Blue Gum (E. tereticornis ) supports two other well grown trees, one a Blueberry Ash. ( Elaeocarpns ubovatus) and the other a Small-leafed Fig (Ficus ciigcuioidcs). The three different greens of the leaf types in the associated foliage are most striking. The fig is parasitic, but the ash doubtfully so. ft appears to have sprung up as a seedling in the detritus of a hollow limb and its root may have found its way to the ground through a “pipe” in the aged eucalypt trunk. T. E. and R. A. HUNT. 75 Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 1.— Welded growth of a Blue Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis) and a Tea-tree (Melaleuca leucadendron). Fig. 2. — A close-up of the weld. Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 3— An aged Blue Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis) supporting a Blueberry Ash (Elaeocarpus obovatus) and a Small-leafed Fig (Ficus eugenioides). Fig. 4.— A close-up of the compound growth. 86 ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 5th, 1951 Ladies and Gentlemen, The Council of the Queensland Naturalists’ Club presents its report of Club activities for the past year. Natural History pursuits have been carried forward during’ the year at evening meetings and on field excursions. MEETINGS: There have been ten evening meetings, one special meeting, eight field excursions, and nine council meetings. Attendance at council meetings has been as follows: Mrs. G. L. Jackson 9, Mr. F. S. Colliver 4, Mr. G. Mack 7, Miss E. E. Baird 9, Miss II. Clarke 5, Miss M. Hawken 7 , Mr. G. L. Jackson H, Mr. S. T. Blake 8, Mr. J. T. Woods .*}, Mr. L. Simpson 2, Mr. W. J. Sanderson 7, Mr. R. S. Ilarley 5. Mr. Harley accepted the position of Ex- cursion Secretary in August. Attendance at evening meetings has been good, the average being 47. Interesting and instructive lectures have been given during the year, and lecturers included Mr. G, Mack, Dr. D. Hill, Dr. I. Mackerras, Mr. N. Hay- som, and Mr. F. S. Colliver. The April meeting was devoted to reports of the Easter trip to Cunningham’s Gap. At the June meeting films were shown by Messrs. Bass and Sanderson. Exhibits were tabled at meetings by various members including Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Curtis, Mrs. White, Dr. Marks, and Messrs. Mack, Woods, White, Blake, Simmonds, Hunt, Colliver, and Dunn. Reports of field excursions were given at meetings by various mem- bers. Specimens and photographs were tabled. Thanks are due to these members for their help and interest. MEMBERSHIP : We regret to report the loss by death of one member, Mr. C. T. White, and four resigna- tions. Eighteen new members have been elected. There are now 179 members of the Club. “QUEENSLAND NATURALIST”: There has been one issue of the journal during the year. As a memorial to Mr. C. T. White a special number of the journal is about to be issued, and an annual lecture will be given. E. E. BAIRD, lion. Secretary. REPORT OF LIBRARIAN FOR 1949 'This report must unfortunately be very brief for the library has not functioned since J illy, 1949, owing to the 87 fact that the library cupboard could no longer be accom- modated in the rooms where the Club meets. Meanwhile literature received in exchange for “The Queensland Naturalist” has been stored. It is hoped that, in the near future, arrangements will be made to place a cupboard in the premises of the Brisbane Women’s Club so that members will again be able to use the library. E. M. -JACKSON, Hon. Librarian. REPORT ON EXCURSIONS, 1950 An interesting series of outings were arranged for members during the year. No excursion was held in February. The first outing for the year, in March, was a walk from Bald Hills to Sandgate. Birds and plants provided the main interest. The Easter camp at Cunnnigham’s Gap was attended by about thirty members and in spite of the adverse weather conditions some observations were made on Mt. Mitchell and Mt. Bordeaux. In May, Club members joined a “Save the Trees Campaign” excursion to the Beerwah Forestry Station while in June a week-end was spent at Dr. E. 0. Mark’s house at Camp Mountain where, as always, the stay was a pleasant one. Owing to wet weather no excursion was held in July. The August outing was a w r alk to the top of Mt. Gravatt. Several birds were seen and flowers and shrubs were examined. Splendid panoramic views of the city and surrounding country were obtained from the summit. The September excursion to The Blunder had wild- flowers as its main interest. In the following month, October, members enjoyed an afternoon walk in the Thornside district. In Novem- ber members went to Shorncliffe where geological struc- tures were examined and some fossil plants were collected. They then continued to Sandgate where the bird-life of the foreshore and lagoons was observed. R. S. HARLEY, lion. Excursion Secretary. QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS' CLUB "0 to O , ' 5-c 0 J-H ; x x : T5 C - 0 ; D • U X . o i O CQ : T5 ; C D a ; o : • 0 3 Hi' O .>*M cd tr : O ■ °7 O-l 2 CD £ O § S 8 w g| 0 "77 -r CO O . 0 0 c* u, 2 E-. d, X CL 0 3 -v *- J tr> & o ~ 0 c ft° X 3 0 CL r/3 CQ CD o CD CD £ 3 P-. 'co 0 0 > »- o o -I £ f* X X W K ' • CD LO CD CD O < O CDCOCON (D M co d) CL m W Q 0 Q w ^ U2 IH »-. 0 £ * o c u. .2 0 S' O u, C O n m X XI 0 £ _ CQ co Q : X X • H c : a ^ is ® : S3 § C ^ : J2 : co E-< C 0 ^ 3 - go C5 w C ® o a 0 o £ o 3 CQ ■S 2 d X cq cl cd 'a) O X co c-'v tn \ £ — • o co 0 CM x CD _c \ o$o 3 CD £ W CQ Qh 0 0 W t-. w 5 c < o J tc U X PRICE, 2/-. Vol. 14, No. 5, June, 1953 THE Queensland Naturalist JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS' CLUB “The Poetry of Earth is never dead .’' — Keats The Author of each Article is responsible for the statements expressed therein CONTENTS Proceedings Annual Report Report of Librarian Presidential Address ' Some Brisbane Honeyeaters Can I Eat That Toadstool ? A Pyronema from Queensland C. T. White Lecture Book Review - Obituary Financial Statement Page 1 4 7 8 14 16 18 19 19 20 Cover The Queensland Naturalists’ Club Official Journal — The Queensland Naturalist a> OFFICE-BEARERS, 1952-53 President : Dr. E. N. Marks Vice-Presidents : G. H. Barker, T. E. Hunt Hon. Secretary : Miss M. Hawken, 5 Kidston Street, Albion Hon. Treasurer : Miss K. Strong, Yilliers Street, New Farm Hon. Librarian : Mrs, G. L. Jackson Dr. E. 0. Marks S. T. Blake Committee : G. L. Jackson K. T. Cameron Hon. Editor : A. B. Cribb, Department of Botany, University of Queensland B 2501, Extension 17 Hon. Lanternist : W. J. Sanderson Hon. Auditor : R. E. A. Doolan SUBSCRIPTIONS : Ordinary Members Country Members Junior Members Joint Members (Husband & Wile) 20s. per annum 10s. per annum 10s. per annum 30s. per annum MEETINGS : Evening Meetings are held at the Brisbane Women's Club Rooms, 148 Adelaide Street, on the third Monday of every month. Excursions are held once a month from March to December. 4es= THE QUEENSLAND NATURALIST JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB yol. xiv. JUNE 1953 No. 5 PROCEEDINGS ANNUAL MEETING, 19th February, 1951.— It was resolved that in future the Annual Meeting should be held in July instead of February. Mr. Binnie was elected a member of the Ulub. The Annual Report, Financial Statement and Excursion Report were present- ed. The following members were elected to office : — Mr. F. S. Colliver as President, Mr. G. H. Barker and Mr. G. Mack as Vice-Presidents, Mr. K. S. Harley as Hon. Secretary, Miss H. Clarke as Hon. Treasurer, Mr. G. Tj. Jackson as Hon. Librarian, Mrs. C. T. White, Miss M. Hawken, Dr. E. 0. Marks and Mr. S. T. Blake as mem- bers of tlie Committee, Mr. W. J. Sanderson as Hon. Lanternist and Mr. J. T. Woods as Hon. Editor. The President. Mrs. G. L. Jackson, delivered her Presidential Address entitled “Shells", and tabled a number of unusual specimens. EVENING MEETING. 19th March, 1951.— Mr. G. H. Barker, who had recently returned from a trip abroad, gave a talk on his travels and showed a series of films. Mis. Schofer exhibited a Bleeding-tooth shell and common English land shell, and other shells were tabled by Dr. E. 0.. Marks and Mr. F. S. Colliver EVENING MEETING. 16th April, 1951.— The Presi- dent, Mr. F. S. Colliver. reported on the excursion on 14th April to St. Lucia, and Miss M. Hawken spoke of the twenty-five species of birds seen. The evening was devoted to reports on the Easter camp. The President and Mr* K. Harlev spoke of the walks to Mapleton Falls. Bon Accord Falls and the Narrows, and Mr. C Dunn reported on the orchids seen. Mr. G. Mack spoke on Rats and Ring Tail Possums and exhibited some very fine specimens. Mr. Mack also showed a live Gecko or Barking Lizard, and Mr. F. S. Colliver tabled some fossil sponges. 2 EVENING MEETING, 21st May, 1951.— It was resolved that as from 1st July, 1951 the fees be increased by 100 per cent. Reports were given on the excursion led by Mr. J. T. Woods to Aspley, where the mud springs were examined. Dr. W. A. McDougall, of the Department of Agriculture and Stock, gave a lecture on “Rats and Mice’’, and pointed out that there were three introduced species, the black house rat, the brown or sewer rat, and the little house mouse. Mr. E. S. Golliver exhibited a number of geological specimens, which included fossils of shark teeth. Amongst the other exhibits were vertebra of Ichthyosaurus tabled by Miss G. D. Williams and a Redback Spider shown by Mr. K. Harley. EVENING MEETING, 18th June, 1951. -Members reported on the excursion to Ashgrovo and St. John’s "Wood. Mr. F. S. Golliver had led the expedition and pointed out features of geolgical interest, while Mr. S. T. Blake and Miss D. Coxon had covered the botanical features and the birds respectively. The monthly lecture entitled “Mammalian Embryology' was delivered by Mr. W. B. Mather of the Department of Zoology, University of Queensland, and was illustrated with slides. Botanical and geological specimens collected on the Satur- day excursion were exhibited and the other exhibits tabled included specimens of coal and petrified wood by Mr. J. Cossar Smith. EVENING MEETING. 16th July, 1951.- -Members reported on the excursion on 14th July to the Toowong- Bardon area and Miss M. Hawken stated that twenty-five specimens of birds were seen. The monthly lecture was given by Mr. Edward Evans, a member of Ihe Bee- keepers’ Association. The subject was ‘‘The Life and Habit of Bees’’, and amongst the many interesting points made by Mr. Evans were that there are 600 species of honey insects and that in Australia there aie ‘20,000 owners of one or more hives, about half this number being in the industry and producing twenty-five million pounds of honey per year. Mr. S. T. Blake commented on exhibits tabled by Mr. G. II. Barker and Miss M. Hawken. EVENING MEETING, 20th August. 1951.— The monthly excursion on the afternoon of Saturday, 1 8th August had been to the Queensland Museum, and Mr. F. S. Golliver commented on the visit, pointing out the great improvements made at, the Museum by the Director, 3 Mr. George Mack. “Anthropology” was the title of the monthly address given by Dr. L. P. Winterbotham, who tabled various aboriginal exhibits for inspection. The following exhibits were tabled by members : — trap door spider by Miss E. E. Baird, photographs by Mr. K. Harley, aboriginal paintings by Miss M. Hawken, wild flowers and orchids by Mr. -1. Gossan Smith, a snake by Mr. F. S. Colliver, and shells from Thursday Island sent by the Girl Guides Association. EVENING MEETING, 17th September, 1951.— Mention was made of the excursion to the Sunnybank swamp on the afternoon of Saturday, 15th September, when numerous wild flowers were noted. The meeting was devoted mainly to a display of wild flowers brought in by members, and this session was conducted by Mr. S. T. Blake, who also answered various questions by members. Other general exhibits tabled by members were, an electric insect trap by Mr. M. Gpton, books on wild flowers by Miss E. E. Baird and Miss I. J. MacCallum, coloured sands, ivory nut and rock phosphate by Mrs M. L. Williams, a I’ardalote nest and eggs by Miss M. Hawken and a collection of fossils by Mr, F. S. Colliver. EVENING MEETING. 15th October, 1951.— Miss G. D. Williams reported on the excursion to Wellington Point on Sunday, 14th October and stated that the trees on King Island were starting to grow again after being cut. down some years ago. Miss M. Hawken reported that twenty-five birds had been seen on the excursion. Mr. George Mack spoke on the urgent need for conser- vation, especially in Queensland, and showed four films dealing respectively with the letter winged kite, lyre birds of S herb rook Forest, the koala hear and the platy- pus. The following exhibits were tabled by members : — nests of wagtails, silver eye, Indian dove and pardalote. a snake skin, and live bearded lizard by Mr. Gamble, black swan’s egg by 31 r. .1, Cossar Smith, hornets’ nest and white ant eaten wood from the heart of a gum tree by Miss M. H. Cock, a book, “Birds of Paradise” by Miss E. E. Baird and various geological specimens by Mr. F. S. Colliver. EVENING MEETING, 19th November. 1951. — Mr. F. S. Colliver reported on the November outimr on Satur- day, 17th November, which had been to the C. T. White Memorial Park, where two trees were planted as a Club memorial to Mr. White, one by the President and the other 4 by Miss Baird, representing the women of the Club. After inspecting the park members had adjourned to Mrs. White’s lawn for tea. Professor D. A. Herbert, of the Department of Botany, University of Queensland, delivered the first C. T. White Memorial lecture under the title of “The Brisbane Botanic Gardens”. Mr. P. S. Col liver tabled and spoke about lava from various sources. Other exhibits tabled by members were : — snaps of the Saturday excursion by Mr. G. A. Rowley and Mr. J- Cossar Smith, old photographs of the Botanic Gardens and other interesting places by Dr. E. 0. Marks, other old photos of the Gardens by Mr. J. Cossar Smith and a book on volcanoes by Mr. F. S. Colliver. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1952 Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Council has pleasure in submitting the 46th Annual Report. The membership of the Club is as follows : Hon. Members. 4; Town Members, 144; Country Members, 21: Total, 169; this being a decrease of ten on the numbers of last year. During the year we lost two members by death in Mr. Carlton and Mr. Stuart, twenty-four resignations were received with regret and seventeen new members were elected. This year actually extended to eighteen months owing to the alteration of the date for the Annual Meet- ing from February to July. At a special meeting this was agreed to and the Council was asked to carry on for this longer period. Early this Club year Mr. K. Harley felt unable to carry on as Hon. Secretary and resigned the posi- tion last September; Miss M. Hawken, the Hon. Assist- ant Secretary, carried on as Hon. Secretary for the rest of the year and Mr. Squire was appointed to the vacant Council position. Miss H. Clark resigned her position as Hon. Trea- surer early in 1952 and Miss K. Strong was later appointed to fill this vacancy. MEETINGS The usual monthly meetings have been conducted, this last Club year giving us a total of fourteen. One Special Meeting was held and thirteen Field 5 Excursions were conducted during the year. Attend- ances on the whole have been good for the meetings, the average being fifty-two. Instructive and interesting lectures were given at the meetings and speakers included Mr. (1. H. Barker, Dr. W. A. McDougall, Mr. W. B. Mather, Mr. E. Evans, Dr. L. P. Winterbotham, Mr. C. E. Ogilvie and Miss I). Sanders. Professor I). A. Herbert gave the inaugural C. T. White Memorial Lecture with the title “The Bris- bane Botanic Gardens”. Mr. G. Mack, the Director of the Queensland Museum, gave a film evening using films of the Platypus and Koala from other States and a small series taken by the Queensland Museum staff. September as usual was the Wild Flower Evening and a Members’ Exhibit Night was held in February. EXCURSIONS There being no Excursion Secretary this last year, a report is included herewith. The expense of hiring large buses still somewhat restricts our activities in this matter, but many inter- esting places have been visited during the year. These included the Univtersity grounds and the Geological Department on two occasions under the guidance of Mr. F. S. Colliver and members were inter- ested to note the improvements made to both the grounds and the department in the time between these two visits. For May a visit was paid to the Mud Springs at Aspley and the new flow just a few feet from the old mound was noted. The Kandgate area was visited twice, the second time tv inspect the lagoons, which were showing the effects of the long drought. Certain interested people were pressing for a reclamation of these areas with a view to building a sports ground site and our inspection was with a view to advising the authorities in the matter. We are glad to say now that it is indicated that these areas are reserves and cannot be used for any other purpose and that they will be retaiued as sanctuaries. The June Excursion was to Sunnybank Swamps; in October we visited Wellington Point; for November an inspection was made of the C. T. White Memorial Park at Kangaroo Point and during this inspection two memorial trees were planted. The President, Mr. F. S. Colliver, planted one on behalf of the Club and Miss E. 6 E. Baird planted the second on behalf of the lady mem- bers. A pleasant end to this outing was the sojourn to the home of Mrs. C. T. White, where afternoon tea was partaken and a very happy .gathering of the members it proved. The May excursion was to Ebbw Vale Clay Pit, where members collected fossil leaves in quantity. EASTER CAMP, 1951 This was at Mapleton, where the local hall and facili- ties were made available to us. For this Camp-out our thanks are due to Mr. K. Harley for his splendid organisation, in particular that part in providing electric light to the hall. Walking trips were made to Mapleton Falls, Bon Accord Falls, the Narrows and the State Forestry Reserve. Many items of interest were noted during these walks. On one evening the local residents were invited to attend lectures being given and they came in good numbers. Mr. G. Mack spoke on “Conservation of Flora and Fauna” and Mr. F. S, Colliver spoke on “Pre-historic Animals”. Both speakers used slides for illustrations and at the end a cup of tea and biscuits were served to and enjoyed by all. EASTER CAMP, 1952 The 1952 Camp was at Bribie Island. The Church of England Rest Home was made available to us and a most interesting Camp-out. was held. The foreshores were of interest to the zoologists, particularly the shell hunters, but the botany was not as good as expected, due to drought conditions and bush fire damage. A trip by boat up Pumice Stone Passage gave glimpses of Emu and Black Swans, besides mam other items of interest. In the evenings, lecturettes were given and Mr. F. S. Colliver spoke on Shells, Professor I). A. Herbert on Botany in general, Miss Joan Herbert on Fungi. At both Camp-outs wc were pleased to have with us a number of students from the Teachers’ Training College and the whole party worked together very well. These excursions are undoubtedly one of the major items in the Club activities during the year. The Queen s Birthday week-end was spent at Camp Mountain on the property of Dr. and Mrs. E. O. Marks, and once again to these valued members do we accord thanks for services rendered. Nineteen members attend- ed and with fine weather over the whole period a most 7 enjoyable week-end was had. Again evening lectures were held, Mr. F. S. Colliver speaking on “Granite and its place in the world” and Associate Professor F. W. Liohinson on “Bora Rings”. The Bora Rings, Quarry and Old Gold Mines were visited, botanical specimens were collected and some thirty-five species of birds were noted; the good colour in some species was of particular interest. “QUEENSLAND N A TURAL 1ST” Two issues of the “Naturalist” were distributed during the past year and the Editor reports another is in the press, so we hope to catch up on our arrears in this matter in the not too far distant future. Of special interest was the C. T. White Memorial Number. EXHIBITS Many interesting items were exhibited during the year, but it is felt that much more could be done in this matter. Members are again urged to bring along to the meetings items of interest and if possible give a short note on the specimens. During the year thii teen Council Meetings were held and the attendance of officers was as follows : Miss M. Hawken, 13; Mr. F. S. Colliver, 11: Mr. G. Mack, 11; Mr. G. L. -Jackson, 11 : Mrs. G. L. Jackson, 11 ; Mr. S. T. Blake, 11: Dr. E. O. Marks, 10: Mrs. C. T. White, 9: Mr. K. Harley, 7: Mr. W. -T. Sanderson, 6; Mr. G. H. Barker. 5; Mr. J. T. Woods. 3; Miss K. Strong 2; Mr. R. A. Squire, 2. F. S. COLLIVER. President. M. HAWKEN, Acting Hon. Secretary. REPORT OF HON. LIBRARIAN (Feb. 1951— June, 1952) Owing to lack of space for Library Cupboard, the Library, as reported before, has been unable to function since June, 1 949. However, towards the end of 1951. permission was obtained to place a cupboard in the hall- way of the Brisbane Women's Club, in whose rooms the monthly meetings are held. Thanks are expressed to Mr. G. Mack and Mr. G. H. Barker for their help towards the transport of both cupboard and books — also to Mr. Mack and Museum officials for the re-varnishing of the cupboard. The Library again started functioning on February 18th. with a fair supply of books on nature 8 study and some very good reference books. There is also a good variety of current nature magazines as well as some of a geographical nature. About sixty-five books and magaazines have been lent since February, 1952. The literature received in exchange 'for “The (Queens- land Naturalist’’ is at present stored at the Hon. Librarian's residence and a list of same is being compiled. E. M. JACKSON, Hon. Librarian. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS THE FIELD NATURALIST AND HIS PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY F. S. COLLI VER To many people the Field Naturalist i.s a very queer person who acts in a very odd manner and 1 suppose many members of this (Queensland Naturalists’ Club have been mistaken for anything but simple Naturalists when out on a ramble. One of the first stories I heard after joining the Club here was of the party of “Naturists” that went on excursions. Certainly there seems to be, to the uninitiated, some- thing surprising in adult individuals chasing bugs, break- ing up stones or picking weeds, and many and humorous are the suggestions put to us as to the reason why we do these things. If you break stones, you are asked the question “Looking for gold, mister ?” nearly every time you are spoken to. In my own case, on one occasion in N.S.W., 1 was mistaken for a detective attached to the licencing branch of the Police Foree and refused board at the hotel 1 wished to stay at. After being very insistent in the matter and knowing there were vacancies 1 was given dinner, taken by car to the next town to sleep, called for before breakfast by car, and brought back to my original location. This all seemed very strange, but I was quite satisfied to be on the spot and for a week went out every day, returning each evening with a good collection of fossils and putting the evening to cleaning and packing them. This was too much for the hotel- keeper who asked me what on earth T was up to or words to that effect, and 1 explained saying I had told them on the day of my arrival. His comment was “You must be fair dinkrnn, no so and so policeman could keep 9 it up this long'; but what do you get out of it V’ On one other occasion 1 walked into a two-up party in an abandoned quarry and caused a sudden and com- plete scatter of all the players. This was most interest- ing to watch. I shall mention .just one more experience. At Catar- act Gorge, near Launceston, Tasmania, whilst on my knees at the side of a mossy bank from which I was knocking very tiny land shells into a specimen tube with a match, I was approached by two men who stood one on either side and asked if I was ill. I was able to convince them I was all right and they then told me they had been called by the curator to investigate as I seemed to be acting queerly. Leaving all these humorous and occasinally more serious interludes aside the Field Naturalist has a most interesting time, there being always something to attract his attention,- the whole field of animate nature is before him, there are rocks and geological structures, the wonder of astronomy and the vagaries of the weather all having stories to tell. There is a story told of an American businessman who purchased a small block of bushland and erected a log cabin to be occupied when he retired in the near- future. lie gathered together a small library to read now that he would have plenty of spare time, and for a period enjoyed the quiet and lazy life. However, the spring time called him into the open, the trees and bushes in his holding attracted him, and he decided it would be worth while knowing something about them. Ho he set to work and learnt their names and characteristics; from this it was just a step to the lesser flora and he found a great interest here also. The birds attracted his attention and he felt he should learn something about them also, and in this way four years passed by filled with interest. He stated there were still the insects and all other inver- tebrate animals within his property that simply demanded that he learn something about them, and he looked forward to years of pleasant investigational work in natural history before he could hope to complete a survey of his own little kingdom. Our retired man is now well on the way to becoming a local authority on natural history and a man who finds life simply teeming with interest. However, this story is not meant to suggest that a real field naturalist can only develop when there is plenty of leisure time. One of the real field naturalists of recent 10 years, at least to my way of thinking, was the late Mrs. Edith Coleman, who made considerable contributions to our knowledge of almost all phases of natural history. This lady did, for example, outstanding work on the fertilisation of the native terrestrial orchids. This matter required very close observation over long periods of time and the subsequent capture of the small insects concerned. She also made a notable contribution to our knowledge of the habits of the echidna, worked out life histories of several insects and developed a wonderful wild garden, one section of which had something like 150 species of “Herbs” growing. Many articles written by Mrs. Coleman were published in the “Victorian Naturalist”, monthly and weekly magazines, and the daily papei’s. I tell this story to show that a busy woman can also make considerable contributions to natural history knowr ledge. To those who have not read the book “Robert Dick, Geologist and Botanist”, I suggest they do so at their earliest opportunity. In this we learn of walks of sixty miles or more being undertaken between the baking of a batch of bread and his return to set out another batch, our hero, tor hero he was indeed, being the baker of the little village in which he lived. These walks were to collect rare plants or fossil fish from the old red sand- stone. He brought together a famous herbarium and many of the fossil fish he collected are now in the British Museum after having been described and mentioned by Hugh Miller and Louis Agassiz. Here we have a man with little of the world’s goods and forced hard to maintain himself, yet able to make great additions to our knowledge of natural history matte's. Charles Barrett, or C. L. B. to his many friends, is perhaps the man most prominent in Australian Natural History generally over these past 30 years. Now more or less retired, he is still active and writing books where- in he gives of his experiences in natural history and his knowledge due to a lifetime of reading in his favourite subjects. A real field naturalist. Mr. Barrett has alwavs gone off to see for himself whether it be in the suburbs near to his home, to outback Australia or the islands away from Australia. A first world war soldier, he used his location in Egypt to study natural history in that country also. On one occasion I remember asking Mr. Barrett what his favourite study was, and his reply that he had 11 no favourites, there being too much of interest in nature taken as a whole. A keen collector, observer and nature photographer, Mr. Barrett was at all times willing to pass his specimens and observations on to those who were making a specialist study of that particular group. Charles Darwin, too, was a field naturalist, although most of bis work was a careful noting of the observations of others and the grouping of these observations to prove or formulate theories. Perhaps his twenty years of obser- vations on the habits of earthworms will show that a life- time can be spent on a subject and still leave much to be discovered. Our great museums and their tremendous collections may suggest there is little to be done in collecting specimens. This is perhaps correct with respect to the larger forms of animal life, but there is much to collect in the lower invertebrate groups. To me it seems that the role of the field naturalist is not in the field of the systematies of nature or the description and differentiation of species or the pains- taking work necessary to show variation within the species. Such work is best left to the national museums, the reseai'ch institutions and the science faculties of the Universities. The field naturalist still can play his part; there are vast and practically untouched fields before him in the biological world. 1 suspect that not one oer cent, of the insects known from this country have their detailed life histories worked out, we still find interesting and new facts in the behaviour of birds and animals, and if we go to the microscope there are fields enough to enable all who will to become authorities on some particular section of plant or animal life. Truly here the fields are many and the workers few. I recall here a friend who, through a rare disease of slow but sure effect, was forced from employment to the status of invalid pensioner. He set out to make a study of the Rotifers, a most interesting group of micro- scopic animals, and now. five years later, is a recognised authority on this subject. Field work is possible to him also because in this study a few drops of water are almost the equivalent of an ocean to the larger animals, and almost any pool of water is teeming with microscopic life. From the foregoing I think I have made the point that field naturalists can be and are people from all walks of life, and that considerable contributions to 12 knowledge are made by them. Brisbane is situated in a position that gives the field 1 naturalist unsurpassed opportunities. The problems and interest of the fauna of Moreton Bay are a major subject and even among common forms of animals such as the star-fish new species are waiting description ; with regard to the shells, the list is far from complete. There are many other groups besides these two mentioned in which the position is similar. One might mention for example the almost unbeliev- able associations of a Cowry shell-fish and a sea slug, in which tile Cowry lays its eggs in the skin of tile sea-slug. That similar associations occur in fresh water is shown in one of the early stages in the life history of the Freshwater Mussel when it is actually imbedded in the skin of a freshwater fish. Similar association can he expected with other animals and many and extraordinary will be the discoveries as more investigation is under- taken. If we develop a habit of noting down odd items of interest in a day by day book and make observations as complete as possible we will complete a record that can be used by other workers and a reference for use in the future by ourselves. I remember such a book series kept by a lady now unfortunately not with us. This was in the form of a yearly volume indexed at the end of each year under subject. Such a series of volumes would contain a lot of valuable information quite easily avail- able. Close to a large city with the continual and definite change in the landscape that goes on year by year, a series of such note hooks would record for posterity the impact of man and his environment on wild nature and also prevent much information on species distribution from being lost. For the botanically minded T recommend a month by month census of the plants of a selected area and from experience I can say that you will be surprised at the variations in plant types that occur. Such a census was carried out by the Victorian Field Naturalist Botany Group for the Studley Park area, a reserve on the Yarra just a few miles from the city proper. A field naturalist does collect items of interest and it is suggested that a proper catalogue of these items he kept and the items numbered so that, no error can occur. The memory is not sufficient in these matters and T 13 recall a card in the study of the late Fred Chapman which stated “Label now, to-morrow you will have forgotten”. This statement is only too true. Our catalogue make our collections either worthwhile or worthless when we decide to disperse them, or when the dispersal is left to others, and j recall many a good specimen that would be of so much more scientific value if it had had a label or a reference to a properly kept catalogue. Again the field naturalist is a conserver of nature, not allowing wanton destruction by either himself or others, and endeavouring by example to further this idea. This does not mean that collections should not be made, but rather that we should collect with care and leave the places collected over as little disturbed as possible. For example, ou the sea shore a rock may be turned over in the search for shells; the undersurface of this rock will most likely have sponges, anemones, polyzoa and other animals living on it and these will soon die if they are exposed to the sun. It is a simple matter to replace the rock as it was after taking what we require. We should see now that in the gathering of knowl- edge, there is certainly a place for the field naturalist, so there must surely be a place in the community for him. What this place is and how lie accepts it, depends a lot on the person concerned. Organised research is, in the main, a function of the large institution, but the individual has been shown cap- able of, and indeed very able in, assisting these bodies by his special knowledge. Even without a special knowl- edge, the. field naturalist by his general knowledge can do a lot to help the community at large. Such help is often not appreciated, but we must continue to do our part in spite of this. 1 refer here to such problems as conservation and protection of wild life. Many an animal’s life can he saved by spreading the news of its place in the economy of the primary production of the State. The birds of prey are still mostly shot at on sight, the boy with the shanghi and pea rifle is still with us, and we have such so-called sports as bird shooting; the horrors of maimed birds being killed with sticks is a blot on our humanity. Egg collecting is not as preva- lent as in my young days, but there still seems to be much unnecessary destruction of native fauna and flora. It seems to me then, that the proper place of the field naturalist in the community, is as an education officer, with the experience of some study behind him, 14 so that he can help by force of example to turn destruc- tive abilities to the ability to conserve. Facts and fig- ures should be collected on matters of destruction and conservation so that they can be used in instruction and argument. The ability to put a case and produce facts and fig- ures at will is not with all. but every field naturalist can. by his euthusiasim, lead another one or more to this study, and such a snowball effect could be achieved as would turn a great many people from destruction to con- servation. Perhaps the second position to be occupied by the field naturalist is that of recorder*. As mentioned before, most localities show the effects of the impact of man and his environment on the natural wild life of the district. A record of those changes is of value for many purposes botli scientific and general and is also of great interest. If a Ihird position is to he thought- of, then I sug- gest that it is that of student, and in this position we may remain all our life, for our field is vast and our interests wide, and the available time that we abstract by various means from the normal working day entirely insufficient for all we would like to do. The combination of these three positions however, is a good one and gives us that little extra step up from the rut of every day things that makes for an active mind and an interest in the world round about us. These interests we should pass on as we can, thus doing our hit for the community at large and in so doing we must surely have the right to a position within this same community. To all here and those who, in the future, may follow on, 1 commend the joys, sorrows and great interests of the field naturalist’s life and give the following as a suggestion, “when you are on a good thing, stick to it.” SOME BRISBANE HONEYEATERS NOEL JACK The Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) are a colourful, noisy and important group of Australian birds, and a few notes regarding the Brisbane species might be. of interest and a help to identification. Honeyeaters are invariably found in association with the Eucalyptus. . Melaleuca, Banksia, C alii stem on and other 15 plants of that nature, although they are not adverse to cultivated plants like Hibiscus, and are often found in the Mangroves. It is generally taken for granted that many of them are what is termed “nomadic", and that they follow the blossoming of the native trees, moving from place to place in the process. On the other hand they may just follow the conventional pattern of birds that “flock", that is, they ate territorial during the breeding- season, and join flocks during the t est of the year. Not all iloneyeaters flock, and some are found associated with a particular habitat, and are probably resident species. Fifteen species have been identified in the Brisbane area, although the position of the Melithreptus Honey- eaters needs clarifying. The main point of identifica- tion, the extent of black on the cheeks and lower mandible is almost impossible to pick out in the field, but if the colour of the skin around the eye, red in the White-naped (Melithreptus ulboguluris ) , is any indica- tion, the Whiteth mated is the common species. A study of the two species in the field may also reveal a differ- ence of note. The most colourful species is probably the Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomcla sanguinolenta ) , a reputed migrant. The migration is hard to prove in the Brisbane area as there are always a few of them to be found during the winter. The White-cheeked (Meliornis niger ) is also a strikingly coloured bird. It is rare in the city areas, being a coastal bird found in large numbers on the islands off the coast, generally associated with the Banksia. The Blue-faced ( Entomyzon cyanotis ) is also a handsome bird. It is an open forest species and not too common. The plainest coloured species, the Brown ( Gliciphila indistinct a) is the finest songster. It is also one of the most common, being found in open forest, mangroves and city and suburban areas. The Mangrove (Meliplxaga fasciogularis \ also has a musical note. It is found associated with the mangroves and seldom strays any great distance away. The Bell Miner ( Manorina melanophrys ) , though not a songster in the popular sense, is well known for its bell-like note. It may seem a strange record for the Brisbane area, but a colony of them was located some years ago in the Gold Creek area and they are probably still there. Generally the Honeveaters are inclined to shout rather than to indulge in an extended song. The Yellow- 16 faced ( Mehphaga chrysops ) is well known for his loud “Chick-up, chick-up !” It is a species that flocks during the winter months and is a very common bird in Bris- bane. The Noisy (Philemon cornicnlatus) and Little Friar Birds ( Philemon atreogularis) are also very noisy and active and also flock. The Little Wattle Bird ( Anihochaera chrysoptera), a species often found asso- ciated with tlie lianksia, also has a voice that is anything hut musical. The inquisitive Noisy Miner ( Myzantha melanocephala ) is too well known to need description. It is semi-terrestrial, and has acquired the habit of walk- ing when on the ground. Most passerine birds hop. A species with a rather restricted habitat is the Lewin ( Mehphaga lewini). It is found along creeks and shady areas, and not in the open forest, generally. It is usually identified by its loud cheerful note long before it is seen. The Spinebill ( Acanthorhy n ch us tenuirostris) is a species generally found during the winter. It is well known for its hovering habits. This concludes a necessarily brief list of the Brisbane Honeyeaters. It does not pretend to be a complete, but rather a representative list. Possibly in the course of time, other species may be added. CAN I EAT THAT TOADSTOOL ? -T. E. C. ABERDEEN Of course you can, but you might not be happy about it afterwards. Unfortunately, the question as to which of our mushrooms and toadstools can be eaten without any ill-effects, is largely unanswered. Local experience is the only sure guide, though we may often draw sound general conclusions from overseas experience. A second factor in assessing the poisonous properties of the toad- stools, is that of personal idiosyncrasy and allergy — literally “What is one man s meat is another man’s poison. There are however, several common types that are worthy of note by mycophagists, as those to be avoided and it is proposed in this article and two sub- sequent ones, to describe these species, in each case, com- paring it with the edible species with which it is most likely to be confused. A species which has been definitely incriminated in northern New South Wales is the hysteria toadstool Punaeolus ovatns Cke. and Mass, (see 'Figs. 1 and 2). 17 This species is very common around Brisbane and is probably further afield. There is no definite evidence against it from our districts as it is only rarely that specimens of the offending fungi are available by the time poisoning symptoms come on. However, we must assume that it is the cause of some of our local cases of poisoning. On a casual glance there is a resemblance to our common edible mushroom Agrictts (Psalliota) campestris L. ex Fries (see Figs. .‘5 and 4), but a second inspection should not leave any doubt. In both species the caps are generally whitish with brown shades appear- ing as they mature, and at maturity the gills beneath the cap are practically black. The Pa naeolns, however, is relatively taller with a thinner stalk. Also, in the younger specimens the gills of Puna col us are greyish, while those of tin* Agaricus are distinctly pink. Also the cap of Panaeolus is practically hemispherial, with the margin only slightly included, while the common mushroom is flatter with the margin distinctly included. The surface of the cap of Panaeolus is distinctly tacky in damp weather, but on drying its appearance resembles a white lacquered surface. The Agaricus cap on the other hand has a finely fibrous surface and is not tacky when damp. On the young Agaricus, and frequently on the mature specimens, there is a ring around the slalk beneath the cap. This is absent in Panaeolus .. A further difference is the manner of attachment of the gills. With the Agaricus the gills finish just prior to reaching the stalk and are said to be “free”. As a result the stem is easily broken away from the cap. In Panaeolus the gills are attached to the stalk and the latter does not break away readily. Also while there is a superficial resemblance in the colour of the mature gills, closer inspection shows the Panaeolus to be a mottled greyish-black and the Agaricus to be an intense purplish-black. Habitat is sometimes a guide in that Panaeolus is often associated with fresh dung. The type of poisoning caused by Panaeolus appears to be noil-fatal with symptoms described as being akin to alcoholic intoxication in some aspects. The safest course for would-be eaters of mushrooms is to be quite clear in their own mind what the common edible mushroom looks like and to eat only that species. 18 1 3 4 Fig'. 1. Panaeolus ovatus Vertical section. Fig. 2. Panaeolus ovatus. Whole plant. Fig. 3. Affaricus campestris. Whole plant. Fig. 4. Agaricus campestris. Vertical section. A PYRONEMA FROM QUEENSLAND J. W. HERBERT Pyronema omphalodes (Bull.) Fuckel., known from Europe, North America and Victoria, has not previously been recorded from Queensland. Characteristically an inhabitant of burnt ground or sterilised soil, it has been found in Kalinga Park, Brisbane (A. B. Cribb, 21/4/53) on burnt ground. The fungus differs from Peziza in the small size of the apothecia which are usually less than 2 nun. diameter; these become confluent, farming flat irregular masses more than a centimetre in diameter surrounded by a white- superficial mycelium. The Queensland specimens were bright orange, but there is a range from only slightly yellowish to an occasional purple tinge. The hymenimn of each apothecium is convex. Asci are cylindrical, about b50 u x 10-14 u, with 8 spores uniseriate, ellipsoid, smooth, hyaline, 10-13 u x 5-8 u: the. paraphyses are stout, somewhat thickened at the apices, and about the same length as the asci. 19 C. T. WHITE LECTURE Following on the death of Mr. C. T. White on August 15, 1950, at its September meeting the Council of the Queensland Natural- ists' Club decided, on the recommendation of a special sub- committee appointed to consider the matter, that a lecture to be known as "The C. T. White Lecture" should be established in his memory. It should be delivered, annually if possible, on some phase of natural history and be published in "The Queens- land Naturalist''. In order to ensure that any expenses associated with the delivery and publication of the lecture would be met without diffi- culty, the Council asked members to subscribe to a memorial fund. Contributions to the fund totalled £66/0/6. This amount, together with accrued interest has since been placed in a separate savings bank account opened in the Club's name, as the "C. T. White Lecture Fund". The first C. T. White Lecture was delivered by Professor D. A. Herbert in November, 1951, and published in "The Queensland Naturalist", Vol. 14, No. 4. E. N. M. BOOK REVIEW Check List of North Queensland Orchids prepared by Dr. H. Flecker, with the assistance of Rev. H. M. R. Rupp, 11 p.p., includ- ing 8 plates, January, 1953, publication No. 7 of the North Queens- land Naturalists' Club, being a revised and enlarged edition of their publication No. 1 dated March, 1945. The original list has proved such a useful reference that this revised edition will be received by all interested with the greatest satisfaction. Since 1945 a considerable amount of work has been done on the orchids of North Queensland as is shown by the fact that the original edition listed 134 species from 46 genera and the present one 170 species from 52 genera. The addition of eight plates reproduced from the Club's journal, "The North Queensland Naturalist", add to the value of the work. They include the late W. H. Nicholls' fine plate of Liparis fleckeri Nicholls. Undoubtedly synonmy and references to literature are most desirable features for such works as the one under review but the heavy extra expense in costly printing is a big deterrent. Dr. Flecker, Rev. Rupp and the N.Q.N.C. are to be congratu- lated on the interest, work and enterprise which has given rise to this most useful production. Copies are on sale at 2/6 and can be obiained from the Hon. Secretary, Mr. J. Wyer, "Lcchinvar", 253 Sheridan St., Cairns. T. E. H. 20 OBITUARY With the death of my old friend, Charles William Holland, 1868- 1952, the Queensland Naturalists' Club lost its oldest surviving member and one of the little band of Brisbane Naturalists who saw the beginnings of our Club in 1906, then known as the "Field Naturalists' Club' Mr. Holland was appointed Assistant Secre- tary to Mr. Jas, Johston who, with the first President, Mr. Henry Tryon, and Mr. J. S. Shirley, were the prime movers in the early life of the Club The following year he was appointed Hon. Secretary and Treasurer and gave material help in those office to the Club, right up till 1912 when he left our shores as Secretary to the Prickly Pear Travelling Commission. The Commission was overseas till 1914 and brought back much valuable information which later resulted in the complete control and destruction of this menace in Queensland. The Commission also concerned it- self with investigations into the possible control of other pests, particularly the rabbit and flying fox, which were worrying the Government at that time. One consequence of his appointment was, of course, that he had to relinquish his position in the Club as Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Holland was born in London in 1868, came to Australia in 1880, and was resident in Brisbane for over seventy years. He joined the State Public Service about 1900 and became Under Secretary for Lands in 1924. He retired from the Public Service at the age of sixty-seven and passed away at his home in Toowong on April 1 7th 1952. He leaves a widow two daughters, Mrs. Karl Haigh, of Junee, New South Wales, and Margaret, a former Presi- dent of the Club still with her mother at the home in Toowong. also a son, Charles, at present with the Bank of N.S.W., Winton. He will be best known by those who were with him as our able and energetic Hon. Secretary to whom nothing was ever a trouble where the interests of the Club were concerned, but in his latter years, when failing health prevented his attendance at our evening meetings, Mr. Holland continued to do good work for the Club each year as Hon. Auditor of the Club's accounts. Mr. Holland's special hobbies were microscopy and photo- graphy. He was active in matters of bird preservation and the creation of private sanctuaries, and it is appropriate that at the end of his days there should appear in our Journal a very thought- ful article by Mr. Holland advocating greater efforts to protect our vanishing native birds From all who knew him goes forth our thankfulness for his work with the Club and our sincerest sympathy to his wife and family who are left to mourn his passing. G. H. B. w D O E- 'OCfiOlNO^OM^OCOiO CD TJ to lO MSM'nWWOlO'HOrHO CO 0 O r — 1 rH ■ — 1 fH CO-^lOOOlOCOCDlOlOO ^ CO CO CD CO CD •— 1 , , 0 O uo CD r ~~ i CO w *— 1 W W CC D f- a 'z w a, X w a il *a a O D> ^ O ~ r-< ® m tnOx 3 r ® .1/2 XI d) w ’ TJ { j (N ! 0 ! 1 ! 1 ; M : : : - 6 XJ 3 J - 8* Q w T* XJ *-* CO oj^ §.oo mOtzS a 0 2 a TJ >2 < - -•o S 5S i o cs ►7' E-* < v -3 • o< o ^ w w : W < -3 • HJ W F-i ^O0O0lO0CTiOCO M O CJ CSJ U3 N CO C3) CM -h 1 CN CD r— 4 «sl« LO 05 00 fi o CO E-* DU ►—1 w O w E •a 8 S L-. o TJ 0 Xd 0 O CO a a. a LO X^cn LO •“* 05 , '“' TJ G G 0 2 “ 4 ) a .33 Jr ~ca P«-a /So to 2 O o 5 w . Q. G 0 3* O O ft •- S m 0 C a 00 m w Q o =7 a § g a „ OOq o !S o l-. m U T3 2 2 < 2 "S 02 o c ww o O w W -h 3 3 w a 0 0 O**^? ft D 3 3 ”3 www£ £2 . G f-H 0 CO 0 o a C TJ O •s 6 0 i~n G ^ W a £50 Savings Certificates held in Commonwealth Bank. Audited and found correct. PRICE, 2/-. Vol. M, No, 6, September, 1953 THE Queensland Naturalist JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS' CLUB "The Poetry of Earth is never dead .” — Keats The Author of each Article is responsible for the statements expressed therein CONTENTS Page Proceedings 109 A Visit to Murray and Darnley Islands 112 Podaxis pistillaris, a Fungus Growing on Termite Mounds 120 Algal Pollution ol Surf in Southern Queens- land ...... 123 Orchids of the Mount Ballow Area 125 Book Review — ■ 126 On The Genus Taeniophyllum in Queensland 127 The Queensland Naturalists’ Club Official Journal — The Queensland Naturalist &> OFFICE-BEARERS, 1952-53 President : Dr. E. N. Marks Vice-Presidents • 'G. H. Barker, T. E. Hunt Hon. Secretary : Miss M. Hawken, 5 Kidston Street, Albion Hon. Treasurer : Miss K. Strong, Villiers Street, New Farm Hon. Librarian • Mrs. G. L. Jackson Committee : Dr. E. 0. Marks G. L. Jackson S. T. Blake K. T. Cameron Hon. Editor : A. B. Cribb. Department of Botany, University of Queensland Hon. Lanternist : W. J. Sanderson Hon. Auditor : R. E. A. Doolan SUBSCRIPTIONS : Ordinary Members 20s. per annum i Country Members 10s. per annum Junior Members 10s. per annum Joint Members (Husband & Wife) 30s, per annum MEETINGS : Evening Meetings are held at the Brisbane Women’s Club Rooms, 148 Adelaide Street, on the third Monday of every month.' Excursions are held once a month from March to December. THE QUEENSLAND NATURALIST JOURNAL OF THE QUEENSLAND NATURALISTS’ CLUB Vol. xiv. SEPTEMBER 1953 No. b PROCEEDINGS EVENING MEETING, 18th February, 1952.— The excursion on 16th February to the Shorneliffe foreshores and Sandgate lagoons was reported on by members. Mr. F. S. Colliver dealing with the geology, Mr. S. T. Blake with the botany, and Mr. G. H. Barker with the birds. Mr. Barker drew attention to the necessity of preserving the Sandgate lagoons and it was resolved “that we write to the Council protesting against any move to alienate the Sandgate lagoons from their purpose as sanctuaries of bird and animal life”. Mr. Aubrey Tucker was elected a member of the Club. The following exhibits were tabled by members : — Drawings and specimens of Squilln. the prawn killer, by Professor W. Stephenson, fossils of Thinnfeldia from Redcliffe by Dr. E. O.. Marks, a shell from Cuba by Miss D. Sandars, Portuguese stamps depicting birds by Miss E. Carrick. geological specimens including sand staligmites by Mr. F. S. Colliver, a lea ! - pointed spear and quartz pebbles by Mr. Cossar Smith, a red-flowered Castor Oil plant by Mrs. C. T. White, six specimens of the love grass, Eragrostis, by Mr. S. T. Blake, a newspaper article on mound builders in the mallee by Miss H. Clarke, flame tree seeds from Tam- bourine by Mr. H. Curtis, and native instruments from Alice Springs by Miss M. .Ilawken. EVENING MEETING, 17th March, 1952.— Mr. F. S. Colliver reported on the visit on 15th March to the Geology Department, and Miss D. Coxon spoke of the birds seen on the lagoon. Miss I). Sanders gave a lec- ture entitled “Simple Marine Biology”. The following exhibits were tabled by members : — Specimens of various marine animals by Miss D. Sandars, a specimen of the orchid Dendrobium speciosum by Miss D. Williams, a fruit bat and skeleton by Mr. Gamble, fern spores growing on no a sponge by Mr. ( 0. Dunn, orchids by Mr. T. E. Hunt, and the book “Birds of the U.S.S.R.” by Mr. G. II. Barker. EVENING MEETING, 21st April, 1952.- -The even- ing' was devoted to reports on the Easter camp at Bribie Island. Professor D. A. Herbert spoke on the botany of the area. Miss J. \Y. Herbert on the mycology, Mr. T. E. Hunt on the orchids. Dr. E. 0. Marks on the geology, Mrs. G. L. Jackson on the shells, and Mr. G. H. Barker on the birds. The following exhibits were tabled : — Flowers front Tugun by Mr. G. II. Barker, a scraper and knife from Bribie Island by Mrs. G. L. Jackson, specimens which were possibly native grinding stones by Dr. E. O. Marks, shells, fossil wood and a sea horse by Mrs. E. (). Marks, and an article in “The National Geographic. Magaine" on the rare New Zealand bird N'otornis. EVENING MEETING, 19th May, 1952.— The Presi- dent, Mr. F. S. Collivcr reported on the visit on 17th May to the pottery works at Ebbw Vale where many specimens of fossil leaves were found. Mr. G. E. Ogilvie gave a talk entitled “Ground Water and Irrigation”. Various shells were tabled by Mr. Smith of Kalbar and by Mr. .F. S. Colliver. ANNUAL MEETING, 16th June. 1952.— The Annual Report, Treasurer's Report and Librarian's Report were presented. Members reported on the visit to the property of Dr. and Mrs. E. (). Marks at Gamp Mountain. The members elected to office are as shown on the inside front cover with the exception that Mr. J. T. Woods was elected Hon. Editor. Mr. F. S. Golliver gave his Presidential address entitled “The field naturalist and his place in the community Miss E. G. Heine was elected to ordinary Membership. EVENING MEETING,, 21st July, 1952.— Members reported on the excursion to Ferny Grove on 19th July, Dr. E. O. .Marks speaking ou the geology. Miss 1). Goxon on the birds, and Mr. Smith on a star fungus. The even- ing was devoted mainly to the showing of films which were introduced by Mr. G. Mack. The following exhibits were tabled by members : — Fossil seed and scale of a pine tree from Kalbar, front tooth of a wallaby and specimens of the net fungus ( Clathriis ) and star fungus ( Aneroc rubra) by Mi. Smith, agates bv Hr. E.. O. Marks, a speci- men from Blackfellow’s Greek of the largest species of puff-ball in the world by Miss J. W. Herbert, flowers Ill collected on the Saturday excursion by Mr. R, A. Squire aud Miss K. Strong,- specimens of Perxoonm mvtchelli and Pultrnaca from Ferny Grove by Miss M. Hawken, and specimens of fossil plants by Mr. F. S. Colliver. EVENING MEETING, 18th August, 1952. — On behalf of the members who bad attended the Camp Moun- tain week-end in June Mr. F. S. Colliver presented two books to Dr, and Mrs. E. 0. Marks. Mr. L. Turnbull and Mr. A. B. Cribb were elected to ordinary member- ship. The Hon. Secretary reported on the walk from Woodbridge to Kurabv. Mr. G. II. Barker spoke of the loss sustained by the Club in the death of Mr. 0. W. Holland. Mr. 1). Wale showed a collection of slides and cave a commentary entitled “Natural History Colour Photography . The following exhibits were tabled by members : — Cuttings and illustrations of birds and flowers by Miss E. E. Baird, the book “Snakes of Australia" by Mr. G. H. Barker, seismograms of earth- quakes and cyclones by Mr. F. S. Colliver, and two old publications entitled “Australian Land Shells” (1868) and “History of the Vegetable Kingdom” (1855) by Mr. Smith. EVENING MEETING. 15th September, 1952.— Mem- bers reported on the excursion on 14th September to Ngun-ngun. Mr. F. S Colliver and Dr. E. 0. Marks com- menting on the geology. Dr. E. N. Marks on the insects, Mr. S. T. Blake on the botany, and Miss M. Hawken on the birds. The following were among the exhibits tabled by members : — Puff-balls and egg sack of a spider by Mr. Smith, radio-active ores from Rum Jungle and a Geiger counter by Mr. F. S. Colliver, specimens of trachyte and two shells from North West Island by Dr. E. O. Marks, and the skin of a flying squirrel by Mrs. Gamble. EVENING MEETING, 20th October, 1952.— Mr. J. McQueen and Miss Rita Andrew were elected members of the Club. Dr. E. N. Marks reported on the excursion fiom Mt. Coot-tha to Bardon, and Mr. F. S. Colliver and Miss M. Hawken spoke of the geology and birds respec- tively. Films dealing with wild flowers, turtles on the Barrier Reef, Lyre birds, and birds in Arnhem Land were shown by Dr. S. Poe and Mr. G. Mack. The follow- ing were some of the numerous exhibits tabled by mem- bers : — Bird nests from Tambourine and a vine embedded in a tree trunk by Mrs. H. Curtis, a type of limestone from Mt. Gam bier which could be sawn and used for 112 building purposes by Dr. E. 0. Marks, and orchids by Miss D. Williams. EVENING MEETING, 17th November, 19, '>2. — The resignation of Mr. J. T. Woods from the editorship of “The Queensland Naturalist'’ was accepted with regret. Dr. Ian Hiscock and Mr. and Mrs. D. Wale were elected members of the club. The President reported that sixty members attended the excursion on 16th November to Mr. David Fleay's Fauna Sanctuary at West Burleigh. After discussion it was decided that “Proceedings’’ be rein- stated in “The Queensland Naturalist’. The President, Dr. E. N. Marks gave a lecture on her visit to Murray and Darn ley Islands and Dr. Dorothy Hill spoke of the marine biology of the Torres Strait Islands. The follow- ing were among the exhibits tabled by members : — Shells from Grafton by Miss E. E. Baird, pressed flowers from Western Australia by Mr. A. Tucker, a specimen of Pithecolobinm inosum by Miss D. Williams, fossil and pre- sent-day skulls and teeth of lung fish by Mr. F. S. Colliver, and snail shells from Tambourine by Mrs. G. L. Jackson. Slipper was served after the meeting. A VISIT TO MURRAY AND DARNLEY ISLANDS ELIZABETH N. MARKS In mid-June, 1952, Dr. M. J. Mackerras and I were sent to help investigate malaria epidemics on Murray and Darnley Islands in the Torres Straits. Several famous scientific expeditions have visited these islands, and some popular authors have written about them, but they are probably as little known to most people as they were to me when I went there. All the islands of Torres Straits, including several within a few miles of the New Guinea coast, are part of the State of Queensland. They fall naturally into three groups, the Western, Central and Eastern Islands. The Western Islands lie in a broad band running north from Cape York Peninsula to New Guinea. They are, in fact, part of the backbone of Australia and the same types of ancient granitic rocks are found on the Penin- sula and in these islands (some of which are quite large and mountainous) and at Mabudauan Hill in southern New Guinea. Thursday Island, from which we set out in a launch, is one of the smallest and least fertile of them. It was chosen for the government settlement on account of its sheltered, deep-water anchorage. 113 We passed quite close to several of the Central Is- lands, which comprise a large number of coral sand eays not rising more than about fifteen feet above the sea. Coconut palms grow abundantly on many of them and some of the bigger islands are inhabited. After eighteen hours in the launch we reached Darnley Island, the largest of the Eastern group, 125 miles north-east of Thursday Island and about 60 miles from New Guinea. The Murray Islands (Mer, Dauar and Waier) lie 30 miles to the south-east, and the north- ern tip of the Great Barrier Reef passes about four miles east of Mer. Fig. 2 ig. 1 — Medigee bay and village, ig. 2 — A village on Mer. g. 3 — Darnley I. beau at the bazaar, g. 4 — Coral bird. Dauar. (Photo- graphed by R. V. Miles.) Fig. 3 Fig. 4 114 .The Eastern islands are high rocky islands of much more recent origin than the Western group. They are composed of volcanic rocks — basalt and stratified basal- tic tuff (volcanic ash) which has been deposited after an eruption. The tuff layers lie in various attitudes, in some place due to their position of deposition on the sides of the volcanic cone, in others possibly due to pushing lip by the extrusion through them of basaltic lava. The layers of tuff vary in texture from fine sand to coarse agglomerate containing lumps of basaltic glass and pieces of fossil eoral up to the size of a football. The coral has been altered in the process, but amongst specimens I collected. Dr. D. Hill was able to identify two species, both of which are still growing to-day on the reefs in the vicinity. It seems probable, therefore, that the eruption which formed these islands took place after the Barrier Reef had begun to form , and they re- present Queensland’s most recent volcanoes, though there is no record of their activity in historical times. The Murray Islands are composed largely of tuff. On Mer, which is about a mile and three-quarters long and a mile wide, the land rises steeply from close to the shore. The highest point is the bill Gelain, 750 feet high, at the southern end of the island (Gelam was a legendary dugong) . The strata which form this rim of tuff everywhere dip outwards towards the shore and within the rim is the crater of an extinct volcano, now a valley of rich red basaltic soil. To the north-east the lava, flow has breached the rim and basalt rocks occur down to the shoreline. Danar has two hills with a fer- tile saddle between. Waier is almost entirely bare rock and is uninhabited. Darnley Island is about two and one quarter miles long and one and one-quarter miles wide and from ail sides it slopes up gradually to a central hill 610 feet high. The island is almost entirely composed of basalt, but on the northwest shore there is an outcrop of tuff and the basalt can be seen overlying it. The sea has cut the tuff cliffs back, forming a flat wave platform about 15 feet wide, very pleasant to walk along. The tuff does not produce very good soil, but the red soils from the basalt are exceedingly fertile. On both Mer and Darnley the upper slopes of the hills are bare of trees and covered with thick, tall kunai grass. Trees grow along the watercourses and closer to the shore. Apparently Mer at least was originally clothed with open forest, but a boat-building industry estab- 115 lishecl by the missionaries there in the ’eighties con- sumed most of its trees and the forests have not regen- erated, perhaps because the grassy hillsides are fired each year. We were told there are snakes and lizards on the islands we visited, but saw only geckos, which squeaked about the house. Birds were not particularly numer- ous, the most frequently seen being the bright little sun-bird. There was a tame white reef heron on Darn- ley and we saw the skins of two pelicans hanging in a shed. The butterfly fauna is reported to show affinities with New Guinea rather than Australia. The mosquito species were few but interesting. Anopheles farauti was responsible for the malaria epidemics. A new undescribed species of Aedes was found breeding in treeholes on Darnley. Another species collected there has been recorded only from New Guinea, but until more is known of the mosquitoes of Cape York this can- not be taken as evidence that the fauna originated from New Guinea. The natives of the Torres Straits are of Western Papuan origin, intelligent, dark-skinned people with fuzzy hair and fine physique. Linguistically they be- long to two groups — the Eastern islanders whose langu- age, though distinct, has affinities with those in the neighbouring parts ol‘ New Guinea, and the Western islanders whose language is allied to those of aboriginal tribes on Cape York. An explanation of the latter situation is a gtadual penetration of these islands by the Papuan stock, who acquired the language of previ- ous aboriginal inhabitants before replacing them entirely. The Murray Islands arc off the usual shipping routes in the Straits and the natives have maintained a relatively pure stock. All estimates of the population at various dates since 1802 have been in the vicinity of 400 or higher — the most recent is 460 on Mer and 100 on Dauar. Darnley Island was frequently visited by pearlers and beche-de-mer fishers, who employed south- sea island labour and native missionaries from Loyalty Island intermarried with the islanders. In 1888 there was a population of 76 Darnley natives and 74 south- sea islanders, so that present population of about 290 is of rather mixed origin. For example, we spoke to individuals whose mother, father or grandfather had come from Cape York (aboriginal), Solomons, Philip- pines Rotuma (Polynesia), Jamaica (negro). The islands of Torres Straits are administered by 116 The Department of Native Affairs at Thursday Island. Many of them, including Darnley and Murray Islands, are native reserves, and the only white people allowed to live on them are a school teacher, when available, and his family. The local affairs of each island are in the iiauds 01 three councillors elected by the natives them- selve,.-., and a native police sergeant and constables see that the la s ate obeyed. The Chairman of the council is t.,e head man of the island. Another important per- sonage is rue Branch Manager, in charge of the island’s general store and of the wireless transceiver on which daily conversations are held with the Department at Thursday Island. There are native school teachers and a nurse and a male medical orderly. Many of the is- land’s men go away on seasonal work, as divers or sea- men on the pearling luggers or government launches, as carpenters or labourers on Thursday Island, or even as cane-cutters to North Queensland. Some have their own small boats. Outside the store is a social meeting place, as only a couple of shoppers are admitted at a time. The women and girls wear loose, printed cotton dresses (some hare their own sewing machines). The usual garb of men and boys is a bright coloured lava-lava with a cotton singlet. The captain of Mer's lugger, ‘Adiana, in which we sailed over to Dauar, wore a scar- let singlet and lava-lava. The Chairman, who went with us, had a white singlet and pink lava-lava with a wide multi-coloured crochet border down its front edge. Under the lava-lava they wear a pair of short, white pants with bright flowers embroidered on the legs, which also have a coloured crochet border. The lava- lava, at first sight a cumberstome garment, can be quickly girded up to a length suited to the .job in hand. The islanders arc* cheerful, courteous people and there is a strong bond of affection between members of a family. A ten-year-old boy patient was brought back on the lugger from Dauar to Her for treatment, and liis parents and six brothers and sisters accompanied him. The people of Mer are great gardeners and each family has its unfenced plot on the fertile soil over the hill, often quite a distance from the villages which are clustered along the northwest shore of the island. They grow bananas, pawpaws, cassava, many varieties of yams, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, maize and sugar cane. Every coconut palm on the island belongs to someone. A happy sight was a family returning home laden from 117 their garden, flowers stuck in their hair, father with a palm-leaf basket of yams and a bunch of bananas slung from a bamboo pole across his shoulder, mother with a basket of pawpaws and children with sticks of sugar cane. Some people keep pigs, which are housed in bamboo sties and fed on young coconuts, and some have game fowls. Both are probably only eaten on festive occasions. W* saw one goat tethered and there were numerous dogs which seemed to live mainly on sardines washed, up on the beach. Along the shore in front of the villages is a fring- ing reef about 100 yards wide. When the tide is low the water is often black with small fish about six inches long — so-called sardines. The younger members of the family take bamboo spears with about a dozen prongs the size of large nails bound to one end, plus an enamel wash basin, and wade out amongst the fish. Almost every cast of the spear yeilds several fish, which are transferred to the basin floating on the water beside the fisher. Fresh fried sardines make a delicious dish. Sometimes sharks come swimming in over the reef after the sardines, but they and the natives do not molest each other and there are enough sardines for all. The reef on the east shore of Mer is famous for its corals, but we did not have an opportunity to visit it at a suitable tide. Running out from the north and east shores of Mer in a series of huge ► loops arc banks, about three feet high, of loosely piled basalt boulders. These are ancient fish traps, built in some past era and still used during the monsoon season. There are similar traps at Darnley. The only other relic of ancient times that we saw was on Dauar. The natives had recently found, buried in the sand, a huge white bird skilfully carved from a niggerhead of Porites coral, and had placed it near one of their wells.. The head was missing but the well-shaped body (about 2ft. bin. high), in spite of some weather- ing, showed firm carving of wings and tail feathers, a crescentic necklet baud and a broad line down its back. They did not know its history — ‘‘God belong olden time, not of our people”. Jt may represent the Torres Straits pigeon of which smaller carved figures have been described from other islands. There is nothing in accounts of their folk-lore and former customs that seems referable to this figure. The houses of Mer are set on stumps three or four feet high. The framework is of bamboo, the floor of split bamboo, the walls of plaited coconut palm-leaf and 118 the roof of grass thatch. There is often a verandah at either or both front and back. Doors are of planks from packing cases, and windows may have wooden shutters. Sometimes there are partitions inside to form two or three rooms. The original island houses were round and this type was introduced by the missionaries. The usual bed is a woven coconut leaf mat that can be rolled up when not in use. One might pass a patient going home from hospital with his bed in a roll over his shoulder. Apart from sleeping and storage of belongings, the inside of the house is not greatly used. Cooking and other domestic jobs are done in outside sheds of bamboo and thatch, and meals may be eaten on the verandah. Most households have a pressure lamp for illumination. A low line of stones marks the boundary to each property and the yards are kept swept and tidy. There is beauty and peacefulness in these villages set just above the beach amongst tall coconut palms with here and there a Pandanus or a spreading lig tree. Poinciavn trees grow in profusion near at hand and must be a wonderful sight when in flower. Darnlev villages are more sophisticated and less picturesque. Nearly every house has at least a sheet or two of galvanised iron somewhere about it. They are built on a series of little bays along the south side of the island. Into another bay beyond the furthest village runs a small creek. This watercourse is typical of those on both islands with dense vegetation along its banks, part regrowth after clearing and part natural— bananas, mangroves, clumps of bamboo, taro, conjevoi, various rain forest trees, palms and vines, with Pandanus and man- groves near the beach. Though the lowest reaches of the stream are salt, there is no direct communication with the sea. from which it is cut off by a high bank of sand. A unique feature of this particular watercourse is a clump of sago palms, said to be the only ones of the Torres Straits islands. McGillivray, who saw them about 1846. was told they had been introduced from New Guinea “many years ago. ’ ’ 1 he islanders are Anglicans and keen churchgoers. Those on Mer have their own native parson and on Barnley have lay-readers. I have never before heard hymns sung with so much enthusiasm. The churches are pleasant buildings of lime-washed coral cement with the font a giant clam shell. The first missionaries (London Missionary Society) to come to the forces Straits landed on Darnley Island 119 on 1st July, 1871. The anniversary is celebrated throughout the islands as a holy day, and on Dander there is a pilgrimage to the monument at the site of the landing. The day following is a feast day. We were on Darn ley for this occasion and received written invita- tions 1 -oin the Chairman “for tea, bazaar and dance". These were hold on a flat grassy area between shore and hill just beside the church. At the end and part way along one side of the field were palm-leaf and thatch shelter surds. The Chairman, Tat Thaidav, who was an excellent host, met ns on arrival about :i p.m., and led us to the end shelter where we were seated on benches at Hibiscus-decked tables laden with food. For such special occasions the housewives bring out their best, china, good quality English ware in pleasing designs. The people sang a special Grace in their own language and the feast began. Highlight of it was sop-sop, a rich and delicious native dish made of chopped pumpkin, yam and sweet potato soaked m coconut milk, wrapped in green banana leaves and baked. This was accompanied by pork cooked in small pieces, and followed by rice custard and cakes. There were numerous cups of tea and several speeches. We then moved out to inspect the bazaar stalls set up on the green, and run by the Mothers’ Union and the Widows’ Guild. Three small trees had been erected and attractively decorated with whorls of palm-leaf. Wares included baskets of yams, bananas, saporas (native limes), dresses, blouses, children's clothes, embroidered handker- chiefs, woven mats and baskets. It was the direct descendant of an English village fete with real fete prices. We .returned to the scene about 8 p.m. Small children had been put to sleep on mats at the back of the shelters within call of their mothers, who with the rest of the population were seated round the edges of the green. The dancing area was lit by pressure lamps. Two teams of twelve men competed in the dancing and each team came on in turn, accompanied by their own drummer and chorus, who provided the music. The dancers them- selves sang also whilst performing strenuous manoeuvres and sometimes shook rattles of goa nuts; their rhythm and timing were impressive. Comedy was provided by several respectable-looking matrons who might hold a lantern in front of a favoured performer, or prance be- side him caricaturing his actions, or, highest tribute of all, rush in and sliakp a tin of baby powder over him. while he continued solemnly performing the dance. 120 Though the circumstances that caused our visit were unfortunate, we could not hut appreciate the opportunity it gave to become acquainted with these fine fellow- Queenslanders and to see something of their interesting islands. It was good to be able to help them. I have far more understanding now of the far-flung responsi- bilities of our State government and of the way’ in which it looks after the islands of the Torres Straits. PODAXIS PISTILLARIS, A FUNGUS GROWING ON TERMITE MOUNDS ■I. W. HERBERT In many districts in the neighbourhood of Brisbane, as well as in other parts of Queensland and the Common- wealth, mounds of the termite Eutermes magniis Smith are very common. If the termitaria of such a district, for example Fernvale on the Ipswieh-Esk road, are care- fully searched at almost any time of the year, fruiting- bodies of Podaxis pistillaris (Linn.) Morse will almost certainly be found on some of them. This fungus belongs to the Tulostomataceae, i.e., it is oim of the stalked puffballs. As may be seen from the accompanying photographs, the fructification consists of a stout woody stalk bearing at the apex an oval peridium, which contains the spore mass and through which the stalk continues as a columella. The species shows great variation in colour and size; it may be whitish, brown or purple and ranges from two to twenty inches in height. The largest specimen of which the writer can find record is the one shown on the right in fig. 2, which was twenty inches in height ; this would have been taller when fresh, as the specimen has a broken tip. This puffball is a species of world-wide distribution, found in most places growing in the ground in dry regions; it is not uncommon in Western Queensland, and has been collected in such places as Blackall, Maxweitou, Dalby and Charters Towers. These specimens are usually not more than about six inches tall. The same fungus is, however, common on the termitaria in moister regions, and produces much larger fruiting-bodies (up to twenty inches). In these moister districts, it is not found in the ground. In South America, an agaricacoous fungus, Rozites gongylophora, is cultivated by a species of the ant A ttn ; this ant deliberately grows the fungus within its mound 12! Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 1 — Immature specimens of Podaxis pistillaris. Fig. 2 — Stipe and columella of two old specimens of Pod ax is pistil la ris . and uses the mycelium to feed its larvae. It has been reported by Cheo that termites in Yunnan province of China cultivate two fungi. Kylaria sp. and CoUybia albuminosa, in the combs. It was. therefore, suspected that Euterm.es nuujnus might cultivate Podaxis pistillaris. and some investigations were made at Femvale. A typical termitarium bearing fruiting-bodies of the fungus was broken open and examined. The mound, about three feet high and five and a half feet in diameter, was found to be completely penetrated by the fungus. Fungal mycelium could be seen as nodules within the walls of the galleries, and being white was easily detected with the naked eye ; microscopic examination showed that single hvphae also were running through the walls. In 122 examining the material microscopically, the mount was stained with cotton blue, so that the mycelium, which takes up the stain, was readily distinguished. Mounts were also made of material from the surface of the gallery walls; this material also took up the blue stain, but no fungal hyphae could be discerned, and there seemed to be present only remains of the cellulosic matter eaten by the termites. This fact suggested that probably the fungus was not used by the termite. A further reason for concluding that the white ant does not feed on the fungus is the fact that fruiting- bodies arc produced on fully inhabited termitaria. In the case of the fungi mentioned above as being cultivated, fructifications are found only on deserted mounds; the eating' of the mycelium by the insects prevents the fungus from fruiting. There are several obvious advantages for a fungus growing in such a position. These are : — 1. A constant supply of organic material. The wood and other plant matter used by the termite provides an abundant and constant source of humus for the fungus. 2. Lack of competition. No other large fungi are known here, which occupy this particular habitat. The writer has seen a group of specimens of Oea&trwm triple % grow- ing at the base of a mound which had Pod-axis growing in it, but it was not thought that the earth-star was grow- ing in the mound in the same way. A number of wood- rotting and wood-inhabiting fungi, including a number of Fungi Imperfect i and Pbyeornycetes, have been found associated with termites in the wood they attack; the situation in this case appears to be somewhat different, although further research is necessary before it can be known whether the association is of benefit to either organism, or whether it is merely due to the occupation of the same position by the two. 3. Adequate water relations. In dry weather the water supply in the mound may be higher than in the surrounding dry ground, and suffficient for survival of the fungus. It is, however, a well-drained position, and waterlogging cannot normally occur. The dry weather water supply in the mound, although adequate to maintain life, is not enough to initiate fruiting in the fungus. Fruiting occurs only after additional water, usually in the form of rain, has been supplied. When effective rain has fallen, the 123 fruiting-bodies are produced rapidly; the fructifications shown in fig. 1 were collected five days after rain had fallen in a previously dry district; the largest of them was then more than nine inches tall. It is not clear why this particular species of fungus grows in this unusual position. It is found on mounds of termites other than Eutermcs magnus ; Podaxis is reported to be quite common on termite mounds in South Africa, where E. magnus is unknown, but the writer has not been able to find out which species is involved in that country. Obviously nutritional factors are of importance, hut the significant factors involved in the association are not yet known. The fact that the fungus grows readily in s'oil indicates that it is not quite dependent on materials obtainable from the mound ; however, the very obvious difference in size' of the fruit- ing-bodies from those found in the termite mound suggests that there is some factor supplied in that habitat which is not otherwise obtainable. Perhaps at some later date physiological and nutritional studies of the fungus will be made, and will enlighten us as to the nature of this factor. ALGAL POLLUTION OF SURF JN SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND A. B. CRIBB From time to time bathers and fishermen on some South Queensland surfing beaches are troubled by heavy pollution of the surf by algae, popularly referred to as “mo-s", “slime" or “weed". Heavy pollution may give the surf a dirty and unattractive appearance and fi be ■ men are inconvenienced when the “moss" becomes caught on lines and quickly accumulates at sinkers and hooks, making fishing almost useless at times. There appeal' to be only two main species causing trouble in this way. though after storms the surf may contain a variety of both large and small algae torn away from rocky substrata. One of these two algae occurs in the form of small brown or fawn-coloured irregular flakes varying in size from a few mm. to about 5 cm. in diameter. When exceptionally heavy pollution occurs, as it did on some days during the 1952 Christmas period, tin 1 alga may give the water a distinctly brownish tint when seen from 124 a distance, and though usually well distributed through- out the surf there are sometimes patches where the weed reaches exceptional density making the water almost soupy. As the tide recedes, quantities of the flakes left, on the sand are rolled by wave action into small tubes which eventually collapse as they dry out. An examination of the flakes showed them to be Colpornenia simosa (Roth) Derbes and Solier. This is an alga which occurs commonly in the Nerang River and Moreton Bay, where it grows attached to rocks, oysters and the sea-grass Zostera marina Hooker forming irre- gularly rounded gas filled bladders sometimes up to 6 inches in diameter. Since the species grows rarely or not at all on rocks exposed to the surf it seems very probable that the mater ial causing the nuisance, at least on the Southport and adjacent surfing beaches, reaches the surf via the bar of the Nerang River from the Nerang River estuary and the southern end of Moreton Bay. This suggestion receives added weight from the pres- ence on the surf beaches, during periods of heavy pollu- tion, of large clumps of Zosicra marina, pieces of Halo- phila spinulosa Bentham and other debris which could originate only in an estuarine locality and are not usually found iu such quantity on the surfing beaches. Another species sometimes found with the Colpo- menia in the siirf is Microdictyon nmbiliratnni (Velley) Zanardini also occurring in flakes hut differing from the Colpornenia in being in the form of a very fine creen network just discernible with the naked eve. Though quite common, this species is present in only negligible quantities compared with the Colpornenia amt It pi am* an insignificant part in the pollution. Like Colpornenia it, is a species found commonly in the Nerang River estuary where it is often associated with Zostera marina. The other species of importance in these poll-tions is a. green alga Enterom-orplia plumosa Kuetzing. During the 1952 Christmas period this was of less importance than Colpornenia but at times it has been known to H solelv responsible for very heavy pollutions. Tf occurs as small light green flaccid wisps 0.5-3 cm kmg. T>e much branched filaments are capillary throughout consist- ing of up to six rows of cells near the base but ending in a delicate tip of a single row of cells. Enteromorpha is a common weed on some surf-swept rocks on the South Queensland coast, but the species 125 found in such habitats are not the one causing a nuisance in the stirf. Like the Colpomenia this latter species may originate in estuarine localities, though a brief search of the Nerang River estuary during the pollution of Christ- mas, 1952, revealed no sign of any attached plants and further observations will be necessary to determine the source of the infestation. ORCHIDS OF THE MOUNT BALLOW AREA T. E. HUNT The following species were noted during the Easter Camp, 1953 : — Thelymitra sp., *ChilogloiUs reflexa (Labill.) Druce, *Acianthus fornieatus R.Br., *Caktrienia alba R.Br., *Pterostylis obtusa R.Br., *P. nutans R.Br., *P. baptist ii Fitzg., *8piranthe& sinensis (Pers.) Ames, *Liparis reflexa (R.Br.) Lindl., Calanthe veratrifolia R.Br., Dendrobiuni acmulum R.Br., I). gracilicaule F. Muell., D. kingianum Bidw., D. linguiforme Sw., I), monophyllum F. Muell., D. speciosum Sm.. />. teretifolium R.Br., Bulboph ijllum aurantiacurn F. Muell., *B. exiguum F. Muell B. elisae (F. Muell.) Bentli., Dipodium punctatum (Sm.) R.Br., Sareanthus tridentatus (Lindl.) Rupp, Bhinerrhiza divitiflora (F. Muell.) Rupp, Sarcochilus falfcatus R.Br., B. eeciliae F. Muell.. and two or tln-ee further Sarcanthinae unidentifiable with- out flowers. Only those marked * were in flower. This list by no means exhausts the known orchid flora of the area. The autumn is not a very good time of the year for orchids in the south of Queensland as few of the epiphytes are in bloom and most of the terres- trials are either completely dormant and below ground or just producing their first leaves. The area comprises rain-forest open forest, rocky hillsides, grassy ridges, and creek flats, and orchids are to be found in all of them. Perhaps the most interest- ing small area near the camp was the rocky cliff beside the swimming hole. On its face were colonies of Liparis reflexa, Dendrobium speciosum, I), linguiforme, and Sarcochilus eeciliae; while the crevices and upper edges carried D. kingianum, Pterostylis nutans, P. obtusa, Acianthus fornieatus, Chiloglottis reflexa, and the young leaves of Thelymitra sp. .VII of the orchids noted have a wide distribution 126 through the coastal plain and adjacent mountain areas. M'embei s 'might remember seeing Pterostylis baptistii and P. nutans flourishing in large colonies on Bribie Island when we camped there last Easter — the latter species o ten nodding to the waves only a matter of inches away. BOOK REVIEW THE FIDDLER OF THE GORGE, by Robert A. Monterieff (8/6), \\ l’itten by an evident lover of animals and wild !iie generally, the book consists of three preliminary short stories and the longer story of the title. Although the attributes shown by animals might be considered too human, thus lending unreality to the narrative, yet the purpose is plain, i.e., to further the idea for humane treatment of animals, both wild and domesticated. The “Fiddler" of the title is a hermit, devoted to the study of wild life and the music of his chosen instru- ment, the violin, which latter, by the way, he makes him- self. The story tells very dramatically of his influence (through music, plus personality) over the wild creatures, both annual and human, of the district portrayed. A very readable book for naturalists. E. M. Jackson. ERRATA Attention is drawn to the following errors in “The Queensland Naturalist”, Vol. 14, No. 5. R. 15, lines 18-19, read — red in the White-naped GV. lunatus) and greyish in the white throated (M. albogularis) . Pagination of the number should be 89-108. 127 ON THE GENUS T AENIOPH YLLUM IN QUEENSLAND T. E. HUNT One of the best ways of locating epiphytic orchids is to watch for their greenish-white roots which generally show up quite plainly against the darker background of the Imtk of the host. This procedure is essential if the quarry happens to he Tiieiiiophyllum, as the members of this genus — the Australian ones anyway — have little else but roots, the stem being modified to less than pinhead size and the solitary leaf on the species which has a leaf is also very minute. The plants generally grow in colonies on tin' bark of trees on the margins of scrubs, on the twigs of shrubs including Lantana, and on vines. Each plant has half-a-dozen or so greenish-white roots about two inches long which radiate from the central point formed by the minute stem. From this point come the racemes of small, white, bell-shaped flowers which open one at a time so that as each flower lasts for more than a week the plant carries flowers for a considerable period. Until a few years ago the only species known was T. mncUcfi which was recorded from the north of New South Wales along the coastal belt to the far north of Queens- land. In 1946 the writer received from Mr. Jack Wilkie of Habinda five plants of Taeitiophyllum. Two of these were T. mudleri but tin 1 others were obviously unnamed species which were subsequently named T. wilkianum and T. ey mbiforme. Superficially all three species look alike, hut even though the flowers are only 2 mm. -3 mm. long, they can easily be separated by looking at the labellum with an ordinary lens. When describing T. rymbiforme the writer expressed the opinion that the new species might not be uncommon because unless the plants are in flower and the flowers are examined closely they could easily be passed over as the well-known T. muelleri, more especially as they apparently sometimes grow together. Since then, T. cyiubiformc has been recorded from several places in the far north. Now, however, comes the most interesting collection of the lot and the occasion for this note. Recently one specimen amongst a collection of plants of Taeniophyllum which had arrived from Mr. David Hockings of Wnnburra, 128 near Mudgeeraba, flowered in the ■writer’s glass house and proved to be T. cyrnbiforme — a jump of a thousand miles south ! This means that that species probably occurs throughout the range of T. muelleri and also suggests that possibly T. w'ilManum does likewise, and finally that there are quite likely to be further discoveries made in this most interesting genus. Of the remaining three plants of this collection, two have produced buds which develop until they are almost ready to expand, then wither and fall. This could be the result of a changed environment, and the recent spell of very cold weather could be blamed were it not for the fact that their native habitat is much colder in winter ~ N than Ipswich is. However, there are still some unde- veloped buds which may open later on. The third plant is more interesting. It, too, refused to open its buds, but before the segments withered the ovaries began to swell and now there are two well developed capsules so that it appears that the genus is capable of producing cleistcgamous flowers. Such flowers are not uncommon amongst the terrestrial orchids, but for some reason or other they are rare among the epiphytes. The following references and key might be useful to those interested — T. muelleri Lindl. ex Bentli. FI. Austral. »i, 291 (1873) : P. M. Bail. Queens! . FI. v. 1557 (1902) with plate; Rupp Orel). N.S. Wales, 131 (1943i. Leafless, label lum bi-lobed. T. wilkianum Hunt in N. Queend. Nat. xiv, 3 (Sept., 1946). Solitary leaf small, narrow, fleshy; label! mn entire. T. cyrnbiforme Hunt ibid xiv, 20 (March, 1947), Leafless; label l um shaped in front like the prow of a canoe with a long recurved point.