“ THE JOURNAL OF
THE TASMANIAN

FIELD NATURALISTS
CLUB

Vol.

Februar
Hobart

Contents

Page

Fossil Forest at Macquarie Plains, Maxwell R. Banks . i

Recent Records of Tas. Flowering Plants, Winifred M. Curtis 12

Two New Waders in Tasmania, Leonard E. Wall . 16

Safety Cove's Geological Story, Edmund D. Gill . 19

Flora of Safety Cove, J. H. Willis . 23

Brief History of Tas. Field Naturalists' Club, L. E. Wall .. 33

Jubilee Camp, Safety Cove, general account . 37

Boronia citriodora, Kelsey Aves . 40

Club Review, 1954 . 41

Notes on Franklin Route, J. S. Luckman . 42

Wild Birds as Companions, H. Boss-Walker . 45

Illustrations by John Hassankan.

THE TASMANIAN NATURALIST

Journal of the Tasmanian Field Naturalist’s Club, Hobart

New Series—Vol. II. February, 1955. No. 3.

Tertiary Fossil Forest at
Macquarie Plains

By Maxwell R. Banks,

University of Tasmania.

ABSTRACT

A T Macquarie Plains, Tasmania, cliff and road exposures in a youth-
1 ful landscape show that at least nine eruptions of basalt or
basaltic tuff occurred in the area late in the Tertiary. Fossil wood
is found on two horizons, the higher occurrence being that of opalized
trees (Cupressinoxylon hookeri and others) in a coarse tuff in position
of growth, forming part of a fossil forest.

INTRODUCTION

Quarrying operations on the Dobson Highway, half a mile east
of Macquarie Plains Railway Station, recently revealed a number of
opalized trees in breccia and tuff. Opalized trees were first discovered
in the Macquarie Plains area by Mr. R. Barker, of the original “ Rose
Garland ” property, before 1842, and were reported on by Joseph Hooker
(1842), surgeon on H.M.S. “Erebus”. Several years later Strzelecki
(1845) recorded more observations, including those of moulds of trees
in basalt and of at least two basalt flows. Moore (1853) also noted
them but added no fresh observations. Strangely enough, Johnston
makes no comment on them in his “ Systematic Account of the Geology of
Tasmania” (1888) except to record Hooker's and Moore's papers. The
trees seem to have been rediscovered several times since, judging from
local comment.

The “ Barker Tree ” was sent to the Great Exhibition at the Crystal
Palace in 1851, after which it was donated to the British Museum of
Natural History. This specimen was described by Arber, in 1904,
who noted that it was nine feet long by three feet wide.

2319

The latest rediscovery was brought to the attention of the author
by a report received from Sir Rupert Shoobridge of a piece shown to
him by Mr. L. G. Martin, of Macquarie Plains. Since then many
people have collected from the cutting, including Mr. F. A. Peterson,
who collected a piece of wood 15 in. long, and about 7 in. in diameter,
which he donated to the Tasmanian Museum in 1954.

The author wishes to acknowledge with many thanks the assistance
of Miss E. M. Smith, of the Geology Department, who looked up the
old literature, and of Mr. A. H. Spry, of the same department, for
assistance in the field.

PHYSIOGRAPHIC NOTES

This area is of considerable physiographic interest, as some of the
post-basaltic history of the River Derwent can be read here. The higher
hills to the north-east and the south-west with gentle to steep slopes
cut in Permian and Triassic rocks or dolerite contrast with the lower
areas of steep cliffs of basalt, giving way sharply to the flat plains of
the Tertiary lake sediments or river alluvium near the rivers.

The main drainage in the area is the Derwent River, with
the Styx River joining it just below Macquarie Plains railway station.
The valley of the Derwent is narrow and steeply-cliffed with only
occasional flat areas of deposition at or just above present river level.
There are numerous insequent tributaries in the Tertiary basalts and
lake sediments. Thus the Derwent River here is high in a local valley
tract. Fine slipoff and undercut slopes are shown by the Derwent,
especially beside the Lyell Highway near Gretna. A preliminary
stage in the development of an undercut slope is frequently the
formation of landslides where basalt with well-developed vertical joint¬
ing overlies soft Tertiary sands and clays. These landslides may be
seen very well in the cliff facing the Dobson Highway half a mile
north of Macquarie Plains Railway Station and in Lands Dept, photo
Ellendale, Run 8, No. 24154. Rapids are present near the Lyell
Highway and at other places along the Derwent so that the river has
locally not reached maturity. Although the general course and valley
of the Derwent here strongly suggest Incised meanders, the straightness
of parts of the river, as at Macquarie Plains where it flows straight
south-westerly for a mile, is an anomaly.

The valley of the Styx River around Bushy Park and Macquarie
Plains is wide and flat arid is a local plains tract mainly developed on
Tertiary lake sediments. The course of the river is very meandrine,
and at least one ox-bow lake has been formed. Some deposition appears
to be taking place on the inner curves of the meanders now and the
stream is usually aggrading in this area. Two terraces can be seen in
the valley around Bushy Park, one 6-10 ft. above stream level and the

2

other about 20 ft. above the first. The slope from the higher one
to the lower is still very sharp, suggesting that the last is of no great
antiquity. The top terrace is not much dissected either, and it is there¬
fore probably not very old.

The hills of basalt are frequently terraced due to the superior
resistance to erosion of the lava flows as compared to the tuffs or
lake sediments. The original surface of the lava plain is probably
exposed on top of the hills as suggested by the accordance of the levels
of the tops of the hills for some miles up and down the stream. Because
part of the original surface still remains, the topography is considered
to be still youthful.

The history of the Derwent and its tributaries in this area has been
briefly treated by Edwards (1939, p. 193) and the following is a con¬
siderable amplification with some differences. After the eruption of
the last lava flow we may envisage the area as consisting of wide
basalt plains between steep hills of older rocks. The Styx entered this
plain from the hills several miles south-west of Glenora railway station
and flowed along the south-eastern margin of the plain for about four
miles before turning sharply to the south-east, where it continued to
flow along the junction between the basalt and the older rocks to join
the Derwent near Macquarie Plains. Due probably to pre-basaltic
erosion, the Tertiary lake sediments were higher on the south-western
side of the old Derwent Valley, so that the basaltic cover was thinner
and the Styx River cut through the basaltic plain to the lake sediments
more quickly than the Derwent itself and was thus able to develop
a local plains tract. The Derwent immediately after the eruption of
the last basalt flow meandered along the north-eastern side of the
plain till it reached the resistant dolerite spur near “ Rose Garland ”
where it swung sharply to the south-west and flowed right across the
plain until it impinged on the south-western margin where it swung
back across the plain. The Derwent has since cut down into the plain
incising the meanders. A time of still-stand in base level was respon¬
sible for the development of the 30 ft. terrace. A later reduction
in base-level was responsible for the 6 ft. terrace.

In the future, due to the enlargement of the meanders, the Derwent
is likely to cut through the narrow divide just north of Bushy Park
to join the Styx, leaving several miles of the Derwent course as a
large ox-bow lagoon.

STRATIGRAPHY

The succession of the rocks in the immediate vicinity of the fossil
forest is summarised as fig. 1 and the position of the sections is shown
on the map, fig. 2, which also shows a general sketch map of the geology
and physiography of the surrounding areas.

3

TERTIARY LAKE SEDIMENTS .—'The only previous author to
remark on the lake sediments has been Johnston (1888), who described
briefly fossiliferous lignites and clays from near the junction of the
Styx and Derwent Rivers. In the same publication he mentioned clays
with leaf and fruit impressions from a road cutting near Glenora and
figured some of the leaves. The probable locality of this find is indicated
on the map.

Lake sediments are also exposed in the banks of the Derwent in
a number of places. The most northerly occurrence examined showed a
cause conglomerate near river level and this is overlain by a feld-
spathic sandstone. The conglomerate is about 6 ft. thick and is poorly
sorted with rounded to sub-rounded boulders of dolerite, quartz and
quartzite. Basalt was looked for but not found. Although some boulders
had a high sphericity, many of them were discoidal or flattish in shape,
and there were signs of imbrication, indicating currents from the west
or a west facing shingle beach. The latter hypothesis is preferred but
no positive evidence on the subject can be given. The conglomerate is
overlain by a friable brownish-yellow to dark-brown feldspathic sand¬
stone. The sandstone is medium-grained with good sorting and sub-
angular to sub-rounded grains. It contains quartz, weathered feldspar
and white mica in a clayey matrix, and is veined with earthy calcite.
Thick laminae and very thin beds are present and some cross-bedding,
again suggesting currents from the west, is present.

In a section a quarter of a mile to the south of this one, white
to yellow or brown clayey sandstone is shown. It is much thicker
than at the first locality and there is no conglomerate exposed. This
nay be due to alluvium cover near the present river.

PLIOCENE VOLCANIC ROCKS .—Overlying the sandstone in the
first section is a thick flow of basalt. At the base it is very vesicular
with some aragonite in the vesicles. The vesicular zone passes up
gradually into a zone showing good columnar jointing. This zone is
about 4 ft. thick and is followed by about 48 ft. of hackly jointed
basalt. The top eight to ten feet of the flow are vesicular and the
top (5 in. tends to be glassy and seoriaceous. This sequence of zones
within the flow is very similar to that seen in the new excavations at
the eastern end of the Plenty Bridge, but was not repeated in any of
the higher flows. The top 8 ft. is weathered more than the rest of
the flow.

A thin layer of claystone follows. This is yellowish to brown at
the base and dark grey near the top. It contains wood fibres and
stem impressions. The overlaying basalt is very vesicular for about
a foot, and near the base there are signs of ropy and pillow lava. At
or near the base of the flow are numerous cavities up to 20 in. across
and over 4 ft. deep which have, in places, been filled by concentrically

4

laminated ironstone concretions. The basalt appears to have ridden
up over some objects, formerly occupying the cavities, and it is noticeably
finer-grained at contact with these, as well as having radially arranged
vesicles up to 4 in. long over them. Some of the cavities branch and
others have impressions on the walls suggestive of wood. It is suggested
that these were originally trees knocked over and then overridden by
the basalt and carbonised by the heat of the flow. The carbon was
later removed by oxidation and some of the cavities filled with concretions
of iron hydroxides.

This flow is succeeded by tachylytic tuffs and breccias. The top
of the flow is very vesicular and somewhat more weathered than the
rest of the flow. Where the top surface is well exposed, as in the
road cutting, it is seen to be covered in a number of places by a
thin veneer up to a few inches thick of sand and clay. The top of the
lava apparently had a relief of a few feet as shown by the exposures
in the road cuttings. The sand and clay member had leaf impressions
and in many places the top inch or two has been heavily stained with
iron.

The succeeding tachylytic breccia and tuff formation contains the
opalized trees. It consists largely of irregular, angular, poorly sorted
fragments of tachylytic and vesicular basalt, but contains also frag¬
ments of Triassic sandstone and Jurassic dolerite. The tuff shows
cross bedding which dips in a southerly direction. Because of the lack
of rounding and any other sign of water action, this cross bedding is
considered to be of aeolian origin. The opalized trees apparently grew
in the underlying sandy clay, as they can be traced to within a foot of
this band, but then begin to show signs of disintegration, which can
be traced down into clay and produced cavities in the clay. The
increasing degree of disintegration shown near the band of sandy clay
may be due to the freer movement of groundwater along that band.
The opalization of the trees took place after they had been covered
by tuff. The silica may have been derived by leaching of the basaltic
tuff by slow moving groundwater. At least twelve trees have been
observed to date in a vertical position. They vary from one inch up
to 15 in. in diameter. In one case a branch was found in position on
the trunk. The tallest portion of a tree yet found is about 20 ft. high,
but considering the diameter and the angle of convergence of the sides
some of the trees must have been over GO ft. in height.

The tree presented by Mr. Peterson to the Museum showed over
380 growth rings. Considering the very much larger diameter of some
of the other pieces which have been found, the forest could well have
been growing for over a thousand years before it was overwhelmed by
the volcanic ash. On an A.N.Z.A.A.S. excursion in 1949, Mr. F. S.
Colliver, of the University of Queensland, found several fragments of

J5

bone in the breccia in the road cutting but no more have yet been
found. There are at least three species of wood in the breccia, including
one described by Arber in 1904 as Cupressivoxylon hookeri.

In the section (fig. 1) along the south-eastern bank of the river
dolerite in situ was found at one place, and in another more than
30 ft. of Tertiary sandstone was followed by only 15 ft. of basalt,
and then the lower leaf-bearing sandstone. This would indicate some
relief of the pre-basaltic surface.

Over 200 ft. of continuous section are exposed in the cliffs on the
north-western side of the river, but the base is not exposed as it is
covered by river alluvium. The lowest unit is a massive basalt which
becomes more vesicular in the top 3 ft. The top surface is irregular
but there is no sign of weathering. The second unit is another flow
of basalt with the basal half inch tachylytic followed by a zone 1 ft.
thick of basalt with long cylindrical vesicles. The top 3 ft. is very
vesicular and the surface is very irregular. Some weathering may be
present at the top surface and there is an accumulation of limonite
in the joints near the contact.

A pillow lava forms the third flow. Pillow lavas have been recorded
in the Tertiary of Tasmania only once before, at Liawenee Canal by
Voisey (1949). The pillows here are up to 6 ft. in length, oval and
with radial cylindrical vesicles and concentric lines of spherical vesicles.
The pillows fit into one another and have tachylytic margins. The top
few feet of this flow are very vesicular.

Another massive basalt follows with a ropy, tachylytic lower surface
and long cylindrical vesicles near the base. The top is very vesicular.
A thicker, more massive, but more vesicular flow follows and is succeeded
by a thin bed of sandy clay.

This bed of sandy clay is variable in thickness from about one
inch to 2 ft. and consists of clay with some sand. The colour varies
from white to red and in many places there is some evidence of small
concentrically banded concretions of aluminous and ferruginous mat¬
erial. The top is commonly very iron-rich and this association suggests
incipient lateritisation. Leaf and stem impressions are common.

A thick tachylytic tuff overlies the plant bearing sandy clay. The
tuff is roughly bedded and sorted and contains lenses of breccia with
fragments up to a foot in length. While these fragments are pre¬
dominantly of tachylytic and vesicular basalt, fragments of dolerite
and quartz sandstone were also seen. The fragments in the tuff and
breccia are very angular and there is no evidence of deposition by water.
Cross bedding was seen in this unit and was mainly directed from the
north. Near the base of the tuff a number of long, cylindrical cavities
up to 18 in. or 2 ft. in diameter and horizontal in disposition are present.

6

fig..- SUMMARY OF STRATIGRAPHY NEAR

MACQUARIE PLAINS.

m

LEGEND

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS PYROCLASTIC ROCKS

CLAY & SAND

> *

A tuff i BRECCIA

;° p \1 CONGLOMERATE

IGNEOUS ROCKS
BASALT
PILLOW LAVA

DOLERIT E

EI3

VERTICAL SCALE

20

I

40

60 FEET

J

v V/
v v '

v v '
V V

A V

a

tr

!> »

&

* t>

V V v
V

V V

V ^

V V

V V

V v

V V V

0 7

v v

V V
V V

V V
N V v

V V

a.

Fig. 1 .—Summary of Stratigraphy of Derwent Valley near Macquarie Plains.

7

Some of these branch, and it is suggested that they are the cavities left
by the solution of fossilised trees. Their axes lie mainly in a north¬
westerly direction.

The tuff is followed by a flow of massive basalt which is vesicular
near the top. Another tuff overlies the basalt. The basal foot of this
tuff is medium-grained, thinly bedded and cross-bedded while the rest
of the unit is coarse and thickly bedded. The section is completed by
a flow of massive basalt.

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY

The history of the Macquarie Plains area began in the Triassic
Period (about 190 million years ago) when sand and volcanic ash were
deposited together in swamps and lakes in which peat was also accumu¬
lating. These rocks of the New Town Coal Measures are now exposed
at Gretna and Plenty. A few million years later they were intruded by
large masses of dolerite, such as are exposed in the road metal quarry
a quarter of a mile north-west of the Rosegarland Hotel, and in the bed
of the Derwent half a mile upstream from Macquarie Plains Station.
A long period of erosion followed, of which there is no direct evidence
in the area, and then early in the Tertiary Period (more than fifty
million years ago) faulting caused the development of large valleys,
running north-westerly with a gentle slope from the north-east, as is
shown by the exposures in the road cutting at Plenty, and a steep
south-western scarp. In these fault valleys lakes quickly developed.
Lake Glenora probably stretched from slightly north of Glenora, south¬
easterly at least as far as a dolerite promontory at Macquarie Plains,
and perhaps around the south-western end of this to Plenty. The western
shoreline probably lay a few miles south-west of Glenora and ran
north-east almost to Bushy Park where it turned and ran south¬
easterly again. The north-eastern shoreline, which was probably an
irregular one, lay just south-west of Gretna. Against the north¬
eastern shoreline gravels were deposited as a shingle beach and as the
lake waters rose sand was deposited on top of the shingles. Clays and
peats were deposited in the central parts of the lake, which was finally
drained by the development of the embryonic Derwent River, as set
out by Hills and Carey (1949; p. 36). After a period of erosion of the
lake sediments by the Derwent, probably flowing more or less straight
south-westerly through Macquarie Plains, basaltic lava was poured into
the valleys carved in the lake sediments. This probably took place
much less than ten million years ago during the Pliocene Epoch (Hills
and Carey, 1949; p. 36).

The source of the flows and ash showers has not yet been found,
but from the consistent southerly dip of the cross bedding in the tuffs,
some of the volcanic centres lay to the north-east, perhaps almost along

8

NEW TOWN
COAL MEASURES

9

Fig. 2. —Sketch map of Macquarie Plains Area, Derwent Valley, from Glenora to Rosegarland, showing: position of “ Fossil Forest ” cliffs.

the north eastern shore of the old lake. At least four lava flows were
poured out, the third into an ephemeral lake, if one can judge from the
pillow lava.

Following the pouring out of the lava after the pillow lava, a lake
or swamp developed on the basalt surface and sand and clay accumu¬
lated in it, together with leaves and twigs. After this lake had been
drained or dried up another lava flow covered the area and another
lake developed on the surface of this new flow. Again sand and clay
were deposited and the flora of the time is partly represented by the
leaves and twigs found in the sediments.

After the lake disappeared, these sands and clays became the
soil, supporting a forest of cypress-like pines and probably she-oaks
and other trees. Marsupials roamed through this forest. This forest
lived for at least 400 years and probably over 1000 years in a climate
that was certainly humid and may have been monsoonal, to judge from
the incipient lateritisation of the soil. Then an explosive eruption
somewhere to the north-east or north-west violently expelled a dense
cloud of ash over the forest. The force of the explosion knocked over
those trees growing in the area which is now the north-west bank of the
Derwent, but was spent by the time it reached Macquarie Plains, so
that the trees were left standing but submerged in ash. Another lava
flow followed, and then there were several ash showers in rapid succes¬
sion, and finally another lava flow. All told, there were at least nine
eruptions in the vicinity of Macquarie Plains. Whether this was the
last one in the area is not known but it seems very likely that it was,
because the tops of most of the basalt covered hills form a gently sloping
surface at about this level. The Derwent then began to carve down
into this basaltic plain, in places depositing gravels consisting essentially
of basalt pebbles, but generally incising its original meanders into the
plain until the present topography was developed.

LOCALITY INDEX

Quadrangle

No.

Lat.

Long.

Bushy Park

Ellendale

74

42°43'

146°55'

Glenora

Ellendale

74

42“41'

14fi°52'

Gretna

Ellendale

74

42°41'

146° 57'

Liawenee Canal

Great Lake

53

41°52'

146°41'

Macquarie Plains

Ellendale

74

42°43'

146°56'

Plenty

Styx

81

42°44'

147°00'

10

References.

Arber, E. A. N., 1904, “ Cupressinoxylon hookeri sp. nov., a Larpre Silicified Tree
from Tasmania”. Ccol . Map, Dee. V, Vol, 1, pp. 7-11.

Edwards, A. B.. 1939, " The Age and PhysiOffraphical Relationships of Some Caino-
y.oic Basalts in Central and Eastern Tasmania Pap. and Hroc. Hoy. Soc.
Tan. (1938). pp, 175-199.

Hills, C. L. and Carey. S. W., 1919, ** Geology and Mineral Industry." A.N .Z.A.A.S.
Handbook, Hobart Meeting, pp. 21-44,

Hocker, J. D., 1842. " On the Examination of Some Fossil Wood from Macquarie
Plains, Tasmania. ” Tan. Joum. Nat. Sci. Vol. 1. pp. 23-26.

Johnston, R. M.. 188N, " Systematic Account of the Geology of Tasmania." Hobart.

Moore, T.. 1855$. ” Remarks on a Collection of Geological Specimens made in
Tasmania." Hap. Hoy. Soc. Tax. Vol 2. pp. 426-7.

Strzelecki, P. E. de, 1845, " Physical Description of New South Wales and Van
Diemen’s Land," London.

Voisey, A. H.. 1949, ** The Geology of the Country around the Great Lake, Tas¬
mania." Hap. and Proc. Roy. Soc. Tax. (1948), pp. 95-104.

TASMANIAN FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB
(Founded 1904)

Meetings are held at the Royal Society’s room, Tasmanian Museum,
Hobart, on the third Thursday in each month, except in December and
January.

Annual subscription: Adults 5/-, Juniors 2/6.

Membership is open to anyone who is interested in Natural History.
Application forms for membership may be obtained from the Secretary
at meetings, or from Mr. H. F. Sargison, 21 Elizabeth St., Hobart.

LIBRARIAN . — Members are reminded that the Club possesses
a Library of books and journals on matters of Natural History. These
may be borrowed, also back numbers of the ‘Tasmanian Naturalist’
may be bought. Please apply to the Librarian, Mr. Leonard Wall,
at meetings, or by post at 4 Gourlay-street, W. Hobart.

11

Recent Records of Tasmanian
Flowering Plants

By Winifred M. Curtis.

r PHE new “ Tasmanian Flora ” which is now being written will contain

some 400 species in addition to those described by Rod way in The Tas¬
manian Flora of 1903. Of this total about 225 are introduced plants.
The remaining species are native plants, of which 75 are due to the
separation of entities previously grouped together under one specific
name, and about 100 are new records, nearly half being orchids. Certain
of the plants in these groups were recorded by Rodway in a series of
papers published in The Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society
of Tasmania during the years 1903-1936. However, many species,
including the seven following, are more recent discoveries.

LEGUMINOSAE. (Pnltenaea palacea, Willd. var. scricca Benth.)

This is an undershrub with slender wiry branches spreading hori¬
zontally for a foot or more before turning upwards. The numerous
leaves are linear to narrow-elliptical with pointed apex, 1-2 cm. long,
and like the young branches, lightly covered with silky hairs. The
flowers, which are similar to those of other Tasmanian representatives
of Pnltenaea, are borne in terminal heads, and are conspicuous, having
an orange-coloured standard and crimson keel.

The species was found by Mrs. M. Cameron, in Oct., 1949, at
Bridport, where plants are common in wet sandy heaths. It is recorded
from Victoria, but in Tasmania is apparently confined to the North.

MY'RTACEAE. ( Leptospertnurn rodivayannm , Summerhayes and

Comber)

Tasmania has eight or nine different tea-tVees, some of which are
very variable and consequently difficult to classify. This species, which
is local in distribution, is characterised by the large size of its flowers
and fruits. It is a much-branched shrub 6-15 ft. high. The leaves
are ovate to obovate, 1 *2-1 *8 cm. long, rather thick, the younger ones
at least often greyish-green in colour due to a light covering of short
silky hairs. The flowers are about 2-8 cm. in diameter. The fruit is
at first somewhat fleshy but ripens to form a capsule, at least 1 cm. in
diameter, with a thin woody wall, the top being markedly convex and
opening by 5 valves.

Lcptospcnnnm rodwayanmn was collected by Mr. H. F. Comber in
April, 1930. at Coles Bay, where it grows on granite rocks at an altitude
of about 1,000 ft., and was named in honour of Leonard Rodway,

12

1. Phyllachne colensai, flowering stem, x 5.

2. Epacrin marginata, branch with leaves,

x 2.

3. E. marginata, half flower, x 5.

1 E. barbata, half flower, x 5.

5. Centrolepis minima, plant, x 1J.

6. C. minima, carpels, x 8.

13

STYLIDIACEAE. (Phyllachne colensoi, Bergr.)

With the addition of P. colensoi to our flora, five species of cushion
plants are known from the State. Cushion plants are a characteristic
feature of Tasmanian mountains but they are so similar in growth form
that it is only when flowers are seen that species can be identified easily.
This plant may be distinguished by the leaves which are linear, thick,
widened at the base and slightly flattened at the apex, below which is
a glandular pore. The flowers, characteristic of the family Stylidiaceae,
have stamens united with the style: the column so formed is conspicuously
exserted ( Fig. 1 ).

This species was identified from material collected by Mr. C. G.
Elliott, in Feb., 1947, from the summit of Mt. Rufus. The record of
Phyllachne from Tasmania is of interest for the genus is one confined
to the widely separated land masses of the southern hemisphere where
it is known in New Zealand, the Auckland and Campbell Islands, and
Fuegia.

DACEAE. (Epacris marginata, Melville) and (Epacris barbata,

Melville).

Heaths are a conspicuous feature of Tasmanian vegetation in spring
and occasional plants may be found in flower throughout the year. The
opportunity to examine collections of material from the more inaccessible
localities in the South and West of the State resulted recently in the
recognition of two new species. Both are allied to Epacris heteronema y
Labill. and had previously been included under that name.

E. 'margin at a is a much-branched shrub usually 3-4 ft. high with
stout branches bearing closely imbricated leaves. The leaves are ovate,
slightly concave, less than 1 cm. long, the apex acute and pungent, the
base cordate, grey-green in colour, glaucous, with a narrow hyaline
margin. The flowers, which are honey-scented when fresh, have a short
style like that of E. heterovema (Figs. 2, ,3).

The type material of this species was collected by Miss J. Somerville
from the slopes of Brown Mountain, Tasman Peninsula, in April, 1946,
during the Tasmanian Field Naturalists’ camp at Safety Cove that
year. Further material was sent by Mr. W. H. Clemes, from Eagle-
hawk Neck.

Epacris barbata , Melville.—This is a showy plant, 3-4 ft. high, slight¬
ly branched, bearing numerous flowers which are larger than those of
most Tasmanian heaths. The flower is characterised by the silky hairs
on the calyx. The style is long and swollen towards the base (Fig. 4).

The type material of the species was collected in Oct., 1946, at
Coles Bay, where the plant is abundant and familiar to all who have
enjoyed the spring flowers on the sandy heaths there.

14

CENTROLEPIDACEAE. ( Centrolepis minima , T. Kirk) and ( Gaimardia

setacea , Hook.f.)

The family Centrolepidaceac comprises four or five genera, with
about 30 species found only in the southern hemisphere, mainly in Aust¬
ralia and New Zealand. The plants are inconspicuous, very small, and
have been likened to grasses, sedges or even mosses. In Tasmania some
species of Centrolepis are common annuals in sandy heaths, other
species of Centrolepis and Gaimardia are abundant in sub-alpine bogs
where they may cover considerable areas, forming soft green cushions
several feet in diameter and 1-2 in. thick.

Centrolepis minima illustrates the characters of the genus. The
plant grows in small dense tufts and has a slender flower stalk 2-3 cm.
high. The leaves are shorter than the flower stalk, linear, and in this
species are arranged in two opposite rows. The flowers of a Centrolepis
are borne in the axils of two bracts which terminate the flower stalk.
Each flower consists of one stamen and 1-12 carpels and is sometimes
surrounded by 1-3 papery scales. The carpels are superimposed in two
rows (Figs. 5, 6). In C minima each bract subtends only one flower
without scales and with 2-5 carpels.

Plants were found by Mr. R. Cruickshank in Jan., 1953 on the shores
of Lake Pedder. The species is recorded in New Zealand from the
shores of lakes.

Gaimardia setacea Hook.f.—This is the second species of Gaim¬
ardia to be recorded from Tasmania, it is found also in New Zealand.
G. fitzgeraldii described and illustrated in The Tasmanian Flora is an
endemic species discovered and named by Rodway. G. setacea, found
in Tasmania in Jan., 1944, is a similar but more slender plant, the leaves
terete and not flattened, terminating in a hair which is therefore less
conspicuous than in G. fitzgeraldii.

Both species are abundant in Mt. Field National Park, in swampy
hollows on the moor East of Lake Dobson, they are probably widespread
in sub-alpine bogs.

15

Two New Waders in Tasmania

By Leonard E. Wall.

r PHE GREY-TAILED TATTLER ( Tringa brevipes ) .—The first record
of the species in Tasmania was obtained by Mr. H. M. Wilson and the
author at Ralph’s Bay, South Arm, on October 24, 1948. This bird
is one of the migratory waders, which arrive on our shores during the
spring months and remain throughout the summer. In the autumn,
they return to their homes in the northern hemisphere for breeding.

A field description in eclipse (non-breeding) plumage is as fol¬
lows:—Length, 1(U inches; upper, medium grey, with dark grey wing
primaries; rump and tail uniform with back; no white bar on wing; under¬
parts, pale grey breast, fading to white on the abdomen and under-tail
coverts; legs, yellow and of medium length; bill, black and straight,
and slightly longer than tarsus.

It is extremely difficult to separate this species from the Wandering
Tattler {Tringa Inc ana) in eclipse plumage, the only distinguishing
feature being the nasal groove, which occupies about half the length
of the bill in the Grey-tailed, and three-quarters of the length in the
Wandering Tattler. This diagnostic feature was checked by Mr. Wilson
with the aid of 18x binoculars.

The species is solitary in habits, and is rarely seen in the company
of other birds. On many occasions it has been found on a shingle
beach not frequented by other waders, and will only mix with others
(always Golden Plover) after repeated disturbances. By reason of
this habit of shunning company it has not been seen frequently. It
has also a curious habit of perching on pieces of driftwood which lie
embedded in the sand. I have often seen it alight close to one of
these and then walk to and hop on to it, and I think it is probably an
attempt at concealment. It is certainly easy to overlook its presence
in such a position.

When first seen this bird was immature, measuring about 8 in.
in length, but attained full size during the summer months, during
which it was seen on four occasions. It was seen also twice during the
following winter, on June 5 and August 21, 1949. In the autumn of
1950 it could not be found, and was believed to have migrated, and I
did not expect to see it again. It was recorded, however, on October
14, 1950, and is believed to be the same individual as it showed a
preference for the same shingle beach and the same pieces of driftwood
as did the original. Further observations were made on November
25 and on February 25, 1951. On the latter occasion, it was flushed from
the shingle beach and flew to and alighted on a stake standing in the
water. It is the only occasion on which I have seen a wader perform

16

this feat. During the winter of 1951 I paid only one visit to South

Arm and Ralph’s Bay Neck, and failed to find it, but it was again

recorded at South Arm on December, 22, 1951.

On April 15, 1952, I found a tattler at Ralph’s Bay Neck, feeding
on the lagoon on the east side of the causeway, and it was seen also
by Mr. M. S. R. Sharland and Mr. C. C. Lawrence during the next
few weeks. Several members of the Field Naturalists’ Club observed
the bird in the same locality on October 18, during one of our regular
monthly excursions. On a visit to' the same spot on November 15, I
was able to approach within 50 ft. of it, and with the aid of 7x

binoculars to identify it as a Grey-tailed Tattler by the length of the

nasal groove.

Early in 1953, Mr. Ian Rowley, of C.S.I.R.O., took up residence
at Pipeclay Lagoon, and from that time has almost daily records of
waders at Ralph’s Bay Neck, including many observations of the tattler.
His last record of it is on May 20, at which date it was beginning to
assume breeding plumage, which varies from eclipse plumage by the
addition of transverse bars of grey over the entire under-surface, except
for the central abdomen and under-tail coverts. Subsequent searches
for it have failed. The tattler has not been seen at South Arm since
it was first recorded at Ralph’s Bay Neck, and it is reasonable to assume
that it is the same individual.

This bird has now been seen in Ralph’s Bay, either at the Neck or
in the South Arm area, during five consecutive summers and during
two of the intervening winters. During the other two winters I have
no records of it, but in one of those (1951) I made only one visit to
the area. As it is known to have altered its feeding ground (in the
autumn of 1952) I think that it probably remained here throughout the
whole period of four and a half years, but may have moved to another
locality during the winters of 1950 and 1951, when it was not observed.
There are many quiet bays in the vicinity of the Derwent Estuary
where it could easily go un-noticed.

EASTERN, OR LESSER KNOT (Calidns canatus )The first
observation of the Eastern Knot in Tasmania was made on November
1, 1953, while 1 was watching other migrant waders at Ralphs Bay,
near South Arm. Three of these birds were feeding at the edge of
the tide with some Golden Plover and Curlew Sandpiper, and although
the day was dull I was able to determine almost all the features of
their plumage and to identfy them from the written description I made
on the spot. Six other birds which I saw earlier that day as they
flew along the beach were, I believe, also of this species.

A field description (in eclipse plumage) is as follows: — Length,
10 in.; upper, medium grey with pale edges to the feathers; rump, white,
barred greyish-brown; tail, grey; wing-stripe, narrow white; breast,

17

pale grey, slightly streaked; abdomen, whitish mottled grey-brown at
sides; undertail coverts, white; eyebrow, whitish; bill, black and straight;
legs, dark brown and short. The bill is about the same length as
the legs. The straight, stout bill and short legs give the bird a
distinctive appearance, and these, and the white rump, barred grey-brown,
are diagnostic features.

A fortnight later 1 visited the area again, in company with Mr.
Ian Rowley, and we found a lone bird resting on a log at high tide,
and Mr. Rowley confirmed the identification. On that occasion most
of the birds on the mudflats were very restless and we were not able
to examine the flocks to see whether any others of the species were
present.

MEDIUM-BILLED PRION INLAND

On July 25, 1953 a Medium-billed Prion (Pachyptila salvini) was
picked up in an orchard on Mr. G. Terry’s property, “ Slateford ”, Hayes,
in the Derwent Valley. It appeared to have been dead for not more
than two days.

Prions are birds of the open ocean, and records of them from
inland areas are uncommon, but not unknown. It is, however, a puzzle
to learn how this bird found its way inland. Enquiries from the
Hobart Weather Bureau have revealed that the prevailing winds during
the four days preceding the discovery of the bird were from the
north-west, varying from moderate to gale force, except for a mild
south-westerly change of about three hours’ duration on July 24. It
seems unlikely therefore that it would have been blown up the Derwent,
as would appear the most likely explanation, especially if strong
southerly winds had been experienced. The distance from Hayes to
the mouth of the river is about 35 miles. The only other apparent
explanation is that it was blown inland from the West Coast during
the gales of July 21 and 22, but this would involve an overland journey
of at least 70 miles, traversing the most rugged mountain country in
the State. This, too, seems improbable.

The specimen is now in the collection of the Tasmanian Museum,
Hobart.

18

Geological Story of Safety
Cove Area

By Edmund D. Gill.

Curator of Fossils, National Museum of Victoria.

far as I am aware, no cook has ever tried putting the layers
of a cream sponge on top of one another, and then squeezing the
cream in between them! This is probably not due to cooks’ conservatism,
but to the fact that if this were attempted, the cream would not be
evenly distributed, and some dissatisfied cake eater would come after
the experimenting cook, demanding to know why he had been denied
his rightful share of the luscious cream. The cream would be deep in
some places, and thin or absent in others. Having been squeezed in
under pressure, it would be forced up into any cavities in the sponge
layers, and if there were cracks, it might open these wider and fill them.

Anyway, that is a picture of what happened geologically long ago
in the Safety Cove area, South-Eastern Tasmania. Molten rock (dol-
erite) was forced into the horizontal layers of sedimentary rocks. In
some places it formed a layer between the strata (a sill), while else¬
where it has been forced up vertical cracks (a dyke). In yet other
places it has just pushed up unevenly through the country rock, as can
be seen just south of Remarkable Cave (see text-figure 1). The hot
melt baked the country rock in contact with it, and some pieces that
broke off into the invading dolerite were completely altered (meta¬
morphosed). By the time cubic miles of dolerite had been squeezed into

Fig. 1.—Sketch of the relationships of dolerite and country rock on the shore between
Remarkable Cav e and Blowhole. The sedimentary rock baked by the
intrusion of molten dolerite (marked m) was used by the aborigines for
making implements.

19

Tasmania, all the strata were not left horizontal, and from the camp
we noticed the dip of 2° to 3° in the rocks of the nearby scarp (see
text-figure 2).

Sometimes the country rock would not stand the strain of the
intruding dolerite, and big vertical cracks or faults developed, so
that some blocks of the country were raised in relation to others, and
some fell. Such a fault probably caused the scarp referred to above,
while another probably caused the very straight east shore of Port
Arthur. Faults can account for the fact that as you travel from
Eaglehawk Neck to Safety Cove on almost the same level, you pass
from marine Permian rocks (about 225 to 190 million years ago) at
the Neck to Triassic lake deposits (about 190 to 140 million years
ago) at Port Arthur township, to Permian again at Point Puer, and
back to Triassic in the Safety Cove area.

NATURE’S MONUMENTS.

Where the ocean has eroded cliffs, grand headlands of dolerite rise
in places as much as 1,000 feet directly from the sea. Their vast columns
of dark rock are Nature’s monuments, telling of the time when invading
molten rock shook Tasmania’s foundations. From a distance the columns
look like the 6-sided columns formed when volcanic lava cools at the
surface, but actually they are formed by two sets of joint planes (N-S
and WSW-ENE) and so are essentially quadrilateral. The sea and
weathering agencies have eroded the dolerite along these joint planes,
thus accounting for the alignment of many of the physical features.
Remarkable Cave and the Blowhole gulch are expressions respectively
of these two systems of joint planes. From the map (text-figure 2)
it can be readily seen that if a grid be made up of lines running in
these two directions, they would coincide with a large percentage of
the features of the landscape.

KEY TO TASMANIA’S SCENERY

The distinctive beauty of Tasmania’s landscape (different from
anything to be seen on the mainland), is due to the dolerite. Cappings
of this resistant rock form the craggy heads of the Western Tiers
and many other notable peaks. Dolerites account for many bold
headlands, wide plains and plateaux, steep valleys and rugged hillsides.
The Safety Cove camp added a little to the dolerite story. Mr. A. B.
Brownell and Mr. C. B. Widdicombe found on the Port Arthur shore
a dyke of fine-grained rock cutting vertically up through the coarse¬
grained dolerite. The dyke looks like basalt, but Mr. Alan Spry of the
Department of Geology, University of Tasmania, kindly cut thin sections
of the rock and determined it as a fine-grained dolerite. Apparently

20

Fig. 2.—Geological sketch map of Safety Cove area, near Port Arthur, south-eastern

Tasmania.

21

after the main dolerite mass had intruded the country rock and solidi¬
fied, a further invasion by the dyke rock took place. There is a whole
swarm of these dykes in the Safety Cove area, but the one mentioned
is the largest observed.

EVIDENCE OF CHANGING CLIMATE

Wrinkles on our faces (if any, of course) may be a sign of
advancing years, but the wrinkles on the face of the earth we call
sand dunes are a sign of youth. The camp at Safety Cove was sited
on wind blown sand, and between that spot and Remarkable Cave there
is a series of dunes whose sharpness attests their youth. A similar
series occurs behind Half Moon Bay. The immature soil on these
dunes is a further clue to their recent formation. On the other hand,
they are vegetated, fixed immobile except where man has destroyed
the plant cover. Since the dunes were formed, there must have been
some change in climatic conditions. Where the sand moved freely (as
shown by the long straight sharp crests), it is now bound down by vege¬
tation which was probably induced by increased rainfall. There is
an interesting story to be worked out from these dunes, but they must
await the coming of some other geological Sherlock Holmes to collect
clues, as there was not time to do so during the Easter Camp.

DOCUMENTS OF TASMANIAN PRE-HISTORY

High on the steep spur on the west side of Remarkable Cave, Mr.
and Mrs. L. E. Luckman found an aboriginal workshop. There lie numer¬
ous implements, made, or in the making, which are documents that inform
us about the history before our history—of the times when the aborigine
was master of the land. The natives discovered that where the dolerite
had invaded the country rock and hardened it (see text figure 1), stone
suitable for the manufacture of implements could be found. Collecting
such raw materials nearby, the natives took them to this sandy spur
(they liked the sandy places), which became their workshop wherein
their implements were fashioned. To study these implements, and the
cores and chips left over from their manufacture, is to discover how they
were made, and so to see the ideas in the minds of the blackfellows, and
the traditions of their craftsmen. These stones can speak, telling of the
culture of a simple people to whom they were a very real and valuable part
of life. It is a pity we know so little of this ancient race. Erosion is fast
removing this and many other important records of this extinct people,
and it is strongly urged that arrangements be made for the study of the
midden and workshop sites before they are wiped out forever. At the
Remarkable Cave site scrapers of various sizes up to 55 inches long
(with secondary chipping), cores, chips, and heavy dolerite hammer
stones (brought up from the beach) were collected.

22

Notes on the Flora of Safety Cove

(With sundry new records for the area)

By J. H. Willis,
National Herbarium of Victoria

Introduction .

JpROM the time of its establishment in 1830, Port Arthur has been
the venue of various distinguished botanical collectors. Among
those who may be mentioned are, the visiting J. Backhouse (1832),
J. D. Hooker (1840) and Dr. W. H. Harvey, of algal fame, (1854),
the local authorities, Rev. J. Bufton (1891/4) and L. Rodway (1913,
1918, 1920 &c.). As a result of successive camps held on Tasman
Peninsula since the inception of the Tasmanian Field Naturalists’ Club
in 1904, several reports have been published on floristic features of the
region, particularly in the vicinity of the popular camp site at Safety
Cove. Earlier accounts imply that the Cove holds little that may
not be seen glowing in the neighbourhood of Hobart. True, this
area does not bear comparison with occurrences elsewhere of more
spectacular flowers, like Waratah, Mountain Iris, Gordon Lily and
the larger orchids. But a survey made by Miss Janet Somerville and
Mr. Charles G. Elliott during Easter 1946 [see detailed report in The
Tasmanian Naturalist, n.s., Vol. 1, pt. 1, pp. 1-6 (May, 1946)]
recorded 113 species of higher vascular plants for Safety Cove, includ¬
ing many of undoubted interest. These were arranged systematically
according to Leonard Rodway's Tasmanian Flora (1903), with vern¬
acular names also given and the abundance or otherwise of each species
in the major plant communities of the area (dune, cliff, heath, rocky
headland and swamp) indicated.

SCOPE OF THE 1954 SURVEY.

A primary objective during the jubilee camp in April, 1954 was to
extend the work begun in 1946, observing if possible the present
status of all the 113 plants listed then, and adding to the total number
of species. It was also hoped to begin a census of lower cryptogamous
plants, such as the mosses and fungi of the region. A. B. Cribb (Botany
Department, University of Queensland) had made a detailed study of
the marine algal flora at Port Arthur in October, 1951; so, pending
publication of his findings, it was considered unnecessary to attempt
the collection of seaweeds, which also require special techniques.

23

Apparently no attention had been given hitherto to the sandstone
escarpment west of Safety Cove, where there are still good survivals
of the “ fern gully association ” within pure Messmate forest (Eucalyp¬
tus obliqua ).

Behind Briggs’s historic farm-house and, within a mile of the camp,
is an excellent treefern gully, rich in shade—and moisture-loving plants,
particularly bryophytes. Cascades of permanent water are there, and
Mr. L. G. Briggs pointed out the remains of a water race which once
carried a domestic supply to the farm buildings in early convict days.
He kindly permitted several members from the camp to explore his fern
gully, and in consequence 22 higher plants and several mosses were
added to the general flora of Safety Cove.

Botanical results for the whole camp period were most encourag¬
ing: 38 species of higher fungi, 24 mosses, and an addition of 162
flowering plants and ferns to the census of 1946, bringing the known
vascular flora up to 275 species.

Naturalised alien plants (weeds) to the number of 21 species were
also noted; but none of these seems aggressive or to have had any
adverse effect upon the indigenous vegetation, and most are quite
localised. The shrubs Pelargonium yadula (Point Puer ruins) and
Lupinus arboveus (more conspicuous at Eaglehawk Neck) were probably
introduced as garden ornamentals at a very early period, yet they
have never spread far. Doubtless, a visit to this area during Spring¬
time would serve to augment the species list, particularly with seasonal
plants like orchids or small ephemerals which are not in evidence at
all during Easter (at the end of the long dry summer period).

The compilers described their 1946 list as “by no means complete.”
Nevertheless, it is astonishing that they should have missed such wide¬
spread plants as White Iris or Butterfly Flag (Diplarrhena momra)
and Blackwood (Acacia melon oxy Ion) which are abundant and conspicu¬
ous, respectively, right against the campsite. The sedge family
(Cyperacesi) with six species and grasses (Gramivav) with only three,
had been very inadequately observed in 1946; it was possible to add 17
species to the former and 15 to the latter group (aliens excluded), Six
orchids were added to the previous tally of seven species, while two
or more representatives were found in each of the families ( Cruciferse ,
Rhamnacese, Droseraeem , Rubiacca % Gciitiavacar , Lentibulariacese ,
Chenopodiaceiv, Euphorbiacefv , Juncaceiv and Gentrolepidacem , which did
not appear at all in Somerville and Elliott’s list. This is surprising
in view of the fact that Rodway mentioned several carnivorous Drosera
and Utricularia species in his report on the Easter camp-out of 1913.

All except the following 17 species were noted again in 1954:

Roronia pinnata , Pulteniua gunnii (var. bmclceofdea), Myriophyllum elatinoides f
Ecptospermum flavescem * (var. nitidum ), L. rupextre, Eucalyptus ovaia, Mcxcm-
bryanthemum australc, Olearia lepidophylla, llrachycome dccipiens, Ozothamnus

24

rosmarinifolius (var. cncifolius), Leucopogon ericoides, Epacris stuartii, Ptero-
stylis concirinci, P. recur va. Cole ana minor, Rcstio oligocephalus, *Psanima
armaria.

It is presumed that some of these have become rarer, perhaps even
disappeared, within the past eight years; but others may be attributable
to misdeterminations.

FEATURES OF SPECIAL INTEREST

The most significant botanical discovery of the Easter camp-out
concerns Bog Clubmoss (Lycopodium carolinianum) which was first
recorded for Tasmania by J. D. Hooker [Flora Tasmania. j 2: 157 (1858)]
with the remark — “boggy places; not uncommon”. No subsequent
collector ever succeeded in finding the species again, and Leonard
Rodway wrote in his Tasmanian Flora of 1903 (p. 280) :

This plant I L. da rat um, vat*, fastigiatum 1 has been confused with L. caro -
liniannm, which probably does not occur in Tasmania.

Actually, L. fastigiatum and L. carolinianum are abundantly distinct
— in habitat, habit, appearance and texture—and there is little like¬
lihood of their ever being confused, even by the veriest novice. The
latter, except for its erect, slenderly-stalked fertile strobili, is utterly
prostrate , creeping over the bare peaty mud in heathland swamps and
securely anchored thereto by numerous deeply-penetrating lateral roots.
So firm is the anchorage and so brittle the prostrate stems that it is
a frustrating business to secure good herbarium specimens intact; the
adhering mud must be carefully washed away before pressing can be
attempted. This remarkable plant was found in a heathy moorland
bog, south-east of the camp and about half way to Brown Mountain.
Associate plants were Lycopodium late rale (erect and never brittle),
sedges, Drosera and Xyris spp., all dominated by small, moribund, fire-
scarred bushes of yellow bottlebrush (Melaleuca, squarrosa) ; no occur¬
rences were observed in other quite similar swampy tracts. L. caro¬
linianum is known from all the mainland States — but chiefly from
single localities — and is everywhere considered a rarity. To find it
again in Tasmania, thereby vindicating Sir Joseph Hooker’s early record
(perhaps even from Port Arthur, where he collected in the spring of
1840) is a matter for jubilation, and dried specimens have now been
lodged in the herbaria at Hobart University, Melbourne and Sydney
Botanic Gardens.

Another humbler plant, previously known from the type collection
only was the rock-loving moss Macromitrium rodwayi (described _from
the “entrance to Port Arthur” in 1922). This was found again in
its original locality — perhaps even the original dripping rock ledge! —
on the small south-eastern headland of the Cove and not far from
camp. Unfortunately, no fruits were available; but the purplish-
brown colour, contortion and plication of the leaves are characteristic.

25

From Briggs’s fern gully came the large, striking, plume-like moss,
Rhizogonium spini forme. Rodway in his monograph “ Tasmanian

Bryophyta ” (1913) records this from Tasman Peninsula only; but it
is a common moss throughout the fern gullies of southern Victoria, and
is almost certain to occur in other parts of Tasmania.

Among the three dozen fungi noted, none was more interesting
than an ochre-coloured, fleshy, terrestrial pore-fungus, in which the
central stipe is ornamented by a network of high, anastomosing ribs.
This has been identified as the Queensland species, Boletus lacnnosus ,
which also extends to heathland in Victoria.

The dolerite massif of Brown Mountain (1£ miles S.E. of the camp
site) certainly provides the botanical piece de resistance of the whole
Safety Cove area — a bald, steep, rusty-grey dome, destitute of soil
except on the lower slopes and in clefts between the windswept,
exfoliating slabs of rock. Moisture seeps from under the slabs; but
the only moss evident in any quantity was blackish velvety Campylopus
bicolor, while liche.ns were represented there by closely-appressed,
crustaceous types, of which Lecanora gelida formed spectacular, appar¬
ently very old colonies — greyish " wheels ” of growth, up to a foot in
diameter on the rock surfaces.

Very dwarfed and quaintly distorted shrubs of Banksia marginata ,
Hahea epiglottis , Pimelea nivea and other species clung, like “ bansai ”
productions, to crevices on the west face, defying the ferocity of gales.
Here grew two remarkable heaths, Epacris myrtifolia and E. marginata ,
besides the commoner E. impressa ; all were in flower, as was E. lanugi¬
nosa of neighbouring heathland swamps. Epacris marginata is the
“ E. heteroncma ” of Somerville and Elliott ; it was separated and
described as a distinct species by Dr. Ronald Melville as recently as
1952 [Kew Bulletin , p. 175]. from specimens actually gathered by Miss
Somerville at the Easter Camp of 1946. The only other known location
for this very rare and distinctive heath is Cash’s Lookout, Eaglehawk
Neck, where W. H. Clemes collected it in November 1949. Stiffly erect,
with robust bushy branches, E. marginata is seldom more than 2 ft.
high; the regularly imbricate, broadish leaves are glaucous, spine-
tipped, and white along their margins, while the white honey-scented
flowers are borne in dense leafy spikes. E. myrtifolia is smaller,
with shorter blunter dark-green leaves and fewer flowers. Bufton had
collected both species in the early 1890’s.

Port Arthur is also the type locality for that curious, woolly,
minute-leaved and clubmoss-like shrub. Ozothamnus scuteUifolius (now
generally included under the “everlasting” genus, Helichrysiim) , and
it was interesting to see it again in the original area, both on Brown
Mountain and among sandstone rocks immediately behind the camp.
All four rhamnaeeous species of the region — Pomaderris apetala , P.
affinis, Spyridium obovatum and Cryptandra alpina —occur on the Mount.

26

Rev. J. Bufton first found the Cryptandra there in 1893, presumably also
at the summit, and it is singular that this insignificant, wiry, prostrate
plant should otherwise be known only from alpine elevations in the
State (e.g. around the Great Lake and at other altitudes exceeding
3,000 ft.).

The dainty little Tailed Greenhood orchid ( Pterostylis pedoglossa)
was found blooming in a meagre layer of shaded earth at the highest
point on Brown Mountain, but also in swampy heathland on slopes
behind the camp area. It is a rosette-forming autumnal species, remark¬
able for the long-filiform galea and exceedingly short bluntish labellum,
and appears to be little known in Tasmania—Rev. H. M. R. Rupp’s record
in Orchids of New South Wales (1943) would seem to be the first,
but no localities are given for the island State. Lcptospermum scop-
arium t var. eximium is a stunted coastal development of Manuka in
which the leaves have become almost rotund, the flowers, more numerous
and larger than in the typical form; it was assigned varietal rank
by B. L. Burtt in 1940 [Botanical Magazine, T. 9582], his material coming
from near Port Arthur. This dense, handsome bush is conspicuous at
Remarkable Cave, also on Brown Mount, and probably along the
precipitous coastline between. Two other noteworthy occurrences at
the former place are the very succulent, rosulate Native Plantain
(Plantago triantha —syn. P. brownii) , abundant about the sandstone
cliffs, and the leathery Shore Spleenwort (Asplenium obtusatum) which
flourishes in partial shade on declivities above the cave opening.

Along the sheer eastern precipices of Brown Mountain several
unusual plants perch precariously above the boiling surf, and it is a feat
of some danger to approach them, e.g. Callistemon pallidas , Pomaderris
apetala and Pentachondra involncmta. Gentler northern slopes afford
an occurrence of Tall Silver Peppermint (Eucalyptus tasmanica) where
sand overlies the dolerite. This is doubtless the “ small-fruiting Euca¬
lyptus coceifcra ” and “ form of Risdon Gum ” discussed by Rodway
in his botanical notes on the 1913 and 1920 camps respectively— E. tas¬
manica Blakely was not described until 1934. The uncommon red-
berried form of Billardiera longiflora was noted in woodland toward
Point Puer.

MENACE OF BUSHFIRES.

Although Brown Mountain itself and Remarkable Cave are gazetted
Scenic Reserves, the intervening heathland—so rich in flowers — is private
property (or leasehold) used for depasturing cattle and sheep. Fires
are lit time and again, to secure tender young growth for the animals;
in fact, the whole area has been so frequently devastated by fires that
the original plant cover has changed out of all recognition and virtually
disappeared in many places—it is possible that several rare plants
have been exterminated in this way and, of course, the insect and bird

27

life dependent on the plants suffer also. Shore-line fires, particularly
around Half Moon Bay, seem to have been deliberately started by the
occupants of fishing: craft; these have swept up the northern slopes of
Brown Mountain, decimating the stand of Eucalyptus tasmanica and
much of the higher rock flora. It is most regrettable that a promontory
of such singular botanical interest should be despoiled by repeated
burnings, both from adjacent landholders and casual fishermen. Effort
should not be spared to have the whole peninsula—from Remarkable
Cave track to Brown Mountain—resumed as a strict sanctuary for
native plants and animals, with exclusion of grazing.

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF ADDITIONAL RECORDS.

The following tabulation of species has been arranged according
to Rodway’s Tasmanian Flora (but with nomenclature brought up to
date). It should be used in conjunction with the list published in
The Tasmanian Naturalist of May, 1946, because it embraces only such
records as are additional—limited space forbids a repetition of the
species previously recorded. Vernacular names have also been dropped
to save further space, and no synonymy is given. Naturalised alien
plants are prefixed by an asterisk ( r ), and habitats are indicated by
capital letters after each name, thus:

D dunes; C cliffs; H heath land; W woodland;
S swamps and ponds (also wet ground along creeks) ;
FG = fern gully (Briggs’s) ; BM Brown Mountain
(chiefly exposed dolerite).

Rare or very occasional occurrences are denoted by the letter ‘ r ’
in parentheses, but this does not apply to localised plants which may
be frequent enough in the limited environment where they occur. Time
did not permit such an intensive survey as to indicate the relative
frequencies of all species throughout the whole area, much of which
was not visited. The great frequency with which the author-citations
“ Labill .” and “ R.Br. ” follow species names recalls the extensive work
in southern Tasmania of J. J. H. de Labillardiere and Robert Brown
during 1792/3 and 1803/4 respectively. Species names with queries
denote some uncertainty about the correct identification.

I. FLOWERING PLANTS.

RANUNCULACE/K

•Ranunculus repens L .—S (camp

site).

PITTOSPORACE/E
Pittosporum bieolor Hook. —W. FG
CARYOPHYLLACEAE

DILLKNIACE/K

Hibbertia billardieri F. Muell.- W

Sapina procumbens L .—D (Half
Moon Hay)

Mncll .— H

•Cerastium vulpatum L .—H
HYPERlCACEiE

CRUCIFER AC

Cnrilamine stylosa DC .—C (r, near

Hypericum japonicum Thunk .—S
T1LIACE/E

Cakile maritima Scop .—D

ramp)

Aristotelia . peduncularis (Labill.)
Hook.f —FG. (r)

28

GERANIACE/E

Pelargonium australe Willd —D, C
,, *radula L*H6rit . — (Pt.

Puer ruins)

RUTACE/E

Boronia parviflora Sm. —S
RHAMNACEAS

Pomaderria a petal a LabiU. — FG, BM
(r)

Pomaderris affinis N. A. Wakefield —
W. BM

Spyridium obovatum (Ifoolc.) Benth.

— BM (r)

Cryptandra alpina Hoolc.f. — BM(r)

PAPILION ACEiE

Gompbolobium huegelii Benth .— H
Spha*’ niobium vimineum Sm. H
(behind camp)

Daviesia ulicina Sm. BM (r)

Pultemea dentata Labill .— S

,, junaperina LabiU .—D

(near camp)

Dillwynin glaberrima .Sm:— H

floribunda Sm .—H (r)

Bosshea prostra ta R.Br.—H
♦Trifolium repens L. H, S
♦Lupin us arboreus Sims - H (occa¬
sional, near road)

MIMOSACEiE

Acacia melanoxylon R.Br . — W (r),
FG

Acacia sophone (Labill.) R.iir . —
1 )

Acacia dealbata Link — FG
CRASSULACEA5

Tillira sieberiana Schult . — BM
DROSEKACE/E

Drosera spathulata LabiU . — S
binata Labill .—S
■ tt pygimea DC .—S
,, auriculata Rackh, ex Planch.
— H

HA LOR AG AC E/E

Haloragis micrantha R.Br .—S

,, tetraxryna (Labill.) Hook.

/.— H

Myriophyllum propinQuum A. Cunn.
— S (ponds near camp & at Pt.
Puer)

MYRTACEiE

Leptoepermum lanigerum (Ait.)
Sm . — S

Leptoepermum serjceum Labill . — H
Cailistemon pallidus (Bonpl.) DC . —
BM (r)

Melaleuca squamea Labill . — S (occas¬
ional on Port Arthur road)
Eucalyptus tasmanica Blakely — BM
<N. slope)

ONAGRACEAS

Epilobium billardierianum Scr . — FG
FICOIDACEiE

Carpobrotus icquilateros (Haw.)

N.fi. Br.—V.C

Tetrnyonia implexicoma (Miq.)

Hook. D,C

UM BELLI FER/E

Hydrocotyle hirtn R.Br .-—W

,, peduncularis R.Br .—S

muscosa R.Br . — S

(pond near camp)

Xanthosia pusilla Bunne — H

,, dissccta Hoolc.f. —H

Eryngium vesiculosum Labill. —S
Daucus glochidiatus (Labill.) Fisch
Mey. & Ave-LalL — H (r)

RUB JACKIE

Coprosma qu&driflda (Labill.) Rob.

— FG

Opercularia varia Hook.f. —H
Galium australe DC - -D

COMPOSITE

Olearia argophyllu (Labill.) F. Muell.

—FG

Olearia ?pinifolia (Hook.f.) Benth.

— (r. Port Arthur road)

Olearia phlogopappa (LabiU.) DC.
—C (r)

Olearia lirata (Sims) Hutchinson —
FG

Olearia ramulosa (Labill.) Benth.
— H

Olearia glundulosa (LabiU-.) Benth.
—S (r)

Lagenophora stipitata (Labill.)
Dmce - H

Brachycome aculeata (Labill.) Less
H. BM

Cassinia aculeata (Labill.) R.Br.
— W

Helichrysum dealbatum Labill .—H
’apiculatum (Labill.)

DC.- H

Helichrysum reticulatum (Labill.)
Less.— C. BM

Helichrysum dendroidcum N. A.
Wakefield— W, FG

Gnaphalium luteo-album L. — D, H
(near camp)

Gnaphalium japonicum Thunb. — H,
W

Gnaphalium involucratum Forst. —S
,, ♦candidissimum Lam.

— S

•Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. — D.H
‘Hypochseris radicata L H
Sonchus megalocarpus (Hook.f.) J.
M. Black—D

Sonchus *asper (L.) Hill — D, H
GOODEN I ACE A*:

Selliera radicans Cav. —C, S
LOBELIACE/E

Lobelia anceps L. —C
E P ACRID ACE JS

Pentachondra involucrata R.Br. —B
M (r)

Epacris marginata R. Melville —BM
PRlMULACEiE

♦Anagallis arvensis L. —H (near
camp)

LOGANIACE.E

Mitrasacme pilosa LabiU .—H
GENTTANACE/E

Centaurium pulchellum (Sw.) Krause
—H. S

Villarsia exaltata (Sims) F. Muell. —S
(foot of Brown Mt.)

CON V OL VUL ACEiE

Dichondra repens Forst. — W (near
camp)

LENTIBULARIACEjE

Utricularia dichotoma LabiU. — S
„ lateriflora R.Br. —S

29

LABIATE

Proatanthera lasianthos Lnbill. — FG

PLANTAGINACE/E

•Plantago lanceolata L —H

CHENOPODlACEiE

Ithagodia baceuta (Labill.) Moq. — C
Chenopodium glaucum L. -S (r, near
sea)

•Atriplex patula L .—D
S.tlicornia australis Sol, ex lie nth. —C
(near sea)

POLYGON ACEiE

Rumex brownii Campd. —0 (r, near
camp)

Rumex *acetonella L. — H

lai>race/e

Cassytha glabella R.Br .— H
„ pubescens R.Rr. — W

THYMELA3ACE./E

Pimelea linifolia Sm. — H
,, humilis R.Rr. —W

EUPHORBIACEyE

Poranthera microphylla Rrongn .—C,

W

Amperea xiphoclada (Sieb. ex Spreng.
Druce —H)

URTICACEAC

Australina pusilla ( Poir ) Gaudich. —
FG

SANTA LAC E>E

Exocarpus cupressiformis Lab ill. —W

ORCHIDACEAC

Calochilus campestris R.Rr. — W

(near Pt.. Puer)

Thelymitra pauciflora R.Rr. —H
„ venosa R.Rr. — S

Cryptostylis subulata ( Labill .) Reichb.
/.—S

Prasophyllum nigricans R.Rr. — H
Pterostylis pedoglossa FitzG. — H, BM.
(summit)

IRIDACEJE

Diplorrhena mora*a Labill. H.W

liliace*:

Drymophila cyanocarpa R.Rr. —W
Stypandra csespitosa R.Rr. —S
Laxmannia sessiliflora Dene. —H

JUNCACEyE

Juncus planifolius R.Rr. —S (foot of
Brown Mt.)

Juncus ciesplticius F. Mey .—C (Re¬
markable Cave)

Juncus bufonius L. H
Juncus pal lid us R.Rr. —S
Juncus maritimu8 Lam. —S (r, near
sea at Half Moon Bay)

Juncus •articulate L. —S (camp site)

XYRIDACEyE

Xyris muelleri Malmc —S

JUNCAGINACEyE

Triglochin procera R.Rr. — S (r,
pond near camp)

ZOSTER ACEyE

Zostera muelleri Irmisch (shallow
sea water)

CENTROLEPIDACEyE

Centrolepis aristata (R.Rr.) Rum..

& Schult. — D (N.VV. part of Cove)
Centrolepis fuscicularis Labill .— H
Centrolepis strigosa (R.Rr.) Reem.
& Schult. —H
RESTIONACEiE

Hypobena lateriflora (R.Rr.) Renth.
S

Kestio complunatus R.Rr. — S
CYPERACEJE

Schcenus apogon Rum. & Schult .—
H. W

Schcenus maschalinus Ricm. & Schult.

—S (foot of Brown Mt.)

Schcenus nitens (R.Rr.) Poir. —C,

H

Tetraria capiUaris ( F. Muell.) J. M.
Black—S

Elffiocharis acuta R.Rr .—S
Scirpus fluitans L. —S (pond near
camp)

Scirpus cernuus Vahl — H. S

.. inundatus (R.Rr.) Poir .—S
Lepidosperma concavum R.Rr. — H

laterale R.Rr. — H. W
„ lineare R.Rr., var.

inops Rodway— BM
Lepidosperma filifnrme Labill. H
Cladium acutum (Labi//.) Poir.— H
Uncinia tenella R.Rr. — FG
Carex appressa R.Rr. — S

pumila Thunb. — D (r. at S.W.
or. Half Muon Bay)

Carex breviculmis R.Rr. —BM
GRAMINEyE

Microlaena atipoides (Labill.) R.Rr.
—H. W

Tetrarrhena distichuphylla (Labill.)
R.Rr . — H

Stipa mollis R.Rr .—W

'/muelleri Tate — H
Dichelachne crinita ( L.f . ) Hook.f.
H. W

Agrostis avenacea Gmel. — D, C, \V
,, billardieri R.Rr. —D
*tenuis Sibth H

Deyeuxia quadriseta (Labill.)

Renth. H. W
•Aira caryophyllea L.- H
•Holcus lanatus L. —H
Danthonin serniannularis (Labill.)

R.Rr. — C (near camp)

Danthonia cseapitoaa Gaudich. — C

(near camp)

Danthonia setacea R.Rr. — BM

geniculata J. M. Black —

—H, W

Danthonia pilosa R.Rr. —H, W
•Dactyl is glumerata L. —H
Poa ciexpitona Foret, f. ex Spreng.
—C, H, W

Poa poteformis (Labill.) Druce — D,
C

Poa *nnnua L. — H. W
•Briza maxima L. — H
* .. minor L. — H

30

II. CLUBMOSSES AND FERNS

lycopodiacea;

Lycopodium deuterodensum Herter —
- H (r)

Lycopodium laterale R.Br .—S

,, carolinianum L . — S (r,

on heathy moor between camp &
Brown Mt.)

ADI ANTACE/K

Adiantum iethlopicum L. W r, (be¬
hind camp)

DEN NSTEDTI ACEyE

Blechnum lanceolatum ( R.Br.)

Sturm — FG

Blechnum duviatile (R.Br.) Low*
ex Salomon —FG

Asplenium flabeliifolium Car . — FG
„ bulbiferum Forttt .—FG

obtusatum Forst . — FG
(-f- Remarkable Cave)

Rumohra adiantoformis ( Forst.)

C.hing —FG
GRAMM ITIDACE/E

Grammitis billardicri Willd .—FG
Xiphopteris heterophylla ( Labill.)
Sprang . — FG
POLYPODIACEyE

Phymatodes diversifolium (Willd.)
Pin. Serm . — FG
DICKSON 1 ACEyE

Dicksonia antarctica Labill . — FG
HYMENOPHYLLACEyE

Mecodium australe (Willd.) Copel.
—FG

GLEICHENIACE/E

Gleichenia microphylla R.Br.-^S
(near camp)

Sticherus tener (R.Br.) Ching —
FG

III. MOSSES

SPH AG N ACEyE

Sphagnum subsecundum Nees — S

(pond near camp)
FISSIDENTACEyE

Fissidens asplenioide< Hedw .—FG
„ rijridulus Hk.f.&W. — FG
DICRANACEyE

Dicranoloma billardieri (Schwgr.)
Far. —II

Campylopus bicolor (Hornsch.) Hie.
f. — BM

Campylopus introfiexus (Hedw.)
Brid. H. W
POTTI ACEyE

Weissia controversa Hedw. —C
Tortella calycina (Schwgr.) Dix.—

H

SPL AC HN ACEyE

Tayloria octoblepharis (Hook.) Mitt.
—H

FUNARIACEyE

Funaria hyprrometviea Hedw. — H, W
BRYACEyE

Bryum billardieri Schwgr. — H, W.
FG

BARTRAM l ACEyE

Bartramidula pusilla (Hk.f.&W.)

Jseg.—H (under banks near camp)
Philonotis tenuis (Tayl.) .Leg. — C.
H. FG

RHIZOGONI ACEyE

RhizoKonium spiniforme (Hedw.)
Bruch —FG

HYPNODENDRACEyE

Hypnodendron arcuatum (Hedw.)
Mitt.— FG

ORTHOTRICH ACEyE

Macromitrium archeri Mitt, ex Wils.
— C (near camp)

Macromitrium rodwayi Dix ex Weym.
& Rodw. — C (near camp—Type
loc.)

RHAGOPIL ACEyE

Rhacopilum convolutaceum (C. M.)
Mitt.— H

PTYCHOMITRI ACE/E

Ptychomitrium mitten ii Jwg. — C
(near camp)

THUIDLACEyE

Thuidium furfurosum (Hk.f.&W.)
.Leg.— C. H. W. FG
A M B L YSTEGIA C E E

Drepanoclndus aduncus (Hedw.)
Moenk. — FG
BRACK YTHECI ACEyE

Rhynehostotfium tenuifolium (Hedw.)
.Leg. — H. W. FG
SEMATOPHYLLACEyE

Sematophyllum, amoenum (Hedw.)
Mitt.- FG

Sematophyllum homomallum

(Hampe) Broth.— C, W. FG

IV. HIGHER FUNGI

AGARICACEyE

(alphabetically arranged)
Amanita Krisea Mass. & Rodw. -\V
Armillaria mellea Fr .—FG
Collybia confluena Fr .—W
CortinariUK archeri Berk. -W

m Yvinaeeo-cinereus Clel .—

W

Cortinarius subeinnamomeus Clel.—Vi
Hyprrophorus candidus Cke. & Mass.
— W

Hy«:rophorus coceineus Fr. H
Hypholoma faaeiculare Fr. W
Lactarius piperatus Fr .—W
„ ?seri flints Fr .—W
Lepton ia ?iethiops Fr .—VV
Mycena leptocephala Fr. -W. FG
„ subcapillaris Chi .—FG
Omphalia chroniacea Clcl.—K, W
Russula ?mari:e Peck —W

„ purpureo-flava Clel . — W
Stropharia semiplobata Fr .—H

31

CANTHARELLAOE^E

Cantharellus brunneus Clel .—H

BOLETACEiE

Paxillus infundibuliformis del .—W
Boletus luteua Fr .— (under pines at
BriKfrs'a)

Boletus laeunosus Cktt. & Mass. — H
(r)

Boletus ?einape-cruentus del .—H

POLYPORACEjE

Polyporus purtentosus Fr .—W
.► ctimpylus Ilerk .—W
Poria ap. (small white pores) — FG'
Fomitopsis oohroleuca ( Ilerk.) Cunn.
—C f W

Coriolus versicolor (Fr.) Quel. C,
H. W

Coriolus ?zonatus (Fr.) Quel .—FG

THELEPHORACE.E

Stereum lobatum (Kzc.) Fr .—FG
vellereum Ilerk. —W, FG
CLAVARIACE>E

Ramaria botrytis (Fr.) Rick .—W
Clavicorona pyxidata (Fr.) Dotu —
FG

LYCOPERDACEAO

Lycoperdon (rlabrescens Berk . — H
Geastrum ?saecatum (Fr.) Fisch .—
W

SC L E ROD E RM ATACEjE

Pisolithus tincUxrius (Mich, cx Fere.)
Coker & Couch —H. W
TREMELLACEjE

Tremella ?fuciformis Berk .—FG
Heterotextus peziziformis (Berk.)
Lloyd H. W

In conclusion, the author desires to register sincere gratitude to
members of the Tasmanian Field Naturalists' Club Council, who
invited him to participate as a mainland guest in this 50th Jubilee
Camp. It was a pleasure to be associated with them, and other Club
members, in the field and to have had the privilege of contributing—
if even in such a small way—to the general usefulness of the 1954
visit to Safety Cove.

FEDERATION OF FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUBS

The inauguration of a Federation of Field Naturalist Clubs of
Tasmania, at Easter, 1954, marked a distinct step towards consolidating
the endeavours of the various clubs within the State. The Field
Naturalist Clubs at Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport each
appointed two of their members to the Committee and the Federation
aims to provide a channel for a united voice or action in aiding con¬
servation of natural features of importance.

When Mr. J. H. Wi 11 is of the National Herbarium, Victoria
visited Flinders Island he advised that some of the flat heathy district
be maintained in its present condition. The Federation placed a
plea to this effect before the Scenery Preservation Board and we are
pleased to know that a portion of the north-eastern coast of Flinders
Island may be declared a reserve. This area is a distinctly different
terrain from the Strezlecki Range National Reserve on the same
island.

It was the unanimous decision at the first meeting of the Federation
that, as Australia was so famous for its wealth of Eucalypts, Eucalyptus
globulus should be adopted as the Tasmanian floral emblem.

32

History of the T. F. N. Club

By Leonard E. Wall

PRELIMINARY meeting to consider the formation of a field

1 * naturalists’ club in Hobart was held in the Royal Society’s Room
at the Tasmanian Museum, Hobart, on September 15, 1904, under
the chairmanship of the Rev. H. H. Anderson. After Mr. A. M.
Lea had outlined the objects of such a club, all present agreed that a club
was desirable, and a committee was appointed to frame rules. The
meeting then adjourned.

On September 26, this committee presented its recommendations,
and the rules drawn up were adopted. Thus the Tasmanian Field
Naturalists’ Club came into being. Officers elected at this meeting
were: — President, Dr. Gerard Smith; vice-president, Mr. S. Clemes;
hon. secretary-treasurer, Mr. E. A. Elliott; committee, Messrs. E. S.
Anthony, A. Conlon, W. M. Harrison, A. M. Lea, A. Morton and J. C.
Smith.

The first field excursion held by the Club was to Cascades on
October 22, 1904, and this feature of its activities has continued through¬
out the years. In addition to day trips the early members set a
record, perhaps unique in Australia, in organising an annual camp
extending over five days. These camps still held, at Easter have
proved a great benefit, both from the scientific and social aspects.

Ladies took a keen interest in the Club from its inception, the
first two being elected to membership on February 27, 1905. The local
daily newspaper had much to say at the time about the behaviour
of these “ intruders ” in a gentlemen’s domain, but the publicity given
seems to have served the Club well, as the membership had increased
to 62 by the end of the first year — a very fine result.

The Club lost no time in making its presence felt in the community.
One of its first acts was to protest strongly at the disposal of a com¬
plete set of Gould’s “ Birds of Australia ” from the Public Library,
Hobart, for a comparatively small sum. It was, unfortunately, too late
to prevent the sale, but its prompt action impressed itself on the city
fathers.

It was in September, 1906, that the Club decided to commence
publication of its own journal, to be known as “ The Tasmanian Nat¬
uralist ”, and the first was produced in May, 1907.

During the year 1907 discussion arose as to a suitable form of
badge for the Club, and it was finally agreed to adopt the platypus
as its emblem.

33

As far as existing records show, the year 1911 brought the total
membership to 195, the largest number which has ever been on its
Roll. It was during this period of great activity and interest in the
Club that strenuous efforts towards the establishment of a national
park in the Mt. Field area were brought to a successful conclusion,
the reservation being declared in 191G. In consideration of the Club’s
active interest in the Park it was asked to nominate one member to
represent it on the Bard of Management, and Mr. Clive Lord was our
first Board member. As well as representing our Club, Mr. Lord was
the secretary of the Board from its inception up till the time of his
death in 1933.

Protection of the State’s fauna and flora has always been a primary
concern of the Club, and it was with much satisfaction that the active
campaigning in the early years brought about the passing of the
Animals and Birds Protection Act, in 1920.

The attention of the Club was then focussed on the need for a
large faunal reserve, and a special meeting was called on July 25,
1921 to launch a campaign for the declaration of the Cradle Mt.-
Lake St. Clair National Park. Success was achieved when the reserve
was proclaimed, in 1922.

The year 1925 brought the formation of a very active junior
section of the Club, for which Mr. Norman Walker, a master at Hutchins
School at that time, was largely responsible. The annual subscription
was increased from 5s. to 10s. in that year.

Considerable difficulty was experienced in 1930 when the Royal
Society’s room became no longer available to the Club for its monthly
meetings, and none was held from July to October, when other arrange¬
ments were made. It was at this time, too, that it was decided to
alter the Club sessions to coincide with the calendar year, and as a
result of the economic depression to revert to an annual subscription
of 5s.

The Club’s first Wild Flower Show was held in November, 1932,
and proved to be most successful. With one or two exceptions this
has been one of the principal activities each year.

The death occurred in July, 1933, of Mr. Clive Lord, one of the
oldest members and a tireless worker for the Club. He was secretary
and camp organiser during the years 1911-1927, and continued in the
latter capacity until his death. He was president in 1931 & 1932. In
recognition of his work in the interests of the National Park a memorial
cairn was erected to his memory on the shore of Lake Fenton, in
1936.

Mr. Leonard Rodway, another senior member of the Club, died
in March, 1936. His work as a botanist is well-known throughout
Australia, and his help and guidance to other members were of immense

34

value. He was the Club’s president for five years and vice-president
for a further three. The Club was honoured later in 1937 when the gover¬
nor (Sir Ernest Clark) accepted an invitation to become its first Patron.

Another step was the formation of a branch of the Club at Devon-
port, in June, 1937. This branch, forced into recess during the Second
World War, now continues to flourish.

The outbreak of the Second World War caused a considerable
curtailment of the Club’s activities, including the abandonment of Easter
Camps. In 1941, however, the Club reverted to monthly meetings,
mainly due to the enthusiasm of Mr. M. S. R. Sharland, who had
recently returned from the mainland and had taken over the office of
secretary.

The death occurred in 1943 of Dr. A. N. Lewis, who had been a most
ardent worker for the Club since its very early days. He was one of
Tasmania’s best-known geologists.

The immediate post-war years saw a great revival of interest
in the Club, and the annual Easter Camps were reinstated to the
calendar of its activities, the first being held at Safety Cove in 1946.
The first of a new series of “ The Tasmanian Naturalist ” was also
published in that year.

Further steps in conservation were made during 1949, with the
formation of the Tasmanian Flora and Fauna Conservation Committee
in Hobart, representation on the committee being from the Tasmanian
Field Naturalists’ Club, the Hobart Walking Club, the Royal Australian
Ornithologists’ Union (Tas. Branch) and the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and with the launching of the Laun¬
ceston Field Naturalists’ Club in that city.

Evidence of the increasing interest in natural history came in
1952 when the Burnie Field Naturalists’ Club was formed. In the
same year the Scenery Preservation Act was amended, one of the new
provisions was that one of the Board members should be nominated
by the Royal Society of Tas., the Hobart Walking Club, or the Tas¬
manian Field Naturalists’ Club, and it was pleasing to see Mr. J. B.
Thwaites, a member of the Hobart Walking Club and of this Club,
appointed to the vacancy.

For some years the Club had also been campaigning for greater
representation of scientific interests on the Animals and Birds Pro¬
tection Board, and it was with considerable satisfaction that we learned
of the appointment of Dr. E. R. Guiler, then our president, and Mr.
M. S. R. Sharland, then a vice-president, to the Board during 1953.

To honour the occasion of the Club’s Jubilee in 1954 three special
functions were arranged, firstly. Wild Flower Show and Photographic
Competition in January; secondly, the Easter camp was bigger and

35

brighter than usual, with three leading naturalists from Victoria and
representatives of other Field Naturalists’ Clubs in Tasmania as
official guests; and thirdly, a public meeting was held in Hobart Town
Hall two days after the camp, when a capacity audience was treated
to timely addresses by Messrs. P. Crosbie Morrison and J. H. Willis.

The election of Mr. M. S. R. Sharland as the Club’s president in
the Jubilee year was a fitting climax to the unceasing enthusiasm and
work which he has given over a long period of years.

Mention should also be made of the only two original members
of the Club who still take a very real interest in its activities—Dr.
E. A. Elliott, of Lunawanna, and his brother, Colonel C. H. Elliott.
Dr. Elliott was the first secretary, and held that post for seven years,
and was later president (in 1919). He was elected a Life Member
in 1940. Colonel Elliott was a committee member at one time, and
has always shown a very real interest in the Club’s work. He was
elected a life member in February, 1954.

No account of the Club would be complete without a reference to
its Easter Camps. The first of these was held at Bream Creek, in
1905, when the number of campers was very small. This form of
excursion, however, gained favour rapidly and it soon became the
chief event of the year, with large numbers of members and friends
attending. Mr. H. F. Sargison has been chief organiser for recent
camps, and his work, and that of his small band of helpers, cannot be
over-estimated.

It has been a very pleasing feature of post-war camps that mem¬
bers of kindred clubs have joined with us, and it is hoped that this
spirit of co-operation will continue.

TASMANIA’S FLORAL EMBLEM.

J OME years ago Mr. E. T. Emmett, then chief of the Tasmanian

Tourist Bureau, asked the Field Naturalists’ Club to decide on a floral
emblem for Tasmania, as he wanted to have it on the covers of tourist
publications.

Apparently Tasmania has no such emblem, so after considerable
discussion the club decided on the Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus).
The branches of the club were consulted and they also sent in recom¬
mendations.

At the 1954 Jubilee Camp held at Safety Cove advantage was
taken of the presence of members of branches to consider the question,
and the Blue Gum was decided on.

36

50th Anniversary Camp

GENERAL ACCOUNT

ELIGHTFUL weather, distinguished visitors, and enthusiastic mem¬

bers, co-operated to make a most successful 50th Anniversary
Field Naturalists’ Camp, held at Safety Cove, near Port Arthur, from
Thursday, April 15, to Tuesday, April 20th, 1954. Reports on the
observations and geology are given elsewhere in this issue.

The organisation of this special jubilee camp required much work
months in advance by the camp committee. The purchase of larger
tents to accommodate the increased numbers was also necessary. Safety
Cove was chosen as the place of unlimited possibilities, and had been
the site of some previously successful camps.

Sheltered from the “southerlies” behind a well-clothed sand ridge
at the south-eastern end of the beach, the little strip of ground affords
an ideal spot for camping. There are scattered gum trees and flowering
shrubs, extending from the beach up to the hills behind the flat, wood
for cooking and camp fires, and a permanent water supply. The view
from the dunes is exceptionally fine. It embraces the whole of Safety
Cove beach, the strip of yellow sand extending in an arc to the rocky
walls of the long headland of Point Puer, the edge of which is honey¬
combed with wave-washed caverns, while on the opposite side of Port
Arthur estuary are well-clothed hills buttressed by weathered dolerite.

Although several of the campers who had been there before were
well acquainted with its attractions, final selection of the site for yet
another outing was practically unanimous, and it is a high tribute to
the work of Mr, Harold Sargison, who bore the burden of the organisa¬
tion, that the camp proved to be one of the most enjoyable in 50 years
of the Club.

There were 95 in the party. It included members from the Burnie
Club, under Mr. F. J. Swann, the president, from Devonport, under
Mr. U. Champion, the president; and from Launceston, Mr. H. ,T. King
visited the camp. One cook and two assistants were engaged to attend
to an important aspect of any camp. There were 31 tents and one
small marquee erected in rows for men and women, and a separate
group for married people. There also was a large marquee that served
to accommodate the party for meals and after-dinner talks in the light
of the pressure lamps. There was a smaller marquee for cooking staff
and the great accumulation of food and cooking gear.

Eight, tons of food and equipment! That was the load we had
to get transported over GO odd miles from Hobart. It came by lorry
and the last part over an unmade road formed of sand containing
some awkward holes. Great was the relief on its safe arrival!

An advance party had got the camp in order, having arrived five
days previously to erect tents and sort out the luggage and the main
party turned up by motor bus about 11 o’clock on the night of Thursday,
April 15. They found hot coffee and supper awaiting them and it
was not long afterwards that all turned in to “ lights out ”.

The club was privileged in having as guests Mr. Crosbie Morrison,
the well-known naturalist and his wife; Mr. Edmund Gill, geologist, of
the National Museum, Melbourne, and Mr. J. H. Willis, botanist, of the
National Herbarium, Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.

On Good Friday everyone went to visit the Remarkable Cave. A
heavy sea made the coastal scenery impressive. During the afternoon
Mr. Briggs’s farm and fern gully were visited. Owing to a cold night
a concert was held in the marquee, interspersed with lectures on
geology by Mr. Gill, and on additions to the plant list already recorded
at past camps, by Mr. J. H. Willis. These talks were specially instruc¬
tive and entertaining.

Easter Eve was spent at Point Puer, overlooking the old prison
station of Port Arthur, which formed a pretty picture with the sun
illuminating the yellow walls of the penitentiary and emphasising the
autumn colours of oaks and elms. A few managed to get a brief trip
to Dead Island, off the end of the point.

On Easter Sunday a church service was conducted by Mr. Gill,
afterwards all walked to Half Moon Bay where a picnic lunch was
served at the mouth of a creek; then, most climbed to the summit of
Brown Mountain, whence a wide view was obtained of the coast, extend¬
ing from Cape Pillar and Tasman Island in the east, to the distant
end of Bruny Island and the Friars in the south-west, with the jagged
line of Cape Raoul in the middle distance. At 6 p.m. it was discovered
that two junior members had not returned to camp, so search parties
set out with lanterns. After 30 minutes, calls were heard along the
cliffs, the lost members had walked in a circle back to the beach and then
sensibly followed the coast line to the camp.

On Easter Monday some of the campers revisited Mr. Briggs’s
farm. This was the prison farm for Port Arthur and contains many
interesting stone buildings. In the afternoon a “ museum ” competition
was held in the marquee, the winner of the senior section being Miss
M. Westbrook.

Mr. Willis, an ardent collector, obtained a fine assortment of
botanical specimens, and was very enthusiastic over finding a rare
Club Moss. Mr. Gill interested members with his story of rock forma¬
tions near the camp. Mr. Crosbie Morrison, with a movie camera,
recorded studies, both human and nature. He also interested members
with a lecture on u Ecology ”.

38

The camp never was short of fish, thanks to Messrs, W. J. Fergusson
and F. Green. Flathead and barracouta were caught.

Always a feature of our annual camp, the camp fire concerts on
this occasion, conducted in the evening round blazing logs in a natural
basin among sand dunes, revealed new talent and many new songs.
Mrs. L. Luckman and Mr. A. Yeoland led the singing with their piano
accordions, and Mr. Burn Widdicombe did much towards the success
of the concerts.

Using the work of past members as a guide, naturalists were
able to follow special lines of investigation, or look for specimens
which had not been recorded, or only rarely. The camp endeavoured
to cater for all tastes. For those who wanted plants, the moors provided
the rewards; others who wanted fishing, swimming, walking, or scenery
were not denied and all were content. So it was natural that on the
final day, when tents had to be dismantled and loaded for return to
store, all should express regret that the holiday was over.

Personnel attending the camp were: — Messrs. M. S. R. Sharland
(President), A. Hewer and F. A. Peterson (Vice-presidents), Harold
F. Sargison (Hon. organiser), E. W. Cruickshank, H. K. Aves, A.
Brownell, C. B. Widdicombe, A. Craike, L. Wall (Hon. secretary), J.
A. Simpson, G. Barrett, F. Green, D. Gilbert, F. J. Swann, J. C. Ipsen,

J. H. Willis, E. D. Gill, P. Crosbie Morrison, J. R. Skemp, D. S. Ken- '
nedy, D. Elliott, — McDonald, L. Luckman, W. J. Fergusson, H. E. Dean,
N. McClelland, — Greenlaw, U. Champion, M. Hurburgh, L. W. Brasch,
V. Wilson, — Webber, A. Yeoland.

Mesdames B. Widdicombe, M. O. Goldfinch, C. H. Elliott, G. Barrett,
L. E. Wall, M. Webber, E. H. Stephens, N. McClelland, — Greenlaw, D.
S. Kennedy, L. Luckman, M. Hurburgh, IT. K. Aves, A. B. Brownell,
A. K. Reid, E. Aschner, P. C. Morrison, E. Fleming, A. van Zalen.

Misses E. Barrett, B. Wall, M. Westbrook, M. Ibbott, M. Fraser,
R. van Zalen, F. Waugh, L. Jensen, E. Kennedy, R. Hutton, IT. Omond,
H. & P. Hurburgh,, S. G. & E. Aves, E. Stephens, C. H. Mosey, A.
Wilkinson, J. Reid, P. Hewitt, I,. Goldfinch, M. Scott, S. Sargison,

K. Sargison, J. Brownell, W. Buckle, E. Widdicombe, A. Wall, M.
Griffiths, E. Vaughan.

Masters R. Hewer, B. Kennedy, F. van Zalen, P. van Dongen, D.
Hurburgh,

Staff: Official cook, C. Theobald; assistants, Messrs. E. Franklin
and B. Wherrett.

39

Boronia Citriodora

or “IT’S ABOUT THYME”
by Kelsey Aves.

jC^VEN its scientific name is euphonious— the “lemon thyme” of our

mountains! Try the name over for yourself— Boronia citriodora.
Doesn’t it trip lightly over the tongue? Then gently rub the leaves
and inhale the fragrance of the lemons, added to that oily tang which
so many of our bush plants have. Does it take you to the heights
of Lake Dobson, or that corner of heaven called the Cradle Mountain
plateau where you lay in the sun while the breeze whipped up the
scent of our incomparable lemon-scented Boronia?

When did you see a lovelier flower? For sheer symmetrical per¬
fection it surpasses all others. Four spreading petals in the form of
a cross, glistening and radiant even to the naked eye, but iridescent
and with a waxy patina when examined more closely with a magnifying
glass. In the centre of the flower stands the style, and arching in graceful
curves towards it are the eight stamens. I know of no other flower in
which the arrangement of style and stamens is in itself so beautiful to
look at.

Then take the buds clustering in the terminal axils of the leaves.
Perfectly spherical they are and bright red in colour as they swell,
clasped by their sepals of complementary green. As the buds expand,
the red changes to pink and then usually to white in the mature
flower, though plants with pink blossom are common.

Then, of course, there are the leaves, divided into three leaflets and
with the oil glands which are responsible for that wonderful scent. And
the whole bush, with its rounded, shrubby, typically alpine shape,
attractive even when not in bloom.

In Tasmania, it has several near relations which also are beautiful,
but which pale beside citriodora . There is the little B. poygaliflia,
quite common, yet so small that it is often unnoticed, and the still less
obvious B. parvifiora . Around Waldheim, in particular, grows a Boronia
(B. rhomboidea,) , which at first sight looks quite like the lemon-thyme,
but its leaves are undivided and broad, and lack the lemon scent,
though they have a pungent odour of their own when rubbed. So have
the leaves of B. pinnata , common on the East Coast, especially at
Eaglehawk Neck.

Native Fuschia ( Correa sp.) Wax flowers ( Eriostemon sp.) Zieria,
and Acradenia in Tasmania are genera of the same family to which
Boronia belongs, but the members of the family best known throughout
the world are the citrus plants, orange, lemon, &c.

40

“ Boronia ”, to most Tasmanians, means the Western Australian B.
megastigma. For me the scent of this flower is rather cloying and I
feel it is a pity that our own Boronia citriodora is not more generally
known. Flowers, with their scents, have vivid associations. Kipling
said —

“ Scents are stronger than sights or sounds
To make the heart strings crack

Stocks in the evening will whirl me back to the garden of an old
thatched cottage on the Sussex Downs, Daphne to heights in the
Austrian Tyrol. But the scent of the u lemon thyme ” will transport
me to scenes in our own highlands, which could well prompt the old
Indian greeting, “ I see God in you ”.

CLUB REVIEW, 1954.

r FHE financial membership of the Tasmanian Field Naturalists' Club
at the end of 1954 was 136, of whom 11 were juniors. It is
pleasing to see increasing interest from school children, and while this
continues the future welfare of the Club is assured.

At the annual meeting in February, 1954, Col. C. H. Elliott was
elected a life member. He and his brother, Dr. E. A. Elliott, are
the only two original members of the Club whose names still remain
on the membership roll.

A Show and Photographic Competition was held in Hobart Town
Hall at the end of January. Mr. Aves was responsible for the arrange¬
ments. The Photographic Competition was* organised on an Australia¬
wide basis by Mr. A. M. Hewer, and was a most successful adjunct to
the Wildflower Section.

Following a request from the Tasmanian Fauna & Flora Conservation
Committee to the Hobart City Council that more native trees be
planted on the Domain, the Club undertook to initiate such a plan,
and on July 24 20 eucalypts were planted in a small area near
the Crossroads. These appear to have established themselves well, and
it is hoped that more will be planted.

41

Notes on the Franklin Route

By J. S. Luck man.

JN 1842 the Governor of Tasmania, Sir John Franklin, decided to

make a journey overland from Hobart to Macquarie Harbour, on the
remote West Coast. Up to that time the harbour had been accessible
only by water and little was known about the wild country west of
Lake St. Clair. The Governor's lively and adventurous wife insisted
on accompanying him, a decision which was greeted with consternation
and criticism by the citizens of Hobart. However, she duly made the
journey, together with her maid, Mrs. Stewart, the party being out
three weeks, during which time they endured many discomforts.

In Decernber-Ja nuary 1953-54, as a contribution to Tasmania's Ses-
quicentenary celebrations, six members of the Hobart Walking Club
followed the route taken by the Franklins, and as president of the
club I was expected to represent Lady Franklin! We followed the
early part of Franklin’s route—from Lake St. Clair to the beginning
of the Frenchman’s Cap track — by modern bus, but from that point
were either directly on their route or within a half-mile or so of it,
the general condition of the country being unaltered since their day,
except for results of bush fires in some areas.

We covered many types of country — open buttongrass plain, bare
quartzite ridges, virgin myrtle (Noth ofay ns) forests, dense Bauera,
horizontal, and thick re-growth, all of which had their own interest
in fauna and flora.

The Frenchman's Cap track passes through some lovely myrtle
forest. Particularly attractive is the area around the junction of
the Loddon Rivers where the dense overhead cover of the tall myrtle
and Huon pines discourages much undergrowth and ground cover
consists mainly of low “ rattly" ferns and fine bushes of Laurel in
full flowers. Every log and stone is covered with a thick carpet of
bright green moss and the dark river slides silently between steep
banks. Birds seldom frequent the denser parts of these forests but in
the more open glade where we camped we noted the Brush Bronzewing
Pigeon, Green Rosella, Grey Thrush, “ Mopoke" or Spotted Owl and
Scarlet Robin. The open quartzite ridges bore a lush growth of
Swamp Heath, which was a bright red; white and mauve Bottlebrush,
Blandfordia, and Umbrella Fern.

Leaving the track at Philp's turn-off, we continued down the Loddon
plains to Franklin's “ Detention Corner ", and turned west to cross the
steep ridges which divide the Loddons from the Lachlan Plains. Fol¬
lowing up a creek through thick Bauera, some horizontal (Anodopetalnm

42

biglandulosum) and attractive pink Laurel, we found easier going
in virgin myrtle country where the ground was covered with “ rattly
ferns ”, their new growth ranging from delicate pink to bright bronze-
red — a fine sight. Here, too, were trees bearing berries like mauve
silk crepe {Cyathodes) . Soon we had hours of heavy going in dense
“pear” scrub ( Pomaderris ) where progress was exasperatingly slow
and nature observation reduced to a minimum. Another break into
myrtle forest was a welcome relief and here we noted some fine specimens
of tree ferns ( Dicksonia) in the valleys. The myrtles were magnifi¬
cent — hoary old giants covered with moss, and staghorn ferns growing
thickly along their branches. Here we saw a Magenta Robin and were
inspected by two talkative Black Cockatoos.

The western side of a high ridge treated us to a mixture of
myrtle forest, horizontal hung with “ old man’s beard ”, dense Bauera
as thick as a horse-hair mattress, a buttongrass knoll from which we
had breath-taking close-up views of the southern side of the French¬
man, then a long, very steep descent through appalling re-growth
complete with Cutting-grass ( Gahnia ) and hidden rotting logs, more
Bauera, a creek with delightful mosses, ferns, and pink Laurel, then
out on to the Lachlan Plains at last, where we surprised two Summer
Birds (Coracitia nova-hollandiae) and heard wrens and honeyeaters
chattering about a snake.

The Lachlan Plains are not as “ plain ” as they appear from aerial
photographs; indeed, they consist mainly of low knolls or mounds, many
of which are topped by clumps of Eucalypts, and were covered with
a glorious golden carpet of Hibbertia. Birds seen included the Scarlet
Robin, “ Summer Birds ”, Crescent Honeyeater, Grey Fantail, Fire-
tail Finch, Skylark, and we think we heard a Blackbird. Several
wombats took a great interest in our camp.

The plains are crossed by several creeks flowing to join the Jane
River, which flows west along the southern edge of the plains. These
creeks are bordered by native grasses and bright green herbage, and
on one we disturbed a family party of five wallabies. The course
of the Jane is dotted with huge residual blocks of quartzitic limestone,
one of which, at the western end of the plains, is honeycombed with
large caves. Birds were very numerous near the river.

The plains now gave way to the quartzite ridges of Deception
Range, on top of which were a good display of purple Hewardia
tasmanica, Dracophyllnm, and small tufts of dwarf pink and white
everlastings (Helychryaum) . “Fauna” consisted of march flies and
rain-forest butterflies, with one lone wallaby jolted out of a nap under
some bushes of White Waratah ( Agastachys odorata) . One bland-
fordia plant was found to have 48 blooms and buds.

43

An interesting find was an isolated group of yellow Hewardia.
Two White Cockatoos were seen on the plains to the south. The saddles
between ridges were covered with Buttongrass and stunted honey¬
suckle. From the ridge we dropped steeply for some hours through
myrtle forest and horizontal. The top leaves of some Laurels were
so red they looked just like Poinsettia, while Climbing Epacris grew
along high logs for nearly 12 ft. and hung down in a close curtain
effect for over 6 ft. It must be a wonderful sight when in flower. Near
the river we found hundreds of Huon pine seedlings growing along
old rotting logs.

The growth along this section of the Franklin River was alone worth
the trip. On the northern, shady side were perfect rock gardens —
everything covered with ferns and bright green moss, starred with
tiny white flowers, while further up river the high smooth limestone
cliffs were hung with long grasses and the cream flowers of Milligania
and topped by scarlet spikes of Blandfordia. The forest, which grows
to the water’s edge, is all shades of green, with the young bronze-red
growth of beech for accent.

Further upstream, where the Pigtrough joins the Franklin via
a 50ft. waterfall, there is a fine moss glade where the trees are hung
with long grey streamers of lichen. Here, too, were Prostanthera in
flower, enormous Paperbanks ( Melaleuca) and some fine eucalypts.
Further up again, at the old Hydro survey camp, were big leatherwoods
over 11 ft. in girth, and at night glow-worms moved among the ferns.

A very steep climb for some hours through typical myrtle forest
brought us to high buttongrass plains. Further west, these gave way
to dense Bauera and then bad horizontal — some of the worst bush
of this type we had seen on the trip and we were very grateful for
the track cut here by Hydro Surveyors some years ago. Another long
steep descent through myrtle forest, where we saw one lone King
William pine (Arthrotaxis) brought us to teatree and swampy bush,
and so on to Eagle Creek and the Gordon River, where we camped
beneath Huon pines and fine Blackwoods. Here the local fauna — a
freshwater eel — provided us with a tasty tea.

44

Wild Birds as Companions

By H. Boss-Walker.

several occasions during the
last couple of years, members of
the Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club
have visited “ Saint Chad ”, at Fern
Tree, where they saw and fed the
tame native birds. The following
short account of these birds and their
taming is the result of a suggestion
that it would be of interest to readers,
particularly those who have not had
the opportunity of seeing them.

When we came to live at “ Saint Chad ” in April, 1947, we found
that our predecessors had fed the birds regularly. So we carried on
the work and erected a new bird table on the verandah rail, in good
view from a window. Food was provided in the form of mash made
by soaking crusts and stale bread in hot water and sweetening with
sugar. In addition, pieces of suet and cheese were impaled on bent
wires, to prevent their removal en masse.

In a short time, the old habitues found the feast in its new
situation, and we were able to enjoy comparatively close-up views of
an Olive Whistler (Pachycephala olivacea) , a Yelloy-throated Honey-
eater ( Meliphaga flavicollis) , and a couple of dozen Silver-eyes (Zost-
crops halmatnrinc). During the following weeks, the table was also
visited by Blue Wrens (Malums cyancus) , Grey Thrushes ( Callnricincla
harmonica) , Dusky Robins (Amanrodryas vittata) and Crescent Honey-
eaters (Phylidonyrw pj/rrhoptcra ).

When spring arrived, Blackbirds (Tutdvs merida) , and Brown
Thornbills {Acanthiza pusilla) found the easily obtained, if not ideally
suitable, food a great help in their family feeding problems. A notable
event about this time also, was the visit of three Strong-billed Honey-
eaters (MelUhrept.as validirostris) , the advance guard of what were
to prove our most popular avian attraction.

With the passing of the years, the food supply has also been availed
of by Black-headed Honeyeaters ( Melithreptns affinis), Yellow-winged
Honeyeaters {Mtliomis novae-hollandiae) , House Sparrows (Passer
domestiens) , and, very rarely, Black Jays ( Strcpera fuligmosa) and
Starlings (Sleriiua vulgaris). Other very rare visitors to the table
have been Goshawks ( Astur fasciatus) and Butcher Birds ( Cracticus

45

torquatns ), attracted undoubtedly by the congregation of small birds,
not by the inanimate food! We were relieved to see them depart on
each occasion “ empty-handed

To give a complete account of the table's visitors, one should perhaps
mention also the bees and ants, the Brush-tailed ’Possums which often
lick the dish clean at night, and less attractive mammals of the rodent
order which occasionally partake. These last are not appreciated by
the birds or by us, but in an environment where cats are not tolerated,
they enjoy a certain freedom.

Another feeding device has been added in the form of a length of
fencing wire hanging vertically over the table and ending in a ring
about eight inches in diameter. Suet or cheese is attached to a wire
hook in the centre of the ring, and the birds make a very attractive
picture as they attack the “bait” from every angle, like the spokes
of an animated wheel.

So much for the table and its routine, which went on more or less
the same for several years. Then, in January, 1951, when we were
lunching on the verandah with visitors, with the birds nearby, someone
got the idea of hand-feeding them. When everyone kept very still
and a palmful of sugar was held out, the boldest Strong-billed Honey-
eaters very quickly overcame their natunil caution. And in a few
days most of the flock were taking a keen interest in human hands or
anything resembling one. This was quite evident when a tall nephew
sleeping on the verandah awoke to find birds perching on his uncovered
toes and searching for titbits between them!

A Yellow-throated Honeyeater also learnt quickly to feed from our
hands, and subsequently several Crescent Honeyeaters became extremely
tame. But the Silvere.ves and Black-headed Honeyeaters were much more
suspicious. The latter, indeed, made it perfectly plain by voice and gesture
that w r e were intruders at their bird table. Eventually, however, patience
was rewarded, and at the time of writing, two Blackcaps, three or four
Silvereyes, a Yellow-throat, a Crescent Honeyeater, and perhaps two
dozen Strongbills are eating from our hands.

It is specially gratifying that the birds are not particular about
who feeds them, and will come almost as readily to complete strangers,
giving much pleasure in this way. There certainly is something fascin¬
ating about the trust of wild creatures which are free to come or
go, and the sensation of little claws gripping one’s fingers and little
beaks prying between them is an enjoyable one.

The close-up view of plumage patterns is another privilege obtained
by hand-feeding. A female Crescent Honey-eater at 18 ins. distance is
much more interesting than the dull-looking little creature hurrying
round the garden.

46

The continual observation of the table has shown interesting: differ¬
ences in bird temperaments. The Yellow-Throats have lived up to their
reputation for being bullies. Before the Strongbills arrived, one of
these birds was a constant menace to the little Silvereyes, and was
repeatedly seen to swoop down on one, hold it down with one foot, and
peck it savagely. But when Strongbills are about, a Yellow-throat
is quite deferential, waiting till its sturdy companions have eaten
their fill, or perhaps sampling a little from the other end of the dish.

The Silvereyes will stand up to one another, with quivering wings
and open beaks, and many a battle has been witnessed. The Olive
Whistlers have a peculiar way of lowering the head and fluffing out
the feathers and making a little run at any birds which they consider
should not be at the table.

One characteristic of the Strongbills is their propensity for sudden
and apparently causeless panic. One of them will “ yell ”, and in a
flash they all bolt for cover. In a few seconds they are all back
at the table again. The performance may be repeated almost immedi¬
ately. It looks like a kind of practical joke on the part of one of
them.

One day we saw a sight which made us gasp. One of the Strong¬
bills on the table seemed to be in a most pitiable plight. Its head
was on one side, its beak gaping open, all its feathers fluffed up, and
one wing almost turned inside out across its back. While we were
conjecturing what could be wrong, another one began to have a similar
“ fit ”, and we realised that they were merely taking advantage of a little
winter sunshine to get its warmth right down between their feathers
to the skin. Since then it has happened fairly often, and has been
observed in the Sivereyes too.

Some times in the jam-making season, the scum has been put
out for the birds and has been much appreciated. If they remember
their manners, everything goes well, but jam is very sticky stuff for
little birds to walk in, and several rescues have been necessary. How¬
ever, a visit to the bathroom and a sponging with warm water have put
things right again.

The birds are very much at home all over the verandah, and with
the slightest encouragement would share the entire house with us.
Several attempts in this directioin have been made, and one yellow-
throated Honeyeater might be encountered at any time of the day,
hopping from room to room. However, as no method of house-training
birds seems to have evolved yet, we felt it wiser to draw the line some¬
where. Not that the rule is hard and fast, though, and no bird has been
prevented from coming in occasionally to take a little carpet pile to line
its nest with, or to have an argument with a “ rival ” in a mirror.

47

L. G. Shea, Government Printer, Tasmania.