Skip to main content

Full text of "The victorian naturalist"

See other formats 


VICTORIAN NATURALIST 


THE JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE 


OF THE 


Field Naturalists’ Club of Wictoria 


VOL. XLII 


MAY, 1925, TO APRIL, 1926 


Hon, Critor;: CHARLES BARRETT 


2 
——_e 


The Author of each Article is responsible for the facts a 


opinions recorded 


MELBOURNE : 
RAMSAY PUBLISHING PTY. LTD., 203-5-7 KING STREET 
1926 


INDEX y vii 


ILLUSTRATIONS: 


PAGE 
Adiantum, Dindsaute, Trichmomenés 2. 5. 02 2. 5, 22 22 oe eee BOB 
Ajuga qustralis,; R.Br... 65 6k ee cb eG Ge ee de bd eb eres 198 
Barnard, Mr. F. G AL... .. .. age A, dengpilley wee “er dee -rile Be 
“Bearded Dragon” or “Jew” Lizard wy ga! ait na bak abel taba nh STE 
Caleana nigritu .. .. . 6. Boe, Sat. RE. ae Bee. 
Cockatoo, Young “Major Mitehell” baat Geetet) ee a ote 2d6 
Corallum of Uamnastraea sera, Duncan... .. .. -. 2. 1... -. 282 
Cormorants, Rookery of White-breasted .. -. 2.00.00. 0, es) es WAR” 
Cyatheacewe and Osnvundaceae .. 2. 6. 2. ee ee ee ee ee ee BOB 
Eoacris Buwbawensis, Stapf—Alpine Heath ., .. .. .. .. 2. 292 
Drakea elastica .. 6. . be a eth! im et are a 
Gleicheniacede, Rbpiaembene and ‘ Batuiniacede ce te pe we a BAD 
Greenhoods, The “Striped” and the ‘Brittle’ .. .... .. .. 4. @2 
Hymenophyllacede .. .. . Seslpe ge £4 Et ee ye peces weorase 
Mursiliaceae and Cuningtossuedy aa LE Nhe tele! eich endef ta te 
Myrmecia (Promyrmecic) aberruns. Forel fe Bet ase 
Notholaena, Davullia, Dennstaedtia, Hypolepts, Cheitunthes ., B01 
(Meobius naws .. 6. a. we. .. 208 

_ Ophicardelus ornatus (Fer), 0. dws. UH. ‘& A Aa), dnd 

a O. sulcatus (TT. & A. AG) 2. 2. ee ee ee ce ee ce ee ee ve 269 
Pimelea spathuluta, Labill. .5 2. 2) 6. ce ee ee ee ee oe ee 198 
Pterostylis, Seedling Plants of Some .. .; .. 6. 0. -. ea es +. 190 
Pterastylis acuminata, P. rufa and P. pusilla .. .. .. -- .. .. 144 
Spider's Carding Machine, The .. .. 6. 2... -5 2. a. es a. 68, 69 
Termites, Victerian .. .. . SE ny a at a te cle Bete. HO 
“The Stranger’ Rock, Derrinal ere ts ee ee we oe 102 
Wittsteiniu vaccinincea, F.v.M.—The Baw Baw Batry: ee ne we) 292 

ERRATA: 


Page 32) line 4 from bottom—"December, 1902" should read 
December, 1892. 


Page 184, line 19—For “another point,” read anther point, 
Page 200, line 6—For Considerniana read Consideniand., 


Page 214, line 11 from bottom—For ‘“englyphoides’ read engly- 
phatdes. 


Page 238, line 18 from bottom—¥or “chat” read chert. 
Page 257, line 18 —For Ricinus read Ricinocarpus. 
Page 257, line 15—For Hakeus read Hakeas. 

Page 259, line 20—For Culex read Prez, 


Che Victorian Naturalist 


Vou, XLIL—No. 1, MAY 6, 1925, No, 497 


FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. 
The monthly meeting of the Club was held in the Royal 
Society’s Hall on Monday evening, April 20, 1925. 


The President, Mr. J. Searle, occupied the chair, and 
about. fifty members and friends were present. 


CORRESPONDENCE, 

From Hon. Secretary Australian Forests League, inviting 
this Club to join with the League in forming a deputation 
to the Minister of Lands to protest against the proposed 
alienation of lands in the Otway Forests area. It was 
proposed by My. F. G A. Barnard, seconded by Dr. C. 8. 
Sutton, ‘‘That the Club be represented on the deputation."’ 
Carried. 

Messrs. C. Daley and F. (. A. Barnard were appointed to 
represent the Club. 

REPORT OF EXCURSION. 

A report of the excursion to Broadmeadows on April 18 
was fiven by the leader, Mr. J. Wilson. He said that a 
party of members had walked to Gellibrand’s Till, over a 
circuitous route, noting interesting geological features. 
From the hill beautifal views of the surrounding country 
were obtained. 

ELECTION. OF MEMBERS. 

On a ballot being taken, Mr, W. H. Callister, 52 Alex- 
andra Avenue, Canterbury, and Mr. and Mrs. Dwyer, 38 
Brougham Street, Box Hull, were unanimously elected as 
ordinary members, of fhe Club. 


GENERAL BUSENESS, 

Mr. C. Oke nioved that the congratulations of the Clvh be 
conveyed to Mr. P. GC. Morason on his obtaining the degree 
of Master of Seience in Zooloey. Seconded by Mr. F. G.. A. 
Barnard and carried. yo 

Dr. Sutton mentioned that the Tree Lovers’ League 
needed more member's, and hé asked the Club’ a help im gaim- 
ing them. ' 


4 Field Naturalists’ Club—Proceedings ine otek 


PAPER. 


By Mr. P. f, Moprig: '' The Need for Growing Softwoods for 
Paper-making.'’ The author referred to the heavy importa- 
tions of paper, and expressed the opinion that such paper 
should be manutactured in Australia. Ixperiments, he con- 
sidered, should be conducted with native trees that were of 
little use as timber, to ascertain thelr value for pulping. 
Large areas night be planted with trees suitable for the pro- 
duction of paper pulp, The paper caused some discussion, 
in which Dr. Sutton and Messrs. F. Pitcher, EF. G A. Barnard, 
CG. Oke and H. B, Williamson took part. 


EXUIUBITS. 

By Mr. F. G. A. Barnard—Rocks from Derrinal. sonic 
striated. 

By Miss . C. Cameron—Brittle starfishes, belonging to 
the family Opharidce, from Cowes, Phillip Island, Vie- 

By Mr. ©. Daley, B.A—Samples of native timbers from 
Gippsland; also Gaultheria hispida, Waxberry, from Mt. 
Magnet, Tasmania. 

By Mr, A. EB. Rodda—-Decomposed granite, front Gelli- 
brand’s Hill, eolleeted on Broadmeadows excursion. 


EXCURSION TO BALWYN. 


Rain did not; deter abaut «dozen memhers from -meeting 
at Mont Albert Station on March 31; but it was decided to 
curtail the programme and visit only the newly-acquired 
reserve on the White Horse Road. On our way, via Mont 
Albert Road, to Maling's quarry, some of the features of the 
surrounding geography were pointed out, while Mr. P. R. H. 
St. John explained the reason for the presence of the many 
fine gum trees and pines of the district. 

The quarry is of extraordinary interest, being situated 
on a fold, or anticline, which runs throngh to Templestowe 
and beyond. The folding was so. intense at this spot that. 
the rocks of mudstone (Silurian) were crushed and sheared 
so that secondary (metasomatic) changes took place. and 
numerous erystals of pyrites were formed. The pyrites (iron 
_bisulphide) was subsequently dissolved out, leaving its 
cubjeal moulds seattered through the hard mudstone, In 
one place a large stack of the altered rock, standing ont at 
the side of the ‘pool, shows how the seamed rock, filled with 


vol Pluns for the “Natusalest" 3 


quartz yeins, was squeezed and fractured almost to the 
extent of mylonisation, This broken and fissured rock would 
make an excellent subsoil fury the planting uf shrubs and 
trees, as proposed. ‘his interesting geologica] site of one 
und a half aeves has been generously given to Camberwell 
hy Mrs, K. Malling, The mayor, Councillor A. B. Hocking, 
was prevented, by another elgagement, from visiting the 
quarry on this occasion. He has already expressed his appre- 
sjation, and that of the Camberwell Council, of the Club's 
proposed effort to plant this reserve, when the pround has 
Ween prepared and the fencing completed. Ax the rain con- 
tinuecl. the members adjourned to the Jeader’s house. where, 
hy tneans of microscope, specimens and books, much interest- 
ing disdussion was elicited —F. CHarmMan, 


PLANS FOR THE “NATURALIST,” 

With the authorily of the Committee, 1 propose to make 
some changes in our journal—changes that depend for their 
snecess upon the ¢o-operation of members with the Hditor. 
Notes from the field and the study are desived, to fill several 
pages of cuch issue. Country members, especially, are invited 
io contribute from their stores of natural history knowledge. 

Reeord your observations for tho benefit of others. A 
paragraph may. be made as interesting as a paper, Specialists 
could give us glopses of their subjects—not general sum- 
mlaries, but notes that are ‘““news"’ to the majority of nature 
lovers. 

Hints for the novice, from veteran students and collectors, 
will be aceeptable—briel paragraphs of the kind that helped 
to make ‘‘Seience Gossip’’ popular. Indeed we might, with 
advantage, adopt other features. of that delightful journal, 
whose passing was so keenly regretted. But a dozen more 
pages at least wonld be needed, and the present high eost of 
printing prohibits sueh enlargement of the ‘‘Natyvalist.’’ 

Ti funds permit, our jownal will be more freely ilus- 
twated. The ain ig general improvement, though we are not 
so rich as we could wish, and perforce must hasten slowly 
towards the goal. 

Space for nature notes will be gained by condensing 
veports of Chab excursions. There rarely is a good reason for 
making the report of an afternoon outing, or even a whole- 
day one, lengthy, at least for publication, As a journalist one 
learns the value of “‘selection.”’ 


4 Sparrow-hawks at Hume Plat Bet 


‘The Vistorian Naturalist,’’ undet Mr. Barnard's cave, 
has not only become one of the leading publications of its 
class in the Commonwealth, it coinpares. fuyourably with field 
¢lub journals issued overseas. Yet there is room for improve- 
raent, and the plans outlined here are the fruit of a general 
tliscussion in committee, T shall be on trial ag Mditor during 
the next twelve months, and eriticism will not be wnwel- 
come.—QHARLES BARRETT. 


SPARROW-HAWKS AT HOME. 
By W, C. Tonar. 

The home life of the Sparrow-hawk, Accipiter eirroce- 
piutlus, is not so well known as that of many other birds of 
prey. Last season (1924) 1 was able to keep a nest and its 
owners under observation, from ‘‘building-days’’ until the 
brood had ranged. The nest-trec—a Bucalypt—grows in a 
gully at Eltham Heights, close to my own paddock. "The 
Sparrow-hawks. built on a bough abont 40 feet from the 
ground. The nest resembled that of a Magpie, but the egg- 
cavity was. shallow, with a lining of green gum leaves. 

Ox October 141 climbed to the nest, and found in it. three 
fresh eggs. On Ostober 22, when the male Sparrow-hawk 
had been brooding for about two days, the nest contained 
four eggs, Two eggs hatelied on November 19, another three 
days Jater; the fourth eve was infertile. The nestlings wore 
covered in creamy down. Portions of the breast. and head of 
a small bird, denuded of feathers, were lying im the nest on 
the day when I first saw the ‘‘tivins,’’ one of whith was peck- 
ing at the food. 

When the vonng birds were nearly fledged, about the 
middte of December, 1 climbed the tree to take a photograph, 
A nestling fluttered away, or was knocked off the nest by one 
of the parent birds. I replaced it; but the female hawk tried 
repeatedly to knock one or other of the youngsters oft the nest. 
with her wing, On December 18 the nest was empty when L 
‘oalled’’: on the 20th, however, the brood was at home— 
three fine Little Sparrow-hawks standing on the flattened 
nursery of twigs, sticks and leaves, When I saw them on 
December 23, brown streaks on the breast plumage were 
changihg te bars; and, a few days afterwards, the young birds 
were scarcely distinguishable from their parents. They were 
hunting far themselves when five weeks old; on several 


1536] ; Rpurrow-hewhe at Home h 


oecasions L observed one with a bird, ot portion of one, in its 
talons, 

The parouts were bold and ageressive, Disturbed at the 
neat, they flew around, uttering eries resambhng notes of the 
White-plunted JToney-eater, Meliphaga penicilhuta, and 
others, vot unlike the call of the Sacred Kingfisher, Haleyou 
sametus. Vo notieed that, durmg the incubation period und 
whe the brood was being reared, the female Spurirow-hawk’s 
phonage beaains darker. Parents and youne remained in the 
vicbuty of the nest until the end of daniary; and 7 saw them 
abont the paddocks often, for some weeks afterwards, 

Several pairs of small birds nested in the nevehbous hood 
ot the Sparrow-hawls* bome. A paiv of Weaden IMlveatehers. 
Mytagrt vubecila, veaved a breed of three almost ino the 
shadow of the hawk-tree, 

| Mr. onge ia a keer observer, and his reeord of the home: 
lite of a Sparrow-hawk family is a valuable pave of bird 
biography. ‘Me Eltham dishiet is furrly rich in birds. My, 
‘Yonge hag listed more thai one handred species, ana the most 
ot them have vested at Eitham. —Eprror, | 


CHECK LIST OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS, 


Mie seeond edition of the Official Cheek List of Australian 
Birds, compiled by s special committee of the Royal Ats- 
tralasian Ornithologists’ Uuton, will he published some time 
this year. Bird studenta will notice niny changes im nonien- 
ature, The ivon law of priority has been observed ietieu- 
lously, and the passing of some familiar Gouldian nunes nist 
he lamented. The trivial names, too, have been ander revision, 
Many of the ehanves made, doubtless, will be welcomed by 
bird lovers. "lhe total number of species recognised is 708. 
The list is a bi-nontinal one; but the host of sub-species 
deseribed ynd named in recent years has uot. heen inored— 
al] are listed as synonyms, Sub-species are the delight of 
any systematists; the average field naturalist is wisely ¢on- 
servative, and holds no brief for tri-nomials. 

The new Cheek List will be indispensable ta every stuctust 
and observer of Australian birds, For wany years it mts! 
remain the standard; though all the committee's © findings’? 
may not meet with general approval. The preparation of the 
List has entailed mach work, ineludinge study of the literate, 
examination of specimens in State museums and private wol- 
lections, and the compilation of a full synonymy, 


; . “po ROIETARITD TAG 5 View Nar 
G One, New Austrillan Coleoptera — - Watkiat 


NEW AUSTRALIAN COLEOPTERA. 
(Parr L.) 
By Cranes Oxn. 


( Read before the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria, 
Oth Mareh, 1925, 


” Boararipas 
APEODIN 2, 
Aphodius. dvconi. spavov. 

mM. Black: undev-surface diluted with red; front and lateral 
mnuveins of prothorax awd elytra (its markings excepted) 
flavous: legs reddish, in parts intuseated. ‘With short, pale, 
sub-evect hairs, thick on front of head and margin of elytrit. 
spu'se elsewhere: prothoax with wo conspicuous. fringe of 
longer hairs. TWead, protharax and seutellum  sub-nitid: 
elytra sub-apaque, Head with elevated margin. theuryed to 
middle; base ‘unpunetate, in front and elypeus strouvly and 
coarsely punuetate. Prothorax transverse (3 x 4) irregularly 
punctured, a. faint median line on basal third, front. angles 
diehtly produced, hind obliquely vounded. Byes opaque, dis- 
tinetly facetted, Tlytra with minute punctures and very fine 
strum; the odd interstices evenly elevated, the even ones wider 
and flat. Seutellum sparselyy punctured. Anterior tiblee 
bi-dentate on the external edge. 

g. Similar, Peothorax with median line move strongly 
impressed and longer; hind angles strongly ualched out. 
Front tibie tei-dentate. Length. 64 mm. 

Hab, Victoria: Lake Hattah (J. 1M, Dison and @. Ola), in 
stereo. 

A variable species in the markings of the elytra; sonre 
specimens haying most of the elytva black. but not suture ov 
apex, Most have about half of elytra dark. Qne speeimen has 
a small black spot on middle of fourth interstice, and three 
small. faint infuseate Spots on apieal third. 

Apparently nearest to callahonnensts (Blkb.) of the 
deseribed species. but with sexual characters diffevent. I 
cannot deteat any diftereuee in the puneturation of the pro- 
notum in the mM. and rv. The puueturation of this part is 
very nneven in size and distribution in both sexes, 

C have wuch pleasure iu namiag this sp. after my friend. 
Mr. J. B, Dixon, who has taken numerous specimens of if on 
several, visits to the locality. 


Aeie | Okt, New Auytvation Guleopreru 4. 

“Types in anthar’s collection. 

Paw arate, 
Stgaka Nhelenw®, sp.nau, 

M, Reddish, castaneons, elytra and lees slightly paler, palpi 
flavows; clothed with moderately long yellow sete, u few 
longer hairs intermineled, thicker on apex of elytra and on 
abdomen. Head small. with a deep foveute impression i 
front, connected with cut (hrough anterior marein ; a few large 
punctures, Closest on antennal tubercles, Myes large; pro. 
ininent. Antennae reaching upteal third of elytra; first joim 
neurly as long as next three combined, second moderate, thud 
sinall, fourth to eighth snb-equel, ninth and tenth slightly 
larger, eleventh ovate, one und’a half times as long as tetth. 
Prothorax cordate. hehtly transverse, wider than head, with 
sides strongly ronnded and widest at middle, with a strous 
impression ita hase connecting three fovee, of whieh the 
wedi ane is He lrrwest and shelitly in advance of the others, 
and with say oblige Jutenal Dnipvession ueapy base. Mlvtra 
longer than wide, each elytrou with a small foven at base of 
sab-sutiral stria and another belind it; dorsal steia repre 
sented by twa fovor, a small one at base, said oo davecr one 
behind it; a round fovea at base between sutura and diseal 
striz: a row of punetures near lateral margin: a curved 
double row of punctares on epipleurar. Abdomen longey than 
elytra, dilated fo fourth segment; with a few seattered pane 
tures: undersurface with a large round Cepression common 
Lo fitth and sixth segments, a small split granule at bowwon. 
vent wochanters mirately bi-dentated. Length, 3.25 nm. 

Wah, Vietoria = Evelyn fn dune (C, Oke). 

This germs, sO numerous in New Zealand, has aot heen 
recorded dvom the mainlend of Australia. Mo. duew dies 
desevibed oue species trom Tasman, from which the pre- 
sent species differs (by deseription) iu foveze of the under- 
surtace of abdomen, by the front trocharters beme armed, 
and the Jinel ones rat aarmed, and the unpression an head not 
hamg continged to base. 

Type i anthor’s eolleetion. 

Sagola uretovur, sp.nov. 

Reddish esatancous, dise of clytra, legs Chnces exeeptod 
and palpi yaler, clothed with long, yellowish set, a few 
longer ones infernaneled, ead rather small, with two small 
niedio-basal foveze, and deeply impressed between antontial 
Vubereles, ending in a foveate expansion between eyes; the lat 
ter Taree and prominent; sparsely punetored. Antenna: 


g Onn, New listrakan Ooleaplend naam 


reaching middle coxz, first joint large, as long as next two 
combined, second same thickness as first, thirc amall, fourth 
to sixth sub-equal, seventh to feath trapeaitorny, clevertti 
ovate, slightly aenminate. Prothorms eordate, slightly longer 
than wide, widest at middle, sides strongly rounded, with a 
wide tri-toveate impression nour basal third, the centre 
dilated forward; the sides. with an oblique impression ; a lorie, 
round tovee at base, RBlytra quadvate, with seattered rough 
punetiures; diseal strie widely impressed to beyond middle; 
base with several suall, indistinct fovew. Abdomen a little 
dilated io fourth. segment; under-surlace slightly tlattened., 
Lees apparently unamned Leagth, 2.60 inoan. 

Hab. Vietoria; Belyrave, Macedon. Daylesford (CL Oke), 

Types in anthor’s eolleetion. 

Sagola brevipennts, sp-nor. 

w. Reddish castaneous, elytra Hehter, tip of abdomen ane 
palpi flavous, Head widely and deeply inpressed between 
antennal tuberales. Antemige shorter and thicker than mm 
preceeding species, with the joints 45-6 more globular, ane 
9-0 shorter and more transverse. Fourth joiit of palpi? sub- 
fusiform.  Prothorax cordate, sides rounded, widest aloeut 
middle, where width is equal to Jenpth, with ay sul-busal tine 
foveate tipression; with very fine poietores,  iMlytee short, 
trimsverse. Abdomen dilated to fourth segment; uneder- 
surface with i nurvow, transverse impression. on fifth and 
sixth segments, Leneth, 2.85 m.m, (Abdomen cistended,) 

Hah. Vietoria: Belyvave (CG. Oke). 

Impressions on elytra as in vletorie, but the elylea ate 
wach shorter, the body narrower, and ihe antennze shorter. 

Types in author's collection, 

Sagala fornvicicola, sp.nov. 

M. Castancous, legs and palpi lighter: clothed with pale ate 
tather short fine pubescenee. ILead amall, with a toveate 
impression in front, and two smal) mecio-baxul fovere. Anten- 
hee not quite reaching middle cox, first joint lounger than 
WONt two combined, third small, thenee sradually inereasing 
in size to apex. ninth and tenth transverse, eleventh trrvegu- 
larly ovate, Prothorax with sides rounded aud constricted 
near base, With a transverse tri-foveate finprossion, dilated 
forwarc in centve. Elytra lightly transverse; with a lavge 
impression at hase of sutural strice, discal stvice represented 
by two impressions, a small one at base aud a larger one 
behind 7 Abdomen very gently dilated to fourth semnent, 
which is Jong: under-surface somewhat constricted hefare 


ei OKK, New Australian Coleoptera 9 
upex, the wpex itself slightly produeed. Legs uuarmed. 
Kength, 1,20-1,50 iam, 
. Similan, bat undersurface of abdomen evenly Goi vex tio 
NER. : 
Hab. Vietoria: Pein Tree Gully in nest of Amblyopone 
diustrais (C. Oke). 
Distinguished by its small size and its pale, almost, aslo, 
und short, pubescence. 
Types an author's collection, 
Rybiunis. sternalis, sp.nov, 
M. Dark castaneous, elytra and legs reddish eastancous, palpi 
tlavous, clothed with short, pale pubescence. Head longer 
than wide, with two large round interocular fovere, and a 
gmail one behind; in front of fovew rather coarsely pone 
tate, behind smooth ; nitid, Antenme long, very irregular; 
first Joint. stout. longer thay sext. two combined, seqand same 
length as third, but stonter, fourth longer, eylindvienl, fii 
lonwer than fourth of sixth, irregularly widened on its inner 
dee, sixth shehtly longer than fourth, eyJindrical, seventh 
slightly shorter Init wider than sixth, irregularly widened on 
ita inner edge. eighth smallest, qnadrate, ninth same length us 
fourth, nearly as wide as Jong, tenth Jonver than ninth, {ratis- 
vorse, deventh ovale, nat quite as lone as ninth and tenth eom- 
bined, with » small appendage on lower surface. Prothovwx 
transverse, conver, sides strongly rounded, the lateral foveu 
eounected by a well-defiued curved iMPVesNiOn, sontewhad 
expanded in middle; striolate in front of Impression, with a 
few punetures near apex and sides, behind smooth. Hlyta. 
lightly transverse, slightly attenuated to base; sutaral and 
diseal strise distinet, the latter lightly curved and diverging, 
deep at base and vanishing ney apex, each elytron, produced 
at middle of apex; punctures fine and indistina, Abdomen 
with a sniall, transverse impression al base of first segment, 
wnd two strioke cluse to sutural strias af base, but diverging 
aud yanishine before apex of segment; widersurtiaee with a 
sinall plate on edee of second sessment, this segment produced, 
nr entre, over apex of third seuement. Metastemum deeply 
suleate. on each side of suleus with a large protuberant 
tubercle. Four front trochanters stroigly dentated; front 
femora inflated and with a-small tooth nearer base than apes ; 
front tibia sharply dentate at apieal third, and somewhat 
excavated froin there to apex; posterior tibis: Hghtly inflated 
and conpressed to apex, near apex notched, and with a paral- 


1 Own, New Ausdredion Coleoptera Pheer 
lol spur, invisible from most directions. Length, 2,70-2.50 
man, 

er. Differs in having shorter antemunu, and the fitth and 
severth joints not widewed as in the male, bat showing a 
slight trace of Th; mid metasternim, abdomen and lope” not 
duemedt, 

Tab. Victovia; Beacanstield, in grass: Evelyn, in moss 
(CG, Oke.) 

In appearance very like stiigidolls, hat uoder-surfave and 
legs different. Ja imany respects close to muirebilis, but ster 
num atid legs of that species, appurcuthy, not armed. ‘The 
present speeics hag an additional fovea on head. and a siete 
phate on abdomen, aod. its apex vol exeavate. The abdominil 
plate ig rather narrow, lightly overtungs the third sewmert. 
and is bent baek, with its tree eee, winel os vouuded. cdiveeted 
cgephalid, 

Types tieoauthor’s collection. 

Varendex crassits, sp.nov, 

M. Dark reddish castuneous, much infuscated m parts, 
abdomen neatly dlack, palpi lighter; with pale subsquanose 
clothing, darker in patches on abdomon, cdeukely pruietate, 
Head truisverse, with two mteroculir fovea, and the tront 
widela aipreased, and coitiived hetween antentual tubereles, 
which are eouspicuously waised; Wind angeles prodaecad, 
Antenme jeaching beyond middle coxa, first, joint stout, 
longer than second and third combined, seco shorter anc 
stouter than third, third to fitth sub-equal, sixth to eehth 
decreasing in size, ninth louger, uot quite as wide as lone, 
tenth quudrate, eleventh ovate, wot quite as long ag ninth aan 
tenth combined, Prothorax clistinetly taansverse, sides rather 
strongly rounded, with a shallow medio-basal fovea, and ao 
foveatte impression on each side. Miytra short, dilated tu 
apex; sutiral and diseal strie distinet, the latter widely 
impressed at base and continued to neat apex, Abdomen 
dilated to third scament, declivious from second, with wide 
margins; undersurface with a large tound excavation, com- 
mon to secon! aud third segments, and slightly eneroaching 
on fourth; the ulfimate sexment somewhat produced and hi- 
impressed, Metasternam deeply suleate. the sides of sulcus 
finely carinate; with a lamelliform protuberance at. itt base, 
between the hind éoxe, at right angles to the body. its lower 
edge concave. Front trochanters bi-dentate, all the femora 
are somewhat inflated. and constricted near apex, the anterine 


May, ] Oxn, New Australian Caleontura li 


1920. 


oes With a sharp tooth near base; all the tibia curved, aid 
obtusely armed at apex, 
' Similar, but metastermam only thitened in iiddle and 
abdomen convex an undersurface. Lenet, 3,25-5.35 wan. 
Hab, Vietoria: Grampians (C. Oke). Tn aipss. 

A larve, robust spacies, distinvaished fron echilanund 
(ly deséription) in prothotax not having fattened and arnied 
sides, discal stvimw continnous to apex, and metastemmim. The 
latter, when viewed obliquely from bebind, appears to have 
Iwo wedge-shaped teeth with their bases joined together, bat 
When wiewed trot. in front tt appears to lave a somal) plate 
With its outer edge pently coneave. On this and the following: 
species there is a small tuberele on the alypeus (?) overhang- 
ine the front of the head, 

Varcodes vulgaris, sp nau 

M. Black, ov almost.so, head antenn (club black) and pro- 
Notuur dingy brown, elytoa aid Jews (knees infuscated) » red- 
dish, palpi fliveans. With golden subsquamuse clothing, 
longer at apex of elytra and two rows down abdomen than 
elsewhere. Vlead lightly transverse, with two shallow imter- 
ocitlar fovem, andy deeper one in to.s bind-anyvles prerliyeed 
downwards dite ai obtuse point; with coarse, devise purie- 
tures. Antenume passing middle cox, first jot shout, ws dony 
as Lwo and three combined, second slouter and much shorter 
than third, thind to eizhth deerensine in deneth, ntath one- 
third Jonger than eighth and not maeh wider, tenth oa Title 
shorter, quadrate, eleventh ovale weuntinate, as loi as ninth 
and tenth combined. Prothoras as ome as wide, at shatluw 
meédio-hasal impression, and a smaller but, deeper one on eich 
ot the declivious sides; fvont angles widely rounded aff, wath 
punctures as on head, Mlytry chstinetly deansverse, dilated 
posteriorly ; sutmral and diseil stvia: distinet, rhe hatter widely 
impressed, apd continuous: puretares meh as on head, 
Abdomen with second and thirc sovments dilated pasterorty, 
fourth parallelestded, fifth and sixth decreasing’; punretives 
somewhat finer thar on elytra; under-surfaee with a large 
exeayithion, Commo to weeond, third and fonvil sce nants, 
These. sewnents also crasversely hopressed, the second having 
v fairly wide impression, the third narrower. und the fourth 
very narrow, the impressions smooth aud nitic. Metastermam 
excavate and densely punctate, Front tvochanters bi-dentate, 
tecth equal; all the femora somewhat. mflated and constricted 
naary apes, [front femora wifh a short. sharp tooth wt base: four 


Viol, Nar. 
Vol, NVA 


12 One, New Austrian Colcoptera 
trout tibie curved, and obtusely spurred at apex, hind tibia 
leks enrved und mnarmed. Length, 2.6-2.5 iim. 

¥, Differs in having antenme slightly shorter, netagter nun 
Wot so excavate, and abdomen slighth convex on uncder-sur- 
Sace. 

Hab. Vietoria: Ringwood, Pakenham, Killara, Warburton, 
Kvelyn (CL Oke): Fern Tree Gully (J. BH. Dixen and GC. Oke), 
Miteham (U4, Nye). 

A conimon species in gaass tussocks, Close to deseription 
of wmgriventros, Lea, but intermediate tvochanters not armed, 
and undersurface of abdomen deeply exeavated., 

Tmesrphorus caomponott sp.nov. 

M. Dark castanecous, elytra and legs lighter, clothed with 
short, depressed goltlen pubescence ; a. fascicle of hairs on cach 
side of under-surface of head behind each eve, Head with 
iwo moderate Mteroeulie fore, front. longitudinally im 
pressed between aitemrmry ridges; densely puretate all over. 
Antonna reaching middle cox, robust, first joint stout, as 
Joug as next two combined. second stouter hut same lenyth as 
third, third to fifth sub-equal. sixth to eighth smaller sub-equarl. 
ninth as long as two preceding, sub-quadrale, tenth slialithy 
shorter but wider than sinth, cleventh irregularly ovate, one 
all » Dalf times as long as ninth, Prothorax a little longer 
than wide, widest at apiece! third, sides rounded; with sa shal- 
low round medio-hasal fovea, and a deeper ote on Gach side; 
maunetores as on head, Wlytva wider at apex than length, 
moderately narrowed at hase, sutural strias fairly distinct, 
diseal strie widely impressed at base. vanishing af apical 
fourth, shoulders somewhat raised; punetyares a little finer 
than om head. Abdomen a little longer that, but same width 
as, elytra, painuetures as on elytra; aunder-surtace slightly fat- 
tened, apex produced a htthe, Legs lone; four auteriar tibin 
curved, hind alinost straight, 

be. Differs in having joints nine and ten of antenmme same 
leneth, and under-surtace of abdomen less flattened, and apex 
wot produced. Length, 2.96-2,92 mam. 

Hab, Vietorin: Lake Hattauh (C. Oke), in nest of Campa- 
hots wigriceps. 

Belonging to the division of the genus not having a xpine 
behind the eve. Close to ew'vipes, Lea, but no basal im- 
pression on head, antenne not reaching hind voxme, pro- 
thoracie fovea different, and no impression on yider-sartuce. 
The base of the abdominal segments only are flattened, the 
apes of each being normal, 


May, 74 
1926, 


Okk, New Austratiun Coleoptera 13 

Types in author's colleetion. 

Chaleuplectini, lribis nav. 

Bady Jong, depressed. Mouth parts well developed. 
Maxillary palpi normal, of four joints. Intevmediute coxa 
sub-globular approximate, posterior triwngular,  distarit. 
Anterior and intermediate trochanters long; posterior shart, 
Yarsi with first joint vather short, second large and dilated, 
third, longest, and inserted on the base of the second, Twa 
well-developed claws. Other characters as in the single gers, 
Chaleoplectus. 

The insect for whieh this tribe anc genus are proposal 
shows a rather peculiar combination of characters. The shape 
ot the bedy, and, to a certain extent, the mouth parts, ave sug- 
postive of the Pavoni, avid its tansal joints ary somewhat as 
in the anterior tars) of Exeirarthra, Broan, from New Zea 
fund, bntare the same on all legs. The antenmex, diternediate 
trochanters, did the inner claw of anterior tarsi being trifial, 
aes very noel as in Palinrbalos (Tyrini), but the tarsal jomts 
ahd body, iter alia, would exclude jt from the 'Lytnn, 

The intermediate trochanters are only comparatively long; 
that is tosay, (hey are longer than those found in genera, 
known to we, belonging to the Drachyseelides, and Jiawe bean 
compared with thu following gene :—Sagola, Muplectops, 
Macropleetas, Ploctostanis, Mesoplitus, Butrisudes, Batrixis, 
Briwra and Rybasix, They are not as long as the comespond- 
ing parts in Pselaphus, Psclaphophus, yvraphus and Creui- 
sophas, bat are as longs im Nurcodes, and some of the genera 
of the Tyra. Aceordiny to M, Raffray’s classifieacion of 
the family, this tribe would follow Tyrini, before the 
Schistodactylini, as it is obwionsly a istage before the bilohing 
of the secund tarsal joint. 

Chatcaplectus, genaov, 

Body lone, depressed, Tload sab-quadrate, Eyes large, 
coarsely Taseetted, prominent, situated ow Tithe behind the 
niddle. - Antenna. elaven-jointed, frst joint large, clah three 
jointed, bases distant. Labrum broad and transverse, its edie 
ciliated. Manditblas with basal portion thiek, (he apieal por- 
tion abruptly curved inwards, clongate and acuniinate ; ane 
edge denticnlate. Mentam large. not transverse,  Mtiasitle 
well-developed, with the lobes distinet; the cyrule sonaawhat 
triangular, and finely carinated on, its external edge; its palpi 
lave, Jour-jointed, frst short, strongly eurved; seeond long, 
thin atchaae, clivate at apex, bent outwards; third joint 
shorter than second, slightly longer than fourth, a shart 


i hs San ‘ats 1 . View Nee 
14 Ob, New Austevalinn Coleoptera Vou XVIT 


peduncle anc strongly clavate, the lalter not quite as broact 
as fhe second, fourth joint avate, with a vey showt peduuele, 
apex with a mmute membranecous appendage, Proathorax en 
date, tri-toveate. lMlytra short, with discal stria. Abdomen 
long of six segments in M. and seven ins fiest short, 
Invistble, second and third large, sub-equal, fourth largest of 
all; strongly taceined,  Mesostemmon short. mrehusternun 
long. Lng rather long, Aatemor coxa conieul, prominent, 
contiguous; inter mediate globular, almost level, approxinuste ; 
pesterion triaueular, widely separated. Anterior brochaiuters 
clocidedly long: intermediate one, posterior short. The 
feniora lightly inflated, and obliquely insertect on the tro- 
ehanters. Tavs with, first. joint cather short, second longer 
and dilated, with the third inserted on its base. Anterior tarsi 
with inner clay trificl im the w., slightly thicker that quter is 
vs other larsi with two well-developed equal claws. 
Chalcoplectus depressus, sp.nov. 


M. Custaatcous, elytra and legs paler, palpi flayous; sub- 
witid; with Jong, pale pubescens, Head very lighthy trans 
verse, With rather coarse retiealate punetiures: widely hollowed 
hotween antennal tubercles, wid econtiined baek to level of 
front margin of eye, where there ia a voviid fovea, arel wath, 
two Tnterocilar taevee. Mandibles reikdenticulate Antonine 
Jong; first long and stout, as lowe as next three combined, 
second a Tittle longer and broader than third, fourth to eighth 
subequal, purth large, Sub-quadrate, tenth larger, lightly 
transverse; eleventh ovate, as long as nine aid ten eombitiesl, 
Vrothorax ubout as lone as the avidth at its widest, whieh) is 
at. apieal third, ia front suddenly iarrowed to apex, and 
irregularly narrowed to base; a round diseal fovea at Iisal 
Lhivd, and an oblique foveate inipression on either side; pune 
tures as ou lead. Givetra transverse (is 4 to 9); attenuated 
to hase; each elytroh with dixtinet isnb-sutural  stiae 
with 4 vound ‘fovea hetore hase; distal stra widely nel 
obliquely inpréssed’ with a Tavan at bases 'ypune- 
Lures fing anc “trdistinet.  Afudomen long,’ three flyst 
(visible) segments’ svidely’ marginecd; with © a! short 
dimple. ean’ inule | on cither. side of basal ‘segment. “Tather 
jean the margin, punctures much as on clytra. | Metisteren 
lightly impressed and excavated posteriorly, sparsely pune 
tured, Under-surface of abdomen with a few large plinetures, 
and fifth segment, transversely impressed.’ Intermediate. tro- 
chanters with a triangular tooth. posterior trochanter With a 


a 


ei Noles on Beetle Lurtae 15 


strong, rounded tooth. Femora inflated in middle, tibie some- 
what curved. Length, 2.75-2.85 mm. 

rp. Differs in not having ‘abdomen’ impressed, and ftro- 
chanters not armed. . 

Hab. Victoria: Belgrave, Evelyn, Bacchus Maash, Coburg 
(C. Oke), Fern Tree Gully (J... Dixen and C. Oke), Mit: 
ham (Rey. i. Nye), Mooroolbark (HE. Pischer). Found at 
base of grass tussocks. 

The insect, when alive, is rather sugeestive of a Staphy- 
linid, more especially in the meaner im which a raus, 

Cuctisiva. 
Cryplomorpha luta, sp.nov. 

Dark piceous. brown, tarsi paler, clothed with moderately 
lons, erect hairs, lead transverse, excluding mouth-parts, 
with large rugese and conffyent punctures; eyes prominent. 
Antenne reaching hind coxa, first joint long and stout, longer 
than next two combined, second small, third a Tittle Jonver, 
fonrth to eleventh lone stb-equal, eleventh acuminate.  Pro- 
thorax as wide as lone, convex, with the front aneles pro- 
duced, the produced part rounded; with a feehly-rarsed 
‘median videe. Elvtra with the striw coarsely crenulate-pune- 
tate, and the interstices finely punetured. TFemora 
moderately inflated. Leoeth, 5 meni; width, 2 m.ni. 

Hab. Vietortu: Bendigo, Gypsan) (6. Oke), Inglewood 
(J. B. Dixon and C. Oke), Miata (&. . Wilson), Maldon (A. 
C. Goudie). 

A broad, distinct spectes, wider than any of the deseribed 
ones. Most of the specimens are of a dull red-brown abont 
the base of thorax and base of elytra, others being darker 
ihere. The Kiata specimen is more ov less of this colour all 
over. 

NOTES ON BEETLE LARVZE, 
By C. One, 


Tlow little ig known veeardine the habits of our bectles! 
Approximately, 15.000 species have been deseribed from Aus- 
tralia, and the complete lite listary of none hay been pub- 
lished vet. 

Th is known where many of the Baprestids,, Longicons 
and Chafers breed, The larva: of waterhectles are casily 
obtained, and it should not be diffieult to rear some speeies. 
A few of the Weevils breed iy certain foadstutts, but their 
tite-listories haye not heen worked ont i detail.  Carab 


46 Notes on Reetle Larvae [¥en Shi 


Javves ave familiar—is Carah larwe;-but who eu idertiey one 
with certainty? Staphylinid larva: are wot often seen, and 
“in eaphivity’* they soon die. 

Mere are aninbers of speeies—evon whole groups—thal. 
are quite wekuowl as danve and pupe; for instanee, the 
large Weevils belonging to the Aaiyetorine, a sub-family cou- 
tinecdl to Australia, with a eonsidermble number of species. 
We do not know wheve thoy Ineed, Again, the family 
Pselaphide hus more than 400 deseribed Australian. species, 
nocl the larva of none hag bee found, 

CUnitortianately, beetles ave, as oa rite, diffe to lreed 
out; they require conditions not. ersily supplhed, and time 
and putience must be cevoted ta them. My attempts offen 
have proved futile. 1 collected two Chater grubs, wbout an 
neh in Jength, wd thought to rear them without trouble. 
The larvae of these Chafers live in damp soil, and cat erass- 
roots. I kept wy speeimens in a tin of damp earth, and pro- 
vided fresh clumps of grass at regular intervals. More than 
two years elapsed hefore one larva pupated; the other had 
died. Beetles do not, usually, live long as pupe, but soo, 
‘to’? or emeéree (reo the pupal skin, though the ener 
gence is vradual. The colours of maturity, and “hardness.’” 
are nob attained” for some tunce—xeveral months in same 
cuses. 

My Chafer grub, which had sarvived, half-emerged from the 
Pupal skin, assamed a livht-brown volouwr, and then died. Tt 
was a. Dasygnatios, aid, had it lived, wonld bave been almost 
black. At the present time (May, 1925) Tam feeding a large 
Cliek-beetle larva on termites, which appear to be its natural 
Food, 1 obtained this specimen in, the Mallee last November, 
and think it will prove to be Vetrototus fortum, T nay he 
wrong as to the species, but-am sure of the venus, as T have 
bred another species, meerruyi. It is only after rearing. o1 
trying to tear, a few bettle larvee, that one realises how many 
are killed by parasites. When a grub has bee kept for some 
ntouths it is annoying to And a parasite in the breedins-box. 

. am unable to give definite aeeounts of the breeding 
habits.of the beetles ceseribed in preceding paper. ‘I'he life 
histories of the Pselaphide, to which family most, of my species 
belony, are still “‘ungarnered gram.*’ As beetles, those 
dleserihedl live in mosses and gvass-fissoeks. Other species 
live among rotting leaves, under bark, or clinging to logs and 
stones; while a fair number of species are found only ip 


tos a Concerning “Cushiva”® Plants tii 


42h, | 
ants’ nests. In faet, they yre generally regarded as ants 
hest beetles; but of the 160 species T have collected mm Vie- 
toa, fewer than 40 were fonnd in association with ats; 
while only one was aiong termites. 

The species of Aphodius live in dung, and burrow through 
it 111 all divections. J do not know whether they eat it or nal, 
m the mature stage; but they torn little hollow pellets of the 
unsavoury material, and lay then eaes inside. ‘The larva: 
feed upon the walls of thei cells, papate, and, in dae fine, 
force their way to the outside world. 

The various species of Cryptomorphi are mostly found in, 
oon, dead leaves; and 1 believe their Jarve are unknown. 
Other mombers of the tumily, Cucugde, have very peculiar 
larvie, That of Isuples bicolor, 14 in. in length, and no thicker 
than a shilling, has a peculiay process on the ond of Me 
abdomen. These larwe live between the outer and inner bavk 
of the Bucalypts, hence their flattened form. 


CONCERNING ‘CUSHION’ PLANTS. 


The Andean and sub-Antaratie Aniwrieaa floras have a 
special interest for us ou account of their close kinship with 
those of Australia and New Zealand, and the short account, 
by 2 W, Peantell, in the last Annual Report of the Acadens 
of Sciences of Philadelphia, of a botanical expedition fa the 
Andes anakes one eager for the detailed deseription, whieh 
doubtless will be published in due time, 

Mr. Pennell, who is a member of the scientific staff of the 
Academy, was chiefly concerned in the vevetation. of the igh 
pluteaus, or purines, vorresponding to the fell fields in 
northarn countries, and the pwnas, or ATpine deseyts, of 
Western Colombia, The parianes are isolated areas, at very 
high, altitudes, as much as 17,000 feet, or even inore, whose 
plant cover is chardeteriged by the presenea of villous 
curious composites, belonging to several genera, and locally , 
knowin as frvidlejones, associated with scattered herbs of | 
rosette, tufted or “‘cushion’’-erowth forms.  Juch peranye 
seems to have evolved a fradlejan peculiny to itself, ‘The 
plants vary ain height, np vo 10 feet, and are densely clothed 
with silvery or golden hairs or yott wool. In the vase of 
Rspeletia grandifloia, which is about 6 feet in height ate 
unbratched, there is also, below the infloreseeiee and upper 
leaves, an investment of dead leaves as thick aga iman'sy body, 


is Concerning “Cushion Plaats nat ere 


Of the “cushion” plants, Mr Pennell writes:—'t. . 
but denser eolories were formed by an Alpine plantain and 
liv certiin composites and monoeotyledons. One of the last, 
vrowing at the edge of pools-in the valley’s head, forme 
rounded eorallineg ¢ushions of almost rock-Lke hivedivess, sul 
with the outline os precise as any pattern, Althoueh ite share 
leaves piajected vertied ly, and one walked on (he lewt&-tips, 
these were so rigid and atrong that vo impress fron the lian 
foot could be detected.’ 


Dr. Robert O, Cunningham. in his *‘Notes on the Natural 
hostovy of the Strait of Magellan and West Coast of Pata- 
onta,’* had the same experience with the Ewious balsai-boge 
(Bolan qguonimifera), which he found so compact in. their 
structure that he was able to jump on them without leaving 
the print-of hie feet. 

liveri stronger proof of their hardbess i8 given by 
Ur, Reiche un bis ‘'Chiltenffora’ (Rngler’s, Vee. do Mode), 
regarding the cushions of Azorella amadreparica, another 
Cinbellifer closely allied to the Bolax, whieh are ‘so hard and 
solid a mass that if one fires a vevalver at them the ball 
glances off, being quite unable to penetrate it.’ Skottsherg 
in ‘A Botanleal Suivey of the Falkland islands’? also refers 
to their extreme hardness. 

Cashion’? planta, or those with a closely-lnit gehenie of 
branching assuming a rounded shape, occur, of course, in all 
parts of the world, but the very hard “enshtons,'” hebben 
ealled “houlder’’ plants, with few e exceptions (seh as Dove 
alping from Cape Chelyuskin, in the far north of Siberia, 
about the size and shape of a small apple and not yery close 
and compact) appear to be confined to the southern hemis- 
phere, Moreover, they vange only down the Audes, through 
Pierva del Fuego, the Patkland Islands, Kerguelen Taland, 
the sub-Antaretie Lslands, New Zealand and Tasmania, oegu- 
pring, in fact, the remnants of the causeway hy which came. 
imal probability, the ancestors of the Airtarctie element in our 
flora, Tt is the presence in our part of the world of this 
extraordinary growth form and its distribution that adds ta 
the significance of the kinship between onr flora and that of 
South Ameriea, and, with sinulsr distritution af other formes 
ne life, affords strong evidence of a once-initimate Lai ean- 
nection between the two regions, 

Some reference has already been made to our ‘cushion 
plants, aud their hardness, in a short description of the Cradle 


Moe A Concerning “Cushion? Plats 49 


Mountain Plova, with a picture, of one of them, KMayurta 
Meredith, and a general view of the “*eushion’’ plant associa- 
tion—Vie. Nat. MI, No. 7, Nov., 1923. ‘Four species were 
mentioned as growme there, and a fifth as otaurring else 
where in dhe iskind. <A sixth. might haye been added, 
Gaimardia Pitegeralda, one of the Centrolepids. In Now “ea- 
land these forms are much more wamerous. The composites 
here afford at Jeast wine exainples, of which six are Ruoulias, 
including the celebrated vegetable sheep, I. bryoides and R.. 
ein, a Haastia and two Celmisias, The Stylidiacea have 
a Phyllachne and a Donatia, which is identical with the Tus- 
mania Plant, The Epaerids are represented by a Dracgophyl- 
lum. A Gaimardia is perhaps conted to the Stewart sand 
Auckland islands, this and an Oreobolus (Cyperacee) being 
vathey smuller than the others. A Colobanthus (Caryophyl- 
lavew) extaids throughint the Southern Istands, and Aaarella 
selugo 1s only in Macquarie Jsland, but this finds a place 
also in Kerguelen aid other islands, as well as Patagonia. 
This perhaps completes the het, though Dy. Cockayne speaks 
of 58 species of “Scushions’’ or ‘semit-eushiois”? of 22 genera 
in 14 faniilies. 

In Andean and sub-Antaretic Ameena there ate probably 
ihore species growing in bard-Seyshion’? form than are 
known Jn New Zealand, bat at present we lave no means of 
uscertamming definitely, 1 wonld appear, however, that, 
Wthough-the members of many families have thug shown their 
ability onder stress of circumstances to assume this very con- 
venient form, and have come to resemble one another so 
closely, the composites, at least at this, and the Umnbellifer 
a the other end of their range, seem to provide the greatest. 
wumber of examples. 

Pnsuriny. almost absolute stability, comparative evenness of 
tomperature, protection against desiccation, reduction of tran- 
spivation to (he minimum, and enabling the plant to take 
complete advantage of tts dead parts for its own nouwrishinent, 
{lis grawth fom mast make for extreme longevity, anu is an 
adaptation toa parviicular aud extreme sel of conditions pes- 

chaps more perfect than ahi be found elsewhere dit the yere- 
table world, 
C88. 


20 Notew from Mieth cid Studi a eee spats 


, 


festosbestecte fecloetacteedrctenfors Ler cieteebedtorsteefhageafeateetenbonlysbeesoteleaee tsetse be een 


: NOTES FROM FIELD AND STUDY 


fshaataita dictotetats sfabarturtartestndtectastestoatonaiqoateatratvatertvetorinatectestontnaterteofortnetarlortnalerterlortits as 


_ 
_ 


at 
+ 
eetee 


- 


sey 
oe 


,, 
te 


| Members ave invited to contribute paragraphs for this aec- 
tion of the Natwest, which should become x popular mis- 
ecllany. Original notes, of course, are most desired; but 
gleanings Tron scientific literature, unlikely to be seen by thre 
majority of members, will also he weleomed. | 


GANG-GANG COOKATOOS AS BERRY-RATERS- 


The seeds of Muealypts are eaten freely by Gang-mainy 
Cockatoos (Calloceplialon fombriatus), but itt may not he gene 
ally known that these birds have a strong liking for “haws." 
and often rob the hedgerows of their autumn lon vy. When I 
was at Wandilivong, in April last. Man W. Goldsworthy, JP, 
a close observe of bird life, tald me that Gang-vangs cide 
every year 10 reap the harvest of Hawthorn berrics. In 
Mareh on April. as the ‘Shaws*’ ripen the birds appear, int 
small flocks; and when they depart there are vo ehusters of 
atimson fruits along the hedgerows. The Cockatoos seen, to 
work systematicully, stripping one ''seation”? ata time. Thus 
they move round the district, leaving, at last, fy quest of 
vnother harvest. They may uot be sean tu the valley again 
until wutumn once move is preparing the ““feust of haws?' for 
them. When feeding, the birds display little fear of man, 
In Bright. where the Hawthorm frows, one may walk beneath 
the Gung-e gangs at their meal, The local name for this Species 
is rey Galah,’’ fayouved also in other distiiets.—C_B. 


BEETLES AND ANTS. 


In a North-Western Mallee cistrict € devoted some time 
1 collecting at. night, with the aid of an acetylene lamp. 
Around the butts of trees many examples of the heetle, 
Liparochrus gemnatus, Westw., belonging to the sub-family 
Trogides of the Scarabeide, were secured (prahably one 
hundred or more were noticed). In all cases they were in the 
midst of ealumns of small black ants that were travelling 
backwards and forwards. I watched carefully, but did not 
orice see a beetle interfered with by the ants—BUE.W. 


ark Notew from bield vad Study 2] 


In the Fitzroy Gardens one day I saw a rat run across a 
path, and beneath some shinbs close to the artificial pond. 
A few minutes later a Kookaburra. (Dacelo gigas) darted from 
a bough above the slirubs; followed fluttering and rustling 
in the undergrowth, then the bird emerged with the rat 
firmly held im its beak, and Sew off among the neighbouring 
trees—L. L. Honoson, 


PUPATION OF THE CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH. 


At Murchison, on March 21, 1 collected two caterpillars of 
the Convolyulus Hawk-moth, Protoparce convolvult.. They were 
feeding on Convolvulus leaves, and were almost full-grown, 1 
placed them in # breeding cage, and supplied them regularly 
with ‘‘Morning Glory’? leaves. The larger of the two speci- 
mens ceased feeding on Mareh 28, and shortly afterwards 
became exceedingly active. Jt would erawl about for 10 or 
12 minutes, then suddenly hecoming motionless, remain 
stretched on the bottom of the cage for about the same length 
of time, Tt had lost its beauty, heing of 4 yellowish colour, 
while the distinctive stripes had beeome faint. On the 29th 
this caterpillar wis still subject to restless moods, alfernat- 
ing with- periods of complete repose. Sometimes it would 
Intry itself in the loose soil and debris covering the floor of 
its cage, having longer periods of inactivity than formerly, 
Jt was much shrunken in appearanve now. On the 30th it 
was very active at intervals, but was unable to climb. It was 
ot a uniform, dirty brown colour; the stripes had eompletely 
disappeared, and it meusuved only 1 6-8 inches in length. 
Restlessness, with intervals of repose, continved until April 
8, when the caterpillar pupated. 


On April 1 the other caterpillar ceased to eat, and 
behaved in exactly the same way as its fellow, until Apr 
13, when it pupated. I failed to find traces of “a 
soeom, or fastenings of any  deseription. ‘These 
Hawlemoth caterpillars, apparently, do not spin. The 
larval skin splits completely, at the head. The pupa, 
shortly after emergence, is very prettily coloured, the head 
and thorax beiig light green, merging into yallow towards 
the tip of the abdomen, winch is bright red. The green anc 
yellow gradually fade until, two days after pupation, the 
pupa ig of a uniform rich-chestnut colour-—H, W. Davey. 


2a Notes from Mield and Study wear enet 


BIED ENEMY OF EMPEROR GUM MOTH LARVA, 


Some Euealypts in my garden at Darling having been 
topped, young growth attracted many Emperor Gum 
Moths, <Antherea eucalypt, which were seen  ovi- 
positing on the tender shoots just before nightfall. 
The larve of this moth are voracious, and very 
soon branches were completely defoliated. Many of 
the caterpillars, about this time, were hali-grown, Then a 
pair of Black-Paced Cuckoo-shrikes, Graucalus melanops, 
arrived in the garden, and commenced to prey upon the lar- 
ve, My trees were ‘‘cleared’’ in three days. As the most of 
the larve were on [wigs too small to support the birds, they 
were taken ‘‘on the wing.’? A Cuckou-shrike would perch on 
a branch of a taller tree nearby, and gaze intently down upon 
the infested tree, until a larva was located, when the bird 
would swoop und deftly remove the caterpillar without alght- 
ing, Lf, as happened occasionally, a, miss was ‘‘registered,'’ 
the bird would turn gracefully in its flight, hover over the 
twig, and secure its prey—F. EK. Wison. 


CARNIVOROUS LAND SNAILS. 


The finest. Victorian land shell is that of Paryphanta atra- 
mentirut, Shutt, and its tenaiut is a most interesting snail, Last 
year 1 sent two specimens to Mr. Hugh Watson, of Cam- 
bridge, England, a brilliant anatomist, who specialises in ter- 
restrial mollusea. He returned a mounted radula, with a 
note: ‘*This snail, FY. atramentaria, has a fine radula, as you 
will see. It is of the specialised type, found only among the 
carnivorous genera. . . . Paryphanta, of course, like most 
earnivorous snails, has no jaw.’’ The radula is a beautifnl 
object, under the microscope. Before I was aware of this 
anail’s true nature, I onelosed a live one, with two specimens 
of Helicurion cuvieri, Fer, in'a amall collecting tin. Pary, 
phonta devoured its tellaw- -prisoners, and spoiled their <deli- 
cate honey-coloured shells.—C_B. 


SOCIAL LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 


Intensive study of the habits of Australian ants, wasps 
and bees shonld be undertaken. New species are being 
described» but there ave very few workers in the vast field. 
Behaviour, After reading Professor W. M. Wheeler’s ‘* Social 


| Life History of Midyes ‘gg 


Lafe Among the Insects,’’ arid othor recent books of the kind, 
one tealises the need for systematic observation of even our 
most ‘‘familiar’” specics. In Europe and the United States of 
America, the study of inseet behaviour has attracted many 
distinguished naturalists. Books on ants and wasps 
are nearly as popular as those dealing with birds 
and wild-flowers. Some contain references to -Aus- 
tralian species; and the deep interest attaching to our insect 
faula is realised, especially im America, he veteran 
Myrmecologist, Auenste Forel, has devoted five volumes (pub- 
lished 1921-23) to a fascinating subject, ‘Le Monde Social des 
Fourmis compare a eelui de l’7Hdomme."’ This work, judg- 
ing by the reviews, if translated into Wuglish, would rival 
Fabre’s studies of wasps und bees, in popularity. Dr. Forel 
kindly sent to mre a copy of his paper, dealing with ants col- 
Jeeted by the Swedish Scientific Expeditions fo Australia, 
1910-1913. He deseribes several new species of the remark- 
able genus Orcetegnathus, trom Cedar Creek, Queensland ; 
and recently (May 2). at Ringwood, I found an ant 
which closely resembles his figure of O, Mjobergt, A solitary 
speuinien, it was lurking in moss. It has been sent to Mo. 
John Clark, of Perth, W.A., onr Jeading authority | on ants, 
for deferinination, —0.B. 


LIFE HISTORY OF MIDGES (CHTRONOMID.Z). 
By d, SEARLE, 


One group of aquatic larve that has received very little 
attention from our entomologists is that of the Midges, small, 
dipteroug insects resembling mosquitoes, another branch of 
the same fami)y. 


The cominonest form met with by the pond-hunter is 
Chironomus, the ‘‘Bloodworm,”’ or ‘‘Weaver,’’ as it is com- 
monly called. When fully grown this larva is about three- 
qaarters of an inch in length, and of a deap-red colour—henee 
the popular naine, “his colour is due to the presence in the 
hlood of the larva of the substance wmoglobin, the colouring 
matter of om own blood. “*Weaver*? refers to the undula- 
tory motion of the body when protruding from the taniel, 
whieh the larya makes for its protection by binding togethien 
fragments of vegetation wd debris in an untidy mass. This 


4 Life History of Midges ew Ney 


weaving motion draws a stream of water through the tunnel, 
und, tio doubt, aids respiration, 


The larva has. a pair of tes attached to the segment follow- 
itig the head, and another pair on the last sezment of the 
body; these legs cach bear a crown of numerous recurved 
hooks. The larva feeds on decaying vegetable matter. Just. 
before pupation, the rudimentary wings and legs of the future 
liy may be discerned under the skin of the worm, 

The pupa is furnished with tufts of respiratory hairs on its 
anterior end, and retains.an active existence. while the wouder- 
ful changes are proceeding beneath the pupa skin. When 
the metamorphosis is complete the pupa wriggles to the sur- 
face of the water, the pupal skin splits, and in an instant the 
imago flies off to meet ity mate and begin another life evele. 
Chironomus does not feed in the winged state. Tt is remark- 
able the rapidity with which the imago issues from the pupal 
envelope. T remember. on one oceasion I was examining the 
contents of » bottle of ‘nond-life.’’ when I noticed a 
Chirenomus nvea wrizeline to the surface. I called the 
attention of a friend. who was at my side. to the pupa, but 
before he could take the hottle from my hand the imago had 
emerged and was flymg towards the window, 


The eggs of Chironomus sre laid in jelly-lhke masses 
attached fo surface weeds generally. Some species lay their 
eges in a spherical mass abont the size of a large pea, others 
in sausage-shaped strings. The ewes themselves are cigar- 
shaped, slichtly pointed at each end. Two other groups of 
Chironomide are common in our ponds: they are the Ceruto- 
pogon and the Tanypus.. , 


Ceratopogon is a long, footless, snake-like translucent 
larva; at the caudal end it has eight long sete and a few 
short ones, 


Tanypus are elongate. cylindrical larve, with a long, nar- 
row head. It is remarkable for its retractible antenne, which 
jay be drawn hae into socketsin the head or protruded at 
plsasnre. 


Che Victorian Paturalist 


Vou. XLIT—No. 2, JUNE 10, 1925. No. 498. 


FIELD NATURALISTS? CLUB OF VICTORIA. 


] BUSINESS. 

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was. held im 
ihe Royal Society's Hall, Victoria Street, on Monday even- 
ing, 1dth May, 1925. The President, Mv. 4, Searle, ocenpied 
the chair, and about fitty members and friends were present. 


REPORT OF EXCURSION. 

A report of the excursion to Ringwood on Saturday, 2nd 
May. was given by the Leader, Mr. H. B. Williamson. Dr. 
C. $8, Suttoi gave some notes on the Huealypts of the 
district. (See page 27.) 

ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 


On a ballot being taken, Miss Webb, “‘ Arundel,’? Com- 
mercial Road, Prahran, and Mr. A. BF. Archer, M. A., Head- 
master Caulfidd Grammar School, were elected unanimously 
as ordinary members of the Club. 

Messrs. L. Hodgson and J. B, Leslie were unanimously 
elected as Auditors, on the motion of Messrs. A. J. Tadgell 
and G@. Coghill. 

GENERAL BUSINESS, 


Office-bearers for 1925-26. Nominations were made 4s 
follows :— . 

President—Mr, Geo. Coghill (proposed by Mr. H. B. 
Williamson and seconded by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard). 

Vice-Presidents—Mr. F. @. A. Barnard (proposed by 
Mr. F. Pitcher, seconded by Mr. C. Oke), Mx. A. &. 
Keep (Mr. Barnard and Dr, C. 8. Sutton), Mr. 
J. A. Wershaw (Messrs. Oke and ©. Lambert), Mr. 
kK. E. Pescott, F.LS. (Messrs. F. 2. Wilson and 
G. Coehill), Mr. P. R. H. St. Joh (Messrs. F. Wisewould 
and F. Chapman), Mr. ¥. E. Wilson, F.E.S. (Messrs. J. A. 
Kershaw and ©. Barrett), 

How. freasurer—My, A. G. Hooke (proposed by Ma, Oke, 
seconded by Mr, Pitcher). 
_ Hon. Librarian.—Dr. C, 8. Sutton (proposed by Mr, Cog- 
hill, seconded by My, H. B. Williamson). 


' 


26 Fietdh Naturutists' Ciud—Proceehags Lesa 

Hon, Wdilor —Mr. C. Barvett, C.M.Z.8. (proposed by Mr. 
C. Daley, seconded by Mr, Kershaw), 

Hon. Secretary.—My. C, Oke (proposed by Mr, Wilhiam- 
son, seconded hy Mr, Barnard), 

Flan, Assistant Secretary and Librarian—Me. HP. Wil- 
liamgon, F.LLS. (proposed by Dr. Sutton, sceonded by Mr. FL 
LTughes). 

Commattee—Mr. F. Chapman, A.L-S. (proposed by Le. 
Wilson, seconded by Mr. Coghill), Mr, P. Gudmore (Messrs. 
Kershaw and Daley), Mv, ©. Daley, B.A., P.L-S. (Mesgrs. 
Kershaw and Williamson), Mr. DL. Hodgson. (Messrs. Coghill 
and Wilson), Mr. H. Ebwthes (Messrs. Daley and Pitcher), 
Mr. C. Lambert (Messrs. Peseott and Gray), Mr. BF. Piteher 
(Messrs. Pescott. and Gray), Mv. A. Rodda (Messrs. Peseott. 
and Gray), Mr. J. Stickland (Messrs. Pitcher and Daley). 


Otway Forest Area—-Mr. F. EB. Wilson moved, “Phat a 
letter of appreciation of the Government's action in presery- ' 
ing the Otway Forest. reservation be sent to the Premier. 
Seconded by Dr, G.8, Sutton, and carried, 

Nature Notes.--Mr. Oke made some vemarks on the 
‘Tracks of the Common Garden Snail.’’ Te expressed the 
opinion that the nature of the surface traversed had little or 
no effeet upon the charaeter of the “‘trail,’’ 

Mr, Oke gavé an aceount of a Spider migration. (See 
article on another page.) 

\ EXHIBITS, 

By Mr. G. Coghill—Climbing Polygonum, Polygonum 
baldschawimcum; a pretty ereeper, bul. likely fo become a 
peat 

By Mr. C. Dales—{1) Photographs of Upper Murray dis- 
trict, Swampy Plains River and Geli, taken by Messrs, I. 
Cudmore and E. J, Roberts; (2) waterworn pebbles from 
Swampy River, near the foot of Mt. Kosciusko: (3) sketches 
made at Gehi, Swampy River, 

By Messrs. BH. 5. Pescott and C. French, Jun—Herharium 
specimen of Long-tongue Greenhood, Pfernstylis grandiflora 
(R.Bv.), with three flowers an one stem. 

By Mr. EB. EK. Peseott—(1) Stone axes, aboriginal, from 
Geelong, Vie., and Warren, N.S.W.; (2) glass spear heads, 
aboriginal, from Daly Waters, N.T. (one very large); (3) 
garden specimens of the Bird Flower, Crotalaria lahurni- 
folia, 


ost | Kucilypts ut Ringwood. , st 
BUCALYPTS AT RINGWOOD. 

Kleven species of Kuealpyts were noted on the oecasion 
af the exeursion to Rigwood on Saturday, 9th May—s fair 
Number éonaidering the small area covered. About the station 
the Silver-leat Stringybark, 7, cinerea, vay, nultiflova prevails, 
this treo being a feature of the Lilydale road east of Box Hill. 
The Common Peppermint, HW. australiana, was next noticed, 
wud the Long-leat Box, 2. eleophora, whose most redeeming 
quality lies in the occasional bewuty of tis juvenile foliaye, 
which sometimes closely approaches in likeness that of the 
Candle-bark Gum, 2. vubida, though generally mich eaarser. 
Near the Muilum Mullum Greek some rather good specimens 
of the Swawp Gum were growing, This species, long 
réparded as i (runnit, ur as &. aeervula, Hook. was 
desevibed by Baker as HL. puliwdosu, bat eventually eonsidered 
by Maiden to he Labilhirdiere’s 2, ovelar It is a question, 
however, whether 2, acervuli is not still mixed wp with, it. 
Although we saw numerous clunips of suckers with the 
charming, sleek, prey leaves of the Yellow Box, #. mellio- 
dore, we did not meet with a tree wit) crossing 4 bend of 
the ereek, Wvidently its good qualities are recognised, for 
it has been almost entirely out, out hereabouts. 

The Red Stunvybark, /. meererrhynclha, and the Mess- 
mute, / abliqua, were not infrequent. he Menina Gam, £. 
viminalds, whose beauty is only skin-deeg. was found on the 
low ground, and saplings of its twin sister, the graceful Candle- 
bark, were seen on the drier slopes. The Blue Peppermint, 
i. dives, was vecoenised. Not until the limit of ony outward 
walk wus reached, on some high ground, did we encounter the 
Ted Box, 2, polyanthemos, this being about tha southern 
boundary’ of 718 Vative in tis loeality, and one-of the few 
puints wheee 7 touches, wid rarely intepmingles with, the 
Mealy Stringybark. One fine old tree was seen, and a very 
handsume sapling with a dense head of clean, bluish-yrey 
foliage of voondish leaves, even more attractive that, that of 
the Yellow Box—.8.8. 


Ore is uecustoined to reward the Magpiedark (Gialine 
cuyemilenee) asa peaeeful bird, but it is not always sea. AL 
Greetishorongh reeently | saw a Noisy Minah (ALyzonthes 
nielanvcepliaa) fly angrily oul of some bushes at three 
Mawpie-lavks, and ehase them to the Baoealpyis nearby. A 
minute later the Grallinas were pursuing several Magpies 
(Cymnorhina hypolencu), one of which called loudly ag if 
i Pain, on beme pecked by its pursucy. The Grallinas 
yematned jn possession of the fheld—A.J.T- 


' 


28 | D'ALTON, Sume Grampians’ Plants [vores 


SOME GRAMPIANS’ PRAN'TS, 
By C. W, D'Ax‘ton, 


(Read before the Mireles Naturalists’ Club af Vielorta, 9th 
Murch, 1925,) 


Plants peculiar to a cevtain district, or rarely founil elge- 
Where, dnd those oceurring in widely-separated localities. are 
generally regarded with special interest. The Grampians 
fora contains an unnsnal numbet of the former elass of 
plants, ancl also compares fuvourably with the flora nf other 
parts of Victoria, both in number of species and the beauty 
of their flowers, About 917 species are to be found growing » 
in its shady gullies, or on its rugged hill-iops, Of the plants 
more or less peculiar to these ranges, 16 families ure repre- 
sented by about 380 species, a few of these being found just 
over the border in the north-western district, in one or tivo 
isolated patches, aud some others ia more distant parts, ov 
in other States: 

Taking them in order, we find ». member of the Cyperaceix, 
Uricostulana puiuctflora, or the Needle Bog-rush, grown tia 
the swampy country near the source of the Wannon Rivur. 
and a few other places. Then we have three meimbers of the 
Liliacew — Calectasia cyanea, Thysanotus dicholomus, and 
Borya nitida. The first, the Blue Tinsel Lily, genorally-zrows 
in gandy or heathy country, well ont i the open, indstly in 
the foothills, ‘This is extremely hard to find, except when 
blooming, when its satin-blne flowers, with bright. yellaw 
stamens, are most conspicuous among the dark andergruwth 
Tt is also found, but is rare, in the south-eastern part of South 
Australia, The next, the Branching Fvinge-lily, also a native 
of South anc Western Australia, with a delicate, pretty 
flower, yrows, in this State, only in the vieinity of Mt, Zere. 
The last L had the good fortune to find recently on Mackie's 
Peak, at Hall's Gap, at the northern end of the Grampians, 
At first it was thonght to be an uiudeseribed species, but 
eventually the National Herbarium pronouneed it to be 
identical with the Western Australion Boryu aafida, which hud 
not been recorded previously, except from that State. Lbs 
existence here provides a puzzle for the botanists, which will 
be difficult to solve. 

Tren comes a Tris, the Blue Grass-flag, Orlhrosent lies 
nelliflord, wlso a mative of South anc Wostern Australia. 
aud Last, Wil pot Teast, among the monocotyledons, we have 
several exaiiples i that most Taseihating of all plat geoapa. 


192h, D'Atvox, Some Grenipians’ Plants 29 


June 

J 
the Orehidacew. For some veason the Gramps was tor 
inany years vevarded as a poor place for orchids, and ws most 
of the older botanists seemed to regard these rugged hilly as 2 
nore suitable hunting-growid for plants of larger growth, for 
a long tinie our‘ known’’ ovchids pumbered shghtly less than 
40 only, | have, however, diwsing the last few years, pei 
cipally through the ussistanee of Dr, RS. Ropers, of Ade 
laide, whe Mr. J. W. Audas, of the National Herbarium, Mel- 
bourne, raised the number to 72. As about a dozen others 
have licen secorded for the South-west, and may possibly be 
collected here in the future, our record, even now remarkably 
yood, is likely to be still hetter. Some species, which for a 
tine were recorded only from heve, have sinee bean found in 
uther paa'ts, so our list at present'ot those confined to the 
Granipians anounts only to two or three of the following :— 
Cilachilus cupreus, or Copper-beards, Uhelymitre imeyculyp- 
tia, the lilac Sun-orehid, the Veined Caladenia, Co relindata, 
and Culéane Sullivan, the Speetral Duck-ovelud, The first 
has, I believe, been reported from the south of this State. and 
the second from New South Wales; but the other twa are 
enlirely our own, 

Caleuna Sullevini was first discovered by Mr. Suallivun, 
42 yours agp, ah Mi. Zero, only one specimen bein then 
obtained. Lt was not till 10th Deeember, 1924, that T ve- 
discovered it on Wonderland Ranges, near Hiall’s Gap, and 
callected six specimens. Jt. seams to like vocky hill-sides, 
where there js plenty of sun, and grows in the mossy crevices 
on the “oeks in company with Coleana numor, which it niueli 
resembles, this likeness perhaps aceounting for its unt being 
digeovered sooner. Calochalus cupreus is not sub-alpine, like 
C. Sullivan, bul, grows on the foothills. generally in tutte of 
short grass, where it gets protection from the ravages of sleep 
or rabbits. Uhelynutra megealyptra, on the ether hand, is 
fond ot higher ground, sometimes growing on the top of 
Winost bare rocks, and ospecially at. Ruse’s Gap, a part of 
the Mt. Diffieult Range. Caladenia tridescens wis also first 
tound on this vange, but has since been gathered in the 
southern districts. 

We come now to the shrubs, of whieh we have a very Hie 
culleetion. Starting with the Prateacea, Greudlen Woh 
Tronsonn, the Serva Crovillea srows, or once Tid grow, on a 
‘foothill of Mt. Abrapt, near Dimkeld, bul as i, has mot been 
seen singe Mas TL. B, Willimson golleeted it, in 1R9S, ab is al 
preset Unknown) fo me and perhaps may no loieer exist 


30 D'Awros, Seme Grompures' Plants yah ets 


there, The other, G. vlevides, the Olive Grevillea, a yery 
Handsome shrub. with bright sealet blossoms aud fine ollve- 
greco leaves, is found, nearly abways, high oi the momutaie 
Peaks. generatly in avevices between the roeks. Lerhaps one 
ot the most beautiful flowers in the Grampians ts Fer 
sesstliflord, the Showy Bauera, of the Suxifragaces. This is 
mer wilh abvays along the banks of watereourses, and. in 
sone places, follows the crecks for half a niile ov more. aud 
when in Tull bloom, fron the latter part of September till the 
Imginuing of November, its long spikes of magenta-coloyeed 
towers, With black centres. make a very fine show, The next 
tu be mentioned ig the Orange Bell-elimber, Mariunthius 
bignoniuceus, bearing pretry bell-shaped flowers and belong- 
iig fo the Pittosperacess. It is sub-alpine, and generally 
lognd in gullies wa creeks; also in the Mt. Lofty Ranges and 
OW Nangavon Plane 

‘We are fortunate in having no fewer than five species of 
Leguminosic, all af the Genus Puitenwa, not hitherto found 
elsewhere, J?, Bentham is a robust plant, with fine masses 
of vellow blossoms; 2. costata, a low shrub with ribbed 
leaves and yelluy blossoms, ofien tinged with red, a 
very attragtive plavtk when in full blogm, P. Luehmennan and 
P.. Meidenit ave move slender and less conspicuous planta, buti 
P. subalpine, or vosed, ag it was tormorly eallecl, ig of a heaut- 
ful rose-pink, with soft leaves. The flowers of this are remark- 
athhe in that they turn purplish when fading, so that ii is 
almost. impoasible to carry them any distance without the 
colouy changing. Itis found in only two localities, one om the 
top of Mt, William, and the other on the sunvmit, of Mt- 
Resea; whieh was named in honour of this rare and beautiful 
Juaut. In the Rutaceew we have Phebalivn dentalum, ov 
Uimbellate Phebalium, easily distinguished from the other 
vegetation by its truncate leaves. Tt grows profusely all over 
these ranges, being also nok unknown in the Dividine Range 
of New South Wales, and ity pretty star-like flowers, generally 
pinkish in colour, make a good show, If seems curious that. 
out of a seore or more of Eriostemons and Phehaliums oecur- 
img iar this State, only about four are to be found on the 
Himeplans, Carrer @avula is another member of the fumils 
which grows here only, in this State, but also in the Mt. Lofty 
and Barossa Ranges, in Sonth Australia. What I noght term 
aur own particular family, the Rhamnacee, eoutains two 
species. Lrymaliwn D'Altoni, discovered by my uncle, Mr 
St. Floy D'Altou, a good inany years ago, and Trymakium 


phat DYAnoux, Soure Gromgians' Plants 31 
‘dnivstsstim, recently found hy My. J, W. Audas ancl myself, 
on the slopes of Mt. Difficult. The first blooms ju duly, bet 
Lhe latter wot till Spring, 

The family Dilleniaees is represented by idbertia hun 
fuse, whieh was first recorded trom Mt. Zero, at the noribern 
end of the Grampians, and has heen erroneously entered in the 
Consus of our Victorian plants as being in the Northavest, T 
lave singe Lonud ih in several localities in the Vietoria Valley, 
abd aso in the Wild Flower Garden, near Hall's Gap. In 
the Myrtarea: we have five representatives.  Lucalyplies 
ulpiea grows on most of the higher peaks, and is seldom foand 
lower than about 2000 feet. It isu rather dwarf Gum, will 
exceedinely tough brauehes, thereby being abte fo withstanil 
the strong wiids oeenrring ou high altitudes. Jt has fine 
ginssy. dark-green leaves, futly large xecd-vessels minch 
embedded on the stalks, ancl Howers of a mither struggling 
nature, the stamens being inuch scattered wud distant, 7 
believe dhis Huealypt bas been suecesstully vroawn i seme of 
the alpine passes.in Muvope, where heavy wind storms are 
prevalent. Melalewen squaanee is a handsome member at the 
bottle-brnsh family, generally found m swatpps aud dong 
waturconrses. Th hag faivky jarge pmk blossoms, with white 
tips. to the stamens, and leaves nyaeh beset with diaolets. It 
vinwes in two directions, from the Tasmanian mountains ap 
the eask coust of New South Wales, and by way of the S.W 
uf South Australia to this locality. 

Calytria Sullivantt, or Grampians Fringe-myrtle, is strong 
erowing, and likes open, sunny situations: ita cousin, the 
Snow Myrtle, Lhetzkya yenetylleides, on, the obher hand, 
here hides iis graceful pink flowers in shady plens or between 
yook-walls where the sun does not penetrate too stvongly. Tn 
the Northavest, however, it is found in open situations, like 
the Culytrixs, which is also viol unknown there, Both are 
easily grown. gardens or parks, where they make fine orna- 
mental shrubs, Lhryptomene Mitchelliaw:, or Grampian 
Heathanyrtle, is-also admirably adapted for cultivation, and 
can, if clipped, he made into a very serviecable hedge. M1 ie 
also a pood carvvig plant, and will last in water for several 
weeks, This fine shrub was named in honony of that great 
expioret, Sir Thomas Mitehell, who discovered and named 
the Grampians. Another Myrtaerougs plank which might 
he mentioned, althongh it occurs elsewhere in similar 
situations, is the handsome variety yrundiflere oof Leptos 
pernmruat Lanvigerwm, loeally known js the ‘Wald 4pple Blos- 


$2 A Revord of Service Aare ea 


som’? This has much largar flowers and leaves, grows in 
ihite different soil, in rock crevices often high up in the snout. 
(ais, and blossoms a month later than the typical form, 
which is also always found in swampy country, 

Of the Mpacridacex, we have two fine species in Lewcapoyan 
thynifolius and Brachylomma depressunr, both snb-alpine here, 
the latter heing about the finest ot the Buichylomas, growing 
fairly tall and haying fine aprays of ereamy-white flowers, 
much frequented by bees for honey. Lt is also kuawn from 
the Rust coast of Tasmania aud the islands of Bass Strait. 
Labiaty affords only one vather poor exunple in Prostaithera 
debitis, a sleuder plant with flawers inuch scattered, ar yener- 
ally in pairs and pale lavender in colour. Laat. ie thal 
curious little member of the Stylidiacew, Styledian sobolt- 
ferum, ov Bristly Triggerplant, with its curions rosette 
leaves flat on the ground, and bright pink flowers on straight. 
stalks a few inches in height. This genevally grows on uossy 
banks in moist situations, and should make good bordering 
for flower beds, provided the locality. is wat, too dry, 

Saumming up, we appear to buve wbout a score of plants 
confined to these ranges, and all but two or three of the others 
mentioned seem to have come to us from the West, aul here 
find the liniits of their range in an easterly direction, 


A RECORD OF SERVICE. 


The retirement of Mr. F. G. A, Barnard from the position 
of Hon, Bditor of the Veetoriad Naturalist, a1 association 
which members of the Club had cane to vegarved as perman- 
ent, marks the close of an apoch, but, happily, not a career 
of service. An epoch ig a period “marked by special 
events’? and many evente of note in the Club’s history have 
vecurred during the period of Mir Barnard’s editorship. 
Tiis services have been varied and always efficient: he has 
heen generous with giffs of his “‘Ieisure’’ time for 32 years. 

Mr. Barnaad is one of the six original members of the 
Club who remain with us. Elis serviee in office commenced 
soon, After avear ou the Gotnmittee in £884, he was cleated 
Hon. Sceretary of the Club. and fer six years continued to 
hold that position; then he became Hon, Librarian, In 
December, 1902, on the withdrawal of Mr. A. FT. 8, Lueas 
from: the offiee, after vight vears of valued gervier. Aly 
Barnard consented to act as editor of the Noturalis! ‘for 4 
time ’* That time extended ta April, 1926. 


June, 
1926, 


A Record of Service 33 

For the vears 1903-5 Mr. Barnard was Vice-President of 
the Club, and in 1905-7 occupied the Presidential chair, In 
1908 he was again installed as Hon. Secretary, and acted 
in that capacity for two vears, His editorial duties were 
performed as usual while he held the other offices. His 
zeal in the interests of the Club has been unabated for 45 
vears. Besides discharging official duties most efficiently. 
he has dealt with subsidiary affiairs, constantly arising, in 
the same characteristic manner. 


Mr. EF. G. A. Barnarp 


Mr. Barnard has edited 7.874 pages of the Valnuralis/, as 
compared with 1.492 pages published) during the cight 
years before he assumed the responsible position so recently 
vacated, He has introduced many improvements in the 
stvle of our journal, maintaining the high standard whieh 
gained it repute among naturalists throughout Australia and 
in other countries. 

In addition to editing numberless contributions, many of 
which bristle with scientific terms. Mr. Barnard has dealt 
skilfully with reports of Club meetings and excursions, 
has reviewed books, ete. and supervised the details of pub- 
lieation. 


vate eels Vict. Nat. 
34 A Record of Service seen Reis 


A naturalist with wide interests. Mr. Barnard has con- 
tributed many pleasant and justructive accounts of his out- 
ings and Jonger journeys, and valuable papers on various 
subjects, 

A paper, “‘Are Popular Names for Victorian Plants 
Desirable?"" xead in Sept., 1906, originated the work of 
the Plant Names Committee, of which Mr. Barnard was a 
member, and Ted to the subsequent publication of “A Census 
of the Plants of Victoria."’ 

tn a Presidential Address, during bis term of oftiee in 
1906, Mr. Barnard dealt with ‘The First Twenty-five Years 
of the Field) Naturalists’ Club of Vietoria’’ (Nafuralist, 
Vol. 23), This paper subsequently was supplemented by 
one summarising the Club's history from 1905 te 1920 
(Naturalist, Vol, 37). His Presidential Address, delivered 
6th June, 1917, was entitled. “The Facilities for the Study 
of Natural History in Australasia’’ (Naturalist, Vol. 24). 
At the Clib conversazione, April. 1885, Mr. Barnard gave 
an entertaining leeturette on “Insects and their Metamor- 
phoses.”" Among hig many other activities may be mentioned 
the management of the earlier Wild Flower Exhibition, as 
Hfon. Secretary of the Club, in the days when suburban 
expansion had not obliterated the floral wealth of sernb 
and bush, then easily reached from the city. Mr. Barnard, 
from his long experience in the work of the Club, has given 
valuable assistance to its. officers, and always he has been 
helpful to members requiring information, assistance. or 
encouragement in nature study. A valuable adjunct to organi- 
sation is the ‘* Excursion Programme’ introduced be My. 
Barnard, who, as leader and adviser, has plaved a prominent 
part m Club outings. Tle is familiar with all the highways 
and byways radiating from Melbourne to mountain. plain 
and streani, : 

During Mr. Barnard’s intimate connection with the Chiab 
its members have. several times. delighted to honour him. 
Thus. on the oeeasion of his marriag¢, and in recognition of 
his services as Ton. Secretary, in’ September, 1889 4 Vad. 
Oct.. 1889), he was presented with an address. a clock. and 
a purse of sovereigns. In July. 1918, on completion af 25 
years” editorship, he was the aecipient of a poeket aneraid 
barometer. In February, 1925. as a foundation member, he 
was elected a Life Honorary Member of the Club. 

Mr. Barnard has earned into other walks of life that 
thoroughness and zeal whieh signally mark his career as a 


phases Migration of Spiders 36 


member of the Field Naturalists’ Club. Suceceding to his 
father’s old-established business in 1902, he has successfully 
eartied it on as 4 registered pharmacist, In 1915 he was 
elected President of the Metropolitan Chemists’ Association. 
Mr. Barnard, always keenly interested in public affairs and 
local advancement, has been connected at) Kew with the 
Public Library, School Committee, Cricket Club, Horticul- 
tural Soeiety, etc, In 1915 he secured election to the Kew 
Conneil, and was appointed to the honourable position of 
Mayor of the nninieipality, whieh, during his term of office. 
was proclaimed a city. In 1910 Mr. Barnard wrote a history 
of Kew, dealing with the rise and progress of the district 
For many years lie has been a member of the Conneil of 
the Historical Society of Victoria, and he has also submitted 
jo the Society interesting papers on early historical matters. 

Thits, quietly aud mnostentationsly, Mr. Barnard vas 
hvought to the performace of hia various duties, publie and 
private, soundness of knowledge and esrnestness of purpose, 
whieh have ensured success in every way, and Ins genial 
and kindly nature and eourteous dispositon have brought 
hitn ~‘honour, love, obedience, troops of friends.*’ The 
members of the. Field Naturalist;’ Club wvegvet his vetive- 
nent from the office of editor, so Jong and so faith- 
fully held, appreciate to the fnll his loyalty and devotion 
to the Club's bvlerests, and trust that he will be spared for 
many happy years. 


MIGRATION OF SPIDERS, 


Walking alony Chaucer Street, St. Milda, in the afternoon, 
on 27th April, 1925, 1 observed that fences, warden plants 
aad house-fronts were festooned with strands of spidersilk. 
Over the reserve facing the street, too, many strands were 
floating. Though some strands were several feet in length, 
the most of them were tangled into an irpegnlay, Griss-cyoss 
mesh, JF eanght several of these fairy ‘balloons,”? Dut oatly 
one had a “‘ pilot’? or ‘passenger’'—it proved tu bea muitune 
mali. 

Some of the strands alow the fences were examined, and 
spiders belonging to three different. families were obtuiued ; 
Gi a nahaved male; another a matured female All these 
aplecimens may dave heen local spiders, that seized tho threads 
as they came to test, hoping to catch the owners and 
edt, them. Tt is generally thought that only the young 


36 Migration of Spiders yecmin 
spiflers migrate, from the place of their birth, in (quest 
o£ territory wheve they may have a fair chance of living 0, 
plonty, However, Lf certainly captured one mature male 
*'ballooning*'; while several others seen floating by were too 
large to be young ones. 


Passing through Guna Park Gardens, T saw, everywhere, 
evidences of the migration. On pine trees and palms, and on 
the lawns, were nuiumerable strands of silk. It was the ssme 
along the Esplanade; clinging to the ramp were thousands 
of strands, many of them 9 feet or 10 feet in length. And 
huncreds of the tiny ‘‘balloons’’ were floating over from the 
direction of the Bay, I went to the beach, and found that 
the spiders were coming across the water, on a fairly strong 
breeze, blowing from.a point below the You Yangs—a journey 
of some miles for the spiders, if this was the line they fol- 
lowed, But it is possible that they had been blawn over (he 
Bay, from the Tea-tree scrub at Brighton ot Sandringham, 
and then across to St. Talda. Even. so, the journey would be 
three ov four miles—C. Org, 

These observations, given at the Club’s May meeting, were 
diseussed by several members. 

Mr, A. L, Seott said that on, or about, 27th April, he lad 
sven, alone the fences of Elsternwick Pack and of privjte 
houses, thousands of long spider-threads. 


Mr. F. &. Wilson remarked that he hac! heen surprised uno 
day. while bathiug at Chelsea, to gee large nonbers of spiders’ 
‘batloons’’ floating overhead. At the time, le felt convinced 
that they weve coniing right across the Bay, as the coast-line 
ut Chelsea was practically straight, anc certainly had wo 
headland likely to vive spiders a ‘‘sendeoff"’ 

Mr. Searle stated that, he had seen bushes smothered with 
wossamer. Migration was the usnal method by which young 
spiders secured dispersal, 


Tn reply, Mr. Oke said that. lw was convinced the migra- 
tion Was not confined to young apicders. The“'tailed’’ spider. 
Arachnura higginsi, soractimes bred in colonies, « hundred or 
more individuals selecting the same tree, and as each ‘spider 
had three or four capaules af eggs, an mimense number of 
young ones were born among the boughs, But, the stronwer 
and older members of the young brigade devoured jmiuy of 
those less udvanced. Tiras, though considerable numbers did 
~‘haltoon,’’ the migrations of this species were not so imipres- 
sive ag the one he had‘ just described. 


THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, Vol. XLII. June, 1925 
PuLaTE I. 


YOUNG “MAJOR MITCHELL” COCKATOO. 
(Photo, C. Barrett 


ee Danny, A View to the Upper Murray si 


4 VWISIT 'CO THE UPPER MURKAY. 
By C. Datnzy, BA, FDS 


(Read. before the Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria, 
11th May, 1925.) 


With a fishing party, in March of this year, 1 visited 
Swampy Plains River. Mr. F. Cudmore, a fellow-club mom- 
ber, was one of our number. Our route was by the North- 
Eastern, railway to Wodonga, where we changed to the moun 
tainous line running eastward as far as Cudgewa, distant 
from Melbourne 255 mules. 

Yo the north-east of Cudgewa les Pine Mount, while an 
imposing peak to the narth-west is Mount Burrowes, 4181 feel 
Trom Cudgewa, without delay, we motored in the moonlight 
und through keen bracing wir to Corryong, a thriving pastoral 
fawn, around whieh some gold-mining has been carried on 
iMermittently, with varying fortune. Passing through mter 
vening hills, a descent was made through the Tawong Gap 
between the station of the same name and the picturesque 
Mount Elliott run. Here we obtained a charming and most 
extensive view over the Murray River fats and adjacent 
montain panges. 

Crossing the Murray River bridge, jnat below where the 
Swampy Plas River jomes its waters with the main strewn, 
we passed through the Bringenbrony Station, famous for its 
excatlent cattle and well-bred horses. We were now on plains 
of some extant, in the basin of the Murray, and our driver pre- 
ferred, im the darkness, to take a longer, and safer, course 
among the hills to the north-eastward, In and out we passed 
throngh the Khancoban district, emerging on the Swampy 
River plain; crossing creek after creek, and then the rivet 
itself. nntil, ab lust, we teached Waterfall Farm, av the 
Swampy Plains River, Travelling from Corryong to oar 
destination, we had to open and close fourteen 2 Pates In pass- 
ing throws the estates, We orossed the rivey over a sus- 
pension bridge, 150 feet m length and 25 feet above the 
stream, As we carricd ow: Jageage across in the darkness, 
the swaying of the wite bridee gave a feeling of inseaurity. A 
shor! ladder is fixed on each side np the steep boulders, on 
whieh the bridge is securely any od. 

Mi. Scammell's Waterfall Farm, on the high ground, js 
the farthest-out place on this track towards IKoselusko, The 
river 1s ¥.stone’s (hrow from the honse, and the noise of its 


33 DALEY, A Visit to the Upper Merry) Fy ney 


waters passing theough the rapids is soothing and pleasant, 
The Swanpy vises in Mt. Woserske, and here, at Whuan 
eyban, coming through the mountain gorge, it follows the base 
of a line of hills for ming its southern bank, Fon its edee a 
broadening expanse of “rich Wluvial plains stretches norih- 
ward to the huls, and westward alony ifs eaurse through the 
Khancoban and Bringeutrong runs. 


After a good night** rest,, following # twenty-hours’ 
jouliey, We were ready, in the mornitig, to try ouv fortune in 
the stream. The river, yapid and clear, flows over rounded 
pebbles and boulders, mostly evanitic ov schistose in character, 
and varying mi size, bat generally lavger, We noticed, ag we 
followed the river up to its souree. The Swampy is remark- 
ally tree from snags, and devoid of anud, the vounded stones 
in its bed making if awkward sometimes for auc to preserve 
halanee ti the stream. Rapids are numerous; deap twols, du 
which the trout love to linger, accur under the steeper bunks. 
Vegetation along the river's banks usually is not dense enough 
to be an. obstacle to fishing, and so sportive trout ean be played 
with » reel and a very lengthy line. No other kind of fish 
seems to inhabit the river. Before breakfast, one euthusiast 
returned with a Rainbow Trout which weighed 4 lhs.: and 
the catch for the day was 27 fish, varying from Toth, to 4 Ibs 
in weight. Next day 20 was the total: then 32, a cloaen of 
which were eiuught with the dry (iy by Mr, Cuclmore, the fire 
largest. weighing 274 Ibs—fine specimens of the Rainbaw 
Trout, which has heen so snceessfally introduced tite or 
mowmitain streams. 

On Tuesday, with an imposing eavaleade of wine viders and 
lwo pack-horses, laden with camp equipinent and provisiens, 
we left Waterfall Farm for the Gehi, about fifteen tiles 
tistant. At first the bridle-track leads high above and along 
the side of the steep gorge, gradually descending to a ford 
From here the country is practically virgin fovest, open and 
park-like in aspect, with sparse undergrowth, fhe trees being 
chiefly Blue Gum, 4. globulus, Stringybark, Ff. obliqua, Pep- 
permint, E. australian, Silverton, /. steberinua. and Gur 
Myrtle, Anygephora intermedia. Patches of Wild Cherry. 
Kxocarpus nana (2), and herve and there Sweet. Bursaria, B. 

spinosa, in flower, appeared. Along the Swampy Wiver and 
tts subsidiary ereeks the Woolly “Tea-tree, Leptospermam 
innigerum, grew, also Manuka, LD. scoparium, with Black aad 
Silver Wattles. Pultenmas and Grevillias. On the plains. Red 


ae Darky, A Visit to the Upper Murray 39 


Guam, 4, restrula, and Swamp Guin, £, ovata, were to be seen. 
Few Introduced plants have, as yet, established themselves. 
The Autumn Orehid, Hriechilus autwnnalis, was mn bloom, 
and otcasionally the Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum: saliccria, 
showed w# strikorg patch of colour amoung tussocks. Pasture 
wis abundant, and it was ea pleasure to ride through the 
forest primeval, wntonched us it is by the ravages of fire or the 
aXe. 

Our party bei a large one, animal life was vat very 
wvident, A fox and a kangaroo, in hasty retreat, were sighted. 
Fubbits, in some places, were nunietous, alsa Opossums, and 
uy the edges of the river plains there way evidence af the 
presence of Wombats. Atter proceeding for some miles, we 
came to the alnupt Gehi wall, the caste slope of a jure. 
Mpitous range. Down the steep wall the bridle-track follaws 
closely the mnie! of a small stream, whieh the lorses lad to 
‘negotiate very steadily and careumspeetly. As the little 
stream inereased in yoluine of water through soakage from 
fhe Hills, Tree-fprus, and the asnal aecconpantnent of smaller 
ferns, appeared, while Blackwood, Hazel and Jtanket-teal 
ilso grew in the saturated vround, but not with the lasnrianece 
of the gully vegetation of eastern New South Wales ov GQipp- 
land. The desvent to the rivercHaty being made without opis 
hap, after easier riding we again met with fhe mis-tumed 
Swampy, flowing with undiminished force. We crossed 
several times, on the way to Gehi eamp, situated on the 
viver-Alat about 100 yards from the stream, with hills and 
mountains rising on every side. ‘The Gehi frowns hohinel, snd 
wustward up the river, Kosciusko, 7308 fect, raises its hare, 
yrev Imad, weatherbeaten and seored by exposure fo dest riue- 
tive atmospherie agencies through wong of time. Tts lower 
slapes are wooded; but past the Snow Gum line imposing 
éliff-faces in succession rear theniselves, devoid of vegetation 
to all appearance, and presenting, battresslike, a hold front 
iw the disintegrating elements which ever beset, them. 

Mt; Townshend, 7260 feet, to the worth, also stands out 
badly. The view of the range, logking wp the Swaipy 
River, iy inepiving. "he eeasclers play of san and shadow 
vives Trequent change in the aspect af the peaks. No snow 1s 
visihle front the western side, altliough probably  juttehes 
romain throughout the year in sheltered valley slopes on the 
sonthern aspect. . 

Uver the elevated Kosciusko plateau there is enidence of 
a series of elactal epochs, of which the mount was nidoubledly 


40 Datey. A Visit ta the paper Murray yee 
the centre, probably in the Cainozoie eva; Professor David 
suggesis that, in the very late Pliocene, or early Ploistoerne 
times, the easter coast of Australia, through cousiderable 
earth movement,.was greatly raised in ‘altitude, the Kosciuska 
area to a height of 7000. feet above sea-level ; and that, a elacial 
age supervening, this area had an ice-cap of about, 2000 feet. 
In the district visited slong the Swampy to Kosciusko the 
formation of the ranges, as observed, was mostly granitic; 1 
some places the rocks were metamorphic in ¢haracter. The 
rock débris of the river and streams brought down from this 
great mountain system, is mostly of granitic or schistose 
origin, and of metamorphic rocks. On the river-flate of Gehi 
are evidences in dry, houldec-strewn water-courges, as well ag 
in the running stream, of torrential conditions, perhaps partly 
very ramote, when flood-gates are opened with the melting of 
the winter stow on the monntain slopes. 

Ti its Alpine and forestral setting. Swampy River is a 
beainitul stueani, quisk-tlowing, clear and sparkling, as 1b 
huvries down to the lordly Murray, thirty ov forty miles 
flistant. deep pools, pebbly shallows, and frequent rapids 
neciriag in its course. Tt isan ideal fishin stream, partak- 
ing of the nature of the famous Seottish streams. At the hack 
ot the cap at.Gehi was a range of hills, and across the river 
a similay imigeé, well-wooded, the faivly extensive viver Flats 
extending eastward up the valley. ‘On the southern shank. 
about. half-a-mile distant, and above a deep lawer of water- 
worl stones, evidently waar aaelent mver deposit, was a laver 
ol dark soil, the edge of a flood-plain with good pasture 
along the river-eourse. 

Ow Wednesday an envly.atart was made ander most 
foyourable conditions as to weather, and move than ninety fish 
were caught, Me. Cudmore, with the Ay, heing the most. ane- 
cexstul, Only about one-third of the fish hooked were retained 
for fond, the remainder bemg returned to the ver. Some of 
the largest fish were snioked and dried. [fr was uiderstood 
that no fish under 2 Ibs. was to be kept. The lavuzest fish 
eanght. neae Seammell’s. was 2 feot in length, and weighed 
+h hs. the heaviest was about @ Iby in weieht Rainbow 
Trout. by their agility and alertness, especially when 
aboul 3 lhs. in weight, test the skill and patience 
of the angler; Grasshoppers, used fur bait, were 
niimerons at Gehi, and were easily caught in the 
mel erass. An éxceedingly heavy dew aceutred each 
night: it wes preceeded by a fog, which settled down 


shal Danny, A Visit te the Upper Marre 41 
so ae to hide the mountains, I) the mormniiig it slowly 
lifted. and became yuiekly wissipated befors the sun's 

rays, Whe air being very. elew and braving, “seach dew- 
laden aiedranght resembling a Jong drauelit of wie.’ 
There were sane very bewotitfal effects whore spiders 
had woven then webs between branehes, the wonder- 
-tnl completeness and symmetry of the design being revealed 
in delicate tracery by the dew on each separate thread. Bird- 
life was not abundant, Oceasionally Black Comnorants, 
Phalactucoran carbo, were seen near the ver, but not i 
large numbers. The Wedve-tailed Bavle, Urorlus udar, 
wate frequently observed in graceful fight in mid-air, and a 
Tew Kookaburras, Dacelo gigas, awoke the echoes with rie 

“laughter.’’ 

The party, in different sectiows, fished alone the river for 
some miles. The strong current, the cold water, and the 
pebbly bed of the stream, made wading sometimes difficult. 
Ov the Thursday the most of our party left Cehi, crosses 
ane re-evossed the Swampy, scaled the Wall, aud returned te 
Seamen's. at Mianeobaa, About hullavay on tha jouer. 
we herd 'niusie low and strange’? whead of us, The pleas 
tuikling of bells on aw earavan of horses, whieh, undo twa 
ridors, were on their way, loaded with salt, for the ''licks’’ jn 
distant eathle pastures near ‘om, Grogean.’s,’* on the Mire 
Vay. 

Twi of ns, on raturn, left Waterfall Parm, diiving abet 
four piles to cate, Hos Majesty ’s madl, On the was over the 
pliinns Wwe saw four Brolgas, Antigone mutralasiuna.  Pirds 
were more mumervous on the cpen than in the forest eumnhey 
grasshoppers providing ample food for then. Ti the paid 
docks quail were numerous; on the swampy places plovers 
made shill outery, while the smaller birds of prey, such ns 
Gould’s Harrier, Circus gouldd, the Collared Sparvowhawk, 
Aceipiter cirrhocephalus, and the Nankeen Kestrel, Cerchners 
cenchrotdes, favoured this open country for theiv operations: 
Black Duck, Anas superciliosa, aud eal, Neti cashiieun, 
cowld be flushed along the river heave and there, and the Con 
mon Sandpiper, Acitis hapeleucus, was seen on the edges 
of the swamps. Other birds noticed durimye onr stay 
were Streperas, the Butcher-bird, Cracticus lorqualais, 
White-witized Chough, Corcoran melanor hanphus, Blue 
Wren, Waduense eyanocklamys, the Blue Mountain Pavol 
Vrichaglassus oove-hollandwma, the Crimson, Phelycercus elc- 
gons, and the Rosella Parrot, P. eximvus, the Searlet Robin, 


42 Notes from Ficll and Senity woe 


Pelroiw multicolor, the Azare Kingfisher, Aleyone azurea, 
and Pits and Wrens in the forest country, with the Magpies, 
G, hypolewen, and the Starlings on the open spaces. White 
Cockaloos, Casatus galerita, were m flocks, aud Black Coeka- 
tous, Calyplorhynchus funereus, occasionally were sean, We 
passed over the Khancohan plains throagh the station of that 
tune, excellent cattle country, On a telegvuph line were 
assembled about-200 Swallows, Hirundo neovena, an unnsnal 
ci'eumstance for the time of the year. Crossing the Swampy. 
we passed through Bringenbrone Station to the Murvay. On 
the road were numerous ‘tracks of snakes, this run heing noted 
for snakes as well as for its fine cattle, The Swampy River 
plains have, to the north, high ranges. such as the Dargil. 
Past the gorge from which the Khaneoban Oreelc cones to the 
‘Swampy is the rugged country of Toolong; and the plains are 
enclosed between these lofty ranges, on the north, and a lower 
ranze, at the base of which the Swampy flows. If is bountiful 
coutitryy, with splendid vistas inv every direction, but espectally 
towards the east, where Kaseinsko forms the dominant 
feature. 


SS an an 2 Do eae ee ee ee ec 
NOTES FROM FIELD AND STUDY 


eesti feecastunaedetatestucecteeacactduabdatatatadachsbatebedusistaata it 


et 
Og 
4 


Spat 


te 


eee 
oe 
Aa 
as 
: 


| Member's ave invited to contribrite paragraphs for this see- 
tion of the WNatwralést. which should become a. papular 
nus¢cllany., Original notes, of course. are most. desired; but 
“wunngs from scientific literatnre, unlikely to be seen hy the 
majority of members, will also be weleomed.] 


NEW BOOK ON INSECTS. 


Dr. BR. J. Tillyard’s forthcoming book, ““Tnseets of Aus- 
tralia and New Zealand,’ will be welcomed by etitomologists 
overseas as well as those in Australasia, Though mainly tt 
text-book for students, it will be of interest and value also 
to the ‘‘eeneral’’ naturalist. It will contain, about 590 pages 
(royal 8vo). with eight full-page plates in colour, and more 
than 350 other illustrations, All the illustrations will be 
reproduced from new drawings or frou photographs wade 
speeially for the purpose. The economic aspect of insect 
lite will be dealt with fully. Dr. Tillvard is Chief of the 


529%, Notas fron Wie! und Study az 


Biologiva! Department, Cawthron Institute, Nelson, N.Z. Hig 
work, “"he Biology of Dragonfiies,’’ was recognised im 
Rarepe and America as setting a fresh standard for books 
of its elass. Tis new work is betne published by Messrs. 
Angus und Rohorison Lid. Sydney. The price will be 
abont 30/-. 

A WATERSOORPION'S WAYS. 

The habits of a Water-Seorpion (Vepu rubra) kept in 
u‘wlass jar have greatly interested me. 'Che insect was eay)- 
rured in Pebrouutry last oat Mount Martha. The poud-water 
iv the “‘aquayium’’ was frequently changed, and the 
Tenanl|, was fed upon blownies (Cellinhora), worms, small 
water-beeties and tadpoles. The later he caught for hiniseltf, 
with surprising skill, Water-Scorpiuns inust be a veritable 
wightimarve to other pond-dwellers! On pet was particu- 
larly ‘‘nice™’ as regards personal appearance. and spent much 
dite in eombing and grooming his body with his long fore- 
legs, Meal-times were a lone-drawn-out pleasure to him, 
and he would stay for hours with his sucking-beak imbedded 
in the body of his vietim, until every particle of juice mast 
have beer extracted. Hedyyis, During three months 
iF eaptivity the Vepe changed his coat twice, Jt was rather 
sUrpVising fia see, one morning, a ‘‘seorpion’” almost double 
the size of the one we had been observing the night before, 
while the disearded *‘coat,’’ looking exacthy like its recent 
wearer, Jay at the bottom of the jar It was possibly a 
third “‘meoult’? that caused the inseet’s: death on 25th Mav 
1 would be interested to hear from a student of ponnd-lite 
whe has noted more than two ‘‘moults’’ m Vepa—w.c. 


A DRAGONTLY THAT POSES. 

in our garden at Mont Albert grows an English Broom 
(Sarothamnus scoparius), perched on a bank above the lawn, 
This, of late, has been the certre of some instructive enter- 
jainment, on atcount of the curious habit of small dragon 
flies that have been resorting to it, one might think, for 
the purpose of ‘inaking believe.’ Thy late summer the ais 
ub dames is ful! of small flies, and on these the Dravonfly, 
‘estes leda, Selys, apparently delights to feed. Coineidenee 
ar otherwise (we leave that to the argumentative), there 
are some dry valves of Broony pods extending at a wide 
dngle from the sti? branches of the bush, Lestes flits to the 
Brooni-tips and extends its body, with wings depressed, 
almost at right angles ta the stom, and it is diffentt, at a 


44 Notes from Field und Study eet rer 


short distance, to distinguish pods fvoi dinwoiflies, The 
insects at biief intervals dart into the space around, ast 
ultiost imperceptibly return with something in their jaawa. 
The vietims are tiny flies, which, in a few seconds, yre 
sucked dry, when their vermnains fall to tha ground; it 
reminds one of a parrot! bitine nuts and dropping the braken 
shells —F. CHAPMAN. ‘ 


VICTORIAN PUANTS IN SCOTLAND, : 

An item of interest tu Vielorian field natuvalisis is 
tecorded in the 1924 Tranactions of the Proceedings of the 
Botanical Society of Edinburgh, At the March nieeting, 
among the plants in flower exhibted by the Royal Botanic 
Cardens were the Scarlet Coral Pea, Nennedyu prostrate 
(R.Br.). Hairy Pink-eye, Vetratheca pilosa (Labill), while 
ihe West Australian MKennedya nigricans alsa was shown. 
Our Club is doing useful work in educating the pubhe in 
regard to native flowerg for the garden. Jt-is not. long sinee 
a. Melbontne nurseryman, when nrged io show more native 
plants in his window, veplied: “I can always sell exotics, 
bat when J name the Victorians as useful and Dewatiful, I 
have often met with a vebulf** The ‘Natives’? ave move 
popular now—A.J.T. 


A BOTANICAL ‘WIND.” 


Borys witida, a little tufted plant with insignificant 
inflorescence, only a few inches high, belongs to the Jelmn- 
soniew tribe of the dry-fruited series of on lilies. In the 
same section are Staayellia, of one species only, two Jolin- 
eonias, and two Armocrinums, all confined to Western ans: 
tralia; and the Bartlingias. six of whieh are also restricted 
to the westemt State. a seventh extending thence to New 
South Wales and Tasmania, and the eighth vecorded only 
from this State, New South Wales and Queensland. The 
discovery by Mr. C. W. D'Alton of Baryu mtida ad, Maclie's 
Paak, near Hlall’s Gap, in the Grampians, is. perhaps, one 
of the most interesting of our botanical ‘‘finds*' in recent 
vears, It is a far ery to Cape Arid, on the other side of 
the Great Australian Bight, the nearest point recorded for- 
the plant in Western Australia—abont 1200 miles in a bee 
line—and it is still further to Rockingham Bay, in Queens- 
Jand—nearly 1700 miles—where the only other species in 
the genus is located. - Bentham, finding only slight stune- 
tural differences between, this B  septentrionalis and its 


ae <a] Nates from Field anil Study 45 
western ally was, perhaps, coustraiived to state that it is 
“post, distinctly separated by peographical posttion.’’ It 
would thus appear that the Borya is really monotypic, und 
affords another very striking instané of the diseontinuaus 
disttibution of certain of our plants, which is so closely 
couneeted with, and only explicuble by the reading of, the 
physiographical history of the etmtinvnt—C.s.$, 


“MAJOR MITCHELL" COCKATOOS, 

None of the Cockatoos is more beantiful than the ‘Major 
Mitchell,’’ Cucatua leddbeatert, and none more engaging, in 
the wilds or captivity, Pink Cockatoo js the vernacular name 
favoured for this species by the Checklist Committee of the 
Royal Australasian Ornithologists’ Union, In many districts 
it is called ‘S Wee Juggler’’ but to the majority of bird lovers 
and bush-folk it will always be the “Major Mitchell.”’ [ts 
popularity, us a handsome ‘‘tulking’’ bird, has beew tte great- 
est misfortune. It ts rare now in some parts, where formerly 
many broods were redred every season. Kron) other localities 
it has disappeared, owing mainly to the advance of settlement 
Trappers and nest-robbers wre responsible tor the decrease 
of (. leadbeater? in certain of ite Vietorian haunts that still 
remain wild. I have met with it, in pairs, iu rhe Maller 
country, and know that it nests in the Whyperfield National 
Park, efore that urea beeame sanctuary for native tauna, 
the homes of ecoekataos and parrots were raided (reely hy 
trappers and other porsons. The young bird shew in the 
photograph (see plate) was one of three borm ma Gum-true 
hollow, up Whypertield way. Lt was posed for the portrait, 
and displayed its resentment just as the camera shutter wis 
released —C.B, 


MOSQUITOES OF AUSTRALIA. 

The mosguito fauna of Australia and the adjacent, islands, 
jneluding Tasmania, is represented by about 100 known valid 
species, some of which extend into New Zealand, New Guinea 
and the Oriental region. OF these species; only sis are 
included in the Anopheles group, The actual nuniber of adi- 
genous species is probably considerably larger, since only a 
comparatively small area of the continent has been systematie- 
ally searched tor these insects. Our knowledye of the early 
stuges and breading habits of even the eonmnoner species is 
very incomplete, and nach useful researeh in this dixection 
vemaings to be done. Of the seventecn species known frat 


46 Notes from Micld und Shuby von Soy 


Victoria, only one is restricted in its range to this State, and, 
althongh common, nothing is known of its Lfe-bistary. Two 
of the most ahundant species, ie., Miles comptorhynclvus 
(Thoms,) and Wedes albounnutatus (Maeg.) whieh are found 
also in the adjoining States, rival some of the northern species 
as pests in swamp and bush toealities, while another, Ane- 
Pheles dnaiulipes (Walls), with a still wider Anstralinn clis- 
tribution, is of Importanee as a possible, if uot an actual, 
eartie? of malaria ny the northern States. Of the purely 
domestic speries. the ubiquitous Culew fatiyans (Wy is prob. 
ably the best-known anid moat tronblesome indoars. 
As it rarely breeds elsewhere than in eontaminated, stagnant 
water near hubilations, its scarcity, ov abundance, is a tairly’ 
accurate index to the sanitary condition of the vicmiby— 
FH. 


BIRDS OF A SUBURBAN GARDEN. 

A few gum teees will attract native .birds around the 
suburban home. Where T live, at Kast Malvern, many of the 
original Evealypts ave stunding, and, aus a result, we are 
never without a bevy of mdigenous birds, to say nothing of the 
introduced species. In ney neighbour’s yard a pair of Black 
and-white Fantails, Hhipidiurs leucophrys, last. season reared 
# brood of two. The youny birds huve gone elsewhere, but the 
parents we still have with os. Every evening four sedate 
Kookaburras, Oucelo gigas, perch mm my Wattle trees tor a 
while before goime to roost, and are delighted when [ provide 
themewith a meal—seraps of meut. So tame is one that L have 
no difficulty in approaching within iwo or three yards of it, 
A pair of Shrike-tits, Malennculus frontatus, Wo have had as_ 
tenants for several months. They apend most of ther tine 
prospecting’ ‘the crevices in the bark of the gums for lurk- 
ing sects. Of White-plumed Hloneyeaters we have quite a 
flock, and several young birds were veared in the street last 
season. Nothing pleases them more than to pester the [oaka- 
burras; they wre always assisted by the Pantails and a pair of 
Blackbirds. Vhe Fantails, however, are the most couragcons; 
frequently they alight ou either the head or the back of 
Kookaburra, and remain for perhaps a minute. When a black 
ext one day was walking along the top of a paling fence, 
the Fantails alighted upon its back, and enjoyed a ride for 
ten yards, scolding their victim yigorously the while. The cat 
stopped several times, and avehed its back, but its footing was 
30 Precarious that it could nat disladge the birds, In the 


RetTy Birds and Butterfiies 47 
early momung, t pair of Magpies, Gynimarkine hypolouct, wid 
two or thres Muagpie-larks, Grallina cyanolewca, ave seen 
hunting tor toud in ow back parden. Recently (April and 
May) the autumn notes of the Grey Butcher-bird, Cractious 
lorquatis, have been heard. A pair of welcome Swallaws, 
Ihirunde neoxzena, spend most. of their resting-time sunning 
themselves on the house telephone wives. A snrall family of 
Blue Wrens, Malurus cyaneus, resides in the street, and on 
rate Oedasions visits our garden, Often at night we hear 
the monotonous call of the Boobook Owl, Ninax boobaois. 
When the Enealypts were blooming, about Chrisinas-tine, 
the havsh call of Red Wattle Birds, Anthectera carunoulatn, 
were heard all day long, and frequent squabbles. between. these 
hids and the White Plumed Honeyeaters, Meliphagu pens- 
cHlatu, took place. The Bronze Cuekoo, Chatetles busalis, 
und the Fantailed Cuckoo, Cucomantis flabellifarmis, live 
eich paid us one vieit only. A floek of nine Rosellas, Plaly 
careus ectinuius, flew over one morning, and an another 
Geeasion & pan of Gulahs, Cacitae rosercaupilld; the latter 
birds, probally, ld eseaped from 2 toe] aviaty li. W. 


BIRDS AND BUTTARFLIES. 


It 38 not unusual to see inseetivorous. birds capturing 
moths, indecd, certain species, prey upon then freely, 
especially in the nesting season. But what proof have we 
that birds are more than “‘easual’’ enemios of butlerfies, that 
they have been concerned in the matter of yimicry? 

Some opponents of the theory that distasteful butterflies 
are inimicked by other species lacking that form of pro- 
tection, contend that birds have no speeial liking for diurnal 
Lepidoptera. Further, they declare that; when butterflies 
are hunted by birds, no choice, apparently; is exercised ; 
“plensant’'’ and ‘‘distastelul’’ forms alike are taken indis- 
eviminately. ‘he subject has been a debatable one for years, 
and every bit of evidence is worth recording. 


Dr. H. Elivinghain, in dis book, ‘Butterfly Lore,’’ gives 
an excellent summary of facts dud theories in respect. of this 
subject. “The degree to which a butterfly may be destroyed 
and eaten by its enemies,** he writes, ‘depends on the state 
of the destroyers appetite for the time being. A very 
hungry bird will cat certain kinds of butterflies whieh, less 


48 Birds ant Butterfties van Fd 


ravenous, it will promptly vefuse”’ ‘All manner of factors, "’ 
Rltringham adds, ‘Swill affuet the result.’ 


When butterflies are ninsnatly abundant in their haunts, 
some birds will certainly take heavy toll of them; while in 
zt. normal season few may bo taken, Tas sammer, butterflies 
of several gpeaies were so plentiful around Melbourne and 
the nearer hill country that oue might seo thousands almost. 
ata glance in the most favoured localities. It was so at 
Eltham, in December and January, and some birds, at least, 
were butterfly hunters every day. Marly in January, Mr. W. 
CG. Tonge observed a paiv of Leaden Wlycatecliors, Myigra 
rubecult, feeding their young in the nest chiefly upon 
Common Brown Butterflies etsronymphu-merope, ‘jamming 
them into the little beaks, wings and all.’ ‘The diet was 
varied with a few dragonflies. Doubtless, many broods in 
Witham, and other districts were reared largely upon butter- 
flies last season. 


Respecting the Wanderers, Danaida archippus, Anderson 
and Spry state: ‘They foed quite, openly, having no fear 
of birds on account of a noxious smell they emit.” (“Vie 
torian Butterflies,’ p. 43.) The species,of the sub-tamily, 
Danaine, are all ‘‘protected'' like the Wanderer, and they 
have many mimies, it is claimed, among ‘‘unprotected’’ 
species of other sub-families. In Australia, and also in 
Reypt, IT have seen large numbers of Danaine butterflies 
where birds also were plentiful, but J have no record of one 
af these ‘‘distasteful’’ insects being attacked by birds. 


Danaine butterflies are slow in flight, and birds eonid 
capture theron easily. Their immunity trom attack, then, 
apparently, is due to thelr distastefulness,—C.B- 


When walking through. the bush at Fltham on 5th 
October, 1924, I noticed a femalc Rosella Parrot, Platycercus 
ecimius, fly up from a rotting tree-stump. A hollow had 
been cleaned out on the ground within the stump, and on 
the 8th the bird was there, sitting on three fresh eggs. Rain 
had fallen recently, and the Parrot’ Ss nursery was damp. On 
the 10th it was wet and deserted, more heavy vain having 
fallen in the interim. A few years ago, iu a neighbouring 
paddock, five or six young Rosellas, fully fledged, were found 
ina vabbit burrow—W. C. Toner, 


Che Victorian Paturalist 


Vor, XLIL—No. 3. JULY 10, 1925, No, 499. 


FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. 


The annual meeting of the Olub was held in the Royal 
Society's Hall, Victoria Street, on Monday evening, June 15, 
1925. The President, Mr. J. Searle, occupied the chair, and. 
105 members and friends were present. 


CORRESPONDENCE, 

From Hon. Secretary Victorian THortieultural Socicty, 
inviting members of the Chub to a lecture, entitled ““Our 
Bucalypts.’* by Mr, W. Russell Grimwade, fo be given in the 
Horticultural Hall on June 18. 

REPORTS. 

1. A veport of the excursion to the Biology Schovl, Uni- 
versity, on Saturday, May 30, was given, by the leader, Miss 
J. W. Rafi, M.Se., who said that 25 members had met in the 
Zoology Lahoratory. The subject dealt. with was ‘Useful 
Zoology,’’ aud attention was confined to those forms of 
Invertebrata that are of use to man, both directly and indi- 
rectly. Various specimetis and preparations dlustrating these 
were exhibited, and members examined them with intersst. 

2. A-vepart of the excursion to Mt. Evelyn, on King’s 
Birthday, was given by the leader, Mr. ©. Oke, who said that 
a party of 18 members had spent a very pleasant day in the 
hills. 

- ELECTION, 

On a ballot being taken, the following were duly declared 
to be unanimously elected as‘ ordinary members of the Club :-— 
Mis, F. Pitcher, ‘“Frechencourt,’? Punt Hill, South Yarra; 
Mr, G, #. Tl, National Museum; Mr. W. HE. Jones, 28 Clyde 
Street, South Yarra; Mr. A, 5S. Robertson, 22 Mayfield 
Avenue, Malvern. 

GENERAT. 

The Hon Secretary read the 45th Annual Report. Mr. 
©. A. Lambert anoved that the report be reeeived and 
adopted. Seconded by My, F. Pitcher, and carried. 


50 Flelé Naturatists' Chaut—Proceedings vay 


Vhe Hon, Treusirer read the 45th Atmiual Statement of 
Receipts aud Expenditure, and drew attention to the follow- 
thg points of intevest :— 

Subseriptions differ by only 5/+ from those of the pretense 
year, Proceeds from sales of Victoriun Naturalist hav 
increased-from £2/7/9 last year, to £21 this year, owing to the 
zealous efforts of the Hon, Libranian. Wild Mlower Show 
profits, £115, as campared with £107 last year. Various 
economies have brought about a reduction of £91 for the year 
in the cost of the Naturalist, and of £12 i general printing, 

The Statement was received and adopted, on the motion 
of Messrs. G. Coghill and E. Hodgson. 

Mr. Hooke moved a vote of thanks to the Auditors. 
Seconded by Mr. H. B. Williamson, and carried. 


RLECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE, 


There was OY one nomination fo the office of Presi- 
dent, and Mr. Geo. Coghill was declared duly elected, Mr. A. 
E. Keep asked that his name be removed trom the list of those 
nominated as Vice-Presidents. The ballot resulted in the elec 
tion of Messrs. F. G. A, Barnard and BE, EB, Peseoti, F.U.8. 
The following (unopposed) wore declared duly elected :— 
Hon. Treastirer, Mr. A. G. Hooke; Hon, Librarian, Dr. C, §. 
Sutton; Hon. Editor, Mr. ©, Barrett, C.W.Z.8.; Hon, Seere- 
tary, Mr. C. Oke; Hon. Assistant Seeretary and Librarian. 
Mr, U. B. Williamson, F.L.8. Messrs. Hughes, Lambert and 
Pitcher requested that they names be withdrawn fram the 
ist of menibers nominated for the Committee. The bailot was 
then taken, and the following were elected :—Messrs. F Chati- 
wan, ALS. ©. Daley, B.A., F.LS., J. A. Kershaw, 
BP R, WwW St. ‘John and ¥. B. Wilson, FES. 

Mr. A.J, Tadgell moved that a hearty vote of thanks be 
aceorsed to the officers and committee for their lahonrs. dur- 
ing the past twelve months. Seconded by Mr. A. L. Seott, 
and carried. 

Boranice GAagpens—Mr, Ff. G, A. Barnard moved '* That 
this Club views with alarm the proposal to alienate portion 
ot the Botanic Gardens for the purpose of a tramway, and 
(lesires the Committee to forward a strong protest ta the 
Minister for Lands, and the Town Planning Commussion- 
Seeonded by Mr. Oke, supported by Messrs. Pitcher and 
Searle, and carried-: 


Trel Meld! Naloretinn Olnvb—Proceedings sb 


Srucuan Mreute.—The following minute was' read, and 
adopted with acclamation——'‘That the Committee and 
iwembers ofthe Field Naturalists’ Clob of Vieforia. desire ‘to’ 
plave on tecord in the minutes of the Club their hearty 
wppraciation-or the continued ad: efficient’ services of their 
fellowsmember; Mar. FL G. A. Barnard, in! various“offieés of 
the Club during iD yours of loyal and ative membetship, 
and especially in connection with’ the Editorship of J’he 
Vielorion Naturalist, in which responsible offiee Mr, Bamtard 
has, unselfishly given 32 years of cupable and distinguished 
service. The general wish is expressed that Mr: Barnatd 
may be long spared to continue his interest and career of 
usefulness m the Club’s werk.’’ 

Apprrss—An address on ‘The Lite and Work. of Hain 
von Mieller’’ was given by Sir Baldwin Spencer, to mark 
the centenary of the birth of the Baron. My. G. Coghill pra- 
posed a vote of thanks to Sir Baldwin far lis most. mterest- 
ing address. Seconded by Mi. TH. B. Williamson, ancl) ear- 
ried with seelamation. 

Mrs. 1), Coleman and Messvs. F. Pitcher, A. D. Hardy, 
J. Seurle and WB. Williamson spoke briety of Baron yous 
Miieilery and his work, 


ANNUAL REPORT, 


The Hon. Seeretary, Mr. GC. Oke, ruad ther forty-filth 
Aina Report, 1924-25, as. follows ;— 


“To the Members of the Field Naiwyalay Club of Vie- 
tovia. r 


“Yadies and Gentlemen— 

‘*In-presenting the forty-fifth report, for the year ended 
April 30, 1925, the Committee desires to thank members for 
fle hearty support received from them during the’ period; 
and to congratulate them ou the continued success of the 
Chab:' Daring the year 20 ordinary, 2 country and 2 
associate members have heen elected, while'the resignations 
number 14, and 4 deaths lave oeenrred, feayink a total mem- 
bership of 244. 

“With deep revret, we have ta record the deaths of four 
mentbors. Mr. J. B. Walker, who died in Tone from injurics 
he reerived in a street, accident,’ at onc time regularly 
attended onr meetings, but of late years very  seldony 
appeared, As our printer, for many years; he displayed 
great interest in ihe Naturalist, and spared ‘himself no 


Bz, Fletd Nutwratists’ Club—Proceedings yet 


trouble to give usa first-class journal. The death of one of 
our associate members, Master §, J. Walker, wha was 
developing a love fov natural history. also ceeurred in June 
In October, Mr. T. B. Thorn, a member of the Committec, 
died after a very short, illness. Mr. Thorn was well known 
to members as a collector and a student of butterflies and 
moths. He was an enthusiastic worker tor the Clib’s good, 
whose loss we much regret. Also, in October, the Club lost 
one of its oldest members in Mx. GR. Hill, who was elected 
in 1884, and had agted us fu member of the Coniinittee for 
two years. q i 
"The, monthly. iaabiiian have been held regularly, aiid 
have been well attended, as usual, the average attondance 
bemg 50-60 members and friends. Whirteen papers have 
been read and, three lectures delivered, all both interesting 


and instruetive.. They were contributed by the followmg — 


members:—Dr. W. MacGillivray, Messrs. J; C0. Goudie, P. F 
Morris, L. B. Thorn, C. Daley (Presidential adldvess and 
pupers), A. J, Tadeell, ¥. Pitcher, J. Stickland, J. tL. 
Harvey. A. L. Scott, B, EB: Pescott and GC. French, Jun. and 
C. W. D'Alton. The most of the papers have been put 
lished in the Natwedist, Tt is a pity that thove diseussion 
does not follow the reading of some of our papers, as nothing’ 
could add more to the eeneral interest. of a paper than to 
hear it disenssed by members having, perhaps, divergent 
views on the subject. 

“The excursions ave as popular as ever, and most of theni 
hive been very well attended. A number of short Saturday 
afternoon tripe have been made to places atound the 
metropolis, and whole-dayv trips to Hurstbridge, Beaconsfield, 
Wandin, Brisbane Ranges, Mornington. Ferntree Guily, and 
Clematis; more extended trips’were those ta Bendiga aud 
Wilson‘s Promontory: 

‘The annual Exhibition of Wild Flowers was held in the 
Melbourne Town Hall on Tuesday, October 21, and’ was 
opened by Sir James Barrett, Although it- was rather 
late in the season, a very fine display of flowers was staged hy 
a number ‘of ¢apdble workers, to whose energy the success nt 
the showy was due,, The Committes desires especially to thank 
all who helped on that oceasion. The financial result of the 
show was a profit of £118, and of this amount £55 was viven 
to the Vietorian Bush Nursing Association. In returning 
thanks for the donation, the Association invited the Club to 


\ 
a Aida Notwratists’ Upbo—Frocestiay 53 


nominate two members as Lite.overnors: at the: Association, 
‘and the Committee has nenpjuiltan sep Mrs), Coleman aid 
. Miss AL Fuller, . i ' we mres oh 
. “This always « pleasure torsee ovr miembers* names in the 
University, Graduates’. List, and this-year we Have to con. 
eratulate Mix P. Cy, Morrison on. taking thie degree of, Master 
at Science. a -t i 

“' The forty-tirst, Palate of The: Viétorian Naturalist has 
“been completed, and once: again the Club is greatly indebted 
to Mr. F. G. A. Barnard for the capable way in which he has 
edited our. journal. To-the regret of everyone, Mr. Barnard 
tendered his resignation as Hon, Editor, in February, as from 
the end of Vol, XLY. Although very Joth' fo accept the 
resignation, the Committee recognised that, as Ma. Barnard 
had done more than bis:shaie for the Club, it was only right 
that he should be relieved of the editorial work, after 32 
year's’ seyvice, At the Murch ordinary meeting Mr. C. Batrety 
Was noninated as Editor. No other nomination wag received, 
ind My. Barrett was declared unanimously elected 

~The Committee had under consideration the high eost of 
printing the Naturalist, and as the printers eould not reduce 
their charees, it. was decided to obtain quotations from several 

“other firms. As a résult, in September the printing of our 
journal was transferred ta The Ramsay Poblishing Pty, Ltd. 
The cost of producing the Nebwulist. pow is lower than 
hitherto. 

“Your Conmanittee has given its. eo- operation to several 

measures for the ‘preservation of our fauna.and: flora in 
various loealities throughout the State. 

The Hon. 'I'reasuren reports that the: receipts for the 
year ‘amounted to £399, and Bhi expenses to £387, leaving a 
ovedit balance of £62, 

“The Hon, Librarian edna that he hag thoroughly ovel- 
jauled the Libyary, rearranged it, and brought the card cata- 
logue up 16 date. Efforts to fill the numerous gaps in our 
files haxe met with such success, that, with very few excep 
tions, the sets of publications being received, by as are now 
aotiplete. In all, 201 twissing volumes and parts have been 
obtained. Only 27 of these wert purehased, at a cost af 
£6/5/-. The renainder huve been donated; aud the very best 
thanks of the Club are due to the vations Societies concerned 
for their generosity. The sum of £10/15/6 waa spent in 
bookbinding, but a piuel greater amount niust be devoted ro 


ba Field Noturalioss Club—Proceedings ghey, 
this -purpose, before even the mare inyportant literature 
on our shelves is bound in volumes, 

‘The Committee desires to express its thanks to J Mews, 
Covhill and Haughton for the use of rooms for Conmittee 
nieetings, The attendance at the fourteen Committee nivet 
ings held during the year ‘has been as follows —Messrs, Searle 
and Oke, Dr. Sutton, 14; Mr. Willamsgon, 13; Mr. Stick- 
land, 12; Messvs.' Meagan Rodda and Wilson, 10;, Messrs, 
Cudmore and Daley, 9; Messrs. Coghill, Hooke, and St. 
John (elected in November), 7; Messrs. Kershaw (away 
through iluess) and Thorn (died in October), 4; Mr.. Bar- 
rett (elected in Mareh), 3. 

“In conclusion, your Committee desires to express its 
gratification at the way in which its efforts on behalf of, the 
Club have been supported by the members, and trusts that 
the game support will be given to the incoming Committee. 

“On behalf of the Committee, 
(Signed) J. SEARLE, Prusidert. 
“C. ORE, Hott, See.*? 
ENHIBITS. 

By Mr. J. W. Audas, F.G:8—Works by Baron vor Miiel- 
ler, and six speeics of Australian, plants described by his 
during the years 1853-5: Grevillea confertifolia, G. uiehorii, 
G. pterospermi, &. Miqueliuna, Hokea rostrata, and Banksia 
ornata. 

By Ma. BF. G. A. Barnarvd—Pauphiet; Reprint from 
stra Essays on Avstrolian Vegetation, 1866,"" presenta- 
tion copy to Sir George Stephen; lecture delivered ut the 
Pyblie Library, 1871, on Forestry, by Dr. Von Mueller sand 
personal letter from hina. 

By Mr. Geo. Coghill—-Letters from Baron vou Miieller. 
4884-5; also plants from Phillip fslanicl identified by the 
Baron, in hig own handwriting, 1886. 

By Mis. kk. Coleman—(1) Collection of farns niade by 
Baron von Miieller. in the possession of Misy D. Kidd. St. 
Silda, (2) Flerostytis vittata, fronyv Black Rock, ey 6/25: 
(3) Corysanthes «bicelearata, from “Healesville, 15/6/25: 
(4) Water-scorpion, with two discarded’ skins. 

By Mr. F. Chapman, 4.0.8.—Hoakea laurina, growiw at 
Balwyn, on silurinn mudstones; tree about cight years old. 

By Mr. ©. Daly, B.A, E.L.8.—Two portraits -of Baron 
Yon Miiellery. and works, by the Baron, from the National 
Herbarium Library. i _ 


Apy ; Field Naturulists' Clib—Proceedings 55 


By Mr. E. BE. Peseott, FW.S.—Portrait of Baron von 
Miieller, 1865, photograph of Manrice Heuzenreeder’s shop, 
in Adelaide, in which the Baron worked; letter from Becker, 
the explore:, written to von Miieller, 9/3/60; von Miieller‘s 
list, in his own writing, of his last exhibits at the Jield 
Naturalists’ Club, September, 1896; letters (1696) from the 
Baron to Mr, C. French, Jun.; and other items. 

. By My. J. A, Kershaw—Ringed snake (Purim ecct- 
petalis), swallowing Blind Snake: from Pachewillock, Vic- 
- Loria. 

By Mr. Ek. MeLennon—Private interleaved copies of the 
Jast-and second last editions of Baron yon Miieller’s Selec! 
Extra Tromcal Plants, with annotations and emendations. 
The lasi set of annotations has not been published... 

By Mr. V. Miller—Double ‘‘Coco-nut’’ or Coea-di-ia. 
Lodiacera seyehellensis: also. cut and unew. stones from the 
Rareoo River, Central Queensland. 

By Mr. A. &, Rolda— Bean pods and seamunts of Pan- 
danus fruit, from North Queensland, 

By My, J. Searle—Photograph of Di. vow Mtieller as a 
young mati. ; 


FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. 


STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE FOR. TWHLVEE 
MONTHS ENDING 30th ARETE Faal 


Receipts, 
To Balance in Londvun Bank on Ist May, 1924 .. .. .. 2. £5 16 7 
» Subscriptions— 
Town Members: Boy a 
Current year ..., .. £105 0 0 
Arrears .- ..-. 4 17 12 6 
Tn advance ., .- .. 412 6 
Country Members: ‘ 
Current year... .. .. 17 15 #0 
Arrears ., ene, 0) 5 0 0 
In advance .. -. .. 2412 6 / 
Associate Members . . 012 6° 
~ £153 & 9 
» “Wietorian Naturalist’— ‘ 
Subscriptions . ., .. § 17 6G 
Cash Sales .. .. --. 21 9 10 
Advertisements .. .. 4 0 0 
Reprints Charged .. 3 2 10 
_————— oy tf 3 
» Donations to Publishing Fund .. 7 &§ O 


Interest from Savings Benk and War ‘Loan , 
BONG a Fy ee a 11 =#69 4 


aw 


: ' 
56 Field Naturalists’ Club—Proceedings pees 


To Sate of .Club Badges .. 2. 2. 0. 0. 2k ea 0 5 O 
3, Char-a-bane Bxcursion .. .. .. .. 2... 4 3 0 
» Plant Census Account— : 
Sale of books in year .. .. -. ..4-.. 16 8 4 
» Wild Flower Exhibition, Octo- 
ber, 1924— 
Ticket Sales .. .. .. £37 8 O 
Cash at doors. .. ., 83 1 0 
Sale of Plants, Flowers 
and Refreshments . 68 2 2 
169 12 
39% 42 0 
£405 8 7 
Expenditure. 
By ‘Victorian Naturalist''— 
Printing ...-.-., ..., £164 5 2 
Illustrating ew 4 . ' 17: 8 7 
Wrapping, Despatehing ‘and 
Postage ,. .. . 1 6 
Reprints—free .. ,... 2 710 O 
Reprints—charged . .. .. 1 3 0 
-—_—_——— £200 8 3 
» General Printing .-- .. 2. 2. 24 2. ee ee 11 14 «6 
» Library Account—-. 
Periodicals and Books Purchased ., .. 5 1 6 
, Rent of Hall, and Fee to Caretaker .. .. 13°10 0 : 
» Postage, Advertising, Bank CHOFERS: Insur- 
ance, and Sundries .. .. .. .. -. we ee 10 4 1 
, Ohar-a-bane Excursion .. ., .. 2. 2. .s 5.10 0. 
» Plant Census Account .. .. .. .. .. .. 3°7:~*«O*SG66 
,» Wild Flower Exhibition, Octo- 
ber, 1924— 
Charges at Melbourne Town 
Ha rpms be, Pee £6 3 #6 
(Hire of Hall. ‘paid in pre- 
vious year, £18) 
Purchase of Plants and 
Flowers .. 13 5 0 
Printing and’ Advertising . 8 7 6 
Cartage, Freight and Sun- 
dries .. .. 5 2 4 
Donation to Bush ‘Nursing 
Association .. .. 5b 0 (OO 
(Balance retained in Funds 
of Club, £63/13/10) 
87.18 4 
, Amount withdrawn to increase 
Savings Bank Deposit to £150 38 10 8 
Add Interest accrued .. 11 9 4 
— —___. 50 0 @ | 
— £387 14 2 
Balance in London Bank on April 30,1925 ...-.... 17 14 °~=«=5 


" 


£405 8 7 


re Field Naturalists’ Club—Proceedings 57 


STATOMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIPS ON 30th APRIL, 1925- 


Assets. 

Arrears of Subscriptions, £70/10/6, estimated to realise, say £50 0 0 
War Loan Bond .... .. a. 5 SI 20 0 0 
London Bank Balance... .... .. 0, 0. cs oe ee ee as 17 14 «#6 
State Savings Bank .. .. rhowt st an. 160 0 0 
Library and Furniture (Insurance Value) . F 130 0 0 

Plant Census Account (difference between sost and sales of 
books) .... Dyer Dn Np ead pe an, LRT dy <8 

Aceounts owing to Club— 

Por Advertisements in “Victorian Naturalist” £4 10 0 

For reprints charged .............. 8419 9 
~~ 6 9 9 
ko44 68 (10 

Liabilities. 
Subscriptions paid in advance .. ,. .. 6.4. -. 2 4. Ge k? 5 @ 
Balance of Char-a-bane Pund -. 2. 66 fu pe ee ee 5 6 O 
Outstanding accounts—Nil. 

£12 11 @ 


Examined and found correct on ist June, 1925. 


L. L. HODGSON j 


J. R. LESLIE ; Hon. Auditors. 


A. G. HOOKE, 
Hon, Treasurer, 


NATIONAL MUSEUM NOTES. 


Snakn SwauLowing Snakn—A Ringed Snake, Purenu 
occipitalis, recently forwarded to the National Musenm by 
Mr. G. Patullo, was taken in the act of swallowing a Blind 
Snake, Typhlops. When found, the head and part cf the 
Blind Snake was in the mouth of the Ringed Snake, but was 
disgorged. After capture the Purine again commensed tu: 
swallow its prey, and had already ingested the head and fore 
part of the body when it was killed. Both the Purine and 
Typhlops were of medium size. They were taken at. Pache- 
willock, Victoria, in February last.—J. A. KersHaw, 
Jurator. 


Correcnon.—WNaturalist, May, 1925, p. 32, fourth line 
from bottom, ‘‘December, 1902,’’ should read Deceinber, 
1892. . ; 


5& Chakk, Ants of Victorin von uri 


THE ANTS OF VICTORIA. 


Jd. CGuark, F.0.8. 


{Part 1.] 


Probably the inost interesting, ancl neglected, yroup of 
inseets is the large family of ants, Fernicade. This great. 
continent. 18 very rich in large and peculiar speies, 
which. are tot found elsewhere, yet little or nothing 
is known concerning them, The habits aud life history of 
even onr commonest forms are nuknown. ‘This is the more 
unfortunate because, with the advanee of settlement, the 
natural bush, gradually, is becoming cultivated land, aid the’ 
ants, like tuany other native anunals, slowly, but surely, are 
cisappearing. Before it is too late, Tt would be well to learn 
all we can of these insects; even now, some species. which 
are very local, have heconie extremely rare. ' 


The diffientty*attached to the study of Australian aitla 
has always been the lack of popular literature on the sub- 
ject ; unfortunately, such literature does not exist. Most of 
onr anfs have been described in various scientific journals, 
published in German, French and Ttahan, To the average 
nature lover, these recards ave uninterestiug, since they are 
technical descriptions of the ants. They ave, of course, 
essential, from a scientific point of view, but make little 
appeal to one bent on the study of ants in the bush. 


Books published in Australis contain very little concern: 
ing ants. The best of them is Australian Insects, by Wo W. 
Froggatt, puhlished in 1907. In 1905, the same zealous 
entomologist published a catalogué, with notes on a few 
species, of the Australian ants. Mr. H. Tryon, in 7888, pub- 
lished some notes on Queensland ants, in the Proceedings of 
the Royal Society of Queensland, To the Victorian 
Noteralist, in 1903, W. Li. Barker contributed... ood paper 
on Bull- dog Ants; F. P. Dodd contributed interesting "Wye 
to the same journal, in 1902. The most useful book on ants 
in general is that by Professor W. M. Wheeler, entitled Anis: 
Thew Structure, Development and. Belwenour. It is pub- 
lished by the Cohunhia University Press, New York, '"-5.A. 


July , - \ : = 
826, ChARK, Amty of Victoria aa 


Some quant and weird stories, particularly in connection 
with our Bull-ants, will be found im literature published 
overseas. Sharp (1899) writes that the nests are “said to be 
sometimes five feet high.’ his surely must apply to Ter- 
inites” nests. Bull-ants will climb anywhere; and it is pos- 
sible that a stranger, secing huge ants on a high mound. 
might conelude that. they were the owners. Probably the 
quaintest story regarding our Bull-ants, is that recorded by 
Smith, in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of Loudon 
(1861), from details supplied to him hy Mrs. Hatton, of Syd- 
ney, The “‘funeral rites’? of the soldier-ants ure deseribed. 
This has been dealt with in the Veretortan Neturalist, by 
Rarker. 

1 have kept Bull-ants in captivity for some years, axd 
find that, far from showin sympathy with the injured, or 
the dead, they throw them on the rubbish-ieap, where gradu- 
ally they become covered in the mfuse fram the uest, Ts the 
bush, other ants would certainly carry suel Wodies to thei 
nests, and it is possible that Mis. Hatton noticed sone species 
of Camponotus, xeveral of whieh look much dike Bullauits 
to the casual observer, carry the dead Bull-dats fo them 
nests, which frequently ave ticicated only by holes on he 
surfaes of the ground, When food is being taken lo the 
nest im abundance there are generally a few ants around the 
enteanee; this may have suggested the ‘funeral, "’ 

In an article in Uhe Lntomologist (1865), B. I, Towne 
dealt with a number of ants seen and vaptaved dummy a 
two-months’ visit to Sydney, in 1862. Some of his nutes, 
ure good; but in several cases his obscrvations da not tally 
with those of Australian observers, In dealing with 
Myrmecia. gulosi, one of the commonest Bull-ants, he gaye :— 
“These ants are the most rapacious and numerous of Ass- 
tralian species; they climb trees in vast numbers, to allack 
the great’ Anoplognatha, which they pull dawn and bury 
alive jn the carth: although, in poit of bulk, the beetles 
bear very much the sane relation to the ante thal an ele- 
phant does toa man. J have, however. often seen thrae ante 
bring one of the largest to the ground in spite of all iis 
exertions. Thetwosting is very severe, bul the palit occasiuned 
is evanescent?’ ln dealing with Aap nieeia nigracmacla, he 
says: —'Vhis insect is remarkable for The leapea it takes in 
fanning, often jamping over a foot-of gronud al a leaps it 
also Jumps from the tranks of trees upon persois walking 
neu it, Tts sting is very scvere.’’ 


60 Cuark, Ants of Victori« Rasigh yi 5 


Bull-ants do climb trees, and they will attack anykhing 
and everything that comes in their way, but why they should 
pull down and bury the beetles alive is a mystery that 
Lowne does not explain. There is no veason whatever for 
such action. From my own observations, these ants carry 
home every Inseet they capture; but the vietims, as a ric. 
are honey-bees, and other soft-bodied insects, taken to feerl 
the larva: in the nest. 1 have never known adult Bull-ants 
te eat aninal feod, they always prefer the nectar of blas- 
som ard the exudation of trees, shrobs, ete. Tn my artificial 
nests the food supplied is honey, sugar in various fortis, anel 
cake of all sorts. with plenty of water each day: algo at quan 
tity of mecets and caterpillars for the larve. Although ‘he 
adult Bull-ant is really a honey-caler, the larva: must have 
an ingect dint, or they will eak one anobher when elose 
together, Oy more than une oeeasion, when the food supply 
Was overlooked, T found that one larva had apparently: beet 
supplied as food to other two by the ants: anc several times 
weak, o1 injured, ants have been served to the larva, When 
the larvie have finished their feeding on the insect budy, tt 
remains are earvied outside the nest to the rabbish-hewp, 
Where, in the bush, they are promptly veroved by other 
ants. Thus, « Bull-ants’ nest very rarely shows siens of 
food rentains, either inside or ont, 

Lowne’s observation, that these ants jump from trees on to 
a person, is quite correct, as tmoxt hush lovers know; hat the 
statement that the -haumper, wagrocinetit, can Jip uver a 
foot of ground requires verification. I have not seen one 
jump more than tour inches, and that is more thas hwiee 
the usual length of the Jamper‘s ‘‘leap.”’ 


Apart from the Bullants, there are many species thitt 
will reward study. such as the Uarvesting Ants, which eol- 
lect, and stove in their nests as food, seecl of various plants 
including grasses, Very little is known concerning ** Hau 
vesters’? in Australia. Tn other parts of the world, thare are 
Fungus-srowing Ants. ‘These insects strip the lIpaves aff 
trees to make the beds on which they raise the fungus. Sv 
far, this hahit has not been discovered in any Austratian 
species. 7 ; 

The nests of most ants contain numbers of other ingeats, 
mostly beetles. Although numbers of these insects have been 
‘collected in Australia, we possess only meagre knowledge eon 
cerning them. or the reasons for their presence ii) the nests 


an Chauyx, Ate of Vieteria a7 


with the ants, Myrmeeophiles, and their habits, offer a wide 
field to the entomologist. 

‘he study of ants is most interesting, and entails very 
little exertion. Jt should appeal to those whose health cloes 
net allow of yigorous work in the bush, TH keeps the 
observer in the open, with his nund fully oceupied, so thar, 
life’s worries are soon forvotien, while a. store of valuable 
information is gained. Ants are numerous everywhere. 
They are easily kept in artificial nests, and make interesting 
pets. The food required by them is always at hand, and 
the nests are veadily mude; so that no one should experience 
much difficulty i keeping ants for observation at home. 

At present a bare list of the ants found in Victoria would 
not be very useful, so 1 propose to give a detailed list of the 
various forms, with references to the literature, and notes 
where possible. ‘he Literature is very scattered; besides, 
much of if is now unobtainable avd deals only with the 
descriptions of the species. Tniclusion of references to fue 
literature is the more necessiry from the faet that Frog 
gatt’s catalogue gives only some 30 species as found in Vie- 
taria, whereas, thanks to my many entomologival friends, | 
have been able to see several times that number from (his 
State. Of course, it wust be borne in nand, that. a number 
of the early workers couvsidered “‘Aystralia’’? as snfficient 
indication of Jocality, so that many in Froggatt ’s list should 
be treated as Victorian. species. 

The compilation of this paper has been reiudered possible 
through the assistance |, have received from cutomologists in 
Vietoria, particnlarly from Mr, J. A. Kershaw, through 
whose courtesy J have bee uble to Gxaimine the anis in the 
Nutional Moseun, Melbourne, and Mr. J. C Goudie, wha 
has gone to great, trouble to send me the ants ef North 
Western Vietoria; Messrs. C. Barrett, WH. W. Davey, I. E. 
Wilson, G. F. (ull and W. PF. Wi, have collected 
extensively, and sent me a considerable number of new and 
interesting species. Reeently Mr C. Oke has sent som 
interesting species; while to the enersy and enthusiasm of 
the Jate Mr. L. B, Thome I owe nueb valoable material uni 
information, | am greatly indebted to these friends for their 


ABS ALAN EE Family FORMICID.. 
Sib-tamily DORYLLNAS, Leach, 
This sub-family is not at present represented Ti the tau 
of Vietoria. Only three species are recorded for the whole of 


' 


v7, ry pf 4 , View Nae, 
ho Ciank. Antes of  Vietorid Vol Xb 


Australia, and of these two are from Mackay, North Sptindita- 
land. and one from Lismore, New Sonth Welles, 
Sub- family CBRAP ACHYINA, B orel, 


Wheeler, Psyche, vol. XXVII, 2:3, pi 50, 1920; 
Proce, Amer: Acid. Arts, Se,, 53, PP. 215. “Abn, VW 


figs... L918. 
Clark, Jour. Roy. Soe, W. Aust., ia 1%, pt. 2 att 
72-89, -10 figs.. 1923; vol. X, -75- 89. pls 


VI-VEL, 1924, 

'Mhis -sub- fumily ia well represented in Australia, nhow! 
two-thirds of the known forms having been described from 
this country. At present they are poorly represented in Vic- 
toria: Only four species have been found, and these had pre- 
viously beeti eeorded from other States. No donbt many 
more will be cdiseovered when the study of this interesting 
group is undertaken, by local entomologists. 


Genus Eusphinctus, Emery. 


Tn this genus the abdomen is elongate and ‘cylindrical. 
the segments dre separated trom each ‘othe by well-defined 
ennstrictiona:; the workers are eyeless, ot with very minute 
eyes. This yvonus contains two subgenera, based on the 
number of antennal joints, these in Busphinctus sistr. being 
11-jointed, while in the other sub-germs, Nothosphinctus, 
they are 12-jointed. These are vare ants, generally fonnd in 
small communities, under logs and stones. Wheeler con- 
-siders that they ave hypouieie ; their nests and habrtfs cer- 
tainly suggest that they are so in Western Australia, where 
‘L foind one colony foraging in the bush among half-buvied 
logs. At present very little is known concerning their habits. 
4, Busermcrus Sremtnrny, Forel. Belgrave 

(BP. TB. Wilson), 

Sphinctomyrmex (asphanet iti) Steinheihi, Forel, 
Ann. Soe. Ent. Belg. 44, p. 72, 1900.9 (mee. # ); 
limery, Gen. Tosect. Fasc. 1g, p. 7, 1911= Prog 
watt, Agric. Gaz., N.S.W., p. 15, 1905, - 

Sphinctomyrmes: (Busphinctus) fallux, Forel 
Ann. Soc. Ent, Belg. 44. p. 73, 1900, 3. 

Casphinctus (Lusphanctus) Steinheili, Foret, 
Wheeler, Proce. Amer. Acad. Arts & Se, 53, 5. pp. 
22H-228. figs. 1-2,°1918. 

A specimen from Belgrave agrees perfectly With the 
deseription of this species, It is a small, veddish-hrown ant. 


THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, Vol. XLII Jilly. 1925 
PLAtEe IT 


STRIPED GREENHOOD, BRITTLE GREENHOOD, 


lis replera, R.Br Ptevostylis truncata, Frrz 


Sash - Ouann, Ante of Vietoria ag 


barely- one-quarter of an inch in length. Tt has no traces of 
eyes, This ant is also fmind in Queensland, New Soutl 
Wales, and South Australia. 
.2. Buspainerus Svrmueiu, Forel, var. sepwieai, Forel 
Feritree Gully (FP. P. Spry). 
Sphinctomyr mex (Husphinctus) fallax, var. hed- 
wige, Forel, Rev, Suisse, Zool. 18, p, 21, 1910, 8 9; 
Eniery, Gen, Insect. Faso, 18, p. 7, 1911. 
Bull, Gab. Zool. Gen. Agrar. 8, p. 179, 1914. 
Sphinctomyrmen hednige, Forel, Froggatt, Agrid, 
Gaz. N.5.W., p. 15, 1905. Aust. Insects, p. 92, 1907. 
Busplinetus (Busplanctus) Steinheilr, var, hed- 
wig, Worel. Wheeler, Prog Amen Acad & 
Arts & Se., 53,3, p, 228, 1918, 

Several examples of this variety, in the-colleehion or thy 
National Museum, were tonnd under stones at Fern 
tree Gully, by the lave Mr. TP. P. Spry, and noted by bins as 
rare, Tt js very elose to ihe preceding specins, unel, apurl 
from colour, which is more uniformly reddish, if is jot 
cagily distmenished from that. species. 

Genus Phyracaces, Emery. 

The ants of this genus are most interesting, and way be 
regarded as the Fovaging Ants of Australia, 35 species are 
known from all parts of the continent, but concerning: their 
liabits we have little information. Wheeler has published 
some notes on species from New South Wales, in his paper. 
published in 1918; and I have given a few notes ou Western 
Australian species. From the notes so recorded, it is svideit 

_ that the members of this genus obtain the most of their 
food supplies by raiding the nests of other ants, and carny- 
ing off the Jarve: and pup to their own nests, where they 
ure served as food to the Pharacaces larvee. 

In some cases the female ig fully winged, as ii post 
female ants; but in many cases the female is éryatoil, or 
worker-like, hardly to be distinguished from the workers 
except by her larger size. In other cases, the female tas the 
thorax fully developed, but bears no wings. Myen in the 
winged forms, the wing veination ts more or lesa obaolete 
Only two species have, so far, been found m Victor, and 
hoth were previously recorded fram New South Wales 

8, Pryracaces varvaros, Wheeler.  Rerntvee Gully (FP 
Sprv); Berconsfidd, Pelerave (FP, K. Wil 
aon). 


li4 CLAagnk, Ants of Victoria ven schat 


“Wheeler, Proe. Amer. Acad, Arts & Se., 53, 3, p. 257, 
fig. 15, 1918, B. 

Clark, -Tour. Roy. Sos. W.. Anst., X. p. 83, pl 7, 
figs. 1-6, 1924.9 ¢. _ 


Thig species was originally found in New South Wales. 
but it-appeurs to be more abundant in Vietoria than in that, 
State. The male and female were described from the 
material collected by Spry at Perntree Gully; the types of 
these are in the National Museum. In his notes, Mr. Wilson 
says:— “This ant is very rare; found under stones.7' [fh 1s 
»w shining black ant. about a quarter of an inch in ieagth, 
with, the mandibles, cheeks, clypeus, legs, pygidium arid 
incisures of the abdomen dark red, 


4, PHYRACACES SuNESCENS, Wheeler, Broadmeadows (C. 
Ole). 
Wheelet, Proe Amer. Acad, Arts & Se., 53. 3, p. 259, 
fig. 16. 1918, ¥ 
Clark, Jour. Roy. Soe. W. Aust., X, p. 87, 1924, 3 


_ This species is shehtly larger than the last; and aasily 
distinguished from it by its greyish appearance, whiet ir 
receives fron the long, yrey hairs on the body. [t is black. 
with the wandibles, tips of the scapes, pyyichum aud parts of 
the legs eastaneus. 


BLUEB-TONGUEHD LIZARD AND SNAILS. 


Hearing a erunching noise under the floor of the veran- 
dah of my house at Maldon, I lifted some of the boards 
quietly and discovered a full-grown Blue-tongued Lisard. 
Tiiqua scimcoides, making a meal on snails, Helix asperse. 
which had affixed their shells to the hriek wall. ‘The tizard 
erushed the sheils with the greatest ease, dud ate the, with 
their tenants. In country districts Blue-tonzued tizards. 
and also the Shingle-back, Vrachysaurus rugasws, often 
establish themselves under the floors of dwellings, ete.; and 
it Ig a common belief (shared also by the writer) that houses 
thus ‘‘protected’' are shunned by snakes. Yet these hartm- 
less, interestmg, and useful reptiles sometimes are killed by 
persons who think that they are ‘dangerons-lookine, ™'— 
JC.G. 


Wee. Prseorr, Two Autun Greenhuod Orchids 6h 


MPOUNOREEAAUAEOUOLDAETUPHUDEAOROOROSSOPORRAAOOD RUAN EDUOGLENDRUUURTLON EN EGAUAURERU BODO, ONRE EELS 


De aad 


TWO AUTUMN GREENHOOD 
ORCHIDS. 


By Wowarn i. Pescorr, B.S. 


itt 


ehbenseemesnebeedbadeaibiieas 


vbeenhedereehiedenyratineeren 


FLAME NA Pe Dra ccHetapbmenrtey ey Ter ere etd TP AR LI A EHEPIP RTT LCR EHT PUN AG UD COCOA HPS NENTERTORTED Tp CCECE PP ERI Hy abeaeora Ate eseaea ts eas encod eng, 


The Greenhood family of orelids is with us all the year 
round. Hardly have the winter species ceased flowering. 
when the spring types are in bloom, then follow the sunymer 
forms, and soon those of the autumn mouths. None of the 
whole family has suffered from so much confusion as the 
Striped Greenhood, Plerostylis refleca, R-Br. Its variable 
character, especially in size of the flower, and in height also 
has been chietly responsible for this. Almost any low-growing, 
striped autuinn Greenhood, having a fairly large Hower, was 
classed as this species, 

Indeed the Striped Greenhood ifself is variable, atid the 
southern Viehorian form is a slender, vather tall species, with 
a medium-sized flower. The type form is very short, not 
often above 3 inehes or 4 inches in height, with a wide and 
longs flower, quite out-of proportion with its total height. 
The type is well known in the Adelaide (S.A.) hills, but os 
nef common in this State, Our best-known Victorian 
locality tor the species was livar Lubeck, many miles trom 
Melbourne. 14, 1s, therefore, of great imterest to arehid Tovers 
to learn that, this watumn, Mr. W. A. Nieholls, a kkean orchir 
eoleetor, Lowid a large number of the type fomn of the 
Striped Greenhood in the plain county, a few tiles north 
of Melbourne. The planis were so plentiful that then 
rosettes of folidye literally cavputed the gyound. 

Mr. Nicholls and his fellow-collectov, Mr. FL Bishop, are 
responsible for another, and ever more important, “find,” 
Collecting on the You Yangs, i April, 1923, they dis 
covered a Greanhooad, not previously obtained in this State, 
named Plevastylis trunmcola, Pity. Tt grows al Mittagong, i 
New, ‘Sonth Wales, and is figured im Fitegerald’s Ars- 
tralian Orchids. This species was found ti vreat numbers, 
all over the You Yanys. The plants grow among Rock Fern 
and Snowy Mint Bush: one patch was found right on the 
summit of a huge granite boulder, The plant is a few 
inches 14 height, los a large Hower, and narrow stem lenves. 
She Iabellain tapers fom points the flawer in ateaped brow, 


ti Need jor Entomological Society ee 


vreen and white. The two poiits of the veflexed sepale are 
long ancl thin: so slender in faet that they readily break 
off, and the proposed common name, ‘‘Brittle Greenhood,"’ 
has been suggested on that account. 


fa regard to the speeifie name, Fitegerald says:—‘i have 
named this species on account. of the pecuhar truneate form 
of its dorsal ‘petal’’; that refers to the shortening of the 
eentral portion of the “'hoad.’’ 


The illustrations (Plate II) show these two species, 
tutural size. ? 


NEED FOR ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 


Tn Brisbane at Entomologieal Soeiety has bean formed. 
Should there not be one for all Australia? [ thinic it is 
needed. ‘Phe Royal Australasian Ornithologists’ Unisn tad 
smal) beginnings; now i, vanks with the Unions overseas, hav- 
ing a large membership, and a. journal highly valued by bind 
students. everywhere. 


An Australian Entomological Society would, 1 am cou 
fident, meet with gradual success. Entomologists may not at 
present be numerous in the Commonwealth; but a. Society 
would stinnilate interest in inseet life, and the field is wide 
enough for hundreds of workers. Perhaps our frizads in 
Arisbane would be willing to consider an extension of their 
field, to admit ty membership naturalists in all the States. 
and make the new hocdy the Entomological Society of Aus- 
tralia. ‘The move would surely he weleomecd by then inter- 
state friends. 


The Brisbane Society is alwost a pioneer. Onty onee 
hefore, T believe, has an institution of the kind existed in 
Australia. In 1865 the intomological Society of New Sonth 
Wales was founded. Its life was short: for atter the pub- 
lication of two volumes of Transactions it hecame mereed 
into the Linnean Society of New South Wales. Its members 
included Sir Wilhini Macleay and the Rev. R. L. Kine. The 
‘Transactions ave much songht after by Australian entomo- 
logists, as they contain valuable papers, such as Mneleay’s 
on the Inseets of Gayndah, and Kine’s on Prelaphide and 
Sevdmenide.—F, FE. Wiison. 


duky Morvingtan Nuturatigiv’ Clin a7 


MORNINGTON NATURALISTS’ CLUB, 


'o4 —_——~ 


The desive of the Nature Jover to shave his pleasure led 
fo the formation of the Mornington Naturalists’ Club. The 
writer calledia meeting of those interested in his prajeen. ‘Nhe 
Invitation was responded, to by five little girls, wand to thet a 
scheme was submitted. This was in October Jast; now we have 
a membership of move than 40 young nature students. The 
word field?’ was purposely omitted from our title, as much of 
our study is ‘‘marine.’” Our badge is the shell Sunetta excu- 
4wite, Mounted on blue ribbon; members also wear a black sills 
neckerchief, whiah bears the monogram “°M)N_C. 7" in ved let 
ters. To pay tor the budve, ete., and any incidental expenses 
each member contributes 3d, per moth, Meetings for 
struction ond nrieroscopic study are held. atter school, cn 
week-day aftermoons. Talks on bine life. and other subs 
jects, have been given by several vositovs, jreliding Mise 
(Cooper, missionary from West China, 

When the warmer dave came, und membershiy thereased 
we held our meetings on the beweh, datead of at the leader's 
house. The usual provramme was as lollows:—A  awine. 
some collecting, impromptu talks, tea (with whieh teanbers 
caue provided), arranging of future teetings, ae 
exuursions, a game on the sand; and home before dark. Kur 
Lhe winter months new arrnngements were made, insteastion 
in relays at the Jeader’s house —different days for different 
siifpjeets. 

‘Those interested in botany are colleetiiy for a ive 
harbariuwn; shells aid veological specimens are bemy added 
to a local eollection, of which the leader's private collection 
forms the nucleus, For general meetings the ase of the play 
pavilion m the school ground has been grated. lascarsions 
eebs been held at frequent intervals. Many Tiave been in 
(he district. others have takew os farther afield—two trips 
lo the top of Arthnr’s Seat, by moterwageon, two ourties 
to Moorooduc, one to Frankston, and two to Malbourne (the 
first. time with eight members, the second with 28), Members 
pay thei own fares, a liberal concession being granted on 
ihe railways. Several members are leaning to nse a tyie- 
avriter, aud are thus able to type the names on the folders 
for the herburtam, and on eards for the specimens in the 
other solleations.—Rey. G. Cox, Leader M.N.C, 


88 ButLen, The Spider's Cording Machine eet 


" 


CHANT EDEN RmET ERE DPOCmnAT EAT EETHEDODONTITIVEACA ALIEN PPT Um EAH OT RD AN EAM OP ET ETCH TAATANSOOROTTEMONDSGRU ENN N CORSO I RUAETI PRMD AGH RAENEOT FOLD 


THE SPIDERS CARDING MACHINE, 


By S. Burure. 


- 


SO tHmmTEODONG ORD AHRAGOEED 
PTenee MMM RSET EEE E EE MED: 


MnCrervaqspeewucnayaddceranecyaseOscusuearaqteyTenresyecccdrs psEp ate TbabaapbACAdd aed aranideeeedbdendivenevesbsbberenaeevedprnnti er 


Many of the snares made by spiders ave ingenious. ‘They 
are all. spun from the silk ‘factory,’ situated on the thoor of 
the ahdomen, Silk of different kinds can be spun at. the will 
of the operator: the softest down, to eneirele the egyy, a 
waterproof covering for the cocoon, lines covered with a 


Web of a Cribellare Spider. Family Dietynidae, Genus Amaurobius 


viscid fluid, that remind one of bird-limed sticks, strang 
eables to suspend the spider (it has teen stated that four 
niles of this cable would weigh only one grain). Hackled 
siaring lines are the work of the carding machine, peculiar 
toa the Cribellate spiders, 

One of our most comnion Cribellate species is the Blick 
Iouse-spider t is found almost everywhere. Outhonses 
und old fenees abonnd wilh its webs. It is placed by 
arachnologists in the faimly Dietynide. anc is named 
Annaurohius rabusius. The web is easily recoenised. Tt has 
# tubular retreat, and woven ont from this is the sheet, eom- 
posed of straight, parallel foundation ropes with the fluffy 
snaving line latd between them in a zig-zag fashion. 

This species is less than one ineh in Jength; and, at first 
sight, appears. to be black. The strong legs are of a dark 
rfeh brown eolour. The front portion of the body, the 
eephalathorax, has a dark steel-iridescence, while the 
abdomen hears an inconspicuous pattern pocket, The’ cyes 


Tee Birrvaet, The Spwer's Carding Machine 69 
ure in two straight rows of four each, wnd some are of 4 
pearly colour. A. robustus is a fine, well-pi'tomed spider, 
very active when on the defence. <A few years ago, at Black 
Rock, a rather formidable wasp was observed, teasing at a 
web, with the object of tempting the owner outside, and con- 
verting it into ‘“paralysed provendeor’’ for wasp larvie, yet 
unborn. Without hesitation, the spider emerged, ready for 
hbattile. The wasp, with Lightning. speed, darted forward, 
and I. expected to see the spider drop, fatally stabbed by a 
poisoned stiletto. Not so; the spider, raising itself, struck 
with the fangs, which just: missed the wasp as it flew from 
the scene. 1 waited patiently for half an hour, but the wasp 
«lid not return. 

Amourabius robustus, like 
all other Cribellate spiders, 
has. a minute earding machine, 
which can be observed under 
the microscope, or a strong 
hand-tens. On the hind legs 
ouly, on the second last joint, 
is a. beantiful little comb. It 
rannot be mistaken, as the 
teeth are. as eyen as those 
of 4. toilét comb, This is 
the calamistrum (=a comb), 
‘Touching the spinnerets, in front, is a small, oval plate, with 
a central division. This plate is really a spinneret. Highly 
magnified, it appears as a fine sieve; it is mown as the 
cribellam (=a sieve). The calamistrum and the eribellym 
‘form the spider’s carding-machine. 

When a blanket iy woven, iis surfaces are hard and 
rongh,, as thase of a bran sack. The soft, downy surface is 
prodiecd by passing it under a rotating drum, covere) with 
fine wire bristles, which tease out the surface. A somewha! 
similar result ix obtained by the spider with ia cardi 
machine. 

The hackled suariny-line is spun through the sieve-plate 
The tao combs then attack this line, and tease out the 
threads, instead of having the elassy, rod-like nalure of the 
foundation Jos, it resembles a strand of frayed wool, and 
fins power ty enflangle prey, A fly that is eagyvht in it Nas 
small hope of escape. This line is laid in a zig-zag Manner 
between the euy ropes, and when this feature is visible on a 
web, you may be certain that the owner hus the comh anid 
sitve-plate just described. 


Calamistram of Hind Leg 


‘ 


iy Notes from Kield Gad Study Yicb Abate 


eesti bere banter 
NOTES FROM FIELD AND STUDY ? 


Puget ndedysnbotedero eter ttn tntstosnbeteserttetedetetedentedaatetorbetveere b> 
VERN REPRODUCTION, 


The method of reproduction of ferns from spores, 
familiar to all students of plant life. is recorded as 
having remained a niystery until it was first discovered 
by an eminent Polish Naturalist, Count Syuninski, in 
1848. An additional method of extensive reproduction is by 
the development of new plants from creaping stems of parent 
plants. These stems, or rhizomes, are usually either closely 
under, or above, the surface of the ground. A farniliar 
example of this modu is to be found in the Common Braeken 
Fern. Other examples are readily observable in the Rainbow. 
Finger, Coral and Maiden-hair Ferns, A method of repro 
duction in some of our truncated, ov distinglively-stemmed, 
lative species, such as the King, Wishbone, Rough and Sul 
Tree Forns, is in development of numerous eraivns, for these, 
when carefully removed from the parent plant and treated. 
become well-established plants. Still another method. is by 
the development of young plants in the form of bulbils at the 
apex of, or along or at the axes-of the stems (rachis) of the 
tronds. Mother Fern, a native species, derives its hotanieal 
name, Asplentum’ bulbiferwn, from this habit o. veproduc- 
tion. Another, the Common Shield Fern, which is familar to 
vue fern lovers, adopts a. similar method. Although these 
bulbils may be removed and grown separately in pote or in 
the fernery, better vesults are ablaimed by pegging the trands 
heaving them to the ground, and allowing the bulbils to root. 
befove severing them from the parent. frond, The object. al 
this note is to draw attention to the reproduction m the ease 
vé the well-known Stughorn and Elkhorn Ferng of New South 
Wales ond Queensland. which many people grow in them 
ferneries. Tn addition to their ordinary method of reprodue- 
lion from spores, which they bear in large patches of suri on 
their fertile fronds, young plants ave borne tu attachment to 
the older ones, Are they as adjoming crowns to the parent? 
Ave they developed from the sheath of the pavcnt plant or 
from the root systen” Ave they developments froin the 
rhivomes? Are they hulbils, or may they adopt all these 
tvethads for their reproduetion §—F, Prrerer, 


eee 


*, 


cr Notes from Field und Study rat 


SWEFT MOTHS’ LARVAL LIFE. 


The familiar large, brown moths, Perini fusdomavulali, 
Walker, that make their appearance every year, about May 
and June, - and, attracted by light, are porsistent ii Uieir 
efforts to get tireugh windows, belong to the fiaily 
Hepiutidw. All ithe members of this family, ‘eonmnduly 
known as Swift Moths, pass their larval stages bur rowing 1 
timber, and some species, including Porina, specialise in the 
roots of trees. ‘Phe pupz ot Portiut, when ready. fo aniere, 
work up through the soil to the surface. Usually the skin 
ruptures when the pupa is only half above ground, and the 
moth is hberated. 

Ty my garden, at Mast Malvern, some larve Black 
Wattles, Acicta mollisstina, ave, apparently, badly imtosted 
by this species, as 1 counted no fewer than 23 pup cases, 
either Projecting from, or lyine on, the ground beneath 
the trees. Juate one afternoon | saw a moth eseaping from its 
case. These moths emerge at the commencement of the raioy 
seuson, when the ground becomes soft. They would, douht- 
less, perish in numbers if their season for emergence were 
sunimer, since the ground would be too hard for them then. 
Sneh tragedies oceur in the beetle world, The grnbs of one 
common Cetonids, Bupocila australusic, Dou, whieh live in 
decaying wood, when about to pupate, econgtrae a rounded 
case, beautifully smooth mside and rough externally. Dur- 
ing a long, dry spell, | found a number of these cases at, 
Seaford. Rach contained a beettie, perfeet, but dead. The 
gases were very dry utd tard, urd, apparently, the beetles 
had been unable tn liberate themselves. This probably 
explains the fact that, during the suiniuer season, Cetonids. 
generally ave most abundant, after a day or two of rain— 
FB. . Wirsow. 


HABITS OF A MALLEE WASP. 


A small wasp belongine to the venus Bembex is common 
chasing the sumer in North-Western Victorian. Jt haw most 
engaging ways, dnd one outstanding characteristie, ta which 
it differs materially fron thist other species of wasps) it 
makes periodieal visits to its burrow, with food for its off 
apring. This appears to me to reveal a higher order of tntel- 
yence than is shown by a wasp that, after paralysing its 
prey, placing it m a burrow or prepared cell, and laying aij 


72 Notes [rom Field wnd Study ee Mh 
eg upon. it, tvoubles no mores ‘Tlie devotion of the ever- 
busy, active, Benibex to its-offepring is, ii times, Charing td 
observe. The wasp shows a§ tach roncern, on returning ta 
its broken burrow, as do birds of matiy species when their eyes 
have-lven stolen. | wag particularly “captivated by. the salici- 


Adtde tor her offspring, and the utter disiegard tor ‘how awn 


safety, displayed hy one wasp, whose’ burrow IT was exanine 


ing, As.T excavated with the point of a knife, she did her 


itindst to fill in the broken tunnel, her tiny forelegs work- 
ing foverishly. T had to push her aside’ several times as | 
Worked, Though in search of knowledge, T was tempted to 
let the insect.win the day. The pupa is now lonsed in w pill- 


box. One summier’s day it will emerge, und when T have 


satisfied my curiosity, and further enriehedl my tute-book, 


_, Young, Bembex will have the freedom of the sands.—b.G.tt. 


tain Tt a 


“BILE BATULIE"—A PET OPOSSUM. | ! 


For nearly 13 yeut's « Silver- grey, or Comemnon, Opossunt 
f'richosurns ‘vulpeculu, has lived in. captivity. His mother 
was killed by dogs, and he was taken from her pouch, AN 


-.sott; pink‘and grey ball of fur, with bright, bead- like eyes, 


Jie har diy filled the ep ot rey hands when pr exerted te me. 
We had been reading the late Mrs Bilis Rowan’s book, (' Bill 
Balllic:'? ad the name of her animal hero was bestawed 
wpuD fhe neweomer. ' : 

' On pet was xa young that it BéedsTio a probley't. liaw to 
feed him. ‘Che’ problem was solved by suaking one ent of a 
strip of funnel in mill, im a saneer, and viving the other 
end to '' Bill Baillia,”* He quickly drained the saucer. Later 
he was fed From a teaspoon. No wild creature ean be per- 
feetly contented in captivity; bat our apessum beeame so 
tame that we vealised that freedom, would: mean for him 
almost certain destruction by dogs. So a large, wire-netted 
ouclosure was provided for hint, with as much “* wild’? com- 
fort as possible. There he has lived, since L913, apparently 
quite happily, during the most of the time: oceasionally We 
have been conscious of a dumb pleading for. freedors, ane 
have almost vegretied that we gave ‘Bill Baillie’ the chance 
of Life in his mfaney, Fle: has ‘heen fed on gum leaves, fruit. 
vegetahles, wuts, thistles, dock leaves, sorrel, and bead and 
milk, ov bread and jam. Lately he has shown sims of 
ageing, his appetite is still good, but he is less active, ancl 


yi Nates from Field and Study 73 
spends more time now in his giass-lined box. He has just 
returned from a fortnight’s “‘holiday."’ He had been ill, 
so we took hin with us to TTealesyille, ‘The change has 
almost vequvans uted hin, He showed plainly his pleasnre. at. 
being back in the old. quarters. 


Onv experience will deter us from over again caging a 
wild creature.’ Though ‘“BilJ,’’ doubtless, has lived longer 
than he would have done in freedom, and enjoyed more eon- 
fom, too, L think ‘that he would have preferred life in the 
bush, with all its dangers.—E.C. ; 

OUR ONLY POPPY. . : 

In the Kew Bulletin, No. 4, 1905, d. Hatehiuson (Con 
tribntions towards a Phylogenctie Classification of Mlower- 
ing Plants, V’?) remarks on the paucity of the Papaveracen 
in the Southern Tenisphere, and refers to the only repre- 
yenative mm South Africa as Papave aculedtun, aud to owe 
one species as P. horridwm. "The three chief aveas of con- 
centration of this family are in California, whence comes 
Eschscholtzia, the eastern Mediterranean and Western China, 
the home of so iaty lovely Meconopsis, among which is Tar- 
yat's ‘beloved Celestial Poppy,’ with flowers of every shade, 
trom -pure white through all tones of azure, mauve and hlae 
ta clean pink. Tu the same Bulletin, Braid revises the 
Alphitonias, a genus of the Rhamnacex, ranging from Borneo 
to Hawai, and from the Philippines to northern New South 
Wales. He recognises five Australian species hitherto 
Jumped in A. excels; this is. well known aa a valuable tree 
yielding fine timber, good tanning bark and foliage useful us 
fodder. ‘he leaves, it 18 interesting to note, froth in water, 
probably from the presence of saponin, and ave used by local- 
school ehildren to clean mky fingers. The bark from young 
shoots, especially of A, Petrie?, has a strong odour of sarsa- 
parilla —C.8,8, 


A USEFUL GRASS. 


Tn the Journal of Hcology, January, 1925, appears an 
account, by F. W Oliver, of the grass Spartina Vownseidti, 
which somewhat miraculously made its appearance in the 
sheltered waters of = Southampton, more than 50 years ago. 
Sinee then if has exteniled its range for nearly 20 miles on 
cach side of the Tsle of Wight, and has appeared also on the 


me) Notes frome Meld mud Study hv sed 


French coast opposite, where it has spread even more quickly 
and widely. This grags is described as being better fitted for 
the reclamation xd stabilising of maddy foreshoves than any 
other in the world, and it is iwell worth the” eon- 
sideration of our port. anthorities. ‘he normal habitat 
of Sparting is soft, tidal mud, extending not, further 
than three feet below high-water mark of spring 
tides, where it ousts Zostera nana, when this exists, 
anc even overwhelms Sew pus mearthimus on the landward side. 
Colonisation conmences by the appearance of little seattered 
tufts in the soft mud, avisinz from seed. These extend by 
creeping stolons, which become anchored by long, unbranched. 
roots, going as deeply as four feet, and by tufted, bre wehed 
roots near the surface; especially concerned with nutrition. 
The tifts. which veach a height of two ov three feet, in time 
coalesee. the surface is vaised by silting, the mud eventualls 

consohdated, and meadowing results. As a fodder the Spar- 
fine | is relished hy heasls of all kinds, and it ig cut and stacked 
for their winter use—C.8.5, 


GIPPSLAND PERCH AT RALRNSDALE, 


While fishing on Faster Monday, above the waterworks, 
Bairnsdale Water Supply, ny younger son and 1 hooked 
eight Gippsland pereh, Perealetus fluvidtelis, Stead. All 
were small, one being only 84 inches in. length, and the others 
10 inches, or a little over. From the angler’s point of view 
the catch was disappointing, buat ag the small size of those, 
Ox: amples points to the possibility of the species breeding in 
the river, the matter is of great interest to those concerned in 
the preservation of our indigenous fishes, Unfortunately, 
nothing is known as te the breeding habits of this splendid 
fish, admirahle from both its sporting and edible qualities.—: 
qr. C. 


HOUSE-FLIES AND BUSH-ILIES. 


In references to the menace to public health and the 
almost intolerable annoyance caused by flies, in our cities, 
suburbs, and canntry districts, two distinet species are almost 
invariably confused, Few diseriminate between the eammoat 
House-fy, Musca domestica, and the so-called Bush-fiv. MW. 
vetustissimét. Both are exceedingly abundant, and }oth are 


a Revision of the Hucalypts 75 
widely distribnied, the former throughout the temperate 
and tropical regions of the world, the latter throughout this 
continent and in India. The habits of the one ave too dis- 
gusting and too well known to require mention here; those 
of the other, if objectionable in the extreme, can be 
enumerated only m part for want of more precise know- 
ledué. 

The Wouse-fly is pre-eminently a denizen of our dwellings, 
yards, food shops and restaucants, Its abandunee, or 
scarcity, during the summer and autumn months, is 
determined by the amount and nature of the filth to which 
if has access. Wire-gauze would be a drug on the market, 
imstead of a costly necessity, if our munieipal enactments 
were sinetly enforced. 

The Bush-fly prefers open spaces—suburban streets, 
gardens, heaches, grazing lands, forests and plains, and even 
the arid interior of the Continent. It rarely enters houses, 
und ig never geen on exposed food indoors. It is not 
dependent upon filth for its existence, and is as abundant in 
uninhabited territory, plains and tablelands of the interior, 
and the islands of the Kimberley Coast, as it is In our popu- 
lous seaside resorts. Very little is known of its breeding 
habits, but it is safe to say that its numbers would not be 
materially reduced by the application of regulations designed 
for the control of the House-fly. 

GF... 


REVISION OF THE EUCALYPTS. 


he sixtv-fourth part of Mr. J. H. Maiden’s Critical 
Revision of the Genus Eucalyptus is devoted to the daserip- 
tion of the seeds, commenced in the previous part. As with 
every other feature in the species of this genus, there is great 
diversity in these. In size they vary from 4 to 16 mm, long 
and from 3 to 7 mm, broad, the smallest being derived from 
FE. dealbate and the largest from 2. calophylla. Tn more than 
100 kinds the length does not exceed 2 mm. 

Though there seems to be no constant correspondence 
between size of seed and capsule, those of 2, Raveretiana for 
example, with the smallest fruits of all, being as large as those 


76 Revision of the Bucatypts peyeet 


of ony Woollybutt, 2. longifelias generally speaking, the large 
forest trees appear to have the smaulest fruits and seeds, and 
the scrubby, dry country species the largest, Ln dealing with 
their vitality, Mr, Maiden states he has no difficulty in getting 
germination up to 30 years, though Professor A. J. Hwart 
“and De, Cuthbert Hall were not so sueeessful, the latter fail- 
ings to raise seedlings from material older than 185 yeara. 

fsuuly the sterile seeds, which serve the purpose of pack- 
ing, onthumber the larger and darker fertile ones. In the 
Bloodwoods thete ave only one of the latier and a few of the 
others in eavh cell, but the nombers in other species ave not 
Bivett, 


[In grouping the seeds into a score of so at series Vir. 
Maiden has regard to the preseuce of a wing or membranous 
Trjmec, its extent and position—this feature is most pro- 
Nouneed im the Bloodwoods—the shape and sculpture, tlie 
position of the tilum. the eolaur, from light brown to jet 
black, anid te the nature of the surface. of the testa, which. 
may be smuuth, striated, pitted or scurfy. 


Et owill be news to many that when i sore straits, perhaps 
only In bunies when even grass seeds and nardoo fail thom, the 
seeds of at least onc species, a Coolabah, F. bicolor, serve as 
facd for the uatives of West. Central Queensland, who pre- 
pare them mueh m the way they do the sporocarps of the 
Muarsilen. 


Tf, is now 22 yeara since the appearance of the first part ot 
Mit. Maiden's maga opus, and the completion of it is not 
yet, though it seems to be within nicasurable distance. 'Phree 
years ago, when part 53 was published, he was of opinion it 
would take at least 65 parts to deal with the total of perhaps 
350 species and to contain all the material required to do 
adequate justice to his. subject. 


However, there ave still more species to be deseribed. 2rr- 
racoppinensis, Blozsomet and Staert are noticed, which will 
bring the namber to 336, and no doubt there are others The 
seedlings, too, have yet to be figured, and, lastly, there is ta 
come the enormous key which wag his main object in engaging 
in his formidable task. and will be its fitting and triuinphant 
etumination, "It is therefore likely that the estiniaté; at least 
in regard to the number of parts, will be considerably 
vexcveded, 

S88, 


Cie Victorian Naturalist 


Vou XLII—No. 4. AUGUST 7, 1925 No. 500. 


FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. 

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Clib was held an 
the Royal Society’s Hall on Monday evening, 15th July, 
1925, The President, Mr. Geo. Coghill, occupied .the ehatr, 
and about fifty members and friends were present. 


ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 

Qu 3 ballot being taken, the following were duly elected 
aug members of the Club:—As ordinary members: M's. Geo. 
Coghil, 17 Monomeath Avenue. Canterbury; Mr 8. I. 
Mann, Caramut; and My, A. R. Mills, LL.B. 430 Little 
Collins Steet, Melbourne. As associate members: Muster 
Colin Weith Wraser, Gharles Strect, Kew, and Master Ronald 
Tan Wallace, ¢/o Prof, Wallace, New. 


GENERAL BUSINESS, 

Mi. F. Pitcher moved, “Phat this Club protests against. 
the proposed desiauction of the trees in Victoria Parade.’ 
Seconded by Mr. A, EK. Rodda. Messrs. MeColl, I. G@. A. 
Barnard and .A. D. Hardy, and the President, took part in 
the discussion that followed. The mation was carried wuans- 


niousl yr. 
PAFERS, 


1. By My. Jd. GC. Goudie—‘Notes on the Coleoptera of 
North-Western Victoria,’* Part XIU, he anthor dealt with 
beetles belonging to the families Brenthidw, Anthribide, and 
Cerambycids (several very fine and rare species of Longi- 
corns were included in the list). 

Messrs. C. Oke, D. Best and Hardy diseussed. the paner. 

2. By Ma. T. & Hart, M.A.—: The Victorian, Species of 
Cassytha.’’ The author deseribed the. differences between 
the five species, thei range, and habits. The paper was dis- 
cussecl Ixy Messrs, 17. B. Williamson, Hardy, Pitcher and the 


President. ‘ 
EXHIB, 


By Mr. J. W. Audas, F..8.—Specimen of Cassythus 
paaroudate. 

By Mr. (. Daley, BA, F.L.S.—Views of Californian 
Alligator Barn. 

By Mo. J. C. Goudie—Case coutaining species of Longi- 
corn beetles (Cerambyecide), from Sea Lake, Birchip dis- 
trict, Victoria, in ilustration of his paper. 


78 Milk Nutwratists! Cliv—Lyoceedings . Pbhses 

By Mie. J, A. Kershaw—WNictilus pompiltus, found on 
Three-mile Beach, at National Park, Wilson’s Promontory, 
hy Mv. (W. H. Ferguson, May, 1925. A trvost wnonetal 
oeaurence. 

By Mv. V, EL Miller—Wattle Seale, Lecamiuns bucoulune. 

By Mr. GC, Oke—T'hree species of Victorian Switt-moths, 
Porina australis, P. fuscamaculaty, aud Oncoplera wubrd- 
mid. The larvie of these moths. feed on grass roots, 

By Nb. A. &. Rodda—Pyvomorphite (Chloro-phosphate 
ot Lead), from Queensland. 

By Mr. f. EB. Pescott, P.LS.—Growing plant of the 
“ Wheat*” orchid, Bulbophyllum Shepherd, Wov.M., in flawee. 
Native to New South Wales and Queensland, 

By Mr. J. Searle—Small Chaleid wasp, and ‘‘shell'! of 
aphis from which the parasite cmereed, (Shown woder 
microscope.) 

By Mx. PR. ET. 8t. John—Herbarinne speetnens of (1) 
Adiantum capillus veneris (Lirm), Wnglish Maiden-hair 
Porn, Mt, Evelyn, 18th Pebruary, 1925 (new for Vietoria) : 
(2) Casuarina suberosm (Otto and Diet), vasuetar pended, 
the Drooping Sheoke, from Crankston, April, 1925; (3) 
Hueaypius phiehophylia (Fo vow ML), Weeping Cabbage 
(rim, fronr Frankston, April, L925; (4+) Baealyplus acervade 
(Hook fil}. Red Gum of Vasinania, Frankston, Sth Toby. 
1925; (5) Lucalyplus acacieformas (Vean and Maiden). Red 
Peppermint af New South Wales, grown by Ma. Alister 
Clarke, Bulla, Vie. 1, 2, 3 and 4, cofeeted by exhibitor, 

By Mi, A, B. Williamson, E.L.8.—Photoeraphs of large 
Dodder-laurel.. 


THE BATHURST BURR. 


One of the troublesome weeds of Victorig, Nrndleiuan 
spinosmmn, is ubiqiitous, even being found wear Arizae 
Beach, on Gallipoli. Tt is gouerally considered to be a native 
of South America, and to haye been introduced into Souther 
Wurope between the years 1700-1750, Sermi-foasilised fruits 
have, however, now been found in Neolithic ceposits in Bul- 
varia. They have been carefully examined at the Royal 
Botanic Cardens. Kew, anc their identity established. The 
‘fruits’? had been collected iu considerable quantily anil 
stared. as rf for use as food or fodder: The discovery wont 
indicate that the species existed In Fuvope lony before the 
date aecepted by Thellang (Kew ‘‘Bulletin.’’ No. 5, 1923).— 
AT. 


‘= 


axe Hani, Tho Vielorian Species of Cassydie 7 


PUI DEROOLOUPOAN ELE R ADV AG HEER DUTT COHODHOD PDD AT RT RARAT ERUPT RA TAV EH OOME TENT UDPA PORTO TANTO DEED AGH CCAR DEED AMRA ATEN PHI RAH AN RTPA RA HANEE. 


THE VICTORIAN SPECIES OF 
CASSYTHA. 


By U8, Harr, M.A, 


TONEEMANU ROO OASURDELEODOMBERURD/GUNURBONeRD OO PU NOEELEO TEI DANLELELES PAU ANGEANGAVERTIANAHAIOA PAID PRA SI OOPD RR ANDI OA@PARANOA PUPA RA AARANRT. 


Oe 


semmeaveroenripanienessanny 


Br 


Five species of Cussytha have been recorded as Vietarian, 
hat of these C. paniculata is given only as from the Hume 
River, and is therefore indicated in the Census as doubtfully 
Vietorian, The other six Austrahan species o¢eur in Western 
Austrvaha and the northern part of the continent, 

Cassytha melantha, the Large Doddertanrel, and C. 
qlabella, the Tangled Dodderlaurel, are elearly defined 
apecies; but the houndary between the other two species 
(C. pubescens and C. pheolusia) seenis to be dovbtfal, Mie 
authority for CL plucolasia, Spiked Dodcler-laurel, is 1. vou 
Muller, Frugmenti Vo OS66). where it appears as a variety 
of OF paivientuta, or possibly a distinet species. The note 
muy be thus translated ——' Of thig (that is, pamtedeta) the 
variety plieolasit, unless by this name isto be weted a dis- 
tinet species, fron thea coast of Twofold Bay, is ut once to 
be reeounised by the rasty-tonoantose fruits.’ A bttle later 
there follows a note.on Co. pubescens, tdi whieh a variety, 
mucrosiuch ya, is mentioned, 

Irom the onemal pole, GC. pleulasw would be expected 
to have fruits like C. paniculata, except tor the hairs, that 
is, vibbed fruits, (The tem fruit is used to include the suc- 
enlent part, not merely the matured carpel.) Bentham 
(1870), who would, na doubt, be at some disadvantage as 
regards the dirget observation of the sueeulent frnits, makes 
a Aistinelion ju the lenethenine of the spike, as well as in 
the shape of the fruiting perianth; so also Miieller, in the 
Koy to the System of Vietorian Plants (1888). Without 
frnit, any lony-apiked pubescens might be mereed in 
phmalast, Beuthant sixs that @. plveolusia is very near C, 
pubescens, differing fram it in wiflovescence, and perhaps an 
the form of its fruit; but he had not seen the trait quite 
ripe, Prniting pevinatls of Co ph@elasta are given as obo- 
vod, or pear shaped, those otf CL pubeveens asx globular. 

Mitieller, in Native Plints of Wietorw Srecinethy Defined 
(1879), omits (. pleealasias possibly he doubted it us Vie- 
forian: pethapsy it is merged dy pubescens, Tf this is nota 
error in compilmg, it agrees with a hesitation io remove the 
variety macrostachyo From C, pubeseeus, for this variety is 
wundeybtedly Vietorian, as will appear helow, 


80 Harv, The Victorian Species of Cassy thie wee at: 


Having obtained specimens with stronely-vibbect and 
brownish tomentose fruits, at Hagle Poiat, near Bairnsdale, 
{ concluded, from examination of the deseviption, that ‘these 
were typieal phealasin, At the same time I read of the 
variety macrostuchya of pubescens. 

The fruita of C. prcbescens, as collectad at Black Rock, 
though variable in velation of width to heirht, showing both 
squat and relatively tall forms, are, ax the Baron expresses 
it in the Mragmenta, “gently-angled ;°? looked at end on, 
the departure from a cirenlar outline is slight, so that call- 
ing them globular is not misleading. 

Through the courtesy of the late Mr. J. R. Tovey, T was 
able to examine the National Herbarium. specimens. and 
found there, in the C. pheolavia package, the following :— 


A specimen labelled @. pubescens macrostackyva, trom Portland, 
one of Bentham's localities for C. phaentasia. T see no sufficient 
Treason for separating this specimen from tt. wuherncns. No friuits 
were seen, Elongated spikes are present. 

Another, C. pubescens, shrubbery at the coast tear Briznton 
(1853), F von M. The' spikes have flowers separate in the lower 
part. Wo fruits. Brighton is one of Bentham's localities for 
PHaeokusier, 

Another, O. pubescens on Ifelateneds, ab the Yarra River (186%), 
Dr. M, The shrunken fruit in (the packet do not show ribs. The 
flowers are mostly separate, 


These specimens, though mtaiming C. pubescens labels. ave 
found with C. Pheolasia, indieating a partial acquiescenea 
in Bentham ’s arrangement; but it is not known to me when 
they were so placed. They represent C. pubescens, vat. nure- 
rostachya. 

With these I tound two other examples, whieh are clearly 
the Baron’s pheolasia, namely :— 


A specimen Jabelled “Heath ground, near the Womboyne, Drupe 
Sangular pyriform, brownish, hairy, D.M,, Sept, '60." This has 
with it a packet from the same loculity Heath grofind, near the 
Womboyne, Casiytha paniculata, ‘The date is before the separa- 
Uion of C. phueolasia from OC. paniculata. The dry ttuits show rths. 
and are brown-hairy, 

Another specimen has two labels, “C. phaeotusia, Ferd. Mueller, 
Bast Gippsland.” and “Cassyta, Womboyne.” The buds ara dis 
tinally brown-hairy 


The Womboyne River is.abmit 18 miles north of Cape 


lowe, hence these examples wre not Vietorian. The speci- 
mens I have from Eagle Point, and other localities about the 


“tue. Hawt, The Vietorion Species of Cassytiiu 81 
Gippsland bakes, may be placed as OC. pleolasia in the 
wrigial sense, with these Womboyne speeiniens. 

Trping thes t) the Herbarium C. pubescens packet, 
Nheve ure found C. pubescens, rocky hills near Swagport: a 
spike ov this shows niany poiuts of altachment of flowers: au 
elvhth of an ineh, or perhaps more, opart. Also, C. 
pubescens, R.Br. var. diuisa, Mt. Lofty Ranges, at thu 
Cutaruct, B.M., '$9; and another Jabel which, translated, 
reads ''C. pubescens, Mt. Lofty. Bruit opaque, green, very 
gently six-angled, with an. umbo at the apex.’’ (1 have trans- 
Jated Latin labels when such occur.) hese may he placed 
with van. mucrostachya. 1 have not found auy other 
referunce Lo var, devise. 

L then proceeded” to look for long-spiked Co pytescens 
On low shrubs east. of Black Rock (Khden’s Park), (. piubes- 
Lveus was in gveal abundance, all plants noted having the 
lapieal short-spiked jnflorescence, On search in tall 
lea tree Lorther south, on the incr side of the Beach Road, 
apikes 1.9 to 2.7 mehes long were found. The fruits were all 
referable to pubescens. 

I. have also found elongated spikes in, Melaleuca sernb at 
Storveby, and while one pateh had the aspect, on a general 
view, of a pateh referred ta phaolasio at Kavle Point, and 
possibly sume fruits were a little more angular, T sia io 
sufficient, reason to remove the Scoresby specimens from 
CG. pubescens. Tu should be noticod Vhat the hairs, and often 
par ‘yea ‘eddish fruits, in C. pubescens wre quite distinct froin 
those ot phvolavia. In pubescens, the skin colour of the fimit 
shows through, with minute, scattered hairs. Tn phetolirsia 
the hairg are denser and brownish. 

I have come to these conclusions :-— 

That typical GC. pheolusia, P.xv.M., is that form in whieh 
the fruit is strongly angled, or ribbed, and has a rnsty 
fementan, Tts frais are distiner in form from those of 
C pubescens. The National Herlarium, specimens seen by 
me do not show fas Victorian, but it vecars freely about the 
Gippsland Lukes. TFagle Point is, so tar, the most inland 
locality, Shady eonditions may he F Pavcinvable to the elon- 
gation of the spikes. 

As vegards hosts, a few of my notes nention Weak attaah- 
ments to certain species, and it is not anlikely that. tle para. 
site flourishes more on some plants than on others. Stact- 
ing from the soil, the plant is less likely to grow in eulti- 
vated lands, where it may be destroyed before permanently 
establishing self. Attachments lo introduced plants ave, 
therefore, inainly to be expeeted where these pluats have aay 


$2 Bart, Phe Vietorian Species of Cassytha yank. Sas 
wild, or ave under somi-iatural plantation conditions. J 
have, however, a few examples of its oceurrence om introduced 
planis. 

Mr. A, D. Hardy votes C. melantha on TWurze, Clea 
Kuropeus at Studley Park. [ have observed the same 
species on Willows, Sufta alba, on the Mitehall River, above 
Bairnsdale, but the attack was light conipared with that on 
the Zristania, from which it had spread. L have observed 
probably CG, pubescens on a pine, probably P. Larteio, at 
Creswick, attaching to the needles; and also on Blackberry, 
it Seoreshy, A Cassythu, doubtless the same species, | saw 
on Pittasperma. undulation, neds Mornington, atid €. glabellu, 
attached to a self-sown pine, near Frankston, the pine being 
stil] small ond amoug the low seb.  * 

Prof, A. J. VMwart has shown that. cotyledons do vot 
appear in the young seedling, aud that there is the vevy 
peculiar absorption of the store of inatertal in the weed by 
the tip of the shoot. Bentham reeords that the eatyledans 
ave distinet wat an uarhy sgtyve, though eonusolidated later, 
agsuming the appearance of a Heshy endosperm. The two 
cotvledons ean he found on examination, and on sevevul 
vaturnl seedlings there appear two minute sears, or marks, 
helow the first seale leaf, whieh may be the original points of 
attachment of the netyledous. On having laree cotyledons, 
the seed has & weneral character of the Lauracen. 

The suceulent fruit ia clemvec from tha receptacle of the 
flower, the hard interior being derived from the carpal, and 
though the family is described as movocarpellacy, a sisxrayed 
character appears, ot least aeU in the sunumit of this 
havd portion. The marked. or gentle, sis-angled character. 
whew seen in the sueenlent d boc is PVeservilg of Agreeing 
with the six-parted porianth. 

LT have taken several seedlings on two beepeoites in the 
southern part of Moomnunne, south-west of Bairnsdale. 
These were, no doubt, all Co melunthe, ander whieh they 
were found: though, as the fruit is probably taken by binds; 
thay were not necessarily from that particular plant, T have 
also taken natnral seedlings, either plcolaxia ov pubescens, 
at Bagle Point Park. 


RYSOPSIS OF VIUTORIAX CASSYTHAS. 
Feust ollipsvid, ved or yellow; Howers in clusters; plant 
ewlabrons: stems and branches threadiike. CC. glibella. 
Fruit globular, green; spikes short or almost capitular ; 
> ! ° 
plunt glabrous, except the Mowers: stems and branches 
thick, CG. melrant lee. 


She CHaraan, Notes on the Foraminifera RS 


Fruit depressed, globular to ovate- globular, often with a 
, colour timee, very gently six-augled on careful mspuc- 
tion, minutely puberulent; spikes short or elongated; 
, plaut nore oO less pubescent; stems moderately thielc.. 
QC. pubescens. 
Fruit pear-shaped, mbbed at least in typical examples, dis- 
tinetly hairy: spike elonguted (? is it always elongated 
ealy) ; plant more or less pubesecit; stems moderately 
thick. C. phaoliusies. 
Fiuit ribbed, glabrous ov nearly so; spike usually eoneated, 
sometimes byanched; plant glabrous or nearly’ so. 
C. paniculata (doubttully Victorian), 


jpnesnniianninemninnannuniniaaninnennininrtnnnainnnntnnnnannninnnnnnine 
z = 
= + 7 = 
H NOTES ON THE FORAMINIFERA, i 
= By BF. Oyaremas, ALS, i 
Fi FS 
Srvesannnvennancenseaaneaaccennvnnencccnaananeaacaenncsarenacaceeenenanacennagnaanacanenseccrnaccacesevaaccecsensaaccgnsassearnccesenye? 


The study of that fascinating group of lewly animals, te: 
foraminifera, has of lute been brought to the fore by their 
increasing usefulness in the determination of the age of rock 
groups, and as coustituting indicators of former geographicul 
conditions. ‘They have been also useful in oil-finding, as 
evidenced by the establishment, in America, of at least two 
flourishing Bureaus for Foraminiteral Research. 

The literature on the subject is enormous, but. that should 
aot deter any naturalist from taking up the atudy of these 
little shells; for by seeking to know the prineipal ty pos, uscer- 
tained from text-books on the subject, such as Brady’s Chal- 
lenger Report and the recent, work by Cushman, published by 
the United States National Museum, a good working know- 
ledge can soon be acquired, 

It is remarkable to see a decided renascence of enquiry 
made in réeent year's in regard to the foraminifera. Since this 
interest has spread even to our own Club, and the fraternal 
Society of Microscopists, it may not be out of place for an 
old worker to eontribute a few notes for beginners in this 
study. Many successful students of nature in the past com- 
menced by merely collecting. There is very much to be said 
in favour of this, aid little against it, Gathering and 
identifying species often leads to a search for further know- 
ledge, and every one can add to the *‘gairn” of facts, 

Since an all-round student of nature should know some- 
thing of geology, as well as of zoology, it ig assumed that the 


BH CHaratar, Notes on the Formnvinifere Botn! 


collector of foraminifera desire ta laiow where and how to 
obtain these tiny shells, both ‘in the rocks and im the living 
state. Fossil foraminifera are, perhaps, rather diffieul, to 
fined in Vietorian rocks older than the Tertiary. though most 
beautifal spesimens ean he washed out of the Chalk of 
Gingin, Western Anstralia, If, however, one has a trend 
who collects Tertiary shells, and who is in the habit of bring- 
ing home large bags of marl and. other shell-rock, he might 
urrange to take over cast-off siftings, since these will gener 
ally prove a mine of mierozon, Such material may come 
from, Torquay, from Muddy Creek, ov from the mullock 
heaps of the Altona Bay coal-shaft. But in every case ihe 
position of the bed should also be noted as well as the 
locality. 

Prolifie strata can be found at Torquay, in the lower part 
of the cliff, as al Bird Rock, but some of the higher layers 
ave equally profitable. Towards Rocky Point, boyoud 
Vishorman’s Steps, for example, a soapy mart band comes 
‘lown te the share. Thig banc eontains large nombhers of 
filobigerine, whieh points to ite pelagic, of open sea «harac- 
ter, In the Miocene pertod, whilst there are some beautiful 
fornia of Corruspira and Lagena also present, 

Tho mails af the fossiliferous beds at Torquay Jo not 
require much washing, only so far as to remove the Ancenlent 
clay whieh bwids the particles. After (drying, the forn- 
miniferous material ean be sifted into grades ta facilitate 
the sorting. 

As regards living forms, probably the viehest shore-line 
deposit, near to Melbourne is the strand of Altona Bay. 
Bot the resnits will be variable, according to the season of 
the year. for sa much depends on the conditions of tides and 
eurrents, ‘The muda of shallow water round piles and groyres 
are often a teh source of wonderful glassy Lagena, 

No matter where we, obtain our foraminiferal material, 
something of fiterest is always suio tio be discovered,. and 
when we examine their vaviahle and ornate shells we cannot 
order that they were first favourites anrong the older miscro- 
seapiste, who were then only equipped with an ordinary 
magnifving glass, or a sitnple mieroseope such as the 
herbalists used, 

Some practical hints as to collecting foraminifer’, may 
be found in the Naturelist for Apvil, 1910; and the known 
Victorian species of littoral forms are listed in my paper, 
''Recent Foraminifera. of Victoria: Some Litkoral Gather- 
ings,’' published by the Quekett Microscopical Club, Nover. 
her, 1907. 


nue | Hint, Motley un Victorian Uermites 85 


SAVVOPPRETAED hanna ede HLNANAepancenemnmeeiondebeanessonepamnacceoussdpande seni aUbnalbbaaeeatanaeeeneaennaseseareapuarcoaranaenaueregs 


THE VICTORIAN TERMITES. 
By GF. Lint. 


iomapbssunennsnvscsobenenssceyyyensravonnsoanentoes ovauanacuanersaanccessonssenssonseryis TAAUNORHADERADeeeR OT RateeoeeEeaS witibibim 


Notwithstanding that ‘‘ White-ants‘' ave frequenily stated 
t» be the cause of considerable damage to torest, ornanjental, 
ind eultivated trees, and to fences, buildings, ete. less is 
known of the Termite fauna of this State than of that of any 
cther part of the Commonwealth, with the exception of Tas- 
mania and South Australia. 

Tn his hist of Australian Termites, Mjdberg (1920) 
recorded only five species from Victoria, one of which, Copta 
termes lacteus. (Progg.), is unknown to me from this State, 
and is nol referred to in the following notes. The number, 
ineluding described and undescribed species, is wow known 
jo be 16, representing nine genera, a& follows ;—Stolotermes. 
1; Calotermes, 4; Porotermes, 2; Leucatermes, 1; Conto- 
termes, 2; Hlinotermes, 1; Mutermes, 2; Ifamettermes, 1; 
Microcerotermes, 2. The soldier caste of all of the above 
species, aud the iniagus also of 13 of them, are known from 
\ietoria,; the remaining three species may be identical with 
species known in «ll castes from other States. 

So httle systematic collecting has been done in this group 
of ingects in Victoria, that one may safely predict many addi- 
tions to the above total of species, t though it is inprobable 
that more than one of the four remaining Aushralin geucr 
will be found to be represented. 

Kew authorities are in agreement regarding the etassifipa: 
tion of the Yermites, und no system yet devised has heen 
soneraly aeeepted, though most of the genera, and nuany of 
the species, are easily reeownised. The following notes und 
fiwures (more or less diagrammatic) will be found sufficient 
ts enable one to identify most, if not ull, of the speries 
unumerated, without reference to the long, technical descrip- 
tions often soa necessary for the differentiation of all the 
apecies of a faunal region, 

Jt should be mentioned, however, that in some genare, 
ey, Coptolermes, Khinotermes, Microcerotermes, specific 
determinations cainot always be made trom soldiers und 
workers only; that while the imagos of a give species rarely 
vary appreciably, soldiers, even ‘fom the sume colony, may 
show marked differances in the size and shape of the head. 
caz., Celatermes, Portolernies, Mierocerolermes; that in some 
species there mux be two dissimilac forms of soldiers ty thr. 


eyeverie. 


RUA TTCERTOREP DD neer rene. 


PT al 


BG HLL, Notes on Victorian Termites Mgt 


same colony, #.9-, Rhinatermes and Mulermex. that from two 
to five distinet specios may be more or less closely associated 
in the same colony; that in species in which two forms of 
soldiers are nermally present one may be absent, e.g., 1 
young colonies of Rlinvlermess,and that the funetions ef a 
frae king and queen (i.¢e., reproductive forms derived from 
winged imagos) may be performed by apterous ot brachyp: 
terous adult males and females, or by one to several true 
kings mated with from one to a bundred oy more apterous 
females, 

As a rule, the genus is most readily deiernined from the 
soldier caste, and the epocies from the image, Mhe worker 
caste (absent in Catotermes anc Parolermes) generally pos 
sesses good generic characters, but 1s often practically nae 
less in atlempting specific determinations. 

The following list of species, with brict descriptions of 

ach, comprise the Termite fauna of Vietoria, as at present. 
kuown to me. Measurements are given in millimetres 
(approximately 1/25 ineh) — 

Stoloternies victortensis, Hal: Tnage, leneth with wings 
11.00, withont wigs 6.5; a small, dark-brown gpecies, with 
fuscous wings, very small pronotwn, no ocelli; eyes small, 
prominent; antenne 16-joinled: anterior margin of wing 
with several short, stoul veins, running diagonally wpwards 
to the costa; cerel Sjointed. Soldier: Total length, 7-9.00: 
head with mandibles, 5.30-3.60; head mueh flattened, jaws 
bent downwsrde slightly. with two broad and one narrow 
teeth on left aud two broad teeth on right: teeth lange, leag- 
‘like, and directed forward; anjenne 16-jointed; oyes black 
and very distnet; pronotum srnall; cere: S-jointed. Found 
in small eolonies in rotten loge, in damp, heuvily-timberec, 
hilly, or mountainous country; winged imaros present i 
January, ‘Che four retaining speeles are fron) ‘Casmania 
(t), New Zealand (1), and Queensland (2), 

Calotermes (Figs 1 and 8): Small to very large specice- 
imago with oeelli, pronotum large, reniform. arehed, wing 
marems without hairs, Jarger veins crowded towards anterior 
border (sub-gennus, Veolermes), remaining veins usually very 
indistinet, empodinm present between claws, cerei 2-jointed- 
Soldier: Head large, much longer than wide. more or tess 
parallel on sides, mandibles large, with stuut teeth on the 
inner margin, pvenolum very large, veinform, wider thad 
head, very few hairs on head, thorax and abdomen. empodiun 
present, cerci. two-joiuted 

Calotermes insularis (White): A large, yellow species: 
length with wings 25.10, withonh wings 14.00. expanse of 


one Hi, Noles on Victorian Termites RY 
Wings up to 45.00. Soldier: Total lenyth about 15.00, head 
with mandibles 7.00; head orange-rufous, with long, slender 
mandibles; antenne 14-17 joints, third Joimt vary bibtle larger 
than second and fourth (subgenus Veotermes), 

This is the species veferved to by French in ‘‘ Destructive 
Insects of Vieloria,’’ Part 2, as Termes australis, Walker. 
Lives in small colonies in living trees; found in yarious parts 
of Southern Victoria; winged forms present in Jannary- 

Calotermes oldfields, Wilh: Length with wings 15,00. 
withont wings 9.00; a yellowish-brown species, distinguished 
from the preceding species iy the winged form by iis smaller 
size, the median vein of the forewing midway between the 
cabitus aud radial sector, weakly chithyzel (sob-genus 
Calotermes), and in the soldier caste by its smaller size (total 
length 11.50, head with mandibles about 4.40)) anteinw 
13-18.joited, third joint meh larger thun second wid fourth, 
eluilshaped (sub-genus Culoteries) 

Lives in living and dead trees; winged Lomne present Crum 
February t July; has been found at Iseilor and iy the Mat 
ler district, 

Onlatermas sridipennis, Froge: Length with wines 11,00, 
Without wines 7,00; antenna t5-jointed. Distinguished tron 
either of the above by its smaller size, very dark-browr 
colour, dark iridescent wings and absence of short diagonal 
branches from the radial seetor towards the costal margtt 
(sub-genus Glyptotermes). Soldier; Total length 9.00-10,00, 
head with mandibles 3.15-4.10; lead orange-rufons, long and 
evlindvieal, mandibles short and stoun; antenng 13-15- 
jointed. Distinguished from the preceding species by its 
smaller size, vylindrical head and shorter mandibles. 

Found in living and demak trees, in fairly large colonies, 
venerally with several kings and queens. It is a destructive 
species in the public gardens of the eity and suburbs, aid 
has been found at Beaconsfield and Frankston. 

Calotermes tufinetum, Hill: Length with wings 9.00-9.30, 
without wings +.50; head and pronotum orange, wmgs davk 
fuseous, reniainder of insect nearly black, Distinguished frum 
(he preceding species by its snuller size, colour of bead and 
pronotum, and presence of short, oblique ycenis extending fram 
the radial sector towards costal margin. Soldier) Total length 
6,50, head with mandibles 2,20; head long and nurrow, eylin 
drieal, mandibles shart and stout, 

Lives in gniall eolayvies, in living of dead trees; sometimes 
iitucks building timher; has been taken in the vieinity of Mel- 
hourne, Gembrook and Lakes Entrance. 


88 Hira, Notes on Victorian Termites preter 


Pavotermes; Medium to jarge, light-brownish species, 
almost devoid of hairs: Tmago withont ocelli, pronotum 
amall, reniform, not markedly arched; principal wing veins 
crowded torether near costal margin; mlinerous small, obliges 
yelus extending from the radial sector iowards the eostal 
margin; no empodinm hbetiveen elaws; cerei, five-jointed. 
Soldier; Meduum to very large size, with broad, flattened 
head, powerful mandibles, with two very large teeth on apical 
lal of cach; eves pale, rudimentary; pronotam of moderate 
size, bat much narrower than head; no empodium ; cere five- 
jointed. 

Povotemmes edumsant, Frogg: Length with wings 14.00- 
15,00, without wings 7.00-8.00. Soldier: Total leneth 
§.75-11.25, head with mandibles 3.36-4.67, 

Lives in colonies of moderute size, in living or dead 
irees; winged forms present in March. Tay been found i 
suburbs of Melbourne, and at Ringwood, Tarwin, and Lakes 
Rntranee, 

Poroternes grundis, Holmgren: Winged forn: nat known, 
Dealated imago (king and queen): Length 9.00-13.24; other- 
wise sinilar to preceding species. Soldier; otal length 
LO,50-14.50, head with mandibles +,.20-7,00: otherwise similac 
to preceding species, 

Found in the mowitein and tally districts of South and 
South-eastern Victoria. xecedinuly destructive to Kuea- 
lypta; remarkable for the variation in size and shape o? heact 
of soldiers ; possibly a mountain form of the preceding epecies. 
Ono species is known from ‘Tasmania, one from South Africa, 
wid one fram Chili, 

Leucotermeées ferow, Froge: Length with wings 10.25, with- 
out wings 4.505,15; small species; upper surface very durk 
brown, lower surface and legs vellowish: wings fuscons. 
stumps of forewings much larger than, but not overlapping, 
those of hindwings; elypeus strongly eonyex. with medium 
sufive; head vound: eyes very small and not projecting; 
ocelli very stuall (in certain speeics only a proportion of the 
tmagos. have ocelli, but in this they appear to be invariably 
present) ; fontanelle sinall but distimet, cireular, situated pos- 
teriorly of n imaginary lime joining the posterior margin 
of the eyes; arlenne 16-jointed: pronotum moderately large, 
slightly narrower than, head, and « little wider than long. 
Soldier (Fig, 2): Total length 5,00, head with mandibles 
2.50; head yellow, long and narrow, with long, sabre-shaperl 
mandibles, withont teeth or serrations, excepting at the 
extreme base of the left mandible, where there ts a large 
thorn-like, blant tooth only visible in cleared or disserted 


Aug. His, Notes on Victorian Termites 89 


apeeimens; labrutn very long, celie-shaped, early half as 
Jong as mandibles; fontanelle a3 im imago, situated. abort, 
midway between apex of mandibles and base of head; anten, 
ne 15-juinted (rarely 16-jointed). 

Found in sina) colonies in dead trees, building timber, 
under stones iid Togs, and sometimes in the cuyoy walls of 
Coplotermes’ mounds. It is known from Victoria, New South 
Wales arid South Australia. Hight other species are 
reearded, from Western Australia, Queensland, and the 
Northern Territory. 

Coptotermes: Small ta medinm-sized species, very dark- 
brawn or yellowish; head, body, and cspecially wings, very 
haity; L9-jointed anton in nage, 16-jointed in soldier, 
third joint very small. Imago with short, lead Jabrim, 
indistinct fontatelle, very short elypens, without distinet 
median suinye; laree eves and ocelli; pronotum large, a 
litle narrower than head and rather wider than long. 
stumps of the forewings much Jarger than, and partly cover- 
ing, those of the hindwings. Soldier (Fig. 3): With oval, 
oranve-yellow head, black mandibles, Jong cone-shaped lab- 
tam; large fontuelle opening behind the base of the ely- 
peus; long, sabre-shaped mandibles, without teeth ot seria- 
tins, exeept near the base of left mandible, where there are 
a few serrationg and a long, thorn-like, blunt tooth, visible 
only in cleared or dissected speemrens. 

Hasily chstinguished from all other genera by the pre- 
sence of a globule of white, milky seeretion from the ton- 
tanelle. 

Coptotermes sp, (near acinuictformis, Froge.) ; Length with 
wings 13,00, without wings 7.50; uniform yellow in volo, 
oxeepting head, whieh is suffused with brown, aid wings, 
which are whitish, with hght-brown anterior veins” Soldier: 
Total leneth 5.00, head with mandibles 2.40. From Northern 
Vietoria. 

* Coptotar oes sedulus, Hill: Length wilh wings 15,00, with- 
nut wings 8,00. very dark-brown above, somewhat paler below ; 
wings dark fuscows. Soldier: Very similar to What, of preivod- 
ing species, but smaller; length of head with mandibles 2.00. 

Fron Southern Vietaria. The large earthy ingands and 
éatth-flled exravices and hollows in trees, commonly found 
the Fermtree Gully and Gentbrook districts, ave dun ta the 
wirk of this species, The winged forins leave the colonies 1 
jiimense wumbers on their annual eolonising Aight, diuviig 
the day and early evening, about. the middle wf September 
The genus is widely distributed, and contains a latee wumbher 
of elpsely-allied and very destructive species. The species 


au Uihin Neder on- Victorian Terniites Vou Lit 


nnder notice has bec generally confused with C. lacteus, 
Trogg, 

Rhinotermes: Small to medium-sized species, of uniform 
yellow eolour; wings clear and retnarkably teticulated with 
furrows anc small veins, the principal veins yellow. ayes and 
ovelli yery large and prominent; fontanelle ronnd, distinet, 
in line with the ocelli aud connected with the elypeus by a dis- 
fmet furrow; clypeus large, with median suture; head almost 
hairless; anténnwe 20-jointed; pronotaum large, and a Little 
narrower than head; stumps of the wings hairy, those of the 
forewings much larger that those of the hindwings, and reach- 
ing the base of the latter. Soldier (Fig. 4): OF two distinet 
iorms; head more or less 4nadvangular; fontanelle civeular, 
distimet, in line with the insertion of the antenne, a deep fur- 
row passing forward from the fontanellé through the cly- 
peus to the apex of the very large labrum, the latter cover- 
ing the greater part of the mandibles; mandibles long and 
powerful, with two teeth near the apex of the left and one 
near the apex of the wight. Very easily distinguished fram 
other genera by the above charactors, 

There aré two described, and several andeserilied, species 
in Australia, the goldiers of which are very much alike Cyne 
unidentified species hag been fonnd in North-western Vie- 
toria. ‘The genus is widely cistiibuted, and contains very 
destructive species. Nothing is known of the breeding 
habits, gueens or nests of Australian species, ‘he winged 
forms leave the parent colony in small trambers, at night, 
during a pecind of two or three months. 


Hudermes (Migs. 5 and 9): Small to medium-sized 
species, with medium vein distinetly nearer cubitus than to 
* yadius; chypens large, more than twiee as wide as lonw, and 
with indistinet medinyn suture; eyes large and prominent; 
weelli large; fontanelle elongate, forked anteriorly; 
antenna 15-jointed; prouotum. large, slightly narrower than 
ligad. Soldiers with pyriform head, prolonged anteriorly 
into a Tostrani; mouth ‘parts concealed by rostrum. 
Rutermes funagatyus, Braner» Length with wings 13.5, 
Without wings 6.00, dark-brown above, head and wings 
nearly black, undersurface yellowish-brown. Soldier: Total 
length 4.50, head to apex of labrum 1.60; head vellow, with 
orange-T0 fous rostrum, 


This species is found in southern and South- euathrd Vic- 
lorig, generally under logs and stones, it small colonies. 
The winged tovins are present from Telrnaty to May, 
Very little is known of its habits, and it is probable that it 


THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, Vol. XLII August, 1925 
Puare Lil 


9 


VICTORIAN TERMITES. 


Heads of Soldiers: (1) Calotermes; (2) Leucotermes; (3) Copto- 
termes; (4} Rhinotermes; (5) Eutermes; (4) Hamitermes; (7) 
Microcerotermes, Typical Wings: (8) Calotermes (sub-genus 
Neotermes); (9) Eutermes. 


UK i 
T9286, 


Hru., Notes ai Vectaridn. Termites 41 
differs specifically from the New South Wales species 
deseribed by Brauor. ‘There ave several yery closely-allied 
species in Avstralia, most of which are difficult to separate 
jn the soldior caste, bul, are markedly different in the winged 
form. 

Eulermes egitiasus, Will; Length with wings 25,00-26,50, 
without wigs 6.50; head very dark-brown, nearly black, 
thorax and abdomen ehestnat brawn, elypeus and nder- 
surface yellowish, wings light-brown, with yellowish costal 
Wargin; eyes and ocelli very large. 

This species ts found in Western and North-western Vie- 
toria, Where it builds small, woody termitamia ov qouwnds 
genierally over the remains of a tree-stump or root, There 
we several celosely-ullied Australian species with widely- 
different, habits; some of these have been mistakenly ideiiti- 
fied as W. funtipennis, Walker. The species umider yotice 
extends i Western Australia, 

Hanvitermes wilsow, var. victoriensix, Till; Length with 
wings probably about 12.00-13.00, without wings 7.00-8.00 ; 
liwad, thorax and abdomen dark-brown, clypeus lighter In‘own, 
Jabrum und levy yellowish, wings probably dark fnseous; 
wntennse 15-jointed; eves small, but very promiment; acelli 
small and not very near eyes; fontanalle aval; ¢lypeus large, 
ij Vithle wider thaw long, with distinet median suture, but tot 
strongly bilobed; pronotum triangular, Soldier: Total 
length 5.00, head with mandibles about 1.90; head pale yel- 
low, a little larger than wide; elypeus strongly bilobod: Jab- 
rum large and covering about one-third of mandibles; man- 
dibles sickle-shaped, with » large tooth on each, about the 
middle, (Pig, 6.) 

An imperteetly-knoawn species, found in small colonies, 
under stones, rear Preston, 

Microcerotcrmes: Very small species, with snvell eyes and 
amall oealli; no fontanclle; 14-jonited wntenne, and narrow 
fuseous winps. Soldier (Fig. 7): With tong, narrow head, 
livge conical labrum, 13- jointed antenme- Tong, slender, 
vurved manctlibles, finely serrated along entire leneth af inner 
margin, but without teeth 

Soldier and workers only of two species have been found 
in drier districts of Vieloria. In these castes they appears 
to heidentieul with Northern: Territory and South Australian 
spogies, descriptions of which have not yet heen published 
Mourteen species are kiigwn from Australia, many of which 
are very destructive. All are wood-eaters; sonie build small 
cone-shaped, svoody hermitaria. 


#2 Govwrs, Coleuptera of North-Western Victoria [Yor seit 


evOWOnVenesaunmAddyadbeWWROFOTHTPDRWWTTAOOTERNNVINE APE DOODDIFHERAANHTHRRWHOOYPRRAHTTASHANTIPRROERRENNHHTARHNT VFR RO RIDE HOG0S Mesennes pen 


NOTES ON THE COLEOPTERA OF 
NORTH-WESTERN VICTORIA, 
Part XII. 

By J. ©, Gouprr. 


rapgonphaduongegnosng nysenehtonsconsardacartcnassesesebipsnsh OO Apr eEAMAbARA bad an awe evadtaabireTesTeuenALYndasusesh sbacdsensebes))¢) 


(Read before the Pield Naturalists’ Club of Veriorto; 
July 15, 1925.) 


_ CURCULIONIDA, 
Belus findersi, Blackb. This species was 8 omitted from 
the list in a previous. paper. 
BRENTHID i. 

5639 Cordus hospes, Germ. The only representative we 
haye of this family, which is closely allied to. Cureu- 
honids, differing in the position of the rostrum, which 
is not turned down, and in haying moniliform, non- 
angulated antenne. Tt is about 4-mceh in length, very 
narrow, of a dark-red coloir, and often occurs in ants” 
nests. 


. 


(PPNOW EACOA Mae seenreneeseennaton 
SOOVTETTE ANT esd evesesenraveNtrarsese 


ANTHRIBIDA, 

o670. Araecerus fasciculatus, De Geer, var. sambucinus, 
Boisd. A small, brownish, mottled beetle, found 
under bark on dead trees, Another species, as yeb 
unidentified, was obtained from the «dried stems of 
Marsh Mallow, Gavateru plebeja, at Gieen Lake. 

CERAMBYCID, 

The Larve of Longicorns are wood-borers, tunnelling in 
the branehes, stems and roots of many species of trees and 
shrubs, often killing them outright. It is a common oeccur- 
renee to find a saplirus, or a long braneh, tunuelled throagh- 
out. its length by a single Longicorn grub. Being very 
numerous ‘and widely-distributed, these larve do great 
damage to our native timbers, as often they exist for two or 
three years in the wood. They pipate ma chamber, formed 
generally at the end of the tunnel, the perfect beetles enayw- 
ing their way out in the spring or summer. The oval-shapeil 
exit-holes are characteristic signs that a tree has heen 
attacked by either Longicorn or Buprestid beetles. The 
lurve of some species ave preyed upan-by a small Ichneumon 
wasp, which, with its long, bristle-like ovipositor, is pable to 
Pieree the bark and lay its eggs on or in the bocly of its 
vietim. From a pupa of Scolecobratus variegatus, Blickb.. | 
once obtained six of these parasitic wasps. 


AUS] Gauare. Coleoptera of North-Western Victoria 98 


Some of our largest and most formidable-loaking beetles 
belong to this family, as well as many of slender and vraee- 
ful appearance, They are generally noeturial in habits, at 
least so far as the use of their wings is concerned, beiny 
Found, by day, either clmging to the branches of their food- 
plant, or hiding under the loose bark of trees. 

5680. Muacrotome servilis, Pase. 

5691, Cnemoplites impr, Newrm. 

These are two of our largest species, measuring up to 
2% inches in Jength. They are similar in appearanoe, being 
of a dark-reddish-brown colour, and haye the outer mangins 
of the sub-quadrate protkhoray fimely serrated. hey breed 
in Mallee-butts and roots, algo in the Blick Box, H. bicolor. 
The large, yellowish-white lary were considered a bon 
bouche by the blacks, while anglers find them a useful bait. 
H5TIS. Pachydissus sericus, New, A fairly common, coastal 

species, of which } have taken only one example in the 
Mallee; this 8peeinen measures finch, which ts 
abowt half the size of typieal specimens. Tt is dark- 
brown, with a silky sheen. 

5726. Phacodes obscurus, Wabr. A brown beetle, aboul 
Linch in Jength, with greyish, mottled markings on the 
elytva, On the dise of the stvongly-rounded pro: 

. thorax are three small but distinct tubercles. 

5729. G@burina tristts, Pase. A+small, narrow, brawnish 
Insect, with short, sleider antenne. 

Phoracantha posticalts, Blackb. 

5743. P. punctatu, Don. . ! 

5744. P. guinariu, Newn. - 

5T4h, P. recutud, Newin. 

5146. P. semipunctuta, Faby. 

P. senio, Newm, 

5748. P. tricuspis, Newm. 

The’ species of Phoracantha are, perhaps, more coni- 
monly met with than any other of our Longicorns, Under 
the loose bark of trees, especially those in blossom about 
midsummer, some of then are foand in numbers They are 
mostly of a yellowish tint, with durk-brown, or black trans 
Verse, zig-zag bands om the elytra, The Jong, slender 
antennae are amied with acute spines on many of the joints, 
and there is a lateral spine on the proilorax. P. dricuspis, 
one of the largest, is about 14 inches in Jength, Ef breeds im 
the Black Box. he other species also attack this tvec, as 
well as the Mallee; in faet, hardly a freo of any ltd 
escapes them, 


4 Gover Coleoptera of North-Western Victoriw [voit 

55. Lvypochuria odewahni, Pase. This is vare locally, it 
ig 14 mehes in length, dull dark-brown, without mark- 
ings, tuvose and strougly punctured. 

5761 Attest angst, Pase. 

A. tatet, Black. 

hese are suinilar in appearance; slender, veddish-brawii: 
with an inconspicuous yellow spot near the middle of each 
élytron. A. angasi is J-inch in length; A. tatei, smaller, and 
much darker, the yellow spot more obsolete. 

5767, Coplocercus aberrans, Newm, 

S773. C. rubripes, Bod, 

C. aberrans is long and slender, tieavly 1 inch in length, 
pale veddish-yellow, with three irregular dark bands acrpss 
the elytra. C.rubrepes is smaller and davker, about one-third 
of the apex of elytra (except a very small yellow spot at 
extreme apex) being nearly black. All the femora aré much 
ilickened, and ved. 

4780. Stsyrium ibidionoides, Pase. A small, pale-yellowish 
species, with head, apex of elytra and two ante-medial 
spots black, of whieh 1 obtained a single specimen. 

5799. Callacdiopix seutellaris, Pabr. [gs uniform dark-reddish- 

brown, 4-inch long, The small, but distinct, yellow 
seutellum helpg to identity this species. 
Apostles niger, Blackb. A decidedly rare species. Tt 
is uniformly dull-black, long and slender, with pro- 
minent mandibles and eyes, and is upwards of am imch 
in length, The antenne are flattened, exch joint, 
exeapt the two first and last jomts, produced at apex to 
form a short spur or tooth. Taken on the wing at. 
dusk, 

5828. ELaereta wricolor, Pause, [ have found this beetle breed- 
ing in the wood ot the Bull-oak, Casuarina luchmanni. 
it is pale-vellow, without markings, and is about 3-inch 
in length. 

ASSL. BKebius filifarmis, Pase. One of our smallest species. 

beimg shghtly over taneh in length. very narrow and 
‘iimost parallel-sided. It is lightreddish-lbrown in 
coloul. 
Seolecobrotus variegrtus, Blackb. By many eol- 
lectors this is vegarded as merely a yariebs 
of 8. westwoodi, liope, one of the most destruetive at 
the ‘“braneh-eutting'’ Longicorns. Lt is about, 1 ineh in 
length, reddish-brown, with a dark blotch on the ely- 
tra behind the shoulders. In the males the 12-jointed 
untennm are stronely serrated, 


ar 


4 


Ay | | Gubvan, Coleoptera of Narth-Western Virtorie 35 
ty 


Many years ago D_ Best gave a very interesting aecount* 
ot Whig beetle, and the lavva's method of working. He stated 
that, although the beetle is fairly common, yet ii is rarely 
euptured in the ordinary way, bat must be veared from, the 
wood. This coincides with my experience. 

Uracunthwes albatus, Lea. 
U. discicollis, Lea. 
U, loranthdt, Lea. 

5840, U, strigosus, Pase. 

5841. U. triangulanis, Tape. 

In his tabulation of the Utacamthidesy Lea records 25 
species of this genus trom various pans of Australia and 
Tasmania. They are long, narrow beetles, generally of some 
shade of reddish-brown, with pale clothing, taking the form. 
in some species, of villi on the prothorax or elytra, or both. 
U. tiangularis is readily distinguished by a bare, triangular 
pateh on the elytra behind ihe shoulders, Tt is about 1 inch 
in length, The other (loeal) species are smaller, Vhey bree 
in the wood of various. Wuealypts, Watdles, ete; U. hariaatha in 
the small branches of the Bull-ouls; L!. disetealles, in the Broo) 
Ti-tree - 

0845, Rhagiamarphia concolor, W. $8. Mae). This puwplish- 
red species, which measwres }incli, has two fuint, pale 
vittaz on the elytra, near the suture, The first joint 
of antenne long, abruptly thickened at the apex; 
second joint very short; third nearly as Jong us first, 
with a tuft of black hair at apex, Tt is vare in this dis- 
trict, but common about the Dividing Range, where 
often it attaeks the Blue Gun, EB. globulus, 

5855. L'ritocosmia paraded, Pase. A very rare species i 
this district, though if occurs more frequently in 
Gippsland and in New South Wales, Jt is black, with 
the elytra, which ave distinctly ‘ribbed,’’ pale-yel- 
lowish-red, The antennue are thickened at apex of first. 
and third joints. 

5g69. Sylietus gramnicus, Nowm. A very slender Longicorn, 
4-inch in length, with a dark-red prothorax and. head, 
the elytva brown, with three thin, grey, lonzitudinal 
lines on cach. IT have taken it on the flowers of the 
Black-thorn or Prickly Box, Bursarta spinosa. 

5892, Binviw hicolor, White. This fine species is seldom seen, 
Tt is about 1 inch in length; the anterma, middle parti 
of head, dise of prothorax, scutellum, hind legs, tibe 
and tarsi of other legs and under paris of body black, 


*Vic. Nat, Vol. XIV, p. 146. 
(Trans, Roy. Soa, SA., XL, 1916, p. 368. 


‘ 


Mi Guns, Coleoptert of Norti-Weatern Victoria [Yoh XE 


the elytra, which are of a thin, “‘papery’’ texture, 
and the remaining parts being pale orange. Et breeds 
in several species of Mallec, its presence being indi- 
sated by ronehly cirevlar depressions, about I+ 
inches in diameter. The bark having been eaten away, 
the wood is exposed, and in the centre of the depression 
will he found «a small, phigged-up hole, where the 
eruh has entered the wood. <A coloured plate in 
French's ‘‘Destructive Insects of Victoria,'’ Part 
TV, of B, fendrelis, Wustrates this process, the habits 
of both species being the same, B. bicolor usually 
appara in September. 

O899, Agaupete kreuslem, Pasc. On a casual inspection this 
species nught be mistaken for one of the Hymenop- 
tera, the short, pointed, pale-coloured clytra leaving 
the fligltavings, which are not folded when at rest, 
exposed. If is 4-inch in length, black, with the head, 
front of prothorax, and a band aeross the abdomen 
reddish-yellow. . 

5902, Havinus mimulus, Paxc,, var. wnrifaserata, Lea A 
pretty dud searee Longicorn, taken on Mallee blossom. 
It is t-inch in length, with black head, legs, und 
antenna, red prothorax, and dark-blue elytra. Marked 
at about apieal third with a transverse vellow band. 

NOLS, Hesthestis cingnlata, ivy. 

0923. HA, plorator, Pase. 

These entions: beetles sec. to have been clesigned by 
Nature to pass as Flower-wasps, the shoxt, almost obsolete 
elytra, long fight-wings, black and-white vinged hody beiiug 
well calculated to deceive, espectally when the insects are 
seen on fldWvering shrubs, as is usual. Cinguldte is abort 
1 ineh in tength: plorater much smaller. Both are rare. 
S931,. Diskechoceru prr, Nowm. The male of this vare species 

* has flabellated antenme, which are thiekened towards 

the tips. [ have taken only one specimen, which 
meagures Finch. It is dark-chocolate-brown. with 
faint whitish yitte on prothoraxy and elytra, the lather 
being werrowed to apes and strongly earinated. 

5934. Eroschema powert, Pase. This species 18 black, with 
yellowish-red, ribbed elvtra, Several of the bnsal 
jointy of the antennte are clothed with tufts of black 
han, Superfielally resembles some of the Malaeoder- 
mid, in whose company often it is fuund. on Howors; 
it is 2-inch in length — - = sal 
Brachytvia thoraciea, V. de Poll, One of aur virest 
Jind fivettiest species, measnring ahoni g-ineh. The 


‘tye Goumik, Coleoptera of North-Westerh Victoria a7 


head, front of -prothovax, femova (except tips) and 
basal part of elytra are reddish-yellow, remainder of 
prothorax and legs black. Abont the middle of elytra 
is a whitish, transverse baud, from which, to the apex, 
the colour is black, with shades of purple. My single 
Apecimen was obtained from 4 dead branch of the 
Bull-oak. 

5ut3, Pempsamacra dispersa, Newm. A zgreyish-brown, 
mottled beetle, with comparatively short antenna Tt 
is 2-inech in length, and is found, during the day, on 
flowering shrubs. i 

SYST. Ischnotes hukewelli, Pase. A narrow, dark-brown 
beetle, about #-inech in length; somewhat eylindrieal 
in shape; rare in the Mallee. 

GOlI_, Microtvagus mormor, Pasc. This species is renvark- 
able in that it resembles, both i appearanee (éseept 
the antennw) and habits, the Amycterides, op ground 
Weeyils, 1t 1s about 1 mech m length, rather stoutly 
but, of a greyish-brown colour; the protharax rugose. 
strongly punctured, with a short Jateral spine, he 
elytra have cach a prominent tubercle at the base, and 
(wo almost fubereulate, curved tidges, not reaching 
apex. Jt is apterous, and lives entirely on the ground, 
on. or under logs, in which the larve feed. When 
yeady to pupate, the larve enter the soil, and form 
oval cocoons composed of gnawed wood and sand, from 
which the perfect, bectles emerge in February. ‘The 
species has a wide range, being found also in Wester 
Australia. 

GOT9, Anetla (Hebecerus) maryimicollis, Boisd. Like wank 
other insects, this nsed to be common on the wattle 
acral), but with the cleaving of hundredy of square 
miles of Mallee ig now seldom seen. It is wider 
$-inch iy length, mottled and speckled grey and 
brow, and has the outer marging of prothorax yel- 
low. 

6128 Symphyletes lateralis, Pasc. 

6135. S. pubiventris, Pase. 

6146, S, vestigialis, Pase. 

These handsome beetles have a decided preference for the 
aeacias, the larve boring in the branches. and the beetles 
subsisting on the bark, 8. lateralis, which is (or was) 
fairly common, is about -ineh in length, Jight-reddish- 
brown, with a paler, irregular stripe on the suture, and a 
silvery stripe on outer margin of elytra. S. pubsverntris 1s 
Jarger the general colour grey, freckled with small black 
cpots, and marked on the elytra with te white spots, twe 


95 Gouin, Coleoptera of North-Western Victoria [Ui Neh 
being on suture. A rare species, S_ vestiyialis, wubowh the 
same size, has the prothorax marked with altemate rings of 
black and white; the elytra ave thiekly speckled with black 
spots, and have a narrow, silvery stripe, on outel margin. Lt 
breeds in the Umbrella Acacia, 4. usweidli, cutting pertect 
rings in the bark vound the smaller branehes, so hat. the 
portion above soon dies. 

G151. Platyomopsts aenetula, White. Fresh specimens of 
this ale very attractive in appearanec, being of a 
creamy-grey colour, with dark, oblique markings in 
the form of an X on ‘basal half of elytra; there is a 
transverse band at about apical third, and a large 
black spot near the middle of outer margins of elytra. 
Which are also studded with seattered clamps of small 
black spines or tubercles. Lt breeds in the smaller 
branches of the Black Box, Lucalyptus bicolor, a tree 
more commonly known as the ‘“Swamp-box."" ‘The 
beetle measures ‘finch in leneth. 

HtG1. Penthea picta, Pase. This species is of rare veenr- 
renee! the single specimen in my eullection was taken 
on a Salt-bush plain at Ballapur. It 2 23-inch in 
length the general colour greyish-hrown, the anten- 
um other short. Front of prothorax marked with « 
whitish ring, The elytra are mottled and blotched 
with dark-brown, and have two silvery-white, trans 
verso markings (reaching outer margins but not 
situbré), and another of the same eolomr on the base, 

GIT6. Khytiphora latifasciata, Pase.? I have a specimen 

. Whieh may he this species, but as it is in poor eontdi- 
thon, having been found dead and broken, in its tun- 
hel in a branch of the Black Bos, a doubt mush be 
recorded. The insect is chocolate-brown, with a wide. 
pale, transverse band extending from behind shoulders 
to about apieal Hird of elytra. It js about an inch 
in length. 

6198. Corrhenes paulla;Germ. This specics breeds im the 
vattles, such as Acacia hokeoides, It is 3-nch in 
length, lawn-coloured, with dull, white markings on 
the prothovax and elytra. Some specimens have a 
distinet, dark oblique mark ut about apical third of 
elytra, 

In addition to the above thera is a species of Bethelium, 
whieh breeds in the Murvay Pine, Callitris verrucosa; one of 
Uracanthus; one of Phoracantha, and one of Didymacanthea, 
which have not. been identified. 

I am indebted to Mr. Chas. Oke for the names of some 
species in this list, and for other assistance generously given. 


hE Davey, Ante and thee Greets 94 


ee 


ANTS AND THEIR GUESTS. 
By H, W. Davey, PASS, 


SPURL ene Teh PDLDPAMAACELAGLTAIAAACEEIOPDDDAAAERADDE DD AAG ACEH REED GT CAEET EEDA DESL EGR SNMP RA CMd CERO RH RIWET CARBO ODN ALL = 


TV CEDNHODPR NNR RENE 


SSN eeeeeeeeeeea tomers 


i 


The study of Myrmecophiles, or Ait-guests, is fasemat- 
ing. The field is wide, and we have tilled only a small corner 
of it yet, in Australia. 

When one exainines an ants’ nest for the first time, in ques= 

uf “evests,”’ it is to experience surprise that so many Little 

wreatures dwell among ants. Some are -perseeuted, others 
tolerated, or welcome, boarders. Probably, im many instances, 
aveatids will be most in-evidence, when » vest as opened or 
uncovered. It is, perhaps, the preserice of these mites, in 
large amambers, that. makes beetles, such as Veplaris of the 
Colvdiide, and Polylobus, Dobra, oud others of the Staphy 
linidw, welcome, vuests, 

When J was working onf the symbhiotie relationship exist- 
ing betaveen. the layewnid butterfly, MWietus tynatu, and whe 
ant, Iridomyrmer natidus, it was necessary to keep evlonies 
of the ants in captivity, Proof was obtained thal the ants 
could vot, oy would not, free themselves tron, the attacks af 
mites, Jn the course of a few weeks some aots had so nvanty 
mites Tastened to their legs and body scéements us alma 
to prevenk them from walking. Yet they made no attempt 
Whatever to dislodge the pests; mor were thew way signs of 
mutual aid. The explanation aay be: that the ants, in 
maitaral conditions, depend upon inqulines to remove the 
parasites. 

Whe association of Adiletus itynila and  Lradonarnten 
nitidus atfords an excellent example of Syrnbioris. Phe 
gaverpillars of fis butterfly feed at might, on the leave, of 
the Golden Wattle, ceed pycruotha, vod ave accompanied 
by ants, which veturn with them later, to the nest, where the 
vaterpillars renin during the daytime, clustered tovelher 
in one of the lower galleries. ‘The symbiotic: velationship is 
ag follows: The caterpillay is shetiered in the ants’ nest dure 
ing the larval und pupal stages (emerging direct from the 
nest, in due te, as a butterilhy), and protected at aight, 
when fevcding, from attacks by predatory fiseets. In pay- 
ment tor this servies, the ants enjoy meals of ““honeydew, ' 
exeveted from the anal segment of the eatexpillar, But in this, 
too, the ants ure serving theh guest, for if the exereted 
hqmid were vot removed from it the caterpilhie’s body would 
become fouled, ane would be attacked by entonogenous 
fungi, resting in death. 


View Nal. 
Vat, NULL 


100 Davir, Ante aad thoir chests 

Tit the nests of some species of atts Colleinbola, or Spring- 
tills, igure species, for exaniple, are found. Mie hysa- 
Hua, of the same order, Apter, are often represented (iy a 
species of Lepisma, These insects ave unable to jump, but 
they arn switttooted, These iiseets, and the blind beetles, 
feardwayies, of the family Trichopterypida, appear to he wel: 
fone @ieste, and may benefit the ants by keeping down the 
growths of moulds and other fungi in the nest. 

The Peelaphide and Staphylinickee are, undoubtedly, set 
une euests, auc probably the Sey cinwnicler wire. tao. Beetles 
of the first two fumlies may supply excretory inatter, upon 
which the ants feed, but are possibly inost. useful in keeper 
down mites, ele The species of Chlamydopsis are mast eer 
tiny hostile, although theie epanulits have the appearance of 
exeretory orvans. Tf they are not hostile. it iy difficnit tu 
tinderstand the need tor protection: they ave able to tuck 
away tarsi and legs completely, also the head and antenna: 
lune addition, species are wonderfully protected by mimiers, 
hoth in shape and colour. Chianaydopsts qvanutata, Lea, wher 
frightened and “closed up,” bears a atrong resenrblance tu 
the large head of a Pheidals soldier wnt of the species, in a, 
nest of which it Tives. 

Beetles of the families Ptinida and Dovmestide: probably 
ure scavengers. Species of Ptinide are, occasionally, plenti- 
fiulin many nests; the family Dermostide often is represented 
Hy lavves only. Large nests, espeeially those having old-estab- 
lished ant-cerneteries or dumps, are freqnented by these 
insects. 

Among myrinecophilous insets way be mentioned the curious 
lvetle Cordus hospes, whieh oceasionally is so qiwmerous as 
to form patches of colour in the nest. Lt is diffiealt to deter. 
mine whether these Brenthids are friends or foes; probably 
they are Weleome guests, Beetles belonging to the family 
Tevebrionide may be found oeeasionally in ants’ nests; the 
Searabeidse treqnently are represented by species of Cryp- 
lodus, the lutvar nf whieh probably feed on the veyetable 
matter im ats’ nests, 

Whe order Flynenoptera is represented by tiny Chaleid 
waspe: there need be little coubt as to their intentions. 
Crthopterons insects often ave fo be seen running throngh a 
vest, the conmonest being a sinall, stouth~-built, but pallid, 
erieket, aud same small latte. ‘Mie Jatter way be wel 
come: for bees allow a sinull species of cockroach to walder 
theough their hives unmolested, 

Diptera may be present in the shape of larvae of one of the 
Syrphid files of the Microdontine. Walhalla appears to be 


5) 7 “ee Stranger’ Rook, Derrviat 101 
mach favoured by these extraordinary Javve, ag on several 
o¢easions I have found them in nests of Lhe small black ante 
so common in that locality. They ave so unlike the larva of 
any order of insects that, when first discovered, (hey were 
supposed to be small inollases, and were actually desuribed 
as such, wider the generia names Pamala and Seutellagenn. 
1 reared a seties of Microdun karve and pupw, found at 
Ararat; and the flies Jater were deseribed by the Bureau of 
Entomology, Washington, D.C, being named Mirerodon 
Diveyi, 

“nviows little creatures of the class Avachnida, of the 
order Phalangidea, T have taken from the nests of the binge 
Bull-dog Ant, Myrmecw forficatu. These THarvestmen muy 
have been present accidentally, but as they have heen found 
ov three or four occasions, in nests of this ant, it appears 
hikely that they vistt the nests in search, of acarids, ete, Their 
stink-glands wanld protect them frow attack hy tie ants, 

Of {he many peculiar acarians inhabiting ants’ vests prob 
ably Plochurus Daveyi, Silvestri, is one of the most aberrant, 
owing to the very unsual leneth of the first path of Jews. 

th is vot surprising fo find anembets of the Coccidm in 
antanests, as with many insects belonvine to this temily, ants 
Nive a xvinbiotie relationship. 


“THE STRANGER” ROCK, DERRINAL. 


Thirty-three yeavs ago the late Dr. ‘TS. Hall read 
betore our Club a short pauper on “The Glacial ‘Beds 
Near Heatheote’? (Victoviun Naturalist, viii, p, 172), 
and in it referred to the ‘‘Special Report on the 
Glacial Conglomerate of Wild Duck Creek,’ by Mr. E. J. 
Daim, F.G.S., of the Mines: Department, Vietoria, and the 
yoek at Derrinal, known as “The Stranger,’ On Easter 
Monday last Mr. and Mrs, V. Miller, Mid, HW, Warves, aud 
1 visited Derrinal, travelling by rail to Heatheote. 

The UWentheote distriet possesses maaiy eeologieal fea 
tures of great interest, which have been dixenssed in various 
publications from thne to time. Derrinal is five miles 
away. ‘‘The Stranger’' ts a stranded rock, about a ile 
ane a half from the station. We started off along the 
railway line (in the divection of Bendigo), Soon after erass 
inw the Mount Tda Creek, we saw evidences of glacial action 
in a small cutting, through which the railway passed, striated 


ine ~The Stranger’ Roevk. Derrined [yor net 
pebbles and pieces of tock embedded in tho glacial hill A 
little Curther ahead, on our left, was seen 4 large, flat stone 
ou the slope of a hill, whieh proved to be ‘'The Stranger. ' 
It ts a tabtdar masa of coarse-grained granite, about 16 ft 
Gin by JO ft. 6 in. ancl 6 £t, thick; estimated weight, about 
30 tons, The remarkable feature of the rock is the smooth- 
ess of its Present upper suctace, which is attributed to the 
Fact that it was planed by iec action many thousands of veavs 
awwo, Round about wave several other faimsized stones, evi- 
dently of the same origin, and hence known as ‘‘ Brratics.’! 
Quite tiderneath the stone grow plauts of the little Neck- 


“The Stranger Rock, 


luce Bern, Asplenuon flabellafolaut, apparently in sueh i 
pesition as to receive no moisture, except from au very drive 
ing south-west rain. 

Ascending to the sumunit of the hill we reached a plateau, 
which had at one time been cultivated. Here we found 
humerous specimens of striated pelbles, and pieees of roel, 
bunt the most of them were too heavy to carry far, previous 
visitors having probably seleeted the more portable spaci- 
mens. ‘**Dimm’s Rock,’? a striated surface of Ordovician, 
hes about two inles away, to the west. It was named hy Sir 
Baldwin Spencer, after My. BE. J. Dann. Some members of ant 
party reached the suns of a sandstone house of fhir 


Sue. Nadwanel use Noles 103 
timensions, on the crest of a hill overlookiny the Wild 
Duck Creek valley. This had once been the homestead of Moor- 
yabec Station, held in 1853 by Mr. J. H. Patterson (sec 

“Letters from Victorian Pioueers,’? page 16). The sand- 
stone of the house was obtained from a cliff.on the Wild Duck 
Creek, not fav away. ‘Chis yantage point, about 1000 Ft. 
above sea level, affords a fine view of the surrounding 
country: Mt. Alexander, near Castlemaine, the Green THI, 
nesbt’ Kyneton, and the western end of the Macedon ratige. 
The illustration of ‘The Stranger’! sives its appearance, us 
seg. fvom the sonth-west.—F. G. A. Barnanp, 


NATIONAL MUSEUM NOTES. 


“NAGINLUS FROM VICTORIAN WATERS, 


‘he unusual oceurrence of two species of Manilus ote the 
Victorian coast, is interesting. 

In January, 1920, two very hadly-broken shells were 
found by Miss G. Nethercote, on the ocean beaeh, on the 
isthmus connecting Wilson's Promontory with the maindaud. 
One of these, wow in the possession af My, C. J. Gabriel, 
proves to be Nuwdéilus macromphalus. Ty May last another 
specimen (NV, pompilius) was found on thé thrce-niile beaeh,, 
on the eastem1 coust of, the Promontory, by Mr. W.-H. 
Ferguson, and given by him to the National Musenm. The 
shell, though unbroken, was much abraded und quite devoid 
of the uauil colowy mar kings. 


Mx. Gabiniel infomms me that he reecived a desexiption. 
of a shell picked wp, a few vears ago, nem the Nobbies, off 
Phillip Island. Kvom the deseription, this, im his. opinion, 
was undoubtedly a species of Nentlilus, Soa far as Tan 
aware, this animal lias not heen found ima living state on 
the eastern const, Tether south than North Queensland, One 
apecios (NV. pompilias) i recorded from West Australia. 

The question acises as to The oeemrunee of these sholls 
so far south on our edast. From personal obseryations, dur- 
ing the Jast 15 years, inatertal thrown overboard from. the 
eastern coastal boats, and those from Tasmania, after passing 
the southern end of Wilson's Promoiitory, is washed wp on 
the beaches from Oberon Bay to same miles north of Darby 
River. Frequently great quantities of fruit, sucle as bananas, 


Pastore eyybae Lake Rd 0 Vic. Nal. 
104 Mpictians in Bivadtend Vou XTi 


avanges, ote., among other objects, are washed tp on the 
heuches, showing that the trend of the current is in this 
direction, During the recent war C, personally, found, along 
these western beaches, a wunber of hottles, containing votes 
from departing soldiers, 

he ference, therefore, ig that these disearded shielle, 
whieh, as'shown by experiments, would flow in deep water 
tor a considerable time, have been thrown overboard from 
sone vessel =presnmabhly trom the northerre states—and have 
deitted tu the loealities stated. 


Jas A. Kerseaw, Curator. 


EVICTIONS IN BIRDLAND. 


li w& secluded ely near the Obuda voservais, Moordol- 
bark, it male Owlet Nivhtjar. Wqatheles nowee-hollandio, 
had its home. in a hollow limb of a stall, dead tree, Lor 
more than two years it was Aushed, at intervals; but one 
day there was no response to my knocking on. the tree. Look- 
ing into the hollow, 1 saw two eves of the White-throated 
Tree-eveoper, Chenacteris scandens. They were partly 
covered with opossum tur, but weve cold. The Tree-creepers 
were not secn. A week later the ergs. were still there, con- 
pletely covered in fur, and pieces of charcoal from the inner 
wall of the hollow. There wag evidence that another hire 
had been camping there, as the material covering the eggs 
was well pressed down. Tt now appeared obvious that, cdur- 
ing the absence of the Owlet Nightjar, a pair of White- 
throated Tree-creeperg sclected the hollow for their nest, but 
after the eggs had been deposited the former oceupant 
reappeared and forced the intruders to seck a new “hame.’* 
A few weeks later the OQwlet Nightjar again took possession 
of its old home, and remained there for several mouths, wiutil 
(lie tree way destroyed hy fire. Mar A. J. Campbell veeords 
a similar jngstanee of an Owlet Nightjar taking possession of 
a hollaw after a pair of Tree-creepera had laid their eges 
in if. These records indicate that the Owlet Nightjar is 
often the enemy of sinall birds who rear their brood in hol- 
low boughs—D. Dickson. 


Mr. CG. Oke's name should have been included in the Jist of 
authors 6f papers. given in the Annual report published in July, 
1925, Neturafist. In bis paper, “New Australian Coleoptera,’’ May 
issue\ p, 14, line 5. should read “six segments in F. and seven in M.” 


Che Victorian Paturalist 


Vou. NLIT—No. 5. SEPTEMBER 11, 1925, No. 501, 


FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. 


The ordinary;monthly meeting of the Club was held in the 
Royal Society’s Hall, Vietorig Streét, on Monday evening 
Aupust 10, 1925. The President, Mr. Geo. Coghill, oce upied 
the chair, and about 45 niembers and friends weve present. 


CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS, 


A bireh-bark post-card was received drum Miss R- §, 
Chisholm, Canada, who sent ereetings to fellow-imeinbers. 
My. F. Pitcher read a report of the excursion to Mount Mor- 
ton, and the President spoke of the outing to Mitcham. 


LLECTION, 


On a ballot being taken Miss G. Siinpson, 42 Gleideary 
Grove, Malvern, was elected as an ordinary inember of the 
Club. 


PAPER. 


“Habits of the Sand-Wasp,’’ by lL. G. Chandler. The 
author described the hulits of a common wasp that. bumn:ows 
in the sand, and paralyses “‘ent-worm’’ caterpillars, as food 
for its larva. Messrs. Coghill, C. Barrett, C. French, junr., 
and C, Oke disctissed the paper. 


PRESENTATION TO M&, BARNARD. 


The meetms adjourned to the lower hall, where refresh- 
ments were provided, and a presetitation was made to My, F. 
G, A. Barnard, in reenenition of his helily-valued services 
io the Club during nearly 40 years, 

The President said that members had gathered to do 
honow: to # fellowsanember, who was a“ Father of the Club. 
He had served it i) various offices, aud for 32 years as Hon. 
Kditor of the Naturalist. 

Mr. F. Pitcher, an original member, spoke of Mr. Bar- 
nard’s splendid work for the Club; of his readiness always 


106 Piet Naturalivts' Clwb—Praceedings Bin an 


to give advice and help to others; ancl his unvivalled know- 
ledge of Clib history, ete. 


Mr. C. Daley read extracts from several letters selected 
from a number received, all written in appreciation of Mr. 
Barnard’s services. Mr. Daley then, on behalf ot the sul- 
Scribers, presented o wallet of notes to Mr. Barnard. 


My, Barnard, in retarning thanks, said (hat the Club had 
been his hobby, It had been a pleasure to serve it, He 
related some ineidents in the Chih’s early history. 


Mrs, Barnard also spoke. 


EXHIBITS, 


By Mr, BR. Chapman, A..8.—A Miocene Claral, Orbicella 
tusmaniensis, Divean.sp., from Flinders, Vie. A first reeore 
(by Rev, Geo. Cox) from this locality; alsa Green Flowering 
Gum, Bucatyptus Lehmannis, grown at Balwyir 

By Mr. © French, Jan—Five specimens of a remarkable 
Goecid (scale insect), Apiomorpha muniia, male and female, 
collected in the Dandenong Ranges, 18/7/25. 

By Mr, HE. RB, Uatnmet—-Seed-pod of Cassia, grown 
Kilkevan, Queensland. 

By Me. V. Miller—Fungi from Sherbrooke Gully, 
Belgrave, Vic. 

By Mr. F. Pitcher—Distinctive pink and white form of 
the Native Heath, Epacris tmpresse, collected during Mt. 
Morton exetursion, 18/7/25. 

By My. A: L. Scott—Quarta orystal from garden in Caul- 
field, the imperfeetly-formed faces being worthy of notice, 


By Mr. H. B. Williamson, I.0,8.—-Wild-flowers from 
Foster, ineluding white specimens of Sprengelia incarnata, 
Fiv.M., the Pink Swamp Heath, collected by Mr, I’. Barton, 
Tun; also specimens of Puwtenea styphelioides, Fv.M., and 
species recently described; Pultencen subfernalu, LB. W., 
N.S.W.: P. trichophylla, H.B.W., S.A; and P. pubescens, 
H.B. W., §.A.,. and Vic. 


By Mr. E. BH. Pescott, F.L.S.— Herbarium specimens of 
the Western form of the Banded Greenhood, Pterostyliys wil- 
tuta, F.v.M., from W.A.; flowering specimens of the Gram- 
plans Heath Myrtle, Z'hr: yplomene Mitchellianu, Fv.M. {eul- 
tivated) ; various specimens of aboriginal stone axes, some 
grooved for hafting, from the Southern Coast of Vietoria 
(recent collections). 


ea | Coiannhor, Aq@uits of Mot Sapd-Wasy 107 


ET a) 


HABITS OF THE SAND-WASP, 


By f. G. Casper, 


ERED TEA EE TEND AH AHA MECHRURONIN TIF ED 


(Communicated by C. Bavrett,) 


TUPERETETERITETETEOE MAentteNeErte esas 


Seaunenvescaveveavscosuavevsduscacaarsyenscocnsvepsesepecssatnscescnerdvceceanepsasepercreygusespulesvesvereccvecuesvant (avecrescssrse 


(Read before the Wield Nuturatists’ Club of Victoria, August 
10, 1925) 


North-west Victoria is particularly xieh in wasps and 
other insects of the order Hymenoptera. The genial cliniate 
of this sunny corner of the State is, no doubt, the main cause 
of their presence in sueh numbers aid variety. Wasps, 
though fascinating insects, have bad little attention paid to 
them in Australia, 

With the object of interesting especially the younger 
members of the Club, J shall describe the habits of the wasp, 
Annophila suspiciosu, My notes, by ne means complete, for 
they bave been gathered in moments stolen from pressing 
work, nay serve as ail introduction to the study of the species: 
Ammoplhila mens ‘‘lover of the sand.’? Jt is a title 
euphonious and well applied; though perhaps almost any 
species of wasp that burrows in this region eould, with jJus- 
tice, bear the same name. 

The Sand-Wasp, like most wasps that dig a. perpendicular 
burrow, prefers a firm, soil im which to begin its excavating, 
and the eaten paths used by man, and the head-lands in a, 
yineyard, are much favonred by it. The Joose, sandy soil of 
the vineyard itself, is one of its favourite hunting grounds. 
‘Aud as its prey is invariably a caterpillar of the Bozong 
Moth, Agrotis spina, or allied species, known to the man on 
the Jand as ‘‘eutworms,’’ iL 1s obyious thal. the wasp is of 
eeononue nopertauce. About September, when the vines are 
beginuine to shoot, the cut-worm pest, especially in a newly- 
planted vineyard, frequently assumes serious proportions; 
and were it not fov the effective check kept upon these cater- 
pillars by certain species of birds and insects, the lot of the 
arawer would he unbearable. The same applies, bui with 
even ereméer Tores, to the wheat-grower, for, unlike the horti- 
eulturist, he eannot protect himself by the application of 
poison-baits and sprays. 

The “‘balance of Nature’? is yery wonderful, and almust 
sinuultaneonsly with the appearance of the ent-worm cater- 


ibs GUANOLER, Hedtls of the Sund- Wasp Rosiean 


pillars Anmophila leaves her winter's prison in the ground 
aga perfect insect. Perfect, that is, in all but wing-develop- 
ment; and very soon the tiny, double wings beconie expaided 
to their full sige. Loveanaking over, the wasp, between 
visits to flowers mm search of nectar, applies herself Lo the eap- 
tare and paralysis of cut-worms, and the perpetuation of 
her race, Should the day be cold and cloudy, her activities 
us a hgutress are temporarily checked, for, like butterflies, 
wasps are lovers of sunlight, At night they take shelter in 
post-holes and hollow tirees, and, on cold mornings,. remain 
concealed wntil the aun tempts them forth, 


The cut-worm larva is a night-feeder, and before daylight 
it burrows into the soil, perhaps a quarter or half an ineh 
below the surface. In a vineyard the hertieulturist ean 
often note its presence by the cdistarbed condition of the 
soil; but the wasp apparently finds it by some other method, 
in which her antennm play an important part, 


When hunting, the course of the wasp, to au onlooker, 
appears to be very erratic. In her wanderings often she 
goes over the same aren again and again. With antennz 
tapping the, ground, she patises, burrows, moves on, burrows 
again; and sa the huith eontinnes—sometimes truittessly if 
the gaine be seavee—tfor half an hour or more, Tt seems 
fairly certain that where she burrows a éut-worm has heen 
congealed, ov ig then in hiding, but probably at Loo great y. 
depth for her to make a successful capture. So far, I have 
failed to find a cut-worm at such plaees, but with other 
species of wasps, particularly a small member of the genus 
Pompilius, a spider huntress. [ have hid sufficient. proof to 
eomvinee me thal the wasp has a sure method of loeating her 
hidden prey. Jt is probable that the inscet is endowed with 
a sense of which we have no knowledge. Those delicate. wav- 
ing antennw surely hold the secret that baffles my under- 
standing! 

The presence of her prey can hardly be detected by the 
wasp by sound, uttless her organs of hearing are extremely 
delicate, for ihe ent-worm lies perteetly still, On the other 
hand, it is doubtful whether scent is the determining factor. 
Time and again, L have placed a cut-worm in the path of a 
wasp inteut on hutnting, and she has passed within a few 
inches. or walked right across it. On the surface af the soi), 
said quiescent, the caterpillar was merely an obstryetion in 
her path, Lad it moved she night have recognised it as her 
usual game. Lf simell were the deciding sense, she twoulil 
have imtnediately seized and paralysed the cut-worm when 


Teen, | Guayowen, Habis of the Sand-Wasp 109 


walking across its hady. That. she did not recognise her prey 
hy sight alone is not strange. The sight of a wasp for stilt 
objects is not particularly good, and, moreover, her instinet 
tells her 1o seek tor the cut-worm beneath the soil, ‘The soil 
iff conjunetion with the antennw ucts as a medinm whereby 
the presenye of her quarry is transmitted to the wasp’s brain, 
but.in what way I do not know 


Anno phil suspeciosa 18. a solitary species. Provided thai 
the acil is firm enough io burrow into, her wants for the site 
of the home for her grub are satisfied, She first captures 
at paralyses her game, and then, within a few yards, exea- 
vates a perpendicular burrow about au inch and a half in 
depth, Branching off at the bottom is a cell just large enough 
to accommodate the caterpillar. The varying methods 
lopted hy individual members of Lhe species from the time 
when (he caterpillar is captured until the barvew is finally 
closed) aie somewhat remarkible, When | first observed 
these variations, T thought, maybe, Thad met with wo diss 
tinet species, but a close examination revealed the wasps te 
he identical. 

In this variation of habits, there is one outstanding 
feature. Ii one case the wasp, after she bas paralysed her 
prey, places it off the ground, on vegetation, while she cons 
structs the burrow for its reception; m the other case, she 
buries it temporarily by raking sund over it with her fore. 
iret. J have had to avidence as yet to show that the one 
individyal is capable of adopting either method aecording te 
her faney, and, nvfortunately, T have not had the necessary 
time to devote io continuous observation and experiment. 
wherehy this point might he settled. 14 is certainly full of 
delightful possibilities, as it would go a lone way towards 
proving whether thé wasp is bound rigidly in her actions by 
instiuet, or whether she is guided to a limited extent by 
reason. 

Quoting from my note-book, J will deal, first, with the case 
wf a wasp that temporarily huries its prey :— 

8/11/24—‘ Aho, 4.30 p.m. 1 noticed out-worm wasp 
digging a burrow, She was bringing up pellets of earth sup- 
parted between Ter anandibles and front Jegs, aud as she 
reached the top of the burrow, walking backwards, she wonld 
theow ihe cam hehind her with a quick aetion, and 
immediately 2o below again, As the burrow neared eom 
WWetion, it tnok ber from four to seven seconds per trip, 
Several times she left her task, and took aimless walks arannd 
{he neighhrurhond pausing oecasionally te sun and groom 


116 CHanpter, Habits of the Sand-Wasp Neg 2 


herself. On returning to the buerew she exhibited signs of 
nervousness, and seemed afraid to go below. J was puzzled 
by these actions until 1 observed a small, brown att near 
the ontrance to the burrow. The wasp was very seared of 
the tiny ant, and jumped into the air when she saw it at close 
quarters. The same thing happencd when she blundered 
aevoss a line of ants in her wandering, Tinally, she came 
back to the burrow, made several attempts to go below, hesi- 
tated, descended ahout half the length of her own body, and 
backed out and resumed her wandering. I was surprised 
when she stopped at a snail heap of sand an inch fromthe 
burrow, and, after sevatchiny, a paralysed eut-worm lay 
revealed. ‘This was my first glianpse of this procedure, for 
previous wasps that I had studied had placed their game on 
vegetation 

“Seizing the cuf-warm by the hody near the head, dnd 
glagping it belly to Welly with the aid of her front leys. she 
davried ip to a distanee of about four yards. Placing it on 
the ground, she again raked sand over it with her fore- 
feet, and after more wandering she returned and began a 
burvow two Inches away. I accidentally disturbed hem and 
she hegan on another, After ten minutes’ work she aba- 
cloned this also, as apparently not to her liking—perhaps a 
root had interfered with her work--and resumed her 
Wandering, <A fussy, particular wasp, thie! Ina few more 
minutes she pieked another spot, two feet from caterpillar. 
and dnetgetically set to work. The mandibles and fore-feet 
are used in conjunetion, the fect—unlike a dog, that scratches 
the earth buck one foot af the time—being operated together. 


‘As she bit at the earth she bummed, but the humming 
ecascd as she hacked with her load ov swept tt away with her 
feet. Three times during the excavalion, which ocenpied 
half on hour, she carefully groomed the moist sand from her 
face, body. lezs and antenn#. Tn her endeavour to clean her 
hind-legs she frequently overbalaneed and fell on her back, 
“wing to her legs heeaming temporarily entangled. Ter 
middle pair of legs are cleaned independently by the front 
pair: likewise the face and antenue:. Balaneing on the front. 
pair of legs, and one middle—nsnally the right middle—the 
hind pair of legs, together, would be rubbed np and dawn on 
the fige middle leg. and to vain additional balance the wasp 
often put its head on the ground. It was while engaged in 
cleaning this back pair of legs that the interlocking of the 
jdints happened. and caused the upsetting of her equilibrinm, 


“Purine these grooming operations she wandered within 


Bxph Cia suid, Audits of the Sund-Wasy Ti 
4 radias of several feet from the burrow, and at times 
scratched more sand dyer her capture. The Wwoist sand adher 
ing to her amioyed her like water sometimes ‘amoys'a dog. 
wAs the dog rubs itself on the gauss te remove the water, so 
the wasp rubbed herself against the dy, sarface sand, with 
_ the abject of removing the moist sand, When sunning hat’ 
—selfé, ahe kept her body flat om the eround, and the iniddle 
pair of legs, and frequently all the leos were held ataw anele 
above the body. 

“At Lwenty minutes from the time of begivmming the bur 
row, she gaye jerself the second conrpiete cleaning; and, after 
a brief Wander, cume to the caterpillar, partly uncovered it 
as though to assure herself that it qwas still there, and then 
covered it again with sand... Returning to the birrvaw, she 
bronght a few move loads of earth fram below. ATL the earth 
was deposited on the one side, and, unlike many members of 
Jer species, she did not trouble to rake the pile backward to 
clear 4 space for further deposits. Coisequently, as she 
descended, she occasioially took as mach down as she brought 
to the top. However, the job was eventually completed to 
her aatisfaetion, and, after another arooming she spread her 
legs at an angle above her body, and, except for a. eoutinual 
movement of {he abdomen in and out, lay motionless, vest- 
Wz and enjoyng the sun, 

“Suddenly she went to the ent-worm, dettly aheuvered 
it, and, seizing it iu the same position as before, she trans. 
ported. it to the Imrrow. <A little manwuvring to place the 
head in position over thé burrow, and she squeezed past and 
descended, head first, to the bottom. In a few seconds she 
ascended, for the first time, head frst, and, grasping the para 

lysed creature by the head, piled it by ‘low. Ai miniite passed, 
and she had arranged the provender in the desitud qosition, 
laid an cgg upon it, and-aseended to the surface. “A amall 
quantity of earth was swept backward ito the hole, and she 
descended to-push it inte-position with herthead, This pyro- 
cedure -continued until the borrow was ‘elmest fill) when 
she selected small. pebbles and bits of chips, ands placad them, 
one by one. into the hole, raking-turther loose earth, between 
the trips, with the larger fragments.: Several times, while 
holding.a.small.chip in her mandibles, she. pressed the soil 
into position, often picking up the same piepe oy using 
another bit that happened, to be closer, A final sweeping of 
abeaut two inches from all sides of, the burrow, and ihe job 

vas, finished. All. traces of the burrow had disappeared, avd 
the. wasy), rething a few feet, aggin. completed, lear toilet 
hefore flying away,”’ 


112 (crtannixr, Hubite of the Sund-Wasp [ veuxennt 

The most interesting Iact aboul this observation is, Lsat 
the wasp is, in reality, an implement-user, 

The Peckhams, in their admirable work ow Atneriean 
wasps ("' Waaps, Social and Solitary’’), deseribe huyw Aso- 
phila urnaria yses a stone to pound down earth over her 
nest-burrow; “She improvised a tool and made intelligent 
use of it.’ “ 


There is a considerable difference in the methods of wasps 
at work, Some are particularly fussy about their toilet, and 
often excavate several burrows before they are satisfied with _ 
the conditions. Their dread of ants, whieh frequently raid 
their game at the unguarded moment when it is Iymg 
exposed, is often responsible for this, and some resent the 
intrusion of a human being. The ants, once they have a good 
grip on the leg of a wasp, are hard to dislodge, and the wasp 
has probably had experience on this point, Other specimens 
T have woted ave very thorough in their work, taking eare to 
sweep the soil well back from the burrow, 80 that there is 
ample room for fresh deposits. Of their toilet. they take 
little heed ; the work in hand is al)-absorbing for the moment; 
‘and all theix movements are methodical and thorough, 


It. seséms strange, on first thought, that wasps should be 
$0 particular in the choice of their game. Nearly every order 
of insects, and also spiders, appears to have its own special 
wasp enemy. If there ts any variation at all ag regards the 
kind of insect captured, if will be found, in most eases, +0 
be a species closely allied ta that generally favoured, The 
reason for this is apparent, when wa consider the hunting 
methods of the wasp, and particularly her manner of para- 
lysing her prey. 

Describing the nervous system of en insect in ns book, 
‘Insects: Their Life Histories and Habits,’’ my friend, 
Harold Bastin, says:—‘‘Beneath the digestive canal (nut 
above it, as in the case of vertebrate animals) passea the 
wentral nervous chain of the imsect. This is eomposed of 
twin cords which conncet. a series of paired knobs called 
ganglia, Roughly speaking, each pair of ganglia may be 
likened to a minor brain, which governs the uctivitios of the 
parts that immediately surround it. This arrangement 
accounts for the curious disconnectedness of action, which is 
observable in a maimed ingect.’’ By her marvellous instinct 
the wasp has a full knowledge of the vital nerve-centres of 
her gamé, but apparently only within the limited range of a 
genus, wherein the nervous system is more or less identical 


4 


Site: Cranxorer, Habits of (he Sand-Wasn 113 


his explains why her choies 3) selection is limited to certain 
species. 


In some inseets, owing to the grouping of the zanglia 
being close together, one stah is sufficient to cause paralysis. 
The slayer of such an insect, if faced with the jwobleay uf 
reducing a cut-worm to a stage of helplassness, where the 
prey has io be stung in several nerve-centres it) succession, 
would have no knowledge of how to proceed. Her urt in 
the use of the sting, so perfect and uncanny in its applica- 
tion, is highly specialised, and therefore limited in scope, 
But let me proceed with the method of the Ammophila, and 
the variations that accompany that method. 


The actual paralysis of the victim is produced in two 
distiict operations. But first there is the digging out nf Lhe 
aut-worm. Haying located ils position, the wasp sets ta work, 
in frenzied haste, biting and pulling at the soil, and roots of 
erass, elc., that obstruct, and throwinw the soi behind her ia 
a shower. Foret on one side, then on the other, she digs, 
withont parse, until the eut-worm lies exposed. Then, with- 
out a moment's hesitation, she seizes the writhing ereature 
near the head, and, curving her abdomen, plunges the sting 
between the first and second pyar of legs. Now, withdraw- 
ing her sting, and hending her body a, littl: mure, she attacks 
the Arst segment near the base of the mouth. The eut-avorm 
is now at her mercy. [t can still wriggle the hind portion of 
its body, but it cannot move from the spot. The wasp, as 
though reulising this, leaves it for a while, and arranges her 
toilet. Iw the struggle, and hast} digging, she has numerous 
evaius of sand adhering to her; and, as deseribed earlier, she 
has tertain ways of removing the annoyance. 


Fabre, who has explained the habits of French wasps sa 
lueidly, considers that the rolling aboul of the Ammophila, 
after the close of the first act in the paralysis of her vietim, 
is, in effect, ‘‘a manifestation of delight’’ in the conquest, 
I cannot agree with this, for | have seen the same man@uvre 
when the wasp was merely engaged in cleaning herself 
As stated previously, it is simply an interlocking of the joints 
of her hind and middle legs, and this upsets her balance. 
Her toilet completed, she again mounts the cut-worn and 
stings it between the second and third pair of legs; moving 
# little, she tales a fresh grip with her mandibles, and stings 
jé in the next segment. StiJ] another movement backward, 
and the sting is jnserted between the first and second pair 
of pro-legs. Sometimes only four nerve-rentres are attacked, 
never more than five, according ta my observations. As ta 


4 Bacursion lo WMawnl Movlon, Belpre MA Coal fe 
the exact points attacked, | find that IT have the ahove posi- 
tions stated in three places in my note-book, bat on aceount 
of the sting being thrust nndernéath the caterpillar it is 
difficult, to deternrine the exact spot where it enters: 


The paralysis complete, the wasp gently squeezes with 
her mandibles neau the head of thé game, sometimes from 
above, sometimes laterally. This action canses sickness nt 
the ent-worm, and for several minutes the wasp eagerly laps 
up the jnices with her tongue. T have observed a wasp, on 
veturmng to the leat where she had placed her game, and, 
finding it not quite paralysed to her fancy, again sting it in 
a few places. One wasp began at the anterior end, but, seem- 
jue to realise her mistake, “she turned around, and attacked 
ik in the orthodox manner. 


That sone wasps are loss skilful than others is evident. 
I have kept numerous paralysed caterpillars to determine 
the period of hatching of wasps’ eggs, the method of feeding 
of young wasp, ¢te. In one cuse the stung creature partly 
revived, and, turning completely over, detached and damaged 
the ege. Tn another instauee the young wasp hatched, aud 
began ifs meal: but it was obvious that the provender was 
dead. In two days the’ young wasp was also. dead, poisoned 
by the decomposing food. This is the only note I have where 
Ihe wasp had made such a fatal mistake. J did not observe 
the stinging in this case, so tliat I am unable to account for 
the blunder. 


In order to determize whether the wasp is ekpable “oF 
reasoning, I have, conducted certain experiments. A reeord 
of these, and an account of the. development of the wusp- 
grub to the adult stage, ete,, may be given in a future article. 
My thanks are dae to Mr, P. B. Wilson for identifying speei- 
mens of wasps that T have forwarded ta him. 


pxcuRsion : TO RouMt MORTON, BULGRAY BE. 
a lin pe 
Four! a Ses tdok? part’ in ‘the éxetesion to Noun Mor- 
jonyron 18th August. “We followed’ the pathivay from the 
east eid of Beleraive station, by” Wwitich’ the road journey te 
South” Belgrave is ‘shortened’ to! thé extent’ of” about K mile. 
This pathway paskes the recreation idserVe, ‘ond Jeads on to the 
_nucen tly: Heviatett Cotintry Rorids' ‘Beart road | to! ‘the bridge over 


st wat, yuna spend rey oot We 


et Excursion to Mount Morton, Belgrave Wi 


the Monbulk Creek, about half a mile below the Monbulk 
Reservoir. Crossing the bridge, we made a short cut up the 
lil] through Loslwood Estate, to a orveek, and ascended the 
hill which leads up to Mount Morton. On this hill-slope, ta 
the north, is one of the finest heath grounds among thesa 
eusily accessible from the city. In June and duly the white, 
pik, and deep crimson native heaths, and their various 
shades, ave to he scen in profusion. One form, in which pink 
and white flowers appear united, has been very pronouneed, 
although not abundant, each time T have visited the hill. 
This area, about three miles by road from Belgrave, has 
hitherto been preserved from destruction, but now that a 
motor-car track, branching off from the main road to Narre 
Warren. has been formed to Mount Movton, it may beeame 
less attractive ta heath lovers. 

Walking throngh the heath, in a westerly direetion for 
nearly half a mile, we came to the cone-shaped peak of 
Mount Morton, which, with the exception of a few sniall 
Blacks Wattle and Blackwood trees, and ''Mannka”’ shrubs, 
Leptospernun scopmaiain, seattered about, wud grass and 
bracken, is bare of vegetation. The mount, computed to be 
between 800 feet and 900 feet in height, was, until *ecently, 
owned privately, fut the Ferntree Gully Shire Council wisely 
purchased an area of four acres, including the mount, and 
yeserved it, for public use. The view trom the summit ie 
extensive, embracing French and Philip Islands and Western 
Port Bay, the Strealecki Ranges, the Baw Baws, portions at 
Warburton Ranges, Dandenong Forests, Macedon, Mel- 
bourne, Port Phillip Bay. the You Yangs, the Heads and 
Mornington Peninsula, with all the iitervening areas. 

Nothing unvsual in the mountain and valley vegetation 
was noted, and very few flowers were seen, exeepling the 
heath. Some healthy youns plants of the Myrtle Acacia, 
A. myriifolia, were observed in fnll bloom and bul. The pre- 
domMating acacias in the district traversed, in addition ta 
the Silver Watiles im the valleys, ave the Leper and Hop 
Acacias, A, lejresa and A. stricta, and Prickly Moses, A- 
vertiollata. Instead of returning by the new road, we took 
the nld one, from Monbulk Creck, aud for nearly a nule of 
the journey were serenaded by Bell-lirds, Manorhane 
mielanophrys, Whose haunts are in the vicinity of fhe reser- 
voir which we passed. Their masical notes were dehehtful. 


F_ Prromnr. 


ué Lesttn, Mosses of Wilson's Prowontory Rey 


INVEVEAATAUETERT UR RELI CTYR TNE NYTnEretome ured yr verwenaTTEOTTPWO pI HUTHEMMAAULD OAM LomitieseensmmeeeeeerermennnerurT ANNE TyTN TINITINNE 


: MOSSES OF WILSON’'S PROMONTORY. 
: By J. R, Leste. 


Flea emnnennnennannennmapenl 


AT TVELT TERM ATTITELRRATENTOEEPRT ACE OAL RVD DA SurreermrrresesayumarRrOOESHYOPLOLASHDVH/T/CRNIEDD IAL CCtPDIDAAbASeP EAS NaE ei eter Pe eneten 


T had originally intetided to present this paper on Mosses, 
eollected during January, 1925, in the National Parks, 
Wilson’s Promontory, some time in February, but in attempt- 
ing to work up the species found tho task of identification 
much more difficult than T had expected. Very little is 
layown of Victorian Mosses, and what has been recorded is 
dispersed throngh various journals and fragmentary publi- 
cations, which often are difficult of access. In the deter- 
mination of the following species, I have made considerable 
use of Rodway's excellent ‘‘Mosses and Hepatics of Tas- 
miuinia,’’ as being the most reliable euide having any close con- 
nection with the Victorian forms, I have also referred to 
Braithwaite’s ‘‘British Mosy Flora,*’ ‘‘ Hookers’ Flora Tas- 
maniv,’? and, for some generic determinations, to Engler 
and Pranhl’s ‘‘Pflanzenfamilien.’’ Although every care has 
been. taken, a few errors probably will have erept in, and 
must be corrected later ; 

The humid, forest-elad, castern slopes of the National 
Park form ene of the finest areas In Victoria for the growth 
of Bryophyta (Mossey and Hepatics), and we may confi- 
dently expect to find about 400 species (including Hepaties) 
within if, The Park has practically never been explored 
for non-vascular jeryptogamo, and future investigations will 
doubtiess lead to very interesting results, The only instance, 
so far as I am aware, of mosses being definitely recorded 
from the area in question ig in Baron Von Mueller’s Aus- 
tralian Mosses—a work of 20 well-executed plates—where 
two species, Hypnwmn callidioides and Conastamaume per- 
pusilum, are vecorded'from Sealers’ Cove; neither of these 
species was collected last January. 

T have not, attempted to give popular names im the sub- 
joined preliminary list as these are not very definitely 
applied, and usually suggest little. The Hepatics have been 
axcluded —although about 80 species were collected — on 
aecount of the great difficulty in determining the species 
satisfactorily, ‘There are still some 20 species of mosses 
reriaining to be identified, but these must be added to the 
list at some fulure date. Among them are some very interest- 
ing, and possibly new, forms. 


ms Lisise, Wosses uf Wilson's Promontory Wi 
TORTULACE FUNARIACEX 

Barbule rubella (Hoff.), Mitt. Punaria hygrometrica (L.) 

Werssia, sp. - ‘ Sibth. 
DICRANACEX® HYPNACEKE 


Ditrichum affine, CM. 
Campylonus pudicus, Hornsch 
torguatus, Mitt. 
eapillatus, Hf et W. 
Divranum spp. (none collected) 
Ceratodon purpureus (L.), Brid. 
LEUCOBRYACED 


Leucobryum candidum, Hope. 


GRIMMIACE ® 
Grinvmia, sp. 
Orthotrichum, sp. 
Zygodon, sp. 

MNIACEZ® 
Rhizogontum distichum, Brid. 
Hymenodon pilifir, Hf. et W. 
Leptotheca Gaudichaudii, Schw. 

FISSIDENTACE 
Fissidens pullidus, H.f. et W. 


BRYACHZ 
Brywm bimun, Schreb. 


BARTRAMIACEX 
Barlramia, sp. 


SPLACHNACE# 


Tayloria octoblephara (Hook) 
- Mitt. 


Mniodlendron comosum (Lab.) 
comatum. (C.M.) 

Hypnodendron spininervum 

(Hook} 
Rhaphidostegium homomallum 

(Hpe.} 
Hyprum dristatum, H.f. et W. 
Ptychomnion aciculare (Brid.) 

Mitt. 

Thuidium, spp. 


NECKERACEAG 
Hedujigidium imberbis (Sm.) 


PUTERYGOPHYLLACES 


Pterygophyllum nigellum 
(H.fW.), Jeg. 
Distichophyum 
microcarpun (Hedw.) 


LOPIDIACER 


Lopidium pallens (Hf. et W.) 

Racopilum cristatum. 

Cyathophorum bulbusum 
(Hedw.), C.M- 


POLYTRICHACL A 


Catharined Muelleri 
(Hpe. et C.M.) 
Polytrichadelphus majellanicus 
(Hedw.), Mitt. 
Datwsonia superba, Grev, 
Poytrichum juniperinum, L. 


REPRINTS FROM NATURALIST, 


The author of a paper published in the Naturalist is 
mititled to reccive 25 reprints free, if the Editor has heen 
notified not later than a fortnight after the meeting at which 
such paper was read, But, in view of the high cost of print- 
ing, the Committee hopes that reprints of general papers, 
such as accounts of holiday trips, will not be asked for by the 
writers. In future, reprints will net be supplied unless they 
are ordered.—Hptror. 


318 The Mora of Bass Straw Alf 


SPOteenaMere ce cnonenvyreneragamenceens gecmmeRgrrtHoeneND enn en itfrmaneRAioneemeneracresam@ecc ds ccemens cnccmecnecinoomecnanocsemansent® 


THE FLORA OF BASS STRAIT. 


“Tusnueecatnnsasnavnwgeqqsnanyngeasionoyvnaceuuevennnyaueusnnennnnacauesyaaynccsunaayyysanu nn nncresenn nHAAHENN DN ANNAN ANON 


OTE T TREE DTTP RHEE EDR DES: 
ae 


On the Fdbaston ot the visit of martbens of the RB, AOL, to 
the Furneaux Group, in November, 1912, the writer was one 
of the party which camped at Lady Rarron; on Minders 
‘Island. As the resnlt of excursions made in the southern 
part of the island from a point east of the eanrp to Straciecki 
‘Peak, vather more than 300 plants were noted or cal- 
lected. Sinee then a seareli, which cannot be said to he 
exhaustive, was made for records of plants from this and the 
other islands of Bass Strait with the objeet of eumpiling a 
ecnsus. ‘this has been done, and, though it cannot find a 
plaee here, it seems worth while to set. dawn the sources from 
which data were obtained, and to male some remarks regard- 
-Ing certain species and theiv distribution. 

From the Mlora <Austrealionsis one’ gathers that Robert 
Brown, Gunn, Milligan, Bynoe and others weve the earliest 
collectors in the islands. Brown ard Baner, Baron von Muoel- 
ler tells us, were in Ging Island as carly as 1802. Backhouse, 
in his Narrative, mentions about a down species seen on 
Flinders Island during his three visits there, in 1832. 
‘Probably the first list of plants from any of the islands to 
be published accompanies the Baron’s paper on ‘‘The 
Vegetation of King’s Island,’’ in the Proceedings of the 
‘Royal Society of Tasmania for 1881. This was made from 
Taaterial sent to him by the light-keeper there. In the 1884 
‘volume of the same ‘‘A Complete Census of the Flora of Deal 
Tsland’’—60 speeies—appeared, and doubHess here: also the 
light-keeper was prompted to make the collection. 


The reports of three excutsiohs undertuken by the nvem- 
berg of this Club eantributed greatly to our knowlecde of the. 
natural history of the island, and though the bird life seems 
to have engaged must of the attention of the visitors, plants 
were not neglected. 

The first of these exenrsions to King Island, in 1887, 
resulted in the colleetion of such plants as enabled the Baron 
to publish in the Naturalist a list. including 16 introduced 
weeds, of 204 species which considerably exeecded that pre- 
viously made by him. The item most interesting to him was 
a small composite Nablonium calyceroides, described by 
Cassini, in 1825, from a specimen from the same locality: 


ROOKERY OF WHITE-BREASTED CORMORANTS (Storehouse Island, Bass Strait) 
Photo, C. Barrett] 


AN Tg 


Al 


LOA 


AHL 


LOLOTA 


€ 


“ESTIVAEIEV NX XVI 


Vix 


‘oqmaydos 


UL 


‘ 


gas. | The Flora of Basx Strast vy 


The second excursion was to Kent Group, in 1890, when 
the material sulinitted to the Baron Jed to the addition at 
23. species to the Deal Island censns, 

The Visit to the Furneaux Group, in 1893, was tot su 
fraitful in plant records, for of the colleetion submited tu 
the Baron only a dozen were mentioned as being the more 
important. 

In the account of the late Mr, BE, D. Atkinson's visit te 
the Three Hwnmocks Island, in the Naturalist for February 
March, 1890, the names of four plants oceur, and 10 in that 
_ of the late Mr. J. Gabriel’s risky yeuture to Albatross Island, 

in the Naturalist, for January, 1895, The islands, belonging 
politically to Tasmania, their plants are included in Rodway 8 
Tosmenian Flora, but only the minority are deseribed vaguely, 
as from *‘Bass Straits’? Spicer, in lis Hondbvok, is tore 
definite, and generally aimentions the partieulsr island in 
which the species oceurs. 

Prom these sources, then, one is able to make up a dist of 
458 plants indiwenous to the islands—340 securing in the 
Furieanx Group, 214 in Ning Island, 121 in the Went Group 
aul 14 in the Hunter Group. The particular Toealines of 
some ten are still andefiied, 

These figures will, of corse, be greatly meressed wher 
the northern part of Flinders Island, the southern, mure 
densely forested, portion of Wing Island, which was Wot 
explored by the excursionists of 1887, Cape Barren and other 
islands, ore more closely investigated. 

On oxamining the list we find, as might be expected, Hal 
the great majority of the species are common to the adjacent 
parts both of Tasmaiia and the mainland. Those whieh are 
nat—and as will be seen twenty-one do not oxtend to Tis- 
mania, and ten are not found north of the Strait—appear 
below. Two only are known from a single island, 

Other species appear to have ‘‘jumped*’ the coastal dis- 
tricts as, for example, Zygaphallum «epiculetumn and Spy- 
vidium ertucephalum from our North-West to Tlinders 
Island and Papover aculeadtum to Wing Island, 

It js interesting also to find Miewocarpus vehenlitus, fron 
the oe side, and Phayllacladus vhomboidalis, frum the other, 
meeting in ii nig Tsland, The presenee, again, of Melalence 
squamen, M. gibhasa and BM. ‘eeassate in Plindevs. Tsland is 
nhexpected, 

Oeeasionally records rive vise ta sane doubt as when we 
sec Leptospermum myrlifolium, Oxolis magellanica and 
Epacris hetermmens attribated ta Flinders Ysland. ‘The lat- 
ter is also supposed ta yield two Acacias, one absent from 


Pranr 


Zygophyllum apiculiutwn, Fiat... 
Myoporun humile, RBro.. .. .- 

Auked. flexilis, Fivdt. 

*Acacia oxycedrus, Sieb, AD. 
Tsopugon ceratophyllus, T.Bro. 2 ow. 
Scaevole wierocarpt, Cav. .. 

*Meluleuca decussata, R.Br. .. 

*Thelymitra grandiflora, Pitz. 
Pseudaunthus ovalifolius, F.v.M, 

Pimelew uviflora, Pv... 

Zoysia pungens, Willd, .. ww... 
Polypompholyx tenella, Leh, .. 
Cotula filifolia, Thunb, .. ., 
Sicyos angulata, Le. 6... 

*Scuevala suaveoleus, KBr. ., ., 
Alueocarpus reticulutus, Sn .. 

_ Podotheca angustifolia, Cuss. .. .. .. 
Casuarina bicuspidata, Benth ,. .. 


Auacia erussiusculd, Wendl ., .. 65 ue ue 


Didymothecu thesivides, Hook. .. 
Teioltend supina, Fy Mw, 

Lasiopetalum discolor, Hook, 

Hibbertin hirsuta, Benth, 

Nabloniunt calyceroides, DC. .. 
Schoenus fluitaus, Leo. .. pe etn 
Lomatia tinctoria, R.Br... 6... 
Ozothamnus Gunnii, Hook. .. 
Bedfordia lineuris, DC... ., 
Pimelea cineréa, R.Br. we 4 bed 
Phyllocladus rhomboidalis, Rich, gs 
Thryptomene micrantha, Hook, 
Ceutrolepis pulvinatu, Desv. .. 
Pratia irrigua, Benth, .. 


*Not in Rodway’s Flora, 


ISLANDS AUSTRALIA 
Flinders W.A., S.A. Vie. N.S.W,, Q. 
Py WA, S.A. Vie, N.S.W, 
if A, Vic. N.S.W, 
” S.A., Vice., N.S.W. 
n $,A,, Vic.,! N.S.W, 
7m 8.A., Vic, N.S.W,, Q. 
” $.A., Vic. 
9 S.A., Vie, 
a Vic., N.5.W., @ 
it Vic., N.S.W. 
King, Flinders Vic., N.S.W,, Q, 
a W.A.,, S.A., Vie. 
7. W.A., S.A, Vic., N.S-W 
Sister Islands Vic., N.S.W, Q 
King S.A., Vic., N.S.W., Q 
* Vic., N.S.W.. Q-. 
iy W.A., S.A, Vie 
Flinders W.A., SA. 
” N.5.W., Q 
Kent, Flinders W.A,., S.A, 
Kent S.A. 
Hummock Tsland W.A., S.A. 
Flinders S.A. 
King, Flinders — 
Flinders —— 
” > 
Kent —_—— 
Islands, Bass Strait — 
Kent — 


w.gg sspg {0 DOL. auz oOgL 


{VIX “TOA 
“VUN 'OTA 


Fra The Mara of Bass avait 121 


our State, A, crasaiusculus, Wenul., which is perhaps A, 
adunca, A.Cnuun,, and A, siculifornis, no found in our 
southern districts. 

A very striking shortaye in species of Wuealyptus is evi- 
dent. In Minders Island we noted only 2. wnyydalinn and 
BE. ylobulus, the former sernbby but the latter making a fine 
unmixed forest, averaging perhaps one hundred feet hieh, 
These two, with EF. vnvinalts, ave reported front'King Island, 
and the first-mentioned and J7, obliqua from the Kent Group, 

A most interesting deficiency shared with 'Casmania ix 
the absence of any Loranths in the islands, and ulso of the 
beautiful little bird, Decalwm hinkndinacéum, whieh is cou- 
sidered ta he vesponsible tox the spread of the pest, 

A matter worth mentioning, perhaps, is the oeeurrenes 
ut Gaedenwr ovata, always am unattractive shrub, in a pag 
licularly objeetionuble shape. m the northern slay of Stree 
Jooki Peak, Hero, au rocky, broken ground, it was erowing 
thickly over a wide area, with single, anbranched stems; 
abotit tour or five feet bigh, quite trelike the bnvshy Jorma it 
assumes with us, aid it proved extremely diffleult ta traverse. 

Until more complete plant lists of the island are wvail- 
able it ig rather futile to make comparisons. ‘he fauna is 
considered more akin to that of Tasmania, bul the florea 
appears to be rather Austrahan, 

The plant covers of the islands are scemingly reranants of 
the vegetation oncé eontinuons aeross the Strait, and the 
33. plants listed above represent brokenly the limits ot the 
range of rhe species-—O.5.5, 


NATURAL HISTORY IN AUSTRALIAN ENOYCLOPAEDIA. 


Many articles on the native fauna and flora are included 
in Vol, T of the 'TMlustrated Australian Encyclopedia.’’ an 
invaluable work recently published by Messrs, Angus and 
Robertyon Ltd, Sydney. They are by leading authorities, 
and are finely illustrated, Descriptions ave given of a large 
number of plants, manmnws, bicds, reptiles, insects, ete., and 
many species are figured. ‘There are coloured plates of birds 
wid birds’ eggs, typical iuscets of different orders, lizards, 
xnakes and frogs, fishes aud Australian seaweers. As an 
example of the articles, that. on Beetles may be mentioned. Tt 
oecupies about five pages, and 12 species are fignred on a 
half-tone plate. The whole work is admirable, and the 
natural history sections should do much to popularise onr 
favourite subjects throughout. the Commonwealth—C.B, 


342 Pescowr. Aboriginal Stone axes [yarecie 


SUC RTETTHPACTAT TTT PEMECETaNaNACebsdiAeanuntananeneeyyembundtonerensvenereyerNGAsACAbLANAHAIAHRLUEVADDIRAGNIAL ASIEN BAAHEY 


ABORIGINAL STONF-AXES. 


By Upwarn Jo. Pescom, PF 0.8. 


WTERAAR DADE RED ELD DME CTT EAE GEE EE AEERERERERAOONEEEE LED EH URNCCTRERERD DPPH AEED OED E POAT PRELOEPHUANNRFOR DUNT RTOF DUVET RRORENOWECOR ONT OR PRE ON” 


= ee een 
ADSL Tal 


Axe" is a term generally applied by the average mun 
to airy pieced of stone which an aboriginal has taken, and, 
sharpening, more or less, one end, put to the various Uses 
to whieh, in his so-called pritiitive mirc! it would, be of viltte 
to him. ‘The aborigimal might ueed to hollow out a charred 
log for a cance, or un elbow of a free for a eoolamet,*’ 
make toe-grips in a tree for Climbing, or stuip off slabs of 
bark for his canoe, or toy his mia-mia. Ae wotild, in all 
these ard other eases, use the implement which we collec- 
tively call an axe. Being a ‘‘stone man,’’ his iinplements 
or axes are all made of stone. 


“Any stone will make an axe,*’ seems to have been the 
motto of this ‘‘stone man,’’ for he was able to take and use 
any piece of stone, and shape, nat “‘mould’’ it, to his pur- 
pose. If he were in hasaltie country he would smash off 
pieces of basalt and seleet those that seemed to hint most 
shapely; diorite stone was especially favoured, and of this 
stone many very fine axes were made. Any -hatd stone that 
came in his way was used; thus we lave axes of chiastolite 
slate, gneiss, hard sandstone, limestone cores, and even Hint. 
The Murray men and the imland tribes used water-worn 
pebbles of all sizes, ‘‘gibbers’' from the desert country, and 
hard sandstone pebbles fram the open plaing. 


The making of an axe from a water-worn pebble was a 
sinyple matter. The craftsman would simply select an. oval, 
ov elongated, pebble, and, by rubbing both sides of one end 
om a hard or vongh atone, gradually work it down to an 
“edge.’’ his grooved, grinding stone he, perhaps, earrvied 
about with him, or he may have had some rock-face to winch 
he regularly repaired, a permanent sharpening station, 


Usually the stone was ground down on both faces; but 
occasionally a wedge-shaped axe is found, made usually from 
a water-worn stone, which has been ‘‘sharpened’* on one side 
only. Sueh axes are uncommon; and one of this kind in my 
collection has had the wedge-side chipped down instead of 
being ground. Such implements are more akin to the New 
Zealand axes and chisels, which ave almost invariably chiscl- 
shaped, instead of having both sides worked dawn. 


i. | Pescorr, Aboripinat Sto: Aves ies 


The ‘'modern'' axe-maker—called the Neolithic tan— 
would, after grinding down his uxe-edge, bring Uf to a state 
of very smooth polish. Some of these axes have been polished 
jw an almost incredible degvee of smoothness. Diovite axes 
were very frequently polished. Some have the whole suy- 
fave beautifully smoothed and polished. These were evi- 
dently nsed as hand-axes, wid were not ‘halted?’ on 
“handled,’’ 


li some parts of. Australia there were tribes which 
included some very elever avtificers, for the axes earry 
gvoove Which has heen chipped or hanimered out with a piece 
of stone, the groove completely circling the axe. This. groove 
mutevially uesisted tn gripping the handle to the stane. In 
the Melbonrme Museuin there is such ai axe having two 
grooves, the maker af whieh was truly a Tubal Cain among 
his associates. Other axeg made by superior eraftsmen had 
the whole of theiv surface 'Shossed’’ over, the toalkew teu. 
niering it with @& stone, as a stonenason hammers and works 
down the rough surfaces of stone. Then the edge was. grvund 
dow and polished, 


The hafting of the axe, or the fixing on of a handle, was. 
ase IM portant operation, A fairly thin strip of plant tree- 
stem, averaging from 18 inehes to 20 iiehex in length, and 
about an inch in, width, was flattened somewhat on one edge. 
Yn Northern Queensland cane from the “‘Lawyer™* palms 
Was used, This strip was yendcred supple by heating, and 
‘then bent in half, the axe being folded’ in the bend. ‘I'he 
handle thes was tied in position with string made from geass 
fibve, or from: animal ox human hair. The ‘hatter’? nest 
heated near the fire some of the gum, or resin, whielk he had 
collected as an exudation from. the grass-trees. his graas- 
tree gum, atter being well kneaded, was fastened, by press- 
ing, all over the bult-end of the axe and avound the handle, 
hoalng worked and plastered nti] the stone axe was firinky 
fixed to the wooden handle. Oveasionally the'axe and handla 
were smeared over with red ochre or white limestone. Then 
it was ready for use. *‘Hafted’’ axes are very rare, the woorl 
and resin readily disintegrating aud decaying in the soil in 
a. few years. 

Axes ave to be found almost all over Victoria Along the 
coast where ““middenk’? abonnd, the places where the blacks 
fed on shellfish, Jeaying the remains in. great heaps; Wherever 
ther had their '‘kitehen’’ or “‘hurial'’ iiddens: wherever 
auimal-life was abundant, by rivers'and lakes, where ‘fish 
could be obtaimed—these arc the places whete wxes still 


12t Like with tke Past ich Son 
await the collector. Whenever they are found they should 
be treasured, for, with other stone implements and weapons. 
they are the sole monuments or memorials of a fast-deeryiug 


race—the “‘stone men’’ who lived in the days of modern 
électric and steel eva. 


LINKS WITH THE PAST. 


‘he National Herbarium, Melbourne, has an extensive eol 
jection of Australian plants, gathered by Siv Joseph Banks 
and Dy. Solander. These links with the past were presented 
by the British Museum authorities, 


On 28th April, 1770, Captain Cook’s scientific companions 
of the famous voyage botanised on the shoves of Botany Bay. 
The first specimen collected was one ‘‘which was large, yield 
ing a eum, mmeh like Sangtiis draconis’’—probably a Buea- 
lyptus species: Several trees, which bore a fruit of the 
“‘Jambosa kind (Eugenia) in colour, much resembling cher- 
vies,’’ were also noted on that day. By 3rd May 200 quires 
of blotting paper had been used for drying the plants col- 
lected. The paper was made into book form. | 

The voyage was continued northward, and, landing at 
Bustard Bay, Banks and Solander collected Pandanus, Fecus, 
Heieropogon, vontortus, ete. On 10th June the “‘Endeavour’’ 
struck a eoral reef, part of which beeame embedded in her 
planks, thus preventing disaster. Many of the specimens 
stored in the hold were badly damaged. Tt was necessary to 
beach the ship. on the banks of the stream now known as 
Endeayour River. ‘The accident. proved to be a blessing in dis 
guise, as it gave the setentisis much time for collecting plants- 
Once, their specimens were jn danger, owing to a fire lighted 
by the aborigines. 


Among the numerous species collected were the follow- 
ing:—I/ibiscus tiliaceus, Semnecarpus australiensis, ‘The 
Marking Nut,’’ Glycine spectosw, Tetragonu cornuta, Ficus 
caudiciflova, Cycas media, Luristonia australis, Lucalyptu: 
species, Lanthorrhad, Casuarina subernsa, Trichodesma zey- 
lanica, Stylidinm. graminifolium, Isepogon .anemonifolius, 
Beyeria apaca, Helichrysum apiculatum, Callistemon lanceo- 
latus, Banksia serrata (a genus named in honour of Banks), 
Cassia mimosioides and Adiantum ethiopicum, ‘Maiden 
Hair Fern.’’*—J.W.A. and P.F.M. 


ae ® Notes rows Pield and Sinily 128 


BIRD ISLHS OF GASS STRALT. 


Australia has its bird isles, not less wonderful in their 
way than those of Pert, concerning which a book has heen 
published recently, Our Chib, in the days of its youth, 
vevealed a spirit more adventurous than that of its middle 
age, and carried out expeditions to the Bass Strait islands- 
The results were notable. 


Why should we not go again to those isles of the sea? 
1 have been twiee anione them, and conunend the voyage, 
with many landinys, io Club members, who would see “‘at 
home’’ Ganuets and Gulls, Alhatrosses, Petrels and tho big. 
seafaring Cormorants, that long bore the name of Gould 
(priority has decreed the change from Phalacracaraa govldt 
to P. fluscescens.) 

On Cat Island the Gannets, Swe serrater, vest in um, 
bers, a8 they did more than 30 years*avo0, when a party’ of 
F_N.C. members explored the Furneaux Group. Three bird 
isles he off the east coast of Flinders—Babel, Cat and Store- 
house: the Jast-named is a nesting haunt of White-breasted 
Cormorants. Our pionser fellow-members of the 1893 
expedition saw them there, among the nests on granite ter- 
races; and when, with other naturalists, I landed on Store- 
house in November, 1908, the rookery was in oeenpation, Per 
haps it is flourishing still; though there have been many 
changes in ‘‘island life’' during recent years. 

From 300 to 400. nests formed the Cormorants’ rookery 
im November, 1893, but in 1908 the number, was about 150. 
The population, doubtless, varies much from season td season. 
Nature herself may take toll of the birds, in variaus ways; 
and Cormorants are not protected against hnman enetiins, 


The gvoup-photograph (Plate TV) was obtained after 
eavefgl stalking. The Cormorants were wary; yet their 
neighhours, the Gannets, of Cat Island, declined to leave 
their nests when we walked among them,—C.B, 


a ; 7 . - Wier, Naa, 
iis Nares frou Miels and Staty (var xcit 


BEES’ WINTER HARVEST. 


Some years ago, on a sunny day in late wuiter, scholars 
under my charge af Aawkesdale, in the Western District, 
noticed bees (a colony was always kept ia the school garden) 
tying in great numbers around the Golden Watiles, slacein 
pycnantha, in the garden, <A boy picked a phyllode and put, 
it to his ips, Ltis shout, '' Floney !'° was the signal for a rush 
of scholars to the trees. Investigating, L found that sweet 
liquid was exuding from the gland, a little swelling on the 
edge of the phyllode. 1 mentioned the matter to the late 
Mr. L, T, Chambers, an expert in bee management, who stated 
that he had noticed a sirnilar occurrence at one of his apissies, 
but the result of my subseqnent engniries shows that few people 
have seen bees feeding on nectar from these glands. In w 
fraper contributed tothe Naturalist (Nov., 1913), Mr, Reginald 
Kelly gives his views, and the results of his ohservations on the 
funetion of Acucia leaf glands. He failed to doteet any 
sweet exudation, and his couehjsion was that these ormans 
perforn) oxeretory functions, that the secretions are neither 
fluid nor viseid, aud that they sre not strictly glands or 
nectarics, in the sense that the ternt gland ov nectaty dows 
not acemvatel’y describe the nature of ‘the growth. Tfe sug 
gests the namie * ‘vents,"” and writes of then as mere “‘fune- 
tidnlers relies, ‘W—H.B.W, 


> 


HOW THE RLACK AND WHITE VANTALIL BUILDS ITS NEST. 


Probahly none of the smaller native birds has been more 
vlogely and lovingly studied than the Black-awnd-White Fan- 
tail, Khipidwra leucophrys; tat I have read no account of one 
of its unique habits in nest-building, Since the end of Septem. 
bev, 1921, I have made notes on eight nests, all, T believe, built 
hy the same pair of birds. Nine nests sere constructed. but 
T. was unable to find the se¢ond one of the season, 1922-28. 
Tast season three ‘nests were built, one early’ ii October. the 
next in November; and the third at the end of December 
All but tavo of the nests under observation were built in pine 
trees, Pinus anrsignes, one oF other of a growp, wsially af a 
neivht of B feet. ‘ 4 

The felt of cobweb, whieh forms the nest foundation ina 

‘looks fike a alight thickening af a thm, grey branch, is spread 
in position by the tird’s head,» Very often Dhave wateherd a 
Fantail; airpported on swittly-heating Wings, catherine cab- 
weh from the wall. A sudden dart’ forward, a quick twist 


tie Nules from Piett and Study 127 


of the head, and grey strands of web lay across the black 
feathers. When this maneuvre had been repeated two or 
three times, the bird would fly swiftly to its nesting site. It 
was, uf course, impossible for me to reach it as quickly aa 
the bnilder, One had either to wait by the wall, to wateh 
the gatherinp of material, or at the tree to see it placed in 
position, Obviously, there was only one way for this ia be 
done; the head was wiped up and down or across the branch 
until all the grey fell was safely transferred ta the growing 
home. Tater, of course, stvavids of hair, ete., were ased. 

Always the neat was moulded by the birds. as they sat 
wm the nest, turning and pressing to shape it with their own 
curved breasts. The finishing of cobweb was spread over the 
nest in the same way as the foundations were laid. 17 was 
ever able to wateh the actual beginning, nor be sure when 
the list toneh was given: but building seemed to vecapy 
ahout a week, The cegs. asa rule, were not laid on consecutive 
daya: and although three formed the nsual ehitel, some- 
times only tavo, sometimes as many as four, were laid. Ineuba- 
tion oeeupins exactly 14 days; and, if undisturhed, the young 
remain in the nest for about the same length of (ime, then 
leave home, and do not retam.—-J.G. 


WORKS ON THE FPORAMINEIFERA. 


Mh F. Chapman, in his ‘‘ Notes on the Voraminifera’’ in the 
Aurust number of the Naturalist, recommended certain works 
io the beginner. but a notable omission from these is his own 
book. ““The Foraminifera: An. Introduction to the Study of 
the Proatozoa.'' This book is obtainable in Melbourne, and 
sone knowledge of its contents will be found essential when 
the worke of Brady, Cushman and other snecialists ave being 
studied, To the more advaneed student, ihe artide by J. J. 
Lister, F RS., on ‘Foraminifera,’ in Lankester’s ‘Treatise 
on Zoology” (Sceand Faseicle, Part 1, Intradnection and 
Protozoa), is reeommended. Dr Brady's ''Challenger 
Report’? is now unpurchasable, but may be econsulled in ouy 
Public Tabrary. The monovraphs of Dr. J. A. Cushman are 
ihe most easihy abtained of works on the foraminifera, Sane 
of these mas he purchased from he Gavernment Printing 
Office. and others trom the Carnegia Tnstitution. both of 
Washington, T.S.A. They ust surely rank among the 
lawesf-pieed scientific papers issued, but on account of the 
demand for them by those interested m oil geolory, copies of 
his later works only are now held in stoek,--W 7. Parr. 


198 Notes von Xd 


“THE SCIENTIFIC NAME OF OUR CLUB'S BADGE.” 


Under this tithe appeared in this Journal (Vol. XLT, p. 
220) for April, a review by Mr. F, Chapman of the nomina- 
tion of the shell utilised as budge by the Clab. Ten years 
azo, [ indicated the fact that the popular name in vogue was 
technically invalid, and, knowing of no substitute, ET pro- 
posed what I regarded as » suitable equivalent. This name 
is now championed, somewhat late in the day, as. science 
keeps moving, whether we move or not. Recently, when 
working through some Western Australian material, J recog- 
nised the Victorian shell, and, referrime to Menke’s Mol- 
luscorum Nove Hollundie Specimen, published m 1848, IL 
found that om p. 21 he included Buccimwim fasetatum, Lam, 
and, giving a deserrption, added the information: ‘* Buect- 
num. pyrrhion, m. olam. inv lit. his means that. before 
Menke recognised that the shells belonged to Lamarelc's 
species, he had given them the name noted above, aud had 
sent specimens out with that name attached. Under the 
Laws, as soon as Lamarck’s name was invalid, Menke's name 
became valid, and therefore the correct scientific name of the 
Club’s badge becomes 


NASSARIUS PYRRHUS (Menke). 


1 have very carefully compared Western Australian 
shells with Victorian specimens, and they are nndoubtedly 
con-specific. 

Tom Trepal.r.* 


*By permission of the Trustees of the Australian Museum, 
Sydney. 


NOTES FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 


A FOSSIL CORAL. 


The discovery of a new locality in Victoria for the imterest- 
ing reef-forming ‘‘star-coral,’’ Orbicella. tasmaniensis. has 
lately been made by our member, the Rev. Geo. Cox. The 
locality is at Minders, on the Cape Schanck Penmsula, where 
a small exposure of foraminiferal and polvzoal limestone 
necurs. resting on the older basalt. A good description of 
this important fossil bed was given by another club member, 


“ti _ Notes 129 


Mr, A. B, Kitson, C.MLG., in 1902 (Report on the Bryozoan 
Limestone ‘at. Flinders. Ree. Geol. Surv., Vie., vol. 1, pt. 1, 
pp. 49-51, and text-fig.). There is probably a danger of this 
fossil deposit being seriously damaged, if not entirely 
obliterated, by some projected “‘impravements’* to the Golf 
Links. 

The chief interest of the Flinders Limestone is that it 
coutains an abundance of the curious group of the limy 
sponges known as the Lithonines, which are still living in 
Japanese seas; although until Dy. Hinde described speci- 
Mens sent to him by Dr, TT. 8. Hall they were not recognised 
as fossils. As regards the previously-known localities for 
the above-named coral, they are rather widely separated, and 
since it is a shallow-water organism, it helps to supply data 
im relation to the former trend of the coast-line, in Miocene 
times. 

The original locality from which Dr, P.M. Dnnean 
obtained his type specimen. is ‘able Cape, North-West Tas- 
mania. Simee then T have recorded if from ithe tossiliferous 

ironstone beds. of Flemington, whilst Dr. T. Griftilh Taylor 
and Messis. F. A, Cudtvore and J. A. Kershaw have eol- 
leeted it from the ferruginous limestones of Ooldea, on the 
East-West Railway, South Australia. Quite recently Miss 
1, Crespin has ulso recorded its occurrence in the Janjukian 
ironstone of Green Gully, Keilor. Mr. Cox’s specimen is 
exceptionally well preserved, and he has presented tb to the 
Museum collection. 


F. Crareman. 


PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THE NATURALIST. 


ft is proposed, while funds permit, to include one piate at 
least in each issue of the Naturulist. Members are invited to 
submit prints for consideration hy the Editor and the Publishing 
Committee. Unusiial subjects are desired, nof photographs of 
scenery, etc. Writers of papers might submit photographs suitable 
for illustrations.— Editor. 


All contributions for the Naturalist, and letters to the Editor, 
anguld be addressed: 


CHARLES BARRETT, 
“Maralena,” Maysbury Avenue, 
BHisternwick, Vic, 


130 Census of Vicloriun Plants 


Vie. Nal, 
Vee May 


PO 


VENLESTOCTOAPAPADIGIAPNTY APHLEOD Uj ueWeEEERTIOLEACHROTTTPONRHONEDAYANOL BOO TMAnEED 


CENSUS OF VICTORIAN PLANTS. 
Supplement No. 3, 


‘Avausoueuseueeesepuasonaae 


SATUDHULOLNGHA RAED AER EWOAAEHETCALA Ny RHerreooaNd tne eereaaay AL PAA eeeeaaTUV EASE COOTTVNTAAT Cesta hemecraaeatmeerrarineenceryyal padeeeraaeess 
, 


The following additions and alterations have been made to 
the Census of Victorian Plants by the Plant Records Commit- 
tee of the Ficld Naturalists’ Club of Victoria— 


‘Nat, Herb" indicates that dried speciniens have been found in the National 
Herbarium; 'B" refers to those determined by Prince Bonaparte. 


Page 1.—<Alsbphila Cooperl, D.v.M, -- Codper Tree Fern . S&S. Otway, Nat. Herb. 
(B) 
A. Rebecewe,, Wiy.M. .. -. -, Wig dreae Fern .. & Bemm R, Nat, 
arb. (B) 
Dryopteris queenslundica, Do.- Northern Shicld 8. Moe, Nat. Herb) 
TITDTinn aa) cn cades leis go] pred ojo noe Bern, §. «5 j.s-05 4 ({B) 
4, troplek Domin. .. .. 2. ,. Tropical Shield ern bi, genen, Nat, Herb, 
(5 
D. glabella, G. Chr. ,. .. .. .. Smooth Shiald Pern ae iia Nat, Herb, 


Pease %3,—Adplenium adiantoldes, ©. Chr. Pointed Spleenwort Te Nat. Horb, 
) 
Polystichum aristaturu, Presl Awned Shield Fern var Nat, Herh, 


Blechawn serrulatum, Rich- Serrate Gristle Pern 8. Toolebewong, P. 
@rdg .- 2. 5s ek ee te ee 8t. John, 


Li, laevigatum, Cay, .. ., .- Leather Fern,. ., 8. Dandenong Ra. 
Nat, Herb. 


Page 3.—Adiantum caplillus-veneria, L. British Maidenhaiy S. Givelyn, BP, St. 


FeErM we ce wy ae John (1) 
Page 4,—Cyclophorus rupestels, C. Chr. Hock Poltypady ,, B. Gee. Nat. Herb. 
Gloichents. flabellata R. Br, Wan Fern -, .. ,, S,U. Nat. Herb. (8) 


G, Jaevigate, (W1Id.), Hk, .. Spreading Fan Fern All but N.W. 


Page 14,—After Bartlingla add— 


Borya nitida, Labill, ,. .. Shining Borya . .. S.W. Hail's Gay, Cc. 
. D’Alton, 
Page 18.—Prasophyilum Colemanae, Lilag Leek-orchid S. Bayswater, Mrs. 
FROROTSE a Si wee ee Coleman. 
PF. gracile, Rogers ., 4. -: $. Ringwood, €. 
French, Jnr. 
Puge 19.—Micretis oblonga, Rogers -. S.W., S.. NvBL, EL EB, 
Pescotth 
7. 26. —Pterostylls decurva, Rogera - SS. Ferntree Gully, 
Bake i f. E. Pascott, 
P, truncata, Fitz... ., .. ., Brittle Greenhood .5. You Yangs, W_ H, 
Nicholts. 


Revision of the Genus Bassia, CAncderson, Proc, Linn, Soc. N.S-Wi 
Vol, XLVI11, Pi, 3.) 


Page 26.—For Bassin diacantha read B! unifiora (R. Br.) F.v.M. 


Delete B. lanicuspis, B. siflora, B, dlvaricata, B- echinopsila, and 
B. enchylaenoldes. 


‘Sept. - ra a 7 
1926 A Census of Victorian Plants ; 131 
Add By nytedtiousptg, Ander- Sprending Salthbush M.W. Nat, Herb. 
son -- ea 7 ry 
G. treuspts, Lede M.) Andeéer- Three-spinéd Sult- N.W. Nat, Herb. 
som .. +. ve Ref Bee bush .. 25 
B, parvilttora, Abdebsar . .. Small flowered Sale- NOW. Nat derk. 


bush 2. 2k ee 
Kochi briuchyptera is naw Bassia brachypteea, (v.M.), Anderson. 


Page Ga.—-Acaoia fateiformis, DC, -- Sickle Wattle -. .. SAW. Nit. Herb, 


Reyisian of the Genus Pultendsa, (WiUiamson, Proc. Ray Sum, Vie 
Vol, SNAXVIS, Pe. 1.) 


Pultenaga pubescens, A.B3.W. Downy Bush Pea . S.W. Portland, Nat 
Herb. 


Page i8.—Pelargonium inodorum, Willd. Sventless Stovksbill All, Nat. Herb. 
Fortieviy includeA in PL awsteale, Willd. 


Rowiston of the Panily Loranthacege, (Blukely, Proc. Linn. Soe, 
N.S.W, Vol. NLYIL, Pt, 2) 


Delete Loranthus celasuraides, and substiouca:s— 


Page 24. “oF beyetantiras nalastrofdes, Coast Mistletoe ©. SW. S. NW. 
eAOHS, 24 -, us es ays 
LP. cuealyptifolius, nel. .. -- Comimen Mistletne, Ai, 
Loranthus Miquellf, Lehin, .. Long-teat Mistletoe S.E. Na\, Herb. 
I, Prefssii, Miq. .. 2. -- ., Wive-leaf Mistletoe AIL 
Fer lL. longiflorus, Desy, read To. vitellimus, Sieb. Wi. Genoa, Ryv. A, J. 
Maher. 
Page 34.—Acseia argyrophylla, Wook — Silver Mulga ., ., NW, Nat. Herb, 
A, brdchybotrya -. ., .. .. Grey Mujea -. .. NW, 
Page 46——-Eucalyptus nee Jarier ate, Grey Stringybark — &, PL ost Toho, 
Maiden ,. - ee. 
E, Dalrympleana, atalden -, Mountain White XE. P. R, Sims. 
Gwyn in eo 


Pige 48—Wucalyptus phellandra, R, T. Mountain Pepyper- 8. P. Sr John. 
Bakker .. 4- 42 23 =p ey ee mint. .. + 4. 


BE. untalata, R-T.B. .. .. ,. Istand Binge Gum , 5S, Phillip £, Dr 
Heber Green. 


NEW LOCALITIES, 


The following are the sdditions tu the regional Qistribution utd are listed 
under the districts S.W.; N.W.; S.; X.b., EL. with the mames of the field workers 
who have made the reeord posible, The figures vefer to the pages in the 
Census. 


S.W.—(18) Prasophylui: aArcheri, Hk. £3 P, brachystachyum, find); PF, fim- 
briatum, R. Br.; P, odorsatatny Rogers, (19) Catoctilus campesirig, R. Br.; 
Microtis paryiflora, R, Br,; Caleana minor, R, Bs; Caladenia filanyentosa, 
RH. Isr; C, leptechila, Hite; , reticulata, Witz; . angustata. Fitz. (20) 
‘Ptarostylis concinna, KR, Bre: P. parvittora, R. Br; (22) Casuavina 
Luchmanni, R, T. Baker, (24) Grayjtlen rosmovinifolia, A. Cunn; G. 
repens: Fiv.M.; Persbonia rigida, KR. Wr (24) Ranksia ornata, P.v.M. 
(42) Acavia armatsa. Ry ir. (33) A, penninervis, Sie, (46) Dillwynnia. 
hispida, Lindl, (39) Eviostémon differniis; A. Cunn. (44) Hibbertia 
homifusa, Flv MM. (45) Pimelea axifiora, PivM. (49) Callistemon 
rugutosus, DC, Meltleued neglects. Ewart and Wood.—Grampians, 
Chas, D'Alton. 


(46) Wueatyntas Gtaxfandh, Matden and Cambage.—Graiipians, o. W, 
Autas. 


N.W,—(20) Diuris punciata, Swrith; Wail, Miss TJ. Prancis. 


§.--(18) Garex polyantha, W v.M-—Lerderderg. H. TR, Willlanisen. 
(20) Caladenia reticulmta, Fite—Gelgrave, B. BE. Peseott, 
(36) Pulltenaea, D'Alion, HB.W.—Brisbane Ranges, Dr. Sutton, 
(47) Mucalyptus nitens, Maiden.—Donna Boing, P, R, St. John, 
(68) Heliprerum pygmaecum, Bth—You Yungs, A. C. Gates. 


132 Ceusus of Victorian Plants vine as 


N.O—{19) Thelymitea pruciNora, R. Br. (20) Caladenia cordlformis, Rogers; 
QOlearia Gunninns. Hk £—Geechworth. Miss 4%. Galbraith. 


(20) Unladetia angustata, Fite, Nat, Herb. 


(46) Boucalyntua Bridgesiann, R.T.BL (43) G. Smithii, #,7.B.; BL cam- 
phorn, AVG. PB. R. Sims, a 

n (2) Olearin flavescens, Hutch.—Alps, A, J. Tadgell. 

B—C) Damasonium minor, (R, Br}, Buch, {11) Cyperus exaltatus, Retz; 
tc. Gunmi, Hk, ft (13) Carex pélyantha, Piv.M. 615) Juncus palindus, 
R. Be, (19) Corysanthes fimbriata, R. Br (31) Drosera Planchpnii, 
Hk. t (Menaziesii). (38) Acacia Mitchellil, Bth, (53) Brachytonia 
daphunides. Bth. ($7) Ajuga. australis, R. Br. (f8) Selllera. radicans, 
Cav. (64) Calocephalus Jacteus. Less.—Bairnsdale, VT. S. Hart. 
(20) Caladenia Iatifolia, R. Br.; C. cardinchila, ate; (49) Hibbertin 
fenstfines; (54) Sevaee albidifiorn, T.v.M. (G1) Pratia platyoalyx, Bth. 
(65) Reachycoone stricta, D.C.—Spery Whale Hend, F, Barton, Jr, 


(315) Mierotis purvyitiora, R, Br. (20) Culadenia Menalesii, BR. Bri; C. tes- 
tacea, R. Br, (. angustata. Fite; Diuris palachila, Rogers; Pterostylis 
nan. RB, Br (a2) Acacia arimata, R. HKr,, A, Dyenantha, Bth.—Tyers, 
Miss J, Cialbraith, 


(85) Widens tripartita. f.; Snowy BR. only in Census.—Newry, D. J. Maher, 
(49) Kungea eortialla, Reichb.—Wuson’s. Promontory, Dn Sutten. 


CORRECTIONS. 


The following corrections should be made: 


Supplement No. ¥.—Delete Prasophkyllum album, Rogers. 


Pawee 34—Crllistachys elliptica. Vent, C, alyestris, Ktze., C. procumbens (Mv. M,) 
Engl, C. criinia, (Fv. Mi.) ingl, fee Oxylobiunt app. 


31—Drosera Plamchonli. Hk. f. far fi, Mengiesii, R.Br. 
") 34 —Avveit Victoriae, Bth. for A. sentis, Fv. 

» %6—Dilbeynnia uncinats, (Lures) J. M. ‘Black, jor D, patula, Fev al. 
40.—utaxia micrephylla, (R.Br) J.M-L. far i. eiipetecifolia, Schlech, 
j7.—-renpletonia stenophylla. Pov. ML for Ty Muelleri. Beth. 
368.—ranspese Geraniuin pilosum, Forst and G. dissserum, L. 
30.—Fhebalinni squameumn, (Eabill,) Mngler for PL, Billardieri. 

+» #1—Gymnaeper|a tor Celastrus, 


40.—Correr tubta, (Sinith) .. M, lack foreC. speciasa, Andr, Red, Correa, 
Ai) ©. rubra, var virens. Conon Correa (Green), 


“4U—Sinekhopsia nionggyna, Labi, for S. linarifolia, A. Gunn. 
45.-—-Callisteion citrinus, (D.C.) StapL for €, lanceolalus, D.C. 
Ty.—Thryptonene célycing, (P+, iM.) Stapf: for 'T, Miteahelliana, My. iF. 
vi.—Barischia for Rarcts's, 
Bellardia ‘Trixage for Bartsia Vrixago. 
Sinapis urvedsis for Deessica Sinapistrum, 
Fiu—Pestucn myyres for BF. reyurits. 
78.—Glauciuty flayuny, Crantz, €or CG. luteum, Seon, 
79.—Melilotus imiieus, (To) Allian. for M. Parytflora_ 
“Melilotus albus for A alba. 
. S2—orendpus preeumbens, Gilib. for Senehiern coronopus, Pois, 
Cc. didyma. (L.) Simith for S. Wldvmus, Pere 
Meidjcago arabica. (h,) Willd, for M. ‘naculata, 
Medicago Nispida includes 30 denticulata, Delete fatter. 
» T&.—Silybum Marianas. (h.) Gaertn, for Carduus Matisnus, I, 
Cirsium arvense, €0.) Seop. for Cardwuus arvensis. L. 
Cirsium Janceolatus for Carduus lanceolatus, Scop. 
&i.—Lochnern rosea. (4) Reietb. For Vinca rosea, Le 


Che Victorian Natiratisi 


Vou, XLU-+No. 6. OCTOBER 9, 1925 ‘ No. 502 


Vogreaes : wr fc ots fa 


FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA, 


he ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in 
the*Royal Society’s:Hall, Victoria Street. on Maxtaey eyell- 
ing, Setember 14, 1925.- The. President, Mr. Geo..-Coghill, 
ceeupied the chair, and about fifty members and friends were 
present. , : 
CORRESPONDENCH AND REPORTS, 

.A letter trom the See retary of ‘the Gat den- week Comunit- 
tee, inviting the Mlub to take charge of the Wild-flower See- 
tion at the Garden-week Exhthifion. was reeciyed anid referres 
toa Committee. 

Reports were given as follows: - 

_ Mx... Daley, excursion to You. Vanes on August 15; My. 
Stickland, cexeursion to Kilby, bageon on Ansust 20, My, 
A. i. Rodda, excursion to Studley Park on September: :3.; 
and, Ma... FE. BE. Pese -ott, excursion to Diamond Creek on Sep- 
tember 12. qe: 

GHNRRAL., 


‘ 


It was fphol yed on the aiation of Messrs. Daley and H..B, 
Williamson, that: the. thanks of the Club be sent to.the -Minis- 
ter for Lands,. the Hon. A.W. Downward, for his action in 
seenving the, reservation of Mt. Drummer. . ow 

Mr. A. J, Tadgell moved that the thanks of the (lal; be 
jendered to the Plant Records Conwnittee for Cite work in 
vompilimg the additions to the “‘Census.”’ , _f Pitcher 
seconded the, niotian, which was earned cdagintaly sake 

Mn. Ci. Barrett said. that. he had. heard. that -it was -pro- 
posed to form, a parking area;tor motor ears at the entrance 
to Beletave Gully. and, if this were so, he thought that ,the 
Club should protest against wy encroachment -an the area 
resevyed,, 

Mr. C, Oke moved that the tatter be rétenved to the 
C ammitter, Mi. Pitcher to make enquiries at Belgrave as to 


wt Field. Naturalists’ Clui—Praceedings yeh New 


# bf ce ; Vol, XV 

what Wad proposed, and report to the Hon. Seeretary, 

Secanded by Mr. Wilhiamson. and carried. — 52. 
ELECTION, 


On wv ballot being taken, Mrs. F. Chapman, Threadneedle 
Street. Balwyu; Miss Jean Harvie, Chanal Street. Hast Mal- 
yern; and Miss C. Pipet; Black Street, Brighton, were duly 
declared elected as ordmary metnners af the Club. 


PAPERS. 


1. ‘The Royal botanie Gardens, Kew, England,'' by"Mr. 

A, I. Keep. The author gave a history of the Gardens, and 

deseribed features of special interest: Tle also veferved to 
ae a species ot Australian plants growing at Kew. 

“Vietovian Ants’? (Part. TT). by Mr. J. Glark. Owing 


to the lateness of the hone when this paper was ealled- if Was 
taken as read. 


EXHIBITS, 


By Mr. G. Coghill—@€revillea rosmearimifalia, G. ucemdes, 
G. thping, Thiyptomene Mitcheliana, Micramystus aminro- 
phylla, Wriostemon myaporaides, Acacin martfola, A. 
acinaced, and HMardenberqii jronanhylla; all grown at Can- 
terbury. 


By Mr. -J. R. Leslie—Mosses from Wilson's. Promontory. 
in ihistratian of article im September Vahurulist. 

By Mr. V. H. Miller—Cyrtoshylis renrformis and Cary- 
santhes pruitosa, from Black Rock. 


By Mr. F. Piteher--Author’s presentation copy to Mrs. 
Flova Martin, of Cooke’s Mandboak of Australian Fungi: 
with a letter to Mrs. Martm fram the New South Wales 
Government, intimating its contribution of £105 towards cost 
of publication of the work. 


By Miss J. W. Raff--Living Gand Planarian. Bipaliun. 
from Queensland, and two well-developed voung, produeed 
by fission lasi Sune: also fresh fragment, just beginning to 
form a head. Collected by Mr. 1. F. Thomson near Bris- . 
bane, May, 1925. 


By Mr. A, BE, Rodda—-Shells, Organ-pipe Coral and Flat 
Sea Urchin, from Cairns, Queensland: also Miocene Fossil 
Sea Urehin. for comparison with Queensland specimen. 


oor Cuark, The Auts of Vietoria 135 


m 


aS teeeecdannaaveretaveannanvaucaraseseeyyenyayyideqated ney eQivaeqca cranny bAGenneran page censven puveaneneeusenueUNeeuedPUNeAReneryggnen: 


THE ANTS OF VICTORIA. 
By J, Unars, B.S. 
[Parv JT. | 
(Commiunieated, by C Y. Bavvett) 


Sod seeareandsALdhocnpeddedeaveascevivenrenaicecececsuasévercuerecsnarpovdedecaazprcedercennridteerynidndudcror iia) yhiNnepynd et tnges 


PUCTOOOUNUANA RE Ap EaaE OA ANGE 
Vadberenrenpesvenesneacnsy: 


Read hefire the eld Naturalists’ Club of Vielurra,- 
September 12, 1935. 


Sab-family PON RINAS, Lepeletior. 


Yhe ants of this sub-fanily are kivge or of moderate size, 
and the workers and females are armed with # foounmidable 
sting. The petiole is composed of only gne joint, ov node. 
Ju some veers the post-petlole, or first segment of the . 
abdomen, is: -greathy constricted behind, as in Wy mec, 
making this section appear fa be: -fwo- Fourted, tn other 
genera, ‘as Amislyopone, the 1o0de is attached to the post- 
petiole throughout its entire posterior surface, with the vesult 
that these ants do not show a distinet node when seen in pro- 
file. _o8 

The Ponerine are the snust ancient group OF ants, and ave 
the stoek from which the higher, speeialised sub-families arose. 
Nowhere are they a dominant @‘oup, except ins Australia, 
where, according to Prot, W. M. Wheeler, ‘‘these ancicit 
insects occupy a posiiga anoneysl. ats aniilogoas to that of 
the monotvemes aid marsupials among - animals, and the 
Rhynchoeuphalia among reptiles, And if is especially the 
wenus Myrnieeia, conipr ising the ‘Bull-doy Ants,’ whieh may 
be said tu characterise this fauna, and, at the same time, to 
yopresent the prototype of all ants.”? 

All the species form small colonies, usially in the ground, 
wader Joes aid stones. Some, however may be found nesting 
in rotten lows, and in tree-stuinps. The lite-histury and habits 
ot most of our species are noknown, but they may he segiarded 
as being insectivorous. Many species, of several genera, May 
he found hunting o1 frees amd shrnbs in Hower, “where they 
abtain numbers of small iseets. Mrequently they ave seen 
sipping the nectar of the blossoms, This applies particularls 
to Adyrniecia, Rhylidopouesa, and Chalcapaner au. No species 
has heen observed attending aphids. seale-insects, GF mealy- 


CLARK, The Ants of Vivtorla 


Vict. Nai. 
rhs +3 yre TA £ mt Mater dg Full 


bugs ou the trees ; but at least one &pecies, Batporert Lute, 
generally has 2 a Vinge” hinither uf meal y -bugs in its nest. 


Pheeat) 


The nest? “Of Pontriia are Huck B crtiiyhitieh by other 
insects, Colonies of Chalcopanera and Eupanerit ave rarely 
without. visitors, inseets Of sonie of fhe uther orders, Other 
“Arthropods, such as mites. pill- husks, ote., are alsy commonly 
found in most nests. ; ; 


The sketch reproduced here tlusteates the priteipal por- 
tions of an ant. Tt he ten 1s (and the positions indicated) dre 


ol ' : ve ode ain 


4 > 

a Lg 4 + 

= > wt = 

: = z + 

Na z = = 2 fai = 

=< 3 2 S we Ser Fe <3 

= BOS =, a Fo a3 =! . 
a c o 2 iS a4 “ 
br a* 3. 8 a J eo A" rr oe 
x > oS ae Se it mbes: 4 
&, ba em = Ss 8 E> -%& aw 

\ z! S © or vw 2) By, Ry F . b 

« . a = c 7 wy 
{ wa a 
le mz 


THORAX WETIONS ABDOMEN 


4 
' 
4 
! 
iF 
! 
| 
| 


<—$__________ -Torat Lewer 


game fh, ea - 


-Fle. 1.—Myruntecia (Fyomyrineesa) Abverrams, Paral. 
Daraal view vo the whoiker to shew the prtacton! para 


those generally used | in Hterature, ancl will be adoptert | A these 
atticles” er : 


Tribe AMBI, YORONIT. 

This tribe is represented in Nustraliz by fio wenera, 
namely, Amblyapaie and Myopopone: only the first, however, 
bis “ko fav heen ‘ford in’ Vietoria, 7 (Fae 

Genus, Amblyopone, Brichsoi. 
Evichson, Aveh, fur. Nature. vol, MH. pp. , 260; pH 
’ fig. 71841." Wee, 
Emer ry, Getiera Insectorum. Mase. (18, 1911. 


In this genus the petiole consists of oue joint: this is 
artienlated. over tbe whole of its posterior surface with the 


thes \ 4 


itt. 


“Voec| Grarn,, The Ants of Victoria 137 


first segment of the abdomen. ‘The mandibles are long and 
nivrow, with few teeth on the inner border. Eyes very 
small, Antenne 12-jointed. « 


‘I'lese are primitive ants, living in sina! colonies in the 
ground. They may sometimes be found wider logs and 
stones. I have several times found nests in rotten logs in S.W. 
Aastralia. These logs always contained colonies of Termites, 
aud the larvae of- Lamellicorn beetles, upon both of which, 
vo donbt, the Ambly yopone depend for food, 


Ants of this genus do not expose themselves during the 
day, nor haye I seen them on the surface of the gro ound, 
They shun ‘ho light. ‘hey travel long distanees under half- 
buried lows and stones, and have tunnels diverging in all 
directions, The aetnal nest is rarely seen im such situations, 
being generally deep underground. JI have found the 
queens aid the byood only in rotten logs. Pyrequently several 
fertile females may be present in one colony, The winged 
males and females are observed in the nests, runuing: with 
the workers, durmg January and February. 


At present. little ox nothing is known concerning these 
aunts, The fact that, generally, they are found in compara- 
tively moist, or damp, situations, where beetla and other 
larvie abound, suggests that they prey on these; brabably 
also. on Termites. 


5, AMauyorone AusrRanis, Uvich. Ferntree Gully (F. P. 
Spry, J. E, Dixon, L. B. Thorn, GC. Barrett): 
Beaeonsheld (F. I. Wilson). 

Evichson, Avch, fur. Naturgi, 8, p. 260, pl. 5, fig. 7, 
1841, a Smith, Cat. Hymn, ie Mus, 6, p. 
4 09, pl. 7 , figs, 21-24, 1858, 938, - 
Amblyopanane sistenbis, Tir,, Tromeits Agric Gas, 
N.S.W., 1905, 
; AiBlyopens dustratis, Ey, Kam. Andre, Rey. d’Ent., 
15, p. 260, 1906, 3 ®. Kimery, Gen. Tnsect,, Mase,, 
118, 1911. 


Originally deseribéd from Tasmania, this spucies is found 
throughout Southern Australia. It is about one-thitd of a 
wich in length, aid, varies in ‘colour from light fervuginous to 
durk brown. The heads coarsely, hut not densely, punctate, 
except in front. The thorax is snwooth and shining, aiid has 
a few peatter edd punctures. "The mandibles are long and jar- 


138  Guaitk, Lhe Ants‘ of Victoria bape al 


row, with 5-6 teeth on the-inner border. The eyes are very 
small, and there are no ocelli. The antenne are short, the 
seapes not reaching beyond the eyes. 


+ The female is larger than the worker, and is winged. 
She has larger cyes, and three well-developed ocelli. 


The male is black, with the antennz, tibia, and tarsi yel- 
lowish, The mandibles are small and’ triangular, The 
anfenn® ave 15-jointed. ‘The thorax is densely punctate; 
the node almost. smooth, The worker and the female are pro- 
vided with a large and powerful sting. 


6. AMBLYOPONE AUSTRALIS, Er., var. opscurA, Smith. 
- Perntree Gully (F. P. Spry); Belgrave (F. BE, Wil 
s0n). 

Amblyopone obscura, Smith, Cat. Hymn.. Brit. Mus., 6, 
p. 109, 1858 & ¢. 

Amblyopopone australis, Er., var. ORScURA, 8m. Frog- 
gatt, Agric. Gaz., N.S.W., 1905; Forel, Rev. Suisse 
Zool,, 18, p. 2, 1910, 2; Emery, Gen- Insect:, Fasc,, 
118, 1911. 


This variety has a wide distribution in Eastern Australia, 
vanging from Tasmania to North Queensland. It is niuch like 
australis, but is lavger and darker in colour. “Che head is 
more densely punctate behind, and more definitely striate in 
front. The epinotal declivity, in both the worker and the 
female, is inclined to be transversely rugose; in australis it is 
smooth and shining, 

The male differs from the male of australis much more 
than the workers of the two species differ. It is much 
larger and more strongly sculptured. The thorax and 


node are densely punctate. The antenns and legs are darker 
in colour. 


7. AMBLYOPONE FERRUGINEA, Smith. Ferntree Gully (FP. 
P. Spry) ; Belgrave (F,, &, Wilson) ; Woori Yallock (1. 
B. Thorn). 1 
Smith, Cat. Hytnn., Brit. Mus., 6, p. 110, 1858, #. 
Froggatt, Agric. Gaz., N.S.W., 1905. 
Ern. Andre, Rev. d’Unt., 15, p. 261, 1906, 4 2; Wmery, 
Gen. Insect., Fase., 118, 1911. 
A small species, barely a quarter of an inch in length. ft 
is yellowish, or reddish yellow. The head and pronotam are 


thes, | 1 Crank, The Ants of Victoria 139 


finoty, and Jongitudinally, striate. he remainder of the body 
is smooth and shining. 

The female is slightly larger than the worker, and 18 winged, 
‘he head, thorax and node are browimsh black; the man- 
dibles, antenne, legs and abdomen reddish, or yellowish red. 
The male is unknown, 

This species appears to live im small colonies, under 
stones. At present nothing is known concerning its life his 
tory, nor habits. 


Tribe MYRMECIINI, Emery. 


Thig tribe contains only one geuus, and is purely Ats- 
tralian. 


Genus Myrmecia, Fabr. 
Fabr., Syst, Piez., p. 423, 1804, 


This is a large genus, and, with the exception of one 
frum New Caledonia, all {he species ave found only in Aus- 
tralia and Tasmania, They rank among tho largest of known 
muts; some examples measurmg up to 1} inches. They are 
very conspicuous, and most of the species are very aggres- 
sive. They will generally follow an intruder for some dis- 
tance, if the nest is disturbed. The genus is well represented 
throuxhout. Anstralia, but is more abundant, in species and 
individuals, in the coastal areas than in the dry interior. 

Some species, however, vange far inland, and a few appear 
1o be vonfined to the interior. Some of the species are widely 
' distributed, while others are very local. When searehing for 
food, in the trees or on the ground, these ants are fearless, 
attacking every living thing they meet. Even man himself 
they do not fear. They seem to have a strong objection to 
pienie parties, and, perhaps, have disorganised more pienies 
than, all the other animals of the bush together. 

This genus has heen divided into four snb-genera, based 
mainly on the size and formation of the mandibles and the 
antenne, This division, however, is not very satisfactory. 
Simery, in the Genera Insactorwm (1911), erected two sub- 
genera, Promyrmecta and Pristonarmecia, to contain some 
species which were certainly out of place in the genus Myr- 
nieeia, 8.sty, Both of these sub-genera. contain only jump- 

ing species; birt, apparently, Emery did not know that half 
the species of the whole genus gre jumpers, The Mayrmecia, 


149 Crag, The Ante pf Victoria veiaerne 

’ r 
s.str,, do not jump; they are walkers, or runners. Wheeler*, 
in dealing with ‘jumping ants,'’ noted that the jumpers 
had not been separated, sa he erected another new sub-genus, 
Halmamyrmecia, to contain these, with MW, pilosula as the 
“type. Something had to be done to correct the distribution 
made by Emery; bnt it is doubtful whether tho new sub- 
genus tends to improve matters. Both the sub-genera erected 
by Emery are composed of jumpers, and the anatomical 
details are not sufficient to warrant such separation, as, under 
these conditions, it almost becomes necessary to erect a sub- 
menus Tor every other species. 

The variations in the formation of the mandibles and the 
lgnath of the seapes is very great among the jumpers. In 
many eases Tt is ainvost impossible to say definitely in which - 
of the suh-enera some of the more obsenre forms should be 
placed, 6 avoid further confusion, | maintain only two 
Givisions of the genus, and separate them into Gressaria, 
Myrmecia, abr. astr., and Saltatoria, Promyrmecoa, Mmery- 

The Gressoria contains M. Gulosa, vindex, forficeta, and 
their allies, all of which are species with long legs adapted 
for walking only. The Saltatoria contains M. (PF) aberrans, 
pilosule, mandihularis, and their allies, all of which have 
short legs, and Lhe posterior pair adapted for jumping. They 
have the fernova of the hind legs slightly thickened, and are 
able to leap some inches along the ground. The formation of 
the mandibles is variable in this section, but the, antennal 
scapes rarely pass the oveipital border in the workers. 

The Gressorea are the largest of the Bull-dog Ants, and 
genorally construct their nests in the ground. When the 
nesb is undervround thev raisé 4. more or less cone-shaped 
mound on the surface with material excavated. The entrance 
usually is at the summit. and is an irregular opening, from 
ve )to. fous inehes in diameter. Oceasionally. nests are 
found under lags or stones, and, in some localities, even in 
rotten logs, The colonies are small, rarely numbering move 
(iw) 200 individuals. Sometimes the number is. greater. but 
more often ubout 100 individuals comprise the colony. j 

‘The grotund-nest usually goes down two feet, almost 


- terticnil., There is, a series. of three or.four pockete-on the 
-ground lnvel. just. under the mound. Similar, poekets: opeur 


_' Wheeler, Observations on’ Gigantiops destructor. Fabricius and 
ather Lespine Anti, Biological Bulletin, Vol “XLU, Na. 4. 1922. 


Ye ~*~ “tr ave int A ab we Sane Oe yy 


Vahe 


a1" 
it Crank, The Ants of Victoria 141 


at intervals down the shaft, which terminates in a large 
ehaniber, During the summer months the brood, more par- 
ticularly the pups, generally is in the surface pockets, Af 
the first alarm the brood is carried to the bottom chamber, 

The winged males and females are found in the nests 
during the summer. Usually the nuptial flights take place, 
during the afternoon, 1 the period trom February to April. 
After the fight the male dies, but the female, using her legs, 
breaks off her wings. She constructs a cell under a log or u 
stone, in which she deposits her eges. Sometimes three ur 
four females, with their eges, are discovered in one cell, 
under a stone. When the eggs hatch these females fight with 
each other until bnt one remains alive to found the new 
colony. There is only one gueen in a nest, In many 
Listaneus ergatoil females have heen found in, the nesls wilt 
queens. ‘hese females differ from the workers only ti hav 
img the thoracie selevites move developed; sometimes wing- 
pads are present, but na wings. 

Theae ants hint in bright. sunlight, rarely, if ever, eom- 
ing gut at night. The food consists mainty of the nectar and 
exudations of trees and plants, The larve, however, are 
Insectivorous, ahd ave supplied with inseets and daterpillary 
ag food. 


8. Myraircrs GuLosa, Mabry. 


Formica gulosa, Faby, Syst: Wnt, p. 395, 8, 177s. 
Myrmecie gulosa, Wabr., Smith, Cat. Hymn., Brit, 

Mus., 6, p. 148, 1858; Lowne, Entomologist, 2, 

p, 1865; Mayv., Jour. Mus. Godef,, XII, p, 94, 

3876; Froggatt, Agric. Gaz, N.S.W., pp. 5 and 

\ / 9, pl. 1, fig, 3, 1905; Emery, Gen. Tirgaevarni, 
oct 4 Fase, 118, p, 21, 1911, , . an] 


CBs specie ‘was selected yet inaty asi the type of tha’ 
venus. STE ‘does “Nat appear ‘obecamon im Victorias 
although ‘pentifuke in all the’ ofherKastemn States. Tha’ 
workers: “Measure from 4 ta fully liineh' in'terigth. The head! 
and most iogetha: hody ave reddish-yellow’; the three apical: 
saginen ks: of the’ ‘abdomen are blaek!:°/Phé first: segment of the. 
abdamen'!igyelowish, like theibody. The jaws are yellow, 
an dite teeth sbrownish. 6 outs ra Ean ont! 


9. MyrMrcia wierisuara, Roger. pheternan (Cc, ‘Balt? 
relt); Belgyave (Pf P. Sy BEY) ‘born ) = Grey, 
fown (J. He Dakin) POPLAR, WW Davey) 


4 ; > ' - : Vieto Nant, 
las OLank, The Ants of Victoria Voll xt 


Roger. Beryl. Ent. Zeitschr., p. 33, 1861, ¢ ; Maye, 
Verh. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, XII,-p, 723, 1862, 8 ; 
Froggatt, Agvie, Gaz, N.S-W., P 1905, 85° 
Mmery, Gen. Insect. Waee., 118, p. 9, 1911, §- 


This species is ver y close to the preceding one. The colour. 
is a little darker, more reddish. The antennal scapes are 
blackish brown, ‘he apical segments of the abdomen are red- 
dish; In gulosa they are black. The workers measure from 17 
mm. to 26 mm. 


The female closely resembles the worker, but is larger 
(26 mm. to 29 mm.). The eolour is darker, and the seulpture 
stronger. ‘The head is broader behind, nearly square. The 
antennal scapes do not extend so far beyond the occipital 
border as they do in the worker. The node is more strongly 
rugose. The wings ave hyaline. 


The male (length 15 mm. to 18 mm.) is differently 
coloured from the worker. ‘he head is reddish, with the 
aecipital border and the sides blackish. ‘The pronotum and: 
seatellum ate blackish, tinged with red, The remainder of 
the thorax, node, first segment of the abdomen, legs and 
antenne are yellowish red. he mandibles are yellow; the 
wings hyaline, 

This ant has a wide range, extending from Bunbury, 
Western Australia, round the Southern Coast to Rockhamp- 
ton, Queensland. !t constructs the usual dome-shaped mound- 
nest, but oecasionally nests under logs and stones, The 
deiilated* females may be found, during May to July, in cells 
under stones, with their eggs. The eggs are small, slightly 
under 2 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width; they are yel- 
lowish-white. Fyom five to seven egos ave laid at a time. 
The eggs hateh in from six to nine days, but six to seven 
‘uonths elapse before the first ants appear, These are always 
gmall examples, owing no doubt to the scarcity of food: The 
first brood are raised entirely by the female. While rearing 
this small family’ the; queen devotes inuch time to excavating 
a nest. By the timé the’ first ants appear she generally has 
a small nest, about’ 6 inches underground, where the larve 
and pupe are stored. On the arrival of the small° family 
the female stops all work and devotes her’ “energy” Sain to 
egg-laying. fod Whe : 


‘Females which havefdropped iheir wings- Vite; rae 


rd eee Craun, The Ants of Victoria 146 


_ The new workers at-onee enlarge the nest, and attend to 
all future eggs, larve and pupa, The second, and subse- 
quent, broods usually are normal size, as the workers pro- 
eure the food. Sometimes a few small workers may be found, 
partieularly in spring. These are vegarded by some 
naturalists as minor workers, but I consider that they are 
morely the result of a scarcity of food during the winter 
inonths. 


10. Myrurcia vinprx, Smith. Sea Lake (J. C. Goudie) ; 
Mallee (J. E. Dixon). 
Smith, Cat. Hymn. Brit. Mus, 6, p. 147, 1858, 9 ; 
Mayr, Verh, Zool. Bot. Ges, Wien. XII, p, 72, 
1862, %; Froggatt Agric. Gaz, NSW, p. 
10, 1905; Emery, Gen. Insect., 118, p. 11, 1911; 
Crawley, KNnt. Mon. Mag, 3, IIT, p. 119, 1922. 


_ ‘This species was ortginally deseribed from Western Aus- 
traba. EH is, however, widespread through Southern Aus- 
tralia, 

The worker (length 16 mm, to 25 mm.) i§ rather slender. 
The ‘colour is reddish-yellow, with the whole of the abdomen 
shining black. The mandible and elypeus are a clear yellow, 
with the teeth brown. 

The female is larger (238 mm, to 27 mm.), but elosely 
rasembles the worker. The wines are lone. 

The male (15 mm. to 18 mm.) is coloured very much like 
the worker, but has the first segment of the abdomen also 
reddish-yellow. In this sex the mandibles are small and tri- 
angular, with only three teeth, _The antenne are 13-jointed, 
and almest as long as the body; the seape is very short, 

The life and habits of this species are similar to those of 
the preceding, but.the workers are more pugnacious. They 
drop off trees and plants on to the passer-by more readily 
than do nore other species. 


1, Me oerora vinnex, Smith, var, prserrorumM, Whiceler- 
Maldon (J. CG. Goudie); Mallee (J. E. Dixon). 
Wheeler, Proc. Ray. Soc., 5. Aust., XX XTX, p. 605, 
1915, ®. 
This variety was described from specimens collected at 
Todmorden, South Australia. It is widely distributed in 
the inland portions of West Australia, South Australia, Vie 


ita CHARK, The Ants of Victoria vorenri 
toria,, dain New South Wales. It varies much in size and 
slightly in colour, It is of a mueh lighter yellow than 
winder; the head and abdomen ate dark brawn, sometimes 
almost black. It is slso more’ densely covered with fine hairs 
than vinden: ; while the striation of the thorax and iode 
usnally 1 is not so strong, 


The female resembles the worker very closely, but 1s 
slightly larger. 


The male is very inach like’ the male of vindes, but the 
first abdommal segment is black, not reddish, as in vindew, 


In-Central Western Australia this species generally nests 
in the roots of trees. My friend, Mr. J. Hickmer, of Jigalong, 
states that the natives call it “Poon -jee,’’? and treat if with 
gveat respect. 


12. Mvrvecta vispex, Smith, var. nicriceps, Mayr, Chel- 
wenham (CG. Barrett); Ferntres Gilly (Bh. P. Spry) ; 
Portland (A, W, Davey), 


Myrmecia nigriceps, Mayr, Verh. Aatle Bot. Ges, 
Wien., XIT, p. 725-788, 1862, % 3 Feoxeatt, 
Agrie. Gaz., NSW. p. 9, 1905. 


Myrmecia vinder, Sm., var. nigriceps, Mayr. - Forel, 
Fauna Sud-west, Aust. 1, 7; By 264 266, 1907; 
Emery, Ger. Insect., 118, “11, 1911: Vieh- 
meyer, Arch: fur, Naturg., 79, pb. "98," 1943, 2. 


This yariety is distributed throughout Australia, Tt is 
slightly larger and darker ‘than vindex or desertorum, and 
the sculpture is stronger than in both of these; the head 3s 
broader behind, In all.cther vespects it is much hke vindex, 

Vichmeyer described, with doubts, a single male from 
South Australia as the male of this species. According t» 
hig description, tha speciméh most certainly does not helom: 
to this species. The male of wigricens is almost identical with 
the male of vindex, differmg only in its slightly darker 
colour. 


{ have, growing in my garden at Sandringham, a Myrtle- 
leaf Acacia, A, myrtifolia, 24 inches in height, and bearing 
12 flowers. This, I consider, is almost ‘a floral reeord for 
aeacias. In June last I brought from the Dandenongs this 
seedling, Which is thriving in its new environment.*~A.J.T. 


THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, Vol. XLII October, 1925 
PLATE V 


- Pin. 1) PTEROSTYLIS ACUMINATA Fig. 2) PTEROSTYLIS ACUMINATA 


(Magnified about 2 diam.) ROE ey petiae 


Fig. 3 PTEROSTYLIS RUFA Fig. 4 PTEROSTYLIS PUSILLA 
One Side Cut Away (Galea Cut Away) 
(Magnified about 3 diam.) (Magnified about 3 diam.) 


Photos by T. Green 


tons. +e The Flower Show 445 


eeeeewwrbteavanpuvensenaiernadiederanrrmeseesdubMadGPTUECOvenbomubereUbMemedlLAOEEP RAM BOETT ON (HRPOmOE FOOTE UACAHEEIIEIIEGndactioeneng 


POORER 


THE FLOWER SHOW. 


AAP AA HIRORONEODONENE 


SLL 
ri 


WAOTNALARUAGRANANVUNMAGENOUAUD HAAG SHEA PpRNANSEANODINEAGGIQUBORGUGPHONDUAONAOUI HOOD NSWHErAvaRAGKGEDIIPRHG CONC EIEDRY CC GH HORS TONFAL GQ CRE 


In spite of the dryness of the past winter and a conse- 
quent late season, this year's Flower Show was considered 
by many to have been the best yet held. 


On account of the recent destruction by fire of the Town 
Hall in Melbourne, that of St. Kilda was chosen for the 
display of the beauty of our bush, and, in spite of its dis- 
tance from the clief civic. centre, the Show was successtul, 
the attendance being greeter than the Committee had dared 
jo expect. 

Flewers came from widely-distant places, and Queens- 
land was the only State unrepresented. Froin Wesfern Aus- 
tralia, was sent a fine collection of curions and beautiful 
species, the most notable being the lovely purple Plotythece 
galeoides, kin to ont own lavely Tetrathecas. two Nangaraa 
Paws, Anigozunthus Manglestt and A. humilis, Laanbertta 
malliflura Swnsia latefolia, the Blue Tinsel Lily, Calec- 
tasia cyanea, Tsopogon ‘rosea, Hibbertia stellaris, Velrophila 
linens, and many others. 

New South Wales supplied its incomparible Waratah, 
Telopea speciosissima, the most regal of all our flowers, the 
lovely Flannel-flower, Actinolus Heltanthi, the charming, but 
badly-named, Native Rose, Boronia serrata, and the fine 
hance-leaved: Crowea salignm 

’ From Broken Hill were the Sweet Quandons, Fusanus 
acwoninatus, with grey foliage and attractive bright-red 
frivits, the gloridus Sturt’s Desert Pea, Chanthus Dampieri, 
the rare Oryptandra propingna, fine blooms of Fremophala 
aliernifolia, the Silver Cassia, C. artenvisicides, our only blue 
Boronia, B. cw@raulescens; two really handsome salthushes, 
Kachia tomentose and Bassia cvtacanthe, and several notiee- 
able composites, of which Helipterum polygaléfolir, the Milk- 
wort Sunray, and three Asters, Olcurta magniflora, O. rudis 
and O. pimelioides, were particularly good. 

‘Of flowers. from, our own State, about 200 species were 
staged ‘systentatically.’ ‘The acacias were, perhaps, ‘better 


Ab The Flower show Youle ial 


representéd than usual by two dozen species, the great’ 
majority of them familiar to most of us. The most novel 
wert A, epinescens, which deseribes itself and is obviously 
from the dry North-West, A. microcanpa,.the Manna Acacia, 
A. colletioides, Wait-a-whilé, also armed with defensive spines, 
the very beautiful A. buzifolka, with grey box-like leaves, and 
the ahnost equally attractive A, brachybotrya, the Silver 
Mulgs, all frora the same district, {wo others not so uncommon 
were the Woolly A. lanwgera and the Narrow-leaf Aeacia, 
A. linewris, from Foster. Gippslund furnished more flowers 
than have come to us in former years fron that quarter, and 
a particularly good lot, of seveuty species, from Pakenham 
wis effectively staged, Amoane these was a fine bunch of 
Epacris nrcraphylla, the Coval Heath, Other Heaths from 
the east in good form were the Corman, the Woolly and the 
Blunt-leaved., 

Yaradale, in the north, yielded the ever-weleome Fairy 
Wastlower, Eriostemon ohovulis and Tetratheca, two pretty 
apacrids, Leucopogon. juniperinus, the Prickly Beard-heath, 
not often showin, and Z. ericoides, the Pink Beard-heath, as 
well ag our best Grevillea alpanc. 


Swarnsone procumbens came trom further atield. 


A yood supply of material was sent trom the Matlee, 
Ouyen being vesponsible for as many aa five boxes. Of the 
many species only a few can be detailed, such as Pitlosparum. 
phillyra@oides, the weeping member of its genus, a handsome 
specimen uf which, by the way, ean be seen iw the Melbourne 
General Cemetery, two Prostantheras, P, chlorantha, the 
eurious Green and P. aspulathoules, the Scarlet Mint-bush, 
the Silvery Phebalrwm bullatwm, the Pink Velvet-bush, Lasin- 
petalum Behrii, the very blue Lavender Halgania, Butama, the 
Desert. Cassia eremophela, the Three-winged Blue-bush, Kochia 
triptert, and several composites, amongst which were the Soft 
Billy Buttons, Craspedia pletocephala, and the Olearies 
pimeleoides, rudis, ciliata and Muellert. _ 

- Ordinarily we depend vreatly on the Grampians tor our 
success, and again there was the cuslomary showing of its 
floral magnificence. Thryptomene (Mifchelliana) calycina: 
Mieromyrtus (Thryptomene) cilaatue, the Fringed Ieath- 
myrtle, Lhotzkya, and Pink Swamp-heath, with the Olive 
Grevillea, the Boronias, B. pinnata and 8B. pilosa, the Slender 
Conosperm, and many others, the arrangement of which was 
greatly adnired, It is gratifying te find: the first-named plant, 


til The: Flower Show 1at 


the Bushy. Heath-anyrtle, becoming ‘so popular. Soon no 
garden will be without a plant, as i1 is so easily grown. At 
the Fyankston golf links it is sown broadcast, and in one 
vase a thick sernb of if js coming along in most robust 
fashion. 

Undoubtedly the miaat popular section of our flora is that 
of the orchids. Quite a number of people are devoting them 
selves to theiy study, and they are being photographed quite 
exhaustively, This year's display was, as ever, the centre of 
attraction. 

Unfortunately the late rains and the early date of the 
shiny prevented the exhibition of as many speeies as on 
forniey cveasions, bat the very best yse was made of the 
seanty supply of blooms, The most interesting were tw 
frum Westetn Anstraba, Drakea elaslica and Caleane aigrita 
The best of ovr own came from. Rushworth, Wonga Park 
awd Nyora, and, generally speaking, all were very well 
packed for transport. Nine Pterostylis, mainly curlu. 
nutans, alpine, dongifolia and pedunculata, domimated the 
tables, and their green wus mainly relieved hy the Wax 
lip, @lossodia major, and the Snake Orehid, Dzwris peduncu 
lata, Only twenty-six species in all were represented, and 
same of them, hke the two Typeranths, Cyrtostylis, the ‘Tall 
Leek-orehid, Prasoplallum elatum, the Fringed Tlelmet 
orchid, Corysunthes fimbriata, the May-fly Orchid, Aciwnthus 
caudetus, the Brownbeards, Caloclilus Robertsoni, and the 
Connon Bird-orehid, Chiloglhiitis Gunn, eould muster only 
from one to very few blooms, There were very few spear 
mens, too, of the six Caladenias present. 

The selection of cultivated plants from our own Botanic 
Gardeng took, as before, pride of place at the head of the 
hall. Many fine flowers were shown, the most. noticeable of 
which were the New South Wales Waratah, Bauera sessili- 
flora, Grevillea Hookert, and G. Caleyi, Chorizema cordalum, 
Bruchysema lanceolata and Chamelaucium,. the Geraldton 
Wax-flower, the last three from Western Australia, Briaste- 
mon myoporoides, Acacia montana, A. myrtifaha, Pamader- 
ris taniyera and several Pultenmas. 

Apparently there were few novelties amongst the Vic- 
torian qiants sent in; only the above-mentioned +Leacie 
epiresdens. did Hochta teiptern were svoted, 

Ts ihave not just a Jitte danger that in time cur show 
inay become somewhat monotonous and lose the interest of 


} Vie. Brat. 
148 The Flower Show Vol. Xt 


t 


some of the public in’ consequence? Quite a number of our 
best flowers have never yet been put. before city falk. We 
do not remember to have seen, so far, our own Telopea, the 
Sassafras, Howittia, Prostanthera spinosa, Pholidia giblost- 
folia, Tumea elegans, Fucryphica, the fine variety aspera, 
and Havea longifolia, from Yarra Junction, nor even Diplan- 
héna Morea, which is common at Lower Ferntree Gully, on 
our tables. We will have to make a point. of seeuring one or 
more new things at each show, and draw particular attention 
to these. Perhaps on some future occasion we might even 
hold the show in January, and let. the people sec what beauties 
the mountains afford. 

With ITelichrysum rosmarinifolium and H. Stirlingii, 
Grevillea Victorie, Beckea crenatifolia, and B. Gunniana, 
Boronia algidu, Bossiea foliose, Oxylobiums, Prostantheras, 
Celmisia, the upland form of Leptospermumn lanigerum, 
Veranica niven, Epucrids, Gentiana, Richea and Gaultherta ~ 
as a basis; what a fine display we could stage, and this idea 
stems worth serious consideration. 

The following is a list of contributors of flowers, with the 
localities whenee they were gathered :-— 


NEW SOUTH WALES, 
Mr. ©. @. Brown, Sydney; My. A. Morris, Broken Hill. : 


SOUTELD AUSTRALE. 

Master Colin Jenkins, Keith; Mr. EH. H. Ising and Mr. 
Hann, Adelaide. 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 

Miss L. Hanson and Rev. Mrnest Br yant, Banbury Mr, 

fliggins, Perth. 
“TASMANIA. o Ui wre 
- Mis. Walker, Mt. Magnet. 


VICTORIA. 

Mallee.—Mr.[*. Holt, Ouyen. el 

» Northari—-State School: Bnsh Semming: Contre. Gately 

children, Dingee: Mr. H. Dorman, Miss Dorothy Dorman, 
Miss, Jean Diss, Mrs. C. Hanstord, Miss. Amy Ulansford, 
Taradale; Mis, Rich, Rushworth; Mrs. Brooks, Maldon; Mr., 
Reeves, Bendigo; Boys of State School, ‘Elphinstone. + 


et on 


ite i The Klower Show Hg 


North-Bastern ——Miss Warr, bide Metter Miss deffrey, 
Molesworth; Mrs. Itvans, bima Bast; Mis, J, W. Boucher, 
Chiltern. 


Gippsland—Mrs, W. F, Dyall, Drouin; Mv. EF. Barton, 
Foster; Miss J. Galbraith, 'yet's; Miss Fox, Glengarry; Mr 
¥. Wilkinson, Dronin; Mr, T. Wiliams, Drouin; Miss Ros- 
-siter, Hedley; Mr. R. Peuny, Briavolong; Mr. T. Hart, 
Bairnsdale; Mr, Campbell, Glenaladale; Miss L. Dyall, Gar- 
fied; Mr. PF. Wisewould, Pakenham. 

Southern.—State School, Torquay; Mr. P. Davon, French 
Ysland. be. 


South-West.—Mr. ©. D’ Alton, Grampians; Miss Heal, 
Staivell; Miss F. Allsop, Dreeite. 


Melbourne Distviet—My. and Mis. V. Miller, Bearons- 
field; My. G. Higgens, Rel Hull: Mr. J. Young, Muntrose; 
Rey. G. Cox, Mornington; Mr. W. FW. Hayes, Moranding; Mr. 
W. Operman, Croydon; Mr W, Tonge, Eltham; Miss FE. 
ikernedy, Vrankstow; Mis. Allan Yeo, Pheasayit Creek, 
Ninglake; State School, Wonga Park (Mr. L. Dyeri, Master 
KR. Foubister, Panton Till; Miss Nokes, Sandrinehan.; Mrs- 
Hill, Sandringham; Mrs. Kh, Coleman, Blackburn; Mr. F. 
Pitcher, Belgrave; Mr. i. Peseott, Mr. G. Coghill, My. d. 
W. Audas, My. St. John, Miss Roberts, of Nyora;, Mesdumes 
Daley and Hughes, Frankston; the late Director, W, Laid- 
law, of Melbourne Botanic Gardens. 


The Committee ig indebted, as in former years, to the 
proprietary of the ‘‘Age’’ for the paper required to eover 
the tables; to that of the ‘‘ Areus’’ for the fine notices which 
enitributed so largely to its suecess in the way of the attend- 
amee; and to the Messrs. Keep Brothers for their kind loan 
of motor lorry and driver for the carriage of the parcels 
of flowers, ete. 


_ Notes on the Dryopide (Parnids), 


The genus Dryops of Olivier (1791), bemg one year prior 
ta. Parnus of Fabricius, gives its name to.an interesting family 
of heetles. They are found in fresh water, attached to sub- 
_merged sticks ov fhe underside of stones, for which their 
unusually Jong and strong elaivs are especially adapted, bat 
are unable to swim and are very slow m their movements. 


150 Notes om the Dryopidae (Parnidae) laa ace Es 


They have little anatomical affinity with true Water-beetles 
(Dytiscida, Hydrophitidie or Gyrinide), being more closely 
related to the Dascillidee. Their larve are said to live in 
damp earth, under stones, and to resemble fhe larwe of cer- 
tain Elateridze. . Their affinity with the Daseillide ig also in 
accord with the habits of certain species of this family. 

Mr. A. M. Lea has lately deseribed Sclerocyphon aquati- 
ous (Dascillide), of which he and I found three exanuples on 
logs that were submerged in water at Waratah, Tasmania, 
in company with Helis tasmantews. These beetles want 
close looking for, as they are small and often remain - 
still or move very slowly, besides being halt-covered by a film 
of slime. This is probably the reason that they have so 
elnded our naturalists, though probably many species occur 
in our rivers and creeks. In 1864 the Rev. R. L. King 
described mine species belonging to three genera, in the 
Transactions of the Entomological Society of New South 
Wales (the precursor of the Tinnean Society of N,S.W.). 
Since then only three species have been added, one each by 
Grouvelle, Blackburn and Lea. T have some five or six new 
species, Gither in the press or in MSS., and should be very 
vlad to receive further specimens for examination from col- 
lectors, as well as any observations on the reproduction of 
any members of the genus. <All that T have examined with a 
Zeiss binocular belong to the genus Helmis (formerly Elmis), 
which seents to contain the greater number of our species. 

These bectles are able to breathe by carrying with them 
a film of air attached to the villose clothing of their abdomeéit; 
but little, if anything, is known of the life-history of the 
Australian species, he family is thus classified in Mowler’s 
Fauna of British India :— 

!. Abdomen with five visible ventral segments. 

1. Anterior coxe transverse. with distinct tro- 
chantius, 
Sub-fam.:: Dryopine. 
li, Anterior coxm-globular, without trochantius. 
Sub-fam.; Helmine. 


If, Abdomen with six or seven visible ventral segments. 
‘Sub-fam.: Psephhenine. 
- The last ic so far nnrecorded trom Anstralia, their larvie 


are abundant in the rapids of Niagara. 
rt B. J, Carrer. 


- ae | Botanical Notes Tat 


In the Proveedings of the, Linnean Socicty of NS.W., 
Vol, 1h, 1925, pp. 299-310; the Rev, HW. M, R, Rupp com- 
ments interestingly on his collection of thirty-two Pterastylas. 
giving ten good figures in the text, amongst which are those 
at Pt, furceta and faleata, decurua and squtonate, ufo, Mit 
chelle and vitlaty. In the same journal Dr. E- G. Chisholm 
fives a fine account of the flora of the Comboyno Plateau, 
wilh inap, and a List of whe plants growing there. 

Another Callistemon, or another name whieh will prob- 
ably lave io he added to the list of Victorian plants, is C. 
pallid wa, Sm., which Mr. Mdwin Cheel would dissociate trom 
©. salignus, Sm. Though it resembles the latter in general 
appearance, its brauehes are less drooping, its young leaves 
are clothed ip silvery, not rufous, hairs, and at maturily are 
pallid greeu, or somewhat glaucous, terminate in 4 sharp 
macro, and are thieker in texture, with less prominent vene- 
jion. Forms of this species have been obtained at. elevations 
above 2000 feet in N.S.W. and Vivcteria. and the Ruffale 
Range (FB. y. Mueller, 3856) and Granite Hill, Wilson's 
Promantary (d. W. Audax, 1908) are given as localities in 
this State. 


A new species, C. Chisholmz, fram North Queensland, is 
also described by Mr, Chee] in this number, which bas much 
interest ta botanists. This has blood-red filaments ald azithers. 
and grows into a small tree, 


In speaking of ©, subulatus, a comparatively recent addi 
tion to our flora, Lound by Mr. A. B. Williamson at Tonghi 
Creek, Mr. Chrel describes it as somewhat lke our alpine 
G, Siebert, the leaves being narrow and sharp. The filaments 
and anthers are richly erimson, and, in his opinion, it really 
has closer affinity to C. lanceolatus, from which, hawéver, it 
differs in ita erowded fruits and its smaller, thicker, grey 
leaves, It is feund in many places in New South Wales. 


152 Boleniont Notes YG New 
rol. 


Mv. Cheel describes a new species of Boronia in the 
Journ and Proceedings of the Royal Soctety of New: South 
Wales for 1924, This, 2. sufrolifera, is from the coastal clis- 
trict, of N.S.W., north of Sydney, and superficially resembles 
B. flartbunda and B. pranvaten, 


He also discusses the Jatter; and sone of the many forms 
which Miieller included in what was, ta him, a very paly- 
morphic species, Mc. Cheel regards all of these as well- 
marked speeics, and even gocs further im declaring, after 
examining specimens eellected by the Baron onthe Runvip 
Creek, und by Mr. P. R. A. St. John at Lanertouche—the 
variety Muellert of Benthamhat they are distinct from 
the B. pinnata, Sm., common in the Port Jackson district 
Beyond pointing out that the oil of LB: Wuelleri has a pleasant 

‘fragrance, whereas that of 2. pinnate is wnpleasantly aerid. 
he does not desembe the differences between the two plants. 


As the result of his researches in the genus Melaleuca, Mr. 
Gheel reengnises JZ. eruhboscens, Otto (N.8.W.), WM. Gunniona, 
Schauer (‘Tus., Bass Strait and Vie.) and ©. tornifolia, 
F, v, M, (N.S,W,), all formerly included in M. ee abe) Sm., 
as distinet species, 


From material derived from Lord Howe Island, ‘and #0 Ta 
regarded as M_ ericifolia, he creates M. Howeana, and a plant 
af N. S.W., with larger yellow Howers, nol concave leaves, akin 
to WM. squanea, he desevibes as M. capitaia. He alsa tlis- 
tinguishes a new ‘variety, glabra, of M. squamen, tn, addition 
he raises the yaviety alternifolia, Maiden and RBelche, af af 
linari{oliz, ranging from N.8.W. to Queensland, to stecitic 
rank, 


The item in his paper which is of more partienlar interest 
to us is M. Guraniana, speciraens' of whieh, in the Sydney 
Herbarium, from the Upper Yarra, Port Phillip, Mordialloe 
Metunga and Narrowarren, ave, nm Mr, Cheel’s opinion, dis- 
tinet {rom M, ericifolia, Sm., with which they have been pre- 
viously confused. 


A matter worth mentioniag also in this Journal is the 
description by: de Benzeville and Weleh of a new Hidalyptus 
from the main divide at an elevation of 4000 feet, near Cooma, 
in NSW. This B, Badjensis is 4 large forest trée of 100 
feeb or more, kibwa Jowally as “Cully Ash.*” [tf resembles 

vies viminalts, ‘with whidl, if ig associated, but differs mainly 
in its smaller, conical, ‘Séssile ‘fruits, which - ‘Are, however, 


r La - 


tty y Botanical Notes Lis 


ranged, in the erueciform fashion so characteristic of (hut 
species, “and its baivawen anid duller ourecn lea vos, 


The finding of Publenad graveutens, Tate, ol, Steigline 
un the oeéasion ‘uf the Club excursion Lo the. Brisbane 
Ranges” on, October 3, clears. ap, the doubt thist existed as. iu 
the exact habitat af the plant ih-thik Stare” 


Tn 1885 specimens Were sent to the National Herbariaiu 
by Myr. 8. Johnson. of Meredith. These were found by, Mr. 
H. B. Willamson, when engaged in, the, revision of the 
genus, in the parcel containing P. mollis, where, they bad 
been placed by the late Baron VOU Mueller, "Several. plants 
were noted on a rocky, sterile hillside near the, almogt- deserted 
towiship of '‘Steiolitz, in the low, open “forest, ‘of. ved 1VO}!- 
hark, yellow sum, ved stringy bark, miessmatc : “suaid ved bux. 
Thera was Very little undergrowth, the er round being alist 
devoid of vegetation over quite large aveas. The Pultenai 
is an “unattractive, unkenpt- looking bush about. three or four 
feet high, with downy stems and. foliage of small, narrow, 
ineuryed , Jeaves, and was still m, bud.” “When, ey ‘shed, the 
leaves. yield an aroma whieh is certwinly ‘not “unpleasant— 
aud go it belies its. nawe—hut is diffieult to describe, though 
My. T. M. Black finds in it a vesentblance to crean cheese, 


From the nature of the country around Meredith, it ts 
certain Ma. Johnson did vot collect the plait near thar place, 
but most probably from where ii was found ly ua. 


TELS “RUINA GROUP” OF GRAKNHOODS. 

The group vf Greenhoods, known as the ‘ruta group’! of 
Ployestylis, which doey not inelade the Banded Greenhood, 
(. urttuda; has given rise 10 much contusion amon eal 
lectors, as, superfie yally, the species are much alike. AN aye 
reddish or wveenish-reddish. i in colour, One onky of thez ered)! 
is cleseribed ty Baron von Miiellur', in his key, at page 419, 
hut Dr RS, Rodgers’ research haw “ redited at Teast foray Mt 
Victoria—the Rnddy- hood. ‘the Rusty. hood, ‘the Sealy (eel, 
houd wud the Mitchell Greenhood, Phese ae fully cesar ibe! 
hy Dr, Rogers, on page 153 of Mr. ad. M. Black's Flava of 
South Aastiul, 1922.5 a8 , P. pusilla, B. puta, V. sy rentals 
wind P- Mifchella.. ; 


Pein) Vict Nat, 
164 Botunicel Notes ae pit 


Nie photographs (Plate V) show portiony of the Hawers 
cut away so as to display the mevked differences between I, 
mf and P. pusilla, Po orefi usoally is a tall species the 
lower part of the flower ending in Jonge theend-Tilkte brik. 
The tongue is thinner than in FP. pusilla, w vith loliger hairs on 
the anargios and with usally two very dog hairs ab the base 
BP. pusibie is vichly coloured jn'shadines of brown, green and 
ved. tt ik usually slender and sonrewlat dwant Uhe tongue 
(labellum) ig Hesh-like. with a fow fromh meareinal hairs 


hi one photagy aph the Pointed Gaeenhood, PL aenrahunti. 
is shown titach; in another, the same flower with. otte site af 
the hood removed. ‘Nhis urehid hax sometimes heen thought 
to bea hybrid between the Nodding Greenhood wud the 
Blunt Croenhood, Po nutans and Py curta, wid was so wal- 
lected by the writer of these notes, at Mordialloe, mi Aiweust, 
L910. Flowever, last vear Mr. W. bl. Nicholls submitted the 
specie photographed to Dir. Rogers, who fully estab 
ished its identity. Mu. Nicholls is wall knowi to menbers 
ot the Glubas a1 keen worker on Victorian orehids, who Tats 
delineated much detail aceurately and naturally for, let us 
hope. a Fortheomine hook. —AT.T. 


“BEES' WINTER HARVEST." 


Me. J. A. Ross, Nanneella Mstate, via Rochester, writes ;— 
‘Re * Boees’ Winter Harvest in September issuc, The seere- 
tion of neetit by the wlands on the phyllodes of the Golden 
Wattle was mentioned sone considerable time ago ia vonplo 
af the Apicullaral Journals, and is nof wiknown to bee- 
keepers, As with all other neetarproducing plants, the 
umount of seeretion seems dependent an ¢élimatic conditions 
Ly seasons when conditions have bee, and ave, suitible. | 
have noted'the bees ‘roaring a [reat’ i Golden Wattles well 
isolated from ang other trees or nectar-procucimne planis— 


vase Notes from Mield and Stuelay 15h 


working the glands ravenonsly; and this some time befor 
the first flower on the trees had opened. How the bees find i 
I know not, but it seems a lure spread for then and other 
pollinating insects to sive a chance of fertilisation to the 
earliest openiny flowers. Onee the trecs start flowering the 
secretion from the glands seems to cease. his is a point | 
have not previously see noted. Perhaps these elanids would 
have made a good illnstrafion far Darwin.’’ 


“WINNING WELD BIRDS. 


During the past 4In'ee years, while living ul Pakootain 
Upper, I have been impressed by the tameness of bush 
birds, when not hunted or_othenyise molested. Ty my garden 
and orehawl is a friendiy feathered company. lia a pine 
tree, 15 paces from the back door of (he house. a pair of 
Magpies, Gyniorhind hypolence, ave nestitiye now (Septem 
her) The birds do not -attaek ny; indeed. do vot take any 
notice when we pass the tree. For geveral years thede mag- 
pies, or their progenitors. have frequented the garden. nest- 
ing in trees beyond the fenees, and heingine their broods 
about the house for food, This year they and their friends 
have come ‘home’ to nest. 


Buteher-birds, Crretious larquatus, and Mawpie-larks, 
Crating equnoleuca, cone to the tin plate placed at the back 
door with food for the house clos, and fake iniy seraps that 
he way Jeave. he Buateher-bird has developed a liking for 
frait luncheons, One has been observed frequently taking 
Mmulbermies, At fimes the Gawllings dvink unlk from the 
eat’s saucer, wieht al the door. Last vear, and: this soasou 
the Butcher-hirds built in an seacia growing by the orehard 
fenee. They are so friendly that they perch on the vose and 
dahlia stakes, close to Ter, as soon as iny wite appears in the 
flower warden; aid, as she walks around, hoeing or weeding 
they follow. They hop near ber hands, or on to the jine and 
Wek up grubs that are unearthed. 


The Kookaburras, Dacela gigas, fov several vears in sie 
cession, have nested close to the house, bringing their vouny 
to ne as soon as they could fy. We have sometimes seven or 
eiwht Kookaburras in the garden at one time. One pair. 
the grand-parents no doyhbt, follow us avound, TH a erub is 
i sight, atid not offered-to them, they will fly dawn, vight 


=> eet ype Ff ge bie i ie 
156 Nolés from ‘Piela and Study Ba eek 
begide us, to seeure.it, Both these old birds ‘will ‘take er iil)s 
from ‘our hands. The male is so confiding that. if L hold a 
eeab on the palm of amy hand,.out ot reach frou. his per ‘chy 
on a bough, We will fix on fo my arm and take the morsel. 


The confidence of small, birds, also. has buen wou. + Grey 
Vantails, Rhipidura flubellifera, at times enter, the house 
through doorway oy window, and capture flies. Without the 
least sign of fear, they will perel on one’s bead or shoulder, 
Nov ave any of out bird-friends alarmed when we shoot at 
the parrofs eating huds off the altnand aud other fruit trees. 
They seem to know that the shots are not meant for them. 
We have three species of parrots im our territory. It is 
Worthy of note that the beautiful King Parvot, Aprosmictus 
scapularis, his been present in numbers this year—F, 
WISEWOULD, 


SERSCRO RE RATES AND KUDRS. 


Atténtion is directed tp the following list of rates atta extracts from 
the rules relating to aungorip lone — 


Ordinary ineibers, with Journal ry wee ee 20/-— 
Ordinary wWembers. without Journai Gvbere 
more than one in # household) -. 16/- 
Cauntry members, with Journal (residing out- + 
atde 16- mile Melbourne radius) +e =, 13/6 
Aksociate members (over 16 ‘nae unter 203) ‘vith 
Journal} .. : 5 t/t 
Assodiate.. niembers (eGar 16 and uiider 0) 5 . 
Without Journal) .. 9°, . 5/- 


3 e E Pe > 
,.5, All subscriptions shal) become due on the first day of May in 
cath year. 
fi. , omg person. who has .been elected shall be ontitled to 
the privileges ot a member until his subscription shall have been paid, or 
hips his subscription is in arrears, a 


aPersons elected after the Ist November shaliwbe entitled to the 
piivilefes of memborship on payment | et hate the annual subscription. 


Ff 


Che Victorian Naturalist 


You. XL11—No. 7 NOVEMBHR.6, 1925 No, 303 


FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB OF VICTORIA. 


The ordinary monthly. meeting of the Club was held in 
the Royal Society’s Hall, Victoria Street, on Monday even- 
ing, October 12, 1925. The President, Mv. Geo. Coghill, oecu- 
pied the chair, and about jiffy members and friends were 
present. 

REPORTS, 


Heidelberg, Sept. 19.—Mr, J. Stickland reported that 
4 sinall party of members spent a pleasant afternoon around 
the ponds, but nothing of note was collected. 


Ringwood, Sept. 26—Ten members attended this 
excursion, Several good ‘‘finds'’ were made, the most 
interesting, perhaps, being a colony of Termites. When a 
a large piece of bark on. an old stump was stripped off, the 
Termites were vevealed, running up and down in files; very 
few failed to keep in the navrow tracks. Another stump con- 
tained a nest of the Wood-ant, Iridamyrmex nitidus, the 
auts with the peeuliar sweet odour of which cats seem so fond. 
Everyone agreed that the odour was of a decidedly sweet 
nature. but not one that cats would be expected to like.—C. 
OK. 

Brisbane Ranges, Oct. 3. 

Bendigo, Oct. 10. 


(Reports appear elsewhere in this issue.) 


GENERAL, ‘ 


Sale of Native Flowers.--My. EH, E. Pescott said that, as 
requested by the Committee, he had made enquiries regard- 
mg the granting of permits for gathering flowers in the 
Grampians. A member of the Forestry Commission had told 
him that no damage was being done, as the area in regard 
to which permits had been granted was far-from the Wild- 
flower Garden, and seldom, if ever, visited by tourists. The 
Tourist Bureau and the Railway Department had each sent 
an officer to inspect the area, and bei had ¥eported that no 
diumuge was being done, 


168 Fivld Naturalists’ Club—Proceedings Hite Nas 


Destruction of Fairy Wax-flower at Bendigo—aAfter 
sone discussion us to what steps could be taken to protect 
the Wax-flower at Bendigo, on the motion of Mr. A. Wi. Keep, 
seconded by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, it was resolved that tho 
Hon. Secretary should write ta the Mayor of Bendigo calling 
attention to the destruction of the plants, and asking whether 
anything could be done to protect them and prevent the sale 
of blossom on Picnic Day. 


PAPER, 


“Two Weeks at Bethanga,” by Ma. A. E. Rodda. ‘The 
author gave some account of the eountry around Bethanga, 
and the fauna met with during a recent, visit. 


EXHIBITS, 


By Mr, Geo. Coghill - Plants grown at Canterbury, Lep- 
tospermium lavigatum, Micromyrtus ciliatus, Grevillea res- 
marinifoli, Tecoma australis and Daviesia latifolia. 

By Mr, Ff. Chapman, A.1..8.: Original drawings of fossil 
Foraminifera, from the tertiary (Baleombian) beds of Port 
Phillip; to illustrate SS paper shor tly to be published by Ff. 
Chapman and W. J. Parr. 

By Miss C, C. Fraapigs Two eggs of the Gippsland Giant 
Harthworm. ; 

By Mr. I. iB, Dixon: 72 species of Coleoptera collected in 
the Lake Hattah district, NW. Vietoria, during September, 

Ry Mr, T. Hodgson: Seven species of native flowers frait 
fhe Whipstick Serub, at Bendigo, Eriastemon obovatlis, 
Backea diffusa, Beckea ramasissimu, Colytrin tetragona, 
Daviesia ulicina, Olearia asterotricha and Grevillea alpine. 

By My, J. A, Kershaw: Octapus bosewd, edllected at Port 
Melbourne, 20/5/5. 

By Miss F.. Smith = Sarcochilus falcatus, tvom-Cann River 
district, Vietoria. 

- By Dv. C.'8. Sutton: Pullenwa graveolers, Proslanthera 
decussata, Grevitlea floribunda, Pamaderris ferruginci, ete, 
from: Brisbane Bingen; also Ruppia maritima, From Little 
River. 

‘By Mr. H. B. Williamson, FL, S.: Acueia dor atoxyton, 
Pulteniea styphelioides, 1 clipter wm. incanum, Dilwynia ertei- 
folia, and a dried specimen of the’ Narrow-billed Bronze 
Cuckoo, from Chiltern, N.E. Victoria, 


“yous. | Excui'siun to Me Brisbane Ranges 154 


HOVADHRATANAREDDUANDPOHHAPHDRURHNNK ADE MUeBaravedgpunenaaenauenecsceceeboarsAtlttEbdbepersnneen nde iid TLULDD) TT CCUIIOT ID CITUTOT beg 


_ EXCURSION TO THE BRISBANE 
RANGES, 


savneveccensunvonnvnceodasnunersevevenscausescousasneresconensnacaneeveonnosvecrousaveerecevenesreavensescasruensseusavrananesienns 


r 


SHAH EU REA REHMRHRAH AVENE 
ULL 


for the exeursion to the Brisbane Ranges on October 3 


und 4 two members took tram to Lara, where they were 
joined by the Rev. Mx. Gates, who very kindly motored them 
to Anakie. Before leaving Lava, however, a short visil was 
paid’ to the railway line towards Little River. Here the 
resorye Was unmsually gay with flowers, wmnongst them many 
(C'mn posites and Pimeleas, Velleya paradexa, aud in particular 
Prasophayllan Odoralum and Thelymitra arisiata, Time did 
not permit going further on lo where the Black Brittle-rush, 
Chovizandra enodis, had been discovered by Mr, Gates—the 
only loeality so far known for this plant in the southern dis- 
trict. 

Arrived at Analie, the car Wwas left al the foot of the 
range, and atter going alone the Anakie-Durdidwarrah road 
for n dhoet distance the first track to Steiglitz was follawed. 
From this point to a little short of Ateiglitz the snbstratuni 
is composed of sand and gravel, and the same plant associa- 
tion continues throughout, with occasional slight variation. — 

. The tree growth is composed maimly of Red Stringybark, 
Messmate, Yellow Gum and Tong-leaf Box, and, not infve-— 
quently, Red Box, Red lvonbark and Common Peppermint, 
with an occasional Black Sheoke.  YXoentherrhea australis 
and Athbertia striciw stood out beyond all other plants of 
sinaller size, both in frequency and continuance, and the 
Golden Wattle was also persistent and abundant. Except 
the Hedge Acacia only one other made much of a show, and 
this, A. pycnentha, though just past its best, was still a 
Plonous sight, There are halt-a-dezen Greyilleas in the 
Ranges, und the finest of these, G. floribunda, the golden, was 
never quite ont of the picture. G. resmarintfolaa and G. 
aquifoliwn, the prickly, were also seen, the latter not yet in 
flower, 

Mive epacrids were noted, but they were not conspicnons, 
The Common TTeath was here net very common, but Mx, 
Cates, Who returned from Steiglitz the same day by the move 
porthorn track, noted an abundanee of it on. the way, show- 


160 Excursion to the Brivbane Ranges Boe or 


ing particularly fine colour, dtom the palest to the deepest 
pink. The Peach Heath was very good, a8 was also the Com- 
mon Beard-heath. Monotoca scopuria and Acroiriche sertu- 
lata were, of caurse, not in flower. The only myrtaceaus 
plants seen, apart from the #ums, were Leptospermum sen- 

partum and. L, marsinoides, Whieh would be more nonspictious 
at a later date. 


Two. isolated patches of Riiosteinun obovales, neither very 
extensive, were encountered, bat ihe plants are neither so 
rabust. nor so floriferons as those in the Bendiga district. 
Of the leguminous apecios, only Pulteran laplnorwies anil 
Pilhwyniw erietfola were i full bloom, D. floribunda was - 
anly commencing to shew the beautiful colour whieh dis- 
tinguishes it in this locality; sompholobiam, Dewiesin 
carymboasa and Pullencea Inimeutis, all abundant in the Ranges, 
were still in bud, Tt ix interesting to record that the Hon 
Bitter-pea is quite rare hereahouts. 


OF the orchids only Glossedia major and Caladenia cerulea 
were THIMeroUs, Phovastylis autuns and P, wane were dis- 
covered in oné spot only, growing in company. Oveagional 
Pink Fingers and a few Leopard Ovehids completed their 
list. Dho Liliaeem were nat tauch in evidence. Bartlingia 
sessiltflore was a notable fined for the locality. Dianella revd- 
lute was yet to flower, Only the appedline and everseharn- 
ing Barly Noney fullw represonted the family. 


Nhout Steightz the Ordovician vomes to the surface, and 
there is neh bare groand between the gums Here the 
Yellow Box appeared for the first time. Red lronharks were 
ree frequent, and along Sutherland's Creek Manna anil 
Swamp Gums were present, "Here, too, by the lsindness of 
Mr. Cooper, a loral resident, who is well acquainted with sli 
the plants and their virtues, we were introduced to what was 
the mast important plant noted dari ing the outing—Pultenca 
graveolens. Unfortunately it was still in Ind, ‘but Mr. Conper 
promised to scud flowerng specimens and seedlings to town, sa 
that eventually this rave speeies mai: perhaps be seen 
fouvishing in the Botanie Cardons. - 

Though there is a dclicensed hotel in Steiglitz it does pot. 
ifford secommodation to visitors, but lodging was found ina 
deserted house, where, with the aid of a good fire, and some 
chait bags, a comfortable night Was passed, On Monday 
metning Mr. fooper, after showing us, amongst other interest- 
ing things, 2 fine specinen of Qhearia pannosa growing in his 


td Hrwurgion ta the Brisbane Ranges 161 
f 

garden, u bush of Pomvdderres ferruyine in Tull bloom-near 

the ereek, and i valiant pear tree which, though ring-barked , 

jnost,. thoroughly, was still flourishing and making an effort to 

bridge the gap in its stem with new park, Was wood enough, to 

pilot us across country to the Meredith road, 

Brom here on to the Moorahool the vegetation did not. 
invite exeursions from the rod. There was very little ander 
wrowth, and sothing that had not previously been noted wae 
ster, Acroia tenufolia here tool pride of place in its genus, 
though A. pyonarthu still occurred, and sume fine mats of i, 
covered with golden blossoms, were particularly admirable. 
Cushions of the Green Growndeberry were also. move Fre- 
qnent, and small stoneworts, wumte penny worts, por antheras 
and nvilotias scantily covered the sterile eround, aud were 
only distinguishable on close serutiny, After a time the 
Crass Trees reappeared, and with them a slight: inereuse in. 
the nmbex of species, but mis did not last Jong, and the 
descent ta the river was ouly broken by uw pause to cdllect. 
again Pomuderris fervuginea by the roadside, 

At the Moorabeol the Blaeék Wattle, Woolly Yea-tree, 
Swamp Bottle-brnsh and Burgan, Kunzea pedunculurts, had 
ol yot responded to the, as yet, frigid advances of Spriny, 
wid the billy was boiled and_a frugal luneh eaten without 
florzl distractions, ; 

Beyond the river (he vegetation continued fo he 
widnteresting, aid a wide ditour am each side of tu road, 
jest before the termination of ihe forest, resulted in the dis- 
covery of nothing more notable than a recurrence of the 
unzeu, 

Thereatter the only matter leading to a diversion from 
the highway was the appearanee of a wide expanse of ‘Hat, 
wel ground, covered with a low, close growth, of a reddish 
colon, which on exwunination was taken to be Jlautaga cure- 
nopus, practically unmixed. with any other species and 
stunted by the sourhess of the soil—t.8,S, 


The Butterfly Flag, Dipleprhaw Moen, is not Touwd 
Heurer to town than about Lower Ferntree Gully. At; Upper 
Pakenham 16 is qnite common, anid, previous to ow latest 
Show, at the date uf whielt it was not yet m bloom, it has 
figured tor the last six years in Mr. Wisewould’s exhibits 
fran) that place, 


7" sa} M Viel, Nw 
162 Kixcursion lo Bendigo Val eer 


TUTUUET TPT EATLOD DEO DEAT EOL ENDED ACEREO PDT IICUEUH DIAN HOD RUTOOOD UAHA RAT DAURARIIORAH END FERRRATA OA DEONNVNTO ENO DRYING PEI DNRNAAEO DID N OWT b EN 


EXCURSION TO BENDIGO 


Ue 


bespeneenhatmonnener, 
> 


SL 


s 


Six Members journeyed to Bendigo on Saturday, October 
LU, and proceeded to the runges to the sonth of the city. 
Mere, i sone parts, the bush was gay with the Mary Wax 
tower, Lriostenon obovalis. Pink-eyes, Tetratheca ciliutas 
were villiant in purple colouring, and the golden blooms 
of vicueia pycnanthi, A. armatd, A, diffusu, and A, aspera, 
made a pleasiy contrast. The Native Undigo, Lucdigafenun 
wustrnlis; and the Gorse Bitter-pea, Duviesiw wlicina, were 
in full bloom, as also were the Daphne Heath, Brachylonia 
daphnoides. The vanges were very dry, and moisture-loy- 
ing plants were few, ‘The only orchids scen were the Wax- 
lip, Glossodia major, toirly numerous, aud solitary speci- 
mens of Pink Fingers, Culadenia curnea, and Brown-beards, 
Catochilus Robertsonti, the Cuvr'ant-Bush, Leptomeria 
uphylla, was in. truit, ‘After an enjoyable ramble amid the 
Wax-flower undergrowth, One-tree Hill was veuehed, whenee 
aswidesproad view of plains, undulating dountry, and ranges 
way obtained. Then the course was oiade westward through 
the Ironbark ranges, amid a profusion of wald-flowers to the 
Spring Gully Reservoir, thence baek to the eity 

On Sundays a visit was mada to Flagstaff Ub, about 
seven miles past Waglehawk, in the Whipstick Serub. ‘The 
county here, was also very dry, aid floral wealth tot so 
evident as on the oceasion of w previous vit) The serub 
consisted mostly of Green Mallee, Wicelypeus viridis, anil 
Melaleucas, the Broom: Honey-myrtle, I. weinate, the Cross- 
loat, MW. decussita, and the Critson, M. Wilsonii, Here 
aud there amid the serub was-u-fine variety of flowers. Most 
noticenble were the pretty Uicvomyrtus microphylla; the 
dainty Beckea vamesissima; the pungentlyseented Boronia 
unemonifolia, just past its loons ; the purple Prosterthera 
freavbuleas Grevillias, varying un palony from white to ved; 
Olearia teretifolia; the rave Westringie rigrda; ane Astro. 
tricha ledifolia, Nhe Wax-flower docs mot grow robustly 
in the Whipstiek. The Common Pringe Myrtle, Cabythrv: 
tebragona, was im bud ancl flower in great quantity. The 
hlue Danpiere lanceolatus was also in flower, with several 
Composites, Hibbertias and Goodenias. Nearly sixty plants 


ae | Becursion ta Beidhgu 163 
in all were observed in flower, but no plants previously un- 
listed were noted, The Tefless Curtint-bash was aw fruit; 
and the troublesome parasite, Cassytha melantha, with steang 
ling grip on scrub and tree, was in flower and [vuit, Before 
returning to the eify we inspected in operation a plant for 
the distillation of of from the Jeayes aud youre branches 
of the Green Mallee, MW. viridis. A pomt very noticeable 
about the old walayial workings on the minhig areas is the 
widespready growth of the Chinese Sarah, Cussinte arcuata, 
to the exclusion of other growth. The Fainy Was-ilowes 
his a general popularity, the evidence of whith is shawn by 
the wholesale manner in which if is vathered for gale at 
Bendigo and at, the railway stations eu vente, especially ob 
Kiphinstone, Continuance of this will eventually tend to 
its disappearance in some areas. 


THE VSTICh-PAST FLA TN NOR TTENTEN 
TERRITORY 


The “Stiek-tast’* lea, Zchidnophaga Gultinaced, West- 
wood, known in Western Australia since 3914 ond more 
recently. from South Australia’, now appears to have becoine 
established in the Northern SVermtory, where it has ‘been 
found recently on sboriginals’ dogs in the yienuty of Cape 
Don Lighthouse. Tn a communication, forwarded with speei- 
mens, My. Hugh W. Christie, until recently head lighthouse- 
keeper at Cape Don, stated that -the pest had appeared only 
veeently. The locality is about. 100 miles north-east of Part. 
Darwin, where Mr. Christie has had over 20 years’ experience 
in charge of the Lighthouse at Cape Charles, and is inhabited 
only by the lighthouse staff and their families and a few 
aboriginals. Whence the fleas came cannot be stated, but 
whilst, it is possible they wexdjtintrodueed from Western Aus- 
tvalia, it may be vecalled that some of our worst pests have 
almost certainly obtained their foothold in Australia from 
direct importationg into the Northern Territory from the 
East. The fact that dogs belongig to nomad aboriginals are 
heavily infested suygests ready means of wide distribu- 
tion. “Werguson, Aust. Zool. LIT, pt. TI, 1923.—By G_ PB, 
Hinz, Entomologist, National Museum, Melbmnnor 

[For illustration and note of this flea, see Vie. Nut., vol. 
XL (October, 1923), p. 119,] 


184 Rowns, A Netwradist at Bethanga Bie, A 


TPIT ERNT OLN TATERITSRORPATHFONYRYNY ON ReeeaueTarernenapNasevantraDNeNeterneyteneorenrremperrectraatphpaurenpnqnfereeren ape ar ape ieeneg” 


A NATURALIST AT BETHANGA. 
By A, 4, Ropna 


SOPETTDIPDNODAAAODEDDA LA aA CeneoumECereedenbunndeeeneaPuAUePeds eG NNsGUGSHOEHONTADULORNOOASRNUGKOUEDIVUPAOEARISAUROOOERI BORA OTERO NINE 


gre eareeneneteneirenesieny 
SUVPPP Nand eeenpernaeeeneyven” 


‘(Heat before the Field Naturalists’ Club of Vietovin, 
Seplember Li, 1923.5) \ 


The object of this paper iy to reeord some observations 
made during a fortnight’s visit, in Lchruary.and Mareh last, 
to Bethanga—a district that eombines much natural beauty 
with opportunities of observation not generally met with on 
this side of the Dividing Range. 


The journey 6deeupies the total length ot the Novrtii- 
Hastern railway line to Wodonga, and then a distance of 
nine miles along the Cudgewa line, as far as Bbdeu. Lenying 
Wodonga, the ‘line goon passes into hilly country, sparsely 
timbered, except on the higher ranges further back. ‘The 
Tawrrow valley of the Miewa: River, with its attendant billa- 
bongs (& characteristic feature of the rivers of this country). 
is crossed on a long bridge, Two small stations, Bandvanna 
and Bonegilla, are name only, 10 signs of habitation being 
visible, and, as nantes, are relfeved from absurdity by their 
obvious aboriginal orig. They are passed without 
stopping. 


The next station is Ebden, whieh has at least fone build- 
ings, including the railway station, Heve the train iy left 
for a - five-inile drive on a gravelly road to Bethangn, ‘The ~ 
voud is of the switehback type—up hill and dow dale— 
with a level stretch of a mile.across the valley of the Mitta 
Mitta aud its many billabongs. Beyond is a nacrow valley. 
down which flows the Bethanga Creek, a very small stream, 
considering the area it drams. ~Another mile ‘or so of switel- 
back and the valley widens out to disclose the village of 
Bethanga nestling at the head of it. Ail around are-high, 
bure hills, topped, im some cases, with Inr¢e, pinkish boulders 
of gneissose schist, and pierced by long gullies, cach with tts 
frickle of water contributing to the-main ereek. What timber 
ever grew on these hills has long since been vemoyed for 
the requivements of the mines, “eviderices of which still 
vemain im the forn of monidering poppet. legs, tall and 


ar Rows, A Netnvalist at Bethange 165 


arunibling boicgk chininey stacks, and preat heaps of brow 
uinlloel. ' 

. ‘hese hills, surrownding the villaye, were, at this season, 
revered with a thielk mat of grass; they form a grazing 
comuion tor large numbers of cows, on the prodnets of which 
the inhabitants liye, as there 3s no cultivation, excepting a few 
small patches of lucerne in the gullies, Practically the ouly 
trees vemaining ou the hillsides in the vieinity of the village 
ave a fow Curvrajongs, Bruchycliton populneus, which serve 
wis ck stall reserve of emergency fodder in the dry season. 
The currajong 18 considered Iocally as the indestanctable 
tee. The specimens in question have been Jopped to ihe 
bare branches time and again, and still pot forth a miss 
of succulent foliaye, which is all the deuser om account, of 
rigorous pruning. The soil of the valley is. vary deep and 
in places where the aeek has cut through to hed yock, the 
section shows over tweuty Tee of eravelly svil, 

Bethanya, shaving the fate of many mining townships, 
tan now be designated as “of the pust,* At one time th 
was the scene of much aetivity, bot the auviferous ove Js 
of 2 vetvactory nature and could not be treated hy bulbery 
process; necessildted a Jarge roasting and smelhing plant 
whieh temains naw int practically the sathe condition as when 
iu use, save for the ravages of time. Below the warks, on 
the ereek bank, ave great danrps of purple sand from, the 
pyrites roasters, now tunnelled in, all divections by rabbits. 
Glose by are larwe heaps of iridiseent slaw from the sielters, 
many great lonps still vetaining the eclmieyl shape of the 
lave cast-ivon wheel-lndles. Where the éveck skirts the 
sluz-heaps, the copper solitions draining into it ave pe 
cipitated a. beantifnl blue-green earbonate, whiel coats all 
objects beneath the clear water, So highly mineralised is 
the water of the ereak that it is considered mifit foe haiman 
consumption, although stock seem to relish it. The paddocks 
of ore stacked about (he works, and sparkling with copper 
and arsenieal pyrite, are destined, perhaps, never to be 
trealed. The pyrite is slowly decomposing in the weather 
and forming white crusts of arsenigus oxide. 

The walls of the machinery-houses are dotted with what 
appear to be bobs of cay, fhrown ap by mischievous boys, 
but are really the nests of nvud-building wasps, or “‘hornets,'’ 
as they ware locally called, These nests eonsish of elongated 
eells of clay placed side by side, and are packed with eoma- 
tose or defunct spiders, among which unsavoury surroundings 


16h Rooo\, A Vaterotise at Gethanget att 


lives and feeds the yellow larva. The elay cells, when just 
completed, ure heautiful examples of insect architecture. but 
ure soon plastered over with irregular pellets in a moannd- 
shaped mass. Slangiug from the rafters ave other elegant 
examples of insect industry, in the form of the hancyeomb 
homes of paper wasps, well guarded hy their vieious owner's. 

On the hillsides, wherever the voeks outeroy, 389 found 
the eonnmon Roek Fern, Cheitlunthes tenuefole, and the 
Necklace Pern, Aspleniun flabellifolrun. These, with 
several small patches of Bracken, whieh does not seen to 
thrive tu this soil, are the onl ferns common in the disteied. 
In the niouths of several of the old mining tninels, Fairy 
Martins, Petrochelidon ariel, have vested freely, bat the nests 
have all been destroyed by boys. The birds were Aying in ane 
ont, and if was found that they had profited by their nn- 
fortunate experienec, and had nested fnrtherv back, in almost 
complete darkness, where the sniall boys dave not venture. 
Even thus Jate iy the season, brovds were being veared. 
Among the Martins’ vests were several empty nests of the 
Welcome Swallow, Chelidon neoatna, 

Other inhabitants of these taivels wete bats and au owl, 
both of which retreated to the davker depths while the dis- 
tuched swallows, sought the opeu air. Possibly foxes also: 
dwell there, ag several were heard barking on the hillsides 


in the evenings, Amoug the outeropping rocks rabbits have - 


their burrows, and into nnpregnable cracks in the larger 
boulders skink lizards of the Wgernia family insinuate them- 
selves—they ean be vemoved only in pieces, 

Following the winding guily-road up past the old mines, 
i low saddle of the rumge is reached at a place, of course, 
called The Gap.’ Bron, here a magnificent panorama of 
the Murtay Valley is opened up. Phe noble aiver winds 
about amid a perfect maze of billahbougs, through a fertile 
valley dotted with magnificent red gums, Mucalyptus rustratn. 
To the west can be seen the towns of Albury and Wodongs. 
and straight across, only four miles away, are the great 
Quarries and earthworks of the Flume Weir, his; wher 
completed, is destined to turn the whole of the valley int 
sight, and also that of the Mitta, ito a vast expanse of 
wealth-giving water, ‘Fhe twin townshops of the workers, 
one on either bank of the river, present an orderly array of 
neat frame-houses, Jrouted by lawns and wardens, and laid 
out inte regular, tree-planted streets. Schools, shaps, and 
veeveation halls ave provided with cheap electric light, and 


ars Rays, A Naturalist at Bethang 167 


an unlimiled water supply. Beyond the _Muniay Valley 
Vise range after range of lehthy-timbered ills, on the New 
South Wales side; and, looking back into Victoria, an even 
anpre bewildering array of mountain peaks is seen, anh 
ating in the dim blue heights of the Australian Alps, 

A dive up the Murray Valley, vie. Talgurno, and slanting 
the river inost ot Gre way, was enjoyed.’ Coming dows From 
the hills, the undulating countey becomes thinly-timbered 
with well-erown trees, mostly a species of box, with tts 
chavacleristic greyish foliage of round Tetves, aid a few 
stringy-barks aud peppermints. Near Talgarno a sinall pd 
dock, close to the road, contained six ostriches: — On the 
viver-Huts are Magnificent red gums, sturdy ty Wale aad 
wile-spreading in branch. Here is the bird-lover's yaad ise 
Rusellas, Plulycercus extmius, lovikects, Glossapsulaeus cor- 
ehvneas, and the dainty ttle red-backed pavrukeet, ?sephotusy 
wemadanohes, fy sereaming from tree to tree, and wes 
parrots ave flushed in pats from the coarse tussocks, The 
wsnal dozen of grey-crowned babblers, Pomatorhinias super 
eiltosts, leap excitedly among the branches of a wattle tres, 
dud a company of white-~vinged chourhs, Corcoran melunor’- 
hamplus, jake Wiehl, with mourntul, though melodious, 
flutelike whistles. In tieht they show the white wing 
paulehes Hat muinhy: distinguish thon trom their sable cousins, 
the arows and ravens, enwing rayeoualy overhead, On a 
bare hillside a small flock of rose-breasted gulahs, Cucutue 
vusercopilla, cones to rest, and a dew white vurkatace, 
C. galerifa, ave screaming amid the timber higher up, These 
are many small birds about on the flats. ‘I'vee-creepers, 
Chimacteris, of two kinds seemingly defy the laws of yravity 
by taking impossible-looking hops up vertical tree-tritks, 
and red-browed finches, Agintha fempuralis, are busy amare 
the Bursaria lushes, where some of they q@neainly nests 
atill remain. 


Tn places the foothills come. steeply down to the river 
or jig billabongs, and the road passes through them di sidling 
cuttings. Magnificent lagoons some of these Dillabotiws ave; 
wire, still, and deep, hordered on ane side with the pik 
graniiie rocks of the hillside, and on the other with dense 
heds of reeds and bulrushes. On the placid waters float 
teal, Virwgo ythbersfrons, and black duck. Avus supercilrosd, 
hut not nian, as, although the season is uot yet open, the 
guns have bean busy wnone then for weeks past, Where 
the water shallows, it is thickly covered with aquatic vexe- 


168 Rowws, A Naturalist at Bethanga te ey 


tation, among which waterv-birds of severs| species prospect 
busily, taking little notiee of passine vehieles. Stop the 
buggy, however, and descend, and instantly every bird 
séuttles, with loud splashings, over the lily-pads to fhe shelter 
nt tho reed-beds, Smaller waterholes, that. are drying wp, 
are tenanted by herons of four species, and their kindred. 
Among the birds uoted here were the yellow-billed spoonbiil, 
Platibis flavipes, white ibts, bis malnece, and egret, Garzetta 
aignipes. , 


Looking up the gullies, down which flow feeble streams 
ovel coarse granite gravel, one is stiuek by the lack of under- 
srowth and other vegetation generally characteristic of 
mountain ereeks. Only grass and thistle-beds clothe . their 
banks. Towards the heads of the gullies the timber becomes 
thicker, and the bright foliage of the eurvajougs and watties 
velievey the prevailing sombreness of: the eucalypts. From 
an outerop of rock, a large lace lizard raced across the read 
ta a deact tree. . Only cne snake was seen, and that a large 
black one, on the flat;-it promptly disappeared down a deen 
and impregnable hole in the viver-bank. 


Leaving the main road aid erossing the flat, wii enornnoas 
lavoon, almost a lake, choked with aquatic vegetation, was 
passed. This was the haunt of half-y-dozen, * pelicans, 
Pelecanus consmoellatus, which, with the cormoraiits, mst 
find good fishing in the shallow open water spaces amid the 
rushes. Of the cormorants Phalacrocoras carbo was the 
more ecammon, On another pool.a flock of cleven black 
swank, Chenopsis wtrata, civeled uneasily when approached, 
aud took veluetunt flight towards the river 


Our destination was a farmhouse on the viver-bauk. 
This place, together with several others passed on the way, 
is destined to be inundated to the roof-tree when the great 
weir, a dozen miles down streani, is completed, The farmer. 
however, is a philosopher. ‘Time enough to think about 
Hhat in six years’ tinie,'’ he says. 


Rabbittrapplug is a profitable sideline ou this farm, and 
we did 4 night round with the trapper. The air is per(eetly 
still and no sound was heard save the swish of feet through 
tho long grass, the oecasional ery of a night bird, or the 
distant yapping of a fox on the hillside. Rabhits rarely 
make any noise in the braps after the first sirnggie, but the 
irapper seenied to have no diffieulty in finding all his sixty 
my seventy traps seattered ayer a considerable area. Wher 


eh Roopa, A Notnraliat at Bethauye 164 


taken ont of the traps, the rabbits were killed and the wins 
carefully re-set. ‘I'he bodies, with the ears attached, were left 
for ihe foxes, cagles, and crows. Foxes, in the experionee 
of- our trapper, rarely touched trapped rabbits, but not 
infrequently are caught in the traps, whieh they will pull 
up und carry away for a eonsiderable, distance, but can 
wlways be found by the keen-nosed dog, Eagles, on the 
other hand, will destroy the rabbits, and are given sean 
merey by the trapper, who sometimes earries a light vifle 
on his day rounds. 


Several days were spent on fishing trips, chiefly to the 
Mitta. As the rivers were running strongly and were full 
of snags, it. was move comfortable and profitable to fish im 
the billabonge. which, in themselves, were sluggish streams, 
being fed by small creeks aid springs from the near-by 
hillsides. English perch, carp, catfish, Murray perch, 
Murray cod and tort oises, nunterically in that order, were 
taken, True, tortoises are not fishes. but they take any kind 
of natural bait. They were the short-reeked, ov Murray 
tortoise, Lmydara mucqueri«. The tortoise. is a very shy 
reptile, and usually shows no more of itself than the tip of 
a oshuzp-pointed nose, and a pale yellow vye probruding 
above the surface of the water. When it thinks it is observed, 
it makes a backward stroke with its webbed feet, and dis- 
uppears, leaving searcely vw ripple. During warm weather it 
will sometimes bask on a log above the water, but always 
remains wide awake and ready to slip in sideways, ov either 
end foremost, whichever is most convenient. There were 
plenty of tortoises in the Mitta lagoons, but only two were 
caught. 


While fishing in the billabongs, one is able, betweon fish- 
lites, 10 admire the’ beanty of the deep, placid water, fringed 
with aqnatice growths of great vamety, or, passing trom one 
ta another, te observe the abundant bind lite. Herons, 
ihises, and cormoranty continually pass overhead, and 
vecasionally a flight of Teal or Black Duck dashes past an 
whistling wings, or alights with a loud splash, to rise azam 
in panic on discovering the too close proximity of man, On 
ane reedy pool was wv mother duck und a brood oof six 
Happers. The parents splashed away, simulating a bvokem 
wing; the young ones dived and, apparently, did not conte 
up again, though one knew that they had quietly risen within 
the shelter uf the reeds. 


” 


"0 A Nyety A Viet, Nat 
118 Rovpa. A Naturalist at Bellona vol XUld 


In the great gumy the Leatherheads or Friar Bincs, “ropt- 
dorhynchus corniculatus, uitered their quer jargon of notes 
for which the children name them ‘‘chinkies’’ or “ehow 
lirds,*’ Magpie-larks. Gralling picata, were everywhere, and 
their mud nests were visible in alnvost every tree uear the 
wuter. Hawks of several kinds soared above the trees. ‘The 
stirill, langhing call of the Brown Hawk, Meeractden orien- 
lates, was frequently heard above the shrdler notes of the 
Kestrel, Cerchneis cenchroides. Among the bratiches of doad 
frees on the hillsides glided Rainbow Birds, Merops ornalus, 
wnd Wood-swallows. 


Hories of starlings, whieh at this tite of the year go 
it large flocks, come from all quarters to voost in the reed: 
beds, They cirele und wheel in perfect order, anc alight 
for.a few moments on the branches of a dead tree. Ju their 
wake comes winged death in the form of a Black-checkel 
Falcon, Falco melanogenys, swiftest and fiercest of the. rap 
tores..- Starlings, in flight, will turn and pursue their enemy 
uwiutil his superioy speed outdistances them; but when they 
have perehed, the hawk makes his dash to pitk off 
a rising bird before they can get into formation. Several 
times the falcon attacks, but the starlings rise too quiekly, 
and wheel to meet him. Winally, with a magnificeps swoop, 
he gets among them as they leave the dead tree, and secures 
a victim, The impact of the-strike can be plainly heard. 
and, with his sereaming prey gripped in his sharp talons, 
the hawk glides te the ground. The starlines pay vo liced 
te the tragedy going on bengath them, but cirele ys before. 
Now they dash with buzzing wings into the veeds, which 
rustle and bend under their Weight, stay a while, with much 
{jvatrelsonie chattering and flapping. g, and are up dn the wing 
oreo more. This performance is repeated many Limes antil, 
finally, all ind perches; and, although the sereaming is kept 
up a while longer, they do not rise again. 


Mramnctephara barbeta (Kanp}—The heardad oy Jew 
Lizard is found mostly in the Mallee and on the plains north 
af the Divide, Tt is known in all the-States, but is race ubont 
Melbourne. Te may attain-a leneth of 18 inches, is very quiek 
In ifs movemertts, and hisses like a snake when alarmed. 


THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, Vol. XLII November, 1925 


PLATE VI 


BEARDED DRAGON OR “JEW” LIZARD 
Grammatophora barbata (Kaup) 


(Photo by Chas. Barrett) 


Nov. | 


1936, Keep, Che Royal Botunice Gardans a 


TAPIA TORE PEDLECOTTRO HOTT DETTE DEED TONER TR DDOLADNCH CORIO UDD EDA DEPPEDD ODOR DAA CE RAPE PDOUDNTHTIDEDD DOAN PHRAT PERI IORAT RIEU LA ROMRAERHRAT ER” 


THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS. 


be * yf r vie 5 
By A.B, Ware 
PORAPRMARUTORDPPRUARAEP LARIMER ADPAD EPR ARRAPERAAAMAR ELAR RREDAR APP ET RAAT IDES OAARTARARAR AEN LI TARTAREE PATE RRAD EASE AN TNE GPRREAR ESL EAR Rae 


' 


(Extract from a paper read before the Iield Natuvalists' 
Club of Victor, September 14, 1925) 


1 


erie 


TENE HERR OnRAHEIEHEEE 


ye 


That world-renowned seientifie centre at Kew, knuwn as 
the Royal Botunic Gardens, is a kind of Mecen, towurds 
Which ‘the steps of every visitor to London, whether a &tud- 
wot of botany, ow like the writer, one claiming yo scientific 
knowledge, but. loving trecs and flowel's, wataralky tins, 

For uearly a century before Kew Gardeis were thrown. 
open to the public, they were a Royal domaim. In fuct, their 
foundation dates from the times of the carly Georges, Queen 
Caroline, wite of George 11, spent money lavishly on their 
envichtnent, while the Dowager Prineess Augusta of Saxe 
Gotha, the mother of King George Ii), may be considered 
ag their practical founder, ina botanical sense. King George 
Ti .and Queen Charlotte lived inveh at Kew, and, in a wing 
of the Royal Paluee, which les to your right as you yuss 
through the main gates, the old, bland, mad Gig was con- 
fined, in the days of Regency. In faet, like most other grat 
British institutions, Kew is steeped in, bistery, and eloquent 
of uw storied past, and to the writer, this constitutes one af 
its prineipa) eharnis. It is this association. with great names 
that gives that impression of dignity and spaciousness that 
the visitor to Kew, Gardens, seemg them for the first time, wall 
assuredly carry away. Beneath the exivencies of ruinous 
taxation and heavy probate duties, the beantiful pleasure 
grounds that surrounded the ‘‘stately homes of Kugland'' 
are fast disappearing. They cost too much for niaintenunec, 
Happily for the nation, however, Kew Gardens, with their 
wide vistas, avenues of maenificent trees, terraced flower- 
beds, and broad walks, remain a lasting memorial of the past. 
To quote Siv W. Thiselton Dyer, who, fron 1885 to 1905, 
was their director, ‘‘Kow Gardens posséss the graud manner 
which can be inherited, but not acquired. Wealth can be 
lavished on a garden, but cannot sive it that dignity which 
js only derived from centuries of growth. 


My first visit (o the gurdens was on April 29, 1924, live 
days after my landing, The spring of 1924 was wet and 


iyz Kee, 2he Royal Botamic Gardens big Le 


lackward in England, dud for this reason the Azileas and 
Rhododetidrons, asaally such » notable feature in this month, 
were viot Tu their fullest bloom. TE was to see them later in 
all their glovy, i the gardens of the Villa Carlotta, on the 
shores of Lake Como; such a. veritable’ feast of eoluuy as 
memory loves to dwell upon. 

LT remember the broad walk, whieh is thirty feet in Width 
and leads ap to the Paln House, which, with its watev-tower 
behind it, may be considered as the central pont of the 
wardens. In front.of this Palm House, which is of notable 
dimensions, ig a broad terrace with stone flags, set with 
ilawer-heds, stone steps and balustrades, descending to. an 
artificial lake, From the Palm House three great, grassy 
avenues, or vistig, radiate, of which two, the Pagoda vista, 
to the south, and the Siow House vista, to ile south-west, 
ate each were than 1000 yards in length. and of & teble 
breadth, Hanked by avenues of maguificent elms, oaks, chest- 
nuts, limes and beeches. The spacious @reen sward, as I 
si it, was studded with danciig daffodils, a veritable field 
of the eloth of gold. Of eonrse the consuminate art of the 
landscape gardener is there, but it ts the art that conceals 
art, and gives the appearance ot the flowers growing wild, 
Elsewhere in the Duteh, the herbaceous, and more reeentis 
constructed rock-wardens, you may sce fowers: planted with 
formal precision ; but, in faet, every form and period of the 
gardeucr’s art, in its hightest attamment of skull, can be 
studied within the boundaries of Kew Gardens. 

OF course, as un Anstralinn of sont 40 years vesidener, 
I naturally made my way to the Temperate House, to see 
pute more the familiar TMucalypts, Acacias aad Troo-terns 
These ai‘e to be found ehiefly in the middle block of the 
‘Vemperate House, kuown as the Winter Garden. This blocks 
is rectangular iu shape and coverg an area 216 feet in length 
by 140 feet m width, the apex of its reof being 60 fret from 
the ground. It was completed in 1862, at an approximate 
rost of £29,000. In this Winter Garden the trees that attract 
mosh attention are two specunens of the Bunya Pine, 
Araucayia Bidwilli These trees have constantly to be 
reduced in height, lest they should grow through the roof 
Specimens of the Norfolk Island Pine A. excelsa, Hoop Pine, 
A. Ciaatughanit, and New Caledonian Pine, A Coaki, can 
filsa be sven. 

The Muealpyts, owing fo limited space, can be represented 
mily bo viung speeamens. The winters at Rew are too 


Tose ] Keer, The Rayot Bokrmic Gardens 173 


sevore ta allow of yum trees beme grown in the open air; 
Aliiough further south, notably in sheltered positions in the 
waidens of Comiwall, ind along the south coast, some 
varieties of Acucios. ‘and Yiealy pts do quite well, The 
flowering season of the Acacias lasts, in Rngland, ftrov 
February to April; so, when To was a Kew, it was almost 
nver, only a few trees in the Winter Garden still had bloonts 
upon them. Wattle, or as i ay termed in England, 
“Minosa,"? is sold a good dealin the flower shops and streets 
of London, According to Mr. W..d. Bean, flowering branches 
of the Silver Wattle, sci dealluta, to the value of 400,000 
fvanes a year nreesxported to Enelind from Franee. 


Treeferns, both Dicksonin antureticu and Alsophila, are 
to be seen gvowine in profusion in the Winter Garden, 
elietly lining: the main central path, but others are’ seatteved 
in ¥arious purts of the house. It must be remembered that 
the plants atl Kew are not grouped according to country of 
origin; therefore, the representative specimens of Australian 
flova will be: found growing umidst the vegetation of China 
and Japan, North aid South Africa, the "Southornt Upited 
States and Mexico. the warner parts of Chile, ‘the jniddle 
alevations of dhe Wimalaya and the Andes, aud most of the 
high mountains di the tropieal regions. They are, therefore, 
somewhat hard to distinguish, and lave not the’ familiar 
Hapect of the Bush, 


{t was with quite a Fuel ig af friendliness, as of an exile 
frum home, that 1 came “acrosy a pot specimen of Banera 
rubindes, and also a magnificent hanging basket of Sturt's 
Desert Pea, Clawthug Dampier’, the latter in full ‘low er, 
While on this suljeet, T might mention that the Gippsland 
wildflower, Zteneee eleqin, known in England as the 
‘Sneense plant,’ is nena iy Wneland as a backeround 
for herbiceous borders. T did not see i at Mew, as if was too 
curly in the season, bat at Hampton Court, where also there 
are most extensive gardens, I noted many clamps of it, with 
its long, feathery planes, and characteristic odour. 


Tn the Temperate Wouse will also be found the fine eol- 
leetion of Protcaces, such as Grevilleas, Banksias, Hakeas, 
and others, donbtless deseended from [he seeds which Peter 
(ood and Allan Cunningham sent home from Austrilia, 1 
the first deewdes: of the nineteenth eentary.. In the great 
Palo: House will be found all the prevailing types of tropical 
vegetation, such as palms, bananas, cyends, serew pies and 


174 Kene The KReoyel Botanic Gardena bp fara 


glue Iwtinbeds. Designed by Deemer Burton, wel GOM- 
pleted ta L848, ib os built upon uost graceful lines, and is a 
noble building. Tts total tenyth is 362 feet, the transept 15 
100 feet 10 Width and 6G feut in height, and euch Wille is 0 
Feet. in width by 30 feet in height. 


Onginally some nine aeres in extent, Kew Garceus have 
Wow at acea of nearly 300 acres, ike oar own Botanie 
Gardens, they ave situated on the bank of a viver, but they 
Jnele tha wndulitions which give sneha oveat natural advatt- 
tage fo the Melboumie Gardens. Kew is a flat plain, and 
giteh variations of contour as ik possesses have hean produced 
altitigially. Nowhore has the avt of the landseape yardener 
laut to contend with ereater difficulties, The soil is hungry, 
suds umd gravely preclominating, aad beds of alimeast 
Mipel'viods clay. The transforming of such an unpromising 
area into a veal of boanty is a trionph of human skill ane 
persevery ned, 


Ku possesses 16 miles of puthways, three separate 
museums, acherbaritim with fwo nition specimens, andl a 
library of some 24,000 volumes, There is also the Jodrell 
Laboratory for research work in plant phyaiolovy; theve are 
at least 10 elasy-houses, all open to the pubhie, and the 
North’! gallery of paintings of flowers and nature seenss, 
containing more than 800 pictures. Add to these attractions 
the Rose Garden, the Herbaccous Garden, the Rock Garden 
uot ta speak of the Alpine House, the 70 acres of natural 
woodlands, the artificial luke, some 4) »eres in extent, the 
Pagoda, the Temples, the Ruined Areh, and other velics of 
an interesting past, and-I think vou will adinit that there is 
a little too much to be seen in two brief visits, or ro te 
deseribed in the limited space which our Mdito: ean afford 
ne. 


No visitor to Kew is likely to forget the widant Aagstaft 
formed of a. single piece of Douglas Fir, better known in 
Australia as Oregon, Pseudosugn Douglusti, This tremen- 
dons baulk of tinvber is 214 ft. in height, 2 ft. 9 in. in diame 
hee at the base, and 12 in. at the top. This is Hagstaff number 
hwo, ‘The first was pnt in place by the officials at Kew, and 
a@ Wigh wind ineontinentl: blew if down, happily withont 
much damage. Profiting by experience, the Director geenrext. 
to erect the second flagstaff, a detachment of sailors from 
Portsmouth, and the “Shandy men.’’ being well acestored 
to masts and rigging, this rime made a secure job of it. 


see Krier, the Royal Botunic Gardeug 5 ATs) 
a a 


Growing on the lawns and around the lake will be found wtany 
beatiful trees auch as the Holm Oak, Quercus lew; the Ser- 
vice Berry, Amelinclider conadensis; the conimow Line, Ulu 
vulgaris, and the White Lime, Thin aryenter> the common 
Ash, Pracimus eacelsior, and the london Plane. Llulanus 
woertfolus; Common Beech, Faygis sylvitiea; Oriental Mane, 
Plajanus orventalts. Many fmne Horse Chestnuts, le sequles 
Hippocastanum, and Spanish, ov Sweet, Chestnuis, Castanea: 
savived, can also be seen, while one Cedar of Tebanon, Cedrus 
Libunt, is no less than 64 feet in height, with a trunk nieasur- 
ing nearly 15 feet in girth. - 


Not onky was Royalty intimetely associated with the 
development of Kew Gardens, but great uames in the world 
of Botanieal Science cluster around them ylsc—Sip Joseph 
Banks, whe accompanied Captain (nok whi he Janded at 
Botawy Bay in 1770, Wag one of their earliest, divectors. The 
there were the Aitons, father arid sou, who were associuted 
with the costinies of Wew fur more than 80 years, Thea 
eame Siy Willian, and atterwavids Sir Joseph, Hooker, both 
of whom were directors of the Gardens. Australia alse fips 
played its part in then euvichorent. aud, owing to the taitir- 
ing labonr of collectors Tike the Conninghans god Peter 
Good, its uniqne flora is well represented. Myr, C. Daley has 
fold us of the immense quantities of material Ghat our own 
Baron von Mueller comtinued to send for move than 40 years. 
For the compilation of Flora Austrakiensis, published in 
1878. the Iaron despatched in instalments no less than one 
Vanidied thousand specimens to Georse Bontham ut the 
herbarium. at Kew. 


More than three million visitors pisa through the gates 
of Kew Gardens avery year, Here you ay see the student. 
of botany, with his note-book, earefully studying the Jabele 
of the trees and plants, the painter with his easel, and the 
far Jarger class of photographers, with their caneras; but 
fay ouhiumbering these, one notes, with pleasure, the muylti- 
tude of ordinary citizens of London, people whose every- 
day lives are perforce passed amid sordid surroundings and 
mean streets, but ave here, for a while, enabled to experience 
the joy of open spaces and the charm of woodland glades, the 
infinite variety of the forms and eolours of flawers, and to 
walise something of that superahundant. loveliness of Nature 
whieh, as Thomas Hursley has said, disarins pessiinisin, 


136 ; Mrs. Wore Martins Work ye ay 


TaEnmenen HET ROPE TEU (TTTETEPEOULEVIETLERIONTRRGEENEGYANGEEDOGGDADAC ULE DERDDURECOREERTONOLORRUTERVACE RODEO IRON ETUTEOTTFOTOOORHUA EDT ERE 


A STUDENT OF FUNGI—MRS. 
FLORA MARTIN’S WORK. 


NUUATHOTOTETCORDEDIPURPFCOLORTETD RLCEOOMEDPTMCENL OG FO HDM TCG ETODED OPAL EPUOD DD ALL GASH OFERYTYECHETLDRONMA LOUDER YH GC ante Maret TORT maTD 


COUUTER Tp HT EO 


TLL 


Tae 


Sartre lil 


We ave led, by dtreet and jindirvcet evidenee, to ‘believe 
that or Clu has done much to encourage and advanee the 
study ot Natural Science in Victoria. Many members have 
been, and still are, prominent workers; others, not sa pros 
mown, ave done exealleut work, too; while there are some 
non-members, who are domg thoir shave in the varied realms 
of Natuye Study, encouraged by the Chib’s activities. 

Mrs. Flora Martin, who died at Drouin on March 14, 
1923, was associated with our Club, and recently 1 beeame 
possessed of special evidences of the enthusiastic work 
curried out by her from ihe tinte when she left Melbourne 
for Dronin, owing to her Iushand’s retirement there for 
health and other veasons. 

Mus. Martin, in her young days, was a lover of plants. 
and a diligent strdent of botany. lo her early association 
with the Club she devoted muuch time to the study of Fungi. 
In 1892; when I was erranging the Museun of Heonomie 
Botany in the Melbourne Botanie Gardens, and had pre- 
pared a showease of some remarkable specimens of Fungi, 
donufed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Mrs, Martin 
contributed a collection of named Victorian species for 
inelusion in the case. Mvidenees of this lady's continuous 
and devoted seientifie interest, wud excellent work in her 
ehosen field, are to be found in a number of volumes, which, 
but for the kind offices of w relative of mime, who owned 
the property adjoininy Mrs. Martin's faem, might, with 
numbertess botanical ‘specimens, sketches, coloured plates, 
and drawings of fungi, have been destroyed as valueless, 
atter the disposal of ather property. 

While spending a week-end at Drouin recently, I looked 
through a pile of coloured drawings and illustrative notes 
of fungi made by Mrs. Martin during her studies, ‘and 
put a large number of them together; in case: they might he 
of service to the Agvicultural Department, ov members of 
the-Glab, A presentation copy to Mrs. Martin, of- Cooke’s 
Handbook of Australzan Fungi, has the tollowing inseription 


Noga. | Mr, Flora Martin's Work ba 
sumed by the yduthor over his photograph—‘Ty kindby 
“remembrance of the good offices of Mrs. Flora Martin iy 
“advancing this work in the colonies, and i securing its 
““affieial recognition, my thanks are ever due." This yvohime 
wus exhibited by me at the September, 1925, ineeting of tlie 
Olab, together with the Jette fron the New South Wales 
Government to Mrs. Martin, intimating its. decision to con- 
tribute £150 towards the cost of the work, ' 

Another interesting volume is a eopy of Synopses of the 
(ucenstand Ilora, by EF. M. Bailey, presented with the 
wuathor’s compliments to Miss Flora M. Campbell (Mrs. 
Martin's maiden name), dated 4/5/83. The same auther 
sent his later publications, down to March 28, 19138, when 
Mys. Martin veceived a copy of the beautifully iWlustreted 
work, Comprehenstwe Catalogue of Queensland Plants, with 
the following inseription—‘*To my old friend, Mrs. Martin, 
who has doe such good work in eonneetion with Australian 
Fangi.'' A yolunie,, much studied, judging by the muiti- 
tadincus marginal notes, and underlings throughout, ts 
Balfour's Classbook of Botany (Part 2, Physiological 
Botany) insevibed-— ‘Flora AT Campbell, 1874," while a 
eopy of Outlines of Brilask Mungology, by the Revd, J, M. 
Berkeley, was freely annotated by Mrs. Martin, and marked 
off with numbers, probably corresponding to specitiens in 
her possession. Many ofler books, such as Diseeses of 
Plants, Timber and Some of its Diseases, noth by Marshall 
Ward; De Bary’s Comparative Morphology and Biolugy of 
the Pungus, Mycetozow and Bacteria, and British Prengt, 
Licheus, alc., Holmes aid Gray, together with a eonmplete 
set of Bentham’s Flora Austrakiensis, testify to the thoraugh- 
ness of Mis. Martin’s stadics. My relative at Drouri states 
that Mis. Martin had gorvespondents on botanieal iatters 
all over the world, that she was always experimenting with 
plants on ber farm, and that she never possessed a picee 
uf dead wood without inspecting in for Fungi, Part of her 
fan wae left in its natural state, pur posely,. ago sae ULy 
loth for hinds und plants. —F, Pitcher. 


Ovehied studants are renunded that-this is the tie te look 
for the wiusual form of Calochilus which appeared two 
seasons ago. The absence of the ‘‘beard’’ wag i{% wdst 
marked characteristic. The plant was somewhat stouter than 
that. of C. Kobertsoni, and it bloaned rather earlier —B.C 


178 CHatbuan, A Vietarwa, Geoloyicul Pioneer Meters 


MLL ePPrEr eee eee eee ed 


A VICTORIAN GEOLOGICAL 
PIONEER. 


By WEL. Grav rarnds, 


AVERAAU TP EORAD RABAT PORE RARAY 


= 
= 


rnane 


4 
Tenresavendeenbenedbyntddead kD yd ePCCEAOEEVNEAHEEDORTROEGHERTTEDODPNOHHACEORDST, | LUCEEPED RDU MACCKOMDEDACKEIN TIAN CKCEAL Pang TAKE ni pebmnes 


One of the outstanding and praiseworthy objects ofthis 
Club i the past has been the recognition and memory of the 
pioneat in science and natural history venerally. especially 
m regard to Vietovia. Although the pircsent subject of notice 
was not a menber of the Clah. that body has derived indirect, 
but none the less substantial. benefit, trom the knowledge 
accruing from his work. And with this in mind the following 
notes are offered® —— 


Regmald Augustus Mrederick Murray was a native of 
Perthshire, Scotland, and came cet with his family in 1885 
to join his father, Capt. Virginius Murray, who was Warden 
and Police Magistrate on the goldfields. When, on the death 
of lis father in 1861, the fanrily veeressed the sea, young 
Murray remained behind. He jointed the Victorian Geo- 
logieal Survey, under Selwyn, at the age of 16, and found his 
first experience in the Wilkinsou-Daintree feld party 
engaged in surveying the Baeshus Marsh and Ballan dis- 
tricts. When 18 years of age he is found explovine the 
almost unknown Otway Range country under Wilkingen, 
their route being from what ts now Lorne (Loutit Bay) to 
the mouth of the Gellibrund River, and thence to Warrnany- 
bool. Wilkinson and Murray also made a secondary trip at 
this time, penetrating the forest from the mouth of the Aire 
to Irvewillipe, west of Colae, when the Beech Forest was 
diseoveved. 


As a junior assistant of the Survey, in 1864, Murray ivas 
eniploved in surveying Steiglts and Meredith, and slong ihe 
Leigh River to Buninyons. This work terminated in 1869 
with the abrupt ending of the survey. Subsequent years find 
R. A. F. Murray engaged in surveys for Commissions, ete., at 
Ballarat and Alexandvia, and in 1871 he way appointed br 
the Government to make a survey ot the Bendigo guirlfield. 
His later years in the field were mainly spent in Gippslatid, 
where he did such fine exploratory work ‘in the they thick 
forest country of North nnd South Gippeland. Murray was 


at Charman, A Vichorian Ocnloyicul Pioneer 178 


appoitited Government Kaciogiat in 18814, which post he 
resigned in 1597. 
The large and solid amount of work cased out by Mur- 
ray is seen in the long list of reparts and maps compiled by 
Mv. D, J, Mohony, M.Sc, as an-appendix to-Mr. Duin's 
admirible weeownt of Murray’ s life and achievements. ‘This 
list comprises about 154 reports and 38 geological maps and 
sechionis, 

But Reginuld Murray will, perhaps, best. be remembered 
by his practical and conscientiously-written handbook on 
the Geology and Physieal Geography of Victoria. 3a well- 
balanced were Murrays views of the different authorities 
when this was written, that it had been taken as a basis of 
knowledge of Victorian Geelogy up to the date of ifs pub- 
lization. Its value wag appreeated by so emment a eritic 
ag Sir Archibald Geikie, who relied chiefly on Murray's text- 
book for the written paragraphs on Vietoria m his widely- 
maid ‘“Text-book of Geolowy. 

And here the writer wonld like to say how fundamentally 
useful Murray's work was to him when becoming arquainted, 
Whilst in London, with the details of VWietorian geology. 
Investigating the ocenrrences of the Tanjilian fauna an 
Gippsland, which wre characterised by the large, oorkiw dike 
shell, Panenka, discovered by Murray at Tanjil, the writer 
was assis(td by further notes. from Murray. Tt was pleasant 
to have met hin on one vecusion, @ few yeurs siee, and to 
have had opportunity of expressing one’s appreciation of bis 
Jong Lfte’s work. Tn a recent letter to the writer, Si TW. 
Kdveworth David expressed himself ag haying u. hizh revard 
tor Murray's work. 

Duiine the last 20 years this geoloyieal pioieer of the 
Selwyn rewime had lived in sechusion. at Waillowgwove, on 
the Tanjil River. He passed away at Caulfield duving the 
last month at the good ave of 79 years. 

Fossil species named atter Murray, whieh will help to 
keep hig memory green, ave the Tryplasing marten, Mthsil., 
a osihurian coval from Waratah Bay, and the Sabishurie 
nergy, Of MeCoy, a Ginkgo leaf from the Yortiary at the 
liwead of the Dargo Raver, “Phis Jattcr, however, js sbill an 
MS, name, 


*Yhe writer is largely indebted to ihe Biographical Sketch of Mur- 
ray, wrilles by BE. J. Dunn, F.G.8., to which is appended a foll 
list of Murray's publications, by D, J. Mahony, M.Sc.—Bull. Geol, 
Surv. Viet, No 23, 1910, 


Vie. Siel- 


180) Noakes from (eld wind Study Vol NLA 


WIRH-PENCES DEATH-TRAVS FOR BURDS, 


Sines the establiahiment wt settlement or Vietovia, the 
native fanna has beer contending with many enemies. Apart 
fron the destruetion eaused by foxes aintd ‘wild’! domestic 
esta, the bask amd plain-wire fences have tale toll of oe 
birds wid aniniuls These tenees often ave conecaled in cense 
eure, or log gras, and ye constantly proving claath-tra ps 
ta many wild birds, Reeerthy, in the seruh at Moovoolbark, 
Eeame upon a fence whieh had jast added another vietim ta 
the list. Suspended by the right wing fvom the top barh- 
wite was & Laughing Kookitbutra, Dacelo gigas, who had heen 
eang@ht and firmly held by one of the pointed barbs. The 
feathers at the wound had become so twisted and knotted 
that the unfortunate bird was uhable te free itself, Here it 
trad finwered for at least two days before dying. When dis- 
eovered, about three days dater. it presented a starved and 
migerabla appearance. With the exception of the wotnd at 
the wing, and w little skit off its legs, no blemishes were 
visible. Although the pointed barb bad potictrated jast , 
under the skin at the elhow of the wing, yet- the bied was held 
st fiemly that I had diffieulty iit removing it from the wire-— 
DD. . 


NATIVE CATS NEAR MELBOURNE. 


The Groat Spotted-tailud Native Cat, Dusyurus wien, 
laives, ov ‘Tiger Cat o* ag it is commonly culled. is now vane 
in Victoria, but the Common Native Cat, D, viverrinus, has 
adapted itself tu changed conditions, and oceurs still even 
close to Melbourne. The: Natioial Museum. reecived speet- 
mths from Studley Park, fairly recently, and ou Oetoher 
26 last a young one was captured ina coachhonse al, Lvaaihoe. 
it was diseovered carly ig the moruing in 4 echatt-hin, and 
later entered a wWire-trap. fg eaptois presented at to ihe 
Zoological Garters; where [ stalked it with a Graftex camers. 


“icel Notes from Field and Study 181 


Mr. A. Wilkie, the divector, had the little marsupial placed. 
in a large enclosure, and, with much trouble, a portrait. was 
obtained. The **Cat’’ was so nimble-tooted and eleyer at 

dodging the lens that only one of six snapshots was snecess- 
ful. We admired the animal's boldness. Jt displayed. anger, 

not fear—a. fierce nature. These small Dasyures ave known 

to he poultry-killers, and in some districts many have paid the 
penalty for raiding. —C.R, 


THE BLACK-FACED WOOD SWALLOW. 


Has the Black-faced Weéod-swallow, Artunas amelantaps, 
been recorded for Victoria? During the Tast twa years |. 
have seen odd pairs throughont the year, in Red C lil dis- 
trict. It is apparently a resident Apecies, or perhaps niare 
earvectly, nomadic. Ite fivonrite haunt 1s along the roads, 
and it nests in treesponts anid on the tops of stuimps. In 
the @reunstances its chaneey of veainge youny! ave sliwht. for 

‘ school-children have no cliffieully in finding such exposed 
ness. In nests thal V lwive examined, two vegas have formed 
Wie eitteh—L.G.C, 


’ 


HIRD STRATEGY, ‘ 


The White-cared Toneye ater, Meliphuga laucolis, is a 
waster strategist, Tl. is true that his clear call, “ We-vook,”' 
soundine al) day long, nay guide vou toward his home; but - 
he calls from the tree tops, while the nest is 7m the bushis 
below, aid how silent he is when he «approwehes it! 
Should some thoneltless human step too pear, the 
bird will dvop like a stone, and Antler along the ground with 
dragging wing, Vf the wateher refuse to be lured away, the 
bird eriee plaintively; no Tang, Lpflranwe albifrons, could 
do better, and anes are masters of this art. Should you, 
the dreaded intruder, retreat a. few steps and hide, anxiety 
conquers wisdow, and the, haney-eater darts ta the: nest to 
make ‘sure that. the hrood is safe. Yon move, he is yone; yo 
approach the pest and he is fluttering again on the ground, 
while, within a cap of bark and hair, two nestlings that, a 
moment ago, ealed, with outstretched heads, for food, crouch 
flat and still, two patches of striped-grey down, almost! 
invisible from: uw step away. You touch them, and the parents, 
secing there is no longer hope of misleading you, dart down- 
ward, in fear for theiy offspring. Apain and again they strive 
to drive the intruder away, but if this avail nothing, they 


1R2 Botanical Notes vm ber 


will noi allow their own fear to harm the nestlings, but, 
even While a strange hand touches the nest, they doubtfully 
hop toward it, from branch to branch, with food that they 
place at last within the wide months, whose owners have for 
gotten eantion in their hanger. 


While the young are still im the nest, the parents ean 
do vo more than this, yet this is only the beginning of their 
eave. When they first feave the nest, 1f you approach Loo 
nea the first triek is vepeateds and, be it noted, so far as 1 
have seen, once the nest is.fownd the birds do not try antl 
lead you away, but as soon as. there ig soinething new to hide 
they try again to mislead. If this fail they have another 
detener, IF have seen a pai, with a young bird, fly most 
noisily and ostentatiously aevoss a paddock, flying low and 
turning sharply to return to the bush they left; but only 
the pavents veached it. Walking to the point at which they 
had iqrned, T discovered a large tussock, and behind it, flat. 
and silent, the young bird. I bont down, bith with a last 
of tiny Wings the fledgling had retuned to its parents. —L 
followed again: would have touched that young bird, byt. 
between my hund and its body, darted two trmous birds, 
with mandibles, too angry, it seamed, to fear; and, in 
rdavvation, I lett thom alone-—J.C. 


TLCS 


TWO ORGHIDS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 


The ilhastvations show two orchids of Western Australia 
whieh were exhibited at one Flower Show on September 22. 
Neither, so far, has been recorded in this State; though, 
being very small and not brightly coloured, they may easily 
have been overlooked hy the collector, 


Caleuna nigrite (Lindley), 


Th this species the labellom hanes poised above the coluiin 
ou the same peculiar strap-like hinge, whieh we note iw our 


Noy. aay Noiiew 
LODE: Botanicul Notes ; - 183 


Victorian species of Caleana. ‘The flower is inverted, the 
labellum being above, instead of below, the column. My 
Rpechintry although gathered some days before September 
22, shows no sign of fading. Jt is probable that, as in the 


CALBANA NIGRITA (H. P. Pickins, Del.). 


case of Caleuna aajor, which often temaius in flower for six 
to ten weeks, this is due to non-fertilization. At first glance 
tha flower seems to be cleverly ‘adapted for cross-pollination, 
and no doubt it is oceasionally fertilized by visiting insects, 


DRAKEA BLASTICA (H. P. Diekins, Dél,). 


but closer examination would show that this may not ‘be so 
easily effected as appearances indicate. 


184 Botontcat Notes Vick Sac: 


The tesemblanes to the flying duek in Caleanu nigrita is 
Hol so pronounced ag in the Victorian species of this geitus. 
in whieh the broad, hollow, cup-like formation of the hack 
part of the labellum, and the navrow, beak-like, shape of the 
vont park make uw faithful copy of the head of the bird. 


Prakwa clustica (Iindley ), 

Though this orchid is not on the Vietorian list, we have 
two clogely-allied species, which were formerly clasued us 
Drekeas; but Lindley’s genus, Spieulewa, baing reinstated, 
these have become Spiculea Huntiana and Spicule soviti- 
hikis. 

In Drakea elasticn the hammer-shapec. labellam iy very 
sensitive, und the long column is characteristic of the genus, 
The lamina of the labellum is divided into two snegtial lobes 
by #& constriction near the insertion of the claw. Toner 
lobe markedly glandular; hairy im the basal half,. elyewhere 
sinooth, upturned at its free extremity; shorter Jobe hairy 
and very elandniar.~ Anther blunt, but rostellum mueh prn- 
longed #oO ay to simulate another point. 

From first-hand knowledge T can say little of Bvt 
alesiica, as this is my introduetion to it. The above is Dr KR 
5. Rovers’ description, which would, T think, be better that 
that of either Witzgevald ov Benthaut.--S. C. 


Part TH of Ma. J. AL. Black's Flova of South Australia is 
veady for the printer, but must wait its tur with other pab- 
licutions of the British Science Guild Mr. Black and Da. - 
&. Rovers have ungrudgingly viven 4 great amount of time, 
with their only teward, appreciation by fellow-workerg in the 
field, South Australia is fortunate in having scientific men. 
who have both leisure and ability for such work, In Vic- 
tora we have provided an up-to-date census of plants, but 
figures and destriptions are lacking.—A.J.T, 


The Kew Bulletin, No, 3 1925, refers to the effort being 
inade by the Conrinittee on Australian Botatical Nomenela- 
ture to conserve the generic names, Muchlenbeckta, Den- 
hamia, Orcamyrrhis, Leucepogon, Olearia and Angiunthus, 
Which are all ante-dated, the first threefoldly. The reasons 
for vetaining them-are published in the Journal of Botany, 
July 1925, pp. 210-215; by Mv. M. Black, seevetary of the 
Contmittee, wad it is to be hoped that the next International 
Fotanieal Congress will see fit to add them to the iat, of 
Nomina genertca conservanda. 


Che Victorian Naturalist 


fee tt hoe ae | oi er eye wets oy 
Vou. XLN—No. §  . DECEMBER 11,1925 = No.50¢4 


_- FIRLD- NATURALISTS! CLUB OF) VICTORIA... . 


The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in 
the Royal Society’s Hall, on Monday evening, November 9; 
1925. ‘The President, Mr. Geo. Coghill, occupied the’ chair, 
and about. fitty members and friends were present. 


CorrRESPONDENCE. 


A letter was received from the Hon. Secretary of the 
Bass Park Trustees in reference to the interesting line 
deposit in the Park. He stated that the Trustees were pro- 
tecting fhe deposit for scenie reasons, and had resisted 
several attempts 10 have the lime removed. 


Thi PORTS, 


Reports of excursions were given :-—Ringwood, Mrs. K. 
Coleman; Spring Vale, Mr, H, 'B. Williamson; Greendale, 
Mr. 1. G. A. Barnard; Belgrave, Mr. I. G. A. Barnard. A 
vote of thanks to Dr. and Mays. Shuter and Mr. and Mrs. 
Coghill tor their hospitality to excursionists on the Greendale 
and Belerave excursions, respectively, was carried unani- 
mmously, ¢ oN , 

Evrcrioxn or MmMpers. 


On a ballot being taken, Miss Milbourne, 257 Beaeons- 
field Parade; Middle Park, My. H. 8. Hanks, 736 Sydney 
Road, Coburg; and Mr, L. RB. Williams, Glyndon Avenue, 
Brighton; -were elected as ordinary -members 3 and Mr. aud 
Mrs. §. 8. Strutt, ‘‘Hemslett,?” Taner as country members 
of the Club. 


GENT: AL. 


Mi F. Piteher reported thar he bac obtained Pea the 
Trustees of. the National Park particulars of the proposed 
parking-area at Sherbrooke. They stated that the spot .was 
outside the. area under their control, and that no damage 
would be done to the Park or adjacent beauty spots. 


186 pield Naturalists’ Ciub—Proceedniys Wie. Nat. 


Vel xteat - 


Lucrure. 


“Central Atistralia,’’ by Mr. Lance Le Souet. The leec- 
iurer deScribed various parts of the interior, in.” Western 
and Central Australia, sketched phases of life on the stations, 
and gave an account of the ‘desert’ country's progress and 
praspéets. Vast aveds, popularly supposed tdi be! tvorthleas, 
ov nearly so, were in reality well suited for sheep or cattle. 
There was a great future before Central Australia when 
wiodern transportation facilities were provided, and adequate 
mneand\ for obtaining thé water that. éxisted underground: The 
lecturer dealt with plant and animal life in the interior, 
mainly, from .the eeonamie standpoint. Several members 
éxpressed keen appreciation of the interesting and enlighten. 
ing lecture, which was illustrated by a numbér of-excellent 
lantéim slides, On the motion of Messrs. Pitéher and 
Barnard, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Le Sonef. 


MXHIBITS, 
~" By Wi F&A. Barnavd: King Fert, Todea (Osmunda) 
Tinea Preevee. al 

_ by Mr. PL Chapman, A.L.S.: Tertiary leaves from ‘Pen- 
nylle Creek, Navracan, . 
By Mr. Geo. Cowhill: The following flowers srown at 

Canterbury —Grevillea  rosmariuifolia, Viola hederacea, 
Swansona, sp., Prostunthera rivea, Kunzed parviflora, and 
the New Zealand Manuka, Lepbospermum, sp. ue 

_ By Miss Carrie, of Lardner: Cocoons and perfeet inseets 
af a small Chaleid'fly. | 
_., By. Mr. J.-E. Dison: Remarkable variation of Mdcrohelodes 
erassus,.Blackb., a beetle of the family Daseillide, abont 
30 varieties from Trankston. 

By Mr. Latham: Blooms of Callistemon flumdceniatus. 

by, Mr. A. EB. Rodda: Tall growths on branch of Acacta, 
fron You Yangs. - ; 
“By Wy. H. B. Wilkiamson, F.L.S.: Specimens of Pimelea 
Ereyveudt (Evy. M;), Ewart and Rees, Tallangatta, Oetober, 
1025... Mowering specimens of Pulténan greveniers, - Tate, 
Steiglitz, Mr. Fi. Cooper, snv., previously gathered-only by 
Mr. 8. Johnson, of Meredith, in 1893, and placed with speei- 
mens of Pultenws villosa, Willd. Specimens of -—Casuarina 
Léeukmannti, Ro T. Baker; Myoporum deserti, A. Cunn-: 
Julatis -anthemoides, Pay M,; Brachycoms basaitiea (yar. 
gravilis), FYM.; Rumen crystellinus, Lange, from the plains 
ofthe Lower Ovens; Halorraghis elate, A. Cuniiy ‘Warby 


= -t ve 
: r . 
Coad tty = 


Bet Field Naturalists’ Cub—Proceedings 387 


Ranges. ‘All collected by the exhibitor, and new for N.E’ 
Burnettia cuncala, Lindl, and Thelymitra grandiflora, Fitz., 
eollected by Fred, Barton, jr, at Foster; new for East. 
Prostantheru decussata, F.v.M., Brisbane Ranges, collected 
_by Mr, Boardman; new for S.A serap of this plant was 
obtained in 1923 by the Rev. A.C, P. Gates, 


TONNNNNOM MAOH EHO mmORENNNDHTNCONHHOOHROOmENOLONDDObanonnnOgenemNmesEtONONNONAMASGAOOOAAOMNACaLLOLEoO@TTONONOHOOoAN TON tteCOaNpOnOOO eNO 


THE PROPAGATION OF OUR 
PTEROSTYLES. 
By W. HB. Nicroxzs, 


FicameseeeesenunenessevauweseapepuensauseneevannnreneqnsynanncensesprunadedreaveneynenenensspepaueeeuasesaMaQlaeeaembAliRssee@HaRAdE 


MOOT NOOROTMHB ATRL EO EHALenshdidobey 


yy LLL Le 


ea 


(Communicated by A. J. Tadgell) 


The pollinary mechanism im our orehids, especially the 
well-known Pterostylis, popularly called. Greenthoods, is of 
a highly specialised nature, and is deseribed by Dr, R. 5. 
Rogers in his “*An Introduction to the Study of Sonth Aus- 
tralian Orchids,” 1911, As there is no authentic record of 
the finding of seedling plants, especially in. the very early 
stages of their existence, the discovery this spring of a 
number of undoubted seedlings is of interest to all who love 
ta study these-curious and fascinating flowers. 


It is a welllmown fact, or a natter of general belief, 
that most, and perhaps all, terrestrial orehids propagate their 
kind chiefly by the vegetative.development.of tubers on the 
main yoot or ‘al the terminals of the wandering roots. Ina 
state of nature these Pterostyles. are found sometimes solitary, 
sometimes in small seattered groups, at other times in colon- 
ieg so dense that the ground for yards is carpeted with their 
rascttes, as is the case with' Pierostylis conetiuia, R-Br,, 
P. nutans, R.Br., and P: pedaglossa, Fitz. ‘These three species 
ave cited as being common plants in the neighbourliood of 
Melbourne. P. concinnu is quite the commonest orchid 
under the tea-free along the coast. P. nwians is found there, 
and practically every where else, while P. pedaglossa hides ith 
frail charms among the stems of shrubs that flourish on our 
sandy heathlands. 

ln September Jast the writer received from New South. 
Wales an exeellent example of the above vegetative 
process in P, curta, R.Br. This specimen wes colleeted by 
the Rev. H, M. R. Rupp, on Hungry Mountain, in the Pater- 


pity Nicnouts, The,Propagation of Our Pterostyles [pics 


Boul} distriét, The plant produced four tubers. It appears 
bo he -pléntifal in that district, growing intermixed with P. 
mitins,” On the other hand, it oiust not be conceived that 
thé wonderful mechanism perfected by nature to ensure pro- 
duetio of fertile seed, is peculiar to the Greenhoods, or with- 
out result, This, indeed, is fax trom being the case, for sutf- 
elent proot is available to show that sced production is at 
pirumount importance for the spread (if not the existeres) 
of this and many other generz. 


An eXainivation of the plants of the various. species in 
different seasons proves that many of them, with their limited 
rool, systems, are qitite ineapable of producing more than a 
single tuber each year, duel tuber being for the suatenaies 
of the plant when next it vegetates. [1 will be found that 
the majority of these produce seed capsules freely or f{re- 
quently, The, _hest known instances are Pterostyles longi- 
folia, R.Br, FP, alpine, Rogers, P. rufa, R.Br, P. abtasn, 
R.Br, 'P. bar'bata, Lindl, P. mutioa, R.By., and P. dane, 
Rogers. These species wo rarely found other than as soli- 
they species, or in small groups, though one may oeca- 
stonadly find, as for oxample, when m 1923 and 1924, we 
evogsed the Baw Baw Plateau, Pterostylis olpime accurving 
very pleutifnlly, the plants heing huddled together in large 
groups-as if for protection from the icy eald of these regions, 


‘A visit now to any of the coastal districts where we find 
Prerostylis concinne, R.Br, P. nana, R.Br. or FP. alta, 
Reich., growing, will show that even with these types whieh 
chiefly propagate their‘kind by the underground production 
of tubers there is abundant seed produced, That plants are 
produced from this seed is evident by the hundreds of very 
amall plants which are observed in sonve seasons. Pterastylis 
Toveyune, Ewart and Sharman, a very rare coastal form, is 
an undoubted hybrid. the Prien Plants being Plerostylis can- 
comma and PB. alata. 


” Oceasionally, when the season is suitable to their growth, 
mminy of our rare Pterostylis appear in considerable numbers 
in gonie districts, An instance of this pecurred during the 
apring of 1923, when near the Bayswater Railway Station we 
found Péerostylis acuminata, RByv., growmg in large numbers. 
Prior ta this discoverey it was very rare; this year we found 
one at all, 


‘Specimens collected at Bayswater, NW. Victoria, 
Cravensville and Mordijalloc, ave identical in all respects, but 
those from New Sontl Wales and Queensland differ in hav- 
ing-a more Acuminate labellum. The months of. bloomang in 


Pans | . Nicnous. The Propagation of Our Pterostyles 139 


New South Wales are March to June; in Queensland, July 
ind August; and in Vietoria, August to Deeember, 


Dy, Rogers, who ts familiar with the types trom the other 
States, wiites: “Tt is not.a hybrid, but P.. acuminata’? We 
alsa mentions ihe slight difference in the Jabellm, and in the 
flowering times. It will thus be seen that this orchid is 
found in flower, in one place or anatter im all wionths, except 
January and February. 


Ou a recent, excursion to Gis abdand the writer had the 

“wood fortune to locate a eolony of Pterast ylis longifolia. 
| While his paity vested by the roadside, the writer examined 
| a likely-looking epat tor orchids under 2 grand old Euealyp- 
' tus tree. A thiek earpet of wet. leafmould lay upon the 
ground, Growing in this were many plants of this species 
in all stages of developinent, fron) minute seedlings to flower- 
. ing plants. Many of the smaller seedlings vested on solitary 
leaves, their rootlets searching, through evacks and ovey the 
edges of the leaves, for the enol moisture beneath, None 
. of these plants were rooted in the sail proper, and specimens 
(of all were veudily removed without damage. These, 
' together with specimens found wt Mount Myelyn and other 
| places, form the sabject of ou illustrations. 
| On the basalt plains not far from Sunshine there is a 
‘ lavgish eolony of Pterasighis reflena, R.Br. A reeent visit 
' yevealed further interesting evidence, proving heyond all 
doult that those species which ate found in colonies do pro- 
duee abundant aud fertile seed. Within ten feet of a carpet 
of large rosettes, and a little below, there is\ a deep asd 
widely-cut drain, Lining the bottom ind sides were numerous 
sitall rosettes. They could not: be other than plants of the 
, above species, which had originated from seed, as, upon 

enquiry, | found the drain. to be of comparatively recent 
* wemstruction. All of these plants and those in the immediate 
‘ vieinity were quite small, many rosettes measuring but a 

quarter of an inch seross, 


In this locality the grass grows very tall, and burning-off 
is practised nearly every summer, Possibly the heat and the 
after-effects ute beneficial to the germination of fhese minute 
bodies, which probably had been blown ov washed ito the 
divin, and there found as ideal hame in the Loose, unoceupied 
surfaive of the sotl.. 


. Tn the B.A.A'S. Handbook of South Australia (1914), 
Dr. Rogers writes: **. - — that during seasons following ex- 
‘tensive bush fires, the hills become veritably carpeted with 


—- 


190. Nicwtorts, The Propagation of Our Pterostyles | Yishsoyyi 


Seedling Plants. of Some Species of Pterostylis. 
(Drawings by W. H. Nicholis) 


192A: Nivuoies, The Propagation of Our Prerastites 191 


orchids, many of the species being comparatively ile at 
other times. "Mie plants are far too munerous to-be accounted 
for by stimulation of the buried tubers, aud the probable 
explanutian appears to be that the fires have created eon. 
ditions favourable tor the gemnination of seeds darmant frayn 
fornier scasons. |! 

Other discoveries could be cited relative to the growths. 
and spread of our Pherostyles in this manner, but enough 
hag bee written to show that these special contrivinees (80 
dearly deseribed ly Dr. Rogers), and charunterisiie of all 
orchids, serve a yery useful purpose. and that, without fertile 
sed, many species would soon be lost for all fine. 


KEY TO ILLUSTRATIONS 


ab Ge—Seedling plants of Pl. veflewa, Sunshine, June, 1925; det.— 
Seedling plants of Pf, lungifolia, Drouin, October, 1925; 2—Seell- 
jing plant af PL vittute, Black Rock, May, 1924; h—Tall seedling 
plant, of Pt. lunyifelia, Dronin. October, 1925 (note thea “feathery” 
vootle.d: ijkioo—Seedling plants of Pt. longifohu, Drouin, 
October, 1925; n.o—Seedling plants of Pt. purritlora, Mi, Lvelyn, 
Sepeamber, 1925; p—Enlarged root, system of seedling plant of 
Pt. Tonyifolin 


PLANTS VROM MALLACOOTA DISTRICT, 


(in # recent visit to the Mallacoota distrie(, Bast Gipps- 
land, Mr. V. Miller found the beautiful crimson-flowered 
Crevillea, Victorde: but it is not recorded fimm East Gipps-” 
Janct in our Census, which will now read, ‘'N-E., B.??) On 
Mount Bogong the leaves of some plants of this species ave 
very Jong, while on others they are shorter and more ovate 
in shape. Mallacoola specimens ave referable to the form 
known as G, Viclorme yar. brevifolia. This Royal Grevillea 
evoked an outburst of enthusiasm when.first found by Baron 
von, Mueller (who regarded the Alps as its proper home), 
when he wrote to Sir Wilham Hookers “What an introdue- 
jion to Kew this plant. would bea plant that requires no 
protestion in Bnegland.?’ Mr. C. Barrett brougy, back 
from Mallacoota, among masy other interesting plants, the 
Short. Bristle Fern, Z'rrchomanes himile, only recorded pre 
viously from Mount. Bogong and the Dandenangs. Thus the 
Jensns should be altered to read. ‘S.. N-M., BE. A. J. 
Tanga.” 


qn? The Lite Ae, fuseyn bberecy Maiden by peat 


’ 
HOHE TCCPPU PANY OPE RTSSSUSN TOE Y OED yaI NN NCSU OS STSPE NSE CH OURAN A DaRA sate RTE Rpaneea eave canea hth PEATAT ERT OA TAT EN RMT RA TELA OWRERATERE 


THE LATE MR. JOSEPH HENRY- 
MAIDEN, 15.0, FRS. FLS. 


eneneedtAPAGLLODEDATEAAECEDOOVURACCCTHZ ORDO IV ERERUET EON NOROEI DOA NOLO FRORGGa RET HONrERGAT OVE LENTTVERVTAOVONEORYONSHOO NDOT RNNT TOV OOP EYE. 


TVET TPA HE RH HITE 
LOE EE PARI OORE OH RT TEE PERE 


The report of the death of Mv. J. H. Maiden, at 
Tarramnurra, N.S.W,, on November 15, at the age of 67 
vers, was received with very vreat resret, both by those 
who had the privilege of knowing him. parsonally, and those 
who knew him only as Australia’s leading botanist, and had 
been tollowing with so much interest the progress of “his 
areat work on the genus Hucalyptus, 


Many of aS were nhaware that, for a long time, Myr. 
Maiden had been so seriously evippled in health that he 
hwid been greatly hanypered in his task. His heroie struggle, 
in face of his painful disabilities, to bring it ta completion, 
avonsed deep admiration in all his (ricnds) and, although his 
end, as the result of heart failure, did not came as o eom- 
plete surprise, yet it caused a feeling of regret andl 
disappomtment that he was wot permitted, by the publi- 
cation of the final number of the ‘‘ Revision,'’ te erown what 
fie has deseribed as his lite work. 


The decision of the Minister for Morests to terminate the 
nablication of ‘'The Forest Flova of New South Wales,” 
which was begun in 1904, and had reached its 77th part last. 
year, must have been a4 matter of regret tu Mr. Maiden; but 
in the distressing circumstances in whieh he was worlang, 
perhaps he was not altogether sorry to have been relieved 
of its responsibilities, so that he could devote all his remain 
ing energics to lis main objective. 


Until his death, in 1896, Baron von, Mueller had been 
Ue andisputed authority tn all econeerning the Australian 
flova. Indeed, he had for so long océupied this position thal. 
he had come to look.upon the field as his own domain, and. 
perhaps with some justification, was even inclined to regard 
the description by another of any new species, more par- 
ticularly in his pet genus Hwealyptus, without his imprimatur, 
as an intrusion within his provinee, and even as something 
perilously verging on an impertinence. Just before the 
Bayon’s death, however, Mr Maiden, in conjunction with 
the late Mv. Wenry Deane, had commenced to participate in 
the elucidation of our great and perplexing genus, and the 
fleseription of their first species, H. propingua, appeared in 


ees THe Lete Ar. Foseph Henry Mittden Ws 


ilies Procecdinys of (he Linneun Society of New South Walvs, 
in 1895, Uy till 1901 nine papers by these gentlemen, 
ontitied ““ Observations. on the HKuealypis of New Sonth 
Wales,”’ had appeared in the sane publication, wid, us the 
reat of their collaboration, 14 species were ercated. 

Mi. Maiden thereafter published most of bis species inde- 
jiendently, and has created altogether some 88, He wus, 
however, joined with others, notably with My. R. H. Gaw- 
bage, and with Mo. Blakeley, in the differentiation of 23 
additional, and, aécording to reporl dea paper yuite recently 
siven to the Royal Society of New South Wales, a forthe 
16 species are fa be credited to him and the lattee 

In 1893 the first purt ut “The Critical Revision of the 
Genus Encalypius” came from the press. With the excep- 
tio of 1906 and 1909, eaeh year has Leen murked by the 
appeirance of une ov more parts, even as muy as Aevel 
being published in 1927. and six the following year ‘Vhis 
year the 64th beuirie wvailable to us, In these Mr. Maides| 
has clealt with the yvemds in the most exhwnstive nmumer. 
and the Jatest species admitted by hin brogeht the total 
of these considered valid to 361. Apparently oly the vest 
mf the seeds, the deseriptions of the seedlings, whieh are tu 
he figuved in colour, and the key retnained fo be published. 
Seeing that this Just was in his awo words “really the inain 
objeet in write the work,’ if is po relief to learn thal 
he had conpleted it before his death, and that at is waw 
in the press, and will ultimately be pivblished, Even from the 
tine of his arrival in Sydney, 44 years ago, Mv. Maiden’y 
life was always uclively devoted to the cause of science. 
He was at first assistuat to the late Professor Beatte, bul 
wis soon appointed the first Curator of the TNeehniesl 
Museu in Sydney, in 1881, holding this office wil 1896. 
In the interval he also acted for a time as Superintendent 
af’ Technica) Education and Consulting Botanist to the 
Departments of Avriculture and Forestry. Jn 1896 he 
beeume Government Botaiist, Director of the Botanic! 
Gardens, and offteer-in-charge of the Contennial Park, ane 
held these appointments until his retirement last. year, hay- 
ing in this period originated and built up the very fine 
National Herbavinin, now existing in the sister State. 

In addition to his offielal duties, Mr. Maiden undertook 
many of an honorary charaeler, aid was, ceiling only the morn 
important—Permanéent Honorary Secretary, and jocal Hon- 
qvary Secretary for New South Wales, to the Australian 
Association for the Advancement of Science for 14 years, 
resigning on account of ill-health in 1921, and being then 


Ide THE hate Mr. Tosh Henry Maiden pa apPo 1 


eleeted ain Honorary Life Menber for his valuable services. 
He was for some fime Honorary Sceretary ta the Reval 
Suciety of New South Wales, President of the Hortieultural 
Society of that State, President of the New South Wales 
Poanch of the Australian Moreat League. and helped im the 
Migination of the Wattle Duy celebrations. 
~ Bosi(les the two large works already referred to, Me, 
Maiden was the author of the well-known ‘Useful Plants of 
Anstratia,’? “lustrations of New South Wales Plants,?? a 
"Lite of Siv Joseph Banks.’* and, with the late Mr. Eanest 
Betche. A Consus of New South Wales Plants.'’ Tle wus, 
innreaver, responsible for 45 papers in the Trensachons 
of the Moyul Sociely af New South Wales, 95 in the Trans- 
HetONs Of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, and for 
wany others in the ‘Agmonitural Gazette of New South 
Wales, and tn this wad similar joamrndhs. 
That My. Maiden*s work has been recognised, ard that 
iL has not gone without honour, is evident when we remeber 
that he veeeived the Linnean Seeiety’s medal in 1915, being 
the first to be so distinguished in this country; that he was 
eleetect a icllow of the Boyal Society and ulsa received the 
Imperial Service Order it 1916, the Mueller Medal from the 
Australian Association for tho Advancement of Seience in 
1922, and the Clarke Memorial Medal from the Hayal Society 
of Neay South Wales in 1924. 


Me. Maiden's kindly disposition endeared hint to all those 
with whom he eame in contact, his devotion lo duty in spite 
of long continued ill-health earned him nnivergal respect: 
wud. the loss his death has occasioned will not be easily over- 
ROME, 


BAY COOT KFREUING, 


At. Take Wendouvee, Ballarat, last Deeember I was 
interested in watching the aquatic birds through binoculars. 
‘. Bald Coot, Poarphiio melenolis, petehed of a tangle of 
weeds, was tugging at the fower-stem of « large plantain- 
Tike weed that grows thiekly in the lake. The stalk came 
away suddenly, and the big blue bird fell backward itito the 
water. Recovering Ins perch, te helel up the stem with one 
foot and peeled if, with his bill, as-one would peel a banana, 
afterwards feeding on the sueculent centre. I have noticed 
Coots, Publica «fra, diving for, and eating, weeds in 
other waters. Doubtless the birds of this familie are lse- 
tul in helping to keep down these tronblesonre srowths— 
A, I, Roppa, 


on 


th Tate oot Memdice aad Readity sg 


AN ISLE OF ROMANCE AND REALITY. 


Jit a natanalist’s life romauee is mineled often wrth 
reality, though ‘same men are slaw to admit that they have 
gained pleasure, stepping aside from the straight path of 
keience, Fuets alone, they say, are worth reniembrance, anu 
should be recorded starkly. But many of ns are 
nature lovers gather than seientifie vatnralists, and in 
beholding the ea uty of wild life we may win—and be the 
richer for it— glimpses of romance. There is true romanee 
i the story of Duk Island, as told by the J hate, Mr. I, J. 
Banfield, in. ‘The Confessions of a Beacheomber' and other 
hooks. Bat not romance alone. Wor their author was i 
keen and faithful observer, and missed none of the oppar- 
tunities offered by Hortane lavishly. 

“Last Leaves from Dak Ishind,’? published in November 
iy Mossta., Angus and Robertson Td. (Sydney), is a notable 
wddition to Anstratian books of the open ain he “loaves? 
will help to keep wreen the menor of a see and “wot. 
Hearted man,” whe loved aatnre tioke that &eiaies, who 
wrote wisely and with a golden pony yc mide his osha 
home renowned in ony counties besides Australia, Since 
Thoreaa’s tine no vatuyalst-recluse so nemarkahle ax i. J. 
Banfield has told the world the story of tis Tife with wild 
nature, und recorded dis thoughts, observations, an 
expounded his rieh philasoply 


In his SOAS HON, written) With mare tasivhl and svn. 
pathy, Mer, . Chisholm gives a brie!’ biography of tho 
selLatyled a Sbacheaben ** who, with his wite, lived on 
Dunk Island for 25 years. he tropic idyll muted, as all 
idylly must, sorrowfally. Death came at last to the tropie 
isle, Some whiong us huve been on Dunk Tslund; few have 
not read the Beachcomber’s books. Nothing in. Australian 
literature i more distinctive than “The Confessions of 
Beacheomber.’” Its authov has enriched our national litera. 
ture, and, alsa, he has added not a Little fo the knowledee 
of plant and animal life in North Qneensland—his territary 
an isle of vomanee. His bird biographies are perfect in 
their way; of beach plants and trees ard flowers of the jurele 
he wrote as excellently. Birds: were favourites, vel our 
friend, especially in his later years, wis most loyal to botany. 
Like all true naturalists, he declined to be exelusive, Whe 
specialist bas his place —a high one; but the great men 
have newdy all been general in their studies (apecialisiny. 
foo, maybe)—as Darwin, Bates. and Wallace —C. Barrier 


186 Winctamson, Three Specius of Pimetea. vig Her 


Ls 


LITterephheanedeoandyrensnreesanyatisenesereveLededesaatnacsenrseernrennncarventevensarDesvrmati Nl Edekbwl yp OREN DEMTPENTL AYP RRAY PAN BAM ete”, 


THREE SPECIES OF PIMELEA. 


By El. B. Winttamsos. yas. 


ST CLL 
TU ee es 


q 
VOwUUNEREEEUOHUARCA) HVIAPWOsUNaseaLerPOANCCGEESS AEA NCAT TEED VREAACEHIIPERUAMNCORTINW/FEAUESORERLIDUUUS( EX STFU FOORRCO ENO RECENEFEmiIOD 


a 


The venus Pimelea belongs to the family Thyimeloaces. 
whieh ineludes the Daphne of the Northern Tlemisphere- 
fiaidium and Struthioke of S, Africa, and the prostrate 
alpine shrub, Dranetes, of the Tasmanian hiellaids and the 
Australian Alps. 

The members of the family are noted For the great 
tenaatiy of the mer bark, and the genus Pinrelea, which is 
limited to Australasia, has been referred to under the ver- 
uneular “Tough-barks.’" The genus contains 78 speoies, 22 
of whieh oceur in Victoria, one of which, PL siniplesx, how- 
ever, appears to have been wrongly recorded for the State. 
Of these 22 species, 14 have been recorded for the Melbourne 
distiiet, one front the Mallee and the S.W. and S. coast. ancl 
the veniuining seven are ench limited to one distriet. With 
the aid of Mueller’s key, and the information regarding 
distribution given in the Census, a beginner should not have 
ereat difficulty in making out any of the common species. 
Mueller's key to the genus is well set ont, ancl is as easy to 
follow as any in the book, the distinctions beg based on 
the leaves—whether seattered or ulternate, ineurved or 
recurved, calyx and bracts hairy or glabrous, flowers term ial 
or axillary, ete. 

Certainly P. huwitis, Po glawer, PP. collina, aude P. 
sputhiuleta present some diffioulty, but, yenerally speaking. 
the first-named can be known by its hatry flower stem. the 
second by its aturrow leaves promingntly veined below, and 
distinct marginal vein. he third eau bo separated from the 
fourth by its ineurved Jeaves, P. linifatia having flat loaves 
irving recurved. 


Pimelea Treyuanedii, Wyw.M., Mwiet aid Reos, Grey 
Rice-tower. 

Tn 1893 the Tate Mv, A A. Preyvand, when ju charge 
of the Cudegewa State School, discovered this plant on the 
hills, seven miles to the north of the township. Baron von 
Mueller merely labelled it, and **Pemelea Treyuaude’” 
rehiained as an MS. name for 20 years. 

Tt. was then taken in hand by Professor Ewart, and the 
deseription and figure were published in the Proceedings of 
the Royal Society of Victoria, Vol. XXTV, March. 1912. 


Biss WitataAmMaon, Three Spceies of Porelex 197 


It would appea* that Mr, Treyvatid eolluctad this species. 


only onee, and then took only two specimens, oue of whinh 
he kept, while the other coustituted the type which is still 
in the National Herbariam. J understood fiom Mr. ‘lrey- 
vaud that he had not been able to find the plant again. Wath 
«faint hope of rediscovering it, T set out for Cudgewa from 
Chiltern last month, but, by mistake, boarded a train on a 
Monday, a day om whieh Cudgewn has no train serviee, so 
was forced to stay in Tallangatta, Advised by Mr. Pervy 
the local forest raiger, where 1 might spend the day dost. 
peoitably, 1 followed a biid)e-track over u saddle of Mi! 
range towards Granya, and, near the top, found many speci- 
mens of the rare Pamelew, Retumming by the vew roadl, 
several miles alone the range, T found the plant again ip 
eveat abundance at about the game altitude. Vvidently a 
is rather widely spread, after all 


As] vathered, on the same range, specimens of Pudtencwa 
polifolia, only recently recorded for Vietoria (Mitta Mitta, 
5. Clinton), and some plints of a Greville and a Brachy 
came, both col whielk appear to be undeserihed species, th 
would seem that the place has uot been systeniatically 
arched by an experienced eallectar, 


Mr, Perry has sinee then sent nie move advanced speai- 
mons of the Povelen, and their state Indicates that the flower- 
ing time is profonyad. 7 should nol be surprised to find 
llowers at the end of November. Like most of the Pimeleas, 
this species bears wumerous flowers on a common receptacle, 
as in the family Composite, and they bloom from outer to 
mien, those year the centre appearing last. Assocuted: with 
this plant was a congener, P. spathulata, of the same size 
and habit, so that one might easily pass them by as being 
identical , but exuminadion of the involueres at onee teveals 
the difference. The head of P, spatidate is survounded by 
four broad bracts, shorter than the flowers, while that of 
PO Preyuaudia Was on involuere of cight ov nine narrow 
hracta, as lone as the flowers. Only three other Victorian 
species have more than four bravts—P. oclophylla, P. phalr- 
cedas and the variety Iapertcina of PL ligustrina. 


Pimelea spithulata, Lain, Spoon Race-flower, 


Waring the same trip to the Ni. il was iny good {ht 
fue to see w wonderful display of the Wows ot this 
Rice-lower. 1 would searecly have believed that a speoirs 
of Pimelea could make such a show, though To know ihat 
the Western Avstraliad species, 2. suavevlens, P. speutubilis, 


be 


He , 5 PY) pares oR Nien Hy " ‘View, Nat 
ahs Witiasnos, Thrive Species of Limalea | vol Shr 


Poyosea and PB. Luehmannit, can suvpass any of those found 
in. Vietoria for size and heanty of individual blooms. ‘he 
¢hain .of- low hills extending Srom Gleurowan for twenty 
thiles north towards the Murvay River, and in the atorthern 
half running parallel to the Ovens River, ig kuown as the 
Warby Range. The range has been noted i) its ussoclation 
with, busheangérs, for at Peechelba, nearby, Morgan avas 
shot: and later, at Glenrowan, near, the southern point, 
hill named Morgan’ 5 Look-out, the Wellv gang met Ths 
Waterloo, 


“Ascending the rocky side of the range near Puechelha, 
and Jamenting the unfavourable aspect tironght about. by 
sheep, rabbits aud fires, T was agreeably surprised On reac 
ing the sumyut, to find the large shrubby form of 2. sprithe- 
kita thickly @lothing the hillside and ride There was a 
wealth of white blossom, such as | had never seen displayed 
on any other Vietorian plant. Acres wore coverod with 
bushes: three or four feet bigh, cach bein a mass of bloom: 
Resides these, and » few fieree and eloomy-Innking pe ie of 
sLeactu triptera, there were na other flowers, 

s 


_Pimeleu ligustrina, Labitl, Tall Riee-fMfower:. 


This species, which, like the last-named shvub, is wide- 
spread through the Stat te, has large leaves, and its heads of 
flowers are surrounded by four broad bracte—except in the 
ease of fhe varioty ley pericina., mentioned above. Tt ig the 
finest of our Victorian species, and is one of the features of 
the Journey along the Great Ocean Road, fron Beech Parest 
to. Moonligirt Fead and the Gellibrand Riv ev, sharing witht: i 
Satinwood, Phebahinm squamewm, and Balin Mint-bush. 
Prostanthera melissifolia, pride of place for floral pageantry. 
Tt is known locally as ‘*Curvajong,’” a name which can be 
traced:to the abori imines, who applied it to plants with wseful 
tough bark, but. the use of which we restriet to. small tree 
indigenous to the N.K. of the State. ' 


Pho Parple Evis,- Patersonio longiseapi, Was tourtshudl 
luxuniantly this. season around I'rankston, Langwarrin anu 
Mornington, Lt does not seem to be genurally. known that 
the flowering apparatus of this plant works on the “‘maga- 
zine’’ principle. Tf a spucimen is kept im water when the 
flower dies off, others will appear in succession, the number 
varying according to the stage at which the stem was picked. 
—G. Cox. \ 


THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, Vol. XLII December, 1925 
PLATE VII 


(Above) SPOON RICE-FLOWER, Pimelea spathalata, Labill. 
(Below) BUGLE, Ajuga australis, RR. (1 ft. high) 
(Photos by H. B. Williamson) 


Ddieee | 


192. Kecurston to, Grecudale 134 


PTOI eC eet 


EXCURSION TO GREENDALE. 


* 


COED ECHOES, 


A reeedendewwestissaee 


me 


NITOETORECDEPDPNUNUROTOREDONTOCORSEOAINAGBAOUTO DNAS LRN EUR OI NALA NDGRGHREAT COUNT EOSD HIN CEANETORMAWE ROSA DANII AAREL BORO NNTrarraneeNa ney 


Mie exetrsioniats to Greendale on Oetoher 30 were 
favoured with delightful weather. Phe party was amet at 
Bacehus Marsh ba Da. Shiurken, oA detour was made fo a 
point on the road whieh passtx over the shoulder of Morit 
Blackwood, whence was’ wide wandening for the ereediost 
eve?’ To the worth Jay the extensive Wombat Porest, reach 
ime from near Gishorne to the viemity of Dyylesford, amd 
brokew only By one visthle pateh of eolfivation at Black 
wood. To the west, Mount Bininyvoue was the most potable 
alevation, As the oye twimed south, the Pyke’s Creek Reser 
vor was seen glenming in the saa a Tittle more than four 
milus away. Dune south the low uitas of the Brisbane Ramen. 
the Anakies, and the You Varnes were piekodl out. The Taze 
prevented sight-of the sea and the city, bat the Dandenoues 
and Mi. Macedon cotpleted the round of prrospeet. 

At Greendale fhe fine conifers surrounding ln. Slater's 
hose were admired. ‘he house, of logal sandstone, was 
Imilt by Dr. Shuter’s father about TO years avo, and the 
‘trees presumably were planted at the same time A Jas 
Caniriensis about TO feet ju height  attraeted mueh 
attention; on the young fruits of this tree, our host told 
us, Black Cockatoos are fond of feeding, and appear to 
hecome quite mtoxieated ax the result. Another yine, the 
clhister, P. pinaster, wis a good specimen of ity kind. This 
tree is grown in the andes, to the sonth af Fvanee, and 
provides much of the turpentine is use. here were also 
several huge specimens of Cupressus macrocarpe, the 
Monterey Cypress, vod annither rare species of the same 
venus, C. thamferd, alao North Aimeriean. “to complete the 
list were several particularly well-erawiy speaimens of Piven 
radicka, We Monterey Pine, This species ts almost entirely 
composing the plantations wow being made at onr State 
Schools for endowment purposes. yet for the best of those 
at Greendale, one with a stém diameter of niere than four 
feet, eivht shilling has been offered four milling purposes! 
Olive-backed Orioles, OGrialus sagitfatus, were noisily achive 
in the topmost branches of the pines. 

The forest approvehes to within a short distinee of the 
honse, and was entered after Junch. Tt was composed mainly 
of the Messmate Atrinevbark. A. oblaqua. the Common 


View Nat. 
Vol. XLIT 


a0 BEveurston to Greendale 
Peppermint, LZ. australiane, the Swamp Gum, L£. ovata and 
the Blue Peppermint, /. dives... Tho last-named was, in some 
places, very abundant, Tt was flowering, ‘as is*its want, at 
its very early growth, und someé unusually large trees were 
noted, A few specimens of the Apple Box, fn. Stuartianay 
and the Yertchnk, 2. Consideriana, were reeoynised by Mr. 
P, R. H. St. John. The Yertchuk was, perhaps, the most 
rtareudiig item noted during the day. ‘Chig tree was first 
discriminated by the late Dr. A. W. Howitt, who veferred 
tO it as a broac-leaved forn of KF, ame ydatina — his Lt. 
wnyodaling (d)—in his ‘'Rucalypts of Gippsland,’ Zrens. 
Roy. Sec. Vict., ti, 82-85, and there noted its oeeurrence Fran 
udar Walhalla to the Delegate River. ‘The late Me. J. H. 
Maiden deseribed the species in Part X of his ‘Critical 
Revision,’’ and gives its range in New Sonth Wales, as from 
Gosfor d, north of Sydney, to Nelligon on the Clyde River, 
within the eoustal distriets. Later “Mr. St. John recoenised 
it at Witham, Wareandyte and Lilydale, and Mr. Tt. S. Flart 
found WW xrowing neav Creswiels tt ig wot abundant at 
any of these places, and as it provides such good timber, 
that some foieing at Eltham composed of it is still sound 
atter G4 years, it soems fated to disuppear from these 
loeglities. ~ 


he grouud within the forest was very dry, few flowers 
were i bloum and most of these had pissed their lest. 
Nothing unexpected was noticed, and the only species wort 
neubioning wagon torn of the very variable Foathy Pirrot- 
poi, Dallwyria ericifolia, seen also recently near Steiglity, 
Wi vhich tle ends of the branchlets terminate im sharp spines. 
Returning to the house through a most pieturesque pacdock. 
in which gone noble Manna Gams and Red Gums were grow. 
ii, the purty was again provided with vefreshments. Dr. 
and Mrs. Shuter were thanked by Messrs. St, dohn and FP, 
CG. A. Barnard, on behalt of the party. for heir gracions 
hosynitality.—C.8,8. ' 


No hotanist is move familiar with the tlora of the Gram- 
pians than Me. 7. W, Audas, PIS, and his. book, “Ono of 
Nature's Wonderlands,’' recently published. is a pleasant 
and useful eampanion for the field naturalist on holiday it 
those mountains, he volame is illustrated with a coloured 
frontispiere and a number of half-tone plates fram plote- 
graphs (chiefly of plants). One short chapter is devoted 
to the zoology of the Grampians. More books of this Kind, 
dealing with special revions, would be welcomed by Victorian 
nitie lovers. 


Dee Our Mallee Seaketiary oh 


PRITPIUICIIPTIITT Tre Ch Re OOOO 


OUR MALLEE SANCTUARY. : 


PV eenneannenet tre ney 


Teas OE TTTROAPECTE RUPE ATH PEE ALEC LTTE RESP PREC EE RERER ATARI EATPNRRTFEEUT HIN RALY DCRRCESPA FRAC PT ER PAN CAT THT REATTRSPIAAPPERMRE PERE CHECEE ARES 


The scrub-roller is the Juggernaut of the Mallee, passing 
over snimal Jife—the ‘‘sniall deer’’~as well as break- 
ing down plants. Before its advance birds and animals 
must setreat, losiny both home sites and hunting grounds. 
Birds suffer most, since many nests, containing eyes or 
hvoads, are erashed by the big rollers, Yor by year the 
ineult area shrinks, as the wilderness is transformed dnote 
wheatfields. 


Only the true desert is safe fran eneroaehment — the 
region of desolation, where great dunes of white or aroy 
sand lift their shoulders like waves uncrested with fou 
and held motionless, mysterioasly. The Mallee Tands of 
Victoria, wherever wheat will grow, to wheat will be gin 
over, and eventually the native fuliia and flora will be 
homeless, beyond the beundaries of the desert, anid avens 
that ure reseryed ag sanctuary. 

Half a million weres, perinanently reserved ja natural 
state, would ensure the survival, in fair nimbers, of Mallee 
plants and animals that should be saved, sine mary species: 
are unique, or of very special niterest to botanist, biologist. 
and the field naturalisi, who desires that. no Australian native 
thing should dissppear completely, We ea hope for no such 
generous portion of the Mallee, but, at least. we have, in 
Wyperfeld Park, a ‘‘poeket’’ sunetuary. Between Yapeet 
and Pine Plains, 25,000 acres has, for some years, been per- 
manently reserved, and recently arrangements were made 
towards better guardianship of this wild Park. 9 Si js, of 
course, unfenced, and, lacking funds, the conmnittee of 
management Is unable fo appoint rangers ta patrol Wyper- 
field. Now grazing rights ave to be granted, and the holders 
will keep wateh tor raiders—hird dreappers, pot-hunters and 
their kin. 

lo the past our Mallee Park fis been a contre of bird- 
trapping, wiih: spaortamen have taken toll of duels within 
the boundaries. in the shoutiny season. Parties in quest 
of Aedgling parrots and cockatoos were wont to visit Wyper- 
field, and depart, with scares or handreds of viclins—doomed 
to captivity: One day, on the shore of Lake Brambruk, | 
saw oa, bird-trappers®-caimp. ‘The owners were absent. but 
cooped in tink and boxes were many miserable young 


202 Ow Wullee Saretwary Vor xtra 


bivds, including Regent Parrots, or. ''Simualers,”? Polylelis 
anthopentlus, und other protected species The poliee were 
infornied, but wher a trooper veached BGrambruk the raiders. 
had gone. Tt is not easy to ‘trap? on Iied-trapper, who is 
Nouting the game laavs. 


Wrvpertield ts the nesting headquarters of Regent Parrots 
iw Vietoria, while the Majov Mitchell, or Pink Cockatoo, 
Cocahua leadbeatert, by no incans a vonumon bird, breeds 
thore toa, Other species of parrots more abundant than the 
Regent are tenants of the Park avea, The Lowan, Letpou 
avellatu, overs there, too, and perhaps a bird bist with 100 
hanes could be compiled tor Wyperfield, Tt is, therefore, a bit 
of Mallee country well suited for sanctuary, ancl, while it 
remains as it ds to-day, we should be thankful. Miay nance 
of its wildness ever wilt, touched by the hand of progvess. 


Of Wyperfield for hotany T am not competent to write. 
peyond giving an opinion that the ares is representative. 
There ave lekes—one of fiir size—and, in a year rich an 
raintall, the Outlet Cveek flows through the Park and fills 
them, rarely to an overflow; you may see on the tree trunks 
the tice marks of forgotten flood-seasony, ‘Ihe course of the 
ereck ig marked by river-gums. Then there are dend and 
living evealypta in the lakes, and on dry hind, as a frame 
abort then. ‘Che coekatoos and parrots nest in tree-hollows: 
some veteran wounw provide home-sites for nearly a dozen 
pairs of hitds: others for two or three only. Tu the 
treghess fyacis, and on the Pine-ridges, one notices 
fainiliae Mallee wildflowers, When Twas there, on October 
aliys, the hime of blossoms was strong enough to divert me 
for a whilg from, bivd observing; bushes were alight with 
flowers, atid of lesser plants there seemed ta be a, wenerous 
variety. 


Not a grent area, 25,000 aeres, for a National Park—nwe 
quarter the size of Wilson’s Promontory reserve; yet i is 
a brreroeosn, of the Mallee, and every Vietoriin naturalist 
ahoulcl visit ib We spring or carly suminertime, if possible. 
aud when the lakes are nearly brimming, Tt’s worth the 
journey trom Melbourne just to see Regent Parrots in their 
nesting haunt, Miese are noble bivds, happily tamed anew, 
for Repent surely is a better tithe than ‘‘veck pebbler,'' om 
“Tamoker’’ The male, in the prime of plumayve, flies in 
sunshine as a golden bird. And in shadow even, with no 
gleam of i}lusion, he is beautiful in olive anc srreenish-yellow, 
with a tail not really black, but iridescent, and a fine seartot 
bi, The fomale has duller plumage, 


BACs Onr Malo Sanehwury 


WS 
J 
ei 


Wonga Park we called our Mallee reserve, ‘until we 
remembered that another area in Vietoria has prigk right to 
the nrusical first word of that title. Rather w pity, for Wyper- 
field is much less plessing, and Woneu. is the name of an 
Australian pigeon, whose Gall notes echo sometimes near the 
shores of Branvbruk--a Park Jake and one of the lrigttest: 
eves’! of the Mallee. But Wonga or Wyperfield, the 
sanctuary is ours to have und to hold, Mn perpetuity, unless 
foolish cowrei should prevail with some futive Governiudit. 

We should, J think, all Clob members will agree, inake 
the guarding of Wyperfield Park against encroachment our 
concern—vresard it as a natural heritage. Tf is seeand only 
iw wnportance to Wilson’s Promontory, and, weve it more 
vécessible; would perhaps reeeive ag miiy visitors as) that 
fanidiar plaee—wild Nature’s own territory, by man alnost 
ntinarred —CusRLEs BARRETY. 


PA Ce 


NOTES ON FUNGUS BEETLES. 


Ns 


openeeneepreme iit 


UEUOUTLELLUA RTCA ENTS UOELEUP GIMME ALIAR EOD EERE AAEEADOGENRTA LEEDS TAURUIUDATENCEVRNUGPAFEGIDWERSEVEENIMANORULOERZEDAACEDOER TRUER HUES 


A world of insect life is associated with the various formes 
ot Fyongi, but Tshall mention oly sone of the foneus bectles 
that may be found commonly in the vicinity of Melbourne. 

Me braeket-hke Polypori, particularly the large white 
species that grow upon the Mucalypts, provide homes for 
many handsome Tite beetles beloneimg to the family 
Krotylide. Perhaps the commonest of these is Thallis jan- 
Thing, some 3-16 inch im length and of a rich wreenish-blue 
xcdlour. 1 heave, on occasions, scen huge fungi completely 
riddled by this species, and it is usual to find lary, pup, 
mid the madare iusects in one plant. Another species, of 
about the same size as 2’. quathinu, but differing from it an 
_ being doll red-yellow and Whaish-blach, is Thallis winula, his 
beetle also is Faiidy abandant in Polypori. Some lary, feed- 
ing na fangus, that t had eonfined in a large inhe lett their 
natural food and attacked the cork, veducme the greater 
portion of i to dash Two large speeies, which are 
wore rarely found, are Thaliis ansuela and 7 mielunchotica, 
the former vellawishved and blaek in wolour, and 
the latter, as its tame somewhat Implies. of w dull Dlael- 
ish hue. Jn all, seven species of the genus have heen aner 
with by ine within a 40 niles tidiasd of the ene 


' 


Viet) Nar 


“204 Notes on Fungus Beettee Vol Nit 


The mouldy fungus growths geucrally found under logs 
in damp situations frequently vield some delightful litte 
beetles belonging to the fiunily Seaphide. ‘Phese may. be 
veadily recognised by their generally oval form, terminating 
posteriorly in a sharp point. The largest, and best known, 
is Scaphidwm. quadripustulatium. Chis species is a little 
less than 3-16 inch in length, has two black spots on its 
prothorax, and four lighter-coloured tharkines ou ite elytra, 
Most of the smaller species belong to the genus Scaphisonie, 
‘some of them being less than 1 onmem. in Tenpth, but fre- 
quently they are beautifully turked. 

The toudstoals often shelter several sprees of weevils aud 
coachhorses, Staphyliide. Sometimes toadstools are found 
with the gills almost ‘‘alive’’ with Staphylinids. 

One of the largest and {mest of the fnugus beetles must be 
looked for in those brown-topped, vellow-fleshed fungt, that ave 
of uw slushy nature, and commonly grow bencath pine trees. 
This ‘beetle is Onthophigus dunningt, of the fanily Seara- 
biden, So far as J know, if is the only species of this 
large dung-eating venus that favours rotten fungus. It js 
a dumpy beetle of a uniformly shining black colour, and 
sometinies nearly 4+ inch in Jength, It is readily distip- 
cuished by the elaraeter of the male, which has the pro- 
thorax ecorutinued over the mouth parts in the form of a 
long and streng horn, and the elypeus furnished with a more 
ov Jess upright, though much smaller, horn. Among other 
families of beetles rather frequently inet with in funy may 
be mentioned—Nitidulids, Coidm, and Cryptophagide:. 

Any fungus showing sigs of being attacked by insects 
is worth bringmg home to be plieced in a eovered bottle, for 
many most interesting forms of, lite may be easily reared 
from it—I’. Bf. Wirsox, 


“QUERY" PARCELS OF PLANTS. 


Any membor desiring at any time to ascertain the names 
of any nufive plants is invited to send specimens, addressed 
to the Club at the Royal Society’s Hall, when they will be 
duly determined by one or another of the members more par- 
ticularly interested, and a list of the names xveturned, Each 
specimen mnst have a number attached, and duplicates. 
with eorresponding numbers, should be retained’ by tho 
sericdet: 


é 


ere Some Octuber Bard. Notes 205 


TOEATUIEUD TEP UTEDERN TVET PEPPRPAORECHI ODD DPR CHNNCUDANERNPALRDARAAAAN ARCA OPP DDDIDMRAT EI DI RAIHEC HUD DANN RNR CRU EEGN TINE ORE OOTERNAMHWAES 


" 


: SOME OCTOBER BIRD NOTES. 


5 
y 


PODECHNEADsmechetaeaaay 


HOOEEMAODEODDOREDETRODDIM ODODE DD DRDIALNGHAAE OHI RAALGEG ODED IRADPDODNDINIMIGKHOEEOHEAIADUNGLADAD DEENA AAAADAN DBA ABAN GEENA ACCCHORDODE TG 


‘Me following notes were made fu three different lovalities 
— Ashburton, Melton, and Mooroolbavk— which I visited 
Trequently jo October last. Tine, warm wea'ther prevailed 
dusting the month, and bird photovraphers enjoyed numerous 
opportunities of obtaining good pictures. The subjects alsu 
woe more varied, for some injand species came south and 
neated freely around Melbourne. 


ASHBURTON.—The Sordid Wuooid-swallow, Arlaneius sor- 
didus, arrived here much later than in other years, On 
‘Oetober 2a few were seen soariiy, hese flights vetorally 
ave madeoon the birds! arrival, ov just priory to theiy depat- 
ave in Antumoa. For the first time for many Vveurs a pate 
of Gray Thraghes, Colluriciaela ammenicd, sneceedad in rear 
ing a brood at Ashburton, On October 1 the nest 
was foutd, concealed jn ow tingle of bushes, and con, 
taining three egies. Ten days later the young wer 
hatehed, und by the 24th they had left the nest and were 
able to ity well On the 24th a nest of the Tawar Brow 
mouth, Podargus strigoides, was looated, on a farve hori- 
zontal limb of a box tree, Ten davy later the two egas had 
disappeared, probably shay were taken by one of the 
many parties of boys, who reeularly visit this part 
in ques} of eves, A nest of the Bluck-and-White Pantaal, 
Rhipiduren matacilloides, containing the unusual elutch of 
fonr eggs, also was robbed. In the topmost branches of a 
tull lox sapling a pair of Crested Shrite-tits, Melcunculaes 
frontafus, had just; commenced to. build a nest on the 15th. 
and a few days later if appeared to ‘be completed; however, 
on the 29th, portion of a broken egg-shell was found on 


-the ground beneath the nest-tree.’ Tt was evident that dur- 


ing a wind storm the eges had velled out of the nest, The 
birds were not seem near the nest again, and a few days 
atterwieds had moved to the north end of the paddoek 
Owing to dvy conditions in the northern parts of Vietoria. 


‘several specics moved saath towards the sea coast. Amour 


birds that arrived in large numbers were White-browed 
Wood-swallows, Artamus superertiosus, A few pairs were 
first. noticed on the 24th, but soon there were hundreds 
lmanediately on their arrival they commenced te nest. Phe 


Vint Nat 


206 Same Geaher Bird Notus MON EN YY 
conmiie of these birds eausad the Sordid Wood-swallow ty 
vo olsewhere: the two species do not appear to like eaedr 
others” company, A White-shouldered Caterpillar-cater, 
Campephagie haonerdlis, was seen on the 28th, and on the 
sane day a pai of Rufous Sony-lieks, Cinelorhamphus 
rifescens, took up their abode in the sume leeahty as bhat 
“woloeted’’ by a que fi 1923 


Meruion,—The cry vidges alone the Deep Creek have 
always been a tavonrite hanul of u lavee nuntber of species 
during this time of the yeas The beautiful Yellow-tutted 
Honeveater, (hilalas wuriwonis, preclominates, and an one 
afternoon four nests were found, all placed among clematis 
in flower, [fforts to photograph the parent, birds at two of 
the nests coutaiuing vous proved wasueccsstul, as the binds 
were timid and would vot approach within several vurds oat 
the camera. On the 1th an Australian Choshawl, Asti 
appromimuns, coulcl be sean sitting or its vest more thin 40 
feet from ihe ground. tna fall Baadyvpt. Mis nest las 
had many tenants in its tirae, Onee it was nuked by a Tawtiy 
Frogmouth ; then a patr of Goshuwhks reconstructed it. Later 
in the sume year, a Whitedvoutecl Heron, Notoplioya aoare- 
hotlandio, Nattenedl it out, ated laid four ewes. In the tollow- 
ie year the Goshawks aut vebuilt it, aad they have 
rotained ownership since, A few aniley down the ereck the 
shrill enies of another Goshawk ware heard in sane tall 
fitiber, but its nest was ot loeated, : 


Redebacked Parrots, Psepholus hwmatonolus. were often 
sven in pairs searching Por suilable nest hollows. Like most 
parvots, these birds selclom commenee nesting in southern 
Victoria before October, Another conunon bird of this part, 
is the Red-tipped Pardalote, Purdalotius striatus, whore 
wonotonous note is heard throughout the day. A. few pairs 
nest in small hollows in trees, though a tured ii a river- 
bank is thet vanal nest-site. Many of these burrows are 
found in the banks of the Deep Creck. Brown Fawkes, 
Hiernaciden berigara, are numerous still ou the open plains 
between Sunshine and Melton, where, from the train, as 
many as hall w dozen may be seen in alifferent spote. 


MooroouwanKk—The serub birds iu this locality wasualls 
ave early breeders, and this vear proved no exeeplion, as 
hests of several species were found to contain young at the 
bevinning of the mouth. A nest of the White-eared Honey- 
eater, Péloliw leucotis, was ready for eggs at the ond of 
September, A fortnight later, however, there was only ane 
veo in the nest, which appeated fo he deserted, and was 


' 


208 The Spider, @cobius navus Meh STAT 
Vie. Nat. 


THE SPIDER, G:COBIUS NAVUS. 


PE eLO 
‘Taveaaueoneceneneredt 


This little spider, 1-10th of an ineh in length, is the only 
known representative of the family, Gcobiide, in Australia. 
Only 15 species have been described, all belonging to the one 
genus. 


“Hcobius navus has been recorded from the United States 
of America, Venezuela, New Caledonia, Japan, Australia. 
and the islands of the Atlantic. Its wide distribution has 
been attributed to the agency of commerce. The Jate W. J. 
Rainbow reeorded it for Svydney—a specimen way collected 


@COBIUS NAVUS (Magnified 11 diam.) 


on the Australian Museum Building. Dr. R. H. Pulleine. 
of Adelaide, found a specimen (which I have photographed 
through the microscope), on a wall of his house, whilst 
T have collected it on the walls of my own house, opposite 
the St. Kilda Town Hall. Evidently it is well distributed 
in Australia. 

The faet that this spider is found in houses suggested 
the evenerie name—from the Greek othkobios--house-dweller. 
The web ean easily escape notice. Measuring about one inch, 


We | Some October Bird Notes 207 


being pulled to pieces by other birds needing material for 
their own nests, Some vears ago Coachwhip birds Psuphodes 
érepitans, were fairly numerous in pairs in this district, 
particularly along the Olinda Creek: but with the clearing 
ot the serub they have beeome searce. The Ground-bird, 
Cinclosoma punctatum, too. is varely seen now. though a 
few years ago several pairs were known to exist if eertaim 
paddocks. 

Karly in the month a few Caspian Terns, Slerna caspin, 
and numerous Silver Gulls, Zarus atove-hollandia, were 
much in evidence on the Yarra River. but disappeared as 
the nesting scason approached. The Gulls also have vanished, 
all but a few, that may yet be seen hawking over the Yarra 
or standing on the bank of the Maribyrnong River at 
Footseray.—D. Dickison, 


LAND MOLLUSC NEW FOR VICTORIA. 


During a recent visit to the Mallacoota district, Mr. 
Charles Barrett spent some time searching for land shells. 
but, owing to the continual dry weather, little suecess was 
attained—three species alone appearing, However, one of 
the forms provides an interesting record for Vietoria. The 
shell referred to is Thersites jervisensis, Q. and G.. sp. From 
Jervis Bay, N.S.W., this was deseribed as Helin jervisensis, 
by the French naturalists, Quoy and Gaimard, in The Voy- 
age de Vastrolabe, Zool, Mollusques, 1832, vol. ii, p. 126, pl. 
and figs. 18-21, With such well-executed figures, one may 
readily identify the species. The loeating of this molluse, 
so far south, is rather an interesting extension to the already 
wide distribution. The late Dr. J. C. Cox remarks: ‘*There 
are many varieties of the species. In New South Wales it is 
almost confined to the eastern watersheds. It first begins 
about Eden, north of Liverpool Range, and extends all the 
way up the coast. even to Port Denison. Queensland.”’ 


One specimen only of this form was obtained by Myr. 
Barrett. on a hillslope near Stony Creek, a tributary of the 
Genoa River. The dimensions of the shell in mim. are: 
Length, 18; breadth, 16; height, 14. A useful recognition 
mark of T. jervisensis is the carination on the body-whoil. 
Hitherto. Victoria has been eredited with a poor representa- 
tion of land mollusea, particularly in the larger forms. The 
writer is confident, however, that, with a little diligent 
search, further species await discovery.—C. J. GABRIEL, 


red H Tis Spider, Weobius nuvus 208 


< 


it is, as 4 rule, spun over small depressions on Walla or iy 
angles. Beneath it the spider lurks, rumiing away, when 
_ disturbed, with remarkable rapidity. 

The main eharacterisie of this fumily of spiders is the 
position of the eyes. Unfortunately, the photograpl does not, 
show this detail, as there is so little contrast of light and 
shade af the ovular area, which fs placed in the eentre of 
the front half of the body—the eephalethorax. Iu the 
nutjority of species, spiders have their eyes situated well 
forward on the front portion of the caphalothorax. ‘lhe 
only outstanding featare peculiar to this family, which is 
visible in the photograph, is the shape of the cephulothoras, 
which js bronder than lony, instead of being elongated, 


®eobins is a Cribellate spider, possessing the sieve plate 
splimerett (the eribellam), also the comb (the ealamistrum), 
whieh ean be found on the seeond last joint of the hind leg. 
To view this minute detail, one needs a goad Canada balsulin 
hint of the specimen and first-class oplical equipment, as 
the ealamistrum is but feehly developed. 


Aceording ta Rainbow, the eoeoons of Ceohius are 
floeculont, tither transparent, plano convex, fixed, and each 
eons seven or eight von-agglutinated eggs.--8, Burier, 


THE BUGLE IN N,W. VICTORIA, 


To those who are familiar with the fomm of Ajuga «ans- 
toradts, I, Br, , Bugle, which occurs near Melbourne, the farm 
colimen i the north-west will be seareely yecoonissble as the 
sane species. The latter is an elegant plant uy to 18 inches 
in height, well branched, covered with a whitish indamen- 
tum, and having long, tubular light-blue flowers. The speries 
as determined hy Bentham is very variable. Hae tells us that 
he had decided to ‘set up four species til] he found, from the 
éxamination of a series of 80 specimens from various locali- 
ties. that he was obliged to refer them all to the singe species, 
A, mistralis, R.Br. ‘Neay Haysdale, on the Murray. on a 


210 Field and Sthuty. - pay Kes 


amall rabbit-infested hill, where the only other plants were 
the introduced pests, Trea Tobacco, Nettles, and Stinlewart. 
T found a large pateh of these beautiful plants. Apparently; 
they are not relished by rabbits—H. B. Wintiawgon.. : 


MAGPIES AS PEAQHMAHERS. 


The White-backed Magpie, Gymnorhina hypoleucu, has 
néver been famed as a peacemaker: yet, warlike though he 
is with human intrnders, peace is enforced between bird and 
bird, Ou July 21 I noticed tivo Magpies attacking each 
other fiercely and persistently, Soon there appeared from 
every direction more, and still more Magpies, calling to ench 
other as they Hew. More than a dozen birds alighted about 
and between the combatants, one of which rose indignantly 
while his adversary remained with the newcomers. They, 
as with deliberate mtent, seattered over the grass, and com- 
meneed a carol of triumph First one and then another 
repeated the same sweel. phrase of song, tossing it back und 
forth, and joining at last in a grand ehorus, Meanwhile 
the Magpie on the wing dropped to earth on the far side 
of a evyclone wire fenes, The second bird hopped through 
the wire and the fight ivas resumed. “One by one the pearce- 
maters Followed through the fence, und again stopped has- 
tilities. This time both the fighters flew, and soon the whole 
company was lost in-the hlue,, 


Fixactly one year later, July 31, 1924, I witnessed another 
frustrated quarrel. The combatants were most determined. 
and continued their fight in the air, where they were parted 
again and again by the equally determined peacemakers. At 
last they flew away, and at onece'the remaining birds settled 
in 4 group of pines nearby and carolled in chorus, On 
Murch 18 Just still anothe peacomaking act was witnessed. 
The cause of the quarrel was visible; a sedate-looking Female, 
whieh stood aside while each of the two males bent his 
energies on upproaching her and preventing a like action on 
the part of his vival. The angry birds were parted, and 
the usnal chorus of triumph came from the peacemakers’ 
tauks. Wy were two males quarrelling over one-female in 
March?—J. Garprarrs, : 


WALLABIES AND ROOK ORCHIDS, 


When jn Bast Gippsland recently Mr, V, Miller and I 
visiied u spot far from the track of the tourist, where Rock 
Ovchids, Dendrebiwn speciasum, grow in profusion. Summits 


al Puett ant Stauty 211 


ene 


ad. steep faces of granite creek-elifls were ulmost covered 
in the, epiphytes. : Tt ‘was not a floral display, for: nearly 
all the plants, had finished flowering, and many were lack: 
ing in foliage. Wallabies, our guide stated, had been feed- 
ing ‘freely on the ‘rock lilies,’ ; “The orghid- rocks apparently 
are, a fay ourite resort .of wallabies, and at one meal the mar- 
supials must do more damage than a ‘‘commereial’’ plant. 
collector. But the Rock. Orehids of Stony Creek are not 
likely to be exterminated, for even agile wallabies may not 
reach the scores of fine specimens that cling to'-a-wall of 
granite rising almost sheer fyom a sloping bank, where the 
plants ‘are out of reach, both from above und below. — 
- Baker. 


MORTALITY AMONG STARLINGS, 


During the past three years, in the months of Angust, 
September und October, 1 haye fveyuently found aa many 
ak six dedd starhig when walking round my warden, wo 
of my neighbours have had a similay experience. Although 
T have sometimes picked ap sparrows and blackbirds, 1 find 
that the é¢ats eat them with apparent relish, but they wall, 
not Gongumne the starlings. With regard to the sparrows, 
death is accognted for by the presence of poisoned wheat 
in the gullets, bat that does not affeat the eat, T have held 
post mortem exanvirnitions ou the starlmes and failed to 
trace any apparent canse of death; all the bids were in good 
condition. On mentioning ‘the iatter to am old Enelish 
farmer, he said: ‘You should cut out the backbone, as that 
is very bitter.” ‘He informed me that when he was young, 
hundreds of starlings pwere kKMled aod’ eaten by the family 
atter the bitter part, ‘of each bird had been removed, Perhayis 
cats hive discavered that. the baekhoue only iy gnpleasanit 
eating —G, A. KRARTLAND, 


RIOLOGY OF ANTS' GUESTS, men 


‘Fields’? almost untilled ure not few in the realm of 
entomology in Australia. One that needs more workers is 
that of ants’ guests—not mere collecting, not deseriptions of 
new species, but the study of behaviour, ete. A distinguished 
European student of ants and their guests, in a letter to a 
Melbourne naturalist, says: ‘There is no doubt that you may 
du very much for this: seienee in Australia, Many dozens, 
ol, vather, hundreds of species of coleoptera have been col- 


218 Hield: ands tied wer ca 


lected there alveady. . \....-But nobody: has “tried -hitherta 
to explore their, biology. The: relations: of ‘these ‘nests’ to their 
hosts are. nearly wnknown~yet... 2° 'You-vmust have cor- 
strueted for this: some artificial npstt whave the ‘ants feel 
quite. well, and, behave as if they were at ‘home. -'Theve have 
heen. proposed and. built different - ‘types: of this- kind that 
ave :all -apt, for observing -the arts and their guests. _ The 
‘most simple of them: are “galled Livbbock nests.’ 


t= 4- 
4 


Ornithologists ; are_often apt: ito. 1 poaiarpanttpns of 'eon- 
tour soil and plant cover, which are suvely determining 
factors in the oceurrence of bird life, when deseribitrg the 
avifanna of any partienlar locality. 


It is, therefore, gratifying to note that a description. of 
the vegetation of the northern end of Younghusband’s Pen-- , 
insula, by Professor J. B. Cleland, accompanies Mr. J. 
Sutton’s interesting account, in the South Australian Orni- 
thologist of July last, of the visit. of a. party to the Coorong. 


BPining and grazing have resulted in the destruction 
of most of the serub, which auee covered the Penmsula, and 
the shifting sands are Hkely to overwhelm: what remains- 
The total number of plants present does not probably exceed 
100, and is made wp of those commonly met with in the 
coastal beet. "The most interesting of those mentioned are 
Calostemme, Acacia ligulata, Kunzea pomifera, Meloleuca 
parviflora, and- Aster subulatis. 


PHOTOGRAPHS FOR “THE. NATURALIST." 


It is proposed, while funds permit, to include ote plate at 
Teast in each issue of the Nuaturdlist, Members are invited to 
submit prints for consideration by the Editor and the Publishing 
Committee. Unusual subjects are desired, not photograpbs of 


scenery, ele. Wreiters of papers might submit Dhotographs suitable 
for illustrations—Bditor, 


All contributions for ihe Naturist, nd letters to the Editor, 
shonld be addressed: 


CHARLES BARRET?, 
“Maralena,” Maysbury Avenue, 
Etsternwick, Vic. 


CORRECTION.—Page 184, Drakaen elastien; end of second para- 
graph should read: “so as to-simulate unfher potut,” 


Che Victorian’ Haturalist 


Vor. XLII—No, 9. JANUARY 8&8, 1926 No, 505 


FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. 


The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in 
the Royal Society's Hall, Vietoria Street, oo Monday evening, 
December 14, 1925. The President, Mr. Geo. Coghill, oecu- 
pied the chair, and about fitty members and friends wert! 
present. 

Lave Mr. J. H. Maren. 

The President referred to the death of Mr. J. H. Maiden, 
who, he said, although not a member of the Club, was well 
known {o many members. He had contributed papers to the 
meetings, aud regularly sent wildflowers to the Club shows. 
My. Covhill proposed that a letter of sympathy from the 
Club be sent to Mrs, Maiden and family. The motion, 
seconded by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, and supported by Mh. 
H. B. Williamson, was agreed to in silence, menrbers standing. 

Corresronprencn. 

From. Hon. See,, Vietovian Bush Nursiug Association, Sir 
James Barrett, returning thanks for donation (£56) veceived 
from. the Club, and inviting the Club to nominate three Life 
Governors on the ‘Association. Mr. C, Oke, Hon. See., said 
that the Clih Committee had considered this matter, and had 
decided to nominate Miss Wilda. Gabriel, Mr. Geo. Coghill 
and Mr. F. Pitcher. He moved that these three names be 
forwarded on behalf of the Clnb; seconded by Mr, C. Daly, 
and carried unaninvously. 

: Rerrors, 

Reports of excursions were given as follows:—Fltham, 
My, W. C. Tonge; Frankston, Mr. “H. B. Williantson ; Bunyip, 
Mr. Wilhamson; Kororoit Creek, Mr. A. E. Radda; Sher- 
brooke Gully, Mr. 1%. E. Pescott; Lilydale, ‘‘Ruddocks;’’ Mr, 
F. Ghapman., . 

A vote of thanks to Messi. F. Thomas, M.A,, and My, 
Holgate for use of cars and hospitality to exeursionists to 
Runyip was earvied unanimously, 

GENERAL. 


The statement that motor cars’ were entering the National 
Park at Sherbrooke, and approaching the falls was distuased 


214 Field Naturalists’ Club Proceedings. vite 


by several menbers. Mfrs. C, Bage moved that the Wratten Ne 
left in the hands of Mr. Barnard and the Secretary, to mule, 
on behall of the Club, a strony protest fo thie wutghories int 
charge of the Park against cars having wecess to the reserve, 
Seconded by Mv. Williamson, anc carried. 


PAPERS. 

1. By Mr, I. Cuttnore—’ A Complete Corallum of the 
Vossil Coral, Vhamnastren sera (Dunean).?’ Whe anthor gave 
an seeount of the finding of the Corallum ov the fossil-beds 
at Table Cape, Tasmania, and briefly deserihed this: interest- 
ing “‘find,”’ ; 

2. By Mx. J. A. Bioss— "The Ameebe and Thew Strue- 
ture,’’? The author stated that he did not accept the defint- 
tion of the structure of the Ammbew, as given in most of the 
text-books. He thought that they had 4 defined pellicle, and 
that the ectoplasm and endopiasm, although not elourly differ- 
entiated one fron the other, were really- distines parts of the 
animal, snd were not interchangeable. ‘Fhe paper contained 
an. account of numerous experiments and observations, and 
conelusions arrived at. 

Mr. W, Sticklanc spoke of Mr. Ross’s work.on the Amelie, 
discussing the points on which he diffeved from. the writers 
of the text-hooks. 

Mr, Williamson made some remarks on collectme and pre- 
serving’ ferns, aud recommended the study of the planis to 
members who were desirous of doing useful work in the field 
of botany. He then gave 4 brief outline of the classification 
of the ferns, illustrating his vemarka with a number of 
drawings, 

Exurerrs. 
; By Mr. F. Chapman: Christmas Bush, gvown at Balwyn: 
Fossils from Lilydale, Romingeria (eoral), Sthruplonela 
engly photdes. 

By Mr. F. Cudimore: Corals, Plestustraea wvillel, from 
Beaumaris (recent). 

By Mr, C. Daley: Native axe from Wongaara, Grent 
Ocean Road; flint core, with chipping edge, from Kennet 
River, Great Ocean Road; Leaf impressions in shale (Jur- 
assit), from Louise Falls, Grany Creck, Great Ocean Roact. 

By Mr. J, A. Kershaw: Views of the National Park, Wil- 
son's Promontory. 

By Mr. A. BE. Rodda: Fruits, leaves and serial roots of 
Mangtove, Avicennia officinalis, from Koveroit, Creek; star- 


prey Bacur sions. aH 


fish, ecu-urechius, Philine aperty, with internal shells-aud giz- 
zurd plates, all from Raeecourse Beach. 

By Mr. H. B. Williamson; Specimens gathered at Bunyip ; 
snécimiens of ferns, Wymenophyllucea. 

The meeting elosed with the nsual short conversaziond, 


EXCURSION TO BLTHAM. 


About 20 members visited Eiham on November 4, Arter 
walkin# a mile alone the road towards Glen Park the party 
turned into the paddocks and crossed the creek. ‘The call 
notes of Rufous Whistlei's, Puchycephalas rufiventrus, Grey 
Yhrushes, Collurieinela harmonica, Cuckoo Shyikes, Greucu- 
lng malunops, several species of Woney-eaters and 'Tit-Warh- 
Jers, were heard. The first hall, was at. the reeentlymacde vest 
of a paix of Olive-backed Onioles, Orioltia suyttiatus, Several 
piairs of these birda come from the north every spring, and 
nest near their old home-sites, The west examined was on 
the fork of the swinging hough of a Box sapling near the 
ereek, and contained three egys. The cees were hutched on 
November 16, sixteen days after the last egg was laid. 

Two Regent Honey-eaters, Mellphaga phryyia—flocks of 
which have fayoured Eltham with their presence for several 
gcasons in succession—were putting the finishing touches to 
their nest, high overhead, in a fork of a, Stringy-bark tree. 
Not many yards’ away a pair of Butcher-burds, Crachteus 
destructor, had nested in w sapling. We walked on up among 
the timber, where the White>inged Choughs, Corenrax 
malinorhumphus, had their mnd nests. ‘Working back to the 
creek, we passed another Orioles’ nest, ina swinging sapling: 
the young birds had recently flown, Close by, on the hori- 
zoital branch of a tall White Gum, was the nest of a pai of 
White-tronted Flerous, Nulophoyx nove-hollundia. Two 
young had bean reared, the third having fallen on misfortune. 
This nest has heen used for two years in succession, being rein 
vated this season. 

Among the timber avuin, on the gully sidings, we observed 
anestin a Stringybark containing three fully-fedeed young 
Clioushs, Mey were feeling the heat and were anxious to try 
thei wings; two of them came to the gvound. On the fork 
of a Stringybark branch a Tawny Troginouth, Podargis 
striggides, and two young ones, nearly fledged, were sittuig 


\ 


216 Exeursions, Vict, iat 


motionless. On the way to Uithan Tleights, and the leader's 
house, we inspected the noesting-hole of a pair of Spotted Par- 
dalotes, Perdnlobus punctubus. W. ©. Toxsn, 


EXCURSION TO FRANKSTON. 

On Novenvber 21 abont a dozen members travelled by train 
to Prankston, and were joined there by the Rev. G. Cox and 
18 juveniles, members of the Mornington Naturalists’ Chib, 
‘The walk alow the railways towards Laugwarein proved 
interesting, Fone species of Guinea-fowers were gathered, 
but not all in bloom. Four species of Suncdew alsa were found, 
in the woiste: places, Both Diauellas and the beantitul 
Golden Spray were adinived. The two Bladderwerts and the 
Tall Yellow-eve were seen, but no orchids were reported to the 
leader, he feature of the onting was the presenes of the 
juveniles, and their keenuess was admiruble, cousidering that 
they had. Dee» ont all day, Mr. Cox is to be congratulated on 
the fine work he is doing af Mornington. He gives up matty 
of his Saturdays and some of his evenings to the voung folk, 
and has. instilled inte his pupils a love for the things of 
Nature. H. B. WinnrAMsaon. 


EXCURSION TO KOROKOI?Y CREBK, 

Owing doubilass to hot weather on November 28, and the 
claims of another excursion, only three members took part in. 
the outing to Racecourse Boach und Koroit Creek. he tide 
had receded, and an hou was spent in dxploring shallow 
pools- Many molluses, including a species of Phaline, were 
noted, The tracks of "such specios as the Sea-snail, Vatiens 
and the Buabble-shell, Budla, could he followed, sud thie erea- 
fures discovered, slowLy provvessing Star fish, sca-urehins, 
several gpecies of crabs. prawis, and the aggressive sra-lice 
were observed. Little founders, coloured ex: ietly like the sandy 
hottom, sprang from invisibility and sometimes sunlit 
shelter beneath our feet, About 20 Sea-eurlews, Nremenius 
cyanopus, were seen, In a floek, and with them as auinher of 
Sandpipers of two specics, too distant for eartain idenitifica- 
tion, At the sea-edgo were two Black Swans, as well as Silver 
Gulls, Terus and Cormorants. 

Leaving the beach, we crossed the low. marshy Aut to the 
ervekside, This flat is covered maimty with lame bushes of 
Samphire or Glasswort, Salicorna, ‘ul other salina vegeta- 
tion, The spaces betw een the bushes were everywhere bridged 


+ 


Jum, hd er propa O4 Ty WES Ds oe 
1926. \ Dreursivns. 207 


by the tough threads of a peenliar ‘thorny?’ spider (Gastera- 
cunthu sp.), present in great numbers, A few nests of the Tang, 
Ephilianurn albifrans, were fowid, aid several of the birds 
were seen Hitting, in jerky fight, from bush to bush. hy ihe 
quiet water of the creek a Great Crested Grebe, Dodieeps 
cristatus, was swinnning and diving. A nomher of Mangrove 
trees, Avicennin affizmnalis, still vemain on the eastern side of 
the creek, aurronnded by a stubble of upright acrial roots: 
whose lungth is governed by the vise of the lide, On the oppo- 
site hank a pair of Spurwinged Plover, Lobitya -uaute-Mul- 
land, sere yeen, Othey birds noted were Dottevels, Sky- 
lavks, Pipits and Goldfinches, A featmre of the return jomrniey 
was the large mmunber of brown butterflies, seeking sheltered 
nooks in anticipation of the hurvicane that burst upon us hull 
wi hour Jater, whem we had veached the Seaholme station, 
A. TH. Rowpa, 


BXCURSION TO RBUNYTP. 


On November 28 eight members were met at the Bunyip 
riilway station by Mr, FL homas, M.A,, and Mr, TMolgate, 
who motored to Mr. Thomas” home, alu two Wiles aocth of 
the township. After an inspection of the garden, where the 
presence of native plants testified to the ownet’s Australian, 
spirit, the party weve driven a male further north, and then 
an enjoyable walk westward brought them to the foot of Mt. 
Cannihal, 'fhe ramble led through country where the Short 
and Long Purple Flags, Patersani glauca and P, lonyiseu pe, 
ware tound togethor, “and representatives of the Laly family. 
were mach in evidence, Pale Grass Lily, Cista parviflora, the 
beautifal Bringe Lily, Thaysanatis hubor osus, the Tufted Lily, 
Stypundra cuspitose, and the Smooth Flax Lily, Dianella. 
lewis. The Swamp and the Spreading Bush Peas, Pultenwa, 
Weindorfert and P. Readeriana, and the Pale Wedve Pea, 
tompholoboin Huegelti, were aleo noted, Mt, Cannibal was 
then ascended. Large flat vranite rocks formed a character of 
the sanunit. Deseending towards Garfield, the Cannibal 
Creek was reached, where the Broad-leaf Water - Milfoil: 
Myriophylhium amphibaim, was gathered. Thig vlant has not. 
vet been reeorded for the South, On the lower slopes of Mi. 
Cannihal the poeuliar Wiry Spear Grass, Slipa Muelleri, was 
gomnon. It is 4 tall grass, with varely more than one spikelet 
in its Hower head. he Euealypta noted were Swamp Gum. 
f. vonta, Mountain Grey Gum, 2, gontvcalyx, Pepnermint 


218 Broursiona. Vou Sit 


Guin, L. austvadians, Messmate, 2. vbliqua, and White Stringy 

Bark, @. eugenioides. Scedlings of the last-named were foand 
ou the dry hill- top, showing the interesting ligno-tubers well 
developed. H_ ‘E. WInLtamsoan. 


UEXCCRSION TO SITBRBROOKE GULLY. 


A party of six took part in the full-day exeursien on 
December 5. Sherbrooke Gully wags approached by the hill- 
road from Tecoma station, whenee the mamuificent pattoraina, 
from Beaconsfield, Westernport to Pot Phillip, was viewed, 
Many birds were observed in the Gully. othens were noted by 
their culls—tha Coachwhip Bird, Psophodes crepitaas, mic 
the’ Béll’ Miner, Manorhina melanophrys. lowers were 
searee; the chict ones noted being the Clematis and Christinas- 
bush, Prostantherd, Nothing of special note was sean, the 
day being a quiet one of general observation. 

B. &. Prscary- 


EXCURSION TO RUDDOCK’S QUARRY, TINYDALE, 


- Thirteen members and friends visited Ruddock’s. quarry 
on the afternoon of December 12; and an hour was spent cal- 
lecting the Silurian fossils which are here very ahundaut. 
The details of a previous excursion (see Victorion NVotueuhst, 
vol. XXXVLIL, p. 122) vive a sood idea. of the richness of this 
mudstone deposit, On “the presenf occasion we fount) such 
eavals as the parasitie Pleurodictyum, the rambling Roman- 
gerug and the turbinate Lindstramic. ‘lhe lamp-shelly com. 
prised the genera.Orthis, Strophonella, Spirifer, Leptana and 
Nucleaspira. Sore interesting bivalves found ineluded Gram- 
miysia and Gontophore, Of the Gastoropods there were Bel- 
lerophon, Pleurotomaria, Murchison, Laxonema ancl Carinu- 
repsis, Portions of the straight nautiloid, Cycloceras, ropre- 
sented the cephalopods. ‘lwo examples of the ancient goose- 
barnacle, Zurrilepas, were found, as a separate plate and some 
connected ones. And last, but not least. was a free elieek, 
with attached facetted eye-lohe, of the trilobite, Phacops, The 
specimens found were named on the spot, and as the leader wind 
Mr. ¥. A, Cudmore, brought some illustrated papers on the 
fossils of this particular bed, members could see the actual 
figures: ‘lo several the treasures of this little qnarry were 
’ distinet surprise, and the expression of having enjoyed a 
Pleasant afternoon was nnanimous. 


F, Gakrman. 


70 Wraranaox, Vietovian Ferns. 219 


IOOEUNERASCOTEUNAALGERENDSRALAECOUOUONAODDOESGDAGURDOUEATYRNGUPASONUNDATONASRAUYRNOORORETAEDHTFOSEGRDENENCROHESENHOTLT OVEN DDBNRAP URGE Ba: 


VICTORIAN FERNS 


By H. B. Winuramson, F.L.8. 


SSOLHeRPAPPARU TRACE RELVUANOAOOEpAURURNATOEpeNRD ARAL CURED TOCA HUET ECO ED | ACPEGEEDDDNALA TORN ODINNNHGGU SERIAL eoReLoaUINNOHeeReeanMRAATEDEES 


Part I, 


teen 


Dentvrinmeveseserennveerery 


PULL 


Ferns have always enjoyed much popularity on account 
of theiv decorative value and the attractive appearance they 
present. when pressed and dried. Sone people consider that 
no gaxden is complete without a fernery, and many house- 
holdevs who cannot have a garden manage to have a pot 
fernery, where they can tend some of these graceful plants. 
And what is move restful to the eye on a glaring snammer day 
than to wander among ferns in a shady grove? 
Besides those who nse them for making home beautiful, there 
are some who delight in seeing them in their natural habitat, 
studying their wonderful lite, lustory and perhaps trying in 
Classify them and lear their names. Especially to these 
Tast. my notes are designed to appeal, 

Of the Victorian ferns very few may not be found within 
100 miles of Melbourne, and there is uo veason why ferns, 
ag objects for study und eollection, should not be as popular 

_as orchids, excepting, perhaps, the fact that the latter are 

Fomid in all kinds of places, while ferns, as » rule, are 
restricted to the mountain gullies. 

_ Collections of dried ferns are easily made; all that is 
required being a supply of newspaper between stout ecard 
covers of 2 convenient size, say 15 inches by 11. inches. 
Bronds should be placed in the portfolio as soon as picked, 
and pressive applied by means of two leather straps. On 
veaching home, the fronds should be placed between dry 
paper, under a weieht of about 30 Tbs. A little attention 
every tivo or three days is needed to transfer them to dry 
paper, and to see that the fronds are spread properly, 


In gathering ferns, look for fertile fronds, those bearing 
on their under-surface reddish masses of spores. These are 
important for the purpose of classtfication. When quite dry, 
the ferns nay be inounted in albams, or on sheets of stiff 
paper, either by placing gummed stvips across a good many 
parts of the fronds, or by fastening every portion of them 


. 


220 Wirtiaarsos, Vintorian Ferns. ects ey 
down on the paper with ghie, a method which makes a permn- 
nent mount, able to sland inach handling, This is the method 
which IT have found effieicnt for school collections, and wii 
using with the collection of ferns that I am offering to the 
Kield Naturalists’ Club for the Library. T shall be glad to 
wive later the details of the method, if it i desired. In 
mounting ferns, especially if the glueing method is used, 
itis important that a part, at any rate, of the frond be 
mounted with the under side appermost, so that the arrange- 
tient of the frnit-masses ean be studied, 


Im dealing with the classification, [ do not propose to 
labour the descriptions, or to use many scientific terms. Tn 
the seientifie treatment of the classification of plants, one is 
supposed to start with a kev to the families—Natural Orders, 
we used to call them—and learn the characters. of these. 
Then a key to, the genera is to be used, and after that a key 
to the species in the same wis. Tf I do not follow that method 
I hope that the saevifice of scientific principles will be more 
than eompensated for by the value of these notes to the 
novice. It would be well if Mucller’s Key, Part I, were used 
ii conjunction with these notes, arid that the drawings at the 
end of Part Tl. were at harid for reference. The last 28 pages 
of the latter wre well worth studying, 

The following are definitions of some vf the levis with 
which fern students should be familar — 


Frond, leaf springing from an underground stem | 
(vhizome) or from the summit of an erect trunk. 

Pinna, primary division of a frond. 

Secondary pina, division of a pina. Called a pine 
mule when the frond is bi-pinnate only. 

Pinnule. the nitimate division of w frond or a pinne. 

Sorus, pl, sori. Fruit mass or eluster of sporangia. 

Sporangium, spore-cases roundish sac or pouch, hold- 
ing fie spores. 

Indusiun, Involuere, Fruit-cover, Fruit-cup; the mem- 
branrionus lid. enp or border over or arotind the sorus. 

Dorsal, wnider-surface, away from the edge. 

Receptacle, the seat of the. sporangia, 

The classification of ferns into families and genera is 


hased on ‘the nature of the sporangia, whether stalked or 
sessile, large or small, and on the nature of the ring, if any 


sted WILLIAMBON, Vidtoran Marna, 221 


18 present; on the disposition of the sori, whether m lines or 
in voundish masses, terminal, marginal oy dorsal; on the 
presence or absence of an indusium, and on the venation of the 
pinnules. The structure of the sporangia is interesting, 
although a. hand Jens is seareely capable of revealing the detail; 
jut. xs the Glassifieation, sometimes depends oi it, it had better 
receive sone attention, It is seen that the sporangmun is 
otten ‘surrounded by ay annulus (ring) of thickened cells, 
which forms an elastic organ, which, on drying, contracts, 
and causes the cuse to be split open, setting free the ripe 
spores. This ring muy be perfect or incomplete, horizontal, 
oblique or longitudinal, or absent, as in Osmundacex and 
Oplioglossacea, 


The following is a list of the characters of the several 
tisnities:-— 


AY MENOPHYLLAGEAL. rangia sessile, placed on a 
bristle-like axis, in a eup-like nidusium on the edge of the 
frond. 

Ovarnescuar,—Tree ferns, fronds large, sporangia, in 
youndish masses on the under-snrface of the frond; indusium 
sumetimes present, 

OsmuUnbDscesn.—Ferns with thick trunks, tronds large; 
sori without. indusium, often covering the dorsal surface: of 
the lower pinnules of the frond. 

GLEICHENTAGEA.—Sori dorxsal, sporangia, few, 2 ta B in 
cluster; fronds dichotomous (for ied in tivas). 


Sonizasacwas. with small terminal pinnules; 
sporangia sessile, with complete ring at the summit, no 
indusium. 

Sauvr~ackan—Small, fern-like, floating plants, with spor 
angia enclosed in sporocarps (capsules). 

Maksireacvan.—Marsh plants, with fronds springing from 
creeping stems; sporangia in hard sporoearps, 

OPHIOGLOSSACEAR,—Young fronds not ciremate (rolled 
imvards at the top). sporangia large, sessile, in two rows. on 
narrow, fertile fronds; no iIndusiun. 

Po.yropsackark—sori dorsa) or marginal, rarely terminal, 
usually stalked, some with indusium. 


Jt so happens that the first and second families named in 
ihe Census represent the dwarfs and the giants of the fern 


[yait: Nat: 
Vol, XLIT 


WILLIAMSON, Victorian Ferns. 


222 


o 


TA 


Bd, 


BY del, 


Pamily HYMENOPHYLLACE SD. 


4336 4 WitLiasisox, Vieroriin Merny, 293 


world, members of ‘the’ first family being no higher than an 
inch or so; while the second numbers among its members 
plants over 60 feet high. T shal) deal with the dwarts first. 


’ Punily, WYMENOPHYLLACE AB 
(Tender- or Delieate-leaved). ., 


This family inehides those tiny fers which, in our fern gul- 
lies thickly clothe the trunks of tree ferns. Fallen logs and 
mossy vocks also may be seen completely covered with their 
translucent. fronds, which have been likened to shiny green 
silk, Rarely do we see them in ferteries, for the conditions 
under whieh they grow ave difficult to obtain artificially, 


Genus TRICHOMANES, 


The name alludes to the bristle-like axis on whieh the 
spore-¢ases are set. This axis ses from the bottom of a eup- 
like involucre set on the edge of a pinnole, 

TRICIOMANES veENosuM, RBr. Bristle Fern-—This: is 
very ubundant in almost every fern-gully, and is easily known. 
by its simply pinnate fronds, the pinnw of which are forked- 
veined, and by the truit-eup being embedded in the pinna 
(immersed) near the base on the inner side. The eup has a 
short, spreading border. [ft occurs in New Zealand and all 
the States except West Australia and South Australia. 

T. Homine, G. Forst. Short Bristle Fern.—This tiny. 
plant has rarely been gathered in ovr State. he ouly Vie- 
lorian specimen T have seen was gathered in the Dandenoug 
Ranyes in 1876, by Ma. Robt. Lucas. It has recently been 
yeported by Mx. A, J. Tadgell, from Mt, Bogong, and among 
speaimens brought from Malacoota by Mr. C. Barrett. It 
ciffers from the eomnion Bristle Fern in not having any 
forked veins, The fronds are not simply pinnate, but are 
douhly pinnatifid (segments not divided right to the mid-rib). 
The truit-eap is scarcely embedded in the pinnule, and has 
no spreading border. Jt occurs in New South Wales, Asia, 
Polyiiesia and New Zealand. 

vents Hy MENOPHYLLUM, 

In this genus the arrangement of the sporangia js the 
sue as in Trichomanes, but the fimit axis is not exserted, 
avd the eap has wot an almost cutire edge, but 1s li-lohed. 
and sometimes deeply cleft. he lobes are job easily seen, 
for when the fern 1s pressed the lobes are pressed tagether. 


ta 
4s 
Co 


Wridsartsox, Victorian Karis, sia plate 3 


FyaysorrybuuM vuNRRipceNnse (b.), Smith. Taubridge 
Filny Werw.—'This. feru ‘is very widely spread, having been 
avecorded from every continent and every part of Austrilasia, 
except West Australia. Ls is kuowt, by its pinnules being 
finely-toothed, and by having fruit-enps at the base of the 
pinnules. the lobes of the cup beige also finely-toothed, 


H. sustrane, Willd, Austral Filnry Fern.—This has 
fronds 3 mches ov 4 jnehes long, twice or thrice pimnatifid. Tt 
has its frond-stalk winwed throughout. It oceurs in Asia, 
Polynesia and New ZenJand, as well as in all States of tAns- 
tvaha, except West Australia and Sonth Australia. 

AL vidsenuavom, Labitl Shining Filmy Pern—Phis is 
known from the preceding by its atalle being filiform, through- 
ont, and nof winged, and by its pinne being more fan-shaped. 


Its distribution is the same, except that it is uot recorded 
from Asia. 


FE. raxnum, R.Br. Rare Filmy Vern. ‘Chis fern is not 
ineluded mm the Census, but specimens collected by Mueller 
at Apollo Bay—no date—prave to be this rave species, 1 
have some doubtful specimens gathered at Lorne in 1922 by 
Rev. A. C. Gates. It is econmow in New Zealand and Tas- 
mana, and has been recorded from South Africa and South 
America, Tts fronds are narrow and simply pinnate, the 
Pinne being 2-S-lobed. J1 one of the pimue of H. australe 
were lengthened out and provided with a Aliform stalk jt 
could casily be mistaken for Al. rarwn, ts delicate pendent 
fronds, om capillary stalks, may be looked for on fern trunks 
im the Otway Ranves. 


Pomily CYATHEACE-35. 
Genus Dicksonra, 


In Vietoria all the six species whieh develop tall tumks 
belong to the fanily Cyatheaeem. The yenus Dichksonin is 
distingnished by having sori roundish, marginal, anc sur- 
rounded by an indugiam, fowmed, partly by the incurved 
margin of the frond, and partly by an inver mombrartous 
valve. 


D. AN CARGTICA, Labill - Soft, Tee-fern,—This ig out great 
tree-fern, reaching to a height of 30 to 5O feet, and with a 
trunk of several feet in diameter, including a mass of matted 
rootlets. This elegant fern, togethe: with the species next 
to be mentioned, impresses pypon our shaded forest giades & 


‘ 


Sat, |, s. Vretar vy wos 
1926 | Winrgagson, Vretarian Peris, +h 


Family CYATHEACKAD (I—V); Family OSMUNDACE4D (V1I_ 


206 Wintdarsox, Vietorid Berns, beat 


tropieal grandeur and grace of foliage which Buealypts can- 
not give, but the tall gum trees play their part in forming 
and preserving the fer wullies hy providing shade ‘and con- 
serving moisture, and it is only in the country of the giant 
gums that tree-ferns flourish aid support their dwarf allies. 


Genus Arsorrina (grove-lovine), 


Thig genus is easily known by the tound fenitenissses, set 
well away from the edge of the pinnule, and hy the absence 
of an indusium, 


ALSOPHILA AUSTRAWa, R.Be. Rough ‘l'vee-feru.—This is 
the only other tree-fern common in Vietoria. It is not quite 
so ‘robust, but is generally taller than the Dicksonta, and 1s 
often seen on hillsides where there is 4 very good rainfall. 
Along the Gippsland railways one may see specimens of this 
fern up to 30 feet or 40 feet growing among the potato crops, 
but J ain not optimistic as to the long continue of the 
species tf deprived of its natural shelter by the settlers of 
the forests. 

A. Reprcean, Fay.M. Wig Treefern.—Reeently 4 speci 
nyen of this fern, colleeted by Mr. Sayer some years ago at 
the Benim River, Mast Gippsland, was found in the National 
Herbarium. It had been determined by the late Prince Bonu- 
parte. It is very distinct from its congeners, having its 
secondary pinna undivided, simply serrate. As this fern is 
a Queensland species, aud has not been found in New South 
Wales, the ve-discovery of it at Bemm River will be looked 
forward to with interest, 


A. Coovrrt, F.y.M.-—A specimen collected neay Cape: Otway 
(CG. Waltev) was determined as A, Coaperi. This species was 
assigned by Dourin to a variety of A, exedlsa, which 
approxches . australis very closely in foliage, but. is easily 
distingnished by its stem. TL consider that a determination 
of this species on an examination of a small frond segment 
cannot be accepted, so that the addition to the Census. ig in 
error. - may say that Mr. Morvis, of the Herbavinin, agrees 
with me im, this. 

Genus Cy sins, 

In this genus the sori ave round, and set away from the 
edge of the frond, as in Alsophalie, but they are provided with 
a cup-shaped indnsium, which, in the young stage, 1s .almost 
elosed, and later bursts OPCTL, ‘aid leaves a enp or complete 
ving round the sorus. 


an. Winttausox. Victorian ferns. ; 227 


Cyarans Cunnincuamir, E.y.Ml. Slender Tree-fern— 
This fern is remarkable for its slender stem, whieh is some 
times 40 feet high and only 34 inches in diameter. It is 
common in New Zealand and ‘Tasmania, but it has not often 
been gathered in our State. In 1888 Mr, Johu Baldey sent 
fronds to the Herbarium fron ‘Sa oveek that rises in Arthuy's 
Seat, and flows into the sea near Cape Schank.’’? He 
deseribed it as having a stem about 4 feet. high and 2 inches 
in diameter, clothed to within a few inches of the ground 
with the persistent dead fronds. In 1903 1 noticed a few on 
the roadside near Mt, Sabine, They were about 35 feet im 
height, and not more than 4 inches in diameter. Settlers 
called it Maori Fern. When first sent in by Mr, David Boyle, 
in 1879, from the Hastern part of the Dandenone Ranges, 
Baron von Mueller named it Cyathen Boylci, but afterwards 
identified it with the species he had ceseribed in the Sothern 
Science Record as ('. Cuntinghaniti. 

My. PLR. St. John informs me that 50 years ago specimens 
of this fern fram the Dandenong Ranges were sold in the 
Melbourne streets as the rare Cyathea Boylet: one oxplann- 
tion of its tare aceurrence now in that district. 

C. meputiavris (Forst.), Sw. Blaek Tree-femm—lhis is 
one of the kings of the fern family, reaching, in New Zealand, 
w height of over 60 ft, Tt is more robust, with larger and coarser 
fronds, and a thicker. black stem. The troids ave often seer 
extending over 36 feet—truly a. ‘monarch of the yvoave,’’ 
Tr may be known by the shiny black bases of the front stalks 
persistent at the summit of the stem. Tt is found in ‘Tasmania, 
New South Wales, Asia, Polynesia and New Zealaud, A Tew 
specimens have been geen in the Otway Ranges. 


Family OSMUNDACE ZG. 
Genny Topra. 


Yoora BARBARA (L.), Moore. Kine Fern—Although not 
counted among treé-ferns, siiee it does not produce a tall 
travis, vet itis one of the giants of the fern enllies, for what 
it loses in height it makes wp in breadth. the stem often 
exceeding 4 fect in diameter. Colossal specimens, weighing 
aver a ton, without the freids, whieh were very large, and 
numbered over a hundved, have been seen in the Genibrool: 
Ranges, The plant belongs to a souill family, which is clis- 
tinguished by its sporangia having no ping. Its fronds are 
of » tough and firm textuve, and the sovi ure crowded on the 


228 WrilaaMson. Victorian Ferns. Pb 
forked yeins of the lower segments of the lower pina, some- 
fimes covering the whole of the lower surface of the segment. 
Ht is distuibuted through South Afvica, South-east Australia 
and New Zenland. 


EXPLANATION OF ULLUSTRATIONS. 
Family HYMENOPHYLLACE®. 

Mig, I.—Trichomanes venosum, frond and fruit cup.; (a) spa- 

Trangium ot Trichonianes and Hymenophyhuyum. 
Fig. 1.—T. humile and fruit cup. 
Fig, 11.—Hymenophytlum tunbridgense, and fruit cup, 
Fig. IV.—H. rarum and fruit cup. 
Fig. V.—H. fabellatum and fruit cup. 
Fig. VI—H. australe and fruit cun, 


Family CYATHEACE.S. 

Fig, -L—Dicksonia antarctica; (a) pinna; (b) pinnule; (ce) 
indusium showing sporangia; (d) sporvangiuni- 

Fig, 11.—Alsophila australis; (a) pinna; (b) pinnule enlarged; 
(c) pinnule showing a serrate form; (d) sorus: [e) 
sige view of same; (f) sporangium of Alsophila. 

Fig. Ill.— A. Rebeccae; (a) pinna; (bh) enlarged portion. 

Fig. 1V.-—Cyathesa Cunninghamii; (a) pinna); (b) enlarged por- 
tion; (c) side view of sorus of Cyathea. 

Fig. V—. niedullaris; (a) pinna; (b) spyorangium of Cyathea. 


Family OSMUNDACE.®, 


Fig. VI—Todea barbara; (a) portion of pinna; (b) portion of 
pinnule emarged; (c) sporangia. 


: & NOYE ON PHYILINE, 

The molluse Philine was found in numbers on the sub- 
meryed sand at the Raeecourse Beach, near Seaholme, on the 
occasion of the Club excursion on November 28. The desexip- 
jion given by 8, P. Woodivard in his **Manual of the Mol- 
lusea’’ of the type species, Piuline wperte applies very closcly 
io the subject of this note. It reads as tollows:—- Shell 
internal, white, translucent, oval, slightly convoluted, gpire 
rudimentary. Animal pale, slug-like, mantle investiny shell. 
Head oblong, eyeless, foot broad, lateral lobes large bat not 
enveloping. Gizzard with three longitudinal shelly plates.”’ 
The movements of this creature are so slow as to be almost. _ 
imperceptible. Held in the hand it appears to be inanimate, 
but after a while is ‘seen to have changed its form, becoming 
less flattened. It is very conspienons on the sand, and inust 
be distasteful to birds and fish, otherwige it could ior exist so 
plentifully—A. 1. Ronpa. 


quae CHAPMAN, Tle Fossil Hucalypiik Weoord. 224 


TAPOOEEEELEEOM EAT HEEAIOUUH ERAT EREUHCUDERAAERACAITERSEAONNUAUTEDUABNAUE SUL ORUABUAIORNOAUOHOLEDEOHOAUBANDELEAL HON ;EANY RNY RIOUEENNHH ENA ERL 


THE FOSSIL EUCALYPTUS RECORD 


By Frank, Cyarman, ALS. 


iV OEENEROR EH DURRANT OUOEER RUA EUACODPOPHOVCHEOEEDD OV (CEL EODERDVACCEOTEDYTAPAAHATEOPMACHOAC DIO AIMANGY FURS FOUEOBOOSONORAGREZOZEANS WREST 


Om eeRET TEEN EET ROMtEe® 


a 


Although J, A. Maiden, in his ‘'Gritival Revision of the 
Genus Mucalyptus’’ (see vol. “VI, part 3, 1922, p, 244). 
makes no claim to be a palxobotanist, yet his great- knowledge 
of the venus Wyoayptus wives a distinet value to hig opinion 
on the much-diseussed question. as to the occurrence of that 
wig ju fossil deposits elsewhere than inv Australia. Those 
who ave interested in Australian Vertiary paleobotuny will 
fill it an advantage to read and weigh Maiden’s eritical 
remarks on the foreign veeords of Eucalyptus, whieh. will be 
found in the part of his work quoted above. Parthermore, 
the summary of recorded Australian fossil species, by 
Ettingshausen and Deane. are there presented a ah 
extremely handy :forn, and Maiden has spare no pains to 
make hig quotations complete to the date of publication (see 
Grit. Rev, val. V1, part 1), 


Regarding Mitinyshausen’s reference to bis species pt the 
Queensland and New South Wales fossil Eucalypts: as of 
Cretaceous age, Maiden quotes the arguments given by 
Henry Deane, and later by the writer (in this Journal, 1921), 
from the standpomt that the type of venation indicates a 
miuch later and fairly modem ovigin, and could hardly have 
heen evolyed during the earliest stages in the appearance of 
the dicotyledonous flotas. . 


Of the three species of the supposed North American 
fossil uealypti, Maiden is in azreement with Professor BE. 
W. Berry, of Baltimore, who says:—' Among the numerous 
Gretaceous fossils from North Amenca now referred to 
Eucalyptus, there is not a single one that does not show 
characteristic features of Eugenia or Myrcia, especially of 
the latter, a fact greatly impressed on me in handling a large 
amount of recent material during my study of the American 
“tertiary forms.’’ As reyards the reference to what Maiden 
terms ‘the very American genus Myrciu,’? the latter rightly 
exercises some cantion. As far as present distribution imdi- 
gates, Fugenia is the mory aniversally dispersed, being found 
im Asia, Jidia, Australia, the ast ludios, and in Central 


230 CHapaan, The Fossit Kucatyptus Record. poate 


and South Aimeviei; and m this respect Rerry’s reference 
to the gens as a fossil form will be of interest to future 
workers. 


In Part LY of Maiden’s ‘‘Cvritical Revisian,’' there has 
been brought together for the fivst time practically all the 
information ubout the supposed occurrence of the fossil 
species of Hucalyptus in extra-Australian localities. Added 
to this theve is the great advantage of the excellent repro- 
auctions of figures of the leaves and frnits given by previous 
anthors, such ax Heev, Ettingshausen, Saporta, Lesquereux, 
Newberry anc Hollick. Tu the explanafion to the plates, 
Maiden has given his own notes succinctly, but none the less 
valuahle. As, for example, under 2. Geinitez, Heer, pl. XLV, 
figs. 4-9, and pl. NLVI, fig. d—‘are certainly not represen- 
‘tatives of Lucalyptus trutts;'? whilst we note that authorities 
like Saporta and Newberry have veferred Heer’s Eucalyptus 
fruits to. those of a conifer, 


Coming so suddenly atter the death of ow friend and 
fellow worker, Mr. Henvy Deane, M.A., the loss of Myr. 
Maiden is the more severe, since both were indefatigable 
investigators in the botanieal world, and their places avill he 
hard to fll, 


The following is a complete list of the Australian fossil 
Luealypts, of which the description of the omginal anthors 
is quoted by Maiden in his ‘‘Critieal Revision;’’ besides 
which he gives reproductions of the original figures. Fav the 
age ot the becls the present writer is responsible — 


ELucalyplus Pluti, MeCoy. Deep Leads, Daylesford, Vie- 
toria. Pliocene. ~ 

&. Kaysert, Johnston. Mount Bischoff, Tasmania. Phocene. 

E. Malligani, Jobnston. Mitequarie Harbour, Tasmania. 
Pliseane. 

1s. Delfti, Kttingshansen. Dalton, New South Wales. Miocene. 

E. Diemenw, TEettingshansén, Emmaville, New Soath Wales 

. and Areona, Central Australia. Miocene. 

BE. Hayi, Ettingshausen. Emmaville, New Sonth Wales, 
Miocene. 

B. Houtmanatz, Ettmegshausen. Eminaville, New Soath Wales,” 
Berwick. Victoria. Miocéne, 

E, Milchelli, Ettingshausen. HEmmaville, New South Wales. 

: ‘Blivabeth River, Centra] Australia. Berwick, Victoria, 
ALiocene. 


ate Craruan, The Mossil Eviculyptus Record, — , 231 


£, cretucea, Wttingshausen, Darracand Oxley, Queensiand. 
Miocene. ; 

EB. Davidsoni, Ettingshausen. Oxley, Queensland. Miocene. 

EE, Ozleyana, Mttingshansen. Oxley, Queensland. Miocene. 

E. scoliophylla, Kttingshausen, Oxley and Darra, Queens- 
land. Miocene: 

E. Warraghiane, Wtrtingshausen, Darra, Queensland, Miocene. 

EB. precoriacea, Deane. Mornington, Vietoria. Miocene. 

). Mermant, Deane. Berwick, Victoria. Miocene. 

EB, Hounitt, Deane, Berwick, Victoria. Miocene. 

E. dGitsont, Deane. Berwick, Victoria. Narrvacan, Victoria 
(F.C,}. Miocene. 

B}. Suttoni, Deane (olim Mielleri, Denne non Moore). Ber- 
wick, Victoria. Miocene, 

It. Woolsit, Deaue (re-named #7. Chapmani, Deane, for sup 
posed pie-oceupation by #. Woolsiana, Baker). Ber- 
wick, Victoria, Miocene, 


Maiden refers to provisional determinations of fossil 
THuecalypts from Australia as follaws:—- 


& 


). abligua, li’ Het. “MeCay, in Prog, Rep. Geol. Surv. Vici., 
vol. 1, 1573. (This form. appears to have been after- 
wards named by McCoy as lk. Plati—¥.C.), From 
Malmsbury and Daylesford. Leaves in clay, iter 
calated with lava or overlain by Newer Voleanic. 

Probably Pleistocene (F.C.). 

i. wmygdaling, Tabill, eaves recorded by Chapman as 
probably Miocene. TWrom the Jronstone of Redruth, 
Casterton; coll. by the Geol, Surv., Vict, 

Ji. melliodora, A. Cunn. Silicified wood, deseribed by 
Chapman, Bruthen, Victoria, Miocene or Photenc. 

LE. pipenita, Sm. Silicified wood, described hy F.C. Malla- 
coota Inlet, Gippsland. Miocene or Plocene. 

Hucalyptus sp. Leaves in voleanie tuff, Warrnambool, Vie- 

toria, late Pleistocene. 


Great. nnmbers of the Goose-neck Barnacle (Lepes),, of 
small size, are to be found along the beaches about Morning: 
ton, attached to pieces of sponge, cuttlefish, wood, and all 
kinds of debris. These J have not noticed in this loeality, 
previously, thonyb the common Rock Barnacle (Balanus) 
abounds,—G. Cox. 


2 ‘CDATORE ah a : Vict, Nat. 
232 ; Cupsonrn, Thamnastraca sera, Duncan, Vol. XLII 


CRSA UVEDTRAUCUOGUDOUCUOAPO POND DOREOCHVOPRDTOUGUAPONDTUGROUOGSOPPNTEORSECHVUNOD ECHO APA GEDTOEED OP RODDEMOGAOTOREGUOTEVRCUT Op ReeTSsANEC. 


A COMPLETE CORALLUM OF 
THAMNASTRAEA SERA, DUNCAN 


By F. A. Cupatore. 


qéraenqanauretegpieengeranyy 


bleh be oh de 
J 


SSESUTOGASURUMOCOUOEOEOCEGUOVNLUROLESONDMAUOSUDASDOVANEBSORTOREROUHOURNREPSLONYOESSSOSOCIFEORURAERUOOESSUAPRONERNOVRGTORESUERUSI ESS 


(Reud before the Pield Naturalists’ Club af Victoria, 
December 14, 1925.) 


The unpartauce of the present specimen of the fossil 
coral, Thamvuisepea sera, Dunddy,! which is a true reef-build- 
ing coval, lies in the fact thd#!i€ is a complete corallum, 
whereas all the previously-recorded specimens appear to be 
fragments, It 3s of considerable interest to note in this 
example the character of the epitheca, or outer limy covering 
of the coral, which appears to be quite lacking in specimens 
hitherto found. 


Marre —— 7 A 


Nearly Compjete Corallum of Thomnastraeu sera, Duncan. 
B.C. tecit. Cire. % nat size. 


The covallum, which measures 94 x 84 inches in diameter 
by 64 inches in height, presents a dome-shaped appearance, 
the apieal portion being slightly oblique. The more ov less 
broader or flattened side of the corallam shows the best pre- 
served surface of the epitheca, Near the apex this epitheca 
is abraded, and the ordinary appearance of the septation of 


ate] Cunmtokk, Thamnastraca ser, Duncan, 233 
the corallites, as iv those figured by Dunean, is elearly 
seen (1), The largest diameter of the corallites seeu on bhe 
apieal portion average about 15 mi. 
The epithved js fairly thick, and shows move or less wavy 
and concentrie ruga., Under a lens the epitheeal surface 1s 
seer LO be finely, but distinetly, radially state, and these 
aire are crossed by finer coneentrie lines. The corallum 
appears 10 have beew bored into by pertorating sponges and 
other boring organisms, while there are indiedtions of 
attached organisms, including a swall oyster and the basal 
part of three Vermkeutaritu, 
Ji 1875 the Rev. Julian Woods sent to Professor P, Martin 
Duncan a parcel of fossils from, able Cape. ‘Woods had yre- 
viously puinted out that the strata were of similar ave to those 
of the mainland: and Dunean showed that the fossils received 
proved that they were from a httoral deposit and vhat a 
warmer climate ninst then have existed in the Table Cype 
area, Danean says: Thamnastuea, 80 common be the daras 
sie ages, was then a veefynilder and a littoral form, and 
after a greal mumber of species had been evolved, it heewne 
rare i the Nummutitic period, and died out in the subsequent 
veological age in the Australian region, laving been probably 
destroyed in the Huropean areag ly the changes whieh onsued 
upou the destruction of the Mocene reefs?’ 
About a score of different species of corals ave ovown front 
the Table Cape. beds. ‘Nhe eoral-isotherm of 74 dovrees passer 
16 degrees too far north to allow the reef-building corals to 
flourish in Bass Straits. Although the region is nl a cory] 
Teel wreawt the present day there is an interesting rermant of 
the coral reef fauna still existing, as shown by the quite large 
massed of the Astiwan coral, Plestastrna ysvilte’, Md. et 
Haine, whieh oeaur, at all events, on the Vietonian and Sonth 
Australian coasts. Thus Howehin has veeorded a block 7 feel 
long, 44 feet wide and 38 feet thick; this was found in the 
Gulf of St. Vineet, in the course of constraeting a break- 
water af Glenelg, on a sandy bottom 13 feet below low-waler 
level, Sonte portions of the corallaan were still alive, bot the 
main muss Was dead, ~ 
Occurrence: Basal portion of Crussatellites Bel, Table Cape, 
Tasmania. danjuian (Miocene) age. Now in the Wall 
Case, National Mise; colleedert wad presented ly R.A, 
Cadmove. Rea. Ne. 731.53. 

(j—"On = Some Pose) Reelebyiteing Cape front ihe ertiney 


Deposits of Tasminin,” Quarterly Touwenal of Geulogioal Suciety, 
Vol xaxui, P. 3, No. 147, 1876; with plites, 


244 Pielh dyed Spudiy- ay Laser 


UKOGS TN ’ FERNERY, 


Nearly a dozen frogs ave at hone ju iny shudehorse, ane 
cau their judging as enemies of slugs and ‘‘slaters,/’ cater- 
pillars, and other pests among the feros, Several af my 
pets are Golden Bell-trogs, Myla wurea, one of the hand- 
sommest of all known species: others are Conunon Brown Tree- 
frogs, H. ewingit. Tho latter are the most confiding; bot 
three of the geceu and golden frogs, domiciled in the fecnery 
about a year ago, are so tame now that they rarely attempt. 
to Jump when tonched ov taken in the hand. Recent arvivais 
ave wary: The early inhabitants have favourite spots, where 
they vest during the daytime—their hunting ig done siter 
dark. A hanging basket is the “habitat’’ of one Brown 'lree- 
frog. It is seen there every day, with green, fronds all 
abont it, WH. vwrea is said to inelude small frogs in its diet 
ary, but, so far, none of the examples in my shade-house has 
eaten a dininntive neighbour, Tree-trogs especially make 
interesting pets, anc some of the Anstralian species aré 
dainty and beautitul—O. Barrer. 


THE BACTSTOC GULL, 


A bird tamiliar in Port Phillip Bay, the Pacific Gull, 
Cabianus pacificus, wniil recently -was lacking froin the 
vollection of the Ameriean Muscuin of Natural History. A 
specimen has now heen pvesonted to the Museum by the New 
York Zoological Society, in whose gardens, for va. time, it was 
exhibited alive. The aeqnisition is recorded in “Natural 
History’’ (Vol. XXNV, No. 5, Sept.-Oct., 1925). the journal of 
the American Museum, aud it is stated that the species is 
represented by only six or seven adulf specimens in all the 
rouscums of the United States and Canada, Pacific Gulls, 
huth jwwature birds in the dark, mottled-brown plamage, 
and acitit oxamples, may often be observed fram our Bix 


ret Wield and. Stralyy, 235 


Hoaghes; bak thay are vol confiding, dike the Silver Gulls, 
Lis woud-hollandia whieh will cone within a yard a 
twa of pienickers, luved by seraps ot food. ‘here is bul 
one species of the venus Gabienus, and iu. ranges wloug the 
eustern and south-western coasts of Australia. JT have found 
it nesting on islets and the Javger islands of Buss Strait. On 
Cat: Island it is an unweleome neighbouw of the Cuunets, since 
it vaids the raat rookery there, taking both eves and westlings 
of Sula serrater—C. Barmy, 


EXPORT OF AUSTRALIAN BYRDS, 


Agrieulturists overseas naturally are anxious to obtain 
Australian parrots and other birds for their aviaries, buat it 
slwulé be our aim to have export of dl] but the most abundant: 
species completely prohibited. Jiven the conmon forms weed 
song imeasure of protection, Sor they may decline, as the 
eracciul and exquisiely-coloured grass-pamakects have done. 
vutil they approach the boundary of extinelion. We cannot 
spare & specimen of any of our rarer parrots, even Lor 
Zoological Gardens in Hurope or America, countries to which 
so many have beer sent in the past. he enrichment of 
private aud public collections overseas inrpoverishes us. Why 
should we lose our splendid birds, whey itis possible to keep 
them in their native land? i 


In the new Cheek-list, compiled by a committee of the 
Royal Australasian Ornithologists’ Union, and to be pub- 
lished: shortly, there are unpleasant lines to read—they fore- 
tell the fate of several of our most interesting and beautiful 
species. The Paradise Parrot, Psepholus pulcherrimus, of 
Queensland, is “approaching: extinetion,’’ the Turquoise 
Parrot, Neophemu pulchella, is ‘extremely yvare;?’ and the 
Searlet-chested Parvot Neophenw splendulu, “yery vare.’' 
Formerly one of these doomed species, the 'urqnoise Parrot, 
was fairly common in certain Gippsland districts, including 
Berwick. It has not been observed in any part of Victoria 
for many years—at least T ean find no vecord of it. 


High prices for some Australian birds prevail in Hneland. 
The following figures are quoted from, a dealer’s list, pub- 
lishad iy November, 1925:—King Pariots, £8 each; Rosellas, 
£2/10/- each; Permant’s (Crimson) Parrots), £3/10/ each: 
Galahs, £2/10/- each; Leadbeater (Mujor Mitchell) Cockatoos, 


a6 Field and Studi. Banger 


£6 each: Au example of auy of the rare species, such us 
the Turquoise Parrot, doubtless would realise in London, or 
New York, £25, ov more, 

C. BARRETT. 


DELE-MINERS AND CUCKOG, 


We have been interested in a pair of Bell-eminers, Ieaneor- 
hand melanophrys, that reared a Fantail Cuckoo. Cucomiuntes 
flabelliformis. One day vine Bell-miners chased the fledge- 
ling from a tree, and when ii, flew to another, the foster 
parents fed it, I was attracted, on December 11, by a great 
chattering in one of the chicken-yards and hasteited to the 
rencue of what proved to he the young Cuckoo, now in adult 
plumage, and somewhat the worse of the treatment it had 
received at, the bills of the numerous Bell-nriners. The latter 
birds scarcely minded me, even attaeking the Cuckoo. while it 
was in my hands, flying from aver my head, where they were 
perched, ina peppermint tree. The attack lasted for some 
minutes. TI counted 40 Bell-miners, and there weve as many 
more on the other side of the tree. Mach time T called they 
desisted for a moment only; at last their attention was’ trans- 
ferred to a Gaughing Kookaburra, Dacelo gigus—C. 0, 
Currie. 


PHOTOGRAPHS FOR “CHI NATURALIST,” 


It is proposed, while funds permit, to include one plate at 
least in each issue of the Naturalist, Members are invited lo 
submit prints for consideration by the Editor and the Publishing 
Committee, Unusual subjects are desired, not photographs of 
scenery, etc. Writers of papers might submit photographs snitable 
for illustrations —Editor. 


All contributions for the Nuturedist, and letters to the Editor, 
should be addressed: 


CHARLES BARRETT, 
“Maralena,” Maysbury Avenue, 
Histernwick, Vic, 


Che Victorian Naturalist 


Vou. XLIT— No. 10,- WEBRUARY 5, 1926, No. 506 


FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA. 


The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club waxy held in the 
Royal Society’s Tall on Monday evening, January 18, 1926. 
The President, Mi. Geo, Coghill, oceupied the chair, and about 
50 members and friends were present. 


REPORTS. 
National Park, Wilsoi’s Promontory—The report given 
by the leader, Ma. Cy Daley, appears elsewhere in this issue. 
Spring Vale, dan. 16—Atter the leader had read a short 
piper on the econome importance of vrasses, the party, ten 
in number, proceeded alony the raibway Jie towards the 
Springvale Cemetery, then across grazing paddocks to the 
Dandenong line, In the vailway cuclosure Kangaroo Grass 
‘and Wallaby Grasg weve very plentiful, but in the paddock 
seareely a plant of these was seen, stock beige very fond of 
them. About 10 native and 20 introduced erasses were 
found—P, I, Morris, 


' ELECTION OF MEMUET. 

On a ballot bemg taken, Master Oliver Streeton, Fairlie 
House, South Yarra, was duly declared eleeted as an 
associate member, 

GENERAL, 

Mr. H. B. Wilhamson submitted proposals for obtaiminy’ 
permits for collecting ferns from reserved aveas for 
herbariuin purposes. Soine discussion followed, in which 
Messrs. Hardy and Pitcher joined. The matter was Ici't 
for fulare discussion, t 

Miss Nokes drew attention to the fact that the Monnt 
Dandenong Progress Association was trying to obtain an 
area of about five acres on' the top of Mount Everard for 
permanent reservation, aud asked for the assistance of the 
Club. After some discussion had taken place, Miss Nokes 


238 Meld Natyratists’ Clhudb—Proceetings | vou'xtni 


was asked to write to the Association tor turther infora- 
tion. 

Mv. ff. B, Williagison veal a newspaper clipping adyueat- 
ing the veservation of Sperm Whale Flead os a Ng ay y tor 
Eastern Gippsland. The chairman invited Mr, Barton, 
of Toster, to speak on the subject; and give flier informa- 
tion in regard to the site, and as to what had already been 
done in the matter. This he kindly did, and, after some dis 
eussion, the matter was veferred to the Committee, on the 
motion of Mesats. Hardy and Williamson. 


PAPRR, 

“Mints and Their Origin,” by Mr BP. Chapman, AS. 
‘In the paper the author wave a bueft ancl popmlar aceoutt 
af the formation and ovecurrence of fliiits in Euvope and Aus- 
tralia, and the various uses to whieh they lave been put. 
Several members joinecl in the cliseussion that followed. 

The meeting closed with the usual short eaiversazion: 


ExHtprts- 
By Miss Bolton: Clematis microphylla, grown at Canter- 
bury. “h 


By Mr. F. Chapmay, A.L.S.; Plints in illustration of his 
paper. (1) Cone structure in flint, from Isle of Wight, (2) 
Vraetured Miocene flints, Over Bird Rock, Torquay, Victoria 
(3) Chat, with sponge remains, Upper Gh eensand, St. Law-, 
renee, Isle of Wight. (4) Flint (Cretaceons), with mollus 
can remains, Watfor ad, Herts, Mugland. (5) Watersvorn 
Aints front Tevrace Gravel. Foundations of the Victoria aud 
Albert. Museum, South Kensington, Loudon. With euclosed 
Sea-urehin, (6) Sea-urchin (Ananeliytes). from the Chalk. 
(7) Sea-viehin of the same genus in Flint, Bngiand. (8) 
Au Upper Chalk Flint, with. Polyzoa (Heteropora), Mar- 
gate, Kent, ngland. (9) Tertiaryy (Mioeene) Flint, 
Flinders, Victoria, (10) Rose-coloured Flint, from the Chatk 
of Swanage Bay; Studland Dorset, England. 

By Mr. ©, Daly, B.A,, FuG.S.: Series of Flint Cores, with 
cutiine man aid Flint chips from Kitchen-middens along 
Victorian coast, Also a very robust. specimen of the Trigger 
plant, Styhdiwy gramintfolium, from. Sealers’ Cave. 


By Mr. L. Hodgson: Herbarium specimens of MTelichry- 
sip senvicpapposum, Pimelea ligustrine, Gynapoyon hivinis 
folius, Calocephalus Brown, Hedycarya angustifolia and: 


Vise) Field Natnrahivis Clud—Proceedings 239 


Veronica dermentiu, trom Lorne distriet. Colleeted January, 
1926. 


By Mr. P. Ci Morrison, MoSe,: (1) Twa specimens of 
the Crustacean  7hilassinn, Anomela, a transition form’ 
between the crayfish (Macrura) and the erabs (Brachyura), 
and fomning, with the hemmt muabs and two rarer gioups, 
the sub-order Anomura. Specimen ji was taken. alive on a. 
mud-flal near Bowen, North Qneensland, where numerous 
niounds abont a foot. high bear testimony to its powers of 
burrowing, Specimen i was found as a fossil al Bathurst 
Istand, near Port Darwin, and, in spite of the damage and 
distartion, it is seen to be speuifically identical with speui- 
inn 7. (2) A groop of young specimene of the solitary 
coral Pungia, which grows from a stalk, breaking off aan 
hevoming free-living when adult, ‘The old stem will give 
risé to a fresh animal, the marks of two previous individuals 
being visible on the largest stem, ‘Che other two stems are 
produeing eael: their first individual, Specimen from Stone 
Island, Reet, North Queensland. (3) Periaphthedinus, one 
of the buny fish, found commonly among the mangrove 
aWwamps in the tropies. The eyes are placed on top of the 
head, giving the animals their popular name of “‘stargazer.’ 
Ti is a common thine for these fish to emerge from the water 
and chaub the roots ot the maneroves by means of their 
avm-like peetoral fins. They will remain thos in the air for 
a considerable time, with only their tails in the water, and 
it is believed- that ‘respiration. may be carried on partially 
through this organ. (4) wo small coral blocks from Hay- 
man Tsland, Great Barrier Reef, Mavia speciosa is perhaps 
the most beautiful and delicate of the corals, and is by no 
means uncommon, while Calucerus Muyort is umong the 
varer covals. (5) A series of camera studies of the Saoty 
Tern, Sterna fuscuto, which comes in thonsauds every year 
to Michaelmas Reef, on the Outer Barrier, some distance 
north of Cairns, to b'eed. Tt was impossible to walk across 
the sand cay, without taeading on eges 


By My, Y. Piteher: “he Brect Clematis, 0. alycinotdes, 
in flower; and frond of the Common Shield Bern, Puly- 
slichiun (A spadium) aculeutun, showing one method adopted 
for repeoduetion, in various stages of growth of young plants. 


By Mr. G. B. Williamson, F1.S.: Mounted specimens of 
24 species. of Ferns, the first instalment of a set of the’ 
Victorian’ Mears to be donated by the exlibitar to the' Clint 


4 “Ox . here 4 Vict, Nut 
210 WILLIAMSON, Victorian Ferns Vol. X LIE 


AVUEDODEOUSONASERUOES LUNSOVEONENSNUERTOISGHYGESUOU OLSEN EVORF OVE SOTA FTES SSVEVNOWONN AUER DONNALGLEZEO POA HANANUOA#PRALSSIR PARC CRSP MASE OTS 


VICTORIAN FERNS 
By H. B. Witntamson, F.L.S. 


PUREE RA ALADADDEGUASOO ANS EN AA ANDO PANDA ESHPAOE DD EAU BOOMER D NCH TOG SOROTUANOAU SAUDER ED END 


= 
= 
= 
= 


ueeranausnncerrerrsareee 


PEUDUPPEPOPDDERODTE RH ERAD ONE 


r 


Parv D1. 


Ramily G LDEICHLENTACE AR, 
Genus GLICK ENA. 


There ave four species reeorded for Victoria, two of whieh 
ave known as Coral femis, and two as Man ferns. They ave 
all distinguished by the cichotomons branching of the fronds, 
the small nanber, 2-8, of spore cases iu the sori, and the 
absence of ai indusium. - 

GrwcHeNia cmcixara, Swartz. Coral  lern—Wide- 
spread throughout-Australia (@x, W.A,), New Zealand, New 
_ Caledonia and Malayan Archipelago. It is found sevambling 
among undergvewth im a tangled mags, sometimes toe 12 feet, 
with trond pinnutes at right angles to the branches, ancl 
divided to the midrib into numerous. semi-cirenlar seements. 
about one-eighth inch long. These segments are flat, or have 
their edges somewhat rectrved, aud the sori are near the 
upper inner angle. with three or four spore cases. 

GQ. picarva, RB. Wirry Coral Fern.—Distribution the 
same as that of (. ciremuta, except that it is nof found in 
S.A. Tt has the same habit and general appearanee as the 
last named, but may be distinguished from it hy the smaller. 

segments of the pinnules, which are mostly under one-tweitth 
inch, and have their margins almost closed to the midrib, 
forming a kind of bag, searedly any of the nnder surface of 
the segment being visible. Mo or three Spore cases almost, 
fill this space. 

G. ruapruyats, Rr, Tan Pern, Tas., N.S.W., Q., N-%., 
New Caledomia— The fronds of this fern are fan-shaped, 
with pinnules slightly toothed. mot deeply divided, and not 
at right angles to the stem, but at about 25 degrees, rarely 
above att inch long, one-tyelfth to one-eighth broad, The 
spore casas are in groups, mostly of four, along the lower 
half of the pinnule, away from the margin. Its distribution 
in Vietoria ig rather doubiful, for Mueller ineladed. with if 


Wott > Wa.raMsox, Vretorivm bern 241 
specimens which are now accepted as (, leogadi (syn, Jlagel 
davis). Few of the specimens in the National Herbariam are 
Victorian: Those from Tyers River, Mt. Pleasant Creek and 
the Grampians are apparently correetly named, and have been 
confirmed by thy late Rev. W. W. Watts. Authentie recoils 
of ity range ave needed, and it is suggested to collectors that 
specimens Thought to be {t, fubellaty ‘should. be sent to the 
Her barium for verifeation and district record, 

G. wavniava CWilld.) Ak, Spreading Fan Ff un —Dis- 
‘twibution the same as that of G@. Habelluta, This fern differs 
‘from the last-named in having larger and broader pinmnules, not 
toothed, wid set at right angles to the branches, with thea 
‘buses, dilated, 1} is often of a glaucous hue, while G fabel- 
dati ig penerally of a bright ov a dar green, -lt is camimon ut 
the Grumpians and the. Dandenony Ranges; and ‘the writer 
has gathevred-, on roadside cuttings in, the ‘highlands of the 
North-Hast, and also between Cann River and Genoa... 
Fanily SCHIZBACK.%, de 

Genus SCHIZA%A, te 

Seiasy mercnusa, Lab. Comb Pern, Vas, B.A. 
NAW. NZ, As. At, Polyuesia—This peeuliat plant, 
often scarcely recognised as a fern, consists of a single threadl- 
dike stem, about 30 inehexs high, surntounted, when fertile, by 
» goanb-lke frond about an inch Jong, with as matiy as 20 
pinnules, about one-eighth Inch long, bearing sori, with. trove 
tour to eight pairs of spore eases in:cach, The whole plant 
is of a reddish colour, and ig easily overlooked. 1+ has been 
wathered at Oakleigh, the Dandenong Ranges, the Grampians 
gid South and Bast Gippsland, 

S. puema, Willd. Forked Cowb Fer, District the same 
as that of &. fistidosa, except that it is vot found in §.A.—I1. 
is similat to 8. fistedasa, and often grows in association with 
it. Jt can easily be distinguished by its forked stem. ‘Lhe 
voubtike fronds ure shorter, but the pinnules are about, 
three-cightins-ineh loug and are narrewer and fringed with 
Tong: eilia. L 

Family SALVINIACILA. 
Genus Azous.a. 

Tndnded by Benthan. ander NO, Lyvapaduicee, but now 
counted among the fees. Small floating plants, often cover 
iny the surface of lagoons with a red or green carpet. The 
fronds are branched and the scements are very small, and 


t4y WILLIAMSON, Victorian Ferns bated ry 


IIR ERE | 


DLS AAAM ARAL 


Family GLEICHENIACEAD (J—1I—1iil—lvV)- 
Family SCHIZACEA (V—V1), 
Family SALVINIACEAE (Azoila) (VIE—YVII1), 


fora - Winiiaasus, Vielorian Berns 243 


unequally, two-lobed. The spore cages are of two kinds, and 
ave in the axus of the main branches. 

AzOLLA PinNaTA, R.Br Ferny Azolla, 5.A,, N-S,W., Q, 
As, Ai.—Theé floating fronds are regularly pinnate, some- 
times twiee pinnate, broadly ovate in outline, about an ineh 
jong, and provided with numerous sxeotlets, at first entire 
and dilated, but when alder prettily feathered. It appears 
to be common in the Goulburn Riyer flats, and muy some- 
times be seen on the Botanic Gardens Lake. The writer 
gathered it years ago on a pond in the Burnley Gardens. 


A. FILIcuLonEs, I., var. rivera ({R.By.), Diels; Red 
Azolla, S.A., Tas, NUS.W., QQ. N.Z—This is a much con- 
moner species, and may often he seen thiekly massed on the 
surtace of ponds and lagoons. The brick-red appearaiee of 
water-holes is due often to this plant. The fronds are not 
regularly pinnate, but are simply branched, short, and with 
few yootlets, which sure siniple, nol feathery, 


EXPLANA'NON OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Fig, I.—Gleichenia circinata, (a) Segment enlarged «b) Spare” 
tase of Gleichenia. 

Fig. H—G. dicarpa. (a) Segment enlarged. 

Fig. Il1.—G. flabellata. (a) Pinnule enlarged. 

Fig. IV.—G, l@vigata, (a) Pinnule enlarged. 

Fig. V.—Schize@a fistulosa. 

Fle. VIS, bifida. (b) Spore case of Schizza, 


Fig. VII.—Azolla pinnata. : 
Fig. VIN—A, filiculofdes, vay. rubra, 


Tue Late Por, A, Denny, O.8e., FRS—T'he Journal 
of the Quehkett Mterascopical. Club Cuondon) for November 
lust contains an appreciative obituary notice of the late 
Professor Dendy, who passed away jn London earher in the 
year, Dr, Dendy was well known to many of the early mem- 
bers of the Field Naturalists’ Clab, whieh he joined in Mav, 
1888, soon after his arrival in Melbourne as assistant to Prof. 
Baldwin Spencer. the then recently-appointed Professor of 
Biology at the Melbourne University. He soon took an active 
interest in the Club, and, after serving several yearg on the - 
Conimittee, was elected one of the viee-presidents for 1593- 
Tu. 1894. he was appointed Professor of Bislopy at Canter- 
bury College, University of New Zoatland, tia 1903 he 
reecived the appointinent of Professor of Zoology im the 


O44 CHATMAN, F'lints and their Origin, Veet 


University of Capetown, whence he vetutned to Lon- 
dou, in 1904, to take up the professorship of Zoolovy ut 
King’s College, University of London, which position he 
held np to the time of his fleath. He was one of the visit- 
ing members of the British Association for the Advancement 
of Science to the Melbourne meeting in 1914, when he 
renewed his aequaintinee with many old friends.~ He con- 
tributed several papers to the earlier volumes of the 
Naturalist. inainly on eryptozoie zoolowy---peripatas. 
Placarian wortis. ete. That he lost no time in starting his 
investigations is seen hy the fact that in the wumber for 
January, 1889. he deseribed two species of Peripatus whieh 
he had just found at Warburton, . He wae jomt author, with 
Mr. A. TL. 8. Guess, MLA. first Eelitoy of the Nuburalist, 
in the production of that well-known students’ text-hoolr, 
“An Introduction to the Study of Botany,’ which was 
dlesigned move especially for Australian students. In later 
yeats he devoted considerable attention fo sponges, on which 
he was a vohumindes wr iter, and, at the time of his death, hac 
become a world-wide authority on that group. He was for 
four years president of the Quekett Microscopical Club, and 
his death, at the age of 60, is a severe loss toa zoological 
reseureh work —P.G.A.B. | 


scasnavavonueaueavossnbotoatuczuescensvanoeauencoxasuansavanaucevecnsuscavosua usnsnuccavstonguevoscavesdcatnencouscanuansasyvescsuovese 


FLINTS AND THEIR ORIGIN 
By F. Carman, ALLS. 


scene VuAcenaanesesebeorrasdanscnserannnesestennagnysnrunsan cauedscerestanecsunserti pas srvnasesn svg eeceasnnnecnepanesayy¢ycussapae 


Pha DLpEaDece HO pI peneeere 
TEEN aDERP RMP EaO DDT EN p: 


Pd 


Many refereuces may be found in literature to the hared- 
ness of flints, in illustration of the lack of charity or miserh- 
ness m certain characters. hus we read of Antony's friend, 
Mnobarbus, addressing Cleopatra :-— 


“Thraw my heart 
Against the flint and hardness of my fault: 
Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder." 


And we also rementber that Dickens’ Mv. Flintwineh was 
not a particularly mild-hearted personage, especially when 
his wife, Affery, had dreams. 


ee CHAPStAN, Fints and their Ovigte 245 


Whilst admitting the hardness of fits, there are other 
minerals that are harder, but none so common ; and this may 
account for the generally popular idea concerning them. Por 
flints have a wide distmbution both in Europe and Britain, 
and are usually found avearrine in bands in the chalk of the 
South of B nglaid, as well as in Yorkshuv'e. Bast Angha and 
the North of Ireland. Flint hus always been a favourite 
material, where found, for use in building, Wye stones atten 
being disposed i in patterns. A fine speeimiean af Mintework still 
in existence is in the Old Bridewell by St. Andrew's Church. 
Novwich, dating about AD. 1400, According to Blomefielll 
this ig “esteemed the nrost curiots wall of blaek Hints in all 
Noyvlund for ts neat work and look, its stones Deine broken 
sa smooth and joined so well”? 

Just asa petrified frott may be vrevasted ty oir layer of 
hardened voek, so haye many of the terms we commonly ase 
been wrapped in a uew coat and have Jost thete orienial 
meaning, This name lint, tor example, is merky the Anpio- 
saxon for a reek, And this ells to mind its allaston in 
the town of Mint, by the estuary of the Dee, in North Wales. 
where Flnt Castle stands high upon the rock which was left 
asa “intte’? whem the sieroinding’ eomitry was. washed 
away. ‘Che Sewndinavian word ““finta’’ is a simile tem, 
Hallafiinta, indeed, is applied by geologists to the intensely 
tough, cherty rock sometnnes used as a touchstone for lasting 
gold. The Greek plinthos, meaniny a brick or shaped stosve, 
alsy shows some kinship to the same word. 


Our ancestors were well acquainted with @inn ji conjune- 
“tion with the tinderbox, before the days of the Jaciter and 
-satetyomateh ; and the Hint and steel was a common eunip- 
ment until the carly part of last century. Ln these cayxs, 
when Japatiese matelas fail to do their duty, we may wii 
eonsolation by picturing a man of the middle ages who 
wanted to light Wis pipe by the tedious tindey-bos, Alt and 
steel, ' 

This use of flint reminds uy how, some years ago, whilet 
walking over a. ploughed fleld in, Surrey, Enpland, we picked 
up a squared piece of flint, thinking it to be an ancient 
palwolith; Dit we were assared hy oa well-known ethnolowist 
that dtowas probably a ostoke-a-leht thrown away hy wn aL 
enltaral labourer, 


In the old Mini-lock gun, Invented ia the ently part of tye 
ih Centary, there isa flake of flint held in (Th cack, whieh 


246 Cavraax, (Ante and their Origin yist Rat 


cones dowit wpow the steel cap of the pan eonvtainme the 
mong. These Hint flakes were, until reeenthy, still beme 
wiiutictured tor exportation to Africa, and this ** kiap- 
ping’? Tnilnstry flourished antil quite lately in the Nariollk 
village of Brandon. But fur older still is the tidus- 
try of making tint implements by the eolithic, palwolithic 
and neolithic incn of Murvope. ing was preferred beeause 
of its good workable qualities, honiogeneity and hardness, 
producing, by pereussion, u more dr less pevfeet eonchaidal 
fracture. But that leads us into the wide field of ethnology. 

And now as to the oveurrence of these {iints, “When 
nearing the white cliffs of Dover, the ‘ Albion’? of tho puets, 
ane may notice the bands of black flints which there vom. 
almost horizontally at intervals of one to six feet apart. © 
The intervening chalk is very like a modern deep-sea ooze, 
when seen under the mievoseope, since it. is mitde ap for the 
most part of the tiny shells of Globigerina amd the reniains 
af microscopic plants, with a sprinkling of siliceous diatoms 
and sponge-vemaius, As the fiints themselves coutain the 
same organisms as the surrounding ooze, they must. have beer 
formed ur the place where they are now found, and the 
general consensus among geologists and physicists at prescut 
is, that the flinty matter in solution, in the form of a ‘water: 
giass,'" has spread along the sea-bed, and whore it has been 
stoppecl from sinking by the preseneee of an Impervious 
ayer has formed stings of flint nodules. 

Tn. England, Novth Ameviea and elsewhere, exeapt in 
Australia, flints are enriously enough eoufined to the White 
Chalk of Cretaceous age. In this land of anomalies, how- 

‘pver, althongh we have rocks of the Chalk age. we do not 
there find the flints. They neenr, strangely enough, in the 
Miocene Tertiary of South Australia and Vietoria. 

In a letter sent to ‘“Nature,?” and published Oetoher 4, 
117 (in-a symposial discussion on Flints startecdl by Rar 
Lankester), the present writer offered same eonelusions én 
the Australian aspect of the subject, fran. whieh if will be 
apposite to make the following extrack:— 

“These cainozoic flints [of South Australia and Vieteria} 
appear to be confined to the Miocene (Janjukian) beds, aul 
ave closely associated with the polyzoal limestone, a Whyte, 
chalky deposit, consisting of polyzoa and foraminifera. ‘Lhe 
evidence of a. microscopic oxaminalion, of these Ainks gues bi 
prove that the position held by Prof. G. A, 7. Cole, that - 
chalk fliuts cepvesent a more or less complete replaeement al 


Vb Oearway, “lants and their Origin 247 


the chalky ooze, is the only one tenable from the Austeatian 
standpoint, The Australian tints are often crowded with the 
silicified remains of polyzoa, foraminifera, shell fragments 
and oecasional sponye-spicules, the latter merely inielnded as: 
u component of the ooxe, and not as selected material, Our 
ing the formation of the fling the caleareous bodies are fre- 
quently chssolved, and only remnants ave seen, in some eases, 
mM the Hint sections. Another point, in corroboration of hg 
Caole’s contention! (based on Liesegane’s experiments), 
the presence of an impervious hed underlying these rerthanty 
flint layérs, This was pouifed. ont long aga hy ‘Penson 
Woods, who stated that. well-sinkers in South Austvalla lave 
oliseryed that a layer of Aint ia alway's found immediately 
above the water-level. The factor of an impermeabic layer 
indueing deposition of diffused siliet is ant dnportint one, 
dial is strongly supported in those instinees where | hives 
had an opportunity of observing it.” 

From the faet that flints ave almost piwre chileedomy or 
evyptoeryetalline silita, ad without iron jupmritios, they 
ave valuable for glass aking; and the fine Aint glass fron 
whieh ent-glass is manutachwed ts produced trom pulverised 
flints, carbonate of potash and oxide of lead. The siliea of 
flints, heing deposited in the first place ag a jelly ar colloid, 
it is not surprising to see it translucent. in thin flakes, 
althongh in the mass it looks black, The white outing, more- 
over, which jx nearly always found on fltuts, Nas really 
nothing to do wilh its being formed in a matrix of white, 
ehalky Jimestone, This whiteness is entirely due to the fine 
atmospheric powdering, so to Speak, of the skin of the Mint, 
and is caused by the homogenous flint luving been Loken 
up inte numerous reflecting surfaces he the sane way as when 
a piece of brown bottle glass beeames white when powdered. 
When flint nodules have been exposed to Weathering, and 
perhaps to alkaline solutions for a very lone time, this white: 
coat inay extend nearly, or quite, inte the centre of the 
stone. In illustration of this there is the remarkable bed of 
Hit pebbles in the Tertiary sands of the Bournemouth Cliffs, 
Hampshire; und when these pebbles are split with a blow 
they vot infrequently show the white appearance meht to the 
centre. 

Oy the economic side, {links may be ai indication of water 
supply: Whereas the nodular form of flints seen to be due 


‘Cola, G. A. J, “The Rhythmic Deposition of Flint,” Geological 
Magazine; 1917. pp. 164-168. 


248 CHavaas, Llints and bein Gvighe you erat 


to the gathering of the ‘silien around au etganic mass or 
entre, the tabulin flints probably owe them Lormation to the 
raturation of a layer immediately above an inperviows marl 
hand, by reference ta the bureds of trot aeeurring in the 
palyaal rock of Port Maedoucll, Tenison Woods remarks — 
“They oeeur in sheets af very real extent and about tive er 
three iiehes. thiek, and are quarried and nsecl ag Hage.” 

A. similae band of Aint. but in Victoria. was stunel some 
woars avo it the Mallee whilst boring for water, 1h wig met 
with at 600 feet, and, owing to the resistanee, to todls, nade 
the hoving lao expensive to'carty through with the ordinary 
appliances, Probably, had this flinty layer been pierced, a. 
poranent supply of water inivht have heen tapped; Tor 
‘Vonizson Woods has stated, in hia ‘Geological Chservations 
in South Anstralia,’? that the well-sinkers in South Australia 
observe that a layer of flints is always found immediatels - 
above the water level. 'Phis helps to confiem the writer’s 
iivpvession that, as also ome the Tnelish chalk, an imper- 
menhle daver indyees the deposition of an averlying hand 
of diffused sihea, resulting in the formation of flinis. 


It is obvious, in this question of the origin of flint. that 
uch light has been thrown om the problem by the Australian, 
dlata obtained... No well-direeted effort of reseaveh ear be tit 
vain, and, even in the subject we have discussed. the economic 
aspect has heen placed tn a cleaver light by showing how 
elosely connected is detuiled stratigraphical jwwork with 
attesiaL water supply. 

Like the early Hiumopean inhabitants of the north, the 
Australian aborigine had ait instinet for diseoverinu: flints 
front which to make his artefacts, At various places along 
the Otway Coast, und at Cape Liptirap, these flints appear 
to be washed out of the Tertiary limestones, sued there. ov in 
the viehvity, thei flakes and worked tools can be found. Bat 
since the native wag viven to barter, these worked Mits are 
generally widely distributed. At Altona Fux, for instance, 
the synull flint knives, made from stone, found ae far-off as 
Cape Liptrap, beautitully notched: and pointed, ey be 
found in some number's, 

Alas for the romantic side of things! The abovigine takes 
the path of least resistanee, for, as Sir Raldwin Spencer 
remarks. the black mau. associating with tha white, drops 
his thne-hallowed enstom of using Mints wid niakes bis fobs 
of the bottlerdags ready to his Hand. 


tte - Notes [rom Iiekt und Study ay 


THE LOMA'TIAS. 


The Lomatias, with denticled, holly-Hke leaves, ave close 
yelations of the W avatah, and are among onr frequentiy-niet 
native shrubs. The lonedeaved species prefers the river 
banks, and the other two are qnite at home on the drier hill 
sides, even the salty air of the sevside not mterferiie with 
them. ‘wo of the genus are met aith atin allitade of qnite 
4,000) Feer, 

Though handsome and wordy of evarden volume, J clo 
nok votive them, iu the Honey Mora dist 1 an disposed to 
think. however, that before lone they will fhid a piace there, 
although, like some of the Wuealypts, they do not flower 
equalby well cach year, and not as they are doing this season, 
A nine-feet-hieh Lomate. Mrasert growing in my garden is- 
beuvime its 100 racemes of flowers. 


' Busy insects gather round and extract the honey from 
the qnaint, almond-seented, creamy Hower. One warn day 
I counted as many as 12 different kinds. Some 7 did not 
attempt. to eateh, others 1 seeured for examination. These: 
consisted of a red-headud Jrymenoplervus imsect whose 
abdominal extremity eorved while resting; sevelal repre 
sentatives of the apis famnly, inelucing a large, brown, hatvy 
fellow with a large X on hig back; another, a stubby hee 
with « greenish-brown head. hardly distinguishable Crom the 
resh of his body; # lony-bodied, banded dipteron, with sur- 
Piisinely quiskanoving wings, which hovered long and often 
betove deciding to drink. A) chivk-colouned, bhlrek-haired, 
bee-like insect also extvacted as shove of the nectar, Even 
wv sinall connmon blowfly wae seen in eourpany with the eomn- 
mon house fy and a small blue fly ahont the same size. ST hexe 
three last seamed to make things nncomtortable, in prevent: 
ing front Jandiuy a dainty, very small, green-winged’ 
ant, whose large wings seemed out of proportion to its body.. 


5 ron igs “ ; Viet Nal. 
250 Notes trom Mield and Studar . bvat xe 


hese it Kept extended both in flight and when at vest. 
No interference was shown, however, to a husy little black 
ant, who evidently knew well where the best results were 
to be obtained. 4 

Me. G. Mreneh, Jnr, identified some of iy. visilors as 
frdomyrmes rufiniger, Calliphorn villosa, Sepsis sp. 
Tepliritis sp., Musea, 2 sp., ete. 

“Last vear TI thought T had some mature seed saved From 
this plant, bit, on piekinu the pods, fowid the eortents, as 
usnal, beautifully arvanged, but with them an oehvey-yellow 
‘swhstance had formed that t took for a fungoid growth, Me. 
D. B. Adam, however, considered it to be acieular erystals ot 
some organic compound, with a brownish Jayer of cistin- 
tegrated dead tissue cells. ‘Thus, theugh externally the seed 
pods looked normal and ripe seeds might be looked fov, sone 
form of blight had ldlled all of then in their many 
eases.—A..T. ° 


NATURAL HISTORY OBSERVAXIONS BY NIGHT. 


Wishing to see what was happening in the insert world 
during the hours of darkness, [ toole the opportunity 
veeently, whet on a visit. to the mountains in the vicinity 
of Warburton, to make an nivestigation. Armed with a 
powerful acetylene bieyele lamp, [ set off along a narrow 
timber tram line nto the heart of the forest. he first things 
to attract my notice were hosts of small, brown eaterpiilars, 
with their heads all turned in the same clirection, hurrying 
along the tram vaily. For about 200 yards they eould leo 
seen everywhere, and were all making north. The only reagan 
1 could assign for this migration, it one eould call it sunli. 
was the tact that extensive bush fires were vaging some two 
‘miles to the south, and the scent of burning scrub was very 
strong. Several large Crane flies hovered into the beam of 
light, probably disturbed from their slumbers, as they are 
‘typical day-flying insects. 

A Jarge weevil of the genus Poropterus was found lnesily 
drilling a hole into a dead limb of a Beech tree. Many ald 
jogs were carefully examined, and upon most of them were 
seen oany of the Tenebrionid beetles, Apasis howitl:. Dur- 
ing the daytime these insects are always concealed under or 
inside rotten logs, but, durmg the dark hours, they beeome 
wery active. Some examples of the somewhat rare Carab 


ay ss Votes from Pield dnd Stiuda 281 


hectle, Melisoderw priefpewnis, were found crawling: om te 
trunks of stringy-barked Hucalypts. 


Directing the rays upon the ground, several spiders wery 
seen harryiwe through the earpet of fallen Jeayves, and a fair- 
sized ceutipede noticed holding one of the previously- 
moemhoned brown caterpillars im its mandibles. The next 
object of interest was a beautiful tree frog (Hyla), whieh 
Was vesting upon a stall limb of a musk tree. The bright 
fight apparently did not inconvenience him, as he appeared 
eontunt to stay there ag long as I wished to view hin. 
Several specinens of the dark form of Adrium artifex, 2 
small Longicorn beetle, were observed upon a treshly-fallex 
eucilypt, where they were no doubt seeking guitable situa- 
tions for depositing their aves, . 

The light next revealed a heautiful moth resting upon the 
lrank of a Sassutyas tree. It was a species of the genus 
Colussau, and, with its brightly-shinmg eyes, quivernur 
feathered antenne, aud wings resembling rich brown velvet, 
it was indeed a thing of beauty. 


A rustling sound anionyst the leaves of a Hazel tree drew 
my attention to a pretty little Rine-tailed Opossum, and he 
remained perfecily still, apparently dazzled by the bright 
Night. Some snail black ants were harying up a dead tree, 
each bearing a papa, whilst at tha foot of the tree there 
was & apecbuen of the bralliant-hued Carab beetle, Votone- 
mus opilentus, Mie sound of runing Water suggested look- 
ing for aquatic inseets, but the ovly things moving were 
aome small, very active, shiinp-like erustaceans, 

As my light. was now beginning to give out, I had 16 
relinquish my investigations, lat L an looking forward to 
spending another interesting evening when an opportunity 
uffers.—I, E. Witson, 


PARASITISM. IN THE SANTALACHKY, 


Root parasitism has already been proved in the vases of 
Imany santalaceous plants; of Australian species notably in 
Karacarpus cupressiformas, by Dr, Benson, aid im the Sandal- 
wood aad the Quondong, by Ma. D, A, Herbert. Suspicion was 
doubtless directed to these by the inypossibility of transplant 
\n@ them, successfully, or of cultivating them fron) seed, 


In the Jawrnal of the Royal Society of Western Austrutia 
for 1924-25 Mr, Herbert conviets seven other members of the 


258 Notes from Biel@ and Study Bb eri 


family of the same degrading habit. These are Funsanws 
spicatus, R.By., &. vouminetius, R.Br, Geplomeria preissiiona, 
D.C, L. spinosa, D.C. Charetrum laterifiaermn, RB! Econ 
pus @phille, RB, and J”. sparted, R.Br. Atl were found to- 
develop numevous lateral haustoria, which penetwated the 
reats of the host planty more or less deeply, but, not attacking 
the wood. All algo seemed to-be suto-pavasitic. ‘The haustoria 
varied greatly in size. In Leptameria preiwsiana they attained 
nu diameter of one-third of an ineh, im Peocurpus aphylla a 
quarter of an inch, In. eupressifarwes, a much larger plant. 
they had been fownd so sinall as to be discernible only with- 
the aid of a lens. Ouly in LZ. spartea were they developed 
apart from, the presence of alien roots. 


Leploneria spinasa alone showed disermmination in the 
choice of a host, the others not being at all particular in. this. 
respect. While some species like Axecerpas uphaylle xvow in 
such elose proximity to another plant, ov even appearing to: 
grow out of it, as te at once suggest parasitism, others like 
Fusunus agciuninatus, by its isolated position, seemed to dis- 
arm suspicion until the length of its roots, sometimes extend- 
ing for a distanee of twenty yards, ghawed its ability, in spite: 
of distance, to reach those of its victims, As in others of their 
kind. root hairs were almost or entirely wanting. —-C.8.5 


PHOTOGRAPHS FOR "“PHH NATURALIST.” 


It is proposed, while funds permit, to include one plate at 
least-in each issue of the Maturalist. Members are invited to 
submit prints for consideration by the Editor and the Publishing 
Committee. Unusual subjects are desired, not photographs of 
scenery, etc. Writers of papers might submit photographs suitable 
for illustrations —Editor. - 


All contributions for the Naturalist, and letters to the Editor, 
should be addressed: 
CHARLES BARRETT, } 
“Maralena,” Maysbury Avonue, 
Blsternwick, Vic- 


Che Victorian Naturalist 


Vou. XLIT—No. 11 MARCH 5, 1926 No. 507 


FIELD NATURALISTS” CLUB OF VICTORIA. 


The ordinary monthly necting of the Clab was held in the 
Koyal Society’s Fill on Monday evening, Pebraury 8, 1926. 
The President, Mr. Geo. Coghill, occupied the chair, wad about 
HO members and friends were present. 

REPORT. 

Mormmeyton, January 30.—The Jeader, Rev, G. Cox, far- 
warded # report of this exeursion, whieh showed that though 
very Tew members availed themselves of this opportunity of 
visiting Momington, nn interesting programme was carried 
ont sueecsstully, 


BWLECTION OF JOM TRIER, 


On a ballot being taken, Master Pred. Bartow was duly 
Avelared elected as ai associate member of the Clnh. 


GENERAL, 

Bush Fires. ~The Won. Secretary, Mu, C, Oke, referred to 
the widespread bush fires. Lilo had bea, on the previous day, 
al, Warburton, where Lirge areas along the vaihway line, par- 
fienlarly between Mt. Evelyn and Wandin, and between Mill- 
wyove and Warburton, had been swept hy fire. The whole of 
Mount: Littte Joe, as seen from the line, appeared to have been 
burnt out. He thonght that an article might be published in 
the Natuvalist, indieatine the extent of the areas devastated 
hy the fires. In future years it would fom a reference, and 
would also enable some idea to be formed as to the time 
required by a fire-swept area to regain its normal state. 

Mount Byerard Reservation —Miss Nokes stated that’ bush 
fires had been burning on the monntain, and probably had 
swept. the ares. it was proposed to reserve. Vi such was the 
ease, the loeal, Progress Assocjation would, most likely, let the 
project lapse. 


254 Bvcursion to Mornington Vatcxnatt 


LECTURE. 

‘Along the Queensland Coast—-A Biological) Tour,’? by 
Mar. 2. CL Movvison, ALSe. ‘This lecture was. iustrated by a 
large winniber of excellent Jantein slides, showing various 
fons of wunial and vewetable life, also some very interesting 
views alone the Queensland coast, Several members: spula in 
appreciution of the leetnve and the laitern views. 

The odeting closed with the usual short comversaziane. 

EXHIBITS, 
ty Rey. G. Cox: Mossil leaves of Lanietio, Neyhelltes and 
Hollivedia, tron Balebmbe Bay; also lignite from the: same 
loeality:. : 

By Mv. J. Tt. Leslie: Bifureation in frond of Lamaria. 

By Mr. P. C. Morrison, MSe.; Plates fram the carapace 
of the Jarve Queensland taurtle; corals from the Great Barrier 
Reef; and aboriginal weapons from Queensland. 

By The National Herbavinn, on behalf of the Rev. A. C. FP. 
Gates, MAA.. of Tava, who has-been botanising on ML. Brien 
and. sarroanding aregion:—Barcker Guarana, Sehawer, 
Mountain Heath Mirtle; Bieekea, probably uew ta seienee; 
Callistenion Sieberi, D.C., Alpine Bottle-brash; Senecio 
wags, Fiv VL, Saw Groundsel; Senecio peclinalus, 
D.C., Alpine Groundsel; Aehehrysum  rosmarinefolius, 
Less, Rosemary Everlasting; Olearia florthuada, Bth., 
Heath Daisy-bush: Helichryswm lepidephyllkem, Tovey anc 

' Morris, Clubmoss Daisy-bush; Celnisia longifolia, Silver 

Daisy; Gentina (stcosa) montana, Forst., Mountiin Ger- 
tian: Pavsophyllian Tadgelhonen and P. Sutton, Rogers 
and Rees. 


EXCURSION TO MORNINGTON 


‘Che programme of the Holiday Week-eud Exeursion 
hegan with the departure from Mornington on Saturday. 
January 30) at 9 asin, of 11 members of the local Naturalists’ 
Glob, three visitors and the leader. At Mooroodue the 
arrival of the train from Melbourne was awaited. but tio 
B.N.G. members came by it. After lineh the party walked 
to the large quarry, where a wonderful face of rock of Ordo- 
Vician age. is exposed. By means of spécially-prepared curds, 
and the external evidences in the quarry itself, the leader 
explamed the relative age and formation of the vock mass. 


pil Exoursion. to Mornington n 235 


Mt, liza, at the back of the quarry, Wak ascended, and 
from the summit a fine parioraniie viva was cominanded, A 
walk along the vidge, through the bush, brought us to a 
granite outerop, wlieh has been partly opened op. The 
stone appew's to be of very fine quatlity, and greatly resembles 
the well-known Hareourt grauite Jelear avhite felspar and 
black (hbiolite) umeaj. A ramble in another direction led to 
the banks of a veservoiy (nearly dey), from wieh nunibers 
of valves of the fresh-water molluse (Pistdtum spo) were 
collectad. A bush traek Jed back to the quarry. Ou the wiry 
to the ‘station several interesting hotameal species wo 
gathered, eluding ad tine spray of Dianella fwuts, with purple 
seod- berries, A halt awas dade at a wayside pool, on the sare 
face of which floated water-lilies, in tall bloom, Among the 
Waler-weeds skirbing the pool a eh harvest might have bees 
gathered for pond-lite study, 

The irain by which we retarned ty Mornington Wrought 
two dady menibers of the Chib, After tea, fwinkoreed ha Te 
vouny inen, visitors, the party attended, by invitation, at the 
loiden’s home, A collection of aboriginal Weapons and iniple- 
ments (about 160 pieces) wag exeunined, the leader viving a 
deseriptivetalls; then the local Club?’s collections wore viewed, 


Sunday was spent according te the individual tastes of 
Wembers. On Monday the first party, consisting of 1s local 
members and two visiting members, assembled, at 9.30 am, 
tnd walked to Fossil Beach. Here a camp was established, 
und the party dispersed over the Baleombian fossil beds. 
Meanwhile, the leader veturned to the station to meet the 
Melbourne train, by whieh arrived three lady members, who 
were driven out to join, the advance party, Adtter laneh 
the party set off for the Baleombe’s Bay leaf beds (Atioeene), 
passing en route the brown coal deposits, and turning aside 
to visit a gully in which foorishes the Phame Uninea (7, 
elegans), now only in bud, ‘Phe spot ow whieh Captain Mart- 
thew Winders Iagded, jay April, 1602, wis seen. Mie wiry 
led over several rocky outevops, among whieh (as the tile was 
very low), a number of chitons wos taken. Most ot the 
species sean at the leal-heds were fragmentary, though 
some wood speviinens have bean obtained deve on loeal Club 
OXCMESTONS. 

Some menithers of the MNCL had erected their tents on the 
beach, and afew of the younger ovies enjoyed a swim, After 
returning und resting of the damp? another visit was 


25h Becersion bo Wilson's Promuntarcy ven ett 


~ 


| nh ‘ a 
made to the marine shell beds. No great finds ean he 
chronicled, though a good tssortinent of the species charac- 
taristic of the beds was found. Amony the living types ol 
interest taken were si fine large hermit crab, and the boring 
wolluse (Barred obtiuramentiune), in burrows i the lay, The 
day was ideal for solleeting, the tide being so low, and the 
water perteetly still he ehildren joining the loeal Chib 
lave proved themselves experts at eolloeting, one gith, V1 yours 
of age, having recently collected nearly 100 chitons during ant 
afternoon, many of them hardly visible to the naked eye, aud 
none of thet over three-quarters of an inch in length, A 
number of hotanical specimens clabned notice dure the das. 
Lut no mew or tnusual types were recarded—Ruv, G, Cox. 


EXCURSION TO WILSON’S PROMONTORY 


The sisth Chah exeursion to Wilson’s Promontory took 
placa during the New Year holidays. On January 2 eight 
members travelled in a covered wageon from Pish Creek, 
Passing through the western extremity of the Hoddle Range, 
ovo, an area bearing everywhere evidences of the rmithless 
destruction of the once dese forests and luxuriant fem eul- 
lies, the low-lying heath or moorland was erassed, to Lisher- 
nau’s Camp, thenee down the beaéh to the Darby River, 

At the Iitot Sabara-tike stretehas of saud intervene when 
the tide is out, his coast is interesting in showing phases 
vE the dewudation of land and cneroachment of sea, varied 
hy suecessful resistance und approach by sand-dunes apainst 
the action of wind and tide. In the formet ease the planing 
dowu of whit appear to be either old swanrp-beds. with 
peaty battoms, or extensive carbouiceous deposits. cerived 
“from seaweed, dnd the inroads made on the clumps of Bank 
Nias, many tvees of whieh are avashed right out un the vere 
of the sea, are evidences; in the other, the heaping up of the 
sand (i the shallows around the slightest obstrietion, the 
eerawth Of gruss-fatts, then tassoeks, and, further back, 
coastal xerub ag siuid-stays, consolidating and extending as 
dines the line of defence and advance, ave equally striking, 

During the week we vantbled in the neighhonrhood of the 
chalet and the Darby River, Tongue Point, and the Darby 
spor and saddle. as far as the sothern limit of Noarniuan 
Bay, and elong the telegraph track to Bad Saddle. with 


By ‘ Becnrsion to Witsea'ts Pranmantory 257 
deviations therefyony to Lilly-pilly Ghally and Sealers’ Cove 
rospaeclivahy ; the hatter a twaedays’ journey. Sinee lash year 
ao het has beet huilt af Sealers’ Cove. and. “uiother ot relat 
River, tar the convenience of eanmpers, The trucks are mW 
vou orders fat to Lally-pilly will ultimately he extended 
fo the head of dhe Gilly, where a waterfall abont 15 feet an 
height adds to the beauty of thig sylvan retreat. Do a home 
paddock two ov three kangaroca or wilabires and an emu 
are kept for observation by tourists who are unable to make 
lane excursions, The seuson for wild-Howers was alinost 
ended, but 76 species were noted mm bloom, some only seantily. 
Ruryarvin sporosa, Cassie aculeata, Lotus australis, Tlonuise 
pelilocahits, Senecio lautus, Scavolic surveolens, Lobelia prur- 
quecasceus, La wanes, Olcaria cnillaris, Viineniaria demwndiutir, 
with the Banksias, Hakens and Nanthorrheas, were more pra- 
fase in fowerme. Among the orchids, Dipadiwm prenctlafron 
Castrodia sesumpides and Uhelynetratangifole were in Mower. 
Most. of the leguminous plants were fu finite as were Afeda ies 
pinifolius, Levenpoqan Richer, Meocerpis sthicli, ote, 

There ia a noticeable tendency to comimunal growth ti the 
National Park. ey. the dense vrove of Casmapinag on the 
Darby spur, the fine Banksip groves beyond The densely 
elnatering Melaleueas and Leptospermoins of the river fat, the 
Buposing avvay of wrass-trvees on varinns areas, the pro- 
fyston of Lilly-pillies in the eully ppproapriately bearing the 
name, the extensive thicket of hazels tharking the approaeh 
wud rome pant of the slope in the descent te Sealers’ Cove, 
and then the distinctive fan-zully vegetation of that moist 
and sheltered area. This chavactevistic may be noted alsa in 
the species of Mnealypts, and in the wrouping of avornss and 
swamp Veretation, 


The tap to Seiers' Cove was completed he fore ia heavy 
rain-storm, Tt was noted that the growth of Myrtle Beech is 
voryv mneh more extensive than was thought fa be the case, 
sainy voung plants gvowing im the rieh soil. At the Cove an 
cnstarly wind, with a heavy sea, beat mto the bay, while the 
rainstorm had for precursor the gathering of thick clowd- 
whieks on the nountiins enclosing the Cove, Several birds. 
Including two LitHe Penenins, Eudyptada minor, were found 
dead on the beseh, Portunately the ain kept off until our 
vernyi , : 

Dive our stay at the Park three or four kangaroos ane 
about 10 wallabies were seen, the Blnek-baekod Wallaby, 


9 RY fge ‘ 4 , " r Vict. Nat. 
258 Eiccarston te Wityon'y Prone they wor XLrt 


Magrapus (wilabatus, beng the more plentiful. In some 
Tistiheey Tl admits showed little tense ob gbservers, Or 
comrse, o stile individual has the better chaneae of svete 
MMOS, Which a large party will distial. About hali.a dozen 
Koalis were observed, chiefly ow the blae gums. Ore. al 
Sealers’ Cove, was perehed at a great heiwht, Wvideuees af 
the presence of wonrbats were ndtieeable, It was intetrestine to 
hear fram two independent welness#es of mi animal having been 
sean ab lilly-pillv which auswered to the leseviption oft the 
Bush-tailed Rat or Tum, Mr. Plaids, on a visit to the Lisht- 
hovge. sw theough the ghias about 20 seals disporting un a 
rocky island fo the westward. A fow gmall snakes were seen, 
tive of Wwlieli-eopperheads—avere despatehed, AL visitor 
reported having seen an antlered deer towards the Verekeu 
moive, There ave deer ou Sauke Ialvud, but fam not aware 
that, deer lave been tetveduead fo the Prouovntory. he 
fivard, Agerwa iehite, wis munerons, and sustained the pepiu- 
tation previously edrned tor friendliness. Oie Was alinast 
reduced toa torpid state by cathig to repletion of March-fias, 
supplied hy Mr. Vo Miller; while another pretty, copper 
colourd lizard fearlessly caught flies-on the weiter’s land ane 
coal-sleeve. Galaxians, or mountain-trowt. are munerous in the 
eveeks. At Gilly-pilly Creek they ate eceedily the serays 
thrown into the stream, and allowed Mr, MLiller to stroke 
their sides gently with w switeh, ‘The hirgest seen was jnat 
over six inehes in length. 

Birds were very numerous and tuneful. especially in the 
sheltered hill and river serub wear the chalet. At daybreats 
one eal hear the foll, vieh notes of the Marmonious Vbiash, 
the matutinal song of the Moypie, the passionate cull of the 
Goach-whip Bird, the harshor eries ot Honey-eatens, the eheer- 
ful tavitter of Aganthizas anc Serub-wreng, the dour note of 
the Bronzewing, and the challenging sone of the Buteher-bird. 
Blue Wrens ard at home at, the whulet. The Swallow still vets 
broods wader the-back verandah, and a Mookaburvi taxes 
stock of visitors from a neighbouring post. We heel We: 
mournful cadence of the Pallid Cuckoo, and alse the Bronce 
Cnekoo's note. Ovex the river an ‘occasional Cormoraut flew. 
a White-tronted Heron lazily changed his location, or a tev 
Ducks followed the windings of the stream. A Fyyre-bird was 
seen neat Sealers’ Cave, and their initative calls avere alse 
heard. Special observation was made of the birds, more this 
50 species heing noted by the party. ancl listed earefully hy 
Mies MeMyhon and Mv. Hughes. Anong these were the Black 


rs 
ou 
o 


bt Aeenrvainn ta Wilsau's Proutentovy 
Cockutoos, which, with Wattle-hirds, affect the Banksigs. A 
éolony,ot Manewrenus was Joeated by Ale. Wanks neav Whisky 
Greek. aiid amous the Parrakeets’ Crimson Parrots were 
Humerus, Streperas were see ti timbered country. Aqnony 
sea-birds, fhe two species of Oyster-catchur, White-hellied Soa- 
angles, Peliews, Pacifie onlls and Australian Corlews were 
dhserved. 

The Emus introduced to the Park favour the more open, 
evassy country, They have prospered, and are a sourec of 
attraction to visitors. Th isa pine to find that, durnig: the 
lant year, clutches of voong have heen almost destroyed by 
foxes, ane of which was scen at Sealers’ Cove. As with 
dingoes in the past, the inerease of foxes is favoured by the 
eharacter of the eounteyv, Tn regard to mtroduced birds. 

three of the party recogutsed the Blackbird’s song, bur the 
bil was not seen. The Goldfinch is travelling southward , 
it was seen at Pish Creek, 

Fiiseet life seemed mimerous. verted and vieioie. Sand- 
flies and March-llies overpowered toarists with conaweleni 
attentions, whilsi Culex gerduns was winisually aber 

dy a previons repart niention was made of the wreekage 
ast 1p alone the Western coast, against whiel the prevail 
inv (hitt enrrvenr strikes in tts eustweanl course On (he 
shores of the bay lies a considerable quantity of timber, pine 
and blackwood, with scores of beut. ris, tn sets, for bageles 
and other vehicles, This is from the wreck of u vessel carry- 
ing timber, which foundered, Jess than a year avo, near Cape 
Liptaap Aluny wood, but enmpty, barrels are cast up on the 
shore. ; 
_ We veturned to the city on January 11. 1 would sug> 
vost a wellorvanised excursion by boat on some tuture 
occasion to the Easter coast. of the Promontory, with Sealers’ 
Cove ws a base for eperations—-Crarees Dany, 


Mr. Charles French, sent., one of the founders of the 
Field Naturalists’ Club of Victoria, and formes Government 
Hritomolopist, will contribute several articles to the Vuturalast. 
They will deal chiefly with the early days of natural histery 
in Victoria, and, besides relating his own experieices as ad 
entomologist and botanist in the held, Mr, French will give 
memory pictures of other pioneer naturalists. ‘The articles 
will be Whistrated with portans. ; 


‘ “ =v. Nae 
26 Ato me Queens Caast Yann 


IENVANERTHOEENAGUPORAUNAEUNONDOVER ODEO CRORSeNE HOE RNVORN RAT OGANTERNRONEOE SUTTER NDAEREVERNLLERTAV RUN TAPOIELNYPYAPATPENY KCHT OT ERM Ie RAL E Rha 


2 


ALONG THE QUEENSLAND COAST 


A BIOLOGICAL, TOUK 


TOPE TERREDHNEN RAY AMR Tee 


3 
ow 


UL 


(Noles on a lantern lecture delivered befare the Pichd 
Mielurabishs’ Clib of Victoria, Pebruary 8, 1926) 


By P. Crospin Morrison, M.8¢. 


Tinvellers of the Seven Seas two centuries ave retariect 
lone with tales of fainy islands where every praspeet. pleased > 
where one hac only to enjoy oneself: where choice truits-— 
satislyine food—danglecd temptingly frome every tree; and 
fuaey-haived beagties were waiting to danee attendance upor | 
Ihe fortunate traveller, And whenever the hearers, becoming 
guraptured, seemed to forget the fortitude of the narrator, 
he had but to dwell for a moment upon the awful dangers 
of the coral, lo make them turn pale with fear, and mnrmur 
prayer of thankfulness that theirs paths led away frow tropi- 
eal waters, and that they still held to foggy England. 

Coral was the droid speetre in the life of the mariner. 
Many a proud atiminal ground out her life againat the 
troucherous horns of some hidden reef, and sont was the 
heart of him who would seek out new lands among the Coral 
Saeits. 

in 1770 Captant James Cook had the experience of inini- 
Henk shipwreaek on the Mudeavour Reet, close to the town 
Which now bears his name; and only by beaehing his ship for 
repairs in the Endeavour River was he able to pursue his home- - 
ward course, Thirty years later Captain Matthew Flinders 
saaled rivht along the Great Barrier Reet. and chartered fairly 
weentately the 1600 miles of its westeru fringe. After that 
date the Reef was touched upon intentionally only ‘by a few 
naval suryes vessels, such ag the “‘ Thetis’? aid the “* Rattle- 
snake.’’ and unintentionally hy a few of the carly inmmigvant 
ships, such as the ‘‘Wansfell,*” whose perilons. trip in 1861, 
when she arrived irom Wugland three months overdue, carry- 
ing a full coniplement of itiimigrants all on the verge of 
starvation, has been numortatised by iuiecrous entries on 
ihe Admiralty chart. of the Coral Seu. 

As time went on, it became: increasingly evident, that the 
charts of this region—mainly those of FHudevs, whieh have 
rentiined almost untouched for move than a century — con- 


face Aluny the Queensland Coast 26L 
jwined aw munber of Imaccuracies, he action of the 
Adinivalty in sending out speelally-equipped survey ships tu 
undertake charting work on the Reet for aw indefinite period, 
so uboused public interest in the Jess fearsome and amore 
Interesting axpeets of this nique xeoeraphical possession of 
ours, that the Great Barrier Reef Committee was formed, 
with headqnarters in Brisbane, to undertake and direct. the 
scientific myestigation from yarious standpoints —imainly 
veological and biological. Jt was in the latter eapacity that 
the waiter was sent to Brisbane in 1925, und thence to the 
Vitious points of interest along the oust. The work cone 
was Mainly wievoscopie, and, sinve the macroscopic material 
obtained vontains nothing new to seienee, only.a few aotes on 
the nwre interesting features of the general work are given 
Tere, 

Travelling overdand from Wietoa to the Novth, little 
difference iy noted im the geneval aspect of the countyy he 
sime types of Moealypts seem to follow one fron Wilson's 
Pronioutory to Cape York, with small breaks of Lrupical 
jungle of paling and tig, and Tewyer-cane in the wtoist parts, 
sveh as the coastal region from Cardwell to Cooktown, and 
upon, the Atherton Pableland, Nunthorrhows af sliptiily 
differiie species Spread before one all the way Gp, anid the 
aspect of (he dria plain countey iscthus fairly unitorns, in 
spite of the hinge tke tropieal latitudes. 

One surprise for the traveller ds the qine-clad slapes of 
the contimentol ishurds of the Whitsunday and Hinchinbrook 
Groups, huidreds of miles north of the Tropic of Capricorn 
dan the distunee these Argucarias cestable the Northern pines, 
amd one i faced with o. sub-aretic seene with a shade tem- 
peramare of over the LOO mark. ypien) plauts seb. their 
math on different areas, and on liebtly-tinbered country one 
seos aunbers of the palm-like “serew pine,” “bread finiit,”” 
ov Pandenas, a lonely redie of the group Pandanaeces, which 
Hourished ina bygone ave. Then the stand flora includes 
suell plants as the spiny-steded Pribidus, the yoats-foot. Con- 
volvulns, Jpemen pesecaprt, the Candle-ut tree, the Goral 
TLabupnuimn, Vownefortia, Scemudla, Hibiscus, and Mormda, 
aM) of which formu a detise backeround of shrubbery throneh 
which tower the gopecetal stenw of the coconut paling, Cocus 
woeferg, he coronal, by the way, is voto native, bat ts 
phinted ou practioally all the ishiids aloe the coast for the 
benetit. of men who tev be east away with ae otter ieans 
of sTistenaners, 


A ppg a? 1 e Virc. Nee 
age Mend Mie Gueenstind Ceriee von Xtit 


The anud flora is always vers trpieal, too. POHSIstine Of 
the threes main Mangrove. genera. dace. Aluzophara vid 
Bragiwera, securving i belts trom sea. to-shore i, frat oder 
Associated with these enriously-speotaligod treas we find a 
numher of saaller salt-resisting plants, of avhieh the ios 
romney i the holly-loaved sbeanthia iieifolia, Stretehes of 
hare snud in a Mangrove swamp enn abyars be depended 
Upon to yield, besides the sandflies ancdenosqeitoes, a whelke 
like Velexcoptum and a Crapsoid cuih., Jelopograpsus 
wessors and usally the whole of the dead wood ts vtddlod 
with the boring molluse, T'eredo. 


The coral reefs are a disappatmtinent if one sees them in- 
covered by an exeeptionally low tide, for than all the polyps 
cloxe, avd the gorgeous colons largely disappear. But dive 
ito The Jagoon when the reel is covered, and the waudinoss 
igcatnuaing, Clashing colours om every sice-tiiake the scene 
appear as a taken from sone extravaganza, amd the specious 
heanty is a thing never likely to be forgotten. Although the 
natin part at the creat will be of all one type of eoral, such 
dix the niagsive Farthes, or the atag- horn Aleropom and 
Pocillapora, the holes ave a shelter for the muonerous move 
deheate forms, and gronped toxether one way see small knobs 
of Mavin, Calloceris, and Ieandrina, in, the shullawer parts; 
niet. a little further dowatl. the delicate stag-horn, Seniutepord, 
the carnation voral, Buplayltia, and such others as Crake, 
Hiydnapara, Parana and Mangia. 


Qn these veefs, too, one finds Becho-de-mer, Uridacnd, te 
wiaat elam, with. the largely undeserved veputibion for 
drawning paople; Diatenia. a setauehin with nendletlike 
spines a foot in length and charyed with a patatul potsouw; 
Cina, a bivalve. which swims actively by Napping the valves 
of the shell together: Deiliiant polyehaete worms with crowns 
of gaudy tentaclos; and the want sea-ancmang, Discosanu, 
whieh attains a diameter of 15 inehes, and shelters ingnr 
smalley animals as Commensals within its coelenteron, 


The crabs in the veel region inelude three gregarious 
types, which are of interest, The first, dyctiris (ongicarpus, 
has a. elose velutive to be found im Jarge numbers round hont 
Blnek Rock, Port Philip Bay, where an arty of some hun- 
dreds dig. into the sand whe distavbed, inarking 
theit veshne places with typical rosettes, The avmies 
in the North ave sinilar, bat many thousauds stroug, aud 
thei progress oan he heard from & considerable distance 


Brey Along the Quecnsiand Coast 68 


sonnding Lke the loud rustle of leaves in a wind. Then 
there js Scoprmera taiflatu, the Sand-babbler Crab, which 
feeds on the organic particles adherent on the sand grains 
left by a reeeding tide. All the used sand is rolled up by the 
thela junto Little spherical pellets, which are cast awe iy 
radittine lines route the barrow fur a radius of about ten 
Inehes. © Ueu aerionis, the Calling Crab. also is a bur 
vowing form; {he male has the welt chela enormorsly 
developed, so that it hides the whole of the body a& seen, tram 
the front, aad coloured uo brilliant ovanee. A crowd of these 
crabs on the beach resembles a patch of orange beans, and 
a chanee movement on the part of the observer acts like the 
wave of a magic wand. A thonsand brilliant claws ave bran- 
dished in the airy in a beckoning fashion, . thousand chele 
obiye Hs many loud ‘‘eraeks,’’ and lo, the flat is bare of 
colony, as, with inerechble swiftness, the crabs tamble down 
their hierows, . 


The thousands of Sooty Terns, Sterme fiscati, seen jreeds 
ing oon Oyster Cay have alveady been deserbed under 
‘exhibits’? ina previous “Natovalist” ‘Whe fturrle-hanting 
was mueh the same as that enjoyed by all visitors to the 
Reet; and the Green Ants ate ite {here. These **paper- 
hap?? ants live in bay-like nests, made by fastenine togethoar 
doinhnber of Ipiyves. Neyer have J seen more agressive 
jnacets; a touch af the nest is sufficient to call out the guard, 
Wl steading te veach the intruder. Qoee To had the mis- 
fortune to ran my head into a vest in. the undergrowth, and 
had to disrohe completely in order to rid wyself of the 
vindictive little creatures. Their grip is so tenacious that 
oye inay pull them xsunder before they will release the skin 
vrasped between their mandibles. Gauge have I to remember 
the Neerrikudi name tor this wsect—anan.’? Obviously 
some aboriginal etyisologist, jn early times, had liad my 
expaerienes, and was verbally mspired, 


The Editor agai appeals to members to contribute nature 
notes suitable for the Wield and Study Section of the 
Vaturalist. These paves, he has been assured, are popular, 
but more variety would be weleame, Paragraphs reeording 
personal observations: ave most desired. 


264 Wiitiamsox. Victorian Ferns. Ades 


HOUPPOVTTTCTT DMNA NTP netTenan ttre oertitereecrspevaensiaeds jyuabeaaayp i rt pe ecany dd peepelabdsgrerertupyrreseaaeebberpaypperegayyecers yyy 


VICTORIAN FERNS 


By Uf B. Winnuausox, P68. 


PUPTONUOTUATOPROOTOCEAUCOPHCTOROCTI EN OATCORA TIC PRUCTOUATLAMGLIUAN IEE CEE re OOeTCon danse Ad TOA TET ROT Acne eens teat ta RN Pete Lee renee tenant an ae 


OE Cd 
econ eD UMA reH Teen Ire Erte 


Pare IIT. 
Family MARSILTACH As. 


Ti this family frauds spring, as ut miany ferns, from a 
rhizome, wane are volled inward at the top (circinate) when 
young; aud, like some ferns, Marsilia produces stevile ard fev- 
tile fronds. the latter being developed trom the lamina. of the 
frond, whieh is recurved and elosed to form oa wtricle ov 
invaluere (offen called a sporocarrp), enclosing the spore 
eases whieh ave of two kinds, and are attached as sori te 
the wnderside (iisicde) of the artriele, 


Genus MARSA. 


The name of the genus is from the latinised forme (Mar- 
silius) of the vine of an Italian naturalist Maysi¢h, ; 
— Ta variots species the name ‘‘Nardoo’’ has been 
applied, and sporocurps bave been usecl among the hhacks as 
fuod. Burke and Wills tried to sustam their lives by the 
aid of Nuvdoo, A. Brann in 1870 indicated as aiany ag 1+ 
distinet species, many of whieh were meluded by Mueller 
under the name HW. quedrifolin, L, Benthant and other 
hotauists have failed to appreciate Brannu’s distinctions, aud 
it is prolable that only half-a-dozen Australian species 
at most can he sustamed, The Victorian forms seem to le 
within the limits of the descriptions of the two follawing 
species, 

Marainta preaMospu, A. Bia Nardoo (Big. 1). This 
grows in femporardy inundated depressions; sometinies itt 
water six or cieht inches deep, with its pretty reddish-green 
sterile fronds floating on the surtace. These frouds consist 
eich of four -seainents, reminding oue of elover leaves. [1 
drier clay flats the fronds are tnuch shorter, and the seg- 
ments sometimes only a quarter of the size indieated, and 
often very hairy and Tobed ov erevated (Tig. IL). ‘When 
one looks at fhe extreme forms they eau seaveely be aceepted 
as the same species. but when one tries to separate the com- 
plete chain of intermediates one ean realise the diffieulty 


Mare, f — Wiiiauson, Vietortan Poms 265 
1926 


IV MARSILIACES: ¥-VI1 OPHIOGLOSSACE-® 


O88 WIntiassox. Vintoriian Merk Present 


whieh exused Mueller to Tump them as toring of AL. quadrr- 
folia, La, the distribution of whieh is given in ibe poole 
Consus, TSS9, as all States of Australia, und As. AP. aud 
bhaivape, ; 

M. ninsces, RBy, (Rig, TTD). Shovt-frait Nardoo. hiv 
is a form with the sporocarps sessile or nedrly so, otherwise 
seareely to be distinyuished from the preceding species, The 
regional) distribution recuaires investigation, as it was for- 
merly pliced as a form of IL. quadiifolia. We have speci- 
mens from the North-west and from Geelong district. 

Geuus Priianta, 


This genus diifers from, Marsilia in having the sterile 
fronds filiform instead of beng, expanded inta Hat leaflets, 

eae LARLA NOV: aur Lannie, A. Brann, Pillwort) WA. 
S.A., Tas. NSW), EL, As, Af. NLA, (Fig, 1%), This plant, 
owing to its small sn is rarely gathered. [tx rhizome ereeypy 
under water, and it has thread-lke stele fronds about hatf 
an inch Jong. Uts fertile fronds are the pill-like sporocarps 
about one-tenth of an ineh in ditimeien on shart stalks, Tt 
indy De looked for on the muddy beds of devine water-holes 
in, the N.W.. SAW. and 8. of our State. 

Fanily OPHTOGLOSSAC KEAN, 

The plants of this family have not their vounye trouds 
viveinate as in other fanrilies of ferns, and their spore-cases 
wre eompuratively Jaree, and ave set in two rows on dhe 
simple or branched fertile fronds, 

Genus OviptodrosstiM. 

Oro nossou. comacnua, A. Cun. Acder's tongue. 
(Mig. VIT). Very widespread through the world, 

This curious little fern does not favour fern gullies, but 
may be found im damp eliay paddocks in carly spring jn all 
distiiets of the State. The author has gathered it ou the 
alluvial flats af the Murray at Mildura in patches of elay 
showing little grass or other vegetation. A barren lanceo- 
late frond an inch or two long and half-at-inch broad, of 
vather thick fexture, anc a linear fertile froncl bearing two 
rows of spore cases, spring from the single stem. The latter 
has a fancied resemblanee to a sviake’s tonene, 

Genus BorrycHium,. 

This genus cliffers from the last-named by» having its’ 
fronds maeh divided Inta scements,, and is wamed tran the 
Greek botrys, a cluster of grapes, veferring to the arrange- 
ment, of the spore eases. 


tbe Witetamsos. Vitorion Penny 267 
weer LEN ARIA (Li) ) Sw. Moonwort, Tas.. NS AW. 
m, As. Af. (tiv V). This, the * yeoman? of the oht 
rea is yare in Vietotia, having apparently been wathered 
ouly by Aftueller, Cobunera (Bright to Omeo), “Snowy 
Plains. on _the Ovens, Goulbum, Cabos: and Mitts Mitta 
Rivers,?* Spore cases ave pr odnced on a branched frond 3 
to 5 mohien long, and its barren frond has semiscivewlar seg- 

ments (moon shape) pinnately arranyed. 

B, sTyrave, RBe. Aleadow Moonwort, Tas, V.. NSW. 
)., As. Am, NOZ. Gig. VL). his tern has been recoreded 
from all districts of the State except the north-west, thonel 
it has heen frequently overlooked. Ma. -¥F. G. A. Barnarel has 
in onltivation aw specimen, ‘Bathéred at Oakleigh, ji’ pulse 
1892; it has been exhibited at severu! meetings of the Cloh, 
Mr. FL Piteher reported the species from Lima Enst, in 125. 
aud Dr. Heber Green found it at Mooroolbark recantly, It ts 
rammon on the western side of the Snowy River mouth. 

lis barren fronds are feralike, divided dite three priv. 
Pioae, whieh are again piinate with segments cdeintienlite. 
The yoins ave almost conceded in the thick texture of the 
fronds. The fertile tronds are mich branched, the branches 
Hesse hinee apore vases sessile dy two awe, 


Ih the course of eXeayalion ata briekyard ia the village 
of Predmont. some 100 miles north-oast of Vienna, a remark- 
alig discovery was made, At a depth of 14 feet, in a bed of 
Janes, formed of the debris from ghiciation of a lime-stone 
out-crop nearby, Professor D. K. Absolon, of Prague Uni 
versity, curator of the museum at Brinn, found a tom) cone 
taining 20 humint skeletons. One wall of the tomb is com- 
posed entively of the shaulder-bones of mammoth elephants, 
showme that these prehistoric people were ‘imyghty hunters. "* 
Professor Arthny Weith, i an article in the London ‘Daily 
News." of Oetuber 31, 1925, deseribes this aheient. hinting 
station as the most vemarkable and extensive known, Fron 
the skill measurements, Professor Keith states, the men 
belonged to the Auragnacian poriod. which datos back at 
leust 15,000 years. The tomb was covered by av heavy layer 
of stones 16 inches thick, evidently to proteer (he pemains 
from hyenas and wolves. How did man, in those remote 
days, with hig ide stone weapons, imanave, contend with. 
and kill the mammoth elephants in such numbers as this 
ton betolwos JAA WAN, 


Vict. Nat, 


208 Lenpare, Three Viclorian Species of Ophicaridehes ene 


COSOUPTUALRANADAADH AAAS DLCO ANU AAPSODa PPA NAN EADSEDA DEP EEPODYAINERESES DAE ELILECI AFI RAARIASSUNESOSORDANTLOOPDURE NOR DAEROFOT OOP ON ERH ETO pS. 


THREE VICTORIAN SPECIES OF 
OPHICARDELUS (CLASS MOLLUSCA) 


By Tom Teepane." 


Db LepLeD DADO ARUN y CHL ED Edad Cade. 


“CenapedCertary eked berate vaedecerstey rekeater yyy eceaten ay pecan ere yy rdatare hy ee Ateba ayy ceed tPA TCU EA PH ANCA pHa APT HEEENNTCAE 


1 


Twenty vears aga Me, J. WH. Gatliff published m= this 
journal a Catalogne of Vietorian Estuarine Univalve Mol- 
tusea’’ (Vol, NAT. pp. 15-16, 1905). and TL eannot tind that 
much has been added thereto gine Twelve species were 
listed, and under the genus name, Oglicardelus, one species, 
OD. dustraiis, Qaoy and Gainare, only appears. As localities. 
at that time known-—Back Beach. Williamstown, Port Phil 
lip. and Hastings. Western Port—only are eited, probably 
many others ave now know. 

At Lakes Entrance, Vietoria, Roy Bell collected throe 
tlearly distinwuishable species, and fhese were easily identi- 
fied at the British Museum as O. stulechburye, O. quoyd and 
O, eraatus, Hedley, in his Check List of New South Wales 
Matine Mollusea, included the Estuarine forms, and there two 
specics were ranwed under Phyftta arngte and suleata. ' 

At Church Point, Broken Bay, New South Wales. I eol- 
lected three species, determined as ernest, sulcala and quey?. 
Comparison showed that. {he Specimens veferved to as sulcaly 
agreed with those determined as séefehbiryi, aud eonse- 
queutly these nanies ave synowymons. As the latter was 
described from Povt Curtis, Queensland, if extends along the 
east coast from there to Lakes Mutranee. 

Hedley was of the opinion that quayi lad been 
erroneously-recorded from Port Jackson, and that it occurred 
in New Zealand. While it is common. here, the New Zealand 
shell varies, and lus a name already, cestellaris, Avain 
Movsson’s two species, which Hedley stegested were 
synonymous with ornatis, 1 determine as gioyi. 

Tn order to clarity this matter, T present figures of ile 
three species, with thei names and distribation ~— 


OPpimiGarpents ORNarcS (Mérussac). (Wig. 1,5 
alLnreula ornata, Pérassac. abl. Syst. Anini Moll, p. 198, 
1821: fab. (2) 


aRhy permission qf ihe Tymstecs of the Austratinn Miseum 


aa UEDA ThPee Kietorinn Speeien of Ophicurdenes 269 


Aurteule outa, Gray. Spicilegia Avoluvied, prod, p. oO, pl. 6, 
fie, 21, 1828: -*Sonth Sea Island, Stutehbury.7?  Fra- 
bably Sydney, N.S.W. (Not A. veel, Lan, 2806.) 

Awvicula australis, Quoy and Gainiard.- Voy. Astrol. Zool, 
Vol. 11, p. 169, pl. 18, figs, 34-85, 1832: °° Western Part. 
Vie, and V.1.L.”’ ; 

Ayicula bidens, Potiez, et Michaud. Galerie Mallusques 
Dona, Vol. J, p. 201, pl. xx, fig. 9-10, 1838; ‘ Nonvelle 
HolNande.’’ j 

Cremnobutes curnea, Swainson. Papers Prov. Ruy. Soe.. 
V.D.L., Vol. 111, pt. 7, p. 43, pl vii, tiv. 1, Jaw, 1850; 
near Hobart Town, V.D AL. 


Fig. 1, Fig. 2. ' Mig. 3. 
©. ornatus (Fer) 9. quoyi(H.& A. Ad) O. suleatus (MW, & A, Ad.) 


Ophicurdelus australis, Tate and May. Proc, Linn, Soc, 
N.S.W., 190], p. 419; Tas. 

Ophacardelis australis, Gatlift. Vie. Nat. Vol. NNUY, p. 16, 
May 4, 1905; Vie. 

Ophiacardelus ornelus, Hedley. Proc. Linn. Soe, N.S.W.. 
Vol. XXXVI, p. 334, 1913, 

Phaitia ornate, Wedley. Cheek List Marine Fauna, N.S-W,, 
Moll, M. 95, 1998; NSW. May, Cheek List Moll, 
Tasm., p. 88, 1921; Tasm. IWuste. Index asm. Shells, 
pl, 40, fie, 24, 1923; Tas. 

Wasily recognised by its shape and lack of seulprure; an 
ineised Jine showine below the suhue on the earlier whorls 
only; sheht depression behind the amer hp; outer lip sharp, 
not thickened nor toathed, 

Specimens eximined from New South Wales, Vieterta ate 
Tasmania, 


as 


27) Ingvar, Three Vietorten Species of Optiecerdelics f wie ‘oh, ert tt ; 


OCHICARDELUS Qeoyt, He. and A. Adams, (tig, 2.) 


Ophieardelus quoyi, FH. and A. Adams. Proce. Zool, Soe. 
(Lond.), 1854, Dp. 34, Jan. 10, F855; Moreton Bay, Queens 
land, 


Melumpus tetricus, Morelet. Journ. de Coweh.. Vol NT. 
p. 290, -Takby 1, 1864; * Noavelle Galles de Sad." 

Ophicardelus irreguilaris, Mousson, Journ. de Conch. Vol. 
XViIL, p. O4, ple vw, fig. 2, Fan. i, 1869; ‘lace Pom-Pom, 
pris Wollongong,’’—Tom Thumb Lagoon, neae Wollon- 
gone, New South Wales. 


Ophicardelus mina, Mousson, Journ, de Coneh., Vol. “XVIL 
p. 65, pl. v, fis. 3: same locality. 


Ophicurdelis quart, Hedley, Proce. Link. Soa, N.S.W,, Vol. 
XMAXAVITI, p. 533, pl xix, fig, 87, 1915; N.S IW, 


A shorter, broader shell, showing irvesular zrowtih vidges 
on test whorl, an iueised line below the suture present on all 
the whorls; no perforation, but a depression behind the 
reAectocl 1 inner: lip: the outer lip thickened, and With in indis- 
inet tooth medially internally. 


Specimens exinined from New South W ales wud Victoria. 


OPHICARDELOUS Surcaris, H. and A. Adams. (Big, 3,) 


Onlacardelus (Liinidlonte) sulcata, He and A, Adams. Pine. 
Zool. Soe. (Lond.), 1854, p. 54, Tan. 10, 1855. Hab.: (7?) 
Probably Syduey, N.S. W. 

Melampus (Ophicnrdelus) stutchburyi, Pfeffer. Pree. Zool. 
Soe, (ond.)}, 1856, p. 39%, May 38, L857: Port Cnrtis: 
Queenstand, 

Ophicerdelus sulédatus, Hedley. Proe. Linn. Soe, N.S.W.. 
Vol. NAAVII, p. 383, pl. ix. tig. 86, 1913, 

Ophicardelus stuéch bury, FHedley: Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W.. 
Vol. XXNVII, p. 334, pl. xix, fig. 88, 1913 

Phytin suleata, Heclev. Cheek List Marine Fauna, N.S.W. 
Moll. M. 95, 1918; NSW. : ; 

Strongly sculptured with vevolviny lire: less inarked ou 
the hody whorl: a small perforation persistent behind the 
reflected inner lip. |’ 

Speeciuens examined from ‘Queenslind (Port Curtis) 

New South. Wales and Victoria. 


Mar.,” nO. Bp pe: 72 
1926 Aquatic Insects 272 


AREY HAPLLALEMNCHEU DENVER EN EDPURDMACHPARA AI ARUEDADAPOB EON ERUREPAUARAAUDEGA UG RADARS LUND ALONE UH EUTAUOA OD OAANAO DEA AOTOMEAEO DOR RU DOH OO ES 


AQUATIC INSECTS 


HULL 


DH COPEPED PDEA CE OREO 


BAYS EUREA LALA PAARDHAALAAAANAAOARAPA AMAA RASE 


snewaqenee 


SAPO UUANASOR NEES AU RNAS 


DOO es 


It is surprising that more members of the Clab cdo not 
devole themselves to the study of aquatic inseets. Te ter- 
vestetal forms claim tansy collectors (thonph aot many real 
workers), probably beeause they force themselves amder our 
notice by their briliaucy, or, maybe, their quaintness. Bul 
very few members think of exploring our Jakes. ponds ate 
streams for the wondertul forms that live in water. The 
sindy of aquatic entomology has, in fact, been almost 
entirely neglected by members, and the youny entomologist 
who will devote himself to this branch ofnatural history 1s 
sure of a rich reward. 

The dragonflies have recived some attention Teawt State. 
but more in New South. Wales, as Dr. R. J. Tillyard’s splendid 
monograph on the Odonata shows, Dro Villyavd) dias olse 
studied the ewddisiies, Dat Che other Orders of Taseaty have 
received very little attention. Oeensionally one sees a [ew 
water-beetles in a collection, af asects, but generally they are 
species that fly great distances at night, and ave attracted by 
street. lamps—and so find their way ito the -coleopterist’s 
apbimet, There are many species of water beetles that ave never 
sven out of their native element. Sume of these wre of erent 
interest, others extremely rare; aud they await the enthusiast 
who, armed with. a collecting net and drae-hook, with whieh ro 
bring ap weeds from the bottom, of deep pooly. seta out to 
make bimself famous, perhaps by the discovery of unique 
specimens. 

I admit it is less easy to vear aquatic Taanvix Than ih is ter 
restvial forms, but if the larva are taken when nearly fully 
evown the task Is not so diffiealt, and many imteresting tacts 
anuy be’ vecovded. The life-cycle of some aquatie beetles, 
frou eee fo Imago. sometimes takes several yedrd to wecom- 
plish—a long time to wait: but what valtable dnfomuation 
concerning yw Npecies one would gain, if its Titeevale wore 
worked out! A much quicker way is to place the beetles 
Wan aquanaun——coyered to prevent their escape by tiehim 
wnt wateh carefully wntil the female bas deposited har eyes, 

“Same beetles wttach ther eves by an adhesive tothe under 
aide of leaves of water-plints; others make incisions in the 
ettiele of the stems. where they deposit their cugs, One hire 


Viel Nite 
Volant 


Bye quate TH acces 
Hydrophitus makes a watertight eocoon, in whieh she lye 
her eves, ‘Phis is attached to the under side of a dent, aud Tas 
a ventilating shatt, or tuunel projecting above the water 
Another species, a small, bliek beetle, vesanbline the ter- 
vestrinl “sun beetle’? incappearanee, entries her cays. about 
with hor in alight web attyehing to the potot at tie abdomen. 

Wheto the young lavwe appear theit shape should be voted 
und figured, as they sometimes alter after eedvsis, or moult- 
ine. Wher vou are assured of the general appencanee af 
the larva. neatly adult foriwis way be Galea in ponels, ane 
if these ave placed in the aquariun you may sueececd in 
obtaining the pupa, aud daterethe image, aud sa observe alk 
the changes that take placerdulbihe the life history. 

The smattor beetles are found. weneralby. on watercweedls, 
und these onst be carefully examined. Often the avd of a 
pocket. lens is needed to detect the beetles, as thes eling to the 
weed, Small eureulios are often thus found, Other kinds hide 
wader debris aed stones, or dary themselven in the mud at the 
bottom of the pool, coming to the surfaec at iutervals te 
breathe, ‘Che tip of the abdomen is held just above the sur 
faee-skin of the water, the elytra aaised the mevest fraction. ls 
allow the exchange of exhausted wir for a fresh supply; anel 
the insect dives to the bottom again, Some of these small 
heetles—Pelobius among others-svake we ehieping noise while 
thas onedved, "This chirp’ is made by rasping the tibia over 
the edee of the elytra. Ao simile sound os produeod ly 
Corivcu—one of the water-hugs—and in the same manner. 

The vobeetor with soon heeone tamiliae with the hannts 
and Wabity of aveter-heetles. and with the knowledge thus 
eined will saan have a well-Alled eahinet of specimens, and 
vote-hooks filled with dutails ot life histories, 

Aquittie TLemiptera also are worthy of study; the early 
larval forms of Votonecta and Cortnn make beautifhil objeets 
toy mieroseopical study, especially undew dark ground 
illumination, Their evgsalso ave interesting. Siwall TLyimen- 
optevans insects that use thei wings under water as if they 
were tying—-and they progress tainly rapidly——ave occasion- 
ully. found. Nothing is. known of their lite history, nor of 
their anatomy. One species has a remarkable organ on the 
wines, whieh T believe to be Yespiratery dv character, 1 
have shown this, under the microscope, at Clu mectings. 

There must be large numbers of midges and other fiies 
still tndeserihed: their aquatie larvae ave very beautiful, 


Mar. 7 
1926 


“wen 


Aquatic Insects ; ood 


and have remarkable structures. J was fortunate enough, 
on a Club excursion to Nyora, to be able to yeeord as new 
for Australasia one genus, Muclonia. Other members of the 
vyoup, Corethra, Chironomus, Cerutopogon, Tanypus, and 
many others, ave to be found—-sometimes in great mumbers 
—in their larval staves in our ponds, and only aryait des- 
eriplion— a. SRARLE. 


THE HOME AQUARIUM. 


Aqguitia have long been popular with vw small number of 
nature loyens, mostly resideats,of Adelaide and Sydney, bn 
both these cities Aquaria Clhabs.exist, and the miterest i the 


hobby is steadily inereasing. Should Melbourne lag behind | 


her sister capitis? When in Sydney recently J went ty 
Farmer's to view the famous “‘Fish Alley.’ It has 
become an institution, a delight te both adults and children: 
while several dndreds of tanks, 1 believe, have been pur: 
vhased by citizens. . 

Mh. H.. Winekh. the vetemn aqnarist, kindly showed nt 
Ins wonderful private collection of fishes, amphibians ai! 
implatie plants, that thrive in amany glass-tanks and gardin 
ponds at his home, Raglan Street, Mosman. He has a long 
record of success, and his enthusiasm for aquana bas never 
waned, ‘The frows and newts, and many of the lovely little 
fishes that he cherishes, are tame almost as the pet parrots and 
pigeous and kookaburrvas of the yard and garden. Lt was sure 
prishig to see two of the quaint Jdumping-fshas, Pertuphtlat 
mens, tlimb, with their fins, on to a flake of rock in the tank, 
and take food from their owner’s fingers. (Often in North 
Queenslynd lave J vainly tried to capture specimens of these 
Ghusive Tittle fishes among mangrove roots.) ; 

Wo have, in Anstvaba, some freshwater fishes, suitable tov 
the home agwrium,- and desirable foreien species are Ubtait- 
able, sume-at-small cost; though. others are expensive. Ff one 
commences an the yieht Imes, and continues tu follow them. 
any aquarnim, J was assured, will be w conitwal source of 
instruction and-pleasure. [bf is wrong: te keap fishes in at 
how]—they require a properly-constructed tank, ov a pord, 
stocked with plants that have proved to be the best for 
aquaria. The plants themselves are beautitul and interesting - 
andl Mav Teingk has cultivated some remarkable species that. 
are too Jittle Kiown in. Australia —C. Barre, 


bd 


rye \ ants r ; Viot. Nat. 
27 Noles fram Buetd nad slinky whe UIE 


NOLES Fee nes, di 


SS 


THE MANDALOTES W REVITS. 


Among the largest wonera of the family Curenlionide, 
Which compiises all those beetles known. ag weevils. is 
Mawmdolotus, Al the species are small, and all ave of dingy 
uppearuiee. but they are volable for wonderful vaiiehy on 
SHehie 


Mendnlotus occurs in all parts of Australia and ‘Cas- 
Moniv, and om many of the adjacent islands, Dut possibly 
nowhere are these beetles move plentiful than in Victoria. 
The majority of species are covered with a seale-like sub. 
stanee more ov less interspersed with short seta, but there 
uve a tew that are quite smooth and shining, One qtr 
lieularly fine species ‘has its lime lees covered with a vers 
long pale pubéscenee. For some years T have paid mueh 
attention to this interesting geius, und have a fine collection 
of apecimeng, Although so many speeies had boo previously 
deseribed, nearly all 1 secured proved ta be new to scteree. 


Miendidotus may be sought for with most success in moss 
and #raas-tussoeks, but leat. debvis also often provides a rich 
havVvest. Jn tuet, aecording to Mr. A, M, Lea, who has vecontly 
completed revision of the genus, the finest species of all 
Was one - obtained by sieving leaf debris tron’ beneath a 
tree-fern growing in the ranges above Millgrove. = It 1s 
vemarkable on account of the curious armatnees of its Hine 
tibia. ‘Two species, crudus, Urich, and ventralis, Blaeleh.. 
occur rather frequently aning the vools of Marram grass 
on the sea beaches at Lorne. Another vather plentiful species 
is arnevartus, Lea, which may be obtained fron. mois at 
Ferntree Gully. Our Editor, at my request, brought some 
grage-tussoeks from, the summit of Mount Feathertop, frou 
whieh T seenved several examples of decipiens, Lies, te 
smooth, black, shining speeies. This beetle evidently is a 


pa 
LAG 


Natey from Wielt and Study 295 
lover of high places, us the only previeus records of halyttal 
are Mounts Baldy and Hiotham. One species, Cromfordi, 
named by Canon Blackburn, is credited with ‘doing congider- 
abla damage to growing cer tal erops in the Mannan distriet 
of South. Australia, As far as ] am aware this is the only 
black mark recorded against any member of the genus. _ 
One of the largest species is posticulis, Lea, which T have 
taken oceasiowally in moss at Belyrave. It is a dumpy beetle 
with a somewhut mottled clothing, and, Jike most of its 
brethren, very lethargic jir its iovenients. In fact, this 
latter characteristic leads to many specimens of Marneado tis 


being frequently overlooked, even by experienced collectors 
—F, 1. Wison. - yh a 


AUSTRAIJAN REPTILES AND AMPHTBEANS. 

A Cheek’ List of the snakes of Australia is beiny prepared 
for publication by Mr. J. R. Minghorm, CALZ3S., of the Aus 
tralia Museum, Svduev, who, diving the past few yoans, ius 
done nich to iercase knowledge of ony reptilian fan. 
About 170 species of Australian situkes have heen dese vibed. 
and at is probable that more will be distovered, but mot nun. 
siiee the Order, as represented in this country, is fairly well 
known. The latest novelty is a sea snake from Northen 
Australia, and Mr, Kinghorn’s ceseription of i will be pub- 
lished shortly in the Proceedings of the Zoolovical Socieny, 
London. Jts appearance is almeast repulaive ; thoriy seales 
project from above the eyes. 


Durme a recent visit to the Australian Museuin J eleaned 
some facts concerning that istitutiou’s dine colluction of rep. 
tiles and amphibiaus. Each of from 9,000 to 10,000 voyixtra- 
violls is carefully noted on a catalogue cava. The specimens 
on the shelves are du lettered: divisions; each shelf ti-dwen 
beating an ides letter, and uach tier of shelves beiug lettered: 
The eatds ave arranged systematically, and an index of 
svenerie nanes tells one where to look, c.g. the Black Snake 
Pseudechis, Both cards and specimens -will be found in 
division B, 7, A. 13 equals bateh of shelves; J. the shelf; A, 
first division. ‘Such an arvangement means that any speei 
mon presented, fram. the earliest dawvs of the Musgeunt until 
today, providing it lags not been destroyed or sent wway, Gan 
he found jn a few seeonds. 

There ave some 80,000 bottles, eaeh containing an aver 
of, suv, six specimens, in the * ‘Spirit Flouse''; that is, reptiles, 


~ 296 " Notes from Pietd and Study vie: i 


fishes, erustacem and other groups, and each proup is arranged 
and catalogued in the same manner; a work whieh took nearly 
12 years to complete, The veptile collection vontains many 
valuable and unique forms, as well as many which are vet to 
be examined, with the possibility of now species ar varieties. 


At the present tine Mr. Kinghorn is working on a mono 
vrupl of the reptiles and amphibians of the Solomon Lsalinds. 
-—0. Barrierr. 


A PAMITLIAR, PROG. 


Widely distrilmted over the southern portion of Aus- 
tilia, the Brown Mroglet, Critia siqnifera, is one of The most 
fumiliae amphibians around Melbourne. IL have found 
scores of Specimens under stones and logs, and always in 
damp places, Leas and Le Souef desarihe this Cystignathia 
frag as un “‘aetive litthe creature’? (‘‘ Animals of <Ana- 
trahia,’’ p. 275), but it is easily captured, and often has 
indolent moods. T met with if in January last at an altitude 
of 5000 feet on Barrington Tops (Mount Royal Range), 
NAW. One example was found hidiue under a lage on cry 
ground, ucurkly a mile feom water, In a eylly of the low. 
lands, where a creek flows in good scason, but parehed now, 
another Brown Froglet was discovered amony stones and 
withored ferns. Tt was tidine over a dry xpell. not. too 
happily, heine im poor condition and inaetive—C.B, 


Mr. ugh Watson, of Cambridge, England, who has been 
shying the anatomy of several species of land molluscs 
ftom Vietoria, makes the tollowing conmments ii a reeent 
letter: —The radula of Sucetred australis, Fér, is of a fao'ly 
usual type; but the jaw is very characteristie with ao, dorsal 
plate such us is found owy in the Suecineider, and in those 
strange shlags—the Atheracapharide. Like most carnivers 
ons snails, Rhoylida ruga, Cox, has wo jaws but the long 
narrow raduala, with very lavge pointed teeth, is perhaps even 
4 little move .highly specialised than that af Paryphanta 
atrvamentaria— VO. Watson hus kindly sent me a mounted 
‘mdula of each of the species mentioned. That of Wi ruge 
is a beautiful object for the mieroseope—C. Barrer, 


» 


Corrigendias.—Naterallat, Jan 8, L686, p. 214, ‘line 41 from bottom: Tor 
“engiyphoides,” read “englyphoides,” Feb, 4, 126. p. 238, line TX from 
battam; For “Chai, read “Chert.* . 


Che Victorian Naturalist 


Vou. XLU—No, 12 APRIL 9, 1926 No, 508 


FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB OF VICTORIA, 


The ordinary monthly meeting of the Club was held in 
the Royal Society's Hall, Victoria. Street, on Monday even- 
ing, March 8, 1926. The President, Mr. Geo. Coghill, occupied 
the chair, and about, 50 membeérs and friends were present. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


From Hon Sec., A.A.A.S., giving information regarding 
the next. meeting of the Association, to be held in Perth, 
commencing on August 23, 1926, and inviting this Clab to 
appoint representatives to the General Couneil, On the 
motion of Messrs. F. G. A. Barnard and F. Piteher, Messrs. 
Coghill, ©, Daley and J. A. Kershaw were appointed. 


REPORTS. 


Reports of excursions were given as follows :—Botanic 
Gardens, Mr. C. Oke; Black Roek, Miss J. Raff, M.Sc.; 
Frankston, Mr. A. LU, Seott. 

Mr. Harvey moved that a vote of thanks be accorded to 
the Committee for having entertained members at the Botanie 
Gardens. Seconded by Mx. Pitcher, and carried, 


GENERAL, 


The President drew attention to some very fine plates 
depicting the Forest Flora of South Australia, which Miss 
Hart had presented to the Club, and moved that a vote of 
thanks be accorded her. Seconded by Mr. LB. B. Pescott, and 
carried. 

; PAPERS. 
_ 1, “Additional Microzoa from the Red Limestone of 
Grangeburn, near Hamilton, Vie.,’’ by Mr. W. J. Parr. 

In the absence of the author, this paper was read by Mr. 
Chapman, who gave a brief description of the country around 
the fossil deposit near Hamilton, and referred to the more 
interesting parts of the paper. 

2. ‘‘Two Entomologists in the Mallee,’? by Mr. C. Oke. 

The author gave some account of a holiday spent in the 
Mallee, and referred to many interesting insects which he had 
found there, notably species found living in the nests of 
ants. 


278 Meld Naturatiasis’ Chretd—Proccedinge [vai ssyat 


» Messrs, Coghill and Fy Bo Williamson and Dr. C. 8. 
Sutton took part in a diseussion following the reading of 
this. paper, 


NAIA BIN TORY NOPE. 


Mr, Daley read a note on a very common garden spider, 
which he had tound sitting ou its-cee capsules in his garden, 
He wondered whether the spider was helpiug to incubate the 
eves, My. Oke Said that the species was known as the Birds’- 
droppiug Spider, Selena excevata, and was not assisting the 
inenhation ot its eggs. but was, like Mr. Micawher, waiting 
for “‘something to tum, up.' 


4 ENELLBITS. 


Vor. BL G. A. Barnard: Botrychiwn mtstrale, Meadow 
Mooiwort. Collected at Oakleigh, about 1888. © First 
exhibited ata meeting of the Chib in July. 1892. Now show- 
ing new ere four weeks old, 

My. J. AL Kershaw: Cermnodaclylus danacus, Luc. and 
Frost, from. ‘hea Clitts. A lizard new to Vietoria, previously 
recorded trom Central Australia. 

Mr C. Oke: Case of Coleoptera, from North-western 
prion: - 

Mr. E. EL Peseott, W.L.S.: Aboriginal basalt axe, recently 
collerted! in the Western District, Vic, made fro2 limestone 
“flint.’’ showing {wo grooves for hafting; three “knives'' 
or serapers, Tron. the same loeality, showing secondary edve- 
ehipping. 

Mr, A. tL. Scott: Hand specimen, of pink granite Frou Mt. 
Buffalo, Vie. Also micro slide of Mt. Buffalo granite, 

Nove—Under a low power, using polarized ligt. it ts 
revealed that the apparently simple rock, granite, is really 
a very complex structure, Using a higher power, it ix sun 
that, when the quits, the last to solidify, became solid. 7 
entangled m itself, in the form of innomerablesmall babbles, 
the eases that had not been able to eseape. or to enter into, 
chemical combination to form minerals. The degradation of 
the felspar into kaolin is also shown. In the hand specimen 
the felspar is identified by its regular ontline and its pmk 
colour. The quarts, owing to its “transparency, is best secu 
near the edge. 


CORKRIGENGBA.—In Repori of fxcursian ta Mornivston,  “Natanwtist'! 
March. 1928, p, 254. *‘Fhuine Humen (A. clenyas)) sheule rend: “Showy 
vansimin €C. spertabilis),~ 


ysl Kk, Teo Hrtoheoloyists iW the Wullee 274 
wou. 


Sunveaerenenenedarn(anerannend edn mena Dhl bac eet OPOP PUTA NEC EOE DDFDATHOOED DA DAA wantn ee remmbebedd PRERUEEIITERE 


‘ 


Sevepwwnereetareens 


TWO ENTOMOLOGISTS IN THE 
MALLEE, 
By C, Otcr. 


‘ 
DELETE WACEEAEORNACERDUDD TCC EU DTEANAH ATE DOPEDNH OE ROREDD RAH CT DAP ORPONDRANTCEOODDDDNACR PATTER PAMECHTONDRDAACHRAA HTD RRN HEAT AO REDD RAN GAY: 


AAARA DERE ADA RY 
sTTNPMOT TIDE DONTE Roe eda) 


— 


(Read before the Field Naturalists? Club of Victoria, 
Mirch 8, 19236) 


My friend, Mr. J. HW. Dixon, had often told te about: 
the thick Mallee scrub along the raihyay line between Gyp- 
sui Siding wid Bronzewing, whieh he had noted as very 
promising beotle-eountry, while retuming from his mamer- 
ous visits to Luke Tattal. Soe, when he asked ime tu visit 
Gypsum for a week or two T way very pleased to ae@eompary 
hin 

Leaving Melbourne by the 6.906 pom. Mildura drain on 
October ul, L924, we arived at (avpsum (274 awiles) about 
Aootchoek next morving, Phere is no station at Gypsum, 
merely a siding for the loading of eypsum, or kopi, whieh 
occurs freely in fhe veighhbourheod, On the ware occasions 
When a dady passenger wishes to alight Erom the teal, a short 
ladder is produced, but aman has to dvop off as best he ean. 

It was still too dark for us to seo our way about, so. we 
sab on our packs and waited—not long—for daylight. What 
ho pavadise was revealed at daavn, AD around was a dense 
yrowth of Mallec and shrubs, including the serubby Mallee 
Pine, Hakea, Greville (3 sps. ), Acacia, Cassia, and, in parts, 
patches of Culylria tatrayonu, whieh was blooming to ‘per- 
fection, Bushes with dark-pink and pure white flowers were 
vrowing aide by side, and, iy plaees, intertwined so that 7: 
seenied impossible that, any constituent of the soil had helped 
tn prodnee the coloar oF the iilossonis, Though, where grow- 
ingoon the white sandy ridvesx, most of the plants had white 
flowers, an occasional plant ving deep pink flowers was 
met with ever there, . . 

We strolled alone the raibvay line, then followed a, foot- 
track into Tw sernb. We soon eame peross some Lentosper- 
mewn wn flower, and conmmeneed to look for beetles. Me first 
species to be take was Shigmadera eldui, and soon atter- 
wands S. elwngulida and S. vith were found. A strony 
swell was traced to it source—a lone-derd fox—which was 
turned over with a stick, Undaneath were two species of 
Caumion-sehaters, “row aavirulasia and 1". velutinus, and a 
pie of that weeping lover of bad smells, Piomuphala lachry- 
mosa: Lis tears’! ave anore evident than those of the eroco- 
dile, being Tittle, black, vaised spots on the ‘reddish wings, 
whieh bear a somewhat funeiful resemblanee to tears. 1 had 


280) Oke. Two Natvmotveiaty in the Mallee b Sacha 


thought to get some Staphs. on this carrion, but Pailed to 
find a sign of them 


Not. far from the fox I noticed some ants running across 
the track, and, as they looked familiar, I picked up one, and 
ut onee recognised it hy its sweet odgur as Tridomeyr nis 
witidus. By following the ants the nest was soon disenvered 
it some sticks and a stump. Lacking a tomahawk, I had to 
be content with a look around the sticks. However, J was 
forttinate |i finding a nice little Staphylinid, Dabia nitida, 
Lea, This jnseet, although it closely resembles the other 
species of Pubia, can hardly remain in that genus, as vharac- 
fevised by ONL, as none of jts antennal joints are trans: 
verse. As it wag impossible to break open the sticks, the 
direction of the nest was. marked on the track with the 
intention of working it another time. Unfortunately, this 
was nol done, so its treasures remained ungathered. 


As accommodation is not procurable al Gypsum, we had 
brought a tent. A camp site opposite the 274-mile post was 
selected. This we thought. to be the best. spot, as it was hear 
the ‘‘station,’’ aud right in the serub and collecting ground, 
but-we had to walk a mile for a billy of water. Still, to camp 
at the ‘‘tank’’ meant to be on cleared paddocks. ithe draw- 
back in being so far from water was the luteuess of morning 
and evening meals, the midday *‘sneck’’ being daten m the 
serub, without a-dyink, Of course, a couple of miles” straight 
walking + ig not far, but we persistently took “short eute’’ 
through the Mallee, Here the temptations to delay were 
innumerable, and the going was very slow. As a matter of 
tack, same of the best beetles of the trip were taken while we 
were ““iunning the billy.’’ Perhaps the finest species taken 
at Gypsum was Carentdium superbum, Cast. This isa large 
black Carab, an dieh aud a quarter in length, with a decided 
waist, and jiaving beautiful purple reflections on the upper 
surface, amid er eenish around the margins. I caught this beetle 
While returning with the morning supply of water, and, im the 
excitement of the chase, wpset the tilly, and had to reburn to 
refill it—ahout three-quarters ofa mile. We had a late break- 
fast that morning! Another fine Carab, found on the way to 
the tank, was. Carenwm wnttater. SL. This insect is about an 
inch in length, black, with pronatum and elytra green. Yet 
aiother species, found under a Mallee-root, was a pretly 
colour variety of Caren anthricintin,, Macl. This specnnen 
was blavk, the elytra with violet and bronze reflections, and a 
Narrow green margin, 

On the secand evening, while going for water, I tarred 
over a plete of wood, and, seeing that it covered a pest nf 


Apral \ Ox, Two Entomolovists i the Monee 23) 


lridamyrmon rufoniger, an ant that is the ““host'’ of many 
“‘ enests,’? 1 searched carefully all around the nest, Very son 
L found a small guest Later 1 had the pleasure of secing a 
second specimen in one nf the little connels ot the yest; it had 
apparently been hiding under somes rubbish in the nest, and 
was now making its way uiderground. ‘Lhese beetles proved 
to be the greatest treasures of the tiip, They belong to the 
family Pselaphidse, but are very distinct from any species 
known to me in nature or deseription. [ have named the species 
Meulleecola myrnecophila (M.S,)—the ant-loving dweller of 
the Matlee. 1t is about 24 mm in length, and of a pale castane- 
ous colony, The head has a number of carme, or raised ridges. 
whieh divide it into distinet sreolets. There is 2 wedge-shaped 
projection through the hind margin of the eye, the latter 
being unusually prominent, The antenna: are eleven-jointed, 
but the ninth joint, though wide, is so thin, aud elosely applied 
to the tenth, that it might easily be overlooked. The prothorax 
has three longitudinal caring and peeuliar wing-like flaiges 
on the sides, “he lees are also very unusual for a Prelaphid, 
being flattened sideways and angular, somewhat as in the 
Histerid genux, CAlamydopsis. 

While I was geiting these new beetles Mr. Dixon found 
another nest of Indomyrmnex under av old bay, and in this 
several specimens of Peussoptinus laticornis, Lea, were froma. 
This species has, T believe, only been recorded us an ingniline 
of Iridomyrmex nitidus, arcant with which T have wat found 
it associated ; but we found it here (and also at Beudigo) with 
two other species of that genus, viz, 7, rufoniger and 7, gre- 
vitts, Mr. A. M. Lea considers this to be the finest species 
of Ptinidie in Australis, and I agree with him. Lt is a 
beautiful little beetle. especially when alive, wid manning 
wround, wavihg its wide, but flattened, antenne from side to 
side, or np and down. Tt would be tiresome to give the details 
of each day's work. I say work, for, beleve me, we wurked, 
Vhis was tio loafing holiday, but a contmmued hunt for hectles, 

The camp was situated on a dull-ved, sandy fiat, through 
which shallow trenches had been dug in all directions, m the 
search for “‘Itopi,'’ which ts whitish, and oecurs in “‘pockets’' 
all aver the flat, Gypsom erystala oveur in sinall patelies, 
hob not very freely. Jn all directions sund ridges are seen, 
some large, others small, A series of ridges, about half a mile 
on the Brownzewing side, seemed to us te be partiealarly 
inviting, and here we spent many delightful hours. 

The vegetation arcund the camp vonsisted of two spevies 
of Mallee, hundreds of very sinall Murray Pines, with an 
Nnecasional Large one, ‘©Pyrpentine tush,’’ Hakea, Grevillea, 


BBS Oink, Tred Raloniotagiety in bie Meatice yea 


Acueii, and that abomination of the Mallee country— 
Porcupine Grass, ‘This last isca vonbiiual source of ‘Annoy- 
mee whet ore is collecting, and makes the weartng of log- 
gings almost a necessity, Several tines, when chasing flying 
insects, LT cuine in violent contact with chumps of Titeden, 
some of the points piereing my legs, These potits stip off— 
pieces wbont one-eighth of an iieh i leneth—and ease nita- 
tion of the skin; when fresh, they ave rather diffienlt to 
ramove, ‘The bust plate is to'leave them for y few hours, whet 
the flush about them bevins to fester, They are then easily 
pressed out betwoen finwer and thamb, and thu Koves hil as 
quickly as they developed. 

here wosea Tain amouat of animal life on dhe (hit) though 
if consisted mostly of smull inseat forms, ants (iv particular) 
and spiders predominating. ‘The exeentiony ii. sige were 
Hints  Seyertl were seen, sometiues fegethar, sometinies 
sulfites  "Twiee Tosaw a bird, probably the sarae ong, with 
ehirke. A pan of Butcher. Livalss, Craetious (angie. lial 
Hhetr nest within a dozen paces of Mae station’ camp, he 
cing birdy were able to fly fairly well, but were just lewn- 
Hue che wer of wihtattine, and very amusing they were tn their 
altenpts te imilate theiv parents; breaking off ty the middle 
of eall, ane looking aroniucdl ina Startled way, as though 
afraid ef thot own temerity. ‘we oor three of them were 
offen sO be seen daa aver Pine tee, having choral praeviee, 
mick apparently chiding one another on their voeal powers 
Two specits of Wren-warbler, not found in the Melbourne dis- 
(er, were to be seat flitting ainonge the serub, hut more otter 
around the Calytrc: telragaua; they were the Black-backed, 
Mealurus melanonoins, and the Purvple-backed, AZ, igstinitles- 
The former. a beautiful study in blue wel bliek, was as con- 
fiding as ifs congener, A, ci/iatens, whieh ts so plentiful ie 
xotne places near Melbourne. The Purplo-backed Wret- 
warbler, which iy go casily (listinguishedt by the veddish patel 
on the body around the whigs, appears to be very shy’. wnd 
takes fight on the slightest movement wear it. 


Spiders. as 1 have already suid, were wemerois, and trap- 
doors were plontifal all over the flat. Bat ouéarly all of them 
were owned hy Wolf-spiders—Lyeosidec. In fact. 1 suceeaticd 
in finding only one belonging to ane ef the trae Triip-door 
Spiders—Avieularidie—and this was quite samt Pheve are 
tive spceies ot Lacosidee inhabiting trap-door posts hore, One 
is of & dingy grey-brown eolonr, the other appears (the 
appeavanco is entitaly due to the hairs with whieh it is 
clothed) to be a pretty, silvery-grev. with distinet Dlick 
stripes. ‘THe latter is the more. connon of fle tivo. “Tt 1s 


Aye |: Oke, Tite Maedomologists in thas Wetlee S33 


anusing to walk qutethy around, keeping a sharp look-out for 
insdets on the graund, and see the lids being: pulled dowar by 
the spiders inside, or, again, just to catch a sense of movement 
ita eertiin spot, and rush forward expecting to see sonve insect, 
and find—nothing! And very eavelul scrutiny of {ho spot, as 
a rule, is needed to loeate the door, Vt is Sorp lining how 
quickly these spiders race across the ground, jump inho, their 
holes, and close the doors bebinel thew, To what jutse is this 
raviivkabla diabit attributable? Tf -it is really a habit 
developed front the blind instinet of self-presenyition, then ob 
eertainly fhink that wasps must bave heen the @ienies most 
dreaded. ~ But we were tod carly in the season to dee those 
interesting inseets at work. 

L found a most remarkiuble picee of wark cone by one ol 
these spiders beside (he vailway dine ‘The vongers Trad been 
eubting out sone rothing sleepers, aad had thevawo then 
hesicde the line. O08 turiime over ote piece | aoteed a hriwe 
fornale Wolf-spider, She was ina defensive atfitde, dia 
small, round chamber, mnel as there ig ar the bethom af a 
tunnel from a teip-coor, bat there was no apparent exit, | 
could deteét no means whereby she could Jeave her retreat, 
‘so Tearefully replaced the log, und searehed all arowid oh for 
the exit, bet stil) without sucess. 1 them raised the sleeper 
my tis atte aguin, und looked underiuath. Al! There th-was! 
Straight. over the spider was the pinhole for bolring dawn 
the rail, but, looking up the hole, 1 noted the light wag aot 
wisthle through’ i, as is usually the ense. So} lookeul aleny 
the top,.lut failed to see the “door, and it was only after 
pushing a twip dhivowgh the bole aod openinp Ae *dawe’? 
that way, that: 7 could he sure of seeing in, Where the hole 
hand been tarde, there was a small tidge on the sleeper, aiid 
(his hud beew eirefally carried aerosx dhe ‘door’ by the 
spider. Waa this merely blind ometineb? versie const 
Toro, of Guat Doane, the splintery appearance of an old 
sleeper . Well) this had een imitated to a rteoty, and the 
Mallee vel dust had fallen on it and eompleted the work of 
Ahis niaster erattsman. 

Around the eawp a few Carubs were taken, cieliding? 
Kuryscaptis diladatas, Mael, Carenian cardipenue, Sh (ane 
Was taken drom a breroy aearhy three feet i Tengtih), 
C€ elegans, Mact., Coratulus senivialacen, Cast., and Sartious 
dixon Sl. Beating the flowering Mallee, we obtamed com- 
paratively few bettles; still two “youd spucies of Stipmadera 
were obtained by this means, Stigmedera moarthinda, Tt. 
and S. siqgnata. ‘he Leplosperunn, as asnal, proved potter, 
and from Wt we obtained Strynteders utthula, -elougaliul, 


284 Oxn, Two Katomologiate im the Metter Macey 


elderi, octospilota, argillacea, cyanicollis, amphichréa and 
aueicorms. Of these, argillacea is probably the prettiest, 
with its eoppery thorax, which is margined with yellow, the 
Wwing-eases pale reddish, with blue markings. 't is close to 
ortospilota in markings {but not colony) and outline, bub the 
apieers of the elytra are distinet, much as in eldert. Other 
heétles taken here were a few Cleridy and Malacoderms; 
atnong the latter was-a new Mfypattalus (but as it is a female 
it will have bo stand -over) and Mefrionvhynchus occidentalis, 
alkh., whieh was ‘ew?’ to me. Some beetles ocurred in 
great numbers, particularly certain of the small weevils, 
Ohrysomelids and Anthicids. ‘The Calytrix had Very few 
beetles on it—a few small species that were common on any- 
thing; but. one pretty exceplion was Aonychus hope, a beauti- 
fol little weevil, with patehes of pure white scales. 

Bach day a visit was paid to one of the sand ridges, and 
here we did better with the fluwer-frequenting beetles. 
especially on the Leptospernum, which grows much fiore 
freely on the sand ridges than on the flats. Fron; this we 
tank four species of Helohasis, visi, purpurasvoms, Julyurans 
(several varieties), ceuprifera and gratiosissima, the majority 
of the last-named species beine very fine, large specimens. 
Fulgurans and qradisissina were both very Lively, and tk was 
almost useless to nse the umbrella fot them, as they flew off 
almest hefrre touching it: so picking them off the flowers had 
to he resorted to. A few longicorns were obtained liere, such 
as Uricentits atbatus, U_ discienllis, 0. sbrigosus, Uap. ; Titi 
cosnia paradona, Hroschemea powerd, and Atesta, sp. 

Up on the sand ridges the Hakea was coming inte flower- 
and on this we took Stegmedera jekelé and 8. robusid (7?) 
Stigmoderd attrieoilis was taken from Hakea and Lepte- 
spernum, Eram a smal) Cassia I shook three specimens of a 
weevil ‘new’ to us— Eves crasstroshs, Pasc., previously 
recorded from South Australia only. Shrubs of several species 
Were persistently shaken, as it was thought they must prodnze 
something; but in several ¢ases without result, A mamber of 
young “Ming?' trees were shaken in the hopes of getting one 
of the species of Curis that have been taken on this plant, but 
the only result in each case was a shower of small weevils: 

Tn the big sand-ridge eountry; half a mile trom the Siding, 
there ave plenty of kangaroos, and their tracks wete to be-seen 
In every direction, Birds were more numerous. here than on 
the flats, but T do not remember seeing any species, that is 
not known «lown south, with the exeeotion of the Lowan, 
Loijow odellatn, and the Crested Bell-bird, Oreoien gutturalis- 
The lntter_ of corse, was beard everywhere. On the edge of 


ine. Hen, Toa Entomologists in the Mallee 235 


the sand-vidge eountry were a oumber of nests of an ant, 
Euponera lutea. They were searched diligently, but did not 
praducé much material. Crickets und cockroaches could 
have heen ‘had in plenty, but a shortape of bottles prevented 
the eglfecting of these, or spiders, in any number, he ouly 
beetles taken With this ant were Hupines flavouptcalts, Lea, 
Vmesiphwrus formicinus, Macl., Rybaxis electrica, and Calo- 
dera, sp. While in a nest of a small black Iridomyrmex 
I found a real prize, Yetrephekingi, described from Western 
Australia, but previously taken, one specimen each, by 
Messrs. WH. W, Ihivey and J. C. Gondie, at Sea Lake, Vic. This 
little beetle belongs to the Ptinidw, arid is of a reddish cheat- 
nut calour, with a broad, jointed antenny. Another good 
find was the Ptinid, Polyplocoles carinaticeps, Lea, in the nest 
of the ant Crenastagaster Teviceps. This beetle was also 
described from Western Australia, and is now first reeorded 
from Victoria. ‘Twa other good inquilines. that were taken 
with €. deuiceps were Articerits créemastogastari, Lea, wid 
Nepharinus goudiei, Lea. 

In a nest of tha Wood Ant, Jridonurmen sitidus, T 
obtained a species of Articerue which 1 had long wished to 
possess—.4, constrichvornd’s, Lea, a small Pselaphid, with a 
stngle [visible) jomt, to the antenne. This one join is of 
a verrarkable shape, being constricted in the middle, lat the 
outline varies with the surface and angles from which if, is 
seth, Not far trom this nest 7 took another Pselaplid new 
to science, Neopilimbolus goudiet, Oke (M.8.8.). Tt .is close 
la Palembolus, but the maxillury palpi differ in being longer, 
with the joints thin at their base. The male is without arma- 
ture on the legs, which also ig at variance with the deseribed 
species of Paliinbolus- 

Tuesday evening rain bevan to fall—a passing shower, we 
thought—but it was after 8 aan. next day before we could 
leave ovr lent. Steady rain all night, and we had only a 
light calico tent and our unrbrellus. These latter we put up m™ 
fle tent, and they kept as dry for some time. However, before 
10 p.m. 1 was damp, and an hour Jater wet! Raiy had filled 
the channels all around the tent, and 1 thonzht that we wuuld 
foat off, but morning found us still there, and the saw break- 
ing lhrough the clouds. hat evening. as it Uhieatened tu 
rain again, we struck deni and made a camp onder a tar- 
paulin from one of the trucks. It was well that we did so, 
for rain fell incessantly through the night, We determined 
lo leave Gypsum, and 4 am. found us packing up. We 
caught the morning train for Hattah, which is 36 miles 
further on, Arriving, we were surprised to find that here 


B96 Dien, Tico Lalomotogists in the Mallee [vonxtat 


thave had been only a light, misty rain, but, ae Th looked 
rather threatening, wo deeided to stay oear the stathon for 
a voaple of Whours. LC inade off down the tine to a patel of 
sevul, nud Was soo Geeing ob a Chae biceiowe, whroses 
oeonpait proved to he Co efeqaus. 

Under a senall stone J found a west of frtdonipe Head Af he 
and wis Torhioiite too ged two speeimerns of a new Pad, 
Which C have named Polyplocotes apiealis, Oke ( MAS.) Tt 
is rather like Daplocates fovetcollis, OL, ti the body, bart 
tho antenoe has only 9 Joints, and the eleventh iw vhey 
lnvge, Not tar away, in another west of the same spories 
of ant, C eaught two epecnners (82) of Diplonofas (Deeen- 
plncales) strigicollis., lien. This heetle las orhy 10) joints in 
its: qhenin 

About 10 0 'etock we sturted to walk out to Laky Halal, 
a distahee ot S34 miles: Some very interesting eoumtey les 
between the Hattnh Station suck the Mileluean Hac, and ve 
was only by the promise ut a full day aloug this teneh (at 
promise not fulfilled) that Lo was persuaded wot to wander 
off inte the serub. However, a little: colleeting was dete. 
The resulty were rather disappointing, the only beetle wortl 
raking bein a specimen of Kelis flindensi, There is a great 
yanety of vegetation here, vod this should be good insect 
commbey all the year round, but-especially in the early: sprivus, 
When the various Acacias are iu bloom. ‘Phe only shiuits 
we fond in flower were three species of Mallee aad 
ALyoperim pladucarpwune Several bushes of this latter species 
were shaken inte the wobrella, bat the only beetles obtained 
were Monolepta divisa, Bicb.. WZ. modesta, BlRh., and Ditro- 
pidus apieiponnix, Vea. 

It Had been arranged that we would stay with dtp. Alf, 
Jones, aw friend of Mr Dixou, wha is fhe ok vesident pieht 
an the lake, with the exeention of Seatty at the punrpiige 
stution, whieh supplies water fo the railway station ane 
vosidents in Eattah, When we were there Mu, ones had 
his camp almost within a stone’s-throw of Hie water in fake 
llattah, On the other side of the eamp Lake Brockie was 
obly dt Pew bonded paees away, and, straight in Front about 
nt (quarter of a mile, was Little Hattah, In cliy weather 
they are distinct lakes, but in flood ave all joined toxether, 

Avound the lakes isa fcinge of River Guns, and on the 
flat between and around Lake Brockie are a few Black Box. 
bat these, like most of the vegetation, seem to be dving out, 
This is particularly the case with the Hop Bush anid the 
Moonah, OF fhe latter only a small chump oaf-sts or seven 
fair-sized bushes remain; of the former, uot a bush was 
found neay, the lakes, and yet both species grew plentifully 
f few vears ago! Ts it. not the same everywhere? The vese- 


* 
~~! 


ari OK, Teo Batomotagists ie the Alaiier uh 


Hitlon ts Killed, and no young shrubs or freed grow 6 tuke 
the place of those destroyed, The beetles collectod af Hattah 
night be divided into four gvoups: (1) Those tuken at the 
waber’s edee; (2) those taken on the flats around te Takes; 
(Gh) those take our i the Midlte sels and (4) those taken 
Th als” nests, 

Naturally enongn, after the dryness of the Gypsum aand- 
rides, (he water atheaeted os at Lattah, and we gpanr one 
(rst day as well as several half-days there. As wig expected, 
ihe most woietrtous dy speeies aid individuals af the heethes 
were Capabs, Sume kinds well known around Melbourne 
Wore Gmele the most abundant here, viz: Phil yids vide 
yhnelius, For, Cideenhes onstealis, Dojo, Aeuyedalhaaa: wen 
higuas, Vives and CGatadronas lacardairvet, Boise. Othe 
apecies ¢anuiany gough here, but wanknewn in the Methourmy 
distriel, were fPhgtisferuis Linibatus, Mads Chlrenivelins 
muhhyt, Montry., Pheropsvplas vertialis, Dej., Catadenmans 
eleva, Vseh 5 and Benhidiion jacksonense, (ee, whe ols 
aie or two specimens of the followin were taken: Kathermerta 
meryonensis, Bb. aAarbtystanius canalis, Bho 2 pares, 
Blkh.; A, lactis, Blkb.; Meeyclothoran cartis, BL, Te pa 
fatae, Sl, and Aucandeus austruliensts, SL A fey Staph. 
linia: were takew vlong the Water's edwe, teludivg dl fivediern 
semrirahrn, Kol; Plalonthas subcingulatus, Mael. Uheayeo 
cephalus chulevplerus, Weriebs., "sp. nove, /inegtalus 
meventrrts, Bol, 5 aps. of Lathvobiuin, 9 aps. of Seyibalivm, 
and Dawenn lorrenseusis, Bikla, not hitherto reeordad os 
Victoria.  Weater-heetles were searee, aod only loa spss. of 
Vvdvophatida: wore obtained,  Pselaphida: also were seivee, | 
wid only font apecias were taken: Mupinodm spor Cbentsapihas 
lonyicornis, Lea. and two other undetermined spectes. 

Several of the fopms mentioned were found only at one 
point—on Lake Broekie—where rild flood eonditiviis existed, 
Had we collected at this point on. our first deve we would 
probably bave done wnel better thin we did. As ft wits, 
we tried for a while on the second day, and gave it up as the 


day was too windy. T did aot try there again aati the daa 


before we left, and by then the beetles were vonsiderahty 


rednead in uioibers. To think this was dae, primenully, to 
the number of Gecoes and Seorpions that had concentrated 
arawnd thas spet  Nyery stick or pieee of lark seomed to 
he harbouring ai Jeast one seorpion. Under ave pivee of 
bark, about T& inches in length and five or «iN anehes 1 
wislth. there were seven of them, They were a fairly sina 
species, of a dinwy, yellowish colony, variegated with blaek 


spuls, aid wer probably Tsemetris maculatus, Do Geer, 


In the ext etroup—those taken ou the flate—Curabidie 
wars well copresmuted bea alse The laygest species fornd 


iss Oxe, Two Enlomologists in the Mallee Mayen 


was Philascaplus tutércubitis, Macl. This is a very fine 
inseet, 1} inehes in length, jet black, with rows of small 
tubercles on the elytra. ‘he jaws ave very powerful-looking- 
and the front legs are well adapted for ¢igging. [iy is 
usually found sitting In the entrance to its burrow, whigh 
is only fow or five inches in length, under logs. Two apect- 
mens of Geosceptus cacus, Mach, 4 brilliantly-polished 
apecies, somewhat like Cim'enwm scaraphites, Westw. 
Undoubtedly the most showy Cavah we found here was 
Eyton tinetillation, Newn., of which we secnrved several 
specimens 1 two distinct sizes—20 mm. and 144 mm. Looked 
at. from one angle these specimens are of a bewutiful violet hue, 
but when scen from another angle they appear a bluish- 
preel, ; 

The rarest find in Carahs tor the trip was T'rickecareram 
custelmanwi, SL, a smgle specimen of whieh I found shelter- 
ing under a chip of jood—without a sign of a burrow. This 
interesting species wag deseribed as from Roebuck Bay, 
Western Anstralia, from a single specimen in the French 
colleetion, and my specimen is, apparently, only the second 
one to be taken. <A specimen of Mecyclothorar lateralis, 
Cast., was taken under some rubbish, as ulso were some 
Siniondantus mandibularis, Sl. Two species of Pausside 
were taken—-Arihroplerits wilsoni, Westw., and A west- 
woodt, Macl—under cover on the ground, but never in ants’ 
nests. The latter species was not wicomman, and ene was 
takerr in the serub, two miles away from Lake Brockie. A 
few interesting spesies of enchrionide were found orenr- 
ring on these flats. including species of Pterokelwus, Holes, 
Sarnaqus and Adelnwun, Wypaulac orcus, Pase., and several 
gpecies af Chalcopterus. 

Another good ‘‘find’’ I made here consists of a pair of 
Metriorrliynchus apterus, Lea. They were taken on @ log, 
and on opening up the log several pups were obtuined. 
Unfortunately these did not emerge property. This interest- 
ing insect is, as its name implies, wingless in the ?. The 
é 1s, I believe, still undeseribed. I obtained a single’ 3, 
Which may belong to this speeies, as it was taken near this 
loz, lut it is winged. This species was described as from 
the Darling Downs, in Queensland, and I am not aware of 
its having been taken elsewhere, su this is an interesting 
extension of ifs habitat, 

The Black Box was well worked, and several nice weevils 
were obtained from it, inchiding Ozyops bilunaris, O. alphe- 
betica, Lea, O. sp.; Bryachus sguamiicollis, Pase.; Rhinaria 
tebialis. Blkb.; Haplonys spenceri, Gyll.; A. fasciculatus, 
Bok., and a variety of H. sp. nev—steucturally near lowg?- 
pilosus, Lea, The River Gums were much too high for us 


Agel Oxx, Two Entomologivts in the Mater 289 


to discover what might be on the foliage, bul every piece 
of loose burl within reach was stripped off. The only hectle 
that was af all common here wus Diphobia famaliaris, OLL, 
and they were both with the ants aud under bark, or om the 
ground by themselyes. A few Carahs were taken, bul very 
sparingly—Adelotopus cylindricus, Ch.; A. uphodzoides, 
Westw.; A. micans, Blkh.; Sarothracrepis sauws, Bikb., and 
Anomaturus minor, Blkh, Amongst other tamnihes were a 
Clerid, Lewnidia vufa; a Chrysomelid, Monolepta artda, Lea,, 
and a Ptinid, Pty sp., near mediogtaber, Les 

Only three trips were made back into fhe Mallee serub 
proper one bein te sane lave sand ridges about two miles 
nway; Uhe second, uround and beyond the puriping station 
and out onto the Mildyra road; and the third to some pad- 
docks that had been ‘'rolled,’’ and then left. ‘This latter 
was a most meterosting day’s colleeting, As the morning 
way bright and warm, an early start was made, the way being 
over the wndulatiug land, covered with white everlastings, 
fowutds the Milduva road, up the slope to ' Wilson's Selec 
tion,'' throngh the Pine and Bull Mallee belt, and on into 
the sevub. Though the idea was to get. to the rolled paddocks 
as quickly as possible, and nat to loiter on the way, we had 
not Teft the camp three wanutes before a Ing was notined 
that had not been tus‘ned aver, and, of course, we could not 
resist. the lemptation of having a look underneath’ it, And 
sa it continued. A specimen of Lutoma. tinctillatwmn under 
ove log, a Heloeus under another; perhaps a Termite’s nest, 
of a nest of some ant would be revealed and searched through 
for “‘pnests.”? Here, in a Termites’ nest, 1 found a few 
specimens of an apterus Staph, belonging to the sul-family 
Alesehavime, which, Mx. les informs me, is vivaparous. It 
is a pretty little thing when alive, with its head, prothorax 
and elytra a dark wine colour, and the abdomen and appen- 
dages mueh lighter. It is very qnick in its movements, and 
ig apparently on, the best of terms with its hosts: It is 
probably new to science, but has not yet been fully worked 
nue, 

On the rise are some Mvalls, and from these a few weevils 
were oblained, while tle leayes underneath were smothered 
with a smal] species of ladybird. Every few steps there was 
something to de: a Jog tu be turned ; some bark to be stripped ; 
some boughs on the eround ty he shifted; or some bushes to 
be shaken into the nmbrellaa. That nothing may escape 
being taken, a eollector has ta try everything, and every way 
he ean think of Here, and in other parts, we found 
quantities of a Mallee in flower, I believe, the Yellow Mallee, 
BE, incrassata, on whieh hardiy a beetle was to be found. The 
Mallee in question has large clumps of flowers, which are of 


‘ 


248 ORR Pu Entamdlogiey te Ube Mitten bh Se 


a decided yellowish colour, and the individual flowers, as 
alsd tho leaves, aro vather larger than usual Whe nwers 
euit «strong, overpowering smell of howey, wick. after beat- 
Ing a quantity into the umbrella, the inside sumtince Decors 
sO shieky that it is teeessacy to wash tha umbrella, And 
yet hardly a beetle, or bee, will go near the plots. Tho pat 
knew the reason, birt there srgst he someting wiplomsiant in 
Wie taste of the neetar, 

Shaking the shoots avoand the stumps of some Full 
Mallee we obtained some nice Cheysomelides, Crypioerpain 
ius wafer Loa; Co scabressys, Olive, ve, reegifr ons, 
Chp, C. 8  Caelanres histmonious, C Ny., nda few species of 
Paro bees “While shaking a elump of shoots L obtained a 
pate ot anialk weevils that T thaneht were “Snew?? bo ine, cine 
Tospent over halt-an-hour trying ta get anore, diet only 
obtained ane. Tinagine my disgust when, ater. 1 fond 
that they were only the Grain Weevil, Culendra qouenuriv! 
Krona young pices of the white Mallee C obtained the green 
caterpillae of the rather rave moth, Ayleora eer, yptt, anid 
this was subsequently bred ont, What a change in enour! 
Nhe exterpillar is aw beautitu enu-ce-nil with a white stripe 
flown the sides; the pupa black, and the perteet, inscet is A 
fine study in browns, whieh, on the forewings, ave lirieately 
iiturwovens the hind wings are pen white with vellow- 
brown teres. 

Orn reaehinge {he “rolled” Murloc we tied ovarviling, 
thoneh the “spring-bicks’’ were Qu niin ohjeative, vial. 
from these, we obtained some beautiful species of Parcysts, 
But how disappointing these beetles arel One we emeht 
was 4 larve species of acbeanutifal goth shade of green, With 
a wionth it was a ciney yellow. Apother with a wreow bind 
fround if, and red and golden markings faded. taal Tas 
A veeat pity that these beetles will wot retain thai colours, 
THeve we obtained T'tarahelweus thymalnides, Mael,, and three 
Species of Langi¢orns—eltestran angust, Relius filiforonis, 
and Lschiotes bakewelli, By one ofcloek the sand had heeanie 
so hot thal it almost burnt the hand when touched, We 
fleeided to have hiveh, Tor a cdeink we went over tu Wil 
soi’s tank, Lf containad only a few inehesx of mud, 8 we 
seloatod the nearest approach to a abudy nial that wits ta 
he founc, wd hunched without water. 

A tew stunted Myoporums and a little White Mallee 
were Lhe only flowers woe fannd my resume work after 
luneh. On the former were a Pew Antilaria, and oa sinvle 


. Psendoantaria purpurcicallis, whieh max he its usual tine 


‘here, bret some that we bred ant of stieks at home did et 


appear till February. ‘The’ Leptosperntun was just abont 
> finistied at Hattah, ‘and. what little was left had ver y few 


Aw One, Two Lutomotoyists in ine Mallae 291 
Stigs, oh it, and ouly one was added to our lst—Stigmadere 
gibbicallis, Saand, About 4 pan. a start was nade For ennp, 
ind sthiking thraugh the serab, we vetumed by a different 
rote On the edge of dhe sevob f toule a, speciinen of tat 
very Uiterestings lorigicowm—Maerolragius mormon, Parse. Mis 
Jonwicomn looks very dike ane of the shovt- ainited vpound 
weavils That hax. grown lonp antennas. 

he fourth group of beetles—those taken in ynis’ wests— 
provided pore interest und took fonver to eateh Than nigh be 
thonght by taking a casual look at our ‘entel.'’ or Vhouph 
they are gnostly small, there is osually something of speeial 
interest in each species. ov example, take Tierigtosomee 
Hibivele, Lea, of which 1 collected a few specimens i iests 
of a small black Jovdomarimec in the saud-vidve cvontey 
This beetle, which is 237 mm. m Ioneth. belongs to the 
Tenehrionidke, is withouk eves and wings, aad Nel ratios 
from Geraldton, W.A., to Hattahand Natya. in Vieloe, 

Ou in the serd-rrdwe commten PE obtatened. a few ree 
apeimens of Malleecola myrmecophilt, Diplocales strigkeullts, 
Moliplocotes upiealis, and another very intersting Paid 
Delooping fo the Metrephing, for awhiell a ew gens, or sul 
eons. Will have to be erented. And as the wiitenme have 
Oviy Pao joints, the second Deine wedge-shaped. (Tse eallad 
iW Mtrephes cuenformis (MLS.S.). FT consider this to be vue 
OF the most interesting specios of Ptinidw known In Aus 
tral. Though it might be vo moor point whether the 
boaadening, of the jolats—as in Paussapedeus—or the vadve- 
tion af the joints from the uznal cleven to two, as tT the 
presan species, is the more Tnterestive. An inwrmedute 
Position is oeanpied by ctrephus hinge Naving thie be oadened 
antenme, bat only five or six jomts Ariiverey were scree 
at Hattah, but two speeimens, (¢ 8) of A. dantipas, Lea, were 
found with Fridomyrman ruforiger, and several specimens of 
wnother species, not determined yet, but certainly new to 
Victoria. ; : 

On starting for this trip | determined to try to obtain 
(wo beetles that had been collected in North-western Vietoria 
—Pheidoliphila ourbo, taken at Sea Laké from a nest of 
Pheidole, and Companytophilis fimbricallis, described From 
Beverly, W.A., of whieh Mrs Dixon had alvendy obtained 
twa specimens i vests of the common Sugar Ant, Com pono- 
ius wgriceps, at Hattah, OF the first, no sign was seen, 
though no effort was spared. Pheidole Ants Were rather 
searee, bub those nests fond were looked over most car 
filly ward revisited several times, 

7 Hunting for the sceond species proved the most intarost- 
jer ite of ovr whole prograntme, The ants. dwarited var 
‘evry thing all avout the Jakes. and every bib of cover thus 


292 OKs, two Entomotogiats ix the Mallee Vita Rad. 


did not have a nest of sorhe other ant under it, had a nest 
of these Sugar Ants, but it way not till the fourth day of 
our visit that UC sueceeded in finding one of the beetles. T 
had looked in 236 nests without finding a specimen! When 
I aay vests, T do not mean that all were separate colonies, 
For instanee, two pieces of bark lying on the ground, say 
a few feet, or even less, between, and covering numbers of 
these ants and the tunnels leading down to their 
nests, would show on the surface, no connection whatever, 
but underground would almost certainly be linked, Yet I 
would have counted these as two nests. And, again, some 
nests were looked in twice, a few three times, and these 
visits were counted in. However, on furning over a piece 
of wood, aid exposing my 257th nest (we had both tooked 
in this nest, but on different oeeasions), I was at last 
rewarded by seeing one of the long-coveted beetles. 

Camponotiphilus fimbrivallis, av, to give th its English 
equivalent, The Wringed-sieck beloved of the Sugar Arta 
is a Mavk-redilish, ehestoot beetle, shehtly wnder halfantneh 
m length, with a fairly conspieuous fringe of pubescenee 
around the pronotum. Victorian speeanens are slightly 
laveer than the only two specimens I have seen from Western 
Anstralis. Mr. Lea gives the length as 84-94 mm.; my 
exaniples are 104-21 mm. That the beetles live on very 
friendly terms with their hosts there can be little doubt, as 
the ants made ud attempt to molest them. When nests are 
opened, the beetles are very lively, and immediately make 
for the tannels. In their hurry often they will try io rou 
between the legs of their hosts, resulting in the ants coming 
‘“evoppers,’’ which the ants apparently take in the spirit 
of ‘no offence meant.’” The ants often get nual of the way 
of the beetles, and geen Ag ansious ag the beatles themselves 
aré to got out of sight, 

Twice, on finding one of these beetles. in 4 rest, and niok- 
\ng which hole it was mating for, I plugged the hole, an 
inch or two down, with my trowel. The beetle dived into 
the hole, bat corld not get down, and then there was 
excitement! Several ants rushed into the hole, pushed their 
way around, came out, looked around, as though for fresh 
ingpiration, and then mmshed back again. Did they push 
the beetle ont? Or did it come out of its own arcord? On 
the first occasion L thought the beetle mished cut of its own 
free will; it tan towards another hole, when T picked it up 
and put it in the killing-bottle, On the second occasion it 
appeared to me that the beetle was foreed put by the ants 
and directed towards another hole, in much the same way 
as a dag will drive sheep. Only, instead of one dog and 
many sheep, it was several ants and one beetle T tried to 


THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST, Volt. XLII 


PLate VIII 


April, 1926 


HEATH, Epacris Bawbaicensis, 


ALPINE 


Wittsteinia 


THE BAW BAW BERRY, 


Stapf. 


a, Fiv.M. 


J. Bishop) 


by F, 


egatives 


tN 


ee Oxe, Tio Entomologists in the Maltec 288 


block the second hole, but the beetle was tou quack for me. 
I tried to dig it ont, but, on digging a small hole, such a 
labyrinth of passages were exposed that 1 was at a loss 
which way to proceed, and, as the clay was very hard for 
a trowel, T gaye Wf up. 

‘The ‘time spent on opening the nests, before the first 
**Pringe-neck”’ was found, was by no means lost. Far from 
it! Bor other inquilines were acen and noted. Twa other 
beetles were secu im the nests, One was a Staph,, belonging 
to the genus Conosnme, but, ag some specimens were obtained 
away from the nests, they may not be true inquilines. The 
second was a “new'’ Pselaphid, sinee desevibed as Z’mesi- 
phorus camponoti, Oke. This species was not uncommon, 
but, not many were taken, as I qistaok it, in the field, for 
T’. formicinus, Mael. 

An unexpected guest to me, if not the ants, was a pretty 
little bluish spider, belonging to the family Attic, 
Numbers of this spider were seon by both of us, but neither 
saw ane outside of the Sugar Ants’ nests. Several kinds of 
mites were noted, and a amall yellowish fly was not un- 
epinmen, But the most teresting and peculiar guest was 
u kind of Froghopper (Cereopidw). All the species of this 
Painily Iitherto knewn ta me live on bushes, prin¢ipally 
youn Eyealypts, and live ou the juices of these planta. 
Two apeees of this family, Burymola distincta, Sign., and 
EB. rvebrovittata, Am,., are very common on young Euealypet 
ivees, Where they ave always attended by ants, particularly 
the Sugar Ants and Meat Ants, Tridomarines detectus, 
But we found this species living in nests under the ground, 
and, from what we saw, il seems very doubttul whether they 
ever leave ,the nests, exeept, perhaps, to ehange from one 
to the qther. The insects were found in all atuges, except 
they eyes. Little larve from slightly move than 1 mm, up 
t fully matured imagines were ‘seen in the same nest, and 
the ants wuarded them wo carefully it would appear that 
they spent, their ves in these nests--uniess they are taken 
out at night to feed on the trees, Unfortunately, our acety- 
lene lamp was ditnaged, heing dropped off ihe train at 
Gypsum, and I was tinable to do much observation work 
at night. T did glance aronnd one or two nests at night, 
but did not see any Proghoppers outside them. 

That these froghoppers. are used to being carried by the 
ants is evident. On volling over the covering log From one 
of the nests sometimes a dozen or 2) of these guests will 
be revealed. They seem to be greatly agitated, and quite 
unable 4o make up their minds which way to ran. Any 
ant meeting one of the guests will immediately ‘seize it by 
the thorax and earry it down qne ofthe holes. Or, if the 


204 BRK, Teo Aatamolagiats én the Matlee a kat 


wiiest hud been on the tog, the aint would take. it inito any 
evack or qveviee and hide ik Che auts invariably Carey the 
Trvoghoppers otf heacl foremast. and generally tam then 
aver with their feet uppermost as soon as they take Told 
af them, if thes ay Not, the trorhoppers will gree them- 
silvex over in Hie ants’ mandibles. The veasaw tov this is 
misily wnderslool—it is heeuse the froghoppers’ ela eateh 
i everylhing when tuned down, tat are not nearly so likely 
fo do so Wi the reversed position, Did the ants of the frog 
lroppers ciiseover this faet first? 

T greatly regret that UC did) not: brine honie mummy live 
specimens of ants and their guests. One inight have been 
aWle ta dis¢aver nore about them. though fant afvaicd it 
would he necessary to have them iv their amtural saetound- 
igs to see ¥oIne Of the interesting details. It may be possitle 
to latrn whether the froghoppers ave fed by the ants. 1 
clue out ove fine neat (covered by a tog and a sheet of bark 
dhont 5 HF fect it levgth ynd 2 feet in width) to a depth of aver 

3 fet to see whether the enests cotld be obtained far dawn 
ii the nest, Ags To had taleen one 'Wringe-neck!? on this 
ist, F had Tepes of finding sore specimens of. this heetle 
iJowa, in the nest, To was disuppotited. but vieht at the 
bottom of the hole obtained one af the spiders anc several 
Feaghoppars. 

We brought baek with us a dundle of sticks, and from 
(hese bred a few longicorns, including: trom Mallee, Seoleco- 
brotus udrieqatus, Bikh.; trom Aeacia, Sapmphaletes luteralis, 
Pause, 8, veshigatis, Pase.. Mlatyomopsis obGqua, Don.; and 
front Black Box sticks, Atosta mayast, Pase., A, lated, Buch. 
anil Atesta sp. nay. 

Th was fared to depart trom this dclighttal courts, with 
its inany juterestiny phases of anima life, but Pusiness 
demanded that t should retura to the city, and so we hud 
to make an early start on Saturday morning to eateh the 
lenin at 8.22 fram Hattah, Arriving af the ‘station, with a 
few minutes to spuve. T had tive to try a few pieces of 
Myoporin platycorpun, whieh were out to perfection, and 
from which [ obtained a single specimen of Neneuris disea- 
Mavuan—imnw last eateh for the trip. "7 

Altoyether 364 species of beetles were taken, cand I 
believe a few common species were passed over; butt, sill T 
think we obtained a very faiy number for 14 days’ colleat- 
ing. - T any wreatly indebted to Mr. A. M. Tea for identify- 
ing and echeelking my identifications of a namber of the 
hietles obtained, and to Mr. YT. G. Sloane foe identifying 
many, of ‘the Carabidae: and the Paussidie, To both LT tender 
inv best thanks. 


' 


Eyal Presdorr, Taso Rare Native Mountain Heatie _ 2396 


SUNNAe NA mANAN ANTHEA TODGENONADAAUOEEDOLAMRTOLONeANAU REC ET OAANIAUO NATO GA TORTONAYOEDOGeea Mate AbeNANP Ne HSEOt ION RHAT er rer PANDO NOtsemeene metre 


TWO RARE NATIVE MOUNTAIN 
HEATHS. 


By Epwarp K, Pracorr, 3°.,5. 


veveeennne 


POO 


Temi iin nL ee 


The hbeaths whieh we usually prow i our gardens. are 
either species ov hybrids of the mative South African Teaths, 
_ and belong to the family of Mricacer, the members of whieh, 
ave often called the ‘‘trac heaths.’’ The heaths which make 
ibe Australian bush and moovlands so gorveously beautiful 
in winter and spving belong toe the 4 family of Mpacadea. 
Mere ave several botanies) differcmees in the families, the 
imain distinetion between the two heing that an Baicacee the 
withers are always one-colled, and in Kpacmdee they are 
always two-eelled. Representatives of hoth families ave found 
in Vietoria. but, winle we may find nore than 40 species 
af Epacrides, there are ouly two native species of Krieacen. 
= Baw Baw Brey (lieve) 

The species allustiated, Willstemma vacetidced, Riv, 
is known as the Baw Baw Berry. Tt is found only on ihe 
hope of the Baw Binw ancl adjacent mountaing, and is there 
fore very rarely seen by plant lovers, A wood-bloek fleare 
of this plant is piven in Muellar’s ‘sey?’ but it is very 
formal, and hardly shows the true character off the plant, 
The bushes stow to a height of tao feet or three feet, and 
the dulicute, wreenisi-white, waxy bells ane uxceedingly 
dainty. Unfortnmately, the plants were not. fruiting at ie 
time the photograph was tken; the fruits are small, gveenish- 
Vellow or reddish in colour, and are classed as edible. 

Yo the Bricaecs belone the blac betmes, hucklebernies, 
anil other edible berries so common in North Amer jen; they 
Vield hirge avops of bervies anmually. 


Yom Aver: Hare (i eacripieat) 


hpacrs Bawhawonsis, Stapf, for many years was Glas 
sifted ais Hy heteronenat, Labill, avid wider that name. is 
deserthed at page 378 of Maeller's ‘Ivey. '' Lt is purely alpine 
heath, growing fiitrly abundantly on the Baw Baas, beeom- 
ing qnite a tall plant, having white flowers evowded towards 
the top of (he branehlets, as shown. in the photograph, ‘The 
kvealities of 0, heteronema, as viven in the “Flora Aus 
trahensis,’” page 239, are not only the Baw Baws, but Mount 
AMievdeen and the Mitte Mittas; vreeords also showin it, te 
acear i Tasmania and New South ‘Wales. 
' In 1909, when studying a heath that hud flowered at Kew 
Gardens, England, one of the botanists, Mr. 0. Stapf, came 


298 Prscorr, Ton Rarc Native Mounlain Heaths | YSN 
to the conelusion that NM. hetevonema was 4 very Tl-defivied 
Species, especially as Bentham had stated that E. dubza, 
Lind]., might be a variety of this apecies, 

As a result of Mr. Stapf’s investigations, it was found 
that, while 2, heteronema was a valid spevies, the 
Baw Baw specimens differed very considerably Zrom the 
type clescription. Indeed, from all the plants known as 
&, khelerovema, four separate specios were deserihed, the 
determination resulting in the exelusion of that species 


from Victorian Mora. ‘The Buffalq and Mitta Mitta speci- * 


mens Were named EF. brevifiora, Stapf; the Tasmanian fort 
was named £. Stuart, Stapf; while the Baw Baw plant 
was named after the mountains on which it grows. This 
species was published in the Kew Bulletin of 1930, and its 
only locality is the Baw Baw Monntuins. 

The main differences between the two plants may here 
be noted for the use of the general collector. In &. hetero- 
nema the style is as shott or shorter than the ovary, and it 
floes nol protrude trom the mouth of the corolla; while in 
E, Bawbawensis the style is several times Jonger than the 
ovary; it is distinctly protruded from the mouth or funnel 
of the corolla tube, In the former the filanients whieh sup- 
port. the avthers are very much shorter than tha anthers; 
while in the latter the filaments are much longer than in 
the former, 

In the photograph reproduced, the protruding style can 
elearly be seen in the centre of some of the flowers. 

he illustrations are from negatives by Mr. F, J. Bishnp, 
whose beautiful photographs, which so traly delincaté the 
characters of the native flowers, are widely known. 


THE PROVIDENCE OF A THRUSH. 

We often read of animals laying food aside for future 
needs, but I do not remember hearing of any bird deing so. 
Nevertheless, I once saw a Grey Shrike-Thrust, Colluricincla 
karnionica, thus provide for himself. The friendly bird eame 
avery day to our verandah for crumbs, and once, having evi- 
dently satisfied his hunger for the time heing, he picked up 
# piece of bread, and, carrying it to 2 post near by, carefully 
pushed it under the edge of a sack which wag hanging there. 
Yorttinately, [ happened to go ta the door, just ds, later 
in the afternoon, the Thrush returned for his fodd. With- 
out hesitation, he flew to the post, and picking his bread 
from beneath the edge of the sack, he flew off with it. On 
wnother day he carefully pushed a large erumb into a cleft 
in 2 log. 1 did not see him return, but a few houts later 
the crumb had gone, and presumably he had taken it— 
J, Gavaraira, ; 


; 


fee | Regeneration of Burnt Worest 297 


RETIN T ERED EET RD RGIOFE TPE DI DIOPET AT UALEND EA TERIDE AION CNTEFEEDHEREOUEETFETETERUETPIFENOS EMER eevee DdLesad iis eeseeeanauyessyspree 


REGENERATION OF BURNT FOREST. 


AOPTETTTEH EDN NRA Wh EE 
VETTEL AACCERT Fete, 


TEL ECOPPOOTIETEL UL OPA AERRLER CU CLITED Rpt dc eredd te ce COLLET C LED ET A peak AEE LEED Gmc AED GA Prec RHEE Re Oart OLE rete bedi eden ey 


No records appear to have been published im this State 
of the effects of fires on ou various types of forest, and of 
the measure of regeneration which has followed. The results 
of the many fires whriel: have periodically, devastated our 
timber resources are doubtless known to Iorest, officers, but 
nothing of a systematic Kind has been made available for 
publie informidion. 


It is, of course, generally known that a forest suffers 
according to the nature and intensity of the fire and. the 
kind of tree, or trees, and attendant species composing It, 
Tt is known, too, that the result, of a tire, even if the trees 
are not killed, is to render them more valnerable to borers, 
fungi, and other destructive agencies; that the humus is 
destroyed and the ground bared, with the consequent denu- 
dation of the soil by rainfall when the slope is preat enough, 
to the detriment of both the forest and the streams draining 
it; that the constitution of the forest is invariably “altered 
inare or less, certain species being killed outright and after 
wards replaced by wattles, bracken or others dubbed “fire. 
weeds. 7’ 


To remedy, im some slight measure, this lack of exact 
information, it is proposed that two burnt areas, differing, if 
possible, in the nature of the cover, shall be selected for 
purposes of periodical observation and record by a team 
tomposed of members of the elub. 


Tn the first place, surveys of the burnt areas would need 
to be made, the immediate effects of the fire, the nature of 
the surface and the soil, the presence or not of humus, the 
altitude, slope and exposure, and the fauna-and flora still 
existing noted. The date of the fire, and the dates and amount 
of the precipitaticn occurring mm the interval, would be 
ascertained, and any evidences of regeneration recorded. 

By an examination of areas adjoining the burnt ares, 
its condition anterior to the five would be asdertained, and 
a list Of its fauna and flora dvawh ap with a reasonable 
degree of approximation. Subsequently, monthly. visits by 
one or other member of the team might. be paid, their obser- 
vations being duly recorded, generally for the’ whole area, 
and partienlavly for ecortain specially selected quadrats, 


ie ' ihe ‘ N . 
248 Modganigahion of Lund borese wie or 


The Botunical Department of the Oniversity of Melbourne 
has the intention to carry ont similar work jn the vieiwity 
ut Tealesville, and our members will doubtless be vlad to 
adhere to whatever scheme is adopted by if, and work on 
sutiilay lines, 


With. the view of seeking suitable uvens for the purpose 
iientioned, Hwo matuhers of the Club visited (ppur Perutiec 
Gully on Webruary 28, and provisionally tixed on one close 
to the station, whieh had been fire-swept on the tS5tioat phe 
mouth. his inewsures vrouehly between 20 aeres and 30 
aeres, and ts bounded by three roads—that fren the main 
roud to the Pavilion: fram there towards Cerny Creek, and 
the thitd, down which a telegraph line rus, joie these, 
With the exception of a small pateh near the apex of the 
triangle, the serub has been completely burnt, and a eursovy 
examination. enabled only Goodenta ovata, Acacit verticcllaty 
and Glycine clandestina to be identified, 

Of the trees, Muculyplus eleophora largely predominated, 
and KF. abhiqua and BL dusttaliana wer also prescit. 
Nithough all their leaves were dead, uoie of. the trees 
appeared ta tave heen killed, and these will doubtless 
recover, their bark having been otily superficially chaerect 
Already stens of recovery were evident in many of tem in 
the shape of adventitious shoots at the bases of saplings and 
alone their stems. Other siens of Jife were noticed in the 
tussocks of Cuhata, sp., and lepidospermea, ap. ‘The fire had, 
seamingly, been, trsufficiently severe to consume the nmeuy 
logs which strewed the forest—perhaps relies of previous 
fres—and uwuder these avere oceusional lizards, ond numerous 
spiders, ants and froghoppers still wlive. 

The work proposed by the committee aud the Botanical 
Department oF our University will bea stall step ino the 
application of plant eeology to practical use. AlL whose 
business. if is to gzrow things, be they forest trees, frit 
trees, grain or athay crops or pasture, pub the principles 
of plant ecology into practice to a greater ov lesser degree. 
Mostly. like the man who was surprised at finding he had 
been talkiny prose all his life, they are doiite so quite mn- 
conseiausly. Ther work empirically or by rule of thamb, 
Many sueeead in spite of this, Wat if is vers certain that, 
“of they clearly understood the factors respanstble for the 
srowth of their craps. and the influences which niilitates 
against than, their success would be the greater—C 3.8. 


Ame WILLIAMSON, Victorian Ferns 299) 


Re 


VICTORIAN FERNS 


By H. B. Wintatamson, F.L.8. 


CUAGUOCGUREUSAOCHCLEAAQGLANREOEA SOO GURNOELOC EO NNL 


Auvpesen Pn peenusgssekacuines. 


Thatpeqeqqaassgenenyecneeonay 


POON OATORCOO ONO UONRTENAACANEEVUNUAOREATEN ned eH eeTEEDeedd reer herr tad dete 


Parr I, 


Family POLYPODIACEA®. 


: Key to the Genera. 
(a) .Sori marginal 
(b) Indusiun absent .. ., .. .. .. Notholaena, 1 sp- 
(b) Indusium present, gomiatimss tot apparent on the old fronds. 
(c) Indusium short 
(d) Indusium cup-shaped, opening outwards 


(e) Fronds firm .. .. .. .. .. Davallia, 2 spp. 

(e) Fronds tender _. .. .. Demnnstaedtia, 1 sp. 

(d). Indusituan formed by the incuryed margin of lhe 
frond 

(f) Fronds 4 to 5 ft... .. .. Hypolepis, 1 sp, 

(¥) Fronds under 1 fl... ., .. Cheilanthes, 1 sp. 


(dq) Indusium an  incuryved = reniform membrane 
developed from the edge of the frond, but dis- 
tinet from it .. ., .. Adiantum, 4 spp. 

(c) Indusium elongated 

(g) Indusium opening outwards .. .. Lindsaya, 2 spp- 

(g) Indusium opening inwards 

(bh) Indusium double .. .. ,. .. Pteridium, 1 sp. 
(h) Indusium single 
(i) Fronds dark green on both sides 
Pteris, 4 spp. 
(i) Fronds paler beneath 
(j) Fronds bi- or tri-pinnate, 2 2 to 4 ft. 
Histiopteris, 1 sp. 
(i) Fronds simply pinnate, 1 fl. 
Pellaea, 1 sp. 
ot) Sori away from the margin 
(k): Indusium absent, 
(1) Fertile and sterile fronds dissimilar 
Cyclophorus, 1 sp- 
(1) Fertile and sterile frond similar 
(m) Sori linear, along veins, very hairy plant 
Pleurosorus, 1 sp- 

(mm) Sori covering most of the veins, fronds glabrous, 

very (hin .. .. .. .. .. .. ANogramma, 1 spe 


“Vic. Nat, 


300 Werramson, Victorian Ferns Val Nie 


(m) Sori roundish, fronds entire or pinnatifid 
Polypodium, 4 spp- 
Fronds. repeatedly pinnate 
Dryopteris punctata (see below) 
(kk) Indusium present 
(n) ‘Sori elongated 
(o) Sori in a continuous line along both sides of the 
Thidrib .. ., ... ... .- .. Blechnum, 9 spp. 
(o) Sori alane Velas diverging from the midrib 
Asplenium, 8 spp, 
(n) Sori oblong linear, paraliel to the midrib on veiniets 
connecting forked yeins ., ., .. .. .. Doodia, 2 spp, 
(on) Sori shorter, slightly curved, mostly a the forks of 
veing diverging from the midrib, fronds very 


' tender, 3 to 5 ft... .. .- .. .. Athyrium, i &p. 

(n) Sori roundish : 
(p) Indusium pellate .. .. .. .. Polystichum, 4 spp. 
(p) Indusium attached at the base (absent in D, 
punetata) .. .. .. .. .. .. Dryonteris, 3 spp. 
(p} {ndusium ovate, with sori attached to base, 6 to 
9 inches .. .. .. .. ., .. Cystopteris, 1 sp. 


Genus Normonana (Page 301), 


NotHoLana vistans, R.Br, (Fig. 1). Bristly Cloak Fern, 
W.A., S.A. V., N.S.W., @., P. (Polynesia), N.Z. Fronds 
Bin. to 10in., with distant pairs of pime (Ib) densely 
covered. with long hairs underneath, almost concealing the 
sovi, which form a continuous line along the margin. 


In the young state the margin may be somewhat. curved 
over the sori. This species ig not, often gathered, but, since 
the Census of Victorian plonts was compiled, specimens have 
been seen from.Wodonga and Broken River (N-E.), Macal- 
lister. River, aud recently Mr. D. J. Paton collected it on 
granite rocks on Big Hill Range, Bendigo (N.W.). 


Genus Davattaa (Page 301). 


Davathsa vuBta, R.Br, (Wig. 1). Rainbow Fern, T., V., 
N.S.W., Q. Very widespread in Victoria. Fronds large. and 
firm, resembling the Common Bracken, but less rigid. Fig. 
Ila shows a secondary pinna. Sori are at the base ot the 
blunt teeth, which are often in age curved over them like 
those of Dicksonia (IId), but there is no upper valve as in 
that genus. The indusium is attached by a broad base to 
the pmnule, and does not cover the sorus (IIc). 


ea) ' Wriitaason, Victorian Fersa . $02 


———Nothileni; (£, 111—Davallia,; 1V—-Dennevadtia, 
V—Hypolepis; Vi—Cheilanthes. 


302 — Witaransox, Victorian Beyis werent 
Davauiia wysipata, Cay. (Big, UL), Hare's-foot Fern, 
7, NSW. QP. his is & smaller and more tender tern, 
he to 1 foot in height, and may be distinvuished frony Bp. 
dubli by its indusiam being a-:cotuplete evap or aylindér, 
longer than broad (WTe); whew young almost imnierscd’ in 
the pinnule. . ‘There- appears to he uvuly one Vietorian 
speemmen i) the National Flerburiuni—that fram, the? Gram- 
pias. It has been reeorded feom East and South, iid sprees 
mens would be acceptable at the TFerbarium. 


Genus Dennsraivria (Page 501.) 
\ Dovavariowes (R. Bv.), Moore (Fig. LV). Creeping. Lace 


~ Kern, V., N.B.W..Q,, Ak, NZ. ‘This is a beautifal Porat with 


tender, pitiehediviced fronds, up to 5 feer, springiig From 


- 4 vhizome, like bracken. Tt has its: spore: cases i a -cup- 
shaped tuvoluere with almost entire sedges set at the! base of 


the upper sides. of the very small teeth of the pirruvtles 
(1 Vbe). It i8 common in the jogle-lke erock bottans of 
Kast Cappshind, and there gre speciniens from Johanna 
River, yay Cape Otw ay. -- \ 
‘ : ' \ 
Genus Hyro.t tus, (Page 301). A , at 

Hyon: Pid renuivonia (Mart), Beval, (Pig, Vo Sot 


Hypolepis, V.. N.S.W., Q., As. 2, .N.% This form bears a 


remarkable vesemblanee to the common Dryoplerrs punctata, 
aud, avhen the indusimua has withered, en seareely he cik-} 
tinguishad from that fern. Tt has fronds springing front 
thizome to a height of 4+ or 5 Feat, somewhat ‘peso | 
Davaltia dabin. . The sori ave at the edge of the pinnules, 
between their teeth, and the thdusium consists. of the retlexed 
seale-like margin of the pinnule (Vbe), at fust often eover- 
ing the sorus, bul ait an advanced. stave almost eoncealord 
ander it, ov qnite withered away. There are specimens in- 
the” HWerbarion fronv few Vietorian Toeali Lies ; “Curd” 
River.”” ‘Otway,’ and “Ravnoud Creel.” 


Genus Gane, ANSTHES (Page 301). . 
CUMILANTAES vexuivoua (Baro) Sw. (Fig VL). Rock 
Foren, all States of Australia, As. P.. NLA. This species is 
Found i all parts of Vietoria, and ix sometimes seen thickly 
spread Ovdn granite Tillsides auder eonélitions whieh of woes 
not usually assoekite with fers. with the exeeptima: af the 
Svackeon. Nhe fronds grow to almost a foot in height, aud 
the vdees of the pinnules are revolute to form a cover for 
the sori, whieh are- sometimes contisuous, with the small 
rounded teeth or lobes bent over them. 


ea WiLur arson, Witdnin iervas bbe 


{io V—Adianium: V1, Vil—Lindsaya. Vill—Trichomaues. 


. 


ua Wituramson,’ Victorian Merng ett 


Genus AntlantTuM (Page 302), 


AoaANTUM asrecoricuM, L, (Fig 1}, Common Maiden- 
hair, very ‘widely spread through every eontinent and the 
islands of the Pacific Although found growing under 
ovdmary conditions in serub land, if is a favourite on 
account of its fairy-like appearance, due to the capillary 
stalks of the pinmules. It 1s the only one of the four species 
which has its pinogles not dimidiate (obliquely set on the 
stalks). Tt belongs to a section contaming the old-world 
A, capillus-Veneris, ‘Tine Maidenhair,’? which has been 
ervoneonsly recorded for Vietoria in Supplement 3 to the 


- Census owing to un error in determination by the late Prince 


Bonaparte of specimens of Vietorian forms of A, whhiopicum., 
I{tlustrations of the pinnules of A, cupdlus-Veneris are given 
for comparisua (Tlab). Tit willbe noticed that the pinnules 
ate rather deeply lobed, and that the indusium. extends 
further along the edge than in A. ethiopicum. 


A. rormosuM, R,Br, (Mig. [11)| Giant Maidenhair, V_. 
N.S.W., Q., N.Z. The trouds are large—up to 3 feet—with 
shiny blaek stems, wile its pinnules are almost leathery, 
finely streaked, and minutely toothed at the upper edge. Its 
secondary pinne have hairy stems, It is found only in East 
Gippsland. where it grows thickly on periodieally-flooded 
river alluvial, The author has gathered it at Cann River. 


A. HISPIDULUM, Swartz (Fig. TV). Rowsh Maidenhair, 
¥,, NSW. @., and all other parts of the world, except 
Kurepe. his fern also has been gathered oily in Fast 
Gippsland. Its fronds are pedate (foot-like), having a 
fancied resemblance to the foot of a bird, instead of being 
pinnate, as in the iwo latter species. ‘The pinnules are dis- 
tinetly dimidiate, closely set, finely toothed, and hispid with 
short hairs on the under-surface. Lt has been collected only 
in the extreme East, Genoa River (Rev. A, J, Maher) and 
Oupe Howe (C. Walter). 


A, DIAPHASUM, Blume (Fie V). Filmy Maidenhair 
Pern, V.. NS.W., Q,, As. NZ, P. The-fronds are pedate, 
ender one foot, as in the lust species, irom which if ean be 
distinguished by its membranous pinnules, fewer sori set 
(leeper from the edge, and the few minute black getie (stiff 
Whorn-like hairs). on the longer edge of the pinnule- This 
last is quite a characteristic feature. Tt ig remarkable thik 
this fern has been collected only once in our State, and that 
within 50 miles of Melbourne —Lang Lang River, 10 miles 
west of Dronm. (C. French, senior, 1884.) 


Spe], Wititamson, Victorian Perne 305 


Genus Linpsava (Page 302), 


Linpsaya Linuarts, Swartz (Wig. VI). Serew Fern, all 
States of Australia; P., N.Z This little fern is common 
among sernb near Melbourne, especially in damp, sandy. soil. 
Its sterile fronds (4) growmeg usually 6 inches to 8 inches in 
height, are simply pinnate, the pinne being fan-shaped and 
opposite. The fertile fronds (b) have sori in a continuous 
ling under an indusinm opening outwards on the outes edge 
of the segment. ‘These fertile segments are often found 
folded or screwed up, hence the vernacular ‘‘Serew Mern,”’ 


L.,cunrara (Iorst), CG. Chr. (Fig. VII). Wedge Fern, 
‘Tas., V., N.Z. The fronds are 6 inches to 8 inches in height, 
bipinnate, with pinne about an inch long obovate or 
cuneate, having sori and indusium much like those of DL. 
Iinearis, Vhis term was umrecorded for Victoria until Messrs. 
Audas and St. Iphn collected it near Sealers’ Cove, Wilson’s 
Promontory, m October, 1909, 


APDITIONAL NOTES. 


TRICHOMANES cAUbATUM, Brack. (Fig. VIII). Tailed 
Bristle Fern, V., N.SJW,, Q. The specimen of Trichomanes 
taentionerd in Part 1, p. 223, Mallacoota, C. Barrett, proves 
to be T. caudatwu; new for Victoria. It differs from 7’. 
humile in having pinnate fronds (a). One of the pine is 
shown (b). The frnit-cups (e) are much like those of 7, 
venosum in shape, with the similar long, but often thicker, 
receptacle (d) Tt was gathered well this side of the border, 
pendent from the tiunk of a fem. , 


TRICHOMANES wUMILE. Another scrappy specimen — 
with no date or collector's naine—has come to light. Tt is 
one trom Gembrook, the locality of Mi. Lucas’s specimen. 
Collectors visiting Gembrook should starch carefully for this 
rare fern. 


ALgsorHiLA Repnocom, F.v.M. Part 1, p. 226. 


Vrom particulars supplied by Mau. C. French, senior, who 
knew Mr. Sayer well, and who, with Baron von Mueller, went 
through all that collector’s specimens, it seems. certain that - 
the record tor Victoria is erroneous. This tree fern is. very 
dhstinet, aud no authentic record exists of its oecurreies iT 
Queensland, S. of Roeklampton, or in New South Wales. 
The mistake has evidently occurred through a labelling error 


* Woe { 
S0f Noles fron Fic wad Stucky (Fics NE 


TN DPEPENOH) OV ‘YOUNG. 


Vt is perhaps ot wirusual to see birds defending their 
young: but a contest between a. Elawk and a paiv of Mawpies 
mecently at an altitide of 5500 feet gave us sone ontertait- 
nent ny the early inorming elose to Monnt Manter, N.S, 
Victoria, 

A pair of Magpies, Gynunorhind Tenconota, sud their 
voung were foraging ono flat among the ‘ormesshoppers, 
Tinerdas and Monistrivs, A hawk of some  speeics 
skmumed low and teied to ent off one of the young hires. 
Ninrediately @ime a warning vote from one pareut. want the 
youu maypies closed in, Again the hawk swooped, but rhe 
old biel was waiting, and rose to meet its enemyowith ge shiny 
smiy) OF the bill, pursmine the haw tate a ueighboutine trae. 
The patience of the hawk was admirable, and the Mescpie 
returned to ith family by a prethy, geaeetul curve, 

Lit due couvre tho hawk came dgan at ita qearry. aby 
to fod aw defender wailing, Pive timas theehawk BWwonpudt 
unsuccessfully. What a quick eve the parent bird bad, and 
how eoufident were the voune ones, which ran about feeding, 
vblivious of the enemy. One of the parents vemainect on the 
ground all the time with the fledg@lings, while the other was 
ready to vecept the ehallenge. To na, from a distance of 
100 yards, the Magpie sovtned to rise fest, and anticipate the 
hawk leaving the tree-perch. 

Both birds rematned-on the same tree for some tine after 
an attack, evidently, like practised prize fighters, waitin: Far 
wn opening, When the Magpie deemed ih prided. he 

“returned to the home etrele, till the hawk xesunied Ths quest. 
Kinally, the Magpie family few to the wooded comutry hear 
bhe hint, the parents on the ortside and the young gies 
inside; but the foiled hawk remained for sore time ov the 
bree, having abandoned the hut. Some time biter the cries 
of the young Magpies among the tree-tops showed that food 
was being brought to them.—A.J.U. and A-G.H. 


Aut \ Noles from Field and, Study 307 
56.4, 4 


RUVOUS-RRKASTHD WHISTLER AS A MIMIC. 


Minicry ix prachsed by suine birds to whom that power 
18 NOt Usually-attibuted. Often the imitation, is not docep: 
tive, or js so only for a moment. At other tines the strains 
perfect. I votiewd an example of this at Lake WKerferd, ‘iear 
Beeelhworth, ia Noveniber, 2924. While following a. pair of 
Robins, Petrotca goudenovit, through the serub, J heard a Grey 
Thrush, Follvricinedi leur monacu, call elearly several times, 
The vetes. were wimistakable —*Oh-lam-dourBoyee’’— yet. 
with caeh repetition 1 became more doubtful. | The strain 
Was putea, the pitch exc, yet au tndefinable differauee i 
the quality of the notes set me in seareh of the singer, He 
wus soon found, and proved to be no Thrush, but a Ruafous- 
breasted ‘Whistler, Pachiycephadu riefiventets. A. thomenit 
Jater he broke into his wsanal wear call—‘umela, curicta, 
Heleriehk-ciek’-’—and did wot, tha. 7 heirs qLaI repeat hes 
Thrash notes)... Gann arn. 


SOME BIRDS OF THE MOUNTAIN (LOPS, 


A fitend, whois used tothe plain country, once expressed 
surprise that Crows were to be found on the summit, of Mt. 
eathertop. Daring a short stay atan elevation of befween 
5000 #eut and 6000 feet above sea devel, in the early part of 
Mebruavy, we were interested in noticiny some of the birds 
that. inhabit these: high altitudes. No doubt some, or most, 
of them advance to the highlands as the climate becomes diier 
down country, and in the same way Jeave the highlands in 
ihe antumn, as the weather erows colder, . 


Although we did not sve Minus, it is common knowledge 
that they’ frequent the Bainter Hivh Plains at 5600 feet 
We saw at 5500 feet as poi ax 200 birds in a flaght of 
Crows, aod could not understuid why the earease of a beast 
was lel, untouched for aore than a ‘week, close by. Hawks 
were Goninon. Jin one place on the High Plains, at 5800 tect, 
four -eiveled over as for a Tony time, “while we endeavoured 
40 find a reason: but eventually the birds were driven off 
reluctiuthy and watehed us at a distaiee from their rocky 
pereh. Kagles were seen soaring higher than the highest 
inountains, 6100 feet, but never two together. Plover 
twitted during the day at 5800 feet. 

Many Qnaily were seen, sbrgly, mm quick, short. fight, at 
SHO feet, A Liace of Ducks rose (rom the Kiews River, in 
the Pretty Valley part oof the Migh Whips, at 5500) feet. 
Pipits, Anthus australis, were frequently met with at, 5900 


1048 Notes from Field and Study vick. Mat 


feet. Flame-breasted Robins, Petroica pheniced, were at 
home resting on the roof of onr hut, or on that of an adjacent 
shed, at 5500 feet, Crimson Par rots, Pluiycercus elegans, 
were present in groups, feeding noisily on the seeds of Snow- 
#ums, ab 5700 feet. 


Clumsy Gray Bell-magpies, Sirepera versichlor, rade 
themselves heard, as usual, with their ‘‘Choek, Cho¢k’* aalls 
through the timbered country, at 5600 feet. At 5600 feet a 
large, grey, heavy, silent. and shy bird, that seemed ever on 
the watch for our approach, but never uttered sound, flitted 
quickly and noiselessly from tree to tree, hiding itself in 
the same coloured dead Snow-sums. Again at 5500 feet 
there was a brisk, merry little bird which warbled, but kept 
aut of onr way as we followed to observa, It frequented 
the tree branches of the smaller Snow-gums, and was d& large 
as a sparrow.—aA.J.T. and A.GLH, 


AUSTRALIAN INSECT-GALLS. 


Dr. Van Leeuwin, Direetor of the Botanic Garden, Bui- 
tenzorg, fava, who visited Austvalia to attend the Pan- 
Pacific Science Congress in 1923, was much interested in 
galls of native trees, While the Congress was sitting in 
Melbourne, Mr, ©. French, junior, and Dr. Leeuwin visited 
Sandringham, Cheltenham and Diamond Creek, in séarch of 
insect-galls, and collected a number of undeseribed ‘species. 
In a recent publication, “‘Revista Internazionale de Cecido- 
logia,’’ vol. 21, 1924, most of these walls are illustrated and 
described, ‘lhe publication is in the library of the Govern- 
nient Entomologist, Science Branch, Department of Agrieul- 
ture, Flinders Street, Melbourne, where anyone interested in 
these most remarkable msects are at liberty to consulf it. The 
galls. were found principally on Banksia, Persoonin, Casua- 
rina, Lucalyplus, Acacin, Cassytha and Leptaspermum, The 
paper forms a valuable contribution to the study of galls. 


The Editor invites tiembers to contribute nature notes 
suitable for the Field and Study Section of the Naturalist. 
Paragraphs recording personal observations are most-destred- 
Bach issue of our journal might contain four or five paxes 
of notes.