985 0 2 The A Rosen1ountEstate. 'The prestige wine of Australia:

"We .1elected 'the pre.1tigewine of Au.1tralia 'a,J our .1ignature .1oon after the veryfint vintage at RoJemount &tale. It accurately reflected then, aJ it doeJ now, our dedicati.on to productizg the fineJt wineJ in the land. Many factor.Ihave been re.1po11Ji.hlefor the continuing JtteceJJ ofRo. 1emount wineJ. Vital factorJ like faJJourahle .1otf and cltinatic conditi.on.1; premium grape varietie.,, picked at jwt the right time from prime 11ineyard areaJ; the e.weptional talentJ of the be.1t winemaker.1 and the mo.1t advanced technofogicafuz1zoJ Jati.onJ. We are proud that RoJemount'.Jendeavour.1 in the making of quality Au.Jtralian wineJ have been recogni.1 ed internationally; Ro.1emount Eltate i.J the only AtL.Jtralian wine company to ever win the coveted Double Gold MeJal for a white wtize at the Internati.onal Wtne d Spirit Competiti.onin BriAol, U.K. Likethe triumph of Au.1tralia Ro/,,r/ I. Onlfry, Proprielorof Rru,mounl &in/,. II at Newport, Rhode I.1/and, and Au.1tralia'., many other recent JtlCCe.JJe.J in .1port, ma.1ic and the art.1, Ro.1emount'.1 growing internati.onal reputati.on for unize quality can only enhance that of A1L.Jtrafia it.1e/f."

From the early selection of land in the Hunter Valley and the first plantings of grapes, the rich well-drained soil and the climate of Rosemount Estate promised superior vintagesof wine. Bob Oatley and his Family, together with a highly experienced team of enthusiastic winemakers, continue to exceed all expectations, and to prove appropriate the signature of Rosemount Estate-'the prestige wine of Australia.'

\ii

� � ROSEMOUNT ESfATE The prestige wine of Australia.

Adrenalin 7188

AB268s/83 ustralian II living birds - the rotites. North Queenslanders Clifford and Down Frith have studied this bird at length and photographed a male cassowary incubating eggs at his nest. This world photographic first is the subject for this edition's liftout colour poster. Another highlight is our feature on roptors, or birds They are fearless, contINSIDEemptuous of humans and of prey. They are the archetypal symbol of war, j:live boldly into the midst of barbecue groups, even violence and fierceness; their killing behaviour hos carrying off pieces of sausage. The European Wasp is been the stuff of legends since primitive times. As well, an aggressive exotic pest that has established itself in their grace, serenity and soaring flight are the essence f.any partsof Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales. of dreams. he last few months have seen a rapid spread What did Australia's oldest mammal look like? Have hroughout parts of metropolitan Sydney. Read the full a look at artist Peter Schouten's reconstruction inside, ·tory inside. which is based on considerable research of a mammal The Australian Cassowary is a huge, flightless bird jaw found at Lightning Ridge. Read about that great �elated to the Emu and is a member of what many palaeontological pastime, the reconstruction of fossil rnithologists consider to be the most primitive group of animals. CONTENTS Rob Cameron, Editor. ?

... she shall hove murids wherever she goes": Rot Catching in Papua New Guinea Steven Von Dyck ......

he Sweet-tooth Invader: European Wasp Spreads �t Alarming Rote ("1P..c,tcf [} 0 11 372 \j See Robyn wm;am, L-- L�: :0: :::,� ;�=:; ��;�;�; ;;;�:; :�� fowerful Bites �!� John Freeland ...... 377

�ore and Endangered - The Block-striped Snoke ...... 380

�obyn Williams - The Gullibility Factor: Sheldroke's �orphogenetic Field ...... 381

=orum - Whitehouse: Image Update for Notional 'arks? ...... 382 tters ...... 384 ( : oster - The Australian Cassowary ...... 385 �ooks ...... 386

Spider Fishingin the Snowy Mountains David W. Inouye ...... 388

The Cassowary at his Nest: A Photographic First Clifford and Down Frith ...... 390

Reconstructing Australia's Oldest Mammal Timothy Flannery ...... 396

Opal Fossils: Flashes from Lightning Ridge Alex Ritchie ...... 396

[hotoort - The Urban Tree ...... 399

e l . i r t s g�i in��� ��t ����.. �.�... . .'. .' ... � .. ��··��· ··���· ··· ···9.��.. �.��·········· 402

The Howkesbury: A River under Threat Alan Jones ...... 404 I Cover: Wedge-toiled Eagle, Aquila audax. Photo: Ford L. Bulldog ant, Mvrmecia gulosa. Photo: Leo Meier. Full storv ,

by Ford L. Kristo aptors (birds of prey) have spurred man's imagination since the dawn of our con­ ciousness. The duality we observe in their "psyche" is intriguing. On the one hand, he archetypal symbol of war, violence and fierceness, their aggressive killing behav­ our has been the stuff of legends since primitive times. On the other hand, their grace, serenity and soaring flight are the essence of dreams and boundless elation. istorically, raptors, along with hours. The group includes eagles, create noise as the feather posses most other predatory species. hawks and falcons. Owls generally through the air.) Consequently, on have been persecuted by work the nightshift (although the owl's prey hears nothing of the man. This in itself is not unusual - Powerful Owl has been known to attacker's approach - at least not tnterspecific rivalry between pred­ hunt during the day). Each group until it's too late. Long, brood wings ators is a fact of life. However. in possesses different adaptations allow the Wedge-toiled Eagle to ,nan's case. the intent and extent of appropriate to their respective life­ soar over open plains or rise on ther­ this persecution are highly question­ styles. mal air currents. covering great dis­ able. Add to this the effects of gross Visual acuity (sharpness of sight) tances, while expending minimal habitat alteration and destruction in some raptors is eight times that of energy. Goshawks hove short, and the residual environmental man. An eagle can spot a rat 1,500 brood wings ideally suited to the toxins that have been freely dis­ metres distant. They are also able to split-second monoevring required pensed over the past decades. and scan the horizon without moving when hunting in scrub and forest the bottom line may spell extinction their eyeballs or head. Because situations. Falcons hove long, for many species. there are few, if any, animals that narrow-tipped wings enabling them The biological adaptations of might attack them from above, to engage in high-speed pursuits raptors, acquired through eons of nature has equipped the top half of and fast-contour flying (rapid flights evolution. enabled them to become their retinas with the bulk of their one or two metres above the ground an extremely efficient and success­ allotted sensory cells. Some falcons designed to catch unaware prey in ful group of animals. Potent hunters hove block feathers underneath the open). In high-speed dives. Pere­ and excellent parents. their contin­ their eyes that act to reduce grine Falcons hove been known to lued existence in a natural environ­ reflected glare. Owls' eyes ore exceed 300 kilometres per hour. ment would be assured. But as we immovably fixed in their skulls. In The talons of roptors are versa­ are all aware. natural environments order to compensate. they hove the tile, formidable weapons. Good for are diminishing under the weight of ability to turn their heads through plucking food out of thin air, they human needs and wants. almost 360 degrees. are also invaluable for holding Born Owls locate their meals by down larger prey items so that they iThe birds in question sound. By deciphering differences in con be dismantled using the beak. Birds of prey can be divided into arrival time of sounds at each ear, There isn't a great deal of difference two large groups: diurnal and noc­ they are able to pinpoint the in the shapes of beaks between the turnal birds. Diurnal raptors go location of prey. various roptor species because. no about their lives in the daylight The wing shape of a raptor gives matter which bird they hang off. "Female Peregrine Falcon Hunt­ a fair indication of how and where it they are applied to the same basic ing Banded Lapwing". Reproduced hunts. Owls need to be able to fly tasks: ripping, tearing and picking. here is part of a gouache painting silently and with extreme monoevro­ Considering prey species in Aus­ by one of the world's top bird bility to take nocturnal prey. They tralia, one might start with grass­ painters Richard Weatherly. Much of are equipped with short, brood hoppers and frogs and work up to Richard's time is spent outdoors wings and "silenced" feathers. The wallabies and small kangaroos. sketching birdlife near his home at feathers are soft, pliable and hove although records of a horse and a Mortlake, western Victoria. Richard downy surfaces. (Normally flight crop-dusting plane being assaulted is a founding member of the Society feathers are very rigid and have a by Wedge-tailed Eagles do exist. If of Wildlife Artists of Australasia. hard "cutting edge". These features carrion is taken into account. the

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 363 Australian lfatural History Published by The Australian Museum Trust 6-8 College Street,2000 Sydney.(02) N.S.W. 8111 Phone: 339 Trust President: Kris Klugman Museum Director: Desmond Griffin RobertEDITOR Cameron

ASSISTANTGeorgina EDITOHickeyR

JohnCIRCULATION McIntosh

ARTSue DIRECTOR Oakes

Keen TYPESETTINGPermofilm Pty Ltd

RodenPRINTING Print Sydney

AustralianADVERTISING Museum Community Relations Division Phone: (02) 339 8234 Barn Owls, besides beingNPIAW. able to use sight to locate their meals, also usE sound. Photo: K. Ireland Annual SUBSCRIPTIONSsubscription (4 issues) within Australia $A11.00 Putting the boot in whil Other countries $A13.00 prey spectrum is increased to virtu­ they're down departmen Two years subscription (8 issues) ally any beast capable of dying. limiting factors. within Australia $A21.00 This does not mean that any one Other countries $A25.00 bird of prey con operate over the Single copies entire range of possibilities: each In a natural. self-regulating ecc Australia SA3.00; posted $A3.75 species has its preferred range of system. population numbers or $A4.50 prey in accord with the limitations maintained at optimum levels by < for renewalOther countries or subscription please imposed by its own size. And so it is number of built-in controls. For rap forward the appropriate cheque, that the Australian Kestrel (our small­ tors the following limiting factor money order or bankcard number of est falcon and bird of prey) dines on may be considered: the availabilit authority mode payable to: mice, insects and small reptiles; the of suitable and sufficient habitat; th� Australian Natural History The Australian Museum Block Falcon. a medium sized rap­ availability of suitable and sufficierl P.O. Box A285 Sydney South tor. on rots. Rabbits. starlings and prey; the ability to produce vioblE N.S.W. 2000, Australia Galahs; and the Wedge-tailed progeny; and predators. Positive o Subscribers from other countries Eagle. our largest. on Rabbits. walla­ negative changes in these factor1 please note that money must be paid bies and goannas. Each raptor will produce correspond in( in Australian currency. species will attack anything they increases or decreases in the bir< All material appearing in Australian believe they are capable of killing. if population. Natural History is copyright. Reproduction In whole or in port Is not the opportunity presents itself. One The Osprey, a ty,-.1e of fishin� permitted without written authorisation prey species so far not mentioned is hawk. requires ledges on coastc from the Editor. man. An authentic record tells of cliffs. or toll trees with little or no con Opinions expressed by the authors ore how a young child was carried off opy cover situated in relative!• their own and do not necessarily represent the policies or views of the from outside his hut and into a undisturbed estuaries. in order t< Australian Museum. nearby tree by a New Guinea Eagle. nest. Extensive urban and industriq The Editor welcomes articles or If not for his brother climbing the tree development on the eastern sed photographs in any field of natural to kill the bird and rescue him, the board now occupies some areas o history. child would have gone into his next former Osprey habitat. and thei life as guano. numbers have correspondingl Why is it then, that these oppor­ decreased. Presently. there ore 1 l . ISSN-0004-9840 tunistic birds. kitted out with such known active Osprey nests on th efficient adaptations for their role in northern New South Wales coast .. life. face an uncertain future? not particularly impressive. However 364 VOL. 21 No. 9. WINTER 198� the prov1s1on of artificial nest sites may improve the situation. One has been erected near Sawtell to replace a nest tree that had been removed because it posed a threat to nearby houses. Another is planned for the Byron Bay area. The clearing of approximately 90 per cent of New South Wales rain­ forests has placed limiting pressures on the Pacific Baza (or Crested Hawk). Habitat alteration elsewhere has also introduced similar pressures on the Red Goshawk, Grey Falcon, Eastern Grass Owl and Sooty Owl populations. DDT, a persistent pesticide, has been used in copious quantities on a world-wide basis. Being top-order predators, raptors are particularly susceptible to DDT accumulation in their body tissue. The ingestion of large sublethal doses of DDT causes raptors to become sterile, suffer serious behavioural changes, or lay eggs with very thin shells. If a bird attempts to incubate these thin­ shelled eggs, its body weight crushes them, the result being that The Eastern Grass Owl is considered vulnerable and rare due to habitat no young birds are recruited into the alteration and destruction. Photo: H. & J. Beste NPIAW. population to replace losses of older birds due to old age, predation and disease. In this way, the numbers of American Peregrines have been decimated to an estimated five to ten per cent of the original pre-DDT population level. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has records of over 12,500 tonnes of this insidious chemical being spread over our countryside in the 20 years prior to 1982. The impact of this practice will be obvious for many years to come as this persistent toxin wends its way through out ecosystems. DDT is now perhaps the most widely distributed synthetic compound in the world. It has even been detected in the tis­ sues of Antartic penguins. Other types of poisoning also affect raptor populations. Pesticides continue to be used deliberately (and quite illegally) in baits to kill birds of prey - as opposed to those legitimately applied in agricultural practice. Several cases of death due to lead poisoning as a direct result of consuming prey carrying shotgun pellets have also been reported. The last limiting factor to con­ sider is predation. Natural agents account for a minor proportion of

This Masked Owl has used its power­ ful talons to secure a rat for dinner. This is the Tasmanian variety, which is larger than the mainland form. Photo: D. Watts NPIAW. AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 365 licence in some North American States but. in countries where fal­ conry is illegal. this practice places pressures on wild populations and is sometimes difficult to monitor. Rood kills can be a significant cause of mortality in some roptor species. Attracted to roadsides by dead animals killed by cars, they 1 too become victims. Unfortunately, there seems to be no remedy for this type of carnage. Legal eagle Considering all these limiting' factors. their proven and potential impact on roptor populations. it is obvious that the continued exis­ tence of some species might be threatened. Illustrating this is the fact that. of the 24 species of diurnal rop­ tors in Australia. nine have bee1 listed as "Vulnerable and Rare' under Schedule 12 of the New Sout') Wales National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. The list includes the Osprey, Pacific Baza, Brohminy Kite The Australian (or Nankeen) Kestrel, Australia's smallest falcon and bird of Square-toiled Kite. Block-breasted prey, has just caught a small lizard. Photo: H. & J. Beste NPIAW. Buzzard. Red Goshawk. Block Fal­ con. Peregrine Falcon and Grey Fal­ raptor mortality. Some birds go vived in any case) or feed on lambs con. Of the eight species of ow down to parasites and disease, already dead. Predation on live found in Australia, four ore also while small numbers may be killed lambs accounts for one or two per listed as "Vuleroble and Rare·' by other roptors, mammal carni­ cent of lamb mortality. Other studies (Powerful. Masked. Eastern Gross vores and reptiles. (Death in imma­ indicate that feral pigs and, to a and Sooty Owls). One further species ture birds is usually the result of lesser extent. marauding dogs ore and two subspecies of owl ore listed accidents caused by inexperience.) the major predators of lambs. as "Species of Special Concern" Predation by man is the ugliest and healthy or sick. Thankfully. whether (Rufous. Christmas Island and Norfolk most avoidable cause of mortality. due to the dissemination of this infor­ Island Boobook Owls). The White­ Roptors are variously regarded mation or the introduction of pro­ bellied Sea Eagle also comes into as sheep, chicken and racing tective legislation. the sight of dead this category. pigeon killers. or just good targets Wedge-tails hanging on fences. To briefly summarise the protect­ for vandals. Steel-jaw traps ore set once a standard feature of rural ive legislation pertaining to roptors is on fence posts (a favoured perch for landscapes. is becoming less com­ difficult due to the fact that each roptors in open country). Birds land­ mon. However. groziers in some State hos its own Fauna Authority. ing on the traps score two broken ports of central . and northwestern with its own lows and penalties. How­ legs and a slow death. It is thought Queensland still go to great lengths ever. in most States all roptors hove by on officer of the Tasmanian to persecute Wedge-toils. including "Protected Species" status. The Notional Porks and Wildlife Service hunting them from light planes. exception is Western Australia where that local bounties of between S20 The humble egg collector is on open season on Wedge-toils and and S50 ore paid to trappers by another limiting factor for raptor Brown Goshawks exists. pigeon racing devotees for dead populations. Predictably, the torer a It is on offence to take. kill. roptors. One recent case involved a species becomes, the more valu­ injure. restrain. or hold protected trapper who. using steel-jaw traps able ore their eggs and, ironically, species. Many States extend this pro­ set around a live pigeon lure, because of its "threatened" status. a tection to specifically cover roptor caught and killed a Swamp Harrier species con be pushed closer to young. ports of birds (skins. feathers. (a type of hawk), a Tiger Cot and a extinction. Among the 10,000 eggs etc.). eggs and ports of eggs. In Tasmanian Devil in one fell swoop. recently confiscated from a New some instances it is an offence to He in turn was caught by rangers, South Wales collector. were found disturb or molest birds. The Victorian prosecuted and fined the paltry sum 17 Peregrine Falcon and 38 Osprey Deportment of Fisheries and Wildlife of $225 for his offences. Trapping eggs. The New South Wales Notional closes the breeding areas of certain and shooting in Tasmania possibly Porks and Wildlife Service estimates "Notable Species" during their kills 20 to 30 Peregrines and several that in New South Wales alone col­ breeding seasons. Rock-climbers. hundred other roptor species annu­ lectors hold over half a million eggs for example. might disturb Peregrine ally. of various bird species. Falcons attempting to nest on cliff Wedge-toils hove long been Illegal falconers con also be faces. South Australia has specifi­ regarded as "sheep killers". How­ regarded as a predotoriol threat. In cally legislated to outlaw falconry. ever. research studies indicate that order to obtain birds for hunting. New South Wales legislation pro­ they generally take sick or weak roptor nests ore robbed of young. vides a maximum penalty of $4,000 lambs (which would not hove sur- This may be done legally under and/or 12 months imprisonment for 366 VOL. 21 No. 9. WINTER 1985 )ffences against "Endangered corporations. The best publicised presently only in its incipient stages, =auna". Victorian fines for offences activity of the Fund is the captive will hopefully develop and stan­ ::igainst similarly protected species breeding and release of Peregrines dardise artificial insemination tech­ nay be as high as S5,000, with an on a nation-wide basis. The breed­ niques for captive breeding. The ::idditional S500 for each additional ing technique involves "imprinting" approach will differ from that used ::inimal or part thereof. young male and female Peregrines in the United States, insofar as the on human sexual surrogates to birds are not imprinted, the males ending a helping talon reduce the variables of natural mat­ being manually ejaculated - a Besides the passive assistance ing, such as pair compatibility. The technique borrowed from the )ffered by protective legislation, collection of semen and the fertilis­ poultry industry. )ther more active methods are ation of eggs involve interludes While no population of Austra­ )eing used to aid the raptors' sur­ between imprinted birds and their lian raptor is threatened sufficiently ;ival. human "sexual partners". Imprinted to warrant the application of these 1n the United States, where the females can lay up to 14 eggs, measures. having the techniques �eregrine Falcon population has which can then be incubated arti­ perfected and personnel trained in )een decimated through pesticide ficially. Captive-bred birds have their use, will greatly reduce the

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 367 "Female Peregrine Soaring" Sierra Gap, Grampians, Vic­ toria, by Richard Weatherly. This paint­ ing is reproduced with permission from Macquarie Heritage Productions and will be incorporated later this year in a porce­ lain plate collection. birds to mate under captive con­ service more important roles in edu­ which serves to disseminate details ditions. In this way, Peregrine Fal­ cation. scientific research and pub­ of research projects and obser­ cons. Brown Goshawks and lic relations. vations of raptor behaviour and Australian Kestrels have been bred. Other conservationists are ecology. The promotion of public Rehabilitation is another method involved with various projects that interest and education regarding used to assist raptor conservation. entail the capture. banding and progress and problems in this area Training methods adapted from the release of birds of prey. The infor­ is essential. Most importantly, it must practice of falconry are used on mation gained provides insights into be emphasised that the responsi­ some species to bring injured birds territory requirements. juvenile mor­ bility for conserving our native fauna (victims of collisions with vehicles. tality and dispersion. and other should not be heaped on the gunshot wounds. etc.) up to con­ aspects of the birds' ecologies. and shoulders of a handful of individuals. dition for re-release into the bush. provides a basis for the sound man­ Saving our natural heritage is the Except where a species is highly agement of their populations. responsibility of us all. of this and endangered. rehabilitation prob­ The Australian Raptor Associ­ successive generations.D ably does not influence the size of ation. with over 200 members. wild populations overall. These birds publishes a quarterly newsletter.

368 VOL. 21 No. 9. WINTER 1985 _:,;. () � C g C Cl) > � V)

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" • • • she shall have murids wherever she goes" RAT CATCHING IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA by Steven Van Dyck, Queensland Museum

Male Telefomin of West Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea have a distinct revulsion for rats. They will neither eat nor hunt them - tasks that have been left to the women. This story is about one such woman, Sguminipe who, with able machete and nimble fingerwork, demonstrated her bushcraft in catching the juicy evening meal.

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 369 The village of Ofektaman, West Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea. Photo: Steven Van Dyck. ow quickly the first trip to us, put it this way: "The people of this a single dependent offspring as big Papua New Guinea brings village are frightened. They have as a guinea-pig. soaring mammalogists firmly never had white hunters living and Equipped with her only tool, a down to Earth! With heads swimming hunting with them. They are scared machete, she strode away from the in preposterous dreams of its bizarre that if you have an accident you will village to her family's taro garden a fauna and legs buckling under the return to your people and tell them kilometre away. From there she (and load of modern trapping gadge­ that we did not look after you, and we) scrambled down steep creek­ tries, all soon twig to lesson number they will be angry with us. So we will bank slopes choked with bamboo one; it is the people in whose vil­ go hunting today and you will stay and vines, until she located a small lages we are guests that are the here in the house. Don't be fright­ cryptic hole in the bank. A crypt experts - the virtuosi of collectors ened. I have told all the others and indeed for rats! She slashed at a and ecologists. It was little wonder no one will come and kill you." sapling with the machete and made that, on checking out our modest Here was West Sepik diplomacy a short, sharp digging stick. Then returns. they discretely scratched at its finest. Some of the old villagers she began to widen the 60 milli­ their heads and puuled as to how may have shared this concern but metre hole and rip the soil from Europeans ever became so plump. those who had taken us out hunting above its tunnel. As she followed the In this context, it was an Ofekta­ the night before, who had seen us tunnel along she loosened the soil man woman called Sguminipe, stumble around in the dark, who by stabbing with the stick, she whose ability to catch rats made all hacked roots with the machete and our aluminium traps, our delica­ had heard the cracking and crun­ tore away the overburden. After fol­ tessen of baits and our arsenal of ching generated from under what lowing about two metres of straight. weapons look like extravagant toys must have been jack boots on our unbranching tunnel she plunged her for spoiled children! In two days she feet. and who had listened to us arm up the passage and caught (by hand!) more murid retching for breath after the horren­ announced "llam". Her flashing grin rodents than our combined efforts dous mountainside climbs. realised precluded something noxious and and paraphernalia had amassed in that, when it came to efficient hunt­ reptilian but her withdrawing hand five weeks. ing, we constituted impedimenta! gripped only a bunch of dry bam­ Her small village of Ofektaman. But. under our protests of antici­ boo leaves. In our artless excitement at approximately 1,500 metres. pated boredom, Sguminipe, wife of we urged her to go back and pull nestles breathtakingly into the side the headman's brother, was pre­ out whatever lived in there. But of the Donner Mountains about 15 pared (ond slightly embarrassed) to instead she blocked the passage kilometres north-west of Telefomin in have us follow her while she with a clod and began to clear the West Sepik Province of Papua searched for rats during the day. away all the leaf-litter and sticks New Guinea. The initial warmth and Rats are despised by menfolk and from the area immediately above hospitality of the villagers of Ofekta­ eaten by only women and children. where the dry bamboo leaves had man to our presence belied a dis­ This apparent male revulsion for rats come from underground. When a quiet among them that wasn't made extended even to rodents the size of few square metres had been care­ known to us until the second morn­ Hyomys goliafh which could provide fully and completely cleared she ing. Willok. a young Telefomin man a meal tipping the scales at about pointed to a tiny hole, no wider than whom we had employed to hunt for one kilogram and which produced a walnut, about a metre away in the

370 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 Sguminipe, excavating a rat bur­ row. Photo: Steven Van Dyck. soil. Paying it no further attention she unplugged the main tunnel and thrust her left arm in. For the next minute. Sguminipe's twitching biceps and changing facial expressions told the tale of the battle going on underground. But her eye caught signs of activity at the walnut-size hole. whereupon her free right hand slammed down on a rat as it popped out through the escape exit. She hovered over the hole for a while, but when no more appeared she withdrew the other hand that had plugged the main tunnel. We expected the twitching escapee to be reunited with its nest­ mate possibly coming up in the left hand, but in true Dogwood Sand­ wich style the left hand paraded five throttled rats. one dangling between each finger and the fifth crushed into the palm by the others. Altogether in that single leafy nest were five adult males and one adult female Pogonomys sylvestris, a medium-sized. semi-arboreal rat of forest and disturbed areas. Sguminipe repeated the procedure on the opposite bank catching a female with two furred but suckling young. (The squeaking babies were kept alive to be given as playthings to children back at the village.) By the end of the day, she had caught 28. That night Sguminipe ate the rats. but we ate humble pie.O

Tim Flannery (Australian Museum) and Martin Krogh (University of New South Wales) accompanied me on this expedition to Papua New Guinea. which was financed by the National Geo­ graphic Society and the Linnean Society of New South Wales. Mike Archer (U.N.S.W.) obtained the National Geo­ graphic Society grant. Don Gardener (Australian National University) couldn't have done more to help bridge our cul­ tural and language gaps and Robert Attenborough (A.N.U.) was a tower of moral support. Dan Jorgensen (University of Ontario) and Tony Friend (Telefomin) also helped us greatly.

Ofektaman boys with freshly caught rats Photo: Steven Van {HyomysDyck. go/iath).

371 THE SWEET-TOOTH INVADER European Wasp Spreads at Alarming Rat by Geoff Holloway They are fearless, contemptuous of humans and dive cavalierly into the midst of barbecue groups, even carrying offpieces of sausage. They have quickly established themselves in many parts of southern Australia and in recent months have spread quickly throughout metropolitan Sydney. The European Wasp is an exotic pest that is having an impact on the honey industry and is a major social pest in open-air situations. Mainstream media has labelled this aggressive insect a killer. No human deaths have yet occurred in Australia and the number of reported stinging attacks has been remarkably low. Wasp expert, Australian Museum entomologist Geoff Holloway receives hundreds of phone calls each week from distressed Sydney-siders whose residences have become home to this sweet-tooth invader. Geoff reports on the latest developments for Australian Natural History.

372 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 � A queen (on the left) and worker. fertilised eggs hatch, producing The worker is in the process of feed­ male or female offspring according ing a larva. Photo: Otto Rogge. to their sex chromosomes. Bees, ants and wasps, however. produce Wodonga and a nest was recently females from fertilised and males found in Canberra. from unfertilised eggs. It is necessary It is believed the wasp was first for the founding female or queen in introduced to Australia from New a social colony to store sperm she Zealand cargo, arriving in Tasmania receives at mating in a small sac in 1959. The first Sydney sighting was attached to her oviduct. The queen in 1975, and for Melbourne and then releases the sperm as required Perth 1977. to produce male or female eggs. This introduced insect. which is The life of the wasp colony is regula­ native to Europe, north Africa and ted throughout the year by the temperate Asia, has flourished in queen's control over the sex of her Australia because of the amenable offspring. Unlike the common Honey climate. In Europe, the harsh winters Bee. there is more than one queen wipe out most nests each year, leav­ in the wasp colony; towards autumn ing only the dormant queens to re­ there are often more than 1,000 establish the colony in spring. With reproductive females. the milder Australian climate, the nests can survive and grow from European Wasps construct large year to year. nests, up to 60 centimetres in diam­ The European Wasp is a social eter, usually undergound, and insect, living in large colonies with occasionally in buildings or in hollow female wasps minding the brood trees. In their native habitat. that is not their own. opening the European Wasps build their nests in way for division of labour. Some the ground and are subject to natu­ members of the colony forage for ral predators such as hedgehogs food, some forage for nesting and parasites, while a related material. others clean and maintain species, V. vu/garus, construct their the nest. The colony possesses a nests in buildings and trees. caste system where individuals are In Australia there are no natural physically different according to predators to attack and feed on the their role in the colony. wasp. Authorities here are monitor­ Bees. ants and wasps have a ing New Zealand experiments where mechanism for sex determination a parasitic insect has been intro­ that is well suited to this caste sys­ duced in an attempt to control wasp tem. Usually, for most insects, only populations. The European Wasp is a strong flier. With its legs drawn in towards the body it returns to the nest carrying either food for the larvae or nest-building ,..material between its mandibles. Photo: Otto Rogge.

ecent sightings by the public of the European Wasp (Ves­ pu/a germanica) suggest a rapid colonisation into New South Wales. While last year 184 nests were reported throughout the State. for the first three months alone in 1985 there have been 187 sightings. The majority of these were from the Sydney metropolitan areas around the Georges River/Port Hacking, the inner city and northern suburbs. The European Wasp is now wide­ spread in Tasmania, southern Victo­ ria and Sydney south to Wollongong, south-west to Bowral, Mittagong and north to Gosford. New South Wales and Victoria have also experienced isolated outbreaks in Forbes, the Riverina. Goulburn, Sunraysia and

AUSTRALIAN NATUR AL HISTORY 373 374 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 To overcome the cold and severe winters of Europe, the wasp nest is deserted in late autumn and the queens hibernate over winter in woodpiles, roofs, sheds, under bark or motor vehicles and even in the tolds of curtains. Few queens survive the European winter due to pred­ ators, lock of food and unsuitable nest sites. Queens that do survive construct the initial cells of the nest on a small stalk or peduncle in much the some way as their rela­ tives, the Poper Nest Wasps, do in Australia. The initial 10 to 12 cells ore con-

A The European Wasp colony at its peak may consist of 20,000 or more individuals. The cells covered by white caps contain pupae, and those uncovered reveal the larvae. Photo: Otto Rogge.

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 375 seven to eight tiers constructed in a material the workers will usually fly in European Wasp venom is a mix­ season. The papier-mache jacket a direct path back to the colony. ture of histamines and other active that covers the nest consists of tim­ The nest can often be found by chemicals and is injected under the ber taken from trees, paling fences observing the flight path. skin by means of the ovipositor on and even telegraph poles. This is When present in large numbers, the posterior end of the female masticated and mixed with saliva. wasps are aggressive pests, espe­ wasp. Unlike the common Honey By working in the same direction cially when feeding on ripe fruit or in Bee, which loses its stinging appar­ as the grain the wasp rolls up the weak bee hives with depleted num­ atus. wasps can make repeated stripped timber with its mouth parts bers. Being a voracious feeder, the stings. A red mark will appear at the and flies back to the nest. After European Wasp represents a serious site of the painful sting. Swelling may being chewed to a pulp the timber threat to the honey industry by rob­ occur and linger for a week or so. is added to the nest. The entrance is bing the hive of its contents. The The pain may last for several hours. usually at the bottom of the nest. wasps will also enter houses, fac­ Some victims will show an tories and shops and disturb pets allergic response to the venom, Both in Europe and Australia while they are feeding. Several ani­ causing general puffiness of the skin males are produced in large num­ mals have died after being stung in well beyond the site of the sting. An bers in autumn. In Australia, how­ the mouth. asthma-like condition may develop ever, the queens may not leave the The wasp will usually only sting and medical advice should be nest at this time to hibernate over human beings when the nest is dis­ sought as soon as possible. the winter. It appears the queens turbed or if foraging workers are The Department of Agriculture in leave the colony after the third year. threatened. In some areas of Austra­ each State is monitoring the distri­ By this time the original colony num­ lia, however, they have threatened bution of the wasp as well as review­ bers some 20.000 or more individu­ the outdoor tradition of the Aussie ing control methods. All sightings of als, over 1,000 being queens. barbecue. A wasp may enter an nests should be reported to local The workers forage for protein opened soft drink or beer -can and, councils and advice on control food and will often be found on not surprisingly, may be ingested measures can be obtained from the meat, fish, mature fruit, sweet foods with the owner's next sip. If the wasp Department of Agriculture in your as well as being attracted to soft stings the mouth or throat, swelling State. D drinks, fruit juices and beer. Having usually results which can impede gathered sufficient food or nesting breathing. WILD BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA by RICHARD WEATHERLY Prints are available either UNFRAMED One of the world's foremost wildlife artists or FULLY CONSERVATION FRAMED IN GOLD WOOD AN IDEAL GIFT OR PERFECT FOR AN EXCITING NEW THE HOME OR OFFICE SERIES OF PRINTS,------Currently available: Image Price Price EACH EDITION LIMITED TO 500 size Unframed Framed cm. $ $ signed and numbered by the artist Black Duck landing in the morning mist 44x62 100 200 Black-winged Stilts Gouache 1984 Black-winged Stilts 44x62 100 200 Mountain Ash & Crimson Rosellas 36x47 75 160 Peregrine Falcon & Chestnut Teal 35x42 50 130 Red-tailed Black Cockatoo 37 x30 50 130 UNFRAMED PRINTS POSTED FREE OF CHARGE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD FRAMED PRINTS SENT FREE OF CHARGE IN AUSTRALIA Send cheque or money order to: CONNEWARRAN PRESS, PO Box 21, Mortlake, 3272 Victoria, AUSTRALIA (Tel.): (055) 99 7276 Information about the artist and other wildlife prints is available upon request. Dealerships available in some areas.

376 VOL. 21 No. 9. WINTER 1985 Most people seem to think there This species had been known for At the ready! This Myrmecia gulosa are two kinds of bulldog ants: the about 40 years from two (only) dead worker may have been alerted by "reddies" and the "blackies". They specimens in the Museum of Victo­ vibration of the ground or by an argue about the relative severity of ria. It is thought to be even more "alarm substance" from the mandi­ their stings and children put different primitive and is yielding valuable bular glands of nest mates. Photo: kinds in a jar, shaking them to make information for Dr Taylor. It has Kathie Atkinson. them fight . . . Result? Two dead enabled him to postulate changes ants. However, there may be 50 to to the family tree of the ant subfami­ such work, it is often difficult to tell 100 species of bulldog and jumper lies. Ants are believed to have whether one is looking at geo­ ants in the genus Myrmecia, all con­ evolved from solitary wasps and graphical variation within one fined to Australia except one in New Nothomyrmecia is very wasp-like. species or several species resem­ Caledonia. The largest species are Next come Amblyopone and Myr­ bling each other very closely. This is called "bulldogs" because of the mecia. However, because of their further complicated by Mullerian tenacious grip with their mandibles, usually large size, often diurnal mimicry. though they sting from the rear end, foraging, their aggression and alert­ The common form of protective and because they emerge like a looking movements, the bulldogs mimicry is Batesian mimicry, pack of dogs to defend their nest. and jumpers are the most wasp-like whereby an innocuous species looks The term is often abbreviated to to the casual observer. Though they or smells to a would-be predator like "bullants" or "bulljoes". In Tasmania are morphologically and behaviour­ a distasteful or a dangerous one. In the large species are called ally very generalised, their special­ Mullerian mimicry, however. both the "inchmen" and the smaller ones ised mandibles and some of their mimic and model are hazardous "jack jumpers". Some of the small habits (to be described below), prey, and they engage in mutual kinds have a skipping movement together with the fact that a few advertising. ("If you've encountered when excited, hence the nickname species are parasitic on other Myr­ something like us before, you'd be "jumpers". mecia species, suggest a degree of wise to leave us alone.") The genus, until recently, vied derived specialisation. Therefore, Consequently, in a given local­ with another Australian one, Amb/y­ they are probably an early side ity, several species of bulldog ants opone, for the honour of being the branch of ant evolution. can look very much alike at a cas­ most primitive ant group available Before we can be sure about the ual glance. There are examples for study ... a typical example of number of species of Myrmecia where one species can vary from jet the Australian biological inverted there are, much research will be black through dark, reddish-brown snobbery! In 1978 Dr Robert Taylor of needed using morphological, stat­ to bright brick red. orange or even the CSIRO rediscovered Nothomyr­ istical and even biochemical and yellowish. according to what other mecia macrops in South Australia. chromosomal techniques. Without Myrmecia species are in the vicinity. AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 377 Thus there may be a non-varying in their nest chambers. The larvae New South Wales, research is being model species or three or four puncture the prey with their tiny carried out into the origin of colony species may all mimic one another. mandibles and suck out the body odour. A few Myrmecia species are juices. Workers, queens and males In Myrmecia, instead of regurgi­ very stable for colour and can be may then join in the feast. tation. workers and queens of many recognised promptly. One example Species vary in the kinds of prey species lay soft eggs that they is the common, red, diurnal M. selected. Some, like M. gulosa, deliver with their own mandibles gulosa (pictured) of the sandstone being very generalised, and some and present to the larvae or are areas of coastal New South Wales others probably rather specialised taken with or without prior solici­ and Queensland. It builds conspicu­ in their tastes. They also take moist tation by other adults. Solicitation ous nest mounds "decorated" with matter. such as water and exuda­ consists of antenna! stroking about Eucalyptus fruits, leaves, twigs, tions from plants or sedentary, plant­ the head of the hopeful donor and pebbles, charcoal fragments, etc.. sucking bugs, for example, lerps, palpation ("licking" with the palps) and is the kind that usually attacks waxes and scales. They will drink the of its mandibles. The supplier then picnickers. sap of a gum tree where a cicada doubles its abdomen forward Another constant for colouration has fed and flown away, leaving a between its legs and the recipient is M. tarsata, the common metallic wet patch on the bark. It is also likely takes the egg material with its mouth green-blackish one with yellowish that they would imbibe the juice of parts and consumes it. mandibles and an orange tip to the damaged, succulent fruits. It has long been believed that abdomen. It tends to occur near All foods pass into the crop though some Myrmecia species did iron bark eucalypts in Wianamata before going into the stomach feed from the crop, it was a poorly Shale. This species is often mimicked proper. In the higher ants, food is developed process compared with­ by a few others which, however, regurgitated from the crop to that of the more highly social ant lack the detailed colouring just larvae. queens or other adults. This groups. In some ways Myrmecia col­ described. and mutual grooming probably onies seem less tightly knit than Many species are predomi­ pass chemicals of workers, brood those of the higher ants. However. nantly nocturnal or dull weather for­ and queen, as well as food, my unpublished notes show that agers. So these and the more timid, throughout the colony. This possibly ingluvial (crop) feeding is very highly smaller kinds are often unnoticed by provides colony odour for colony developed indeed in at least M. the layperson. All Myrmecia species recognition. It seems to account for brevinoda and M. pyriformis when capture and sting insects or other the fact that individuals of the same studied in observation nests. Queens arthropods and take them home, species. but different colonies, are and workers can regurgitate placing them on the piles of larvae usually expelled. At the University of enough liquid or viscous matter to

378 VOL. 21 No. 9. WINTER 1985 feed up to at least six small to regurgitated matter for food trans­ The two large compound eyes ren­ medium larvae at once. This food is ference. Other factors for determin­ der Myrmecia species much more held by surface tension between the ing different mandibular patterns responsive, visually, to movement mandibles whilst the larvae poke within the genus could relate to pre­ than most other ants. The many their mouths up into it. Two or three dation preferences. Ant mandibles setae (false hairs) seem mainly sen­ adults may simultaneously feed from are used for digging, gripping, sory. Photo: Kathie Atkinson. a nest mate. These two species also carrying, biting, manipulating brood very rarely practise solicitation for and various other functions. They know being more suspicion than egg material. Alimentary eggs, by may even rival the versatility of an certainty, the need is clearly great the way, could be media for chemi­ elephant's trunk! for more research into many gen­ cal dispersal through a colony. I sus­ As is true for science generally, etic, physiological, anatomic, eco­ pect that the mandible shape for certainly what we know about Myr­ logical and behavioural aspects of some species is somewhat special­ mecia mostly highlights what we these dramatically appealing ised to retain a large amount of don't. And, with so much of what we beasties. D AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 379 .. . . · · · i . -.· . . .· 1 . :.... -....1 . :1 .. -:···· . · _;: 1 -l .. l :·_:.. :1 .--1 ·:1 .--l:- ·_ 1. A 1. . N · -...iN-- . 1 1. 1 1· . 1 D A· D & ·· · . : . - . :· · · · . · · . . :a;..-- .::··· ... :. . .. :. : :. . :. : : . . . ·· · ·· · :_ : :. : :. : ·.. : : : ·· •,. · · . THE BLACK-STRIPED: : SNAKE he Black-striped Snake. where it is restricted to a narrow belt The Black-striped Snake is pro­ Nee/ops colonotus, is one of of coastal scrub in the south-west of tected by Western Australian legis­ the smallest Australian rep­ the State from Lancelin in the north lation under which it is gazetted a resentativesU of the front-fanged. ven­ to Safety Bay south of Perth. The total rare species. It is also included omous land snakes that comprise known range of this species is among taxa recognised by the Aus­ the family Elapidae. It is an ovipar­ approximately 160 kilometres. Speci­ tralian Council of Nature Conser­ ous species. producing two to five mens are occasionally recorded vation Ministers as endangered eggs in December/January. within metropolitan Perth. There is a fauna. The principle threat to the Nee/ops colonotus belongs to an record in the Western Australian conservation of N. colonotus is loss assemblage of small. brightly Museum of a specimen collected at of habitat caused by residential and coloured species and is one of the York. 100 kilometres east of Perth. rural development. A secondary most distinctively marked Australian This may suggest an isolated popu­ pressure threatening this species is snakes. It is characterised. as its lation east of the Darling Ranges; unregulated, illegal collecting. descriptive name suggests, by a however, as there is no other record Owing to its gentle nature and great black head and a bold, black ver­ of N. colonotus from this area the beauty, this small snake is popular tebral line that extends from the population may no longer be extant amongst owners of terraria and is neck along the entire length of the or possibly the original locality infor­ keenly sought by amateur and pro­ body and tail. In some individuals mation is erroneous. fessional collectors alike. Because of the vertebral stripe may be discon­ its limited geographic distribution, tinuous. The background body The preferred habitat of N. which coincides with a region in colour is bright pinkish-orange, fad­ colonotus appears to be deep, Western Australia of greatest human ing laterally to a cream belly. Apart white coastal sand that supports population density, N. colonotus from the head and neck. the dorsal Banksia woodland. The Black-striped must be regarded as vulnerable to body scales have a white spot Snake is well-adapted to its fossorial any change in land use that may resulting in an intricately reticulated (burrowing) habit, which is further reduce even further the extent of overall body pattern. facilitated by the sandy soil in which suitable habitat.O Although technically venomous. it occurs. The food habits of N. Robert Jenkins it is doubtful whether the size of the colonotus also reflect its fossorial Canberra College of venom fangs or strength of the jaws existence, the exclusive prey items Advanced Education is adequate to cause harm to man being slender-bodied, burrowing beyond causing mild local swelling. scincid and pygopodid lizards The Block-striped Snoke, Neelaps The Black-striped Snake is belonging to the genera Leristo and calonotus, from Loncelin, Western indigenous to Western Australia Aprosio respectively. Australia. Photo: Hal Cogger.

380 VOL. 21 No. 9. WINTER 1985 ROBYN WILLIAMS The Gullibility Factor - Sheldrake's Morphogenetic Field A.8.C. RADIO SCIENCE SHOW y heart sank when I saw it. I solve the problem more quickly than score higher. Like the rats in the knew there would be trouble their predecessors. But why? maze, the audience learns more but there was no way I could Because, says Sheldrake, there's a quickly because the effort has been avoid him now. Sheldrake. Rupert kind of universal vibration as a result made before and the world is some­ Sheldrake and his "New Science of of the new knowledge. Innocent how changed. Life". There was the tape, on my (naive) rats pick up this information What about embryology then? desk - an interview with the man like iron filings react to a magnetic Well, Sheldrake claims that develop­ himself, stating his case in clear and field. Sheldrake calls it a "morpho­ mental processes, once established, reasonable phrases. Broadcast it I genetic field". Things grow the way become almost routine. Proteins fold must, whatever my own reservations. they do because other plants and that way or the other because The journal Nature had rec­ animals have done so before. they've done so before. The laws of ommended that Sheldrake's books But how do you know you're sup­ Nature are habits. The universe is be burned and I was sure the scien­ posed to grow like a person and not like it is because God does indeed tific establishment would be cross if I like a beetroot? And how do you "play dice" with it. Einstein would be gave his cause more thrust. But more know which is the correct solution to furious but quantum mechanics, the than that, I knew we would suffer a problem and not the countless ultimate lottery, would seem to sup­ that most dreaded of consequences wrong ones? port the idea - except, in my for ABC broadcasts: a reaction. Let­ Put in another way: Phillip opinion, when you push it too far. •ers would flood, phones would go Adams wrote after the broadcast to This is always the test for way-out or beserk, we'd be swamped in say he'd had doubts at first but then, challenging theories. Do they try to demand for information. And all later in the afternoon, he'd gone yel­ explain simply the gaps that current because of "morphogenetic fields". low and discovered he spoke scientific knowledge cannot fill? Or Sheldrake, you see. claims that Chinese. A fair comment. If a quar­ do they leap to cover every gap in biology cannot provide an ter of the Earth's population is from sight: the world, the future and adequate account of how complex China you'd expect, if Sheldrake's everything? Ask Sheldrake whether organisms grow from single cells (fer­ theory is correct, that we'd all tend he thinks his theories account for ESP, tilised eggs) into adult bodies with toward the common type. Nature reincarnation and the rest of the various organs and tissues. Each cell would favour conservatism and "paranormal" paraphenalia and has the same genetic complement, reject variety. Global vibrations of he'll say "yes". Start with morpho­ so how can some become nose Chinese thought would dominate, genetic fields and you end up with cells and others knee, bone or there being a quarter of the Earth's fairies. blood? I was always taught that the population sending out a "1-have­ I quite like fairies, actually, but egg itself has an uneven distribution learned-Chinese" message and not in science. I took quite a deep of certain matter, which then gets Mandarin would quickly become breath to put Sheldrake on the Sci­ separated unequally in daughter the world's easiest language to ence Show, too. I did so because his cells, which t1 ,us gain differentiation learn. ideas are a legitimate speculation from each other. Even the site of Sheldrake, who's a Cambridge in biology and have been men­ penetration by the sperm sets up don (Clare College) and lectures in tioned, however harshly, in the best polarisation. But the theory of classi­ botany, has conducted some large­ journals. But then, here's the point: cal embryology is not sufficient to scale experiments in Britain and the audience reaction was far explain the awesome precision of western Europe using television. A greater than for nearly any other the process. Nor does it account for strange pattern is shown and the subject we've covered this year. Are odd manifestations such as the slime audience invited to discern a hid­ people gullible? Do they desper­ moulds. which can spend some of den form. The results of correct ately want to believe in fairies? Or their time as free-living cells then guesses are noted. This first showing, do they simply enjoy a bit of roman­ group together to form a multicellu­ according to Sheldrake's hypothesis, tic lateral thinking? lar body with substantial differen­ has made the picture more learn­ As usual, in a broadcast, I tiation. How does the single cell able or detectable so, when shown hedged my bets and, raising one know where to go? How does it know a second time elsewhere to an audi­ eyebrow, noted that "Clare College what role to play? ence without any previous experi­ has a strong religious tradition!". Sheldrake says it's a question of ence of the image, they nonetheless Very naughty. 0 habit! The cells "know" where to go because zillions of cells have done it that way before and there's a kind of groove worn in the firmament of the universe. Nature need not have absolute laws like we know; they could be completely different. According to Sheldrake it's a case of doing something once and so creat­ ing a precedent. He also claims experimental proof for all this. Show rats a maze, let them learn to find their way in it, then take other rats that have no way of knowing the puzzle or its solution, and they'll AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY Whitehouse: Image Update for National Parks? t appears that conservation will number of reserves. Major scope there is the wildlife refuge system - � take a high profile in the next few exists for expansion of the park sys­ a voluntary system involving the pro­ years of the Wran Government. tem into the west of the State. tection of wildlife on private farming An indication of this can be seen in property. Secondly, there are the recent appointment of 32 year What are the big gaps in habi­ arrangements with Government old John Whitehouse as Director of tat protection in the national parks agencies for the co-operative man­ the New South Wales National Parks system in N.S.W? agement of other public lands, such and Wildlife Service. A keen as the Forestry Commission. Crown bushwalker, Whitehouse has had a There are significant gaps in the Lands Office and local councils that meteoric rise to the top of the pub­ tablelands. slopes, plains and Wes­ together own large quantities of lic service ladder. His early mentor tern Division. But it depends on natural country. Thirdly, there are was the late Paul Landa, for whom whether you're looking at individual other arrangements with Crown he worked as special advisor from species or broad plant communities. authorities for the controlled devel­ 1976-1980 when Landa was a par­ There are major gaps not merely in opment of private land, such as the ticularly active Minister for Planning species terms but also in community Department of Environment and and Environment. From that posting, terms in the western part of the Planning, local councils or the West­ Whitehouse rapidly rose through the State. ern Lands Office. ranks to become Assistant Director of the Department of Environment Some of the animals in the west­ The N.P.WS. in N.S.W hos been and Planning, at the ripe old age of ern district of N.S.W, such as the under attack recently for its hand­ 30. Whitehouse is also a member of Ma/lee Fowl, require large areas of ling of the kangaroo harvesting the N.S.W. Heritage Council and land to maintain viable breeding industry, where it is in the position of Commissioner of the N.S.W. Water populations. Are N.S.W national policing a commercial operation. Resources Commission. parks large enough to conserve What do you think should be done In this interview with A.N.H.'s Rob species? A lot of clearing is still to clean up the industry? Thorman, Whitehouse discusses going on out in the west. Could a many of the contentious issues that more integrated system of manage­ It's important to recognise that face the N.P.W.S. in the lead up to ment take place, incorporating our role in the kangaroo industry is the next State election. other landholders rather than just one of conservation only. We are acquiring lands for national parks? interested in maintaining a viable population of kangaroos throughout Large areas of rainforest were We certainly can't rely just on N.S.W.. thereby avoiding problems reserved during the period under parks and reserves to meet all our that would result from their uncon­ which Don Johnstone was Director conservation objectives. A number trolled slaughter by farmers and of the New South Wales National of other tools are available. Firstly, graziers or those due to commercial Parks and Wildlife Service (N.P.WS.). interests. The maintenance of viable Do you have any goals for further kangaroo populations requires acquisition of parklands while you some management intervention - are Director? we must reduce population peaks, which have increased artificially The question of expanding the and dramatically since European Service in this State is a very impor­ settlement. I'd like the Service to be tant one. In many cases, the next removed, as for as possible. from five years will present the last oppor­ the commercial aspects of the tunity in which we can make sub­ kangaroo industry. stantial additions to the pork estate. Because development is proceed­ Aboriginal communities have ing at such a rote, particularly in the been discussing the possible estab­ coastal part of the State, if we don't lishment of an Aboriginal Heritage act soon, the opportunity will be Commission to take over control of forgone completely. In eastern Aboriginal sites in N.S.W Do you N.S.W. the major expansion will think such a handover is likely, and occur in the Macleay Gorge do you agree with this increase in country. The Government Aboriginal control? announced very recently its commit­ ment to establish the Oxley National The Service. at present. is Park east of Armidale, constituting responsible for the management one of the remaining large areas of and protection of Aboriginal sites available country in eastern N.S.W. Thirty-two year old Director of N.S.W. and I see this situation continuing. I In coastal areas there are already a National Parks, John Whitehouse, can't see how sole responsibility for 382 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 Aboriginal sites can be transferred through bureaucracies as speedily Are you going to develop poli­ to any other organisation in a feas­ as we might hope. I'm sure the mat­ cies on wilderness in arid areas? ible way. The Service has a major ter is now receiving adequate con­ on-the-ground field staff that spends sideration by the Commonwealth. I hope that, within the next year a lot of its time in cultural resource or so, we can outline some of the management, and it would be very Were the people in the Depart­ options of the philosophy of wilder­ difficult to duplicate those arrange­ ment of Environment and Planning ness in arid areas, and open public ments in another agency. and the N.P.WS. in this State disap­ debate. There's been much dis­ pointed to have the nomination cussion on the application of wilder­ The N.S.W Government nomi­ held up at Federal level? ness in the forested areas, and I nated the rainforests of N.S.W to the hope we get a similar response from World Heritage List. What are the Certainly we were disappointed conservation groups, particularly benefits of listing rainforests on the that the nominations didn't proceed the Wilderness Society, for the appli­ World Heritage List rather than as as there had been a great deal of cation in arid areas. national parks? effort put into preparing a most comprehensive and detailed nomi­ The national parks set-up in Aus­ The major benefit lies with inter­ nation form. tralia is fragmented into States. Do national recognition. It also provides for increased protection by virtue of the Commonwealth Government's obligations under the International Convention for the Protection of the On the setting up of an Aboriginal World's Cultural and Natural Heri­ tage. But primarily it's a question of Heritage Commission: "I can't see how recognising the outstanding conser­ vation significance of the rainforests: sole responsibility for Aboriginal sites that they are rare and unique on a can be transferred to any other world level. organisation in a feasible way." While the rainforests aren't on the World Heritage List is there still a danger to them as they are not pro­ tected from State politics? If there A.L.P. national policy supports a you ever see a truly (that is literal) was a change of Government could National Wilderness Reserve System national organisation the rainforests be logged if protec­ parks deve­ tion was overturned? as a result of the last National Con­ loping in Australia? ference. What developments are At present State Government there within the N.S.W conservation I think the States' constitutional declaration of national parks can movement to deal with wilderness responsibility for managing national be reversed. Listing on the World management, and what interaction parks will continue. We have more Heritage List provides a degree of is there with other States to ensure than enough to keep people busy in international protection for these that we have such a National Wil­ N.S.W. - and State governments rainforest parks and reserves. But I derness Reserve System? have traditionally exercised those know that the overwhelming public responsibilities. support for the protection of rain­ Wilderness conservation has forests is such that no Government featured very prominently in N.S.W. Do you see a role for the N.P.WS. would consider reversing those since the publication of the Helman in broad conservation issues that decisions or logging rare areas of Report in 1976. Twenty major wilder­ aren't necessarily confined to N.S.W. rainforest. ness areas in eastern N.S.W. were N.S.W? For example, the conser­ identified, most of which, since then, vation of the Murray River - looking The Government for­ have been declared national parks. at the river as a system rather than N.S.W The Service is also trying to apply as a small pocket of River Red warded the nomination to the Fed­ the concept of wilderness to the arid Gums protected by a park. eral Government at the end of last parts of N.S.W. We've concentrated year. However, the nomination did on the concept of wilderness in east­ We have a responsibility for not reach Paris by the January 1985 ern Australia - the forested and tim­ nature conservation and cultural deadline. Was there a good reason bered country on the tablelands, conservation throughoLJt the State. for holding it up? escarpment and coast. We now Our primary focus is on our parks Well, the nomination reached must look at the concept of wilder­ and reserves for which we have the Commonwealth Government in ness in western N.S.W. as well. I think management responsibility. But we November last year, around the time that N.S.W. has already made a provide policy advice to the of a Federal election and Christmas, major contribution towards wilder­ Government on all conservation and sometimes things just don't go ness conservation nationally. issues throughout the State.

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 383 SPECIAL OFFER

. . ·- - - b Koala Disease - Significance Misinterpreted I i. The article by Brown and Carrick, its absence - when populations ' "Koala Disease Breakthrough" tend to oscillate wildly, building up I I f (ANH, Vol. 21, No. 8, 1985) gives the to intolerable peaks then either F impression that chlamydia! infec­ crashing dramatically or surviving I r tions, perhaps aggravated by at some intermediate level with a � stress, have been responsible for high incidence of disease and/or (,_ drastic declines in Koala popu­ stress. In such circumstances, a !J --- lations and endanger the survival species is not helped by medical JOIN THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM of the species. It is possible (and, intervention: this merely moves the SOCIETY BEFORE THE END OF 1985 on ecological considerations, population-limiting factors in the AND YOU RECEIVE AN ATTRACTIVE probable) that the authors have direction of starvation (as we have BINDER FOR YOUR AUSTRALIAN put the cart before the horse. A seen in many Third World human NATURAL HISTORY MAGAZINE. high incidence of disease may be populations). the result of having too many My unpalatable point is that Benefits of Membership are: Koalas in a particular area. complete protection of the Koala is • Australian Natural History White Australians feel guilty for not in the best interests of the • Your bi-monthly Calendar/News having slaughtered Koalas in the species. In the absence of natural Certificate of Membership late 19th and early 20th centuries predators, we need to keep the • Car sticker Intimate previews to new exhibitions but it was because of their earlier populations below critical levels by • Behind-the-scenes tours to meet the activities that the species became a programme of culling. This does staff sufficiently abundant to support a not necessarily mean killing. Sur· Lectures. seminars. films fur trade. Prior to European settle· plus animals can be relocated in Cocktail parties. gala dinners Family weekend and day excursions ment, Koalas were preyed upon by other areas but, obviously, this can­ Field trips within Australia the Aborigines and Dingos but, as not go on forever: we must eventu­ Expeditions to remote areas of the the settlers displaced the Abor­ ally run out of suitable vacant world igines and reduced the Dingo habitat. • Reciprocal rights with other museums • 10% discount at the Museum Shop populations, the density of Koalas Although we do not yet have suf­ • Access to Museum Library increased in the areas of open for­ ficient information, il seems that • Participation in Volunteer Programme est that came under European those populations that are subject • The satisfaction of knowing that you domination. Between about 1860 to a high incidence of disease live have contributed to the Museum's and 1880 they became so abun­ in well-forested areas that are sel­ continuing growth and development. dant that, for the first time since set­ dom subjected to natural disasters. Please send an application form to tlement, it was economic to shoot Where drought, bushfire or severe TAMS to: them. It was also from about this tropical storms periodically wreak time that we have the first records havoc, Koala populations appear NAME: ...... of epidemic disease. to be kept in check and thus avoid What happened to the Koala either starvation or a high level of ADDRESS: ...... was by no means peculiar. When infection. an herbivorous species is released I do not deny the scientific value ...... POSTCODE ...... from predation, its population den­ of research on chlamydia! infec­ sity increases until starvation, dis· tions of the Koala. I merely suggest PHONE: ...... , ...... , ease,_ stress, a decline in fertility, or that the significance of such infec­ any combination of these factors tions may have been misinterpre­ Return to: halts the expansion. Generally ted. The Australian Museum Society. speaking, the welfare of a species - Ronald Strahan 6-8 College Street. is much more secure under a Australian Museum SYDNEY. NSW 2000. regime of steady predation than in Phone: 339 8225

384 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 � @(ill� UNIQUE TRAVEL AUSTRALIAN ADVENTUREDuring 1985, join one of our Special Interest Groups and discover Papua New Guinea In depth.

The Australian (Southern or que, which may be used to part HIGHLANDS HIGHROAD TREK August 3rd to 13th, 1985 Double-wattled) Cassowary vegetation and to protect the bird's Trekking from Baiyer River Bird belongs to the group of large, head, as it runs through thick scrub. Sanctuary to Kaiap Orchid Lodge flightless birds known as ratites. It is somewhat indicative of the bird's at Wabag and visit some of the Approaching two metres in height, it age. more remote Highland villages. runs second in size among Austra­ Tropical rainforests are the lian birds only to the Emu, but out­ favourite habitat of these birds. In NATURAL HISTORY TOUR weighs it with an average adult Australia they are found only in the August 7th to 20th, 1985 female weight of 60 kilograms. It is extreme northeastern area of Visiting Port Moresby, Wau, Loe, covered with coarse, hair-like, Queensland but extend throughout Madang, Western Highlands and double-quilled, black feathers, much of Irion Joya, Papua New Enga Province. which lack the barbules that give Guinea and the Aru Islands. the feathers of most non-ratite birds Cassowaries are scavengers, CULTURAL TOUR their characteristic shape. On top of depending mainly on fruit that falls September 7th to 17th, 1985 its head it carries a large, bony cos- from the rainforest canopy. This The highlight of this tour is the includes figs, quandongs, laurels, Highlands Festival (sing sing) which lilypily, etc. Many of the greener, is the largest gathering of tribal immature fruits that the birds eat groups. Also visits the Sepik River pass through the cassowary intact region and Modang. and thus cassowaries are an import­ POTTERY AND ARTIFACT TOUR ant means of dispersing rainforest September 18th to October 3rd, plants. Some leaves and insects are 1985 also ingested and cassowaries will Visiting Loe, Madang, Sepik River eat fungi, snails, even dead birds, and Western Highlands rats and other small carrion. During food shortages, they have been NEW GUINEA EXPEDITIONS known to make forays from the rain­ forest in search of cultivated fruit 4th Fir. 28 O'Connell Street (such as mulberries and bananas) SYDNEY, NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA but citrus fruits are refused. Like other ratites, but unlike most birds, the roles of the sexes are Phone (02) 231 6066 Toll Free (008) 221 757 reversed. The female cassowary is taller, heavier and more brightly Travel Agents Licence No B1455 coloured than the male and is domi­ nant over him. At the onset of the breeding season in June, the female Please send information on becomes tolerant of his presence Special Interest trips to and, after a courtship dance, copu­ Papua New Guinea. lation takes place. The female lays NAME: ...... up to five large, pale green eggs in a shallow scrape in the ground, ADDRESS: ...... after which she abandons the male to incubate the eggs for two months and to care and raise the young for ...... Code: ...... a further nine months. Females will accept more than one mate each PHONE: ...... season and each time she aban­ Return to: New Guinea dons him to care for her young. D Expeditions GPO Box 7002, - Georgina Hickey Sydney NSW 2001

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 385 names for Australian birds a useful contribution to any species. The photographs The Waterbirds of have not been used for the ornithological library. are not only technically Australia series, with about a third of - Dr P. J. Fullagar excellent but also capture The National Photographic them at variance in this the biological individuality Index of Australian Wild­ volume. This decision per­ The Cold-blooded of the habitats and their life. Angus and Robertson, petuates the confusion species. Clearly, the author Sydney, 1985, $60, 331pp. Australians already existing for those Gunther Schmida. Double­ knows both his craft and new to birds. day Australia Pfy Ltd, Syd­ his subject. It is this rare I have misgivings about ney, 1985, $24. 95, 208pp. combination of technical the inclusion of some skill and biological insight photographs taken over­ This book is a prose and that makes this book excit­ seas - a problem arising photographic account of ing and informative - and from the need to illustrate a selected but representa­ hence highly rec­ vagrants. The illustration tive cross section of Austra- ommended. may not represent a bird 1 ian freshwater fishes, frogs - Dr Allen E. Greer of a population likely to be and reptiles. It is an excel­ involved as a visitor to Aus­ lent piece of work and Possums and tralia. I also see no reason establishes its author as Gliders to include photographs of one of Australia's finest Edited by Andrew Smith regular Australian species natural history photogra­ and Ian Hume. Surrey other than those taken in phers. Beatty, Sydney, 1984, Australia, because in some The book begins with a $63. 95, 598pp. instances this could lead general introduction to the to representation of indi­ natural history of the major viduals differing from those groups of "cold-blooded" This is the second volume present in Australia. vertebrates in Australia. It POSSUMS AND GLIDERS in a proposed series of ten It is clear that the text is a then considers selected (the first, Wrens and War­ synthesis from existing species in eight regions of blers, appeared in 1983), popular sources and suf­ Australia, defined primarily that will eventually cover fers inevitably from the rep­ on drainage character­ all the birds of Australia. etition of inaccuracies istics but also conforming The whole project is to be inherent in these standard complete by 1988 in cel­ to other important natural references and once features. It finishes with ebration of the Bicenten­ again enshrines them as technical ary. advice and fact. More reliable infor­ insight into natural history Based on the impressive mation could have been photography. resources now available in assembled by more care­ The heart of the book is the N.P.I.A.W., this series of ful vetting of the text and books has been created in comprised of the eight wider consultation with regional chapters. In each, order that the most out­ those familiar with the standing of bird photo­ the author provides a map species concerned. While and thumb-nail sketch of graphs can be made not greatly in error the text This book brings together more generally available. the country, covering, in on Woodhens should have turn, the major water most of what is known of It is unusual for a book of been more accurate in the general biology of pos­ this type to arise from the bodies, landforms, climate some details and certainly and vegetation. This sets sums and gliders. The illustrations and not the more up to date. Koala, although fitting text. However, it is not just a the context for the selec­ However, it is the photo­ ted photographs of the neither of these categor­ picture book, but makes a graphs that count and it is ies, is also included. All serious contribution to pic­ region's habitats and their clear that reproduction is fish, frog and reptile Australian possums and torial representation of of the highest standards. gliders get a mention but each species. The selection allows for several - the cuscuses, "Waterbirds" includes three to four, sometimes Rock Ringtail and Little grebes; herons, egrets and more, pictures for each Pygmy-possum - receive bitterns; the Black-necked species (except vagrants) no more than that. As is Stork; ibises and spoonbills; and often contains evoca­ true for most symposia, the swans, geese and ducks; tive and original portrayal treatment is uneven rails, crakes, gallinules and of the subject. I liked them because input is limited to a coot; and finally the all and only wished that what the seventy-odd con­ cranes. In all, 67 species more could have been tributors wished to com­ are mentioned including printed. municate rather than what vagrants. Commendably, I heartily recommend this readers might wish to the Woodhen of Lord Howe book for the illustrations know. A general introduc­ Island is included, when so alone, but suggest the text tion of four or five pages to often it has been ignored be read with caution. All in each of the families in recent works of this type. all a splendid showcase treated would have trans­ Regrettably, the R.A.0.U.- for the work of the Photo­ formed the work from a recommended English graphic Index and as such series of separate research

386 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 THYLACINE, Quaternary Extinctions A PREHISTORIC REVOLUTION

reviews into a handbook of since 1975 - including the much greater value. rediscovery of the Fierce These criticisms aside, Snake (Oxyuranus microle­ and disregarding some pidota) and the descrip­ inconsistencies of treat­ tion of a new species of ment (for example, just death adder (Acanthophis what families are included praelongus), black snake within the Phalangeroidea (Pseudechis butleri) and and why was one group of whip snake (Demansia sim­ authors permitted to refer plex). roam Tasmania. but the done and allows for quick to brushtails as pha­ Phelps' confused and book's arguments con­ access to information relat­ langers?), the book is an clumsy writing shows evi­ vince only the converted. ing to particular theories or invaluable collection of dence of some very No account is taken of the geographic areas. information and an indi­ muddy thinking. For exam­ fallibility of human mem­ Some of the most cation of "the state of the ple: "Because most snakes ory, so well demonstrated by recent psychology, nor informative and fascinat­ art". Twenty-one colour exist within certain levels of ing chapters are those plates, a diagnostic key tolerance with regard to of the difficulties attendant dealing with the bizarre and a ten-page field habitat it follows that the on dealing with reports of and extinct faunas of guide add to the utility of a majority of species can be sightings, as are well Madagascar, New Zea­ publication for which the termed locally abundant." understood by birders. The land and the smaller Australian Mammal (page 133) and "It can account suggests that Thy­ Pacific Islands. The subject Society, the editors and the then be concluded that locines underwent a rapid of these works include adventurous publisher are the criteria for consistent increase in numbers in the lemurs the size of ponies, to be congratulated. breeding potential is the 1880s, but this is based on numbers of carcases - strange pigmy aardvarks - Ronald Strahan maintenance of the actual and hippos, and gigan­ bodily condition in numbers more simply explained as kills of larger tic birds (the moos of New Poisonous Snakes females." (page 141). Zealand and elephant What is one to make of and larger proportions of Tony Phelps. Blandford the existing population. birds of Madagascar). Press, Dorset, 1983. 231pp. these statements? Because the extinctions Phelps writes with an The assertion that overseas The sensible approach scientific institutions are to discussed in these chap­ towards poisonous snakes obvious passion for his sub­ ters occurred so recently, ject matter but it is not blame (in part) for the is to leave them entirely decline of the Thylacine they can be analysed in alone, and the same ccn enough to sustain interest greater detail than in other in this shoddy work. through not taking a more well be said for this book active role in its conser­ sections. The hand of man on the subject. - Timothy Low vation in Tasmania, seems is strongly implicated in all Poisonous Snakes is a sur­ quite unjustified. The of these extinctions and it is vey of the venomous snake Thylaeine: The Tragedy tragedy clearly implicit in somewhat depressing to fauna of the world, depict­ of the Tasmanian Tiger this book is not only that discover how much we ing habits, distribution, Oxford University Press, there is no evidence that hove impoverished our behaviour and toxicity. It is 1985, S25.00, 207 pp. the Thylacine still survives, natural heritage. a poorly-researched and A comet, Fred Whipple but that so little is reliably The one great disap­ badly-written effort. once said, is the closest to known of the beast and pointment for me in this All the data on Australian nothing something can be that there is still so little will­ otherwise useful book is snakes has been skimmed and yet be something. The ingness to admit to its the two chapters dealing from the original edition Thylacine is an animal extinction. The price is with the extinction of the (1975) of Cogger's Reptiles about which the closest to unworrontedly high. Australian megafauna. of Australia. Phelps pur­ nothing is known, while yet Both are somewhat super­ ports to list all the Austra­ we do 'know something. - Dr Ralph E. Molnar ficial and the chapter by lian venomous species but We know that it did exist Horton. in particular, hos is woefully ignorant of the but beyond that, as Eric Quaternary Extinctions many inaccuracies and is major taxonomic changes Guiler shows, we know very A Prehistoric Revolution guided by what I consider little. Ed. by Paul S. Martin & to be an untenable This small volume sum­ Richard G. Klein. University hypothesis. Added to the marises what is known (dis­ of Arizona Press, Tucson, poor understanding of the appointingly little) and 1984, SUS65, 892 pp. Australian fauna by most what may be conjectured Quaternary Extinctions is overseas authors, this (slightly more) about the the most comprehensive makes for a very unsatis­ Thylacine. It recounts tales account yet compiled of factory treatment of Aus· about the Thylacine and the demise of the large trolio in general. alleged sightings from the fauna of the world Overall. however, the mainland. It discusses the between two million years publication of this book history of European inter­ ago and the present. As represents a great step for­ action wiih the Thylocine, such, this book is essential ward in understanding the and the attempts over the reading both for scholars nature of Quaternary past 50 years, involving involved in researching this extinctions. The editors ore sometimes heart-breaking topic and the interested to be congratulated in difficulties, to locate living public. producing such a well set animals. The grouping of chapters out and comprehensive Guiler freely admits that under topic headings hos volume. he believes Thylacines still been particularly well - Dr Timothy Flannery AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 387

�

POSSUMS'�\ and GLIDERS Ed. by A. Smith and I. Hume Uni. of N. England, Armidale, NSW, Aust.

A unique and comprehensive account of the evolutionaryhistory, biology, and conservation of the fascinating possum-like marsupials of Australia and New Guinea, with 57 original research and review contributions plus key and field guide by leading experts in this field of marsupial ecology. 22 colour plates, limited edition, produced for the 25th Anniversaryof the Australian Mammal Society. Price $53 + $9 certified post within Australia. Available all States: Museums and leading Bookstores or direct from publishers.

Please send me ...... copies of "Possums and Gliders".

NAME: ......

ADDRESS: ......

...... POSTCODE: ......

PHONE: ...... Return remittance to: SURREY BEATTY & SONS 43-45 Rickard Road, Chipping Norton NSW 2170 Australia THE CASSOWARY AT HIS NEST A photographic first by Clifford and Dawn Frith A male cassowary at his nest in the wild is a special sight to behold. It is a situation rarely observed - let alone preserved on film. Clifford and Dawn Frith share their experience with Australian Natural History. See also the giant colour poster in this issue. he Australian Cassowary, also Zealand, rheas of South America, Southern Cassowary, which is found known as the Southern Casso­ Ostriches of Africa and our own Emu, in tropical rainforests throughout Uwary or Double-wattled Casso­ are members of what many ornitho­ much of Irion Jayo, Papua New wary ( Casuarius casuarius), is a logists consider to be the most primi­ Guinea, Aru Islands and extreme huge, flightless bird closely related tive group of living birds - the to the more widespread, and thus ratites. Ratites are large, heavy­ A mole Southern Cassowary, more familiar, Emu (Dromaius nov­ boned birds with strong, relatively Casuarius casuarius, with his one aehollandiae). Cassowaries, enormous legs and feet and rudi­ day old chicks. Photo: Clifford and together with the kiwis of New mentary wings. In the case of the Down Frith. 390 VOL. 27 No. 9, WINTER 7985 northeastern Queensland, Australia, the wings are almost non-existent Cassowaries: and are represented only by three to five long and strong wing quills, a gut-rending tale which extend along and curve around the side body contour where assowaries are equipped they apparently protect the bird's ©with powerful legs and long, flank as it travels through thick veg­ strong claws. The claw of etation. The glossy black, tail-less the innermost of the three toes is plumage is extremely thick and elongated to a dagger-like spike, coarse. It looks more like a heavy, 120 millimetres long and 30 wide stout-haired coat than feathering at the base. This claw Is a deadly and also protects the bird against weapon in combat when the cas­ abrasion. sowary leaps feet first at its adver­ There are three living species of sary. Most of the time, however, cassowary but the other two do not cassowaries are shy and if occur in Australia. These are the encountered in the wild will turn Single-wattled Cassowary (C. unap­ and flee. Usually it is only when pendiculatus) of the northwestern encountered or cornered while lowlands of New Guinea (including The Single-wattled Cassowary, caring for chicks that a bird will Irion Joya) and the Dwarf Cassowary Casuarius unappendiculatus, is hold its ground and defend itself. (C. benneffit) of New Guinea, its found in the northwestern lowlands In many areas of Papua New islands and (possibly by human of New Guinea (including Irion Guinea, young cassowaries are introduction) New Britain, occurring Jayo). Photo: Clifford and Dawn treated as pets. Natives seem predominantly in the hills and Frith. unconcerned that as the birds uplands. The Australian population also be plucked from lower veg­ mature they may become of the Southern Cassowary occurs etation and fungi and the odd dead aggressive. One report tells how. from Paluma, just north of Townsville, animal may also be swallowed. in 1946 on the lower Brown River Queensland, to the tip of Cape York As is the case for some other rati­ in P.N.G., a seven year old boy Peninsula in suitable tropical rain­ tes, it is the male cassowary that per­ was playing with the village pet, forest along the eastern coast. forms the nesting duties and is a two year old Bennett's Casso­ Probably as a result of dwelling somewhat over-ruled by the larger wary. It lashed out with its power­ in the dark. shadowy world of the females. While males appear to ful claws and ripped a 30 tropical rainforest floor, where bright defend territories in which they feed centimetre opening in the boy's colours provide more readily visible and from which they evict other abdomen. The boy miraculously socidl signals, the cassowaries have males, females wander at will from recovered. And in 1952 another developed far more colour than one male's territory to another, feed­ Bennett's Cassowary "without other ratites. The bare skin of the ing wherever they please. During the warning" attacked and nearly head, neck and wattles are pig­ breeding season, predominantly killed a middle-aged woman in mented with many bright to subtle from June to October, males initiate Kup, P.N.G. The bird in question hues of reds, purples and blues. All courtship by repeatedly attempting was also responsible for one cassowaries have a curious growth to approach a female until she per­ death and two severe assaults. atop the head called the casque, mits him to feed close to her. This is Even after its fourth human which is, in fact, a bony but very followed by performing a courting attack, the bird continued to run light-weight protrusion of the skull. It dance around her while uttering low free. has been suggested that this odd rumbling sounds. Females will Numerous human deaths growth is a physical adaptation accept more than one mate each have resulted from confrontations against damage to the bird as it season, each male being left to with cornered cassowaries in runs through dense vegetation. How­ incubate her eggs in his individual P.N.G. and the last record of a ever, because the casque grows nest. The nest consists of a shallow person killed by a cassowary in slowly through immature life and scrape in the ground augmented by Australia was in 1926 at Moss­ because younger birds are most a few leaves only. Up to five eggs in man, Queensland. There is also a prone to such pedestrian damage, a clutch have been recorded but vague account of a man who, this explanation as to the casque's very rarely have so many chicks after pinching fowl eggs from the sole value seems weak. In all prob­ been seen with the parent male. Single-wattled Cassowaries' ability the casque is also indicative Until these accompanying enclosure at Taronga Park Zoo in of age and dominance in a casso­ photographs were obtained in Sep­ the 1950s, fell victim to one of the wary social context. Its shape and tember 1984, no cassowary had formidable, clawed weapons. He size is different in each of the three ever been photographed at the managed to carry himself and his species, that of the Southern Casso­ nest in the wild. Indeed, it is an entrails to the nearby wharf but wary being by far the largest. established fact that, historically, apparently bled to death on the An adult female Southern Casso­ very few nests have ever been ferry. D wary may stand as tall as an aver­ found. The famous and avid Austra­ age woman and weigh up to 60 lian bird egg collector, H.L. White, for the best part of the year in prime kilograms, whereas the male birds for many years offered large sums of cassowary country. He managed to are shorter and lighter. They are money for clutches of cassowary find two nests and stated that the almost exclusively fruit eaters, feed­ eggs, but to no avail; even Abor­ parent bird invariably deserted the ing upon the great diversity of trop­ igines "appeared able to secure nest when disturbed at it. We were, ical rainforest tree and vine fruits only odd eggs", he wrote. In 1911 therefore, very fortunate to be that fall to the floor. Some fruits may White engaged a skilled bushman informed of a nest at Mission Beach.

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 391 The Dwarf Cassowary, Casuarius bennettii, is found in New Guinea, its islands and New Britain, occur­ ring predominantly in the hills and uplands. Photo: Clifford and Dawn Frith. Queensland, on a forested hillside not far from human activity. As a result the male attending the nest was, to some extent, used to people or, at least, constantly within earshot of their activities. Sadly, this nest was within 500 metres of bulldozers clearing rainforest for residential development - a move that was to destroy the nest site before the next nesting season. It is forest destruction and fragmentation, as well as dogs and road traffic, that seriously threaten these birds in the southern part of their range. Fortunately we had several weeks available to work at this nest and, as a result. were able to slowly move our photographic hide closer to the nest without disturbing the male who sat continuously during the day on his clutch of eggs. Four eggs hatched during the very early hours of Sunday 9 Sep­ tember and the young were still damp at 9 a.m. They remained in or about the nest, becoming increas­ ingly competent on their legs and picking at pieces on the ground, when not pushing themselves into the warmth and security of the male's plumage. He remained on the fifth egg until it hatched the next day. We found the late hatchling still damp beside its fluffy, dry siblings at 6.50 a.m. The egg shells had been trampled to tiny fragments by the male's feet. However, the huge egg membranes, containing much jelly­ like substance, were apparently of some nutritional value to the male: he was seen swallowing several whole while still (to our knowledge) not having eaten anything else. At 7 a.m. on the following Tuesday, the male and his five chicks had left the nest and he was found sitting on them about 25 metres downhill. The next day he was certainly not within a 250 metre radius of the nest. On Saturday 15th the entire family appeared in a nearby household rainforest-edge garden, about 500 metres from the nest. The male helped the young feed by pecking at food thrown to them by the householder before they ate it. In the same garden on 6 and 7 October the male appeared with three chicks and on following Close up of the eggs of the Southern Cassowary, Casuarius casuarius. Photo: Clifford and Dawn Frith. 392 VOL. 27 No. 9, WINTER 7985 days with four. Subsequent reports the cassowaries for many years by suggest that only two chicks survived individually identifying them from to see 1985. casque and facial characteristics. These photographs were shown She immediately recognised the to well-known. 79 year old Mission nesting male as a bird she has Beach resident. Mrs Jorrisen, who known since it first appeared as a has carefully watched and studied chick in her garden 19 years ago.O The The cassowary-sister: a New Guinea myth ternational his story begins with a revenge. They began to fight but brother and a sister. One the brother and sister slew them. Ifday the brother went hunt­ Then they killed pigs and ing. leaving the sister to weed exchanged gifts, but although �\si:P?K their garden. but first telling her the sister gave the brother I 1 not to throw the rubbish into the greensnail shells and axes and »rmby nearby river. However, she dis­ other good gifts, the brother only Frank Hodgkinson obeyed him. An old man was gave the sister very poor things. ' 1th nature as his palette. sharpening his axe at the water's After this the brother and sister 'H�dg inson captures the rich­ edge further downstream. He saw competed to see who could ness of cultural life in the Sepik the rubbish floating down the shoot arrows the furthest [a popu­ River area and renders it in f(lagnificent colour can- river, picked it out and sniffed it, lar pastime and form of archery asses." Professor William and he thought. "It smells of the practice in which people walk hack, Anthropology, Univer- hands of men or women". He fol­ along a track and fire arrows sity of California. lowed the rubbish upstream, ahead of them as they go). The putting the weeds on top of brother moved on ahead of the "The book is beautiful. It's much stones as he went. as signs to his sister and, when he came to a admired by all and has an honoured place in the National children that he had been there. pig and wallaby pit-trap on the Geographic Library." William He traced the weeds until he track, he covered it up with Graves, Senior Editor, National Geo­ came to the garden. crept up on leaves and the sister. following graphic Society, Washington DC. the girl and grabbed her by the him. fell into it. The brother went to "Sepik Diary is a splendid instance of fine neck as she bent down to weed make a shelter [of the kind used book production and contains a host of the crops. She struggled and by hunters when they sleep or striking illustrations and handsome repro­ cried out. Her brother heard her. cook game in the forest] and. ductions of the water colours that depict hurried back and shot the old when he returned to the pit, dis­ the changing moods of the river." Dr Mer­ vyn Meggitt, Anthropology, City Univer­ man with his bow so that he fell covered that his sister had fallen sity of New York. down dead. The brother and sis­ in, had turned into a cassowary ter butchered the man and and had laid a clutch of eggs, COLLECTORS EDITION cooked him, together with the which soon hatched. Leather Bound ... 200 copies only taro and other vegetables from The cassowary-sister and her available in Australia. includes hand their garden. in an earth-oven by young walked about. pecking printed etching, 180 pages ( 100 full the stream. First they put his head the wild foods of the forest and colour), and Associate Membership in the bottom oven pit; then they defecating. From her excrement of Sepik Museum and Oceania Cul­ put his legs and arms higher up; grew all sorts of good food tural Centre Society ... only $495 and his trunk they put in the plants. The brother. deciding to each. Audited by Touche Ross & Co. upper part of the oven. [This is the take advantage of this, made a same way that cassowaries are gawb [jew·s harp) and hung it in Linen Bound with Dust Jacket ... cooked.] a tree so that the wind would 1.000 copies only in Australia, 180 The children of the old man make it sound and the pages (100 full colour). only S75 waited for him to come home. cassowary-sister. hearing it. would each. They went down to the river and return to the house and defecate Please send me all infor­ saw the signs he had left and fol­ on his garden. One day two mation on "Sepik Diary". lowed them. The brother saw women from another settlement them coming so he taught his sis­ were in the forest. collecting NAME: ...... ter how to shoot with bow and edible leaves for cooking at the arrows. The old man's children smy [dance festival]. They heard ADDRESS: ...... finally came to the ovens by the the gawb and, being curious as bank of the stream. They began to what was making the noise. taking the food out of the oven climbed the tree. found it and ...... Code: ...... and eating it. First they took the broke it. The cassowary-sister fol­ flesh of the trunk and the limbs in lowed the two women back to PHONE: ...... the upper parts of the oven; and their settlement. When their kin Return to: Reid Books, they continued until they got to folk saw her. she was pursued 30 Baroona Road. the bottom of the oven and found with bow and arrows and, after a Northbridge, NSW the old man's head. Recognising long chase and many wounds, 2063 the head they then realised they was killed and eaten . . . (Modi­ Ph: (02) 29 5151 had been eating their father. On fied from I.S. Majnep and R. sighting the brother and sister up Bulmer (1977) "Birds of my Kalam Also available from Australian the hill. they decided to take country".] 0 Museum Shop.

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 393 To be or not to be? A cassowary or a bird? he Kalam people of the Upper dwelling cassowaries with cultivated taro by name. It is only natural, therefore, that Kaironk Valley in the Schrader crops dictates that cassowaries may not the Kalom treat their metaphorical and Mountains of New Guinea place all be domesticated. This is in marked con· mythological cross-cousins, the cassowa· flyingU birds and bats in the group yokt trast to many other New Guinea highland ries, with due respect when they've been and the cassowary in the contrasting societies where they are kept as pets. killed, and ensure that they never go group kobty. Why, to the Kalam, is the The hunter who has killed the casso· near their taro. cassowary not a bird? wary must eat its heart. Similarly, if one In summary, then, the cassowary's The cassowary's large size, extreme kills a man, a pig is killed and its heart unique standing in Kalam classification reduction of wings, flightlessness and eaten. In this sense. the cassowary is can only be appreciated if we under­ "terrestrial" mode of fife, the heavy equated with man - to kill a cassowary stand that there exists an elaborate "human-like" leg bones, unique cranial is to commit homicide. antithesis between the uncultivated forest structure (bony casque) and unusual When hunting and cooking casso· (the prime elements being the cassowary hair-like plumage, and the fact that wary, one must "practise avoidance". and Olf'/OW panadanus nuts) and culti· males (unlike other New Guinea birds) That is, one must use a substitute vation and civilisation (based on the boast a penis, are among the characters language. called "pandanus language" special value ascribed to taro). This that contribute towards the cassowary's or Olf'/OW mnm. Pandanus language is required separation between the forest lonely classification. also used during harvesting and cooking and civilisation is also linked. mythologi· Despite these morphological and of Olf'/OW pandanus nuts (a valued cally, to the problems of brother-sister behavioural features, some other New seasonal forest crop which, when eaten, relationships and of relationships Guinea highlanders still place the casso­ also renders one dangerous to growing between one's cross-cousins. wary in the same category as birds. In taro) and when one speaks to a cross­ For whatever reason, the instinctual order to understand, then, why in Kalam cousin of the same sex. In pandanus compulsion to interpret the nature of or to classification the cassowary is not a bird, language kobty, the cassowary, is known systematise objects is universal. Names one must appreciate the complex and as wnbek nmey, "mother of game mam­ and classifications are essential for order· special status this forest-dwelling crea· mals", It indicates clearly that cassowa­ ing thoughts and actions in relation to ture occupies in the totality of Kalam life. ries are seen as allied to other kinds of the non-human universe, and facilitate A clue to this understanding lies in the terrestrial and arboreal game, rather communication between people. Differ· rule-ridden activity of cassowary hunting. than flying birds. ent groups of people use different cri· Anyone who kills or eats a cassowary The myth in which a woman turns into teria for classifying groups into is 0s17 (ritually dangerous or unclean) and a cassowary suggests an appropriate hierarchical or ordered systems accord· should not plant or go near taro crops for metaphor for the relationship between ing to the particular relevance and a month. (To kill a man also makes one the cassowary and man as the Kalam meaning these classifications may have 0s17). Live cassowaries must similarly be people understand it: cassowaries are for the people who use them. Not surpri· kept away from taro, otherwise the crops the sisters, cross-cousins and their singly, the purposes served by taxonomic will not flourish. Taro is the cultivated veg­ descendants to men. In Kalam life systems, and thus the taxonomic systems etable valued most by the Kalam. It is a brother and sister are mutually depen­ themselves, differ between societies. The seasonal crop and is essential to the cel­ dent but a sister is under the control of higher categories in Kalam classification, ebration of the smy (Kalam's most import­ her brother who marries her out (often to for example, are not simply statements ant ceremonial festival, which acts his advantage). Cross-cousins are more about similar morphology but statements mainly as a rite of passage for youths). important than even brothers or sisters. concerning their particular social status. The Kalam language itself emphasises They are the people with moral claims To group flying birds with bats or fro9s the significance of the plant: taro is said over you; you can't keep them out of with rats is meaningless to the scientific to die (kum·), the same word being used your inheritance or your taro 9ardens biologist. Similarly, to the Kalam. a casso­ in reference to man and animals; other (unless you are considering homicide or wary is a cassowary is a cassowary and plants merely rot (kuy g-) or wither (m/ep suspect witchcraft); they must be treated to suggest that it is a bird is ridiculous. D g·). The forbidden association of forest· with respect and must not be referred to - Georgina Hickey RECONSTRUCTING AUSTRALIA'S OLDEST MAMMALt> econstructing fossil animals is a great palaeontological were not present in the common ancestor of both families, then pastime. For many years adults and children alike have we must assume that these otherwise unique structures were marvelled at the insights that reconstructions provide independently developed in both the Platypus and echidnas. about the life of past epochs. However, there is much misunder· This is highly unlikely and it is much more probable that these standing about how such reconstructions are made. Indeed features were present in the ancestral monotreme. some creationists have been quick to exploit this misunder­ This kind of deductive reasoning can be used to determine standing and cite such works as attempts by scientists to mis· the probable nature of many aspects of our fossil beast. We lead the public. The reconstruction presented here (drawn by have, for instance, used such information to reconstruct the Peter Schouten) is the result of considerable research and the snout, eye, ear, tail, stance and limbs of the Lightning Ridge story behind it illustrates how scientific reconstructions are mammal. made. Of course there are aspects of the fossil mammal's form that The most important thing to realise about this drawing is we cannot know. For instance, did it possess horns? It is possible that it is an hypothesis. It is based as much on the inferred that it did but, because its descendants all lack such structures. relationships of the fossil animal as it is on the actual fossil jaw we have no evidence for their existence and thus have not fragment, containing three teeth, found at Lightning Ridge (see included them. And because we have not included features following story). (such as horns) for which we have no data, this reconstruction is The group of palaeontologists currently working on the a conservative estimate of what the animal might have looked Lightning Ridge mammal jaw agree that it represents a mono­ like. It includes only the features likely to have been present in treme and that it probably belongs to a group of animals the ancestral monotreme. ancestral to the only living monotremes - the Platypus and And what about the one piece of hard evidence that we echidnas. This is the single most important piece of information have - the jaw fragment? Of course all of our information used in guiding our reconstruction. Its importance lies in the about the animal's relationships is derived from this specimen. It fact that it indicates, in a very real way. that the Lightning Ridge also tells us the animal's approximate size, a little about the mammal is not extinct - it has simply changed. The living shape of the snout and something of its diet. All of this infor­ echidnas and Platypus are the descendants of the group to mation (except that relating to diet) is included in the recon­ which the Lightning Ridge fossil belonged. Thus its genetic struction. material has been handed down, generation after generation, The reconstruction. therefore, represents a visual summary for over 120 million years. of the palaeontologists' knowledge of the animal's relation­ But how do we determine which features of the Platypus ships. The fossil jaw itself provides only a small piece of direct and echidnas were present in their common ancestor (repre­ data used in the drawing. It is what the jaw tells us about the sented by the Lightning Ridge fossil) and which have devel­ kind of animal that possessed it (in this case a primitive mono­ oped since? Some features of monotremes are unique among treme) that is important. Only with the discovery of more corn· mammals and were presumably present in their common plete fossils can we rigorously test this hypothesis. However. it is ancestor. Such features include presence of a skin-covered bill. clear that alternative hypotheses of relationships could lead to rich in nerve endings, and the presence of a spur on the hind different reconstructions. D foot. These structures are present in both the Platypus and echidnas (although the bill is specialised in both forms). If they - Dr Timothy Flannery

394 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 ..... - " ,_·- -- ...... \ .. ,. t I .. ,. ,-....,...., � .,. -... ._,-...... , .. .,..... "'1--.' - .. \ . .,. - .,�:·•:

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mammal look like this? FLASHES FROM LIGHTNING RIDGE by Alex Ritchie, Head of Earth Sciences, Australian Museum here are many gaps in our From our knowledge of continental and inaccessible under a cover of knowledge of Australia's geolo­ relationships in the past it is virtually more recent (Cainozoic) lake and Ugical record and the animals certain that mammals have been in river sediments. These Cretaceous and plants that lived here. Some of Australia for much longer than 24 rocks often contain abundant mol­ the gaps may be filled in rather m.y. and probably since the Meso­ luscan fossils but remains of back­ unexpected fashion. A good zoic Era. the Age of Reptiles (235 to boned animals are rare. Fossil example concerns the recent dis­ 65 m.y. ago). when dinosaurs remains of large bony fish, marine covery of this continent's oldest roamed the Earth. Two mammal reptiles (turtles. ichthyosaurs. ple­ mammal. one of the most important groups, the monotremes and mar­ siosaurs) and land reptiles (dino­ Australian fossil finds of the century. supials, may even have originated saurs) have been recovered from Over the last 20 years scientists here. Australian Cretaceous rocks but searching for fossil mammals in Aus­ During the Cretaceous ( 135 to 65 most represent large animals whose tralia have come up against a dead m.y. ago) a shallow sea crossed solid bones survive erosion better end. No mammal remains have central Australia from north to south. and are more readily spotted when been recovered from rocks older Most of inland Australia is underlain weathering out at the surface. than 24 million years (m.y.). whereas by thick Cretaceous marine sedi­ Fossil remains of some smaller on other continents fossil mammals ments that now form the rocks of the Cretaceous animals come from the are known from rocks up to 200 m.y. Great Artesian Basin. Cretaceous opal fields of New South Wales and old. By international standards the rocks are exposed at the surface in South Australia. The opal present in Australian mammal record is poor. many places but most lie buried the Cretaceous sediments formed

This tiny opalised jaw fragment, only 28 mm long, is the first Mesozoic mammal discovery from Australia. It comes from Early Cretaceous rocks of Lightning Ridge opal field, N.S.W. and is part of the right lower jaw, seen from the outer surface. The three, well-preserved molar teeth reveal it to be an early monotreme. Photo: John Fields.

396 VOL. 21 No. 9. WINTER 1985 millions of years afterwards, in early opal buyers, private collectors or tion was up for sale and that an Cainozoic times. Drastic fluctuations even overseas museums. overseas opal dealer was arriving in the water table led to the concen­ In 1977 Dr Ralph Molnar, now of shortly to consider buying it. tration of silica-rich solutions, which the Queensland Museum, and I Although it is illegal to export such accumulated in cavities and fissures visited Lightning Ridge to examine fossil material from Australia without to form opal. The best known opal opalised fossil specimens in private official approval, the law is difficult fields are Lightning Ridge and White collections. Lightning Ridge, in to enforce given the small, portable Cliffs in N.S.W. and Coober Pedy and northern N.S.W., is of especial nature of most opal specimens. Andamooka in S.A. interest to palaeontologists. Unlike I got in touch with the Galmans Because of the brittle nature of the other main opal fields, which immediately and reminded them of opal and the patchy, often unpre­ mainly produce remains of extinct the Museum's interest in the collec­ dictable way it forms, until recent marine reptiles, Lightning Ridge fos­ tion. They were sympathetic and years most opal mining was carried sils represent an assortment of mar­ expressed a wish that it should out by hand. Little escapes the ine, freshwater and terrestrial stay in Australia, preferably in a pub­ animals, suggesting the sediments notice of a good opal miner (the lic museum. They estimated they accumulated in a near-shore or smallest flash of colour may lead to had spent at least S65,000 over 15 estuarine environment. years acquiring the material and a saleable gemstone). So, in these During our visit we inspected a were asking S80,000 for the whole circumstances, it is hardly surprising collection belonging to opal miners collection containing several hun­ that even very small fossils are Dave and Alan Galman. Over many dred specimens. Several weeks found. years they had accumulated a later. in November 1984, the Although most opalised fossils large collection of opalised plants, Museum funded the Galman consist of common opal (potch), shells, bones and teeth. Many differ­ brothers to bring the entire collec­ some display the flashing colours of ent types of animals were repre­ tion to Sydney for detailed examin­ precious opal. Precious opal fossil sented in the material but only ation and evaluation. specimens have often been cut up detailed examination by specialists I visited them in their motel and polished for their gem content, could determine what kinds were shortly after their arrival and regardless of their significance or present and, more importantly, how couldn't resist a quick look at the value as scientific specimens, some­ many were new to science. We material, most of which I recognised times through sheer ignorance but identified fish, turtle, crocodile, dino­ from earlier inspections. Suddenly I more often in the belief that a pol­ saur and possible pterosaur (flying spied a small specimen I hadn't ished stone will be more saleable reptile) bones in the Galman collec­ seen before and took it over to the than an opalised fossil. Opal miners tion. Although they wouldn't part light for a closer look. The hair liter­ know from personal experience that, with the collection they let us photo­ ally stood up on the back of my while Australian natural history graph and even cast some of the neck. I could hardly believe my museums are keenly interested in specimens for study. eyes. I was holding part of a small acquiring such specimens for their Then, seven years later in early lower jaw with three teeth still in collections, few have sufficient funds September 1984, the bush telegraph place - and each tooth had sev­ to compete against commercial informed us that the Galman collec- eral sharply pointed cusps! Some opolised Cretaceous plant specimens from the Gelman collection, now in the Australian Museum, showing a range of large and small cones and a slice through a branch or stem. Photo: John Fields.

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 397 might never hove come to light. They also mode it clear that, despite the recognition of such on important specimen, their asking price for the collection was still the some - but only to the Australian Museum. Although the purchase price was one of the largest sums ever required by the Australian Museum for a major acquisition, the Museum Trust moved swiftly. An approach to Esso Australia for financial support brought a major contribution towards the purchase price, crucial sponsorship matched by a grant from the N.S.W. Government and supplemented by Australian Museum Trust funds. In the middle of December 1984 A selection of opalised fossils from Lightning Ridge. Top row, left to right: the entire Golman collection was three molluscs (a gastropod and two bivalves); pterosaur? (flying reptile) acquired by the Australian Museum limb bone; dinosaur (sauropod or brontosaur) tooth; plesiosaur (marine and scientific studies started reptile) tooth. Middle row: three reptile vertebrae and rear portion of a immediately on various ports of it. A reptile (turtle?) braincase. Bottom row: foot (or hand) bones from a preliminary paper on the all­ dinosaur and three smaller reptiles. Photo: John Fields. important mammal jaw hos been submitted for publication. Dr Molnar Although my own special field of trolio is the scarcity of remains of is studying the various reptile bones research is ancient fishes and I am monotremes, the egg-laying mam­ (turtles, crocodiles, dinosaurs and not on expert on "higher" bock­ mals represented today only by the pterosaurs); and Dr Anne Kemp, also boned animals, I hod no doubt what Platypus and the echidnos. It was of the Queensland Museum, is study­ I was holding. The multi-cusped not until 1972 that some small and ing several well-preserved lungfish teeth were those of a mammal and very unusual isolated teeth from 14 teeth. The Golmon collection con­ come from on animal about the size m.y. old sediments in the Lake Frome tains a fascinating variety of fossil of a small cot. The jaw and teeth and Lake Eyre areas of central Aus­ plant specimens, including several were completely opolised. The opal­ tralia were identified as belonging types of opolised cones, providing bearing rocks at Lightning Ridge ore to on extinct type of platypus, now invaluable clues to the vegetation of of Early Cretaceous age, doted at called Obdurodon. Closer examin­ the area. The whole collection pro­ over 100 m.y. old, but the earliest ation of the teeth in the Lightning vides a unique insight into the flora known fossil mammal in Australia Ridge jaw revealed that, although and fauna of what is now northern was a mere 24 m.y. old. I was hold­ they resembled Obdurodon teeth, N.S.W. over 100 m.y. ago. ing the palaeontological equivalent they differed in many details. An important by-product of the of the Holy Grail! The Lightning Ridge mammal Australian Museum's acquisition of As soon as I got home I phoned jaw tells us several things. Firstly, by the Golman collection is that opal a colleague, Dr Michael Archer, confirming that mammals were miners con no longer assume that from the University of New South present in this continent over 100 Australian natural history museums Wales, one of Australia's leading m.y. ago, it revives hopes that fossil ore unable to find the funds neces­ authorities on fossil mammals. "How mammal faunas older than 24 m.y. sary to acquire unique fossil speci­ much would you be prepared to await discovery somewhere in Aus­ mens. Perhaps this purchase will at pay for on Australian Cretaceous tralia. The structure of its teeth also least encourage opal miners, mammal jaw with several teeth in indicates that monotremes (Austra­ dealers and collectors to let it?" I asked him. "It would be price­ lia's unique egg-laying mammals) museum experts inspect all poten­ less", he replied, otter getting his and marsupials (pouched mammals tially important fossil finds from Aus­ breath bock. He later estimated that ore also known from other conti­ tralian opal fields before such that, over the post eight to ten years, nents) ore more closely related than specimens ore cut up or sold over­ he and his students and several col­ hod been previously thought. seas. Had this happened to the opo­ leagues in other States would hove News of the Cretaceous mam­ lised mammal jaw from Lightning spent at least S90,000 in support mal discovery spread rapidly Ridge, all Australians, not just scien­ grants searching for such a speci­ through Sydney's scientific com­ tists, would have been the losers. It men but without success. munity and many scientists visited was a close-call. Next morning Mike Archer the Museum to examine the opo­ Those of us fortunate enough to arrived in the Museum, accompa­ lised jaw personally. All agreed that be able to work on such exciting nied by one of his students, Dr Tim it was one of the most important Aus­ relics of Australia's distant post ore Flannery, now mommalogist in the tralian fossil finds of the century. The well aware of widespread public Australian Museum. He took one Galman brothers, although token interest in this field. We welcome, glance at the three centimetre long aback to discover their collection and ore grateful for, corporate and specimen cradled in my hand. "It's housed such an important scientific private support in our search for like Obdurodon", he gasped. "It's a specimen, were relieved that it hod long-extinct animals and plants. The monotreme, not a marsupial." been discovered before they had potential for exciting new discov­ One of the strongest aspects of sold the collection to on opal dealer eries in this still poorly-known conti­ the fossil record of mammals in Aus- or private collector, in which case it nent is enormous. D 398 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 A regular gallery of portfolios by talented Australian photographers whose works relate to the natural sciences. Presented in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney.

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY The Urban Tree Ingeborg Ty ssen emigrated to Australia from Holland in 1957. For the last ten years she has been actively photographing both in Australia and overseas. Her photographs are frequently exhibited and held in all major art collections of Australia. This series takes a wry, somewhat quirky look at the "urbanised tree" - that strange creature, hardly noticed by the human inhabitants of the city but which always seems to have its own individual personality when examined closely. As lngoborg Tyssen herself says "These photographs examine the role of the tree in the urban environment and the constraints which man has imposed upon it and its immediate landscape. The definition of 'tree' does not even begin to approach the complexity of our relationships with them. Throughout human history the tree has had a number of symbolic meanings beyond its physical presence and utility".

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-"'-�a.-..·=tt � . .._ ...... _,.,. ------"'Ll.._..._�=�'"'-"" �... A SPIDER THAT'S GOT THE DROP ON INSECTS ne of my most memorable You stop in your tracks for a closer upside-down in the bushes - a (Q)moments was the discovery look and you're hooked. slender, long-legged Net-casting of the Net-casting Spider, Yes, in such an alien-seeming Spider, herself the colour of a dead Dinopis subrufa, weaving her world it's useful to have a few leaf. I wouldn't have seen her if my casting net in my garden introductions. And make no torch hadn't lit up the shining, shrubbery. mistake, there's still much behaviour blueish-white silk of her net. It lit up Once you've ventured into the that's unknown, still a whole lot of something else, too - a splodge of miniworld of insects and spiders gaps waiting to be closed by white faeces on the ground directly such moments of discovery come observant visitors from our below her. I thought nothing of it at often. A discovery doesn't have to megaworld. the time. be an "original" one in the narrow But how, in my own garden Over the next few years I got to sense of the word. A personal first where every nook and cranny and know this spider rather well. I found sighting is no less novel just - as I thought - all inhabitants that she (embracing he) has a most because someone else got in first were known to me, had I missed distinctive life style and I managed with the naming or the describing. seeing Dinopis before? Well, the to fill in a few of its details. You come across something focus up to then had been mainly There are several things that set strange in the bush or in your on insects. My heady love affair this remarkable spider apart from garden. A vague memory stirs. with spiders was only just her fellows - her eyes, for one "Didn't I read something ...? beginning. thing. She has eight of them like Wasn't there a photograph ...?" Anyhow, there she was hanging most of her kind, but two "front" eyes are enormously big and round, set in a fringe of ginger "eyelashes" -like the eyes of a friendly Hereford cow. There the resemblance ends. Dinopis is no gentle, myopic herbivore but a rapacious predator with a keenness of vision unmatched amongst her kind. Most of the spiders we see around at night trap their victims passively in webs, sensing them solely by touch. Dinopis is an active ambusher. She relies on acute night vision and hair-trigger reactions to catch not flying insects but walking ones. A photographer might see a parallel in this spider with one of those photo-electric devices that set off flash and camera when a bird or insect crosses the beam. Dinopis is set off when a walking insect crosses her line of sight. She's down there in a split second and it's in the bag. But that's just the final coup. There's a lot of preparation. Every night - sometimes several times in one night - the spider must make a new net. She weaves it from a complex kind of fuzzy silk that only a few spiders can produce. Spider silk is a glandular secretion, drawn out through the finger-like spinnerets at the tip of the body. The silk Dinopis uses for � The Net-casting Spider, Dinopis subrufa. The weaving of the net begins. Photo: Densey Clyne. 402 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 The last thread of the net is in Tplace. Photo: Densey Clyne. her net comes out of a different she does so. You'd think the net structure. the cribellum or "little would drop but it doesn't because sieve", named for its peppering of Dinopis, hanging from her own tiny holes. To draw out this special safety line, has a firm hold of the silk she has a pair of elegant little framework. Next she reaches down combs, one on each of her two with her long front legs and hindmost legs. measures the distance between the The finished net is a fragile and net and the ground. beautiful artefact. It takes a long Back in position, the spider now time to make and it's easy to see. grasps the corners of the net with Not so obvious but just as important her four front claws and tests it by is the larger structure of "ordinary" flinging her feet apart. The net silk threads from which the spider shows remarkable elasticity, operates. It's a combination of stretching to several times its watch·tower, trapeze, launching apparent size. platform and weaving frame. The There's just one more task. Very threads of this structure are too fine often before she bunches up the to show up well in a photograph, net and goes all quiet and still and so I've drawn some diagrams. watchful, Dinopis flips her abdomen Although proportions and angles over and drops that splodge of may vary according to where the white faeces directly underneath spider sets up, the basic design her. can usually be traced. The ambush spot isn't chosen at Soon after dark Dinopis moves random. It may be over a stick on out of hiding and suspends herself the ground or a horizontal stem on upright by her first and second a shrub. Sometimes the spider legs, grasping lines AB, FC and DG. angles her structure against a This is her net-making position. vertical surface - a tree trunk or While she combs out the silk fence where insects are likely to be threads with her two hindmost legs, crawling. the claws of the third pair of legs Sooner or later, some grasp the threads and weave them wandering insect crosses the together. The net starts off as a spider's magic beam. Instantly she narrow ribbon. As it grows the two drops, flinging the net wide. ends turn upwards. Finally the Stopping her fall at exactly the right hollow in the centre is filled in to distance, she wraps the net around make a rectangle. Some minor the insect, scoops it struggling but framework threads are cut, some helpless into the air and delivers vertical attachment threads are the fatal bite. added, and that's it - but there's And what of that white "marker" to bring scavengers to the scene? more to do yet. the spider sometimes drops below Or is the spider just making herself The spider moves to a her at the ambush site? Is it just comfortable before she settles head·down position, cutting that, a kind of sight-board to show down? Who knows for sure? As I through the vertical thread BC as up her passing victims? Is it a bait said, there are lots of gaps still TTwo lovely black eyes belong to Dinopis subruta. Photo: Jim Frazier. waiting to be closed. D

.A.Diagrams of the scaffolding (left) and the finished net (right). AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 403 0 C 0 '6 z

Cl)> � :::, 0 0 0 �0 a.. � c:::-� � :::, .0 Cl) (I) .:.(. � 0 :I: 0 C (I) 0 Cl) (I) .....� THE HAWKESBURY A river under t reat

by Alan Jones Invertebrate Zoology, Australian Museum

"The whole future of the Howkesbury during the drought of 1980-81, the this may seem harmless, the concen­ lies with us today. By reasonable water flow in some areas was pre­ trations of dissolved plant nutrients, foresight and careful planning, dominantly sewage effluent; we such as phosphorus and nitrogen bocked by the conditioning of pub­ continue to change the river physi­ compounds, con be very high. lic opinion, we may yet save for the cally with little knowledge of the These nutrients may cause explosive future generations what could prove effects; and we also continue to use growth of duckweed, algae and to be this State's greatest tourist the river in mutually incompatible other plants whose respiration and asset." (Mr 0. H. Wyndham, President ways. decomposition cause deoxygeno­ of the National Trust, 1956.) This article briefly outlines the tion of the water. This process of status of major environmental issues. over-enrichment is called eutrophi­ "Environmental planning for future discusses their management, and cotion. activities in the Howkesbury basin is suggests some courses of action that The consequences include fish probably of greater importance should be token. kills, problems with irrigation and than for any other river basin in New potable water treatment, and dimin­ South Wales, and possibly in Austra­ MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL ished aesthetic and recreational lia. The importance arises from the ISSUES amenity. The water quality of about proximity of the basin to Sydney, its Sewage disposal and eutrophi­ 100 kilometres of river hos been great area, its high recreational and cation affected, particularly South Creek scenic qualities, its historic interest near Windsor and the sections and the substantial resources of min­ By 1980, the Hawkesbury- below the Comden and Penrith erals, water and forests which it con­ Nepeon basin was served by 56 treatment plants. The extent and tains." (The Hawkesbury River Valley sewage treatment works with most of severity of eutrophicotion depend Environmental Study Background the effluent being discharged into on river flows and dilution rates. The Report, 1973.) the river system. Because of State Pollution Control Commission expected population increases, hos developed hydrological models hese quotes exemplify the effluent volumes should double by that predict nutrient distribution Liimportance of the Hawkesbury 1990 and treble by 2000. All treat­ under different flow rates. High rain­ region, an importance that will ment plants currently provide sec­ fall and floods dilute the effluent burgeon with the rapidly growing ondary treatment. which produces rapidly. However, low to medium populati.on. Despite this, however. a clear, colourless effluent. Although flow conditions occur at least 70 per

404 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 ient of the time and, at the height of (Warragamba Dam) is the main res­ Wetlands '1e recent drought, sewage efflueht ervoir and others exist on the Avon, Wetlands comprise the zone omprised virtually all the river flow Cordeaux, Nepean and Cataract between permanently submerged some areas and intolerable Rivers and Mangrove and Mooney areas and dry land. They are par­ utrophic effects were widespread. Creeks. Nine irrigation weirs occur ticularly well-developed where tidal and mining between Menangle and Wallacia ranges are high and ore often vege­ on the Nepeon and, in addition. The river and its flood plain are tated with swamp plants, salt­ about 6,500 hectares are irrigated marshes and mangroves. These '1ajor sources of sand and gravel along the Hawkesbury, Wollondilly or construction purposes. Although habitats are highly productive and and lower Colo Rivers and South provide food and shelter for ood plain deposits greatly exceed Creek. i'lose in the river bed and banks, migratory birds, juvenile fish and Dams and irrigation reduce the invertebrates, some of which are nost extraction has been from the flow of fresh water. Because a high ver bed between Argyle Reach commercial species. Wetlands also proportion of the commercial fishe­ mitigate flooding by acting as giant md Yarramundi. Although extrac­ ries value comprises species that on started in 1882, and today sponges; reduce erosion and turbid­ are estuarine-dependent, reduc­ ity by trapping sediments; and pro- 1bout 2,000 cubic metres of sand tions in freshwater inflow hove been er day are removed, very little is vide aesthetic, scientific and , implicated in lowered productivity educational opportunities for nown about the effects on the river. and fisheries returns. The school �is state of affairs reduces man- people. All these functions require prawn is an example of an import­ little or no expensive human main­ 1gement to empiricism and guess ant commercial species that is ork. tenance and they are sustainable in adversely affected by reduced that they will continue so long as we ( Mining too close to the river freshwater flow. Some of the hidden anks may cause their collapse or do not damage the environment. costs of dams may thus be borne by Unfortunately, however, these lestabilisation. Macrophytes such the fishermen and also the buying 1s ribbon weed, which grow in the aspects of wetlands have rarely public if supply-and-demand factors been appreciated. Instead, {)allows, would be lost. These plants force prices up. Lowered river flows �rovide essential habitat for a rich wetlands are too often perceived as also exacerbate eutrophic effects, wastelands, with draining and filling ariety of fish and invertebrates. The reduce recreational amenity and ustralian bass, for example, breeds for housing, tourism, industry and permit increased intrusion of tidal agriculture the result. The 1 the upper estuary and the juven­ saline water. The last caused a marshlands of the coasts of Connec­ es depend on the ribbon weed for problem for the irrigation of citrus '.)Od and shelter during their ticut and Massachusetts in the fruits, particularly during the United States have been filled in pstream migration. There is evi­ droughts of 1980 and 1981. gradually so that only half remain. lence that the bass population has Dams can also hinder or prevent This slow and steady encroachment, 1lready been affected. the movements of species that called the "tyranny of small The mining of the deeper river migrate between fresh water and decisions", is also destroying Austra­ ?ed can also have varied physicxic to humans and livestock. evere illness can follow swimming 1 or drinking infected water. Jnsightly settlement ponds and o iigh level of truck traffic with its asso­ :iated noise, dust and traffic haz­ irds. are also costs of sand mining - costs that must be borne by the :ommunity. )ams The Hawkesbury-Nepean river .ystem supplies potable water to ,ydney, the lllawarra urban areas md Gosford-Wyong, as well as owns on the river. Lake Burragorang

\USTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 405 for irrigation would fall. Sewage sludge could also be used for com­ posting. The third major option involves upgrading the level of treat­ ment, thereby removing nutrients. A combination of the second and third options may well prove satis­ factory. Because the side effects of min­ ing the river bed for sand are either uncertain or undesirable and because terrestrial reserves far exceed those in the river bed, min­ ing the river bed should be phased out. Terrestrial sources sould be favoured wherever possible and extraction should be concentrated into fewer larger sites to reduce overall scenic degradation and enable better planning control. A prime example of the latter is the Penrith Lakes Scheme. This scheme seeks to extract sand and gravel from 2,000 hectares of the Castle­ reagh flood plain near the Nepean River. It would also rehabilitate the Excessive plant growth (duckweed, ferns and phytoplankton) due to area after extraction by creating a eutrophication in the Nepean River near Penrith. Photo: State Pollution Con­ lake system suitable for recreation trol Commission. and wildlife. quence for management is that we mutually incompatible and the river The controlled release of water can never do one thing and one is already overstressed. Because from dams would guarantee at least thing only. Every action will start a high water quality is the prime some water flow below the dam. This chain reaction that may ramify in requirement, only activities compat­ should ameliorate the previously­ surprising ways. Major ecosystems ible with the maintenance of high mentioned problems usually asso­ must be managed as a unit, not in water quality should be permitted. A ciated with dams. However, the small pieces. The Hawkesbury­ regional planning emphasis is need to release water would be Nepean drainage basin comprises necessary because of the interac­ greatest during droughts when the such a unit because it is a single tive nature of many activities and need to conserve it is also greatest. large catchment area. Water is the the connecting role of water. For Thus we need either additional great connecting agent in ecosys­ example, both sewage disposal sources of water or more efficient tems: it transports many compounds and sand mining affect water qual­ use with less consumption. Further in solution: and it erodes and physi· ity many miles downstream. impoundment of the basin's rivers to cally transports materials such as Secondly, a mechanism provide more water is a receding sediments or detritus. enabling effectve co-ordination option. Only the Colo and Mac­ Another environmental manage­ between government bodies is donald Rivers remain free-flowing ment principle, related to the first, is needed. Over 25 such bodies exist, but both have high recreation and that of minimum intervention. This each with narrowly-defined areas of wilderness values. External sources means that humans should adapt to responsibility. Good regional man­ such as the Shoalhaven River are the natural pattern of the ecosystem agement will not flow without good already being tapped. Increased rather than imposing grand devel­ co-ordination. efficiency and decreased consump­ opment projects that may cause With respect to individual issues tion would require appropriate irreversible damage or high previously discussed, the following pricing policies and public edu­ remedial costs. These effects are suggestions are made. cation. Water is the key resource in especially likely where our under­ Sewage disposal can be impro­ the region. Ultimately, the major standing of the system and its inter­ ved in several ways. Firstly, the efflu­ challenge in water management is relationships is inadequate. Where ent could be pumped elsewhere. to live within our means. more knowledge is available, it is The coast or inland of the Blue Wetlands and their buffer zones particularly important to evaluate Mountains has been suggested. This should all be placed under protect­ all the major physical, biological option is expensive and removes ive environmental zonings. Where and social consequences of devel­ large volumes of water from the cat­ development is proposed, the onus opment early in the planning pro­ chment area permanently. Sec­ should be on the developer to dem­ cess. This will provide a basis for ondly, more effluent could be used onstrate it is in the public interest to decision-making, subsequent plan­ for irrigation. This idea is attractive proceed. Particular attention should ning and promote efficient resource because it follows the ecological be given to the prevention of acce­ use. recycling principle and water would lerated silting of lakes due to soil dis­ not be lost. The excess nutrients turbance. The public ownership of WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? could go into useful production significant wetlands may ensure Firstly, a regional environmental rather than creating eutrophication. their protection best. plan should be prepared. This is If this could be developed on a suf­ Recreation is forecast to necessary because some uses are ficient scale, demand on river water become the dominant use for the

406 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 EARTHWATCH "The curious are rewarded... "

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Infra-red satellite image of the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system and sur­ Two to three weeks teams. rounds. The infra-red light causes healthy vegetation to appear red, rolling No special skills necessary. grassland pink, urban areas blue and water blue-black. Just find the time to give us your help. Hawkesbury-Nepean region. The Recommendations for rectifying 0 EARTHWATCH capability of different areas to this situation have been made by accommodate recreational activi­ the National Trust. the Department of 176 South Creek Road, 1ties varies greatly. The protection of Environment and Planning, the State Dee Why West (P.O. Box 60) vulnerable areas, such as high Pollution Control Commission. and 2099 NSW, Australia sandstone ridges and river banks. is other bodies. The need for co­ Ph: (02) 981 0444 crucial and a recreation capability ordinated, regional management is tia------· map would be a valuable guide. clear. The political action to Recreation would be promoted by implement this is the next step and is D Please send me your FREE resolving the sewage disposal prob­ urgently needec;:I. It would be a fit­ program brochure. lem. phasing out river bed sand min­ ting bicentennial project.O D I want to be a subscriber ing and guaranteeing river flows by to EARTH WATCH. controlled release of water from Enclosed is $25 for 12 dams. months' subscription, please send me your latest magazine right away. CONCLUSION Environmental problems in the Name: ...... Hawkesbury are serious and. in the Address: ...... absence of remedial action. will worsen due to the increasing popu­ lation. The next major drought will ...... Postcde: ...... see a return to the intolerable eutrophication of the early 1980s. Age: ...... Sex: ...... More than half the length of the river between Camden and Broken Bay Occupation: ...... will suffer excessive plant growth. This will diminish aesthetic appeal and create problems with irrigation My interests are: ...... and drinking water. Deoxygenation of the water and ammonia toxicity will kill many animals and some areas will be unsafe for swimming.

AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HISTORY 407 4-W .D. WILDERNESS ADVENTURES Get off the beaten track and away from it all, and experience the wonders of Australia's Outback - spectacular gorges and chasms, remote deserts and ancient mountain ranges, with Australian Pacific, travelling in small groups in air-conditioned, toilet-equipped Mercedes-Benz 4-Wheel Drive Desert Patrol vehicles. 9-DAY ALICE/RED CENTRE ex ALICE SPRINGS S685 July 6, 13, 20, 27; Aug. 10, 24, 31 and other dates. Trek into Western MacDonnell Ranges. Simpson's Gap, Standley Chasm. Ormiston Gorge. Finke River. Hermanns­ burg Mission. Palm Valley and Amphitheatre, 2 nights Ay­ ers Rock. Henbury Meteorite Crater & areas inaccessible to the traditional tourist.

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ADVERTISEMENT -- Bunyip Sul1aces in TV Series------, A TV series now in production Australia's animals are so different explores claims of bunyip finds in from those of the rest of the world. It the 19th century. The documentary will show the "new immigrants", series, Australia's Improbable Ani­ such as bats and rodents, that mals, shows "evidence" of the exis­ found their own way here, and the tence of bunyips dragged out of "intruders", animals introduced in the Murrumbidgee and Hawkes­ the lost 200 years, and the impact bury Rivers. they have had on native wildlife. The story of these bunyip finds Australia's Improbable Animals is contained in a letter to the editor is being produced under the Aus­ of the Sydney Morning Herald on tralian Government's taxation July 5, 1847, by W.S. Macleay, Esq. incentive scheme for production of (the original owner of Elizabeth Boy Australian films. Under this scheme House). The "Howkesbury monster" investors can claim up to 133% of was found in 1841 and Mocleoy their investment as a tax deduc­ described it as "a true Cyclops". tion. The series will be designed for The skin of the head and the skull distribution overseas. Part one has ore still held by the Macleay been completed, part two is in pro­ Museum at the University of Sydney. duction, parts three and four are An extraordinary skull found in the 50% funded. Executive producers Murrumbidgee River in 1846 was and distributors, Channel Com­ exhibited as a "bunyip" at the Col­ munications, have given a distri­ onial Museum in Sydney. bution guarantee of a minimum Australia's Improbable Animals 50% return to investors. The series is uses the bunyip stories to show atti­ being produced and directed by tudes of the notebook naturalists of Gary Steer. the 19th century. The first part of Further details can be this four part series shows the dis­ A skeptica/ museum curator {played by obtained from Channel Communi­ Michael Long) displays the skull and covery of Australian animals by cations, 11 Kellett St, Kings Cross, stuffed head of an 1841 bunyip, the navigators, explorers and early set­ Sydney, 2011. Tel. 358 3976 or "Hawkesbury Cyclops". It was later tlers. The second port, titled "The 358 3442. announced the skull was of a foal Drifting Museum" will show why grossly deformed by hydrocephalous.

408 VOL. 21 No. 9, WINTER 1985 Read the Natural Authority The autumn issue of Australian Natural History (Vol. 21 No. 8) looked at Australia's very own Koala - not the cute and cuddly furball familiar to most Australians, but the scraggy, disease-ridden animal whose population is fast dwindling. A vaccine has been discovered which may be the Koala's saviour. Besides a debate on animal-based research, a photographic essay on Australian Aborigines today and a colourful look at marine worms, the last issue also includes an account of Australia's most severe locust plague in 30 years. Most of us have heard the insect sounds that fill the air in summer, but have you ever heard a moth hiss, or a caterpillar scratch on a leaf? Learn about these sounds and how they are made and, in similarly sensitive style in an article entitled Common Scents of the Bush, let your olfactory glands be stimulated with a nostalgic walk through Sydney's bush. In previous issues we looked at vampires (the facts and the fiction) and the status of Queensland's flying foxes. Tourism in Kakadu National Park is critically evaluated and the existence of the Thylacine in Tasmania is questioned. (Is learningChinese a wayto develop Australias natural resources?) Accountancy Agriculture Applied Geology Applied Mathematics Architecture Biochemistry Biological Sciences Botany Careers Marketing Chemistry Chinese Language Civil Engineering Computer Sciences Dermatology Earth Sciences Economic Geology Economics Engineering Geology Geophysics Languages Law LifeSciences Management Studies Marine Studies Medicine Mineral Economics Mineralogy Neurobiology

The study oflanguages is just one example ofthe kind offaculty in our colleges and universities which receives recognition and support from Esso. Contributions have been made to many differenttertiary education centres right across Australia. Such support takes differentforms. From research grants and sponsorships to special scholarships awarded to students Esso working in new fields of endeavour. All of which are designed to promote the depth of talent in today's youngs Australians, which hopefully in the future will benefit all of us.

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