J UNE 15, 1960 C@8 AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE VoL. XIII, No. 6 Price- TWO SHILLINGS The Red-necked Stint, a wading bird which breeds in Sibe ria and Alaska, migrates to Australia for our summer, when many may be seen on the sandflats of Bo ta n y Bay, Sydney, and along the adjacent Cook's River. (See article, " The Bird H abitats of Botany Bay," on page 173.) * R e~t i s te red at thC' G t•n eml J>os t OR'ice, Sydney, Cor· t n\nsmission :\s u pcriodiral. THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM HYDE PARK, SYDNEY BOARD OF TRUSTEES PHESlDENT: WALLACE C. WURTH, C.M.G., LL.B., lion. LL.D. CROWN TRUSTEE: F . B. SPENCEH. OFFICIAL THUSTEES: THE HON. THE CHIEF JUSTICE. TTIE llON. THE PRESIDENT OF T ilE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE HON. THE CHIEF SECHETARY. THE HON. THE ATTOI\Nl::Y GEN.t:HAL. THE HON. THE THEASUHER. T liE HON. THE Ml lSTEH .FOH PUllLLC WOHKS. THE HON. THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION. THE AUDITOH-GENEHAL. THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES MEDICAL ·BOARD. THE SURVEYOR-GENERAL AND CHIEF SURVEYOR. THE C.t\OWN SOLlCITOH. EL ECTIVE TRUSTEES: 0. C. \ ' ICKI!:HY. B.E., 1\ I.I.E. (Aust.). F. L. S. BELL, M.A., F.R.A.I. WALLACE <.:. WURTH, C.~I.C., LL.B. FHANK W. IllLL. PHUF. A. P. ELK J, , M.A., Ph.D. G. A. JOIINSON. F. Mt·DOWEI.L. PHOF. R. L. CROCKER, D.Sc. tt J. N013LE, <.:. 13 .1!:., ~I.S c ., l'h.D. PROF. j . H. A. M c~IILLAN, M.S., D.Sc.Air. E. J. KENNY, :<.J.Amt. 1.1\1.1\1. E. A. J. HYDE. DIRECfOH: . J. W. EVANS, Sc.D. DEPUTY DIRECfOH : H . 0. FLETCHER, M.Sc. SCIENTIFIC STAFF: Birds, Heptilcs and Amphibians: J. A. KEAST, M.A., M.Sc., Ph.D., Curator; H. G. COGGER, B.Sc. (Gen. Se.), Assistant Curator. Mammals: 13. j. MAR LOW, B.Sc., F.Z.S., Curator. Fishes: G. }>. WHITLEY, F.H.Z.S., Curator. Insects and Arachnids: C. N. SMITHERS, M.Sc., Cumtor; D. K. Mt·ALPI E, M.Sc., Assistant Curator. Molluscs: D. F. McM ICHAEL, M.A., Ph.D., Curator. Crustacea and Coelcnterates: F. A. McNEJLL, Curator. Worms and Echinodcrms: ELIZABETH C. POPE, ~I.Sc., Curntol'. Minerals and Hocks : R. 0. CHALMEHS, A.s:r.C., Curator. Fomls: 11. 0. FLETCIJER, M.Sc., Curator. Anthropolo"y: F. D. McCARTHY, Dip.Anthrop., Curntor. EDITORIAL ASSIST ANT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION OFFICER: RELATIONS OFFICER: l'ATHICIA M. McDO, ALD, B.Sc., Dip.Ed. PETEH COLLlS. EXHIBITION DEPAHTM ENT. ART AND DESIGN SECTION: F. J. llEEMA ' · LIBRARIAN: PREPARATION SECTION: I' I IOTOGRAPHER AND MARY DAVIES. B.Sc., L.A.A. R. D. ~ I ACKAY VISUAL AIDS OFFICER: 1 I. 11 UGTJES. HONORARY SCIENTI F IC ST AFF: Zoologists. E. A. BRIGCS, D.Sc. JOYCE ALLAN, F .R.Z.S. H. LEIGilTON KESTEVEN, D.Sc., M.D. S. J. COPLAND, M.Sc. MELBOURNE WARD, F.R.Z.S., F.Z.S. ELLIS TROUCHTON, F.R.Z.S. TOM IREDALE. A. A. RACEK, Dr. rC'r. nnt. (Brno). A. ]. MAHS IIALL, D.Sc., D.Phil. O rnithologist. Philatelist. K. A. Ill DWOOD, C.F.A.O.U., F.R.Z.S. FRANK W. HILL CONTENTS Page THE BIRD HABITATS OF BOTANY BAY-Arnold R . M cGill 173 K oALA M ANAGEMENT I N VIcrORIA-1. M cNally 178 DANGEROUS MARINE ANIMALS-Gilbert P. Whitley 182 A R EMARKABLE P ARASITE OF T H E LoNG-FINGERED B AT 183 TH E EVOLUTION AND RADIATION OF MAMMALS- B . J. Mar/ow 184 THE CORROBOREE FROG 190 TURTLES OF T H E PAST-H . 0. Fletcher 191 MAYFLIES- David K . M eA/pine 196 "T li E VERTEBRATE TREE" 199 CROCODILES AND THEIR Kr N- Harold G. CoNger 200 ~-- e The fine study of a Red-necked Stint on our front cover was taken by Arnold R. McGill. sec­ retary of the New South Wales branch of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. author of the article. "The Bird H abitats of Botany Bay.'' The Red-necked Stint is one of 25 species of wader breeding in eastern Asia which have been recorded from Botany Bay. VOLUME X l lL NUMBER 6. JUNE 15. 1960. NEW BOOKS CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE by Peter Et on and James Leasor In 1941 four German soldiers in Yugoslavia captured a truckload of gold bullion. Two years later the great loot of Rommel's Afrika Korps was dumped overboard from the special ship taking it to Germany. But when the authors tried to trace these treasures they came up against a vicious, sinister conspiracy of silence. Illustrated. 22/ 6 (post 1/ 5) THE LOTUS AND THE DYNAMO by C. D. Rowle y A tale of travel in strange lands, and a thoughtful study of an important part of the world-Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. The author is a sympathetic and alert observer. Illustrated. 30 I- (post l /3) A DESCANT FOR GOSSIPS by Thea Astle y "Tells with satirical but serious perception the story of two middle-aged school­ teachers who are driven by sympathy and loneliness-his wife is an incurable invalid-into each other's arms .. caustic and convincing in satire." (Times Literary Supplement) . 21 /- (post 1/ 2) GAMBOLS IN GASTRONOMY by William Wallace lrwin Dele~tab l e recipes by the Garrulous Gourmet-to be used (and enjoyed) both by grrls who have a man to feed and by men who like browsing through cook books. 25/- (post 1/ 3) NO BOUNDARY FENCE by Frank o•Grady This novel brings to life Hamilton Hume, both as a brave, capable, fiery-tempered man, and as a famous explorer who made his first important trip at seventeen. It tells of his love for Elizabeth Dight, and how in his later life he dealt with bushrangers and avenged the tragic death of h is brother. 20/- (post 1/ 3) MEETING SOVIET MAN by Manning Clark An attempt to discover the real feelings, hopes and fears of Russian men . and women today. The author makes many ill uminating comments on Russtans' outlook and manners, and on East-West relationships today .... 15/- (post lOd.) At all booksellers ANGUS & ROBERTSON (PUBLISHERS) PTY LTD . • c::: • c::. • o ..,• • o • ~ Page 172 The Australian Museum Maga:ine THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE Published Quarterly by the Australian Museum College Street, Sydney Editor: J. 'vV. Evans, Sc.D. Annual Subscription, Posted, 10/- VoL. XIII. No. 6 JUNE 15, 1960 THE BIRD HABITATS OF BOTA1 VY BAY By ARNOLD R. McGILL Secretary o ( the New South Wales branch of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union WHEN Captain James Cook first set During the early days of settlement the foot o n Australian soil nearly 200 ·'Botany Swamps" became a favourite years ago he justifiably named his landing rendezvous for the "sporting" fraternity. place Botany Bay. The ornithological No doubt collectors patronized the locality history of the area also began in 1770, for as well . and the many references given in in his M.S. Journal, now in the Mitchell the writings of A . J. North bear testimony Library, [Sir] Joseph Banks states :- to its popularity. Species that reached the 'Museum from there, or are mentioned in May I . ". The tree over our literature, include the Avocet, Banded heads abounded very much with Stilt and F reckl ed Duck, which have not Loryquets and cocatoos of which been subsequently observed in the Botany we shot several. both these sorts swampland, and the Corncake, which has fl ew in fl ocks of several score only been obtained once since in Australia. together . " May 2. " Tupia. a native of the Variety Of Habitats Hawaiian Islands who strayed I have long taken a particular interest in from us in pursuit of Parrots of the birds of Botany Bay, but feel that the which he shot several . " bay's real appeal lies in the variety of May 3. " ... I made a small excur­ habi tats suitable for bird life to be found sion in o rder to shoot any thing I there. Because of the nature of the soil. could meet with & found a large rain forest has probably never existed close quantity of Qua il s much to the shores of Botany Bay. but most other resembling our Engli sh ones types of avian habitat- open forest. heath­ [Stubble Quail] of which I might land, mangroves, cultivation, grassland, have killed as many almost as 1 swamps. estuaries, tidal-flats and ocean­ pleased had I given time up to it still persist to varying ex tents. but my business was to k ill variety A 10 mile square. as shown in the and not too many individuals of accompanying map, readily forms a boun­ any one species." dary to the whole area, which extends June, 1960 Page 173 BAY / / ----,l \ ''IIIALA&AR ' ~· . - · _ ,_i lll!~OLAMO -- MAl.A6AR'., - to~c; a~; - / }: -o ~~~~~~~~'illli?'{ ,,. ·. )> -..-, _ \ () ""TJ- n- BOTANY "BAY 8AI'lKS SOLAI'IDeR 0 (") rn )>z The Botany Bay area. Drawn by Lhe Aulbor. north to Alexandria Canal and Eastlakes be preserved as close fauna ~ n~ ~~ra Water Reserve, south to the limits of reserves, will depend on each spectes ablltty ~oolooware Bay, west to the George's to adapt itself to artificial parks and l a~es, Rtver estuary and east to the Pacific Ocean. wh ich, fortunately, appear to be. requtre­ Some. parts are still sparsely inhabited, m ents of modern subdivision planmng. especmlly on the south side, and have probably changed little by the impact of Nearly 300 species of bi~d s have been settlement.