IO 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Calumba Root [Memspermac-m). — This root is 

 the produce of a plant now known as Jateorliiza 

 Calumba, Miers ; but was formerly included in the 

 genus Cocculus as C. palmatiis, D.C. ; but have been 

 separated, its characters differentiating from those of 

 Cocculus proper. It is a native of Eastern Africa, 

 about Mozambique, from whence the supply of this 

 country is imported. It has a climbing stem ; leaves 



Fig. 12. — Leaf of yateorhiza palmata. 



circular, palmately lobed with 5-7 entire lobes ; leaf- 

 stalks covered with glandular hairs. Root large, 

 fleshy. 



Before exportation the roots are taken up, sliced 

 and dried in the sun. They possess tonic, demul- 

 cent properties, not stimulants ; an extract is pre- 

 pared from the roots, a solution of which, or a 

 tincture of the roots, is used in cases of diarrhoea, 

 dysentery, or to allay vomiting ; but not now used so 

 much as formerly. A figure of the plant is given as 

 pi. 60, Steph. and Church. Med. Bot. 



NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 

 QUEENSLAND. 



THE subject-matter of the following notes has been 

 furnished by my son, Oswald H. L. Slater, 

 who has resided for some years in the interior of 

 Queensland. Many of his observations are unavail- 

 able, as the species referred to cannot be identified. 



The most conspicuous bird of Northern Australia 

 is the emeu. The number of eggs in its nest varies 

 from nine to fourteen, but two of the number are 

 described as invariably larger than the rest. The 

 meaning of this peculiarity has not been discovered. 

 During the brilliant moonlight nights of Australia, 

 the emeu seems — and, indeed, many other birds 

 seem — to be nocturnal in its habits, and it may 

 often be seen scudding along over the open plains. 



It is sometimes a puzzle to find the birds in such 

 regions asleep. 



The Australian crow differs from the European 

 carrion-crow and the hoodie in being much more 

 gregarious ; but it is fully their equal in noise, 

 impudence, and thievishness. It steals the eggs and 

 the young of poultry, and, of course, of the wild birds 

 also. The domestic hen soon learns to lay her eggs 

 in the most concealed localities ; but this stratagem, 

 though it often baffles the crow, does not suit the 

 farmer, since, when eggs are wanted, they are not to 

 be found. If the crows find a young lamb away from 

 protection, they pick out its eyes. Hence they are 

 very unpopular among stock-owners. Though many 

 of the marauders are shot, their numbers are so great 

 that it makes little apparent impression. 



One of these birds, having been shot, was laid 

 upon an ant-hill, in order that the skeleton might be 

 picked clean by these busy insects. Early the next 

 morning the surrounding trees were crowded with 

 crows, peering down at their dead comrade and 

 uttering angry croaks. This was repeated until the 

 ants had completed their task. 



The so-called kite, evidently a different bird from 

 his European namesake, frequents the neighbourhood 

 of human dwellings, like the crow, but does much 

 less mischief. If a bone is thrown to a dog or a cat, 

 a kite is almost sure to sweep past swifter than the 

 wind and snatch away the booty from before the very 

 nose of the intended recipient. The look of mystifi- 

 cation on the face of a puppy who has thus been 

 robbed would make a splendid subject for an 

 Australian Landseer. The crow sometimes dances, 

 round a kite which is devouring some offal, but 

 without venturing to attack him, and will sometimes 

 venture to hop over him in the hope, doubtless, of 

 drawing off his attention from his meal. 



The great black eagle is sometimes beset by a 

 whole mob of crows, who wheel round and round, 

 croaking fearfully, but taking good care not to come 

 within his grasp. Sometimes he will make a dash at 

 his assailants and strike down one or two of the most 

 eager ; but more generally he seeks quietness by 

 "screwing" up into the higher regions of the air, 

 where the mob do not care to follow. 



The common cockatoo, white, with a sulphur- 

 yellow crest, is very common in Queensland, and 

 takes readily to a domestic life. In the streets of 

 Tambo, Blackall, and other little towns in the 

 interior, these birds may be seen waddling or flying 

 about, going in or out of the houses at pleasure ; 

 but never offering to escape. Whether it is the effect 

 of their freer life, or of their native climate, the 

 cockatoos seem here more intelligent and better 

 tempered than in Europe. They climb up men's 

 legs without ever offering to bite. 



Among the most curious birds of Queensland are 

 those known familiarly as the "Twelve Apostles," 

 from the circumstance that they are always seen in 



