BY J. H. MAIDEN. 139 



little-figured, free-working timber, and though apt to rend in drying, 

 repays attention to seasoning. A Mr. Foley, who, up to the time 

 of his death a few years ago, was a road-maintenance man in 

 the Bombala district, used to make pick, hammer, and axe- 

 handles of this wood, which acquired considerable local reputation 

 and were readily purchased. This is the origin of the local name, 

 and it is an interesting example of the way plant names have been 

 often given in this country. 



Lomatia Fraseri, R.Br. N.O. Proteacese. " Lancewood." 



Used for similar purposes to the preceding, — a timber which it 

 much resembles. It is close in texture, has a pretty oak grain, 

 and is of a very pale pink colour. It is difficult to plane. 



Pomaderris cinerea, Benth. N.O. Rhamnaceae. 



Tough, close in the grain, dresses up fairly well, but is inclined 

 to warp and split. It is moderately heavy, and the heartwood 

 has a pleasing brown colour. It is hardly known, and appears to 

 be never used. It is probably useful for tool-handles. Southern 

 districts. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Mr. C. Hedley informs me that the natives of Northern 

 Queensland, when hotly pursued, have often escaped from their 

 enemies in the following manner. They break off the leaf-stalk of 

 a water-lily, disappear in the waters of a lagoon or river, and 

 breathe by means of this porous leaf-stalk, which extends from 

 their mouths to the surface of the water. They have been known 

 thus to remain concealed in water for half an hour. During 

 President Carnot's tour in Corsica in 1889, it was related in the 

 newspapers that a Frenchman had escaped from brigands by means 

 of a similar expedient ; he used a hollow reed, and made the state- 

 ment that he had been under the surface of a certain lake four 

 hours. 



