June, 1907.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 39 



members to acquaint themselves with the appearance of the plant, 

 in order to endeavour to prevent it (if found by them elsewhere) 

 becoming established, and proving itself the scourge which writers 

 and observers tell us it has been in Europe. — F. Pitcher. 



"The Weeds and Suspected Poisonous Plants of Queens- 

 land." — The first seven parts have been issued of a new pub- 

 lication by Mr. F. M. Bailey, F.L.S., Government Botanist of 

 Queensland, in which he enumerates the weeds, noxious plants, 

 &c., of that State. Each part consists of sixteen medium octavo 

 pages of letterpress and figures. The plants are arranged accord- 

 ing to the natural system, and as brief botanical descriptions are 

 given of each order, genus, and species dealt with, the work may 

 almost be used as a systematic botany. The economic, noxious, 

 medical, or other properties of each plant are stated, and, if an 

 exotic, its country of origin, while a distinct advantage is that 

 with nearly every species a drawing, more or less reduced, is given 

 of a typical portion of the plant. Mr. Bailey estimates that about 

 four hundred species will be dealt with in the work, and says that 

 the word " weed " must be taken in a broad sense, that " a plant 

 which is useful in its proper place must be termed a weed when it 

 is found growing in a place set apart for the use of other plants." 

 The work will doubtless be found of great assistance in other- 

 States than Queensland, for many of the forms dealt with so far 

 are familiar plants on our roadsides and vacant allotments. 

 It is to be regretted that the author has not in all cases 

 separated his remarks and conclusions from the botanical 

 descriptions, as in his first species, Ranunculus rivulavis ; 

 while the paper used is barely good enough to do justice to 

 the drawings. The work is being published by A. M'Leod, 

 Elizabeth-street, Brisbane, at one shilling per part, or nine- 

 pence to subscribers for the whole series (about 16 parts). 



[The foregoing note has been in type for some months, but has 

 been crowded out owing to pressure on our space. The work 

 has now been completed, and issued as a volume of 245 pages, 

 with 408 figures, at 12s., or in 15 parts, loose, at us. 3d., post 

 free. References to a few fungi, lichens, ferns, mosses, and 

 liverworts are included in the volume. — Ed, Vict. Nat.^ 



A New Lieberkuhn. — Mr. M. J. Allen ("Alata," Victoria- 

 parade, East Geelong), of the Geelong Field Naturalists' Club, lias 

 devised an improved form of lieberkuhn for illuminating opaque 

 objects when under examination with the microscope, which 

 seems to be of great utility. He is anxious to place it in the 

 hands of every working microscopist, and will be pleased to 

 forward details to any person desiring information on the subject. 



Bird Skins. — A small collection formed by a deceased 

 member of the F.N.C. for disposal privately. Particulars on 

 application to Mrs. A. G. Whitney, 16 Stanley-avenue, Auburn. 



