bo 
Maciteay Memorran VoLumMeE. 
I.— Inrropuctory. 
In September of 1891 the opportunity presented itself of spending a short time 
in Queensland. I was in hopes of securing embryos of Ceratodus, but owing to the 
lateness of the season and University work which necessitated my return to 
Melbourne, I was unable to do this. I am much indebted for valuable assistance to 
the Hon. A. Norton, President of the Royal Society of Queensland, to the Secretary 
of the latter, Mr. W. Ryott Maughan, and to Mr. Thomas Illidge of Gayndah. 
As is well known, Ceratodus is now confined to two rivers in Queensland—the 
Mary and the Burnett. My time was spent in the neighbourhood of Gayndah, a 
township on the latter. It was in this district that the first embryos of Ceratodus 
were discovered by Mr. Caldwell. 
The Burnett is a river of considerable size, with alternating deep pools and 
shallow runs. Ceratodus is fairly plentiful, but you may fish for a considerable time 
without catching one, probably because its normal food is vegetable matter such as 
river weeds and gum-tree fruit. To obtain it you must search in the deep, quiet 
pools which are full of water in both summer and winter. It is very doubtful indeed 
if Ceratodus ever lives in a normal condition out of water; it certainly does not 
appear to ever bury itself in mud when the waters dry up. 
The lung is used, not as at times the only, but as always an accessory organ of 
respiration. Without doubt there are, however, times when this organ is of especial 
use to it. 
The year in the Burnett district may be divided into three periods—(1) the 
rainy season, (2) the intermediate season, when the river is flowmg freely but is not 
flooded and (3) the dry season, when the river is low, but when the deep pools retain 
a good supply of water and are normally connected by a trickling stream. Ceratodus 
lives in the deep pools which rarely, if ever, become completely dried up. 
Surprising statements have been made very recently as to its habits. For 
example, Lumholtz* states that Ceratodus may be seen creeping out of the water and 
sunning itself upon logs. Anyone who has taken one out of the water and watched 
it will realise the impossibility of its domg any such thing. The fins, useful enough 
as paddles in the water, are quite incapable (as Dr. Giinther pointed out) of sustaining 
its weight ; in fact on land it is utterly helpless and unable to move. I fancy that 
* «© Among Cannibals.” 
