334 president's address — section d. 



3.— HISTORICAL SKETCH OF INVESTIGATION. 



It is curious to reflect that, unless Flinders was over generous in 

 ascribing his own discoveries to his predecessors, the hrst known 

 part of Queensland was that with which the world is now least 

 acquainted — viz., Batavia River, Pera Head, Duyfhen Point, and Cape- 

 Keerweer in the Gulf of Carpentaria. 



A natuT'alist first trod Queensland in 1770, when a partj^ from 

 the '' Endeavour" under the command of Captain Cook landed at 

 Bustard Head. Solander, a pupil of Linne and a marine biologist, was 

 there, and he doubtless made a collection of which historj^ has left 

 rio record. Further opportunities were given him when the ship put 

 into Broadsound, when she called at the Palm Islands, at Cape 

 Graftoi:i, when slie grounded on the Endeavour Reef in Weary Bay, 

 and, lastly, when she was beached for repairs wliere Cooktown now 

 stands. A final visit was paid to Possession Island, but here etiquette 

 would insist that all the gentlemen attend the ceremony in full dress 

 and opportimity for collecting would be denied them. 



After Cook, Queensland lay long unvisited by men of science. 

 The famous Brown accompanied Flinders in his exploration of the 

 coast, but his record belongs to the botanical side of our science. 



Two French men-of-war, the '' Astrolabe" and the " Zelee," then 

 on a scientific mission round the world, sailed by way of Bligh 

 Entrance into Torres Strait on 31st May, 1840. They anchored under 

 Darnley, whose native name they write " Aroub," and landed a party 

 of observers. Proceeding through the Strait, both ships were 

 stranded on the reef near Tut or Warrior Island. The " Canal 

 Mauvais" of modern charts recalls the perils they endured. Finally 

 they cleared the Strait on 12th June. Their dangers and discomforts 

 were not conducive to zoological investigation, but Hombron and 

 Jacquinot, the historians of the voyage, have figured a fish and some 

 shells from Queensland waters. Subsequent writers refer to numerous 

 other species of their collection. 



H.M.S. '■ Fly" was detailed for tlie survey of the Queensland 

 coast. She carried a brilliant zoologist and ardent collector, J. Beete 

 Jukes, the chronicler of the expedition. He was supported by two 

 other naturalists, John MacGilliATay and Dr. Gray's nephew. Lieu- 

 tenant Ince. During 1843-4-5, the vessel traversed the coast from 

 the Bunker Group to Darnley Island. Jukes' account of the Great 

 Barrier Reef has become classic. In appendices to his book, Owen 

 dealt with the dugong ; White describes two Crustacea, and Gray 

 named a sea-snake, six marine shells, and five species of Asteriadse. 

 A few other notices of what was evidently a large collection are 

 scattered in literature. 



In continuation of the work of the "Fly," the hydrographio 

 survey from Moreton Bay to Torres Strait was conducted by H.M.S. 

 "Rattlesnake," from October, 1847, to November, 1849. MacGillivray 

 again acted as naturalist, and wrote an account of the cruise. Pro- 

 fessor Huxley, who made a special stud_y of the pelagic life, served 

 on board as junior surgeon, and many of his sketches illustrate Mac- 

 Gillivray's book. 



In various appendices, two Queensland Crustacea- are figured and 

 described by Whit>o; Busk recorded twenty-seven Polyzoa ; and Professor 



