H Ctt.i.ANJ\ Jiucaiyptus carnal di*lenw LvSl «a 



t! is fo>iiii;l Out the population* in dffferdil |.i.v ts of the aiea have charac- 

 teristic local gene frequencies. The blood group gene? in humans provide 

 * very good example, which has heat studied in great detail. The different 

 rsene. frequencies are pretty certainly produced by local selection presumes 

 and frequently show a topographical, or .'.ometunes ecological pratlati-in in 

 frequencies from one part of the area of distribution to another. Now this 

 is likely to happen )o» ah* • the diileieul genes in the mating group that 

 constitutes a species, and it is therefore likely that gradation in chara-rfcr*. 

 *oniftimcs with mixtures in local populations, will show as one traces a widely 

 ranging species from one part of its tauee to another. This is, I tmlik, what 

 yen have, in the. hud shape anfl in the shape and rolour of leaves of sucker 

 shoots in the River Red Gurri* 



The genetic nature of such clinal variations in character har- heeu demon - 

 *t rated iu mo=.t detail for P latitat) o mi* Uinta (by Crrgr.r, 1&38-9. V«tl 

 Pkyh'toijist 37: 15 and $ki 29£) and for dclrilJea n/iffefotiuM- and relatives 

 •'by Clausen, Keck and Hicsey 1948, (urni'ific Inst, td IV ashing ton, Pt+iitica- 

 lion iVo.t-V : 1-9). Jens Clausen has published a book entitled Tkt: F::\tUt)icn 

 oj I'tout Sfccwx (Cornell University I'ress \%\'\ which jgivffil a nummary 

 account of this kind of experimental taxonomy." 



A TALC OF TWO BIRDS 



Trapping is a common methyl of controlling the rabbit eest. ifrwui time 

 *o tjmc traps are vtsilfd by wild domi'stic cat*; however, in this instance 

 b:rds were the culprits. On several occasions partly devoured rabbits were 

 iCnKid, but when the MUiply gave uul the thief biitiselt was caught and proved 

 to lie. a l.ittlo Falcon. Releasing him was a problem, as he was far from 

 friendly. At a later date partly devoured rabbits were again found firJKl the 

 hawk family suspected. However, the new* thief also managed to trap buuselt, 

 and proved to he a hoe Tasmauian Ma* krH Owl. Thi* chap was approached 

 rather warily, the pervious experience still uesh in mind. But to my 

 astonislluieat *ikie bird lay over, partly on its side, while its leg was leteased 

 and lined from the trap, the great eyes watching every move. The lt£ was 

 lacerated, but otherwise isp damage appeared to have been done; However, 

 instead of flying off the bird walked away a few feet, then turned to look 

 back After gating at me for the better part or a minute, it movrvl a few 

 more feet only to stop and jra*e back again. The process was repeated 

 perhaps hnlt-a-doxen times before the bird vanished into the bb$l . t 

 wondered whether ii wa* suspicious, but hoped it was ^raiefuL 



— Kon. C Km shaw. 



WHAT, WHERE, AND WHEN 

 fM.C.V, Excut&ions: 



3uiv1ay. June 3 — Rolany Croup evcmsion to Open On, "Bacchus Marsh. Take 

 8.40 a in. train to Bacchus Marsh irom Spencer Str-vct- Bring, rwi» meals, 

 and thermes if hot drink is required as fire* are tiol permitted. 



CrOup Meetings; 



(8 p.m. at National Herbarium). 

 VVrYlnesdny, May 1{.> M ictOSCOpical Group 



Wednesday. June 6 — Cieologv (iroup. Subject: Origin of coal Speaker; M>, 

 A. A. Baker. 



NOTICE Foi iht next three months the Botany Gntup will meet 111 I Satur- 

 day •itternoons a; th? National fferbarium, at Z p.m. The nest meeting 

 wdl l/eoo Saturday, May 19. Subject. Carnivorous uiaub. Speak**" MY. 

 K\ \V. Atkins. 



— Marif Ali.f>je>e.*-. Excursion Secretary 



