2 
The Queensland Naturalist 
October, 1931. 
ined them with a lens. In several marsupials, if not in all, 
these tiny embryos had the power to make their way 
unaided to the pouch, and this fact had been witnessed by 
numerous observers. It had been recorded for the Ameri- 
can opossum as Ion" as 1806, and for the kangaroo by the 
Hon. L. Hope in 1882. Recent studies, especially with the 
American opossum, have placed these facts beyond doubt. 
This marsupial, after a period of gestation of about 11 days, 
lived in the pouch for about 65 days. Another remarkable 
fact about marsupials was the discrepancy between 
the number born and the accommodation in the pouch. 
In the kangaroo there were four nipples in the pouch, but 
usually only one embryo was born. In the ring-tailed 
opossum, however, five or six might be born, of which only 
two could survive in the pouch. In the common marsupial 
cat there were only six nipples in the pouch, but as many 
as 35 embryos had been recorded. This extraordinary con- 
dition illustrated the law of the survival of the fittest, and 
the virility and the power of movement of these tiny 
embryos when first born were surprising. When the young 
were actually attached to the nipples, as seen typically in 
the kangaroo, they could not be easily removed, and the 
special structure of the throat enabled them to breathe 
without choking. 
Mr. Longman illustrated his remarks with actual 
specimens of embryos in the uterus and by a dissection of 
the reproductive system of a red kangaroo. With a series 
of lantern slides he illustrated the variety of marsupials, 
over 150 different species being found in Australia and 
about ninety in Queensland. A brief review was also gw- 
of fossil forms, and the lecturer claimed that these were 
even more distinctively Australian than those of to-day. 
EVENING MEETING, Monday, 17th August, 1931.- 
The President (Mrs. Estelle Thomson) occupied the chair 
and about 32 members, were present. Miss K. James and 
Mr. N. Jack were elected members of the Club. Brief 
reports on the excursion to Coronation Park were given by 
Mr. J. E. Young (general), Mr. J. O’N. Brenan (birds) 
and Mr. C. T. White (plants). Mr. L. Franzen exhibited 
specimens of Ant Lions and descriptions of two new specie ; 
were taken as read. Mr. A. Perkins exhibited a case of 
Jewel Beetles. Dr. D. A. Herbert spoke on a piece of wood 
showing a growth of Mistletoe sent in by Mr. C. Dornbusch, 
Warwick, and exhibited a fungus (Xylostroma) from a 
“Stringybark” (Eucalyptus). Crown Gall (?) from a rose 
tree and a spore print of a mushroom, 
