JOTTINGS OF AN AMATEUR POND-LIFER 
F, V. Kunze 
71 
Many club members probably do not realise the pleasure and Interest 
to be had In the fascinating though neglected hobby of studying pond 
life. 1 was inspired to take it up first by meeting and later by reading 
the lectures of Mr. W. R. Colledge who years ago gave his spare time to 
this subject. Some of his lectures to our Club are printed in early volumes 
of this journal. How I wish 1 could have pursued my hobby in his company. 
To study pond life one needs a microscope and it is advisable to get 
a standard model to which one can add as one's interest ond technique 
advance. One needs also a reference book. Mine has been "Aquatic 
Microscopy/' by Alfred C. Stokes, which gives good hints on collecting all 
the impedimenta at minimum cost. 
From the byways of the Brisbane River my first serious dippings were 
made about July, 1953. One thing definitely named was a Rotifer, at 
work with its cilia creating its own whirlpool to sweep food into its open 
mouth. One would think these creatures stopped every now and again 
to swallow, the way they contract their bodies, but Stokes says they ore 
easily frightened. Then a young Cyclops, marked first with a query in my 
notes, and subsequently 'definitely'. How thrilling it is gradually to arrive 
at the stage where one is able even now and then to say such and such 
is a so and so. I still see lots of things I cannot determine — this spurs 
one on to find out. With the dipping tube there are hundreds of species 
one can get, and with a little experience one can be almost sure of not 
getting 'nothing at all'. 
In a dipping from a pool at Lower Coomera I saw my first Amoeba. 
Such phrases as 'out of the primaeval slime' suggested themselves. Was 
it from a simple cell such as this that the complex multicellular organism 
looking at it evolved? Total forms listed from this pool were 10 species 
of desmids, 3 diatoms, 6 rhizopods, 2 infusoria, 3 worms, 2 rotifers, 2 
polyzoa, 3 algae. In my latest collection from on Ipswich pool I have 
identified 33 species. 
The scientific accuracy of one's records will of course be limited by 
the extent of one's experience, and the scope of one's reference books, 
but here is an interest that will remain for years to come and fill many an 
odd hour, with much pleasure to oneself, and, who knows, may be a little 
service to Science. 
If you are at all interested don't delay in getting a microscope and 
having a look for yourself. Personally, I hope to be a "Lifer Pond-Lifer". 
AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE OF A BLUE-GREEN ALGA 
Mary Archibald 
In April, 1952, a Graceville man who hod bought o new transparent 
plastic hose was surprised to find, when he turned on the tap, lengths of 
a dark green membrane whirling around inside. As the pressure increased, 
the pieces built up near the nozzle before being forced out with a spurt 
os long, dark green strips. This material proved to be Phormidium tenue 
(Menegh.) Gom., one of the Blue-green algae. 
