68 The Queensland Naturalist. Vol. 2 
(but strange to say, no E. tessellaris) , Angophora lanceolata, 
Tristania conferta, Casuarina suberosa and C. torulosa, the 
Cypress Pine (Callitvis columellaris) , Banksia integrifolia and 
B. aemula. Monotoca elliptica (?),y Leucopogon margarodes 
and Ricinocarpus pinifolius made small trees. The Grass 
Tree (Xanthorrhma) is common. Among interesting 
shrubs collected were Homoranthtis virgatus, Daviesia 
Wyatiiana, and Myrtus tenuifolia var. latifolia. Hihhertia 
linearis var. fiorihimda was very common ; it forms an upright 
branching under-shrub of about 3ft., and was in flower 
at the time of our visit. 
A most interesting type of plant-association was what 
might be termed a true “ scrub/’ consisting mainly of 
Eiicalypts (especially E. Planchoniana, resinifera, corymbosa 
and hcemastoma) of shrubby growth, the average height, I 
should say, being about 8-10 ft. This peculiar formation 
covered a very large extent of country, and it is my hope 
in the near future to botanise over it rather carefully. 
Associated as undergrowth with the Eucalypts were various 
species of xerophilous, prickly species of Proteaceae, Legumi- 
nos^, Epacrideae, etc. The stunted growth of these Eucalypts 
is, no doubt, due to the poorness of the soil, as a short distance 
away, in the open forest, the same species may be seen 
as fair-sized trees. 
A brief account of the Flora of Stradbroke Island was 
given by F. M. Bailey, in Proc. Linn. Soc. of N.S.W., Vol. 
6. p. 139.-— C. T. WhiU. 
■■ 
NOTE ON CLIMBING HABITS OF A SNAKE. 
By H. A. Longman, Queensland Museum. 
On March 12th, 1917, a young specimen of the common 
fresh-water snake, Matrix picturatus, Schleg., just over eight 
inches long, was seen climbing up the vertical glass side of 
a vivarium in the Queensland Museum. . It was able to climb 
right away from the floor, and to support itself entirely on 
the glass, which was wet with moisture at the time. The 
ventral shields, or gastrosteges, were so disposed as to form 
suction areas, and the snake apparently had no difficulty in 
remaining in the ohe position for several seconds. But for 
the closed lid of the vivarium it would certainly have escaped. 
The agility of these young snakes is so remarkable that it is 
not surprising that they are occasionally found coming out 
of city drains. In Brisbane recently, a young water-snake, 
only a few inches long, was found inside a motor car. The 
genus was once commonly known as Tropidonotus, Kuhl (1822) 
but Matrix, Laurent! (1768), has more legitimate claims. 
