August, 1922 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
91 
fore and hind limbs, was a wonderful parachutist, and lie 
had measured a distance of over 80 yards, which he had 
seen traversed by these phalangers when gliding through 
the air from tree to tree. 
The lecturer claimed that the fauna of Australia was 
of greater interest than that of any other country, and 
that the efforts made to ensure its adequate protection 
were well worthy of support. The majority of marsupials 
were bv no means lacking in virility. Australian opos- 
sums had thriven wonderfully in New Zealand, and, if 
given fair play, should never become extinct. Referring 
to the unprotected kangaroos and 1 wallaroos, Mr. Long- 
man expressed the hope that should these characteristic 
Australian animals ever become rare, fenced reserves 
would be established in appropriate districts in Western 
Queensland. In conclusion, brief reference was made to 
.the many extraordinary fossil's found on the Darling 
Downs, including the giant Diprotodon { the Brigalow 
skull, known as Euryz\gomci and the carnivorous pouched 
lion. 
Many interesting slides were shown, a number of 
Them being reproduced from John Gould’s beautiful 
plates. 
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOIL, FOREST 
FLORA, AND GEOLOGICAL FORMATION." 
Dr. Jensen lectured at the December meeting of the 
Club on the dependence of forest flora and soils on the 
underlying geological formation. The chemical composition 
and texture of soils depend, he said, upon the rock from 
which they are derived, and to a less extent 011 climate, 
which considerably affects the processes of rock- weathering 
and soil-leaching. The forest flora was shown to be, espe- 
cially in our western country like the Roma and Spring- 
sure districts, a faithful guide to an adequate idea of the 
properties of the underlying soil and even of the class of 
rock below. Thus, Brigalow ( Acacia harpophylla) scrub 
is always a sign of highly calcareous, very heavy, usually 
black soil, with heavy clay subsoil below, and calcareous 
rocks (shales or limestones) underlying. Belar ( Casuarina 
lepidophloia) indicates a loamy soil good in lime such as is 
* It may be mentioned for those interested that a series of 
articles on the above question, by Dr. Jensen, appeared in the pages 
of the Queensland Agricultural . Journal , October 1921 to January 
1922. — Eds. 
