36 
The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937 
rarely found far within the rain forest. Doodia aspera 
was also common. It was too early yet, however, to find 
this class of plants numerous. 
With regard to the other branches of natural his- 
tory, the younger of my companions (they were two 
brothers — sons of a timber-getter), a lad aged about 15 
years, was keen on collecting beetles and naturally was 
on the look-out for these subjects. Unfortunately, the 
loliage species were very rare, and we had forgotten to 
bring an implement for digging them out of dry logs, 
and so our collection was rather meagre, comprising 
several species of Tenebrioneds and one large Passilid, 
black, and about If inches in length, determined by Mr. 
II. Hacker as Mastochilus australasicus — Perch. Ttiey 
were in considerable numbers in a decayed log. On ex- 
amining the dead tree we found that many wood borers 
had been at work. 
These two boys proved very helpful in finding many 
of the specimens I was in search of, numerous fruit or 
remains of fruit, of which I have many yet to examine, 
I certainly would not have found without their help. I 
was very gratified at the way they showed their keen 
interest in natural history by the intelligent questions 
asked regarding various phenomena and their anxiety to 
know when we would make another excursion to this 
spot. Yet these lads knew nothing about natural 
science, but were anxious to learn something of the habits 
and the mutual relation that exists between organic be- 
ings, and if ever I wished for a conversational system of 
vernacular names it was that day, for I knew from ex- 
perience that if given the scientific name it would very 
likely destroy their interests in the organism or subject 
under discussion. 
Before many more years there will be very little rain 
forest left standing within a considerable distance of 
Rosedale, and it is most gratifying to know that this in- 
teresting spot that we have visited and hope to visit- 
many times yet, is part of the State forest which covers 
many square miles in the neighbourhood of Watalgan, 
and is within easy reach of that small township. It 
possesses little, if any, attraction for tourists — there are 
no palms, tree-ferns, or waterfalls, yet to the naturalist 
it holds many features of interest from an ecological 
viewpoint. It is built up on a floor of acid volcanic tuff 
and ashes — a xerophytic form of the monsoon type of 
Malayan Flora dependent on the deflections of the 
south-east trade wind by the 1000ft. high double sloping 
humocks during a period of drought. 
