22 
The Queensland Naturalist February, 1937 
authorities in a group almost unknown outside Australia. 
The foreshores around Cairns attract that large group of 
migratory and sea birds in search of food as the tide ebbs, 
which, with the numerous other feathered creatures else- 
where, give abundant scope for observation by the orni- 
thologist. 
Reptiles and chelonians of considerable variety are 
to be found, including the large handsome pythons, and 
besides the coastal crocodile, the interesting Crocodilus 
Johnstoni is met with in inland streams. Only those who 
have seen the fish on the Great Barrier Reef can realise 
their exquisite beauty and coloration, not encountered to 
such an extent in other than! coral seas. The mudskippers 
will abundantly repay investigation to those who care to 
do so. The insects include some particularly large forms 
as stick insects, the largest and also the heaviest moths 
known, beetles, etc. The butterflies are remarkable for 
their bright colours. The green tree ant, common along 
the coast and, some distance inland is noteworthy for the 
curious nest which it builds. An outsize in the Peripatus 
has likewise been found. 
The sea also has its ample share of invertebrates, 
especially the Crustacea, of immense number and variety, 
unequalled in more temperate regions, whilst molluscs 
are numerous and likewise the archaic brachiopod, Lin- 
gula is readily found at Mission Bay, quite close to 
Cairns. The corals likewise are of great interest in study- 
ing the formation of the reef itself. The eehinoderms and 
the lower invertebrates of the Reef provide enough 
material for a life study. 
To the geologist numerous interesting studies are pre- 
sented. Around Cairns the effect of recent volcanic, activ- 
ity can be noted, and inland are larger areas of limestone, 
and also highly mineralised country of considerable 
variety. The inland fossil deposits of the giants of a 
former age, dprotodons, ichthyosaurus, etc., are available 
to all who care to seek them. 
This club was established in 1932 at a meeting con- 
\ ened by the Mayor of Cairns, with a view to attracting 
the attention of visitors to the natural glories of North 
Queensland, and I think it can be truthfully stated that 
the club has done much in this direction. Meetings have 
been held regularly every month, without any recess, and 
many distinguished lecturers from other parts, as well as 
numerous local people, have addressed the members on all 
sorts of subjects dealing with natural history. A great 
deal of publicity has been brought about on the different 
topics. Many erroneous conceptions have been modified, 
mistaken identities corrected, and bogeys removed. The 
