8 
study and some very good reference books. There is 
also a good variety of current nature magazines as well 
as some of a geographical nature. About sixty-five books 
and magaazines have been lent since February, 1952. 
The literature received in exchange 'for “The (Queens- 
land Naturalist’’ is at present stored at the Hon. 
Librarian's residence and a list of same is being compiled. 
E. M. JACKSON, 
Hon. Librarian. 
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS 
THE FIELD NATURALIST AND HIS PLACE IN 
THE COMMUNITY 
F. S. COLLI VER 
To many people the Field Naturalist i.s a very queer 
person who acts in a very odd manner and 1 suppose 
many members of this (Queensland Naturalists’ Club have 
been mistaken for anything but simple Naturalists when 
out on a ramble. One of the first stories I heard after 
joining the Club here was of the party of “Naturists” 
that went on excursions. 
Certainly there seems to be, to the uninitiated, some- 
thing surprising in adult individuals chasing bugs, break- 
ing up stones or picking weeds, and many and humorous 
are the suggestions put to us as to the reason why we do 
these things. If you break stones, you are asked the 
question “Looking for gold, mister ?” nearly every time 
you are spoken to. 
In my own case, on one occasion in N.S.W., 1 was 
mistaken for a detective attached to the licencing branch 
of the Police Foree and refused board at the 
hotel 1 wished to stay at. After being very insistent 
in the matter and knowing there were vacancies 1 was 
given dinner, taken by car to the next town to sleep, 
called for before breakfast by car, and brought back to 
my original location. This all seemed very strange, but 
I was quite satisfied to be on the spot and for a week 
went out every day, returning each evening with a good 
collection of fossils and putting the evening to cleaning 
and packing them. This was too much for the hotel- 
keeper who asked me what on earth T was up to or 
words to that effect, and 1 explained saying I had told 
them on the day of my arrival. His comment was “You 
must be fair dinkrnn, no so and so policeman could keep 
