18 
The Queensland Naturalist May, 1946 
one species that was epiphytic at lower altitudes was found 
to he terrestrial on this plateau. 
The second formation, the fern and shrub scrubs, is 
level but not marshy and occurs where living conditions 
for plants are more favourable than on the rocky terrain. 
The borders are formed of thick moss-cushions and fern- 
associations with a high growth of shrubs in the centre, 
giving the appearance of a slight difference in elevation 
of the land. In the more protected places Casuarina (she- 
( aks) and conifers became trees with a very much dwarfed 
form, only 4ft. bin. high. 
The third plant association, that of the small marshes, 
contains a very scanty flora mainly of sedges. On the 
border of the marshes and bare stony ground some remark- 
able procumbent myrtles are found. A richer vegetation 
due to sheltered conditions is found in some ravines which 
descend the sides of the plateau. 
Animal life on the plateau was found to he limited, a 
swallow, an ousel-like bird and a mountain duck were the 
only large birds seen, and of animals the eus-cus and 
opossum. A small frog with a shrill croak was found 
living in the hollow channels of the tubers of an ant— plant 
(HiirlnopJiylnm) . 
The track between this plateau and the actual summit 
of Art. Doorman leads over bare stony ridges and through 
a few marshes to the foot of the enormous steep crumbling 
declivity going off the plateau on the west side. The flora 
here is very rich due to the rock crevices which offer 
shelter against the worst extremes of 1 he climate, Species 
ol Rhododendron and other mountain shrubs are common 
here. The actual summit of Mt. Doorman, which is 10,750 
led. is a small plateau carrying a flora of about 16 species, 
half of which re shrubs, the other herbs and grasses. 
I lie last chapter of the works deals in a general way 
with the country and people of the Swart (ToTi) River 
and Dika River. 
Jt is gratfying to us to have Dr. Lam's work- available 
in English and il is good to know he has been spared to 
continue his critical studies of Malayan and Papuasian 
plants at the Royal Herbarium, Leiden. 
C. T. WHITE. 
OBITUARY 
The death of Mr. L. Franzen in June last has caused a very 
great loss to natural history, particularly entomology, in Queens- 
