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Cbe Queensland naturalist 
JOURNAL OF THE gUEENSLAND NATURALISTS* CLUB 
AND NATURE-LOVERS’ LEAGUE. 
Voi.. IV. November, 1924 No. 6 . 
PROCEEDINGS. 
August — October, 1924. 
EVENING MEETING, 18tli AUGUST, 1924.— Mr. R. 
L. Higgins (past president) occupied the chair, and there 
was a good attendance of members and visitors. 
In making a. presentation on behalf of the Club to Mr. 
J. C. ymith Oil the occasion of his marriage, the Chairman 
voiced the appreciation of members for Mr. Smith’s three 
years' hard work as honorary secretary. Mr. R. TUidg'e 
read an interesting paper on the fig parrot (Opopsitta 
coxeni). Mr. Illidge is one of the few remaining ornitho- 
logists who knew that bird in its native habitat. The fig 
parrot, never a com'mion bird, was mostly seen in pairs 
on the big fig trees in coastal jungles. The bird i.s very 
rarely observed to-day, and seems doojued, together with 
the paradise parrot, to extinction. A specimen of the bird, 
shot over forty years ago (and stillj in fine preservation), 
was exhibited. Mr. R. L. Higgins .spoke of the ground 
parrot. He had recently flushed some of the birds in the 
Wolvi district, but tliey wei'c reported to be getting very 
scarce. Dr. A. Eland Khaw. F.E.S.. exhibited a ease con- 
taining males, females, larvae, and egg cases of a cock- 
roach ( Supella supellectiliiim Serville) found in most 
parts of the world, but recorded for the first time from 
Queensland. An interesting paper on “lightning," Avith 
photographs of the effect on trees struck, was forwarded 
by Mr. C. Dornbnseh, of Wnrwick. and read l)y Mr. G. IL 
Barker. In the discussion that ensued some freakish 
effects of the vagaries of liglitning wore recounted by 
Dr. Marks, Messrs. Nebe, Young, and Francis. The ap- 
parent Immunity of pine trees from lightning was com- 
mented on. Notes on a water rat that invaded a dwelling” 
were sent by :\Trs. S. (kirtis, Albert River. Mrs. Smith 
