50 Years ago

A recent issue of the Australian Museum Magazine is devoted almost entirely to New Guinea ... The physical geography is described by D. F. McMichael and the geology by G. A. U. Stanley. J. S. Womersley discusses the vegetation of the island, while other contributors provide details about the mammals, birds, fishes and insects. Until the early 1930's it was thought that the central region of New Guinea was uninhabited and uninhabitable. Since that time it has become known that about 600,000 people live in the Australian territories alone ... This issue is also of interest for its reference to the discovery of a rare animal in Australia, the potoroo (Potorous tridactylus). This animal, which is related to the rat-kangaroos, is now rare in New South Wales, not having been recorded in the State since 1913. It is still common in Tasmania. The specimen obtained by the Museum was killed by a dog near Gosford, New South Wales.

From Nature 16 May 1959.

100 Years ago

In the April number of Das Blaubuch Dr. T. Zell discusses the question whether animals take advantage of experience and become cleverer than their parents, the question being answered in the affirmative. Among numerous other instances mentioned by the author, reference may be made to the following. From early times it has been noticed that vultures have learnt to accompany armies in the field, for the sake of the prospective feast after a battle. Killer-whales accompany whaling-vessels, and gulls do the same ... Birds and quadrupeds have learnt to take no notice of railway trains, as have horses of motors, and nowadays many fewer birds immolate themselves by flying against telegraph-wires than was formerly the case ... Sheep-dogs, again, know by experience that it is only the members of their masters' flocks that it is their business to collect.

From Nature 13 May 1909.