Charles James Wild (1853-1923), an ardent collector of Queensland bryophytes Andrew J. Franks Summary Franks, A. J. (2019). Charles James Wild (1853-1923), an ardent collector of Queensland bryophytes. Austrobaileya 10(3): 383-404. Charles James (C. J.) Wild was an early collector and documenter of the Queensland bryophyte flora. Born in Manchester in 1853 and trained as a joiner. Wild gravitated towards natural history before immigrating to the Queensland colony in 1883. Wild would become a familiar figure among the naturalist and scientific circles of Brisbane, becoming a member of a number of societies including the Royal Society of Queensland and the short-lived Natural History Society. He was in the employ of the Queensland Museum from 1889 until 1911 where his initial role was as an insect collector before becoming acting director (1905-1911). Wild has been commemorated in the names of several bryophyte and fern species, a species of butterfly, a moth, a gall midge and a fish. The location, significance and diversity of his bryophyte collections are detailed in addition to general insights into his life and times. Key Words: Charles James Wild, Australian historical botany, Australian bryophytes, herbarium specimens, Queensland flora, Queensland Museum, Royal Society of Queensland, Natural History Society of Queensland Andrew J. Franks, Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment and Science, Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Queensland 4066, Australia. Email: andrew.franks@ des.qld.gov.au Introduction Those who are familiar with the bryophyte the Queensland bryophyte flora is significant flora of Queensland would have most and worthy of acknowledgement. It is hoped certainly come across early collections made that this paper will shed some light on the life by Charles James (C. J.) Wild. A contemporary and times of this ‘worthy student of nature of the more widely known colonial botanist and ardent naturalist’9. Frederick Manson (F.M.) Bailey, Wild was Materials and methods an early collector and documenter of the Queensland bryophyte flora. While employed An initial spreadsheet of Wild’s plant as an insect collector at the Queensland collections was compiled from the Queensland Museum, Wild’s interests in natural history Herbarium’s (BRI) specimen database saw him not only collecting insects but also (Herbrecs). Details of specimens accessioned shells and bryophytes wherever he was sent. at other Australian herbaria were extracted Bailey (1891) in his ‘A Concise History of from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium Australian Botany’ provides a brief account of (AVH 2017). JStor Global Plants and online Wild stating that he travelled over a large area databases of a number of international herbaria of the state and collected several new species. were also queried for Wild specimens. The He is also given a brief mention in Ramsay’s United Kingdom General Register Office was (2006) ‘History of Research on Australian queried for records of birth and deaths of Wild, Mosses’. However, Wild is not listed in Wild’s parents and brother. The Queensland Maiden’s (1909) ‘Records of Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Botanists’ nor in the Australian Dictionary was queried for details of Wild’s marriage, of Biography (ADB 2006-2017). Despite this, birth of his children and death. The National his contribution to the early documentation of Library of Australia’s ‘Trove’ website (NLA 2009-onwards) has been used extensively, to find mentions of Wild, the Queensland Accepted for publication 27 February 2019 Museum, the Natural History Society, and other relevant topics published in newspapers 384 Austrobaileya 10(3): 383-404 (2019) of the time. Scanned historical journals and father’s footsteps and working as a joiner6. By articles were located through the Biodiversity this time, Wild had collected over 170 plant Heritage Library. Mather’s (1986) history of specimens, mainly bryophytes, from various the Queensland Museum provided valuable locations in Wales, Scotland, and the north¬ insights into Wild’s time with the museum. west of England. These included type material The Queensland Museum library holds all for the liverwort Gymnomitrion crassifolium correspondence received and sent by Wild Carrington described by Benjamin during his time of employment some of Carrington from a specimen collected by which were viewed for the preparation of Wild from Ptarmigan, Perthshire, Scotland this account. Herbarium abbreviations follow during August 18787. Carrington’s article Thiers (continuously updated). also describes one of many misfortunes that seemed to plague Wild’s field endeavours Results and discussion throughout his career: “Mr. Wild, who was Early History (1853-1883) fortunate enough last summer to stumble upon it - literally - since it was after a fall Charles James Wild (Fig. 1) was born on producing severe injury to the knee, and 19 March 1853 at Macclesfield, Cheshire, making frequent rests necessary, that this England to the south of Manchester1. Charles gentleman collected the species.. ,”7. was the eldest child of Robert Wild (b. 1824, d. 1885), a joiner, and Hannah (nee Salt, b. 1828, To maintain and demonstrate their status, d. 1882). Two months later on the 22 of May he the lower middle class (to which the Wild was baptised atPrestwich, Manchester2. At the family belonged) had to keep some semblance time of Charles’ birth, the Wild' family lived of a household (Anderson 1977; Loftus 2011). at Langford Street, Macclesfield. Charles’ It was expected that a family would have at younger brother, Robert was born in 1859. By least one, if not more, domestic servants. 1861 the Wild family were residing at Mill In the lower-middle-class household, this Hill, Newmarket, Suffolk and had been since may have consisted of a general servant. Robert’s birth two years prior3. Robert senior As is evident in the 1871 and 1881 census, was employed as a carpenter and foreman the Wild household also included a general at this time. Tragedy struck on July 9, 1867 servant: 17 year old Cath Asply in 1871 and when 8 year old Robert died of marasmus, a 24 year old Catherine Haskey in 188156. The severe form of malnutrition characterised by occupation of Charles’ father, Robert, was a deficiency of protein4. Charles was 14 at the variously listed as carpenter and foreman time of Robert’s death. At this time, the Wild (1861 census), joiner (1871), and a glass and family were once again living in the north¬ china dealer (1881). Only affording a single west at 128 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester. servant, the Wild household most likely fell The 1871 census indicates that the head of the within the lower middle-class. As such, the family, Robert, was employed as a joiner with young Charles Wild may have been exposed his wife, Hannah, listed as a china dealer5. No to natural history in his leisurely pursuits occupation was listed for the then 18 year old outside of his working hours as a joiner. Charles. A number of prominent English The Wild family were still residing at bryologists emerged from the burgeoning Cheetham Hill Road during the 1881 census Victorian middle-class including many with Robert now listed as a china and glass whose primary occupations were within the dealer and 28 year old Charles following in his textile industry (Lawley 2015). The eminent 1 The spelling of the Wild surname varied throughout census records. In 1861 it was spelled as Wild. In 1871 it appears as Wylde and in 1881 as Wilde. Despite the variation in spelling, the household structure (Robert as head and Hannah as his spouse) and progression of ages remain consistent. Franks, C.J. Wild and Queensland bryophytes 385 . Fig. 1 Undated photograph of C.JWild. Original photograph has been lost. Reproduced by kind permission of the Queensland Museum from Mather (1986). 386 Austrobaileya 10(3): 383-404 (2019) bryologist William Henry Pearson (1849— boarded the Ducal Line 4-mast steamer, the 1923), for example, worked primarily as a Duke of Devonshire at Plymouth bound for the yarn agent in Manchester and yet published colony of Queensland. Wild never returned to the two volume Hepaticae of the British Isles his homeland. (in 1899 and 1902) (Lawley 2015). Pearson Early days in Queensland (1883-1889) and Wild collected a number of liverworts together from Wales during 1878 which are The Duke of Devonshire arrived in Brisbane now accessioned in the Herbarium of the via Cooktown and northern ports on October Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh (E). 12, 188310. A “Chas Wild” born “abt 1853” was listed as an assisted immigrant indicating Based on specimens accessioned in a that his passage was subsidised or paid for number of herbaria around the world, Wild’s through one of several assisted immigration interest in bryophytes appears to have been schemes which were in operation at the time. a gradually growing affair. His likely first The Brisbane that welcomed Wild was far collections of bryophytes were two mosses, removed from the convict settlement of the Ptychomitrium polyphyllum (Sw.) Bruch early 1800s. By October 1883 Brisbane was & Schimp. and Ulota hruchii Hornsch. ex a small, bustling metropolis with a population Brid., made during 1874 by the 21 year old of around 47,000 people. Thomas Mcllwraith, Wild from Millers Dale, Derbyshire. Wild a conservative, was in the final throes of his then made three collections of Racomitrium time as Premier, about to be voted out of office species during 1875 followed by 10 the following month and replaced by Samuel specimens collected in 1876. During 1877, Walter Griffith. In 1883 the Queensland Wild was listed as an additional member of Colonial Botanist, F.M.Bailey, published A the Botanical Locality Record Club8 and Synopsis of the Queensland Flora in which it was at this time that he started collecting he recorded about 140 species of bryophytes bryophytes in earnest. Between 1877 and (Bailey 1883). In his synopsis, Bailey 1883 Wild collected over 250 specimens, describes the features of each genus and then mainly mosses and liverworts, from various lists the species within each genus that had locations in Wales, Scotland and the north¬ been reported for Queensland (Lepp 2012). west of England. Species descriptions and illustrations were Further to his interest in botany, Wild was not included. The Synopsis was followed by also attracted to entomology and conchology three supplements (in 1886, 1888 and 1890) and was an ardent student of other branches which recorded additional species with the of science, including archaeology and third supplement (Bailey 1890) including ethnology9. In addition to being a member of illustrations of some bryophyte species. the Botanical Locality Record Club, Wild’s Wild’s vocation during his early days in obituary lists a number of British learned the colony is unclear; however, as an assisted societies in which he was an active member, migrant, he most likely initially worked including the Manchester Microscopical in his trade. If Wild’s specimen collection Society, Berwickshire Naturalists Club, dates are correct, he almost immediately Lancashire Botanists Association and made his way to Toowoomba collecting Forfarshire Naturalists Society11. 20 bryophyte specimens in this locality On August 18, 1883, a little over a year during November 188311. A major storm after his mother’s death, the 30 year old Wild passed through Toowoomba on the 11 of "While Wild’s obituary lists a number of societies to which he supposedly belonged, I found no evidence of his membership or whether some of these learned societies actually existed. However, his accessioned specimens do reflect that he collected over a broad area and if the collection dates are accurate indicates that he visited Wales and Scotland a number of times presumably as part of one these societies. Franks, C.J. Wild and Queensland bryophytes 387 November12 and perhaps joiners were in collection of insects from Pimpama and “Mr. demand to repair damaged buildings in the WWild” donated a number of “land and fresh region. Between 1884 and 1885, Wild made water shells from Pimpama, including eight a handful of bryophyte collections from the species of helix and shells, representing a Brisbane Botanic Gardens (three specimens) single species of each of the following genera, and Enoggera (12 specimens)11. His interest namely Balinus, Physa, Lymnaea, Bithynia, in shells remained prominent with the curator Planorbis, and Valvata”15. of the Queensland Museum reporting to Wild would become a familiar figure the Board of Trustees that “Mr. C.J.Wild” among the naturalist and scientific circles donated 16 shells to the museum collected of Brisbane as a member of a number from Comboyuro (Moreton Island)13. societies including the Royal Society of On Wednesday, October 6, 1886, the first Queensland, Queensland’s first scientific meeting of the Field Naturalists Club was society, formed in 1884, arising from the convened, this being a section of the Royal Queensland Philosophical Society (RSQ Society of Queensland14. F.M.Bailey was 2017). On the evening of September 9, 1887, elected chairman of the section and conducted the Royal Society of Queensland held its the section’s first excursion three days later monthly meeting in the Queensland Museum to the Queensland Acclimatisation Society library with “Mr. J.C.Wild” listed among the gardens at Bowen Park. On November 13, visitors16. This appears to be the start of a 1886, the Field Naturalists Club undertook long association between Wild and the Royal an excursion to swamp lying between the Society of Queensland. Brisbane River and racecourse (Hamilton) From October 1887 into the first half then towards Nundah. It appears highly of 1888, Wild appeared to shift his focus to likely that Wild was part of this excursion areas north of Brisbane, making numerous as specimens of Sematophyllum subhumile collections of bryophytes mainly from the (Mull.Hal.) M.Fleisch. and Cephaloziella Burpengary and Deception Bay area including hirta (Steph.) R.M.Schust. were collected by type materials of Fissidens calodictyon Broth. him from Hamilton and Toombul respectively (= F. beckettii Mitt.) and Macromitrium during November 1886, the latter forming mucronulatum Mull.Hal. (= M. brevicaule material for the type specimen. (Besch.) Broth.). Again, the monthly meeting 1887 was the start of a relatively notes of the Queensland Museum board of intensive period of bryophyte collecting trustees convened in January and March by Wild. Between May and August 1887, 1888 record that Wild made donations of Wild collected 177 specimens of 93 taxa, various land and marine shells collected from mainly from the Pimpama and Beenleigh Burpengary1718. These Burpengary collections region south of Brisbane. Included in these may allude to Wild’s association with Dr. collections were the type materials for the Joseph Bancroft as Bancroft had purchased following taxa: Lepidozia reversa Carrington 150 acres of land on Burpengary Creek during & Pearson (= Kurzia reversa (Carrington & 1881, and subsequently extended this by Pearson) Grolle), Lejeunea wildii Steph. (= purchasing sea-front land at nearby Deception Acrolejeimea securifolia (Nees) Steph. & Bay (Pearn 1992). By 1890, Bancroft owned Watts) and Fissidens arboreus Broth. (= F. 3,780 acres of relatively fertile land in this oblongifolius var. hyophilus (Mitt.) Beever area where he established a pemmican & I.G. Stone). In addition to the numerous meatworks, a cultured pearl enterprise, and bryophyte specimens collected by Wild from experimental plots of sugarcane, rice, wheat Pimpama, it appears that he also collected a and barley (Pearn 1992). In his day, Joseph number of insects and shells. The monthly Bancroft was one of Queensland’s leading meeting of the Queensland Museum board scientists, being at various times vice- of trustees held during October 1887 notes president of the Australasian Association for that “Mr. J.Wild” donated a miscellaneous the Advancement of Science and president 388 Austrobaileya 10(3): 383-404 (2019) of the Queensland Medical Board, the Royal presented in Bailey’s Synopsis, and the first Society of Queensland and the Medical and second supplements. Wild (1888a) offers Society of Queensland (ADB 2006-2017). this extraordinary claim in his first article: Wild’s obituary states that he spent some time “The Queensland moss flora, a very small one, with “Dr. Bancroft in the southern districts”, should not offer many difficulties in the compilation which may refer to this period9. of a mere list” Wild also made two moss collections It appears likely that Wild corresponded from Three Mile Scrub during July 1888. and exchanged specimens with British and Bancroft’s Kelvin Grove homestead was European bryologists particularly Benjamin situated on five hectares of land on the banks Carrington, Franz Stephani, Karl Muller, and of Enoggera Creek at the Three Mile Scrub Viktor Brotherus due to the authorship of new (Pearn 1992). In the latter half of 1888, species names based on material collected Wild collected 29 specimens from Woolston by Wild and his peers. Two letters written Scrub (Fig. 2) during a Field Naturalists’ by Wild to the Finnish bryologist Brotherus excursion to this now extirpated patch of are available in the Research Library of the vineforest on the banks of the Brisbane River, National Library of Finland. Wild penned his “extending from a point almost directly first letter to Brotherus on September 3, 1888 west from Woolston Railway Station, two where he asks for assistance with the study of or three miles towards Goodna” (Simmonds Queensland mosses. 1888). This included type material for the Brisbane Sepf 3rd 88 genus Wildia Mull.Hal. & Broth., named in Wild’s honour. Wildia solmsiellacea Mull. Dear Sir Hal. & Broth, is now reduced to synonymy as Solmsiella solmsiellaceum (Mull.Hal. & Can you assist me in the study of Australian mosses, Broth.) I.G. Stone. 1st by authentic specimens correctly named, 2nd by descriptions of such species as you have named “Mr. C.J.Wilde” was proposed as a which are not yet published, 3rd by naming specimens subscribing member to the Royal Society of which I could send you from time to time. I have Queensland by Mr. Watkins and seconded by about 120 species of Queensland mosses named, Mr. C.Hedley during the monthly meeting and about 30 species unnamed, many of them new to held on August 17, 188819. Wild’s membership science. If any of those that I should send proves to be new I should expect a description of it, I could get it was accepted with “C.J.Wild, esq.” listed printed here, in all cases you should have due honor as a new member of the Royal Society of [sic] as the describer, if in addition you drew afigure Queensland on September 11, 1888. On of it, I will take the pains to get it lithographed. Much Friday October 12,1888, the then 35 year old confusion as been caused here owing to species being Wild presented a paper at the monthly Royal named by various specialists, and no descriptions Society of Queensland meeting in the offices being published, or else in various works scattered of the Education Department on Edward over the world in many different languages. I think Street, Brisbane entitled ‘Description of new each species should be described in Latin and the mosses and hepatics’20. The following month, remarks in the language spoken were [sic] the plants Wild contributed another bryological paper were found. I coidd send you mosses in quantity if you required them. Could I obtain type specimen to the Royal Society of Queensland meeting of mosses named by Dr. Karl Mueller. Could you called ‘A new list of hepatics’21. Wild’s first point out to me the difference between Phyllogonium five years of collecting bryophytes in the elegans Hampe (Acroceratium politum Hook. & south-eastern part of the colony culminated Wils.) & Acroceratium cymbifoloides C.Mueller; in the publication of three articles in the even under an [sic] high power I can detect no 1888 Proceedings of the Royal Society of difference. Queensland (Wild 1888a, 1888b, 1888c). These appear to be Wild’s first published 1 remain Yours Faithfully papers and were additions, descriptions or corrections to the bryophyte species list C.J.Wild Franks, C.J. 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PIUC ini t'lolliiiif i TRACTION IUA1L. iHOOBQiilMs. PI lB;iTrmrPiLIrVli.B[i Di\ ES\vI oGoNtlS^ rr ,nitu-vuo(cid:8482) (cid:9632)T TO THE LU. for tlu> GARDEN TAtAOC KOTEL, w AN'S EliNMENT. ttuiy pionOM to build for Mib. R> L. Murray, I SALE. I W for wmi'fi tiicy olIiirAPramiuiu of I'orty I'oi IN THE CITY. tl ADELAIDE, Ibu | h’|>r-,ci| urrariL'prriont of buudl ins] to GENUA, id oor.Jiljoiis of conipotiUou may bo sc 11’l LAIt BECAUSE TWERP, and lice of Muesra. IIuyU A Rons, AlnooDt IINE. gs, Creak-street, Baabune. DesijjQB must bo io tbs hands of tb Ire hag have been of the ibourue. j Ad«itude. * (nod, not later than tbo iCtb day; rnaaer% of Departments, I to loo|c out and arrange 1SS8._ I 18SS. HARRINGTON t WOOD, GAIN LOTS Mar. 9 Bowou-st Crawdj that are sure to uil 6 J April 9 hliirvboroueh, Uja Oat NE’ UN®SALE ,1>'£14 to £6710s. NEW T0RK « Ws char weather. MENTS an uy curvy FUiiJT, Jr is fjcrehsT nulfB_ and put furs nApmnlpmimtoaiddr t iitnOh rttihelsee r!/ Mmnao,n„ra^rgi,sE „ Hha sf o.trh „<isJ riTo^e,{n«s°*h*iWfJf f*iap?r **IbT?is. eWCdo ?nAikpcnhTn yT. stt Tog eenleercatlT FrpoFseest.o rs and Qua Auditor, and for amhneaa n vy.- aBuitua rug'.rVa BQful oau^^vs to kuovr aboui Fig. 2. Collection of Calyptothecium recurvulum (BRI [AQ642216]) made by C. J.Wild from Woolston Scrub, August 1888. Many of Wild’s collections at the Queensland Herbarium remain in the original packet used for collection, in this case a page from The Brisbane Courier, 2 March 1888. 390 Austrobaileya 10(3): 383-404 (2019) On October 22, 1888 the Field Naturalists Queensland) of mosses for the next meeting, Club held an excursion to a number of Royal Society & get them published in the scrub areas around Caboolture. Again, it proceedings”23. appears that Wild was in attendance as 12 The Royal Society convened their next bryophyte specimens were collected by him monthly meeting during the evening of Friday from Caboolture during October. As 1888 15 February at the offices of the Education drew to a close, Wild collected 40 bryophyte Department on Edward Street. Wild delivered specimens from Helidon and Highfields a paper entitled ‘Bryological Notes’ in which including type materials for Barbula wildii he “gave a description of five new mosses Broth. (= Didymodon tophaceus (Brid.) Lisa), and a new hepatic, and, by permission of Plagiobryum wildii Broth. (= P. cellulare F.M.Bailey, reported three other new mosses (Hook.) J.R.Spence & H.P.Ramsay), and collected by the writer”24. In this paper, Weissia squarrosa Broth, ex F.M.Bailey (= and the subsequent article appearing in the Barbula subcalycina Mull.Hal.). In total Wild Proceedings (Wild 1889), Wild did indeed collected 185 bryophyte specimens during provide a translation of Brotherus’ newly 1888 in addition to the shells that were donated described species of moss collected by Bailey, to the Queensland Museum conchological these being: Splachnobryum baileyi Broth. collection. (= S. obtusum (Brid.) Mull.Hal.), Meteorium Th e Museum Years (1889-1911) baileyi (Broth.) Broth. (= M. polytrichum Dozy & Molk.), and Isopterygium robustum During early January 1889, the curator of the Broth. (= Taxiphyllum taxirameum (Mitt.) Queensland Museum, Charles de Vis, offered M.Fleisch.). He also included descriptions of to allocate his Sunday allowance to support a Macromitrium pusillum Mitt. (= M. archeri new insect collector position if a subordinate Mitt.) and Rhizogonium paramattense could replace him in the museum on Sundays (Mull.Hal.) Reichardt (= Pyrrhobryum (Mather 1986). De Vis’ offer motivated the paramattense (Mull.Hal.) Manuel). Wild also museum’s Board of Trustees to allocate listed additional species described by Karl contingency funds to support the temporary Muller based on material collected by Wild position of a collector (Mather 1986). Hence, which were forwarded to Muller by Bailey on January 14, 1889, the 36 year old Wild was (Wild 1889). appointed to the Queensland Museum as an insect collector on 30 shillings per week. The monthly curators report to the museum’s Board of Trustees in March 1889 In his monthly report to the board of stated that the insect collector (Wild) had trustees, de Vis reported that the “newly made satisfactory progress during the past appointed insect collector (Mr. Wild) displays month, with “his collection numbering in all most commendable zeal and his success so far 2,234 specimens”25. However, it is apparent is promising”22. On February 11, Wild penned that Wild was not only collecting insects, a second letter to Brotherus thanking him for as was his requirement, but also collecting copies of articles sent in response to his first bryophytes and shells. Wild’s bryophyte letter. He also asks whether he could send specimens collected during March and specimens for determination, “if you agree April 1889 had him around the Nerang and to such conditions I will send you specimen Mudgeeraba area of what would later become of every moss which I have collected and known as the Gold Coast. De Vis’ April report am unacquainted with, they number at least to the board states that “the insect collector is 60”. Wild also asks for Brotherus to “clear pursuing his work in the vicinity of Nerang, up the confusion that at present seems to but reports that it is not rich in insect life and surround Rhizogonium mossmanianum that it will be necessary for him to proceed to C.Muell.” and states his intention “to translate another locality”26. Unfavourable weather the your description of the 3 new species (to following month prevented Wild continuing Franks, C.J. Wild and Queensland bryophytes 391 collecting insects and necessitated his return plants from the Wet Tropics adding to the to Brisbane27. After only four months with 70 specimens that Bailey collected from the the museum, Wild wrote to the trustees Bellenden Ker range expedition the previous requesting an increase of his salary, stating year. “it is not possible for me to meet expenses on Wild appears to have had some success the amount I am now paid”. with his insect collecting in the north, with Early in June, F.M.Bailey departed the curator reporting to the museum’s Board Brisbane for Cairns on the Elamang as part of Trustees that “Mr. Wild managed to secure of Archibald Meston’s ascent of the Bellenden no less than seventy-eight [butterflies] during Ker range (Dowe & Broughton 2007). Bailey the month of October only, a number which was the expedition botanist and he collected no doubt could have been augmented had prodigiously during the exploration of the common insects already sent down been range, with his collections including many included” and that “Mr Wild adds twenty to bryophyte specimens (Dowe & Broughton the number of butterflies already procured by 2007). This was the first significant collection him in the Cairns district”31. It appears that of bryophytes from the Wet Tropics region of Wild made regular consignments from the north Queensland. After a brief sojourn back Cairns region with the February 1891 review in Brisbane, Wild was once again dispatched of accessions to the museum noting that “the to the southern parts of the colony to collect insect collector (Mr. Wild) has filled another insects, this time around Burleigh Heads. As consignment from the Cairns district. In this was his want, he also collected bryophytes collection the butterflies, which have yet to and shells with the curator’s monthly report be examined, comprise about sixty species. stating that the “officer in charge of the Among them are several rare and interesting conchological department reports having insects, and one entirely new to science has received a large and varied collection of shells been named by Mr. Miskin, and will be from the museum collector, Mr. C.Wild, noticed in that naturalist’s forthcoming work who has been pursuing his duties in the on the butterflies of Australia”32. Museum neighbourhood of Burleigh Heads”28. In a trustee Miskin was an amateur lepidopterist, letter to de Vis penned on the 13 of July, Wild describing butterflies collected by Wild in states that he had “collected and prepared the Cairns area and naming them in Wild’s over 3000 specimens representing 33 species honour (Mather 1986). Hence the oakblue of shells”. By September, Wild was again butterfly, Arhopala wildei and the moth collecting north of Brisbane with de Vis Ambulyx wildei are named for Wild although reporting that “the insect collector reports being a consistent misspelling of his surname. having had good success at the Glasshouse Wild appeared to be diligently fulfilling Mountains”29. his role in the north during the early part of On July 1,1890, the ship Warrego departed 1891, by forwarding “a large and well filled Brisbane for Burketown via northern ports box of insects of all orders, the product of his with Wild listed as a passenger30. Wild had work at Cairns during the month of February. been dispatched to north Queensland by the This collection is especially rich in the smaller museum to collect insects, especially along species, and contains many novelties”33. the railway being constructed between Cairns On March 20, 1891 it was announced that and Herberton (Mather 1986). He was to F.M.Bailey, C.Hedley of the museum, and remain in the area for 16 months and collected Wild had been made fellows of the Finnean some 290 plant specimens with almost half Society of Fondon34. In June, the assistant being bryophytes. While the museum’s curator reported that the museum’s insect insect collection “today bears little evidence collections had been “principally enriched by of specimens” from Wild’s time in the north the exertions of the entomological collector, (Mather 1986), his collection of bryophytes Mr. C.J.Wild”35. The report in August was represent the first major collection of these much less encouraging, stating that nothing 392 Austrobaileya 10(3): 383-404 (2019) was received from the collectors in the field impediments”42. It appears that at this time with Wild having the “ill fortune to lose his Wild shifted his energies away from the collecting gear from the back of a runaway Royal Society and focused more on the newly packhorse”36. Wild had planned to ascend Mt formed Natural History Society by exhibiting Bartle Frere with Mr. G.Clark but the loss of his “a fine collection of hemiptera, captured by packhorse on the way to the Mulgrave River him in Victoria Park” in February43 and then curtailed this plan37. After this unfortunate “a large number of ferns collected by him event, Wild was instructed “to travel less in the Cairns and Herberton districts” in continuously but as a rule remain in each March44. At the April meeting of the society, locality for not less than 3 months” (Mather Wild displayed microscopical slides of fern 1986). A little later it was thought “advisable sections and mosses45 and in June “exhibited that the insect collector should be transferred the more interesting of the plants obtained to some other fields of labour” and he was by him during the recent excursion of the recalled to Brisbane (Mather 1986). Wild members to Dunwich [North Stradbroke arrived back in Brisbane on board the Aramac Island]”46. on November 5, 1891 thus ending his time in Wild, now 39, wedded 24 year old Jessica the north38. What is particularly intriguing (Jessie) Walker Marshall (b. 1869 Dundee, is that after his efforts in north Queensland, Scotland, d. 1928 Dalby) on Wednesday July Wild largely ceased collecting bryophytes 27, 1892 at the residence of Mrs. Peardon in with only two additional specimens being Bowen Street, Spring Hill, Brisbane47. Jessie collected after 1891. had arrived in Brisbane from Scotland on During the Royal Society of Queensland’s board the SS Gulf of Carpentaria seven years meeting held on December 11, 1891, Mr. prior in 1885. Wild apparently still harboured Watkins read a short paper on behalf of an interest in bryophytes as at the August Bailey entitled, ‘Remarks upon some meeting of the Natural History Society, he botanic specimens, chiefly ferns, obtained displayed “a named series of living specimens by Mr. C.J.Wild F.L.S., of the Queensland of mosses and hepatics, comprising twenty Museum, while collecting insects in tropical species of the former and eight of the latter” Queensland’39. Wild presented two mosses to collected by him “during lunch hour, within the meeting, these being Braunia humboltii half a mile of the museum”48. At this time (Hook.) Hook.fi (=Rhacocarpuspurpurascens the museum was located at William Street (Brid.) Paris) and Hypopterygium pallens in Brisbane near the banks of the Brisbane (Hook. f. & Wilson) Mitt. (= Lopidium River. In December 1892, after four years continuum (Hook.) Wilson)40. It is not apparent of temporary employment, Wild was placed where Wild obtained these specimens. on the permanent staff after both de Vis and trustee Joseph Bancroft spoke in his favour By 1891, excursions by the Field (Mather 1986). Naturalists section of the Royal Society of Queensland had become increasingly Disaster struck Brisbane during February irregular (Dowe 2017). As a response, a 1893 in the form of a major flood followed meeting was convened by Wild’s museum by financial depression. Wild was one of colleague Henry Tryon on Thursday, January two museum staff kept on when drastic 14,1892 to form a natural history society with retrenchments occurred as a consequence of the motion, “that we, as students of natural the depression (Mather 1986). On May 27, history, constitute ourselves that Natural 1893, the Wilds welcomed their first child, a History Society of Queensland”41. Wild was daughter named Jessie Adelaide. During May, elected as a member of council41. The Natural Wild made his first bryophyte collection in History Society held its first excursion nine almost a year, collecting a Dendroceros found days later to Butcher’s Paddock, Indooroopilly growing upon the branches and trunks of trees with those in attendance “armed with at Mt Tamborine. He later exhibited the fertile the usual entomological and geological specimen at the July Natural History Society