Charles James Wild (1853–1923), an ardent collector of Queensland bryophytes

2019·10.8 MB·English

by  Andrew J Franks

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. Wild and Queensland bryophytes 389
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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