THEEE ISLES. 105 



The eastern and northern islet is nearly circular^ 

 half a mile in circumference— formed of coral and 

 shell-sand^ covered with hushes and small trees. 

 The most conspicuous plant is the prickl}^ Guilari' 

 dina Bonduc^ the long* briar-like trailing' and 

 climbing* shoots of which impede one while travers- 

 ing* the thickets. A pair of white-headed sea- 

 eag'les had established their aerie in a tree not more 

 than twenty feet from the g-round^ and I could not 

 resist the temptation of robbing* them of their 

 eg-g-s. 



July 2^th, — Anchored under the Three Isles_, 

 between Capes Bedford and Flattery. The principal 

 one of the g'roup^ situated to leeward of an extensive 

 reef^ is marg-ined towards the reef by beds of coral — 

 cong*lomerate^ and elsewhere by a sandy beach — it 

 is half a mile in leng*th^ composed of coral sand^ 

 the hig'hest part not more than twelve feet above 

 hig*h-water mark^ with several g*roves of low trees^ 

 and is over-run with tall sedg*e-like g-rass* the 

 second is composed of a strip of heaped-up frag*- 

 nients of coral, to windward covered Avith bushes, 

 and to leeward separated from the reef b}^ a belt of 

 mang*roves; the third is a mere clump of mang*roves 

 not deserving* of further notice. The botany of an 

 island of this class^ of which there are many on the 

 N.E. coast of Australia^ may serve as a specimen^ 

 as the plants are few. Mimusops Kaukii constituted 

 the principal part of the arboreal veg*etation, 

 Clerodcndrum inenne and Premmi obtusifolia form 



