N£STS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 8iJI 



sheltered by two stunted tea-trees ( LepfogpermumJ, with tops like 

 umbrellati, throwing a grateful shade. Here, shielded fx-om the meri- 

 dian Sim, we reclined, clothed only in our jjy jamas, drinking delightful 

 ' billy ' tea, or occasionally a lemon squash. At our back we have the 

 protection of a sand dune covered with scrub, tussock grass, bracken, 

 &c. There were stimtcd bushes in front of our tents, which faced the 

 beach. Fresh water in sufficient quantity was handy. At intervals 

 along the steep shore water as clear as ciystal issued from tiny springs. 

 It was quite wholesome, with a soft taste. 



Other camps were near. During our stay, about twelve or thirteen 

 boats arrived with egging parties from different parts of Western Port. 

 The largest party numbered eleven. Four-horse conveyances came by 

 Newhaven along the strand when the tide was out. There were also 

 several visitors, including ladies, on horseback. 



After an early breakfast at 6 a.m. we started to explore the Mutton 

 Bird rookeries. We found the place somewhat altered since our visit 

 twelve years ago. For instance, there are on Red Point piled blocks 

 of red gi-anite quarried by Messrs. Clutten & Chambers, of Melbourne, 

 and alongside the quarry a dwelUng, cranes, &c. 



A few Mutton Birds were in their bunows, and had laid. The 

 burrows, like rabbit wan-ens, extended over many acres of the cape 

 under a covering of horehomid, pig-face weed adorned with small pink 

 flowers, sword and tussock grass, &c. The chief rookeries are nearest 

 the sea. You can always tell when you are on a good rookery by the 

 strong odour of guano and the musty smell of the sea-birds. Except 

 for the scrub the cape appears at a distance bald and naked. The 

 summit is reached from the inland side by a series of undulations, till 

 you stand 332 feet above sea-level, peering over a ragged and frowning 

 bluff. The cape in its broadest part is about 1 J ndles across. It seems 

 an omission that an important headland like Wollomai is not men- 

 tioned in the ' Class Book of Geograjjhy ' used in the State schools. 

 From tliis coign of vantage there is seen a most magnificent panorama 

 of land and sea. 



At 10 o'clock it was excessively hot — we could see the mainland 

 simmering in haze. The heat drove us to camp, where we rested till 

 the cool of the evening. We found it convenient to work on the 

 rookeries morning and evening, resting in camp when the day was 

 warmest. There were two advantages in turning out of camp soon 

 after daylight — it was the most pleasant time to gather eggs, and we 

 get oiu' choice of the rookeries. 



Our party killed three snakes and saw as many more which made 

 theu" escape. Nearly every egging party reported adventures with 

 snakes. One is startled when withdrawing the crook to see a copper- 

 head dait out past one's hand. Large blue-tongued lizards were plentiful. 

 Several eggs left in camp were cleanly sucked by these reptiles during 

 our absence. We caught one in the act. We stupefied it with narcotic 

 juice from a dirty pipe, in order to get it to pose quietly for its 

 photograph. 



We vary our programme by spending a night on the rookeiy. 



