l82 Armstrong, A Visit to the Furneanx Group, Bass St. [ist^ApHl 



Pacific Gulls {Lams nov<2-hollandic^ and Gabianus pacificus) 

 were in plenty, no eggs were there ; most of the nests showed 

 indentations where eggs had lain, but an earlier robber had 

 forestalled us — we saw his footmarks on the sand. Of course, 

 we deemed ourselves the lesser evil ; we only take special 

 clutches here and there, but those others, they take them 

 all. 



I foresee a time when all the more shy birds will have 

 been driven to the more distant and outlying islands for 

 breeding purposes. It is a pity that the Tasmanian Government 

 does not reserve some of the islands in each group adjacent to 

 her shores for the preservation and propagation of the native 

 fauna and avifauna. There are many of little use for any 

 commercial purpose, and a caretaker or two would not cost 

 much. I entirely disagree with the opinion expressed by your 

 correspondent, Mr. J. D. Maclaine, who, writing from Clarke 

 Island in 1906, stated that the Cape Barren Goose {Cereopsis 

 nov<2-]iollnndi(B) was holding its own. He quoted someone as 

 having seen a flock of 200 on Chalky — I don't think there are 

 200 Geese on the whole group. I visited all the islands said to 

 be strongholds of the Goose — the Woodies, Preservation, 

 Chalky, and others; on none did I find Geese numerous, and 

 this in the breeding season, when they should be in greatest 

 numbers. The largest flock I saw on any one island consisted 

 of 12 birds. Without doubt Cereopsis novcE-Jiollandi(2 is be- 

 coming less rapidly in numbers. How could it be otherwise } 

 Everyone owns a gun, Goose is fair game in all seasons, there 

 are no game laws in effect, and nothing the A.O.U. or any other 

 body has ever done has saved the life of a Goose. There is 

 one constable stationed at Long Corner, a capable, conscien- 

 tious man, but with such a scattered charge he has no chance to 

 protect game. 



On the 15th we made a long trail. Leaving Long Corner at 

 4 a.m., we sailed round to Drum Island, and continued further 

 to some small rocky islets at the eastern end of the strait 

 between Barren and Clarke. These proving unprofitable, we 

 returned to Drum and Preservation. Thence in a north-westerly 

 direction we journeyed to Black Reef ; here were two Black 

 Oyster-catchers' nests and a Caspian Tern's with the usual full 

 clutch of two eggs. Leaving Black Reef, we sailed out to 

 Boxin Island, but did not land. From Boxin we made Beagle 

 Reef; this we found one of the most cheerful islands we had 

 touched at. Birds were in great numbers ; Crested Terns, 

 Silver Gulls, Pacific Gulls were all flying about, presently to be 

 joined by a pair of Caspian Terns. The single fresh ^g'g of the 

 latter I found soon after landing. On the rocks a large 

 Cormorant rookery was in progress, containing, I should say, 

 200 nests._ My notes on the White-breasted Cormorant point 



