284 BASSET HULL, Archipelago of the Recherche. [TH^A^rli 



birds were singularly shy, considering that this island is not 

 visited for years at a stretch. 



Tra[)s were set for mammals, and further patches of scrub 

 were entered, but no other birds were seen. On the rocks near 

 the shore a pair of Sooty Oyster-catchers were visible, and 

 three Pacific Gulls hovered about. Numerous broken shells of 

 the common I'urbo and the large Limpet showed where they got 

 their principal food supply. These birds were very curious, fly- 

 ing round and settling near our camp, but they were extremely 

 suspicious. A piece of meat was thrown out on the rocks, and 

 the}' circled round it for hours, occasionally dipj^ing as if to pick 

 it ui>, but sheering ofif again as if they suspected some trap. It 

 was still untouched when we left the island. During the night 

 Wright went round his traps and along the edge of the scrub 

 with an acetylene "jacklight," but did not see any of the tamar 

 wallaby said to be so numerous on the island. In the morning 

 the trai)S were untouched except one which contained a rat. 

 Two small snakes were captured when fixing up the camp, and 

 lizards were numerous ; we saw no death adders. Other colonies 

 of Fleshy-footed Petrels were examined, and a few eggs taken ; 

 many burrows were empty. Two specimens of the Green-backed 

 White-eye were taken, and a number of old nests of the Singing 

 Honey-eater were found in the scrub. Jones brothers called for 

 us about midday, and we returned to Lucky Bay, passing close 

 to Rob Island, which lies to the east of the bay. There were 

 about fifty seals visible on this island, and a pair of Cai)e Bar- 

 ren Geese, but the surge was too heavy to permit of landing. 



Mr. J. T. Tunney collected for the Perth Museum on Alon- 

 drain some years ago. Our boatmen took him there, left him for 

 a week, and brought him back to Esperance. He captured a 

 variety of wallaby there, but I have not been able to find any 

 record of the birds he discovered. One might easily spend a 

 week on this island, and then not exhaust all its ]iossibili»ies, but 

 it is more than doubtful whether the reward would be commen- 

 surate with the trouble. So many times have fires been put 

 through the scrub that only such persistent birds as the Mutton 

 Birds could survive.^ 



During our visit to Mondrain. Grant had walked (ner to Mis- 

 sissi])pi Bay, but found little of interest. On December 5th it 

 rained nearly all day, but I went westward to Thistle Cove in the 

 hope of locating the Bristle l*>ird, but without success. Wright 

 and Grant revisited ]\Iississi|)pi l^ay, and observed the Spotted 

 Scrub- Wren (Scrlcornis tiiacitlata ), the White- faced Ternlet 

 and Hooded and Red-capped Dotterels) C/iaradriiis cucii/latiis Awdi 

 C. rn/icapil/iis) , and the White-bearded Honeyeater. They 

 were not successful in getting any wallaby, although some were 

 seen in the distance. On the 6th we left Lucky Bay and beat out 

 to Rob Island. The sea was very heavy, and after repeated at- 

 tempts, Wright managed to jump ashore and keep his feet, while 

 Grant passed o\cr his rifle and amnninition. lie explored the 



