1^8 Australasian Ornithologists Union. I ist 'jan. 



already on the move seaward. The east of the Cape cap, where 

 most of the observers took up their positions, seemed to be a 

 favourite departing place of the dusky-plumed creatures, whieh 

 ran about like rats, and congregated silently on the edge of the 

 cliff, some throwing themselves over, and gently gliding away 

 into the gloom ; others, spreading their wings and catching the 

 land breeze, sprang off tip-toe, sailed inland a bit, and, wheeling, 

 followed their mates out of sight to sea. By 4 o'clock not a 

 bird remained except the brooding ones underground. Break- 

 fast was served on the Cape at sunrise, a basketful of eggs 

 gathered, and at 7 o'clock "tracks" were made via the Back 

 Beach for the main camp, which was reached in due course 

 about 10 o'clock. On a detached rock at the most westerly 

 promontory of the Cape there was noticed a small rookery of 

 Silvery Gulls, with a solitary Crested Tern nesting in the 

 midst. 



The visit to The Nobbies, at the west end of Phillip Island, 

 was another " red letter " day in the history of this camp. 

 Twenty members, or nearly the whole camp, " rolled up " to 

 this outing, and were conveyed there about 13 or 14 

 miles, in three vehicles. The Nobbies take their name from 

 two little knolls of rock (the summit of the higher being nearly 

 100 feet from sea level), which are islands at high water. They 

 are more or less covered with trailing, soft, succulent ice plant, 

 verdant in colour, and contrasting with beautiful pig-face weed, 

 the leaves of which, as well as flowers, being ablush with pink, 

 transformed some of the rocky declivities into perfect gardens. 

 In the shallow crevices of rock protected by this herbage, 

 numerous curious little Penguins had their nests, some sitting 

 upon a pair of eggs, others on dark downy chicks (see illustra- 

 tion). Some members with binoculars, while vv^atching the 

 gambols of seals on the outlying rocks, discovered what appeared 

 to be a rookery of black and white Cormorants, which were, 

 however, too distant for identification as to species. After 

 luncheon, dispensed on the crown of Point Grant, some 

 of the company strolled along the strand of Cat Bay, while 

 others visited the two Mutton-Bird rookeries known as Flynn's 

 and M'Haffie's, on the inner beach, and all met on the 

 road home at " Inishowen," near Cowes, to enjoy afternoon tea 

 at the kind invitation of Mr. W. Harbinson. Finally, the home- 

 camp was reached, safely, about 7 p.m., as the dinner-gong (the 

 bottom of a high-sounding fryingpan) was clanging. 



At the last dinner Mr. A. J. Campbell took occasion to 

 propose a special vote of thanks to Mr. A. Mattingley for the 

 manner he had looked after the creature comforts of the camp 

 by providing such a first-class cook, &c. — carried amidst great 

 acclamation. Mr. Robert Hall moved a vote of thanks to the 

 promoters of the excursion, which had given such unbounded 

 satisfaction. Mr. J. W. Mellor, on behalf of the two inter-State 



