172 THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 



noticed are chicory plantations, for which the island has a 

 reputation of its own. After the opening and shutting of many 

 gates the track now lies between Swan Lake and the sandhills of 

 Cat Bay. The lake, true to name, has a pretty family of Black 

 Swans upon it. At one point the sand dunes are encroaching 

 upon its shore. The planting of marram grass, as has been done 

 successfully in other places on the island, would stay the shifting 

 sand from spoiling an ornamental sheet of water and a sure 

 retreat for wild fowl. At length arriving on the extreme western 

 headland, Point Grant, we find the tide favourable — going out — 

 and are able to scramble dry-shod over the reef, and scale the 

 side of the Nobby, a rotund islet about loo ft. high. Its 

 summit and southern slope are closely clothed with green, 

 succulent ice-plant and pig-face weed. The latter, trailed in 

 tresses over the cliff, is beautiful, both flowers and foliage being 

 ablush with pinkish tint. Probing with our sticks the holes under 

 the herbage discovers brooding Mutton-birds and Penguins. 

 The Little Nobby, immediately between the Big Nobby and the 

 mainland, is, however, the most convenient place to see the 

 Penguins at home, sitting in shallow hollows upon a pair of 

 eggs or dusky-coloured chicks. Like the Mutton-birds, the 

 young of the Penguins are full grown at autumn, when they 

 don a beautiful blue coat, enhanced with silvery-white under- 

 parts. 



Returning to our vehicles on the hill, we find it time to boil the 

 billy for mid-day meal. There is no fresh water hereabouts, but 

 we had provided for that contingency. Retracing our steps 

 homeward, some of our party strolled round Cat Bay — so named, 

 it is said from the fact that Bass, the explorer and discoverer of 

 Western Port, lost a cat there. You will doubtless remember 

 (it is only 105 years ago) that he and his party coasted round 

 from Sydney in an open whaleboat in 1798. They were putting 

 ashore in search of fresh water, when pussie sprang first into the 

 scrub, and was never seen again. 



Some of us proceed to Flynn's rookery, which is on the sand 

 dunes between a small i)icturesque lagoon and the inner beach 

 of Western Port. Judging by the presence of a pungent odour 

 of guano, the place is fairly frequented by Mutton-birds. A few 

 eggers are at work, but as the burrows are deep, some quite 

 6 feet in length, and well protected by a natural covert of rushes, 

 tussock-grass, bracken, and other coarse vegetation, the birds 

 probably have the best of it. About half a mile further on 

 (eastward) is M'Haffie's rookery, which is similar in si^e and 

 extent to Flynn's, and even more protected with scrub, as well 

 as grass. This rookery derives its name from the original 

 lessee of the island, Mr. J. D. M'Hafifie, who settled here about 

 1845. Evidences of the old homestead are still standing, while 



