8 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



see the Spotted Diamond Bird, Pardalotus punctatus, breeding 

 in holes in a sandbank; it does not seem to have been recorded 

 before from the islands. On the return journey we paid a flying 

 visit to the large swamp ; but as we could see no signs of bird 

 life, owing to the dense scrub, we retraced our steps. When we 

 came to the sandhills, with their Boobyalla and Honeysuckle 

 trees, we decided to make a short cut to the beach to gather 

 shells — a decision we soundly regretted ten minutes afterwards. 

 However, by crawling on all fours the greater part of the distance, 

 we at last broke through. 



On 24th October, the weather being still too unsettled to 

 venture on the waters, we went for a long walk towards West 

 Telegraph Bay, but came across nothing more interesting than a 



9 in. x 2 in. Oregon plank, which, being of no scientific interest, 

 we left behind. A crow's nest containing four fresh eggs was 

 found in the top of a ti-tree growing in a swamp. 



On 25th October, the weather being still very rough, we spent 

 the day in wandering along the beach in search of shells and 

 polyzoa, and in taking lessons in crayfish pot making. The 

 Crayfish (Palinurus Lalandii) industry is now a considerable one 

 among the islands of the Strait, but these fine fish are becoming 

 fast decimated through the suicidal policy of allowing the female 

 fish to be taken during the spawning season. Of course, fish 

 with spawn are not allowed in the markets, but this is easily 

 overcome by the fishermen removing the spawn. Some few 

 fishermen do not take spawning fish, but their good intentions are 

 frustrated by others who take all. Our friends on the island 

 suggest what I consider the only remedy, viz., that female fish be 

 not allowed to be sold during the spawning months, say from 1st 

 September to 31st December. Our Club has been useful in the 

 past in placing insectivorous birds upon the protected list, and I 

 do not think it would be out of our province to move in this 

 matter. The female fish are readily recognized by the extra 

 appendages on the tail flap which hold the spawn in position, and 

 also by the subchelate claws of the fifth or last legs. 



On 26th October, the wind abated a little, and we sailed across 

 to Stack Island, a distance of ten miles, to see an eyrie of the 

 Sea Eagle, Halicutus leucogaster, but we found the birds had 

 not yet laid. A crow's nest found on a ledge near the top of a 

 rocky pinnacle was also empty. This island is rented from the 

 Tasmanian Government by Captain Mullins, who anticipates a 

 good harvest of Mutton Birds this coming season. He tells us 

 that the Tasmanian Government now prohibits the sale of eggs, 

 which I think is a wise action. When we consider that 

 half a million birds are taken yearly in the Furneaux Group 

 alone, there must in time be an appreciable difference. Nor 

 must we look to the robbery of eggs alone as a destructive 



