164 Excursion to National Park. [vol'xxix. 



the streams entering this side of the Inlet, as well as the beaches 

 on the Promontory side. 



At low tide the exposed muddy banks swarm with hundreds 

 of thousands of the small Mangrove Crab, Hclacitis cordi- 

 jormis, and it was reserved until our return journey to see 

 these and the numerous wading birds, swans, &c., which 

 inhabit this locality. 



Following the line of piles which mark the channel into the 

 Inlet, we steered a course for Doughboy Island, where we 

 were prepared to camp for the night should the falling tide 

 prevent our landing at the Park. 



The weather was delightful, and it was therefore decided to 

 make direct to the landing-place at the south-west corner, and 

 take all risks. Doughboy Island was passed close enough to 

 give the party a rough idea of its size and general formation, 

 while farther south Long Island, a long, low-lying island, 

 covered with mangrove, was seen some distance off. 



The trip across the Inlet in fine weather enables one to 

 obtain an excellent panoramic view of the whole northern 

 end of the Promontory, and the long, narrow isthmus con- 

 necting its north-west corner with the mainland. The 

 Promontory itself appears as one enormous mass of high, 

 rugged hills, extending from Mounts Singapore and Hunter 

 on the east, to the Darby ridge, dropping to the ocean on the 

 west, and among which the tops of the higher j^eaks of 

 Latrobe, Vereker, Leonard, and Oberon stand out against the 

 sky. Snake Island, at the eastern entrance to the Inlet, can 

 just be made out, while Granite and Bennison Islands, which, 

 like Doughboy, are the homes of the Mutton-bird, can also be 

 seen. Soon after passing Doughboy, the broad track which 

 runs up the extreme northern slope of the Vereker Range, and 

 along which we were soon to travel, could easily be made out. 



Except while in the channels, the Inlet was seen to lie so 

 shallow that the shells and weeds on the sandy liottom could 

 be clearly seen. 



Swans were absent until we approached the Promontory, 

 where large numbers were seen congregated on the mud- 

 banks, now being exposed by the falling tide, and otliers flying, 

 single file, across the water to join them. Many were still 

 moulting, and, when disturl)cd by our boats, could only flaj) 

 along the surface, leaving a long trail of feathers in their wake. 



Closely approaching the landing-place at the south-west 

 corner, the anxiety exhibited by our boatmen was com- 

 municated to ourselves, and we soon saw that the possibility 

 of landing dry-shod was out of the question. Every precaution 

 was taken to evade the shallows, so as to run the boat as close 



