1 14 Kershaw, A Naturalist in Northern Queensland, [vor'xxxi 



all}' a great black mass was seen on the water, which proved 

 to be a Killer Whale, or " Black-tish," Orca gladiator, one of the 

 large-toothed whales, which frequently attains a length of 

 over 30 feet. 



About 5 o'clock on the 31st we passed through Whitsunday 

 Passage, which is regarded as one of the most picturesque 

 portions of the scenery along the coast. The numerous thickly- 

 timbered islands make a beautifid picture in the soft evening 

 light. Between tliis group of islands and the Barrier Reef is 

 a labyrinth of coral reefs and shoals, covered at high water, 

 but showing an endless variety of marine life when exposed. 

 Pentecost or Lion Island, so called from its remarkable resem- 

 blance to a crouching lion with its head raised, is one of the 

 chief features here. On Dent Island is erected a lighthouse, 

 prettily situated, and surrounded by a number of large cocoa- 

 nut palms. 



Townsville was reached early in the morning of the ist 

 November, and, having some hours available, we visited the 

 Botanic Gardens, this being thought the nearest available 

 collecting-ground. Here we spent some time collecting several 

 species of butterflies, among which were Hypolimnas (Diadema) 

 nerina, Papilio cegetis, P. sarpedon, Danaida affinis, CaUidryas 

 pomona, Euploea Sylvester, Eurycus cressida, and the skippers 

 Telicota kre-ffti and Padraona siinias. The gardens contained 

 several very fine mango trees, among the branches of which 

 many birds sheltered. These included Blue Mountain and 

 Scaly-breasted Parrots, Orioles, Fig-birds, Dollar-birds, 

 Drongos, Mud-Larks, and the Yellow-spotted Honey-eater, 

 Ptilotis notaia. Flying Foxes were said to be very destructive 

 to the mangoes, quantities of the fruit strewn under the trees 

 showing the result of their visit of the previous night. Before 

 leaving Townsville we visited the Tropical Diseases Institute, 

 and were courteously shown over the building by Dr. Brcnil. 



We left Townsville about 4 o'clock, and three hours later 

 passed the Palm Islands, a group of some half-dozen granite 

 islets, from 10 to 20 miles off the mainland. These are fringed 

 with beautiful coral reefs, exposed at low tide. On the way 

 several Great Crested Terns and a number of Lesser Crested 

 Terns were seen, the latter repeatecfly diving into the sea 

 among the shoals of fishes. 



Our first sight of the Torres Strait or Nutmeg Pigeons, 

 Myristicivora spilorrhoa, was obtained when near Low Woody 

 Island early the following morning. These were flying towards 

 the mainland from the island, where they camp, and probably 

 nest. Brown-winged Terns, Sterna ancBstheta, were frequently 

 noticed diving into shoals of fish. Skimming along the surface 

 of the water was seen a fish locally known as the " Skipper." 



