DECEMBER 1903. 



A MONTH of dull, dark, unsettled weather, with scarcely 

 any sunshine to speak of, and admitting of but little helio- 

 graphic communication with the " shore," a condition of things, 

 by the way, preventing the "shore station" proclaiming to 

 anxious eyes the interesting advent of another addition to the 

 census. Quite a depressing effect is experienced at such pro- 

 longed absence of the land, and the reappearance of the 

 Grampians, though swathed in winter vestments, would be a 

 welcome sight. Our fish supply ceased early in the month, 

 and its renewal need not be expected before the month of 

 May. Gulls are numerous at present, and evidently on short 

 rations considering their vigilant attention to the kitchen 

 slops. Our only feathered visitor for the month was a belated 

 bullfinch, who reached us only to die. The eiders and long- 

 tails continue in evidence, and have now the company of four 

 cormorants. 



Star-fish are always plentiful here, though of course more 

 numerous in summer. All are of the five-rayed variety, in- 

 cluding the " brittle " star-fish, which, unlike its fellows, dis- 

 cards its rays on the slightest irritation, and possesses a body 

 no larger than a shirt button, in ludicrous contrast with the 

 squirming rays two inches in length. In startling contrast 

 with the latter was a specimen found in a shallow pool early 

 in the month, and which was quite new to us here. Six 

 inches in diameter, the stranger appeared all body, with very 

 short rays, of which there were twelve. Unlike the usual 

 five-pointed star shape, it might be better described as a 

 deeply serrated disc, the upper surface being richly coloured 

 with concentric rings of crimson. Another object of note at 

 present is seen scattered about the rocks, resembling small 

 coils of ribbon, apparently the egg-cases of some fish. These 



