SEA BIRDS' HAUNTS 71 



trove was obtained at one of the huts. An object 

 of the call at Killiecrankie was to obtain information 

 regarding the Wombat, and, if possible, collect 

 specimens. The half-caste men were familiar with 

 the "Badger," as they called it. A naturalist's 

 roving eyes discovered in a deserted hut two skins of 

 the much-desired marsupial. These were secured, 

 and arrangements made for the natives to obtain 

 living "Badgers" and send them to Melbourne. 



The Bass Strait species of Wombat was long be- 

 lieved to be extinct, though some naturalists thought 

 that it survived on Flinders Island. Mr. J. A. 

 Kershaw, F.E.S., Curator of the National Museum, 

 Melbourne, was a member of the Ornithologists' party 

 that visited the island in 1908. He obtained the 

 skins, as described, and gathered other evidence to 

 justify the belief that the species was not extinct. 

 The skins which he secured had evidently been used 

 as mats in the old hut; now they are treasured in a 

 great museum. Subsequently, living Wombats were 

 sent from Flinders Island to Melbourne. I saw one 

 of these at the Museum. It was a friendly animal, 

 and allowed its head to be stroked indeed, seemed to 

 enjoy the caress. 



When at Endeavour Bay, in 1909, I went ashore 

 for an hour, and strolling along the beach, found a 

 Wombat's home, a low cave in soft rock some thirty 

 feet above high tide mark. There were fresh footprints 

 on the sand at the mouth of the cave, whose dimen- 

 sions, however, were too small to permit of explora- 

 tion. 



On the voyage back to Melbourne the steamer 

 called in at Kent Group, some fifty miles south-east 

 of Wilson's Promontory. Five islands compose the 

 group, Deal being the largest and most picturesque. 

 Erith and Dover Islands, linked by a narrow isthmus, 

 are opposite Deal Island, and the intervening sea- 

 way is known as Murray Pass; it is about one mile 

 across, and a strong current flows through. Rowers 



