SEA BIRDS' HAUNTS 73 



sight was refreshing, and the perfume sweet. Around 

 the fence grew giant mallows, with crimson flowers; 

 here was a bed of mignonette, there a cluster of lark- 

 spurs, purple, pink and Kingfisher blue. There were 

 daisies and marigolds for borders, a plot of roses, and 

 shrubs and creepers. We were presented with button- 

 hole posies, and carried from the island-garden some 

 seeds which germinated in ground hundreds of miles 

 away. 



A pet Opossum [Trichosurus caninus'] was 

 proudly displayed by the young gardener. We made 

 overtures which were not kindly received ; the mar- 

 supial clung to its mistress, and, when she put it down, 

 scrambled over the fence and disappeared. The 

 Short-eared Phalanger is found both in Tasmania and 

 on the mainland, as well as islands in Bass Strait. 

 On Deal Island, it is stated, these animals rarely leave 

 the ground, and instead of eating Eucalypt leaves, feed 

 upon succulent plants. Fossil remains of a Kangaroo 

 have been recorded from Deal Island. 



On the way from Kent Group to Port Phillip, our 

 steamer was caught in a gale off Wilson's Promontory. 

 She rolled to an alarming angle sometimes, and could 

 scarce make steering-way for awhile. But it ended all 

 right. For the most part, the weather had treated 

 us kindly, and the gale was only a boisterous farewell 

 from wind and wave. 



***** 



On board the Endeavour* I made a second cruise 

 in Bass Strait, in May, 1909. The late Mr. H. 

 C. Dannevig, Commonwealth Director of Fisheries, 

 afforded me every opportunity to gain knowledge, and 

 I gleaned some points of navigation, as well as learn- 

 ing much about trawling. The first trawl was shot 

 off Sealer's Cove, east of Wilson's Promontory, in six- 

 teen fathoms. As it proved, the bottom was unsuit- 

 able Endeavour sailed from Macquarie Island for Hobart 

 on December 3, 1914, and has not been heard of since. Search 

 steamers failed to find a trace of the missing vessel. 



