206 IN AUSTRALIAN WILDS 



with small red fruit, was comparatively rare, but 

 Pandanus Palms flourished in the forest, as well as 

 along the beach. The rod-like, aerial roots of some 

 of the palms formed a high palisada around the trunks. 



On the sand spits Bridled Terns [Onychoprion 

 amestheta] , Crested-Terns [Sterna cristate], Lesser- 

 Crested Terns [S. media], and Black-naped Terns [S. 

 melanauchen] were congregated, but they rose in 

 clouds when disturbed by the unaccustomed sight of 

 men, and, with querulous cries, joined the birds 

 scattered over the reef. Rounding a corner, we sur- 

 prised five Reef-Herons [Demiegretta sacra], perched 

 on limbs of a dead tree, in the characteristic hunch- 

 backed attitude, looking at the sea or perhaps they 

 were watching some Silver Gulls that were feeding 

 on the decomposed flesh of a stranded shark. Many 

 other birds were noted, and we returned to camp 

 satisfied that Mast Head was a naturalists' Eden. 



Our second night on the islet was passed in com- 

 fort, and thenceforward we had no reason to complain 

 of harsh treatment from the elements. The violent 

 storm which marked our arrival was followed by 

 halcyon weather. For ten days we studied the bird 

 life, and the wonderful fauna of the reef, under most 

 favourable conditions. Cook did all the dreary camp 

 work, and we lost none of the precious hours that 

 could be devoted to natural history. Quiet rambles 

 along the beach and in the forest, with field glass and 

 camera, collecting on the reef, and fish-spearing in 

 the lagoon, were daily occupations. A small, flat- 

 bottomed boat was used for cruises in the lagoon, but 

 it was too frail a craft to navigate in the sea beyond 

 the coral barrier. Fish were speared for food, though 

 the marine zoologist rescued some specimens, which 

 he considered it a scandal to place in the frying-pan, 

 and preserved them in spirit. Many of the fishes 

 captured were small, and all were beautiful, blue, 



