SNAKE ADVENTURE. 295 



The most remarkable object, however, is the 

 helmet-shaped headland, rising abruptly from the 

 sea to the height of 480 feet, and forming the S.E. 

 extreme of Grant Island, It is the more conspi- 

 cuous from the circumstance that all the rest of the 

 island is covered with low hills, clothed in an 

 almost impervious scrub. The land at the head of 

 the inner of the two bays I have alluded to in 

 describing Port Western, partakes of the same 

 character, and is intersected by a number of creeks. 

 This greatly increases the difficulty of the over- 

 land communication between Port Phillip and the 

 available land on Port Western, travellers being 

 compelled to take a very circuitous road in order to 

 avoid this almost impassable tract, and reach the 

 banks of Bass river, where the best soil is found, 

 and which has been named after the enterprising 

 man whose memory must for ever remain intimately 

 connected with this part of the world. 



A few rare insects were collected by Mr. Emery, 

 whose adventures with snakes bear a great resem- 

 blance to some of Waterton's. He was walking 

 out once on Grant Island, when his attention was 

 attracted by the pitiful cries of a bird in a tree 

 close at hand. He soon discovered that a snake* 

 was in the act of robbing the nest, whilst the 

 mother fluttering round, was endeavouring to scare 

 away the spoiler. Mr. Emery immediately climbed 

 up, and with a courage which few other men would 



* Lieut. Emery has this snake still in his possession, stuffed 

 in a masterly style, and set up with the bird in its mouth. 



