CAIRNCROSS ISLAND. 363 



in the day, with the sun in an unfavourable position, 

 can find a convenient stopping place in Blackwood 

 Bay under the largest York isle, or under the Cape 

 of that name. 



Juli/ 12. — We left at an early hour, steering 

 N. N. W. ^ W. for Cairncross Island, which we 

 passed at a distance of half a mile from the eastern 

 side in 16 fathoms. Its height is seventy -five feet 

 to the tops of the trees, which, according to Mr. 

 Bynoe, who subsequently visited it in the month of 

 September, are dwarf gums. The tea-tree of the 

 colonists is also found here, in addition to some 

 small bushes. This island is the resort of a large 

 bright cream-coloured pigeon {Carpophaga leu- 

 comcla) the ends of the wings being tipped with black, 

 or very dark blue. Mr. Bynoe found the island quite 

 alive with them ; flocks of about twenty or thirty 

 flying continually to and from the main. They not 

 only resort but breed there, as he found several old 

 nests. As this bird was not met with in the Beagle on 

 the western coast, we may fairly conclude it only in- 

 habits the eastern and northern ; the furthest south 

 it was seen by the officers of H.M.S. Britomart was 

 lat. 20°. In addition to these, Mr. Bynoe saw the 

 holes of some small burrowing animals, which are 

 doubtless rats. On a sandy spit, close to the 

 bushes or scrub, he saw a native encampment of a 

 semicircular form, enclosing an area of about ten 

 yards. The occupants had but recently left it, as a 

 fire was found burning, and the impression of their 



