424 EllITH ISLAND. 



gethcr they are certainly more likely to brood mis- 

 chief. 



Besides East Cove there are others on the north- 

 east and south-east sides of Deal Island ; whilst on 

 Erith there is only one called West Cove, in the 

 north part of Murray Pass ; it is subject to violent 

 gusts that do not reach East Cove. 



The formation of this group is a little singular, 

 the calcareous limestone on Deal occurring two 

 hundred feet above the sea and between granite ; 

 whilst on Erith versicular lava was found. These 

 islands are connected with Flinders by a sand 

 ridge, on which the depth is 28 and 30 

 fathoms ; but the islets and rocks between 

 would appear, from the evidence of upheaval we 

 have just cited, to be elevated portions of a sub- 

 merged piece of land about to disclose itself.* 



In a valley behind East Cove there was a stream 

 of water, which strange to say was quite salt and 

 came from the middle of the island. In the same 

 neighbourhood I turned loose about a dozen rabbits 

 for the benefit of any unfortunate voyagers who 

 might be thrown hungry ashore in this locality. 

 During the few days that we were there they ap- 

 peared to thrive very well, and I have no doubt 

 that if not disturbed the island will soon be overrun 



* The observations on the tides at these islands make the time 

 of high water on the full and change of the moon a quarter past 

 eleven, when it rises eight feet. The stream in Murray Pass, 

 which runs from two to five knots, changes to the northward 

 twenty minutes after high water. 



