Vol. xyi.T White, An Ornitholos.ical Cruise. q 



1916 J ' f O 



Pied Oyster-catchers, and Hooded Dottrels were seen running 

 along the shore ; Caspian Terns (breeding), uttering their harsh 

 cries as they circled over us. Crested Tenis in numbers, Little 

 Terns (breeding), Silver Gulls, Pacific Gulls, were all seen, as well 

 as a few Swans. Both the White-breasted Cormorant and the 

 Pied Cormorant were there in numbers. Five Pelicans were upon 

 the waters of a small bay, the remnants, most likely, of the vast 

 hordes that Flinders found in Pelican Lagoon (only a few miles 

 from the Spit) when he discovered this coast-line. Rock-Parrots 

 were seen amongst the low bushes and sea-grasses. A few White- 

 fronted Chats were there, also a number of Little Grass-Birds and 

 one or two Ground-Larks. We rowed off to the yacht after dark, 

 havnng spent a most enjoyable and instructive time ashore. 



Early next morning we left the Spit and stood along the north 

 coast of Kangaroo Island. Emu Bay and Smith Bay were passed, 

 and when we came abreast of Cape Cassini we made a more 

 northerly course for the Althorpe Islands. Numbers of Gannets 

 were now seen plunging from great heights into the water after 

 fish ; it was noticed that they mostly showed the mottled plumage 

 of immaturity. 



Early in the afternoon we reached the Little Althorpes, two large 

 rocks. The yacht was brought up carefully to the more easterly 

 one, and the anchor dropped in very deep water over a rocky 

 bottom. The sea was calm, but a heavy ground swell from the 

 Southern Ocean made landing dangerous. Mr. E. S. Rymill took 

 the lanchng party — Mr. A. G. Rymill, Dr. Morgan, and the writer 

 — off in the dinghy. We were soon surrounded by huge sea lions, 

 many of which came close to our boat and frolicked about like so 

 many water-dogs — a sight which we enjoyed. A landing was 

 effected upon tlie shppery rocks, up which the great swell surged. 

 The first bird seen was a Black-faced or White-breasted Cormorant ; 

 the former name is the better one, for three species have a white 

 breast. After scrambling some distance up the rocks, we saw a 

 female seal, which was sleeping so soundly that a photograph 

 was taken. The click of the shutter aroused the animal, and her 

 amazement was great when she beheld three strangers con- 

 fronting her. Pausing a second or two, she wriggled and flapped 

 over the rocks to the water below. Climbing still higher, we 

 found a little vegetation growing among the rocks, the dark granite 

 having given place now to calciferous sandstone, which is rapidly 

 breaking away and being washed by rains and blown by the winds 

 into the sea. Where this decomposed sandstone has lodged 

 between the rocks, some vegetation of a saline nature was found. 

 A small shrub {Nitraria Schcehis) bearing a quantity of berries 

 seems to attract the Rock-Parrots, for we flushed several birds 

 from amongst the bushes. One of the true salt-bush family 

 {A triplex cinerea) was found, and a bright little pink-flowering 

 Frankcnui [F. paiicifiora) was creeping over the rocks ; a few 

 bunches of barley-grass {Hordeum murinmn) were seen in 

 sheltered places. We disturbed a Crow from amongst the boulders. 



