A White, An Ornithological Cruise, \ i^"ui\ 



and wondered why he was there. Soon we observed the reason, 

 for high up on the side of tlie rocks several dry carcasses of sea 

 lions were making their vicinity very odorous. We wondered 

 why tlaese animals had come together to die, but upon picking 

 up a Winchester rifle cartridge we understood, and regretted 

 much that such fine and harmless animals should be so wantonly 

 destroyed. 



Returning to the surging ocean, we were taken off the rocks by 

 the sliip's boat, and, having got under weigh, the Avocet stood 

 over to the Althorpe Lighthouse, we dropping anchor in four 

 fathoms of water over a good sandy bottom in a small cove on 

 the north side, sheltered by a high and perpendicular cliff on the 

 south of the island and by a short reef to the west. Dr. Morgan, 

 Mr. A. G. Rymill, and the writer landed, and climbed to the top 

 of the cliff, 300 feet up a narrow track cut in the face of the 

 almost perpendicular cliff by the lighthouse people. We found 

 Penguins in their nesting burrows 250 feet above the sea ; it is 

 really wonderful how these birds, seemingly so helpless on land, 

 can climb to such a height. The island is almost level on top, 

 and about half a mile long by a few hundred yards wide. Low, 

 scrubby bush was growing over a shallow sandy soil, which was 

 one huge Mutton-Bird rookery. Each burrow contained a 

 brooding bird. There not being sufficient burrows to accommodate 

 the population, many eggs are laid out on the surface, and in 

 some instances in collections of half a dozen or so under bushes. 

 Many Mutton-Birds were removed from their burrows while their 

 temperatures were taken, and were then replaced on their eggs. 

 Temperatures of these birds were found to range from 103.2° F. 

 to 100° F. We then descended into a large cave on the south side 

 of the island. 



Returning to the yacht, the anchor was weighed, and we stood 

 over to the mainland — the foot of Yorke Peninsula. We passed 

 on the way the wrecked barque Ethel, which was driven ashore in 

 a gale, with loss of life. Passing round West Cape, which is beset 

 with reefs, we steamed into the beautiful little harbour called 

 Pondalowie Bay, and dropped anchor in two fathoms over sand. 

 The bay is almost land-locked by two islands across the entrance, 

 a deep channel opening towards the west and one to the north. 

 It was fairly late when we came to anchor, and, after skinning a 

 Cormorant secured at the Althorpes, it was too late to go ashore. 

 Next morning, after an early breakfast, Mr. A. G. Rymill, Dr. 

 Morgan, and the writer landed on the beach, and, scrambling 

 over the sand-dunes, walked up a wide flat, timbered with sheoaks, 

 tea-trees, and a dwarf gum {E. diersofoLia). Birds were fairly 

 plentiful. The fresh tracks and droppings of Emus were seen 

 in many places, as well as many kangaroo tracks. We returned 

 to the yacht to lunch, and then Dr. Morgan and I were landed 

 on the nearest island, which we thoroughly searched. Caspian 

 Terns were making a great fuss as they flew overhead, giving us 

 the idea that they were nesting ; but no nests were seen. Several 



