Vol. VIII. 

 1909 



] White, Expedition to Islands of Bass Strait. IQ< 



Narrative of the Expedition Promoted by the Austral- 

 asian Ornithologists^ Union to the Islands 

 of Bass Strait. 



By (Capt.) S. a. White, Adelaide. 



In connection with the Melbourne session of the A.O.U., the 

 Council resolved to have an expedition to the various islands in 

 Bass Strait, and appointed Mr. A. H. E. Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., 

 sole organizer and leader. 



On the 24th November last, at midnight, the following 

 ornithologists and friends met on the South Wharf, Melbourne, 

 and boarded the specially chartered s.s. Manawatu, namely : — 

 W. N. Atkins, H. Baker (Consul for U.S. America), J. Barr, 

 C. L. Barrett {TJie Herald), Captain J. Gilkison, W. Grattan, Z. 

 Gray, G. T. Howard, B.A., B.S., M.D., W. Kendall, M.R.C.V.S., 

 A. H. Kenyon, J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., A. C. Langmore, J. 

 Leach, M.Sc, C. L. Lempriere, M.B., CM., Edin., A. H. 

 Mattingley, C.M.Z.S., J. W. Mellor, D. Macdonald {The Argus), 

 E. B. Nicholls, M.A.C.D., H. Huntington Peck, O. G. Perry, 

 G. M. Robertson, O. W. Rosenhain, A. Scott, A. N. B. Were, 

 Captain S. A. White, and Mrs. S. A. White. 



Under easy steam we brought up the following afternoon 

 off Seal Rocks, Western Port, and the deep, wailing cry of these 

 strange animals could be heard several miles to leeward. A 

 strong wind was blowing and a heavy sea was running, but in 

 spite of this Dr. Lempriere's- motor launch was at once lowered, 

 and soon a very eager landing party had scrambled down the 

 ship's side and were off to make closer acquaintance with the 

 seals. With such a high sea running it was with great risk that 

 a landing was effected. The leader, with the cinematograph, 

 was the first to make a plunge through the surf, and one by one 

 the rest followed till a small party stood on dry rock, surrounded 

 by five or six hundred seals. These animals were with cubs, 

 and the old lions showed fierce displeasure at being disturbed. 

 In a very short time the cinematograph was in action, giving 

 forth its whirring sound. Disquieted in this way, some of the 

 old seals would rise up on their flippers and give a roar of rage, 

 while others would make their way, with a rolling, awkward 

 motion, to the edge of a rock and plunge into the surf After a 

 number of records had been taken, and after a good tossing and 

 wetting, all the party were safely on board the little craft again. 



KING ISLAND. 



We then stood away for King Island. What a place of 



dread to the old sailing ship masters was King Island in those 



days when clipper ships plied regularly between Great Britain 



and Australia ! Sailing along the " roaring forties " many a 



